<B CMBESTIA>
<Q M2 IR RELT BEST>
<N BESTIARY>
<A X>
<C M2>
<O 1250-1350>
<M 1250-1350>
<K NON-CONTEMP>
<D EMO>
<V VERSE>
<T REL TREAT>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z INSTR REL>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^TEXT:  A BESTIARY.
AN OLD ENGLISH MISCELLANY CONTAINING
A BESTIARY, KENTISH SERMONS, PROVERBS
OF ALFRED, RELIGIOUS POEMS OF
THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, O.S. 49.
ED. R. MORRIS.
LONDON, 1872.
PP. 1.1 - 25.802^]

<P 1>
[}A BESTIARY}]
[} (\NATURA LEONIS J=A=.\) }]
 
+De leun stant on hille,
and he man hunten here
O+der +durg his nese smel,
Smake +dat he negge,
Bi wilc weie so he wile
To dele ni+der wenden,
Alle hise fet steppes
After him he fille+d,
Drage+d dust wi+d his stert
+der he steppe+d,
O+der dust o+der deu,
+tat he ne cunne is finden,
driue+d dun to his den
+dar he him bergen wille.

[}IJ=A=.}]

An o+der kinde he haue+d,
wanne he is ikindled
Stille li+d +de leun,
ne stire+d he nout of slepe
Til +de sunne haue+d sinen
+dries him abuten,
+danne reise+d his fader him
mit te rem +dat he make+d.

<P 2>
[}IIJ=A=.}]

+De +dridde lage haue+d +de leun,
+danne he lie+d to slepen
Sal he neure luken
+de lides of hise egen.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO PRIME NATURE.\) }]

Welle heg is tat hil,
+dat is heuen riche,
vre louerd is te leun,
+de liue+d +der abuuen;
wu +do him likede
to ligten her on er+de,
Migte neure diuel witen,
+dog he be derne hunte,
hu he dun come,
Ne wu he dennede him
in +dat defte meiden,
Marie bi name,
+de him bar to manne frame.

[}IJ=A= ET IIJ=A=.}]

+Do ure drigten ded was,
and doluen, also his wille was,
In a ston stille he lai
til it kam +de dridde dai,
His fader him filstnede swo
+dat he ros fro dede +do,
vs to to lif holden,
wake+d so his wille is,
So hirde for his folde;
He is hirde, we ben sep;
Silden he us wille,
If we heren to his word
+dat we ne gon nowor wille,

<P 3>
[} (\NATURA AQUILE.\) }]

Ki+den i wille +de ernes kinde,
Also ic it o boke rede,
wu he newe+d his gu+dhede,
hu he cume+d ut of elde,
Si+den hise limes arn unwelde,
Si+den his bec is al to-wrong,
Si+den his fligt is al unstrong,
and his egen dimme;
Here+d wu he newe+d him.
A welle he seke+d +dat springe+d ai
bo+de bi nigt and bi dai,
+der-ouer he flege+d, and up he te+d,
til +dat he +de heuene fe+d,
+durg skies sexe and seuene
til he cume+d to heuene;
So rigt so he cunne
he houe+d in +de sunne;
+de sunne swide+d al his fligt,
and oc it make+d his egen brigt,
Hise fe+dres fallen for +de hete,
and he dun mide to +de wete
Falle+d in +dat welle grund,
+der he wurde+d heil and fund,
and cume+d ut al newe,
Ne were his bec untrewe.
His bec is get biforn wrong,
+dog hise limes senden strong,
Ne maig he tilen him non fode
him self to none gode,
+danne go+d he to a ston,
and he bille+d +der-on,
Bille+d til his bec biforn
haue+d +de wreng+de forloren,
Si+den wi+d his rigte bile
take+d mete +dat he wile.  
   
