page 165

1    I þe feaderes. ant i þe sunes. & i þe hali
2gastes Nome
3her bigineð; sawles warde.
4    Si sciret paterfamilias qua hora fur uenturus esset;
5vigilaret utique & non sineret perfodi domum suam.

page 166

6Ure lauerd i þe godspel teacheð us þurh a bisne. hu we
7ahen wearliche to biwiten us-seoluen wið þe unwiht
8of helle. & wiþ his wernches. ȝef þes lauerd wiste he seið.
9hwenne & hwuch time. þe þeof walde cume to his
10hus; he walde wakien. ne nalde he nawt þolien þe þeof
11forte breoken hire. þis hus þe ure lauerð spekeð of;
12is seolf þe mon inwið þe monnes wit. I þis hus. is þe
13huse-lauerd. Ant te fulitohe wif; mei beon wil ihaten.
14ꝥ ga þe hus efter hire; ha diht hit al to wundre.
15bute wit ase lauerd chasti hire þe betere. & bineome
16hire muchel of ꝥ ha walde. ant tah walde al hire hird
17folhin hire ouer-al; gef wit ne forbude ham. for
18alle hit beoð untohene. & rechelese hinen; bute ȝef
19he ham rihte. Ant hwucche beoð þeos hinen; Summe
20beoð wið-vten. & summe wið-innen. þeo wið-vten beoð.
21þe monnes fif wittes. Sihðe. & herunge. smechunge.
22& smeallunge. & euch limes felunge. þeos beoð
23hinen vnder wit. as under huse-lauerd. & hwer-se he is
24ȝemeles; nis hare nan þe ne feareð ofte untoheliche.
25& gulteð ilome. oðer i fol semblant; oder in vuel
26dede. In-wið beoð his hinen. in se moni mislich
27þonc to cwemen wel þe husewif; aȝein godes wille.
28& swerieð somet-reaðliche; ꝥ efter hire hit schal

page 167

29gan. þah we hit ne here nawt; we mahen hare
30nurð. & hare untohe bere. a-þet hit
31cume forð. & ba wið eie. & wið luue tuhte
32ham þe betere. Ne bið neauer his hus for þeos hinen
33wel iwist. for hwon ꝥ he slepe. oðer ohwider
34from hame. ꝥ is hwen mon for-ȝet his
35wit. & let ham iwurðen. ah ne bihoueð hit nawt.
36ꝥ tis hus beo irobbet. for þer is inne þe tre
37ꝥ godd ȝef him-seolf fore. ꝥ is monnes sawle. forte
38breoke þis hus efter þis tresor. ꝥ godd bohte
39mid his deað. & lettelet teEdition: lette, but cf. MED s.v. leten (3) lif o rode; is Moni þeof
40abuten ba bi dei & bi niht. vnseheliche gasttes
41wið alle unwreaste þeawes. & aȝein euch
42god þeaw. þe biwiteð i þis hus godes deore castel.
43vnder wittes wissunge ꝥ is huse-lauerd. is eauer
44hire unþeaw forte sechen in-ȝong abute þe wahes
45to a-murðrin hire þrinne. ꝥ heaued þrof
46is þe feont. þe meistreð ham alle aȝeines him
47& his keis. þe husebonde ꝥ is wit; warneð his
48hus þus. Vre lauerd haueð ileanet him froure of

