Die hier folgende abhandlung aus ms. Douce 114 (näheres über dieses ms. siehe Anglia 1875, s. 102 ff.) ist dieselbe, die nachmals von Caxton gedruckt wurde unter dem titel: The seuen points of true Wisdom or Orologium Sapientiae, 96 foll. (zusammengedruckt mit The seven Profits of tribulacion, 32 foll., und The Rule of St. Benet, 20 foll.; ein quartband, Emprynted at westmynstre, o. j., wahrscheinlich aus 1490; vgl. W. Blades, Life and typogr. of W. C.). Caxton's druck ist nur in in fünf exemplaren erhalten: Cambridge Publ. libr. (AB 4. 64), Durham Cath. libr. (unvollständig und befleckt), Earl of Dysart (unvoll∣ständig), Earl Spencer (fast vollständig, bis auf ein stück des ersten blattes), W. Stuart (sehr unvollständig); vgl. W. Blades a. a. o. Ein anderes älteres ms., ausser ms. Douce, ist noch im Cajus Coll. Cambridge vorhanden, welches ich noch nicht ge∣prüft habe. Ausserdem findet sich das 5. kapitel (über die kunst zu sterben) allein im ms. Douce 322, fol. 20 ff., neben einer reihe anderer abhandlungen über denselben gegenstand. Der englische text nennt sich einen auszug aus dem lateinischen Orologium Sapientiae, dessen verfasser, ein Domi∣nikanermönch, unbekannt sei. Das lateinische original ist bis jetzt noch unbekannt. Dagegen ist im ms. Harl. 4386 (15. jahr∣hundert) ein französischer text erhalten mit dem titel: Cy co∣mence le liure qui est dit orloge de sapience, lequel fist frere Jehan de soushauie de l'ordre des frere prescheurs; anfang: Salomon en son liure de Sapience ou premier chapitre dit (dann folgt das citat: Sentite de domino &c., lib. Sap. 1, 1). Diese abhandlung ist von bedeutender länge, 162 foll. um∣fassend. Auf dem letzten blatte stehen verse, mit dem titel: (En) ces vers cy apres escrips trouuerez les noms de ceulx qui ont fait et fait faire ce liure; diese verse, beginnend Ceste doctrine couronnee (s. Les mss. français IV, s. 157) geben das datum des originals: 'MCCC. IIIIXX et neuf', und geben an, dass es geschrieben sei 'En la ville de Chasteneuf par un frere religieux de la nacion de Lorraine'; vgl. W. Blades a. a. o. Ueber den verfasser bemerkt Blades: 'Little is known of Jehan de Soushavie, or Souaube, as a French copy has it. Biblio∣graphers generally call him Henry de Suso, probably after the example of Echard, in his Script. Ord. Praed.' Der englische text umfasst kaum die hälfte des französischen.—Das ms. schreibt nicht selten y statt þ; ich habe überall þ gesetzt.

These be þe chapiters of this tretys of þe seuene poyntes of trewe loue & euerlastynge wisdame, drawen oute of þe boke þat is writen in latyne & callyd Orologium Sapiencie.

Cap. I. Off þe propirte & þe name and þe loue of euere-lastynge wis∣dame, and how þe disciple þere-of schalle haue hym in felynge of þat loue as wel in bitternesse as in swetnesse.

Cap. II. Off þe loue of Jhesu in his bitter passyone þat hee suffred for mane, and how mane schalle confourme his loue aȝenwarde 8 Ms. enfourme st. confourme. to hyme.

Cap. III how þe disciple of Jhesu, euerlastynge wisdome, schalle gladly suffre tribulacyouns and aduersites for his loue by ensaumple of his suffraunce and of his chosen louers.

Cap. IIII how þe forseyde disciple schalle kepe hym in trewe goostly lyfe þat is growndid in þe loue of Jhesu, and how hee schalle flye and eschewe þat is contrarye þerto.

Cap. V how the forseyde disciple schalle leren to kunne dye, & desyre to dye for þe loue of Jhesu.

Cap. VI. Off þe souereyne loue of oure lorde Jhesu schewed in the holy sacramente of his blissed body, and how it schalle worthily be receyued of þat longith þere-to.

Cap. VII how the forseyde disciple schalle in alle thinges loue, preyse and worschep god, euerelastynge wisdame, & how he schal wedde hym to hym and bycome his disciple.

My moste worschipful lady aftir ȝowre hyȝ worþynesse, & derrest-loued goostly douȝhter after ȝour vertuous meeknes, y, ȝowre trewe chape∣leyne, vnworthy þe name of þe fader, considerynge ȝowre excellente wis∣dame bothe to god and to þe worlde and felynge by experiens by the sparcles of gostly communicacyon ¶ The heet of the fyre of loue to 5 Von hier andere hand bis fol. 190^a (halb), die eckig und schnör∣kelig ist, y und þ oft verrvechselt; sie ist von anderer hand öfters ver∣bessert oder überschrieben. oure lord Jhesu þat he of his grace haþ sente in to ȝowre herte; fort norche sumwhat & fede þat graciose fyre of lovue, & to comfort ȝowre gostlye wisdam namelye in þis wikkede worlde þat is fulle of deceyuable wisdam & fals feynede loue, I am stirede to wryte aftere myne simple kunnynge to ȝowe, as ȝe deuowtlye desyrene, a lytele schort tretyse of euerelastynge wisdam & þe trewe loue of Jhesu, drawne owt in eng∣lische of þat deuowt contemplatyfe boke wrytene clergialye in latyne þe whiche is clepede þe Orloge of wisdame—& þat name was ȝivene þere-to, as hit is seyde in þe proheme of þe self boke, bye-cause þat þe matere þere-of was schewede to him þat wrote hit as in a visione vndere þe fygure and liknesse of a wondere fayre Orloge, sette & arayede with passynge feyre Roses, and with Cymbales swete sownynge, þat ȝevene wondere likyng & heuenelye sowne, stirynge and excitynge vpwarde to hevene þe hertes of alle þat hit hyrne. Off þe whiche boke þe processe stant for þe moste parte in gostlye reuelaciones and deuowt ymagina∣ciones, in manere of spekynge bye-twix þe maystre, euerlastyng wisdam, & þe deuowt discyple þat wrote þe boke; whose name is vnknowen to vs, but, as we mowe soþelye byleve, hit is wryten in þe boke of lyfe; Neuerlese, as hit scheweþ, he was a frere prechour. Butte for als miche as in þe forseyde boke þere beþ manye maters and long processe towch∣ynge him þat wrote hit and oþere religiose persones of his degre, þe whiche, as hit semeþ to me, were lytel edificacione to wryte to ȝowe, my dere ladye, & to oþer deuowte persones þat desyrene þis drawynge owt in englische: þere-fore I leve seche materes & take onelye þat me þinkeþ edifiyng to ȝowe; and also I folownot þe processe of þat boke in ordere, but I take þe materes in-sindrye, as þei acordene to mye pur∣pos. Ne I translate not þe wordes as þei bene wrytene, one for a noþere, þat is to seye þe englische worde for þe latyne worde—by-cause þat þere beþ manye wordes in clergiale teremes þe wheche wold seme vn∣saverye so to be spokene in englische: and þere-for I take þe sentence as me þinkeþ most opune to þe comine vnderstandyng in englische. ¶ And þus, considerynge alle þe processe of þe forseyde boke, þat is, to stirre deuowte sowles to þe trewe love of owre lorde Jhesu, þe euerlastyng wis∣dam of þe fadere of heuene: after mye simple vnderstandyng hit may be comprehendet as in effecte in to VII poyntes þat longene to þe trewe loue of owre lorde Jhesu, aftere þe VII ȝifftees of þe holye goste, þe whiche is souereyne love of þe fadere & þe sone, and welle & rote of alle trewe love. ¶ And whiche þees VII poyntes of loue beþe, hit schalle be declarede aftere in þe proheme of þis tretee, þat stant in a deuowte ymaginacione howe þe forseyde discyple came first to þe scole of trewe diuinyte & howe þe soueryne doctour, euerlastyng wisdam, Jhesus, tawht him þees VII poyntes of his love, of þe whiche þis tretee is writene in englische. Butte ȝit at þe bigynnyng of þis werke, towchynge mye-selfe, soþelye I knowleche myne variaunce in wille þere-to: ffor sum-tyme for love & likynge þat I have hadde in þe forseyde boke Orologium sapiencie, and also for gostlye comfort of ȝowe specialye & oþer deuowte persones þat desyrene hit, I haue be stirede to þe translacione þere-of in to eng∣lische in manere before-seyde; but þer-wiþ consideryng þe multitude of bokes & tretees drawne in englische, þat nowe bene generale cominede, mye wille haþ bene wiþdrawne, dredynge þat werke sumwhat as in waste. Neuerlese, for als miche as þe kynde of manne in þis lyfe haþ likynge in chaunge and diuerse þinges, boþe bodilye & gostlye, and summe folke delytene in one & summe in anoþer; and felynge mye-selfe not lettede þere-bye fro oþere gostlye excercyses, but raþere confortede: whanne I haue leysere and tyme, I have take vpon me þat symple werke in cer∣teyne tymes, whanne myne affeccione falleþ þere-to, after þat owre lorde Jhesus wole send me his grace in þis place of grace. ffor þe whiche grace in alle þinges, as hit is nedefulle to me in þis wrecthede lyfe, I bes(e)che alle þoo þat redene or hirene þis tretee, to preye to him þat is welle of alle grace, owre lorde Jhesu Cryste; and he also for his mercye graunte hem alle summe newe gostlye confort and encresce of grace þere∣bye, & gostlye tast of þat heuenely wisdam & trewe loue of him þe whiche is tretede in þis boke. Amen.

Sentite de domino in bonitate, et (in) simplicitate cordis que∣rite 25 Lib. sapientiae 1, 1. illum; quoniam inuenitur ab hijs qui non temptantillum, apparet autem eis qui fidem habent in illum. ¶ Þees wordes of euerlastynge wisdam beþ þus miche to seye in englische: ffeleþ of owre lorde in godnesse, and secheþ him in simplenesse of herte; for he is foundene of hem þat temptene him not, and he appereþ to hem þat hauene feiþ in to him.—Þere was sumtyme a deuowt discyple of wisdam, þe whiche aftere þat in his ȝowþe hadde gone to diuerse scoles & lerede sere sciences of mannus doctrine & worldlye wisdam, aftere he cam to more age and was towchede bye ... to þe trewe love of owre lorde Jhesu, 34 desire fehlt? him þowhte miche veyne trauayle in þe forseyde sciences; wherefor (he) 35 miche in moche corr.; ne überschrieben. preyede continuelye and deuowtlye to godde, þat he wolde not suffre him departe fro þis lyfe til he cam to þe knowelechyng and þe kunynge of soþefast & souereyne philosophye . And in þe mene tyme as he went fro studye to studye and fro scole to scole, sechynge bisilye þat he de∣sirede, but in none manere soþefastlye fyndynge but onelye as a ymage or a liknesse þere-offe: be-felle vpon a tyme, as he was in hees deuowte meditaciones & preyeres, þere aperede to his siht as hit were a wondere grete and large rownde hows like to þe spere of þe firm(am)ente, alle of brihte sch(i)nynge golde, sette alle-abowte with fayre preciouse stones; in þe whiche hows, þat was departede in þe middes, þere were tweyne mansiones, one above & anoþere beneþene; & eche of hem continede diuerse doctours & maystres and wondere (fele) disciples accordyng to 2 ms. wondere, mit ausgestrichenem w; fele fehlt. hem. ¶ In þe neþere mansione were maystres & discyples of alle naturele sciences & of alle craftes vndere sonne; ¶ þe wheche alle haddene as hit were a manere veyle vpon here faces; & amonge þe grete swinke & tra∣uayle þat þei haddene eche off hem in his science & crafte, þei were com∣fortede with amanere of swete drinke, þe whiche qwenchede not fullye here thriste, but hit, generynge a manere of dryenesse, made hem more thristlewe and more. ¶ And whan þe forseyde (disciple) hadde abedene 9 disciple über∣schieben von anderer hand. a while in þoo scoles and tastede of here drinke, his stomake ouerturnede & beganne to haue a vomyte . Where-fore he laft þoo scoles & forsoke 11 ms. hane þees sciences, and went vp to þe seconde mansione: þe whiche was wondere feyre and diuerse-maner curioselye depeyntede & arayede. And whanne he come þere-to & stode be-fore þe dore, he fonde þer þis-manere superscripcione: 'Þis is þe scole (of) soþfaste diuinyte, where þe may∣stresse 15 of überschr. v. a. h. is euerlastynge wisdam, þe doctrine is verite and trewþ, & þe ende euerlastynge felicite'. And whanne he hadde radde þis superscripcione, in alle hast he entrede in to þat scole, coueitynge with alle his in∣warde desyre to be made a discyple of þat scole, where-bye he hopede to come to þat ende þat he hadde longtyme desyrede. ¶ But in þis scole were þre ordres boþe of discyples & of doctours: Summe setene on þe grounde bye þe dore; þe wheche lakkedene trewe taste of diuinyte & haddene here beholdynge & siht to þoo þinges þat were wiþowtforthe. ¶ Þei þat were of þe secounde ordre, profytede not feruentlye, but in a manere semede as þe stodene stille. ¶ But þei þat were off þe thridde ordre, setene nihe þe maystre & þei, drinkynge þe water of helefulle wisdam þat came owt of his mowþe, þei were made so drunkene þat þei forȝetene hem-selfe & alle oþere wordlye þinges, hauynge here hertes & here eyene euer vpwarde to þe mayster and feruentlye rauischede in to his loue & heuenelye þinges. ¶ And whenne þe discyple hadde bisilye be-holdene þees þinges, he was gretlye awondrete, and namelye of þat þinge þat in one scole & of one soþfastnesse þer was so grete diuersite & vnliknesse in manye maystres & discyples. ¶ And þanne he herde, as him þowhte, a voyce, spekynge to him in þes-manere wordes: ¶ 'Þoo þre ordres þat þou hast seene, beþ þre manere of studiyng & techynge holye writte. ¶ Þe first manere is fleschelye: & þat havene þei þat bene copiose and habundant in þe letterere science with-owt þe spiryte; þe wheche þe more kunynge þat þei bene, þe more þei bene blowne & fillede with pryde, & bene noyes boþe to hem-selfe & to oþere; þe wheche sekene not in here kunynge goddes wirchepe & louynge or to sowle-hele and edificacione of hem-selfe & oþere, but þei bisiyne hem onelye abowt here owne worldlye promocione. ¶ Þe secounde manere of lerenynge and techynge holyewrit is bestelye: & þat is in hem þat in scole-excersyse in a symple manere sechene þoo þinges þat bene nedefulle to sowle-hele, but þei beþ necligente and slowe to profyte in þe feruour of charite & loue to godde and heuenelye þinges. ¶ Þe thridde manere is spirituele and gostlye: & þat is in hem þat with alle here mihtes & hertlye affecciones trauayle and bysyene hem to gete þoo þinges þat longene to perfeccione, so þat, as here vnderstandynge profyteþ in kunynge, so here sowle and here affeccione be fillede with þe wisdam of godde; þe wheche tastene and beholdene þe swetnesse of owre lorde, and be here kunynge of holye write techene and ledene hem-selfe & oþere in to blessede ende.' ¶ Where∣fore þe forseyde discyple, levynge alle þe toþere, souerenlye desyrede to haue his abidynge and dwellynge with hem, and offrede him to be with hem a trewe discyple of þat heuenelye maystre, euere-lastynge wisdam: And so he, neyhinge to þe mayster, beganne to speke to him in þis manere: 'O þou souereyne and euerlastynge wisdam, siþene hit is so þat 12 am rande: Disciple. allemenne by kynde desyrene for to haue kunynge, and in þe, vniuersele prynce & auctour of kynde, alle-manere tresores of wisdam and kunynge beþ hidde, and also þou art makere of alle þinge and hast alle manere of science & alle þinge þou seest & knowest: þere-fore I aske of þe with a gredye desyre of alle mye hert þat þou opune to me þe tresorye of þi souereyn wisdam, & þat compendioslye and in schorte wordes—for þei þat nowe beþe, lovene & haueþ likynge in schorte speche; and of makynge bokes is none ende; alle þe worlde is fillede with dyuerse doctrines, and þere beþ a twosende manere of livynge: one liveþ in þis manere & anoþere in þat manere. ¶ Þer beþ so manye bokes & tretees of vyces and vertues & of dyuerse doctrynes, þat þis schort lyfe schalle raþere haue ancude of anye manne þanne he maye owþere studye hem or rede hem. ¶ Where-fore, þou euerlastynge sovereyne wisdam, I desyre and aske of þe þat þou teche me in schort manere þat heuenelye diuinite, þe whiche with-owt errour standeþ in þi wisdam & in trewe love of þe, blessede Jhesu.'

