XXI.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 55a.]] [Sidenote: Great delight takes possession of his mind. He attempts to cross the stream. It was not pleasing to the Lord.] Delyt me drof i{n} yȝe & ere, My maneȝ mynde to maddy{n}g malte; Quen I seȝ my frely I wolde be þere, Byȝonde þe water, þaȝ ho were walte, 1156 I þoȝt þat no þy{n}g myȝt me dere To fech me bur & take me halte; & to start in þe strem schulde non me stere, To swy{m}me þe remnau{n}t, þaȝ I þer swalte, 1160 Bot of þat mu{n}t I watȝ bi-talt; When I schulde start i{n} þe strem astraye, Out of þat caste I watȝ by-calt; Hit watȝ not at my prynceȝ paye, 1164
[Headnote: THE FATHER OF THE MAIDEN AWAKES.]
[Sidenote: The dreamer awakes, and is in great sorrow.] Hit payed hym not þat I so flonc, Ou{er} meruelo{us} mereȝ so mad arayde, Of raas þaȝ I were rasch & ronk, Ȝet rapely þer-i{n}ne I watȝ restayed; 1168 For ryȝt as I sparred vn-to þe bonc, Þat brathe out of my drem me brayde; Þen wakned I i{n} þat erber wlonk, My hede vpon þat hylle watȝ layde, 1172 Þer as my perle to grou{n}de strayd; I raxled & fel i{n} gret affray, & syky{n}g to my self I sayd: “Now al be to þat prynceȝ paye.” 1176
[Sidenote: He addresses his pearl; laments his rash curiosity.] Me payed ful ille to be out-fleme, So sodenly of þat fayre regiou{n}, Fro alle þo syȝteȝ so quykeȝ & queme. A longey{n}g heuy me strok i{n} swone, 1180 & rewfully þe{n}ne I con to reme; “O perle,” q{uod} I, “of rych renou{n}, So watȝ hit me dere þ{a}t þ{o}u con deme, I{n} þys v{er}ay avysyou{n}; 1184 If[49] hit be ueray & soth sermou{n}, Þat þ{o}u so stykeȝ i{n} garlande gay, So wel is me i{n} þys doel dou{n}gou{n}, Þat þ{o}u art to þat prynseȝ paye.” 1188
[Sidenote 49: MS. _inf_.]
[Sidenote: [Fol. 55b.]] [Sidenote: Men desire more than they have any right to expect.] To þat prynceȝ paye hade I ay bente, & ȝerned no more þen watȝ me geuen, & halden me þer in trwe entent, As þe perle me prayed þat watȝ so þryuen, 1192 As helde drawen to goddeȝ p{re}sent, To mo of his mysterys I hade ben dryuen. Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente Þen moȝten by ryȝt vpon hem clyuen; 1196 Þer-fore my ioye watȝ sone to-riuen, & I kaste of kytheȝ þat lasteȝ aye. Lorde! mad hit arn þat agayn þe stryuen, Oþ{er} proferen þe oȝt agayn þy paye; 1200
[Headnote: GOD GIVE US GRACE TO SERVE HIM.]
[Sidenote: The good Christian knows how to make peace with God. God give us grace to be his servants!] To pay þe p{r}ince oþ{er} sete saȝte, Hit is ful eþe to þe god krystyin; For I haf fou{n}den hym boþe day & naȝte, A god, a lorde, a frende ful fyin. 1204 Ou{er} þis hyl[50] þis lote I laȝte, For pyty of my perle enclyin, & syþen to god I hit by-taȝte, In krysteȝ dere blessy{n}g & myn, 1208 Þat in þe forme of bred & wyn, Þe preste v{us} scheweȝ vch a daye; He gef v{us} to be his homly hyne, Ande precio{us} perleȝ vnto his pay. Amen. Amen. 1212
[Sidenote 50: MS. _hyiıl_.]
NOTES: _The Pearl_.
Page 1.
l. 2, _to_, very. 8 _sengeley in synglure_, ever in singleness (uniqueness). Now is Susan in sale _sengeliche_ arayed. Pistel of Susan, Vernon MS., fol. 317. 11 _dewyne_, pine; _for-dolked_, for-wounded (severely hurt). 16 _heuen my happe_, increase my happiness. 17 _þrych my hert þrange_, through my heart pierce. 20 _stylle stounde_, a secret sorrow. 23 _O moul þou marreȝ a myry mele_, O mould (earth) thou spoilest a merry discourse.
P. 2.
l. 27 _Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede_, Flowers yellow, blue, and red. 49 _spenned_, wrung. 51, 52 A secret grief in my heart dinned (resounded), Though reason set myself at peace. 53 _spenned_, allured, enticed away. 54 _Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt_, With trembling doubts that fast fought (struggled).