<P 4>
[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

Al if man so is tis ern,
wulde ge nu listen,
Old in hise sinnes dern,
   Or he bicume+d cristen;
and tus he newe+d him +dis man,
   +danne he nime+d to kirke,
Or he it bi+denken can,
   hise egen weren mirke;
Forsaket +dore satanas,
   and ilk sinful dede;
Take+d him to ihesu crist,
   for he sal ben his mede;
Leue+d on ure loue[{r{]d crist,
   and lere+d prestes lore;
Of hise egen were+d +de mist,
   wiles he drecche+d +dore.
his hope is al to gode-ward,
   and of his luue he lere+d,
+dat is te sunne sikerlike,
   +dus his sigte he bete+d;
Naked falle+d in +de funt-fat,
   and cume+d ut al newe,
buten a litel; wat is tat?
   his mu+d is get untrewe;
his mu+d is get wel unku+d
   wi+d pater noster and crede;
Fare he nor+d, er fare he su+d,
   leren he sal his nede;
bidden bone to gode,
   and tus his mu+d rigten;
tilen him so +de sowles fode,
   +durg grace off ure drigtin.

<P 5>
[} (\NATURA SERPENTIS. J=A=.\) }]

An wirm is o werlde,
wel man it knowe+d,
Neddre is te name:
+dus he him newe+d,
+danne he is forbroken and forbroiden,
and in his elde al forwurden.
Faste+d til his fel him slake+d,
ten daies fulle,
+dat he is lene and mainles
and iuele mai gangen;
he crepe+d cripelande for+d,
his craft he +dus ki+de+d,
Seke+d a ston +dat a +dirl is on,
Narwe, buten he nede+d him,
Nime+d vnne+des +durg,
for his fel he +der lete+d;
his fles for+d crepe+d,
walke+d to +de water-ward,
wile +danne drinken.
Oc he spewe+d or al +de uenim
dat in his brest is bred
fro his birde time,
drinke+d si+den inog,
and tus he him newe+d.

[}IJ=A=.}]

+Danne +de neddre is of his hid naked,
and bare of his brest atter,
If he naked man se
ne wile he him nogt neggen,
oc he fle+d fro him
als he fro fir sulde.
If he clo+ded man se,
cos he waxe+d,
For up he rigte+d him
<P 6>
redi to deren,
to deren er to ded maken,
if he it muge for+den.
wat if +de man war wur+de,
and weren him cunne,
figte+d wi+d +dis wirm
and f[{a{]re+d on him figtande; 
+dis neddre si+den he nede fal,
make+d seld of his bodi,
and silde+d his heued;
litel him is of hise limes,
bute he lif holde.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

Knov cristene man
wat tu crist higtest
Atte kirke dure,
+dar +du cristned were:
+tu higtes to leuen on him,
and hise lages luuien,
to helden wit herte 
+de bodes of holi k[{i{]rke.
If +du hauest is broken,
Al +du forbre+des,
forwur+des and forgelues,
Eche lif to wolden,
Elded art fro eche blis,
So +dis wirm o werld is;
Newe +de fordi
so +de neddre do+d;
It is te ned.
Feste +de of stedefastnesse,
and ful of +dewes;
and help +de poure men 
+de gangen abuten.
Ne deme +de nog[{t{] wurdi,
<P 7>
+dat tu dure loken
up to +de heueneward;
Oc walke wi+d +de er+de
mildelike among men;
no mod +du ne cune,
mod ne mannes vncost;
oc swic of sineginge;
and bote bid tu +de ai,
bo+de bi nigt and bi dai,
+dat tu milce mote hauen
of +dine misdedes.
+dis lif bitokne+d +de sti
+dat te neddre gange+d bi,
and tis is +de +dirl of +de ston
+dat tu salt +durg gon.
Let +din fil+de fro +de,
so +de wirm his fel do+d;
Go +du +dan to godes hus
+de godspel to heren,
+dat is soule drink,
sinnes quenching.
Oc or sei +du in scrifte
to +de prest sinnes tine,
feg +de +dus of +di brest filde,
and feste +de for+dward
fast at tin herte,
+dat tu firmest higtes.
+duf art tu ging and newe;
for+dward be +du trewe.
Nede+d +de +de deuel nogt,
for he ne mai +de deren nogt;
oc he fle+d fro +de
so neddre fro de nakede.
On +de clo+dede +de neddre is cof,
and te deuel cliuer on sinnes;
Ai +de sinfule
<P 8>
bisetten he wile,
and wi+d al mankin
he haue+d ni+d and win;
wat if he leue haue
of ure heuen louerd
for to deren us,
So he ure eldere or dede;
do we +de bodi in +de bale,
and bergen +de soule,
+dat is ure heued geuelic,
helde we it wur+dlic.

