Chapter 3 of 21 · 3951 words · ~20 min read

Part 3

Eft bine fece [&] þes lare [&] lage swiðe acolede þurh manifea[l]d {90} {s}énne. [&] hur [&] hur þurh false gódes þe ælc þiode ha{m} selfe macéde. sume of golde. súm of silure. of treowe. of stane. [&] awente godes lof [&] wrhminte fra{m} þe sceappende to þare [gh]esceafte. swa [þ/] þa ure halende wes accenned of þa{m} unwe{m}mede mede sante Marie. al se midde{n}nard was mid senne begripe. [&] al fol`c´ [gh]ede i{n}{}to þe`s´ diefles muðe. buto{n} {95} wel feáwe of wa{m} his lefe moder wes istriened. he þa arerd alle godnisse. [&] sette his halíe láge. [&] þat þe móre his. [gh]iaf miht [&] stre{n}cþe þur{h} þe gief of his gaste his hesne to fulforðie. [þ/] non oðre la[gh]e ne mihte. [&] understandeð hwu. Þri ampres were an mancyn ær his to cyme. Ure acenneng wes ful. u{r} lif unwreast. ur deað grislic. he {100} co{m} [&] brochte þri þi{n}[g] þ{er} a[gh]én. he wes acénde of þe clene mede. þe efer þurh lefede mede. hi`s´ lif was hali[gh]e. his deað ful of milce. his clene acennende clé{n}séde ure fule acenne{n}de. his hali lif rihtlecede ure unwreaste lif. his admoded deað ofer{}co{m}. [&] fordede ure sori[gh]e [&] [gh]elice deað. þís is [f. 57v¹] si fierðe láge.

[Linenotes: 90. _manifeald sénne_] _manifead fénne_ MS. || 98. _þurh_] _þurl_ MS. || 100. _ur_] _un_ MS.]

An þisser were ærndraces [&] {105} [gh]elaðieres þa ap{ost}les [&] þe leorni{n}ch[n]ihtes. þer{}efter ures helendes upstí[gh]e to heuene. þa ap{ost}les [&] hare íunglenges þe[r] efter come halíe men [&] þe hafedmen þe nu beoð in halíe cyrce. [&] wrðeð of domes dé[gh]e. þurh þes hali gastes [gh]ífe. [&] al{}swa ure helende ha{m} leórde. maní[gh]e þing [t]ehten þa folce to freme. [&] þis is si fifte lage. An þisser beoð bedeles {110} [&] laðieres to b{e}rie archebisc{opes}. [&] biscop{es}. prestes. [&] hare [gh]egeng. Ac þah we fif næ{m}míe. alle hi [beoð an] on godes wille. [&] élc of ha{m} [gh]estrenð [&] fulfellþ oðre. Of þeses fif ceþen [&] of hare bedeles we habbeð [gh]éu [gh]éséd. Of þe folce we siggeð [þ/] hit cu{m}þ fastlice. fram middenardes anginn alse fele alse deade beoð alse fele beoð to b{er}ie ícóme. wat frend. {115} wat fá. [&] elce dé[gh]íe þícce þringeð. Ac [gh]ief [gh]é habbeð und{er}stande [þ/] we [gh]íu er séde. eter gate me his scýft. [&] þer me hi to [gh]esceodeð. Si gate [þ/] is elces mannes endedeíe. þ{an} he stepð ut of þese life into þan oðre. Ac we sede [gh]ehw. [þ/] [gh]ief he frend were me sceolde [gh]ief hi{m} his mór[gh]e mete [þ/] he þe bet mihte abide þan{n} more mete.

[Linenotes: 112. _hi_] _hit_ MS. || 118. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || _oðre_] _ooðre_ MS.]

