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1

HERE BIGINNEÞ ÞE FIRST CHAPITRE.

2
3    Goostly freende in God, þou schalt wel vnderstonde þat I fynde,
4in my boistous beholdyng, foure degrees and fourmes of Cristen
5mens leuyng; and ben þeese: Comoun, Special, Singuler, and Parfite.
6Þre of þeese mow be bigonnen and eendid in þis liif; and þe
7ferþe may bi grace be bigonnen here, bot it schal euer laste
8wiþ-outen eende in þe blis of heuen. And riȝt as þou seest how þei
9ben set here in ordre, ilch one after oþer, first Comoun, þan
10Special, after Syngulere, and last Parfite: riȝt so me þinkeþ þat, in
11þe same ordre and in þe same cours, oure Lorde haþ of his grete
12mercy clepid þee and ledde þee unto him bi þe desire of þin herte.
13    For first þou wote wel þat when þou were leuyng in þe comoun
14degree of Cristen mens leuyng in companie of þi wordely freendes,
15it semeþ to me þat þe euerlasting loue of his Godheed, þorow þe
16whiche he mad þee and wrouȝt þee when þou were nouȝt, and siþen

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17bouȝt þee wiþ þe prise of his precious blood when þou were loste
18in Adam, miȝt not suffre þee be so fer fro him in forme and degree
19of leuyng. And þerfore he kyndelid þi desire ful graciously, and fastnid
20bi it a lyame of longing, and led þee bi it in-to a more special state
21and forme of leuyng, to be a seruaunt of þe special seruauntes of his;
22where þou miȝtest lerne to liue more specialy and more goostly in
23his seruise þan þou dedist, or miȝtest do, in þe comoun degree of
24leuyng bifore. And what more? Ȝit it semeþ þat he wolde not leue
25þee þus liȝtly, for loue of his herte, þe whiche he haþ euermore
26had vnto þee siþ þou were ouȝtes. Bot what did he? Seest þou
27nouȝt how lystly and how graciously he haþ pulled þee to þe þrid
28degre and maner of leuing, þe whiche hiȝt Synguleer? In þe whiche
29solitari forme and maner of leuyng þou maist lerne to lift up þe fote
30of þi loue, and step towardes þat state and degre of leuyng þat is
31parfite, and þe laste state of alle.
32
33

HERE BIGINNEÞ ÞHE SECOUND CHAPITRE.

34
35    Look up now, weike wreche, and see what þou arte. What arte
36þou, and what hast þou deserued, þus to be clepid of oure Lorde?
37What weri wrechid herte and sleping in sleuþe is þat, þe whiche is
38not waknid wiþ þe drawȝt of þis loue and þe voise of þis cleping?
39Bewar now, wreche, in þis while wiþ þin enemye; and holde þee
40neuer þe holier ne þe beter for þe worþines of þis cleping and for

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41þe singuler fourme of leuyng þat þou arte in; bot þe more wrechid
42and werid , bot ȝif þou do þat in þee is goodly, bi grace and bi counsel
43to lyue after þi cleping. And in-so-mochel þou schuldest be more meek
44and louyng to þi goostly spouse, þat he, þat is þe Almiȝty God,
45Kyng of kynges and Lorde of lordes, wolde meek hym so lowe vnto
46þee, and, amonges alle þe flok of his scheep, so graciously wolde
47chese þee to be one of his speciales, and siþen set þee in þe stede
48of pasture, where þou maist be fed wiþ þe swetnes of his loue, in
49erles of þin heritage, þe kingdome of heuen.
50    Do on þan, I preie þee, fast. Look now forwardes, and lat be
51bacwardes. And see what þee faileþ, and not what þou haste: for þat
52is þe rediest getyng and keping of meeknes. Alle þi liif now behoueþ
53algates to stonde in desire, ȝif þou schalt profite in degre of perfeccion.
54Þis desire behoueþ algates be wrouȝt in þi wille, bi þe
55honde of Almiȝti God and þi consent. Bot oo þing I telle þee: he
56is a gelous louer and suffreþ no felawschip, and him list not worche in
57þi wille bot ȝif he be only wiþ þee bi hym-self. He askeþ none
58helpe, bot only þi-self. He wil þou do bot loke on hym and late him
59alone. And kepe þou þe windowes and þe dore for flies and enemies
60assailyng. And ȝif þou be willy to do þis, þee þar bot meekly put
61apon him wiþ preier, and sone wil he help þee. Put on þan: lat see

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62how þou berest þee. He is ful redy, and doþ bot abideþ þee. Bot
63what schalt þou do, and how schalt þou put?
64
65

HERE BIGINNEÞ ÞE ÞRID CHAPITRE.

66
67    Lift up þin herte vnto God wiþ a meek steryng of loue; and
68mene him-self, and none of his goodes. And þerto loke þee loþe to þenk
69on ouȝt bot on hym-self, so þat nouȝt worche in þi witte ne in þi
70wille bot only him-self. & do þat in þee is to forȝete alle þe
71creatures þat euer God maad & þe werkes of hem, so þat þi þouȝt
72ne þi desire be not directe ne streche to any of hem, neiþer in
73general ne in special. Bot lat hem be, and take no kepe to hem.
74    Þis is þe werk of þe soule þat moste plesiþ God. Alle seintes and
75aungelles han ioie of þis werk, and hasten hem to helpe it in al here
76miȝt. Alle feendes ben wood whan þou þus doste, and prouen for to
77felle it in alle þat þei kun. Alle men leuyng in erþe ben wonderfuli
78holpen of þis werk, þou wost not how. Ȝe, þe soules in purgatori
79ben esed of þeire peine by vertewe of þis werk. Þi-self arte clensid
80and maad vertewos by no werk so mochel. And ȝit it is þe liȝtest werk
81of alle, when a soule is holpen wiþ grace in sensible liste, and sonnest
82done. Bot elles it is hard and wonderful to þee for to do.
83    Lette not þerfore, bot trauayle þer-in tyl þou fele lyst. For at
84þe first tyme when þou dost it, þou fyndest bot a derknes, and as

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85it were a cloude of vnknowyng, þou wost neuer what, sauyng þat
86þou felist in þi wille a nakid entent vnto God. Þis derknes and þis
87cloude is, how-so-euer þou dost, bitwix þee and þi God, and letteþ þee
88þat þou maist not see him cleerly by liȝt of vnderstonding in þi
89reson, ne fele him in swetnes of loue in þin affeccion. And þerfore
90schap þee to bide in þis derknes as longe as þou maist, euermore
91criing after him þat tou louest; for ȝif euer schalt þou fele him
92or see him, as it may be here, it behoueþ alweis be in þis cloude
93& in þis derknes. And ȝif þou wilte besily trauayle as I bid þee, I
94triste in his mercy þat þou schalt come þer-to.
95
96

HERE BIGINNEÞ ÞE FEERÞE CHAPITRE.

97
98    But forþi þat þou schalt not erre in þis worching, and wene þat
99it be oþerwise þen it is, I schal telle þee a lityl more þer-of, as me
100þinkeþ.
101    Þis werk askeþ no longe tyme er it be ones treulich done, as
102sum men wenen; for it is þe schortest werke of alle þat man may
103ymagyn. It is neiþer lenger no schorter þen is an athomus; þe
104whiche athomus, by þe diffinicion of trewe philisophres in þe
105sciens of astronomye, is þe leest partie of tyme. And it is so litil
106þat, for þe littilnes of it, it is undepartable and neiȝhonde incomprehensible.
107Þis is þat tyme of þe whiche it is wretyn: Alle

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108tyme þat is ȝouen to þee, it schal be askid of þee how þou haste
109dispendid it. And skilful þing it is þat þou ȝeue acompte of it; for
110it is neiþer lenger ne schorter, bot euen acording to one only
111steryng þat is wiþ-inne þe principal worching miȝt of þi soule, þe
112whiche is þi wille. For euen so many willinges or desiringes - and
113no mo ne no fewer - may be and aren in one oure in þi wille, as aren
114athomus in one oure. And ȝif þou were reformid bi grace to þe first
115state of mans soule, as it was bifore sinne, þan þou schuldest
116euer-more, bi help of þat grace, be lorde of þat stering or of þoo
117sterynges; so þat none ȝede forby, bot alle þei schulde streche
118in-to þe souerein desirable and into þe heiȝest wilnable þing, þe
119whiche is God.
120    For he is euen mete to oure soule by mesuring of his Godheed;
121and oure soule euen mete unto him bi worþines of oure creacion to his
122ymage and to his licnes. And he by him-self wiþ-outen moo, and none
123bot he, is sufficient at þe fulle, and mochel more, to fulfille þe wille
124and þe desire of oure soule. And oure soule, bi vertewe of þis reformyng
125grace, is mad sufficient at þe fulle to comprehende al him by loue,
126þe whiche is incomprehensible to alle create knowable miȝt, as is
127aungel and mans soule. (I mene by þeire knowyng and not by þeire
128louyng, and þerfore I clepe hem in þis caas knowable miȝtes).
129    Bot siþ alle resonable creatures, aungel and man, haþ in hem, ilchone

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130by hem-self, o principal worching miȝt, þe whiche is clepid
131a knowable miȝt, and a-noþer principal worching miȝt, þe whiche
132is clepid a louyng miȝt: of þe whiche two miȝtes, to þe first,
133þe whiche is a knowyng miȝt, God, þat is þe maker of hem, is
134euermore incomprehensible; and to þe secound, þe whiche is þe
135louyng myȝt, in ilch one diuersly he is al comprehensible at þe fulle,
136insomochel þat o louyng soule only in it-self, by vertewe of loue,
137schuld comprehende in it hym þat is sufficient at þe fulle - and
138mochel more, wiþ-oute comparison - to fille alle þe soules and
139aungelles þat euer may be. And þis is þe eendles merueilous miracle
140of loue, þe whiche schal neuer take eende; for euer schal he do it,
141and neuer schal he seese for to do it. See, who bi grace see may, for
142þe felyng of þis is eendles blisse; and þe contrary is eendles pyne.
143    And þerfore who-so were refourmyd by grace þus to continow
144in keping of þe sterynges of þe wille, schuld neuer be in þis liif -
145as he may not be wiþ-outen þees sterynges in kynde - wiþ-outen
146som taast of þe eendles swetnes; and in þe blisse of heuen with-outen
147þe fulle food. And þerfore haue no wonder þof I stere þee to
148þis werk. For þis is þe werk, as þou schalt here after, in þe whiche
149man schuld haue contynowed ȝif he neuer had synned, and to þe
150whiche worching man was maad, and alle þing for man, to help him
151and forþer him þerto, and by þe whiche a man schal be reparailed

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152aȝein. And for þe defaylyng in þis worching a man falleþ depper &
153depper in synne, and ferþer & ferþer fro God. And by kepyng and
154contynowel worching in þis werk only, wiþ-outen mo, a man
155euer-more riseþ hier and hier fro synne, and nerer and nerer vnto God.
156    And þerfore take good keep into tyme, how þat þou dispendist it.
157For noþing is more precious þan tyme. In oo litel tyme, as litel
158as it is, may heuen be wonne and lost. A token it is þat time is
159precious: for God, þat is ȝeuer of tyme, ȝeueþ neuer two tymes
160to-geder, bot ich one after oþer. And þis he doþ for he wil not reuerse
161þe ordre or þe ordinel cours in þe cause of his creacion. For tyme
162is maad for man, and not man for tyme. And þerfore God, þat is þe
163rewler of kynde, wil not in þe ȝeuyng of tyme go before þe steryng
164of kynde in a mans soule; þe whiche is euen acordyng to o tyme
165only. So þat man schal haue none excusacion aȝens God in þe
166dome and at þe ȝeuyng of acompte of dispendyng of tyme, seiing:
167'Þou ȝeuest two tymes at ones, and I haue bot o steryng at ones.'
168    Bot soroufuly þou seist now: 'How schal I do? and siþ þis is soþ
169þat þou seist, how schal I ȝeue acompte of iche tyme diuersly;
170I þat in-to þis day, now of foure and twenty ȝere age, neuer toke
171hede of tyme? Ȝif I wolde now amende it, þou wost wel, bi verrey

