Part 4

[54] _get_ = she it: "al _get_ bit otwinne," she biteth it all in two (Bestiary, O.E. Miscell., p. 9).

[55] See p. xix.

[56] _ðei_ occurs but once only.

[57] O.E. Hom., 2nd Series.

[58] See pp. xix, xx.

[59] See Preface to O.E. Hom., 2nd Series.

[60] If _godes_ = god's, _seiden_ (pl.) may be an error for _seide_ (sing.), and _hem_ will then = _he_ + _hem_, he them.

[61] Chaucer constantly uses _men_ with a _verb_ in the _singular_ number, third person. See Notes and Queries for Feb. 8th, 1873, where I have shown that the West-Midland substituted _men_ for the Southern _me_.

[62] The genitive and possessive are denoted by one form; as, _ure_, of us; _gure_, of you; _here_, of them.

[63] Because elided in these cases.

[64] The Bestiary is far more accurate in this respect.

[65] _gangande_ rhymes with _standen_ (O.E. Miscell., p. 21, ll. 654, 655).

[66] This form is used when the pronoun follows.

[67] _Followed_ by the pronoun.

[68] The second person of irregular verbs (pret.) does not occur in the poem. In the Ormulum the inflection is _-e_, which is occasionally dropped.

[69] These forms do not occur in the poem.

[70] _Sinden_ = are, occurs in the Bestiary and the Ormulum. _Sinde_ and _senden_ in O.E. Hom., 2nd Series.

THE STORY OF GENESIS AND EXODUS, ETC.

Man ought to love those who instruct the lewd,

MAn og to luuen ðat rimes ren, ðe Wiſſeð wel ðe logede men, hu man may him wel loken

so that he who is not book-learned may love and serve God.

ðog he ne be lered on no boken, 4 Luuen god and ſeruen him ay, For he it hem wel gelden may, And to alle criſtenei men

God shall love all Christian men, and give them soul-rest

beren paiſ and luue bi-twen; 8 ðan ſal him almighti_n_ luuen, Her bi-neðen and ðund[71] abuuen, And giuen him bliſſe and ſoules reſte[n]

that shall last evermore.

ðat him ſal earuermor[72] leſten. 12

Out of Latin is this song turned into English speech.

Ut of latin ðis ſong is dragen on engleis ſpeche, on ſoðe ſagen;

Christian men ought to be as glad as birds are of dawn to hear the story

Cristene men ogen ben ſo fagen ſo fueles arn q_u_an he it ſen dagen, 16 ðan man hem telled soðe tale Wid[73] londes ſpeche and wordes ſmale,

of man's bliss and sorrow,

Of bliſſes dune, of ſorwes dale; Q_u_hu lucifer, ðat deuel dwale, 20 [Brogte mankinde in sinne and bale]

and how salvation came through Christ,

And held hem ſperd in helles male til god ſrid him in manliched, dede mankinde bote and red, 24

and destroyed the power of Satan.

And unſpered al ðe fendes ſped, And halp ðor he ſag mikel ned.

[71] _read_ gund?

[72] So in MS.

[73] _read_ wið

GOD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH BY HIS WORD.

Biddi[74] hic ſingen no_n_ oðer led, ðog[75] hic folgen idel-hed. 28

[Fol. 1b.] Father, God of all things,

FAder god of alle ðhinge, Almigtin louerd, hegeſt kinge,

enable thou me to sing this world's creation,

ðu giue me ſeli timinge To thaunen ðis werdes biginninge, 32 ðe, leuerd god, to wurðinge, Queðer ſo hic rede or ſinge!

wrought with wit, wisdom, and good love.

Wit, and wisdam, and luue godd, And fer ear biðohte al in his modd, 36

In the Creator's wisdom was all devised ere it came into being.

In his wiſdom was al biðogt Ear ðanne it was on werlde brogt. In firme bigini[n]g, of nogt

Heaven and earth were wrought when God bad exist time and place.

Was heuene and erðe ſamen wrogt; 40 ðo bad god wurðen ſtund and ſtede, ðis middes werld ðor-inne[76] he dede,

First all was night.

Al was ðat firme ðroſing in nigt, Til he wit hiſe word made ligt; 44

Light came by God's word, that is, His Son.

Of hiſe word, ðu wiſſike mune, Hiſe word, ðat is, hiſe wiſe ſune, ðe was of hin fer ear bi-foren

He existed long before time.

Or ani werldes time boren; 48 And of hem two ðat leue luuen,

These two rule all things with wisdom.

ðe welden al her and abuuen, ðat heli luue, ða[t] wiſe wil, ðat weldet alle ðinge wit rigt and [ſ]kil; 52

In the Godhead there are three persons of one counsel and might.

