"Þa gyt drihten cwæð. . . . .wórd to Noetymað nu &tiedrað."Again the Lord spake. . . . .words to Noah:—Teem now and propagate.—(Cæd. p. 91.)
"Þa gyt drihten cwæð
. . . . .
wórd to Noe
tymað nu &tiedrað."
Again the Lord spake
. . . . .
words to Noah:—
Teem now and propagate.
—(Cæd. p. 91.)
"I was borenn herOff faderr & off moder.. . . . .Þa þeȝȝre time wass all ganTotiddrenn& to tæmenn."I was born hereOf father and mother.. . . . .When their time was all goneTo propagate and to teem.—(Orm. ii. p. 284.)
"I was borenn her
Off faderr & off moder.
. . . . .
Þa þeȝȝre time wass all gan
Totiddrenn& to tæmenn."
I was born here
Of father and mother.
. . . . .
When their time was all gone
To propagate and to teem.
—(Orm. ii. p. 284.)
See O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. 177, wheretuder= offspring.
168So, an error forðo?
P. 6. l.169wrim=wirm= reptiles.170Qwel=qwelc;quilc= which.
172singen, to sin. It is not an error forsinnen, but a genuine form (contracted fromsinigen), and not uncommon in O.E. writers. Seesinegedin l.3555, p. 101.
"Hesu[n]ggedenand sorgeden and weren in ðogt."They sinned and sorrowed and were in thought.(O.E. Miscell. p. 22, l. 682.)
"Hesu[n]ggedenand sorgeden and weren in ðogt."
They sinned and sorrowed and were in thought.
(O.E. Miscell. p. 22, l. 682.)
"Þe verþe manere tozeneȝiin chapare is to zelle to tyme."—(Ayenbite, p. 33.)
"Þe verþe manere tozeneȝiin chapare is to zelle to tyme."
—(Ayenbite, p. 33.)
"Alsuo may he mid his oȝene wyuezeneȝidyadliche.—(Ibid. p. 36.)
"Alsuo may he mid his oȝene wyuezeneȝidyadliche.—(Ibid. p. 36.)
Sunegi= to sin, occurs in the "Owl and Nightingale," 926.
SeeSunegie,sunehi, in O.E. Miscell. pp. 67, 68, 78, 79, 193.
173
to fremen and do frame,to serve and do good.—(See l.133.)
to fremen and do frame,
to serve and do good.—(See l.133.)
"Heo scullen me mon-radene mid mo[n]scipefremmen."They shall me homage with honour perform.—(Laȝ. ii. 586.)
"Heo scullen me mon-radene mid mo[n]scipefremmen."
They shall me homage with honour perform.—(Laȝ. ii. 586.)
See St. Kath. 288; Anc. Riwle, p. 284.
Fremeandframeare radically the same words, the former being of A.Saxon and the latter of Norse origin. In the Ayenbite, p. 91,vreme=freme=frameis used exactly in the sense offrame: "We wylleþ wel þet we be yvonded (tempted) vor hit is ourevremeine vele maneres, vor we byeþ þe more ymylded and þe dredvoller and þe more wys ine alle þinges and þe more worþ and þe more asayd."197oc=og=ow, ought.
P. 7. ll.204-6
Whilst it (the soul) followed holy will,God's self the while is pleased,And displeased when it loves sin.
Whilst it (the soul) followed holy will,
God's self the while is pleased,
And displeased when it loves sin.
un-lifis evidently an error forun-lief= displeased = O.E.unleôf. In the MS. thefhas a long tail, and might almost stand for an incompletek.217kiegt=hight= threatened, literally promised.222ilc here= each of them. Cf. the expressionsher non,non her= none of them.228sib= akin, related; still preserved ingossip, originallygodsib. See Ayenbite, p. 36.230wrocte=wrogte= pret. ofworken, toache,pain,hurt. Cf. A.S.rop-weorc= stomach-ache;weorcsum, irksome. In the Reliq. Antiq., p. 51, a receipt is given "for evel andwerkein þe bledder." On p. 54 of the same work we have a receipt for the "seke man" whose "hevedwerkes."234ðurte, an abbreviated form ofðurfte= behoved. This verb is used with thedativeof the pronoun. (See Handlynge Synne, l. 5826.)
"Whyne had God made us swaÞat usthurtnever haf feled wele ne wa."—(Hampole's P. of C. 6229.)