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172reson of þi wordes wretyn before, it may not be after þe cours of
173kynde ne of comoun grace, þat I schuld mowe kepe or elles make
174aseeþ to any mo tymes þan to þoo þat ben for to come. Ȝe, and
175more-ouer wel I wote, bi verrey proef, þat of þoo þat ben to come
176I schal on no wise, for habundaunce of freelte & slownes of sperite,
177mowe kepe one of an hondred; so þat I am verrely conclude in
178þeese resons. Help me now, for þe loue of Ihesu!'
179    Riȝt wel hast þou seide 'for þe loue of Ihesu'. For in þe loue of
180Ihesu þere schal be þin help. Loue is soche a miȝt þat it makiþ
181alle þing comoun. Loue þerfore Ihesu, and alle þing þat he haþ it is
182þin. He by his Godheed is maker and ȝeuer of tyme. He bi his
183Manheed is þe verrey keper of tyme. And he, bi his Godheed & his
184Manheed to-geders, is þe trewist domesman and þe asker of acompte
185of dispending of tyme. Knyt þee þerfore bi him by loue and by beleue;
186and þan by vertewe of þat knot þou schalt be comoun parcener
187wiþ him and wiþ alle þat by loue so ben knittyd vnto him; þat is
188to sey, wiþ oure Lady Seinte Mary, þat ful was of alle grace in
189kepyng of tyme, wiþ alle þe aungelles of heuen þat neuer may lese
190tyme, and with alle þe seintes in heuen and in erþe, þat by þe grace of
191Ihesu kepen tyme ful iustly in vertewe of loue.
192    Loo! here liþ counforte; construe þou cleerly and pike þee sum
193profite. Bot of oo þing I warne amonges alle oþer: I cannot
194see who may trewliche chalenge comunite þus wiþ Ihesu and his iust

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195Moder, his hiȝe aungelles and also wiþ his seyntes, bot ȝif it be soche
196one þat doþ þat in hym is, wiþ helping of grace, in kepyng of
197tyme; so þat he be seen to be a profiter on his partye, so litil as is,
198vnto þe comunite, as ich one of hem doþ on his.
199    And þerfore take kepe to þis werk and to þe merueylous maner of it
200wiþ-inne in þi soule. For ȝif it be trewlich conceyued, it is bot a
201sodeyn steryng, and as it were vnauisid, speedly springing unto God
202as sparcle fro þe cole. And it is merueylous to noumbre þe sterynges
203þat may be in one oure wrouȝt in a soule þat is disposid to þis
204werk. And ȝit, in o steryng of alle þeese, he may haue sodenly and
205parfitely forȝeten alle create þing. Bot fast after iche steryng,
206for corupcion of þe flesche, it falleþ doune aȝein to som þouȝt or to
207some done or vndone dede. Bot what þer-of? For fast after, it
208riseþ aȝen as sodenly as it did bifore.
209    And here mowe men schortly conceyue þe maner of þis worching,
210and cleerly knowe þat it is fer fro any fantasie, or any fals ymaginacion,
211or queynte opinion; þe whiche ben brouȝt in, not by soche
212a deuoute and a meek blynde stering of loue, bot by a proude,
213coryous and an ymaginatiif witte. Soche a proude, corious witte
214behoueþ algates be born doun and stifly troden doun vnder fote,
215ȝif þis werke schal trewly be conceyuid in purete of spirite.
216    For who-so heriþ þis werke ouþer be red or spoken, and weneþ þat
217it may or schuld be comen to by trauayle in þeire wittes (and þerfore
218þei sitte and sechin in þeire wittes how þat it may be, and in þis

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219coriouste þei trauayle þeire ymaginacion parauenture aȝens cours
220of kynde, and þei feyne a maner of worching, þe whiche is neiþer
221bodily ne goostly): trewly þis man, what-so-euer he be, is perilously
222disseyuid; in-so-mochel þat, bot ȝif God of his grete goodnes
223schewe his mercyful myracle and make hym sone to leue werk and
224meek hym to counsel of prouid worchers, he schal falle ouþer into
225frenesies, or elles into oþer grete mischeues of goostly sinnes and
226deuels disseites; þorow þe whiche he may liȝtly be lorne, boþe liif
227and soule, wiþ-outen any eende. And þerfore for Goddes loue beware
228in þis werk, and trauayle not in þi wittes ne in þin ymaginacion on
229no wise. For I telle þee trewly, it may not be comen to by
230trauaile in þeim; and þerfore leue þeim & worche not wiþ þeim.
231    And wene not, for I clepe it a derknes or a cloude, þat it be any
232cloude congelid of þe humours þat fleen in þe ayre, ne ȝit any
233derknes soche as is in þin house on niȝtes, when þi candel is oute.
234For soche a derkensderknes and soche a cloude maist þou ymagin wiþ
235coriouste of witte, for to bere before þin iȝen in þe liȝtest day of
236somer; and also aȝenswarde in þe derkist niȝt of wynter þou mayst
237ymagin a clere schinyng liȝt. Lat be soche falsheed; I mene not
238þus. For when I sey derknes, I mene a lackyng of knowyng; as
239alle þat þing þat þou knowest not, or elles þat þou hast forȝetyn,
240it is derk to þee, for þou seest it not wiþ þi goostly iȝe. And for þis
241skile it is not clepid a cloude of þe eire, bot a cloude of vnknowyng,
242þat is bitwix þee and þi God.
243

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244

HERE BIGINNEÞ ÞE FIFÞE CHAPITRE.

245
246    And ȝif euer þou schalt come to þis cloude and wone and worche þer-in
247as I bid þee, þee byhoueþ, as þis cloude of vnknowyng is abouen
248þee, bitwix þee and þi God, riȝt so put a cloude of forȝetyng bineþ
249þee, bitwix þee and alle þe cretures þat euer ben maad. Þee þinkeþ,
250parauenture, þat þou arte ful fer fro God, forþi þat þis cloude of
251vnknowing is bitwix þee and þi God; bot sekirly, and it be wel
252conseyued, þou arte wel ferþer fro hym when þou hast no cloude
253of forȝetyng bitwix þee and alle þe creatures þat euer ben maad.
254As ofte as I sey 'alle þe creatures þat euer ben maad', as ofte I
255mene, not only þe self creatures, bot also alle þe werkes and þe
256condicions of þe same creatures. I oute-take not o creature,
257wheþer þei ben bodily creatures or goostly, ne ȝit any condicion
258or werk of any creature, wheþer þei be good or iuel; bot schortly
259to sey, alle schuld be hid vnder þe cloude of forȝetyng in þis caas.
260    For þof al it be ful profitable sumtyme to þink of certeyne condicions
261and dedes of sum certein special creatures, neuerþeles ȝit
262in þis werke it profiteþ lityl or nouȝt. For why mynde or þinkyng
263of any creature þat euer God maad, or of any of þeire dedes ouþer,
264it is a maner of goostly liȝt; for þe iȝe of þi soule is openid on it &
265euen ficchid þer-apon, as þe iȝe of a schoter is apon þe prik þat
266he schoteþ to. And o þing I telle þee, þat alle þing þat þou þinkest

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267apon it is abouen þee for þe tyme, and bitwix þee and þi God. And
268in so mochel þou arte þe ferþer fro God, þat ouȝt is in þi mynde
269bot only God.
270    Ȝe, and ȝif it be cortesye and semely to sey, in þis werk it profiteþ
271litil or nouȝt to þink of þe kyndenes or þe worþines of God, ne
272on oure Lady, ne on þe seintes or aungelles in heuen, ne ȝit on þe
273ioies in heuen: þat is to say, wiþ a special beholding to hem, as
274þou woldest bi þat beholding fede and encrees þi purpos. I trowe
275þat on no wise it schuld be so in þis caas and in þis werk. For
276þof al it be good to þink apon þe kindenes of God, and to loue
277hym & preise him for hem: ȝit it is fer betyr to þink apon þe nakid
278beyng of him, and to loue him and preise him for him-self.
279
280

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE SIXÞE CHAPITRE.

281
282    But now þou askest me and seiest: 'How schal I þink on him-self,
283& what is hee?' And to þis I cannot answere þee bot þus: 'I wote
284neuer.'
285    For þou hast brouȝt me wiþ þi question into þat same derknes,
286and into þat same cloude of unknowyng þat I wolde þou were
287in þi-self. For of alle oþer creatures and þeire werkes - ȝe, and of
288þe werkes of God self - may a man þorou grace haue fulheed of

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289knowing, and wel to kon þinke on hem; bot of God him-self can
290no man þinke. And þerfore I wole leue al þat þing þat I can
291þink, and chese to my loue þat þing þat I can-not þink. For whi he
292may wel be loued, bot not þouȝt. By loue may he be getyn and
293holden; bot bi þouȝt neiþer. And þerfore, þof al it be good sumtyme
294to þink of þe kyndnes & þe worþines of God in special, and þof al
295it be a liȝt and a party of comtemplacion: neuerþeles in þis werk it
296schal be casten down and keuerid wiþ a cloude of forȝetyng. And þou
297schalt step abouen it stalworþly, bot listely, wiþ a deuoute and a
298plesing stering of loue, and fonde for to peerse þat derknes abouen
299þee. And smyte apon þat þicke cloude of vnknowyng wiþ a scharp
300darte of longing loue, and go not þens for þing þat befalleþ.
301
302

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE SEUENÞ CHAPITRE.

303
304    And ȝif any þouȝt rise and wil prees algates abouen þee, bitwix þee
305and þat derknes, and asche þee seiing: 'What sekist þou, and what
306woldest þou haue?' sey þou þat it is God þat þou woldest haue.
307'Him I coueite, him I seche, and noȝt bot him.' and ȝif he ascke þee
308what is þat God, sey þou þat it is God þat maad þee and bouȝt þee,
309and þat graciously haþ clepid þee to his loue. And in him sei þou
310kanst no skile. And þerfore sey: 'Go þou down aȝein.' And treed him

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311fast doun wiþ a steryng of loue þof he seme to þee riȝt holy,
312and seme to þee as he wolde help þee to seke hym.
313    For parauenture he wil bryng to þi minde diuerse ful feire &
314wonderful pointes of his kyndnes, and sey þat he is ful swete and ful
315louyng, ful gracious and ful mercyful. And ȝif þou wilt here him, he
316coueiteþ no beter; for at þe last he wil þus jangle euer more and
317more til he bring þee lower to þe mynde of his Passion. And þere wol
318he lat þe see þe wonderful kyndnes of God; and if þou here him, he
319kepeþ no beter. For sone after he wil lat þee see þin olde wrechid
320leuing; and parauenture, in seing and þinkyng þer-of, he wil bryng to
321þi mynde som place þat þou hast wonid in before þis tyme. So
322þat at þe last, we euer wite þou, þou schalt be scaterid þou wost
323neuer where. Þe cause of þis scateryng is þat þou herddist him first
324wilfuly, answeredist him, resceiuedist him and letest him allone.
325    And ȝit, neuerþeles, þe þing þat he seide was boþe good and holy; ȝe,
326and so holy, þat what man or womman þat weniþ to come to contemplacion
327wiþ-outyn many soche swete meditacions of þeire
328owne wrechidnes, þe Passion, þe kyndenes and þe grete goodnes and
329þe worþines of God comyng before, sekirly he schal erre and faile
330of his purpos. And ȝit, neuerþeles, it behoueþ a man or a womman,
331þat haþ longe tyme ben usid in þeese meditacions, algates leue
332hem, & put hem and holde hem fer doun vnder þe cloude of forȝetyng,

