The Cambridge MS., as has been already stated, combines portions of both the A and the B version with several independent stanzas. At first sight it might appear to represent a transitional stage in the development of the B from the A type, but closer examination shows that this is not the case, and that the text is merely a later compilation from the two. The writer must have had some knowledge both of the longer A version represented by MS. Harl. 913, and of the common seven-stanza B type, and seems to have tried to combine his recollections in one poem, halting between the four-lined and six-lined stanza, repeating himself here and there, and adding certain new verses of his own. There is no grouping into stanzas in the MS., but a division is easily made by the rimes, and these give mono-rimed stanzas of four lines chiefly, with one of six lines, and some fragmentary ones of two or three. In one case a stanza has been broken up and the two couplets inserted at different points (ll. 9-10, 27-28). As has been shown in the table of MSS. of the B version, six verses of the B type may be traced, while four verses show distinct correspondence with A, and eleven are independent of either. A comparison of the similar lines follows:-- (_MS. Cambr._ Ii. 4. 9) ll. 1-4. Erthe vpon erthe is waxin & wrought, Erthe takys on erthe a nobylay of nought; Now erthe vpon erthe layes all his þought How erthe vpon erthe sattys all at noght. (_MS. Harl._ 4486.) B Version. 1 Erthe owte of erthe is wonderly wrowghte, Erthe of the erthe hathe gete an abbey[12] of nawte, Erthe apon erthe hath sett{e} al his thowghte How erthe apon erthe may be hye browte. ll. 9-10, 27-28. Erthe vpon erth wolde be a kyng, But howe erth xal to erth thynkyth he no thyng. When erthe says to erth: ‘My rent þou me bryng,’ Then has erth fro erthe a dolfull p{ar}tyng. 2 Erthe apon erthe be he a kyng{e}, Butt how erth schall{e} to erthe thynketh{e} he nothyng{e}. When erthe byddeth erthe his rent home bryng{e}, Then schall{e} erth{e} owte of erthe haue a pyteous[13] p{ar}tyng{e}. ll. 5-8. Erthe vpon erth has hallys & towr{is}; Erthe says to erth: ‘This is alle owr{is}.’ But q{ua}n erth vpon erth has byg{g}yd his bowr{is} Than xal erth for the erth haue scharpe schowr{is}. 3 Erthe apon erthe wynneth castell{es} & towres. Then seyth{e} erthe to erthe: ‘These byth{e} all{e} owres.’ When erthe apon erthe hath bygged{e} vp his bowres Then schall{e} erthe for the erthe suffre scharpe schowres. Cf. l. 66. If erth haue mys don, he getyth scharpe sho{u}rs. ll. 33-35. Erthe wrotys in erth as molys don in molde, Erthe vpon erth glydys as golde, As erthe leve in erthe eu{e}r mor{e} schulde.