page 62

1    Lauerd in þe is al min hope. hald me
2mi wit wel swa & mi wil to þe. ꝥ hit ne forwurðe
3naut. for wa ꝥ me do me. ne for wele nowþer.
4ne lef þu neuer mine fan þe feondes imene.
5habben ne holden hare hoker of me as ha walden.
6ȝef ha ne mahten awarpen. Ah swa ne
7schulen ha neuer me ne nan oðer ꝥ ariht luuieð
8þe he heouenliche lauerd. þin nome beo iblescet.
9lauerd loke to me ant haue merci of me.
10softe me mi sar swa & salue mine wunden ꝥ hit
11ne seme nohwer ne suteli o mi samblant ꝥ ich derf
12drehe. þe cwelleres leiden se luðerliche on hire
13lich ꝥ tet blod bearst ut & strac a-dun of hire
14bodi as streem deð of welle.
15    Olibrius þe luðere reue bute rewðe hwil me ȝerddede
16hire þus ȝeomerliche ȝeide. stute nu & stew
17þine unwitti wordes & hercne meiden mi read & wel
18þe schal iwurðen. Alle þe þear weren wepmen & wummen

page 63

19remden of reowðe ant meanden þes meiden
20& summe of ham seiden. Margarete Margarete. meide
21swa muche wurð ȝef þu wel waldest. wa is us ꝥ we
22seoð þi softe leofliche lich to-luken se ladliche.
23weila wummon hwuch wlite þu leosest & forletest
24for þi mis-bileaue. þe reue is reowliche wrað & wule
25iwis fordo þe. ah luue nu & lef him. & tu schalt
26wummone meast wunne & weole wealden. O qð ha
27wrecches unweoten bute wit. weila hwet wene ge? gef
28mi lich is toloken; mi sawle schal resten wið þe rihtwise.
29Sorhe & licomes sar is sawulene heale. Ah
30leue ȝe D'ARDENNE: leuege ich reade ow; o þe liuiende godd D'ARDENNE: ȝodd mihti & meinful.
31& euch godes ful. þe hereð þeo þe him cleopieð
32to. & heouene-ȝetes openeð. for ow nulle ich
33iheren. ne heien nan of ower godes. þe dumbe
34beoð & deaue. & blinde & bute mihte. wið monnes
35hond imakede. Ah þu wurchest qð ha þa. to olibrium
36þe luðere þine feader werkes þe feondes of helle.
37Me þu heaðene hund þe hehe healent is min
38help. ȝef he haueð iȝettet te mi licome to teluken;
39he wule þu heatele reue. arudde mi sawle
40ut of þine honden & heouen hire into heouene.
41þah þu hongi me her. & tu grisliche gra. þu

page 64

42luðere lim lað godd. þi mihte schal unmutlin.
43& melten to riht noht & tu schalt eauer i sar
44& i sorhe swelten. hwen ich gomeni wið ȝodd &
45gleadie buten ende. He o wraððe warð for-neh
46ut of his witte. & het swiðe bitterliche hongin
47hire & heouen up herre þen ha ear wes & wið
48sweord scharpe. & ewles of irne hire freoliche
49flesch to-ronden & to-renden. Ant heo biseh
50on heh up & bigon to seggen.
51    Helle-hundes lauerd habbet bitrummet me. & hare
52read ꝥ heaneð me haueð al biset me. Ah
53þu hehe healent beo umbe me to helpen. Arude
54reowfule godd mi sawle of sweordes egge. & of
55hondes hond. for nabbe ich bute hire ane. lowse
56me lauerd ut of þe liunes muð & mi meoke mildschipe
57of þe an-ihurnde hornes. glede me godd
58wið þi gleo & ȝef me hope of heale ꝥ mi bone
59mote þurh-þurli þe heouene. Send me þi sonde
60i culurene heowe. þe cume me to helpe. ꝥ ich mi
61meiðhade mote wite to þe unwemmet & lef me
62ȝet i-seon lauerd ȝef þi wil is. þe awariede wiht

