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Part 6







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Part Six

Penance


Al is penitence, ant strong penitence, thet ye eaver dreheth, mine leove
sustren. Al thet ye eaver doth of god, al thet ye tholieth is ow martirdom
i se derf ordre. For ye beoth niht ant dei up-o Godes rode - blithe mahe
ye beon th'rof. For as Seinte Pawel seith, Si compatimur, conregnabimus. "As
ye scottith with him of his pine on eorthe, ye schule scotti with him of his blisse in
heovene." For-thi, seith Seinte Pawel, Michi absit gloriari, nisi in cruce Do
mini mei, Jesu Christi. Ant Hali Chirche singeth, Nos opportet gloriari in cruce
Domini nostri, Jesu Christi. "Al ure blisse mot beon i Jesu Cristes rode." This
word nomeliche limpeth to recluses, hwas blisse ah to beon allunge i Godes rode.
Ich chulle biginnen herre, ant lihten swa her-to. Neometh nu gode yeme, for al
meast is Sein Beornardes sentence.
    Threo manere men of Godes i-corene livieth on eorthe: the ane mahe beon to
gode pilegrimes i-evenet; the othre, to deade; the thridde, to i-hongede with hare
gode wil o Jesuse rode. The forme beoth gode; the othre beoth betere; the thridde
best of alle.
    To the forme gredeth Seinte Peter inwardliche, Obsecro vos, tanquam advenas
et peregrinos, ut abstineatis vos a carnalibus desideriis, que militant adver
sus animam.
"Ich halsi ow," he seith, "as el-theodie ant pilegrimes, thet ye
withhalden ow from fleschliche lustes the weorrith ayein the sawle." The gode
pilegrim halt eaver his rihte wei forth-ward. Thah he seo other here idele gomenes
ant wundres bi the weie, he ne edstont nawt as foles doth, ah halt forth his rute ant
hiheth toward his giste. He ne bereth na gersum bute his speonse gnedeliche, ne
clathes bute ane theo thet him to neodeth. This beoth hali men the, thah ha beon i
the world, ha beoth th'rin as pilegrimes ant gath with god lif-lade toward te riche
of heovene, ant seggeth with the Apostle, Non habemus hic manentem civitatem,
set futuram inquirimus - thet is, "nabbe we na wununge her, ah we secheth
other." Beoth bi the leaste thet ha mahen, ne ne haldeth na tale of na worltlich
frovre, thah ha beon i worltlich wei - as ich seide - of pilegrim, ah habbeth hare
heorte eaver toward heovene. Ant ahen wel to habben, for other pilegrimes gath
[i] muche swinc to sechen ane sontes banes, as Sein James other Sein Giles. Ah
theo pilegrimes the gath toward heovene, ha gath to beon i-sontet, ant to finden
Godd seolf ant alle his hali halhen, liviende i blisse, ant schulen livien with him i
wunne buten ende. Ha i-findeth i-wis Sein Julienes in, the wei-fearinde men
yeornliche bisecheth.
    Nu beoth theose gode, ah yet beoth the othre betere, for allegate pilegrimes, as
ich ear seide, al gan ha eaver forth-ward, ne bicumen burh-men i the worldes
burh, ham thuncheth sum-chearre god of thet ha seoth bi weie, ant edstuteth sum-
deal, thah ha ne don mid alle, ant moni thing ham falleth to hwer-thurh ha beoth i-
lette, swa thet - mare hearm is! - sum kimeth leate ham, sum neaver mare. Hwa
is thenne skerre, ant mare ut of the world then pilegrimes? - thet is to seggen,
then theo men the habbeth worltlich thing ant ne luvieth hit nawt, ah yeoveth hit
as hit kimeth ham, ant gath untrusset, lihte as pilegrimes doth toward heovene?
Hwa beoth betere thene theos? Godd wat, theo beoth betere the the Apostle speketh
to, ant seith in his epistle, Mortui estis et vita vestra abscondita est cum Christo
in Deo. Cum autem apparuerit vita vestra, tunc et vos apparebitis cum ipso
in gloria.
"Ye beoth deade ant ower lif is i-hud mid Criste. Hwen he thet is ower
lif eadeaweth ant springeth as the dahunge efter nihtes theosternesse, ant ye schulen
with him springen schenre then the sunne into eche blisse." The nu beoth thus
deade, hare lif-lade is herre, for pilegrim eileth moni-hwet. The deade nis noht of,
thah he ligge unburiet ant rotie buven eorthe. Preise him, laste him, do him scheome,
sei him scheome - al him is i-liche leof. This is a seli death thet maketh cwic
mon thus, other cwic wummon, ut of the worlde. Ah sikerliche hwa-se is thus
dead in hire-seolven, Godd liveth in hire heorte. For this is thet te Apostle seith,
Vivo ego iam non ego. Vivit autem in me Christus. "Ich livie - nawt ich, ah
Crist liveth in me" thurh his in-wuniende grace, ant is as thah he seide, "worltlich
speche, worltlich sihthe, ant euch worltlich thing i-findeth me deade. Ah thet te
limpeth to Crist, thet ich seo ant here, ant wurche i cwicnesse." Thus riht is euch
religius dead to the worlde ant cwic thah to Criste. This is an heh steire, ah yet is
thah an herre. Ant hwa stod eaver th'rin? Godd wat, the the seide, Michi absit
gloriari nisi in cruce Domini mei, Jesu Christi, per quam michi mundus
crucifixus est et ego mundo.
