Part 16

++Iuliane þe edie i{es}u cristes leouemon of his blisfule luue balde {40} hire seoluen. sende him to onswere [f. 57v] bi an of hire sonden. Elewsius wite þu hit wel ireadi. wraðði so þu wraðði. no lengre nulich hit heolen þe. [gh]ef þu wult leauen þe lahen [þ/] tu list in. ant leuen in godd feder. [&] i{n} his deorewurðe sune. [&] iþe hali gast. ichulle wel neomen þe. [gh]ef þu nult no{;} þu art wundi of me. [&] oðer luue sech þe. {45} Þa þe reue iherde þis{;} he wreððede him swiðe. [&] hire feder cleopede. ant feng on to tellen him. hu his doht{er} droh him from deie to deie. ant efter [þ/] he wende to habben his iwil so ha him þis word sulliche sende. Bi [þ/] ilke godd q{uo}ð hire feder [þ/] me is lað to gremien beo hit soð [þ/] tu seist to wraðer heale seide ha hit. ant nu ichulle o great {50} grome al biteachen hire þe. to wurchen þi wil. [&] al [þ/] te wel likeð as mit tin ahne. [&] me cleopede hire forð biuoren hire feder.

Juliene þe eadie ih{es}u c{ri}stes leofmon of his blisfule luue balde hire seolue{n}, [&] sende him al openliche bi sonde to seggen. þis word ha send te for nawt þu hauest iswechte. wreaðe se þu wreaðe. Do [þ/] tu do wult nule ich ne ne mei ich lengre heolen hit te [gh]ef þu wult {55} leauen. þe lahen þet tu liuest in ant leuen i godd feader. [&] in his deorwurðe sune. [&] i þe hali gast folkene froure. an godd [f. 38v] [þ/] is igret wið euches cunnes gode{;} Ich chule wel neome þe. [&] [gh]ef [þ/] tu nult no{;} þu art windi of me. [&] oðer luue sech þe. Þa þe hehe reue iherde þis ondswere{;} bigon to wreðen swiðe. [&] cleopede hire {60} feder{}forð. [&] feng on to tellen. hwuch word ha sende him. Efter [þ/] he wende forte habben idon al [þ/] he wilnede. Affrican hire feader wundrede him swiðe. [&] bigon to swerien. bi þe ilke godes [þ/] me is lað to gremien. beo hit soð [þ/] tu seiist{;} to wraðer heale. ha sehð hit. ant ich wulle o great grome al biteachen hire þe. [&] tu do hire. al [þ/] tu {65} wult. He þonkede him. [&] heo wes icleopet forð.

[Linenotes: 53. _al_] _[t.][o.] al_ MS.]

[&] he feng feire to fondin his dohter Mi deorewurðe dohter hwer{}fore uor{}sakestu þi s[.y]. ant ti selhðe. þe weolen ant te wu{n}nen [þ/] walden awakenin ant waxen of þi wedlac. [þ/] ich þe to reade. for he is inoh {55} lauerd elewsius ine rome. [&] tu maht beon leafdi dohter [gh]ef þu wel wult. Iuliane þe eadie onswerede him [&] seide as þeo þat [f. 58r] ine godd hire hope hefde. [gh]ef he wule leuen an god al mihti. þenne mei he speoken þrof [&] inoh raðe speden. ant [gh]ef [þ/] he nule nawt. ne schal wiuen on me. wiue þer his wil is.

[&] affrican hire feader feng on earst feire on{;} to lokin [gh]ef he mahte wið eani luue speden. Juliene q{uo}ð he mi deorewurðe dohter. sei me hwi þu forsakest þi sy [&] ti selhðe? þe weole{n} [&] te wunnen. þe walden awakenen. [&] waxen of þe wedlac [þ/] ich reade þe to : hit nis nan {70} eðelich þing. þe refschipe of rome. ant tu maht [gh]ef þu wult. beon burhene leafdi. [&] of alle þe londes þe þer{}to liggeð. Juliene þe eadie ontswerede him [&] seide. [gh]ef he wule luuien. [&] leuen g`o´dd. al mihti{;} þenne mei he [speoken] þrof. [&] speden inoh reaðe. for [gh]ef he [þ/] nule no{;} ich segge þe [þ/] soð is. ne schal he wiuen on me. Sei nu {75} hwet ti wil is.

