AUDI, filia, & uide & inclina aurem tuam; & obliviscere populum tuum, & domum patris tui. Dauid, þe ſalmwrihte, ſpekeð i þe ſauter toward godeſ ſpuse, þat iſ, euch meiden þat haueð meidene þeawes, & ſeið: "Her me, dohter! Bihald, & buh þin eare, & forȝet ti folc & tine fader huſ." Nim ȝeme hwat euch word beo ſunderliche to ſeggen. " Iher me, dohter," he seið. "Dohter" he clepeð hire, for-þi þat ha underſtonde, þat he hire liues luue luueliche leareð, aſe fader ah hiſ dohter; & heo him, aſe fader, þe bliðeluker luſtni. "Iher me, deore dohter:" þat iſ, ȝeorne lustne me wið earen of þin heaued. "& bihald": þat iſ, opene, to vnder-ſtonde, þe ehne of þin heorte. "And bei þin eare" : þat iſ, beo buhſum to mi lare.

` Hwat iſ [nu þis lare] þat tu nimeſt ſe deopliche, & leares me ſe ȝeorne ? ` low, þiſ: " forȝet ti folc, & tine fader huſ." "Þi folc," he clepeð, dauid, þe Gederinge inwið þe of fleschliche þohtes, þat leadeð þe, & drahen wið hare pricunges of fleschliche fulðen, to licomliche luſtes, & eggeð þe to brudlac, & to weres cluppinge, & maken þe to þenchen hwuch delit were þrin, hwuch eiſe, þe richedom þat tes lauedis hauen; Hu muche god mihte of inker ſtreon waxen. A, fals folc! of ſwikeſ read aſ ti muð uleð, aſ þu ſcheaweſt forð al þat God þunckeð, & heleſt al þat bitter bale þat ter lið under, & al þat muchele lure þat ter-of ariſeð. "For-ȝet al þis folc, deorewurðe dohter," ſeið dauid þe witeȝe; þat iſ, þeos þohteſ warp ut of þin heorte. Þis iſ Babiloneſ folc, þe deueles here of helle, þat iſ umben for to leaden, in-to þe worldes þeowdom, Syonef dohter.

Syon waſ ſum hwile iclepet þe hehe tur of Ierusalem; And ſeið ſyon, aſe muchel on englische leodene, aſe heh ſihðe. And bitacneð þiſ tur, þe hehſchipe of meidenhad, þat bihald, as of heh, alle widewen under hire, & weddede baðe. for þeos, as fleſches þralles, beoð in worldes þeowdom, & wuneð lahe on eorðe. Ah heo [words left out and sense confused in MS.] of þe hehe tur, in hehe tur in heouene. þat iſ bitacned þurh þiſ. Of þat ſyon ha bihalt al þe world under hire; & þurh englene liflade, & heuenlich, þat leades, þah ha licomliche wunie up-on eorðe, and if, as in ſyon, þe hehe tur of hevene, freo ouer alle fram alle worldliche weanen. Ah ! babilones folc þat ich ear nempnede, þe deoueles here of helle— þat beoð, flesches luſtes, & feondes egginge—weorreð & warpeð eauer toward tiſ tur for to kaſten hit adun, & drahen hire in-to þeowdom þat ſtond ſe hehe þer-in, & iſ icleopet for-þi `syones dohter.'

And niſ ha witerliche akaſt, & in-to þeowdom idrahen, þat,—of ſe ſwiðe heh ſtal, of ſe muche dignete & ſwuch wurðſchipe, aſ hit iſ to beo godes ſpuſe, Ihesu criſtes brude, þe lauerdes leofmon, þat alle kinges buheð,—of all þe world lauedi, aſ he iſ of al lauerd,—Ilich him in halſchipe, vnwemmet aſ he is, & tat eadi meiden his deorewurðe moder; Ilich his hali engles, þat his heaſte halden; Se freo of hire ſelf, þat ha nawiht ne þarf of oðer þing þenchen bute an of hire leofmon, wið treowe luue cwemen; for he wile carien for hire, þat ha haued itaken to, of al þat hire biheoueð, hwil ha riht luued him wið ſoðe bileaue ;—Niſ ha þenne sariliche (as ich ſeide ear) akaſt, & in-to þewdom idrahen, þat, fram ſe muchel hehſcipe & ſe ſeli freodom, ſchal lihte ſe lahe in-to a monneſ þeowdom, ſwa þat ha naueð nawt freo of hire ſeluen, & trukie, for a mon of lam, þe heuenliche lauerd, & lutlin hire lafdiſchipe, aſe muchel as hire latere were iſ laſſe wurð, & leſſe haueð, þen hauede ear hire earre; & of godes brude, & his freo dohter (for ba to-Gederes ha iſ), bicumeð þeow under mon, & his þrel, to don al & drehen þat him likeð, ne ſitte hit hire ſe uuele; & of ſe ſeli ſikerneſſe aſ ha was in, & mahte beon under Godes warde, deð hire in-to drecchunge, to dihten hus & hinen, & to ſe moni earmðen, to carien for ſe feole þing, Teonen þolien, & gromen & ſchomen, umbe ſtunde, drehen ſe moni wa, for ſwa wac huire aſ te world forȝelt eauer at ten ende. Niſ þeos witerliche akaſt? Nis tis þeowdom inoh, aȝain þat ilke freolaic þat ha hefde hwil ha was ſyones dohter?

And tah niſ imunget her nawt of heouenliche luren, þat paſſeð alle oðre wiðuten eueninge. Sekerliche ſwa hit fareð. "Serue Godd ane, & alle þinge ſchulen þe turnen to Gode." And tac þe to him treoweliche, & tu ſchalt beo freo fram alle worldliche weanen, ne mei nan uuel harmen þe; for, aſ ſente pawel ſeið, "Alle þinge turneð þe Gode to god"; ne mai na þing wonti þe, þat bereſt him þat al welt inwið-in þi breoſte. And ſwuch ſwetneſſe þu ſchalt ifinden in his luue & in his ſeruiſe, & habbe ſe muche murhðe þrof, & likinge i þin heorte, þat tu naldes chaungen þat tu liueſt in, for to beo cwen icrunet. Se hende iſ ure lauerd, þat nule nawt þat hiſe icorene beon wiðute mede her. for ſe muche confort iſ in his grace, þat al ham ſit, þat ha ſeoð; And tah hit þunche oðre men þat ha drehen harde, hit ne greueð ham nawt, ah þuncheð ham ſofte; & habbeð mare delit þrin þen anie oðre habbeð i likinge of þe worlde. þiſ ure lauerd ȝiueð ham her, aſ on erles of þe eche mede þat ſchal cume þrafter. Þus hauen godes freond al þe fruit of þis world, þat ha forſaken habbeð, o wunderliche wiſe, And heuene at ten ende.

Nu þenne, on oðer half, nim þe to þe worlde; & eauer ſe þu mare haues, ſe þe ſchal mare trukie; & ſeruen, hwen þu naldes godd, þis fikele world & frakele; & ſchalt beo ſare iderued under hire, aſ hire þral, on a þuſand wiſen; Aȝaines an likinge, habben twa of-þunchunges, And ſe ofte beon imaket arm of an eðeliche mon þat tu liſt under, for noht oðer nohtunge, þat te ſchal laði þi lif, & bireowe þat ſið þat tu eauer dideſ te into ſwuch þeowdom for worldliche wunne þat tu wendes to biȝeten, & haueſt ifunden weane þrin, & wondraðe riue. And iſ þat tu wendeſt Gold, iwurðen to meaſtling; & nis nawt aſ ti folc—of hwam i ſpec þruppe—bihet te to ifinden. Nu þu ſeſt þat ha habbeð itricchet te aſ treitres; for under weole, in wunne ſtude þu haueſt her ofte helle; & bute þu wið-breide þe, bredeſ te þat oðer.

