Chapter 16

Swa muche q{uo}ð [þ/] meiden ich beo him þe leou{er}e. se ich {110} derfre þing for his luue drehe. [wurch] þu [þ/] ti wil is. [Gh]e q{uo}ð he bliðeliche. ant swiðe heatterliche. strupen hire steort naket. [&] leggeð se luðer[f. 40r]liche on hire leofliche lich{;} {[þ/]} hit liðeri o blode. Me nom hire [&] dude swa [þ/] hit [gh]eat adun of þe [gh]erden. ant heo bigon to [gh]eien. Beaten se [gh]e beaten [gh]e beliales budeles. ne mahe [gh]e nowðer {115} mi luue ne mi bileaue lutlin towart te liuiende godd mi leofsume leofmon. þe luuewurðe lau{er}d. ne nulle ich leuen ower read þe forreadeð ow seolf. ne þe mix maumez þe beoð þes feondes fetles{;} heien ne herien. for teone ne for tintreohe [þ/] [gh]e me mahe timbrin. Na nult tu q{uo}ð affrican. hit schal sone sutelin. for ich chulle sende {120} þe nu [&] biteache þi bodi to eleusiu{m} þe riche [þ/] reue is ou{er} rome. ant he schal þe forreaden. [&] makie to forswelten. as his ahne wil is þurh al þet eauer sar iS.

[Linenotes: 111. After _drehe_ an erasure of three letters MS. || 112. _leggeð_ corr. out of _leggen_ MS. || 113. _[þ/]_] _[&]_ MS.]

[gh]e quoð þis meiden [þ/] mei crist welden. for ne mahe [gh]e nawt don me bute hwet he wule þeauien ow to muchelin mi mede [&] te murðe [þ/] lið to meiðhades menske for euer so [gh]e mare merrið me her{;} so mi crune bið brihtre [&] fehere. for ichulle bliðeliche drehen euer{}euch derf for mi deore lauerdes luue. ant softe me {105} bið euch derf hwen ich him serui þah þume to elewsium willes biteache{;} ne [gh]eue ich for inc nowðer. [þ/] [gh]e me mahen harmen. for so [gh]e mare me her harmeð. so mare [3]e me helpeð seoueuald to heouene. [&] [gh]ef [gh]e me doð to deaðe hit bið me deorewurðe ant ich schal þer þ{urh} bliðe bicumen into endelese blissen ant [gh]e schulen wrecches {110} áwei ower wurðes [þ/] [gh]e iboren weren sinken to wraðer heale ow to þe bale bitter deope into helle.

++[Gh]e q{uo}ð þis meiden [þ/] mei godd welden. ne mahe [gh]e nawt do me bute þet he wule þeauien [&] þolien ow to donne to mu{c}li mi mede {125} [&] te murhðe [þ/] lið to meiðhades menske. for eauer se [gh]e nu her mearreð me mare{;} se mi crune schal beon brihttre ba [&] fehere. for{}þi ich chulle bliðeliche [&] wið bliðe heorte drehen eauer euch derf. for mi leofmones luue þe lufsume lau{er}d [&] softe me bið euch sar in his seruise. þu wult þu seist a[gh]eoue me to eleusium þe luðere. {130} a{}[gh]ef [f. 40v] me for nawiht ne [gh]eoue ich for inc nowðer. Þet [gh]e mahen ane pine me here. Ah hit ne hearmeð me nawt ah helpeð [&] heueð up [&] makeð mine murhðes monifalde in heouene. ant [gh]ef [gh]e doð me to deað. hit bið deore to godd. [&] ich schal bliðe bicumen to endelese blissen. ant [gh]e schulen wrecches wei ower wurðes. {135} [þ/] [gh]e weren iþe worlt iboren [&] i{}broht forð se wraðer heale [gh]e schule sinken adun to sar [&] to eche sorhe. to bitternesse ant to bale deope into helle.

[Linenote: 125. _mutli_ MS.]

+H+ire feder affrican þ{urh} þis bittre teone bitahte hire to elewsium þe luðere [f. 59v] reue. ant he lette bringen hire biuoren him to his heh seotel as he set in dome as reue of þe burhe . . . {115}

[++A]ffrican hire feader bitterliche iteonet bitahtte hire eleusium þe luðere reue of rome [&] lette bringen hire biuoren his {140} eh{}sihðe. as he set [&] demde. þe hehe burh domes. . . . . . .

