The Life of Adam and Eve

Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as adameve.html and the header file was located in heads/adameve_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 1

Short couplets.780 lines. Begins imperfect, consisting of two discontinuous parts: Edinburgh University Library MS 218 (Ef.1-2, 352 lines) and Auchinleck ff.14ra-16rb (428 lines).

Composed in the North Midlands, c.1300-1325.

Unique copy.

Edition:
B. Murdoch and J. A. Tasionlas, The Apocryphal Lives of Adam and Eve, Edited from the Auchinleck MS and from Trinity College, Oxford MS 57, Exeter Medieval Texts and Studies (Exeter: Exeter University Press, 2002).

Other editions:
C. Horstmann, 'Life of Adam and Eve', Altenglische Legenden, Neue Folge (Heilbronn: Henninger, 1878; reprinted Hildeshein and New York: G. Olms, 1969): 139-147. Corrections in: A. J. Bliss, 'The Auchinleck Life of Adam and Eve', Review of English Studies, ns 7 (1956): 406-409.
D. Laing, A Penni Worth of Witte, Abbotsford Club (Edinburgh, 1857): 49-75.

Manual II, 441; 635. Index *43. Suppl. 1873.5.

Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

The Life of Adam and Eve

Including Edinburgh University Library MS 218
(fragments: E ff.1ra-2vb)


Edinburgh Fragments Commence
Liȝtbern, þat angel briȝt, [E f.1ra] [Image]
Answerd anonriȝt,
‘Ich was ar þe warld bigan,
Er euer God maked man.
Þerfore’ he seyd ‘so mot y the,[5]
He schal first anoure me.’
Þan seyd þe messanger
To Liȝtbern, þat is now Lucifer,
‘Bot þou do Godes comandment,
Þou art inobedient[10]
& wreþþest God almiȝti þerfore,
& so miȝt þi mirþe be forlore.’
Liȝtbern answerd anonriȝt,
Þurth pride þat in his word was liȝt,
‘He schal comen al to late[15]
Mi mirþe for to abate.
Ichil go sitten in mi[n] see
& be more maister þan he.’
& anonriȝt wiþ þat
He sett him in his owe[n] sat.[20]
& þo Liȝtbern hade seyd so,
Mani þousend angels & mo
Sayd þai nold in non manere
Anour Adam no Eue his fere.
Þus in heuen pride bigan[25]
While God in erþe made man.
Þo swete Jhesus þat was wiis
Was comen out of paradis
To heuen, þer he won schold
& hadde maked man of mold.[30]
He seyȝe where Liȝtbern set,
& bad him loke to his fet.
& Liȝtbern anonriȝt
For pride þat in him was liȝt,
In holy writ we heren telle,[35]
He sanke adoun into helle;
Þer he þoled michel schame
Satanas is now his name.
& alle angels in heuen þat were,
Þat him ani wittnesse bere[40]
Þat he was worþi to setten in se
Þer swete Jhesu was won to be,
Þurth þe pouwer of Godes miȝt,
Seuen days & seuen niȝt
Angels fellen adoun into helle – [E f.1rb] [Image] [45]
In holy writ we heren it telle.
For pride þat was in hem liȝt,
Of heuen-blis þai lorn þe siȝt.
& as we finden in lettrure
Y not wheþer it be in holy scripture[50]
Þo Liȝtbern sat in his se
& seyd he was worþier þan he,
For þe mone bar him wittnesse,
It wexeþ & wanieþ more & lesse.
Þe se þurth vertu of Godes miȝt[55]
Ebbeþ & flouweþ day & niȝt;
Þis tvay no habbe neuer rest,
Noiþer bi est no bi west.
In heuen pride first bigan
In angel, ar it cam in man.[60]
& for it com out of heuen
& was þe form sinne of seuen,
Þerfore, wiþouten lesing,
Of alle sinnes pride is king.
Lete we now pride be,[65]
& to Adam wende we,
& loke we hou him spet
Þat þurth his wiues abet
& þurth þe fendes enticement
He brak godes comandment.[70]
God – yblisced mot he be
He forbede Adam an appel-tre,
Þat he ne schold of liif no lim
No frout þerof nim.
