Part 18

[&] lust. ich telle þe hwar{}vore. wostu to hwan· mon wes ibore. To þare blisse of heueryche. | 335 þar eu{er} is song. [&] Murehþe ilyche. [f. 234r² þider fundeþ euer ich man. þat eny þing of gode can. for þi me syngþ i{n} holy chireche. [&] clerekes gynneþ songes wrche. 340 þat mon yþenche. bi þe songe. hwider he shal. [&] þar beon longe.

An lust ich telle þe wareuore. | wostu to wan man was ibore. [f. 238r² To þare blisse of houene{}riche. 335 þar eu{er} is song [&] mur[gh]þe iliche. þid{er} fundeþ eurich man. þat eniþing of gode kan. vor þi me singþ in holi chirche. an clerkes ginneþ songes wirche. 340 þat man iþenche biþe songe. wid{er} he shal [&] þar bon longe.

þat he þe murehþe ne vor{}yete. Ac þar of þenche. [&] bi{}gete. [&] nyme yeme of chirche stefne. 345 hw Murie is þe blisse of heuene. Clerekes· Munekes· [&] canúnes. þar beoþ þos gode wike{}tunes. Ariseþ vp to middel{}nyhte. [&] singeþ of þon heuene{}lyhte. 350 [&] preostes vpe londe singeþ. [Hwenne þe liht of daye springeþ.] [&] ich heom helpe hwat ic may. . . . . . . [Linenotes: 344. _bi gete_] _bi gethe_ MS. || 352. Wanting in MS.]

þat he þe mur[gh]þe ne uor[gh]ete. Ac þar of þenche and bi{}[gh]ete. An nime [gh]eme of chirche steuene. 345 Hu murie is þe blisse of houene. Clerkes munekes [&] kanunes. þar boþ þos gode wicke tunes. Ariseþ up to midel{}ni[gh]te. An singeþ of þe houene li[gh]te. 350 An prostes upe londe singeþ. wane þe li[gh]t of daie springeþ. An ich hom helpe wat i mai. . . . . . .

++Þe Nihtegale myd sweche worde. [f. 241r² for monymo{n} myd speres orde. 355 haueþ lutle strengþe. [&] mid his schelde. Ah naþeles in one felde. þurh belde worde [&] myd ilete. Deþ his iuo· for arehþe swete. þe wrenne for heo cuþe singe. 360 þar com i{n} þare moreweninge. To helpe þare nyhtegale. vor heo hadde stefne smale.

++Þe ni[gh]tegale mid swucche worde. [f. 245v¹ for moniman mid speres orde. 355 haueþ lutle strencþe [&] mid his [s]chelde. Ah neoþeles in one felde. Þ{urh} belde worde an mid ilete. Deþ his iuo for arehþe swete. þe wranne for heo cuþe singe. 360 þar com in þare more[gh]e{n}[i]nge. To helpe þare ni[gh]tegale. For þah heo hadde steuene smale.

[Linenote: 361. _more [gh]eunge_ MS.]

heo hadde gode þrote [&] schille. [&] fale mo{n}ne song a wille. 365 þe wrenne· wes wel wis iholde. vor þeih heo nere ibred a wolde. heo wes itowen. am{on}g mankunne [&] hire wisdo{m} brouhte þenne. heo myhte speke hwar heo wolde. 370 To{}fore þe kinge· þah heo scholde. lusteþ· heo queþ· leteþ me speke. hwat wille ye. þis pays to breke.

Heo hadde gode þrote [&] schille. An fale manne song awille. 365 þe wranne was wel wis iholde. `Vor þeg heo nere ibred awolde.´ Ho was ito[gh]en among menne. An hire wisdom brohte þenne. Heo mi[gh]te speke hwar heo walde. 370 To{}uore þe king þah heo scholde. Lusteþ heo cwaþ lateþ me speke. Hwat wulle [gh]e þis pes to{}breke.

[Linenotes: 364. _þorte_ MS. || 367. This line comes after l. 378 in MS. || 368. _menne_] _mann[-e]ne_ MS.]

[&] do þan [kinge] such schome. yet nys heo nouþer ded ne lome. 375 hunke schal i{}tyde harm [&] schonde. If we doþ gryþ{}bruche on his lond{e}. Leteþ beo and beoþ isome. [&] fareþ riht to eure dome. [&] leteþ do{m} þis playd to breke. 380 Al{}so hit wes erure bi{}speke.

