Chapter 14

++Hercnið nu þenne he seið. [&] [gh]eornliche understondeð. [I]ch am murðes sonde. [&] munegunge of eche lif. ant liues luue i{}haten [&] cume riht from heouene [þ/] ich habbe isehen nu ant ofte ear {220} þe blisse [þ/] na monnes tunge ne mei of tellen. þe iblescede godd iseh ow offruhte. [&] sumdel drupnin of [þ/] fearlac talde of deað. [&] of helle. ant sende me to gleadien ow. nawt for{}þi [þ/] hit ne beo al soð [þ/] he seide. [&] [þ/] schulen alle uuele fondin. [&] ifinden. Ah [gh]e wið þe fulst of godd ne þurue na þi{n}g dreden for he sit on [f. 78r] he [þ/] is {225} ow on helpe. [&] is al wealdent [þ/] haueð ow to witene.

++A seið warschipe welcume liues luue. ant for þe luue of godd seolf [gh]ef þu eauer sehe him{;} tele us sumhwet of him. [&] of his eche blisse. [gh]e iseoð q{uo}ð liues luue{;} Murhdes sonde. Ich habbe isehen him ofte nawt tah alswa as he is{;} for a[gh]ein þe brihtnesse [&] te {230} liht of his leor. þe sunne gleam is dosc [&] þuncheð a{}schadewe. ant for{}þi ne mahte ich nawt a[gh]ein þe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden{;} bute þurh a schene schawere bituhhe me [&] him [þ/] schilde mine ehnen. Swa ich habbe ofte isehen þe hali þru{m}nesse. feader [&] sune. [&] hali gast. þreo an unto{}dealet. ah lutle hwile ich mahte þolie {235} þe leome. ah su{m}mes weis ich mahte bihalden ure lau{er}d ih{es}u c{ri}st. godes sune [þ/] bohte us o rode. Hu he sit blisful on his feader riht half [þ/] is al wealdent rixleð i [þ/] eche lit bute linnunge. se unimete feier{;} [þ/] te engles ne beoð neau{er} ful on him to bihalden. ant [gh]et ich iseh etscene þe studen of his wunden. [&] hu he schaweð ham his {240} feader to cuðen hu he luuede us [&] hu he wes buhsum to him þe sende him swa to alesen us [&] bisecheð him a for mo{n}cu{n}nes heale.

[Linenotes: 229. After _habbe_, _him ofte_ deleted MS. || 234. _mine_ above _meine_ MS.: after _habbe_, _ofsee_ deleted MS.]

++Eft{er} him ich iseh on heh ou{er} alle heouenliche þe eadi meiden his moder marie i ne{m}pnet sitten in [f. 78v] a trone se swiðe briht wid [gh]immes i stirret. [&] hire wlite se weoleful{;} [þ/] euch eorðlich liht{;} is {245} þeoster þe[r]o{}[gh]eines. þear ich iseh as ha bit hire deore wurðe sune se [gh]eornliche. [&] se inwardliche for þeo [þ/] hire seruið. [&] he hire [gh]etteð blideliche al [þ/] ha bi secheð. Þet liht þa ich ne mahte lengre þolien{;} Ich biseh to þe engles [&] to þe archangles ant to þe oðre{;} þe beoð buuen ham. iblescede gastes þe beoð a biuore godd [&] seruið him {250} eau{er}. [&] singeð a unwergeð. Nihe wordes þer beoð. ah hu ha beoð i{}ordret [&] sunderliche isette. þe an buue þe oðre. [&] euchanes meoster were long to tellen. Se muche murhðe ich hefde on hare on sihðe{;} [þ/] ne mahte `ich´ longe hwile elles hwider lokin.

[Linenote: 245. After _se_, _wle_ deleted.]

