Speculum Gy de Warewyke

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 speculum.html and the header file was located in heads/speculum_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 2

Short couplets. 1031 lines in Morrill's edition, which includes Latin quotations and several missing couplets. Ends imperfect with half-lines preserved on the stub f.48ra. Approximately three lines lost in the next column.

Nine other manuscripts:
BL Royal MS 17.B.xvii.
BL Harley 1731.
BL Arundel 140. Arundel 140 also has The Seven Sages of Rome in common with Auchinleck.
CUL MS Dd.11.89.
BL Harley 525.
BL Additional MS 36983.
Manchester, John Rylands MS 45388 (Engl. 50).
St John's College Cambridge MS 256.
Bodleian Library MS 29430 (Additional C.220).

Note: Morrill does not list four of the manuscripts (BL Add. 36983, Manchester John Rylands 45388, St John's 256, Bodleian 29430) but includes the names of the 'lost' MS Worseley 67 and the 'empty name' Bodley 1731.

Edition:
G. L. Morrill, Speculum Gy de Warewyke, EETS ES 75 (London: Trübner, 1898).

Index 1101.

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.

Speculum Gy de Warewyke


Herkneþ alle to my speche, [f.39ra] [Image]
And hele of soule I may ou teche.
Þat I wole speke, it is no fable,
Ac hit is swiþe profitable.
Man, if þu wolt heuene winne,[5]
Þurw loue to God þu most biginne.
Þus shal ben þi biginning:
Þu loue God ouer alle þing
And þin emcristene loue also,
Riht as þiself þu most do.[10]
If þu wolt þus biginne and ende,
Þu miht be seker to heuene wende;
Ac, if þu louest more worldes god
Þan God him self in þi mod,
Þu shalt hit finde an yuel plawe;[15]
To deþ of soule it wole þe drawe.
For, whan þe world þe haþ ikauht
And in his paunter þurw his drauht,
Al at his wille he wole þe lede.
Ne shaltu spare for no drede,[20]
Ne for loue to God, ne for his eiȝe,
To gon out of þe rihte weye;
For swiche beþ þat loueþ more
Þe world and his foule lore,
Þan þeih don God þat hem wrouhte [f.39rb] [Image] [25]
And on þe rode dere bouhte.
Herof I wole a while dwelle,
And a tale I wole ȝou telle
Off an eorl of gode fame –
Gy of Warwyk was his name –[30]
Hou on a time he stod in þouht:
Þe worldes blisse him þouhte noht.
Þe world anon he þer forsok
And to Ihesu Crist him tok,
And louede God and his lore[35]
And in his seruise was euere more.
A god man þer was in þilke dawe,
Þat liuede al in godes lawe;
Alquin was his rihte name,
And man he was of gode fame.[40]
Dekne he was, and þe ordre he hadde;
In holinesse his lyf he ladde;
Wit of clergie he hadde inouh,
Þerfore to godnesse euere he drouh.
Off him þe eorl was wel war,[45]
Þerfore his wille to him [he] bar,
And of him he tok his red,
To kepen his soule from þe qued.
On a day, I vnderstonde, [f.39va] [Image]
Sire Gy þe eorl sente his sonde[50]
To þe holi man Alquin
And seide ‘[I] grete þe wel, fader myn,
And preie þe for Godes loue
Þat us alle sit aboue,
Þat þu wole, par charite[55]
And in amendement of me,
Make me a god sarmoun
And don hit write in lescȝoun;
Þat were my ioye and my delit
And to my soule a gret profyt;[60]
For þe world þurw his foule gile
Haþ me lad to longe while.
Þerof I wole consail take,
Hu I mihte þe world forsake.’
Alquin þe eorl þo answerede,[65]
And Ihesu Crist ful ȝerne he heriede,
Þat swich a wit was comen him to
And seide ‘his preie I wole do.
And I shal be þi leche,
Aller furst I wole þe teche,[70]
Faire uertuȝ for to take
And foule þewes to forsake.
Þat maitou noht don, leue broþer,
Bote þu knowe on and oþer;
I shal þe now shewe boþe,[75]
Whiche beþ gode and whiche beþ loþe; [f.39vb] [Image]
And at þe beste I wole biginne,
Þe betre grace for to winne.
Þe uertuȝ I wole first shewe,
Whiche þeih beþ, alle on rewe.[80]
Wisdom in Godes drede
Vse wel, þat be my rede;
Trewe bileue and charite –
Þise sholen bileue wid þe –
Stedefast hope and mieknesse,[85]
Pes, merci, and forȝifnes,
Loue of herte, ful of pite,
Þat is verray humilite.
And þu wolt haue Godes ore,
ȝit þu most vse more,[90]
For þi sinne repentaunce,
And redi þerfore to don penaunce
Wid sorwe at þin herte rote,
And shrifte of mouþe shal be þi bote.
In almes dede and charite[95]
Þi lyf shal euere more be.
Þise beþ þe þewes þat I þe teche,
Wharþurw þu miht to heuene reche,
And so þu miht þe world forsake,
If þu hem wolt to þe take.[100]
Nu I wole nempne þe wicke þewes,
Þat beþ noht gode ac muche shrewes,
For if þu dost bi here red, [f.40ra] [Image]
To strong pine þeih wolen þe led;
Þanne is hit god þat þu shone[105]
To drawe hem into þi wone.
