skip to content

englesaxe

Early Middle English for today

full menu

Poema Morale contained in the Lambeth Manuscript 487; ca. 1170

original text

view normalised text
[f. 59v] Ich em nu alder t`ene ich wes awintre & a lare
Ich welde mare t`ene ich dede mi wit ahte bon mare
Wel longe ich habbe child ibon a worde & a dede
t`ah ich bo a wintre ald to y`ung ich em on rede. 5
vnnet lif ich habbe iled. & y`et me t`ingt` ilede.
t`enne ich me bit`enche wel ful sare ich me adrede.
mest al t`et ich habbe idon bifealt to child`ade.
Wel late ich habbe me bit`ocht bute God me nu rede.
Fole idel word ich habbe iqued`en sod`d`en ich speke kud`e. 10
fole y`unge dede idon t`e me oft`inchet nud`e.
mest al t`et me likede er nu hit me misliked`
t`a muchel fulied` his wil hine solf he biswiked`.
Ich mihte habbe bet idon. hefde ich t`e iselt`e.
Nu ich walde ah ich ne mei for elde & for un helt`e. 15
Elde me is bistolen on. er ich hit wiste.
ne michte ich seon bifore me. for smike ne for miste.
Ery`e we beod` to done god. & to ufele al to t`riste.
mare eie stonded` men of monne t`anne hom do of criste.
t`e wel ne dod` t`e hwile t`e ho muy`en. wel oft hit schal rowen 20
t`enne y`e mawen sculen & repen t`et ho er sowen.
Do he to gode t`et he muy`e t`e hwile t`et he bo aliue.
ne lipnie na mon to [f. 60r] muchel to childe ne to wiue.
t`e him solue fory`et for wiue ne for childe
he scal cumen in uuel stude bute him God bo milde. 25
Sended` sum god biforen eow. t`e hw[i]le t`et y`e muy`en to houene.
for betere is an elmesse biforen t`enne bod` efter souene.
Alto lome ich habbe igult a werke & o worde.
Al to muchel ich habbe ispent. to litel ihud in horde.
Ne beo t`e loure t`ene t`e solf ne t`in mei. ne t`in may`e. 30
Soht is t`et is od`ers monnes frond betre t`en his ay`en.
Ne lipnie wif to hire were. ne were to his wiue
bo for him solue ech .Mon. t`e hwile t`et he bo aliue.
Wis is t`e to him solue t`ench t`e hwile t`e mot libben.
for sone wule hine fory`eten t`e fremede & t`e sibbe. 35
t`e wel ne ded` t`e hwile he mai ne scal wenne he walde.
Monies monnes sare iswinc habbed` oft unholde.
Ne scal na mon don afirst. ne slawen wel to done.
for moni mon bihated` wel t`e hit fory`eted` sone.
T`e .Mon. t`e wule siker bon to habben Godes blisse. 40
do wel him solf hwile t`et he mai t`enne haued` he his mid iwisse.
t`es riche .Men. wened` bon siker t`urh walle & t`urh diche.
t`e ded` his echte on sikere stude he hit sent to heueneriche.
for t`er ne t`erf he bon ofdred of fure ne of t`oue
t`er ne [f. 60v] t`erf he him binimen t`e lad`e ne t`e loue. 45
t`er ne t`erf he habben kare of y`eve ne of y`elde.
t`ider he sent. & solf bered` to lutel & to selde.
t`ider we sculen dray`en & don wel ofte & ilome.
for t`er ne scal me us naut binimen mid wrangwise dome.
t`ider y`e sculen y`orne dray`en. walde y`e god ileue. 50
for ne mei t`er hit ou binimen king ne reue.
Al t`et beste t`et we hefden t`ider we hit solde senden
for t`er we hit michte finden eft. & habben buten ende.
T`o t`e er dod` eni God for habben godes are.
al he hit scal finden eft t`er & hundred fald mare. 55
T`e t`et echte wile halden wel hwile t`e he muy`e es welden.
Giue hies for godes luue t`enne det` hes wel ihalden.
Vre swinc & ure tilt`e is ofte iwoned to swinden.
Ach t`et t`e we dod` for godes luue eft we sculen al finden.
Ne scal nan ufel bon unbocht. ne nan god unfory`olden. 60
vfel we dot` al to muchel. & god lesse t`enne we sculden.
T`o t`e mest dod` nu to gode. & t`e lest to lad`e.
Eid`er to lutel & to muchel scal t`unchen eft hom bat`e.