+E+ft{er} ham ich iseh towart te p{at}riarches. [&] te p{ro}ph{et}es þe makied swuch murhðe [þ/] ha {255} aren nuðe i [þ/] ilke lont of blisse [þ/] ha hefden of feor igret ear on eorðe [&] seoð nu al [þ/] isoðet. [þ/] ha hefden longe ear icwiddet of ure lau{er}d as he hefde ischawed ha{m} igastelich sihðe. +I+ch iseh þe apostles poure. [&] lah on eorðe. ifullet [&] bigoten al of unimete blisse sitten i trones. ant al under hare uet [þ/] heh is i þe worlde. [gh]arowe forte {260} demen i þe dei of dome kinges [&] keiseres. [&] alle cunreadnes of alle cunnes ledenes. [f. 79r] +I+ch biheolt te Martyrs. [&] hare unimete murhðe þe þoleden her pinen. [&] deað for ure lau{er}d. [&] lihtliche talden to alles cunnes neowcins. [&] eorðliche tintreohen a[gh]eines þe blisse [þ/] godd in hare heorte schawede ham to cumene.

[Linenote: 255. _ha_] _ha ha_ MS.]

+E+ft{er} ham {265} ich biheolt þe cunfessurs hird þe liueden igod lif. [&] haliche deiden. þe schineð as doð steorren iþe eche blissen. [&] seoð godd in his wlite [þ/] haueð alle teares iwipet of hare ehnen. +I+ch iseh [þ/] schene [&] [þ/] brihte fer`r´eden of þe eadi meidnes ilikest towart engles. ant feolohlukest wið ham blissin [&] gleadien. þe libbinde iflesche ou{er}gað {270} flesches lahe ant ou{er}cumeð cunde þe leadeð heouenlich lif in eorðe as ha wunieð hare murhðe. [&] hare blisse. þe feierl`e´ac of hare wlite. þe swetnesse of hare song{;} ne mei na tunge tellen. Alle ha singeð þe þer beoð. Ah hare song ne mahe nane buten heo singen. Se swote sme`a´l ham folheð hwider{}se ha wendeð. [þ/] me mahte libben {275} aa bi þe swotnesse. hwam se heo bisecheð fore{;} is sikerliche iborhen. for a[gh]ein hare bisocnen{;} godd him seolf ariseð [þ/] alle þe oðre halhen sittende ihereð.

[Linenotes: 266. _cunfessurs_] _urs_ above _[o.][r.][e.][s.]_ MS.]

++Swiðe wel q{uo}ð warschipe likeð us [þ/] tu seist. Ah nu þu hauest se wel iseið of euch a setnesse{;} of þe seli sunder lepes sumhwet sei {280} us nu hwuch blisse is to alle iliche meane{;} [&] liues luue hire ondswereð. [f. 79v] Þe imeane blisse is seouenfald. lengðe of lif. wit. [&] luue. [&] of þe luue a gleadunge. wið{}ute met murie. loft song. [&] lihtschipe. ant sikernesse. is þe seoueðe. þah ich þis seið warschipe sumdel understonde{;} þu most unwreo þis witerluker [&] openin to þeos oðre. {285} ant hit schal beon seið liues luue warschipe as þu wilnest.

++Ha liuieð á in awlite. [þ/] is brihtre seoueuald. [&] schenre þen þe sunne. ant eau{er} in a strengðe to don buten euch swinc al [þ/] ha wulleð. [&] eau{er} mare in a steal in al [þ/] eauer god is wið{}ute wonunge. wið{}uten euch þing [þ/] mahe hearmin oðer eilin. {290} in al [þ/] eau{er} is. softe oðer swote. [&] hare lif is godes sihðe. [&] godes cnawlechunge as ure lau{er}d seide. [þ/] is q{uo}ð he eche lif to seon [&] cnawen sod godd. [&] him [þ/] he sende ih{es}u c{ri}st ure lau{er}d to ure alesnesse [&] beoð for þi ilich him iþe ilke wlite [þ/] he is. for ha seoð him as he is. nebbe to nebbe.

[Linenote: 291. After _[&] godes_, an erasure MS.]

+H+a beoð se wise [þ/] ha witen {295} alle godes reades. his runes [&] his domes þe derne beoð. [&] deopre þen eni sea dingle. ha seoð igodd alle þing. [&] witen of al [þ/] is [&] wes [&] eau{er} schal iwurden. hwet hit beo. hwi. [&] hwerto [&] hwer{}of hit bigunne. +H+a luuieð god wið{}ute met. for [þ/] ha understondeð hu he haueð bi ham idon þurh his muchele godlec [&] hwet ha ahen his {300} deorewurde milce to [gh]elden. ant euch{}an luueð oðer ase muchel as him seoluen.

