"When this was sayd, schowyteaway."—(Ibid., p. 169.)
"When this was sayd, schowyteaway."—(Ibid., p. 169.)
1054quakeis evidently an error forquate=wait, look for.
P. 31. l.1055
He ros, and lutte, and scroð him[hem?]wel.He rose, and bowed, and urged (invited) them well.
He ros, and lutte, and scroð him[hem?]wel.
He rose, and bowed, and urged (invited) them well.
1060
He wisten him bergen fro ðe dead.They wished to preserve him from death.
He wisten him bergen fro ðe dead.
They wished to preserve him from death.
bergenis literally to preserve, but it may be here used passively, as the infinitive often is by O.E. writers, and we must then render the line as follows:—"They wished him to be preserved from death."
1062
And he him gulden it euerilc del.And they him requited it every whit.
And he him gulden it euerilc del.
And they him requited it every whit.
1063
Oc al ðat burgt folc ðat helde was on.But all that townsfolk that were old enough.
Oc al ðat burgt folc ðat helde was on.
But all that townsfolk that were old enough.
1073
ðat folc vn-seli, sinne wod.That wretched folk, mad with sin.
ðat folc vn-seli, sinne wod.
That wretched folk, mad with sin.
1076wreche and letting= vengeance and failure.
1079
Wil siðen cam on euerilc on.Blindnessorbewilderment afterwards came on every one.
Wil siðen cam on euerilc on.
Blindnessorbewilderment afterwards came on every one.
1082fundend=funden+id=funden+it= found it.1084don red= do (obey) counsel, i.e. take advice.
P. 32. l.1095in sel= in time, timely, opportunely.
1097
ðat here non wente agen.That none of them should turn back.
ðat here non wente agen.
That none of them should turn back.
1101gunde under dun, under yond hill.1103sren, if correct, might signifyscreen, but it seems to be an error forfren, to set free, and hence to save.
1105
Ai was borgen bala-segor.Aye was saved Bela Zoar (little Bela).
Ai was borgen bala-segor.
Aye was saved Bela Zoar (little Bela).
See Gen. xiv. 2; xix. 20, 22.1107hine= him, the name of the town being regarded as of the masculine gender.1108erðe-dine= earthquake.
"Á hundyr á thowsand and seẅyntene yhereFrá þe byrth of our Lord dere,Erddyngret in YtalyAnd hugsum fell all suddanly,And fourty dayis frá þine lestand."—(Wyntown, p. i. 289.)
"Á hundyr á thowsand and seẅyntene yhere
Frá þe byrth of our Lord dere,
Erddyngret in Ytaly
And hugsum fell all suddanly,
And fourty dayis frá þine lestand."—(Wyntown, p. i. 289.)
The verbdinnein O.E. has not only the sense of todin, but to shake, quake. See Seinte Marherete, p. 20.
"Þe erth quok anddindagain."—(Cursor Mundi; Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 11b.)
"Þe erth quok anddindagain."
—(Cursor Mundi; Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 11b.)
1109Sone so, as soon as.1110brend-fier-rein, rain of burning fire.
1116
Ne mai non dain wassen ðor-on,None may dare to wash therein.
Ne mai non dain wassen ðor-on,
None may dare to wash therein.
dain, if not an error fordarin=daren, dare, venture, may =ðain, a man, a servant, or =duen, avail.1119wente hire a-gon, turned her aback. See l.1097.1120wente in to a ston, turned into a stone.
1121
So ist nu forwent mirie dale,So is there now changed merry (pleasant) dale.
So ist nu forwent mirie dale,
So is there now changed merry (pleasant) dale.
ist=is+it,is it, there is.1125deades driuen, held (influenced) of (by) death.
P. 33. l.1127They say the trees that are near it, come to maturity in time, andbring forth fruit and thrive, but when their apples are ripe, fire-ashes one may see therein.fier-isles, fire-ashes. For the meaning ofisle, see Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v.Vsle.1131-2 That land is called dale of salt, many a one taketh thereof little heed (account).
"Of thair schepe thai gif natale,Whether thai be seke or hale."—(MS. Harl. 4196, fol. 92.)
"Of thair schepe thai gif natale,
Whether thai be seke or hale."—(MS. Harl. 4196, fol. 92.)
