Ure Lauerd i þe godspel teacheð us þurh a bisne hu we ahen wearliche to biwiten us seoluen wið þe unwiht of helle ant wið his wernches. "Ȝef þes lauerd wiste", he seið, "hwenne ant hwuch time þe þeof walde cume to his hus, he walde wakien, ne nalde he nawt þolien þe þeof forte breoken hire." Þis hus þe ure Lauerd spekeð of is seolf þe mon; inwið, þe monnes wit i þis hus is þe huse-lauerd, ant te fulitohe wif mei beon Wil ihaten; þet ga þe hus efter hire, ha diht hit al to wundre, bute Wit ase lauerd chasti hire þe betere, ant bineome hire muchel of þet ha walde; ant tah walde al hire hird folhin hire oueral, ȝef Wit ne forbude ham, for alle hit beoð untohene ant rechelese hinen, bute ȝef he ham rihte. Ant hncche beoð þeos hinen? Summe beoð wiðvten ant summe wiðinnen. Þeo wiþvten beoð þe monnes fif wittes -- sihðe ant herunge, smechunge ant smeallunge, ant euch limes felunge. Þeos beoð hinen vnder Wit, as under huse-lauerd, ant hwer se he is ȝemeles, nis hare nan þe ne feareð ofte untoheliche ant gulteð ilome, oðer i fol semblant oder in vuel dede. Inwið beoð his hinen in se moni mislich þonc to cwemen wel þe husewif aȝein Godes wille, ant swerieð sometreadliche þet efter hire hit schalgan. Þah we hit ne here nawt, we mahen felen hare nurð ant hare untohe bere, aþet Wit cume forð ant ba wið eie ant wið luue tuhte ham þe betere. Ne bið neauer his hus for þeos hinen wel iwist, for hwon þet he slepe oðer ohwider fare from hame -- þet is hwen mon forȝet his wit ant let ham inrðen. Ah ne bihoueð hit nawt þet tis hus beo irobbet, for þer is inne þe tre[sor] þet Godd ȝef himseolf fore -- þet is monnes sawle. Forte breoke þis hus efter þis tresor þet Godd bohte mid his deað ant lette lif o rode is moni þeof abuten, ba bi dei ant bi niht: vnseheliche gasttes wið alle unwreaste þeawes; ant aȝein euch god þeaw þe biwiteð i þis hus Godes deore chatel vnder Wittes wittunge þet is huse-lauerd is eauer hire unþeaw forte sechen inȝong abute þe wahes, to amurðrin hire þrinne. Þet heaued þrof is þe feont, þe meistreð ham alle. Aȝeines him ant his keis þe husebonde, þet is Wit, warneð his hus þus: vre Lauerd haueð ileanett him fowre of his dehtren, þet beoð to vnderstonden þe fowr heaued-þeawes. Þe earste is Warschipe icleopet, ant te oðer is ihaten Gastelich Strengðe, ant te þridde is Meað ; Rihtwisnesse þe feorðe.

Wit þe husbonde, Godes cunestable, cleopeð Warschipe forð ant makið hire durewart, þe warliche loki hwam ha leote in ant ut, ant of feor bihalde alle þe cuminde -- hwuche beo wurðe inȝong to habben, oðer beon bisteken þrute. Strengðe stont nest hire, þet ȝef ei nle in Warschipes vnþonkes warni Strengðe fore, þet is hire suster, ant heo hit ut warpe. Þe þridde suster, þet is Meað, hire he makeð meistre ouer his willesfule hird þet we ear of speken, þet ha leare ham mete, þet me meosure hat, þe middel of twa uueles (for þet is þeaw in euch stude, ant tuht forte halden) ant hateð ham alle þet nan of ham aȝein hire nohwer wið vnmeað ne ga ouer mete. Þe feorðe suster, Rihtwisnesse, sit on hest as deme, ant beateð þeo þe agulteð, ant cruneð þeo þe wel doð, ant demeð euchan his dom efter his rihte. For dret of hire nimeð his hird, euch efter þet he is, warde to witene: þe ehnen hare, þe muð his, þe earen hare, þe honden hare, ant euch alswa of þe oþre wit, þet onont him ne schal nan unþeaw cumen in.