[} (\NATURA FORMICE.\) }]

+De mire is magti,
mikel ge swinke+d
In sumer and in softe weder,
So we ofte sen hauen;
In +de heruest
hardilike gange+d,
and renne+d rapelike,
and reste+d hire seldum,
and feche+d hire fode
+der ge it mai finden,
gaddre+d ilkines sed
bo+den of wude and of wed,
Of corn and of gres,
+dat ire to hauen es,
hale+d to hire hole,
+dat si+den hire helpe+d
+dar ge wile ben winter agen;
caue ge haue+d to crepen in,
+dat winter hire ne derie;
Mete in hire hule +dat
+dat ge muge biliuen.
+dus ge tile+d +dar,
wiles ge time haue+d,
<P 9>
so it her telle+d;
oc finde ge +de wete,
corn +dat hire qweme+d,
Al ge forlete+d +dis o+der se+d
+dat ic er seide;
Ne bit ge nowt de barlic
beren abuten;
oc sune+d it and sake+d for+d,
so it same were.
get is wunder of +dis wirm 
more +danne man wene+d,
+de corn +dat ge to caue bere+d 
al get bit otwinne,
+dat it ne forwur+de
ne waxe hire fro,
er ge it eten wille.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

+De mire mune+d us
mete to tilen,
Long liueno+de, 
+dis little wile
+de we on +dis werld wunen:
for +danne we os wenden,
+danne is ure winter;
we sulen hunger hauen
and harde sures,
buten we ben war here.
do we for+di so do+d +dis der,
   +danne be we derue
On +dat dai +dat dom sal ben,
   +dat it ne us harde rewe:
Seke we ure liues fod,
   +dat we ben siker +dere,
So +dis wirm in winter is,
   +dan ge ne tile+d nummore.
<P 10>
+de mire sune+d +de barlic,
   +danne ge fint te wete;
+de olde lage we ogen to sunen,
   +de newe we hauen moten.
+de corn +dat ge to caue bere+d,
   all ge it bit otwinne,
+de lage us lere+d to don god,
   and forbede+d us sinne.
It bet us er+dliche bodes,
   and bekued euelike;
It fet +de licham and te gost
   oc nowt o geuelike;
vre louerd crist it leue us
   +dat his lage us fede,
nu and o domesdei,
   and tanne we hauen nede.

[} (\NATURA CERUI.\) }]
 
+De hert haue+d kindes two,
and forbisnes oc al so:
+dus it is on boke set,
+dat man clepe+d fisiologet.
He drage+d +de neddre of de ston
+durg his nese up on-on,
of +de stoc er of +de ston,
for it wile +derunder gon;
and swele+d it wel swi+de,
+derof him brinne+d si+den
of +dat attrie +ding,
wi+dinnen he haue+d brenning:
he lepe+d +danne wi+d mikel list,
of swet water he haue+d +drist;
he drinke+d water gredilike
til he is ful wel sikerlike,
Ne haue+d +dat uenim non migt
to deren him si+den non wigt.
<P 11>
oc he werpe+d er hise hornes
in wude er in +dornes,
and gingid him +dus +dis wilde der,
So ge hauen nu lered her.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO PRIMA.\) }]

Alle we atter dragen off ure eldere,
+de broken drigtinnes word +durg +de neddre;
+der-+durg haue+d mankin
bo+den ni+d and win,
golsipe and giscing,
giuernesse and wissing,
pride and ouerwene;
swilc atter i-mene.
Ofte we brennen in mod,
and wur+den so we weren wod;
+danne we +dus brennen
bihoue+d us to rennen
to cristes quike welle,
+dat we ne gon to helle;
drinken his wissing,
it quenchet ilc siniging;
forwerpen pride euril[{c{] del,
so hert do+d hise hornes;
gingen us tus to godeward,
and gemen us si+den for+dward.