[Linenote: 374. _þan kinge_] _þanne_ MS.]

An do þan [kinge] swuch schame. [Gh]e[t] nis he nouþer ded ne lame. 375 Hunke schal i{}tide harm [&] scho{n}de. [Gh]ef [gh]e doþ griþ{}bruche on his londe. Lateþ beo [&] beoþ isome. | An fareþ riht to ower dome. [f. 245v² An lateþ dom þis plaid to breke. 380 Al swo hit was erur bispeke.

[Linenote: 374. _þan kinge_] _þanne_ MS.]

+I+ch vnne wel queþ þe Nihtegale. Ah wrenne· nouht for þine tale. Ac do for myre lauhfulnesse. Ic nolde þat vnrihtfulnesse. 385 Me at þen ende· me ouercome. Ic nam of dred. of none dome. Bi{}hote ic habbe· soþ hit is. þat ma[.y]ster Nichole. [þ/] is wis. Bi{}twihen eu deme schulle. 390 [&] yet ic wene þat he wulle. |

++Ich an wel cwað þe ni[gh]tegale. Ah wranne nawt for þire tale. Ah do for mire lahfulnesse. Ich nolde [þ/] unriht{}fulnesse. 385 Me at þen ende ouer{}kome. Ich nam of{}drad of none dome. Bi{}hote ich habbe soþ hit is. þat maister nichole [þ/] is wis. Bi{}tuxen vs deme schulde. 390 An [gh]ef ich wene [þ/] he wule.

Ah {w}ar myhte we hine fynde. [f. 241v¹ þe wrenne sat in hore lynde. hwat mihte yet quaþ heo his hom. heo wuneþ at portes{}hom. 395 At one tune in dorsete. Bi þare séé in ore vt{}lete. þar he demeþ mony riht dom. [&] diht [&] wryt mony wisdom. [&] þurh his muþe. [&] þurh his honde. 400 hit is þe betere in{}to scotlonde.

Ah war mihte we hine finde. þe wranne sat in ore linde. Hwat nu[gh]te [gh]e cwaþ heo his hom. He wuneþ at portes{}hom. 395 At one tune ine dorsete. Bi þar{e} see in ore ut{}lete. þar he demeþ manie ri[gh]te dom. An diht [&] writ mani wisdom. An þ{urh} his muþe [&] þ{urh} his honde. 400 Hit is þe betere into scot{}londe.

To seche hyne. is lyhtlych þing. he naueþ buten o wunyng. [þ/] is biscopen muchel schame. [&] alle þan [þ/] of his nome. 405 habbeþ iherd. [&] of his dede. hwi nulleþ hi nyme{n} heo{m} to rede. [þ/] he were myd heom ilome. vor teche heo{m} of his wisdome. [&] yeue him rente on vale stude. 410 [þ/] he myhte ilome heo{m} beo myde.

[Linenotes: 392. _war_] _þar_ MS. || 394. _[l.]yet_ MS.]

To seche hine is lihtlich þing. He naueþ bute one woning. [þ/] his bischopen muchel schame. An alle þan [þ/] of his nome. 405 Habbeþ ihert. [&] of his dede. Hwi nulleþ hi nimen heo{m} to rede. [þ/] he were mid heom ilome. for teche heom of his wis{}dome. An [gh]iue him rente auale stude. 410 [þ/] he mi[gh]te heom ilome be mide.

[Linenote: 409. _t[h.]eche_ MS.]

+C+ertes quaþ þe vle. þat is soþ. þeos riche men· Muchele mys{}doþ. þat leteþ þane gode man. þat of so fele þinge can. 415 [&] yeueþ rente wel mislyche. [&] of him leteþ wel lyhtliche. wiþ heore kunne heo beoþ Mildre. [&] yeueþ rente lutle childre. so heore wit hi demeþ adwole. 420 [þ/] eu{er} abit Mayster Nichole. Ah vte we þah· to him fare, vor þat is vnk{er} dom al yare

+C+ertes cwaþ þe hule [þ/] is soð. | þeos riche men wel muche misdoð. [f. 246v¹ [þ/] leteþ þane godemon. [þ/] of so feole þinge con. 415 An [gh]iueþ rente wel misliche. An of him leteþ wel lihtliche. wið heore cunne heo beoþ mildre. An [gh]eueþ rente litle childre. swo heore wit hi demþ adwole. 420 [þ/] euer abid maistre nichole. Ah ute we þah to him fare. For þar is unker dom al [gh]are.