+S+e gleade ha beoð of godd{;} [þ/] al is hare blisse. se muchel [f. 80r] [þ/] ne mei hit munne na muð. ne spealie [na speche] for þi [þ/] euchan luueð oðer as him seoluen. Euchan haueð of odres god ase muche murhðe as of his ahne. bi þis [gh]e mahen seon [&] witen. {305} [þ/] euchan haueð sunderlepes ase feole gleadschipes{;} as ha beod monie alle. [&] euch of þe ilke gleadschipes is to eau{er} euch{}an ase muche gleadunge{;} as his ahne sunderliche. [gh]et ou{er} al þis. hwen euchan luueð godd mare þen him seoluen. [&] þen alle þe odre{;} mare he gleadeð of godd wið{}uten ei etlunge þen of his ahne gleadunge. {310} [&] of alle þe oðres. Neomeð nu þenne [gh]eme [gh]ef neau{er} anes heorte ne mei in hire [und]eruon hire ahne gleadunge sunderliche. [iseide. se unim]ete muchel is þe anlepi blisse. [þ/] ha nimeð i[n] hi[re] þus monie. [&] þus muchele. for{}þi seide ure lau{er}d to þeo þe him hefden icwemet.

[Linenotes: 303. This leaf of the MS. defective. || 312, 313. MS. defective here. ]

_Intra in gaudiu{m}. et c'._ Ga q{uo}ð he in{}to þi {315} lau{er}des blisse. þu most al gan þrin. ant al beon bigotten þrin for in þe ne mei hit nanesweis neomen in. her{}of ha herieð godd [&] singeð á un{}werget eau{er} iliche lusti in þis loft songes. as hit iwriten is. _Beati q{ui} habitant. et c'._ Eadi beoð þeo lau{er}d. þe iþin hus wunieð. ha schulen herien þe from [worlde i{n}to worlde].

+H+a beoð {320} alle ase li[hte [&] ase swifte as þe sunne.] gleam þe sc[heot from est into west. ase þin ehe[f. 80v]lid tuneð ant openeð for hwer se eau{er} þe gast wule þe bodi is anan{}riht wið{}ute lettunge. for ne mei ham na þing a[gh]eines etstonden. for euch{}an is al{}mihti to don al [þ/] he wule. [gh]e makie to cwakien heouene ba [&] eorðe wið his an finger. {325} +S+ikere ha beoð of al þis. of þulli lif. of þulli wit. of þulli luue [&] gleadunge þrof. [&] of þulli blisse. [þ/] hit ne me neauer mare lutlin ne wursin. ne neome nan ende. þis lutle ich habbe iseid of [þ/] ich iseh in heouene ah nower neh ne{}{s}eh ich al. ne [þ/] [gh]et [þ/] ich [iseh. ne] ne con ich half tellen.

[Linenotes: 320-2. MS. defective here and at ll. 337-9. || 329. _seh_] _neh_ MS.]

+W+it{er}[liche quoð] warschipe. wel we understondeð {330} [þ/] tu hauest ibeo þear [&] soð hauest iseid trof. eft{er} þi sihðe. ant wel is him [þ/] is war. [&] bisið him hu he mahe beast halden his hus [þ/] godes tresor is in a[gh]eines godes unwine þe weorreð þer towart a wið unþeawes. for þet. schal bringen hi{m} þider as he schal. al þis [þ/] tu hauest ispeken of an hundret siðe mare of blisse buten euch bale {335} folhin [&] ifinden. Q{uo}ð strengðe hwen hit swa is{;} hwet mei tweamen us from godd [&] hald[en us þeonne. ich] am siker ine godd. [[þ/] ne schal lif ne deað{;} ne wa] ne wunne nowðer [to dealen us ant his luue. ah al þis] us haueð igarc [f. 10r] ket. [gh]ef we as treowe tresures witeð wel his tresor [þ/] is bitaht us to{}halden. as we schulen ful wel undeR his wengen. {340}

[Linenotes: 339. MS. Bod. ends with _igarc_; the rest is from MS. Royal 17 A 27.]

