<P_61>

{ED:Ego_Dormio}

EGo dormio et cor meum vigilat . (CMROLLEP,61.3)

+Tai +tat lyste lufe , herken , (CMROLLEP,61.4)

and here of luf . (CMROLLEP,61.5)

In +te sang of luf it es writen : ' I slepe , (CMROLLEP,61.6)

and my hert wakes . ' (CMROLLEP,61.7)

Mykel lufe he schewes , +tat never es irk to lufe , (CMROLLEP,61.8)

bot ay standand , sittand , gangand , or wirkand , es ay his lufe
thynkand , (CMROLLEP,61.9)

and oftsyth +tarof es dremande . (CMROLLEP,61.10)

For+ti +tat I lufe , I wow +te , +tat I myght have +te als I walde ,
noght to me , bot to my Lorde . (CMROLLEP,61.11)

I will become +tat messanger to bryng +te to hys bed , +tat hase made
+te and boght +te , Criste , +te keyng sonn of heven . (CMROLLEP,61.12)

For he wil with +te dwelle , if +tou will lufe hym : (CMROLLEP,61.13)

he askes +te na mare bot +ti lufe . (CMROLLEP,61.14)

And my dere syster in Criste , my wil +tou dose if +tou lufe hym .
(CMROLLEP,61.15)

Criste covaytes noght els , bot at +tou do his wil , and enforce +te
day and nyght +tat +tou leve al fleschly lufe , and al lykyng +tat
lettes +te til lofe Jhesu Crist verraly . (CMROLLEP,61.16)

For ay , whils +ti hert es heldand til lufe any bodely thyng , +tou may
not perfitely be coupuld with God . (CMROLLEP,61.17)

In heven er neyn orders of aungels , +tat er contened in thre
ierarchies . (CMROLLEP,61.18)

+Te lawest ierarchi contenes aungels , archaungels , and vertues ;
(CMROLLEP,61.19)

+te mydel ierarchi contenes principates , potestates , and dominacions
; (CMROLLEP,61.20)

+te heest ierarchi , +tat neest es to God , contenes thronos , cherubyn
, and seraphyn . (CMROLLEP,61.21)

+Te lawest es aungels , (CMROLLEP,61.22)

+te heest <P_62> es seraphyn ; (CMROLLEP,62.23)

and +tat order , +tat leste es bryght , es seven sythe sa bryght
(CMROLLEP,62.24)

als +te sonn es bryghtar +tan a kandele , +te kandel bryghtar +tan +te
mone , +te mone bryghtar +tan a sterne . Also er +te orders in heven
ilk ane bryghter +tan other , fra aungels to seraphyn .
(CMROLLEP,62.25)

+Tis I say to kyndel +ti hert for to covayte +te felichip of aungels .
(CMROLLEP,62.26)

For al +tat er gude and haly , when +tai passe owt of +tis worlde , sal
be taken intil +ties orders : some intil +te lawest , +tat hase lufed
mykel ; some intil +te mydelmest , +tat hase lufed mare ; o+ter intil
+te heest , +tat maste lufed God and byrnandest es in hys lufe .
(CMROLLEP,62.27)

Seraphyn es at say ' brynand ' ; til +te whilk order +tai er receyved
+tat leest covaytes in +tis worlde , and maste swetnes feles in God ,
and brynandest hertes hase in his lufe . (CMROLLEP,62.28)

Til +te I write specialy , (CMROLLEP,62.29)

for I hope mare godenes in +te +tan in another , and $+tat +tou wil gyf
+ti thoght to fulfil in dede +tat +tou seys es maste prophetabel for
+ti sawle , and +tat lyf gif +te til $in +te whilk +tow may halyest
offer +ti hert to Jhesu Criste and leste be in bisynes of +tis worlde .
(CMROLLEP,62.30)

For if +tow stabil +ti lufe , and be byrnande whils +tou lyfes here ,
withowten dowte +ti settel es ordaynde ful hegh in heven and joyful
before Goddes face amang his haly aungels . (CMROLLEP,62.31)

For in +te self degre +teir prowde devels fel downe fra , er meke men
and wymen , Criste dowves , sett , to have rest and joy withowten ende
, for a litel schort penance and travel +tat +tai have sufferd for
Goddes lufe . (CMROLLEP,62.32)

+Te thynk $now peraventure hard to gife +ti hert fra al erthly thynges
, fra al ydel speche and vayne , and fra al fleschly lufe , and to be
alane , to wake and pray and thynk of +te joy of heven and of +te
passyon of Jhesu Criste , and to ymagyn +te payne of hell +tat es
ordande for synful man . (CMROLLEP,62.33)

Bot wyterly , fra +tou be used +tarin , +te wil thynk <P_63> it lyghter
and swetter +tan +tou dyd any erthly thyng or solace . (CMROLLEP,63.34)

Als sone als +ti hert es towched with +te swetnes of heven , +te wil
lytel lyst +te myrth of +tis worlde ; (CMROLLEP,63.35)

and when +tou feles joy in Criste lufe , +te wil lathe with +te joy and
+te comforth of +tis worlde and erthly gamen . (CMROLLEP,63.36)

For al melody and al riches and delites , +tat al men in +tis world ken
ordayne or thynk , sownes bot noy and anger til a mans hert +tat
verraly es byrnand in +te lufe of God ; (CMROLLEP,63.37)

for he hase myrth and joy and melody in aungels sang , als +tou may
wele wyt . (CMROLLEP,63.38)

If +tou leve al thyng +tat +ti fleschly lufe list , for +te lufe of God
, and have na thoght on syb frendes , bot forsake al for Goddes lufe ,
and anely gyf +ti hert to coveyte Goddes lufe and pay hym , mare joy
sal +tou have and fynd in hym +tan I can on thynk . (CMROLLEP,63.39)

How myght +tou +tan wyt it ? (CMROLLEP,63.40)

I wate never , if any man be in swilk lufe ; (CMROLLEP,63.41)

for ay +te hegher +te lyfe es , +te fewer folowers it hase here .
(CMROLLEP,63.42)

For many thynges drawes man fra Goddes lufe , +tat +tow may here and se
; (CMROLLEP,63.43)

and God comfortes his lufers mare +tan +tai wene +tat lufes hym noght .
(CMROLLEP,63.44)

For+ti , +tof we seme in penance withowten , we sal have mykel joy
within , if we ordayne us wysely to Goddes servyce , and sett in hym al
owre thoghtes , and forsake al vanyte of +tis worlde . (CMROLLEP,63.45)

Gyf +tien entent til understand +tis wrytyng ; (CMROLLEP,63.46)

and if +tou have sett al +ti desyre til lufe God , here +ties thre
degrees of lufe , sa +tat +tou may rise fra ane til another , to +tou
be in +te heest . (CMROLLEP,63.47)

For I wil noght layne fra +te , +tat I hope may turne +te til halynes .
(CMROLLEP,63.48)

+Te fyrst degre of lufe es , when a man haldes +te ten commandementes ,
and kepes hym fra +te seven dedely synnes , and es stabyl in +te trowth
of hali kyrke ; and when a man wil noght for any erthly thyng wreth God
, bot trewly standes in his servyce , and lasses +tarin til his lyves
ende . (CMROLLEP,63.49)

+Tis degre of lufe behoves ilk man have , +tat wil be safe ;
(CMROLLEP,63.50)

for na man may com til heven , bot if he lufe God and <P_64> his
neghbor , withowten pride , ire , envy , or bakbityng , and withowten
al other venemus synne , glotony , lichery , and covayties ;
(CMROLLEP,64.51)

for +ties vices slaes +te saule , (CMROLLEP,64.52)

and makes it to depart fra God , withowten wham na creature may lyf .
(CMROLLEP,64.53)

For als a man pusonde of a swete morcell takes venome +tat slase his
body , sa dose a synful wreche in likyng and luste of hys flesch :
(CMROLLEP,64.54)

destrues his sawle , (CMROLLEP,64.55)

and brynges it to dede withowten end . (CMROLLEP,64.56)

Men thynk it swete to synne ; (CMROLLEP,64.57)

bot +taire mede , +tat es ordand for +tam , es bitterer +tan +te gall ,
sowrar +tan +te atter , war +tan al +te waa +tat we may here se or fele
. (CMROLLEP,64.58)

<poetry>

<em> Alle perisches and passes +tat we with eghe see </em>
(CMROLLEP,64.60)

It wanes into wrechednes , +te welth of +tis worlde . (CMROLLEP,64.61)

Robes and ritches rotes in dike , (CMROLLEP,64.62)

Prowde payntyng slakes into sorow , (CMROLLEP,64.63)

Delites and drewryse stynk sal ful sone , (CMROLLEP,64.64)

+Tair golde and +taire tresoure drawes +tam til dede . (CMROLLEP,64.65)

Al +te wikked of +tis worlde drawes til a dale , +Tat +tai may se +tare
sorowyng , whare waa es ever stabel . (CMROLLEP,64.66)

Bot he may syng of solace , +tat lufes Jhesu Criste . (CMROLLEP,64.67)

+Te wretchesse fra wele falles into hell . (CMROLLEP,64.68)

</poetry>

Bot when +tou have wele leved in +te ten comandementes of God , and
styfly put +te fra al dedely synnes , and payes God in +tat degre ,
umbethynk +te +tat +tou wil plese God mare , and do better with +ti
sawle , and become perfyte . (CMROLLEP,64.70)

+Tan enters +tou into +te to+ter degre of lufe , +tat es , to forsake
al +te worlde , +ti fader and +ti moder , and al +ti kyn , and folow
Criste in poverte . (CMROLLEP,64.71)

In +tis degre +tou sal stody how clene +tou be in hert , and how chaste
in body ; and gife +te til mekenes , suffryng , and buxumnes ; and loke
how fayre +tou may make +ti <P_65> saule in vertues and hate al vices ,
so +tat +ti lyf be gastly and noght fleschly . (CMROLLEP,65.72)

Never mare speke evyl of +ti neghbor , (CMROLLEP,65.73)

ne gyf any evel worde for another ; (CMROLLEP,65.74)

bot al +tat men says , evel or gude , suffer it mekeli in +ti hert ,
withowten styrryng of wreth ; (CMROLLEP,65.75)

and +tan sal +tou be in rest within and withowte , (CMROLLEP,65.76)

and so lyghtly sal +tou come to +te gastly lyfe , +tat +tou sal fynde
swettar +tan any erthly thyng . (CMROLLEP,65.77)

Perfite life and gastly es , to despise +te worlde , and covete +te joy
of heven , and destroy thorow Goddes grace al wicked desyres of +te
flesch , and forgete +te solace and +te lykyng of +ti kynredyn , and
lufe noght bot in God : whethir +tai dy or lyfe , or be pore or riche ,
or seke , or in wa or in hele , (CMROLLEP,65.78)

thank +tou ay God , (CMROLLEP,65.79)

and blisse hym in al +ti werkis . (CMROLLEP,65.80)

For his domes er so pryve , +tat na creature may comprehend +tam .
(CMROLLEP,65.81)

And oftsithes some haves +tar likyng and +tair wil in +tis worlde , and
hell in +te to+ter ; (CMROLLEP,65.82)

and some men er in pyne and persecucion and anguysch in +tis lyfe ,
(CMROLLEP,65.83)

and hase heven to +tair mede . (CMROLLEP,65.84)

For+ti , if +ti frendes be ay in +taire ese and hele and welsh of +tis
worlde , +tou and +tai bath may have +te mare drede +tat +tai lose
noght +te joy of heven withouten ende . (CMROLLEP,65.85)

If +tai be in penance and sekenes , or if +tai lyf rightwisly , +tai
may trayste to come til +te blysse . (CMROLLEP,65.86)

For+ti in +tis degre of lufe +tou sal be fulfilde with +te grace of +te
Haly Gaste , +tat +tou sal noght have na sorow ne grutchyng bot for
gastly thyng , als for +ti synnes and other mennes , and after +te lufe
of Jhesu Criste , and in thynkyng of his passyon . (CMROLLEP,65.87)

And I wil +tat +tou have it mykel in mynde , (CMROLLEP,65.88)

for it wyll kyndel +ti hert to sett at noght al +te gudes of +tis
worlde and +te joy +tarof , and to desyre byrnandly +te lyght of heven
with aungels and halowes . (CMROLLEP,65.89)

And when +ti hert es haly ordande to +te service of God , and al
worldly thoghtes put oute , +tan wil +te liste stele by +te alane , to
thynk on <P_66> Criste , and to be in mykel praying . (CMROLLEP,66.90)

For thorow gode thoghtes and hali prayers +ti hert sal be made byrnand
in +te lufe of Jhesu Criste , (CMROLLEP,66.91)

and +tan sal +tow fele swetnes and gastely joy bath in praying and in
thynkyng . (CMROLLEP,66.92)

And when +tou ert by +te alane , gyf +te mykel to say +te psalmes of
+te psauter and Pater noster and Ave Maria ; (CMROLLEP,66.93)

and take na tent +tat +tou say many , bot +tat +tou say +tam wele ,
with al +te devocion +tat +tow may , liftand up +ti thoght til heven .
(CMROLLEP,66.94)

Better it es to say seven psalmes wyth desyre of Crystes lufe , havand
+ti hert on +ti praying , +tan seven hundreth thowsand suffrand +ti
thoght passe in vanitees of bodyli thynges . (CMROLLEP,66.95)

What gude , hopes +tou , may come +tarof , if +tou lat +ti tonge blaber
on +te boke and +ti hert ren abowte in sere stedes in +te worlde ?
(CMROLLEP,66.96)

For+ti sett +ti thoght in Criste , (CMROLLEP,66.97)

and he sal rewle it til hym . And halde +te fra +te venome of +te
worldly bisynesse . (CMROLLEP,66.98)

And I pray +te , als +tou covaytes to be Goddes lufer , +tat +tou lufe
+tis name Jhesu , and thynk it in +ti hert , sa +tat +tou forget it
never , whareso +tou be . (CMROLLEP,66.99)

And sothely I say +te , +tat +tou sal fynd mykel joy and comforth
+tarin ; (CMROLLEP,66.100)

and for +te lufe +tat +tou lufes Jhesu , so tenderly and so specialy ,
+tou sal be fulfild of grace in erth , and be Criste dere servande in
heven . (CMROLLEP,66.101)

For na thyng pays God swa mykel als verray lufe of +tis nam Jhesu .
(CMROLLEP,66.102)

If +tou luf it ryght and lastandely , and never let , for na thyng +tat
men may do or say , +tou sal be receyved intil a heghar lyfe +tan +tou
can covete . (CMROLLEP,66.103)

His godenes es sa mykel , +tar we inwardly aske hym ane , he wil gyf
fyfe , so wele payde es he when we wil sett al oure hert to lufe hym .
(CMROLLEP,66.104)

In +tis degre of lufe +tou sal overcome +ti enmyse , +te worlde , +te
devel , and +ti flesche . (CMROLLEP,66.105)

Bot never-+te-latter +tou sal ever have feghtyng whils +tou lyfes .
(CMROLLEP,66.106)

Til +tou dye , +te behoves to be bysy to stande , +tat +tou fal noght
<P_67> intil delites , ne in evel thoghtes , ne in evel wordes , ne in
evel warke . (CMROLLEP,67.107)

For+ti grete aght +ti +gernyng be +tat +tou lufe Criste verrayly .
(CMROLLEP,67.108)

+Ti flesche sal +tou overcome with haldyng of +ti maydenhede , for
Goddes lufe anely ; or if +tou be na mayden , thorow chaste lyvyng and
resonabel in thoght and dede , and thorow discrete abstinence .
(CMROLLEP,67.109)

+Te worlde +tou sal overcom thorow covaytyng of Cristes lufe and
thynkyng on +tis swete name Jhesus , and desyre til heven .
(CMROLLEP,67.110)

For als sone als +tou feles savoure in Jhesu , +te wil thynk al +te
worlde noght bot vanyte and noy for men sawles . (CMROLLEP,67.111)

+Tow will noght covayte +tan to be riche , to have many mantels and
fayre , many kyrtels and drewryse ; (CMROLLEP,67.112)

bot al +tou wil sett at noght , and despise it als noght it ware , and
take na mare +tan +te nedes . (CMROLLEP,67.113)

+Te wil thynk twa mantels or ane inogh ; (CMROLLEP,67.114)

+tow +tat hase fyve or sex , gyf some til Criste , +tat gase naked in a
pore wede ; (CMROLLEP,67.115)

and halde noght all , (CMROLLEP,67.116)

for +tou wate noght if +tow lif til +tai be half gane .
(CMROLLEP,67.117)

+Te devell es overcome when +tou standes stabely agaynes al his
fandyngys in sothefast charite and mekenes . (CMROLLEP,67.118)

I wil +tat +tow never be ydel , bot ay owther speke of God , or wirke
som notabil warke , or thynk on hym principaly , +tat +ti thoght be ay
havand hym in mynde . (CMROLLEP,67.119)

And thynk oft on his passyon : (CMROLLEP,67.120)

