<B CMCURSOR>
<Q M2/3 NN HIST CURSOR>
<N CURSOR MUNDI>
<A X>
<C M2/3>
<O 1250-1350>
<M 1350-1420>
<K NON-CONTEMP>
<D NL>
<V VERSE>
<T HISTORY>
<G X>
<F X>
<W WRITTEN>
<X X>
<Y X>
<H X>
<U X>
<E X>
<J X>
<I X>
<Z NARR NON-IMAG>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^CURSOR MUNDI.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, O.S. 57, 59, 62, 66, 68.
ED. R. MORRIS.
LONDON, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878.
COTTON MS VESPASIAN A.III:
PP. 78.1215    - 90.1432       (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 208.3489   - 230.3890      (SAMPLE 2)
PP. 420.7287   - 448.7788      (SAMPLE 3)
PP. 548.9517   - 554.9620      (SAMPLE 4)
PP. 1006.17535 - 1018.17780    (SAMPLE 5)
PP. 1238.21627 - 1244.21732    (SAMPLE 6)^]

<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 78>
   Vs tells of adam his stori;
O suns +tat he had thirtti,
And he had doghtres als fel,
Wit outen caym and abel.
+te sister giuen was to +te bro+ter,
+te lagh moght certayn be non o+ter;
Sua wald drightin, and behoued nede
To do +tair kin al for to sprede.
   Vnseli caym +tat ai was saked,
Wit god and man +tan was he hatted,
He als-sua wit his oxspring;
+tai luued our lauerd nan-kin thing,
For +tai him warryd wit wickud dedis.
He +tam for-soke in al +ter nedis.
To wrik +tare wik wil +tai thoght,
Agh of him na stod +tam noght.
+tat boght +tai si+ten wijf and barn,
wit water ware +tai all for-farn,
Als +gee sal here how hit bi-fell
Quen i of noe flod sal tell;
For all war ille and nan war gode,
+tei drunkend all in +te flode. 

[} (\DE FINE ADE & OLEO MISERICORDIE\) }]

   Adam had pastd nine hundret yere,
Nai selcut +tof he wex vn-fere.
<P 80>
For-wroght wit his hak and spad
Of him-self he wex al sad.
He lened him +tan a-pon his hak,
Wit seth his sun +tus gat he spak: -  
"Sun," he said, "+tou most now ga
To paradis +tat i com fra
Til cherubin +tat [{es{] +te yateward."
"Yai, sir, wist i wyderward
+tat tat vneuth contre` ware,
+tou wat +tat i was neuer +tare."
+tus he said, "i sal +te sai
How-gate +tou sal tak +te wai;
Toward +te est end of +tis dale
Find a grene gate +tou sale;
In +tat way sal +tou find forsoth 
+ti moders and mine our bather slogh,
Foluand thoru +tat gresse gren,
+tat euer has si+ten ben gren,
+tat we com wendand als vn-wis
Quen we war put o paradis
vn-to +tis wreched warld slade,
+tar i first me self was made;
Thoru +te gretnes of our sin
Moght na gres groue si+ten +tar-in;
+te falau slogh sal be +ti gate
O paradis right to +te yate."
"Fader," he said, "sai me +ti will,
Quat sal i sai +tat angel till?"
"+tou sal him tell .I. am vnfere,
For I haue liued so mani a yere,
Ai in strijf and soruuing stad,
+tat o mi lijf I am al sad;
+tou prai him +tat he word me send
Quen I sal o +tis werld wend;
Ano+ter erand sal +tar be,
+tat he wald send me word wit +te,
<P 82>
Quedir +tat I sal haue it in hij
+te oile me was hight o merci,
+te tim +tat i lest paradis;
Well i knau now mi folijs,
A-gain godds wil haue i wroght,
And +tat sum-del haue .I. now boght;
Mi soru has ai si+ten ben neu,
Nou war it time o me to reu."
Seth went him forth wit-outen nai
To paradis +tat ilk way.
+te slogth he fand +tat him gan wiss
tilward +te +gate of paradis;
Quen [{he{] +tar-of son had a sight,
Al was he gloppend for +tat light;
+te mikel light +tat he sagh +tar
A brennand fire he wend it ware.
He seuid him, als his fader badd,
And +gode forth and was noght raadd.
+tis angel at +te +gatte he fand
And asked him of his errand.
Seth +ten sette him spell o-nend
And tald him warfor +tat he was send,
Tald him of his fader care,
Als he him taght sum yee herd are,
to send him word wen he suld dei,
to liue moght he na langar drei;
And wen +tat drightim had him tight
To send him +te oile +tat he him hight.
Quen cherubin +tis errand herd
Mikelik he him answard:
"Ga to +te +gatte," he said, "and lote 
+ti hed inwar, +ti self wit-outte,
And tent to thinges at +ti might
+tat sal be sceud vn-to +ti sight."
Quen seth a quil had loked in,
He sagh sua mikel welth and win,
<P 84>
It es in erth na tung may tell,
+tat flour, +tat frutte, +tat suette smell,
O blis and ioy sua mani thing;
In middes +te land he sagh a spring
Of a well +tat es vtenemes,
+tat oute of ran four gret stremmes;
Gyson, fison, tigre, eufrate,
+tis four mas al +tis erth wate;
Out-ouer +tat well +tan lokes he,
And sagh +tar stand a mikel tre,
Wit braunches fel, o bark al bare,
Was +tar na leue on, less na mare. 
Seth bigan to thinc for-qui
+tat +tis tre bi-com sua dri;
O +te steppes vmthoght he +tan
+tat welud war for sin of man;
+tat ilk schil did him to min
+tis tre was dri for adam sin.
He com +tan to +tat angel scene,
And sceud him al +tat he had sene;
Quen he his sight al had him tald,
He badd him eft ga to be-hald.
He loked in eft and stod +ter-oute,
And sagh +te thing +tat gart him doute;
+tis tre, +tat i of for-wit said,
A neddur hit hade al vmbilaid.
Cherubin, +tat angel blyth,
Bad him ga lok +te thrid syth;
+tis tre was of a mikel heght,
Him thoght +tan, at +te thrid sight,
+tat to +te sky it raght +te toppe;
A new born barn lay in +te croppe,
Bondon wit a sue+telband,
+tar him thoght it lay suelland;
He was al ferd wen he +tat sei
And to +te rotte he kest his he,
<P 86>
Him thoght it raght fra erth til hell,
Quare vnder he sagh his bro+ter abell;
In his saul he sagh him +tare
+tat caim slogh for-wit ful o care.
He went agayn +tan for to scau
To cherubin al +tat he sau.
Cherubin wit chere sa milde
Bigan to tel him o +tat child.
"+tis barn," he said, "+tat +tou has sene,
Is goddes sun wit-outen wene;
+ti fader sin now wepes he
+tat he sal clens sum time sal be,
Quen +te plente+g sal cum o time;
+tis is +te oile +tat was hight him;
Til him and til his progeni,
Wit pite sal [{he{] sceu his merci."
Quen seth had vnderstanden wele
+tat angel said him, ilk dele,
His leue wald tak at cherubin.
Pepins +ten he gaue him thrin,
+te quilk a +te appel tre he nam
+tat his fader ete of, adam.
"+ti fader," he said, "+tan sal +tou say
+tat he sal dei +te thrid day
Efter +tat +tou be commun ham,
And als he was turn in-to lam;
Bot +tou sal tak +tis pepins thre,
+tat .I. toke o +tat appel tre,
And do +tam vnder his tong rote,
+tai sal til mani man be bote;
+tai sal be cedre, ciprese, and pine,
O +tam sal man haue medicen.
+te fader in cedre +tou sal take,
A tre of heght, +tat has na make;
And cipres, be +te suete sauur,
Bitakens ur suete sauueur,
<P 88>
+te mikel suetnes +tat es +te sun;
+te pine to bere a frut es won;
Mani kirnels of a tre mast
Gain gifes o +te holi gast.