As þis is ido þus, ant is al stille þrinne, Warschipe þet aa is waker, is offearet lest sum fortruste him, ant feole o slepe ant forȝeme his warde, ant sent ham in a sonde þet ha wel cnaweð, of feorren icumen, forte offearen þeo þe beoð ouerhardi, ant þeo þe ȝemelese beoð halden ham wakere. He is underuon in ant swiðe bihalden of ham alle, for lonc he is ant leane, ant his leor deaðlich ant blac ant elheowet, ant euch her þuncheð þet stont in his heaued up. Warschipe hat him tellen biuoren hwet he beo ant hweonene he comme ant hwet he þer seche. "Ne mei Ich," he seið, "nohwer speoken bute Ich habbe god lust. Lustnið me þenne: Fearlac Ich hatte, ant am Deaðes sonde ant Deaðes munegunge ant am icumen biuore hire to warnin ow of hire cume." Warschipe, þet best con bisetten hire wordes ant ec hire werkes, spekeð for ham alle, ant freineð hweonene ha cume ant hwuch hird ha leade. Fearlac hire ontswereð: "Ich nat nawt þe time, for ha ne seide hit me nawt; ah eauer lokið hwenne, for hire wune is to cumen bi stale ferliche ant unmundlunge hwen me least weneð. Of hire hird þet tu easkest, Ich þe ondswerie: ha lihteð hwer se ha eauer kimeð wið a þusent deoflen, ant euchan bereð a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten wið swarte smeale leattres, ant an unrude raketehe gledread of furc, forte binden ant to drahen into inwarde helle hwuch se he mei preouin þurh his boc, þet is on euch sunne enbreuet þet he wið wil oðer wið word oðer wið werc wrahtte in al his lif-siðe, bute þet he haueð ibet earþon wið soð schrift ant wið deadbote." At Warschipc hire easkeð: "Hweonene cumest tu, Fearlac, Deaðes munegunge ?" "Ich cume," he seið, "of helle." "Of helle ?" ha seið, Warschipe, "ant hauest tu isehen helle ?" "Ȝe," seið Fearlac, "witerliche, ofte ant ilome." "Nu," seið þenne Warschipe, "for þi trowðe treoweliche tele us hwuch is helle ant hwet tu hauest isehen þrin." "Ant Ich," he seið, Fearlac, "o mi trowðe bluðeliche, nawt tah efter þet hit is -- for þet ne mei na tunge tellen -- ah efter þet Ich mei ant con, þer- towart Ich chulle reodien.