1137biggede, dwelt. It signifies more properly tobuild.1139-40 Here is an allusion to the destruction of the world by fire mentioned in lines640-644, p. 19. Those maidens erewhile heard some say that fire should all this world consume.1140forsweðen, to burn up entirely, from the O.E.swetheorswithe, to burn, scorch. See Ancren Riwle, p. 306 (footnote). Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v.swythe.1142fieres wreche, vengeance (plague) of fire.1143-4 The Cursor Mundi says that Lot's daughters seeing only their father, thought that all men had perished.
"Bot Loth him held þat cave wit-in,He and his doghtres tuin;For þai nan bot þair fadre sau,Þai wend alle men war don odau,Thoru þat ilk waful wrak;Þe elder to þe yonger spak:'Sister to þe in dern I sai,Þou seis þe folk er alle awai;Bot Loth our fader es carman (male) nan,Bot we twa left es na womman;I think mankind sal perist be,Bot it be stord wit me and þe.'"—(fol. 18.)
"Bot Loth him held þat cave wit-in,
He and his doghtres tuin;
For þai nan bot þair fadre sau,
Þai wend alle men war don odau,
Thoru þat ilk waful wrak;
Þe elder to þe yonger spak:
'Sister to þe in dern I sai,
Þou seis þe folk er alle awai;
Bot Loth our fader es carman (male) nan,
Bot we twa left es na womman;
I think mankind sal perist be,
Bot it be stord wit me and þe.'"—(fol. 18.)
1147vnder-gon, (1) to go under, (2) to cheat, deceive. In line1160under-gon= to undertake, take up again.
Cp.
"ȝet our by-leave woleonder-gon,That thyse thre (Persons of the Trinity) beth ryȝt al on."—(Shoreham, p. 142.)
"ȝet our by-leave woleonder-gon,
That thyse thre (Persons of the Trinity) beth ryȝt al on."
—(Shoreham, p. 142.)
"Ope the heȝe eȝtynde dayHeonder-ȝedethe Gywen lay."—(Ibid. p. 122.)
"Ope the heȝe eȝtynde day
Heonder-ȝedethe Gywen lay."—(Ibid. p. 122.)
"And tus adam he [Christ]under-gede,reisede him up, and al mankin,ðat was fallen to helle dim."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 22.)
"And tus adam he [Christ]under-gede,
reisede him up, and al mankin,
ðat was fallen to helle dim."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 22.)
1151eiðer here, each of them. Cf. O.E.eiðer eȝe, each eye, both eyes.1159-60 Now behoveth us to turn back and take upthesong concerning Abraham.
1162
Wið reuli lote and frigti mod.With mournful cheer and frightened mood (mind).
Wið reuli lote and frigti mod.
With mournful cheer and frightened mood (mind).
reuli= sad, rueful, from the verbrue, to pity, compassionate, grieve for. Cf. O.E.rueness, compassion;Ruer, a merciful person;reuthe, pity.
"He saith 'we ben ybore euerichoneMaking sorwe andreulymone.'"—(MS. Addit. 11305.)
"He saith 'we ben ybore euerichone
Making sorwe andreulymone.'"—(MS. Addit. 11305.)
lote, fare, cheer.
"Þis isah þe leodkinggrimme heorelates."The king saw this,their grim gestures.—(Laȝ. ii., 245.)
"Þis isah þe leodking
grimme heorelates."
The king saw this,
their grim gestures.
—(Laȝ. ii., 245.)
"Þat freond sæiðe to freonde,mid fæirelotenhende,'Leofue freond, wæs hail!'"That friend saieth to his friendWith fair comely looks,"Dear friend, wassail!"—(Ibid.ii., 175.)
"Þat freond sæiðe to freonde,
mid fæirelotenhende,
'Leofue freond, wæs hail!'"
That friend saieth to his friend
With fair comely looks,
"Dear friend, wassail!"
—(Ibid.ii., 175.)
P. 34. l.1163Roke, East Anglian forreke, smoke. See Prompt. Parv. p. 436; Beve's, l. 2471.
1164
And ðe brinfires stinken smoke,And the sulphur's stinking smoke.
