|b{Work:_Seinte_Marherete,_e_Meiden_ant_Martyr.}
|b{Manuscript:_Bodley,_MS._Royal_17A_xxvii.}
|b{Edition:_Mack,_Frances_M.}
|b{EETS_OS_193_(1934_for_1933),_pp._3-55.}



|p1


Seinte Marherete,
e Meiden ant Martyr.



|p3


|r[MS._Royal_17A.XXVII,f.37a]
     Her seinte marherete uie e meiden & martir. her.

     |r<b> Efter ure lauerdes pine ant his passiun & his de
          on rode ant his ariste of dea, ant efter his up_astihunge,
     as he steh to heouene, weren monie
 |r5 martirs, weopmen ba ant wummen, to deaes misliche
     idon for e nome of drihtin; ant, as icudd kempen,
     ouercomen ant akasten hare reo cunne fan, e feont,
     t teos wake world, & hare licomes lustes; ant wenden
     of eos weanen to weolen ant to eche wunnen, icrunet
|r10 to Criste.
     |r<b> e et weren monie ma en nu beon mis-bileuede
          men, e heiden ant hereden heene mawmez,
     of stockes ant of stanes werkes iwrahte. |r[f.37b] Ah ich, an godes
     eowe Theochimus inempnet, ilearet in godes lay, habbe
|r15 ired ant araht moni mislich leaf; ant neauer in nan
     stude ne mahtich understonden of nan at were wure
     for to beon iwurget as hit deh drihtin, bute e hehe
     healent an at is in heouene, e wunede hwil his wille
     wes bimong eordliche men, & botnede blinde, e
|r20 dumbe, & te deaue, ant te deade arerde to lif ant to
     leomen; ant crunede his icome e de drehe for him,
     oer eni nowcin; & alle cristene men, at beo of Crist
     icleopet, swa ef ha nutte hare nome, haue ilenet
     at lif at echeliche ileste; euch ifulhet in font o e



|p5


     al-mihti federes nome, & o e witti sunes nome ant o
     es hali gastes.|r<b> Wes in e ilke time liuiende in londe
     at eadi meiden, Marherete bi nome, at faht wi e
     feont & wi his eorliche limen, ant ouercom & akaste
 |r5 ham; ant ich biet hit i-writen of e writeres a, al
     hire passiun & hire pinful dea at ha droh for drihtin.
     Hercni, alle e mahen ant herunge habbe: widewen
     mit te weddede, & meidenes nomeliche, lustnin swie
     eorne hu ha schulen luuien ene liuiende lauerd t
|r10 libben i meihad, at him is mihte leouest; swa at
     ha moten, |r[f.38a] urh e eadi meiden at we munni to-dei
     wi meihades menske, at murie meidenes song singen,
     mit tis meiden ant wi e houeneliche hird, echeliche
     in heouene.
|r15 |r<b> is meiden e we munni wes Marherete ihaten; ant
          hire fleschliche feder Teodosie hehte, of at heene
     folc patriarke ant prince. & heo, as e deorewure
     drihtin hit dihte, wes ibroht in-to a burh to feden ant
     to fostrin, from e muchele Antioche fiftene milen. a
|r20 ha hefde of elde fiftene eres, & hire moder wes iwend
     e wei e wordliche men alle schulen i-wenden, ha war,
     as eo at hefde iwist ant iwenet hire, so lengre so
     leouere; & alle hire luueden at hire on lokeden, as eo
     at godd luuede, e heoueneliche lauerd; ant hefde e
|r25 grace of en hali gast: swa at heo ches him to luue
     ant to leouemon, & bitahte in his hond e menske of
     hire meihad, to witen & to welden wi al hire seoluen.
     us ha wes ant wiste, meokest an meiden, wi oer
     meidenes o e felt hire fostermoderes ahte: ha iherde



|p7


     on euch half hire hu me droh to deae Cristes icorne
     for rihte bileaue, ant irnde ant walde eorne, ef godes
     wille were, at ha moste beon an of e moder-hern at
     so |r[f.38b] muche drohen for drihtin. |r<b> Bitimde umbe stunde
 |r5 at ter com ut of Asie toward Antioche es feondes an
     foster, to herien i e hehe burh his heene godes. Olibrius
     hehte, schirreue of at lond, at alle eo e lefden o en
     liuiende godd for-dude ant for-demde. Ah as he wende
     adei his wei, he seh eos seli meiden Marherete, ... ant
|r10 schan al of wlite & of wastun. & het his [hird] hatter_liche: 
     "Neome[] hire swie. ef ha is freo wummon,
     ich hire wule habben & to wif halden; ef ha eowe
     is, ich cheose hire to cheuese, & hire wule freoin wi
     gersum ant wi golde, & wel hse schal iwuren for hire
|r15 lufsum leor wi al at ich welde." As eos cnihtes
     walden warpen honden on hire, ha bigon to cleopien t
     callen, us, to Criste: -
     |r<b> "Haue, lauerd, milce & merci of i wummon; ne
          ne let tu neauer mi sawle forleosen wi e
|r20 for-lorne, ne wi e luere mi lif, at beo al blodi
     biblodeget mid sunne. Iesu Crist, godes sune, beo u
     eauer mi gleo & mi gledun[g]e: e mote ich aa mare
     heien & herien. Hald, hehe healent, min heorte, ich
     biseche e, in treowe bileaue: & biwite u mi bodi, [at]
|r25 e is al bitaht, from fleschliche fulen; at neauer mi
     sawle ne beo mit sunne isulet, urh e licomes lust, e |r[f.39a]
     lutle hwile like. Lauerd, lust nu to me. Ich habbe
     a deore imstan, & ich hit hahhe i-euen e, mi meihad
     ich meane, blosme brihtest in bodi e hit bere & bi-wit
|r30 wel; ne let tu neauer e unhwiht warpen hire i wur_inge,
     for hit is swa leof e; hit is him inge laest.



|p9


     He weore ant warpe eauer er-toward, mid alles
     cunnes wrenches. Lauerd, u were me, ant wite hit
     eauer to e; ne ole u neauer e unwiht at he weorri
     mi wit ne wonie mi wisdom. Ah send, me i sonde,
 |r5 hehe healent, of heouene, e cue me & kenne hu ich
     onswerien schule is schucke schirreue; for ich iseo me,
     lauerd, bistaed ant bistonden as lomb mit wed wulues,
     t as e fuhel e is fon i e fuheleres grune, & as fisch
     a-hon on hoke, as e roa inumen i e net: hehe healent,
|r10 help me nu, ne leaf u me neauer i luere monne honden."
     |r<b> e cnihtes, for ha spec us, cherden euch-an aein,
          ant cween to hare lauerd: "Ne mei i mihte
     hahben na man wi is meiden, for ne here ha nane
     of ure heene godes, ah leue on e lauerd at Giwes
|r15 fordemden & heene a-hongen ant heuen on rode."
     Olibrius e luere, a he |r[f.39b] is iherde, changede his
     chere, ant bed bringen hire biuoren him bliue. Sone
     so heo icumen wes, he cleopede to hire us: "Cu me,"
     quo he, "ef u art foster of freo-monne, oer eow_wummon."
|r20 e eadi meiden Marherete sone him
     onswerede: "Freo wummon i[ch] am, ant tah godes
     eowe." "e," quo he, "t hwet godd heiestu t
     hersumest?" "Ich heie," quo ha, "godd-feder, ant
     his deorewure sune, Iesu Crist hatte; & him ich habbe,
|r25 meiden, mi meihad iettet, & luuie as leouemon t
     leue as on lauerd." "e," quo he lude, "leuestu t
     luuest him e reowfulliche deid & dreorliche on rode?"
     "Nai," quo heo, "ah eo e wenden for to for-don
     him, ine for-federes, beo for-farene reowliche & for_loren 
|r30 luerliche; ant he liue, kinebern, icrunet in his



