Ormulum dedication

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Nu, brot`err Wallterr, brot`err min

Affterr t`e flaeshess kinde;

& brot`err min i Crisstenndom

T`urrh fulluhht & t`urrh trowwt`e;

& brot`err min i Godess hus, 5

y`ȅt o t`e t`ride wise,

T`urrh t`att witt hafenn takenn ba

An rey`h`ellboc to folly`h`enn,

Unnderr kanunnkess had & lif,

Swa summ Sannt Awwstin sette; 10

Icc hafe don swa summ t`u badd,

& fort`edd te t`in wille,

Icc hafe wennd inntill Ennglissh

Goddspelless hally`h`e láre,

Affterr t`att little witt t`att me 15

Min Drihhtin hafet`t` lenedd.

T`u t`ohhtesst tatt itt mihhte wel

Till mikell frame turrnenn,

y`iff Ennglissh follc, forr lufe off Crist,

Itt wollde y`erne lernenn, 20

& folly`h`enn itt, & fillenn itt

Wit`t` t`ohht, wit`t` word, wit`t` dede.

& forrt`i y`errndesst tu t`att icc

T`iss werrc t`e shollde wirrkenn;

& icc itt hafe fort`edd te, 25

Acc all t`urrh Cristess hellpe;

& unnc birrt` bat`e t`annkenn Crist

T`att itt iss brohht till ende.

Icc hafe sammnedd o t`iss boc

T`a Goddspelless neh alle, 30

T`att sinndenn o t`e messeboc

Inn all t`e y`er att messe.

& ay`y` affterr t`e Goddspell stannt

T`att tatt te Goddspell menet`t`,

T`att mann birrt` spellenn to t`e follc 35

Off t`ey`y`re sawle nede;

& y`ȅt taer tekenn mare inoh

T`u shallt taeronne findenn,

Off t`att tatt Cristess hally`h`e t`ed

Birrt` trowwenn wel & folly`h`enn. 40

Icc hafe sett her o t`iss boc

Amang Goddspelless wordess,

All t`urrh me sellfenn, maniy` word

T`e ríme swa to fillenn;

Acc t`u shallt findenn t`att min word, 45

Ey`y`whaer t`aer itt iss ekedd,

May`y` hellpenn t`a t`att redenn itt

To sen & tunnderrstanndenn

All t`ess te bettre, hu t`ey`y`m birrt`

T`e Goddspell unnderrstanndenn; 50

& forrt`i trowwe icc t`att te birrt`

Wel t`olenn mine wordess,

Ey`y`whaer t`aer t`u shallt findenn hemm

Amang Goddspelless wordess.

Forr whase mőt to laewedd follc 55

Larspell off Goddspell tellenn,

He mőt wel ekenn maniy` word

Amang Goddspelless wordess.

& icc ne mihhte nohht min ferrs

Ay`y` wit`t` Goddspelless wordess 60

Wel fillenn all, & all forrt`i

Shollde icc wel offte nede

Amang Goddspelless wordess don

Min word, min ferrs to fillenn.

& te bitaeche icc off t`iss boc, 65

Heh wikenn alls itt semet`t`,

All to t`urrhsekenn illc an ferrs,

& to t`urrhlokenn offte,

T`att upponn all t`iss boc ne be

Nan word y`aen Cristess lare, 70

Nan word tatt swit`e wel ne be

To trowwenn & to folly`h`enn.

Witt shulenn tredenn unnderrfőt

& all t`werrt űt forrwerrpenn

T`e dom off all t`att lat`e flocc, 75

T`att iss t`urrh nit` forrblendedd,

T`att taelet`t` t`att to lofenn iss,

T`urrh nit`full modiy`nesse.

T`ey`y` shulenn laȅtenn haet`eliy`

Off unnkerr swinnc, lef brot`err; 80

& all t`ey`y` shulenn takenn itt

Onn unnitt & onn idell;

Acc nohht t`urrh skill, acc all t`urrh nit`,

& all t`urrh t`ey`y`re sinne.

