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1    I þes feaderes ant i þes sunes. i þe almihti gastes
2nome. Her biginneð þe Martyrdom of sancte Katerine
3Costentin ant Maxence were on a time as i keiseres
4stude hehest i rome. ah costentin ferde þurh þe burhmenne
5read into franclonde ant wunede summe hwile
6þear for þe burhes neode. ant Maxence steorede þe refschipe
7i rome. weox umbe hwile wreaððe ham bitweonen.
8ant comen to fehte. wes Maxence ouercumen ant fleah
9into alixandre. Costentin walde efter ant warpen him þeonne.
10ah se wide him weox weorre on euche halue ant nomeliche
11in a lont ylirie hatte ꝥ tear he etstutte þa maxence
12iherde þis ꝥ he wes of him siker ant of his cunne carles;
13war king of ꝥ lont þe lei into rome as duden meast
14alle þe oðre of þe weorlde. Bigon anan ase wed wulf to weorrin
15hali chirche ant dreaien cristenemen þe lut ꝥ ter
16weren alle to heaðendom heaðene as he wes summe þurh muchele

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17ȝeouen ant misliche meden summe þurh fearlac.
18of eisfule þreates. O least wið stronge tintreohen ant licomliche
19pinen. I þe fif ant. þrittuðe ȝer of his rixlinge
20he set o kine-seotle i þe moder-burh of alixandres riche ant
21sende heaste & bode. se wid se ꝥ lont wes. ꝥ poure ba ant
22riche comen þer biuoren him to þe temple i þe tun of
23his heaðene godes euchan wið his lac forte wurðgin ham
24wið. Comen alle to his bode ant euchan bi his euene biuore
25Maxence seolf wurdgede his maumez. þe riche reoððeren.
26& schep. & bule hwa-se mahte brohte to lake. þe poure;
27cwike briddes. I þis burh wes wuniende a meiden swiðe
28ȝung of ȝeres twa wone of twenti; feier. & freolich o wlite
29& o westum ant ȝet. ꝥ is mare; wurhð steaðeluest wiðinnen
30of treowe bileaue. anes kinges cost hehte anlepi
31dohter icuret cleargesse Katerine inempnet. þeos meiden
32wes baðe feaderles ant moderles of hire child-hade ah
33þah ha gung were ha heold hire ealdrene hird wisliche
34ant warliche i þe eritage. ant i þe eard ꝥ com hire of burde.

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35nawt forþi ꝥ hire þuhte god in hire heorteheorten to habbe monie
36under hire ant beon icleopet leafdi ꝥ feole telleð wel
37to; ah ba ha wes offearet of scheome & of sunne ȝef þeo
38weren to-dreauet oðer mis-ferden ꝥ hire forðfeadres hefden
39iuostret. for hire-seolf. ne kepte ha nawt of þe worlde.
40þus lo for hare sake ane. dale ha etheold of hire ealdrene
41god ant spende al ꝥ oðer i neodfule ant i nakede
42    Þeos milde meoke meiden þeos lufsume leafdi wið leastelese
43lates ne luuede. ha nane lihte plohen ne nane
44sotte songes. nalde ha nane ronnes. ne nane luue-runes
45leornin ne lusten. ah euer ha hefde on hali writ ehnen
46oðer heorte oftest ba to-gederes. hire feader. hefde iset
47hire earliche to lare ant heo þurh þe haligast undernom
48hit se wel ꝥ nan nes hire euenig. Modi meistres ant
49feole fondeden ofte hire o swiðe feole halue forte underneomen
50hire; ah nes þear nan ꝥ mahte neauer eanes.
51wrenchen hire wið al his crefti crokes ut of þe weie.
52Ah se sone ha ȝeald ham swucche ȝein-cleappes ant wende hare
53wiheles up-on ham-seoluen; ꝥ al ha icneowen ham