page 168

49his dehtren. ꝥ beoð to vnderstonden þe fowr
50heaued-þeawes. þe earste is warschipe icleopet.
51ant te oþer is ihaten gastelich strengðe. &
52te þridde is meað. riht-wisnesse þe feorðe.
53Wit þe husbonde godes cunestable cleopeð warschipe
54forð. & makid hire durewart. þe warlic
he warliche
loki hwam ha leote in & ut. & of feor bihalde
55alle þe cuminde. hwuch beo wurðe inȝong
56to habben; oðer beon bisteken þrute. Strengðe
57stont nest hire ꝥ ȝef ei wule in; warschipes vnþonkes.
58warni strengðe fore. ꝥ is hire suster; &
59heo hit ut warpe. þe þridde suster ꝥ is meað. hire
60he makeð meistre ouer his willesfule hirð ꝥ we
61ear of speken. ꝥ ha leare ham mete. ꝥ me meosure
62hat. þe middel of twa uueles. for ꝥ is þeaw in
63euch stude & tuht forte halden. & hateð ham
64alle ꝥ nan of ham aȝein hire; nohwer wid vnmeað;
65ne ga ouer mete. þe feorðe suster rihtwisnesse.
66sit on hest as deme, & beateð þeo þe aȝulteð.
67& cruneð þeo þe wel doð. & demeð euchan
68his dom efter his rihte. fordretfor dretCf. MED, s.v. drede, and fn in edition of hire nimeð

page 169

69his hirð euch efter ꝥ he is warde to witene. þe
70ehnen hare. þe muð his. þe earen hare. þe
71honden hare. & euch alswa of þe oþre wit ꝥ onont
72him ne schal nan unþeaw cumen in.
73    As þis is ido þus. & is al stille þrinne; warschipe
74ꝥ aa is waker is offearet lest sum fortruste
75him. & feole o slepe. & forȝeme his warde.
76& sent ham. in a sonde. ꝥ ha wel cnaweð. of
77feorren icumen. forte offearen þeo þe beoð
78ouerhardi. & þeo þe ȝemelese beoð; halden ham
79wakere. he is underuon in. & swiðe bihalden of ham
80alle. for lonc he is. & leane. & his leor deaðlich.
81& blac & elheowet. & euch her þuncheð
82ꝥ stont in his heaued up; warschipe hat him
83tellen biuoren hwet he beo & hweonene he comme
84& hwet he þer seche. Ne mei ich nehe seið. nohwer
85speoken. bute ich habbe god lust; lustnið
86me þenne. Fearlac ich hatte. ant am deaðes sonde.
87& deaðes munegunge. & am icumen biuore
88hire to warnin ow of hire cume. warschipe
89ꝥ best con bisetten hire wordes. & ec hire
90werkes; spekeð for ham alle. & freineð hweonene
91he cume. & hwuch hird ha leade. fearlac

page 170

92hire ontswereð. Ich nat nawt þe time; for ha ne
93seide hit me nawt. ah eauer lokið hwenne. for hire
94wune is to cumen bi stale ferliche & unmundlunge
95hwen me least weneð. of hire hird
96ꝥ tu easkest. Ich þe ondswerie. ha lihteð hwer
97se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen. & euch
98an bereð a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten
99wið swarte smeale leattres. & an unrude raketehe
100gled-read of fure. forte binden & to
101drahen in-to in-warde helle. hwuch-se he mei preouin
102þurh his boc ꝥ is on euch sunne enbreuet;
103ꝥ he wið wil. oðer wið word. oðer wið werc.
104wrahtte in al his lif-siðe. bute ꝥ he haueð i-bet
105earþon wið soð schrift. & wið deadbote. ant warschipe
106hire easkeð. Hweonene cumest tu fearlac
107deaðes munegunge. Ich cume he seið of helle. Of
108helle ha seið warschipe. & hauest tu isehen helle?
109    Ȝe seið fearlac witerliche. ofte & ilome. Nu seið
110þenne warschipe. forþifor þiEdition: forþi, but see fn in edition trowþtrowð treoweliche tele us
111hwuch is helle. & hwet tu hauest isehen þrin. Ant
112ich he seið fearlac o mi trowðe bluðeliche. nawt tah
113efter ꝥ hit is. for ꝥ ne mei na tunge tellen. ah efter ꝥ ich
114mei & con; þer toward ich chulle reodien.