"Whyne had God made us swa
Þat usthurtnever haf feled wele ne wa."
—(Hampole's P. of C. 6229.)
P. 8. l.240seli spedmay be regarded as a compound, and printedseli-sped= good speed, prosperity. Cf. l.310, whereiwel sped=iwel-sped= misfortune. Cf. O.E.gode-happe, prosperity, andille-happe, mishap.247seuendai=seuend dai= seventh day.250newes=a-new, a genitival adjective used adverbially. Cf. our modern adverbneeds, O.E.nedes, of necessity;lives, alive. (R. of Gloucester, 301, 376. Owl and Nightingale, 1632.)deathes= dead. (R. of Gl., 375, 382. Owl and Nightingale, 1630.)255rode-wold= rode tree. I have printedrode-woldand notrode wold, because the two expressions are widely different in meaning. In the latter phrase the wordwold= put to death, slain; in the former it is a suffix = -tree, -beam; so thatrode-woldcorresponds exactly to the O.E.rode-tre=rood-tre= the cross.
"Þe ille men in manhed sal hym [Christ] se,Anly als he henged on þerode-tre," etc.—(Hampole's P. of C., l. 5260.)
"Þe ille men in manhed sal hym [Christ] se,
Anly als he henged on þerode-tre," etc.
—(Hampole's P. of C., l. 5260.)
Cf.dore-tree, Piers Pl. 833, and the phrases "hanged on atree," "the gallowstree," etc. O.E.Tre=tree= wood, beam (andtreen= wooden), still existing inaxle-tree,saddle-tree, etc. The-woldinrode-woldmust therefore =-tre= wood, beam, which we still preserve inthreshold. O.E.threshwald,threshwold(A.S.thersc-wald,thyrscwold). The affix-woldfortunately occurs again in lines576and614in the wordarche-wold= ark-board.
Sexe hundred ger noe was hold,Quan he dede him in ðearche-wold.—(l.576.)
Sexe hundred ger noe was hold,
Quan he dede him in ðearche-wold.—(l.576.)
Sex hundred ger and on dan oldeNoe ſag ut of ðearche-wolde.—(l.614.)
Sex hundred ger and on dan olde
Noe ſag ut of ðearche-wolde.—(l.614.)
A passage in Cædmon's poems furnishes us with the very termark-boardby which we have renderedarche-wold.
"Læd swa ic ðe hateunderearce-bordeaforan þine."Lead so I thee hete (command)under the ark-boardthy progeny.—(l. 23, p. 80.)
"Læd swa ic ðe hate
underearce-bord
eaforan þine."
Lead so I thee hete (command)
under the ark-board
thy progeny.
—(l. 23, p. 80.)
"Him þa Noe gewatswa hine nergand hetunderearce-bord."Noah then departedas him the preserver bad,under the ark board.—(l. 4, p. 82.)
"Him þa Noe gewat
swa hine nergand het
underearce-bord."
Noah then departed
as him the preserver bad,
under the ark board.
—(l. 4, p. 82.)
259
Siðen for-les ðat dai is prisAfterwards lost that day its honour.
Siðen for-les ðat dai is pris
Afterwards lost that day its honour.
266
And seli sad fro ðe forwrogt.Andtherighteous separated from the wicked (accursed).
And seli sad fro ðe forwrogt.
Andtherighteous separated from the wicked (accursed).
Seliconstantly occurs in O.E. writers in the sense ofgood, andunseli, with the opposite meaning ofbad,wicked. At first sight it would appear that theforinforwrogtis the same prefix which we have inforbid,forsake, O.E.for-worth, "good for nothing;" butforwrogtin O.E. = overworked, and, hence, fatigued.Forwrogtseems to be connected with the O.H.Ger.foruuerget, cursed; O.E.weried, cursed. The first interpretation, however, is supported by the Goth. verbfra-vaurkjan; Ger.verwirken, sündigen.
271
Ligber he sridde a dere srud.Lucifer he shrouded (clothed) in dear (precious) shrouds (vestments).
Ligber he sridde a dere srud.
Lucifer he shrouded (clothed) in dear (precious) shrouds (vestments).
Ligberis evidentlyLigtber= Lucifer. It occurs in the Ayenbite, p. 10:—"And verst we willeþ zigge of þe zenne of prede, vor þet wes þe verste zenne and þe aginninge of alle kueade, for prede brek verst velaȝrede and ordre, huanneLiȝtberethe angel for his greate vayrhede and his greate wyt wolde by above þe oþre angeles and him wolde emni to God þet hine zo vayr an zuo guod hedde ymad."
