From:	CBS%UK.AC.EARN-RELAY::EARN.UALTAVM::SREIMER  1-AUG-1990 08:11:31.56
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Subj:	Pearl

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Date:     Wed, 01 Aug 90 00:57:48 MDT
From:     "Stephen R. Reimer" <SREIMER@EARN.UALTAVM>
Subject:  Pearl
To:       Lou Burnard <archive@UK.AC.OXFORD.VAX>

Dear Lou,
   About a year ago I obtained from you a copy of the Archive's "Pearl" file
(A-581-A), which you described as in need of proofreading.  I have now
proofread it, and, if you are interested, I offer here a copy of the
corrected text.
  Cheers,
   Steve Reimer
 
----------------------------------
<T Pearl>
<E "E. V. Gordon">
<< <UL>Pearl</UL>.  Ed. E. V. Gordon <completed by Ida L. Gordon>.  Oxford:
 Clarendon Press, 1953.>>
 
<C I>
<P 1> <F 39r> Perle, pleasaunte to prynces paye
To clanly clos in golde so clere,
Oute of oryent, I hardyly saye,
Ne proued I neuer her precios pere.
So rounde, so reken in vche araye,
So smal, so smo<lc-thorn>e her syde<lc-yogh> were,
Quere-so-euer I jugged gemme<lc-yogh> gaye,
I sette hyr sengeley in synglere.
Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere;
<uc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> gresse to grounde hit fro me yot.
I dewyne, fordolked of luf-daungere
Of <lc-thorn>at pryuy perle wythouten spot.
 
Sy<lc-thorn>en in <lc-thorn>at spote hit fro me sprange,
Ofte haf I wayted, wyschande <lc-thorn>at wele,
<uc-thorn>at wont wat<lc-yogh> whyle deuoyde my wrange
And heuen my happe and al my hele.
<uc-thorn>at dot<lc-yogh> bot <lc-thorn>rych my hert <lc-thorn>range,
My breste in bale bot bolne and bele;
<uc-yogh>et <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh>t me neuer so swete a sange
As stylle stounde let to me stele.
For so<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>er fleten to me fele,
To <lc-thorn>enke hir color so clad in clot.
O moul, <lc-thorn>ou marre<lc-yogh> a myry iuele,
My priuy perle wythouten spotte.
 
<P 2> <uc-thorn>at spot of spyse<lc-yogh> mot nede<lc-yogh> sprede,
<uc-thorn>er such ryche<lc-yogh> to rot is runne;
Blome<lc-yogh> blayke and blwe and rede
<uc-thorn>er schyne<lc-yogh> ful schyr agayn <lc-thorn>e sunne.
Flor and fryte may not be fede
<uc-thorn>er hit doun drof in molde<lc-yogh> dunne;
For vch gresse mot grow of grayne<lc-yogh> dede;
No whete were elle<lc-yogh> to wone<lc-yogh> wonne.
Of goud vche goude is ay bygonne;
So semly a sede mo<lc-yogh>t fayly not,
<uc-thorn>at spryngande spyce<lc-yogh> vp ne sponne
Of <lc-thorn>at precios perle wythouten spotte.
 
<F 39v> To <lc-thorn>at spot <lc-thorn>at I in speche expoun
I entred in <lc-thorn>at erber grene,
In Augoste in a hy<lc-yogh> seysoun,
Quen corne is coruen wyth croke<lc-yogh> kene.
On huyle <lc-thorn>er perle hit trendeled doun
Schadowed <lc-thorn>is worte<lc-yogh> ful schyre and schene,
Gilofre, gyngure and gromylyoun,
And pyonys powdered ay bytwene.
<uc-yogh>if hit wat<lc-yogh> semly on to sene,
A fayr reflayr <lc-yogh>et fro hit flot.
<uc-thorn>er wonys <lc-thorn>at wor<lc-thorn>yly, I wot and wene,
My precious perle wythouten spot.
 
Bifore <lc-thorn>at spot my honde I spenned
For care ful colde <lc-thorn>at to me ca<lc-yogh>t;
A deuely dele in my hert denned,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> resoun sette myseluen sa<lc-yogh>t.
<P 3> I playned my perle <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>er wat<lc-yogh> spenned
Wyth fyrce skylle<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at faste fa<lc-yogh>t;
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> kynde of Kryst me comfort kenned,
My wreched wylle in wo ay wra<lc-yogh>te.
I felle vpon <lc-thorn>at floury fla<lc-yogh>t,
Suche odour to my herne<lc-yogh> schot;
I slode vpon a slepyng-sla<lc-yogh>te
On <lc-thorn>at precios perle wythouten spot.
 
<C II>
Fro spot my spyryt <lc-thorn>er sprang in space;
My body on balke <lc-thorn>er bod in sweuen.
My goste is gon in Gode<lc-yogh> grace
In auenture <lc-thorn>er meruayle<lc-yogh> meuen.
I ne wyste in <lc-thorn>is worlde quere <lc-thorn>at hit wace,
Bot I knew me keste <lc-thorn>er klyfe<lc-yogh> cleuen;
Towarde a foreste I bere <lc-thorn>e face,
Where rych rokke<lc-yogh> wer to dyscreuen.
<uc-thorn>e ly<lc-yogh>t of hem my<lc-yogh>t no mon leuen,
<uc-thorn>e glemande glory <lc-thorn>at of hem glent;
For wern neuer webbe<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at wy<lc-yogh>e<lc-yogh> weuen
Of half so dere adubbemente.
 
<F 40r> Dubbed wern alle <lc-thorn>o downe<lc-yogh> syde<lc-yogh>
Wyth crystal klyffe<lc-yogh> so cler of kynde.
Holtewode<lc-yogh> bry<lc-yogh>t aboute hem byde<lc-yogh>
Of bolle<lc-yogh> as blwe as ble of Ynde;
As bornyst syluer <lc-thorn>e lef on slyde<lc-yogh>,
<uc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ike con trylle on vch a tynde.
<P 4> Quen glem of glode<lc-yogh> agayn<lc-yogh> hem glyde<lc-yogh>,
Wyth schymeryng schene ful schrylle <lc-thorn>ay schynde.
<uc-thorn>e grauayl <lc-thorn>at on grounde con grynde
Wern precious perle<lc-yogh> of oryente:
<uc-thorn>e sunnebeme<lc-yogh> bot blo and blynde
In respecte of <lc-thorn>at adubbement.
 
The adubbemente of <lc-thorn>o downe<lc-yogh> dere
Garten my goste al greffe for<lc-yogh>ete.
So frech flauore<lc-yogh> of fryte<lc-yogh> were,
As fode hit con me fayre refete.
Fowle<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>er flowen in fryth in fere,
Of flaumbande hwe<lc-yogh>, bo<lc-thorn>e smale and grete;
Bot sytole-stryng and gyternere
Her reken myr<lc-thorn>e mo<lc-yogh>t not retrete;
For quen <lc-thorn>ose brydde<lc-yogh> her wynge<lc-yogh> bete,
<uc-thorn>ay songen wyth a swete asent.
So gracios gle cou<lc-thorn>e no mon gete
As here and se her adubbement.
 
So al wat<lc-yogh> dubbet on dere asyse
<uc-thorn>at fryth <lc-thorn>er fortwne forth me fere<lc-yogh>.
<uc-thorn>at der<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>erof for to deuyse
Nis no wy<lc-yogh> wor<lc-thorn><e+acute> <lc-thorn>at tonge bere<lc-yogh>.
I welke ay forth in wely wyse;
No bonk so byg <lc-thorn>at did me dere<lc-yogh>.
<uc-thorn>e fyrre in <lc-thorn>e fryth, <lc-thorn>e feier con ryse
<uc-thorn>e playn, <lc-thorn>e plontte<lc-yogh>, <lc-thorn>e spyse, <lc-thorn>e
And rawe<lc-yogh> and rande<lc-yogh> and rych reuere<lc-yogh>,
As fyldor fyn her bonkes brent.
I wan to a water by schore <lc-thorn>at schere<lc-yogh>--
Lorde, dere wat<lc-yogh> hit adubbement!
 
<P 5> <F 40v> The dubbemente of <lc-thorn>o derworth depe
Wern bonke<lc-yogh> bene of beryl bry<lc-yogh>t.
Swangeande swete <lc-thorn>e water con swepe,
Wyth a rownande rourde raykande ary<lc-yogh>t.
In <lc-thorn>e founce <lc-thorn>er stonden stone<lc-yogh> stepe,
As glente <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> glas <lc-thorn>at glowed and gly<lc-yogh>t,
As stremande sterne<lc-yogh>, quen stro<lc-thorn>e-men slepe,
Staren in welkyn in wynter ny<lc-yogh>t;
For vche a pobbel in pole <lc-thorn>er py<lc-yogh>t
Wat<lc-yogh> emerad, saffer, o<lc-thorn>er gemme gente,
<uc-thorn>at alle <lc-thorn>e lo<lc-yogh>e lemed of ly<lc-yogh>t,
So dere wat<lc-yogh> hit adubbement.
 
<C III>
The dubbement dere of doun and dale<lc-yogh>,
Of wod and water and wlonk playne<lc-yogh>,
Bylde in me blys, abated my bale<lc-yogh>,
Fordidden my stresse, dystryed my payne<lc-yogh>.
Doun after a strem <lc-thorn>at dry<lc-yogh>ly hale<lc-yogh>
I bowed in blys, bredful my brayne<lc-yogh>;
<uc-thorn>e fyrre I fol<lc-yogh>ed <lc-thorn>ose floty vale<lc-yogh>,
<uc-thorn>e more strengh<lc-thorn>e of ioye myn herte strayne<lc-yogh>.
As fortune fares <lc-thorn>er as ho frayne<lc-yogh>,
Whe<lc-thorn>er solace ho sende o<lc-thorn>er elle<lc-yogh> sore,
<uc-thorn>e wy<lc-yogh> to wham her wylle ho wayne<lc-yogh>
Hytte<lc-yogh> to haue ay more and more.
 
More of wele wat<lc-yogh> in <lc-thorn>at wyse
<uc-thorn>en I cow<lc-thorn>e telle <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I tom hade,
For vr<lc-thorn>ely herte my<lc-yogh>t not suffyse
To <lc-thorn>e ten<lc-thorn>e dole of <lc-thorn>o gladne<lc-yogh> glade;
<P 6> For<lc-thorn>y I <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>at Paradyse
Wat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>er ouer gayn <lc-thorn>o bonke<lc-yogh> brade.
I hoped <lc-thorn>e water were a deuyse
Bytwene myr<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> by mere<lc-yogh> made;
By<lc-yogh>onde <lc-thorn>e broke, by slente o<lc-thorn>er slade,
I hoped <lc-thorn>at mote merked wore.
Bot <lc-thorn>e water wat<lc-yogh> depe, I dorst not wade,
And euer me longed ay more and more.
 
