3 4 4 that we thynk ay lang thar-till.' Als sa' festen in thi hert the mynd of his passyon and of his woundes: grete delyte and swetnes sal thou fele if thou halde thi thoght in mynde of the pyne that Cryst sufferd for the. I wate 6 na thyng that swa' inwardly sal take thi hert to covayte Goddes lufe and to desyre the joy of heven and to despyse the vanitees of this worlde, as stedfast thynkyng of the myscheves and grevous woundes and of the dede of Jhesu Criste. It wil rayse thi thoght aboven erthly lykyng, and make thi hert brennand 10 in Cristes lufe, and purches in thi sawle delitabelte " and savoure of heven. 8 9 Bot per-aunter 12 thou will say: "I may wer 5 19 24 26 noght despyse the worlde, I may not fynd it in my hert to pyne my body, and me behoves 13 lufe my fleschly frendes and take ese when it comes. If thou be temped" with swilk 15 thoghtes, I pray the that thou umbethynk 16 the," fra the begynnyng of this worlde, whare 18 the worldes lovers er now, and whare the lovers er of God. Certes thai war 20 men and wymen as we er, and ete and drank and logh; 21 and the wreches that lofed 22 this worlde toke ese til 23 thair body and lyved as tham lyst," in likyng of thair wikked will, and led thair dayes in lust and delyces; 25 and in a poynt thai fel intil hell. Now may thou see that thai 20 foles and fowle glotons, that in a few yeres 27 wasted endles joy that was ordand 28 for tham if thai walde 29 have done penance for thair synnes. Thou sese that al the ryches of this world and delytes vanys 31 away and commes til noght. Sothely,32 swa dose 33 al the lofers" thar of; for nathyng may stande stabely on a fals gronde. Thair bodys er gyn til wormes in erth, and thair sawles til the devels of hell. Bot all that forsoke the pompe and the vanite of this lyfe and stode stalworthly agaynes all temptacions and ended in the lufe of God, thai ar now in joy and hase 3 the erytage 3 of heven, thar to won 39 with-owten end, restand in the delyces"1 of Goddes syght. 38 40 30 14 35 36 1 thereto 2 also fasten memory torture "know 7 so 8 death ⚫ liking, desire 10 burning 11 delight 12 peradventure 13 behooves (impersonal) tempted 15 such 16 consider 17 Reflexive, not to be translated. 18 where 21 laughed 22 loved 23 to 28 pleasures 20 moment 30 seest 31 vanish 19 are 20 were 24 pleased (impersonal) 27 years 28 ordained 29 would And from Ephesim Men gon' throghe many Iles in the See, unto the Cytee of Paterane, where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to Martha, where he was chosen to ben Bisschoppe; and there growethe right gode Wyn and strong; and that Men callen Wyn of Martha. And from thens gon Men to the Ile of Crete, that the Emperour yaf⚫ somtyme to Janeweys. And thanne passen Men thorghe the Isles of Colos and of Lango; of the whiche Iles Ypocras was Lord offe. And some Men seyn,' that in the Ile of Lango is yit the Doughtre of Ypocras, in forme and lykeness of a gret Dragoun, that is a hundred Fadme of lengthe, as Men seyn: For I have not seen hire. And thei of the Isles callen hire, Lady of the Lond.10 And sche lyethe in an olde castelle, in a Cave, and schewethe twyes or thryes in the Yeer. And sche dothe none harm to no Man, but-yif 12 Men don hire harm. And sche was thus chaunged and transformed, from a fair Damysele, in-to lyknesse of a Dragoun, be 13 a Goddesse, that was Deane." clept " And Men seyn, that sche schalle so endure in that forme of a Dragoun, unto the tyme that a Knyghte come, that is so hardy, that dar come to hire and kiss hire on the Mouthe: And then schalle sche turne ayen to hire owne Kynde," and ben a Woman ayen: But aftre that sche schalle not liven longe. And it is not long siththen,18 that a Knyghte of the Rodes, that was hardy and doughty in Armes, seyde that he wolde kyssen hire. And whan he was upon his Coursere, and wente to the Castelle, and entred into the Cave, the Dragoun lifte up hire Hed ayenst him. And whan the Knyghte saw hire in that Forme so hidous and so horrible, he fleyghe 20 awey. And the Dragoun bare " the Knyghte upon a Roche,22 mawgre his Hede;23 and from that Roche, sche caste him in-to the See: and so was lost bothe Hors and Man. And also a yonge24 Man, that wiste 25 not of the Dragoun, 22 rock 23 despite his head (=despite all he could do) young knew 24 25 7 3 wente out of a Schipp, and wente thorghe the Ile, til that he come to the Castelle, and cam in to the Cave; and wente so longe, til that he fond a Chambre, and there he saughe1 a Damysele, that kembed' hire