page 65

63þe weorreð aȝein me. & cuð þi mahte on me
64al-mihti godd. ꝥ ich him ouercume mahe. swa
65ꝥ alle meidnes eauer mare þurh me; þe mare
66trusten on þe. Beo þi nome iblescet alre bleo
67brihtest. in alre worldene worlt aa on ecnesse:
68    Hwil ꝥ ha spec þus; me to-lec hire swa. ꝥ te luðere
69reue for þe stronge rune of þe blodi stream
70ne nan oðer ꝥ ter wes. ne mahte for muche
71grure; lokin þiderwardes. ah hudden hare
72heafden þe heardeste i-heortet under hare mantles.
73for ꝥ seorfule sar ꝥ heo on hire isehen.
74ȝet spec & seide. Olibrius þe luðere. Hwet bihalt
75meiden ꝥ tu ne buest to me. ne nult habbe
76milce ne merci of þe-seoluen? ȝe ne felest tu þi
77flesch al to-limet & to-luken. þurh ꝥ ich hit hate?
78ah buh nu & bei to me ear þen þu deie;
79o dreori deð & derf. for ȝef þu ne dest no; þu
80schalt swelten þurh sweord. & al beo limmel
81to-loken. Ant ich wulle tellen. hwen þu al to-toren
82art. In euchanes sihðe. þe sit nu & sið þe;
83alle þine seonewen.
84    Me heateliche hund qð ha þa. þah þu al swa do;
85me schendest tu nawt. Hwen mi sawle bið biuoren
86godes sihðe in heouene; lutel me is hwet
87me do mid mi bodi on eorðe. Ah þe schulde scheomien.

page 66

88þu scheomelese schucke. ȝef þu scheome
89cuðest. þe þulli mot haldest wið a ȝung
90meiden. & spillest al þi hwile & ne spedest nawiht.
91for ȝef ich wrahte þe wil of þe flesch ꝥ tu
92fearest as þu wult wið; mi sawle. schulde sinken
93al swa as þu schalt. to sorhen in helle. ah forþi
94ich wulle wel ꝥ mi flesch forfeare her. ꝥ
95softe iesu cruni mi sawle. i þe selhðen of heouene
96& efter domes-dei do ham ba to-ȝederes.
97to weolen & to eche wunnen. þurh-wuniende.
98He se wrað ꝥ for-neh wod ha walde iwurðen.
99bed biliuesbi liuesEdition: biliues coste keasten hire i cwalm-hus. ant
100swa me dude sone. & wes as þah hit were. þe
101seoueðe time of þe dei. þet me droh hire þus
102in to dorkest wan & wurst in to cumene &
103heo hef up hire hont & blecede al hire bodi wið
104þe taken of þe hali rode. As me reat hire inwart.
105ha bigon to bidden þeos bone to ure lauerð
106    Deore-wurðe drihtin þah þine domes dearne beon
107alle ha beoð duhtie þah alle heouenliche
108þing & heorðliche baþe buheð þe & beieð. þu art
109hope & help to alle þet te herieð. þu art foster
110& feader; to helplese children. þu art weddede weole

page 67

111& widewene warant & meidenes mede. þu art
112wunne of þe world iesu crist kinebern godd ikennet
113of godd. as liht is of leome. loke lauerd to me
114Mi lif mi luue mi leofmon. & milce me þi meiden.
115Min ahne flesliche feader dude & draf me awei
116his an-lepi dohter. & mine freond aren me. for þi
117luue lauerd famen & feondes. Ah þe ich halde healent
118ba for feader & for freont ne forlet to me nawt
119liuiende lauerd. Bihald me & help me. & lef me þet
120ich mote legge mine ehnen o þe luðre unwhit þe
121weorreð aȝein me. & lef me deme wið him drihtin
122of dome. He heaneð me & heateð ant ich neauer
123nuste. ꝥ he ewt of min hearm eauerȝete hefde.
124Ah swuch is his cunde. & swa is ful of Atter his ontfule
125heorte. ꝥ he heateð euch god. ant euch hali
126þing & halewinde is him lað. þu art drihtin domesmon
127of cwike & of deade dem bituhen unc twa ne
128wraðþe þu þe mi wunne for sahe ꝥ ich segge for
129an þing i biseche þe eauer & oueral. ꝥ tu wite to þe
130mi meiðhad unmerret. Mi sawle from sunne.
131Mi wit & mi wisdom; from unwitlese wiht. In þe
132is min healent al ꝥ ich wilni. Beo þu aa iblescet
133ordfrume & ende. bute ende ant ord; aa on ecnesse.

