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Title: The Departing Soul's Address to the Body: A Fragment of a Semi-Saxon Poem

Editor: Sir Thomas Phillipps

Translator: Samuel Weller Singer

Release date: November 27, 2006 [eBook #19937]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was
produced from scanned images of public domain material
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEPARTING SOUL'S ADDRESS TO THE BODY: A FRAGMENT OF A SEMI-SAXON POEM *** 


THE


DEPARTING SOUL'S


ADDRESS TO THE BODY


A FRAGMENT OF


A SEMI-SAXON POEM,


DISCOVERED AMONG THE ARCHIVES OF WORCESTER CATHEDRAL,


BY SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS, BART.


WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION,


BY


S. W. SINGER.




LONDON:

PRINTED BY LUKE JAMES HANSARD & CO.


M.DCCC.XLV.




The student of our early literature and language is indebted to the
zeal of Sir Thomas Phillipps, for the discovery of the following
interesting Fragment, which appears to have formed part of a volume that
contained Ælfric's Grammar and Glossary, probably of the Twelfth
Century. The fragments were discovered among the archives of Worcester
Cathedral; and in 1836 Sir Thomas Phillipps printed the whole of them in
folio. I know not whether the form or the typographical arrangement has
been the cause of the neglect of this publication; but it has escaped
both Mr. Wright and Mr. Thorpe. The former, in his interesting edition
of "The Latin Poems of Walter de Mapes," where he has given the literary
history of this legend with extracts, has not even referred to our
fragment; nor has Mr. Thorpe adverted to it in his publication of the
"Codex Exoniensis," which contains an Anglo-Saxon poem of the same kind,
with which it is interesting to compare this later version of the
legend. There is a portion of another semi-Saxon poem, entitled "The
Grave," printed in Mr. Conybeare's "Illustrations," and by Mr. Thorpe in
his "Analecta Anglo-Saxonica," which appears to be by the same hand, or
at any rate of the same school and age. Indeed some of the lines and
thoughts are identical with passages of the following poem. Mr. Thorpe
has justly called "The Grave" a singularly impressive and almost
appalling fragment; expressions equally characteristic of that with
which the reader is here presented.


This impressive character, coupled with the interest which the fragment
possesses, as a specimen of the moral poetry of our ancestors, and as
throwing light upon the transition of our language from Saxon to
English, has been the motive for producing it in a more legible form
than that in which it first appeared.


In one of the smaller poems (No. V.), printed by Mr. Wright with the
Owl and the Nightingale, from the Cottonian MS. Calig. A. ix. "The sorie
sowle maketh hire mone," in language not dissimilar to that used in the
following fragment; and the dreary imagery of the house appointed for
all living, and the punishment which awaits a wicked life at its close,
are painted in an equally fearful manner.


Mr. Thorpe points to an Anglo-Saxon prose Homily as the original of the
poem on the same theme in the Exeter MS., which is repeated, with some
variation, in the Vercelli Codex. In a rude and simple age this dramatic
way of awakening the sinner to a sense of his perilous state, was
perhaps the most effective that could have been chosen, and it was
naturally a favorite with the moral and religious teachers for some
centuries. M. Karajan, in a very pleasing little publication
(Frülingsgabe für freunde Alterer Literatur, Wien 1839) has printed the
"Visio Philiberti," a Latin poem in dialogue on this subject, with two
old German versions; and the notes contain some interesting information
relating to similar compositions; but Mr. Wright's volume, before
referred to, contains ample illustrations of the legend in all
languages.


The fragment here given, it will be seen, is very defective. An attempt
has been made to supply words which were wanting, from the mutilation of
the MS. leaves; but what is engrafted on the original is scrupulously
distinguished by the Italic character. A version has also been added,
the imperfections of which those who are acquainted with the
difficulties of such renderings will best know how to excuse.


The language of this poem seems to have a striking resemblance to that
of one of the MSS. of Laȝamon, and we may hope, when the lovers of
our early lore shall be favoured with the long and anxiously expected
edition of that work by Sir Frederick Madden, that much light will be
thrown upon the history of the transitions of our language.


For what has been already done by Conybeare, Price, Kemble, Thorpe,
Madden, Stevenson, Wright, Way and others, the present writer is most
grateful; but he would wish to see the same spirit and enthusiasm, the
same unwearied zeal displayed in the elucidation of the noble remains of
our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, and of the interesting stores of our early
literature and language, which has been so long a distinguishing feature
of Germany, whose example has of late years lighted up a similar
patriotic flame in France and Belgium.


Mickleham, August 20, 1844.


[Pg 1]


THE


DEPARTING SOUL'S ADDRESS TO THE BODY.







*    *    *    * en earde.

*    *    *    *




and alle theo isceæfestan.

*    *    *    *




the him to *    *    *

*    *    *    *




and mid muchele wisdome.

and with much wisdom




thonne mon he idihte.
5    
then man he framed,




and him on ileide.

bestowed on him




lif and soule.

life and soul,




softliche he heo isomne.

tenderly he united them;




ac thær bith sor idol.

but there is a sad portion




that bodeth that bearn.
10    
which awaits that child.




thonne hit iboren bith.

