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The Prologue* God, Fader in Hevyn of myghtes most, that mad this mold and all man kynd, The Sun that sendes us throwth to tast wesdom and welth and wytt at wyn, The grace of the Holy Gast in whom all gudness behoves to begyn Thrugh mediacy of Mary chast that helpes to safe uus of our syn, Swylke myght unto me send thys boke ryght to aray, Begynnyng, myddes, and end, that yt be to Goddes pay. This buke is of grett degré, os all wettys that ben wyse, For of the Bybyll sall yt be the poyntes that ar mad most in price, Als maysters of dyvinité and on, the maystur of storyse, For sympyll men soyn forto se, settes yt thus in this schort assyse. And in moyr schort maner is my mynd forto make yt, That men may lyghtly leyre to tell and under take yt. This boke that is the Bybyll cald, and all that owtt of yt is drawn, For Holy Wrytt we sall yt hald and honour yt ever os our awn. All patriarkes and prophettes yt told, so ever ther saynges sekerly ar knawn, And all wer fygurs fayr to fald how coymmyng of Crist myght be kawn. God graunt us Crist to knaw all our form faders cravyd And so to lere Is law that our sawlis may be savyd. The Story of Jephthah and His Daughter* Jepte was a knyght in armys clere; fro bayle, he sayd, he suld them bryng. A fayre lady he hade to fere, and both thei lyvyd to Goddes lovyng. He had a doyghtur that was hym dere and no mo chyldder, old ne yyng. To hyr befell, os men may heyre, full gret myschefe, a mervel thyng. He send to cetys and town, to all that myght armys beyre And bad thei suld be bown to wend with hym in were. Then unto God hertly he hett and mad a vowe with all his mayne That yf he myght the maystry geytt, als sone os he com home agayn, The fyrst qwyke catell that he mett of his for Goddes sake suld be slayn In sacrifyce so forto sett. Thus sayd he suld be done certayn. To batell then thei went withowtyn more respyte. Ther enmys sone was schent, both slayn and dyscumfeytt. Then past thei home with mekyll pride becawse thei wan the vyctory. His doyghtur herd, is not to hyde, hyr fader suld come home in hy. Be lyfe scho went, and wold not byd, agayns hym with gud mynstralsy. When he hyr saw, ``Alas!'' he cryed, ``My doyghtur dere, now sall thou dy!'' To his hors fette he fell - in sadyll he myght not sytt. No tong in erth may tell what kare his hert had hytt. So when he myght hymselfe stere, he thoght in hert how he had heyght To slo the fyrst that suld apeyre and sacrifyce yt in Goddes syght. ``Alas,'' he sayd, ``my doyghtur dere, for my doyng thi dede is dyght.'' Scho prayd hyr fader to mend his chere and mad hym myrth all that scho myght. The more that scho mad glee to comforth hym with all, The more sore hert had he, for he wyst how yt suld fall. ``A, doyghtur,'' he sayd, ``I made a vowe to God when I to batell wentt: Yf I of panyms myght have prow, what so com fyrst in my present, That suld be slone - that same ys thou. Alas for my sake now bees thou schent.'' ``Fader,'' scho sayd, ``I beseke yow, be trew and tornes not your entent. For bettur is that I dye, that may no thyng avayle, Then so fayr cumpany as ye broyght from batelle.'' ``Sen ye heyght sacrifyce to make to God that goverans gud and yll, Leves it not, fader, for my sake, bot all your forward fast fulfyll. Bot graunteys me grace two wekes to wake, to speke with lades lowd and styll And of maydyns leve to take, and then do with me what ye wyll.'' He gafe hyre leve to gang with grefe and gretyng sore. All that scho come amang ay menyd hyr more and more. So went scho furth to mony a frend, that for hyr syghyng sayd, ``Alas.'' All weped for wo os scho can wend, when thei wyst how that it was. And when the tyme drogh nere the end that hyr fader assygned has, Scho went agayn with wordes hend and proferd hyr with payn to pas.1 Therfor hyr fader noyght leved: his sword in hand he hent And swythly swopped of hyr hede and bad scho suld be brent. Grett sorow yt was this syght to se; all weped that wyst of hyr wo. Bot most sorow in hert had he that heddyd hyr and had no mo. Swylke folys suld men fayn to flee and be abayst or thei vow so. Fowle vow is bettur to broken be then man or woman sakles slo. Sex yere governd Jepte Ebrews and saved them from all angers yll Of Phylysteyns and Cananews, and then he dyed as was Goddes wyll. The Story of Judith* Dame Judyth was a gentyll Jew and woman wyse whore sho suld wende. Now wyll we nevyn hyr story new, for to sum men yt myght amend To see how sho in trewth was trew als lang als sho in lyf con lend, And lufed the Law als lele Ebrew that Moyses tyll hyr kynred kend. That Law forto mayntene sho ordand in all thyng, Als insampyll was seyn and wyttenest in werkyng. Bot to mell this mater more this lady now wyll we leve of hand, And tell of fare that fell before, als our faders before us fand. A kyng, Nabogodhonosour, in Bablion he was dwelland; All