|b{Work:_Seinte_Marherete,_e_Meiden_ant_Martyr}
|b{Manuscript:_Bodley_34,_Oxford}
|b{Edition:_Mack,_Frances_M_1934._}
|b{London:_Milford._pp._2-54.}



|p1


Seinte Marherete,
e Meiden ant Martyr



|p2


     |r[f.18a] I e feaderes & i es sunes & i es hali gastes nome,
     her biginne e liflade & te passiun of seinte margarete.

     |r<b> Efter ure lauerdes pine & his passiun & his dea o
          rode & his ariste of dea, ant efter his up_astihunge,
 |r5 as he steah to heouene, weren monie
     martyrs, wepme ba & wummen, to deaes misliche idon
     for e nome of drihtin; &, as icudde kempen, ouercomen
     in & akeasten hare reo cunne uan, e ueont, & teos wake
     worlt, ant hare licomes lustes; ant wenden of eos
|r10 weanen to weole & to eche wunne, icrunet to Criste.
     |r<b> e et weren monie ma ene nu beon mis-bileuede |r[f.18b]
          men, e heheden & hereden heene maumez, of
     stanes & of stockes wrecches iwrahte. Ah ich, an godes
     eowe Teochimus inemed, ilered i godes lei, redde
|r15 & arahte moni misli[ch] leaf; ant neauer i nan stude
     ne mahte ich understonden of nan e were wure for to
     beon iwurget as drihtin deh to donne, bute e hehe
     healent an et is in heouene, e wunede hwil his wille
     wes amonc worldliche men, & bottnede e dumbe & te
|r20 deaue, & te deade arerde to leome & to liue; & crunede
     his icorene e de drehen, oer eni neowein; & alle
     cristene men, swa ef ha nutte hare nome, hafe
     ilened et lif et echeliche leste. Ich, fulhet i font o



|p4


     e al-mihti fedres nome & o es hali gastes, wes i
     e time liuiende i londe a et eadie meiden, Mar_garete
     bi nome, feht wi e feond & wi his eorliche
     limen, ouercom & acaste ham; & biet hit iwriten of
 |r5 e writers a, al hire passiun & hire pinfule de et ha
     dreh for drihtin.
     |r<b> [H]ercne, alle e earen & herunge habbe:
          widewen wi a iweddede, & te meidnes
     nomeliche, lusten swie eorliche hu ha schulen luuien
|r10 e liuiende lauerd & libben i meihad, et him his mihte
     leouest; swa et ha moten, urh et eadie meiden e
     we munne to-dei wi meihades menske, et seli
     meidnes song singen, wi is meiden & wi et heouen_liche
     hird, echeliche in heouene. |r[f.19a]
|r15 |r<b> []is meiden et we munie wes Margarete ihaten;
          & hire flesliche feder Theodosie hehte, of et he_ene
     folc patriarche & prince. Ah heo, as e deorwure
     drihtin hit dihte, in-to a burh wes ibroht to ueden & to
     uostrin, from e muchele Antioche fiftene milen. a
|r20 ha hefde of helde eres fiftene, & hire moder wes iwend
     e wei et worldliche men alle schulen wenden, ha war
     eo e ha hefde iwist & iwenet swa lengre swa
     leuere; & alle hire luueden et hire on lokeden, as eo
     et godd luuede, e heouenliche lauerd, & ef hire e
|r25 grace of e hali gast, swa et ha ches him to luue & to
     lefmon, & bitahte in his hond e meske of hire meihad,
     hire wil & hire werc, & al et heo eauer i e world i wald
     hahte, to witen & to welden wi al hire seoluen. us
     ha wes & wiste, meokest alre milde, wi ore meidnes
30 o e feld hire fostermodres hahte; & herde on euich



|p6


     half hire hu me droh to deae Cristes icorene; &
     irnde & walde eorne, ef godes wil were, et ha moste
     beon an of e moni moder-bern et swa muchel drehen
     for drihtin.
 |r5 |r<b> [B]itimde umbe stunde et ter com ut of Asye towart
          Antioche e ueondes an foster, to herien i e
     hehe burh hise heene godes. Olibrius hehte, schireue
     of e lond, et alle e lefden o e liuiende godd fordude
     |r[f.19b] & for-demde. As he wende his wei, seh is seli meiden
|r10 Margarete, as ha wes & wiste up o e feld hire fost[er]_modres
     schep, e schimede & schan al of wlite & of
     westume. He het his hird hetterliche: "Neme hire
     swie. ef heo his freo wummon, ich hire wule habben
     & halden to wiue; & ef heo eowe is, ich cheose hire
|r15 to cheuese, & hire wule freohin wi gersum & wi golde,
     & wel schal hire iwuren for hire lufsume leor wi al et
     ich welde." As e knihtes wolden warpen honden on
     hire, ha bigon to clepien & callen to Criste, us:
     |r<b> "[H]aue, lauerd, milce & merci of i wummon;
|r20    ne ne let tu neaure mi sawle for-leosun wi
     e forlorene, ne wi e luere mi lif, e beo al blodi
     bi-blodeget of sunne. Iesu Crist, godes sune, beo u
     eauer mi gleo & mi gledunge: e mot ich a mare hehen
     & herien. Hald, hehe lauerd, min heorte, ich biseche
|r25 e, in treowe bileue: & biwite mi bodi, et is al bitaht
     to e, from ulche fulen; et neauer mi sawle ne
     isuled beo in sunne, urh et licomes lust, et lutle while
     like. Lauerd, lustu to me. Ich habbe a deore imstan,
     & ich hit habbe ieue e, mi meihad i mene, blostme
|r30 brihtest i bodi e hit bere & biwit wel; ne let tu neauer
     e unwhit warpen hit i wurinc, for hit is e leof, &



|p8


     him inge loest. & weorre & warpe euer er_toward,
     |r[f.20a] wi willes, wi werkes, wi alles cunnes
     wrenches. Lauerd, u were me, & wite hit euer to e;
     ne ole u neuer e unwiht et he wori mi wit ne wonie
 |r5 mi wisdom. Ah send me i sonde, helent, of heouene,
     et cue me & kenne hu ich onswerie schule es schuckes
     schireue; for ich iseo me, lauerd, bistepped & bistonden
     ase lomb wi wedde wulues, & ase e fuhel e is iuon
     in es fuheleres grune, ase fisc a-hon on hoke, ase ra
|r10 inumen i nette: heh helent, help me, ne leaf u me
     neuer nu i luer[e] menne[s] honde."
     |r<b> []e knihtes, for ha spec us, charden euchan aein,
          ant cween to hare lauerd: "Ne mei i mihte
     habben na man wi is meiden, for ha ne hehe nan of
|r15 ure heene godes, ah leue o e lauerd e e Gius
     for-demden & drohen to deae & heene hongeden &
     heuen on rode." Olibrius e luere, a he is iherde,
     changede his chere, & het biliue bringin hire biforen him.
     Sone se ha icume wes, he cleopede to hire us: -- "Cu
|r20 me," quo he, "if u art foster of freomon, oer eowe_wummon."
     e eadi meiden Margarete sone him
     ontswerede & softeliche seide: "Freo wummon ich am,
     & godes ewe." "e," quo he, "hwet godd hehest
     & herestu?" "Ich hehe," quo ha "heh-feader,
|r25 healent in heouene, & his deorwure sune, Iesu Crist
     hatte, & him ich habbe, meiden, mi meihad iettet,
     |r[f.20b] & luuie to leofmon & leue ase lauerd." "Hu dele!"
     quo he, "Leuestu & luuest te e reufulliche deide &
     reuliche on rode?" "Nai," quo ha, "ah eo e
|r30 wenden to fordon him, ine forfedres, beo forfaren
     reuliche & forloren luerliche; & he liue, kinebern,



