Anonymous: A Bestiary (4 233 words)

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1

A BESTIARY


2

NATURA LEONIS JA.


3

4Ðe leun stant on hille,
5and he man hunten here
6Oðer ðurg his nese smel,
7Smake ðat he negge,
8Bi wilc weie so he wile
9To dele niðer wenden,
10Alle hise fet steppes
11After him he filleð,
12Drageð dust wið his stert
13ðer he steppeð,
14Oðer dust oðer deu,
15þat he ne cunne is finden,
16driueð dun to his den
17ðar he him bergen wille.

18
19

IJA.


20

21An oðer kinde he haueð,
22wanne he is ikindled
23Stille lið ðe leun,
24ne stireð he nout of slepe
25Til ðe sunne haueð sinen
26ðries him abuten,
27ðanne reiseð his fader him
28mit te rem ðat he makeð.

29

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30

IIJA.


31

32Ðe ðridde lage haueð ðe leun,
33ðanne he lieð to slepen
34Sal he neure luken
35ðe lides of hise egen.

36
37

SIGNIFICACIO PRIME NATURE.


38

39Welle heg is tat hil,
40ðat is heuen riche,
41vre louerd is te leun,
42ðe liueð ðer abuuen;
43wu ðo him likede
44to ligten her on erðe,
45Migte neure diuel witen,
46ðog he be derne hunte,
47hu he dun come,
48Ne wu he dennede him
49in ðat defte meiden,
50Marie bi name,
51ðe him bar to manne frame.

52
53

IJA ET IIJA.


54

55Ðo ure drigten ded was,
56and doluen, also his wille was,
57In a ston stille he lai
58til it kam ðe dridde dai,
59His fader him filstnede swo
60ðat he ros fro dede ðo,
61vs to to lif holden,
62wakeð so his wille is,
63So hirde for his folde;
64He is hirde, we ben sep;
65Silden he us wille,
66If we heren to his word
67ðat we ne gon nowor wille,

68

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69

NATURA AQUILE.


70

71Kiðen i wille ðe ernes kinde,
72Also ic it o boke rede,
73wu he neweð his guðhede,
74hu he cumeð ut of elde,
75Siðen hise limes arn unwelde,
76Siðen his bec is al to-wrong,
77Siðen his fligt is al unstrong,
78and his egen dimme;
79Hereð wu he neweð him.
80A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai
81boðe bi nigt and bi dai,
82ðer-ouer he flegeð, and up he teð,
83til ðat he ðe heuene feð,
84ðurg skies sexe and seuene
85til he cumeð to heuene;
86So rigt so he cunne
87he houeð in ðe sunne;
88ðe sunne swideð al his fligt,
89and oc it makeð his egen brigt,
90Hise feðres fallen for ðe hete,
91and he dun mide to ðe wete
92Falleð in ðat welle grund,
93ðer he wurdeð heil and fundsund,
94and cumeð ut al newe,
95Ne were his bec untrewe.
96His bec is get biforn wrong,
97ðog hise limes senden strong,
98Ne maig he tilen him non fode
99him self to none gode,
100ðanne goð he to a ston,
101and he billeð ðer-on,
102Billeð til his bec biforn
103haueð ðe wrengðe forloren,
104Siðen wið his rigte bile
105takeð mete ðat he wile.

106

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107

SIGNIFICACIO.


108

109Al ifis man so is tis ern,
110wulde ge nu listen,
111Old in hise sinnes dern,

112Or he bicumeð cristen;
113and tus he neweð him ðis man,

114ðanne he nimeð to kirke,
115Or he it biðenken can,

116hise egen weren mirke;
117Forsaket ðore satanas,

118and ilk sinful dede;
119Takeð him to ihesu crist,

120for he sal ben his mede;
121Leueð on ure louerd crist,

122and lereð prestes lore;
123Of hise egen wereð ðe mist,

124wiles he dreccheð ðore.
125his hope is al to gode-ward,

126and of his luue he lereð,
127ðat is te sunne sikerlike,

128ðus his sigte he beteð;
129Naked falleð in ðe funt-fat,

130and cumeð ut al newe,
131buten a litel; wat is tat?

