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1THE BEGINNING OF THE MS. IS LOST.
2    æni mann mai don. Alle hie bieð forsakene on godes awene muðe,
3ðe ðus seið: Vade prius reconciliari fratri tuo, 'Ga arst
4and seihtle wið ðine broðer. Nis me nan ofrende swa lief swa
5godes luue and alre mannes.'
6
7

OF SORINESSE.

8
9    Giet is an oðer derne senne ðe me and maniȝe oðre saule hafð
10beswiken. Hie hatte tristicia , þat is, sarinesse. Þes is an
11of ðe heued-sennes, ðeih hie dierne bie. Hie is icleped sarinesse,
12tristicia mortem operante, 'sarinesse deað wurchende,' for
13ðan hire ofþingþ of alle gode ðe aȝunnen bieð for godes luue te
14donne. Ðes awerȝede gast, hie makeð ðane religiuse man, ðe alle
15woreld-þing for godes luue hafð forlaten, sari and drieri and heui
16on godes workes, and ofte doð ofþenchen þat he æure swo haueð
17idon. Al swo he deð þo men ðe sennen habbeð forhaten te laten,
18and swa hie doð iec ðo menn ðe habbeð gode behaten god te
19donne, oðer halȝe to sechen, oðer to fasten, oðer sum oðer god te
20donne. On alle wise he fandeð hu he muȝe gode weorkes letten,
21oððe mid ofðanche and mid sarinesse and unbleðeliche hes don
22don .
23
24

OF A-SOLKNESSE. VNLUST.

25
26    Ðies swikele senne haueð ȝiet ane suster, ðe is icleped accidia ,
27ðat is, asolkenesse, ðe me haueð ðurh mire ȝemeleaste
28maniȝe siðes beswiken. Hie me haueð imaked heuy and slaw on
29godes weorkes ðurh idelnesse; hie me haueð ofte idon eten oðermannes
30sare swink all un-of-earned. Ofte hie me haueð idon
31slæpen ðar ic scolde wakien on godes seruise be daiȝe and be nihte.
32Swilch hit non oðer bien ne mihte. Ðies awerȝede senne is on of
33ðe heued-sennes, and hie beswikð mucheles ðe mare ðe me of hire

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34litel ȝeme nimþ. Þat is þe ænde of ðessere senne, ðat hie wolde
35ðat man none ȝieme ne name of him seluen, ac ðat he on slauþhe
36and on ydelnesse his lif ladde anon to his ande-daiȝe, and ðat he
37herfore wurðe fordemd into helle pine. Ðis is soð, neme ȝeme se
38ðe wile!
39
40

OF MODINESSE. PRIDE.

41
42    Hierafter cumþ an oðer, ðe is i-cleped superbia , þat is,
43modinesse. Hie was anȝinn of alle sennes, and hie brohte
44ðane brihteste angel fram ðare heuene heinesse niþer into helle
45depnesse. Of hire is ȝewriten: Ðeus superbis resistit, 'Godd
46wiðstant alle modi mannen.' Forðan hie bieð godes wiðerwinen,
47alle ðo ðe willen hem seluen heiȝin. Godd seið him self ðat hie
48sculen bien ineðerede. Hierfore ic am neðer and unmihti, forðan
49ic habbe ȝeben prud and modi, and michel ilaten of me seluen.
50Ne ðese wereȝede heaued-senne ic næure ne hatede ne ne scunede
51swa swa ic scolde, ac ofte ich dede ðurh hire ðat ðe godd nolde.
52Wa me ðas! Ðies ilche modinesse, ðeih hie habbe hlot and dale
53mang alle oðre sennes, naðelæs hie haueð ane, ðe is hire swiðe
54neih and swiðe hersum, ðe me haueð swiðe ofte beswiken, þat is,
55Vana Gloria, idel wulder oðer idel ȝelp. Ðies dieð ðe manne
56ðe ðurh hire is beswiken ðat he twifealdeð his senne; alswo ðe
57man ðe haueð islaȝe anne mann aȝeanes godes forbode, ðanne ȝelpð
58he ðat he is wel iwreken of his unwine; oðer ȝif he hafð beswiken
59an maiden, oðer an riche lafdi ðe is bewedded, ðar of he lat ðe
60bett of him seluen, and swa he wurð beswiken. For ðan he næure
61ðis ne beweop, ac ȝet ðar to more he ecð, ðat is, ȝif he for his
62sennes farð ut of lande halȝen te seken, oðer he michel fast, oðer
63almesse doð, ðat he ofte biȝelpð, oðer on swilche wise hes dieð, ðat
64he herienge ðar of hafð and swa hes forliest. Ðarof seið ðat godspell:
65Receperunt mercedem suam, 'Hie habbeð inumen here
66lean.' Ðat bieð alle ðe ani god doð, and ðar of herienge luuieð.
67Ðencheð herof ȝe ðe doð ȝewer god teforen mannen! Sume oðre
68forlæteþ ðe world and nimeð ðe cloðes of religiun, and sone hem
69seluen healdeð for hali, and unwurð healdeþ of oðre, ðe neure ȝiete

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70bieteð here aȝene sennen mid eadmodnesse ne mid soðre berewsinge.
71Sume læteð wel of hem seluen, ȝif hie bieð of heiȝe kenne, oðer
72ȝif he bie of heiȝe menstre, oðer ȝif he hafð sum hei obedience, oðer
73ȝif menn of ðe world hes healdeð for hali menn; hie forȝiteð to
74swiðe hem seluen wið-innen, and harkieð to ðe idele werkes wiðuten.
75Her-of ic am becnawe me self ðat ðies iwerȝede gast me
76hafð idon, ðat ic am swiðe forȝelt aȝeanes mine laferde god almihtin.
77
78

OF VNBUHSUMNESSE.

79
80    Giet ic habbe muchel misdon ðurh ane oðre senne þe is
81ȝecleped inobediencia , þat is, unhersumnesse. Al swa ðe
82angel was ȝedriuen ut of heuene riche for modinesse, swa was
83Adam, ure forme fader, ut of paradise for ðessere unhersumnesse.
84For hire he ðolede deað, and seððen all mankenn, and ðe pine of
85helle ma ðanne fif ðusend wintre, al hwat Crist him liesde wið
86hersumnesse. Alle ðe ðis isieð, and radeð, oðer ȝehiereð, i bidde
87and warni, for ðe luue of gode and for ȝuer lieue saule, þat ȝie hatien
88and scunien, ouer alle þing, ðes awerȝhede senne. For hire
89we sculen alle deað þolien, al swo habben idon ðe te-foren us wæren.
90Hie is kæie of alle oðre sennes; non senne ne mai bien idon bute
91ðurh unhersumnesse. Al swo diepliche hafð godd us forboden
92alle heaued-sennes, swo he dede Adame ðe treu of paradise, aiðer
93ðurh ðare ealde laȝwe and iec ðurh ðare niewe. Hwat do ic,
94wrecche saule, ðe am forgilt ðurh unhersumnesse, for ði ðat ic
95naure hersum ne habbe ibien, ne gode, ne mine gastliche faderes, ne
96min cristendom, ne obedience nauerȝiete wel ne hield? Ac bidde
97we alle ure lauerd Crist, ðe was hersum his fader anon to ðe deaðe

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98þat, al swo we forlieseð ðis scorte lif ðurh unhersumnesse, ðat he
99us ȝiue mihte ðat we moten him bien hersum on alle gode woerkes
100anaon to ðe deaðe, and swa cumeð forð in to ðe eche liue ðe he hafð
101us behoten ðurh his mildce.
102
103

OF OÐES SUERIINGGE.

104
105    Giet hier is mare of ðe eueles kennes sade, ðe me hafð ofte
106idon godes aȝwene name forsweren and ec his halȝen, and
107a manies kennes me seluen to weriȝen, oðer sume of mine friende
108ðe ic halp to sweriȝen, and on swilche wise wende helpen unc
109baðe, and brohte unc baðe in to muchele harme. Þis isic dede aȝean
110godes bebode, ðe seið: Nolite iurare, neque per celum neque
111per terram, 'Ne sweriȝeð, naiðer ne be heuene ne be ierðe, ne bie
112nan oðer ðing, bute ia, ia, næi, nai.' Al þat we more sweriȝeð,
113swo it is euel and senne. Sume weneð bien sacleas of ðessere
114senne, for ðan ðe me nett hem to ðan aðe. Þeih me niede me to
115ðan aðe, me ne net me noht te forsweriȝen, ac soð te seggen
116of ðan ðe ic am bicleped. Ȝif ic ware riht cristeneman, ic wolde
117bliðelicor þoliȝen ðas lichames deað, ðanne ic wolde ðe wrecchede
118saule sa rewliche acwellan.
119
120

OF LESINGE.

121
122    Oft ic habbe beuolen an oðer senne, fram ðat ic cuðe speken, ȝiet
123to ðese daiȝe, ðat is mendatium be name, ðat is, leasinge,
124ðe all Adames ofspring hafð be-smiten, ðe speken cuðen oðer
125mihten, wið-uten Crist ane, ðe is mid rihte icleped soðh, and sæinte
126Marie, his moder. Ðe selue dieuel is icleped mid rihte fader of
127leasinge, ða ða he sade: Ero similis altissimo, 'Ic scal bien
128ȝelich ðan heisten.' Ðis was ðe forme leasinge ðe æure was
129ȝefunde. Ðar ðu luȝe, ðu lease dieuel, and swa ðu diest ȝiet, of al
130ðat tu aure behatst. Ðu me þencst wel to wreiȝen to-fore gode for
131ðessere senne; ac ic wreiȝe me nu te-fore gode and teforen alle
132his halȝen, and te forsake and alle ðine leasinges. Nis nan ðing
133mare aȝeanes Criste, ðe is icleped soð, ðanne is leasinge. Bie war
134se ðe wile!
135

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136

OF HEUELE BAFTESPACHE.