<F 41r> More and more, and <lc-yogh>et wel mare,
Me lyste to se <lc-thorn>e broke by<lc-yogh>onde;
For if hit wat<lc-yogh> fayr <lc-thorn>er I con fare,
Wel loueloker wat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e fyrre londe.
Abowte me con I stote and stare;
To fynde a for<lc-thorn>e faste con I fonde.
Bot wo<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> mo iwysse <lc-thorn>er ware,
<uc-thorn>e fyrre I stalked by <lc-thorn>e stronde.
And euer me <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh>t I schulde not wonde
For wo <lc-thorn>er wele<lc-yogh> so wynne wore.
<uc-thorn>enne nwe note me com on honde
<uc-thorn>at meued my mynde ay more and more.
 
More meruayle con my dom adaunt:
I se<lc-yogh> by<lc-yogh>onde <lc-thorn>at myry mere
A crystal clyffe ful relusaunt;
Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere.
At <lc-thorn>e fote <lc-thorn>erof <lc-thorn>er sete a faunt,
A mayden of menske, ful debonere;
Blysnande whyt wat<lc-yogh> hyr bleaunt.
I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere.
<P 7> As glysnande golde <lc-thorn>at man con schere,
So schon <lc-thorn>at schene an-vnder shore.
On lenghe I loked to hyr <lc-thorn>ere;
<uc-thorn>e lenger, I knew hyr more and more.
 
The more I frayste hyr fayre face,
Her fygure fyn quen I had fonte,
Suche gladande glory con to me glace
As lyttel byfore <lc-thorn>erto wat<lc-yogh> wonte.
To calle hyr lyste con me enchace,
Bot baysment gef myn hert a brunt.
I se<lc-yogh> hyr in so strange a place,
Such a burre my<lc-yogh>t make myn herte blunt.
<uc-thorn>enne vere<lc-yogh> ho vp her fayre frount,
Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yuore:
<uc-thorn>at stonge myn hert ful stray atount,
And euer <lc-thorn>e lenger, <lc-thorn>e more and more.
 
<C IV>
<F 41v> More <lc-thorn>en me lyste my drede aros.
I stod ful stylle and dorste not calle;
Wyth y<lc-yogh>en open and mouth ful clos
I stod as hende as hawk in halle.
I hoped <lc-thorn>at gostly wat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at porpose;
I dred onende quat schulde byfalle,
Lest ho me eschaped <lc-thorn>at I <lc-thorn>er chos,
Er I at steuen hir mo<lc-yogh>t stalle.
<uc-thorn>at gracios gay wythouten galle,
So smo<lc-thorn>e, so smal, so seme sly<lc-yogh>t,
Ryse<lc-yogh> vp in hir araye ryalle,
A precios pyece in perle<lc-yogh> py<lc-yogh>t.
 
<P 8> Perle<lc-yogh> py<lc-yogh>te of ryal prys
<uc-thorn>ere mo<lc-yogh>t mon by grace haf sene,
Quen <lc-thorn>at frech as flor-de-lys
Doun <lc-thorn>e bonke con bo<lc-yogh>e bydene.
Al blysnande whyt wat<lc-yogh> hir beau biys,
Vpon at syde<lc-yogh>, and bounden bene
Wyth <lc-thorn>e myryeste margarys, at my deuyse,
<uc-thorn>at euer I se<lc-yogh> <lc-yogh>et with myn ene;
Wyth lappe<lc-yogh> large, I wot and I wene,
Dubbed with double perle and dy<lc-yogh>te;
Her cortel of self sute schene,
Wyth precios perle<lc-yogh> al vmbepy<lc-yogh>te.
 
A py<lc-yogh>t coroune <lc-yogh>et wer <lc-thorn>at gyrle
Of mariorys and non o<lc-thorn>er ston.
Hi<lc-yogh>e pynakled of cler quyt perle,
Wyth flurted flowre<lc-yogh> perfet vpon.
To hed hade ho non o<lc-thorn>er werle;
Her here leke, al hyr vmbegon,
Her semblaunt sade for doc o<lc-thorn>er erle,
Her ble more bla<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>en whalle<lc-yogh> bon.
As schorne golde schyr her fax <lc-thorn>enne schon,
On schyldere<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at leghe vnlapped ly<lc-yogh>te.
Her depe colour <lc-yogh>et wonted non
Of precios perle in porfyl py<lc-yogh>te.
 
<F 42r> Py<lc-yogh>t wat<lc-yogh> poyned and vche a hemme
At honde, at syde<lc-yogh>, at ouerture,
Wyth whyte perle and non o<lc-thorn>er gemme,
And bornyste quyte wat<lc-yogh> hyr uesture.
<P 9> Bot a wonder perle wythouten wemme
Inmydde<lc-yogh> hyr breste wat<lc-yogh> sette so sure;
A manne<lc-yogh> dom mo<lc-yogh>t dry<lc-yogh>ly demme,
Er mynde mo<lc-yogh>t malte in hit mesure.
I hope no tong mo<lc-yogh>t endure
No sauerly saghe say of <lc-thorn>at sy<lc-yogh>t,
So wat<lc-yogh> hit clene and cler and pure,
<uc-thorn>at precios perle <lc-thorn>er hit wat<lc-yogh> py<lc-yogh>t.
 
Py<lc-yogh>t in perle, <lc-thorn>at precios pyece
On wy<lc-thorn>er half water com doun <lc-thorn>e schore.
No gladder gome he<lc-thorn>en into Grece
<uc-thorn>en I, quen ho on brymme wore.
Ho wat<lc-yogh> me nerre <lc-thorn>en aunte or nece;
My joy for<lc-thorn>y wat<lc-yogh> much <lc-thorn>e more.
Ho profered me speche, <lc-thorn>at special spece,
Enclynande lowe in wommon lore,
Ca<lc-yogh>te of her coroun of grete tresore
And haylsed me wyth a lote ly<lc-yogh>te.
Wel wat<lc-yogh> me <lc-thorn>at euer I wat<lc-yogh> bore
To sware <lc-thorn>at swete in perle<lc-yogh> py<lc-yogh>te!
 
<C V>
'O perle', quod I, 'in perle<lc-yogh> py<lc-yogh>t,
Art <lc-thorn>ou my perle <lc-thorn>at I haf playned,
Regretted by myn one on ny<lc-yogh>te?
Much longeyng haf I for <lc-thorn>e layned,
Sy<lc-thorn>en into gresse <lc-thorn>ou me agly<lc-yogh>te.
Pensyf, payred, I am forpayned,
And <lc-thorn>ou in a lyf of lykyng ly<lc-yogh>te,
In Paradys erde, of stryf vnstrayned.
<P 10> What wyrde hat<lc-yogh> hyder my iuel vayned,
And don me in <lc-thorn>ys del and gret daunger?
Fro we in twynne wern towen and twayned,
I haf ben a joyle<lc-yogh> juelere.'
 
<F 42v> That juel <lc-thorn>enne in gemme<lc-yogh> gente
Vered vp her vyse wyth y<lc-yogh>en graye,
Set on hyr coroun of perle orient,
And soberly after <lc-thorn>enne con ho say:
'Sir, <lc-yogh>e haf your tale mysetente,
To say your perle is al awaye,
<uc-thorn>at is in cofer so comly clente
As in <lc-thorn>is gardyn gracios gaye,
Hereinne to lenge for euer and play,
<uc-thorn>er mys nee mornyng com neuer nere.
Her were a forser for <lc-thorn>e, in faye,
If <lc-thorn>ou were a gentyl jueler.
 
'Bot, jueler gente, if <lc-thorn>ou schal lose
<uc-thorn>y ioy for a gemme <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>e wat<lc-yogh> lef,
Me <lc-thorn>ynk <lc-thorn>e put in a mad porpose,
And busye<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e aboute a raysoun bref;
For <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ou leste<lc-yogh> wat<lc-yogh> bot a rose
<uc-thorn>at flowred and fayled as kynde hyt gef.
Now <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> kynde of <lc-thorn>e kyste <lc-thorn>at hyt con close
To a perle of prys hit is put in pref.
And <lc-thorn>ou hat<lc-yogh> called <lc-thorn>y wyrde a <lc-thorn>ef,
<uc-thorn>at o<lc-yogh>t of no<lc-yogh>t hat<lc-yogh> mad <lc-thorn>e cler;
<uc-thorn>ou blame<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e bote of <lc-thorn>y meschef,
<uc-thorn>ou art no kynde jueler.'
 
A juel to me <lc-thorn>en wat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ys geste,
And iuele<lc-yogh> wern hyr gentyl sawe<lc-yogh>.
<P 11> 'Iwyse', quod I, 'my blysfol beste,
My grete dystresse <lc-thorn>ou al todrawe<lc-yogh>.
To be excused I make requeste;
I trawed my perle don out of dawe<lc-yogh>.
Now haf I fonde hyt, I schal ma feste,
And wony wyth hyt in schyr wod-schawe<lc-yogh>,
And loue my Lorde and al his lawe<lc-yogh>
<uc-thorn>at hat<lc-yogh> me bro<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>ys blys ner.
Now were I at yow by<lc-yogh>onde <lc-thorn>ise wawe<lc-yogh>,
I were a ioyful jueler.'
 
<F 43r> 'Jueler', sayde <lc-thorn>at gemme clene,
'Wy borde <lc-yogh>e men? So madde <lc-yogh>e be!
<uc-thorn>re worde<lc-yogh> hat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou spoken at ene:
Vnavysed, for so<lc-thorn>e, wern alle <lc-thorn>re.
<uc-thorn>ou ne woste in worlde quat on dot<lc-yogh> mene;
<uc-thorn>y worde byfore <lc-thorn>y wytte con fle.
<uc-thorn>ou says <lc-thorn>ou trawe<lc-yogh> me in <lc-thorn>is dene,
Bycawse <lc-thorn>ou may wyth y<lc-yogh>en me se;
Ano<lc-thorn>er <lc-thorn>ou says, in <lc-thorn>ys countr<e+acute>
<uc-thorn>yself schal won wyth me ry<lc-yogh>t here;
<uc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>rydde, to passe <lc-thorn>ys water fre--
<uc-thorn>at may no ioyfol jueler.
 
