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As I on hilly halkes logged me late, Biside ny of a Ladi sone was I war; La Bele me desired in Englysh to translate The Latyn of that lady, Asneth Putifar. And I answered, "Ma Bele, langage I lakke To parforme youre plesir, for yt ys ful straunge That broken tuskes shold wel harde nuttis crakke, And kerve out the kernelis, to glade with yowre graunge; 1 For lame and unlusty now age hath me left; Mi spiritis are spended, I lakke sapience, Dulled I am with dotage, my reson ys me reft, Prived and departed from al eloquence, So my seson ys passed with langage to jape. Hit ys not fetis forto see a cowe in a cage - The desire to make a fool of my lordis ape. He plesed never lady wel that lakked corage. For as the oule ys unable to blase the sunnebemys, So ys the moselynge molle to jaile the rede rose, And as able ys the asse to Danielis dremys, As the cukkou with crochetis ony countour to close." And when daunger deynusly here desire refused, La Bele ful benignely sayde to me than, "That servant ys not to blame, but fully excused, That meketh hym to his maystresse, and doth as he can." Concluded thus with gentilnesse, I toke on to me the cure, Asneth storie to translate after my cunnynge, Fro Latyn into Englysh as God me sendeth oevre. Gyde this werke, gracious Lord, and graunte it good endynge, Utterali the Latyn in Englyshe to transpose; Hit is nuyus, but the sentence I schal sue in trace, 2 And yf ye fynde fautes, grave hem with yowr glose, I pray yow thus, my maystresse, of yowre good grace. The Story PHARAO, the famus kynge of Egipt land aboute, The firste yeer of seven yeeris of plenteuus abundance, The fifthe day, in the secunde monthe, he sende Joseph oute To purveie wete for the peple of his obeisance; And in the ferthe monthe, the eyhtethe day, to make purveance Joseph cam into the cuntré of Helinpoleos, And gadered whete of that regioun: nobeli sprange his loos. And in that cité there was a prince of Pharao the kynges, That was wondir noble and riche, and of gret prudence, Sad of conseyl, meke and wise, in alle manere thyngys, Chief cunseilour to Pharao for his intelligence. Above alle princes he was preferred for his excellence; Of Helinpoleos preest Putifar, so men did hym calle, Honoured in alle Egipt of gret and of smalle. This prince hadde a dowter dere, Asneth was her name, A virgine ful specious and semely of stature; Of eyhtene yeer age sche was, withoute ony blame, Florishynge in here beauté, the most comely creature Of Egipt, and alle virgines sche passed in feture, Not lyke the dowhtres of Egipt in here resemblance, But assemblynge the Hebrees in colour and cuntenance. Of stature semeli as Sare, specious as Rebekke, Fair formed of feturis as semblyng to Rachel, Her cors was ful comely of hue, hed and nekke. Cumfortable of cuntenance, hit becam here wel; Of here soverain beauté al Egipt gan tel, And praysed here in alle that lande, so noble was here fame, That bataile among princes childeren was joyned for that dame. But when that Pharois eldist child, his sone and his heir, Herde telle of this ladi, to his fadir he wente right And said, "Grante me to my wyf Asneth the feyr!" But Pharao denyed hym and answered to the knyght, "Thu schalt have to thin astate a ladi of more myght, The kyngis dowter of Moab of noble alliance, A comeli quene fair and free, evene to thi plesance." But Asneth that was so feir, soleyn she was withal, Dispisynge eche man deynusly, and prowd of her corage. A ful high tour was bild for here, of werk that was rial, Joynynge to here fadir hous, and above it upon stage Ten chambres for here wer bild of precious parage. The firste was fair and large with porferett stonis walled, Poudred with precious polimites, of diverse colours called. With carpettis of cloth of gold hit was laid abowte, And in the wallis here Egipt godis sette in sundry wyse, Wrouht of goold and silver wel; of hem sche had gret doute, For everi day to the same sche dide sacrifice. In the secunde chamber was here atire, of ful riche assise, Goold, silver, preciouse stonis, and garnementis gaye, Schetis of silk, and robis fyne of ful riche araye. The thridde chambir was for stoor, stuffed as ye shul here Of alle goodis that growe on erthe to mannys sustinance. The seven chambiris remenant were ordeyned on this manere, For seven maidenes, that lowly served here with plesance. Thise were here Egipt eveneldis to here daliance, 3 Fair of face, bright of ble as sterre in the firmament, With man ne manlichild speke thei in no manere entent. In the chief chambir of Asneth ther were wyndowys thre, The firste retardynge to the est, the secunde was sought right, The thirde lay north upon the strete in swych manere degré That of alle that passed by sche mihte have a syght. In this chambir a bed was raid of goold and purpur bright; Contexit it was with jacintt and purpur bise with alle. 4 Alone lay Asneth in this bed that riche was and rialle. A gret halle was bild abowte with wallis wonder hie, With foure yren gatis, spered faste and stronge, And kept with eyhtene men of armes harneised surely. Yet ther were planted in the side the halle trees faire behonge With frutes that were delectable, and fair leves amonge, And a cundite beside the halle that ran as cristalle cleer, That moisted the trees lustily and dide to hem gret chere. The fame of gentil Joseph sprange gretly and aroos To alle the lordis of Egipt land with gret reverence. And when he was come into the cuntré of Helinpoleos, He sende twelve wyse to Putifar preest seiynge in sentence, 5 "Greteth the wel oure sire Joseph, and noteth yn advertence, 6 To dyner at midday to thi hous he cometh for his cumfort, In the shade fro the sunne to take there his disport." And Putifar, plesed plesantly, sayd with voise joiynge, "Blessed be the Lord God of Joseph that my noble sire Ys comynge toward my hous; to me yt is plesynge." He called the prevost of ys hous and sayd, "I the require Make redi a grete feste, and most deynteus to desire, And governe it goodly, I the charge, in thi beste aray, For Joseph the stronge man of God schal come to us this day." Then herde Asneth that her fadir and her modir bothe Wer come in hervest fro the feeld of here heritage And sayde, "With joye I schal go and se hem forsothe," And hasted here forth busyly, agayns hem in passage, Clothed comely in bright byse, lykynge to here lynage, And wrought with goold of jacintt, a girdel of goold therto, With armillis aboute here handis, and here feet also. A bie of bright burned goold aboute here nekke was bent Pyght ful of preciouse stonys, and grave in were alle The idolis namys of Egipt, plesant to here entent. And above here hed was sett a riche coronalle, That constreyned here fair frount, that was so virginalle; Here hed was covered with terestre, and went forth with plesance And haileed here fadir and here modir with comely cuntenance. Ful curteysly sche kyste hem and gretly gan joye, To se here douhter so honestly in riche ornature. The deynteuus frutes of the feld to here thei did emploie, That delicious were and delectable and noble in nature. The mayde rejosed of the frutes that were ful mature, Of figes, dates, pomgarnettis and of grapes grete, Of dove briddes and othir frittes that savery were and swete. And Putifar sayde to Asneth, "The closett dore the shitte." She did so, and he here kiste and saide, "My dowter dere, Novellis newe I schall the telle - tend now to my witte: The myhty man, Joseph of God, this day wel be here And he ys governour to save Egipt, by Pharao saunz pere, A maide clene as ye be, so virgine he ys specialle; I schal marie yow to hym and make yow his contharalle." And when Asneth had herd here fadir thise wordis reherse, With straunge yes on hym sche loked, here color gan disteyne, And seide to hym, "Why seie ye thus, my worshyp to reverse, To take me caytyf to a straunger? Of hym I have disdeyne. A futif he ys, by bargayn bouht, and more I say yow pleine, That herdis sone of Chanan his lady wold have fuyled. 