Early English Alliterative Poems 24

Early English Alliterative Poems 24

[Sidenote: God’s messengers go to Sodom.]

His sondes i{n}-to sodamas watȝ sende i{n} þat tyme,

I{n} þat ilk euentyde, by au{n}gels tweyne,

Meuand meuande[38] mekely togeder as myry me{n} ȝonge,

[Sidenote: Lot is sitting alone at the “door of his lodge.”]

As loot i{n} a loge dor lened hy{m} alone, 784

I{n} a porche of þat place pyȝt to þe ȝat{es},

Þat watȝ ryal & ryche, so watȝ þe renk{es} seluen.

[Sidenote: Staring into the street he sees two men.]

As he stared i{n}-to þe strete þ{er} stout men played

He syȝe þer swey i{n} asent swete men tweyne; 788

[Sidenote: Beardless chins they had, and hair like raw silk.]

Bolde burneȝ wer þay boþe w{i}t{h} berdles chy{n}neȝ,

Royl rollande fax to raw sylk lyke,

Of ble as þe brere flo{ur} where-so þe bare scheweed,

Ful clene watȝ þe cou{n}tenau{n}ce of her cler yȝen; 792

[Sidenote: [Fol. 68a.]]

[Sidenote: Beautifully white were their weeds.]

Wlonk whit watȝ her wede & wel hit hem semed.

Of alle fetureȝ ful fyn & fautleȝ boþe;

Watȝ non autly i{n} ouþ{er}, for aungels hit wern,

& þat þe ȝep vnder-ȝede þat i{n} þe ȝate sytteȝ. 796

 

[Headnote: LOT ENTERTAINS THE MESSENGERS.]

 

[Sidenote: Lot runs to meet them.]

He ros vp ful radly & ran hem to mete

& loȝe he louteȝ hem to, loth, to þe grou{n}de,

& syþen soberly [satȝ] “syreȝ I yow by-seche,

[Sidenote: Invites them to remain awhile in his house, and in

the morning they may take their way.]

Þat ȝe wolde lyȝt at my loge & lenge þ{er}-i{n}ne, 800

Comeȝ to yo{ur} knaues kote I craue at þis oneȝ;

I schal fette yow a fatte yo{ur} fette forto wasche;

I norne yow bot for on nyȝt neȝe me to lenge,

& i{n} þe myry morny{n}g ȝe may yo{ur} waye take.” 804

& þay nay þat þay nolde neȝ no howseȝ,

Bot stylly þer i{n} þe strete as þay stadde wern,

Þay wolde lenge þe long naȝt & logge þ{er}-oute;

Hit watȝ ho{us} innoȝe to hem þe heuen vpon lofte. 808

[Sidenote: Lot invites them so long that at last they comply.]

Loth laþed so longe wyth luflych wordeȝ,

Þat þay hy{m} grau{n}ted to go & gruȝt no leng{er}.

Þe bolde to his byggy{n}g bryngeȝ hem bylyue,

[Sidenote: The wife and daughters of Lot welcome their visitors.]

Þat ryally [watȝ] arayed, for he watȝ ryche eu{er}. 812

Þe wyȝeȝ wern welcom as þe wyf couþe,

His two dere doȝt{er}eȝ deuoutly he{m} haylsed,

Þat wer maydeneȝ ful meke, maryed not ȝet,

& þay wer semly & swete, & swyþe wel arayed. 816

[Sidenote: Lot admonishes his men to prepare the meat, and to

serve no salt with it.]

Loth þe{n}ne ful lyȝtly lokeȝ hy{m} aboute,

& his me{n} amonest{es} mete forto dyȝt,

Bot þenkkeȝ on hit be þrefte what þynk[39] so ȝe make,

For wyth no so{ur}[40] ne no salt serueȝ hy{m} neu{er}. 820

Bot ȝet I wene þat þe wyf hit wroth[41] to dyspyt,

& sayde softely to hir self “þis vn-sau{er}e[42] hyne

Loueȝ no salt i{n} her sauce ȝet hit no skyl were

Þat oþ{er} burne be boute þaȝ boþe be nyse.” 824

[Sidenote: Lot’s wife disregards the injunction.]