++Varpeð ut quoð warschipe{;} farlac ure fa. nis nawt riht [þ/] an hus halde þeos tweien. for þeR as murðes sonde is{;} [&] soð luue of eche lif. farlac is fleme. nu ut quoð strenðe farlac ne schaltu na leng{er}e leuen in uRe ende. nu q{uo}ð `he´ ich seide for god al [þ/] ich seide. [&] þah hit muri nere nes na lessere mi tale þe{n} wes murhðes {345} sondes ne unbihefre to ow. þah hit ne beo so licwurðe ne icweme. Eiðer of ow haueð his stunde to speokene. ne nis i{n}ckeR noðres tale to schunien in his time. þu warnest of wa. he telleð of wunne. muche neod is [þ/] me ow ba [gh]eornliche hercni. Flute nu faRlac þah. hwil liues luue is heRinne. [&] þole wið efne heorte þe dom of rihtwisnesse. {350} for þu schal[t]. ful bliðeliche beon under{}fon in as ofte as liues luue stutteð forto spekene.

++Nv is wil [þ/] husewif al stille. [þ/] eR wes so willesful. Al{}ituht efter wittes wissunge [þ/] is husebonde. [&] Al [þ/] hird halt him stille. [þ/] wes i{}wunet to beon fulitohen [&] don efteR wil haRe lefdi. Ant {355} nawt efteR wit{;} lustneð nu his lare. [&] fondeð eueR euchan efteR [þ/] him limpeð to. þ{urh} þeos twa sonden. [þ/] ha i{}heRd habbeð. [&] [þ/] fowr sustren lerden þruppe for euch unþeawes in[gh]ong his warde te witene. ant{}te waRden treowliche. [f. 10v]

++Þvs ah mon te þenchen ofte Ant ilome. Ant wið þulliche þohtes {360} awecchen his heorte. þe islep of [gh]emeles for{}[gh]et hire sawle heale. efter þeos twa sonden. +F+rom helle sihðe biseon{;} to þe blisse of heouene. To habben farlac of [þ/] an{;} luue toward [þ/] oðeR. ant leaden him ant hinen. [þ/] beoð his limen alle. nawt efteR wil þe untohe lefdi [&] his lust leareð. ah efteR [þ/] wit wule [þ/] is husebonde. tuhten [&] teachen [þ/] wit ga {365} eueR biuore ant teache wil efter him. to al [þ/] he dihteð [&] demeð to donne. ant wið þe fowR sustren{;} þer{}fore þe fowr heued þeawes. WaRschipe. Strencðe in godd. Ant Með. Ant +R+ihtwisnesse. witen godes treosor [þ/] is his ahne sawle. iþe hus of þe bodi{;} from þe þeof of helle. þulli þoht makeð mon te fleon alle unþeawes ant ontent his {370} heorte toward þe blisse of heouene. [þ/] ure lauerd [gh]eue us þ{urh} his hali milce [þ/] wið þe fedeR. ant e sune a{n}t e hali gast rixleð in þreo had á buten ende. AMEN.

+P+ar seinte charite biddeð a pateR nost{er} for iohan [þ/] þeos boc w{ra}t. {375}

++Hwa se þis writ haueð ired. +A+nt crist him haueð swa isped. +I+ch bidde p{ar} seinte charite. +Þ+et [gh]e bidden ofte for me. +A+a p{ate}R n{oste}R. ant aue maRie. 380 +Þ+et ich mote [þ/] lif heR drehen. +A+nt ure lauerd wel i{}cwemen. +I+ Mi [gh]uheðe [&] in min elde. +Þ+et ich mote ih{es}u crist mi sawle [gh]elden.

AMEN.

XVII. SAINT KATHERINE

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"As for Sawles Warde. The text of this extract is from the Royal MS."]]