272-276
And he became in himself proud,And with that pride upon him waxed envyThat evilly influenced all his conduct;Then might he no lord tolerate,That should in any wise control him.
And he became in himself proud,
And with that pride upon him waxed envy
That evilly influenced all his conduct;
Then might he no lord tolerate,
That should in any wise control him.
P. 9. l.275ðhauen= suffer, endure, tolerate. S.Saxonðafen,iðeuen; O.E.thave.
"Þe sexte bede þatt mann bittUppo þe Paterr NossterrÞatt iss, þatt Godd ne þole nohhtNeþafelaþe gastess.To winnenn oferrhand off ussÞurrh heore laþe wiless."The sixth petition that one prayethin the Pater Noster is that God shouldnot suffer nor permit loathsome spiritsto gain the upperhand of usthrough their loathsome wiles.—(Orm. i. p. 188.)
"Þe sexte bede þatt mann bitt
Uppo þe Paterr Nossterr
Þatt iss, þatt Godd ne þole nohht
Neþafelaþe gastess.
To winnenn oferrhand off uss
Þurrh heore laþe wiless."
The sixth petition that one prayeth
in the Pater Noster is that God should
not suffer nor permit loathsome spirits
to gain the upperhand of us
through their loathsome wiles.
—(Orm. i. p. 188.)
"& Hengest hine gon werien.& nalde it nohtiþeuen[þolie]."And Hengest gan him defendAnd would not suffer it.—(Laȝ. vol. ii. p. 215.)
"& Hengest hine gon werien.
& nalde it nohtiþeuen[þolie]."
And Hengest gan him defend
And would not suffer it.
—(Laȝ. vol. ii. p. 215.)
276ðhinge= place, office, duty; it seems to be here used adverbially in the sense of "any wise," "at all."276grauenis perhaps an error forþrauen, to compel, control. Cf.guforðu, p. 11, ll.365,366, andðundforgund. Ifgrauenbe the original reading then it is equivalent togreven. O.F.grever, Lat.gravare, to injure, grieve.
278
Min sete norð on heuene maken.
Min sete norð on heuene maken.
"Sette," he (Lucifer) said, "mi sete I salGain him þat heist es of alle;In þenorthside it sal be sette,O me seruis sal he non gette."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 4b.)
"Sette," he (Lucifer) said, "mi sete I sal
Gain him þat heist es of alle;
In þenorthside it sal be sette,
O me seruis sal he non gette."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 4b.)
282geuelic=geuenlic= like. Cf. the A.S.ge-efenlæcan, to be like, to imitate. O.E.euening= equal.
"And ðeðen he sal cumen eft,and thence he shall come again,. . . . . .for to demen alle men,for to judge all men,oc nouton-geuelike.but not a-like."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 23.)
"And ðeðen he sal cumen eft,
and thence he shall come again,
. . . . . .
for to demen alle men,
for to judge all men,
oc nouton-geuelike.
but not a-like."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 23.)
"It (the law) fet ðe licham and te gost oc nowt ogeuelike."It feedeth the body and the spirit but not alike.—(Ibid. p. 10.)
"It (the law) fet ðe licham and te gost oc nowt ogeuelike."
It feedeth the body and the spirit but not alike.
—(Ibid. p. 10.)
295ðis quead= this wicked one. In Early English writers we meet with several derivatives of this word, askueadliche, wickedly,kueadvol, sinful. (See Ayenbite of Inwyt, p. 4, and extract inNoteto l. 271, p. 125.)
301
Euerilc ðhing haued [haueð] he geue name,To everything hath he given name.
Euerilc ðhing haued [haueð] he geue name,
To everything hath he given name.
309-310 Yet I ween I know of a device, that shall bring them misfortune.
P. 10. l.314ðor buten hunte, there without search, or hunting, without delay;orthereabout tohuntor search.316bilirten, to deprive of by treachery, to cheat a person out of a thing.
"ða herodes gesægh for-ðon bisuicen[&bilyrtet] wæs from dryum, [& tungulcræftgum] urað wæs suiðe."(Matthew ii. 16, Northumbrian version.)
"ða herodes gesægh for-ðon bisuicen
[&bilyrtet] wæs from dryum, [& tungul
cræftgum] urað wæs suiðe."