¶ Þe mayster, euerlastynge wisdam, answerede þus: ¶ 'Mye dere 29 am rande: Magister. sone, wille þou noht sauere in kunynge to hye, but drede! here me nowe and I schalle teche þe þinges þat beþ profitable to þe; I schalle ȝive þe a chosene ȝifte, for myne doctryne schalle be þi lyfe. ¶ Where-fore, takynge owre biginnynge of helefulle disciplyne at þe drede of godde, þe wheche is þe beginnynge of wisdam, I schalle teche þe be ordre VII poyntes of mye loue, whereinne stant souerene wisdam and þe perfec∣cion of alle gode and rihtwislyuynge in þis worlde. ¶ Þe first poynt is þe maner and properte of me & my love, & howe þou schalt haue þe to me in felynge of þat love also welle in bitturnesse as in sw(e)tenesse. ¶ Þe secounde poynt stant in declarynge of mye lovue in mye bittere passione þat I suffrede for þe, and conformynge aȝeyne of þi love to me. ¶ Þe þridde is in gladde suffrynge of tribulaciones & aduersitees for love of me, bye ensample of mye suffraunce & myne chosene loveres þat suffrede disese for me. ¶ Þe ferþe is, howe þou schalt kepe (þe) in trewe gostlye lyfe þat is grondet in þe love of me, & howe þou schalt flee & eschewe þat is contrarie here-to in offense of me. ¶ Þe fyþeþ schalle 45 l. fyfþe. teche þe to kunne dye, & desire to dye for þe love of me. ¶ Þe sixte is in declarynge of mye souereyne love schewede in þe holye sacra∣mente of mye flesche & blode for þe, and (how) þou schalt worþilye receyve hit & wirchepe hit fore þe love of me. ¶ Þe seuenþe poynt techeþ þe howe (þou) schalt in alle þinge þat þou seest kume loove and wirchepe 4 þou überschr. me, and with alle þi sowle souereynlye love me.'

¶ Þanne spake þe discyple and seyde: 'O heuenclye doctour & soue∣reyne 6 am rande: Discipulus. mayster of euerlastynge wisdam, þis hit is þat I haue longe-tyme feruentlye desirede & with alle myne bisynesse sowht. O lorde, welle were me ȝif I knowe þis lessone of love declarede in þe VII forseyde poyntes of love! what scholde I more desyre? for seynt Austyne seythe: 'loue parfitelye, & do what þou wilte'. But nowe, for als myche as þere may no manne love parfytelye þat he knowthe not: teche me, if hit be þi wil, after þe first poynt forseyde, what is þe proprete of þei name & þe manere of þei loue, and so forþ by processe þat hye wisdam & lessone of loue comprehendet in þe VII poyntes before-seyde.'

(I.) ¶ Þe maystere, euerlastynge wisdam, seyde: 'ffirst off þe properte 16 a. r.: Sapiencia. of þe name and þe loue of euerlastynge wisdam, & how þe discyple schalle haue hym in felynge of þat loue boþe in beternesse and in swetnesse. ffirst, if þou wolt wite þe properte and resone of my name, þou schalt vnderstande þat I am clepede of hem þat livene in erþe euerlastynge wisdam. Þe whiche name is most conuenient and best acordynge to myne nobleye. ffor þowhe hit so be þat euerye persone of þe holye trinite taken by hit-selfe is wisdam, & alle þe persones to-gydere one euerlastynge wisdam, neuerlese, for als miche as wisdam is proprelye applyede to þe sone and also hit falleþ to him by resone of his genera∣cione specialye, þerefore (þe) bylouede sone of þe fadere is takene & vnder∣stande in þat-manere significacione of wisdam custumablye, nowe as godde & nowe as manne, nowe as he þat is spowse of his chirche & nowe as sche þat is spowse & wyfe of euerye chosene sowle, þat maye seye of euer∣lastyng wisdam in þees wordes of þe boke of wisdam: hanc amaui et exquisiui a iuuentute mea & quesiui eam sponsam mi assumere, & a mator factus sum forme illius—þat is to seye: 'sche þis I haue louede & I haue vtturlye sowhte fro myne ȝowþe & I haue desyrede for to haue to mye spowse, and I am made a lovere of hir forme and schappe'. and also in þe selfe boke þus: Super salutem & omnem pulcri∣tudinem dilexi sapienciam & proposui pro luce habere illam, venerunt mi omnia bona pariter cum illa—'abouene heele & alle bewte I haue louede wisdam & I haue purposede for to haue hir as for mye lihte, & alle godes haue comene to me with hir'. Also of mye worþi∣nesse 39 l. haue? hit is writen þus: Sapiencia speciosior est sole et super om∣nem disposicionem stellarum luci comparata inuenitur prior, candor est enim lucis eterne & speculum sine macula diuine maiestatis & ymago bonitatis illius—þat is to seye: 'wisdam is feyrere þanne sonne & in comparisone of hir to liht she is fowndene pas∣synge aboue alle þe disposicione of sterres, she is forsoþe þe bryhtnesse of euerlastynge liht and þe mirrour with-owt wemme of goddes maieste & þe ymage of his godenesse'. Also þus: Melior est sapiencia cun∣tis opibus preciosissimis & omne desiderabile non potest ei comparari, longitudo dierum in dextra eius & in sinistra illius diuicie & gloria—'wisdam is bettur þanne (alle) manere of moste pre∣ciouse godes, & alle þat may be desyrede may not be in comparisone lyke to hir; þe lengh of ȝeres is in hire righ(t) syde and in hir lift seyde 7 seyde st. syde. richesses & ioye'. ¶ And þus miche towchynge þe proprete & þe worþe∣nesse of mye name.—¶ But nowe, tochinge my loue, be-holde with a ioyefulle mynde howe hable I am to (be) louede, howe louelye to (be) 10 be überschr. clippede and kyssede of a clene sowle. O, blessede is þat sowle to wham is grauntede in alle here lyfe, þowhe hit be but one tyme, to feele þat hit be (so); and þowh hit be so þat deþ falle þere-bye, hit schalle not 13 so fehlt. be to him greuowse. ffor, soþelye, I am euer redye to him þat loveþe me for to loue aȝenewarde, & with him I am present in chirche & atte borde, in þe weye & in cloyster & in þe market, so þat þere is no place but þat þere is present charite (of) godde; for amonge alle oþere spowses þe 17 of fehlt. goddelye wisdam haþ þis sengulere proprete þat sche may be present ouer-alle to þe desyre of hire louere, & alle þe sihynges for hire and desyres & alle-maner dedes & seruyses sche as present knoweþ anone. Also þe sengulere prerogatyfe of mye godenesse and loue is so grete, þat, who-so tasteþ þer-of þowh hit be but one lytele drope, aftere þat he schalle halde alle þe lustes & lykynges of þe worlde but as dritte. Mye love descharges hem þat beþ ouerleyde with þe heve birþene of sinnes, hit purifyeþ & makeþ clene þe conscience, hit strengþeþ þe mynde & þe sowle, hit ȝeviþ fredam to hem þat beþ parfyte, & cowpleþ & knitte hem to here euerlastynge beginnynge. ¶ And what more: who-so takeþ me into his spowse & loueþ me above alle þinge, he lyveþ with tran∣quillyte & reste, he deeþ with sykernesse, & in a manere he biginneþ here þe blisse & þe ioyes þat schole laste euer worlde with-owte ende. ¶ We spekene manye þinges & ȝite we faylene in owre wordes: for þe hye worþinesse of mye love þere maye none tunge of meune ne of awnge∣les pleynlye telle; hit maye be in experience felt, but hit may not be fullye tolde or spokene; & þere-fore alle þees wordes of þe makynge of 34 ms. makynde. goodelye love beþ but as sodenlye raþere owt caste þan in effecte ple∣nerlye fulle spokene.'

¶ Þenne seyde þe discyple to him-selfe þus: 'O lorde godde, howe 37 a. r.: Discipulus. manye gode þinges here I spokene, souereynlye fayre and worþi spowse! 38 ms. spowseur. Why þanne makest þou dissimulacione or feynynge, whye assayest not wheþer þou mayht haue hire in to þi amyke or loue? O, howe blessede were þou if þou mihteste wede hir and haue hir into þi spowse! ffor þou art ȝonge & hable to love, & þer maye none herte so clene be so solitarye by lakke of love. ¶ Where-fore nowe in fulle deliberacione I 43 in st. mi? haue vtterlye sette þat I schalle putte mye-selfe to þe deþ, so þat I maye hir gete in to amyke & spowse of me.'

¶ And þanne euerlastynge visdam with a gladde & graciose chere 1 a. r.: Sapiencia. godelye saluede hym and seyde schortlye in þees wordes: 'Fili, prebe mi cor tuum: Sone, ȝiffe me þi herte!" & anone as (þe) discyple herde þis worde, for þe grettenesse and feruour of loue his herte meltynge and as he were rauyschede owt of him-selfe, þonkede hir louelye & seyde þus: 5 a. r.: Discipulus.

¶ 'Aa souereyne ioye of mye herte þat I maye have so worþi a spowse, þe howre of heele & of gostlye ioye, þe tyme of graciose visitacione & þe daye þat owre lorde haþ made specialy to me! In whiche drede is 8 ms. of st. þat. turnede in to loue, & graciose experience of homelynesse ȝiueþ me more pleyne triste to speke ferþermore to þe what me lykeþ. ¶ Where(fore) I 10 ms. where. schalle opune mye mowþe and þe pryuetees þat I haue longtyme borne close in þe chaumbre of my hert nowe I schalle opune to þe, þat knowest best by experience in þe craft of love þat who-so loueþ specialye coueteþ to (be) louede aȝey(n)warde senglerlye. Wherfore þe feruent affeccione of mye herte to þe, þat hast hit senglerlye in þi handes, coueteþ & desireþ, þat, as hit senglerlye loueþ þe, so þou do aȝeynwarde; þat is, þat I soue∣reynlye desire þat þou woldest knowe me by name and senglerlye hau∣ynge by-louede chese to þi-selfe amonge þi most speciale frendes & lovers. Not þat I desyre þat þou scholdest loue me alone a-bove alle oþer, but þat þou woldest schewe to me and ȝiue me þi speciale love amonge alle oþere þat bene louede of þe. ffor þat is þinge þat pitteþ me in to ang∣wische and sorowe, þat þere beeþ so manye hertes louynge þe þorhe moste brennynge charite þe whic(h)e beþ before me & passene me in loue & in chewynge of loue in dede to þe. ¶ Where-fore I drede sore leste þou, þat art louere of lilyes & fedde among lilyes, felynge þe swete smelle of hem schalt forȝete me þat am butte as brere or a nettele, and so schalle I falle in to harme for loue of oþere. fforȝiue me, þou my loue, þat I speke so! fore, as þou knowest welle, hit is proprete of fer∣uent love þat hit kan not pitte lawe & masure to wordes and þat hit haþ no rewarde to none oþere but onelye to þat þe louer is occupyede with 30 rewarde = regarde. him þat loueþ.'

¶ Þanne seyde wisdam: 'Þi love, þowh hit be feruent, neuerlese 32 a. r.: Sapiencia. hit semeþ sumwhat blendete, in as miche as þou felest of goddelye and heuenlye þinges in manere of erþlye þinges; & þere-fore þou errest in þi dome, ffor so is hit not: But þou schalt vnderstande þat þe wisdam of godde is love. Wherfore, riht as (þe) beynge of godde þat is in alle þinges 36 þe fehlt. is not departede ne þe lasse þerfore in hit-selfe, riht so his loue is neuer þe lesse, þowh he loue alle þinges þat he haþ made. ¶ And þer-fore with-owt preiudyse of alle oþer take þis saddelye in þi mynde þat I am in alle tymes & euerye howre so loueradenlye bisye abowte þe as þei alle oþere pitte a-bakke I ȝaf entente onelye to þe & as I scholde seng∣lerlye answere to þi loue by hit-selfe.'

¶ Þanne seyde discyple: ¶ 'Þis is a blessede worde & moste worþi 43 a. r.: Discypulus. in alle to be acceptede of me. ¶ Nowe is mye sowle magnifyede abowen alle þe dayes of mye life! ¶ Where-fore nowe alle þe worlde be gladde & ioyefulle with me for so godelye loue of mye belovede, & so grete desy∣rede love schewede to me. ¶ And þere-fore, o þou swettest and best euerlastynge wisdam, I aske of þe þat neiþer life ne deþ ne no-manere fortune departe me fro þe, but þat owre loue strenger þan þe dethe maye last euer with-owt ende.—¶ But ȝitte haue I for to playne to þe, soue∣reyne love & euerlastynge wisdam, of þe maner of þi louynge: þat sum∣tyme, whenne þou wolt, þou art so homelye, so godelye and so lykynge in sensyble felynge of þi blessede presence, & sumtyme in contrarye maner so strange & so ferre, as þei þou haddest forȝetene & fulle for∣sakene me: and þanne sihþe I & sorowe gretelye—and no wonder: ffor 11 l. sihye. þe with-drawynge of þat þinge þat is louede aȝeynes þe wille of him þat loueþ, as I knoweleche þat I haue oft-syþes felt in experience, semeþ to me souereyne labore & sorowe in loue; and þer-fore þis hit is þat I haue aȝeynus þe, þou moder of love, euerlastynge wisdam, impugnynge or lakkynge þi loue þat þou hast here-before so gretelye commendete . for whi, soþelye, riht ofte-siþes, what-tyme þat þe mynde and þe þowht of þe louer weneþ for to haue þe restfullye in þe prywe chaumbere of his herte and troweþ þat he haþ cleppede þe to hym with hees louynge 19 ms. louelye. armes with-owte departynge for euer: sodenlye, alas, I not whidere þou fleest aweye, and art not seene, but leuest þe sowle fulle of sorowe aftere þe. And so whyle þe herte of þe louere brenneþ, þe sowle thristeþ after þe and bodye seeke mowrneþ, couetynge þe onelye ioye of þe hert with alle hees inwarde affecciones; ¶ and ȝit þou as hit were takynge non rewarde, ȝiveste no-maner felynge answere aȝeyne . Whatte is þis? semeþ hit not to wikkede a þinge and to cruele, not willynge condescende to him whom þou haste so woundet with loue?'

Þanne answerede wisdam and seyde: ¶ 'Þe makynge and kynde of 28 a. r.: Sapiencia. euerye creatour maye answere for me, in as miche as þou mayest þerinne se mye souereyne mithe, mye souereyne wisdam & mye souereyne god∣nesse: and if þat sufficenot to þe, halde þe payede on holye writte, where þou maye fynde me sufficyantlye, for þat (is) as an amorose lettere to þe 32 is fehlt. in to solace and conforte of þe; for alle þat beþ written þere, beþ writene to þi conforte, to strengþe þi hope & norichynge þi charitee. ¶ Nowe þen, semeþ þe, be not þees sufficient resone and prefe of loue to þe louere?'

¶ Þe discyple seyde: ¶ 'Oo þu maystresse of alle love, whye 37 a. r.: Discipulus. spekest þou so? art not þou a trewe louer? ȝe, and for to speke better: soþelye, þou art love hit-selfe, and with-owt anye dowte þou knoweste þe condiciones of þe lovynge herte . Wherfore hit falleþ not to þe so straungelye to speke of love, for þou woste welle þat hit is to litele and not I-nowh to him þat loveþ, what-so-euer hit be þat is not his be∣louede; ffor þere is no-þinge suffysaunte to him þat loveþ, but onelye þe presence of (þat) þat he loueþ. And þer-fore þat is þat makeþ me 44 þat überschr. v. a. h. sorowfulle be-for so worþi a face of þi goddenesse: þe changynge & þe comynge & goynge of þe, for þat turmenteþ sore þe sowle þat is not ȝit fullye saddete and stablete in þe moste parfyte degre of loue. ¶ Þees & seche-manere siþhinges & longynges of þe herte and spekynges of love, Oo þou euerlastynge wisdam, hireste and puttest not þine entente þer-to, but feyneste as þou toke none forse ne no rewarde þer-of.'

Wisdam: 'I take hede to alle þat þou seyste, and see alle þe de∣syres 6 a. r.: Sapiencia. of þi herte: but abyde a while and schewe to me wordes þat I aske of þe, & answere to mye questione: what is þat þinge þat þe heuenelye spirytes and angeles owene for to seche and have here entente to sove∣reynlye in here wirchynge?'

Disciple: 'Oo þou souereyne maystresse of heuenelye discipline, 11 a. r.: Discipulus. howe scholde I, so symple and vnkunynge, answere to þat hye questione? But þere-fore I prey þe answere for me!'