132his muð is get untrewe;
133his muð is get wel unkuð

134wið pater noster and crede;
135Fare he norð, er fare he suð,

136leren he sal his nede;
137bidden bone to gode,

138and tus his muð rigten;
139tilen him so ðe sowles fode,

140ðurg grace off ure drigtin.

141

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142

NATURA SERPENTIS. JA.


143

144An wirm is o werlde,
145wel man it knoweð,
146Neddre is te name:
147ðus he him neweð,
148ðanne he is forbroken and forbroiden,
149and in his elde al forwurden.
150Fasteð til his fel him slakeð,
151ten daies fulle,
152ðat he is lene and mainles
153and iuele mai gangen;
154he crepeð cripelande forð,
155his craft he ðus kiðeð,
156Sekeð a ston ðat a ðirl is on,
157Narwe, buten he nedeð him,
158Nimeð vnneðes ðurg,
159for his fel he ðer leteð;
160his fles forð crepeð,
161walkeð to ðe water-ward,
162wile ðanne drinken.
163Oc he speweð or al ðe uenim
164dat in his brest is bred
165fro his birde time,
166drinkeð siðen inog,
167and tus he him neweð.

168
169

IJA.


170

171Ðanne ðe neddre is of his hid naked,
172and bare of his brest atter,
173If he naked man se
174ne wile he him nogt neggen,
175oc he fleð fro him
176als he fro fir sulde.
177If he cloðed man se,
178cos he waxeð,
179For up he rigteð him

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180redi to deren,
181to deren er to ded maken,
182if he it muge forðen.
183wat if ðe man war wurðe,
184and weren him cunne,
185figteð wið ðis wirm
186and fareð on him figtande;
187ðis neddre siðen he nede fal,
188makeð seld of his bodi,
189and sildeð his heued;
190litel him is of hise limes,
191bute he lif holde.

192
193

SIGNIFICACIO.


194

195Knov cristene man
196wat tu crist higtest
197Atte kirke dure,
198ðar ðu cristned were:
199þu higtes to leuen on him,
200and hise lages luuien,
201to helden wit herte
202ðe bodes of holi kirke.
203If ðu hauest is broken,
204Al ðu forbreðes,
205forwurðes and forgelues,
206Eche lif to wolden,
207Elded art fro eche blis,
208So ðis wirm o werld is;
209Newe ðe fordi
210so ðe neddre doð;
211It is te ned.
212Feste ðe of stedefastnesse,
213and ful of ðewes;
214and help ðe poure men
215ðe gangen abuten.
216Ne deme ðe nogt wurdi,

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217ðat tu dure loken
218up to ðe heueneward;
219Oc walke wið ðe erðe
220mildelike among men;
221no mod ðu ne cune,
222mod ne mannes vncost;
223oc swic of sineginge;
224and bote bid tu ðe ai,
225boðe bi nigt and bi dai,
226ðat tu milce mote hauen
227of ðine misdedes.
228ðis lif bitokneð ðe sti
229ðat te neddre gangeð bi,
230and tis is ðe ðirl of ðe ston
231ðat tu salt ðurg gon.
232Let ðin filðe fro ðe,
233so ðe wirm his fel doð;
234Go ðu ðan to godes hus
235ðe godspel to heren,
236ðat is soule drink,
237sinnes quenching.
238Oc or sei ðu in scrifte
239to ðe prest sinnes tine,
240feg ðe ðus of ði brest filde,
241and feste ðe forðward
242fast at tin herte,
243ðat tu firmest higtes.
244ðuf art tu ging and newe;
245forðward be ðu trewe.
246Nedeð ðe ðe deuel nogt,
247for he ne mai ðe deren nogt;
248oc he fleð fro ðe
249so neddre fro de nakede.
250On ðe cloðede ðe neddre is cof,
251and te deuel cliuer on sinnes;
252Ai ðe sinfule

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253bisetten he wile,
254and wið al mankin
255he haueð nið and win;
256wat if he leue haue
257of ure heuen louerd
258for to deren us,
259So he ure eldere or dede;
260do we ðe bodi in ðe bale,
261and bergen ðe soule,
262ðat is ure heued geuelic,
263helde we it wurðlic.

264
265

NATURA FORMICE.


