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Part Four Temptations Ne wene nan of heh lif thet ha ne beo i-temptet: mare beoth the gode, the beoth i-clumben hehe, i-temptet then the wake - ant thet is reisun. For se the hul is herre, se the wind is mare th'ron. Se the hul is herre of hali lif ant of heh, se the feondes puffes - the windes of fondunges - beoth strengre th'ron ant mare. Yef ei ancre is the ne veleth nane fondunges, swithe drede i thet puint thet ha beo over-muchel ant over-swithe i-fondet. For swa Sein Gregoire seith: Tunc maxime inpugnaris cum te inpugnari non sentis. Sec mon haveth twa estaz swithe dredfule: thet an is hwen he ne feleth nawt his ahne secnesse, ant for-thi ne secheth nawt leche ne lechecreft, ne easketh na-mon read, ant asteorveth ferliche ear me least wene. This is the ancre the nat nawt hwet is fondunge. To theos speketh the engel i the Apocalipse: Dicis quia dives sum et nullius egeo, et nescis quia miser es et nudus, et pauper et cecus. "Thu seist the nis neod na medecine, ah thu art blind i-heortet, ne ne sist nawt hu thu art povre ant naket of halinesse ant gastelich wrecche." Thet other dredfule estat thet te seke haveth is al frommard this. Thet is hwen he feleth se muchel angoise thet he ne mei tholien thet me hondli his sar ne thet me him heale. This is sum ancre the feleth se swithe hire fondunges ant is se sare ofdred thet na gastelich cunfort ne mei hire gleadien ne makien to understonden thet ha mahe ant schule thurh ham the betere beon i- borhen. Ne teleth hit i the Godspel thet te Hali Gast leadde ure Laverd seolf into anlich stude, to leaden anlich lif for-te beon i-temptet of the unwine of helle? Ductus est Jesus in desertum a spiritu ut temptaretur a diabolo. Ah his temptatiun - the ne mahte sunegin - wes ane withuten.     Understondeth thenne on alre earst, leove sustren, thet twa cunne temptatiuns, twa cunne fondunges beoth - uttre ant inre, ant ba beoth feole-valde. Uttre fondunge is hwer-of kimeth licunge other mislicunge withuten other withinnen. Mislicunge withuten: ase secnesse, meoseise, scheome, unhap, ant euch licomlich derf thet te flesch eileth. Withinnen: heorte sar, grome - ant wreaththe alswa, onont thet ha is pine. Licunge withuten: licomes heale, mete, drunch, clath inoh ant euch flesches eise onont swucche thinges. Licunge withinnen: as sum fals gleadschipe other of monne here-word, other yef me is i-luvet mare then an-other, mare i-olhnet, mare i-don god other menske. This dale of this temptatiun thet is uttre i-cleopet, is swikelure then the other half. Ba beoth a temptatiun ant, either withinnen ant withuten, bathe of hire twa dalen. Ah ha is uttre i-cleopet, for ha is eaver other i thing withuten other of thing withuten, ant te uttre thing is the fondunge. Theos fondunge kimeth other-hwile of Godd, of mon other-hwiles. Of Godd: as of freondes death, secnesse other on ham other o the-seolven, poverte, mishapnunge, ant othre swucche, heale alswa ant eise.     Of mon: as mislich woh - other of word other of werc, o the other, o thine - alswa here-word other god-dede. Theos cumeth alswa of Godd, ah nawt as doth the othre, withuten euch middel. Ah with alle he fondeth mon hu he him drede ant luvie. Inre fondunges beoth misliche untheawes, other lust towart ham other thohtes swikele, the thuncheth thah gode. Theos inre fondunge kimeth of the feond, of the world, of ure flesch other-hwile. To the uttre temptatiun is neod patience - thet is, tholemodnesse. To the inre is neod wisdom ant gastelich strengthe. We schulen nu speoken of the uttre ant teachen theo the habbeth hire, hu ha mahen with Godes grace i-finde remedie - thet is, elne ayeines hire to frovrin ham-seolven.     Beatus vir, qui suffert temptationem, quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vite quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se. "Eadi is ant seli the haveth i temptatiun tholemodnesse, for hwen ha is i-pruvet," hit seith, "ha schal beon i- crunet mid te crune of lif the Godd haveth bihaten his leove i-corene." "Hwen ha is i-pru[v]et," hit seith. Wel is hit i-seid, for alswa pruveth Godd his leove i- corene, as the golt-smith fondeth thet gold i the fure. Thet false gold forwurtheth th'rin; thet gode kimeth ut brihtre. Secnesse is a brune hat for-te tholien, ah na thing ne clenseth gold as hit deth the sawle.     Secnesse thet Godd send - nawt thet sum lecheth thurh hire ahne dusi-schipe - deth theose six thinges: (i) wescheth the sunnen the beoth ear i-wrahte, (ii) wardeth toyein theo the weren towardes, (iii) pruveth pacience, (iiii) halt in eadmodnesse, (v) muchleth the mede, [vi] eveneth to martir thene tholemode. Thus is secnesse sawlene heale, salve of hire wunden, scheld, thet ha ne kecche ma, as Godd sith thet ha schulde, yef secnesse hit ne lette. Secnesse maketh mon to understonden hwet he is, to cnawen him-seolven - ant, as god meister, beat for-te leorni wel hu mihti is Godd, hu frakel is the worldes blisse. Secnesse is thi gold-smith the i the blisse of heovene overguldeth thi crune. Se the secnesse is mare, se the golt-smith is bisgre, ant se hit lengre least, se he brihteth hire swithere to beo martirs evening thurh a hwilinde wa. Hwet is mare grace to theo the hefde ofearnet the pinen of helle, world abuten ende? Nalde me tellen him alre monne dusegest, the forseke a buffet for a speres wunde? a nelde pricchunge for an bihefdunge? a beatunge for an hongunge on helle weari-treo, aa on ecnesse? Godd hit wat, leove sustren, al the wa of this world is i-evenet to helle alre leaste pine. Al nis bute bal-plohe. Al nis nawt swa muchel as is a lutel deawes drope toyeines the brade sea ant alle worldes weattres. The mei thenne edstearten thet ilke grisliche wa, the eateliche pinen thurh secnesse thet ageath, thurh ei uvel thet her is, seliliche mei ha seggen.     On other half leornith moni-valde frovren ayein the uttre fondunge the kimeth of monnes uvel, for theos, the ich habbe i-seid of, is of Godes sonde. Hwa-se eaver misseith the other misdeth the - nim yeme ant understond thet he is thi vile the lorimers habbeth ant fileth al thi rust awei ant ti ruhe of sunne. For he fret him-seolven, weilawei, as the file deth, ah he maketh smethe ant brihteth thi sawle.     On other wise thench hwa-se-eaver hearmeth the other eni wa deth the, scheome, grome, teone - he is Godes yerde. For swa he seith thurh Sein Juhanes muth i the Apocalipse: Ego quos amo arguo et castigo. "Ne beat he nan bute hwam-se he luveth ant halt for his dohter," na-mare then thu waldest beaten a fremede child thah hit al gulte. Ah nawt ne leote he wel of thet is Godes yerde, for as the feader hwen he haveth inoh i-beaten his child ant haveth hit i-tuht wel, warpeth the yerde i the fur, for ha nis noht na-mare, alswa the Feder of heovene hwen he haveth i-beaten with an unwreast mon other an unwrest wummon his leove child for his god, he warpeth the yerde - thet is, the unwreste - into the fur of helle. For-thi he seith elles-hwer, Michi vindictam; ego retribuam - thet is, "min is the wrake: ich chulle yelden," as thah he seide, "ne wreoke ye nawt ow-seolven, ne grucchi ye ne wearien hwen me gulteth with ow, ah thencheth anan thet he is ower feadres yerde ant thet he wule yelden him yerde servise." Ant nis thet child ful-itohen thet scratleth ayein ant bit up-o the yerde? Thet deboneire child hwen hit is i-beaten, yef the feader hat hit, hit cusseth the yerde - ant ye don alswa, mine leove sustren. For swa hat ower feader thet ye cussen nawt with muth, ah with luve of heorte theo the he ow with beateth. Diligite inimicos vestros. Benefacite hiis qui oderunt vos et orate pro persequentibus et calumpniantibus vos. This is Godes heste, thet him is muchel leovre then thet tu eote gruttene bred other weredest hearde here: "luvieth ower va-men," he seith, "ant doth god yef ye mahen to theo thet ow weorrith." Yef ye elles ne mahen, biddeth yeorne for theo thet ow eni eil doth other misseggeth. Ant te Apostle leareth, "ne yelde ye neaver uvel for uvel, ah doth god eaver ayein uvel" as dude ure Laverd seolf ant alle his hali halhen. Yef ye thus haldeth Godes heaste, thenne beo ye his hende child ant cusseth the yerde the he haveth ow with i-thorschen. Nu seith other-h[w]ile sum, "his sawle - other hiren - ich chulle wel luvien, his bodi o nane wise." Ah thet nis nawt to seggen. The sawle ant te licome nis bute a mon ant ba ham tit a dom. Wult tu dealen o twa, the Godd haveth to an i-sompnet? He forbeot hit ant seith, Quod Deus conjunxit homo non separet. Ne wurthe nan se wod thet he to-deale the thing the Godd haveth i-veiet.     Thencheth yet thisses weis: thet child, yef hit spurneth o sum thing other hurteth, me beat thet hit hurte on, ant thet child is wel i-paiet, foryeteth al his hurt ant stilleth hise teares. For-thi frovrith ow-seolven: Letabitur justus cum viderit vindictam. Godd schal o Domes-dei don as thah he seide, "Dohter, hurte thes the? Dude he the spurnen i wreaththe other in heorte sar, i scheome other in eani teone? Loke, dohter, loke," he seith, "hu he hit schal abuggen." Ant ther ye schule seon bunkin him with thes deofles betles, thet wa bith him thes lives. Ye schulen beo wel i-paiet th'rof, for ower wil ant Godes wil schal swa beon i-veiet thet ye schulen wullen al thet he eaver wule, ant he al thet ye wulleth.     Over alle othre thohtes in alle ower passiuns, thencheth eaver inwardliche up- Godes pinen, thet te worldes wealdent walde for his threalles tholien swucche schendlakes, hokeres, buffez, spatlunge, blindfeallunge, thornene crununge thet set him i the heaved swa thet te blodi strundes striken adun ant leaveden dun to ther eorthe; his swete bodi i-bunden naket to the hearde piler ant i-beate swa thet tet deore-wurthe blod ron on euche halve; thet attri drunch thet me him yef, tha him thurste o rode; hare heafde sturunge upon him, tha heo on hokerunge gredden se lude, "Lo, her the healde othre! Lo, hu he healeth nu ant helpeth him-seolven!" Turneth th'ruppe ther ich spec hu he wes i-pinet in alle his fif wittes ant eveneth al ower wa, secnesse ant other-hwet, woh of word other of werc, ant al thet mon mei tholien to thet tet he tholede, ant ye schulen lihtliche i-seon hu lutel hit reacheth, nomeliche yef ye thencheth thet he wes al ladles ant thet he droh al this nawt for him-seolven, for he ne agulte neaver. Yef ye tholieth wa, ye habbeth wurse ofservet, ant al thet ye tholieth al is for ow-seolven.     Gath nu thenne gleadluker bi strong wei ant bi swincful toward te muchele feaste of heovene, ther-as ower gleade freond ower cume i-kepeth, thenne dusie worldes men gath bi grene wei toward te weari-treo ant te death of helle. Betere is ga sec to heovene then hal to helle, to murhthe with meoseise then to wa with eise. Salomon: Via impiorum complantata est lapidibus - id est, duris afflictionibus. Nawt for-thi witerliche wrecche worltliche men buggeth deorre helle then ye doth the heovene. A thing to sothe wite ye - a misword thet ye tholieth, a deies longunge, a secnesse of a stunde, yef me chapede ed ow an of theos o Domes-dei - thet is, the mede the ariseth th'rof - ye hit nalden sullen for al the world of golde. For thet schal beon ower song bivoren ure Laverd: Letati sumus pro diebus quibus nos humiliasti, annis quibus vidimus mala - thet is, "wel is us for the dahes thet tu lahedest us with other monne wohes, ant wel is us nu Laverd for the ilke yeres thet we weren seke in, ant sehen sar ant sorhe." Euch worltlich wa - hit is Godes sonde. Heh monnes messager me schal hehliche undervon ant makien him glead chere - nomeliche yef he is prive with his laverd. Ant hwa wes mare prive with the king of heovene hwil he her wunede then wes thes sondes-mon - thet is, worldes weane, the ne com neaver from him athet his lives ende? Thes messager - hwet teleth he ow? He frovreth ow o this wise: "Godd, as he luvede me, he send me to his leove freond. Mi cume ant mi wununge, thah hit thunche attri, hit is halwende. Nere thet thing grislich, hwas schadewe ye ne mahte nawt withuten hurt felen? Hwet walde ye seggen bi thet eisfule wiht thet hit of come? Wite ye to sothe thet al the wa of this world nis bute schadewe of the wa of helle. Ich am the schadewe," seith thes messager - thet is, worldes weane - "nedlunge ye moten other undervo me other thet grisliche wa thet ich am of schadewe. Hwa-se underveth me gleadliche ant maketh me feier chere, mi laverd send hire word thet ha is cwite of thet thing thet ich am of schadewe." - Thus speketh Godes messager. For-thi seith Sein Jame: Omne gaudium existimate, fratres, cum in temptationes varias incideritis. "Alle blisse haldeth hit to fallen i misliche of theose fondunges," the uttre beoth i-haten. Ant Seint Pawel: Omnis disciplina in presenti videtur esse non gaudii set meroris; postmodum vero fructum, et cetera. "Alle the ilke fondunges the we beoth nu i- beaten with thuncheth wop, nawt wunne, ah ha wendeth efter-ward to weole ant to eche blisse."     The inre fondunge is twa-valt, alswa as is the uttre. For the uttre is [adversite ant prosperte ant theos cundleth the inre: mislicunge] in adversite ant i prosperite licunge the limpeth to sunne. This ich segge for-thi thet sum licunge is ant sum mislicunge the ofearneth muche mede, as licunge i Godes luve ant mislicunge for sunne. Nu as ich segge, the inre fondunge is twa-vald: fleschlich ant gastelich. Fleschlich - as of leccherie, of glutunie, of slawthe. Gastelich - as of prude, of onde, ant of wreaththe, alswa of yiscunge. Thus beoth the inre fondunges the seoven heaved sunnen ant hare fule cundles. Flesches fondunge mei beon i-evenet to fot-wunde. Gastelich fondunge, thet is mare dred of, mei beon for the peril i- cleopet breost-wunde. Ah us thuncheth greattre flesliche temptatiuns for-thi thet heo beoth eth-fele. The othre, thah we habben ham, ofte nute we hit nawt ant beoth thah greate ant grisliche i Godes ehe ant beoth muchel for-thi to drede the mare. For the othre the me feleth wel secheth leche ant salve. The gasteliche hurtes ne thuncheth nawt sare, ne ne salvith ham with schrift ne with penitence ant draheth to eche death ear me least wene.     