   Seth was of his errand fain
And sune com til his fader again.
"Sun," he said, "has +tou sped oght
Or has +tou ani merci broght?"
"Sir, cherubin +te hali angel
+tat es yateward, +te gretes wel,
Sais it sal negh +te warlds end,
Ar +tat oile +te may be send,
Thoro birth of a blisful child
+tat sal fra harm +te werld schild;
O +ti ded he bad me sai
Sal be to dai +te thrid dai."
Adam was for +tis ti+tand blith,
Sua glad was he neuer his sith;
Quen he herd he suld liue namare,
+tan he logh, bot neuer are;
And +tus on godd be-gan to cri: - 
"Lauerd, inogh now liued haue .i.,
+tou tak mi saul out of +te flexs
And do it ware +ti wils es."
Quat of +tis werld he was ful sad
+tare neuer a dai +tar in was glad,
+tat liued nine hundret yeir and mare,
And al his liue site and care;
And leuer was si+ten to lenger in hell
+tan langer in +tis liue to duell.
   Adam, al[{s{] him was tald be-forn,
Was ded apon +te thrid morn;
Doluen he was thoru seth his sun
In +te dale +tat hat ebron;
+te pipins war don vnder his tung,
+tar ras o +tam thre wandes yong;
<P 90>
Son of a nellen heght +tai ware,
+tai stod +tan still and wex na mare;
ful many yeir ilike grene,
Halines was o +tam sene.
Stil ai stod, +tai wandes thre
Fra adam tim until noe;
Fra noe quen +te flod ras
Til abraham +tat haly was;
Fra abraham ai stil stod +tai
Til moyses +tat gaf +te lai;
Euer stod +tai still in an,
Wit-outen wax, wit-outen wain.
Na mare o +te wandes now
Bot stori sal i rede +gow.

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 208>
  +te first was born was rogh as hare,
+te to+ter child was smeth and bare.
He +tat was rugh was rede wit-al,
Esau +tai did him call.
Iacob hight +te yonger bro+ter,
His moder him luued mare +tan +tat to +ter,
For-+ti ne was he no+ter quar sent
Bot to +te huse ai tok he tent,
+te hus to kepe and ma +te mett,
Mast to +tat mister was he sett.
+te fader luued esau for fode,
For-qui +tat he was archer gode,
And, quen he wald, ai was he bun
To fete his fader venison,
And he was als +te for-mast born.
He delt als wit tilth o corn,
He cuth well als o waith sere,
O best o wode, o foghul riuere;
His fader +tat old was and vnfere
Oft he fed wit gode dinere.
God was +te werld in +tat sesun
And mikel it bar o benisun,
On god men +tat well held +te lai
On childer +tat he it wald on lai;
O blesing mai man bisin take
Bi childer of +tis ysaac,
How yonger o +tir tua
+te blissing stal his bro+ter fra;
Bot first es gode +tat it be tald
How esau his forbirth sald.
   Esau went for till hunt,
A day, sum he was oft wunt,
Bath on fer and ner he soght,
Bot +tat dai wayth +tan gatt he noght,
For haf man neuer sa gode graith
It es noght ilk dai, dai o waith,
<P 210>
Bot riueli +tat dai +tat men failes
Abute his waith most trauailles;
Quen he al weri was for-gan
Ham he tok his wai o-nan;
For hauk es eth, als i here say,
To reclaym +tat has tint his pray.
His bro+ter he fand giueand his tent
To grayth a riche pulment;
"O +tis kin mete now, bro+ter," he said,
"Giue me sum part +tat +tou has graythid,
Mette and drinc +tou has to will,
Bot lang es si+ten I ete my fill."
Iacob +tan said, "godd wit it,
To +te haf noght now graythid it;
+te mete mi moder me bi-taght,
For +tou and i er selden saght,
Abute our forbirth er we wrath;
Bot +tou sal suere me a nath,
   +tat +tou sal neuer forth fra to night
In +ti forbirth do claim na right."
"For-birth," he said, "quat serues me?
Bro+ter, atty will all sal be,
For hunger loo i dei right now."
+tan suer a nath him esau,
And for his fill o +tat potage,
Als a wreche, has sald his heritage.
He ete and dranc and went his wai
And tint his blissing fra +tat day;
Na bote it was +tof him for-thoght,
Godd wild it ware his +tat it boght.
   Sir ysaac +tat dughti man,
Vnfere and eld a-pon him ran,
O bodi failles him +te might,
And of his eigen alsua +te sight;
+te man +tat sua wit eld es dight
His dai es turned him to night,
<P 212>
And ha men neuer ben sa bald,
Quen +tat sua bicums ald,
His blode +tan wexus dri and cald,
Til vnwelth windes al his wald;
+te heued biginnes for to scak,
His hend vnquemli for to quak,
It crepes crouland in his bak,
And +te banes for to crak,
+te freli fax to fal of him,
And +te sight to wax well dim;
+te front it fronces +tat was scene,
+te nese it droppes ai bi-tuine,
+te teth to rote, +te aand at stinc,
Allan to liue trauail him thinc;
+tan es eth +te fote to spurn, 
Quen he falles wit his auen turn;
He praises al thing +tat es gon
O present thing he praisses non;
+tan es eth to mak him wrath,
To saxtend be es sumdel lath;
To wiss man wit his auen witt
He haldes nan sa wise als it;
Quen all wittes es him wan,
And will +tat welthes mast of an,
And na wil mai hald man in pai,  
Baldlik +tat dar i sai,
He +tat in suilk stat es stad
Es na gli mai mak him glad.
Eild es +tou a selcut thing,
+tat al it gerns +tat er ying;
Quen +tai it haue +tai are vnfayn,
And wald ha youthed +tan again;
+tan wald +tai be als +tai war ar,
Bot sua it mai be neuer mare.
   Sua has eild now +tis ysaac ledd
+tat he in langur lijs in bedd; 
<P 214>
Him wantes sight, als i said yow,
And cald on his son esau.
"Esau, life son," he said,
"Ga lok +ti tacle be puruaid,
And faand to stalk +te sa nere
+tat +tou mai drep me sum dere;
If +tou me dere flesse ani gete,
Gladli wald .i. +tar-of ete;
Leue sun +tou has hidir-till
Gladli don +ti fader will,
+tou ert schotter wit +te beist,
Bath in feild and in forest,
If +tou mai bring me any beist
+tou graith me ful fair and eist;
+tar-efter now mi langes sare,
+tar i lig her now, in bedd o care;
Sun," he said, ".i. will not lei,
It bes not lang +tat i ne dei;
Tac, bring me now sum venisum,
And +tou sal haue mi benison."
"Sir," he said, "blithlik and son,
If godd wil, sal +ti will be don."
   His moder tok tent to ysaac
And herd +te wordes +tat he spac.
Sco wist o lang liue was he noght,
A wyel sco hir vmbithogt.
Iacob hir sun cald hir vnto,
And +tusgat til him +tan said sco.
"Mi leif sun, i will +te warn,
For-qui +tou ert mi derest barn;
+ti fader has bidden +ti bro+ter gang
To get him waith and duell not lang,
+tat, if he ani waith mai gete,
He suld him dight +tar-of to ete,
For war he +tar-wit ans fedd,
Ar +tat he deied in car-ful bedd,
<P 216>
His benisun wald he him giue,
For lang he wat he mai not liue.