P. 3.
l. 76 bolleȝ = _boleȝ_, trunks of trees. 78 _on vch a tynde_, on each branch. 92 _reken myrþe_, pleasant, joyous mirth.
P. 4.
l. 99 _Þe derþe þer-of_, the value (preciousness) thereof. 101 _in wely wyse_, in joyful mood. 102 _dereȝ_, injuries, harms. 103 _fyrre_, farther. 105 _raweȝ & randeȝ_, borders and paths. 107 _I wan to_, I reached. _Winne_ in O.E. was used much in the same way as we now employ the word _get_. 112 _Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryȝt_, With a murmuring (whispering) sound flowing aright. 113 _founce_, bottom; _stepe_, bright. 114 _glente_, shone; _glyȝt_, glistened. 115 _A[s] stremande sterneȝ_, as glittering stars; _stroþe_, stout, brave. 119 _loȝe_, deep. 125 _dryȝly haleȝ_, strongly (_or_ deeply) flows. 126 _bred ful_ = _bred-ful_ = _bretful_ (?), full to the brim.
P. 5.
l. 131 _wayneȝ_, grants. 132 _hitteȝ_, seeks. 138 _gayn_, opposite. 142 _I hopede þat mote merked wore_, I supposed that building was devised. 149 _stote & stare_, stand (loiter) and gape. 150-1 _To fynde a forþe, faste con I fonde, Bot woþeȝ mo I-wysse þer ware,_ To find a way fast did I go, But paths more indeed there were. 153 _wonde_, cease, abstain (from fear). 155 _nwe note_, a new matter. 163 _blysnande whyt_, glistening white. See 197.
P. 6.
l. 165 _schere_, purify, refine. 169 _Þe more I frayste hyr fayre face._ The more I examined her fair face. _frayst_ (_fraist_) usually signifies to try, tempt. 170 _fonte_, tried, examined, _found_. 176 _Such a burre myȝt make myn herte blunt_, Such a blow might make mine heart faint. 179 _Þat stonge myn hert ful stray atount_, Should we not read--Þat stonge myn hert ful stray a stount (?), “full stray a stount” = a blow full stray. 187 _chos_, was following, was seeking. 188 _Er I at steuen hir moȝt stalle_, Before I could place her within reach of discourse. 190 _seme_ = _semely_, seemly.
P. 7.
l. 208 _flurted_, figured. Cf. _flurt_-silk, figured-silk. 210 _Her here heke al hyr vmbe-gon_, Her hair eke (also) all her about gone. 212 _Her ble more blaȝt_, her complexion whiter. 213 _schorne golde schyr_, refined gold pure. 216 _porfyl_, hem of a dress, or rather an embroidered hem. 217 _poyned_, ornamented, trimmed. 223-4 _A manneȝ dom myȝt dryȝly demme,_ _Er mynde moȝt malte in hit mesure,_ A man’s judgment might greatly dim, Before (his) mind could discourse of it in sufficient terms of praise. 226 _No_ = _ne_ (nor) would be a better reading. 230 _wyþer half_, opposite side.
P. 8.
l. 243 _myn one_, myself. 244 _layned_, kept secret, hidden. 251 _Fro_, from the time that. _towen & twayned_, made two and separated.
P. 9.
l. 272 _is put in pref_, has been proved. 275 _bote of þy meschef_, the remedy of thy misfortune (misery). 290 _Wy borde ȝe men so madde ȝe be?_ Why should you talk, so foolish you are?
P. 10.
l. 307 _westernays_, wrongly, in vain? It may be another form of westernways, from the A.Sax. _wéste_, barren, empty; _wéstern_, a desert place. Or is it connected with A.Sax. _winstre_, the left hand? 320 _Þy corse in clot mot colder keue_, Thy body in earth (clods) must colder plunge. 321 _for-garte_ forfeited. 322 _ȝore fader_ for _form-fader_, first-father. 323 _drwry_ = _drery_, dreary (?). _boȝ_ (= _bos_ = _bus_ ?) _vch ma_ (_man_ ?) _dreue_, behoves each man to drive (go). See B. l. 687. 327-8 _Now haf I fonte þat I for-lete Schal I efte forgo hit er euer I fyne?_ Now I have found what I have lost. Shall I again forego it ere ever I die?
P. 11.
l. 336 _durande doel_, lasting grief. 343 _For anger gayneȝ þe not a cresse_, For anger avails the not a cress, (_i.e._ not a mite). Cf. the following passage from “Piers Ploughman,” p. 174, l. 5629: “Wisdom and wit now Is noght worth a _kerse_.” 353 _Stynst (stynt?) of þy strot & fyne to flyte_, Leave off thy complaining and cease to chide. 354 _blyþe_ is here used as a substantive in the sense of bliss, joy. _swefte_ = swift. 356 _hyr crafteȝ kyþe_, manifest her powers. 359-60 _For marre oþer madde, morne & myþe, Al lys in him to dyȝt & deme._ For to ruin, or make foolish, grieve or to soothe, All lies in him to order and doom. 363 _If rapely raue_, etc. = _If rapely I raue_, etc. (?) 368 Though I go astray, my dear, adored one.
