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Part Two The Five Senses § Her biginneth the other dale of the heorte warde thurh the fif wittes. Omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit. "With alles cunnes warde," dohter, seith Salomon, "wite wel thin heorte, for sawle lif is in hire" - yef ha is wel i-loket. The heorte wardeins beoth the fif wittes: sihthe, ant herunge, smechunge, ant smeallunge, ant euch limes felunge. Ant we schulen speoken of alle, for hwa-se wit theose wel, he deth Salomones bode: he wit wel his heorte ant his sawle heale. The heorte is a ful wilde beast ant maketh moni liht lupe. As Seint Gregoire seith, Nichil corde fugatius. "Na thing ne etflith mon sonre then his ahne heorte." Davith, Godes prophete, meande i sum time thet ha wes etsteart him: Cor meum dereliquit me. Thet is, "min heorte is edflohe me." Ant eft he blisseth him ant seith thet ha wes i-cumen ham: Invenit servus tuus cor suum. "Laverd," he seith, "min heorte is i-cumen ayein eft. Ich hire habbe i-funden." Hwen-se hali mon ant se wis ant se war lette hire edstearten sare mei an-other of hire fluht carien. Ant hwer edbrec ha ut from Davith the hali king, Godes prophete? Hwer? Godd wat, ed his eh-thurl, thurh a sihthe thet he seh thurh a bihaldunge, as ye schulen efter i-heren. For-thi mine leove sustren, the leaste thet ye eaver mahen luvieth ower thurles. Alle beon ha lutle, the parlurs least ant nearewest. The clath in ham beo twa-fald: blac thet clath, the cros hwit withinnen ant withuten. Thet blake clath bitacneth thet ye beoth blake ant unwurth to the world withuten, thet te sothe sunne haveth ute-with forculet ow, ant swa withuten as ye beoth, unseowlich i-maket ow thurh gleames of his grace. The hwite cros limpeth to ow, for threo crosses beoth: read ant blac ant hwit. The reade limpeth to theo the beoth for Godes luve with hare blod-schedunge i-rudet ant i-readet, as the martirs weren. The blake cros limpeth to theo the makieth i the worlt hare peni- tence for ladliche sunnen. The hwite limpeth ariht to hwit meidenhad ant to cleannesse, thet is muche pine wel for-te halden. Pine is i-hwer thurh cros i-don to understonden. Thus bitacneth hwit cros the warde of hwit chastete, thet is muche pine wel to biwitene. The blake clath alswa, teke the bitacnunge, deth leasse eil to the ehnen ant is thiccre ayein the wind ant wurse to seon thurh ant halt his heow betere for wind ant for other- hwet. Lokith thet te parlures [clath] beo on eaver-euch half feaste ant wel i-tachet, ant witeth ther ower ehnen leaste the heorte edfleo ant wende ut, as of Davith, ant ower sawle seccli sone se heo is ute. Ich write muchel for othre thet na-wiht ne rineth ow, mine leove sustren, for nabbe ye nawt te nome - ne ne schulen habben, thurh the grace of Godd - of totilde ancres, ne of tollinde locunges, ne lates thet summe other- hwiles - wei-la-wei! - uncundeliche makieth. For ayein cunde hit is ant unmeath sulli wunder thet te deade dotie ant with cwike worlt-men wede thurh sunne. "Me leove sire," seith sum, "ant is hit nu se over-uvel for-te totin ut-wart?" Ye hit, leove suster, for uvel the ther kimeth of, hit is uvel ant over-uvel to eaver-euch ancre, nomeliche to the yunge, ant to the alde for-thi, thet ha to the yungre yeoveth uvel forbisne ant scheld to werien ham with. For yef ei edwit ham, thenne seggeth ha anan: "Me sire, theo deth alswa, thet is betere then ich am ant wat betere then ich hwet ha haveth to donne." Leove yunge ancre, ofte a ful haher smith smeotheth a ful wac cnif! The wise folhe i wisdom, ant nawt i folie. An ald ancre mei do wel thet te thu dest uvele. Ah totin ut withuten uvel ne mei ower nowther. Nim nu yeme hwet uvel beo i-cumen of totunge. Nawt an uvel, ne twa, ah al the wa thet nu is ant eaver yete wes, ant eaver schal i-wurthen - al com of sihthe. Thet hit beo soth, lo her preove: Lucifer, thurh thet he seh ant biheold on him-seolf his ahne feiernesse, leop into prude ant bicom of engel eatelich deovel. Of Eve, ure alde moder, is i-writen, on alre earst in hire sunne in-yong of hire eh-sihthe. Vidit igitur mulier quod bonum esset lignum ad vescendum, et pulcrum oculis, aspectuque delectabile, et tulit de fructu ejus et comedit, deditque viro suo. Thet is, "Eve biheold o the forboden eappel ant seh hine feier ant feng to delitin i the bihaldunge, ant toc hire lust ther-toward, ant nom ant et th'rof, ant yef hire laverd." Low, hu Hali Writ speketh ant hu inwardliche hit teleth hu sunne bigon. Thus eode sihthe bivoren ant makede wei to uvel lust, ant com the dede th'refter thet al mon-cun i-feleth. Thes eappel, leove suster, bitacneth alle the thing thet lust falleth to ant delit of sunne. Hwen thu bihaldest te mon, thu art in Eve point - thu lokest o the eappel. Hwa-se hefde i-seid to Eve, tha ha weorp earst hire ehe th'ron, "A, Eve! Went te awei. Thu warpest ehe o thi death!" Hwet hefde ha i-ondsweret? "Me leove sire, thu havest woh. Hwer-of chalengest tu me? The eappel thet ich loki on is forbode me to eotene, ant nawt to bihalden." Thus walde Eve inoh-reathe habben i-ondsweret. O mine leove sustren, as Eve haveth monie dehtren the folhith hare moder, the ondswerieth o thisse wise: "Me wenest tu," seith sum, "thet ich wulle leapen on him thah ich loki on him?" Godd wat, leove suster, mare wunder i-lomp. Eve, thi moder, leop efter hire ehnen - from the ehe to the eappel, from the eappel i parais, dun to ther eorthe, from the eorthe to helle, ther ha lei i prisun fowr thusent yer ant mare, heo ant hire were ba, ant demde al hire ofsprung to leapen al efter hire to death withuten ende. Biginnunge ant rote of al this ilke reowthe wes a liht sihthe. Thus ofte, as me seith, of lutel muchel waxeth. Habbe thenne muche dred, euch feble wummon, hwen theo the wes riht ta i-wraht with Godes honden wes thurh a sihthe biswiken ant i-broht into brad sunne thet al the world overspreadde. Egressa est Dyna, filia Jacob, ut videret mulieres alienigenas, et cetera. "A meiden, Dyna het, Jacobes dohter," as hit teleth i Genesy, "eode ut to bihalden uncuthe wummen" - yet ne seith hit nawt thet ha biheold wepmen. Ant hwet come, wenest tu, of thet bihaldunge? Ha leas hire meidenhad ant wes i-maket hore. Th'refter of thet ilke, weren trowthen tobrokene of hehe patriarches, ant a muchel burh forbearnd, ant te king ant his sune ant te burh-men i-slein, the wummen i-lead forth, hire feader ant hire brethren, se noble princes as ha weren, utlahen i-makede. Thus eode ut hire sihthe. Al thullich the Hali Gast lette writen o boc for-te warni wummen of hare fol ehnen. Ant nim ther-of yeme, thet tis uvel of Dyna com - nawt of thet ha seh Sichen, Emores sune, thet ha sunegede with, ah dude of thet ha lette him leggen ehnen on hire, for thet tet he dude hire wes i the frumthe sare hire unthonkes. Alswa Bersabee, thurh thet ha unwreah hire i Davithes sihthe, ha dude him sunegin on hire, se hali king as he wes ant Godes prophete. Nu kimeth forth a feble mon, halt him thah ahelich yef he haveth a wid hod ant a loke cape, ant wule i-seon yunge ancres, ant loki nede ase stan hu hire wlite him liki, the naveth nawt hire leor forbearnd i the sunne, ant seith, ha mei baldeliche i-seon hali men - ye, swucche as he is, for his wide sleven. Me surquide sire, ne herest tu thet Davith, Godes ahne deorling, bi hwam he seolf seide, Inveni virum secundum cor meum - "Ich habbe i-funden," quoth he, "mon efter min heorte" - thes the Godd seolf seide bi this deore-wurthe sahe king ant prophete i-curet of alle, thes thurh an ehe-wurp to a wummon as ha wesch hire, lette ut his heorte ant foryet him-seolven, swa thet he dude threo ut-nume heaved ant deadliche sunnen: o Bersabees, spus-bruche, the leafdi thet he lokede on; treisun ant mon-slaht on his treowe cniht, Urie, hire laverd. Ant tu, a sunful mon, art se swithe hardi to keasten cang ehnen up-o yung wummon! Ye, mine leove sustren, yef ei is ane-wil to seon ow, ne wene ye ther neaver god, ah leveth him the leasse. Nulle ich thet nan i-seo ow, bute he habbe of ower meistre spetiale leave. For alle the threo sunnen thet ich spec of least, ant al thet uvel of Dina thet ich spec of herre, al com nawt for-thi thet te wummen lokeden cangliche o wepmen, ah for heo unwriyen heom in monnes ech-siththe ant duden hwar-thurch ha machten fallen in sunne. For-thi wes i-haten on Godes laye thet put were i-wriyen eaver, ant yef ani were unwriyen ant beast feolle ther-in, he the unwreah the put hit schulde yelden. This is a swithe dredful word to wummon thet schaweth hire to wepmones echne. Heo is bitacned bi theo thet unwrith the put - the put is hire feire neb, hire hwite swire, hire lichte echnen, hond, yef ha halt forth in his echye-sihthe. Yet beoth hire