|p11


     kinedom, keiser of kinges, echeliche in heouene." e
     wari of eos wordes war utnumen wra, & het hire
     kasten in-to cwarterne & into cwalm-hus, aet he hefde
     betere bioht him o hwucche wise he walde merrin
 |r5 hire meihad; & ferde him soen into Antioche, t
     heide his heene godes, as hit lomp & lei to his luere
     bileaue. Het bringen hire biuoren him. & heo wes
     sone ibroht for, & he bigon to seggen: "Meiden, |r[f.40a]
     haue merci & milce of e seoluen: nim eme of i
|r10 uhee, & of i semli schape, & of i schene nebsche[f]t:
     wurch efter mi wil & wurge mine mawmez; & te schal
     wel iwuren, wi al at ich i world ah ant i wald habbe."
     Marherete, mildest ant meidene meokest, onswerede him
     ant seide: "Wite u hit ef u wul-for he hit wat
|r15 ful wel, e haue iseilet to him me seolf & mi meihad
     -at tu ne maht nanes-weis, wi weole ne wi wunne,
     wi wa ne wi wondree, wi nan worldlich ing,
     wenden me ne wrenchen ut of e weie at ich am in
     bigunnen to ganne. & unwur, at wite u wel, me beo
|r20 ine wordes; for him ane ich luuie ant habbe to bileaue,
     e welt & wisse urh his wit windes & te weteres, t
     al at biset is mit see ant mit sunne. Buuen ba ant
     bineoen, al buhe him & beie. Teken is, at he is
     so mihti ant so meinful, he is leoflukest lif for to lokin
|r25 uppon & swotest to smeallen: ne his swote sauur, ne
     his al-mihti mihte, ne his makelese lufsumlec ne mei
     neauer lutlin ne aliggen; for he ne ali neauer, ah liue
     aa in are, & al at in him li, leaste aa mare." "Let,"
     quo Olibrius, "ne beo eos word noht wur. Ah
|r30 an-hwet wite u: |r[f.40b] bute ef u swike ham, mi sweord



|p13


     schal uor-swelten ant for-swolhen i flesch, & refter
     [ine ban schulen] beon for-bernd on berninde gleden.
     Ah ef u wult leuen me, u schalt beon mi leouemon
     t mi wif iweddet, & welden as lefdi al at ich i wald
 |r5 ah & am of lauerd." "Ich ileue e wel," quo heo,
     "of ine biheste; ah haue u hit & ti luue, for ich habbe
     a leouere, e ich nule for nan leauen ne leosen. u
     swenchest te to swie, ant warpest-me is wa fore_awei 
     ine hwile, for al me is an in olhnung & tin eie.
|r10 Ichulle biteachen mi bodi to euereuch bitternesse at
     tu const bienchen, ne heo hit neauer so derf to dreien
     ne to drehen, wi on at ich mote meidene mede
     habben in heouene. Drihtin deide for us, e deore_wure 
     lauerd, & ne dredich na de for to drehen for
|r15 him. He haue his merke on me iseilet wi his in-seil,
     ne mei unc nower lif ne dea tweamin atwa." "Na,"
     quo he, "is hit swa! Neome hire swie," quo he
     to e cwelleres. "Strupe hire steortnaket & honge
     hire on heh, & beate hire bare bodi wi bittre besmen."
|r20 e awaride wier-lahen leiden swa luerliche on hire
     leofliche lich, at hit brec oueral & lierede o blode.
     e edie meiden ahef hire heorte, heaued |r[f.41a] uppward to
     e heouene, ant feng on eos bone: - 
     |r<b> "Lauerd, in e is al et ich hopie. Hald me nu mi
|r25      wit swa, & mi wil to e, at hit ne for-wure
     for wa at me do me; ne l[e]f u neauer mine ifan, es
     feondes of helle, habben ne halden hare hoker of me, as
     ha walden ef ha mahten awarpen me: ah swa ne
     schulen ha me, ne nan oer at ariht luue e. Heouene_liche 
|r30 lauerd, i nome heo iblesset. Lauerd, loke to me



|p15


     t haue merci of me. Softe me mi sar swa, ant salue
     me mine wunden, at hit ne se[me] nower ne suteli o
     mi samblant at ich derf drehe."
     |r<b> e cwelleres leiden swa luerliche on hire lich, at
          tet blod barst ut & strac adun of hire bodi as
     stream de of walle. Olibrius, e luere reue huten
     reowe, hwil me erdede hire us eomerliche, eide:
     "Stute nu ant stew ine unwittie wrdes, & hercne,
     meiden, mi read, & wel e schal iwuren." Alle e er
|r10 weren, weopmen ba & wummen, of reowe menden is
     meiden, ant summe of ham seiden: "Marherete,
     Marherete, meiden so muche wur ef u wel waldest,
     wa is us at we iseo i softe leofliche lich to-luken swa
     ladliche! Weila! |r[f.41b] wummon, hwuch wlite u leosest t
|r15 for-letest for in mis-bileaue. e reue is reowliche
     wra & wule iwis fordon e; ah luue nu & lef him,
     ant tu schalt, wummon meast, wunne & weole welden."
     "O," quo ha, "wrecches, unweoten buten wit, weila,
     hwet wene e! ef mi lich is to-loken, mi sawle schal
|r20 resten mit te rihtwise: sorhe an licomes sar is sawlene
     heale. Ah leue e, ich reade ow, o e liuiende godd,
     mihti & meinful ant euch godes ful, e here eo at
     him to cleope, ant heouene-etes opene. For ow
     nullich iheren, ne beien nane of ower godes, at dumbe
|r25 beo & deaue, & blinde bute mihte, wi monnes hond
     imakede. Ah u wurches," quo ha to Olihrium e
     luere, "ine feder werkea, e fondes of helle. Me,
     u heene hund, e hehe healent is min help; ant ef he
     haue iettet te mi licome to [to]luken, he wule, hatele
|r30 reue, arudden mi sawle ut of ine honden ant heouen
     ha to heouene, ah u hongi me her. Ant tu grisliche
     gra, u luere liun la godd, i mihte schal unmuchelin
     t melten to riht noht; & tu schalt beon euer in sar t