Herkne nouþe to me,
And I hem wole nempne þe:
Pride, wraþþe, and enuie,
Fals iugement and tricherie;[110]
Fals witnesse is on of þo –
Many a soule itt doþ ful wo.
Loue noht to muche þis worldes blisse;
Hit bringeþ man to þisternesse,
Auarice and glotonye,[115]
Wicke sleuþe and leccherie.
Accedie is a wel foul sinne
To man þat he may come widinne,
And what it is I wole þe wisse;
Vnderstond, þat þu ne misse.[120]
Accedie is as sleuþes broþer,
Wicke on and wicke oþer;
Hit is a derne mour[n]ing in mod
And makeþ man anuied to do god.
Offte þurw swiche wicke mourning[125]
Wanhope beginneþ for to spring,
Þat, bote man turne awey þerfro,
Sauued worþ he neuere mo.
Wroþerhele was Iudas born,
For þurw þat sinne he was lorn; [f.40rb] [Image] [130]
Merci he les þurw þat sinne,
Wherþurw he ne mihte no ioye winne.
Vch man birede him in his sihte
To flen þat sinne bi his mihte
And alle oþere þat I haue nempt,[135]
If he wole to ioye be dempt.
Herkne now to my sarmoun,
What I wole telle in my lescȝoun.
Wisdom in Godes drede,
Off which þat I erere seide,[140]
Tweie þinges it wole þe teche,
Wharþurw þu miht to heuene reche:
Þat is, lat þi sinne and do god
For his loue, þat deiede on rod;
Ac to late þi sinne al onliche[145]
Nis noht inouh, sikerliche.
Þu most don god forþ þerwid,
If þu wolt haue merci and griþ.
Þis wonder of many sinful men
Þat þinkeþ it were muchel for hem[150]
To haue gret worldes honour,
As londes, rentes, halle, and bour,
Riche vessel of siluer and gold
And grete tresor and faire bold,
Riche mete and riche drink,[155]
And litel þerfore for to swink,
Hele of bodi in bon and huide, [f.40va] [Image]
And gret los of pompe and pride.
A murie lyf hem þinkeþ þis were,
But eft hit worþ ibouht wel dere,[160]
Quia nihil infelicius quam felicitas peccatoris.
Naþeles hit may falle wel,
Þat þouh man haue muche katel,
As londes, rentes, and oþer god,
ȝit he may ben pore of mod
And low of herte, ful iwis,[165]
And halt þerof ful litel prys.
Ac nu I wole speke and rede
Off hem þat I erere seide,
Þat þurw here pride and here wil
Þeih fallen ofte in gret peril.[170]
Seint Austin halt þermide noht
And seiþ it shal ben dere bouht,
And skilfulliche it mot be so,
For whan a man haþ sinne do,
Oþer he mot hit beten here[175]
Or suffre pine elleswhere.
Wole ȝe here what louerede
God kudde to hem þat wole him drede?
..... ..... ...... .....[180]
He wole hem chasten wid smale pining
And maken hem lese þat hote brenning;
And many anguisse he wole hem ȝiue
To suffre here whiles þeih liue, [f.40vb] [Image]
As hunger and þurst and trauail strong;[185]
Hij sholen haue euere among
Lore of catel and seknesse,
And al is to echen here blisse.
Man, if þu ne leuest noht me,
Þu sek aboute, and þu miht se[190]
Þise holi men alle bidene,
How þeih liuede in wo and tene.
And if my tale nis noht forȝete,
Þanne maitou wel iwite,
Þat þe worldes blisse is noht,[195]
Whan þu hast abouten souht;
For ȝif a man haþ her his wille,
Wel lihtliche he may spille.
Her I wole nouþe blinne.
Anoþer þing I wole biginne[200]
To speke, man, of þi bileue,
For hit is god, it wole noht greue.
Man, þi bileue shal be so:
Þat o God is and no mo,
Þat o God is in vnite,[205]
Þre persones in trinite.
Þu shalt, [man], bileue also
And treuliche in þin herte do,
Þat God had neuere biginning
Ne neuere ne shal haue ending,[210]
And shappere is of alle shaftes, [f.41ra] [Image]
And ȝeueþ wit in alle craftes,
And made man after his owen face –
Nas þat gret loue of heih grace?
And ȝaf to man fre power[215]
To chese boþe fer and ner
Off god and yuel shed to make,
Þe euel to late and god to take.
Wheiþer he wole chese he haþ power,
Þurw ȝifte of God, while he is her;[220]
Þanne is hit noht on God ilong,
If man wole chese to don wrong.
Adam was þe forme man,
Þat euere singyn bigan,
And þat was God to wite noht,[225]
Þerfore hit haþ ben dere bouht.
God ȝaf him wit as his owen,
God and yuel for to knowen,
Ac þurw eging of þe fend and Eue
He dede a sinne þat gan him greue.[230]
Vnboxomnesse was his gilt,
Þerfore out of paradys he was [pylt].
Boxomere he was to his wif,
Þan to God þat ȝaf him lyf;
And for he dede after hire lore,[235]
He bouhte hit siþþen swiþe sore.
His fredom was binomen him al
And put in seruage as a þral; [f.41rb] [Image]
Noht one he, bute alle þo
Þat of him comen for euere mo.[240]
Ac for hit was þurw gile don,
God ȝaf his pite þervpon,
And eke for loue þat he hade
To man, þat he himselue made,
To sauue man, man he bicam,[245]
And pine for hem to him he nam,
And ȝaf for hem his herte-blod,
And deiede for hem on þe rod.