266

267Ðe mire is magti,
268mikel ge swinkeð
269In sumer and in softe weder,
270So we ofte sen hauen;
271In ðe heruest
272hardilike gangeð,
273and renneð rapelike,
274and resteð hire seldum,
275and fecheð hire fode
276ðer ge it mai finden,
277gaddreð ilkines sed
278boðen of wude and of wed,
279Of corn and of gres,
280ðat ire to hauen es,
281haleð to hire hole,
282ðat siðen hire helpeð
283ðar ge wile ben winter agen;
284caue ge haueð to crepen in,
285ðat winter hire ne derie;
286Mete in hire hule ðat
287ðat ge muge biliuen.
288ðus ge tileð ðar,
289wiles ge time haueð,

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290so it her telleð;
291oc finde ge ðe wete,
292corn ðat hire qwemeð,
293Al ge forleteð ðis oðer seð
294ðat ic er seide;
295Ne bit ge nowt de barlic
296beren abuten;
297oc suneð it and sakeð forð,
298so it same were.
299get is wunder of ðis wirm
300more ðanne man weneð,
301ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð
302al get bit otwinne,
303ðat it ne forwurðe
304ne waxe hire fro,
305er ge it eten wille.

306
307

SIGNIFICACIO.


308

309Ðe mire muneð us
310mete to tilen,
311Long liuenoðe,
312ðis little wile
313ðe we on ðis werld wunen:
314for ðanne we osof wenden,
315ðanne is ure winter;
316we sulen hunger hauen
317and harde sures,
318buten we ben war here.
319do we forði so doð ðis der,

320ðanne be we derue
321On ðat dai ðat dom sal ben,

322ðat it ne us harde rewe:
323Seke we ure liues fod,

324ðat we ben siker ðere,
325So ðis wirm in winter is,

326ðan ge ne tileð nummore.

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327ðe mire suneð ðe barlic,

328ðanne ge fint te wete;
329ðe olde lage we ogen to sunen,

330ðe newe we hauen moten.
331ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð,

332all ge it bit otwinne,
333ðe lage us lereð to don god,

334and forbedeð us sinne.
335It bet us erðliche bodes,

336and bekued euelike;
337It fet ðe licham and te gost

338oc nowt o geuelike;
339vre louerd crist it leue us

340ðat his lage us fede,
341nu and o domesdei,

342and tanne we hauen nede.

343
344

NATURA CERUI.


345

346Ðe hert haueð kindes two,
347and forbisnes oc al so:
348ðus it is on boke set,
349ðat man clepeð fisiologet.
350He drageð ðe neddre of de ston
351ðurg his nese up on-on,
352of ðe stoc er of ðe ston,
353for it wile ðerunder gon;
354and sweleð it wel swiðe,
355ðerof him brinneð siðen
356of ðat attrie ðing,
357wiðinnen he haueð brenning:
358he lepeð ðanne wið mikel list,
359of swet water he haueð ðrist;
360he drinkeð water gredilike
361til he is ful wel sikerlike,
362Ne haueð ðat uenim non migt
363to deren him siðen non wigt.

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364oc he werpeð er hise hornes
365in wude er in ðornes,
366and gingid him ðus ðis wilde der,
367So ge hauen nu lered her.

368
369

SIGNIFICACIO PRIMA.


370

371Alle we atter dragen off ure eldere,
372ðe broken drigtinnes word ðurg ðe neddre;
373ðer-ðurg haueð mankin
374boðen nið and win,
375golsipe and giscing,
376giuernesse and wissing,
377pride and ouerwene;
378swilc atter i-mene.
379Ofte we brennen in mod,
380and wurðen so we weren wod;
381ðanne we ðus brennen
382bihoueð us to rennen
383to cristes quike welle,
384ðat we ne gon to helle;
385drinken his wissing,
386it quenchet ilc siniging;
387forwerpen pride eurilc del,
388so hert doð hise hornes;
389gingen us tus to godeward,
390and gemen us siðen forðward.

391
392

NATURA IJA.