(Matthew ii. 16, Northumbrian version.)
"Listneð nu a wunder,ðat tis der doð for hunger:goð o felde to a furg,and falleð ðar-inne,in eried lond er in erð-chine,fortobilirtenfugeles."Listeneth now to a wonder,That this deer (fox) doth for hunger:Goeth a-field to a furrow,And falleth therein,In eared land or in earth-chink,For to deceive fowls.—(O.E. Miscell. p. 13, l. 403.)
"Listneð nu a wunder,
ðat tis der doð for hunger:
goð o felde to a furg,
and falleð ðar-inne,
in eried lond er in erð-chine,
fortobilirtenfugeles."
Listeneth now to a wonder,
That this deer (fox) doth for hunger:
Goeth a-field to a furrow,
And falleth therein,
In eared land or in earth-chink,
For to deceive fowls.
—(O.E. Miscell. p. 13, l. 403.)
318dreue= trouble, disturb. Cf. O.E.drove, to trouble,droving, tribulation. "Þa Herodes þæt gehyrde, þa wearð hegedrefed,[397]& eal Hierosolim-waru mid him."—Matt. ii. 3.
"& for-þi þatt he sahh þatt ȝhoWasdræfeddof his spæcheHe toc to froffrenn hire anann."—(Orm. i. p. 74.)
"& for-þi þatt he sahh þatt ȝho
Wasdræfeddof his spæche
He toc to froffrenn hire anann."—(Orm. i. p. 74.)
"And because that he saw that she was troubled at his word, he took to comfort her anon." Southern writers, by metathesis, formed fromdreuen(dreue) the vb.deruen(derue), thereby confounding it with another vb.deruenorderue, pret.dorue, p.p.doruen(A.Sax.deorfan, pret.dearf, p.p.dorfen), to labour, perish, be in trouble.Dreueis a transitive vb. of the weak conjugation, whilederueis intransitive and of the strong conjugation, nevertheless we findderue(pret.dorue), taking the signification ofdreue. "Stute nu earme steorue ant swic nuðe lanhure swikele swarte deouel, þat tu nederueme na mare."—(Seinte Marherete, p. 12.) "Stop now, poor stern one, and cease now at once, deceitful swart devil, that thou harm me no more." In Laȝamon we find not only pret.drof= distressed, butderfde, and the p.p.iderued. In the Owl and Nightingale (ed. Wright), p. 40, we find the p.p.idorve= troubled, injured.
"Other thou bodest cualm of oreve (orve),Other that lond-folc wurthi-dorve."
"Other thou bodest cualm of oreve (orve),
Other that lond-folc wurthi-dorve."
322
And senkede hire hure aldre bale= And poured out to her the bale of us all,
And senkede hire hure aldre bale
= And poured out to her the bale of us all,
i. e.gave her the cup of sorrow, of which we all drink;senkede=schenkede, to pour out, to give to drink, toskink. See Orm. ii. 181. Laȝ. ii. 202, 431; Alys. 7581; Owl and Nightingale, p. 70.
324
Quat oget nu ðat for-bode o-wold= What does now that prohibition signify?
Quat oget nu ðat for-bode o-wold
= What does now that prohibition signify?
i. e.What is the meaning of the prohibition;oget= has, possesseso wold=a wold= in force, in signification. Cp.
Quat-so his dremes owen a wold= What-soever his dreams do mean.
Quat-so his dremes owen a wold
= What-soever his dreams do mean.
In ll.1671,2122woldoccurs as a noun = interpretation, meaning. The connection between the idea ofpower, andmeaning,interpretation, is not, after all, so very remote. Do we not speak of theforceof a word, itspower,use, etc., in an expression? See Ormulum, p. 56, l. 11815.
327
for is fruit sired [sireð?] mannes mood,= for its fruit enlighteneth (cleareth) man's mind.
for is fruit sired [sireð?] mannes mood,
= for its fruit enlighteneth (cleareth) man's mind.
330witentforwiten it= know it.333on hire mod= in her mind.339scroðt=scroð= solicited; the pret. ofscriðe. The original meaning of the verb is, (1) to go; (2) to cause to go, to urge; (3) to solicit.
341
for to forðen is fendes wil,for to further (do) his foe's will."For up he rigteð himredi to deren,to deren er to ded makenif he it muge forðen."—(O.E. Miscell. pp. 5, 6.)
for to forðen is fendes wil,
for to further (do) his foe's will.