{COM:poetry_omitted}

<P_69.257>

If +tou wil thynk +tis ilk day , +tou sal fynde swetnes +tat sal draw
+ti hert up , +tat sal gar +te fal in gretyng and in grete langyng til
Jhesu , (CMROLLEP,69.257.123)

and +ti thoght sal al be on Jhesu , and so be receyved aboven all
erthly thyng , aboven +te firmament and +te sternes , so +tat +te egh
of +ti hert mai loke intil heven . (CMROLLEP,69.257.124)

And +tan enters +tow into +te thirde degre of lufe , in +te whilk +tou
sal have grete delyte and comforth , if +tow may get grace to com
+tartill . (CMROLLEP,69.257.125)

For I say noght +tat +tou , or another +tat redes +tis , sal do it all
; (CMROLLEP,69.257.126)

for it es at Goddes will to chese wham he will , to do +tat here es
sayde , or els another thyng on another maner , als he gifes men grace
til have +taire hele . (CMROLLEP,69.257.127)

For sere men takes seer grace of oure Lorde Jhesu Criste ;
(CMROLLEP,69.257.128)

and al sal be sett in +te joy of heven , +tat endes in charite .
(CMROLLEP,69.257.129)

Wha sa es in +tis degre , wisdom he hase , and discrecion , to luf at
Goddes will . (CMROLLEP,69.257.130)

+Tis degre es called contemplatife lyfe , +tat lufes to be anely ,
withowten ryngyng or dyn or syngyng or criyng . (CMROLLEP,69.257.131)

At +te begynyng , when +tou comes +tartil , +ti gastly egh es taken up
intil +te blysse of heven , and +tar lyghtned with grace and kyndelde
with fyre of Cristes lufe , sa +tat +tou sal verraly fele +te bernyng
of lufe in +ti hert ever mare and mare , liftand +ti thoght to God ,
and feland lufe , joy , and swetnes so mykel +tat na sekenes , anguys ,
ne scheme , ne penance may greve +te , (CMROLLEP,69.257.132)

bot al +ti lyf sal turne intyl joy ; (CMROLLEP,69.257.133)

and +tan fore heghnesse of +ti hert +ti prayers turnes intil joyful
sange , and +ti thoghtes to melody . (CMROLLEP,69.257.134)

+Tan es Jhesu al +ti <P_70> desyre , al +ti delyte , al +ti joy , al
+ti solace , al +ti comforth ; (CMROLLEP,70.135)

al I wate +tat on hym ever be +ti sang , in hym all +ti rest .
(CMROLLEP,70.136)

+Ten may +tow say : <poetry> ' I slepe , (CMROLLEP,70.137)

and my hert wakes . (CMROLLEP,70.138)

Wha sall tyll my lemman say : (CMROLLEP,70.139)

For hys lufe me langes ay ? ' (CMROLLEP,70.140)

</poetry>

All +tat lufes vanytees and specials of +tis warlde , and settes +taire
hert on any other thynges +tan of God , intyll +tis degre +tai may
noght come , ne intyll $+tat other degre of lufe before nevind .
(CMROLLEP,70.142)

And +tarfore all worldely solace +te behoves forsake , +tat +ti hert be
heldande til na lufe of any creature , ne til na bysynes in erth , +tat
+tou may be in sylence , be ay stabilly and stalwortly with +ti hert in
Goddes lufe and hys drede . (CMROLLEP,70.143)

Owre Lorde gyfes noght to men fairehede , ritchesse , and delytes for
to sette +taire hertes on and dispend +tam in synne , bot for +tai
sulde knew hym and lufe hym and thank hym of al hys gyftes .
(CMROLLEP,70.144)

+Te mare es +taire scheme , if +tai wreth hym +tat hase gyfen +tam
gyftes in body and in saule . (CMROLLEP,70.145)

For+ti , if we covayte to fle +te payne of purgatory , us behoves
restreyne us perfitely fra +te lust and +te likyng and al +te il
delytes and wikked drede of +tis worlde , and +tat worldely sorow be
noght in us , bot +tat we halde owre hope faste in Jhesu Criste , and
stande manly agaynes al temptacions . (CMROLLEP,70.146)

Now I write a sang of lufe , +tat +tou sal delyte in when +tow ert
lufand Jhesu Criste : (CMROLLEP,70.147)

{COM:remainder_of_text_poetry}

<P_73>

{ED:The_Commandment}

+TE comawndement of God es , +tat we lufe oure Lorde in al oure hert ,
in all oure saule , in al oure thoght . (CMROLLEP,73.151)

In al oure hert : +tat es , in al oure understandyng , withowten erryng
. (CMROLLEP,73.152)

In al owre sawle : +tat es , in al oure will , withowten gaynsaiyng .
(CMROLLEP,73.153)

In al oure thoght : +tat es , +tat we thynk on hym , withowten
forgetyng . (CMROLLEP,73.154)

In +tis maner es verray lufe and trew , (CMROLLEP,73.155)

+tat es werk of mans will . (CMROLLEP,73.156)

For lufe es a wilful stiryng of owre thoght intil God , sa +tat it
receyve na thyng +tat es agaynes +te lufe of Jhesu Crist , and +tarwith
+tat it be lastand in swetnes of devocion ; (CMROLLEP,73.157)

and +tis es +te perfeccion of +tis lyfe , <P_74> til +te whilk al
dedely syn es contrary and enmy , bot noght venyall syn .
(CMROLLEP,74.158)

For venial syn dose noght away charite , (CMROLLEP,74.159)

bot anly lettes +te usce and +te byrnyng +tarof . (CMROLLEP,74.160)

For+ti all +tat wil lufe God perfitely , +taim behoves noght alanly fle
al dedly synnes , bot alsa , als mykel als +tai may , all venial syn ,
in thoght and worde and dede ; and namly , to be of lytel speche .
(CMROLLEP,74.161)

And +tat sylens be in occupacion of gode thoghtes , it helpes gretely
to Goddes lufe ; (CMROLLEP,74.162)

for jangelers and bakbyters , +tat appayres other mens lyfe with wikked
wordes , and all +tat roses +tar awne state before all other , or +tat
despises any state in +te whilke a man may be safe , +tai have na mare
syght of +te lufe of God in +taire sawle +ten +te egh of a bak has of
+te sonne . (CMROLLEP,74.163)

For vayne speche and ill wordes er syngne of a vayne hert and ill ,
+tat es withowten grace of God ; (CMROLLEP,74.164)

and he +tat spekes ay +te gode , and haldes ilk a man better +tan
hymselfe , he schewes wele +tat he es stabel in godenes in hys hert ,
and ful of charite til God and til his neghbor . (CMROLLEP,74.165)

And +tat +tou may wynne til +te swetnes of Goddes lufe , I sett here
thre degree of lufe , in +te whilk +tou be ay waxand .
(CMROLLEP,74.166)

+Te fyrst degre es called insuperabel , +te secunde inseparabel , +te
thyrd singuler . (CMROLLEP,74.167)

+Ti luf es insuperabel , when na thyng may overcome hit , +tat es ,
nowther wele ne waa , ese ne anguys , lust of flesch ne likyng of +tis
worlde ; (CMROLLEP,74.168)

bot ay it lastes in gode thoght , if it wer temped gretely ,
(CMROLLEP,74.169)

and it hates all syn , sa +tat na thyng may slokken +tat lufe .
(CMROLLEP,74.170)

+Ti lufe es inseparabel , when al +ti thoghtes and +ti willes er gederd
togeder and festend haly in Jhesu Criste , swa +tat +tou may na tyme
forgete hym , (CMROLLEP,74.171)

bot ay +tou thynkes on hym . (CMROLLEP,74.172)

And for+ti it es called inseparabel , (CMROLLEP,74.173)

for it may noght be departed fra +te thoght of Jhesu Criste .
(CMROLLEP,74.174)

+Ti luf es singuler , when al +ti delyte es in Jhesu Cryste , and in
nane other thyng fyndes joy and comforth . (CMROLLEP,74.175)

In +tis degre es lufe stalworth as dede , and hard as hell ;
(CMROLLEP,74.176)

for als <P_75> dede slas al lyvand thyng in +tis worlde , sa perfite
lufe slas in a mans sawle all fleschly desyres and erthly covaytise ;
(CMROLLEP,75.177)

and als hell spares noght til dede men , bot tormentes al +tat commes
+tartill , alswa a man +tat es in +tis degre of lufe , noght anly he
forsakes +te wretched solace of +tis lyf , (CMROLLEP,75.178)

bot alswa he covaytes to sofer pynes for Goddes lufe .
(CMROLLEP,75.179)

+Tarfore , if +te lyst lufe any thyng , lufe Jhesu Criste , +tat es +te
fayrest , richest , and wysest , whas lufe lastes in joy endles .
(CMROLLEP,75.180)

For al erthly lufe es passand , (CMROLLEP,75.181)

and wytes sone away . (CMROLLEP,75.182)

If +tou be covetose after gode , luf hym , (CMROLLEP,75.183)

and +tou sal have al gode . (CMROLLEP,75.184)

Desyre hym trewly , (CMROLLEP,75.185)

and +te sal wante na thyng . (CMROLLEP,75.186)

If delites like +te , lufe hym , (CMROLLEP,75.187)

for he gyfes delites til hys lovers , +tat never may perisch .
(CMROLLEP,75.188)

Bot al +te delytes of +tis world er faynt and fals and fayland in maste
nede ; (CMROLLEP,75.189)

+tai bygyn in swettnes , (CMROLLEP,75.190)

and +tair endyng es bitterer +tan +te gall . (CMROLLEP,75.191)

If +tou kan noght lyf withowten felichip , lyft +ti thoght til heven ,
+tat +tou may fynd comforth with aungels and halows , +te whilke wil
helpe +te til God and noght lett +te , als +ti fleschly frendes dos .
(CMROLLEP,75.192)

Restreyn +ti will a while fra al lust and lykyng of syn ,
(CMROLLEP,75.193)

and +tou sall have efterwarde al +ti will ; (CMROLLEP,75.194)

for it sal be clensed , and made sa fre +tat +te lyst do na thyng bot
+tat +tat es payng of God . (CMROLLEP,75.195)

If +te lyste speke , forbere it at +te begynnyng , for Goddes lufe ;
(CMROLLEP,75.196)

for when +ti hert feles delyte in Criste , +te wil not liste to speke ,
ne jangell , bot of Criste . (CMROLLEP,75.197)

If +tow may not dreghe to syt by +ti nane , use +te stalworthly in hys
lufe ; (CMROLLEP,75.198)

and he sal sa stabyly sett +te , +tat al +te solace of +tis worlde sal
noght remove +te , (CMROLLEP,75.199)

for +te will noght list +tarof . (CMROLLEP,75.200)

When +tow ert be +tiself , be ay , till slepe come , owther in prayer
or in gode meditacioun ; (CMROLLEP,75.201)

and ordane +ti prayng and +ti wakyng and +ti fastyng +tat it be in
discrecion , noght over mykel na over litel . (CMROLLEP,75.202)

Bot thynk ay +tat of <P_76> all thyng maste coveytes God +te lufe of
mans hert ; (CMROLLEP,76.203)

and for+ti seke mare to lufe hym +tan to do any penance .
(CMROLLEP,76.204)

For unskylful penance es litel worth , or noght ; (CMROLLEP,76.205)

bot lufe es ay +te best , whether +tou do penance mykel or lytel .
(CMROLLEP,76.206)

Be abowtwarde in +ti myght , +tat +tou war swa inwardly gyven til +te
lufe of Jhesu Criste , +tat for gastly joy of +ti sawle na thyng +tat
men may do or say make +te sary ; swa +tat +ti thoght within be fed
anly in +te swetnes of Cristes lufe , and noght in delyte of erthly ese
, ne in lovyng of men , when +tai begyn to speke gode of +te in ydel
joy . (CMROLLEP,76.207)

Trayst in God , +tat he wil gif til +te +tat +tou prayse hym skilfully
. (CMROLLEP,76.208)

Skylful prayer es , til cristen mans sawle , to seke and aske nyght and
day +te lufe of Jhesu Criste , +tat it may lufe hym verraly , feland
comforth and delyte in hym , owtkastyng worldes thoghtes and il bysynes
. (CMROLLEP,76.209)

And sykir be +tou , if +tou covayte his lufe trewly and lastandly , swa
+tat na lufe of +ti flesche , ne angers of +te worlde , ne speche , ne
hatreden of men draw +te agayne and caste +te noght in bisynes of
bodily thyng ; +tou sal have his lufe , and fynd and fele +tat it es
delitabeler in an owre +tan al +te welthe +tat we here se may til
domesday . (CMROLLEP,76.210)

And if +tou fayle and fall for temptacions , or for angers , or for
over mykel luf of +ti frendes , it es na wonder if he halde fra +te
thyng +tat +tow covaytes noght trewly . (CMROLLEP,76.211)

He says +tat ' he lufes +tam +tat lufes hym , and +tai +tat arely wakes
til hym sal fynde him ' . (CMROLLEP,76.212)

+Tow ert arely wakand oftsythe , (CMROLLEP,76.213)

why +tan fyndes +tou hym noght ? (CMROLLEP,76.214)

Certes , if +tou seke hym ryght , +tou sall fynde hym .
(CMROLLEP,76.215)

Bot ay whiles +tou sekes erthly joy , if +tou wake never sa arely ,
Criste may +tou noght fynde . (CMROLLEP,76.216)

For he es noght funden in +tair lande +tat lyves in fleschly lustes .
(CMROLLEP,76.217)

Hys moder , when he was willed fra hyr , scho soght hym gretand arely
and late ymang his kynredyn and hirs ; (CMROLLEP,76.218)

bot scho fend hym noght , for al hyr sekyng , til at +te laste scho
come <P_77> intil +te tempyl , (CMROLLEP,77.219)

and +tare scho fend hym syttand ymange +te maysters , herand and
answerand . (CMROLLEP,77.220)

Swa behoves +te do , if +tou wil fynd hym : (CMROLLEP,77.221)

seke hym inwardly , in trouth and hope and charite of haly kyrk ,
castand owt al syn , hatand it in al +ti hert : (CMROLLEP,77.222)

for +tat haldes hym fra +te , (CMROLLEP,77.223)

and lettes +te , +tat +tou may noght fynd hym . (CMROLLEP,77.224)

+Te herdes , +tat hym soght , fend hym lyand in a krybbe bytwyx twa
bestes , (CMROLLEP,77.225)

+tat +tou knawes . (CMROLLEP,77.226)

If +tou seke hym verraly , +te behoves ga in +te way of povert and
noght of riches . (CMROLLEP,77.227)

+Te sterne led +te thre keynges intil Bedlem , +tar +tai fend Criste
swedeld in clowtes sympely , as a pore barne . (CMROLLEP,77.228)

+Tarby understand , whils +tou ert in pryde and vanyte , +tou fyndes
hym noght . (CMROLLEP,77.229)

How may +tou for scheme , +tat es bot servand , with many clathes and
riche folow +ti spowse and +ti Lorde , +tat yhede in a kyrtel ,
(CMROLLEP,77.230)

and +tou trayles als mykel behynd +te as al +tat he had on ?
(CMROLLEP,77.231)

For+ti , I rede +tat +tou parte with hym ar +tou and he mete , +tat he
reprove +te noght of outrage ; (CMROLLEP,77.232)

for he wil +tat +tow have +tat +tou hase mister of , and na mare .
(CMROLLEP,77.233)

He sayde til his discipyls +tat +tai sulde noght have als many clashes
as twa myght be sustend with ; (CMROLLEP,77.234)

for to traveyle +tareabowte es owtrage bisynes , +tat he forbedes .
(CMROLLEP,77.235)

+Te lufe of Jhesu Criste es ful dere tresure , ful delytabyl joy , and
ful syker to trayst man on . (CMROLLEP,77.236)

For+ti he wil not gyf it to folys , +tat ken noght held it and kepe it
tenderly ; (CMROLLEP,77.237)

bot til +taim he gese it , +te whilk nowther for wele ne for wa wil let
it passe fra +tam , (CMROLLEP,77.238)

bot are +tai wil dye or +tai wolde wrath Jhesu Criste .
(CMROLLEP,77.239)

And na wyse man dose precyous lycor in a stynkand vessell , bot in a
clene ; als Criste dose noght his lufe in a foule hert in syn and
bownden in wile lust of flesche , bot in a hert +tat es fayre and clene
in vertues . (CMROLLEP,77.240)

Noght for+ti , a fowle vessel may be made sa clene , +tat a ful dere
thyng savely may be done +tarin . (CMROLLEP,77.241)

And Jhesu Criste <P_78> oftsythes purges many synfull mans sawle ,
(CMROLLEP,78.242)

and makes it abyl , thurgh his grace , to receyve +te delitabel swetnes
of hys luf , and to be his wonnyng-sted in halynes ; (CMROLLEP,78.243)

and ay +te clennar it waxes , +te mare joy and solace of heven Criste
settes +tarin . (CMROLLEP,78.244)

For+ti , at +te fyrst tyme when a man es turned to God he may not fele
+tat swete lycor , til he have bene wele used in Goddes servys ,
(CMROLLEP,78.245)

and his hert be purged thorow prayers and penance and gode thoghtes in
God . (CMROLLEP,78.246)