7 In prison therefore he was put and of al worshyp spuyled. "And after yt happid that Pharao, as he lay in slepe, Dreyht was dered in hys dremys, diversely dremynge, 8 And then this Joseph was take out of the prison depe To rede hym right the redeles of his swevenynge. The olde wyfis of Egipt han craft in that cunnynge, And therfore that dreme redere I utterly forsake, And take me to the kyngis sone, my marie and my make." AND as Putifar with his douhter stood thus talkynge, There com on of his meyné and thus to hym saide, "Joseph ys come to yowre gatis, I do yow to wytynge." And when he spak of Joseph, anon Asneth the mayde Ascended to here cenacle; to the wyndow sche here braide, That lay estward in the chambir of here stately tour, To se Joseph, for hir fadir of hym spak gret honour. And Putifar went forth with his wyf and with his kynrede, To mete with Joseph that gentil juge, as man that was sage; He commaunded the porteris sone the gatis up to sprede, And in entred Joseph thanne, upon that terrage, Standynge on Pharaos secunde chare, statli upon stage, With foure stronge stoute stedis therinne were drawynge, That were white as the snow and prowd of here likynge. The brideles were fineli gild, the trais of noble atire; Joseph clothed was al in white, covered with purpure palle. Wrought with braunches of bright byse contexit with goold wire, A coronite of goold on his heed that riche was and rialle, And in the cercle therof were sette twelf stonis imperialle, And above the saide stonis, twelf sterris of goold pure, With a sceptir in his hand that noble was in nature. A braunche with beries of olive tree in hand he bar with alle; Ful plenteus it was of frut, therin was gret fatnesse. Then entered Joseph in at the gatis, and cam into the halle, And the peple was voided sone with gret busynesse; The porteris shitte the gatis faste, with moche hastynesse, And Putifar, his wyf, and hys kynred, with worthi governance, Except Asneth, honoured Joseph with lowly obeisaunce. Joseph descended of his chaar, glorious to beholde, And tok hem on his right syde, thankynge in noble wyse. Grett joye there was mad among yong and olde, Save when Asneth saw Joseph, here sorwe gan arise, Here spirites failed, here bodi trembled, his noblei to dispise. 9 "Alas," sche saide, "I have misdo, dispisynge this nobil man, When I called hym herdis sone of the land of Chanan. "And nowe he cometh as the sunne fro heven, with his bemys Radiant richeli in his chaar, with glorious excellence, Passynge peerles and plesant, in rulynge of remys, With beauté bounté he is braced, and grace of influence. Allas that ever I dispised hym or made hym resistence; Godis sone, I wot, is ful noble of alliance, And the saveour of al Egipt, withoute variance. "Who was ever gete of a man so fair, so fresh of face? Or what womman myhte conceive and bere so moche light? Of most wrecched now I am; forfeted I have hys grace, When I dispurned hym to my fadir with wordis of unright. Now wyl I hide me fro his face, and kepe me fro his sight; And yet nothynge fro hym ys hid, he hath so gret cunnyngge. But mercy, gret God of Joseph, of my missayngge. "I wolde my fadir wolde me gife to Joseph in service, Forever therto I wolde assente to be hys owen servant." By that had Joseph wasshe his feet and in noble wyse A boord was laid for hym that was to hym plesant, For with the Egiptianis in etynge he was not conversant, But eschued heem in here metis and of hem had drede. And after he spak to Putifar thus, and to his kynrede: "What womman was sche that in the wyndow stod Of the cenacle as I cam in? Sche ys ageyns my herte. Remeveth her sone out of this hous for marrynge of my mod." For Joseph dred wanton wymmen, that good men do perverte. Therfore he saide, "Have here out that I may be querte," For he was chast and virgine pure, and clene in continence, Dredynge with fere the infeccion of femenyn insolence. And for as moche as the dowtres of the dukys grete Of Egipt wowed hym ofte tyme to wanton wikkednesse, Therfore he fledde here felauship, and ofte tyme did hem threte, Tho voyde hem fro the presence of his pure clennesse; Alle faire femelis of Egipt he had in hevynesse, For thei desired to slepe with hym, he was so amiable; But he dispised hem and here menis - in clennesse he was stable. And saide, "In the sight of gret God of my fadir Israel I wyl not synne in no wyse, but have in remembrance The commaundementis of my fadir, and ever kepe hem wel; For he bad me and my bretheren, withoute variaunce, To kepe us clene fro wymmen of straunge alliance, And saide that here felauship wold man with deth destruye. Therfore have out the straunge womman, nothynge that sche me nuye." 10 Then seyde Putifar thus: "My lord, the womman that ye saw stande Ys non alien, but of herinne, and howre dowhtere dere, Hatynge the cumpanie of alle men; and more, I take an hande, Sche ys virgine pure and clene. Therfore I pray yow here, That sche may come to yowr presence and haile yow with good chere." And Joseph gretly joied then for that Putifar saide That sche loved no man flesly, but lyved a clene maide. "That sche ys a maide," quod Joseph, "I love here the more, And as myn owen sister, ful wel sche pleseth me. Lett here come anon to me." Here modir went here fore, And brouhte here to his presence, that maide fair and fre. Here fadir saide to here ful sone, "Dowhter, I charge the Salu thi brother, a maide as yow, of dede and purpos pure, Hatynge alienes and unclene wymmen, as thu in thi nature." Then Asneth, nurshid nobely, on knes fair hym grette, And said, "Hail lord, blessed of God, hie hevene Kynge." And Joseph answered gentilly, hys wordis to her he sette: "Blisse the maide, the grete God that quikketh al thynge." 11 Than said the fadir, "Go kis thy brother, douhter, on my blessynge." And Asneth wente to kysse hym after here fadir hestis; But Joseph streight his right hand out and layd yt on here brestis, And sayd, "Sothly, unsemynge and unsittynge hit ys To the man that schulde serve God, and with his mouth Hym blesse, And ete the blessed brede of lyve, and drinke of His chalis, Ony womman, alien or straunger for to kesse, That blysse mamettis with here mouth, and idolis in liknesse That are bothe dumbe and dede, and ete brede of here bord; Ony swych womman for to kysse, hit lyketh not God my Lord. "But the man that worshipeth God, his modir kysse he schal Hys sister, his wyf, and his kynrede, and make heem good chere." [Some portion of the poem, probably a whole page, is missing. See note.] Joseph sayd, "I wil departe upon this same day, For in this day God bygan alle His creature, And hereafter eyhte dayes, sothly as I the say, I schal retourne and dwelle here, and therto do my cure." Putifar thenne and his kynrede, with humblesse of nurture, Toke at hym his bien aille, with ful gentil langage, And so dide Joseph at hym, and tok forth his viage. And Asneth