Swa hit is here. {120} þ{an} se gode man þe godes lufe hað [gh]éfolged to is ende cu{m}þ. wite{r}lice wið{}ut uúantruce þer cumeð þe hali engles hi{m} tó. [&] [gh]éf hað ahte uniwasse oðer hit wrð [gh]ewasse iþer pine of þe deaðe þe he her þáleð. oðer efter mid eðelice lette. [&] þ{an} lat me þa sawle to merchestowe. [þ/] his se mor[gh]emete si blisse þe he hað an þar sawle. þat wite [gh]e wel. {125} nan halege nað his fulle blisse er he under{}fó adomes deíe his licame. [þ/] wrð se fulle mete. þa{n} se mann mid sawle [&] mid licame und{er}-fangð sicernesse of écer blisse. [&] wat beli{m}pð hit [gh]ief he fend his `þe´ to þare gate cu{m}þ? God þurh his [f. 57v²] mucele milce ne letes us nefer fandie. Ac naþeles [gh]ief he fend his an unwreast mann þer beoð {130} anú [gh]eréd`i´e. þe weregede gastes þe hine uniredlice und{er}fangeð mi{d} stiarne swupen. Alse fele unþeawes alse hade upe him [&] sennenn. al swa fendes he þer [gh]emet. h[-i]ne to und{er}fó. [&] to don h[-i]ne into þiesternesse. oft a domes d[gh]éi alle godes fend simle fra{m} his [gh]esecðe abroden bienn [&] hi[n] to hare lean ha{m} þe lange scel [gh]eleste.

[Linenotes: 121. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || _witerlice_] _witetlice_ MS. || 124. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || 131. _mid_] _min_ MS.]

Þus hit hað íbí [&] {135} is. [&] wrð oft domesdei. Ac þan{n} hit þer to cumþ [þ/] se hlaford á þe mucele deíe. cumþ forté ísí [&] frend [&] fend. þann cumþ all his und{er}þiede hi{m} to{}fore. þer he sit mid his derewrþe [gh]efered mid ni[gh]en anglene had. mid þer unw[-e]mmed meide his moder. mid his ap{ost}len. mid þa hágefad{er}en. [&] þo halí[gh]e wítien. mid martiren. mi[d] hali {140} {con}fessore{n} mid halie meiden. mid al þan þe þer midenarde for his lufe werpeð abéc. [&] lagelice her hi{m} þenið. wic [gh]eíe. wic drednesse wurð þer. þ{an} þat fer to{}for hi{m} abernð [þ/] middenard. þ{an} si eorðe alle cwace{ð} þan þe sterren falleð. si sunne [&] se mone aþestreð for godes b{ri}ctnesse. þe wlcne to gað. and si hali rode tacne mid þe {145} spere [&] mid þe neiles þurh angles beoð forð ibrocht. þan{n} þe angles cwaciað. [&] tó richtwíse ha{m} adredeð. wat sceol se senfulle don. þe isecgð þer his richtwise deme. þe non ne maíe bechece. non beswice. he his hi{m} sel{f} witnisse [&] deme. Wat sceol se wrecce don. þe bufon isé[gh]ð his hlaford þe he [gh]egremed áfeð. under hi{m} helle muð open. {150} abuuten hi{m} all folc. hi{m} selfe bi s`c´a[n]dlice senne beswapen. þer ne mái no{n} frend oðre helpe. ælc had innóh to do{n}ne a{n} hi{m} selfe. Þan seie{ð} ha{m} god þe gelt[.y] ma{n}ne{n} [gh]e sene[gh]eden. an [gh]eur écenesse. [&] [gh]e scule [f. 58r¹] birne an mire écenisse. [Gh]e sene[gh]den alse lange alse [gh]é lefede [&] [gh]e scule birne alse lo{n}ge as íc lefie.

[Linenotes: 140. _þo_ corr. out of _to_ | _hali [gh]ewitien_ MS. || 143. _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || _middenard_] _middernad_ MS. || _þan_] _[þ/]_ MS. || 144. _cwaceð_] _cwaced_ MS. || 149. _self_] _selþ_ MS. || 153. _seieð_] _seied_ MS.]