Ibiried he was, in toumbe he lay,
Til hit com þe þridde day;[250]
Vp he ros þe þridde day
From deþ to liue widoute nay;
To heuene he steih þurw his mihte,
Riht into his faderes sihte,
And sit on his faderes riht side,[255]
Þe grete dom for to abide.
Þider he wole come on domesday,
Cruwel and sterne widoute nay,
He þat was woned to be
Meke as a lomb, ful of pite,[260]
Þeder he wole lihten adoun
Wraþfful and sterne as a lioun.
Merci nele he shewe non,
Ac riht after þat man haþ don,
He shal fonge his iugement [f.41va] [Image] [265]
To ioye or to strong turment.
Allas! what sholen hij onne take,
Þat wolden her god forsake
Þurw sinne of fleshes liking,
And wolde hit bete wid no pining?[270]
Þerfore þeih sholen into helle,
Wheiþer þeih wolen or þeih nelle,
And þere bileue euere mo,
In also strong pine as men may do.
Seint Austin spekeþ of alle swiche[275]
And seiþ wordes reuliche
Habent mortem sine morte et finem mortis sine fine.
“Hij sholen haue deþ widoute deiing[“]
And point of deþ widouten ending;”
Here deþ hij sholen wilnen euere,
Ac to ende of deþ comen hij neuere;[280]
Hij sholen euere more duire
In stronge pine of hote fire.
Her I wole nouþe dwelle,
And of mursȝere þinge ȝou telle.
Tellen I wole, ful iwis,[285]
Off þe ioyes of paradys,
Whiche Godes children þat gode be
Sholen haue and ise;
Ac þouh I hadde in my bayli
Þe wit of alle clergy,[290]
Mihte hit neuere so bifalle, [f.41vb] [Image]
Þat I mihte telle alle.
Ac, also God ȝif me grace,
I shal ȝou shewe in þis place,
What ioie þeih sholen han ifere,[295]
Þat seruen God on eorþe here.
Whan þeih sholen parten henne,
Ful wel þeih sholen here weie kenne
Riht to þe blisse of paradys,
Þat God haþ ȝarked to alle his.[300]
Þere is euere ioye inouh
And euere riht widouten wouh,
Wit and kunning and kointise,
And trewe loue widou[t] feintise,
Streinþe inouh and fairnesse,[305]
And liht widoute þisternesse.
Þere sholen þeih noht ben agilt,
Al here wille shal ben fulfilt:
Hij sholen haue, mid iwisse,
Fulle ioye and fulle blisse,[310]
Boþe þe pore and þe riche,
Ac, wete þu wel, noht alle iliche.
Euerich shal haue his woniȝ[i]ng
Riht after his owen deseruing;
Ac lat hit noht come in þi þouht,[315]
Þat any of hem shal wanten ouht,
For he þat haþ lest in þat woniing
Haþ fulle ioye ouer alle þing.
Þerfore, man, in al þi miht,
Þu loue wel God bi day and niht. [f.42ra] [Image] [320]
Þe inwardlichere þu louest him her,
Þe more shal ben þi ioye þer.
Herkne nu alle to me,
For I wole speken of charite.
Off alle uertuȝ hit is hext,[325]
And Godes wille hit is next.
ȝif þu wolt wite hu hit be,
Herkne and I wole telle þe.
Hit is, loue God ouer alle þing,
In þouht, in dede, and in speking.[330]
And if þu wolt euere come þerto,
Anoþer þing þu most do:
Þu most loue, huso hit be,
Þin emcristene forþ wid þe.
Man, woltou make a god prouing,[335]
Wher þu loue þe heuene-king?
If þu louest God, ful iwis,
Þu [wolt] louen alle his.
Si non diligis proximum tuum, quem uides, deum quem non uides, quomodo potes diligere?
For men seiþ soþ, bi wit myne
“Whoso loueþ me, he loueþ myne.”[340]
But þu loue þe Cristene þat bi þe be,
Þat alday mait hem ise,
Hu maitou loue God I ne can deuise,
Whom þu miht sen on none wyse.
Þis seiþ sein Powel and bereþ witnesse,[345]
As he may wel in soþnesse. [f.42rb] [Image]
Abraham him sauh, ac þu nost hou. [ nost: ms noht.]
Herkne, I wole þe telle nowh.
Þe fourme of þre children he mette;
Þre he sauh, and as on he hem grette.[350]
In tokne it was, I telle þe,
Off þe holi trinite.
Holliche as on he grette hem þere
In tokne of o God þat hij were.
Hu Moyses him sauh woltou here,[355]
In fourme of a bush al on fire,
At þe mount of Synay bi olde dawe,
Þar God him ȝaf þe firste lawe?
Al on fire þe bush was,
And ibrent noþing it nas.[360]
Þere shewede God his grete miht
And himself in þat ilke sihte.
Þat bush bitokneþ vre leuedi,
Hire clene maidenhed witerli;
For hit was euere iliche clene,[365]
Mihtte hit noht be wemmed ene.
Hete of flesh ne mihte hire wemme,
No more þan þe bush mihte brenne.