page 171

115    Helle is wið-ute met. & deop wið-ute grunde. ful of
116brune uneuenlich. for ne mei nan eorðlich fur
117euenin þer towart. ful of stench unþolelich. for ne
118mahte in eorðe na cwic þing. hit þolien. ful of sorhe
119untalelich. for ne mei na muð for wrecchedom ne for
120wa; rikenin hit ne tellen. Se þicke is þrinne þe þosternesse;
121ꝥ me hire mei grapin. for ꝥ fur. ne ȝeueð
122na liht. ah blent ham þe ehnen. þe þer beoð
123wið a smorðrinde smoke smeche forcuðest. & tah
124i ꝥ ilke swarte þeosternesse swarte þinges ha iseoð
125as deoflen ꝥ ham meallið & derueð aa & dreccheð
126wið alles cunnes pinen. & iteilede draken grisliche
127ase deoflen þe forswolheð ham ihal. & speoweð ham
128eft ut biuoren & bihinden. oðer hwile torendeð
129ham & to-cheoweð ham euch greot. ant heo
130eft iwurðeð hal. to a swuch bale bute bote as ha
131ear weren. Ant ful wel ha i-seoð ham to grisle &
132to grure. & to echen hare pine. þe laðe helle wurmes.

page 172

133tadden & froggen. þe freoteð ham ut
134tote ehnen. & te nease gristles. Ant snikeð in. & ut
135neddren. & eauroskes. nawt ilich þeose her; ah
136hundret siðe grisluker et muð. & et earen. ed ehnen.
137& ed neauele. Ant ed te breoste holke as meaðen
138i forrotet flesch eauerȝete þickest. þer is remunge
139i þe brune. toðes hechelunge i þe snawi weattres.
140ferliche ha flutteð from þe heate; into þe chele.
141Ne neauer nuten ha of þeos twa; hweðer ham þuncheð
142wurse. for eiðer is unþolelich. ant i þis ferliche
143mong þe leatere þurh þe earre derueð þe mare,
144ꝥ fur ham forbearneð al to colen calde. ꝥ pich ham
145forwalleð a ðetaðet ha beon for-mealte. & eft acwikieð
146anan to drehen al ꝥ ilke; ant muchedeale
147wurse a wið-uten ende. Ant tiltis= Bennett-Smithers ilke unhope is
148ham meast pine. ꝥ nan naueð neauer mare hope
149of nan a couerungeacouerungeCf. MED s.v. acoveringe (ger.). Edition: a couerunge.. Ah aren sikere of euch uuel
150to þurh leastenþurhleastenCf. MED s.v. thurghlasten i wa from world in-to worlde aa on
151echnesse. Euch aþrusmeð oðer. & euch is oðres pine.
152Ant euchan heateð oðer. & him-seoluen as
153þe blake deouel. & eauer se ha i þis world luuede ham
154mare; se ha heatieð ham swiðere. & eiðer

page 173

155curseð oðer. & fret of oðres earen. & te nease
156alswa. Ich habbe bigunne to tellen of þing ꝥ ich
157ne mahte nawt bringe to eni ende. þah ich hefde
158a þusent tungen of stele & talde a ðetaðet ha weren
159alle forwerede. Ah þencheð nu her þurh hwuch þe
160measte pine beo; for þe leaste pine is se heard ꝥ
161hefde a mon islein ba mi feader. & mi moder ant al
162þe ende of mi cun. & ido me seoluen al þe scheome
163& te hearm ꝥ cwic mon mahte þolien. & ich isehe
164þes mon i þe ilke leaste pine. ꝥ ich iseh in helle; Ich
165walde ȝef hit mahte beon. þolien a þusent deaðes
166to a-rudden him ut þrof. swa is þe sihðe grislich &
167reowðful to bihalden. for þah neauer nere mannan oðer
168pine bute to iseon eauer þe unseli gastes. & hare grisliche
169schape. biseon on hare grimfule. & grurefule
170nebbes. & heren hare rarunge. & hu ha wið hokeres
171edwiteð & up-breideð euchan his sunnen. þis schenðlac
172& te grure of ham were unimete pine; & hure
173þolien & abeoren hare unirude duntes wið mealles
174istelet. & wið hare eawles gled-reade hare dustlunges.
175as þah hit were a pilche-clut euchan towart
176oðer i misliche pinen. O helle deaðes hus. wununge
177of wanunge. of grure ant of granunge. heatel
178ham. & heard wan. of alle wontreaðes. buri of bale.
179& bold of eauer-euch bitternesse. þu laðest lont
180of alle. þu dorc stude ifullet of alle dreorinesses.