For he +tat es slaw in Goddes servyce may noght be byrnand in lufe ,
bot if he do al his myght and travell , nyght and day , to fulfill
Goddes wille . (CMROLLEP,78.247)

And when +tat blyssed lufe es in a mans hert , it will not suffer hym
be ydel , (CMROLLEP,78.248)

bot ay it stirres hym to do some gode +tat myght be lykand til God , as
in praying , or in wirkyng profitabel thynges , or in spekyng of
Cristes passyon ; and principally in thoght +tat +te mynde of Jhesu
Criste passe noght fra his thoght . (CMROLLEP,78.249)

For if +tou lufe hym trewly , +tou wil glad +te in hym , and noght in
other thyng . (CMROLLEP,78.250)

And +tou $wil thynk on hym , kastand away al other thoghtes .
(CMROLLEP,78.251)

Bot if +tou be fals , and take o+ter +tan hym , and delyte +te in
erthly thyng agaynes his wille , wit +tou wele , he will forsake +te ,
as +tou hase done hyme , and dampne +te for +ti synne . Wharfore , +tat
+tou may lufe hym trewly , understand +tat his lufe es proved in thre
thynges : in thynkyng , in spekyng , in wirkyng . (CMROLLEP,78.252)

Chaunge +ti thoght fra +te worlde , (CMROLLEP,78.253)

and kast it haly on hym ; (CMROLLEP,78.254)

and he sall norysche +te . (CMROLLEP,78.255)

Chaunge +ti mowth fra unnayte and warldes speche , (CMROLLEP,78.256)

and speke of hym ; (CMROLLEP,78.257)

and he sall comforth +te . (CMROLLEP,78.258)

Chaunge +ti hend fra +te warkes of vanitese , (CMROLLEP,78.259)

and lyft +tam in his name , (CMROLLEP,78.260)

and wyrke anly for hys lufe ; (CMROLLEP,78.261)

and he sall receyve +te . (CMROLLEP,78.262)

Do +tus , (CMROLLEP,78.263)

and +tan lufes +tou trewly , (CMROLLEP,78.264)

and gase in +te way of perfitenes . (CMROLLEP,78.265)

Delyte +te sa in hym , +tat +ti hert receyve nowther worldes joy ne
worldes sorow , (CMROLLEP,78.266)

and <P_79> drede no anguys ne noy +tat may befalle bodyly on +te , or
on any of +ti frendes ; (CMROLLEP,79.267)

bot betake all intil Goddes will , (CMROLLEP,79.268)

and thank hym ay of all hys sandes , swa +tat +tou may have rest and
savowre in hys lufe . (CMROLLEP,79.269)

For if +ti hert owther-1 be ledde with worldes drede or worldes solace
, +tou ert still fer fra +te swetnes of Cristes lufe .
(CMROLLEP,79.270)

And loke wele , +tat +tou seme not ane withowten and be another wythin
, als ypocrites dose , +te whilk er like til a sepulker +tat es paynted
richely withowten , and wythin rotes stynkand banes . (CMROLLEP,79.271)

If +tou have delyte in +te name of religion , loke +tat +tou have mare
delyte in +te dede +tat falles til religion . (CMROLLEP,79.272)

Thyne abett says +tat +tou hase forsaken +te world , +tat +tou ert
gyven till Goddes servys , +tat +tou delyte +te noght in erthly thyng .
(CMROLLEP,79.273)

Lok +tan , +tat it be in +ti hert , als it semes in men syght .
(CMROLLEP,79.274)

For na thyng may make +te religious , bot vertues and clennes of sawle
in charite . (CMROLLEP,79.275)

If +ti body be cled wythowten as +tine order wille , loke +tat +ti
sawle be noght naked within , +tat +tine order forbedes .
(CMROLLEP,79.276)

Bot naked be +ti sawle fra all vices , and warme happed in lufe and
mekenes . (CMROLLEP,79.277)

Drede +te domes of God , sa +tat +tou wrath hym noght .
(CMROLLEP,79.278)

Stabel +ti thoght in hys lufe , (CMROLLEP,79.279)

and helld owt of +te al synnes . (CMROLLEP,79.280)

Kast away slawnes . (CMROLLEP,79.281)

Use +te manly in godenes . (CMROLLEP,79.282)

Be deboner and meke til al men . (CMROLLEP,79.283)

Lat na thyng bryng +te til ire or envy . (CMROLLEP,79.284)

Dyght +ti sawle fayre , (CMROLLEP,79.285)

and make +tarin a towre of lufe til Goddes sonn , (CMROLLEP,79.286)

and gar +ti will be covaytous to receyve hym als gladly as +tou walde
be at +te commyng of a thyng +tat +tou lufed mast of al thyng .
(CMROLLEP,79.287)

Wasche +ti thoght clene wyth lufe teres and brennand +gernyng , +tat he
fynd na thyng fowle in +te . (CMROLLEP,79.288)

For his joy es +tat +tou be fayre and lufsom in his eghen .
(CMROLLEP,79.289)

Fayrehede of +ti sawle , +tat he covaytes , es +tat +tou be chaste and
meke , mylde and sufferand , (CMROLLEP,79.290)

never irk to do his wille , ay hatand all wykkednes . (CMROLLEP,79.291)

In al +tat +tou dose , thynk ay to come to +te syght of his fairehede ,
(CMROLLEP,79.292)

and sett al +tine entent +tarin , +tat +tou may come <P_80> +tartil at
+tine endyng . (CMROLLEP,80.293)

For +tat aght to be +te ende of al oure traveyle , +tat we evermare ,
whils we lyve here , desyre +tat syght in all oure hert , and +tat we
thynk ay lang +tartill . (CMROLLEP,80.294)

Alssa festen in +ti hert +te mynd of his passyon and of his woundes :
(CMROLLEP,80.295)

grete delyte and swetnes sal +tou fele , if +tou halde +ti thoght in
mynde of +te pyne +tat Crist sufferd for +te . (CMROLLEP,80.296)

If +tou traveyle right in his lufe , and desyre hym brennandly , all
temptacyons and dredes of ill +tou sall overcom , and deful under +ti
fote , thorow his grace . (CMROLLEP,80.297)

For al +tat he sees in gode will to luf hym , he helpes +tam agaynes
all +tar enmys , (CMROLLEP,80.298)

and rayses +tar thoght aboven all erthly thyng , swa +tat +tai may have
savoure and solace in +te swetnes of heven . (CMROLLEP,80.299)

Purches +te +te welle of gretyng , (CMROLLEP,80.300)

and cees noght till +tou have hym . (CMROLLEP,80.301)

For in +te hert where teres sprynges , +tar wil +te fyre of +te Haly
Gaste be kyndelde ; (CMROLLEP,80.302)

and sythen +te fyre of lufe , +tat sal byrn in +ti hert , wil bryn til
noght al +te rust of syn , and purge +ti sawle of al fylth , als clene
as +te golde +tat es proved in +te fournes . (CMROLLEP,80.303)

I wate na thyng , +tat swa inwardly sal take +ti hert to covayte Goddes
lufe , and to desyre +te joy of heven , and to despyse +te vanitees of
+tis worlde , as stedfast thynkyng of +te myscheves and grevous woundes
of +te dede of Jhesu Criste . (CMROLLEP,80.304)

It wil rayse +ti thoght aboven erthly lykyng , and make +ti hert
brennand in Cristes lufe , and purches in +ti sawle delitabelte and
savoure of heven . (CMROLLEP,80.305)

Bot peraunter +tou will say : ' I may noght despyse +te worlde ;
(CMROLLEP,80.306)

I may not fynd it in my hert to pyne my body ; (CMROLLEP,80.307)

and me behoves lufe my fleschly frendes , and take ese when it comes .
' (CMROLLEP,80.308)

If +tou be temped with swilk thoghtes , I pray +te +tat +tou umbethynk
+te , fra +te begynnyng of +tis worlde , where +te worldes lovers er
now , and where +te lovers er of God . (CMROLLEP,80.309)

Certes , +tai war <P_81> men and wymen as we er , (CMROLLEP,81.310)

and ete and drank and logh ; (CMROLLEP,81.311)

and +te wreches +tat lofed +tis worlde toke ese til +tair body ,
(CMROLLEP,81.312)

and lyved as +tam lyst in likyng of +tair wikked will ,
(CMROLLEP,81.313)

and led +tair dayes in lust and delyces ; (CMROLLEP,81.314)

and in a poynt +tai fel intil hell . (CMROLLEP,81.315)

Now may +tou see +tat +tai wer foles , and fowle glotons , +tat in a
few +geres wasted endles joy +tat was ordand for +tam , if +tai walde
have done penance for +tair synnes . (CMROLLEP,81.316)

+Tou sese +tat al +te ryches of +tis world and delytes vanys away ,
(CMROLLEP,81.317)

and commes til noght . (CMROLLEP,81.318)

Sothely , swa dose al +te lofers +tarof ; (CMROLLEP,81.319)

for na thyng may stande stabely on a fals gronde . (CMROLLEP,81.320)

+Tair bodys er gyn til wormes in erth , and +tair sawles til +te devels
of hell . (CMROLLEP,81.321)

Bot all +tat forsoke +te pompe and +te vanite of +tis lyfe , and stode
stalworthly agaynes all temptacions , and ended in +te lufe of God ,
+tai ar now in joy , (CMROLLEP,81.322)

and hase +te erytage of heven , +tar to won withowten end , restand in
+te delyces of Goddes syght : (CMROLLEP,81.323)

for here +tai soght na mare rest ne ese til +tair body +ten +tai had
nede of . (CMROLLEP,81.324)

A thyng I rede +te , +tat +tou forgete noght +tis name Jhesu ,
(CMROLLEP,81.325)

bot thynk it in +ti hert , nyght and day , as +ti speciall and +ti dere
tresowre . (CMROLLEP,81.326)

Lufe it mare +tan +ti lyfe . (CMROLLEP,81.327)

Rute it in +ti mynde . (CMROLLEP,81.328)

Lufe Jhesu , (CMROLLEP,81.329)

for he made +te , (CMROLLEP,81.330)

and boght +te ful dere . (CMROLLEP,81.331)

Gyf +ti hert till hym , (CMROLLEP,81.332)

for it es his dette . (CMROLLEP,81.333)

For+ti set +ti lufe on hys name Jhesu , +tat es ' hele . '
(CMROLLEP,81.334)

+Ter may na ill thyng have dwellying in +te hert +tar Jhesu es halden
in mynde trewly . (CMROLLEP,81.335)

For it chaces devels , (CMROLLEP,81.336)

and destroyes temptacions , (CMROLLEP,81.337)

and puttes away wykked dredes and vices , (CMROLLEP,81.338)

and clenses +te thoght . (CMROLLEP,81.339)

Whasa lofes it verraly es full of Goddes grace and vertues ; in gastly
comforth in +tis lyfe , (CMROLLEP,81.340)

and when +tai dye , +tai er taken up intil +te orders of awngels , to
se hym in endles joy +tat +tai have lufed . (CMROLLEP,81.341)

Amen . (CMROLLEP,81.342)

{ED:The_Form_of_Living}

<P_85>

<heading>

Incipit forma vivendi scripta a beato Ricardo heremita ad Margaretam
anachoritam , suam dilectam discipulam . Capitulum i=m= .
(CMROLLEP,85.346)

</heading>

IN ilk a synful man or woman , +tat es bunden in dedly syn , er +tre
wrechednes , +te wylk brynges +tam to +te dede of hell .
(CMROLLEP,85.348)

+Te first es defaute of gastly strenght , +tat +tai er sa wayke wi+tin
+tair hert +tat +tai may nou+ter stand agaynes +te fandynges of +te
fende , ne +tai may lyft +tair wil to +gerne +te lofe of God and folow
+tartill . (CMROLLEP,85.349)

+Te secund es use of fleschly desyres : (CMROLLEP,85.350)

for +tai have na will ne myght to stand , +tai fall in lustes and
likynges of +tis worlde ; (CMROLLEP,85.351)

and for +tai +tynk +tam swete , +tai dwell in +tam still , many tyll
+taire lyves ende ; (CMROLLEP,85.352)

and sa +tai come to +te +trid wrechednes . (CMROLLEP,85.353)

+Te +tred wrechednes es chaungyng of lastand gode for a passande delite
: (CMROLLEP,85.354)

als $wha {TEXT:swa} say , +tai gif joy endles for a litell joy of +tis
lyfe . (CMROLLEP,85.355)

If +tai will torn +tam , and ryse till penance , God will ordeyne +tair
wonyng wi+t awngels and wi+t haly men . (CMROLLEP,85.356)

Bot for +tai chese +te vile syn of +tis world , and hase mare delite in
+te fyl+t of +taire flesch +tan in +te fairhede of heven , +tai lose
ba+t +te worlde and heven . (CMROLLEP,85.357)

For he +tat hase noght jhesu criste , he tynes all +tat he has , and
all +tat he es , and all +tat he myght gete ; (CMROLLEP,85.358)

he ne es wor+ty +te lyfe , ne to be fedde wi+t swynes mete .
(CMROLLEP,85.359)

All creaturs sal be styrde in his vengaunce at +te day of dome .
(CMROLLEP,85.360)

+Tiere wrechednes , +tat I have of talde , er noght anely in worldly
men or women , +tat uses gluttry or litcheri and o+ter apert synnes ,
(CMROLLEP,85.361)

bot +tai er alswa in o+ter , +tat semes in penance and in gode lyf .
(CMROLLEP,85.362)

For +te devyll , +tat es enmy till al mankynde , when he sees a man or
a woman ymang a +tousand turne haly to God , and forsake all +te
vanytees and ryches +tat men +tat lufes +tis worlde covaytise , and
seke +te joy lastand , a +tousand wiles he has on what maner he may
desayve +tam . (CMROLLEP,85.363)

And <P_86> when he may noght bryng +tam intill swylk synnes , +te whylk
myght gar all men wonder on +tam , +tat knew +tam , he begyles many swa
prively +tat +tai kan noght oft sy+t fele +te trap +tat has taken
+taime . (CMROLLEP,86.364)

Some he takes wi+t errour +tat he puttes +tam yn ; some wy+t singulere
witt , when he gars +taime wene +tat +te +tyng +tat +tai sai or do es
best , and for+ti +tai wyll na counsell have of o+ter +tat es better
and conander +ten +tai ; (CMROLLEP,86.365)

and +tis es a foule stynkand pryde , (CMROLLEP,86.366)

for he wolde sett his witt before all o+ter . (CMROLLEP,86.367)

Some +te devell deceyves +turgh vayne glory , +tat es ydil joy : when
any has pryde and delyte in +tamself of +te penance +tat +tai suffer ,
of gode dedes +tat +tai do . of any vertu +tat +tai have ; es glad when
men loves +tam , sari when men lackes +tam , haves envy to +tam +tat es
spokyn mare gode of +tan of +tam ; (CMROLLEP,86.368)

+tai halde +tairself so gloriouse , and swa fer passand +te lyf +tat
o+ter men ledes , +tat +tai +tynk +tat nane suld reprehend +tam in any
+tyng +tat +tai do or say ; an dispises synfull men and o+ter , +te
whilk will not do als +tai byd +tam . (CMROLLEP,86.369)

How may +tow fynd a synfuller wretche +tan swilk ane ?
(CMROLLEP,86.370)

And sa mykell es he +te wer , +tat he wate nooght +tat he es yll , and
es halden and honord of men als wyse and hali . (CMROLLEP,86.371)

Some er deceyved wi+t over mykell lust and likyng in mete and drynk ,
when +tai passe mesure and com intill outrage and has delyte +tarein ,
and wenes +tat +tai synn noght ; (CMROLLEP,86.372)

and for+ti +tai amend +tam noght , (CMROLLEP,86.373)

and swa +tai destruye vertues of saule . (CMROLLEP,86.374)

Some er begylde wi+t ovre mikell abstinens of mete and drynk and slepe
, +tat es of +te temptacion of +te devell , for to gar +tam fall in
myddes +tair werk , swa +tat +tai bryng it till nane endyng , als +tai
suld have done if +tai had knawne skyll and halden discrecion ;
(CMROLLEP,86.375)

and swa +tai tyne +taire merit for +taire frawerdnes .
(CMROLLEP,86.376)

+Tis gylder layes oure enmy to take us wi+t , when we <P_87> begyn to
hate wycckednes and turne us till god . (CMROLLEP,87.377)

+Ten many begynnes +te +tyng +tat +tai may nevermare bryng till ende ;
(CMROLLEP,87.378)

+ten +tai wene +tat +tai may do what so +tair hert es sett on .
(CMROLLEP,87.379)

Bot oft +tai fall or +tai come ymyd gate ; (CMROLLEP,87.380)

and +tat +tyng , +tat +tai wend war for +tam , es lettyng till +tam .
(CMROLLEP,87.381)

For we have a lange way till heven ; (CMROLLEP,87.382)

and als many gode dedys $als we do , als many prayers als we make , and
als many gode +toghtes als we +tynk in trou+t and hope and charite ,
als many paces ga we till hevenward . (CMROLLEP,87.383)