Witeð into éce fer. þe is {155} `[gh]´æarced mine fó [&] his [gh]egen. Son[e] hi wrðeð abroden of his [gh]esecþe. [&] þan sone geð se hlaford mid his frenden to his mete. [þ/] his to is esten. þe seið an þan hali write _Delicie méé sunt e{ss}e cu{m} filiis ho{minum}_. þat is. Mine esten beoð wunian mid mannen bearnen. Ac we sed[en] [gh]íu litl her [þ/] hi sceolde{n} abbe{n} god b{ra}d [&] uin. [&] vii {160} sonden. hi sculen habe [þ/] brad þe{}seið iþe godspel. _Ego su{m} panis uiu{us} q{ui} d{e} c{elo} d{escendi}._ Þet is. Ic ám cwuce bread þe astah fram hefene. se[gh]ð ure helende. Se þe of þese brad ett. ne sterfeð he nefer. Þis bread was ímaced of ane `h´wete corne. al{}swa se he cweð [gh]eðe godspelle. _Nisi {gra}n{um} frum{en}ti_. [&] c. þis corn was [gh]esawen {165} þurh þes ængles muð into ðes meidenes ære Marie. in þare burh of nazareth. þis corn có{m} fer`s´t i{n}ne bethlée{m}. [þ/] cweð us of breade. hit wex [&] bleówu. in iudea. hit rípede in ier{usa}l{e}m. Judas [&] þat leoðre folc hit répén. [&] deden hit an þar rode alswa alse be{}twenen melstanent. Se{ð}e hit was idon into þer berient alswa into hófne. þanen {170} hit was ibroht up into heofene to þes hahes hlafordes borde. þer hit fet. [&] engles. [&] mancinn in écenisse. [&] þis is hare b`r´ead. hwer scule we win finden? Al swa se he cweð. _Ego su{m} uitis uera._ [&] c.

[Linenotes: 160. _g[r.]od_ MS. || 162. _þe_] _[q.]þe_ MS. || 167. _cóm_] _cón_ MS. || 170. _Seðe_] _sede_ MS.]

VI. THE PROVERBS OF ALFRED

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"Jesus College, Oxford, E 29, formerly Arch. i. 29 (J).... written not long after 1276 (Anglia xxx, 222).... Our piece is written continuously as prose, each stanza forming a paragraph, but iv and v are in one without l. 54, which is here supplied, while l. 43 is written at the end of the preceding paragraph and similarly the lines beginning viii-xvii, xix-xxiii. The scribe was evidently struggling with an original which he could not always read; see footnote to l. 105.

".... the copy of the Poema Morale in the same MS. has undergone a drastic revision which sets it apart among the versions of that poem, and the version of the Owl and Nightingale has suffered, though not to the same extent. On the other hand MS. T was copied by a man who was incapable of remodelling it; though a ruin, it often preserves in details the original."]]

INCIPIUNT DOCUMENTA REGIS ALUREDI.

[Headnote: Þus Queþ Alured]

++At Seuorde séte þeynes monye. [f. 262r fele Biscopes. and feole. bok iléred. Eorles prute. knyhtes egleche. þar wes þe eorl Alu{ri}ch. of þare lawe swiþe wis. 5 And ek Ealured englene hurde. Englene durlyng{;} on englene londe he wes kyng. Heom he bi{}gon lére. so ye mawe i{}hure. 10 hw hi. heore lif lede scholden. Alured. he wes in englene lond. and king. wel swiþe strong. He wes king. and he wes clerek. wel he luuede godes werk. 15 He wes wis on his word. and war. on his werke. he wes þe wysuste mo{n}{;} þat wes englelonde on.

+Þ+vs queþ Alured englene frouer. wolde ye mi leode. lusten éure lou{er}de. 20 he óu wolde wyssye. wisliche þinges. hw ye myhte worldes. wrþsipes welde. and ek eure saule. somnen to criste. wyse were þe wordes. þe seyde þe king Alured. | +M+ildeliche ich Munye. myne leoue freond. [f. 262v poure and riche. leode myne 26 þat ye alle a{}drede. vre dryhten crist. luuyen hine and lykyen. for he is lou{er}d of lyf. He is one. god{;} ouer alle godnesse. He is one gleaw. ou{er} alle glednesse. 30 He is one. blisse. ou{er} alle blissen. He is one monne. Mildest mayster. He is one. folkes fader. and frouer. He is one. rihtwis. and so riche king. þat him ne schal beo wone. nouht of his wille. 35 {þe} hine her on worlde. wrþie þencheþ.