Hali men ant wummen beoth of alle fondunges swithest ofte i-temptet, ant ham to goder heale. For thurh the feht toyeines ham, ha biyeoteth the blisfule kempene crune. Lo, thah hu ha meaneth ham i Jeremie: Persecutores nostri velociores aquilis celi, super montes persecuti sunt nos; in deserto insidiati sunt nobis. Thet is, "Ure wither-iwines swiftre then earnes up-o the hulles ha clumben efter us, ant ther fuhten with us, ant yet i the wildernesse ha spieden us to sleanne. Ure wither-iwines beoth threo: the feond, the worlt, ure ahne flesch, as ich ear seide. Lihtliche ne mei me nawt other-hwile i-cnawen hwuch of theos threo him weorreth, for euch helpeth other, thah the feond proprement eggeth to atternesse, as to prude, to over-hohe, to onde ant to wreaththe, ant to hare attri cundles the her-efter beoth i-nempnet. The flesch sput proprement toward swetnesse, eise, ant softnesse. The world bit mon yiscin worldes weole ant wurthschipe, ant othre swucche give- gaven the bidweolieth cang men to luvien a schadewe. "Theos wither-iwines," hit seith, "folhith us on hulles, ant weitith i wildernesse hu ha us mahen hearmin." Hul - thet is heh lif, ther the deofles asawz ofte beoth strengest. Wildernesse is anlich lif of ancre wununge. For alswa as i wildernes beoth alle wilde beastes ant nulleth nawt tholien monne nahunge, ah fleoth hwen ha heom i-hereth, alswa schulen ancres over alle othre wummen beo wilde o thisse wise, ant thenne beoth ha over othre leove to ure Laverd, ant swetest him thuncheth ham. For of all flesches is wilde deores flesch leovest ant swetest.     Bi this wildernesse wende ure Laverdes folc, as Exode teleth, toward te eadi lond of Jerusalem, thet he ham hefde bihaten. Ant ye, mine leove sustren, wendeth bi the ilke wei toward te hehe Jerusalem, the kinedom thet he haveth bihaten his i- corene. Gath, thah, ful warliche, for i this wildernesse beoth uvele beastes monie: liun of prude, neddre of attri onde, unicorne of wreaththe, beore of dead slawthe, vox of yisceunge, suhe of yivernesse, scorpiun with the teil of stinginde leccherie - thet is, galnesse. Her beoth nu o rawe i-tald the seoven heaved sunnen:     The Liun of prude haveth swithe monie hwelpes, ant ich chulle nempni summe: vana gloria - thet is, hwa-se let wel of ei thing thet ha deth other seith, other haveth: wlite other wit, god acointance other word mare then an-other, cun other meistrie, ant hire wil forthre. Ant hwet is wlite wurth her? Gold ring i suhe nease - acointance i religiun. Wa deth hit ofte. Al is vana gloria, the let ea-wiht wel of, ant walde habben word th'rof, ant is wel i-paiet yef ha is i-preiset, mispaiet yef ha nis i-tald swuch as ha walde. An-other is indignatio - thet is, the thuncheth hokerlich of ei thing thet ha sith bi other other hereth, ant forhoheth chastiement, other ei lahres lare. The thridde hwelp is ypocresis, the maketh hire betere then ha is. The feorthe is presumtio, the nimeth mare on hond then ha mei overcumen, other entremeteth hire of thing thet to hire ne falleth, other is to overtrusti up-o Godes grace other on hire-seolven, to bald upon ei mon, thet is fleschlich as heo is, ant mei beon i-temptet. The fifte hwelp hatte inobedience - nawt ane the ne buheth, [ah the] other grucchinde deth, other targeth to longe: thet child the ne buheth ealdren, underling his prelat, paroschien his preost, meiden hire dame - euch lahre his herre. The seste is loquacite: the fedeth this hwelp the is of muche speche, yelpeth, demeth othre, liheth other-hwile, gabbeth, upbreideth, chideth, fikeleth, stureth lahtre. The seovethe is blasphemie. This hwelpes nurrice is, the swereth greate athes other bitterliche curseth, other misseith bi Godd other bi his halhen for ei thing thet he tholeth, sith other hereth. The eahtuthe is inpatience. This hwelp fet, the nis tholemod ayein alle wohes ant in alle uveles. The nihethe is contumace, ant this fet hwa-se is ane-wil i thing thet ha haveth undernume to donne - beo hit god, beo hit uvel - thet na wisure read ne mei bringen hire ut of hire riote. The teohethe is contentio - thet is, strif to overcumen, thet te other thunche underneothen awarpen ant cravant, ant heo meistre of the mot, ant crenge ase champiun the haveth biyete the place. I this untheaw is upbrud, ant edwitunge of al thet uvel thet ha mei bi the other ofthenchen - ant eaver se hit biteth bittrure, se hire liketh betere, thah hit were of thing the wes bivore yare amendet. Her- imong beoth other-hwiles nawt ane bittre wordes, ah beoth fule stinkinde scheomelese ant schentfule, sum-chearre mid great sware, monie ant prude wordes with warinesses ant bileasunges. Her-to falleth evenunge of ham-seolf, of hare cun, of sahe other of dede. This is among nunnen, ant gath with swuch muth seoththen, ear schrift ham habbe i-weschen, to herie Godd with loft-song, other biddeth him privee bonen! Me, thinges amansede, nuten ha thet hare song ant hare bonen to Godd stinketh fulre to him ant to alle his halhen, then ei rotet dogge? The ealleofte hwelp is i-fed with supersticiuns, with semblanz ant with sines, as beoren on heh thet heaved, crenge with swire, lokin o siden, bihalden on hokere, winche mid ehe, binde seode mid te muth, with hond other with heaved makie scuter signe, warpe schonke over schench, sitten other gan stif as ha i-staket were, luve lokin o mon, speoken as an innocent, ant wlispin for then anes. Her-to falleth of veil, of heaved clath, of euch other clath to ove[r]gart acemunge other in heowunge other i pinchunge, gurdles ant gurdunge o dameiseles wise, scleaterunge mid smirles, fule fluthrunges, heowin her, litien leor, pinchen bruhen other bencin ham uppart with wete fingres. Monie othre ther beoth the cumeth of weole, of wunne, of heh cun, of feier clath, of wit, of wlite, of strengthe. Of heh lif waxeth prude, ant of hali theawes. Monie ma hwelpes then ich habbe i-nempnet haveth the liun of prude. Ah abute theose studieth wel swithe, for ich ga lihtliche over, ne do bute nempni ham. Ah ye eaver i-hwer se ich ga swithere vorth, leaveth ther lengest, for ther ich fetheri on a word tene other tweolve. Hwa-se-eaver haveth eani untheaw of theo the ich her nempnede, other ham iliche - ha haveth prude sikerliche hu-se-eaver hire curtel beo i-schapet other i-heowet. Heo is the liunes make thet ich habbe i-speken of, ant fet hire wode hwelpes in-with hire breoste.     The Neddre of attri onde haveth seove hwelpes: ingratitudo - this cundel bret hwa-se nis i-cnawen god-dede, ah teleth lutel th'rof other foryet mid alle. God-dede - ich segge nawt ane thet mon deth him, ah thet Godd deth him, other haveth i-don him - other him other hire - mare then ha understont yef ha hire wel bithohte. Of this untheaw me nimeth to lutel yeme, ant is thah of alle an lathest Godd ant meast ayein his grace. The other cundel is rancor sive odium - thet is, heatunge other great heorte. The bret hit i breoste, al is attri to Godd thet he eaver wurcheth. The thridde cundel is ofthunchunge of othres god; the feorthe, gleadschipe of his uvel; the fifte, wreiunge; the seste, bac-bitunge; the seovethe, up-brud other scarnunge. The eahtuthe is suspitio - thet is, misortrowunge bi mon other bi wummon withuten witer tacne, thenchen, "this semblant ha maketh. This ha seith other deth, me for-te gremien, hokerin other hearmin" - ant thet hwen the other neaver thide[r]-ward ne thencheth. Her-to falleth falsdom, thet Godd forbeot swithe, as thenchen other seggen, "ye, ne luveth ha me nawt. Her-of ha wreide me. Lo, nu ha speoketh of me the twa - the threo, other the ma the sitteth togederes. Swuch ha is ant swuch, ant for uvel ha hit dude." I thulli thoht we beoth ofte bichearret, for ofte is god thet thuncheth uvel, ant for-thi beoth al dei monnes domes false. Her-to limpeth alswa luthere neowe fundles ant leasunges ladliche thurh nith ant thurh onde. The nihethe cundel is sawunge of unsibsumnesse, of wreaththe, ant of descorde. Theo the saweth this deofles sed - ha is of Godd amanset. The teohethe is luther stilthe, the deofles silence, thet te an nule for onde speoken o the other, ant this spece is alswa cundel of wreaththe, for hare teames beoth i-mengt ofte togederes. Hwer as ei of theos wes, ther wes the cundel - other the alde moder - of the attri neddre of onde.     The Unicorne of wreaththe, the bereth on his nease the thorn thet he asneaseth with al thet he areacheth, haveth six hwelpes. The earste is chast other strif. The other is wodschipe. Bihald te ehnen ant te neb hwen wod wreaththe is i-munt. Bihald hire contenemenz, loke on hire lates, hercne hu the muth geath, ant tu maht demen hire wel ut of hire witte. The thridde is schentful up-brud. The feorthe is wariunge. The fifte is dunt. The seste is wil thet him uvel tidde, other on him- seolf, other on his freond, other on his ahte. The seovethe hwelp is, don for wreaththe mis, other leaven wel to don, forgan mete other drunch, wreoken hire with teares yef ha elles ne mei, ant with weariunges hire heaved spillen o grome, other on other wise hearmin hire i sawle ant i bodi bathe. Theos is homicide ant morthre of hire-seolven.     The Beore of hevi slawthe haveth theose hwelpes: torpor is the forme: thet is, wlech heorte - unlust to eni thing - the schulde leitin al o lei i luve of ure Laverd. The other is pusillanimitas - thet is, to povre heorte ant to earh mid alle ei heh thing to underneomen in hope of Godes help, ant i trust on his grace, nawt of hire strengthe. The thridde is cordis gravitas. This haveth hwa-se wurcheth god ant deth hit tah mid a dead ant mid an hevi heorte. The feorthe is ydelnesse, hwa-se stut mid alle. The fifte is heorte grucchunge. The seste is a dead sorhe for lure of ei worltlich thing other for eni unthonc, bute for sunne ane. The seovethe is yemelesschipe other to seggen other to don, other to biseon bivoren, other to thenchen efter, other to miswiten eni thing thet ha haveth to yemen. The eahtuthe is unhope. This leaste beore hwelp is grimmest of alle, for hit tocheoweth ant tofret Godes milde milce ant his muchele mearci ant his unimete grace.     The Vox of yisceunge haveth theose hwelpes: triccherie ant gile, theofthe, reaflac, wite, ant herrure strengthe, false witnesse other ath, dearne symonie, gavel, oker, festschipe, prinschipe of yeove other of lane - this is i-cluht heorte, untheaw Gode lathest the yef us al him-seolven - mon-slaht other-hwile. This untheaw is to vox for moni reisun i-evenet. Twa ich chulle seggen. Muche gile is i vox ant swa is i yisceunge of worltlich biyete. An-other: the vox awurieth al a floc thah he ne mahe buten an frechliche swolhen. Alswa yisceth a yiscere thet tet moni thusent mahten bi flutten, ah thah his heorte berste ne mei he bruken on him-seolf bute a monnes dale. Al thet mon wilneth mare - other wummon - then ha mei rihtliche leade thet lif bi - euch efter thet ha is - al is yisceunge ant rote of deadlich sunne. Thet is riht religiun, thet euch efter his stat borhi ed tis frakele world se lutel se ha least mei of mete, of clath, of ahte, of alle hire thinges. Notith thet ich segge "euch efter his stat," for thet word is i-fetheret. Ye mote makien - thet wite ye - i moni word muche strengthe, thenchen longe ther-abuten, ant bi thet ilke an word understonden monie the limpeth ther-to. For yef ich schulde writen al, hwenne come ich to ende?     The Suhe of yivernesse haveth gris thus i-nempnet: "to earliche" hatte thet an, thet other "to esteliche," thet thridde "to frechliche." Thet feorthe hatte "to muche," thet fifte "to ofte." I drunch mare then i mete beoth theos gris i-ferhet. Ich speoke scheortliche of ham, for nam ich nawt ofdred, mine leove sustren, leste ye ham feden.     The Scorpiun of leccherie - thet is, of galnesse - haveth swucche cundles thet in a wel i-tohe muth, hare summes nome ne sit nawt for-te nempnin, for the nome ane mahte hurten alle wel i-tohene earen ant sulen cleane heorten. Theo thah me mei nempnin wel, hwas nomen me i-cnaweth wel, ant beoth - mare hearm is - to monie al to cuthe: horedom, eaw-bruche, meith-lure, ant incest - thet is bituhe sibbe fleschliche other gasteliche. Thet is o feole i-dealet: ful wil to thet fulthe with skiles yettunge, helpen othre thider-ward, beo weote ant witnesse th'rof, hunti th'refter with wohunge, with toggunge, other with eni tollunge, with gigge lahtre, hore ehe, eanie lihte lates, with yeove, with tollinde word, other with luve-speche, cos, unhende grapunge, thet mei beon heaved sunne, luvie tide other stude for-te cumen i swuch keast, ant othre foreridles the me mot nede forbuhen, the i the muchele fulthe nule fenniliche fallen. As Seint Austin seith, Omissis occasionibus que solent aditum aperire peccatis, potest consciencia esse incolumis. Thet is, "hwa-se wule hire in-wit witen hal ant fere, ha mot fleon the foreridles the weren i-wunet ofte to openin the in-yong ant leoten in sunne." Ich ne dear nempnin the uncundeliche cundles of this deofles scorpiun, attri i-teilet. Ah sari mei ha beon the bute fere, other with, haveth swa i-fed cundel of hire galnesse - thet ich ne mei speoken of for scheome ne ne dear for drede, leste sum leorni mare uvel then ha con ant beo th'rof i-temptet. Ah thenche on hire ahne aweariede fundles in hire galnesse: for hu se hit eaver is i-cwenct, wakinde ant willes, with flesches licunge, bute ane i wedlac, hit geath to deadlich sunne. I yuhethe me deth wundres. Culche hit i schrift ut utterliche, as ha hit dude, the feleth hire schuldi, other ha is i-demet thurh thet fule brune cwench to thet eche brune of helle. The scorpiunes cundel the ha bret in hire bosum - schake hit ut with schrift, ant slea with deadbote. Ye, the of swucches nute nawt, ne thurve ye nawt wundrin ow, ne thenchen hwet ich meane, ah yeldeth graces Godd thet ye swuch uncleannesse nabbeth i-fondet, ant habbeth reowthe of ham the i swuch beoth i-fallen.     Inoh is etscene hwi ich habbe i-evenet prude to liun, onde to neddre, ant of theo alle the othre, withute this leaste - thet is, hwi galnesse beo to scorpiun i-evenet. Ah lo, her the skile th'rof, sutel ant etscene: scorpiun is a cunnes wurm the haveth neb - as me seith - sum-deal i-lich wummon, ant neddre is bihinden, maketh feier semblant, ant fiketh mid te heaved, ant stingeth mid te teile. This is leccherie. This is the deofles beast thet he leat to chepinge, ant to euch gederunge, ant chepeth for-te sullen ant biswiketh monie, thurh thet ha ne bihaldeth nawt bute the feire neb other thet feire heaved. Thet heaved is the biginnunge of galnesse sunne, ant te licunge - hwil hit least - the thuncheth swithe swote. The teil thet is the ende th'rof is sar ofthunchunge ant stingeth her with atter of bitter bireowsunge, ant of deadbote. Ant seliliche mahen ha seggen, the the teil swuch i-findeth, for thet atter ageath, ah yef hit ne suheth her, the teil ant te attri ende is the eche pine of helle. Ant nis he fol chapmon the hwen he wule buggen hors other oxe, yef he nule bihalden bute thet heaved ane? For-thi, hwen the deovel beodeth forth this beast - beot hit to sullen ant bit ti sawle ther-vore - he hut eaver the teil ant schaweth forth the heaved. Ah thu, ga al abuten ant schaw the ende forth mid al - hu the teil stingeth - ant swithe flih ther-frommard ear thu beo i-attret.     