Þe{n}ne ho sau{er}eȝ w{i}t{h} salt her seueȝ vchone

Agayne þe bone of þe burne þat hit forboden hade,

& als ho scelt he{m} i{n} scorne þat wel her skyl knewen.

Why watȝ ho wrech so wod, ho wrathed oure lorde! 828

[Sidenote: [Fol. 68b.]]

[Sidenote: The guests are well entertained.]

Þe{n}ne seten þay at þe soper, wern serued by-lyue,

Þe gest{es} gay & ful glad, of glam debonere,

Welawy{n}nely wlonk tyl þay waschen hade,

Þe trest{es} tylt to þe woȝe & þe table boþe. 832

 

[Headnote: LOT’S HOUSE IS BESET.]

 

[Sidenote: But before they go to rest the city is up in arms.]

Fro þe seggeȝ haden souped & seten bot a whyle,

Er eu{er} þay bosked to bedde þe borȝ watȝ al vp;

Alle þat weppen myȝt welde, þe wakker & þe stronger,

To vmbe-lyȝe lotheȝ ho{us} þe ledeȝ to take, 836

In grete flokkeȝ of folk, þay fallen to his ȝateȝ,

As a scowte-wach scarred, so þe asscry rysed;

[Sidenote: With “keen clubs” the folk clatter on the walls, and

demand that Lot should deliver up his guests.]

W{i}t{h} kene clobbeȝ of þat clos þay clatȝ on þe woweȝ,

& wyth a schrylle scharp schout þay schewe þyse worde: 840

“If þ{o}u louyeȝ þy lyf loth i{n} þyse woneȝ

Ȝete v{us} out þose ȝong men þat ȝore-whyle here entred,

Þat we may lere hym[43] of lof, as oure lyst biddeȝ,

As is þe asyse of Sodomas to seggeȝ þ{a}t passen.” 844

Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spito{us} fylþe,

What! þay ȝeȝed & ȝolped of ȝestande sorȝe,

[Sidenote: The wind yet stinks with their filthy speech.]

Þat ȝet þe wynd, & þe weder, & þe worlde stynk{es}

Of þe brych þat vp-braydeȝ þose broþelych wordeȝ. 848

Þe god man glyfte w{i}t{h} þ{a}t glam & gloped for noyse,

So scharpe schame to hy{m} schot, he schrank at þe hert,

For he knew þe costou{m} þat kyþed þose wrecheȝ,

He doted neu{er} for no doel so depe i{n} his my{n}de. 852

[Sidenote: Lot is in great trouble.]

Allas! sayd hy{m} þe{n}ne loth, & lyȝtly he ryseȝ

& boweȝ forth fro þe bench i{n}-to þe brode ȝat{es}.

What! he wonded no woþe of wekked knaueȝ,

Þat he ne passed þe port þe p{er}il[44] to abide. 856

[Sidenote: He leaves his guests and addresses the Sodomites.]

He went forthe at þe wyket & waft hit hy{m} aft{er},

Þat a clyket hit cleȝt clos hy{m} byhynde.

Þe{n}ne he meled to þo men mesurable wordeȝ,

For harloteȝ w{i}t{h} his hendelayk he hoped to chast; 860

“Oo! my frendeȝ so fre, yo{ur} fare is to strange,

Dotȝ away yo{ur} derf dyn & dereȝ neu{er} my gest{es},

Avoy! hit is yo{ur} vylaynye, ȝe vylen yo{ur} seluen;

&[45] ȝe ar iolyf gentylmen yo{ur} iapes ar ille. 864

[Sidenote: [Fol. 69a.]]