"Helle is wid wiðute met ant deop wiðute grunde; ful of brune uneuenlich, for ne mei nan eorðlich fur euenin þer- towart; ful of stench unþolelich, for ne mahte in eorðe na cwic þing hit þolien; ful of sorhe untalelich, for ne mei na muð for wrecchedom ne for wa rikenin hit ne tellen. Se þicke is þrinne þe þosternesse þet me hire mei grapin. For þet fur ne ȝeueð na liht, ah blent ham þe ehnen þe þer beoð wið a smorðrinde smoke, smeche forcuðest, ant tah i þet ilke swarte þeosternesse swarte þinges ha iseoð, as deoflen þet ham meallið ant derueð aa ant dreccheð wið alles cunnes pinen, ant iteilede draken grisliche ase deoflen þe forswolheð ham ihal ant speoweð ham eft ut biuoren ant bihinden, oðer-hwile torendeð ham ant tocheoweð ham euch greot, ant heo eft iwurðeð hal to a swach bale bute bote as ha ear weren. Ant ful wel ha iseoð, ham to grisle ant to grure ant to echen hare pine, þe laðe helle-wurmes,tadden ant froggen, þe freoteð ham ut te ehnen ant te nease-gristles, ant snikeð in ant ut neddren ant eauroskes, nawt ilich þeose her ah hundret siðe grisluker, et muð ant et earen, ed ehnen ant ed neauele, ant ed te breoste- holke as meaðen i forrotet flesch, eauerȝete þickest. Þer is remunge i þe brune ant toðes hechelunge i þe snawi weattres. Ferliche ha flutteð from þe heate into þe chele, ne neauer nuten ha of þeos twa hweðer ham þuncheð wurse, for eiðer is unþole- lich. Ant i þis ferliche mong þe leatere þurh þe earre derueð þe mare. Þet fur ham forbeameð al to colen calde, þet pich ham forwalleð aðet ha beon formealte, ant eft acwikieð anan to drehen al þet ilke ant muchedeale nrse a wiðuten ende. At tis ilke unhope is ham meast pine, þet nan naueð neauermare hope of nan acouerunge, ah aren sikere of euch uuel to þurh- leasten i wa from worlde into worlde aa on echnesse. Euch aþrusmeð oðer, at euch is oðres pine, ant euchan heateð oðer ant him seoluen as þe blake deouel; ant eauer se ha i þis world luueden ham mare, se ha þer heatieð ham swiðere; anteiðer curseð oðer ant fret of þe oðres earen, ant te nease alswa. Ich habbe bigunne to tellen of þing þet Ich ne mahte nawt bringe to eni ende, þah Ich hefde a þusent tungen of stele ant talde aðet ha weren alle forwerede. Ah þencheð nu herþurh hwuch þe rneaste pine beo: for þe leaste pine is se heard þet hefde a mon islein ba mi feader ant mi moder ant al þe ende of mi cun, ant ido me seoluen al þe scheome ant te hearm þet cwic mon mahte þolien, ant Ich isehe þes mon i þe ilke leaste pine þet Ich iseh in helle, Ich walde, ȝef hit mahte beon, þolien a þusent deaðes to arudden him ut þrof, swa is þe sihðe grislich ant reowðful to bihalden. For þah neauer nere nan oðer pine bute to iseon eauer þe unseli gastes ant hare grisliche schape, biseon on hare grimfule ant grurefule nebbes, ant heren hare rarunge, ant hu ha wið hokeres edwiteð ant upbreideð euchan his sunnen, þis schendlac ant te grure of ham were unimete pine -- ant hure þolien ant abeoren hare unirude duntes wið mealles istelet ant wið hare eawles gledreade hare dustlunges as þah hit were a pilche-clut euchan towart oðer i misliche pinen. O helle deaðes hus, wununge of wanunge, of grure ant of granunge, heatel ham ant heard wan of alle wontreaðes, buri of bale ant bold of eauereuch bitternesse, þu laðest lont of alle, þu dorc stude ifullet of alle dreorinesses, Ich cwakie of grisle ant of grure, ant euch ban schekeð me ant euch her me rueð up of þi munegunge, for nis þer na steuene bituhhe þe fordemde bute "wumme", ant "wa is me" and "wa beo þe" and "wa beo þe". "Wa" ha ȝeieð ant wa ha habbeð, ne of al þet eauer wa is ne schal ham neauer wontin. Þe swuch wununge ofearneð for ei hwilinde blisse her o þisse worlde, wel were him ȝef þet he neauer ibore nere. Bi þis ȝe mahen sumdel witen hwuch is helle, for iwis Ich habbe þrin isehen a þusent siðe wurse; ant from þeonne kimeð Deað wið a þusent deoflen hiderwart, as Ich seide, ant Ich com þus," quoð Fearlac, "forte warnin ow fore, ant tellen ow þeos tidinges."