word put, bute ha beon the bet i-set. Al yet the feayeth hire, hwet-se hit eaver beo, thurch hwat machte sonre fol luve awacnin, al ure Laverd "put" cleopeth - this put he hat thet beo i-lided, thet beast th'rin ne falle ant druncni in sunne. Best is the beastlich mon thet ne thenchet naut on God, ne ne noteth naut his wit as mon ach to donne, ach secheth for to fallen in this put thet ich spec of, yef he hit open fint. Ach the dom is ful strong to theo the the put unlideth. For heo schal yelde the best thet th'rin bith i-fallen: ha is witi of his death biforen ure Laverd ant schal for his saule ondsweren an Domes-dei, ant yelde the bestes lure hwenne ha navet other yeld thenne hire-seolven. Strong yeld is her mid alle! Ant Godes dom is ant his heste thet heo hit yelde allegate for heo unlidede the put thet hit adrong inne. Thu thet unwrisd this put, thu thet dest ani thing thurch hwet mon is of the fleschliche i-fonded - thach thu hit nute naut - dred this dom swithe. Ant yef he is i-fonded swa thet he sunege deadliche on ani wise - thach hit ne beo naut with the bute with wil toward the, other yef he secheth to fullen ed sum other the fondunge thet of the, thurch thi dede, awacnede - beo al siker of the dom. Thu schalt yelde the best for the puttes openunge, ant buten thu beo i-scrive ther-of, acorien his sunne. Hund wule in bluthelich hwar-se he fint open. Inpudicus oculus inpudici cordis est nuncius (Augustinus). "Thet the muth ne mei for scheome, the licht echye speketh hit, ant is as erende-beorere of the lichte heorte." Ach nu is sum wummon the nalde for nan thing wilni fulthe to mon, ant thach ne rochte ha neaver thach he thochte toward hire ant were of hire i-fondet. Ant nu deth Sein Austin ba twa theos in a cuple: "wilnin ant habbe wil for-to beon i-wilned." Non solum appetere, sed et appeti velle criminosum. "Yirni mon, other habbe wil for-to beon i-yirned of mon, ba is haved sunne." Oculi prima tela sunt adultere. "The echnen beoth the forme arewen of lecheries prickes." Alswa ase men worreth mid threo cunes wepnes (with scheotung ant with speres ord ant with sweordes egge), al richt with thilke wepnen (thet is, with schute of eche, with spere [of] wundinde word, with sweord of deadlich hond) werreth lecherie, the stinkinde hore, upon the lavedi chastete - thet is, Godes spuse. Earest scheot the arewen of the licht echnen, the fleoth lichtliche forth ase flaa thet is i-vithered ant stiketh i there heorte, ther-efter schaketh hire spere ant neolachet upon hire, ant mid schakinde word yeveth speres wunde. Sweordes dunt [is] dun-richt - thet is, the hondlunge - for sweord smit of nech ant yeveth deathes dunt, ant hit is wei-la-wei nech i-do with ham the cumeth swa nech togederes, thet outher hondli other other i-fele other. Hwa-se is wis ant seli, with the schute wite hire - thet is, wite hire echnen. For al thet uvel ther-efter kimeth of th'echne arewen. Ant nis ha muche chang other to fol-hardi the hald hire heved baltliche ut of the opene carnel, hwil me with quarreus ute-with assailleth the castel? Sikerliche ure fa, the werreur of helle, he scheot, as ich wene, ma quarreus to an ancre thenne to seovene ant fifti lavedis i the worlde: the carneus of the castel beoth hire hus-thurles. Bernardus: sicut mors per peccatum in orbem, ita per has fenestras intrat in mentem. "As deth com," seith Sein Bernard, "into the world thorch sunne, asswa death thurch theos ech-thurles haveth in-yong to the saule." Laverd Crist, as men walden steoke feste uh thurl [of hire hus], for hwon thet heo machten bisteoken death th'rute, ant an ancre nule naut tunen hire eil-thurl ayein the death of saule! Ant mid good richt muyen ha beon i-haten "eil-thurles" for ha habbeth i-don muchel eil to moni ancre. [Al holi writ is ful of warningge of eie.] David: averte oculos meos, ne videant vanitatem. "Laverd," he seith, David, "went awei min echnen from the worldes dweole." Job: pepigi fedus cum oculis meis, ne cogitarem de virgine. "Ich'abbe i-festned foreward," seith Job, "mid min echnen thet ich ne misthenche." Hu dele! Thencheth me mid echye? God hit wat, he seith wel, for efter the echye kimeth the thocht ant ther-efter the dede. Thet wiste wel Jeremie thet mende thus: "Wei-la-wei!" he seith, "min eche haveth i-robbed al min saule." Hwenne Godes prophete makede thulli mon of eche, hwic man, wenest thu, thet beo i-cumen to moni mon, ant [to moni wumman] - sorege of heore echye? The wise askith hwether ani thing harmi mare wimmon thenne deth hire echye: Oculo quid nequius? totam faciem lacrimare faciet quoniam vidit. "Al the leor," he seith, "schal floyen of teres, for the ehe-sichthe ane." This is nu of this wit i- noch i-seid to warni the seli. [We schulen thauh sone her-efter speken her-of more.] Ore pur ceo, toutes les overtures de toutes voz fenestres, ausi come ci devant a la vewe de touz hommes unt este closes, ausi soient ca en apres. Et si plus fermement poient, plus fermement soient closes. Generale reule est, toutes celes qe bien les closent, Dieu bien les garde. Et toutes celes qe . . . issi qil pecche . . . funt ensement . . . pecchier ou od fol oil, ou od bouche, ou od main et . . . cel od plus et multes tieles choses desavenantes et desnatureles a recluse sur toutes. Les queux ne fuissent james avant venues, si ele eust sa fenestre ferm estoppee. Et si nule contredit ceste, jeo treis a testmoigne sa conscience demeyne encontre lui, qele parmi sa fenestre demeine ad oil, ou bouche, ou main receu et fole parole oveqe, tout fut ele adubbe et od feinte seintete falsement coloree. A, tricheour traitre! "Dieu, jeo nel faz a vous pur nul mal, ne pur nule ordure," dit il ou ele. Et od cel meismes se soillent, et coroucent les oilz dampne Dieu, qi regarde la . . . traisun in-with the gale heorte. Nawt ane euch fleschlich hondlunge, ah yetten euch gal word is ladlich vilainie, ant Godes grome wurthe, thah hit ne weoxe forthre bitweone mon ant ancre. Nu, thurh riht Godes wrake, geath hit forthre ant forthre ant bikimeth ofte ant ear me least wene, into thet fule sunne. We hit habbeth, wei-la-wei, i-herd of inohe. Ne leve na-mon ancre the let in monnes ehe to schawin hire-seolven. Over al thet ye habbeth i-writen in ower riwle of thinges withuten, this point - this article of wel to beo bitunde - ich wulle beo best i-halden. To wummon the wilneth hit, openith ow, o Godes half. Yef ha ne speketh nawt th'rof, leoteth swa i- wurthen, bute yef ye dreden thet heo th'refter beo i-scandlet. Of hire ahne suster haveth sum i-beon i-temptet. In toward ower weoved ne beode ye na mon for-te bihalden. Ah yef his devotiun bit hit ant haveth grant, draheth ow wel in-ward ant te veil adun toward ower breoste, ant sone doth the clath ayein ant festnith hete-veste. Yef he loketh toward bed other easketh hwer ye liggeth, ondswerieth lihtliche, "Sire, ther-of wel mei duhen," ant haldeth ow stille. Yef bisch[o]p kimeth to seon ow, hihith sone towart him, ah sweteliche bisecheth him, yef he bit to seon ow, thet ye moten ther-onont halden ow towart him as ye habbeth i-don ant doth to alle othre. Yef he wule allegate habben a sihthe, lokith thet hit beo ful scheort - the veil anan adun, ant draheth ow bihinden. An ancre wearnde eadmodliche Sein Martin hire sihthe, ant he ther-vore dude hire the menske thet he neaver ne dude to nan other. Ant her-vore hire word is athet cume this dei i-boren in Hali Chirche. For as we redeth of hire, "hwa-se wule hire windowes witen wel with the uvele, ha mot ec with the gode." Hwen-se ye moten to eani mon ea-wiht biteachen, the hond ne cume nawt ut - ne ower ut, ne his in. Ant yef hit mot cumen in, ne rine nowther other. "Heo is siker," seith Hali Writ, "the feor from grunen draheth hire, ant theo the luveth peril, i peril ha schal fallen." Qui caret laqueis securus est, et qui amat periculum incidet in illud. The deofles grune is ofte i-tild ther me least weneth. Nis nan thet nis dredful thet ha nis i-lecchet, for Godd nule wite nan thet is se fol-hardi, thet ha ne wit wearliche with him hire-seolven. This is nu of this wit inoh i- seid ed tis chearre to warnin then seli. We schulen thah sone her-efter speoken her-of mare. Spellunge ant smechunge beoth i muth bathe as sihthe is i the ehe, ah we schulen leten smechunge athet we speoken of ower mete, ant speoken nu of spellunge ant th'refter of herunge, of ba i-meane sum-chearre, as ha gath togederes. On alre earst hwen ye schulen to ower parlurs thurl, witeth ed ower meiden hwa hit beo thet beo i-cumen. For swuch hit mei beon thet ye schule essinien ow. Hwen ye alles moten forth, crossith ful yeorne muth, ehnen, ant earen ant te breoste mid al, ant gath forth mid Godes dred. To preost on earst Confiteor, ant th'refter