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54crauant ant ouercumen & cweþen hire þe mestrie. ant
55te meske al up. Þvs hwil ha wiste hire ant þohte
56a to witen hire meiden i meiðhad as ha set in a burh of hire
57burde-boldes; ha iherde a swuch nurð towart te aweariede
58maumetes temple lowinde of ꝥ ahte. ludinge of þe men
59gleowinde of euch gleo to herien & hersumin hare heaðene
60godes. As ha þis iherde & nuste ȝet wet hit wes;
61ha sende swiðe forte witen hwet wunder hit were. Sone
62se hire sonde com aȝein ant seide hire ꝥ soðe; heo wes
63swa itend of wreaððe ꝥ wod ha walde iwurden het up of
64hire hird hwuch as ha walde ant wende hire þiderwart.
65I-font ter swiðe feole ȝeinde ant ȝurinde. & þeotinde unþuldeliche
66wið reowðfule reames þe cristene weren & leaffule
67i godes lei. ah for dred of deað duden ꝥ deofles lac
68as þe headene duden. Hwa wes wurse þene heo heorte iwundet
69inwið for þe wrecches þet ha seh se wraðe werkes
70wurchen aȝein. godes wille. þohte þah as ha wes
71þuldi & þolemod se ȝung þing as ha wes hwet hit mahte
72geinin. þah heo hire ane were aȝein se kene keiser

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73ant al his kineriche stot stille ane hwile & hef hire
74heorte up to þe hehe. healant þe iheret is in heouene
75bisohte him help ant hap ant wisdom ase wisliche as
76al þe world is iweld þurh his wissunge þrefter wepnede
77hire wið soðe bileaue ant wrat on hire. breoste ant
78biuoren hire teð & te tunge of hire muð. þe hali rode
79taken ant com leapinde forð as al itent of þe lei of þe
80hali gast. as þe keiser stot bimong ꝥ sunfule slaht
81of ꝥ islein ahte deouele to lake ꝥ euch waried weoued
82of þe mix-maumez ron of ꝥ baleful blod al biblodeget
83ant bigon to ȝeien ludere steauene
84    Gretunge keiser walde wel bicume þe for þin hehnesse.
85gef þu þis ilke ȝeld ꝥ tu dest to deouelen ꝥ forðdeð
86þe baðe i licome & i sawle ant alle þe hit driueð. ȝef
87þu hit ȝulde & ȝeue to his wurðemunt þe scheop þe &
88al þe world ant welt þurh his wisdom al ꝥ ischapen is.
89Ich walde king greten þe ȝef þu understode ꝥ he ane
90is to herien þurh hwam ant under hwam alle kinges
91rixlið. Ne ne mei na þing wið-stonden his wille. þah
92he muche þolie. þes heouenliche lauerd luueð treowe bileaue
93ant nowðer blod ne ban of unforgult ahte ah ꝥ me
94halde & heie his halewinde heastes. Ne nis na þing hwerþurh
95monnes muchele meadschipe wreaðeð him mare;
96þen þe schafte of mon ꝥ he schop & ȝef schad ba

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97of god & of ufel þurh wit & þurh wisdom schal wurðe
98se uorð ut of his witte þur þe awariede gast ꝥ. he ȝelt
99þe wurðemunt to unwitelese þing ꝥ te feont wuneð
100in þet he ahte to gode ant herieð & hersumeð seheliche
101schaftes blodles ant banles ant leomen bute liue as he sculde
102his & heoren ant alre þinge schupent ꝥ is god unsehelich.
103    Þe feont þe findeð euch uuel bimong alle hise crokinde
104creftes wið neauer an ne kecheð he creftiluker
105cangmencang menEdition: cangmen, but cf. MED s.v. cang. ne leadeð to unbileaue; þen ꝥ he makeð
106men ꝥ ahte to wite wel ꝥ ha beoð biȝetene & iborene ant
107ibroht forð þurh þe heouenliche feader to makie swucche
108maumez of treo oðer of stan oðer þurh mare meadschipe
109of gold oðer of seoluer. ant ȝeouen ham misliche nomen
110of sunne oðer of mone of wind & wude & weattres &
111hersumeð ant wurðgið as þah ha godes weren ne naueð
112he þurh oder þing i þis bileaue ibroht ow bute ꝥ ow
113þuncheð ꝥ ha schulen leasten a. for-þi ꝥ ȝe ne schulen
114ham neauer biginnen. Ah þer nis buten an godd
115þur hwam witerliche ha alle weren iwrahte ant of nawhit
116ant i þis weorlde iset us forto frourin ant to fremien.
117& alswa as euch þing hefde biginnunge of his
118godlec; alswa schulden alle habben endunge. ȝef he
119ꝥ walde. Engles & sawlen þurh ꝥ ha bigunnen ahten &
120mahten endin þurh cunde. Ah he þurh his milce & godlec
121of his grace maked ham ꝥ ha beoð in eche buten ende
122ant þeruore nis na þing euening ne eche wið godd