"Nu, Lauerd Godd," quoð Warschipe, "wardi us ant werie, ant rihte us ant reade hwet us beo to donne, ant we beon þe warre ant wakere to witen us on euch half under Godes wengen. Ȝef we wel werieð ant witeð ure hus ant Godes deore tresor þet he haueð bitaht us, cume deað hwen he wulle, ne þurue we nowðer beon ofdred for hire ne for helle, for ure deað bið deore Godd, ant inȝong into heouene. Of þeos fikelinde world ne of hire false blisse ne neome we neauer ȝeme, for al þet is on eorðe nis bute as a schadewe, for al wurðeð to noht bute þet deore tresor, Godes deorewurðe feh þet is us bitaht to witene. Ich habbe þeruore sar care, for Ich iseo," seið Warschipe, "hu þe unwhiht wið his ferd ase liun iburst geað abuten ure hus, sechinde ȝeornliche hu he hit forswolhe. Ant tis Ich mei", seið Warschipe, "warnin ow of his lað ant for his wrenches; ah Ich ne mei nawt aȝeines his strengðe."

"Do nu", quoð Strengðe, Warschipe suster, "þet te limpet to þe, ant warne us of his wiheles, for of al his strengðe ne drede we nawiht: for nis his strengðe noht wurð bute hwer se he ifindeð eðeliche ant wake, unwarnede of treowe bileaue. Þe apostle seið: "Etstont þen feont, ant he flið ananriht." Schulde we þenne fleon him? Ȝe, nis Godd ure scheld? and alle beoð ure wepnen of his deore grace, ant Godd is on ure half ant stont bi us i fehte. Ȝef he schute towart me wið weole ant wunne of þe world, wið este of flesches lustes, of þulliche nesche wepnen Ich mahte carien summes weis, ah ne mei me na þing heardes offearen, ne nowcin ne na wone falsi min heorte ne wursi mi bileaue towart him þet ȝeueð me alle mine strengðen."

"For ba me ah," quoð Meað, "ant for heart of nowcin ant for wone of wunne, dreden ant carien. For rnoni for to muchel heard of wa þet he dreheð forȝet ure Lauerd, ant ma þah for nesche ant for flesches licunge forȝemeð ham ofte. Bituhhen heard ant nesche, bituhhe wa of þis world ant to muche wunne, bituhhe muchel and lutel is in euch worldlich þing þe middel wei guldene. ȝef we hire haldeð, þenne ga we siker- liche, ne þerf us nowðer for deað ne for deouel dreden. Hwet se beo of heardes, ne drede Ich nawiht nesches, for ne mei na wunne ne na flesches licunge ne licomlich este bringe me ouer þe midel of mesure ant of mete."

Rihtwissnesse spekeð nu. "Mi suster," ha seið, "Warschipe, þe haueð wit ant schad bituhhe god ant uuel, ant wat hwet is in euch þing to cheosen ant to schunien, readeð us ant leareð forte ȝeme lutel alle fallinde þing ant witen warliche þeo þe schulen a lesten. Ant seið as ha soð seið, þet þurh unweotenesse ne mei ha nawt sunegin, ant tah nis nawt siker of þe unwihtes strengðe, as þeo þe halt hire wac, þah ha beo muche wurð to ure alre ehnen, ant demeð hire unmihti onont hireseoluen to etstonden wið his turnes, ant deð ase þe wise. Mi suster Strengðe is swiðe bald, ant seið þet nawiht heardes ne mei hire offearen, ah þah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen, ah deð o Godes grace, ant þet Ich demi riht ant wisdom to donne. Mi þridde suster, Meað, spekeð of þe middel sti bituhhe riht ant luft, þet lut cunnen halden, ant seið i nesche ha is bald, ant heard mei hire offearen, ant forþi ne ȝelpeð ha of na sikernesse, ant deð as þe wise. Mi meoster is to do riht ant riht forto demen, ant Ich deme me seolf þet Ich þurh me ne do hit nawt: for al þet god is of Godd þet we her habbeð. Nu is riht þenne þet we demen us seolf eauer unmihtie to werien ant to witen us oðer ei god to halden wiðute Godes helpe. Þe rihtwise Godd wule þet we demen us seolf eðeliche ant lahe, ne beo we neauer swucche, for þenne demeð he us muche wurð, ant gode, ant halt for his dehtren. For þah mi forme suster war beo of euch uuel, ant min oðer strong beo toȝeines euch nowcin, ant mi þridde meaðful in alles cunnes estes, ant Ich do riht and deme, bute we wið al þis milde beon ant meoke, ant halden us wake, Godd mei mid rihte fordemen us of al þis þurh ure prude; ant forþi is riht dom þet we al ure god þonkin him ane."

