Part 19

Þe children a woken vnder soon (?) And seȝen þ{a}t swerd ou{er} hem a drawe, Hij weren agr . . {and} eþe hui mawe. . . . . . . . . belami Who makede þe so hardi . . . . . . . in my tour . . . . . . . blancheflur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . þe . . . . fore. Þo seyde floyres to blancheflur, “Of vre liue nis no socur.” Ak hei crieþ him merci so suiþe Þ{a}t he ȝaf hem furst of here liue.

Vp he bade hem sytte booth, And do on boþ her cloþ; Seþ he dide hem bynde fast, 916 And in p{r}ison~ lete hem be cast.

Vp he bad hem sitte boþe, {and} don on here beyre cloþe, {and} þo he bad hem binde faste, {and} in to one p{ri}sun he het hem cast.

[Headnote: _The ‘Admiral’ summons his counsellors._]

[Sidenote: The Admiral summons his counsellors and tells them the case.]

Now haþ he after his Barons sent, To wreke him after Iugement, Now han þe Barons vndernome, 920 And to þe Amyral þey ben coom{e}.

Aft{er} his barnage he haþ isend, To awreke him wiþ iugem{en}t. 640 And let he{m} þe while binde faste, And in to p{ri}son ben icaste. His palais þ{a}t was so faire ibuld, Of Erles {and} barons hit was ifuld. 644

. . . he . . after his barenage . . . . he him . . . . . . . barenage . . . . . Þ{a}t to nan amyrayl abeþ nome . . . . . . . . . . ibuld . . . . . . . . was ifuld.

He stood vp a-mong{e} hem al, W{i}t{h} semblant wroþ w{i}t{h}alle, [Sidenote: [109 _b_]] And seide: “Lordynges, w{i}t{h} much hono{ur}, 924 Ȝe herde speke of Blauncheflo{ur}, Þ{a}t y bouȝt hur dere a plyȝt For seuen sithes of golde hur wyȝt; For y wende w{i}t{h}-out wene 928 Þat feire mayde to haue had to Quene.

Vp he stod among he{m} alle, Bi semblau{n}t wel wroþ wiþ alle. “Lordinges,” he sede, “wiþ muchel hon{ur}, Ȝe habbeþ iherd of blau{n}cheflur, 648 Hu ihc hire boȝte apliȝt, For seuesiþe of gold hire wiȝt. To hire was mi meste wene, For to habbe to mi quene. 652

Þe amiral stod up among he{m} alle . . . . . . wreþ mid [alle] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Sidenote: [_leaf 8, back, col. 2_]] . . . . . . wiþoute w[ene] To habben hire to mi quene

[Headnote: _The trial of the children._]

Among~ my maydons in my Toure I hur dide, w{i}t{h} muche honoure; Byfore her bedde my self~ y coom~; 932 I fonde þ{e}ryn a naked man. Þan were þey to me so looþ, I þouȝt to haue sleyn~ hem booþ, I was so wroþ and so wood~. 936

[_No gap in MS._] Nis noȝt ȝore þ{a}t i ne com And fond hire wiþ hordom, Me to schame {and} deshonur, In hire bedde on mi Tur. 656

. . . hire bedde miself ich co[me] . . . hire ane naked grome . . . . . . . me wel loþe . . . . . . . he{m} boþe. {and} ich was so wroþ {and} wod

Ȝit y w{i}t{h}drowȝ myn~ hoot blood~ Tyl y haue sende after ȝow, by assent, To wreke me w{i}t{h} Iugement. Now ȝit ȝe woot how it is goon~, 940 Wreke me soon~ of~ my foon~.”

[_No gap in MS._] Ihc habbe ȝou told hu hit is went; A wrekeþ me wiþ Jugem{en}t.”

{and} ȝet ihc wiþ drou . . . . Þ{a}t ich hadde after . . . . To wreke me þo{r}uh iugem[ent]. Nou ȝe habbeþ iherd hou it is. Awrekeþ me of mine fon.”

[Sidenote: One suggests that the children be heard before being judged.]

Þan spake a kyng~ of þat londe, “We haue herd al þis shame and shonde; But, or we hem to deth deme, 944 Lat vs hem see, ȝif it þe Queeme, What þey wolde speke or sygge, Ȝif~ þey wyl auȝt ageyn~ vs legge: Hit were nouȝt ryȝt iugement, 948 W{i}t{h}out answere make acoupement.