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123ꝥ ȝe gremied for he is hare alre schupent ant schop
124ham i sum time ant na time nes neauer ꝥ he bigon to
125beon in. Þe keiser bistearede hire wið swide steape
126ehnen hwil ꝥ ha spec þus swiðe he awundrede him of hire
127wliti westum ant swider of hire wordes & feng on þus to
128speokene Þi leor is meiden luf-sum ant ti muð murie
129& witti & wise weordes hit weren ȝef ha neren false ah we witen
130wel ꝥ ure laȝen ure bileaue & ure lei hefde lahe sprung.
131ah al ꝥ ȝe seggeð is se sutel sotschipe ꝥ hit na wis
132mon. ah wittlese hit weneð. Me hwet is mare meadschipe
133þen forte leuen on him ant seggen he is godes sune
134þe þe giws demden & heaðene a-hongeden. ant ꝥ he wes
135akennet of marie ameidena meidenEdition: ameiden buten monnes man & iboren
136of hire bute bruche of hire bodi. deide ant wes iburiet.
137ant herhede helle & aras of deað. & steah into heouene ant
138schal eft o domes-dei cumen ba te demen þe cwike ant te
139deade. Hwa walde ileue þis. ꝥ is ase noht wurð. ꝥ alle
140ower leasunges beoð unlefliche. Ah ȝet ne þuncheð ow nawt
141inoh to forleosen ow þus i þulli misbileaue; Ah gað ȝet
142ant seggeð scheome bi ure undeaddeliche godes þe sunne
143& te mone ꝥ euch mon ahte hersumin & herien in eorðe.

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144    Þeos meiden lette lutel of ꝥ he seide. ant smirkinde smeðeliche
145ȝef him þullich onswere. al ich iseo þine sahen
146sottliche isette. cleopest þeo þing godes þe nowðer sturien
147ne mahen. ne steoren ham-seoluen bute as þe hehe king
148hat ham in heouene. & heo buheð to him as schafte to his
149schuppent. Nis buten an godd as ich ear seide ꝥ al þe world
150wrahte & al worldliche þing. & al wurcheð his wil bute mon
151ane. Stille beo þu þenne & stew swuche wordes for ha beoð
152al witlese ant windi of wisdom Þe keiser wundrede
153him swiðe of hire wordes ant wedinde cweð. Meiden ich
154iseo wel for sutel is & etsene o þine sulliche sahen þet
155tu were iset gung to leaf & to lare. Ah of swuch larspel
156þu hauest leaue ileornet ꝥ tu art þer-onont al to
157deope ilearet hwen tu forcwedest forþifor þiEdition: forþi, but see apparatus. crist ure undeðliche
158godes ant seist ha beoð idele & empti of gode.
159ah wastu wet is we schulen bringe to ende ꝥ we bigunnen
160habbeð ant tu schalt tu motild to curt cume seoðen.
161& þine mede ikepen ȝef þu wult ti wiliwende to ure.
162for ȝef hit went aȝein us; ne schal þe na teone ne tintreohe
163trukien. þa he hefde þus iseid; cleopede an of
164his men dearliche to him. ant sende iselede iwrites

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165wid his ahne kine-ring ȝeont al his kineriche. to
166alle þe i-cudde clerkes ant þet ha hihin towart him
167hare cume swiðe. & swa muche þe swiðere ꝥ he bihet
168to meaðin ham wið swiðe heh mede. ant makien
169ham hehest in his halle. ȝef ha þeos modi motild ouercume
170mahten ant wende þe hokeres of his heaðene
171godes up-on hire heauead þ ha were on alre erst ikennen
172ant icnawen ꝥ nis bute dusilec al ꝥ ha driueð
173ant þrefter þenne fordon ant fordemed. ȝef ha
174nalde leauen þet ha ȝet lefde ant hare lagen
175luuien. þes sonde wende him forð as þe king hehte
176he heold on to herien his heaðne maumez wið misliche
177lakes long time of þe dei ꝥ he idon hefde. ant wende þa
178þe wari towart his buri-boldes ant bed bringen anan þis
179meiden biuoren him ant seide to hire þus. Nat ich nowðer
180þi nome. ne ich ne cnawe þi cun ne hwucche men þu hauest
181ihaued hiderto to meistres. ah þi schene nebscheft ant ti
182semliche schape schaweð wel ꝥ tu art freomonne foster
183ant ti sputi speche walde of wisdom & of wit beore þe wittnesse.
184ȝef þu ne mis-nome onont ure maumez ꝥ tu se muchel
185mis-seist seist. ant ure godes hokerest þe schuldest as we