[} (\NATURA IJ=A=.\) }]

+De hertes hauen ano+der kinde,
+dat us og alle to ben minde.
Alle he arn off one mode;
For if he fer fecchen fode,
and he ouer water ten,
wile non at nede o+der flen;
Oc on swimme+d bi-forn,
and alle +de o+dre folegen,
<P 12>
we+der so he swimme+d er he wade+d:
If non at nede +dat o+der late+d,
Oc leige+d his skinbon
on o+dres lendbon.
gef him +dat biforn te+d
Bilimpes for to tirgen,
Alle +de o+dre cumen mide,
and helpen him for to her[{t{]ien,
beren him of +dat water grund
up to +de lond al heil and fund,
and for+den here nede:
+dis wune he hauen hem bi-twen,
+dog he an hundred to-giddre ben.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO IJ=A=.\) }]

+De hertes costes we ogen to munen,
Ne og ur non o+der to sunen,
oc eurilc luuen o+der,
also he were his broder,
wur+den stedefast his wine,
ligten him of his birdene,
helpen him at his nede;
god giue+d +der-fore mede:
we sulen hauen heuenriche,
gef we bitwixen us ben briche:
+dus is ure louerdes lage,
   luuelike to fillen,
her-of haue we mikel ned,
   +dat we +dar-wi+d ne dillen.

[} (\NATURA WULPIS.\) }]

A wilde der is
+dat is ful of fele wiles,
fox is hire to name,
for hire que+dsipe;
<P 13>
husebondes hire haten,
for hire harm dedes:
+de coc and te capun
ge fecche+d ofte in +de tun,
and te gandre and te gos,
bi +de necke and bi +de nos,
hale+d is to hire hole;
for-+di man hire hatie+d,
hatien and hulen
bo+de men and fules.
Listne+d nu a wunder,
+dat tis der do+d for hunger:
go+d o felde to a furg,
and falle+d +dar-inne,
In eried lond er in er+dchine.
forto bilirten fugeles;
Ne stere+d ge nogt of +de stede
a god stund deies,
oc dare+d so ge ded were,
Ne drage+d ge non onde:
+de rauen is swi+de redi,
wene+d +dat ge rotie+d,
and o+dre fules hire fallen bi
For to winnen fode,
derflike wi+duten dred;
he wenen +dat ge ded be+d,
he wullen on +dis foxes fel;
and ge it wel fele+d,
ligtlike ge lepe+d up
and lette+d hem sone,
gelt hem here billing
ra+de wi+d illing,
tetogge+d and tetire+d hem
mid hire te+d sarpe, 
<P 14>
Fret hire fille,
and go+d +dan +der ge wille.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

Twifold forbisne in +dis der
to frame we mugen finden her,
warsipe and wisedom
wi+d deuel and wi+d iuel man;
+de deuel dere+d dernelike,
he lat he ne wile us nogt biswike,
he lat he ne wile us +don non lo+d,
and bringe+d us in a sinne and ter he us slo+d,
he bit us don ure bukes wille,
eten and drinken wi+d unskil,
and in ure skemting
he do+d ra+de a foxing,
he bille+d one +de foxes fel
wo so telle+d idel spel,
and he tire+d on his ket
wo so him wi+d sinne fet,
and deuel geld swilk billing
wi+d fame and wi+d sending,
and for his sinfule werk
lede+d man to helle merk.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

+De deuel is tus +de [{fox{] ilik
mi+d iuele breides and wi+d swik;
and man al so +de foxes name
arn wur+di to hauen same;
for wo so seie+d o+der god,
and +denke+d iuel on his mod,
fox he is and fend iwis,
+de boc ne lege+d nogt of +dis;
So was herodes fox and flerd,
+do crist kam in-to +dis middel-erd,
<P 15>
he seide he wulde him leuen on,
and +dogte he wulde him fordon.