page 174

181Ich cwakie of grisle & of grure. & euch ban schekeð
182me. & euch her me rueð up of þi munegunge.
183for nis þer na steuene bituhhe þe fordemde bute
184wumme. & wa is me. & wa beo þe. & wa beo þe. wa ha ȝeieð.
185& wa ha habbeð ne of al ꝥ eauer wa is; ne schal ham
186neauer wontin. þe swuch wununge ofearneð. for ei
187hwilinde blisse her o þisse worlde; wel were him ȝef
188ꝥ he neauer ibore nere. bi þis ȝe mahen sumdel witen
189hwuch is helle. for iwis ich habbe þrin isehen a þusent
190siðe wurse. & from þeonne kimeð deað wið a þusent
191deoflen hiderwart as ich seide. ant ich com þus qð fearlac
192forte warnin ow fore; & tellen ow þeos tidinges.
193    Nv lauerd godd qð warschipe wardi us & werie. & rihte
194us & reade hwet us beo to donne: Ant we beon þe
195warre & wakere to witen us on euch half under
196godes wengen. ȝef we wel werieð & witeð ure hus &
197godes deore tresor ꝥ he haueð bitaht us; cume deað
198hwen he wule. Ne þurue we nowðer beon ofdred for
199hire. ne for helle. for ure deað bið deore godd & inȝong
200in-to heouene. of þeos fikelinde world; ne of
201hire false blisse: ne neome we neauer ȝeme. for al ꝥ
202is on eorðe. nis. bute as a schadewe; for al wurðeð

page 175

203to noht bute ꝥ deore tresor godes deorewurðe feh ꝥ
204is us bitaht to witene. Ich habbe þeruore sar care
205for ich iseo seið warschipe hu þe unwhiht wið his
206ferd ase liun iburst. ȝeað abuten ure hus sechinde
207ȝeornliche hu he hit forswolhe. & tis ich mei
208seið warschipe warnin ow his lað & for his wrenches.
209ah ich ne mei nawt aȝeines his strengðe.
210    Do nu qð strengðe. warschipe suster ꝥ te limpet to þe
211& warne us of his wiheles. for of al his strengðe
212ne drede we nawiht. for nis his strengðe noht wurð
213bute hwer-se he ifindeð eðeliche. & wake unwarnede
214of treowe bileaue. þe apostle seið. Etstont. þen feont.
215& he flið anan-riht. schulde we þenne fleon him? ȝe
216nis godd ure scheld. & alle beoð ure wepnen of his deore
217grace. ant godd is on ure half. & stont bi us ifehtei fehteEdition: ifehte, but see apparatus.
218ȝef he schute towart me wið weole & wunne of þe world.
219wið este of flesches lustes. of þulliche nesche wepnen
220ich mahte carien summes weis. ah ne mei me
221na þing heardes offearen. ne nowcin. ne na wone
222falsi min heorte ne wursi mi bileaue towart him
223ꝥ ȝeueð me alle mine strengðen.
224    For ba mehme ah. qð meað. ant for heart of nowcin.
225& for wone of wunne dreden. & carien. for moni for
226to muchel heard of wa ꝥ he dreheð. forȝet ure lauerd.
227ant ma þah for nesche ant for flesches licunge for
ȝemeð forȝemeð
MS line divisionham ofte. bituhhen heard & nesche. bituhhe
228wa of þis world ant to muche wunne. bituhhe

