[Sidenote: All rot in the mud, except Noah and his family, who are safe in the ark.] Þe{n}ne mo{ur}kne i{n} þe mudde most ful nede Alle þat spyrakle i{n}-spranc,[19] no sprawly{n}g awayled, 408 Saue þe haþel vnder hach & his here strau{n}ge, Noe þat ofte neuened þe name of oure lorde, Hy{m} aȝt-su{m} i{n} þat ark as aþel god lyked, Þer alle ledeȝ i{n} lome lenged druye, 412 [Sidenote: The ark is lifted as high as the clouds, and is driven about, without mast, bowline, cables, anchors, or sail to guide its course.] Þe arc houen watȝ on hyȝe w{i}t{h} hurlande goteȝ, Kest to kytheȝ vncouþe þe clowdeȝ ful nere. Hit walt{er}ed on þe wylde flod, went as hit lyste, Drof vpon þe depe dam, i{n} dau{n}g{er} hit semed, 416 With-oute{n} mast, oþ{er} myke, oþ{er} myry bawelyne, Kable, oþ{er} capstan to clyppe to he{r} ankreȝ, Hurrok, oþ{er} hande-helme hasped on roþ{er}, Oþ{er} any sweande sayl to seche aft{er} hauen, 420 [Sidenote: At the mercy of the winds.] Bot flote forthe w{i}t{h} þe flyt of þe felle wyndeȝ; Wheder-warde so þe wat{er} wafte, hit rebou{n}de. [Sidenote: Oft it rolled around and reared on end.] Ofte hit roled on-rou{n}de & rered on ende, Nyf oure lorde hade ben her lodeȝ-mon he{m} had lu{m}pen harde. 424 [Sidenote: The age of the patriarch Noah.] Of þe lenþe of noe lyf to lay a lel date, Þe sex hundreth of his age & none odde ȝereȝ, Of seco{n}de monyth, þe seue{n}þe day ryȝteȝ, [Sidenote: Duration of the flood.] To-walten alle þyse welle-hedeȝ & þe wat{er} flowed, 428 & þryeȝ fyfty þe flod of folwande dayeȝ, Vche hille watȝ þer hidde w{i}t{h} yreȝ[20] ful graye; [Sidenote: The completeness of the destruction.] Al watȝ wasted þat þer wonyed þe worlde w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne, Þer eu{er} flote, oþ{er} flwe, oþ{er} on fote ȝede, 432 [Sidenote: [Fol. 63a.]] That roȝly watȝ þe remnau{n}t þat þe rac dryueȝ, Þat alle gendreȝ so ioyst wern ioyned wyth-i{n}ne. [Sidenote: God remembers those in the ark.] Bot quen þe lorde of þe lyfte lyked hymseluen For to my{n}ne on his mon his meth þat abydeȝ, 436 [Sidenote: He causes a wind to blow, and closes the lakes and wells, and the great deep.] Þe{n} he wakened a wynde on watt{er}eȝ to blowe; Þe{n}ne lasned þe llak[21] þat large watȝ are, Þen he stac vp þe stangeȝ, stoped þo welleȝ, Bed bly{n}ne of þe rayn, hit batede as fast, 440 Þe{n}ne lasned þe loȝ lowkande to-geder. Aft{er} harde dayeȝ wern out an hundreth & fyfté, As þat lyftande lome luged aboute, Where þe wynde & þe weder warpen hit wolde, 444 Hit saȝtled on a softe day synkande to grou{n}de. [Headnote: THE ARK RESTS ON MOUNT ARARAT.]