Aſke þes cwenes, þes riche cuntaſſes, þes modie lafdis of hare liflade. Soðliche, ſoðliche, ȝif ha biþencheð ham riht, & icnawlecheð ſoð, Ich habbe ham to witneſſe, ha lickeð huni of þorneſ. ha buggen al þat ſwete wið twa dale of bittre; & tat ſchal forðre i þis writ beon openliche iſcheawet. Nis hit nower neh gold al þat ter ſchineð, nat tah na mon bute ham ſelf hwat ham ſticheð ofte. Hwen þus iſ of þe riche, hwat weneſ tu of the poure, þat beoð wacliche iȝeouen and biſet uuele, as gentille wimmen meſt alle nu o worlde, þat nabbeð hwer-wið buggen ham brudgume onont ham, & ȝeoueð ham in-to þeowdom of an eðelicher mon, wið al þat ha habbeð. Weilawei ! ihesu godd! hwuch unwurðe chaffere! wel were ham, weren ha on hare brudlakes dei iboren to bi-burien! for-þi, ſeli meiden, "forȝet ti folc," as dauið bit. Do awei þe þohtes þat perkien þin heorte þurh licomliche luſteſ, & leareð þe & eggeð toward þulli þeowdom for fleſchliche fulðen. "forȝet ec þi fader hus," aſ dauið read þrafter: "Þi fader," he cleopeð þat unþeaw þat ſtreonde þe of þi moder, þat ilke unhende flesches brune, þat bearninde ȝecðe of þat licomliche luſt, bifore þat wlatefulle werc, þat beaſteliche Gederinge, þat ſchomeleſe ſomnunge, þat fulðe of fulðe ſtinkende & untohe dede.

Hit iſ tah in wedlac ſummes weis to þolien, aſ men ſchal after iheren. Ȝif þu aſkeſ hwi Godd ſchop ſwuch þing to beon, ich þe onſwerie: Godd ne ſchop hit neauer ſwuch; Ah Adam & eue turnden hit to beo ſwuch þurh hare ſunne, & merden ure cunde; þat iſ tiſ unþeawes hus, & haueð mare harm. iſ al to muchel lauerd-dom & meiſtrie þrinne, þis cunde imerred tuſ, þat dauið clepeð þus "ti faderes hus," þat iſ, te luſt of leccherie þat rixleð þer-wið-innen. "forȝet," & Ga ut þrof wið wil of þin heorte; & Godd wile, after þe wil, ȝeoue þe ſtrengðe ſikerliche of hiſ deore grace. ne þarf þe bute wilnen, & lete Godd wurchen. Haue truſt on his help. ne ſchal tu na þing Godes biſechen, ne bigunnen, þat he hit nule enden. Eauer bide hiſ grace, & ouerkum, wið hire help, þat ilke wake cunde þat draheð into þeowdom, & in-to fulðe fennuliche akaſteð ſe monie. "At concupiſcet rex decorem tu[um]." Ant þenne wile, ſeið dauið, þe king wilni þi wlite: Þe king of alle kingeſ defire þe to leofmon; & þu, þenne, ſeli meiden, þat art ilote to him wið meidenhades menske, ne brec þu nawt tat ſeil þat ſeiled inc to-Gedereſ! Hald ti nome þurh hwam þu art to him iweddet; ne leaf þu neauer, for a luſt & for an eðelich delit of an hond-hwile, þat ilke þing þat ne mei neauer beon acouered.

Meidenhad iſ þat treſor, þat, beo hit eanef forloren, ne beð hit neauer ifunden. Meidenhad is te bloſme, þat, beo ha eanes fulliche forcoruen, ne ſpruteð ha neauer eft; Ah þah ha falewi ſum chere mid miſliche þohtes, Ha mei eft grenen neauer þe latere. Meidenhad iſ te ſteorre, þat, beo ha eanes of þe eaſt igan adun to þe weſt, neauer eft ne ariſeð ha. Meidenhad iſ tat an ȝeoue iȝettet te of heouene: do þu hit eaneſ awei, ne schal tu neauer nan oðer al ſwuch acoueren; for meidenhad iſ heuene cwen, & worldes aleſneſſe, þurh hwan we beon iburhen. mihte ouer alle mihteſ, & cwemeſt crist of alle. forþi þu aheſt, meiden, ſe deorewurðliche to witen hit; for hit iſ ſe heh þing, & ſe ſwiðe leof godd, & ſe licwurðe. forþi hit iſ an lure þat iſ wiðute coueringe. ȝif hit iſ godd leof, þat iſ, him ſelf ſwa ilich, Hit nis na wunder; for he iſ leoflukeſt þing, & wiðuten eauer-euch bruche, & weſ eauer, & iſ, cleane ouer alle þing, & ouer alle þing luueð cleanneſſe. And hwat is lufſumre þing, & mare to herien bimong eorðliche þinges, þen þe mihte of meidenhad? bute bruche & cleane, ibroiden on himſeluen, þat makeð of eorðlich mon & wimmon, heouene engel; of heane, hine ; of fa, freond; help, of þat te harmeð. Vre flesch iſ ure fa, & heaneð uſ & harmeð, ſe ofte aſ ha uſ fuleð. Ah ȝif þat ha wit hire wiðute bruche, cleane, ha iſ uſ ſwiðe god freond & help, of treowe hure; for in hire & þurh hire, þu ofearneſt, meiden, to beo engle euening i þe heȝe bliſſe of heuene, & wið God rihte, hwen þu hare lif-lade i þi bruchele flesch wiðute bruche leadeſt.

Engel & meiden beon euening in uertu of meidenhades mihte, þah eadineſſe ham twinni ȝette & to-tweane. And tah hare meidenhad beo eadiure nuðe, þin iſ te mare ſtrengðe to halden, & ſchal wið mare mede beon þe forȝulden. Þis mihte iſ þat an þat i þis deadlich lif ſcheaweð in hire eſtat of þe bliſſe undeadlich i þat eadi lond, aſ brud ne nimeð gume, ne brudgume bruide, & techeð her on eorðe, in hire liflade, þe liflade of heuene; & i þis world, þat iſ icleopet lond of unlicneſſe, athalt hire burðe i licneſſe of heuenliche cunde, þah ha beo utlahe þrof, & in licome of lam & in beaſtes bodi, neh liueð heuenlich engel. Niſ tiſ mihte, of alle ſwiðe to herien? Þis iſ ȝet þe uertu þat halt ure bruchele feat, þat iſ, ure feble fleſch—as sente pawel leareð—in hal halineſſe. And aſ tat ſwote ſmirles, & deoreſt of oðre, þat iſ icleopet baſme, wit þat deade licome þat iſ ter-wið iſmittet, from rotunge, alſwa deð meidenhad meideneſ cwike fleſch, wiðute wemmunge halt alle hire limen & hire wittes, ſihðe & heringe, ſmecchunge & ſmeallunge, & euch limes felunge; þat ha ne merren, ne forme-alten, þurh licomliche luſtes i fleſches fulðe. þat godd haueð, þurh hiſ grace, ſe muche luue vnned, þat ha ne beoð of þa iliche, bi hwam hit iſ iwriten þus þurh þe prophete, þat ha in hare wurðunge as eaueres forroteden; þat iſ, eauer-euch wif þat iſ hire were þral, & liueð i wurðinge, he & heo baðe. Ah niſ hit nawt bi þeose iseid, þat ha forrotieð þrin, ȝif ha hare wedlac laheliche halden. Ah þa ilke ſari wrecches, þat i þat ilke fule wurðinge, unweddede, walewið, beoð þe deueles eaueres, þat rit ham & ſpiureð ham to don al þat he wile. þeos waleweð in wurðinge, & forroteð þrin, a þat ha ariſen þurh burewſunge, & healen ham wið ſoð ſchrift & wið deadbote.