"For up he rigteð him
redi to deren,
to deren er to ded maken
if he it muge forðen."—(O.E. Miscell. pp. 5, 6.)
342
At he ðat fruit, and dede unskil,Ate he that fruit and committed sin.
At he ðat fruit, and dede unskil,
Ate he that fruit and committed sin.
unskil, literally, signifies indiscretion, folly, and by an easy transition, sin, crime. (See Ormulum, vol. i. p. 12. Cf. O.E.unskilwis= irrational.)
P. 11. l.345Vn-buxumhed= disobedience; but in line346it signifies weakness,un-lithesomeness.
347-8
Vn-welde woren and in winHere owen limes hem wið-in.Their own limbs within themWere powerless and in strife.
Vn-welde woren and in win
Here owen limes hem wið-in.
Their own limbs within them
Were powerless and in strife.
vnwelde= unwieldy = the S. Saxonvniwælde, heavy.—(Gower i. 312.)
"——hise limes arnunwelde."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 3.)
"——hise limes arnunwelde."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 3.)
(i. e.weak with age);in win, in strife, conflict.
"and wið al mankinhe (the devil) haueð nið andwin" (envy and strife).(O.E. Miscell. p. 8.)
"and wið al mankin
he (the devil) haueð nið andwin" (envy and strife).
(O.E. Miscell. p. 8.)
"ðis fis wuneð wið ðe se grund,and liueð ðer eure heil and sund,til it cumeð ðe timeðat storm stireð al ðe se,ðanne sumer and winterwinnen(strive)."(O.E. Miscell. pp. 16, 17.)
"ðis fis wuneð wið ðe se grund,
and liueð ðer eure heil and sund,
til it cumeð ðe time
ðat storm stireð al ðe se,
ðanne sumer and winterwinnen(strive)."
(O.E. Miscell. pp. 16, 17.)
"Þar aros wale andwin."There arose slaughter and strife.—(Laȝ. i. 18.)
"Þar aros wale andwin."
There arose slaughter and strife.—(Laȝ. i. 18.)
349
flesses fremeðe and safte sameboðen he felten on here lichame.Lust of flesh, and shame of formboth they felt in their bodies.
flesses fremeðe and safte same
boðen he felten on here lichame.
Lust of flesh, and shame of form
both they felt in their bodies.
fremeðeseems connected withfremenandframe. In the translation I have connectedfremeðewith O.E.frim, vigorous; but it may be another form of O.E.frumðe, beginning. Then the translation of l.349would be 'the beginning of flesh and shame of form.'
360
ðu haues ðe sorges sigðhe waked.Thou hast for thyself a sight of sorrow roused.
ðu haues ðe sorges sigðhe waked.
Thou hast for thyself a sight of sorrow roused.
sigðhe= sight, but if it be an error forsiðheit will signify adversity, mishap.362ut luken= shut out.363tilen ði mete[n]= earn thy food.tilen(till), earn, procure.
"Ne maig hetilenhim non fode."He is not able to procure food for himself.(O.E. Miscell. p. 3.)
"Ne maig hetilenhim non fode."
He is not able to procure food for himself.
(O.E. Miscell. p. 3.)
364wid=wið, with.swotes teres= tears of sweat,i. e.drops of sweat. We may, however, by spoiling the metre, readswotes & teres, for in O.E. writersswotis frequently used in the singular and makes the pluralswotes.
365,366
Til gu beas eft into erðe cumen,Till thou art again into earth come.
Til gu beas eft into erðe cumen,
Till thou art again into earth come.
beas=be'st= art. The present has also a future signification.
369niðful= envious.
"Onythþare springes mani bogh,Þat ledes man to mikel wogh,fornithfulman he luuves lest,Þe quilk he wat es dughtiest."—(Cursor Mundi, MS. Cott. Vesp. A iii. fol. 153b.)
"Onythþare springes mani bogh,
Þat ledes man to mikel wogh,
fornithfulman he luuves lest,
Þe quilk he wat es dughtiest."
—(Cursor Mundi, MS. Cott. Vesp. A iii. fol. 153b.)
loð an liðer, loathsome and vile.
372
And atter on is tunge cliuen,And poison on his tongue shall cleave.
And atter on is tunge cliuen,
And poison on his tongue shall cleave.