Bot life son, ful lath me ware
+tat he +tat blissing fra +te bare,
Vnhappi wreche has he ben ai,
+ti seli he sal noght bere a-wai;
Bot +tou sal do sun mi consail,
Wel i wat it sal +te wail;
Now high +te suith +tat +tou ne blin
Ar +tat +ti broi+ter be commen in,
O kyddes fatt +tou fett me tuin,
I sal +te ken ful gode a gin;
I sal +tam dight til his be-houe,
A mete als he was wonto loue;
It sal him sauur al to will,
Ete he sal +ter-of his fill;
Quen it es dight +tou it him reche,
Do now well, als i +te teche;
+tat he +te mai +te less mistru
+tou sal sai +tou ert esau,
Fra +te forest newli comen,
Venison +tou has him nommen,
Wit dainte dight til his be-houe;
+tou bidd him rise +tar-of to proue,
+tat +tou haue, for +tis reson,
O +te fader his benison."
   "Moder," he said, "wis war +ti lare,
If i ne dred a-no+ter fare;
+tou wat mi hid es smith and bar,
And esau es rugh wit har;
If mi fader +tat es now blind
Mai mi fallace oght vnderfind,
I dred me sare, for benison
He sal me giue his malison."
"Do wai, leue son," rebecca said,
"+tat malison on me be laid;
<P 218>
Bot +tat i badd +tou bring me son."
"Moder," he said, "it sal be don."
   .Iacob went vn to +te fald
And broght +te bestes forwit tald;
His moder dughtilik it dight,
Als sco him forwit had it hight,
And cled him, sum it was mete,
Wit his bro+ter robe +tat smelled suete;
Wit a rugh skin sco hidd his hals
and couerd +tar-wit his hands als,
+tat his fader suld al-gat tru
+tat he war his sun esau:
His moder him +tis mete bitaght
And he it suith his fader raght.
"Fader," he said, "sitt vp and ete,
I ha broght +ti +gerning mete."
"And quat art +tou?" +te fader said,
"Sir, i esau, +ti met es graithid."
"And quat-kin mete?" "sir, venisun,
Ete and giue me +ti benisun."
"How es it +tou sped sa son?"
"Godd," he said, "has herd mi bon,
And send it suyth vnto mi hand,
Men aght to thanc him his sand."
"Cum nere, leue son, and latte me fele
If +tou be he i luue sa wele."
Quen he had feld his fleirand cloth
And graped handes and hals both,
"+tis voice," he said, "+tat i here
Es o iacob, wit-outen were,
Bot hend and hals es als i tru
Mi dereli suns child esau;
+te odor o +ti uestement
It smelles als o piement,
I sal wend forth, +tou duells here,
Mi blissing son +tan sal +tou bere:
<P 220>
+ti bre+ter be +tin vnderlute
And alle +tat wonnes +te a-boute;
All +taa +tat blisses +te
Sal +tam-self blessed be,
And all +tat bedes +te maliscun
Sal bere it on +tair auin crun."
He ete and dranc +tat was his will,
And sithen his sun he cald him till,
His brade blissing he him gaue
+te quilk his bro+ter wend at haue,
And mad him lauerd ouer all his kin;
Bot +tat was wit his moder gin,
His moder consail was +tar-to,
And godd wald +tat sco sua suld do.
+tis iacob went quan sua was don, 
And esau com efter son.
"Fader," he said, "vp on +ti bedd,
I haue +te broght quar-of be fedd
O venisun, .I. here +te bring,
Ete and giue me +ti blissing."
His fader him asked, "quat art +tou?"
"+ti sun," he said, "i esau."
"Was +tou not at me right now,
And fedd me wit +ti fang i trau?"
"I?" he said, "nai, nai goddote,
Moght i not be sua light o fote."
Wit +tis gaue ysaac a grane;
"Sun," he said, "right nou was an
+tat first me fedd, and sythen me kist,
And me be-suak, +tat i ne wist,
Mi benisun now has +ti broi+ter."
"And fader," he said,"has +tou non o+ter?"
"Nai sun, als i mot ha mede."
"Allas! quat i am broght in nede,
A-way he has mi blissing born,
Sua did he als +tat to+ter morn;
<P 222>
He has me don oft mikel scham,
Right-wisli es iacob his nam,
+tat es to sai, wit right langage,
Supplanter als of heritage;
For quen i formast born suld be,
Wit strengh a-gain +ten drou he me;
He has me don oft vn-resun
And no me reft mi benisun,
Me es sua waa, almast i weede;
Fader, +tis was na bro+ter dede,
Consail me, fader, how to liue."
"Wi, quatkin consail mai i +te giue?"
"And es +tar nakin blessing left?"
"Nai, +ti broi+ter it has +te reft."
"And, fader, es +tar na no+ter wan?"
"Wane," he said, "es +tar bot an,
In dew and gress sere o +torth
Sal be +ti blissing fra no forth;
Wit erth trauaill, and sua +tou do,
And prai godd send his dew +ter-to."
"Lauerd," he said, "wat es me best,
Mi hert bes neuer broght in rest,
Bituixand +tis iacob be slan,
If he mai o+ter be ouertan."
+tis esau wit his manace
Oute o +te land did iacob chace;
Quen +te moder sagh it was sua
He soght his bro+ter for to sla,
Sco send him son in-til aran,
Til hir bro+ter +tat hight laban,
+tar-to suiorn for hir sake,
Til +tat his bro+ter wreth suld slake.
Be night flum iordan he wode
And thoru a wildernes he yode,
He loked war +tat him war best,
And be +te wai he tok his rest.
<P 224>
He hent a stan he fand him bi,
And +tar-on laid his hefd to li.
In slepe he sagh stand vp a sti,
Fra his heued right to +te ski,
Apon +te sti +tat +tar was bun
Angls climand vp and dun.
Open him thoght +te +gate of heuen,
And herd o drightin suilk a steuen:
"Godd and lauerd," he said, "i am
Of ysaac and als of abraham:"
"Jacob," he said, "+tou sal ha tuin
Wiues o +ti auen kin,
Tua doghters o laban, +ti nem,
+tat +tou sal haf wit barn-tem;
Wit +te i sal be in al +ti nede
And gar +tin oxspring wide spred;
I sal be for +tin eldres sake
With +te, and esau for-sake."
Wel was he gladed o +tis sight,
Fulsotht him thoght he slep +tat night.
On the morn, wen it was dai,
Iacob ras fra +tar he lai,
And said, "our lauerd, wit-outen were,
+tat i wist noght es wonnand here;
Her es na no+ter thing," said he,
"Bott godds hus and heuen entre."
+te stan his heued lai on +tat night,
In takning, he is sett vp right,
And oyel he yeett apon +tat stan
And made to godd a voo onan,
And said, "if drightin be my freind 
And lede me in +tis wai i wend, 
And mete me send, and drinc, and clath,
And bring me again, wit-outen wath,
Vnto mi kyth +tat i com fra,
If i find he me ledes sua,
<P 226>
Mi godd he sal be and mi king;
And +tis stan stand als in takening,
And +tis sted fra +tan it sal
Be cleped godds auen hall;
Of all +te god he dos me weild
Lelik his tend i sal him yeild."
   Iacob went him forth his wai,
Faand quare thre floks o beistes lai,
Be-side a well, a-pon a feild,
And sagh +te well be a doun heild,
A mikel stan apon it lai,
+tis bestes dranc +tar-at ilk dai;
+te hirdes bi +taim fand he +tare,
He spird +taim que+ten +tai ware.
+tai said, "sir, we ar of aran."
"And knau yee oght," he said, "laban?"
"Sir ya, he es bath hail and fere,
Ya hail and sound, wit-outen were;
His doghtur yonder i se, rachell,
Bringand his beistes til +te well;
For all beistes ar broght hider,
Euer ilk dai at drinc to-geder."
Wit +tis come rachell, +tat maiden,
And iacob lifted vp +te sten,
And spak +tan wit +te damisel,
And kythed him wit may rachell.
"Quat art +tou," he said, "lemman?"
"Sir, mi fader es cald laban."
Abute hir hals +tan he hir hent,
And thris he kyst hir ar he stent.
"I am iacob, +ti cosin nere,
For +ti luue am i commen here."