This is thet ich seide th'ruppe: "Crist me schilde
for-te habben eani blisse i this world bute i Jesu Cristes rode, mi Laverd, thurh
hwam the world is me unwurth, ant ich am unwurth hire, as weari the is ahonget."
A, Laverd, hehe stod he the spec o thisse wise. Ant this is ancre steire thet ha thus
segge, Michi autem absit gloriari, et cetera. "I na thing ne blissi ich me bute i
Godes rode, thet ich tholie nu wa ant am i-tald unwurth as Godd wes o rode."
Lokith, leove sustren, hu this steire is herre then eani beo of the othre. The pilegrim
i the wor[l]des wei, thah he ga forth-ward toward te ham of heovene, he sith ant
hereth unnet, ant speketh umbe-hwile, wreatheth him for weohes, ant moni thing
mei letten him of his jurnee. The deade nis na mare of scheome then of menske, of
heard then of nesche, for he ne feleth nowther, ant for-thi ne ofearneth he nowther
wa ne wunne. Ah the the is o rode ant haveth blisse th'rof, he wendeth scheome to
menske ant wa into wunne, ant ofearneth for-thi hure over hure. This beoth theo
the neaver ne beoth gleade i-heortet bute hwen ha tholieth sum wa other sum
scheome with Jesu on his rode. For this is the selhthe on eorthe, hwa-se mei for
Godes luve habben scheome ant teone. Thus, lo, rihte ancres ne beoth nawt ane
pilegrimes, ne yet nawt ane deade, ah beoth of theos thridde. For al hare blisse is
for-te beon ahonget sariliche ant scheomeliche with Jesu on his rode. Theos mahe
blithe with Hali Chirche singen, Nos opportet gloriari, et cetera - thet is as ich
seide ear. Hwet-se beo of othre, the habbeth hare blisse summe i flesches licunge,
summe i worldes dweole, summe in othres uvel, we mote nede blissin us i Jesu
Cristes rode - thet is, i scheome ant i wa thet he droh o rode. Moni walde summes
weis tholien flesches heardschipe, ah beon i-tald unwurth, ne scheome ne mahte
he tholien. Ah he nis bute halflunge up-o Godes rode, yef he nis i-greithet to
tholien ham bathe.
    Vilitas et asperitas, vilte ant asprete, theos twa, scheome ant pine, as Sein
Beornard seith, beoth the twa leaddre-steolen the beoth up i-riht to heovene. Ant
bitweone theose steolen beoth of alle gode theawes the tindes i-festnet, bi hwucche
me climbeth to the blisse of heovene. For-thi thet Davith hefde the twa steolen of
this leaddre, thah he king were, he clomb uppard ant seide baldeliche to ure Laverd,
Vide humilitatem meam et laborem meum et dimitte universa delicta mea.
"Bihald," quoth he, "ant sih min eadmodnesse ant mi swinc, ant foryef me mine
sunnen alle togederes." Notith wel thes twa word the Davith feieth somet: "swinc"
ant "eadmodnesse" - swinc i pine ant i wa, i sar ant i sorhe; eadmodnesse ayein
woh of scheome thet mon dreheth, the is i-tald unwurth. "Ba theos bihald in me,"
quoth Davith, Godes deorling. "Ich habbe theos twa leaddre-steolen." Dimitte
universa delicta mea. "Leaf," quoth he, "bihinde me ant warp awei from me alle
mine gultes thet ich, i-lihtet of hare hevinesse, lihtliche stihe up to heovene bi
theos leaddre."
    Theose twa thinges - thet is, wa ant scheome i-feiet togederes - beoth Helyes
hweoles the weren furene, hit teleth, ant beren him up to parais, ther he liveth
yetten. Fur is hat ant read. I the heate is understonden euch wa thet eileth flesch;
scheome bi the reade. Ah wel mei duhen, ha beoth her hweolinde ase hweoles,
overturneth sone, ne leasteth nane hwile. This ilke is ec bitacnet bi cherubines
sweord bivore paraise yeten, the wes of lei ant hweolinde, ant turninde abuten. Ne
kimeth nan into parais bute thurh this leitinde sweord, the wes hat ant read, ant in
Helyes furene hweoles - thet is, thurh sar ant thurh scheome, the overturneth
tidliche, ant agath sone. Ant nes Godes rode with his deore-wurthe blod i-rudet
ant i-readet, for-te schawin on him-seolf thet pine, ant sorhe, ant sar schulden
with scheome beon i-heowet? Nis hit i-writen bi him, Factus est obediens patri
usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis - thet is, "he wes buhsum his feader,
nawt ane to death, ah to death o rode"? Thurh thet he seide earst "death" is pine
understonden. Thurh thet he th'refter seith "death o the rode" is schendlac bitacnet,
for swuch wes Godes death o the deore rode pinful ant schentful over alle othre.