Wit þe husebonde, Godes cunestable, hereð alle hare sahen and þonkeð God ȝeorne wið swiðe glead heorte of se riche lane as beoð þeos sustren, his fowr dehtren þet he haueð ileanet him on helpe forte wite wel ant werien his castel, ant Godes deorewurðe feh þet is biloke þrinne. Þe willesfule husewif halt hire al stille, ant al þet hird þet ha wes iwunet to dreaien efter hire turneðham treowliche to Wit hare lauerd ant to þeos fowr sustren. Vmben ane stunde spekeð eft Warschipe ant seið: "Ich iseo a sonde cumen, swiðe glead-icheret, feier ant freolich ant leofliche aturnet." "Let him in," seið Wit, "ȝef Godd wule, he bringeð us gleade tidinges, ant þet us were muche neod, for Fearlac, Deaðes sonde, haueð wið his offearet us swiðe mid alle." Warschipe let him in, ant he gret Wit, þen lauerd, ant al þet hird seoðen wið lahhinde chere, ant ha ȝeldeð him his gretunge, ant beoð alle ilihtet, ant igleadet ham þuncheð of his onsihðe, for al þet hus schineð ant schimmeð of his leome. He easkeð ham ȝef ham biluueð to heren him ae hwile. "Ȝe," quoð ha, Rihtwisnesse, "wel us biluueð hit, ant wel is riht þet we þe liðeliche lustnin."

"Hercnið nu þenne," he seið, "ant ȝeornliche understondeð. Ich am Murðes sonde, ant munegunge of eche lif, ant Liues Luue ihaten, ant cume riht from heouene, þet Ich habbe isehen nu ant ofte ear þe blisse þet na monnes tunge ne mei of tellen. Þe iblescede Godd iseh ow offruhte ant sumdel drupnin of þet Fearlac talde of deað ant of helle, ant sende me to gleadien ow, nawt forþi þet hit ne beo al soð þet he seide, ant þet schulen alle uuele fondin ant ifinden. Ah ȝe, wið þe fulat of Godd, ne þurue na þing dreden, for he sit on heh þet is ow on helpe, ant is alwealdent þet haueð ow to witene."

"A," seið Warschipe, "welcume, Liues Luue, ant for þe luue of Godd seolf, ȝef þu eauer sehe him tele us sumhwet of him ant of his eche blisse." "Ȝe, i seoð," quoð Liues Luue, Murhðes sonde, "Ich habbe isehen him ofte, nawt tah alswa as he is -- for ; aȝein þe brihtnesse ant te Iiht of his leor þe sunne-gleam is dosc ant þuncheð a schadewe; ant forþi ne mahte Ich nawt aȝein þe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden, bute þurh a schene schawere bituhhe me ant him þet schilde mine ehnen ; Swa Ich habbe ofte isehen þe hali þrumnesse, Feader ant Sune ant Hali Gast, þreo an untodealet. Ah lutle hwile Ich mahte þolie þe leome, ah summes weis Ich mahte bihalden ure Lauerd Iesu Crist Godes sune, þet bohte us o rode, hu he sit blisful on his Feader riht half þet is alwealdent, rixleð i þet eche lif bute linnunge, se unimete feier þet te engles ne beoð neauer ful on him to bihalden. Ant ȝet Ich iseh etscene þe studen of his wunden, ant hu he schaweð ham his feader to cuðen hu he luuede us ant hu he wes buhsum to him þe sende him swa to alesen us, ant bisecheð him a for moncunnes heale.