[Linenote: 70. _[t.]reade_ MS.]

þa hire feder iherde þis{;} {60} þa feng he to swerien. Bi mi kinewurðe lauerd apollo. ant bi mi deore leafdi diane. [þ/] ich muche luuie. [gh]ef þu haldest her{}on. ichulle leoten deor to{}teore{n} ant to{}luken þe. [&] [gh]eouen þi flesch{;} fuheles of þe lufte. Iuliane him onswerede [&] softeliche seide. ne wen þu nawiht leoue feder. [þ/] tu affeare me swa. for i{es}u crist godes sune {65} [þ/] ich on leue [&] luuie as lauerd lufsumest on liue. þah ich beo forbernd. [&] to{}loken limel. nulich heronont buhen þe nawiht

affrican wreaðede [&] [f. 39r] swor swiðe deopliche. for þe drihtfule godd apollo mi lau{er}d. [&] mi deore leafdi þe deorewurðe diane [þ/] ich muche luuie. [gh]ef þu haldest her{}on{;} ich schal leote wilde deor to{}luken [&] toteore þe [&] [gh]eoue þi flesch fode to fuheles of þe lufte. Juliene him ondswerede. [&] softeliche seide. Ne lef þu {80} nawt leoue feader [þ/] tu offeare me swa{;} ich swerie a[gh]ein. þe ih{es}u c{ri}st godes sune. [þ/] ich on leue. [&] luuie as leoflukest. [&] lufsumest lau{er}d. þah ich cwic beo forbearnd baðe lim [&] lið ileitinde leie. Nulle ich þe her onont þreate se þu þreate buhe ne beien.

Þa feng eft hire [feder] on wið olhnu{n}ge to fondi{n} [gh]ef he mahte eisweis wenden hire heorte. [&] seide hire lufsumliche. [þ/] ne schulde ha nane wunne lihtliche wilnin{;} [þ/] he ne schulde welden. wið [þ/] ha walde hire þonc wenden {70} Nai quoð [þ/] meiden schuldich don me to him [þ/] is alle deoulen bitaht. [&] to eche deð idemet. to furwurðen wið him world abuten ende. for his wedlakes weole oðer for eni wunne. for soð ich hit segge un{}wurð is hit me. ichulle [þ/] he hit wite wel. ant tu [f. 58v] eke mid him [þ/] ich am iweddet to an [þ/] ichulle treowliche to halden ant wið{}uten les {75} luuien. þe is unlich him. [&] alle worldlich men. ne nullich him nowðer leauen. ne lihen for weole ne for wunne. for wa. ne for wunne þet [gh]e mahen don me.

[++A]ffrican feng eft on. [&] to fondin ongon [gh]ef he mahte eanis weis {85} wið olhnunge wenden hire heorte. [&] leoftede luueliche. [&] seide hire sikerliche. [Þ/] ne schulde ha lihtliche wilni na wunne{;} [þ/] ha ne schulde wealden. wið þe{re}an [þ/] ha walde hire wil wenden. Nai q{uo}ð ha [þ/] nis nawt. schulde ich do me to him. [þ/] alle deoflen is bitaht. [&] to eche deað fordemet. to forwurðe wið him worlt buten ende iþe putte {90} of helle? for his wedlackes weole oðer for ei wunne. To soðe ich hit segge þe. Vnwurð hit is me. Ich chulle [þ/] he wite hit ful wel. [&] tu eke mid al{;} i`c´h am to an iweddet [þ/] ich chulle treowliche wiðute leas luuien. [þ/] is unlich him [&] alle worltliche men. ne nulle ich neauer mare him lihen ne lea[f. 39v]uen. for weole ne for wunne. for {95} wa ne for wontreaðe [þ/] [gh]e me mahen wurchen.