Hede, and lokede in a Myrour; and sche hadde meche3 Tresoure abouten hire: and he trowed, that sche hadde ben a comoun Woman, that dwelled there to receyve Men to Folye. And he abode, tille the Damysele saughe the Schadewe of him in the Myrour. And sche turned hire toward him, and asked hym, what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben hire Limman " or Paramour. And sche asked him, yif that he were a Knyghte. And he seyde, nay. And than sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire Lemman: 5 But sche bad him gon ayen unto his Felowes, and make him Knyghte, and come ayen upon the Morwe, and sche scholde come out of the Cave before him; and thanne come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no Drede; "for I schalle do the no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in Lyknesse of a Dragoun. For thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do the to wytene,' that it is made be Enchauntement. For withouten doute, I am non other than thou seest now, a Woman; and therfore drede the noughte. And yif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this Tresoure, and be my Lord, and Lord also of alle that Ile." And he departed fro hire and wente to his Felowes to Schippe, and leet 10 make him Knyghte, and cam ayen upon the Morwe, for to kysse this Damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen" out of the Cave, in forme of a Dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, that he fleyghe 12 ayen to the Schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche saughe, that he turned not ayen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde meche Sorwe: and thanne sche turned ayen, in-to hire Cave; and anon the Knyghte dyede. And siththen 13 hidrewards,1 myghte Knyghte se hire, but that he dyede anon. But whan a Knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the Damysele in-to hire righte Forme and kyndely 15 Schapp, and he schal be Lord of alle the Contreyes and Iles aboveseyd. 2 combed • if 3 no believed, thought 1 saw 18 since 11 come & lover 10 let 15 natural cause 9 know 14 till now 6 FROM CHAP. XVII 1 Also yee have herd me seye that Jerusalem is in the myddes of the World; and that may men preven and schewen there be a Spere that is pighte3 in-to the Erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is Equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben in the myddes1 of the World, David wytnessethe it in the Psautre, where he seythe, Deus operatus est salute[m] in medio Terre. Thanne thei that parten fro the parties of the West for to go toward Jerusalem, als many jorneyes' as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many jorneyes may thei gon fro Jerusalem, unto other Confynes of the Superficialtie of the Erthe beyonde. And whan men gon beyonde tho journeyes toward Ynde and to the foreyn Yles, alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of the Erthe and of the See, undre oure Contrees on this half." And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o10 thing that I have herd cownted in whan I was yong: how a worthi man departed somtyme from oure Contrees for to go serche the World. 11 10 And 16 so he passed Ynde and the Yles beyonde Ynde, where ben mo 12 than 5000 Yles; and so longe he wente be 13 See and Lond and so enviround the World be many seysons, that he fond an Yle where he herde speke his owne Langage, callynge on Oxen in the Plowghe, suche Wordes as men speken to Bestes in his owne Contree; whereof he hadde gret Mervayle," for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I seye, that he had gon so longe be Londe and be See that he had envyround alle the Erthe, that he was comen ayen 15 envirounynge, that is to seye, goynge aboute, unto his owne Marches, 10 yif he wolde have passed forthe til he had founden his Contree and his owne knouleche.17 turned ayen from thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour, as him-self seyde a gret while aftre that he was comen hom. For it befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there Tempest of the See toke him; and he arryved in an Yle; and whan he was in that Yle, he knew wel that it was the Yle where he had herd speke his owne Langage before and the callynge of the Oxen at the Plowghe; and that was possible thinge. But how it semethe to symple 3 men unlerned that men ne mowe1 not go undre the Erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the Hevene from undre! But that may not be, upon lesse