And many anoþer him iseih
And wid [him] spak þat was him neih –[370]
But noht alone in his godhede,
Ac imeind wid þe manhede;
For sikerliche I telle þe,
Man ne sauh neuere his deite
Bodiliche on eorþe her, [f.42va] [Image] [375]
He mihte noht, it is so cler.
And if þu wolt witen hou,
Herkne, I wole þe telle now;
For so heih a þing is þe godhede,
Þerof to speke it is drede.[380]
God is so clene and so cler a þing,
Þat heuene and erþe he ȝeueþ shining,
And sunne and mone and sterren breme,
Off him þeih han al here leme.
Þu sext, man, wel aperteliche,[385]
Þat þe sunne haþ brihtnesse muche,
And þouh he sitte so wonder heie,
Hit greueþ euere mannes eiȝe,
Inwardliche on hire to se
For hire grete clerte.[390]
Nu forsoþe I telle þe –
And sikerliche lef þu me –
Þat God, þat ȝaf þe sunne his liht,
Is swich an hundred [siþe] so briht.
Man, mihte hit euere þanne be,[395]
Þat bodilich eiȝe mihte him se
Here on eorþe, þe godhede?
Nay, noman mihte don þat dede;
Þat is preued and ishewed
Boþe to lered and to lewed.[400]
Þanne maitou þenke “Hu mai þis be?
Ne shal no man God ise?”
ȝus, ȝus, bi my leaute.
Herkne, and I wole telle þe.
ȝif þu wolt sen in þi siht[405]
God of heuene, þat is so briht, – [f.42vb] [Image]
Vnderstond nu what I mene –
Þu most ben of herte clene,
In word, in dede, and in þouht,
Þat þu ne be ifiled noht;[410]
For God self seide in soþnesse –
Þe godspel bereþ þerof witnesse
Beati mundo corde, quoniam ipsi deum uidebunt
Þis is to seie, I telle þe,
Þe clene of herte blessed þeih be,
For at þe heie dom sikerliche[415]
Þeih sholen se God aperteliche
In his godhede and in his blisse,
Off which þeih sholen neuere misse.
Þanne sholen þeih here, herkne nouþe,
A blisful word of Godes mouþe:[420]
“Comeþ, mine blessede fere,[“]
Þat my fader beþ leue and dere.
Into my blisse ȝe sholen wende,[425]
Þat lasteþ euere widouten ende,
And euere more þer to wone
Wid þe fader, and wid þe sone,
And wid þe holi gost in vniite,
Þat is þe holi trinite.”[430]
And þe cursede gostes goþ anon,
Þat sholen ben dampned euerichon,
Þere hij sholen him sen also,
Ac al shal ben for here wo;
For toward hem he wole turne[435]
Boþe wraþful and eke sterne,
And namlich to þat cumpaignye [f.43ra] [Image]
Þat slowen him þurw enuie,
And kene nailes driuen ek
Þurw his honden and his fet,[440]
And þere þeih sholen se soþliche,
His grisli woundes openliche,
Þat þeih deden hemselue make.
For drede hij sholen þanne quake;
Þanne wole God to hem seie[445]
Wid sterne voiȝ and wid heie
“Corsede gostes, ȝe beþ me loþe.[“]
Goþ anon, goþ nu, goþe
Into þe stronge fyr of helle,
Euere more þer to dwelle,[450]
And brenne þer in hote fyr.
ȝe seruede non oþer her:
Merci is al fro ȝou gon,
For whij, on me hadde ȝe non.”
He þat nele no merci haue[455]
Off him þat doþ him merci craue,
He shal ben iuged, witerli,
Rihtfulliche widoute merci.
Sein Daui[d] seiþ, if þu wolt loke
In a vers of þe sauter boke[460]
Spera in domino, et fac bonitatem.
“Hope to God, and do god,”[“]
Riht so I hit vnderstod;
Ac ydel hope man mai habbe –
I sey þe soþ widouten gabbe –
For alone to hope widoute goddede[465]
Is ydel hope, so God me rede.
Ac I ne seie noht forþi, [f.43rb] [Image]
Þouh man be charged, sikerli,
Wid grete sinnes heuie and sore,
He ne shal despeire neuere þe more,[470]
Ac soþfast hope haue to winne
Godes merci of his sinne
Þurw shrifte of mouþe and repentaunce,
And redi þerfore to don penaunce.
ȝif þu dost þus, bi day and niht,[475]
Put al þin hope in God almiht,
And tristi hope to him þu haue,
Þat he þe wole helpe and saue.
Herkne what I wole seie nouþe,
For hit com out of Godes mouþe: ,[480]
Vbi te invenio, ibi te iudicabo
“Man, riht þere as I þe finde,[“]
Riht þere I wole þe iuge and binde.”
Allas, what sholen hij þanne do,
Þat beþ ifounde in sorwe and wo,
Þat wolde noht hemselue shriue,[485]
While þeih mihte in here liue?
Þerfore, man, I warne þe:
Loke þat þu þe bise,
Þat þu be euere redi and ȝare
Out of þis world for to fare;[490]
For siker noman wite ne may,
Whanne shal ben his ending-day.
Þerfore þenk ofte in drede
Off þis word þat God seide
“Þere I þe finde, I wole þe binde.”[495]
Lat ofte þat word ben in þi mynde.
Man, if þu wolt þe world forsake, [f.43va] [Image]
And Ihesu Crist to þe take,
Þu most ben ofte in orisoun
And in reding of lescȝoun.[500]
Wid us God spekeþ whan we rede
Off him and of his goddede,
And we wid him, ful iwis,
Whan we him bisekeþ þat riht is.
