Chapter VI: Prepositions (4)

They made slaves
of them, and set
them to build
walls.

Ðo ſette ſundri hem to waken
His tigel and lim, and walles maken, 2552
burges feten; a_n_d rameſen
ðurge here ſwinc it walled ben;

Some they made
to do foul work,

Su_m_me he deden in vn-ðewed ſwinc,
for it was fugel and ful o ſtinc, 2556

to carry "muck
and fen out of
the city,"

Muc and fen ut of burgeſ beren,
ðuſ bitterlike he gun he_m_ deren;
ðe ðridde ſwinc was eui and ſtron[g],

and to creep
along dikes.

He deden hem crepen dikes long, 2560
And wide a-buten burges gon,

The comb of the
dike serves them
as protection
against their
enemies.

And cumen ðer ear waſ non;
And if ðat folc hem wulde deren,
ðe dikeſ comb he_m_ ſulde weren. 2564
for al ðat ſwinc heui & ſor,

For all that labour,
the folk
increased and
spread.

Ay wex ðat kinde, mor & mor,
And ðhogen, & ſpredden i_n_ londe ðor,
ðat made ðe kinges herte ful ſor. 2568

Then bad Pharaoh,

Ðo bad monophis pharaun
wimmen ben ſet i_n_ eu_er_ilc tun,

that every Hebrew
male child
should be put to
death as soon as
it was born.

And ðat he weren redi bi-foren,
Q_u_an ebru child ſuld be boren, 2572

[237] bi-ginneð?

[238] king?

[239] craftlike?

THE BIRTH AND PRESERVATION OF MOSES.

And ðe knapes to deade giuen,
And leten ðe mayden childre liuen.

[Fol. 50b.]
The midwives
saved the children's
lives,

Oc he it leten fro godeſ dred;
Get ðo childre wexen in ſped, 2576
And q_u_ane he komen to ðe king,

and lied to the
king, saying,

He wereden hem wið leſing;
He ſeiden ðe childre weren boren

that the children
were born ere
they arrived.

Or he migten ben hem bi-foren. 2580
God it geald ðeſe wifes wel,
On hom, on hagte, eddi ſel!

Pharaoh then
bad that every
"knave child"
should be drowned.

Ðo bad ðis king al opelike,
In alle burges modilike, 2584
Eu_er_ilc knape child of ðat kin
ben a-non don ðe flod wið-in.

By that time was
Moses born.

BI ðat time waſ moyſes boren,
So het abrah_a_m dor[240] bi-foren; 2588
And his moder het Iacabeð,
Ghe was for him dreful and bleð,

His mother hid
him for three
months.

wel is hire of bird[241] bi-tid.
ðre moneð haueð ghe him hid, 2592
durſte ghe non lengere him for-helen,
Ne ghe ne cuðe ðe wateres ſtelen;

Then she made
an ark,

In an fetles, of rigeſſes wrogt,
Terred, ðat water dered it nogt, 2596

placed the child
in it,

ðiſ child wunden ghe wulde don,

and set it on the
water.

And ſetten it ſo ðe water on;

Miriam was sent
to watch what
became of it.

Ghe adde or hire dowter ſent,

[Fol. 51.]

To loken q_u_ider it ſulde ben went; 2600
Maria dowter ful feren ſtod,
And ghe nam kep to-ward ðiſ flod.

The king's
daughter came
and saw the child
on the water.

Teremuth kinkes[242] dowter ðor cam,
ðor ðis child on ðe water nam; 2604
Ghe bad it ben to hire brogt,
And ſag ðis child wol fair[e] wrogt,

She wist it was of
Hebrew kin,

Ghe wiſte it was of ebrius kin,
And ðog cam hire rewde[243] wið-in; 2608

[240] ðor?

[241] birð?

[242] kinges?

[243] rewðe?

TEREMUTH ADOPTS HIM AS HER SON.

God haued[244] ſwilc fair-hed hi_m_ geuen,

but let it live for
its beauty.

ðat ſelf ðe fon it leten liuen.

Egyptians
wanted her to
destroy the
child.

Egipte wimmen comen ner,
And boden ðe childe letten ðer, 2612
Oc he wente it awei wið rem,
Of here bode nam he no gem.

Miriam, at Teremuth's
bidding,

ÐO q_u_ad maria to teremuth,
"wilt ðu, leuedi, ic go fear out, 2616
And take ſu_m_ wimman of ðat kin
ðor he waſ bi-gote & foſtred in?"

fetches a "foster
woman" for the
child.