Þe fende in lickenesse of a nadder[75]
Clombe opon þe tre wiþouten ladder
& cleped to him Adames wiif,
For to apair Adames liif.
& Eue to þe nadder cam.
& at þe nadder an appel nam,[80]
Þe feirest of alle þat he fond,
& tok it Eue in hir hond.
& seyd ‘ete þou & Adam of þis,
& ȝe schul ben also wiis
As God, þat sitt in trinite[85]
& witen alle his priuite
... ȝe no schuld nouȝt se no here
Whiche Godes priuetes were.
Þerfore he it ȝou forbede [E f.1va] [Image]
It schuld nouȝt comen in ȝour hed.’[90]
Eue of þe nadder þe appel nam,
& to Adam anon hom cam
& seyd ‘do as ich þe rede,
& it schal be þe best dede
Þat euer ȝete þou dest, ywis.[95]
Ete of þe appel þat here is,
& þou schalt be, wiþouten lesing,
Also wise of alle þing
As he þat it þe forbede.
It schuld nouȝt comen in þine hed.’[100]
Þurth þe fendes comberment
& þurth his wiues enticement
Godes comandment he breke,
Þat he & his wiif eke
Seþþen hem rewe boþe ful sore,[105]
Þat þai leueden þe fendes lore.
In þe boke it is ywrite,
Þo þai hadde of þe appel bite,
Aiþer of oþer aschamed was
& hiled her kinde wiþ more & gras.[110]
Adam was of God afliȝt,
& went & hidde him anonriȝt.
& God out of heuen cam
& cleped anon after Adam.
Þan seyd suete Jhesus,[115]
‘Adam, Adam, why destow þus?
Þou hast ybrouȝt þi selue in wo
& Eue, þi gode wiif, also; [ Eue added superscript.]
For þou hast min hest ybroke,
For soþe, Adam, ichil be wroke.[120]
ȝe haue ydon a sori dede,
For soþe ȝe schul haue ȝour mede.’
Þo Jhesu hadde to hem speke
& told hem þat he wald ben awreke
Yblisced be his nam seuen[125]
He steyȝe oȝain into heuen.
& þerafter anonriȝt
He sent adoun an angel briȝt
Wiþ a brenand swerd,
& drof hem into midnerd,[130]
Adam & Eue, his wiif,
In care þer to leden her liif.
Gret pite it was to here [E f.1vb] [Image]
Of Adam & of Eue his fere,
Hou þai wopen & grad allas,[135]
Þo þai schulden for her trespas
Out of paradys ygon
It was pite to heren her mon.
Þo Adam into erþe cam,
Bowes leues & gras he nam;[140]
A loghe he þouȝt to biginne,
He & his wiif to crepen inne.
& þo þe loghe was ymaked,
Þai lay þe[r]in all star naked,
Sex days & sex niȝt,[145]
For hunger wel iuel ydiȝt.
Euerich day þai souȝten mete,
Bot nowhar þai no couþe it gete.
Þo sex days weren agon
& þai no founde mete non,[150]
Eue bigan for to crie,
‘Allas, Adam, for hunger we dye.
Alle þe sorwe þat þou art inne,
Certes, alle it is for mi sinne.
Adam, ich biseke þe,[155]
Sle me, ȝif þi wille be,
For, were ich out of Godes siȝt,
Par auentour, Adam, þan þou miȝt
Oȝein into paradys wende
& haue þe blis wiþouten ende.’[160]
‘A, woman’ quaþ Adam þo,
‘Allas, whi seydestow so?
Wostow make me so wode
To sle min owhen flesche & blode?
Boþe in flesche & in bon[165]
Jhesus Crist haþ made ous on.
He made þe of mi ribbe
Þou miȝtest be me no ner sibbe.
ȝif þou þenkest more so,
Þou wilt bring ous in more wo[170]
ȝif God sende on ous his curs,
Þan schul we fare þe wors.