þa feng hire feder te wreððen swiðe ferlich [&] swiðe hokerliche freinede. Me hwet is he þes were [þ/] tu art to iweddet. [þ/] tu hauest wið{}uten me þine luue ilene[t] for hwam þu letest lutel of {80} [þ/] tu schuldest luuie{n}. ne ich neuer [þ/] ich wite nes wið him icnawen. For gode q{uo}ð þet meiden þin harm is þe mare nawt forþi þet tu nauest ofte iherd of him [gh]are. [þ/] is iesu godes sune. þe forto lesen moncun [þ/] forloren schulden beon{;} lette his deo`r´wurðe lif on rode. ne ich ne seh him neuer [þ/] me sare for þuncheð. ah ichim luuie ant {85} leue as on lauerde. ne schal me firsin him from{;} nowðer deouel ne mon. For mi lif quoð hire feder þe schal laðin his luue for þu schalt beon ibeaten. mid besmes swa bittre [þ/] tu wummon were. schal to wraðe{r} heale iwurðen.

[Linenotes: 80. _ilenet_] MS. defective here. || 89. _wraðel_ MS.]

++Hire feader feng on to wreaððin swiðe ferliche [&] easkede hire hokerliche. Ant hwet is he þes were [þ/] tu art to iweddet. [þ/] tu hauest wið{}ute me se forð þi luue ile{n}et. [þ/] tu letest lutel. of al [þ/] tu schuldest luuien. Ne ich nes neauer [þ/] ich wite [gh]et. wið him {100} icnawen. for gode q{uo}ð þe meiden þin hearm is þe mare. Nawt for{}þi [þ/] tu nauest iherd of him [gh]are. [Þ/] is ih{es}u godes sune. [þ/] forte alesen moncun [þ/] schulde beon forloren al{;} lette lif o rode. Ich ne seh him neau{er} [&] [þ/] me of{}þuncheð. Ah ich him luuie [&] wulle don. [&] leue on as o lau{er}d. Ne schal me firsen him from. Nowðer {105} deouel ne mon. for mi lif q{uo}ð hire feader þe schal laðin his luue. for þu schalt habbe þrof hearm [&] scheome baðe [&] nu þu schalt on alre earst. as on ernesse swa beon ibeaten wið bittere besmen. [þ/] tu were wummon of wu{m}mone bosum to wraðerheale eau{er} iboren iþe worlde.

[Linenote: 99. _ileuet_ MS.]

Swa muche quoð ha ich iwurðe him þe leouere{;} So ich derure þing for his luue drehe. [þ/] ti wil is{;} wurch nu. {90} [&] he het hatterliche strupen hire steortnaket. [&] beten hire swa luðere [þ/] hire leofliche lich{;} liðeri al oblode. [&] swa ha duden so luðere [þ/] te blod [gh]et adun of þe [gh]erden. [&] heo bigon to [gh]eien. Beaten so [gh]e beaten [gh]e beliales bu[f. 59r]deles. ne mahe [gh]e nowðer mi luue ne min bileaue lutlen toward him mi lufsum leof mi leowinde lauerd ne {95} nullich leauen ower read [þ/] for readeð ow seoluen. ne ower mix mawmex [þ/] beoð þes feondes fetles heien ne herien. for teone ne for tintreow [þ/] [gh]e mahen timbrin. Na quoð he is hit swa hit schal sutelin sone. for ichulle biteachen mislich þi bodi to elewsium þe riche reue irome ant he schal for{}swelten ant for{}reden þe efter es wille wið {100} allescunnes pinen.

[Linenote: 98. _schal_] _salch_ MS.]