Holi writ is oure myrour,[505]
In whom we sen al vre socour,
And if we hit wolen vnderstonde,
Þer we muwen sen and fonge,
To haue of God þe knowelache,
Boþe in þouht and in speche.[510]
And, if þu wolt haue þe loue
Off God þat is in heuen aboue,
Þu most ben euere in god acord,
In pes and loue and hate descord,
And ben aboute wid al þi miht,[515]
To make pes bi day and niht;
For Ihesu Crist hit seiþ ful wel,
As we hit finden in godspel
Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei uocabuntur
A soþ word hit is and no les
“Iblessed be þat makeþ pes.”[520]
Hij ouhten to ben honured alle,
For Godes children men shal hem calle.
Man, if þu wolt to me herkny,
Nu I wole speken of merci.
Soþliche, widoute fable, [f.43vb] [Image] [525]
Man, þu most ben merciable.
On Ihesu Crist þenk witerli,
Hou he deiede for merci,
And al for he wolde merci haue
Off hem þat wolde merci craue;[530]
For ar he deiede in flesh and bon,
Merci was þer neuere non.
Bi þis ensaumple ȝe muwen se
Merciable for to be.
ȝif þi neiheboure misdoþ þe,[535]
More or lasse wheiþer hit be,
Or in dede, or in vbbreid,
Or wid word þe haþ misseid,
And he þerafter ofþinkeþ sore
And þerof crieþ merci and ore,[540]
Forȝif hit him for Godes loue,
Þat us alle sit aboue.
And if þu wolt no merci haue
Off him þat doþ þe merci craue,
Merci getestu neuere non[545]
Off trespas þat þu hast idon;
For God it seiþ in his godspel –
Þere men may finde it ful wel –
"Alswich met as þu metest me,
Alswich I wole mete to þe.”[550]
Nym god ȝeme, man, þu sist
In þi paternoster what þu bist
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos etc.
Þu seist "Swete lord, forȝiue þu me, [f.44ra] [Image] [555]
Þat I haue gilt aȝeines þe,
Riht as I do alle þo,
Þat me hauen ouht misdo.”
And þu þat art so cruwel in þouht
And wolt to merci herkne noht,[560]
What wole hit helpe in eny stede
Þe holi paternoster bede?
Noht, if I dar it seie,
For aȝein þiself þu dost preie,
And þe holi bok of soþnesse[565]
Þerof bereþ god witnesse
And seiþ "he þat wole no merci haue,
On ydel doþ he merci craue.”
In patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras
Houre swete lord in his speche
Hise deciples began to teche[570]
And bad hem ben of god suffraunce
In alle manere destourbaunce.
ȝif þu art sek in flesh and blod,
Þu most ben meke and þolemod
And þenk þat God it þe sende,[575]
Þi seli soule to amende.
ȝif þu hast lore of þi catel,
Biþenk þe þanne swiþe wel,
Þat of þiself haddestu noht,
But as hit was þurw God iwrouht;[580]
And if God it wole from þe take,
Þu ne shalt þerfore no gruching make,
Ac suffre al Godes wille,
Boþe lude and eke stille. [f.44rb] [Image]
And ȝif þe falleþ trauail on honde,[585]
Or pine of bodi, or shame in londe,
Off al þis þu most suffraunt be,
Þouh þe þinke hit greue þe.
Þenk hou Ihesu into erþe cam,
And þolede pine and shame for man,[590]
And foule was þerto misseid,
And many a skorn on him leid;
Widoute gruching he held him stille,
And þolede hit al wid milde wille,
And al he dede for vre sake,[595]
For we sholde ensaumple take
To be suffraunt in eueri stede,
Riht as vre lord himselue dede.
And ȝif a man þurw his power
Doþ þe wrong on eorþe her,[600]
Þenk in þin herte, I preie þe,
Off þe wrong and þe vilte,
Þat men to Ihesu Crist dede
Here on eorþe in many stede,
And hou he þolede hit mildeliche,[605]
Al ffor þi loue, sikerliche.
On ensaumple of him þu nim,
To suffre wrong for þe loue of him;
For I dar seie soþliche,
He may be martyr, treweliche,[610]
Widoute sheding of mannes blod,
Þat may ben here þolemod,
To suffre wrong and vnriht
For þe loue of God almiht.
Ac swich a fiht is vnmeþ, [f.44va] [Image] [615]
For aȝen þe kinde hit geþ.
Whij? for þe kinde of þi manhede
Wolde haue wreche of wrongful dede;
Ac of Ihesu tak þi minde,
And fiht aȝein þin owen kinde,[620]
And þu shalt haue for þi goddede
Off martyrdom þe heie mede.
Ac þu, fersse man, þat art so stout
And heih of mod and herte proud –
He wole bowe for noþing[625]
To man ne to heuene-king.
And he þat wole him heinen here,
Þat nele be meke in none manere,
In litel while he shal hit knowe
And falle þerfore swiþe lowe.[630]
Qui se exaltat, humiliabitur, et qui se humiliat, exaltabitur.
Þe milde þurw his humilite
Ful heie honoured þeih sholen be;
For þeih sholen be drawen on heih
And wonye God swiþe neih.
And pride, it is so foul a last,[635]
Þat out of heuene he was cast.