+Tan if we make us sa wayke and so febyll , +tat we may nou+ter wyrk ne
pray als we suld do ne +tynk , er we nooght gretly at blame , +tat
fayles when we had maste nede to be stalwor+t ? (CMROLLEP,87.384)

and wele I watte , it es noght Goddys will +tat we sa do .
(CMROLLEP,87.385)

For +te prophete says : ' Lorde , I sall kepe my strengh to +te ' ,
+tat he myght susten Goddys servys till his dede day , and noght in a
litill and in a schort tyme waste it , and +tan lygge wanand and
granand be +te wall . (CMROLLEP,87.386)

And it es mykel mare peryll +tan men wenes . (CMROLLEP,87.387)

For saynt Jerome says +tat he makys of ravyn offerand , +tat outragely
tourmentis his body in ovre lytel mete or slepe . (CMROLLEP,87.388)

And saynt Bernarde sais : ' Fastyng and wakyngg lettis nooght gastly
goodes , bot helpes , if +tai be done wi+t descrecion ;
(CMROLLEP,87.389)

wi+touten +tat , +tai er vices . ' (CMROLLEP,87.390)

For+ti it es noght gode to pyne us so mykkell , and si+ten have un+tank
for oure dede . (CMROLLEP,87.391)

+Tare hase bene many , and er , +tat wenes +tat it es nooght all +tat
+tai do , bot if +tai be in sa mikell abstinence and fastyng , +tat all
men speke of +tam +tat knawes +tam . (CMROLLEP,87.392)

Bot oftsy+tes it befalles +tat ay +te mare joy and wonduryng +tai have
wi+touten of +te lovyng of men , ay +te les joy +tai have wi+tin of +te
luf of god . (CMROLLEP,87.393)

At my dome , +tai sulde pay Jhesu Criste mikell mare , if +tai toke for
his love , in +tankyng and lovyng of hym , for to sustan +tar body in
his servyse and to halde +tam fra mikell speche of men , what so <P_88>
God send for +te tyme and +te stede , and gaf +tam si+ten enterely and
perfitely to +te luf and +te lovyng of +tat lorde Jhesu Criste , +tat
will stalwor+tly be lufed and lastandly be served ; so +tat +taire
halynes war mare sene in goddes egh +tan in mans . (CMROLLEP,88.394)

For ay +te better +tou ert , and +te les speche +tou has of men , +te
mare es +ti joy before God . (CMROLLEP,88.395)

Ha ! What it es mykell , to be wor+ti lovyng , and be noght loved !
(CMROLLEP,88.396)

And what wrechednes it es , to have +te name and +te habet of halynes ,
and be noght so , bot cover pride , ire , or envy under +te cla+tes of
criste barnhede ! (CMROLLEP,88.397)

A foule +tyng it es to hafe lykyng and delite in mens wordes , +tat can
na mare deme what we er in oure saule , +ten +tai wate what we +tynk .
(CMROLLEP,88.398)

For oftsi+te +tai say +tat he or scho es in +te hegher degre +tat es in
+te lawer ; (CMROLLEP,88.399)

and +tat +tai say es in +te lawer , es in +te hegher .
(CMROLLEP,88.400)

For+ti I halde it bot wodnes to be gladder or sarier , whe+tir +tai say
gude or ill . (CMROLLEP,88.401)

If we be aboutewarde to hyde us fra speche and lovyng of +tis worlde ,
God will schew us till hys lovyng and oure joy . (CMROLLEP,88.402)

For +tat es his joy , when we er strenghfull to stande agaynes +te
pryve and +te aperte fandyng of +te devell , and sekes na +tyng bot +te
honoure and +te lovyng of hym , and +tat we myght enterely love hym .
(CMROLLEP,88.403)

And +tat aght to be oure desyre , oure prayer , and oure entent , nyght
and day , +tat +te fyre of hys lufe kyndell oure hert and +te swetnes
of hys grace be oure comfor+t and oure solace in wele and wo .
(CMROLLEP,88.404)

+Tow hase now herd a party how +te fende deceyves , wy+t hys sotell
craftes and whaynt , men and women . (CMROLLEP,88.405)

And if +tou will do be gode cownsel and folow haly lare , als I hope
+tat +tou will , +tou sall destroy his trappes , and bryn in +te fyre
of luf all +te bandes +tat he walde bynd +te wi+t ; (CMROLLEP,88.406)

and all his malys sall turne +te til joy , and hym till mare sorow .
(CMROLLEP,88.407)

God suffers hym to tempe gode men for +taire profete , +tat +tai may be
+te hegher crownde when +tai +turgh his helpe hase overcomne sa <P_89>
cruell an enmy , +tat oftsy+tes bo+t in body and in saule confowndes
many man . (CMROLLEP,89.408)

In +tre maners +te devell has power to be in a man . (CMROLLEP,89.409)

On a maner : hurtande +te godes +tat +tai have of kynde , als in dome
men and in o+ter , blemysand +tair +toght . (CMROLLEP,89.410)

On ano+ter maner : revande +te godes whilk +tey have of grace ;
(CMROLLEP,89.411)

and so he es in synfull man , +te whilk he hase deceyved +turgh delyte
of +te worlde and of +tair flesche , (CMROLLEP,89.412)

and ledes +tam wi+t hym till hell . (CMROLLEP,89.413)

On +te +tird maner : he tourmentes a mans body , als we rede +tat he
has done job . (CMROLLEP,89.414)

Bot wytt +tou wele , if he begyle +te noght wi+tin , +te +tar noght
drede what he may do +te wi+touten , (CMROLLEP,89.415)

for he may do na mare +tan God gyfs hym leve for to do .
(CMROLLEP,89.416)

<heading>

Capitulum 2=m= . (CMROLLEP,89.418)

</heading>

For +tat +tou has forsakyn +te solace and +te joy of +tis world , and
taken +te to solitary lyf , for gods luf to suffer tribulacion and
anguys here , and si+ten com to +tat blys +tat nevermare blynnes , I
trowe treuly +tat +te comfor+t of Jhesu Criste and +te swetnes of his
love , wi+t +te fire of +te Haly Gast , +tat purges all syn , sall be
in +te and wi+t +te , ledand +te , and lerand +te how +tou sall +tynk ,
how +tou sall pray , what +tou sall wyrk ; so +tat in a few +gers +tou
sall have mare delyte to be by +ti nane , and speke till +ti luf and to
+ti spows Jhesu Crist , +tat hegh es in heven , +tan if +tou war lady
here of a +towsand worldes . (CMROLLEP,89.420)

Men wenes +tat we er in pyne and in penance grete , (CMROLLEP,89.421)

bot we have mare joy and mare verray delyte in a day , +tan +tai have
in +te worlde all +tar lyve . (CMROLLEP,89.422)

+Tai se oure body ; (CMROLLEP,89.423)

bot +tai se noght oure hert , whare oure solace es . (CMROLLEP,89.424)

If +tai saw +tat , many of +tam wold forsake all +tat +tai have , for
to folow us . (CMROLLEP,89.425)

For+ti be comford and stalwor+t , (CMROLLEP,89.426)

and drede na noye ne angwysch ; (CMROLLEP,89.427)

bot fest all +tyne entent in Jhesu , +tat +ti lyf be <P_90> gode and
wheme . (CMROLLEP,90.428)

And loke +tat +tere be na +tyng in +te , +tat suld be myspayand till
hym , +tat +tou ne sone amend itt . (CMROLLEP,90.429)

+Te state +tat +tou ert in , +tat es solitude , es maste abyll of all
o+tyr til revelacion of +te Haly Gaste . (CMROLLEP,90.430)

For when saynt Jone was in +te yle of Pa+tmos , +tan God schewed hym
his pryvytees . (CMROLLEP,90.431)

+Te godenes of God it es , +tat he comfortes +tam wondyrfully , +tat
has na comfor+t of +te worlde , if +tai gyf +tair hert enterly till hym
, and covayts noght , ne sekes bot hym ; (CMROLLEP,90.432)

+ten he gyves hymself till +taime in swetnes and delyte in byrnyng of
luf , and in joy and melody , (CMROLLEP,90.433)

and dwelles ay wi+t +tam in +taire saule , sa +tat +te comfor+t of hym
departes never fra +tam . (CMROLLEP,90.434)

And if +tai any tym begyn till erre , +turgh ignorance or freelte ,
sone he wysses +tam +te right way ; (CMROLLEP,90.435)

and all +tat +tai have nede of , he leres +tam . (CMROLLEP,90.436)

Na man till swylk revelacion and grace on +te first day may kom , bot
+turgh lang travell and bysiness to loue Jhesu Criste , als +tou sall
here afterward . (CMROLLEP,90.437)

Noght for+ti +tan he suffers +tam to be temped on sere maners , bo+t
wakand and slepand . (CMROLLEP,90.438)

For ay +te ma temptacions , and +te grevoser , +tai stande agayne and
overcomes , +te mare sall +tai joy in his luf when +tai er passed .
(CMROLLEP,90.439)

wakand +tai er umwhile tempyd wy+t foule +toghtys , vile lustes ,
wicked delites , wi+t pryde , ire , envy , despaire , presumpcion , and
o+ter many . (CMROLLEP,90.440)

Bot +taire remedy sall be preyer , gretyng , fastyng , wakyng .
(CMROLLEP,90.441)

+Tire +tynges , if +tai be done wi+t discrecion , +tai put away syn and
fil+t fra +te saule , (CMROLLEP,90.442)

and makes it clene to receyve +te luf of Jhesu Criste , +tat may noght
be loved bot in clennes . (CMROLLEP,90.443)

Also umwhile +te fende tempes men and women , +tat er solitary by +tam
ane , on a qwaynt maner and a sotell . (CMROLLEP,90.444)

He transfigurs hym in +te lyknes of an awngel of lyght ,
(CMROLLEP,90.445)

and apers till +tam , (CMROLLEP,90.446)

and sayes +tat he es ane <P_91> of Goddes awngels comen to comfor+t
+tam ; (CMROLLEP,91.447)

and swa he deceyves foles . (CMROLLEP,91.448)

Bot +tai +tat er wys , and wil not tyte trow till all spirites , bot
askes cownsel of conand men , he may not begyle +tam .
(CMROLLEP,91.449)

Als I fynd writen of a reclues , +tat was a gude woman , til +te whilk
+te ill awngell oftsy+tes aperde in +te forme of a gode awngel , and
sayd +tat he was comen to bryng hir to heven . Wharfore scho was right
glad and joyful . (CMROLLEP,91.450)

Bot never-+te-latter scho talde it til hir schryftfader ;
(CMROLLEP,91.451)

and he , als wyse man and war , gaf hir +tis counsell .
(CMROLLEP,91.452)

' When he comes ' , he sayde , ' byd hym +tat he schew +te oure lady
saynt Mary . (CMROLLEP,91.453)

When he has done swa , say Ave Maria . ' (CMROLLEP,91.454)

Scho dyd sa . (CMROLLEP,91.455)

+Te fende sayde : ' +Tou has ne nede to se hyr ; (CMROLLEP,91.456)

my presence suffyse to +te . ' (CMROLLEP,91.457)

And scho sayde , on all maner scho suld se hyr . (CMROLLEP,91.458)

He saw +tat hym behoved ou+ter do hir wyll , or scho walde despyse hym
. (CMROLLEP,91.459)

Als tyte he broght for+t +te fayrest woman +tat myght be , als to hyr
syght , (CMROLLEP,91.460)

and schewed til hyr . (CMROLLEP,91.461)

And scho sett hir on hir knees , (CMROLLEP,91.462)

and sayde ' Ave Maria ' . (CMROLLEP,91.463)

And als tyte all vanyst away ; (CMROLLEP,91.464)

and for scham never si+ten come he at hir . (CMROLLEP,91.465)

+Tis I say , not for I hope +tat he sal have leve to tempe +te on +tis
maner , bot for I will +tat +tou be war , if any swylk temptacions
befall +te , slepand or wakand , +tat +tou trow not ovre tyte , til
+tou knaw +te so+t . (CMROLLEP,91.466)

Mare privilyer he transfigurs hym in +te forme of an awngel of lyght ,
+tat comonli al men ar temped wi+t , when he hydes ill under +te liknes
of gode ; (CMROLLEP,91.467)

and +tat es in twa maneres . (CMROLLEP,91.468)

Ane es , when he egges us til ovre mykel ees and rest of body and
softnes til oure flesche , undir nede to susteyne oure kynde .
(CMROLLEP,91.469)

For swilk +toghtes he puttes in us : (CMROLLEP,91.470)

bot if we ete wele , and drynk wele , and slepe wele , and lygge soft ,
and sytt warme , we may not serve God , ne last in +te travell +tat we
have begonn . (CMROLLEP,91.471)

Bot he +tynkes to bryng us till over mykel lust . (CMROLLEP,91.472)

Ano+ter es , when under +te lyknes of gastly <P_92> gode he entices us
til scharp and ovre mikel penance , for to destroye oure self ; and
says +tus : ' +Tou wate wele , +tat he +tat suffers mast peneance for
goddes lufe , he sall have maste mede . (CMROLLEP,92.473)

For+ti ete litell and febyl mete , (CMROLLEP,92.474)

and drynk lesse ; (CMROLLEP,92.475)

+te +tynnest drynk es gode ynogh till +te . (CMROLLEP,92.476)

Recke noght of slepe ; (CMROLLEP,92.477)

were +te hayre and +te habirion . (CMROLLEP,92.478)

All +tyng +tat es affliccion for +ti flesche , do it , so +tat +tare be
nane +tat may passe +te in penance . (CMROLLEP,92.479)

He +tat says +te +tus es aboute to sla +te wi+t ovre mykel abstinence ,
als he +tat sayde +te to+ter to sla +te wi+t ovre lytell .
(CMROLLEP,92.480)

For+ti , if we will be right disposed , us behoves sett us in a gude
mene , and +tat we may destroy owre vices and halde oure flesche under
; and never+telatter +tat it be stalwor+t in +te servyse of Jhesu
Criste . (CMROLLEP,92.481)

Alsswa oure enmy will noght suffer us to be in rest when we slepe ;
(CMROLLEP,92.482)

bot +tan he es aboute to begyle us in many maners . (CMROLLEP,92.483)

Umwhile wi+t uggly ymages , for to make us radde and make us la+te wi+t
oure state . (CMROLLEP,92.484)

Umwhile wi+t faire ymages , fayre syghtes and +tat semes confortabell ,
for to make us glad in vayne , and gar us wene +tat we er better +tan
we er . (CMROLLEP,92.485)

Umwhile tels us +tat we er haly and gode , for to bryng us intill pryde
. (CMROLLEP,92.486)

Bot he , +tat es ordiner of all +tyng , suffers noght +tat oure slepe
be wi+towten mede til us , if we dresse oure lyfe till his will .
(CMROLLEP,92.487)

And wyt +tow wele , +tou syns noght slepand , if +tou be evermare
wakande wi+touten outrage of mete and drynk and wi+touten ill +toghtes
. (CMROLLEP,92.488)

Bot many ane +te devel hase deceyved +turgh dremes , when he haves gart
+tam sett +tair hert on +tam . (CMROLLEP,92.489)

For he hase schewed +tam some so+te , and se+tyn begyld +tam wi+t ane
+tat was fals . (CMROLLEP,92.490)

For+ti says +te wyse man , +tat many besynes folowes dremes ; an +tai
fell , +tat hoped in +tam . <P_93> Wharfore , +tat +tou be not begylde
wi+t +tam , I will +tat +tou witt +tat +ter er sex maners of dremes .
(CMROLLEP,93.491)

Twa er , +tat na man , haly ne o+ter , may eschape . (CMROLLEP,93.492)

+Tai er , if +tair wambe be ovre tome , or ovre full ;
(CMROLLEP,93.493)

+tan many vanitees in seer maners befalles +tam slepande .
(CMROLLEP,93.494)

+Te +trid es , of illusyons of oure enmy . (CMROLLEP,93.495)

+Te fer+t es , of +toght before , and illusion folouand . And +te fyft
, +torow +te revelacion of +te Hali Gast , +tat es done on many a maner
. (CMROLLEP,93.496)

+Te sext es , of +toghtes before +tat falles to Criste or hali kyrk ,
revelacion comand after . (CMROLLEP,93.497)

In +tus many maners touches +te ymage of dremes men when +tai slepe .
(CMROLLEP,93.498)

Bot sa mykell we sall latlyer gyf fay+t till any dreme , +tat we may
not sone wyt whilk es so+t , whilk es fals , whilk es of oure enmy ,
whilk es of +te Hali Gaste . (CMROLLEP,93.499)

For whare many dremes er , +tare er many vanitees . (CMROLLEP,93.500)

And many +tai may make to erre ; for +tai hegh unwhaynt men ,
(CMROLLEP,93.501)

and swa deceyves +tam . (CMROLLEP,93.502)

<heading>

Capitulum 3=m= . (CMROLLEP,93.504)

</heading>

$I knawe +tat +ti lyfe es gyven to +te servyce of God .
(CMROLLEP,93.506)