other kynges and lordes wore full stably at his stevyn to stand. All that lufed paynyms law and lyfed by mawmentry Aftur his dedes con draw and lowted hym fast forthi. He had this werld sett at his wyll; hym thoyght no noye suld neght hym nere, For all his forwardes to fulfyll all hethyn folke were full fayn in fere. With Ebrews oft hym angerd yll, for them lyst not his lare to lere. Oft sythys he spyed them to spyll with engynys and with sawtes sere. By sere cautels he kest how he myght bryng them down, Bot whyls thei lufed God best, to beld them ay was He bown. This kyng was strang in ylke stoure, and in all were he wan degré; And so he gat to grett honowre and conquered kynges in sere cuntré, Wherfor he fell in fowle errowre, als men may be exempyll see. He couth not knaw his creatore bot hoped ther was no god bot he. On payn of lyf and lyme he warned his men ylkon And bad thei suld hald hym ther god and other none. So in this errour con he dwell als maystur most of more and lese, Wherfore fowle vengance on hym fell to lyfe als best with grouand grese. Bot here we have no tym to tell the poyntes that proves all the procese. Furth with our maters wyll we mell how Jewys ware doyne to grett dystrese. For then the kyng ordand his ost with playn powere To dystroy ylka land that his law wyll not lere. And to fulfyll all this in dede to semble folke he wolde not sese. He ordand on his ost to lede, a dughty duke heyght Olyfernes, And bad all men to hym take hede and with hym wend in were and pese. The folke were fayn and with hym yede, and for ther cheftan thei hym chese. The kyng bad them not spare bot dyng down all bedeyne That wold noyght luf ther lare, tyll all be conquered cleyne. This dughty duke that I of ment fro his werke wold no langer abyde. With full grett ost furth is he went with mynstralsy and mekyll pride. Cytes and burghes both thei brent, the Jewys to harme full fast thei hyed. Cornes and wynes shamly thei shent, thor was no trews to take that tyde. The Jewys that were dwelland in Jerusalem Cité Myght loke over all that land and full grett soroyng see. When thei had so dystroyd and strayd and fuld the folke be fyrth and fell, A sege to that Cité thei layd whore Jews was dyght most forto dwell. ``We sall not sese, for soth,'' thei sayd, ``or all the chylder of Israel With all ther Godes to ground be grayd. So sall thei never of maystry mell.'' Thei loged them thore to lend and lyfyd at ther lykyng Full fawrty days tyll end that burgh in bale to bryng. Bot folke within full wysly wake ther Cyté fast forto dyffend With allablasters and with bows of brake ay redy bown forto be bend. With gunys grett styfly thei strake, within ther dynt durst no man lend. And ever to God ther mayn thei make ther mornyng with His myght to mend. Within that Cyté ere prestes to pray plenté And knyghtes full wyse of were to govern ther degré. Bot ther degré was not to deme all yf thei were dughty of dede. Ther enmyse were so bold and breme, to them thei durst not batell bede. Ther byschope heyght Elyachym, and unto hym holy thei yede And prayd hym say how yt suld seme them forto deme swylka drede. He commawnd then that thei suld both with hert and hend Mekly unto God pray ther myschefe to amend. ``For so,'' he says, ``ye sall encrese and no thyng of your rebels reke.'' He sett ensampyll of Moyses and of the grett Abymalech: ``He putt his pepyll fast in prese, to fell Goddes folke thei were full freke. Bot ay whyls Moyses prayd for pese, God sett ther noys in ther enmys neke. Yf we werke on swylke wyse and faynd our God to plese, Then sall non yll enmyse unto us do dysesse.'' Thei were full redy, os he red forto aray aftur his resown. Full bowsomly, os he them bed, on the bare erth thei sett them down. In hayrys and sekkes sone were thei cled and kest powder apon ther crown. All yf ther enmyse wele were fed, to fyght then had thei no fusyown. Ser Olyfernes thoght they lay ther full lang whyle. Sere soteltes he soyght to wyn them be sum wyle. He wyst wele thei wold have no dawt whyls thei had welth of waters clere. Therfor he gart spare ylk spowte whore any wels of watur were. He mad ther bekkes to ryn abowt that non suld negh that Cité nere. So menes he forto make them lowt and be full blyth his lay to lere. Then were the Jews in wo when thei saw stopped ylke streme Fro the Cité of Jerico and fro Jerusalem. Thei saw ther wellys wex all dry, thei fand no tast in town ne feld. No wounder yf thei were sory, for wyn was wasted all that thei weld. Ther price prophett them heyght Ozi that in batell them best wold beld. To hym thei come with carfull crye and bad he suld ther bodes yeld. ``Our lyfes so forto save, for, sothly, ser,'' thei say, ``bettur is our hele to have then dye all on a day.'' When Ozi herd them sorowyng so and lyke to lose all that land, He weped and wrang his hend for wo, and unto them thus he cummand Unto the