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333ȝif euer schal he peerse þe cloude of vnknowyng bitwix
334him and his God.
335    Þerfore, what tyme þat þou purposest þee to þis werk, and felest
336bi grace þat þou arte clepid of God, lift þan up þin herte vnto
337God wiþ a meek steryng of loue. And mene God þat maad þee, and
338bouȝt þee, and þat graciousli haþ clepid þee to þis werk: and resseiue
339none oþer þouȝt of God. And ȝit not alle þeese, bot þee list; for it
340suffiseþ inouȝ a naked entent directe vnto God, wiþ-outen any
341oþer cause þen him-self.
342    And ȝif þee list haue þis entent lappid and foulden in o worde, for
343þou schuldest haue betir holde þer-apon, take þee bot a litil worde
344of o silable; for so it is betir þen of two, for euer þe schorter it is,
345þe betir it acordeþ wiþ þe werk of þe spirite. And soche a worde is
346þis worde GOD or þis worde LOUE. Cheese þee wheþer þou wilt, or
347anoþer as þe list: whiche þat þee likeþ best of o silable. And fasten
348þis worde to þin herte, so þat it neuer go þens for þing þat bifalleþ.
349    Þis worde schal be þi scheeld and þi spere, wheþer þou ridest on
350pees or on werre. Wiþ þis worde þou schalt bete on þis cloude and
351þis derknes abouen þee. Wiþ þis worde þou schalt smite doun al
352maner þouȝt vnder þe cloude of forȝeting; inso-mochel þat ȝif
353any þouȝt prees apon þee to aske þee what þou woldest haue,

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354answere him wiþ no mo wordes bot wiþ þis o worde. And ȝif he
355profre þee of his grete clergie to expoune þee þat worde and to telle
356þee þe condicions of þat worde, sey him þat þou wilt haue it al
357hole, and not broken ne vndon. And ȝif þow wilt holde þee fast on þis
358purpos, sekir be þou he wil no while abide. And whi? For þou wilt
359not late him fede him on soche swete meditacions touchid before.

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360

HERE BYGINNIÞ ÞE FIUE AND ÞRITTY CHAPITRE.

361
362    Neuerþeles menes þer ben in þe whiche a contemplatiif prentys
363schuld be ocupyed, þe whiche ben þeese; Lesson, Meditacion,
364and Oryson. Or elles to þin vnderstondyng þei mowe be clepid:
365Redyng, Þinkyng and Preiing. Of þeese þre þou schalt fynde
366wretyn in anoþer book of anoþer mans werk moche betyr þen I
367can telle þee; and þerfore it nedeþ not here to telle þee of þe qualitees
368of hem. Bot þis may I telle þee: þeese þre ben so couplid to-gedir,
369þat vnto hem þat ben biginners & profiters - bot not to hem þat
370be parfite, ȝe, as it may be here - þinkyng may not goodly be
371getyn wiþ-outyn reding or heryng comyng before. Alle is one in
372maner, redyng and heryng; clerkes redyn on bookes, and lewid men
373redyn on clerkes, whan þei here hem preche þe worde of God. Ne

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374preier may not goodly be getyn in bigynners & profiters wiþoutyn
375þinkyng comyng bifore. See by þe preof in þis same
376cours.
377    Goddes worde, ouþer wretyn or spokyn, is licnid to a mirour.
378Goostly, þe iȝe of þi soule is þi reson; þi concience is þi visage
379goostly. And riȝt as þou seest þat ȝif a foule spot be in þi bodily
380visage, þe iȝe of þe same visage may not see þat spotte, ne wite
381wher it is, wiþ-outyn a myrour or a teching of anoþer þan it-self:
382riȝt so it is goostly. Wit-outen redyng or heryng of Godes worde,
383it is inpossible to mans vnderstondyng þat a soule þat is bleendid
384in custom of synne schuld see þe foule spot in his concyence.
385    And so folowyng, whan a man seeþ in a bodily or goostly myrour,
386or wote by oþer mens techyng, wher-aneintes þe foule spot is on
387his visage, ouþer bodily or goostly: þan at erst, and none er, he
388renniþ to þe welle to wasche hym. Ȝif þis spot be any specyal
389synne, þan is þis welle Holy Chirche, and þis water confession, with
390þe circumstaunces. Ȝif it be bot a blynde rote and a steryng of
391synne, þan is þis welle mercyful God, and þis water preyer, wiþ þe
392circumstaunces.
393    And þus maist þou se þat no þinkyng may goodly be getyn in
394byginners and profiters wiþ-outyn redyng or heryng comyng before,
395ne preyng wiþ-outen þinkyng.
396
397

HERE BYGYNNIÞ ÞE SIX AND ÞRITTY CHAPITRE.

398
399    But it is not so wiþ hem þat contynuely worchen in þe werk of

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400þis book. For þeire meditacions ben as þei were sodein conceites
401and blynde felynges of þeire owne wrechidnes, or of þe goodnes of
402God, wiþ-outyn any menes of redyng or heryng comyng before,
403and wiþ-outyn any specyal beholdyng of any þing vnder God. Þees
404sodeyn conseytes & þees blynde felynges ben sonner lernyd of
405God þen of man.
406    I maad no force, þof þou haddest now-on-dayes none oþer
407meditacions of þin owne wrechidnes, ne of þe goodnes of God - I
408mene ȝif þou fele þee þus steryd by grace and by counseyl - bot
409soche as þou mayst haue in þis worde SYNNE and in þis worde GOD, or
410in soche oþer, whiche as þe list; not brekyng ne expounyng þees
411wordes with coryouste of witte, in beholdyng after þe qualitees
412of þees wordes, as þou woldest by þat beholdyng encrees þi
413deuocion. I trowe it schuld neuer be so in þis caas and in þis werk.
414Bot holde hem alle hole þeese wordes; and mene synne a lump, þou
415wost neuer what, none oþer þing bot þi-self. Me þink þat in þis
416blynde beholdyng of synne, þus conielyd in a lumpe (none oþer
417þing þan þi-self) it schuld be no nede to bynde a woder þing
418þen þou schuldest be þis tyme. And ȝit, parauenture, who-so
419lokid apon þee schuld þink þee ful sobirly disposid in body, with-outyn
420any chaunging of contenaunce; bot sittyng, or going, or
421liggyng, or lenyng, or stondyng, or knelyng, wheþer þou were in a
422ful sad restfulnes.
423
424

HERE BIGINNYÞ ÞE SEUEN AND ÞRITTY CHAPITRE.

425
426    And riȝt as þe meditacions of hem þat contynouely worchen in
427þis grace & in þis werk risen sodenly wiþ-outyn any menes, riȝt

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428so don þeire preiers. I mene of þeire specyal preiers, not of þoo
429preiers þat ben ordeynid of Holy Chirche. For þei þat ben trewe
430worchers in þis werk, þei worschip no preier so moche; and þerfore
431þei do hem in þe fourme and in þe statute þat þei ben ordeynd of
432holy faders before us. Bot þeire specyal preiers risen euermore
433sodenly vnto God, wiþ-outyn any meenes or any premeditacion in
434special comyng before, or going þer-wiþ.
435    And ȝif þei ben in wordes, as þei ben bot seldom, þan ben þei bot
436in ful fewe wordes; ȝe, and in euer þe fewer þe betir. Ȝe, and ȝif it be
437bot a lityl worde of o silable, me þink it betir þen of to, and more
438acordyng to þe werk of þe spiryte; siþen it so is þat a goostly
439worcher in þis werk schulde euermore be in þe hiȝest and þe
440souereynest pointe of þe spirit. Þat þis be soþ, se by ensaumple
441in þe cours of kynde. A man or a womman, affraied wiþ any
442sodeyn chaunce of fiir, or of mans deeþ, or what elles þat it be,
443sodenly in þe heiȝt of his speryt he is dreuyn upon hast & upon
444nede for to crie or for to prey after help. Ȝe, how? Sekirly not in
445many woordes, ne ȝit in o woorde of two silabes. And whi is þat?
446For hym þinkeþ to longe tariing, for to declare þe nede and þe werk
447of his spirit. And þerfore he brestiþ up hidously wiþ a grete spirit,
448& cryeþ bot a litil worde of o silable, as is þis worde FIIR or þis
449worde OUTE.
450    And riȝt as þis lityl worde FIIR steriþ raþer and peerseþ more hastely
451þe eren of þe herers, so doþ a lityl worde of o sylable, whan it is

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452not only spoken or þouȝt, bot priuely ment in þe depnes of spirit,
453þe whiche is þe heiȝt (for in goostlynes alle is one, heiȝt and depnes,
454lengþe and brede). And raþer it peersiþ þe eres of Almyȝty God þan
455doþ any longe sauter vnmyndfuly mumlyd in þe teeþ. And herfore
456it is wretyn þat schort preier peersiþ heuen.
457
458

HERE BIGINNYÞ ÞE EIȜT AND ÞRITTY CHAPITRE.

459
460    And whi peersiþ it heuen, þis lityl schort preier of o litil silable?
461Sikirly for it is preyed wiþ a fulle spirite, in þe heiȝt and in þe
462depnes, in þe lengþe & in þe breed of his spirit þat preieþ it. In
463þe heiȝt it is, for it is wiþ al þe myȝt of þe spirit. In þe depnes it
464is, for in þis lityl silable ben contyned alle þe wittis of þe spirit. In
465þe lengþe it is, for miȝt it euer fele as it feliþ, euer wolde it crie
466as it crieþ. In þe brede it is, for it wilniþ þe same to alle oþer þat
467it wilniþ to it-self. In þis tyme it is þat a soule haþ comprehendid,
468after þe lesson of Seynte Poule, wiþ alle seyntes - not fully, bot in
469maner and in partye, as it is acordyng vnto þis werk - whiche is
470þe lengþe and þe breed, þe heiȝt and þe depnes of Euerlastyng & Allouely,
471Almiȝty & Alle-witty God. Þe euerlastyngnes of God is his
472lengþe; his loue is his breed; his miȝt is his heiȝt; and his wisdam
473is his depnes. No wonder þof a soule, þat is þus niȝ confourmyd bi
474grace to þe ymage & þe licnes of God, his maker, be sone herde of
475God. Ȝe, þof it be a ful synful soule - þe whiche is to God as it
476were an enmye - and it miȝt þorow grace com to for to crye soche

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477a lityl silable in þe heiȝt & þe depnes, þe lengþe and þe breed of
478his spirit, ȝit he scholde for þe hidous noise of þis crye be alweis
479herde and holpen of God.
480    Se by ensaumple. He þat is þi deedly enmye, and þou here him
481so afraied þat he crye in þe heiȝt of his spirit þis lityl worde FIIR, or
482þis worde OUTE: ȝit, wiþ-outyn any beholdyng to hym for he is þin
483enmye, bot for pure pite in þin herte stirid and reisid wiþ þe doelfulnes
484of þis crie, þou risist up - ȝe! þof it be aboute midwintirs
485niȝt - & helpist hym to slecke his fiir, or for to stylle hym and rest
486hym in hys disese. A, Lorde! siþen a man may be maad so mercyful
487in grace, to haue so moche mercy & so moche pite of his enmye,
488not aȝenstonding his enmite, what pite and what mercy schal God
489haue þan of a goostly crye in soule, maad & wrouȝt in þe heiȝt and
490þe depnes, þe lengþe and þe breed of his spirit, þe whiche haþ al by
491kynde, þat man haþ by grace, and moche more? Sekirly wiþ-outyn
492comparison moche more mercy wil he haue; siþen so is þat þat
493þing þat is so had by kynde is nerer to iche a þing þen þat þe
494whiche is had by grace.
495
496

HERE BIGYNNYÞ ÞE NINE AND ÞRITTY CHAPITRE.

497
498    And þerfore it is to preie in þe heiȝt and þe depnes, þe lengþe & þe
499brede of oure spirit. And þat not in many wordes, bot in a lityl
500worde of o silable.
501    And what schal þis worde be? Sekyrlyche soche a worde as is
502best acordyng vnto þe propirte of preier. And what worde is þat?