+tai mai quen sco can vnderstand 
+tat iacob suld be hir husband,
To laban tald sco new ti+tand,
And he him ledd in be +te hand.
<P 228>
+tai frannid o +tar frendes fare,
And +tam cald bath less and mare.
Laban for fainnes did him call
For his neueu his frendes all;
And si+ten he did him for to sai
Quat was +te chesiun of his wai.
"Sir, +te soth i wil +te tell,
+ti doghter for to spus, rachell."
"+tan sal +tou serue me seuen yeir,
Ar +tou sal haue mi doghter dere."
"Blithli, sir, sua sal it be."
Fra +tan wit laban duelled he,
+te eilder sister he for-sok,
For sco gleied, als sais +te bok;
For to serue for rachel fre
He was master hird of his fee;
It was ferli in +tat siquar
How fast +tai multiplid +tar.
Quen +tat +te seuen yere war gane
Iacob hasked his lemman.
Laban said, "frend, ful blethli."
Bot +tar he did a trecheri,
For +tan he had may rachell wedd,
Lia he stall vn-til his bedd;
Bisid lya al night he lai,
His vnwitand, til it was dai;
Bot quen he wist it o +te morn,
Ful wa was him +tat he was born;
Fra hir he ras and siked sare
And asked wa +tan broght hir +tare.
"Laban," sco said, "allas for sinn
Qua wend he wald +tus me biginn."
+tan did he laban to resun: - 
"Qui has +tou don me sli tresum?"
"Vr lagh," he said, "+tat we in liue
Wil first our elder doghter giue.
<P 230>
Bot, neuou, murn +tou na wight,
+tou sal haue rachell, als i hight;
And +tat mai be nano+ter wis
Bot yeit for+ti seuen wintur seruis,
To quils haa lya in +ti bedd,
For-soth +tan sal +tou rachel wedd."  

<S SAMPLE 3>
<P 420>
   Prophet he was, sir samuel,
Wel luued wit godd, for he was lel.
<P 422>
+te Iuus, wit +tair mikel pride,
Efter him +tai sent +tat tide,
"Lauerdinges," he said, "sais me quartill
Haf yee me fott? quat es your will?"
"Gett vs a king." "quat, er yee wodde!
Ha yee noght now a king ful gode,
+tat fra your faas thoru see yow ledd,
And si+ten wit riche manna yow fedd,
And mani werkes for yow wroght?"
"Sir," +tai said, "+tou sais for noght,
Gett vs a king +tat vs mai ledd,
Als we se haf all o+ter thedd."
"Parfai," +tan answard samuel,
"Yee ar to fraward wit to dele,
For noi+ter [{ar +ge{] war ne wise,
Bot for your riches ouer [{nise.{]
Nu ar yee bath in rest and pees,
Yow langes certes haf malees,
For-soth i sai, and sal a-wou,
Ful sare yee sal repent yow.
Noght yow allan, bot your oxspring,
Sal reu ful sare your will +gerning,
For it es wel worthye +tat qua
Mai bere no wel ne thole na wa."
   Sare weped samuel wit +tis,
Til him com drightin, lauerd o blis,
And thris he cald on samuel,
"Lauerd," he said, "i here +te wel."
"Mi folk," said drightin, "ful fraward
+tai seke +tam-self o a gret ougard,
+tai ask now o+ter king +tan me,
Ful ilhail sal +tai it se;
+tat +tai desire, +tai sal it haue,
To +tair aun heued a staue.
Omang +tir puple sal +tou latt
A stalworth man +tat saul haitt,
<P 424>
Wit hei schuldres bath thik and brade,
Of him +tan sal +tair king be made,
Sin +tai ha +tus forsaked me,
He sal be [{enoynted{] +tair king to be."
   Son +tai did saul be soght,
Funden and forth was he broght,
He was hegher +tan ani man
Bi +te schuldres +tat was funden +tan.
+tis saul haue +tai mad +tair king,
Wit smerl and als wit coruning.
Ful wre+ter hail to +tair be-houe
And sun on +tam sa gun it proue,
For was +tar +tan na langer bide,
Men werraid +tam on ilka side,
+tat +tai wit-in a tuel-moth stage,
War put vte o +tair heritage.
+tan bigan +tai cal and cri,
+tat godd o +tam suld ha merci;
And samuel, +tat wist +tair wa,
Cald on godd for +taim al-sua.
Drightin said, "+tou fill +ti horn
Wit oile, and weind +te forth to morn,
Vntil a man +tat hatt iesse,
In bethleem sal he funden be.
+tou sal him find in bethleem,
Seuen suns he has to barntem,
On o +taim +tou sal ma king,
For saul dredes me na thing: - 
For-+ti wit caitiuete and care
He sal vte o +tis werld fare,
For ar +tat he be slain in wer
+te find he sal in bodi ber,
+tat him sal trauail dai and night,
And laithli sal his licam dight."
   "Parfai, lauerd," said samuel,
"Ic herd noght o +tat iesse tel,
<P 426>
Ne his suns ne him i knau,
+tat childs nam yee will me scau."
"Yijs," he said, "i sal +te ken
To knau him a-mang o+ter men,
In visage es he bright and clere,
In red of heu, o laghand chere;
His fader in all has suns seuen,
+te yongest es he +tat i +te neuen,
Bath wis and hend, and o god fame."
"Quat hatt he?" dauid es his name.
And for +tat he es warr and wis,
I haue him chosen to +tis seruis;
His sede and his barntem
Ouer al men i sal maintein,
His faas sal noght a-gain him wail,
For him ne his sal i noght fail.
Vn-to king +tou sal him smer
Mi beniscun +tan sal he ber."
   Samuel went secand +te land
Til he +te hus o iesse faand,
Iesse him vnderfang ful fair,
And samuel him tald his air.
"Cummen i am," he said, "iesse,
An o +ti suns for to se."
"Sir," he said, "and +tat mai yee,
Your word es commament to me."
His suns sex +tat war at hame,
All he did +tam call be nam
Bot +te yongest +tat was a-wai,
"Sir," he said, "sir iesse, sai
Quar es +tin al+ter-yongest son?"
"He es," he said, "+tar he es won,
Wit our scep apon +te lau."
"Do fott me him, him wald i knau."
+tai did him fott, and he come skete,
And hailsed hendli +tat prophete.
<P 428>
He kneu him quen he him beheild,
Bi takens was him forwit teld.
[{Enoynted{] he was wit-vten bade,
And king vte-ouer +te Iuus made.
Bot +tof he +tar was [{sm{]erld king,
O +te kingrike al gouerning
He entir-mett him in na dede,
Bot til his schepe again he yede.
Godds gast in him was sent
Fra +tan it was fra saul went;
Dauid cuth on sere-kin note
Bath he cuth on harpe and rote,
Quen he wit his gleu him gammen,
His scepe +tam-self war sembel samen
Of his suete gleuing for to here,
+te men was won to drau ham nere.
  Saul was yeitt in sted o king,
Bot he moght do na gouerning,
+te find was in his licam fest,
He thold him to haue na rest.
+tan said +tai all, "quat sal we do
Wit vr king, mai haf na ro,
He es ai vte o wite als wode.
Hu sal we meke his menged mode?
He es sua ful o wickedhede,
Ful waful lijf we wit him lede."
+tan spak a godman on +tat throm,
"Bot do we littel dauid cum,
Wit his harp, be-for +te king;
We sal him do bath gleu and sing
+tat quils he til him tas kepe
+te king he sal do fall on-slepe."
Forth +tan did +tai dauid bring,
Gleuand he sang be-for +te king,
And gert him wit his melodi
Fal on-slepe, +tat was weri.
<P 430>
Quil wit gleu, and quil wit sang,
And +tus he serued saul lang,
+tat ai quen he was trauaild mast
Thoru a wreche vn-roful gast,
And he bigan to gleu or sing,
Of his vn-ro he tok lething.