Wisdam: 'Þou schalt þer-fore vnderstande þat angeles, spirytes & 14 a. r.: Sapientia. parfyte lyveres sechene no-þinge so miche in here worchynge as to con∣forme alle here dedes to mye wille, as goddelye wisdam seiþ: Meus cibus est vt faciam voluntatem patris mei qui in celis est—'Mye mete is þat I do þe wille of mye fader þat is in heuene': and so þis is þe mete of angeles & parfyte lyveres: þat þei have delyte souerenlye for to fullefille (þe wylle) of here lorde in hem-selfe & vniuersalye in alle 20 þe w. a. r. creatours. Where-fore þei scholdene more likynglye be stirede to þat dede or þat warke þat is fowle and abiecte in his kynde þan to a noþer þat is mor wircheppfulle & not mye wille; and so grete scholde be þe fredam of affeccione in a prouede discyple, þat not onelye he scholde not be bownde in love to bodylye delytes, but also he scholde not so miche bisye him in wille for spirituele or gostlye confortes so ferreforþe þat he pitte hem in his desyre more lovynglye þanne him þat is ȝiuere of hem 27 ms. him & souereyne gode takene in hit-selfe. ¶ Wherfore consydere and take hede to þei-selfe what þou sekest or what þou loueste. ffor vnparfyte menne sechene þoo þinges þat beþ of þe ȝifte of þe lovede, & not him∣selfe; for ow(þ)ere þei eschuene here one harmes as seruantes, or elles þei 31 ms. owere sechene here owne winnynges and profytes as marchandes. ¶ But nowe, for to answere, autor, pleynlye to þi principale questione of þe comynge 33 ms. conynge & goynge of mye confortable visitaciones where-bye þe amorowse sowle, as þou seyste, is turmentede & disesede: þou schalt vnderstande þat sum∣tyme & rihte ofte-syþes be-syde oþere causes nowe passede-ouer þe sowle hit-selfe is cause of seche-manere wiþdrawynge of gostlye comfort: what-tyme þat þe wyndowe is stokene by sume manere of stoppynge aȝeynus þe sonne-beme, or elles vnreuerence is done with-inforthe to so worþi a geste, where-bye sche þe lovede but not in þat parfytelye louede is constreynede & made to go owte; of whome seyþe holye write þat here delytes beþ for to dwelle with þe sones of menne. Summetyme also, what-tyme þat I come, I ȝive likynge & ioye in dwellynge with mye louede not opunlye but pryuelye, so þat fulle fewe, & onelye þei þat beþ most experte, mowe knowe þe pryuetes of so worþi a presence.—¶ And for als miche as þou desyrest þat I scholde schewe to þe summe tokenes of myne most pryue & moste certeyne presence: first þou schalt bisilye examyne þi-selfe what þou arte in þe absence of mye grace: and anone þou schalt fynde þat þat þou secheste. ffor siþene þat I am souereyne godenesse, with mye presence I fullefille alle þinges with godenesse, & so as þe sonne is knowene bye hees bemes and his lihte, so is mye presence knowene bye hir moste plentevows godenesse. Nowe þanne, if þou dist euer prove þe godenesse and þe likynge of mye presence, or elles þe barey∣nesse 8 ms. barenynesse & myslikynge of myne absence, bringe forþ in to knowynge & telle hit opunlye, so þat þou mayhte knowe þe flowres amonge þe wedes.'

¶ Þe discyple seyde: ¶ 'If alle þe membres of mye bodye werene 11 a. r.: Discipulus. turnede in to tunges & alle myne veynus & senues migh(t)e speke with mannus voys, þei miht not expresse nor parfytelye (telle) owt þat þou 13 telle fehlt. askest of me. Neuerles þat litele þat I haue knowene in experience as þou haste ȝiuene hit, I schalle telle owt, þat I maye haue of þe more pleyne & fulle informacione of þe materes before-seyde. ¶ Wherfore, O þou souereyne godenesse, I knoweleche soþelye, þat, what-tyme þou tur∣neste a-weye fro me þi graciose face fulle of godenesse and swetnesse and þou wiþdraweste þine inwarde comforte and hydest þi liht in þine handes, þanne þe wrecchede sowle sodenlye is chaungete and is made as seke & vnlistye; & þenne foloweþ werynesse of þe bodye & hardnesse of herte, & sorowe of þe spiryte is felte so ferreforþe þat þanne mye sowle is fulle of þe lyfe; and þanne mislykene alle þinges, þowh þei bene goode, þat beþ owþere seene or herde. Also þine absence bringeþ in to me hatynge of þe place, fulsumnesse of þe celle, & despysynge of breþerne dwellynge with me . & þanne mye sowle beginneþ for to slumbre for hevinesse, so þat sumtyme for þe pusillanimite and febelnesse of spiryte he wote neyþer wheþene hit comeþ or wheder hit goþ. ¶ Þenne also I fele mye-selfe by moste certeyne experience redye and liht to falle in to vices, & for to with-stande temptaciones weyke, and feble and vn∣mihtye to alle gostlye excercyses. ¶ Wherfore, who-so secheþ me in þat tyme, he fyndeþ but a voyde howse; ffor þe goode hosbonde þat filleþ alle hees meyne with blessynge and gladdenesse, is gone owt (&) hathe lafte þe dwellynge-place woide & bare. ¶ Bute aȝeynewarde, whanne þou, þat feyrest day-sterre and brihtnesse of euerlastynge liht, rysest vp in myddes of þe derkenesse of my herte: a, lorde, whiche a blessede chaunge is þenne of goddes righte hande! ffor þanne alle þe derke clowde of malen∣colye complexione is dissoluede and putte owte of þe sowle, with alle∣manere hevenesse & sorowe, and hit lihtnete as þe daye with ioye. ¶ Þanne lawheþ þe herte, þe sowle gladeþ, þe conscience is clerede, & alle in∣warde mihtes & affecciones to-geder reiocynge loovene & wirchepene godde, for he is so gode & for his mercye so grete euer with-owt ende. Þanne alle þat be-fore were harde & scharpe & þat semedene in maner im∣possyble, be-comene liht and softe: ffor þanne is fastyng swete, wakynge semeþ schort, & alle oþere excercises, þowh þei beþ grete, for þe miht of loue semene but litele & smale. And þanne in þat tyme of gostlye grace I purpos for to amende my lyfe & myne maners, & for to do many goode dedes: þe wheche, whanne þat grace passeþ aweye, alasse I brynge not to effecte. ¶ But wheþere alle þees comene of me or of þe, I coueyte to be enformede.'

Wisdam: 'Of þe hast þou nowthe but faylyng and losse & goynge 5 a. r.: Sapiencia. to nowhte, but alle be-spokene & oþere like knowe welle þat by mye presence beþ ȝivene to þe. Wherfore þis is þe pleye of loue þe whiche 7 a. r.: ludus amoris I am wonte to vse in an amarose sowle. ¶ And yf þou wolte knowe more specialye what is þe pleye of love: wete welle þat hit is ioye and sorowe, þe wheche one aftere a noþer, of mye presence & of myne ab∣sence, fallene to (þe) lovere: for þat is þe proprete of love, þat in pre∣sence 11 þe fehlt. of þat þinge þat is louede hit is hidde & not knowene, but in ab∣sence þer-of hit scheweþ hit-self & is more knowene.'

Discyple: 'Þis pleye of love, as hit semeþ to me, is raþere of 14 a. r.: Discipulus. mowrnynge & sorowe þanne of solace & ioye. But I wolde wite howe þe discyple þat is not fullye experte, schalle haue him & kepe him in þat diuerse-maner visitacione?'

Wisdam: 'In þe daye & tyme of goodes & prosperite forȝete not 18 a. r.: Sapiencia. yveles and aduersite, and in þe daye & tyme of yvelles & aduersite haue in mynde goodes and prosperite, so þat þou lifte not þi-selfe vp ouer mesure in tyme and presence of grace, ne in þe absence þer-of þou kaste not done þi-selfe to miche; and specialye þat þou take not vn∣pacientlye þat diuerse graciose visitacione; comynge and goynge þowh hit so be, ȝit þat þou schalt alleweye bisilye seche mye face.'

Disciple: 'O lorde, if þou woldest take entente and se, soþelye 25 a. r.: Discipulus. þou scholdest welle knowe þat þe tariynge & longe abydynge of þat þinge þat is louede is grete affliccione & sorow to þe herte.'

Wisdam: 'With-owte anye dowte, þis turnynge abowte of þe whele 28 a. r.: Sapiencia. of love he schale suffre, what-so-euere he be, þat welle love—and no 29 l. wole wondre: ffor to lovers of þis worlde fallene not alle-weye prosperites, but also amonge ofte-siþes aduersites; & if þou knowe hit not by expe∣rience, 31 ms. þowe st. knowe aske of anye of hem þat knowene and he teche þe þat who-so . . . 32 l. who-so wil be welle? welle he schalle nedes trauayle. ¶ Þer beþ manye loueres to slowe and to weyke in wirchynge, þe whiche for a tyme ȝivene hem to love and wolde (be) loueres, but with-owt trauayle; to þe wheche but hit falle anone aftere hire desyre þat þei coueytene, þei cesene sone fro þei be∣ginnene; & þees menne þer-fore comen not to þe fruyte of love. Wherfore 37 ms. beginnone? to hem as to vnworþi of love hit maye (be) seyde þus: Milicie species amor est, discedite segnes—þat is þus miche to seye: 'Love is a maner of knihthode; goþe ȝe aweye þer-fro þat beþ cowardes!' ¶ Wher∣fore a feruent lover þat wille to þe fruyte of loue þat he desyreþ, he most be bisye and abydynge & seruysable; and he schalle not lihtlye leve of, þowh he fynde him putte fro his desyre a thowsande siþes, but alle∣weye he schalle be of gode hope, þenkynge þat continuele trauayle ouer∣comeþ alle þinges . for what is softere þanne water, or harder þanne stone? & ȝit by ofte fallynge & smytynge of water þe stone is persede . & for to telle gode tydynges to þe & alle oþere trewloveres likynge for to hire: wite þou welle þat þis goddelye spowse þat þou trauaylest for, welle be preyede & haþ lykynge in seche-manere seruyses done to hir. ¶ Wher∣fore preye & aske ofte-siþes, & leue not, & I be-hete þe soþelye entre after þe desyre of þi herte: ffor in alle þis worlde is none fow(n)dene þat is so liht to be askede of & preyede, so redye to hir & so godelye to answere, as is sche þis þine most goddelye spowse. ¶ Wherfore, who-so wole loue me, he most in alle tyme be bisye to loke to me as to his loue, as I am wonte continuelye to be-holde mye louer. ffor he wotenot wheyne sche þat he loueþ and abydeþ wole come ow(þ)ere fro 13 ms. owere þe este or þe west or fro þe northe or þe sowþe; ¶ and also he wotenot what tyme, wheþer erlye or late or at mydedaye or þe cokkescrowynge, sche wole come and knoc at his dore & aske entre. ¶ ffor oft-tymes, whanne þe spiryte sekynge me mowrneþ & is sorye for he fyndeþ not me: afterwarde, whenne he weneþ not, he schalle haue me, his louede, presente with him. ¶ Wherfore suffyceþnot for to spende one owre of tyme with þe belovede, but hit is nedefulle þat he þat loueþ be ofte∣siþes bisye to seche his be-lovede, and alle-weye to be redye to loue; & þat he tryste not more vpon hees merytes þanne one myne gode wille, if he wole have & feele in experience mye preciouse presence. ¶ And for to menge with þees swete wordes blamyng wordes, þat beþ scharpe but neuerlasse loueradene: þou most be vndernomene sadlye, for, soþelye, in s(e)che-maner excercyses of loue þou arte (to) be reprehendet & blamede. ¶ Whi, for schame, þou, þat haste takene vpon þe þe knihthode of loue and hast be-hoten to kepe þis forseyde owre philosophye & sette þi scholder to bere þe swete ȝokke þer-of; whye, I seye, arte þou so hardye to stande be-for so worþi a spowse with a vnstable herte flechynge, eyene turnede abowte in vttrest endes of alle þe worlde, and sche with con∣tinuele lokynge & a briht graciose face alle-weye be-holdeþ þe? ¶ howe schamfulle is hit to þe, to ȝiue þine entente to alle þinges þat þou herest with-owtforthe, wher-þorhe þou mayht not here þat þe wisdam of godde spekeþ to þe with-in-forþe? ¶ O, howe fowle is hit to þe disciple of love, in so miche to forȝete him-selfe þat he takeþ not entente to þe wordes of him þat is abowte him everywhere by his presence! Where-for worþi∣lye he wiþdraweþ him-selfe fro þe, siþene he fyndeþ not þe neyþer in þi-selfe ne in him, but with-owt þe and him, in grete noyse of þe worlde. ¶ Wherfore I prey þe, amende þees defawtes & take (hede) howe vncome∣lye hit is þat a sowle seche owht in owtwarde þinges, þe whiche bereþ þe kyngdame of godde with-in (hit)-selfe, as þe apostle seiþ: Regnum Dei intra vos est &c.: 'þe kyngdame of godde is with-in vs'—& þat is rihtwisnesse, pees & ioye in þe holye goste." And þus endeþ þe first lessone of þe first poynte of love.—

(Wisdam:) 'I-see þat felawschip of Seintes þe whiche as morowe∣sterres 29 l. See schyneden in þe dirke nyȝhte of þis worlde, and as grete liȝhtes schedden oute þe beemes of her clere kunnynge. Þou schalte fynde sum þe whiche passyngly were parfitely groundid not oonly in actif lyfe and vertue but also in contemplatif: Of whos techynge and ensaumpil þou maist take þe most parfite doctrine and lore of trewe goostly life. ¶ Neþles I will∣ynge forto condescende to thyne experiens & vnkunnynge, ¶ I schalle 35 l. inexperiens ȝeue þe schortly summe principles of goostly liuynge as for a memoryal; the whiche hauynge alweye atte hande, þou schalte mow be sette in righte wirchynge. Wherfore, if þou desire forto haue þe perfeccione of goostly lyfe þat is to be desyred of alle men, and if þou wille & hast affeccion to take hit vpon þe manfully: þou schalte first with-draw þe fro yuel felawschypes and noyous famyliarites and fro alle men þat wolde lette þy good purpos; sekynge alle-wey oportunite, where and what-tyme þou mayste a place of reste, and þere take þe priue silences of contemplacyone 43 l. haue a and flee the periles of turblaunce of þis noyous worlde. ¶ Alle-tymes 44 ms. fele st. flee it longith to thee principally to studye to haue the clannes of herte, þat is to saye, so þat closynge thy fleschly wittes þou be turned into þy∣selfe and þat þou haue, in als myche as hit is possibil, þe dores of thyne herte bisily closed fro þe formes of oute-warde thinges and ymagy∣nacyouns of erthely þinges—¶ ffor, sooþly, amonge alle goostly exer∣cises clennes of herte hath þe principalite, as a fynalle entencyone and rewarde of alle þe trauailes þat a chosen knyghte of Criste is wonte forto receyue. ¶ Also þou schalte louse þyne affeccione with alle þi 7 ms. þe st. þi diligence fro alle þoo þinges þat myghte lette þe fredam þere-of, and fro euery thinge þat in any maner hath myghte and powere forto bynde and drawe þat affeccione to hit, after þat it is writen in Moyses lawe: ¶ Mane∣at vnusquisque apud semetipsum & nullus egrediat(ur) hostium domus sue: ¶ 'Euery man dwelle by hym-selfe, and no man passe þe 12 erg. die septimo. dore of his hous vpon þe sabot-daye'; þat is þus moche forto seye: fforto dwelle a man by hym-selfe or in hym-selfe, is to vndirstonde þat hee gadir alle þe variaunte þouȝhtes and affecciouns of his herte and haue hem knytte to-gadirs into oon soþfaste and souerayne gode, þat is god; and forto kepe þe sabbate, is to haue þe herte free & vnbounden fro alle fleschly affeccione þat myȝt defoyl þe soule, and fro alle worldly cures and besynesses þat myghte distracte hit; and so rit sweetly in pees or herte as in þe hauene of scilence, and þe loue & felynge of his maker god. ¶ Aboue alle oþere þinges, forsoþ, lat þis be þy principalle entente & besynes þat þou haue alweye thy soule and þy mynde lifte vp in con∣templacyone of heuenly thinges, so þat þe erthely freelte lafte hit be bisily drawen vp to þoo þinges þat beþ abouen. ¶ And what þinge so∣euer be þat is dyuerse fro these: þowȝh hit seme grete in hit-selfe, as 25 ms. come st. seme chastisynge of the body, fastynge, wakynge and siche oþere exercises of vertue, þey schulbe taken and demyd as secundarye and lesse worth, and in so miche expedient and profitabil as þey profeten & helpen to þe clennes of herte. ¶ And herfore hit is þat so fewe comen to per∣feccione, for þey dispiseden her tyme and her myghtes in mene thinges 30 l. disposeden þat beþ not myche profitabil, and the dewe remedyes þey leuen and putten by-hynde. ¶ But if þou desirest forto come by a riȝte weye to þe ende of thyne entente, þou schalte souereynly desire to contynue clennesse of herte, & reste of spirite and tranquillite, and forto haue þy herte bisely lifte vp to god.'