And ðe brinfires stinken smoke,
And the sulphur's stinking smoke.
stinken=stinkende, stinking.1166him reu. The verbreweis used impersonally in O.E.1167suðen= southwards. (See Gen. xx. 1.)1171-2 Erewhile as first Pharaoh her took, now taketh Abimelech her also.1177wif-kinnes, womankind.1178wið-helð=wið-held.1179-80 In dream to him came tidings why he suffered and underwent that misfortune.1180untimingis literally that which is unseasonable. We have the same notion expressed in O.E.unhap(mishap), misfortune; E.happen, happy, and E.hap,happen, etc. Cp.untime, in Ancren Riwle, p. 344.1184ðat il sel, that same time, immediately.
1186
And his yuel sort was ouer-gon,And his evil lot was passed.
And his yuel sort was ouer-gon,
And his evil lot was passed.
1188
ða ðe swinacie gan him nunmor deren,When the quinsy did him no more vex (annoy).
ða ðe swinacie gan him nunmor deren,
When the quinsy did him no more vex (annoy).
Our author or his transcriber is certainly wrong about the "swinacie;" for the punishment of "lecher-craft" wasmeselry(leprosy), the quinsy being the penalty forgluttony. The seven deadly sins were thus to be punished in Purgatory:—
1192ðat faire blod, that fair woman.blodin O.E. was used as a term of the common gender, as also were such words asgirl,maid, etc. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v.blod.
1193
Bad hire ðor hir wið heuod ben hid=Bad hire ðor-wið hir heuod ben hid?Bad her there-with her head to be hid,(That is, she was to buy a veil for her head).
Bad hire ðor hir wið heuod ben hid
=Bad hire ðor-wið hir heuod ben hid?
Bad her there-with her head to be hid,
(That is, she was to buy a veil for her head).
1194timing, good-fortune, happiness. Seenoteto line 1180.1195bi-sewen, be seen.soin this line seems an unnecessary addition of the scribe's.1197wurd=wurð, became;on elde wac, in age weak (feeble).Woc= weak; the older form iswac. See Laȝ. ii. 24, 195, 411.
"Forr icc amm i me sellfennwac,& full off unntrummnesse."—(Orm. ii. 285.)
"Forr icc amm i me sellfennwac,
& full off unntrummnesse."—(Orm. ii. 285.)
"Vor nout makeð hirewocbut sunne one."For nought maketh hir weak but sin only.—(Ancren Riwle, p. 4.)
"Vor nout makeð hirewocbut sunne one."
For nought maketh hir weak but sin only.
—(Ancren Riwle, p. 4.)
See O.E. Miscell. p. 135; ll. 581, 595.
1198trimedeis, perhaps, fortimede=teemed= brought forth; if not it must be referred to O.E.trumen. Seetrimenin l.1024.
P. 35. l.1200a-buten schoren= about shorn, is merely the explanation of circumcized.
"O thritte yeir fra he was born,was ysmael wen he wasschorn."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 16b.)
"O thritte yeir fra he was born,
was ysmael wen he wasschorn."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 16b.)
1201layis another form oflaw. Cf. O.E.dayeanddawe.1204al swilk sel, even at such time.1206is told, is reckoned.1208fro teding don, removed from his mother's care (?).teding=tending(?), nursing, care, notteðing=teething. "fro teding don" in the Cursor Mundi is expressed by the phrasespaned fra the pap= weaned from the breast.
1209
Michel gestninge made abraham,great feastingorentertainment made Abraham.
Michel gestninge made abraham,
great feastingorentertainment made Abraham.
gestninge(feasting) seems to be the same as the S.Saxongistninge, a banquet. The original meaning is hospitality; O.E.gesten, to entertain a guest; S.Sax.gistnen, to lodge. See Ancren Riwle, p. 288a, 414. Laȝ. ii. 172.
1212
And ysmael was him vn-swac,And Ishmael was to him (Isaac) disagreeable.
And ysmael was him vn-swac,
And Ishmael was to him (Isaac) disagreeable.
vn-swac, displeasing, distasteful. There is no such word asun-swæcto be found in the A.Sax. glossaries, but we haveswæc, savour, taste, from which I have deduced the meaning here given toun-swac. See Ancren Riwle, p. 48, wherespekung=swekung, and cp.swæc, stenc, and hrepung, in Ælfric's Hom. i. 138.
