Early English Alliterative Poems 22

Early English Alliterative Poems 22

[Headnote: NOAH LEAVES THE ARK.]

 

VI.

 

[Sidenote: The dove returns with an olive branch in her beak.]

On ark on an euentyde houeȝ þe downe,

On stamyn ho stod & stylle hy{m} abydeȝ;

What! ho broȝt i{n} hir beke a bronch of olyue,

G{ra}cyo{us}ly vmbe-grouen al w{i}t{h} grene leueȝ; 488

[Sidenote: This was a token of peace and reconciliation.]

Þat watȝ þe sy{n}gne of sauyté þ{a}t sende he{m} oure lorde,

& þe saȝtly{n}g of hy{m}-self w{i}t{h} þo sely besteȝ.

[Sidenote: Joy reigns in the ark.]

Þe{n} watȝ þer ioy i{n} pat gyn where Iu{m}pred er dryȝed,

& much comfort i{n} þat cofer þat watȝ clay-daubed. 492

[Sidenote: The people therein laugh and look thereout.]

Myryly on a fayr morn, monyth þe fyrst,

Þat falleȝ formast i{n} þe ȝer, & þe fyrst day,

Ledeȝ loȝen i{n} þat lome & loked þ{er}-oute,

How þat watt{er}eȝ wern woned & þe worlde dryed. 496

Vchon loued oure lorde, bot lenged ay stylle,

Tyl þay had tyþy{n}g fro þe tolke þat tyned he{m} þ{er}-i{n}ne;

[Sidenote: God permits Noah and his sons to leave the ark.]

Þe{n} godeȝ glam to hem glod þat gladed hem alle,

Bede hem drawe to þe dor, delyu{er} hem he wolde; 500

Þe{n} went þay to þe wykket, hit walt vpon sone,

Boþe þe burne & his barneȝ bowed þ{er}-oute;

Her wyueȝ walkeȝ hem wyth & þe wylde aft{er},

Þroly þrublande i{n} þronge, þrowen ful þykke; 504

[Sidenote: [Fol. 64a.]]

[Sidenote: Noah offers sacrifice to God.]

Bot Noe of vche honest kynde nem out an odde

& heuened vp an auter & halȝed hit fayre,

& sette a sakerfyse þ{er}-on of vch a ser kynde,

Þat watȝ comly & clene, god kepeȝ non oþ{er}. 508

When bremly brened þose besteȝ, & þe breþe rysed,

[Sidenote: It is pleasing to Him that “all speeds or spoils.”]

Þe sauo{ur} of his sacrafyse soȝt to hym euen

Þat al spedeȝ & spylleȝ; he spek{es} w{i}t{h} þat ilke

I{n} comly comfort ful clos & cortays wordeȝ: 512

[Sidenote: God declares that He will never destroy the world for

the sin of man.]

“Now noe no more nel I neu{er} wary,

Alle þe mukel mayny [on] molde for no ma{n}neȝ sy{n}neȝ,

For I se wel þat hit is sothe, þat alle ma{n}neȝ wytteȝ

To vn-þryfte arn alle þrawen w{i}t{h} þoȝt of her hertteȝ, 516

& ay hatȝ ben & wyl be ȝet fro her barnage;

Al is þe mynde of þe man to malyce enclyned,

For-þy schal I neu{er} schende so schortly at ones,

As dysstrye al for maneȝ sy{n}ne [in] dayeȝ of þis erþe. 520

Bot waxeȝ now & wendeȝ forth & worþeȝ to monye,

Multyplyeȝ on þis molde & menske yow by-tyde.

[Sidenote: That summer and winter shall never cease.]

Sesou{n}eȝ schal yow neu{er} sese of sede ne of heruest,

Ne hete, ne no harde forst, vmbre ne droȝþe, 524

Ne þe swetnesse of somer, ne þe sadde wynt{er},

[Sidenote: Nor night nor day, nor the new years.]

Ne þe nyȝt, ne þe day, ne þe newe ȝereȝ,

Bot eu{er} re{n}ne restleȝ rengneȝ ȝe þ{er}-i{n}ne.”

[Sidenote: God blesses every beast.]

Þ{er}wyth he blesseȝ vch a best, & bytaȝt hem þis erþe. 528

 

[Headnote: THE BEASTS ARE DISPERSED.]

 

Þe{n} watȝ a skylly skyualde, quen scaped alle þe wylde;

[Sidenote: Each fowl takes its flight.]

Vche fowle to þe flyȝt þat fyþereȝ myȝt serue,

[Sidenote: Each fish goes to the flood.]

Vche fysch to þe flod þat fy{n}ne couþe nayte,

[Sidenote: Each beast makes for the plain.]

Vche beste to þe bent þat[24] byt{es} on erbeȝ; 532

[Sidenote: Wild worms wriggle to their abodes in the earth.]