[Linenote: 413. _misdoð_] _ð_ corr. out of some other letter.]

+D+o we þe Nihtegale seyde. Ah hwo schal vnk{er} speche rede. 425 [&] telle to{}vore vnker dome.

+D+o we þe ni[gh]tegale seide. ah wa schal unker speche rede. 425 An telle to{}uore unker deme.

þar of ic schal þe wel iqueme Queþ þe vle. for al ende of orde. | Telle ic con. word after worde. [f. 241v² [&] if þe þinkþ þat ic mis{}rempe. 430 þu stond ayeyn and do me crempe. Mid þisse worde forþ hi ferden. Al bute here and bute verde. To portes ham. þer hi bicome. Ah hw heo spedde of heore dome. 435 Ne can ic eu namore telle. her nys namore of þisse spelle. Explicit.

[Linenote: 435. _hw heo sp_ on an erasure.]

++Þar{}of ich schal þe wel icweme. Cwaþ þe houle for al ende of orde. Telle ich con word after worde. An [gh]ef þe þincþ [þ/] ich mis{}rempe. 430 þu stond a[gh]ei{n} [&] do me crempe. Mid þisse worde forþ hi ferden. Al bute here and bute uerde. To portes{}ham [þ/] heo bi{}come. Ah hu heo spedde of heore dome. 435 Ne can ich eu namore telle. Her nis na more of þis spelle.

[Linenotes: 431. _dome_ MS. || 436. _chan_ MS.]

XXI. THE BESTIARY

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"Arundel 292, British Museum: on vellum, 200 × 130 mm.: late thirteenth century.... The Bestiary is written continuously, but the initials of the lines and, in the long metres, of the half lines are mostly rubricated.... Latin headings are in red, some are on the margin, the others at the head of their sections. As will be seen from the footnotes, the manuscript was much corrected or altered over erasures, and that after it was finished, for the substituted words do not always fill the gaps left by the scraper. The first leaves of the exemplar were probably damaged at the lower margin, since defective or difficult passages occur at regular intervals, so l. 32, ll. 89-92, 120, 121, 143, 144, 173, 200, 201."]]

[[Line indentations, including those of ll. 504-515, are as printed.]]

+Na{tur}a leo{n}is i^a.+

++Ðe leun stant on hille . [&] he man hunten here. [f. 4r Oðer ðurg his nese smel . Smake ðat he negge. Bi wilc weie so he wile . To dele niðer wenden. Alle hise fet steppes . After him he filleð. 5 Drageð dust wið his stert . ðer he [dun] steppeð. Oðer dust oðer deu . ðat he ne cunne is finden. driueð dun to his den . ðar he him bergen wille.

+ij^a.+

++An oðer kinde he haueð . wanne he is ikindled. 10 Stille lið ðe leun . ne stireð he nout of slepe. Til ðe sunne haueð sinen . ðries him abuten. ðanne reiseð his faðer him . mit te rem ðat he makeð.

+iij^a.+

Ðe ðridde lage haueð ðe leun . ðanne he lieð to slepen. 15 Sal he neure luken . ðe lides of hise egen.

+Significac{i}o p{ri}me nat{ur}e.+

++Welle heg is tat hil . ðat is heuen{}riche. vre louerd is te leun . ðe liueð ðer abuuen. wu ðo him likede . to ligten her on erðe. 20 Migte neure diuel witen . ðog he be derne hunte. hu he dun come. Ne wu he dennede him . in ðat defte meiden. Marie bi name . ðe him bar to manne frame.