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186doð heien & herien Ha onswerede & seide. ȝef þu wult
187mi nome witen; ich am katerine icleopet ȝef þu wult
188cnawe mi cun; ich am kinges dohter. cost hehte mi feader
189ant habbe ihauet hiderto swiðe hehe meistres. Ah
190forþi ꝥ te lare ꝥ heo me learden limpeð to idel ȝelp
191ant falleð to biȝete to wurdschipe of þe worlde ne ne
192helpeð nawiht eche lif to haben; ne ȝelpe ich nawiht
193þerof ah sone se ich seh þe leome of þe soðe lare þe leadeð
194to ꝥ eche lif; ich leafde al ꝥ oðer ant toc me him
195to lauerd & makede him mi leofmon. þe þeos word seide
196þurh an of his witegen. Perdam sapientiam sapientum
197& intellectum intelligentium reprobabo. ich chulle fordo þe
198wisdom of þeos wise world-men he seið. ant awarpen þe wit
199of þeose world witti. Ich herde eft þeos word of an oðer
200witege. Deus autem noster inceloin celoEdition: incelo omnia quecumque uoluit fecit.
201Simulacra gentium. argentum. & aurum. & cetera. usque ad similes illis
202fiant. Vre goð is in heouneheouene ꝥ wurcheð al ꝥ he wule.
203þeos maumez beoð i-maket of gold & of seoluer al wið
204monnes honden. Muð bute speche. hehnen bute siðhðe.
205Earen buten herunge. honden bute felunge. fet bute
206ȝonge. þeo ꝥ ham makieð mote beon ilich ham ant alle
207þe ham trusteð. Ah nu þu seist ꝥ ha beod alle weldinde
208godes & wult ꝥ ich do ham wurdschipe; schaw sumhwet

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209of ham for hwi ha beon wurðe forte beon iwurdget. for
210ear nulle ich nowðer ham heien ne herien. Nat ich
211hwuch þi þoht beo qð þe king Maxence. ah wordes þu hauest
212inohe. ah þole nu ane hwile & tu schald ifinden hwa
213þe ontswerie. Þes sondes-mon umbe log þa he hefde al
214ꝥ lont ouergan ant þurh-soht; com ant brohte wið him
215fifti scol-meistres. of alle þe creftes þe clearc ah to cunnen
216& in alle wittes of worldliche wisdomes wisest o worlde.
217þe king wes swiðe icwemet & walde witen ȝef ha weren
218se wise ant se witi as me fore-seide. ant ha somet seiden
219ꝥ witiest ha weren of alle þe meistres þe weren in est-londe
220& heaued of þe heste & mest nomecuðe icud of alle clergies.
221Ah þu queðen ha keiser ahest to cuðen for hwet icud
222þing þu hete us hider to cumene. Ant he ham ontswerede.
223Her is a meiden ȝunglich on ȝeres. ah se swiðe witti & wis
224on hire wordes. ꝥ ha wið hire anes mot meistreð us alle. Ah
225ȝet me teoneð mare ꝥ ha tuket ure godes to balewe & to
226bismere & seid hit beoð deoflen ꝥ in ham dearieðedearieð Ich
227mahte inohreaðeinoh reaðeEdition: inohreaðe wel habben aweld hire ȝef ha nalde
228wið luue. wið luðer eie lan-hure. Ah ȝet me þuncheð

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229betere ꝥ ha beo ear ouercumen wið desputunge. & gef ha
230þe ȝet wule. þen ha wat hire woh wið-stonden aȝein us;
231Ich hire wule don to þe derueste deað ꝥ me mei hire demen.
232& wið kinewurðe ȝeoues ȝelden ow hehliche ower
233ȝong hider ȝef ȝe a-ȝein wulleð. oðer ȝef ow is willre
234forte wunie wið me; ȝe schule beon mine reades-men
235in alle mine dearne run & mine dearne deden. þa ontswerede
236þe an swide prudeliche þus to þe prude prince
237Hei hwuch wis read of se cud keiser makie se monie
238clerkes to cumene & se swiðe crefti of alle clergies of Alixandres
239lont þe alre leaste ende to motin wið a meiden.
240Me an mahte of ure mon wið his mot meistrin & wið his
241anes wit awarpen þe alre wiseste þe wuneð bi westen. Ah
242hwuch-se ha eauer beo let bringen hire forð ꝥ ha understonde
243ꝥ ha ne stod neauer ear þene þes dei bute biuore
244dusie Þeos meiden wes bicluset þe hwile i cwarterne & i cwalmhuse.