Thus, mine leove sustren, i the wildernesse ther ye gath in with Godes folc toward Jerusalemes lond - thet is, the riche of heovene - beoth thulliche beastes, thulliche wurmes. Ne nat ich na sunne thet ne mei beon i-lead other to an of ham seovene other to hare streones. Unsteathelvest bileave ayein Godes lare - nis hit te spece of prude inobedience? Her-to falleth sygaldren, false teolunges, lefunge swefne, o nore, ant on alle wicchecreftes. Neomunge of husel in eani heaved sunne, other ei other sacrement - nis hit te spece of prude thet ich cleopede presumptio - yef me wat hwuch sunne hit is? Yef me hit nat nawt, thenne is hit yemeles under accidie, thet ich "slawthe" cleopede. The ne warneth other of his uvel other of his biyete - nis hit slaw yemeles other attri onde? Teohethi mis, edhalden cwide, fundles other lane, other ther-with misfearen - nis hit spece of yisceunge, ant anes cunnes theofthe? Edhalden othres hure over his rihte terme - nis hit strong reaflac - hwa-se yelden hit mei, the is under yisceunge? Yef me yemeth wurse ei thing i-leanet, other bitaht to witene, then he wene the ah hit - nis hit other triccherie other yemeles of slawthe? Alswa is dusi heast other folliche i-pliht trowthe, longe beon unbischpet, falsliche gan to schrift, other to longe abiden, ne teache Pater noster god-child ne Credo - theos ant alle thulliche beoth i-lead to slawthe - thet is, the feorthe moder of the seove sunnen. The dronc drunch other ei thing dude hwer-thurh na child ne schulde beon on hire i- streonet, other thet i-streonede schulde forwurthen - nis this strong mon-slaht of galnesse awakenet? Alle sunnen sunderliche bi hare nomeliche nomen ne mahte na-mon rikenin, ah i theo the ich habbe i-seid, alle othre beoth bilokene. Ant nis, ich wene, na-mon the ne mei understonden him of his sunne nomeliche under sum of the ilke i-meane the beoth her i-writene. Of theose seove beastes ant of hare streones i wildernesse of anlich lif is i-seid her-to, the alle the for[th]-fearinde fondith to fordonne. The liun of prude sleath alle the prude, alle the beoth hehe ant over-hohe i-heortet; the attri neddre, the ontfule ant te luthere i-thonket; wreathfule, the unicorne; alswa of the othre o rawe. To Godd ha beoth i-sleine, ah ha libbeth to the feond ant beoth alle in his hond ant servith him in his curt, euch of the meoster the him to falleth.     The prude beoth his bemeres, draheth wind in-ward with worltlich here-word, ant eft with idel yelp puffeth hit ut-ward as the bemeres doth, makieth noise ant lud dream to schawin hare orhel. Ah yef ha wel thohten of Godes bemeres, of the englene bemen, the schulen o fowr half the world bivore the grurefule dom grisliche blawen, "Ariseth, deade! Ariseth! Cumeth to Drihtines dom for-te beon i-demet!" thear na prud bemere ne schal beon i-borhen - yef ha thohten this wel, ha walden inoh-reathe i the deofles servise dimluker bemin. Of theose bemeres seith Jeremie, Onager solitarius in desiderio anime sue attraxit ventum amoris sui. Of the wind "drahinde in for luve of here-word," seith [Jeremie] as ich seide.     Summe juglurs beoth the ne cunnen servin of nan other gleo bute makien cheres, wrenche the muth mis, schulen with ehnen. Of this meoster servith the unseli ontfule i the deofles curt, to bringen o lahtre hare ondfule laverd. Yef ei seith wel other deth wel, ne mahen ha nanes weis lokin thider with riht ehe of god heorte, ah winkith o thet half ant bihaldeth o luft yef ther is eawt to edwiten, other ladliche thider-ward schuleth mid either. Hwen ha i-hereth thet god, skleatteth the earen adun, ah the lust ayein thet uvel is eaver wid open. Thenne he wrencheth the muth, hwen he turneth god to uvel, ant yef hit is sum-del uvel, thurh mare lastunge wrencheth hit to wurse. Theos beoth forecwidderes, hare ahne prophetes. Theos bodieth bivoren hu the eateliche deoflen schulen yet ageasten ham with hare grennunge, ant hu ha schulen ham-seolf grennin ant nivelin ant makien sur semblant for the muchele angoise i the pine of helle. Ah for-thi ha beoth the leasse to meanen thet ha bivoren-hond leornith hare meoster to makien grim chere.     The wreathfule bivore the feond skirmeth mid cnives ant is his cnif warpere, ant pleieth mid sweordes, bereth ham bi the scharp ord upon his tunge. Sweord ant cnif either beoth scharpe ant keorvinde word thet he warpeth from him ant skirmeth toward othre, ant he bodeth hu the deoflen schulen pleien with him mid hare scharpe eawles, skirmi with him abuten ant dusten ase pilche-clut euch to- ward other, ant with helle sweordes asneasen him thurh-ut - thet beoth kene ant eateliche ant keorvinde pinen.     The slawe lith ant slepeth o the deofles bearm as his deore deorling, ant te deovel leith his tutel dun to his eare ant tuteleth him al thet he wule. For swa hit is sikerliche to hwam-se is idel of god: meatheleth the feond yeorne, ant te idele underveth luveliche his lare. Idel ant yemeles is thes deofles bearnes slep, ah he schal o Domes-dei grimliche abreiden with the dredfule dream of the englene bemen, ant in helle wontreathe echeliche wakien. Surgite! - aiunt - Mortui, surgite! et venite ad judicium Salvatoris.     The yiscere is his eskibah, feareth abuten esken ant bisiliche stureth him to rukelin togederes muchele ant monie ruken, blaweth th'rin ant blent him-seolf, peathereth ant maketh th'rin figures of augrim, as thes rikeneres doth the habbeth muche to rikenin. This is al the canges blisse ant te feond bihalt tis gomen ant laheth thet he bersteth. Wel understont, euch wis mon, thet gold ba ant seolver, ant euch eorthlich ahte, nis bute eorthe ant esken the ablendeth euch mon the ham in blaweth - thet is, the bolheth him thurh ham in heorte prude. Ant al thet he rukeleth ant gedereth togederes ant ethalt of ei thing thet nis bute esken mare then hit neodeth, schal in helle wurthen him tadden ant neddren. Ant ba, as Ysaie seith, schulen beon of wurmes - his cuvertur ant his hwitel - the nalde ther- with neodfule feden ne schruden. Subter te sternetur tinea et operimentum tuum vermis.     The yivere glutun is the feondes manciple, ah he stiketh eaver i celer other i cuchene. His heorte is i the dissches, his thoht al i the neppes, his lif i the tunne, his sawle i the crohhe. Kimeth bivoren his laverd bismuddet ant bismulret, a disch in his an hond, a scale in his other. Meatheleth mis wordes, wigleth as fordrunke mon the haveth i-munt to fallen, bihalt his greate wombe - ant te deovel lahheth. Theose threatith thus Godd thurh Ysaie: Servi mei comedent et vos esurietis, et cetera. "Mine men schulen eoten, ant ow schal eaver hungrin, ant ye schule beon feo[ndes fod]e world buten ende." Quantum glorificavit se et in deliciis fuit, tantum date illi tormentum et luctum. In Apocalipsi: Contra unum poculum quod miscuit miscete ei duo. Yef the kealche-cuppe wallinde bres to drinken, yeot in his wide throte thet he swelte in-with. "Ayein an, yef him twa." Thullich is Godes dom ayein yivere ant drunc-wile i the Apocalipse.     The lecchurs i the deofles curt habbeth riht hare ahne nome, for i thes muchele curz, theo me cleopeth lecchurs the habbeth swa forlore scheome thet heom nis na-wiht of scheome, ah secheth hu ha mahen meast vilainie wurchen. The lecchur i the deofles curt bifuleth him-seolven fulliche ant his feolahes alle, stinketh of thet fulthe ant paieth wel his laverd with thet stinkinde breath betere then he schulde with eani swote rechles. Hu he stinke to Godd, i Vitas Patrum the engel hit schawde, the heold his nease tha ther com the prude lecchur ridinde, ant nawt for thet rotede lich thet he healp the hali earmite to biburien! Of alle othre thenne habbeth theos the fuleste meoster i the feondes curt, the swa bidoth ham-seolven. Ant he schal bidon ham, pinin ham with eche stench i the put of helle.     Nu ye habbeth ane dale i-herd, mine leove sustren: of theo the me cleopeth the seove moder-sunnen, ant of hare teames, ant of hwucche meosters thes ilke men servith i the feondes curt, the habbeth i-wivet o theose seoven haggen, ant hwi ha beoth swithe to heatien ant to schunien. Ye beoth ful feor from ham, ure Laverd beo i-thoncket! Ah thet fule breath of this leaste untheaw - thet is, of leccherie - stinketh se swithe feor, for the feond hit saweth ant toblaweth over al, thet ich am sum-del ofdred leste hit leape sum-chearre into ower heortes nease. Stench stiheth uppart, ant ye beoth hehe i-clumben ther the wind is muchel of stronge temptatiuns. Ure Laverd yeove ow strengthe wel to withstonden.     Sum weneth thet ha schule stronglukest beon i-fondet i the forme tweof-moneth thet ha bigon ancre lif, ant i the other th'refter. Ant hwen ha efter feole yer feleth ham stronge, wundreth hire swithe, ant is ofdred leste Godd habbe hire al forwarpen. Nai, nawt nis hit swa! I the forme yeres nis bute bal-plohe to monie men of ordre. Ah neometh yeme hu hit feareth bi a forbisne: Hwen a wis mon neowliche haveth wif i-lead ham, he nimeth yeme al softeliche of hire maneres. Thah he seo bi hire thet him mispaieth, he let yet i-wurthen, maketh hire feire chere, ant is umben euches weis thet ha him luvie inwardliche in hire heorte. Hwen he understont wel thet hire luve is treoweliche toward him i-festnet, thenne mei he sikerliche chastien hire openliche of hire untheawes, thet he ear forber as he ham nawt nuste. Maketh him swithe sturne, ant went te grimme toth to, for-te fondin yetten yef he mahte hire luve toward him unfestnin. Alest hwen he understont thet ha is al wel i-tuht, ne for thing thet he deth hire ne luveth him the leasse, ah mare ant mare - yef ha mei - from deie to deie, thenne schaweth he hire thet he hire luveth sweteliche, ant deth al thet ha wule, as theo thet he wel i- cnaweth. Thenne is al thet wa i-wurthe to wunne. Yef Jesu Crist, ower spus, deth alswa bi ow, mine leove sustren, ne thunche ow neaver wunder. I the frumthe nis ther buten olhnunge for-te drahen in luve. Ah sone se he eaver understont thet he beo wel acointet, he wule forbeoren ow leasse. Efter the spreove, on ende thenne is the muchele joie. Al o this ilke wise tha he walde his folc leaden ut of theowdom, ut of Pharaones hond, ut of Egypte, he dude for ham al thet ha walden: miracles feole ant feire, druhede the Reade Sea, ant makede ham freo wei thurh hire, ant ther ha eoden dru-fot, adrencte Pharaon ant hare fan alle. I the desert forthre tha he hefde i-lead ham feor i the wildernesse, he lette ham tholien wa inoh, hunger, thurst, ant muche swinc, ant weorren muchele ant monie. On ende, he yef ham reste, ant alle weole ant wunne, al hare heorte wil, ant flesches eise ant este. Terram fluentem lacte et melle. Thus ure Laverd speareth on earst the yunge ant te feble, ant draheth ham ut of this world, swoteliche ant with liste. Sone se he sith ham heardin, he let weorre awakenin ant teacheth ham to fehten ant weane to tholien. On ende efter long swinc, he yeveth ham swote reste - her, ich segge, i this world, ear ha cumen to heovene. Ant thuncheth thenne swa god, the reste efter the swinc; the muchele eise efter the muchele meoseise thuncheth se swote!     Nu beoth i the Sawter under the twa temptatiuns thet ich ear seide - thet beoth the uttre ant te inre, the temeth alle the othre - fowr dalen todealet thus: fondunge liht ant dearne, fondunge liht ant openlich, fondunge strong ant dearne, fondunge strong ant openlich, as is ther understonden: Non timebis a timore nocturno, a sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in tenebris, ab incursu et demonio meridiano. Of fondunge liht ant dearne seith Job theose wordes: Lapides excavant aque, et alluvione paulatim terra consumitur. Lutle dropen thurlith the flint the ofte falleth th'ron, ant lihte, dearne fondunges the me nis war of falsith a treowe heorte. Of the lihte, openliche bi hwam he seith alswa, Lucebit post eum semita, nis nawt se muche dute. Of strong temptatiun, thet is thah dearne, is ec thet Job meaneth: Insidiati sunt michi et prevaluerunt, et non erat qui adjuvaret. Thet is, "mine fan weitith me with triccherie ant with treisun, ant ha strengden up-o me ant nes hwa me hulpe." Ysaias: Veniet malum super te et nescies ortum ejus. "Wa schal cumen on the, ant tu ne schalt witen hweonne." Of the feorthe fondunge - thet is, strong ant openlich - he maketh his man of his fan, the hali Job, ant seith: Quasi rupto muro et aperta janua irruerunt super me. Thet is, "ha threasten in up-o me as thah the wal were tobroken ant te yeten opene." The forme ant te thridde fondunge of theose fowre beoth al meast under the inre. The other ant te feorthe falleth under the uttre, ant beoth al meast fleschliche ant eth for-thi to felen. The othre twa beoth gasteliche, of gasteliche untheawes, ant beoth i-hud ofte ant dearne hwen ha derveth meast, ant beoth muche for-thi the mare to dreden. Moni thet ne weneth nawt, bret in hire breoste sum liunes hwelp, sum neddre cundel the forfret the sawle, of hwucche Osee seith: Alieni comederunt robur ejus et ipse nesciuit. Thet is, "Unholde forfreten the strengthe of his sawle ant he hit nawt nuste." Yet is meast dred of hwen the sweoke of helle eggeth to a thing thet thuncheth swithe god mid alle, ant is thah sawle bone, ant wei to deadlich sunne. Swa he deth as ofte as he ne mei with open uvel cuthen his strengthe. "Na," he seith, "ne mei ich nawt makien theos to sungin thurh yivernesse, ant ich chulle, as the wreastleare, wrenchen hire thider-ward as ha meast dreaieth, ant warpen hire o thet half ant breiden ferliche adun, ear ha least wene," ant eggeth hire toward se muchel abstinence thet ha is the unstrengre i Godes servise, ant to leaden se heard lif, ant pinin swa thet licome, thet te sawle asteorve. He bihalt an-other thet he ne mei nanes-weis makien luthere i-thoncket, se luveful, ant se reowthful is hire heorte: "Ich chulle makien hire," he seith, "to reowthful mid alle. Ich schal don hire se muchel thet ha schal luvien ahte, thenchen leasse of Godd, ant leosen hire fame," ant put thenne a thulli thonc in hire softe heorte: "Seinte Marie! naveth the mon, other the wummon, meoseise ant na mon nule don ham nawt. Me walde me yef ich bede, ant swa ich mahte helpen ham ant don on ham ealmesse" - bringeth hire on to gederin, ant yeoven al earst to povre, forthre to other freond, aleast makien feaste ant wurthen al worldlich, forschuppet of ancre to huse-wif of halle. Godd wat, swuch feaste maketh sum hore. Weneth thet ha wel do, as dusie ant adotede doth hire to understonden, flatrith hire of freolec, herieth ant heoveth up the ealmesse thet ha deth, hu wide ha is i-cnawen. Ant heo let wel of ant leapeth in orhel. Sum seith inoh-reathe thet ha gedereth hord - swa thet hire hus mei, ant heo ba, beon i-robbet. Reowthe over reowthe! Thus the traitre of helle maketh him treowe reades-mon! Ne leve ye him neaver. Davith cleopeth him demonium meridianum, "briht, schininde deovel," ant Seinte Pawel, angelum lucis - thet is, "engel of liht." For swuch ofte he maketh him ant schaweth him to monie. Na sihthe thet ye seoth, ne i swefne ne waken, ne telle ye bute dweole, for nis hit bute his gile. He haveth wise men of hali ant of heh lif ofte swa bichearret, as the thet he com to i wummone liche i the wildernesse, seide ha wes i-gan o dweole, [ant weop] as meoseise thing, efter herbearhe. Ant te other hali mon thet he makede i-leven thet he wes engel, bi his feader, thet he wes the deovel, ant makede him to slean his feader - swa ofte ther-bivoren he heafde i-seid him eaver soth, for-te biswiken him sariliche on ende. Alswa of the hali mon thet he makede cumen ham for-te dealen his feader feh to neodfule ant to povre, se longe, thet he deadliche sunegede o wummon, ant swa feol into unhope, ant deide in heaved sunne. Of mon the speketh with ow thulliche talen, hereth hu ye schulen witen ow with thes deofles wiltes, thet he ow ne bichearre.     