Hwa-se eaver deieth ine Godd, ant o Godes rode, theos twa ha mot tholien: scheome
for him ant pine. Scheome ich cleopie eaver her beon i-tald unwurth, ant beggin
as an hearlot, yef neod is, hire liveneth, ant beon othres beodes-mon - as ye
beoth, leove sustren - ant tholieth ofte danger of swuch other-hwile the mahte
beon ower threal. This is thet eadi scheome thet ich of talie. Pine ne truketh ow
nawt. I theos ilke twa thing, thet al penitence is in, blissith ow ant gleadieth, for
ayein theos twa ow beoth twa-fald blissen i-yarket: ayein scheome, menske; ayein
pine, delit ant reste buten ende. Ysa[ias]: In terra inquit sua duplicia
possidebunt. "Ha schulen," seith Ysaie, "in hare ahne lond wealden twa-vald
blisse ayein twa-vald wa thet ha her dreheth." "In hare ahne lond," seith Ysaie,
for alswa as the uvele nabbeth na lot in heovene, ne the gode nabbeth na lot in
eorthe. Super epistolam Jacobi: Mali nichil habent in celo; boni vero nichil in
terra. In hare ahne lond ha schulen wealden blisse, twa-fald cunne mede, ayein
twa-vald sorhe, as thah he seide, "Ne thunche ham na feorlich, thah ha her tholien
as in uncuth lond, ant in uncuth eard, bituhhen untheode, scheome ba ant sorhe,
for swa deth moni gentil mon the is uncuth in uncuththe." Me mot ute swinken: ed
hame me schal resten, ant nis he a cang cniht the secheth reste i the feht ant eise i
the place? Milicia est vita hominis super terram. "Al this lif is a feht," as Job
witneth. Ah efter this feht her, yef we wel fehteth, menske ant reste abit us ed
hame in ure ahne lond - thet is, heove-riche. Lokith nu hu witerliche ure Laverd
seolf hit witneth: Cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis sue, sedebitis
et vos judicantes, et cetera. Bernardus: In sedibus, quies inperturbata; in
judicio, honoris eminencia commendatur.
"Hwen ich sitte for-te demen," seith
ure Laverd, "ye schulen sitten with me ant deme with me al the world thet schal
beon i-demet: kinges, ant keisers, cnihtes, ant clearkes." I the sete is reste ant eise
bitacnet, ayein the swinc thet her is. I the menske of the dom thet ha schulen
demen is hehschipe menskeful over alle understonden, ayein scheome ant lahschipe
thet ha her for Godes luve mildeliche tholeden.
    Nis ther nu thenne bute tholien gleadliche, for bi Godd seolf is i-writen, Quod
per penam ignominiose passionis, pervenit ad gloriam resurrectionis - thet
is, "thurh schentful pine he com to gloire of blisful ariste." Nis na sel-cuth, thenne,
yef we wrecche sunfule tholien her pine, yef we wulleth o Domes-dei blisfule
arisen Ant thet we mahen thurh his grace, yef we us-seolf wulleth. Quoniam si
complantati fuerimus similitudini mortis eius, simul et resurrectionis erimus
- Seinte Paweles sahe the seith se wel eaver: "yef we beoth i-impet to the i-
licnesse of Godes death, we schulen of his ariste" - thet is to seggen, yef we
libbeth i scheome ant i pine for his luve - i hwucche twa he deide - we schulen
beon i-liche his blisful ariste, ure bodi briht as his is, world buten ende, as Seinte
Pawel witneth: Salvatorem expectamus, qui reformabit corpus humilitatis
nostre configuratum corpori claritatis sue. Let othre acemin hare bodi the eorneth
bivoren-hond. Abide we ure Healent, the schal acemin ure efter his ahne. Si
compatimur, conregnabimus. "Yef we tholieth with him, we schule blissin with
him." Nis this god foreward? Wat Crist, nis he nawt god feolahe ne treowe, the
nule scottin i the lure, as eft i the biyete. Glosa: Illis solis prodest sanguis Christi,
qui voluptates deserunt et corpus affligunt. "Godd schedde his blod for alle, ah
heom ane hit is wurth, the fleoth flesches licunge ant pinith ham-seolven." Ant is
thet eani wunder? Nis Godd ure heaved ant we his limen alle? Ah nis euch lim sar
with sorhe of the heaved? His lim thenne nis he nawt, the naveth eche under se sar
akinde heaved. Hwen the heaved sweat wel, thet lim the ne swet nawt - nis hit
uvel tacne? He the is ure heaved sweatte blodes swat for ure secnesse, to turnen us
of thet lond-uvel thet alle londes leien on, ant liggeth yette monie. The lim the ne
sweat nawt i swincful pine for his luve, deu-le-set, hit leaveth in his secnesse, ant