Bot I schal ke{n}ne yow by kynde a crafte þat is bett{er};

[Sidenote: He offers to give up to them his two daughters.]

I haf a tresor i{n} my telde of tow my fayre deȝt{er},

Þat ar maydeneȝ vnmard for alle men ȝette;

In sodamas, þaȝ I hit say, non semloker burdes, 868

Hit arn ronk, hit arn rype & redy to ma{n}ne;

To samen wyth þo semly þe solace is bett{er},

I schal biteche yow þo two þat tayt arn & quoy{n}t,

& laykeȝ wyth hem as yow lyst & leteȝ my gest{es} one.” 872

[Sidenote: The rebels raise a great noise, and ask who made him

a justice to judge their deeds, who was but a boy when he came

to Sodom.]

Þe{n}ne þe rebaudeȝ so ronk rerd such a noyse,

Þat aȝly hurled i{n} his ereȝ her harloteȝ speche;

“Wost þ{o}u not wel þ{a}t þ{o}u woneȝ here a wyȝe strange,

An out-comly{n}g, a carle, we kylle of þyn heued. 876

Who Ioyned þe be iostyse oure iapeȝ to blame,

Þat com a boy to þis borȝ, þaȝ þ{o}u be burne ryche?”

Þ{us} þay þrobled & þrong & þrwe vmbe his ereȝ,

& distresed hy{m} wonder strayt, w{i}t{h} strenkþe i{n} þe prece, 880

 

[Headnote: THE MEN OF SODOM SMITTEN WITH BLINDNESS.]

 

[Sidenote: The young men bring Lot within doors, and smite those

outside with blindness.]

Bot þat þe ȝonge me{n}, so ȝepe, ȝornen þ{er}-oute,

Wapped vpon þe wyket & wo{n}nen hem tylle,

& by þe hondeȝ hy{m} hent & horyed hy{m} w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,

& steken þe ȝat{es} ston-harde wyth stalworth barreȝ. 884

Þay blwe a boffet i{n} blande þat ba{n}ned peple,

Þat þay blust{er}ed as blynde as bayard watȝ eu{er};

[Sidenote: In vain they try to find the door of Lot’s house.]

Þay lest of loteȝ loggi{n}g any lysou{n} to fynde,

Bot nyteled þ{er} alle þe nyȝt for noȝt at þe last; 888

Þe{n}ne vch tolke tyȝt hem þat hade of tayt fayled,

& vchon roþeled to þe rest þat he reche moȝt;

Bot þay wern wakned al wrank[46] þat þ{er} i{n} won lenged,

Of on þe vglokest vnhap þat eu{er} on erd suffred. 892

 

[Sidenote 38: So in MS.]

[Sidenote 39: _þyng_ (?).]

[Sidenote 40: savo{ur} (?).]

[Sidenote 41: _wroȝt_ (?).]

[Sidenote 42: MS. vnfau{er}e.]

[Sidenote 43: _hem_ (?).]

[Sidenote 44: MS. _pil_.]

[Sidenote 45: _And_ = _An_ (?).]

[Sidenote 46: _wrang_ (?).]

 

 

[Headnote: LOT IS SENT OUT OF THE CITY.]

 

XI.

 

[Sidenote: Early in the morning the angels command Lot to

depart from Sodom, with his wife and two daughters, and to look

straight before him, for Sodom and Gomorrah shall be destroyed.]

Ruddon of þe day-rawe ros vpon vȝten,

When merk of þe mydnyȝt moȝt no more last,

Ful erly þose aungeleȝ þis haþel þay ruþen

& glopnedly on godeȝ halue gart hy{m} vpryse, 896

Fast þe freke ferkeȝ vp ful ferd at his hert;

Þay comau{n}ded hy{m} cof to cach þat he hade,

“Wyth þy wyf & þy wyȝeȝ & þy wlone deȝtters,

For we laþe þe, s{ir} loth, þat þ{o}u þy lyf haue; 900

[Sidenote: [Fol. 69b.]]