& unnc birrt` biddenn Godd tatt he 85

Forry`ife hemm here sinne;

& unnc birrt` bat`e lofenn Godd

Off t`att itt wass bigunnenn,

& t`annkenn Godd tatt itt iss brohht

Till ende, t`urrh hiss hellpe; 90

Forr itt may`y` hellpenn alle t`a

T`att blit`elike itt herenn,

& lufenn itt, & folly`h`enn itt

Wit`t` t`ohht, wit`t` word, wit`t` dede.

& whase wilenn shall t`iss boc 95

Efft ot`err sit`e writenn,

Himm bidde icc t`att hȅt wríte rihht,

Swa summ t`iss boc himm taechet`t`,

All t`werrt űt affterr t`att itt iss

Uppo t`iss firrste bisne, 100

Wit`t` all swillc ríme alls her iss sett,

Wit`t` all se fele wordess;

& tatt he loke wel t`att he

An bocstaff wríte twiy`y`ess,

Ey`y`whaer t`aer itt uppo t`iss boc 105

Iss wriy`tenn o t`att wise.

Loke he well t`att hȅt write swa,

Forr he ne may`y` nohht elless

Onn Ennglissh wríttenn rihht te word,

T`att wite he wel to sot`e. 110

& y`iff mann wile wiy`tenn whi

Icc hafe don t`iss dede,

Whi icc till Ennglissh hafe wennd

Goddspelless hally`h`e lare;

Icc hafe itt don forrt`i t`att all 115

Crisstene follkess berrhless

Iss lang uppo t`att an, t`att tey`y`

Goddspelless hally`h`e lare

Wit`t` fulle mahhte folly`h`e rihht

T`urrh t`ohht, t`urrh word, t`urrh dede. 120

Forr all t`att aefre onn ert`e iss ned

Crisstene follc to folly`h`enn

I trowwt`e, i dede, all taechet`t` hemm

Goddspelless hally`h`e lare.

& forrt`i whase lernet`t` itt 125

& folly`h`et`t` itt wit`t` dede,

He shall onn ende wurrt`i ben

T`urrh Godd to wurrt`enn borry`h`enn.

& taerfore hafe icc turrnedd itt

Inntill Ennglisshe spaeche, 130

Forr t`att I wollde blit`eliy`

T`att all Ennglisshe lede

Wit`t` aere shollde lisstenn itt,

Wit`t` herrte shollde itt trowwenn,

Wit`t` tunge shollde spellenn itt, 135

Wit`t` dede shollde itt folly`h`enn,

To winnenn unnderr Crisstenndom

Att Godd sot` sawle berrhless.

& y`iff t`ey`y` wilenn herenn itt,

& folly`h`enn itt wit`t` dede, 140

Icc hafe hemm hollpenn unnderr Crist

To winnenn t`ey`y`re berrhless.

& I shall hafenn forr min swinnc

God laen att Godd onn ende,

y`iff t`att I, forr t`e lufe off Godd 145

& forr t`e mede off heffne,

Hemm hafe itt inntill Ennglissh wennd

Forr t`ey`y`re sawle nede.

& y`iff t`ey`y` all forrwerrpenn itt,

Itt turrnet`t` hemm till sinne, 150

& I shall hafenn addledd me

T`e Laferrd Cristess are,

T`urrh t`att icc hafe hemm wrohht tiss boc

To t`ey`y`re sawle nede,

T`ohh t`att tey`y` all forrwerrpenn itt 155

T`urrh t`ey`y`re modiy`nesse.

Goddspell onn Ennglissh nemmnedd iss

God word, & god tit`ennde,

God errnde, forrt`i t`att itt wass

T`urrh hally`h`e Goddspellwrihhtess 160

All wrohht & wriy`tenn uppo boc

Off Cristess firste come,

Off hu sot` Godd wass wurrt`enn mann

Forr all mannkinne nede,

& off t`att mannkinn t`urrh hiss daet` 165

Wass lesedd űt off helle,

& off t`att he wisslike ras

T`e t`ridde day`y` off daet`e,

& off t`att he wisslike stah

T`a sit`t`enn upp till heffne, 170

& off t`att he shall cumenn efft

To demenn alle t`ede,

& forr to y`eldenn iwhillc mann

Affterr hiss ay`h`enn dede.

