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 UNiYeRsmr of CAUfORNm 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 cSclLiBKis 
 
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AN 
 
 OLD ENGLISH POEM 
 
 OF 
 
 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 FRANCIS HENRY STRATMANN 
 
 K 
 
 > ' J ' > 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE EDITOR BY KRAMKR AND BAUM 
 
 KREFELD 1868 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I 
 
 The following poem is found in two manuscripts; 
 one in the British Museum, London, manusc. Cotton. 
 Calig. A. IX, of the first half of the thirteenth cen- 
 tury; the other in the library of Jesus College, Ox- 
 ford, Arch. I. 29, of the latter half of the thirteenth 
 century. It has been twice printed; by Stevenson, 
 in 1838, from the Cotton manuscript with a few 
 readings of the Jesus College manuscript, and by 
 Th. Wright, in 1843, from the Cotton manuscript 
 alone. I have now tried to give a critical edition 
 of it, founded on a careful collation of both manu- 
 scripts, the different readings of which are noted at 
 the bottom of the page. Consistency in the spelling 
 I have observed as far as possible. How I have 
 succeeded in my endeavours to restore my text to 
 its original perfection my readers may decide. 
 
 I thankfully acknowledge the continual assistance 
 of Mr F. J. Furnivall, the zealous promoter of old 
 English literature. 
 
 Krefeld, 2 March 1868. 
 
 F. H. Stratmaxx. 
 
 434524 
 
>p^, 
 
 Ich'^as iu ono^sumere dale [nas. Cotton, fol. 233 a 
 In one spip/cii^eie luile ^ «^s- ^^''^' ^^^- 229a] 
 
 Iherde ichjidldie " grete tale ij.ucJL/>vr 
 x\n(e) ug andj one nihtegale 1 
 5 pat j^&i^'pSsstif and stare and strong 
 
 Sum hpile Sj^fte an^ lud a mong /, ^ 
 
 And eriper"^€)^ii^6prer spal ----_, j) hyt-^dL^'^ 
 
 And, let pat uvele ingd..^Ut al ^^^ ^^ f 
 \^^ And eiper seide of opres cu^^ >f e> 
 
 ^ .10 pat aire porste pat hi pust^- — - *^^^"^^ 
 And hure and hure of opres songe 
 Hi heolde plaiding spipe stronge ^aj^ 
 
 -J j^V^ ^ V^ nihtegaTe bigon pe specheM^ V''^ k 
 
 ■-^ "" In one huriie of one breche/^^"f^3^ J^^ 
 
 15 And sat u^pnel faire boje >fe^ ^ ' /O*- 
 
 v^<par pere^LDUte blosme mo^e ^^js^--^^-^ \ 
 ——'.:^ Iii<pre - paste ^^te l^egge ^-^ ^. 
 * pfi^^^^JmaSg)) mid ^r'e and grene '^egg^T^^ /2.to^^i 
 --"'^^ Heo pas pe gladre iov. J)e jd§^^'^^^^^^>^ ~ 
 20 And song a fedleHdQjie.^ise^^^^'^ / 
 
 ^ /Bet^puhf^ pe drem pat(^h^ pere -v --^^' f 
 
 V \0f fiiM^€>^n^ pipe paiT Ve nere/y^-w^l^ , _. 
 
 \- Bet pmeT)at, be pere ischoted/^i^^^^ l.H^j^ 
 
 Of harpe and pipe pan of prote^ " 
 
 25 po stod on old stoc par bi side i-^ . 
 
 par pe ul5^j^g)bire tide — -^r^- - • \ O^-'v^r-Q. 
 And pas mid'rs^i al bigrope 
 Hit pas pare ( ul^ eardingstope ^ Ajj^-^jJAx^^ \^C^ju^ 
 
 1 wes Arch. — 2 swipe Arch, suj^e Cot. — dyele Arch. — 4 ule 
 Arch, hule Cot. — nyhtegale Arch, ni)tingale Cot. — 5 plait Cot, — 
 6 pile Cot. hwile Arch. — 7 an Cot. — ey]?er Arch, ai^er Cot. — 
 ayeyn Arch. — swal Arch, sual Cot. — 8 & Cot, — wole Cot. for 
 uvele — 9 oJ>eres Cot. — 10 alere Cot. — wrste Arch. — ywuste 
 Arch. — 11 o))ere Cot. — 12 holde Cot. and Arch, — su))e Cot, — 
 13 ni^tingale Cot. — ])o speke Arch. — 14 beche Arch. — 15 vaire 
 Got. and Arch. — bowe Arch. — 16 ])at Arch, — blostme inowe 
 Arch, — 17 vaste jjikke Arch, — 19 ho Cot, he Arch, cmp. I, 934 — 
 gladd' Arch, gladur Cot. — vor Cot, and Arch. — 20 veole Arch, 
 vele Cot. — 21 het ))U)te Cot. — 23 ishote Cot, — 25 stok Arch. 
 — 26 ^ ule Cot. — 28 hule Cot. — erdingstowe Arch, 
 
/' 
 
 ^ 
 
 pe nihtegale hi ise^ 
 30 And loa Inheold and oversea 
 
 And ^Myeli^l of^^l^^ 
 
 For me hi'Tiall lopIiclra]Scrfulec 
 
 Unjjht heo seide a pey pu fleo-^y » <^rch, fol. 229 b] 
 
 Me is pe purs pat ich pe MQ^^^t?-'^^ 
 35 Ipis for pine Me lete V \j^^^.^Cot. fol. 233 b] 
 
 pel oft ich mine song forlete/t"^^ 
 
 Min heorte jwftihp an A fait mi tunge^ rj ^r - 1 I'jriJL 
 
 Hpognepn art to^me iprunge— • Qy^^J^Z^"^' ^' 
 ^ /'^^^^uSe bet -^l&tmi pane singe ».' 
 
 /40 Of pine fule ^o^^elinge "> v. -vv^.(s-^^.^^-^a^ ^>--a-cx^ 
 peos ule ahod fort hit pas eve ^ 
 
 Heo ne mihte no leng bileve 
 
 For hire heorte pas so gret 
 
 pat pel ne) hire fnast atschet 
 45 And parp a porcT^r after longe 
 
 Hu pincpe nu hi mine songe 
 
 penst pu pat ich ne cunne singe 
 
 pe) ich ne cunne of pritelinge 
 
 Ilome pu d^st me graine — '/vK. Vj-'^'^ 
 50 And seist me hope teone and schame A.t^^^^'^ 
 
 3if ich pe heolde on mine fote ^u n 
 
 So hit bitide pat ich mote 
 
 And pu pere ut of pine rise 
 
 pu scholdest singe an oper pise 
 55 pe nihtegale ^af anspare 
 
 3if ich me loki pip pe bare 
 
 And me schilde pip pe blete 
 
 Ne recche ich noht of pine prete 
 
 3if ich me holde in mine hegge 
 
 29 nijtingale Cot. — iseyh Arch. — 30 bihold Cot. biholde|) Arch, 
 — 31 J)U3te Cot. — w\ (= vul) Cot. — hule Cot. — 32 lodlich Cot. 
 and Arch. — 33 ho sede Cot. — flo Cot. — 34 wurs Arch, wrs 
 Cot. — so Cot. iseo Arch. — 35 wle Cot. — 36 ofte Arch. — fur- 
 lete Arch. — 37 liorte atfli)? Cot. — tonge Cot. — 38 ponne Cot. 
 hwenne Arch. — 40 howelynge Arch. — 41 J50S hule Cot. — 42 
 ho Qot. — mi^te Cot. — 43 vor Cot. — horte Cot. — 44 neyh 
 Arch, — atset Arch. — 46 hw Arch. — 47 pest Cot. wenestu 
 ArcK — 48 J)e Arch. — 49 grome Arch. — 50 tone Cot. — scho- 
 rae Arch. — 51 if Arch. — holde Cot. — vote Arch, uote Cot. — 
 54 sholdest Cot. — pse Cot. wise Arch. — 55 yaf Arch. — answare 
 Cot. onsware Arch. — 56 wi]) Arch, pit Cot. — 58 no)t Cot. nouht 
 Arch, 
 
60 Ne recche icli never hpat pu segge " 
 Ich pot pat pu art unmilde 
 pip lieom pat ne mu^e (heom) from pe schilde 
 And pu tukest prope and uvele a • / ^y^^(Jr< 
 
 Hpar pu miM caejp emale fu^ele^^ -^(^-(/v*^ 
 65 Forf-pi) pu afe^b]M fu^elcunne'^s. Arch. fol. 229 c] 
 
 ^^ And alle heo pe driveplieonne „„ ^~-;^>, 
 
 y ^ And pe bischricEep and bigredep — i^A^ (rvJt 
 And pel narepe pe biledep. ' 
 
 ' And ek for pe pe sul^e_mpse^ ^t^' ^^** ^^^' ^^^^^ 
 
 70 Hire ponkes polde fe StQ^e-^./J^^^^''>>t.^^^ 
 pu art loplich to biliolde 
 And pu art lop in monie folde 
 pi bodi is scbort pi sy^ore is smal 
 Grettere is pin heved pan pu al '^ 
 
 75 pin(e) e^eji beop colblake and brode ^ 
 
 Biht spa m 'per en ipeint mid pode 
 pu staresfso pu pille abi^teg,,,, 
 Al pat pu miht mid chjre smiten 
 ^ ii ^^1® ^^ ^^i^ ^^^ scharp and hoked 
 
 ^ 80 Riht so an opel pat is croked 
 
 par mid pu clackest oft and longe ^ 
 And pat is on of pine songe ^ 
 
 Ac pu pretest to mine flesche - 
 Mid pine cli^rea p(^d^st me mesche 
 85 pe pere r^a;d^ €o 6rie frogge , , 
 
 . i \ pat sit at mulne under cogge -^ ^^-^^ ~ o^i} 6\ ^ 
 ^,^^,w^ Snailes^^Mf and fule pihte ] ^ 
 
 ^ Beop pine cunde and pine rihte 
 
 pu sittest a dai and fiihst a niht 
 90 pu cupest pat pu art on unpiht «v -ru^^ , 
 
 60 nev' Cot. — phat Cot, hwat Arch. — 62 wi]) Cot. and Arch, — 
 muwe Arch, — fro se Cot. — 64 hwar Arch, whar Cot. — mi)t Cot. 
 
 — vowele Arch. — 65 vor Cot. and Arch. — fuelkunne Cot. fowel- 
 cunne Arch. — 66 ho Cot. — honne Cot. — 67 biscryche]) ArcK 
 
 — bigredet Cot. — 68 biledet Cot. — 71 lodlich Cot. and Arch. — 
 73 short Cot. scort Arch. — spore Cot. swere Arch. — 74 gret- 
 ture Arch. — 75 eyen Arch. — bo)) Cot. — 76 ri^t Cot. — so 
 Arch. — ho Cot. — 78 mist Cot. — 79 sarp Arch. — 80 ri)t Cot. 
 
 — as on Arch. — owel Cot. ewel Arch. — 81 clackes Cot. clechest 
 Arch. — ev' a mong Arch, for oft and longe — 83 fleshe Cot. vley- 
 sse Arch. — 84 meshe Cot. meysse Arch. — 85 icundur Cot. — 86 
 wanting in Cot. — 87 pi)te Cot. wihte Arch. — 88 bo)) Cot. — ri)te 
 Cot. — 89 flyst Arch. fli)t Cot. — ni)t Cot. 
 
-r' 
 
 pu art loplich and unclene 
 Bi pine neste ich hit mene 
 And ek bi pine fule brode 
 pu fedest on heom a pel ful fode (1^ 
 
 95 pel postu pat hi dop par inne /f^^-v^ 
 
 Hi fulep hit up to pe chinne sjf^^ , 
 Heo sittep par so hi beo bisn^^ //lyyiM^^ 
 , , . Hpar bi men seggep a forbisne -^ ^ 
 
 rr^ DaKftt hnhiiP T^Q+. iTtp >.osfr— rms. a 
 
 Dahet habbe pat itke best^'""" [ms. Arch. fol. 229 d] 
 
 100 pat fulep his o^e nest a \ 
 
 pat oper ^er a faucun br§dde 0^^^"^^ 
 His nest noht pel he ne bihedde 
 par to pu stele in o day ^/*»^> 
 
 And leidest par on pi fule ey-^M. Cot. fol. 233d] 
 
 105 po hit bicom pat he hahie.-^ 
 And of his eyre briddes prahte 
 
 He brohte his briddes mete t ^ 
 
 Biheold his nest ise^ hi et^ v^ ^ 4^6^-^ 
 
 He ise) bi one halve ,|i* t^^"^^"^ , ifjiM^ 
 
 110 His nest ifuled uthaliaf^ ^ M^^ 
 
 pe faucun pas prop pip his bridde , yl^^ihyJUi 
 
 And lude ^al and sterne chidde"" 
 
 Seggep meThpo havep pis ido a J '^^ 
 
 Ou nas never icunde par to t^Q-^Cd^^-l^ 
 
 115 Hit pas idon ou a lope custe 
 
 Seggep me ^if ^e hit piste 
 
 ^^\.,yy^ ^ cpap pat on and cpap pat oper 
 
 \ r^'^^ jpjg ]jj^ P^g ^^ Q^Q broper 
 
 tpjt'"— ^ — pat^eond pat havep pat grete heved 
 ^^^'f'^''^ 120 Pai pat hit nis par of bireved 
 i Peorp hit ut mid pe aire furste 
 
 pat liis necke him toberste 
 
 91 lodlich Cot, and Arch. — 94 horn Cot, — 95 wel Arch, vel Cot. 
 — 97 ho Cot, — bo Cot, — 98 hwar Arch. J)ar (par?) Cot. — seg- 
 get Cot. — 99 dehaet Arch, — 100 ope Cot. owe Arch, — 101 
 faukim Cot, — 102 no^t Cot. nowiht Arch. — 104 fole Cot, — 105 
 ha)te Cot. hayhte Arch, — 106 prahte Cot. wrauhte Arch. — 107 ho 
 brohte Cot. heo brouhte Arch, — 108 bihold Cot, — iseyh Arch, — 
 111 wi]) Arch, pit Cot. — 112 yal Arch, — sturne Arch, — 113 
 segget Cot. — po havet Cot, — 114 eu Arch. — per Arch, — 
 115 lo]) wiste Cot. — 116 segge Cot. — 117 que)) Arc/i. — quad 
 Cot. — 118 it Cot, — 05er Cot, owe Arch, — 119 pe ^ond Cot. ))at 
 yeonde Arch. — haved Cot, — 120 hi Cot. he Arch. — 121 worp 
 Cot. werp Arch. — vyrste Arch, prste Cot, 
 
\im. Arch. fol. 230 a] 
 
 Pe faucun ilefde his bridde 
 
 And nom^ pat fule brid a midde 
 125 And ^arp bit of pan pilde bo^e 
 
 pat pie and crope bit todro^e ^.^..^jxS^ 
 
 Her bi men seggep a bispel-^-^^^f ^^^''''^^^^'^ 
 
 pe^ bit ne beo fulliche spel 
 
 Al so bit is bi pan ungode 
 130 pat is icumen of fule brode 
 
 And is imeind pip frfeo monne^ 
 
 Ever he cup pat he com gonne 
 
 pat he com of pan adeleje ^ 
 
 pe5 he _a freo nestejej^^., ._„.„..,... . , 
 
 135^pe> appel tretf^TTIrom pon treope '^^ ^^JrUcA^ 
 M^ par he and oper mide greope 
 
 pe^ he beo par from bicume 
 
 He cup pel hponene he is icume [nas. Cot. fol. 234 a] 
 peos pord a3af pe nihtegale 
 140 And. after pare longe tale 
 
 Heo song so lude and|So'acharpe_ -4- * 
 
 Riht so me gri^Ci(ffilSniarpe ''^^'^'^l ^^^^"^^^^^^f^^L^ 
 
 peos ule Imte^piderpard _ p -x. • 
 
 Ji And heoldiiiiFe~"e^n neop erpaij ^ ~^^ -^^-"^^-^^.^fs^ t J 
 ^^/^JW5- And sat tospolle and il' 
 (^^^\j$, Al so heo hadde one frogge ispolje^. 
 
 ^"^ For heo pel^is^e and pas ipar 
 
 pat heo song^liOTS a! bisc 
 
 And no pe les heo 5aT~andspa^ 
 150 Hpi neltu ffeob intope 
 
 And schepi hpepeifnSE^ beo 
 
 Of brihter heope of^irer bleo 
 
 123 levede Arch. — ibridde Arch, -j- 125 bope Cot. bowe Arch. <^p, 
 I. 15 — 126 todrope Cot, todrowe Arch. — 127 per Arch. — 128 
 bo Cot. — 131 meind Cot. and Arch. — pit fro Cot. — 132 j)enne 
 Arch. — 134 fro Cot. — 135 iron Cot. — pe Arch, — trope Cot. 
 treo' Arch. — 136 mid grope Cot. grewe A7'ch. — 137 bo Cot. — 
 138 phonene Cot. hwenene Arch. — 139 ])0S Cot. — ni)tingale^of. 
 — 141 he Cot. — 142 ri^t Cot. — 143 ))os hule Cot. — 144 hold— 
 Cot. — e^e Cot. eyen Arch, — no))erpad Cot. ne])erward Arch. — 
 145 tosuoUe Cot. — ibolye Cot. tobolewe Arch. — 146 ho Cot. — 
 hedde Arch. — isiiol5e Cot. iswolwe Arch. — 147 ho Cot. — 148 
 ho Cot. — 149 na Arch. — ho Cot. — andsuare Cot. ondsware 
 Arch. — 150 phi Cot. hwy Arch. — flon Cot. — 151 schewi Arch. 
 sepi Cot. — Jjare (pare?) Cot. for hpejjer — bo Cot. — 152 brih- 
 ter Cot. briht' Arch. — hope Cot. hewe Arch. — vairur bio Cot. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 \^ 
 
 r^u^ 
 

 y^ 
 
 No pu havest scharpe clape ?\ry 
 
 Ne k6]3e ich noht pat pu me clape ^ ^ 
 155 pu havest clivres spipe stroiige ^^^ 
 pu t^engest par mid so dop a ton^ 
 .^^'-^teU P^ poHtest so dop pine ilike 
 '^V?^'^ jJJJ^'^^ Mid faire porde me bisp|ke 
 "TC^^ Ich iiolde don pat pu me raddest 
 
 160 Ich piste pel pat pu me misraddest 
 Schamie pe for pine unrede . ^ 
 
 Unpro^en is pi spikelhede Asl Cji^y^^^ 
 ' Schild pi spikeldom from pe lihte 
 And hud pat po)e a mong pe rihte . 
 
 165 Hpanne pu pilt pin unriht sgenecJ^o^^oa-^ 
 Loke pat hit ne beo isene 
 
 For spikeldom havep schome and hete [ms. Arch. fol. 
 -Jp ^ii hit is ope and under^ete 'lA-^t-iti^.S^^^^-'^-^ 
 j^j^j\^^\ "^^ Ne spedestu noht micTpnie unprencheu>»ola«Xr^^ 
 170 For ich am par and can pel blenche/^tl^ Oumr-^ 
 Ne helpp noht pat pu beo so priste-J.^^ 
 Ich polde fihte bet mid liste "Tms. Cot. fol. 234b] 
 pan pu mid alle pine stre^n^pj.<dU*X\A>-<. 
 Ich habbe on brede and ek on lengpe 
 175 Castel god on mine lisei>Art(Y 
 peFfiht pat pel fliht seip pe pise 
 Ac lete^^) a pei peos cheste . a 
 
 ^^-- For spiche pordes beop unpreste - W < ^^Ca^ 
 -^ I / ^ J And fa'pd on mid rihte dome 
 JC^ 180 Mid faire porde and mid isome ^^Ajt^^r^^ci-^ 
 pe^ pe ne beon at one acorde ^ 
 jUjS. pe mu^e bet mid fayre porde 
 
 pipute cheste and bute fihte 
 Plaidi mid fo3e and mid rihte 
 
 153 pel'scliarpe Cot, — 154 kep Cot. — no)t Cot. — 155 clivers 
 Cot. — swipe Arch. su]?e Cot. — 156 tuengst Cot. — 157 ])0)test 
 Cot. ))outest Arch. — iliche Arch. — 158 biswike Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — 161 scbomye Arch. — J)in Cot. — 162 unwryen Arch. — suikelhe- 
 de Cot. swikehede Arch. — 163 ])me Cot. — suikeldom Cot. swike- 
 dom Arch. — vram Cot. — 11)16 Cot. — 165 ))ane (pane ?) Cot. — 
 167 suikedom Cot. swikedom Arch. — haved Cot. — 169 sped- 
 destu no)t Cot. — J)in Arch. — 171 to(?) Cot. — 172 vi)te Cot. 
 
 — 173 al Cot. and Arch. — 174 ech Cot. — 176 fi)t Cot. — fli)t 
 Cot. — 177 ])0S Cot. — 178 suiche Cot. suche Arch. — hop Cot. 
 