Þa{n}ne spak a freo burgeis, Þ{a}t was hende {and} curt[eis], 660 “Sire, are hi beo to diþe awreke, We mote ihere þe childre{n} speke. [_No gap in MS._] Hit nere noȝt elles rist iugem{en}t, Biþute{n} ansuare to acupem{en}t.” 664

¶ Þo spak a king of þulk . . “Ȝe habbeþ iherd þis . . . . Ak are we he{m} to deþe . . . We schullen i heren þe . . . What huy wolleþ speke . . . {and} ȝif huy wolleþ ou . . . Hit nis no riȝht iugem[ent].” Wiþ oute onsuere . . . . .

[Headnote: _The trial continued._]

[Sidenote: The king of Nubia advises that they be instantly burned.]

Til þis is herde of~ more and lasse, What myster is, to bere wytnesse?”

Þe king of Nubie sede þo, “For soþ, ne schal hit noȝt go so. Hit is riȝt þureȝ alle þing Felons inome hond habbing, 668 For to suffre Jugeme{n}t Biþute ansuere oþ{er} acupeme{n}t.”

¶ Þe king of nubie . . . . “Sire, so ne schal hit . . . . Trait{ou}r þat is nome hond . . Hit is riȝht þo{r}u alle þ . . . To beo for don oþ{er} i sch . . Wiþ outen oni here of . . . Al þis ihe . . {and} lag . . {and} bereþ him þer of w . . .

After þe Children haue þey sent,-- 952 To brenne hem was his entent;-- Two s{er}ieauntes hem gan bryng{e} Toward~ hur al wepyng{e}. Drery booþ þese children goo; 956 Ayther bemeneþ oþ{er}is woo.

Aft{er} þe children nu me sendeþ; Hem to berne fir me tendeþ. 672

After þes childeren . . . . Hem to for berne þer . . . . Twene seriauns hem forþ bringe To fonge here dom sore wepin[ge] Dreri weren þo chyldren . . Her eyþer by wepeþ oþer . .

[Sidenote: Floris reproaches himself to Blauncheflur.]

Þan seide Florys to Blauncheflo{ur}, “Of~ oure lyf~ is no soco{ur}:

Seide floriz to blau{n}cheflur, “Of vre lif nis no sucur; Ac min is þe guld {and} þe vnmeþ, Þ{a}t þu for me schalt þolie deþ. 676

¶ Þo seyde floyres to blanche[flur] Of vre liue nis no soc[ur].

Yf~ kinde of~ man it þole myȝt, 960 Twyes y shuld dye w{i}t{h} ryȝt, Oones for my self~, anoþ{er} for the, For, þy deeþ þ{o}u hast for me.” [Sidenote: [110 _a_]] Blauncheflo{ur} seyde þoo, 964 “Þe gylt is myn~, of oure woo.”

Ac if cu{n}de hit þolie miȝte, Ihc oȝte deie tuye wiþ riȝte. O deþ for þe, on oþ{er} for me; For þis þu þolest nu for me. 680 For if i nere i{n} to þis t{ur} icume, Wiþ mireȝþe þu miȝtest her i{n}ne wune.”

[Sidenote: He gives her the ring, telling her of its properties.]

Florys drouȝ forþ þ{a}t ryng Þat his moder him gaff at her p{ar}tyng~: “Haue þis ryng~, le{m}man myn{e}; 968 Þ{o}u shalt not dye while it is þyn{e}.” Blaunchefloure seide þoo, [_No gap in MS._] “So ne shal it neu{er} goo, Þat þis ryng~ shal help me, 972 And þe deed on þe see.”

He droȝ forþ a riche ring, His moder him ȝaf at his p{ar}ting. 684 “Haue þis ring, le{m}man min, Þu ne miȝt noȝt deie þe while he is þin.” Þe ring he haueþ forþ araȝt And to blau{n}cheflur bitaȝt. 688 “Þe ring ne schal neure aredde me; For deþ ne mai ihc se on þe.”

[Sidenote: She attempts to force the ring back on him; it falls to the ground and is picked up by an earl.]

Florys þ{a}t ryng~ hur rauȝt, And she it him agayn~ betauȝt, Nouther ne wyl other deed seene; 976 Þey let it falle hem bytwene; A king~ com~ after; a ryng~ he fonde, And brouȝt it forth in his honde.