245    

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246Porphire ȝettede hire al ꝥ ha ȝirnde & leadde hire anan
247i þe niht to þe cwarterne. Ah swuch leome & liht leitede
248þrinne ꝥ ne mahten ha nawt loki þear-aȝeines. Ah feollen
249ba for fearleac dun duuel-rihtes. ah an se swiðe swote
250smeal com anan þer-efter. ꝥ fleide awei ꝥ fearlac & frourede
251ham sone. Ariseð qð katerine ne drede ȝe nawiht for
252þe deore drihtin haueð idiht ow ba þe blisfule crune of his
253icorene. þa ha weren iseten up; sehen as þe engles wið smirles
254of aromaz smireden hire wunden ant bi-eoden swa þe
255bruchen of hire bodi al to-broken of þe beattunge.
256ꝥ tet flesch & tet fel worðen se feire. ꝥ ha awundreden
257ham swiðe of ꝥ sihðe. Ah þis meiden bigon to bealden ham
258baðe & to þe cwen seide. Cwen icoren of iesu crist beo nu stealewurðe
259for þu schalt stihen biuore me to drihtin in heouene.
260Ne beo þu nawiht offruht for pinen þe feareð forð
261in an honthwile for wið swucche þu schalt buggen & biȝeote

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262þe þe endelease blissen. Ne dret tu nawt to leauen þin
263eorðliche lauerd for iesu crist þet is king of ꝥ eche kinedom.
264þe ȝelt for þe false wurdschipe of þis world; heoueriches
265wunne. for þing ꝥ sone alið; weole ꝥ a lesteð. Wende þa
266porphire to freinen þis meiden hwucche weren þe meden
267& te endelese lif ꝥ godd haueð ileuet his icorene for þe
268luren & tis worlðliche lif ꝥ ha leoseð for þe luue of riht
269bileaue. Heo ontswerede & seide. Beo nu þenne porphire
270stille & understont te
271Constu bulden a bur inwið þin heorte al abute bitrumet
272wið a deorewurðe D'ARDENNE: adeorepurðe wal schininde ant schenre of ȝimstanes
273steapre þen is ei steorre. & euch bolt þrinwið briht
274as hit bearnde & leitede al o leie & al ꝥ ter-in is glistinde &
275gleaminde as hit were seoluer. oðer gold smeate. Isteanet
276euch strete wið deorewurðe stanes of misliche heowes i-menget
277to-ȝederes isliket & ismaket as eni gles smeðest bute
278sloh & slech eaueriliche sumerlich & alle þe burh-men
279seouesiðe brihtre þen beo sunne gleowinde of D'ARDENNE: os euch gleo
280& a mare iliche glead for nawiht ne derueð ham ne nawhit
281ne wonteð ham. of al ꝥ ha wulleð oðer mahe wilnin. alle
282singinde somet ase lif-leoui euchan wið oder. alle pleinde
283somet. alle lahinde somet eaueriliche lusti bute lungunge.

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284for þer is a liht & leitinde leome. Ne niht nis þer
285neauer ne neauer na newcin. ne eilleð þer na mon nowðer
286sorhe ne sar. nowðer heate ne chele. nowðer hunger
287ne þurst ne nan ofþunchunge. for nis þear nawt bittres
288ah is al beatewil swottre & swettre þen eauer ei healewi.
289I ꝥ heouenliche lond i ꝥ endelese lif i þe wunnen &
290te weolen þurh-wuniende & monie ma murhðen þen alle
291men mahten wið hare muð munien & tellen wið tunge.
292þah ha a talden. þe neauer ne limieð nowðer ne
293ne leassið ah leasteð a mare se lengre se mare. ȝef þu
294get wite wult hwucche wihtes þear beon þear as al þis
295blisse is. ȝef þear is orcost oðer ei ahte; Ich þe ontswerie;
296al ꝥ eauer oht is al is þer iwer. & hwet se noht nis
297ꝥ nis þer nohwer. ȝef þu eskest hwet oht; Nan eorðliche