   to-quils come in philistiens,
+tair felun faas +tat was paens,
+tar oueral +te cuntre spredd, 
+tai wasted godes and awai ledd.
+tai broght wit +tam goli, +tat eten,
In fule hordom +tan was he geten,
Gret he was wit-all, and hei,
And semed sathan on to sei
Bituix his eien, thre fote brade,
Ful lath it was his visage made.
O bodi gret, o granis lang,
Vnsternli semed he be strang,
Sex eln and mare he had on hight,
And was all armed for to fight.
Of his metscip was mesur nan,
He wald ete seuen scep him an.
"Quare es now," said he, "saul +te king?
Moght i euer wit me wit him ming
Suld he neuer aftur ber cron,
I suld him sla, bi sir mahun!
Quine cums he-self, or send his saand?
Wit him i wald mi forces faand,
Or send me a man to me hidder,
+tat i and he mai fight to-gidder,
And qua o+ter ouer-cum in feild
+te to+ter folk al til him yeild.
A man o +tair gains an of vr,
If vrs mai him win in stur,
<P 432>
+tat +tai be vrs and +tair airs;
If +tai win vrs +tat we be +tairs.
And her i bede mi-self redi,
For to fight for vr parti."
Ilk dai he come in place,
And batail bede wit sli manace,
Ai quen +tat +te folk him soght sau
+tam stode of him ful mikel au.
"Allas," he said, king saul, +tan,
"Allas! quar sal we find a man
+tat dar +te fight, for mi sake,
Again yon warlau vndertake?
+te man +tat him wald fight a-gain,
And moght ouer-cum him wit his main,
I suld him riche in all his lijf,
And giue mi doghter him to wijf."
+tis herd dauid, and forth can stand,
"Sir king," he said, "hald me couenand,
I tru truli in godds might,
+tat i sal vnder-tak +te fight,
Agains yon gerard +tat es sa grim,
Wit godds grace i sal sla him.
Again yon wreche hai+ten thing,
For-soth haf i na dred, sir king;
He traistes al in his aun hand,
And ic in him es all weldand."
   To dauid said saul +te king,
"I hope +tartil +tou be ful ying,
Yon es a stalworth batail wright,
And +tou lered neuer for to fight.
If he sla +te, als god for-bede,
All mon we hald of ha+ten lede.
Quat bot to lese +ti lijf, leue page,
And we to +tam ma si+ten homage?"
   "Do wai," sir king, "es noght to drede
+tat godd will help, dut es na nede 
<P 434>
Apon a dai mi seep i gette,
A bere, a leon, bath i mete;
I had na help bot me allan,
And drightin +tat me lent his lan;
+tai soght me for to ren[{d{] and riue,
And i laid hand on +taim be-liue,
And scok +tam be +te berdes sua
+tat i +tair chafftes raue in tua,
Wit-vten glaiue or suerd or knijf,
Bath i refte +tam +tair liue.
He +tat me +tar +te maistre gaue,
He me do it here to haue.
It es noght worth, leif sir king,
+tat man in godd haue mistrouing."
"Ga +tan," he said, "in godds grith,
+tat he-self ai be +te with,
Gaes and fottes me in hij,
Mine aun armur to child daui."
Helm and haubere on him +tai did,
And gird him wit a suerd emid;
Quen +tat dauid was armed sua,
Forth a fote ne moght he ga,
Ne for+terward ne yeitt o bake,
Bot +tar he stod als still os stake.
His arms fra him did he suing,
And tok bot a staf and a sling
+tat he was wont to bere in hand,
Abute his flock o scep walcand.
He tok fiue stans rond o quin,
And put +tam in his scrip wit-in.
"Dos awai," he said "+tis gere,
Certes can i nan armes bere;
Bot wit mi sling i sal him fell,
Do ga we forth, wit-vten duell."
Quen dauid went him forth in route,
He sagh +te folk, +tai war in dute,
<P 436>
For to gar +tam wit hope to bald,
+tus he +tam his resun tald.
"Qui suld man," said he, "be sua radd
+tat es in rightwis batail stadd,
And qua-sa fightes in wrangwisnes,
Him helpes noght his Irinnes,
For noi+ter irin, ne yeitt ne stile,
Mai wer man wrangwis werkes wele.
For godd es euer on rightwis side,
Werraiand again wrangwis pride.
All yee wat we haue +te right,
For-+ti sal drightin for vs fight,
He sal vs now helpe wit his grace,"
Wit +tis he come vnto +te place.
   Quen golias on him bi-held,
Ful littel tale of him he teld,
Bot held him als for in despite,
And +tus bigan on him to flite.
"Quat! wyns+tou i am a hund,
Wit +ti stans me for to stund?
Cum forth wreche, wit-vten bade,
+ti flesche sal foghul fud be made."
Dauid ansuard, "if godd wil, nai!
I haue in drightin fest mi fai,
Wit armes cums +tou me again,
And i agains +te al plain,
I cum agains +te in his nam,
+tat +tou has said despite and scham;
+tou has him and his in despite,
+tat wit his grace i sal +te quite.
+ti bodi sal i giue to gifte,
To ete wit foghuls of +te lift,
+tat all mai wit +tat godd o might
Sauues noght man in wapen bright,
Bot for to trou in him stedfast,
And stabel in his lai to last."
<P 438>
  "+tou es," coth golias, "bot ded."
Coth dauid, "godd i tak to red."
"Wil +tou, coth goli, "fight wit me?"
"I red be-time +tou he+ten fle."
"Fle +tat wynnes to haue +te warr,
For ar i fle i sal cum nerr."
Wit +tat stan he laid in sling,
Sua stalworthli he lete it suing
+tat in his frunt +tat stan he fest,
+tat bath his eien vte can brest;
Wit +tis he fel, was na selli,
And vte his suerd +tan drou daui,
And hedded him wit his aun brand,
And broght it +te king to presand.
+te sarzins war +tar neigh be-side
All fled, durst +tai na langer bide,
Bot +tar was mani feld to grund,
And mani feld wit dedes wond.

   Dauid went ham wit gret honur,
And thanked godd, +tair creatur,
And mikel he was, +te soth to sai,
Loued and dred forth fra +tis dai.
Wit yong and ald, wit pour and rike,
+tai louued him all o +tat king-rike.
To iursalem +tat heued bar +tai,
+tai karold wimmen be +te wai,
O +tair karol suilk was +te sang,
+tat +tai for ioi +tam sang a-mang,
"Saul has smitten a thusand,
Ten thussand fel in  dauid hand."
For +tis word was saul wrath,
For oft sith was he bremli brath.
"I haue a thussand feld, hou sua!
And dauid has ten thusand ma!
<P 440>
Quat of al es nou him wan,
Bot +tat he es noght king allan."
For los +tat dauid wan +tat sith,
Wald neuer saul lok on him blith;
He dred his kingdom to lese,
at +tai to king suld dauid chese,
He hated him als his ful fa,
Fra +tan he waited him to sla;
Oft sal be quit +tam on +tis wise,
+tat to li+ter lauerd dos seruise.
   +te to+ter morn her after-ward
+te warlau trauail saul fulhard,
Als he was won bi-gan to rage,
And als dauid him come to suage,
+te king til him wit a sper
In breth he wald him thoru ber.
+tat thoru he had his bodi born,
If he ne had blenked him be-forn.
Awai +tan drou him son daui,
Bot saul dred him no for-+ti,
And of a thusand men o wal,
He made him ledder and marscal,
And thoght, and +tus said in his mode,
"+tat i him sla, it es noght god,
Bot elles i sal him lat al-an,
Philistiens sal be his ban."
He asked dauid if he wald
His doghter wedde, to haue and hald,
To +te conuenand for to bring
An hundreth hefds to +te king
O +tat folk +tat was +tar fede;
Dauid yod forth with drightin rede.
   Wit +tat vnled son dauid mete,
And wightli wan o +tam his dete.