When it is born;




hit woaneth and mænet theo weowe.

it waileth, and bemoans the woe,




and thene seoruhfule sith.

and the sorrowful time,




and that sori idol.

and that sad lot,




that soule schal hire licame.
15    
that shall the soul from her body




sorliche idælen.

sadly separate.




Forthon hit cumeth weopinde.

Therefore it cometh weeping,




and woniende iwiteth.

and wailing departeth,




thonne Death mid his pricke.

when Death, with his dart,




pineth thene licame.
20    
pineth the body.




He walketh and wendeth.

He walketh and goeth,




and woneth his sithes.

and bewails his destiny;




he sæith on his bedde.

he saith, on his bed,




wo me that ic libbe.

Wo me! that I live;




that æffre min lif dawes.
25    
that ever my life




thus longe me ilesteth.

so long endureth.




for heui is his greoning.

For heavy is his groaning,




and seohrful is his woaning.

and sorrowful his wailing.




[Pg 2]and all reowliche his sith.

and all rueful his lot,




mid seorwe biwunden.
30    
with sorrow encompassed.




him deaueth tha æren.

His ears deafen,




him dimmeth tha eiȝen.

his eyes become dim,




him scerpeth the neose.

his nose sharpens,




him scrincketh tha lippen.

his lips shrink,




him scorteth the tunge.
35    
his tongue shorteneth




him truketh his iwit.

his sense faileth,




him teoreth his miht.

his strength wasteth,




him coldeth his heorte.

his heart chilleth,




him leggeth the ban stille.

his bones lie still;




thonne bith that soule hus.
40    
then is that soul-house




seoruhliche bereaved.

wofully bereaved




of also muchele wunne.

of as much delight




the ther inne wunede

as therein dwelled.




thus bith thæs bearnes.

Thus are these children




mid pinunge ifulled.
45    
filled with torment;




theo moder greoneth.

The mother groaneth,




and that bearn woaneth.

and the child waileth;




so bith theo heardtid.

so is that hard hap




mid balewen imenged.

with torment mingled.




So bith eft the feorthsith.
50    
So is oft the departure,




sorhliche to dæled

miserably apportioned,




mid seoruwen al bewunden.

with sorrow all surrounded,




thonne the licame and the sowle.

when the body and the soul




soriliche to dæleth.

sorrowfully separate.




thonne bith that wræcche lif.
55    
Then is that wretched life




iended al mid sori sith.

ended all with sad departure;




thonne bith the bodige.

then is the body




iflut to then flore.

banished to the floor;




he bith eastward istreiht.

he is stretcht eastward;




he bith sone stif.
60    
he is soon stiff;




he heardeth also clei.

he hardens like clay;




hit is him ikunde.

it is of kin to him.




mon hine met mit on ȝerde.

They measure him with a yard,




and tha molde seoththen.

and that dust, thenceforth,




ne mot he of thære molde.
65    
may not of the earth




[Pg 3]habben namore.

have any more




thonne that rihte imet.

than that right measured




rihtliche tæcheth.

rightly teacheth.




Thonne lith the clei clot.

Then lies the clay clod




cold on then flore.
70    
cold on the floor,




and him sone from fleoth.

and soon from him flee




theo he ær freome dude.

those he before help did;




nulleth heo mid honden.

nor will they, with their hands,




his heafod riht wenden.

lay his head straight;




heom thuncheth that hore honden.
75    
they think that their hands




swuthe beoth ifuled.

are much defiled




gif heo hondleth the dæde.

if they handle the dead.




Seoththen his deaȝes beoth igon.

After his days are gone,




sone cumeth that wrecche wif.

soon cometh the wretched wife,




forhoweth thene earfeth sith.
80    
lamenteth the woeful time,




forbindeth thæs dædan muth.

binds up the mouth of the dead,




and his dimme eiȝen.

and closes his dim eyes.




*    *    * ie thet riche[A] wif.

*    *    * that wretched wife




forhoweth thene earueth sith.

lamenteth the woeful time;




for ufel is that wrecche lufe.
85    
for evil is that wretched love




thonne theo unblisse cumath.

when adversity cometh.




Thonne besihth theo soule.

Then saith the soul




sorliche to then lichame.

sadly to the body,




*    *    *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




hwi noldest bethenchen thu me.
90    
why wouldst thou not think of me




theo hwule thet ic wunede inne the.

while that I dwelt in thee,




for thu were leas and lutiȝ.

for thou wert false and deceitful,




and unriht lufedest.

and iniquity didst love;




godnesse and riht.

goodness and justice




æfre thu onscunedest.
95    
ever thou didst shun.




hwar is nu the modinesse.

Where is now the pride




swo muchel the thu lufedæst.

thou so much didst love?




hwar beoth nu theo pundes.

Where are now the pounds




thurh *    *    * newes igædered.

by *    *    * gathered?




heo weren monifolde.
100    
they were manifold,




[Pg 4]bi markes itolde.

counted by marks.




hwar beoth nu theo goldfæten.

Where are now the vessels of gold




theo the guldene.

that thou idolized,




comen to thine honden.

as they came to thy hands?




thin blisse is nu al igon.
105    
Thy bliss is now all gone;




min seoruwe is fornon.

my sorrow is near.




hwar beoth nu thin wæde.

Where are now thy clothes




the thu wel lufedest.

that thou well didst love?




hwar beoth the.