Eadi meiden! underſtond in hu heh dignete þe mihte of meidenhad halt te. Ah ſe þu herre ſtondeſt, beo ſarre offearet to fallen, for, ſe herre degre, ſe þe fal is wurſe. Þe ondfule deuel bihalt te, ſe hehe iſtihen toward heuene, þurh meidenhades mihte, þat him iſ mihte ladeſt; for, þurh ure lafdi meidenhad, þat hit bigon earſt, þe meiden marie, he forleas te lauerddom on moncun on eorðe; & weſ helle irobbed, & heuene beð ifulled. He ſeð þe folhen hire treoden. meiden! Gan aſ heo dude, þat offrede hire meidenhad earſt to ure lauerd, for hwen þat he cheas hire bimong alle wimmen for to beon his moder, & þurh hire meidenhad moncun aleſen. nu bihalt te alde feond, & ſeoð þe in þiſ mihte ſtonden ſe hehe, ilich hire & hire ſune, aſ engel in heuene in meidenhades menſke; & to-ſwolleð of grome, & ſchoteð niht & dai hiſe earewen, idrencte of an attri haliwei, toward tin heorte, to wundi þe wið wac wil, & makien to fallen, aſ criſt te forbede. And eauer ſe þu ſtrongluker ſtondeſt aȝain him, ſe he, o tene & o grome, wodeluker weorreð, for ſwa muchel þe hokerlucher him þuncheð to beon ouercumen; þat þing ſe feble as fleſch iſ, & nomeliche of wummon, ſchal him ouerſtihen.

Euch fleſcheſ wil & luſt of leccherie þat ariſeð i þin herte, iſ þe feondes flan. Ah hit ne wundeð þe nawt bute hit feſtni o þe, & leaue ſe longe þat tu waldeſt þat ti wil were i-broht to werke. Hwil þi wit atſtond, & chaſtieð þi wil, þat ti luſt ne beore þe to þat te lef were, ne harmeð hit te nawiht, ne ſuleð þi ſawle; for wit iſ hire ſcheld, under godeſ grace. Hwil þe ſcheld iſ hal, þat is, te wiſdom of þi wit, þat hit ne breke ne beie, þah þi fleſchliche wil falſ beo þer-under, & walde as hire luste, þe feondeſ flan fleoð awei aȝain on him ſeluen. And loke hwarfore: vre licomes luſt iſ te feondes foſter; vre wit iſ godes dohter; & baðe beoð uſ inwið; for-þi, þer iſ a feht, & mot beon ai nede; for ne trukeð neauer mare, hwil we here wunieð, weorrre ham bitwenen. Ah wel iſ him þat folheð wit, godeſ dohter, for ha halt wið meidenhad þat iſ hire ſuſter.

Ah þi wil, on oðer half, of þat licomliche luſt, halt wið leccherie, þat iſ deoueleſ ſtreon, aſ heo iſ, & ſunne hire moder. Leccherie, o meidenhad, wið help of fleschliche wil, weorreð o þiſ wiſe: Hire forme fulſt iſ ſihðe: Ȝif þu bihaldeſ ofte ſtikelinde on eni mon, leccherie ananriht greiðeð hire wið þat to weorren o þi meidenhad, & ſecheð earſt upon hire, nebbe to nebbe. Speche iſ hire oðer help. Ȝif ȝe þrafter þenne ſpeken to-Gedere folliche, & talkeð of unnet, leccherie ſeið `ſchome þe menſke of þi meidenhad,' & tukeð hire to wundre, & þreat to don hire ſchome & harmen þrafter. & hald hire foreward; for ſone ſe cos cumeð forð, þat iſ hire þridde fulſt; þenne ſpit leccherie, to ſchome & to biſmere, meidenhad o þe nebbe. Þe feorðe fulſt to merre meidenhad, þat iſ unhende felunge. wite hire þenne! for ȝif ȝe þenne Hondlen ow in ani ſtude untoheliche, Þenne ſmit leccherie o þe mihte of meidenhad, & wundeð hire ſare: þat dreori dede on ende ȝiueð þat deaðes dunt. Weila þat reowðe! ne acwikeð neauer meidenhad after þat wunde. Hwa þat ſehe þenne hu þe engles beoð iſweamed, þat ſeoð hare ſuſter ſwa ſorhfulliche afallet, And te deoueles hoppen & kenchinde beaten hondes to-Gederes, ſtani were his heorte ȝif ha ne mealte i teares.

Wite þe, ſeli meiden! Man ſeið þat eiſe makeð þeof. flih alle thingeſ, & forhuh ȝeorne, þat tus unbotelich lure of mahe ariſen; þat iſ, on alre earſt, þe ſtude & te time, þat mahten bringe þe on miſ for to donne. Wið oðre unþeaweſ, men mai ſtondinde fehten; Ah aȝain leccherie, þu moſt turne þe rug ȝif þu wult ouercumen, & wið fluht fehten. And ſoðeſ, ȝif þu þencheſ & bihaldeſt on heh to-ward te muchele mede þat meidenhad abideð, þu wult lete lihtliche, & abeore bliðeliche þe derf þat tu dreheſt onont ti fleſchliche wil, & ti licomeſ luſt, þat tu forbereſ her, & ane hwile leaueſt, for bliſſe þat cumeð þrof, wiðuten ani ende.

And hwuch is te bliſſe? low, godd himſelf ſeið þurh þe prophete: "Þeo þat habbið fram ham icoruen fleſcheſ luſtes, & haldeð mine ſabaz," þat iſ, halden ham i reſte fram þat fleſchliche werc, & halden me foreward, "Ich behate ham," he ſeið, "i mi kineriche to ȝiuen ham ſtude, & betere nome þe[n] ſunen & dohtren." Hwa mihte wilni mare? Eunuchus qui ſeruauerit ſabbata mea &c. Hwa mei þenne ? for þencheþe weole, þe winne & te bliſſe, þe hehſcipe of þe mede, þat tiſ ilke lut wordeſ bicluppen abuten? "Ichulle," he ſeið, "ȝeouen ham ſtude & nome betere þen ſunen & dohtren." Þulli biheaſte; & hit iſ ilich þat þat ham iſ bihaten to ſingen wið engleſ, hwaſ felaheſ ha beoð, þurh liflade of heuene, þat ȝet þer ha wuneð fleſchliche on eorðe. to ſinge þat ſwote ſong & þat englene dream, ut-nume murie, þat nane halwes ne mahen, bute meideneſ ane, ſingen in heuene; & folhen godd almihti, euch godes ful, hwider ſe he eauer wendeð, aſ þe oðre ne mahen nawt, þah ha beon alle hiſe ſunnen & alle hiſe dehtren. Ne nan of þe oðreſ crunen, ne hare wlite, ne hare weden, ne mahen euenen to hare, ſe unimete brihte ha beoð, & ſchene to biſeon on.

And hwat beð hare aneſ ſong, & after godd hare aneſ gong, hwider-ſe he eauer turneð? and hare fare, ſo feire biforen alle oðre? Vnderſtond, & nimy ȝeme. Al hare ſong in heuene iſ for to þonki godd of hiſ grace & of hiſ goddede. Þe iweddede þonken him þat, ha lauhure hwen ha alles walden fallen duneward, ne fellen nawt wið alle adun, for wedlac ham ikepte, þat ilke lahe þat godd haueð iſtald for þe unſtronge. for wel wiſte ure lauerd, þat alle ne mihten nawt halden i þe hehe of meidenhades mihte: ah ſeide, þa he ſpec þrof, "Non omneſ capiunt hoc uerbum: Ne underneomeð nawt," quoð he, "þiſ ilke word alle. Qui poteſt capere, capiat. Hwaſe hit me underneomen, underneome, ich reade," quoð he. Oðer iſ þat godd hat; & oðer iſ tat he reades. Þa ilke þinges þat he hat, þeo mot monmot nede halden, þat wile beon iburhen; & þeo beon to alle men o liue iliche meane: hiſ readeſ beoð of heh þing, & to hiſe leoueſte freond, þe lut i þis worlde, & derue beoð to fullen, & lihte þah hwaſe haueð riht luue to him, & treowe bileaue. Ah hwaſe halt þa, he earneð him, ouerfullet, ful & ouereorninde, met of heuenliche mede. Swuch iſ meidenhadeſ read, þat godd ne hat nawt, ah read. Hwuch-ſe wile beon of þe lut of hiſ leoueſte freond, & aſ hiſ deore derling, don hiſ read, & earnin him crune upo crune. Alſwa ſente pawel ȝiueð read to meidenes, to beon as he was, & seið, þat "wel iſ ham þat ſwa ham mahen halden"; ne hat he hit nan oðreſ weis. for eauer fe deorre þing, ſe iſ derure to biwitene. And ȝif hit were ihaten, & nawt ta ihalden, þe bruche [were] deadliche ſunne.