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503Lat us first see what preier is propirly in it-self, and þer-after we
504mowe cleerlier knowe what worde wil best acorde to þe propirte
505of preier.
506    Preyer in it-self propirly is not elles bot a deuoute entent
507directe vnto God, for getyng of goodes & remowyng of yuelles.
508    And þan, siþen it so is þat alle yuelles ben comprehendid in synne,
509ouþer by cause or by beyng, lat us þerfore, whan we wyl ententifly
510preie for remowyng of yuelles, ouþer sey or þink or mene nouȝt
511elles, ne no mo wordes, bot þis lityl worde SYNNE. And ȝif we wil
512ententifly preie for getyng of goodes, lat us crie, ouþer wiþ worde
513or wiþ þouȝt or wiþ desire, nouȝt elles, ne no mo wordes, bot þis
514worde GOD. For whi in God ben alle goodes, boþe by cause and by
515beyng.
516    Haue no merueile whi I sette þees wordes forby alle oþer. For
517and I couþe any schorter wordes, so fully comprehendyng in hem
518alle goodes & alle yuelles, as þees two wordes don, or ȝif I had be
519lernyd of God to take any oþer wordes ouþer, I wolde þan haue
520taken hem and lefte þees; and so I rede þat þou do. Stody þou not
521for no wordes, for so schuldest þou neuer come to þi purpos ne
522to þis werk, for it is neuer getyn by stody, bot al only by grace.
523and þerfore take þou none oþer wordes to preie in - al-þof I sette
524þees here - bot soche as þou arte sterid of God for to take. Neuerþeles,
525ȝif God stire þee to take þees, I rede not þat þou leue hem -
526I mene ȝif þou schalt preie in wordes, and elles not; for whi þei ben
527ful schorte wordes.

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528    Bot al-þof þe schortnes of preier be greetly comendid here,
529neuerþeles þe oftnes of preier is neuer þe raþer refreynid. For as
530it is seide before, it is preied in þe lengþe of þe spirite; so þat it
531schuld neuer sees tyl þe tyme were þat it had fully getyn þat þat it
532longid after. Ensaumple of þis haue we in a man or a womman
533affraied in þe maner before-seide. For we see wel þat þei seese
534neuer criing on þis litil worde OUTE, or þis lityl worde FIIR, er þe
535tyme be þat þei haue in greet party getyn help of þeire angre.
536
537

HERE BIGYNNIÞ ÞE FOURTY CHAPITRE.

538
539    Do þou, on þe same maner, fille þi spirit wiþ þe goostly bemenyng
540of þis worde SYNNE, and wiþ-outyn any specyal beholdyng vnto
541any kynde of synne, wheþer it be venial or deedly: pryde, wraþþe
542or enuye, couetyse, slewþ, glotenie or lecherye. What þar reche
543in contemplatiues what synne þat it be, or how mochel a synne þat
544it be? For alle synne hem þinkyþ - I mene for þe tyme of þis werk
545- iliche greet in hem-self, when þe leest synne departeþ hem fro
546God, and letteþ hem of here goostly pees.
547    And fele synne a lumpe, þou wost neuer what, bot none oþer þing
548þan þi-self. And crye þan goostly euer upon one: 'Synne, synne,
549synne; oute, oute, oute!' Þis goostly crie is betyr lernid of God
550by þe proef þen of any man by worde. For it is best whan it is
551in pure spirit, wiþ-outyn specyal þouȝt or any pronounsyng of
552worde; bot ȝif it be any seeldom tyme, when for habundaunce of
553spiryt it brestiþ up into worde, so þat þe body and þe soule ben boþe
554fillid wiþ sorow and kumbryng of synne.
555    On þe same maner schalt þou do wiþ þis lityl worde GOD. Fille

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556þi spirit wiþ þe goostly bemenyng of it wiþ-outyn any specyal
557beholdyng to any of his werkes - wheþer þei be good, betir, or
558alþer best, bodily or goostly - or to any vertewe þat may be
559wrouȝt in mans soule by any grace, not lokyng after wheþer it be
560meeknes or charite, pacyence or abstynence, hope, feiþ, or sobirnes,
561chastite or wilful pouerte. What þar reche in contemplatyues?
562For alle vertewes þei fynden and felyn in God; for in hym is alle
563þing, boþe by cause and by beyng. For hem þink, & þei had God,
564þei had alle good; and þerfore þei coueyte noþing wiþ specyal beholdyng,
565bot only good God. Do þou on þe same maner, as forþ
566as þou maist by grace; and mene God al, and al God, so þat nouȝt
567worche in þi witte & in þi wile, bot only God.
568    And forþi þat euer þe whiles þou leuyst in þis wrechid liif, þee
569behoueþ alweys fele in som partye þis foule stynkyng lump of
570synne, as it were onyd & congelid with þe substaunce of þi beyng,
571þerfore schalt þou chaungabely mene þees two wordes - SYNNE and
572GOD; wiþ þis general knowyng: þat and þou haddest God, þen
573schuldest þou lacke synne, and miȝtest þou lacke synne, þen
574schuldest þou haue God.
575
576

HERE BIGYNNYÞ ON AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

577
578    And forþermore, ȝif þou aske me what discrecion þou schalt haue
579in þis werk, þan I answere þee and sey: 'Ryȝt none!' For in alle
580þin oþer doynges þou schalt haue discrecion, as in etyng & in
581drynkyng, & in slepyng, & in kepyng of þi body fro outrageous

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582colde or hete, & in longe preiing or redyng, or in comounyng in
583speche wiþ þin euen Crysten. In alle þees schalt þou kepe discrecion,
584þat þei be nouþer to mochel ne to lityl. Bot in þis werk
585schalt þou holde no mesure; for I wolde þat þou schuldest neuer
586seese of þis werk þe whiles þou leuyst.
587    I sey not þat þou schalt mowe euer contynow þer-in iliche
588fresche; for þat may not be. For sumtyme seeknes and oþer vnordeind
589disposicions in body and in soule, wiþ many oþer needfulnes
590to kynde, wol let þee ful mochel, and oft-tymes drawe þee doun fro
591þe heiȝt of þis worching. Bot I sey þat þou schuldest euermore
592haue it ouþer in ernest or in game; þat is to sey, ouþer in werk or
593in wille. And þerfore for Godes loue beware wiþ seeknes as moche as
594þou maist goodly, so þat þou be not þe cause of þi febilnes, as
595forþ as þou maist. For I telle þee trewly þat þis werk askeþ a
596ful greet restfulnes, and a ful hole and a clene disposicion, as wele in
597body as in soule.
598    And þerfore for Godes loue gouerne þee discreetly in body & in soule,
599& gete þee þin hele as mochel as þou mayst. And ȝif seeknes
600come aȝens þi power, haue pacyence & abide meekly Goddes
601mercy; and al is þan good inowȝ. For I telle þee trewly þat oftymes
602pacyence in seeknes, and in oþer diuerse tribulacions, plesiþ God
603moche more þen any likyng deuocyon þat þou mayst haue in þi hele.
604
605

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE TWO AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

606
607    But parauenture þou askest me how þou schalt gouerne þee

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608discreetly in mete, and in slepe, & in alle þees oþer. And herto I þink
609to answere þee riȝt schortli: 'Gete þat þou gete mayst.' Do þis
610werk euermore wiþ-outyn cesyng & wiþ-outyn discrecion, and þou
611schalt wel kun beginne & ceese in alle þin oþer werkes wiþ a grete
612discrecion. For I may not trowe þat a soule contynowyng in þis
613werk niȝt and day wiþ-outyn discrecion schuld mowe erre in any of
614þees outward doinges; and elles me þink þat he schuld alweis
615erre.
616    And þerfore and I miȝt gete a wakyng and a besi beholdyng to þis
617goostly werk wiþ-inne in my soule, I wolde þan haue a rechelesnes
618in etyng and in drynkyng, in sleping & in spekyng and in alle myn outward
619doynges. For sekirly I trowe I schuld raþer com to discrecion
620in hem by soche a rechelesnes þan by any besy beholding to þe same
621þinges, as I wolde bi þat beholdyng set a merke & a mesure by hem.
622Trewly I schuld neuer bryng it so aboute for ouȝt þat I couþ do
623or sey. Sey what men seye wil, & lat þe preof witnes. And þerfore
624lift up þin hert with a blynde steryng of loue; and mene now synne,
625and now God. God woldest þou haue, and synne woldest þou lacke.
626God wanteþ þee; and synne arte þou sekir of. Now good God help
627þee, for now hast þou need!
628
629

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE ÞRE AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

630
631    Look þat nouȝt worche in þi wit ne in þi wil bot only God. And

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632fonde for to felle alle wetyng & felyng of ouȝt vnder God, and
633treed alle doun ful fer vnder þe cloude of forȝetyng. And þou schalt
634vnderstonde þat þou schalt not only in þis werk forȝete alle oþer
635creatures þen þi-self, or þeire dedes or þine, bot also þou schalt
636in þis werk forȝete boþe þi-self and also þi dedes for God, as wel as
637alle oþer creatures and þeire dedes. For it is þe condicion of a
638parfite louer, not only to loue þat þing þat he loueþ more þen
639him-self; bot also in maner for to hate him-self for þat þing þat
640he louiþ.
641    Þus schalt þou do wiþ þi-self: þou schalt loþe and be wery wiþ
642alle þat þing þat worcheþ in þi witte & in þi wil, bot ȝif it be
643only God. For whi sekirly elles, what-so-euer þat it be, it is
644bitwix þee and þi God. And no wonder þof þou loþe and hate for to
645þink on þi-self, when þou schalt alweis fele synne a foule stynkyng
646lumpe, þou wost neuer what, bitwix þee & þi God: þe whiche
647lumpe is none oþer þing þan þi-self. For þee schal þink it onyd
648& congelid wiþ þe substaunce of þi beyng, ȝe, as it were wiþ-outyn
649departyng.
650    And þerfore breek doun alle wetyng & felyng of alle maner of
651creatures; bot most besily of þi-self. For on þe wetyng and þe
652felyng of þi-self hangiþ wetyng and felyng of alle oþer creatures;
653for in rewarde of it, alle oþer creatures ben liȝtly forȝetyn. For,
654and þou wilt besily set þee to þe preof, þou schalt fynde, when þou

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655hast forȝeten alle oþer creatures & alle þeire werkes, ȝe, and þerto
656alle þin owne werkes, þat þer schal leue ȝit after, bitwix þee and þi
657God, a nakid weting and a felyng of þin owne beyng: þe whiche
658wetyng and felyng behouiþ alweis be distroied, er þe tyme be þat
659þou fele soþfastly þe perfeccyon of þis werk.
660
661

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE FOURE AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

662
663    Bot now þou askist me how þou maist distroie þis nakid wetyng
664and felyng of þin owen beyng. For parauenture þee þink þat and it
665were distroied, alle oþer lettynges were distroied: and ȝif þou
666þinkist þus, þou þinkist riȝt trewly. Bot to þis I answere þee,
667and I sey þat wiþ-outyn a ful specyal grace ful frely ȝouen of God,
668and þerto a ful acordyng abilnes to resseyue þis grace on þi partye,
669þis nakid wetyng and felyng of þi beyng may on no wise be distroyed.
670    And þis abilnes is not elles a bot a stronge and a deep goostly sorow.
671Bot in þis sorow nedeþ þee to haue discrecion on þis maner: þou
672schalt be ware in þe tyme of þis sorow þat þou neiþer to rudely
673streyne þi body ne þi spirit, bot sit sul stylle, as it were in a
674slepyng sleiȝt, al forsobbid and for-sonken in sorow. Þis is trewe
675sorow; þis is parfite sorow; and wel were hym þat miȝt wynne to
676þis sorow.
677    Alle men han mater of sorow, bot most specyaly he feliþ mater
678of sorow þat wote and feliþ þat he is. Alle oþer sorowes ben vnto
679þis in comparison bot as it were gamen to ernest. For he may
680make sorow ernestly þat wote & feliþ not onli what he is, bot þat