[Headnote: Clara per Progenitores]

[f. 11r] ++Constantin. ant Maxence weren on ane time as in keiseres stude hehest i rome. ah constantin ferde þurh þe burhme{n}ne read in{}to fronc{}londe. ant wunede summe hwiles þer for þe burhes neode. ant Maxence storede þe refschipe in rome. weox umbehwiles wreððe him bitweonen. ant comen to þe fehte. {5} þes maxence wes ouercumen. ant fleh into alixaundre. Constantin walde efter. ant warpen him þeonne. ah so wide him weox weorre on euch halue. ant nomeliche in an lond y{li}rie hatte. [þ/] ter he etstutte. Þa Maxence iherde þis{;} [þ/] he wes of him siker. ant of his cume karles. warð king of þat lond [þ/] lei into rome. as duden meast {10} alle þe oðere of þe world. bigon anan as wedwulf to weorrin hali chirche. ant dreie{n} cristene men þe lut [þ/] ter weren alle to heðenedom heðene as he wes.

[Linenote: 8. After _an_, _e_ erased: _[.y]rie_ MS.]

Summe þurh muchele [gh]eoue ant misliche meden. Summe þ{urh} farlac of his fule þreates. Oleast wið stronge tintreo ant licomliche pinen. Þe fif [&] þrittuðe [gh]er of his {15} rixlunge he set okine{}seotle i þe moder{}burh [f. 11v] of alixaundres riche. he sende heste. [&] bode so wide so [þ/] lond wes. [þ/] poure ba [&] riche comen biuoren hi{m} to þe temple iþe tun of his heðene godes. euchan wið his lac{;} forto wurgin ham wið. comen alle to his bode. [&] euchan bi `hi´s euene biuoren Maxence seolf to wurgen his {20} mawmez. þe riche roðeren [&] schep [&] bule hwa so mahte brohte to lake. þe poure cwike briddes in þis ilke burh wes wuniende a meide{n} swiðe [gh]ung of [gh]eres twa wone of twenti. feie`r´ [&] freolich o wlite [&] o wastu{m}. ah [gh]et [þ/] wes mare wurð steðeluest wið{}innen of treowe bileaue. anes kinges cost hehte anlepi dohter icuret clergesse. kat{er}ine {25} inempnet.

[Linenote: 24. _wastun_ MS.]

þis meiden wes boðen federles [&] moderles of hire child-hade, ah þah ha [gh]ung were{;} ha heold hire aldrene hird wisliche [&] warliche iþe eritage. [&] iþe herd [þ/] com of hire burde. nawt for {þ}i hire þuhte god to habben monie under hire [&] beon icleopet lefdi [þ/] feole telleð wel to. ah ba ha wes offearet of scheome [&] of sunne. {30} [þ/] þeo weren to{}dreuet oðer mis{}ferden [þ/] hire forð-federes hefden ifostred. For hire seolf ne kepte heo nawt of þe world. þ{us} lo for hare sake ane dale [f. 12r] heo et{}heold [of hire eldrene god] [&] spende al [þ/] oðer in neodful [&] i{n} nakede.

[Linenotes: 28. _[þ/]i_ MS. || 33. _of ... god_ from C.]

++Þeos milde meoke meiden þes lufsum lefdi mid lasteles lates ne {35} luuede heo nane lihte plohen ne nane luue ronnes. nalde heo nane songes. ne nane luue{}runes leornin ne lustnin ah eauer ha hefde on hali{}writ ehnen oðer horte. oftest ba to gederes. hire feder hefde iset hire earliche to leaf [&] to lare. [&] heo underueng hit þ{urh} þen hali{}gast so wel [þ/] nan nes hire euening{e}. Modie meistres [&] {40} feole fondeden hire ofte. oswiðe feole halue forto under{}neomen hire. ah nes þer nan [þ/] mahte neuer enes wrenchen hire mid al his crefti crokes ut of þe weie. ah swa sone heo [gh]eld ham swucche [gh]ein cleppes. [&] wende hare wiheles uppon ha{m} seoluen [þ/] al ha i{}cneowen ham crauant [&] ouercumen. [&] cweðen hire þe meistrie [&] te menske al up. {45}

[Linenote: 35. After _lates_, _f_ erased.]