than wee mowe falle toward Hevene fro the Erthe where wee ben." For fro what partie of the Erthe that men duelle, outher* aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen that thei gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us that thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem that wee ben undre hem. For yif a man myghte falle fro the Erthe unto the Firmament, be grettere resoun, the Erthe and the See, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde fallen to the Firmament: but that may not be; and therefore seithe oure Lord God, Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terra[m] ex nichilo?" And alle be it that it be possible thing that men may so envyronne alle the World, natheles of a 1000 persones on ne myghte not happen to returnen in-to his Contree. For the gretnesse of the Erthe and of the See, men may go be a 1000 and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye 10 him perfitely toward the parties that he cam fro, but-yif " it were be aventure and happ or be the grace of God. For the Erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt 12 in roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen, 20425 Myles, aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise Astronomeres. And here Seyenges I repreve 13 noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here1 reverence, that it is more. 8 Fadre, in the Sone, and in the Holy Gost: and thei ben fulle devoute and righte trewe on 1 to another. And thei sette not be no Barettes,3 ne be Cawteles, ne of no Disceytes." And he hathe undre him 72 Provynces; and in every Provynce is a Kyng. And theise Kynges han Kynges undre hem; and alle ben tributaries to Prestre John. And he hathe in his Lordschipes many grete marveyles. For in his Contree is the See that men clepen the Gravely See, that is alle Gravelle and Sond with-outen ony drope of Watre; and it ebbethe and flowethe in grete Wawes as other Sees don; and it is never stille ne in pes" in no maner cesoun.13 And no man may passe that See be Navye11 ne be no maner of craft: 15 and therfore may no man knowe what Lond is beyond that See. And alle-be-it that it have no Watre, yit men fynden 10 there-in and on the Bankes fulle gode Fissche of other maner of kynde and schappe thanne men fynden in ony other See; and thei ben of right goode tast and delycious to mannes mete. 16 10 12 ren And a 3 journeys long fro that See, ben gret Mountaynes; out of the whiche gothe" out a gret Flood,18 that comethe out of Paradys; and it is fulle of precious Stones, withouten ony drope of Water; and it rennethe 19 thorghe the Desert, on that 20 o1 syde, so that it makethe the See gravely; and it berethe " in-to that See, and there it endethe. And that Flome 18 nethe also 3 dayes in the Woke," and bryngethe with him grete Stones and the Roches 22 also therewith, and that gret plentee. And anon as thei ben entred in-to the gravely See, thei ben seyn 23 no more, but lost for evere more. And in tho 3 dayes that that Ryvere rennethe no man dar24 entren in-to it: but in the other dayes men dar entren wel ynow.25 Also beyonde that Flome," more upward to the Desertes, is a gret Pleyn alle gravelly betwene the Mountaynes; and in that Playn every day at the Sonne risynge begynnen to growe smale Trees; and thei growen til mydday, berynge Frute; but no man dar taken of that Frute, for it is a thing of Fayrye.20 And aftre mydday the discrecen and entren 28 in-to the Erthe; so that at the goynge doun of the Sonne thei apperen no more; and so thei don every day: and that is a gret marvaylle. ayen may 2 are dwell, inhabit 4 either 5 them Dost thou not fear me who have suspended the earth 7 nevertheless upon nothing? 11 unless 12 holds, contains 14 their 18 vessels 16 too 1 one 4 tricks 8 one 9 because of reprove, 10 waves 13 18 device 10 direct criticise 18 part 17 writing 18 20 the 21 week 17 12 kind of goes, flows 22 rocks 26 magic 27 decrease 23 seen 28 again 13 season 18 river 24 dare 3 frauds sand 14 ship 19 runs 25 enough THE GOSPEL OF MATHEU JOHN WICLIF (D. 1384) THE GOSPEL OF MATHEW (FIRST VERSION) CHAP. V 5 Jhesus forsothe,' seynge' cumpanyes, wente up in-to an hill; and when he hadde sete,3 his disciplis camen nighe to hym. And he, openynge his mouthe, taughte to hem, sayinge, "Blessid be the pore in spirit, for the kingdam in hevenes is heren. Blessid be mylde men, for thei shuln welde the eerthe. Blessid be thei that mournen, for thei shuln be comfortid. Blessid be thei that