For-þi was wedlac ilahet in hali chirche, aſ bed to ſeke, to ihente þe unſtronge, þat ne mahten nawt ſtonden in þe hehe hul, & ſe neh heuene, aſ meidenhades mihte. Þiſ iſ, tenne, hare ſong, þat beon i lahe of wedlac, þonki godd & herien, þat he greiðede ham, lanhure þa ha walden of meideneſ hehſcipe, a ſwuch ſtude in to lihten, þat ha neren nawt ihurt, þah ha weren ilahet, And hwat ſe ha þrin hurten ham, wið ealmes deden healden. Þis ſingeð, þenne, iweddede, þat ha, þurh godes milce, & merci of his grace, þa ha driuen duneward, in wedlac atſtutten, & in þe bed of his lahe ſofteliche lihten.

For hwaſe ſwa falleð of meidenhedeſ menſke, þat wedlakeſ heueld bed nawt ham ne ihente, ſe ferliche ha driuen dun to þe eorðe, þat al ham iſ tolimet lið ba & lire. Þeos ne ſchulen neauer ſong ſingen in heuene, ah ſchulen weimeres leod ai mare in helle, bute ȝif bireowſinge areare ham to liue, & heale ham wið ſoð ſchrift & wið deadbote.

For ȝif ha beoð acwiket & imaket hale, ha beoð i widewene ring, & ſchulen, i widewene ring, bifore þe iweddede ſingen in heuene: þat iſ, tenne, hare ſong, to herien hare drihtin, & þonken him ȝeorne þat hiſ mihte held ham i cleanſchipe chaſte, after þat ha hefden ifondet fleſehcſ fulðe, & ȝettede ham i þiſ world to bete hare ſunnen. Swote beoð þeos ſongeſ. Ah al iſ meideneſ ſong unilich þeoſe, wið engleſ imeane: dream ouer al þe dreameſ in heuene. In heore ring þer [iſ] godd ſelf; & hiſ deore moder, þe deorewurðe meiden, þe heuenliche cwen, leat i þat eadi trume of ſchimerinde meideneſ: ne moten nane bute heo hoppen ne ſingen, for þat iſ ai hare ſong, þonken godd, & herien, þat he on ham ſe muche grace ȝef of him ſeluen, þat ha forſoken for him euch eorðlich mon, & helden ham cleane ai fra fleſchliche fulðen i bodi & i breoſte; & i ſtude of mon of lam, token liues lauerd, þe king of þe hehe bliſſe; for hwi he menſkeð ham ſe muchel biforen alle þe oðre, as te brudgume deð hiſ weddede ſpuse. Þiſ ſong, ne mahen nane bute heo ſingen.

Alle, aſ ich ſeide ear, folhen ure lauerd, & tah nawt ouer al; for, i þe menſke of meiden[had] & in hire mihte, ne muhe nane folhen him, ne þat eadi meiden, englene lafdi, & meideneſ menſke, bute meideneſ ane. And for-þi iſ hare aturn ſe briht & ſe ſchene biforen alle oðre, þat ha Gað eauer neſt godd, hwiderſe he turneð. And alle ha beoð icruned þat bliſſed in heuene, wið kempene crune. Ah þe meideneſ habben upo þat, þat iſ to alle iliche imeane, a gerlaundeſche ſchinende ſchenre þen þe ſunne: `Auriole' ihaten o latineſ ledene. Þe flurſ þat beoð idrahe þron, ne þe ȝimſtanes þrin, te tellen of hare euene, ne iſ na monneſ ſpeche. Þus feole priuilegeſ ſcheaweð ful ſutelliche hwucche beon þe meidneſ, & ſundreð ham fram þe oðre wið þus feole menſken, world buten ende.

Of þeos þre had, meidenhad & widewehad, & te þridde, wedlachad, þu maht, bi þe degrez of hare bliſſe, icnawen hwuch, & bi hu muchel, þe an paſſeð þe oðre. for wedlac haueð hire frut þritti-fald in heuene; widewehad, ſixti fald; Maidenhad, wið hundred fald, ouer-Geað baðe. loke, þenne, her-bi, hwa ſe of hire maidenhad lihteð in-to wedlac, bi hu moni degrez ha falleð duneward. Ha is an hundred degrez ihehet toward heuene, hwil ha meidenhad halt, aſ þat frut preoueð; & leapeð in-to wedlac, þat iſ duneward to þe þrittuðe, ouer þrie twenti & ȝet ma bi tene. niſ tiſ, at an chere, a muche lupe duneward? & tah hit iſ to þolien. And godd haueð ilahed hit, as ich ear ſeide, leſte hwa ſe leope, & tenne lauhure nawt nere hwat kep to [read kepte] him, & driue adun ſwireforð, wiðuten ikepunge, deope in-to helle. Of þeos nis nawt to ſpeken, for ha beoð iſcrepte ut of liues writ in heuene.

¶Ah ſcheawe witerluker, as we ear biheten, hwat drehen þe iweddede, þat tu icnawe þerbi hu murie þu maht liuen, meiden i þi meidenhad, ouer þat heo libben, teke þe murhðe & te menſke in heuene, þat muð ne mai nummnen. Nu þu art iwedded, & of ſe heh ſe lahe iliht,—of englene ilicneſſe, of ihesu criſteſ leofmon, of leafdi in heuene,—in-to fleſcheſ fulðe, in-to beaſteſ liflade, in-to monneſ þeowdom, & in to worldes weane. Ȝei nu, hwat frut, & for hwuch þing meaſt hit is: al for þi, oðer ane deale þer fore. beo nu ſoð cnaweſ, for to kele þi luſt wið fulðe of þi lico me, for to habbe delit of þi fleſchliche wil of monneſ imeane; for gode, hit iſ wlateful þing for te þenke þron; & for to ſpeke þer-of, ȝet wlatefulre. loke, þenne, hw[u]ch beo þat ſelue þing, & þat dede to donne. Al þat fule delit iſ wið fulðe aleid, aſ tu turneſt þin hond. Ah þat laðliche beaſt leaueð & laſt forð; And te of-þunchinge þrof longe þer-after. Rubbed out in Titus MS., supplied from Bodley.[Ant te unseli horlin]ges þat unlaheliche hit haunteð in inwarde helle: for þat hwilende luſt, endeleſ pine, bute ȝif ha hit leauen, & hit on eorðe under ſchrift bitterliche beten. forhohe for to don hit þat te þuncheð uuel of, & eil for to heren. for hwen hit iſ þullich, & muche dale laðluker þen eni wel-itohe muð for ſchome mahe ſeggen, hwat makeð hit iluued bituhhe beaſtliche men, bute hare muchele unþeaw, þat bereð aſ beaſteſ to al þat ham luſteð, as tah ha nefden wit in ham ne tweire schead as mon haueð, ba of god & of uuel, of cumelich & of uncumelich, na mare þen beaſtes, þat dumbe neb habbeð. Ah, leaſſe þen beaſtes ȝet; for þeos doð hare cunde (wiðute wit þah ha beon) in a time of þe ȝer. Moni halt him til an make, ne nule after þat lure neauer nimen oðer. And mon þat ſchulde haue wit, & do al þat he dude after hire wiſſinge, folheð þat fulðe in eauer-euch time; & nimeð an after an, & monie þat iſ wurſe, monie to-Gedereſ.