Off all t`iss god uss brinnget`t` word 175

& errnde & god tit`ennde

Goddspell, & forrt`i may`y` itt wel

God errnde ben y`ehatenn.

Forr mann may`y` uppo Goddspellboc

Godnessess findenn seffne 180

T`att ure Laferrd Jesu Crist

Uss hafet`t` don onn ert`e,

T`urrh t`att he comm to manne, & t`urrh

T`att he warrt` mann onn ert`e.

Forr an godnesse uss hafet`t` don 185

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ert`e,

T`urrh t`att he comm to wurrt`enn mann

Forr all mannkinne nede.

Ot`err godnesse uss hafet`t` don

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ert`e, 190

T`urrh t`att he wass i flumm Jorrdan

Fullhtnedd forr ure nede;

Forr t`att he wollde uss waterrkinn

Till ure fulluhht hally`h`enn,

T`urrh t`att he wollde ben himm sellf 195

Onn ert`e i waterr fullhtnedd.

T`e t`ridde god uss hafet`t` don

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ert`e,

T`urrh t`att he y`aff hiss ay`h`enn lif

Wit`t` all hiss fulle wille, 200

To t`olenn daet`t` o rodetre

Sacclaes wit`t`utenn wrihhte,

To lesenn mannkinn t`urrh his daet`

Űt off t`e defless walde.

T`e fert`e god uss hafet`t` don 205

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ert`e,

T`urrh t`att hiss hally`h`e sawle stah

Fra rode dun till helle,

To takenn űt off helle wa

T`a gode sawless alle, 210

T`att haffdenn cwemmd himm i t`iss lif

T`urrh sot` unnshat`iy`nesse.

T`e fifte god uss hafet`t` don

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ert`e,

T`urrh t`att he ras forr ure god 215

T`e t`ridde day`y` off daet`e,

& lȅt te posstless sen himm wel

Inn hiss mennisske kinde;

Forr t`att he wollde fesstnenn swa

Sot` trowwt`e i t`ey`y`re brestess 220

Off t`att he, wiss to fulle sot`,

Wass risenn upp off daet`e,

& i t`att illke flaesh t`att wass

Forr uss o rode nay`y`ledd;

Forr t`att he wollde fesstnenn wel 225

T`iss trowwt`e i t`ey`y`re brestess,

He lȅt te posstless sen himm wel

Well offte sit`e onn ert`e,

Wit`t`innenn day`y`ess fowwerrtiy`

Fra t`att he ras off daet`e, 230

T`e sexte god uss hafet`t` don

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ert`e,

T`urrh t`att he stah forr ure god

Upp inntill heffness blisse,

& sennde sit`t`enn Haliy` Gast 235

Till hise Lerninngcnihhtess,

To frofrenn & to beldenn hemm

To stanndenn y`aen t`e defell,

To gifenn hemm god witt inoh

Off all hiss hally`h`e lare, 240

To gifenn hemm god lusst, god mahht,

To t`olenn alle wawenn,

All forr t`e lufe off Godd, & nohht

Forr ert`liy` loff to winnenn.

T`e seffnde god uss shall y`ȅ don 245

T`e Laferrd Crist onn ende,

T`urrh t`att he shall o Domess day`y`

Uss gifenn heffness blisse,

y`iff t`att we shulenn wurrt`i ben

To findenn Godess are. 250

T`uss hafet`t` ure Laferrd Crist

Uss don godnessess seffne,

T`urrh t`att tatt he to manne comm,

To wurrt`enn mann onn ert`e.