Bot go we forþ & seche mete,
Wher þat we may ani gete
& for fauȝt dye we nouȝt,[175]
ȝif we mow finden ouȝt.’
Þai went forþ & mete souȝten, [E f.2ra] [Image]
& of hem seluen litel rouȝten.
Astay went to seche mete,
Þai seyȝen bestes stonden & ete;[180]
Ac þai no couþe finde non,
As wide as þai couþe gon.
Þan seyd Adam þus:
‘No hadde [we] wretþed swete Jhesus,
He wald haue sent ous mete anouȝ,[185]
Hongand opon ich bouȝ,
As he doþ þis wilde bestes,
& whe hadden holden his hestes;
Bot for we haue his hest ybroke,
Þerfor he wil ben awroke.[190]
Þerfore, Eue, mi rede it is
For whe han don amis
Go we out of þis wode schawes
& liue we in pennaunce fourti dawes;
& at þe fourti dawes ende[195]
God almiȝti, þat is so hende,
& we miȝten his loue gete,
Þan wolde he send ous mete.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Eue to Adam þo,
‘Þat wold bring me more wo,[200]
So long penaunce for to take,
Bot ich it miȝt an ending make.
ȝif mi penance weren ybroke,
Þan wold God ben awroke,
& be wroþer þan he is,[205]
& ich dede eft amis.’
‘Eue’ quaþ Adam anonriȝt,
‘Nouȝt bot do þan what þou miȝt.
Wende to þe water of Tiger anon
& step in opon a ston;[210]
& whan þou art comen in,
Wad in vp to þi chin
& fond to stond þerin all stille,
Fourti days to fulfille.
& jchil into þe flom go[215]
& stond þerin fourti days & mo,
Sex dayes mo & sex niȝt,
Þurth þe help of Godes miȝt:
For in sex dayes & seuen niȝt
Alle þe warld was maked & diȝt,[220]
& fulfild on þe seuen day. [E f.2rb] [Image]
Þerfore, as forþ as y may,
Jchil fond to helden stille
Sex days more to fulfille.
Þat ich rede we biginne[225]
& do penaunce for our sinne.
& for þe penaunce wil be so hard,
Par auentour þan afterward
God, þat haþ ȝeuen ous liif so,
Wald sende ous sustenaunce þerto.’[230]
Eue vnderstode his rede
& dede as Adam hir bede.
As it telleþ in þe boke,
Aiþer at oþer leue tok.
Eue into Tiger wode[235]
& vp to þe chin sche stode,
& into þe flum wode Adam
& his penaunce vndernam.
Þo þai hadde stonden þare
In m[i]che wo & miche care,[240]
Tventi days stonden inne
In þo to waters in pine,
Þe fende þouȝt him to awreke
& her penaunce for to breke.
& formast he com to Eue,[245]
To brengen hir in misbileue
For Eue hadde leued his lore,
He hoped þat sche wald more
& seyd ‘Eue, wele is þe.
Þi lord sent þe word bi me[250]
Þat þi trespas is forȝeue,
Þat þou dest oȝains his leue.
Com out of þat water anon.
& also swiþe astow miȝt gon,
Go & sigge Adam so[255]
& bring him out of his wo.
& ichil go þider wiþ þe
& say him as ichaue don to þe.’
Of þat tiding Eue was glad
& dede as þe fende hir bad:[260]
Out of þe water sche cam anon
& wiþ þe fende dedde hir to gon.
Þo Adam hadde of Eue a siȝt,
He wist wele anonriȝt
Þat þe fende hir hadde ouercomen [E f.2va] [Image] [265]
& out of hir penaunce ynomen;
& ful gode ȝeme he nam [ gode written superscript.]
It was þe fende þat wiþ hir cam,
& seyd ‘Eue, allas allas,
Now is wers þan it was.[270]
He þat comeþ in þi compeynie,
Now he haþ ygiled þe tvie.
For soþe, Eue, þat is he
Þat giled þe to þe appel-tre
& made þe wiþ his enticement[275]
To breke Godes comandment.’