Loke hu þiſ unþeaw ne eueneð þe, nawt ane to witleſe beaſtes dumbe & broke-rugget, ibuhe toward te eorðe; þe þat art i wit iwraht to godeſ ilicneſſe, & i riht, ba bodi up & heaued toward heuene; for þi þat tu ſchuldeſt þin herte heouen þiderward as tin heritage iſ, & eorðe forhohien. Nim ȝeme hu þiſ unþeaw ne makeð þe nawt ane euening ne ilich him, ah deð muchel etiluker, & mare to witen, þat forſchuppeſ te ſelf, willeſ & waldeſ, in-to hare cunde; Þat leoſeð þenne ſe heh þing, þe mihte & te biheoue of meidenhadeſ menſke, for ſe ful fulðe as iſ iſcheawet þruppe. Hwaſe, of engel, lihteð to iwurðen lahere þen a beaſt, for ſe laðli chaffere, loke hu ha ſpede!

"Nai," þu wult ſeggen, "for þat fulðe, niſ hit nawt; Ah monneſ elne iſ muche wurð; & me biheoueð hiſ help to fluttunge & to fode; Of wif & wereſ Gederinge, weorldeſ wele awakeneð, & ſtreon of feire children, þat gladien muchel þe ealdren." Nu þu haueſt iſeid tus, & þuncheð þat tu ſeggef ſoð. Ah Ichulle ſcheawen hit al wið falschipe iſmeðet. Ah on alre earſt, nu, hwat weole oðer hwat wunne ſe þer eauer of cume, to deore hit beoð aboht, þat tu þeſelf ſuleſt fore, & ȝeueſt þin ahne dere bodi to tuken ſwa to wundre, & fare wið ſe ſchomeliche, wið ſwuch uncouerlich lure aſ meidenhadeſ menſke iſ & te mede baðe, for worldliche biȝeate. wa wurðe þat chaffere, for eni hwilende weole ſullen meidenhad awei, þat cwen iſ of heuene ; for, al ſwa as of þiſ lure nis nan acoueringe, al ſwa iſ euch wurð unwurð her toward.

Þu ſeiſt þat muche confort haueð wif of hire were, þat beoð wel iGedered, & eiðer iſ alleſ weis ipaied of oðer. Ȝea. Ah hit if ſelt ſene on eorðe. Beo nu þah ſwuch: hare confort & hare delit, hwerin iſ hit al meaſt, bute i fleſcheſ fulðe oðer in weorldeſ uanite, þat wurðeð al to ſorhe & to care on ende? nawt ane on ende, ah eauer umbehwile; for moni þing ſchal ham wraððen & gremen, & makie to carien, & for hore oðreſ uuel ſorhen & ſiken. Moni þing ham ſchal twinnen & tweinen, þat lað eſ leouie men; & deaðeſ dunt on ende, eiðer fram oðer. Swa þat ne beð hit naneſ weis þat tat elne ne ſchal enden in earmðe; & eauer ſe hare murhðe weſ mare toGedereſ, ſe þe ſorhe iſ ſarre at te twinninge. wa iſ him forþi, as ſeint Auſtin ſeið, þat iſ wið to muche luue to eni eorðliche þing iteiet, for eauer beð þat ſwete aboht wið twa dale of bittre, & a falſ winne wið moni ſar tene. Ah wel is hire þat luueð godd; for him ne mai ha nanes weis,—bute ȝif ha lihe him, & his luue leaue—neauer mare leoſen. Ah ſchal ifinden him ai ſwettere & ſauurure, fram worlde in-to worlde, a on ecneſſe.

Þu ſpeke þruppe of monneſ help to fluttunge & to fode. Weila! lutel þarf þe carien for þin anes liueneð, a meke meiden aſ tu art, & his deore leofmon þat is alre þinge lauerd, þat he ne mahe lihtliche, & þat he nule gladluche ifinde þe largeliche al þat te biheoueð. And tah þu wone hefdeſt, oðer drehdeſt ani derf for his deorewurðe luue, aſ þe oðre deð for monnes, to goderheale þin He hit þoleð, to fonde þe hweðer þu beo treowe; & greiðeð þi mede monifald in heuene. Vnder monneſ help þu ſchalt ſare beon iderued for his & for þe worldes luue, þat beoð baðe ſwikele, & wakien i moni care, nawt ane for þe-ſelf as þarf godeſ spuse, ah ſchalt for monie oðre, aſe wel for þe laðe ofte aſ for þe leue; & mare beon idrecchet þen eni driuel i þe hus, oðer eni ihured hine, & tin aneſ dale bruken ofte wið bale, & bitterliche abuggen. litel witen her of þe ſelie godes ſpuſes, þat i ſe ſwote eiſe, wiðute ſwuch trubuil, in gaſtelich eſte & i breoſte reſte, luuieð þe ſoðe luue, & in his aneſ ſeruiſe hare lif leadeð. Inoh wel ham iſ her, & unilich elleshwer. Alle worldes wele ham is inoh riue. Al ha habbeð þerof þat ha wel wilneð. Al þat eauer godd iſeoð, þat ham wule framien. Ne mei na worldlich unhap bireauen [ham] hare weole, for ha beoð riche & weolefule iwið i þe herte.

Al þe eſte & al þe eiſe iſ her aſ þe oðre beoð godleſe & ignahene,— nabben ha neauer ſe muchel wiðuten i þe worlde,—for þat ha beon eauer feard for to loſen, & ȝiſceð þah after muchel, muchele: wið earmðe biwinneð hit, wið fearlac biwiteð hit, forleoſen hit wið ſorhe. Swinken to biȝeotene, Biȝeten for to leoſen, leoſen for to ſorhen. Þus tiſ worldeſ hweol warpeð ham abuten. þeoues hit ſtelen ham. Reauereſ hit robbeð. Hare ouerherren witið ham & wraððeð. Mohðe fret te claðeſ, & cwalm ſlað þat ahte; & tah nan of þeos ne makien to forwurðen weole, þer aſ muchel is, eauer ſe þer mare is, ſe ma beoð þat hit waſteð. & nat ich neauer hwi mon ſeið þat heo hit al weldeð, þat, wullen ha nullen ha, biwinneð & biwiteð hit to ſe monie oðre, nawt ane to hare freond, ah to hare fulle fan, ne habben ne mahen þrof, þah ha hit hefden ſworn, bute hare anes dale. Þis is nu for-þi iſeid, þat tu ſeideſ þruppe, þat ter walde wakenen of wif & wereſ ſomninge, richeſce & worldes weole; þat tu underſtonde hu lutel hit frameð ham ȝet her, i þis worlde, teke þat hit reaues ham þe hehe riche of heuene, bute ha poure beon þrin, with halineſſe of heorte.