+tan es it schame til +te , bot if +tou be als gode , or better ,
wi+tin in +ti sawle , als +tou ert semand at +te syght of men .
(CMROLLEP,93.507)

Turne for+ti +ti +toghtes perfitely till God , als it semes +tat +tou
hase done +ti body . (CMROLLEP,93.508)

For I will not +tat +tou wene +tat all er hali +tat hase +te abet of
halynes , and er noght ocupyed wi+t +te worlde ; ne +tat all er ill
+tat melles +tam wi+t er+tly bysines . (CMROLLEP,93.509)

Bot +tai er anly hali , what state or degre +tai be in , +te whilk
despises all er+tly +tyng , +tat es at say , lufs it noght , and byrnes
in +te luf of Jhesu Criste , and al +tair desires er sett til +te joy
of heven , and hates al synn , and ceses noght of gode werkys , and
feles a swetnes in +taire hert of +te lufe wi+touten ende .
(CMROLLEP,93.510)

And neuer+telatter +tai +tynk +tamself vylest of all ,
(CMROLLEP,93.511)

and haldes +tam wretchedest , leste , and lawest . (CMROLLEP,93.512)

+Tis es hali <P_94> mens lyf ; (CMROLLEP,94.513)

folow it , (CMROLLEP,94.514)

and be haly . (CMROLLEP,94.515)

And if +tou will be in mede wi+t apostels , +tynk noght what +tou
forsoke , bot what +tou despyses . (CMROLLEP,94.516)

For als mykell +tai forsake , +tat foloues Jhesu Criste in wilfull
povert , and in mekenes , and in charite , and in paciens , als +tai
may covayte +tat folows hym noght . (CMROLLEP,94.517)

And +tynk wi+t how mykel and how gude will +tou presentes +ti vowes
before hym ; for till +tat he hase hys egh . (CMROLLEP,94.518)

And if +tou wi+t gret desyre offer +ti praiers , wi+t grete fervoure
covayte to se hym , (CMROLLEP,94.519)

and seke na er+tly comfor+t bot +te savoure of heven ;
(CMROLLEP,94.520)

and in contemplacion +terof have +ti delyte . (CMROLLEP,94.521)

Wondurfulli Jhesu wirkes in hys lovers , +te whilk he reves fra +te
lust of flesch and of blode +torow tender lufe . (CMROLLEP,94.522)

He makes +tam to will na er+tly +tyng , (CMROLLEP,94.523)

and dose +tam ryse into +te solace of hym , and to forgete vanytees and
fleschely lufe of +te worlde , and to drede na sorow +tat may fall .
(CMROLLEP,94.524)

To la+te wi+t over mykel bodili ees , to suffer for his luf , +tam
+tynk it joy ; (CMROLLEP,94.525)

and to be solitary +tai haue grete comfor+t , +tat +tai be noght lettyd
of +tat devocyon . (CMROLLEP,94.526)

Now may +tou se +tat many er war +tan +tai seme , (CMROLLEP,94.527)

and many er better +tan +tai seme , and namely amang +tase +tat hase
+te habett of halynes . (CMROLLEP,94.528)

For+ti afforce +te , in all +tat +tow may , +tat +tou be noght wer +tan
+tou semes . (CMROLLEP,94.529)

And if +tou will do als I lere +te in +tis schort forme of lyvyng , I
hope , +torou +te grace of God , +tat if men halde +te gude , +tou sall
be wele better . (CMROLLEP,94.530)

<heading>

Capitulum iiij=m= (CMROLLEP,94.532)

</heading>

At +te begynning turne +te enterely to +ti Lorde Jhesu Criste .
(CMROLLEP,94.534)

+Tat turnyng till Jhesu es noght els bot turnyng fra all +te covaytyse
and +te likyng and +te occupacions and bisynes of worldly +tynges and
of fleschly lust and vayne luf , swa +tat +ti +toght , +tat was ay
donward , modeland in +te er+t , whils +tou was in +te worlde , <P_95>
now be ay upwarde , als fire , sekand +te heghest place in heven ,
right til +ti spows , +tare he sytes in hys blys . (CMROLLEP,95.535)

Til hym +tou ert turned , when his grace illumyns +ti hert , and $it
forsakes all vices , and conformes it til vertues and gude +tewes , and
til all maner of debonerte and mekenes . (CMROLLEP,95.536)

And +tat +tou may last and wax in gudenes +tat +tou hase begon ,
wi+towten slawnes and sarynes and irkyng of +ti lyf ; fowre +tyngs sall
+tou have in +ti +toght , til +tou be in perfyte lufe .
(CMROLLEP,95.537)

For when +tou ert commen +tartill , +ti joy and desyre will ay be
byrnand in Criste . (CMROLLEP,95.538)

Ane es : +te mesur of +ti lyf here , +tat sa schort es , +tat unne+tis
es it oght . (CMROLLEP,95.539)

For we lyve bot in a poynt , +tat es +te leste +tyng +tat may be .
(CMROLLEP,95.540)

And so+tely oure lyfe es les +tan a poynt , if we liken it to +te lyfe
+tat lastes ay . (CMROLLEP,95.541)

Ano+ter es : uncertente of owre endyng . For we wate never when we sal
dye , ne whare we sal dye , ne how we sal dye , ne whider we sal ga
when we er dede ; and +tat God wil +tat +tis be uncertayn til us , for
he will +tat we be ay redy to dye . (CMROLLEP,95.542)

+Te +tyrd es : +tat we sall answer before +te ryghtwys juge of all +te
tyme +tat we have bene here : how we have lyved , what oure occupacioun
hase bene , and why , and what gude we myght have done when we have
bene ydel . (CMROLLEP,95.543)

For+ti sayde +te prophete : ' He hase calde +te tyme agayn me ' ,
(CMROLLEP,95.544)

+tat ilk day he hase lent us here for to despende in gude use , and in
penance , and in Gods servys . (CMROLLEP,95.545)

If we waste it in er+tly lufe and in vanitees , ful grevosly mon we be
demed and punyst , for +tat es ane of +te maste sorow +tat may be , bot
we afforce us manly in +te lufe of God , and do gude til all +tat we
may whil oure schort tyme lastes . (CMROLLEP,95.546)

And ilk tyme +tat we +tynk not on God , we may cownt it als +te +tyng
+tat we have tynt . (CMROLLEP,95.547)

+Te fer+t es : +tat we +tynk how mykell +te joy es +tat +tai have , +te
whilk lastes in Goddes lufe til +tair <P_96> endyng . (CMROLLEP,96.548)

For +tai sal be bre+ter and felaws wi+t awngels and haly men , lufand
and +tankand , lovand and seand +te kyng of joy in +te fayrhede and in
+te schynyng of his maieste ; +te whilk syght sall be mede and mete and
al delytes +tat any creature may +tynk , and mare +tan any may tell ,
till all hys lovers wi+touten ende . (CMROLLEP,96.549)

It es mikel lightar to come to +tat blys +tan for to tell it .
(CMROLLEP,96.550)

Alswa +tynk on what pyne and what sorow and tormentyng +tai sall have ,
+te whilk lufs noght God over all o+ter +tynges +tat man sees in +tis
world , bot files +tare bodi and +tair sawle in lust and letchery of
+tis lyfe , in pryde and covayties and o+ter synnes . (CMROLLEP,96.551)

+Tai sall byrne in +te fyre of hell , wi+t +te devell wham +tai served
, als lang as God es in heven wi+t his servandes , +tat es evermare .
(CMROLLEP,96.552)

<heading>

Capitulum v=m= . (CMROLLEP,96.554)

</heading>

$I wyll +tat +tou be ay clymbande tyll Jhesuwarde , and ekand +ti luf
and +ti servys in hym ; noght als foles doos : (CMROLLEP,96.556)

+tai begyn in +te heyest degre , (CMROLLEP,96.557)

and coms downe till +te lawest . (CMROLLEP,96.558)

I say noght , for I will +tat if +tou have begune unskylfull abstinence
, +tat +tou halde it ; (CMROLLEP,96.559)

bot for many +tat was byrnand at +te begynning and abyll til +te luf of
Jhesu Criste , for owre mykel penans +tai have lettyd +tamself , and
made +tam sa febel +tat +tai may noght lufe God as +tai sulde . In +te
whilk luf +tat +tow wax ay mare and mare is my covaytyng and my
amonestyng . (CMROLLEP,96.560)

I halde +te neuer of +te lesse meryt yf +tou be noght in swa mykel
abstinence ; (CMROLLEP,96.561)

bot if +tou sett al +ti +toght how +tou may luf +ti spouse Jhesu Criste
mare +tan +tou has done , +tan dar I say +tat +ti mede es waxand and
noght wanande . Wharfore , +tat +tou be ryght disposed , ba+t-4 for +ti
saule and +ti body , +tou sall understande fowre +tynges .
(CMROLLEP,96.562)

+Te fyrst +tyng es : what +tyng fyles a man . +Te to+ter +tyng : what
makys hym clene . +Te +tyrd : what haldes hym in clennes . +Te fer+t :
what +tyng drawes hym for to ordayne his will all at Goddes will .
(CMROLLEP,96.563)

For +te fyrst , wyt +tou +tat we synne in +tre +tynges +tat makes us
folowe , +tat es , wy+t hert , and mou+t , and dede . (CMROLLEP,96.564)

+Te synnes of +te hert er +tir : ill +toght , ill delyte , assent till
synne , desyre of ill , wikked will , ill suspension , undevocion if
+tou lat +ti hert any tyme be ydell , wi+touten occupacion of +te lufe
of +te lovyng of God ; ill drede , ill lufe , errour , fleschely
affeccioun till +ti frendes , or till o+ter +tat +tou lufes , joy in
any mens ill fare whe+tir +tai be enmy or nane ; despyte of pure or of
synfull men , to honor ryche men for +taire rytches , unconabyll joy of
any worldes vanite , sorow of +te worlde , un+tolmodnes , perplexite ,
+tat es , dowt what es to do and what noght , for ilk a man aght for to
be syker what he sall do and what he sall leve ; obstinacion in ill ,
noy to do gude , anger to serve God , sorow +tat he dyd na mare ill ,
or +tat he dyd noght +tat luste or +tat will of his flesche , +te whilk
he myght have done , unstabylnes of +toght , pyne of penance , ypocrisy
, lufe to plees to men , drede to dysplees +tam , schame of gude dede ,
joy of ill dede , synguler witt , covaytise of honoure or of dignite ,
or to be halden better +tan o+ter , or rycher , or fayrer , or to be
mare dred , vayne glory of any godes of kynde , or of happe , or of
grace , schame wi+t pore frendes , pryde of +ti riche kynne or of
gentyl (CMROLLEP,96.565)

for all we er ilike fre befor Gods face , bot if owre dedes make any
better or wers +tan o+ter ; despyte of gude counsell and of gude
techynge . (CMROLLEP,96.566)

+Te synnes of +te mow+te er +tir : to swere oftsy+t , forsweryng ,
sclaunder of Criste , or of any of his halows , <P_98> to neven his
name wi+touten reverence , agaynsaiyng and strife agayne so+tfastnes ,
grotchyng agayns God for any angwys , or noy , or tribulacioun +tat may
befall in er+t , to say Goddes servys undevowtly and wi+touten
reverence , bakbityng , flateryng , lesyng , missaiyng , wariyng ,
defamyng , flytyng , manasyng , sawyng of discorde , treson , fals
wytnes , ill cownsell , he+tyng , unboxumnes wi+t worde ; to turne gude
dedes to ill , for to gar +tam be halden ill +tat dose +tam we aght to
lappe oure neghboure dedes in +te beste , noght in +te warst ; excityng
of any man till ire , to reprehende in ano+ter +tat he dose hymself ,
vayne speche , mykel speche , fowle speche ; to speke ydell wordes , or
wordes +tat er na nede ; rusyng , polysyng of wordes , defendyng of
synne , criyng of laghter , mowe makyng on any man ; to syng seculere
sanges and lufe +tam ; to prayse ill dedes ; to syng mare for lovyng of
men +tan of God . (CMROLLEP,98.567)

+Te synnes of dede er +tir : glotony , letchery , drunkynhede , symony
, wytchecraft , $brekyng of +te haly dayes , sacrileghe ; to receyve
Goddes body in dedely synn ; brekyng of vowes , apostasy , dissolucioun
in Goddes servys ; to gyf ensawmpyl of il dede ; to hurt any man in his
body or in his godes or in hys fame ; +teft , ravyn , usur , desayte ;
sellyng of ryghtwytnes ; to herken ill ; to gyf to herlotes ; to
wi+thalde necessaries fra +ti body , or to gyf it to owtrage ; to begyn
a +tyng +tat is abowen oure myght ; custom to syn ; fallyng oft to syn
; fanyng of mare gude +tan we have , for to seme halyer , or conander ,
or wiser +tan we er ; to halde +te office +tat we suffice noght till ,
or +tat may noght be halden wi+touten syn ; to lede karols ; to bryng
up new gyse ; to be rebell agayne hys soverayns ; to defoule +tam +tat
er lesse ; to syn in syght , in heryng in smellyng , in towchyng , in
handelyng , in <P_99> schewyng , in gyftes , in wayes , sygnes ,
bydynges , writynges ; to receyve +te circumstance , +tat er , tyme ,
stede , maner , nowmber , person , dwellyng , conyng , elde +tir makes
+te syn mare or lesse ; to covayte to syn or he be temped ; to
constreyne hym till syn . (CMROLLEP,99.568)

O+ter many syns +tar er of omission , +tat es , of levyng of gude
undone , when men leves +te gude +tat +tai suld do : noght +tynkand on
God , ne dredand ne lovand hym , ne +tankand hym of hys benefices ; to
do noght all +tat he doos for Goddes lufe ; to sorow noght for hys syn
as he sulde do ; to dispoos hym noght to receyve grace , and if he have
taken grace , to use it noght als hym aght , ne to kepe it noght ; tu
turne noght at +te inspiracion of God ; to conforme noght his will to
Gods will , to gyf noght entent till hes prayers , bot rabill on , and
rek never bot +tai be sayde ; to do necligently +tat he es bownden till
+torow a vowe , or comawnded , or es enjoynde in penance ; to draw on
lengh +tat es at do sone ; havand na joy of his neghbur prophet als of
his awne ; noght sorowand for his ill fare ; standand noght agayne
temptacions ; forgifand noght +tam +tat hase done hym harme ; kepand
noght trou+t to his neghbur , als he walde +tat he dyd till hym ; and
yheldand hym noght a gude dede for ano+ter if he may ; amendand noght
+tam +tat synnes before his ene ; peesand noght stryves ; lerand noght
+tam +tat er noght conand ; comfortand noght +tam +tat er in sorow , or
in sekenes , or in povert , or in penance , or in pryson .
(CMROLLEP,99.569)

+Tir synnes , and many o+ter , makes men foule . (CMROLLEP,99.570)

+Te +tynges +tat clenses us of +tat fil+t er +tre , agaynes +tase +tre
maners of synnes . (CMROLLEP,99.571)

+Te fyrst es : sorow of hert , agayne +te syn of +toght .
(CMROLLEP,99.572)

Ant it behoves be perfyte , +tat +tou will never syn mare , and +tat
+tou have sorow of all +ti synnes , and +tat all joy and solace , bot
of God and in God , be put out of +ti hert . (CMROLLEP,99.573)

+Te to+ter es : <P_100> schryft of mou+t , agayn +te syn of mou+t .
(CMROLLEP,100.574)

And +tat salle be hasty wi+touten delaying , naked wi+touten excusyng ,
hale wi+towten partyng , als for to tell a syn till a preste and
ano+ter till ano+ter (CMROLLEP,100.575)

say all +tat +tow wate till ane , (CMROLLEP,100.576)

or els +ti schryft es noght wor+t . (CMROLLEP,100.577)

+Te +tird es : satisfaccion . (CMROLLEP,100.578)

+Tat has +tre partyes , fastyng , prayer , and almosdede noght anly to
gif pore men mete and drynk , bot for to forgyf +tam +tat dose +te
wrange , and prai for +tam , and enforme +tam how +tai sall do , +tat
er in poynt to perisch . (CMROLLEP,100.579)

For +te +tyrd +tyng , +tou sall wyt +tat clennes behoves be keped in
hert , and in mou+t , and in werk . (CMROLLEP,100.580)

Clennes of hert +tre +tynges kepes . (CMROLLEP,100.581)

Ane es waker +toght and stabel of God . (CMROLLEP,100.582)

Ano+ter is bisynes to kepe +ti fyve wittes , sa +tat all +te wyked
styryngs of +tam be closed out of +te flesche . (CMROLLEP,100.583)

Alswa clennes of mou+t kepes +tre +tynges . (CMROLLEP,100.584)

Ane es , +tat +tow um+tynk +te before or +tou speke .
(CMROLLEP,100.585)

Ano+ter es , +tat +tou be not of mikel speche , but of litel , and
namly ay til +ti hert be stabeld in +te luf of Jhesu Crist , swa +tat
+te +tynk +tat +tou lokes ay on hym , whe+ter +tou speke or noght .
(CMROLLEP,100.586)

