Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts
General
Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts
English literature -- Middle English, 1100-1500
For þar`f he´ ben ofdrad of fure ne of þieue.
Þar ne mai hit him binime þe loðe ne þe lieue.
Þar ne þarf he habben care of here ne of ȝielde 45
Þider we sendeð ⁊ ec bereð to litel ⁊ to selde.
Þider `we solden´ drawen ⁊ don wel ofte ⁊ ilome.
For þar ne sal me us naht binime mid wrong wise dome. |
Þider we solde ȝierne drawen wolde ȝie me ileuen. [f. 2r
For ne mai hit us binime no king ne no sẏrreue. 50
[Linenotes:
31. After _hire were_, _ac_ erased. || 38. _bihoteð_] _o_
above _ạ_ MS.]
Al þ̵ beste þ̵ we hefden þider we hit solde senden
for þer we hit michte finden eft. ⁊ habben buten ende.
Þo þe er doð eni God for habben godes are.
al he hit scal finden eft þer ⁊ hundred fald mare.
Þe þet echte wile halden wel hwile þe he muȝe es welden. 55
Giue hies for godes luue{;} þenne deþ hes wel ihalden.
Alþat beste þat we habbeð her þider we solde sende.
For þar we mihte finden eft. ⁊ habben abuten ende.
Se þe her doð ani god for`to´ haben godes ore.
Al he hit sal eft finde þar ⁊ hundredfealde more.
Se þe aihte wile holde wel þe hwile hes muȝe wealden. 55
Ȝieue hes for godes luue þanne doð hes wel ihealden.
[Linenotes:
55. _holde_] _o_ above _ạ_ MS. ||
56. _ȝieue_] _ȝ_ corr. out of _G_.]
+Vre swinc ⁊ ure tilþe is ofte iwoned to swinden.+
Ach þ̵ þe we doð for godes luue{;} eft we sculen al finden.
Ne scal nan ufel bon un{}bocht. ne nan god unforȝolden.
vfel we doþ al to muchel. ⁊ god lesse þe{n}ne we sculden. 60
Þo þe mest doð nu to gode. ⁊ þe lest to laðe.
Eiðer to lutel ⁊ to muchel scal þu{n}chen eft hom baþe.
Þer me scal ure werkes weien bi{}foran þe heuen king.
and ȝeuen us ure swinkes lan eft{er} ure erninge.
+Ech mon mid þ̵ he hauet. mei buggen houene riche.+ 65
For ure swinch ⁊ ure tilðe is ofte wuned to swinde.
Ac al þat we ȝieueð for godes luue al we hit sulen eft finden.
Ne sal þar non euel ben unboht ne god unforȝolden.
Euel we doð al{}to muchel ⁊ god lasse þan we solden. 60
Se þe mast doð nu to gode ⁊ se last to lothe.
Eiðer to litel ⁊ to muchel hem sal þunche boðe.
Þar me sal ure werkes weiȝen bifore þan heuen kinge.
⁊ ȝieuen us ure werkes lean after ure erni{n}ge.
Africh man mid þat he haueð mai bugge heueriche 65
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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