nis ther bute forkeorven hit - thah hit thunche sar Godd. For betere is finger offe,
then he ake eaver. Cwemeth he nu wel Godd, the thus bilimeth him of him-seolf,
thurh thet he nule sweaten? Oportebat Christum pati et sic intrare in gloriam
suam. Seinte Marie, mearci! - "Hit moste swa beon," hit seith, "Crist tholie pine
ant passiun, ant swa habben in-yong into his riche." Lo, deale, hwet he seith, "swa
habben in-yong into his riche" - swa, ant nan other-weis. Ant we wrecches sunfule
wulleth with eise stihen to heovene thet is se hehe buven us ant se swithe muchel
wurth! Ant me ne mei nawt withuten swinc a lutel cote arearen, ne twa thwongede
scheos habbe withute bune! Other theo beoth canges, the weneth with liht leapes
buggen eche blisse, other the hali halhen the bohten hit se deore. Nes Seinte Peter
ant Seinte Andrew there-vore i-straht o rode? Sein Lorenz o the gridil, ant lathlese
meidnes the tittes i-toren of, tohwitheret o hweoles, heafdes bicorven? Ah ure
sotschipe is sutel. Ant heo weren i-lich theose yape children the habbeth riche
feaderes, the willes ant waldes toteoreth hare clathes, for-te habbe neowe. Ure
alde curtel is the flesch thet we of Adam ure alde feader habbeth; the neowe we
schulen undervon of Godd, ure riche feader, i the ariste of Domes-dei, hwen ure
flesch schal blikien schenre then the sunne, yef hit is totoren her with wontreathe
ant with weane. Of theo the hare curtles toteoreth o thisse wise, seith Ysaie,
Deferetur munus Domino exercituum a populo divulso et dilacerato, a populo
terribili.
"A folc tolaimet ant totoren, a folc," he seith, "fearlich schal makien to
ure Laverd present of him-seolven." Folc tolaimet ant totoren with strong lif-lade,
ant with heard, he cleopeth "folc fearlich," for the feond is of swucche offruht ant
offearet. For-thi thet Job wes thullich, he meande him ant seide, Pellem pro pelle
et uni[versa], et cetera - thet is, "he wulle yeoven fel for fel," the alde for the
neowe, as thah he seide, "Ne geineth me nawt to asailin him: he is of thet totore
folc. He tereth his alde curtel ant torendeth the alde pilche of his deadliche fel."
For the fel is undeadlich thet i the neowe ariste schal schine seove-vald brihtre
then the sunne. Eise ant flesches este beoth thes deofles mearken. Hwen he sith
theos mearken i mon other i wummon, he wat the castel is his ant geath baldeliche
in ther he sith i-riht up swucche baneres, as me deth i castel. I thet totore folc he
misseth his merken, ant sith in ham i-riht up Godes banere - thet is, heardschipe
of lif - ant haveth muche dred th'rof, as Ysaie witneth.
    "Me leove sire," seith sum, "ant is hit nu wisdom to don se wa him-seolven?"
Ant tu yeld me ondswere of tweie men hwether is wisre. Ha beoth ba seke: the an
forgeath al thet he luveth of metes ant of drunches ant drinketh bitter sabraz for-te
acovrin heale. The other folheth al his wil ant fortheth his lustes ayein his secnesse
ant leoseth his lif sone. Hwether is wisre of thes twa? Hwether is betere his ahne
freond? Hwether luveth him-seolf mare? Ant hwa nis sec of sunne? Godd for ure
secnesse dronc attri drunch o rode - ant we nulleth nawt bittres biten for us-
seolven! Nis ther na-wiht th'rof. Sikerliche his folhere mot with pine of his flesch
folhin his pine. Ne wene nan with este stihen to heovene.
    "Me, sire," seith sum eft, "wule Godd se wracfulliche wreoken up-o sunne?"
Ye, mon! For loke nu hu he hit heateth swithe. Hu walde nu the mon beate thet
thing seolf, hwer-se he hit i-funde, the for muchel heatunge beote th'rof the
schadewe ant al thet hefde ther-to eani licnesse? Godd, feader almihti - hu beot
he bitterliche his deore-wurthe sune, Jesu ure Laverd, thet neaver nefde sunne,
bute ane thet he ber flesch i-lich ure, thet is ful of sunne? Ant we schulden beon i-
spearet, the beoreth on us his sune death? The wepne thet sloh him - thet wes ure
sunne, ant he the nefde nawt of sunne bute schadewe ane wes i the ilke schadewe
se scheomeliche i-tuket, se sorhfulliche i-pinet, thet ear hit come ther-to, for the
threatunge ane th'rof, swa him agras ther-ayein - thet he bed his feader are:
Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem. Pater mi, si possibile est, transeat a
me calix iste.