Migt bat wit word wurðen ligt, (Hali froure welt oc ðat migt;

[Fol. 2.]

for ðhre p_er_ſones and on reed, On migt and on godfulhed.) 56

Light came at the divine command.

ðo ſo wurð ligt ſo god it bad, fro ðiſterneſſe o ſunde[r] ſad;

Then was the first morning time that ever sprang in the world.

ðat waſ ðe firme morgen tid, ðat euere ſprong in werld[e] wid. 60

[74] _read_ bidde

[75] 'may' is inserted between 'ðog' and 'hic' in a later hand.

[76] MS. īme.

THE DEVIL'S FALL FROM HEAVEN. THE FIRST LIGHT DAWNS.

With that light were angels made,

wid ðat ligt worn angles wrogt, And in-to newe heuene brogt,

and brought into a new heaven.

ðat iſ ouer dis[77] walkenes turn, God hem q_u_uad ðor ſeli ſuriurn; 64

Some for pride fell thence into nether darkness.

Su_m_me for pride fellen ðeðen, In-to ðis ðhiſterneſſe her bi-neðen;

Pride turned angels into devils, who became the source of every sorrow, bale, and woe.

Pride made angel deuel dwale, ðat made ilc ſorge, and eu_er_ilc bale, 68 And eu_er_ilc wunder, and eu_er_ilc wo, ðat iſ, or ſal ben euere mo.

The devil was made on the Sunday and fell out on the Monday.

He was mad on ðe ſunedai, He fel out on ðe munendai; 72 (ðis ik wort in ebriſſe wen, He witen ðe ſoðe ðat iſ ſen.)

Forth glided the first light, and afterwards the first night.

forð glod ðat firme [dais] ligt, And after glod ðat firme nigt; 76

The dawning came again.

ðe daigening cam eſt[78] a-gon,

Thus in the welkin's course comes day and night "of twenty-four hours right."

His firme kinde dei was a-gon, On walkenes turn wid dai and nigt Of foure and twenti time rigt; 80

[Fol. 2b.]

ðes frenkis men o france moal, it nemnen "un iur natural;"

So ever came the day first,

And eu_er_e gede ðe dai biforn, ſiðen ðat newe werld was boren, 84

till Christ brought his saints from hell.

Til ih_esus_ criſt fro helle nam, Hiſ quemed wid[79] eue and adam;

From that time we ever reckon first the night and then the day.

fro ðat time we tellen ay, Or ðe nigt and after ðe day, 88

For God led them from Hell's might into Paradise's bright light.

for god ledde hem fro helle nigt to paradises leue ligt; ðo gan hem dagen wel iwiſſe, Quan god hem ledde in-to bliſſe. 92

On the second day the earth was enclosed by the firmament,

On an oðer dai ðiſ middel-erd, waſ al luken and a-buten ſperd; ðo god bad ben ðe firmament, Al abuten ðis walkne ſent, 96

[77] _read_ ðis

[78] _read_ eft

[79] _read_ wið

THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH ARE PARTED.

by frozen waters and wall of ice.

Of watres froren, of yſeſ wal, ðis middel werld it luket al;—

No fire has ever yet melted this ice.

May no fir get melten ðat yſ; He ðe it made iſ migtful and wis,— 100

This enclosure may be called Heaven-roof.

It mai ben hoten heuene-Rof; It hiled[80] al ðis werldes drof, And fier, and walkne, and water, and lond, Al iſ bi-luken in godes hond, 104

It shall last until Doomsday.

Til domeſ-dai ne ſal it troken. Al middel-erd ðer-inne is loken,

[Fol. 3.]

watres ben her ðer-under ſuuen, And watres ðor a-buuen; 108

Above this is another heaven full of bliss and life.

And ouer ðat ſo ful i-wis, An oðer heuene ful o blis, And ful o lif ðe leſted oo, wo may him ben ðe fel ðor-fro. 112

Thus passed this second day's night.

Forð glod ðis oðer daiſ nigt, ðo cam ðe ðridde dais ligt:

Then came the third day's light.

ðe ðridde dai, ſo god it bad,

Water and earth became separated.

was water and erðe o ſunder ſad; 116 God bi-q_u_uad watres here ſtede,

The earth did bring forth grass, herb, and fruit tree.

And erðe brimen and beren dede; Ilk gres, ilc wurt, ilc birðheltre, Hiſ owen ſed beren bad he; 120

Thus was earth made mother of wealth.

Of euerilc ougt, of eu_er_ilc ſed, Waſ erðe mad moder of ſped. ðe ðridde dai was al ðis wrogt, And erðes fodme on werldes brogt; 124 An eu_er_ilc fodme his kinde q_u_uemeðen.

Then was all fair here below.

ðo was it her fair bi-neðen,

God saw that it was so, and blessed it.

