Part 6

6 Erthe a-pon erthe [fol. 33, r^o.] Wynnyth castellis and towris. Thanne saithe erthe to erthe: 'This is alle owris'. 28

7 Erthe gothe apon erthe As molde a-pon molde, Erthe gothe apon erthe Gleteryng alle in golde, 32

8 As thouh erthe to erthe Neu{er} a-yen go schulde, But yit schal erthe to þ{e} erthe Rather thanne he wolde. 36

9 Oute of the erthe cam the erthe Wantynge his garnament, To hide the erthe, to lappe the erthe, To hym was clothing y-lent. 40

10 Now goth the erthe apon erthe Disgesily ragged and to-rent, Therfore schal erthe vnder erthe Suffer ful grete turment. 44

11 Whi that erþe loueþ erthe Wonder y may thinke, Or whi that erthe for the erthe Unresonably swete wol or swynke, 48

12 Ffor whanne erthe vnder erthe [fol. 33, v^o.] Is brou[gh]te withynne brynke, Thanne schal erthe of the erthe Haue an oribyll stynke. 52

13 Yif erthe wold of erthe Thus hartily haue thynkynge, And how erthe out of erthe Shal at last haue risynge, 56

14 Thanne schal erthe for erthe Yelde riht streite rekenynge, Thanne schuld [erthe] for erthe Neuer mys-plese heuene kynge. 60

15 Thow wrecchid erthe þ{a}t thus for erthe Trauelist nyht and day To florische the erthe, to paynte the erthe With thi wanton array, 64

16 Yit schalt thou erthe for alle thi erthe, Make thou neuer so gay, Ffor thi erthe in to erthe Clynge as clotte in clay. 68

17 Thinke now erthe how thou in erthe Goist euer in dethis[2] grace, And thanne thou erthe for the erthe Shalt neuer stryue ne race. 72

18 Bute for thou erthe with thi erthe [fol. 34, r^o.] Hauntist enuye and hate, Therefor schal erthe for erthe Be excludid from heuene gate. 76

19 Ffowle erthe whi louyst thou erthe That is thi dedly foo, And bildist on erthe As thou schuldist dwelle euer moo? 80

20 But thou erthe forsake the erthe, Or that thou hennys goo, Vnder erthe for lust of erthe Thou schalt haue sorow and woo. 84

21 Whiles erthe may in erthe To festis and to drynkis gon, Til the be made frome the erthe As bare as any bon. 88

22 Thanne if erthe comyth to erthe Makyng sorow and mone, Thanne saith erthe to the erthe, 'Thou were a felow, but now art thou none'. 92

23 Thus the erthe queytith the erthe That doith to him seruyse, Or tristyn on erthe, or plese the erthe In any maner wise. 96

24 Therfor thou erthe be ware of erthe [fol. 34, v^o.] And thou the wele auyse, Lest thou erthe p{er}ische for erthe By-fore the hihe iustyse. 100

25 Ffor the erthe was made of erthe At the first begynnynge, That erthe schuld labour the erthe In trowthe and sore swynkynge; 104

26 But now erthe lyueth in erthe With falshode and begilynge, Therfor schal erthe for erthe Be punsched in payne euerlastynge. 108

27 But erthe forsake the erthe And alle his falshede, And of the erthe restore the erthe Goodis that ben mys-gete, 112

28 Or that erthe be doluyn in erthe And vnder fote y-trede, Ffor synne of erthe, þ{a}t hath do in erthe, Fful sore he schalle be bete. 116

29 Drede thou erthe while thou in erthe Hast witte & resoune at thi wille, That, erthe, for loue of erthe, Thi soule thou nougth spille. 120

30 And thou erthe, repente the in erthe [fol. 35, r^o.] Of alle that thou hast don ille, And thanne schalt thou, erthe apon erthe, Goddis biddyngis fulfille. 124

31 Lord God that erthe tokist in erthe, And suffredist paynes ful stille, Late neuer erthe for the erthe In dedly synne ne spille, 128

32 But that erthe in this erthe Be doynge euer thi wille, So that erthe for the erthe Stye vp to thi holy hille. Amen. S. J. 132

[Footnote 1: Added in a later hand, probably 16th century.]