137
138    Detractio hatte an oðer senne, ðe reaueð godes luue of
139mannes hierte, ðat is, euel bafte-spache. Hie me haueð ofte
140ȝemaked forȝielt aȝeanes godes forbode, ðe me forbett alle euele
141spaches, and ðus me undernemð: Sedens aduersus fratrem
142tuum loquebaris, 'Ðu sate,' he seið, 'aȝeanes ðine broðer,
143ðe ælche dai baðe clepieð to me, ðe am ȝure fader, and seggeð:
144pater noster. Aȝeanes him ðu spake god, bafte him euele, þat
145he it ne herde. Ðus ðu dedest, and ic was stille; and for ði ðu
146wendest þat ic ðe ware ilich, þat hit likede me swa swa hit dede
147ðe. Ac ðu scalt stonden tefore me a domesdaiȝe, and teforen all
148mankenne, ðar ic ðe scal undernemen mid ða ilche wordes ðe ðu
149ofte hafst ȝeherd for ðe te warnien, and ðus cweðen: Dilexisti
150maliciam super benignitatem . Ðat is: 'Ðu luuedest euelnesse
151mare ðanne godnesse, unrihtwisnesse more to spekene ðanne rihtwisnesse;
152for ði ðe scal god almihti forliesen, baðe lichame and
153saule. Ga awei fram me, ðu ȝewereȝede, forð modmid te dieule!'
154Hwa is ðat nis ofdradd of ðese muchele ðþunresleiȝ ðe cumþ
155ut of godes auȝene muðe? Nime ȝieme se ðe wile! Hu michel
156haht hit is godes forbod te brekene!
157
158

OF SWICEDOME.

159
160    Giet ich habbe ma vnðeawes beuolen. Ic habbe beswiken
161min emcristen mid faire wordes ðe ic to him habbe ȝespeken,
162and oðerlicor mid weorkes him ȝekydd, and uppe mine lahfulnesse
163ofte him behet, þat ic næure eft him neȝelæste. Gif ich at him
164ani þing bouhte oðer him sealde, æure me was leuere þat ic biȝate
165and he forlure, ðanne unker chepinge bileafde. Godd us forbett
166ðat we ne sculen habbe twifeald wæiȝe ne twifeald imett, ac ðat
167we sculen bliðeliche ȝiuen and leanen, wið-uten erðliche mede, alle
168ðe niede habbeð and us for his luue besecheð of ðan ilche gode ðe
169he us hafð ilænd. Soþ to seggen, ic not ȝif ich auerȝete ani ðing
170dede ðat ic nolde habbe sumes kennes lean, oðer of ðouhtes

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171oðer of wordes oðer of weorkes; and ȝif ic nadde, me ðuhte þat hit
172nas naht wel betowen, ðar ic hit idon hadde.
173
174

OF WERȜHINDE.

175
176    Eft we findeð ðat ðe apostel seið: Maledici rengnum dei
177non possidebunt, ðat bieð: 'Ða werȝinde menn, ðe swa
178bleðeliche willeð werȝien, þat hie naure on heuenriche wuniȝen ne
179muȝen,' for ði ðat hie werȝieð godes handiwerc, ðe he hafð iblesced.
180Herof ic am sceldi, and wel am becnawe ðat ic ȝewerȝed
181habbe aiðer ȝe hodede ȝe leawede, sibbe and framde, and mani þing
182ðe ic werȝi ne scolde.
183
184

OF VNÐOLEMODNESSE.

185
186    Inpaciencia hatte an oðer senne, þat is, unþolemodnesse. Hie
187benemð ðe manne ðe hie ouermai, ðat he ne mai wealden
188him seluen ne a þouhtes, ne on wordes, ne on weorkes. Swa hie
189haueð me idon aure to ofte. Þurh hire ic am forȝelt aȝeanes gode,
190ðe me forbisne ȝaf, arst of him seluen, and seððen mid haliȝe wordes
191me wissede: Qui te percusserit in maxillam, prebe ei et
192aliam, 'Se ðe smit under ða eare, want to ðat oðer,' he sade, 'and
193do god aȝean euel. Gif he ðe wereȝede, ðu hine blesci.' Ðis ne
194dede ic næure; ac ȝif min lauerd godd me wolde swingen mid ani
195swinge, al swa fader doð his sune, ic was ðar aȝean unþolemod,
196and aiðer ðohte and ec sæide: 'Hwi me scolde cumen swilche unȝelimpes?
197Mani oðer was ðe more hafde misdon, and non unȝelimp
198ne cam, ac hadde alle blisse and reste inowh.' For ði saide
199god almihti be me and be mine i-liche: Et dimisi eos secundum
200desideria cordis eorum, 'Ich hem let,' he seið, 'after
201here awene wille; after ðan ðe here herte leste, ic hem folȝede.'
202
203

OF AȜEN-WILLE.

204
205    Ðurh ðessere senne ic, unȝesali saule, fel in to an oðer senne,
206ðe is icleped propria voluntas , þat is, auȝen-wille. Ȝewiss
207hafð godd forworpen ðan ilche mann ðe lat godes wille and his

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208gastliche faderes wille to donne, bute he eft ðurh his muchele
209mildce hes him benime, ær ðane he of ðese liue fare. Non scafte ðe is
210scadwis, al swo bieð angles and menn, ne aȝed te hauen here aȝen-will,
211forðan hie ne bieð, ne ne muȝen bien, næure riht-wise ne gode,
212bute hie folȝin godes wille on alle wisen. Forðan we findeð on
213hali write: 'Se mann ðe wile folȝin his aȝen wille, he is aȝeanes
214gode, alswa is ðe mann ðe is aȝeanes ðe kinge and wile his
215curune him benemen.' Crist self seið on his godspelle: Non
216ueni facere uoluntatem meam, 'Ne cam ic noht te ȝiuen ȝew
217for-bisne of mire aȝene wille to donne, ac i cam for to donne mines
218fader wille.' Ða ðe Crist was ȝeboren, ða comen ða aingles of
219heuene and sunge ðane derewurðe sang, Gloria in exselsis deo,
220and bodeden sibsumnesse to alle ðo mannen ðe god wille habbeð,
221ðat nis non bute ðo ðe godes wille luuieð and folȝið. Weilawei
222and walawa, ðat ic min aȝen iwill swa habbe ifolȝed, ðat im min
223unȝewill awh aure ma te þoliȝen, bute godes halehali mildse me aliese!
224
225

OF HUNRIHTWISNESSE.

226
227    Unrihtwisnesse hatte onan oðer senne, ðe me haueð æure to
228longe ȝedweld mid hire swikele unðeawes. Hie is æure aȝean
229rihtwisnesse, forðan no man ne mai bien ȝeborȝwen, bute he bie
230rihtwis and naht twifeald, ne on speches ne on dades. Oðer ic
231habbe ibien ðanne ic habbe me i-sceawed. Menn me isieð wiðuten.
232Ic and mine iliche, we beoð wiðuten al swa ðe deade mannes þruh,
233þe is wiðuten ihwited, and wið-inne stinkende and full of wermes.
234Swa ic habbe ibien full of euele þohtes. Wa me þas! Mea
235culpa!
236    Forði ðat ich nabbe ihafd rihte ileaue, ne faste hope, ne soðe
237luue to ure lauerde gode swa swa ic scolde, forði ic haue bien
238unmihteunmihti and unstrong onȝeanes alle þese forenammde sennes. Ic
239ne mai rimen ne tellen alle ðo sennes, ne alle ðo unðeawes, ne alle
240ðo wundren ðe ich, wrecche senfulle, habbe idon and beuolen,
241seððen ic arst mihte seneȝin. Ac him ðe hes one wat, almihte
242god, ic bidde are and forȝiuenesse.
243

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244

OF ÐA FIF WITTES.

245
246    Giet me wreið min herte of ða fif wittes ðe god me betahte
247to lokin of mine wrecche lichame, þat is, visus, auditus,
248gustus, odoratus, et tactus, þat is, ȝesihthe, ȝeherhþe, smac, and
249smell, and tactþe. Ðas fif wittes, hie tacniþ ða fif gildenene besantes
250ðe ðe hlauerd betahte his þralle for to biȝeten ðar mide.
251Swa dede ðe gode þrall ðe biȝatt oðer fif. For ði his hlauerd him
252sede: 'Wel ðe, gode ðrall! Ouer litel þing ðu ware trewe; ouer
253michel þing ic ðe scal setten. Ga in to ðine lauerdes blisse!' Þis
254ne habbe ic nauht ofearned, ðe no god ne habbe idon mid ðo
255ilke besantes of ðe fif wittes, ac ðurh hem and þurh mine ȝemeleaste
256ic habbe mines lauerdes eihte forloren. Ælche dai me
257cumeð sonden on mine þohtes þat ic scall neuliche cumen te-foren
258him, and ȝiuen him and-sware, hwat ic habbe mid his eihte ȝedon.
259He wile hes habben wel imotet, and bi rihte wæiȝe wel i-wæiȝen,
260and wel imered gold; and bute ich þis habbe, ðas daiȝes ðe he after
261me sant, ic scal iheren reuliche tidinge. 'Andswere me nu, þu
262un-ȝesælie saule,' he wile seggen, 'hwat hafst ðu swa lange idon
263on ðare woreld? Langne first ic ðe ȝaf wel to donne ȝif ðu
264woldest, and litel god ðu hafst biȝeten mid ða fif besantes of ðe
265fif gewittes ðe ic þe betahte. Mo ðanne fif ðusende besantes of
266gode þohtes, and of gode wordes, and of gode woerkes, ðu mihtest
267habben biȝeten, ȝif ðu woldest, on ða lange firste ðe ic ðe ȝaf; ac ðu,
268earme saule, noldest þenchen of ðine forðsiðe, þat tu fram ðine
269lichame scoldest skelien, and tefore me cumen, and me andswerien
270of alle ðine dades.' Ðanne clepeð he his pineres, and hat hem me
271nemen, and binden me, baðe handen and fiet, and werpen me in ðe
272uttreste þiesternesse. Þe inreste þesternesse is in ðare hierte
273Ðeðe ne wile forsceawin hwider he scal ðanne he henen farð. Þe
274uttreste is se þiesternesse of helle, ðar næure ȝiete liht ne cam,
275bute ðas nihtes ðe Cristes saule ðar inne cam after his ȝekorene.
276Ac æure ðar is wop and woninge for ðare michele hæte and unȝemæte