<C VI>
'I halde <lc-thorn>at iueler lyttel to prayse
<uc-thorn>at leue<lc-yogh> wel <lc-thorn>at he se<lc-yogh> wyth y<lc-yogh>e,
And much to blame and vncortayse
<uc-thorn>at leue<lc-yogh> oure Lorde wolde make a ly<lc-yogh>e,
<P 12> <uc-thorn>at lelly hy<lc-yogh>te your lyf to rayse,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> fortune dyd your flesch to dy<lc-yogh>e.
<uc-yogh>e setten hys worde<lc-yogh> ful westernays
<uc-thorn>at leue<lc-yogh> no<lc-thorn>ynk bot <lc-yogh>e hit sy<lc-yogh>e.
And <lc-thorn>at is a poynt o sorquydry<lc-yogh>e,
<uc-thorn>at vche god mon may euel byseme,
To leue no tale be true to try<lc-yogh>e
Bot <lc-thorn>at hys one skyl may dem.
 
'Deme now <lc-thorn>yself if <lc-thorn>ou con dayly
As man to God worde<lc-yogh> schulde heue.
<uc-thorn>ou sayt<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou schal won in <lc-thorn>is bayly;
Me <lc-thorn>ynk <lc-thorn>e burde fyrst aske leue,
And <lc-yogh>et of graunt <lc-thorn>ou my<lc-yogh>te<lc-yogh> fayle.
<uc-thorn>ou wylne<lc-yogh> ouer <lc-thorn>ys water to weue;
Er moste <lc-thorn>ou ceuer to o<lc-thorn>er counsayle:
<uc-thorn>y corse in clot mot calder keue.
For hit wat<lc-yogh> forgarte at Paradys greue;
Oure <lc-yogh>orefader hit con mysse<lc-yogh>eme.
<uc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> drwry deth bo<lc-yogh> vch man dreue,
Er ouer <lc-thorn>ys dam hym Dry<lc-yogh>tyn deme.'
 
<F 43v> 'Deme<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou me', quod I, 'my swete,
To dol agayn, <lc-thorn>enne I dowyne.
Now haf I fonte <lc-thorn>at I forlete,
Schal I efte forgo hit er euer I fyne?
Why schal I hit bo<lc-thorn>e mysse and mete?
My precios perle dot<lc-yogh> me gret pyne.
What serue<lc-yogh> tresor, bot gare<lc-yogh> men grete
When he hit schal efte wyth tene<lc-yogh> tyne?
<P 13> Now rech I neuer for to declyne,
Ne how fer of folde <lc-thorn>at man me fleme.
When I am partle<lc-yogh> of perle myne,
Bot durande doel what may men deme?'
 
'Thow deme<lc-yogh> no<lc-yogh>t bot doel-dystresse',
<uc-thorn>enne sayde <lc-thorn>at wy<lc-yogh>t. 'Why dot<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou s
For dyne of doel of lure<lc-yogh> lesse
Ofte mony mon forgos <lc-thorn>e mo.
<uc-thorn>e o<lc-yogh>te better <lc-thorn>yseluen blesse,
And loue ay God, in wele and wo,
For anger gayne<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e not a cresse.
Who nede<lc-yogh> schal <lc-thorn>ole, be not so <lc-thorn>ro.
For <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou daunce as any do,
Braundysch and bray <lc-thorn>y bra<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> breme,
When <lc-thorn>ou no fyrre may, to ne fro,
<uc-thorn>ou moste abyde <lc-thorn>at he schal deme.
 
'Deme Dry<lc-yogh>tyn, euer hym adyte,
Of <lc-thorn>e way a fote ne wyl he wry<lc-thorn>e.
<uc-thorn>y mende<lc-yogh> mounte<lc-yogh> not a myte,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou for sor<lc-yogh>e be neuer bly<lc-thorn>e.
Stynt of <lc-thorn>y strot and fyne to flyte,
And sech hys bly<lc-thorn>e ful swefte and swy<lc-thorn>e.
<uc-thorn>y prayer may hys pyt<e+acute> byte,
<uc-thorn>at mercy schal hyr crafte<lc-yogh> ky<lc-thorn>e.
Hys comforte may <lc-thorn>y langour ly<lc-thorn>e
And <lc-thorn>y lure<lc-yogh> of ly<lc-yogh>tly fleme;
For, marre o<lc-thorn>er madde, morne and my<lc-thorn>e,
Al lys in hym to dy<lc-yogh>t and deme.'
 
<C VII>
<P 14> <F 44r> Thenne demed I to <lc-thorn>at damyselle:
'Ne wor<lc-thorn>e no wrath<lc-thorn>e vnto my Lorde,
If rapely I raue, spornande in spelle.
My herte wat<lc-yogh> al wyth mysse remorde,
As wallande water got<lc-yogh> out of welle.
I do me ay in hys myserecorde.
Rebuke me neuer wyth worde<lc-yogh> felle,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I forloyne, my dere endorde,
Bot ky<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> me kyndely your coumforde,
Pytosly <lc-thorn>enkande vpon <lc-thorn>ysse:
Of care and me <lc-yogh>e made acorde,
<uc-thorn>at er wat<lc-yogh> grounde of alle my blysse.
 
'My blysse, my bale, <lc-yogh>e han ben bo<lc-thorn>e,
Bot much <lc-thorn>e bygger <lc-yogh>et wat<lc-yogh> my mon;
Fro <lc-thorn>ou wat<lc-yogh> wroken fro vch a wo<lc-thorn>e,
I wyste neuer quere my perle wat<lc-yogh> gon.
Now I hit se, now le<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> my lo<lc-thorn>e.
And, quen we departed, we wern at on;
God forbede we be now wro<lc-thorn>e,
We meten so selden by stok o<lc-thorn>er ston.
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> cortaysly <lc-yogh>e carp con,
I am bot mol and manere<lc-yogh> mysse.
Bot Crystes mersy and Mary and Jon,
<uc-thorn>ise arn <lc-thorn>e grounde of alle my blisse.
 
'In blysse I se <lc-thorn>e bly<lc-thorn>ely blent,
And I a man al mornyf mate;
<uc-yogh>e take <lc-thorn>eron ful lyttel tente,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I hente ofte harme<lc-yogh> hate.
<P 15> Bot now I am here in your presente,
I wolde bysech, wythouten debate,
<uc-yogh>e wolde me say in sobre asente
What lyf <lc-yogh>e lede erly and late.
For I am ful fayn <lc-thorn>at your astate
Is wor<lc-thorn>en to worschyp and wele, iwysse;
Of alle my joy <lc-thorn>e hy<lc-yogh>e gate,
Hit is in grounde of alle my blysse.'
 
<F 44v> 'Now blysse, burne, mot <lc-thorn>e bytyde',
<uc-thorn>en sayde <lc-thorn>at lufsoum of lyth and lere,
'And welcum here to walk and byde,
For now <lc-thorn>e speche is to me dere.
Maysterful mod and hy<lc-yogh>e pryde,
I hete <lc-thorn>e, arn heterly hated here.
My Lorde ne loue<lc-yogh> not for to chyde,
For meke arn alle <lc-thorn>at wone<lc-yogh> hym nere;
And when in hys place <lc-thorn>ou schal apere,
Be dep deuote in hol mekenesse.
My Lorde <lc-thorn>e Lamb loue<lc-yogh> ay such chere,
<uc-thorn>at is <lc-thorn>e grounde of alle my blysse.
 
'A blysful lyf <lc-thorn>ou says I lede;
<uc-thorn>ou wolde<lc-yogh> knaw <lc-thorn>erof <lc-thorn>e stage.
<uc-thorn>ow wost wel when <lc-thorn>y perle con schede
I wat<lc-yogh> ful <lc-yogh>ong and tender of age;
Bot my Lorde <lc-thorn>e Lombe <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> hys godhede,
He toke myself to hys maryage,
Corounde me quene in blysse to brede
In lenghe of daye<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at euer schal wage;
And sesed in alle hys herytage
Hys lef is. I am holy hysse:
Hys prese, hys prys, and hys parage
Is rote and grounde of alle my blysse.'
 
<C VIII>
<P 16> 'Blysful', quod I, 'may <lc-thorn>ys be trwe?
Dysplese<lc-yogh> not if I speke errour.
Art <lc-thorn>ou <lc-thorn>e quene of heuene<lc-yogh> blwe,
<uc-thorn>at al <lc-thorn>ys worlde schal do honour?
We leuen on Marye <lc-thorn>at grace of grewe,
<uc-thorn>at ber a barne of vyrgyn flour;
<uc-thorn>e croune fro hyr quo mo<lc-yogh>t remwe
Bot ho hir passed in sum fauour?
Now, for synglerty o hyr dousour,
We calle hyr Fenyx of Arraby,
<uc-thorn>at freles fle<lc-yogh>e of hyr fasor,
Lyk to <lc-thorn>e Quen of cortaysye.'
 
'Cortayse Quen', <lc-thorn>enne sayde <lc-thorn>at gaye,
Knelande to grounde, folde vp hyr face,
'Makele<lc-yogh> Moder and myryest May,
Blessed bygynner of vch a grace!'
<uc-thorn>enne ros ho vp and con restay,
And speke me towarde in <lc-thorn>at space:
'Sir, fele here porchase<lc-yogh> and fonge<lc-yogh> pray,
Bot supplantore<lc-yogh> none wythinne <lc-thorn>ys place.
<uc-thorn>at emperise al heuen<lc-yogh> hat<lc-yogh>,
And vr<lc-thorn>e and helle, in her bayly;
Of erytage <lc-yogh>et non wyl ho chace,
For ho is Quen of cortaysye.
 
'The court of <lc-thorn>e kyndom of God alyue
Hat<lc-yogh> a property in hytself beyng:
Alle <lc-thorn>at may <lc-thorn>erinne aryue
Of alle <lc-thorn>e reme is quen o<lc-thorn>er kyng,
<P 17> And neuer o<lc-thorn>er <lc-yogh>et schal depryue,
Bot vchon fayn of o<lc-thorn>ere<lc-yogh> hafyng,
And wolde her coroune<lc-yogh> wern wor<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>o fyue,
If possyble were her mendyng.
Bot my Lady of quom Jesu con spryng,
Ho halde<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e empyre ouer vus ful hy<lc-yogh>e;
And <lc-thorn>at dysplese<lc-yogh> non of oure gyng,
For ho is Quene of cortaysye.
 
'Of courtaysye, as sayt<lc-yogh> Saynt Poule,
Al arn we membre<lc-yogh> of Jesu Kryst:
As heued and arme and legg and naule
Temen to hys body ful trwe and tryste,
Ry<lc-yogh>t so is vch a Krysten sawle
A longande lym to <lc-thorn>e Mayster of myste.
<uc-thorn>enne loke what hate o<lc-thorn>er any gawle
Is tached o<lc-thorn>er ty<lc-yogh>ed <lc-thorn>y lymme<lc-yogh> bytwyste.
<uc-thorn>y heued hat<lc-yogh> nau<lc-thorn>er greme ne gryste,
On arme o<lc-thorn>er fynger <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou ber by<lc-yogh>e.
So fare we alle wyth luf and lyste
To kyng and quene by cortaysye.'
 