page 68

134    Hire uostermoder wes an ꝥ frourede hire. & com
135to þe cwalm-hus & brohte hire to fode bred & burnes
136drunch ꝥ ha bileuide. Heo þa & monie ma
137biheolden þurh an eilþurl. as ha bed hire beoden
138& com ut of an hurne hihendliche towart
139hire an unwiht of helle on ana drakes liche se
140grislich ꝥ ham gras wið ꝥ sehen þet unselhðe
141glistinde as þah he al ouerguld were. His lockes
142& his longeberd blikeden al of golde & his grisliche
143teð. semden of swart irn his twa ehnen.
144steareden steappre þen þe steoren & ten ȝimstanes.
145brade ase bascins. In his ihurnde heaued
146on eiðer half on his heh hokede nease. Of his
147speatewile muð; sperclede fur ut. & of his nease-þurles;
148þreste smorðrinde smoke smecche
149forcuðest. & lahte ut his tunge se long ꝥ he
150swong hire a-buten his swire. & semde as þah a
151scharp sweord of his muð scheate. þe glistnede

page 69

152ase gleam deð & leitede al o leie. & al warð
153ꝥ stude ful of strong & of stearc stench. & of
154þes schucke schadewe. schimmede & schan al. He
155strahte him & sturede toward tis meoke meiden.
156& geapede wið his genow up-on hire ungeinliche
157ant bigon to crahien & crenge wið swire. as þe
158þe hire walde forswolhe mid alle. ȝef ha agrisen
159wes of ꝥ grisliche gra; nes na muche wunder.
160Hire bleo bigon to blakien. for þe grure ꝥ grap
161hire & for þe fearlac offruht; forȝet hire bone
162ꝥ ha ibeden hefde. ꝥ ha iseon moste þen unsehene
163unwiht. ne nawt ne þohte þron ꝥ hire nu were
164ituðet hire bone. Ah smat smeortliche a-dun
165hire cneon to þer eorðe. & hef hire honden up
166hehe toward heouene wið þeos bone to crist þus cleopede.
167    Unseheliche godd euch godes ful hwas wreadðe
168is se gromful ꝥ helle ware & heouenes.
169& alle cwike þinges cwakieð þer-aȝeines. aȝein þis
170eisfule whit ꝥ hit ne eili me nawt help me mi la-lauerd.
171þu wrahtest & wealdest alle worldliche þing.
172þeo ꝥ te heieð & herieð. in heouene & alle þe þinges
173þe eardið on eorðe. þe fisches þe i þe flodes fleoteð
174wið finnes. þe flihinde fuheles þe fleoð bi þe lufte

page 70

175& al ꝥ iwraht is wurcheð ꝥ ti wil is. & halt þine heastes
176bute mon ane. þe sunne reccheð hire rune wið-uten
177euch reste. þe mone & te steorren þe walkeð bi þe
178lufte ne stutteð. ne ne studegið. ah sturieð aa
179mare ne nohwider of þe wei ꝥ tu hauest iwraht
180ham ne wrencheð. ha neaure. þu steorest þe seastrem.
181ꝥ hit flede ne mot fir þen þu merkest. þe
182windes. þe wederes. þe wudes. & te weattres buheð þe
183& beið. feondes habbeð fearlac. & engles of þin eie.
184þe wurmes & te wilde deor ꝥ o þis wald wunieð libbet efter
185þe lahe ꝥ tu ham hauest iloket luuewende lauerd ant
186tu loke to me & help me þin hondiwerc. for al min
187hope is o þe. þu herhedest helle & ouercome ase kempe þe
188acursede gast þe fundeð to for-do me. ah her me nu
189& help me. for nabbe ich i min nowcin nanes cunnes
190elne bute þin ane. Wið þis uuel wite me. for ich truste
191al o þe. & ti wil iwurðe hit deorwurðe lauerd ꝥ ich þurh
192þi strengðe mahe stonden wið him. & his muchele ouergart
193ꝥ ich hit mote afeallen. low he fundeð swiðe
194me to for-swolhen & weneð to beore me in-to
195his balefule hole þer he wuneð inne. Ah
196o þin bliffuleblisfuleMS bliffule, but see fn in edition nome ich blesci me nuðe. & droh