|p10


     icrunet in his kinedom, keiser of kinges, echeliche in
     heouene." e wari of es wordes wear ut-nume wra,
     & het hire kasten in cwarterne & i cwal-hus, a-et he
     hefde betere bi-oht him o hwucche wise he walde merren
 |r5 hire meihad; & ferde him enne swa, for in-to Antioche,
     & hehede hise heene godes, as hit lomp & lei to his
     luere bileue. Het hire i e oer dei bringen biuoren
     him. Ha wes sone ibroht for, & he bigon to segen:
     "[M]eiden, haue merci & milce of e seoluen: nim
|r10    eme of i uhee & of i semliche schape,
     of i schene nebschaft: wurch efter mi wil & wurge
     mine maumez; & e schal wel iwurden biuoren e heste
     of min hirt, wi al et ich i world hah & i wald habbe."
     Margarete, mildest & meidene meokest, ontswerede &
|r15 seide: "Wite hit tu nu if u wult -- for he hit wat
     ful wel, he e haue iseilet me to him seolf, & mi
     meihad -- et tu ne maht nans-weis, wi weole ne
     |r[f.21a] wi wune, wi wa ne wi wont ree ne wi nan
     worldlich ing, wenden me ne wrenchen of e wei
|r20 et ich am in bigunne to ganne. & unwur, et wite
     u, me beo ine wordes; for him ane ich luuie & habbe
     to bileue, e weld & wisse wi his wit windes & wederes,
     & al et biset is wi se & wi sunne. Buuen ba & bineoen,
     al buhe[l to him. & to-eke is, et he is se mihti & se
|r25 meinful, he [is] leoflukest to lokin upon & swotest
     to smellen: ne his lufsumlec neuer mare ne mei
     lutli ne aliggen; for he ne ali neuer, ah liue a in are,
     & his muchele mihte leste a mare."
     |r<b> "[L]et" quo Olibrius, "ne beo es wordes noht
|r30    wurh. Ah an-hwet wite u: bute if u



|p12


     swike ham, mi swerd schal forswelten & for-swolhen i
     fle[sc], & erefter ine ban schulen beon forbernde o
     berninde gleden. Ah if u wult leue me, u schalt
     beon mi leofmon & min iweddede wif, & welden ase lefdi
 |r5 al et ich i wald hah & am of lauerd."
     |r<b> "[M]e, leoue," quo ha, "hwar-to luste e warpen
          al awei ine hwile? Ich wulle bitechen
     mi bodi to eauer-euich bitternesse et tu const on
     bienchen, ne bite hit ne se sare, wi on et ich mote
|r10 meidene mede habben in heouene. Drihtin deide for
     us, e deorwure lauerd, & ne drede ich na de for to
     drehen for him. He haue his merke on me iseiled
     wi his in-seil; ne mei vnc lif, ne de noer, twemen
     |r[f.21b] otwa." "[N]a," quo he, "is hit swa! Neome
|r15 hire swie," quo he to his cwelleres. "Strupe hire
     steort-naket & honge hire on heh up, & bete hire
     bere bodi wi bittere besmen." a awariede werlahen
     leiden se luerliche on hire leofliche lich, et hit brec
     oueral & lierede o blode. et eadie meiden a-hef
|r20 hire heorte heh up towart heouene, & cleopede to
     Criste:
     |r<b> "[L]auerd, in e is al min hope. Hald me mi wit
          wel swa, & mi wil to e, et hit ne forwure
     naut, for wa et me do me, ne for wele nower; ne lef
|r25 u neuer mine fan, e feondes i mene, habben ne holden
     hare hoker of me, as ha walden ef ha me mahten
     awarpen: ah swa ne schulen ha neuer me, ne nan oer
     et ariht luuie e. Heouenliche lauerd, in nome beo



|p14


     iblescet. Lauerd, loke to me ant haue merci of me.
     Softe me mi sar swa, & salue mine wunden, et hit ne
     seme nohwer, ne suteli o mi samblant, et ich derf
     drehe." e cwelleres leiden se luerliche on hire lich,
 |r5 et tet blod bearst ut & strac a-dun of hire bodi as streem
     de of welle.
     |r<b> [O]librius, e luere reue bute rewe, hwil me
          er[d]ede hire us eomerliche, eide: "Stute
     nu & stew ine unwitti wordes, & hercne, meiden, mi
|r10 read, & wel e schal iwuren." Alle e ear weren,
     |r[f.22a] wepmen & wummen, remden of reowe ant meanden
     es meiden, & summe of ham seiden: "Margarete,
     Margarete, meide swa muche wur ef u wel waldest,
     wa is us et we seo i softe leofliche lich to-luken se
|r15 ladliche! Weila! wummon, hwuch wlite u leosest &
     forletest for i mis-bileaue. e reue is reowliche wra
     & wule iwis fordo e; ah luue nu & lef him, & tu schalt,
     wummone meast, wunne & weole wealden." "O,"
     quo ha, "wrecches, unweoten bute wit, weila, hwet
|r20 wene e! ef mi lich is toloken, mi sawle schal resten
     wi e rihtwise: sorhe & licomes sar is sawulene heale.
     Ah leue e, ich reade ow, o e liuiende godd, mihti &
     meinful & euch godes ful, e here eo e him cleopie
     to, & heouene-etes opene. For ow nulle ich iheren,
|r25 ne heien nan of ower godes, e dumbe beo & deaue,
     & blinde & bute mihte, wi monnes hond imakede. Ah
     u wurchest," quo ha, a, to Olibrium e luere, "ine
     feader werkes, e feondes of helle. Me, u heaene
     hund, e hehe healent is min help; ef he haue iettet
|r30 te mi licome to teluken, he wule, u heatele reue, arudde
     mi sawle ut of ine honden & heouen hire into heouene,
     ah u hongi me her. & tu grisliche gra, u luere
     liun la godd, i mihte schal unmuclin & melten to
     |r[f.22b] riht noht; & tu schalt eauer i sar & i sorhe swelten,