Wylde wormeȝ to her won wryþeȝ i{n} þe erþe,

[Sidenote: The fox goes to the woods.]

Þe fox & þe folmarde to þe fryth wyndeȝ,

[Sidenote: Harts to the heath, and hares to the gorse.]

Hertt{es} to hyȝe heþe, hareȝ to gorsteȝ,

[Sidenote: Lions and leopards go to the lakes.]

& lyou{n}eȝ & lebardeȝ to þe lake ryft{es}, 536

[Sidenote: Eagles and hawks to the high rocks.]

Herneȝ & hauekeȝ to þe hyȝe rocheȝ;

Þe hole-foted fowle to þe flod hyȝeȝ,

& vche best at a brayde þer hy{m} best lykeȝ;

[Sidenote: The four ‘frekes’ take the empire.]

Þe fowre frekeȝ of þe folde fongeȝ þe empyre. 540

[Sidenote: [Fol. 64b.]]

[Sidenote: Behold what woe God brought on mankind for their

hateful deeds!]

Lo! suche a wrakful wo for wlatsu{m} dedeȝ

Parformed þe hyȝe fader on folke þat he made;

Þat he chysly hade cherisched he chastysed ful hardee,

I{n} de-voydy{n}ge þe vylanye þ{a}t venkquyst his þeweȝ. 544

For-þy war þe now, wyȝe, þat worschyp desyres,

I{n} his comlych co{ur}te þat ky{n}g is of blysse,

[Sidenote: Beware of the filth of the flesh.]

I{n} þe fylþe of þe flesch þat þ{o}u be fou{n}den neu{er},

Tyl any wat{er} i{n} þe worlde to wasche þe fayly, 548

For is no segge vnder su{n}ne so seme of his crafteȝ,

If he be sulped i{n} sy{n}ne, þat [ne] sytteȝ vnclene.

[Sidenote: “One speck of a spot” will ruin us in the sight of

God.]

On spec of a spote may spede to mysse

Of þe syȝte of þe sou{er}ayn þat sytteȝ so hyȝe, 552

For þat schewe me schale i{n} þo schyre howseȝ,

[Sidenote: The beryl is clean and sound,--it has no seam.]

As þe beryl bornyst byhoueȝ be clene,

Þat is sou{n}de on vche a syde & no sem habes,

W{i}t{h}-outen maskle oþ{er} mote as margerye p{er}le. 556

 

[Sidenote 24: MS. _þat þat_.]

 

 

[Headnote: GOD’S HATRED OF WICKEDNESS.]

 

VII.

 

[Sidenote: When God repented that he had made man, he destroyed

all flesh.]

Syþe{n} þe sou{er}ayn i{n} sete so sore for-þoȝt

Þat eu{er} he man vpon molde merked to lyuy,

For he i{n} fylþe watȝ fallen, felly he uenged,

Quen fo{ur}ferde[25] alle þe flesch þat he formed hade, 560

[Sidenote: But afterwards He was sorry, and made a covenant with

mankind that He would not again destroy all the living.]

Hy{m} rwed þat he hem vp-rerde & raȝt hem lyflode,

& efte þat he he{m} vndyd, hard hit hym þoȝt;

For quen þe swemande sorȝe soȝt to his hert,

He knyt a couenau{n}de cortaysly w{i}t{h} monkynde þ{er}e, 564

In þe mesure of his mode & meþe of his wylle,

Þat he schulde neu{er} for no syt smyte al at oneȝ,

As to quelle alle quykeȝ for qued þat myȝt falle,

Whyl of þe lenþe of þe londe lasteȝ þe t{er}me. 568

Þat ilke skyl for no scaþe ascaped hy{m} neu{er},

Wheder wonderly he wrak on wykked men aft{er};

[Sidenote: For the filth of the flesh God destroyed a rich city.]

Ful felly for þat ilk faute forferde a kyth ryche,

I{n} þe anger of his ire þat arȝed mony; 572

& al watȝ for þis ilk euel, þat vn-happen glette,

Þe venym & þe vylanye & þe vycios fylþe,

Þat by-sulpeȝ ma{n}neȝ saule i{n} vnsou{n}de hert,

Þat he his saueour ne see w{i}t{h} syȝt of his yȝen, 576

[Sidenote: [Fol. 65a.]]

[Sidenote: God hates the wicked as “hell that stinks.”]

Þat alle illeȝ he hates as helle þat stynkkeȝ;

Bot non nuyeȝ hy{m}, on naȝt ne neu{er} vpon dayeȝ,

[Sidenote: Especially harlotry and blasphemy.]