[f. 61r] þa elewsius iseh þis [þ/] ha þus feng on to festnen hire seoluen þohte [þ/] he walde anan don hire ut of dahene [&] bed swiðe bringen hire brune of wallinde breas ant healden on hire heauet [þ/] hit urne endelong hire leofliche bodi dun to þe helen ant swa me dude sone. ah hire hende healent wiste hire unweommet. elewsius {120} warð wod ut of his witte. ant nuste hwet seggen [&] het swiðe don hire ut of his ehsihðe. [&] dreihen hire into darc hus [&] p{ri}sunes pine. ant he duden sone. Heo as ha þrinne wes in þeosternesse hire ane feng te cleopien to crist ant bidden þeos bone.

[f. 41v] [++Þ]a eleusius seh [þ/] ha þ{us} feng on to festnin hire seoluen isoðe bileaue{;} þohte he walde don hire anan ut of dahene : [&] bed biliue bringen forð brune walli{n}de bres. [&] healden hit se wal [f. 42r] hat hehe up on hire heaued. [þ/] hit urne {145} enddelong hire leofliche lich adun to hire helen. Me dude al as he het. Ah þe worldes wealdent [þ/] wiste sein iuhan his ewang{e}liste unhurt iðe ueat of wallinde eoli þer he wes i{}don in. [þ/] ase hal com up þrof{;} as he wes hal meiden. þe ilke liues lau{er}d. wiste him unwemmet. his brud of þe bres [þ/] wes wallinde. swa [þ/] ne þuhte {150} hit hire buten ase wlech weater al [þ/] ha felde. Eleusius wod þa nuste hwet segen. Ah hehte swiðe don hire ut of his eh{}sihðe. [&] dreaien in{}to dorc hus to prisunes pine ant swa ha wes idon sone.

[Linenotes: 143. After _hire_, _[o.]f_ MS. || 146. _he[a.]len_ MS.]

++Lauerd godd al mihti. mi murhðe ant mi mede mi sy ant mi {125} selhðe þu isist hu icham bistaðet ant bi{}stonden festne mi bileaue steor me ant streng me. for al mi strencðe is uppon þe. mi fedeR. [&] mi modeR for ich nulle for{}saken þe{;} habbeð for{}saken me [&] al mi nest falde cun me heaneð þet schulden mine freond beon{;} beoð me mest feondes ant mine hinen me beoð mest heanen ah habbich þin {130} anes help icham wil cweme ne leaf þume neuer liuiende lauerd as þu wistest daniel bimong þe wode leuns ant te þreo chil[f. 61v]dren ananie zacharie misael inempnet.

[++H]eo as ha þrinne wes i þeost{er}nesse hire ane. feng to {155} cleopien to c{ri}st [&] bidde þeos bone. lau{er}d godd al{}mihti mi murhðe [&] mi mede. mi s[.y] [&] al þe selhðe. [þ/] ich efter seche þu sist al hu ich am bisteaðet [&] bistonden. festne mi bileaue. Riht me [&] read me. for al mi trust is on þe. Steor me [&] streng me for al mi strengðe is of þe. Mi feader [&] Mi moder for{}þi [þ/] ich nule þe {160} forsaken{;} habbe forsake me. [&] al mi nestfalde cun. [þ/] schulde beo me best freond{;} beoð me meast feondes. [&] mine in{}hinen{;} alre meast hea[r]men. herewurðe healent. habbe [f. 42v] ich þin anes help. ich am wil{}cweme ne forleaf þu me nawt luuiende lau{er}d. as þu biwistest daniel bimong þe wode liuns ilatet se luðere. [&] te þreo {165} children þe chearre nalden from þe lahen [þ/] ha schulden luuien. Ananie [&] Azarie [&] Misahel inempnet.

[Linenotes: 159. Between _mi_ and _trust_, erasure of five letters MS. || 163. _heamen_ MS.]

bi{}wistest unweo{m}met from þe ferliche fur of þe furneise swa þu wite ant witen me to witen me from sunne. lauerd þurh þis lease lif{;} lead me to lestinde to þe hauene {135} of heale as þu leddest israeles folc þurh þe reade sea buten schip druifot ant hare fan senchtest [þ/] ham efter sohten afal þumine famen ant to{}drif drihtin þen deouel [þ/] me derueð. for ne mei na mon wið{}uten þi strencðe stonden him a[gh]eines lef me [þ/] ich mote i{}seon him [gh]et schent{;} [þ/] weneð me to schrenchen ant schunchen of þe {140} weie{;} [þ/] leadeð to eche lif. wite me from his lað ant wið his crefti crokes. wite me wið mine unwines [þ/] tu beo euer iheret ant iheiet in heouene ant in eorðe beo þu áá iblescet as þu were ant art. ant euer schalt beon in eche blisse. amen.

