XVI. Sawles Warde

“i. Bodleian 34, Oxford (B); on vellum, 165 × 120 mm.; written in one hand throughout about 1210 A.D.... It has lost two leaves after f. 80, which is very faint and defective. Entries in fourteenth-century hands connect it with Ledbury, Godstow, and Magna Coworne (Much Cowarne) in Herefordshire. The text is printed from this manuscript up to its end at 127/4.

“The writing is sometimes difficult to decipher; the letters are often crowded and hesitating, a, e, o are sometimes hard to distinguish. Doubts are permissible in the following cases, hwen or hwon 118/24, ihaten or ihoten 37, hondon or honden 51; in sent 55, the last letter wavers between t and d; in ȝemelese 56, ȝ appears to have been corrected out of g; after mei 60, there is a half-formed c; under the second o of preoouin 72, there is what looks like a casual pen mark, not a dot of erasure; in seoueuald 287, d is corrected out of t, or the reverse.

“ii. Royal 17 A 27, British Museum (R); on vellum, 160 × 117 mm.; early thirteenth century. Has all the pieces in B except Hali Meidenhad, with the addition of an incomplete copy of the Oreisun of Seinte Marie (printed in OEH i., p. 305). This manuscript supplies the end here from 127/4.

“iii. Cotton Titus D 18, British Museum (T). See [IX, Ancrene Wisse].”

Si Sciret Paterfamilias

her bigineð; sawles warde.

Si sciret paterfamilias qua hora fur uenturus esset; vigilaret utique ⁊ non sineret perfodi domum suam. Ure lauerd i þe godspel teacheð us þurh abisne. hu we ahen wearliche to biwiten us seoluen wið þe unwiht of helle. ⁊ wið his wernches. ȝef þes lauerd wiste he seið. hwenne ⁊ hwuch time. þe þeof walde cume to his hus; he walde wakien. ne nalde he nawt þolien þe þeof forte breoken hire. Þis hus þe ure lauerð spekeð of; is seolf þe mon inwið þe monnes wit. I þis hus. is þe huse lauerd. ant te fulitohe wif; mei beon wil ihaten. þ̵ ga þe hus efter hire; ha diht hit al to wundre. bute wit ase lauerd chasti hire þe betere. ⁊ bi neome hire muchel of þ̵ ha walde. ant tah walde al hire hird folhin hire ouer al; gef wit ne forbude ham. for alle hit beoð untohene. ⁊ rechelese hinen; bute ȝef he ham rihte. Ant hwucche beoð þeos hinen; Summe beoð wið vten. ⁊ summe wið in nen. þeo wið vten beoð. þe monnes fif wittes. Sihðe. ⁊ herunge. smechunge. ⁊ smeallunge. ⁊ euch limes felunge. þeos beoð hinen vnder wit. as under huse lauerd. ⁊ hwer se he is ȝemeles; nis hare nan þe ne feareð ofte untoheliche. ⁊ gulteð ilome. oðer ifol semblant; oder in vuel dede. In wið beoð his hinen. in se moni mislich þonc to cwemen wel þe husewif; aȝein godes wille. ⁊ swerieð somet reaðliche. þ̵ efter hire hit schal [f. 72 v] gan. þah we hit ne here nawt; we mahen `iþþlen´ hare nurhð. ⁊ hare untohe bere. a þet hit cume forð. ⁊ ba wið eie. ⁊ wið luue tuhte ham þe betere. Ne bið neauer his hus for þeos hinen wel iwist. for hwen þ̵ he slepe. oðer ohwider from hame. þ̵ is hwen mon forȝet his wit. ⁊ let ham i wurðen. ah ne bihoueð hit nawt. þ̵ tis hus beo irobbet. for þer is inne þe tre[sor] þ̵ godd ȝef him seolf fore. þ̵ is monnes sawle. forte breoke þis hus efter þis tresor. þ̵ godd bohte mid his deað. ⁊ lette lif o rode; is moni þeof a buten ba bi dei ⁊ bi niht. vnseheliche gasttes wið alle unwreaste þeawes. ⁊ a ȝein euch god þeaw. þe biwiteð iþis hus godes deore castel . vnder wittes wissunge þ̵ is huse lauerd. is eauer hire unþeaw forte sechen inȝonge abute þe wahes to a murðrin hire þrinne. þ̵ heaued þrof is þe feont. þe meistreð ham alle aȝeines him ⁊ his keis. þe husebonde þ̵ is wit. warneð his hus þus. vre lauerd haueð ileanett him froure of his dehtren. þ̵ beoð to vnderstonden þe fowr heaued þeawes. þe earste is warschipe icleopet. ant te oþer is ihaten gasteli`c´h strengðe. ⁊ te þridde is meað. rihtwisnesse þe feorðe. Wit þe husbonde godes cunestable cleopeð warschipe [f. 73 r] forð. ⁊ makid hire durewart. þe warliche loki hwam ha leote in ⁊ ut. ⁊ of feor bihalde alle þe cuminde. hwuch beo wurðe inȝonge to habben; oðer beon bisteken þrute. Strengðe stont nest hire. þ̵ ȝef ei wule in; warschipes vn þonkes. warni strengðe fore. þ̵ is hire suster; ⁊ heo hit ut warpe. þe þridde suster þ̵ is meað. hire he makeð meistre ouer his willesfule hirð þ̵ we ear of speken. þ̵ ha leare ham mete . þ̵ me meosure hat. þe middel of twa uueles . for þ̵ is þeaw in euch stude ⁊ tuht forte halden. ⁊ hateð ham alle þ̵ nan of ham aȝein hire; nohwer wid vnmeoð; ne ga ouer mete. þe feorðe suster rihtwisnesse. sit on hest as deme . ⁊ beateð þeo þe aȝulteð. ⁊ cruneð þeo þe wel doð. ⁊ demeð euchan his dom efter his rihte. for dret of hire nimeð his hirð euch efter þ̵ he is warde to witene . þe ehnen hare. þe muð his. þe earen hare. þe hondon hare. ⁊ euch alswa of þe oþre wit þ̵ onont him ne schal nan un þeaw cumen iN.