|p17


     in sorhe, hwen ich gomeni wi godd & gledie buten ende."
     He of wree war for-neh ut |r[f.42a] of his iwitte; ant bed
     swie hetterliche hongin hire on heh up, herre en ha
     er wes, & wi sweord scharpe & wi eawles of irne hire
 |r5 leofliche lich rondin ant renden. & heo bi-seh up on heh
     t bigon to seggen:
     |r<b> "HelIe-hundes, lauerd, habbe bitrumet me, ant
          hare read at heani me haue al biset me;
     ah u, hehe healent, beo umbe me to helpen. Arude,
|r10 reowful godd, mi sawle of sweordes egge & of hundes
     hond, for nabbich hute hire ane. Leowse me, lauerd,
     ut of e liunes mu, ant mi meoke mildschipe of e
     an-hurnde hornes. Glede me wi i gleo, godd, & hope
     of heale, at mi bone mote urh-urlin e weolcne.
|r15 Send me i sonde i culures iliche, e cume me to helpe,
     at ich mi meihad mote witen to e unweommet; ant
     lef me et, lauerd, ef i wil is, iseon at awariede wiht
     at weorri aein me; & cu i mahte on me, almihti
     godd, at ich him ouer-cumen mahe, swa at alle
|r20 meidenes eauer mare urh me e mare trustin on e.
     Beo i nome iblescet, alre bleo brihtest, in alre worldene
     worl aa on ecnesse. Amen."
     |r<b> Hwil at ha spec us, me to-leac hire, swa at te
          uuele reue for e stronge rune of at blodi
|r25 stream, |r[f.42b] ne nan oer at ter wes, ne mahte for muchele
     grure lokin idewardes; ah hudden hare heauet under
     hare mantles, for e sorhful sar at heo on hire isehen.
     et spec ant seide Olibrius e luere: "Hwet bihalt,
     meiden, at tu ne buhest to me, ne nult habben milce
|r30 ne merci of e seoluen? e, ne felestu i flesch al to_loken 
     & tolimet urh at ich hate? Ah huh nu t
     bei to me er u deie o derf de & o drori; for ef u



|p19


     ne dest no, u schalt swelten urh sweord & al beon
     limel to-loken; & enne ichulle tellen, hwen u al to_torren 
     art in euch-anes sihe e sit nu ant si e, alle
     ine seonewen."
 |r5 |r<b> "Me, hatele hund," quo ha a, "ah al
 swa      do, me ne schendest tu nawt. Hwen
     mi sawle bi hiuoren godes sihe in heouene, lutel is
     me hwet me do me, & bi mi hodi in eore. Ah e
     schulde scheomien, u scheomelese schucke, ef u
|r10 scheome cuest, at ulli mot haldest wi a ung meiden,
     t spillest al i hwile ant ne spedest nawiht; for ef ich
     wrahte e wil of at flesch at tu uearest al as u wult
     wi, mi sawle schulde sinken, al swa as in schal, to
     sorhen in helle; & for-i ichulle wel at mi flesch for_fare 
|r15 her, at te softe Iesu cruni mi sawle in selh[]en
     of |r[f.43a] heouene, & efter domes-dei do ham ba to-gederes, to
     weolen ant to wunnen urh-wuiende." He war so
     wra at for-neh wod he walde iwuren. Bed b[i]
     l[i]ues coste casten hire in cwalm-hus, & me swa dude
|r20 sone. & wes as ah hit were e seouee time of e
     dei at me droh hire us into darckest wan, & wurst
     in to wunien. & heo hef up hire hond & blesede al hire
     bodi wi e hehe rode taken. As me ledde hire inward,
     ha bi-gon to bidden eos bone to ure lauerd: - 
|r25 |r<b> "Deorewure drihtin, ah ine domes derue beon,
          alle ha beo duhti. Alle heouenliche ing, t
     eorliche bae, huhe e & beie. u art hope & help
     to alle at te herie. u art foster ant feder to helplese
     children. u art iweddedes weole, & widewene warant,
|r30 & meidenes mede. u art wune of e world, Iesu
     Crist, kinebern; godd ikennet of godd, as liht is of leome.
     Loke, lauerd, to me; mi lif, mi luue, mi leouemon:
     milce me i meiden. Min ahne fleschliche feder dude t
     draf me awei, his anlepi dohter, & mine freond aren me,
|r35 lauerd, for i luue, famen & feondes; ah e ich habbe,
     hehe healent, ba for feder & for freond: ne for-let tu |r[f.43b]



|p21


     me nawt, liuiende lauerd. Bihald me & help me, & lef
     me at ich mote leggen ehnen uppon e luere unwiht
     at weorre aein me, & let me demen wi him, drihtin
     of dome. He heani & hate me, ant ich hit neauer
 |r5 nuste, at he of min hearm hefde. Ah swuch is his
     cunde, & swa is ful of atter his ontfule heorte at he
     hate euch god; & euch hali ing & halewunde is him
     la. u art, drihtin, domes-mon of cwike & of deade:
     dem bituhen unc twa; ne wre u for na sahe at ich
|r10 segge. For a ing ich biseche eauer & oueral, at tu
     wite to me mi meihad unmerret, mi sawle from sunne,
     mi wit & mi wisdom from e unwitlese wiht. I e
     is, min healent, al at ich wilni: beo u aa iblescet,
     ort-frume ant ende [bute ende] & ort, aa on ecnesse.
|r15 Amen."
     |r<b> Hire uoster-moder wes an e frourede hire, & com
          to e cwalm-hus & brohte hire to fode bred
     ant burnes drunch, at ha bi l[iu]ede. Heo, a, & monie
     ma biheolden urh an eilurl as heo hed hire beoden.
|r20 Ant com of an hurne hihentliche to-ward hire an unwiht
     of helle on ane drake liche, so grislich at ham agras
     wi at ha sehen: at unselhe glistinde as hit ouer_guld 
     were. His lochkes ant his longe berd blikede |r[f.44a] al
     o golde, & his grisliche tee semden of swart irn, & his
|r25 twa ehnen steappre ene steorren & ene imstanes,
     t brad as bascins, in his ihurnd heauet on eier half on
     his hehe hokede neose. [Of his neose-urles] reaste
     smeorrinde smoke ut, smecche for-cuest, & of his
     spetewile mu sperklinde fur ut; & lahte ut his tunge,
|r30 swa long at he swong hire al abuten his swire; & semde
     as ah a scharp sweord of his mu lahte, at glistnede
     as gleam de ant leitede al o leie; & al war at stude
     [ful] of strong & starc stench, ant of is schucke schad_ewe 
     schim[m]de & schan al. He strahte him & sturede
|r35 toward tis meoke meiden, & eonede mid his wide geneow