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298ehe ne mei hit seon ich segge ne nan eorðliche eare
299hercnin ne heren ne heorte þenchen of mon & hure
300meale wið muð hwet te worldes wealdent haueð iȝarket
301alle þeo þe him ariht luuieð.
302Porphire ant auguste worðen of þeos wordes se swiðe
303wil-cweme & se hardi for-þi ꝥ ha hefden isehen sihðen
304of heouene; ꝥ ha wenden from hire abute þe midniht
305ȝarowe to al ꝥ wa ꝥ ei mon mahte ham ȝarki to
306drehe for drihtin. freineden porhphire alle his cnihtes
307hwer he hefde wið þe cwen iwunet & iwiket swa longe
308of þe niht ant porphire ham seide. Hwer ich habbe iwiket
309ich on wel ꝥ ȝe witen. for wel ow schal iwurðen. ȝef
310ȝe me wulleð lustnin & leuen. for nabbe ich nawt teos
311niht i worldliche wecchen ah habbe in heouenliche iwaket
312þear as me rihte bileaue. þear me unwreah
313me þe wei ꝥ leadeð to ꝥ lif þer me liueð a i blisse
314buten euch bale. i wunne bute wa. for-þi ȝef ȝe beoð
315mine as under me isete. & wulleð alle wið me in eche
316murhðe wunien; leaueð to leuen lengre o þes lease
317maumez þe mearreð ow & alle þeo þe ham to luteð. ant
318wendeð to þe wealdent þe al þe world wrahte godd heouenlich
319feader euch godes ful. & heieð & herieð his
320an deorewurðe sune iesu crist hatte ant te hali gast
321hare beire luue. þe lihteð of ham ba & limeð to-gederes
322swa ꝥ nan ne mei sundri from oðer. alle þreo an
323godd al-mihti ouer-al. for he halt in his hont. ꝥ is
324wisseð & wealt. þe heouene & te eorðe þe sea & te sunne &

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325alle ischepene þing sehene & unsehene. þeo þe leueð
326þis soð & leaueð þet lease. & buhsume & beisume halðeð
327his heastes; he haueð bi-haten ham. ꝥ he ham wule
328leasten. ꝥ is blissenblisseMS blissen with 'n' subpuncted buten ende. i þe riche of heouene
329ant hwa-se is se unseli ꝥ he þis schunie; ne him neauer
330teone ne tintreohe trukien in inwarde helle. to longe
331we habbeð idriuen ure dusichipes. ant he haueð iþolet
332us þe þolemode lauerd ne we nusten hwet we duden
333a ðetaðet he undutte us & tahte us treowe ileaue þurh ꝥ
334eadi meiden katerine ꝥ te king pineð i cwalm-hus & þencheð
335to acwellen. þus he talede wel wið twa hundret cnihtes
336& wið ma ȝet ꝥ ȝeuen anan up; hare ȝeomere
337bileaue & wurpen alle awei hare witlese lei & wenden to criste
338Crist ne for-ȝet nawt ꝥ he ne nom ȝeme to hire ꝥ
339me heold ȝet as þe keiser het bute mete & mel i þe
340cwarterne. Ah wið fode of heouene þurh his ahne engel
341i culurene iliche fedde hire al þe tweolf dahes as
342he dude daniel þurh abacuc þe prophete i þe liunes leohe
343þer he in lutede. Vre lauerd him-seolf com wið engles
344ant wið monie meidnes wið alle wið swuch dream & drihtfere
345as drihtin deh to cumene. & schawde him & sutelede
346him-seolf to hire-seoluen. & spec wið hire & seide.
347Bihaldt me deore dohter. bihalt þin heh healent
348for hwas nome þu hauest al undernume þis newcin.
349beo stalewurðe & stont wel ne þearf þu drede na deð.
350for lo wið hwucche ich habbe idiht to do þe i mi kinedom
351ꝥ is þin wið me imeane as mi leof-mon. Na þing ne
352dret tu. for ich am eauer wið þe. do ꝥ me do þe. & monie
353schulen þurh þe. ȝet turne to me. wið þis ilke steap