Bot swilk a grace may +tou noght have in +te fyrst day ,
(CMROLLEP,100.587)

bot wi+t lang travell and grete bysines to lof hym wi+t custom , so
+tat +te egh of +ti hert be ay upwarde , sall +tou com +tartill .
(CMROLLEP,100.588)

+Te +tyrd , +tat +tou for na +tyng , ne for na mekenes , lye on any man
. (CMROLLEP,100.589)

For ilk a lee es syn , and il , and noght Goddes will .
(CMROLLEP,100.590)

+Te +tar noght tell all +te so+t ay , bot if +tow will ;
(CMROLLEP,100.591)

bot al lees hate . (CMROLLEP,100.592)

Yf +tou say a +tyng of +tiself +tat semes +ti lovyng , and +tou say it
to +te lovyng of God and help of o+ter , +tou dos noght unwisely ,
(CMROLLEP,100.593)

for +tou spekes so+tfastnes . (CMROLLEP,100.594)

Bot if +tou will have oght pryve , tel it til nane bot swylk ane , +tat
+tou be syker +tat it sulde noght be schewed , bot anly til +te lovyng
of God , of wham es all gudenes , and +tat makes some better +tan o+ter
, and gifes +tam special grace , <P_101> noght anely for +tamself , bot
alswa for +tam +tat wil do wele after +taire ensawmpell .
(CMROLLEP,101.595)

Clennes of werk +tre +tynges keps . (CMROLLEP,101.596)

Ane es : a bysi +toght of dede . (CMROLLEP,101.597)

For +te wyse man says : ' Umbe+tynk +te of +ti last endyng ,
(CMROLLEP,101.598)

and +tou sall noght syn . ' (CMROLLEP,101.599)

Ano+ter : fle fra ill felyschypp , +tat gyfs mare ensawmpel to luf +te
worlde +tan God , er+t +tan heven , fil+t of body +tan clennes of saule
. (CMROLLEP,101.600)

+Te +tird es : temperance and discrecion in mete and drynk , +tat it be
now+ter til owtrage , ne bene+t skilwys sustinance for +ti body .
(CMROLLEP,101.601)

For bo+t comes til an ende , owtrage and over mykel fastyng ;
(CMROLLEP,101.602)

for now+ter es Gods will . (CMROLLEP,101.603)

And +tat many wil noght wene , for noght +tat man may say .
(CMROLLEP,101.604)

Yf +tou take sustenance of swilk gude als God sendys for +te tyme and
+te day , what it be I owttake na maner of mete +tat Cristen men uses ,
wi+t discrecion and mesur , +tou dose wele ; (CMROLLEP,101.605)

for sa dyd Criste hymself and hys apostels . (CMROLLEP,101.606)

Yf +tou leve many metes +tat men has , noght dispysand +te mete +tat
God has made til mannes helpe , bot for +te +tynk +tat +tou hase na
nede +tarof , +tou dose wele , if +tou se +tat +tow ert stalwor+t to
serve God , and +tat it brekes noght +ti stomake . (CMROLLEP,101.607)

For if +tou have broken it wi+t ovre mikel abstynence , +te es reft
appetyte of mete , (CMROLLEP,101.608)

and oft sal +tou be in qwa+tes , als +tou war redy to gyf +te gast ;
(CMROLLEP,101.609)

and wit +tou wele , +tou synned in +tat dede . (CMROLLEP,101.610)

And +tou may not witt sone whe+tir +ti abstinence be agayne +te or wi+t
+te . (CMROLLEP,101.611)

For +te tyme +tou ert +gong , I rede +tat +tou ete and drynk better and
war als it comes , +tat +tou be noght begylt ; (CMROLLEP,101.612)

and afterwarde , when +tou has proved many +tynges and overcommen many
temptacions , and knawes better +tiself and God +tan +tou dyd , +tan ,
if +tou se +tat it be at do , +tou mai take til mare abstinence .
(CMROLLEP,101.613)

And whils +tou may , do pryve penance , +tat al men +tar noght wyt .
(CMROLLEP,101.614)

Ryghtwysnes es noght al in fastyng , ne in etyng : (CMROLLEP,101.615)

bot +tou ert ryghtwys , if all ilyke be to +te , despyte and lovyng ,
povert and <P_102> rytches , hunger and nede , als delytes and dayntes
. (CMROLLEP,102.616)

If +tou take +tir wi+t a lowyng of God , I halde +te blyssed , hee
before Jhesu . (CMROLLEP,102.617)

Men +tat comes til +te , +tai luf +te for +tai se +ti grete abstinens ,
and for +tai se +te enclosed . (CMROLLEP,102.618)

Bot I may not love +te so lyghtly , for oght +tat I se +te do wi+towten
; bot if +ti wil be conformed enterely to Goddes will .
(CMROLLEP,102.619)

And sett noght by +tar lovyng ne +tar lackyng , (CMROLLEP,102.620)

and gyf +tou never tale , if +tai speke lesse gode of +te +tan +tai dyd
; bot +tat +tou be byrnander in Goddes luf +tan +tou was .
(CMROLLEP,102.621)

For a +tyng warne I +te : (CMROLLEP,102.622)

I hope +tat God has na perfyte servand in er+t wi+touten ennemyes of
som men ; (CMROLLEP,102.623)

for anely wretchednes has na enmy . (CMROLLEP,102.624)

For to draw us , +tat we conforme oure will till Goddes will , er thre
thynges . (CMROLLEP,102.625)

Ane es : ensawmpel of haly men and haly wymen , +te whilk war ententife
nyght and day to serve God and drede hym and luf hym .
(CMROLLEP,102.626)

And we folow +tam in erth , we moun be with +tam in heven .
(CMROLLEP,102.627)

Another es : +te godenes of oure Lorde , +tat despises nane , bot
gladly receyves all +tat comes till hys mercy ; (CMROLLEP,102.628)

and he es hamlyer to +tam +tan brother or syster , or any frende +tat
+tai maste luf or maste treystes on . (CMROLLEP,102.629)

+Te thyrd es : +te wonderfull joy of +te kyngdom of heven , +tat es
mare +tan tong may tell , or hert mai thynk , or egh may se , or ere
may here . (CMROLLEP,102.630)

It es swa mykel , +tat als in hel myght na thyng lyve for mykel pyne ,
(CMROLLEP,102.631)

bot at +te myght of God suffers +tam noght to dye , (CMROLLEP,102.632)

swa +te joy in +te syght of Jhesu in his godhede es swa mykel +tat +tai
mond dye for joy , if it ne war his godenes , +tat will +tat his lovers
be lyvand ay in blys , als his ryghtwysnes wil +tat al +tat lufed hym
noght be ay lyvand in fyre +tat es horribel till any man at thynk ,
(CMROLLEP,102.633)

loke +ten what it es to fele . (CMROLLEP,102.634)

Bot +tai +tat will not thynk it and drede it now , +tai sal suffer it
evermare . (CMROLLEP,102.635)

Now hase +tow herd how +tou may dispose +ti lyfe , and rewle it to
Goddes will . (CMROLLEP,102.636)

Bot I vate wele +tat +tou <P_103> desyres to here some special poynt of
+te luf of Jhesu Criste , and of contemplatyf lyfe , +te whilk +tou
hase taken +te till at mens syght . (CMROLLEP,103.637)

Als I have grace and konnyng , I will lere +te . (CMROLLEP,103.638)

<heading>

Capitulum vi=m= . (CMROLLEP,103.640)

</heading>

Amore langueo . (CMROLLEP,103.642)

+Tir twa wordes er wryten in +te boke of lufe , +tat es kalled +te sang
of lufe , or +te sang of sanges . (CMROLLEP,103.643)

For he +tat mykel lufes , hym lyst oft syng of his luf , for joy +tat
he or scho hase when +tai thynk on +tat +tat +tai lufe , namely if
+tair lover be trew and lufand . (CMROLLEP,103.644)

And +tis es +te Inglisch of thies twa wordes : ' I languysch for lufe .
' (CMROLLEP,103.645)

Sere men in erth has sere gyftes and graces of God ; (CMROLLEP,103.646)

bot +te special gift of +tas +tat ledes solitary lyf es for to lufe
Jhesu Criste . (CMROLLEP,103.647)

+Tow says me : ' All men lufes hym +tat haldes his comawndementes . '
(CMROLLEP,103.648)

Soth it es . (CMROLLEP,103.649)

Bot all men +tat kepes hys byddyngs , kepes noght also hys cownsayle ;
(CMROLLEP,103.650)

and all +tat dos his cownsell er noght also fulfyld of +te swetnes of
his lufe , (CMROLLEP,103.651)

ne feles noght +te fyre of byrnand luf of hert . (CMROLLEP,103.652)

For+ti , +te diversite of lufe makes +te diversite of halynes and of
mede . (CMROLLEP,103.653)

In heven , +te awngels +tat er byrnandest in lufe er nerrest God .
(CMROLLEP,103.654)

Also men and women +tat maste has of Goddes lufe , whether +tai do
penance or nane , +tai sall be in +te heghest degre in heven ; +tai
+tat lufes hym lesse , in +te lawer order . (CMROLLEP,103.655)

If +tou lufe hym mykel , mykel joy and swetnes and byrnyng +tou feles
in his lufe , (CMROLLEP,103.656)

+tat es +ti comforth and strengh nyght and day . (CMROLLEP,103.657)

If +ti lufe be not byrnand in hym , litel es +ti delyte .
(CMROLLEP,103.658)

For hym may na man fele in joy and swetnes , bot if +tai be clene and
fylled with his lufe ; (CMROLLEP,103.659)

and +tartill sal +tou com with grete travayle in praier and thynkyng ,
havand swilk meditacions +tat er al in +te lufe and in +te lovyng of
God . (CMROLLEP,103.660)

And when +tou ert at +ti mete , love ay God in +ti thoght at ilk a
morsel , (CMROLLEP,103.661)

and say +tus in +ti hert : <P_104> {COM:poetry_omitted}
(CMROLLEP,104.662)

And thynk it noght anely whils +tou etes , bot bath before and after ,
ay bot when +tou prayes or spekes . (CMROLLEP,104.663)

Or if +tou have other thoghtes +tat +tou has mare swetnes in and
devocion +tan in +tase +tat I lere +te , +tou may thynk $+tam .
(CMROLLEP,104.664)

For I hope +tat God will do swilk thoghtes in +ti hert als he es payde
of , and als +tou ert ordaynde for . (CMROLLEP,104.665)

When +tou prayes , loke noght how mykel +tou says , bot how wele : +tat
+te lofe of +ti hert be ay upwarde , and thy thoght on +tat +tou sayes
, als mykel als +tow may . (CMROLLEP,104.666)

If +tou be in prayers and meditacions al +te day , I wate wele +tat
+tou mon wax gretely in +te lufe of Jhesu Cryste , and mikel fele of
delyte , and within schort tyme . (CMROLLEP,104.667)

<heading>

Capitulum viii=m= . (CMROLLEP,104.669)

</heading>

Thre degrees of lufe I sal tell +te , (CMROLLEP,104.671)

for I walde +tat +tou moght wyn to +te heest . (CMROLLEP,104.672)

The fyrst degre es called insuperabel ; +te secund , inseparabel ;
(CMROLLEP,104.673)

+te thyrd es syngulere . (CMROLLEP,104.674)

+Ti luf es insuperabel , when na thyng +tat es contrary til Gods lufe
overcomes it , bot es stalworth agayns al fandyngs , and stabel ,
whether +tou be in ese or in angwys , or in hele or in sekenes ; swa
+tat +te thynk +tat +tow walde noght for all +te worlde , to have it
withowten ende , <P_105> wreth God any tyme ; (CMROLLEP,105.675)

and +te war lever , if outher sulde be , to suffer al +te pyne and waa
+tat myght com til any creature , or +tou weld do +te thyng +tat suld
myspay hym . (CMROLLEP,105.676)

On +tis maner sal +ti lufe be insuperabel , +tat na thyng may downe
bryng , bot spryngand on heght . (CMROLLEP,105.677)

Blyssed es he or scho +tat es in +tis degre ; (CMROLLEP,105.678)

bot +gitt er +tai blyssedar , +tat myght halde +tis degre and wyn intil
+te to+ter , +tat es inseparabel . (CMROLLEP,105.679)

Inseparabel es +ti lufe , when al +ti hert and +ti thoght and +ti myght
es swa haly , swa enterely , and swa perfytely festend , sett , and
stabeld in Jhesu Cryste , +tat +ti thoght comes never of hym , never
departyd fra hym , outaken slepyng ; (CMROLLEP,105.680)

and als sone als +tou wackens , +ti hert es on hym , sayand Ave Maria
or Gloria tibi Domine or Pater noster or Miserere mei Deus if +tou have
bene temped in +ti slepe , or thynkand on his lufe and his lovyng , als
+tou dyd wakand ; (CMROLLEP,105.681)

when +tou may na tyme forgete hym , what sa +tou dose or says , +tan es
+ti lufe inseparabel . (CMROLLEP,105.682)

Ful mykel grace have +tai +tat es in +tis degre of lufe ,
(CMROLLEP,105.683)

and me thynk +tou , +tat hase noght els at do bot for to lufe God , may
com +tartill , if any may gete it . (CMROLLEP,105.684)

+Te thyrd degre es heest , and maste ferly to wyn , (CMROLLEP,105.685)

+tat es calde synguler , (CMROLLEP,105.686)

for it hase na pere . (CMROLLEP,105.687)

Singuler lufe es , when all comforth and solace es closed owt of +ti
hert , bot of Jhesu Cryste alane . (CMROLLEP,105.688)

Other joy lyst it noght , (CMROLLEP,105.689)

for +te swetnes of hym in +tis degre es swa comfortand and lastand in
his lufe , sa byrnand and gladand , +tat he or scho , +tat es in +tis
degre , mai als wele fele +te fyre of lufe byrnand in +taire saule ,
als +tou may fele +ti fynger byrn , if +tou putt it in +te fyre .
(CMROLLEP,105.690)

Bot +tat fire , if it be hate , es swa delitabell and wondyrful +tat I
ken noght tell it . (CMROLLEP,105.691)

+Tan +ti sawle es Jhesu lufand , Jhesu thynkand , Jhesu desirand , anly
in +te covayties of hym anedande , til hym syngand , of hym byrnand ,
in hym restand . (CMROLLEP,105.692)

+Tan +te sange of lovyng and of lufe es commen , (CMROLLEP,105.693)

<P_106>

+tan +ti thoght turnes intil sang and intil melody , (CMROLLEP,106.695)

+tan +te behoves syng +te psalmes +tat +tou before sayde ,
(CMROLLEP,106.696)

+tan +tou mon be lang abowte few psalmes , (CMROLLEP,106.697)

+tan +te wil thynk +te deed swettar +tan hony , (CMROLLEP,106.698)

for +tan +tou ert ful syker to se hym +tat +tou lufes ;
(CMROLLEP,106.699)

+tan may +tou hardely say : ' I languysch for lufe ' ;
(CMROLLEP,106.700)

+tan may +tou say : ' I slepe , (CMROLLEP,106.701)

and my hert wakes . ' (CMROLLEP,106.702)

In +te first degre , men may say : ' I languysch for lufe ' , or ' Me
ranges in lufe ' ; and in +te to+ter degre alswa , (CMROLLEP,106.703)

for languysyng es when men fayles for sekenes . (CMROLLEP,106.704)

And +tai +tat er in +tire twa degrees fayles fra al +te covayties of
+tis worlde , and fra lust and lykyng of synful lyfe ,
(CMROLLEP,106.705)

and settes +tair entent and +tair hert to +te lufe of God .
(CMROLLEP,106.706)

For+ti +tai may say : ' I languysch for lufe . ' And mykel mare , +tat
er in +te secund degre , +tan in +te fyrst . (CMROLLEP,106.707)

Bot +te sawle +tat es in +te thyrd degre es als byrnand fyre , and as
+te nyghttyngale , +tat lufes sang and melody and fayles for mykel lufe
; swa +tat +te saule es anely comforted in lovying and lufyng of God ,
and til +te dede com es syngand gastly til Jhesu , and in Jhesu , and
Jhesu , noght <em> bodyly cryand </em> wyth mouth -- (CMROLLEP,106.708)

of +tat maner of <em> syngyng speke </em> I noght , (CMROLLEP,106.709)

for +tat sang hase bath <em> gude and ill ; (CMROLLEP,106.710)

and </em> +tis maner of sang hase nane , bot if +tai be in +tis thyrd
degre of lufe , til +te whilk degre it es impossibel to com , bot in a
grete multitude of lufe . (CMROLLEP,106.711)

For+ti , if +tou will wytt whatkyn joy +tat sang has , I say +te +tat
na man wate , bot he or scho +tat feles it , +tat has it , and +tat
loves God , syngand +tarwyth . (CMROLLEP,106.712)

A thyng tel I +te : (CMROLLEP,106.713)

it es of heven ; (CMROLLEP,106.714)

and God gyfes it til wham he wil , bot noght withouten grete grace
comand before . (CMROLLEP,106.715)

Wha hase it , hym thynk al +te sang and al +te mynstralcy of erth noght
bot sorow and wa +tartil . (CMROLLEP,106.716)