Þo Eue wist it was Satanas,
For sorwe þat in hir hert was
Sche swoned & fel to grounde,
& lay stille a ful gode stounde;[280]
& anon as sche awoke,
For drede of God sche lay & qwoke,
& seyd ‘allas – ȝif God it nold
Þat euer was ich maked of mold.’
Adam was in gret care[285]
Þat seyȝe his wiif so iuel fare,
& seyd to þe fende of helle,
‘Ich wald þat þou wost me telle
Whi þou [s]uwest me & mi wiif
& art about to pair our liif?[290]
& we þe neuer no dede
Harm no schame in no stede.’
Þe fende answerd þo
& seyd ‘Adam, þou art mi fo.
Sone after þe warld bigan[295]
& God hadde fourmed þe to man,
Bi an angel he sent to me
Þat y schuld anoure þe;
& y seyd þat y nold,
For, ar þou were maked of mold,[300]
Ich was in heuen an angel briȝt,
Of grete pouwer & grete miȝt.
& for y nold anour þe nouȝt,
In þis sorwe icham ybrouȝt,
Into helle for to wende[305]
& won þer wiþouten ende.
& alle þat were to mi asent,
Alle þai ben to helle ywent,
Euer to liue in so[r]w[e] & wo. [E f.2vb] [Image]
Þerfore þou art our alder fo.’[310]
Adam, þer he stode vpriȝt,
Bisouȝt God ful of miȝt,
Deliuer out of his compeynie
Þe fende þat hadde swiche envie
To him & to his wiue Eue,[315]
Þat fonded so her soules to greue.
Adam, þer he stode al naked,
Þo he hadde his preyer maked,
Þurth þe pouwer of Godes miȝt
Þe fende went out of her siȝt.[320]
Þo þe sex & fourti days wer go
Þat Adam hadde yþoled þat wo,
Out of þe water þo he cam.
Þan seyd Eue to Adam,
‘Adam, Adam, wele is te,[325]
& Adam, Adam, wo is me.
Þou hast þi penaunce to þende brouȝt,
Þou miȝt be ful glad in þouȝt,
& ich may sing ‘allas allas’;
Icham wers þan ich was,[330]
For now ichaue eft agilt,
Seþþen we wer out of paradis pilt.
Þerfore ichil now biginne
Oȝain penaunce for to winne,
& wende & won in þisternesse,[335]
Out of alle liȝtnesse;
Þe foule flesche þat haþ agilt,
In þesternesse it schal be pilt.’
Eue went fram Adam,
Into þesternesse til þat sche cam;[340]
& þo sche com to a þester stede,
Niȝt & day in holy bede,
Gret wiþ child, sche duelled þare,
In miche sorwe & michel care.
Þe time neiȝed atte last[345]
Þat Eue bigan to gret fast,
& hye bigan to gron sore
& seyd ‘Louerd, merci, þine ore.
Who may telle Adam mi þouȝt,
In what sorwe þat ich am brouȝt?[350]
Y no haue messanger non
Þat may on min errand gon.’
Edinburgh Fragments end
‘& he seyȝe me wiþ his eyȝe, [f.14ra] [Image]
& seyd, “Adam, þou sc[h]alt dye.
Hold þat word in þi þouȝt,[355]
& loke þou forȝete it nouȝt.”
Þus seyd God almiȝti to me.
Þo com ich into erþe oȝe,
& liued in trauail & in pine;
& so schulen after all mine.[360]
Til God bicom man in erþe,
We schul haue penaunce – & wele is werþe
For ich & þi moder weren at asent
To breke Godes comandment.
For we haue him so agilt,[365]
In our hertes he haþ ypilt
Boþe an euen & amorwe
Sexti woundes of wo & sorwe,
Þat schal doure to alle mi blod.’
& wiþ þat word þer Adam stode[370]
& bigan to wepe sore
& seyd ‘merci, lord, þi nore.
Lord – yblisced mot þou werþe
Wherto was y made of erþe
Swiche pine here to dreye?[375]
Wer time comen, ich wald dye.’
