[Sidenote: A sea now occupies the place of the four cities.] Þer faur{e} citees wern set, nov is a see called, Þat ay is drouy & dym, & ded i{n} hit kynde, 1016 Blo, blubrande, & blak, vnblyþe to neȝe, [Sidenote: It is a stinking pool, and is called the Dead Sea.] As a stynkande stanc þat stryed sy{n}ne, Þat eu{er} of sy{n}ne & of smach, smart is to fele; For-þy þe derk dede see hit is demed eu{er} more, 1020 For hit dedeȝ of deþe duren þere ȝet. For hit is brod & boþe{m}leȝ, & bitter as þe galle, [Sidenote: Nothing may live in it.] & noȝt may lenge i{n} þat lake þat any lyf bereȝ, & alle þe costeȝ of kynde hit combreȝ vchone; 1024 [Sidenote: Lead floats on its surface.] For lay þ{er}-on a lump of led & hit on loft fleteȝ, [Sidenote: A feather sinks to the bottom of it.] & folde þ{er}-on a lyȝt fyþ{er} & hit to fou{n}s synkkeȝ. [Sidenote: Lands, watered by this sea, never bear grass or weed.] & þ{er} wat{er} may walt{er} to wete any erþe, Schal neu{er} grene þ{er}-on growe, gresse ne wod nawþ{er}. 1028 If any schalke to be schent wer schowued þ{er}-i{n}ne, Þaȝ he bode i{n} þat boþe{m} broþely a monyth, [Sidenote: A man cannot be drowned in it.] He most ay lyue i{n} þat loȝe i{n} losy{n}g eu{er}-more, & neu{er} dryȝe no dethe, to dayes of ende; 1032 & as hit is corsed of kynde & hit coosteȝ als, [Sidenote: The clay clinging to it is corrosive, as alum, alkaran, sulphur, etc., which fret the flesh and fester the bones.] Þe clay þat clenges þ{er}-by arn corsyes strong, As alu{m} & alkaran,[50] þat angré[51] arn boþe, Soufre so{ur}, & sau{n}dyu{er}, & oþ{er} such mony; 1036 & þer walteȝ of þat wat{er} i{n} waxlokes grete, Þe spuniande[52] aspaltou{n} þat spysereȝ sellen; & suche is alle þe soyle by þat se halues, Þat fel fretes þe flesch & festred[53] bones. 1040 [Sidenote: On the shores of this lake grow trees bearing fair fruits, which, when broken or bitten, taste like ashes.] & þer ar tres by þat terne of trayto{ur}es; & þay borgou{n}eȝ & beres blomeȝ ful fayre, & þe fayrest fryt þat may on folde growe, As orenge & oþ{er} fryt & apple garnade 1044 [Sidenote: [Fol. 71b.]] Also red & so ripe & rychely hwed, As any dom myȝt deuice of dayntyeȝ oute; Bot quen hit is brused oþ{er} broken, oþ{er} byten i{n} twy{n}ne, No worldeȝ goud hit wyth-i{n}ne, bot wydowande[54] askes; 1048 [Headnote: IT IS A TOKEN OF WICKEDNESS AND VENGEANCE.]