373san=schand, disgrace, shame. Did the scribe originally writesam= shame?377pilches. This word answers to the "coats of skin" in our English version of the Scriptures. In modern Englishpilchis merely the flannel swathe of an infant, but it formerly signified a fur garment. Cf. Ital.pellicia,pelizza, any kind of fur; also Fr.pelisse(pelice), a furred garment.
"Here kirtle, herepilcheof ermine,Here keuerchefs of silk, here smok o line,Al-togidere, with both fest,Sche to-rent binethen here brest."—(Seven Sages, 473.)
"Here kirtle, herepilcheof ermine,
Here keuerchefs of silk, here smok o line,
Al-togidere, with both fest,
Sche to-rent binethen here brest."—(Seven Sages, 473.)
P. 12. l.384.
Cherubin hauet [haueð] ðe gates sperd,Cherubim have the gates bolted (barred, fastened).
Cherubin hauet [haueð] ðe gates sperd,
Cherubim have the gates bolted (barred, fastened).
391swem= sorrow, grief. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v.swemande. Legends of Holy Rood, pp. 135, 201.
392
Of iwel and dead hem stondeð greimOf evil and death they stand in awe.
Of iwel and dead hem stondeð greim
Of evil and death they stand in awe.
A similar phrase occurs in l.432, p. 13. The phrasestande aweis not uncommon in O.E. writers.
"Than sal be herd the blast of bem,The demster sal com to dem,That al thing ofstandes awe."(i. e.standsinawe of.)—(Met. Hom. p. xii.)
"Than sal be herd the blast of bem,
The demster sal com to dem,
That al thing ofstandes awe."
(i. e.standsinawe of.)
—(Met. Hom. p. xii.)
"For Crist com sal be sa brightÞat thoru þat mikel lauerd mightHim sal ofstand sa mikel au,Þat alle þe filthes of his maughSal brist ute at his hindwin,For dred he sal haf of drightin."—(Antichrist and the Signs of the Doom,inJahrbuch für Romanische und Englische Literatur,1863, p. 203, l. 408.)
"For Crist com sal be sa bright
Þat thoru þat mikel lauerd might
Him sal ofstand sa mikel au,
Þat alle þe filthes of his maugh
Sal brist ute at his hindwin,
For dred he sal haf of drightin."
—(Antichrist and the Signs of the Doom,
inJahrbuch für Romanische und Englische Literatur,
1863, p. 203, l. 408.)
"Thereof nestod him non owe."—(Seven Sages, 1887.)
"Thereof nestod him non owe."—(Seven Sages, 1887.)
See Havelok the Dane, p. 9, l. 277.
393on sundri=asunder= apart, separate.
398
And leded(ledeð)samen gunker lif.And lead (pass) together your (two) lives.
And leded(ledeð)samen gunker lif.
And lead (pass) together your (two) lives.
leded=ledeð, is a verb in the imperative mood;gunker, the A.S.incer(dual) = your two, of you two. Cf.ȝunkerr baþre= of you both.—(Orm. i. 214.)
408
And sumdel quemeð it his seri moodAnd somewhat it cheereth his sorry mood.
And sumdel quemeð it his seri mood
And somewhat it cheereth his sorry mood.
411
More for erneste dan [ðan] for gamen,More for necessity than for pleasure.
More for erneste dan [ðan] for gamen,
More for necessity than for pleasure.
P. 13. l.417al swilc sel= all such time.
420
ðan he was of is broðer wold,When he was by his brother killed.
ðan he was of is broðer wold,
When he was by his brother killed.
421,422
An hundred ger after is dead,Adam fro eue in srifte abead.A hundred years after his death,Adam from Eve in shrift (penance) abode.
An hundred ger after is dead,
Adam fro eue in srifte abead.
A hundred years after his death,
Adam from Eve in shrift (penance) abode.
(i. e.on account of the death of Abel.)
"A hundred winter of his liuefra þan forbar Adam his wiue,for soru of Abel þat was slayn."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 8.)
"A hundred winter of his liue
fra þan forbar Adam his wiue,
for soru of Abel þat was slayn."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 8.)
See Legends of the Holy Rood, pp. 20, 21.
431and wurð ut-lage= and became an outlaw.
432
wið dead him stood hinke and age.Of death he stoodindread and fear.
wið dead him stood hinke and age.