[Footnote 2: MS. _deth is_.]

14.

MS. PORKINGTON 10. 15th century. [fol. 79, v^o.]

1 [1]Erthe vppo{n} erth{e} is wo{u}ndyr{e}ly wro{u}[gh]te; Erthe vppo{n} erthe has set al his þou[gh]te[2] [fol. 80, r^o.] How erthe vppo{n} erth to erthe schall{e} be[3] brou[gh]te; Ther is no{n}e vppo{n} erth has hit in þou[gh]te.[4] 4 Take hede! Whoso þinkyse on[5] his end{e}, ful well{e} schal he sped{e}.

2 Erth vppo{n} erth wold{e} be a kynge; How erth schal to erthe he þink{is} no þinge. 8 Whe{n} erth byddyþ erth his rent who{m}e brynge, The{n} schal erth fro þe erth have a hard{e} parttynge, W{i}t{h} care; Ffor erth vppo{n} erþe wott{is} neu{er} we{r} þ{er}for to far{e}. 12

3 Erth vppo{n} erth wy{n}nis castyll{is} & tovris. The{n} sayþe erth to erth: 'Al þ{i}s is ourus'. Whe{n} erth vpp{on} erth has bylde al his bovres, The{n} schal erth fro þe erth soffyr{e} scharpe schorrys, 16 And{e} smarte. Ma{n}, amend{e} þe betyme, þi lyfe ys but a starte.

4 Erth gose on erth as mold{e} vpon{ne} molde, Lyke as erth to þe erth neu{er} a-gayne schold{e}; 20 Erth gose on erth glytteryng in gold{e}[6], [fol. 80, v^o.] [Gh]et shale erth to þe erth, raþ{er} þe{n} he wolde. Be owris! [Gh]efe þi alm{is} w{i}t{h} þi hand{e}. Trust to no secatovrs. 24

5 Why þ{a}t erth louis erþe merwel me þinke, [7]Or why erth vppo{n} erth wyl swet or swinke, [7]Ffor whe{n} erth vppo{n} erth is bro{u}þt to þe brynke, The{n} schal erth frov þe erth have a fovl stynke 28 To smele, Wars þe{n} þe caryo{n} þ{a}t lyis in þe fele.

6 Lo, erth vppo{n} erth, co{n}sayfe þ{i}s þ{o}u maye, That þ{o}u co{m}mys frome þe erth nakyd{e} alway[{e}]; 32 How schuld{e} erth vppo{n} erth soe[8] prod{e} or gaye, Sen[9] erth v{n}to erth schal pase i{n} symple araye, Unclad{e}? Cloth þe nakyd whyl þ{o}u may, for so Gode þe bade. 36

7 Erth vppo{n} erth, me þinky[gh] þe ful blynd{e}, That on erth ryches to set al[10] þi mynd{e}; In þe gospel wrytty{n}e exampul I fynde, The pore went to heyuy{n}, þe rych to hel I fynd{e}, 40 W{i}tt skyle: [fol. 81, r^o.] The co{m}mandment{is} of God{e} wold{e} he not fulfyle.

8 Erth vppo{n} erth, deyle duly thy goode To þe por{e} pepul þ{a}t favtt pe þi fovde, 44 Ffor þe loue of þi Lord{e}, þ{a}t rent was on þe roode, And{e} for þi loue on þe crose sched his[11] hart blode,-- Go rede!-- W{i}ttovte a{n}ny place to reste on his hede. 48

9 Erth vppo{n} erth, take tent to my steyuyne; Whyl þ{o}u leuyst, fulfyle þe w{er}kys of mercy vij. Loke þ{o}u lete, for oode ne for ewyne, Ffor þo by{n}e þe werk{is} þat helpyne vs to heyuy{n}e, 52 In haste. Tho ded{is} who so dose þar, hy{m}e neu{er} be agaste.