As þis is ido þus. ⁊ is al stille þrinne; warschipe þ̵ áá is waker is offearet lest sum for truste him. ⁊ feole o slepe. ⁊ forȝeme his warde. ⁊ sent ham. in a sonde. þ̵ ha wel cnaweð. of feorren icumen. forte offearen þeo þe beoð [f. 73 v] ouer hardi. ⁊ þeo þe ȝemelese beoð; halden ham wakere. he is underuon in. ⁊ swiðe bihalden of ham alle. for lonc he is. ⁊ leane. ⁊ his leor deaðlich. ⁊ blac ⁊ elheowet. ⁊ euch her þunc`h´eð þ̵ stont in his heaued up; warschipe hat him tellen biuoren. hwet he beo ⁊ hweonene he comme ⁊ hwet he þer seche. Ne mei ich he seið. nohwer speoken. bute ich habbe god lust; lustnið me þenne. fearlac ich hatte. ant am deaðes sonde. ⁊ deaðes munegunge. ⁊ am icumen biuore hire to warnin ow of hire cume. warschipe þ̵ best con bisetten hire wordes. ⁊ ec hire werkes; spekeð for ham alle. ⁊ freineð hweonene he cume. ⁊ hwuch hird ha leade. fearlac hire ontswereð. Ich nat nawt þe time; for ha ne seide hit me nawt. ah eauer lokið hwenne. for hire wune is to cumen bi stale ferliche ⁊ unmundlunge hwen me least weneð. of hire hird þ̵ tu easkest. Ich þe ondswerie. ha lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen. ⁊ euch an bereð a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten wið swarte smeale leattres. ⁊ an unrude raketehe gled read of fure. forte binden ⁊ to drahen in to in warde helle. hwuch se he mei preoouin þurh his boc þ̵ is on euch sunne enbre[f. 74 r]uet. þ̵ he wið wil. oðer wið word. oðer wið werc. wrahtte in al his lif siðe. bute þ̵ he haueð i bet earþon wið soð schrift. ⁊ wið deadbote. ant warschipe hire easkeð. Hweonene cumest tu fearlac deaðes munegunge. Ich cume he seið of helle. Of helle ha seið warschipe. ⁊ hauest tu isehen helle? Ȝe seið fearlac witerliche. ofte ⁊ ilome. Nu seið þenne warschipe. forþi trowðe treoweliche tele us hwuch is helle. ⁊ hwet tu hauest isehen þrin. ant ich he seið fearlac omi trowðe bluðeliche. nawt tah efter þ̵ hit is. for þ̵ ne mei na tunge `tellen´. ah efter þ̵ ich mei ⁊ con; þer towart ich chulle readien.