Þus, wummon, ȝif þu haueſt were after þi wil & wunne, ba, of weorldeſ weole, þe ſchal nede itiden. And hwat ȝif ha beoð þe wone, þat tu nabbe þi wil wið him, ne weole nowðer, & ſchalt greni godles inwið waſti wahes, & in breades wone bredes ti barnteam; & teke þis, liggen under laðeſt mon, þat, tah þu hafdeſt alle weole, went him te to weane; for, beo hit nu, þat te beo richedom riue, & tine wide wahes wlonke & welefulle, & habbe monie under þe, hirdmen in halle, & ti were beo þe wrað, & iwurðe þe lað, ſwa þat inker eiðer heaſci wið oðer; hwat worldlich weole mei beo þe wunne? Hwen he beoð ute, haueſt aȝain his ham-cume, ſar, care, & eie. Hwil he bið at hame, alle þine wide waneſ þuncheð þe to narewe; His lokinge on þe agaſteð þe; His ladliche murhð & hiſ untohe bere makeð þe to agriſen. Chit te & cheoweð þe, & ſchent te ſchomeliche; tukeð þe to biſmere, as huler his hore; Beateð þe & buſteð þe, aſ hiſ ibohte þrel & hiſ eðell þeowe. Þine baneſ akeð þe, & ti fleſch ſmerteð, þin heorte in-wið þe ſwelleð of ſar grome, & ti neb ute-wið tendreð ut of tene. Hwuch ſchal beo þe ſomnunge bituhhen ow bedde? Me þeo þat beſt luuieð, ham tebeoreð ofte þrin, þah ha þerof na ſemblaund ne makien inne marhen; & ofte moni nohtunge, ne luuien ha ham neauer ſwa, bitterliche bi ham ſelf teoneð eiðer oðer. Ha ſchal his wil, muchel hire unwil, drehen, ne luue ha him neauer ſwa wel, wið muche weane ofte. Alle hiſe fulitoheſchipeſ & hiſe unhende gomenes—ne beon ha neauer ſwa wið fulðe bifunden, nomeliche i bedde—ha ſchal, wulle ha, nulle ha, þolien ham alle. Criſt ſchilde euch meiden to freinen oðer to wilnen for to wite hwucche ho beon ! for þeoa þat fondeð ham meaſt, ifindeð ham forcuðeſt, & clepeð ham ſelie iwiſ þe nuten neauer hwat hit is, & hatieð þat ha haunteð. Ah hwaſe lið i leiuen deope biſunken, þah him þunche uuel þrin, he ne ſchal nawt up acoueren hwen he walde.

Biſih þe, ſeli meiden, beo þe cnot icnut eaneſ of wedlac, beo he cangun oðer crupel, beo he hwuch-ſe he eauer beo, þu moſt to him halden. ȝif þu art feir, & wið glad chere biclepeſt alle feire, ne ſchaltu o nane wiſe wite þe wið unworð ne wið uuel blame. Ȝif þu art unwurðlich & wraðeliche ilatet, þu maht, ba to oðre & to þi were, iwurðen þe unwurðere. Ȝif þu iwurðeſt him unwurð, & he aſe unwurð þe, oðer ȝif þu him muche luueſt & he let lutel to þe, hit greueð þe ſe ſwiðe þat tu wilt, inoh raðe, as monie awariede doð, makien puiſun, & ȝeouen bale i bote ſtude. Oðer hwa-ſe ſwa nule don, medi ? for medli. wið wicchen, & forſaken, for to drahen his luue toward hire, criſt & hire criſtendom, & rihte bileaue.

Nu, hwat bliſſe mei þeos bruken, þat luueð hire were wel, & habbes his laððe, oðer cuncweari his luue o þulliche wiſe ? Hwenne ſchulde ich al habbe irekened þat ſpringeð bituhhe þeo þat tus beon iGedered? ȝif ha ne mei nawt teamen, ha is iclepet gealde. Hire lauerd luueð hire & wurðchipeð þe leaſſe; & heo, as þeo þat wurſt is, þrof biwepeð hire wurdeſ, & cleopeð ham wunne & weolefulle þat teamen hare teameſ.

Ah nu iwurðe hit al þat ha habbe hire wil of ſtreon, þat ha wilneð; & loke we hwuch wunne þer-of cume. I þe ſtreonunge þrof, iſ on earſt hire flesch wið þat fulðe ituked, as hit iſ ear iſcheawet. I þe burþerne þer-of, is heauiness & hard ſar, eauer umbe ſtunde; in his iboreneſſe, alre ſtiche ſtrongeſt, & deað oðer hwiles; in his foſtrenge forð, moni arm hwile. Sone ſe hit lihtes i þis lif, mare hit bringeð wið him care þen bliſſe, nomeliche to þe moder; for ȝif hit is miſborn, as hit ilome limpeð, & wont eni of his limen, oþer sum miſfare, hit iſ ſorhe to hire, & to al his cun ſchome, vpbrud in uuel muð, tale bimong alle. Ȝif hit wel iborn iſ, & þuncheð wel forðlich, fearlac of hiſ lure is anan wið him iboren; for niſ ha neauer wiðute care leſte hit ne miſ-feare, a ðat owðer of ham twa ear loſe oðer. And ofte hit timeð þat tat leoueſte bearn, & iboht bitterlukeſt, ſorheð & ſweameð meaſt his ealdren on ende. Nu hwat wunne haueð þe moder? Ha haueð, of þe forſchuppet bearn, ſar care & ſchome baðe, & fearlac of þat forðlich, a ðat ha hit leoſe for gode, þah hit neauer nere for godeſ luue, ne for hope of heuene, ne for dred of helle.

Þu ahteſt, wummon, þiſ were, for þi fleſcheſ halſchipe, for þi licomeſ luue, & ti bodies heale, ouer alle þing to ſchunien ; for, as seint pawel ſeið, "euch ſunne þat men deð is wiðute þe bodi," bute þis ane. Alle oðre ſunnen ne beoð bute ſunnen; ah þis iſ ſunne, & ec uncunnelicheð þe, & unwurðcheð þi bodi, Suleð þi ſawle, & makeð ſchuldi toward godd, & fuleð þi fleſch ec. Gulteð o twa half: wraððeð þen alwealdent wið þat ſuti ſunne, & doſt woh to þe ſelf, þat tu ſe ſchomeliche tukeſt.

¶ Ga we nu forðre! loke we hwuch wunne ariſeð þerafter i burðerne of bearne, hwen þat ſtreon i þe awakeneð & waxeð. Hu moni earmðen anan awakeneð þer-wið, þat wurcheð þe wa inoh, fehteð o þi ſelue fleſch, & weorreð wið fele weanen o þin ahne cunde. Þi rudie neb ſchal leanen, & as greſ grenen. Þin ehnen ſchulen doſkin, & under þon wonnen; & of þi breineſ turnunge þin heaued ake ſare. Inwið þi wombe, ſwelin þe bitte, þat beoreð forð as a water bulge; Þine þarmeſ þralinge, & ſtiches i þi lonke, & i þi lendene ſar eche riue, Heuineſſe in euch lime. Þine breſteſ burðen o þine twa pappes, & te milc ſtrunden þat te of ſtrikeð. Al is, wið a welewunge, þi wlite ouer warpen. Þi muð iſ bitter, & walh al þat tu cheoweſt, & hwat mete ſe þi mahe hokerliche underfeð; þat iſ, wið unluſt, warpeð hit eft ut. Inwið al þi wel, & ti wereſ wunne, forwurðeſt. ah, wrecche! Þe care aȝain þi pinunge þrahen binimeð þe nihteſ ſlepes. Hwen hit þer-to cumeð, þat ſare ſorhfule angoiſe, þat ſtronge & ſtikinde ſtiche, þat unroles uuel, þat pine upo pine, þat wondrende ȝeomerunge. Hwil þu ſwencheſt te þer-wið, i þi deaðes dute, Schome teke þat ſar, wið alle þe alde wiues ſchome creft, þat cunnen of þat waſið. Hwas help þe bihoueð, ne beo hit neauer ſe uncumelich. Ha moten nede witen al þat te þer-in timeð. or cuneð. ne þunche þe nan uuel of; for we ne edwiten nawt wiues hare weanen, þat ure alre modres drehden on us ſeluen; Ah we ſcheaweð ham forð for to wearnen meidnes, þat ha beon þe laſſe afterward ſwuch þing, & witen her-þurh þe beter, hwat ham beo to don.