[Linenote: 36. _þe_] _wc_ MS.]

iii

+Þ+vs queþ alured. englene urouer. Ne may non ryhtwis king. vnder criste seoluen. Bute if he beo in boke ilered. And he. his wyttes swiþe wel kunne. 40 And he cunne lettres. lokie him{}seolf one. hw he schule his lond laweliche holde.

Þus queþ Alured. +Þ+e eorl and þe eþelyng. ibureþ vnder gódne. king. 45 þat lond to leden. myd lawelyche deden. And þe clerek and þe knyht. he schulle démen euelyche riht. þe poure. and þe ryche. 50 démen ilyche. Hwych{}so þe mon soweþ{;} al swuch he schal mowe. And eu{er}uyches monnes dom. to his owere dure churreþ.

[Linenote: 52. After _mon_, erasure of two letters.]

[Þus queþ Alured.] þan knyhte bi{}houeþ. kenliche on to fóne. 55 for{}to werie þat lond. wiþ hunger and wiþ herivnge. þat þe chireche habbe gryþ. And þe cheorl beo in fryþ. his sedes to sowen. his medes to mowen. 60 And his plouh beo i{}dryue. to vre alre bihoue. þis is þes knyhtes lawe. loke he þat hit wel fare.

+Þ+vs queþ Alured. 65 þe mon. þe on his youhþe. yeorne leorneþ. wit and wisdom. and i{}writen reden{;} he may beon on elde. wenliche lorþeu. And þe þat nule one youhþe yeorne leorny. wit and wysdom. and iwriten rede. 70 þat him schal on elde. sore rewe. þenne cumeþ elde. and vnhelþe. þenne beoþ his wéne ful wroþe isene. 75 Boþe heo beoþ bi{}swike. and eke hi beoþ a{}swunde.

vii

þus queþ Alured. Wyþ{}vte wysdome is weole wel vnwurþ. for þey o mon ahte. huntseuenti Acres. and he hi hadde isowen. alle myd reade golde. 80 And [þ/] | gold greowe. so gres doþ on eorþe. [f. 263r nere he for his weole. neuer þe furþer. Bute he him of frumþe. freond iwrche. for. hwat is gold. bute ston. bute if hit haueþ wismon. 85

[Linenote: 85. After _wismon_, _ut_ deleted.]

viii

þus queþ Alu{re}d. +N+e scolde neuer yongmon howyen to swiþe. þeih him his wyse wel ne lykie. Ne þeih he ne welde. al þat he wolde. for god may. yeue god after vuele. 90 weole after wowe. þenne he wule. wel is him þat hit ischapen is.

[Linenote: 91. _þenne he wule_ after _yeue_ in l. 90.]

þus seyþ Alured. +S+trong hit is to reowe. a{}yeyn þe séé þat floweþ. 95 so it is to swynke. a{}yeyn vnylimpe. þe mon. þe on his youhþe. swo swinkeþ. and worldes weole her iwinþ. 100 þat he may on elde. idelnesse holde. And ek myd his worldes weole. god iqueme er he quele. youþe and al þat he haueþ i{}drowe. 105 is þenne wel bi{}towe.

[Linenote: 105. _youþe_ in darker ink in a space too large for it; similarly _doweþes_, l. 118; _wlonk_, l. 124; _vouh_, l. 129; _Mayþenes_, l. 130.]

þus queþ Alured. +M+onymon weneþ þat he wene ne{}þarf. longes lyues. ac him lyeþ þe wrench. for þanne his lyues alre best luuede. 110 þenne he schal léten{;} lyf his owe. for nys no wrt uexynde a wude. ne a velde. þat euer mvwe þas feye furþ vp{}holde. Not no mon þene tyme. hwanne he schal. heonne turne. 115 Ne nomon þene ende. hwenne he schal heonne wende. Dryhten hit one wot. doweþes lou{er}d. hwanne [we] vre lif leten schule.