T`er me scal ure werkes weien biforan t`e heuen king.
and y`euen us ure swinkes lan efter ure erninge. 65
Ech mon mid t`et he hauet. mei buggen houene riche.
t`e mare hauet` & t`e t`e lesse bat`e hi [f. 61r] muy`en iliche.
Alse mid his penie alse od`er mid` his punde.
T`et is t`e wunderlukeste chep t`et eni mon efre funde.
& t`e d`e mare ne mai don do hit mid his gode t`onke. 70
Alse wel se t`e t`e haued` golde fele manke.
& oft god kon mare t`onc t`en t`e him y`eued` lesse.
& his werkes & his wey`es his milce. & rihtwisnesse.
lutel lac is gode lof t`et kumed` of gode wille.
& eclete muchel y`eue of t`an t`e herte is ille. 75
Houene & hort`e he ouer sich. his ey`en bod` swa brichte.
Sunne & mone & houen fur bod` t`estre ay`ein his lihte.
Nis him noht forholen ni hud. swa muchele bod` his mihte.
nis hit ne swa derne [idon] ne [a] swa t`ostre nihte.
he wat wet t`enked` & hwet dod` alle quike wihte. 80
Nis na lauerd swich se is crist. ne king swuch ure drihten.
houene & ord`e & al t`et is biloken is in his honde.
he ded` al t`et his wil is a wettre & alonde.
He makede fisses in t`e se & fuy`eles in t`e lifte.
he wit & walded` alle t`ing & scop alle scefte. 85
he is hord buten horde & ende buten ende.
he ane is eure an ilche stude wende t`er t`u wende.
he is buuen us & binot`en. biforen & bihinden.
t`e t`e ded` godes wille uwer he mei him finden.
Helche rune he iherd` & wat alle deden. 90
he t`urt`sichet` uches monnes t`onc. Wi hwat scal us to rede.
We t`et broked` godes hese & gulted` swa ilome.
hwet scule we seggen od`er don et t`e muchele dome.
T`a t`e luueden unriht & ufel lif [f. 61v] leden.
Wet sculen ho seggen od`er don t`en t`e engles bon of dred. 95
hwet sculen we beren biforen us mid hom scule we iquemen.
t`o t`e neure god ne dude t`e houenliche deme.
t`er sculen bon doule swa fole t`et wulled` us for wreien.
& nabbed` hi nat`ing fory`eten of al t`et ho isey`en.
Al t`et we mis duden her ho hit wulled` kud`e t`ere. 100
[buten we habbe hit ibet. d`e hwile we her were]
Al ho habbed` in hore write t`et we misduden here.
t`ach we nusten ne nisey`en. ho weren ure ifere.
Hwet sculen ordlinghes don. t`a swicen & ta forsworene
hwi bod` fole iclepede. & swa lut icorene. 105
wi hwi weren ho biy`eten to hwon weren ho iborene.
t`et sculen bon to det`e idemet. & eure ma forlorene.
Ech .Mon. scal him solue t`er biclepie & bidemen.
his ay`en werch & his t`onc te witnesse he scal temen.
ne mei him na .Mon. alsa wel demen ne alswa rihte 110
for nan ne knaud` him ase y`ere & buten ane drihte.
Ech .Mon. wat him solue best & his werkes. & his wille.
T`e d`e lest wat biseip ofte mest t`e hit al wat is stille.
nis nan witnesse alse muchel se monnes ay`en horte.
Wa se seid` t`et he bo hal. him solf wat best his smirte. 115
Ech .Mon. scal h[i]m solf demen to ded`e od`er to liue.
t`a witnesse of his ay`en werch hine t`erto scal driue.
Al t`et ech .Mon. haued` idon sod`d`en he com to monne
sculde he [f. 62r] hit sechen o boke iwriten he scal it`enchen t`enne.
Ah drihten ne demed` nenne .Mon. efter his biginnigge. 120
ah al his lif scal bon suilch bod` his endinge.
y`ef t`et his uuel al hit is uuel & God y`efe god his ende.
God y`eue t`et ure ende bo god. & wite t`et he us lende.
t`e .Mon. t`et uuel don na god. ne neure god lif leden.
er ded` & dom come to his dure he mei him sare adreden. 125
t`et he ne muy`e t`enne biden are. for t`et itit ilome.
fort`i he is wis t`e biet & bit & bet bifore dome.
Wenne ded` is attere dure wel late he biddet` are.
Wel late he lat`ed` uuel werc t`e ne mei hit don ne mare.
t`et achten we to leuen wel. for ure drihten solf hit seide. 130
A hwilke time se eure .Mon. of t`incht` his misdede.
Ot`er rat`er od`er later milce he scal imeten.
