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
Hwat sullen horlinges don þes wichen ⁊ þe forsworene
Wi swo fele beð icleped swo fewe bed icorene
Wi hwi waren hie biȝiete to hwan waren hie iborene. 105
Þe sulle ben to deaðe idemd ⁊ afremo forlorene.
Elch man `sal´ þar biclepien himselfen ⁊ ec demen.
Hi{s} oȝen werc ⁊ his þanc to witnesse he sal temen.
Nemai him noman alse wel demen ne alse rihte
For non ne cnoweð hine alse wel buten one drihte. 110
Man wot him self best his werkes ⁊ his wille.
Se þe last wot he seið ofte mast se þit al wot is stille
Nis no witnesse alse muchel se mannes oȝen hierte
Hwo se seið þat hie beð hol him self wot his smierte.
[Linenote:
108. _His_] _Hic_ MS.]
+Ech .M{on}. scal h[i]m solf demen+ to deðe oðer to liue. 115
þa witnesse of his aȝen werch{;} hine þer{}to scal driue.
Al þet ech .M{on} haueð idon soððen he com to mo{n}ne
sculde he | hit sechen o boke iwriten he scal iþenchen þenne. [f. 62r
Ah drihten ne demeð nenne .M{on}. eft{er} his biginnigge.
ah al his lif scal bon suilch boð his endinge. 120
Elch man sal him selfen demen to deaðe oðer to liue. 115
Þe witnesse of his oȝen werc to oðer þan hine sal driue.
Alþat afri man haueð idon seðen he cam to manne
Swo he hit iseie abóc iwrite he sal hit þenche þanne.
Ac drihte ne demeð noman after his biginninge
Ac al his lif sal ben teald after his endinge. | 120
+ȝef þ̵ his uuel al hit is uuel+ ⁊ God ȝefe god his ende.
God ȝeue þ̵ ure ende bo god. ⁊ wite þ̵ he us lende.
þe .M{on}. þ̵ uuel don na god. ne neure god lif leden.
er deð ⁊ dom come to his dure he mei him sare adreden.
þ̵ he ne muȝe þenne biden are. for þ̵ itit ilome. 125
for{}þi he is wis þe biet ⁊ bit ⁊ bet bi{}fore dome.
+Wenne deð is attere dure+ wel late he biddeþ are.
Wel late he latheð uuel werc{;} þe ne mei hit don ne mare.
Ȝief þe endinge is god al hit is god·
⁊ euel ȝief euel is þe ende. [f. 3v
God ȝieue þat ure ende be god ⁊ ȝieue þat he us lende.
Se man þe nafre nele don god ne nafre god lif lade.
Are deað ⁊ dom cumeð to his dure he maiȝ hi{m} sore a{}drade
Þat he ne muȝe þanne bidden ore for þat itit ilome. 125
For{}þi he wis þe bit ⁊ biȝiet ⁊ bet bifore dome.
Þanne þe deað is ate dure wel late he biddeð ore.
Wel late he lateð euel werc þan he hit ne mai don no more.
þ̵ achten we to leuen wel. for ure drihten solf hit seide.
A hwilke time se eure .M{on}. of þinchþ his mis{}dede. 130
Oþer raþer oðer later{;} milce he scal imeten.
Ac {þ}e þ̵ þer naf[ð] nocht ibet{;} wel muchel he haueð to beten.
[Linenotes:
130. _þing̣chþ_ MS. || 132. _þe_] _we_ MS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account