Þu shalt wel wite þat I ne liȝe,
For Lucifer and his cumpaignye,
..... ..... ..... .....[640]
Þurw þe pride þat hem gan folewe,
Þe pine of helle hem gan to swolewe,
And so he wole don alle and some,
Þat in pride be inome.
..... ..... ..... .....[645]
Cast hit awey, I wole þe rede, [f.44vb] [Image]
Er of strong pine þe may drede;
For siker and þu be nomen þerinne,
Heuene maitu neuere winne,[650]
And oþer weye is þer non,
Bute to heuene or to helle gon.
Þanne do bi consail and bi red,
And ouercome þe foule qued,
Þat fondeþ þe on vch a side,[655]
Þe to holde in þi pride.
Ac if þu kouþest knowe and se
Þe uertu of humilite,
For noþing þu noldest shone,
Ac hit sholde euere wid þe wone.[660]
Off alle uertuȝ it is hext,
And Godes wille it is next.
Sein Gregory bereþ þerof witnes,
Þat muchel spekeþ of soþnes:
Qui sine humilitate uirtutes ceteras congregat, est quasi, qui in vento puluerem portat.
Man, þou[h] þu do muchel god,[665]
But þou be meke and þolemod,
Sein Gregory seiþ, þat holi clerk,
Þat muchel on ydel is þat werk.
Hit fareþ bi swiche, as we finde,
As whoso bereþ poudre in grete winde;[670]
For bere he neuere so muche,
Hit fleþ awey ful lihtliche.
Off man hit fareþ riht so, [f.45ra] [Image]
For gode dedes þouh he do,
Many and fele in vch a side,[675]
Þer may non wid him abide;
Bute he haue humilite,
Awey þeih wolen fro him fle.
A god þing is humilite.
Off him comeþ verray charite,[680]
And penaunce, and eke shrift –
Þis is of god a wel fair ȝift –
And of him forȝifnesse of sinne.
Wel is him þat hit may winne.
Whoso is aferd of his trespaȝ,[685]
He shal haue comfort and solaȝ
Off þe holi gost, witerli,
Þat wole þi soule comforti
And make men haue, mid iwisse,
Tristi hope to heuene-blisse.[690]
Sein Daui[d] þerof spak and seide
In þe sauter as men rede
Secundum multitudinem dolorum meorum in corde meo, consolationes tuae letificauerunt animam meam.
Þe more man douteþ here sinne, [ Þe: MS So.]
Þe more ioye he shal winne;
For whoso haþ of his sinne drede[695]
And nel noht don þat foule dede,
Hit semeþ þat he haþ trewe loue
To Ihesu Crist þat is aboue.
O þing is comen in my þout,
To shewe hit wole I spare noht.[700]
ȝif any þat is in holy lyf, [f.45rb] [Image]
Man, maiden, oþer wif,
In any time þurw any cas,
Doþ a litel trespas,
Þat be aȝein Godes wille,[705]
Oþer loud oþer stille,
He wole haue more sorwe and drede
For þat litel sinful dede,
Þan many on wole in eny stounde,
Þat lyþ in dedli sinne bounde.[710]
ȝif ȝe wolen wite herof þe skile,
Herkne, and I ȝou telle wole:
Þat man þat lyþ in dedli sinne,
And to singy wole noht blinne,
Gostli wit he haþ ilore.[715]
Whi I wole telle [and] wharfore;
For gostli siht, witerliche
Man, is þi resoun, sikerliche,
Wherþur[w] þu miht in þi mod
Knowe boþe yuel and god,[720]
And shed to make in eueri dede
Bitwene soþnesse and falshede.
And whan mannes soule, ful iwis,
Þurw dedli sinne ifiled is,
His knowelaching is al gon;[725]
For wit ne siht haþ he(re) non,
Wherfore þe sinful man
Noþer he ne may ne he ne can
His owen stat riht ise,
Ne knowe in what lyf he be[730]
For þisternesse, þat he is inne [f.45va] [Image]
Þurw þe filþe of dedli sinne.
Ac he þat liueþ in holy lyf,
Man, mayden, oþer wyf,
And serueþ God on eorþe her,[735]
His gostli siht is swiþe cler;
For þerwid he may knowe and se –
In what lyf þat he be –
God and yuel, lasse and more,
Al he knoweþ þurw Godes lore;[740]
For widinne him is God almiht
And ȝeueþ him grace of gostly siht
To sen and knowe in his mod
Þe longe lyff þat is so god,
And þe drede of domesday,[745]
And þe pine þat lasteþ ay,
Wherþurw hij sholen þe more drede
And flen sinne in al here dede.
Here ȝe muwen se þe wrong
And knowe, wheron hit is long, [750] [ hit: MS his ]
Þat sinful man may noht se
Hise giltes, þou[h] þeih grete be.
Listneþ nouþe to my speche,
And of nedful þing I wole ȝou teche.
Off holi churche it is þe lore[755]
Þat spekeþ to alle, lasse and more,
And seiþ "man, while þu miht liue,
Loke þat þu be ofte shriue.”
Anon so þu hast sinne wrouht,
While it is newe in þi (þi) þouht,[760]
Anon to shrifte þat þu gange,
Ne dwelle þu noht þerwid to longe; [f.45vb] [Image]
For if þu dost þu miht wel wite,
Þat sumwhat shal be forȝete,
Wherþurw þu miht be blamed,[765]
And at þe dom sore ashamed.