Of death he stoodindread and fear.
hinke=inke, doubt, dread. Seenoteon l. 392.
436
ðeft and reflac ðhugte him no same,theft and robbery appeared to him no shame.
ðeft and reflac ðhugte him no same,
theft and robbery appeared to him no shame.
Reflac= robbery with violence, rapine. (See Laȝ. i. 172, 272, 424; ii. 526.)
"Þe first sin is o covatiseÞat revis mani man þair praise,O þis cumes blindnes and tresun,Reuelaic, theft, extorsiun."—(The Seven Deadly Sins:Cursor Mundi,Cott. MS. Vesp. Aiii.)
"Þe first sin is o covatise
Þat revis mani man þair praise,
O þis cumes blindnes and tresun,
Reuelaic, theft, extorsiun."
—(The Seven Deadly Sins:Cursor Mundi,Cott. MS. Vesp. Aiii.)
438stonden agon= withstand, oppose. Cf. O.E.again-stande, to oppose.
439
Met of corn, and wigte of fe,Measure of corn, and weight of goods.
Met of corn, and wigte of fe,
Measure of corn, and weight of goods.
The only objection against explainingfeby goods or money is that in the poem it signifies cattle, the proper term for goods, etc., beingagte. In Laȝamonfe, however, has the meaning of goods, money.
440
And merke of felde, first fond he,And he first devised division (boundary) of fields (lands).
And merke of felde, first fond he,
And he first devised division (boundary) of fields (lands).
444at ðe sexte kne= at the sixth degree.Knein this sense is used by Robert of Gloucester, p. 228:—"He come of Woden þe olde louerd, as in teþe kne" (i. e.tenth generation).450On engleis tale= in English speech.
P. 14. l.451kire, modesty, purity. See Laȝ. l. 8077. K. Horn, l. 1446.
456
He was hirde wittere and wal.He was herdsman wise and experienced (skilful).
He was hirde wittere and wal.
He was herdsman wise and experienced (skilful).
See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v.wale.
457-8
Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble,sundring and sameni[n]g tagte he.
Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble,
sundring and sameni[n]g tagte he.
He taught of (concerning) the character, breed, age, colour [of cattle], the keeping them asunder, and the matching them together.merkerefers, perhaps, to theform,shape, etc., of the cattle, andkindeto theirpedigree.459glew, music, still exists in glee,gleeman, etc., O.E.gleowinge= singing.gleu, to amuse by singing.
"Bi a piler was he þar settTogleuþaa gomes at þair mete."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 40b.)
"Bi a piler was he þar sett
Togleuþaa gomes at þair mete."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 40b.)
Cf.gleo, music.—(Laȝ. i. 298.)gleo-cræften= glee-crafts, arts of music.—(Ibid. i. 299.)gleo-dreme= glee-sound.—(Ibid. i. 77.)gleowen,gleowien, to chant, play.—(Ibid. ii. 382, 429.)466a sellic smið, a wonderful (rare) smith.468To sundren and mengen= to separate (the ore from the dross) and to mix (alloy).
469
Wopen of wigte and tol of grið= weapon of war and tool of peace.
Wopen of wigte and tol of grið
= weapon of war and tool of peace.
wigte=wig= war.Wigtemay signify sharpness; it usually = strong, brave.
470
wel cuðe egte and safgte wið.
wel cuðe egte and safgte wið.
This line seems to be very corrupt and to stand in need of some emendation. I would propose to read as follows:—
wel cuðe he fegte and sagte wið
wel cuðe he fegte and sagte wið
= well could hefight[i. e.with thewopenofwigte] andhealwith [thetolofgrið]. If this interpretation be righttol of griðwould refer to some curative agents.472wurð bisne, became blind.
"Þis Lamech was called Lamech þe blind,Caym he slogh wit chaunce we find."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 10.)
"Þis Lamech was called Lamech þe blind,
Caym he slogh wit chaunce we find."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 10.)
475
Al-so he mistagte, also he schet,As he mistaught, so he shot.
Al-so he mistagte, also he schet,
As he mistaught, so he shot.
477wende=weened, thought.480-481 Cain unwarned, received it (the arrow), groaned, and stretched (fell prostrate), and died with that (immediately).unwardemay be an error forunwarnde= unwarned, or forunwared= A.S.unwered= unprotected.484dedes swog= death's swoon.Swog= O.E.swowe,swoughe.