abood soul alone with seven virgines clene, And, greved with sorwe, sche wepte sore to the sunne siled west. 12 Bred ne water wolde sche noon, by no maner mene. When nyht cam, alle thei slept and wente to here rest Save Asneth, wakynge allone, lay knockynge here brest. For sche hadde take ful gret drede, and shok with tremblynge. Sche was constrayned so with sorwe, that caused here mournynge. And then sche roos fro here bed and cam fro here chamber doun, The gatis where portere and his men slepte sure, And to wyndowe faste by sche busked here ful boun, And there sche drow out a large skyn for here couverture, And filde the skyn ful of askes, and after by aventure Sche ascended into here chamber, the doris fast barrynge, And lay doun on the pavement and syhed with waylynge. A virgine that Asneth loved most herde of here sobbynge; Alle sixe virgines here felawys anon sche gan up rere. Thei wente to the chamber dore, and herde here syhynge. Thei founde the dore lokked faste, thei myhte hit not unspere; Werefore thei cried with vois echon, and callid on here there, And sayde, "Madame, what ailes you, and ys your nuysance?" Asneth opened not here dore, but sayde in this wyse, "Mi heed yt aketh grevusly; on bed therfore I lye. I am so sik in al my membris, that I may not rise To open the dore. Goth fro me; to your chambres you hie." Thei passed forth as sche bad, and Asneth privelye Com to the chamber where here robis pressed were welle, And drow to here a blacke robe, a cloth of sorwe and deelle That sche had mad for the deth of here yungger brother. With this cloth into here chamber sche returned sone, And schytte the dore with barre and bolt at travers upon othir, 13 And in haste dide of here robe, with ful moche mone, That riall was with bise and goold ful preciously bygone, And so sche did here ceynte of goold that riche was of valour, And did on here the blake robe, the vesture of dolour. The coronalle that covered her hed, in the pavement sche yt laide; Here byes als and bracelettis of riche orfeoure, 14 And in the north part of the chamber to a wyndow sche brayde, And threw hem out by and by, that noble were of feiture; Here garmentis of goold and girdelis of gay garnetture And alle here godis of goold and silver, sche tok hem in haste, With alle the idolis of Egipt, at the wyndow out sche caste. Sche tok here souper, araid fore here of wyld foul and fisshes, The carcais als of fatte calfis, and of other sacrifice, The vesselis for wyne of sacrifice - toupes, cuppis, disshes - Cast hem out to straungeris houndis, and so did hem dispise And sayde, "Alas how schod my houndis ete in ony wyse, Of this souper of sacrifice, of fals maumettrie? I take yt therfore to straungeris houndis, and forsake al ydolatrie." And after Asneth askes tok and strewed hem in and oute Upon the pavement, and bond her leendis with saccloth for penance, And did an here heve upon here bodi, and bette here breste aboute 15 With bothe handis, and wepte sore for here ignorance, And laide here doun upon the askes, with teris of repentance, Sobbyn sore with moche sorwe, sett on every side, Al the nyth contynuynge so, til the morwe tyde. In the mornynge when she roos, with fen sche was fuyled, That with the teris and askes were medled so in same, Sche fil agayn flatt on here face, here body so sche spuyled, And lay there til hit was nyht, Asneth by here name. So sche meked here by seven daies, that noble worthi dame; The eyhte day the cokkys crew, the day bygan to sprynge, The mayde a lytel lefte up here heed, ful faynt of fastynge. After she roos on here knees, feble sche was and feynt, And lifte up here heed a lite, and syhed wondir sore. The maide was meked, and made megre, and with sorwe atteynt 16 To a wyndow that lay estwarde sche dressed here therfore, And sette here doun undir yt, and saide, "Ha Lord! Thyn ore! What schal I do? Were may I go? Were schal I have refute? Desolate maide and deserte, of cumfort destitute. "Mi fadir, my modir, and my kyn, thei wel me have in hate, For I have disparplid al here goodis, and cast hem underfote, And forsake me for here douhter, and with me debate. Who may delivere fro this daunger? My balis who may bote? Yett moreover in my mynde with sorwe I marke and note, That al my lovers that me wowed, I hated in alle wyse; Now may thei glade on my myschief, and utterly me dispise. 17 "But the heyhe Lord God of Joseph, almyhti in His trone, He ys jelous upon His peple, hatynge al idolatrie. Therfore, dredful Lord, to The now make I my mone, For I have worshiped fals godis, and mortal mamettrie; Of here sacrifices I have ete; mercy therfore I crie, For the Lord God of Hebreis ys trewe and mercyable, Longe abydynge, mylde and meke, on hem that be unstable. "He repreveth no maner man that turneth Hym with penance. Therfore I wil returne to Hym and fro me synne chace; I wil forsake al my synnes, and after to His plesance Yete out my praieres in His siht, and to His love me brace. And yf that I be repentant, He wil take me to grace, For He is protectour and defendour of fadirles children alle. Therfore to His grete mercy I schal clepe and calle." And than sche roos out of the place ther sche satt, and stood To the wyndowys that to the est parties hadde here regard, And saide, "Lord God of al rightful, that madest land and flood, That inspirest al wysdam in hertis that ben hard, And makyst thynggis invisible apparent afterward, That hast enhanced heven an high and stablyd yt above the wyndes, And foundid land upon the wateris as creatour to al kyndes, "That hast made the stonis grete and wateris of hyhe depnesse, Conservynge kyndly Thi preceptis, and to Thi vois obeisant: Thei wyl nawt offende Thi maundementis, for in sekirnesse To al lyvynge creatures Thi word ys lyf plesant; Therfore I flute, Lord, to The, Thyn humble suppliant, Cryinge to The with my prayere in Thyn hihe presence, Confessynge to The my grete synnes, and schewe The my offence. "Synnynge, Lord, I have synned ful gretly in Thi syght, And worsheped idolis and maumettis agayns Thi magesté; Therfore to open my mouth to The, unworthy I am by right. O Lord God, summe tyme I was a proud lay of degré, Preferrid in richesse above alle other; in worship gret plenté I hadde, but ful desolate and destitute I am forsake. Werefore, Lord, I fle to The; to Thi mercy I me betake. "And as the infaunt, that sothly soketh his modir breste, For drede fleeth to the fadyr, to have of hym socoure, So, Lord, I sprede out my handis: to The ys al my treste; Take me, Lord, and calle me to The, and helpe me with Thi favoure, For the develle, that wod lyoun, will ravesshe me with erroure, For he is fadir of fals godis of al Egipt land, But I have cast hem fro me, and destruyed hem with my hand. "Delivere me, Lord, fro his powere and fro his mouth me drawe, Lest on happe he ravesshe me and sle me, that grett whale That ys acursyd eternally, by the sentence of the lawe; Receyve me, Lord, for fadir and modir refuse me with bale, And seyn, 'Asneth is not oure douhter,' to grete and to smale, 'For sche hath destruyed oure godis of goold, and gyfe hem in conculcacioun, 18 To alle men passynge by the way in gret abhominacioun.' "Werefore I fle to The, my God, that art of myhtes most: Delivere me, and spare me, Lord; I have synned by ignorance When I called Thi child Joseph, in despite with my goost, The heerdis sone of Chanan, in pride of my bobaunce; And now he is above alle men, withoute variaunce, For he The