P. 12.
l. 369 _lyþeȝ_, grant. 374 _Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon, Fro þou watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe._ But much the greater yet was my moan (sorrow), From (the time) thou wast banished from every path. 377 _now leþeȝ my loþe_, now my sorrow ceases (is softened). 382 _marereȝ_ = _mareȝ_ (?). 386 _mate_, dejected. 402 _I hete þe_, I promise the.
P. 14.
l. 446 _in hyt self beyng_, in its very being. 455 _gyng_, company. 460 _Temen_, are united, joined. _tryste_, trusty, faithful, firm.
P. 16.
l. 511 _wryþen_, toil, literally to turn, twist. 512 _keruen_, dig. _caggen_, draw. _man_ = _maken_, make. Cf. _ma_ = make, _ta_ = take, _tan_ = taken. 522 _toȝt_, binding, firm. 524 _pray_ (so in MS.), read _pay_. 536 _at ȝe moun_, that ye are able.
P. 17.
l. 560 _a grete_, in the gross, a head. 563 _plete_, plead, ask for. 572 _be_ = _he_ (?).
P. 18.
l. 575 _Þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykeȝ_, Though their labour (blow) with little falls off (fails to accomplish much). 605 _chyche_, niggard. 608 _goteȝ_, streams; _charde_, past tense of _charre_, to turn, deviate.
P. 19.
l. 617 _bourne abate_ = _burne abade_, man continued. 626 _by lyne_, by lineage descent.
P. 20.
l. 645 _Bot þer on com a bote as-tyt_, But there came one as a remedy at once. 659 _in sely stounde_, in a happy moment. 671 _glente_, fell, slided.
P. 21.
l. 680 _dylle_, slow, sluggish. 681 _dyt_ = _dyde_, did (?), or _dotȝ_, does (?). 690 _oure_, prayer.
P. 22.
l. 726 _sulpande synne_, defiling, polluting, sin. 727 _bylde_, building. 735 _reme_, realm.
P. 23.
l. 752 _Of carpe_, discourse of. 754 _hauyng_, condition, behaviour. 757 _bete_, save, ransom. 759 _make_, wife. 775 _vnder cambe_ = _under-cam_, came under, took an inferior position (?).
P. 24.
l. 802 _& as a lombe þat clypper in lande nem_, And as a lamb that a _shearer_ has taken, etc. 813-4 For us he let himself be scourged and buffetted, and stretched upon a rough tree (_i.e._ nailed to the cross).
P. 25.
l. 836 _as bare_, (?) _al bare_, openly. See 1025. 837 _Lesande þe boke with leueȝ sware_, Opening the book with leaves square. 839 _& at þat syȝt vche douth con dare_, And at that sight each doughty (one) did tremble (with fear). 849 enle = _eneli_ = onely or _onlepi_ (?) = singly, alone.
P. 26.
l. 865 _talle farande_ = _tale farande_, pleasing story. 873 _hue_, cry, voice. 876 _lote_, sound.
P. 27.
l. 896 _lote_, features. 909 _hynde_ = _hende_, gentle, courteous (one). 911 _bustwys as a blose_, boisterous (wild) as a blaze (flame). 916 _With nay þou neuer my ruful bone_, Do thou never refuse my mournful request.
P. 28.
l. 948 _So is hys mote with-outen moote_, So is his building without mote (blemish).
P. 29.
ll. 975-6 _& I an-endeȝ þe on his syde Schal sve, tyl þou to a hil be veued,_ And I opposite thee on this side Shall go, till thou to a hill be passed. 980-81 _& blusched on þe burghe, as I forth dreued, Byȝonde þe brok fro me warde keued,_ And looked on the city, as I forth drove (urged), Beyond the brook that cut me off from (the object of my desire).
P. 30.
l. 1018 _Masporye_ = _was pure_ (?). 1022 _brode & stayre_, broad and steep (high). 1026 _þat glent as glayre_, that shone as amber.
P. 31.
l. 1030 _fon_, ceased, the preterite of _fine_. 1038 _fateȝ_ = _fadeȝ_, fades. 1041 _whateȝ_ = _watȝ_, was.
P. 32.
ll. 1065-66 _Þe ȝates stoken watȝ neuer ȝet, Bot euer more vpen at vche a lone._ The gates shut were never yet, But ever more open at every lane. 1073 _to euen with_, to equal with, to match with. 1084 _falure_ = _fasure_, form (?).
P. 33.
l. 1124 _to loue_, to praise. 1127 _in melle_ = _in-melle_ = _i-melle_, among. Cf. _in-lyche_ and _i-lyche_, etc.