Of Adames sorwe Eue toke kepe
& bigan bitter to wepe,
& anon in þat ich stounde
Sche kneled adoun on þe grounde[380]
& bad a bone to swete Jhesus,
Sore wepende, & seyd þus,
‘Lord, ich biseche þe,
Adames sorwe put in me,
For al þe sorwe þat he is inne,[385]
Is for mi gilt & for mi sinne.’
Adam hadde rewþe of his wiif,
& was al ful of his liif,
& seyd ‘Eue, lat be þi fare,
& fond to bring me out of care.[390]
Take Seþ in þi compeynie,
& lok þat þou fast heyȝe.
Lade him to paradise to þe ȝate,
& lat him abide þer ate,
& let him stonden in þe siȝt:[395]
& God, þat is ful of miȝt,
For he haþ nouȝt trespast so miche [f.14rb] [Image]
As haue we, sikerliche,
Þerfore he may þe balder be
To speke wiþ Jhesu Crist þan we.’[400]
Eue toke Seþ anon,
& dede hem in þe way to gon.
Toward paradis anon þai go.
& þe fende, þat was her fo,
Com & mett wiþ hem tvaye[405]
Riȝt amid in þe waye,
& bot Seþ in þe visage.
& afterward a gret stage
In his visage it was ysene,
Where stoden his teþ kene.[410]
‘Allas, allas’ quaþ Eue þo,
‘What icham curssed, & oþer mo,
Þat breken Godes comandment.
Now is mi sones visage schent.
Hadde we holden his hest ariȝt,[415]
Þan hadde þe fende hadde no miȝt
For to touche nouȝt of our blod,
No hadde ydon hem nouȝt bot gode.’
To þe fende þo seyd Eue,
‘Hou artow so hardi to greue[420]
Godes creatour þat þurth his grace
Is fourmed after his owhen face?
Me þenke þat þou dost nouȝt riȝt
To wretþe wiþ þe king of miȝt.
Why artow so malicious[425]
Toward God & toward ous?’
Þe fende answerd anon þis:
‘Nouȝt toward God our malice nis,
Bot toward þe & al þe brod
Þat euer comeþ of ȝour blod,[430]
For þurth ȝou we ben ybrouȝt
Þer wo & sinne is euer wrouȝt.
&, Eue, ichil þat þou it wite,
Seþþen þou & Adam of þe appel bite,
We haue hadde pouwer & miȝt[435]
To dere ȝou boþe day & niȝt.’
‘A, foule þing’ quaþ Seþ,
‘Fro mi moder þat here geþ,
& fro me, þurth Godes miȝt,
Passe oway out of our siȝt.’[440]
& þe fende, þe foule þing, [f.14va] [Image]
Þurth miȝt of þe heuen-king
Out of her siȝt oway he nam;
Þai nist neuer whar he bicam.
Eue haþ Seþ yladde[445]
To paradys, as Adam badde.
& Eue drouȝ hir fram þe ȝate;
Sche no durst nouȝt loke in þerate,
Sche durst nouȝt schewe God hir face,[ durst: r is superscript.]
Bot lete Seþ abide grace.[450]
& Seþ in þilke stede,
Sore wepeand, in holy bede,
He abod þer alle stille
Godes merci & Godes wille.
Þurth þe vertu of Godes miȝt[455]
Þer com adoun an angel briȝt,
& seyd to Seþ in þis maner,
Þat he miȝt wiþ eren here,
‘God, þat al þe warld haþ wrouȝt,
Sent þe word, þou biddest for nouȝt.[460]
Er þe term be ygon
Of fiue þousende winter & on
& fiue & tventi winter & mo,
Er þat terme be ago,
& God, þat is ful of miȝt,[465]
Be into erþe yliȝt,
& haue ynomen kind of man
& baþed in þe flom Jordan:
Þan schal Adam & Eue, his wiif,
Be anoint wiþ oyle of liif,[470]
& alle þo þat after hem comen
Þat haue C(i)ristendom ynomen.
Go tel Adam, þi fader, þis
Þat no noþer grace þer nis.
& to grayþe him, bid him heyȝe;[475]
His terme neiȝeþ þat he schal dye.