knoweth for on God, veray Lord and trewe. Therfore Thu hast gyfe witt to hym, wisdam and vertue. "Now, good Lord, take me to hym to be his handmaide, And I schal wassche louly hys feet; subdue me to his servage, Lernynge the knowlych of veray God." And when sche thus had said, The sterre Lucifer in the est shewed his visage, And therof Asneth was ful glad, and seide in here langage, "Trowest not God hath my prayer herd? The message - lo! - of lyht 19 Is rise up!" And sodeynly sche saw a selcouth siht. Sche saw faste by the sterre how hevene partyd in two, And a wondirful gret liht lemed out in that stede, And Asneth ferd fel on here face, on the askes tho, And a man com doun fro hevene, and stood upon here heed, Callynge Asneth by here name; sche answered not for dred, And he called here the secounde tyme, and saide, "Asneth! Asneth!" Then sche answered, "Lo, my Lord," and therwith sche took breth, And saide, "Tell me who thu art," and he answered in haste, "I am a prince of Godis hous, and of Hys hevenly ost. Arise, and stand on thi feet, and be nothynge agast, And my wordis schal speke to the to cumfort of thi gost." Sche lyfte then here heed and saw a man like almost Joseph, with scepter, stole, and coroune, his cheer as lyhtyng leem, 20 And his yes bright shynynge as doth the sunne beem. The heris of hys heed, thei were as flame of fire brennynge, And Asneth, frayd of the syhte, fel to his feet for fere, In so moche that al here membris were meved with tremblynge. And the aungel saide thenne, "Asneth, nothinge the dere; Be thu cumforted, and rise up, and on thi feet the rere, And [I] schal speke my wordis to the after myn entent." And Asneth roos upon here feet at his commaundement. The aungel saide to Asneth, "Do of thi blak haire, And thi garnement of drede, the saccloth, do away; Smyte the askes fro thi heed, and washe thi face faire, And thi handis with rennynge water; do on thi riche aray, Thi lynnen robe, untouched newe, that glorious ys and gay, And gird the with the double ceynt of thi virginité, And then com to me agayn, and I schal speke to the." Asneth hasted forth anon and did as he desired, And caste on the white robe with precious parementis, With double ceynt gird aboute, and diversly atired Above the brestis, and on the lendis gird on here garnementis, A lynen newe theustre vail with riche ornamentis; Here hed was voluped with that vail, for virginal excellence, And returned to the aungel, and stood in his presence. The aungel saide, "Lai don thi vail; discovere thi hed in haste. Why dost thu thus? Thu art maide, thin heed is fair to se, As the heed of a yonglynge." The vail away sche caste. The aungel said, "Asneth, maide, of good chere thu be, Oure Lord hath herd thi prayer and thi confession fre; Thi fast he saw of seven dayes, and thi lou mekynge, And the fen, mad of the askes and of gret terynge. "Be glad, virgine, for thi name ys write in the book of lif, And schal never be don away, but ay in remembrance. Lo fro this day thu art renuwed and quicked fro al strif, And thu schalt ete of blessynge bred and have drinke of plesance; Thu schalt be enoynted with holi creme of glorious purveance. And, more, I gif the into wyf to Joseph my dere frend, And Joseph into thi spouse in wordle withoute end. "And thi name schal be called Asneth no more, But hit schal be Moche-of-Refute, and so men schul the calle, For peple schul turne to God by the, I warne the bifore, And undir thi wynggis thei schul be covered, tristynge in God alle, And attendynge to the hiest God schul be kept in thi walle, For thi penaunce hath prayd to Hym for the every hour, And upon alle other penantes, in Godis name with dolour. "For penaunce ys the dere douhter of hiest God in hevene, And entendynge upon maidenes and loveth you gretly, And praieth for you every hour to God, I telle the evene, And for alle repentant in Godis hie name mekly. Yt maketh maidenes to reste in hevene in place arayd sikerly, And renoveleth virgines clene to Goddis dere blessynge, And ministreth hem joye and blisse in wordlis withoute endynge. "Penaunce ys a maide good, glad, and mesurable. The hiest God hath here in lond, his angelis in reverence, I love here wel. Now schal I go withoute ony fable, To Joseph and telle of the the wordis of my sentence, And he schal come this dai to the and see thyn excellence, And with joye love the well; thi spouse be he schalle, And wedded wyf to hym in wordlis eternalle. "And now here me, Asneth, maide: do on thi garnementis Of weddynge now in thi chambre, and atire the with alle, And enbelise thi bright beauté, with preciouse ornamentis, And go forth to mete Joseph, thi spouse specialle. For he schal come and se the today, in vesture imperialle." And after he had endyd his word, Asneth with consolacion Worshiped hym don on the erthe, and said in comendacyon, "Blessed be thi God most hiest, that thus the hath sent, And delivered me fro derknesse and depnesse of my bale; Blessed ever be His name, Lord God omnipotent." And to the angel afterward thise wordis sho gan availe: "What is thi name? Tel me sone, and give yt me in tale, That I mai worship and thanke the, my lord and my frend, And glorifie thi grete name, in wordle without ende." The angel saide, "My name is write in Godis book in heven, With Godis fynger afore al othir in the bokys bygynnynge. For I am the Prince of Godis Hous, and so I tel the even, That al that writen is in that boke, hit passed mannys spekynge; Inconvenient therfore yt ys, to eche man unsyttynge, To commune or to here of hem that are celestialle, For thei be gret fro mannys mynde, and wonderfull with alle." Thenne seide Asneth, "Good lord, lat me fynde grace That I mai knowe that yt be do that thu hast said to me. Gyf thyn handmaide leve to speke in presence of thi face." The angel said, "Spek on, Asneth, thi bone I graunte the." And sche tok hym by the palle, and said with vois ful free, "I pray the, lord, to sitte a while upon this bed so clene, For man ne womman satt never theron by no maner mene, "And I schall make a bord redy, and offre to your plesir Breed and wyn fro my celer, ful swete and redolent; And when ye have ete and drunke then aftir your desire, Ye mai folwe forth your way aftir your entent." The aungel saide, "Bringe yt sone, therto I consent." And Asneth sette a newe bord with business and haste, And went to fette breed and wyne plesant to his taste. The aungel saide, "A honycombe bringe thu me ful sone," And for sche had non redy sche stood al dismaid. Sche saide, "I schal send a chyld into the feeld anone Of hour heritage to fette on, and sone yt schal be rayd." "Entre into thi celer," the aungel to here saide, "And thu schalt fynde an honycomb redy on the bord, Take and brynge yt to me." And Asneth sayd, "My lord, Knowyth wel ther is non, in no maner of wyse." "Entre thi celer," quod the aungel, "and on ther schalt thu fynde." Sche entred in; an honycomb sche fond of a gret assise, Also white as the snowe, clene and pure in kynde, Of odour swete. And Asneth mervayled in her mynde, And said, "Trowest not that of this comb that this man hath ete, 21 For the flavour ys as the breeth of his mouth so swete?" And annon sche tok the comb and afore hym sette. The angel said, "Whi saidest thu ther was non in thi celer? Now hast thu brouht a ful fair on, that was in thi recette." And Asneth with gret drede saide in this manere, "Lord, non swych honycomb in governance hadde I there, But by commaundement of thi