Cayre tid of þis kythe er combred þ{o}u worþe,

With alle þi here vpon haste, tyl þ{o}u a hil fynde;

Fou{n}deȝ faste on yo{ur} fete, bifore yo{ur} face lokes,

Bot bes neu{er} so bolde to blusch yow bihynde, 904

& loke ȝe ste{m}me no stepe, bot strecheȝ on faste,

Til ȝe reche to a reset, rest ȝe neu{er};

For we schal tyne þis tou{n} & trayþely disstrye,

Wyth alle þise wyȝeȝ so wykke wyȝtly de-voyde 908

& alle þe londe w{i}t{h} þise ledeȝ we losen at oneȝ;

Sodomas schal ful sodenly synk i{n}-to grou{n}de,

& þe grou{n}de of gomorre gorde i{n}-to helle,

& vche a koste of þis kyth{e} clater vpon hepes. 912

[Sidenote: Lot asks what is best to be done, that he may escape.]

Þe{n} laled loth, “lorde what is best?

If I me fele vpon fote þat I fle moȝt,

Hov schulde I huyde me fro hem þ{a}t hatȝ his hate ky{n}ned,

I{n} þe brath of his breth þat bre{n}neȝ alle þi{n}keȝ,[47] 916

To crepe fro my creato{ur} & know not wheder,

Ne wheþer his fooschip me folȝeȝ bifore oþ{er} bihynde?”

Þe freke sayde “no foschip oure fader hatȝ þe schewed,

Bot hiȝly heuened þi hele fro hem þat arn combred: 920

[Sidenote: He is told to choose himself a dwelling which shall

be saved from destruction.]

Nov walle þe a wo{n}ny{n}g þat þe warisch myȝt,

& he schal saue hit for þy sake þat hatȝ v{us} sende hider,

For þ{o}u art oddely þyn one out of þis fylþe,

& als Abraham þyn em[48] hit at hi{m} self asked.” 924

“Lorde, loued he worþe,” q{uod} loth, “vpon erþe!

[Sidenote: He chooses Zoar.]

Þe{n} is a cite herbisyde þat segor hit hatte,

Here vtt{er} on a rou{n}de hil hit houeȝ hit one,

I wolde, if his wylle wore, to þat won scape.” 928

[Sidenote: The angels command Lot to depart quickly.]

“Þe{n}n fare forth,” q{uod} þat fre, “& fyne þ{o}u neu{er}

W{i}t{h} þose ilk þat þow wylt þ{a}t þrenge þe aft{er},

& ay goande on yo{ur} gate, wyth-outen agayn-tote,

For alle þis londe schal be lorne, longe er þe son{n}e rise.” 932

[Sidenote: He wakes his wife and daughters.]

Þe wyȝe wakened his wyf & his wlonk deȝt{er}es,

& oþ{er} two myri men þo maydeneȝ schulde wedde;

& þay token hit as tyt & tented hit lyttel,

Þaȝ fast laþed hem loth, þay leȝen ful stylle. 936

[Sidenote: [Fol. 70a.]]

[Sidenote: All four are hastened on by the angels,

who “preach to them the peril” of delay.]

Þe aungeleȝ hasted þise oþ{er} & aȝly hem þratten,

& enforsed alle fawre forth at þe ȝateȝ,

Þo wern loth & his lef, his luflyche deȝt{er},

Þer soȝt no mo to sauement of cities aþel fyue. 940

Þise aungeleȝ hade hem by hande out at þe ȝateȝ,

Prechande hem þe perile, & beden hem passe fast.

“Lest ȝe be taken i{n} þe teche of tyrau{n}teȝ here,

Loke ȝe bowe now bi bot, boweȝ fast hence!” 944

[Sidenote: Before daylight Lot comes to a hill.]

& þay kayre-ne con & kenely flowen;

Erly, er any heuen glem, þay to a hil comen.