After al þiſ, cumeð of þat bearn iboren þus, wanunge & wepunge, þat ſchal abute mid-niht makie to wakien, oðer þeo þat ti ſtede halt, þat tu moſt fore carien. And hwat te caðer fulðen & barmes umbe ſtunde? to feſkin & to foſtren hit ſe moni earm hwile. & his waxunge ſe lat, & ſe ſlaw his þrifti ; And eauer habben ſar care, & loken after al þis hwen hit forwurðe, & bringe on his moder ſorhe up-o ſorhe. Þah þu riche beo, & nurice habbe, þu moſt, as moder, carien for al þat hire limpeð to donne. Þeos & oðre armðen þat of wedlac awakeneð, seint pawel bilukeð in ane lut wordeſ: "Tribulationes carnis &c." þat is, on englich: "Þeo þat þulliche beoð, ſchulen derf drehen." Hwa-ſe þencheð on al þis, & o mare þat ter is, & nule wiðhuhe þat þing þat hit al of awakeneð, Ha is hardre iheorted þen adamantines ſtan, & mare amad, ȝif ha mei beo, þen iſ madſchipe ſelf. Hire ahne fa & hire fend, Hateð hire seluen.

Lutel wat meiden of al þis ilke weane of wiueſ wa, wið hire were; ne of hare werc ſe wlateful þat ha imeane wurchen; ne of þat ſar ne of þat ſuti i þe burðerne of bearn, & his iboreneſſe ; of nuriceſ wecches, ne of hire waſiðes of þat fode foſtrunge; hu muchel ha ſchule at eanes in his muð famplen, nowðer to muchel ne to lutel; Þah þis beo of to ſpeken unwurðliche þinges, Þah þe mare ha ſchaweð i hwuch þeowdom wiues beon, þat þullich moten drehe, And meidnes, i hwuch fredom, þat freo beoð fram ham alle. And hwat ȝif ich eaſki ȝet, þah hit þunche egede, hu þat wif ſtonde, þat ihereð, hwen ha cumeð in, hire bearn ſcreamen, Seoð þe cat at te flicke, & te hund at te huide? Hire cake bearneð o þe ſtan, & hire calf ſukeð; þe croh eorneð i þe fur, & te cheorl chideð. Þah hit be egede ſahe, hit ah, meiden, to eggi þe ſwiðre þerframward, for nawt ne þunche hit hire egede þat hit fondeð. Ne þarf þat ſeli meiden þat haueð al idon hire ut of þullich þeowdom, aſe godes fre dohter, & his ſunes ſpuse, drehe nawt ſwucches. forþi, ſeli meiden, forſac al þullich ſorhe for utnume mede, þat tu aheſ to don wiðuten euch huire.

Nu ich habbe ihalden mine biheaſte þruppe: þat ich walde ſcheawen wið falſchipe iſmeðet, þat te moni an ſeið & þuncheð þat hit ſoð beo, of þe ſelhðe & te ſwete þat te iweddede habben; þat hit ne fareð nawt ſwa, as weneð þat iſeoð utewið; ah fareð al oðer weis, of poure ba & riche, of laðe & ec of leouie; þat te weane eihwer paſſeð þe winne, & te lure ouer al, al þe biȝeate.

Nu, þenne, ſeli meiden, þat dauið cleopeð "dohter," Iher þi fader," & hercne his read, þat he i þe frumðe of þis writ readde: "forȝet ti folc" þat liheð þe of weres & worldes wunne ;—þat beoð þine þohtes, þat ſwikeliche leadeð þe toward alle weane ;— "& forſac þi fader hus," as hit is þer-uppe iopenet, & tac þe to him treowliche. wið him þu ſchalt wealden, as wið þi were iwedded, world buten ende, heuenriche winnen. Eadi iſ his ſpuse, hwas meidenhad iſ unwemmed, hwen he on hire ſtreoneð; & hwen ha teameð of him, ne ſwinkeð ne ne pineð. Eadi iſ te were hwen nan ne mei beo meiden bute ȝif ha him luuie, ne freo bute ȝif ha him ſerui; Hwaſ ſtreon iſ undeadlich, & hwas marhe-ȝiue iſ te kinedom of heuene. Nu, þenne, ſeli meiden, ȝif þe is weole leof, nim þe him to lauerd, þat wealdeð al þat is, & was, & eauer ſchal iwurðen; for þah he beo richeſt, him ane, ouer alle, þe alre meaſt poure þat him to were cheoſeð, is him wel icweme.

Ȝif þat tu wilneſt were þat muche wlite habbe, nim him of hwas wlite beoð awundret þe ſunne & te mone, upo hwas nebſchaft þe engles ne beoð neauer fulle to bihalden; for, hwen he ȝiueð feirlec to al þat is feir in heuene & in eorðe, muche mare he haueð, wiðuten eni etlunge, at-halden to him ſeluen; & tah hwen he þus is alre þinge feirest, he vnderfeð bliðeliche, & bicluppeð ſwoteluche, þe alre laðlukeſt, & makeð ham ſeoueſiðe ſchenre þen þe ſunne.

Ȝif þe were ſtreon leof, nim þe to him, under hwam þu ſchalt, i þi meidenhad, teamen dohtren & ſunen of gaſtliche teames, þat neauer ne deiene mahen, ah ſchulen ai bifore þe pleien in heuene; þat beon, þe uertuz þat he ſtreoneð in þe þurh his ſwete grace, As rihtwiſneſſe & warſchipe aȝaines unþeawes; Meſure & mete, & eaſtliche ſtrengðe to wiðſtonde þe feond, & aȝain ſunne; Simplete of ſemblaunt, & buhſumneſſe & ſtilðe, þolemodneſſe & reowfulneſſe of euch monnes ſorhe; Gladſchipe i þe hali gaſt, & pes i þi breoſte of onde & of wraððe, of ȝiſcinge & of euch unþeawes worre; Mekelec & mildſchipe, & ſwotneſſe of heorte, þat limpeð alre þinge beſt to meidenhades mihte. þis is meidenes team, godes ſunes ſpuse, þat ſchal hire ai libben & pleien buten ende bifore hire in heuene.

¶ Ah þah þu, meiden, beo wiðute bruche of þi bodi, & tu habbe prude, onde, oðer wraððe, ȝiſcinge, oðer wac wil, inwið i þin heorte, þu forhoreſ te wið þe unwiht of helle, & he ſtreoneð on þe þe teames þat tu teameſt. Hwen þi were, al wealdent, þat tu þe to weddeſt, ſeð & underſtond tis, þat his fa forlið þe, & þat tu teameſt of him þat him iſ teame laðeſt, He forhoheð þe anan—as hit nis na wunder— & cweðeð þe al cwite him þat tu of teameſt; ne kepeð he wið na mon, & hure wið his famon, na half dale. hwa þat luueð eawiht bute him, & hwat-ſe ha for him ne luueð, ha wraððeð him ſwiðe.

Ouer alle þing, wite þe þat tu ne teami prude bi þe deouleſ ſtreonunge, for heo, of alle unþeawes, iſ his ealdeſte dohter. Earst ha wakenede of him þa ȝet þa he wes in heuene, for neh wið him euen hald; & ſwa ha caſt hire fader, ſone ſe ha iboren wes, fram þe hehſte heuene in-to helle grunde wiðute couerunge, & makede of heh engel, eatelukeſt deouel. Heo þat tus aduſte hire heuenliche fader adun, hwat wile ha don bi hire eorðliche modres, þat teameð hire in horedom of þen laðe vnwiht, þe hellene fchucke. Hwen Godd ſe wracfulliche fordemde his heh engel þat ſtreonede hire in heuene, hwat wile he don bi þat lam, & wurmene mete, þat of þe deouol teameð hire on eorðe?