Swa muche q{uo}ð [þ/] meiden ich beo him þe leou{er}e. se ich {110} derfre þing for his luue drehe. [wurch] þu [þ/] ti wil is. [Gh]e q{uo}ð he bliðeliche. ant swiðe heatterliche. strupen hire steort naket. [&] leggeð se luðer[f. 40r]liche on hire leofliche lich{;} {[þ/]} hit liðeri o blode. Me nom hire [&] dude swa [þ/] hit [gh]eat adun of þe [gh]erden. ant heo bigon to [gh]eien. Beaten se [gh]e beaten [gh]e beliales budeles. ne mahe [gh]e nowðer {115} mi luue ne mi bileaue lutlin towart te liuiende godd mi leofsume leofmon. þe luuewurðe lau{er}d. ne nulle ich leuen ower read þe forreadeð ow seolf. ne þe mix maumez þe beoð þes feondes fetles{;} heien ne herien. for teone ne for tintreohe [þ/] [gh]e me mahe timbrin. Na nult tu q{uo}ð affrican. hit schal sone sutelin. for ich chulle sende {120} þe nu [&] biteache þi bodi to eleusiu{m} þe riche [þ/] reue is ou{er} rome. ant he schal þe forreaden. [&] makie to forswelten. as his ahne wil is þurh al þet eauer sar iS.

[Linenotes: 111. After _drehe_ an erasure of three letters MS. || 112. _leggeð_ corr. out of _leggen_ MS. || 113. _[þ/]_] _[&]_ MS.]

[gh]e quoð þis meiden [þ/] mei crist welden. for ne mahe [gh]e nawt don me bute hwet he wule þeauien ow to muchelin mi mede [&] te murðe [þ/] lið to meiðhades menske for euer so [gh]e mare merrið me her{;} so mi crune bið brihtre [&] fehere. for ichulle bliðeliche drehen euer{}euch derf for mi deore lauerdes luue. ant softe me {105} bið euch derf hwen ich him serui þah þume to elewsium willes biteache{;} ne [gh]eue ich for inc nowðer. [þ/] [gh]e me mahen harmen. for so [gh]e mare me her harmeð. so mare [3]e me helpeð seoueuald to heouene. [&] [gh]ef [gh]e me doð to deaðe hit bið me deorewurðe ant ich schal þer þ{urh} bliðe bicumen into endelese blissen ant [gh]e schulen wrecches {110} áwei ower wurðes [þ/] [gh]e iboren weren sinken to wraðer heale ow to þe bale bitter deope into helle.

++[Gh]e q{uo}ð þis meiden [þ/] mei godd welden. ne mahe [gh]e nawt do me bute þet he wule þeauien [&] þolien ow to donne to mu{c}li mi mede {125} [&] te murhðe [þ/] lið to meiðhades menske. for eauer se [gh]e nu her mearreð me mare{;} se mi crune schal beon brihttre ba [&] fehere. for{}þi ich chulle bliðeliche [&] wið bliðe heorte drehen eauer euch derf. for mi leofmones luue þe lufsume lau{er}d [&] softe me bið euch sar in his seruise. þu wult þu seist a[gh]eoue me to eleusium þe luðere. {130} a{}[gh]ef [f. 40v] me for nawiht ne [gh]eoue ich for inc nowðer. Þet [gh]e mahen ane pine me here. Ah hit ne hearmeð me nawt ah helpeð [&] heueð up [&] makeð mine murhðes monifalde in heouene. ant [gh]ef [gh]e doð me to deað. hit bið deore to godd. [&] ich schal bliðe bicumen to endelese blissen. ant [gh]e schulen wrecches wei ower wurðes. {135} [þ/] [gh]e weren iþe worlt iboren [&] i{}broht forð se wraðer heale [gh]e schule sinken adun to sar [&] to eche sorhe. to bitternesse ant to bale deope into helle.

[Linenote: 125. _mutli_ MS.]

+H+ire feder affrican þ{urh} þis bittre teone bitahte hire to elewsium þe luðere [f. 59v] reue. ant he lette bringen hire biuoren him to his heh seotel as he set in dome as reue of þe burhe . . . {115}

[++A]ffrican hire feader bitterliche iteonet bitahtte hire eleusium þe luðere reue of rome [&] lette bringen hire biuoren his {140} eh{}sihðe. as he set [&] demde. þe hehe burh domes. . . . . . .