Again a hundret +tat saul soght,
Dauid him +tar +te dubul broght;
<P 442>
+te king his doghter him gaue onan
+tat hight micol, a fair womman.
+te king sun, hight ionathas,
To dauid tru felau he was,
+tan bade +te kinf [{wha{] moght ouerta,
His magh dauid man suld him sla;
To seke him als his ful faa;
+tar-for was Ionathas ful wa,
And paind him, wit al his maght,
To mak +te king and dauid saght.
Bifor +te king he dauid broght,
Bot efter son was alfor noght.
Son efter +tis a batail ras,
And dauid went a-gain his faas,
[{+ti{]s batail it was hard i-nogh,
[{And{] dauid fast on his faas slogh.
[{+ter{] mani man fell vnder scheild,
Bot with dauid be-left +te feild. 
Bot yeit +te warlau +tat was wont
Trauail +te king a litel stunt,
Dauid him gleud wit his harp,
+te king +tan hent a sper scarp
To stair him thoru vnto +te wau;
Bot dauid sagh, and blenked lau.
In-til his hus +tan dauid fledd,
Bot ar +te king wald ga to bedd,
He sent his men his hus a-bute
At wait +te morn quen he com vte,
Him to sla if +tai moght mete;
Bot micol vte bi night him lete,
Vte at a priue dern postel,
And he him fledd to samuel,
+tat duelland was in ramatha.
Son to +te king tald was it sua,
And his reners he +teder send
For to rauis dauid he wend;
<P 444>
Bot +tarto moght +tai neuer win,
For felaghscep +tat he was in,
And godds grace +tat was him with,
Sauued him euer in god and grith.
O-mang his kin in priuete,
Als he war vtelau, sua wond he;
+te god men thoght, o +tat cuntre,
+tair suns send wit him to be.
   Saul him soght oft her and +tar,
Als +tof his wi+terwin he war,
He wist if he to lijf moght stand
He suld be king ouer al +tat land,
And childer of his aun sede,
Suld be for-driuen vte wit nede.
For-+ti he hight +tam giftes rijf,
+tat suld bring dauid of his lijf.
In feild and tun, in frith and fell,
Saul soght dauid for to quell;
+tat oft +te chances sua +tai fell,
+tat neli was +tam noght e-mell.
And dauid, +tat was mild o mode,
Again il ai wroght he gode,
+tat oftsithes moght he him ha tan,
And if he wald him might ha slan;
For fra +te kings aun bedd
+tus he broght a priue wedd.
   In +tat si-quar +tat he him soght
Wit all +te mightes +tat he moght,
He sett his tentes in a dale,
+tar of him tald dauid na tale.
Quen it was naght +tan cald daui,
An of his aun al priueli,
Wit him allan stilli +tai went,
Vn-to +te kings aun tent,
+te king and all his folk +tai fand,
In +tair beddes ful fast slepand.
<P 446>
+te squier hight abysai,
+tat to +te tent com wit daui,
"Sir," he said, "wit +te leue o yow,
I wil him sla ful eth es now.
Thoru his licam i sal him smit,
+tat euer o him +tou sal be quit."
Dauid +tan said, "drightin for-bede
+tat +tou suld thinc to do suilk a dede,
Or euer him do despit or scam,
+tat drightin smerld has in his nam."
Of al +tat ilk kings ger,
Bot a cupe he tok and a sper,
Na mar broght he wit him vte,
+tan slep +tai al was him a-bute.
Sua yod he forth, nan moght him der,
+tan he cried vnto +tat her,
"How ha yee gett your king," said he,
"His cupe, his sper, lok quar +tai be,
+tat war bath don at his heued,
Lokes nou +tar if +tai be leued."
   Quen king saul had herd +tat cri,
"Es +tat," he said, "mi sun daui?"
"Ya, soth," said dauid, "it es i,
Quarfor me sekes +tou, and qui?
Gladli wald i be on-knaun
Qui sekes +tou me +tat es +ti naun?"
"Soth," said saul, "wit-vten wene,
+te mis es min, +tat es wel sene."
"Nou her i leue +te kinges glaiue,
Yee send a man at it receiue,
He +tat al rightes wit na ros
Sal ilk man yeild after he dos."
   Son efterward, it was not lang,
Gain saul +tai gaf batail strang,
+taa sarzins +tan +te king vm-sett,
In hard strur +tai samen mett,
<P 448>
Ful snaip it was +tair stur and snell,
+te folk al fled of israel.
+tar +tai fell +tat moght not fle,
O-pon +te mont o gelboe,
Dughti berns was +ter slan,
+te king suns and Ionatan.
O +tis batail +tat was sa snell,
+te force a-pon +te king it fell,
Mani gode archer +tan was +tar
+te king saul was wonded sare.
+tan said +te king til his squier,
+tou dragh +ti suerd and sla me her,
Or +tat i be, mai fall, ouertan,
Wit hand o sarzin and slan.
+te squier did noght als he badd,
For he-self first was selcuth radd,
+tan drogh saul self his suord
And ran him-self a-pon +te ord.
Quen his squier him sagh +tus ded,
He did him-self +tat ilk red,
Apon his aune suerd he res.
And wit his lauerd ded he es,
+tat was a murnand dai to min,
O saul and his suns thrin,
And al his folk +tat was kene,
Slan ar +tei now al bidene.
+te sarzins on +tat to+ter dai
Fand quare saul bodi lai,
+te hefd +tai smat of o +te king,
And sent his bodi for to hing.
His men +tam come on nightertale,
Wit +taim a-wai his bodi stale,
And priuelie it for to hide,
+tai duelled in a wod side.
Fourti winter was he king,
And now yee herd haue his ending. 

<S SAMPLE 4>
<P 548>
   It was a king o mikel pris,
Wight he was worthi and wis,
+tis ilk king +tat i of mon
He had an anlepe son,
+tat wit his fader was sa wele
+tat wist his wisdom ilk dele,
In all wisdoms was he rike,
And algat til his fader like;
Of a will wit him and a might,
His fader wroght wit his insight,
All +tat his fader wald ha wroght
Thoru him til end it suld be broght.
And doghtres four +tan had +tis king,
To quam ilkan he gaf sum-thing
Of his might and of his bounte,
Als feird to has sli sisteres fre,
Ilkan sum-dri gift he gaue
Parti wit him-self to haue,
Bath of his wisdom and his might,
Als ilkan fell to haue be right.
Of his sustenance he gaf ilkan,
And ilkan gaf he substance an,
Als to +tair fader it aght to fere,
Wit-vten quilk on na manere
Moght he in pes his kingrik yeme,
Ne rightwisdome +tar-in to deme.
<P 550>
+tair names sal yee here for-qui,
+te first o +tam was cald merci,
+te to+ter was hatten sothfastnes,
+te thrid o dom +te rightwisnes,
Pees +te feirth sister hight;
Wit-vten +tir has king na might
For to lede his lauerdhede.
+tis ilk king, +tat i of rede,
A seruand had in his baili
+tat gain his lauerd had don foli, 
And thoru dom +tat loked was,
Was don to pine for his trespas,
And til his aun fa felun
Was he be-taght for to prisun,
For he ne had neuer sa gret envie,
Als +tis man for to be baillie.
Quils he was in +tat prisun sua,
His witherwin him wroght ful wa;
Quen merci sagh him suagat be
Of him sco can haf pite,
Sco moght hir forbere nathing,
Bot forth sco went be-for +te king
For to sceu him hir resun,
And forto liuer vte +tat prisun.
"Fader," sco said, "+ti doghter am i,
Als +ti-self wat witerli,
Fild i am of buxumnes,
O mikel reuth and o suetnes,
+ti gift es me leue mi dere fader,
For-+ti +tou here nu mi praier,
O +tis wreche prisun +tat es,
+tat he moght haue forgi[{u{]nes,
+tat lijs vnder his witherwin,
Bath in prisun stad and pin;
+tat thoru a fals hight him bisuak,
And did sua to do gret vtrak,
<P 552>
+tat falser falshed him es hight,
+tat falshede sekes dai and night,
And falshede to +tam yolden be,
And +te prisun be sald to me.