|p23


     uppon hire ungeinliche, ant bigon to crahien & to
     crenchen mit swire, as he at hire walde for-swolhen
     mid alle. ef ha agrisen wes of at grisliche gra, nes
     nawt muche wunder. Hire bleo bi-gon to blakien, for
 |r5 e grure e grap hire; & for e farlac offruht, foret
     hire bone at heo ibeden hefde swa at ha moste iseon
     en unsehen unwiht, ne nawt ne ohte eron, at hire
     nu were ituet hire bone; ah smat smertliche adun
     hire cneon to e eore, an hef hire honden on heh
|r10 toward heouene, & wi eos bone to Criste us cleopede: -- |r[f.44b]
     |r<b> "Vnseheliche godd, euch godes ful, hwas wree
          is swa gromelich at helle ware ant heouenes
     t alle cwike inges cwakie er-aeines; a-ein us eis-ful
     wiht at hit ne eile me nawiht, help me nu, lauerd.
|r15 u wrahtest & weldest alle worldliche ing. eo e
     heie e ant herie in heouene, ant alle e inges at
     eardi in eore: e fisches at i eos godes fleote
     wi finnes, e fuheles e fleon bi e lufte, & al at
     iwraht is, wurche at ti wil is ant halt tine hestes
|r20 bute mon ane. e sunne recche hire rune huten euch
     reste. e mone & te steorren, e wal[k]i hi e weolcne,
     ne stutte ne ne studge, ne nohwider of e weie at
     tu hauest iwraht ham ne wrenche heo neaure. u
     steorest te sea-stream, at hit fleden ne mot fir en u
|r25 markedest. e windes, e wederes, e wudes, & te
     wettres, buhe e ant beie. Feondes habhe farlac,
     t engles, of in eie. e wurmes ant te wilde deor, at
     on eos wilde waldes wunie, libbe efter e lahen at
     tu ham hauest iloket, liuiende lauerd; & tu loki to me
|r30 & help me, in hondiwerc, for al min hope is on e.
     u herehedest helle ant ouercome as kempe ene acursede
     gast at feonde to for-do me. Ah her me |r[f.45a] nu ant
     help me, for nabbich i mi nowcin nanes cunes elne bute



|p25


     in ane. Wi his uuel wite me, for ich trusti al uppon
     e, & ti wil iwuri hit, deorewure lauerd; at ich
     urh i strence mahe stonden wi him, & his muchele
     ouerga[r]t at ich mote afallen. Low, he funde
 |r5 swie me to for-swolhen, & wene for to beoren me
     in-to his balefule hole er he wune inne. Ah o i
     blisfule nome ich blesci me nue." & droh a endelong
     hire, ant wertouer refter, e derewure taken of e
     deore rode at he on reste; & te drake resde to hire
|r10 mit tet ilke, ant sette his sariliche mu, & unmeaeliche
     muchel, on heh on hire heaued; & rahte ut his tunge
     to e yle of hire helen & swende hire in, ant for-swalh
     into his wide wombe: ah Crist to wurmunt & him to
     wraere-heale, e rode taken arudde hire readliche,
|r15 at heo wes mid iwepnet, ant war his bone sone, swa
     at his bodi to-barst omidheppes; & te edie meiden
     allunge unmerret, wi-uten euereuch weom, wende ut
     of his womhe, heriende on heh hire hehe healent in
     heouene.
|r20 |r<b> As heo biheold, lokinde uppon hire riht-half, a seh
          ha hwer set an |r[f.45b] unsehen unwiht, muchele del
     blaccre en euer eni blamon, so grislich at ne mahte
     hit na mon lihtliche areachen, ant his twa honden to
     his cnurnede cneon heteueste ibunden. & heo, a ha
|r25 seh is, feng to onckin, us, godd, & to herien hire
     hehe healent: - 
     |r<b> "Brihtest hleo of alle at euer iboren weren, blosme
          iblowen & iboren o meidenes bodi; Iesu, godd t
     godes bern, ihlescet beo u euer. Ich am gomeful & gled,
|r30 lauerd, of i godlec; keiser of kinges, drihtin undedlich.
     u haldest & heuest up treowe bileaue. u art walle
     of [wis]dom, & euch wunne wakene & waxe of e.
     u art englene weole, at weldest & witest ham wi-uten
     wonunge. Me gomene & glede al of gastelich murhe:
|r35 me, mihti godd makeles, is at eni wunder? e, ne seo



|p27


     ich min bileaue blowinde & ichabbe isehen en feond
     e wende to for-don me;-feol efne atwa-t felde hu
     his fule stench strac & strahte aeinward. Ichabbe
     isehen ene urs of helle, helles wulf, her awarpen, t
 |r5 te monslahe islein, e stronge urs astoruen. Ichabbe
     isehen his ouergart & his egede orhel ferliche afallet.
     Ich habbe isehen e rode e arudde me so redlich of
     his reowliche rake, hu ha at balefule wurm & at bittre
     best makede to bersten. |r[f.46a] Ich hahbe isehen hali & hale_wunde 
|r10 eoli as hit lihte to me, ant ich me seolf smelle
     of e swote Iesu, swottre en euer ani ing at is on
     eore. Ich habbe isehen blisse, ant ich blissi me rof:
     i weole & i wunne is nu at i wunie, & nes me neauer
     swa wa, as me is nu wel. e ich hit oncki, olemode
|r15 lauerd. Ich habbe adun e drake idust, & his kenschipe
     akast; & he swelte at me wende to for-swolhen; & ich
     am kempe & he is crauant at me wende to ouercumen.
     Ah e i oncki rof, at art kingene king echeliche
     icrunet, sorhfule ant sarie & sunfule to-turn; won_drinde 
|r20 & wrecches & wanlese wissent, castel of strence
     aein e stronge unwiht, meidenes murhe ant martirs
     crune; mel-seotel softest ant guldene erde, alre gold
     smeatest, glisti[n]de imstan; of alle seheliche ing
     t unsehelich hae, swotest ant swetest, alre schefte
|r25 schuppent; rumnesse reo-fald, & an-fald te-hweere;
     rile in reo hades, & in an hehschipe. Heh hali godd,
     euch godes ful, beo u euer & a iheret & iheiet bute
     linunge. Amen."
     |r<b> As ha hefde longe us iheret ure lauerd, com at
|r30      grisliche gra creopinde hire toward, & heold hire
     bi e fet, & as an seorfule ing sariliche seide: "Mar_garete, 
     meiden, |r[f.46b] inoh wa u hauest idon me: ne pine
     u me na mare wi in eadi beoden at tu biddest
     so ofte; for ha binde me swa sare mid alle, & make
|r35 me so unstrong, at ich ne fele mid me nanes cunnes



|p29


     strence. u hauest grimliche ibroht mi broer to
     grunde, en slehest deouel of helle, at ich on drake
     liche sende, e to for-swolhen, & merrin wi his muchele
     mihte e mein of i meihad, & makien at tu nere na
 |r5 mare imong moncun imuneget on eore. u acwaldest
     him mit te hali rode, & me u mak[est] to asteoruen
     wi e strence of ine beoden, e heo e so imunde.
     Ah leaf me [t let me] gan, lefdi leasteles, ich e bidde."
     []is milde meiden Margarete igrap him at ne agras
|r10 hire nawiht, & hetefeste toc him bi e ateliche top
     ant hef him up & duste him adunriht to er eore, ant
     sette hire fot uppon his ruhe necke & feng on us to
     speokene:-"Stute nu, earme steorue, ant swic nue
     lanhure, swikele swarte deouel, at tu ne derue me na
|r15 mare, for mi meihad ne helpe e nawiht; for ich
     habhe to helpe min hehe healent in houene, & te worldes
     weldent is ihwer mi warant. ah u strong were, he
     wes muchele |r[f.47a] strengre me to witene." Wi is, a
     udde ha uppon e urs feste wi hire fot, wi euch_an 
|r20 of eos wordes:-"Stute nu, uuele, to gremien me
     mare. Stute nu, u alde monslahe, at tu ne slea
     heonne-for Cristes icorne. Stute nu, wlatefule wiht,
     to astenchen me wi e stench at of i mu stihe.
     Icham mi lauerdes lomb, & he is min hirde; & icham
|r25 his ral & his eowe to don al at his deore wil is. Beo
     he a iblescet e blie haue imaket me in endelese
     blisse. Amen."
     |r<b> Hwil at ha spec us o at spatewile wiht, swa er
          lihtinde com in-to e cwalm-hus a leome from
|r30 heouene; & semde as ah ha sehe i e glistinde glem
     e deore rode areachen to e heouene; & set culure