Helle is [wid] wið ute met. ⁊ deop wið ute grunde. ful of brune uneuenlich . for ne mei nan eorðlich fur euenin þer towart. ful of stench unþolelich. for ne mahte in eorðe na cwic þinge hit þolien. ful of sorhe untalelich. for ne mei na muð for wrecchedom ne for wa; rikenin hit ne tellen. Se þicke is þrinne þe þosternesse; þ̵ me hire mei grapin. for þ̵ fur. ne ȝeueð na liht. ah blent ham þe ehnen. þe þer beoð wið a smorðrinde smeke smeche forcuðest. ⁊ tah iþ̵ ilke swarte þeosternesse swarte þinges ha iseoð as deoflen þ̵ ham meallið ⁊ derueð áá ⁊ dreccheð wið alles cunnes pinen. ⁊ iteilede draken gri`s´liche ase deoflen þe forswolheð ham ihal. ⁊ speoweð ham [f. 74 v] eft ut biuoren ⁊ bihinden. oðer hwile torendeð ham ⁊ to cheoweð ham euch greot. ant heo eft iwurðeð hal. to a swuch bale bute bote as ha ear weren. ant ful wel ha i seoð ham to grisle ⁊ to grure. ⁊ to echen hare pine. þe laðe helle wurmes. tadden ⁊ froggen. þe freoteð ham ut te ehnen. ⁊ te nease gristles. ant snikeð in. ⁊ ut neddren. ⁊ eauraskes. nawt ilich þeose her; ah hundret siðe grisluker et muð. ⁊ et earen. ed ehnen. ⁊ ed neauele. ant ed te breoste holke as meaðen iforrotet flesch eauerȝete þickest. þer is remunge iþe brune. ⁊ toðes hechelunge iþe snawi weattres. ferliche ha flutteð from þe heate; in to þe chele. Ne neauer nuten ha of þeos twa; hweðer ham þuncheð wurse. for eiðer is unþolelich. ant iþis ferliche monge þe leatere þurh þe earre derueð þe mare. þ̵ fur ham forbearneð al to colen calde. þ̵ pich ham forwalleð aðet ha beon for mealte. ⁊ eft acwikieð anan to drehen al þ̵ ilke; ant muchedeale wurse á wið uten ende. Ant tis ilke unhope is ham meast pine. þ̵ nan naueð neauer mare hope of nan a couerunge. Ah aren sikere of euch uuel to þurh leasten iwa from world in to worlde áá on echnesse. Euch aþrusmeð oðer. ⁊ euch is oðres pine. Ant euchan heateð oðer. ⁊ him seoluen as [f. 75 r] þe blake deouel. ⁊ eauer se ha i þis world luueden ham mare; se ha þer heatieð ham swiðere. ⁊ eiðer curseð oðer. ⁊ fret of þe oðres earen. ⁊ te nease alswa. Ich habbe bigunne to tellen of þing þ̵ ich ne mahte nawt bringe to eni ende. þah ich hefde a þusent tungen of stele ⁊ talde aðet ha weren alle forwerede. Ah þencheð nu her þurh hwuch þe measte pine beo; for þe leaste pine is se heard þ̵ hefde a mon i slein ba mi feader. ⁊ mi moder ant al þe ende of mi cun. ⁊ i do me seoluen al þe scheome ⁊ te hearm þ̵ cwic mon mahte þolien. ⁊ ich isehe þes mon i þe ilke leaste pine. þ̵ ich iseh in helle; Ich walde ȝef hit mahte beon. þolien a þusent deaðes to a rudden him ut þrof. swa is þe sihðe grislich ⁊ reowðful to bihalden. for þah neauer nere nan oðer pine bute to i seon eauer þe unseli gastes. ⁊ hare grisliche schape. biseon on hare grimfule. ⁊ grurefule nebbes. ⁊ heren hare rarunge. ⁊ hu ha wið hokeres edwiteð ⁊ up breideð euchan his sunnen. þis schenðlac ⁊ te grure of ham were unimete pine; ⁊ hure þolien ⁊ a beoren hare unirude duntes wið mealles istelet. ⁊ wið hare eawles gled reade hare dustlunges. as þah hit were a pilche clut euchan towart oðer imisliche pinen. O helle deaðes hus. wununge of wanunge. of grure ant of granunge. heatel [f. 75 v] ham. ⁊ heard wan. of alle wontreaðes. buri of bale. ⁊ bold of eauer euch bitternesse . þu laðest lont of alle. þu dorc stude ifullet of alle dreorinesses. Ich cwakie of grisle ⁊ of grure. ⁊ euch ban schekeð me. ⁊ euch her me rueð up of þi munegunge. for nis þer na steuene bituhhe þe fordemde bute wumme. ⁊ wa is me. ⁊ wa beo þe. ⁊ wa beo þe. wa ha ȝeieð. ⁊ wa ha habbeð ne of al þ̵ eauer wa is; ne schal ham neauer wontin. þe swuch wununge of earneð. for ei hwilinde blisse her o þisse worlde; wel were him ȝef þ̵ he neauer ibore nere. bi þis ȝe mahen sumdel witen hwuch is helle. for i wis ich habbe þrin isehen a þusent siðe wurse. ⁊ from þeonne kimeð deað wið a þusent deoflen hiderwart as ich seide. ant ich com þus quoð fearlac forte warnin ow fore; ⁊ tellen ow þeos tidinges.