"Sare," quoth he, "me grulleth ayein mi muchele pine. Mi feader,
yef hit mei beon, speare me ed tis time. Thi wil thah, ant nawt min eaver beo i-
vorthet." His deore-wurthe feader for-thi ne forber him nawt, ah leide on him se
lutherliche thet he bigon to greden with reowthfule stevene: Heloy! Heloy! Lama
zabatani? "Mi Godd, mi Godd, mi deore-wurthe feader, havest tu al forwarpe
me, thin an-lepi sune, the beatest me se hearde?" For al this ne lette he nawt, ah
beot se swithe longe ant se swithe grimliche, thet he stearf o rode. Disciplina
pacis nostre super eum, seith Ysaie. Thus ure beatunge feol on him, for he dude
him-seolven bitweonen us ant his feader, the threatte us for-te smiten, ase moder
thet is reowthful deth hire bitweonen hire child ant te wrathe sturne feader hwen
he hit wule beaten. Thus dude ure Laverd Jesu Crist, i-kepte on him deathes dunt
for-te schilden us ther-with. I-gracet beo his milce! Hwer-se muchel dunt is, hit
bulteth ayein up-o theo the ther neh stondeth. Sothliche hwa-se is neh him the i-
kepte se hevi dunt, hit wule bulten on him, ne nule he him neaver meanen, for thet
is the preove thet he stont neh him. Ant liht is the bultunge to tholien for his luve
the underveng se hevi dunt, us for-te burhen from the deofles botte i the pine of
helle.
    "Yet," seith moni mon, "hweat is Godd the betere thah ich pini me for his luve?"
Leove mon ant wummon, Godd thuncheth god of ure god. Ure god is yef we doth
thet tet we ahen. Nim yeme of this essample: A mon the were feor i-fearen ant me
come ant talde him thet his deore spuse se swithe murnede efter him thet heo
withuten him delit nefde i na thing, ah were for thoht of his luve leane ant el-
heowet - nalde him betere likin, then thet me seide him thet ha gleowde ant
gomnede ant wedde with othre men, ant livede i delices? Alswa ure Laverd, thet
is the sawle spus, thet sith al thet ha deth, thah he hehe sitte - he is ful wel i-paiet
thet ha murneth efter him, ant wule hihin toward hire mucheles the swithere with
yeove of his grace other fecchen hire allunge to him to gloire ant to blisse thurh-
wuniende.
    Ne grapi hire nan to softeliche, hire-seolven to bichearren. Ne schal ha, for hire
lif, witen hire al cleane, ne halden riht hire chastete withuten twa thinges, as Seint
Ailred the abbat wrat to his suster: thet an is pinsunge i flesch with feasten, with
wecchen, with disceplines, with heard werunge, heard leohe, with uvel, with
muchele swinkes. The other is heorte theawes: devotiun, reowfulnesse, riht luve,
eadmodnesse - ant vertuz othre swucche. "Me, sire," thu ondswerest me, "suleth
Godd his grace? Nis grace wil-yeove?" Mine leove sustren, thah cleannesse of
chastete ne beo nawt bune ed Godd ah beo yeove of grace, ungraciuse stondeth
ther-toyeines ant makieth ham unwurthe to halden se heh thing, the nulleth swinc
ther-vore blitheliche tholien. Bitweonen delices, ant eise, ant flesches este, hwa
wes eaver chaste? Hwa bredde eaver in-with hire fur thet ha ne bearnde? Pot the
walleth swithe - nule he beon overleden, other cald weater i-warpe th'rin, ant
brondes withdrahene? The wombe-pot the walleth of metes ant of drunches is se
neh nehbur to thet ful-itohe lim thet ha dealeth ther-with the brune of hire heate.
Ah monie - mare hearm is - beoth se flesch-wise, ant swa over-swithe ofdred
leste hare heaved ake, leste hare licome febli to swithe, ant witeth swa hare heale,
thet te gast unstrengeth ant secleth i sunne. Ant theo the schulden ane lechnin hare
sawle with heorte bireowsunge ant flesches pinsunge forwurtheth fisitiens ant
licomes leche. Dude swa Seinte Agace, the ondswerede ant seide to ure Laverdes
sonde the brohte salve o Godes half to healen hire tittes, Medicinam carnalem
corpori meo nunquam adhibui - thet is, "fleschlich medecine ne dude ich me
neavre"? Nabbe ye i-herd tellen of the threo hali men? Bute the an wes i-wunet
for his calde mahe to nutten hate speces, ant wes ornre of mete ant of drunch then
the tweien othre [the], thah ha weren seke, ne nomen neaver yeme hweat wes hal,
hwet unhal to eoten ne to drinken, ah nomen eaver forth-riht hwet-se Godd ham
sende, ne makeden neaver strengthe of gingivre ne of zedual, ne of clowes de
gilofre. A dei, as ha threo weren i-folen o slepe, ant lei bitweone thes twa the
thridde thet ich seide, com the cwen of heovene ant twa meidnes with hire. The
an, as thah hit were, ber a letuaire, the other of gold a sticcke. Ure Leafdi with the
sticke nom ant dude i the anes muth of the letuaire, ant te meidnes eoden forthre to
the midleste. "Nai," quoth ure Leafdi, "he is his ahne leche. Ga over to the thridde."