[} (\NATURA ARANE`E`.\) }]

Seftes sop ure seppande,
sene is on werlde,
lei+de and lodlike,
+dus we it leuen,
manikines +ding
alle manne to wissing.
+de spinnere on hire swid ge weve+d,
feste+d atte hus rof,
hire fodredes
o rof er on ouese,
so hire is on elde;
werpe+d +dus hire web,
and weue+d on hire wise.
+danne ge it haue+d al idigt.
+de+den ge driue+d,
hitt hire in hire hole,
oc ai ge it biholde+d
til +dat +der fleges faren
and fallen +der-inne,
wi+deren in +dat web,
and wilen ut wenden;
+danne renne+d ge rapelike,
for ge is ai redi,
nime+d anon to +de net
and nime+d hem +dere,
bitterlike ge hem bit
and here bane wur+de+d,
drepe+d and drinke+d here blod,
do+d ge hire non o+der god,
bute fret hire fille,
and dare+d si+den stille.

<P 16>
[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

+Dis wirm bitokne+d +de man
+dat o+der biswike+d 
on stede er on stalle,
stille er lude,
in mot er in market,
er oni o+der wise,
he him bit
+dan he him bale felle+d,
and he drinke+d his blod
wanne he him dreue+d,
and +do frete+d hem al,
+dan he him iuel werke+d.

[} (\NATURA CETEGRANDIE.\) }]

Cethegrande is a fis
+de moste +dat in water is;
+dat tu wuldes seien get,
gef +du it soge wan it flet,
+dat it were a neilond
+dat fete one +de se sond.
+dis fis +dat is vnride,
+danne him hungre+d he gape+d wide,
vt of his +drote it smit an onde,
+de swetteste +ding +dat is o londe;
+der-fore o+dre fisses to him dragen,
wan he it felen he aren fagen,
he cumen and houen in his mu+d,
of his swike he arn uncu+d;
+dis cete +danne hise chaueles luke+d,
+dise fisses alle in suke+d,
+de smale he wile +dus biswiken,
+de grete maig he nogt bigripen.
+dis fis wune+d wi+d +de se grund,
and liue+d +der eure heil and sund,
<P 17>
til it cume+d +de time
+dat storm stire+d al +de se,
+danne sumer and winter winnen;
ne mai it wunen +der-inne,
So droui is te sees grund,
ne mai he wunen +der +dat stund,
oc stire+d up and houe+d stille;
wiles +dar weder is so ille,
+de sipes +dat arn on se fordriuen,
lo+d hem is ded, and lef to liuen,
biloken hem and sen +dis fis,
an eilond he wenen it is,
+der-of he aren swi+de fagen,
and mid here migt +dar-to he dragen,
sipes on festen,
and alle up gangen;
Of ston mid stel in +de tunder
wel to brennen one +dis wunder,
warmen hem wel and heten and drinken;
+de fir he fele+d and do+d hem sinken,
for sone he diue+d dun to grunde,
he drepe+d hem alle wi+d-uten wunde.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

+Dis deuel is mikel wi+d wil and magt,
So wicches hauen in here craft,
he do+d men hungren and hauen +drist,
and mani o+der sinful list,
tolle+d men to him wi+d his onde,
wo so him folege+d he finde+d sonde;
+do arn +de little in leue lage,
+de mikle ne maig he to him dragen:
+de mikle, i mene +de stedefast
in rigte leue mid fles and gast.
<P 18>
wo so listne+d deueles lore,
on leng+de it sal him rewen sore;
wo so feste+d hope on him,
he sal him folgen to helle dim.

[} (\NATURA SIRENE.\) }]

In +de se senden
selcu+des manie;
+de mereman is
a meiden ilike
on brest and on bodi,
oc al +dus ge is bunden;
fro +de noule ni+derward
ne is ge no man like,
oc fis to fuliwis
mid sinnes waxen.
+dis wunder wune+d
in wankel stede,
+der +de water sinke+d,
sipes ge sinke+d,
and sca+de +dus werke+d
mirie ge singe+d +dis mere,
and haue+d manie stefnes,
manie and sille,
oc it ben wel ille;
sipmen here steringe forgeten
for hire stefninge,
slumeren and slepen,
and to late waken,
+de sipes sinken mitte suk,
ne cumen he nummor up.
Oc wise men and warre
agen cunnen chare,
ofte arn atbrosten,
mid he[{re{] brest ouel;
<P 19>
he hauen herd told of +dis mere
dat tus unie-mete,
half man and half fis,
sum +ding tokne+d bi +dis.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