In soverayne rest sal +tai be , +tat may gete it . (CMROLLEP,106.717)

Gangrels and jangelers , and <P_107> kepers of comers and gangars arely
and late , nyght and day , or any +tat es takked with any syn wilfully
and wittandly , or +tat has delyte in any erthly thyng , +tai er als
far +tarfra , als es fra heven to erth . (CMROLLEP,107.718)

In +te fyrst degre er many , (CMROLLEP,107.719)

in +te to+ter degre er ful faa , (CMROLLEP,107.720)

bot in +te thyrde degre unnethes er any ; (CMROLLEP,107.721)

for ay +te mare +tat +te perfeccion es , +te faer folowers it has .
(CMROLLEP,107.722)

In +te fyrst degre er men lickend to +te sternes ; in the to+ter , till
+te mone ; in +te thyrd , til +te sonne . (CMROLLEP,107.723)

For+ti says saynt Paule : ' Other of +te sonne , other of +te mone ,
other of +te sternes ' : (CMROLLEP,107.724)

swa it es of +te lufers of God . (CMROLLEP,107.725)

In +tis third degre , if +tou may wyn +tartill , +tou sall witt of mare
joy +tan I have talde +te $+gitt . (CMROLLEP,107.726)

And ymang other affeccions and sanges +tou <em> may in +ti </em>
langyng syng +tis in +ti hert til +ti Lord Jhesu , $when +tou covaytes
hys comyng and +ti gangyng : (CMROLLEP,107.727)

{COM:poetry_omitted}

<P_108>

<heading>

Capitulum nonum (CMROLLEP,108.731)

</heading>

$If +tou wil be wele with God , and have grace to rewle +ti lyf , and
com til +te joy of luf , +tis name Jhesu , fest it swa fast in +ti hert
, +tat it com never owt of +ti thoght . (CMROLLEP,108.733)

And when +tou spekes til hym , and says ' Jhesu ' , thurgh custom , it
sal be in +ti ere joy , in +ti mouth hony , and in +ti hert melody .
(CMROLLEP,108.734)

For +te sall thynk joy to here +tat name be nevened , swetnes to speke
it , myrth and sang to thynk it . (CMROLLEP,108.735)

If +tou thynk Jhesu contynuly , and halde it stabely , it purges +ti
syn , (CMROLLEP,108.736)

and kyndels +ti hert ; (CMROLLEP,108.737)

it clarifies +ti sawle , (CMROLLEP,108.738)

it removes anger , (CMROLLEP,108.739)

and dose away slawnes ; (CMROLLEP,108.740)

it woundes in lufe , (CMROLLEP,108.741)

and fulfilles of charite ; (CMROLLEP,108.742)

it chaces +te devel , (CMROLLEP,108.743)

and puttes oute drede ; (CMROLLEP,108.744)

it opens heven , (CMROLLEP,108.745)

and makes a contemplatif man . (CMROLLEP,108.746)

Have in mynde Jhesu ; (CMROLLEP,108.747)

for al vices and fantomes it puttes owte fra +te lover .
(CMROLLEP,108.748)

And haylce oft Mary , bath day and nyght . (CMROLLEP,108.749)

Mikel lufe and joy sal +tou fele , if +tou wil do aftyr +tis lare .
(CMROLLEP,108.750)

+Te thare noght covayte gretely many bokes ; (CMROLLEP,108.751)

halde lufe in hert and in werke , (CMROLLEP,108.752)

and +tou hase al +tat we may say or wryte . (CMROLLEP,108.753)

For fulnes of +te law es charite ; (CMROLLEP,108.754)

in +tat hynges all . (CMROLLEP,108.755)

<heading>

Capitulum x=m= . (CMROLLEP,108.757)

</heading>

Bot now may +tou ask me , and say : ' +Tou spekes sa mykel of lufe ,
(CMROLLEP,108.759)

tel me , what es lufe ? And whar es lufe ? And how I sal lufe God
verrayly ? And how +tat I may knew +tat I lufe hym ? And in what state
I may maste lufe hym ? ' (CMROLLEP,108.760)

+Tir er hard questyons to lere til a febyll man and a fleschly , als I
am . (CMROLLEP,108.761)

Bot never-+te-latter +tarfore I sal noght lefte +tat I ne sall schew my
wytt , and als me thynk +tat it may be ; (CMROLLEP,108.762)

for I hope in +te helpe of Jhesu , +tat es wel of lufe and pees and
swetnes . (CMROLLEP,108.763)

+Te fyrst askyng es : What is lufe ? (CMROLLEP,108.764)

And I answer : Luf es a byrnand +gernyng in God , with a wonderfull
<P_109> delyte and sykernes . (CMROLLEP,109.765)

God es lyght and byrnyng . (CMROLLEP,109.766)

Lyght clarifies oure skyll ; (CMROLLEP,109.767)

byrnyng kyndels oure covayties , +tat we desyre noght bot hym .
(CMROLLEP,109.768)

Lufe es a lyf , copuland togedyr +te lufand and +te lufed .
(CMROLLEP,109.769)

For mekenes makes us swete to God ; (CMROLLEP,109.770)

purete joynes us tyll God ; (CMROLLEP,109.771)

lufe makes us ane with God . (CMROLLEP,109.772)

Luf es fayrhede of al vertues . (CMROLLEP,109.773)

Luf es thyng , thurgh +te whilk God lufes us , and we God , and ilk ane
of us other . (CMROLLEP,109.774)

Lufe es desyre of +te hert , ay thynkand til +tat +tat it lufes ;
(CMROLLEP,109.775)

and when it hase +tat it lufes , +tan it joyes , (CMROLLEP,109.776)

and na thyng may make it sary . (CMROLLEP,109.777)

Lufe es a $stiryng of +te saule , for to luf God for hymself , and all
other thyng for God ; +te whilk lufe , when it es ordaynde in God , it
dose away all inordinate lufe in any thyng +tat es noght gude .
(CMROLLEP,109.778)

Bot al dedely syn es inordynate lufe in a thyng +tat es noght ;
(CMROLLEP,109.779)

+tan lufe puttes out al dedely syn . (CMROLLEP,109.780)

Luf es a vertu , +tat es rightest affeccion of man saule .
(CMROLLEP,109.781)

Trowth may be withowten lufe , (CMROLLEP,109.782)

bot it may noght helpe withouten it . (CMROLLEP,109.783)

Lufe es perfeccion of letters , vertu of prophecy , frute of trowth ,
help of sacramentes , stablyng of witt and conyng , rytches of pure men
, lyfe of dyand men . (CMROLLEP,109.784)

Se how gude lufe es . (CMROLLEP,109.785)

If we suffer to be slayne , if we gyf al +tat we have til beggar staf ,
if we ken als mykel als al men ken in erth , til al +tis , withouten
lufe , es noght bot sorow ordande and torment . (CMROLLEP,109.786)

If +tou will aske how gode es he or scho , ask how mykel lufes he or
scho ; (CMROLLEP,109.787)

and +tat ken na man tel , (CMROLLEP,109.788)

for I held it bot foly to deme a mans hert , +tat nane knawes bot God .
(CMROLLEP,109.789)

Lufe es a ryghtwis turnyng fra al ertly thynges , (CMROLLEP,109.790)

and es joynd til God withouten departyng , and kyndelde with +te fire
of +te Haly Gaste , fer fra fylyng , fer fra corrupcion , oblyst till
na vice of +tis lyfe , hegh aboven all fleschely lustes , ay redy and
gredy til contemplacion of God , in all thynges noght <P_110> overcomen
, +te sowme of al gude affeccyons , hele of gude maners , ende of
comawndementes of God , dede of synnes , lyf of vertues , vertu whils
feghtyng lastes , crowne of overcomers , mirynes til haly thoghtes .
(CMROLLEP,110.791)

Withouten +tat , na man may pay God ; (CMROLLEP,110.792)

with +tat , na man synnes . (CMROLLEP,110.793)

For if we luf God in al oure hert , +tar es na thyng in us thurgh +te
whilk we serve to syn . (CMROLLEP,110.794)

Verray luf clenses +te saule , (CMROLLEP,110.795)

and delyvers it fra +te pyne of hell , and of +te foule servys of syn ,
and of +te ugly felyschip of +te devels ; (CMROLLEP,110.796)

and of +te fendes sonn makes God sonn , and parcenel of +te heritage of
heven . (CMROLLEP,110.797)

We sall afforce at cleth us in lufe , als +te yren or +te cole dose in
+te fyre , als +te ayer dose in +te sonn , als +te woll dose in +te
hewe . (CMROLLEP,110.798)

+Te cole swa clethes it in +te fyre , +tat al es fyre ;
(CMROLLEP,110.799)

<em> +te ayre swa clethes it in +te son , +tat al es ligth ; </em>
(CMROLLEP,110.800)

and +te woll swa substancialy takes +te hewe , +tat it es lik it .
(CMROLLEP,110.801)

In +tis maner sall a trewe lufar of Jhesu Criste do :
(CMROLLEP,110.802)

his hert sal swa byrne in lufe , +tat it sal be turned intil fyre of
lufe , and be , als it war , al fire , (CMROLLEP,110.803)

and he sal sa schyne in vertues , +tat in na parte of hym he be myrke
in vices . (CMROLLEP,110.804)

+Te tother askyng es : Whare es lufe ? (CMROLLEP,110.805)

And I answer : Lufe es in +te hert and in +te will of mane ; noght in
hys hand , ne in his mouth , +tat es at say , noght in hys wark , bot
in his sawle . (CMROLLEP,110.806)

For many spekes gode , (CMROLLEP,110.807)

and dose gode , (CMROLLEP,110.808)

and many lufes noght God ; als ypocrites , +te whilk suffers grete
penance , and semes haly at mens syght , (CMROLLEP,110.809)

bot for +tai seke lovyng and honoure of men and favoure , +tai have
lost +tar mede , (CMROLLEP,110.810)

and in +te syght of God er +te devel sons and ravysand wlves .
(CMROLLEP,110.811)

Bot if a man gyf almose-dede , and take hym til povert , and do penance
, it es signe +tat he lufes God ; (CMROLLEP,110.812)

bot +tarfore lufes he hym noght , (CMROLLEP,110.813)

bot when he forsakes +te worlde anly for Goddes lufe , and settes al
his thoght on God , and lufes al men als hymself , and al +te gude
dedes +tat he may <P_111> do , he dose +tam in entent for to pay Jhesu
Criste and to cum til +te rest of heven . +Tan he lufes God ,
(CMROLLEP,111.814)

and +tat luf es in his saule , (CMROLLEP,111.815)

and sa his dedes schewes withouten . (CMROLLEP,111.816)

If +tou speke +te gude , and do +te gude , men supposes +tat +tou lufes
God . (CMROLLEP,111.817)

Forthi loke wele +tat +ti thoght be in God , (CMROLLEP,111.818)

or elles +tou dampnes +tiselfe , (CMROLLEP,111.819)

and deceyves +te men . (CMROLLEP,111.820)

Na thyng +tat I do withowten proves +tat I lufe God ;
(CMROLLEP,111.821)

for a wicked man myght do als mykel penance in body , als mykel wake
and faste , als I do . (CMROLLEP,111.822)

How may I +tan wene +tat I lufe , or halde me better for +tat , +tat
ilk a man may do ? (CMROLLEP,111.823)

Certes mi hert , whethir it lufe my God or noght , wate na man bot God
, for noght +tat +tai may se me do . Wharfore luf es in will verraily ,
noght in warke , bot als a signe of lufe . (CMROLLEP,111.824)

For he +tat says he lufes God , and wil noght do in dede +tat in hym es
to schew lufe , say hym +tat he lyghes . (CMROLLEP,111.825)

Luf wil noght be ydel : (CMROLLEP,111.826)

it es wirkand som gude evermare . (CMROLLEP,111.827)

If it sesse of wirkyng , wit +tou +tat it keles and wytes away .
(CMROLLEP,111.828)

+Te thirde askyng es : How sal I verrayli lufe God ? (CMROLLEP,111.829)

I answer : Verray lufe es , to lufe hym in al +ti myght stalwortly , in
al +ti hert wysely , in al +ti sawle devowtely and swetely .
(CMROLLEP,111.830)

Stalwortly may na man lufe hym , bot he be stalworth .
(CMROLLEP,111.831)

He es stalworth , +tat es meke ; (CMROLLEP,111.832)

for al gastly strengh comes of mekenes , on whame restes +te Haly Gaste
in a meke sawle . (CMROLLEP,111.833)

Mekenes governes us , (CMROLLEP,111.834)

and kepes us in al oure temptacions , swa +tat +tai overcome us noght .
(CMROLLEP,111.835)

Bot +te devel deceyves many +tat er meke , thorow tribulacions and
reproves and bakebitynges . (CMROLLEP,111.836)

Bot if +tou be wrath for any anguys of +tis worlde , or for any worde
+tat men says of +te , or for oght +tat men says til +te , +tou ert
noght meke , (CMROLLEP,111.837)

ne +tou may swa lufe God stalwortly ; (CMROLLEP,111.838)

for luf es stalworth als +te dede , +tat slaes al lyvand thyng in erth
, and hard als hell , +tat spares noght till +tam +tat er dede .
(CMROLLEP,111.839)

And he +tat lufes God perfitely , he greves hym noght , what <P_112>
schame or angwys +tat he suffers ; (CMROLLEP,112.840)

bot he hase delyte (CMROLLEP,112.841)

and covaytes +tat he war worthy for to suffer torment and payne for
Crystes lufe . (CMROLLEP,112.842)

And he hase joy +tat men reproves hym and spekes ill of hym :
(CMROLLEP,112.843)

als a dede man , what sa men dos or sayes , he answers noght . Ryght
swa , wha sa lufes God perfitely , +tai er not stirred for any worde
+tat man may say . (CMROLLEP,112.844)

For he or scho kan noght lufe , +tat may noght suffer payne and anger
for +tair frendes lufe ; (CMROLLEP,112.845)

for wha sa lufes , +tai have na pyne . (CMROLLEP,112.846)

Prowde men or women lufes noght stalworthly ; (CMROLLEP,112.847)

for +tai er swa wayke , +tat +tai fall at ilk a styryng of +te wynde ,
+tat es temptacion . (CMROLLEP,112.848)

+Tai seke heghar stede +tan Cryste ; (CMROLLEP,112.849)

for +tai wil have +tair wil done , whethir it be with right or with
wrang , (CMROLLEP,112.850)

and Cryst will na thyng be done bot wele , and withouten harme of othir
men . (CMROLLEP,112.851)

Bot wha sa es verrayly meke , +tai wil noght have +tair wil in +tis
worlde , bot +tat +tai may have it in +te to+ter plenarly .
(CMROLLEP,112.852)

In na thyng may men sonar overcom +te devel +tan in mekenes , +tat he
mykel hates ; (CMROLLEP,112.853)

for he may wake and faste and suffer pyne mare +tan any other creature
may . (CMROLLEP,112.854)

Bot mekenes and lufe may he noght have . (CMROLLEP,112.855)

Alswa +te behoves luf God wysely ; (CMROLLEP,112.856)

and +tat may +tou noght do , bot if +tou be wyse . (CMROLLEP,112.857)

+Tou ert wyse , when +tou ert pore , withowten covaytyse of +tis world
, and dispyses +tiselfe for +te lufe of Jhesu Cryste , and dispendes al
+ti witte and al +ti myght in hys servys . (CMROLLEP,112.858)

For sum +tat semes wysest er maste foles , (CMROLLEP,112.859)

for al +tar wysdom +tai spyll in covayties and bisynes abowte +te world
. (CMROLLEP,112.860)

If +tou saw a man have preciouse stanes , +tat he myght by a kyngdom
wyth , if he gaf +tam for an appyl , als a barne wil do , ryghtwysly
moght +tou say +tat he war noght wyse , bot a grete fole .
(CMROLLEP,112.861)

Alsswa , if we wyl , we have preciouse stanes , povert and penance and
gastly travayle , with +te whilk we may by +te kyngdome of heven ;
(CMROLLEP,112.862)

for if +tou lufe povert , and dispyse riches and <P_113> delytes of
+tis worlde , and halde +tiself vyle and pure , and thynk +tat +tou
hase noght of +tiself bot syn , for +tis povert +tou sall have rytches
withouten ende . (CMROLLEP,113.863)

And if +tou have sorowe for +ti synnes , and for +tou ert swa lang in
exile owte of +ti contre , and forsakes +te solace of +tis lyfe , +tou
sal have for +tis sorow +te joy of heven . (CMROLLEP,113.864)

And if +tou be in travayle , and punysche +ti body skil-wisly and
wisely in wakkyns , fastyngs , and in prayers and meditacions , and
suffer hete and calde , hunger and thyrst , myses and anguys for +te
lufe of Jhesu Cryste , for +tis travel +tou sal com till reste +tat
lastes ay , and syt in a setel of joy with aungels . (CMROLLEP,113.865)

But som er , +tat lufes noght wysely , like til barnes , +tat lufes
mare an appel +tan a castel . (CMROLLEP,113.866)