Sum of ow sum-chearre he makede to leven thet hit were fikelunge yef ha speke feire, ant yef ha eadmodliche meande hire neode, yef ha thonckede mon of his god-dede - ant wes mare over-hohe for-te acwenchen chearite, then rihtwisnesse. Sum he is umben to makien se swithe fleon monne frovre, thet ha falleth i deadlich sar - thet is, accidie - other into deop thoht swa thet ha dotie. Sum heateth swa sunne, thet ha haveth over-hohe of othre the falleth, the schulde wepen for hire, ant sare dreden for a swuch onont hire-seolven, ant seggen as the hali mon the seac ant weop ant seide, tha me him talde the fal of an of his brethren, "Ille hodie, ego cras." "Wei-la-wei, strongliche wes he i-temptet ear he swa feolle. As he feol to-dei, ich mei," quoth he, "alswa fallen to-marhen."     Nu, mine leove sustren, monie temptatiuns ich habbe ow i-nempnet under the seove sunnen - nawt, thah, the thusent-fald thet me is with i-temptet. Ne mahte - ich wene - ham na-mon nomeliche nempnin. Ah i theo the beoth i-seid, alle beoth bilokene. Lut beoth i this world, other nan mid alle, thet ne beo with hare sum other-hwile i-temptet. He haveth se monie buistes ful of his letuaires, the luthere leche of helle - the forsaketh an, he beot an-other forth anan-riht, the thridde, the feorthe, ant swa eaver forth athet he cume o swuch thet me on ende undervo. Ant he thenne with thet birleth him i-lome - thencheth her of the tale of his ampoiles! Hereth nu, as ich bihet, ayein alle fondunges moni cunne frovre, ant with Godes grace, th'refter the salve.     Siker beo of fondunge hwa-se eaver stont in heh lif - ant this is the earste frovre. For eaver se herre tur, se haveth mare windes. Ye beoth tur ow-seolven, mine leove sustren, ah ne drede ye nawt hwil ye beoth se treoweliche ant se feste i-limet with lim of an-red luve, euch of ow to other. For na deofles puf ne thurve ye dreden bute thet lim falsi - thet is to seggen, bute luve bitweonen ow thurh the feond wursi. Sone se ei unlimeth hire, ha bith sone i-swipt forth; bute yef the othre halden hire, ha bith sone i-keast adun as the lowse stan is from the tures cop into the deope dich of sum suti sunne.     Nu an-other elne muchel ah to frovrin ow hwen ye beoth i-temptet: the tur nis nawt asailit, ne castel ne cite, hwen ha beoth i-wunnen. Alswa the helle weorrur ne asaileth nan with fondunge the he haveth in his hond, ah deth theo the he naveth nawt. For-thi, leove sustren, hwa-se nis nawt asailet, ha mei sare beon ofdred leste ha beo biwunnen.     The thridde cunfort is thet ure Laverd seolf i the Pater noster teacheth us to bidden, Et ne nos inducas in temptationem - thet is, "Laverd Feader, ne suffre thu nawt the feond thet he leade us allunge into fondunge." Lo, neometh yeme! He nule nawt thet we bidden thet we ne beon nawt i-fondet, for thet is ure purgatoire, ure cleansing fur, ah thet we ne beon nawt allunge i-broht th'rin with consens of heorte, with skiles yettunge.     The feorthe frovre is sikernesse of Godes help i the fehtunge ayein, as Seinte Pawel witneth: Fidelis est Deus, qui non sinit nos temptari ultra quam pati possumus, set et cetera. "Godd," he seith, "is treowe. Nule he neaver suffrin thet te deovel tempti us over thet he sith wel thet we mahen tholien." Ah i the temptatiun he haveth i-set to the feond a mearke, as thah he seide, "Tempte hire swa feor, ah ne schalt tu gan na forthre!" Ant swa feor he yeveth hire strengthe to withstonden; the feond ne mei nawt forthre gan a pricke.     Ant this is the fifte frovre, thet he ne mei na thing don us, bute bi Godes leave. Thet wes wel i-schawet as the Godspel teleth, tha the deoflen thet ure Laverd weorp ut of a mon bisohten ant seiden, Si eicitis nos hinc, mittite nos in porcos. "'Yef thu heonne drivest us, do us i theos swin her,' the eoden ther an heorde. Ant he yettede ham." Lo, hu ha ne mahten nawt fule swin swenchen withuten his leave. Ant te swin anan-riht urnen an urn to the sea to adrenchen ham-seolven. Seinte Marie! swa he stonc to the swin, thet ham wes leovre to adrenchen ham- seolven then for-te beoren him, ant an unseli sunful, Godes i-licnesse, bereth him in his breoste, ant ne nimeth neaver yeme! Al thet he dude Job eaver he nom leve th'rof ed ure Laverd. The tale i Dyaloge lokith thet ye cunnen, hu the hali mon wes i-wunet to seggen to the deofles neddre, Si licenciam accepisti, ego non prohibeo. "Yef thu havest leave, do sting yef thu maht" - ant bead forth his cheke. Ah he nefde tha nan bute to offearen him, yef bileave him trukede. Ant hwen Godd yeveth him leave on his leove children, hwi is hit bute for hare muchele biheve thah hit ham grevi sare?     The seste confort is thet ure Laverd, hwen he tholeth thet we beon i-temptet, he pleieth with us as the moder with hire yunge deorling, flith from him ant hut hire, ant let him sitten ane ant lokin yeorne abuten, cleopien, "Dame! Dame!" ant wepen ane hwile - ant thenne with spredde earmes leapeth lahhinde forth, cluppeth ant cusseth ant wipeth his ehnen. Swa ure Laverd let us ane i-wurthen other-hwile, ant withdraheth his grace, his cunfort ant his elne, thet we ne findeth swetnesse i na thing thet we wel doth, ne savur of heorte, ant thah i thet ilke point ne luveth us ure Laverd neaver the leasse, ah deth hit for muche luve. Ant thet understod wel Davith, tha he seide, Non me derelinquas usquequaque. "Allunge," quoth he, "Laverd, ne leaf thu me nawt." Lo, hu he walde thet he leafde him, ah nawt allunge. Ant six acheisuns notith hwi Godd for ure god withdraheth him other-hwiles. An is thet we ne pruden; an-other, thet we cnawen ure ahne feblesce, ure muchele unstrengthe ant ure wacnesse. Ant this is a swithe muche god, as Seint Gregoire seith: Magna perfectio est sue inperfectionis cognitio - thet is, "muche godnesse hit is to cnawen wel his wrecchehead ant his wacnesse." Ecclesiasticus: Intemptatus qualia scit? "Hwet wat he," seith Salomon, "the thet is unfondet?" Ant Seint Austin bereth Seint Gregoire witnesse with theose wordes: Melior est animus cui propria est infirmitas nota, quam qui scrutatur celorum fastigia et terrarum fundamenta. "Betere is the the truddeth ant ofsecheth wel ut his ahne feblesce, then the the meteth hu heh is the heovene, ant hu deop the eorthe." Hwen twa beoreth a burtherne, ant te other leaveth hit, thenne mei the the up haldeth hit felen hu hit weieth. Alswa, leove suster, hwil thet Godd with the bereth thi temptatiun, nast tu neaver hu hevi hit is, ant for-thi ed sum-chearre he leaveth the ane, thet tu understonde thin ahne feblesce ant his help cleopie, ant yeie lude efter him yef he is to longe. Hald hit wel the hwile up, ne derve hit te se sare. Hwa-se is siker of sucurs thet him schal cume sone, ant yelt tah up his castel to his wither-iwines - swithe he is to edwiten. Thencheth her of the tale hu the hali mon in his fondunge seh bi west toyeines him se muche ferd of deoflen ant forleas, for muche dred, the strengthe of his bileave, athet te othre seide him: "Bihald," quoth he, "bi esten!" Plures nobiscum sunt quam cum illis - "we habbeth ma then heo beoth to help on ure halve." For the thridde thing is thet tu neaver ne beo al siker, for sikernesse streoneth yemeles ant over-hohe, ant ba theose streonith inobedience. The feorthe acheisun is hwi ure Laverd hut him - thet tu seche him yeornluker, ant cleopie ant wepe efter him as deth the lutel baban efter his moder. Th'refter is the fifte - thet tu his yein-cume undervo the gleadluker. The seste - thet tu th'refter the wisluker wite him hwen thu havest i-caht him ant festluker halde, ant segge with his leofmon, Tenui eum nec dimittam. Theose six reisuns beoth under the seste frovre the ye mahen habben, mine leove sustren, ayeines fondunge.     The seovethe confort is thet alle the hali halhen weren wodeliche i-temptet. Nim of the heste on alre earst: to Seinte Peter seide ure Laverd: Ecce, Sathan expetivit vos, ut cribraret sicut triticum, et cetera. "Lo!" quoth he, "Sathan is yeorne abuten for-te ridli the ut of mine i-corene. Ah ich habbe for the bisoht thet ti bileave allunge ne trukie." Seint Pawel hefde, as he teleth him-seolf, flesches pricunge: Datus est michi stimulus carnis mee - ant bed ure Laverd yeorne thet he dude hit from him, ant he nalde, ah seide, Sufficit tibi gratia mea: virtus in infirmitate perficitur - thet is, "mi grace schal wite the, thet tu ne beo overcumen. Beo strong in unstrengthe: thet is muche mihte." Alle the othre beoth i-crunet thurh feht of fondunge. Seinte Sare - nes ha fulle threottene yer i-temptet of hire flesch? Ah for-thi thet ha wiste thet i the muchele angoise aras the muchele mede, nalde ha neaver eanes bisechen ure Laverd thet he allunge delivrede hire th'rof, ah this wes hire bone: Domine, da michi virtutem resistendi. "Laverd, yef me strengthe for-te withstonden." Efter threottene yer com the acursede gast the hefde hire i-temptet, blac ase bla-mon, ant bigon to greden, "Sare, thu havest me overcumen!" Ant heo him ondswerede, "thu lihest," quoth ha, "ful thing! Nawt ich, ah haveth Jesu Crist, mi Laverd." Lo, the sweoke, hu he walde makien hire aleast to leapen into prude. Ah ha wes wel war th'rof ant turnde al the meistrie to Godes strengthe. Sein Beneit, Seint Antonie, ant te othre - wel ye witen hu ha weren i-temptet, ant thurh the temptatiuns i-pruvede to treowe champiuns, ant swa with rihte ofserveden kempene crune.     Ant this is the eahtuthe elne - thet alswa as the golt-smith cleanseth thet gold i the fur, alswa deth Godd te sawle i fur of fondunge.     The nihethe confort is thet yef the feond with fondunge greveth the sare, thu grevest him hwen thu edstondest hundret sithe sarre, for threo reisuns nomeliche. The an is thet he forleoseth, as Origene seith, his strengthe for-te temptin eaver mare ther-onuven of swuch manere sunne. The other is thet he forthluker echeth his pine. The thridde fret his heorte of sar grome ant of teone thet he, unthonc hise teth, i the temptatiun thet tu stondest ayein, muchleth thi mede, ant for pine thet he wende for-te drahe the toward, breideth the crune of blisse - ant nawt ane an ne twa, ah ase feole sithen as thu overkimest him, ase feole crunen - thet is to seggen, ase feole mensken of misliche murhthen. For swa Sein Beornard seith, Quotiens vincis, totiens coronaberis. The tale i Vitas Patrum witneth this ilke, of the deciple the set bivoren his meistre, ant his meistre warth o slepe hwil thet he learde him ant slepte athet mid-niht, tha he awakede: "Art tu," quoth he, "yet her? Ga ant slep swithe!" The hali mon, his meistre, warth eft o slep sone as the the hefde ther-bivoren i-beon i muche wecche, ant seh a swithe feier stude, ant i-set forth a trone, ant th'ron seove crunen, ant com a stevene ant seide: "this sege ant theose crunen haveth thin deciple this ilke niht ofsarvet." Ant te hali mon abreaid ant cleopede him to him. "Sei," quoth he, "hu stod te hwil thu, as ich slepte, sete bivore me?" "Ich thohte," quoth he, "ofte thet ich walde awakenin the, ant for thu sleptest swote, ne mah[te] ich for reowthe. Ant thenne thohte ich gan awei to slepen for me luste, ant nalde bute leave." "Hu ofte," quoth his meister, "over- come thu thi thoht thus?" "Seove sithen," seide he. Tha understond his meister wel hwet weren the seove crunen - seove cunne blissen thet his deciple hefde in euch a chearre ofservet, thet he withseide the feond, ant overcom him-seolven.     