mouth, so yt was do, For the odour therof ys lik the breth of thi mouth also." And the aungel smyled then, with lauhynge cuntenance, For the wisdam of Asneth, upon here intelligence. He called here unto hym, his right hand he did hance Upon here heed. Sche loked on hym with shame and reverence; He gaf here then hys benison of gracious influence. He saide to here, "Thu art blessed, for thu hast left the fay Of alle maner fals ydolys, and belevist in God veray. "And blessed be thei that come to God in holy penance, For thei schul ete of this comb, that bees made of Paradise, Of the dew of rosis there, that are of gret plesance. The angelis of God schul ete also this comb of prise, And who that eteth of the same schal never dye in no wise." After he brak it and ete a part of that hony swete; The remenant he putte in Asneth mouth and bad here to ete. The aungel saide, "Lo, thu hast ete of the bred of lyf, And thu art enoynted with holi creme, and thi flesh fro this day Schal be renewed, and thi bonys cured from al strif, And thi vertu nevere faile; the sothe now I the say. Thy juvente schal have non age, thi beauté schal laste ay. Of alle that fle to oure Lordis name, God and Hevene Kynge, Thu schalt be as cité bild of joye, withoute endynge." He touched the comb broke with his hand: hool it was anone; He touched the hony with hys fynger upon the este partie, He drow his fynger ageyn to hym to the west part sone, And the way of his fynger was mad al blodi. He drow his fynger theron fro the north to the sowth surly; The way of hys fynger ther was turned into blood, And Asneth biheld al that he did; in his lift side sche stood. The aungel saide, "Upon the comb behold and take hede," And bees come out therof ful fele, and white as the snow; Here wynges were of purpre hewe; aboute here thei yede And wrouhte a honycomb in here handis and ete therof inow. The aungel saide then to the bees as I schal tel yow: "Go ye now into your place." Thei wente toward the est, Into paradis. The angel said, "Asneth, al this thu seest?" She answered, "Ye, my lord." The aungel saide thenne, "So my wordis schul be fulfild that I have said to the." The comb he touched with his hand, and fire bygan to brenne, And consumed the comb anon, not hurtynge bord ne tre. The fragrant odour of that brennynge yt was swete and fre. Asneth saide, "I have seven maidenes on o nyht bore With me; as my sisteres I love hem all therfore. "To blesse hem as thu hast me afore the I hem calle." "Calle on," he saide. Sche called sone; thei com to his presence. The aungel seide, "Almyhti God Lord blesse you alle, Be ye to the Cité of Refute seven pileris in assistence, And alle dwellynge in that cité schul reste on your prudence." The aungel saide to Asneth then, "This bord awey thu dihte." [See note on the missing line.] Sche turned and saw lik a char with foure hors passynge In heven toward the est lik flame of fire reed, The hors assemblinge to the flame of thunder leihtnynge; Sche saw the aungel upon the char standynge in that steed. That he was aungel sche was unknowe; therfore sche said with dreed, "Alas! I have spoke with Godis aungel. Have mercy on thi handmaide, For the wordis I spak in thi presence, in ignorance I hem saide." And Asneth yet thus spekynge, a yonge man cam ful faste Of the servantes of Putifaris, and to here he saide, "Joseph the stronge man of God cometh here in haste. His messanger ys at the gate." And Asneth forth sche braide And stood aside in a tresance: sche was ful wel apaide. Joseph entred into halle. The gatis men did sprere And shitte out alle straungeris that no man schul hym dere. And Asneth wente to mete Joseph, out of the tresance goynge. Joseph saw here and gan to wonder upon beauté briht, For sche was chaunged and enbelised by the angelis communynge; And Joseph saide, "Who art thu? Telle me anon riht." "I am thi handmaide," quod sche, "to thi commaundement diht, And alle mamettis I have do away, and utterli forsake; The aungel of God fedde me today and hevenly fode me take, "And saide, 'I have gyfe the today wyf unto Joseph, And he schal be thi spouse in the wordle withoute ende; And saide my name schulde no more be called Asneth, But the Cité of Refute, and thi Lord God schal the sende Moche peple that thu schalt turne and to Almyhty God wende.' He saide me more, 'To Joseph forth now schal I passe, And spake thise wordis in his eris, of the more and lasse.' "Now thu knowyst, my lord Joseph, yf the aungel cam to the, And spoke to the of me the wordis that I shewe." Then Joseph sayde, "Of hiest God, Asneth, blessed thu be, And thi name, in kynredis blessed, of kynredes schal renewe, For God of hevene loved the and send me his angel trewe, And spake of the to me thise wordis; and therfore, maide, com ner. What ys the cause thu standist fro me now so fer?" And Joseph streihte out his hand, and loveli gan her brace. Thei kiste then bothe in same with cuntenance excellent. Then saide sche, "My lord Joseph, entre into oure place." Sche ladde him in by the right hand. Here fadir was absent. Sche broughte water to wasse his feet, with ful trewe entent, And he ashed another maide to whasshe ys feet there. And Asneth saide, "I schal hem wasshe, ye ar my lord dere. "Fro hennys forth I am thin awne, thi handmaid and thi thralle. Whi ashest thu anothir maide to wasshe thi feet here? Thi feet ar myn owne feet, thi handdis also with alle, And thi soule ys my soule: thu are thn myn owen fere." Sche constreyned hym and weeshe hys feet with ful good chere. And he beheld here fair handis: of beauté ther was no misse. He tok here by the right hand and lovely did here kysse. He made here then sitte by hym upon his right hand; Here fadir, here modir, and here kynred com out of the feld Of here heritage, and wondringe stil thei gan stande. The glorious beauté of here douhter mervaillus thei beheld. Thei saw here sitte with Joseph; reverence to hym thei yeld. More thei mervailed that sche wered on the stole of here weddynge. 22 And after thei ete and drunke togedir, gretly enjoynge, Then saide Putifar to Joseph, "Tomorwe I schal calle Alle the governouris of Pharao and princes of Egipt lande, And make espousailes unto you; my douhter take thu schalle Unto thi wyf." Then saide Joseph, "Thu schalt understande: I schal go myself tomorwe, and that werke take on hande, And speke to Pharao of Egipt king, my fadir of gret honour; Of al his land he hath me mad chief prince and governour. "And I schal speke in his eris of Asneth plesantly, And he schal yeve here me to wyf with solempnité." Then said Putifar, "Go forth with pees ful obeisantly." But with Putifar he dwelled al nyght with tranquillité, And with Asneth sclepte he not, but said in verité "Hit is no right that a man that wirshipeth God an hihe Afore his espousailes in no wyse with his wyf to lye." Joseph ros up tymely, to kynge Pharao he goos, And said, "Graunte me to wyf Asneth, the maide reverent, The douhter of preest Putifar of Olinpoleos." And Pharao saide, "To the, Joseph, the maide is congruent, For sche is a maide clene as thu. Tak to here to thin entent. Be sche to the thi dere spouse in wordle everlastynge." And Pharao send to Putifar his douhter forth to bringe. Afore Pharao Asneth stood in his hihe presence; And he wonderinge on here beauté: "Endure with the for ay; 23 The rightful God of Joseph hath chose the his spouse today. And Joseph is called the sone of God of hih dignité, And thu schalt be called his owen spouse in perpetuité." Pharao then tok hem bothe and here hedis frette With crounys of pure gold, that riche were of atire, Upon the right side of Joseph Asneth then sette, And laide his handis on here hedis and saide in his desire. "Blesse you now the Lord God of the hevenly empire, And fulfille you eternally with glorie, joye, and blisse." And after turned hem mouth to mouth, and togedir did hem kysse. 