þus queþ Alured. 120 +Y+f þu seoluer and gold. ye{t}st and weldest in þis world. Neu{er} vpen eorþe. to wlonk. þu ny wrþe. Ayhte nys non ildre istreon{;} 125 ac hit is godes lone. hwanne hit is his wille. þar{}of we schulle wende. And vre owe lyf. myd alle for{}leten. þanne schulle vre ifon. to vre vouh. gripen. welden vre Mayþenes. and leten vs by{}hinde. 130

[Linenote: 122. _yetst_] _yefst_ MS.]

xii

þus queþ Alured. +N+e{}ilef þu nouht to fele. uppe þe séé þat floweþ. If þu hafst madmes monye and inowe. gold and seoluer. hit schal gnyde to nouht. to duste hit schal dryuen. Dryhten schal | libben euere. [f. 263v Monymon for his gold. haueþ godes vrre. 136 And for his seoluer. hym{}seolue for{}yemeþ. for{}yeteþ and for{}leseþ. Betere him by{}come iboren þat he nére.

xiii

þus queþ Alured. +L+vsteþ ye me leode. 140 ower is þe neode. And ich eu wille lére. wit and wisdom. þat alle þing ou{er}{}goþ. syker he may sitte. þe hyne haueþ to i{}vere. For þeyh his eyhte him a{}go. 145 his wit ne a{}goþ hym neu{er}{}mo. for ne may he for{}vare. þe hyne haueþ to vere. þe wile his owe lyf. ileste mote.

[Linenote: 149. After _þe_, _þ_ erased.]

xiv

þus queþ Alured. 150 +I+f þu hauest seorewe. ne seye þu hit nouht þan arewe. seye hit þine sadelbowe. and ryd þe singinde forþ. þenne wile wene. þet þine wise ne con{;} þat þe þine wise wel lyke. 155 serewe if þu hauest. and þe erewe hit wot{;} by{}fore. he þe meneþ{;} by{}hynde he þe teleþ. þu hit myht segge swyhc mo{n}. þat þe ful wel on. 160 wyþ{}vte echere ore. he on þe Muchele more. By{}hud hit on þire heorte{;} þat þe eft ne smeorte. Ne let þu hyne wite. 165 al þat þin heorte by{}wite.

þus queþ Alured. +N+e schal tu neuere þi wif. by hire wlyte cheose. for neu{er} nóne þinge. þat heo to þe bryngeþ. Ac leorne hire custe. heo cuþeþ hi wel sone. 170 For mony mon for ayhte. vuele iauhteþ. And ofte mon of fayre. frakele icheoseþ. wo is him þat vuel wif. bryngeþ to his cotlyf. So him is alyue{;} 175 þat vuele ywyueþ. For he schal vppen eorþe. dreori i{}wurþe. Monymo{n} singeþ. þat wif hom bryngeþ. 180 wiste he hwat he brouhte. wepen he myhte.

xvi

þus queþ Alured. +N+e wurþ þu neuer so wod. ne so wyn{}drunke. þat éuere segge þine wife. alle þine wille. 185 For if þu iseye þe bi{}vore. þine ivo alle. And þu hi myd worde iwreþþed heuedest. Ne scholde heo hit lete. for þing lyuyinde. þat heo ne scholde þe forþ vp{}breyde. of þine baleu{}syþes. wymmon is word. woþ. [&] haueþ tunge to swift. 190 þeyh heo wel wolde. ne{}may heo. hi no{}wiht welde.

xvii

þus queþ Alfred. | +I+delschipe and ou{er}{}prute. [f. 264r þat lereþ yong wif vuele þewes. 195 And ofte þat wolde. do. þat heo ne scholde. þene vnþev lihte. leten heo myhte. If heo ofte a swóte for{}swunke were. 200 þeyh hit is vuel to buwe. þat beo nule treowe. For ofte Museþ þe kat. aft{er} hire moder. þe mon þat let wymmon his mayster iwurþe. Ne schal he neu{er} beon ihurd. 205 his wordes lou{er}d. Ac heo hine schal steorne to{}trayen. and to{}teóne. And selde wurþ he blyþe and gled. þe mon þat is his wiues qued. 210 Mony appel is bryht wiþ{}vte. and Bitter wiþ{}inne. So is mony wymmon. on hyre fader bure. Schene vnder schete. and þeyh heo is schendful. So is mony gedelyng. godlyche on horse. and is þeyh lutel wurþ. 215 wlonk bi þe glede. and [´v]uel at þare neode.