Ȝif þu haues, wið meidenhad, meokelec & mildſchipe, godd is i þin heorte. Ah ȝif þer is ouerhohe oðer eni prude in, he is utlahe þrof; for ne muhen ha nanes weis bedden in a breoſte; ha ne muhen nawt ſomen earden in heuene. þeone godd warp hire, ſone ſe ha [iboren wes; & as ha nuste hwuch wei ha From Bodley MS.] come þeneward, ne con ha neauer mare ifinden na wei aȝainward. Ah eardinde her on eorðe, bihat eche wununge alle hire modres, al beon ha meidneſ, wið hare awariede fader in inwarde helle. Wite þe, meiden, wið hire! Ha cwikede of cleane cunde, aſ iſ in engleſ euene, & clenneſte breſten bredeð hire ȝette. Þe beſte ha aſaȝileð; & wel ha dar hopien to beo kempe ouer mon, þat ouercom engel. Nis ha nawt in claðes, ne in feahunge utewið, þah hit beo merke þrof, & munegunge oðer hwiles; Ah under hwit oðer blac, & aſe wel vnder grei, as under Grene & gra, ha luteð i þe heorte. Sone ſo þu telles te betere þen an oðer—beo hit hwer-fore ſe hit eauer beo,—& haueſt of eni ouerhohe, & þuncheð hofles & hoker of ewt þat mon ſeið þe oðer deð ȝette, þu marres ti meidenhad, & brekes ti wedlac toward godd, & of his fa temes.

Ne telle þu nawt eðelich, al beo þu meiden, to widewen ne to iweddede; for, alſwa as a charbucle iſ betere þen a iacinct i þe euene of hare cunde, & tah is betere a briht iacinct þen a charbucle won, Alſwa paſſeð meiden, onont te mihte of meidenhad, widewen & iweddede; & tah is betere, a milde wif oðer a meoke widewe, þen a prud meiden; for þeos, for hore ſunnen þat ha i fleſches fulðe folhen, leoten ham lahe & eðeliche, & beoð ſare offeared of godes luðere eie; And as te eadi ſunegild marie Magdalene, wið bittre wopes, bireowſeð hare gultes, & inwardlukeſt luuieð godd, alſwa as heo dide, for hare forȝeoueneſſe; And te oðre þat halden ham vnforgult & cleane, beon aſe ſikere unluſtie & wlecche, liueð i godes luue, wiðuten euch heate of þe hali gaſt, þat bearneð ſe lihte, wiðute waſtinde brune in alle hiſe icorene; And te oðre, in a heate of an hondhwile, beon imealt mare & iȝotten in godd, þen þe oðre in a wlecchunge al hare lifſiðe.

Forþi, eadi meiden, godeſ ſune ſpuse, ne beo þu nawt to truſti ane to þi meidenhad, wiðuten oðer God & þawfule mihtes, & ouer al, miltſchipe & meokeſchipe of heorte, after þe bisne of þat eadi meiden ouer all oðre, marie, godes moder. for, þa þe hehe engel Gabriel grette hire, & brohte hire þe tidinge of godes akenneſſe, loke hu lah ha lette hire, þa ha onſwerede þus bi hire ſelue: "low, her mi lauerdes þralle! After þi word," quoð ha, "mote me iwurðen!" And tah ha ful were of alle gode þeawes, hane of hire mekelec ha ſeide & ſong to Helizabeth: "for mi lauerd biſeh his þufftenes mekelac, me ſchulen clepien," quoð ha, "eadi, alle leoden." Nim ȝeme, meiden, & underſtond herbi, þat mare for hire mekelec þen for hire meidenhad, ha lette þat ha ifond ſwuch grace að ure lauerd. for al meidenhad, mekelec is muche wurð; & meidenhad wiðuten hit is eðeliche & unwurð; for al ſwa is meiden i meidenhad, wiðute mekelec, as is, wiðute liht, eoile in a laumpe. Eadi godeſ ſpuse ! haue þis ilke mihte, þat tu ne þunche þeoſtri, ah ſchine as te ſunne i þi weres ſihðe. feahe þi meidenhad wið alle gode þeawes, þat þuncheð him feire.

Haue eauer i þin herte þe eadieſte of meidnes, & meidenhades moðer; & biſech ai hire þat ha þe lihte, & ȝiue luue & ſtrengðe for to folhe in meidenhad hire þeawes. Þench o Seint Katerine, o Margarete, Enneis, Iuliene, Lucie, Cecille ; & o þe oðre hali meidnes in heuene; Hu ha nawt ane forſoken kingeſ ſunnes & eorles, wið alle worldliche weolen & eorðliche wunnen, Ah þoleden ſtronge pines ear ha walden nimen ham, & derf deað on ende. Þench hu wel ham is nu, & hu ha bliſſeð þerfore bituhhe godes armeſ, cwenes of heuene! And ȝif hit eauer timeð þat ti licomeſ luſt, þurh þe falſe feond, leadeð þe toward fleſchliche fulðe, onſwere i þi þoht tus: `Ne Geineð þe nawt, ſweoke! þullich ichulle beon i meidenes liflade, Ilich heuene engel. Ichulle halde me hal, þurh þe grace of godd, aſ cunde me makede, þat paraiſe ſelhðe underfo me, all ſwuch aſ weren, ear ha Gulten, his earſte heamen. Allunge, ſwuch ichulle beon as iſ mi deore leofmon, mi derewurðe lauerd, & as iſ tat eadi meiden þat he him cheaſ to moder. Al ſwuch ichulle wite me, treoweliche unwemmet, aſ ich am him iweddet. ne nul ich nawt, for a luſt of a lute hwile, þah hit þunche delit, awai warpe þat þing, hwas lure ichulle biremen wiðute couerunge, & wið eche brune abuggen in helle. þu wrech-wile-ful wiht! al for nawt þu prokeſt me to forgulten, & forgan þe bliſſe up-o bliſſe, þe crune up-o crune of meideneſ mede; & willes & waldes warpe me as wrecche i þi leirwite; And, for þat englene ſong of meidenhades menſke, wið þe & wið þine greden ai & granen i þe eche grure of helle.'

Ȝif þu þus onſweres to þi licomes luſt & to þe feondes fondinge, he ſchal fleo þe wið ſchome. And ȝif he alles after þis, inoh raðe, atſtonde & halt on to eili þi fleſch & prokie þin herte, þi lauerd godd hit þoleð him to muccli þi mede; for, as ſente pawel ſeið, `ne beð nan icrunet, bute hwaſe treoweliche i þulli feht fihte, & wið ſtrong cockunge ouercume hire fleſch'; for þenne iſ te deouel, wið hiſ ahne turn, ſchomeliche awarpen. Hwen þu, aſ te apoſtle ſeið, ne ſchalt beon icrunet, bute þu beo aſailȝet; for [ȝif] godd wile cruni þe, he wile leote ful wel þe unwiht aſailȝe þe, þat tu earni þer-þurh, crune upo crune. for-þi hit iſ þe meaſt god, þat, hwen he greueð þe meaſt, & toward þe wið fondinge wodeluker weorreð, ȝif þu wel hileſ te under godes wengeſ; for, þurh þiſ weorre, he ȝarkeð þe, unþonc hiſe teð, þe bliſſe & te crune of criſtes icorene. And ihesu criſt leue þe, þurh his bleſcede nome, & alle þeo þat leauen luue of lami mon, for to beon his leofmon ; & leue ſwa hare heorte halden to him, þat hare fleſches eggunge, ne þe feondes fondunge, ne nan of his eorðliche limen, ne weorri hare heorte wit, ne wrenche ham ut of þe wei þat ha beoð in gongen; And helpe ham ſwa in him to hihen toward heuene, a ðat ha beon iſtihe þider, aſ hare brudlac ſchal, in al þat eauer ſel iſ, wið þene ſeli brudgume þat ſiheð alle ſelhðe of, ſitten buten ende! AMEN!