24 And after Pharao dide the weddynggys to be solempnised, Callynge alle princes and governours of Egipt land therto, A rial feste by seven dayes duringe was devised, And Pharao declaret a newe decree to alle hys land also, Saiyngge, "What man that ony werke ever hereafter do In the day that Joseph and Asneth were wedded inne, Thei schul dye in grevus deth for that gret synne." And after Joseph knewe his wyf and sche conceived sone, And bar Manasses and Effraim - this was here procreacion. And after Asneth seurly to God sche mad here mone, Remembringe here olde synne by privé meditacion, And after mournynge thus sche saide, with gret lamentacion, "Lord, synned I have synned, moche synned in Thi presence, Asneth, dowhter of Putifar, pardone myn offence. "Most foulest in my fadir hous I was of governance, A maide enhansed and right proud, I have synned, Lord, to The, Fals godis herid withoute nombre to my daliance, And ete bred of her sacrifice so synned in that degré; Synned, Lord, I have synned in thi sihte fre, And ete of bord of pestilence, bred that is straunglinge, And drunke of the chalis of defaute, in thi presence synnynge. "And of The, Lord God of hevene, I was ignoraunt, Not tristinge in the hihe God that art lyf eternalle. I have synned, Lord, in Thi presence, my synne is displiant, For I triste on my richesse and my beauté withalle. I have synned, Lord, lift up with pride, confesse so I schalle: I was dispisynge every man on erthe with errour; There stood never man in my presence that I gaf favor. "Alle my woweris I dispised; of hem I hadde disdeyn. Synned, Lord, I have synned in presence of Thi face, For I saide there was no prince, with glorie that was veyn, That the girdel of my maydenhed was worthi to unbrace. I willed to marie the kyngis sone, so proud was my trace. Synnynge, Lord, I have synned contynuynge in Thi presence, Til Joseph the myghty man of God tok me with excellence; "For as the fyssh by the hook ys take by distresse, So ys beauté drow me to hym by vertuus provydence, And ladde me to Almighty God with gret gentynesse, And did me taste of the drynke of the eternal sapience. And now I am mad his conthorall by his advertence Ay to dwelle an byde with hym in wordle withoute ende. Synned, Lord, I have synned; remission thu me sende." AND after seven yeer were passed of plenteuus abundance Ther bygunne seven yeer of hunger scars and chere, And Jacob herde of Joseph, and with gret plesance, He com into Egipt land with his kynrede in fere, In the secunde monthe the secunde yeer when vitaile was dere, The on and twenti day of the monthe, Israell com don then And descended with his kynred into the land of Jessen. Then saide Asneth to Joseph, "Mi fadir I schal go se, For a god he is to me, thi fader Israel." Joseph saide, "To se hym com now forth with me," And thei come to Jacob, to the land of Jessen welle. And Joseph bretheren mette hem with reverence and revelle; Thei wirshiped hym, don upon the erthe louely obeyinge, Thei entred into Jacob where was his loggynge. Israel was sittynge on his bed, old and of gret age; Asneth saw hym and mervailed for Jacob was good in sight, Of hys age ful reverent, as youthe of fair parage, His heed white as the snow, his berd to the brest right Al white was sittynge, and his yees schynyng as liht. Hys synewis, schuldres, and his armes were stable and vailant, His knes, schynys, and his feet like to a geaunt. And Asneth salued hym on here knes with humble contenance; Then said Jacob to Joseph, "My sone, thy wyf this is?" He said, "Ye." Than Jacob this wordis to here gan vance: "Blessed be thu, doughter of hiest God," and after he did here kys. And after thei ete and drunke togedir with gret joy and blys, And thenne Joseph and Asneth to here hous thei wente And the bretheren of Joseph afore hem were sente. In the right side of Asneth was Levy in assistence, And Symeon the left parte wente by and by, And Asneth loved Levy wel for hys intelligence. And after, as sche in Pharaois hous walked plesauntly, Pharaois sone beheld here as he loked an hy, That was his first bygeten child, his sone and his heir. Anon he brente on here for love, her beauté was so feir. Wherfore he languyshid for love, and nyste what to do. But sone he sente messagers to Symeon and Levi, That were the bretheren of Joseph, and thus said hem to: "I knowe wel that ye are men stronge and mihty, And meny a Sichym ye han slayn with swerd manfully, And now I pray you tendrly for to helpe me: I schal you gife goold and silver and men gret plenté; "Servantis, assis, and chamelis to youre lote schal falle. I warne you that to your brother I have gret envye, For he hath Asneth to his wyf, ordeyned me first of alle.25 Therfore assenteth now to me: on my swerd schal he dye; Asneth to spouse then schal I have I tel you trulye. Then schal I take you as my brethere tristy and trewe; And if ye dispise my cunseil, sore ye schul yt rewe. "For my swerd ageyns you then schal I araye." Then spak Levi unto hym with riht bolde chere, "Wherto speketh my lord thise wordis us to afraye? We are men that worship God, and oure fadir dere Ys the child of hie God and our brother in al manere, Ys dredynge gretly God; thi word hou schul we do To synne so in Godis presence and oure fadris also? "Therefore, heer now my wordis, and do not thyn entent, For howre brother tok here not of his owen acceptance, But by the lawe of thi fadir and of his consent; And yf thu dwelle in thi purpoos of wykked purveance, Oure swerdis, lo, in oure handis wyth the in variance, In thi presence with oure brother ful redi for to dye." And when Pharaois sone herd this, he dred hem gretlye. Then Symeon and Levi went out fro his presence, And Pharaois sone was replete with sorwe, drede, and ire. To injure he dradde Joseph for his gret prudence; Yet on the beauté of Asneth his corage was afire. His meyné then saide to hym, to plesance of his desire, "Lo, the sonys of handmaides to Rachell and to Lye, Of Bale and of Zelphe, to Joseph have envye; "Thei wil be redy to do thi wil." And forth thei were fett, And Pharaois sone unto hym then did hem calle, And saide, "Lo, here lyf and deth afore your face ys fett. 26 Taketh the lyf and not the deth, I cunseyl you withal. I herde Joseph sey to my fadyr that ye wer children thral 'And not my bretheren. I abyde hem utterly to destruye After the deth of my fadir and al here generacion nuye; "'Thei schul never enherite with us, the sonis of servage. Thise schalde me to the Ismalitis; I schal yelde hem malice, That thei maligned ageyns me in here gret outrage.' My fadyr Pharao preised hym and said that he was wyse, And saide, 'I schal werke with the after thi devyse."' And after thei hadde herde thise wordis of the sone of Pharao, Thei said, troubled gretly, "Then, Lord, schal we do?" He saide, "My fadir Pharao I schal sle this nyht, For he is as fadir to Joseph and loveth hym gretly, And ye youre brother Joseph to deth ye schul dyht. Then schal I have Asneth to wyf, that fair is and lovely, And ye shul have part of myn heritage as my brether tristy. Then