Benedicite - thet he ah to seggen. Hercnith hise wordes ant haldeth ow al stille, thet hwen he parteth from ow thet he ne cunne ower god ne ower uvel nowther, ne ne cunne ow nowther lastin ne preisin. Sum is se wel i-learet other se wis i-wordet, thet ha walde he wiste hit the sit ant speketh toward hire, ant yelt him word ayein word, ant forwurtheth meistre the schulde beon ancre, ant leareth him thet is i-cumen hire for-te learen, walde bi hire tale beon sone with wise i-cuththet ant i-cnawen. I-cnawen ha is, for thurh thet ilke thet ha weneth to beo wis i-halden, he understont thet ha is sot, for ha hunteth efter pris, ant kecheth lastunge. For ed te alre leaste hwen he is awei i-went, theos ancre, he wule seggen, is of muche speche. Eve heold i parais long tale with the neddre, talde him al the lesceun thet Godd hefde i-red hire ant Adam of the eappel, ant swa the feond thurh hire word understod anan-riht hire wacnesse ant i-fond wei toward hire of hire forlorenesse. Ure Leafdi, Seinte Marie, dude al on other wise. Ne talde ha then engel na tale, ah easkede him scheortliche thing thet ha ne cuthe. Ye, mine leove sustren, folhith ure Leafdi, ant nawt te cakele Eve. For-thi, ancre hwet-se ha beo, hu muchel se ha eaver cunne, halde hire stille, nabbe ha nawt henne cunde. The hen, hwen ha haveth i-leid, ne con bute cakelin, ah hwet biyet ha th'rof? Kimeth the kaue anan-riht ant reaveth hire hire eairen ant fret of thet schulde forth bringe cwike briddes. Al riht alswa, the cave deovel bereth awei from cakelinde ancres ant forswolheth al the god thet ha i-streonet habbeth, thet schulde as briddes beoren ham up towart heovene, yef hit nere i-cakelet. The wrecche povre peoddere - mare nurth he maketh to yeien his sape then the riche mercer al his deore-wurthe ware, as is i-seid her-efter. To sum gastelich mon thet ye beoth trusti upon, as ye mahe beon o lut, god is thet ye easki read ant salve thet he teache ow toyeines fondunges. Ant i schrift schawith him, yef he wule i-heren, ower greaste ant ower ladlukeste sunnen, for-thi thet him areowe ow ant thurh the areownesse inwardluker crie Crist mearci for ow ant habbe ow in his bonen. Set multi veniunt ad vos in vestimentis ovium, intrinsecus autem sunt lupi rapaces. "Ah witeth ow ant beoth warre," he seith, ure Laverd, "for monie cumeth to ow i-schrud mid lombes fleos, ant beoth wedde wulves." Worltliche leveth lut, religiuse yet leas, ne wilni ye nawt to muchel hare cuththunge. Eve withute dred spec with the neddre. Ure Leafdi wes offearet of Gabrieles speche. Ure freres prechurs ant ure freres meonurs beoth of swuch ordre thet al folc mahte wundrin yef ei of ham "wende ehe towart te wude lehe." For-thi, ed euch time thet eani of ham thurh chearite kimeth ow to learen ant to frovrin i Godd, yef he is preost, seggeth ear then he parti Mea culpa. "Ich schrive me to Godd almihti ant to the, thet ich, as ich drede, riht repentant neaver nes of mine greaste sunnen thet ich habbe i-schawet to mine schrift-feaderes. Ant tah min entente beo to beten ham her-inne, ich hit do se povreliche, ant sunegi in othre dei-hwamliche seoththen ich wes nest i-schriven, ant thet wes thenne, ant of the" - ant nempnin. "Ich habbe thus i-sunget." Ant segge o hwucche wise, as hit is i-writen ow in ower schriftes boc, towart te ende th'rof. Ant aleast seggeth "This ant muche mare, Confiteor." Ant bide him undervo the spetiale in his god, ant thonke him of his in-turn ant bisech him aleast greten the ant te, ant thet ha bidden for the. Withuten witnesse of wummon other of wepmon the ow mahe i-heren, ne speoke ye with na mon ofte ne longe, ant tah hit beo of schrift. Allegate i the ilke hus, other ther he mahe i-seon toward ow, sitte the thridde, bute yef the ilke thridde other stude trukie. This nis nawt for ow, leove sustren, i-seid, ne for othre swucche; nawt-for-thi, the treowe is ofte mistrowet, ant te saclese bilohen, as Josep i Genesy of the gale leafdi, for wone of witnesse. Me leveth the uvele sone, ant te unwreaste blitheliche liheth o the gode. Sum unseli haveth, hwen ha seide ha schraf hire, i-schriven hire al to wundre. For-thi ahen the gode habben eaver witnesse - for twa acheisuns nomeliche. The an is thet te ondfule ne mahe lihen on ham, swa thet te witnesse ne pruvie ham false. The other is for-te yeoven the othre forbisne ant reavi the uvele ancre the ilke unseli gile thet ich of seide. Ut thurh the chirche-thurl ne halde ye tale with na-mon, ah beoreth ther-to wurthmunt for the hali sacrement thet ye seoth ther-thurh, ant neometh other-hwile to ower wummen the huses thurl, to othre the parlur. Speoken ne ahe ye bute ed tes twa thurles. Silence eaver ed te mete. Yef othre religiuse, as ye witen, doth hit, ye ahen over alle. Yef ei haveth deore geast, do hire meidnes as in hire stude to gleadien hire feire. Ant heo schal habbe leave for-te unsperren hire thurl eanes other twien, ant makie sines toward hire of a glead chere. Summes curteisie is i-turnt hire to uvel. Under semblant of god is ofte i-hulet sunne. Ancre ant huses leafdi ah muchel to beon bitweonen. Euche Fridei of the yer haldeth silence bute hit beo duble feaste, ant tenne haldeth hit sum other dei i the wike. I the Advenz ant i the Umbri-wiken, Weodnesdei ant Fridei, i the lenten, threo dahes, ant al the swiing-wike athet non on Easter even. To ower wummen ye mahen thah seggen with lut word hwet-se ye wulleth. Yef eani god mon is of feorren i-cumen, hercnith his speche ant ondswerieth with lut word to his easkunges. Muche fol were the mahte to his bihove, hwether se he walde, grinden greot other hweate, yef he grunde the greot ant lette the hweate. Hweate is hali speche, as Seint Anselme seith. Heo grint greot the chafleth. The twa cheken beoth the twa grindel- stanes. The tunge is the cleappe. Lokith, leove sustren, thet ower cheken ne grinden neaver bute sawle fode, ne ower eare ne drinke neaver bute sawle heale, ant nawt ane ower eare, ah ower eh-thur[l] sperreth to ayeines idel speche. To ow ne cume na tale, ne tidinge of the worlde. Ye ne schule for na thing wearien ne swerien, bute yef ye seggen "witerliche" other "sikerliche," other o sum swuch wise. Ne preachi ye to na mon, ne mon ne easki ow cunsail ne ne telle ow. Readeth wummen ane. Seint Pawel forbeot wummen to preachin. Mulieres non permitto docere. Na wepmon ne chastie ye, ne edwiten him his untheaw, bute he beo the over-cuthre. Halie alde ancres hit mahe don summes weis, ah hit nis nawt siker thing, ne ne limpeth nawt to yunge. Hit is hare meoster, the beoth over othre i-set ant habbeth ham to witene as Hali Chirche larewes. Ancre naveth for-te loken bute hire ant hire meidnes. Halde euch hire ahne meoster, ant nawt ne reavi othres. Moni weneth to do wel the deth al to wundre, for as ich seide ear, under semblant of god is ofte i-hulet sunne. Thurh swuch chastiement haveth sum ancre arearet bitweonen hire ant hire preost other a falsinde luve other a muche weorre. Seneca: ad summam volo vos esse rariloquas tuncque pauciloquas. "Thet is the ende of the tale," seith Seneke the wise, "ich chulle thet ye speoken seldene ant thenne lutel." Moni punt hire word for-te leote ma ut, as me deth weater ed mulne. Swa duden Jobes freond the weren i-cumen to frovrin him, seten stille seove-niht, ah tha ha hefden alles bigunnen to speokene, tha ne cuthen ha neaver stutten hare cleappe. Gregorius: Censura silencii nutritura est verbi. Swa hit is of monie as Sein Gregoire seith: "Silence is wordes fostrilt ant bringeth forth chaffle." On other half, as he seith, Juge silentium cogit celestia meditari. "Long silence ant wel i-wist nedeth the thohtes up towart heovene." Alswa as ye mahe seon weater hwen me punt hit ant stoppeth hit bivore wel, thet hit ne mahe dune-ward, thenne is hit i-nedd ayein for-te climben uppart - ant ye, al thisses weis pundeth ower wordes, forstoppith ower thohtes, as ye wulleth thet ha climben ant hehin toward heovene, ant nawt ne fallen dune-ward ant tofleoten yont te worlt as deth muchel chaffle. Hwen ye nede moten, a lute wiht lowsith up ower muthes flod-yeten, as me deth ed mulne, ant leoteth adun sone. Ma sleath word then sweord. Mors et vita in manibus lingue. "Lif ant death," seith Salomon, "is i tunge honden." Qui custodit os suum, custodit animam suam. "Hwa- se witeth wel his muth, he witeth," he seith, "his sawle." Sicut urbs patens et absque murorum ambitu, sic, et cetera. Qui murum silencii non habet, patet inimici jaculis civitas mentis. "Hwa-se ne withhalt his wordes," seith Salomon the wise, "he is as the burh withute wal thet ferde mei in over al. The feond of helle mid his ferd wend thurh-ut te tutel the is eaver open, into the heorte." I Vitas Patrum hit teleth thet an