|p16


     hwen ich gomeni wi godd & gleadie buten ende." He
     o wrae war for-neh ut of his witte; & het swie
     bitterliche hongin hire & heouen up herre en ha ear
     wes, & wi sweord scharpe & ewles of irne hire freo_liche
 |r5 flesch to-ronden & to-renden. Ant heo biseh on
     heh up & bigon to seggen:
     |r<b> "[H]elle-hundes, lauerd, habbet bitrummet me, &
           hare read et heane me haue al biset me;
     ah u, hehe healent, beo umbe me to helpen. Arude,
|r10 reowfule godd, mi sawle of sweordes egge & of
     h[u]ndes hond, for nabbe ich bute hire ane. Lowse
     me, lauerd, ut of e liunes mu, & mi meoke mildschipe
     of e an-ihurnde hornes. Glede me, godd, wi i gleo
     & ef me hope of heale, et mi bone mote urh-urli e
|r15 heouene. Send me i sonde i culurene heowe, e
     cume me to helpe, et ich mi meihad mote wite to e
     unwemmet; & lef me et i-seon, lauerd, ef i wil is, e
     awariede wiht e weorre aein me; & cu i mahte
     on me, al-mihti godd, et ich him ouercume mahe, swa
|r20 et alle meidnes eauer mare urh me e mare trusten
     on e. Beo i nome iblesced, alre bleo brihtest, in
     alre worldene worlt aa on ecnesse."
     |r<b> [H]wil et ha spec us, me to-lec hire swa, et te lu_ere
          |r[f.23a] reue for e stronge rune of e blodi stream,
|r25 ne nan oer et ter wes, ne mahte for muche grure lokin
     iderwardes; ah hudden hare heafden e heardeste_iheortet
     under hare mantles, for et seorfule sar et
     heo on hire isehen. et spec & seide Olibrius e luere:
     "Hwet bihalt, meiden, et tu ne buest to me, ne nult
|r30 habbe milce ne merci of e seoluen? e, ne felest tu
     i flesch al to-limet & to-luken urh et ich hit hate?
     Ah buh nu & bei to me ear en u deie o dreori de



|p18


     & derf; for ef u ne dest no, u schalt swelten urh
     sweord & al heo limmel to-loken; ant ich wulle tellen,
     hwen u al to-toren art in euchanes sihe e sit nu &
     si e, alle ine seonewwen."
 |r5 |r<b> "[M]e, heateliche hund," quo ha a, "ah u al
          swa do, me schendest tu nawt. Hwen mi
     sawle bi biuoren godes sihe in heouene, lutel me is
     hwet me do mid mi bodi on eore. Ah e schulde
     scheomien, u scheomelese schucke, ef u scheome
|r10 cuest, e ulli mot haldest wi a ung meiden, &
     spillest al i hwile & ne spedest nawiht; for ef ich
     wrahte e wil of e flesch et tu fearest as u wult wi,
     mi sawle schulde sinken, al swa as u schalt, to sorhen
     |r[f.23b] in helle; ah for i ich wulle wel et mi flesch forfeare
|r15 her, et softe Iesu cruni mi sawle i e selhen of heouene,
     & efter domes-dei do ham ba to-gederes, to weolen &
     to eche wunnen, urh-wuniende." He se wra et
     for-neh wod he walde iwuren. Bed bi liues coste
     keasten hire i cwalm-hus, ant swa me dude sone. & wes
|r20 as ah hit were e seouee time of e dei et me droh
     hire us in-to dorkest wan, & wurst in to cumene. & heo
     hef up hire hond & blecede al hire bodi wi e taken
     of e hali rode. As me reat hire inwart, ha bigon to
     bidden eos bone to ure lauer[d]: -- 
|r25 |r<b> "[D]eore-wure drihtin, ah ine domes dearne
          beon, alle ha beo duhtie. Alle heouen_liche
     ing, & heorliche bae, buhe e & beie. u
     art hope & help to alle et te herie. u art foster &
     feader to helplese children. u art weddede weole, &
|r30 widewene warant, & meidenes mede. u art wunne of
     e world, Iesu Crist, kinebern; godd ikennet of godd,
     as liht is of leome. Loke, lauerd, to me; mi lif, mi luue,
     mi leofmon: & milce me, i meiden. Min ahne flesliche
     feader dude & draf me awei, his an-lepi dohter, & mine
|r35 freond aren me, for i luue, lauerd, famen & feondes;
     ah e ich halde, healent, ha for feader & for freond:



|p20


     |r[f.24a] ne forlet tu me nawt, liuiende lauerd. Bihald me &
     help me, & lef me et ich mote legge mine ehnen o e
     lue[re] unwhit e weorre aein me, & lef me deme
     wi him, drihtin of dome. He heane me & heate, ant
 |r5 ich neauer nuste et he ewt of min hearm eauerete
     hefde. Ah swuch is his cunde, & swa is ful of atter
     his ontfule heorte et he heate euch god; ant euch
     hali ing & halewinde is him la. u art, drihtin,
     domes-mon of cwike & of deade: dem bituhen unc
|r10 twa; ne wrae u e, mi wunne, for sahe et ich segge.
     For an ing i biseche eer eau & oueral, et tu wite to
     e mi meihad unmerret, mi sawle from sunne, mi wit
     & mi wisdom from unwitlese wiht. In e is, min healent,
     al et ich wilni. Beo u aa iblescet, ordfrume & ende
|r15 bute ende ant ord, aa on ecnesse."
     |r<b> [H]ire uostermoder wes an et frourede hire, &
          com to e cwalm-hus & brohte hire to fode
     bred & burnes drunch, et ha bi l[iue]de. Heo, a, &
     monie ma biheolden urh an eilurl as ha bed hire
|r20 beoden. & com ut of an hurne hihendliche towart hire
     an unwiht of helle on an[e] drakes liche, se grislich
     et ham gras wi et sehen: et unselhe glistinde as
     ah he al ouerguld were. His lockes & his longe berd
     blikeden al of golde, & his grisliche te semden of swart
|r25 |r[f.24b] irn. His twa ehnen steareden steappre en e steoren
     & ten imstanes, brade ase bascins, in his ihurnde heaued
     on eier half on his heh hokede nease. Of his speatewile
     mu sperclede fur ut, & of his nease-urles reste smor_rinde
     smoke, smecche forcuest; & lahte ut his tunge,
|r30 se long et he swong hire abuten his swire; & semde as
     ah a scharp sweord of his mu scheate, e glistnede
     ase gleam de & leitede al o leie; & al war et stude
     ful of strong & of stearc stench, & of es schucke
     schadewe schimmede & schan al. He strahte him &
|r35 sturede toward tis meoke meiden, & geapede wi his