page 71

197þa ende-long hire & þwertouer þrefter þe
198deorewurðe taken. of þe deore rode ꝥ he on
199reste. ant te drake reasde to hire mid tet
200ilke. & sette his sariliche muð. & unmeaðlich
201muchel on heh on hire heaued & rahte ut his
202tunge to þe ile of hire helen & swengde hire
203in & forswelh into his wide wombe. Ah criste to
204wurðmund & him to wraðer-heale. for þe rode
205taken redliche arudde hire ꝥ ha wes wið iwepnet
206& warð his bone sone. swa ꝥ his bodi to-bearst
207o-midhepes o twa. Ant þet eadi meiden allunge
208unmerret. wið-uten eauer-euch wem wende
209ut of his wombe heriende on heh hire healent
210in heouene.
211    As ha biheold lokinde up-on hire riht half.
212þa seh ha hwer set an unsehen unwiht. muche
213deale blackre þen eauer eani blamon. Se
214grislich se ladlich. ꝥ ne mahte hit na mon redliche
215areachen. & his twa honden to his cnurnede
216cneon heteueste ibunden. & heo þa ha seh
217þis. feng to þonkin þus ant herien hire
218healent.
219    Brihtest bleo of alle ꝥ eauer weren iborene.
220blostme iblowen & iboren of meidenes bosum
221iesu. godð godes bearn iblescet ibeo þu. Ich am

page 72

222gomeful & glead lauerd forþifor þiEdition: forþi, but see fn godlec keiser of
223kinges; drihtin undeadlich. þu haldest & heuest
224up treowe bileaue. þu art welle of wisdom. & euch
225wunne waxeð. & awakeneð of þe. þu art englene weole
226ꝥ wealdest & witest. ham wið-uten wonunge. Me
227gomeneð & gleadeð. al of gaftelichegastelicheEdition: gafteliche murhden.
228Me mihti godd makeles is ꝥ eani wunder? ȝe iseo
229ich lauerd blowinde mine bileaue. Ich habbe isehen
230hu þe feond þe wende to fordo me; to-feol efne atwa.
231& felde hu his fule stench strac & sturede aweiwart.
232Ich habbe isehen þe wurse of helle her awarpen.
233& te monslahe islein. þe stronge þurs
234astoruen. Ich habbe isehen his ouergart & egede
235orhel earheliche auellet. Ich habbe isehe þe rode
236þe arudde me se redliche of his reowliche rake hu
237ha ꝥ balefule wurm & ꝥ bittre beast makede to bersten.
238Ich habbe isehen hali & halewende eoli as hit lihte
239to me. & ich me-seolf smelle of þe swote iesu swottre
240þen eauer eani þing ꝥ is on eorðe. Ich habbe sehen
241blisse & ich blissi me þrof. iweolei weoleEdition: iweole. & i wunne is nu þet
242ich wunie. Ne nes me neauer se wa; as me is wel
243nu. þe ich hit þoncki þolemode lauerd. Ich habbe adun

page 73

244þe drake i dustidust. & his kenschipe akest. ant he swelteð
245ꝥ me wende to forswolhen. Ich am kempe
246& he is crauant & ouercumen. Ah þe ich þonki
247þrof þe kingene king art echeliche icrunet.
248Sorhfule & sari & sunfule toturn. wondrinde &
249wrecches & wonlese wisent. castel of strengðe
250aȝein þe stronge unwiht. Meidenes murhde. &
251martyrs crune. mel-seotel softest & guldene
252ȝerde alre gold smeatest. ant glistinde ȝimstan
253of alle seheliche & unseheliche ba. swotest & swetest
254alre schefte schuppent. þrumnesse þreouald
255& anuald þe-hweðere. þrile i þreo hades. & an
256in an hehschipe. heh hali godð euch godes ful
257beo þu eauer & aa iheret & iheiet bute limunge.

page 81

258    Stew þe qð ha sari whit. & sei me hwer þu wunest
259meast. of hwet cun þu art ikumen of. & ti
260cunde cuð me. & þurh hwas heaste heane ȝe hali
261men. & hearmið & weorrið hare werkes. Ah
262sei me seli meiden. hweonne is þe ilenet i þine
263leoðebeie limen. se stealewurðe strengðe? of hwet
264cunde kimeð þe þi luue & ti bileaue. ꝥ leið
265me se lahe? Cuð me nu & ken me hwi þe worldes
266wealdent wuneð wummon in þe. & hu he
267com in-to þe. & ich chulle makie þe war of alle
268mine wiheles. Steu þe & stille beo qð ha of þin
269easkunge. ȝe nart tu nawt wurðe awariede fulwiht.
270to here mi steauene. Ant hure to understonden.
271se dearne & se derf þing of godes dihelnesse.