hali mon seide tha me preisede ane brethren thet he hefde i-herd of muche speche: Boni utique sunt set habitatio eorum non habet januam, quicumque vult intrat et asinum solvit. "Gode," quoth he, "ha beoth, ah hare wununge naveth na yete. Hare muth meatheleth eaver. Hwa-se eaver wule, mei gan in ant leaden forth hare asse" - thet is, hare unwise sawle. For-thi seith Sein Jame, Si quis putat se religiosum esse non refrenans linguam suam set seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio. Thet is, "yef eni weneth thet he beo religius ant ne bridli nawt his tunge, his religiun is fals - he gileth his heorte." He seith swithe wel, "ne bridleth nawt his tunge." Bridel nis nawt ane i the horses muth, ah sit sum up-o the ehnen, ant geath abute the earen. For alle threo is muche neod thet ha beon i-bridlet. Ah i the muth sit tet irn, ant o the lihte tunge, for thear is meast neod hald hwen the tunge is o rune ant i-fole to eornen. Ofte we thencheth, hwen we foth on to speoken, for-te speoke lutel ant wel i-sette wordes, ah the tunge is slubbri, for ha wadeth i wete ant slit lihtliche forth from lut word into monie. Ant tenne, as Salomon seith, In multiloquio non deerit peccatum. "Ne mei nawt muche speche" - ne ginne hit neaver se wel - "beo withute sunne." For from soth hit slit to fals, ut of god into sum uvel, from meosure into unimete, ant of a drope waxeth into a muche flod, the adrencheth the sawle. For with the fleotinde word tofleoteth the heorte, swa thet longe th'refter ne mei ha beon riht i-gederet togederes. Et os nostrum tanto est Deo longinqum, quanto mundo proximum, tantoque minus exauditur in prece, quanto amplius coinquinatur in locutione. This beoth Seint Gregoires word in his Dyaloge: "Ase neh as ure muth is to worldlich speche, ase feor he is Godd hwen he speketh toward him ant bit him eani bone." For-thi is thet we yeiyeth upon him ofte, ant he firseth him awei frommard ure stevene, ne nule nawt i-heren hire, for ha stinketh to him al of the worldes meathelunge ant of hire chafle. Hwa-se wule thenne thet Godes eare beo neh hire tunge, firsi hire from the world, elles ha mei longe yeiyen ear Godd hire i-here, ant seith thurh Ysaie: Cum extenderitis manus vestras, avertam oculos meos a vobis, et cum multiplicaveritis orationes, non exaudiam vos. Thet is, "thah ye makien moni-falde ower bonen to- ward me, ye the pleieth with the world, nule ich ow nawt i-heren, ah ich wulle turne me awei hwen ye heoveth toward me hehe ower honden." Ure deore-wurthe Leafdi, Seinte Marie, the ah to alle wummen to beo forbisne, wes of se lutel speche, thet no-hwer in Hali Writ ne finde we thet ha spec bute fowr sithen, ah for se selt speche, hire wordes weren hevie ant hefden muche mihte. Bernardus ad Mariam: In sempiterno Dei verbo facti sumus omnes et ecce morimur. In tuo brevi responso refitiendi sumus ut ad vitam revocemur. Responde verbum et suscipe verbum; profer tuum et concipe divinum. Hire forme wordes thet we redeth of weren tha ha ondswerede Gabriel then engel, ant teo weren se mihtie, thet with thet ha seide, Ecce, ancilla Domini; fiat michi secundum verbum tuum - ed tis word - Godes sune ant soth Godd bicom mon, ant te Laverd thet al the world ne mahte nawt bifon, bitunde him in-with hire meidnes wombe. Hire othre wordes weren tha ha com ant grette Elyzabeth hire mehe. Ant hwet mihte wes i-cud ed theose wordes? Hwet? - thet a child bigon to pleien toyeines ham: thet wes Sein Juhan in his moder wombe. Idem: Vox eius Johannem exultare fecit in utero. The thridde time thet ha spec, thet wes ed te neoces, ant ter thurh hire bisocne wes weater i-went to wine. The feorthe time wes tha ha hefde i-mist hire sune, ant eft him i-funde. Ant hu muche wunder folhede theose wordes! Thet Godd almihti beah to mon, to Marie ant to Joseph, to a smith ant to a wummon, ant folhede ham ase heoren, hwider se ha walden. Neometh nu her yeme ant leornith yeorne her-bi hu seltsene speche haveth muche strengthe. Vir linguosus non dirigetur in terra. "Feole i-wordet mon," seith the Salm-wruhte, "ne schal neaver leaden riht lif on eorthe." For-thi he seith elles-hwer, Dixi custodiam vias meas ut non delinquam in lingua mea. Ypallage: ant is as thah he seide, "Ich chulle wite mine weies with mi tunge warde. Wite ich wel mi tunge, ich mei wel halden the wei toward heovene." For as Ysaie seith, Cultus justicie, silentium. "The tilunge of rihtwisnesse, thet is silence." Silence tileth hire, ant heo i-tilet bringeth forth sawles eche fode, for ha is undeadlich, as Salomon witneth: Justicia inmortalis est. For-thi feieth Ysaie hope ant silence bathe togederes ant seith in ham schal stonden gastelich strengthe: In silentio et spe erit fortitudo vestra. Thet is, "i silence ant in hope schal beon ower strengthe." Neometh yeme hu wel he seith, for hwa-se is muche stille, ant halt silence longe, ha mei hopien sikerliche thet hwen ha speketh toward Godd thet he hire i-here. Ha mei ec hopien thet ha schal singen thurh hire silence sweteliche in heovene. This is nu the reisun of the veiunge, hwi Ysaie veieth hope ant silence ant cupleth ba togederes. Teke thet, he seith i the ilke auctorite, thet i silence ant in hope schal beon ure strengthe i Godes servise toyein the deofles turnes ant his fondunges. Ah lokith thurh hwet reisun: hope is a swete spice in-with the heorte thet sweteth al thet bitter thet te bodi drinketh. Ah hwa-se cheoweth spice, ha schal tunen hire muth, thet te swote breath ant te strengthe th'rof leave withinnen. Ah heo the openeth hire muth with muche meathelunge ant breketh silence, ha spit hope al ut, ant te swotnesse th'rof mid worltliche wordes, ant leoseth ayein the feond gastelich strengthe. For hwet maketh us stronge i Godes servise ant ine fondunges for-te drehe derf, to wreastli steale-wurthliche toyein the deofles swenges, bute hope of heh mede? Hope halt te heorte hal, hwet-se the flesch drehe - as me seith "yef hope nere, heorte tobreke." A, Jesu, thin are! Hu stont ham the beoth ther-as alle wa ant weane is withuten hope of ut-cume, ant heorte ne mei bersten? For-thi as ye wulleth halden in-with ow hope ant te swete breath of hire the yeveth sawle mihte, with muth i-tunet cheoweth hire in-with ower heorte, ne blawe ye hire nawt ut with meathelinde muthes, with yeoniende tuteles. Non habeatis linguam vel aures prurientes. "Lokith," seith Sein Jerome, "thet ye nabben yicchinde nowther tunge ne earen." Thet is to seggen, thet ow ne luste nowther speoken, ne hercni worltlich speche. Hider-to is i-seid of ower silence, ant hu ower speche schal beo seltsene. Contrariorum eadem est disciplina. Of silence ant of speche nis bute a lare, ant for- thi i writunge ha eorneth ba togederes. Nu we schulen sum-hwet speoken of ower herunge ayein uvel speche, thet ye ther-togeines tunen ower earen, ant yef ned is, spearren ower thurles. For al uvel speche, mine leove sustren, stoppith ower earen, ant habbeth wleatunge of the muth the speoweth ut atter. De omni verbo otioso, et cetera. Uvel speche is threo-fald: attri, ful, ant idel. Idel speche is uvel, ful speche is wurse, attri is the wurste. Idel is ant unnet al thet god ne kimeth of, ant of thulli speche, seith ure Laverd, schal euch word beon i-rikenet, ant i-yeve reisun hwi the an hit seide, ant te other hit lustnede. Ant this is thah thet leaste uvel of the threo uveles. Hwet, hu thenne schal me yelde reisun of the wurse? Hwet, hu of the wurste? Thet is, of attri ant of ful speche? Nawt ane thet hit speketh, ah thet hit hercneth. Ful speche is as of leccherie, ant of othre fulthen thet unweschene muthes speoketh other-hwiles. Theose beoth alle i-schrapede ut of ancre riwle. The swuch fulthe spit ut in eani ancre earen, me schulde dutten his muth, nawt with scharpe sneateres, ah with hearde fustes. Attri speche is heresie: thweart-over leasunge, bac-bitunge, ant fikelunge - theos beoth the wurste. Heresie, Godd have thonc, ne rixleth nawt in Englelond. Leasunge is se uvel thing thet Seint Austin seith thet for-te schilde thi feader from death, ne schuldest tu nawt lihen. Godd seolf seith thet he is soth, ant hwet is mare ayein soth then is leas? Diabolus mendax est et pater ejus. "The deovel is leas ant leasunge feader." The ilke thenne the stureth hire tunge i leasunge, ha maketh of hire tunge cradel to the deofles bearn ant rocketh hit yeornliche as his nurrice. Bac-bitunge ant fikelunge ant eggunge to don uvel ne beoth nawt monnes speche, ah beoth the deofles bleas ant his ahne stevene. Yef ha ahen to beo feor alle worltliche men, hwet, hu ahen ancren heatien ham ant schunien, thet ha ham ne i-heren? I-heren, ich segge, for hwa-se speketh ham, nis ha nawt ancre. Salomon: Si mordet serpens in silentio, nichil minus eo habet