Where are they




seten sori ofer the.
110    
that sate sorry over thee,




beden swuthe ȝeorne.

praying right earnestly




that the come bote.

that help might come to thee?




heom thuthte alto longe.

They thought it all too long




that thu were on live.

that thou wert alive,




for heo weren grædie.
115    
for they were greedy




to gripen thin æihte.

to gripe thy property.




nu heo hi dælith heom imang.

Now they divide it among them,




heo doth the withuten.

they do without thee,




ac nu heo beoth fuse.

eke now they are prompt




to bringen the ut of huse.
120    
to bring thee out of house;




bergen the ut æt thire dure.

bearing thee out at the door.




Of weolen thu art bedæled.

Of wealth thou art deprived.




Hwui noldest thu bethenchen me.

Why wouldst thou not think of me




theo hwile ic was innen the.

while I was within thee?




ac scendest me mid sunne.
125    
but blemished me with sin.




forthi ic seoruhful eam.

Therefore I sorrowful am;




weile that ic souhte.

alas! that I sought




so seoruhfulne buc.

such a miserable body.




noldest thu lokien lufe.

Nor wouldst thou observe love




with ilærede men.
130    
with learned men,




ȝiven ham of thine gode.

give them part of thy wealth




that heo the fore beden.

that they might pray for thee,




heo mihten mid salm songe.

that they might with psalm sung




thine sunne acwenchen.

thy sin extinguish,




mid *    *    * reinesse.
135    
with *    *    *




[Pg 5]thine misdeden forebiddan.

pray for thy misdeeds;




heo mihten offrian loc.

that they might offer gifts




leofliche for the.

acceptable for thee,




swuth deor thurthe lac.

through the most dear sacrifice




licame Cristes.
140    
of Christ's body;




thurh thære thu wære.

by which thou were




alesed from helle wite.

redeemed from pains of hell;




and mid his reade blode.

and with his red blood,




that he ȝeat on rode.

that he shed on the cross,




the thu weren ifreoed.
145    
by which thou wert freed




to farene into heouene.

to enter into heaven.




ac thu fenge to theowdome.

But thou took to thraldom




thurh thæs deofles lore.

through the devil's lore.




Bi the hit is iseid.

Concerning thee it is said




and soth hit is on boken.
150    
in books, and true it is:




Qui custodiat divitias.

Qui custodiat divitias,




Servus est divitiis.

Servus est divitiis.




Thu were theow.

Thou wert slave




thines weolan.

to thy wealth,




noldest thu nouht.
155    
nor wouldst thou ought




thærof dælen.

thereof distribute




for Drihtenes willæn.

for God's pleasure;




ac æfre thu grædiliche,

but thou ever greedily




gæderdest the more.

didst gather the more.




lutherliche eart thu forloren.
160    
Miserably art thou separated




from al that thu lufedest.

from all that thou lovedst,




and ic scal wræcche soule.

and I, wretched soul, shall




ece we nu driæn.

now suffer everlasting woe.




eart thu nu loth and unwurth.

Thou art now loathsome and contemptible




alle thine freonden.
165    
to all thy friends.




nu ham thuncheth alto long.

Now they think it all too long




that thu ham neih list.

that thou liest nigh them,




ær thu beo ibrouht.

ere thou be brought




thær thu begrafen scalt.

where thou shalt be buried




on deope sæthe.
170    
in a deep pit,




on durelease huse.

in a doorless house,




thær wurmes wældeth.

where worms possess




[Pg 6]alle that wurthest was.

all that was most honoured




fuweles quale holde.

of the foul dead carcase,




the thu icwemedest ær.
175    
that thou formerly delightedst




mid alre kunde swetnesse.

with all kind of sweetness,




theo thu swuthe lufedest.

that thou much didst love.




theo swetnesse is nu al agon.

The sweetness is now all gone,




that bittere the bith fornon.

the bitter is thee near,




that bittere ilæsteth æffre.
180    
that bitter lasteth ever,




that swete ne cumeth the næffre.

that sweet cometh to thee never.




*    *    *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




thuncheth that thu hire bileiben.

thinketh that thou here remain.




ȝet sæith theo sowle.

Yet saith the soul




soriliche to then licame.
185    
sadly to the body:




sæ ne thearft thu on stirope.

see, thou canst not on stirrup




stonden mid fotan.

stand with thy feet,




on nenne goldfohne bowe.

on no gold-glittering saddle;




for thu scalt faren alto howe.

for thou shalt journey all to woe,




and thu scalt nu ruglunge.
190    
and thou shalt now backwards




ridæn to thære eorthe.

ride to the earth;




ut sceot æt thære dure.

shut out at the door,




ne thearft thu næffre onȝean.

nor canst thou ever again




cumæn reowliche riden.

come fiercely riding.




nu alle beræfed.
195    
Now all bereaved,




ac thene eorthliche weole.

eke the earthly wealth,




the thu iwold ohtest.

that thou possessed power over.




nu mon mæi seggen bi the.

Now they may say of thee,




thes mon is iwiten.

this man is departed,




nu her weila.
200    
Alas! now here,




and his weolæn beoth her belæfed.

and his wealth is here left behind.




nolde he nefre thær of don.

he would never do therewith




his drihtenes wille.

his Lord's will.




ac æfre thu gæderest.