Teremuth ſo bad, & ſche forð-ran,
And brogt hire a foſtre wimman, 2620
On waſ tette he ſone aueð lagt,

Teremuth consigned
Moses to
Jochabed, who
returned home
blithely.

And teremuth haueð hire hi_m_ bi-tagt.
Iakabeð wente bliðe agen,
ðat ghe ðe gildesſ[245] foſtre muſte ben; 2624
Ghe kepte it wel i_n_ foſtre wune,
Ghe knew it for hire owen ſune;

[Fol. 51b.]
When old
enough, the child
was adopted by
Teremuth, who
called it Moses.

And q_u_ane it ſulde ſundred ben,
Ghe bar it teremuth for to ſen; 2628
Teremuth toc it on ſunes ſtede,
And fedde it wel and cloðen dede;
And ghe it clepit moyſen,
Ghe wiſte of water it boren ben. 2632

She brought him
before Pharaoh,
who placed the
royal crown on
his head.

An time after ðat ðiſ was don,
Ghe brogte him bi-foren pharaon,
And ðiſ king wurð hi_m_ in herte mild,
So ſwide[246] faiger was ðiſ child; 2636
And he toc him on ſunes ſtede,
And hiſ corune on his heued he dede,
And let it ſtonden ayne ſtund;

The child soon
threw it to the
ground.

ðe child it warp dun to de grund. 2640

Hamon's likeness
was thereon.

Hamonel[247] likeneſ was ðor-on;
ðis crune is broken, ðiſ iſ miſdon.

The Bishop of
Heliopolis saw
this, and said,

Biſſop Eliopoleos
ſag ðiſ timing, & up he roſ; 2644

[244] haueð?

[245] cildeſ?

[246] ſwiðe?

[247] Hamoneſ?

THE ETHIOPIANS INVADE EGYPT,

"If this child be
allowed to thrive,
he shall become
Egypt's bale."

"If ðiſ child," q_u_ad he, "mote ðen,
He ſal egyptes bale ben."
If ðor ne wore helpe twen lopen,
ðiſ child adde ðan ſone be dropen; 2648
ðe king wið-ſtod & an wiſ man,
He ſeide, "ðe child doð alſ he can;
We ſulen nu witen for it dede
ðiſ witterlike, or in child-hede;" 2652

[Fol. 52.]
The king offered
the child two
burning coals (to
eat), and he put
them in his
mouth, and burnt
the end of his
tongue therewith,
and spake
indistinctly.

He bad ðis child brennen to colen
And he toc is hu migt he it ðolen,
And in hiſe muth ſo depe he iſ dede
Hiſe tunges ende iſ brent ðor-mide; 2656
ðor-fore ſeide de[248] ebru witt_er_like,
ðat he ſpac ſiðen miſerlike;

So fair was he to
look upon, that
none might be
angry with him.

Oc ſo faiger he waſ on to ſen,
ðat migte no_n_ man modi ben. 2660
ðor q_u_iles he ſeweden him up-on,
Mani dede b[i]leph un-don
In ðat burg folc bi-twen,
So waſ hem lef on hi_m_ to ſen. 2664

By the time that
he became renowned
for
beauty and
strength, the
Ethiopians invaded
Egypt, and
burnt and slew
as far as the Red
Sea.

Bi dat[249] time ðat he was guð,
Wið faigered and ſtrengthe kuð,
folc ethiopienes on egipte cam,
And brende, & ſlug, & wreche nam, 2668
Al to memphin dat[250] riche cite,
And a-non to ðe reade ſe;

The Egyptians
ask counsel of
their gods, who
tell them that a
Hebrew shall deliver
them.

ðo was egipte folc in dred,
And aſkeden here godes red; 2672
And hem ſeiden wið anſweren,
ðat on ebru cude he_m_ wel weren;
Teremuth un-eðes migte timen

Moses is permitted
by Teremuth

ðat moyſes ſal wið hire forð-nimen, 2676
Or haue he hire pligt & ſworen,
ðat him ſal feið wurðful ben boren.

[Fol. 52b.]

Moyſes was lou_er_ed of ðat here,
ðor he wurð ðane egyptes were; 2680

[248] ðe?

[249] ðat?

[250] ðat?

AND ARE DEFEATED BY MOSES.

to lead the Egyptians
against
their enemies.

Bi a lond weige he wente rigt,
And brogte vn-warnede on he_m_ figt;
He hadden don egipte wrong,

He smote and
slew them.

He bi-loc hem & ſmette a-mong, 2684

Many fled to
Sheba.