Al þu al wealdent biwistest ha{m} unwemmet. wid [þ/] ferliche fur i þe furneise. swa þu wunne of þe worlt wite me [&] were [&] wit{er}e. [&] wisse þurh þi wisdom to wite me wið sunne. lau{er}d liues lattow. lead me þurh þis lease. þis lutle {170} leastinde lif{;} to þe hauene of heale. As þu lead`d´est isr{ae}les leode of egipte bute schip dru fot þurh þe reade sea. [&] asenchtest hare uan þe ferden ham efter. [&] tu folkes feader. aual mine va{}men. [&] tu drihtin to{}drif þe deouel [þ/] me derueð. for ne mei na monnes st`r´engðe wið{}uten þin stonden him to [gh]eines. lef me [þ/] ich mote {175} mihti meinfule godd iseon him ischeomet [gh]et þe weneð me to schrenchen. [&] schunchen of þe nearowe wei [þ/] leadeð to eche lif. loke me from his lað liuiende lau{er}ð. Make me war [&] wite me wið his crefti crokes. [þ/] ha me ne crechen. were me swa wið þen vnwine. helpleses heale. [Þ/] tu beo iheiet [&] i{}heret eaure in eorðe. as in {180} heouene. [f. 43r] Beo þu aa iblescet lau{er}d as þu were ant art [&] schalt beon in eche.

[Linenote: 177. After _[&]_, _[þ.][u.][n.]_ MS.]

XX. THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE

[[MS description from Notes volume:

"i. Jesus College, Oxford, E 29 (J); see [VI, Alfred]. ii. Cotton Caligula A 9, British Museum (C); see XIV, La[gh]amon. They are copies of a common exemplar X, which was probably taken directly from the poet's original. X was written by two scribes; the work of the first is represented in ll. 1-353 of the present selection; that of the second in ll. 354-437; the former was accustomed to French scribal methods. The writer of C was a mechanical copyist and not at home in English, consequently he reproduces X with tolerable accuracy. The scribe of J was more independent (see [VI, Alfred, second paragraph in the e-text])."]]

(Jesus College MS.)

(Cotton MS.)

[Transcriber's Note: The page numbers from the two MSS overlap: Jesus 229r¹ - 241v²; Cotton 233r¹ - 246r¹.]

+Incip{it} Alt{er}cacio int{er} filomenam [&] Bubonem.+

++Ich wes in one sumere dale. [f. 229r¹ In one swiþe dyele hale. I herde ich holde grete tale. An vle and one n[.y]htegale. Þat playd wes· stif· [&] starc· [&] stro{n}g. 5 Sum hwile softe· [&] lud among. And eyþer a{}yeyn oþer swal. And let þat vuele mod vt al. And eyþer seyde of oþres custe. þat alre wrste þat hi ywuste. 10 [&] hure [&] hure of oþres songe. hi holde playding swiþe stronge.

[Linenote: 6. _among_] _o_ corr. out of _g_.]

++Ich was in one sum{er}e dale. [f. 233r¹ In one suþe di[gh]ele hale. I herde ich holde grete tale. An hule and one ni[gh]tingale. Þat plait was stif [&] starc [&] stro{n}g. 5 Sum wile softe [&] lud among. An a{i}þer a[gh]en oþer sval. [&] let þat wole mod ut al. [&] eiþer seide of oþeres custe. þat alre worste þat hi wuste. 10 [&] hure and hure of oþere[s] songe Hi holde plaiding suþe stronge.

[Linenotes: XX. 7. _asþer_. _oþer_ in margin MS. || 10. _al[e.]re_ MS.]

Þe Nihtegale bi gon þo speke. In one hurne of one beche. [&] sat vp one vayre bowe. 15 þat were abute blostme ynowe. In ore vaste thikke hegge. I meynd myd spire. [&] g{re}ne segge. He wes þe gladd{re}. vor þe ryse. [&] song a veole cunne wyse. 20 Bet þuhte þe drem. þat he were. of harpe· [&] pipe· þan he nere. Bet þuhte þat heo were i{}shote. of harpe· [&] pipe· þan of þrote.