10 Erth vppo{n} erth, be þ{o}u neu{er} so gaye, Thow moue[12] wend{e} of þ{i}s world{e} an vnreydy waye; 56 Turne þe betyme, whyle þ{a}t þ{o}u maye, Leste it lede þe into hele, to logege þ{er} for[13] ay, In pyne; Ffor þ{er} is noþ{er} to gett bred{e}, ale, ne wyne. 60

11 Erth vppo{n} erth, God{e} [gh]eyf þe grace, [fol. 81, v^o.] Whyle þ{o}u leuuyst vppo{n} erth, to purway þe a place In heywy{n} to dweyll{e}, whyl þ{a}t þ{o}u hast space; That myrthe for to myse it w{er} a karful case. 64 Ffor whye? That myrth is w{i}t{h}owtty{n} end{e}, I tel þe securlye.

12 I co{n}cele erth vppo{n} erth þ{a}t wykyd{e}ly has wro[gh]te, Whyl erth is on erth, to torn all{e} his þov[gh]te, 68 And{e} pray to Gode vppo{n} erth, þ{a}t al mad{e} of nov[[gh]te][14], That erth owte of erth to blys may be bov[gh]te[15] W{i}tt my[gh]the[16], Thorow helpe Jh{e}su Cryst þ{a}t was our{e} lad{is} byrthe. 72 Do for þiself.

[Footnote 1: Cf. Halliwell, Early Eng. Misc. in Prose and Verse, printed for the Warton Club, _1855, p. 39_, Fiedler, Mod. Lang. Review, _III. iii. 225_.]

[Footnote 2, 4: MS. _þo[~u][gh]te_.]

[Footnote 3: MS. _bo_.]

[Footnote 5: MS. _oñ_, _on~_, throughout.]

[Footnote 6: MS. _in [~i] gold{e}_.]

[Footnote 7: These two lines are transposed in the MS.]

[Footnote 8: MS. _soe_, Halliwell _soe_, Fiedler _goe_.]

[Footnote 9: MS. _señ_.]

[Footnote 10: H. _setal_.]

[Footnote 11: H. F. _schedhis_.]

[Footnote 12: MS. _mõu_.]

[Footnote 13: MS. _þ^{r}for_, H. F. _therefor_.]

[Footnote 14: MS. only _nov_ now legible.]

[Footnote 15: MS. _bov[gh]te_, Halliwell _bou[gh]t_, Fiedler _brou[gh]t_.]

[Footnote 16: MS. Halliwell _my[gh]the_, probably erroneous for _myrthe_.]

15.

MS. BALLIOL 354. Before 1504. [fol. 207, v^o.]

(Richard Hill's Commonplace-Book.)

1 Erth owt of erth is worldly wrowght, Erth hath gote{n} oppo{n} erth a dygnite of nowght, Erth vpon erth hath[1] set all his thowght, How þ{a}t erth vpon erth myght be hye browght. 4

2 Erth vpon erth wold be a kyng, But how þ{a}t erth shall to erth, he thy{n}kith no thyng; Whe{n} erth biddith erth his rent{es}[2] home bryng, The{n} shall erth for erth haue a hard p{ar}tyng. 8

3 Erth vpon erth wy{n}neth castl{les}[2] & towres, The{n} seyth erth vnto erth: 'Þis is all owres'; But whe{n} erth vpo{n} erth hath bildyd his bowres, Tha{n} shall erth for erth suffre hard showres. 12

4 Erth vpon erth hath welth vpon molde, Erth goth vpon erth glydryng all i{n} golde, Like as he vnto erth neu{er} torn shuld; & yet shal erth vnto erth son{er} tha{n} he wold. 16

5 Why þ{a}t erth loweth erth, wonder[3] I thynk; Or why þ{a}t erth will for erth swet or swynk; For wha{n} erth vpon erth is browght w{i}t{h}in þe brynk, Than shall erth for erth suffre a fowle stynk. 20

6 As erth vpon erth were þe worthyes ix, & as erth vpon erth i{n} honour dide shyne; But erthe liste not to know how þei shuld enclyn, & þ{er} crow{n}nys leyd i{n} erth, wha{n} deth hath made hys fyne. 24