qui detrahit in occulto. "The neddre," seith Salomon, "stingeth al stille, ant theo the speketh bihinden thet ha nalde bivoren nis na-wiht betere. Herst tu hu Salomon eveneth bac-bitere to stinginde neddre? Swa hit is witerliche ha is neddre cundel ant bereth theo the uvel speketh atter i the tunge. "The fikelere blent mon ant put him preon i the ehe thet he with fikeleth." Gregorius: Adulator ei cum quo sermonem conserit, quasi clavum in oculo figit. The bac- bitere cheoweth ofte monnes flesch i Fridei ant beaketh with his blake bile o cwike charoines as the thet is thes deofles corbin of helle. Salomon: Noli esse in conviviis eorum, et ceterea, qui conferunt carnes ad vescendum, et cetera. Yef he walde pilewin ant toteoren with his bile rotet stinkinde flesch, as is reavenes cunde - thet is, walde he seggen uvel bi nan other, bute bi theo the rotieth ant stinketh al i fulthe of hare sunne - hit were leasse wunder, ah lihteth up-o cwic flesch, tolimeth ant toluketh hit - thet is, misseith bi swuch thet is cwic ine Godd. He is to yiver reven ant to bald mid alle. On other half, neometh nu yeme of hwucche twa meosters thes twa menestraws servith hare laverd, the deovel of helle. Ful hit is to seggen, ah fulre for-te beon hit, ant swa hit is allegate. Ne videatur hec moralitas minus decens. Recolat in Esdra quod Melchia hedificavit portam stercoris. Melchia enim Corus Domino interpretatur filius Rechab, id est, mollis patris. Nam ventus aquilo dissipat pluvias, et faties tristis linguam detrahentem. Ha beoth thes deofles gong-men ant beoth aa in his gong-hus. The fikeleres meoster is to hulie the gong-thurl. Thet he deth as ofte as he with his fikelunge ant with his preisunge writh mon his sunne, thet stinketh na thing fulre. Ant he hit huleth ant lideth, swa thet he hit nawt ne stinketh. The bac-bitere unlideth hit ant openeth swa thet fulthe, thet hit stinketh wide. Thus ha beoth aa bisie i this fule meoster, ant either with other striveth her-abuten. Thulliche men stinketh of hare stinkinde meoster, ant bringeth euch stude o stench thet ha to nahith. Ure Laverd schilde, thet te breath of hare stinkinde throte ne nahi ow neaver. Other spechen fuleth, ah theose attrith bathe the earen ant te heorte. Thet ye bet i-cnawen ham, yef ei kimeth toward ow, low, her hare molden. Fikeleres beoth threo cunnes: the forme beoth uvele inoh, the othre thah beoth wurse, the thridde thah beoth wurst. Ve illis qui ponunt pulvillos, et cetera. Ve illis qui dant bonum malum, et malum bonum, ponentes lucem tenebras, et tenebras lucem. Hoc scilicet detractatoribus et adulatoribus pervenit. The forme, yef a mon is god, preiseth him bivoren him-seolf ant maketh him inoh-reathe yet betere then he beo. Ant yef he seith wel other deth wel, heveth hit to hehe up with over-herunge. The other, yef a mon is uvel, ant seith ant deth se muche mis thet hit beo se open sunne, thet he hit ne mahe nanes weis allunge withseggen, he thah bivore the mon seolf maketh his uvel leasse. "Nis hit nawt nu," he seith, "se over- uvel as me hit maketh. Nart tu nawt i this thing the forme ne the leaste - thu havest monie feren. Let i-wurthe, god mon, ne geast tu nawt te ane - moni deth muche wurse." The thridde cunne of fikelere is wurst, as ich seide, for he preiseth the uvele ant his uvele dede, as the the seith to the cniht the robbeth his povre men: "A, Sire, as thu dest wel, for eaver me schal thene cheorl peolkin ant pilien, for he is as the within the spruteth ut the betere thet me hine croppeth ofte." Laudatur peccator in desideriis anime sue et iniquus benedicitur. Augustinus: Adulantium lingue alligant hom- inem in peccatis. Thus thes false fikeleres ablendeth the ham her[c]nith, as ich ear seide, ant wriheth hare fulthe, thet ha hit ne mahe stinken, ant thet is hare muchel unselhthe. For yef ha hit stunken, ham walde wleatie ther-with, ant eornen to schrift ant speowen hit ut ther, ant schunien hit th'refter. Clemens: Homicidarum tria esse genera dixit Beatus Petrus, et eorum parem penam esse voluit, qui corporaliter occidit, et qui detrahit fratri, et qui invidet. Bac-biteres, the biteth bihinde bac othre, beoth of twa maneres, ah the leatere is wurse. The earre kimeth al openliche ant seith uvel bi an-other, ant speoweth ut his atter, se muchel se him eaver to muth kimeth, ant culcheth al ut somet thet te attri heorte sent up to the tunge. Ah the leatere kimeth forth al on other wise - wurse feond then the other is - ant under freondes huckel warpeth adun thet heaved, feth on for-te siken ear he eawt segge, ant maketh drupi chere, bisampleth longe abuten, for-te beo bet i- levet. Hwen hit alles kimeth forth, thenne is hit yeolow atter. "Weila," ha seith, "wa is me, thet he other heo habbeth swuch word i-caht. Inoh ich wes abuten, ah ne healp me nawt to don her-of bote. Yare is thet ich wiste th'rof, ah thah thurh me ne schulde hit beon neaver mare i-uppet. Ah nu hit is thurh othre swa wide i-broht forth, thet ich ne mei hit nawt withsaken. Uvel me seith thet hit is, ant yet hit is wurse. Sorhful ich am ant sari thet ich hit schal seggen, ah for sothe swa hit is, ant thet is muchel sorhe, for i feole other thing he other heo is swithe to herien, ah onont this thing - wa is me - ther-vore ne mei ham na-mon werien." This beoth the deofles neddren, the Salomon speketh of. Ure Laverd thurh his grace halde ower earen feor hare attrie tungen, ne leve ow neaver stinken thet fule put thet ha unwreoth as the fikeleres wreoth, ant hulieth, as ich seide. Unwreon hit to ham-seolven, theo the hit tolimpeth, ant hulien hit to othre - thet is a muche theaw, nawt to theo the hit schulden smeallen ant heatien thet fulthe. Nu, mine leove sustren, from al uvel speche thet is thus threo-vald - idel, ful, ant attri - haldeth feor ower eare. Me seith upon ancren, thet euch meast haveth an ald cwene to feden hire earen, a meathelilt the meatheleth hire alle the talen of the lond, a rikelot the cakeleth al thet ha sith ant hereth, swa thet me seith i bisahe: "From mulne ant from chepinge, from smiththe ant from ancre-hus me tidinge bringeth." Wat Crist, this is a sari sahe, thet ancre-hus, thet schulde beon anlukest stude of alle, schal beon i-feiet to the ilke threo studen, thet meast is in of chaffle. Ah ase cwite as ye beoth of thullich, leove sustren, weren alle othre, ure Laverd hit uthe. Nu ich habbe sunder-lepes i-speken of thes threo limen - of ehe, of muth, of eare. Of eare is al this leaste to ancre bihove, for leflich thing nis hit nawt thet ancre beore swuch muth, ah muchel me mei dreden to swucche muthes sum-cheare thet ha beie hire eare. Of sihthe, of speche, of hercnunge is i-seid sunder-lepes of euch-an o rawe. Cume we nu eft ayein ant speoken of alle i-meane. Zelatus sum Syon zelo magno (in propheta Zacharia). Understond, ancre, hwas spuse thu art ant hu he is gelus of alle thine lates. Ego sum Deus zelotes (in Exodo). "Ich am," he seith bi him-seolf, "the geluse Godd." Zelatus sum, et cetera. "Ich am gelus of the, Syon, mi leofmon, with muche gelusie." Thuhte him nawt inoh i-seid, thet he is gelus of the, bute he seide ther-to "with muche gelusie." Auris zeli audit omnia, seith Salomon the wise. Ubi amor, ibi oculus. Wite the nu ful wel - his eare is eaver toward te ant he hereth al. His ehe aa bihalt te yef thu makest ei semblant, eani luve-lates toward untheawes. Zelatus sum Syon. Syon, thet is "schawere." He cleopeth the his schawere, swa his thet nan othres, for-thi he seith in Canticis, Ostende michi fatiem tuam. "Schaw thi neb to me," he seith, "ant to nan other. Bihald me yef thu wult habbe briht sihthe with thine heorte ehnen. Bihald in-ward ther ich am ant ne sech thu me nawt withute thin heorte. Ich am wohere scheomeful, ne nule ich no-hwer bicluppe mi leofmon bute i stude dearne." O thulli wise ure Laverd speketh to his spuse. Ne thunche hire neaver wunder yef ha nis muchel ane, thah he hire schunie, ant swa ane thet ha putte euch worldlich thrung, ant euch nurth eorthlich ut of hire heorte, for heo is Godes chambre. Nurth ne kimeth in heorte bute of sum thing thet me haveth other i-sehen other i-herd, i-smaht other i-smeallet, ant ute-with i-felet. Ant thet witeth to sothe, thet eaver se thes wittes beoth mare i-sprengde ut-ward, se ha leasse wendeth in-ward. Eaver se recluse toteth mare ut-ward, se ha haveth leasse leome of ure Laverd in-ward ant alswa of the othre. Qui exteriori oculo negligenter utitur, justo Dei judicio interiori cecatur. Lo, hwet Sein Gregoire seith: "Hwa-se yemelesliche wit hire uttre ehnen thurh Godes rihtwise dom, ha ablindeth i the inre," thet ha ne mei i-seo Godd mid gastelich sihthe, ne thurh swuch sihthe i-cnawen, ant thurh the cnawleachunge over alle thing luvien. For