<F 45v> 'Cortays<e+acute>', quod I, 'I leue,
And charyt<e+acute> grete, be yow among,
Bot my speche <lc-thorn>at yow ne greue,
.    .    .    .    .    .    .
<uc-thorn>yself in heuen ouer hy<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou heue,
To make <lc-thorn>e quen <lc-thorn>at wat<lc-yogh> so <lc-yogh>onge.
What more honour mo<lc-yogh>te he acheue
<uc-thorn>at hade endured in worlde stronge,
<P 18> And lyued in penaunce hys lyue<lc-yogh> longe
Wyth bodyly bale hym blysse to byye?
What more worschyp mo<lc-yogh>t he fonge
<uc-thorn>en corounde be kyng by cortays<e+acute>?
 
<C IX>
'That cortays<e+acute> is to fre of dede,
<uc-yogh>yf hyt be soth <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ou cone<lc-yogh> saye.
<uc-thorn>ou lyfed not two <lc-yogh>er in oure <lc-thorn>ede;
<uc-thorn>ou cow<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> neuer God nau<lc-thorn>er plese ne pray,
Ne neuer naw<lc-thorn>er Pater ne Crede;
And quen mad on <lc-thorn>e fyrst day!
I may not traw, so God me spede,
<uc-thorn>at God wolde wry<lc-thorn>e so wrange away.
Of countes, damysel, par ma fay,
Wer fayr in heuen to halde asstate,
O<lc-thorn>er elle<lc-yogh> a lady of lasse aray;
Bot a quene! Hit is to dere a date.'
 
'<uc-thorn>er is no date of hys godnesse',
<uc-thorn>en sayde to me <lc-thorn>at wor<lc-thorn>y wy<lc-yogh>te,
'For al is traw<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>at he con dresse,
And he may do no<lc-thorn>ynk bot ry<lc-yogh>t.
As Mathew mele<lc-yogh> in your messe
In sothfol gospel of God almy<lc-yogh>t,
In sample he can ful gray<lc-thorn>ely gesse,
And lykne<lc-yogh> hit to heuen ly<lc-yogh>te.
"My regne", he sayt<lc-yogh>, "is lyk on hy<lc-yogh>t
To a lorde <lc-thorn>at hade a uyne, I wate.
Of tyme of <lc-yogh>ere <lc-thorn>e terme wat<lc-yogh> ty<lc-yogh>t,
To labor vyne wat<lc-yogh> dere <lc-thorn>e date.
 
<P 19> <F 46r> '"<uc-thorn>at date of <lc-yogh>ere wel knawe <lc-thorn>ys hyne.
<uc-thorn>e lorde ful erly vp he ros
To hyre werkmen to hys vyne,
And fynde<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>er summe to hys porpos.
Into acorde <lc-thorn>ay con declyne
For a pen<e+acute> on a day, and forth <lc-thorn>ay got<lc-yogh>,
Wry<lc-thorn>en and worchen and don gret pyne,
Keruen and caggen and man hit clos.
Aboute vnder <lc-thorn>e lorde to marked tot<lc-yogh>,
And ydel men stande he fynde<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>erate.
'Why stande <lc-yogh>e ydel?' he sayde to <lc-thorn>os.
'Ne knawe <lc-yogh>e of <lc-thorn>is day no date?'
 
'"'Er date of daye hider arn we wonne',
So wat<lc-yogh> al samen her answar so<lc-yogh>t.
'We haf standen her syn ros <lc-thorn>e sunne,
And no mon bydde<lc-yogh> vus do ry<lc-yogh>t no<lc-yogh>t.'
'Gos into my vyne, dot<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at <lc-yogh>e conne',
So sayde <lc-thorn>e lorde, and made hit to<lc-yogh>t.
'What resonabele hyre be na<lc-yogh>t be runne
I yow pay in dede and <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh>te.'
<uc-thorn>ay wente into <lc-thorn>e vyne and wro<lc-yogh>te,
And al day <lc-thorn>e lorde <lc-thorn>us <lc-yogh>ede his gate,
And nw men to hys vyne he bro<lc-yogh>te
Welne<lc-yogh> wyl day wat<lc-yogh> passed date.
 
'"At <lc-thorn>e date of day of euensonge,
On oure byfore <lc-thorn>e sonne go doun,
He se<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>er ydel men ful stronge
And sade to hem wyth sobre soun,
<P 20> 'Wy stonde <lc-yogh>e ydel <lc-thorn>ise daye<lc-yogh> longe?'
<uc-thorn>ay sayden her hyre wat<lc-yogh> nawhere boun.
'Got<lc-yogh> to my vyne, <lc-yogh>emen <lc-yogh>onge,
And wyrke<lc-yogh> and dot<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at at <lc-yogh>e moun.'
Sone <lc-thorn>e worlde bycom wel broun;
<uc-thorn>e sunne wat<lc-yogh> doun and hit wex late.
To take her hyre he mad sumoun;
<uc-thorn>e day wat<lc-yogh> al apassed date.
 
<C X>
<F 46v> '"The date of <lc-thorn>e daye <lc-thorn>e lorde con knaw,
Called to <lc-thorn>e reue: 'Lede, pay <lc-thorn>e meyny.
Gyf hem <lc-thorn>e hyre <lc-thorn>at I hem owe,
And fyrre, <lc-thorn>at non me may repren<e+acute>,
Set hem alle vpon a rawe
And gyf vchon inlyche a peny.
Bygyn at <lc-thorn>e laste <lc-thorn>at stande<lc-yogh> lowe,
Tyl to <lc-thorn>e fyrst <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ou atteny.'
And <lc-thorn>enne <lc-thorn>e fyrst bygonne to pleny
And sayden <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ay hade trauayled sore:
'<uc-thorn>ese bot on oure hem con streny;
Vus <lc-thorn>ynk vus o<lc-yogh>e to take more.
 
'"'More haf we serued, vus <lc-thorn>ynk so,
<uc-thorn>at suffred han <lc-thorn>e daye<lc-yogh> hete,
<uc-thorn>enn <lc-thorn>yse <lc-thorn>at wro<lc-yogh>t not houre<lc-yogh> two,
And <lc-thorn>ou dot<lc-yogh> hem vus to counterfete.'
<uc-thorn>enne sayde <lc-thorn>e lorde to on of <lc-thorn>o:
'Frende, no waning I wyl <lc-thorn>e <lc-yogh>ete;
Take <lc-thorn>at is <lc-thorn>yn owne, and go.
And I hyred <lc-thorn>e for a peny agrete,
<P 21> Quy bygynne<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou now to <lc-thorn>rete?
Wat<lc-yogh> not a pen<e+acute> <lc-thorn>y couenaunt <lc-thorn>ore?
Fyrre <lc-thorn>en couenaunde is no<lc-yogh>t to plete.
Wy schalte <lc-thorn>ou <lc-thorn>enne ask more?
 
'"'More, we<lc-thorn>er louyly is me my gyfte,
To do wyth myn quat-so me lyke<lc-yogh>?
O<lc-thorn>er elle<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>yn y<lc-yogh>e to ly<lc-thorn>er is lyfte
For I am goude and non byswyke<lc-yogh>?'
<uc-thorn>us schal I", quod Kryste, "hit skyfte:
<uc-thorn>e laste schal be <lc-thorn>e fyrst <lc-thorn>at stryke<lc-yogh>,
And <lc-thorn>e fyrst <lc-thorn>e laste, be he neuer so swyft;
For mony ben called, <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> fewe be myke<lc-yogh>."
<uc-thorn>us pore men her part ay pyke<lc-yogh>,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ay com late and lyttel wore;
And <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> her sweng wyth lyttel atslyke<lc-yogh>,
<uc-thorn>e merci of God is much <lc-thorn>e more.
 
<F 47r> 'More haf I of joye and blysse hereinne,
Of ladyschyp gret and lyue<lc-yogh> blom,
<uc-thorn>en alle <lc-thorn>e wy<lc-yogh>e<lc-yogh> in <lc-thorn>e worlde my<lc-
By <lc-thorn>e way of ry<lc-yogh>t to aske dome.
Whe<lc-thorn>er welnygh now I con bygynne--
In euentyde into <lc-thorn>e vyne I come--
Fyrst of my hyre my Lorde con mynne:
I wat<lc-yogh> payed anon of al and sum.
<uc-yogh>et o<lc-thorn>er <lc-thorn>er werne <lc-thorn>at toke more tom,
<uc-thorn>at swange and swat for long <lc-yogh>ore,
<uc-thorn>at <lc-yogh>et of hyre no<lc-thorn>ynk <lc-thorn>ay nom,
Paraunter no<lc-yogh>t schal to-<lc-yogh>ere more.'
 
<P 22> Then more I meled and sayde apert:
'Me <lc-thorn>ynk <lc-thorn>y tale vnresounable.
Godde<lc-yogh> ry<lc-yogh>t is redy and euermore rert,
O<lc-thorn>er Holy Wryt is bot a fable.
In Sauter is sayd a verce ouerte
<uc-thorn>at speke<lc-yogh> a poynt determynable:
"<uc-thorn>ou quyte<lc-yogh> vchon as hys desserte,
<uc-thorn>ou hy<lc-yogh>e kyng ay pretermynable."
Now he <lc-thorn>at stod <lc-thorn>e long day stable,
And <lc-thorn>ou to payment com hym byfore,
<uc-thorn>enne <lc-thorn>e lasse in werke to take more able,
And euer <lc-thorn>e lenger <lc-thorn>e lasse, <lc-thorn>e more.'
 
<C XI>
'Of more and lasse in Gode<lc-yogh> ryche',
<uc-thorn>at gentyl sayde, 'lys no joparde,
For <lc-thorn>er is vch mon payed inlyche,
Whe<lc-thorn>er lyttel o<lc-thorn>er much be hys rewarde;
For <lc-thorn>e gentyl Cheuentayn is no chyche,
Que<lc-thorn>er-so-euer he dele nesch o<lc-thorn>er harde:
He laue<lc-yogh> hys gyfte<lc-yogh> as water of dyche,
O<lc-thorn>er gote<lc-yogh> of golf <lc-thorn>at neuer charde.
Hys fraunchyse is large <lc-thorn>at euer dard
To Hym <lc-thorn>at mat<lc-yogh> in synne rescoghe;
No blysse bet<lc-yogh> fro hem reparde,
For <lc-thorn>e grace of God is gret inoghe.
 