1213un-framen, to annoy, from O.E.frame, to benefit, to profit.
1216Hir was ysmaeles anger loð, To her was Ishmael's anger displeasing.
1217Ghe bi-mente hire to abraham, She bemoaned her to Abraham.bimente= pret. ofbimene, to complain, lament.
"bimenewe us, we hauen don wrong."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 25; see R. of Gloucester, p. 490.)
"bimenewe us, we hauen don wrong."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 25; see R. of Gloucester, p. 490.)
1220dwale, complaint, grief. See l.1037.
"Be þu neuere to bold, to chiden agen oni scold,ne mid mani tales to chiden agen alledwales."(O.E. Miscell., p. 127. See p. 126, l. 414.)
"Be þu neuere to bold, to chiden agen oni scold,
ne mid mani tales to chiden agen alledwales."
(O.E. Miscell., p. 127. See p. 126, l. 414.)
1221rapede, hastened, hurried away. See Rich. Cœur de Lion, 2206.
"The wretche stiward ne might nowt slape;Ac in the morewing he gan uprape."—(Seven Sages, l. 1620.)
"The wretche stiward ne might nowt slape;
Ac in the morewing he gan uprape."—(Seven Sages, l. 1620.)
"The king saide, 'I ne have norape(I am in no hurry)For me lest yit ful wel slape.'"—(Ibid. l. 1631.)
"The king saide, 'I ne have norape(I am in no hurry)
For me lest yit ful wel slape.'"—(Ibid. l. 1631.)
1224
In sumertid, In egest sel,In summer time, in the highest time (the hottest season) of the year.
In sumertid, In egest sel,
In summer time, in the highest time (the hottest season) of the year.
Cp. 'in ahyȝseysoun.'—Allit. Poems, p. 2, l. 39.1228hete gram, fierce heat.1229wexon ðrist. The sense requires us to readwex on ðrist, with fatigue and heat thirst waxed on them.
1231
Tid-like hem gan ðat water laken,Soon did that water fail them.
Tid-like hem gan ðat water laken,
Soon did that water fail them.
P. 36. l.1238
Bi al-so fer so a boge mai ten,By as far as a bow may reach.
Bi al-so fer so a boge mai ten,
By as far as a bow may reach.
1239sik and sor, sighing and sadness.1241dede hire reed, brought her help.
1242
An angel meðede hire ðat ned,An angel alleviated her distress.
An angel meðede hire ðat ned,
An angel alleviated her distress.
hireis the dative of the personal pronoun.1244seli timing, a fortunate occurrence. Seenoteto l. 1180.1247nam fro ðan, went from thatplace.fro ðan= Sc.fra thine, from thence.1252mikil and rif, great (powerful) and wide-spread.1254In Arabia his kin dwell.1258kungriche=kineriche, kingdom. Cf.kungdom=kunedon= kingdom, l.1260.kunglond,kunelond=kinglond, kingdom, l.1262.guglond=kunglond, kingdom, l.1264.
1261-2
His ninth son was Tema,Wherefore is there a kingdom called Teman.
His ninth son was Tema,
Wherefore is there a kingdom called Teman.
1264
Het a guglond esten(eften ?)fro ða,Was called a kingdom afterwards from that time.
Het a guglond esten(eften ?)fro ða,
Was called a kingdom afterwards from that time.
esten fro ða= eastwards from thoseother kingdoms.1269siker pligt, firm, sure pledge.
P. 37. l.1275feren pligt, pledged fellows.
1279
ðog [it] was nogt is kinde lond,Nevertheless it was not his native land.
ðog [it] was nogt is kinde lond,
Nevertheless it was not his native land.
1280
Richere he it leet ðan he it fond,richer he left it than he found it.
Richere he it leet ðan he it fond,
richer he left it than he found it.
1290
On an hil ðor ic sal taunen ðe,on a hill where I shall show thee.
On an hil ðor ic sal taunen ðe,
on a hill where I shall show thee.