efter thet me cnaweth his muchele godnesse, ant efter thet me feleth his swote swetnesse, efter thet me luveth him mare other leasse. For-thi, mine leove sustren, beoth withute blinde, as wes the hali Jacob ant Tobie the gode, ant Godd wule, as he yef ham, yeoven ow liht withinnen, him to seon ant cnawen, ant thurh the cnawlechunge over alle thing him luvien. Thenne schule ye i-seon hu al the world is nawt, hu hire frovre is fals. Thurh thet sihthe ye schule seon alle the deofles wiheles, hu he biwrencheth wrecches. Ye schulen i-seon in ow-seolf hwet beo yet to beten of ower ahne sunnen. Ye schulen bihalde sum-cheare toward te pine of helle, thet ow uggi with ham, ant fleo the swithere ham frommard. Ye schulen gasteliche i-seon the blissen of heovene, the ontenden ower heorte to hihin ham toward. Ye schulen as i schawere i-seon ure Leafdi with hire meidnes, al the englene weoret, al the halhene hird, ant him over ham alle the blisseth ham alle, ant is hare alre crune. This sihthe, leove sustren, schal frovrin ow mare then mahte ei worltlich sihthe. Hali men witen wel, the habbeth hit i-fondet, thet euch eorthlich gleadunge is unwurth her-toyeines. Manna absconditum est, et cetera. Nomen novum quod nemo scit, nisi qui accipit. "Hit is a dearne healewi," seith Seint Juhan Ewangeliste i the Apocalipse - "Hit is a dearne healewi, thet na-mon ne cnaweth thet naveth hit i-smecchet." This smech ant tis cnawunge kimeth of gastelich sihthe, of gastelich herunge, of gastelich speche, thet ha schulen habben the forgath for Godes luve worldliche herunges, eorthliche spechen, fleschliche sihthen. Videamus enim quasi per speculum in enigmate. Ant efter thet sihthe thet is nu dosc her, ye schulen habbe th'ruppe the brihte sihthe of Godes neb thet alle gleadunge is of i the blisse of heovene muche bivore the othre. For the rihtwise Godd hit haveth swa i-demet, thet euch-anes mede ther ondswerie ayein the swinc, ant ayeines the ennu, thet ha her for his luve eadmodliche tholieth. For-thi hit is semlich thet ancren theos twa marhe-yeoven habben bivoren othre: swiftnesse, ant leome of a briht sihthe. Swiftnes ayeines thet ha beoth nu swa bipinnet. Leome of briht sihthe, ayeines thet ha her theostrith nu ham-seolven, ne nulleth nowther i-seo mon, ne of mon beon i-sehene. Alle theo in heovene schule beon ase swifte, as is nu monnes thoht, as is the sunne gleam the smit from est into west, as the ehe openeth. Ah ancres, bisperret her, schulen beo ther, yef ei mei, lihtre ba ant swiftre, ant i se wide schakeles - as me seith - pleien in heovene large lesewen, thet te bodi schal beon hwer-se-eaver the gast wule in an hond-hwile. This is nu the an marhe-yeove thet ich seide ancren schulden habben bivoren othre. The other is of sihthe. Gregorius: enim quod nesciunt ubi scientem omnia sciunt. Alle theo in heovene seoth i Godd alle thing, ant ancren schule brihtluker, for hare blind-fellunge her, i-seon ant understonde ther Godes dearne runes ant his derve domes, the ne kepeth nu to witen of thinges withuten, with eare ne with ehe. For-thi, mine leove sustren, yef ei mon bit to seon ow, easkith him hwet god ther-of mahte lihten. For moni uvel ich i-seo th'rin, ant nane biheve. Yef he is meadles, leveth him the wurse. Yef ei wurtheth swa awed thet he warpe hond forth toward te thurl- clath, swiftliche anan-riht schutteth al thet thurl to, ant leoteth him i-wurthen. Alswa, sone se eaver eani feleth into ei luther speche thet falle toward ful luve, sperreth the thurl anan-riht, ne ondswerie ye him na-wiht, ah wendeth awei with this vers, thet he hit mahe i-heren: Declinate a me, maligni, et scrutabor mandata Dei mei. Narraverunt michi iniqui fabulationes, Domine, sed non ut lex tua. Ant gath bivoren ower weoved with the Miserere. Ne chastie ye na swuch mon neaver on other wise, for in- with the chastiement he mahte ondswerie swa, ant blawen se litheliche, thet sum sperke mahte acwikien. Na wohlech nis se culvert as o pleinte wise, as hwa-se thus seide, "ich nalde, for-te tholie death, thenche fulthe toward te" - ant swereth deope athes - "ah thah ich hefde i-sworen hit, luvien ich mot te. Hwa is wurse then me? Moni slep hit binimeth me. Nu me is wa thet tu hit wast, ah foryef me nu thet ich habbe hit i-tald te. Thah ich schule wurthe wod, ne schalt tu neaver mare witen hu me stonde." Ha hit foryeveth him, for he speketh se feire, speoketh thenne of other-hwet. Ah "eaver is the ehe to the wude lehe." Eaver is the heorte i the earre speche. Yet, hwen he is forthe, ha went in hire thoht ofte swucche wordes, hwen ha schulde other-hwet yeornliche yemen. He eft secheth his point for-te breoke foreward, swereth he mot nede, ant swa waxeth thet wa se lengre se wurse. For na feondschipe nis se uvel, as is fals freondschipe. Feond the thuncheth freond is sweoke over alle. For-thi, mine leove sustren, ne yeove ye to swuch mon nan in-yong to speokene. For as Hali Writ seith, "hare speche spreat ase cancre." Ah for alle ondsweres wendeth ow frommard him, alswa as ich seide th'ruppe. Sawvin ow-seolven - ne maten him betere ne mahe ye o nane wise. Lokith nu hu propreliche the leafdi i Canticis, Godes deore spuse, leareth ow bi hire sahe hu ye schule seggen: En dilectus meus loquitur michi: Surge propera amica mea, et cetera. "Low," ha seith, "hercne, ich i-here mi leof speoken. He cleopeth me; ich mot gan." Ant ye gan anan-riht to ower deore leofmon, ant meaneth ow to his earen, the luveliche cleopeth ow to him with thes wordes: Surge propera amica mea, columba mea, formosa mea, et veni. Ostende mihi fatiem tuam. Sonet vox tua in auribus meis. Thet is, "aris up! hihe the heone-wart, ant cum to me mi leofmon, mi culvre, mi feire ant mi schene spuse." Ostende michi fatiem tuam. "Schaw to me thi leove neb, ant ti lufsume leor, went te from othre." Sonet vox tua in auribus meis. "Sei hwa haveth i-do the, hwa haveth i-hurt mi deore - sing i mine earen. For-thi thet tu ne wilnest bute to seo mi wlite, ne speoke bute to me. Thi stevene is me swete, ant ti wlite schene." Unde et subditur vox tua dulcis et facies tua decora. This beoth nu twa thinges the beoth i-luvet swithe: swete speche ant schene wlite. Hwa-se ham haveth togederes, swucche cheoseth Jesu Crist to leofmon ant to spuse. Yef thu wult swuch beon, ne schaw thu na mon thi wlite, ne ne leote blitheliche here thi speche, ah turn ham ba to Jesu Crist, to thi deore-wurthe spus, as he bit th'ruppe, as thu wult thet ti speche thunche him swete, ant ti wlite schene, ant habben him to leofmon thet is thusent-fald schenre then the sunne. Hercnith nu yeornliche, mine leove sustren, al an-other speche ant frommard tis earre. Hercnith nu hu Jesu Crist speketh as o wreaththe, ant seith as o grim hoker ant o scarn to the ancre the schulde beon his leofmon, ant secheth thah gealunge ut-ward ant frovre, with ehe other with tunge. In Canticis: Si ignoras te o pulcra inter mulieres, egredere et abi post vestigia gregum tuorum et pasce edos tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum. This beoth the wordes: "yef thu ne cnawest te-seolf, thu feier bimong wummen, wend ut ant ga efter gate-heorden, ant lesewe thine tichnes bi heorde-menne hulen of ris ant of leaves." This is a cruel word, a grim word mid alle thet ure Laverd seith as o grome ant o scarn to totinde, ant to herc-wile, ant to speokele ancres. Hit is bileppet ant i-hud, ah ich hit wulle unvalden. "Yef thu ne cnawest te-seolf," he seith, ure Laverd - neometh nu gode yeme - thet is, "yef thu nast hwas spuse thu art, thet tu art cwen of heovene yef thu art me treowe as spuse ah to beonne, yef thu this havest foryeten ant telest her[-of] to lutel, wend ut ant ga!" he seith. Hwider? Ut of this hehschipe, of this muchele menske "ant folhe heorde of geat," he seith. Hwet beoth heorde of geat? Thet beoth flesches lustes, the stinketh ase geat doth bivoren ure Laverd. "Yef thu havest foryete nu thi wurthfule leafdischipe, ga ant folhe theos geat - folhe flesches lustes." Nu kimeth th'refter, "ant lesewe thine tichnes" - thet is, as he seide, "fed tine ehnen with ut-totunge, thi tunge with chaflunge, thine earen with spellunge, thi nease with smeallunge, thi flesch with softe felunge." Theos fif wittes he cleopeth tichnes, for alswa as of a ticchen, thet haveth swete flesch, kimeth a stinkinde gat other a ful bucke, al riht alswa of a yung swete locunge, other of a swote herunge, other of a softe felunge waxeth a stincinde lust ant a ful sunne. Hwether ei totilde ancre fondede eaver this, the beaketh eaver ut-ward as untohe brid i cage? Hwether the cat of helle cahte eaver towart hire, ant lahte with his cleavres hire heorte heved? Ye, sothes, ant droh ut al the bodi efter, with clokes of crokede ant kene