tempyll all forto go and pray ther God all weldand ``Us forto wyn out of this wo, sen all our hele henges in His hand.'' Full prestly thore thei pray, nevenand grett God be name, And thus hymself con say, for thei suld say that same: ``Lord God, that mad kyrnell and corne and all may save be land and see, That fed our faders fare beforn and fro Kyng Pharo mad them free, Sene The lykes noyght that thei be lorn that trewly trows and treystes in The, Have mercy on us evyn and morn; save Thi servandes and this Cyté! We wott full wele us aw for syn swylke lyf to lede, Bot Thi mercy we knaw is more then our mysdede. ``We wott wele Thou is all weldand and all may govern gud and yll, Agayn Thi stevyn may no thyng stand, all states may Thou steme and styll. Chasty us, Lord, with Thi hand that our enmyse say not this skyll: `Ther God was wunt them to warrand; now wyll He not tent them untyll.''' Then all that pepyll prayd full lowly, lese and more And forto make them payd to them thus sayd he thore: ``I rede we fast fyve days to end with all wrschep we may weld, And see yf God wyll socour send us forto save under his sheld. And yf no comforth then be kend, this Cyté sone then sall I yeld Our enmyse to have in ther hend, so that thei hete to be our beld.'' Thei sayd, ``We all assent this forward to fulfyll.'' And so ther ways thei went ylkon at ther awn wyll. Bot then this wyse woman Judyth, when scho herd of ther tythyng tell, How Ser Ozi had ordand yt ther Cyté and therselfe to sell, And how he made that mesure fytt to dome of God fyve days to dwell, Sho wold yt wast with womans wytt, and furth scho went that fare to fell. To the tempyll rayked scho ryght and cald tho folke in fere, And up sho stud on heyght so that thei suld hyr here. To Ozi fyrst hyr mone sho mase als to most maystur tho men amang. Sho says, ``Omyse thou takes thi trace, and to my wytt thi werke is wrang. How dere thou sett in certayn space the wyll of God to come or gang, Sene He is gyfer of all grace sone forto leve or to last lang! This is more lyke to greve our God, that most may gayn; Then us oght to releve to put us fro this payn. Therfor is gud that we begyne of this grevance to geyte relese, And say: This sorow is sent for syn that we have wroyght and wold not sese, Als was with elders of our kyn, Abraham, Ysaac, and Moyses. Thei had wo, for God wold them wyn aftur ther payn to endlese pese And also forto prove with teyne and with trayveyle Whedder thei wold last in love or fro hym fayntly fayle. And for thei wold not groche agayn bot schewed ay meknes and more and more, Als Job and Thoby dyde sertayn that were assayd with seknes sor, To Goddes bydyng ay were thei bayn; therfor ther guddes He con restore And put them into power playn more fast then ever thei wore before. The same then sall us fall, and we this fare fulfyll.'' Then Ozi and thei all graunted to werke hyr wyll. Thei prayd hyr forto tell them to hyr purpase both by nyght and day. ``Now, sers,'' sho sayd, ``sen ye wyll so, all myn entent I sall yow say. This nyght I wyll wende furth yow fro in other place my God to pray, And pray ye that God with me go, and lokes none wayte eftur my way. I kepe no cumpany bot my servand sertayn. Kepes this Cyté seurly tyll God send us agayn.'' Sho sett yyng men to yeme the gate and bad thei suld be redy bown To kepe hyr in the evyn late, for that tyme wold scho wend o town. Then to hyr howse scho toke the gate and gart hyr servand in that sesown With bawme and with bathes hate clense all hyr cors fro fote to crown. And sythyn sho hyr arayd in garmentes gud and gay, And ever to God sho prayd to wyse hyr in hyr way. With sylke and sendell and satayn and baulkyn bettur non myght be, Hyr pellour all of pure armyne, with pyrry plett full grett plenté, With gyrdyll and garland of gold fyne to make hyr semly unto se. Hyre maydyn bare both bred and wyne to fynd them fode for days thre. God wyst wele that sho went to save His pepyll exprese. Therfor to hyr He sent both favour and fayrnese. When hyr aray was all redy, down on hyr knesse sho kneled then, And sayd, ``My Lord God Allmighty, That wyll and thoght may clerly kene, Sen in The lygges all vyctory, to me, Thi servand, myght Thou lene Forto overcom our yll enmy and save this Cyté and Thi men.'' Scho prayd to God thus gaite tyll lyght of day con sese. Then wentt scho to the gate full prevely to prese. When sho com ydder, redy sho fand Ozi and other to tent ther toure. Sho bad that thei suld stably stand that Cyté to save and socoure, And that prestes suld pray with hert and hand that God suld be hyr governoure. So sent sho furth with hyr servand to enmys that were strang in stoure. Ever to God sho prays to be hyr helpe and beld. Wach men that kepes ways toke them sone in the feld. They merveld of hyr rych aray for so semly had thei sene none. Sum of them ware prowd of that pray, for gay geyre had sho full gud