"Efter him Ich iseh on heh ouer alle heouenliche wordes þe eadi meiden his moder, Marie inempnet, sitten in a trone se swiðe briht wið ȝimmes istirret, ant hire wlite se weoleful þet euch eorðlich liht is þeoster þeraȝeines. Þear Ich iseh as ha bit hire deorewurðe sune se ȝeornliche ant se inwardliche for þeo þet hire seruið, ant he hire ȝetteð bliðeliche al þet ha bisecheð.

"Þet liht þa Ich ne mahte lengre þolien, Ich biseh to þe engles ant to þe archangles ant to þe oðre þe beoð buuen ham, iblescede gastes þe beoð a biuore Godd ant seruið him eauer, ant singeð a unwerget. Nihe wordes þer beoð, ah hu ha beoð i-ordret ant sunderliche isette, þe an buue þe oðre, ant euchanes meoster, were long to tellen. Se muche murhðe Ich hefde on hare onsihðe þet ne mahte Ich longe hwile elleshwider lokin.

"Efter ham Ich iseh towart te patriarches ant te prophetes þe makieð swuch murhðe þet ha aren nuðe i þet ilke lont of blisse þet ha hefden of feor igret ear on eorðe, ant seoð nu al þet isoðet þet ha hefden longe ear icwiddet of ure Lauerd, a he hefde ischawed hom i gastelich sihðe. Ich iseh þe apostles, poure ant lah on eorðe, ifullet ant bigoten al of unimete blisse, sitten i trones, ant al under hare uet þet heh is i þe worlde, ȝarowe for te demen i þe dei of dome kinges ant keiseres ant alle cunreadneg of alles cunnes ledenes.

Ich biheolt te martyrs ant hare unimete murhðe þe þoleden her pinen ant deað for ure Lauerd, ant lihtliche talden to alles cunnes neowcins ant eorðliche tintreohen aȝeines þe blisse þet Godd in hare heorte schawede ham to cumene.

Efter ham Ich beheolt þe cunfessurs hird þe liueden i god lif ant hal[il]iche deiden, þe schineð as doð steorren i þe eche blissen, ant seoð Godd in his wlite þet haueð alle teares iwipet of hare ehnen.

Ich iseh þet schene ant þet brihte ferreden of þe eadi meidnes ilikest towart engles, ant feolahlukest wið ham blissin ant gleadien þe, libbinde i flesche, ouergað flesches lahe ant ouercumeð cunde, þe leadeð heouenlich lif in eorðe as ha wunieð. Hare murhðe ant hare blisse, þe feierleac of hare wlite, þe swetnesse of hare song, ne mei na tunge tellen. Alle ha singeð þe þer beoð, ah hare song ne mahe nane buten heo singen. Se swote smeal ham folheð hwider se ha wendeð, þet me mahte libben aa bi þe swotnesse. Hwamse heo bisecheð fore is sikerliche iborhen, for aȝein hare bisocnen Godd him- seolf ariseð þet alle þe oðre halhen sittende ihereð."

"Swiðe wel," quoð Warschipe, "likeð us þet tu seist. Ah nu þu hauest se wel iseid of euch a setnese of þe seli sunderlepes, sumhwet sei us nu hwuch blisse is to alle iliche meane." And Liuea Luue hire ondswereð: "Þe imeane blisse is seouenfald, lengðe of lif, wit, ant luue, ant of þe luue a gleadunge wiðute met, murie loft-song ant lihtschipe, ant sikernese is þe seoueðe." "Þah Ich þis," seið Warschipe, "sumdel understonde, þu most unwreo þis witerluker ant openin to þeos oðre." "Ant hit schal beon," seið Liues Luue, "Warschipe, as þu wilnes."