393

394Ðe hertes hauen anoðer kinde,
395ðat us og alle to ben minde.
396Alle he arn off one mode;
397For if he fer fecchen fode,
398and he ouer water ten,
399wile non at nede oðer flen;
400Oc on swimmeð bi-forn,
401and alle ðe oðre folegen,

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402weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð:
403If non at nede ðat oðer lateð,
404Oc leigeð his skinbon
405on oðres lendbon.
406gef him ðat biforn teð
407Bilimpes for to tirgen,
408Alle ðe oðre cumen mide,
409and helpen him for to hertien,
410beren him of ðat water grund
411up to ðe lond al heil and fundsund,
412and forðen here nede:
413ðis wune he hauen hem bi-twen,
414ðog he an hundred to-giddre ben.

415
416

SIGNIFICACIO IJA.


417

418Ðe hertes costes we ogen to munen,
419Ne og ur non oðer to sunen,
420oc eurilc luuen oðer,
421also he were his broder,
422wurðen stedefast his wine,
423ligten him of his birdene,
424helpen him at his nede;
425god giueð ðer-fore mede:
426we sulen hauen heuenriche,
427gef we bitwixen us ben briche:
428ðus is ure louerdes lage,

429luuelike to fillen,
430her-of haue we mikel ned,

431ðat we ðar-wið ne dillen.

432
433

NATURA WULPIS.


434

435A wilde der is
436ðat is ful of fele wiles,
437fox is hire to name,
438for hire queðsipe;

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439husebondes hire haten,
440for hire harm dedes:
441ðe coc and te capun
442ge feccheð ofte in ðe tun,
443and te gandre and te gos,
444bi ðe necke and bi ðe nos,
445haleð is to hire hole;
446for-ði man hire hatieð,
447hatien and hulen
448boðe men and fules.
449Listneð nu a wunder,
450ðat tis der doð for hunger:
451goð o felde to a furg,
452and falleð ðar-inne,
453In eried lond er in erðchine.
454forto bilirten fugeles;
455Ne stereð ge nogt of ðe stede
456a god stund deies,
457oc dareð so ge ded were,
458Ne drageð ge non onde:
459ðe rauen is swiðe redi,
460weneð ðat ge rotieð,
461and oðre fules hire fallen bi
462For to winnen fode,
463derflike wiðuten dred;
464he wenen ðat ge ded beð,
465he wullen on ðis foxes fel;
466and ge it wel feleð,
467ligtlike ge lepeð up
468and letteð hem sone,
469gelt hem here billing
470raðe wið illing,
471tetoggeð and tetireð hem
472mid hire teð sarpe,

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473Fret hire fille,
474and goð ðan ðer ge wille.

475
476

SIGNIFICACIO.


477

478Twifold forbisne in ðis der
479to frame we mugen finden her,
480warsipe and wisedom
481wið deuel and wið iuel man;
482ðe deuel dereð dernelike,
483he lat he ne wile us nogt biswike,
484he lat he ne wile us ðon non loð,
485and bringeð us in a sinne and ter he us sloð,
486he bit us don ure bukes wille,
487eten and drinken wið unskil,
488and in ure skemting
489he doð raðe a foxing,
490he billeð one ðe foxes fel
491wo so telleð idel spel,
492and he tireð on his ket
493wo so him wið sinne fet,
494and deuel geld swilk billing
495wið fame and wið sending,
496and for his sinfule werk
497ledeð man to helle merk.

498
499

SIGNIFICACIO.


500

501Ðe deuel is tus ðe fox ilik
502mið iuele breides and wið swik;
503and man al so ðe foxes name
504arn wurði to hauen same;
505for wo so seieð oðer god,
506and ðenkeð iuel on his mod,
507fox he is and fend iwis,
508ðe boc ne legeð nogt of ðis;
509So was herodes fox and flerd,
510ðo crist kam in-to ðis middel-erd,

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511he seide he wulde him leuen on,
512and ðogte he wulde him fordon.

513
514

NATURA ARANEE.


515

516Seftes sop ure seppande,
517sene is on werlde,
518leiðe and lodlike,
519ðus we it leuen,
520manikines ðing
521alle manne to wissing.
522ðe spinnere on hire swid ge weveð,
523festeð atte hus rof,
524hire fodredes
525o rof er on ouese,
526so hire is on elde;
527werpeð ðus hire web,
528and weueð on hire wise.
529ðanne ge it haueð al idigt.
530ðeðen ge driueð,
531hitt hire in hire hole,
532oc ai ge it biholdeð
533til ðat ðer fleges faren
534and fallen ðer-inne,
535wiðeren in ðat web,
536and wilen ut wenden;
537ðanne renneð ge rapelike,
538for ge is ai redi,
539nimeð anon to ðe net
540and nimeð hem ðere,
541bitterlike ge hem bit
542and here bane wurðeð,
543drepeð and drinkeð here blod,
544doð ge hire non oðer god,
545bute fret hire fille,
546and dareð siðen stille.