 — 179 ri3te Cot. — 180 some Arch. — 181 bo Cot. — 182 mawe 
 Arch. — 183 pitute Cot, — 184 so))e Arch, for fo)e 
 
 p 
 
185 And mai ure eiper hpat he pile 
 
 Mid rihte segge and mid skile amJ^ 
 
 /CVslT^ ft^ cp^P P® ule hpo schal us seme'" 
 ^ pat cunne and pille riht us denae ia*'VX\^ 
 ^^Ich pot percpap pe nihtegale ^^^g^^ 
 
 y^ 
 
 IWNe p^rf par of beono tale-.:^^!!!- -^J^^, 
 
 -^-''Maister Nichole ofljuldeforde "y-^-*— 
 
 1^ ne IS pis ana pur oi porde , - |a i jCi 
 
 \^ He is of porde spipe ^m-A-^^^^^^^'M^'^ 
 
 And him is lop evrich unpeu 
 
 195 He pot insiht in eche sdnglr 
 
 Hpo singep pel hpo singep pronge 
 
 And he can schede from pe rihtcr" 
 
 pat po^te pat pu^e^r from pe lihte 
 pe ule one hpile hi bipohte 
 200 And after pan pis pord up brohie 
 
 Ich granti pel pat he us derae [ms. Arch, fol 230 c} 
 
 For -pe^ he pere hpile b^me - JLft.-.^<^.'t<<<i^ 
 ia>^-- -And lejof liim pere nihtegale ' 
 
 And oper pihte gepte and smale j^r^ 
 
 205 Ich pot he isM^pipe acoled ^^^^^ ^ 
 
 Nis he for pe nopiht afoled ' [ms. Cot. fol. 234 c] 
 
 pat he for pine' olde luve 
 
 Me a dun legge and pe buve 
 
 Ne schaltu nevre so him cpeme 
 210 pat he for pe fals dom deme 
 
 He is nu ripe and fastrede . 
 
 Ne lust him nu to none^nrede fT„<juA-''Vv-— 
 
 Nu him ne lust na more pTele^ 
 
 He pile gon a rihte peie ' 
 215 pe nihtegale pas al ^are - eoxH^-^"^ , 
 
 Heq, hadde ileorned pel aihpare - JeA>-o^>^'i^^^^VA/v-c. 
 * Ule heo seide^seie me sop 
 
 Hpi dostu pat unpihtes dop 
 
 185 hure Cot. ur Arch. — pat hi Got, — lo7 qua]) Cot. and Arch. 
 — J)u (pu?) Cot. — 188 kuiine Cot. —190 ]jer ^rc^i. — bo Cot. — 
 192 an Cot. — 193 dome su)3e Cot. — 195 euche Arch. — 196 po 
 singet Cot. — 197 con Arch. — vrom Cot. — ri^te Cot. — 198 li^te 
 Cot. — 199 po hule Cot. — pile Cot. — bifo^te Cot. — 200 bro)te 
 Cot. — 202 pile Cot. — 203 lof Cot. — ni^tingale Cot. nihtingale 
 Arch. — 205 su])e Cot. — 206 no3t Cot. — 207 love Cot. — 208 
 abuve Arch. — 209 queme Cot. and Arch. — 215 ware Arch. — 
 216 ho Cot. — had Cot. hedde Arch. — ilorned Cot. — aiware Cot, 
 ihware Arch. — 217 hule ho sede Cot. 
 
8 
 
 pu singest a niht' andKnoht a dai J 
 
 220 And al pi song is pai la jji, j^ al^^'^^^ 
 
 pu miht mid pine soiiige afere -Sy^'^^-'v^ o 
 AUe pat iherep pine ibere_>'%.4rt4^ 
 pu schricliest and ^olIesT to" pine fere 
 pat hit is grislich to ihere " - / 
 
 225 Hit pinchep bope pise and snej^^^0^r&^^^V^ 
 Noht pat pu singe ac pat pu pep^ 
 pu flihst a nihtand noht a dai 
 par of ich p^iiiiiKi and pel mai 
 For evrich ping pat schunep riht- 
 
 230 Hit luvep puster and hatep liht 
 And evrich ping pat luvep misdede 
 . Hit luvep puster to his dede ^ 
 
 (^^ A pis pord pe) hit heo unclene_- - »t>''*^'^^ 
 /f Vjj/=^^ ' " i^^ a muper iihene 
 
 -y^^ 235 For Alfredking hit seide and prot [ms. Arch. fol. 230 d] 
 ^ He schunep pat hine ful pot 
 
 Ich pene pat pu dost al so 
 For pu flihst nihtes ever mo /LmaJ^ 
 
 And oper ping me is a pene^"" 
 
 240 pu havest a niht pel brihtelene Ims. Cot. fol. 234d] 
 Bi daie pu art stareblind / -"" 
 
 pat pu ne sihst ne bo) ne strind- tVuv^v^^^^'^'^'' 
 A dai pu art blind oper bisne 
 par bi men seggep a^Torbisne 
 
 245 Riht so hit farp bi pan ungode 
 
 pat noht ne isihp to none gode , 
 
 And is so ful of uvele prenche6i^.O->^ 
 pat him ne mai no manT atp rench e Jiy^^-'C^^P^ 
 And can pel pane pustre pai 
 
 250 And pane brihte laf^aTpai - . 
 
 So dop pat beop of pine cimde^^^^"'''"^ 
 Of lihte nabbep hi none imunde 
 peos ule luste spipe longe 
 
 222 here)) Arch. — 223 schirchest Cot. scrichest Arch, — 228 wndri 
 Cot, and Arch. — 229 schuniet Cot. schoniej) Arch. — 230 luvie|) 
 Arch. — hatiet Cot. — 231 is lof Cot. for luvej) — 233 bo Cot. — 
 234 monne Arch. — 236 schunet Cot. — wl Cot. — 239 an Cot. 
 for and — 242 sichst Cot. syst Arch. — bouh of lind Arch. — 244 
 segget Cot. —. 246 suj) Cot. — 248 atprenche Cot. aprenche Arch. 
 — 249 ]>ene Arch. — ])urste Cot. — 251 bo)) Cot, — 253 ))0S hule 
 Cot, — suj>e Cot. 
 
And pas ofteoned spipe stroiige 
 255 Heo cpapypu hattest nihtegale P b!) j) 
 
 pii militest bet lioten galagale yuru^^ ^y^mo^ 
 
 For pu liavest to monie tale 
 
 Lat pine tunge habbe spale /W^^<f <?^ >U,-rf>«l-t — , 
 
 pii penest pat pes dai beo^pin o^e 
 260 Lat me nu habbe mine pro3e\,4.-/J«LA-C-^ oj^ M.Awt- 
 
 Beo nu stille and lat me speke 
 
 Ich pille beon of pe apreke 
 
 And lust liu icli con me bitelle 
 
 Mid rihte sope pipute spelle-- ---^.f^-tf-e-^^ 
 265 pu seist pat ich me hu"de^ dai 
 
 par to ne segge ich no nai 
 
 And lust ich telle pe hpar fore 
 
 Al hpi hit is and hpar fore 
 
 Ich habbe bile stif and stronge [ms. Arch. fol. 231a] 
 270 And gode clivres scharp(e}_jin_d_longe ^^j r~£ f 
 ^. So hit bicumep to haVelies cunne " " ^^-^-^-U' ^t-^ 
 j|A^'"Hit is minTiihte hit is mi punjiB — - — 7- — '^-''^^-^^^JI^^^.aA^ 
 
 pat ich me dra^e to mine cunde^/C*^--^ ^ 
 
 Ne mai no man par for (me) schende [nas. Cot. fol. 
 275 On me hit is (ful) pel isene ^^^^^ 
 
 For rihte cunde ich am so kene / jA-v^ 
 
 For pi ich am lop smale fu5ele^^.---#^^;|^^lAAr^ 
 
 pat fleop bi grunde and bi pu^ele_ 
 
 Hi me bichirmel) and bigredep 
 280 And heore ilockes to menidep 
 /Me is leof to habbe reste 
 
 And sitte stille in mine neste 
 
 For nere ich never no pe betere . \^ \jL 
 
 pe^ ich mid chavling and mid chatere - c^^y^-^-^^^'^^ 
 285 Heom sc hen de and mid fule por3e~ ^ 
 
 ^tt So herctes dop pper mid schitporde tCo-ia-? XA^'vu'\/t>u,^^X^ 
 ^Jy^^ Ne.iusTme pip pe screpen'^mde ^ U 
 
 Zi^o aj . 
 
 3ftbiied suh Cot. — 255 ho CoU—^^d 
 
 254 oftbned suj> Cot. — 255 ho Cot, -—Wettest Cot. — 259 bo Cot. 
 — owe Arch. — 260 ])rowe Arch. — 262 wile Arch. — beo Arch. 
 bon Cot. — 263 hw Arch. — 264 wi])ute Arch, pitute Cot. — 266 
 nidi ne Cot. nik no Arch. — 267 pare vore Cot. — 268 pi Cot. — 
 270 clivers Cot. clevres Arch. cmp. I. 155 — 272 hi3te Cot. — 274 
 ])are vore Cot. — 276 vor ri^te Cot. — 277 fo)le Cot. vowele Arch. 
 cm2). I. 64 — 278 flo)) Cot. ~ an Cot. — 279 bichermet Cot. — 280 
 hore Cot. — 281 lof Cot. — 284 ])eyh Arch. ))if (yif ?) Cot. •— chang- 
 ling Arch. — 285 horn Cot. —^ 2^7 wij) Arch, pit Cot. 
 
 2 
 
;a 
 
 me ne ^eonie — ^ 
 
 i^ 
 
 ^X\r 
 
 For pi icli |>ende from heom 
 
 Hit is a -pise moiine dome 
 290 And hi hit seggej) -pel ilome^ 
 
 pat me ne chide *" "' ~'^ ' 
 
 Ne |>ip pan ofne me ne ^eonie 
 
 At sume sipe herde ich teftte^^ ' ^^, 
 
 Hu Alfred seide on his spelle /djj*^"*^^'^^ 
 295 Loke pat pu ne beo pare 
 
 >ar chavling beop and cheste ^are 
 
 Lat sottes chide and forp pu go 
 
 And ich am pis and do al so 
 
 And ^et Alfred seide an oper side 
 
 A pord pat is isprunge pido 
 
 pat pip pe fule havep imene 
 
 Ne cumep he never froiSTTiTm clene 
 ^Jgenestu pat havec beo pe porse [ms. Arch. fol.231b] 
 )e^ cfope bi£re_de him bi pe niersclie WiA^ j^ 
 lid gop to him mid heore chirme^ ' ^^'^^^ 
 
 Riht so hi pille pip him schir^e '"^'^^ 
 
 pe (lave^^ fol^ep gode rede 
 
 He fliht his pei and lat hi grede [ms. Cot. fol. 235 b] 
 
 3et pu me seist of oper pinge 
 
 And telst pat ich ne can noht singQ 
 
 Ac al mi- reorcle is poning — 
 
 And to ihere grislich ping 
 
 pat nis noht sop ich singe efne 
 
 Mid fulle dremQ and lude stefne ^y^r"^-^^^ 
 315 pu penest pat ech song beo gnsTich 
 
 pat pine pipinge nis ilMif^^ h-,/J-^^^^ 
 
 Ui~stefne/)is bold and noht unorne i^^^ 
 
 Heo iFHrchnlne grete home ~^ . 
 
 And pin is ilich one^pipe^ tu-C-fi^-M, 
 
 320 Of one smale pe(Jde unripe 
 
 Ich singe bet pan pu dest 
 
 pu chaterest so dop on Irisch prest 
 
 Ich singe an eftie.a rihte time 
 
 290 segget (M. — 291 ^pitOo^^'^ 292 ^onie Cot, — 293 i Cot. 
 and Arch. — 294 sede Cot — 296 cliLngling Arch, — 297 vor]) Cot, 
 and Arch. — 303 havek Arch. — wrse Arch, — 304 mershe Cot, 
 
 — 305 hore Cot, — 307 folewej? Arch, — 308 & fli^t Cot. — 309 
 0])' Cot, — 310 tellest Arch. — 311 rorde Cot. — 312 hire Cot, 
 
 — 315 bo Cot, — 317 bled & 1103! Cot, — 318 ho Cot, — 320 po- 
 de Cot, — 322 prost Cot. p'st Arch, — 323 eve Cot, 
 
 fsing(^ , 
 
11 
 
 And seoppe hpon hit is bedtime 
 325 pe pridde sipe a middelnihte 
 
 And so ich mine song adihte 
 
 H]>one ich iseo arise feorre- . -t/inA^ 
 
 Oper dairim oper daisteoyre -'^^•-^^'^^^^'^^ 
 
 Ich do god mid mine prote 
 330 And parni men to heore note -YV-,.^ 
 
 Ac pu singest alle longe niht q -A ij'^/-^^"^ 
 
 From eve fort hit is dailiht ^jj^^-^^ 
 
 And evre lestep pin o song ^^ 
 
 So longe so pe niht is long ----^ ^^"-^ ^i. 
 
 335 And evre cro]>ep pi precche crei j g jap-^^^^^ 
 
 pat he ne s^ep niht ne dai .^rM-^d^-'^-'^-'^ 
 
 Mid pine i^ipinge pu a dunest [ms. Arch. fol. 231c] 
 
 pas monnes earen par pu punest . 
 
 And makest pine song so- un^iht aat-ucK'^-^ 
 340 pat me ne telp of pe no^iht 
 , , s^ Evrich mur^pe mai so longe ileste 
 ^ ^ pat heo schal liki yel unpreste [ms. Cot. fol. 235 e] 
 
 For harpe and pipe and fu^eles song 
 
 Mislikep ^if hit is to' long 
 345 Ne beo pe song never so niurie ^yr^JU^^ ^ • 
 
 pat he ne schal pinche unmurie . 
 
 3ef he ilestep over unpille .^Aj^^^J^.^^''-'^'^^--^^ 
 
 So pu miht pine song aspille 
 
 For hit is sop Alfred hit seide 
 350 And me hit mai in boke rede 
 
 Evrich ping mai leosen his godhede 
 .^l^j^Mid tmmepe and mid overdeile-^ — " ^ j t 
 yV^Mid este pu'pe miht ove^cfatie^/ue^v -"^-^^ \ 
 
 ^^p^'-ltuJ^verfulle m^akep |?latie^ Th "WX\ dUo<V<-^^ 
 
 355 And evrich m^^pe mai agon ' ^ 
 
 3if me hit halt evre forp in on 
 
 Bute one. liSTis godes riche 
 
 324 so|)))e pen Cot. se])))e liwenne Arch. — 325 ad Cot. — 327 i- 
 so Cot. — veorre Arch, vorre Cot. — 328 dayrewe Arch, — dai- 
 sterre Cot. — 329 ic Arch. — 333 seist Cot. for leste)) — 338 wu- 
 nest Cot. and Arch. — 339 unpur)) Cot. — 340 ))a Cot. — telle)) 
 Arch. — ])ar no^ pr]) Cot. — 341 miire))e Arch. — leste Arch. — 
 342 ho shal Cot. — 345 iiev' Cot. ne Arch. — 346 shal Cot. sal 
 Arch. — 350 ine Cot. — 351 losen Cot. leseii Arch. — 353 mijt 
 Cot. maist Arch. — ov'quatie Cot. and Arch. — 354 wlatie Cot. and 
 Arch. — 355 an Cot. — mure)])e Cot. cmp. I. 341 
 
 2* 
 

 12 
 
 pat evre is spete and evre ilicne 
 
 pe) pu nime evre of pan lepe 
 3G0 Hit is evre ful bi hepg-f^-^P 
 
 Puncler hit is of godes ricLe r\ Jjij8^ 
 
 pat evre spenp and evre is ilichtr 
 
 3et pii me seist on oper scliome OjyJ^ 
 
 pat ich am on mine e^en lome -^^ ^^ 
 '365 And seist for pat ich fleo TTnihte 
 
 pat ich ne mai iseo bi lihte 
 
 pu licst on me hit is isene 
 
 pat ich habbe gode s ene . 
 
 For nis no so dim pusternesse cLev^^-^-^^^^-'^'"*"^ 
 370 pat ich ever iseo pe lesse 
 
 pu -penest pat ich ne mii^e iseo 
 
 For ich^ bi daie noht ne fieo [ms. Arch. fol. 231 d] 
 
 pe hareliitep al (pe) dai 
 
 Ac no pe les iseo he mai 
 375 5if hundes urnep to him pard 
 
 He gengp pel spipe a wey parcl [ms. Coi, fol. 235 d] 
 
 And h^J^ep papes spipe narepo-- — ^ Aj-iA'^^ 
 
 And havep mid him bleiiclies ^arepe ^ Utcl/x-m 
 
 He huj^p and start spipe cove 
 380 And sechep papes to pe grove 
 M,J^ Ne scholde he for hope his e)e 
 Y^' So don ^if he pe bet ne ise^e 
 I Ich mai iseon so pel so on hare 
 
 pe) ich bi daie sitte an dare 
 385 par ahte men beop in peorre 
 
 And farep hope ner and feorre 
 
 And overfarep feole peode 
 
 And dop bi nihte gode neode 
 
 358 swete Arch, suete Cot, — 359 evere Cot, icantmg in Arch, — 
 o]?J)an Cot. — 361 wunder Cot. and Arch. — 362 ev' Cot. — 363 
 ^ut Cot. — an Arch. — o])' shome Cot. — 364 an Cot. for am — 
 eye Arch. — 365 an Cot. — flo Cot. — 366 iso be li)te Cot. — 
 367 liest? — 369 vor Cot. and Arch. — nones Cot, — jjesternesse 
 Arch. — 370 ev' iso Cot. ~ lasse Cdt. — 371 mwe iseo Arch, 
 mi^te iso Cot. — 372 flo Cot. — 375 eornej) Arch, — 376 sui])e a 
 pai Cot, — 379 <fe Cot, for he — stard su])e Cot. — 381 sholde 
 Cot. — bo Arch. — 382 do Arch, — ne iseye Arch, nise^e Cot, — 
 383 ison Cot. iseo Arch. — 384 a Arch. — 385 a^te Cot. auhte 
 Arch. — porre Cot. worre Arch, — 386 neor Arch. — an forre Co^. 
 — 387 overvarej) Cot. and Arch. — veole Arch, fele Cot. — J)ode 
 Cot, — 388 node Cot, 
 
/ 
 
 w^ 
 
 13 
 
 Ich fol^i pan ante manne 
 390 And fleo bi nihte in heore barme 
 pe nihtegale in hire pohte 
 
 Atheold al pis and longe pohte 
 
 H|>at lieo par after mihte segge- ^^f^^^ 
 
 For heo"ne mihte noht alegge A^^-^?-^^ 
 395 pat pe ule hadde hire isecl ^ 
 
 For heo spac hope riht and red 
 
 And hire ofpuhte pat heo hadde 
 
 pe speche so feor forp iladde 
 
 And pas aferd pat hire anspare 
 400 Ne purpe noht a riht ifare ^ 
 
 Ac no pe les heo spac boldeliche j ^^ 
 
 For he is pis pat hardeliche y» j^-'^^^^'"^^*^'^^*'^"^ 
 
 pip his fo berp grete^Hfit©— 
 
 -pat he. for arghp^'hTtne forlete 
 
 — pat ne. tor argnp^iiit ne lorlete -^ 
 
 405 For spich porp bokl ^if pu flihst :dr a o ftJ^S* VV^*^ ^ 
 
 pat pile fleo ^if pu nis^^iJ^ <JU^ (f^ <^^y^ v\ 
 
 5if he isihp pat pu nart are^ ' [ms. Arch. fol. 232 a] 
 
 He pile of bore purchen bare) 
 
 And for })i pe) pe^nihtegale 
 410 pere ^ferd heo spac bolde tale [ms. Cot. fol. 236 a] 
 " Ule heo seide' hpi dostu so p 
 
 pu singest a piiiter po k,pQ -fj^y^ 
 
 pu singest so dop hen:(ne) a snope 
 
 Al pat heo singep hit is for pope ^1/^t 
 
 415 A pintere pu singest prope and ^ omere -^^^'^^^^-^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 And evre pu art dumb a sumere 
 
 Hit is for pine fule iiipe ^-t^vvArt^ 
 ^^at pu ne miht mid us~beo blipe . . 
 
 For pu forberne st pel ne) for onde ^ i/^f^^^ 
 420 Hpane ure blisse cumep to londe" 'g 
 
 pu farest so dop ^^^^ ^ j.^^^^^-^"^^^^"^ 
 Evrich blisse h im is unpille -^ ^v**^'^' 
 Grucching and luriiTg^limrijeop rade - 
 
 389 ))ane Arch. — a5te Cot. — 31)0 an flo Cot. — ni5t Cot. — 393 hwat 
 heo Arch, pat he Cot. — 394 vor ho Cot. — 398 for Cot. — 
 399 oferd Cot. — 400 pr))e no3t a ri)t Cot. — 401 he Cot. — 
 403 is vo Cot. •— 404 vor are)J)e Cot. — 405 vor suich Cot. — 
 406 pie flo Cot. — isuicst Cot. swykst Arch, — 407 isi]) Cot. — 
 areh Arch. — 408 prchen Cot. wurche bareh Arch. — 411 hule ho 
 Cot. — hwi xirch. pi Cot. — 412 winter Arch, pint' Cot. — 416 an 
 Cot. — 418 mi)t Cot. — 419 vor Cot. — pel omitted in Arch. — 420 
 pane Cot. hwenne Arch. ^ 422 ever icli Arch. — 423 bo]) Cot. 
 