woyne. They asked wher scho was o way and why sho welke so late allon; And to them sothly con scho say, ``Sers, fro my frendes thus am I gone. I com to yow in trewse, and that sall ye here and see. I am on of the Ebrews that wuns in this Cyté. To fle ther fro I am full fayn and leve both catell, kyth and kyn. For wele I wott myself certayn that ye and yours sone sall yt wyn. To your prince is my purpase playn, and I sall tell hym, or we twyn, To wyne yt wele withoutyn payn and dystroy all that ere therin. Sen thei wyll not them yeld to men that may them save, Yt is no boyte to beld them that no helpe wyll have. Unto my hele I wyll take hede and to my servand that is here. And, sers, I pray yow me to lede unto your prince that has no pere.'' Thei herd hyr spech was for ther sped; therfor thei were full fayn in fere. To Olyfernes so thei yede and fand hym syttand with solace sere. That lady in thei lad and told thei fand hyr flayd And fro hyr frenschep fled, and how sho to them sayd. When Olyfernes saw this syght and herd ther tayles how thei con tell, In hyr hys hert was ravyscht ryght and demed that sho suld with hym dwell. Than forto marre hym more in myght full flatt unto the grownd sho fell. He commawnd men that wer full wyght to take hyr tyte up them omell. Then on hyr knese sho kneled and prayd his helpe to have. He sayd he suld hyr beld in oght that scho wold crave. Sho thanked hym frendly, noyght at hyde, and ryght glad in his hert was he. He saw hyr geyre of so heygh prid, he trowed sho was of grett degré. He made hyr sytt hymself besyd, that was ryght semly syght to see. Thei fell in talkyng so that tyde that mery sho mad als his meneyé. Yt was solace sertayn to se them syt togeydder, And fyrst he con hyr frayn cause of hyr comyng ydder. Sho sayd, ``Ser, and yow lyke to here, I am an Ebrew ald and yyng. My menyng is to mend your chere by gud bodword that I yow bryng. I wyll maynteyn in my manere Nabogodhonosour, your kyng, And his law wyll me lyke to lere when we have endyd other thyng. And, ser, fully I fynd how thou has in his sted Power to lowse and bynd als lord of lyfe and ded. And, ser, I se the soth certayn: Ebrews, whyls thei may wepyns weld, Wyll hold yond Ceté the agayn and never assent yt forto yeld. Therfor to fle I am full fayn to the, that best may be my beld. For wele I wott thei sal be slayn, for fawt of fode fall fay in feld. And sen thei wyll not crye to the, that may them save, I hald them wele worthy swylk hydows herm to have. And therfore come I to the here, by certayn sygnes the to say How thou sall all that kynd conquere lyghtly withoutyn lang delay. Thei may not last, thus I the lere, because ther watur is haldyn away. I herd them say with sympyll chere that all suld fayle or the faurt day. And I saw, or I yode, how thei ther bestes sloght For thyrst to drynke the blood, bot non had half enogh. And when I saw that thei dyd so and that yt wold no bettur be, I hyde me fast to fle them fro so to save my servand and me. Sen thei wyll not be ware with wo to save themself and ther Cyté, Yt was Goddes wyll that I suld go and tell ther tythynges unto the. Lo, ser, this is,'' sho sayd, ``the cause of my comyng.'' Then was the prince wele payd: the wyn he bad them bryng. He dranke and bed hyr furth by raw; sho thanked hym with hert and hende: ``Ser, me behovys lyfe eftur my law tyll this bargan be broyght tyll ende. We have ordand, als Ebrews aw, fode thes four days forto spend. And, ser, by that day sall we knaw how wele our myrth sal be amend. For als lang als I dwell His law sadly to save, Then wyll my God me tell how we sall helpyng have. And, ser, so sall I tell the tyll to make a sawt by sotell gyne To weld the Cyté at thy wyll and esely forto entur therin. And, ser, than may thou spare or spyll the Ebrews ylkon or thou blyn, And, yf the lyke, to lend thor styll or home agayn with wrschep wyn.'' With gawdes thus scho hym glosed to have hyr purpase playn. Hyr sawys soth he supposed, And thus he glosed agayn: ``I gyfe the leve to make thi mese of mete and drynke at thy lykyng, For thou ow wele thi God to plese That out of bale wyll the bryng. And when we sall the ceté sese, thou sall have chose of all thyng And lyfe ever then at thin awn ese with Nabogodhonosour, the kyng. For and I fynd yt fyne that thou says in thi saw, Then sall thi God be myne, and I wyll luf thi law. And all that unto Hym may heve byd I thou do both nyght and day. Yt is not gud that thou Hym greve, sen He all soth to the wyll say.'' Sho sayd, ``Then bus thou gyfe me leve forto have rowm and redy way Ever more at myd nyght forto meve to certayn place my God to pray.'' Of hyr wyll noyght he wyst; therfor he graunt sone To lyf at hyr awn lyst tyll all thier dedes be done. And to his kepers cummand he o payn to lose both lyf and land That thei suld to hyr bowsom be and holy held unto hyr hand And make uschew and entré, so that no