saide the bretheren Gad and Dan, "Thi men, lord, we be; What thu cumaundis, hit schal be do and more, we telle the. "We herde Joseph to Asneth saie, 'Tomorwe thu schal go Into felde of howere heritage, for now is hervest seson,' And commaundet six hundred men to passe with here also. Commaunde us, lord, mo fihtynge men that we may by reson Go afore hem on the nyht and leye a bushement with treson, Bi the brook and hide us there in the spers of the redis, And tak with the fyve hundred archeris whatsoever nedis, "And go afore us a good way, fert out in lengthe; And Asneth withynne our bushement then come schalle, And we schulle sle here men echon, that be with here by strenthe, And Asneth wil fle on here char and in oure handis falle. Thu schalt parfourme then thi wil and thi desires alle, Then schul we Joseph and hys children sle byfore thi ye." When Pharaois sone thise wordis herde, he enjoyed gretlye, And sende to hem two thousand that armed were briht. Thei wente and hidde hem by the broke in the reed slily, And Pharaois sone roos hym upon the same nyht, And com to his fadir chamber to entre in prively. His fadir wacche forbad hit hym, and told the cause why: "Thi fadir hed of wacche it aketh and now reste hath take; 27 He forbad entré to every man, that non schulde hym wake." And when he herde thise wordis he departed than, And toke five hundred archiris; afore the gate he wente, After that that yt was spoke bothe by Gad and Dan. 28 And Asneth aros tymely, to Joseph sche here mente: "I go to the feld of oure heritage after thyn entente, But sory dredeth now my soule that we schul parted be." Joseph said, "Dred nothynge, for God is with the And schal keep the fro al disese, as the appel of the ye, For I schal go and gif bred to the land aboute." And bothe thenne thei toke here way, and Asneth cam bye Upon the brook, and six hundred men with here in a route. And sodeynly the busment brake on hem a shoute, And slowe hem ful cruelly in the egge of the swerde, And Benjamyn fledde with Asneth on here char aferd. A man ther scaped away, that was with Asneth there, And told Levi and his brother in haste of the afrai. Men of armes thei tok forth, hors, harneis, and geer, And after Asneth quickly thei folwed on the way, And sone in haste thei come there that the busment lay, And fille on hem sodeinly, and gaf hem dethis wounde. Gad and Dan entred the redis and hid hem that stounde. Benjamyn, abydynge with Asneth, saw Pharaois sone com on To sette hand upon here; therof he was war. In the lift side of the sculle he smote hym with a ston, That fro his hors with the same to the grounde he hym bar; As good as ded there he lay, he gaf hym swych a scar. His horsmen and archeris when thei saw that siht, Thei fledde to the redis and hidde hem there right. When Benjamyn saw Symeon and Levi comynge He was glad, and gaf Asneth wordis of good chere. And after thei assembled ful gretly enjoynge, Askynge after Gad and Dan, yf thei sawe hem there, Willynge to have slayn hem with purpose entere; But Asneth saw thei souhte her brether to sle hem in rage, And myldely with softe wordis her wrathe sche gan swage. "Ye schal not now do this thynge; youre brothere thei be, Of the kynde of youre fadir, and yf ye slowe hem so, Ye schulde be repref to alle men, tristeth to me, And make your fadir sori and sette his herte in wo." And when sche hadde thus said, her ire swaged tho, Aftir thei tok up Pharaois sone, the blood fro hym wasshynge, And sette hym on a hors, his wondis softe byndynge. Then thei laidede hym to hys fadir, and told hym more and myn. Pharao thanked gretly God that he was not slayn. The thridde day he was ded by the wounde of Benjamin, And Pharao sorwed sore for hym and gretly did complayn, And that sorwe with sikenesse so sore gan hym constrayn That Pharao dide in the age of nynty and nyne yeer, Levynge his kingdam to Joseph that was hym leef and deer. Joseph regned nobeli there wyth gret prosperité Fourty yeer and eyhte, ful graciously governynge, And after he gaf his diademe to Pharaois sone fre, That was at his fadir deth at the brest soukynge. And Joseph was called in Egipt fadir to the kynge. Thus endeth the storie of Asneth to youre remembrance. My rude translacion I pray you tak hit with plesance. [Epilogue] Ha, cruell deeth! contrarious to creatures in kynde, Ha, deeth dispitous! Who may advertise Thi mourther, thi malice? Who may have in mende The myschief that to mankynde thu dost excercise? Thi rigour, thi rancour, who may devyse? The matynge of thi miserie no man may endure, For thi chekkes conclude everi creature. Thu art to alle creatures hidous to beholde - Thu pyllour! thu pirate! - cesse of thi prise. Thi felonye ys multiplied in so many folde That al the wordle generally of the, deth, agrise. Stynt of thi malice, for wyth thy malgyse Lovers ful lykynge and lusty in game Thu marrest with myschief, and makest hem lame. Thu tyraunt untemperat, with thi tene and treson, The solas of soveraignes thu dost silvestrise, And ladies likynge thu sleest out of seson, And revest hem here ryalté with thi reprise. Thyn insaciable malice who may acomplise, When that loveli ladies thu leyest so lowe And here bright beauté thu blemshest in a throwe? For thi malice me semeth reames sholde arise, To destruye cruell deeth, and do hym of dawe. But oon wynked on me then: "War!" quod the wyse, And cesse of thi sentence, for symple is thi sawe; For deeth universelly the wordle schal vengyse; So ys the tyraunt tytled to that victorie, By Adam the alderman of old auncetrie." Then sorwed I that sentence recovered by assyse, And mourned for my maystresse here marred in molde. There ys countour ne clerk bounté can decyse; In vertu here wommanhed was volupid many folde - Discreet, devoute, diligent. Deeth, thu mayst agrise To represse so noble, so gentille a creature, In tendir age untymely agayn the ordir of nature. O myghty Lord, Whos goodnesse never schal fynyse, Have mercy on the soule of my dere maistresse. The fendis power fro that soule chare and chastise. Delivere here, gracious Lord, fro peyne and distresse. Endowe here in Thi place of plesaunt paradise, And receyve here, blyssed Lord, upon Thi right side, In Thy blysse eternally wyth The to abyde. Of lordis lyne and lynage sche was: here sche lyse, Bounteuus, benigne, enbleshed with beauté, Sage, softe, and sobre, and gentylle in al wyse, Florishynge and fecunde with femenyn beauté, Meke, mylde, and merciful, of pité sche bar the prise. Comely, kynde, and curteis, in nobleye of nurture, Vernant in alle vertu, plesaunt and demure. |