'Bot now <lc-thorn>ou mote<lc-yogh>, me for to mate,
<uc-thorn>at I my peny haf wrang tan here;
<uc-thorn>ou say<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at I <lc-thorn>at com to late
Am not wor<lc-thorn>y so gret fere.
<P 23> Where wyste<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou euer any bourne abate,
Euer so holy in hys prayere,
<uc-thorn>at he ne forfeted by sumkyn gate
<uc-thorn>e mede sumtyme of heuene<lc-yogh> clere?
And ay <lc-thorn>e ofter, <lc-thorn>e alder <lc-thorn>ay were,
<uc-thorn>ay laften ry<lc-yogh>t and wro<lc-yogh>ten woghe.
Mercy and grace moste hem <lc-thorn>en stere,
For <lc-thorn>e grace of God is gret inno<lc-yogh>e.
 
'Bot innoghe of grace hat<lc-yogh> innocent.
As sone as <lc-thorn>ay arn borne, by lyne
In <lc-thorn>e water of babtem <lc-thorn>ay dyssente:
<uc-thorn>en arne <lc-thorn>ay boro<lc-yogh>t into <lc-thorn>e vyne.
Anon <lc-thorn>e day, wyth derk endente,
<uc-thorn>e niy<lc-yogh>t of deth dot<lc-yogh> to enclyne:
<uc-thorn>at wro<lc-yogh>t neuer wrang er <lc-thorn>enne <lc-thorn>ay wente,
<uc-thorn>e gentyle Lorde <lc-thorn>enne paye<lc-yogh> hys hyne.
<uc-thorn>ay dyden hys heste, <lc-thorn>ay wern <lc-thorn>ereine;
Why schulde he not her labour alow,
<uc-yogh>ys, and pay hem at <lc-thorn>e fyrst fyne?
For <lc-thorn>e grace of God is gret innoghe.
 
'Ino<lc-yogh>e is knawen <lc-thorn>at mankyn grete
Fyrste wat<lc-yogh> wro<lc-yogh>t to blysse parfyt;
Oure forme fader hit con forfete
<uc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> an apple <lc-thorn>at he vpon con byte.
Al wer we dampned for <lc-thorn>at mete
To dy<lc-yogh>e in doel out of delyt
And sy<lc-thorn>en wende to helle hete,
<uc-thorn>erinne to won wythoute respyt.
Bot <lc-thorn>eron com a bote astyt.
Ryche blod ran on rode so roghe,
<P 24> And wynne water <lc-thorn>en at <lc-thorn>at plyt:
<uc-thorn>e grace of God wex gret innoghe.
 
<F 48r> 'Innoghe <lc-thorn>er wax out of <lc-thorn>at welle,
Blod and water of brode wounde.
<uc-thorn>e blod vus bo<lc-yogh>t fro bale of helle
And delyuered vus of <lc-thorn>e deth secounde;
<uc-thorn>e water is baptem, <lc-thorn>e so<lc-thorn>e to telle,
<uc-thorn>at fol<lc-yogh>ed <lc-thorn>e glayue so grymly grounde,
<uc-thorn>at wasche<lc-yogh> away <lc-thorn>e gylte<lc-yogh> felle
<uc-thorn>at Adam wyth inne deth vus drounde.
Now is <lc-thorn>er no<lc-yogh>t in <lc-thorn>e worlde rounde
Bytwene vus and blysse bot <lc-thorn>at he wythdro<lc-yogh>,
And <lc-thorn>at is restored in sely stounde;
And <lc-thorn>e grace of God is gret innogh.
 
<C XII>
'Grace innogh <lc-thorn>e mon may haue
<uc-thorn>at synne<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>enne new, <lc-yogh>if hym repente,
Bot wyth sor<lc-yogh> and syt he mot hit craue,
And byde <lc-thorn>e payne <lc-thorn>erto is bent.
Bot resoun of ry<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>at con not raue
Saue<lc-yogh> euermore <lc-thorn>e innossent;
Hit is a dom <lc-thorn>at neuer God gaue,
<uc-thorn>at euer <lc-thorn>e gyltle<lc-yogh> schulde be schente.
<uc-thorn>e gyltyf may contryssyoun hente
And be <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> mercy to grace <lc-thorn>ry<lc-yogh>t;
Bot he to gyle <lc-thorn>at neuer glente
And inoscente is saf and ry<lc-yogh>te.
 
<P 25> 'Ry<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>us I knaw wel in <lc-thorn>is cas
Two men to saue is god by skylle:
<uc-thorn>e ry<lc-yogh>twys man schal se hys face,
<uc-thorn>e harmle<lc-yogh> ha<lc-thorn>el schal com hym tylle.
<uc-thorn>e Sauter hyt sat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>us in a pace:
"Lorde, quo schal klymbe <lc-thorn>y hy<lc-yogh> hylle,
O<lc-thorn>er rest wythinne <lc-thorn>y holy place?"
Hymself to onsware he is not dylle:
"Hondelynge<lc-yogh> harme <lc-thorn>at dyt not ille,
<uc-thorn>at is of hert bo<lc-thorn>e clene and ly<lc-yogh>t,
<uc-thorn>er schal hys step stable stylle":
<uc-thorn>e innosent is ay saf by ry<lc-yogh>t.
 
<F 48v> 'The ry<lc-yogh>twys man also sertayn
Aproche he schal <lc-thorn>at proper pyle,
<uc-thorn>at take<lc-yogh> not her lyf in vayne,
Ne glauere<lc-yogh> her nie<lc-yogh>bor wyth no gyle.
Of <lc-thorn>ys ry<lc-yogh>twys sa<lc-yogh> Salamon playn
How Koyntise onoure con aquyle;
By waye<lc-yogh> ful stre<lc-yogh>t ho con hym strayn,
And scheued hym <lc-thorn>e rengne of God awhyle,
As quo says, "Lo, <lc-yogh>on louely yle!
<uc-thorn>ou may hit wynne if <lc-thorn>ou be wy<lc-yogh>te."
Bot, hardyly, wythoute peryle,
<uc-thorn>e innosent is ay saue by ry<lc-yogh>te.
 
'Anende ry<lc-yogh>twys men <lc-yogh>et sayt<lc-yogh> a gome,
Dauid in Sauter, if euer <lc-yogh>e sy<lc-yogh> hit:
"Lorde, <uc-thorn>y seruaunt dra<lc-yogh> neuer to dome,
For non lyuyande to <lc-thorn>e is justyfyet."
<P 26> For<lc-thorn>y to corte quen <lc-thorn>ou schal com
<uc-thorn>er alle oure cause<lc-yogh> schal be tryed,
Alegge <lc-thorn>e ry<lc-yogh>t, <lc-thorn>ou may be innome,
By <lc-thorn>ys ilke spech I haue asspyed;
Bot he on rode <lc-thorn>at blody dyed,
Delfully <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> honde<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ry<lc-yogh>t,
Gyue <lc-thorn>e to passe, when <lc-thorn>ou arte tryed,
By innocens and not by ry<lc-yogh>te.
 
'Ry<lc-yogh>twysly quo con rede,
He loke on bok and be awayed
How Jesus hym welke in are<lc-thorn>ede,
And burne<lc-yogh> her barne<lc-yogh> vnto hym brayde.
For happe and hele <lc-thorn>at fro hym <lc-yogh>ede
To touch her chylder <lc-thorn>ay fayr hym prayed.
His dessypele<lc-yogh> wyth blame let be hem bede
And wyth her resoune<lc-yogh> ful fele restayed.
Jesus <lc-thorn>enne hem swetely sayde:
"Do way, let chylder vnto me ty<lc-yogh>t.
To suche is heuenryche arayed":
<uc-thorn>e innocent is ay saf by ry<lc-yogh>t.
 
<C XIII>
'Iesus con calle to hym hys mylde,
And sayde hys ryche no wy<lc-yogh> my<lc-yogh>t wynne
Bot he com <lc-thorn>yder ry<lc-yogh>t as a chylde,
O<lc-thorn>er elle<lc-yogh> neuermore com <lc-thorn>erinne.
Harmle<lc-yogh>, trwe, and vndefylde,
Wythouten mote o<lc-thorn>er mascle of sulpande synne,
<P 27> Quen such <lc-thorn>er cnoken on <lc-thorn>e bylde,
Tyt schal hem men <lc-thorn>e <lc-yogh>ate vnpynne.
<uc-thorn>er is <lc-thorn>e blys <lc-thorn>at con not blynne
<uc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>e jueler so<lc-yogh>te <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> perr<e+acute
And solde alle hys goud, bo<lc-thorn>e wolen and lynne,
To bye hym a perle wat<lc-yogh> mascelle<lc-yogh>.
 
'This makelle<lc-yogh> perle, <lc-thorn>at bo<lc-yogh>t is dere,
<uc-thorn>e joueler gef fore alle hys god,
Is lyke <lc-thorn>e reme of heuenesse clere:
So sayde <lc-thorn>e Fader of folde and flode;
For hit is wemle<lc-yogh>, clene, and clere,
And endele<lc-yogh> rounde, and bly<lc-thorn>e of mode,
And commune to alle <lc-thorn>at ry<lc-yogh>twys were.
Lo, euen inmydde<lc-yogh> my breste hit stode.
My Lorde <lc-thorn>e Lombe, <lc-thorn>at schede hys blode,
He py<lc-yogh>t hit <lc-thorn>ere in token of pes.
I rede <lc-thorn>e forsake <lc-thorn>e worlde wode
And porchace <lc-thorn>y perle maskelles.'
 
'O maskele<lc-yogh> perle in perle<lc-yogh> pure,
<uc-thorn>at bere<lc-yogh>', quod I, '<lc-thorn>e perle of prys,
Quo formed <lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>y fayre fygure?
<uc-thorn>at wro<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>y wede, he wat<lc-yogh> ful wys.
<uc-thorn>y beaut<e+acute> com neuer of nature;
Pymalyon paynted neuer <lc-thorn>y vys,
Ne Arystotel naw<lc-thorn>er by hys lettrure
Of carped <lc-thorn>e kynde <lc-thorn>ese propert<e+acute><lc-yogh>.
<uc-thorn>y colour passe<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e flour-de-lys;
<uc-thorn>yn angel-hauyng so clene corte<lc-yogh>.
Breue me, bry<lc-yogh>t, quat kyn offys
Bere<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e perle so maskelle<lc-yogh>?'
 