Nv lauerd godd quoð warschipe wardi us ⁊ werie. ⁊ rihte us ⁊ reade hwet us beo to donne. ant we beon þe warre ⁊ wakere to witen us on euch half under godes wengen. ȝef we wel werieð ⁊ witeð ure hus ⁊ godes deore tresor þ̵ he haueð bitaht us; cume deað hwen he wule. Ne þurue we nowðer beon `of´dred for hire. ne for helle. for ure deað bið deore godd ⁊ in ȝong in to heouene. of þeos fikelinde world; ne of hire false blisse : ne neome we neauer ȝeme. for al þ̵ is on eorðe. nis bute as a schadewe; for al wurðeð [f. 76 r] to noht bute þ̵ deore tresor godes deorewurðe feh þ̵ is us bitaht to witene. Ich habbe þeruore sar care for ich iseo seið warschipe hu þe unwhiht wið his ferd ase liun iburst. ȝeað abuten ure hus sechinde ȝeornliche hu he hit forswolhe. ⁊ tis ich mei seið warschipe warnin ow of his lað ⁊ for his wrenches. ah ich ne mei nawt aȝeines his strengðe.

Do nu quoð strengðe. warschipe suster þ̵ te limpet to þe ⁊ warne us of his wiheles. for of al his strengðe ne drede we nawiht. for nis his strengðe noht wurð bute hwer se he ifindeð eðeliche. ⁊ wake unwarnede of treowe bileaue. þe apostle seið. Etstont. þen feont. ⁊ he flið anan riht. schulde we þenne fleon him? ȝe nis godd ure scheld. ⁊ alle beoð ure wepnen of his deore grace. ant godd is on ure half. ⁊ stont bi us ifehte. ȝef he schute towart me wið weole ⁊ wunne of þe world. wið este of flesches lustes. of þulliche nesche wepnen ich mahte carien summes weis. ah ne mei me na þing heardes offearen. ne nowcin. ne na wone falsi min heorte ne wursi mi bileaue towart him þ̵ ȝeueð me alle mine strengðen.

For ba me ah. quoð meað. ant for heart of nowcin. ⁊ for wone of wunne dreden. ⁊ carien. for moni for to muchel heard of wa þ̵ he d`r´eheð. forȝet ure lauerd. ant ma þah for nesche ant for flesches licunge for [f. 76 v] ȝemeð ham ofte. bituhhen heard ⁊ nesche. bituhhe wa of þis world ant to muche wunne. bituhhe muchel ⁊ lutel is in euch worldlich þing þe middel wei ȝuldene. ȝef we hire haldeð þenne gawe sikerliche ne þerf us nowðer for deað ne for deouel dreden. hwet se beo of heardes ne drede ich nawiht nesches for ne mei·na wunne. ne na flesches licunge ne licomlich este bringe me ouer þe midel of mesure. ⁊ of mete.