547

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548

SIGNIFICACIO.


549

550Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man
551ðat oðer biswikeð
552on stede er on stalle,
553stille er lude,
554in mot er in market,
555er oni oðer wise,
556he him bit
557ðan he him bale felleð,
558and he drinkeð his blod
559wanne he him dreueð,
560and ðo freteð hem al,
561ðan he him iuel werkeð.

562
563

NATURA CETEGRANDIE.


564

565Cethegrande is a fis
566ðe moste ðat in water is;
567ðat tu wuldes seien get,
568gef ðu it soge wan it flet,
569ðat it were a neilond
570ðat fetesete one ðe se sond.
571ðis fis ðat is vnride,
572ðanne him hungreð he gapeð wide,
573vt of his ðrote it smit an onde,
574ðe swetteste ðing ðat is o londe;
575ðer-fore oðre fisses to him dragen,
576wan he it felen he aren fagen,
577he cumen and houen in his muð,
578of his swike he arn uncuð;
579ðis cete ðanne hise chaueles lukeð,
580ðise fisses alle in sukeð,
581ðe smale he wile ðus biswiken,
582ðe grete maig he nogt bigripen.
583ðis fis wuneð wið ðe se grund,
584and liueð ðer eure heil and sund,

page 17


585til it cumeð ðe time
586ðat storm stireð al ðe se,
587ðanne sumer and winter winnen;
588ne mai it wunen ðer-inne,
589So droui is te sees grund,
590ne mai he wunen ðer ðat stund,
591oc stireð up and houeð stille;
592wiles ðar weder is so ille,
593ðe sipes ðat arn on se fordriuen,
594loð hem is ded, and lef to liuen,
595biloken hem and sen ðis fis,
596an eilond he wenen it is,
597ðer-of he aren swiðe fagen,
598and mid here migt ðar-to he dragen,
599sipes on festen,
600and alle up gangen;
601Of ston mid stel in ðe tunder
602wel to brennen one ðis wunder,
603warmen hem wel and heten and drinken;
604ðe fir he feleð and doð hem sinken,
605for sone he diueð dun to grunde,
606he drepeð hem alle wið-uten wunde.

607
608

SIGNIFICACIO.


609

610Ðis deuel is mikel wið wil and magt,
611So wicches hauen in here craft,
612he doð men hungren and hauen ðrist,
613and mani oðer sinful list,
614tolleð men to him wið his onde,
615wo so him folegeð he findeð sonde;
616ðo arn ðe little in leue lage,
617ðe mikle ne maig he to him dragen:
618ðe mikle, i mene ðe stedefast
619in rigte leue mid fles and gast.

page 18


620wo so listneð deueles lore,
621on lengðe it sal him rewen sore;
622wo so festeð hope on him,
623he sal him folgen to helle dim.

624
625

NATURA SIRENE.


626

627In ðe se senden
628selcuðes manie;
629ðe mereman is
630a meiden ilike
631on brest and on bodi,
632oc al ðus ge is bunden;
633fro ðe noule niðerward
634ne is ge no man like,
635oc fis to fuliwis
636mid sinnes waxen.
637ðis wunder wuneð
638in wankel stede,
639ðer ðe water sinkeð,
640sipes ge sinkeð,
641and scaðe ðus werkeð
642mirie ge singeð ðis mere,
643and haueð manie stefnes,
644manie and sille,
645oc it ben wel ille;
646sipmen here steringe forgeten
647for hire stefninge,
648slumeren and slepen,
649and to late waken,
650ðe sipes sinken mitte suk,
651ne cumen he nummor up.
652Oc wise men and warre
653agen cunnencunen chare,
654ofte arn atbrosten,
655mid here brest ouel;

page 19


656he hauen herd told of ðis mere
657dat tus unie-mete,
658half man and half fis,
659sum ðing tokneð bi ðis.