page 82

272Ah hwet se ich am. & hwuch-se ich am þurh
273godes grace ich hit am. Wil-ȝeoue unoseruet.
274ꝥ he haueð me iȝettet. forȝelde hit him-seoluen.
275Ah swiðe cuð me & ken ꝥ ich easki efter. ȝe qð
276he ich mot nede.
277    Sathanas þe unseli þe for his prude of parais.
278lihte se lahe; he is keiser & king icrunet of
279us alle. Ant hwerto schulde ich telle þe & wið talen
280tealen lufsume leafdi of ure cunde. & ure cun ꝥ
281tu cost þe-seolf iseon i iamemes & i manbres bokes
282ibreuet. Swuch fearlac ich fele for sihðen ꝥ ich
283iseo crist seche to þe. ꝥ speoken i ne dear nawt. Ah
284diueri. & dearie drupest alre þinge. þah hwen þu
285wult witen; we liuieð bi þe lufte al þet measte
286deal eadi meiden. Ant ure weies beoð abufen wið
287þe windes. ant beoð aa wakere to wurchen al ꝥ
288wa ꝥ we eauer mahe moncun. & mest rihtwise
289men & meidnes as þu art. for iesu crist godes bern
290wes of meiden iboren. & þurh þe mihte of
291meidhad wes moncun iborhen. bi-numen & bi-reauet
292us al ꝥ we ahten. Nu þu wast leafdi ꝥ tu
293wite waldest. hwer we meast wunieð. & hwi we meast
294heaneð & heatieð þe meidnes. ȝet ȝef þu wite wult
295hwi we weorið meast rihtwise þeines? Ich þe onswerie.
296for onde ꝥ et aa & eauer ure heorte. we witen
297ha beoð iwrahte to stihen to ꝥ stude. ꝥ we of feollen.
298& us þuncheð hokerlich & swiðe holes þrof.

page 83

299swa ꝥ teone ontent us. & we iwurdeð wode þurh
300þe grome ꝥ us gromeð aa wið þe gode for ꝥ
301is ure cunde ꝥ i þe schulde kennen. beon sorhful
302& sari for euch monnes selhðe. gomenin
303hwen he gulteð. ne neauer mare ne beo gleade
304bute of uuel ane. þis is ure cunde makelese
305meiden. Ah deore drihtines lomb leoðe me a lutel.
306& leowse leafdi þi fot þe sit me se sare. Ich
307halsi þe o godes half heh heouenlich feader.
308& o iesues nome his an sulliche sune. ꝥ mon ne
309wummon ne mahe neauer mare heonne-uorð
310warpe me heonne. Ah þu brihte burde bind me
311on eorðe. & ne warp þu me nawt neoðer in-to
312helle. for Salomon þe wise hwile he her wunede;
313bitunde us in a tunne & comen babilones men.
314& wenden forte habben golthord ifunden & tobreken
315ꝥ feat & we forð & fulden þa þe widnesse
316of þe worlde.
317    Stille beo þu stille. qð ha earmest alre þinge.
318ne schalt tu alde schucke motin wið me
319mare. Ah flih sorhfule feond of min ehsihðe.
320& def þider as þu mon ne derue namare. wið
321ꝥ illke þe eorðe to-tweamde. & bitunde him. &
322he rarinde rad ruglunge in-to helle.
323    Ine marhen sende hise men olibrius þe luðere