stekyll agayn hyr stand. Thei graunt ylkon in ther degré kyndly to do als he them cummand. Full mery was ylk man and full glad of ther gest. So depart thei than And rede them all to rest. Then to a chamber thei hyr led that was with alkyns wrschepe wroyght. All bewtese both for burd and bed with mekyll blyse was ydder broyght; And in that sted so was sho stede with alkyns solace sere unsoght. Bot to slepe was sho never unclede; of other thyng was mare hyr thoght. Ylke nyght scho toke hyr way ferre down into a dale. Thor menys sho, and sho may, to hald the Ebrews hale. In that ylke dale was dyght a well with Ebrews that before had bene. Thorof thei dranke whore thei con dwell, and thorin ware thei weschyn clene. And thore scho and hyr damsell trayveld so them two betwene. Thei mad a spryng that fro yt fell at the Cyté syde forto be sene, So that thei that wund within ware warescht wele of thryst. Thus myght sho wende with win and lend at hyr awn lyst. So trayveld scho be tyms thre into that place hyr God to pray. Scho had fre eschew and entré. And so befell on the fourt day, Olyfernes bad his men suld be ay redy in ther best aray. For on the fyft day hoped he the Ebrews folke to fell for ay, For so had Judyth sayd. he gart ordan forthi A soper gudly grayd for hyr sake soveranly. When all was poynted with pomp and pryd, a knyght then unto hyr sent he Forto com and sytt hym besyde thar maner of solace forto se. The knyght hyr told so in that tyd. Sho thanked hym with wordes free And sayd, ``I sall not lang abyde, for at his bydyng wyll I be.'' Rychly sho hyr arayd to seme fayr in ther syght. The pepyll were full wele payd, and the lord was most lyght. Befor hymself hyr sett was wroyght full presciosly forto apere. Hyr ryalnes rayvyschyd his thoght; he bede hyr mete with meré chere. Sho ete mete that hyr maydyn broyght, and toke that coupe with wyn full clere And made semland and dranke ryght noyght. Bot Olyfernes for that fere Of myghty wyne dranke more, for myrth that thei were mett, Than ever he dranke before. So hymself he oversett. When Judyth saw that yt was so, of that werke was sho wele payd. Sho made talkyng betwyx them two tyll he wyst noyght wele what he sayd. He bad all men to bed suld go and radly to ther rest arayd, And that none suld take tent hym to, for at hys lyst he wold be layd. He thynkes that he sall have that lady hym forto plese. Bot God wyll evermore save his servand fro dysese. Unto his bed fast con he hye hys foly fare forto fulfyll. He bad that lady com lyg hym by, for all the doreys ar stokyn styll. Sho sayd, ``Ser, I sall be redy with word and werke to wyrke thi wyll. Bot to my chamber wend wyll I, and full sone sall I come the tyll.'' To hyr chambre scho wentt and prayd God specially, Als he knew hyr entent, to kepe hyr fro velany. Unto God thor sho prayd and wepe forto vouchsave hyr sorow to slake. Sone Olyfernes fell on slepe, for dronkyn man may not wele wake. Sho warnd hyr servand to take kepe that no kyns noyse suld sho make, And prevely als sho couth crepe hyr way to his bed con sho take. Thor kneled sho on the ground and prayd God with Hys wyll To strengh hyr in that stownd hyr forward to fullfyll. Sho drogh his sword full sone sertayn, qwylke sho fand standand in that sted, And with that brand sho brest his brayn; so with that dynt sone was he dede. Then cutted sho sunder synow and vayn, and fro hys halse hewed of hys hed And putt yt in a poket playn, whore thei befor had born ther bred. Sho bad hyr maydyn yt bere whore als thei were wunt to pray. Thei geydderd sayme ther geyre and wyghtly went ther way. To have ther hele thei hastyd fast and made no tareyng in that tyde. Tyll tyme thei were all perels past, thei wyst yt was no boyte to byde. Yf yt were late, so at the last thei neghted nere to the Cyté syde. To the kepers a crye scho cast and bad them opyn the wekett wyde. Hyr voyce full wele thei knew; for fayn full fast thei wepe. Full mony a bold Ebrew com thore hyr forto kepe. Thei lete hyr in with torches lyght and lowtyng low, is not to layn, Thei were full glad to se that syght, for wele thei wend sho had bene slayn. Sho stud up in a sted of hyght that all men myght se hyr certayn. And thore scho schewed hyr releke ryght, the hede out of hyr poket playn. ``Loves God,'' sho sayd sadly, ``That for you hath ordand To sett your vyctory in a wake womans hand.'' Then all the pepyll in that place down on ther knese low thei knele. Thei thanked grett God of his grace That kyndly so thar care wold kele. When thei saw Olyfernes face, no wonder yf thei lyked yt wele. Then Judyth spake furth in that space how thei suld do ever ylke dele. Sho sayd, ``In this same day belyve loke ye be bowne All in your best aray to dyng your enmys downe. Set up this hed over the gate, so that your enmyse may yt se. For fro thei wyt, full well I wayte, that ther prince so perysched be, His men wyll make no