page 176

229muchel & lutel is in euch worldlich þing þe middel
230wei guldene. ȝef we hire haldeð þenne ga we sikerliche
231ne þerf us nowðer for deað ne for deouel dreden.
232hwet-se beo of heardes ne drede ich nawiht nesches
233for ne mei na wunne. ne na flesches licunge
234ne licomlich este bringe me ouer þe midel of mesure.
235& of mete.
236    Rihtwissnesse spekeð nu. Mi suster ha seið warschipe
237þe haueð wit. & schad bituhhe god. & uuel. &
238wat hwet is in euch þing to cheosen & to schunien;
239readeð us & leareð forte ȝeme lutel alle
240fallinde þing. & witen warliche þeo þe schulen a
241lesten. & seið as ha soð seið ꝥ þurh unweotenesse.
242ne mei ha nawt sunegin. & tah nis nawt siker of
243þe unwihtes strengde as þeo þe halt hire wac þah
244ha beo muche wurð & ure alre ehnen demeð hire
245unmihti onont hire-seoluen to etstonden wið his
246turnes & deð ase þe wise. Mi suster strengðe is swiðe
247bald. & seið ꝥ nawiht heardes ne mei hire offearen.
248ah þah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen;
249ah deð o godes grace & ꝥ ich demi riht & wisdom
250to donne. Mi þridde suster. meað spekeð of middel
251sti.þe middel
sti.The reading is based on Bennett-Smithers (d'Ardenne: no definite article). bituhhe riht & luft ꝥ lut cunnen halden.

page 177

252& seið i nesche ha is bald. & heard mei hire offearen.
253& for-þi ne ȝelpeð ha of na sikernesse ant deð as þe
254wise. Mi meoster is to do riht forte demen ant
255ich deme me-seolf ꝥ ich meþurh me neThe reading is based on Bennett-Smithers. (d'Ardenne: me) do hit nawt;
256for al ꝥ god is of godd ꝥ we her habbeð. Nu is riht
257þenne ꝥ we demen us-seolf eauer unmihtie to werien
258& to witen us oðer ei god to halden wið-ute godes
259helpe. þe rihtwise godd wule ꝥ we demen us-seolf
260eðeliche & lahe. Ne beo we neauer swucche; for þenne
261demeð he us muche wurð & gode ant halt for his
262dehtren. for þah mi forme suster war beo of euch
263uuel; ant min oðer strong beo to-ȝeines euch
264nowcin; ant mi þridde meaðful in alles cunnes
265estes; & ich do riht & deme. bute we wið al þis milde
266beon & meoke; & halden us wake. godd mei
267mid rihte fordemen us of al þis þurh ure prude.
268ant for-þi is riht dom þet we al ure god þonkin
269him ane. Wit þe husebonde godes cunestable
270hereð alle hare sahen & þonkeð god ȝeorne wið
271swiðe glead heorte of se riche lane as beoð þeos sustren
272his fowr dehtren ꝥ he haueð ileanet him on
273helpe forte wite wel & werien his castel. & godes deorewurðe
274feh. ꝥ is biloke þrinne.
275    Þe willesfule husewif halt hire al stille. ant al ꝥ
276hird ꝥ ha wes i-wunet to dreaien efter hire; turneð