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681he is. And who-so felid neuer þis sorow, he may make sorow, for
682whi he felid ȝit neuer parfite sorow.
683    Þis sorow, when it is had, clensiþ þe soule, not only of synne,
684bot also of peyne þat he haþ deseruid for synne. And þerto it makiþ
685a soule abil to resseiue þat ioye, þe whiche reuiþ fro a man alle
686wetyng and felyng of his beyng. Þis sorow, ȝif it be trewly conseyuid,
687is ful of holy desire; and elles miȝt neuer man in þis liif
688abide it ne bere it. For ne were it þat a soule were sumwhat fed
689with a maner of counforte of his riȝt worching, elles schuld he
690not mow bere þe pyne þat he haþ of þe wetyng and felyng of his
691beyng. For as ofte as he wolde haue a trewe wetyng and a felyng
692of his God in purtee of spirit, as it may be here, and siþen feliþ þat
693he may not - for he findeþ euermore his wetyng and his felyng as it
694were ocupied and fillyd wiþ a foule stinkyng lumpe of him-self, þe
695whiche behoueþ alweis be hatid and be dispisid and forsaken, if he
696schal be Goddes parfite dissiple, lernid of hym-self in þe mount of
697perfeccion - as ofte he goþ ni wood for sorow; in so mochel, þat
698he wepiþ and weiliþ, striuiþ, cursiþ and banneþ, and, schortly to sey,
699hym þinkiþ þat he beriþ so heuy a birþen of hym-self þat he rechiþ
700neuer what worþ of hym, so þat God were plesid. And ȝit in al þis
701sorow he desireþ not to vnbe, for þat were deuelles woodnes &
702despite vnto God. Bot hym listiþ riȝt wel be; and he meniþ ful
703hertly þankyng to God, for þe worþines and þe ȝift of his beyng,

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704þof al þat he desire vnsesingly for to lakke þe wetyng and þe
705felyng of his beyng.
706    Þis sorow and þis desire behouiþ iche a soule haue and fele in it-self,
707ouþer in þis maner or in anoþer, as God voucheþ saaf for to
708lerne to his goostly disciples, after his weel wyllyng & þeire
709acordyng abylnes in body & in soule, in degre and compleccion, er
710þe tyme be þat þei mowe parfitely be onid vnto God in parfite
711charite - soche as may be had here ȝif God voucheþ saaf.
712
713

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE FIUE AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

714
715    Bot o þing I telle þee: þat in þis werk may a ȝong disciple, þat
716haþ not ȝit ben wel vsed & prouid in goostly worching, ful liȝtly
717be disceyuid, and, bot he be sone war & haue grace to leue of and
718meek hym to counsel, parauenture be distroied in his bodily
719miȝtes, and falle into fantasie in his goostly wittes. And alle þis is
720longe of pride & of fleschlynes and coriouste of witte.
721    And on þis maner may þis disceite befalle. A ȝong man or a
722womman, newe set to þe scole of deuocion, hereþ þis sorow and þis
723desire be red & spokyn, how þat a man schal lift up his herte vnto
724God, and vnseesingly desire for to fele þe loue of here God. And as fast
725in a curiouste of witte þei conceyue þees wordes not goostly, as
726þei ben ment, bot fleschly & bodily, and trauaylen þeire fleschly
727hertes outrageously in þeire brestes. And what for lackyng of
728grace, þat þei deseruen, & pride and curiouste in hem-self, þei
729streyne here veynes and here bodily miȝtes so beestly & so rudely,

page 86

730þat with-inne schort tyme þei fallen ouþer into werynes and a maner
731of vnlisty febilnes in body and in soule, þe whiche makiþ hem
732to wende oute of hem-self & seke sum fals & sum veyne fleschly
733and bodily counforte wiþ-outyn, as it were for recreacion of body and
734of spirite. Or elles, ȝif þei falle not in þis, elles þei deserue - for
735goostly blyndnes & for fleschly chaufyng of þeire compleccion in
736þeire bodily brestis in þe tyme of þis feinid beestly and not goostly
737worchyng - for to haue þeire brestes ouþer enflaumid wiþ an
738vnkyndely hete of compleccion, causid of misrewlyng of þeire
739bodies or of þis feinid worching, or elles þei conceyue a fals hete
740wrouȝt by þe feende, þeire goostly enmye, causid of þeire pride
741& of þeire fleschlines & þeire coriouste of wit.
742    And ȝit, parauenture, þei wene it be þe fiir of loue, getyn and
743kyndelid by þe grace & þe goodnes of þe Holy Goost. Treuly of
744þis disceite, and of þe braunces þer-of, spryngyn many mescheues:
745moche ypocrisie, moche heresye, and moche errour. For as fast
746after soche a fals felyng comeþ a fals knowyng in þe feendes
747scole, riȝt as after a trewe feling comeþ a trewe knowing in Gods
748scole. For I telle þee trewly þat þe deuil haþ his contemplatyues,
749as God haþ his. Þis disseite of fals felyng, & of fals knowyng
750folowyng þer-on, haþ diuerse and wonderful variacions, after þe
751dyuerste of states & þe sotyl condicions of hem þat ben disceyuid;
752as haþ þe trewe felyng and knowyng of hem þat ben sauid.
753    Bot I sette no mo disceites here bot þoo wiþ þe whiche I trowe
754þou schalt be assailid, ȝif euer þou purpose þee to worche in þis
755werk. For what schuld it profite to þee to wite hou þees greet
756clerkis, & men & wommen of oþer degrees þen þou arte, ben

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757disceyuid? Sikirly riȝt nouȝt. And þerfore I telle þee no mo, bot
758þoo þat fallyn unto þee, ȝif þou trauayle in þis werk. And forþi I
759telle þee þis, þat þou schalt bewar þer-wiþ in þi worching, ȝif þou
760be assailyd þer-wiþ.
761
762

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE SIX AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

763
764    And þerfore for Goddes loue bewar in þis werk, and streyne not þin
765hert in þi brest ouer-rudely, ne oure of mesure; bot wirche more
766wiþ a list þen wiþ any liþer strengþe. For euer þe more listly, þe
767more meekly and goostly; and euer þe more rudely, þe more bodely
768& beestly. And þerfore bewar. For sekirly what beestly herte þat
769presumiþ for to touche þe hiȝe mounte of þis werke, it schalt be
770betyn awey wiþ stones. Stones ben harde & drie in her kynde, and
771þei hurte ful sore where þei hit. And sekirly soche rude streynynges
772ben ful harde fastnid in fleschlines of bodely felyng, and ful drie fro
773any wetyng of grace; and þei hurte ful sore þe sely soule, and make
774it feestre in fantasie feinid of feendes. And þerfore bewar wiþ þis
775beestly ruednes, & leerne þee to loue listely wiþ a softe & a demure
776contenaunce, as wel in body as in soule. And abide curtesly and
777meekly þe wil of oure Lorde, and lache not ouer hastely, as it were
778a gredy grehounde, hungre þee neuer so sore. & gamenly be it
779seyde, I rede þat þu do þat in þee is, refreynyng þe rude and þe
780grete steryng of þi spirite; ryȝt as þou on no wyse woldest lat
781hym wite hou fayne þou woldest see hym and haue hym or fele
782hym.

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783    Þis is childly and pleyingly spoken, þee þink, parauenture. Bot
784I trowe who-so had grace to do and fele as I sey, he schuld fele good
785gamesumli pley wiþ hym, as þe fadir doþ wiþ þe childe, kyissyng
786and clippyng, þat weel were him so.
787
788

HERE BIGYNNIÞ ÞE SEUEN AND FOURTY CHAPITRE.

789
790    Loke þou haue no wonder whi þat I speke þus childly, & as it
791were folily and lackyng kyndly discrecion; for I do it for certeyn
792skyles, & as me þinkeþ þat I haue ben sterid many day boþe to
793fele þus & þink þus & sey þus, as weel to som oþer of my specyal
794freendes in God, as I am now vnto þee.
795    And o skyle is þis, whi þat I bid þee hide it fro God, þe desire of
796þine herte: for I hope it schuld more cleerly com to his knowyng,
797to þi profite & in fulfyllyng of þi desire, by soche an hidyng, þan
798it scholde by any oþer maner of schewyng þat I trowe þou
799coudest ȝit schewe. And anoþer skyle is: for I wolde by soche a hid
800schewyng bryng þee oute of þe boistouste of bodely felyng into
801þe purete and depnes of goostly felyng; and so forþermore at þe last
802to help þee to knit þe goostly knot of brennyng loue bitwix þee
803and þi God, in goostly onheed and acordyng of wille.
804    Þou wost wel þis, þat God is a spirit; and who-so schuld be onid
805vnto hym, it behouiþ to be in soþfastnes and deepnes of spirit, ful
806fer fro any feynid bodely þing. Soþ it is þat alle þing is knowen

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807of God, and noþing may be hid fro his wetyng, neiþer bodily þing
808ne goostly. Bot more aperte is þat þing knowyn and schewid vnto
809him, þe whiche is hid in depnes of spirit, siþ it so is þat he is a
810spirit, þan is any þingþing þat is medelid wiþ any maner of bodelines.
811For alle bodely þing is ferþer fro God bi þe cours of kynde þen
812any goostly þing. By þis skile it semiþ þat þe whiles oure desire
813is medelid wiþ any maner of bodelines - as it is whan we stresse
814and streyne us in spirit & in body to-geders - as longe it is ferþer
815fro God þen it schuld be, and it were done more deuoutly & more
816listely in sobirnes and in puretee & in depnes of spirite.
817    And here maist þou see sumwhat and in party þe skil whi þat I bid
818þee so childly hele & hyde þe steryng of þi desire fro God. And ȝit
819I bid þee not pleynly hyde it, for þat were þe biddyng of a fole,
820for to bid þee pleynly do þat on no wise may be done. Bot I bid
821þee sodo þat in þee is to hide it. And whi bid I þus? Sekirly for I
822wolde þat þou castedest it into depnes of spirite, fer fro any rude
823medelyng of any bodelines, þe whiche wolde make it lesse goostly,
824and ferþer fro God in as moche; and for I wote wel þat euer þe more
825þat þi spirit haþ of goostlines, þe lesse it haþ of bodelines and þe
826nerer it is God, and þe betyr it plesiþ hym, & þe more cleerly it may
827be seen of hym. Not þat his siȝt may be any tyme, or in any
828þing, more cleer þen in anoþer, for it is euermore vnchaungable;
829bot forþi it is more liche vnto hym, when it is in puretee of spirit,
830for he is a spirit.

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831    Anoþer skyl þer is whi þat I bid þee do þat in þee is to late hym
832not wite: for þou & I, and many soche as we ben, we ben so abyl
833to conceyue a þing bodily, þe whiche is seyde goostly, þat parauenture,
834and I had boden þee schewe vnto God þe steryng of þin
835herte, þou schuldest haue maad a bodily schewyng vnto hym,
836ouþer in contenaunce, or in voyce, or in worde, or in som oþer
837rude bodely streynyng, as it is when þou schalt schewe a þing
838þat is hid in þin hert to a bodely man; & in as moche þi werk
839schuld haue ben inpure. For on o maner schal a þing be schewid
840to man, & on an-oþer maner vnto God.

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841

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE ON AND SIXTI CHAPITRE.