xviii

þus queþ. Al{ured}. [+N+]Eure þu bi þine lyue. þe word of þine wyue. 220 to swiþe þu. ne aréde. If heo beo i{}wreþþed myd worde. oþer myd dede. wymmo{n} wepeþ for mod. oftere þan for eny god. 225 And ofte lude [&] stille. for to vor{}drye hire wille. Heo wepeþ oþer{}hwile. for to do þe gyle. Salomon hit haueþ i{}sed. 230 þat wymmon can wel vuelne red. þe hire red foleweþ. heo bryngeþ hine to seorewe. for hit seyþ in þe loþ. as scumes for{}teoþ. 235 hit is i{}furn i{}seyd. [þ/] cold red is quene red. hu he is vnlede. þat foleweþ hire rede. Ich hit ne segge nouht for þan. 240 þat god þing. ys god wymmon. þe mon þe hi may i{}cheose. and i{}couere over oþre.

[Linenotes: 219. _Eure_ MS. || 224. _mod_] first stroke of _m_ erased.]

xix

þus queþ Alured. +M+onymon weneþ þat he weny ne þarf. Freond þat he habbe. þar me him vayre bi{}hat. 245 Seyþ him vayre bi{}vore. and frakele bi{}hynde. so me may þane loþe lengust lede. Ne ilef þu neu{er} þane mon. þat is of feole speche{n}. Ne alle þe þinge. 250 þat þu i{}herest singe{n}. Mony mon haueþ swikelne muþ. milde and monne for{}cuþ. Nele he þe cuþe. hwenne he þe wule bi{}kache.

þus queþ Alured. 255 +Þ+vrh sawe mon is wis. And þurh hiselþe. glev. þurh lesinge mon is loþ. and þurh luþre wrenches. And | vnwurþ. [f. 264v And þurh hokede honde. þat he bereþ. him seolue he for{}vareþ. 260 From lesynge þu þe wune. And alle vnþewes þu þe bi{}schune. so myht þu on þeode. leof beon in alle leode. And luue þyne nexte. he is at þe neode gód. 265 At chepynge. and at chyreche. freond þu þe iwurche. wyþ pou{er}e and wiþ riche. wiþ alle monne ilyche. þanne myht þu sikerliche. sely sytte. 270 And ek faren ouer lond le hwider so beoþ þi wille.

[Linenote: 256. _his elþe. mon is glev_ MS.]

xxi

þus queþ Alured. +A+lle world{}ayhte schulle bi{}cumen to nouhte. 275 And vyches cunnes madmes. to mixe schulen i{}Multen. And vre owe lif. lutel hwile ileste. for þeyh o mon. wolde al þe worlde. And al þe wunne. þe þar{}inne wunyeþ. Ne myhte he þar{}myde his lif. none hwile holde. 280 Ac al he schal for{}leten. on a litel stunde. And schal vre blisse{;} to balewe us iwurþe. Bute if we wurcheþ. wyllen cristes. Nu biþenche we þanne vs sulue. vre lif to leden. so crist vs gynneþ lere. 285 þanne mawe we wenen. þat he wule vs wrþie. for so seyde salomon. þe wise. þe mon þat her wel deþ. he cumeþ þar he lyen foþ. on his lyues ende. 290 he hit schal a{}vynde.

xxii

þus queþ Alured. +N+e gabbe þu ne schotte. ne chid þu wyþ none sotte. ne myd manyes cunnes tales. 295 ne chid þu wiþ nenne dwales. Ne neu{er} þu ne bigynne. to telle þine tyþinges. At nones fremannes borde. ne haue þu to vale worde. 300 Mid fewe word{e}. wismon fele bi{}luken wel con. And sottes bolt is sone iscohte. for{}þi ich holde hine for dote. þat sayþ al his wille. 305 þanne he scholde beon stille. For ofte tunge brekeþ bon{;} þeyh heo seolf nabbe non.