page 178

277ham treowliliche to wit hare lauerd. & to þeos
278fowr sustren. Vmben ane stunde spekeð eft
279warschipe. & seið ich iseo a sonde cumen swide gledd-icheret
280feier & freolich & leofliche aturnet
281let him in seið wit ȝef godd wule he bringeð
282us gleade tidinges. ant ꝥ us were muche
283neod. for fearlac deaðes sonde haueð wið his;
284offearet us swiðe mid alle. warschipe let him in.
285& he gret wit þen lauerd. & al ꝥ hird seoðen. wið lahhinde
286chere. ant ha ȝeldeð him his gretunge. &
287beoð alle ilihtet & igleadet ham þuncheð of his onsihðe.
288for al ꝥ hus schineð. & schimmeð of his leome.
289he easkeð ham ȝef ham biluueð to heren him
290ane hwile. ȝe qð ha rihtwisnesse. wel us biluueð
291hit. & wel is riht ꝥ we þe liðeliche lustnin.
292    Hercnið nu þenne he seið. & ȝeornliche understondeð.
293ch am murðes sonde. & munegunge of eche lif.
294ant liues luue ihaten & cume riht from heouene
295ꝥ ich habbe isehen nu ant ofte ear þe blisse ꝥ na
296monnes tunge ne mei of tellen. þe iblescede godd
297iseh ow offruhte. & sumdel drupnin of ꝥ fearlac
298talde of deað. & of helle. ant sende me to gleadien
299ow. nawt forþi ꝥ hit ne beo al soð ꝥ he seide. & ꝥ
300schulen alle uuele fondin. & ifinden. Ah ȝe wið þe
301fulst of godd ne þurue na þing dreden for he sit on

page 179

302heh ꝥ is ow on helpe. & is al-wealdent ꝥ haueð ow to witene.
303    A seið warshipe welcume liues
304luue. ant for þe luue of godd seolf ȝef þu eauer
305sehe him: tele us sumhwet of him. & of
306his eche blisse. ȝe iseoð qð liues luue; Murhdes
307sonde. Ich habbe isehen him ofte nawt
308tah alswa as he is; for aȝein þe brihtnesse
309& te liht of his leor. þe sunne-gleam is dosc & þuncheð
310a schadewe. ant for-þi ne mahte ich nawt
311aȝein þe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden;
312bute þurh a schene schawere bituhhe me & him
313ꝥ schilde mine ehnen. Swa ich habbe ofte
314isehen þe hali þrumnesse. feader & sune. & hali gast.
315þreo an unto-dealet. ah lutle hwile ich mahte þolie
316þe leome. ah summes weis ich mahte bihalden ure
317lauerd iesu crist godes sune ꝥ bohte us o rode. hu he
318sit blisful on his feader riht-half ꝥ is al-wealdent
319rixleð i ꝥ eche lif bute linnunge. se unimete feier:
320ꝥ te engles ne beoð neauer ful on him to bihalden.
321ant ȝet ich iseh etscene þe studen of his wunden.
322& hu he schaweð ham his feader to cuðen hu he
323luuede us & hu he wes buhsum to him þe sende him
324swa to alesen us & bisecheð him a for moncunnes heale.
325    Efter him ich iseh on heh ouer alle heouenliche þe
326eadi meiden his moder marie inempnet sitten in

page 180

327a trone se siðeswiðe briht wid ȝimmes i-stirret. & hire
328wlite se weoleful; ꝥ euch eorðlich liht; is þeoster
329þe a-ȝeines. þear ich iseh as ha bit hire deorewurðe
330sune se ȝeornliche. & se inwardliche for þeo ꝥ
331hire seruið. & he hire ȝetteð blideliche al ꝥ ha bisecheð.
332    Þet liht þa ich ne mahte lengre
333þolien; Ich biseh to þe engles & to þe archangles
334ant to þe oðre; þe beoð buuen ham. iblescede gastes
335þe beoð a biuore godd & seruið him eauer. & singeð
336a unwerget. Nihe wordes þer beoð. ah hu ha
337ha beoð i-ordret & sunderliche isette. þe an buue
338þe oðre. & euchanes meoster were long to tellen.
339Se muche murhðe ich hefde on hare on-sihðe; ꝥ
340ne mahte ich longe while elles-hwider lokin.
341    Efter ham ich iseh towart te patriarches. & te prophetes
342þe makied swuch murhðe ꝥ ha aren nuðe i ꝥ
343ilke lont of blisse ꝥ ha hefden of feor igret ear
344on eorðe & seoð nu al ꝥ isoðet. ꝥ ha hefden longe
345ear icwiddet of ure lauerd as he hefde iscawed ham
346i gastelich sihðe. Ich iseh þe apostles poure. &
347lah on eorðe. ifullet & bigoten al of unimete