Ac t`e t`et t`er naf[d`] nocht ibet wel muchel he haued` to beten.
Monimon seit hwa rechd` of pine t`e scal habben t`ende.
Ne bidde ich na bet bo alesed a domes dei of bende. 135
lutel he wat wet is pine. & lutel he hit scawed`
hwice hete is t`er t`a saule wuned` hu biter wind t`er blawed`.
hefde he bon t`er enne dei od`er twa bare tide
nolde he for al middenerd t`e t`erdde t`er abiden.
t`et habbed` iseid t`[e] comen t`onen t`a hit wisten mid iwissen. 140
wa wurd` sory`e seuey`er. for souenihte blisse.
In hure blisse t`e [f. 62v] t`e ende haued`. for endelese pine.
betere is wori water drunch t`en atter meind mid wine.
Swines brede is swid`e swete. swa is of wilde dore.
alto dore he is abuh t`e y`efd` t`er fore his swore. 145
Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger. & of festen
swa mei of pine t`e ne cnaud` t`e scal a ilesten.
Hefd` he ifonded summe stunde he wolde al seggen od`er.
Etlete him were wif. child. suster. feder & brod`er.
Al he walde & od`erluker don & od`erluker t`enchen 150
Wenne he bit`ohte on helle fur t`e nawiht ne mei quenchen.
Eure he walde her inne wawe & ine wene wunien.
Wid` t`et t`e mihte helle pine biflien & bisunien
Etlete him were al world wele & ord`liche blisse.
for to t`et muchele blisse cumen is murt`e mid iwisse. 155
Iwule nu cumen eft to t`e dome t`et ich er ow of sede
A t`a dei & at ta dome us helpe crist & rede.
t`er we muy`en bon et`e offerd & herde us adreden.
t`er he scal al son him biforen his word & ec his deden.
Al scal t`er bon t`enne cud t`er men luy`en her ent stelen. 160
Al scal t`er bon t`anne unwron t`et men wruy`en her & helen.
We sculen alre monne lif iknauwen alse ure ahen.
t`er sculen eueningges bon t`e riche & t`e lay`e.
Ne scal na mon skamie t`er ne t`erf he him adreden.
Gif him her oft`inct` [f. 6y`r] his gult & bet his misdede. 165
for him ne scamet` ne ne gromed` t`e sculen bon ibory`en.
Ach t`ot`re habbet` scome & grome & oft fele sory`e.
T`e dom scal sone bon idon ne lest he nawiht longe.
ne scal him na mon mene t`er of strengt`e ne of wronge.
t`e sculen habbe herdne dom t`a her weren herde. 170
t`a t`e uuele holden wreche men & uuele lay`e redde.
Ec efter t`et he eft` idon sal t`er t`enne [beon] idemet.
[blid`e mei he d`enne beon. t`e god hafd` wel icwemed]
Alle t`a t`i sprunge bot` of adam & of eue.
Alle hi sculen cumen t`ider for sod`e we hit ileued`. 175
t`a t`e habbed` wel idon efter hore mihte.
to houene riche hi sculen faren ford` mid ure drihte.
T`a t`e habbed` doules werc idon. & t`er inne bo ifunde.
hi sculen faren ford` mid him in to helle grunde.
T`er hi sculen wunien a buten are & ende. 180
Ne breket` neure drihte helle gate for lesen hi of bende.
Nis na sullic t`ech hom bo wa & hom bo uneade.
Ne scal neure eft crist t`olie det` for lesen hom of deat`e.
Enes drihten helle brec his frond he ut brochte.
him solf he t`olede ded` for him. wel dore he hom bohte. 185
Nalde hit mei do for mei. ne suster for brod`er.
nalde hit sune do for fader. ne na mon for od`er.
Vre alre lauerd for his t`relles ipined wes a rode.
vre bendes he unbon[d] & bohte us mid his blode.
We y`eued` [f. 6y`v] uned`e for his luue a stuche of ure brede. 190
Ne t`enke we noht t`et he scal deme t`a quike & t`a dede.
Muchele luue he us cudde. walde we hit understonde
t`e ure eldre misduden we habbed` uuele on honde.
Det` com in t`is middenerde t`urh t`es doules honde.
& sake & sory`e & swinc a watere & a londe. 195
Vre forme fader gult. we abuy`ed` alle.
[eal his of spring efter him. en hearme is bifealle.]
t`urst & hunger. chele & hete. helde & unheld`e.
t`urh him ded` com in t`is middenerd & od`er uniseld`e.
Nere namon elles ded ne sec ne nan unsele. 200
ac mihten libben eure ma a blisse & a hele.
lutel hit t`unched` moni mon. ac muchel wes t`a sunne.
for hwam alle t`olied` ded` t`e comen of hore cunne.