page 84

324to bringen. hire biuoren him. & heo blescede
325hire & com baldeliche forð. striken men þiderward
326of eauer-euch strete for to seo ꝥ sorhe þet
327me walde leggen on hire leofliche bodi. ȝef
328ha to þe reues read ne buhe ne ne beide.
329    Meiden qð he Margarete. ȝet ich bidde & bodie.
330ꝥ tu wurche mi wil & wurðgi mine maumez.
331& te tide & te time schal beon iblescet ꝥ
332tu ibore were. Nai qð ha ne kepe ich nawt ꝥ
333me blesci me swa. Ah hit were þi ȝein & ti god
334baðe. ꝥ tu þe geast unblescet efter blesceunge
335ga & heie godd al-mihti heh heouenliche feader
336& his selcude sune iesu crist ꝥ is soð mon & goð
337noðeletere. Ah þu witlese wiht wurchest as þu art
338wurðe; blodles & banles. dumbe & deaue baðe. &
339ȝet tu wurchest wurse. for þe unsehene unwihtes
340wunieð ham in-wið. Ant tu ase þine lauerdes. luuest ham & heiest D'ARDENNE: heieft
341    Him bigon to gremien
342& o grome gredde. Strupeð hire steort-naket
343& heoueð hire on heh up; Swa ꝥ ha hongi to mede
344of hire hokeres & on-tendeð hire bodi wið bearninde
345teaperes. þe driueles unduhtie swa duden
346sone. ꝥ te hude snawhwit swartede as hit snercte.
347& bearst on to bleinin as hit aras ouer-al & hire
348leofliche lich reschte of þe leie swa ꝥ alle remden.

page 85

349ꝥ on hire softe siden sehen ꝥ rewðe. Ant heo
350bigon to bidden dauiðes bone. heh healent godd
351wið þe halewende fur of þe hali gast moncune
352froure. froure min heorte. & te lei of þi luue
353leiti i mine lenden. ȝet him cweð olibrius reuene luðerest.
354    Lef meiden mi read wurch ꝥ
355ich wilni. Ear þen þu ꝥ lif luðerliche lete. Luðerliche
356ich liuede qð ha ȝef ich þe ilefde. Ah ȝef
357ich þus deie? mi deað is deorewurðe & dure in-to
358eche liue. þu swenchest te swiðe. & ne spedest
359nawhit. forte wurchen on me meiden an ꝥ ich am.
360Ah wergest þe-seoluen mi lauerd haued mine limen
361sunderliche iseilet. & haueð to mi ȝimstan ꝥ
362ich ȝettede him iȝarket & iȝeue me kempene
363crune. þa warð he swiðe wod & bed o wreððe bringen
364forð A uetles ful of weattre. & binden hire baþe
365þe fet & te honden & dusten to þe grunde. ꝥ ha
366deah drohe & druncnede þerinne. Me dude as he don
367het. & heo biheold on heh up & cleopede towart heouene.
368    Alre kingene king brec mine bondes
369ꝥ ich & alle ꝥ soð hit. heien þe & herien. þis weater

page 86

370mote iwurðe me wunsum & softe. & lef me ꝥ
371hit to me; beo beað of blisse. & fulluht of fontstan.
372halhunge & leome. of eche lif. heale. Cume
373þe haligast o culures iliche þe o þi blisfule nome
374blesci þeos weattres. festne wið fulluht mi sawle
375to þe-seoluen. & wið þes ilke weattres wesch me
376wið-innen. & warp from me a-wei eauer-euch
377sunne. & bring me to þi brihte bur brudgume
378of wunne. Ich underuo her fulluht o deore drihtines
379nome & on his deorewurðe sunes. & o þes hali
380gastes on godd i godlec itunet & unto-dealet. Nefde
381bute iseid swa; ꝥ al þe eorðe ne bigon to cwakien
382& to cwauien. & com a culure beornind se briht
383as þah ha bearnde a guldene crune. & sette hire
384oꝥ seli meidenes heaued. wið ꝥ ilke breken & bursten
385hire bondes & heo ase schene ase schininde
386sunne wende up of þe weater singinde a loftsong.
387ꝥ dauið þe witege wrahte feor þer-biuoren
388criste to wurdmunt mi luf-sume lauerd. qð ha he
389cudeð ase king ꝥ he rixleð ariht. feierlec &
390strengðe. beoð hise schrudes. & igurd he is ham
391on; þet acumeliche fearen & semliche sitten.
392    Cvm qð þe culure wið schilinde steauene. ant