Disciple: 'Who is here in þis deedly body þat maye alle-weye be 36 a. r.: Discip. knytte to þat sprituel contemplacyone?'

Wisdam: ¶ 'Þere maye no deedly man be alwey ficched and sette 38 a. r.: Sap. in to þis contemplacyone. ¶ But for þis cause þat sentence byfore is seyde þat þou knowe where þou schalte haue fycched and sadly sette þe entencyone of thy spirite, & to what destynacyone þou schalte alweye draw þe biholdynge of þy soule: Þe whiche what-tyme þat þe mynde may get, ¶ þanne be hee gladde; and whanne he is distracte and drawen aweye, þanne be he sory and sieke, as often as hee felith hym-selfe de∣parted fro þat biholdynge. But ȝif þou wilte paraunter with a complain∣ynge voyce come aȝens me and sey þat þou maiste not longe abyde and dwelle in oon-maner astate: þou schalte knowe and vndirstande þat þe vertue of god maye do and worche moor þan any man may þenke. ¶ Wherfore hit fallith ofte-syþes þat þat thinge to þe which a man byndeth hym atte þe begynnynge with a-maner violence and difficulte, afterwarde hee schalle do hit liȝtely and atte þe laste with grete likynge, soo þat hee contynue and leue not, fro þat firste he hath bigunne.—¶ here now, my dere sone, the discipline of þy fader; take hede bisily to myn wordes and write hem in thy herte as in a boke! ¶ Wille thou not folowe þe multitude of hem þat beþ goon abacche after þe desyres & þe lustes of her herte is: in þe whiche deuocyone is slaked, charite is coldid and meke ¶ Obedience is cast doune; þe whiche coueiten to be ouere oþer men in prelacye and seken bisely worschipes and delicatly seruen to þe wombe; ¶ þe whiche ouer mesure sechen ȝiftes and folowen rewardes—þe whiche in this worlde receyuen þat þey coueiten as for þe mede of her worch∣ynge, but in an oþere worlde þey schulde be laft voyde of ioye euerlast∣ynge. 16 l. schulle Wherfore folowe not þese-maner folke, but take hede bisily to þoo worthy floures, holyest faders, þe whiche spradden oute þat swete odour of her souereyn holynesse & (were) bisye to take her purpos with 19 were fehlt. suche entente and conuersacyon as hit is now schewed to þe. ¶ Wher∣fore, wheþer þou ete or drynke or any oþere thinge do, lat euermore this voys of thy swete fader sowne in thyne eeres, þus amonischynge and seiynge: ¶ 'My sone, turne aȝen in to þy herte, with-drawynge thee fro alle oute-warde thinges in as myche as hit is possibil to the, and with a feruente loue cleuynge euere to þe souerayne god, þat is god, and hauynge alweye thy mynde lifte vp in contemplacyone of heuenly þinges, soo þat alle thy soule with þe myȝtes and strengthes þere-of gaderid to∣gedir into god be made oon spirite wiþ hym, in whom stante þe souereyn perfeccione of oure weye and liuynge in this worlde'. ¶ Soo þan this schorte doctryne, for þe forme and the manere of þy liuynge be it ȝeuen to þe, In the whiche stant souereynte of alle perfeccione, and in þe whiche, if þou wilte bisely studye and trewly fulfille hit in effecte, þou schalt be blessid & in maner bigynne euerlastynge felicite in þis frele body: Þis is, my sone, þat heelful weye, þat þyne Arsenie tauȝte of þe aungel kepte hym-selfe and badde his disciple kepe, þat is to seye: 'fflee, kepe scilence and be in rest—þese', hee seide, 'beþ þe principales of gostly hele'. ¶ Also this souerayne doctryne þe goodly wisdam schewyd and openyd to a disciple þat þou knowest, ¶ what-tyme þat hee enfourmed hym oponly of his astate. For what-tyme þe forsaide disciple purposed hym in maner forto occupien hym with þe sciencis founden of man, þere bygan many vanites growe vpon hym as hit were vpon his bakhalfe, and than (he) bygan to aspire more þan hit byhoued to temporel avauncementis 42 he fehlt. and worschepys. And whanne his tyme cam for þe whiche hee hadde longe tyme trauayled, & schulde be putte vp to þoo worschepis þat hee desyred, he byganne to þenke with-inne hym-selfe what was moost speed∣fulle to hym and what schulde most plese god. And so hit byfelle vpon a tyme þat after matyns hee felle downe in his prayer ful streyt, with alle deuocyone askynge of god þat hee wolde vouche-saufe to schewe to hym what hym was beste to do. And atte þe laste risynge vp fro his prayer and lenynge hym vpon a deske, ¶ hee sawe in a visyone as hit were a fayre ȝonge man comynge to hym; the whiche toke hym by the hande and ledde hym into a chirche, where-inne was biggyd a litil celle, and þere-in dwellid an olde man man solitarye, ledynge anchares life; and hee was olde & hore, hauynge a longe berde, and the grace of god schyned in hym. And bisyde þe celle of þe forseyde olde man þere apperid a ladder streiȝt vpon hiȝe; in (þe whiche) þe forseyde ȝongelynge goynge 10 þe whiche fehlt. vpwarde and downwarde as hit were played, and clepynge þe broþere þat sawe þis, seide to hym þus: 'Come nere and herken þe lesson þat 12 ms. and seide I wole rede to þee'. to whome anoon þe broþere gladdely rennyng coueited firste to see þe boke where-of hee schuld here þat lessone. ¶ And þanne hee sawe in his handes a wonder olde boke of a litil quan∣tite, þe whiche as to þe siȝhte semyd as of noon reputacyone and as forlette was noon hede take to. ¶ But þanne þat ȝongelynge bygan to rede in these wordes: ¶ ffons et origo omnium bonorum homini spirituali est in cella sua iugiter commorari—þat is to seye: 'þe welle and þe bigynnynge of alle goodis to a sprituel man is to dwelle bisily in his celle'. Þe whiche woordis of þat ȝongelynge mowȝe y-radde on þat olde boke ¶ so swetly sowneden in þe broþeres ceres, and in his herte so likyngly wrouȝt, þat hym þouȝt to hym-selfe alle to-gedir meltid in to heuenly loue; soo þat of þe vertue and effecte of þoo heuenly wordes hit opunly was schewed and knowen what hee was þat radde þoo wordes. And whan after þe requeste of þe broþere þe forseyde ȝongelynge hadde rehersed efte-sones þe forseide wordes ffons & origo omnium bonorum &c., ¶ þe broþere for ioye þat hee hadde þere-of in his herte, brake oute and sayde: ¶ 'O lorde, how precyous and pro∣fitabil is this heelful doctrine!' & þan he asked who he was of þe nowmbre of wise men þat broȝt forþ þis schorte fructuous seiynge. ¶ The ȝonge∣lynge answerid and seyde: 'hee þat souereyne Arsenye'. ¶ And whanne þe broþer ferþermore made instaunce þat hee schulde rede hym more of þe forsaide boke, hee bygan efte to rede and seyde: ¶ E conuerso ffons & origo omnium malorum sunt discursus inutiles euan∣geliȝancium 35 ms. inutilis—¶ þat is: 'Þe welle and bigynnynge of alle yueles or wickednesse beþ þe vnprofitabile rennynges aboute of prechours'. Þe whiche worde þe forseyde broþere takynge wiþ a-maner turbulaunce and grucchynge of herte, was aboute to argue & make resones into þe con∣trary, alleggynge for hym þe goynge aboute þorowe alle þe worlde of þe holy apostles oonly for þe cause of prechynge; but hee took noon hede to þat þese wordes were not oonly of prechours, but also of alle þoo generally þat coueiten in goostly liuynge to plese god—ffor opun soþ it is þat to euery suche man bigynnynge of alle yuels is if hee wole lose his bridel to vnprofitabil rennyngis aboute. Wherfore þe forseide ȝongelynge, noȝt answerynge to resone of þe broþere, of alle myldenes seide: ¶ 'wit þou wel, broþere, þat þe forseyde philosofer, þat is to sey ¶ Arseny, reproueþ ful muche vnprofitabil rennynges aboute'—and here∣with þe visyone passed aweye. ¶ And thanne the forsayde broþer, felynge schedde into hym-selfe an heuenly comforte, beganne to thenke 4 ms. & st. an and haue in mynde þoo þinges þat hee hadde herde and seene byfore, and merueiled greetly whoo was þat philosophir Arseny—¶ ffor þat tyme hee ȝaf alle his diligence to worldely philosophye and to þe maistirs þere-of, but of goostly philosophye and the techers þere-of he took not so myche hede. And thanne hee seyde thus to hym-selfe: ¶ 'Loo how many bokes of dyuerse philosophirs þou hast redde and herde aleggid þe auc∣tours of hem, but of this Arsenye ¶ þou fonde noon mencyone made in eny of hem'. And thanne atte þe laste hee þouȝt þus: 'paraunter þis is þat Arseny, ¶ þe moost famouse philosophir, of cristen doctrine þat souereyne anker, whome þou hardest sumtyme alleggyd, þogh hit be now oute of thy mynde; and in prefe here-of paraunter it is þat þou sawe þe forsaide olde man, dwellynge in a litille celle; & by þat olde boke þat þat ȝongelynge helde in his hande and radde vpon, is vndir∣stonde þe boke of lyfe of fadres & her collacyons: ¶ þe whiche book as an olde forlet þinge, is litil take hede to of many men, & neþeles þe 19 ms. is as crnel of alle perfeccyone and the soþfaste science of cristen philosophy 20 l. curnel? by certeyne experience is knowen and contyned þere-inne'. ¶ Wherfore þe forseide broþere, erely on þe morowe risynge and takynge þe for∣seide boke of þe librarye & willynge to knowe sooþly wheþere þere-inne were contened þe forseide Arseny ¶ and his seiynge byforeseide: anoon as hee hadde opuned hit, hee fonde booþ hym and his sentence, þe whiche þe forseyde ȝongelynge hadde redde, clerely writen in þat boke. ¶ Wherfore þe forseide broþere sufficiently, as hym þouȝte, by these wordes byfore-spokene enformed and tauȝte, lefte þe scoles of naturel sciens and worldely wisdome, and took hym oonly to þis scole of goostly science and heuenly wisdame, desirynge forto conforme hym to þe sei∣ynges of þe forseide Arsenye'.

¶ Discyple: 'Þyne forseide wordes, as þey comen oute of an heuenly schryne, meue me so in alle parties, þat þorowe her most lik∣ynge swetnesse þe feruoure of deuocyone is in me encresed and a pleyne weye of more parfite life is ȝeuen to myn vndirstondynge, alle-maner difficulte and doute putte awey'.

(Discipulus:) 'Syþen hit is so þat deþ ȝiuith noȝte to man, but 39 Disp. a. r. Im anfange fehlt wol ein satz. raþer takith fro and pryueþ hym of þat he hath, wher-of profetith this doctryne of deth? hit semith wonderfulle, and þerfore teche me, heuenly maister wisdome!' 42 Sap. a. r.

¶ (Sapiencia:) 'Þou schalte vndirstande þat hit is a science moost profitabil and passynge alle oþer sciences, forto dye . for a man to knowe þat hee schalle dye, þat is comun to alle men, in as myche as þere is no man þat may euere lyue or þat (hase) hope or triste þere-of: 1 hase überschr. v. a. h. ¶ But þou schalte fynde fulfewe þat hauen þis kunnynge to kunne dye: for þat is a souerayne ȝifte of god. ¶ Sooþly, a man forto kunne dye, is forto haue his herte and his soule in alle tymes vpwarde to þoo þinges 4 ms. & st. in þat beþ abouen; þat is to seye, ¶ þat, what-tyme deth comith, if fynde hym redy, so þat he receyue it gladdely with-oute any withdrawynge, riȝhte as hee þat abidith þe desired commynge of his dere-loued felowe. But alas for sorowe, þou schalte fynde in somme religyous als wel as in veyne seculers ful many þat haten so miche þe dethe þat vnnethes wole they haue hit in mynde or here speke þere-of. ¶ Þey wolde not go fro this worlde, and cause is: for þey lerid not to kunne dye. Þey spenden miche of her tyme in veyne spekynges and harlotryes and oþere suche vayne þinges: ¶ And þerfore, what-tyme deth commith sodeynly, for als miche as hee fyndeth hem vnredy, hee drawith oute of þe body þe wrec∣chid soule and ledith hit to helle—as he wolde ofte-syþes haue done to þe, hadde not þe hande of the grete mercy of god with-stande hym. Wherfore leue þou veyne thinges to hem þat beþ veyne, and ȝif good entente to my doctrine; þe whiche schalle profite þe moor þanne choyse golde and thanne the bokis of alle þe philosophres þat haue ben. ¶ And þat this doctrine of me more feruentlye meve the, and þat hit be alwey dwellynge ficchid in þy herte, ¶ þerfore vndir a felable ensaumple I schalle ȝeue the þe misterie of (t)his doctrine, þe whiche schal profet þe greetly 22 ms. his to þe bigynnynge of goostly hele and to a stabil foundement of alle vertues. ¶ See now þerfore the liknesse of a man diynge and þerwith spekynge with the!'

And þan þe disciple herynge þis, bygan to gadir alle his wittes fro outewarde thinges and in hym-selfe bisily consider and byholde þat liknesse sette byfore hym, and þat was: Þere apperid byfore hym þe liknesse of a faire ȝonge man, þe whiche was sodeynly ouer∣come with dethe in hasty tyme forto dye and hadde noȝte disposid for þe hele of his soule byfore; the whiche with a careful voys cryed and seyde: ¶ 'Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis, dolores in∣ferni 32 ms. doloris circumdederunt me—¶ þat is: þe weymentynges of dethe hauen vmbylapped me and the sorowes of helle haue envyrouned me. ¶ Allas, my good euerlastynge, where-to was I borne in to this world, and why, after þat I was borne, hadde (I) not perchyd anoon? ¶ ffor loo 36 I fehlt. þe beginnynge of my life was with wepynge and sorowe, and nowe the ende and the passynge is with grete care and mournynge. ¶ O deth, how bitter is þy mynde to a likynge herte and norisched vp in delyces! ¶ O how litil trowed I þat y schulde so sone dye! but now þou, wrec∣chid deth, sodeynly as out of a wayte as a theef hast fallen vpon me! ¶ Now for sorow wryngynge myne handes I ȝelde outwarde goynge, desirynge to flee deth: ¶ But þere is no place to flee to fro it. ¶ I loke 43 ms. fele st. flee on euery syde, and I fynde no counseyler nor comforter. hit is vtterly 44 ms. in st. I ficched & sette, and þerfore hit maye not be chaunged. I hir þat horribile voys of deth seiynge in this manere: "Þou arte the sone of deth. Nor ric∣chesses nor resoune nor kynnes-men nor frendes mowen delyuere the fro my hande; þe ende is come, þe ende is come; it is demyd, and þerfore it muste be done". ¶ O my god, schal I now nedys dye? maye not þis sentence be chaunged? schalle I now so sone go fro this worlde? O þe grete cruelte of deth! Spare, I praye þe, to þe ȝowþe, spare to þe age þat is not ȝit fully rype! ¶ Do not so cruelly with me, (take me) not so vnpurveyed fro þis liȝte of life!'