14 
 
 3if he iseop pat men beoj) glade 
 425 He Isolde pat he ise^e 
 
 Teres in evrich monnes e^e 
 
 Ne rohtehe pe^ flockes pere 
 
 ImeiiicTbi toppes and bi here 
 
 Al so pu dost on pire side 
 ' 430 For hpanne'^^ou lip picke and jj4e^ 
 
 And alle pihtes habbeJ)_sone"-^"'''^ 
 
 pu singest from eve (forTy mor^e 
 
 Ac ich alle blisse mid me bringe 
 
 Ech piht is glad for mine pinge 
 435 And blessep hit hpanne ich cume 
 
 ^ . And hihtep a^en mine cume 
 
 ^^(yjJ^^- pe blostme giiinep springe and sprede 
 
 Bope in treo and ek on mede 
 
 pe lilie mid hire faire pHte X-e-^^ — > 
 
 polcumep me pat pu hit pite 
 
 Bid" me mid hire faire bleo^ 
 
 pat ich schulle to hire flfiO-^A [ms. Arch, fol 232 b] 
 
 pe rose al so mid hire rude^^je^d^^/v^viL^^ 
 
 pat cumep ut of pe porne l^udet>r&£ga4 Cot. fol. 236 b] 
 445 Bid me pat ich schulle singe 
 
 For hire luve one skentjnge 
 
 And ich so do pur) niht and dai 
 
 pe more ichsinge pe more ich mai 
 ^^' And skentef hTjmid mine sqiige ayyrJuusisL |T;j-^^''^'^^^ -^ 
 450 Ac no" pe iW^oht overionge ^^'"'^^^'^^^^^!Ca^\ 
 
 H|>ane ich iseo pat men beop glade \ 
 
 Ichjielle pat hi beon to sade 
 
 Hpane is ido for h|>an ich com___-;;-f7 2sJt^ 
 
 Ich fare a^en and jlo-^isdonT ( hAy^f'^ 
 
 455 Hpane mon ho^^of his s cheve 
 \r\ ^^,— -ArrnJ^falepi cuTirep' on grene"! 
 iW^^^^ Ich fa^rehom and nime leve 
 
 i.*-^ 
 
 -ArmJ^falepi cuTirep' on grene leve 
 "^ Ne recche ich noht of pinteres reve t^^l.^ 
 
 424 hop Cot. — 426 ev' iclie Arch. — 427 ro)te Cot. rouhte Arch. — 
 430 vor panne Cot. — 431 sorewe Arcfi. — 432 to a mo rewe Arch. — 
 
 435 & blissej) Cot. — 437 spnge & spde Cot. — 438 in Arch, for on 
 
 — 440 wolcume)) Cot. welcome]) A^^ch. — peyh Arch, for })at — pte 
 Cot. — 444 )5ornewode Cot. ayid Arch. — 445 bit Cot. — 448 i Cot. 
 
 — 449 an Cot. — 453 pan ())an?) Cot. bwenne Arch. — for hwan 
 Arch, vor pan (Jjan?) Cot. — 455 hwanne Arch, pane Cot. — ho- 
 wiej) Arch. — sheve Cot, — 456 falewi Cot. and Arch, 
 
H|>ane ich iseo pat cumep pat harde ^ j' 
 460 Ich fare horn to inin(e) erde — ~C^SaA>'>'J/v*^ 
 And habbe bope luve aTuT ^onc i'T^^^iov^J^^^'W' 
 pat ich her com and hider s|>onc 
 H|>ane min erende is ido ' 
 
 Scholde ich bileve nai hpar to /xj-x-a-^ 
 
 465 For he nis noper ^ ne pis ^?^<^ Tu^r-" tA'^-*»-<^ 
 pat longe abid pafhim neodSiis 
 
 peos ule liist e and leide an hord 
 Al pis mot pord after pord 
 jji/ And after pohte hii heo mihte 
 hj 470 Anspere finde best mid rihte 
 
 For he mot hine ful pel bipenche . . j s/A iJl 
 
 pat is aferd of pjaite£prenchfi disdr^J^ dUi'^.JL^Y^'-^ 
 
 pu aischest me pe ule ,sede„ 
 Hpi ich a pinter singe aiuTgredeCLA^M^ 
 475 Hit is gode monne ipune ~ y - 
 
 And pas from pe porlde frume 
 pat ech god man his freond icnope [ms. Arch. fol. 232 o] 
 And blisse mid hferJffl^ume pro^e [ms. Cot. fol. 236 c] 
 p^ In^his huse at his horde . ^ . 
 
 \^ 480 Mid^ire speche and faire porde g oyvJ^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 And liure and hure to cristes masse <jJi/Tv^ 
 
 Hpanelriche and povre more anxTTasse ^"""^-^sLa^ " 
 
 ^^— SirrgepVcundut niht and dai '^'^-^-^-^A/.^ 
 
 ' Ich lieomTieipe hpat ich mai 
 
 485 And ek ich penche of oper pinge . / 
 
 pane to pleien oper to singe ' 
 
 Ich habbe her to gode anspare 
 
 An on iredi and al ^are 7 
 
 For su meres tide is al to (^^^^"^"^^ « 
 490 And do}) misreken monnes^ponc 
 For he ne recp noht of clennesse 
 Al his poht is of golnesse 
 For none deor no leng nabidep 
 
 459 pan Cot. liwanne Arch. — 462 hid' sponk Cot, — 463 hwanne 
 Arch, pan Cot, — 464 par Cot. — 466 nod nis Cot, no neod is Areh, 
 
 — 469 he mi5te Cot, — 470 ansuere Cot, onswere Arch. — 471 
 ful wel him Arch, — 473 aishest Cot. ayssest Arch. — 475 ipone 
 Cot. ywune Arch. — 476 an Cot, — frome Cot, — 477 mon ArcK 
 
 — frond Cot, frend Arch. — 478 liom Cot. — prope Cot. prowe Arch, 
 cmp. I. 260 — 484 phat Cot. — 487 ansuare Cot, — 488 ware Arch. — 
 489 vor Cot. — 490 ponk Cot. and Arch, — 493 dor Cot. and Arch. 
 
Ac evwch iip^ oper ridep / 
 
 495 pe smve stottes iii pe stocle^ 
 Beop bope -pilde and nierej^de 
 And pu sulf art par a mong 
 For of gohi£SHe~is~"al"'pi song.- ,^^- . 
 And a^en pat pu pilt teme ~^\jSl QL^vrr-^^*^ 
 
 500 pu ailrpel nj^di and pel breniQ^ ,tu j>^jrjL^ 
 Sone so pu TiavesT ltrede "' 
 
 Ne mihtu leng a pord icpe^HjdM ^jf^^'-^n.^^ 
 Ac pipest al so dop a iSose " nj-trv-^t.^ 
 (^^^x(^>^"'^'^*^'Tn mid stefiie irfls^... ^^^ 
 
 505 3et pu singst -[^orse pan pelieisug^ge 
 pat flilip bi grunde a mong^]re stubbe 
 H|?ane pi lust is ago *«k- 
 
 Jj^/l/^lO And forcrempeTT and forbredep.^ C-^^-^^-'-y^^&S^^'^w 
 
 r^ Hit nis for luve no peles [ms. Arch. fol. 232 d] 
 
 f Y^i^^P^"^ ^c is pes cheorles pods res/*vA^nis. Cot. fol. 236 d] 
 ^^ For hpane he havep ido his dede 
 
 Ifallen is ' al his boldhede 
 515 Habbe he istunge under gore 
 Ne last his luve no lenger more 
 . Al so hit is on pine mode^^ ^,y^ \)J\jrt^ 
 \ yr<iJiA^ ^^ ^^^® ^^ I^^ sittest_a brode 
 y'^^^^^^ "~^ur"fbrleost al pine (pke — ^--"-~- — -^ '^ 
 
 520 Al so pu farest on pnie /fisej-CttHta 
 
 Hpane pu havest ido pi gorne. w 
 
 pi stefne gop an on to schome 
 
 Ac hpane nihtes cumep longe 
 
 And bringep foj^es starke and stronge 
 
 525 panna ere§t hit is isene 
 
 Hpar Jsl^^e-^ne]^ hpar pe kene 
 At pan iai:de(ni^^ mai afinde 
 Hpo gep /orp hpo Hp bihinde 
 
 T^XiA- 
 
 M 495 ine Co#. *"— 496 do)) Cot. bej) Arch. — marewode Arch. — 498 
 
 golnysse Arch. — 499 ayeyn Arch. — ])et Cot. — wilt Arch, wit Cot. 
 
 — 502 ique])e Got. and Arch. — 504 chokeringe Cot. — stevne Cot. 
 
 — 505 wrse Arch. — - ])on Cot. — 506 ^at fli^t Cot. — 509 chor- 
 les Cot. and Arch. — 510 vorcrempep & vorbrede)) Cot. — 512 J)e 
 chorles Cot. ))eos cherles Arch. — 513 vor pane Cot. — 516 leng' 
 Cot. — 519 forlost Cot. — 522 stevne Cot. — shome Cot. — 526 
 hwar ATtch. par Cot. — 527 avinde Cot. 
 
 I 
 
^ 
 
 4 
 
 Me mai iseon at pare nepde JuyA 
 
 530 Hpan me schal harde pike beode ^^^ 
 
 panne ich am sneLand pleie and singe 
 
 And hihte me mid mi skentinge^ 
 
 Of none pintre ich ne fecclie 
 
 For ich nam non aspunde precche 
 5^5 And ek ich frovri fele pihte 
 r^, pat mid he^m naL/bep none mihte 
 
 Hi beop hd^^fflfe^^ pel auQeyy^M-^^^H^ 
 I^And seche p ^eorne to pe parme 
 
 Oft ich singe for heom pe more 
 540 For lutli sum of heore sQre -^jujJh) 
 
 / Hu pmcp pe artu ^et inume 
 / Artu mid rihte overcume 
 
 *' Nay nay sede pe nihtegale 
 
 pu schalt ihere an oper tale 
 545 3et nis peos speche ibroht to dqmp [ms. Arch. fol. 233 a] 
 
 Ac beo pel stille and lust nu to me [ms. Cot. fol, 237 a] 
 
 Ich schal mid one bare porde 
 
 Do pat pi speche p,urp forporpe„_..^ . ,^,^^ Ur^^r^t^ 
 
 ' pat nere noht rihti pe uTe sede 
 550 pu havest bicleoped al so pu bede 
 
 And ich pe habbe i^ive anspare 
 
 Ac ar pe to (inker dome fare, 
 
 Ich pille speke topard pe"". 
 
 Al so pu speke topard me 
 555 And pu me anspare ^if pu miht 
 
 Seie me nu pu precche piht 
 
 Is in pe eni oper note 
 
 Bute pu havest schille prote 
 
 pu nart noht to non oper pinge 
 560 Bute pu canst of chateringe 
 
 For pu art lutfiL and unstrong 
 
 529 node Cot — 530 pan Cot. — shal Cot. — bode Cot. — 533 
 wintre Arch, pint'e Cot. — 534 aswunde Arch, asunde Cot. — 535 
 froveri Arch. — vele pi)te Cot. — 536 horn nabbed Cot. — 537 
 boj) ho^fule & vel Cot. houhful Arch. — 538 an Cot. — ^orne Cot. 
 yorne Arch. — ])en Arch. — 539 ofte Arch. — horn Cot. hem Arch. 
 
 — 541 3ut Cot. — 544 on Arch. — 546 bo Cot. be Arch. — pel 
 not in Arch. — 548 wr)) Arch, prht Cot. — forwurJ>e Arch. — 549 
 noht ri3t Cot. — 550 bicloped Cot. bicleped Arch. — 551 an Cot. 
 
 — 552 link' Cot. — 553 wile Arch, — 555 ansuare Cot, onswere 
 Arch, — if Arch. — 556 sey Arch. — 559 0j>' Cot. and Arch. 
 
 3 
 
/^ 
 
 n 
 
 18 
 
 a^ 
 
 And nis pi re^el ndpihf' long < -^ (T^ 
 
 Hpat dostu g^des k^raong manne 
 
 Na mo pene dep a precche pranne 
 565 Of pe ne cumep non oper god 
 
 Bute pu gredegt spich pu beo pod 
 
 And beo pi piping overgo 
 
 Ne beop on pe craftes na mo 
 
 Alfred sede pat pas pis 
 570 He mihte pel for sop hit is 
 
 Nis no man for his bare songe 
 
 Leof ne purp noht spipe longe 
 
 For pat is a forporpe man 
 
 pat bute singe noht ne can 
 575 pu nart bute on forporpe ping 
 
 On pe nis bute chatering 
 
 pu art dim and of ivle heov^:^^ ^ ^ 
 
 And pinchest a Intel ^oii^o^b^^j -^ ^jOiM^ 
 
 pu nart fair ne pu nart strong [ms. Arch. fol. 233 b] 
 580 Ne punart picke ne pu nart long [ms. Cot. fol. 237 b] 
 
 pu havest imist al of fairhede 
 
 And Intel is al pi godhede 
 
 An oper ping of pe ich mene 
 
 pu nart fair ne pu nart clene ^UlA^^^^^^^^ 
 
 585 Hpane pu comest to /^lann^ ha^e^ wA-*^''^ 
 
 par pornes beop and irs'^Sra^ '^ 
 
 Bi hegge and bi picke peode ^"-.^^ ' W/s^ ' 
 
 par men gop oft to heore neode "^^^ V^^'^^^l- — ""^ 
 
 par to pu dra^st par to pu punest --^ 
 
 590 And oper clene stede pu schunest 
 
 Hpan ich fleo nihtes after muse 
 
 Ich mai pe finde at pe rumhuse 
 
 562 ryel Arch, — no J)ing Cot. — 563 monne Cot. and Arch. — 
 564 ])e Cot. — do]) Arch. — percche Cot. — wrenne Arch. — 566 
 swich Arch, suich Cot. — bo Cot. be Arch. — 569 seyde Arch. 
 
 — wes Arch. — 571 mon Arch. — is Cot. — 572 prj) Cot. wr)? 
 Arch. — no5t suj>e Cot. — 573 vor Cot. and Arch. — furwr])e Arch. 
 
 — 574 no)t Cot. naht Arch. — 575 o furwrpe Arch. — 577 lieowe 
 Arch, hope Cot. — 578 litel Arch. — elope Cot. clewe Arch. — 579 
 fayr Arch. — no Cot. — 580 J)ikke Arch. — 581 al not in Arch. 
 
 — 582 an Cot. — al not in Arch. — godede Cot. — 584 vair Cot. 
 feyr Arch. — 585 pane Cot', hwanne Arch. — monne hawe Arch. 
 
 — 586 idrawe Arch. — 587 weode Arch, pode Cot. — 588 hore 
 node Cot. — 589 draust Arch. — pnest Cot. wenst Arch. — 590 
 stude Arch. — 591 ni)tes Cot. nyhtes Arch. — 592 i Cot. — vinde 
 Cot. and Arch. — ate ruhuse Cot. 
 
""%> 
 
 19 
 
 A mong pe peode a mong pe netle'"'""^ 
 
 pu sittest and singst bihinde pe setle^ 
 595 pai^^3^ mai pe ilomest J&nde^ -'t^pi/h^crtAJ'' 
 
 par men peorgep liore bihinde 
 
 3et pu; atpile^ me mine mete 
 
 And seist pat ich fule pihtes ete 
 
 Ac hpat etestu pat pu ne li^e 
 ^0 Bute attercoppe and fule fli^e 
 ^ '^And purmes ^if pu miht finde 
 
 A mong pe folde of harde rinde 
 
 .■ -^ ^ 3®^ i^^ ^^^ ^iJ'®^ gode pik^"-"^ 
 
 'h^^.- A T For ich~<}aa£lop manne plEe ^^^[j } 
 j<;j2J!ij60b And mine piFe beop pelgode ''^'^p^^ 
 
 y^Jy^jlhW For ich helpe to manne fode , a _ ___^ 
 
 ^^^^^^^ Ich can {riiinen mis, ^t beri^^. UV( tri^vn 
 
 nX^'t)^'^^ ^^^^ ek aFjfiifcfie in pe defile;— v^ 
 )J^^^^^ For me is leof to cristes huse 
 610,^0 clansi hit pip fule muse 
 \Sn^ Ne schal par nevre cume t< 
 »«^- Ful piht ^if ich hit mai ^fe 
 trX And ^if me lust on mi sker 
 
 ^ Vj"^>^-^ To pernen oper yw^^^^^^.jt^ [ms. Cot. foL 237 c] 
 
 \Sn^ Ne schal par nevre cume to ^"^^'^^'7 i 
 
 And ^if me lust on mi skentin^ [ms. Arch. fol.233c] 
 
 615 Ich habbe at 'jnfaT keoJ*^?^ grete \ 
 
 Mid picke bo3e no ping b]ete -^^^ ., a^nnrUA.<ia.yw 
 4_Mid ivi grene al bigrope Nt^ i/^-'^Mi^^ 
 
 .^^i^rrxl^fi^i^^t er^ iliche iblope ^<^ vaAA.^>-y^ 
 
 And his heou never ne forleost 
 620 Hpan hit sniup ne hpan hit freest 
 par in ich habbe god ihold 
 A pintre parm a sumere cold 
 Hpane min hus stent briht and grene 
 
 593 pode Cot. wede Arch. — 595 pe may Arcft. — 596 porpe]? 
 Cot. worpej) Arch, — heore Arch. — 597 yet Arch. — atvritest Arch. 
 atuitest Cot. — 599 lye Arch. — 600 vli)e Cot. vlye Arch. — 601 
 wurmes Arch, pormes Cot. — mi)te finde Cot. myht fynde Arch. — 
 602 volde Cot. and Arch. — 604 monne Arch. — 606 uode Cot. 
 and Arch. — 607 nime Cot. nime Arch. — 608 churche Arch. — 
 ine Cot. — 611 come Cot. — 612 ivo Arch, do ivo Cot.— 613 an 
 Cot. — one Cut. — 614 wunying Arch, pnienge Cot. — 615 wode 
 Arch. — tron Cot. — pel not in Arch. — 616 bowe Arch. — 617 
 g'ne Arch. — 619 hou Cot. — nev' Cot. and Arch. — vorleost Arch. 
 vorlost Cot. — 620 pan Cot. hwanne Arch. — sny we Arch. — frost 
 Cot. and Arch. -~ 621 inne ic Arch. — 622 wint' Arch, pint' Cot. 
 — 623 pane (Jjane?) Cot. ]jane Arch. — bri)t Cot. 
 
 3* 
 
V 
 
 y 
 
 V 
 
 
 20 
 
 Of pine nis nopiht isene 
 625 3et pu me <ielit^ of oper pinge 
 
 Of mine briddes seist gabbinge 
 
 pat heore nest nis noht clene 
 
 Hit is fele oper pihte imene 
 
 For hors a stable and oxe a stalle 
 630 Dop al pat beom pule par falle J .^jtX^^'^ 
 
 And lutle childre in p^'crade"fy"^''*^ ^-^^^ 
 
 Bope cheorles and ek ^Jgh^^'mxrv-'Cje^ 
 
 Dop al pat in heore ^eo^epe - 6i-o-vt>kw 
 
 pat hi forletep in heofe'du^epe -> jL.-^-^/^>.W 
 635 Hpat can pat ^ongling hit bihede « 
 
 3if hit misdep hit mot nede 
 
 A forbisne is of olde ifurne ^ 
 
 pat neode makep old pif urne- • 
 
 And 5et ich habbe an oper andspare 
 640 piltu to mine neste fare 
 
 And loki hu hit is idiht 
 
 Ji£pu art pis rieornrl)u miht ^___. ^^^. ^ t^.MjJ> 
 &nest is hol^'^d rum a middT^^^^^ 
 ^ So hit is softest mine bridde <:r^<CtA.A>€». i 
 
 645 Hit is ibroidfin^ aFahute „ l<i--eL^Cf " ,fuft/^.^> 
 
 From pe^ste f^''pipute •-' ^. '^ t 
 
 par to hi (gop: to heore iieode-----'"" /^vv-£v^r\M^ 
 Ac hpat pu ihenest ich heom forbeode [ms.^t!ot. fol.237d 
 pe inniep ^eme of nianne bure ^^- Arch. fol. 233 d] 
 650 And after pah pe makep ure ^f / 
 Men habbep a mong opre ipende 
 A rumhus at heore^ bures ^nde 
 For pat hi nellep to^or go 
 And mine briddes dop al so 
 
 624 no ))ing Cot. — 625 o]?' Cot. and Arch. — 627 no^t Cot. nouht 
 Arch. — 628 fale Cot. and Arch. — o])' pi^te Cot. — 629 vor Cot. 
 and Arch. — 630 bo)) Cot. for doj) — wile Arch. — valle Arch. 
 