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277brene, and ðar is chiueringe of toðen for ðe unmate chele;
278and ðar is sorwȝe and sarinesse for ðare muchele ortrewnesse ðe
279cumþ of ðan ȝeþanke ðe hie næure mo godd ne sculen isien ne nan
280of his halȝen, ne sibbe ne framde ðe iborȝen sculen bien, ac aure
281ma wunien mid ða eifulle dieulen, ðe bieð swa laðliche and swo
282grislich an to lokin, ðat ȝif a mann iseiȝe nenu anne al swilch al
283se he is on his ȝekynde, he scolde sone bien ut of his iwitte, and
284ðis þoliȝen æure ma wið-uten ande. Ne mai ic þenchen, ne mid
285muðe seggen, ne on boke write, alle ðo pinen of helle. Wa hem
286ðatt hie æure iscapene waren, ðe ðo pinen of-earniþ! Vnderstandeþ,
287alle ðe ðis radeþ oðer ihereð, and witt habbeð to understonden,
288þe muchele ðolemodnesse of us on ðese liue, hv godd us
289meneȝeð alche dai, and to us seið: Conuertimini ad me, et
290agite penitenciam, 'Wandeð to me,' he seið, 'ȝie ðe berð iwant
291fram me, ðurh dieules lare, and nemeð and doð scrift, ællch after
292ðat his senne is; and spedeð ȝeu, forðan ȝure ænde-dai neihȝeð, and
293cumð unȝewares al swa þief be nihte. Fasteð and wakieð and
294buȝeð fram euele and doð god, wepeð and wanið, sihteþ and
295ȝeorne biddeð are and forȝiuenesse, ða litle hwile ðe we her
296wuniȝið. For-ðan, bute ȝif ȝe hier hit ne of-earniȝeð, ne
297wurð ȝeu næure milce elleshwar. Ða ðe nelleð ðese godes hali
298wordes hlesten ne healden, harkið hwat se haligast seið ðurh ðe
299profiete Dauið: Maledicti qui declinant a mandatis tuis,
300domine, 'Ȝewerwed bien hie, lauerd, alle ðe ðine behode healden
301nelleð.' Ða ðe ne bieð ofdrad of ðessere eisliche werȝinge, ðe
302alle hadede ællche dai werȝið ðar hwile ðe hie sinȝeð godes
303lofsang at prime, harkieð an oðer wariȝing ðe cumþ ut of godes
304awene muþe, forðan ðes werȝinge nis bute erres of ðare laczste,
305ðanne god seið him self mid muchele eiȝe: Discedite a me, maledicti,
306in ignem eternum, 'Gað aweiȝ fram me, ȝie iwerȝede of
307alle hadede hafde, in to ðan eche fiere, ȝie ðe nolden mine rad
308hlesten, ne mine bebode luuien ne healden. Witeð awei fram me,
309forð mid ða diuelendieulen, ðar ȝie naure ma eft me ne ȝesien!' Alle
310ðe habbeð Cristes kariteð, ðat is, godes luue and mannes, wepeð

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311and wanieð forð mid me, and fondie we te kelien godes wraððe
312mid teares, ðe him bieð swiðe icueme mid oðre loke of sare birewnesse!
313He hit wat ðe wat alle þing, ðat sare hie me reweð. To
314ȝeu ic clepiȝe iec ðe bieð wuniȝende mid ȝemaneliche hlauerde gode,
315and to ure lafdi sainte Marie. Moder of mildce, ðe ic bidde, for ðine
316muchele mildze, ðat tu me besieke forȝiuenesse of mine sennes
317to Iesu Criste, þine lieue sune, ðe hafð mihte te forgiuene alle
318sennes, for ðare ilke luue ðe he hafð to mine ikynde ðe he nam of
319ðe wið-uten a HALF A LINE ILLEGIBLE ðarof iȝiuen hafð lott and dale, his flesc
320and his blod, ðurh hwan ich ilieue fastliche are and mildze to
321habben, ȝif ic hit swa wurðliche underfenge, swa hit wurðe wære.
322To alle ðo halȝen ðe hier on liue waren iboren, and nu mid ure
323lauerde gode wuniȝende bieð, ic clepie and bidde for ðo muchele
324kariteð ðe is an ȝeu, ðat ȝie ðenchen an us ðe bieð hier on ðese
325arme liue, ðar ðe wei is slider and we lihtliche to fællen, and
326fele unwines, teforen and baften and on alche side. We ðankieð
327gode and herieð after ure mihte, ðe ȝew haueð of ðessere michele
328wrecchade ibroht. Biddeð ðat we moten to ȝew cumen, naht for
329ure earninge, ac for godes muchele mildce and for ȝewer! Al swa
330soðliche swa he hadde are and mildze of ȝeu, and ða giue of ðe
331hale gaste ȝew sænte wiðuten earninge, sa soðliche habbe he are
332and mildce of us, ðe bieð his handeweorc al swa ȝie, and us unne
333ðat we moten, mid ȝeure helpe and mid his hale grace, swa ðis
334scorte lif her laden, ðat we moten forð mid ȝew on blisse wuniȝen,
335and him eure ma luuien and herien on ecnesse. Amen.
336
337    Nv, lieue friend, ðu ðe me, senfulle saule, aweihtest of deaðe,
338ðurh godes grace wissedest and warnedest wel te donne,
339- ȝielde þe godd! - and lardest ðat ic scolde bien icnawe of mine
340sennes, nu ðu hafst iherd mine bemone þat ich am swa swiðe forȝelt:
341for ðe luue of gode ic ðe besieche ðat tu me wissi ȝiet, an
342hwælche wise ic mihte betst sahtlin wið mine halend Criste, ðe

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343ihc cheas to lauerde ðurh his awene mildce, ȝif ic senfulle are
344mihte habben on ðese scorte time. And ic bliðeliche ðine rad
345wile hlesten, and micheles ðe bliðe-liker, ȝif ðu me ðin uncuðe
346name woldest kyðen.

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347

OF REUHÐE.

348
349    PietasPietas hatte on of ðese hali mihtes, þat is, reuhðe on engelisc.
350Hie cumþ of ðare iwundede herte ðe bien iwunded mid
351godes arewen. Of hem seið ðe profiete: Sagitte tue acute,
352'Lauerd,' he sæde, 'scarpe bien ðine arewen'; hie wundieð ðane
353forgilte mann ðe wann ongeanes ðe ðurh dieules lare. Þu werpest
354him ðer niðer, þat he lið istreiht upe ðare bare ierðe, and halt
355him seluen for ierðe, wepð and woneð ðat he æure was to manne
356iscapen, ðat he scolde swa michel habben misdon aȝean his sceppend,
357for hwat he ofearneð helle pine. Ðis doð reuhðe don, ðe
358is iwis godes ȝiue. Hie dieð him arst habben reuhðe of him seluen,
359and ðanne of his nexten, of alle unȝelimpes ðe him for his sennes
360to-cumeð. Gif ðu ðese godes ȝiue biȝeten miht, þanne scalt tu
361hauen nexce herte and gode, and rewsiende ðe seluen to helpe,
362and ðine saule to aliesen fram ðo pines ðe hie ofearned hafð. Ne
363haue ðu hope te fader ne te moder, te sune ne te dohter, te broðer ne
364te swuster, ne te nan ierðlich mann, ðanne þin lichame lið under
365ierðe ȝetwamd fram alle liuiende manne, all-ane, fule, stinkende,
366full of wermes, and on ða þiesternesse fram alle lihte, and ðu, earme
367saule, on ðe wallende brene of ðe hote fiere, and eft, embehwile, on
368ðe chiuerinde chele, ðat tu ðe seluen naht ne miht helpen, ær

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369ðanne ðu habbe ðine sennes al aboht, and all bie iclensed of alle
370ðine misdædes ðurh ða pines ðe ðu þolest, and ðurh masses and
371bienes and ælmesses ðe me doð for ðe. Ðanne ðe wile sare rewen
372ðat tu ðe seluen ne haddest betere iholpen ðare hwile ðe ðu
373mihtest. Hu scolde godd, oðer ani of his halȝen, oðer ani of
374ðine friend, sibbe oðer framde, hauen rewðe oðer mildce of ðe,
375seððen ðu ðe seluen ne hafst nu hier none of ðe seluen? Þis is
376godes ȝiue, ȝif ðu dus ðe beþencst and ðar after wercst.
377
378

OF WITTE.