¶ Disciple, herynge þese wordes, turned to hym and seyde: ¶ 'ffrende, thy wordes semen to me not sauerynge disciplyne. Wost þou not þat þe dome of deth is euen to alle? ¶ ffor hit takith no per∣sone byfore other and it sparith no man; hit hath no mercy, neiþer of þe ȝonge ne of þe olde; hit sleeþ as wel þe ryche as þe pore, and soth hit is þat riȝte many byfore the parfit fulfillynge of her ȝeeres ben drawen aweye fro þis life. Trowest þou þat deth schulde haue spared the allone? ¶ Naye, for þe prophetis be dede'.—¶ Þe liknes or þe ymage of deth answerid and seyde: ¶ 'Sooþly', he seyde, 'þou arte an heuy comforter. Nor my wordes sownen foly; but þey ben raþer like fooles þe whiche hauen lyued yuel in to her deth & þat hauen wroȝte þoo þinges þat ben worthy deth, and ȝit þey drede not dethe; whanne hit neyȝh, þey ben blynde and like to vnresonabil bestes, þat seen not byfore her laste ende and þat is to come after deth. ¶ And þerfore I wepe not sorowynge þe dome of deth, but I wepe for þe harmes of vndisposed dethe; ¶ I wepe not for þat I schalle passe hennes, but I am sory for þe harmes of þoo dayes þat ben passed vnprofitabil and withoute eny fruyte. ¶ Erramus a via veritatis &c. in li^o sapiencie: ¶ Allas, how haue I lyued? 'I haue erred fro þe weye of sooþfastnesse, & þe liȝte of riȝtwisnesse hath not schyned into me, and the (sune) of vndirstond∣ynge was not receyued into my soule. ¶ Allas, what profetid hit to me, pryde, or þe boste of ricchesses what hath þat holpen me? ¶ Alle þoo ben passed as a schadowe and as þe mynde of a geste of oon daye passynge forthe.' ¶ And þerfore now is my worde & my speche in bitter∣nesse to my soule, and alle my wordes ful of sorowe, and myne yen daswed. ¶ O who schalle mow ȝeue to me þat I myghte be after myn olde dayes, whan I was cloþed with strengthe and with beute and hadde many ȝeeres byfore me to come, þat I myȝte knowe þe yuel(s) þat hauen sodeynly fallen vpon me in þis oure? ¶ I toke no fors to þe grete worthynes of tyme, but frely ȝeuynge me to lustes I ladde my life and spendid my dayes alle in vanite: ¶ And þerfore now, riȝhte as fisches ben cawȝte with þe hoke, and as briddes ben take with þe grenne, so am I taken in an yuel tyme, þat hath come vpon me sodeynly! þe tyme is passed and sliden aweye and maye not be clepid aȝen of eny man. ¶ Þere was noon houre so schorte, but þat I myȝhte þere-Inne haue goten goostly winnynges, þat passen in value alle erthly goodes with∣oute comparyson. ¶ Allas I wrecche, why haue y despendid so many gracyous dayes in moost veyne and longe spekynges, and so litil fors haue taken of my-selfe? ¶ O þe vnspekabil sorowe of my herte! why haue y so ȝeuene me to vanyte, and why in alle my life leernyd y not to dye? ¶ Wherfore ȝee alle þat ben here and seen my wrecchednesse, ȝee þat ben iocounde in þe floure of ȝouþe and haue ȝit tyme able, by∣holdiþ me and takith hede of myne myscheues & sorowes, and eschewith ȝoure harme in my peryle; spende ȝee in god ȝoure floure of ȝoure ȝouth & occupy ȝee þe tyme in holy werkes, ¶ lest þat, ȝif ȝee do like to me, ȝee suffre þe peynes of me! O euerlastynge god, to þe I knowleche complainynge þe wrecchednes þat I suffre: þe wantone ȝowþ in me 5 ms. þy wr ¶ hatid wordes of blamynge for my trespasse; y wolde not obey to hem þat tauȝten me, and I turned aweye the ere fro hem þat wold goodly cownseyle me; I hatid disciplyne & myne herte wolde not assente to reprehencyouns. ¶ And þerfore now I am fallen into a deep pitte and am kauȝte with þe g(r)ynne of dethe. ¶ hit hadde be better to me ȝif I 10 ms. gynne had neuer be borne, or ellis þat I hadde perisched in my moder wombe, þanne þat I hadde so vnprofitabil spendid þe tyme þat was graunted to me forto do penauns, & mysvsed hit in pryde.' 13 ms. mysesed

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Loo we alle dyen, as water fallith downe into þe 14 ms. and as erthe þat turneþ not aȝen. ¶ And god wole noȝt mannes soule perische, but hee withdraweþ his streiȝte (arm), þat he be not fully loste þat is of 16 arm fehlt. hymselfe abiecte. Wherfore here now my cownseile, and forþenke þe & do penaunce for thy misdedis þat ben passed, & turne þe to þy lorde god: for hee is ful benigne & mercyfulle. And ȝif hit so be þat þe ende be gode, hit sufficith to hele of soule'.—¶ Þe ymage of deth sayde: ¶ 'What woorde is þis þat þou spekist? schalle I turne me & do penaunce? Seest not þe angwisches of deth þat ouerlaieþ me? ¶ Loo I am so greetly feerid with þe drede and horrour of deth and so bounden with þe bondes of deth, þat I maye not see or knowe what I schalle do; but riȝt as þe partriche constreyned vndir þe clawes of þe hawke is as halfe-dede 25 ms. is constr. for drede and angwische of þe dethe, riȝte so alle witte is gone fro me, þenkynge noȝt ellis but how I myȝte in any manere askape this perelle of deth, the whiche neuerþeles I maye not askape. ¶ Oo þat blessid penaunce and turnynge fro synne be-tyme: for þat is siker. ¶ fforsoþ, hee (þat) hath late turned hym and ȝeuith hym to penaunce, hee schalbe 30 þat a. ṙ. in dowte & vncerteyne: for hee woot not wheþer his penaunce be trewe or feyned. ¶ Woo to me þat so longe suffred forto amende me life, for I haue so longe I-taryed to gete my hele! ¶ Loo, alle my dayes ben passed, thritty ȝeere of myne age ben passed and loste and wrecchedly perysched and be gone so neglegently, þat I wote not wheþer I haue dispendid one daye of hem alle in þe wille of god and the exercises of alle vertues so worthily and parfitely as paraunter y myȝte or schulde haue done, or ellis if I euer didde to my maker so plesynge seruise and acceptabil as myne astate askith. ¶ Allas for sorowe, þis hit is wherfore alle myn inwarde affecciouns ben so woundid. ¶ A, god euerlastynge, how schamefastly schalle I stande atte þe dome byfore þe and alle thy seyntes, whanne I schalbe compellid to ȝiue answere and resone of alle þat I haue done and lefte vndone; and what schalle I sey here-to? But atte þe nexte is my tribulacyone þat I schalle passe forþe fro this worlde. Takith heed of me now bisily, I praye ȝow! ¶ Loo, in þis houre I wolde haue more ioye of a litil schorte prayer, as an Aue maria seide devoutly of me, þanne of a þousand pownde of siluer or golde. ¶ Oo my god, how many godes haue I necglegently loste! ¶ Sooþly, now I knowe þat as to þe gretnesse of heuenly medis hit schulde more haue avayled to me a besy kepynge of my herte and alle my wittis with clannes of herte, þanne, þat loste or be inordynate affeccione defouled and ineffecte, thritty 5 ms. laste ȝeeris in þe whiche any oþer man hadde bisyed hym by prostracyons forto gete me rewarde of god here or in blisse. ¶ Oo, ȝe alle þat seen my wrecchednesses, hauith compassyone of me and mercy vpon me! and alle the while ȝour strengþes suffysen and the tyme helpith, gederith into heuenly bernes heuenly tresoures, þe whiche mowen resseyue and take ȝow into euerlastynge tabernacles what-tyme þat ȝee failen, and þat ȝee 11 ms. fallen ben not lafte voyde in suche an houre þat is to come to ȝow, as ȝee seen me now voyde and of alle goodis dispoylled.'

¶ Disciple: 'My loued frende, I see þat þy sorow is ful grete, and þerfore I haue compassyone of thee with alle myn herte, adiurynge the by god almyghty þat þou ȝeue me cownseyle wherby I may be tauȝte þat I falle not in suche peryl of indisposid deth.'—¶ Here-to seyde the ymage of deth: ¶ 'Þe best counseyle and souereyn prudence & most pro∣uidence stante in this poynte: þat þou dispose the, while thou arte hool and stronge, by trewe contricyone & clene and hole confessyone and by dewe satisfaccyone, & alle wicked and noyous thinges þat schulde with∣drawe or lette the fro euerlastynge helthe, þat þou kaste aweye fro the, and þat þou kepe þe so in alle tymes as þey þou schuldiste passe oute of þis worlde þis daye or to-morowe or atte þe vtterist with-in þis seuen∣nyȝte. Putte in þy herte as þey thy soule were now in purgatorye and hadde in penaunce for thy trespasses X ȝeere in þe fourneys of brenn∣ynge fyre, and oonly this ȝeer is grawnted the for thy helpe; ¶ and so 27 l. i-grawnted. recche not byholde ofte-syþes þy soule amonge the brennynge coles, criynge: ¶ 'O thou best be-loued of alle frendes, helpe þy wrecchid soule, haue mynde of me þat am now in so harde prisone, haue mercy on me alle-desolate & suffre me no lenger to be turmentid in this dirke prisone! ffor I am for∣saken of þis worlde: ¶ þere is noon þat schewiþ kyndenes or þat wole putte hande to helpe me nedy. ¶ Euerychon seken her owne profit & hauen for∣sake me and lafte me in þese veniabil brennynge flawmes alle-desolate."

¶ Disciple aȝenwarde: ¶ 'Sooþly, þis doctryne of the were most profitabil, who-soo hadde hit by experience, as þou hast it. ¶ But þogh it so be þat þy wordes ben seen ful stirynge and bitynge, neuerþeles þey profeten litil as to many folke: for þey turnen awey her face, þat þey wole not see in to her ende. ¶ Þey hauen eyen, but þey seen not, Eerys (but) heere not; þey wen to lyue longe, and for they drede not vn∣disposed deth, ¶ þerfore they wrecches (not) to see byfore þe harmes þere-of. What-tyme þat þe Messanger commith of deth, þat is to saye harde and grete siknesse, þanne comen frendes and felowes to þe siek man forto visyte hym & coumforte hym, and þanne alle prophecyen and byheten him 44 ms. þe st. him good & þat hee nedith not to drede þe deth, ¶ and þat þere is no peryl þere-of, but þat it is but a rennynge of the humeris vnkyndely or stopp∣ynge of þe synowes or veynes, þat schalle sone passe ouer. ¶ Þus þe frendes of the bodye ben enmyes to þe soule: ffor what-tyme þe sieknes contynuelly encreseþ and hee þat is seke euere hopith of a-mendemente, atte þe laste sodeynly hee failith and with-oute fruyte of hele ȝeldith vp þe wrecched soule. ¶ Riȝte so þese þat heren þy wordes, whiche leuen alle to-gadir to mannes prudence and worldely wisdam, þey casten by∣hynde hir backe þy woordes and wil not obey to thyne heelful coun∣seyle.'—¶ Þe ymage of deth seyde: ¶ 'Þerfore what-tyme þey ben taken with the grenne of deth, whanne þere fallith vpon hem sodeynly tribu∣lacyone and angwische, þey schulle crye and not by harde, for as myche as they hadden wisdam in hate and dispiseden to hir my cownseyle. ¶ And riȝte as now ful fewe be founden þat ben conpuncte þorowe my woordes forto amende hem and turne her life into better, so forsoþ for the malyce of this tyme and defaute of goostly feruonr and the wicked∣nesse of þe worlde now in his helde ¶ þere beth ful fewe so parfitely disposed to deth, the whiche (with) grete abstraccyone fro þe worlde and deuocyone of herte coueyten to dye for þe desyre of euerlastynge life and with alle hir inwarde affeccyouns desyren to be with cryste, but raþer aȝenwarde for þe moste parte þey so sodeynly with þe bitter deth ouer∣comen ben founden atte þat tyme alle indisposed, in manere as I am now ouercome. And if þou wolte know þe cawse of so grete and so comun a parayle, ¶ loo þe inordynate desyre of worschyp, þe superflewe cure of þe bodye, erþely loue & to myche besynes aboute worldely liuynge blenden many hertys of þe comu(n)ate and bryngen hem atte laste to þese myscheves. ¶ But sooþly, if thou with fewe desyrest to be saued fro this peryle of vndisposed dethe, ¶ heere my cownseyl and ofte-syþes sette byfore thyne eyen þis þat þou now seest, my sorowful persone, and bisily brynge hit to thy mynde: and þou schalte fynde sone þat my doctryne is to þee most profitabil. ffor þou schalte so profyt þere-by, þat not oonly þou schalte not drede to dye, but also þat deth þat is to alle leuynge men dreedful þou schalte abyde and receyue with the desyre of þy herte, in þat it is þe ende of trauayle and þe bigynnynge of felicite euerlastynge; ¶ þis þinge oonly I-do, þat þou euery daye brynge me inwardly to thy mynde and bisily take entente to my wordes and write hem saddely in thy herte. ¶ Of the sorowes and angwisches þat þou seest in me, take hede and thenke vpon þoo þat ben to come in hasty tyme vppon the; haue mynde of my dome, for siche schalbe thy dome. Oo, how blessed arte þou þat euere haddest this houre of deth byfore thyne eyen: and so blessed is hee the whiche what-tyme þat his lorde commith and knockith on þe ȝate, (he) fyndeþ redy to let hym Inne. ¶ ffor by what-maner deth hee be ouerleyde, hee schalbe purged and brouȝte to þe siȝte of alle-myghty god, and the passynge oute of his spirite schalbe þe blessid entre of euerlastynge blisse. ¶ But woo is me wrecche! Where trowest thou schalle abyde þis nyȝhte my spirite? whoo schalle take my wrecched soule, ¶ and where schalle hit be herboured atte nyȝte in þat vnknowen cuntrey? ¶ O how desolate schalbe þanne my soule & abiecte passynge alle oþere soulles! ¶ Þerfore hauynge compassyone of my-selfe amonge þise bitter wordes I schedde oute teerys as the ryuere. ¶ But what helpith it to wepe or to multiplye many bitter woordes? hit is con∣cludid and maye not be chaunged. ¶ Oo my god, now I make an ende of my wordes & maye no lenger make sorowe: ffor loo, now is þe houre come þat wole take me fro þe erþe. ¶ Woo is me, now I see & know þat I maye no lenger lyue and þat deth is atte þe nexte. ¶ ffor loo þe handes vnweldy bigynnen to rancle, þe face to be pale, þe siȝte to dasewe & the yen to goo inne; þe liȝte of þe worlde I schalle no more see, and þe astate of an oþere worlde byfore the eyen of my soule in my mynde ¶ I begynne to byholde. Oo my god, how dreedful a siȝte! ¶ Loo, þe cruel bestes, þe horrible faces of deuiles, and blak forschapen þinges with-oute noumbre haue envyrouned me, aspiynge and abidynge my wrecched soule þat schalle in haste passe oute, If perauenture it schulde be taken to hem forto be turmentid as for her lotte. ¶ Oo þou moost riȝtwis domes-man, how streyte and herde ben thy doomes, charg∣ynge and harde demynge me wrecche in þoo þinges þe whiche few folke chargen or dreden, ¶ ffor as myche as they semen but smale and litil. Oo þe dreedful siȝte of þe riȝtwys Justise þat is now presente to me by dred and sodeynly to come in dede! ¶ Loo, the deth-swete peresynge þe membres is comen, þat witnessith þe kynde perysched & ouercome þe spirite. ¶ Now farith wel, felawes & frendes most dere! for now in my passyng hennes I caste þe eye of my mynde into purgatorye, whedir I schalle now be ledde, & oute þere-of schalle I not passe tille I haue ȝolden þe lest farþinge of my dette for synne. ¶ þere y biholde with þe ye of my herte wrecchednes and sorowe & many-folde peyne & tur∣mentynge. ¶ Allas me wrecche, þere I see amonge oþere peynes þat longen to þat place risynge-vp flaummes of fire and the soulles of wrec∣ched folke caste þere-Inne vppe and downe and to and (fro), þat rennen as sparcles of fire in-myddes of þat brennynge fyre, riȝhte as in a grete towne alle on fyre and in þe fyre and þe smoke þe sparcles ben boren vppe and downe; soo þe soulles, weymentynge for sorowe of her peynes, (&) cryen euerichone and seyn þese wordes: ¶ "Miseremini mei, mise∣remini mei, saltem vos amici mei: ¶ hauith mercy on me, atte the leste ȝee þat ben my frendis! Where is now the helpe of my frendes? where ben now the good byhestes of oure kynnes-men and oþer by whos inordynate affeccyone wee toke no fors of oure-selfe and so encresed we þis peyne to oure-selfe? ¶ Allas, why haue we done so? ¶ loo þe leste peyne of þis purgatorye þat we mowe felen passith alle-maner Iwe(l)s of 36 ms. his. l. now. ms. Jewes þat temporelle worlde; þe bitternesse of peyne þat we mow felen in an houre semith as grete as alle the sorowe of þe passynge worlde in an hundreth ȝeere. ¶ But passynge alle oþere manere of turmentis & peynes hit greuiþ me most þe absence of þat blessed face."—¶ þese þat I haue now sayde in my laste passynge, I leue to þe as for a mynde, and so passynge I dye.'—

Atte þis visyone þe disciple made grete sorowe, and for drede alle his bones quakeden; and thanne turnynge hym to god, he seyde þus;

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Where is euerlastynge wisdam now? ¶ Lorde, 45 a. r.: Discipulus. hast þou forsaken me, þy seruaunt? þow woldest teche me wisdam & 46 ms. I st. & now I am brouȝte in to þe deth. ¶ O my god, how miche byndith me the presence of deth þat I haue seen! the Image of deth hath so rauesched (me) alle to-gadir, þat vnneþes wote I wheþere, þat I haue seen, be so in dede or ellis in liknesse. ¶ O lorde of lordes, dreedful & mercyful, I þonke þe with alle my herte þy specyalle grace & I beheet amendemente, ffor I am made afferde with passynge grete drede. A forsoth, I perceyued (neuer in) alle my lyfe þe periles of deth vndisposed so opunly as I haue now in þis houre; I beleue for certeyne þat þis dreedful siȝte schalle availe to my sowle for euere. ¶ ffor certeyne, now I knowe þat wee haue here noon lastynge cite, and þerfore to þe vnchaungeabil state of þe soule þat is to come I dispose me with alle my myȝhte. I purpos me forto leren to dye, & I dispose me to amende my lyfe with-oute any with∣drawynge. ¶ ffor seþen y am so made aferde oonly of the mynde, what schulde be of the presence? ¶ Wherfore now (I) do awey fro me þe soft∣nesse 14 ms. do awey fro me do awey of beddynge, þe precyosite of clothinge, and slout(h)e of slepe me lettynge. ¶ O thou holy and mercyful sauyour, putte me notte to so bitter a deth! Loo I fallynge downne byfore thee, with wepynge teeres I aske of þe þat þou punysche me here at thy wille, so þat þou reserue not my wicked dedes into þe laste ende. ¶ ffor, soþly, in þat horribil place þere is so grete sorowe & peyne, þat no tunge may suffyce to telle. O how grete a fole haue I be in to þis tyme, in as myche as I haue so litil fors taken of indisposed deth and of þe peyne of purgatorye þat is so grete, and how grete wisdame is to haue these thinges often byfore the eyen! ¶ But now, sethen I am so fadirly admonestid & tauȝte, I opun myne eyen and drede it greetly.'