842
843    Neuerþeles it is needful to lifte up oure iȝen and oure hondes
844bodely, as it were vnto ȝone bodely heuen, in þe whiche þe

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845elementes ben fastnid. I mene ȝif we ben sterid of þe werk of oure
846spirit, and elles nouȝt. For alle bodely þing is sogette vnto goostly
847þing and is reulid þerafter, and not aȝensward.
848    Ensaumple herof may be seen by þe assencion of oure Lorde;
849for whan þe tyme statute was icomen þat him likyd to weende to
850his Fader bodely in his Manheed - þe whiche was neuer, ne neuer
851may be, absent in his Godheed - þan miȝtely, by þe vertewe of
852þe Spirit God, þe Manheed wiþ þe body folowed in onheed of
853Persone. Þe visibilite of þis was moste seemly and most acordyng to
854be upward.
855    Þis same subieccion of þe body to þe spirit may be in maner
856verrely conceiued in þe preof of þis goostly werk of þis book by
857hem þat worchen þerin. For what tyme þat a soule disposeþ him
858effectuely to þis werk, þan as fast sodenly - vnwetyng him-self
859þat worcheþ - þe body, þat parauenture bifore er he bygan was
860sumwhat heeldyng donwardes on o syde or on oþer for ese of þe
861flesche, by vertewe of þe spirit schal set it vpriȝt, folowyng in
862maner & in licnes bodely þe werk of þe spirit þat is maad goostly.
863and þus it is moste semely to be.
864    And for þis seemlines it is þat a man, þe whiche is þe seemliest
865creature in body þat euer God maad, is not maad crokid to þe
866erþewardes, as ben alle oþer beestes, bot upriȝte to heuenwardes;
867for whi þat it schulde figure in licnes bodely þe werke of þe soule
868goostly, þe whiche falleþ to be upriȝt goostly and not crokid goostly.
869Take kepe þat I sey upriȝt goostly, and not bodely. For how

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870schulde a soule, þe whiche in his kynde haþ no maner þing of
871bodelines, be streinid upriȝt bodely? Nay, it may not be.
872    And þerfore beware þat þou conceyue not bodely þat þat is mente
873goostly, þof al it be spokyn in bodely wordes, as ben þees: UP or
874DOUN, IN or OUTE, BEHINDE or BEFORE, ON O SIDE or ON OÞER.
875For þof al þat a þing be neuer so goostly in it-self, neuerþeles ȝit
876ȝif it schal be spoken of, siþen it so is þat speche is a bodely werk
877wrouȝt wiþ þe tonge, þe whiche is an instrument of þe body, it
878behoueþ alweis be spoken in bodely wordes. Bot what þerof?
879Schal it þerfore be taken and conceyuid bodely? Nay, it bot goostly.
880
881

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE TWO AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

882
883    And forþi þat þou schalt kun betir wite how þei schul be conceyued
884goostly, þees wordes þat ben spoken bodely, þerfore I þink to declare
885to þee þe goostly bemenyng of somme wordes þat fallyn to
886goostly worching; so þat þou mayst wite cleerly wiþ-outen errour
887when þi goostly werke is beneþe þee & wiþ-outyn þee, & when it is
888wiþ-in þee & euen wiþ þee, and when it is abouen þee & vnder þi God.
889    Alle maner of bodely þing is wiþouten þi soule & beneþe it in
890kynde. Ȝe, þe sonne & þe mone and alle þe sterres, þof al þei be
891abouen þi body, neuerþeles ȝit þei ben beneþe þi soule.
892    Alle aungelles and alle soules, þof al þei be conformed & anowrnid
893wiþ grace & wiþ vertewes, for þe whiche þei ben abouen þee in
894clennes, neuerþeles ȝit þei ben bot euen þee in kynde.
895    Wiþ-inne in þi-self in kynde ben þe miȝtes of þi soule, þe whiche

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896ben þees þre principal: minde, reson, & wille; and secundary,
897ymaginacion and sensualite.
898    Abouen þi-self in kynde is no maner of þing bot only God.
899    Euermore where þou fyndest wreten þi-self in goostlines, þan it
900is vnderstonden þi soule, & not þi body. And þen, al after þat þing
901is on þe whiche þe miȝtes of þi soule worchyn, þerafter schal þe
902worþines and þe condicion of þe werke be demid; wheþer it be
903bineþe þee, wiþ-inne þee, or abouen þee.
904
905

HERE BIGYNNIÞ ÞE ÞRE AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

906
907    Mynde is soche a miȝte in it-self, þat properly to speke and in
908maner it worcheþ not it-self. Bot reson & wille, þei ben two worching
909miȝtes, and so is ymaginacion & sensualite also. And alle þees foure
910miȝtes & þeire werkes mynde conteneþ & comprehendeþ in it-self.
911and on none oþer wise it is seide þat þe mynde worcheþ, bot ȝif
912soche a comprehencion be a werke.
913    And herfore it is þat I clepe þe miȝtes of a soule, som principal,
914& som secundary. Not for a soule is departable, for þat may not
915be; bot for alle þoo þinges in þe whiche þei worchen ben departable,
916and somme principal, as ben alle goostly þinges, and som secundary,
917as ben alle bodily þinges. Þe two principal worching myȝtes,
918reson and wille, worchen purely in hem-self in alle goostly þinges,
919wiþ-outen help of þe oþer two secundary miȝtes. Ymaginacion &
920sensualite worchin beestly in alle bodely þinges, wheþer þei be
921present or absente in þe body, & wiþ þe bodely wittes. Bot by
922hem, wiþ-outen helpe of reson & of wille, may a soule neuer come

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923to for to knowe þe vertewe & þe condicions of bodely creatures, ne
924þe cause of þeire beynges and þeire makynges.
925    And for þis skyle is reson and wille clepid principal miȝtes, for þei
926worchen in pure spirit wiþ-outen any maner of bodelines; and
927ymaginacion & sensualite secondary, for þei worchen in þe body
928wiþ bodely instrumentes, þe whiche ben oure fiue wittes. Minde
929is clepid a principal myȝte, for it conteneþ in it goostly not only
930alle þe oþer miȝtes, bot þerto alle þo þinges in þe whiche þei
931worchen. Se by þe profe.
932
933

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE FOURE AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

934
935    Reson is a myȝt þorou þe whiche we departe þe iuel fro þe
936good, þe iuel fro þe worse, þe good fro þe betir, þe worse fro þe
937worste, þe betir fro þe best. Before er man synned, miȝt reson
938haue done al þis by kynde. Bot now it is so blendid wiþ þe original
939synne þat it may not kon worche þis werk bot ȝitȝif it be illuminid
940by grace. And boþe þe self reson, & þe þing þat it worcheþ in, ben
941comprehendid & contened in þe mynde.
942    Wille is a myȝt þorou þe whiche we chese good, after þat it be
943determinid wiþ reson; & þorow þe whiche we loue God, we desire
944God, and resten us wiþ ful likyng & consent eendli in God. Before
945er man synnid, miȝt not wille be disceyuid in his chesyng, in his
946louyng, ne in none of his werkes; for whi it had þan by kynde to

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947sauour iche þing as it was. Bot now it may not do so, bot ȝif it be
948anointed wiþ grace. For oftymes, bicause of infeccion of þe
949original synne, it sauoreþ a þing for good þat is ful yuel, and þat haþ
950bot þe licnes of goode. And boþe þe wille & þe þing þat it wilniþ þe
951mynde conteneþ & comprehendiþ in it.
952
953

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE FIUE AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

954
955    Imagynacion is a miȝt þorow þe whiche we portray alle ymages
956of absent & present þinges. And boþe it, & þe þing þat it worcheþ in,
957ben contened in þe mynde. Byfore er man synned, was ymaginacion
958so obedyent vnto þe reson - to þe whiche it is as it were
959seruaunt - þat it mynystrid neuer to it any vnordeynde ymage
960of any bodely creature, or any fantasy of any goostly creature.
961Bot now it is not so. For bot ȝif it be refreynid by þe liȝt of grace
962in þe reson, elles it wil neuer sese, sleping or wakyng, for to portray
963dyuerse vnordeynd ymages of bodely creatures; or elles sum
964fantasye, þe whiche is nouȝt elles bot a bodely conseyte of a
965goostly þing, or elles a goostly conseyte of a bodely þing. And þis is
966euermore feynid & fals, & aneste vnto errour.
967    Þis inobedyence of þe ymaginacion may clerly be conseyuid in
968hem þat ben newlynges tornid fro þe woreld vnto deuocion in þe
969tyme of here preier. For before þe tyme be þat þe ymaginacion be
970in grete partye refreynid by þe liȝt of grace in þe reson - as it is in

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971contynowel meditacion of goostly þinges, as ben þeire wrechidnes,
972þe Passion & þe kyndenes of oure Lorde God, wiþ many soche
973oþer - þei mowe in no wise put awey þe wonderful & þe diuerse
974þouȝtes, fantasies and ymages, þe whiche ben mynystred and
975preentid in þeire mynde by þe liȝte and þe corioustee of ymaginacyon.
976and alle þis inobedyence is þe pyne of þe original synne.
977
978

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE SIX AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

979
980    Sensualite is a miȝte of oure soule, rechyng & regnyng in þe
981bodely wittes, þorow þe whiche we haue bodely knowyng & felyng
982of alle bodely creatures, wheþer þei be likyng or gruchyng. And
983it haþ two partyes: one þorow þe whiche it beholdeþ to þe needfulnes
984of oure body, anoþer þorou þe whiche it serueþ to þe lustis of
985þe bodely wittys. For þis same miȝt is it þat gruchiþ when þe body
986lackyþ þe needful þinges vnto it, and þat in þe takyng of þe nede
987stereþ us to take more þan nediþ in fedyng and forþeryng of oure
988lustys. It grochiþ in lackyng of likyng creatures, & lustely is
989delited in þeire presence. It grochiþ in presence of mislikyng
990creatures, & it is lustely plesid in þeire absence. Boþe þis miȝt
991& þe þing þat it worcheþ in ben contened in þe mynde.
992    Before er man synnid was þe sensualite so obedyent vnto þe
993wille - vnto þe whiche it is as it were seruaunt - þat it ministred
994neuer vnto it any vnordeinde likyng or groching in any bodely

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995creature, or any goostly feynyng of likyng or mislikyng maad by
996any goostly enmye in þe bodely wittes. Bot now it is not so; for
997bot ȝif it be reulyd by grace in þe wille, for to suffre meekly &
998in mesure þe pyne of þe original synne - þe whiche it feliþ in
999absence of needful likyng and in presence of speedful groching - and
1000þerto also for to streyne it fro luste in presence of needful lykyng,
1001and fro lusty plesaunce in absence of speedful groching, elles wil it
1002wrechidly and wantounly weltre, as a swine in þe myre, in þe welþes
1003of þis woreld & þe foule flessche so mochel, þat alle oure leuyng
1004schal be more beestly and fleschly þen ouþer manly or goostly.
1005
1006

HERE BEGINNIÞ ÞE SEUEN AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

1007
1008    Loo, goostly freende! to soche wrechidnes as þou here mayst
1009see ben we fallen for synne. And þerfore what wonder is it þouȝ we
1010be blyndely and liȝtly disseyuid in vnderstondyng of goostly
1011wordes & of goostly worchyng, and namely þoo þe whiche knowyn
1012not ȝit þe myȝtes of þeire soules and þe maners of þeire worchyng?
1013    For euer whan þe mynde is ocupied wiþ any bodely þing, be it
1014taken to neuer so good an eende, ȝit þou arte bineþe þi-self in þis
1015worching, & with-outen þi soule. And euer whan þou felist þi mynde
1016ocupied wiþ þe sotil condicions of þe myȝtes of þi soule & þeire
1017worchynges in goostly þinges, as ben vices or vertewes of þi-self
1018or of any creature þat is goostly & euen wiþ þee in kynde, to þat
1019eende þat þou miȝtest by þis werke lerne to knowe þi-self in forþring