660
661

SIGNIFICACIO.


662

663Fele men hauen ðe tokning
664of ðis forbisnede ðing,
665wiðuten weren wulues fel,
666wiðinnen arn he wulues al;
667he speken godcundhede,
668and wikke is here dede;
669here dede is al vncuð
670wið ðat spekeð here muð;
671twifold arn on mode,
672he sweren bi ðe rode,
673bi ðe sunne and bi ðe mone,
674and he ðe legen sone,
675mid here sage and mid here song
676he ðe swiken ðer imong,
677ðin agte wið swiking,
678ði soule wið lesing.

679
680

NATURA ELEPHANTIS.


681

682Elpes arn in Inde riche,
683on bodi borlic berges ilike;
684he to-gaddre gon o wolde,
685so sep ðat cumen ut of folde,
686and behinden he hem sampnen
687ðanne he sulen oðre strenen;
688Oc he arn so kolde of kinde
689ðat no golsipe is hem minde,
690til he noten of a gres,
691ðe name is mandragores,
692Siðen he bigeten on,

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693and two ger he ðer-mide gon.
694ðog he ðre hundred ger
695on werlde more wuneden her,
696bigeten he neuermor non,
697so kold is hem siðen blod and bon;
698ðanne ge sal hire kindles beren,
699In water ge sal stonden,
700In water to mid side,
701ðat wanne hire harde tide,
702ðat ge ne falle niðer nogt,
703ðat is most in hire ðogt,
704For he ne hauen no lið
705ðat he mugen risen wið.
706Hu he resteð him ðis der,

707ðanne he walkeð wide,
708herkne wu it telleð her,

709for he is al unride.
710A tre he sekeð to fuligewis,
711ðat is strong and stedefast is,
712and leneð him trostlike ðer-bi,
713ðanne he is of walke weri.
714ðe hunte haueð biholden ðis,

715ðe him wille swiken,
716wor his beste wune is,

717to don hise willen;
718Sageð ðis tre and under-set,
719o ðe wise ðat he mai bet,
720and hileð it wel ðat he it nes war,
721ðanne he makeð ðer-to char,
722him seluen sit olon, bihalt,
723weðer his gin him out biwalt.
724ðanne cumeð ðis elp unride,
725and leneð him up on his side,
726slepeð bi ðe tre in ðe sadue,
727and fallen boden so to-gaddre;

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728gef ðer is noman ðanne he falleð,
729he remeð and helpe calleð,
730remeð reufulike on his wise,
731hopeð he sal ðurg helpe risen;
732ðanne cumeð ðer on gangande,
733hopeð he sal him don ut standen,
734Fikeð and fondeð al his migt,
735ne mai he it forðen no wigt;
736Ne canne ðan non oðer,
737oc remeð mid his broðer,
738manie and mikle cume ðer sacande,
739wenen him on stalle maken,
740oc for ðe helpe of hem alle
741ne mai he cumen so on stalle;
742ðanne remen he alle a rem,
743so hornes blast oðer belles drem,
744For here mikle reming
745rennande cumeð a gungling,
746raðe to him luteð,
747his snute him under puteð,
748and mitte helpe of hem alle
749ðis elp he reisen on stalle;
750and tus atbrested ðis huntes breid,
751oðe wise ðat ic haue gu seid.

752
753

SIGNIFICACIO.


754

755Ðus fel adam ðurg a tre,
756vre firste fader, ðat fele we:
757Moyses wulde him reisen,
758migte it no wigt forðen;
759After him prophetes alle
760migte her non him maken on stalle,
761on stalle, i seie, ðer he er stod,
762to hauen heuenriche god.

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763he suggeden and sorgeden and weren in ðogt,
764wu he migten him helpen ovt;
765ðo remeden he alle onder steuene
766alle hege up to ðe heuene,
767for here care and here calling
768hem cam to crist heuen king;
769he ðe is ai in heuene mikel,
770wurð her man, and tus was litel,
771drowing ðolede in ure manhede,
772and tus adam he under-gede,
773reisede him up, and al mankin,
774ðat was fallen to helle dim.

775
776

NATURA TURTURIS.