And ſlug ðor manige; oc ſu_m_me flen,
Into ſaba to borgen ben.
Moyſes bi-ſette al ðat burg,
Oc it was riche & ſtrong ut-ðhurg; 2688

The king of Ethiopia's
daughter,
for love,

Ethiopienes kinges dowt_er_ tarbis,
Riche maiden of michel priſ,

gave this rich city
to Moses,

Gaf ðiſ riche burg moyſi;
Luue-bonde hire ghe it dede for-ði. 2692
ðor iſe fon he leide i_n_ bonde,

who waxed
mighty in the
land.

And he wurð al-migt-ful in ðat lond;
He bi-lef ðor(.) tarbis him ſcroð,

His sojourn there
was distasteful to
him,

ðog was him ðat ſurgerun ful loð; 2696
Mai he no leue at hire taken

but by craft he
brought it to an
end.

but-if he it mai wið crafte maken:
He waſ of an ſtrong migt wiſ,

He carved upon
two gems two
likenesses;

He carf i_n_ two gummes of priſ 2700
Two likeneſſes, ſo grauen & meten,

the one caused
remembrance,
the other forgetfulness.

ðiſ doð ðenken, & ðoð[251] forgeten;
He feſt is i_n_ two ringes of gold,

Moses gave her
the one which
caused her to forget
her love,

Gaf hire ðe ton, he was hire hold; 2704

[Fol. 53.]

Ghe it bered[252] and ðiſ luue iſ for-geten,
Moyſes ðus haued[253] him leue bi-geten;
Sone it migte wið leue ben,

and so he came
again to Egypt.

Into egypte e[254] wente a-gen. 2708

On a time he
went to Goshen,
and found a
"moody steward"
beating a
Hebrew.

AN time he for to lond gerſen,
to ſpeken wið hiſe kinnes men;
And ſone he cam in-to ðat lond,
A modi ſtiward he ðor fond, 2712
Betende a man wid[255] hiſe wond;
ðat ðhugte moyſes michel ſond,

He seized the
churl, slew him,
and buried him
in the sand.

And hente ðe cherl wið hiſe wond,
And he fel dun in dedes bond; 2716

[251] ðoðer?

[252] bereð?

[253] haueð?

[254] MS. ewente.

[255] wið?

MOSES SLAYS AN EGYPTIAN,

And moyſes drug him to ðe ſtrond,
And ſtille[256] he dalf hi_m_ [in] ðe ſond;

He thought that
none had wist it.

wende he ðat non egipcien
ðat hadde it wiſt, ne ſulde a ſen; 2720

On the second
day he saw two
men chiding,
and reproved
them.

Til after ðiſ on oðer day,
He ſag chiden in ðe wey
two egypcienis, modi & ſtrong,
ðiſ on wulde don ðe toðer wrong; 2724
And moyſes nam ðer-of kep,
And to hemward ſwide[257] he lep,
And vndernam hi_m_ ðat it agte awold.

The wrong-doer
thus answered
him,

And he him anſwerede modi & bold; 2728

"Moses, who
made thee master?

"Meiſter(.) moyſes, q_u_o haueð ðe mad?
ðu art of dede and o word to rad.

[Fol. 53b.]
We know well
how yesterday
one was slain and
hid.

we witen wel q_u_at iſ bi-tid,
Q_u_uow giſter-dai waſ ſlagen and hid; 2732
ðe bode iſ cumen to pharaun,[258]

Soon shall thy
pride fall down."

Get ſal ðin pride fallen dun."

Then Moses fled

Ðo bi-thowte him moyſes,
And his weige ðeðen ches; 2736
ðurg ðe deſerd a-wei he nam,

and came to
Midian,

And to burge madian he cam,
And ſette hi[m] ðor vten ðe town,

where dwelt
Jethro,

Bi a welle ðo ſprong ðor dun. 2740
Raguel Ietro ðat riche man,
Was wuniende in madian,

who had seven
daughters.

He hadde ſeuene dowtreſ bi-geten;
ðor he comen water to feten, 2744

These maidens
took care of
cattle.

And for to wattren here ſep;
(Wimmen ðo nomen of here erf kep,

Pride was not so
great then as
now.

Pride ne cuðe bi ðat dai
Nogt ſo michel ſo it nu mai). 2748
Hirdes wulden ðe maidenes deren,

Moses helped the
maidens to water
the flocks.

Oc moyſes ðor hem gan weren,
And wattrede here erue eu_er_ilc on,
And dede hem tidelike to tune gon; 2752

[256] MS. ſtalle, _corrected to_ ſtille.