379
380    Hier after cumþ an oðer godes ȝiue, þe is icleped sciencia ,
381þat is, inȝehied oðer witt. Ðurh hire ðu miht witen alle
382craftes ðe on boche bieð ȝewriten. Hie ðe takð gode þeawes and
383god lif to leden, hu ðu scalt fram ðan euele buȝen, a hu ðu
384scalt gode werkes don. Ac hit bieð sume ðe bieð swiðe wise
385ihealden ðurh ðessere godes ȝiue, and want hem seluen and iec
386sumen oðre te michele hearme, þat ðe godd hem ȝaf hor here
387michele gode. Herof sade ðe apostel: Scientia inflat, karitas
388edificat . He seið þat 'ðis scarpe iwitt swelð ðane mann ðe hes
389haueð wiðuten charite.' On swilche wise hie swelð ðat he latt
390wel of him seluen, and forhoweð oðre ðe swo ne cunnen; and
391on swilche wise he forliest ðat him betst scolde helpen, þat is,
392godes luue and mannes. For ðan þat wite ðu te fule soðe,
393ðanne ðu forliest mannes luue for ði modinesse, þe þingð ðat
394þu naust naht to wurðin ne te luuen ane wurse mann ðane ðu
395art, oðer ðat he nis alswa wis alse ðu, oðer he nis na swa riche
396se ðu, oðer of swa heiȝe kenne swa ðu, oðer naht alswa wurðed
397mann swa ðu on ðare lease woreld; and for ðelliche þinge hine
398forhowest, and forlatst ðat tu ne wilt to him clepiȝen, ne to his
399niede him helpen. Fulȝewis ðu forliest hier rihtes godes luue
400and his grace, and nem ðis to forbisne! Bute ðu habbe godes luue
401and alre manne, ðu ne miht don non god ðe æure gode bie
402ȝecweme. Ðarof sade ðe apostele: Si distribuero omnes
403facultates meas, et cetera, 'Gif ic deale all ðat ic habbe for
404godes luue, and ȝiet on-uuen ðan ȝieu mine likame to barnin

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405al to duste for godes luue, and ic hatie on-lepi mann, ðanne
406ne habbe ic naht kariteð, and swa ic habbe all forloren.' Nu
407seið sum mann: 'Scal ic luuiȝe ðane euele mann?' Hlest hwat
408se heiȝeste ðe seið: Ðiliges proximum sicut te ipsum,
409'Luue ðine nexte al swa ðe seluen, hwat manne swo he æure bie!'
410Ne bie he næure swa swiðe forȝelt, æure he is ðin nexte after
411ȝekynde. Luue ða ȝegyndeȝekynde, and hate his euel. Ȝif ðu miht hit
412bieten, biet hit alswo ðu woldest ðat me bette þin, ȝif ðu
413wære swo forȝilt al so he, and þenc ðat ðe writt seið þat æure bie
414ðe mildce ouer ðe rihte dome. For ðelliche þinge maniȝe of ðe
415wel wise menn forlieseð godes luue and his grace, for ði ðat hie
416ne habbeð, ne ne reccheð to habben, here emcristenes luue, ac
417hopieð to here michele wisdome, and ofte bieð beswikene. Wolden
418hie hlesten ðane hali apostel, swa hie ne ðorften! Si quis
419uidetur inter nos sapiens esse, stultus fiat ut sit sapiens,
420'Ȝif ȝeure ani,' he seið, 'is ihealden for wis on ðare woreld, becume
421sott, and swa he mai bien wis. 'Ðe wise woreld-mann, he halt
422michel sothade ðat mann forlate, for godes luue, hus and ham,
423wif and child, and gold and seluer, and alle worldes wele, and
424becume swo michel wrecche al swo he ðe naht ne hadde; seið
425ðat him is betere to sitten on his aȝen, and ȝiuen almessen and
426herberȝin sæli mann, ðanne he scolde al ðat laten, and libben bi
427oðres mannes almesse. Hleste we herof Cristes aȝene dom,
428and swa we muȝen bien ðe sikerere of ðese iflite. Hit seið on
429ða hali goddspelle þat an riche iungman cam to Crist be ðo
430daiȝen ðe he hier lichamliche was wuniende, and seide: Quid
431faciam, domine, ut habeam vitam eternam? 'Hlauerd,'
432cwað he, 'hwat mai ic don ðat ic mihte hauen ðat eche lif?'
433Vre drihten him andswerede, and seide: Mandata nosti,
434'Ȝecnoust þu godes bebodes. Ne sleih, ne ne stell, ne reaue, ne
435forliȝe ðe on hordomes, ne oðre godes forbodes ne tebrec.' 'A,
436hlaueerd,' cwað he, 'alle ðese bebodes ic habbe ihealde fram
437childhade, swa ðat ic nabbe nan tebrocen.' Ðe ȝiet him andswerede
438Crist: 'God man, ðu art al swo he ðe non heued-senne
439ne haueð idon.' Si uis perfectus esse, vade et uende omnia

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440que habes, et cetera, 'Gif ðu wilt,' he seide, 'bien ðurhut god
441mann, ga and sell all ðat tu hafst, and ȝif hit godes wrecchen,
442and swa folȝe me!' Ðies ȝunge mann ȝiede a-wei sari. Hier we
443habbeð ilierned ðat it is betere to læten all ðat te mann awh,
444mid gode wille, þanne he abide all hwat deað hit him beneme,
445his unþankes. Hlest nu hwat Crist sade be ða riche manne
446ðe ȝiede awei sari, and his ræd nolde lesten: 'Ne mai na more.'
447cwað he, 'ðe riche mann cumen in to heuene riche, ðanne mai ðe
448oluende cumen ðurh ðe nædle eiȝen.' Ve uobis diuitibus, qui
449habetis consolationem uestram, 'Wa ȝeu,' cwað he, 'ȝie
450riche menn, ðe habbeð swa michele blisse of ȝeuer michele
451richeise, þat ȝie godd forȝeten and ȝeure saule hæle!' For ði ne
452mai wexen non god sad of gadesgodes wordes on ȝeure herte molde,
453for ðan michele embeðanc ðe ȝie habbeð on ȝeure michele wele,
454ðe ȝie michel ȝitsið, and luuieð and likeð, and draheðdradeð to forliesen.
455Amang alle ðese embeðankes is ðe wrecche hierte swa iheueȝed,
456þat non godes word upp ne mai springen, ne of godd þenken, ne
457of his riche, ne of his saule hale. Ac gleues and skentinges, and
458hundes and hauekes, and alle ðo þing ðe ȝeu hier gladien mai,
459þat ȝe willen bliðeliche isien and ȝehieren; and all ðis ȝe mihten
460hauen, ȝif ȝe godd luueden mare ðanne all ðis ðe we embe hauen
461ispeken. Maniȝe of ȝeu bien swiðe beswikene. Weneð ðat ȝe
462luuen more godd ðanne ȝe don ȝeure eihte; ac læt him seggen
463ðat soðeste, ðe is mid rihte Soð icleped: Vbi est tesaurus,
464ibi est et cor tuum, 'Ðar ðe ðin hord is, þær is þin herte,' he
465sæde. Ðar is ðin herte ðarof ðe ðu mæst þenkst, and ðatðar is
466ðin mæste luue. Vnderstand nu wel ðe seluen, and loke hwaðer
467ðu þenke more of godd ðe of ðin eihte, and wite ðu te soþe:
468hwarof ðu mare þenkst, ðat tu luuest mare! Walewa ðas siðes,
469þat ani mann ðat godd hafð iȝiuen witt and wisdom, scall luuien
470more ðe scaftes ðe godd ȝescop, ðanne he do his sceppend, ðe him and
471alle þing ȝescop! Lieue saule, ic ðe warni and ȝierne bidde, ðat
472tu, mid ðessere godes ȝiue ðe scientia hatte, understande and
473lierne fastliche ða ȝekyndes of sennes, hwannen and hwanne hie

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474cumen, þat ðu muȝe bien war wið hem; and ðar ðu art ðurh hem
475ȝewunded, ðat ðu cunne hes halen; and eft, of ðese hali mihtes,
476ðat tu hes kunne wel ȝecnawen, and mid godes fultume wiðhealden.
477
478

OF RADE.

479
480    Hier after cumð an oðer godes ȝiue, ðe is icleped consilium , þat
481is, ræd. Herof seide Salomon: Omnia fac cum consilio,
482et postea non penitebis, 'Do alle þing after rade, ðer after hit
483ne scal þe ofþenchen.' Maniȝe gode þinges ðu hafst iherd and
484ilierned; nim ðar after rad, naht at wise manne one, and þe bie
485baðe wis and ec goddfrihti, and ifonded of religiun. Hwilch lif
486ðu betst muȝe laden, ðat auþ to benne michel after ðan ðe ðu
487hafst michel misdon, oðer litel; and ðanne mot me lokin ðin
488ikinde, and ðinne lichames hæle oðer unhale. Forðan, ȝif ðu
489undernimst swilch ðat tu for unhale ne miht iforðin, ðat ðu godd
490haddest behaten, hit is ðe michel hauht. Eftsones bie warr,
491ȝif ðu behatst god michel god te donn, and heih lif te healden:
492ðat lasse gode lif ðe ðu arrer hafdest, ne miht tu naht eft healden,
493and bien ȝeboreȝen. Hier of seið ðat hali godspell: Qui
494mittit manum suam ad aratrum, et respicit retro,
495non est aptus regno dei, 'Se ðe doð his hand to ðere sull
496of godspelle, and Cristes ȝoc wile beren, and forlat al ðe woreld,
497and loceð abach, wændinde to ðe woreld, he nis naht wurðe
498heuene riche.' Ðis is ȝesæd bi ða manne ðe forlat al ðe woreld,
499and folȝeð godes stiefne, ðe ðus seið: Venite ad me omnes qui
500laboratis et honorati estis, et cetera, 'Cumeð to me,' he seið,
501'alle ðe swinkeð mid euele werkes, and ȝeheueȝed bieð mid manikennes
502sennes, and ic eu wile ȝiue reste to ȝeuer saule, and ic wile
503lihten ȝeuer berðene, ȝif ȝe mine rad hlesten willeð. Bereð min
504ȝoc uppe ȝeu, of hersumnesse, þe is softe, and min berðen is liht,
505of mine bebodes to healden. Mid mine fultume alle ðing ȝe
506muȝen; wið-uten me, nanþing.' For ðessere swete clepienge
507cumeð baðe gode and euele, and lateð all ðe woreld, and nimeð
508Cristes marc uppen hem, of soðe religiun, hwilche kennes swa hit