|p31


     er-on & us to hire cleopede:-"Meiden eadi an art
     tu, Margarete, for paraises eten aren arewe iopenet
     e nu." Ant let lahe to hire leoue lauerd, & onckede
     him eorne wi inwarde heorte eos meiden; ant at
 |r5 liht alei lutlen ant lutlen; & heo biturnde hire a t
     cwe to en unwiht. "Cu me," quo ha, "swie,
     for-cuest alre inge, [of hwet] cunde u beo."
     "Lefdi", quo he, "leowse i fot of mi necke & swa
     lanhure leoe me, meiden an ediest, at ich ei mahe,
|r10 & ich mot nede: ant |r[f.47b] neoeles min unwil hit is, to don
     al at ti wil is." e meiden dude swa: leowsede t
     leoede a lutel hire hele, & he bigon us spetew[il]liche
     to speokene: -- |r<b> "Wultu witen, lufsum lefdi, hu ich hatte?
     Ah hwet-so of mi nome beo, ich habbe efter Beelzebub
|r15 mest monnes bone ibeon, & for-swolhen hare swinc, t
     to aswinden imaket e meden at ha moni er efden
     imaket. [u]s wi summe of mine wiheles, ich wrenchte
     ham adun hwen ha lest wenden; ne neauer et ne
     mahte me na mon ouercumen bute u nuen, at
|r20 haldest me in bondes & hauest iblend me her, & art
     mi broeres bone Ruffines of helle, e rehest & te read_wisest 
     of alle eo in helle. Crist wune in e, for-i
     u wurchest mid us al at ti wil is. Ne nawiht nartu
     wummon ilich. Me unche at tu schinest schenre
|r25 en e sunne, & oueral ine limen, at leite of leome.
     e fingres swa freolich me unche, ant so feire & so
     briht blikinde, at tu e mide blescest & makest e
     marcke of e deore rode at refde me mi broer, ant
     me wi bale bondes bitterliche bindest; at ich loki ne
|r30 mei, swa at liht leome ant leite, me unche." "u
     fikest," quo ha, "ful ing: ah cu me at ich eski."
     "Wumme! lefdi," quo he a, "wa is me mine liues,
     bute ich weorri a wi e riht-wise: of e unselie sun_fule |r[f.48a]
     me unche ich am al siker; ah e gode ich am
|r35 bisiliche abuten, & heom i fo[lh]i neodelukest at
     cunni to heon cleane wi-uten monnes man & fleo



|p33


     flesches fulen, ef ich mahte eisweis makien ham to
     fallen ant fulen ham seoluen. Monie ich habbe iwarpen
     at wenden mine wiheles witerliche et-sterten: ant on
     isse wise. Ich leote oer-hwiles a cleane mon wunien
 |r5 neh a cleane wummon, at ich toward ham ne warpe
     ne ne weorri, ah leote ham iwuren. Ich leote ham
     talkin & tauelin of godlec, & treowliche luuien ham
     wi-uten wilnung ant alle unwreste willes, at eier of
     oeres as of his ahne beo trusti, ant treowliche to witene,
|r10 & te sikerure beon to sitten to-gederes & gomenin bi ham
     ane. enne urh is sikerlec seche ich earst uppon
     ham, & scheote swie dernlich & wundi, er ha witen hit,
     wi swie attri halewi hare unwarre heorte. Lihtliche
     on alre earst, wi luueliche lates, wi steap bihaldunge
|r15 eier on oer, & wi plohe-speche sputte to mare, swa
     longe at ha tolli to-gederes & toggi. Ant enne
     udde ich in ham luueliche [ohtes], on earst harc
     unonckes; & swa waxe at wa urh [at ha hit
     auie], at ham hit unche god. & enne hwen
|r20 ha lete me & ne letten me nawt, ne ne stori ham
     seolf, |r[f.48b] ne ne stonde strongliche aein, ich leade i e
     leiuen & i e ladliche lake of e suti sunne. ef ha
     et-stonden wulle mine unwreste wrenches & mine
     swikele swenges, wrestlin ha moten ant wierin wi
|r25 ham seoluen; ah me hakeasten ha ne mahen, er ha ham
     seolf ouercumen. La is me, & neoeles nedlunge i do
     hit: [cue e] hu ha mahen best ouercumen me.
     Leowse me ant leoe me, lefdi, e hwile, & ich e wile
     segen.
|r30 |r<b> is beo e wepnen at me wurst wunde, ant wite
          ham unweommet ant strenge ham staleward_


p35
|


     luhest aein me, ant aein ham & hare wahe lustes - 
     at beo: eoten meoheliche & drincken meokeluker:
     don at flesch i sum derf, & neauer idel: monne hone wi
     hare ahne, ant beodefule ohtes, at ha schulen enchen
 |r5 bimong hare benen & aein unwreste ohtes: enchen
     hit is urh me at hare lust leade ham to wurchen to
     wundre: enchen if ha beie to me, to hu bittre best
     ha beie, ant hwas luue ha leose; at lufsum ing
     [ha forlete, at is] meihad, meidenes menske, & te
|r10 luue of en luueliche lauerd of heouene ant te lufsm
     cwen, englene lefdi; & heanlunges make ham wi
     heouenlich hir[d], ant unmenske ham seolf bimon
     eorlich |r[f.49a] men, & for-leose e luue nawt ane on heh
     in heouene ah of lah ec in eore, & makie e engles
|r15 to murnin ant us muche murhe to lahen so lude, e
     seo ham lihten swa lah of so sw ie heh, from e heste
     in heouene to e laheste in helle. is ha moten ofte
     munnen bi ham seoluen; enchen hu swart ing ant hu
     suti is sunne; enchen of helle-wa, of heouenriches
|r20 wunne; ant hare ahne de & drihtines munegin ilome,
     t te grisle & te grure e bi et te dome; enchen at
     te flesches lust ali swie sone, e pine er-uore leaste
     a mare. Ant tenne so[n]e [so] a gulte awih[t], gan
     anan for-riht at ha ne firstin hit nawiht to schawen
|r25 hit i schrifte, ne beo hit no so lutel ne so liht sunne.
     at is under sunne inge me laest, at me eorne ofte
     to schrift of his sunnen: for lutle ich mei makien to
     muchelin unmeaeliche ef me hut & hele hit; ah
     sone so hit ischawet is bi-rewsinde i schrifte, enne
|r30 scheome me, & er-wi fleo ham from, schudrinde as
     ich ischend were. ah so for ant so feor ha mahen
     stepen eft in softeliche to luuien, at ha nanes-weis ne
     schulen stewen hare heorte ne et-stunten ne et-stonden
     e strence of mine swenges, hwil ha somet beo.
|r35 Nis ter bote |r[f.49b] nan, bute fleon enne, at nower
     neowhwer ane mid oer; ne seon ham, [ne] sompnin,