++Þe ni[gh]tingale bigon þe speche. In one hurne of one breche. [&] sat upone vaire bo[gh]e. 15 þar were abute blosme ino[gh]e. In ore waste þicke hegge. Imeind mid spire [&] grene segge. Ho was þe gladur uor þe rise. [&] song auele cunne wise. 20 {B}et þu[gh]te þe dreim þat he were. Of harpe [&] pipe þan he nere. Bet þu[gh]te þat he were ishote. Of harpe [&] pipe þan of þrote.

[Linenotes: 21. _Bet_] _Het_ MS. || 23. _is hote_ MS.]

Þo stod on old stok. þar b[.y] side. 25 Þar þe vle song hire tyde. And wes myd ivi al bi{}growe. Hit wes þare vle erdingstowe.

[Þ]o stod on old stoc þarbiside. 25 þar þo vle song hire tide. [&] was mid iui al{}bigrowe. Hit was þare hule eardingstowe.

Þe Nihtegale hi iseyh. [&] hi{}biholdeþ. and ouer{}seyh. 30 [&] þuhte wel ful of þare vle. For me hi halt. lodlich [&] fule. | vnwyht heo seide a{}wey þu fleo. [f. 229r² Me is þe wurs. þat ich þe iseo. Iwis for þine wle lete. 35 wel ofte ich my song fur{}lete Min heorte atflyhþ· [&] falt my tunge. hwenne þu art to me i{}þrunge. Me luste bet speten þane singe. of þine fule howelynge. 40

[Þ]e ni[gh]tingale hi ise[gh]. [&] hi bihold [&] ouerse[gh]. 30 [&] þu[gh]te wel wl of þare hule. For me hi halt lodlich [&] fule. vn wi[gh]t ho sede a{}wei þu flo. Me is þe wrs þat ich þe so. | I wis for þine wle lete. [f. 233r² 35 wel oft ich mine song forlete. Min horte atfliþ [&] falt mi tonge. wonne þu art to me iþrunge. Me luste bet speten þane singe. Of þine fule [gh]o[gh]elinge. 40

Þeos vle abod for hit wes eve. heo ne myhte no leng bileue. vor hire heorte wes so gret. þat wel neyh hire fnast at{}set. [&] warp a word þar after longe. 45 hw þynk þe nu bi mine songe. Wenestu þat ich ne kunne singe.

++Þos hule abod fort hit was eve. Ho ne mi[gh]te no leng bileue. vor hire horte was so gret. þat welne[gh] hire fnast at{}schet. [&] warp a word þar aft{er} longe. 45 Hu þincþe nu bi mine songe. we[n]st þu þat ich ne cunne singe.

Þe ich ne cunne of wrytelinge. Ilome þu dest me grome. [&] seist me boþe teone [&] schome. 50 If ich þe heolde on myne vote. So hit bitide þat ich mote. [&] þu were vt of þine ryse. þu scholdest singe on oþer wise.

þe[gh] ich ne cunne of writelinge. I{}lome þu dest me g{ra}me [&] seist me boþe tone [&] schame 50 [Gh]if ich þe holde on mine uote. So hit bitide þat ich mote. [&] þu were vt of þine rise. þu sholdest singe an oþer w[i]se.

Þe Nihtegale [gh]af onsware. 55 If ich me loki wiþ þe bare. [&] me schilde wit þe blete. Ne recche ich nouht of þine þrete. If ich me holde i{n} myne hegge Ne recche ich neuer hwat þu segge. 60 Ich wot þat þu art vnmilde. wiþ heom þat ne muwe fro{m} þe schilde.

++Þe ni[gh]tingale [gh]af answare. 55 [gh]if ich me loki wit þe bare. [&] me schilde wit þe blete. Ne reche ich no[gh]t of þine þrete. [gh]if ich me holde in mine hegge. Ne recche ich neu{er} what þu segge. 60 Ich wot þat þu art un{}milde. Wiþ hom þat ne mu[gh]e fro{m} {þ}e schilde.

[Linenote: 62. _þe_] _se_ MS.]