P. 34.
l. 1141 _Þe lombe delyt non lyste to wene_, The lamb’s delight none desired to doubt. 1146 _laste and lade_, followed and preceded (?). 1161 _Bot of þat munt I watȝ bi-talt_, But from that purpose I was aroused (shaken). 1163 _bi-calt_ = _bi-called_ (?), called away.
P. 35.
l. 1165 _flonc_ = _flong_ (?), flung. 1193 _helde_, willingly (inclined).
Errata (noted by transcriber)
Minor spelling variations-- such as added or missing final “e”-- between the main text and endnotes were left as printed.
[61 Sidenote] ... where the rocks and cliffs ... [Where] [278] & iueleȝ wern hyr ge{n}tyl saweȝ, [saweȝ”] [373 Sidenote] ... his bale and bliss. [bliss,] [775] So mony a cumly on v{n}der cambe, [vu{n}der] [_spelling changed to agree with Note_] [993 Sidenote] the foundation composed of twelve stones. [The] [1059 Sidenote] it flowed through each street. [It] [1205] Ou{er} þis hyl[50] þis lote I laȝte, [Sidenote 50] MS. _hyiil_. [_1864 edition had “hyiil” in the body text, with note “_hye-hil_ or _hyul_?”]
ORPHANED QUOTATION MARKS [396] Hit is i{n} grou{n}de of alle my blysse.” [501] “My regne, he saytȝ, is lyk on hyȝt, [602] Þat gentyl sayde “lys no Ioparde, [744] & porchace þy perle maskelles.” [902] Q{uod} I, “my perle þaȝ I appose, [939] “Þat is þe cyte þat þe lombe con fonde [966] “Þ{o}u may not enter w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne hys tor,
NOTES 78 _on vch a tynde_, on each branch. [vcha] 213 _schorne golde schyr_, refined gold pure. [_, missing_] 223-4 _A manneȝ dom myȝt dryȝly demme, [_. for ,_] 343 For anger avails the not a cress [_modern text unchanged: error for “thee”?_] Cf. the following passage from “Piers Ploughman,” [Piers’] 536 [535] 865 [864] 1026 [1025]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CLEANNESS.
[Headnotes: THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. THOSE INVITED TO THE FEAST REFUSE TO COME. THE HALT AND THE BLIND ARE INVITED. THE MAN WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT. GOD IS DISPLEASED WITH THE WICKED. THE FALL OF THE ANGELS. THE WICKEDNESS OF THE ANTEDILUVIAN WORLD. GOD DETERMINES TO DESTROY ALL FLESH. NOAH IS COMMANDED TO BUILD AN ARK. THE RAIN DESCENDS. ALL ROT IN THE MUD. THE ARK RESTS ON MOUNT ARARAT. NOAH SENDS FORTH A DOVE. NOAH LEAVES THE ARK. THE BEASTS ARE DISPERSED. GOD’S HATRED OF WICKEDNESS. ABRAHAM RECEIVES THREE GUESTS, AND ENTERTAINS THEM. GOD DISCLOSES HIS PURPOSE TO ABRAHAM. THE FILTHINESS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. ABRAHAM PLEADS FOR THE CITIES. MESSENGERS ARE SENT TO LOT. LOT ENTERTAINS THE MESSENGERS. LOT’S HOUSE IS BESET. THE MEN OF SODOM SMITTEN WITH BLINDNESS. LOT IS SENT OUT OF THE CITY. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITIES. LOT’S WIFE BECOMES A STIFF STONE. THE DEAD SEA COVERS THE FIVE CITIES. IT IS A TOKEN OF WICKEDNESS AND VENGEANCE. CHRIST WAS EVER PURE. PENANCE MAKES MAN PURE AS A PEARL. GOD PUNISHES IMPURITY. NEBUCHADNEZZAR BESIEGES JERUSALEM. THE KING OF JUDAH IS MADE PRISONER. NEBUZARDAN PILLAGES THE TEMPLE. NEBUCHADNEZZAR IS PLEASED WITH THE SPOIL. HE PRIZES GREATLY THE SACRED JEWELRY. BELSHAZZAR PROCLAIMS A FEAST, TO WHICH KINGS AND EMPERORS ARE INVITED. BELSHAZZAR BRINGS OUT THE SACRED VESSELS TO DECK THE FESTIVE HALL. THE SACRED VESSELS ARE DEFILED. THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. THE KING CONSULTS HIS DIVINERS. DANIEL IS SENT FOR. DANIEL DESCRIBES HOW NEBUCHADNEZZAR WAS PUNISHED FOR HIS PRIDE. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE HANDWRITING. DARIUS LAYS SIEGE TO BABYLON. BELSHAZZAR IS BEATEN TO DEATH.]