|p22


     genow up-on hire ungeinliche, snt bigon to crahien &
     crenge wi swire, as e e hire walde forswolhe mid
     alle. ef ha agrisen wes of et grisliche gra, nes na muche
     wunder. Hire bleo bigon to blakien, for e grure et
 |r5 grap hire; & for e fearlac offruht, foret hire bone et
     ha ibeden hefde et ha iseon moste en unsehene
     unwiht, ne nawt ne ohte ron, et hire nu were ituet
     hire bone; ah smat smeortliche adun hire cneon to er
     eore, & hef hire honden up hehe toward heouene, [&]
|r10 wi eos bone to Crist us cleopede: -- 
     |r<b> "[U]nseheliche godd, euch godes ful, hwas wrea[]e
          |r[f.25a] is se gromful et helle ware & heouenes & alle
     cwike inges cwakie er-aeines; aein is eisfule whit
     et hit ne eili me nawt, help me, mi lauerd. u wrahtest
|r15 & wealdest alle worldliche ing. eo et te heie & herie
     in heouene, & alle e inges e eardi on eore: e fisches
     e i e flodes fleote wi finnes, e flihinde fuheles e
     fleo bi e lufte, & al et iwraht is, wurche et ti wil
     is & halt ine heastes hute mon ane. e sunne recche
|r20 hire rune wi-uten euch reste. e mone & te steorren,
     e walke bi e lufte, ne stutte ne ne studegi, ah
     sturie aa mare; ne nohwider of e wei et tu hauest
     iwraht ham ne wrenche ha neaure. u steorest
     e sea-strem, et hit flede ne mot fir en u merkest.
|r25 e windes, e wederes, e wudes, & te weattres, buhe
     e & bei. Feondes hahbe fearlac, & engles, of in
     eie. e wurmes & te wilde deor, et o is wald wunie,
     libbet efter e lahe et tu ham hauest iloket, luuewende
     lauerd; ant tu loke to me & help me, in hondiwerc,
|r30 for al min hope is o e. u herhedest helle & ouercome
     ase kempe e acursede gast e funde to for-do me.
     Ah her me nu & help me, for nabbe ich i min nowcin



|p24


     nanes cunnes elne bute in ane. Wi is uuel wite
     me, for ich truste al o e, & ti wil iwure hit, deorwure
     lauerd; et ich urn i strenge mahe stonden wi
     him, & his muchele ouergart et ich hit mote afeallen.
 |r5 |r[f.25b] Low, he funde swie me to for-swolhen, & wene to
     beore me in-to his balefule hole er he wune inne.
     Ah o in blisfule nome ich blesci me nue." & droh
     a endelong hire, & wertouer refter, e deorewure
     taken of e deore rode et he on reste; ant te drake
|r10 reasde to hire mid tet ilke, & sette his sariliche mu,
     & unmealich muchel, on heh on hire heaued; & rahte
     ut his tunge to e ile of hire helen, & swengde hire in,
     & forswelh into his wide wombe: ah Criste to wur_mund
     & him to wraer-heale; for e rode taken redliche
|r15 arudde hire, et ha wes wi iwepnet, & war his bone
     sone, swa et his bodi to-bearst o-midhepes otwa; ant et
     eadi meiden allunge unmerret, wi-uten eauer-euch
     wem, wende ut of his wombe, heriende on heh hire
     healent in heouene.
|r20 |r<b> [A]s ha biheold, lokinde up-on hire riht-half, a
          seh ha hwer set an unsehen unwiht, muche
     deale blackre en eauer eani blamon, se grislich, se
     ladlich, et ne mahte hit na mon redliche areachen, &
     his twa honden to his cnurnede cneon heteueste ibunden.
|r25 & heo, a ha seh is, feng to onkin, us, ant herien
     |r[f.26a] hire healent: -- 
     |r<b> "[B]rihtest bleo of alle et eauer weren iborene,
          blostme iblowen & iboren of meidenes bosum;
     Iesu, godd [t] godes bearn, iblescet ibeo u. Ich am
|r30 gomeful & glead, lauerd, for i godlec; keiser of kinges,
     drihtin undeadlich. u haldest & heuest up treowe
     bileaue. u art welle of wisdom, & euch wunne waxe
     & awakene of e. u art englene weole, et wealdest
     & witest ham wi-uten wonunge. Me gomene &
|r35 gleade al of gasteliche murhden: me, mihti godd



|p26


     makeles, is et eani wunder? e, iseo ich, lauerd,
     blowinde mine bileaue. Ich habbe isehen hu e feond
     e wende to fordo me tofeol efne atwa, & felde hu his
     fule stench strac & sturede aweiwart. Ich habbe isehen
 |r5 e wurse of helle her awarpen, & te monslahe islein, e
     stronge urs astoruen. Ich habbe isehen his ouergart
     & his egede orhel [fer]liche auellet. Ich habbe isehe
     e rode e arudde me se redliche of his reowliche rake,
     hu ha et balefule wurm & et bittre beast makede to
|r10 bersten. Ich habbe isehen hali & halwende eoli as hit
     lihte to me, & ich me seolf smelle of e swote Iesu,
     swottre en eauer eani ing et is on eore. Ich habbe
     sehen blisse, & ich blissi me rof: i weole & i wunne is
     nu et ich wunie, ne nes me neauer se wa, as me is wel
|r15 nu. e ich hit oncki, olemode lauerd. Ich habbe
     |r[f.26b] adun e drake idust, & his kenschipe akest; ant he
     swelte et me wende to forswolhen: ich am kempe
     & he is crauant & ouercumen. Ah e ich onki rof,
     e kingene king art echeliche icrunet, sorhfule & sari
|r20 & sunfule toturn; wondrinde & wrecches & wonlese
     wisent, castel of strenge aein e stronge unwiht,
     meidenes murhde & martyrs crune; mel-seotel softest
     & guldene erde, alre gold smeatest, ant glistinde
     imstan; of alle seheliche [ing] & unseheliche ba,
|r25 swotest & swetest, alre schefte schuppent; rumnesse
     reouald & anuald e-hweere; rile i reo hades, &
     an in an hehschipe. Heh hali god[d], euch godes ful,
     beo u eauer & aa iheret & iheiet bute linninge."
     |r<b> [A]s ha hefde iheret us longe ure lauerd, com et
|r30      grisliche gra creopinde hire towart, & heold
     hire bi e uet, & ase sorhfulest ing sariliche seide:
     "Marherete, meiden, inoh u hauest ido me: ne pine
     u me na mare wi e eadie beoden et tu bidest se
     ofte; for ha binde me swie sare mid alle, & makie
|r35 me se unstrong, et ich ne fele wi me nanes cunnes



|p28


     strenge. u hauest grimliche ibroht mi broer to
     grunde, & islein en sleheste deouel of helle, e ich o
     |r[f.27a] drake liche sende to forswolhe e, & merren wi his
     muchele mein e mihte of i meihad, & makien et tu
 |r5 nere na mare imong moncun imuneget on eore. u
     cwenctest & a-cwaldest him wi e hali rode, & me u
     makest to steoruen wi e strenge of ine beoden,
     e beo e se munde. Ah lef me & let me gan, leafdi,
     ich e bidde." et milde meiden Margarte grap et
|r10 grisliche ing et hire ne agras nawiht, & heteueste toc
     him bi et eateliche top & hef him up & duste him
     dunriht to er eore, ant sette hire riht-fot on his ruhe
     swire & feng on us to speokene: -- 
     |r<b> "[S]tute nu, earme steorue, & swic nue lanhure,
|r15      swikele swarte deouel, et tu ne derue me
     nawt mare, for mi meihad ne helpe e nawiht; for
     ich habbe to help min healent in heouene, & te worldes
     wealdent is ihwer mi warant. ah u strong were
     a u weorredest me, he wes muchele strengre, e hefde
|r20 to biwite me." Wi is, a udde ha o e urs
     feste wi hire fot, wi euch-an of eose word: -- "Stute
     nu, uuele gast, to gremie me mare. Stute nu, alde
     monsla[h]e, et tu ne slea heonneuor[] Cristes icorene.
     Stute nu, wleatewile wiht, to astenche me wi e stench
|r25 e of i mu stihe. Ich am mi lauerdes lomb, & he
     is min hirde. Ich am godes eowe & his rel to don al
     |r[f.27b] et his deore wil is. Beo he aa iblescet et blie
     haue imaked me in endelese blissen."
     |r<b> Hwil et ha spec us o et speatewile wiht, se er
|r30      lihtinde com in-to e cwalm-hus a leome from
     heouene; & semde as ah ha sehe i e glistende glem
     e deorewure rode reache to e heouene; & set a culure