1292ðat he bed him two[to ?], that he commanded him to go to.two, an error forto. See l.3752.1295-6 They say on that hill's side was made the temple of Solomon.1295dune-is siðen=dune-is siden, down's (hill's) sides.1299buxum o rigt, rightly obedient.1301sagt, an error forsag(saw). See l.1334.
P. 38. l.1308
ðo wurð ðe child witter and war,Then became the child wise and wary.
ðo wurð ðe child witter and war,
Then became the child wise and wary.
1315-20
Wonderfully art thou in the world come,Wonderfully shalt thou be hence taken;Without long suffering and fight (struggle)God will thee take from world's night,And of thyself holocaust have,Thank Him that He would it crave (demand).
Wonderfully art thou in the world come,
Wonderfully shalt thou be hence taken;
Without long suffering and fight (struggle)
God will thee take from world's night,
And of thyself holocaust have,
Thank Him that He would it crave (demand).
1317ðhrowing=throe, suffering, agony.
"ðrowwingeand pine."—(Orm. ii. 174.)
"ðrowwingeand pine."—(Orm. ii. 174.)
"Vor soð wisdom is don euere soule-hele biuoren flesches hele: and hwon me ne mei nout boðe holden somed, cheosen er licomes hurt þen þuruh to stronge vondunges, souleþrowunge."—(Ancren Riwle, p. 372.) For true wisdom is ever to put soul-health before flesh-health, and when one may not hold both together, to choose rather bodily hurt than, through too strong trials, soul-agony (death).1323Supplydonafterwulde.1328nuge=nog, now.1331frigti fagenmay be eitherfrigti and fagen, timidandglad, or elsefrigti-fagen, timidly glad.
1332for ysaac bi-leaf un-slagen, for Isaac remained unslain.
1333Bi-aften, behind, abaft.
"Tacc þær an shepbafftennþin baccand offre itt forr þe wennchell."—(Orm. ii. 156.)
"Tacc þær an shepbafftennþin bacc
and offre itt forr þe wennchell."—(Orm. ii. 156.)
1336on ysaac stede, instead of Isaac.
P. 39. l.1345
Sarra was fagen in kindes wune, Sarah was naturally glad.
Sarra was fagen in kindes wune, Sarah was naturally glad.
in kindes wune= after the manner of kinde (nature);kindes wune= kind-wise, kin-wise.1365semeðis an error forsemes, burdens, loads, or forsemed, burdened, loaded. See l.1368.semeis properly a load for a pack-horse.
"An hors is strengur than a mon,Ac for hit non i-wit ne kon,Hit berth on rugge gretesemes,And draȝth bi-vore grete temes."—(Owl and Nightingale, ed. Wright, p. 27.)
"An hors is strengur than a mon,
Ac for hit non i-wit ne kon,
Hit berth on rugge gretesemes,
And draȝth bi-vore grete temes."
—(Owl and Nightingale, ed. Wright, p. 27.)
1372min erdne ðu forðe selðhelike, mine errand do thou perform, accomplish successfully.forðe=forðen. See Orm. l. 1834; Ancren Riwle, p. 408; Laȝ. l. 31561.1373lene, grant, still exists inlend,loan, etc.
1375
He bad hise bede on good sel,He offered his prayer (in good time) opportunely.
He bad hise bede on good sel,
He offered his prayer (in good time) opportunely.
P. 40. l.1379ilc on= each one.
1382
Ne wor nogt so forð ðeuwe numen,The custom had not been so forth (up to that time) practised.
Ne wor nogt so forð ðeuwe numen,
The custom had not been so forth (up to that time) practised.
1388bofte=bi-ofte, behoof; cf. O.E.byefþe,bi-ofþe. See l.1408.1390beges= bracelets, armlets, probably from A.Sax.bugan(=beogan), to bow, to bend. The original meaning ofbegis crown. In Piers Ploughman 346,beighesignifies a collar. In the Middle High German version of the Book of Genesis (ed. Diemer) it is stated that Eliezer, for love, gave Rebekah
"Zwêne ôringeund zuêne arm-pougeûz alrôteme golde."
"Zwêne ôringe
und zuêne arm-pouge
ûz alrôteme golde."
1391gheseems to be an error forhe.1394kiddit= made it known, showed it.1397good grið= good entertainment.1398Him(the dative of the personal pronoun), for him.