"Ha liuieð a in a wlite þet is brihtre seoueuald ant schenre þen þe sunne, ant eauer in a strengðe to don buten euch swinc al þet ha wulleð, ant eauermare in a steal in al þet eauer god is wiðute wonunge, wiðuten euch þing þet mahe hearmin oðer eilin, in al þet eauer is softe oðer swote; ant hare lif is Godes sihðe ant Godes cnawlechunge, as ure Lauerd seide: "Þet is," quoð he, "eche lif, to seon ant cnawen soð Godd ant him þet he sende, Iesu Crist ure Lauerd, to ure alesnesse"; ant beoð forþi ilich him i þe ilke wlite þet he is, for ha seoð him as he is, nebbe to nebbe. Ha beoð se wise þet ha witen alle Godes reades, his runes, ant his domes þe derne beoð, ant deopre þen eni sea-dingle. Ha seoð i Godd alle þing, ant witen of al þet is ant wes ant eauer schal inrðen, hwet it beo, hwi, ant hwerto, ant hwerof hit bigunne.

Ha luuieð God wiðute met, for þet ha understondeð hu he haueð bi ham idon þurh his muchele godlec ant hwet ha ahen his deorewurðe milce to ȝelden, ant euchan luueð oðer ase muchel as himseoluen.

Se gleade ha beoð of Godd þet al is hare blisse se muchel þet ne mei hit munne na muð ne spealie na speche. Forþi þet euch- an luueð oðer as himseoluen, euchan haueð of oðres god ase muche murhðe as of his ahne. Bi þis ȝe mahen seon ant witen þet euchan haueð sunderlepes ase feole gleadschipes as ha beoð monie alle, ant euch of þe ilke gleadschipes is to eauereuchan ase muche gleadunge as his ahne sunderliche. Ȝet ouer al þis, hwen euchan luueð Godd mare þen himseoluen ant þen alle þe oðre, mare he gleadeð of Godd wiðuten ei etlunge þen of his ahne gleadunge ant of alle þe oðres. Neomeð nu þenne ȝeme: ȝef neauer anes heorte ne mei in hire underuon hire ahne gleadunge sunderliche -- se unimete muchel is þe anlepi blisse -- hu nimeð in hire þus monie ant þus muchele? Forþi seide ure Lauerd to þeo þe him hefden icwemet: Intra in gaudium etc. "Ga," quoð he, "into þi Lauerdes blisse. Þu most al gan þrin, ant al beon bigotten þrin, for in þe ne mei hit nanesweis neomen in." Herof ha herieð Godd ant singeð a unwerget eauer iliche lusti in his loft-songes, as hit iwriten is: Beati qui habitant etc: Eadi beoð þeo, Lauerd, þe i þin hus wunieð; ha schulen herien þe from worlde into worlde.

Ha beoð alle ase lihte ant ase swifte ase sunne-gleam þe scheot fram est into west as tin ehlid tuneð ant openeð: for hwer se eauer þe gast nle, þe bodi is ananriht wiðute lettunge. For ne mei ham naþing aȝeines etstonden, for euchan is almihti to don al þet he wule, ȝe, makie to cwakien heouene ba ant eorðe wiþ his an finger.

Sikere ha beoð of al þis, of þulli lif, of þulli wit, of þulli luue ant gle adunge þrof, ant of þulli blisse, þet hit ne mei neauermare lutlin ne wursin, ne neome nan ende. Þis lutle ich habbe iseid of þet ich iseh in heouene, ah nower neh ne seh ich al, ne þet ȝet þet ich seh ne con ich half tellen."