fondunges, ant makede hire to leosen bathe Godd ant mon with brad scheome ant sunne, ant bireafde hire ed an cleap the eorthe ant ec the heovene. Inoh sari lure! To wrather heale beakede eaver swa ut ancre. Egredere, he seith o grome: "ga ut, as dude Dyne, Jacobes dohter, to himmere heile, hire to wrather heale," thet is to seggen, "leaf me ant mi cunfort thet is in-with thi breoste, ant ga sech withuten the worldes frakele frovre, the schal endin eaver i sar ant i sorhe. Tac ther-to, ant leaf me hwen the swa is leovere, for ne schalt tu nanes-weis thes ilke twa cunforz - min ant te worldes, the joie of the Hali Gast ant ec flesches frovre, habbe togederes. Cheos nu an of thes twa, for the other thu most leten." O pulcra inter mulieres. "Yef thu ne cnawest te-seolf, thu feier bimong wummen," seith ure Laverd, "thu feier bimong wummen, ye, nu her do ther-to thet schalt, ant tu wel wulle elles- hwer beo feier, nawt ane bimong wummen, ah bimong engles. Thu, mi wurthli spuse," seith ure Laverd, "schalt tu folhin geat o feld?" - thet beoth flesches lustes. Feld is willes breade. "Schalt tu o this wise folhi geat yont te feld, the schuldest i thin heorte bur biseche me cosses, as mi leofmon thet seith to me i thet luve-boc: Osculetur me osculo oris sui." Thet is, "cusse me, mi leofmon, with the coss of his muth, muthene swetest." This coss, leove sustren, is a swetnesse ant a delit of heorte swa unimete swete, thet euch worldes savur is bitter ther-toyeines. Ah ure Laverd with this coss ne cusseth na sawle the luveth ei thing buten him ant te ilke thinges for him the helpeth him to habben. Ant tu, thenne, Godes spuse, thet maht heren her-bivoren hu sweteliche thi spus speketh ant cleopeth the to him se luveliche, th'refter hu he went te lof, ant speketh swithe grimliche yef thu ut wendest. Hald te i thi chambre. Ne fed tu nawt withuten thine gate tichnes, ah hald withinnen thin hercnunge, thi speche, ant ti sihthe, ant tun feaste hare yeten - muth ant ehe ant eare. For nawt ha beoth bilokene in-with wah other wal the thes yeten openith, bute ayein Godes sonde, ant liveneth of sawle. Omni custodia custodi cor tuum. "Over alle thing thenne," as Salomon the leareth, ant ich seide feor bivoren i the frumthe of this dale, mine leove sustren, "witeth ower heorte." The heorte is wel i-loket yef muth ant ehe ant eare wisliche beon i-lokene. For heo, as ich seide ther, beoth the heorte wardeins, ant yef the wardeins wendeth ut, the ham bith biwist uvele. This beoth nu the threo wittes thet ich habbe i-speken of. Speoke we nu scheortliche of the twa othre. Thah nis nawt speche the muthes wit, ah is smechunge, thah ba beon i muthe. Smeal of nease is the feorthe of the fif wittes. Of this wit seith Seint Austin, De odoribus non satago nimis. Cum assunt non respuo, cum absunt non requiro. "Of smealles," he seith, "ne fondi ich nawt mucheles. Yef ha beoth neh - o Godes half - yef feor, me ne recche." Ure Laverd thah thurh Ysaie threateth ham with helle stench the habbeth delit her i fleschliche smealles: Erit pro suavi odore fetor. Ther-toyeines ha schulen habben heovenliche smealles, the habbeth her of irnes swat, other of heren thet ha beoreth, other of swati hettren, other of thicke eir in hire hus, ant muhlinde thinges, stench other-hwiles ant strong breath i nease. Ther-of beoth i-warnet, mine leove sustren, thet other-hwile the feond maketh sum thing to stinken thet ye schulden notien, for-thi thet he walde thet ye hit schulden schunien. Other-hwile the wiheleare of sum dearne thing thet ye ne mahe nawt i-seon, as dust of dearne sedes, maketh a swote smeal cumen, as thah hit were of heovene, for ye schulden wenen thet Godd for ower hali lif sende ow his elne, ant leote wel to ow- seolf, ant leapen into prude. Smeal the kimeth o Godes half frovreth the heorte mare then the nease. Theos ant othre truiles, thet he bitruileth monie, schulen beon i-broht to nawt with hali-weater ant with the hali rode-taken. Hwa-se thohte hu Godd seolf wes i this wit i-dervet, ha walde the derf th'rof thuldeliche tholien. I the munt of Calvarie, ther ure Laverd hongede, wes the cwalm-stowe, ther leien ofte licomes i-rotet buven eorthe ant stunken swithe stronge. He, as he hongede, mahte habben hare breath with al his other wa, riht amidden his nease. Alswa as he wes i-dervet in alle his othre wittes - in his sihthe, tha he seh his deore- wurthe moder teares ant Sein Juhanes Ewangeliste ant te othre Maries, ant tha he biheold hu his deore deciples fluhen alle from him ant leafden him ane. He weop him- seolve thrien with his feire ehnen. He tholede al thuldeliche thet me him blindfeallede, hwen his ehnen weren thus i schendlac i-blintfeallet, for-te yeove the ancre the brihte sihthe of heovene. Thah thu thine ehnen for his luve, ant i munegunge th'rof, blintfealli on eorthe to beoren him feolah-readden nis na muche wunder. Amid the muth me gurde him, sum-cheare inoh-reathe as me tobeot his cheken, ant spitte him o scarne, ant an ancre is for a word ut of hire witte! Hwen he tholede thuldeliche thet te Giws dutten, as ha buffeteden him, his deore-wurthe muth, with hare dreori fustes, ant tu for the luve of him, ant for thin ahne muchele biheve, thi tutelinde muth dute with thine lippen. Teke thet he smahte galle on his tunge, for-te learen ancre thet ha ne grucchi neaver mare for na mete ne for na drunch, ne beo hit swa unorne. Yef ha hit mei eoten, eote ant thonki Godd yeorne. Yef ha ne mei nawt, beo sari thet ha mot sechen estfulre. Ah ear then thet biddunge areare eani scandle, ear deie martir in hire meoseise. Death me ah for-te fleon ase forth as me mei withute sunne, ah me schal ear deien then me do eani heaved sunne. Ant nis hit muche sunne to makien thet me segge, "Estful is theos ancre. Muchel is thet ha bid." Yet is wurse yef me seith thet ha is grucchilit ant ful-itohe, dangerus, ant erveth for-te paien. Were ha i-mid te world, ha moste beo sum-chearre i-paiet inoh-reathe mid leasse ant mid wurse. Muchel hofles hit is, cumen into ancre-hus, into Godes prisun willes ant waldes to stude of meoseise, for- te sechen eise th'rin ant meistrie ant leafdischipe, mare then ha mahte habben inoh- reathe i-haved i the worlde. Thenc, ancre, hwet tu sohtest tha thu forsoke the world i thi biclusunge. Biwepen thine ahne ant othres sunnen, ant forleosen alle the blissen of this lif, for-te cluppen blisfulliche thi blisfule leofmon i the eche lif of heovene. "O," seith Sein Jeremie, Quomodo obscuratum est aurum optimum, et cetera. "O wei- la-wei, wei-la-wei, hu is gold i-theostret! Hu is feherest heow biturnd ant forweolewet!" The Apostle speketh to swucche grimliche as o wreaththe, Quis vos fascinavit et cetera, ut cum spiritu ceperitis, carne consummamini? "Me hwuch unseli gast haveth swa bimalscret ow, thet ye i gast bigunnen, ant i flesch wulleth endin?" The gastelich lif bigunnen i the Hali Gast beoth bicumene al fleschliche, al fleschliche i- wurthen: lahinde, lihte i-latet, ane hwile lihte i-wordet, an-other luthere i-wordet, estfule ant sarcurne ant grucchildes, meanildes ant - yet thet wurse is - cursildes ant chidildes, bittre ant attrie with heorte tobollen. Bihofde nawt thet swuch were leafdi of castel. Hoker ant hofles thing is, thet a smiret ancre ant ancre biburiet - for hwet is ancre-hus bute hire burinesse? - ant heo schal beo greattre i-bollen, leafdiluker leoten of, then a leafdi of hames! Yef ha maketh hire wrath ayeines gult of sunne, ha [shulde] setten hire wordes swa efne thet ha ne thunche over-sturet, ne nawt i-lead over skile, ah inwardliche ant sothliche withuten hihthe ant hehschipe in a softe stevene. Filia fatua in deminoratione erit - this is Salomones sahe. Thet hit limpe to ei of ow, Godd ne leve neaver. "Cang dohter i-wurth as mone i wonunge" - thriveth as the cangun, se lengre se wurse. Ye, as ye wulleth waxen ant nawt wenden hind-ward, sikerliche ye moten rowen ayein stream, with muchel swinc breoken forth, ant gasteliche earmes stealewurthliche sturien - ant swa ye moten alle. For alle we beoth i this stream, i the worldes wode weater the bereth adun monie. Sone se we eaver wergith ant resteth us i slawthe, ure bat geath hind-ward ant we beoth the cang dohter the gath woniende, the wlecche the Godd speoweth - as is i-writen her-efter - the bigunnen i gast, ant i flesch endith. Nai, nai, ah as Job seith, "the delveth efter golt-hord, eaver se he mare nahheth hit, se his heortes gleadschipe maketh him mare lusti, ant mare fersch to diggin ant delven deoppre ant deoppre, athet he hit finde. Ower heorte nis nawt on eorthe; for- thi ne thurve ye nawt delven dune-wardes, ah heoven uppart the heorte, for thet is the up-rowunge ayein this worldes stream, driven hire ayein-ward