Þe ring heo wolde aȝe reche, And to floriz hi{m} biteche. 692 Ac for al þ{a}t heo miȝte do, He hi{m} nolde aȝen ifo. And þe ring bi one stunde, Fel adu{n} to þe grunde. 696 A duc stupede {and} hi{m} vp nom, And was þer of wel bliþe mon.

Þus þe Children wepyng~ com~ 980 To þe fire and hur doom~. Byfore þe folk~ þey were brouȝt; Drery was her bothes þouȝt;

Nu þes childre forþ me bri{n}geþ To here dom, al wepinge. 700

[Headnote: _The ‘fairness’ of the children excites compassion._]

[Sidenote: The ‘fairness’ of the children excites compassion.]

Þ{er}e was noon~ so stern{e} man 984 Þat þe Children loked oon~, Þ{a}t þey ne wolde, al wel fawe, Her iugement haue w{i}t{h}drawe, And w{i}t{h} grete Catel hem bygge, 988 Ȝif~ þey durst speke or sygge; For Flores was so feire a ȝonglyng~, And Blaunchefloure so swete a þing~, Þ{er} wyst no man whor hem were woo, 992 For no semblaunt þ{a}t þey made þoo.

Ac þ{er} nas no{n} so st{ur}ne mon, Þ{a}t he{m} lokede vpon, Þ{a}t nolde þo suþe saȝe Þ{a}t iugem{en}t were wiþdraȝe. 704 [_No gap in MS._] For floriz was so fair ȝongling, And blau{n}cheflur so suete þing, Of me{n} {and} wi{m}me{n} þ{a}t buþ nuþe, Þ{a}t goþ {and} seoþ {and} spekeþ wiþ muþe, 708 Ne buþ so faire in here gladnesse, So hi were in here sorinesse.

[Sidenote: But the Admiral is very wroth.]

Þe Admyral was so wood~, Ne myȝt he nouȝt kele his hoot blood~; He bade þe Children fast be bound~, 996 And in to þe fire slong~.

Ac þe admiral was so wroþ {and} wod, He q{ua}kede for g{ra}me þ{er} he stod. 712 And het he{m} binde wel faste And i{n} to þe fire caste.

[Sidenote: The earl with the ring steps forward and speaks in behalf of the children.]

Þat ilk{e} king~ þ{a}t þe ryng~ fond~, To Amyral he spake and round~, And wolde hem saue to þe lyf~, 1000 And told~ how for þe ryng~ þey gon~ stryf~. Þe Amyral lete hem ageyn~ clepe, For he wolde here hem speke, [Sidenote: [110 _b_]] And asked Florys what he heete: 1004 And he tolde him ful skeete:

Þe duc þ{a}t þe ring fu{n}de, Com to þe Admiral {and} runde, 716 And al to gad{er}e he gan him schewe; Of þ{a}t þe children were biknewe. Þe Admiral let he{m} aȝe{n} clepe, For he wolde wiþ floriz speke. 720

[Headnote: _The ‘Admiral’ is touched with pity._]

[Sidenote: Floris asks clemency for the maiden, and the maiden prays for him.]

“Sir,” he seide, “yf~ it were þy wylle, Þ{o}u ne getest not þ{a}t maide to spylle; But, good sir, quel þ{o}u me, 1008 And lete þ{a}t maide on lyue be.” [_No gap in MS._] Blauncheflo{ur} seide byne, “Þe gilt of~ oure dedes is moyne.”

“++Sire,” q{ua}þ floriz, “forsoþ ihc telle, Þu noȝtest noȝt þ{a}t maide quelle. Of al þis gilt ihc am to wite; Ihc oȝte deie {and} he go quite.” 724 Q{ua}þ blau{n}cheflur, “aquel þu me, And let floriz aliue be. Ȝef hit n{er}e for mi luue, He n{er}e noȝt fram his londe icome.” 728

Þe Admyral seide þoo 1012 “I-wys ȝe shul dye boo.” His swerd he breide out of his sheeth, Þe Children to haue don{e} to deeth. Blaunchefloure put forþ hur swire, 1016 And Florys dide her agayn~ to tyre, And seide, “I am man; I shal byfore, W{i}t{h} wrong hast þ{o}u þy lyf loore.” Florys forth his swerd putte, 1020 And Blauncheflo{ur} agayn~ him tytte.