But ever thou didst gather




gærsumen thine feonde.
205    
riches of thine enemies.




nulleth heo nimen gete.

Yet will they not take




hwo hit biȝete.

who procured it?




nafst thu bute welawei.

nor hast thou but well away!




that thu weole heuedest.

that thou hadst wealth.




[Pg 7]al is reowliche thin sith.
210    
All ruefull is thy lot,




efter thin wrecche lif.

after thy wicked life.




theo men beoth the blithre.

Those men are the blither




the arisen ær with the.

that formerly jangled with thee,




that thin muth is betuned.

that thy mouth is closed,




the theo teone ut lettest.
215    
with which thou reproach uttered,




the he heom sore grulde.

which sorely provoked them;




thet ham gros the aȝan.

that they raged against thee;




dæth hine haveth bituned.

death hath closed it,




and thene teone aleid.

and the anger taken away.




Soth is iseid.
220    
Truly it is said




on then salme bec.

in the Psalm book,




Os tuum habundavit malitia,

os tuum habundavit malitia,




was on thine muthe.

wickedness ripe




luthernesse ripe.

was in thy mouth.




noldest thu on thine huse.
225    
Thou wouldst not in thy house




herborwen theo wrecchen.

shelter the poor,




ne mihten heo under thine roue.

nor might they under thy roof




none reste finden.

find any rest;




noldest thu næfre helpen.

nor wouldst thou ever help




tham orlease wrecchen.
230    
the unhappy wretches;




ac thu sete on thine benche.

but thou sate on thy bench,




underleid mid thine bolstre.

underlaid with thy bolster,




thu wurpe cneow ofer cneow.

thou threw knee over knee,




ne icneowe thu the sulfen.

nor knew thou thyself




that thu scoldest mid wurmen.
235    
that thou shouldst with worms




husien in eorthan.

dwell in the earth.




nu thu hauest neowe hus.

Now thou hast a new house,




inne bethrungen.

a crowded dwelling;




lowe beoth the helewewes.

low is the covering,




unheiȝe beoth the sidwowes.
240    
unhigh the sidewalls,




thin rof liith on thin breoste ful nei.

thy roof lieth on thy breast full nigh.




colde is the ibedded.

Cold art thou embedded,




clothes bidcled.

beclad in clothes




nulleth thine hinen.

thy hinds would refuse.




clothes the sen *    *    *
245    
Clothes the sen *    *    *




for heom thuncheth alto lut.

for they think all too little




[Pg 8]that thu heom bilefdest.

that thou didst leave them;




that thu hefdest on horde.

that thou hadst in hoard




theo hit wulleth heldan.

they will it keep.




thus is iwitan thin weole.
250    
Thus is departed thy wealth,




wendest thet hit thin were.

thou thoughtest that it thine were.




thus reowliche nu thin sith.

Thus ruefull now thy lot,




efter thin wrecche lif.

after thy wretched life.




the sculen nu waxen.

Now wormes shall grow




wurmes besiden.
255    
beside thee,




thene hungrie feond.

the hungry enemy




theo the freten wulleth.

that will devour thee,




heo wulleth the frecliche freten.

they will thee greedily devour;




for heo thin flæsc liketh.

for they like thy flesh,




heo wulleth freten thin fule hold.
260    
they will devour thy foul carcase,




theo hwule heo hit findeth.

as long as they find it;




thonne hit al bith agon.

when it is all gone




heo wulleth gnawen thin bon.

they will gnaw thy bone;




theo orlease wurmes.

those vile worms,




heo windeth on thin armes.
265    
they wind on thy arms,




heo breketh thine breoste.

they break up thy breast,




and borieth the ofer al.

and perforate thee all over;




heo reoweth in and ut.

they rove in and out,




thet hord is hore open.

that hoard is open to them,




and so heo wulleth waden.
270    
and so they will wade




wide in thi wombe.

wide in thy stomach;




todelen thine thermes.

parting thy entrails




theo the deore weren.

that were dear to thee.




lifre and thine lihte.

Thy liver and thy lights




lodliche torenden.
275    
loathfully rending,




and so scal formelten.

and so shall waste away




mawe and thin milte.

thy maw and thy melt,




and so scal win *    *    *

and so shall win *    *    *




*    *    *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




wurmes of thine flæsc.
280    
worms of thy flesh,




thu scalt fostren thine feond.

thou shalt nourish thine enemy




thet thu beo al ifreten

until thou art all devoured;




thu scalt nu herborwen.

thou shalt now harbour




[Pg 9]unhol wihte.

hateful creatures,




noldest thu ær gode men.
285    
(heretofore thou wouldst not, good men,




for lufe gode sellan.

for love, give of thy goods;)




heo wulleth wurchen hore hord.

they will work their hoard




on thine heaued ponne.

in thy skull.




moton heo bileafen.

Should they leave




thine lippen unfreten.
290    
thy lips undevoured,




ac thu scalt grisliche grennien.

eke thou shalt grin horribly,




that hwo so hit iseiȝe.

that whosoever sees it




he mihte beon offered.

he might be frightened;




Reowliche bith so thin sith.

so rueful is thy lot,




efter thin wercche lif.
295    
after thy wicked life.




nu me wule swopen thine flor.