[f. 61r] þa elewsius iseh þis [þ/] ha þus feng on to festnen hire seoluen þohte [þ/] he walde anan don hire ut of dahene [&] bed swiðe bringen hire brune of wallinde breas ant healden on hire heauet [þ/] hit urne endelong hire leofliche bodi dun to þe helen ant swa me dude sone. ah hire hende healent wiste hire unweommet. elewsius {120} warð wod ut of his witte. ant nuste hwet seggen [&] het swiðe don hire ut of his ehsihðe. [&] dreihen hire into darc hus [&] p{ri}sunes pine. ant he duden sone. Heo as ha þrinne wes in þeosternesse hire ane feng te cleopien to crist ant bidden þeos bone.

[f. 41v] [++Þ]a eleusius seh [þ/] ha þ{us} feng on to festnin hire seoluen isoðe bileaue{;} þohte he walde don hire anan ut of dahene : [&] bed biliue bringen forð brune walli{n}de bres. [&] healden hit se wal [f. 42r] hat hehe up on hire heaued. [þ/] hit urne {145} enddelong hire leofliche lich adun to hire helen. Me dude al as he het. Ah þe worldes wealdent [þ/] wiste sein iuhan his ewang{e}liste unhurt iðe ueat of wallinde eoli þer he wes i{}don in. [þ/] ase hal com up þrof{;} as he wes hal meiden. þe ilke liues lau{er}d. wiste him unwemmet. his brud of þe bres [þ/] wes wallinde. swa [þ/] ne þuhte {150} hit hire buten ase wlech weater al [þ/] ha felde. Eleusius wod þa nuste hwet segen. Ah hehte swiðe don hire ut of his eh{}sihðe. [&] dreaien in{}to dorc hus to prisunes pine ant swa ha wes idon sone.

[Linenotes: 143. After _hire_, _[o.]f_ MS. || 146. _he[a.]len_ MS.]

++Lauerd godd al mihti. mi murhðe ant mi mede mi sy ant mi {125} selhðe þu isist hu icham bistaðet ant bi{}stonden festne mi bileaue steor me ant streng me. for al mi strencðe is uppon þe. mi fedeR. [&] mi modeR for ich nulle for{}saken þe{;} habbeð for{}saken me [&] al mi nest falde cun me heaneð þet schulden mine freond beon{;} beoð me mest feondes ant mine hinen me beoð mest heanen ah habbich þin {130} anes help icham wil cweme ne leaf þume neuer liuiende lauerd as þu wistest daniel bimong þe wode leuns ant te þreo chil[f. 61v]dren ananie zacharie misael inempnet.

[++H]eo as ha þrinne wes i þeost{er}nesse hire ane. feng to {155} cleopien to c{ri}st [&] bidde þeos bone. lau{er}d godd al{}mihti mi murhðe [&] mi mede. mi s[.y] [&] al þe selhðe. [þ/] ich efter seche þu sist al hu ich am bisteaðet [&] bistonden. festne mi bileaue. Riht me [&] read me. for al mi trust is on þe. Steor me [&] streng me for al mi strengðe is of þe. Mi feader [&] Mi moder for{}þi [þ/] ich nule þe {160} forsaken{;} habbe forsake me. [&] al mi nestfalde cun. [þ/] schulde beo me best freond{;} beoð me meast feondes. [&] mine in{}hinen{;} alre meast hea[r]men. herewurðe healent. habbe [f. 42v] ich þin anes help. ich am wil{}cweme ne forleaf þu me nawt luuiende lau{er}d. as þu biwistest daniel bimong þe wode liuns ilatet se luðere. [&] te þreo {165} children þe chearre nalden from þe lahen [þ/] ha schulden luuien. Ananie [&] Azarie [&] Misahel inempnet.