|p37


     ne sitten to-gederes wi-uten witnesse, e mahe iseon
     hwet ha don ant heren hwet ha seggen. ef ha us
     ne lette me nawt, ah auie & olie & wene ah to
     etwrenchen, ich leade ham wi les luue lutlen ant
 |r5 lutlen into so deop dung at ha druncne erin; t
     sparchi in ham sparkes of lustes swa luere, et ha for_berne 
     inwi & urh e brune ablinde; at ha nabbe
     sihe nan, ham seoluen to bi-seonne. e mein of ham
     melte urh e heate, ant forwure hare wit, & weorre
|r10 hare wisdom, swa at nulle ha nawt witen at tat ha
     ahten to witen wel. Loke nu h[wuch] wunder: ha
     beo so cleane ouercumen, ant swa ich habhe ablend
     ham, at ha blindlunge ga & for-seo godd & ham
     seoluen for-eote; swa at ha luerliche, hwen ha last
|r15 wene, ferliche falle, fule ant fenniliche i fleschliche
     fulen: for a lust at ali in an hond-hwile, leose ba
     e luue of godd & te worldes wurschipe. & at stale_wure 
     beo & starke toein me, swa at heo ham wi
     me & mine wrenches wecchinde ham werien, so uuel me
|r20 unche rof, at al ich am dreori aet ha beon urh
     me idoruen, ant am in hare heddes so bisi ham a_uten, |r[f.50a]
     at summes-weis ha schulen ham slepinde sulen.
     Ah e rode mercke merre me oueral, & mest et te
     nue." & mit tis ilke bi-gon to eien & to uren:
|r25 |r<b> "Margarete, meiden, to hwon schal ich iwuren?
          mine wepnen aren allunge awarpen. et were hit
     urh a mon as is nu urh a wummon-is et
     unche me wurst, at al at cun at tu art of icumen,
     beo in ure hondes, & tu art et-broken ham: alre
|r30 wund[re] [m]est, at tu e ane hauest ouergan i
     feder & ti moder, meies ha & mehen, & al e ende at
     tu & heo [habbe in] ierdet, & Crist ane hauest i-coren
     to leouemon & to lauerd. Beatest us ant bindest ant
     to deae fordemest. Wey! wake heo we nu & noht
|r35 wur mid alle, hwen a meiden ure muchele ouergart
     us afalle."



|p39


     |r<b> "Stew", quo heo, "sari wiht, & sei me hwer u
          mest wunest; of hwet cun u art icumen, & ti
     cunde cu me, & urh hwas heste heani e [hali men]
     t harme hare werkes." "Ah sei me," [quo he],
 |r5 "seli meiden, hwonne is te ileanet i ine leoe-bei
     limen so stalewure strene; of hwet cunde cume
     e i luue & tin bileaue, at lei me so lahe. Cu me
     t ken me hwi e worldes weldent wune in e, & hu he
     com, wummon, to e, & ichulle makien e war of alle
|r10 mine wiheles." "Stew e, steorue, ant |r[f.50b] I stille beo,"
     [quo ha, "of] in escunge. e, nart tu nawt wure
     to heren mi stefne, awariede ful wiht, & hure to under_stonden 
     so derne ing ant so derf, of godes dihelnesse.
     Ant hwet-so icham urh godes grace ich hit do & am,
|r15 wileoue un-ofseruet, at he me haue ietted, for to
     elden hit him seoluen. Ah swie cu me & ken at
     ich eski efter." ["e," quo he, "ich mot nede.]
     |r<b> Sathanas e unseli, at for his prude, of parais
          lihte so lahe, he is keiser ant king, icrunet of
|r20 us alle. & hwerto schuldi tellen e & mi[t] tale tealin,
     lufsum lefdi, of ure cunde & ure cun, at tu cost te seolf
     iseon in Iames & i Menbres bokes ihreuet. Swuch
     farlac ich fele for sihen at ich iseo Crist sechen to
     e, at speoken i ne dar nawt, ah diueri & darie, drupest
|r25 alre inge. ah hwen u witen wult, we liure bi e
     lufte alre mesten del, edie meiden; ant hure weies
     beo abuuen wi e windes: & beo a wakere to wurchen
     al at wa at we eauer mahen moncun, & meast riht
     rihtwise men ant meidenes as u art. For Iesu Crist,
|r30 godes bern, wes of meiden iboren; ant urh e [mihte
     of] meihad wes moncun ibor[h]en; binumen ant
     bire[uet] us al at we ahten. Nu u wast, lefdi, at
     tu waldest: hwer we mest wunie, & hwi we mest
     heane ant hatie e meidenes. et, [ef u witen wult
|r35 hwi we weori meast rihtwise eines], ich onswerie:



|p41


     for |r[f.51a] onde at et euer ant aa ure heorte. We witen ha
     beon iwrahte to stihen to e stude at we of feollen,
     ant us hoker[lich] unche & swie hofles rof; swa e
     teone ontent us, at we iwure wode urh e grome
 |r5 at us grome aa wi e gode. at is ure cunde, at
     ich e schulde tellen. Ant beon sorhful ant sari of euch
     monnes selhe, & gomenin hwen he gulte, ant neauer
     mare gled bute for uuel ane: is is ure cunde, makelese
     meiden. Ah, deore drihtines lomb, leoe me a lutel,
|r10 ant leowse, lefdi, i fot, at sit me so sare. Ich halsi
     e o godes nome, heh heouenlich feder, & on Iesus
     half, his an sulliche sune, mon ne wummon ne
     mah[e] neauer mare warpen me heonne. & tu, brihte
     burde, bind me in eore, & ne warp u me nawt neoer
|r15 into helle. For Salomon e wise, hwil he her wunede,
     bitunde us in ane tunne; & comen Babilones men, ant
     wenden for to habben gold-hord ifunden, & breken
     at feat; & we for & fulden, oa, e widnesse of
     world." "Stille heo u stile," [quo ha], "earmest alre
|r20 steorue; ne schaltu, alde schuke, motin wi me na
     mare; ah flih, sorhfule ing, ut of min ehsihe, & def
     ider as u mon ne derue na mare." Wi at ilke, e
     eore to-twemde & bitunde him; & he rarinde rad
     ruglinge in-to helle. Ine marhen sende Olibrius |r[f.51b] e
|r25 luere his men to bringen hire hiuoren him. & heo
     blescede hire & com baldeliche for. Striken men
     ideward [a], of eauer-euch strete, for to seo e seorhe
     at me walde leggen uppon hire leofliche bodi ef ha
     to e reue read ne buhe ne ne bei[d]e. |r<b> "Meiden,"
|r30 quo he, "Margarete, et i bidde & bodie at tu wurche
     mi wil & wurge mine mawmez, & te tide & te time at
     tu iboren were, schal beon ihlescet." "Nai", quo ha,