to delven the golt-hord thet up is in heovene. Ant hwet is thet delvunge? Yeornful sechinde thoht, hwer hit beo, hwuch hit beo, hu me hit mahe i-finden - this is the delvunge. Beon bisiliche ant yeornfulliche eaver her-abuten, with ane-wil yirnunge, with heate of hungri heorte, waden up of untheawes, creopen ut of flesch, breoken up over hire, astihen up on ow- seolf with heh thoht toward heovene - swa muchel the neodeluker thet ower feble, tendre flesch heardes ne mei tholien. Nu thenne, ther-ayein yeoveth Godd ower heorte, i softnesse, i swetnesse, in alles cunnes meoknesse, ant softest eadmodnesse - nawt nu granin ant peonsin, th'refter hehi stevene, wreathen hire unweneliche, sinetin hire wordes, wrenchen awei-ward, wenden the schuldre, keaste the heaved, swa thet Godd heateth hire ant mon hire scarneth. Nai, nai! Ripe wordes, lates ripe ant werkes bilimpeth to ancre. Hwen wordes beoth eadmodliche ant sothfestliche i-seide, nawt ful-itoheliche ne babanliche, thenne habbeth ha burtherne to beo riht understonden. Nu is this al i-seid thet ye - efter Jesu Crist the me gurde ine muth ant galle yef to drinken - with muthes sunne witen ow, ant tholieth sum derf i thet wit as he wes th'rin i-dervet. In his eare, he hefde, the heovenliche Laverd, al the edwit ant te upbrud, al the scarn ant al the scheome thet eare mahte i-heren, ant he seith bi him-seolf, us for-te learen: Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens et non habens in ore suo redargutiones. "Ich heold me," he seith, "stille as dumbe ant deaf deth thet naveth nan ondswere, thah me him misdo other missegge." This is thi leofmonnes sahe, ant tu, seli ancre, the art his leove spuse, leorne hit yeorne of him thet tu hit cunne ant mahe sothliche seggen. Nu ich habbe i-speken of ower fowre wittes, ant of Godes fowre, hu he thurh hise frovreth ow as ofte as ye in ower feleth eani weane. Nu hercnith of the fifte thet is meast neod elne, for the pine is meast th'rin - thet is, i felunge - ant te licunge alswa, yef hit swa turneth. The fifte wit is felunge. This ilke an wit is in alle the othre, ant yont al the licome, ant for-thi hit is neod to habben best warde. Ure Laverd wiste hit wel, ant for-thi he walde meast i thet wit tholien, al for-te frovrin us yef we tholieth wa th'rin, ant for-te wenden us frommard te licunge thet flesches lust easketh, nomeliche i felunge mare then in othre. Ure Laverd i this wit nefde nawt in a stude, ah hefde over al pine, nawt ane yond al his bodi, ah hefde yet in-with in his seli sawle. In hire he felde the stiche of sari sorhe ant sorhful thet dude him sike sare. This stiche wes threo-vald, the ase threo speren smat him to the heorte. The an wes his modres wop ant te othre Maries, the flowen o teares. The other, thet his ahne deore deciples ne lefden him na mare, ne ne heolden for Godd, for-thi thet he ne healp him-seolf in his muchele pine, ant fluhen alle from him ant leafden him as fremede. The thridde wes thet muchele sar ant te of-thunchunge thet he hefde in-with him of hare forlorenesse, the drohen him to deathe, thet he seh onont ham al his swinc forloren thet he swonc on eorthe. Theos ilke threo stichen weren in his sawle. In his licome, euch lim, as Seint Austin seith, tholede sundri pine, ant deide yond al his bodi, as he ear yond al his bodi deathes swat sweatte. Ant her seith Sein Beornard thet "he ne weop nawt ane with ehnen, ah dude as with alle his limen": Quasi inquit membris omnibus flevisse videtur. For se ful of angoisse wes thet ilke ned-swat thet lihte of his licome ayein the angoisuse death thet he schulde tholien, thet hit thuhte read blod. Factus est sudor ejus quasi gutte sanguinis decurrentis in terram. On other half, "swa largeliche, ant swa swithe fleaw thet ilke blodi swat of his blisfule bodi, thet te streames urnen dun to ther eorthe." Swuch grure hefde his monliche flesch ayein the derve pinen thet hit schulde drehen. Thet nes na feorlich wunder, for eaver se flesch is cwickre, se the reopunge th'rof ant te hurt is sarre. A lutel hurt i the ehe derveth mare then deth a muchel i the hele, for the flesch is deaddre. Euch monnes flesch is dead flesch - ayein thet wes Godes flesch as thet te wes i-numen of the tendre meiden ant na thing neaver nes th'rin thet hit adeadede, ah eaver wes i-liche cwic of thet cwike Goddhead the wunede th'rinne. For-thi in his flesch wes the pine sarre, then eaver eani mon in his flesch tholede. Thet his flesch wes cwic over alle flesches - lo, hwuc an essample: A mon for uvel thet he haveth, ne let him nawt blod o the seke halve, ah deth the hale, to heale the seke. Ah in al the world the wes o the fevre, nes bimong al mon- cun an hal dale i-funden the mahte beon i-lete blod, bute Godes bodi ane the lette him blod o rode, nawt o the earm ane, ah dude o fif halve for-te healen mon-cun of the secnesse thet te fif wittes hefden awakenet. Thus, lo, the hale half ant te cwike dale droh thet uvele blod ut frommard te unhale, ant healde swa the seke. Thurh blod is in Hali Writ sunne bitacnet. The reisuns hwi beoth efter sutelliche i-schawet. Ah ther-of neometh yeme, mine leove sustren, thet ower deore-wurthe spus, the luve-wurthe Laverd, the Healent of heovene, Jesu Godd, Godes sune, the wealdent of al the world, tha he wes thus i-lete blod, understondeth thet dei hwuch wes his diete. I the ilke blodletunge se baleful ant se bitter, the ilke thet he bledde fore ne brohten ha him to present ne win, ne ale, ne weater, yet tha he seide, sicio, ant meande as he bledde of thurst o the rode, ah duden bitter galle. Hwer wes eaver i-yeven to eani blod-leten se povre pitance? Ant tah ne gruchede he nawt, ah underveng hit eadmodliche for-te learen hise. Ant yet he dude mare us to forbisne, dude his deore muth ther-to ant smahte th'rof, thah he hit notie ne mahte. Hwa is thenne efter this, ant ancre hure ant hure, the gruccheth yef ha naveth nawt other mete other drunch efter hire eise? Ant siker hwa-se gruccheth, ha offreth yet ure Laverd his luthere pitance, as duden tha the Giws, ant is Giwes fere to beoden him in his thurst drunch of sur galle. His thurst nis bute yirnunge of ure sawle heale, ant grucchunge of bitter ant of sur heorte is him surre ant bittrure nu then wes tha the galle. Ant tu, his deore spuse, ne beo thu nawt Giwes make for-te birlin him swa, ah ber him feolah-readden, ant drinc with him blitheliche al thet ti flesch thuncheth sur other bitter - thet is, pine ant wone ant alle meoseises - ant he hit wule the yelden as his treowe fere with healewi of heovene. Thus wes Jesu Crist, the almihti Godd, in alle his fif wittes derfliche i-pinet, ant nomeliche i this leaste - thet is, i felunge, for his flesch wes al cwic as is the tendre ehe. Ant ye witen this wit, thet is, flesches felunge, over alle the othre. Godes honden weren i-neilet o rode. Thurh the ilke neiles ich halsi ow ancres - nawt ow, ah do othre, for hit nis na neod, mine leove sustren - haldeth ower honden in-with ower thurles. Hondlunge other ei felunge bitweone mon ant ancre is thing swa uncumelich, ant dede se scheomelich ant se naket sunne, to al the world se eatelich ant se muche scandle, thet nis na neod to speoken ne writen ther-toyeines, for al withute writunge thet ful is to etscene. Godd hit wat, as me were muche deale leovere thet ich i-sehe ow alle threo, mine leove sustren, wummen me leovest, hongin on a gibet, for-te withbuhe sunne, then ich sehe an of ow yeoven anlepi cos eani mon on eorthe swa as ich meane. Ich am stille of thet mare. Nawt ane monglin honden, ah putten hond ut-ward bute hit beo for nede, is wohunge efter Godes grome ant tollunge of his eorre. Hire-seolf bihalden hire ahne hwite honden deth hearm moni ancre, the haveth ham to feire as theo the beoth for-idlet. Ha schulden schrapien euche dei the eorthe up of hare put thet ha schulen rotien in. Godd hit wat, thet put deth muche god moni ancre. For as Salomon seith, Memorare novissima tua et in eternum non peccabis. Theo the haveth eaver hire death as bivoren hire ehnen thet te put munegeth, yef thet ha thencheth wel o the dom of Domes-dei, ther the engles schule cwakien, ant te eche ant te eateliche pinen of helle, ant over al ant al o Jesu Cristes passiun, hu he wes i-pinet - as is sum-deal i-seid - in alle his fif wittes, lihtliche nule ha nawt folhi flesches licunge efter willes lust, ne drahen in toward hire nan heaved sunne with hire fif wittes. This is nu inoh i-seid of the fif wittes, the beoth ase wardein withuten of the heorte, thet sawle lif is inne. As we seiden th'ruppe on earst thet Salomon seide, Omni custodia custodi cor tuum quoniam ex ipso vita procedit. Nu beoth, Crist have thonc, the twa dalen overcumen. Ga we nu with his help up-o the thridde. |