[Linenotes: 159. Between _mi_ and _trust_, erasure of five letters MS. || 163. _heamen_ MS.]

bi{}wistest unweo{m}met from þe ferliche fur of þe furneise swa þu wite ant witen me to witen me from sunne. lauerd þurh þis lease lif{;} lead me to lestinde to þe hauene {135} of heale as þu leddest israeles folc þurh þe reade sea buten schip druifot ant hare fan senchtest [þ/] ham efter sohten afal þumine famen ant to{}drif drihtin þen deouel [þ/] me derueð. for ne mei na mon wið{}uten þi strencðe stonden him a[gh]eines lef me [þ/] ich mote i{}seon him [gh]et schent{;} [þ/] weneð me to schrenchen ant schunchen of þe {140} weie{;} [þ/] leadeð to eche lif. wite me from his lað ant wið his crefti crokes. wite me wið mine unwines [þ/] tu beo euer iheret ant iheiet in heouene ant in eorðe beo þu áá iblescet as þu were ant art. ant euer schalt beon in eche blisse. amen.

Al þu al wealdent biwistest ha{m} unwemmet. wid [þ/] ferliche fur i þe furneise. swa þu wunne of þe worlt wite me [&] were [&] wit{er}e. [&] wisse þurh þi wisdom to wite me wið sunne. lau{er}d liues lattow. lead me þurh þis lease. þis lutle {170} leastinde lif{;} to þe hauene of heale. As þu lead`d´est isr{ae}les leode of egipte bute schip dru fot þurh þe reade sea. [&] asenchtest hare uan þe ferden ham efter. [&] tu folkes feader. aual mine va{}men. [&] tu drihtin to{}drif þe deouel [þ/] me derueð. for ne mei na monnes st`r´engðe wið{}uten þin stonden him to [gh]eines. lef me [þ/] ich mote {175} mihti meinfule godd iseon him ischeomet [gh]et þe weneð me to schrenchen. [&] schunchen of þe nearowe wei [þ/] leadeð to eche lif. loke me from his lað liuiende lau{er}ð. Make me war [&] wite me wið his crefti crokes. [þ/] ha me ne crechen. were me swa wið þen vnwine. helpleses heale. [Þ/] tu beo iheiet [&] i{}heret eaure in eorðe. as in {180} heouene. [f. 43r] Beo þu aa iblescet lau{er}d as þu were ant art [&] schalt beon in eche.

[Linenote: 177. After _[&]_, _[þ.][u.][n.]_ MS.]

XX. THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"i. Jesus College, Oxford, E 29 (J); see [VI, Alfred]. ii. Cotton Caligula A 9, British Museum (C); see XIV, La[gh]amon. They are copies of a common exemplar X, which was probably taken directly from the poet's original. X was written by two scribes; the work of the first is represented in ll. 1-353 of the present selection; that of the second in ll. 354-437; the former was accustomed to French scribal methods. The writer of C was a mechanical copyist and not at home in English, consequently he reproduces X with tolerable accuracy. The scribe of J was more independent (see [VI, Alfred, second paragraph in the e-text])."]]

(Jesus College MS.)

(Cotton MS.)

[Transcriber's Note: The page numbers from the two MSS overlap: Jesus 229r¹ - 241v²; Cotton 233r¹ - 246r¹.]

+Incip{it} Alt{er}cacio int{er} filomenam [&] Bubonem.+

++Ich wes in one sumere dale. [f. 229r¹ In one swiþe dyele hale. I herde ich holde grete tale. An vle and one n[.y]htegale. Þat playd wes· stif· [&] starc· [&] stro{n}g. 5 Sum hwile softe· [&] lud among. And eyþer a{}yeyn oþer swal. And let þat vuele mod vt al. And eyþer seyde of oþres custe. þat alre wrste þat hi ywuste. 10 [&] hure [&] hure of oþres songe. hi holde playding swiþe stronge.

[Linenote: 6. _among_] _o_ corr. out of _g_.]