 — 631 children Co^.— 632 chorles an Co^. — 633 3oeJ>e Cot. youYipe 
 Arch, — 634 duhpe Arch. — 635 hwat Arch, pat Cot. — 636 mod 
 Cot. — 637 vorbisne Cot. and Arch. — iwrne Got. iwurne Arch. — 
 638 node Cot. — eorne Arch. — 640 vare Cot. and Arch. — 641 
 hw Arch. — 642 leorny Arch, lorni Cot. — mist Arch. mi5st Cot. 
 
 — 643 holeuh Arch. — 645 ibroyde Arch, broiden Cot. — 646 vrom 
 Cot. and Arch. — veor Arch, vor Cot. — 647 god Cot. — hore 
 node Cot. — 648 horn Cot. — forbode Cot. and Arch. — ^AQ yeme 
 nymej) Arch. — 650 makiej) Arch. — 651 habbet Cot. — oj)' Cot. 
 
 — 652 ruhus Cot. — 653 vor Cot. and Arch. — veor Arch, vor Cot, 
 
 r\ 
 
 (Ko/>{-J<^^<^ 
 
21 ^ 
 
 655 Sitte nu stille chateregtre^'^^ 
 
 Nere pu never ibunde fastre 
 
 Her to ne findestu never andspare 
 
 Hong up pin ax nu pu miht fare 
 pe nihtegale at pisse porde 
 660 Pas pel ne^ ut of rede iporpe 
 
 And pohte ^eorne on hire mode 
 
 3if heo oht elles understode 
 
 3if heo cupe oht bute singe 
 
 pat mihte helpe to oper pinge 
 665 Her to heo moste andspere finde 
 
 Oper mid alle beon bihinde 
 
 And hit is spipe strong to fihte 
 
 A^en sop and a^en rihte 
 
 He mot gon to al mid ginne 
 670 Hpan pe heorte beop on pinne 
 
 And pe man mot oper segge ^ ^ ^ j^ j'-.a.^L- 
 
 He mot bihe mmen and ,b^jg.ge hJUry^ CJUr^^^^'^^'''^''^ 
 
 3if mup pipute mai bipreo 
 
 pat(me)pe heorte noht'niseo 
 675 And sone mai a pord misreke 
 
 par mup schal a)en heorte speke 
 
 And sone mai a pord missteorte 
 
 par mup schal speken a^en heorte 
 
 Ac no pe les 3et upe pon 
 
 680 Her is to red hpo'^ine^on i^-tA 
 
 For never nis pit so kene f/y^ aJ 
 
 So hpane recL him is a perifii^-''*'^^^»r''CJot. fol. 238 a] 
 
 panne erest cumep his ^ephede-^s. Arcli. fol. 234 a] 
 
 Hpone hit is aire mest on dredg. 
 685 For Alfred seide of olde cpide- AA>A>tA^ 
 
 And 3ut hit nis of heorte isHde^ 
 
 656 vastre Cot, and Arch. — 659 ni^tingale Cot. — 660 neyh Arch. 
 
 — 661 ])05te ^orne Cot. ])Ouhte yorne Arch. — 662 o^t Cot. ouht 
 Arch. — 663 ho kuj)e o)t Cot. — 665 vinde Cot. vynde Arch. — 
 666 bon Cot. — 667 su))e Cot. omitted in Arch. — 668 ayeyii so))e 
 Arch. — 670 liorte Cot. and Arch. — bo)) Cot. — pinne Cot. and 
 Arch. — 671 on o))er Cot. — 673 biwreo Arch, bipro Cot. — 674 
 horte Cot. and Arch. — no)t niso Cot. — 676 horte Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — 677 misstorte Cot. missturte Arch. — 678 horte Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — 679 3ut Cot. hyet Arch. — 680 kon Cot. — 681 vor nev' Cot. 
 and Arch, — 682 pane Cot. hwanne Arch. — wene Arch. — 683 
 kumed Cot. — 685 qiiide Cot. and Arch. — 686 jut Cot. hyet ArcK 
 
 — horte Cot. and Arch, 
 
Hpone pe bale is aire hecg t — — ^ul.^Yr-'^^^''*^^^^^^ 
 
 ponne is pe bote aire necst .THc-^ 'f- f 
 
 For pit pest a mong biT^re ^ Vt.^'^*"^-^ 
 690 And for bis sore hit is pe more " r 
 
 For pi nis nevre mon redles 
 
 Ar his beorte beo pities 
 
 Ac 5if pat be forJeost bis pit 
 
 ponne is bis redpurs al toslit 
 695 3if be ne con bis pit atbolde 
 
 Ne fint he red in one folde 
 
 For Alfred seide pat pel cupe 
 
 Evre be spac mid sope mupe 
 
 Hpone pe bale is aire becst 
 
 700 panne is pe bote aire necst 
 
 pe nibtegale al hire bo^e 
 
 Mid rede badde pel bito^e 
 
 A mong pe barde a mong pe tobte 
 
 Ful pel mid rede hire bipohte 
 705 And badde andspere gode ifunde 
 
 A mong al hire barde stunde 
 Ule pu axest me beo seide 
 
 3if ich con eni oper dede 
 
 Bute singen in sume tide 
 710 And bringe blisse feor and pide 
 
 Hpi axestu of craftes mine 
 
 Betere is min on pan a lie pine 
 
 Betere is o song of mine mupe 
 
 pan al pat evre pi cun cupe 
 715 And lust ich telle pe bpar fore 
 
 postu to hpan man pas ibore [ms. Cot. fol. 238 b] 
 
 To pare blisse of beoveneriche 
 
 par ever is song and mur^pe iliche [ms. Arch. fol. 234b] 
 
 pider fundep evrich man 
 
 687 pone Cot. hwenne Arch. — hekst Arch. — 688 Jjenne Arch. 
 
 — nest Arch. — 689 vor pit pest Cot. and Arch. — 690 & Arch. 
 an Cot. — 691 nev'e Cot. nev' Arch. — 692 horte Cot. and Arch. — 
 
 693 if Arch. — J)at not in Arch. — forlost Cot. furleost Arch. — 
 
 694 ))enne Arch. — 695 kon Cot. — 696 vint Cot. vynt Arch. — 
 volde Cot. and Arch. — 697 ku])e Cot. — 700 nest Cot. next Arch. 
 
 — 703 to)te Cot. — 707 ho Cot. — 710 veor Arch, for Cot. — 712 
 beter Arch. — 714 kun kupe Cot. and Arch. — 715 hwar Arch. 
 pare Cot. — vore Cot. and Arch. — 716 hwan Arch, pan Cot. — 717 
 Doveneriche Cot. heveriche J.rcA. -718 mureh])e Arch. — 719])id' Cot, 
 
'<^ 'hjutAl^ 
 
 23 H 
 
 720 pat eni ping of gode can x^ J^ 
 
 For pi me singp in holi chirche 
 And clerkes ginnep songes pirclie 
 
 Pb^ 
 
 pat man ipenclie bi pe songe ^^k>-^^^^ 
 
 Hpider he schal and par beon longe . ^ 
 
 725 pat he pe mur^pe ne for^ete ^^^LA^ 
 
 Ac par of penche and bi^ete C 
 
 And nime 3eme of chirche stevene 
 
 Hu murie is pe blisse of hevene 
 
 Clerkes munekes and canunes 
 730 par beop peos gode piketunes 
 
 Arisep up to middelnihte 
 
 And singep of pon hevenelihte 
 
 And preostes upe londe singep 
 
 Hpane pe liht of daie springep 
 735 And ich heom helpe hpat ich mai 
 
 Ich singe mid heom niht and dai 
 
 And heo beop alle for me pe gladdere 
 
 And to pe songe beop pe raddere 
 
 Ich parni men to heore gode 
 740 pat hi beon blipe on heore mode 
 
 And bidde pat hi moten iseche 
 
 pan ilche song pat ever is eche 
 
 Nu pu miht ule sitte and clinge 
 
 Her a mong nis no chateringe 
 745 Ich graunti pat pe go to dome 
 
 Tofore pe sulve pope of Rome 
 
 Ac abid ^ete no pe les h 
 
 pu schalt ihere an oper pes ^Jl^^JS-^l^ 
 
 Ne schaltu for (al) EngefenH^ 
 750 At pisse porde me atstonde [ms. Cot. fol. 238 c] 
 
 Hpi atpitestu me mine unstrengpe 
 
 And mine ungrete and mine unlengpe 
 
 And seist pat icli nam noht strong 
 
 For ich nam noper gret ne long [ms. Arch. fol. 234c] 
 755 Ac pu nost never hpat pu menst 
 
 724 pid' \Cot. - bon Cot. ben Arch. — 727 stefne Arch. — 728 
 hovene Cot. — 730 bo]? ))0S Cot. — picketunes Cot. — 732 J)e 
 hoveneli)te Cot. — 735 ic Arch. — pat i Cot. — 736 horn Cot. hem 
 Arch. — 737 an ho bo]) Cot. — 739 here Cot. — 740 hore Cot. — 
 741 bidden Arch. — 742 ])at Arch. — ilke Cot. — 746 sulfe Cot. 
 — 748 bles Arch, by a later hand — 751 pi atuitestu Cot. — 753 
 am Arch. — 754 vor Cot. 
 
Bute lese pordes pu me lenst 
 
 For ich can craft and ich can liste 
 
 And par fore ich am pus priste 
 
 Ich can pit and song manteine 
 760 Ne triste ich to non(e) oper maine 
 
 For sop hit is pat seide Alfred 
 
 Ne mai no strengpe a^en red 
 
 Oft spet pel a lute liste 
 
 par muche strengpe solde miste 
 765 Mid lutle strengpe pur) ginne 
 
 Castel and bur^ me mai ipinne 
 
 Mid liste me mai palles felle 
 
 And peorpe of horse cnihtes snelle 
 
 Uvel strengpe is Intel purp 
 770 Ac pisdom ne purp never unpurp 
 
 pu miht iseo purh alle ping 
 
 pat pisdom navep non evening 
 
 An hors is strengur pan a mon 
 
 Ac for hit non ipit ne con 
 775 Hit berp on rugge grete semes 
 
 And dra^p bi speore grete temes 
 
 And polep hope 3erd(e) and spure 
 
 And stont iteid at mulne dure 
 
 And hit dep pat mon hit hot 
 780 And for pan pat hit no pit not 
 
 Ne mai his strengpe hit ischilde 
 
 pat hit nabu^p pe lutle childe 
 
 Mon dep mid strengpe and mid pitte 
 
 pat oper ping nis non his fitte 
 785 pe) alle strengpe at one pere 
 
 Monnes pit ^et more pere [ms. Cot. fol. 238 d] 
 
 For pe mon mid his crafte 
 
 Overcumep al eorpliche schafte [ms. Arch. fol. 234d] 
 
 Al so ich do mid mine one songe 
 
 757 ic Arch. — kan Cot. — 758 J)are vore Cot. — 760 ic Arch. — 
 0])' Cot. — 764 sholde Cot. — myste A-ch. — 765 ))ureh Arch. — 
 766 bureh Arch. — 767 walles Arch, palle Cot. — 768 porpe Cot. 
 werpe Arch. — knyhtes Arch. kni5tes Cot. — 769 wr]) Arch. — 
 770 wisdom Arch. — wr)) nev' unwrj) Arch. — 771 myht Arch. I. 
 770 and 771 are wanting in Cot. — 776 drahj) Arch. — bi sweore 
 Arch, bi vore Cot. — 778 iteyed Arch. — 779 doj) Arch. — 781 
 strenlje Cot. — 785 pere Cot. and Arch. — 787 vor Cot. and Arch. 
 — 788 or])liclie shafte Cot. — 789 ic Arch. 
 
25 
 
 790 Bet pan pu al pe ^er longe 
 
 For mine crafte men me luviep " 
 
 For pine strengpe men pe scbuniep 
 . Telstu bi me pe pnrs for pan 
 
 ])at ich bute anne craft ne can 
 795 3if tpeie men gof) to prastlinge 
 
 And eiper oper faste pringe 
 
 And pe on can spenges spipe fele 
 
 And can his -prenclies ]>el forhele 
 
 And pe oper ne can speng bate anne 
 800 And pe is god pip eche manne 
 
 And mid pon one leip to grunde 
 
 Anne after oper a lutle stunde 
 
 Hpat parf he recche of mo spenge 
 
 Hpone pe on him is spo genge 
 805 pu seist pat pu canst fele pike 
 
 Ac ever ich am pin unilike 
 
 I)o pine craftes alle to gadere 
 
 3et is min on heorte betere 
 
 Oft hpan hundes foxes drivep 
 810 pe cat ful pel him sulve livep 
 
 pe^ lie ne cunne prench bute anne 
 
 pe fox so godne ne can nanne 
 
 pe) he cunne so fele prenche 
 
 pat he penp eche hunde atprenche 
 815 For he can papes rihte and po^e 
 
 And he can hongi bi pe bo^e 
 
 And so forleost pe bund his fore 
 
 And turnp a)en eft to pan more 
 
 y>e fox can creope bi pe heie 
 820 And turne ut from his forme peie [ms. Cot. fol. 239 a] 
 
 And eft sone cume par to 
 
 ponne is pes hundes smel fordo [ms. Arch. fol. 235 a] 
 
 790 all Arch, for al pe — 794 ic Arch. — enne Arch. — 795 tiieie 
 Cot. twey Arch. — wrastlinge Arch, praslinge Cot. — 796 & Arch. 
 an Cot. — 797 swij)e Arch, supe Cot. — 798 kan Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — 799 but Cot. — 801 pan Arch. — 803 liwat Arch, pat Cot. — 
 a mo Cot. — 804 so Arch. — 805 pe Cot. and Arch. — 806 un- 
 yliche Arch. — 808 heorte Arch, horte Cot. — 809 ofte Arch. — 
 hwan Arch, pan Cot. — 810 kat Cot. and Arch. — 811 J)eh Arch. 
 
 — 813 J)ey Arch, pe Cot. — vele Cot. — 814 atprenche Cot. and 
 Arch. — 815 vor Cot. and Arch. — wowe Arch. — 816 kan Cot. 
 
 — bowe Arch, — 817 forlost Cot. veriest Arch. — 819 vox kan 
 Cot. — crope Cot. crepe Arch. — 822 ))enne Arch. — pe Cot. 
 
 4 
 
2Q 
 
 He not purh pe imeinde smak 
 
 H]?eper he schal forp pe a bak 
 825 3if pe fox mist of al pis dpole 
 
 At pan ende he creopp to hole 
 
 Ac na pe les mid alle his prenche 
 
 Ne can he hine so bipenche 
 
 pe) he beo ^ep and s]>ipe snel 
 830 pat he ne leost his rede fel 
 
 pe cat ne can -prench bute enne 
 
 Noper bi dune ne hi fenne 
 
 Bute he can climbe spipe pel 
 
 par mid he perep his greie fel 
 835 Al so ich segge bi me seolve 
 
 Betere is min on pan pine tpelve 
 Abid abid pe ule seide 
 
 ]\i gest al to mid spikelhede 
 
 Alle pine ]>ordes pu bileist 
 840 pat hit pincp sop al pat pu seist 
 
 Alle pine pordes beop isliked 
 
 And so bisemed and biliked 
 
 pat alle peo pat hi afop 
 
 Hi ]>enep pat pu segge sop 
 845 Abid abid me schal pe ^ene 
 
 Nu hit schal ]7urpe |>el isene 
 
 pat pu havest muchel ilo^e 
 
 H]>one pi lesing beop unpro^e 
 
 pu seist pat pu singest mancunne 
 850 And techest heom pat hi fundiep heonne 
 Up to pe songe pat evre ilest 
 Ac hit is aire -pundre mest 
 pat pu darst li^e so opeliche 
 
 Penest pu hi bringe so lihtliche [ms. Cot. fol. 239 b] 
 855 To godes riche al singinde 
 
 Nai nai hi schule pel afinde [ms. Arch. fol. 235 b] 
 
 823 J)urs Cot. — 824 vorj) Arch, avorj? Cot. — bak Cot. for a bak 
 
 — 825 dwele Arch. — 826 cropj) Cot. — 830 lost Cot. — vel Cot. 
 and Arch. — 831 kat Arch. — kan Cot. — anne Cot. — 832 venne 
 Cot. and Arch. — 835 mi Cot. my Arch. — solve Cot. — 836 beter 
 Arch. — twelve Arch. — 837 ule Cot. and Arch. — 838 swikelliede 
 Arch, spikelede Cot. — 841 bo]) Cot. ~ 843 })o Cot. heo Arch. — 
 avo]) Cot. and Arch. — 846 ])u Cot. for nu — shal pr])e Cot, wr])e 
 Arch. — 847 ilowe Arch. — 848 unwrowe Arch. — 849 singist Cot. 
 
 — 850 horn Cot. — honne Cot. — 852 wundre Arch, pnder Cot. 
 
 — 855 singinge Cot. — 856 shulle Cot. — avinde Cot. 
 
27 
 
 pat hi mid longe ^ope mote 
 
 Of heore sunnen bidde bote 
 
 Ar hi mote ever cume pare 
 860 Ich rede pi pat men beo fare 
 
 And more pepe pane singe 
 
 pat fundep to pan heovenkinge 
 
 For nis no man )?iputen sunne 
 
 For pi he mot ar he -pende heonne 
 865 Mid teres and mid pope bete 
 
 pat him beo snr pat er pas spete 
 
 par to ich helpe god hit pot 
 
 Ne singe ich heom no foliot 
 
 For al mi song is of longinge 
 870 And imeind sum del mid poninge 
 
 pat mon bi me hine bipenche 
 
 pat he groni for his unprenche 
 
 Mid mine songe ich hine pulte 
 
 pat he groni for his gulte 
 875 5if pi^i gest her of to disputinge 
 
 Ich pepe bet pane pu singe 
 
 3if riht gop forp and a bak prong 
 
 Betere is mi pop pane pi song 
 
 pe) sume men beon purhut gode 
 880 And purhut clene on heore mode 
 
 Heom longep heonne no pe les 
 
 pat (hi) beop her po is heom pes 
 
 For pe) hi beon heom seolve ibor^e 
 
 Hi ne seop her nopiht bute sor^e 
 885 For oper men hi pepep sore 
 
 And for heom biddep cristes ore 
 
 Ich helpe monne on eiper halve 
 
 Mi mup havep tpeire cunne salve [ms Cot. fol. 239 c] 
 
 pan gode ich fulste to longinge 
 890 For hpan bin longep ich him singe [ms. Arch. fol. 235 c] 
 
 860 beo ware Arch, bo ^are Cot. — 862 hovenkinge Cot. hevene- 
 kinge Arch. — 863 wi])uten Arch, pitute Cot. — 864 honne Cot. 
 
 — 868 ih horn Cot. — 869 my Arch, me Cot. — 870 an imend Cot. 
 
 — 872 grony Arch. — 876 J)an Arc?i. — 877 ri)t Cot. — 879 bo 
 ))ur5ut Cot. — 881 heo Arch, hon Cot. — 882 bo)) Cot. — horn 
 Cot. and Arch. — 883 solve Cot. selve Arch. — iborewe Arch. — 
 884 nopijt Cot. — bote Cot. and Arch. — sorpe Cot. serewe Arch. 
 
 — 890 vor Cot. and Arch. — pan Cot. hwenne Arch. -^ 111 loge]) 
 ic hi Arch. 
 
 4* 
 
28 
 
 And [jan sunfulle ich helpe al spo 
 
 For ich him teche hpare is po 
 
 ^et ich pe ^ene in oper pise 
 
 For h|?ane {ju sittest on pine rise 
 895 pu dra5(e)st men to flesches histe 
 
 ])at pilej) pine songes luste 
 
 Al pii forleost pe mur)pe of hevene 
 
 I'or par to navestu none stevene 
 
 Al pat pu singst is of golnesse 
 900 For nis on pe non holinesse 
 
 Ne |*enep na man for pi pipinge 
 
 pat eni preost in chirche singe 
 
 5et ich pe |>ile an oper segge 
 
 3if pu hit const a riht bilegge 
 905 H]?i nultu singe an oper peode 
 
 Hpar hit is muchele more neode 
 
 pu never ne singest in Irlonde 
 
 Ne pu ne curaest noht in Scotlonde 
 
 Hpi nultu fare to Norpeie 
 910 And singen men of Galepeie 
 
 par beop men pat Intel cunne 
 
 Of songe pat is bineope pe sunne 
 
 Hpi nultu pare preoste singe 
 
 And teche of pire pritelinge 
 915 And pisi heom mid pire stevene 
 
 Hu engles singep in pe hevene 
 
 pu farest so dop an idel pel 
 
 pat springep hi burne pat is snel 
 
 And let fordru^e pe dune 
 920 And flopep on idel par a dune 
 
 892 pare Cot. hwar Arch, — 893 ic Arch. — yene on Arch. — 895 
 fleses Cot. fleyses Arch. cmp. I. 1388 — 896 wile)) Arch. vWep Cot. 
 — 897 forlost Cot. vorleost Arch. — hoveiie Cot. — 901 wenej> 
 Arch, pened Cot. — 902 preost Cot. and Arch. — chirce Cot. — 
 903 i Cot. ic Arch. — wile Arch, pulle Cot. — oder Cot. — 905 
 wM Arch, pi Cot. — oder peode Cot. — 906 par Cot. — 907 nev' 
 Arch, neav' Cot. — singst Cot. — 908 no)t Cot. — 909 hpi Got. 
 hwi Arch. — Norweye Arch. Norepeie Co f. — 910 singin Cot. — ^W 
 beod Cot. — J» Cot. — kunne Cot. and Arch. — 912 bineode Cot. 
 under Arch. — pe omitted in Arch. — 913 pi Cot. — 914 & Arch. 
 an Cot. — 915 horn Cot. — stefno Arch. — 916 engeles Cot. — 
 singed ine heovene Cot. — 917 dod Cot. — ydcl Cot. — 918 f 
 Arch, par Cot. — 919 fordruye Arch, fordrue Cot. — 920 flohp 
 Arch, floli Cot. 
 