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354up wið ꝥ heouenlich hird & steah into þe heouene
355& heo biheolt efter hwil ha a mahte blisful & bliðe.
356Under þis com þe þurs Maxence þe wedde wulf þe
357heaðene hunt aȝein to his kineburh. þeos meiden
358ine marhen wes ibroht biuoren him. ant he bigon to
359uon on þisses weis towart hire. þis me were leouere ȝef
360þu wel waldest to habben & to halden þe cwic þen to acwelle
361þe. þu most nede noðeles an of þes twa curen cheosen
362anan-riht. libben ȝef þu leist lac to ure liuiende
363godes. oðer ȝef þu nawt nult; þu schalt dreoriliche deien.
364Þis meiden sone anan him ontswerede & seide. lef me
365forte libbe swa ꝥ ich ne leose nawt him ꝥ is mi lif
366& mi leof iesu crist mi lauerd. Ne nawiht ne drede ich na
367deð ꝥ ouer-geað for ꝥ endelese lif ꝥ he haueð ilenet
368me anan-riht þer-efter. Ah þu biþench me anan teonen
369& tintreohen þe alre meast derue ꝥ ei deadlich
370flesch mahe drehen & drahen for me longeð heanewart.
371for mi lauerd iesu crist mi deorewurðe leofmon luttel
372ear me haueð ileaðet & wel is me ꝥ ich mot ba mi
373flesch & mi blod offrin him to lake þe offrede to his
374feader for me & for al uolc him-seolf o þe rode.
375Hwil þe king weol al inwið of wreadðe; com a burhreue
376as þe ꝥ wes þes deofles budel belial of helle. cursates
377hehte. & tus on heh cleopede. O kene king. O icudd
378keiser. ȝet ne seh katerine nanes cunnes pine ꝥ ha oht
379dredde. do ido dede. Nu ha þus þreateð & þrepeð aȝein
380þe. Hat hwil ha wed tus inwið þe þreo dahes ȝarhin

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381fowr hweoles & let þurh-driuen þrefter þe spaken & te
382uelien wið irnenne gadien swa ꝥ te pikes. & te irnene
383preones se scharpe & se sterke borien þurh & beore forð
384feor oꝥo ꝥ oðer half ꝥ al þe hweoles beon þurh-spitet mid
385kenre þen ei cnif rawe birawebi raweCf. OED s.v. row (n.1.3). Edition: birawe.. let þenne turnen hit
386tidliche abuten swa þet katerine schal wið ꝥ grisliche rune.
387hwen ha þer bi-sit & bisið þer-up-on. swiken hire sotschipes
388& ure wil wurchen. Oðer ȝef ꝥ ha nule no; Ha
389schal beo to-hwiðeret wið þe hweoles swa; in an hont-hwile.
390ꝥ alle þe hit bihaldeð schule grure habben. þe king hercnede
391his read & wes sone as he het þes heane & tes heatele
392tintreoh itimbret & wes þe þridde dei idrahen þider
393as þe reuen weren eauer iwunet. & te king heold ta of
394þis a meiden hise kine motes.
395Þis pinfule gin wes o swuhc wise iginet ꝥ te twa turden
396eider wiðward oðer. & anes weis baðe. þe oðer twa turden
397anesweis al swa ah to-ȝein þe oðre swa ꝥ hwenne þe
398twa walden keasten uppart. þing ꝥ ha chahten; þe odre
399walden drahen hit & dusten dunewardes se grisliche igreiðet
400ꝥ grure grap euch mon hwen he lokede þron. Her
401amidde wes þis meiden iset forte al to-renden reowliche
402& reowðfulliche to-rondin. ȝef ha nalde hare read heren
403ne hercnin. Ah heo keaste up hire ehnen & cleopede towart
404heouene ful heh wið hire heorte ah wið steuene.
405Al-mihte godd cuð nu þi mihte & meske nu þin hehe
406nome heouenliche lauerd. & forte festnin ham i treowe
407bileaue þe beoð to þe iturnde. & Maxence & alle hise halden