¶ Wisdam answerynge seyde: ¶ 'þese thinges þat ben seyde, 26 a. r.: Sapiencia. my sone, in alle tymes haue in mynde, while þou arte ȝonge and hole & myghtye & mayȝht amende thy lyfe. ¶ But what-tyme þou comest to þat houre in soþnes and mayȝht noon oþere wise helpe thy-selfe, þanne is þere noon oþere remedye but þat þou committe (þe) to þe mercy of god onely and þat þou putte my passyone bitwix the and my dome, lest þat þou dredynge more þanne nedith my riȝhtwisnesse, þou falle downe fro thy hope. And now, for as myche as þou arte afferde with passynge 33 ms. hepe drede, be of good comforte, vndirstandynge þat þe drede of god is be∣gynnynge 34 ms. a (st. of) good of wisdam. ¶ Seche thy bokes nad þou schalte fynde how many goodes & profetys the mynde of deth bryngeth to manne. ¶ Wher∣fore haue mynde of þy creatoure and maker in þe daye of thy ȝouth, or þat þe power turne aȝen into his erþe whens hee cam fro, and þe spirite 38 l. body? turne aȝen to þe lorde þat ȝaf hym. ¶ And þou blesse god of heuene 39 ms. blessed with alle thy herte, and be kynde, for þere ben ful fewe þat perceyuen with her herte þe vnstabilnesse of this tyme, þe deceyte of dethe þat in alle tyme lyeth in wayte, and þe euerlastynge felicite of þe cuntre to come. ¶ Lyfte vppe thyne eyen and loke aboute þe bisily and see how many þere ben blynde in her sowle and closen her eyen, þat þey loke not into her laste ende, and stoppen her eeris, þat þey heere not forto be conuerted and helid of synne; and þerfore her losse & dampnacyone schalle not longe tarye. ¶ Also, byholde þe companye with-oute noumbir of hem þat ben now loste þorowe þe myschief of vndisposed deth: 2 ms. & st. of ¶ Nowmbre þe multitude of hem, ȝif þou maye, and take hede how many haue ben þe whiche in þy tyme dwellynge with the, now ben dede & passed heþen fro þis erthe; how grete a multitude of breþerne & felawes and oþere of thy knowleche in so fewe ȝeerys ben gone byfore the, þat arte ȝitte a ȝonge man and lafte ȝitte alyve, and þey didde; aske of hem 7 didde = dyed alle and seche of euericheon, and they schul teche thee and answere to þe, wepynge and mournynge, & sey thus: ¶ 'O how blessid is hee þat seeþ byfore and purueyeþ for þese laste thynges and kepith hym fro synne and doþ after þy cownseyle & in alle tyme disposith hym to þis laste houre!' ¶ Wherfore puttynge abacke alle thinges þat schulde with∣drawe the here-fro, ordeyn for þy hous and make þe redy to þat laste wey of euery manne & to þe houre of dethe: ffor in certeyn, þou wost not what houre hit schalle come and how nye hit is. ¶ And þerfore riȝte as (a) trauelynge man standynge in þe hauen byholdith bisily a schyppe þat swiftely seylith towarde ferre contreyes þat hee schulde go to, lest þat hit schulde ouer-passe hym, ¶ Righte so alle þy lyfe and alle thy wirkynge be dressed and sette to þat ende þat þou haue a blessid obyte, so þat þou maye come atte þe laste to þe place of immortalite & euer∣lastynge felicite.' AMEN.

(Disciple:) 'O souereyn and euerlastynge wisdam, for as miche as 24 a. r.: Discipulus. the grete profyte of þy doctrine hath stired me with a feruente desyre forto go to þe scoles of vertue and to ȝeue myn hole entente to hem in þe whiche I haue sufficientlye leryd how I schalle booþ lyue and dye; sooþly, in þe excersise and fulfillynge of hem in dede I knowlech of myn owne infirmite me vnmyȝty and ofte-syþe cast downe: wherfore I flee to þe, alle∣myghty, & to þy souereyne myghte, and aske of þe þat þou vouche-saufe of thy grete pite to schew me þe remedyes þat I schal haue recours to in aduersites þat fallen.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'þe seuen sacramentis of holy chirche ben VII remedyes, þorow þe whiche a man is in manere new-boren into a sprituel 34 ms. now st. new. creature and norysched & kepyd & þorowe grace broȝte vp to þe souerey(n) degre of perfeccyone. Amonge the whiche sacramentis in a specyalle 36 ms. and st. in excellente manere springith oute of þe sacramente of the awter þe schin∣ynge of goddes loue and a maner ryver of heuenly grace, blessidly brenn∣ynge devoute sowlles and swetly makynge dronken in goostly loue, as hit sooþly is knowen. ¶ ffor riȝte as drye stickis ȝeuen kynde mater to bodily fyre forto brenne more feruently and maken þe flawmes þere-of to sprynge vp and sprede alle-aboute, ¶ so, forsoþ, þis worschepful sacra∣mente, þat is noryschynge of goostly hete, ȝeuith grete encrese to þe 43 l. noryscher fyre of goddes loue and norischith hit, whan hit is devoutely receyved. ffor amonge alle þe tokens of loue þere is no-thinge þat so raueschith alle-holy to hym þe wille of the lover as is þe desyred presence of hym 1 ms. desyred þe p. þat is loved, for þat passith alle oþere thinges. Wherfore in my laste soper I ȝaf my-selfe to my disciples in sacramente, and to hem and alle oþere mynistirs of this sacrafyce ¶ I haue lefte þat grete powere in þe vertue of my wordes þat þey maye haue me presente bodily þe whiche 5 ms. þat þe whiche am presente euerywhere be my godhede goostly.'

Disciple: 'I beseche þe, my lorde, þat þy seruaunte may speke a 7 a. r.: Discipulus. worde in thyne eres and þat þou be not wrothe to þy seruaunte—ffor, sooþly, þou arte my lorde and I thy seruaunte . for I haue wel vndir∣stande þou hast seyde þat þou arte in this sacramente not figurally, but really and bodily: ¶ And if hit be so, I preye the mekely to be tauȝte, for þat schulde ȝeue grete mater to loue the feruently.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'In most certeynte and soþfastly and with-oute eny 13 a. r.: Sap. doute I am conteyned in þis sacramente god and man, with body and soule, flesche and blode, as I wente oute of my moder wombe & hanged on the crosse and sette on þe fader riȝhte hande.' 16 l. sitte