7 As erth vpon erth, full{e} worthy was Josue, [fol. 208, r^o.] Dauyd þe worthy kyng, Judas Machabe; They were but erth vpon erth, no{n} of the{m} thre, And so fro{m} erth vnto erth þei loste þ{er} dignite. 28

8 Alisand{er} was but erth, þ{a}t all the world wan, & Ector vpon erth was hold a worthy ma{n}, & Julius Cesar þ{a}t þe empire first be-gan; & now, as erth w{i}t{h}in erth, þei lye pale & wan. 32

9 Arthur was but erth, for all his renown; No more was kyng Charlis, ne Godfrey of Bolown; But now erth hath t{o}rned þ{er} noblenes vpsodown; & thus erth goth to erth, by short co{n}clusion. 36

10 Who so rekyn also of Will{iam} Conquerowr{e}[4], Kyng Harry þe first, þ{a}t was of knyghthode flowr{e}[4]; Erth hath closed the{m} ful streytly i{n} his bowr{e}[4]; Loo, the ende of worthynes! here is no more socowr{e}[4]. 40

11 Now thei þ{a}t leve vpon erth, both yong & old, Thynk how ye shall to erth, be ye neu{er} so bold; Ye be vnsiker, wheþ{er} it be i{n} hete or cold, Like as yo{u}r brether[5] did beffore, as I haue told. 44

12 Now ye folk þ{a}t be here, ye may not long endure, But þ{a}t ye shall torn to erth, I do you ensure; & yf ye lyst of þe trewth to se a playn fugure, Go to seynt Powlis, & see þ{er} the portratowr{e}[4]. 48

13 All ys erth, & shall be erth, as it shew{i}t{h} ther, [6]Þ{er}-for, or dredfull deth w{i}t{h} his dart you dere, & for to torn i{n} to erth, no ma{n} shall it forbere, Wisely pu{r}vey you beffore, & þ{er}-of haue no fere. 52

14 Now, sith by deth we shal al pas, it is to vs c{er}teyn, For of þe erth we co{m} all, & to þe erth shall torn agayn; Þ{er}-for to strive of grucche it were but i{n} vayn, For all is erth, & shall be erth, no thyng more c{er}tayn. 56

15 Now erth vppon erth, co{n}sydre thow may, How erth co{m}meth to erth nakyd all way. Why shuld erth vpon erth go stowt or gay, Sith erth owt of erth shall passe in pore a-ray? 60

16 I co{n}saill you vpon erth þ{a}t wikkidly haue wrowght, Whill þ{a}t erth is on erth, torn vp yo{u}r thowght, & pray to God vppon erth, þ{a}t all þe erth hath wrowght, Þ{a}t erth owt of erth to blis may be browght. 64

Amen.

[Footnote: Cf. Roman Dyboski, E.E.T.S. extra ser. ci _(1907), p. 90_.]

[Footnote 1: D. erron. _hat[h]_.]

[Footnote 2: D. reads _rentes_, _castlles_.]

[Footnote 3: MS. _worder_.]

[Footnote 4: D. reads _-owr_ throughout.]

[Footnote 5: D. erron. _brother_.]

[Footnote 6: Line 50 would be better placed after l. 51.]

16.

MS. HARLEIAN 984. 16th century. [fol. 72, r^o.]

6 [1]How schuld{e} erthe vpon erthe be prud & gay Whe{n} erthe schal to erthe in so por{e} aray?

7 I consell erthe vpon erthe þ{a}t wikyd hade wro[gh]t, Whyle erthe ys apon erthe to tu{r}ne al his þo[gh]t, 4 And{e} p{r}ay to God þ{a}t al þe world wro[gh]t[2] Þ{a}t erthe out of erthe to blesse may be bro[gh]t.

[Footnote 1: The previous leaf of the MS., which evidently contained the beginning of the poem, has been torn out.]

[Footnote 2: MS. _wo[gh]t_.]

17.

THE MAITLAND MS. (PEPYSIAN MS. 2553, p. 338.) c. 1555-1585.