And þu tukest wroþe [&] vuele Hwar þu myht ouer smale vowele. | vor{}þi þu art loþ al fowel cunne. [f. 229v¹ 65 [&] alle heo þe dryueþ heonne. [&] þe bi{}scrycheþ. [&] bi{}gredeþ [&] wel narewe þe by{}ledeþ. [&] ek forþe þe sulue mose hire þonkes wolde þe to{}tose. 70

[&] þu tukest wroþe [&] vuele. Whar þu mi[gh]t over smale fu[gh]ele. Vorþi þu art loþ al fuel{}kunne. 65 [&] alle ho þe driueþ honne. [&] þe bi{}schricheþ [&] bi{}gredet. [&] wel narewe þe bi{}ledet. | [&] ek forþe þe sulue mose. [f. 233v¹ Hire þonkes wolde þe totose. 70

þu art lodlich to bi{}holde. And þu art loþ i{n} monye volde. þi bodi is scort. þi swere is smal. Gretture is þin heued ne þu al. þin éyen beoþ col{}blake [&] brode. 75 Ryht so hi were{n} ipeynt myd wod{e} þu starest so þu wille abyten Al þat þu myht myd clyure smyte{n} þi bile is stif· [&] sarp· [&] hoked. Riht as on ewel þat is croked. 80 þar myd þu clechest eu{er} amo{n}g. And þat is on of þine song.

[Linenote: 75. _en ... brode_ on an erasure.]

Þu art lodlich to biholde. [&] þu art loþ in monie volde. þi bodi is short þi swore is. smal. Grett{er}e is þin heued þan þu al. þin e[gh]ene boþ colblake [&] brode. 75 Ri[gh]t swo ho were{n} ipei{n}t mid wode. þu starest so þu wille abiten. Al þat þu mist mid cliure smiten. þi bile is stif [&] scharp [&] hoked. Ri[gh]t so an owel þat is croked. 80 þar{}mid þu clackes oft`e´ [&] longe. [&] þat is on of þine songe.

Ac þu þretest to myne vleysse. Mid þine cleures woldest me meysse. þe were i{}cundere to one frogge. 85 þat sit at Mulne vnder cogge. Snayles. Mus. and fule wihte. Beoþ þine cunde [&] þine rihte. Þu sittest a day and flyhst a niht. þu cuþest þat þu art on vnwiht. 90 þu art lodlich· and unclene. Bi þine neste· ich hit mene. And ek bi þine fule brode. Þu vedest on heo{m} a wel ful vode. . . . . . . .

[Linenote: 91. _[&] and_ MS.]

Ac þu þretest to mine fleshe. Mid þine cliures woldest me meshe. þe were icundur to one frogge. 85 [Þat sit at mulne under cogge.] Snailes, mus [&] fule wi[gh]te. Boþ þine cunde [&] þine ri[gh]te. þu sittest adai and fli[gh][s]t ani[gh]t. þu cuþest þat þu art on unwi[gh]t. 90 þu art lodlich [&] unclene. Bi þine neste ich hit mene. [&] ek bi þine fule brode. þu fedest on hom a wel ful fode. . . . . . .

[Linenotes: 86. Line omitted in MS. but there is a mark on margin. 89. _fli[gh]st_] _i[gh]_ corr. out of _u_.]

++Þeos word ayaf þe nihtegale. [f. 230r¹ 95 And after þare longe tale. Heo song so lude. [&] so scharpe. Ryht so me g{ru}lde. schille harpe. þeos vle luste þiderward. [&] heold hire eyen neþerward. 100 [&] sat to{}swolle [&] to bolewe. so heo hedde one frogge i`s´wolwe. For heo wel wiste. [&] was i{}war. þat heo song hire a bysemar [&] naþeles heo yaf ondsware. 105 hwy nel{}tu fleon i{n}to bare. And schewi hweþer vnker beo. of briht{er} hewe. of fayrur bleo.

[[The "e" in "Þeos" was subscripted in two different printings. The subscript is not explained in the Notes.]]

++Þos word a [gh]af þe ni[gh]tingale. 234r¹ 95 [&] aft{er} þare longe tale. He song so lude [&] so scharpe. Ri[gh]t so me grulde schille harpe. þos hule luste þiderward. [&] hold hire e[gh]e noþerwa[r]d. 100 [&] sat to svolle [&] ibolwe. also ho hadde one frogge isuol[gh]e. for ho wel wiste [&] was i{}war. þat ho song hire a bisemar. [&] noþeles ho [gh]af andsuare. 105 whi nel{}tu flon in{}to þe bare. [&] sewi þare unk{er} bo. Of bri[gh]t{er} howe of uairur blo.

[Linenote: 105. _[gh]as_ corr. in margin to _[gh]af_.]

No. þu hauest scharpe clawe. Ne kepe ich noht þat þu me clawe. 110 þu hauest clyures swiþe stro{n}ge. þu twengest þar mid so doþ a tonge. þu þoutest so doþ þine ilyche. Mid fayre worde me biswike.