Þerfore, man, while þu miht liue,
Loke þat þu be ofte shriue,
Wid sorwe of herte and repentaunce,
And of þe prest tak þi penaunce.[770]
Þis is a riche medicine;
Hit shildeþ man fro helle pine.
A betre þing was neuere founde,
For hit may hele dedli wounde,
And whoso euere wole hit craue,[775]
Widouten cost he may hit haue.
Man, ne lat hit for no shame,
Last þu falle þerfore in blame.
If þu nilt for shame [shewe] hit her,
Hit shal ben shewed elleswher [780] [ elleswher: MS ellerwher. ]
To alle þe shaftes þat euere were,
And alle þeih sholen sen and here.
Nihil absconditum, quod non scietur, nec occultum, quod non reueletur,
And þerof þu shalt haue shame
And þerto wel muche blame.
Tweye manere shame men fint in boke,[785]
Whoso wole þerafter loke:
Þat on goþ to dampnacioun;
Þat oþer to sauuacioun.
ȝif ȝe wole wite hou hit be,
Sitteþ stille and herkneþ me.[790]
Man, þouh þu haue sinne wrouht [f.46ra] [Image]
In word, in dede, and in þouht,
If þu art þiself þerof ashamed,
And at þin herte sore agramed,
And ne sparest for shame ne for eiȝe,[795]
Þat þu hit nilt in shrifte seie,
Off God þu miht wel lihtliche
Forȝifnesse haue sikerliche.
Þis ilke shame, be my croun,
Draweþ al to sauuacioun.[800]
Þat oþer shame so is þis:
ȝif a man haþ don amis
And foule sinnes haþ iwrouht, [ sinnes: MS sinneþ ]
And wole for shame shewe hem noht
In his shrifte to þe prest,[805]
He wraþþeþ sore Ihesu Crist.
Forȝifnes, iwis, ne tit him neuere,
But in helle to brennen euere.
Whi artu more ashamed to speke
A word þan Godes heste to breke?[810]
Þis is foule wicked shame,
Þat bringeþ sinful man in blame.
Þe lore þat comeþ out of Godes mouþ,
To alle men hit sholde be couþ
Lauamini, et mundi estote
Ihesu spak and seide ene[815]
“Wassheþ ou, and beþ clene.”[“]
Kindeliche ofte men seþ,
Wid water men wassheþ þat foule beþ,
And hot water, be þu bold,
Makeþ clannere þan doþ cold.[820]
Al þis I seie sikerliche, [f.46rb] [Image]
For to speken openliche,
What hit is for to mene
“Wassheþ ou, and beþ clene.”[“]
Summe wassheþ, ac noht ariht,[825]
For þe clannere beþ hij nowiht.
Þe hote teres of mannes eiȝe
Makeþ clannere þan any liȝe.
Many on wepeþ for his misdede,
Ac to do sinne noht hij ne drede.[830]
He weneþ wasshe him wid þat water
And he is foul neuere þe later.
Whij? For ȝit wole he noht sinne fle,
Iwis, vnclene he shal be.
Ac anoþer manere wasshing[835]
Makeþ clene of alle þing.
Man, þouh þou haue sinne don,
Lodlich and foule many on,
ȝif þu hast wille to leue þi sinne,
Þat þu no more ne come þerinne,[840]
Of þin eiȝen þe hote teres,
Þat goþ adoun bi þine leres,
Hij wolen make god acord
Bitwene þi soule and oure lord
And make þe clene of þi sinne,[845]
Wherþurw þu miht heuene winne.
Nu ȝe muwe witen what it is to mene
“Wassheþ ou, and beþ clene;”[“]
Ac he þat wole clene be,
Certes sinne he mot fle. [850] [ Certes sinne: MS Certes sinne sum what.]
Wole ȝe here ȝit eft sone
Off þing þat nedful is to done; [f.46va] [Image]
Hit is Godes owen lore,
Þat spekeþ to alle, lasse and more
Ambulate, dum lucem habetis, ne tenebre vos comprehendant.
“Go, man, while þat þu hast liht,[855]
Lest þe oftake þe derke niht.”
Þi lyf, man, is cleped liht,
And þi deþ þe derke niht.
While þu art on liue þu miht worche
Godes werkes of holi churche,[860]
And certes whan þat þu art ded,
Þanne maitou don noþer god ne qued.
Þerfore, man, I warne þe,
While þu miht gon and se,
In gode weyes sped þe faste.[865]
Lef, þe niht þe wole agaste,
And sikerliche widoute nay,
At þi deijng shal ben þi domesday,
For þere shal ben irekened al
Þat euere di[d]stu, gret and smal.[870]
Þere þu shalt knowe and se
God or yuel wheiþer it be,
And þanne, par aunter, wo[lde]stu fain
Biginne to worche and turne aȝein;
Ac certes þu ne shalt noht so,[875]
Ac riht after þat þu hast do,
Þu shalt fonge verreement
Þare þi rihte iugement.
Et ideo ambulate, dum lucem habetis. [f.46vb] [Image]
And þerþur .....
Deþ is gilour swiþe strong
And gileþ many on euere among;[880]
Þerfore worch while þu mait,
For sodeyneliche þu miht be caiht
Initium sapientie, timor domini:
“Drede of God in alle þing[“]
Off wisdom is þe biginning;”
And many hauen of God drede,[885]
Ac noht for loue of his godhede,
But last þeih sholde for here gilt
Into strong pine ben ipult.