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1020of perfeccion: þen þou arte wiþ-inne þi-self and euen wiþ
1021þi-self. Bot euer when þou felist þi mynde ocupyed wiþ no
1022maner of þyng þat is bodely or goostly, bot only wiþ þe self substaunce
1023of God, as it is & may be in þe preof of þe werk of þis
1024book: þen þou arte abouen þi-self & vnder þi God.
1025     Abouen þi-self þou arte: for whi þou atteynest to come þedir by
1026grace, wheþer þou mayst not come by kynde; þat is to sey, to be
1027onyd to God in spirit & in loue and in acordaunce of wille. Byneþe
1028þi God þou arte: for whi þof al it may be seide in maner þat in þis
1029tyme God & þou ben not two bot one in spirit - in so moche þat
1030þou or anoþer for soche onheed þat feleþ þe perfeccion of þis werk
1031may soþfastly, bi witnes of Scripture, be clepid a God - neuerþeles
1032ȝit þou arte bineþe hym. For whi he is God by kynde wiþ-outen
1033biginnyng; and þou þat sumtyme were nouȝt in substaunce & þerto
1034after when þou were by his miȝt & his loue maad ouȝt, wilfuly
1035wiþ synne madest þi-self wors þen nouȝt: only bi his mercy wiþ-outen
1036þi desert arte maad a God in grace, onyd wiþ him in spirit
1037wiþ-outen departyng, boþe here and in blis of heuen wiþ-outen any
1038eende. So þat, þouȝ þou be al one wiþ hym in grace, ȝit þou arte
1039ful fer bineþe hym in kynde.
1040    Loo, goostly freende! herby maist þou see sumwhat in partye
1041þat who-so knowiþ not þe myȝtes of þeire owne soule, and þe maner
1042of þeire worchyng, may ful liȝtly be disseyued in vnderstondyng
1043of wordes þat ben wretyn to goostly entent. And herfore maist þou

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1044see sumwhat þe cause whi þat I durst not pleynly bid þee schewe
1045þi desire vnto God; bot I bad þee childly do þat in þee is to hyde it
1046and hele it. And þis I do for feerde lest þou schuldest conseyue bodily
1047þat þat is mente goostly.
1048
1049

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE EIȜT AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

1050
1051    And on þe same maner, wher anoþer man wolde bid þee gader
1052þi miȝtes & þi wittes holiche wiþ-inne þi-self, & worschip God
1053þere - þof al he sey ful wel & ful trewly, ȝe! & no man trewlier & he
1054be wel conseiuid - ȝit for feerde of disseite & bodely conceyuyng
1055of his wordes, me list not byd þee do so. Bot þus wil I bid þee.
1056Loke on no wyse þat þou be wiþ-inne þi-self. And schortly wiþ-outyn
1057þi-self wil I not þat þou be, ne ȝit abouen, ne be-hynde, ne on o
1058side, ne on oþer.
1059    'Wher þan,' seist þou, 'schal I be? Noȝwhere, by þi tale!' Now
1060trewly þou seist wel; for þere wolde I haue þee. For whi noȝwhere
1061bodely is euerywhere goostly. Loke þan besily þat þi goostly
1062werk be noȝwhere bodely; and þan wher-so-euer þat þat þing is, on
1063þe whiche þou wilfuly worchest in þi mynde in substaunce, sekerly
1064þer art þou in spirit, as verrely as þi body is in þat place þat þou
1065arte bodely. And þof al þi bodely wittes kon fynde þer noþing to
1066fede hem on, for hem þink it nouȝt þat þou doste, ȝe! do on þan þis
1067nouȝt, elles þat þou do it for Goddes loue. And lete nouȝt, þerfore,

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1068bot trauayle besily in þat nouȝt with a wakyng desire to wilne to
1069haue God, þat no man may knowe. For I telle þee trewly þat I had
1070leuer be so nowhere bodely, wrastlyng wiþ þat blynde nouȝt, þan
1071to be so grete a lorde þat I miȝt when I wolde be euerywhere
1072bodely, merily pleiing wiþ al þis ouȝt as a lorde wiþ his owne.
1073    Lat be þis eueriwhere & þis ouȝt, in comparison of þis noȝwhere
1074and þis nouȝt. Reche þee neuer ȝif þi wittys kon no skyle of þis
1075nouȝt: for whi I loue it moche þe betir. It is so worþi a þing in
1076it-self þat þei kon no skyle þer-apon. Þis nouȝt may betir be felt
1077þen seen; for it is ful blynde & ful derk to hem þat han bot lityl
1078while lokid þer-apon. Neuerþeles, ȝif I schal soþlier sey, a soule is
1079more bleendid in felyng of it for habundaunce of goostly liȝt,
1080þen for any derknes or wantyng of bodely liȝtte. What is he þat
1081clepiþ it nouȝt? Sekirly it is oure vtter man, and not oure inner.
1082Oure inner man clepiþ it Al; for of it he is wel lernid to kon skyle
1083of alle þinges, bodely or goostly, wiþ-outen any specyal beholdyng
1084to any o þing by it-self.
1085
1086

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE NINE AND SIXTY CHAPITRE.

1087
1088    Wonderfuly is a mans affeccion varied in goostly felyng of þis
1089nouȝt when it is nouȝwhere wrouȝt. For at þe first tyme þat a
1090soule lokiþ þer-apon, it schal fynde alle þe specyal dedes of sinne
1091þat euer he did siþen he was borne, bodely or goostly, priuely or
1092derkly, peyntid þer-apon. And how-so-euer þat he torniþ it aboute,
1093euermore þei wil apere before his iȝen; vnto þe tyme be þat wiþ

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1094moche harde trauayle, many sore siȝinges, & many bitter
1095wepynges he haue in grete party rubbid hem awey.
1096    Somtyme in þis trauayle him þink þat it is to loke þer-apon as on
1097helle; for him þink þat he despeiriþ to wynne to perfeccion of
1098goostly rest oute of þat pyne. Þus fer inwardes comyn many; bot
1099for greetnes of pyne þat þei fele and for lackyng of counforte þei
1100go bak in beholdyng of bodely þinges, sekyng fleschly counfortes
1101wiþ-outen, for lackyng of goostly þat þei haue not ȝit deseruyd,
1102as þei schuld ȝif þei had abeden.
1103    For he þat abidiþ feliþ somtyme som coumforte, and haþ som
1104hope of perfeccion; for he feliþ & seeþ þat many of his fordone
1105specyal synnes ben in grete partye by help of grace rubbid awey.
1106Neuerþeles ȝit eueramonge he feliþ pyne; bot he þinkiþ þat it
1107schal haue an ende, for it wexiþ euer les & les. & þerfore he
1108clepiþ it nouȝt helle bot purgatory. Somtyme he kan fynde no
1109specyal synne wretyn þer-apon, bot ȝit hym þink þat it is synne a
1110lumpe, he wrote neuer what, none oþer þing þan hym-self; and þan it
1111may be clepid þe staþil and þe pyne of þe original synne. Somtyme
1112hym þink þat it is paradis or heuen, for diuerse wonderful swetnes
1113and counfortes, ioyes & blessid vertewes þat he fyndeþ þer-in.
1114Somtyme hym þink it God, for pees & rest þat he findeþ þer-in.
1115    Ȝe! þink what he þink wil; for euermore he schal fynde it a
1116cloude of vnknowyng þat is bitwix hym and his God.
1117

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1118

HERE BIGINNYÞ ÞE SEUENTY CHAPITRE.

1119
1120    And þerfore trauayle fast in þis nouȝt & þis nouȝwhere, & leue þin
1121outward bodely wittes; for I telle þee trewly þat þis werk may not
1122be conceyuid by hem.
1123    For by þin iȝen þou maist not conceyue of nay þing, bot ȝif
1124it be by þe lengþe & þe breed, þe smalnes & þe gretnes, þe roundnes
1125and þe swarenes, þe fernes & þe neernes, and þe colour of it. And bi
1126þin eren, not bot noise or sum maner of soun. By þin nose, not bot
1127eiþer stynche or sauour. And by þi taast, not bot eiþer soure or swete,
1128salt or fresche, bittyr or likyng. And bi þi feling, not bot ouþer hote
1129or colde, hard or tendre, soft or scharpe. And trewly neiþer haþ God
1130ne goostly þinges none of þees qualitees ne quantitees. And þerfore
1131leue þin outward wittes, & worche not wiþ hem, neiþer wiþ-inne
1132ne wiþ-outen. For alle þoo þat setten hem to be goostly worchers
1133wiþ-inne, & wenen þat þei scholen ouþer here, smel, or see, taast or
1134fele goostly þinges, ouþer wiþ-inne hem or wiþ-outen, sekerly þei
1135ben deceyued & worchen wronge aȝens þe cours of kynde. For
1136kyndely þei ben ordeynid þat with hem men schuld haue knowyng
1137of alle outward bodely þinges, and on no wise by hem com to þe
1138knowing of gostely þinges. I mene bi þeire werkes.
1139    By þeire failinges we may, as þus: when we rede or here speke of
1140sum certeyn þinges, & þerto conceyue þat oure outward wittys

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1141kon not telle us bi no qualitee what þoo þinges ben, þan we mowe
1142be verely certefied þat þoo þinges ben goostly þinges, & not bodely
1143þinges.
1144    On þis same maner goostly it fariþ in oure goostly wittys, when
1145we trauailen aboute þe knowyng of God him-self. For haue a man
1146neuer so moche goostly vnderstondyng in knowyng of alle maad
1147goostly þinges, ȝit may he neuer bi þe werk of his vnderstondyng
1148com to þe knowyng of an vnmaad goostly þing, þe whiche is nouȝt
1149bot God. Bot by þe failyng it may; for whi þat þing þat it failiþ
1150in is noþing elles bot only God. And herfore it was þat Seynte Denis
1151seyde: 'Þe moste goodly knowyng of God is þat, þe whiche is
1152knowyn bi vnknowyng.'
1153    And trewly, who-so wil loke Denis bookes, he schal fynde þat his
1154wordes wilen cleerly aferme al þat I haue seyde or schal sey, fro
1155þe biginnyng of þis tretis to þe ende. On none oþerwise þen þus
1156list me not alegge hem, ne none oþer doctour for me at þis tyme.
1157For somtyme men þouȝt it meeknes to sey nouȝt of þeire owne
1158hedes, bot ȝif þei afermid it by Scripture & doctours wordes; &
1159now it is turnid into corioustee & schewyng of kunnyng. To þee it
1160nediþ not, & þerfore I do it nouȝt. For who-so haþ eren, lat hem
1161here, & who-so is sterid for to trowe, lat hem trowe; for elles
1162scholen þei not.
1163
1164

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE ON AND SEUENTY CHAPITRE.

1165
1166    Somme þink þis mater so harde and so feerdful þat þei sey it may

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1167not be comen to wiþ-outen moche stronge trauayle comyng
1168before, ne conceiuid bot seeldom, & þat in þe tyme of rauisching.
1169and to þees men wol I answere as febely as I kan, & sey þat it
1170is alle at þe ordynaunce & þe disposicion of God, after þeire
1171abilnes in soule þat þis grace of contemplacion & of goostly
1172worching is ȝouen to.
1173    For som þer ben þat wiþ-outyn moche & longe goostly excersise
1174mowe not com þerto; & ȝit it schal be bot ful seeldom, & in special
1175callyng of oure Lorde, þat þei schul fele þe perfeccion of þis werk:
1176þe whiche callyng is clepid rauisching. And som þer ben þat ben so
1177sotyl in grace & in spirit, & so homely wiþ God in þis grace of
1178contemplacion, þat þei mowe haue it when þei wolen in þe comoun
1179state of mans soule: as in sittyng, goyng, stondyng, or knelyng.
1180and ȝit in þis tyme þei haue fulle deliberacion of alle þeire wittis,
1181bodely or goostly, & mowe vse hem ȝif hem list: not wiþ-outen
1182som lettyng, bot withouten gret lettyng. Ensaumple of þe first we
1183haue by Moises, and of þis oþer by Aaron, þe preest of þe temple.
1184    For whi þis grace of contemplacion is figurid by þe Arke of
1185þe Testament in þe Olde Lawe, and þe worchers in þis grace ben
1186figurid by hem þat most medelid hem aboute þis arke, as þe story
1187wol witnes. And weel is þis grace and þis werk licnid to þat arke. For
1188riȝt as in þat arke were contenid alle þe juelles & þe relikis of þe
1189temple, riȝt so in þis lityl loue put ben contenid alle þe vertewes of
1190mans soule, þe whiche is þe goostly temple of God.
1191    Moyses, er he miȝt come to se þis arke, & for to wite how it
1192schuld be maad, wiþ grete longe trauayle he clombe up to þe top
1193of þe mounteyne & wonid þere & wrouȝt in a cloude six daies:

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1194abidyng vnto þe seuenþ day, þat oure Lorde wolde vouche saaf for
1195to schewe vnto hem þe maner of þis arke-makyng. By Moises
1196longe trauaile and his late schewyng ben vnderstonden þoo þat mowe
1197not come to þe perfeccion of þis goostly werk wiþ-outen longe
1198trauayle comyng before, & ȝit bot ful seeldom, and when God wil
1199vouche saaf to schewe it.
1200    Bot þat þat Moises miȝt not come to se bot seeldom, & þat
1201not wiþ-outyn grete longe trauayle, Aaron had in his power,
1202bicause of his office, for to se it in þe temple with-inne þe veyle as
1203ofte as him likid for to entre. And bi þis Aaron ben vnderstonden
1204alle þoo þe whiche I spak of abouen, þe whiche by þeire goostly
1205sleiȝtes, bi help of grace, mowen propre vnto hem þe perfeccion of
1206þis werk as oft as hem likiþ.
1207
1208

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE TWO AND SEUENTI CHAPITRE.

