IX.

[Sidenote: She was only two years old when she died, and could do nothing to please God. She might be a countess or some great lady but not a queen.] That cortayse is to fre of dede, Ȝyf hyt be soth þat þ{o}u coneȝ saye, Þ{o}u lyfed not two ȝer i{n} oure þede, Þ{o}u cowþeȝ neu{er} god nauþ{er} plese ne pray, 484 Ne neu{er} nawþer pater ne crede, & quen mad on þe fyrst day! I may not traw, so god me spede, Þat god wolde wryþe so wrange away; 488 Of cou{n}tes damysel, par ma fay, Wer fayr i{n} heuen to halde asstate Aþ{er} elleȝ a lady of lasse aray, Bot a quene, hit is to dere a date.” 492

[Sidenote: The maiden informs her father that there is no limit to God’s power. The parable of the labourers in the vineyard.] “Þer is no date of hys god-nesse,” Þen sayde to me þat worþy wyȝte, “For al is trawþe þat he con dresse, & he may do no þynk bot ryȝt, 496 As mathew meleȝ i{n} yo{ur} messe, I{n} sothfol gospel of god al-myȝt I{n} sample he can ful grayþely gesse, & lykneȝ hit to heuen lyȝte.” 500 “My regne, he saytȝ, is lyk on hyȝt, To a lorde þat hade a uyne I wate, Of tyme of ȝere þe terme watȝ tyȝt, To labor vyne watȝ dere þe date, 504

[Sidenote: [Fol. 46a.]] [Sidenote: The lord of the vineyard hires workmen for a penny a day. At noon the lord hires other men standing idle in the market place.] Þat date of ȝere wel knawe þys hyne; Þe lorde ful erly vp he ros, To hyre werkmen to hys vyne, & fyndeȝ þ{er} su{m}me to hys porpos, 508 Into acorde þay con de-clyne, For a pené on a day & forth þay gotȝ, Wryþen & worchen & don gret pyne, Keruen & caggen & man hit clos; 512 Aboute vnder, þe lorde to marked totȝ & ydel men stande he fyndeȝ þer-ate, “Why stande ȝe ydel” he sayde to þos, Ne knawe ȝe of þis day no date? 516

[Sidenote: He commands them to go into his vineyard, and he will give them what is right.] “Er date of daye hider arn we won{n}e,” So watȝ al samen her answar soȝt; “We haf standen her syn ros þe su{n}ne, & no mo{n} byddeȝ v{us} do, ryȝt noȝt.” 520 “Gos i{n}-to my vyne, dotȝ þat ȝe co{n}ne.” So sayde þe lorde & made hit toȝt. “What resonabele hyre be naȝt be ru{n}ne, I yow pray i{n} dede & þoȝte.” 524 Þay wente i{n} to þe vyne & wroȝte, & al day þe lorde þ{us} ȝede his gate, & nw men to hys vyne he broȝte; Wel neȝ wyl day watȝ passed date, 528

[Sidenote: At an hour before the sun went down the lord sees other men standing idle. Tells them to go into the vineyard.] At þe day of date of euen-songe, On oure byfore þe so{n}ne go dou{n} He seȝ þer ydel men ful stronge & sa[y]de to hem[17] w{i}t{h} sobre sou{n}; 532 “Wy stonde ȝe ydel þise dayeȝ longe.” Þay sayden her hyre watȝ nawhere bou{n}. “Gotȝ to my vyne ȝemen ȝonge & wyrkeȝ & dotȝ þ{a}t at ȝe mou{n}.” 536 Sone þe worlde by-com wel brou{n}, Þe su{n}ne watȝ doun &[18] hit wex late; To take her hyre he mad su{m}ou{n}; Þe day watȝ al apassed date. 540

[Sidenote 17: MS. _hen_.] [Sidenote 18: MS. & &.]

[Headnote: THE PAYMENT OF THE LABOURERS.]