Swa dose many : (CMROLLEP,113.867)

+tai gyf +te joy of heven for a litel delyte of +tar flesche , +tat es
noght worth a plowme . (CMROLLEP,113.868)

Now may +tow se +tat wha sa will lufe wysely , hym behoves lufe lastand
thyng lastandly , and passand thyng passandly ; swa +tat his hert be
sette and festend in na thyng bot in God . (CMROLLEP,113.869)

And if +tou will luf Jhesu verraly , +tow sal noght anly lufe hym
stalwortly and wysely , bot also devowtly and swetely .
(CMROLLEP,113.870)

Swete lufe es , when +ti body es chaste and +ti thoght clene .
(CMROLLEP,113.871)

Devowte luf es , when +tou offers +ti prayers and +ti thogtes til God
with gastly joy and byrnand hert in +te hete of +te Haly Gaste , swa
+tat +te thynk +tat +ti saule es , als it war , drunken for delyte and
solace of +te swetnes of Jhesu ; (CMROLLEP,113.872)

and +ti hert conceyves sa mykel of Goddes helpe , +tat +te thynk +tat
+tow may never be fra hym departyd . (CMROLLEP,113.873)

And +tan +tou comes intil swilk rest and pees in sawle , and quiete
withowten thoghtes of vanitese $or of vices , als +tou war in sylence
and slepe and sette in Noe schyppe , +tat na thyng may lette +te of
devocion and byrnyng of swete lufe . (CMROLLEP,113.874)

Fra +tou have getyn +tis lyfe , all +ti luf , til dede come , es joy
and comforth ; (CMROLLEP,113.875)

and <em> tou es </em> verrayli Cristes <P_114> lufer ;
(CMROLLEP,114.876)

and he restes in +te , whas stede es maked in pees . (CMROLLEP,114.877)

+Te ferth askyng was : How +tou moght knaw +tat +tou war in lufe and
charite ? (CMROLLEP,114.878)

I answer , +tat na man wate in erth +tat +tai er in charite , bot if it
be thorow any privelege or special grace +tat God hase gifen til any
man or woman , +tat al other may noght take ensawmpel by .
(CMROLLEP,114.879)

Haly men and women trowes +tat +tai have trowth and hope and charite ,
(CMROLLEP,114.880)

and in +tat dose als wele als +tai may , (CMROLLEP,114.881)

and hopes certaynly +tat +tai sal be safe . (CMROLLEP,114.882)

+Tai wate it not als tyte ; (CMROLLEP,114.883)

for if +tai wiste , +tair merit war +te lesse . (CMROLLEP,114.884)

And Salomon says +tat it er right-wys men and wyse men ,
(CMROLLEP,114.885)

and +tair warkes er in Goddes hand . (CMROLLEP,114.886)

And noght for+ti man wate noght whethir he be worthi hateredyn or lufe
; (CMROLLEP,114.887)

bot al es reserved uncertayne til another worlde . (CMROLLEP,114.888)

Never-+te-latter , if any had grace +tat he moght wyn til +te thirde
degre of lufe , +tat es called syngulere , he sulde knaw +tat he war in
lufe ; (CMROLLEP,114.889)

bot in +tat maner his knawyng es , +tat he moght never bere hym +te
hegher , ne be in +te lesse bisynes to lufe God . (CMROLLEP,114.890)

Bot sa mykel +te mare +tat he es siker of lufe , wil he be bisy to lufe
hym , and drede hym , +tat hase made hym swilk , and done +tat godenes
til hym . (CMROLLEP,114.891)

And he +tat es swa hee , he wil noght halde hymself worthier +tan +te
synfullest man +tat gaas on erth . (CMROLLEP,114.892)

Alsswa , seven experimentes er , +tat a man be in charite .
(CMROLLEP,114.893)

+Te fyrst es , when al covatise of ertly thyng es slokkend in hym .
(CMROLLEP,114.894)

For where sa covaityse es , +tare es na lufe of Cryste ;
(CMROLLEP,114.895)

+tan if he have na covaytyse , signe es +tat he hase lufe .
(CMROLLEP,114.896)

+Te secunde es , byrnand +gernyng of heven . (CMROLLEP,114.897)

For when men hase feled oght of +tat savoure , +te mare +tai have +te
mare +tai covayte ; (CMROLLEP,114.898)

and he +tat noght hase feled , noght he desires . (CMROLLEP,114.899)

For+ti , when any es swa mykel gyfen til +te luf +tarof +tat he kan
fynd na joy in +tis lyfe , taken he hase +tat he es in charite .
(CMROLLEP,114.900)

+Te thyrd es , if his tung be chawngyd , +tat was <P_115> $wone to
speke of +te erth $and now spekes of God , and of +te lyf +tat lastes
ay . (CMROLLEP,115.901)

+Te feerth es , exercise of gastly profet , als if any man or woman gyf
+tam enterely to Goddes servyes , and entermetes +tam of nane erthly
bisynes . (CMROLLEP,115.902)

+Te fift es , when +te thyng +tat es hard in itselfe semes lyght for to
do ; +te whilk luf makes . (CMROLLEP,115.903)

For als Austyne says , ' Lufreden es +tat bryngs +te thyng +tat es
farre nerehande , and impossibel til possibel apertly . '
(CMROLLEP,115.904)

+Te sext es , hardynes of thoght , to suffer all anguyses and noyes
+tat comes . (CMROLLEP,115.905)

Withowten +tis , al +te o+ter suffices noght . (CMROLLEP,115.906)

For it sal noght make a ryghtwys man sary , what sa falles hym ;
(CMROLLEP,115.907)

for he +tat es ryghtwys , he hates noght bot syn , (CMROLLEP,115.908)

he lufes noght bot God , (CMROLLEP,115.909)

he dredes noght bot to wreth God . (CMROLLEP,115.910)

+Te sevent es , delitabilite in sawle when he es in tribulacion , and
makes lovyng to God in ilk anger +tat he suffers ; (CMROLLEP,115.911)

and +tis schewes wele +tat he lufes God , when na sorow may bryng hym
downe . (CMROLLEP,115.912)

For many lufes God whils +tai er in ese , (CMROLLEP,115.913)

and in adversitee +tai grotche , (CMROLLEP,115.914)

and falles in swa mykel sarynes , +tat unneth may any man comforth +tam
; (CMROLLEP,115.915)

and swa sclawnder +tai God , flytand and feghtand agayne his domes .
(CMROLLEP,115.916)

And +tat es a caytif lovyng , +tat any welth of +te worlde makes ;
(CMROLLEP,115.917)

bot +tat lovyng es of mykel pryce , +tat na violence of sorow may do
away . (CMROLLEP,115.918)

+Te fifte askyng was : In what state men may maste lufe God ?
(CMROLLEP,115.919)

I answer : In swilk state sa it be , +tat men er in maste rest of body
and sawle , and leest occupied with any nedes or bisyness of +tis
worlde . (CMROLLEP,115.920)

For +te thoght of +te lufe of Jhesu Criste , and of +te joy +tat lastes
ay , sekes rest wythowten , +tat it be noght lettyd with comers and
gangers and occupacion of worldely thynges ; (CMROLLEP,115.921)

and it sekes within grete sylence fra +te noyes of covayties and of
vanitees and of ertly thoghtes . (CMROLLEP,115.922)

And namely , al +tat lufes contemplatyfe lyf , +tai seke rest in body
and in saule . (CMROLLEP,115.923)

For a grete doctor says +tat <P_116> +tai er Goddes trone , +tat
dwelles still in a stede , and er noght abowte rennand , bot in swetnes
of Cristes lufe er stabyld . (CMROLLEP,116.924)

And I have lufed for to sytt , for na penance , ne for na fantasy +tat
I wild men spak of me , ne for na swylk thyng ; bot anly for I knew
+tat I loved God mare , and langar lasted within +te comforth of lufe ,
+tan gangand or standand or kneleand . (CMROLLEP,116.925)

For sittand am I in maste rest , and my hert maste upwarde .
(CMROLLEP,116.926)

Bot +tarfore peraventure es it noght +te best til another at sitte ,
als I did , and wil do til my dede , bot if he war disposed als I was
in his sawle . (CMROLLEP,116.927)

<heading>

Capitulum xi=m= . (CMROLLEP,116.929)

</heading>

Seven gyftes of +te Hali Gaste er in men and wymen +tat er ordaynd til
+te joy of heven , and ledes +taire life in +tis worlde rightwisly .
(CMROLLEP,116.931)

+Ties +tai er : wysdome , understandyng , cownsayle , strengh , connyng
, pyte , and +te drede of God . (CMROLLEP,116.932)

Begynne we at cownsel , (CMROLLEP,116.933)

for +tarof es maste nede at +te begynnyng of owre werkes , +tat us
myslike noght afterwarde . (CMROLLEP,116.934)

With +tier seven gyftes +te Haly Gaste towches sere men serely .
(CMROLLEP,116.935)

Cownsel es , doyng away of worldes rytches and of delytes and of al
thynges +tat man may be $tagild with in thoght or dede ; and +tarwith
be drawne inwardely til contemplacion of God . (CMROLLEP,116.936)

Understandyng es , to knew what es for to do and what for to leve ; and
+tat , +tat sal be gifen , to gif it til +tam +tat hase nede , noght
til other +tat hase na myster . (CMROLLEP,116.937)

Wysdom es , forgetyng of ertly thynges , and thynkyng of heven with
discrecion in al mens dedes . (CMROLLEP,116.938)

In +tis gyft schynes contemplacion , +tat es , als saynt Austyn says ,
' A gastely dede of fleschly affeccions , thorow +te joy of a raysed
thoght . ' (CMROLLEP,116.939)

Strengh es , lastyng to fulfill gude purpose , +tat it be noght left
for wele ne for wa . (CMROLLEP,116.940)

<P_117>

Pyte es , +tat a man be mylde , (CMROLLEP,117.942)

and agayne-say noght haly writte when it smytes his synnes , whethir he
understand it or noght ; (CMROLLEP,117.943)

bot in al his myght purge he +te vilete of syn in hym and in other .
(CMROLLEP,117.944)

Connyng es , +tat makes a man in gude hope , noght rusand hym of his
rightwisnes , but sorowand of his syn ; and +tat man geder erthly godes
anely to +te honoure of God , and prow til other men mare +tan til his
self . (CMROLLEP,117.945)

+Te drede of God es , +tat we turne noght agayne til oure syn thorou
any il eggyng ; (CMROLLEP,117.946)

and +tan es drede perfyte in us and haly , when we drede to wreth God
in +te leste syn +tat we may knaw , and flees it as venym .
(CMROLLEP,117.947)

<heading>

Capitulum xii=m= . (CMROLLEP,117.949)

</heading>

Twa lyves +tar er +tat Cristen men lyfes . (CMROLLEP,117.951)

Ane es called actyve lyfe ; (CMROLLEP,117.952)

for it es in mare bodili warke . (CMROLLEP,117.953)

Another , contemplatyve lyfe ; (CMROLLEP,117.954)

for it es in mare swetnes gastely . (CMROLLEP,117.955)

Actife lyfe es mykel owteward , and in mare travel , and in mare peryle
for +te temptacions +tat er in +te worlde . (CMROLLEP,117.956)

Contemplatyfe lyfe es mykel inwarde ; (CMROLLEP,117.957)

and for+ti it es lastandar and sykerar , restfuller , delitabiler ,
luflyer , and mare medeful . (CMROLLEP,117.958)

For it hase joy in Goddes lufe , and savowre in +te lyf +tat lastes ay
, in +tis present tyme if it be right ledde . (CMROLLEP,117.959)

And +tat felyng of joy in +te lufe of Jhesu passes al other merites in
erth ; (CMROLLEP,117.960)

for it es swa harde to com to , for +te freelte of oure flesch and +te
many temptacions +tat we er umsett with , +tat lettes us nyght and day
. (CMROLLEP,117.961)

All other thynges er lyght at come to in regarde +tarof ,
(CMROLLEP,117.962)

for +tat may na man deserve , bot anely it es gifen of Goddes godenes
til +tam +tat verrayli gifes +tam to contemplacion and til quiete for
Cristes luf . (CMROLLEP,117.963)

Til men or wymen +tat takes +tam til actife lyfe , twa thynges falles .
(CMROLLEP,117.964)

Ane , for to ordayne +tair meyne in drede and in +te lufe of God , and
fynd +tam +taire <P_118> necessaries , and +tamself kepe enterely +te
comandementes of God , doand til +tar neghbur als +tai wil +tat +tai do
til +tam . (CMROLLEP,118.965)

Another es , +tat +tai do at +tar power +te seven werkes of mercy : +te
whilk es , to fede +te hungry , to gyf +te thirsti a drynk , to cleth
+te naked , to herbar hym +tat has na howsyng , to viset +te seke , to
comforth +tam +tat er in prysoun , and to grave dede men .
(CMROLLEP,118.966)

Al +tat mai and hase cost : +tai may noght be qwyt with ane or twa of
+tir , (CMROLLEP,118.967)

bot +tam behoves do +tam al , if +tai wil have +te benyson on domes day
, +tat Jhesu sal til al gyf +tat dose +tam ; (CMROLLEP,118.968)

or els may +tai drede +te malysoun +tat al mon have +tat wil noght do
+tam , when +tai had godes to do +tam wyth . (CMROLLEP,118.969)

Contemplatife lyf hase twa partyes , a lower and a heer .
(CMROLLEP,118.970)

+Te lower party es meditacion of haly wrytyng , +tat es Goddes wordes ,
and in other gude thoghtes and swete , +tat men hase of +te grace of
God abowt +te lufe of Jhesu Criste , and also in lovyng of God in
psalmes and ympnes , or in prayers . (CMROLLEP,118.971)

+Te hegher party of contemplacion es behaldyng and +gernyng of +te
thynges of heven , and joy in +te Haly Gaste , +tat men hase oft .
(CMROLLEP,118.972)

And if it be swa +tat +tai be noght prayand with +te mowth , bot anely
thynkand of God and of +te fairehede of aungels and haly sawles . +Tan
may I say +tat contemplacion es a wonderful joy of Goddes luf , +te
whilk joy es lovyng of God , +tat may noght be talde ;
(CMROLLEP,118.973)

and +tat wonderful lovyng es in +te saule , (CMROLLEP,118.974)

and for abundance of joy and swettenes it ascendes intil +te mouth ,
swa +tat +te hert and +te tonge acordes in ane , and body and sawle
joyes in God lyvand . (CMROLLEP,118.975)

A man or woman +tat es ordaynd til contemplatife lyfe first God
enspires +tam to forsake +tis worlde and al +te vanite and +te
covayties and +te vile luste +tarof . (CMROLLEP,118.976)

Sythen he ledes +tam by +tar ane , (CMROLLEP,118.977)

and spekes til +gar hert , (CMROLLEP,118.978)

and als +te prophete says , ' He gifes +tam at sowke <P_119> +te
swetnes of +te begynnyng of lufe . ' (CMROLLEP,119.979)

And +tan he settes +tam in wil to gyf +tam haly to prayers and
meditacions and teres . (CMROLLEP,119.980)

Sithen , when +tai have sufferd many temptacions , and foule noyes of
thoghtes +tat er ydel , and of vanitees , +te whilk wil comber +tam ,
+tat can noght destroy +tam , er passand away , he gars +tam geder til
+tam +tair hert , and fest anely in hym ; (CMROLLEP,119.981)

and opens til +te egh of +tair sawls +te +gates of heven , swa +tat +te
ilk egh lokes intil heven . (CMROLLEP,119.982)

And +tan +te fire of lufe verrali ligges in +tair hert
(CMROLLEP,119.983)

and byrnes +tarin , (CMROLLEP,119.984)

and makes clene of al erthly filth . (CMROLLEP,119.985)

And sithen forward +tai er contemplatife men , and ravyst in lufe .
(CMROLLEP,119.986)

For contemplacion es a syght , (CMROLLEP,119.987)

and +tai se intil heven with +tar gastly egh . (CMROLLEP,119.988)

Bot +tou sal witt , +tat na man hase perfite syght of heven whils +tai
er lifand bodili here ; (CMROLLEP,119.989)

bot als sone als +tai dye , +tai er broght before God ,
(CMROLLEP,119.990)

and sese hym face til face and egh til egh , (CMROLLEP,119.991)

and wones with hym withouten ende . (CMROLLEP,119.992)

For hym +tai soght , (CMROLLEP,119.993)

and hym +tai covayted , (CMROLLEP,119.994)

and hym +tai lufed in al +tar myght . (CMROLLEP,119.995)

Loo , Margarete , I have schortly sayde +te +te forme of lyvyng , and
how +tou may come til perfeccion , and to lufe hym +tat +tou hase taken
+te til . (CMROLLEP,119.996)

If it do +te gude , and profit til +te , thank God , (CMROLLEP,119.997)

and pray for me . (CMROLLEP,119.998)

+Te grace of Jhesu Criste be wi+t +te (CMROLLEP,119.999)

and kepe +te . (CMROLLEP,119.1000)

Amen . (CMROLLEP,119.1001)

Explicit forma vivendi . (CMROLLEP,119.1002)