1 [1]Eyrd vpone eird wondirfallie is wrocht, Eird hes gottin vpone eird ane dignite for nocht, Eird apone eird hes set all his thocht How þat[2] eird vpone eird till hicht may be brocht. 4

2 Eird apone eird wald fayne be a king, And how þat eird gois to eird thinkis he no thing. Quhone eird bydd{is} eird his rentis hame to bring, Than sall eird haue to eird herd depairting. 8

3 Eird apon eird wy{n}nis castellis and towris, Than sayis eird vntill eird: 'All þir ar owris'. Quhone eird apone eird hes biggit all his bowris, Than sall eird vpone eird suffir scharp schowris. 12

4 Eyrd apone eird and mold vpone mold, Lyke as eird vnto eird never go sold. Eird gois apone eird glitterand as gold, [Gh]it sall eird go to eird sonar nor he wold. 16

5 How þat eird luiffis eird grit wondir I think, Or quhy þat eird will for eird owþir swet or swynk. Quhone þat eird w{i}t{h}in eird is closit vndir bynk, Than sall eird w{i}t{h}in eird haue ane ewill stynk. 20

6 Lo eird vpone eird considdir þow may, How eird vnto[3] eird gois nakit away, Quhy sould eird apone eird go ow{er} proud or gay, Sen eird vntill eird sall wend in pure array? 24

7 I counsall eird vpone eird þat wondirlie is wrocht, Q{uhi}ll[4] eird is apone eird to turne all his thocht, And pray to God apone eird þat maid all of nocht, That eird vpone eird to blys may be brocht. 28 Q{uo}d marsar.

[Footnote 1: Printed by kind permission of the authorities of Magdalene College, Cambridge.]

[Footnote 2: MS. _yat_; _þ_ regularly written as _y_.]

[Footnote 3: MS. _apone_ crossed out, _vnto_ written above.]

[Footnote 4: MS. _q^ll_.]

18.

JOHN REIDPETH'S MS. CAMBR. UNIV. LIBR. Ll. 5. 10. [fol. 43, v^o.]

(Transcribed from the Maitland MS. 1622-3.)

1 Eird vpoun eird wonderfull is wrocht, Eird hes gottin vpoun eird ane dignitie for nocht, Eird vpoun eird hes sett all his thocht How þat[1] eird vpoun eird till hicht may be brocht. 4

2 Eird vpoun Eird wold fane be ane king, [fol. 44, r^o.] And how þat eird gois to eird thinkis he nothing. Quhen eird bidd{is} eird his rentis hame to bring, Than sall eird haue to eird herd depairting. 8

3 Eird vpoun Eird wins castell{is} and towris; Than sayis eird vnto eird: 'All now ar ouris'. Quhen eird vpoun eird hes biggit all his towris, Than sall eird vpoun eird suffer grit showris. 12

4 Eird vpoun eird and mold vpoun mold, Lyk as eird vnto eird neuer go sold, Eird gois vpoun eird glitterand as gold, [Gh]itt sall eird go to eird sonear nor he wald. 16

5 How þat eird luiffis eird grit wonder I think, Or quhy þat eird will for eird owther sweit or swink, Quhen þat eird w{i}t{h}in eird is closit vnder bink, Than sall eird w{i}t{h} eird haue ane evill stink. 20

6 Lo eird vpoun eird considder thow may How eird vnto eird gois nakit away, Quhy sould eird vpoun eird go o{u}r[2] proud or gay, Sen eird vntill eird sall wend in pure aray? 24

7 I counsall eird vpoun eird þat wondirlie is wrocht, Q{uhi}ll eird is vpoun eird to turne all his thocht, And pray to God vponn eird þat maid all of nocht, That eird vpoun eird to blis may be brocht. 28 Quod dumbar.

[Footnote 1: MS. _yat_; _þ_ regularly written as _y_.]

[Footnote 2: _over_, MS. _o^r_.]

III.

THE CAMBRIDGE TEXT.

CAMBRIDGE UNIV. LIBR. Ii. 4. 9. 15th century. [fol. 67, r^o.]