Q{ua}þ þe Admiral, “so ihc mote go, Ȝe schulle deie togadere bo. Miself ihc wulle me awreke; Ne schulle ȝe neure go ne speke.” 732 Floriz forþ his nekke bed, And blau{n}cheflur wiþd{ra}ȝe hi{m} ȝet. Blau{n}cheflur bid forþ hire suere, And floriz aȝen hire gan tire. 736 Neiþ{er} ne miȝte þ{er}e þole Þ{a}t oþ{er} deide bifore.

[Sidenote: The Admiral is at length touched with pity.]

Þe king~ seide, “dredry mot ȝe be, Þis rouþ by þis Children to see.” Þe king~ þat þe ryng~ hadde, 1024 For routh of~ hem sone he radde, And at þe Amyral wyl he spede, Þe Children fro þe deþ to lede.

Þo þe Admiral, þeȝ he wroþ were, Þ{er} he chau{n}gede his chere. 740 For he seȝ þ{a}t eyþ{er} wolde for oþ{er} deie, And for he seȝ mani wepinde eie, And for he luuede so muche þ{a}t mai, Al wepinge he t{ur}nde away. 744 His swerd fel of his hond to gru{n}de; Ne miȝte he hit holde þulke stu{n}de.

[Sidenote: The earl with the ring speaks for the children.]

“Sir,” he seide, “it is lytel prys, 1028 Þese Children for to slee y-wys; And it is wel more worship, Florys counsel þ{a}t ȝe weete, Who him tauȝt þ{a}t ilke gynne, 1032 Þy toure for to com{e} ynne, And who him brouȝt þare, And other, þ{a}t ȝe may be ware.”

Þe duc þ{a}t here ring hadde, For he{m} to speke wille he hadde. 748 “++Sire Admiral,” he sede, “iwis Hit is þe wel litel pris Þis feire childre{n} for to quelle. Ac bet{er}e hit is þ{a}t hi þe telle 752 Hu he com in to þi tur, To ligge þ{er} bi blau{n}cheflur. His engin whan þu hit wite, Þe bet{er}e wiþ oþ{er}e þu miȝt þe wite.” 756

Þan seide þe Amyral, “as god me saue, 1036 Florys shal his lyf~ haue, Ȝif~ he me telle who him tauȝt þ{er}to, Of Florys, þat shal y neuer doo.”

Alle þ{a}t herde wordes his, Bisecheþ þ{a}t he g{ra}nti þis. He het hi{m} telle his engin, Hu he to blau{n}cheflur co{m} in, 760 And to hi{m} radde {and} help þarto.

[Headnote: _Floris tells his story._]

[Sidenote: Floris refuses to tell how he gained entry to the tower until pardon has been promised the porter.]

Now þey bydden al y-wys 1040 Þ{a}t þe Admyral g{ra}unted þis, To forȝeue þ{a}t trespas Ȝif~ Florys told how it was.

“Þ{a}t,” q{ua}þ he, “nelle ihc neure do, For þing þ{a}t me mai me do, Bute hit he{m} beo forȝiue also.” 764 Alle þoþ{er}e bisecheþ þis, And of þe Admiral ig{ra}nted is.

[Sidenote: He then tells his story.]

[Sidenote: [111 _a_]] Now eu{er}y word~ he haþ him tolde, 1044 How þ{a}t maide was for him solde, And how he was of~ spayn~ a kynges sone, For grete loue þeder y-com{e}, For to fonde, w{i}t{h} sum gynne, 1048 Þat feire maide for to wynne, And how þe porter was his man by-com{e}, For his gold and for his warysoun~, And how he was in þe Florys born{e}. 1052 Alle þe lordinges lowȝ þ{er}forn{e}:

Nu ord {and} ende he haþ he{m} itold, Hu bla[un]cheflur was fram him isold, 768 And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sone, For hire luue þuder icume, To fo{n}den wiþ sume gīnne, Hu he miȝte hure awi{n}ne, 772 And hu þureȝ þe cupe {and} þureȝ þe g{er}sume, Þe port{er} was his man bicume, And hu he was in a cupe ibore; Alle þes oþ{er}e lowe þ{er}uore. 776

[Headnote: _Scene of reconciliation._]

[Sidenote: The Admiral lifts them up, dubs Floris knight, and causes them to be married in church with a ring.]

Now þe Admyral wol him tyde; Florys setteþ next his syde, And efte he made him stonde vpryȝt, 1056 And dubbed him þere knyȝt, And bade he shulde w{i}t{h} him be, Þe furthermost of his meyne.