more debate bot fayn to cayre to ther cuntré. Then sall ye folow on them fote hate and fell them or thei ferre flee. Thei sall lefe welth gud woyne, bot lokes non tent thertyll. When thei ere fled and sloyn, then may ye fang your fyll. Evyn als sho demed was done in hye: the hede was sone sett up on the heyght. Then mad thei myrth and melody with bemys, als thei were bown to fyght. And when the hethyn hard them crye And saw a sygne sett in ther syght, Thei ware full yll abayst therby. To warne ther prince thei went full wyght. To his chambre they hyed and bad his servandes say How the Ebrews them ascryde Forto have dede that day. The chamberer durst make no dyne for ferd yt suld turn hym to tayne. He wend the woman were within, and that thei both on slepe had beyne. Bot with hys handes he con begyn to wakyn them be cowntenance cleyne. And sythyn he come to the curtyn, thore was no segne of solace seyne. Then nere the bed he yode and fand rewfull aray: A body laped in blod, bot the hed was away. Full lowd he cryd, ``Alas! alas! Our lyves ere lorn, my lord is ded.'' ``How is yt so?'' ylkon thei asse. He sayd, ``Se here, he has no hede.'' To Judyth chamber con thei pase and saw hyr stollyn out of that sted. Then wyst thei wele that werkyng was by hyr wyles and hyr wekyd red. Thore was no boyte to byde there welthes oway to wyn, Bot ylkon to ryn and ryd and forsake kyth and kyn. Thus of the rest thei were remeved, ther ryche robes all rafed and rent. Ther restyng thore full sore them rewed, withoutyn welth away thei went. The Ebrews prestly them persewed, all lost ther hedes that thei myght hent.2 Thor tho all that this bargan brewed, full shortly were thei shamed and shent. Then come Ebrews agayn whore ther enmyse had beyne. Thei fand all safe certayn; ther was no solpyng seyne, Bot only of Olyfernes blod that out of his body was bled. Thor ware garmentes of gold full gud and gold in bages abowt that bed. The body thei kest to bestes fud and fowles therwith forto be fede. Thresour thei toke and hame thei yode, non other welth with them thei led. Non other thyng thei broght bot of gold full gud woyn. To Judyth sone thei soyght and thanked hyr everylkon. Thei broyght hyr gold in bages bun, and bed themself at hyr wyll to be. Thei say, ``We wott we have yt wun With wyll of God and wyt of the.'' Scho says, ``Sen God thus has begun to save your selfe and your Cyté, His tempyll sall therwyth be fun and goveren ever in gud degré.'' Thei say, ``We have leved thore of erthly welth to wyn To make us mery evermore and comforth all our kyn.'' Sho bad them wyghtly wend ther ways to steyr tho folke that thei not stryfe. ``And partyes the mobyls, sers,'' sho says, ``be mesure both to man and wyfe.'' And so thei dyd by thirty days or thei that ryches myght up ryfe. Tho that before were pore to prayse wer then relyfed for all ther lyfe. Grett myrth was them amang; thei loved God of His grace With solace and with sange full specially that space. And when that space was sped and spend that thirty days were fully gone, Then Judyth bad them with hyr wend unto ther tempyull everylkon And love God thor with hert and hend, that swylke thressour had to them toyne. And thei dyd evyn als sho them kend, Thei offerd gold ther full grett wone. Sho bad them love only God, that is all weldand, That sett Hys vyctory and ther helpe in hyr hand. Als sho wold deme, thei dyd in dede, als worthy was withoutyn were. Then home to hyr hows scho yede, and pepyll past to ther places sere. A lades lyfe then con sho led, and Goddes law lyked hyr ever to lere. And furth sho weryd hyr wedow wede bot in soverane sesons of the yere. Then wold sho be more gay to syght and more honest In purpas God to pay for wrschepe of that fest. Sho had enogh of rent and land in ylke sted whore sho was sted Aftur Manasses, hyr husband, that lordly lyf before had led. And of all that sho had in hand over honest spence that suld be sped, Ther with pore folke sho fed and fand and beldyd both to bake and bede. Sho ocupyed so hyr sted in pennance and in prayer Fro hyr husband was dede a hundred and fyve yere. Hyr servandes, man, maydyn, and knave, mad sho to goveren gud degré. Then dyed scho as God voched save, for fro that fytt may no man flee. By hyr husband thei can hyr grave full solemply in that Cyté, And by sevyn days sorowyng thei have, als costome was in that cuntré. The Jews makes hyr in mynd evermore to be on ment, For scho comforth ther kynd when thei in bale were bent. Now be this werke wele may we wytt how God wyll pupplysch his power In wemen forto fall als fytt als in men on the same manere. Thus endes the Boke of Judyth, als clerkes may knaw by clergy clere. God graunt hym hele that hath turned yt in Ynglysch lawd men forto lere! Insampyll may men here se to be trew in trowyng. God graunt us so to be and to His blyse to bryng! |