|p43


     "ne kepich nawt at me blesci me swa. Ah hit were
     i gein, u at gest unblescet, & ti god bae, efter
     blescunge ga ant heie godd almihti, heh heouen_lich 
     feder, & his seolcue sune, e is so mon & godd
 |r5 noelatere. Ah u wurgest witlese wihtes as u art
     wure, blodles ant banles, dumbe & deaue; & et tu
     wurchest wurse, for e unsehene unwihtes wunie ham
     wi-innen, ant tu as ine lauerdes luuest ham & heiest."
     |r<b> [H]im bigon to gremien, ant o grome gredde:
|r10      "Strupe hire steort-naket, & heoue hire on heh
     up at ha hongi to mede for hire hokeres, & on_tende 
     hire bodi mid bearninde taperes." e
     driueles unduhti swa duden sone, at te hude snaw_hwit 
     swarte[d]e as hit snarchte, ant barst on to bleinen
|r15 at hit aras up oueral; & hire |r[f.52a] leofliche lich reschte
     of e leie, swa at alle remden at on hire softe siden
     isehen et reowe. Ant heo bigon Dauies bone: "Heh
     heouenlich godd, wi e halwunde [fur] of en hali
     gast, moncunne froure, fure min heorte, ant let [te lei]
|r20 of i luue leiten i mi lenden." et him cwe Olibrius,
     reuene luerest: "Lef, meiden, mi read: wurch at
     ich wilni ear en u i lif luerliche forlete." "Luer_liche 
     ich liuede," quo Margarete, "ef ich e ilefde;
     ah ef i us deide, mi sawle is deorewure ant deore
|r25 in-to eche liue. u swenchest e swie ant ne spedest
     nawiht: ne mahtu, ne in unwiht, nawiht wurchen on
     me, meiden an as ich am; ah wergi ow seoluen. Mi
     lauerd haue mine limen sunderlich iseilet, & haue, to
     mi imstan at ich ettede him, iarket ant ieue me
|r30 kempene crune." a war e reue god, ant bed o
     wode wise & o great wrae bringen for a uet & fullen
     hit of wettre, & binden hire baen e fet ant te honden,
     t dusten hire in to e grunde, at ha de drehde t
     druncn[ede] er-inne. Me dude sone as he don hehte;
|r35 & heo biheold on heh up & cleope[de] toward heouene:



|p45


     |r<b> "Alre kingene king, brec nu mine bondes, at ich ant
          alle at hit iseo, heien |r[f.52b] e ant herien. is weter
     mote wuren me wunsum & softe, ant lef me at hit
     to me be beo of blisse ant fulht of fonstan, healunage
 |r5 & leome of echelich heale. Cume e hali gast o culures
     lich, at o i blisfule nome blesci eos wettres. Festne
     mi[t] fulht mi sawle to e seoluen, & mit teos ilke
     wettres weosch me wiinnen, & warp from me awei
     eauer-euch sunne, & bring me to i brihte bur, brudgume
|r10 of wunne. Ich underuo her fulht o deore drihtines
     nome & o es hali gastes; an godd in godlec itunet t
     untodealet." Nefde ha bute iseid swa, at al e eore
     ne bigon to cwakien; & com a culure, beorninde briht
     as ah ha bernde, & brohte a guldene crune & sette
|r15 o at seli meidenes heauet. Wi at ilke bursten ant
     breken hire bondes; ant heo, as schene as schininde
     sunne, wende up rof, singinde a loft-song, at Daui
     e witege wrahte feor er-biuoren, Crist to wurmunt.
     "Mi lufsusum lauerd", quo ha, "he cude as king at
|r20 he rixle ariht. Feirlec & strence beo his schrudes,
     ant igurd he is am on, at ha cumeliche faren ant
     semliche sitten." "Cum," quo e culure wi schilinde
     stefne, "t stih to e weolen & to wunnen in heouene.
     Eadi were u, meiden, a u chure meihad, e is cwen
|r25 of alle mih*tes; |r[f.53a] for-i u schalt aa buten ende bruken
     blisse. Amen."
     |r<b> O at ilke time turnden to ure lauerd fif usent
          men, et wi-uten itald children & wummen, at
     alle anan-riht o Cristes kinewure nome, as e reue het,
|r30 hefdes bicoruen in an burh of Armenie Caplimet
     inempnet, alle heriende godd wi up-aheuen stefne,
     t stihen alle martirs wi murhen to heouene. e
     reue rudnede al o grome swa him gromede, & swa
     wra & swa awed, at he o wode wise demde hire



|p47


     to deae; ant het on hat heorte; at me hire heauet
     wi schimminde & scharp sweord to-twemde from e
     bodie. Leiden honden on hire eo at ihaten weren,
     t bunden hire at tet blod barst ut et t.e neiles, & wi_uten 
 |r5 e burh ledden to bihefden. "Meiden," quo
     Malcus, "streche uor i swire scharp sweord to under_fonne, 
     for ich mot ti bone beon, ant at me wa fore_ef 
     ich mahte er-wi, for ich iseo godd seol[f] mid is
     eadi engles bi-trumen e abuten." "Abid me, broer,
|r10 enne," quo ha, "hwil at ich ibidde me, & biteache
     mi gast & mi bodi baen, to ro & to reste." "Ich
     bidde," quo he, "at tu do baldeliche, hwil e god
     like." Ant heo bigon on hire cneon to cneolin adun,
     ant blie wi eos bone ber on heh iheuen up honden
|r15 toward heouene: -- |r[f.53b]
     |r<b> "Drihtin, leodes lauerd, ah ine runes derne beon
          t derue, alle ha beo duhti. Me is dea
     idemet her nu, & wi e lif ileanet: i milde merci ich
     oncki hit. u folckes feder of frumschaft, schuptest
|r20 al at ischapen is. u wisest wruhte of alle, markedest
     ... eore, u store[s]-mon of sea-stream, u wissent
     t weldent of alle wihtes at iwrahte beo, sehliche ant
     unsehliche. Buh ine earen, healinde godd, & bei to
     mine benen. Ich bidde ant biseche e, at art me weole
|r25 ant wunne, at hwa-so-eauer boc writ of mi liflade, oer
     biet hit iwriten, oer halt hit ant haue oftest an
     honde, oer hwa-so hit eauer rede, oer ene redere
     lieliche lustni, weldent of heouene, wure ham alle
     sone hare sunnen foreuene. Hwa-so o mi nome
|r30 make chapele oer chirche, oer ifinde in ham liht
     oer lampe, e leome ef ham, lauerd, ant ette ham,
     of heouene. I e hus er wummon in[e] o childe,