++Ich was in one sum{er}e dale. [f. 233r¹ In one suþe di[gh]ele hale. I herde ich holde grete tale. An hule and one ni[gh]tingale. Þat plait was stif [&] starc [&] stro{n}g. 5 Sum wile softe [&] lud among. An a{i}þer a[gh]en oþer sval. [&] let þat wole mod ut al. [&] eiþer seide of oþeres custe. þat alre worste þat hi wuste. 10 [&] hure and hure of oþere[s] songe Hi holde plaiding suþe stronge.

[Linenotes: XX. 7. _asþer_. _oþer_ in margin MS. || 10. _al[e.]re_ MS.]

Þe Nihtegale bi gon þo speke. In one hurne of one beche. [&] sat vp one vayre bowe. 15 þat were abute blostme ynowe. In ore vaste thikke hegge. I meynd myd spire. [&] g{re}ne segge. He wes þe gladd{re}. vor þe ryse. [&] song a veole cunne wyse. 20 Bet þuhte þe drem. þat he were. of harpe· [&] pipe· þan he nere. Bet þuhte þat heo were i{}shote. of harpe· [&] pipe· þan of þrote.

++Þe ni[gh]tingale bigon þe speche. In one hurne of one breche. [&] sat upone vaire bo[gh]e. 15 þar were abute blosme ino[gh]e. In ore waste þicke hegge. Imeind mid spire [&] grene segge. Ho was þe gladur uor þe rise. [&] song auele cunne wise. 20 {B}et þu[gh]te þe dreim þat he were. Of harpe [&] pipe þan he nere. Bet þu[gh]te þat he were ishote. Of harpe [&] pipe þan of þrote.

[Linenotes: 21. _Bet_] _Het_ MS. || 23. _is hote_ MS.]

Þo stod on old stok. þar b[.y] side. 25 Þar þe vle song hire tyde. And wes myd ivi al bi{}growe. Hit wes þare vle erdingstowe.

[Þ]o stod on old stoc þarbiside. 25 þar þo vle song hire tide. [&] was mid iui al{}bigrowe. Hit was þare hule eardingstowe.

Þe Nihtegale hi iseyh. [&] hi{}biholdeþ. and ouer{}seyh. 30 [&] þuhte wel ful of þare vle. For me hi halt. lodlich [&] fule. | vnwyht heo seide a{}wey þu fleo. [f. 229r² Me is þe wurs. þat ich þe iseo. Iwis for þine wle lete. 35 wel ofte ich my song fur{}lete Min heorte atflyhþ· [&] falt my tunge. hwenne þu art to me i{}þrunge. Me luste bet speten þane singe. of þine fule howelynge. 40

[Þ]e ni[gh]tingale hi ise[gh]. [&] hi bihold [&] ouerse[gh]. 30 [&] þu[gh]te wel wl of þare hule. For me hi halt lodlich [&] fule. vn wi[gh]t ho sede a{}wei þu flo. Me is þe wrs þat ich þe so. | I wis for þine wle lete. [f. 233r² 35 wel oft ich mine song forlete. Min horte atfliþ [&] falt mi tonge. wonne þu art to me iþrunge. Me luste bet speten þane singe. Of þine fule [gh]o[gh]elinge. 40

Þeos vle abod for hit wes eve. heo ne myhte no leng bileue. vor hire heorte wes so gret. þat wel neyh hire fnast at{}set. [&] warp a word þar after longe. 45 hw þynk þe nu bi mine songe. Wenestu þat ich ne kunne singe.

++Þos hule abod fort hit was eve. Ho ne mi[gh]te no leng bileue. vor hire horte was so gret. þat welne[gh] hire fnast at{}schet. [&] warp a word þar aft{er} longe. 45 Hu þincþe nu bi mine songe. we[n]st þu þat ich ne cunne singe.

Þe ich ne cunne of wrytelinge. Ilome þu dest me grome. [&] seist me boþe teone [&] schome. 50 If ich þe heolde on myne vote. So hit bitide þat ich mote. [&] þu were vt of þine ryse. þu scholdest singe on oþer wise.