1404
Quilc selðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam,What prosperity and wealth had well befallen him.
Quilc selðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam,
What prosperity and wealth had well befallen him.
1409wið-ðan, with-that, thereupon.
1410
fagneden wel ðis sondere man,welcomed well this messenger.
fagneden wel ðis sondere man,
welcomed well this messenger.
fagnenis literally to makefainor glad, to welcome, entertain;sondere man. The proper form issondes-man. Ancren Riwle, p. 190. Cf.loder-manforlodes-man, l.4110, p. 117; andsander-bodes, O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. 89.
P. 41. ll.1411-12
When God hath it so ordained,As he sendeth so it shall be.
When God hath it so ordained,
As he sendeth so it shall be.
1417garen, to prepare (to set out), to makeyare, to get ready.
1419-20
For entreaty nor meed not would he there.Over one night delay no (any) more.
For entreaty nor meed not would he there.
Over one night delay no (any) more.
drechenis (1) to trouble, annoy, (2) to hinder, delay.
(1) "Sir Pilates wife dame PorculaTille hir Lord thus gan say—'Deme ȝe noght Ihesus tille ne fra,Bot menske him that ȝe mayI have benedrechidwith dremes swa,This ilk night als I lay.'"—(Gospel of Nichodemus, Harl. MS. 4196.)
(1) "Sir Pilates wife dame Porcula
Tille hir Lord thus gan say—
'Deme ȝe noght Ihesus tille ne fra,
Bot menske him that ȝe may
I have benedrechidwith dremes swa,
This ilk night als I lay.'"
—(Gospel of Nichodemus, Harl. MS. 4196.)
(2) "Quhen Claudius þe manhed kendOf þe Brettownys, he message sendTyl Arẅyragus, þan þe kyngÞat Brettayne had in governyng,For til amese all were and stryfe,And tak his dochtyr til his wyfe,And to Rowme þat Tribwte payWycht-owtyndrychyngor delay."—(Wyntown, vol. i. p. 92.)
(2) "Quhen Claudius þe manhed kend
Of þe Brettownys, he message send
Tyl Arẅyragus, þan þe kyng
Þat Brettayne had in governyng,
For til amese all were and stryfe,
And tak his dochtyr til his wyfe,
And to Rowme þat Tribwte pay
Wycht-owtyndrychyngor delay."—(Wyntown, vol. i. p. 92.)
In the Cursor Mundi we are told thatwanhope(despair) causes
"Lathnes to kirc at sermon hereDrechingo scrift (delay of shrift)," etc.—(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)
"Lathnes to kirc at sermon here
Drechingo scrift (delay of shrift)," etc.—(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)
1427Or orfirst ere, i.e. before.1428morgen-giwe=morgen-giue, nuptial gift, the morning gift, the gift of the husband presented to the wife on the morning after marriage. See Ancren Riwle, p. 94. Hali Meid. p. 39.1430godun dai, good day.godun=godne, the accusative of the adjective.
"He let clipie þe saterday:Þe freres bifore him alleAnd bed allegodneday."—(St Dunstan, l. 200.)
"He let clipie þe saterday:
Þe freres bifore him alle
And bed allegodneday."—(St Dunstan, l. 200.)
1434sondes fare, the journey of the messenger (Eliezer).1437on felde= the O.E.afelde.1439Eððede=eðede, alleviated, is connected with the O.E.eþe(eað), easy, and literally signifies softened.1440Of faiger waspene, of fair form;waspeneis evidently an error forwastemeorwastene. "He seh þeos seli meiden marherete ... þe schimede ant schan al of wlite (face) ant ofwastum(form)."—(Seinte Marherete, p. 2.) "In þis burh was wuniende a meiden swiðe ȝung of ȝeres, two wone of twenti, feir ant freolich o wlite & owestum."—(St Kath. p. 69.)1442Here samening, their union, intercourse.
1444
And sge ne bi-spac him neuere a del.And she contradicted him never a whit.
And sge ne bi-spac him neuere a del.
And she contradicted him never a whit.
bispekein O.E. also signifies to threaten. See Castle of Love, l. 221.