|p30


     ron & us to hire cleopede: -- "Meiden eadi an, Mar_garete,
     art tu, for paraise eten aren arewe iopenet te
     nu." Ant heo leat lahe to hire leoue lauerd, & onkede
     him eorne wi inwarde heorte. et liht a-lei lutlen, &
 |r5 heo biturde hire a & cwe to et unwhit.
     |r<b> "[C]u me," quo ha, "swie, forcudest alre inge,
          of hweat cunde u beo." "Leafdi," quo he,
     "leowse i fot enne of mi necke & swa lanhure leoe
     me, meiden an eadiest, et ich eie mahe, & ich mot nede.
|r10 Noeles min unwilles hit is, don et ti wil is. e milde
     meiden dude swa: lowsede & leoede a lutel hire hele, ant
     he bigon to breoken on speatewilliche us to speokene: -- 
     |r<b> "Wult tu witen, lufsume leafdi, hu ich hatte?
          Ah hwet-se of mi nome beo, ich habbe
|r15 efter Belzebub meast monnes bone ibeon, & forswolhen
     hare swinc, & to a-swinden imaket e meden et ha moni
     |r[f.28a] er hefden ham iarket. Wi sum of mi ne wiheles,
     [us] ich wrencte ham adun hwen ha lest wenden;
     ne neauer et ne mahte me ouercume na mon bute
|r20 u nue. u haldest me i bondes ant hauest her
     iblend me, & art mi broeres bone Rufines, e rehe[st]
     & te read-wisest of alle eo in helle. Crist wune[] in
     e, for-i u wurchest wi us al et ti wil is. Ne nawt
     nart tu, wummon, ore wummen ilich. Me unche
|r25 et tu schinest schenre en e sunne, ah ouer alle ine
     limen, e leiti of leome. e fingres se freoliche me
     unche, & se freoliche feire & se briht blikinde, et tu
     e wi blescedest & makedest te merke o e mihti
     rode e reauede me mi broer, ant me wi bale bondes
|r30 bitterliche bindest; et ich lokin ne mei, swa et liht
     leome[] & leite, me unche." "u fikest", quo ha,
     "ful wiht: ah cu me et ich easki. "Wumme!
     leafdi", quo he a, "wa me mine liues, bute ich hit
     am et weorri a wi rihtwise: of e unseli sunfule me
|r35 unche ich am al siker; ah e gode ich ga aa bisiliche
     abuten, & ham ich folhi neodelukest e cunni to beon



|p32


     cleane wi-uten monnes man & fleo flesches ful[]en,
     ef ich mahte eanies-weis makien ham to fallen & fulen
     ham seoluen.
     |r[f.28b] |r<b> [M]onie ich habbe awarpen e wenden mine wi_heles
 |r5       ful witerliche etwrenchen: ant o isse
     wise. Ich leote oer-hwiles a cleane mon wunien neh
     a cleane wummon, et ich nawhit towart ham ne
     warpe ne ne weorri, ah leote ham al iwuren. Ich
     leote ham talkin of godd & teuelin of godlec, & trew_liche
|r10 luuien ham wi-uten uuel wilnunge ant alle
     unwreste willes, et eier of his ahne, & of e ores
     ba, treowliche beo trusti, & te sikerure beon to sitten
     bi ham seoluen & gominen to-gederes. enne urh
     is sikerlec seche ich earst up-on ham, & scheote swie
|r15 dearnliche & wundi, ear ha witen hit, wi swie attri
     healewi hare unwarre heorte. Lihtliche on alre earest,
     wi luueliche lates, wi steape bihaldunge eier on oer,
     & wi plohe-speche sputte to mare, se longe et ha
     toggi & tolli to-gederes. enne udde ich in ham
|r20 luuefule ohtes, on earest hare unonkes. Ah swa
     waxe et wa urh et ha hit eauie, et ham unche
     god rof. & ich, us hwen ha leote me ne ne lette
     me nawt, ne ne steori ham seolf, ne ne stonde strong_liche
     aein, leade ham i e leiuen & i e ladliche
|r25 lake of et suti sunne. ef ha edstonden wulle mine
     unwreste wrenches & mine swikele swenges, wreastlin
     ha moten & wierin wi ham seoluen; ne me akeasten
     |r[f.29a] ha ne mahen, ear ha ham seoluen ouercumen. La
     me is, & noeles nedlunge ich do hit: cue e hu ha
|r30 mahen best ouercume me. Lowse me e hwile, leafdi,
     & leoe me.
     |r<b> []is beo e wepnen et me wurst wundi, & wite
          ham unwemmet & strenge ham sterclukest



|p34


     aein me & aein hare wake lustes -- et beo: eoten
     meokeliche & meaeluker drinken: do et flesh i sum
     derf ne neauer ne beon idel: hali monne bone for ham
     wi hare ahne beodefule ohtes, et ha schulen enchen
 |r5 bimong hare benen, aein hare unwerste ohtes, et ich
     in ham udde: enchen hit is urh me et hare lust
     leade ham to wurche to wundre: enchen ef ha beie
     me, to hu bitter beast ha buhe, & hwas luue ha forlete;
     hu lufsum ing ha leose, et is meihad, meidenes
|r10 menske, & te luue of e luueliche lauerd of heouene &
     of e lufsume cwen, englene leafdi; & henlunges makie
     ham wi al e heouenliche hird, & un-menski ham seolf
     bimong worldliche men, & forleose e luue nawt ane
     of heh in heouene ah of lah hec on eore, & makie
|r15 e engles murne & us of muche murhe to lahhe se
     lude, e seo ham lihte se lah of se swie hehe, from
     e heste in heouene to e laheste in helle. is ha
     |r[f.29b] moten ofte munien bi ham seolfen; enchen hu swart
     ing & suti is et sunne; enchen of helle-wa & of
|r20 heoueriche wunne; hare ahne dea & drihtenes munegin
     ful ilome, & te grisle & te grure et bi et te dome;
     enchen et te licunge of et fleschliche lust ali se
     swie sone, & te pine eruore leaste aa mare. Ant
     sone se ha gulte eawiht, gan anan uorriht et ha ne
|r25 firstin hit nawt to schawen hit i schrifte, ne beo hit ne
     se lutel ne se liht sunne: for et is under sunne inge
     me laest, et me ofte eorne to schrift of his sunne;
     for et lutle ich mei makien to muclin unmealiche
     ef me hut & hele hit; ah sone se hit ischawet bi
|r30 birewsinde i schrifte, enne scheome me er-wi, &
     fleo ham from, schuderinde as ich ischend were. ah
     se feor & se for ha mahen beon istopen in sotliche to
     luuien, et nanes-weis ne schulen ha stewen hare heorten
     ne etstutten ne etstonden e strenge of mine swenges,
|r35 hwil et ha somet beo. Ne nis ear na bote bute fleo
     enne, et nower ne beo nohwer ane wi oer; ne seon