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509bie. Ðe hali gast hem warneð, and seið: 'Godd ðe ȝeu haueð
510icleped ut of ðare lease woreld in to gode liue, he ne nett ȝeu naht
511ðer to, ac seið: Si uis perfectus esse, 'Ȝif ðu wilt,' he seið,
512'bien ðurhut god mann, ðanne forlat ðu ðe woreld; and ȝif ðu
513nelt naht, þu miht wuniȝen on ðare woreld, and ec bien ȝeboreȝen,
514ȝif ðu ðinne cristendom wel haldst.' Ac ȝif ðu ne miht ðe naht
515wel berȝen, oðer ðu wilt, for Cristes luue, more þoliȝen, and betere
516lif laden: lhist, ðerof ic ðe wile warnin. Fili, accedens ad
517seruitudinem dei, et cetera, 'Lieue sune,' he seið, 'þanne ðu
518cumst to godes huse him to ðenin, bie wel war, and ȝarke ðine
519saule aȝen maniȝes kennes fandinȝesfandinges, and stand mid michel dradnesse,
520forðan ðu scalt bien ȝefonded on ða hali liue al swo is þe
521pott ðe is idon on ðe barnende ofne. Gif he ðar inne bersteð and
522brekð, he is forloren and sone ut-ȝeworpen; ȝif he belæfð hal and
523ȝesund, ðe pottere hine deð ðar to ðe he iscapen was.' Ðe apostele
524seið ðat godd ne wile naht þoliȝen of none his icorene more te
525fondin ðanne he muȝe þolien. Ac ðo ðe bersteð wið-inne here
526wunienge for here modinesse, hwarof here herte is swa full swa is
527bladdre of winde, hie bieð ut-iworpen ðurh dieules lare, naht for
528hem seluen ane, ac for oðre ec awei te affleien. Ðanne fareð hie
529eft to ðare woreld, and bieð forcuðere ðanne hie arrer wæren.
530Hie forwerpeð here ræd and here claðes, and nemeeð hem to ðare
531woreld and bieð apostate Criste, forsakene, naht mid wordes, ac
532mid werkes, ðe werse is, ȝif hit mai. Munec mai ut-faren mid
533ileaue in to hermitorie, oðer in to onnesse te wunien, ȝif he godd
534hafð to iwitnesse ðat he mid hlutter herte hit doð, for bett to
535donne. We findeð on ȝewrite þat eremite ne owh on wilderne te
536wunien, bute he arst bie ȝefanded ðurh regule and ðurh maistre in
537ðan gastliche ofne ðe we ær embe spaken. Ancer is swiðe gastlich
538lif. Ðese twa lif, hermite and ansæte lif, ðe we nu clepeð anker,
539hie wæren hwile ferr fram mannen wuniende, and wæren swiðe
540iluuede and iheiȝed ðurh ða hali faderes ðe ðar inne wuneden and
541hit orliche hielden. Swa me mai ȝiet sume finden - iþanked bie
542godd! - ðe swiðe gastlich lif lædet after ðare woreld ðe nu is. Al

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543swa me mai, mang alles kennes liues menn, sume gode and sume
544euele finden. He it wot, ðe all wot. Ȝif ðu wilt on ðare woreld
545beleauen, and wif and childre hauen, and land teliȝen and weriȝen,
546ðu scalt hauen ðas te more iswink. Ac ȝif ðu hauest godne radȝiue,
547ðu miht ðar wel libben, and ec at gode god lean ofearniȝen.
548Alle ðo þing ðe ðu hauest te donne, do it mit ræde; and ðe rad bie
549swulch, ðat tu noht ne do aȝenes ðe holi write. Hierof us warneð
550Crist, and ðus seið: Dum es cum aduersario tuo in uia, et
551cetera, 'Ðarhwile ðe ðu art mid þine wiðerwine on ða weiȝe, bie
552him teiþinde ðat ðe he wile hauen idon, læste he ðe nime and
553betæche ðe ðe crauiere, and he seððen betache ðe ðe pineres and
554ðe cwelleres!' Ðis godspell folȜe, ȝif ðu wille. Godes word, godes
555ræd is ðin unwine, forðat hit ne seið noht al ðat tu woldest. Ac
556ȝif ðu wilt lesten godd, þu scalt bien ðe hali write buhsum, ðo litle
557hwile ðe ðu art mid him her on ðese weiȝe, on ðese scorte liue;
558and wite ðu te soðe, bute ðu him bie hier teiðinde hwat swa hit ðe
559ratt to donne: ðanne ðu cumst on ða heigere weiȝe, ðanne ðu
560art itwamd fram ðine lichame, hit te wile betachen ðe crauiere,
561ðe ðe wile crauen of elchere senne, and betellen riht after godes
562awene worde, ðat tu aust him to folȝin to helle, forðan ðe ðu art
563godd unhersum al swa he. Forði hlest nv hwat godd ðe ratt:
564Diuicie si affluant, nolite cor apponere, 'Worldes eihte, ȝif
565hie is swiðe rixinde to ðeward, ne do ðu naht ðine herte ðerto, ac
566do hes to me. Ðe richeise ðe scal trukien, ic ne truke ðe naure.
567Hwi is te ðin hucche trewer ðanne ich? Ne sente ic ðe seggen bi
568ða write of goddspelle ðat tu scoldest makie ðin hord up in heuenriche,
569and naht upen ierðe? Hwi ne wilt tu me bien buhsum?'
570Hlest ȝiet furðer Cristes rad, hwat he seið on ða hali godspelle:
571Cum facis prandium aut cenam, noli uocare amicos tuos,
572et cetera, 'Ðanne ðu wilt makien gestninge,' seið Crist, 'ne clepe
573ðu naht ðine friend, ne ðine breðren ðarto, ne ðine kenesmen, ne
574ðine neihibures. Gif æni of ðesen ðe muȝen forȝielden ðine
575gestninge, ðane ne clepe ðu hes naht. Ac clepe ðo wrecches and
576to unmihti, þe blinde, ðe dumbe, ðe deaue, ðe halte, ðe ne muȝen
577naht hit te forȝielden; ðanne art tu isæli: hit te scal bien forȝolden

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578in resurrectione iustorum , ðat is, ðanne ðe rihtwise sculen
579arisen, and tu amang hem, on godes swiðre.' Gif ðu naht herof ne
580dest, ne mai ðe deuel betellen wel ðat tu art gode unhersum.
581Hwa doð þis? Hwa halt þis? Whi seggeð men ðat me ne mai
582naht wel bien ȝeboreȝen on ðare woreld? Hwi ne wilt tu forȝinfolȝin
583godes rad and his lore? Þis is iwis on of ðe hali mihtes ðe godd
584scift mang his ȝecorene, ðat he ȝifð hem god ræd þurh ðe haliȝe
585writes, ðe he sent hem seggen hu hie muȝen his wille werchen, and
586swa bien ȝeboreȝen. Hlest and forȝih se ðe wile! Omni petenti
587te, tribue, 'Ælche manne ðe ðe bitt ðu aust to ȝiuen, ȝif ðu
588hafst ðat te he ne haueð, swa ðu woldest ðat he dede ðe, ȝif ðu ne
589hafdest.' Forðan he seið: 'Ȝif ðu ȝifst ðo manne ðe gaf ðe, oðer
590ðe wost ðat wile ȝiuen ðe, whilch lean aust ðu te hauen of godd?
591Ne don swa ðe senfulle men ðe of gode noht ne cunnen? Gif ðu
592luuest ðo ilche ðe ðe luuiȝeð: ne don swa ðe werste menn of ðe
593woreld? Ne don swa ðe heðene? Ac luue þine unwines for ðe
594luue of godd; ðarof ðu scalt hauen michel lean of godd; and lat
595him wreke ðe is riht deme ouer liuiende and ouer ðe deade.
596Ȝif nedfull mann wile borȝin at te of ðin eihte, lean him bleðeliche,
597al swa ðin emcristen, wiðuten elchere mede, and ðu scalt hauen ðe
598mede of god.' Gif ðu him lanst ani þing of ðinen, and tu nimst
599aȝean more ðanne ðu him lændest: iwis ðu art aȝeanes godes
600bebode, and his wraððe of-earnest, bute ðu hit ibiete. Forðan
601after ðe hali writes, ealch miede is iteld for gauele; and þe gaueleres
602ne cumen neure into heueriche; for ðan, ðeih hie dælden all ðat hie
603mid gauele biȝeten habbeð and mid unrihtwisnesse, hit nis naht
604gode icweme, ðe is rihtwis. Ða riche menn ðe laneð here eihte uppe
605chierches and uppe ða chirch-landes, oðer uppe tunes, oðe uppe
606oðre þinges þe rentes ȝiueð, and healden hes lenger ðanne hie
607hauen al swa michel swa hie ðar uppe lænden, fullȝewiss hie bieð
608idemd for gouleres; and al swulch lean hie sculen ðarof habben alse
609gaueleres, ðat is, helle pine, bute hie hit biete. And ðe bote nis
610nan oðer bute ȝielden ðat hie habben mid unrihte inomen, and mid
611scrifte. Her of sæde ðe profiete: Domine, quis habitabit in
612tabernaculo tuo, aut quis, et cetera, 'Hlauerd,' he sæde, 'hwa