page 181

348blisse sitten i trones. ant al under hare uet ꝥ
349heh is i þe worlde. ȝarowe forte demen i þe dei of
350dome kinges & keiseres. & alle cunreadnes of
351alles cunnes ledenes.
352    Ich biheolt te Martyrs. & hare unimete murhðe
353þe þoleden her pinen. & deað for ure lauerd. & lihtliche
354talden to alles cunnes neowcins. & eorðliche tintreohen.
355aȝeines þe blisse ꝥ godd in hare heorte schawede
356ham to cumene.
357    Efter ham ich biheolt þe cunfessurs hird þe liueden
358i god lif. & haliche deiden. þe schineð as doð
359steorren i þe eche blissen. & seoð godd in his wlite
360ꝥ haueð alle teares iwipet of hare ehnen.
361    Ich iseh ꝥ schene & ꝥ brihte ferreden of eadi meidnes
362ilikest towart engles. ant feolahlukest wið
363ham blissin & gleadien. þe libbinde i flesche ouergað
364flesches lahe ant ouercumeð cunde þe leadeð heouenlich
365lif in eorðe as ha wunieð hare murhðe. & hare blisse.
366þe feierleac of hare wlite. þe swetnesse of hare song;
367ne mei na tunge tellen. Alle ha singeð þe þer beoð.
368Ah hare song ne mahe nane buten heo singen. Se
369swote smeal ham folheð hwider-se ha wendeð. ꝥ me mahte
370libben aa bi þe swotnesse. hwam-se heo bisecheð fore;
371is sikerliche iborhen. for aȝein hare bisocnen; godd

page 182

372him-seolf ariseð ꝥ alle þe oðre halhen sittende ihereð.
373    Swiðe wel qð warschipe likeð us ꝥ tu seist. Ah nu þu
374hauest se wel iseid of euch-a setnesse; of þe seli
375sunderlepes sumhwet sei us nu hwuch blisse is to
376alle iliche meane; & liues luue hire ondswereð.
377    Þe imeane blisse is seouenfald. lengðe of lif. wit. & luue.
378& of þe luue a gleadunge. wið-ute met murie. loft
song. loftsong.
Edition line division& lihtschipe. ant sikernesse. is þe seoueðe. þah
379ich þis seið warschipe sumdel understonde; þu most
380unwreo þis witerluker & openin to þeos oðre. ant hit
381schal beon seið liues luue warschipe as þu wilnest.
382    Ha liuieð a in a wlite. ꝥ is brihtre seoueuald. & schenre
383þen þe sunne. ant eauer in a strengðe to don buten euch
384swinc al ꝥ ha wulleð. & eauer-mare in a steal in al ꝥ eauer
385god is wið-ute wonunge. wið-uten euch þing ꝥ mahe
386hearmin oðer eilin. in al ꝥ eauer is,is. softe oðer swote. &
387hare lif is godes sihðe. & godes cnawlechunge as ure
388lauerd seide. ꝥ is qð he eche lif to seon & cnawen sod godd.
389& him ꝥ he sende iesu crist ure lauerd to ure alesnesse &
390beoð for-þi ilich him i þe ilke wlite ꝥ he is. for ha seoð
391him as he is. nebbe to nebbe. Ha beoð se wise ꝥ ha
392witen alle godes reades. his runes & his domes þe derne

page 183

393beoð. & deopre þen eni sea-dingle. ha seoð i godd
394alle þing. & witen of al ꝥ is & wes & eauer schal iwurden.
395hwet hit beo. hwi. & hwerto & hwer-of hit bigunne.
396    Ha luuieð god wið-ute met. for ꝥ ha understondeð hu
397he haueð bi ham idon þurh his muchele godlec &
398hwet ha ahen his deorewurde milce to ȝelden. ant euch
399an luueð oðer ase muchel as him-seoluen.