Fele men hauen +de tokning
of +dis forbisnede +di[{n{]g,
wi+duten weren wulues fel,
wi+dinnen arn he wulues al;
he speken godcundhede,
and wikke is here dede;
here dede is al vncu+d
wi+d +dat speke+d here mu+d;
twifold arn on mode,
he sweren bi +de rode,
bi +de sunne and bi +de mone,
and he +de legen sone,
mid here sage and mid here song
he +de swiken +der imong,
+din agte wi+d swiking,
+di soule wi+d lesing.

[} (\NATURA ELEPHANTIS.\) }]

Elpes arn in Inde riche,
on bodi borlic berges ilike;
he to-gaddre gon o wolde,
so sep +dat cumen ut of folde,
and behinden he hem sampnen
+danne he sulen o+dre strenen;
Oc he arn so kolde of kinde
+dat no golsipe is hem minde,
til he noten of a gres,
+de name is mandragores,
Si+den he bigeten on,
<P 20>
and two ger he +der-mide gon.
+dog he +dre hundred ger
on werlde more wuneden her,
bigeten he neuermor non,
so kold is hem si+den blod and bon;
+danne ge sal hire kindles beren,
In water ge sal stonden,
In water to mid side,
+dat wanne hire harde tide,
+dat ge ne falle ni+der nogt,
+dat is most in hire +dogt,
For he ne hauen no li+d
+dat he mugen risen wi+d.
Hu he reste+d him +dis der,
   +danne he walke+d wide,
herkne wu it telle+d her,
   for he is al unride.
A tre he seke+d to fuligewis, 
+dat is strong and stedefast is,
and lene+d him trostl[{i{]ke +der-bi,
+danne he is of walke weri.
+de hunte haue+d biholden +dis,
   +de him wille swiken,
wor his beste wune is,
   to don hise willen; 
Sage+d +dis tre and under-set,
o +de wise +dat he mai bet,
and hile+d it wel +dat he it nes war,
+danne he make+d +der-to char,
him seluen sit olon, bihalt,
we+der his gin him out biwalt.
+danne cume+d +dis elp unride,
and lene+d him up on his side,
slepe+d bi +de tre in +de sadue,
and fallen boden so to-gaddre;
<P 21>
gef +der is noman +danne he falle+d,
he reme+d and helpe calle+d,
reme+d reufulike on his wise,
hope+d he sal +durg helpe risen;
+danne cume+d +der on gangande,
hope+d he sal him don ut standen,
Fike+d and fonde+d al his migt,
ne mai he it for+den no wigt;
Ne canne +dan non o+der,
oc reme+d mid his bro+der,
manie and mikle cume +der sacande,
wenen him on stalle maken,
oc for +de helpe of hem alle
ne mai he cumen so on stalle;
+danne remen he alle a rem,
so hornes blast o+der belles drem,
For here mikle reming
rennande cume+d a gungling,
ra+de to him lute+d,
his snute him under pute+d,
and mitte helpe of hem alle
+dis elp he reisen on stalle;
and tus atbrested +dis huntes breid,
o+de wise +dat ic haue gu seid. 

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

+Dus fel adam +durg a tre,
vre firste fader, +dat fele we:
Moyses wulde him reisen,
migte it no wigt for+den;
After him prophetes alle
migte her non him maken on stalle,
on stalle, i seie, +der he er stod,
to hauen heuenriche god.
<P 22>
he suggeden and sorgeden and weren in +dogt,
wu he migten him helpen ovt;
+do remeden he alle onder steuene
alle hege up to +de heuene,
for here care and here calling
hem cam to crist heuen king;
he +de is ai in heuene mikel,
wur+d her man, and tus was litel,
drowing +dolede in ure manhede,
and tus adam he under-gede,
reisede him up, and al mankin,
+dat was fallen to helle dim.