Al thus, leove sustren, i wreastlunge of temptatiun ariseth the biyete. Nemo coronabitur nisi qui legittime certaverit. "Ne schal nan beon i-crunet," seith Seinte Pawel, "bute hwa-se strongliche ant treoweliche fehteth ayein the world, ayein him-seolf, ayein the feond of helle." Theo fehteth treoweliche, the hu se ha eaver beoth i-weorret with theos threo wither-iwines - nomeliche of the flesch - hwuch se eaver the lust beo, se hit meadluker is, wrinnith ayein festluker, ant withseggeth the grant th'rof with ane-wile heorte, ne prokie hit se swithe. Theo the thus doth beoth Jesu Cristes feolahes, for ha doth as he dude honginde o rode. Cum gustasset acetum, noluit bibere - thet is, "he smahte thet bittre drunch, ant withdroh him anan, ant nalde hit nawt drinken thah he ofthurst were." Heo is, the swa deth, with Godd on his rode, thah hire thurste i the lust, ant te deovel beot hire his healewi to drinken. Understonde ant thenche thah thet ter is galle under. Ant tah hit beo a pine, betere is for-te tholien thurst then to beon i-attret. Let lust overgan, ant hit te wule eft likin. Hwil the yicchunge least hit thuncheth god to gnuddin, ah th'refter me feleth hit bitterliche smeorten. Wei-la-wei! Ant moni an is for muchel heate se swithe ofthurst mid alle, thet hwil ha drinketh thet drunch, ne beo hit ne se bitter, ne feleth ha hit neaver, ah gluccheth in yiverliche, ne nimeth neaver yeme. Hwen hit is al over, spit ant schaketh thet heaved, feth on for-te nivelin, ant makien grim chere - ah to leate thenne [naut-for-thi! For efter uvel, god is penitence. Thet is the best thenne.] Speowen hit anan ut with schrift to the preoste. For leave hit in-with, hit wule death breden. For-thi, mine leove sustren, beoth bivoren warre, ant efter the frovren the beoth her i-writene ayein alle fondunges secheth theose salven:     Ayein alle temptatiuns - ant nomeliche ayein fleschliche - salven beoth ant bote under Godes grace: halie meditatiuns in-warde ant meadlese, ant angoisuse bonen, hardi bileave, redunge, veasten, wecchen, ant licomliche swinkes, othres frovre for-te speoke toward i the ilke stunde thet hire stont stronge. Eadmodnesse, freolec of heorte, ant alle gode theawes beoth armes i this feht, ant anrednesse of luve over alle the othre. The his wepnen warpeth awei, him luste beon i-wundet.     Hali meditatiuns beoth bicluppet in a vers thet wes yare i-taht ow, mine leove sustren,     Mors tua, mors Christi, nota culpe, gaudia celi,     Judicii terror, figantur mente fideli. Thet is,     Thench ofte with sar of thine sunnen,     Thench of helle wa, of heove-riches wunnen,     Thench of thin ahne death, of Godes death o rode -     The grimme dom of Domes-dei munneth ofte i mode.     Thench hu fals is the worlt, hwucche beoth hire meden,     Thench hwet tua hest Godd for his god deden. Euch-an of theose word walde a long hwile for-te beo wel i-openet.     Ah yef ich hihi forth-ward, demeori ye the lengre. A word ich segge: efter ower sunnen, hwen-se ye thencheth of helle wa ant of heove-riches wunnen, understondeth thet Godd walde o sum wise schawin ham to men i this world bi worltliche pinen ant worltliche wunnen, ant schaweth ham forth as schadewe. For na lickre ne beoth ha to the wunne of heovene, ne to the wa of helle then is schadewe to thet thing thet hit is of schadewe. Ye beoth over this worldes sea, up- the brugge of heovene - lokith thet ye ne beon nawt the hors eschif i-liche the schuncheth for a schadewe, ant falleth adun i the weater of the hehe brugge. To childene ha beoth the fleoth a peinture the thuncheth ham grislich ant grureful to bihalden. Wa ant wunne i this world - al nis bute peintunge, al nis bute schadewe.     Nawt ane hali meditatiuns - as of ure Laverd, ant of alle his werkes, ant of alle his wordes, of the deore Leafdi ant of alle hali halhen - ah othre thohtes sum- chearre i meadlese fondunges habbeth i-holpen, fowr cunne nomeliche, to theo the beoth of flesches fondunges meadlese asailet: dredfule, wunderfule, gleadfule, ant sorhfule - willes withute neod arearet i the heorte. As thenchen hwet tu waldest don yef thu sehe openliche stonde bivore the, ant yeoniende wide up-o the, then deovel of helle - as he deth dearnliche i the fondunge. Yef me yeide, "Fur! Fur!" thet te chirche bearnde. Yef thu herdest burgurs breoke thine wahes - theos ant othre thulliche dredfule thohtes. Wunderfule ant gleadfule: as yef thu sehe Jesu Crist, ant herdest him easki the hwet te were leovest efter thi salvatiun, ant thine leoveste freond, of thing o thisse live, ant beode the cheosen with thet tu withstode. Yef thu sehe al witerliche heovene ware ant helle ware i the temptatiun bihalde the ane. Yef me come ant talde the thet mon thet te is leovest, thurh sum miracle, as thurh stevene of heovene, were i-coren to Pape - ant alle othre swucche. Wunderfule ant sorhfule: as yef thu herdest seggen thet mon thet te is leovest were ferliche adrenct, i-slein other i-murthret, thet tine sustren weren in hare hus forbearnde. Thulliche thohtes ofte i fleschliche sawlen wrencheth ut sonre fleschliche temptatiuns then sum of the othre earre. In-warde, ant meadlese, ant ancrefule bonen biwinneth sone sucurs ant help ed ure Laverd ayeines flesches fondunges - ne beon ha neaver se ancrefule ne se ful-itohene, the deovel of helle duteth ham swithe. For teke thet ha draheth adun sucurs ayein him, ant Godes hond of heovene - ha doth him twa hearmes: bindeth him ant bearneth. Lo, her preove of bathe: Publius, an hali mon, wes in his bonen ant com the feond fleonninde bi the lufte, ant schulde al on toward te west half of the worlt, thurh Julienes heast (the empereur), ant warth i-bunden hete-veste with the hali monne bonen, the oftoken him as ha fluhen uppard toward heovene, thet he ne mahte hider ne thider ten dahes fulle. Nabbe ye alswa of Ruffin the deovel, Beliales brother, in ower Englische boc of Seinte Margarete? Of thet other me redeth thet he gredde lude to Sein Bartholomew the muchel wes i benen: Incendunt me orationes tue! "Bartholomew, wa me! Thine beoden forbearneth me!" Hwa-se mei thurh Godes yeove i beoden habbe teares, ha mei don with Godd al thet ha eaver wule, for swa we redeth: Oratio lenit, lacrima cogit; hec ungit, illa pungit. "Eadi bone softeth ant paieth ure Laverd, ah teares doth him strengthe. Beoden smirieth him with softe olhnunge, ah teares prikieth him," ne ne yeoveth him neaver pes ear then he yetti ham al thet ha easkith. Hwen me asa[i]leth burhes other castel, theo withinnen healdeth scaldinde weater ut, ant werieth swa the walles. Ant ye don alswa as ofte as the feond asaileth ower castel ant te sawle burh: with in- warde bonen warpeth ut upon him scaldinde teares, thet Davith segge bi the, Contribulasti capita draconum in aquis - "thu havest forscaldet te drake heaved with wallinde weater" - thet is, with hate teares. Thear as this weater is, sikerliche the feond flith leste he beo forscaldet. Eft an-other: castel the haveth dich abuten, ant weater beo i the dich - the castel is wel carles ayeines his unwines. Castel is euch god mon thet te deovel weorreth. Ah habbe ye deop dich of deop eadmodnesse, ant wete teares ther-to, ye beoth strong castel. The weorrur of helle mei longe asailin ow ant leosen his hwile. Eft me seith, ant soth hit is, thet a muche wind alith with a lute rein, ant te sunne th'refter schineth the schenre. Alswa a muche temptatiun - thet is, the feondes bleas - afealleth with a softe rein of ane lut wordes teares, ant [te] sothe sunne schineth th'refter schenre to the sawle. Thus beoth teares gode with in-warde bonen, ant yef ye understondeth, ich habbe i-seid of ham her fowr muchele efficaces for-hwi ha beoth to luvien. In alle ower neoden, sendeth cwicliche anan thes sonde toward h[e]ovene. For as Salomon seith, Oratio humiliantis se penetrat nubes, et cetera - thet is, "the eadmodies bone thurleth the weolcne." Ant ter seith Seint Austin, Magna est virtus pure conscientie, que ad Deum intrat et mandata peragit, ubi caro pervenire nequit. "O muchel is the mihte of schir ant cleane bone, the flith up ant kimeth in bivoren almihti Godd" - ant deth the ernde se wel, thet Godd haveth o lives boc i-writen al thet ha seith, as Sein Beornard witneth, edhalt hire with him-seolf, ant sent adun his engel to don al thet ha easketh. Nule ich her of bone segge na mare.     Hardi bileave bringeth the deovel o fluht anan-rihtes - thet witneth Sein Jame: Resistite diabolo et fugiet a vobis. "Edstont ane the feond, ant he deth him o fluhte." Edstond - thurh hwet strengthe? Seinte Peter teacheth, Cui resistite fortes in fide. "Stondeth ayein him with stronge bileave," beoth hardi of Godes help, ant witeth hu he is wac, the na strengthe naveth on us bute of us-seolven. Ne mei he bute schawin forth sum-hwet of his eape-ware, ant olhnin other threatin thet me bugge th'rof. Hwether se he deth, scarnith him, lahheth the alde eape lude to bismere thurh treowe bileave, ant he halt him i-schent ant deth him o fluht swithe. Sancti per fidem vicerunt regna - thet is, "the hali halhen alle overcomen thurh bileave the deofles rixlunge" thet nis bute sunne, for ne rixleth he i nan, bute thurh sunne ane. Neometh nu gode yeme hu alle the seovene deadliche sunnen muhen beon afleiet thurh treowe bileave. On earst nu of prude.     Hwa halt him muchel, as the prude deth, hwen he bihalt hu lutel the muchele Laverd makede him in-with a povre meidenes breoste? Hwa is ontful, the bihalt with ehnen of bileave hu Jesu Godd - nawt for his god, ah for othres god - dude, ant seide, ant tholede al thet he tholede? The ontfule ne kepte nawt thet eani dealde of his god. Ant Godd almihti yet, efter al thet other, lihte dun to helle for- te sechen feolahes ant to deale with ham the god thet he hefde. Lo, nu hu frommard beoth ontfule ure Laverd. The ancre the wearnde an-other a cwaer to lane - f[e]or ha hefde heone-ward hire bileave ehe.     Hwa halt wreaththe, the bihalt thet God lihte on eorthe to makien thr[e]o-fald sahte: bitweone mon ant mon, bitweone Godd ant mon, bitweone mon ant engel? Ant efter his ariste tha he com ant schawde him, this wes his gretunge to his deore deciples: Pax vobis. "Sahtnesse beo bitweonen ow." Neometh nu yeorne yeme. Hwen leof freond went from other, the leaste wordes thet he seith, theo schulen beo best edhalden. Ure Laverdes leaste wordes, tha he steah to heovene ant leafde his leove freond in uncuthe theode, weren of swote luve ant of sahtnesse: Pacem relinquo vobis; pacem meam do vobis. Thet is - "Sahtnesse ich do i-mong ow. Sahtnesse ich leave with ow." This wes his druerie thet he leafde ant yef ham in his departunge. In hoc cognoscetis quod dicipuli mei sitis, si dilectionem adinvicem habueritis. Lokith nu yeorne, for his deore-wurthe luve, hwuch a mearke he leide upon his i-corene tha he steah to heovene. In hoc cognoscetis quod, et cetera. "Bi thet ye schulen i-cnawen," quoth he, "thet ye beoth mine deciples: yef swete luve ant sahtnesse is eaver ow bitweonen." Godd hit wite - ant he hit wat - me were leovere thet ye weren alle o the spitel-uvel then ye weren ontfule other feol i-heortet. For Jesu is al luve, ant i luve he resteth him ant haveth his wununge. In pace factus est locus ejus. Ibi confregit potencias arcum, scutum, gladium, et bellum - thet is, "i sahtnesse is Godes stude." Ant hwer-se sahte is ant luve, thear he bringeth to nawt al thes deofles strengthe. "Ther he breketh his bohe," hit seith - thet beoth dearne fondunges thet he scheot of feor - "ant his sweord bathe" - thet beoth temptatiuns keorvinde of neh ant kene.     Neometh nu yeorne yeme bi moni forbisne hu god is an-rednesse of luve, ant an-nesse of heorte. For nis thing under sunne thet me is leovere, ne se leof, thet ye habben. Nute ye ther men fehteth i thes stronge ferdes, the ilke the haldeth ham feaste togederes ne muhe beo descumfit o neaver nane wise? Alswa hit is in gastelich feht ayeines the deovel: al his entente is for-te tweamen heorten, for-te bineomen luve thet halt men togederes. For hwen luve alith, thenne beoth ha i- sundret, ant te deovel deth him bitweonen anan-riht ant sleath on euche halve. Dumbe beastes habbeth this ilke warschipe, thet hwen ha beoth asailet of wulf other of liun, ha thrungeth togederes al the floc feste, ant makieth scheld of ham- seolf, euch of heom to other, ant beoth the hwile sikere. Yef eani unseli went ut, hit is sone awuriet. The thridde: ther an geath him ane in a slubbri wei, he slit ant falleth sone; ther monie gath togederes, ant euch halt othres hond, yef eani feth to sliden, the other hine breid up ear he ful falle; yef ha wergith euch-an halt him bi other. Fondunge is sliddrunge. Thurh wergunge beoth bitacnet the untheawes un- der slawthe, the beoth i-nempnet th'ruppe. This is thet Sein Gregoire seith, Cum nos nobis per orationis opem conjungimus, per lubricum incedentes, quasi adinvicem manus teneamus, ut tanto quisque amplius roboretur quanto alteri innititur. Alswa i strong wind ant swifte weattres the me mot overwaden, of monie euch halt other; the i-sundrede is i-swipt forth ant forfeareth eaver. To wel we witen hu the wei of this world is slubbri, hu the wind ant te stream of fondunge aren stronge. Muche neod is thet euch halde with bisie bonen ant with luve othres honden, for as Salomon seith, Ve soli! quia cum ceciderit, non habet sublevantem. "Wa eaver the ane! for hwen he falleth, naveth he hwa him areare." Nan nis ane the haveth Godd to fere, ant thet is euch thet soth luve haveth in his heorte. The seovethe forbisne is this, yef ye riht telleth: dust ant greot, as ye seoth, for hit is i-sundret ant nan ne halt to other, a lutel windes puf todriveth hit al to nawt. Thear hit is in a clot i-limet togederes, hit lith al stille. An hondful of yerden beoth earveth to breoken hwil ha beoth togederes - euch-an i-tweamet lihtliche bersteth. A treo the wule fallen - undersete hit with an-other, ant hit stont feste; tweam ham, ant ba falleth. Nu ye habbeth nihene. Thus i thinges ute- with neometh forbisne hu god is an-nesse of luve ant somet-readnesse thet halt the gode somet, thet nan ne mei forwurthen! Ant this wule i-wiss habben the rihte bileave. Bihald yeorne ant understont Jesu Cristes deore-wurthe wordes ant werkes, the i luve weren alle ant i swetnesse. Over alle thing ich walde thet ancren leorneden wel this lesceunes lare. For monie - mare hearm is! - beoth Samsones foxes, the hefden the neb euch-an i-wend frommard other, ant weren bi the teiles i-teiet togederes, as Judicum teleth, ant in euch-anes teil a blease bearninde. Of theose foxes ich spec feor th'ruppe, ah nawt o thisse wise. Neometh gode yeme hwet this beo to seggen: me turneth the neb blitheliche towart thing thet me luveth, ant frommard thing thet me heateth. Theo thenne habbeth the nebbes wrong-wende euch frommard other, hwen nan ne luveth other, ah bi the teiles ha beoth somet, ant beoreth thes deofles bleasen - the brune of galnesse. On an-other wise, teil bitacneth ende. In hare ende ha schulen beon i-bunden togederes as weren Samsones foxes bi the teiles ant i-set bleasen th'rin - thet is, thet fur of helle.     