Stod an hali mon of feor, biheold al this ilke. Hwen sec mon haveth ed hond thing
thet wule don him god, he hit mei wel notien. Ah beon th'refter se ancreful,
nomeliche religius, nis nawt Godd i-cweme. Godd ant his desciples speken of
sawle leche-creft; Ypocras ant Galien, of licomes heale. The an the wes best i-
learet of Jesu Cristes leche-creft seith, "flesches wisdom is death to the sawle":
Prudencia carnis, mors. / Procul odoramus bellum, as Job seith. Swa we dredeth
flesches uvel ofte ear then hit cume, thet sawle uvel kimeth up. Ant we tholieth
sawle uvel for-te edstearten flesches uvel, as thah hit were betere to tholien
galnesses brune, then heaved-eche other grucchunge of a mistohe wombe. Ant
hwether is betere: i secnesse to beo Godes freo child, then i flesches heale to beo
threal under sunne? Ant this ne segge ich nawt swa thet wisdom ant meosure ne
beon over-al i-loket, the moder is ant nurrice of alle gode theawes. Ah we cleopieth
ofte wisdom thet nis nan. For soth wisdom is don eaver sawle heale bivore flesches
heale. Ant hwen he ne mei nawt ba somet halden, cheose ear licomes hurt then
thurh to strong fondunge sawle throwunge. Nichodemus brohte to smirien ure
Laverd an hundret weies - hit seith - of mirre ant of aloes - thet beoth bittre
speces ant bitacnith bittre swinkes ant flesches pinsunges. Hundret is ful tale ant
noteth perfectiun - thet is, ful dede - for-te schawin thet me schal ful do flesches
pine, ase forth as eaver evene mei tholien. I the weie is bitacnet meosure ant wis-
dom, thet euch mon with wisdom weie hwet he mahe don, ne beo nawt se over-
swithe i gast thet he foryeme the bodi, ne eft se tendre of his flesch thet hit i-
wurthe untohen ant makie the gast theowe. Nu is al this meast i-seid of bitternesse
ute-with. Of bitternesse in-with segge we nu sum-hweat, for of thes twa bitternesses
awakeneth swetnesse - her yet i this world, nawt ane in heovene.
    As ich seide riht nu, thet Nichodemus brohte smirles to ure Laverd, alswa the
threo Maries bohten deore-wurthe aromaz, his bodi for-te smirien. Neometh nu
gode yeme, mine leove sustren. Theos threo Maries bitacnith threo bitternesses,
for this nome, "Marie," as "Meraht" ant "Merariht," thet ich spec th'ruppe of,
spealeth "bitternesse." The earste bitternesse is i sunne bireowsunge ant i deadbote,
hwen the sunfule is i-turnd earst to ure Laverd. Ant theos is understonden bi the
earste Marie, Marie Magdaleine - ant bi god rihte, for ha with muche bireowsunge
ant bitternesse of heorte leafde hire sunnen ant turnde to ure Laverd. Ah for-thi
thet sum mahte thurh to muche bitternesse fallen into unhope, "Magdaleine," the
spealeth "tures hehnesse," is to "Marie" i-feiet, thurh hwet is bitacnet hope of heh
mearci ant of heovene blisse. The other bitternesse is i wreastlunge ant i wragelunge
ayeines fondunges. Ant theos is bitacnet bi the other Marie, Marie Jacobi, for
"Jacob" spealeth "wreastlere." This wreastlunge is ful bitter to monie the beoth
ful forth i the wei toward heovene, for the[o] yet i fondunges - thet beoth the
deofles swenges - waggith other-hwiles ant moten wreastlin ayein with strong
wraglunge. For as Seint Austin seith, Pharao contemptus surgit in scandalum.
Hwil eaver Israeles folc wes in Egypte under Pharones hond, ne leadde he neaver
ferd th'ron; ah tha hit fleah from him, tha with al his strengthe wende he th'refter.
For-thi is eaver bitter feht neod ayein Pharaon - thet is, ayein the deovel. For ase
seith Ezechiel, Sanguinem fugies, et sanguis persequetur te - "Flih sunne, ant
sunne wule folhin eaver efter." Inoh is i-seid th'ruppe hwi the gode nis neaver
sker of alle fondunges. Sone se he haveth the an overcumen, i-kepe anan an-other.