+ij^a [&] iij^a.+ 25

++Ðo ure drigten ded was. [&] doluen also his wille was. In a ston stille he lai. til it kam ðe dridde dai. His fader him filstnede swo. 30 ðat he ros fro dede ðo. vs to lif holden. wakeð so his wille is   So hirde for his folde. He is hirde. we ben sep . Silden he us wille. If we heren to his word . ðat we ne gon nowor wille. 35

+Natura aquile.+

++Kiðen i wille ðe ernes kinde. Also ic it o boke rede. wu he neweð his guð{}hede. hu he cumeð ut of elde. 40 Siðen hise limes arn unwelde. Siðen his bec is alto{}wrong. Siðen his | fligt is al unstrong. [f. 4v [&] his egen dimme. Hereð wu he neweð him. 45 A welle he sekeð ðat sp{ri}ngeð ai. boðe bi nigt [&] bi dai. ðer ouer he flegeð [&] up he teð. til ðat he ðe heuene seð. ðurg skies sexe [&] seuene. 50 til he cumeð to heuene. So rigt so he cunne. he houeð in ðe sunne. ðe sunne swideð al his fligt. [&] oc it makeð his egen brigt. 55 Hise feðres fallen for ðe hete. [&] he dun mide to ðe wete. Falleð i{n} ðat welle grund. ðer he wurdeð heil [&] sund. [&] cumed ut al newe. 60 Ne were his bec untrewe. His bec is get biforn wro{n}g. ðog hise limes senden strong. Ne maig he tilen him no{n} fode. him self to none gode. 65 ðanne goð he to á ston. [&] he billeð ðer{}on. Billeð til his bec biforn. haueð ðe wrengðe forloren. Siðen wið his rigte bile. 70 takeð mete ðat he wile.

[Linenote: 64. _maig_ on an erasure.]

+Significacio.+

++Al is man so is tis ern. wulde ge nu listen. Old in hise sinnes dern. 75 or he bicumeð cristen. [&] tus he neweð hi{m} ðis man. ða{n}ne he nimeð to kirke. Or he it biðenken can. hise egen weren mirke. 80 Forsaket ðore satanas. [&] ilk sinful dede. Takeð hi{m} to ih{es}u crist. for he sal ben his mede. Leueð on ure loue[r]d crist. 85 [&] lereð prestes lore. Of hise egen wereð ðe mist. wiles he dreccheð ðore. His hope is al to godeward. [&] of his luue he lereð. 90 ðat is te sunne sikerlike. ðus his sigte he beteð. Naked falleð in ðe funt{}fat. [&] cumeð ut al newe. buten alitel wat is tat. 95 his muð is get untrewe. His muð is get wel unkuð. wið pat{er} n{oste}r [&] crede. Fare he norð. er fare he suð. leren he sal his nede. 100 bidden bone to gode. [&] tus his muð rigten. tilen him so ðe sowles fode | ðurg {grace} off ure drigtin. [f. 5r

[Linenotes: 74. _listlen_ MS. || 77. _h[-i]_ corr. out of _hu_. || _ðis man ðanne he_ on an erasure. || 80. This line in fainter brown ink. || 83, 84. _Takeð ... he_ on an erasure. || 87. _hise_] _i_ corr. out of _p_. || 89, 90. _is hope is ... luue_ on an erasure: l. 90 originally began _ha after luue a_.]

+Natura Serpe{n}tis. j^a.+ 105

An wirm is o werlde . wel man it knoweð. Neddre is te name . ðus he him neweð. ðanne he is forbroken [&] forbroiden . [&] in his elde al forwurden. Fasteð til his fel him slakeð . ten daies fulle. ðat he is lene [&] mainles   [&] iuele mai gangen. 110 he c{re}peð cripelande forð . his craft he ðus kiðeð. Sekeð a ston ðat a ðirl is on. Narwe buten he nedeð him . Nimeð vnneðes ðurg. for his fel he ðer leteð . his fles forð crepeð. walkeð to ðe wat{er} ward . wile ðanne drinken. 115 Oc he speweð or al ðe uenim. ðat i{n} his brest is bred . fro his birde time. drinkeð siðen inog . [&] tus he him neweð.

[Linenote: 105. On an erasure.]

+ij^a.+

++Ðanne ðe neddre is of his hid naked. 120 [&] bare of his brest atter. If he naked man se . ne wile he him nogt neggen. Oc he fleð fro him . als he fro fir sulde. If he cloðed man se cof he waxeð. For up he rigteð him redi to deren. 125 to deren er to ded maken if he it muge forðen. wat if ðe man war wurðe . [&] weren him cunne. figteð wið ðis wirm . [&] f[a]reð on him figtande. ðis neddre siðen he nede sal. makeð seld of his bodi . [&] sildeð his heued. 130 litel hi{m} is of hise limes . bute he lif holde.