& when þe bodi, þat haþ don sinne,
& þe soule schal parten atvinne,
Riȝt whan þat time schal be,
Miche meruayl ȝe schullen yse[480]
So seyt mi lord, þat alle haþ wrouȝt,
& biddeþ þat ȝe no drede nouȝt
For nouȝt þat ȝe schul here no se.
So he sent ȝou word bi me.’
Eue & Seþ her way nome [f.14vb] [Image] [485]
& went oȝain as þai come
& told Adam þe tiding
Þat him sent þe heuen-king.
& Adam held vp boþe his hond
& þonked God of alle his sond.[490]
Adam his eiȝen vnfeld, [ his: altered from hes.]
& seþþen his sone he biheld
& seyd ‘merci, swete Jhesus.
Who haþ wounded mi sone þus?’
‘Bi God, Adam’ quaþ Eue,[495]
‘He þat is about to greue
Oure soules, boþe niȝt & day,
As michel as euer he may;
Þat is þe fende, þat is our fo,
Þat haþ ous brouȝt into þis wo.[500]
He com & mett wiþ ous tvay,
As we ȝeden in þe way
& went toward paradys;
Þus he bot him in þe viis.’
‘Owe, Eue’ quaþ Adam þo,[505]
‘Þou hast ywrouȝt michel wo.
Alle þat after ous be bore,
Alle schal curssen ous þerfore,
& alle þat after ous liuen,
Boþe amorwe & eke aneuen,[510]
Schul be bisy to bere þe wo
Þat is ywakened of ous tvo.
Þerfore, Eue, telle alle þine childer,
Boþe þe ȝonger & þe elder,
Þat þai be filed of our sinne;[515]
& bid hem ichon biginne
Niȝt & day merci to crie.
Mi time is comen, y schal dye.’
Þus Adam bad Eue his wiif
Techen his childer after his liif,[520]
Hou þai schuld anon biginne
To crien merci for her sinne.
& þo he hadde ytauȝt hem þus,
As þe boke telleþ ous,
He kneled adoun in his bede,[525]
& dyed anon in þat stede.
& as þe angel hadde yseyd,
Alle þe liȝtnisse was aleyd,
Sonne & mone lorn her liȝt, [f.15ra] [Image]
Sex days & sex niȝt.[530]
Eue bigan to wepe & crie,
Þo he seyȝe Adam dye;
& Seþ made reweli mon
& fel doun on his fader anon,
&, as it telleþ in þe boke,[535]
In his armes his fader he tok,
& ful bitterliche he wepe.
& God almiȝti þerof toke kepe,
& sent adoun an angel briȝt
Þat seyd to Seþ anonriȝt,[540]
‘Arise, & lete þi sorwe be,
& wiþ þine eyȝen þou schalt se,
God, þat al þe warld schal glade,
What he wil do wiþ þat he made.’
God, þat sit in heuen heyȝe,[545]
Tok Adam soule, þat Seþ it seiȝe,
& bitok it seyn Miȝhel
& seyd ‘haue, loke þis soule wel,
& put it in sorwe & þesternisse,
Out of ioie & alle liȝtnisse,[550]
Til fiue þousend winter ben ago,
Tvo hundred & eiȝte & tventi mo,
Fro þe time þat he ete
Of þat appel him þouȝt so swete.
So long for his gilt[555]
Jn his ward he schal be pilt
Þat maked him min hest breke;
So long ich wil ben awreke,
On him, & alle his blod eke,
Mi comandment for he breke.[560]
& whan þat terme is ago,
To ioie schal turn al his wo:
& afterward þan schal he
Sitten in þilke selue se
Þat Liȝtbern sat, min angel briȝt,[565]
Er pride was in his hert aliȝt.’
Þus seyd Jhesus, þat sitt an heyȝe,
& seþþen into heuen he steiȝe.
Fram þe time þat cas fel
Þat curssed Kaim slouȝ Abel[570]
Til Adam dyed opon mold,
As swete Jhesus Crist wold,
ȝete lay Abel aboue erþe, [f.15rb] [Image]
Til Jhesu Crist – herd mot he werþe
Bad his angels þat þai scholde[575]
Biry þe bodis vnder molde.
