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
Al he wolde oðerluker don ⁊ oðerluker þenche
Þan he biðohte an helle fur þat no{}wiht ne mai quenche.
Afre he wolde her in wo ⁊ in wane wunien
Wið{}þan he mihte helle fur biflen ⁊ bisunien.
Eðlate him ware al wele ⁊ erðeliche blisse 155
For to þe muchele blisse cume þis murie mid iwisse.
[Linenote:
153. After _wunien_, _wið þan he mihte_ erased.]
+Iwule nu cumen eft to þe dome þ̵ ich er ow of sede+ 155
A þa dei ⁊ at ta dome us helpe c{ri}st ⁊ rede.
þer we muȝen bon eþe offerd ⁊ herde us adrede{n}.
þer he scal al son him bi{}foren his word ⁊ ec his deden.
Al scal þer bon þenne cud þer me{n} luȝen her ent stelen.
Al scal þer bon þa{n}ne unwron{;} þ̵ men wruȝen her ⁊ helen. 160
We sculen alre monne lif iknauwen al{}se ure ahen.
þer sculen eueni{n}gges bon þe riche ⁊ þe laȝe.
Ne scal na mon skamie þer ne þerf he him a{}dreden.
Gif him her of{}þincþ | his gult ⁊ bet his misdede. [f. 63r
for him ne scameþ ne ne gromeð þe sculen bon iborȝen. 165
[Linenote:
163. _skamie_] _smakie_ MS.]
¶Ich wulle nu cumen eft to þe dome þe ich eow ar of sade.
On þe daie ⁊ on þe dome us helpe crist ⁊ rade
Þar we muȝen ben sore offerd ⁊ harde us ofdrade.
Þar elch sal al isien him biforen his word ⁊ ec his dade. 160
Al sal þar ben þanne cuð þat men luȝen her ⁊ halen.
Al sal þar ben þanne unwrien þat men her hudden ⁊ stalen.
We sullen alre manne lif icnowen alse ure oȝen
Þar sullen efninges ben to þe heie ⁊ to þe loȝe.
Ne sal þeih no man samie þiar ne þarf he him adrade. 165
Ȝief him her ofþincheð his gult ⁊ bet his mis{}dade.
For hem ne sameð ne ne grameð þe sulle ben iboreȝe
[Linenotes:
157. _ẹfṭ_ _eft_ MS. || 165. _þiar_] _a_ corr. out of _e_.]
+Ach þo{}þre+ habbeþ scome ⁊ grome ⁊ oft fele sorȝe.
+Þe do{m} scal sone bon idon+ ne lest he nawiht lo{n}ge.
ne scal him na mon mene þer of st{re}ngþe ne of wronge.
þe sculen habbe herdne dom þa her weren herde.
þa þe uuele holden wreche men ⁊ uuele laȝe redde. 170
Ec efter þ̵ he efþ idon sal þer þenne [beon] idemet.
[bliðe mei hé ðenne beon. þe god háfð wel icwemed]
[Linenote:
172. Supplied from MS. e.]
Ac þoðre habbeð same ⁊ grame ⁊ oðer fele soreȝe.
Þe dom {s}al ben sone idon ne last hit nowiht longe
Ne sal him noman mene þar{}of strencðe ne of wronge 170
Þo sulle habben hardne dom þe here waren hardde
Þo þe euel hielden wreche men ⁊ euel laȝe arerde.
Elch after þat he haueð idon sal þar ben þanne idem{d}
Bliðe mai he þanne ben þe god haueð wel iquemd.
[Linenotes:
169. _sal_] _þal_ MS. || 173. _idemð_ MS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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