777

778In boke is ðe turtres lif
779writen o rime, wu lagelike
780ge holdeð luue al hire lif time;
781gef ge ones make haueð,

782fro him ne wile ge siðen:
783muneð wimmen hire lif,

784ic it wile gu reden;
785bi hire make ge sit o nigt,

786o dei ge goð and flegeð.
787wo so seit he sundren ovt,

788i seie ðat he legeð.
789Oc if hire make were ded,

790and ge widue wore,
791ðanne flegeð ge one and fareð,

792non oðer wile ge more;
793buten one goð and one sit,
794and hire olde luue abit,
795In herte haueð him nigt and dai,
796so he were oliue ai.

797

page 23


798

SIGNIFICACIO.


799

800List ilk lefful man her-to,

801and herof ofte reche:
802vre sowle atte kirke dure

803ches hire crist to meche,
804he is ure soule spuse,

805luue we him wið migte,
806and wende we neure fro him-ward

807be dai ne be nigte;
808ðog he be fro ure sigte faren,

809be we him alle trewe,
810non oðer louerd ne leue we

811ne non luue newe;
812leue we ðat he liueð ai

813up on heuen-riche,
814and ðeðen he sal cumen eft,

815and ben us alle briche,
816for to demen alle men,

817oc nout on geuelike,
818hise loðe men sulen to helle faren,

819hise leue to his riche.

820
821

NATURA PANTERE.


822

823Panter is an wilde der,
824Is non fairere on werlde her;
825he is blac so bro of qual,
826mið wite spottes sapen al,
827wit and trendled als a wel.
828and itt bicumeð him swiðe wel.
829wor so he wuneð ðis panter,
830he fedeð him al mid oðer der,
831of ðo ðe he wile he nimeð ðe cul
832and fet him wel til he is ful.
833In his hole siðen stille
834ðre dages he slepen wille,

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835ðan after ðe ðridde dai
836he riseð and remeð lude so he mai,
837ut of his ðrote cumeð a smel
838mid his rem forð oueral,
839ðat ouer-cumeð haliweie
840wið swetnesse, ic gu seie,
841and al ðat eure smelleð swete,
842be it drie be it wete.
843For ðe swetnesse off his onde,
844wor so he walkeð o londe,
845wor so he walked, er wor so he wuneð,
846Ilk der ðe him hereð to him cumeð,
847and folegeð him up one ðe wold,
848for ðe swetnesse ðe ic gu haue told.
849ðe dragunes one ne stiren nout
850wiles te panter remeð ogt,
851oc daren stille in here pit,
852als so he weren of dede offrigt.

853
854

SIGNIFICACIO.


855

856Crist is tokned ðurg ðis der,
857wos kinde we hauen told gu her;
858for he is faier ouer alle men,
859so euen sterre ouer erðe fen;
860ful wel he taunede his luue to man,
861wan he ðurg holi spel him wan,
862and longe he lai her in an hole,
863wel him dat he it wulde ðolen;
864ðre daies slep he al on on,
865ðanne he ded was in blod and bon,
866vp he ros and remede i-wis
867of helle pine, of heuene blis,
868and steg to heuene uvemest,
869ðer wuneð wið fader and holi gast.
870Amonges men a swete smel

page 25


871he let her of his holi spel,
872wor-ðurg we mugen folgen him
873in-to his godcundne se fin.
874and ðat wirm ure wiðerwine,
875wor so of godes word is dine,
876ne dar he stiren, ne noman deren,
877ðer wile he lage and luue beren.

878
879

NATURA COLUMBE ET SIGNIFICACIO.


880

881Ðe culuer haueð costes gode,
882alle wes ogen to hauen in mode,
883seuene costes in hire kinde,
884alle it ogen to ben us minde,
885ge ne haueð in hire non galle,
886simple and softe be we alle;
887ge ne liueð nogt bi lagt;
888Ilc robbinge do we of bac.
889ðe wirm ge leteð and liueð bi ðe sed,
890of cristes lore we haue ned;
891wið oðre briddes ge doð as moder,
892so og ur ilk to don wið oðer;
893woning and groning is lic hire song,
894bimene we us, we hauen don wrong.
895In water ge is wis of heuekes come,
896and we in boke wið deules nome;
897In hole of ston ge makeð hire nest,
898In cristes milce ure hope is best.