29 
 
 Ac ich fare bope norp and sup 
 
 In evericli londe ich am cup [ms. Cot. fol. 239 d] 
 
 East and pest feor and ner 
 
 Ich do pel faire mi mester [ms. Arch. fol. 235 d] 
 
 925 And parni men mid mine here 
 
 pat pi dpeolesong heo ne forlere 
 
 Ich pisse men mid mine songe 
 
 pat hi ne sunegi nopiht longe 
 
 Ich bidde heom pat heo ispike 
 930 pat (heo) heom seolve ne bispike 
 
 For betere is {)at heo pepen here 
 
 pari elles hpar beon deovlene fere 
 pe nihtegale pas agromed 
 
 And ek heo pas sum del ofschomed 
 935 For pe ule hire atpiten hadde 
 
 In hpiche stude heo sat and gradda 
 
 Bihinde pe bure a mong pe pcode 
 
 Hpar men gop to heore neode 
 
 And sat sum del and heo bipohte 
 940 And piste pel on hire pohte 
 
 pat prappe binimep monnes red 
 
 For hit seide pe king Alfred 
 
 Selde endep pel pe lope 
 
 And selde plaidep pel pe prope 
 945 For prappe meiiip pe heorte blod 
 
 pat hit flopep so pilde flod 
 
 And al pe heorte overgep 
 
 pat heo havep no ping bute brep 
 
 And so forleost al hire liht 
 950 pat heo ne sihp sop ne riht 
 
 pe nihtegale hi understod 
 
 021 sou)) Arch, so)) Cot. — 922 ev' ich Arch, ev' euch Cot. — 
 cuiij) Cot, — 923 neor Cot, and Arch. — 924 i Cot. and Arch. — 
 meoster Cot. — 926 dwelesoug Arch. — heo Cot. and Arch. — 929 
 hom Cot. — 932 hpar Cot. hwar Arch. — to beon Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — yvere Arch. — 933 ni^tingale Cot. — igremet Cot. — 934 of- 
 chanied Cot. — 935 hule Cot. — 936 hwiche Arch, hpucche Cot. 
 
 — he Cot. ho Arch. — 937 wede Cot. and Arch. — 938 hwar Arch. 
 par Cot. — god Cot. — here Cot. — neode Cot. and Arch. — 939 
 & Arch, an Cot. — & Cot. and Arch. — 941 ))e Cot. and Arch. — 
 943 sele ended Cot. — 944 plaided Cot. — 945 horte Cot. — 947 
 heorte Cot. and Arch. — 948 nave)) Arch. — 949 vorleost Arch. — 
 liht Cot. lyht Arch. — 950 syh)) Arch, si)) Cot. — sod Cot. 
 
30 
 
 And overgan let hire mod 
 
 He mihte bet speken a sele 
 
 pan mid prappe |?ordes dele 
 955 Ule heo seide lust nii hider 
 
 pii sclialt falle pe fQi is slider [ms. Cot. fol. 240 a] 
 
 pu seist icli fleo bihinde bure 
 
 Hit is riht pe bur is ure ffU^ [ms. Arch. fol. 236 a] 
 
 par laverd liggep andTavedi 
 060 Ich schal heom singe and sitte bi 
 
 penstu pat pise men forlete 
 
 For fule fenne pe rihte strete 
 
 Ne (pe) sunne pe later schine 
 
 pe) hit beo ful ine neste pine 
 065 Scholde ich for one hole brede 
 
 Forlete mine rihte stede 
 
 pat ich ne singe bi pe bedde 
 
 par loverd havep his leove ibedde 
 
 Hit is mi riht hit is mi la^e 
 970 pat to pe hecste ich me dra^e 
 
 Ac ^ef pu ^elpst of pine songe 
 
 pat pu canst 30 He -prope and stronge 
 
 And seist pu |>isest mancunne 
 
 pat. hi bipepen heore sunne 
 975 Scholde euch mon -poni and grede 
 
 Riht spich hi peren unlede 
 
 Scholde hi pollen al so pu dest 
 
 Hi mihte afere heore preost 
 
 Man schal beo stille and noht grede 
 980 He mot bipepe his misdede 
 
 Ac hpar is cristes heriinge 
 
 par me schal grede and lude singe 
 
 Nis noper to lud ne to long 
 
 952 lette Cot. mid Arch. cmp. I. H and 1097 — 953 i sele Arch. 
 
 — 954 deale Cot. — 955 ule Arch, hule Cot. — 959 loverd Arch. 
 
 — levedy Arch. — 961 wise Arch, vise Cot. — 962 vor Arch. — 
 venne Cot. and Arch. — ri)tte Cot. — 963 shine Cot. — 964 bo 
 Cot. — 965 sholde Cot. — 906 furlete Arch. — ri)!? stude Cot. — 
 968 love Cot. lavedi Arch. — bedde Arch. — 969 ri)! Cot. — 970 
 hecst Cot. hexte Arch. — 971 ^ef (^et?) Cot. if Arc?i. — 973 wisest 
 Arch, visest Cot. — mankunne Cot. monkuuiie Arch. — 974 hore 
 Cot. — 975 solde Cot. — woiiie Cot, and Arch. — 976 ri5t suich 
 Cot. such Arch. — 977 solde Cot. — 978 mi^te oferen here brost 
 Cot. — 979 bo Cot. — no5t C'o^. — 981 par (bar?) Cot. bar Arch. 
 ~- 982 shal Got. 
 
31 
 
 At rihte time chirchesong 
 985 pu plst and ^onest and ich singe 
 
 pi stefne is pop and min skentinge 
 
 Ever mote pu ^olle and pepen 
 
 pat J)u pi lif mote forleten 
 
 And pollen mote pu so he^e 
 990 pat ut berste bo pin(e) e)e [ms. Cot. fol. 240 b] 
 
 Hpeper is betere of tpere tpom 
 
 pat mon beo blipe oper grom [ms. Arch. fol. 236b] 
 
 So beo hit ever in unker sipe 
 
 pat pu beo sori and ich blipe 
 995 ^et pu aischest hpi ich ne fare 
 
 Into oper londe and singe pare 
 
 No hpat scholde ich a mong heom do ,J^ 
 
 par never blisse ne com to a aaJ^^ 
 
 pat lond nis god ne hit nis este^ P''^^^\^ 
 1000 Ac pildernisse hit is and yesie 'iQ~^4^^L4U^<^ -— / ^p 
 ^j^^^^,^gt:> Cnarres and-eludes heovene ten^e hL4>(AMyrL^ ^^^^^'^'^'^^^ 
 
 C^^-nrpat lond is im$i and unfeleu.-,£g^<-^ ^ ^-<^^ 
 pe men beop'^ilde and uniseje w..>5lJl^^'^^'' a 
 
 . 1005 Hi nabbep noper grip^ ne s ibbe ^-Tpy y ^-^iAju^^-./IULcf \ 
 
 f-^-^*^^-^ Hi ne recchep (novre) hu hi li({be ^ J 
 
 Hi etep fiscli and fiesch unsode lAyr^^CyO^i^M^Ji 
 Spich'^ulves hadde hit/tpbrode-^ ryitt^^^ 
 Hi drink^p^milc and np^par to 
 ^^^1010 Hi nutep elTef hpat hi do 
 
 ^^ Hi nabbep no{)er ]^n ne beor vJUl^T 
 
 . Ac libbep al so pilde deor ^^^rofytr^d^ 
 {>^^ Hi gop bituiit mid rii)e ^^'^^^ t%4y^ 
 Riht ^?ich lii comen'*ut of helle ^ 
 1015 pe3 eni god man to heom come 
 
 984 ri5te Cot, — 985 wonest Arch, pones Cot. — 986 stevene 
 Cot. — 991 pe))el- Cot. — tweyre Arch. — 992 bo Cot. — 995 yet 
 Arch, yxi Cot. — aisheist pi Cot. — 996 op' Cot. — 997 pat sholde 
 Cot. — horn Cot. — 1000 wildernesse Arch. — 1001 knarres & Cot. 
 and Arch. — hovene Arch, hoven Cot, — tinge Cot. and Arch. — 
 1002 hawel Arch. — 1003 unvele Cot. and Arch. — 1004 bop Cot. 
 — iinsele Aixh. — 1007 fihs an flehs Cot. fys & fleys Arch. — 1008 
 suich Cot. — hit hadde Cot. and Arch. — 1009 pei Cot. hwey Arch. — 
 1010 nute Cot. — pat Cot. — 1011 nop Cot. noht Arch, — bor 
 Cot. — 1012 dor Cot. — 1013 biti)t Cot, — rowe Arch. — velle 
 Cot — 1014 ri3t suich Cot. suych Arc?i. — 1015 horn Cot. 
 
/ ? ^2 
 
 So h-pile dude sum from Rome 
 . For heom to lere gode pepes^U/^Xf ^^ 
 
 ^x^jl-*-^' , And for to Igten lieore unpepes f/u^^^jy^ 
 
 r^2. 
 
 He mibte bet sitte stille -^ 
 
 imle ne scholde spille tcP&^o-^^^^ 
 
 1020 For al his lipile ne scholde spille 
 
 He mihte bet teche ane beore -^ula-a/ 
 /) To peje hope scheld and spere 
 
 Kj-f^^^^ pan nfe'^)at pilde folc ibringe 
 
 pat hi me ^olde iliere singe [ms. Cot. fol. 240 c] 
 
 1025 Hpat scholcl(e) ich par mid mine songe 
 
 Ne sunge ich heom jiever so longe [ms. Arch. fol. 
 Mi song i^ere'li^firech del b^^-5^ 236 c] 
 For heom ne mai halter ne bridel 
 Bringe from heore j>ode 'i?isft- i^yi^c^i^y^t ^<^(^^^^^ 
 1030 Ne mon mid stele ne mid ise -<-A^<»>^ ^ 
 
 Ac par, lond is hope Vstc iiiid god 
 And jmr men habbep miiile mod 
 jg^-r^i^C^^i Ich notie mid heom mine l)rote 
 
 ^ ' For ich mai do par gode n.ote''^-i^>'^-"»>-*<4. 
 
 1035 And bringe heom leoVe ' tidinge S 
 For ich of chirchesonge singe , 
 Hit pas iseid in okle la^e Q^u^-^*-^ 
 And ^et ilast pilfe sopsa^e Jxt^ Sa_*»J.^ 
 )^at man schal %i^^ and so|>e . (j i 
 
 ■^u^ 1040'*^)ar he penp after sum god mo]>e ^^^ 
 
 For he is i^Od pat sopep his sed , JdfjyQ^jf.^,,^^/ 
 par never gras ne springp ne bled M.^''^*^tJni'^^ 
 
 pe ule pas ^fd^op to cheste rad .cLa^Jx . -^ 
 
 Mid pisse porde hire e^en abrad r^\ Ou!<^^ .-i^.a-^-'*-/^ 
 I .-. ; 1045 pu seist pu.pitest maniie bures . \ oAfiv 
 
 A^^-^ Wpar lev-e/jieop and faire flures .^(yy^ ^JUJ\M) ^i^ ^ 
 
 par tpo il^o:^erin one bedde j J CnM^ 
 
 i^.tU-' Liggep iSii|(t^^and |el ^ilieddeo*^^^--*-''^^^ 
 Enes pu sunge ich pot pel hpfe-e ^ 
 
 1016 pile Coi. — 1017 liom Cot. — 1019 mi)te Cot. — 1020 vor 
 Cot. and Arch. — hwile Arch, pile Cot. — sliolde Cot. scolde Arch. 
 — 1021 bore Cot. — 1024 me segge polde Cot. — 1025 pat sol 
 Cot. — 1027 uycli Arch — 1029 vrom liore Cot. — wode Arch, pude 
 Cot, — 1030 ire Cot. and Arch. — 1031 long Cot. — 1033 notye 
 Arch, noti Cot. — horn Cot. — 1035 love Cot. leve Arch. — tip'mge 
 Cot — 1039 shal Cot. — 1042 sprinj) Cot. — 1046 bop Cot. — tiores 
 Cot. — 1047 ilove Cot. — 1048 biclop Cot. — 1049 ic Cot, and 
 Arch. — pod Cot. — liware Arch, pare Cot. 
 
33 
 
 1050 Bi one bure and joldest lere 
 
 pe lefdi^to an(e) uvel luve y 
 
 >^4J^ And sunge hope Fo^q and buve I^^^Jj/^ 
 
 I And lemSt hr'td don schome 
 
 .ceAt^**'-^ And unriht of hire lichome i^-ih^^ f 
 
 A 1055 pe loverd pat sone under3at <5t<> <>#-'»'^A^^^-^^-^ 
 -J^-^-^ Lim and grWand yefihysit ^u^JL^^^pJ^^ 
 
 Sette and leide pe for to lacoheC^tr-^-Ap^^^^^^ 
 pu come sone tq pan hacche::4/*-^l^s?Cotrfol. 240d] 
 pu yere inunre in one grine^ic'jc. ^ 
 
 1060 Al hit abohte pine schine — v . [m o . A r ch .-.fol. 336 - A > — ^^ 
 
 Ul^fi^ pu naddest non oper dom ne la^e, J'tA^U^^*-iv^^4< K^ J^ 
 ^'^ Bute mid pilde horse |>ere todra^e -fe^^^^jj^^ oMn^*^^ 
 
 .c^TsM '^I'^onde ^if pu miht eft misrede >/u£i2Xir^ ^ ' ' 
 r^^~--Hpepei: pu ^It pif pe maide '''''''^-*-*^ 
 j*^%^ 1065 pi song mai beo so longe gejige iC/mJjui^''*'^^*''^ 
 jt > ' pat pu schalt h^^f^M^ on a sprenge Ir^^ 
 
 pe nihtegale at pisse 'f orde ' 
 
 Mid speorde and mi^d speres orde p^j^^ck 
 3if heo mon pere polde fihte 
 1070 Ac po heo bet do n^ mihte VJjJS^ 
 
 Ajyt^^ Hqo faht mid ^ hire pise tunge 
 
 pM fiht pat ^1 specp seip in pe songe 
 
 Of hire tunge heo nom red-^ ^io.>w.^c(j^ 
 
 pel fiht pat pel specp seide Alfred 
 1075 Hpat seistu pis for mine schome "^ 
 pe loverd hadde her of gromeo^^/v^-^^'^ 
 He pas so gelus of his pve 
 pat he ne mihte for his live 
 Iseo pat man "pip hire speke 
 1080 pat his heorte nolde breke 
 I ^ He hire bilek in one bure 
 
 -^^^^■^ pat hire pas hope stronge and sure 
 Ich hadde of hire mi]se and ore ^ 
 
 1053 shome Cot. — 1054 unri)t Got, — ^icome Cot. — 1056 Him 
 Cot. lym Arch, — grine Cot, grune Arch, — & Cot. and Arch, — 
 eipat Cot. — 1057 leyde Arch, ledde Cot, — 1060 abohte Cot, — 
 shine Cot. — 1063 vonde Cot, vond' Arch. — mi^t Cot, — 1064 
 hwe))er Arch, pajjer Cot, — pult Cot. — 1065 bo Cot, — 1066 
 hwippen Arch, pippen Cot, — 1068 sporde Cot. swerde Arch, — 
 1069 ho Cot, — fi^te Cot. — 1071 ho va)t Cot, — 1075 pat Cot. 
 — shome Coi, — 1079 iso Cot, — 1080 horte Cot, — 1081 bileck 
 Cot, 
 
And sori |as for hire sore 
 1085 And skente hi mid mine songe -^jm^^^JtJ^ 
 ^jd^"" Ai pat ich mihte rape and longe /^^^ ^ 
 
 . V For pan pe cniht pas "^p me prop^ ^^'^tUf*?!^ 
 J For rikte nipe ich'fes him lop k^L^CpLP i 
 
 ^IMtrtir He (j^(je j^Q ]jjg o^ene schome J. 
 
 ' 1090 Ac al him turnde hit to grome^-tA^^ 
 ^^^jJXs'^iUfc-*^ pat underpat pe king Henri ^ v 
 
 Jesus his soule do merci [ms. Cot. fol. 241a] 
 
 \ 4 tv^ivvukj W -"^^ -^^ forbonne pene cniht 
 
 ] fs.y^,/>^^ - p^^ hadde idon so muchel unriht ^s. Arci. fol. 237 a] 
 1095 In so gode kinges londe _ , 
 
 For rihte nipe and Me onde M-oM^JlJ 
 /WC Let pane hitle ft^^'Kiime . 
 
 I) w^jJL "^^^ ^^^^ fordeme lif and lime 'Kh^^^-T^ 
 \h^"f€!i^t^^-' Hit pas purpschipe al mine cunne \^_:_. , _^0^a^^ 
 1100 For pon pe cniht forties his^^unne >, 
 
 And ^af for me an hundred punde "^^''^^'< 
 And mine briddes seten isunde rlJ^ /^ 
 And hadde seoppe blisse and hihte / 
 
 And pere blipe and pel mihte . 
 
 1105 For pan ich pas so pel apreke ^iaS-^-^T-^ 
 ^ Ever^-eft ich dar pe bet speke ^ . 
 
 &4^'^^ For hit bitidde ene spo .----/ Lu^rrU^ 
 
 ^ Ich am pe blipure ever mo (a.^^^^^SmJ*'^ 
 
 Nu ich mai singe hpar ich pulle 
 1110 Ne dar me never eft mon agrulle CUv»>yWM^ 
 Xj|jt4^ . ^c pu erming pu precclie gost \: /^-^^^ 
 
 L^^J/^ '^~"^"" HB' canst finde ne pu nost "^ "~"""" 
 ' An hol5 stoc hpar pu pe miht hude 
 
 pat me ne tpenge pine hude 
 1115 For children gromes heme and hine 
 Hi penchep alle of pire pine 
 3if hi mu^e iseo pe sitte 
 
 1080 ic Arch. — 1087 kni^t Cot. knyht Arch. — 1088 ic wes Arch. 
 
 — 1089 owe Arch. — 1090 it Cot. hit turnde liT eft Arch. — 
 1094 suich Arch, for so muchel — unpri^t Cot. — 1095 ine Cot. 
 
 — 1096 & for Cot. — 1099 prj^sipe Cot. wr])sipe Arch. — kunne 
 Cot. kune Arch. — 1100 furies Arch. — 1103 so])J)e Cot sej)))e 
 Arch. — hijte Cot. — 1105 vor Cot. and Arch. — ))on Cot. — 1106 
 darr Cot. — 1108 blij)ur ev' Cot. — 1109 ic Arch. — hwar Arch, 
 par Cot. — 1110 dar Cot. and Arch. — 1111 eremig Cot. — 1113 
 holeh Arch. — stok par Cot. — 1114 tpengej) Coi. — 1116 ]?ine 
 J.rc^. — 1117 mowe Arch, — iso Co^ 
 
35 
 
 Stones hi dop in heore slitte 
 
 And pe totorvep and tohenep 
 1120 And pine fule bon toschenep 
 
 3if pu art iporpe oper ischote 
 
 panne pu miht erest to note 
 
 For me pe hop in one rodde 
 
 And pu mid pine fule codde 
 1125 And mid pine ate(l)liche speore 
 
 Biperest manne corn from deore [ms. Cot. fol. 241 b] 
 
 Nis noper noht pi lif ne pi bJod 
 
 Ac pu art scheules spipe god [ms. Arch. fol. 237 b] 
 
 par- neope sedes beop isope 
 1130 Pinnuc goldfinch rok ne crope 
 
 Ne dar par never cumen ihende 
 
 3if pi buc hongep at pan ende 
 
 par treon schulle a ^ere blope 
 
 And 3unge sedes springe and grope 
 1135 Ne dar no fu^el par to fonge 
 
 3if pu art par over ihonge 
 
 pi lif is evre luper and cped 
 
 pu nart noht bute ded 
 
 Nu pu miht pite sikerliche 
 1140 pat pine leches beop grisliche 
 
 pe hpile pu art on lifda^e 
 
 For hpane pu hongest isla^e 
 
 3et hi beop of pe ofdradde 
 
 pe fu^eles pat pe er bigradde 
 1145 Mid rihte men beop pip pe prope 
 
 For pu singest ever of heore lope 
 
 Al pat pu singst rape oper late 
 
 Hit is ever of manne unhpate 
 
 Hpane pu havest a niht igrad 
 1150 Men beop of pe pel sore ofdrad 
 
 1119 totorved Cot, — 1120 toshene)) Cot. — 1121 isliote Cot. iscote 
 Arch. — 1125 sweore Arch, spore Cot. — 1126 vrom dore Cot<— 1127 
 nou])' noulit^rcA. no)t Cot. — 1128 shueles Cot. sheules Arch. — 
 swipe Arch. Bvipe Cot. — 1129 nope Cot. newe Arch. — 1130 golfinc 
 Cot. — 1133 troii Cot. — shulle Cot. schullej) Arch. — 1135 vonge 
 Cot. — 1137 qued Cot. and Arch. — 1138 nard Cot. — 1139 myht Arch. 
 mi3t Cot. — 1140 boj) Cot. — 1141 hwile Arch, pile Cot. — 1142 vor 
 Cot. and Arch. — pane Cot. hwenne Arch. — 1143 yet Arch, ^ut Cot. 
 