|p36


     ham, ne sompnin, ne sitten to-gederes wi-uten witt_nesse,
     et mahe iseon hweat ha don & heren hwet ha
     |r[f.30a] segen. ef ha us ne lette me, ah eauie me &
     olie & wene ah to edwrenchen, ich leade ham wi
 |r5 leas luue lutlen & lutlen in-to se deop dunge et ha
     druncni erin: ant sparki in ham sparken of lustes se
     luere, et ha forberne inwi & urh et brune ablinde,
     et ha nabbe sihe ham seolue to biseonne. et
     mein of hare heorte mealte urh e heate, & forwurde
|r10 hare wit, & wore hare wisdom, swa et nulle ha nawt
     wite et ha [ahten to] witen wel. Loke nu hwuch
     wunder: [ha] beo se cleane ouercumen, & swa ich
     habbe iblent ham, et ha blindlunge ga for & forseo
     godd & ham seoluen foreote; swa et ha luerliche,
|r15 hwen ha lest wene, ferliche falle, fule & fenniliche
     i flescliche fulen; & for a lust et ali in an hond_hwile,
     leose ba e luue of godd & te worldes wurdschipe.
     Ah eo e stealewure beo & sterke toein me, swa
     et ha ham wi me wecchinde werien, se uuel me unche
|r20 rof, et al ich am dreori a-et ha beon urh me sumdel
     ideruet, & am in hare beddes se bisi ham a-buten, et
     summes-weis ha schulen ham sclepinde sulen. Ah e
     rode merke merre me ouer-al, & meast ed te n[u]e."
     & wi is ilke bigon to eien & to uren:
|r25 |r<b> "[M]argarete, meiden, to hwon schal ich iwurden? |r[f.30b]
          mine wepnen, wumme, allunge aren awarpen.
     et were hit urh a mon -- ah is urh a meiden. is
     et me unche wurst, et al et cun et tu art
     icumen & ikennet of, beo alle in ure bondes, ant tu
|r30 art edbroken ham: alre wundre meast, et tu e ane
     hauest ouergan i feader & ti moder, meies & mehes ba,
     & al e ende et tu & heo habbe in ieardet, & Crist ane
     hauest icoren to leofmon & to lauerd. Beatest us &
     bindest & to dea fordemest. Wei! wake beo we nu
|r35 a[nt] noht wur mid alle, hwen a meiden ure muchele
     ouergart us auealle.



|p38


     |r<b> "[S]tew e", quo ha, "sari whit, & sei me hwer
          u wunest meast; of hwet cun u art ikumen
     of, & ti cunde cu me, & urh hwas heaste heane e
     hali men, & hearmi & weorri hare werkes." "Ah sei
 |r5 me," [quo he], "seli meiden, hweonne is e ilenet i
     ine leoebeie limen se stealewure strenge; of hwet
     cunde kime e i luue & ti bileaue, et lei me se lahe.
     Cu me nu & ken me hwi e worldes wealdent wune,
     wummon, in e, & hu he com in-to e, & ich chulle makie
|r10 e war of alle mine wiheles." "Steu e & stille beo",
     quo ha, "of in easkunge. e, nart tu nawt wure,
     awariede ful wiht, to here mi steauene, ant hure to under_stonden
     |r[f.31a] se dearne & se derf ing of godes dihel nesse.
     Ah hwet-se ich am & hwuch-se ich am, urh godes
|r15 grace ich hit am, wil-eoue unoseruet, et he haue me
     iettet, for elde hit him seoluen. Ah swie cu me &
     ken et ich easki efter." "e", quo he, "ich mot
     nede.
     y<b> [S]athanas e unseli, e for his prude, of parais
|r20      lihte se lahe, he is keiser & king, icrunet of us alle.
     Ant hwerto schulde ich telle e & wi talen tealen,
     lufsume leafdi, of ure cunde & ure cun, et tu cost e
     seolf iseon i Iamemes & i Manbres bokes ibreuet. Swuch
     fearlac ich fele for sihen et ich iseo Crist seche to e,
|r25 et speoken i ne dear nawt, ah diueri & dearie, drupest
     alre inge. ah hwen u wult witen, we liuie bi e
     lufte al et measte deal, eadi meiden; ant ure weies
     beo abufen wi e windes; ant beo aa wakere to
     wurchen al et wa et we eauer mahe moncun, & mest
|r30 rihtwise men & meidnes as u art. For Iesu Crist,
     godes bern, wes of meiden iboren; & urh e mihte of
     meihad wes moncun iborhen; binumen & bireauet us
     al et we ahten. Nu u wast, leafdi, et tu wite waldest:
     hwer we meast wunie, & hwi we meast heane &
|r35 heatie e meidnes. et, ef u wite wult hwi we
     weori meast rihtwise eines, ich e onswerie: for onde



|p40


     |r[f.31b] et et aa & eauer ure heorte. We witen ha beo
     iwrahte to stihen to et stude et we of feollen, & us
     unche hokerlich & swie ho[f]les l rof; swa et teone
     ontent us, & we iwurde wode urh e grome et us
 |r5 grome aa wi e gode. For et is ure cunde, et i
     e schulde kennen. Beon sorhful & sari for euch monnes
     selhe; gomenin hwen he gulte, ne neauer mare ne
     beo gleade bute of uuel ane: is is ure cunde, makelese
     meiden. Ah, deore drihtines lomb, leoe me a lutel,
|r10 & leowse, leafdi, i fot, e sit me se sare. Ich halsi e
     o godes half, heh heouenlich feader, & o Iesues nome,
     his an sulliche sune, et mon ne wummon ne mahe
     neauer mare heonne-uor warpe me heonne. Ah u,
     brihte burde, bind me on eore, & ne warp u me nawt
|r15 neoer in-to helle. For Salomon e wise, hwile he her
     wunede, bitunde us in a tunne; & comen Babilones men,
     & wenden for te habben golthord ifunden, & tobreken
     e feat; & we for & fulden, a, e widnesse of e
     worlde."
|r20 |r<b> "[S]tille beo u stille," quo ha, "earmest alre
          inge; ne schalt tu, alde schucke, motin wi me
     mare; ah flih, sorhfule feond, of min ehsihe, & def ider
     as u mon ne derue na mare." Wi et illke, e eore
     |r[f.32a] to-tweamde & bitunde him; & he rarinde rad ruglunge
|r25 in-to helle.
     |r<b> [I]ne marhen sende hise men Olibrius e luere, to
          bringen hire biuoren him. & heo blescede hire
     & com baldeliche for. Striken men iderward of eauer_euch
     strete, for to seo et sorhe et me walde leggen
|r30 on hire leofliche bodi ef ha to e reues read ne buhe
     ne ne beide.
     |r<b> "[M]eiden," quo he, "Margarete, et ich bidde
          & bodie et tu wurche mi wil & wurgi
     mine maumez, & te tide & te time schal beon iblescet
|r35 et tu ibore were." "Nai," quo ha, "ne kepe ich