The thridde bitternesse is i longunge toward heovene, ant i the ennu of this world,
hwen ei is se hehe thet he haveth heorte reste onont untheawes weorre, ant is as in
heovene yeten, ant thuncheth bitter alle worltliche thinges. Ant tis thridde
bitternesse is understonden bi Marie Salomee, the thridde Marie, for "Salome"
spealeth "pes." Ant theo yet the habbeth pes ant reste of cleane in-wit habbeth in
hare heorte bitternesse of this lif thet edhalt ham from blisse thet ham longeth to,
from Godd thet ha luvieth. Thus lo, in euch stat rixleth bitternesse: earst i the
biginnunge, hwen me sahtneth with Godd, i the forth-yong of god lif, ant i the
leaste ende. Hwa is thenne, o Godes half, the wilneth i this world eise other este?
    Ah neometh nu yeme, mine leove sustren, hu efter bitternesse kimeth swetnesse:
bitternesse buth hit. For as thet Godspel teleth, theose threo Maries bohten swote
smeallinde aromaz to smirien ure Laverd. Thurh aromaz, the beoth swote, is
understonden swotnesse of devot heorte. Theos Maries hit buggeth - thet is,
thurh bitternesse me kimeth to swotnesse. Bi this nome "Marie" nim eaver
"bitternesse." Thurh Maries bone wes, ed te neoces, weater i-went to wine - thet
is to understonden, thurh bone of bitternesse thet me dreheth for Godd, the heorte
the wes weattri, smechles, ne ne felde na savur of Godd na-mare then i weater,
schal beon i-went to wine - thet is, i-finden smech in him swete over alle wines.
For-thi seith the wise, Usque in tempus sustinebit paciens, et postea redditio
jocunditatis. "The tholemode tholie bitter ane hwile: he schal sone th'refter habben
yeld of blisse." Ant Anna i Tobie seith bi ure Laverd, Qui post tempestatem
tranquillum facit, et post lacrimationem et fletum exultationem infundit -
thet is, "i-blescet beo thu, Laverd, the makest stille efter storm, ant efter wopi
weattres yeldest blithe murhthes." Salomon: Esuriens etiam amarum, pro dulci
sumet - "yef thu art ofhungret efter thet swete, thu most earst witerliche biten o
the bittre." In Canticis: Ibo michi ad montem myrre, et ad colles turis. "Ich
chulle," ha seith, Godes deore spuse, "gan to rechleses hul, bi the dun of myrre."
Lo, hwuch is the wei to rechleses swotnesse: bi myrre of bitternesse. Ant eft i thet
ilke luve-boc: Que est ista, que ascendit per desertum sicut virgula fumi ex
aromatibus myrre et thuris? Aromaz me maketh of myrre ant of rechles, ah
myrre he set bivoren, ant rechles kimeth efter. Ex aromatibus myrre et thuris.
Nu meaneth hire sum thet ha ne mei habben na swotnesse of Godd, ne swetnesse
withinnen. Ne wundri ha hire na-wiht, yef ha nis Marie, for ha hit mot buggen
with bitternesse withuten - nawt with euch bitternesse, for sum geath frommard
Godd, as euch worltlich sar thet nis for sawle heale. For-thi i the Godspel of the
threo Maries is i-writen thisses weis, Ut venientes ungerent Jesum - non autem
recedentes. "Theos Maries," hit seith - theose biternesses - "weren cuminde to
smirien ure Laverd." Theo beoth cuminde to smirien ure Laverd, the me tholeth
for his luve, the strecheth him toward us as thing thet i-smired is, ant maketh him
nesche ant softe to hondlin. Ant nes he him-seolf reclus i Maries wombe? Theos
twa thing limpeth to ancre: nearowthe ant bitternesse, for wombe is nearow
wununge ther ure Laverd wes reclus, ant tis word "Marie," as ich ofte habbe i-
seid, spealeth "bitternesse." Yef ye thenne i nearow stude tholieth bitternesse, ye
beoth his feolahes, reclus as he wes i Marie wombe. Beo ye i-bunden in-with fowr
large wahes? - ant he in a nearow cader, i-neilet o rode, i stanene thruh bicluset
hete-feste! Marie wombe ant this thruh weren his ancre-huses. I nowther nes he
worltlich mon, ah [wes] as ut of the world for-te schawin ancren thet ha ne schulen
with the world na thing habben i-meane. "Ye," thu ondswerest me, "ah he wende
ut of ba!" Ye, went tu alswa of ba thine ancre-huses, as he dude, withute bruche,
ant leaf ham ba i-hale - thet schal beon hwen the gast went ut on ende withuten
bruche ant wem of his twa huses: thet an is the licome. Thet other is the uttre hus,
thet is as the uttre wah abute the castel.
    Al thet ich habbe i-seid of flesches pinsunge nis nawt for ow, mine leove sustren
- the other-hwile tholieth mare then ich walde - ah is for sum thet schal rede
this inoh-reathe, the grapeth hire to softe. No-the-les, yunge impen me bigurd
with thornes leste beastes freoten ham hwil ha beoth mearewe. Ye beoth yunge
impen i-set i Godes orchard; thornes beoth the heardschipes thet ich habbe i-speken
of. Ant ow is neod thet ye beon biset with ham abuten, thet te beast of helle, hwen
he snakereth toward ow for-te biten on ow, hurte him o the scharpschipe ant
schunche ayein-wardes. With alle theose heardschipes beoth gleade ant wel i-
paiet yef lutel word is of ow, yef ye beoth unwurthe, for thorn is scharp ant unwurth.