 — atdradde Arch. — 1146 singist Cot. — ev' Cot. omitted in Arch. 
 
 — hore Cot. — 1147 singest Arch. — 1148 mannes Arch. — unpate 
 Cot, — 1149 pane Cot, hwanne Arch. — nyht Arch, ni^t Cot. 
 
 5* 
 
36 
 
 pu singst par sum man schal beo ded 
 Ever pu bodest sumne cped 
 f>u sing(e)st a^en ahte lure 
 Oper of sume freondes rure 
 
 1155 Oper pu bodest buses brune 
 Oper ferde of manne oper peoves rune,- 
 Oper pu bodest cpalm of orve / 
 Oper pat londfolc purp idorve / 
 Oper pat pif leost bire make 
 
 1160 Oper pu bodest cbeste and sake [ms. Cot. fol, 241c] 
 
 Ever pu singest of manne barme 
 
 purh pe bi beop sorie^'and arme^[ms. Arch. fol. 237c] 
 
 pu ne singst never one sipe 
 
 pat bit nis for sume unsipe 
 1165 Her fore bit is pat me pe schunep 
 
 And pe totorvep and tobunep 
 
 Mid stave and stone and turf and clute 
 
 pat pu ne miht nobpar atrute 
 
 Dabet ever spicb budel in tune 
 1170 pat ever beodep unpreste rune 
 
 And ever bringep uvelo tidinge 
 
 And ever specp of uvele pinge 
 
 God almibti purpe bim prop 
 
 And al pat periep linnene clop 
 1175 pe ule nabod nobt spipe longe 
 
 Ac 5ef ondspare starke and stronge 
 
 Hpat cpap beo artu iboded 
 
 Oper pu cursest al uniboded 
 
 For prestes pike icb pat pu dest 
 1180 Icb not ^ef pu pere evre prest 
 
 1151 shal Cot, sal Arch. — be Cot. — 1152 qued Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — 1153 ayhte Arch, ei^te Cot. — 1154 summe Cot. siime Arch, 
 cmp. I. 293 — frondes Cot. vrendes Arch. — 1155 bodes Cot. — 
 
 1156 ))Oves Cot. ])eves Arch. — 1157 cualm Cot. qualm Arch. — 
 oreve Cot. — ]159 lost Cot. — 1160 an Cot. — 1161 singist Cot. 
 
 — hareme Cot. — 1162 J)ur) Cot. — bo)) sori Cot. — & Cot. and 
 Arch. — areme Cot. — 1164 summe Arch, sum Cot. — 1165 vore 
 Cot. and Arch. — sliunej) Cot. sune)) Arch. — 1167 stoone Cot. — 
 1168 mi^t nopar Cot. nowarr Arch. — 1169 suich Cot. not m Arch. 
 
 — 1170 ev' Cot. not in Arch. — bodej) Cot. bedej) Arch. — 1171 
 ti))inge Cot. — 1173 almibti prj)e Cot. almyhti wr))e Arch. — 1174 
 werej) Arch. — 1175 hule ne abot no^t spij) Cot. — 1176 ah Cof. 
 
 — yef Arch. — answere Arch. — 1177 pat Cot. — qua)) Cot. que)) 
 Arch. — ho Cot. — hartu Cot. ertu Arch. — 1178 kursest Cot. — 
 1179 ic wot Arch. — 1380 ^avre Cot. not in Arch. 
 
37 
 
 Ich not ^ef pu canst masse singe 
 
 Inoh pu canst of (a)mansiuge 
 
 Ac hit is for pine aide nipe 
 
 pat pu me acursedest oper sipe 
 1185 Ac par to is lihtlich ondspare 
 
 Drah to pe cpap pe cartare 
 
 Hpi atpitestu me mine insihte 
 
 And min ipit and mine mihte 
 
 For ich am piti ful ipis 
 1190 And pot al pat to cumen is 
 
 Ich pot of hunger of hergonge 
 
 Ich pot ^ef men schule libbe longe 
 
 Ich pat ^ef pif lust hire make 
 
 Ich pat hpar schal beo nip and prake [ms. Cot. fol. 241 d] 
 1195 Ich pot hpo schal beon anhonge 
 
 Oper elles fulne dep afonge 
 
 3ef men habbep bataile inume 
 
 Ich pat hpaper schal beon overcume 
 
 Ich pat ^if cpalm schal cumen on orve [ms. Arch. 
 1200 And 5if deor schule ligge a sjborve fol- 237 d] 
 
 Ich pot 3ef treon schule blope 
 
 Ich pat ^ef cornes schule grope 
 
 Ich pot 3ef buses schule berne 
 
 Ich pot ^ef men schule eorne oper erne 
 1205 Ich pot ^ef sea schal schipes drenche 
 
 Ich pot 3ef smipes schule uvele clenche 
 
 And 3et ich con muchel more * 
 
 Ich con inoh in bokes lore 
 
 And ek ich can of pe godspelle 
 1210 More pan ich nule pe telle 
 
 For ich at chirche cume ilome 
 
 And muchel leorni of pisdome 
 
 1182 inouh Arch. — 1183 ah Cot. — olde Arch. — 1184 akurse- 
 dest Oder side Cot. — 1185 ah Cot. — answere Arch. — 1186 cpad 
 Cot. que]) Arch. — kartere Arch. — 1187 pi Cot. — Isihte Arch. 
 
 — 1188 & Arch, an Cot. — myhte Arch. mi3te Cot. — 1190 pod 
 Cot. and Arch. — kumen Cot. comen Arch. — 1191 heregoiige Arch. 
 
 — 1192 sulle Arch. — 1193 ic wot Arch. — luste Cot. — 1194 
 par Cot — sal Arch. — 1195 hpo Cot. hwo Arch. — sal beo Arch, 
 
 — & honge Cot. — 1198 hwsiper Arch. — overkume Cot. — 1199 
 qualm Arch. — seal Cot. sal Arch. — comen Cot. — orfe Cot. — 
 1200 dor schul Cot. schulle Arch. — & storve Cot. — 1206 schal 
 Cot. sale Arch. — 1209 an eke Cot. — goddspelle Cot. — 1210 
 wile Arch. — 1211 churche Arch. — come Cot, — 1212 muche Cot. 
 
38 
 
 Ich pat al of pe tacninge 
 
 And of oper fegle pinge 
 1215 3ef eni mon schal rem abide 
 
 Al ich hit pot ar hit itide 
 
 Ofte for mine muchele ipitte 
 
 Pel sorimod and prop ich sitte 
 
 Hpan ich iseo pat sum precchede 
 1220 Is manne neh inoh ich grede 
 
 Ich bidde pat men beon ipare 
 
 Aiid habbe gode redes ^are 
 
 For Alfred seide a pis pord 
 
 Euch mon hit scholde legge on liord 
 
 1225 3ef pu isihst (him) er hel)eo icume 
 His strengpe is him pel neh binume 
 And grete dimtes beop pe lasse 
 
 3ef me ikepp~ mid iparnesse [ms. Cot. fol. 242 a] 
 
 And fleo schal topard mis^enge 
 1230 3ef pu isihst hu fleo of strenge 
 
 For pu miht blenche pel and fleo 
 
 3if pu isihst heo to pe teo_ 
 
 pat eni man beo falle in edpite 
 
 Hpi schal he me his sor atpite 
 1235 pall ich iseo his harm bifore 
 
 Ne cuniep hit noht of me par fore [ms. Arch. fol. 238 a] 
 
 pah pu iseo pat sum blind mon 
 
 pat nanne rihtne pei ne con 
 
 To pare diche his dpeole fuliep 
 1240 And fallep and par one suliep 
 
 penest pu pah ich al iseo 
 
 pat hit for me pe rapere beo 
 
 Al spo hit farep bi mine pitte 
 
 Hpanne ich on mine bo^e sitte 
 
 12M vale Arch. — 1216 ear Cot. — 1217 witte Arch. — 1218 wroj) 
 Arch, -porp Cot. — i Arch. — 1219 pan Cot. hwanne Arch. — ic 
 Arch. — wrecchede Arch, prechede Cot. — 1220 cuminde neyh Arch. 
 
 — innoh Cot. — ic Arch. — 1221 iparre Cot. warre Arch. — 1222 
 reades Cot. — yare Arch, ^arre Cot. — 1224 uych Arch. — schul- 
 de Cot. — 1225 if Arch. — isyst her heo Arch, er not in Cot. — 
 
 1226 strncj)e Cot. — 1228 ikepe)) Arch. — 1229 misyenge Arch. 
 
 — 1231 mi^t Cot. — wel Cot. not in Arch. — 1233 })auh Arch. — 
 edwite Arch, odpite Cot. — 1234 hwi Arch, pi Cot. — 1235 bivore 
 Cot. and Arch. — 1236 comej) Cot. — no)! Cot. nouht Arch. — vore 
 Cot. — 1239 dwele Arch. — fuhed Cot. volewe]? Arch. — 1240 
 onne Arch. — sulied Cot. — 1242 ra])er Arch. — 1243 so Arch. 
 
 — 1244 Jjanne ic Arch. — hope Cot. bowc Arch. cmp. I. 15 
 
39 
 
 1245 Ich pot and iseo spipe brihte 
 
 An sume men cumep harm par rihte 
 
 Schal he pat per of no ping not 
 
 Hit pite me for ich hit pot 
 
 Schal he his mishap pite me 
 1250 For ich am pisure pan he 
 
 Hpanne ich iseo pat sum precchede 
 
 Is manne neh inoh ich grede 
 
 And biddc inoh pat hi heom schikle 
 
 For topard heom is harm unmilde 
 1255 Ac pah ich grede lude and stille 
 
 Al hit itid purh godes pille 
 
 Hpi pullep men of me hi mene 
 
 pah ich mid sope heo ahpene 
 
 pah ich hi parni al pat ^er 
 1260 Nis heom per fore harm no pe ner 
 
 Ac ich heom singe for ich polde [ms. Cot. fol. 242b] 
 
 pat hi pel iinderstonde scholde 
 
 pat sum unselpe heom is ihende 
 
 Hpan ich min huing to heom sende 
 1265 Navep no man none sikerhede 
 
 pat he ne mai pene and adrede 
 
 pat sum unhpate neh him beo 
 
 pah he ne cunne hit iseo 
 
 For pi seide Alfred spipe pel 
 1270 And his pord pas godspel 
 
 pat ever euch man pe bet him beo 
 
 Ever pe bet he hine biseo 
 
 Ne truste no mon to his~peole [ms. Arcli. fol. 238 b] 
 
 To spipe pah he habbe feole 
 1275 Nis noht so hot pat hit nacolep 
 
 Ne noht so hpit pat hit ne solep 
 
 1246 ))' Arch. — summe Cot. same Arch. — kumed Cof. — 1247 
 nowiht Arch. — 1249 witen Arch. — 1250 ))ane Cot. — 1251 preche- 
 de Cot. wreched' Arch, — 1252 neyh inouh Arch. — 1254 harm 
 immylde Arch, toanting in Cot. — 1255 ah Cot. — 1256 J)urJ) Cot. 
 — 1258 apene Cot. awene Arch. — 1260 ])ar vore Arch. — harem 
 Cot. a tern Arch. — no waiiting in Arch, — 1261 ah Cot. — heom 
 not in Arch. — 1262 J)et (J>er?) Arch. — schulde Cot. — 1263 su 
 unsel Arch. — 1264 hwen ic Arch. — hoing Cot. — J 267 unhap Arch. 
 — neih Arch, ney Cot. — 1268 conne Cot.— 1270 word Arch, porde 
 Cot. — goddspel Cot. — 1271 him not in Arch. — 1272 ev' Arch. 
 eaver Cot. — beseo Cot. — 1273 triste Arch. — wele Arch. — 1274 
 veole Cot. vele Arch. — 1275 nout Cot. — 1276 no)t Cot. 
 
40 
 
 Ne nolit so leof pat hit nalopep 
 
 Ne noht so glad pat hit napropep 
 
 Ac evere euch ping pat eche nis 
 1280 Agon schal and al pis porldes blis 
 
 Nu pu miht piten redeliche 
 
 pat ever pu spekest gidiliche 
 
 For al pat pu me seist for schame 
 
 Ever pe seolve hit turnep to grame 
 1285 Go so hit go at eche fenge 
 
 pu fallest mid pine a^ene spenge 
 
 Al pat pu seist for me to schende 
 
 Hit is mi purpschipe at pan ende 
 
 Bute pu pille bet aginne 
 1290 Ne schaltu bute schame ipinne g \ 
 jA la^L^^'- P® nihtegale sat and sihte >^c.^'^^^ 
 yt^f'^'^T' And Tiohful pas and ful pel mihte 
 
 For pe ule spo ispeke hadde 
 
 And hire speche spo iladde rms. Cot. fol. 242 c] 
 
 1295 Heo pas hohful and ,erede.ci:^ o. -£^^ 
 
 Hpat heo par after hire sede 
 
 Ac no pe les heo hire under stod 
 
 Hpat heo seide ule artu pod 
 
 pu ^elpest of selliche pisdome 
 1300 pu nustest hpanene he pe come 
 •~ Bute hit of picchecrafte pere 
 
 par of pu precche most pe skere 
 
 3if pu pult a mong manne beo 
 
 Oper pu most of londe fleo 
 1305 For alle peo pat per of cupe 
 
 Heo pere ifurn of prestes mupe 
 
 Amansed spuch pu art ^ete 
 
 pu picchecrafte never ne lete 
 
 1277 nojt Cot. — ne alo])e)) CoU — 1278 no)t Coi, — ne apro)?e]3 
 Cot, — 1279 ah Cot. — eav'e euh Cot. ev' ich Arch. — 1281 mi3t pite 
 readliche Cot, — 1282 eav'e Cot, — gideliche Co f. — 1284 ev' Cot. 
 and Arch. — grome Cot, and Arch, — 1286 ahene Cot. owe Arch. 
 
 — 1288 purschipe Cot, wr])sipe Arch, — 1291 ni)tingale Cot. — 
 syhte Arch. si)te Cot, — 1292 houhful Arch, — mylite Arch, mi^te 
 Cot. — 1293 hule Cot. — so Arch, — 1295 houljful Arch, hop ful 
 Cot. — 1296 seyde Arch. — 1297 ah neo Cot, — 1298 pat Cot, 
 
 — 1299 yelpest Arch, ^eolpest Cot, — seolliche Cot. — 1300 pa- 
 nene Cot, hwenne Arch, — 1301 picchecrefte Cot. — 1302 moste 
 Cot, — 1303 boe Cot, — 1306 uere Cot, weren Arch. — 1307 a- 
 manset Cot. — such Arch, — 3ette Cot. — 1308 neav' Cot. 
 
41 
 
 Icli pe seide nu lutel ere 
 1310 And pu askedest ^ef icli pero 
 
 A bisemere to preoste ihoded [ms. Arch. fol. 238 c] 
 
 Ac pe (a)mansing is so ibroded 
 
 pah no preost a londe nere 
 
 A precche na pe les pu pere 
 1315 For ever euch child pe cleopep fule 
 
 And ever euch man a precche ule 
 
 Ich habbe iherd and sop hit is 
 
 pe mon mot beo pel steorre-pis 
 
 And pite inoh of hpiche pinge cume 
 1320 So pu seist pat is (pin) ipune 
 
 Hpat canstu -precche ping of steorre 
 
 Bute pat pu bipaitest hi feorre 
 
 Al spo dep mani deor and man 
 
 pe of spuche napiht ne can 
 1325 On ape mai a hoc bihalde 
 
 And leves penden and eft folde 
 
 Ac he ne con pe bet par fore 
 
 Of clerkes lore top ne more [ms. Cot. fol. 242 d] 
 
 pah pu iseo pe steorre al spa 
 1330 Nartu pe pisure never pe mo 
 
 Ac 3et pu fule ping me chist 
 
 And pel grimliche me atpist 
 
 pat ich singe hi manne huse 
 
 And teche pive breke spuse 
 1335 pu liest ipis pu fule ping 
 
 purh me nas never ischend spusing 
 
 Ac sop hit is ich singe and grede 
 
 par lavedies beop and faire maide 
 
 1310 if Arch. — 1311 bisimere Cot. bysemare Arch. — preost Cot. — 
 1312 ah Cot. — 1314 neo Cot. — 1315 ev' Arch, eav' Cot. — ich Arch. 
 
 — chil Cot. chid Arch, — 131G & Arch, an Cot. — ev' Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — hule Cot. — 1318 storrepis Cot. sturrewis Arch. -— 1319 innoy 
 Cot. — hwiche Arch, pucche Cot. — pige Arch. — kue Cot. ^- 1320 
 ])0u Cot. — J>' Arch. — 1321 storre Cot. and Arch. — 1322 bihai- 
 test Cot. and Arch. — ferre Arch. — 1323 so do]) Arch. — dor 
 Cot. — 1324 ))eo Cot. and Arch. — siiyche Arch, hspucche Cot. — 
 con Cot. — 1325 on bok Arch. — 1326 weude Arch. — 1327 ah 
 Cot. — vore Cot. and Arch. — 1329 so Arch. — 1330 wisere Arch, 
 
 — nev' Arch, neav' Cot. — 1331 ah Cot. — 1334 & theche Arch. 
 an teache Cot. — wyve Arch, pifo Cot. — 1335 lyest Arch. — 1336 
 J) me Cot. — nes Arch. — neav' Cot. nev' ised Arch. — 1337 ah 
 Cot. — 1338 feyre meide Arch. 
 
 6 
 
42 
 
 And sop hit is of luve ich singe 
 1340 For god -pif mai in spusinge 
 
 Bet luvien hire o^ene pere 
 
 pane ahper hire copenere 
 
 And maide inai luve cheose 
 
 pat hire purpschipe ne forleose 
 1345 And luvie mid rihte luve 
 
 pane pe schal beon hire buve 
 
 Spiche luve ich iteche and lere 
 
 per of beop al(le) mine ibere [ms. Arch. fol. 238 dj 
 
 pah sum pif beo of nesche mode 
 1350 For -pummen beop of softe blode 
 
 pat heo purh sume sottes lore 
 
 pe ^eorne bit and sikep sore 
 
 Misrempe and misdo sumne stunde 
 
 Schal ich par fore beon ibunde 
 1355 3if pimmen luviep unrede 
 
 pitestu me heore misdede 
 
 3ef pimmon penchep luvie derne 
 
 Ne mai ich mine songes perne 
 
 Pummon mai pleie under elope 
 1360 Hpeper heo -pile -pel pe -prope 
 
 And heo mai do bi mine songe 
 
 Hpeper heo pile pel pe pronge [ms. Cot. fol. 243 a] 
 
 For nis a porlde ping so god 
 
 pat ne mai do sum ungod 
 1365 3it' 1^6 hit pile turne a mis 
 
 For gold and seolver god hit is 
 
 And no pe les par mid pu miht 
 
 Spusbruche buggen and unriht 
 
 pepne beop gode grip to halde 
 1370 And no pe les par mid beop men acpalde 
 
 A3eines riht an feole londe 
 
 1340 i Cot. — - 1342 ])an Arch, — aper (apet?) Qot, on o])er Arth. 
 
 — copinere Arch. — 1343 & Arch, an Cot. — 1344 treuschipe Arch, 
 
 — 1347 suyche Arch. — itache Cot. theche Arch. — 1348 J>' Arch. 
 
 — 1350 pummon Cot, wymmen Arch, — 1351 \ Cot. vor Arch. — 
 1352 yorne Arch. — 1353 misnyme Arch, for misrempe — sume 
 Arch. — 1354 vore Cut. and Aich. — 1356 witestu Arch, hpitistu 
 Cot. — hore Cot. — 1358 ne ne Cot. and Arch. — 1359 wymmon 
 Arch. — 1360 hwejjer Arch. pe})cr Cot. — 1362 hpa])er Cot. — wile 
 Arch, pule Cot. — 1365 wile Arch, pule Cot. — 1367 na Arch. — 
 mi^t Cot. — 1368 unri3t Cot. — 1370 & Arch, ah Cot. — neo Cot. 
 na Ar^h. — mide Cot. — 1371 fale Cot. of alle Arch. 
 