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408ham mate. smit se smeordtliche her-to ꝥ al þeos fower
409hweoles to-hwiðerin to stucches. þis wes unneaðe iseit
410ꝥ an engel ne com wið ferlich afluhte fleoninde adunewart
411& draf þer-to dun-riht as a þunres dune & duste
412hit a swuch dunt ꝥ hit bigon to cleaterin al & to cleouen.
413to-bursten & to-breken as þah hit were bruchel
414gles ba þe treo & tet irn & ruten forð wið swuch rune
415þe stucchen of ba-þe bimong ham as ha stoden & seten
416þer-a-buten ꝥ ter weren isleine of ꝥ awariede uolc fowr
417þusent fulle. þear me mahte iheren þe heaðene hundes
418ȝellen & ȝeien & ȝuren on euch half. þe cristene kenchen
419& herie þen healent þe helpeð hise ouer-al. þe
420keiser al a-canget hef iloset mon drem & dearede
421al a-dedet druicninde & dreori & drupest alre monne.
422Þe cwen stot eauer stille on heh & bi-heolt al. hefde
423ihud hire aðet ta. & hire bileaue ihole þe ȝet. ne
424mahte na mare; Ah dude hire adun swiðe & forð wiðute
425fearlac o uet þidewardes & weorp hire biuoren þen
426awariede wulf & ȝeide lut-steuene. wrecche mon þet
427tu hit art. hwerto wult tu wreastlin wið þe worldes welalden.
428Hwet meadschipe makeð þe þu bittre balefule
429beaste to weorri þe þet wrahte þe & alle worldlich D'ARDENNE: porldlich þing.
430Beo nu ken & cnawes of ꝥ tet tu isehen hauest. Hu

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431mihti & hu meinful. hu heh; & hu hali is þes cristenes
432godd crist ꝥ ha herieð. Hu wrakeliche wenest tu wule
433he al wraðe wreoken o þe wrecche. þe haueð to-driuen
434wið a dunt & fordon for þe to-dei se feole þusent. &
435Monie mid alle of ꝥ heaðene folc þe alle weren isehene
436þider forte seo þis feorlich. Sone se ha þis sehen. & herden
437swa þe cwen speoken; alle somet turnden. & token to
438ȝeien. Witerliche muche wurð & wurðe alle wurðschipe
439is þes meidenes goddMS: goðd crist soð godes sune ant to
440him we kennið & cnaweð to lauerd & to heh-healent heonne-forðwardes.
441ant tine mix-maumez alle beon amanset.
442for ha ne mahe nowðer helpen ham-seoluen ne
443ham ꝥ ham seruið. þe king walde weden swa him
444gromede wið ham. Ah wið þe cwen swidest. biheolt hire
445heterliche & bigon to þreatin hire þus. o þisse wise.
446Hv nu dame dutest tu. cwen a-cangest tu nu mid alle
447þes oðre? Hwi motest tu se meadliche? Ich swerie
448bi þe mahtes of ure godes muchele. bute ȝef þu
449þe timluker do þe i þe ȝein-turn & ure godes grete
450ꝥ tu gremest nuþe; Ic schal schawin hu mi sweort bite
451i þi swire. & leote to-luki þi flesch þe fuheles of þe lufte
452& ȝet ne schalt tu nower neh se lihtliche etsterten
453ah strengre þu schalt þolien. for ich chulle leote luken
454& teo þe tittes awei of þine beare breosten. ant
455þrefter do þe to deð deruest þing to drehen. Alle þine

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456þreates ne drede ich qð ha riht noht. Eauer se þu mare
457wa & mare wene dest me for mi neowe leofmon þe
458ich on wið luue leue; se þu wurchest mi wil & mi weole
459mare. do nu þenne hihendliche ꝥ tu hauest on heorte. for
460of me ne schalt tu biȝeote nawiht mare.
461Sone se he understot wel ꝥ he ne sturede hire nawt;
462het on hat-heorte unhendeliche neomen hire & bute
463dom anan-riht þurh-driuen hire tittes wið irnene neilles
464& rende ham up hetterliche wið þe breost roten.
465As þes deoflel FOR deofles driueles drohen to fordon hire; Ha biseh
466towart katerine ant seide. Eadi meiden ernde me to þi leoue
467lauerd for hwas luue ich þolie ꝥ me bilimieð me þus.
468ꝥ he i þe tintreohe ꝥ ich am iturnt to heardi min heorte
469ꝥ tet wake ules ne wursi neauer mi mod swa ꝥ ich earni
470to ofseruin heoueriche. ꝥ ich ne for-ga neauer
471for fearlac of na pine ꝥ beo fleschlic þe crune þe crist haueð
472efter ꝥ tu cwiddest ileuet his icorene.