God ſag his ſafte fair and good, And bliſcede it wid[81] milde mood. 128

Then came the fourth day's light, and Might made the sun and moon and each bright star.

Forð glod ðis ðridde daiſ nigt, ðo cam ðe ferðe daiſ ligt. ðe ferðe dai made migt Sunne, and mone, and ilc ſterre brigt, 132

[80] _read_ hileð

[81] _read_ wið

THE STARS ARE SET, AND FOWL AND FISH ARE MADE.

[Fol. 3b.]

walknes wurði_n_ge, and erdes frame, He knowned[82] one ilc ſterre name,

God set them in the firmament.

He ſettes in ðe firmament,

He let them be

Al abuten ðis walkne went; 136 ðe ſeuene he bad on fligte faren,

for signs and for seasons.

And toknes ben, and times garen.

Sun and moon are the greatest of all these tokens.

Sunne and mone ðe moſte ben Of alle ðe toknes ðat men her ſen; 140

The moon is greater than the earth.

ðe mone iſ more bi mannes tale, ðan al ðis erðe in werldes dale;

The sun's brightness is greater than the moon's light.

And egeſt ſwilc ðe ſunnes brigt, Iſ more ðanne ðe mones ligt. 144

The moon's light is the measure of a month.

ðe mones ligt is moneð met, ðor-after iſ ðe ſunne ſet;

In the equinox was it made.

In geuelengðhe worn it mad, In Reke-fille, on ſunder ſhad; 148

Two equinoxes and two solstices are in the year.

Two geuelengðhes timen her, And two ſolſtices i_n_ ðe ger.

In four parts the year is divided, each part being of three months.

On four doles delen he ðe ger, ilc dole of moneð ðhre; 152 Euere ſchinen ðo toknes brigt, And often giuen iſ on erðe ligt; wel wurðe his migt lefful ay, ðe wroutis on ðe ferðe day! 156 Forð glod ðis ferðe daiſ nigt, ðo cam ðe fifte dais ligt;

On the fifth day, God made of water each fowl and fish, [Fol. 4.]

ðe fifte day god made ywis of water, ilc fuel and eru_er_ilc[83] fiſ, 160 And tagte fuel on walkene his fligt, Ilc fiſ on water his flotes migt,

and bad them multiply.

And bliſced he_m_, and bad hem ðen And tuderande on werld[e] ben. 164

This fifth day took its flight,

Ðiſ fifte dai held forð his fligt, And forð endede ðat fifte nigt;

and on the sixth day God made all cattle, reptiles, and wild deer (beasts).

And [cam] ðe ſexte dais ligt, So made god wid[84] witter migt, 168

[82] _read_ knoweð

[83] So in MS.

[84] _read_ wið

CATTLE ARE MADE FOR MAN'S SERVICE. ADAM IS CREATED.

Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der, Qwel[85] man mai ſen on werlde her.

God knew that Adam would sin,

God ſag bi-fore quat after cam, ðat ſingen ſulde firme adam, 172 And him to fremen and do[86] frame,

so He made tame cattle to help him in his labour and to give him food and clothing.

He made on werlde al erue tame, ðe ſulde him her, in ſwinkes ſtrif, to fode, and ſrud, to helpen ðe lif; 176 And him to pine, and loar her,

God made the wild deer to trouble man with sorrow and dread and cause him to moan his sinfulness.

God made wirme _and_ wilde der. He pine man wid[87] ſorwe and dred, And don hem[88] monen hiſ ſinfulhed, 180 ðat iſ him loar quan he ſeð, ðan he for ſinne i_n_ ſorwe beð.

Each kind of cattle, reptile, and beast was made of earth.

Ilk kinnes erf, and wrim, and der Was mad of erðe on werlde her, 184

[Fol. 4b.] All were good while Adam was pure.

And eu_er_ilc on in kinde good, ðor quiles ada_m_ fro ſinne ſtod;

But reptiles and wild beasts hurt man as soon as he became sinful.

Oc der and wrim it deren man fro ðan ðat he ſingen bi-gan; 188 In ðe moſte and i_n_ ðe leſte he forleſ Hiſ lou_er_d-hed[89] q_u_uanne he miſ-cheſ;

Lions and bears tear him in pieces.

Leunes and beres him wile to-dragen,

Flies have no awe of him.

And fleges ſen on him non agen; 192 Hadde he wel loked him wið ſkil, Ilc beſte ſulde don hiſ wil;

Cattle help him through God's mercy.

Erf helpeð him ðurg godes með, Hiſ lordehed[90] ðor-onne he ſeð. 196 And for hiſe ſinne oc he to munen, ðat moſte and leiſte hi_m_ ben binumen.