Now men will sweep thy floor,




and thet flet clensien.

and cleanse the dwelling;




for hit is heom lothre.

for it is the loather to them




the thu theron leiȝe.

that thou liest thereon.




heo wulleth mid holiwatere.
300    
They will, with holy water,




beworpen ec theo pædas.

sprinkle eke the vestments,




blecsien ham ȝeorne.

cleansing them carefully




to burewen ham with the.

to bury them with thee;




beren ut thin bed strau.

bear out thy bed-straw




brennen hit mid fure.
305    
to burn it with fire.




thus thu ert nu ilufed.

Thus thou art now beloved




seoththen thu me forlure.

since thou lost me.




al hit is reowliche thin sith.

All rueful is thy lot,




efter thin wrecche lif.

after thy wicked life.




ȝet sæith the soule.
310    
Yet saith the soul




soriliche to hire licame.

sadly to the body,




noldest thu la erming.

Alas! miserable, wouldst thou not




her o to wunienne.

here for ever dwell?




nes hit the no wiht icunde.

it was no whit known to thee




that thu icoren me hefdest.
315    
that thou hadst chosen me;




nes hit icunde the.

it was not known to thee




more then thine cunne biuoren the.

more than to thy kin before thee,




ne heold is thin æiȝe opene.

nor was thine eye held open




theo hwule ic the inne was.

while I was within thee.




hwi noldest thu lefen.
320    
Why wouldst thou not believe,




[Pg 10]tha thu hi iseiȝe.

though thou saw it,




hu thin fordferen.

how thy forefathers




ferden biforen the.

went before thee.




nu heo wunieth on eorthe.

Now they dwell in the earth,




wurmes ham habbeth todæled.
325    
worms have shared them,




isceorf hore sorhfulle bones.

gnawed their miserable bones




the theo sunne wrohten.

with which they wrought sin.




tha ȝet seith theo soule.

Again saith the soul,




soriliche to hire lichame.

sorrowfully to the body,




æfre thu were luther.
330    
thou wert ever wicked




theo hwile thu lif hæfdest.

whilst thou hadst life,




thu were leas and luti.

thou wert false and deceitful,




and unriht lufedest.

and loved injustice




and luthere deden.

and wicked deeds,




deredest cristene men.
335    
and injured Christian men




and mid worde and mid werke.

with word and with work,




so thu wurst mihte.

as thou worst might.




ic was from Gode clene.

I was sent to thee




to the isend.

innocent from God,




ac thu hauest unc fordon.
340    
but thou hast undone us,




mid thine luthere deden.

with thy wicked deeds.




æfre thu were gredi.

Ever thou wert greedy,




and mid gromen the onfulled.

and filled thyself with fierceness,




unneathe ic on the.

I hardly in thee




eni wununge hauede.
345    
had any dwelling,




for hearde nithe.

for hard covetousness,




and ofer mete fulle.

and foul gluttony;




for thin wombe was thin god.

for thy belly was thy god,




and thin wulder thu iscend.

and thou spoiled thy glory.




forloren thu havest theo ece blisse.
350    
Lost thou hast everlasting bliss,




binumen thu havest the paradis.

thou hast deprived thee of Paradise.




binumen the is that holi lond.

Taken from thee is that holy land;




then deofle thu bist isold on hond.

thou art given into the devil's hand,




for noldest thu nefre habben inouh.

for thou wouldst never have enough,




[Pg 11]buten thu hefdest unifouh.
355    
unless thou hadst repletion.




Nu is that swete al agon.

Now is the sweet all gone,




thet bittere the bith fornon.

the bitter is near thee,




that bittere ilest the efre.

that bitter lasteth thee ever,




thet gode ne cumeth the nefre.

that good cometh to thee never.




thus ageth nu thin sith.
360    
Thus goeth now thy lot,




æfter thin wrecce lif.

after thy wicked life.




thu wendest that thin ende.

Thou thoughtest that thine end




nefre ne cuman scolde.

should never come.




to long *    *    * lede death the.

Too long *    *    * death thee,




that he nolde nimen the.
365    
that he would not take thee,




for efre thu arerdest sake.

for thou ever raised up strife




and unseihte *    *    *

and discord, *    *    *




and ic was with innen the.

and I was within thee




biclused swuthe fule.

most foully enclosed;




thu were wedlowe.
370    
thou wert faithless




and mon sware.

and perjured,




and *    *    * hund inouh.

and *    *    * enough;




for thu were mid sunne.

for thou wert with sin




ifulled al with inne.

filled all within,




for the deofle lored the all.
375    
for the devil taught thee all,




ord fulneih thine heorte.

chief full nigh thy heart.




efre thu woldest fullen.

Ever thou wouldst fulfil,




al that was his wille.

all that was his will.




*    *    *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




*    *    * thu nefre th.
380    
*    *    *    *    *




drihtenes *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




*    *    * iwold ahte.

*    *    *    *    *




The ȝet seith theo soule.