++Þe Admiral þo, wel hi{m} bitide, Þ{a}t Child he sette bi his side, And haþ forȝiue his wraþþe bo, Floriz {and} blau{n}cheflur also. 780 And sede wiþ him hi scholde be, Þe beste of al his maine.

Florys falleþ doun~ to his feet, 1060 And p{ra}yeþ geue him his sweet. Þe Amyral gaf~ him his le{m}man~: Al þ{a}t þ{er}e were, þankyd him þanne. To a Chirche he let hem bryng{e}, 1064 And dede let wed hem w{i}t{h} a ryng{e}. Boþ þese twoo swete þinges y-wys Fel his feet for to kysse;

And floriz he makeþ stonde vpriȝt, And þ{er} he dubbede him to kniȝt. 784 Nu boþe togadere þes childre for blisse Falleþ to his fet hem to kisse. He let he{m} to one Chirche bringe, And spusen he{m} wiþ one gold ringe. 788

[Sidenote: The Admiral takes Claris to be his queen.]

And þrouȝ consel of Blauncheflo{ur}, 1068 Clarys was fet doun~ of þe Toure, And Amyral wedded hur to queene. Þ{er}e was fest swythe breeme; I can not telle al þe sonde, 1072 But rycher fest was neu{er} in londe.

Þureȝ þe red of blau{n}cheflur, Me fette Clariz adun of þe Tur. Þe Admiral hire nam to quene. Þilke feste was wel breme, 792 For þ{er} was alle ku{n}nes gleo, Þ{a}t miȝte at eni briddale beo.

[Sidenote: Messengers come to Floris announcing his father’s death.]

Was it nouȝt longe after þan~, Þat to Florys tydyng~ cam~, Þ{a}t þe king~ his Fader was deed~. 1076

Hit nas þ{er} aft{er} noþing longe Þ{a}t þ{er} co{m} floriz writ {and} sonde, 796 Þ{a}t þe king his fader was ded,

[Sidenote: The Admiral tries in vain to induce him to remain.]

Þe Baronage gaf~ him reed Þat he shuld wende hoom~, And fonge his feire kyngdoom~. At þe Amyral þey toke leue, 1080 And he byddeþ þem byleue.

And þ{a}t he scholde nime{n} his red. Þa{n}ne seide þe Admiral, “If þu dost bi mi consail, 800 Bilef wiþ me; ne wend naȝt hom, Ihc wulle ȝeue þe a kinedom Also long {and} also brod, Also eure ȝet þi fader ibod.” 804

[Sidenote: Floris makes rich presents in parting,]

Hom{e} he went w{i}t{h} royal array, And was crownyd w{i}t{h}-in a short day.

(_Follows. _The batełł of Troye_, sithe þ{a}t god þis world~ wrouȝt~ Heuen and erthe made of~ nouȝt~ leaves 111-134. Then _Amys and Amylion_, leaves 134-147. MS. ends with one leaf of _Sir Eglamour_._)

Ac floriz nolde for no wi{n}ne; Leu{er}e hi{m} were wiþ his ki{n}ne. Þe Admiral he bid god day, And þo{n}kede Clariz þ{a}t faire may, 808 And to hire he haþ iȝolde Twenti pond of ride golde. And to Daris þ{a}t hi{m} so taȝte, Twenti pund he araȝte. 812 And alle þ{a}t for him dude{n} eidel, He ȝeld here while suþe wel.

[Headnote: _Floris and Blauncheflur depart for their native land._]

[Sidenote: and comes home, where he and Blauncheflur reign as king and queen.]

He bitaȝte he{m} alle godalmiȝte And com hom whane he miȝte. 816 He was king wiþ Muchel hon{ur}, And heo his quene blau{n}cheflur. Nu ȝe habbeþ iherd þane ende Of floriz {and} his le{m}man hende, 820 Hu aft{er} bale comeþ bote; God leue þ{a}t vs so mote, Þ{a}t we him mote louie so, Þ{a}t we mote to heuene go. AMEN. 824

E-X-PLI-C-IT.

¶ ASSUMPCIOUN DE N{OT}RE DAME

_Cambr. Univ. MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2._

++MErie tale telle ihc þis day Of sei{n}te Marye þ{a}t swete may. Al is þe tale {and} þis lescoun Of hire swete asso{m}pcioun, 4 Hu heo was fram erþe ynome In to blisse wiþ hire sone. Þe kyng of heuene hem blessi Þ{a}t þis listneþ {and} wel herkni. 8 Alle moten hi iblessed beo, Þat vnderstonde wel þis gleo.