Rihtwissnesse spekeð nu. Mi suster ha seið warschipe þe haueð wit. ⁊ schad bituhhe god. ⁊ uuel. ⁊ wat hwet is in euch þinge to cheosen ⁊ to schunien; readeð us ⁊ leareð forte ȝeme lutel alle fallinde þing. ⁊ witen warliche þeo þe schulen á lesten. ⁊ seið as ha soð seið þ̵ þurh unweotenesse ne mei ha nawt sunegin. ⁊ tah nis nawt siker of þe unwihtes strengde as þeo þe halt hire wac þah ha beo muche wurð. ⁊ ure alre ehnen demeð hire unmihti onont hire seoluen to etstonden wið his. turnes ⁊ deð ase þe wise. Mi suster strengðe is swiðe bald. ⁊ seið þ̵ nawiht heardes ne mei hire offearen. ah þah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen; ah deð o goðes grace ⁊ þ̵ ich demi riht ⁊ wisdom to donne. Mi þridde suster. meað spekeð of þe middel sti. bituhhe riht ⁊ luft þ̵ lut cunnen halden. [f. 77 r] ⁊ seið inesche ha is bald. ⁊ heard mei hire offearen. ⁊ for þi ne ȝelpeð ha of na sikernesse ant deð as þe wise. Mi meoster is to do riht forte demen ant ich deme me seolf þ̵ ich þurh me ne do hit nawt; for al þ̵ god is of godd þ̵ we her habbeð. Nu is riht þenne þ̵ we demen us seolf eauer unmihtie to werien ⁊ to witen us oðer ei god to halden wið ute godes helpe. Þe rihtwise godd wule þ̵ we demen us seolf eðeliche ⁊ lahe. Ne beo we neauer swucche; for þenne demeð he us muche wurð ⁊ gode ant halt for his dehtren. for þah mi forme suster war beo of euch uuel; ant min oðer strong beo to ȝeines euch nowcin; ant mi þridde meaðul in alles cunnes estes; ⁊ ich do riht ⁊ deme. bute we wið al þis milde beon ⁊ meoke; ⁊ halden us wake. godd mei mid rihte fordemen us of al þis þurh ure prude. ant for þi is riht dom þet we al ure god þonkin him ane. Wjit þe husebonde godes cunestable hereð alle hare sahen ⁊ þonkeð god ȝeorne wið swiðe glead heorte of se riche lane as beoð þeos sustren his fowr dehtren þ̵ he haueð ileanet him on helpe forte wite wel ⁊ werien his castel. ⁊ godes deorewurðe feh. þ̵ is biloke þrinne.

Þe willesfule husewif halt hire al stille. ant al þ̵ hird þ̵ ha wes i wunet to dreaien efter hire; turneð [f. 77 v] ham treowliliche to wit hare lauerd. ⁊ to þeos fowr sustren. Vmben ane stunde spekeð eft warschipe. ⁊ seið ich iseo a sonde cumen swide gledd icheret. feier ⁊ freolich ⁊ leofliche aturnet. let him in seið wit ȝef godd wule he bringeð us gleade tidinges. ant þ̵ us were muche neod. for fearlac deaðes sonde haueð wið his; offearet us swiðe mid alle. warschipe let him in. ⁊ he gret wit þen lauerd. ⁊ al þ̵ hird seoðen. wið lahhinde chere. ant ha ȝeldeð him his gretunge. ⁊ beoð alle ilihtet ⁊ igleadet ham þuncheð of his on sihðe. for al þ̵ hus schineð. ⁊ schimmeð of his leome. he easkeð ham ȝef ham biluueð to heren him ane hwile. ȝe quoð ha rihtwisnesse. wel us biluueð hit. ⁊ wel is riht þ̵ we þe liðeliche lustnin.

Hercnið nu þenne he seið. ⁊ ȝeornliche understondeð. [I]ch am murðes sonde. ⁊ munegunge of eche lif. ant liues luue i haten ⁊ cume riht from heouene þ̵ ich habbe isehen nu ant ofte ear þe blisse þ̵ na monnes tunge ne mei of tellen. þe iblescede godd iseh ow offruhte. ⁊ sumdel drupnin of þ̵ fearlac talde of deað. ⁊ of helle. ant sende me to gleadien ow. nawt for þi þ̵ hit ne beo al soð þ̵ he seide. ⁊ þ̵ schulen alle uuele fondin. ⁊ ifinden. Ah ȝe wið þe fulst of godd ne þurue na þing dreden for he sit on [f. 78 r] he þ̵ is ow on helpe. ⁊ is al wealdent þ̵ haueð ow to witene.