<P 28> <F 49v> 'My makele<lc-yogh> Lambe <lc-thorn>at al may bete',
Quod scho, 'my dere destyn<e+acute>,
Me ches to hys make, al<lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> vnmete
Sumtyme semed <lc-thorn>at assembl<e+acute>.
When I wente fro yor worlde wete,
He calde me to hys bonert<e+acute>:
"Cum hyder to me, my lemman swete,
For mote ne spot is non in <lc-thorn>e."
He gef me my<lc-yogh>t and als bewt<e+acute>;
In hys blod he wesch my wede on dese,
And coronde clene in vergynt<e+acute>,
And py<lc-yogh>t me in perle<lc-yogh> maskelle<lc-yogh>.'
 
'Why, maskelle<lc-yogh> byrd <lc-thorn>at bry<lc-yogh>t con flambe,
<uc-thorn>at reiat<e+acute><lc-yogh> hat<lc-yogh> so ryche and ryf,
Quat kyn <lc-thorn>yng may be <lc-thorn>at Lambe
<uc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>e wolde wedde vnto hys vyf?
Ouer alle o<lc-thorn>er so hy<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ou clambe
To lede wyth hym so ladyly lyf.
So mony a comly on-vunder cambe
For Kryst han lyued in much stryf;
And <lc-thorn>ou con alle <lc-thorn>o dere out dryf
And fro <lc-thorn>at maryag al o<lc-thorn>er depres,
Al only <lc-thorn>yself so stout and styf,
A makele<lc-yogh> may and maskelle<lc-yogh>.'
 
<C XIV>
'Maskelles', quod <lc-thorn>at myry quene,
'Vnblemyst I am, wythouten blot,
And <lc-thorn>at may I wyth mensk menteene;
Bot "makele<lc-yogh> quene" <lc-thorn>enne sade I not.
<P 29> <uc-thorn>e Lambes vyue<lc-yogh> in blysse we bene,
A hondred and forty fowre <lc-thorn>owsande flot,
As in <lc-thorn>e Apocalyppe<lc-yogh> hit is sene;
Sant John hem sy<lc-yogh> al in a knot.
On <lc-thorn>e hyl of Syon, <lc-thorn>at semly clot,
<uc-thorn>e apostel hem segh in gostly drem
Arayed to <lc-thorn>e weddyng in <lc-thorn>at hyl-coppe,
<uc-thorn>e nwe cyt<e+acute> o Jerusalem.
 
<F 50r> 'Of Jerusalem I in speche spelle.
If <lc-thorn>ou wyl knaw what kyn he be,
My Lombe, my Lorde, my dere juelle,
My ioy, my blys, my lemman fre,
<uc-thorn>e profete Ysaye of hym con melle
Pitously of hys debonert<e+acute>:
"<uc-thorn>at gloryous gyltle<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at mon con quelle
Wythouten any sake of felonye,
As a schep to <lc-thorn>e sla<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>er lad wat<lc-yogh> he;
And, as lombe <lc-thorn>at clypper in hande nem,
So closed he hys mouth fro vch query,
Quen Jue<lc-yogh> hym iugged in Jerusalem."
 
'In Jerusalem wat<lc-yogh> my lemman slayn
And rent on rode wyth boye<lc-yogh> bolde.
Al oure bale<lc-yogh> to bere ful bayn,
He toke on hymself oure care<lc-yogh> colde.
Wyth boffete<lc-yogh> wat<lc-yogh> hys face flayn
<uc-thorn>at wat<lc-yogh> so fayr on to byholde.
<P 30> For synne he set hymself in vayn,
<uc-thorn>at neuer hade non hymself to wolde.
For vus he lette hym fly<lc-yogh>e and folde
And brede vpon a bostwys bem;
As meke as lomp <lc-thorn>at no playnt tolde
For vus he swalt in Jerusalem.
 
'In Jerusalem, Jordan, and Galalye,
<uc-thorn>er as baptysed <lc-thorn>e goude Saynt Jon,
His worde<lc-yogh> acorded to Ysaye.
When Jesus con to hym warde gon.
He sayde of hym <lc-thorn>ys professye:
"Lo, Gode<lc-yogh> Lombe as trwe as ston,
<uc-thorn>at dot<lc-yogh> away <lc-thorn>e synne<lc-yogh> dry<lc-yogh>e
<uc-thorn>at alle <lc-thorn>ys worlde hat<lc-yogh> wro<lc-yogh>t vpon.
Hymself ne wro<lc-yogh>t neuer <lc-yogh>et non;
Whe<lc-thorn>er on hymself he con al clem.
Hys generacyoun quo recen con,
<uc-thorn>at dy<lc-yogh>ed for vus in Jerusalem?"
 
<F 50v> 'In Ierusalem <lc-thorn>us my lemman swete
Twye<lc-yogh> for lombe wat<lc-yogh> taken <lc-thorn>are,
By trw recorde of ay<lc-thorn>er prophete,
For mode so meke and al hys fare.
<uc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>ryde tyme is <lc-thorn>erto ful mete,
In Apokalype<lc-yogh> wryten ful <lc-yogh>are;
Inmyde<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e trone, <lc-thorn>ere saynte<lc-yogh> sete,
<uc-thorn>e apostel Iohn hym sa<lc-yogh> as bare,
Lesande <lc-thorn>e boke with leue<lc-yogh> sware
<uc-thorn>ere seuen syngnette<lc-yogh> wern sette in seme;
And at <lc-thorn>at sy<lc-yogh>t vche douth con dare
In helle, in er<lc-thorn>e, and Jerusalem.
 
<C XV>
<P 31> 'Thys Jerusalem Lombe hade neuer pechche
Of o<lc-thorn>er huee bot quyt jolyf
<uc-thorn>at mot ne masklle mo<lc-yogh>t on streche,
For wolle quyte so ronk and ryf.
For<lc-thorn>y vche saule <lc-thorn>at hade neuer teche
Is to <lc-thorn>at Lombe a worthyly wyf;
And <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> vch day a store he feche,
Among vus comme<lc-yogh> nou<lc-thorn>er strot ne stryf;
Bot vchon enl<e+acute> we wolde were fyf--
<uc-thorn>e mo <lc-thorn>e myryer, so God me blesse.
In compayny gret our luf con <lc-thorn>ryf
In honour more and neuer <lc-thorn>e lesse.
 
'Lasse of blysse may non vus bryng
<uc-thorn>at beren <lc-thorn>ys perle vpon oure bereste,
For <lc-thorn>ay of mote cou<lc-thorn>e neuer mynge
Of spotle<lc-yogh> perle<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at beren <lc-thorn>e creste.
Al<lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> oure corses in clotte<lc-yogh> clynge,
And <lc-yogh>e remen for rau<lc-thorn>e wythouten reste,
We <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh>outly hauen cnawyng;
Of on dethe ful oure hope is drest.
<uc-thorn>e Lombe vus glade<lc-yogh>, oure care is kest;
He myr<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> vus alle at vch a mes.
Vchone<lc-yogh> blysse is breme and beste,
And neuer one<lc-yogh> honour <lc-yogh>et neuer <lc-thorn>e les.
 
<F 51r> 'Lest les <lc-thorn>ou leue my tale farande,
In Appocalyppece is wryten in wro:
<P 32> "I seghe", says John, "<lc-thorn>e Loumbe hym stande
On <lc-thorn>e mount of Syon ful <lc-thorn>ryuen and <lc-thorn>ro,
And wyth hym maydenne<lc-yogh> and hundre<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>owsande,
And fowre and forty <lc-thorn>owsande mo.
On alle her forhede<lc-yogh> wryten I fande
<uc-thorn>e Lombe<lc-yogh> nome, hys Fadere<lc-yogh> also.
A hue from heuen I herde <lc-thorn>oo,
Lyk flode<lc-yogh> fele laden runnen on resse,
And as <lc-thorn>under <lc-thorn>rowe<lc-yogh> in torre<lc-yogh> blo,
<uc-thorn>at lote, I leue, wat<lc-yogh> neuer <lc-thorn>e les.
 
'"Nau<lc-thorn>eles, <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> hit schowted scharpe,
And ledden loude al<lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> hit were,
A note ful nwe I herde hem warpe,
To lysten <lc-thorn>at wat<lc-yogh> ful lufly dere.
As harpore<lc-yogh> harpen in her harpe,
<uc-thorn>at nwe songe <lc-thorn>ay songen ful cler,
In sounande note<lc-yogh> a gentyl carpe;
Ful fayre <lc-thorn>e mode<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ay fonge in fere.
Ry<lc-yogh>t byfore Gode<lc-yogh> chayere
And <lc-thorn>e fowre beste<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at hym obes
And <lc-thorn>e aldermen so sadde of chere,
Her songe <lc-thorn>ay songen neuer <lc-thorn>e les.
 
'"Now<lc-thorn>elese non wat<lc-yogh> neuer so quoynt,
For alle <lc-thorn>e crafte<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at euer <lc-thorn>ay knewe,
<uc-thorn>at of <lc-thorn>at songe my<lc-yogh>t synge a poynt,
Bot <lc-thorn>at meyny <lc-thorn>e Lombe <lc-thorn>at swe;
For <lc-thorn>ay arn bo<lc-yogh>t fro <lc-thorn>e vr<lc-thorn>e aloynte
As newe fryt to God ful due,
And to <lc-thorn>e gentyl Lombe hit arn anioynt,
As lyk to hymself of lote and hwe;
<P 33> For neuer lesyng ne tale vntrwe
Ne towched her tonge for no dysstresse.
<uc-thorn>at moteles meyny may neuer remwe
Fro <lc-thorn>at maskele<lc-yogh> mayster, neuer <lc-thorn>e les."'
 
<F 51v> 'Neuer <lc-thorn>e les let be my <lc-thorn>onc',
Quod I, 'My perle, <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I appose;
I schulde not tempte <lc-thorn>y wyt so wlonc,
To Kryste<lc-yogh> chambre <lc-thorn>at art ichose.
I am bot mokke and mul among,
And <lc-thorn>ou so ryche a reken rose,
And byde<lc-yogh> here by <lc-thorn>ys blysful bonc
<uc-thorn>er lyue<lc-yogh> lyste may neuer lose.
Now, hynde, <lc-thorn>at sympelnesse cone<lc-yogh> enclose,
I wolde <lc-thorn>e aske a <lc-thorn>ynge expresse,
And <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I be bustwys as a blose,
Let my bone vayl neuer<lc-thorn>elese.
 