[Linenote: 122. _neggen_] the initial _n_ on an erasure MS.]

+[Significacio.]+

++Knov c{ri}stene man . wat tu c{ri}st higtest Atte kirke dure . ðar ðu c{ri}stned were. ðu higtes to leuen on him . [&] hise lages luuien. 135 to helden wit herte . ðe bodes of holi k[i]rke. If ðu hauest is broken. Al ðu forbredes . forwurðes [&] forgelues. Eche lif to wolden . Elded art fro eche blis. So ðis wirm o werld is. 140 Newe ðe fordi . so ðe neddre doð. It is te ned. Feste ðe of stedefastnesse . [&] ful of ðewes. [&] help ðe poure | men . ðe gangen abuten. [f. 5v Ne deme ðe nog[t] wurdi . ðat tu dure loken. 145 up to ðe heueneward. Oc walke wið ðe erðe mildelike among men. no mod ðu ne cune . mod ne mannes vncost. oc swic of sineginge. [&] bote bid tu ðe ai . boðe bi nigt [&] bi dai. 150 ðat tu milce mote hauen . of ðine misdedes. ðis lif bitokneð ðe sti. ðat te neddre gangeð bi. [&] tis is ðe ðirl of ðe ston. ðat tu salt ðurg gon. 155 Let ðin filðe fro ðe . so ðe wirm his fel doð. Go ðu ðan to godes hus . ðe godspel to heren. ðat is soule dri{n}k . sinnes quenching. Oc or sei ðu in scrifte . to ðe prest sinnes tine. feg ðe ðus of ði brest filde . [&] feste ðe forðward. 160 fast at tin h{er}te . ðat tu firmest higtes. ðus art tu ging [&] newe. forðward be ðu trewe. Nedeð ðe ðe deuel nogt . for he ne mai ðe deren nogt. oc he fleð fro ðe . so neddre fro de nakede. 165 On ðe cloðede ðe neddre is cof . [&] te deuel cliuer on sinnes. Ai ðe sinfule bisetten he wile. [&] wið al mankin he haueð nið [&] win. wat if he leue haue of ure heuen louerd. 170 for to deren us . So he ure eldere or dede. do we ðe bodi in ðe bale . [&] bergen ðe soule. ðat is ure heued geuelic . helde we it wurðlic.

[Linenote: 160. _segðe_ MS.]

+Natura formice.+

++Ðe mire is magti . mikel ge swinkeð. 175 In sum{er} [&] i{n} softe weder . So we `ofte´ sen hauen. In ðe heruest . hardilike gangeð. [&] renneð rapelike . [&] resteð hire seldum. [&] fecheð hire fode . ðer ge it mai finden. gaddreð ilkines sed. 180 boðen of wude [&] of wed. Of corn [&] of gres. ðat ire to hauen es. haleð to hire `hole´ . ðat siðen hire helpeð. ðar ge wile ben winter | agen. [f. 6r 185 caue ge haueð to crepen in . ðat wint{er} hire ne derie. Mete i{n} hire hule ðat . ðat ge muge biliuen. ðus ge tileð ðar   wiles ge time haueð. so it her telleð. oc finde ge ðe wete . corn ðat hire qwemeð. 190 Al ge forleteð ðis oðer seð ðat ic er seide. Ne bit ge nowt de barlic beren abuten. oc suneð it [&] sakeð forð . so it same were. get is wund{er} of ðis wirm . more ðanne man weneð. ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð . al get bit otwinne. 195 ðat it ne forwurðe . ne waxe hire fro. er ge it eten wille.

[Linenotes: 176. _ofte_ added in margin MS. || 184. _hole_ added on lower margin MS. || 188. Space before _ðar_: _ð_ rubricated and red afterwards erased MS.]