Al this is i-seid, mine leove sustren, thet ower leove nebbes beon eaver i-went somet with luveful semblant ant with swote chere, thet ye beon aa with an-nesse of an heorte ant of a wil i-limet togederes, as hit i-writen is bi ure Laverdes deore deciples: Multitudinis credentium erat cor unum et anima una. Pax vobis: this wes Godes gretunge to his deore deciples: "Grith beo bimong ow." Ye beoth the ancren of Englond, swa feole togederes, twenti nuthe other ma. Godd i god ow multi, thet meast grith is among, meast an-nesse ant an-rednesse ant somet- readnesse of an-red lif efter a riwle, swa thet alle teoth an, alle i-turnt anes-weis, ant nan frommard other, efter thet word is. For-thi, ye gath wel forth ant spedeth in ower wei, for euch is with-ward other in an manere of lif-lade, as thah ye weren an cuvent of Lundene ant of Oxnefort, of Schreobsburi, other of Chester, thear as alle beoth an, with an i-meane manere, ant withuten singularite - thet is, an-ful frommardschipe - lah thing i religiun, for hit towarpeth an-nesse ant manere i- meane, thet ah to beon in ordre. This nu thenne - thet ye beoth alle as an cuvent - is ower hehe fame. This is Godd i-cweme. This is nunan wide cuth, swa thet ower cuvent biginneth to spreaden toward Englondes ende. Ye beoth as the moder- hus thet heo beoth of i-streonet. Ye beoth ase wealle: yef the wealle woreth, the strunden worith alswa. A, wei la, yef ye worith! - ne bide ich hit neaver! Yef ei is i-mong ow the geath i singularite, ant ne folheth nawt the cuvent, ah went ut of the floc, thet is as in a cloistre thet Jesu is heh priur over, went ut as a teowi schep ant meapeth hire ane into breres teilac, into wulves muth, toward te throte of helle - yef ei swuch is i-mong ow, Godd turne hire into floc, wende hire into cuvent, ant leve ow the beoth th'rin, swa halden ow th'rin, thet Godd the hehe priur neome ow on ende theonne up into the cloistre of heovene. Hwil ye haldeth ow in an, offearen ow mei the feond - yef he haveth leave - ah hearmin nawt mid alle. Thet he wat ful wel, ant is for-thi umben deies ant nihtes to unlimin ow with wreaththe other with luther onde, ant sent mon other wummon, the telle the an bi the other sum suhinde sahe thet suster ne schulde nawt segge bi suster. Ower nan - ich forbeode ow - ne leve the deofles sondes-mon, ah lokith thet euch of ow i- cnawe wel hwen he speketh i the uvele monnes tunge, ant segge anan-rihtes: "Ure meistre haveth i-writen us, as in heast to halden, thet we tellen him al thet euch of other hereth, ant for-thi loke the thet tu na thing ne telle me thet ich ne muhe him tellen, the mei don the amendement, ant con swa-liches don hit, thet ich ant tu bathe, yef we beoth i the soth, schule beon unblamet." Euch, no-the-le[s], warni other thurh ful siker sondes-mon sweteliche ant luveliche, as hire leove suster, of thing thet ha misnimeth - yef ha hit wat to sothe. Ant makie hwa-se bereth thet word recordin hit ofte bivoren hire, ear ha ga - hu ha wule seggen, thet ha ne segge hit other-weis, ne cluti ther-to mare. For a lute clut mei ladlechin swithe a muchel hal pece. Theo the ed hire suster this luve-salve underveth, thoncki hire yeorne, ant segge with the Salm-wruhte, Corripiet me justus in misericordia, et increpabit me, oleum autem peccatoris non inpinguet caput meum. Ant th'refter with Salomon, Meliora sunt vulnera corripientis quam oscula blandientis. "Yef ha ne luvede me, nalde ha nawt warni me i misericorde." "Leovere me beoth hire wunden then fikiende cosses" - thus ondswerie eaver. Ant yef hit is other-weis then the other understont, sende hire word ayein th'rof, luveliche ant softe, ant te other leve anan-riht, for thet ich chulle alswa, thet euch of ow luvie other as hire- seolven. Yef the feond bitweonen ow toblaweth eani wreaththe, other great heorte - thet Jesu Crist forbeode! - ear ha beo i-set wel, nawt ane to neomen Godes flesch ant his blod, ne wurthe nan se witles, ah yet thet is leasse, thet ha eanes ne bihalde ther-on, ne loki i ful wreaththe toward him the lihte to mon in eorthe of heovene to makien threo-vald sahte, as is i-seid th'ruppe. Sende either thenne other word, thet ha haveth i-maket hire - as thah ha were bivoren hire - eadmodliche Venie. Ant theo the ear ofdraheth thus luve of hire suster, ant ofgeath sahte, ant nimeth the gult toward hire, thah the other hit habbe mare, ha schal beo mi deore-wurthe ant mi deore dohter, for ha is Godes dohter. He him-seolf hit seith, Beati pacifici, quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur. Thus prude, ant onde, ant wreaththe beoth i-hwer afleiet hwer-se soth luve is ant treowe bileave to Godes milde werkes ant luvefule wordes. Ga we nu forthre to the othre on a reawe.     Hwa mei beo for scheome slummi, sloggi, ant slaw, the bihalt hu swithe bisi ure Laverd wes on eorthe? Pertransiit benefatiendo et sanando omnes. Efter al thet other, bihaldeth hu he i the even of his lif swong o the hearde rode. Othre habbeth reste, fleoth liht i chambre, hudeth ham hwen ha beoth i-lete blod on an earm ethre. - Ant he, o munt Calvaire, steah yet o rode herre, ne ne swong neaver mon se swithe ne se sare as he dude thet ilke dei thet he bledde o fif half brokes of ful brade wunden ant deope, withuten the ethren capitale the bledden on his heaved under the kene thornene crune, ant withuten the ilke reowfule garces of the luthere scurgunge yont al his leofliche lich, nawt ane o the schonken. Toyeines slawe ant sleperes is swithe openliche his earliche ariste from deathe to live.     Ayeines yisceunge is his muchele poverte, the weox eaver upon him se lengre se mare. For tha he wes i-boren earst, the thet wrahte the eorthe, ne fond nawt on eorthe swa muche place as his lutle licome mahte beon i-leid upon. Swa nearow wes thet stude, thet unneathe his moder ant Josep seten th'rin. Ant swa ha leiden him on heh, up in a crecche with clutes biwrabbet, as thet Godspel seith, Pannis eum involuit. Thus feire he wes i-schrud, the heovenliche Schuppent, the schrudeth the sunne! Her-efter the povre meiden of heovene fostrede him ant fedde with hire lutle milc as meiden deh to habben. This wes muche poverte, ah mare com th'refter. For lanhure the yet, he hefde fode as feol to him, ant i stude of in, his cradel herbearhede him. Seoththen, as he meande him, nefde he hwer he mahte his heaved huden: Filius hominis non habet ubi capud suum reclinet. Thus povre he wes of in; of mete he wes se neodful thet tha he hefde i Jerusalem o Palm-sunnedei al dei i-preachet, ant hit neolechede niht, he lokede abuten, hit seith i the Godspel, yef ei walde cleopien him to mete other to herbearhe, ah nes ther nan. Ant swa he wende ut of the muchele burh into Bethanie, to Marie hus ant to Marthen, ther-as he eode mid his deciples sum-chearre. Ha breken the eares bi the wei, ant gnuddeden the curnles ut bitweonen hare honden ant eten for hunger, ant weren ther-vore swithe i-calenget. Ah alre meast poverte com yet her-efter: for steort-naket he wes despuilet o the rode. Tha he meande him of thurst, weater ne mahte he habben. Yet thet meast wunder is of al the brade eorthe ne moste he habben a grot for-te deien upon. The rode hefde a fot other lute mare, ant thet wes to his pine. Hwen the worldes Wealdent walde beo thus povre, unbilevet he is the luveth to muchel ant yisceth worldes weole ant wunne.     Ayein glutunie is his povre pitance thet he hefde o rode. Twa manere men habbeth neode to eote wel: swinkinde ant blod-letene. The dei thet he wes bathe i sar swinc ant i-lete blod, as ich nest seide - nes his pitance o rode bute a spunge of galle? Loke nu, hwa gruccheth - yef ha thencheth wel her-on - mistrum mel of unsavuree metes, of povre pitance? Of na mon ne of na wummon ne schule ye makie na man, ne pleainin ow of na wone, bute to sum treowe freond thet hit mei amendin, ant godin ham other ow. Ant thet beo priveiliche i-seid as under seel of schrift, thet ye ne beon i-blamet. Yef ye of ei thing habbeth wone, ant sum freond yeorne freini ow yef ye ei wone habbeth, yef ye hopieth god of him, ondswerieth this wise: "Laverd Godd foryelde the! Ich drede mare ich habbe then ich were wurthe, ant leasse wone ich tholie then me neod were." Yef he easketh yeornluker, thonkith him yeorne ant seggeth, "Ich ne dear nawt lihen o me-seolven: wone ich habbe - ase riht is. Hwuch ancre kimeth into ancre-hus to habben hire eise? Ah nu thu wult hit alles witen. Ure Laverd te foryelde. This is nu an thing thet ich hefde neode to." Ant thus bid ure riwle thet we schawin to gode freond, as othre Godes povre doth hare meoseise, with milde eadmodnesse. Ne nawt ne schule we forsaken the grace of Godes sonde, ah thonkin him yeorne leste he wreathe him with us ant withdrahe his large hond ant th'refter with to muche wone abeate ure prude. Ant nis hit muchel hofles hwen Godd beot his hond forth, puttinde hire ayein, segge, "Ne kepe ich hit nawt - have the-seolf. Ich wulle fondin yef ich mei libben her-buten." Thurh this ich habbe i-herd of swuch thet nom uvel ende.     Ayein leccherie is his i-borenesse of thet cleane meiden ant al his cleane lif thet he leadde on eorthe, ant alle the hine fuleden. Thus, lo, the articles - thet beoth as thah me seide, "the lithes of ure bileave onont Godes monhead" - hwa-se inwardliche bihalt ham fehteth toyein the feond the fondeth us with theose deadliche sunnen. For-thi seith Seinte Peter, Christo in carne passo et vos eadem cogitatione armemini. "Armith ow," he seith, "with thoht up-o Jesu Crist, the in ure flesch wes i-pinet." Ant Seinte Pawel, Recogitate qualem aput semet ipsum sustinuit contradictionem ut non fatiget[is]. "Thencheth, thencheth," seith Seinte Pawel, "hwen ye wergith i feht ayeines the deovel, hu ure Laverd seolf withseide his fleschliche wil, ant withseggeth ower." Nondum enim usque ad sanguinem restitistis. "Yet nabbe ye nawt withstonden athet te schedunge of ower blod," [as he dude of his for ow - ayeines him-seolven, anont he mon wes of ure cunde. Yet ye habbeth thet ilke blod], the[t] ilke blisfule bodi thet com of the meiden ant deide o the rode niht ant dei bi ow - nis bute a wah bitweonen. Ant euche dei he kimeth forth ant schaweth him to ow fleschliche ant licomliche in-with the measse - biwrixlet, thah, on othres lite under breades furme. For in his ahne, ure ehnen ne mahten nawt the brihte sihthe tholien. Ah swa he schaweth him ow, as thah he seide, "Lowr, ich her. Hwet wulle ye? Seggeth me hwet were ow leof. Hwer-to neodeth ow? Meaneth ower neode." Yef the feondes ferd - thet beoth his temptatiuns - asailith ow swithe, ondswerieth him ant seggeth, Metati sumus castra juxta lapidem adjutorii. Porro Philistiini venerunt in Afech. "Ye, Laverd, wunder is: we beoth i-loget her bi the thet art stan of help, tur of treowe sucurs, castel of strengthe, ant te deofles ferd is woddre upon us then upon eani othre." This ich neome of Regum, for ther hit teleth al thus thet Israel, Godes folc, com ant logede him bi the stan of help, ant te Philistews comen into Afech. "Philistews" beoth unwihtes. "Afech" on Ebreisch spealeth "neowe wodschipe." Swa hit is witerliche, hwen mon logeth him bi ure Laverd: thenne on earst biginneth the deovel to weden. Ah ther hit teleth thet Israel wende sone the rug, ant weren fowr thusent i the fluht sariliche i- sleine. Ne wende ye nawt te rug, mine leove sustren, ah withstondeth the feondes ferd amidde the forheaved - as is i-seid th'ruppe - with stronge bileave. Ant with the gode Josaphath sendeth beode sondes-mon sone efter sucurs to the prince of heovene.     In Paralipomenis: In nobis quidem non est tanta fortitudo ut possimus huic multitudini resistere que irruit super nos. Set cum ignoremus quid agere debeamus, hoc solum habemus residui, ut oculos nostros dirigamus ad te. Sequitur - Hec dicit Dominus vobis: Nolite timere et ne paveatis hanc multitudinem. Non enim est vestra pugna set Dei. Tantummodo confidenter state et videbitis auxilium Domini super vos. Credite in Domino Deo vestro, et securi eritis. This is thet Englisch: "In us nis nawt, deore-wurthe Laverd, swa muchel strengthe thet we mahen withstonden the deofles ferd, the is se strong upon us. Ah hwen we swa beoth bisteathet, swa stronge bistonden, thet we mid alle na read ne cunnen bi us-seolven, this an we mahe don: heoven ehnen up to the mildfule Laverd. Thu send us sucurs. Thu todreaf ure fan, for to the we lokith." Thus with the gode Josaphath - hwen Godd kimeth bivoren ow ant freineth hwet ye wulleth, ant in euch time hwen ye neode habbeth - schawith hit swa sweteliche to his swote earen. Yef he sone ne hereth ow, yeieth luddre ant meadlesluker, ant threatith thet ye wulleth yelden up the castel bute he sende ow sonre help, ant hihi the swithere. Ah wite ye hu he ondswerede Josaphath the gode? Thus, o thisse wise: Nolite timere, et cetera. Thus he onswereth ow hwen ye help cleopieth: "Ne beo ye nawt offearede, ne drede ye ham na-wiht thah ha beon stronge ant monie. The feht is min, nawt ower. Sulement stondeth sikerliche ant ye schulen [seon] mi sucurs; habbeth ane to me trusti bileave, ant ye beoth al sikere." Lokith nu hwuch help is hardi bileave, for al thet help the Godd bihat, the strengthe to stonde wel, al is in hire ane. Hardi bileave maketh stonden up-riht, ant te unwiht nis nawt lathre. For-thi this is his word in Ysaie: Incurvare ut transeamus. "Buh the," he seith, "dune-ward thet ich mahe over the." Theo buheth hire the to hise fondunges buheth hire heorte, for hwil ha stont up-riht, ne mei he nowther upon hire rukin ne riden. Lo, the treitre, hu he seith: Incurvare ut transeamus. "Buh the, let me leapen up! - nule ich the nawt longe riden, ah ich chulle wenden over." He liheth, seith Sein Beornard, ne lef thu nawt then traitre. Non vult tran- sire, set residere. "Nule he nawt wenden over, ah wule ful feaste sitten." Sum wes thet lefde him, thohte he schulde sone adun as he bihat eaver. "Do," he seith, "this en-chearre, ant schrif the th'rof to-marhen. Buh thin heorte - let me up. Schec me with schrift adun, yef ich alles walde ride the longe." Sum, as ich seide, lefde him ant beah him, ant he leop up ant rad hire bathe dei ant niht twenti yer fulle! Thet is, ha dude a sunne i the il[ke] niht thurh his procunge, ant thohte thet ha walde hire schriven ine marhen, ant dude hit eft ant eft ant fealh swa i uvel wune, thet ha lei ant rotede th'rin swa longe as ich seide. Ant yef a miracle nere, the pufte adun then deovel the set on hire se feaste, ha hefde i-turplet with him, bathe hors ant