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I beseche the, my lorde, be not displesid ȝif I 17 a. r.: Discip. speke: for this þat I schalle seye, commith not of þe rote of mysbyleue, but of ful grete merveyle . for ȝif I dare seye, hit semith ful grete won∣der how þat schappely body of my lorde with alle his membrys and me∣sures in alle-maner perfeccyone maye be conteyned vndur þat litil forme þat wee seen of þe sacramente, as to proporcyone vnlike in mesure.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'How þat my body is contyned in þe sacramente, 23 a. r.: Sap. þere maye no tunge telle ne witte vndirstande ne mannes resone maye comprehende: ¶ But oonly by feith it is conueniente to knowe þis, in as myche as hit is þe grete worchynge of goddes vertue onely. ¶ And þerfore hith longith to þe forto byleue þis soþfastly and to by-warre of presumptuous serchynge in this mater curiously. ¶ Neuer-þe-les I coueitynge forto profet to þy deuoute sympilnesse, forto excyte thi fer∣uoure 29 ms. the st. thi more þanne to þe schewynge of þat thinge þat is oonly knowen to god, ¶ I schalle answere to thy sympil wordes, takynge þe weye of an∣swere of þoo þinges þat ben knowen in her owne kynde and ȝitte vn∣knowen to þe, to þoo thinges þat passen þe knowynge of alle deedly creatours. ¶ Telle me þerfore, if thou canste, how þat a litil pupille of the eye maye be siȝte close in hit alle þe grete circumferens þat hit seeith 35 ms. circumcumferens. ms. semith. of þe firmamente, or in what maner ¶ a broken glasse maye receyue a parfite Image in euery broke parte þere-of, seþen these thinges ben not euen in proporcyone. And þouȝh hit so be þat þese symple ensaumples be(re) raþere vnliknesse, as euery thinge of kynde in þis purpos hath more 39 ms. be vnliknesse þanne liknesse, neuerþeles of these thinges maye be taken this convenyent skille, þat, seþen nature may worche so many and grete merueyles kyndely, ¶ why maye not þe vertue of þe auctour and maker of kynde strecche hym to gretter merueiles manyfolde in his worch∣ynge? ¶ Also, if hit seme possibil þat þe maker of the worlde seyde and alle thinges were made of noȝte, why schulde hee not turne one thinge in to an oþere þorow his priuey power? ¶ And þerfore, riȝhte as alle thinge þat hee wolde he made, riȝhte so þere is no thinge to hym in∣possibil þat hee wole haue done. Wherof þanne haste þow wonder? ¶ fferþermore þou byleueste þat dyuyne wisdame fedde fyve þousande menne with fyve loues: & I aske of þe what mater þat was þat serued þenne to his alle-myȝhte?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'To þese þinges I kanne noon answere of my sym∣plicite, 7 a. r.: Discipulus. but þat I opunly knowleche þat þe worchynges of god ben ful meruelous.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Ȝit I putte to þy symplenesse this questyone 10 a. r.: Sap.; ms. þe þy here-to accordynge: sey me wheþere þou byleve þat þou haste a sowle, or þat þere ben any thinges invisibil?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I beleve not þat I haue a sowle, but I knowe hit wel, in as miche as I haue the knowynge here-of be my mevynge and of my witte & felynge and seche oþer. ¶ Also resone techith þat þere ben many thinges in her kynde þe whiche mow not be comprehendit by the siȝte ne by oþere bodily wittys, and perauenture þere ben moo of þe werkes of god vnsene þanne þoo þat mannes witte maye compre∣hende, as a besy sechere maye fynde in þe ordre of alle thinge.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Of þe byforeseide wordes gedir to þy purpos 20 a. r.: Sap. þat þe vndirstandynge of euery blessed spirite passeth miche more þe 21 ms. passed vndirstandynge of euery wise man (þan þe vndirstandynge of a wise man passeth) þe vndirstandynge of an ydiot; and neuerþeles experiens techith þat many vnlettird men halden as impossibile many thinges of þe whiche clerkes hauen certeyn kunnynge and knowynge, as hit pre∣uith principally in gemetrye and astronomye. Soo to oure purpos: þogh this mater passe þe kunnynge and knowynge of erthely men þe whiche hauen but as a blynde vndirstondynge ȝitte of þoo þinges þat ben most opun in kynde, neuerþeles þey þat haue þe kunnynge of hem þat ben in blisse, seen thees thinges parfitely in god. ¶ heere what seiþ here-of 30 a. r.: Eccici. þe wise man in holy writte by þese wordes, ¶ þere as he seiþ: 'summe man þat besyeþ hym daye and nyghte and brekith his slepe forto know alle thinge, & I haue vndirstonde þat þere maye no man fynde resone of alle þe werkes of god þat ben done vndur sone, & þe more he trauelith to fynde, þe lesse hee schalle fynde'. ¶ Loo also a grete philosophir þat sotelly and bisely ȝaf hym to knowe a certeyne naturelle mater and myghte not come þere-to by his witte, atte þe laste hee seyde: ¶ 'Leve wee þese thinges to hem þat ben strenger', þat is to sey more kunnynge. ¶ Seþen þanne hit is so of these thinges þat ben of kynde and opunly in erthe seen, þoo thinges þat ben heuenly and mowe not be seen, but passen alle nature, who schalle mowe knowe? ¶ Þerfore seyde oure lorde to Nichodeme: ¶ 'If I haue spoken and tolde ȝow erþely thinges & ȝee leue not: and I wolde speke to ȝow heuenly thynges, how schulde ȝee mow leue hem?' Alle suche wittys and conceytes in errour of þoo þinges þat touchen þe feith, ryseþ ofte-syþes of þat grounde þat a man 45 ms. reseyueþ st. ryseþ ymaginith and demith of goodly thinges as hee wolde of manly thinges, and of þoo þinges þat ben aboue kynde as of þoo þat ben in kynde. ¶ But so schulde hee not do, and namely in þis purpos hym byhoueþ to be warre. ¶ ffor, in soþ, goddes body is not in þat maner in þe sacra∣mente as a body in a place þat is mesurid þere-after, but hit is þere in a maner þat is sprituel; and if thou aske me what manere þat is, I sey þe þat it is suche a manere as is propirly longynge to this sacramente, þe whiche forto know þyne ymagynacyone maye not atteyne to. ¶ Wher∣fore thyne vndirstondynge as blynde moste be constreyned & brouȝte in to þe bondage of criste, forto haue alweye byfore thyne eyen how miche of myghte is þat vertue with-oute ende, to þe whiche alle-maner 11 ms. þat vertue þat mater obeychith and seruith atte wille, þouȝ a man maye not see þis be defaute of þe myghte in seiynge of þe inner eye. A comune ensaumple ynowȝ þou haste here-of by a childe boren in prisoune & longe-tyme norysched þere-inne, þe whiche wolde halde it a grete meruaile who-so wolde telle hym many thinges of þe cowrs of sterres and þe disposicyone of this worlde, þat wee knowen & seen and merveile not þere-of. ¶ Wher∣fore þe wisdome of god, condescendynge to mannes ignoraunce, þe for∣seide thinges hath lefte to men oonly forto byleve, in as miche as þey passen þe myghte of mannes witte. ¶ To þe whiche byleve trewe men leeuynge as to a sadde foundemente, hauen more certeynte þere-of þenne if they schulde leeue to her owne vndirstondynge or oþere mennes in thinges knowen and proporcyoned be kynde.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Sooþly, with most euydente persuasiones and re∣sounes 24 a. r.: Disc.; ms. euydence þou preuist to me þe feith of þis sacramente and takest a-wey from myn herte noyous wonderynges and dreedful thoghtes þat greven and disesen a seeke soule. ¶ ffor of these þat þou haste seyde I per∣ceyve welle þat it is a fonned witte þat sechith thinges þat ben im∣possibil 28 ms. þat þat it and coueitith to knowe þe wonderful werkes of god allone, and neuerþeles ȝitte hee faylith in knowynge of werkes of þe selfe kynde. What nede is to me to seche or knowe more? ¶ I woot welle and saddely by-leue þat þou arte souereyn and endles myghte þat maye do alle thinges, and souereyne & euerlastynge wisdame þat knowest and seest alle thinge, and pleyne and vnchaungeabil sooþenesse þat maiste not lye or deceyue. Wherfore þou arte þe ende of my byleue & þe anker of myne hope, now and euermore, knowynge þat blessid is þat manne þat tristeþ and hopith in þe. ¶ Wherfore now ȝee alle, þe in∣warde affeccyouns of my soule, beth gladde and blythe, ffor I haue foun∣den þat I haue soȝte, and þat I haue longe-tyme desyred now I haue 44 l. haddeste goten! Why arte thou, my soule, sorye, and why disturblest me? Þou haste souȝte ihesu ¶ and þou haste founden Jhesu. Ofte-syþes into þis tyme þou hast complayned þat þy loued Jhesus was awey fro the, and what-tyme þou seye an oþere man gladde of the presence of hym þat hee loued, þou haste envy in þy herte and madeste sorow, for as myche as thou fondist not hym presente þat þou louedist, and in this maner seydest: ¶ 'O wolde god þat hee my beloued were siche one þat wolde ofte-sythes, if hee wolde not alwey, be with me and lyue with me, soo þat I maye haue ioye and likynge of his presence and oþere-while com∣forte in my tribulacyouns and diseses.' ¶ But now this voys of sorowe 3 ms. his st. my is turned into þe voyce of gladnesse, ffor now I fynde hym presente for whome I made sorowe as absente. ¶ Wherfore now alle ȝee þat louen god, beþ gladde with me, ffor I haue founden my beloued, not oonly after þe godhede wherby he is to alle men presente, but also after þe manhede sacramently to me presente. ¶ And þerfore hit is a wonder þat I maye henne-forwarde be drawen aweye fro þe chirche and þat I dwelle not þere daye and nyghte, where I haue my lorde presente, not oonly goostly, but also bodely, and not oonly as god allemyghty, but 11 ms. of st. as also as my broþere and beloued frende. ¶ O lorde, how blisful hadde I sumtyme ben, if I myȝte haue receyued into my mouth at þe leste one drope of þat precyous blode rennynge oute of the opun woundes of my lorde, my beloued: ¶ But now with my bisy diligent consideracyone I begynne to take hede þat not onely I receyue one drope or tweyne of þat precyous blode rennynge oute of þe handes or of þe fete or fro þe herte of hym, but also I receyve alle his blode holy, and his body is ioyned to my body. ¶ O lorde, how worthily schulde þis presence of so grete a ȝifte meve þe affeccyone of mannes herte! What maye be schowid more of loue þanne þe homly knittynge to-gedir of hym þat is loued to hym þat loueþ? And þouȝ it be þat hee maye not be sene 22 ms. sone be st. be sene here in þe sacramente so opunly as in heuene, neuerþeles þe feruente affeccyone of man levynge to þe foundemente of feith, sholde be so saddely stablyd, þat þe presence of this sacramente schulde ouercome alle erthely thinge and affeccyone in herte. Wherfore þis sacramente maye welbe clepyd þe sacrament of loue, in as myche as hit knittith to∣gedir þe loved with the lover. ¶ Now, my sowle, be þou coumfortid: for þat þou haste souȝte, þou hast founden; and þerfore receyue and take criste in sooþnes and in presence as þat Symeon ¶ Riȝtwis & dreedful receyued hym in his bodily presence. ffor þouȝ þat Symeone receyved hym visebily, neuerþeles þou receyuest hym as (in) feithfulnesse in sooþ∣nes as fully. ffor riȝte as my bodily eye maye not see now in þe sacra∣mente þine humanyte þat is þere presente, so þe forseyde Symeone be∣rynge þee in his armes myȝhte not see þe godhede but oonly with þe eyen of byleve, as I see now presente. But what is þat to me of bodily siȝte, syþen þoo eyen ben affermed blessed þat seen not after þe flesche, as þe scrybes & þe pharyses bodily, but as they chosen disciples gostely? 38 ms. closen ¶ What wolte þou, my soule, desyre more to knowe of thy beloued? certeynly & with-oute eny doute, þou haste hym in þe sacramente pre∣sently, þouȝh hee be invisibile. ¶ But now take hede to goddes ordy∣nacyone and see þat þis mysterye is done and made miche more con∣uenientlye vndir an oþere liknesse of his propir persone. ¶ ffor whoo 43 l. þan of myghte be so fers or harde þat wolde presume to take hym and ete hym in þe forme of flesche and blode? ¶ Wherfore þe dyuyne wisdame, dispo∣synge alle thinges in þe best manere, ordeyned þat þe flesche and blode beynge vndir þe liknesse of brede and wyne, þe whiche seruen communly to mannes refeccyone, ¶ þis sacramente schulde be taken. ¶ What myȝhte be founde more semely, more couenabely or more liȝhte, þat schulde so accorde to vs & ȝit leve not þe soþfastnesse of hit-selfe? Wherfore, o 4 ms. hit st. ȝit euerlastynge wisdame, what-tyme þat I consyder (&) byholde these and seche oþere þyne grete werkes and merueyles so passyngly disposed and ordeyned, ffor wonderynge I fayle in my-selfe, criynge inwardlye and seiynge: '(O) þe hye worthynes of þe ricchesse of wisdam and cunnynge of god! what arte þou in þyne olde beynge, þat arte so grete & so worthy in so vertuos worchynge of creatours made of the?' [¶ hec pertinent 10 ms. of of; ms. hic ad sacerdotem specialiter.] ¶ Wherfore now, my kynge and my god, þat vouchedist-safe to chese me vnto þe offyce of preste, noȝte of myne deserte, & woldest make me mynistir of so grete mysteryes, þat I maye euery daye receyue & offre þe, þat lambe with-oute wemme, I aske of the þat þou teche me how þat I schalle worthily receyue the, so þat hit be to thy lowvynge and hele of my soule, knowynge for certeyne þat þere was neuer kynge so grete and so gloryous þat was so worschipfully and so reuerently receyved of any cite, ne none moste dere frende, com∣mynge fro fer contre, so gladdely & effectuosly salwed and grete of his 19 l. affectuosly. specyalle frende, ¶ Ne no loved spouse so amorously and hertely re∣ceyued of his spouse and so reuerently tretid, as my soule this daye de∣syreth forto receyue þe, my worthiest Emperoure, swettist frende and derrest-loued geste and most likynge spouse, and forto brynge þee into my goostly hous and into þe preueist chaumber of my herte, and þere forto do to þe alle-maner reuerence and loue and forto ȝelde to þe alle þe worschepis þat is possibil to be ȝolden of a pore creature to his god and to his maker.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ '(Whanne) þou comest vp to the worschepful awter: 28 a. r.: Sapiencia. Whanne f. byholde with thy ynner eye of byleue þat holy bodye in flesche and blode of thy god, þat is to seye, in this manere, þat most certeynly and with-oute eny doute þou beleue wiþ alle þy herte & knowleche with thy mowþe þat þat hoost is verrey goddes sone, borne of þe virgyn Marye and þat was dede and rysen fro deth to lyue, domesman of alle booþ quycke and dede; and after þis with dewe reuerence and souereyn worschyp with 34 ms. with st. of thy lorde god haue mervaile inwardly with a meke deuocyone þat so grete a lorde to so litil vnworthy seruaunte, and so hye a nobley to siche a wrecchid worme, and so worthy a mageste to so vile a meselle voucheþ∣safe to come; and þenne sey with drede & reuerence: ¶ 'Lorde, y am not worthy þat þou entre into myne hous, but tristynge of thy grete pite & mercy I come so sieke to þe leche of lyfe, tristinge to þe welle of mercy, nedy to þe lorde of heuene and erthe, þe schepe to his hirde-man, þe creatour to his makere, mournynge and desolate to þe my pitevous coum∣forter and myghtyest delyuerere'. ¶ Afterwarde with most ardente desyre and wiþ þe inwarde luste of herte receyue thy worthy spouse, hauynge souereyn delite of his blessid & swettist presence. And þat one thinge is 45 ms. presente inspecialle þat schulde passynge alle oþere thinges stire & meve an ama∣rows soule: þat is to seye, whanne hee thinketh þat hee hath presente his dere-loved spowse and frende, for whos loue hee dyeþ euery daye as to þis worlde and despisith alle erthely loue. Loo þese fonned lovers of this worlde, what-daye þey seen þe how(s) where þey haue in mynde þat her loued amyke or spouse dwellith, alle þat daye þey ben þe more gladde and mery. ¶ Take heed þanne heereby how worthily he schulde be gladde and souereynly reioyce hym þat receyueþ vndir this visibil fourme not a foule creatoure but þe maker of alle thinge, not a close filthe but þe wisdome of god becomen man. hyt is wondir þat an ama∣rows sowle maye be þat daye sorye for any temporalle thinge in þe whiche he hath receyued his byloued makere god: ffor with-oute doute, hee haþ þenne in hym-selfe so grete mater of ioye, þat worthily it schulde devoure & putte to noȝte alle chaunce of heuynesse & sorowe, Riȝte as þe grete see wolde a drope of Eyselle or vynegyre caste þere-inne. ¶ fferþermore, if þou desirest to knowe in experience þe swete sauoure of þis sacramente whiche is ȝitte vnknowen to the: be besye aboute firste forto witdrawe þy sowle fro seculere nedys and fro vices and fleschely lustes, so þat byfore þe receyvynge þere-of þou haue profounde contri∣cyone & clere and opun confessyone, and þat þou be drawe þere-to by inwarde deuocyone more þanne by vsed custome; with most ardaunte affecciouns & most holy meditacyouns as with rede roses and white ly∣lyes þou schalte arraye aȝens hym the geste-chaumbre of thy herte and make hit redye to so worthy a spowse by inwarde pees. And what∣tyme þou feliste hym presente, clippe hym bytwix þe armes of þy herte þorowe þe oute-castynge of alle ert(h)ely loue and þe inwarde closinge of þat heuenly spowse. Afterwarde a devoute soule schalle make me to here his voyce, syngynge to me with þe songes of Syone, where-of þe melody made of þree-maner proporcyouns ȝeldith allþer-swettest sowne: þat is to saye, of parfite forȝettynge of erthely thinges, & feruente affec∣cyone of euerlastynge thinges, and a maner bigynnynge of lovynge of þe blyssed spirits. Wele is hym þat maye perceyue & fele these thinges with inwarde taste & þat maye knowe hem by soþfaste experience more þanne by wordes or writynges!'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þe wondirful hardnesse & blyndnesse of my herte, 34 a. r.: Discipulus. wherfore I maye wel be sorye! ffor in þe moste habundaunce of goostly rycchesses so longe-tyme I haue dwellid moost pore, and in þe copye of grete delytes I haue be a wrecche, and in þe grete passynge mesure of þe ȝiftes of grace I haue be voyde and drye. ¶ Oo my god, to þee I make my playnte with inwarde sorowe of herte, þat I haue ben so longe fro the and þou hast be so nye to me; þou were with me and I was not with þe. ¶ ffor medelynge and settynge my-selfe in worldely besy∣nesses and oþere superflue vanites, I toke litil fors of the; ffor ofte-syþes I haue hadde my-selfe so tedyously to þe, as þey þou, my god, haddest not be presente to me. ¶ But now puttynge awey alle-manere dis∣simulacyone, as þouȝ I were waked fro slepe, I haue opuned myn eyen, clippynge thy presence with moste affeccyone and desyre of body and soule. ¶ ffor als ofte as I thenke & haue in mynde þy blessed presence, my spirite bigynneþ to gladde for ioye, as hee þat receyueþ a good mes∣sage commynge fro fer contre. ¶ And þerfore it is now conueniente þat, as þou hast fedde me with thy blessid presence as with þe brede of lyfe and vndirstandynge, so þou enforme me ferþermore, ȝeuynge me drynke of þe water of heelful wisdam, answerynge me, þy seruaunte, to þoo þinges þat I schalle aske the: what good þou ȝeuest be þy presence to þe man þat devoutely receyueþ thee in þe sacramente?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'I prey þe, fro whenne commith þis questyone? 8 a. r.: Sap. Wheþer arte þou a lover or a marchaunt? ¶ Trowest þou þat þis questyone is conueniente to an amarows herte? ¶ hee þat loueþ in∣wardly, ¶ soo þat hee haue þat þinge þat hee loueþ, takith not myche fors of oþere þinges. ¶ What thinge haue I better or more precyous þanne my-selfe? And hee þat haþ þat louiþ, what schalle hee desire more? hee þat ȝeuith alle hym-selfe to his frende, what, I praye þe, kepiþ hee fro hym? ¶ Loo, in þe sacramente I ȝif my-selfe to þe and I take aweye thy-selfe fro the and I turne þee into me; ¶ ffor in soþ þou schalte not turne me in to þe as þe mete of thy flesche, but þou schalte be chaunged and turned into me. But perauenture þou arte not ȝitte parfite in loue, wherfore þou coueytest not oonly loue, but also summe rewarde þere-of. ¶ And þerfore I schalle now answere by a questyone, like to thyne askynge: telle me what helpith or profetith to þe eyre þe schinynge of þe sonne, what-tyme þat hit schyneþ hoot with alle his vertue and with-oute clowde atte myddaye-tyme? ¶ Or elles what profeten þe briȝte sterres and specially þat fayre sterre ¶ Lucifer to a derke nyghte? Or ellis what fayrehede bryngeþ þe hote sommer∣tyde to the erthe þat is byfore clongen with þe colde froste of wynter?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Sooþly, alle þese, hit is no doute, bryngen with 27 a. r.: Discipulus. hem grete fruyte & grete bewte.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Alle þese semen to þe grete and gloryous, for as 29 a. r.: Sap.; ms. seuen. myche as þey ben knowen communlye and comprehendid by syȝte. But for soþe, þe sprituel ȝiftes þat ben ȝeuen in þe sacramente in her maner ben miche more: ffor þe leste grace makynge a man gracyous þat hee receyueþ in þe sacremente þe whiche (he) deuoutely takith, hit schalle more clarefye þe soule here-after with his sprituel liȝtenynge þanne any 34 ms. listenynge sunne maye liȝten the clene eyre, ¶ ffor as myche as sprituel thinges with-oute comparysone passen bodily thinges; and so forthe þou mayȝhte conceyue of oþere liknesses. Also my body gloryfied þat is receyued here in þe sacramente trewly with grace, schalle more liȝten & worschepen with his liȝte alle þe courte of heuene and euery chosen soules ¶ þanne the cours of sterres and the varyaunce of tymes mowen help or forþer in any maner þis erthe. ¶ And also my soule þat is contenyd in þe sacramente, is of more liȝte in hir maner þanne ben alle the daye sterres—and alle þese schulbe ȝeuen here-after to a trewe sowle by vertue of þis sacramente, with-oute oþere graces and profetes þat fallen euery daye grete & with-oute noumbir, þat ben ofte-syþes rehersed and spoken of.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I am astonyed in þat I heere so many worthy 1 a. r.: Discipulus. merueyles and worchynges of this gloryous sacramente. ¶ But I prey þe þat þou dispise not oon doute þat I putte and opun to the: Seþen hit is so þat þou, alle-myghty god, vouchedist-safe to magnifye þis wor∣schepful sacramente ¶ wit so many gloryous myracles and profetys with-oute noumbre, not oonly for the tyme to come, but also in this tyme presente, why is alle þis so hidde and abstracte, þat vnneþes is hit perceyued of any man, and, if I dare seye, þe vertue þere-of is not seen forto apere to trewe belevynge menne? ¶ What is done aboute oþer menne, I woot not, in as myche as I am not (a) curyous sercher of oþere mennes conscyens, but þus am I experte of in my-selfe ¶ oþere∣while 11 ms. þus st. þis þat, what-tyme I schulde come to þat holy sacramente wher-of I haue herde so many goodes spoken, I haue founden my-selfe, boþe in goynge þere-to & goynge þere-fro, in so grete hardnesse of herte & a maner dulnesse of sperite, þat of alle þe goostly liȝteyngis and goodly graces þat come fro þat sacramente to my dome, I haue be lefte so voyde, þat I myȝte not fele in my-selfe the swete taste þere-of in any manere, but I was lefte so desolate, withe-oute fruyte, as þey þat sacra∣mente hadde noon effecte in hit-selfe. ¶ O þe wonderful counseile of almyghty god, wheþer þy seruaunte fonned & vnwise dorste be so bolde forto reprehende & vndirnime in þis party his lorde, þat alþer-wisest and with-oute reprehencyone alle thinge in þe beste manere disposynge? I praye the, why haste þou so hidde so many and grete goodes? were hit not better þat thou haddest ordeyned þe feith of so grete mysterijs with more opun signes & more euydente experymentȝ?' 25 ms. euydence

