Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts — John Shaqi
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
We wilnieð after wereldes wele þe longe ne mai ilaste
⁊ legeð mast al ure swinc on þing unstedefaste. 320
Swunke [we] for godes luue half þat we doð for eihte.
Nare we naht swo ofte bicherd ne swo euele bikeihte
Ȝief we serueden god half þat we doð for erminges
We mihten habben more an heuene þa[n] ȝierles ⁊ kinges
Ne muȝe we werien naðer ne wið þurst ne wið hunger 325
Ne wid elde ne wið deað þe elder ne þe ȝeunger
Ac þar nis hunger ne þurst. deað ne unhalðe ne elde.
Of þesse riche we þencheð to ofte of þare alto selde.
[Linenote:
326. After _elde_, _ne wið elde_ MS.]
Wé scolden ealle us biðenche ófte. ⁊ wél ilome. 325
hwét wé beoð to whán wé scule. ⁊ óf hwán wé come.
Hú litle hwíle wé beoþ hér. hú lange elle`s´ hwáre.
hwét wé muȝe habben hér. ⁊ hwét finde þere.
Ȝíef wé were wise men. ðis wé scolde ðenche.
bute wé wurðe us íwer. ðeos woruld wule us for{}drenche. 330
Mest ealle men he ȝíueð drinche. óf ane deofles scenche.
hé sceal hi{m} cunne sculde wél. ȝíf hé híne nele screnche.
We solden biþenchen us wel ofte ⁊ ilom{e}
Hwat we beð to hwan we sullen ⁊ of hwan we come. 330
Hwu litle hwile we bieð her hwu longe elles ḥware
Hwat we muȝen habben her ⁊ hwat we findeð þare. |
Ȝief [we] waren wise men þus we solden þenchen [f. 7v
Bute we wurðen us iwar þis wereld us wile drenchen
Mast alle men hit ȝieueð drinken of on euele senche 335
He sal him cunnen silde wel ȝief hit him nele screnche.
[Linenote:
329. _ilomo_ MS.]
++Mid ealmihtiȝes godes luue. ute wé us bi{}werien.
wið ðises wrecches woreldes luue. þ̵ hé maȝe us derien.
Mid festen ælmes ⁊ ibede. werie wé us wið sunne. 335
Mið ða wepne ðe god haueð. bi{}ȝíten man cunne.
Léte wé þe brade strét. ⁊ ðene wei bene.
þe le{t} þ̵ niȝeðe dél to helle of manne. ⁊ ma ich wéne.
Gá wé ðene nærewne wei. ⁊ ðene wei grene.
ðer forð fareð litel folc. ac hit is feir ⁊ scéne. 340
Þé brade strét is ure íwill. ðe ís us lað to forlǽte.
þa ðe eal folȝeð hís íwill. fareð bi ðusse stréte.
Hí muȝen lihtliche gán mid ðere under{}hulde.
ðurh ane godlíese w{u}de `in{}to´ ane bare felde. [f. 70v
[Linenotes:
338. _let_] _ḷec_ MS. || 344. _wude_] _wade_ 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