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613mai wunen mid ðe on ðine huse, oðer hwa mai him resten upe ðin
614haliȝe munte of heueneriche?' Ðe hali gast him andswerede, after
615oðre þinges, and sæde: Qui iurat proximo suo, et cetera, 'Se
616ðe swereð soð his nexte, þat is, his emcristenn, and him naht ne
617beswikð mid none chiepinge ne mid nan oðre ðinge; and se ðe ne
618ȝifð naht his eihte te goule, and se ðe ne nimð none mede of ða
619innocentes, ðat bien uneilinde menn ðe none manne euel ne
620willeð: ðese muȝen wuniȝen on godes telde, and uppen his munte
621hem resten.' And ða ðe mede nemeð, hie ne sculen ðar neure
622cumen, ȝif hie bien ðar mide ȝenomene. Nu bien sume oðre ðat
623healden hem seluen wise and ȝeape, and befasteð here paneȝes ðe
624haðene menn, for to habben of hem biȝeate; and sume, hi læneð
625here emcristen te halue biȝeate, ðe fareð ðar mide be londe and
626be watere on michele hahte on liue and on saule, and mid michele
627swinke: and hie sitteð at ham and ne hauen ðarof non ȝeswink,
628bute on here ðohtes and on here spaches. Ðis ȝesieð and ȝehiereð
629hadede and leeavede; and for ðare euele ȝewune ne ðincð hit hem
630no misdade, ac bieð ihealden for wise menn and for ȝeape. Of
631swilche sade godd ðurh ðe profiete: Ve, qui sapientes estis in
632oculis uestris, et coram uobis met ipsis prudentes! 'Wa
633ȝeu ðe healdeð ȝeu seluen for wise, and to-foren ȝeu seluen bieð
634ȝeape! Ȝie beswikeð mi folk mid ȝeure euele forbisne, and mid
635ȝeure scarpe witt. Ȝie cunnen ȝeu bewerien mid ȝeuere manifelde
636spaches; ȝerihtwisið ðane forȝelte for medes, and ðe rihtwisnesse
637of ðe rihtwise manne ȝe him benemeð.' For ðan he is ihealde nu
638for sott, bute ha michel eihte beȝete; and þo ðe michel eihte
639biȝeteð mid ȝeure michele eihte, hem ȝie rihtwisið, and seggeð þat
640he bien auhte men and gode menn. He seið ȝiet forðer, ðe profiete:
641Ve, qui dicitis bonum malum, et malum bonum, 'Wa ȝeu
642ðe seggeð ðat it is god te biȝeten michel eihte, ðe ne mai bien
643biȝeten wið-uten unrihtwisnesse!' For-ði hie is icleped of godes
644muðe Mammona iniquitatis . Wa ȝeu ðe seggeð ðat he is
645unsali ðat none wordles eihte ne hafð, ðe mid nane unrihte none ne
646wile biȝeten, and ða ðat he hadde mid maniȝe unrihtes biȝeten

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647he haueð forloren, and ðat ðoleð mid ðolemodnesse, and gode
648þankeð. An oðer stede he seið, godd: Ve qui ridetis, quia
649plorabitis, 'Wa ȝeu ðe nu leiheð for ðese wordles lease blisse,
650and for ȝeure michele wele ðe ȝe nu hauen! Wa ȝeu ðe beplaitið
651ȝeuer emcristen, and wændeð ðat rihte te wrohȝe, and ðat wohȝe
652te rihte, and ðe nimeð mede for ȝeuer swikele spaches, ðe spekeð
653an aiðer half, swilche ȝie here beire friend wære.' Ȝif ðu wilt on
654ðare world wuniȝen, and ðurh ðese godes wordes war bien and
655ðane eadie Iob folȝin, ðe was god worldmann: ðu miht mid godes
656fultume ðe seluen berȝen.

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657

OF HERSUMNESSE.

658
659    An oðer mihte is ȝehoten obediencia , ðat is, hersumnesse.
660Ðies is swiðe behieue on godes huse. Alle ðe godd luuiȝeð

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661hes aȝeð to luuien and to healden. Al swa al mankinn ðurh unhersumnesse
662hafden deað, al swa ðurh hersumnesse hit cam to liue.
663Ðies holi mihte makeð ðane mann leðebeih and hersum gode and
664his eldren; and ðatðar after ealde and ȝunge and alle manne. After
665ðat, ðe he iforðen mai, ne nimþ he none ȝieme hwaðer hit bie fair ðe
666loðlich, ðe hot ðe cold, ðe heui ðe liht; all him ðingð god, for
667his luue ðe was hersum his fader anon to ðe deaðe, Iesv Crist.
668Ðies is swiðe beheue æurilch mann ðat æure i-boreȝen scal bien,
669þat he bie hersum gode, and, for his luue, ðe biscope, and his prieste,
670and his louerde. Ac me ne auh to bien hersum bute of gode. Ȝif
671mann hat oðer bitt senne to donne, þar to ne awh me naht to
672bien hersvm. Whar ðe godd ȝifð ðese mihte, hit kydh hit sone.
673Hie makeð ðane mann - nis he of swo heie kenne, þat hie him
674ne makeð - þreall. Al swa hie deð ðese munekes, ðe bieð hersum ane
675deadliche manne al swa hit wære godd self, swa hie dieð hem ðe
676on ðare woreld wuniȝen. Hie bien swiðe ȝiernfull godes laȝe to
677liernin, and ðanne ðar after werchen, and him ðe hem wel cann
678wissin hie besekeð, and his ræd bliðeliche hlisteð and folȝið, ðe
679laste hie falleð mid ða blinde in to ðan pette ðe Crist self embe
680spak. He hem clepede dumbe hundes ðurh ðe profiete, ðe sade:
681Canes muti, non ualentes latrare , 'Hie bieð ðe dumbe
682hundes ðe ne cunnen oðer ne muȝen berken.' For ðe luue of godd
683ic bidde, ne latt tu herfore non ðe unwurþere, for ðan ðu wost
684hwo it is. Ðurh ðesse hole mihtiholi mihte and ðurh his gode ileauen was
685Abraham iblesced of godd, and him behoten ðat on scolde cumen
686of his kenne ðurh hwam all mannkenn scolde bien iblesced. Ðus
687spak godd to Abrahame: Exi de terra tua, et cetera, 'Ga ut,'
688cwað he, 'of ðine lande and ut of ðine kenne and ut of ðines fader
689huse, and cum in to ðo londe ðe ic ðe wile sceawin.' Abraham
690iliefde ðatt godd him sæde, and was him hersum. Ðis ilche seið
691godd to hem ðe he wile ðat bie him hersum: 'Ga ut of ðine lande!'
692Þin land ðat is ðin flesc, ðe nis bute ierðe. Ga ut of ðines flasches
693lustes, ðat tu hem na more ne folȝe. 'And ut of ðine kenne!' Þat
694bieð alle ðine euele ðeawes ðe ðu mide ware iboren and ec ifedd.

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695'And vt of þines fader huse!' Ðar hwile ðe mann lið on heauedsennes,
696he is ðes dieules sune, al swo ðe gode mann ðe is godes
697sune þanne he godd luueð and folȝeð. All ðis woreld was ðes
698dieules hus ær Crist come, ðe him ut warp. Ðerof he sade: Nunc
699princeps mundi huius eicietur foras, 'Nu scal ðe alder
700of ðis woreld ut bien ȝedriuen.' Hier ðe lærð godd ðat tu scule
701ðe woreld forlaten ðines aȝenes þankes, ær ðe deað hes te benime
702þines unþankes, and cumen to ðo lande ðe he ðe wile sceawin, þat
703is, ðat lond of ðare heuenliche Ierusalem. Efsones he him fondede,
704and fond him treuwe. Tolle filium tuum, quem diligis,
705Isaac, 'Nim ðine sune, ðe ðu luuest swa michel, and offre hine
706me upe ðare dune ðe ic ðe wile sceawin!sceawin!' Abraam ne hadde
707nanne sune be his rihte spuse bute ænne, and ðat was biȝeten on
708his michele ielde. For ði he was icleped Isaac, þat is, blisse. Al
709swo seið godd to ðe: 'Offre me þine sune Ysaac, þat is, þat þing
710ðe ðu mast luuest!' Vnderstond nu wel what ðat bie, and loke
711hwæðer ðu muȝe ðerof bien hersum goddalmihtin. Ȝif ðu luuest
712ðin aȝene wille alre mast, þanne is ðe swiðe holsum ðat ðu þis
713ofri ðine louerde god, forðan hit is him swiðe ȝecweme loac
714ðat ðu lat ðine aȝene wille and folȝe his. Ðis ðu scalt ofrien upe
715ðare heiȝe dune of hersumnesse. Nis non mihte on godes
716temple ðat ne hafþ lott and dole mid ðessere eadiȝe mihte.
717
718

OF MILCE.

719
720    Misericordia hatte an oðer hali mihte, ðat is, milce,
721ðe gode is swiðe icweme. Ðat he sceawede him selu to
722alle nied-fulle ðe him besohten. Also was Marie and Martha, ðe
723him besohten of here deade broðer, Lazarum, ðe he sone arearde of
724tua deaðes, of saule and of lichame. Swa he hadde sone mildce of
725ðe forleiene wiue, ðe scolde bien ofsteand te deaðe, after ðare
726ealde lauȝe. He forȝaf hire ðane deað, and alle hire sinnen he
727forȝaf. Swa he dede seinte Petre, ðe hine hadde forsaken. Anon,
728ðo ðe he lokede upen him, he agann to wepen, and his sennen him
729wæren forȝiuene. Hu ðe ðeof, ðe næure god nadde idon? Ðis

