XI.

[Sidenote: In heaven, the maiden says, each man is paid alike. God is no niggard. The grace of God is sufficient for all.] “Of more & lasse in godeȝ ryche,” Þat gentyl sayde “lys no Ioparde, For þer is vch mon payed inliche, Wheþer lyttel oþ{er} much be hys rewarde, 604 For þe gentyl cheuentayn is no chyche, Queþ{er}-so-eu{er} he dele nesch oþ{er} harde, He laueȝ hys gyfteȝ[22] as wat{er} of dyche, Oþ{er} goteȝ of golf þat neu{er} charde; 608 Hys frau{n}chyse is large þ{a}t eu{er} dard, To hy{m} þat matȝ i{n} sy{n}ne no scogh{e}[23] No blysse betȝ fro hem reparde, For þe grace of god is gret I-nogh{e}. 612

[Sidenote 22: MS. _gysteȝ_.] [Sidenote 23: In the MS. it looks like _rescoghe_.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 47b.]] [Sidenote: Those who live long on the earth often forfeit heaven by sinning.] Bot now þ{o}u moteȝ me for to mate Þat I my peny haf wrang tan here, Þ{o}u sayȝ þat I þat com to late, Am not worþy so gret lere. 616 Where wysteȝ þ{o}u eu{er} any bourne abate Euer so holy i{n} hys prayere, Þat he ne forfeted by su{m}kyn gate, Þe mede su{m}-tyme of heueneȝ clere; 620 & ay þe ofter, þe alder þay were, Þay laften ryȝt & wroȝten wogh{e} Mercy & g{ra}ce moste hem þe{n} stere, For þe g{ra}ce of god is gret i{n}-noȝe. 624

[Sidenote: Innocents are saved by baptism. Why should not God allow their labour.] Bot i{n}-nogh{e} of grace hatȝ i{n}nocent, As sone as þay arn borne by lyne I{n} þe water of babtem þay dyssente, Þ{en} arne þay boroȝt i{n}-to þe vyne, 628 Anon þe day w{i}t{h} derk endente, Þe myȝt of deth dotȝ to en-clyne Þat wroȝt neuer wrang er þe{n}ne þay wente; Þe gentyle lorde þe{n}ne payeȝ hys hyne, 632 Þay dyden hys heste, þay wern þere-ine, Why schulde he not her labo{ur} alow, Ȝy[rd] & pay hem[24] at þe fyrst fyne For þe grace of god is gret i{n}-nogh{e}? 636

[Sidenote 24: MS. _hym_.]

[Headnote: PARADISE WAS LOST THROUGH AN APPLE.]

[Sidenote: Our first father lost heaven by eating an apple. And all are damned for the sin of Adam. But there came one who paid the penalty of our sins.] Inoȝe is knawen þ{a}t man-kyn grete, Fyrste watȝ wroȝt to blysse parfyt; Oure forme-fader hit con forfete, Þurȝ an apple þat he vpon con byte; 640 Al wer we dampned for þat mete, To dyȝe i{n} doel out of delyt, & syþen wende to helle hete, Þ{er}-i{n}ne to won w{i}t{h}-oute respyt; 644 Bot þer on com a bote as-tyt. Ryche blod ran on rode so rogh{e}, & wy{n}ne [&] wat{er}, þe{n} at þat plyt Þe g{ra}ce of god wex gret i{n}-nogh{e}. 648

[Sidenote: [Fol. 48a.]] [Sidenote: The water that came from the pierced side of Christ was baptism.] Innogh{e} þer wax out[25] of þat welle, Blod & wat{er} of brode wou{n}de; Þe blod v{us} boȝt fro bale of helle, & delyu{er}ed v{us} of þe deth secou{n}de; 652 Þe water is baptem þe soþe to telle; Þat folȝed þe glayue so gry{m}ly grou{n}de, Þat wascheȝ away þe gylteȝ felle, Þat adam wyth i{n}ne deth v{us} drou{n}de. 656 Now is þ{er} noȝt i{n} þe worlde rou{n}de Bytwene v{us} & blysse bot þat he w{i}t{h}-droȝ & þat is restored i{n} sely stou{n}de, & þe grace of god is gret i{n}-nogh. 660

[Sidenote 25: MS. _out out_.]