& o t`att hally`h`e boc t`att iss 255

Apokalypsis nemmnedd

Uss wrȁt te posstell Sannt Johan,

T`urrh Haliy` Gastess lare,

T`att he sahh upp inn heffne an boc

Bisett wit`t` seffne innsey`y`less, 260

& sperrd swa swit`e wel t`att itt

Ne mihhte nan wihht oppnenn,

Wit`t`utenn Godess hally`h`e Lamb

T`att he sahh ec inn heffne.

& t`urrh t`a seffne innsey`y`less wass 265

Rihht swiT`e wel bitacnedd

T`att sefennfald godley`y`c t`att Crist

Uss dide t`urrh hiss come;

& tatt nan wihht ne mihhte nohht

Oppnenn t`a seffne innsey`y`less, 270

Wit`t`utenn Godess Lamb, t`att comm,

Forr t`att itt shollde tacnenn

T`att nan wihht, nan enngell, nan mann,

Ne naness kinness shaffte,

Ne mihhte t`urrh himm sellfenn t`a 275

Seffne godnessess shaewenn

O mannkinn, swa t`att itt mannkinn

Off helle mihhte lesenn,

Ne gifenn mannkinn lusst, ne mahht,

To winnenn heffness blisse. 280

& all all swa se Godess Lamb,

All t`urrh hiss ay`h`enn mahhte,

Lihhtlike mihhte & wel inoh

T`a seffne innsey`y`less oppnenn,

All swa t`e Laferrd Jesu Crist, 285

All t`urrh his ay`h`enn mahhte,

Wit`t` Faderr & wit`t` Haliy` Gast

An Godd & all an kinde,

All swa rihht he lihhtlike inoh

& wel wit`t` alle mihhte 290

O mannkinn t`urrh himm sellfenn t`a

Seffne godnessess shaewenn,

Swa t`att he mannkinn wel inoh

Off helle mihhte lesenn,

& gifenn mannkinn lufe & lusst, 295

& mahht & witt & wille,

To stanndenn inn to cwemenn Godd,

To wiy`nenn heffness blisse.

& forr t`att haliy` Goddspellboc

All t`iss godnesse uss shaewet`t`, 300

T`iss sefennfald godley`y`c t`att Crist

Uss dide t`urrh hiss are,

Forrt`i birrt` all Crisstene follc

Goddspelless lare folly`h`enn.

& taerfore hafe icc turrnedd itt 305

Inntill Ennglisshe spaeche,

Forr t`att I wollde blit`eliy`

T`att all Ennglisshe lede

Wit`t` aere shollde lisstenn itt,

Wit`t` herrte shollde itt trowwenn, 310

Wit`t` tunge shollde spellenn itt,

Wit`t` dede shollde itt folly`h`enn,

To winnenn unnderr Crisstenndom

Att Crist sot` sawle berrhless.

& Godd Allmahhtiy` y`ife uss mahht 315

& lusst & witt & wille,

To folly`h`enn t`iss Ennglisshe boc

T`att all iss haliy` lare,

Swa t`att we motenn wurrt`i ben

To brukenn heffness blisse. 320

Am[aen]. Am[aen]. Am[aen];·

Icc. t`att tiss ennglissh hafe sett.

Ennglisshe menn to lare;

Icc wass t`aer t`aer i crisstnedd wass.

Orrmin bi name nemmnedd.

& icc orrmin full innwarrdliy`. 325

Wit`t` mut`. & ec wit`t` herrte.

Her bidde t`a crisstene menn.

T`att herenn ot`err rédenn.

T`iss boc; hemm bidde icc her t`att tey`y`.

Forr me t`iss bede biddenn. 330

T`att brot`err t`att tiss ennglissh writt.

Allraeresst wrȁt. & wrohhte;

T`att brot`err forr hiss swinnc to laen;

Sot` blisse móte findenn. Amaen.

T`a Goddspelless alle t`att icc 335

Her o t`iss boc may`y` findenn,

Hemm alle wile icc nemmnenn her

Bi t`ey`y`re firrste wordess.

& tale wile icc settenn to,

To don y`uw tunnderrstanndenn, 340

Hu féle sinndenn o t`iss boc

Goddspelless unnderr alle.