page 87

393stih to þe wunne & to þe weole of heouene.
394Eadi were þu meiden. þa þu chure meiðhad. þe
395of alle mihtes is cwen. for-þi þu schalt. aa bruken
396in blisse buten ende crunene brihtest.
397    O ꝥ ilke time turden to ure lauerd; fif þusent
398men ȝet wið-uten itald children & wummen.
399& alle weren anan-riht as þe reue
400het hit o cristes kinewurðe nome hefdes bicoruen.
401In a burh of armenie caplimet inempnet.
402alle heriende godd wið up-aheue steuene;
403& stihen alle martyrs wið murhde to heouene.
404    Þe reue rudnede al of grome se him gromede
405& ward swa wrað & swa awed; ꝥ he al o wodschipe
406demde hire to deaþe. & het on hot-heorte
407ꝥ me hire heued wið schimminde D'ARDENNE: schimmnde & scharp sweord
408wið blikinde & bitel brond to-tweamde from
409þe bodie. leiden honden on hire þeo þe ihaten
410weren & bunden hire ꝥ tet blod bearst ut et
411te neiles. & wið-ute þe burh. ledden to biheafdin.
412    Meiden qð Malcus streche forð ꝥ swire scharp
413sweord to underuon. for ich mot þi bone beon.
414& ꝥ me is wa uore. ȝef ich mahte þer-wið.
415for ich iseo godd seolf wið his eadie engles
416bitrumme þe abuten. Abid me þenne broþer

page 88

417qð ha hwil ꝥ ich ibidde me. & biteache him mi
418gast & mi bodi baðe. to ro; & to reste. I bide
419þe baldeliche. hwil þe god likeð. & heo bigon
420on hire cneon forte cneolin adun. & bliðe wið
421þeos bone ber on heh iheuen up honden towart heouene.
422    Drihtin leodes lauerd duhtie. ꝥah ha dearne
423beon. & derne þine domes. me is nu deað
424idemet her. & wið þe; lif ilenet. þi milde milce
425ich þonki hit þu folkes feader of frumscheft
426schuptest aꝥal ꝥMS: aꝥ ischepen is. þu wisest wurhte of
427alle. merkedest þe heouene & mote wið þi strahte
428hond. & wið þe icluhte þe eorðe. þu steores mon
429of sea-stream. þu wissent & wealdent of alle
430wiht þe iwrahte beoð seheliche ant unsehene.
431buh þine earen healent godd. & bei to mine
432benen. Ich bidde & biseche þe; ꝥ art mi weole &
433wunne. ꝥ hwa-se eauer boc writ of mi lif-lade.
434oðer bi-ȝet hit iwriten oðer halt hit & haueð.
435oftest on honde. oðer hwa-se hit eauer redeð oðer
436þene redere. bliðeliche lusteð wealdent of heouene
437wurðe ham alle sone hare sunnen for-ȝeuene.

page 89

438Hwa-se on mi nome makeð chapele oðer
439chirche. oðer findeð in ham liht; oðer lampe;
440þe leome ȝef ham lauerd. & ȝette him of heouene.
441I þet hus þer wummon pineð o childe; Sone se
442ha munneð þi nome. & mi pine lauerd; lauerd hihendliche
443help hire & her hire bene. ne i þe hus
444ne beo iboren. na mis-limet bearn nowðer halt
445ne houeret. Nowðer dumbe ne deaf ne ideruet
446of deofle. & hwa-se eauer mi nome munegeð wið
447muðe. luueliche lauerd. et te lelaste. dom ales him. from deaðe.
448    Wið þis þa þuhte hit as þah
449a þunre dunede. & com a culure se briht
450as þah ha bearnde. of heouene. wið a rode leitinde
451of liht & of leome. & te meiden duuelungc
452feol dun to þer eorðe. & com þe culure ant ran
453hire & rihte up; wið þe rode. & seide hire sweteliche
454to wið swotest a steauene. Eadi art tu meiden
455bimong alle wummen. ꝥ eoli halwende hauest
456& halsum isoht efter. & alle sunfule men
457imuneget i þine benen. & i þine eadie beoden. Bi meseolf
458ich swerie. & bi min heouenlich hird. ꝥ tine
459beoden beoð þe treoweliche ituðet. & for alle þeo