HIC INCIPIT ASSUMPC{I}O B{EA}TE MARIE

_Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10,036, lf. 62._

++IN honorance of ih{es}u cryst Sitteþ stille {and} haueþ lyst; And ȝif ȝe wille to me here, Off oure ladi ȝe mai lere, 4 Floure of heuene, ladi {and} quene, As sche auȝt wel to bene, To wham au{n}geles dou{n} here myȝt To serue hure boþe day {and} nyȝt. 8 P{ar} auent{ur}e ȝe haue noȝt iherde How oure ladi went out of þ{i}s werde: Sitteþ stille {and} herkeneþ to me; Now ih{es}u cryst oure helpe be! 12

¶ Whan ih{es}u c{ri}st was don on rode, {And} þolede deþ for vre gode, 12 He clepede to hym sei{n}t Iohan Þ{a}t was his oȝe qenes man, {And} his oȝene moder also; Ne clepede he hym fere{n} no mo. 16

¶ Whan ih{es}u c{ri}st was dou{n} on þe rode And þolede deþ for oure goode, He callide to hym seynt Iohan, That was his fleschli kynnes man. 16 His moder swete he dide also; He callid no men mo him to.

And sede, “wif, lo her þi child, Þ{a}t on þe rode is ispild. [_No gap in MS._] Nu ihc am ho{n}ged on þis tre, Wel sore ihc wot hit reweþ þe. 20 Mine fet {and} honden of blod [buþ red]; Biþute gult ih[c] þolie þis ded.

And seide, “wo{m}man, lo here þi sone, And, man, take hure to mod{er} i{n} good wone. 20 And þenkeþ on my sorwe nowe How I hange here abowe, How I hange apon{e} a tre, Ful sore, I wote, hit reweþ þee. 24 [Sidenote: [leaf 62, back]] Myn feet, myn hondes, of blode ben rede; With owte gilt I þole dede.

Mine men þ{a}t aȝte me to loue, For whan ihc co{m} fram heuene abuue, 24 Me haueþ idon þis ilke schame, Ihc naue no gult; hi buþ to blame. To mi fader ihc bidde mi bone Þ{a}t he forȝiue hit hem welsone.” 28

But þei haue wille to louen me For wham I hange on þis tree. 28 The Iewis me deden mychel schame; Ther of hadde I neu{er} blame.”

[Headnote: _Jesus entrusts Mary to John._]

¶ Marie stod {and} sore weop; Þe t{er}res feolle to hire fet. No wu{n}der nas þeȝ heo wepe sore; Of soreȝe ne miȝte heo wite nomore, 32 Whe{n}ne he þ{a}t of hire nam blod {and} fless, Also his suete wille was, He{n}g Inayled on þe treo.

++MArie his moder sore dide wepe; The teeres fellen at hure fete. 32 Nas no wondre þouȝ sche wepe sore; Of sorwe wist sche neu{er} more. When he þat of hure flesche nam, For his holi swete nam, 36 Honge þ{er} nailed to a tre,

“Alas, my sone,” seide heo, 36 “Hu may ihc liue? hu may þis beo? Hu mai ihc al þis soreȝe iseo? Ne cuþe ihc neure of soreȝe noȝt; Mi leue sone, wat hastu þoȝt? 40 Hou schal ihc lyue biþute þe? Leue sone, what seistu me?”

“Alas, my sone,” þo saide sche, “How mai I lyue? how mai I bene? How mai I þis sorwe ysene? 40 Neu{er} ere wist I of sorwe nouȝt; Leue sone, what hauest þou þouȝt? How schal I leue w{i}t{h} oute þee? Leue sone, what saist þou to me?” 44

¶ Þo spac ih{es}u wordes gode, Þ{er} he heng vpon þe rode, 44 {And} sede to his moder dere, “Ihc schal þe teche a trewe ifere, Þ{a}t trewliche schal loky þe, Þe while þ{a}t þu in erþe be.” 48

Ih{es}u spak þo wordes goode, As he henge on þe rode, And seide to his moder dere, “I schal þee take a trewe fere, 48 [Sidenote: [leaf 63]] That trewly schal kepen þee, While in erþe þou schalt be.”

¶ Þo seide vre lord to sei{n}t Iohan, “For my loue qep me þis wymman. Ȝem hire wel wiþ al þi miȝte Þ{a}t noman do hure non vnriȝte.” 52