hungren and thristen rightwisnesse, for thei shuln ben fulfillid. Blessid be mercyful men, for thei shuln gete mercye. Blessid be thei that ben of clene herte, for thei shuln see God. Blessid be pesible men, for thei shuln be clepid the sonys of God. Blessid be thei that suffren persecucioun for rightwisnesse, for the kyngdam of hevenes is herun. Yee shulen be blessid, when men shulen curse you, and shulen pursue you, and shulen say al yvel 10 ayeins " you leezing,12 for 16 8 24 23 21 Joye 13 yee with-yn-forth," and glade yee with-out-forth, for youre meede 15 is plentevouse in hevenes; forsothe so thei han "7 pursued and prophetis that weren before you. Yee ben salt of the erthe; that yif 19 the salt shal vanyshe awey, wherynne shal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth over,20 no bot 22 that it be sent out, and defoulid of men. Ye ben light of the world; a citee putt on an hill may nat be hid; nether men tendyn a lanterne, and putten it undir a busshel, but on a candilstike, that it yeve light to alle that ben in the hous. So shyyne 25 youre light before men, that thei see youre good werkis, and glorifie youre Fadir that is in hevens. Nyle ye gesse, or deme," that Y came to undo, or distruye, the lawe, or the prophetis; I came not to undo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe 28 I say to you trewthe, til heven and erthe 29 passe, oon i, that is leste 30 lettre, or titil, shal nat passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be don. Therfore he that undoth, or breketh, oon of these leste 30 maundementis,31 and techith thus men, shal be clepid 32 the leste in the rewme of hevenes; forsothe, this 34 that doth, and techith, shal be clepid grete in the kyngdame of hevenes. Forsothe Y say to you, no-but-yif 35 youre rightwisnesse shal be more 26 33 (SECOND VERSION) CAP. V 2 13 10 10 11 And Jhesus, seynge the puple, wente up into an hil; and whanne he was set, hise disciplis camen to hym. And he openyde his mouth, and taughte hem, and seide, "Blessed ben pore men in spirit, for the kyngdom of hevenes is herne. Blessid ben mylde men, for thei schulen welde the erthe. Blessid ben thei that mornen, for thei schulen be coumfortid. Blessid ben thei that hungren and thristen rightwisnesse, for thei schulen be fulfillid. Blessid ben merciful men, for thei schulen gete merci. Blessid ben thei that ben of clene herte, for thei schulen se God. Blessid ben pesible men, for thei schulen be clepid' Goddis children. Blessid ben thei that suffren persecusioun for rightfulnesse, for the kingdam of hevenes is herne. Ye schulen be blessid, whanne men schulen curse you, and schulen pursue you, and shulen seie al yvel ayens you liynge, for me. Joie ye, and be ye glad for youre meede 15 is plentevouse 1o in hevenes; for so thei han 17 pursued also profetis that weren bifor you. Ye ben salt of the erthe; that if the salt vanysche awey, whereynne schal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth overe,20 21 but 22 that it be cast out, and be defoulid of men. Ye ben light of the world; a citee set on an hil may not be hid; ne me teendith 23 not a lanterne, and puttith it undur a busschel, but on a candilstike, that it yyve light to alle that ben in the hous. So schyne youre light befor men, that thei se youre goode werkis, and glorifie youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Nil 28 ye deme,27 that Y cam to undo the lawe, or the profetis; Y cam not to undo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe Y seie to you, til hevene and erthe passe, o 29 lettir or o2o titel shal not passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be doon. Therfor he that brekith oon of these leeste 30 maundementis, and techith thus men, schal be clepid 32 the leste in the rewme 33 of hevenes; but he that doith, and techith, schal be clepid greet in the kyngdom of hevenes. And Y seie to you, that but your rightfulnesse be more plentevouse than of scribis and of Farisees, ye no 31 ward 16 plenteous 17 have 18 also 19 if 20 besides 21 not 22 but 23 light 24 give 25 Subj. of command. 