43 
 
 par peoves hi berep an honde 
 
 Al spa hit is hi mine songe 
 
 pah he beo god me hine mai misfonge 
 1375 And drahe hine to sothede 
 
 And to opre uvele dede 
 
 Ac schaltu precche luve tele 
 
 Beo hpuch heo beo uich luve is fele 
 
 Bitpeone pepmon and pimmanne 
 1380 Ac ^ef heo is atbroide penne 
 
 Heo is unfele and forbrode 
 
 prop purpe heom pe lioli rode 
 
 pe ribte icunde spo forbreidep 
 
 punder hit is pat heo napedep 
 1385 And spo heo dop for heo beop pode [ms.Arch. fol.239a] 
 
 pe bute neste gop to brode 
 
 j^ummon is of nesche flesche 
 
 And flesches lust is strong to cpesche 
 
 Nis punder nan pah he abide 
 1390 For flesches lust hi makep slide 
 
 Ne beop heo noht alle forlore 
 
 pat stumpep at pe flesches more 
 
 For moni pummon havep misdo 
 
 pat (eft) arist up of pe slo 
 1395 Ne beop noht ones alle sunne 
 
 For pan hi beop tpeire cunne [ms. Cot. fol. 243 b] 
 
 Sum arist of pe flesches luste 
 . And sum of pe gostes custe 
 
 pat flesch drahep men to drunkenesse 
 1400 And to plonchede and to golnesse 
 
 pe gost misdep purh nip and onde 
 
 And seoppe mid murhpe of monnes honde 
 
 And ^eornep after more and more 
 
 1372 bered Cot. — 1374 heo Cot. and Arch. — \^lb drawe Arch. -^ 
 1377 ah Cot. and Arch. — wrecche Arch, precch Cot. — 1378 bo puch 
 Cot. beo hwich Arch. — ho bo Cot. — 1379 bitwene ])e mon Arch. 
 
 — pimmane Cot. wymonne Arch. — 1380 ah Cot. and Arch. — 
 peonne Arch. — 1381 he Cot. and Arch. — 1382 liim Arch. — 1383 
 ikunde Cot. icund' Arch. — 138G nest Cot. — 1388 histes Cot. and 
 Arch. — cpesse Cot. qiieisse Arch. — 1390 lustes Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — 1391 nouht Arch, nopt (noyt?) 6'of. — 1394 aris op Cof. — 1395 
 iiopt Cot. — 139G kunne Cot. ikiinne Arch. — 1397 sun Cot. — 
 1399 fleys drah)? Arch. — drunnessc Cot. — 1400 wlonkhede Arch. 
 pronc-hede Cot. — 1401 J)urch nipe Cot. — 1403 ^eone)) Cot, wun- 
 nej) Arch. 
 
 6* 
 
44 
 
 And lutel recp of milce and ore 
 1405 And sti^p on heh purh modinesse 
 
 And overhohep pane lasse 
 
 Sei me sop ^ef pu hit ]?ost 
 
 Hpeper dep |?urse flesch pe gost 
 
 pLi niiht segge ^ef pu pult 
 1410 pat lasse is pes.flesclies gult 
 
 Moni man is of bis flesche clene 
 
 pat is mid mode deovel imene 
 
 Ne sclial non mon pimman bigrede 
 
 And fiescbes lustes hire upbreide 
 1415 Spucb be may telen of gohiesse 
 
 pat sunegep purse in modinesse 
 
 Hpat ^if ich scbulde a luve bringe 
 
 pif oper maide bpanne icb singe 
 
 Icb -poble -pip pe maide boble 
 1420 3if P^i liit const a ribt atbolde 
 
 Lust nu icb segge pe bpar fore 
 
 Up to pe toppe from pe more [ms. Arcli.j^fol. 239 bl; 
 
 3ef maide luvep dernelicbe 
 
 Heo stumpep and falp icundelicbe 
 1425 For pab beo sume bpile pleie 
 
 Heo nis nolit feor ut of pe peie 
 
 Heo mai (^et) bire gult atpende 
 
 A ribte peie purb cbircbe bende 
 
 And mai eft ba,bbe to make 
 1430 Hire leofmon pipute sake [ms. Cot. fol. 243 c^' 
 
 And gon to bim bi daies libte 
 
 pat er stal to bi peostre nibte 
 
 An ^ungling not bpat spucb ping is 
 
 His ^unge blod bit dra^ep a mis 
 14S5 And sum sot mon bit tibp par to 
 
 Mid alle pan pat be mai do 
 
 1404 rekj) Arc^. reh]5 Oof. cmp. I. 491 — 1405 heyh Arch, hey Cot^ 
 — ))ury Cot. J»ur Arch. — 140(3 overhohed J)anne Cot. — 1407 soo]) 
 Cot. — 1408 wurse Cot. and Arch. — 1401) ini)t Got. — 1410 ))e 
 Cot. for J)es — 1413 wimn\an Cot. wymman Arch. — 1414 & Arch. 
 an Cot. — 1415 such lieo inahte beo Arch. — 1416 ])' Arch. — 
 1 Arch, i Cot. — 1417 hwet Arch, bet Cot. — 1421 vore Cot. and 
 Arch. — 1423 dernliche Cot. — 14'25 ))aih Arch. — sum Cot. su 
 Arch. — 142G nout Cot. -- 1427 guld Cot. and Arch. — 1428 ]5ury 
 Cot. — 1431 go Cot. — 1432 bistal on ])eoster iiyhte Arch. — 1433 
 juling Cot. yongling Arch. — 1434 drahj> Arch. — |1435 man Arch^ 
 
45 
 
 He cumep and farep and Beod abid 
 And heo bistant and oversit 
 And bisehp Home and longe 
 1440 Hpat mai pat child pah hit misfonge 
 
 Hit nuste never h]>at hit |?as 
 
 For pi hit pohte Ibndi pas 
 
 And -pite ipis hpuch beo pe gome 
 
 pat of pe pilde makep tome 
 1445 Ne mai ich (noht) for reoye lete 
 
 H|?anne ich iseo pe tohte ilete 
 
 pe luve bringp on pe ^unglinge 
 
 pat ich of mur^pe heom ne singe 
 
 Ich teche heom bi mine songe 
 1450 pat spuche luve ne lest noht longe 
 
 For mi song lutle h|?ile ileste 
 
 And luve ne dep noht bute reste 
 
 On spuche childre and sone agep 
 
 And falp a dun pe bote brep 
 1455 Ich singe mid heom one pro3e 
 
 Biginne on heh and endi la^e 
 
 And lete mine songes falle 
 
 An lutle hpile a dun mid alle 
 
 pat maide pot hpanne ich spike [ms. Arch. fol. 239 c] 
 1460 pat luve is mine songes iliche 
 
 For hit nis but3 a Intel brep 
 
 pat sone cumep and sone gep 
 
 pat child bi me hit understond 
 
 And his unred to rede pend [ms. Cot. fol. 2436] 
 
 1465 And isihp pel bi mine songe 
 
 pat dusi luve ne last noht longe 
 
 Ac pel ich pule pat pu hit pite 
 
 Lop me beop pives utschute 
 
 1437 come)) Cot. — & bid Cot. — 1438 & Arch Faux Cot. — he Arch, 
 
 — bistarte Arch. — & Cot. an Arch. — oversid Cot. oJ)er sid Areh. 
 
 — 1439 bisekp Arch. — 1440 p chil Cot. — 1441 nev' Arch, neav* 
 Cot. — 1444 so Cot. for ))e — 1445 reu])e Arch. — 144G hwanne 
 Arch, panne Cot. — 1447 bring Cot. and Arch. — J)e not in Arch. 
 
 — wunglinge Arch. — 1448 him Cot. hj Arch. — 1449 teache Cot, 
 theche Arch. — 1450 spucch C<,t. suych Arch. — last Arch. — no^t 
 Cot. — 1451 ilest Cot. — 1452 do)5 Arch. — no^t Cot. — rest 
 Cot. — 1453 spuch Cot. such Arch. — 1455 prowe Arch. — 1456 
 an heyh Arch. — lowe Arch. — 1457 mines Cot. — 1458 an lutle 
 pile Cot. a hide wise Arch. — 14fi2 kume]? Cot. — 1404 red wend 
 Cot. iwend Arch. — 1405 ise-jp Cot. syhp Arch. — 14Go no^t Cot, 
 
 — 1467 ah Cot. — wile Arch. 
 
46 
 
 Ac pif mai of me nime ^eme 
 1470 Ich ne singe noht lipan ich teme 
 
 And |?if ah lete sottes lore 
 
 pah spusingbendes punchep sore 
 
 punder me piincp pel stare and stor 
 
 Hu eni mon so ever for 
 1475 pat he his heorte mihte drive 
 
 To do hit to opres mannes pive 
 
 For oper hit is of tpam pinge 
 
 Ne mai pat pridde no man bringe 
 
 Oper pe laverd is pel aht 
 1480 Oper aspunde and nis naht 
 
 3ef he is purpful and aht man 
 
 Nele no man pat pisdom can 
 
 Hure of his pive do him schame 
 
 For he mai him adrede grame 
 1485 And pat he forleose pat per hongep 
 
 pat him eft par to noht ne longep 
 
 And pah he pat noht ne drede 
 
 Hit is unriht and gret sothede 
 
 To misdon one gode manne 
 1490 And his ibedde from him spanne 
 
 3^^ ^^^® laverd is forpurpe 
 
 And unorne at bedde and at horde 
 
 Hu mihte par beo eni luve 
 
 Hpanne a spuch cheorles hue hire lai buve 
 1495 Hu mai par eni luve beo 
 
 Hpar spuch man gropep hire peo [ms. Arch. fol. 239d] 
 
 Her hi pu miht pel understonde 
 
 pat on is a reu pat oper schonde [ms. Cot. fol. 244 a] 
 
 To stele to opres mannes bedde 
 1500 For 3if aht man is hire ibedde 
 
 pu miht pene pat pe mistide 
 
 Hpanne pu list hi hire side 
 
 1469 ah Cot. — wif Arch, ^if Cot. — 1470 napt Cot. — 1471 auh 
 Arch. — 1472 binde]) Arch. — 1473 pund'e Cot. — J>ung]) Cot. 
 })inkj) Arch. cmp. I. 1672 — 1474 eavar Cot. ^ 1475 e Cot. he not 
 ■in Arch. — iiiyhte Arch, mijte Cot. — 1476 an do Cot. — o))ers 
 Cot. — 1479 opar Cot. — auht Arch. — 1480 nouht Arch. — 1486 
 no^t Cot. — 1487 no5t Cot. — 1488 unrijt Cot. — 1489 an o Cot. 
 
 — 1491 forpurde Cot. — M92 an Cot. — & Cot. — 1493 hw myh- 
 te Arch. mi3te Cot. — 1494 panne Cot. hwenne Arch. — la/ Arch, 
 \^^ Cot. — 1496 par Cot. — 1497 mi)t Cot. — 1500 bedde Cot. 
 
 — 1501 mi3t Cot. — 1502 panne Cot. 
 
47 
 
 And 3ef pe laverd is a precche 
 
 H|?uch este mihtestu par fecche 
 1505 3if P^i bipenchest hpo hire ofligge 
 
 pu miht mid }>late pe este bugge 
 
 Ich not hu mai eni freo man 
 
 For hire sechen after pan 
 
 3ef he bipencp bi hpan he lai 
 1510 Al mai pe luve gan a |^ai 
 
 pe ule -pas glad of spuche tale 
 
 Heo pohte pat pe nihtegale 
 
 pah heo pel speke at pe frume 
 
 Hadde at pen ende misnume 
 1515 And seide nu ich habbe ifunde 
 
 pat maidenes beop of pine imunde 
 
 Mid heom pu boldest and heom biperest 
 
 And overspipe pu hi herest 
 
 pe lavedies beop to me ipend 
 1520 To me heo hire mone send 
 
 For hit itit ofte and ilome 
 
 pat pif and pere beop unisome 
 
 And per fore pe pare gulte 
 
 pat leof is over pummon to pulte 
 1525 And spenep on pare al pat he havep 
 
 And sipep pare pat nopiht navep 
 
 And havep at horn his rihte spuse 
 
 popes peste and lere huse 
 
 pel punne ischrud and ifed prope 
 1530 And let heo bute mete and elope 
 
 Hpan he cumep ham eft to his pive 
 
 Ne dar heo noht a pord ischire [ms. Cot. fol. 244b] 
 
 He chid and gred spuch he beo pod [ms. Arch. fol. 240a] 
 
 And ne bringp hom non oper god 
 1535 Al pat heo dep him is unpille 
 
 Al pat heo spekep liit is him ille 
 
 1503 wrecchc Arch, percche Cot. — 1504 myhtestu Arch, mi^tistit 
 Cot. — vecche Cot. and Arch. — 150G mi)! Cot. — 1509 bij)enk> 
 Arch, — 1511 hule Cot. — 1512 ])05te pdt te Cot. — 1513 at te 
 Cot. and Arch. — 1514 J)an Arch. — 1520 mode Cot. — 1521 itid 
 Arch. — 1524 ])' Arch. — 1525 hare Arch. — 1526 siwej) ArcK 
 sine)) Cot. — hare Arch. — noht Arch, no riht Cot. — 1527 atom 
 Arch, attorn Cot. — ri)te Cot. riche Arch. — 1528 and Arch. & Cot. 
 — 1529 isrud Arch, ischud Cot. — ived Cot. and Arch. — 1531 
 pan Cot. hwenne Arch. — comep Cot. — ho Arch. — 1532 no3t 
 Cot. — 1534 heom Cot. 
 
48 
 
 And oft lipan heo noht ne misdej) 
 
 Heo havej) pe fust in hire te|) 
 
 Nis nan mori pat ne mai ibringe 
 1540 His pif amis mid spuche pinge 
 
 Me hire mai so ofte misbeode 
 
 pat heo do pule hire a^ene neode 
 
 La god hit pot heo nah ipeld 
 
 pah heo hine makie cukepeld 
 1545 For hit itit ilome and ofte 
 
 ])at his pif is pel nesche and softe 
 
 Of faire bleo and pel idiht 
 
 (For) pi hit is pe more unriht 
 
 pat he his luve spene on pare 
 1550 pat nis purp on of hire hare 
 
 And spuche men beop pel manifolde 
 
 pat pif ne cunne noht a riht holde 
 
 Ne mot non mon pip hire speke 
 
 He penep heo pule an on tobreke 
 1555 Hire spusing ^ef heo lokep 
 
 Oper pip manne faire spekep 
 
 He hire bilucp mid keie and loke 
 
 par purh is spusing- ofte ibroke 
 
 For 5ef heo is par to ibroht 
 1560 Heo dep pat heo nadde er ipoht 
 
 Dahet pat to spipe hit bispeke 
 
 pah spuche pives heom apreke 
 
 Her of pe lavedies to me menep 
 
 And pel sore me ahpenep 
 1565 pel neh min heorte pule tochine 
 
 Hpon ich biholde heore pine [ms. Cot. fol. 244 c] 
 
 Mid heom ich pepe spipe sore 
 
 And for heom bidde cristes ore 
 
 pat (he) pe lavedi sone aredde 
 
 1537 ofte A7'ch. — no5t Cot. — 1539 no Arch. — 1540 spucclie 
 Cot. suche Arch. — 1542 aheiie Cot. — 1543 iwelde Arch. — 1544 
 J)a Cot. — kukepeld Cot. — 1545 lome Cot. — 1550 one Cot. — 
 heare Cot. and Arch. — 1551 an spucche Cot. & suche Arch. — 
 1552 kunne nopt (noyt?) Cot. noht 7iot in Arch. — ri)t Cot. — 1554 
 wenej) Arch, vened Cot. — wile Arch, — 1557 bilukj) Arch, biluj) 
 Cot. — 1558 tobroke Cot. ~ 1560 he de)) Cot. and Arch. — ear 
 Cot. and Arch. — ipouht Arch. — 1561 spu))e Cot. — 1562 spucche 
 Cot. suche Arch, r— hire Cot. — 1564 ahwene)) Arch. — 1565 wile 
 Arch. — 1566 hwenne Arch. — Lire Cot. — wine Arch. — 1567 
 swij)e Arch, spise Cot. — 1568 cristis Cfjt. — 1569 levedi Arch. 
 
49 
 
 1570 And hire sende betere ibedde [ms. Arch. fol. 240 bj 
 
 An oper ping ich mai pe telle 
 
 pat pii ne schalt for pine felle 
 
 Ondspere none par to findo 
 
 Al pi (di)sputing sclial aspinde 
 1575 Moni chapmon and moni cniht 
 
 Luvep and halt his pif a riht 
 
 And spa dep moni bondeman 
 
 pat gode pif dep after pan 
 
 And servep him to bedde and borde 
 1580 Mid faire dede and faire porde 
 
 And ^eorne fondep hu heo mu)e 
 
 Do ping pat him beo idu)e 
 
 pe laverd into pare peode 
 
 Farep ut on pare beire neode 
 1585 And is pat gode pif unblipe 
 
 For hire laverdes utsipe 
 
 And sit and sicp pel sore oflonged 
 
 And hire sore an heorte ongrep 
 
 Al for hire loverdes sake 
 1590 Havep daies care and nihtes pake 
 
 And spipe longe hire is pe hpile 
 
 And eche stape hire pun op a mile 
 
 Hpanne opre slepep hire abute 
 
 Ich one luste par pipute 
 1595 And pot of hire sore mode 
 
 And singe a niht for hire gode 
 
 And mine song for hire pinge 
 
 Ich turne sum del to murninge 
 
 Of hire seor^e ich here sume 
 1600 For pan ich am hire pel pelcume [ms. Cot. fol. 244 d] 
 
 Ich hire helpe hpat ich mai 
 
 1572 scliald Cot. — 1574 ))is Arch. — 1576 hlad Cot. — 1577 so 
 doj) Arch. — 1579 to borde Cot. and Arch. — 1581 yorne Arch. 
 
 — muhe Cot. mowe Arch. — 1582 iduwe Arch. — 1583 lov'd Arch. 
 
 — 1584 nede Cot. — 1586 houdsijje Cot. houJ)siJ)e Arch. — 1587 sik)) 
 Arch, sihd Cot. — 1588 horte ongred Cot. — 1590 kare Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — ni)tes Cot. — 1591 swi))e Arch, spujje Cot. — 1592 uych Arch, 
 ek Cot. — steape Cot. — ])un)) Cot. J)ink]? Arch. — 1593 hwenne 
 Arch. — 1594 lust Cot. and Arch. — pid^jjute Cot. wi])))ute Arch. 
 
 — 1596 nyht Arch, ni^t Cot. — 1597 mine (myn) gode song Col. 
 and Arch. — 1598 su Arch, sun Cot. — murnige Cot. — 1599 hure 
 Cot. and Arch. — seorhe Cot. seorwe Arch. — 1601 i Cot. 
 
50 
 
 For heo gep pane rihte pai 
 
 Ac pu me havest sore igramed 
 
 pat mine heorte is neh alamed 
 1605 pat ich mai uneape speke 
 
 Ac 5et ich pule forpure reke 
 
 pu seist pat ich am manne lop [ms. Arch. fol. 240 c] 
 
 And ever euch man is pip me prop 
 
 And me mid stone and lugge pretep 
 1610 And me toburstep and tobetep 
 
 And hpanne heo liabbep me ofsla^e 
 
 Heo hongep me on heore ha^e 
 
 par ich aschepele pie and crope 
 
 From pan pat par is isope 
 1615 pah hit beo sop ich do heom god 
 
 And for heom ich schedde mi blod 
 
 Ich do heom god mid mine deape 
 
 par fore pe is pel uneape 
 
 For pah pu ligge dead and clinge 
 1620 pi dep nis noht to none pinge i 
 
 Ich not never to hpan pu miht 
 
 For pu nart bute a precche piht 
 
 Ac pah mi lif me beo atschote 
 
 pe 5et ich mai do gode note 
 1625 Me mai up one smale sticke 
 
 Me sette a pude ine pe picke 
 
 And spa .mai mon tolli him to 
 
 Lutle briddes and ifo 
 
 And spa me mai mid me bi^ete 
 1630 pel gode brede to his mete 
 
 Ac pu nevre mon to gode 
 
 Lives ne deapes stal ne stode 
 
 1602 ho^ep Cot. howep Arch. — 1603 ah Cot. & Arch. — igremed 
 Arch. — 1604 min Cot. myn Arch. — pel neh Cot. — alemed Arch. 
 
 — 1605 unneape Cot. unnepe Arch. — 1606 ah Cot. — ic wile 
 forpurre Arch. — 1607 ylad Cot. — 1608 pid Cot. — prod Cot. 
 
 — 1610 tobustep Cot. toburste Arch. — 1611 hi Arch. — ofslahe 
 Cot. ofslawe Arch. — 1612 f Arch, for on — hahe Cot. hawe ^rcA. 
 cmp. I. 685 — 1613 ascheule Arch. — 1614 fro Arch, fron Cot. — 
 pe Cot. for pat — per Arch. — 1616 chadde Cot. — 1617 depe 
 Arch, — 1618 vore Cot. — unneape Cot. unmepc Arch. — 1619 ded 
 Arch. — lQ'-lO nouht Arch, napt (nayt?) Oof. — 1621 i\es' Arch, nea- 
 ver Cot. — hwa Arch. — mi)! Cot. — 1622 wiht Arch, pi^t Cot. 
 
 — 1623 ah Cot. — 1625 uppe Arch. — 1628 ivo Cot. and Arch. — 
 1629 so Arch. — 1631 ah Cot. and Arch. 
 