Hore sunne & ec ure ay`en sare us mei oft`inche.
t`urh sunne we libbed` alle in sory`e & in swinke. 205
Sud`d`en God nom swa muchele wrake for are misdede
We t`e swa muchel & swa ofte misdod`. we muy`en ed`e us adrede.
Adam and his ofsprung for are bare sunne.
Wes fele undret wintre an helle pine & an unwunne.
t`a t`e ledden hore lif mid unriht & mid wrange. 210
buten hit godes milce do ho sculen bon t`er wel longe.
Godes wisdom is wel muchel & alswa is his mihte
& nis his milce naut lesse. ac bi t`an ilke iwichte.
Mare he ane mei fory`euen. t`en [f. 64r] al folc gulte cunuc.
Sulf douel mihte babben milce. y`if he hit bigunne. 215
T`a t`e godes milce seched` he iwis mei ha ifinden.
Ac helle king is areles wit` t`a t`e he mei binden.
t`e t`e det` is wille mest he haued` wurst mede.
His bat` scal bon wallinde. his bad` scal bon berninde glede.
Wurst he ded` his gode frond t`enne his fulle fond 220
God scilde alle godes frond. a wih swilche freonde.
Neure in helle hi com. ne t`er ne come reche.
t`ach ich elches worldes wele. t`er me mahte feche
t`et his wulle seggen on t`at wise men us seiden.
& aboken hit writen t`er [me] mei hit reden. 225
Ich hit wille seggen t`an t`e hit hom solf nusten.
warni hom wid` hore unfrome. y`if ho me wulled` lusten.
vnderstonded` nu to me edi men & arme.
Ich wulle tellen of helle pin & wernin ow wid` herme.
In helle his hunger & t`urst twa uuele iuere. 230
t`as t`olied` t`a [t`e] weren maket nit`inges here.
T`er is waning & wow. efter eche streche.
ho fared` from hete to hete. & hech to frure t`e wreche.
t`enne hi bid` in t`ere hete t`e chele him t`unchet blisse.
t`enne hi cumed` eft to t`e chele of hete hi habbeb misse. 235
hi hem ded` wa inoch nabbed` hi nane blisse.
Nute hi hwet`er hem det` wurs mid neure nane wisse.
hi walked` eure & seched` reste [f. 64v] ac ho ne muy`en imeten.
fort`i t`e ho nolden t`e hwile t`et ho mihten here sunne beten.
ho seched` reste t`er nis nan. fort`i ne muy`en hi es finden. 240
Ac walked` weri up & dun se water det` mid winde.
t`o bod` t`a t`e weren her a t`anke unstedefeste.
& t`a t`e gode biheten heste & nolden hit ileste.
t`a t`e god werc bigunnen & ful enden hit nolden.
Nu witen her. & nud`e t`er. & nusten hwat hi wolden. 245
t`er is bernunde pich hore saule to bat`ien inne.
t`a t`e ledden here lif in werre & in winne.
t`er is fur t`et is undret fald hattre. t`ene bo ure.
Ne mei quenchen salt weter ne uersc of t`e burne.
t`is is t`et fur t`et efre bernd ne mei nawiht hit quenchen 250
T`er inne bod` t`a t`e was to lof wreche men to swenchen.
t`a t`e weren swikelemen & ful of uuel wrenchen.
t`a t`e mihten uuel don. t`e t`e lef hit wes to t`enchen.
T`e luueden tening & stale. hordom & drunken.
& a doules werche blit`eliche swunken. 255
T`a t`e weren swa lese t`et me hom ne mihte ileuen.
Medierne domes men. & wrongwise reuen.
t`et od`er monnes wif lof. his ay`en etlete.
t`o t`e sungede muchel a drunke & an ete.
t`e wreche mon binom his ehte. & leide his on horde. 260
t`et lutel let of godes borde. & godes worde.
& t`o t`e his ay`en nalde y`euen t`er he isech [f. 65r] t`e node
Ne nalde iheren godes sonde. t`enne he hit herde bode.
T`e t`et is od`ers monnes t`ing. loure t`ene hit sculde.
& weren to gredi of solure & of golde. 265
& t`a t`e untrownesse duden t`on t`e ho sculden bon holde.
& leten t`et ho sculden don. & duden t`et ho wolden.
T`a t`e weren eure abuten t`isse worldes echte.
& duden al t`et t`e lat`e gast hechte to & tachte.
& alle t`e t`en anigewise doulen iquemde. 270
T`a bod` nu mid him in helle fordon & fordemet.