With evil craft has led those erring ones Who cleave to him, sore laden with their sins, Those who in earthly life have hearkened well To his instruction, after death close shut He snaps those woful jaws, the gates of hell. Whoever enters there has no relief, Nor may he any more escape his doom And thence depart, than can the swimming fish Elude the monster. Therefore it is [best And[1]] altogether [right for each of us To serve and honor God,[1]] the Lord of lords, And always in our every word and deed To combat devils, that we may at last Behold the King of glory. In this time Of transitory things, then, let us seek Peace and salvation from him, that we may Rejoice for ever in so dear a Lord, And praise his glory everlastingly. [Footnote 1: Conjecturally supplied.] * * * * * the lake of fire, those that cleave to him and are laden with guilt, such as had eagerly followed his teachings in the days of their life, he then, after their death, snaps tight together his fierce jaws, the gates of hell. They who enter there have neither relief nor escape, no means of flight, any more than the fishes that swim the sea can escape from the clutch of the monster. Therefore is it by all means [best for every one of us to serve[1]] the Lord of lords, and strive against devils with words and works, that so we may come to behold the King of glory. Let us ever, now in this fleeting time, seek from him grace and salvation, that so with the Beloved we may in worship enjoy the bliss of heaven for evermore. [Footnote 1: Conjecturally supplied.] * * * * * III THE PARTRIDGE[1] Hȳrde ic secgan gēn bi sumum fugle wundorlīcne[2]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . fǣger þæt word þe gecwæð wuldres Ealdor: 5 'In swā hwylce tiid swā gē mid trēowe tō mē on hyge hweorfað, and gē hellfirena sweartra geswīcað, swā ic symle tō ēow mid siblufan sōna gecyrre þurh milde mōd; gē bēoð mē siþþan [Footnote 1: The partridge (like the cuckoo) broods the eggs of other birds. When they are hatched and grown, they fly off to their true parents. So men may turn from the devil, who has wrongfully gained possession of them, to their heavenly Father, who will receive them as his children.] [Footnote 2: Gap in the manuscript, probably of considerable length.] * * * * *