Þe angels al wiþouten chest
Dede anon Godes hest,
I[n]to cloþes þe bodi þai feld.
Eue & hir children stode & biheld[580]
Riȝt in þilke selue stede,
& hadde wonder what þai dede,
For þai no hadde ar þan
Neuer sen biry no man.
Þan seyd an angel, þer he stode,[585]
To Eue & to al hir brode,
‘Take ȝeme hou we do,
& her afterward do so.
Birieþ alle so þat dyen
As ȝe se wiþ ȝour eyȝen[590]
Þat we don þis bodis here
Doþ ȝe in þe selue manere.’
Þo þe angels had seyd þus,
Þai wenten oȝain to swete Jhesus,
To heuen þer þai formast were,[595]
& leued Eue & hir children þere.
Sex days after Adam was dede
God almiȝti an angel bede
Go tellen Eue, Adames wiif,
Þe terme was comen of hir liif.[600]
Þo Eue wist sche schuld dye,
Sche cleped forþ hir progenie,
Boþe þe ȝonger & þe eldre,
Hir childer & hir childer childre,
& sayd þat alle miȝten here,[605]
‘Þo ich & Adam mi fere
Breken Godes comandment,
Anon his wretþe was ysent
On ous & on our progenie,
& þerfore merci ȝe schul crie,[610]
& boþe bi day & eke bi niȝt
Doþ penance bi al ȝour miȝt.
& þou, Seþ, for ani þing
Ich comand þe on mi blisceing
Þat þi fader liif be write,[615]
& min also, eueri smite,[This line repeated identically at the beginning of the next folio, but scored out.]
Fro þe bigining of his liif [f.15va] [Image]
Þat he was maked, & ich, his wiif,
& hou we were filed wiþ sinne,
& what sorwe whe han liued inne,[620]
& in whiche maner þat þou seye
Rediliche wiþ þine eiȝe
Þi fader soule to pine sent,
For he brak Godes comandment.
Alle þis loke þat þou write,[625]
As wele as þou kanst it dite,
Þat þo þat be now ȝong childre
Mai it see, & her elder,
& oþer þat here after be bore,
Hou we han wrouȝt here bifore,[630]
Þat þai mowe taken ensaumple of ous
& amenden oȝain Jhesus.’
Þo Eue hadde þus yseyd
& hir erand on Seþ yleyd,
Sche kneled adoun & bad hir bede,[635]
& riȝt in þilke selue stede
Þat alle her kin stoden & seyȝe
Where, sche dyed biforn her eyȝe.
Anon riȝt as Eue was dede,
Her children token hem to rede[640]
& beren hir þilke selue day
Vnto þe stede þer Adam lay,
& biried hir in þilke stede
Riȝt as þe angels dede
Þat biried Adam & Abel:[645]
Þerof þai token hede ful wel.
& þo sche was in erþe ybrouȝt,
Þai were sori in her þouȝt
& wopen & made miche wo,
Þo Adam & Eue was ago,[650]
Boþe an euen & amorwe
Þai wopen & made miche sorwe.[ made: a is written superscript with insertion mark.]
& at þe four dayes ende
Jhesu made an angel wende,
& seyd, þer þai wepen sore:[655]
‘Doleþ sex days, & na more,
Þe seuen day rest of ȝour sorwe,
Boþe an euen & amorwe.
For God þat alle þe warld haþ wrouȝt
& alle þe warld made of nouȝt,[660]
As him þouȝt it wald be best, [f.15vb] [Image]
Þe seuen day he toke rest.
& anoþer þing witterly,
It bitokneþ þe day of merci;
Þe seuenday was Sononday.[665]
& þat day schal be domesday
& alle þe soules þat wele haue wrouȝt
Þat day schul to rest be brouȝt.’
Þo þe angel hadde his erand seyd
Þat God almiȝten hadde on him leyd,[670]
Into heuen þe way he nam
Þai wist neuer whar he bicam.