1209
1210    Lo! herby maist þou see þat he þat may not com to for to see
1211& fele þe perfeccion of þis werk, bot wiþ grete trauayle, & ȝit is it
1212bot seeldom, & may liȝtly be disceyuid ȝif he speke, þink & deme
1213oþer men as he feliþ in him-self: þat þei mowe not com to it bot
1214seeldom, and þat not wiþ-outen greet trauaile. And on þe same
1215maner may he be deceyuid þat may haue it whan he wil, ȝif he
1216deme alle oþer þer-after, seiing þat þei mowe haue it when þei wile.
1217Lat be þis; nay, sekirly he may not þink þus. For parauenture,
1218whan it likiþ vnto God, þoo þat mowe not at þe first tyme haue it

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1219bot seeldom & þat not wiþ-outen grete trauayle, siþen after þei
1220schulen haue it whan þei wile, as ofte as hem likiþ. Ensaumple
1221of þis we haue of Moyses, þat first bot seeldome, & nouȝt wiþ-outen
1222grete trauayle in þe mounte, miȝt not see þe maner of þe
1223arke; and siþen after, as ofte as hym likid, sawe it in þe vaale.
1224
1225

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE ÞRE AND SEUENTY CHAPITRE.

1226
1227    Þre men þer weren þat most principaly medelid hem wiþ þis
1228arke of þe Olde Testament: Moyses, Beȝeleel, Aaron. Moyses
1229lernid in þe mounte of oure Lorde how it schuld be maad. Beȝeleel
1230wrouȝt it & maad it in þe vaale, after þe ensaumple þat was
1231schewid in þe mounteyne. And Aaron had it in kepyng in þe temple,
1232to fele it & see it as ofte as hym likid.
1233    At þe licnes of þees þre, we profite on þre maners in þis grace
1234of contemplacion. Somtyme we profite only by grace, and þan we
1235ben licnid vnto Moises, þat for alle þe clymbyng & þe trauaile þat
1236he had into þe mounte, miȝt not com to se it bot seeldom; and ȝit
1237was þat siȝt only by þe schewyng of oure Lorde whan hym likid to
1238schewe it, and not for any deseert of hie trauayle. Somtyme we
1239profite in þis grace by oure owne goostly sleiȝt, holpyn wiþ grace,
1240and þan ben we licnid to Beȝeleel, þe whiche miȝt not se þe arke er
1241þe tyme þat he had mad it by his owne trauayle, holpen wiþ þe
1242ensaumple þat was schewid vnto Moises in þe mounte. And somtyme
1243we profite in þis grace by oþer mens teching. & þan

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1244ben we licnid to Aaron, þe whiche had it in keping and in costume
1245to see & fele þe arke when hym list, þat Beȝeleel had wrouȝt
1246& maad redy before to his handes.
1247    Lo! goostly freende, in þis werk, þof it be childly & lewdely
1248spoken, I bere, þof I be a wreche vnworþi to teche any creature,
1249þe ofice of Beȝeleel, makyng & declaryng in maner to þin handes
1250þe maner of þis goostly arke. Bot fer betir and more worþely þen I
1251do, þou maist worche ȝif þou wilt be Aaron; þat is to sey, contynuely
1252worching þer-in for þee & for me. Do þen so, I prey þee,
1253for þe loue of God Almiȝty. And siþen we ben boþe clepid of God to
1254worche in þis werk, I beseche þee for Goddes loue fulfille in þi
1255partye þat lackiþ of myne.
1256
1257

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE FOURE AND SEUENTI CHAPITRE.

1258
1259    And ȝif þee þink þat þis maner of worching be not acordyng to þi
1260disposicion in body & in soule, þou maist leue it, & take anoþer
1261sauely wiþ good goostly counseile wiþ-outyn blame. And þan I
1262beseche þee þat þou wilt haue me excusid; for trewly I wolde haue
1263profitid vnto þee in þis writyng at my simple kunnyng, & þat was
1264myn entent. And þerfore rede ouer twyes or þries; & euer þe ofter
1265þe betir, & þe more þou schalt conceyue þer-of; in so moche,
1266parauenture, þat sum clause þat was ful harde to þee at þe first or
1267þe secound redyng, siþen after þee schal þink it ful liȝt.
1268    Ȝe! and it semiþ inpossible to myn vnderstonding þat any soule
1269þat is disposid to þis werk schuld rede it, or speke it, or elles
1270here it red or spoken, bot ȝif þat same soule schuld fele for þat
1271tyme a verrey acordaunce to þe effecte of þis werk. And þan, ȝif þee

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1272þink it doþ þee good, þank God hertly, & for Goddes loue prey for
1273me.
1274    Do þan so. And I prey þee for Godes loue þat þou late none see
1275þis book, bot if it be soche one þat þee þink is liche to þe book;
1276after þat þou fyndest wreten in þe book before, where it telliþ
1277what men & when þei schuld worche in þis werk. And ȝif þou schalt
1278late any soche men see it, þen I preie þee þat þou bid hem take
1279hem tyme to loke it al ouer. For parauenture þer is som mater
1280þer-inne, in þe beginnyng or in þe middes, þe whiche is hanging &
1281not fully declarid þere as it stondeþ. Bot ȝif it be not þere, it is
1282sone after, or elles in þe eende. And þus ȝif a man sawe o partye and
1283not anoþer, parauenture he schuld liȝtly be led into errour. &
1284þerfore I preye þee do as I sey þee.
1285    And ȝif þee þenk þat þer be any mater þer-in þat þou woldest
1286haue more openid þan it is, late me wetyn whiche it is & þi conceyte
1287þer-apon; and at my simple kunnyng it schal be amendid ȝif
1288I kan.
1289    Fleschly iangelers, glosers & blamers, roukers & rouners, & alle
1290maner of pynchers, kept I neuer þat þei sawe þis book; for myn
1291entent was neuer to write soche þing to hem. & þerfore I wolde
1292not þat þei herde it, neiþer þei no none of þees corious lettrid ne
1293lewid men, ȝe! al-þof þei be ful good men in actyue leuyng; for it
1294acordeþ not to hem.
1295
1296

HERE BIGINNIÞ ÞE FIUE AND SEUENTY CHAPITRE.

1297
1298    Alle þoo þat redyn or heren þe mater of þis book be red or

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1299spokin, & in þis redyng or hering þink it good & likyng þing,
1300ben neuer þe raþer clepid of God to worche in þis werk, only for
1301þis likyng steryng þat þei fele in þe tyme of þis redyng. For
1302parauenture þis steryng comeþ more of a kyndely coriouste of
1303witte þen of any clepyng of grace.
1304    Bot ȝif þei wil proue whens þis steryng comeþ, þei mowe proue
1305þus, ȝif hem likyþ. First lat hem loke ȝif þei haue done þat in hem
1306is before, ablyng hem þerto in clensyng of þeire concyence, at
1307þe dome of Holi Chirche, þeire counseil acordyng. Ȝif it be þus, weel
1308is in as moche. Bot ȝif þei wil wetyn more nere, lat hem loke ȝif
1309it be euermore presing in þeire mynde more costumabely þen is
1310any oþer of goostly excersise. And ȝif hem þink þat þer is any
1311maner of þing þat þei do, bodely or goostly, þat is sufficiently done
1312wiþ witnes of þeire concyence, bot ȝif þis priue litil loue put be in
1313maner goostly þe cheef of alle þeire werk: and ȝif þei þus fele - þen
1314it is a token þat þei ben clepid of God to þis werk. & sekirly elles
1315not.
1316    I say not þat it schal euer laste & dwelle in alle þeire myndes
1317contynowely þat ben clepid to worche in þis werk. Nay, so is it
1318nouȝt. For from a ȝong goostly prentys in þis werk þe actueel
1319felyng þer-of is oft-tymes wiþdrawen for diuers skyles; somtyme
1320for he schal not take ouer homely þer-apon & wene þat it be in
1321grete party in his owne power, to haue it when him list & as him
1322list. & soche a wenyng were pride. And euermore whan þe felyng of
1323grace is wiþdrawen, pride is þe cause: not euer pride þat is, bot

page 132

1324pride þat schuld be, ne were þat þis feling of grace were wiþdrawen.
1325and þus wenyn oft-tymes som ȝong foles þat God is þeire
1326enemye; when he is þeire ful freende.
1327    Somtyme it is wiþdrawen for þeire rechelesnes; and when it is
1328þus, þei fele sone after a ful bitter pyne þat betiþ hem ful sore.
1329Somtyme oure Lorde wil delaye it be a cauteel, for he wol bi soche
1330a delaiing make it growe & be had more in deintee, when it is
1331newe founden & felt aȝein, þat longe had be lost. And þis is one of þe
1332rediest & souereynist tokin þat a soule may haue to wite bi,
1333wheþer he be clepid or not to worche in þis werk: ȝif he fele after
1334soche a delaying & a longe lackyng of þis werk, þat when it comeþ
1335sodenly as it doþ, vnpurchasid wiþ any mene, þat he haþ þan a
1336gretter feruour of desire & gretter loue-longing to worche in þis
1337werk, þan euer he had any before, in so mochel, þat oftymes I
1338trowe he haþ more ioie of þe fynding þer-of, þen euer he had
1339sorow of þe lesing. And ȝif it be þus, sekirly it is a tokin verrey wiþ-outyn
1340errour þat he is clepid of God to worche in þis werk, what-so-euer
1341þat he be or haþ ben.
1342    For not what þou arte, ne what þou hast ben, beholdeþ God wiþ
1343his mercyful iȝe; bot þat þou woldest be. And Seinte Gregory to
1344witnes þat 'alle holy desires growen bi delaies; and ȝif þei wanyn
1345bi delaies, þen were þei neuer holy desires'. For he þat feliþ euer
1346les ioye and les in newe fyndinges & sodeyn presentacions of his olde
1347purposid desires, þof al þei mowe be clepid kyndely desires to þe

page 133

1348goode, neuerþeles holy desires weren þei neuer. Of þis holy desire
1349spekiþ Seint Austyne and seiþ þat 'al þe liif of a good Cristen man
1350is not elles bot holi desire'.
1351    Farewel, goostly freende, in Goddes blessing & myne! And I
1352beseche Almiȝti God þat trewe pees, hole counseil, & goostly
1353coumforte in God wiþ habundaunce of grace, euirmore be wiþ þee
1354and alle Goddes louers in eerþe. Amen.