With theose twa beoth bigurde. Ye ne ahen nawt to unnen thet uvel word beo of
ow. Scandle is heaved-sunne - thet is, thing swa i-seid other i-don thet me mei
rihtliche turnen hit to uvele, ant sunegin th'refter ther-thurh with misthoht, with
uvel word, on hire, on othre, ant sungin ec with dede. Ah ye ahen unnen thet na
word ne beo of ow, na mare then of deade, ant beon blithe i-heortet yef ye tholieth
danger of Sluri the cokes cneave, the wescheth ant wipeth disches i cuchene -
thenne beo ye dunes i-hehet toward heovene. For, lo, hu speketh the leafdi i thet
swete luve-boc, Venit dilectus meus saliens in montibus, transiliens colles. "Mi
leof kimeth leapinde," ha seith, "o the dunes, [overleapinde hulles." Dunes bitacneth
theo the leadeth hechhest lif; hulles beoth the lachhere. Nu seith ha thet hire leof
leapeth o the dunes] - thet is, totret ham, tofuleth ham, tholeth thet me totreode
ham, tuki ham al to wundre, schaweth in ham his ahne troden, thet me trudde him
in ham, i-finde hu he wes totreden, as his trode schaweth. This beoth the hehe
dunes - as munt of Muntgiw, dunes of Armenie. The hulles the beoth lahre, theo
- as the leafdi seith hire-seolf - he overleapeth, ne trust nawt se wel on ham, for
hare feblesce ne mahte nawt tholien swuch totreodunge, ant he leapeth over ham,
forbereth ham, ant forbuheth athet ha waxen herre, from hulles to dunes. His
schadewe lanhure overgeath ant writh ham hwil he leapeth over ham - that is,
sum i-licnesse he leith on ham of his lif on eorthe, as thah hit were his schadewe.
Ah the dunes undervoth the troden of him-seolven, ant schaweth in hare lif, hwuch
his lif-lade wes, hu ant hwer he eode, i hwuch vilte, i hwuch wa he leadde his lif
on eorthe. Thulliche dunes the gode Pawel spek of, ant eadmodliche seide,
Deicimur set non perimus. Mortificationem Jesu in corpore nostro
circumferentes, ut et vita Jesu in corporibus nostris manifestetur. "Alle wa,"
quoth he, "ant alle scheome we tholieth; ah thet is ure selhthe, thet we beoren on
ure bodi Jesu Cristes deadlicnesse, thet hit suteli in us hwuch wes his lif on eorthe."
Godd hit wat, the thus doth, ha pruvieth us hare luve toward ure Laverd. "Luvest
tu me? Cuth hit!" For luve wule schawin him with uttre werkes. Gregorius:
Probatio dilectionis exhibitio est operis. Ne beo neaver thing se heard, soth luve
lihteth hit ant softeth ant sweteth. Amor omnia fatilia reddit. Hweat tholieth
men ant wummen for fals luve ant for ful luve - ant mare walden tholien? Ant
hweat is mare wunder, thet siker luve, ant treowe, ant over alle othre swete, ne
mei meistrin us se forth as deth the luve of sunne? Nawt for-thi, ich wat swuch
thet bereth ba togederes hevi brunie ant here, i-bunden hearde with irn - middel,
theh, ant earmes - mid brade thicke bondes, swa thet tet swat th'rof is passiun to
tholien. Feasteth, waketh, swinketh, ant, Crist hit wat, meaneth him thet hit ne
greveth him nawt, ant bit me ofte teachen him sum-hwet with hwet he mahte his
licome derven. Al thet is bitter, for ure Laverdes luve, al him thuncheth swete.
Deu-le-set, yet he wepeth to me, [as] wivene sarest, ant seith Godd foryet him
for-thi thet he ne sent him na muchel secnesse. Godd hit wat, thet maketh luve.
For as he seith me ofte, for na thing thet Godd mahte don uvele bi him, thah he
with the forlorene wurpe him into helle, ne mahte he neaver, him thuncheth, luvien
him the leasse. Yef ei mon eani swuch thing ortrowi bi him, he is mare mat then
theof i-nume with theofthe. Ich wat ec swuch wummon thet tholeth lutel leasse:
ah nis ther bute thoncki Godd i strengthe thet he yeveth ham, ant i-cnawen
eadmodliche ure wacnesse. Luvie we hare god, ant swa hit is ure ahne. For as
Sein Gregoire seith, of swa muchel strengthe is luve thet hit maketh othres god,
withute swinc, ure ahne, as is i-seid th'ruppe. Nu me thuncheth we beoth i-cumen
into the seovethe dale, thet is al of luve the maketh schir heorte.