++Þus hwil ha wiste hire [&] þohte aa to witen hire meiden i{}meiðhad. as ha set in a bur of hire burde boldes heo iherde a swuch murhðe towart þe awariede mawmetes temple lowing{e} of [þ/] ahte. luding{e} of þe men. gleowunge [f. 12v] of euch gleo to herien [&] hersumin hare heðene godes. as ha þis iherde [&] nuste [gh]et hwet hit wes. ha sende swiðe for {50} to witen hwet wunder hit were. sone so hire sonde com a[gh]ein [&] seide hire [þ/] soðe{;} heo swa itend of wreððe wes [þ/] wod ha wurðen walde. het up of hire hird hwuch as heo walde ant wende hire þideward. ifont þer swiðe feole [gh]einde [&] [gh]urinde. [&] þeotinde unþuldeliche wið rewfule remes [þ/] cristene weren. [&] leafful in godes la[.y].

[Linenote: 53. After _of hire_, _[h.][a.] [w.]_ MS.]

ah for dred {55} of deað duden þes deouel[e]s lac as þe heðene duden. hwa wes wurse þen hire heorte iwundet in{}wið for þe wrecches [þ/] heo iseh wraðe werkes wurchen a[gh]eines godes wille. þohte þah as heo wes þuldi [&] þolemod so [gh]ung þing as heo wes. hwet hit mahte [gh]einen þah heo hire ane were a[gh]ein so kene keisere [&] his kineriche. {60} stod stille ane hwile [&] hef hire heorte up to þe hehe healent þe iheret is in heouene. bisohte him help. [&] hap. [&] wisdom. as wisliche as al þe world is iwald þ{urh} his wissunge. þrefter wepnede hire mid soðe bileaue. [&] wrat on hire breoste ant biuoren hire teeð [&] tunge of hire muð þe hali [f. 13r] rode taken. [&] com lepinde {65} forð al itend of lei of þen hali gast. as þe keiser stod bimong þe su{n}ful slaht of [þ/] islein ahte deoulen to lake [þ/] euch wariet weouet of þe mix mawmez ron of [þ/] balefule blod al{}bi{}blodeget. [&] bigon to [gh]eien ludere stefne.

[Linenote: 56. _þes þes_ MS.]

++Gretinge keiser walde. þe bi{}cumen for þin hehnesse [gh]ef þu þis {70} il{k}e [gh]eld [þ/] tu dest to deouelen [þ/] for{}deð þe baðe ilicom [&] i sawle{;} [&] alle [þ/] hit driueð. [gh]ef þu hit [gh]ulde [&] [gh]eue to his wurðmunt þe scheop þe ant al þe world. [&] al walt þ{urh} his wisdom. [&] al [þ/] ischapen is. ich walde keiser igreten þe. [gh]ef þu understode [þ/] he him ane is to herien þ{urh} hwam [&] under hwam {75} alle kinges rixleð. ne ne mei na þing wið{}stonden his i{}wil. þah he muche þolie. þes heouenliche lauerd luueð treowe bileaue. [&] nowðer blod ne ban of unforgult ahte. ah [þ/] me halde [&] heie his halewunde heastes. Ne nis na þing hwar þ{urh} monnes muchele medschipe wreððeð him wið mare þen þe schaft of mon{;} [þ/] he scheop. [&] [gh]ef {80} schad ba of god [&] of uuel þ{urh} wit [&] þ{urh} wisdom schal wurðen forð. ut of his witte þ{urh} þe awariede gast [þ/] he [gh]elt þe wur [f. 13v] ðmunt to unwitlese þing [þ/] te feont wuneð in. [þ/] he ahte to godd [&] hereð [&] hersumeð seheliche schaftes [&] blodles [&] banles. [&] leomen buten liue. as he schulde his [&] heoren. [&] alre þinge schuppent [þ/] is {85} godd unsehelich.

[Linenote: 71. _ille_ MS.]

[Headnote: Claruit per Sacros Mores]