Again, saith the soul,




soriliche to hire licame.

sadly to the body,




clene bith the eorthe.
385    
the earth is pure




ær thu to hire to cume.

e'er thou come to it,




ac thu heo afulest.

but thou defilest it




mid thin fule holde.

with thy foul carcase;




thet is that fulnesse.

only that foulness is




afursed from monnen.
390    
removed from men;




nu thu bist bihuded.

now thou art hidden




[Pg 12]on alre horde fulest.

in foulest hoard,




on deope seathe.

in a deep pit,




on durelease huse.

in a doorless house.




thu scalt rotien.
395    
Thou shalt rot




and brostnian.

and corrupt;




thine bon beoth bedæled.

thy bones will be separated




from thære wæde.

from the clothing




the heo weren to iwunede.

in which they were inhabited;




breketh lith from lithe.
400    
limb breaks from limb;




liggeth the bon stil.

the bones lie still,




tha ure drihten eft.

until our Lord again




of deathe heo aræreth.

from death raiseth them,




so he alle men deth.

as he doth all men,




thonne domes daie cumeth.
405    
when doomsday cometh.




thonne scalt thu erming.

Then shalt thou, miserable!




up arisen.

up arise,




imeten thine morth deden.

thy deadly sins measured,




theo the murie weren.

that were so pleasant to thee;




seoruhful and sorimod.
410    
sorrowful and melancholy,




so thin lif wrouhte.

the crimes of thy life.




nu beoth thine earen fordutte.

Now are thine ears closed,




non dreame ihereth.

no pleasant sounds they hear;




theo leorneden theo listen.

they learned, they listened




tha luthere weren.
415    
to those that were wicked.




[mid] wowe domes.

With unjust judgments,




and gultes feole.

and many trespasses,




thu othre beræfedest.

thou others bereaved




rihtes istreones.

of rightful wealth,




thurh thæs deofles lore,
420    
through the devil's lore,




theo the likede wel.

that thou liked well.




the deofle tuhte his hearpe.

The devil touched his harp,




and tuhte the to him.

and enticed thee to him;




thu iherdest thene dream.

thou heardest the harmony;




he was drihtene fulloth.
425    
it was hateful to the Lord.




he swefede the.

He lulled thee




mid then sweize.

with the sound;




swote thu sleptest.

sweetly thou sleptest




[Pg 13]longe on thine bedde.

long in thy bed;




nis the to chirche.
430    
nor art thou at church,




ne mostes thu iheren.

nor canst thou hear




theo holie dræmes.

those holy sounds,




theo bellen rungen.

the bells tolling,




that siker becnunge wæs.

that a sure beckoning was;




ne holie lore.
435    
nor holy lore




the unker helpe wære.

that should be our help.




ac efre he tuhte the.

But ever he enticed thee,




andnu beo the iwold ahte.

and now thou art in his power;




ac nu beoth fordutte.

eke now are closed




thine dream thurles.
440    
thy doors of sound,




ne ihereth heo ne more.

nor hear they more




non herunge of the.

any praise of thee,




ær theo bemen blowen.

until the trumpets blow




the unc becnien scullen.

which shall summon us




from deathes dimnesse.
445    
from death's dimness




to drihtenes dome.

to the Lord's doom.




thonne thu scalt iheren.

Then thou shalt hear




thene lauerde dom.

the Lord doom,




the thu on thisse life.

that thou in this life




lutherliche of eodest.
450    
wickedly walked.




Thet et seith the sowle.

Again saith the soul




soriliche to hire licame.

sadly to the body,




nu thu bist afursed.

now thou art separated




from alle thine freonden.

from all thy friends;




nu is thin muth forscutted.
455    
now is thy mouth prevented,




for death hine haueth fordutted.

for death has closed it;




ne bith he ne mare undon.

nor will it be ever opened




ær cume thæs heiȝe kinges dom.

before the high King's doom.




thonne hit bith isene.

Then it will be seen,




thet on Psalme seith.
460    
as the Psalm sayeth,




Reddituri sunt de factis propriis rationem.

Reddituri sunt de factis propriis rationem.




thonne sculen theo weile.

Then shall those servants




seggen hore deden.

tell their deeds,




wisliche thurh wisdome.

truly through wisdom,




[Pg 14]for drihten hit wot.
465    
for the Lord knoweth them;




thonne heo onfoth hore dom.

then they receive their doom




of drihtenes muthe.

from the Lord's mouth,




also hit is awriten.

as it is written;




of drihtenes muthe.

from the Lord's mouth:




Ite maledicti in ignem eternum.
470    
Ite maledicti in ignem eternum.




thonne sculen wit sithien.

Then shall we depart




to alre seoruwe mest.

into uttermost sorrow,




faren mid feondes.

go with fiends




in thet eche fur.

in that everlasting fire,




beornen æfre.
475    
to burn for ever;




ende nis ther nefre.

end is there never.




Et quia bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam.

Et quia bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam.




thonne gon theo goden.

Then go the good,




mid Gode sithian.

departing with God,




echeliche wunien.
480    
to dwell everlastingly




in alre wuldre.

in ever-during glory.




*    *    *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




*    *    * me suke to the.

*    *    *    *    *




Osmeum aperui, et attraxi ipsum.

