VII.

[Sidenote: [Fol. 44a.]] [Sidenote: The father beseeches the pearl to have pity upon him.] Thenne demed I to þat damyselle, Ne worþe no wrath þe vnto my lorde, If rapely raue[15] spornande i{n} spelle. My herte watȝ al w{i}t{h} mysse remorde, 364 As wallande water gotȝ out of welle; I do me ay i{n} hys myserecorde. Rebuke me neu{er} w{i}t{h} wordeȝ felle, Þaȝ I forloyne my dere endorde, 368 Bot lyþeȝ me kyndely yo{ur} cou{m}forde, Pytosly þenkande vpon þysse; Of care & me ȝe made acorde, Þat er watȝ grou{n}de of alle my blysse; 372

[Sidenote 15: _rane_ (?).]

[Sidenote: He says that she has been both his bale and bliss. And when he lost her, he knew not what had become of her.] My blysse, my bale ȝe han ben boþe, Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon, Fro þ{o}u watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe. I wyste neu{er} quere my perle watȝ gon; 376 Now I hit se, now leþeȝ my loþe, & quen we departed we wern at on, God forbede we be now wroþe, We meten so selden by stok oþ{er} ston; 380 Þaȝ cortaysly ȝe carp con, I am bot mol & marereȝ mysse, Bot crystes mersy & mary & Ion, Þise arn þe grou{n}de of alle my blysse. 384

[Sidenote: And now that he sees her in bliss, she takes little heed of his sorrow. He desires to know what life she leads.] In blysse I se þe blyþely blent & I a man al mornyf mate, Ȝe take þ{er}-on ful lyttel tente, Þaȝ I hente ofte harmeȝ hate. 388 Bot now I am here i{n} yo{ur} p{re}sente, I wolde bysech wythouten debate, Ȝe wolde me say i{n} sobre asente, What lyf ȝe lede, erly & late, 392 For I am ful fayn þat yo{ur} astate Is worþen to worschyp & wele I wysse, Of alle my Ioy þe hyȝe gate Hit is i{n} grou{n}de of alle my blysse.” 396

[Headnote: SHE DESCRIBES HER MODE OF LIFE.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 44b.]] [Sidenote: The maiden tells him that he may walk and abide with her, now that he is humble. All are meek that dwell in the abode of bliss.] “Now blysse burne mot þe bytyde;” Þen sayde þat lufsou{m} of lyth & lere, “& welcu{m} here to walk & byde, For now þy speche is to me dere; 400 Maysterful mod & hyȝe pryde I hete þe arn heterly hated here; My lorde ne loueȝ not forto chyde, For meke arn alle þ{a}t woneȝ hy{m} nere, 404 & when i{n} hys place þ{o}u schal apere, Be dep deuote i{n} hol mekenesse; My lorde þe lamb, loueȝ ay such chere, Þat is þe grou{n}de of alle my blysse. 408

[Sidenote: All lead a blissful life. She reminds her father that she was very young when she died. Now she is crowned a queen in heaven.] A blysful lyf þ{o}u says I lede, Þou woldeȝ knaw þ{er}-of þe stage; Þow wost wel when þy perle con schede, I watȝ ful ȝong & tender of age, 412 Bot my lorde þe lombe, þurȝ hys god-hede, He toke my self to hys maryage, Corou{n}de me quene i{n} blysse to brede, I{n} lengh{e} of dayeȝ þat eu{er} schal wage, 416 & sesed i{n} alle hys herytage Hys lef is, I am holy hysse; Hys prese, hys prys & hys parage, Is rote & grou{n}de of alle my blysse.” 420

[Headnote: MARY IS THE EMPRESS OF HEAVEN.]