28 do not, literally, wish not (Lat. nolite) think 28 verily 33 king30 least 31 commandments 32 called 34 he 36 unless 29 one 15 re dom 9 3 8 6 13 12 plentevouse than of scribis and Pharisees, yee shulen not entre in-to kyngdam of hevenes. Yee han herde that it is said to olde men, Thou shal nat slea; forsothe he that sleeth, shal be gylty of dome. But I say to you, that evereche that is wrothe to his brother, shal be gylty of dome; forsothe he that shal say to his brother, Racha, that is, a word of scorn, shal be gylty of counseile; sothly he that shal say, Fool, that is, a word of dispisynge, shal be gylti of the fijr of helle. Therfore yif thou offrist thi yift at the auter,' and there shalt bythenke, that thi brother hath sum-what ayeins thee, leeve there thi yift before the auter, and go first for to be recounseilid, or acordid, to thi brother, and thanne thou cummynge shalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soon, the whijle thou art in the way with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman,1o and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sente in-to prisoun. Trewely I say to thee, Thou shalt not go thennes, til thou yelde the last ferthing. Ye han herd for it was said to olde men, Thou shalt nat do lecherye. Forsothe Y say to you, for-why every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hire, now he hath do lecherie by hire in his herte. That yif thi right eiye sclaundre 14 thee, pulle it out, and cast it fro thee; for it speedith' to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than a thi body go in-to helle. And yif thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitt "7 it awey, and cast it fro thee; for it spedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than that al thi body go in-to helle. Forsothe it is said, Who-evere shal leeve his wyf, yeve 1 he to hir a libel, that is, a litil boke, of forsakyng. Sothely Y say to you, that every man that shal leeve his wyf, outaken 19 cause of fornicacioun, he makith hire do lecherie and he that weddith the forsaken wijf, doth avoutrie.20 Efte-soonys 21 yee han herd, that it was said to olde men, Thou shalt not forswere, sothely 22 to the Lord thou shalt yeeld 23 thin œthis.24 Forsothe Y say to you, to nat swere on al manere; neither by hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heved,25 for thou maist not make oon heer whyt or blak; but be youre word yea, yea; Nay, nay; forsothe that that is more 14 6 schulen not entre into the kyngdom of hevenes. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not slee; and he that sleeth, schal be gilti to doom. But Y seie to you, that ech man that is wrooth to his brothir, schal be gilti to doom; and he that seith to his brother, Fy! schal be gilti to the counseil; but he that seith, Fool, schal be gilti to the fier of helle. Therfor if thou offrist thi yifte at the auter,' and ther thou bithenkist, that thi brothir hath sum-what ayens thee, leeve there thi yifte bifor the auter, and go first to be recounselid to thi brothir, and thanne thou schalt come, and schalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soone, while thou art in the weie with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman,1o and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sent in-to prisoun. Treuli Y seie to thee, thou shalt not go out fro thennus, til thou yelde 12 the last ferthing. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt do no letcherie. But Y seie to you, that every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hir, hath now do letcherie bi hir in his herte. That if thi right iye sclaundre 1 thee, pulle hym out, and caste fro thee; for it spedith 15 to thee, that oon1 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And if thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitte " hym aweye, and caste fro thee; for it spedith to thee that oon 16 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And it hath be seyd, Who-evere leeveth his wiif, yyve he to hir a libel of forsakyng. But Y seie to you, that every man that leeveth his wiif, outtakun cause of fornycacioun, makith hir to do letcherie, and he that weddith the forsakun wiif, doith avowtrye. Eftsoone ye han herd, that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not forswere, but thou schalt yelde thin othis to the Lord. But Y seie to you, that ye swere not for ony thing; nethir bi hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether bi the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; nether bi Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; nether thou shalt not swere bi thin heed, for thou maist not make oon heere white ne blacke; but be youre word, yhe, yhe; Nay, nay; and that that is more than these, is of yvel. Ye han herd that it hath be seid, Iye for iye, and tothe for tothe. But Y seie to you, that ye ayenstonde 26 not an yvel man; but if ony |