P. 42. l.1448
Abraham dede hem siðen sundri wunen,Abraham assigned them afterwards sundry abodes.
Abraham dede hem siðen sundri wunen,
Abraham assigned them afterwards sundry abodes.
1456
Him bi-stoden wurlike and wel,Mourned for (bewailed) him worthily and well.
Him bi-stoden wurlike and wel,
Mourned for (bewailed) him worthily and well.
See ll.716,3857.wurlike=wurðlike, worthily.1461-4 Long it was ere she him child bare, And he entreated God, when he became aware of it (i.e.that Rebekah was barren), That he should fulfil that promise, That he to Abraham erewhile made.1463fillen, to fulfil, accomplish. See Orm. i. 91.quede, promise, saying, is the same as the O.E.quede, a bequest,quide, a saying, fromqueðe, to say, still existing inquoth. See Laȝ. i. 38, 43; ii. 151, 197, 613 ; iii. 3; Orm. ii. 321.
1467-8
At one burden she boreTwo, who were to her akin of blood.
At one burden she bore
Two, who were to her akin of blood.
sibbe blod= O.H.G.sippe-bluot, blood relatives. Perhaps this line was inserted by the author on account of the popular belief at this time, that the birth of twins was an indication of unfaithfulness on the part of the woman to her husband.1469-71 Also it seemed to her day and night, As (though) they wrought in fight (struggling, conflict), Which of them should first be born.1470"And the children struggled together within her."—(Gen. xxv. 22.) The following curious paraphrase of this passage occurs in the Cursor Mundi, fol. 20b:—
"His wiif (Rebekah) þat lang had child forgane,Now sco bredes tua for ane,Tuinlinges þat hir thoght na gamen,Þat in hir womb oft faght samen.Swa hard wit-in hir wamb þai faght,Þat sco ne might rest dai ne naght;At pray to Godd ai was sco prest,To rede hir quat þat hir was best;Þat hir war best he wald hir rede.Hir liif was likest to þe ded (death).Strang weird was giuen to þam o were,Þat þai moght noght þair strif forbereTil þai had o þaim-seluen mightTo se quarfor þat þai suld fight.Fra biginning o þe werldO suilk a wer was never herd,Ne suilk a striif o childer tuinÞat lai þer moder wamb wit-in.Þair strut it was vn-stern stith,Wit wrathli wrestes aiþer writh.Bituix unborn a batel blind,Suilk an was ferli to find.He þat on þe right side laiÞe tother him wraisted oft awai;And he þat lay upon þe left,Þe tother oft his sted him reft."
"His wiif (Rebekah) þat lang had child forgane,
Now sco bredes tua for ane,
Tuinlinges þat hir thoght na gamen,
Þat in hir womb oft faght samen.
Swa hard wit-in hir wamb þai faght,
Þat sco ne might rest dai ne naght;
At pray to Godd ai was sco prest,
To rede hir quat þat hir was best;
Þat hir war best he wald hir rede.
Hir liif was likest to þe ded (death).
Strang weird was giuen to þam o were,
Þat þai moght noght þair strif forbere
Til þai had o þaim-seluen might
To se quarfor þat þai suld fight.
Fra biginning o þe werld
O suilk a wer was never herd,
Ne suilk a striif o childer tuin
Þat lai þer moder wamb wit-in.
Þair strut it was vn-stern stith,
Wit wrathli wrestes aiþer writh.
Bituix unborn a batel blind,
Suilk an was ferli to find.
He þat on þe right side lai
Þe tother him wraisted oft awai;
And he þat lay upon þe left,
Þe tother oft his sted him reft."
1470and=an= in; or elsefigtmust be an error forfagt= fought; andnigt=nagt.1477Gheis evidently an error forghetorget, yet.liues= alive. Cf.newes, anew, etc.
P. 43. l.1484swete mel, sweet meal (food), not sweet speech. "And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison."—(Gen. xxv. 28.)1487seð a mete, sod a meat. "sod pottage."—(Gen. xxv. 29.)1493mattilike weri=mattilike and weri, overcome (faint) and weary.Mattilikeis connected with the O.E.mat,mote, faint, half dead. See Allit. Poems, p. 12, l. 386.
1494