|p42


     nawt et me blesci me swa. Ah hit were i gein & ti
     god bae, et tu e geast unblescet efter blesceunge ga
     & heie godd al-mihti, heh heouenliche feader, & his
     selcude sune, Iesu Crist, et is so mon & go[dd]
 |r5 noeletere. Ah u witlese wiht wurchest, as u art
     wure, blodles & banles, dumbe & deaue bae; & et
     tu wurchest wurse, for e unsehene unwihtes wunie
     ham in-wi, ant tu ase ine lauerdes luuest ham &
     heiest."
|r10 |r<b> [H]im bigon to gremien, & o grome gredde:
          "Strupe hire steort-naket, & heoue hire on
     heh up swa et ha hongi to mede of hire hokeres, & on_tende
     hire bodi wi bearninde teaperes." e driueles
     unduhtie swa duden sone, et te hude snawhwit swartede
|r15 |r[f.32b] as hit sner cte, & bearst on to bleinin as hit aras oueral;
     & hire leofliche lich reschte of e leie, swa et alle remden
     et on hire softe siden sehen et rewe. Ant heo bigon
     to bidden Dauies bone: "Heh healent godd, wi
     e halewende fur of e hali gast, moncune froure, [fure]
|r20 min heorte, & [let] te lei of i luue leiti i mine lenden."
     et him cwe Olibrius, reuene luerest:
     |r<b> "[L]ef, meiden, mi read: wurch et ich wilni ear
          en u et lif luerliche lete." "Luerliche
     ich liuede," quo ha, "ef ich e ilefde; ah ef ich us
|r25 deie, mi dea is deorewure & dure in-to eche liue.
     u swenchest te swie, & ne spedest nawhit for te
     wurchen on me, meiden an et ich am; ah wergest
     e seoluen. Mi lauerd haue mine limen sunderliche
     iseilet, & haue, to mi imstan et ich ettede him,
|r30 iarket & ieue me kempene crune." a war he
     swie wod, & bed o wree bringen for a uetles
     ful of weattre, & binden hire bae e fet & te honden,
     & dusten to e grunde, et ha dea[] drohe & druncnede
     erinne. Me dude as he don het; & heo biheold on heh
|r35 up & cleopede towart heouene:



|p44


     |r<b> "[A]lre kingene king, brec mine bondes, et ich &
          alle et so hit, heien e & herien. is weater
     mote iwure me wunsum & softe, & lef me et hit to me
     |r[f.33a] beo bea of blisse & fulluht of font stan, halhunge &
 |r5 leome of echeli[ch] heale. Cume e hali gast o culures
     iliche, e o i blisfule nome blesci eos weattres. Festne
     wi fulluht mi sawle to e seoluen, & wi es ilke weattres
     wesch me wi-innen, & warp from me a-wei eauer-euch
     sunne, & bring me to i brihte bur, brudgume of wunne.
|r10 Ich underuo her fulluht o deore drihtines nome, & on
     his deorewure sunes, & o es hali gastes; on godd i
     godlec ituinet & untodealet." Nefde bute iseid swa, et
     al e eore ne bigon to cwakien & to cwauien; & com
     a culure, beornind se briht as ah ha bearnde, [& brohte]
|r15 a guldene crune & sette hire o et seli meidenes heaued.
     Wi et ilke breken & bursten hire bendes; & heo, ase
     schene ase schininde sunne, wende up of e weater,
     singinde a loft-song, et Daui e witege wrahte feor
     er-biuoren, Criste to wurdmunt. "Mi lufsume lauerd,"
|r20 quo ha, "he cude ase king et he rixle ariht. Feierlec
     & strenge beo hise schrudes, & igurd he is ham on,
     et a cumeliche fearen & semliche sitten."
     |r<b> "[C]vm," quo e culure wi schilinde steuene,
          "ant stih to e wunne & to e weole of heouene.
|r25 Eadi were u, meiden, a u chure meihad, e of alle
     mihtes is cwen; for-i u schalt aa bruken in blisse
     |r[f.33b] buten ende crunene brihtest."
     |r<b> [O] et ilke time turden to ure lauerd fif usent
          men, et wi-uten itald children & wummen;
|r30 & alle weren anan-riht, as e reue het hit, o Cristes
     kinewure nome hefdes bicoruen, in a burh of Armenie
     Caplimet inempnet, alle heriende godd wi up-aheue
     steuene, & stihen alle martyrs wi murhde to heouene.
     |r<b> []e reue rudnede al of grome se him gromede, &
|r35      war[] swa wra & swa awed, e he al o wodschipe



|p46


     demde hire to deae; & het on hot heorte et me hire
     heued, wi schimminde & scharp sweord, wi blikinde
     & bitel brond to-tweamde from e bodie. Leiden honden
     on hire eo e ihaten weren, & bunden hire et tet blod
 |r5 bearst ut et te neiles, & wi-ute e burh ledden to
     biheafdin.
     |r<b> "[M]eiden," quo Malcus, "streche for et swire
          scharp sweord to underuon, for ich mot i
     bonebeon, & et me is wa uore -- ef ich mahte er_wi,
|r10 for ich iseo godd seolf wi his eadie engles bitrumme
     e abuten." "Abid me enne, broer," quo ha,
     "hwil et ich ibidde me, & biteache him mi gast &
     mi bodi bae, to ro & to reste." "Ibide e baldeliche,"
     [quo he], hwil e god like." & heo bigon on hire
|r15 cneon for te cneolin adun, & blie wi eos bone ber on
     |r[f.34a] heh iheuen up honden towart heouene: -- 
     |r<b> "[D]rihtin, leodes lauerd, [alle ha beo] duhtie,
          []ah ha dearne beon & derue, ine domes.
     Me is nu dea idemet her, & wi e lif ilenet: i milde
|r20 milce ich onki hit. u folkes feader of frumscheft,
     schuptest a[l] et ischepen is. u wisest wurhte of
     alle, merkedest e heouene & mete wi i strahte hond
     & wi e icluhte e eore; u steores-mon of sea-stream,
     u wissent & wealdent of alle wiht e iwrahte beo,
|r25 seheliche ant unsehene. Buh ine earen, healent godd,
     & bei to mine benen. Ich bidde & biseche e, et art
     mi weole & wunne, et, hwa-se-eauer boc writ of mi
     lif-lade, oer bi-et hit iwriten, oer halt hit & haue
     oftest on honde, oer hwa-se hit eauer rede, oer ene
|r30 redere blieliche luste, wealdent of heouene, wure
     ham alle sone hare sunnen for-euene. Hwa-se on mi
     nome make chapele oer chirche, oer finde in ham
     liht oer lampe, e leome ef ham, lauerd, & ette him,
     of heouene. I et hus er wummon pine o childe, sone