No þu hauest wel scharpe clawe. Ne kepich no[gh]t þat þu me clawe. 110 þu hauest cliuers su{}þe stronge. þu tuengst þar{}mid so doþ a tonge. þu þo[gh]test so doþ þin ilike. Mid faire worde me bi{}swike.

Ich nolde don þat þu me raddest. 115 Ich wiste wel þat þu me misraddest. schomye þe vor þine vnrede. vn{}wryen is þi swikehede. schild þi swikedo{m} fro{m} þe lyhte. And hud þat wowe a{}mo{n}g þe ryhte. 120 hwanne þu wilt þu vnriht spene. Loke þat hit ne beo isene. | vor swikedom haueþ schome and het [f. 230r² If hit is ope. and vnder yete.

Ich nolde don þa`t´ þu me raddest. 115 Ich wiste wel þat þu me mis{}raddest. Schamie þe for þin unrede. vn{}wro[gh]en is þi svikelhede. Schild þine svikeldom vram þe li[gh]te. [&] hud þat wo[gh]e amon[gh] þe ri[gh]te. 120 þane þu wilt þin unri[gh]t spene. Loke þat hit ne bo i{}sene. vor svikedom haued schome [&] hete. [gh]if hit is ope [&] under [gh]ete.

[Linenote: 115. _þat_] _t_ added by a second hand.]

Ne spedestu nouht mid þin vn{}wrenche 125 For ich am war. and can blenche. Ne helpeþ noht· þat þu bo· to þriste. Ich wolde vyhte bet myd liste. þan þu mid al þine strengþe. Ich habbe on brede· [&] ek on lengþe. 130 Castel god on myne ryse. wel fyht þat wel flyhþ. seyþ þe wise. Ac lete awey þeos cheste. For suche wordes beoþ vnwreste.

Ne speddestu no[gh]t mid þine unwrenche. 125 for icham war [&] can wel blenche. Ne helpþ no[gh]t þat þu bo to {þ}riste. | Ich wolde vi[gh]te bet mid liste. [f. 234r² þan þu mid all þine strengþe. Ich abbe on brede [&] eck on lengþe. 130 Castel god on mine rise. wel fi[gh]t þat wel fli[gh]t seiþ þe wise. ac lete we a{}wei þos cheste. vor suiche wordes boþ unwerste.

[Linenotes: 127. _þriste_] _wriste_ MS. || 130. _eck_ corr. out of _ech_ MS.]

And fo we on· myd rihte dome. 135 Mid fayre worde. [&] myd some. þeyh we ne beon at on acorde. we mawe bet myd fayre worde. wiþ{}vte cheste· and bute vyhte. Playde mid soþe. [&] mid ryhte. 140 [&] may vr eyþer hwat he wile. Mid rihte segge. [&] myd skile.

[&] fo we on mid ri[gh]te dome. 135 Mid faire worde [&] mid wsome. þe[gh] we ne bo at one acorde. we mu[gh]e bet mid fawre worde. wit{}ute cheste [&] bute fi[gh]te. Plaidi mid fo[gh]e [&] mid ri[gh]te. 140 [&] mai hure eiþer wat h{e} wile. Mid ri[gh]te segge [&] mid sckile.

[Linenote: 141. _he_] _hi_ MS.]

++Þo qwaþ þe vle. hwo schal vs seme. þat cunne [&] wille riht vs deme. Ich wot wel quaþ þe nyhtegale. 145 Ne þarf þer of beo no tale. Mayster Nichol· of guldeuorde. he is wis· and war· of worde.

++Þo quaþ þe hule {wo} schal us seme. þat kunne [&] wille ri[gh]t us deme. Ich wot wel quaþ þe ni[gh]tingale. 145 Ne þaref þar of bo no tale. Maist{er} nichole of guldeforde. He is wis an war of worde.

he is of worde swyþe glev. And him is loþ eurich vnþeu. 150 he wot insyht i{n} euche songe. hwo singeþ wel. hwo singeþ wronge. And he con schede from þe rihte. Þat wowe. þat þuster fro{m} þe lyhte.

He is of dome suþe gleu. [&] him is loþ eurich unþeu. 150 He wot in{}si[gh]t in eche songe. wo singet wel wo singet wronge. [&] he can schede vrom þe ri[gh]te. þat wo[gh]e þat þust{er} from þe li[gh]te.

[Linenote: 143. _wo_] _þu_ MS.]