Osmeum aperui, et attraxi ipsum.




thu *    *    * et drowe me to the.
485    
thou *    *    * drew me to thee,




walawa! and wa is me.

well away! and woe is me!




that ic efre com to the.

that I ever came to thee;




for noldest thu mid thine muthe.

for thou wouldst not with thy mouth




bimænen thine neode.

bewail thy infirmities;




ac æfre diȝelliche.
490    
but ever darkly




thu woldest ham bidernan.

thou wouldst hide them;




noldest thu ham siggen.

nor wouldst thou confess them;




biforen none preosten.

before any priest,




ther alle men secheth ham ore.

where all men seek pardon,




bimæneth hore misdeden.
495    
bewail their misdeeds,




and seoththen miltsunge foth.

and afterwards obtain mercy;




thurh sothne scrift.

through true shrift




sithieth to Criste.

depart to Christ;




seggeth hore sunnen.

confess their sins




[Pg 15]and hor soules helpith.
500    
and help their souls,




thurh sothe bireousunge.

through true repentance.




theo soule reste onfoth.

the soul acquires rest;




ac ne the scalt nefre resten.

but thou shalt never rest,




thurh thine bireousunge.

through thy repentance.




ac altogædere ic am forloren.
505    
Eke I am altogether lost




thurh thine luthere deden.

through thy wicked deeds;




noldest thu mid muthe.

thou wouldst not with thy mouth




bidden me none miltsunge.

pray for mercy to me;




nu thu ert adumbed.

now thou art bedumbed,




and death haueth the keiȝe.
510    
and death has caught thee;




mid clutes thu ert forligden.

thou art laid out with rags,




and loth alle freonden.

and loath to all thy friends,




efre ma eft.

for ever and ever




on to lokienne.

to look on.




thus is reouliche thin sith.
515    
Thus rueful is thy lot,




efter thine wrecche lif.

after thy wicked life;




for thu were beset.

for thou wert beset




thicke mid sunne.

thick with sin,




and alle theo weren prickiende.

and they all were pricking




so wiles on ile.
520    
like quills on porcupine;




he bith thicke mid wiles.

he is thick set with quills;




ne prikieth heom no wiht.

they prick him not,




for al bith that softe.

for the soft part is all




iwend to him sulfen.

turned to himself,




that ne mawen his wiles.
525    
that his quills cannot




prikien him sore.

prick him sore,




for al bith that scearpe.

for the points are all




him iwend fromward.

turned him fromward.




So thu weren mid sunne.

Thus thou wert with sin




iset alle with inne.
530    
beset all within;




theo sunfule pikes.

those sinful pikes




prikieth me fulsore.

prick me full sore,




ac thu al that softe was.

but thou all that was soft




iwend to the sulven.

turned to thyself,




and efre thet scerpe.
535    
and ever the sharp




scored me touardes.

scored me towards,




[Pg 16]heo weren iwend.

they were turned




so me wurst was.

as was worst for me,




ich was mid thine prickunge.

I was with the pricking




ipined fulsore.
540    
pained ful sore:




ac nu me wulleth prikien.

but now will prick me




theo pikes inne helle.

those pikes in hell;




pinion me ful sore.

punish me full sore




for thine sunne.

for thy sin.




Ic was on heihnes isceapen.
545    
On high was I created,




and soule ihoten.

and named soul.




Ic was the seofothe isceaft.

I was the seventh creation,




So theo bec seggeth.

as the book says,




the the Almihti God.

that Almighty God




mildeliche iwrouhte.
550    
mercifully wrought.




wisliche mid worde.

Truly by his word




so hit al iwearth.

thus it all came to pass:




heouene and eorthe.

heaven and earth,




luft and engles.

air and angels,




wind and watere.
555    
wind and water,




thæs monnes soule.

the soul of man,




this beoth theo seouene.

these are the seven




the ic ær foreseide.

that I before mentioned.




this was makede.

These were made




thæs Almihties fæder.
560    
by the Almighty Father;




of thissen andweorke.

of this substance




alle thing he iwrouhte.

all things he wrought;




and thus hit is iwriten.

and thus it is written




on holie wisdome.

in holy wisdom,




Fiat et facta sunt omnia.
565    
Fiat et facta sunt omnia.




He seide iwurthe.

He said, let be,




and alle thing iworthen.

and all things were;




thus mid one worde.

thus with one word




al hit was iwurthen.

was all created;




he iscop thonne thene sune.
570    
he made then the sun,




alle isceafte wisliche.

all truly created




thurh wisdome.

by his wisdom,




and efre he hit wiseth.

and he guides it ever,




[Pg 17]Imaginem et similitudinem.

Imaginem et similitudinem.




and ic deorewurthe.
575    
And I, in the dear




drihtenes onlicnesse.

Lord's likeness.




*    *    *    *    *

*    *    *    *    *




*    *    *    * of God.

*    *    *    * of God,




and ic the imæne.

and me between,




mid lothre lufe.
580    
with pure love,




and ic thin wale iwearth.

and I thy bliss decreed;




hu so thu noldest.

how so thou wouldst not;




weila thine fule iwill.

alas! thy foul will




wo haveth hit me idon.

hath wrought my woe.




Thu fule mathe mæte.
585    
Thou foul food for worms,




hwi hauest thu me biswiken.

why hast thou deceived me?




For thine fule sunne.

For thy wicked sin




ic scal nu in helle.

I shall now in hell




dreiȝen ther wrecche sith.

suffer there a wretched time,




all for thine fule lif.
590    
all for thy wicked life;




ȝet ic wulle the ætwinne.

yet I will flee thee




and thine wea sithes.

and thy dreary fate.