<C XVI>
'Neuer<lc-thorn>elese cler I yow bycalle,
If <lc-yogh>e con se hyt be to done;
As <lc-thorn>ou art gloryous wythouten galle,
Wythnay <lc-thorn>ou neuer my ruful bone.
Haf <lc-yogh>e no wone<lc-yogh> in castel-walle,
Ne maner <lc-thorn>er <lc-yogh>e may mete and won?
<uc-thorn>ou telle<lc-yogh> me of Jerusalem <lc-thorn>e ryche ryalle,
<uc-thorn>er Dauid dere wat<lc-yogh> dy<lc-yogh>t on trone,
Bot by <lc-thorn>yse holte<lc-yogh> hit con not hone,
Bot in Judee hit is, <lc-thorn>at noble note.
As <lc-yogh>e ar maskele<lc-yogh> vnder mone,
Your wone<lc-yogh> schulde be wythouten mote.
 
<P 34> '<uc-thorn>ys motele<lc-yogh> meyny <lc-thorn>ou cone<lc-yogh> of mele,
Of <lc-thorn>ousande<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ry<lc-yogh>t so gret a route,
A gret cet<e+acute>, for <lc-yogh>e arn fele,
Yow byhod haue, wythouten doute.
So cumly a pakke of joly juele
Wer euel don schulde ly<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>eroute,
And by <lc-thorn>yse bonke<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>er I con gele
I se no bygyng nawhere aboute.
I trowe alone <lc-yogh>e lenge and loute
To loke on <lc-thorn>e glory of <lc-thorn>ys gracious gote.
If <lc-thorn>ou hat<lc-yogh> o<lc-thorn>er bygynge<lc-yogh> stoute,
Now tech me to <lc-thorn>at myry mote.'
 
<F 52r> 'That mote <lc-thorn>ou mene<lc-yogh> in Judy londe',
<uc-thorn>at specyal spyce <lc-thorn>en to me spakk,
'<uc-thorn>at is <lc-thorn>e cyt<e+acute> <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>e Lombe con fon
To soffer inne sor for mane<lc-yogh> sake,
<uc-thorn>e olde Jerusalem to vnderstonde;
For <lc-thorn>ere <lc-thorn>e olde gulte wat<lc-yogh> don to slake.
Bot <lc-thorn>e nwe, <lc-thorn>at ly<lc-yogh>t of Gode<lc-yogh> sonde,
<uc-thorn>e apostel in Apocalyppce in theme con take.
<uc-thorn>e Lompe <lc-thorn>er wythouten spotte<lc-yogh> blake
Hat<lc-yogh> feryed <lc-thorn>yder hys fayre flote;
And as hys flok is wythouten flake,
So is hys mote wythouten moote.
 
'Of motes two to carpe clene,
And Jerusalem hy<lc-yogh>t bo<lc-thorn>e naw<lc-thorn>eles--
<uc-thorn>at nys to yow no more to mene
Bot "cet<e+acute> of God", o<lc-thorn>er "sy<lc-yogh>t of pes":
In <lc-thorn>at on oure pes wat<lc-yogh> mad at ene;
Wyth payne to suffer <lc-thorn>e Lombe hit chese;
<P 35> In <lc-thorn>at o<lc-thorn>er is no<lc-yogh>t bot pes to glene
<uc-thorn>at ay schal laste wythouten reles.
<uc-thorn>at is <lc-thorn>e bor<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at we to pres
Fro <lc-thorn>at oure flesch be layd to rote,
<uc-thorn>er glory and blysse schal euer encres
To <lc-thorn>e meyny <lc-thorn>at is wythouten mote.'
 
'Motele<lc-yogh> may so meke and mylde',
<uc-thorn>en sayde I to <lc-thorn>at lufly flor,
'Bryng me to <lc-thorn>at bygly bylde
And let me se <lc-thorn>y blysful bor.'
<uc-thorn>at schene sayde: '<uc-thorn>at God wyl schylde;
<uc-thorn>ou may not enter wythinne hys tor,
Bot of <lc-thorn>e Lombe I haue <lc-thorn>e aquylde
For a sy<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>erof <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> gret fauor.
Vtwyth to se <lc-thorn>at clene cloystor
<uc-thorn>ou may, bot inwyth not a fote;
To strech in <lc-thorn>e strete <lc-thorn>ou hat<lc-yogh> no vygour,
Bot <lc-thorn>ou wer clene wythouten mote.
 
<C XVII>
<F 52v> 'If I <lc-thorn>is mote <lc-thorn>e schal vnhyde,
Bow vp towarde <lc-thorn>ys borne<lc-yogh> heued,
And I anende<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e on <lc-thorn>is syde
Schal sve, tyl <lc-thorn>ou to a hil be veued.'
<uc-thorn>en wolde I no lenger byde,
Bot lurked by launce<lc-yogh> so lufly leued,
Tyl on a hyl <lc-thorn>at I asspyed
And blusched on <lc-thorn>e burghe, as I forth dreued,
By<lc-yogh>onde <lc-thorn>e brok fro me warde keued,
<uc-thorn>at schyrrer <lc-thorn>en sunne wyth schafte<lc-yogh> schon.
<P 36> In <lc-thorn>e Apokalypce is <lc-thorn>e fasoun preued,
As deuyse<lc-yogh> hit <lc-thorn>e apostel Jhon.
 
As John <lc-thorn>e apostel hit sy<lc-yogh> wyth sy<lc-yogh>t,
I sy<lc-yogh>e <lc-thorn>at cyty of gret renoun,
Jerusalem so nwe and ryally dy<lc-yogh>t,
As hit was ly<lc-yogh>t fro <lc-thorn>e heuen adoun.
<uc-thorn>e bor<lc-yogh> wat<lc-yogh> al of brende golde bry<lc-yogh>t
As glemande glas burnist broun,
Wyth gentyl gemme<lc-yogh> an-vnder py<lc-yogh>t
Wyth bantele<lc-yogh> twelue on basyng boun,
<uc-thorn>e foundemente<lc-yogh> twelue of riche tenoun;
Vch tabelment wat<lc-yogh> a serlype<lc-yogh> ston;
As derely deuyse<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>is ilk toun
In Apocalyppe<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e apostel John.
 
As John <lc-thorn>ise stone<lc-yogh> in writ con nemme,
I knew <lc-thorn>e name after his tale:
Jasper hy<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>e fyrst gemme
<uc-thorn>at I on <lc-thorn>e fyrst basse con wale:
He glente grene in <lc-thorn>e lowest hemme;
Saffer helde <lc-thorn>e secounde stale;
<uc-thorn>e calsydoyne <lc-thorn>enne wythouten wemme
In <lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>ryd table con purly pale;
<uc-thorn>e emerade <lc-thorn>e fur<lc-thorn>e so grene of scale;
<uc-thorn>e sardonyse <lc-thorn>e fyf<lc-thorn>e ston;
<uc-thorn>e sexte <lc-thorn>e ryb<e+acute> he con hit wale
In <lc-thorn>e Apocalyppce, <lc-thorn>e apostel John.
 
<F 53r> <uc-yogh>et joyned John <lc-thorn>e crysolyt
<uc-thorn>e seuen<lc-thorn>e gemme in fundament;
<P 37> <uc-thorn>e a<lc-yogh>t<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>e beryl cler and quyt;
<uc-thorn>e topasye twynne-hew <lc-thorn>e nente endent;
<uc-thorn>e crysopase <lc-thorn>e ten<lc-thorn>e is ty<lc-yogh>t;
<uc-thorn>e jacynght <lc-thorn>e enleuen<lc-thorn>e gent;
<uc-thorn>e twelf<lc-thorn>e, <lc-thorn>e gentyleste in vch a plyt,
<uc-thorn>e amatyst purpre wyth ynde blente;
<uc-thorn>e wal abof <lc-thorn>e bantels bent
O jasporye, as glas <lc-thorn>at glysnande schon;
I knew hit by his deuysement
In <lc-thorn>e Apocalyppe<lc-yogh>, <lc-thorn>e apostel John.
 
As John deuysed <lc-yogh>et sa<lc-yogh> I <lc-thorn>are:
<uc-thorn>ise twelue degres wern brode and stayre;
<uc-thorn>e cyt<e+acute> stod abof ful sware,
As longe as brode as hy<lc-yogh>e ful fayre;
<uc-thorn>e strete<lc-yogh> of golde as glasse al bare,
<uc-thorn>e wal of jasper <lc-thorn>at glent as glayre;
<uc-thorn>e wone<lc-yogh> wythinne enurned ware
Wyth alle kynne<lc-yogh> perr<e+acute> <lc-thorn>at mo<lc-yogh>t repayre.
<uc-thorn>enne helde vch sware of <lc-thorn>is manayre
Twelue forlonge space, er euer hit fon,
Of he<lc-yogh>t, of brede, of len<lc-thorn>e to cayre,
For meten hit sy<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e apostel John.
 
<C XVIII>
As John hym wryte<lc-yogh> <lc-yogh>et more I sy<lc-yogh>e:
Vch pane of <lc-thorn>at place had <lc-thorn>re <lc-yogh>ate<lc-yogh>;
So twelue in poursent I con asspye,
<uc-thorn>e portale<lc-yogh> pyked of rych plate<lc-yogh>,
<P 38> And vch <lc-yogh>ate of a margyrye,
A parfyt perle <lc-thorn>at neuer fate<lc-yogh>.
Vchon in scrypture a name con plye
Of Israel barne<lc-yogh>, folewande her date<lc-yogh>,
<uc-thorn>at is to say, as her byr<lc-thorn>-whate<lc-yogh>:
<uc-thorn>e aldest ay fyrst <lc-thorn>eron wat<lc-yogh> done.
Such ly<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>er lemed in alle <lc-thorn>e strate<lc-yogh>
Hem nedde naw<lc-thorn>er sunne ne mone.
 
<F 53v> Of sunne ne mone had <lc-thorn>ay no nede;
<uc-thorn>e self God wat<lc-yogh> her lombe-ly<lc-yogh>t,
<uc-thorn>e Lombe her lantyrne, wythouten drede;
<uc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> hym blysned <lc-thorn>e bor<lc-yogh> al bry<lc-yogh>t.
<uc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> wo<lc-yogh>e and won my lokyng <lc-yogh>ede,
For sotyle cler no<lc-yogh>t lette no ly<lc-yogh>t.
<uc-thorn>e hy<lc-yogh>e trone <lc-thorn>er mo<lc-yogh>t <lc-yogh>e hede
Wyth alle <lc-thorn>e apparaylmente vmbepy<lc-yogh>te,
As John <lc-thorn>e appostel in terme<lc-yogh> ty<lc-yogh>te;
<uc-thorn>e hy<lc-yogh>e Gode<lc-yogh> self hit set vpone.
A reuer of <lc-thorn>e trone <lc-thorn>er ran outry<lc-yogh>te
Wat<lc-yogh> bry<lc-yogh>ter <lc-thorn>en bo<lc-thorn>e <lc-thorn>e sunne and mo
 
Sunne ne mone schon neuer so swete
As <lc-thorn>at foysoun flode out of <lc-thorn>at flet;
Swy<lc-thorn>e hit swange <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> vch a strete
Wythouten fyl<lc-thorn>e o<lc-thorn>er galle o<lc-thorn>er glet.
Kyrk <lc-thorn>erinne wat<lc-yogh> non <lc-yogh>ete,
Chapel ne temple <lc-thorn>at euer wat<lc-yogh> set;
<uc-thorn>e Almy<lc-yogh>ty wat<lc-yogh> her mynster mete,
<uc-thorn>e Lombe <lc-thorn>e sakerfyse <lc-thorn>er to refet.
<P 39> <uc-thorn>e <lc-yogh>ate<lc-yogh> stoken wat<lc-yogh> neuer <lc-yogh>et,
Bot euermore vpen at vche a lone;
<uc-thorn>er entre<lc-yogh> non to take reset
<uc-thorn>at bere<lc-yogh> any spot an-vnder mone.
 