recesses recently lodged myself; (see note) Near beside; aware The Lovely Lady My Lovely Woman; lack; (see note) teeth exhausted; wisdom taken from me Deprived season; to dally suitable; cow/chough; (see note) (see note) owl; defame burrowing mole; cast forth; (see note) to [interpret] quarternotes; duet; end resistence haughtily her humbles himself duty wisdom occupation Guide Clearly (see note) faults; smooth them out; (see note) (see note) (see note) procure wheat; jurisdiction eighth; inventory; (see note) reputation King Pharaoh's Solemn because of promoted priest daughter lovely; becoming; (see note) eighteen; blemish her surpassed; bodily form daughters; appearance; (see note) resembling Sarah; lovely; (see note) resembling body Pleasing; it became her did talk; (see note) her undertaken immediately fair higher rank family noble; well-matched to thy different from others; (see note) scornfully; spiritedness tower; royal; (see note) second story built; value porphyry Sprinkled; (see note) her Egyptian Wrought; fear made wardrobe; quality garments Sheets larder; provisioned remaining; (see note) countenance as stars male youth spoke (see note) east; faced south arrayed; purple (see note) royal built iron; securely locked guarded; armored; (see note) (see note) conduit caused them reached; (see note) (see note) pleasure happy voice steward of his; you sumptuous oversee heard harvest;their them to meet them linen; appropriate to adorned bracelets; (see note) chain-link neckpiece; (see note) Set; engraved names;her desire surrounded; forehead a veil; (see note) greeted [they] did rejoice their; splendidly; decor bestow maiden; ripe birds; fruits; savory chamber; shut Marvellous tidings will peerless marry; spouse; (see note) (see note) eyes; fade honor to diminish captive; disdain; (see note) fugitive; (see note) defiled; (see note) honor despoiled (see note) advise; riddles; dreaming lore dream reader husband; mate; (see note) (see note) came one; household let me inform you she herself hastened; (see note) tower household; (see note) prudent immediately; open place; (see note) next best chariot their celebrity bridles; gilt; traces rich fabric blue woven; (see note) gems stars abundance dispatched; efficiency shut All except chariot received them shepherd's son Surpassingly; realms beauteous;surrounded familial descent doubt begotten radiance greatest wretchedness injustice slander By that time table; (see note) shunned them; food (see note) affecting disturbing; mind feared healthy great dukes wooed threaten Then rid them love sickness stratagems (see note) without wavering; (see note) foreign their fellowship a resident;our can guarantee rejoiced; what fleshly; pure for her; (see note) honorable Greet; virgin as you do by nature well bred; knees high with according to;commands reached; (see note) unseemly; unbecoming (see note) worships false gods from her table pleases (see note) (see note) duty humility of manners from; farewell from him utterly alone of means their beatingher breast fear; shook oppressed securely nearby; hastened; eagerly bed cover; (see note) ashes; by determination floor; cried out; (see note) heard; (see note) companions; aroused unlock annoyance aches; (see note) hasten bade; secretly neatly kept grief took off; moan blue; done up girdle; value put on; (see note) on the floor rushed; (see note) fashion material prepared flesh as well bottles dogs; (see note) should idolatry ashes; everywhere loins (see note) ashes Grieving sorely; beset night mud; defiled; (see note) mixed; together fell; despoiled was her name; (see note) mortified herself for (see note) lifted; from little presented herself; (see note) mercy; (see note) Where; refuge isolated probably hate me ruined; (see note) their griefs; relieve wooed; ways high; throne complaint idols Utter; sight; cling cleave; appeal east; their prospect sea comprehensible species great depth commandments certitude turn (flit) idols once; lady esteem myself suckles; (see note) trust mad lion them by chance; leviathan; (see note) anguish (see note) Wherefore conflict; soul vanity one entrust; (see note) humbly true [the morning star] marvelous gleamed; place afraid; ashes; (see note) in front of her; (see note) (see note) gasped host not at all afraid spirit eyes fearful (will) harm you; (see note) raise yourself (see note) Take off your grim hairshirt; (see note) penitence put on cincture put on; trimmings cincture; ornamented loins summer veil; (see note) enveloped (see note) veil; uncover virgin youth; veil humble meekness mud made; ashes; weeping written; (see note) erased renewed; revived holy bread provision give thee world; (see note) Refuge; (see note) trusting sacred domain; (see note) for you penitents attentive to tell you directly high (see note) renews provides; (see note) maiden loves her on earth realms of eternity hear; put on embellish beloved down misery she; utter detail thee world surpassed not proper confer; hear too immense for Give; permission petition robe; (see note) Bread; cellar; fragrant eagerness (see note) because our; fetch one; ready; (see note) storeroom; (see note) board; (see note) none one size As; nature soon; before keeping (see note) laughing Because of lift humility blessing faith; (see note) true (see note) bees of Paradise roses wondrous value way Afterwards (see note) truth youthful vigor fly; (see note) whole east side immediately surely on his left came; very many purple; went enough burn table nor wood (see note) (see note) right away Refuge; (see note) table; take; (see note) chariot; (see note) red resembling place ignorant (see note) drew gateway; pleased; (see note) close; (see note) shut; bother gateway embellished obedient; (see note) idols provided given you as wife; (see note) world (see note) convert; send on ears among kindred near far extended; embrace together wash asked; wash his feet; (see note) own; servant ask then; companion convinced defect their; (see note) yielded betrothal ears give her to me slept high goes well-matched Possess her world Before; (see note) high (see note) their heads adorned (see note) [Pharaoh] placed Asneth; (see note) their; delight caused royal; duration; arranged Upon right away prayer of confession inward contrition; (see note) (see note) praised; in my foolishness their table of death; deadly cup of deprivation displeasing trust gave wooers vain disarm (undo) wished;conduct continuously constraint; (see note) his; drew; powerful gentleness caused me to; (see note) spouse; thoughtfulness and abide; world (see note) scarce; sparse heard together food; scarce; (see note) down Goshen (see note) (see note) down; lowly lodging (see note) to look upon ancestry arranged; eyes strong knees; shins; giant; (see note) greeted these; advanced (see note) afterwards led the procession; (see note) attendance [Pharaoh's] first begotten burnt; fair knew not what Shechemite; (see note) asses; camels brothers trusty sorely; rue intimidate; (see note) (see note) high; in every respect God-fearing [Since it would be] hear our; own continue; scheme behold; in opposition feared them filled heart counsellors Leah fetched choose; urge slave children plan harrass these sons of slaves sold; give them their scheme [what] shall; (see note) arrange (see note) trusty our by plan ambush leaves; reeds you; is necessary spread out ambush chariot eye was pleased (see note) watchman (see note) archers (see note) spoke harm; eye company ambush; (with) a shout slew; with the blade fracas (see note) fell themselves; time left; skull wound reeds with great joy their whole will their brothers their anger; assuage kinsmen a disgrace; trust their anger eased then wounds softly binding bore; less died beloved; dear (see note) without pity; convey murder; mind checkmating checkmates hideous pillager; give up your prize world; shudders with fear Stop; wickedness happy intemperate; trouble banish; (see note) pleasure bereave;royalty; reprisal insatiable in an instant realms ban him from life (day) "Beware," said the wiseman naive; talk avenge entitled of ancient ancestry; (see note) delivered by edict in the earth neither accountant nor; diminish enveloped with take fright yourself Whose; be exhausted; (see note) divert; chasten (see note) lies embellished (see note) bounteous; (see note) nobility Abundan |