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Knowest þou not þat, while þou arte heere, þou 26 a. r.: Sap. walkeste forþ by feith & not be kyndely felynge? ¶ ffor þat thinge þat 27 ms. wakkeste bodily witte schewiþ and experience proueþ, how maye feith receyue? Naye, fayth moste nedis fayle where þat opun schewynge of resone hath place; & so folowith þat þe worþy merite of feith schulde perysche, ¶ ffor, as þe wiseman seiþ: 'ffeyþ haþ no meryte to þe whiche manis 31 ms. maner st. manis reson ȝeuith experience'. ¶ And þerfore, if þou wolte committe to expe∣rience þe misterye of this sacramente, nedith feith, and þe meritis of 33 l. nedis? feith most perysche and fayle. And what, if hit so falle þat a chosen soule felith rennynge þouȝtes þat ben dreedful? ¶ Sooþly, if he feghte aȝens hem lawfully by his wille, hee schalbe crowned þerfore. ¶ Opun, I praye the, the boke of thy herte and see with how opun knowynge þe mysterye of this sacramente is ȝeuen of god to be knowen in þe hertes of summe chosen, þe whiche, þouȝ hit be not alweye, Neþeles sumtyme of grace and specyal priuilege in a maner vnspekabil perceyuen and felen the sooþnesse of this sacramente, In so myche, þat, if hit be pos∣sibil forto be any knowynge more certeyne þanne the knowynge of feith, by þat knowynge hit is ȝeuen to hem of god forto fele and knowe þe moste soþfaste beynge of þis sacrament. ¶ Wherfore of these thinges þat ben seide opunly, gadir to thy mynde þat þis sacramente is neuer þe lasse soth by∣cause þat þe sprituel effecte þere-of is invisibil or not perceyued with bodily wit. ffor þe goodly liȝte is þere noȝt siche-maner liȝte þat maye be com∣prehended or seen with bodily eye or þat spredith hit-selfe to outewarde thinges, but þat maye be seen of þe goodly vndirstondynge onely, or ellis of þat siȝte þat is in blisse and þat is propurly liȝte in his owne beynge.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O lorde, how few ben þere in this worlde þat with 6 a. r.: Discipulus. diligent besynesse taken hede & chargen þe moste precyous vertue and profite of this worthy sacramente! ffor summe ben þat goon to þis sacramente comunlye as by custume, folowynge þe manere of þe comu∣nate hyinge hem forto go þere-to, but raþere goo þer-fro, and not of in∣warde deuocyone, but of lakke of sprituel feruoure. ¶ And þerfore as they comen voyde þere-to, soo þey goon voyde and with-oute grace þere∣fro, as vnclene beestes, þat weren reproued in þe olde lawe; for they thenke not bisily nor taken hede what þey receyue ne how myche good or how miche ille on the tone parte and þe toþere þere-off folowen to hem þat welle or yuel receyuen hit; and if hit so be þat hit come to 16 ms. wille her mynde paraunter schortly and passyngly, anoon as a litil smale sparcle in her herte hit is sodeynly I-qwenched & apperith no more.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Þere ben þree maner of menne þat receyue me 19 a. r.: Sap. in þe sacramente: summe ben alle-vndisposed, as þoo þat ben combred with deedly synne; summe ben welle disposed, as þey þat ben passynge lyvers; ¶ summe þere ben in a mene manere disposed, as þey þat ben vndeuoute. ¶ Þe firste man deseruen euerlastynge deth and temporal 23 l. men; ms. de∣syren malysone; ¶ þe secounde euerlastynge lyfe and sprituel goostly beny∣sone; ¶ þe thridde etynge drye brede and vnsauery mete to hem, fele not þe swetnesse þere-offe.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'What, and a frele manne haue paraunter done 27 a. r.: Discip. somme pryue synnes, and in his goynge to þat sacramente is contrite and doth þat hee maye after þe ordynaunces of holy chirche: wheþer dare þis synneful man goo þere-to, tristynge of thy grace?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Sooþly, if hee be contrite and doþ after þe coun∣seyle 31 a. r.: Sap. of goostly leches, þanne, propurly to speke, hee is not a synner. ¶ ffor Marie Maudeleyne, ¶ what-tyme þat sche was compuncte or con∣tryte in herte and came to þe fete of oure lorde and wasche hem with her 34 l. wesche teerys, sche hadde þe name of a synful womman, neuerþeles after þat tyme sche was not a synner, ffor criste hadde forȝeuen her synnes.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Euery man is habundaunte in his owne witte. 37 Discip. ¶ But, sooþly, in þis purpos I trowe feithfully þat þe goodly mysteryes of þis sacramente passen alle-maner vertue of manne and ben aboue alle þe merueiles werkes of god in þis worlde. ¶ ffor who is þat lyueþ in þis worlde so clene and so innocently þat (he) is a worþy mynistre or recey∣uoure of þis sacramente, or who maye presume of hym-selfe to receyue hym whome Petir, þe prynce of apostles, putte fro hym, seiynge þus: 'Go fro me, lorde, for I am (a) synneful man'; and hee whos feiþ Jhesus com∣mendith 44 ms. who seiþ st. whos feiþ syngulerly in Israel, ¶ seyde þus to hym: ¶ 'Lorde, y am not worthy þat þou schuldist entre into myne hous'—¶ who is þanne boren of womman þat maye make hym and ordeyne hym worthily to so grete mysteryes?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Amonge alle þat euer were boren of womman, 5 a. r.: Sap. þere rose neuer one þat myghte of his vertue oonly or of þe riȝhtwis∣nesse of his werkes sufficiently ordeyne hym þere-to as of worthynesse, þouȝh it were so þat oon man hadde alle þe naturelle clennesse of alle aungellis or alle þe cleernesse of seyntes gloryfyed or alle þe meritis of holy lyuers in erthe by streiȝtnesse of liuynge: Of alle these withoute þe grace of god hee were not able to receyue so hye and grete mysteryes.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Oo euerlastynge godde, how dreedful is hit to me and siche as I am synners forto here this! ¶ Allas, allas, lorde god, syþen aungelles be not clere in thy siȝte and menne of grete worch∣ynges 14 l. worthynes? ben not worthy of her owne riȝhtwisnes forto receyue the, ¶ what schalle falle of vs þat ben walwed euery daye in þe claye of synnes, þe which hauen litil or noȝte of deuocyone ne be not, as hit nedid, com∣puncte of oure owne necgligences? ¶ with what drede is to vs forto come worthily to þat sacramente and skilfully to drede lest þat þat schulde be to vs into forȝevynge, turne in to soroweful lassynge?' 20 l. lastynge = blame?

¶ Wisdam: ¶ 'Take hede bisily þat þis sacrament of pite is 21 a. r.: Sap. ordeyned into remedy aȝens synne. Wherfore, what-tyme a man doth what hee maye in ablynge hym to grace, hit sufficiþ, ffor god askith not of man þat hee seeþ impossibile to hym; and þerfore, what-tyme hee þat receyueþ þe sacramente doþ þat hee maye, þe pite of god fulfillith by grace þat þat a man maye not come to with-oute grace. Wherfore, if alle oþere thinges ben like, a man schalle raþere go to þat sacramente vpon triste of þe pite of god, þanne hee schall absteyne þere-fro by conside∣racyone of his owne freelte, þowȝ hit be so þat þe toon and þe toþere for þe place and for þe tyme is commendabil. ¶ Whoo is hee þat so vnwisely dare sey þat þey þat ben goostly sieke schulde not come to hym þat toke fro vs oure sieknesse and infirmytes? Wherefore hit maye con∣ueniently be seyde, þat, as his commynge into mankynde was into sal∣uacyone of synful menne, ¶ soo þis heelful hoost is ordeyned to trewe 34 ms. þat hee cristen menne into remedy of synnes. ¶ ffor hee, þe wisdame of god, atte his laste soper in þe ordynaunce of this heelful sacramente seyde thus: 'þis is my body, þat (I) schalle ȝeve for ȝow', and 'þis is my blode, þat schalle be schadde for ȝowe in þe remyssyone of synnes'. ¶ Wherfore, what-tyme þou hast done þat is in þe, go þere-to tristely wiþ-oute ouer∣grete drede, In ffeith and charite, no-þinge doutynge of his endles pite.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þis gracyous and loveraden worde, þat I wrec∣chid synner hauynge conscyence of myne own wickednesse dare neyȝh 42 ms. wicked wickednesse & come to þe lorde of mageste! ¶ But now ȝitte I praye thee þat þou wolte telle me wheþere hit be better to go ofte-syþes to þis heelful 44 ms. heuenful sacramente or selden.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ To þis questyone take þe commune and knowen sentence of þat worthy doctour Austyne, ¶ þe whiche seiþ þat boþ ben commendabyle as for þe place & þe tyme—þat is to seye, þat for reue∣rence oþere-while hit be lafte, and for deuocyone hit be taken. ¶ But sooþly, to hem þe whiche felen her deuocyone encresed with reuerens of þe sacramente in ofte receyuynge þere-of, to hem hit is profitabil ofte goynge þere-to.'

¶ Disciple: 'But what seyste of hem þe whiche semen alle-wey dwellynge as in one-manere affeccyone, in as myche as þey fele not ne conne perceyuen þere by hem-selfe myche profyte on þe toon halfe nor 10 ms. parfyte myche notabil fayle on þe toþer halfe; ¶ and ȝit also þey felen hem∣selfe ofte-syþes ouercome with a maner harde herte and dreynesse of deuocyon, and þoȝh it so be þat þey seyen euery daye psalmes and preyers þat þey haue in custome to seye, and ofte-syþes maken hem clene by confessyone, ȝitte dwelle þey alwey as in an harde herte & drye of deuocyone and fele not any taste of sprituel grace. ¶ And also ȝitte I schalle reherse more-ouere one þinge þat is ful pyneful to de∣voute soulles, and sorowful, as they ofte-syþes here-of kunne playne: þat is to sey, þat oþere-while atte þe tyme of receyuynge of þe sacramente grace semith withdrawe more notabely þanne hit was wonte to be, ¶ In so miche þat hit semith as þey hit forsoke hym þat was after hym cri∣ynge. ¶ Soþly, þis semith to me an harde thinge and also a sorowful.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Manye causes þere ben and many maneres by þe whiche þis hardnesse is wonte to turble a devoute soule, as þey seyen þat ben experte. Þe whiche alle now ouere-passynge, take þis onely in sikernesse: þat what-tyme by diligent serchynge of þy conscyence þou hast no mynde þat þou hast ȝeven any cawse þere-to, but þat þou haste done þat in þe is: if it so falle by suffraunce of god, þe whiche is wonte in a thousande maners forto turble and preve his chosen peple, þat suche an hardnesse of herte falle, lette not þis thinge falle ne breke downe nor herefore notabily withdrawe þe fro (t)his heelful sacramente, knowynge þat þe pite of god worcheþ þe hele of soule oftesyþes in 32 in st. &? moste siker ¶ what-tyme þat þe soule onely loueþ vpon þe foundemente of feith, with-oute any specyalle goostly swetnesse as myche as they it hadde habundaunce in felynge of goostly graces and comfortes and par∣aunter þenne hee wolde not kepe hym in hem wisely and warly as hit nedid. ¶ And þerfore suche graces oþere-while ben profitabil withdrawen, þat, whanne þey ben withdrawen, þey schulde be þe more bisily souȝte after, and whanne þey comen, þe more wisely be kepte, soo þat þere-by the loued soule be putte to excercise of vertue in þe scole of meeknes. 40 l. louing ¶ And one thinge is in þis matier notable and þat þou schalte bisily take hede to: þat is to saye, þat þis goostly sauoure and inwarde taste of de∣uocyone is not þe dewe effecte of feith, þat longith to þis tyme here in þis worlde, but hit is propurly longynge to þe blysse þat is to come here-after. ¶ And þerfore, whanne hit is ȝeuene in þe sacramente or ellis, ȝiue thonkeynges to god þe ȝiver, and what-tyme it is not ȝiven, suffre pacyentlye, knowynge þat it is not in thy powere, but in þe soue∣reyne & moste benigne ȝiuer þere-of, þe whiche wille not ȝive hit as þou wolte or whanne þou wolte, but whanne hit likith hym, after þat hee demith to his lovynge and thy profet. ¶ Also þou schalte vndirstonde þat þat souerayne god is so plentivous wiþ-oute ende, þat, þe more hit be taken, þe more he þat takith hit is made able to receyue hit. ¶ Wher∣fore hith fallith oftsyþes touchynge þis sacramente, þat, þe more þat a man withdrawith hym þere-fro be inordynate drede, þe more þorouȝh his dif∣ferrynge fro daye to daye hee schalbe vndisposed. Wherfore it is better, alle thinge consyderyd, forto go þere-to by stirynge of drede, and better it is to go þere-to euery weke or euery daye with trewe meekenes & knowynge of his owne imperfeccyone, þanne ones in þe ȝeere by pre∣sumpcyone of his owne riȝhtwisnesse.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Telle me, I praye þe, what tyme is or what oure 13 a. r.: Discip. þe whiche hee þat goþ þere-to schalle principaly take hede to and with alle his myȝhte dispose hym and ordeyne hym to his grace.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Þat is þe tyme of holy receyuynge & goostly etynge þere-of: ffor þanne heuene is in manere opuned & þe loued sone of þe fadir is sente in to þat soule þat is wel disposed, and þere-to bodily is oonyd—and þerfore is it clepid in latyne ¶ Missa, þat is: of þe fader sendynge.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'How is it of hem þat with souereyn desyre coueyten 20 a. r.: Discip. forto receyve þee in þe sacramente and ȝitte þey mowe not haue þat þey desyren? for þey seen byfore hem þe preste stondynge and þe receivynge and þey with desyre of herte coueyten forto receyue þe, & þere is noon þat wole ȝif þee to hem and fille her hungry soule with thy desyred pre∣sence; and þou wotist welle þat hit is ful pyneful to a desirynge sowle forto see coueytid mete & not mowe taste þere-of.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Þere beþ summe þatte in this borde receyue me 27 a. r.: Sap. sacramently and neuerþeles gone þere-fro fastynge, ¶ and þere beþ 28 ms. and neuer and neuerþeles summe þat come not to þis borde and neuerþeles of þe plente þere-of þey ben habundauntly and goostly drunken; ffor þe (laste) men felen and 30 ms. firste receyuen onely þe sacramente goostly and þe vertue þere-of effectuoslye'.

¶ Disciple: 'Ȝitte ben þere lefte tweyne dowtes to me touchynge 32 a. r.: Discip. þis mater: oon is, wheþere hee þat etith þe booþ bodily & goostly, hath more vertue of the thanne hee þat oonly receyueþ þee goostly, towch∣ynge þe effecte of þe sacramente; and the cause of þe doute is: ¶ ffor þou knowest whoo it is þat seiþ þus: ¶ Crede & manducasti: þat is to seye, 'beleve and þou haste eten'. ¶ Þe secound dowte is: how longe abi∣dith this worschepful sacramente, after hit is receyued of man.'

¶ (Wisdam:) 'Soþly, touchynge þe firste: hee hath more mater of devocyone & grace þat receyveþ booþ to-gedir þanne hee þat takith but þe tone; for hee hath both to-gedir þe ȝiver with þe ȝifte, & þe cause with þe effecte. ¶ And of þe secounde dowte: þou haste Inowȝ þe sen∣tences of faders, þat is to seye, þat so longe-tyme dwellith goddis body 43 tilge is to as ben hole þe spices of þe sacramente.

And for an ende þis schalte þou praye to þat holy sacramente: 45 a. r.: Oracio deuota.

Heyle, moost holye goddes bodye in þis sacramente soþely conteyned, 1 ff. in rot. I knowlech þee with my lippes, I loue þe with alle my herte, I desyre the with alle myne inwarde affeccyons. I beseche þee þat þou vouche-saufe, so benignely & gracyously þis daye to viset my seke soule coveitynge forto receyue þe, heelful sacrafyce and welle of alle graces, þat I maye be ioyfull to haue founden hele in body and sowle be þy 6 ms. ioyfully gracyous presence. ¶ Lorde, byholde not to my wickednesse and many∣maner necgligences, but to þyne endles mercyfulle ȝiftes: ¶ ffor in soþe, þou arte þat vndefouled lambe þat þis daye arte offeryd to thy euer∣lastynge fader for þe redempcyone of alle þe worlde. ¶ Oo þou manna, aungellis mete, Oo þou alþere-swettist drynke, brynge in to myne in∣warde mouþe þe hony-swete taste of thy heelful presence, kyndel in me thy charite, caste oute vyces, ¶ hylde in me vertues, encrese graces and ȝif me hele of body and soule! ¶ Bowe, I beseche the, þyne heuene & come downe to me, soo þat I be knitte and oned to þe, be made one spirite wiþ þe! ¶ O þou worschepful sacramente, I beseche þe þat þorouȝ þee alle myne enmyes bee putte fro me and synnes forȝeve and alle yuels be þy presence be excluded. ¶ Gode purpos þou ȝeue me, myn maneris þou amende, and alle my dedys þou dispose in thy wille. ¶ Myne vndirstandynge by þe, swete Jhesu, be here liȝtenyd with a newe liȝte, 20 Jhū (?) ausgewischt. myne affeccyone be flawmed and kyndelyd, my hope be strengthed; so þat my lyfe in amendemente euer profet in better likynge, and atte laste I mowe haue a blessed hennes-passynge to lyfe euer-lastynge.' AMEN.