made; world Son; truth; taste wisdom; intelligence to obtain goodness must needs begin mediation; chaste save us from Such correctly to compose liking as all know Bible shall are made; excellence By and also by; story-telling; (see note) soon; understand paraphrase; (see note) more brief easily learn recite; understand called shall; hold as our own wherever; certainly; (see note) were figures; tell meditated upon; (see note) desired to know learn His law bright; (see note) confinement; [the Jews] as companion according to young as; hear strange cities bear; (see note) commanded; conscripted go; war heartily; promised; (see note) might victory win as; as living creature should enemies soon were destroyed defeated passed; great; (see note) won heard, there's no hiding it should; haste; (see note) Quickly; wait; (see note) toward (in anticipation of) him; (see note) (see note) shall you die horse's feet (see note) tongue grief; struck restrain promised slay death is doomed; (see note) amend; countenance made sorrowful heart knew; turn out over the pagans; victory presence slain will you be destroyed true; don't change die (see note) Than Since you promised Tarry not; (see note) covenant precisely fulfill weeks to lament (keep vigil); (see note) ladies openly and privately gave her permission to go grief; weeping sorrow ever grieved for her woe as she left drew near courteous delayed not siezed quickly swapped off; head ordered; burnt wept; knew; woe beheaded; more [children]; (see note) fools; be eager to avoid abashed before A foolish vow; (see note) than; be slain without guilt Six years evil vexations Philistines; Canaanites; (see note) wise wherever; go tell; anew be profitable she lived loyal Hebrew Moses to; taught determined As example witnessed in her behavior speak of; matter; (see note) leave for awhile events found; (see note) dwelling steadfastly; command loved pagan lived; idolatry bowed to him firmly therefore annoyance; approach agreements glad together desired not; teaching; learn times; to destroy them; (see note) machines; many assaults many crafty devices comfort; ever; committed powerful; every battle warfare; victory several but himself limb everyone live; beast upon growing grass ordered army; naked power destroy whatever obey (learn) assemble; cease ordered one; army named heed go; war; peace glad; went chose strike; straight away love their teaching utterly alluded to desist army towns; burned hastened shamefully; destroyed truce; time living; (see note) scattered despoiled; woods; hills siege were most prepared; (see note) stop; they [Holofernes' army] Until; children smitten; (see note) speak of victory remain forty city; grief wisely are vigilant their; defend steel cross-bows; winches and racks already prepared to be cocked great cannons powerfully range; remain their complaint (moan) their mourning are learned in warfare maintain their position position; judge whether they were all doughty warriors fierce engage was named as a group they went understand such terror; (see note) hand meekly enemies reckon (see note) (see note) He [Abimalech]; conscription destroy; bold noise (prayers) work in similar manner endeavor no wicked enemies harm as he advised; (see note) obediently; commanded hairshirts; sackcloth dirt; head provisions (see note) held out Many subtle tricks by deceitful strategem knew; doubt; (see note) as long as; plenty made scarce every spout brooks to be diverted nigh; run near intends; bow eager; law; learn spoiled; possessed best; was named Ozias protect dwelling place surrender truly health likely powerful; (see note) welfare hangs earnestly there naming; by Ozias himself did say made seed and grain by food in former times; (see note) Since You like not; lost who; believes; trusts night and day servants know; ought because of; such greater than our sins all-powerful Against Thy voice contain and silence Chasten; (see note) enemies; saying Their God used to protect them care for them so long meekly, the lesser and the greater satisfied there advise devotion; wield shield (protection) shown surrender their power promise; protection agreement heard tell of their plans Ozias, the high priest; proclaimed their; themselves demand of God results in five days it [their plan] destroy; intelligence plan to squelch she went steadfastly called those people together stood in a prominent place they should hear her complaint she makes most important among those Amiss; your course dare; specific time go Since; giver terminate; abide grieve who may help most find relief; (see note) (see note) to get release because of sin wrought; cease woe; win them their; peace suffering; travail Whether; abide since; complain ever showed meekness (see note) tried; sickness obedient did restore manifest power secure shall befall us if; mission (see note) sirs; since make sure that none follow; (see note) Guard; securely until; returns young; guard bade; readily