|p48


     se ha munne i nome & mi pine, lauerd; lauerd, hihend_liche
     help hire & her hire bene; ne i e hus ne beo iboren
     na mis-limet bearn, nower halt ne houeret, nower
     dumbe ne deaf ne ideruet of deofle; & hwa-se-eauer
 |r5 |r[f.34b] mi nome munege wi mue, luueliche lauerd, et te
     laste dom ales him from deae."
     |r<b> [W]i is a uhte hit as ah a unre dunede; &
          com a culure, se briht as ah ha bearnde, of
     heouene wi a rode leitinde of liht & of leome; & te
|r10 meiden duuelunge feol dun to er eore; & com e
     culure ant ran hire & rihte up, wi e rode, & seide hire
     sweteliche to, wi swotest a steauene: "Eadi art tu,
     meiden, bimong alle wummen, et eoli halwende hauest,
     & halsum, isoht efter, & alle sunfule men imuneget i ine
|r15 benen & i ine eadie beoden. Bi me seolf ich swerie,
     & bi min heouenlich hird, et tine beoden beo e treowe_liche
     ituet, & for alle eo iherd e u uore ibeden hauest;
     & muche mare is ieuen to eo e munie i nome,
     & iettet moni ing et nu nis nawt imuneget.
|r20 Hwer-se-eauer i bodi oer ei of ine ban beon, oder
     boc of i pine, cume e sunfule mori & legge his mu
     er-up-on, ich salui him his sunnen; ne ne schal nan
     unwhit wunien in e wanes er i martyrdom is iwriten
     inne, & alle of e [h]us schulen gleadien i godes gri
|r25 & i gasteliche luue. & alle e e bidde, to arkin ich
     etti ham of hare bruchen bote. & tu art eadi & te
     stude et tu on restest, ant alle eo e urh e schulen
     |r[f.35a] turne to me. Cum nu, for ich kepe e, brud, to i
     brudgume. Cum, leof, to i lif, for ich copni i cume:
|r30 brihtest bur abitd te. Leof, hihe e to me. Cum nu
     to mi kinedom. Leaf et leode se lah, & tu schalt wealde
     wi me al et ich i wald ah."
     |r<b> []e steuene stutte, & heo stod up, alre burde
          blidest, & bigon to bidden eo e hire abuten



|p50


     weren, & hire dea bi-wopen, et ha schulde olien.
     "Leote nu & leaue," quo ha, "ower ladliche nur,
     & gleadie alle wi me e me god unnen; for e habbe
     iherd, ef e hercneden riht, hwet te hehe healent haue
 |r5 me bihaten. Ant as e luuie ow seolf, leofliche ich ow
     leare, et e habben mi nome muchel ine munde; for
     ich chulle bidden for eo blieliche in heouene, e ofte
     munne mi nome & munege on eore. Wi blie
     heorte beore me genge for te herien e king et haue
|r10 icore me; worldes wurhte, & wealdent of alle iwrahte
     inges. e ich onki rof; e ich heie & herie,
     heouenliche healent. For i deorewure nome ich
     habbe idrohe nowcin, & neome dea nue: ant tu nim
     me to e, godd, of al et god is ordfrume & ende. Beo
|r15 u aa iblescet & ti blisfule sune, Iesu Crist bi his nome,
     wi e hali gast, et glit of inc bae: e, reo ant tah
     |r[f.35b] an, in hades to-tweamet, in hehschipe untodealet,
     iteit & itunet an godd-imagin. Wurdschipe & wur_munt
     wure to e ane from worlde in-to worlde aa
|r20 on ecnesse."
     |r<b> [E]fter eos bone, a beah ha e swire & cwe to
          e cwellere: "Do nu, broer, hihendliche, et
     te is ihaten." "Nai", quo he, "nulle ich no, for ich
     habbe iherd hu drihtines deore mu haue wi e
|r25 imotet." "u most", quo e meiden, "nedunge don
     hit; for ef u ne dest no, ne schalt tu habbe wi me
     dale in heoueriche." Ant he wi et hef up hetelest
     alre wepne, ant smat sme[r]tliche a-dun e te dunt
     defde in & et bodi beide; & et scherpe sweord scher
|r30 hire wi e schildren, & te bodi beah to er eore.
     & te gast steah up to et istirrede bur, blie to heouene.



|p52


     He e ene dunt ef, eide mit tet ilke: "Drihtin, do
     me merci & milce of is dede; of is sunne, lauerd, loke,
     me salue." & feol of fearlac adun on hire riht-halue.
     
     |r<b> [C]omen lihtin[d]e a e engles of leome, & seten ant
 |r5      sungen on hire bodi bilehwit, & iblesceden hit.
     e feondes, e er weren deadliche idoruen, fengen to
     eien: "Margarete, meiden, leoe nue lanhure & lowse
     ure bondes: we beo wel icnawen et nis na lauerd bute
     godd, e u on leuest." Turnden a urh is to Crist
|r10 |r[f.36a] swie monie, ant comen dumbe & deaue to hire bodi
     as hit lei, & botneden alle. e engles, as ha beren e
     sawle in hare bearmes, sihen towart heouene, ant sungen
     ase ha stuhen u wi sweteste steuene: "Sanctus,
     Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus deus sabaot, & cetera. Hali
|r15 is, hali is, e lauerd of heouenliche weordes: heouene
     is ful, & eore, of his wurfule weolen. Alre wihte
     wealdent, in hehnesse heal us. Iblescet beo e bearnes
     cume e com i drihtines nome: heale in hehnesse!"
     Wi et, a bigunnen e gastes of helle to eoten &
|r20 to ellen; & tuhen alle to hire bodi e untrume weren,
     & hefden hare heale.
     |r<b> Com ich, Teochimus, & toc hire leofliche lich, & ber
          & brohte hit aein in-to Antioches burh wi
     mure unimete, & dude hit i graue-stan in hire grandame
|r25 hus, e wes icleopet Clete. Ich ah wel to wite is, for
     ich, i pine of prisun er ha wes iput in, font hire flutunge
     & fedde flesches fode; & ich iseh hwer ha feaht wi
     e ferliche feond, ant hire bonen at ha bed, wrat o
     boc-felle, & hire lif-lade al lette don o leaue, & sende
|r30 hit soliche iwriten wide ont te worlde.
     |r<b> us e eadi meiden, Margarete bi nome, i e mone
          et ure ledene, et is ald Englis, Efterlie inempnet,
     |r[f.36b] & Iulium o Latin, o e twen tue dei deide wi tintrohe,
     ant wende from es weanen to lif et aa leste, to blisse
|r35 bute balesi, to wunne buten euch wa. 
     |r<b> Alle eo e is iherd heorteliche habbe, in ower beo_den
          blieluker munne is meiden; et ha wi e



|p54


     bonen et ha bed on eore bidde et for ow i e blisse
     of heouene, ear ha schine seoueualt schenre en e
     sunne, i sy & i selhe mare en eani mu cu[e] hit
     [m]unne[n], an i et englene hird singe aa unsulet, et
 |r5 mon ne wummon ne mei et his flesch-fulet: ant we
     bituhe e engles, urh hire erndunge, moten et iseo
     hire ant heren hire singen.
     |r<b> Igret iwure godd-feader, & his sune iseinet, e hali
          gast iheiet, eos reo in an, ieinet of engles & of
|r10 eormen wi-uten ende. Amen.
     