"Aswogh(in swoon) he fell adounAn his hynder arsoun (rise of the saddle),As man that was mate."—(Lybeaus Disconus, 1171.)
"Aswogh(in swoon) he fell adoun
An his hynder arsoun (rise of the saddle),
As man that was mate."—(Lybeaus Disconus, 1171.)
The verb toswoonoccurs often in English under the formswoghen(p.p.yswowe),
"The kingswoghenedfor that wounde."—(Kyng Alys., 5857.)
"The kingswoghenedfor that wounde."—(Kyng Alys., 5857.)
Cf. Laȝ. 130, "he fel iswowen;" i. 192,stille he was iswoȝen(the later copy readsiswoȝe).
486
Of his soule beð mikel hagt.On his soul is much sorrow.—(See l.2044, p. 59.)
Of his soule beð mikel hagt.
On his soul is much sorrow.—(See l.2044, p. 59.)
The literal signification seems to be thought, care. (SeeAgtein l.3384.)
P. 15. l.490or or, etc. = first ere, etc. = first before, etc.fen= mud, dirt.
"Man here is nathyng ellesBot a foule slyme, wlatsom til men,And a sekful of stynkandfen."—(Hampole's P. of C., l. 566.)
"Man here is nathyng elles
Bot a foule slyme, wlatsom til men,
And a sekful of stynkandfen."
—(Hampole's P. of C., l. 566.)
See R. of Gloucester, 6; Ps. (in Surtees' Psalter) xvii. 43.492drinkilden= were drowned;drinkilis a derivative of O.E.drinke, to drown, a softer form of which isdrenche, which often signifies in O.E. a drink, potion (R. of Gl., p. 151; Ayenbite, p. 151,deaþes drenche), as well as to drink and to drown. See Laȝ. i. 64.
"& att te lattstedrunncnennþeȝȝþa wrecchess, þat hemm trowwenn.And at the last drown theyThe wretches who them trow (believe)."—(Orm. ii. 181.)
"& att te lattstedrunncnennþeȝȝ
þa wrecchess, þat hemm trowwenn.
And at the last drown they
The wretches who them trow (believe)."—(Orm. ii. 181.)
"The see him gonadrynkeThat Rymenil may of-thinke."—(Kyng Horn, 978.)
"The see him gonadrynke
That Rymenil may of-thinke."—(Kyng Horn, 978.)
494
he began holy customOf prayers, and of god-fearing-ness,for life's help and soul's comfort (counsel).
he began holy custom
Of prayers, and of god-fearing-ness,
for life's help and soul's comfort (counsel).
500alied=halihed= holiness;toch=toc= took.501fro mannes mene, from man's fellowship, society. The usual form ofmenein O.E. isymene,ymone= common, general.503-510 From Hampole's Pricke of Conscience, pp. 122-126, we learn that both Enoch and Hely (Elijah) shall come before doomsday to turn the Jews from following Antichrist to the Christian law:—"For 1260 days, or three years, shall they continue to preach. Antichrist, in great wrath, shall put the two prophets to death in Jerusalem, where their bodies shall lie in the streets for three days and a half, after which they shall ascend to heaven in a cloud. After their death Antichrist shall only reign fifteen days, at the end of which time he shall be slain before the Mount of Olivet." Some "clerks" affirm that he shall be slain by St Michael in Babylon, "that great hill." (See "Antichrist and the Signs before the Doom," in Jahrbuch für Romanische und Englische Literatur, 1863.)517Metodius. In the "Polychronicon Ranulphi Higdeni," p. 23, ed. by Churchill Babington, 1865, amongst the "auctores names" we find mention made of "Methodius etiam martyr et episcopus, cui incarcerato revelavit angelus de mundi statu principio et fine."518sighe sir=sigðhe sir=sheer insight, clear fore-knowledge.
P. 16. l.525quat agte awold= what should happen.526water wold, destroyed by water.woldmay =walled, flooded, fromwallen.530hore-plage, whore-play, whoredom. Cf. O.Sax.hor-uuilo; O.H.G.huorgilust. In O.E.hore(notwhore) was an epithet applicable to men as well as women. It occasionally signifies adultery. It is found in combination as a qualifying term inhore-cop,horesone, a bastard;hore-hous, a brothel. The O.E.horwed, defiled, unclean;horowe, foul (Chaucer);hori,ouri, dirty; Provincial E.horry(Devonshire), seem to belong to another family of words.