fol. 180vOn
hire is al my lif ilongOf hwam ich wille syngeAnd heryen hire ther-among.Heo gon us bote bryngeline5Of helle pyne that is strong —Heo brouhte us blysse that is longAl thureh hire childthinge.
Ich bidde hire on my song:Heo yeve us god endyngeline10Thauh we don wrong.
Thu eart hele, and lyf, and liht,And helpest al monkunne.Thu us havest ful wel idiht.Thu yeve us weole and wunne.line15Thu brouhtest day, and Eve nyht —He brouhte wo, thu brouhtest ryht;Thu almesse, and heo sunne.Bisyh to me, Levedi bryht,Hwenne ich schal wende heonne —line20So wel thu myht.
Al thes world schal agoWith seorhe and with sore;And al this lyf we schulleth forgo,Ne ofthinche hit us so sore.line25This world nys bute ure ifo.Tharfore ich thenche hire atgo,And do bi Godes lore.This lyves blysse nys wurth a slo.Ich bidde God thin ore,line30Nu and evermo.
To longe ich habbe soth ibeo.[fol. 246v]Wel sore ich me adrede.Iluved ich habbe gomen and gleo,And prude and feire wede —line35Al that is dweole, wel i seo.Tharfore ich thenche sunne fleoAnd alle mine sot dede.Ich bidde hire to me biseo,And helpe me and rede,line40That is so freo.
Agult ich habbe, weilawei!Sunful, ich am an wrecche.Awrec the nu on me, Levedi,Er Deth me honne fecche;line45Do nim the wreche — ich am redi!Other let me liven and amendiThat no feond me ne drecche.For mine sunnes, ich am sori.Of this world ich ne recche.line50Levedi, merci! Amen.
fol. 180vAll my life depends on herOf whom I’ll singAnd praise in this way.She brought us a remedyline5For hell-pain that’s strong —She brought us lasting blissAll by her childbearing.I pray to her in my song:May she give us a good endline10Even if we’ve done wrong.
You are health, life, and light,And help all mankind.You’ve made us well prepared.You give us happiness and joy.line15You brought day, and Eve night —She brought woe, you brought right;You relief, and she sin.Look after me, bright Lady,When I depart from here — line20As well as you might.
All this world will pass awayWith sorrow and with grief;And we must forfeit all this life,And not regret it too sorely.line25This world’s nothing but our foe.Therefore I plan to let it go,And act according to God’s lore.This life’s joy’s not worth a plum.I pray God for your mercy,line30Now and forevermore.
Too long I’ve been a fool.[fol. 246v]I’m very much afraid.I’ve loved play and fun,And pride and fine clothes —line35That’s a delusion, I clearly see.Therefore I plan to flee from sinAnd all of my foolish deeds.I pray that she look after me,And help and advise me,line40Who is so gracious.
I’ve done wrong, wailaway!Filled with sin, I’m a wretch.Avenge yourself now on me, Lady,Before Death fetches me from here;line45Take your vengeance — I am ready!Or let me live and repentSo that no fiend may trouble me.For my sins, I am sorry.About this world I don’t care.line50Lady, have mercy! Amen.