+Significacio.+

++Ðe mire muneð us mete to tilen. Long liuenoðe ðis little wile. 200 ðe we on ðis werld wunen. for ðanne we of wenden . ðanne is ure wint{er}. we sulen hung{er} hauen . [&] harde sures. buten we ben war here. do we forði. so doð ðis der . ðanne be we derue. 205 On ðat dai ðat dom sal ben . ðat it ne us harde rewe. Seke we ure liues fod . ðat we ben siker ðere. So ðis wirm in wint{er} is . ðan ge ne tileð nu{m}more. ðe mire suneð ðe barlic ðanne ge fint te wete. ðe olde lage we ogen to sunen . ðe newe we hauen mote{n}. 210 ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð . all ge it bit otwinne. ðe lage us lereð to don god . [&] forbedeð us sinne. It be{t} us e{rðl}iche bodes . [&] bekned euelike. It fet ðe licham [&] te gost . oc nowt o geuelike. vre louerd c{ri}st it lene us ðat his lage us fede. 215 nu [&] o domesdei . [&] tanne we hauen nede.

[Linenotes: 211. _ðe corn_ on an erasure. || 213. _ben_ MS. || _ebriche_ MS. || 216. _we_ on an erasure.]

+Natura cerui.+

++Ðe hert haueð kindes two. [&] forbisnes oc al so. ðus it is on boke set. 220 ðat man clepeð fisiologet. He drageð ðe neddre of de ston. ðurg his nese up on{}on. of ðe stoc er of ðe ston. for it wile ðerunder gon. 225 [&] sweleð it wel swiðe. ðerof him brinneð siðen. of ðat attrie ðing. wiðinnen he | haueð brenni{n}g. [f. 6v he lepeð ðanne wið mikel list. 230 of swet wat{er} he haueð ðrist. he drinkeð wat{er} gredilike. til he is ful wel sikerlike. Ne haueð ðat uenim no{n} migt. to deren him siðen no{n} wigt. 235 oc he werpeð er hise hornes. in wude er in ðornes. [&] gingid him ðus ðis wilde der. So ge hauen nu lered her.

[Linenote: 236. _er_ on an erasure.]

+Significac{i}o. prima.+ 240

++Alle we atter dragen off ure eldere. ðe broken drigtinnes word{}ðurg ðe neddre. ðer{}ðurg haueð mankin. boðen nið [&] win. {g}olsipe. [&] giscing. 245 giu{er}nesse [&] wissing. p{ri}de [&] ouerwene. swilc atter i{}mene. Ofte we brennen i{n} mod. [&] wurden so we weren wod. 250 ðanne we ðus brennen. bihoueð us to rennen. to c{ri}stes quike welle. ðat we ne gon to helle. drinken his wissing. 255 it quenchet ilc siniging. forwerpen p{ri}de euril[c] del. so hert doð hise hornes. gingen us tus to godeward. [&] gemen us siðen forðwarð. 260

[Linenotes: 244. After _win_, a letter erased. || 245. _kolsipe_, with _i_ on an erasure. || 256. _ilc siniging_ on an erasure.]

+Nat{ur}a. ij^a.+

Ðe hertes hauen anoðer kinde. ðat us og alle to ben minde. Alle he arn off one mode. For if he fer fetchen fode. 265 [&] he ouer wat{e}r ten. wile non at nede oðer flen. Oc on swimmeð bi{}forn. [&] alle ðe odre folegen. weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð 270 Is no{n} at nede ðat oðer lateð. Oc leigeð his ski{n}bon. on oðres lendbon. gef him ðat biforn teð. Bilimpes for to tirgen. 275 Alle ðe oðre cumen mide. [&] helpen him for to her[t]ien. beren him of ðat wat{er} grund up to ðe lond al heil [&] sund. [&] forðen here nede. 280 ðis wune he hauen hem bi{}twen ðog he an hundred to giddre ben.

[Linenote: 277. _herien_ MS.]

+Signific{acio}. ij^a.+

++Ðe hertes costes we ogen to munen. Ne og ur non oðer to sunen. 285 oc eurilc luuen oðer. also he were his broder. wurðen stedefast his | wine. [f. 7r ligten him of his birdene. helpen him at his nede. 290 god giueð ðer{}fore mede. we sulen hauen heuenriche. gef we b{i}{}twixen us ben briche. ðus is ure louerdes lage   luuelike to fillen. her of haue we mikel ned . ðat we ðar{}wið ne dillen. 295

[Linenotes: 285. _to sunen_ on an erasure. || 293. _ben twixen_ MS.]

+Natura Wulpis.+