page 90

460iherd; þe þu uore ibeden hauest. & muche mare
461is iȝeuen to þeo þe munieð þi nome. & iȝettet
462moni þing; ꝥ nu nis nawt imuneget. Hwerse
463eauer þi bodi. oðer ei of þine ban beon. oder
464boc of þi pine; cume þe sunfule mon. & legge
465his muð þer-up-on; ich salui him his sunnen.
466ne ne schal nan unwhit wunien in þe wanes. þer
467þi martyrdom is iwriten inne. & alle of þe þus
468schulen gleadien i godes grið. & i gasteliche luue
469& alle þe þe biddeð to ȝarkin ich ȝetti ham of hare
470bruchen bote. & tu art eadi & te stude ꝥ tu on restet.
471Ant alle þeo þe þurh þe schulen turne to me.
472Cum nu for ich kepe þe brud to þi brudgume. Cum
473leof to þi lif. for ich copni þi cume. brihtest bur
474abitt te leof hihe þe to me. Cum nu to mi kinedom.
475leaf ꝥ leode se lah. & tu schalt wealde wið
476me. al ꝥ ich iwald ah.
477    Þe steuene stutte & heo stod up alre burde
478blidest. & bigon to bidden þeo þe hire abuten
479weren. & hire deað bi-wopen. ꝥ ha schulde þolien.
480leoteð nu & leaueð ower ladliche nurð. & gleadeð
481alle wið me. þe me god unnen. for ȝe habbeð iherd.
482ȝef ȝe hercneden riht. Hwet te hehe healent
483haueð me bihaten. Ant as ȝe luuieð ow-seolf leofliche

page 91

484ich ow leare. ꝥ ȝe habben mi nome muchel
485ine munde. For ich chulle bidden for þeo
486bliðeliche in heouene. þe ofte munneð mi D'ARDENNE: ni nome.
487& munegeð on eorðe. wið bliðe heorte beoreð me
488genge for te herien þe king ꝥ haueð icore me
489worldes wurhte. & wealdent of alle iwrahte þinges.
490þe ich þonki þrof. þe ich heie & herie heouenliche
491healent. for þi deorewurðe nome ich habbe
492i-drohe nowcin. & neome deað nuðe. ant tu nim
493me to þe; godd of al ꝥ god is ordfrume & ende.
494Beo þu aa iblescet & ti blisfule sune iesu crist bi
495his nome. wið þe hali gast ꝥ glit of inc baðe.
496ȝe þreo ant tah an; in hades to-tweamet, in
497hehschipe unto-dealet iteit & itunet an godd unagin.
498wurdschipe & wurðmunt wurðe to þe ane
499from worlde in-to worlde aa on ecnesse.
500    Efter þeos bone þa beah ha þe swire. & cweð to
501se cwellere. Do nu broðer hihendliche ꝥ te is
502ihaten. Nai qð he nulle ich no. for ich habbe
503iherd hu drihtines deore muð haueð wið þe imotet.
504þu most qð þe meiden nedunge don hit. for
505ȝef þu ne dest no; ne schalt tu habbe wið me dale
506THE PRECEDING LINE FROM THE COMPUTER TAPE UNDERLYING
507D'ARDENNES'S EDITION: IN THE PRINTED EDITION LINE 9 ERRONEOUS
508in heoueriche. Ant he wið ꝥ hef up hetelest alre
509wepne ant smat smeotliche a-dun ꝥ te dunt defde

page 92

510in. & ꝥ bodi beide & ꝥ scherpe sweord scher
511hire wið þe schuldren & beah to þer eorðe. & te
512gast steah up to ꝥ istirrede bur bliðe to heouene.
513He þe þene dunt ȝef; ȝeide mit tet ilke. Drihtin
514do me merci. & milce of þis dede of þis sunne
515lauerd loke me salue. & feol of fearlac adun
516on hire riht-halue.
517    Comen lihtinte þa þe engles of leome. & seten
518ant sungen on hire bodi bilehwit & iblesceden
519hit. þe feondes þe þer weren deadliche idoruen.
520fengen to ȝeien. Margarete meiden. leoðe
521nuðe lanhure. & lowse ure bondes. we beoð wel
522icnawen. ꝥ nis na lauerd bute godd. þe þu on leuest.
523Turnden þa þurh þis to crist swiðe monie.
524Ant comen dumbe & deaue to hire bodi as hit
525lei. & botneden alle. þe engles as ha beren þe
526sawle in hare bearmes; sihen towart heouene.
527Ant sungen ase ha stuhen up wið sweteste steuene.
528Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus Dominus deus sabaot. & cetera. Hali
529is. Hali is. þe lauerd of heouenliche weordes.

page 93

530heouene is ful & eorðe of þine wurþfule weolen.
531Alre wihte wealdent. in hehnesse heal us; Iblescet
532beo þe bearnnes cume. þe com i drihtines nome.
533heale in hehnesse. wið ꝥ; þa bigunnen þe gastes
534of helle to þeoten. & to ȝellen. & tuhen alle
535to hire bodi þe untrume weren; & hefden hare heale.