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730mildce him dede cumen fram ðare rode anon in to paradise. Nis
731non ðe mihte witten alle ðe milcen ðe godd hafð idon, and ȝiet
732dieð, æure ðurh ðessere eadi mihtimihte. Herof us meneȝeð Iesu Crist,
733and seið: Estote misericordes, 'Bieð mildciende, al swo ȝeuer
734fader is on heuene!' Eft he seið him self: Beati misericordes,
735quoniam ipsi misericordiam, et cetera, 'Eadi bieð ðe milde,
736forðan hie sculen hauen milce of gode, swo swo hie habbeð milce of
737mannen.' Bi ðessere holi mihte is iwriten on ðe saltere: Misericordia
738et Ueritas obuiauerunt sibi, 'Godes Mildce and Soð,
739þat is, godd, ȝemetten hem to gedere.' All ðat æure is on ðe hali
740write, all hit is forbisne of gode. Hit seið þat ðese two, Mildce and
741Soð, hem imetten, and ic write swilch Mildce spelespeke wið Soðe, and
742ðus seið: 'Sei me, Soð, hwat is ðin rad of ðe forgilte Adame, and
743of all his ofsprenge? Ne mai he nauere mo aȝean cumen? Hwarto
744was he aure iscapen te manne? Hu ne was he iscapen for to habbenne
745forð mid ðo aingles heueneriches merhþe?' Ða andswerede
746Soð: 'Nis him idon non unriht. Ich him warnede, and soð sade,
747hwilche dai ðe he tobreke godes forbode, he scolde deað þoliȝen;
748and he hadde auȝene kere te donne hwaðer swo he wolde. Ne dede
749dieuel him none strengþe.' Þa andswerede ȝiet Misericordia : 'Beþenc
750þat alswa swa ðu sadest ðat he deað scolde þoliȝen, alswa ðu
751sadest: Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem!
752After ðine anlicnesse ðu hine scope. Ne latt ðu naure
753forfaren ðine aȝen anlicnesse, ac to ðare eadinesse ðe he to was
754iscapen, lat him ðarto cumen, for ðire muchele godnesse, þei his
755michele euelnesse hit nabbe noht ofearned!' Soð was leðebei, alse
756hire iwune is aure, and sade to Mildce: 'Cume we te-fore gode and
757his Rihtwisnesse and his Dome and beforen alle his holi mihtes, and
758bemæn ðe ðar! Al ðat ic mai ðe bien te fultume ich wille bleðeliche.'
759Misericordia nam mid hire Pietatem and Pacem ,
760and comen before gode, and swiðe eadmodliche him besohten, and se
761eadiȝe Mildce hire astrehte sone teforen gode, and ðus sæde: 'Hali,
762hali lauerd, haue are and milce of Adame, ðine forgilte manne, ðe
763swo maniȝe hundred wintre hafð iðoled þo ðesternesse of helle, ðe

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764was iscapen to ðare muchele eadinesse of ðine riche! Ac noht
765he one, ac all his ofspreng hafð dieuel swo on his walte, ðat non
766ne mai cumen into ðare riche ðe hie to waren iscapen; ac alle he
767bringþ in to helle, baðe gode and euele. Hlauerd, haue ore and
768rewhþe and mildce of ðin handiwerc! Æure hie habbeð hope
769ðat tu scule habben ore and milce of hem.'
770    Anon hire bemande Rewðe, and sade: 'Ælle, ðu, lauerd, angin
771and welle of alle godnesse, haue rewðhe and milce of ðe wrecche
772Adames soule, ðe was iscapen after ðine andlicnesse, and of ðine
773patriarches and of ðine profietes, and mani þusend hali saules, ðe
774alle þolieð pine for Adames gelte, mid gode rihte, for his un-hersumnesse!
775Alle hie wepeð and wonið, and hopieð to ðire
776muchele milce and to ðe lokið, all hwat ðu send hem sume
777aliesendnesse. Hi me reweð swa swiðe ðat ic reste ne mai
778habben.'
779    'Lauerd, ȝif hit is ðin wille,' sæde Sibsumnesse, 'þis ne mai noht
780bien on ðine riche. Ðin sibsumnesse is swo swiðe michel ðat on
lepi onlepi
Edition has line divisionlepi þoht ne mai ðer bien bute mid alle softnesse and mid alle
781eadinese. Make seihte betwen Milce and Rihtwisnesse, and Dom
782and Rewðe make wel to-gedere! Naðelæs, ic hit wot wel ðat tu
783wilt hauen ore of mankenne. Þin godnesse hit ne mai noht læten.'
784    Ðat sede Rihtwis-nesse: 'Mid michel riht ðoleð Adam ðat he
785ðoleð, for ðan he was his sceppend unhersum. Godd he unwurðede
786ða þa he ðolede ðat his wiðerwine him ouercam, wið-uten strengþe.
787His louerd he dede arst michel harm, he slou arst him seluen, and
788seððen all mankenn, and for his unhersumnesse he bereauede godes
789riche of him seluen and of all his ofsprenge, þat naure mo he ne
790mai aȝean cumen be rihte dome.'
791    Ða sade Soð: 'Ðat is riht ðat godes milce bie aure heier and
792more ðanne his rihte dom. Hlauerd, hit is soð ðat tu behete
793Abraham, ðine lieue frend, þat þurh an of his kenne scolde bien
794iblesced all mankenn. Eft ðu behete Dauiðe, the rihtwise kyng:
795De fructu uentris tui ponam super sedem tuam, "Of ðo

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796wastme of ðine wombe ic wille setten uppe ðine setle." Eft he
797seið an oðer stede: Dominus dixit ad me: filius meus .'
798Ða spac almihti godd, and sade: 'Ðies dai haueð aure ibien mid
799me and æure me wurð. Hit is soð ðat tu seiest: "On ðese daiȝe
800ic ðe habbe istriend on heuene, wið-uten moder." Swa ðu scalt on
801ierðe, wið-uten fader istriend of moder. On ðelliche wise ðu
802scalt becumen soð mannes sune swo swo ðu art soð godes sune.
803Ne bidde ic non oðer loc for Adames gelte bute ðe. Postula a
804me, and besiech at me swo muchel folc swo ðu wilt after ȝiernen,
805and ic ðe wile ȝiuen to ðin eruename, and ðu scalt wealden all
806middeneard and all ðat ðar inne is.'
807    Tunc dixi: ecce, uenio. Ðo sade Soð: 'Hlauerd, fader, ðu
808ne woldest non oðer loac ne oðer ofrende bute ðat ic underfenge
809mannes lichame and his saule, and ðat ic ðe offrede for here
810gelte. Ecce venio, loke, ic am iradi ðine wille to werchen, and
811mankenn to aliesen.'
812    Ðat sade godes Rihtwisnesse: 'Nv ðu wilt mann becumen, ðu
813scalt deað þolien after ðine auȝene dome, ȝif ðat wunder mai bien
814soð þat eche lif mai ðoliȝen deað; and ðu scalt on alle wise bieten
815ðe he haueð tebroken. Hoal ði godnesse!'
816    Ðat sade Soð: 'Hierto ic am all iradi, te bien hersum godd anon
817to ðe deaðe for mankenn to aliesen.' Iusticia et Pax osculate
818sunt; ðe profiete seið ðat 'Rihtwisnesse and Sibsumnesse
819kesten hem to-gedere.' Ðo ðis was ȝedon, Veritas de terra orta
820est, and swo swo soð ȝekynd of ierðe. Vre ierðe was ȝewerȝed
821ðurh Adames geltes. Maledicta terra in opere tuo, 'Ȝewerȝed
822bie ðe ierðe on ðine werke,' cwað godd te Adame. Nu seið ðe
823profiete: Benedixisti, domine, terram tuam. - Benedicta tu
824in mulieribus, et benedictus, 'Iblesced bie ðu,' seide ðe angel. 'on
825godes half mang alle wiues, and iblesced bie ðat wasme of ðine wombe,
826þe is soð godd and soð mann!' Ðurh ðese manne Iesu Crist, ðe
827was of Adames kenne, warð se ierðe iblesced, ðe was arer iwerȝed.
828All he ȝeald ðane harm ðe was ȝecumen ðurh Adam, swiðe
829wisliche al swo he ðe was wisdom him self. Ðurh Eue, ðe was
830ȝiet maiden, was all mankenn forloren; ðurh Marie, ðe eadi

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831maiden, hit warð eft ȝeboregen. Ðurh ða trowe and his wastme
832werð al mankenn idemd to deaðe; þurh ðe trowe of ðe lieue halie
833rode and ðurh ðare iblescede wastme ðe ðar on heng, hit cam eft
834te ðan eche liue. Ðurh unhersumnesse of ðe trowe ouercam ðe
835dieuel Adam; þurh hersumnesse of ðe hali rode ouercam Crist
836ðane ealde dieuel. For ðan he was hersum his fader anon to ðe
837deaðe, swa swa he him self hit ne hadde noht ofearned, forðan
838he neure senne ne dede; and naðelæs þolede o ðe rode, swilch he
839ware forȝeilt. Aȝeanes ðat Adam mid his eiȝene iseih ðat wastme
840of ðe treuwe ðe him likede, aȝeanes ðat þolede Crist ðat me blindfallede
841hise. Aȝeanes ðat his fiet him baren to ðe forbodene
842treuwe, aȝeanes ðat waren Cristes fiet ðurhborede mid isene nailes
843to ðare rode. Aȝeanes ðat his honden namen ðas trewes wastme,
844aȝeanes þat waren Cristes handes ðurhnailed te ða hali rode.
845Aȝeanes þat him ðuhte swete ðat wastme on his muðe, aȝeanes þat
846underfeng godd ðe bitre ȝalle on his muðe. Aȝeanes ðat Adames
847hierte was i-attred ðurh dieules meneȝinge, swa ðat him baðe hit
848wel likede and ec teiþede, ðolede Crist ðat me þurh-stong his
849hierte; and aȝeanes ða twa michele likinge and teiþinge, us
850comen twa michele gode of ðare hali wunde, þat was, water and
851blod. On ða watere we bieð iwascen of alle sennes; of ða wastme
852ðe hangede on ðe hali rode, and of ða blode ðe ðar utȝiede, we
853notieð on ȝomes alle kennes attre of dieule, and swa we kylieð
854vre wreche hierte, ðe his ofte forswald of ðan michele brene of
855dieules costninges. Ðus us halde ure halend Iesu Crist, þus us
856aliesde ure aliesend, and seððen aros of deaðe, alswo he ðe was
857soð lif, and bar up to heuene ure loac and ure ofrende, his hali
858lichame, ðe he nam of ure ȝekynde, and ofrede his fader swiðe
859icweme loc, be his aȝene iwitnesse ðe sade: Hic est filius meus
860dilectus, in quo mihi bene complacui, 'Ðis is mi leue sune, on
861him me likeð swiðe.' Heueneriches gate he haueð iopened alle ðe
862on him leueð and him forȝin willeð. Alle his ikorene he hafð

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863bihoten, swa soðliche swa he aros of deaðe, þat hie sculen al swo
864mid lichame and mid saule, and mid ðe hali angles and mid him
865aure mo wuniȝen. Amen.
866
867

OF SCRIFTE.