lade, dun into helle grunde. For-thi, mine leove sustren, haldeth ow efne up-riht i treowe bileave. Hardiliche i-leveth, thet al the deofles strengthe mealteth thurh the grace of thet hali sacrement, hest over othre, thet ye seoth as ofte as the preost measseth: the meidene bearn, Jesu Godd, Godes sune, the licomliche lihteth other-hwiles to ower in, ant in-with ow eadmodliche nimeth his herbearhe. Deu-le-set, ha beoth to wake ant to unwreaste i-heortet, the with swilli gest hardiliche ne fehteth. Ye schulen bileave habben, thet al Hali Chirche deth, red, other singeth, ant alle hire sacremenz strengeth ow gasteliche - ah nan ase forth ase this, for hit bringeth to noht al thes deofles wiheles, nawt ane his strengthes, ant his stronge turnes, ah deth his wiltfule crokes, his wrenchfule wicche-creftes, ant alle his yulunges, ase lease swefnes, false schawunges, dredfule offearunges, fikele ant sweokele reades, as thah hit were o Godes half ant god for- te donne. For thet is his unwrench, as ich ear seide, thet hali men meast dredeth, thet haveth moni hali mon grimliche biyulet. Hwen he ne mei nawt bringen to nan open uvel, he sput to a thing thet thuncheth god. "Thu schuldest," he seith, "beo mildre, ant leoten i-wurthe thi chast, nawt trubli thin heorte ant sturien into wreaththe." This he seith for-thi thet tu ne schuldest nawt chastien for hire gult ne tuhte wel thi meiden, ant bringe the into yemeles i stude of eadmodnesse. Eft riht ther-toyeines: "Ne let tu hire na gult toyeves," he seith. "Yef thu wult thet ha drede the, hald hire nearowe." "Riht-wisnesse," he seith, "mot beo nede sturne," ant thus he liteth cruelte with heow of riht-wisnesse. Me mei beon al to riht-wis. Noli esse justus nimis (In Ecclesiaste). Betere is wis liste then luther strengthe. Hwen thu havest longe i-waket ant schuldest gan to slepen - "nu is vertu," he seith, "wakien hwen hit greveth the. Sei yet a nocturne." For-hwi deth he swa? For thet tu schuldest slepen eft hwen time were to wakien. Eft riht ther-toyeines: yef thet [tu] maht wakien wel, he leith on the an hevinesse, other deth i thi thoht, "Wisdom is thinge best: Ich chulle ga nu to slepen, ant arise nunan ant don cwicluker thene nu, thet ich don nuthe schulde" - ant swa ofte inoh-reathe ne dest tu hit i nowther time. Of this ilke materie ich spec muchel th'ruppe. I thulliche temptatiuns nis nan se wis, ne se war - bute Godd him warni - thet nis bigilet ofte. Ah this hehe sacrement, in hardi bileave, over alle othre thing unwrith hise wrenches, ant breketh hise strengthes. I-wis, leove sustren, hwen ye neh ow feleth him, for-hwon thet ye habben hardi bileave, nulle ye bute lahhen him lude to bismere thet he is se muchel ald cang, the kimeth his pine to echen, ant breiden ow crune? Sone se he sith ow hardi ant bald i Godes grace, his mihte mealteth ant he flith sone. Ah yef he mei underyeoten thet ower bileave falsi, swa thet ow thunche thet ye mahten beon allunge i-lead forth over yef ye weren swithe i the ilke stude i-temptet, ther-with ye unstrengeth ant his mihte waxeth.     We redeth i Regum thet Ysboset lei ant slepte, ant sette a wummon yete-ward the windwede hweate, ant comen Recabes sunen, Remon ant Banaa, ant funden the wummon i-stunt of hire windwunge ant i-folen o slepe, ant wenden in ant slohen Ysboset the unseli, thet lokede him se uvele. The bitacnunge her-of is muche neod to understonden. "Ysboset" on Ebrew is "mon bimeaset" on Englisch - ant nis he witerliche ameaset, ant ut of his witte, the amidden his unwines leith him to slepen? The yete-ward is wittes skile, thet ah to windwin hweate, schaden the eilen ant te chef from the cleane cornes - thet is, thurh bisi warschipe, sundri god from uvel, don the hweate i gerner, ant puffen eaver awei the deofles chef thet nis noht bute to helle smorthre. Ah the bimeasede Ysboset - lo, hu measeliche he dude! Sette a wummon to yete-ward - thet is feble warde. Wei-la, as feole doth thus. Wummon is the reisun - thet is, wittes skile - hwen hit unstrengeth, the schulde beo monlich, steale-wurthe ant kene in treowe bileave. This yete- ward lith to slepen, sone se me biginneth consenti to sunne, leoten lust gan in- ward, ant te delit waxen. Hwen Recabes sunen - thet beoth helle bearnes - i- findeth swa unwaker, ant swa nesche yete-ward, ha gath in ant sleath Ysboset - thet is, the bimeasede gast the in a slepi yemeles foryemeth him-seolven. Thet nis nawt to foryeoten, thet as Hali Writ seith, ha thurh-stichden him dun into the schere. Her seith Sein Gregoire, In i[n]guine ferire est vitam mentis carnis delectatione perforare. "The feond thurh-sticheth the schere, hwen delit of leccherie thurleth the heorte" - ant this nis bute i slep of yemeles ant of slawthe, as Sein Gregoire witneth: Antiquus hostis, mox ut mentem otiosam invenerit, ad eam sub quibusdam occasionibus locuturus venit, et quedam ei de gestis preteritis ad memoriam reducit. - Et infra: - "Putruerunt et deteriorate sunt cicatrices mee!" Cicatrix quidem est figura vulneris, set sanati. Cicatrix ergo ad putredinem redit, quando peccati vulnus, quod per penitentiam sanatum est, in delectationem sui animum concutit. This is thet Englisch: Hwen the alde unwine sith slepi ure skile, he draheth him anan toward hire ant feleth with hire i speche: "Thenchest tu," he seith, "hu the spec - other theo - of flesches galnesse?" Ant speketh thus the alde sweoke toward hire heorte wordes thet ha yare herde fulliche i-seide, other sihthe thet ha seh, other hire ahne fulthen thet ha sum-hwile wrahte. Al this he put forth bivore the heorte ehnen, for-te bifulen hire with thoht of alde sunnen, hwen he ne mei with neowe, ant swa he bringeth ofte ayein into the adotede sawle thurh licunge the ilke sunnen, the thurh reowthful sar weren i-bet yare, swa thet heo mei wepen ant meanen sari man with the Salm-wruhte: Putruerunt, et cetera. "Wei-la-wei, mine wunden, the weren feire i-healet, gederith neowe wursum ant foth on eft to rotien." I-healet wunde thenne biginneth to rotien, hwen sunne the wes i-bet kimeth eft with licunge into munegunge, ant sleath the unwarre sawle. Gregorius: Ysboset inopinate morti nequaquam succumberet, nisi ad ingressum mentis mulierem - id est, mollem custodiam - deputasset. Al this unlimp i-warth thurh the yete-wardes slep thet nes war ant waker, ne nes nawt monlich, ah wes wummonlich: eth to overkeasten. Beo hit wummon beo hit mon, thenne, is al the strengthe efter the bileave, ant efter thet me haveth trust to Godes help, thet is neh - bute bileave trukie, as ich ear buven seide. Heo unstrengeth the unwiht ant deth him fleon anan-riht. For-thi, beoth eaver ayein him hardi ase liun i treowe bileave, nomeliche i the fondunge thet Ysboset deide on - thet is, galnesse. Lo, hu ye mahe cnawen thet he is earh ant unwreast hwen he smit thider-ward: Nis he earh champiun the skirmeth to- ward te vet, the secheth se lahe on his kempe-ifere? Flesches lust is fotes wunde - as wes feor i-seid th'ruppe - ant this is the reisun: As ure fet beoreth us, alswa ure lustes beoreth us ofte to thing thet us luste efter. Nu thenne thah thi va hurte the o the vet - thet is to seggen, fondeth with flesches lustes - for se lah wunde ne dred tu nawt to sare, bute hit to swithe swelle thurh skiles yettunge with to muchel delit up toward te heorte, ah drinc thenne atter-lathe ant drif thet swealm ayein-ward frommard te heorte - thet is to seggen, thench o the attri pine thet Godd dronc o the rode, ant te swealm schal setten. Prude, ant onde, ant wreaththe, heorte sar for worltlich thing, dreori oflongunge, ant yisceunge of ahte - theose beoth heorte wunden, ant al thet of ham floweth, ant yeoveth deathes dunt anan, buten ha beon i-salvet. Hwen the feond smit thider-ward, thenne is i-wis to dreden - ant nawt for fot-wunden.     Prude salve is eadmodnesse; ondes, feolahlich luve; wreaththes, tholemodnesse; accidies, redunge, misliche werkes, gastelich frovre; yisceunges, over-hohe of eorthliche thinges; festschipes, freo heorte. Thet is to seggen nu of the earste on alre earst - yef thu wult beon eadmod, thench eaver hwet te wonteth of halinesse ant of gasteliche theawes. Thench hwet tu havest of the-seolf. Thu art of twa dalen: of licome ant of sawle. In either beoth twa thinges the mahen muchel meokin the, yef thu ham wel bihaldest. I the licome is fulthe ant unstrengthe. Ne kimeth of thet vetles swuch thing as ther is in? Of thi flesches fetles kimeth ther smeal of aromaz other of swote basme? Deale! Drue spritlen beoreth win-berien? Breres, rose blostmen? Thi flesch - hwet frut bereth hit in all his openunges? Amid te menske of thi neb - thet is the fehereste deal - bitweonen muthes smech ant neases smeal, ne berest tu as twa prive thurles? "Nart tu i-cumen of ful slim? Nart tu fulthe fette. Ne bist tu wurme fode?" Philosophus: Sperma es fluidum, vas stercorum, esca vermium. Nu, a flehe mei eili the, makie the to blenchen - eathe maht tu pruden! Bihald hali men the weren sum-hwile, hu ha feasten, hu ha wakeden, i hwuch passiun, i hwuch swinc ha weren, ant swa thu maht i-cnawen thin ahne wake unstrengthe. Ah wast tu hwet awildgeth monnes feble ehnen, thet is hehe i-clumben? - thet he bihalt dune-ward. Alswa hwa-se bihalt to theo the beoth of lah lif, thet maketh him thunchen thet he is of heh lif. Ah bihald aa uppart toward heovenliche men the clumben se hehe, ant thenne schalt tu seon hu lahe thu stondest. Augustinus: Sicut incentivum est elationis respectus inferioris, sic cautela est humilitatis consideratio superioris. Feasten a seove-niht to weater ant to breade, threo niht togederes wakien - hu walde hit unstrengen thi fleschliche strenge? Thus theos twa thinges bihald i thi licome: fulthe ant unstrengthe; i thi sawle other twa: sunne ant ignorance - thet is, unwisdom ant unweotenesse. For ofte thet tu wenest god is uvel ant sawle morthre. Bihald with wet ehe thine scheome sunnen. Dred yet thi wake cunde thet is eth-warpe, ant sei with the hali mon the bigon to wepen, ant seide tha me talde him thet an of his feren wes with a wummon i flesches fulthe i-fallen: Ille hodie, ego cras - thet is, "he to-dei, ant ich to- marhen," as thah he seide, "Of as unstrong cunde ich am as he wes, ant al swuch mei me i-limpen bute yef Godd me halde." Thus, lo, the hali mon - nefde he of the othres fal na wunderlich overhohe, ant biweop his unhap ant dredde thet him a swuch mahte bitiden. O this wise eadmodieth ant meokith ow-seolven. Bernardus: Superbia est appetitus proprie excellencie; humilitas, contemptus ejusdem - thet [is], "Alswa as prude is wilnunge of wurthschipe, riht alswa ther-toyeines, eadmodnesse is forkeastunge of wurthschipe," ant luve of lutel here-word ant of lahnesse. This theaw is alre theawene moder, ant streoneth ham alle. The is umben withuten hire to gederin gode theawes, he bereth dust i the wind, as Sein Gregoire seith, Qui sine humilitate virtutes congregat, quasi qui in vento pulverem portat. Theos ane bith i-borhen; theos ane withbuheth the deofles grunen of helle, as ure Laverd schawde to Seint Antonie, the seh al the world ful of the deofles tildunge. "A, Laverd!" quoth he, "hwa mei with theose witen him thet he ne beo with sum i-laht?" "Ane the tholemode," quoth he, ure Laverd. Swa sutil thing is eadmodnesse, ant swa gentilliche smeal ant se smuhel, thet na grune ne mei hire edhalden - ant, lo, muche wunder: thah ha hire makie swa smeal ant se meoke, ha is thinge strengest, swa thet of hire is euch gastelich strengthe. Seint Cassiodre hit witneth: Omnis fortitudo ex humilitate. Ah Salomon seith the reisun hwi: Ubi humilitas, ibi sapientia. "Ther-as eadmodnesse is, ther," he seith, "is Jesu Crist" - thet is, his feader wisdom ant his feader strengthe. Nis na wunder thenne thah strengthe beo ther-as he is thurh his in-wuniende grace: thurh the strengthe of eadmodnesse he weorp the thurs of helle. The yape wreastlere nimeth yeme hwet turn his fere ne kunne nawt, thet he with wreastleth, for with thet turn he mei him unmundlunge warpen. Alswa dude ure Laverd, ant seh hu feole the grimme wreastlere of helle breid upon his hupe ant weorp with the hanche-turn into galnesse - the rixleth i the lenden - hef on heh monie ant wende abuten with ham ant swong ham thurh prude dun into helle grunde. Thohte ure Laverd the biheold al this, "Ich schal do the a turn thet tu ne cuthest neaver, ne ne maht neaver cunnen: the turn of eadmodnesse" - thet is, the fallinde turn - ant feol from heovene to eorthe, ant strahte him swa bi the eorthe, thet te feond wende thet he were al eorthlich, ant wes bilurd with thet turn - ant is yet euche dei of eadmode men ant wummen the hine wel cunnen. On other half, as Job seith, "he ne mei for prude yet bute bihalden hehe." Omne sublime vident oculi ejus. Hali men the haldeth ham lutle ant of lah lif beoth ut of his sihthe. The wilde bar ne mei nawt buhen him to smiten: hwa-se falleth adun ant thurh meoke eadmodnesse strecheth him bi ther eorthe, he is carles of his tuskes. This nis nawt toyeines thet thet ich habbe i- seid ear - thet me schal stonden eaver toyeines the deovel - for thet stondinge is treowe trust of hardi bileave up-o Godes strengthe. This fallunge is eadmod cnawunge of thin ahne wacnesse, ant of thin unstrengthe. Ne nan ne mei stonde swa bute he thus falle - thet is, leote lutel tale ant unwurth ant ethelich eaver of him-seolven, bihalde his blac ant nawt his hwit, for hwit awilgeth the ehe. Eadmodnesse ne mei beon neaver ful preiset, for thet wes the lesceun thet ure Laverd inwardlukest learde his i-corene, with werc ba ant with worde: Discite a me, quia mitis sum et humilis corde. In hire he healdeth nawt ane drope-mel, ah flowinde yeotteth weallen of his graces, as seith the Salmiste: Qui emittis fontes in convallibus. "I the dealen, thu makest" - he seith - "weallen to springen." Heorte tobollen ant i-hoven ase hul ne edhalt na wete of grace. A bleddre i-bollen of wind ne deveth nawt into theose halwende weattres. Ah a nelde prichunge warpeth al the wind ut - an ethelich stiche other eche maketh to understonden hu lutel prude is wurth, hu egede is orhel.     