prepared To attend her; evening depart from returned home made her servant; time; (see note) ointment; hot baths body; foot then she had herself dressed guide; (see note) silk; fine silk; satin brocade furs; ermine; (see note) precious stones adorned girdle provide them with food knew well expressly knees she kneeled Whose; understand Since in Thee lies incline wicked enemy Thy people in this way was gone; (see note) secretly to hasten forward thither; found attend their tower ordered; steadfastly help So she sallied forth powerful in battle comfort Watchmen who patrol the ways captured; field; (see note) (see note) (see note) prey fancy dress; great plenty going walked; alone; (see note) truly she said from truce hear one dwells eager abandon; property; family; kin soon shall conquer it before we depart How to win it easily are; (see note) Since; surrender themselves profit in helping (see note) welfare; heed lead peer good fortune glad together went found; sitting; apart led terrified people heart; utterly ravished in order to deceive him strong quickly up between them knees she kneeled comfort whatever; desire there's no hiding it apparel; high; (see note) believed time company; (see note) (see note) did ask her hither if you wish to hear old; young intention good advice adhere; behavior [to] learn have; place; (see note) loose; bind life; death speak the absolute truth weapons carry against you surrender protection lack of food fall dead; (see note) such hideous harm to you signs to tell you people advise you withheld before the fourth before I left beasts slaughtered hastened their circumstances well pleased wine invited her [to drink] in turn heart; hand it behooves me to live according to until ought (see note) tell you when; (see note) assault by subtle device conquer; (see note) everyone before you stop to stay there still return home decked with honors flattering promises; deceived words (sayings) true talked flatteringly permission; prepare your food ought Who out of grief capture choice For if I find; true speech pertain; (see note) grieve must; give; permission leeway; ready access go (move) he knew nothing live according to her own desire guards upon pain of loss of be obedient wholly exit (issue); entrance doorbar against each person guest; (see note) prepare themselves; (see note) (see note) all manner of splendor beauteous things; board placed all manner of unsought comforts for sleep; undressed more Each night far There she intends if she may keep; healthy same; a well had been dug; (see note) by; in years past Thereof; where; went therein were labored dwelt were relieved return with joy remain; own pleasure journeyed exit (issue) to destroy forever gave orders therefore superbly prepared majestically appointed (see note) at that time their sight pleased wantonly cheerful her chair; prepared queenliness ordered her to feast; merry cheer ate food semblance but drank nothing companion strong wine joy; together overwhelmed well pleased promptly pay attention to him desire distress did he hasten foolish fancy lie doors are firmly barred go come to thee villainy there; wept vouchsafe; allay pay attention no kind of noise; (see note) quietly as she could creep There she kneeled strengthen; moment promise drew which; place sword; burst blow asunder sinew; vein neck cut off simple bag their bread to the place where; wont gathered together their gear manfully To secure their welfare time perils use to tarry approached near wicket joy; wept bowing; it is no lie thought high place see her for sure relic head Love God; solemnly Who (see note) weak knees Who; relieve (cool) should do each and every detail quickly; ready strike down your enemies For when they know; know be eager to go pursue them hot-foot destroy; before; flee far leave much desirable wealth pay no attention to that are; slain seize Even as; quickly trumpets; prepared abashed quickly hastened cried out to them battle noise fear; get him in trouble thought been seen went rueful lapped are lost ask wiles; evil counsel no use to take time their loot to take away each one did run; ride tattered and torn; (see note) sorely; rued swiftly; pursued There then all who; seige dreamed up destroyed where their; been defiling seen; (see note) cast out as food for beasts Treasure; home they went (see note) in abundance each and everyone bound offered themselves won your intelligence supplied bade; quickly go guide divide; moveable goods just proportions divide up Those who relieved over and past treasure; given advised abundance powerful deed doubt lady's wore her widow's weeds except; religious holidays please expense; paid supplied provided; clothes and lodging From the time a hundred and five years fate buried her remembered misery; afflicted by; know make known (publish) women; fitting learning health into; unlearned people to teach Example true in belie |