fol. 182rIncipit de .
Hwenne ich thenche of ,ful sore ich may adrede.Ther schal, after his werk,uych mon fongen mede.Ich habbe Crist agultwith thouhtes and wyth dede.Louerd Crist, Godes Sune,hwat is me to rede?
line5That fur schal cumen in this worldon one -nyhte
Vorbernen al this middel-erdso Crist hit wolde dihte —Bothe in watere and in the londe —the flures that beoth brihte!Iherd beo thu, Louerd, so muchel beoth thine mihte!
The engles in the daye-rewebloweth heore beme.line10Thenne cumeth Ure Louerd Cristhis domes for to deme.Ne helpeth hit nouht thenneto wepen ne to remen —That haveth lutel idonthat God were iqueme.
From that Adam wes ischapento come ,Monye of thisse richethat werede fouh and grey,line15And ryden uppe stedeand uppon palefrey,Heo schulleth at the suggen “weylawey.”
Ne schulleth heo nouther vyhtemyd schelde ne myd spere,Mid helme ne myd brunye,ne myd non other gere;Ne schal ther no mon othermyd wise wordes were.line20Bute, heore almesdedeheore erynde schal bere.
Heo schulleth iseon the Lavedi that Jhesu Crist ofkende;Bitwene hire armes,sweteliche he wende.fol. 182vThe hwile that we mihte,to lute we hire sende;That makede the Qued —so fule he us blende!
line25Heo schule iseon thene Kyng that al this world wrouhteAnd uppe on the rodemyd stronge pyne abouhte.Adam and his ofsprung,in helle he heom souhte —To bidden his milce,to late we beoth bithouhte!
Ther stondeth the ryhtwiseon his riht honde.line30And the sunfule,so atelyche, stondethMid heore sunnen iwryten,that is so muchel schonde.Ther hit schullen yseon allethat er weren alonde.
Wyth the rihtwisehe speketh wordes swete:“Cumeth her, myne freond,eure sunnes for to lete,line35In myne Fader bure,on ys imaked sete.Ther ou schulen englesful sweteliche grete.”
Wyth the sunfule,al so, we mawen yhere:“Goth, awaryede gostes,feondes yvere,Into bernynde fur;of lisse ye beoth skereline40For ye oure sunnenof thisse worlde bere.”
Bidde we ure Lavedy,swettust alle thinge,That heo ure erende bereto than heovene Kinge.For his holy nomeand for hire erendynge,That he ure sauleto heveryche brynge.
fol. 182rHere begins the Day of Judgment.
When I think of Doomsday,I’m utterly terrified.There will, for his actions,each man receive his due.I’ve sinned against Christin thought and in deed.Lord Christ, God’s Son,what should I do?
line5Fire will come into this worldon a Saturday nightTo burn up this whole middle-earthas Christ orders it —Both on water and on land —the beautiful flowers!Praised be you, Lord,so great is your might!
The angels at dawnblow their trumpets.line10Then comes our Lord Christto give his judgments.It then won’t help at allto weep or cry out —For those who’ve done littlepleasing to God.
From the creation of Adamto the advent of Doomsday,Many of these rich folkwearing variegated and gray fur,line15And riding on horseand on palfrey,They will at the Judgmentsay “wailaway.”
They cannot fight eitherwith shield or with spear,With helmet or with corselet,or with any other gear;Nor will anyone therebe defended by wise words.line20Instead, their almsdeedswill bear their message.
They will see the Ladywho bore Jesus Christ;Between her arms,sweetly he went.fol. 182vDuring the time we might,we called her too seldom;That was caused by the Devil —so wickedly he blinds us!
line25They shall see the Kingwho made this whole worldAnd who on the crosspaid with intense pain.Adam and his offspring,in hell he sought them —To pray for his mercy,we remember too late!
There stand the righteousat his right hand.line30And the sinful,so terrified, standWith their sins written,causing such shame.There all shall see itwho before were on earth.
To the righteoushe speaks gracious words:“Come here, my friend,your sins abandoned,line35Into my Father’s bower,upon his prepared throne.There angels willgreet you very sweetly.”
To the sinful,as well, we may hear:“Go, cursed souls,along with fiends,Into burning fire;you’re deprived of reliefline40Because you bearyour wordly sins.”
Let us pray to our Lady,sweetest of all things,That she bear our messageto heaven’s King.By his holy nameand her intercession,May he bring our soulto the kingdom of heaven.