|p49


     sone so heo munni mi nome, hihentliche help hire ant
     iher hire hene; at i e hus ne beo iboren nan mis_bilimet 
     bern, nower halt ne houeret, noer dumbe ne
     deaf ne ideruet of deoulen: ah hwa-so-eauer mi nome
 |r5 munegi ant haue hit ofte i mue, |r[f.54a] luueliche lauerd,
     et te laste dome ales ham from deae."
     |r<b> Wi is a uhte hit as ah a unre dunede; t
          com a culure, briht as ah ha bernde, from
     heouene wi a rode leitinde of liht ant of leome; & te
|r10 meiden duuelunge feol dun to e eore; & com e
     culure & aran hire & rihte hire up, wi e rode, & seide
     hire sweteliche to, wi swotest alre stefne: "Eadi art
     tu, meiden, bimong alle wummen; e eoli halwunde
     t halsum, at tu hauest isoht efter, ant alle sunfule men
|r15 imuneget i in eadi beoden & i ine henen. Bi me seolf
     ich swerie, ant bi min heouenlich hird, at tine beoden
     beo e treowliche ituet, & for alle eo iherd at tu
     fore ibeden hauest; & muche mare is ieuen to eo at
     tin nome munni, & iettet ham moni ing at nis nawt
|r20 nu imuneget. Ant hwer-so i bodi oer eni of ine
     ban beo, oer boc of i pine, cume e sunfule mon t
     legge his mu er-upon, ich salue him his sunnen; t
     ne schal nan unwiht wunien i e wanes er i martirdom
     is iwriten inne, ah alle of e hus schulen gledien i godes
|r25 gri & i gastelich luue. & alle at te bidde, to arckin
     ich etti ham of hare bruchen hote. & tu art eadi t
     te stude et tu on reste[st], & alle eo at urh e
     schulen turnen to me. |r[f.54b] Cum nu for, burde, to i brud_gume. 
     Cum nu, leof, to i lif, for ich copni i cume:
|r30 brihtest bur abit te. Leof, hihe to me. Cum nu to
     mi kinedom. Leaf e leode swa lah, & tu schalt welden
     wi me al at ich ah, alre burde brihtest." e stefne
     stutte, & heo stod up, & bigon to bidden eo at hire



|p51


     abuten weren, & hire dea biweopen, at ha schulden
     olien. & seide: "Lete & leaue ower nur & ower
     ladliche here, & gledie alle wi me at me god unnen;
     for e habbe iherd, ef e hercneden ariht, hwet te
 |r5 hehe healent haue me bihaten. & e luue ow
     seolf, luueliche ich leare ow at e hahhen mi nome
     muchel ine munde; for ichulle bidden for eo blue_liche 
     in heouene, e ofte munne mi nome & munege
     in eore. Wi blie heorte beore me genge for to
|r10 herien e king e haue icoren me; worldes wruhte t
     weldent al is. e ich oncki rof; e ich heie ant
     herie, heouenlich healent. For i deorewure nome ich
     habbe idrohen nowcin, & nome dea nuen: & tu nim
     me to e, godd, of at, god is ort-frume & ende. Beo
|r15 u a iblescet & ti blisfule sune, Iesu Crist bi his nome,
     wi e hali gast, at glit of inc baen: reouald & tah
     an untodealet, in hades to-twemet, in hehschipe unto_dealet, 
     iteiet & itunet an godd-[i] |r[f.55a] magin. Wurschipe
     t wurmunt wure to e ane from worlde into worlde
|r20 aa on ecnesse." Efter eos bone, a beh ha e swire
     t cwe to e cwellere: "Do nu, broer, hihentliche, at
     te is ihaten." "Nai," quo he, "nulli no, for ichabbe
     iherd hu drihtines deore mu haue wi e imotet."
     "u most," quo at meiden, "nedlunge don hit; for
|r25 ef u ne dest no, ne schaltu habben wi me dale of
     heouene-riche." Ant he wi at ilke hef up hatelest
     alre wepne, & smat smertliche adun at te dunt defde
     in; ant tet scharpe sweord, & eke smart, scher hire bi
     e schuldren & sahede hire urhut, ant te bodi beide,
|r30 & beh to er eore. e gast, ananriht, steh up in-to
     e stirrede bur, blie to heouene. e at te dunt ef,



|p53


     eide lude stefne: "Drihtin, do me merci of is dede;
     of is sunne, lauerd, loke, me nu salue." & feol adun
     for forlac on hire riht-halue. [C]omen liht-inde a e
     engles of heouene, & seten & sungen on hire bodi bilehwit,
 |r5 & blesceden hit. e feondes, at ter weren dedliche
     idoruen, fengen to eien: "Margarete, meiden, leoe
     nuen lanhure & leowse ure bondes: we beo wel
     i-cnawen at nis nan lauerd bute godd, at tu on leuest."
     Turnden a urh is to Criste swie monie, ant comen |r[f.55b]
|r10 dumbe & deaue to hire bodi as hit lei, ant botneden
     alle. e engles, as ha beren e sawle in hare barmes,
     sihen to heouene, & sungen as ha stihen up wi swotest
     stefne: "Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, & cetera; at is:
     hali is, hali is, e lauerd of heouene-riche wordes:
|r15 heouene is ful, & eore, of ine wurfule weolen. Alre
     wihte weldent, in hehnesse heal us. Ibhlescet beo e
     bernes cume e com o drihtines nome: heale in
     hehnesse! " Wi at, a bi-gunnen [e gastes of
     helle] to eoten & to ellen; & tuhen alle to hire bodi
|r20 e untrume weren, & hefden hare heale. Cum ich, Theo_chimus, 
     & toc hire leofliche lich, & ber hit into a burh
     of Antioche wi murhe unimete, & dude hit i graue_stan 
     in hire grandame hus, at wes icleopet Clete. Ich
     ah wel to witen is, for, i pine of risun er ha wes iput
|r25 in, ich hire fluttunge fond, & fleschliche fode; & ich
     iseh hwer ha faht wi e feorliche feont, & hire bone
     wes at ich hit write on boc-felle, & hire liflade lette
     don o leaue, & sende hit soliche iwriten wide ont te
     worlde.
|r30 |r<b> us e eadie meiden, Margarete bi nome, i e mone
          at on ure ledene is-ald Englisch-Efterli inemp_net -,
     Iulius o,  Latino e twentue dei wi tintreo deide;
     ant |r[f.56a] wende from weanen to eche wunnen, to lif at a
     leste buten balesi, to blissen buten wa, euer-lestinde.
|r35 |r<b> Alle eo e is heorteliche habbe iherd, in ower
          beoden e blueluker munni is meiden; at



|p55


     heo wi e ilke bone at heo bed on eore bidde et
     for ow i e blisse of heouene, er ha schine seoueuald
     schenre en e sunne, i si & i selhe mare en ei mu
     hit cue munnen [t] i at englene hird singe aa
 |r5 un-sulet, at mon ne wummon ne mei at is flesch-sulet;
     at we bituhen e engles, urh hire erndunge, moten et
     iseon hire & ihe[re]n hire singen. Amen.
     |r<b> Igret wure godd-feder, ant his sune iseinet, e hali
          gast iheiet, eos reo in an, ieinet of engles ant
|r10 of eorliche men a buten ende. Amen.