As harlottrye vn-honest, heþy{n}g of seluen;

Þat schameȝ for no schrewedschyp schent mot he worþe! 580

Bot sauyo{ur} mon i{n} þy self, þaȝ þ{o}u a sotte lyuie,

Þaȝ þ{o}u bere þy self babel, by-þenk þe su{m}-tyme,

Wheþer he þat stykked vche a stare i{n} vche steppe yȝe,

Ȝif hy{m} self[26] be bore blynd{e} hit is a brod wonder; 584

& he þat fetly i{n} face fettled alle eres

If he[27] hatȝ losed þe lysten hit lyfteȝ meruayle;

[Sidenote: Nothing is hidden from God.]

Trave þ{o}u neu{er} þat tale, vn-trwe þ{o}u hit fyndeȝ,

Þer is no dede so derne þat ditteȝ his yȝen; 588

Þer is no wyȝe i{n} his werk so war ne so stylle

Þat hit ne þraweȝ to hym þre[28] er he hit þoȝt haue;

[Sidenote: God is the ground of all deeds.]

For he is þe gropande god, þe grou{n}de of alle dedeȝ,

Rypande of vche a ri{n}g[29] þe reynyeȝ & hert; 592

[Sidenote: He honours the man that is honest and whole.]

& þere he fyndeȝ al fayre a freke wyth-i{n}ne

Þat hert honest & hol, þat haþel he hono{ur}eȝ,

Sendeȝ hy{m} a sad syȝt to se his auen face,

& harde honyseȝ þise oþ{er} & of his erde flemeȝ. 596

[Sidenote: But for deeds of shame He destroys the mighty ones.]

Bot of þe dome of þe douþe for dedeȝ of schame

He is so skoymos of þat skaþe, he scarreȝ bylyue,

He may not dryȝe to draw allyt, bot drepeȝ i{n} hast

& þat watȝ schewed schortly by a scaþe oneȝ. 600

 

[Sidenote 25: _for-ferde_ (?).]

[Sidenote 26: MS. _sele._]

[Sidenote 27: MS. _he he._]

[Sidenote 28: _þer_ (?).]

[Sidenote 29: _rink_ or _renk_ (?).]

 

 

[Headnote: ABRAHAM RECEIVES THREE GUESTS, AND ENTERTAINS THEM.]

 

VIII.

 

[Sidenote: Abraham is sitting before his house-door under a

green oak.]

Olde Abraham i{n} erde oneȝ he sytteȝ

Euen byfore his ho{us}-dore vnder an oke grene;

Bryȝt blykked þe bem of þe brode heuen,

I{n} þe hyȝe hete þ{er}-of Abraham bideȝ, 604

He watȝ schu{n}t to þe schadow vnder schyre leueȝ;

[Sidenote: He sees three men coming along, and goes toward them.]

Þe{n}ne watȝ he war on þe waye of wlonk wyȝeȝ þry{n}ne.

If þay wer farande & fre & fayre to beholde,

Hit is eþe to leue by þe last ende; 608

For þe lede þat þer laye þe leueȝ an-vnder,

When he hade of hem syȝt he hyȝeȝ bylyue,

& as to god þe good mon gos hem agayneȝ

& haylsed hem i{n} onhede & sayde, “hende lorde 612

[Sidenote: [Fol. 65b.]]

Ȝif eu{er} þy mon vpon molde merit disserued,

[Sidenote: He entreats them to rest awhile, that he may wash

their feet, and bring them a morsel of bread.]

Lenge a lyttel with þy lede I loȝly bi-seche;

Passe neu{er} fro þi pou{er}e, ȝif I hit pray durst,

Er þ{o}u haf biden with þi burne & vnder boȝe restted; 616

& I schal wy{n}ne yow wyȝt of wat{er} a lyttel,

& fast aboute schal I fare yo{ur} fette wer waschene;

Restteȝ here on þis rote & I schal rachche aft{er}

& bry{n}ge a morsel of bred to banne yo{ur} hertte.” 620

“Fare forthe,” q{uod} þe frekeȝ, “& fech as þ{o}u seggeȝ;

By bole of þis brode tre we byde þe here.”

[Sidenote: Abraham commands Sarah to make some cakes quickly,

and tells his servant to seethe a tender kid.]

Þe{n}ne orppedly i{n}-to his ho{us} he hyȝed to Saré

Comau{n}ded hir to be cof & quyk at þis oneȝ; 624

“Þre metteȝ of mele menge & ma kakeȝ,

Vnder askeȝ ful hote happe hem byliue;

Quyl I fete su{m}quat fat þ{o}u þe fyr bete,

Prestly at þis ilke poynte su{m} polment to make.” 628

He cached to his cobho{us}[30] & a calf bry{n}geȝ

Þat watȝ tender & not toȝe; bed tyrne of þe hyde,

& sayde to his seruau{n}t þ{a}t he hit seþe faste

& he deruely at his dome dyȝt hit bylyue. 632

[Sidenote: Abraham appears bare-headed before his guests.]

Þe burne to be bare-heued buskeȝ hy{m} þe{n}ne,

[Sidenote: He casts a clean cloth on the green, and sets before them cakes, butter, milk, and pottage.]