[} (\NATURA TURTURIS.\) }]

In boke is +de turtres lif
writen o rime, wu lagelike
ge holde+d luue al hire lif time;
gef ge ones make haue+d,
   fro him ne wile ge si+den:
mune+d wimmen hire lif,
   ic it wile gu reden;
bi hire make ge sit o nigt,
   o dei ge go+d and flege+d.
wo so seit he sundren ovt,
   i seie +dat he lege+d.
Oc if hire make were ded,
   and ge widue wore,
+danne flege+d ge one and fare+d,
   non o+der wile ge more;
buten one go+d and one sit,
and hire olde luue abit,
In herte haue+d him nigt and dai,
so he were oliue ai.

<P 23>
[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

List ilk lefful man her-to,
   and herof ofte reche:
vre sowle atte kirke dure
   ches hire crist to meche,
he is ure soule spuse,
   luue we him wi+d migte,
and wende we neure fro him-ward
   be dai ne be nigte;
+dog he be fro ure sigte faren,
   be we him alle trewe,
non o+der louerd ne leue we
   ne non luue newe;
leue we +dat he liue+d ai
   up on heuen-riche,
and +de+den he sal cumen eft,
   and ben us alle briche,
for to demen alle men,
   oc nout on geuelike,
hise lo+de men sulen to helle faren,
   hise leue to his riche.

[} (\NATURA PANTERE.\) }]

Panter is an wilde der,
Is non fairere on werlde her;
he is blac so bro of qual,
mi+d wite spottes sapen al,
wit and trendled als a wel.
and itt bicume+d him swi+de wel.
wor so he wune+d +dis panter,
he fede+d him al mid o+der der,
of +do +de he wile he nime+d +de cul
and fet him wel til he is ful.
In his hole si+den stille
+dre dages he slepen wille,
<P 24>
+dan after +de +dridde dai
he rise+d and reme+d lude so he mai,
ut of his +drote cume+d a smel
mid his rem for+d oueral,
+dat ouer-cume+d haliweie
wi+d swetnesse, ic gu seie,
and al +dat eure smelle+d swete,
be it drie be it wete.
For +de swetnesse off his onde,
wor so he walke+d o londe,
wor so he walked, er wor so he wune+d,
Ilk der +de him here+d to him cume+d,
and folege+d him up one +de wold,
for +de swetnesse +de ic gu haue told.
+de dragunes one ne stiren nout
wiles te panter reme+d ogt,
oc daren stille in here pit,
als so he weren of dede offrigt.

[} (\SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

Crist is tokned +durg +dis der,
wos kinde we hauen told gu her;
for he is faier ouer alle men,
so euen sterre ouer er+de fen;
ful wel he taunede his luue to man,
wan he +durg holi spel him wan,
and longe he lai her in an hole,
wel him dat he it wulde +dolen;
+dre daies slep he al on on,
+danne he ded was in blod and bon,
vp he ros and remede i-wis
of helle pine, of heuene blis,
and steg to heuene uvemest,
+der wune+d wi+d fader and holi gast.
Amonges men a swete [{s{]mel
<P 25> 
he let her of his holi spel,
wor-+durg we mugen folgen him
in-to his godcundne se fin.
and +dat wirm ure wi+derwine,
wor so of godes word is dine,
ne dar he stiren, ne noman deren,
+der wile he lage and luue beren.

[} (\NATURA COLUMBE ET SIGNIFICACIO.\) }]

+De culuer haue+d costes gode,
alle wes ogen to hauen in mode,
seuene costes in hire kinde,
alle it ogen to ben us minde,
ge ne haue+d in hire non galle,
simple and softe be we alle;
ge ne liue+d nogt bi lagt;
Ilc robbinge do we of bac.
+de wirm ge lete+d and liue+d bi +de sed,
of cristes lore we haue ned;
wi+d o+dre briddes ge do+d as moder,
so og ur ilk to don wi+d o+der;
woning and groning is lic hire song,
bimene we us, we hauen don wrong.
In water ge is wis of heuekes come,
and we in boke wi+d deules nome;
In hole of ston ge make+d hire nest,
In cristes milce ure hope is best.