xxiii

þus queþ Alured. +W+is child is fader blisse. 310 Jf hit so bi{}tydeþ þat þu bern ibidest. þe hwile hit is lutel. ler him mon{}þewes. þanne hit is | wexynde{;} hit schal wende þar{}to. [f. 265r þe betere hit schal iwurþe euer buuen eorþe. 315 Ac if þu him lest welde. werende on worlde. lude and stille. his owene wille. hwanne cumeþ ealde. ne myht þu hyne awelde. 320 þanne deþ hit sone. þat þe biþ vnyqueme. Ofer{}howeþ þin ibod. and makeþ þe ofte sory{}mod. Bet{er}e þe were. 325 iboren þat he nere. for betere is child vnbore. þane vnbuhsum. þe mon þe spareþ yeorde. and yonge child{e}. and let hit arixlye. þat he hit areche ne may. þat him schal on ealde{;} sore reowe. Am{en}. 330

Expl{iciunt} dicta Regis Aluredi.

VII. MEMENTO MORI

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"As for no. vi."]]

+M+on may longe lyues wene. [f. 252v Ac ofte him lyeþ þe wrench. feyr weder turneþ ofte in to reyne. [&] wunderliche makeþ his blench. þar{}vore mon. þu þe by{}þench. 5 Al schal falwy þi grene. waylaway. nys king ne quene. þat ne schal drynke of deþes drench. Mon er þu falle of þi bench. þyne sunne þu aquench. 10

+N+is non so strong. ne sterk. ne kene. þat may ago deþes wyþer blench.| Yung and olde. briht and schene. [f. 253r Alle he ryueþ on o streng. Fox and ferlych is his wrench. 15 Ne may no mon þar{}to{}yeynes. way{}laway þreting ne bene. Mede. liste. ne leches drench. Mon let sunne and lustes þine. wel þu do [&] wel þu þench. 20

Do bi salomones rede. Mon. [&] þenne þu schalt wel do. Do as he þe tauhte and seyde. þat þin endinge þe bringeþ to. þenne ne schaltu neu{er} mys{}do. 25 Ac sore þu myht þe adrede. way{}laway such weneþ to lede. Long lif. and blysse vnder{}fo. Ac deþ luteþ in his scho. Hym stilliche. to for{}do. 30

+M+on hwi nultu þe bi{}knowe. Mon hwi nultu þe bi{}seo. of fule fulþe þu art isowe. wurmes fode. þu schalt beo. her nauestu blisse dayes þre. 35 Ac þi lif al þu last in wowe. weylawey deþ þe schal a{}dun þrowe. þer þu wenest heyust to steo. In deþ schal þi lyf endi. And in wop al þi gleo. 40

+W+orld and weole. þe bi{}swikeþ. I{}wis heo beoþ þine ifo. If þe world wiþ weole þe slykeþ þat is for to do þe wo. þare{}fore. let lust ouer{}go. 45 And eft hit þe likeþ. | weylawey. sore he him bi{}swikeþ. [f. 253v þat for one stunde oþer two. wurcheþ him pyne. euer{}mo. Mon. ne do þu nouht swo. 50

VIII. POEMA MORALE

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"i. Lambeth 487 (L), a small quarto, 177 × 135 mm., of 67 leaves, written towards the end of the twelfth century... nos. x, xi. of this book are also taken from it. The words printed in clarendon in these three pieces are written in red, not inserted afterwards by a rubricator but done at the same time as the rest of the text. The PM ends with fordemet, l. 270, in the middle of a page; the final t has a flourish for its cross stroke; the copyist had apparently no knowledge of any more.

"ii. iii. Egerton 613, B. M.... has two copies of the PM: the second (e) furnishes here a complement to the Lambeth MS. as far as l. 370, with which it ends; the first (E) is used to complete the text. e was written in the first quarter of the thirteenth century, E is somewhat later; the former has accents, the latter none.