A seið warschipe welcume liues luue. ant for þe luue of godd seolf ȝef þu eauer sehe him; tele us sumhwet of him. ⁊ of his eche blisse. ȝe iseoð quoð liues luue; Murhdes sonde. Ich habbe isehen him ofte nawt tah alswa as he is; for aȝein þe brihtnesse ⁊ te liht of his leor. þe sunne gleam is dosc ⁊ þuncheð a schadewe. ant for þi ne mahte ich nawt aȝein þe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden; bute þurh a schene schawere bituhhe me ⁊ him þ̵ schilde mine ehnen. Swa ich habbe ofte isehen þe hali þrumnesse. feader ⁊ sune. ⁊ hali gast. þreo an unto dealet. ah lutle hwile ich mahte þolie þe leome. ah summes weis ich mahte bihalden ure lauerd ihesu crist. godes sune þ̵ bohte us o rode. Hu he sit blisful on his feader riht half þ̵ is al wealdent rixleð i þ̵ eche lit bute linnunge. se unimete feier; þ̵ te engles ne beoð neauer ful on him to bihalden. ant ȝet ich iseh etscene þe studen of his wunden. ⁊ hu he schaweð ham his feader to cuðen hu he luuede us ⁊ hu he wes buhsum to him þe sende him swa to alesen us ⁊ bisecheð him a for moncunnes heale.

Efter him ich iseh on heh ouer alle heouenliche þe eadi meiden his moder marie i nempnet sitten in [f. 78 v] a trone se swiðe briht wid ȝimmes i stirret. ⁊ hire wlite se weoleful; þ̵ euch eorðlich liht; is þeoster þe[r]o ȝeines. þear ich iseh as ha bit hire deore wurðe sune se ȝeornliche. ⁊ se inwardliche for þeo þ̵ hire seruið. ⁊ he hire ȝetteð blideliche al þ̵ ha bi secheð. Þet liht þa ich ne mahte lengre þolien; Ich biseh to þe engles ⁊ to þe archangles ant to þe oðre; þe beoð buuen ham. iblescede gastes þe beoð a biuore godd ⁊ seruið him eauer. ⁊ singeð a unwergeð. Nihe wordes þer beoð. ah hu ha beoð i ordret ⁊ sunderliche isette. þe an buue þe oðre. ⁊ euchanes meoster were long to tellen. Se muche murhðe ich hefde on hare on sihðe; þ̵ ne mahte `ich´ longe hwile elles hwider lokin. Efter ham ich iseh towart te patriarches. ⁊ te prophetes þe makied swuch murhðe þ̵ ha aren nuðe i þ̵ ilke lont of blisse þ̵ ha hefden of feor igret ear on eorðe ⁊ seoð nu al þ̵ isoðet. þ̵ ha hefden longe ear icwiddet of ure lauerd as he hefde ischawed ham igastelich sihðe. Ich iseh þe apostles poure. ⁊ lah on eorðe. ifullet ⁊ bigoten al of unimete blisse sitten i trones. ant al under hare uet þ̵ heh is i þe worlde. ȝarowe forte demen i þe dei of dome kinges ⁊ keiseres. ⁊ alle cunreadnes of alle cunnes ledenes. [f. 79 r] Ich biheolt te Martyrs. ⁊ hare unimete murhðe þe þoleden her pinen. ⁊ deað for ure lauerd. ⁊ lihtliche talden to alles cunnes neowcins. ⁊ eorðliche tintreohen aȝeines þe blisse þ̵ godd in hare heorte schawede ham to cumene. Efter ham ich biheolt þe cunfessurs hird þe liueden igod lif. ⁊ haliche deiden. þe schineð as doð steorren iþe eche blissen. ⁊ seoð godd in his wlite þ̵ haueð alle teares iwipet of hare ehnen. Ich iseh þ̵ schene ⁊ þ̵ brihte fer`r´eden of þe eadi meidnes ilikest towart engles. ant feolohlukest wið ham blissin ⁊ gleadien. þe libbinde iflesche ouergað flesches lahe ant ouercumeð cunde þe leadeð heouenlich lif in eorðe as ha wunieð hare murhðe. ⁊ hare blisse. þe feierl`e´ac of hare wlite. þe swetnesse of hare song; ne mei na tunge tellen. Alle ha singeð þe þer beoð. Ah hare song ne mahe nane buten heo singen. Se swote sme`a´l ham folheð hwider se ha wendeð. þ̵ me mahte libben aa bi þe swotnesse. hwam se heo bisecheð fore; is sikerliche iborhen. for aȝein hare bisocnen; godd him seolf ariseð þ̵ alle þe oðre halhen sittende ihereð.