1 Erthe vpon erth is waxi{n} and wrought, Erthe takys on erth a nobylay of nought; Now erthe vpon erthe layes all his þought How erthe vpon erthe sattys all at noght. 4

2 Erthe vpon erth has hallys & towr{is}[1]; 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}. 8

3 Erthe vpon erth wolde be a kyng, But hove[2] erth xal to erth thynkyth he no thyng.

4 And of the same erthe mad God ma{n}, And sethe he made that erth & callyd it Ad{a}m, 12 For loue of erthe, the wych was woman, That erth in this erthe fyrst be-gan.

5 Erthe goos on erth & tyllys w{i}t{h} hys plowe, Erthe a-geyn erth holdys it full toght[3], 16 Erthe vpon [erth] stelis hym a slogh[4], Erthe on this erth thynkys he has neu{er} i-nowe[5].

6 Erth vpon erthe gos in the weye, Prykys and prankys on a palfreye; 20 When erth has gotyn erth alle that he maye, He schal haue but seven fote at his last daye.

7 Than xal not be lyky{n}g vn-to hy{m} Bu[t][6] an olde sely cloth to wynde erthe in, 24 When erthe is in erth for wormys wyn, The rof of his hows xal ly on his chyn.

[fol. 67, v^o.] 8 [7]When erthe says to erth: 'My rent þ{o}u me bryng', Then has erth fro erthe a dolfull p{ar}tyng. 28

9 How erthe louys erth wondyr me thynke, How erth for erth wyll swete and swynke. When erth is in erthe broght w{i}t{h}-in the brynke, What as herth than of erthe but a fowle sty{n}ke? 32

10 Erthe wrotys in erth as molys don in molde, Erthe vp-on erth glydys as golde, As erthe leve in erthe eu{er} mor{e} schulde.

11 Erthe vp-on erth mynd eu{er} mor{e} þ{o}u make 36 How erthe xal to erth when deth wyll hy{m} take.

12 Be war{e}, erth, for erthe, for sake of thi sowle, Erthe may of erth at þe last take a fowle, When erth is in erthe her{e} so long in his slogh. 40

13 Ffor erth gos in erth walkand in vede, And erthe rydys on erth on a fayr stede, When he was[8] goty{n} in erth erth to his mede, Than is erth layde in erthe wormys to fede. 44 Whylke ar the wormys the flesch brede? God wote the wormys for to ryght rede.

14 Erthe a-geyn erthe I holde it on-kynde, Erthe is as sone wroth as is the wynde, 48 Swyche fowle erth mekyl may we fynde, That wyl speke fayr{e} befor{e} vs & falsly be-hy{n}de.

15 When erth vp-on erth be-gy{n}nys to be wroth, [fol. 68, r^o.] Erth vpon erth swerys many a gret othe, 52 Erth berys p{r}ide in herte & i{n} cloth, When erth is layde i{n} erth þan xal it be loth.

16 Erthly coveytous makyth erth to be schent, Erth for this erth yeld{is} a gret rent, 56 If erth in thys erth levyd in good entent Than dar{e} erthe nevyr recke wher{e} that he went.

17 Erth vp-on erth is stronge as a mast, And erth wyth is erth fyghtys ful fast, 60 Ther{e} is non so stowte that in erth may hy{m} cast, And alle xal we be erth at the last.

18 Erthe bygyth hallys & erth bygith towres, When erth is layd in erth, blayke is his bo{ur}s; 64 If erth haue welth, he dwellyth in flowr{es}[9], And if erth haue mys don, he getyth scharpe sho{ur}s.

19 If erth wyste in erth q{ua}t that erth is, Ther wolde neu{er} erth in erth do a-mys. 68 God mad erth of erth, & namyd it for his, Adam of erth in erthly paradys.

20 God walkyd in erth as longe as he wolde, He had not in this erth but hong{er} & colde, 72 And in this erth also his body was solde, Her{e} in this erth, whan þ{a}t he was xxx^ti [gh]er{e} olde.

21 God lytyd in erth, blyssed be that stou{n}de! [fol. 68, v^o.] He sauyd hijs herth w{i}t{h} many a scharpe wou{n}de, 76 Ffor to sawe erth owght of hell grou{n}de, He deyd in erth vpon þe rode w{i}t{h} many a blody vou{n}de[10].