Ondes salve, ich seide, wes feolahlich luve ant god unnunge ant god wil, ther mihte of dede wonteth. Swa muchel strengthe haveth luve ant god wil, thet hit maketh othres god ure god ase wel as his thet hit wurcheth. Sulement luve [h]is god, beo wil-cweme ant glead th'rof. Thus thu turnest hit to the, ant makest hit thin ahne. Sein Gregoire hit witneth, Aliena bona si diligis, tua facis. Yef thu havest onde of othres god, thu attrest te with healewi, ant wundest te with salve. Thi salve hit is - yef thu hit luvest - ayein sawle hurtes. Ant ti strengthe ayein the feond is al the god thet other deth, yef thu hit wel unnest. Witerliche, ich leve ne schulen flesches fondunges, na-mare then gasteliche, meistrin the neavere, yef thu art swote i-heortet, eadmod ant milde, ant luvest se inwardliche alle men ant wummen, ant nomeliche ancres, thine leove sustren, thet tu art sari of hare uvel, ant of hare god glead as of thin ahne. Unnen thet al the luveth the, luvede ham ase the ant dude ham frovre as the. Yef thu havest cnif other clath, other mete other drunch, scrowe other cwaer, hali monne frovre, other ei other thing thet ham walde freamien, unnen thet tu hefdest wonte the-seolf th'rof, with thon thet heo hit hefden. Yef eani is, the naveth nawt the heorte thus afeitet, with sorhfule sikes ba bi dei ant bi niht grede on ure Laverd, ne neaver grith ne yeove him athet he thurh his grace habbe hire swuch aturnet.     Salve of wreaththe, ich seide, is tholemodnesse. Thet haveth threo steiren: heh, ant herre ant alre hest ant nest te hehe heovene. Heh is the steire yef thu tholest for thi gult, herre yef thu navest gult, alre hest yef thu tholest for thi god-dede. "Nai!" seith sum ameaset thing, "yef ich hefde gult ther-to, nalde ich neaver meanen." Art tu, thet swa seist, ut of the-seolven? Is the leovere to beon Judase feolahe then Jesu Cristes fere? Ba weren ahonget - ah Judas for his gult. Jesu withute gult for his muchele godlec wes ahon o rode. Hwetheres fere wult tu beon? With hwether wult tu tholien? Of this is th'ruppe i-writen muchel, hu he is thi file the misseith other misdeth the. "Lime" is the Frensch of "file." Nis hit or acurset, the i-wurtheth swartre ant ruhre se hit is i-filet mare, ant rusteth the swithere thet me hit scureth hearde? Gold, seolver, stel, irn - al is or. Gold ant seolver cleansith ham of hare dros i the fur: yef thu gederest dros th'rin, thet is ayein cunde. The chaliz the wes ther-in i-mealt ant strongliche i-weallet, ant seoththen thurh se moni dunt ant frotunge to Godes nep se swithe feire afeitet - walde he, yef he cuthe speoken, awearien his cleansing fur, ant his wruhte honden? Argentum reprobum vocate eos.     Al this world is Godes smith to smeothien his i-corene. Wult tu thet Godd nabbe na fur in his smiththe, ne bealies ne homeres? Fur is scheome ant pine; thine bealies beoth the the misseggeth; thine homeres, the the hearmith. Thench of this essample: Hwen dei of riht is i-set, ne deth he scheome the deme, the a this half the i-sette dei breketh the triws ant wreketh him o the other on him-seolven? Augustinus: Quid gloriatur impius, si de ipso flagellum fatiat Pater meus? Ant hwa nat thet Domes-dei nis the dei i-set to don riht alle men? Hald the triws the hwiles, hwet woh se me deth the: [the richtwise deme haveth i-set te dei to loki richt bitwenen ow.] Ne do thu nawt him scheome, forhohie wrake of his dom, ant neomen to thin ahne. Twa thinges beoth thet Godd haveth edhalden to him-seolven: thet beoth wurthschipe ant wrake, as Hali Writ witneth: Gloriam meam alteri non dabo. Item: Michi vindictam. Ego retribuam. Hwa-se eaver on him-seolf taketh owther of theos twa, he robbeth Godd ant reaveth. Deale! Art tu se wrath with mon other with wummon thet tu wult, for-te wreoke the, reavin Godd mid strengthe?     Accidies salve is gastelich gleadschipe ant frovre of gleadful hope thurh redunge, thurh hali thoht, other of monnes muthe. Ofte, leove sustren, ye schulen uri leasse, for-te reden mare. Redunge is god bone. Redunge teacheth hu ant hwet me bidde, ant beode biyet hit efter. Amidde the redunge, hwen the heorte liketh, kimeth up a devotiun thet is wurth monie benen. For-thi seith Sein Jerome, Jeronimus: Sem- per in manu tua sacra sit lectio; tenenti tibi librum sompnus subripiat, et cadentem faciem pagina sancta suscipiat. "Hali redunge beo eaver i thine honden. Slep ga up-o the as thu lokest th'ron, ant te hali pagne i-kepe thi fallinde neb" - swa thu schalt reden yeornliche ant longe. Euch thing, thah, me mei overdon: best is eaver mete.     Ayeines yisceunge ich walde thet othre schuneden, as ye doth, gederunge. To muche freolec cundleth hire ofte. Freo i-heortet ye schule beon. Ancre of other freolec haveth i-beon other-hwiles to freo of hire-seolven.     Galnesse kimeth of yivernesse ant of flesches eise, for as Sein Gregoire seith, "Mete ant drunch over riht temeth threo teames: lihte wordes, lihte werkes, ant leccheries lustes." Ure Laverd beo i-thonket, the haveth of yivernesse i-healet ow mid alle! Ah galnesse ne bith neaver allunge cleane acwenct of flesches fondunge. Ah thet understondeth wel, thet threo degrez beoth th'rin as Seint Beornard witneth. The forme is cogitatiun. The other is affectiun. The thridde is cunsence. Cogitatiuns beoth fleonninde thohtes the ne leasteth nawt, ant teo, as Sein Beornard seith, ne hurteth nawt te sawle. Ah thah ha bispottith hire with hare blake speckes swa thet nis ha nawt wurthe thet Jesu, hire leofmon, thet is al feier, bicluppe hire ne cusse hire ear ha beo i-wesschen. Swuch fulthe, as hit kimeth lihtliche, lihtliche geath awei with Venies, with Confiteor, with alle god-deden. Affectiun is hwen the thoht geath in-ward, ant delit kimeth up, ant te lust waxeth. Thenne, as wes spot ear up-o the hwite hude, ther waxeth wunde ant deopeth in toward te sawle efter thet te lust geath ant te delit th'rin forthre. Ant forthre thenne is neod to yeiyen, Sana me, Domine! "A, Laverd, heal me! for ich am i-wundet." Ruben, primogenitus meus, ne crescas! "Ruben, thu reade thoht, thu blodi delit, ne waxe thu neaver!" Cunsense, thet is skiles yettunge, hwen the delit i the lust is i-gan se overforth thet ter nere nan withseggunge yef ther were eise to fulle the dede. This is hwen the heorte draheth to hire unlust, as thing the were amainet, ant feth on as to winkin, to leote the feond i-wurthen, ant leith hire-seolf dune-ward, buheth him as he bit, ant yeieth, "Cravant! Cravant!" ase softe swohninde. Thenne is he kene, the wes ear curre. Thenne leapeth he to, the stod ear feorren to, ant bit deathes bite Godes deore spuse - i-wiss deathes bite, for his teth beoth attrie as of a wed dogge. Davith i the Sawter cleopeth hine dogge: Erue a framea, Deus, animam meam et de manu canis unicam meam.     For-thi, mi leove suster, sone se thu eaver underyetest thet tes dogge of helle cume snakerinde with his blodi flehen of stinkinde thohtes, ne li thu nawt stille, ne ne site nowther to lokin hwet he wule don, ne hu feor he wule gan, ne sei thu nawt slepinde, "Ame, dogge! Ga her ut! Hwet wult tu nu her inne?" This tolleth him in-ward. Ah nim anan the rode-steaf mid nempnunge i thi muth, mid te mearke i thin hond, mid thoht i thin heorte, ant hat him ut heterliche, the fule cur-dogge, ant lithere to him lutherliche mid te hali rode-steaf stronge bac-duntes - thet is, rung up, sture the, hald up ehnen on heh ant honden toward heovene. Gred efter sucurs: Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adjuvandum. Veni Creator spiritus. Exurgat Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus. Deus, in nomine tuo salvum me fac. Domine, quid multiplicati sunt. Ad te, Domine, levavi animam meam. Ad te levavi oculos meos. Levavi oculos meos in montes. Yef the ne kimeth sone help, gred luddre with hat heorte: Usquequo, Domine, oblivisceris me in finem? Usquequo averteris faciem tuam a me? - ant swa al the Salm over, Pater noster, Credo, Ave Maria, with halsinde bonen o thin ahne ledene. Smit smeortliche adun the cneon to ther eorthe, ant breid up the rode- steaf, ant sweng him o fowr half ayein helle dogge - thet nis nawt elles bute blesce the al abuten with the eadi rode-taken. Spite him amid te beard to hoker ant to scarne, the flikereth swa with the ant fiketh dogge fahenunge. Hwen he for se liht wurth - for the licunge of a lust ane hwile stucche - chapeth thi sawle - Godes deore bune, thet he bohte mid his blod ant mid his deore-wurthe death o the deore rode - aa bihald hire wurth thet he paide for hire, ant dem th'refter hire pris ant beo on hire the deorre. Ne sule thu neaver se etheliche his fa, ant thin either, his deore-wurthe spuse thet costnede him se deore. Makie deofles hore of hire is reowthe over reowthe. To unwreast mid alle ha is, the mei with toheoven up hire threo fingres overcumen hire fa, ant ne luste for slawthe. Hef for-thi with treowe ant hardi bileave up thine threo fingres, ant with the hali rode-steaf, thet him is lathest cuggel, lei o the dogge-deovel, nempne ofte Jesu, cleope his passiunes help, halse bi his pine, bi his deore-wurthe blod, bi his death o rode, flih to his wunden. Muchel he luvede us the lette makien swucche thurles in him for-te huden us in. Creop in ham with thi thoht - ne beoth ha al opene? Ant with his deore- wurthe blod biblodge thin heorte. Ingredere in petram, abscondere fossa humo. "Ga into the stan," seith the prophete, "ant hud te i the dolven eorthe" - thet is, i the wunden of ure Laverdes flesch, the wes as i-dolven with the dulle neiles, as he i the Sawter longe vore seide: Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos - thet is, "ha dulven me bathe the vet ant te honden." Ne seide he nawt "thurleden," for efter this leattre - as ure meistres seggeth - swa weren the neiles dulle, thet ha dulven his flesch ant tobreken the ban mare then thurleden, to pinin him sarre. He him-seolf cleopeth the toward teose wunden: Columba mea, in foraminibus petre, in cavernis macerie. "Mi culvre," he seith, "cum, hud te i mine limen thurles, i the hole of mi side." Muche luve he cudde to his leove culvre, thet he swuch hudles makede. Loke nu thet tu, the he cleopeth culvre, habbe culvre cunde - thet is, withute galle - ant cum to him baldeliche, ant make scheld of his passiun, ant sei with Jeremie: Dabis scutum cordis laborem tuum - thet is, "thu schalt yeove me, Laverd, heorte scheld ayein the feond, thi swincfule pine." Thet hit swincful wes, he schawde hit witerliche inoh, tha he sweatte, ase blodes swat, dropen the runnen to ther eorthe. Me schal halden scheld i feht up abuven heaved, other ayein the breoste, nawt ne drahen hit bihinden. Al riht swa, yef thu wult thet te rode-scheld ant Godes stronge passiun falsi the deofles wepnen, ne dragse thu hit nawt efter the, ah hef hit on heh buve thin heorte heaved i thine breoste ehnen. Hald hit up toyein the feond, schaw hit him witerliche. The sihthe th'rof ane bringeth him o fluhte, for ba him scheometh ther-with ant griseth ut of witte efter the ilke time thet ure Laverd ther-with brohte swa to grunde his cointe coverschipe, ant his prude strengthe. Yef thu thurh thi yemeles werest te earst wacliche, ant yevest to the feond in-yong to forth i the frumthe, swa thet tu ne mahe nawt reculin him ayein-ward, for thi muchele unstrengthe, ah art i-broht se over-forth thet tu ne maht this scheld halden o thin heorte, ne wrenchen hire ther-under frommard te deofles earowen, nim the aleast forth Sein Beneites salve, thah ne thearf hit nawt beon se over-strong as his wes, the, of the walewunge, rug, ant side, ant wombe, ron al o gure-blode. Ah lanhure yef the-seolf hwen the strongest stont a smeort discepline, ant drif as he dude thet swete licunge into smeortunge. Yef thu thus ne dest nawt, [ah] slepinde werest te, he wule gan to feor on the, ear thu least wene, ant bringe the of ful thoht into delit of ful lust, ant swa he bringeth the al over to skiles yettunge, thet is deadlich sunne withuten the dede, ant swa is ec the delit of thet stinkinde lust withute grant of the werc, se longe hit mei leasten. Nunquam enim judicanda est delectatio esse morosa, dum ratio reluctatur et negat assensum. "Thenne hit least to longe, hwen the skile ne fehteth na lengre ther- toyeines." For-thi, leove suster, as ure Laverd leareth, totred te neddre heaved - thet is, the biginnung of his fondunge. Beatus qui tenebit et allidet parvulos suos ad petram. "Eadi is," seith Davith, "the withhalt hire on earst, ant tobreketh [to] the stan the earste sturunges, hwen the flesch ariseth, hwil thet ha beoth yunge. Ure Laverd is i-cleopet stan for his treownesse. Et in Canticis: Capite nobis vulpes parvulas que destruunt vineas. "Nim ant keche us, leofmon, anan the yunge foxes" - he seith, ure Laverd - "the strueth the win-yardes" - thet beoth the earste procunges the strueth ure sawlen, the mot muche tilunge to, to beoren win-berien. The deovel is beore cunnes, ant haveth asse cunde, for he is bihinden strong, ant i the heaved feble, swa is beore ant asse - thet is, i the frumthe. Ne yef thu him neaver in-yong, ah tep him o the sculle, for he is earh as beore th'ron, ant hihe him swa theone-ward, ant askur him se scheomeliche sone se thu underyetest him, thet him grise with the stude thet tu wunest inne. For he is thinge prudest, ant him is scheome lathest.     Alswa, leove suster, sone se thu eaver felest thet tin heorte with luve falle to eani thing eawt over mete, anan-rihtes beo war of the neddre atter, ant totred his heaved. The cwene seide ful soth, the with a strea ontende alle hire wanes, thet muchel kimeth of lutel. Ant nim nu yeme hu hit feareth: the sperke the wint up ne bringeth nawt anan-riht the hus al o leie, ah lith ant kecheth mare fur, ant fostreth forth, ant waxeth from leasse to mare, athet al the hus bleasie forth ear me least wene. Ant te deovel blaweth to, from thet hit earst cundleth ant mutleth his beali- bleas eaver as hit waxeth. Understond tis bi the-seolf: a sihthe thet tu sist, other anlepi word thet tu misherest - yef hit eawt stureth the, cwench hit with teares weater ant mid Jesu Cristes blod, hwil hit nis bute a sperke, ear then hit waxe ant ontende the swa, thet tu hit ne mahe cwenchen. For swa hit timeth ofte, ant hit is riht Godes dom, thet hwa ne deth hwen ha mei, ne schal ha hwen ha walde. Ecclesiasticus: A scintilla una augetur ignis.     Moni cunnes fondunge is i this feorthe dale, misliche frovren ant moni-falde salven. Ure Laverd yeove ow grace thet ha ow moten helpen. Of alle the othre thenne is schrift the biheveste. Of hit schal beon the fifte dale as ich bihet th'ruppe. Ant neometh yeme hu euch-an dale falleth into other, as ich thear seide.