"Witerliche," quoð Warschipe, "wel we understondeð þet tu hauest ibeo þear ant soð hauest iseid trof efter þi sihðe. Ant wel is him þet is war ant bisið him hu he mahe beast halden his hus þet Godes tresor is in aȝeines Godes unwine þe weorreð þertowart a wið unþeawes: for þet schal bringen him þider as he schal al þis þet tu hauest ispeken of, an hundret siðe mare, of blisse buten euch bale fondin ant ifinden." Quoð Strengðe: "Hwen hit swa is, hwet mei tweamen us from Godd ant halden us þeonne? Ich am siker ine Godd þat ne schal lif ne deað ne wa ne wunne nowðer todealen us ant his luue þat al þis us haueð iȝarcket ȝef we as treowe tresurers witeð wel his tresor þet is bitaht us to halden as we schulen ful wel under his wengen."

"Varpeð ut," quoð Warschipe, "Farlac ure fa. Nis nawt riht þet an hus halde þeos tweien: for þer as murðes sonde is and soð luue of eche lif, farlac is fleme." "Nu ut!" quoð Strenðe, "Farlac, ne schaltu na lengere leuen in ure ende." "Nu," quoð he, "Ich seide for god al þet ich seide; and þah it muri nere nes na lessere mi tale þen wes Murhðes sondes ne unbihefre to ow, þah it ne beo so licwurðe ne icweme". "Eiðer of ow haueð his stunde to speokene, ne nis incker noðres tale to schunien in his time. Þu warnest of wa, he telleð of wunne. Muche neod is þet me ow ba ȝeornliche hercni. Flute nu, Farlac, þah, hwil Liues Luue is herinne, and þole wið efne heorte þe dom of Rihtwisnesse: for þu schal ful bliðeliche beon underfon in as ofte as Liues Luue stutteð forto spekene."

Nu is Wil þet husewif al stille þet er wes so willesful, al ituht efter Wittes wissunge þet is husebonde ; ant al þet hird halt him stille þet wes iwunet to beon fulitohen ant don efter Wil, hare lefdi, ant nawt efter Wit; lustneð nu his lare ant fondeð eauereuchan efter þet him limpeð to þurh þeos twa sonden þet ha iherd habbeð ant þet fowr sustren lerden þruppe: for euch unþeawes inȝong his warde te witene and te warden treowliche.

Þus ah mon te þenchen ofte ant ilome ant wið þulliche þohtes awecchen his heorte, þe i slep of ȝemeles forȝet hire sawle heale, efter þeos twa sonden; from helle sihðe biseon to þe blisse of heouene; to habben farlac of þet an, luue toward þet oðer, ant leaden him ant his hinen, þet beoð his limen, alle nawt efter þat his Wil, þe untohe lefdi, and his lust leareð, ah efter þet Wit nle þet is husebonde, tuhten ant teachen þet Wit ga euer biuore ant teache Wil efter him to al þet he dihteð ant demeð to donne ant wið þe fowr sustren þerfore, þe fowr heued-þeawes -- Warschipe, Strencðe in Godd, ant Með and Rihtwisnesse -- witen Godes treosor þet is his ahne sawle i þe hus of þe bodi from þe þeof of helle. Þulli þoht makeð mon te fleon alle unþeawes ant ontent his heorte toward þe blisse of heouene. Þet ure Lauerd ȝeue us þurh his hali milce, þet wið þe Feder ant e Sune ant e Hali Gast rixleð in þreohad a buten ende. Amen.

Par seinte charite biddeð a paternoster for Iohan þet þeos boc wrat.

Hwase þis writ haueð ired Ant Crist him haueð swa isped, Ich bidde par seinte charite Þat ȝe bidden ofte for me Aa paternoster ant Aue Marie, Þet Ich mote þet lif her drehen Ant ure Lauerd wel icwemen I mi ȝuheðe ant in min elde Þet Ich mote Iesu Crist mi sawle ȝelde. Amen.