Hit fareþ bi swiche, I vnderstonde,
As hit doþ here bi þe bonde.[890]
Þe bonde nele noþer loude ne stille
Don noht aȝein his lordes wille –
Ac þat nis for loue ne for acord –
Þat he haþ toward his lord,
For if he dede he wot wel,[895]
He sholde lese of his catel;
And ȝit hit fareþ bi man also,
Þat spareþ more sinne to do [ do: MS go.]
For þe doute of gret pining,
Þan for þe loue of heuen-king.[900]
It is noht euel so to biginne,
For drede of pine to late þi sinne,
For sone after he may kacche grace
To biþenke him on Godes face,
Hu murie hit were to haue þe siht [f.47ra] [Image] [905]
Off Godes face þat is so briht.
And so he shal casten his loue
To Ihesu Crist þat is aboue
And leten and flen sinful dede,
Boþe for loue and eke for drede.[910]
Ac whoso wole don be my lore,
Iwis, he shal spare more,
To flen sinne day and niht,
For drede to lese þat faire siht
Off Godes face þat is so cler,[915]
Off whom we han al oure power,
Þan for drede of any wo,
Þat any þing mihte hem do.
Leue frend, herkne to me,
And more I wole speke to þe;[920]
For in þe godspel I wole rede
Off þe uertu of almesdede.
Þin almesse þu shalt forþ puite,
And spare hit noht þouh hit be luite.
..... ..... ..... .....[925]
God seiþ þus in his lore
“Man, if þu miht ȝeue no more[“]
But a dishful of cold water,
Þu shalt hit ȝeue neuere þe later[930]
Wid gode wille and wid charite,
And ful wel it worþ ȝolden þe." [f.47rb] [Image]
And whan þu shalt haue þank and mede
For so litel an almesdede,
Siker maitou þanne be,[935]
If þu ȝeuest muche in charite
To God þu miht þe betre spede,
And þe more shal ben þi mede.
Enes I it vnderstod,
Þat in almesdede is double god:[940]
It fordoþ sinne, wite it wel,
And hit wole eche þi catel.
And if þu art herof in drede,
Hu hit mihte so be in dede,
A god witnesse I wole drawe,[945]
On ensaumple of þe olde lawe.
Holi writ þat wole noht liȝe
Spekeþ of þe profete Eliȝe,
Hou Ihesu Crist, houre lord swete,
Spak to Eliȝe þe profete.[950]
To a pore widewe he him sende,
Here beyþere lyf to amende.
He seide "Eliȝe, þu shalt fare
Into Sarepte and wone þare.
Þer is a widewe þat shal þe fede,[955]
And I wole ȝelde wel hire mede.”
Þe profete Helie began anon [f.47va] [Image]
Forþ in his weie for to gon.
At þe ȝate of þe cite þe widewe he mette
And faire anon he hire grette.[960]
He bad hire for Godes loue,
Þat us alle sit aboue,
A disful water she sholde him ȝiue,
For to helpen him to liue.
Þe widewe seide she wolde fain,[965]
And to serue him she turne aȝen.
After hire he gan to crie,
And bad hire þat she sholde hie.
“Do" he seide "be my red,[“]
Bring me wid þe a shiue bred.”[970]
Þe widewe him answere[de] anon
“Siker" she seide "bred haue I non,[“]
Ne noht þat I mihte þe ȝiue
For to helpe þe to liue
But an handful mele in o picher[975]
And a litel oyle, þat is cler,
Þat I mot make of mete here
To me and to my children ifere;
And seþþe we moten deie in sore,
For mete haue we no more.”[980]
Þe profete hire answerede þo
“Abid" he seide "er þu go. [f.47vb] [Image] [“]
First þerof mak me mete,
And whan þat I hit haue i-ete,
Off þat bileueþ þu shalt make[985]
For þe and for þi children sake.”
Þis seli widewe þo wel sone
Grauntede wel al his bone.
For his loue þat him þider sende,
Hire litel mete she wolde spende.[990]
Þo þe profete þis iseih
His eiȝen he kest to God on heih,
To him he made an orysoun,
And anon God putte his fuisoun
Vpon hire mele in hire picher[995]
And on hire oyle, þat is cler.
Þo seide anon þe profete
To þe widewe wordes swete
“Ne dred þe noht, womman, in þi þouht[“]
Þi mele ne shal wante noht,[1000]
And þin oyle shal waxen sikerli;
Þi lome shal noht ben empti.”
Gret plente hadde þe widewe þo,
While she liuede euere mo.
Now þu miht knowe in þi mod,[1005]
Þat in almesse dede is double god.
Almesdede for ..... [f.48r] [Image]
And þerþur .....
And þi god .....
So seiþ þe bo .....[1010]
Þe godspel se .....
ȝif and men s.....
In anoþer stede .....
Þat God self se .....
Al þat þu dost .....[1015]
To þe leste of .....
Riht to my se .....
Þu dost þi prese .....
Glad maitou .....
Also ofte as þ.....[1020]
For þu miht .....
Þu takest hit .....
For Godes .....
Þerof bereþ .....
A man man b.....[1025]
Ihu Crist for to .....
For þerwid þu .....
And heuene .....
To þat blisse .....
þat is king .....[1030]
And ȝeue us .....