The mone may <lc-thorn>erof acroche no my<lc-yogh>te;
To spotty ho is, of body to grym,
And also <lc-thorn>er ne is neuer ny<lc-yogh>t.
What schulde <lc-thorn>e mone <lc-thorn>er compas clym
And to euen wyth <lc-thorn>at wor<lc-thorn>ly ly<lc-yogh>t
<uc-thorn>at schyne<lc-yogh> vpon <lc-thorn>e broke<lc-yogh> brym?
<uc-thorn>e planete<lc-yogh> arn in to pouer a ply<lc-yogh>t,
And <lc-thorn>e self sunne ful fer to dym.
Aboute <lc-thorn>at water arn tres ful schym,
<uc-thorn>at twelue fryte<lc-yogh> of lyf con bere ful sone;
Twelue sy<lc-thorn>e<lc-yogh> on <lc-yogh>er <lc-thorn>ay beren ful frym,
And renowle<lc-yogh> nwe in vche a mone.
 
An-vnder mone so great merwayle
No fleschly hert ne my<lc-yogh>t endeure,
As quen I blusched vpon <lc-thorn>at bayle,
So ferly <lc-thorn>erof wat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e fasure.
I stod as stylle as dased quayle
For ferly of <lc-thorn>at frelich fygure,
<uc-thorn>at felde I naw<lc-thorn>er reste ne trauayle,
So wat<lc-yogh> I rauyste wyth glymme pure.
For I dar say wyth conciens sure,
Hade bodyly burne abiden <lc-thorn>at bone,
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> alle clerke<lc-yogh> hym hade in cure,
His lyf were loste an-vnder mone.
 
<C XIX>
<P 40> Ry<lc-yogh>t as <lc-thorn>e maynful mone con rys
Er <lc-thorn>enne <lc-thorn>e day-glem dryue al doun,
So sodanly on a wonder wyse
I wat<lc-yogh> war of a prosessyoun.
<uc-thorn>is noble cit<e+acute> of ryche enpryse
Wat<lc-yogh> sodanly ful wythouten sommoun
Of such vergyne<lc-yogh> in <lc-thorn>e same gyse
<uc-thorn>at wat<lc-yogh> my blysful an-vnder croun:
And coronde wern alle of <lc-thorn>e same fasoun,
Depaynt in perle<lc-yogh> and wede<lc-yogh> qwyte;
In vchone<lc-yogh> breste wat<lc-yogh> bounden boun
<uc-thorn>e blysful perle wyth gret delyt.
 
Wyth gret delyt <lc-thorn>ay glod in fere
On golden gate<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at glent as glasse;
Hundreth <lc-thorn>owsande<lc-yogh> I wot <lc-thorn>er were,
And alle in sute her liur<e+acute><lc-yogh> wasse;
Tor to knaw <lc-thorn>e gladdest chere.
<uc-thorn>e Lombe byfore con proudly passe
Wyth horne<lc-yogh> seuen of red golde cler;
As praysed perle<lc-yogh> his wede<lc-yogh> wasse.
Towarde <lc-thorn>e throne <lc-thorn>ay trone a tras.
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ay wern fele, no pres in plyt,
Bot mylde as maydene<lc-yogh> seme at mas,
So dro<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>ay forth wyth gret delyt.
 
Delyt <lc-thorn>at hys come encroched
To much hit were of for to melle
<uc-thorn>ise aldermen, quen he aproched,
Grouelyng to his fete <lc-thorn>ay felle.
<P 41> Legyounes of aungele<lc-yogh> togeder uoched
<uc-thorn>er kesten ensens of swete smelle.
<uc-thorn>en glory and gle wat<lc-yogh> nwe abroched;
Al songe to loue <lc-thorn>at gay juelle.
<uc-thorn>e steuen mo<lc-yogh>t stryke <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>e vr<lc-t
<uc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>e Vertues of heuen of joye endyte.
To loue <lc-thorn>e Lombe his meyny in melle
Iwysse I la<lc-yogh>t a gret delyt.
 
Delit <lc-thorn>e Lombe for to deuise
Wyth much meruayle in mynde went.
Best wat<lc-yogh> he, bly<lc-thorn>est, and moste to pryse,
<uc-thorn>at euer I herde of speche spent;
So wor<lc-thorn>ly whyt wern wede<lc-yogh> hys,
His loke<lc-yogh> symple, hymself so gent.
Bot a wounde ful wyde and weete con wyse
Anende hys hert, <lc-thorn>ur<lc-yogh> hyde torente.
Of his quyte syde his blod outsprent.
Alas, <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh>t I, who did <lc-thorn>at spyt?
Ani breste for bale a<lc-yogh>t haf forbrent
Er he <lc-thorn>erto hade had delyt.
 
The Lombe delyt non lyste to wene.
<uc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> he were hurt and wounde hade,
In his sembelaunt wat<lc-yogh> neuer sene,
So wern his glente<lc-yogh> gloryous glade.
I loked among his meyny schene
How <lc-thorn>ay wyth lyf wern laste and lade;
<uc-thorn>en sa<lc-yogh> I <lc-thorn>er my lyttel quene
<uc-thorn>at I wende had standen by me in sclade.
Lorde, much of mir<lc-thorn>e wat<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at ho made
Among her fere<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at wat<lc-yogh> so quyt!
<uc-thorn>at sy<lc-yogh>t me gart to <lc-thorn>enk to wade
For luf-longyng in gret delyt.
 
<C XX>
<P 42> <F 55r> Delyt me drof in y<lc-yogh>e and ere,
My mane<lc-yogh> mynde to maddyng malte;
Quen I se<lc-yogh> my frely, I wolde be <lc-thorn>ere,
By<lc-yogh>onde <lc-thorn>e water <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> ho were walte.
I <lc-thorn>o<lc-yogh>t <lc-thorn>at no<lc-thorn>yng my<lc-yogh>t me dere
To fech me bur and take me halte,
And to start in <lc-thorn>e strem schulde non me stere,
To swymme <lc-thorn>e remnaunt, <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I <lc-thorn>er swalte.
Bot of <lc-thorn>at munt I wat<lc-yogh> bitalt;
When I schulde start in <lc-thorn>e strem astraye,
Out of <lc-thorn>at caste I wat<lc-yogh> bycalt:
Hit wat<lc-yogh> not at my Prynce<lc-yogh> paye.
 
Hit payed hym not <lc-thorn>at I so flonc
Ouer meruelous mere<lc-yogh>, so mad arayde.
Of raas <lc-thorn>a<lc-yogh> I were rasch and ronk,
<uc-yogh>et rapely <lc-thorn>erinne I wat<lc-yogh> restrayed.
For, ry<lc-yogh>t as I sparred vnto <lc-thorn>e bonc,
<uc-thorn>at brath<lc-thorn>e out of my drem me brayde.
<uc-thorn>en wakned I in <lc-thorn>at erber wlonk;
My hede vpon <lc-thorn>at hylle wat<lc-yogh> layde
<uc-thorn>er as my perle to grounde strayd.
I raxled, and fel in gret affray,
And, sykyng, to myself I sayd,
'Now al be to <lc-thorn>at Prynces paye'.
 
Me payed ful ille to be outfleme
So sodenly of <lc-thorn>at fayre regioun,
Fro alle <lc-thorn>o sy<lc-yogh>te<lc-yogh> so quyke and queme.
A longeyng heuy me strok in swone,
<P 43> And rewfully <lc-thorn>enne I con to reme:
'O perle', quod I, 'of rych renoun,
So wat<lc-yogh> hit me dere <lc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ou con deme
In <lc-thorn>ys veray avysyoun!
If hit be ueray and soth sermoun
<uc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ou so styke<lc-yogh> in garlande gay,
So wel is me in <lc-thorn>ys doel-doungoun
<uc-thorn>at <lc-thorn>ou art to <lc-thorn>at Prynse<lc-yogh> paye.'
 
<F 55v> To <lc-thorn>at Prynce<lc-yogh> paye hade I ay bente,
And <lc-yogh>erned no more <lc-thorn>en wat<lc-yogh> me gyuen,
And halden me <lc-thorn>er in trwe entent,
As <lc-thorn>e perle me prayed <lc-thorn>at wat<lc-yogh> so <lc-thorn>ryuen,
As helde, drawen to Godde<lc-yogh> present,
To mo of his mysterys I hade ben dryuen;
Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente
<uc-thorn>en mo<lc-yogh>te by ry<lc-yogh>t vpon hem clyuen.
<uc-thorn>erfore my ioye wat<lc-yogh> sone toriuen,
And I kaste of kythe<lc-yogh> <lc-thorn>at laste<lc-yogh> aye.
Lorde, mad hit arn <lc-thorn>at agayn <lc-thorn>e stryuen,
O<lc-thorn>er proferen <lc-thorn>e o<lc-yogh>t agayn <lc-thorn>y paye.
 
To pay <lc-thorn>e Prince o<lc-thorn>er sete sa<lc-yogh>te
Hit is ful e<lc-thorn>e to <lc-thorn>e god Krystyin;
For I haf founden hym, bo<lc-thorn>e day and na<lc-yogh>te,
A God, a Lorde, a frende ful fyin.
Ouer <lc-thorn>is hyul <lc-thorn>is lote I la<lc-yogh>te,
For pyty of my perle enclyin,
And sy<lc-thorn>en to God I hit byta<lc-yogh>te
In Kryste<lc-yogh> dere blessyng and myn,
<P 44> <uc-thorn>at in <lc-thorn>e forme of bred and wyn
<uc-thorn>e preste vus schewe<lc-yogh> vch a daye.
He gef vus to be his homly hyne
Ande precious perle<lc-yogh> vnto his pay.
           Amen.    Amen.