Seþ anonriȝt bigan,
Of Adam, þat was þe forme man,
Al togider he wrot his liif,[675]
As Eue hade beden, Adames wiif.
As telleþ þe boke, þat wele wot,
In ston alle þe letters he wrot
For fir no water opon mold
Neuer greuen it no schold.[680]
Þo Seþ hadde writen Adames liif,
& Eues, þat was Adames wiif,
Riȝt in þilke selue stede
Þer Adam was won to bide his bede,
In þilke stede þe bok he leyd[685]
As wise men er þis han yseyd
Þer Adam was won to biden his bede,
& leued it in þilke stede.
& þer it lay alle Noes flode
& no hadde nouȝt bot gode.[690]
Long after N[o]es flod was go,
Salamon þe king com þo,
Þat was air of Dauid lond,
& Adames liif þer he fond,
& al in ston writen it was,[695]
& damaghed non letter þer nas.
For alle þat euer Salamon couþe
Þink in hert or speke wiþ mouþe,
On word he no couþe wite
Of alle þat euer was þer write;[700]
He no couþe o word vnderstond
Þat Seþ hadde writen wiþ his hond.
& Salamon, þat was wiis,
Bisouȝt þe king of paradys [Catchword: at he schuld for his.]
Þat he schuld for his miȝt [f.16ra] [Image] [705]
Sende him grace fram heuen-liȝt
Þat he miȝt haue grace to wite
What þing weren þere ywrite.
God – yblisced mot he werþe
He sent an angel into erþe,[710]
Þat tauȝt Salamon eueri smite
Alle Adames liif ywrite,
& seyd to Salamon, ywis,
‘Here, þer þis writeing is,
Riȝt in þis selue stede[715]
Adam was wont to bid his bede.[ wont: t added later in smaller script.]
& here þou schalt a temple wirche,
Þat schal be cleped holi chirche
Þer men schal bid holy bede,
As Adam dede in þis stede.’[720]
& Salamon þe king anon
Lete reren a temple of lime & ston,
Þe first chirche vnder sonne
Þat euer in warld was bigonne.
Now haue ȝe herd of Adames liif[725]
& of Eue, þat was his wiif,
Whiche liif þai ladden here on mold
& seþþen diden, as God wold.
& þo Adam in erþe was ded,
For sinne þat com of her sed[730]
God sent Noes flod
& adrenched al þe blod
Swich wreche God nam
Of alle þat of Adam cam
Saue Noee & his wiif,[735]
Þat God hadde graunted liif,
& his children þat he hadde,
To schip wiþ him þat he ladde.
Of Noee seþþen & of his childer
We beþ ycomen altogider.[740]
& seþþen þai leued in swiche sinne
Þat for þe liif þai liueden inne
Sodom & Gomore, þat wer þo
Swiþe noble cites tvo,
Boþe sonken into helle,[745]
As we here clerkes telle.
& anoþer noble cite,
Þat was yhoten Niniue,
Was in þilke selue cas; [f.16rb] [Image]
Bot as þe prophete Jonas[750]
Bad for hem day & niȝt
To swete Jhesu ful of miȝt,
& made boþe king & quene
& alle þat oþer pople bidene
In her bedes he made hem wake[755]
& hard penaunce he dede hem take:
& þo þai were to penaunce pilt,
God forȝaf hem her gilt;
Þus Niniue saued was
Þurth bisekeing of Jonas.[760]
ȝete after Noes flod
Al þat com of Noees blod,
Weren he neuer so holy man,
For þe sinne þat Adam bigan
Þer most non in heuen com,[765]
Er God hadde his conseyl nome
To liȝten in þe virgine Marie
& on þe rode wald dye,
For to biggen ous alle fre
Yherd & heyed mot he be.[770]
Now haue ȝe herd of swete Jhesus,
As þe bok telleþ ous,
Of þe warld hou it bigan
& hou he made of mold man.
Jhesu þat was nomen wiþ wrong[775]
& þoled mani paines strong
Among þe Jewes, þat wer felle,
To bring Adam out of helle,
ȝif ous grace for to winne
Þe ioie þat Adam now is inne.[780]