For +tou art, als all knaus +te,
King o mekenes and o pite.
+tin eldest doghter +tou wat i am,
Of all +tin werkes es mi nam,
+ti doghter ne aght i neuem me,
Bot i ne of him ne had pite.
Merci he aght to haue wit right,
For +tin grett wijt and +tin insight,
And +ti pite +tat es sa suete
Aght +ti prisun o bandes bete.
I sal noght fine merci to cri
Bituixand he haue +ti merci."
Quen sothfastnes herd +tis talking
+tat merci +tus bisoght +te king,
And +tat sco was algat a-bute
For to bij his prisun vte,
Be-for +te king fote sco stode,
And said, "leue fader fair and gode,
Sli selcut haue i herd to-dai,
+tat i mai not forber to sai
O mi sister suete +tat es,
Merci, +tat wit hir suetnes
His prisun wald deliuerd war,
+te quilk sothfastnes wald for-fare.
Bot merci no hir aght spede
Bot if +tat sothfastnes it lede.
If mi sister saue moght all 
+tat sco wald for cri or call,
+tou suld +tan be duted noght,
Ne man misdedes suld be boght.
Bot +tou ert king +tat es sothfast
O rightwisnes, and sua stedfast
<P 554>
+tat +tou will soth here euer and ai;
And +tis prisun +tat i o sai
+tat pite of him-self had noght,
Hu sal o+ter reu of him oght?
Dome be-houes him thol for-+ti
All his misdede wit for to by."

<S SAMPLE 5>
<P 1006>
Vp-stode and said sir nichodeme,
"God men, for goddes luue tas yeme
Quat yee sai, and sais bot right,
And has sum drednes o your dright;
Ne herd yee quat +tis thre men said,
And on your lai +tair hend +tai laid
And suar, +tat +tai and o+ter fele
Sagh iesum wit his meigne mele
And stei up in a littel stunt
Til heuen fra oliuete +te mont?
And hali storis tels and sais
+tat helias, in ald dais,
Was taken up als vnto heuen, -  
I-nogh ha yee herd +tar-of neuen; -  
His sun men asked quar he was cummen,
And he +tam said he was be-nummen,
'Reft awai for-soth es he
'Reft,' coth +tai, 'hu mai +tis be?
Mai fall sum gast awai him ledd,
And es vnto +te felles fledd.
In israel er hei felles.
+tar es he soth and no+ter elles:
Bot chese we dughti men and lele
To seke +te montz of israel.'
+tai praid his sun him ga to seke,
And he went and o+ter men him eke,
Bot quen +tai thre dais had him soght,
Na ti+tand hame of him +tai broght.
For-+ti," said nichodeme, to +taa,
"Mi rede es if yee rede ne sua,
Yee seke +taa felles all to-gedir,
+tat iesus be noght rauist +tider,
+tat if we find him +tar wit chaunce
We mai do for up plight penance."
<P 1008>
   All +te Iuus, less and mare,
O +tis consail +tai paid war,
And ches men +tat +tai wel a-woud
And wel right als +taim-self +tai troud;
Bath +tai soght +taim don and dale,
Bot o iesu herd +tai na tale.
Walawai! quat +tai war blind,
Quen +tai wend iesum sua to find.
For him to find qua will him seke,
+tair mode til him +tai most meke     
To knau him godd of all weldand,
+tan sal he find him bun at hand,
Mightili in al his nede,
To suilk he wil his bodi bede.
For +tof he sitt in heuen hall,
Yeitt es he +tar-wit ouer all,
Mightili bath ferr and nere,
And mist noi+ter in heuen +ten here.
+tai +tat traistli in him truus,
His blissing to +taa men he buus;
Bot sua did noght +tir caitif Iuus,
Sent in to clinttes and in to clous
To seke iesu if he was reft,
Wit ani gast and +tar bi-left;
He +tat alle gastes, god and ill,
Has for to weld all at his will!
For-+ti +taa Iuus war full medd,
+tair sandes come again vn-spedd
+tai war for-soght +tam vp and dun;
Bot ioseph in his aun tun,
+tai said +tai fand, in aramathi,
For +tar +tai sagh him sikerli.
Princes and preistes o +te lai,
All on +tis ti+tand wonder +tai,
And thanked +tair godd of israel,
+tat sua-gat can his dedis dele,
<P 1010>
+tat ioseph suld be funden +tus
+tat prisund was, and noght iesus.
   +tai mad a gadring gret in dern,
"God men," +tai said, "lok we nu gern,
Hu we moght do yon dughti gum,
Ioseph, until us for to cum,
To tel vs of his aun state,
And o+ter thinges +tat he wate."
+tai did +tan for to write a writt - 
+tis +tan was +te tenur of hit.
"Pais," +tai said, "ioseph and grith,
Haf +tou and all +tat es +te wit,
We haf we wat wel don plight,
Bath agains +te and dright,
And +tat-self drightin has to broght
Fra wicked wrang we on +te soght.
It sal be beit al +te to queme;
Wald +tou me leif freind to seme
For to cum wit us to mele;
Pais haf +tou, Ioseph, and hele."
   +tai send forth seuen men o wale,
War mast to ioseph speciale,
And badd quen +tai wit ioseph mett,
Wit pais and luue he suld be grett.
Son in his hand he +te letter sett,
For wel suld all +te brest be bett.
Ioseph +tai faand, +te stori sais,
Al bun at ham in his palais;
+tai hailsed him wit-vten let,
And raght him for to rede +tat scritte.
Quen he had +tat letter redde,
Vp til-ward heuen his hend he bedd,
"I blisce +te, lauerd, +tou me has gett
And sauf vnder +ti wenges sett;"
+taa messagers he kist +tam all,
And hendli gesten +tam in hall,
<P 1012>
Ful wel war +tai wit him +tat night.
+te morn his ass +tan can he dight,
To ierusalem he tok +te strete,
+te Iuus cum him for to mete.
And all +tai said ioseph to-gedir,
"Paisful bi +ti cuming hider."
And ioseph sli greting +tam gaf,
"Godds peis mot yee all haf,"
He kist +taim all, wit-vten blin,
Wit nichodeme he tok his hin,
He was gestend ful wel at es.
+te to+ter morn, als +te stori sais,
Come caiphas, anna, nichodemus,
+tat ioseph did to resun +tus,
   "Ioseph, to godd of israel
Scriue +te, and sai +te soth and lele
O thing +tat we sal at +te frain,
+te soth we prai +te noght to lain,
All we cund +te mikel graim
For iesu +tou grufe his licam;
In a hus we lokked +te,
Bot quen we com +te for to se,
O +te na takning fand we +tar,
Quarfor we for-wondred ware,
And war we for +te dredand sare
Til nu. tel us nu o +ti fare,
To godd and hus, wit-vten hon,
+tou tell quat thing o +te was don."
   Ioseph ansuard, "i sal yow sai,
Yee sperd me soth on a fridai,
At euen-tide in to +tat stede;
And als i stod saiand mi bede,
+te seterdai, +tan at mid-night,
+tat i +tar sagh suilk was +te sight.
Bi nokes four +te hous up hang,
And son +tar-efter, was noght lang,
<P 1014>
I sagh cumand iesu sa bright,
Als +tof it were o leuening light,
Vntil +te hus +tar i was stadd,
And fell i dun, sa was i radd;
Vp he me lift, wit-vten lett,
And wit a deu mi face he wette,
And quen he wipped had mi face,
He blisced me all wit his grace,
And said, 'ioseph be noght sori,
Bi-hald on me, +tis ilk es i.'