On this sixth day God made Adam of earth,

Ðiſ ſexte dai god made Adam, And his licham of erðe he nam, 200

and blew into his body a "life's blast,"

And blew ðor-in a liues blaſt,

"a likeness of His Holy Ghost,

A likneſſe of his hali gaſt,

[85] qwilc?

[86] to?

[87] _read_ wið

[88] him?

[89] louerd-hel in MS.

[90] _read_ louerd-hed

OF PARADISE AND THE CREATION OF EVE.

a spirit full of wit and skill."

A ſpirit ful of wit and ſckil; ðor quiles it folgede heli wil, 204 God ſelf ðor quile liket iſ, An un-liſ q_u_uanne it wile miſ.

In Damascus field Adam was made.

[I]N feld damaske adam was mad, And ðeðen fer on londe ſad; 208

God bore him into Paradise, an abode full of sweet bliss.

God bar him in-to paradiſ, An erd al ful of ſwete bliſ;

[Fol. 5.]

fol wel he wid[91] him ðor dede,

He intrusted to him all that pleasant place.

bi-tagte him al ðat mirie ſtede; 212 Oc an bodeword ðer he hi_m_ forbed, if he wulde him ſilden fro ðe ded,

But forbad him to touch the fruit which taught "weal and woe."

ðat he ſulde him ðer loken fro A fruit, ðe kenned wel and wo, 216

Dead should he be if he broke this command.

And hiegt him ded he ſulde ben If he ðat bode-word ne gunne flen.

God brought all beasts of the earth, fowl, and fish unto Adam,

God brogt ada_m_ ðor bi-forn Ilc kinnes beſte of erðe boren, 220 and fugel, an fiſ, wilde and tame,

who gave to each a name.

ðor gaf adam ilc here iſ name; Ne was ðor non lik adam.

God caused a sleep to come upon Adam, and in that sleep he saw much that should hereafter be.

God dede dat[92] he on ſweuene cam, 224 And in ðat ſweuene he let him ſen Mikel ðat after ſulde ben.

Out of his side God took a rib, and out of it made a woman.

Ut of his ſide he toc a rib, And made a wimman him ful ſib, 228 And heled him ðat ſide wel ðat it ne wrocte him neu_er_e a del.

Adam awoke and saw his wife.

Adam abraid, and ſag ðat wif, Name he gaf hire dat[93] iſ ful Rif; 232

Issa was her first name,

Iſſa waſ hire firſte name, ðor-of ðurte hire ðinken no ſame;

because she was made of man.

Mayden, for ſche was mad of man, Hire firſt name ðor bi-gan; 236

After she brought us to woe Adam called her Eva. [Fol. 5b.]

Siðen ghe brocte us to woa, Adam gaf hire name eua.

[91] _read_ wið

[92] _read_ ðat

[93] _read_ ðat

THE SEVENTH DAY IS MADE A DAY OF REST.

Adden he folged godes red, Al man-kin adde ſeli ſped; 240

For sin they lost the bliss of Paradise.

for ſinne he ðat bliſſe for-loren, ðat derede al ðat of hem was boren; It is her-after in ðe ſong, Hu adam fel in pine ſtrong. 244

The sixth day passed and

Forð glod ðiſ ſexte dais lig[t], After glod ðe ſexte nig[t];

the seventh morning sprung. That day betokened long rest.

ðe ſeuendai morgen ſpro[_n_]g, ðat dai tokenede reſte lo_n_g; 248 ðis dai waſ forð i_n_ reſte wrogt, Ilc kinde newes ear waſ brog[t];

God ordained this day a day of bliss and rest.

God ſette ðis dai folk bitwen, Dai of bliſſe and off reſte ben, 252 for ðat time ear fear bi-forn,

So it remained until Christ rose from the cold rock.

Til ihesus was on werlde boren, And til he was on ðe rode-wold, And biried in ðe roche cold. 256 And reſtede him after ðe ded, ðat ilke dai god aligen bed.

Then the Sunday from that time forth became hallowed for ever.

Siðen for-leſ ðat dai iſ priſ, for ih_esus_,[94] god and man ſo wis, 260 Roſ fro ded on ðe ſunenday,

[Fol. 6.]

ðat is forð ſiðen worðed ay;

So shall it remain until Doomsday.

And it ſal ben ðe laſte tid, Quan al man-kinde, on werlde wid, 264 Sal ben fro dede to liue brogt, And ſeli ſad fro ðe forwrogt, An ben don in bliſſe and in lif, fro ſwinc, and ſorwe, and deades ſtrif. 268

Wisdom made each thing of nought.

Wiſdom ðe made ilc ðing of nogt, q_u_uat-ſo-eu_er_e on heuone or her iſ wrogt.

Lucifer waxed proud,

Ligber he ſridde a dere ſrud, An he wurðe in him-ſeluen prud, 272

and with that pride came envy.