++Þe feont þe fint al uuel bimong alle his crokinde creftes. wið neauer an ne keccheð he creftluker cang men ne leadeð to unbileaue. þen [þ/] he makeð men. [þ/] ahten to witen wel. [þ/] ha beoð bi{}[gh]etene. i{}borene [&] broht forð þ{urh} þe heoueneliche feder{;} to makien {90} swucche mawmez of treo. oðer of stan. oðer þ{urh} mare medschipe. of gold oðer of seoluer{;} [&] [gh]eouen ham misliche nome. of sunne oðer of mone. of wind of wude. of wettres. [&] hersumið. [&] wurgið as þah ha godes weren. ne naueð he þurh oðer þing i þis bileaue ibroht ow bute [þ/] ow þuncheð [þ/] ha schulden leasten aa. forþi [þ/] [gh]e ne schulen {95} ham neu{er} biginnen. ah þer nis buten an godd þ{urh} hwam witerliche alle weren i{}wrahte. [&] of nawt i þis woorld iset us forto frourin. ant to fremien. [&] al{}swa as euch þing hefde biginnunge of his godlec{;} al{}swa schulden alle habben endunge [gh]ef ha [þ/] [f. 14r] walden. engles [&] sawlen þurh [þ/] ha bigunnen ahten [&] mahten endin þurh cunde. {100} ah he þurh his milce. [&] godlec of his grace makeð ham [þ/] ha beoð in eche buten ende. [&] ter uore nis na þing euening. ne eche wið godd [þ/] [gh]e gremieð. for he is hare alre schuppent. [&] scheop as in su{m} time. [&] na time nes neauer [þ/] he ne bigon te beon in.

XVIII. THE ORISON OF OUR LADY

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"Cotton Nero A 14, British Museum. See [IX, Ancrene Wisse]."]]

[Headnote: Benedicta Tu in Mulieribus]

+On god ureisun of ure lefdi.+ [f. 120v

++Cristes milde moder seynte marie. Mines liues leome mi leoue lefdi. to þe ich buwe [&] mine kneon ich beie. and al min heorte blod to ðe ich offrie. þu ert mire soule liht. [&] mine heorte blisse. 5 Mi lif [&] mi tohope min heale mid iwisse. Jch ouh wurðie ðe mid alle mine mihte and singge þe lofsong bi daie [&] bi nihte. vor þu me hauest iholpen aueole kunne wise. and ibrouht of helle in{}to paradise. 10 Jch hit þonkie ðe mi leoue lefdi. and þonkie wulle þe hwule ðet ich liuie. alle cristene men owen don ðe wur`s´chipe. and singen ðe lofsong mid swuðe muchele gledschipe. vor ðu ham hauest alesed of deoflene honde. 15 and i{}send mid blisse to englene londe. |

[Linenote: 16. _isend_] _d_ corr. out of _t_.]

wel owe we þe luuien mi swete lefdi. [f. 121r wel owen we uor þine luue ure heorte beien. þu ert briht [&] blisful ouer alle wu{m}men. and god ðu ert [&] gode leof ouer alle wepmen. 20 alle meidene were wurðeð þe one. vor þu ert hore blostme biuoren godes trone. nis no wu{m}mon iboren þet ðe beo iliche. ne non þer nis þin eming wið{}i{n}ne heoueriche. heih is þi kinestol onuppe cherubine. 25 biuoren ðine leoue sune wid{}i{n}nen seraphine. Murie dreameð engles biuoren þin onsene. pleieð [&] sw`e´ieð [&] singeð. bitweonen. Swuðe wel ham likeð biuoren þe to beonne. vor heo neu{er} ne beoð sead þi ueir to iseonne. 30 þine blisse ne mei no wiht understonden. vor al is godes riche an{}under þine honden. alle þine ureondes þu makest riche kinges. þu ham [gh]iuest kinescrud beies [&] gold ringes. þu [gh]iuest eche reste ful of swete blisse. 35 þer ðe neure deað ne com{;} ne herm ne sorinesse. þer bloweð i{n}ne blisse blostmen. hwite [&] reade. þer ham neu{er} ne mei. snou. ne uorst iureden, þer ne mei non ualuwen. uor þer is eche sumer. ne non liuiinde þing woc þer nis ne [gh]eomer 40 þer heo schulen resten þe her ðe doð wurschipe. [gh]if heo [gh]emeð hore lif cleane urom alle queadschipe. þer ne schulen heo neu{er} karien ne swi`n´ken. ne weopen ne murnen ne helle stenches stinken. þer me schal ham steoren mid guldene chelle. | 45 and schenchen ham eche lif mid englene wille. [f. 121v ne mei non heorte þenchen ne no wiht arechen. ne no muð imelen ne no tunge te{ch}en hu muchel god ðu [gh]eirkest wið{}inne paradise.

[Linenote: 48. _techen_] _tegen_ MS.]