51 
 
 Icli not to hpan pu bredst [)i brod 
 
 Lives ne deapes ne dep hit god [ms. Cot. fol. 245 a]. 
 1635 pe nihtegale iherde pis 
 
 And hupte uppon on blope ris 
 
 And herre sat pan heo dude er 
 
 Ule heo seide beo nu per 
 
 NuUe ich pip pe plaidi na more [ms. Arch. fol. 240(1] 
 1640 For her pii mist pi rihte lore 
 
 pu ^elpest pat pu art manne lop 
 
 And ever euch piht is pip pe prop 
 
 And mid ^ollinge and mid igrede 
 
 pu panst pel pat pu art unlede 
 1645 pu seist pat gromes pe ifop 
 
 And heie on rode pe anhop 
 
 And pe totpicchep and toschakep 
 
 And sume of pe scheples makep 
 
 Me puncp pat pu forleost pat game 
 1650 pu ^elpest of pire o^e schame 
 
 Me puncp pat pu me gest an honde 
 
 pu 3elpest of pire o^ene schonde 
 
 po heo hadde peos pord icpede 
 
 Heo sat in one ftiire stede 
 1655 And par after hire stefne dihte 
 
 And song so schille and so brihte 
 
 pat feor and ner me hit iherde 
 
 par fore an an to hire cherde 
 
 prusche and prostle and pudepale 
 1660 And fu^eles hope grete and smale 
 
 For pan heom puhte pat heo hadde 
 
 pe ule overcome heo gradde 
 
 1633 hwan Arch, hpa Cot. — breist Cot. and Arch. — 1635 ihede 
 Cot. — 1636 uppe Arch. — 1637 ear Cot. — 1638 hule he Cot. — 
 per Arch, pear Cot. — 1640 pe Cot. for pn — 1641 ^eilpest Co!. 
 yelpest Arch. — 1642 pid Cot. — por)) Cot. — 1643 yollinge Areh, 
 ^ulinge Cot. — 1644 Jjmchst Arch. — 1645 ifod Cot. ivo]? Arch. — 
 1646 heye Arch. — rodde Cot. — anhod Cot. — 1647 totpichet & 
 toschaked Cot. — 1648 summe Cot. sume Arch. — schaples Got. 
 scheules Arch. — maked Coi. — 1649 ))unch Cot. j)inkj) Arch. 
 — 1650 yelpest Arch, ^^ulpest Cot. — owe Arch. — 1651 J)unch 
 Cot. — 1652 )ulpest Cot. — owe Arch. — 1654 stude Cot. and 
 Arch, — J 655 stevene Coi. — 1657 fur Arch. — 1658 vore Cot. 
 and Arch. — an on Arch. — 1660 fuheles Cot. foweles Arch. — 
 1661 pan ])' heo Arch. — 1662 houle Cot. — vor (for) pan heo 
 Cot, and Arch. 
 
52 
 
 And sungen al spa feole pise 
 
 pat blisse pas a mong pe rise 
 1665 Riht spa me gred pe manne a schame 
 
 pat tavelep and forleost pat game 
 peos ule po heo pis iherde 
 
 Havestu heo seide ibanned ferde [ms. Cot. foL 245 b] 
 
 And pultu precche pip me fihte 
 1670 Nai nai navestu none mihte 
 
 Hpat gredep peo pat hider come [ms. Arch. fol. 241 a] 
 
 Me puncp pu ledest ferde to me 
 
 3e schule pite ar 3e fleo heonne 
 
 Hpuch is pe strengpe of mine cunne 
 1675 For peo pe havep bile ihoked 
 
 And clivres scharpe and pel icroked 
 
 AUe heo beop of mine cunrede 
 
 And polde cumen ^if ich bede 
 
 pe seolve coc pat pel can fihte 
 1680 He mot mid me holde mid rihte 
 
 For hope pe habbep stefne brihte 
 
 And sittep under peolcne bi nihte 
 
 Schille ich an uthest up op grede 
 
 Ich schal spo stronge ferde lede 
 1685 pat oper prude schal afalle 
 
 A tord ne ^ive ich for op alle 
 
 Ne schal ar hit beo fuUiche eve 
 
 A precche feper on op bileve 
 
 Ac hit pas unker forepard 
 1690 po pe comen hiderpard 
 
 pat pe par to holden scholde 
 
 pat rihtne dom us ^ive polde 
 
 1663 vale Cot. and Arch. — an Cot. for J>at — 1665 ri)t Cot. — 
 1666 gome Cot. and Arch. — 1667 hule Cot. — 1669 preche pid 
 Cot. — fi^te Cot. — 1670 mi^te Cot. — 1671 heo Arch. — 3672 
 pinkj5 Arch. — ferd Cot. — 1673 schulle Arch. — 1674 stren]je 
 Got. — kumie Cot. and Arch. — 1675 ))' Arch, for pe — 1676 
 charpe Cot. — 1677 kanrede Cot. and Arch. — 1678 palde come 
 Cot. — 1679 seolfe Cot. — fi3te Cot. vihte Arch. — 1680 wi)? Arch, 
 for mid — ri^te Cot. — 1681 stevene brihte Cot, — 1682 welkne 
 Arch. — ni^te Cot. — 1683 schulle Arch. — utest uppen Cot. — 
 eu Arch. — 1684 shal Cot. — 1685 oure Arch. — proude Cot. — 
 avalle Cot. and Arch. — 1686 tort Cot. — yeve Arch. — 1688 
 wrecche Arch, preche Cot. — bileave Cot. — 1689 ah Cot. and Arch. 
 — vorepard Cot. voreward Arch. — 1690 come Cot. — 1691 holde 
 Cot. — 1692 rihtne (ne inserted) Cot. riht Arch. 
 
53 
 
 pultu nu breke forepard 
 
 Ich pene dom pe puncp to hard 
 1695 For pu ne darst domes abide 
 
 pu pult nu precche fihte and chide 
 
 3et ich op alle polde rede 
 
 Ar ich uthest uppon op grede 
 
 pat (^e) oper fihtlac letep beo 
 1700 And ginnep rape a pei fleo 
 
 For bi pe clivres pat ich here 
 
 3ef ^e abidep mine here [ms. Cot. fol. 245 cj 
 
 3e schule on oper pise singe 
 
 And ciirsi alle fih tinge 
 1705 For nis of op non so kene 
 
 pat durre abide mine onsene 
 
 peos ule spac pel baldeliclie 
 
 For pah heo nadde spo hpatliche 
 
 Ifare after hire here 
 1710 Heo polde no pe les ^eve anspere [ms. Arch. fol. 241b j 
 pe nihtegale mid spuche porde 
 
 For moni man mid speres orde 
 
 Havep lutle strengpe and mid his schelde 
 
 Ac no pe les in one felde 
 1715 purh belde porde and mid ilete 
 
 Dep his ifo for arehpe spete 
 
 pe prenne for heo cupe singe 
 
 par com in pare more^eninge 
 
 To helpe pare nihtegale 
 1720 For pah heo hadde stofne smale 
 
 Heo hadde gode prote and schille 
 
 And feole manne song a pille 
 
 pG prenne pas pel pis iholde 
 
 For pah heo nere ibred a polde 
 
 1694 p'mkp Arch. J)ing Cot. — 1696 wilt Arch. — preche fi)te Cot. 
 
 — 1698 ihc utheste Cot. — up eu Arch. — 1699 eur fihtlak Arch. 
 
 — 1703 schuUe]) an Arch. — 1704 cursy Arch, acursi Cot. — fijtinge 
 Cot. — 1705 vor Cot. and Arch. — 1707 hule Cot. — 1710 palde 
 neo Cot. na Arch. — ^efe Cot. yeve Arch. — 1711 nihtegale Cot. 
 
 — spucche Cot. — 1713 strencj)e Cot. -- chelde Cot. — 1714 ah Cot. 
 and Arch. — neo Cot. na Arch. — 1715 )i Cot — 1716 ivo Cot. 
 and Arch. — 1717 pranne Cot. — 1718 more)ennge Cot. morewen- 
 inge Arch. — 1719 nihtegale Cot. — 1720 stevene Cot. — 1721 Jjorte 
 Cot. — 1722 fale Cot. and Arch. — 1723 pranne Cot. — 1724 vor 
 3)eih Arch, vor J)e) Cot. at the bottom of the page, after I. 1735. 
 
54 
 
 1725 Heo pas ito-jen a moiig monnc 
 
 And hire pisdom brohte ponne 
 
 Heo mihte speke hpar heo polde 
 
 Tofore pe kinge pah heo scholde 
 
 Lustep heo cpap latep me speke 
 1730 Hpat pulle ^e pis pais tobreke 
 
 And do pan (kinge) spuche schame 
 
 5et nis he nouper dec! ne lame 
 
 Unk schal itide harm and schonde 
 
 3ef ^e dop gripbruche on his londe 
 1735 Latep beo and beop isome 
 
 And farep riht to oper dome [ms. Cot. fol. 245 d] 
 
 And latep dom pis plaid tobreke 
 
 Al spo hit pas erur bispeke 
 Ich an pel cpap pe nihtegale 
 1740 Ac prenne noht for pire tale 
 
 Ac do for mire lahfulnesse 
 
 Ich nolde pat unrihtfulnesse 
 
 Me at pen ende overcome 
 
 Ich nam ofdrad of none dome 
 1745 Bihote ich habbe sop hit is 
 
 pat maister Nichole pat is pis 
 
 Bitpihen us deme schule 
 
 And 3et ich pene pat he pule 
 
 Ac hpar mihte pe bine finde [ms. Arch. fol. 241c] 
 1750 pe prenne sat in ore linde 
 
 Hpat nute ^e cpap heo his bom 
 
 He punep at Portes hom 
 
 At one tune in Dorsete 
 
 Bi pare see in ore utlete 
 
 1725 ho Cot. — itowen Arch. — mannenne Cot. cmp. I. 563 mankunne 
 Arch. — 1726 J>enne Cot, and Arch. cmp. I. 132 — 1727 mi^te Cot. 
 
 — palde Cot. — 1728 tovore pe king Cot. — 1729 quej> lete)) 
 Arch. — 1730 ye Arch. — pes Cot. — 1731 Jeanne Cot. and Arch. 
 
 — spuch Cot. such Arch. — 1732 yet Arch, ^e Cot. — heo Arch. 
 
 — 1733 hunke Cot. and Arch. — 1734 we Arch. — 1736 cure Arch. 
 
 — 1738 erure Arch. — 1739 unne Arch. — cpad Cot. que]) Arch. 
 
 — ni)tegale Cot. — 1740 ah Cot. and Arch. — pranne Cot. — nouht 
 Arch, napt (nayt?) Cot. — J)me Arch. — 1741 ah Cot. — myre 
 lauhfulnesse Arch. — 1743 overkome Cot. •>— 1744 ofdred Arch. — 
 1747 bituxen Cot. — schulle Arch, schulde Cot. — 1748 yet Arch. 
 
 — wuUe Arch. — 1749 ah par Cot. and Arch. — J.750 pranne Cot. 
 
 — hore Arch, — 1751 nu)te Cot. nuhte Arch. — 1753 ine Cot. 
 
55 
 
 1755 par he clemef) manie rihte dom 
 
 And diht and -prit mani pisdom 
 
 And purh his mup and purh his honde 
 
 Hit is pe betere in Scotlonde 
 
 To seche hine is lihtlich ping 
 1760 He navep bute one -puning 
 
 pat is bischopen miichel scheme 
 
 And alle pan pat of his nome 
 
 Habbep iherd and of his dede 
 
 Hpi nullep hi nimen heom to rede 
 1765 pat he pere mid heom ilome 
 
 For teche heom of his pisdome 
 
 And ^ive him rente on feole stude 
 
 pat he mihte heom ilome beo mide 
 Certes cpap pe ule pat is sop 
 1770 peos riche men pel miichel misdop [ms. Cot. fol. 246 a] 
 
 pat letep pane gode mon 
 
 pat of so feole pinge con 
 
 And ^ivep rente pel misliche 
 
 And of him letep pel lihtliche 
 1775 pip heore cunne heo beop mildre 
 
 And ^evep rente lutle childre 
 
 Spo heore pit hi demp adpole 
 
 pat ever abid maister Nichole 
 
 Ac ute pe pah to him fare 
 1780 For par is unker dom al ^are 
 Do pe pe nihtegale seide 
 
 Ac hpa schal unker speche rede 
 
 And telle tofore unker deme 
 par of ich schal pe pel icpeme 
 1785 Cpap pe ule for al ende of orde 
 
 Telle ich con pord after porde [ms. Arch. fol. 241 d) 
 
 1755 mony riht Arch. ri)te Cot. — 1757 J) Got. — mu))e Cot. and 
 Arch. — 1758 into Cot. — 1759 hyiie Arch. — 1760 wuning Arch, poll- 
 ing Cot. — 1761 his Cot. — biscopen Arch. — schame Cot. and 
 Arch. — 1763 ihert Cot. — 1764 heo Arch. — 1766 vor Arch. — 
 1767 a Cot. — vale Cot. and Arch. — 1768 mi^te Cot. — be Cot. 
 
 — 1769 qua]) Arch. — hule Cot. — sod Cot. — 1770 muche mis- 
 dod Cot. — 1772 fele Arch. — 1773 yeve]) Arch. — 1775 pid Cot. 
 
 — 1776 litle Cot. — 1777 so Arch. — demejj Arch. — 1778 ]>* 
 ev' Arch. — 1779 ah Cot. and Arch. — 1781 nhtegale Cot. — 1782 
 ah Cot. and Arch. — pa Cot. hwo Arch. — 1783 tovore Cot. and 
 Arch. — 1784 iqueme Arch. — 1785 quep Arch. — houle Cot. 
 
56 
 
 And 5ef pe pincp pat ich misrempe 
 pu stond a)ein and do me crempe 
 Mid pisse porde forp hi ferde 
 1790 Al bute here and bute ferde 
 To Portes ham pat heo bicome 
 Ac hu heo spedde of heore dome 
 Ne can ich eu na more telle 
 Her nis na more of pisse spelle 
 
 1789 ferden Cot. and Arch. — 1790 verde Cot. and Arch. — 1791 
 J)et ())er?) hi Arch, — 1792 ah Cot. and Arch. — 1793 chan Cot. 
 — 1794 ^is Cot, 
 
 Note on I. 432, read morewe for mo rewe. 
 L. 1308 left out in nis. Arch. 
 
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
 
 L. 8, wole,. in m$. Cotton., is probably a mistake for uvele ; cmp. 
 I. 31 vfl = vul. 
 
 L. 10, hi ou(;ht to be he. 
 
 L. 15, hope, in ms. Cotton., may as well be read boye. 
 
 L, 14. beche, in ms. Arch., is perhaps the right reading = bseche, 
 ralley. 
 
 L. 40, ^o^elinge, a mistake for 5o))elmge, connected with Germ.^o- 
 deln? 
 
 L. 51, instead of fote fms. uotc) Stevenson and Wright read note, 
 tchich, hoiverer, would suit neither the context, nor the rhyme. 
 
 L. 69, pe = ])i I. 277, 299 &c. 
 
 L. 99, dahet. Old French dehait, affliction, misfortune (Roquef. 
 Gloss. 1, 354). 
 
 L. 215, ware, in ms. Arch., would not suit the context and is, 
 therefore, to be considered as a blunder of the scribe. 
 
 L. 240, in ms. Cotton, a later hand has inserted eyen after ni)t; 
 a correction which is to be rejected, because it loould spoil the sense 
 and the metre. 
 
 L. 242, the letters st of strind, in ms. Cotton., are expunged by a 
 later hayid; though I can not explain it satisfactorily, I have retained 
 the original reading, because rind does not well suit the context, and 
 the corrector is not at all to be relied on. 
 
 L. 248, atprenche (Siratmanns Diction, p. 669) might be easily 
 mistaken for atprenche, because of the similarity of the letters p and 
 P; see note on I. 1125 and 1566. 
 
 L. 270, e ought to be written, though it would not he pro7iounced 
 before a vowel. 
 
 L. 274, me, not in the manuscripts, is required by the sense and 
 the metre. 
 
 Li. 353, overcpatien seems to mean cram to excess, and to be 
 connected with the provincial Engl, quat (Stratm. Beitrdge 425), 
 Old French quatier (Roquef. Gloss. 2, 414, Diez etym. Worterb. 277). 
 
 L. 367, licst, / must own, looks more like liest in the 7nanuscripts, 
 besides there tvould probably be lixt in ms. Arch. I, therefore, have 
 prifited liest I. 1335. 
 
 L. 377, hoke)) f hooks), in both manuscripts, is perhaps a mistake 
 for take]). 
 
 L. 384, I have not altered an to and, because ms. Arch, has a, and 
 there may be a possibility that a substantive dare turn up. 
 
 L. 406, the negative nispicst is required by the sense: "For such 
 becomes hold if thou fleest that will flee if thou doest not cease (yield). ''^ 
 
 L. 424, iseo)) is a mistake of the scribe for isihj) ; cmp. I. 407. 
 
 L. 478, heom = him. 
 
 8 
 
58 
 
 L. 614, the sign in ms. Cotton, might he y, as well as p ; w in 
 ms. Arch, decided me for pernen. 
 
 L. 637, ifurne seems to he a suhstantlve formed from ifurn. 
 L. 682, pene, doubt; cmp. I. 239. 
 
 L. 689, pest = pext 
 
 L. 748, pes, perhaps (Stratm. Diction. 090). This old word the 
 writer of ms. Arch, left out, probably because he did not understand it. 
 
 L. 749, al has been added by me for the sake of the metre. 
 
 L. 764, solde, French solde? at all events it can not he scliolde- 
 (should). 
 
 L. 845, 3ene, for ^eine, I. 893 pri?ited )eue by Stevenson, \e\e by 
 Wright. 
 
 L. 932, beoii f^pres. suhj.J is required by beter is ; besides, to beon 
 toould spoil the metre. 
 
 L. 1047, ileove. Middle High Germ, geliebe, who are dear to one 
 another. 
 
 L. 1125, p, in ms. Cotton., looks almost like p; Stevenson and 
 Wright, disregarding the rhyme, printed spore. 
 
 L. 1172, ms. Cotton, reads an J)at ever; / have left out )>at as re- 
 dundant and spoiling the metre; in ms. Arch, ever is left out. 
 
 L 1195, the absurd reading of ms. Cottojz. & honge originated in 
 the thoughtless scribe's mistaking an for and; it serves, however, to 
 prove that ms. Arch, is not copied from ms. Cotton. 
 
 L 1246, an / have admitted, in consideration of I. 1199. 
 
 L. 1319, might perhaps be amended thus: ]?at pite inoh of Spuche 
 pinge cume; then the sense would be: "The man must he well star- 
 wise who know enough of the coming of such things, as thou sayst 
 that is thy custom''\ 
 
 L. 1322, the reading of the manuscripts bihaitest is not to be ex- 
 plained; the conjectured bipaitest, although not found anywhere else, 
 may mean regardest, behold est. 
 
 L. 1331, chist = chidst. 
 
 L, 1334, the e of pife, in ms. Cotton., looks so much like t that, 
 before I saio ms. Arch., I thought pif t(o) was to be read. 
 
 L. 1336, instead of ]) (for \i i. e, J)urh) me, Stevenson and Wright 
 read in ms. Cot. ])ine, which, for the letters, they might he justified 
 in doing, hut not' so for the sense and the metre; see I. 1351 and 
 1757. 
 
 L. 1348, alle is required by the metre, 
 per 6f| beo)) aljle min'l ibejre, 
 as well as by the grammar, ibere being plural ^= Anglo-Sax. gebseru; 
 cmp. I. 222. 
 
 L. 1353, misrempe, I think, is the right reading, though the manu- 
 script looks very much like mis tempe, for which a later hand wrote 
 steppe in the margin; see note on I. 248. 
 
 L. 1370, the metre might he set right by substituting ^et for no 
 J)e les, 
 
 L. 1405, pury, in ms. Cot., might as well be read ;J)urp and pur]). 
 The signs in hey and pury are quite alike; see note on I. 15 and 
 614. 
 
 L. 1434, when using it, the author seems to have had child in his 
 mind. 
 
 L. 1438, oversit, supersedetf 
 
59 
 
 L. 1447, wunglinge, in ms. Arch., is an instance more of the scri- 
 he''s mistaking w for 5 ; see note on I. 215 
 
 L. 1476, the senseless reading ano, in ms. Cotton., arose from the 
 scribe's mistaking t for 1 (the sign for and); see' I. 1489, 
 
 L. 1543, ipeld, I now think to he a substantive = Anglo-Sax. ge- 
 peald, power. 
 
 L. 1566, the reading of ms. Arch, wine originated in the inad- 
 vertent scribe's mistaking p for J), 
 
 L. 1586, utsi])e (Anglo-Sax, utsid, departure) is, I own, a rather 
 venturous conjecture, but the only one J can make. 
 
 L. 1588, ongrep — angre])? 
 
 L. 1602, forho5e)) (forhowep) can not well be the right reading; 
 it is, however, strange that both manuscripts should coincide in the 
 mistake. 
 
 L. 1733, inc would suit the context better than unc. 
 
 L. 1764, heom = him? see note on I. 478, 
 
 L. 1779, ute, see Dictionary i. v. witen. 
 
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