Bi-heild him als i was
And cald him maister helias,
'Helias es i noght,' he said,
'Bot iesus +tat in graue +tou laid.'
He ledd me to +tat sted onan,
+tar i had luked him in stan,
His fasciale, his windingclath,
+tar war +tai left, i sagh +tam bath.
+tat it was iesus +tan wist i wel,
And cuthli for him can i knele,
And i said, 'ai lauerd! blisced +tou be
And +tat es cummen in nam o +te,'
And bi +te hand +tan he me hent,
And forth me broght, wit-vten stent,
Right to min aun hus at hame,
And to mi quem i +teder came,
'Pes,' he said, 'haf +tou ioseph,
Ga +tou noght o +ti hus a stepe
Til fourti dais be cummen til end,
For i to mi disciplis wend.' "
Quen nichodeme his tale has teld,
+tai fell als +tai in duale war dueld,
Gruflinges dun to erth plate, - 
War neuer +taa Iuus als mate.
And ilkan can til o+ter sai,
"Quat a sing es +tis!" coth +tai,
<P 1016>
"In israel we here nu min
We knau bath ioseph and his kin."
Vp +tai ras and stode +tam bi,
A dughti gum +tat hight leui,
"I kneu," he said, "of his kin bredd
Dughti men +tat drightin dredd,
Desseli to godd praiand,
Wit sacrifijs and wit offrand,
Quen symeon, +tat mikel prist,
+tat bar the hali-gast in brest,
+tat iesus tuix his handes fang,
And said, 'lauerd liued haf i lang
Bidand to se +te light of hel
+tat +tou has dight to israel;
Nu haf i sene it wit min ei,
Lat nu in rest +ti seruand dei.'
+tat ilk symeon +tar was bun,
Gaf sant mari his benisun,
And til hir said, 'i wil +te warn
+tat quilum sal +tis ilk barn
Be to sum men in uprising,
Til o+ter sum in dun falling;
He sal find mani bern vn-bain,
For mani sal him sai again.
Of his ded als +te sorful ord
Sal thril +tin hert thoru als a suord.
O mani hert +te thoghtes hidd
Sal for him be knaun and kydd.'"
+tan said +te Iuus, "do +tan send wee
Efter +taa ilk preistes thre
+tat tald +tat +tai sagh iesu sitte
Apon +te mont of oliuete."
And sua +tai did, quen sua was dun
+taa men +tai did to resun sun,
And +tai ansuard, "be godd o might,
We sagh him +tar wit open sight.
<P 1018>
We sagh him +tar and herd his steuen,
And openli stegh in til heuen."
"On yow," he said, "al thinc us wonder,
And +taa thre men +tan at sundre,
And asked ilkan seluen sere,
O +tair for-king fain wald +tai here,
If ani gain o+ter sai wald oght,
Bot all +tair fanding was for noght,
For all +tai said soth +tat +tai sei
+tat ilk iesu til heuen vp stei.
   +tan said anna and caiphas,
"Vr lagh will, bath +tat es and was,
+tat in +te muth o tua or thre
Suld alkin soth stand and be."
"And quat thing sal we sai yow +tan?
I-nogh was of a rightwis man,
And paid sa wel godd in his state,
+tat wit his word he was translate.
And o +te prophet als moyses
+tat nan wat quar he doluen es.
Bot iesus, +tat in hand was laght,
And to sir pilat was bi-taght,
Bath bi-scurget and bi-spit, - 
For he o mani plight was wijt, - 
Wonded wit spere, naild on tre,
Wit thorns crund als was he;
+tis menskful ioseph did him delue
In tumb +tat wroght was til him-selfe,
And als thre men witnes her,
+tai sagh bi-for +tair eien clere
+tis ilk iesus spekand wit his,
And si+ten stei til heuen blis." 

<S SAMPLE 6>
<P 1238>
   +te grace o godd es gret and gode,
+tat gis vs samples o +te rode,
Mar mightes has vr lauerd wroght,
+tan ani man mai thing in thoght,
Bot mani o trouth es sua vn-slei,
+tai tru noght bot +tat +tai se wit ei;
And +tat vnnethes will +tai tru,
Wit-vten signe o gret vertu;
For me-think if +te sothe be soght,
+tat sin first +te werld was wroght,
Meracles o +te cros might
Has ben in semblance and in sight.
Ouer and vnder, right and left,
In +tis compas godd all has left.
Bot-if man of him-self be blind,
Vm-thinc him wel he sal it find
+te licknes o +tis tre sa tru,
In +te ald lagh was be-for +te neu,
In +te neu lagh alsua sere,
+tat sum er gode of for to here.
I thinc +tis es +te tre o blis
+tat rightwisnes til bunden es,
Had adam funden it at hand
+tar-wit he moght ha lijfd lastand;
+tat planted es in paradise,
And dos +te ded vp for to rise;
And adam quen he wroght had wogh,
Vnder +tis tre he him drogh,
<P 1240>
+tar did him drightin to resun
And did him in hope o pardun.
+te blod of abel it cried als
Quen him had slain his bro+ter fals.
Wit-in +tat cri was grett thing hidd,
+tat in +tis cros es kidd,
And ded for-soth had ben noe
If him [{ne{] sauued had +te tre.
O four corner +te arche was made,
Als has +te cros on lang and brade,
+te dor on +te arche apon +te side,
And +tar was iesus wonded wide.
Qua will vmthinc him in his mod
Mai find fele takens o +te rode.
   Vr lauerd gaf moises a wand
To wirc sum maistris wit in hand,
Si+ten was it worm, efter yerd,
Als men i-nogh for-wit has herd.
+tat wel bi-takend +tat cipres,
+tar-of was wernist moyses,
Bath in word and als in dede.
Quen israel vte of egypte yed,
O +tat blisced lambs blod
A cros was mad in signe o rode,
+taa +tat cros had on +taim draun,
Vr lauerd +tam sauued als his aun,
All +taas o+ter ne war bot tint
Bitaght vn-to +te angls dint.
Quen +te nedders +tat war fell,
+te folk stanged of israel,
Quen +tai welk in +te wildernes
Vnder +te wand o moyses, 
A nedder was seitt up apon a tre,
+tat quen +te stanged men moght se
+te nedder on +te tre +tat hang,
+tai war all warist o +tair stang.
<P 1242>
Quen +tat +tai faght als +tai did oft
And moises held his hand o-loft,
To-quils he heild his hend on croice,
Ai haid his aun folk +te voice.
Quen strijf was bute +te preisthede   
In +taa dais mang +te Iuus lede,
To tuelue men taght +tai wandes tuelue,
Ilkan merked his him-self,
And said quilk wand +tat suld bere blome
Suld haf +te preistes-hede wit dome,
+tar florist an als yee herd haf herd
+te cros takening, +tat ilk yerd.
Heliseus on o+ter wise
Did a dedman for to rise,
+te staf +tat he apon him did,
O cros it bar +te taken-hid.
Quen dauid faght gain +tat etin,
Ne has ne noght his staf for-getin,
Vntil +te batail he it bar,
Moght na king suerd do mar.
+te signe o tav in ald laies
Bitakens cros nu in vr daies,
+te men +tat +tar-wit takend war,
Oft it helped fra misfar.
Tau and cros bath er als an,
Bot tav has yerd a-bouen nan;
O cros in +te ald testament
Was bisening, qua sa to cuth tent.
Cros es, qua-sum wil or nai,
Baner of hali kirc to dai;
Men has noght herd +tat folk be lorn
+tat hali crose has wit +tam born,
Bot has bitid oft mani quar,
+tat less folk ouercummen +te mar.
+tar stad was cros at ani fight,
If +te dede be tan wit right. 
<P 1244>
O cros to tell for-get i noght,
On cros the formast man was wroght,
On cros +te first of all wiues, 
On cros godd boght ur saul liues,
+tar-on he gaf him-seluen ranscun,
And of him-seluen mad gunphanun.