Swiðe wel quoð warschipe likeð us þ̵ tu seist. Ah nu þu hauest se wel iseið of euch a setnesse; of þe seli sunder lepes sumhwet sei us nu hwuch blisse is to alle iliche meane; ⁊ liues luue hire ondswereð. [f. 79 v] Þe imeane blisse is seouenfald. lengðe of lif. wit. ⁊ luue. ⁊ of þe luue a gleadunge. wið ute met murie. loft song. ⁊ lihtschipe. ant sikernesse. is þe seoueðe. þah ich þis seið warschipe sumdel understonde; þu most unwreo þis witerluker ⁊ openin to þeos oðre. ant hit schal beon seið liues luue warschipe as þu wilnest.

Ha liuieð á in awlite. þ̵ is brihtre seoueuald. ⁊ schenre þen þe sunne. ant eauer in a strengðe to don buten euch swinc al þ̵ ha wulleð. ⁊ eauer mare in a steal in al þ̵ eauer god is wið ute wonunge. wið uten euch þing þ̵ mahe hearmin oðer eilin. in al þ̵ eauer is. softe oðer swote. ⁊ hare lif is godes sihðe. ⁊ godes cnawlechunge as ure lauerd seide. þ̵ is quoð he eche lif to seon ⁊ cnawen sod godd. ⁊ him þ̵ he sende ihesu crist ure lauerd to ure alesnesse ⁊ beoð for þi ilich him iþe ilke wlite þ̵ he is. for ha seoð him as he is. nebbe to nebbe. Ha beoð se wise þ̵ ha witen alle godes reades. his runes ⁊ his domes þe derne beoð. ⁊ deopre þen eni sea dingle. ha seoð igodd alle þing. ⁊ witen of al þ̵ is ⁊ wes ⁊ eauer schal iwurden. hwet hit beo. hwi. ⁊ hwerto ⁊ hwer of hit bigunne. Ha luuieð god wið ute met. for þ̵ ha understondeð hu he haueð bi ham idon þurh his muchele godlec ⁊ hwet ha ahen his deorewurde milce to ȝelden. ant euch an luueð oðer ase muchel as him seoluen. Se gleade ha beoð of godd; þ̵ al is hare blisse. se muchel [f. 80 r] þ̵ ne mei hit munne na muð. ne spealie [na speche] for þi þ̵ euchan luueð oðer as him seoluen. Euchan haueð of odres god ase muche murhðe as of his ahne. bi þis ȝe mahen seon ⁊ witen. þ̵ euchan haueð sunderlepes ase feole gleadschipes; as ha beod monie alle. ⁊ euch of þe ilke gleadschipes is to eauer euch an ase muche gleadunge; as his ahne sunderliche. ȝet ouer al þis. hwen euchan luueð godd mare þen him seoluen. ⁊ þen alle þe odre; mare he gleadeð of godd wið uten ei etlunge þen of his ahne gleadunge. ⁊ of alle þe oðres. Neomeð nu þenne ȝeme ȝef neauer anes heorte ne mei in hire [und]eruon hire ahne gleadunge sunderliche. [iseide. se unim]ete muchel is þe anlepi blisse. þ̵ ha nimeð i[n] hi[re] þus monie. ⁊ þus muchele. for þi seide ure lauerd to þeo þe him hefden icwemet. Intra in gaudium. et c’. Ga quoð he in to þi lauerdes blisse. þu most al gan þrin. ant al beon bigotten þrin for in þe ne mei hit nanesweis neomen in. her of ha herieð godd ⁊ singeð á un werget eauer iliche lusti in þis loft songes. as hit iwriten is. Beati qui habitant. et c’. Eadi beoð þeo lauerd. þe iþin hus wunieð. ha schulen herien þe from [worlde into worlde]. Ha beoð alle ase li[hte ⁊ ase swifte as þe sunne.] gleam þe sc[heot from est into west. ase þin ehe[f. 80 v]lid tuneð ant openeð for hwer se eauer þe gast wule þe bodi is anan riht wið ute lettunge. for ne mei ham na þing aȝeines etstonden. for euch an is al mihti to don al þ̵ he wule. ȝe makie to cwakien heouene ba ⁊ eorðe wið his an finger. Sikere ha beoð of al þis. of þulli lif. of þulli wit. of þulli luue ⁊ gleadunge þrof. ⁊ of þulli blisse. þ̵ hit ne me neauer mare lutlin ne wursin. ne neome nan ende. þis lutle ich habbe iseid of þ̵ ich iseh in heouene ah nower neh ne seh ich al. ne þ̵ ȝet þ̵ ich [iseh. ne] ne con ich half tellen. Witer[liche quoð] warschipe. wel we understondeð þ̵ tu hauest ibeo þear ⁊ soð hauest iseid trof. efter þi sihðe. ant wel is him þ̵ is war. ⁊ bisið him hu he mahe beast halden his hus þ̵ godes tresor is in aȝeines godes unwine þe weorreð þer towart a wið unþeawes. for þet. schal bringen him þider as he schal. al þis þ̵ tu hauest ispeken of an hundret siðe mare of blisse buten euch bale folhin ⁊ ifinden. Quoð strengðe hwen hit swa is; hwet mei tweamen us from godd ⁊ hald[en us þeonne. ich] am siker ine godd. [þ̵ ne schal lif ne deað; ne wa] ne wunne nowðer [to dealen us ant his luue. ah al þis] us haueð igarc [f. 10 r] ket. ȝef we as treowe tresures witeð wel his tresor þ̵ is bitaht us to halden. as we schulen ful wel undeR his wengen.