868
869    Ða ðe Crist gann arst to spellen, ðat was, ðo ðe he ȝiede fram
870flumenflumen Iordan, ða sade he: Penitenciam agite, appropinquabit
871enim regnum celorum, 'Nimeð scrifte of ȝewer
872sennes, hit neiheð heuene riche.' Fullȝewis is clene saule Cristes
873riche. For ði us meneȝeð allre þinge arst ure lauerde of ðesre
874eadi mihte, þat we scolden beon rewsende ure sennen, and swa
875hus lokin mid his fultume, þat we eft ne befallen on senne.
876Ðat seið sanctus Ieronimus: Est autem penitere peccata
877ante acta deflere, et flenda non repetere, 'Swa scal,' he seið,
878'mann his senne berewsen, ðat he eft ne do ðat he eft ðurue be-riwsin.'
879Ðis seið sanctus Augustinus: Penitere est penam tenere,
880'Ðat his,' he seið, 'soðe berewsinge, ðat mann him healde eure on
881sumere pine.' Eft we findeð on ða hali writt ðat ðe cniht ðe
882weapne berð unlawliche, ne chapmann ðe beið and selð mid
883unrihtwisnesse, ne muȝen neure soðe scrifte don, ðare hwile ðe hie
884ðese wike befeleð; ne he ðe ðurhwuneð on wraðþe, ne he ðe
885wuneliche lið on hordome, ne glewmen, ne gaueleres, ne wicchen,
886ne unriht domesmann, ne non ðare manne ðe on heaued-senne lið
887and ða luuieð. Mann ðe wel wile bien riwsinde, ne rewe him
888nauht ane hise sennes, ac ȝet ðat he for his ȝemelaste ne hafð
889god ȝedon on ða time ðe he naure mo eft nacoureð, and is forð
890ȝegan. Ða ðe bieð on religiun, hie bieð aure under scrifte, swa
891bihoueð us alswa.
892
893

OF ANDETNESSE.

894
895    Hier after cumeð an oðer hali mihte, ðe is icleped confessio ,
896ðat his, andetetdnesse; ðat is, ðanne ðe mann
897undett his herte, and seið his scrifte his sennes ðurh his muðe, ðe

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898waren arrer ȝedett on his herte. Hier of sade godd: Dic tu iniquitates
899tuas, ut iustificeris, 'Sei ðu þine unrihtwisnesses,
900ȝif ðu wilt bien irihtwised.' Herof sade sanctus Avgustinus:
901Qui per uos peccatis, per uos erubescatis, 'Ȝie ðe seneȝin be
902ȝew seluen, doð scame ȝew seluen. And wite ȝie to soðe ðat ilke
903scame is on lott of ðare forȝifnesse.' Fit enim ueniale per confessionem,
904quod criminale fuerat per operacionem, 'Hit is
905forȝiuenliche senne ðurh andettednesse ðe was arrer heaued-senne
906ðurh weorke.' Ac hit behoueð ðat hie bie wiel hlutter, and ðat
907ðar ne bie forholen non atter. Hier of sade ðe profete: Confitemini
908domino, quoniam bonus, 'Andettið ȝewer sennen,' he
909sade, 'goddalmihtin, for ðan ðe he is god, for ðan his mildsce is
910hier on world.' Se ðe her godes mildsce ne beȝett, ne wurð hie
911him naure mo ealles hwer. We findeð on ðe hali write ðat ȝif
912mann ware firliche uppen his deaðe, and he prest ne mihte
913habben, andette his sennen him ðe ware necst him, and he scolde
914habben mildsce, bute ȝif hit ware ðat he ðane prest forhowede;
915oððer ȝif he ware all hone, ðanne most he to godd ane. And
916belokie elch mann ðat he naure nortriwi godes are ne his mildsce,
917ne eft sones ne bie no mann to þrist to seneȝin, and segge: 'Mare
918mai godd forȝiuen ðanne we muȝen to seneȝin.' Non adicies
919peccatum super peccatum et dices: quoniam misericordia
920domini magna est!
921
922

OF CLENNESSE.

923
924    An oðer eadi mihte his ȝehaten mundicia , þat is, clannesse,
925ðe is inne godes huse swiðe ȝeluued. Ne mai ȝie iðolien none
926unclannesse on godes temple, ne beneðen on ði likame, ne abuuen
927on ðire saule, ne on ðouhtes, for ðan hie wat wel ðat openlicor ben
928þouhtes to-foren gode ðanne beð spaches be-foren manne; ne of
929fule spaches hie ne mai nauht ðolien, for ðan hie wot ðat god his
930ȝehiereð and alle mislikið; ne euele workes hie ne mai nieh
931wunien, for ðan ðat godd his hat scunien. Mundamini qui
932fertis uasa domini, 'Makieð ȝew clane ðe bereð godes faten!'
933Clanse þine hirte, for ðan þe hie owh to benne godes fatt. On

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934hire me scal beren godes sande, godes word. In corde meo
935abscondi eloquia tua, ut non peccem tibi, 'On mine hierte
936ich hedde þine wordes, hlauerd, þat ich nolde naht seneȝin aȝeanes
937ðe.' Swa dede sancta Maria; hie bar godes wordes on hire
938hierte, þat hie ofte mihte þenken on him ðe hie michel luuede,
939conferens in corde suo . Hie bar on hire hierte þat þe godd
940sade: Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi deum uidebunt,
941'Eadi bieð ða clane-hierte menn, for ðan hie sculen gode ȝesen.'
942Godd ne mai ben ȝesiȝen mid none oðer eiȝen ðanne mid þare
943hierte. Wassce and wipe wol clane ða eiȝene, for ðan soð is ðat
944hie ðe siggen. Gif þu wilt witen wilke eiȝene ðe hierte muȝe
945habben, hie bieð ȝenamned intellectus et racio . Ðese muȝen
946ȝesen alswa wel onbuten mid-niht alswa on mid-daiȝ. Andȝeat and
947skele bieð ða twa eiȝene. Ðurh andȝeat þu understanst alle þing,
948and ðurh scadwisnesse þu scalt skilien ðe euele fram ðe gode. All
949ðat ðe þu þencst þu ȝiesichst mid þese eiȝen. Ac aure to fele bieð
950bisne mid þan onen of þese eiȝen, and to fele mid baðe. Of alle
951ða edmodnesses ðe godd behet on his spelle, nis ðar non swo heih
952swa is 'ðe is clene-hierteclane-hierte.' Beȝiete se ðe muȝe! Ich þe warni,
953ne beȝiethst ðu his naure clane ðar wile ðat þu ne recst wat þu
954þenche, ne wat þu speke, ne wat ðu ȝehire speken. And bute þu
955his ȝierne make clane after þine mihte, mid godes helpe, ne scal tu
956naure ȝesen mid ðase eiȝene ðe þu mide ȝesiest sunne and mone,
957godd almihtin. Luue ðese hali mihte mundiciam , and hie ðe
958makeð clane-hierte. Amen.
959
960

OF LORE.

961
962    Disciplina is on oþer hali mihte, ðe goddself us hat nemen
963ðurh ðe prophete, ðe seið: Apprehendite disciplinam,
964et cet., 'Nemeð discipline of alle ðe misdades ðe ȝe deð, þe las te
965godd him wraðþi, and ȝie forfaren of ða rihte weiȝe!' Bute ðu neme
966riht of ðe seluen of ðe misdades ðe ðu mis-dest, mid fasten, oððer mid
967wake, oððer mid wope and sare beriwsinge, oððer mid weringe,

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968oððer mid cnewlinge, oððer mid swinke, oððer mid clane bede,
969oððer mid hlutter almesse, mid ðe rade of þine scrifte: godes
970wraððe cumþ uppen ðe, swa þat ðu forliest ða ane rihte weiȝ þe
971gað to heuene. Ðat is michel godes wraðþe þat mann is swa blind
972ðat he farð to helle leiȝinde. Þeih he michel mis-do, nis for ði na
973mare sori, þanne ȝif he nadde naht mis-don. Exceca cor populi
974huius, ne uideant et intelligant. Of hem sade godd: 'Bland
975ðies folces hierte, þat hie ne sien ne understande ðe rihte weiȝe to
976heuene riche.' Heare harde hierte and here euelnesse hit haueð
977of-earned þat ðe blinde latt ðane blinde. Þat is, se ðe him wissin
978scolde, deð ðo ilke sennes and haueð ðar of forbisne, and ec he him
979lareð and seið þat for ates ne for drenches ne for wifmanne, ðe
980godd haueð ȝescapen manne to ȝemoane, ne scal man naure ben
981forloren. Walawa þessere lare and ðesere dade! Swa ne do þu
982naht, lieue saule. Ac þanne ðu ȝefelst þat ðu godes luue ne his
983eiȝe ne hafst swa swa ðu scoldest, clepe to him and seih mid ðe
984prophete: Illumina oculos meos, domine, 'Hlauerd, opene
985mine eiȝene and liht his mid þe soðe lihte, þat ich naure ne bie
986slapinde on ðare saule deaðe, ne ðat ðe dieueles muȝen beȝelpen
987þat hie hafden ðe heiȝere hand ouer me.' Bonitatem et disciplinam
988et scienciam doce me, et cetera, 'Ac ðu, hlauerd, tach
989me godnesse, ðurh wan ich god muȝe bien, and tach me swilche
990discipline, þat ich þine wraððe muȝe softin, and swilch andȝet,
991ðat ich ðe muȝe ȝecnawen and ȝecwemen!'