Nu ic scal soriliche.

Now I shall sorrowfully




sithien from the.

depart from thee;




nu beoth thine teth atru.
595    
thy teeth are now poisonous;




thin tunge is ascorted.

thy tongue is shortened,




theo the facen was.

which was so deceitful




and then feonde icweme.

and pleasing to the fiend.




Mid wowe dreames.

With unjust judgments,




and mid gultes feole.
600    
and with many trespasses,




thu othre birefedest.

thou bereaved others




rihtes istreones.

of their rightful wealth,




gæderest to *    *    * ime.

gatheredest *    *    *




ac hit is nu all igon.

but it is now all gone




thurh thæs deofles lore.
605    
through the devil's lore,




the the licode wel.

that thou liked so well.




Nu lith thin bodige stille.

Now lieth thy body still




on ful colde denne.

in full cold den;




nafest thu gaersume themo.

nor hast thou the treasure




the heo was spekinde.
610    
of which she spake;




for heo was faken biforen.

for she was deceitful before,




[Pg 18]and atterne bihinden.

and envenomed after;




heo demde feole domes.

she pronounced many judgments




the drihten was lothe.

that were hateful to the Lord.




Iseid hit is on psalme.
615    
It is said in the Psalm,




and ful sothe hit is bihire.

and full true it is of her:




Lingua tua concinnabat dolos.

Lingua tua concinnabat dolos.




Heo ȝeothede fakenliche.

She poured out deceitfully,




and then feonde icwemde.

and pleased the fiend;




heo heou mid hearde worde.
620    
she hewed with hard words,




and icwemde tha wrecches.

and delighted the wretches.




scearpe heo was and kene.

Sharp she was and keen,




and cwemde then deofle.

and pleased the devil




mid alle then sunne.

with all the sin




that efre was his wille.
625    
that ever was his will.




A wurthe hire wa.

Wo be to her!




that heo spekinde was so.

that she spake so;




heo haueth unc domned.

she has damned us




to deoppere helle.

to deeper hell.




Nis hit non sellic.
630    
Is it not wonderful,




thauh ic segge of boken.

though I read in books,




thauh ic thonne that sothe repie.

though I then the truth gathered,




for ic was ilered.

for I was taught




of mine leoue fæder.

by my dear father




feire on frumthe.
635    
beautifully in the beginning,




aer ic fordferde.

before I departed,




ic was Godes douhter.

I was God's daughter,




ac thu amerdest that foster.

but thou didst hinder that fostering.




ic sceolde lif holden.

I might life have held,




me sellethe he wolde.
640    
that he would have given me.




Sone thu were lifleas.

Soon thou wert lifeless,




seoththen ic the forleas.

sithence I left thee.




Ic was thin imake.

I was thy wife,




so so bec seggeth.

as the book says:




Uxor tua sicut vitis habundans.
645    
Uxor tua sicut vitis habundans.




Ic was the biwedded.

I was wedded to thee




wurthliche *    *    * e.

honourably,




et then fontstone.

at the fount stone,




that thu haucst ifuled.

that thou hast defiled




[Pg 19]mid thine fule othes.
650    
with thy foul oaths.




Thu hafest thin fulluht forloren.

Thou hast forfeited thy baptism




behinden and biuoren.

here and hereafter.




Feire thu were imerked.

Fair thou wert marked,




heie on thine heafde.

high on thy head,




mid then holie ele.
655    
with the holy oil




Thu hauest kine merke.

Thou hadst the mark of royalty;




thu scoldest beon on heouene.

thou mightst have been in heaven,




heih *    *    * under Gode.

high *    *    * under God,




ȝif thu hit ne forlure.

if thou hadst not forfeited it




thuruh thæs deofles lore.
660    
through the devil's lore.




Thine godfæderes ihaten.

Thy godfathers promised,




ær heo the forleten.

before they relinquished thee,




that thu me scoldest holden.

that thou shouldst keep me




thuruh holie lufe Cristes.

in Christ's holy love




and drightene lawe.
665    
and the law of God,




ledene me to Criste.

and lead me to Christ.




Thu withsoke thene deofel.

Thou renounced the devil,




efter drihtenes cwithe.

(after the Lord's word,)




his modes and his wrænches.

his moods, and his deceits,




and his wieles thærto.
670    
and his wiles thereto.




Seoththen thu hine lufedest.

Afterwards thou lovedst him,




and forwinne drihten.

and rebelled against the Lord,




for thu lufedest theo lawen.

for thou lovedst the traitors




the drihten weren lothe.

that were hateful to God;




unker team forloren.
675    
our progeny lost




the wit scolden teman.

that we should bring forth;




so ic was the betæiht.

as I was given to thee




that wit scolden teman.

that we might propagate.




Thu hauest beon bearne fæder.

Thou hast been father of children,




and ic hore moder.
680    
and I their mother;




wit scolden fostrien bearn.

we should foster our progeny,




and bring ham to Criste.

and bring them to Christ.




Thet beoth theos bearn.

These are the children




so so bec mæneth.

that the book mentions:




Filii tui sicut novell *    *    *

Filii tui sicut novell *    *    *




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