Varpeð ut quoð warschipe; farlac ure fa. nis nawt riht þ̵ an hus halde þeos tweien. for þeR as murðes sonde is; ⁊ soð luue of eche lif. farlac is fleme. nu ut quoð strenðe farlac ne schaltu na lengere leuen in uRe ende. nu quoð `he´ ich seide for god al þ̵ ich seide. ⁊ þah hit muri nere nes na lessere mi tale þen wes murhðes sondes ne unbihefre to ow. þah hit ne beo so licwurðe ne icweme. Eiðer of ow haueð his stunde to speokene. ne nis inckeR noðres tale to schunien in his time. þu warnest of wa. he telleð of wunne. muche neod is þ̵ me ow ba ȝeornliche hercni. Flute nu faRlac þah. hwil liues luue is heRinne. ⁊ þole wið efne heorte þe dom of rihtwisnesse. for þu schal[t]. ful bliðeliche beon under fon in as ofte as liues luue stutteð forto spekene.

Nv is wil þ̵ husewif al stille. þ̵ eR wes so willesful. Al ituht efter wittes wissunge þ̵ is husebonde. ⁊ Al þ̵ hird halt him stille. þ̵ wes i wunet to beon fulitohen ⁊ don efteR wil haRe lefdi. Ant nawt efteR wit; lustneð nu his lare. ⁊ fondeð eueR euchan efteR þ̵ him limpeð to. þurh þeos twa sonden. þ̵ ha i heRd habbeð. ⁊ þ̵ fowr sustren lerden þruppe for euch unþeawes inȝong his warde te witene. ant te waRden treowliche. [f. 10 v]

Þvs ah mon te þenchen ofte Ant ilome. Ant wið þulliche þohtes awecchen his heorte. þe islep of ȝemeles for ȝet hire sawle heale. efter þeos twa sonden. From helle sihðe biseon; to þe blisse of heouene. To habben farlac of þ̵ an; luue toward þ̵ oðeR. ant leaden him ant hinen. þ̵ beoð his limen alle. nawt efteR wil þe untohe lefdi ⁊ his lust leareð. ah efteR þ̵ wit wule þ̵ is husebonde. tuhten ⁊ teachen þ̵ wit ga eueR biuore ant teache wil efter him. to al þ̵ he dihteð ⁊ demeð to donne. ant wið þe fowR sustren; þer fore þe fowr heued þeawes. WaRschipe. Strencðe in godd. Ant Með. Ant Rihtwisnesse. witen godes treosor þ̵ is his ahne sawle. iþe hus of þe bodi; from þe þeof of helle. þulli þoht makeð mon te fleon alle unþeawes ant ontent his heorte toward þe blisse of heouene. þ̵ ure lauerd ȝeue us þurh his hali milce þ̵ wið þe fedeR. ant e sune ant e hali gast rixleð in þreo had á buten ende. AMEN.

Par seinte charite biddeð a pateR noster for iohan þ̵ þeos boc wrat.

H
wa se þis writ haueð ired.
Ant crist him haueð swa isped.
Ich bidde par seinte charite.
Þet ȝe bidden ofte for me.
Aa pateR nosteR. ant aue maRie.
Þet ich mote þ̵ lif heR drehen.
Ant ure lauerd wel i cwemen.
I Mi ȝuheðe ⁊ in min elde.
Þet ich mote ihesu crist mi sawle ȝelden.

AMEN.