[257] ſwiðe?

[258] MS. pharaum.

AND FLEES INTO MIDIAN.

And ben ſone hom numen;

They told their
father

And b[i]foren here fader cumen,
And gunen him ðore tellen,

[Fol. 54.]
how a young man
at the well had
protected them.

Hu a gunge man, at te welle[n], 2756
ðewe and wurſipe hem dede;

Jethro sent after
him and kept him
in his house,

And ietro geld it him i_n_ eſtdede,
Sente after him, freinede hiſ kin,
Helde him wurðelike iſ huſ wið-in; 2760
Of ali kinde he wiſte him boren,
And bad him ðor wunen him bi-foren,

and gave him his
daughter to wife,
who bore him
two sons.

Gaf him iſ dowter ſephoram;
To wife in lage he hire nam, 2764
And bi-gat two ſunes on hire ðer,
firſt gerlon, ſiðen eliezer.
Egipte king to late waſ dead,
ðe ðe childre ſo drinkelen bead. 2768

On a time Moses
went into the
desert with his
flocks, for rich
men then kept
such ware.

And moyſes waſ numen an ſel
In ðe deſerd depe ſumdel,
for te loken hirdneſſe fare;
Riche men ðo kepten ſwilc ware. 2772

By Mount Sinai
he sees a wondrous
sight,

ðo ſag moyſes, at munt ſynay,
An ſwiðe ferli ſigt ðor-bi,
fier brennen on ðe grene leaf,

a bush burning,
and nevertheless
green and whole.

And ðog grene and hol bi-leaf; 2776
forð he nam to ſen witterlike,
Hu ðat fier brende milde-like;

Out of that bush
God's voice was
heard, clear and
high,

Vt of ðat buſk, ðe brende and ðheg,
God ſente an ſteuene, brigt and heg; 2780

'Moses, Moses,
take off thy
shoes, for thou
standest on holy
ground.

"Moyſes, moyſes, do of ðin ſon,
ðu ſtondes ſeli ſtede up-on;

[Fol. 54b.]
I am the God of
Jacob, Isaac, and
Abraham.

Hic am god ðe in min gemi_n_g nam
Iacob, yſaac, and abraham; 2784

I have seen the
affliction of my
people,

ic haue min folkes pine ſogen,
ðat he nu longe hauen drogen;

and have come
down to deliver
them,

Nu am ic ligt to fren hem ðeðen,
And milche and hunige lond he_m_ q_ue_ðen; 2788

GOD APPEARS TO MOSES AT SINAI.

and to bring them
into the land of
seven kingdoms.

An .vii. kinge-riches lond
Ic ſal hem bringen al on hond.

Come, thou shalt
be my messenger,

Cum, ðu ſalt ben min ſondere man,
Ic ſal ðe techen wel to ðan; 2792

and bid Pharaoh
release my people.

ðu ſalt min folc bringen a-gen,
And her ðu ſalt min migte ſen;
And ðu ſalt ſeien to faraon,
ðat he lete min folc ut-gon; 2796

If he refuse, I
shall work great
marvels,

If he it werne and be ðor-gen,
Ic ſal ðe techen hu it ſal ben;
for ic ſal werken ferlike ſtrong,

and cause my
people to go out
freely.

And maken min folc frelike ut-gong; 2800
Ge ſulen cumen wið feteles & ſrud,

As a sign, throw
down thy wand."
The wand then
became an ugly
snake.

And reuen egipte ðat iſ nu prud.
Werp nu to token dun ðat wond."
And it warp vt of hiſe hond, 2804
And wurð ſone an uglike ſnake,
And moyſes fleg for dredes ſake;

God bade Moses
take it by the
tail, and anon it
became a wand.

God him bad, bi ðe tail he it nam,
And it a-non a wond it bi-cam, 2808

[Fol. 55.]
He put his hand
into his bosom
and it became
leprous.

And in hiſe boſum he dede his hond,
Q_u_it and al unfer he it fond;

He put it in again
and it became
whole and sound.

And ſone he dede it eft agen,
Al hol and fer he wiſte it ſen. 2812

"If they believe
not these tokens,
pour out the
water of the flood
on the earth, and
it shall become
blood."

"If he for ðiſe tokenes two
Ne liſteðe ne troweð to,
Go, get ðe water of de[259] flod
On ðe erðe, and it ſal wurðen blod." 2816

"Lord! I am not
eloquent, and
cannot speak
well," said Moses.

"Lou_er_d, ic am wanmol, vn-reken
Of wurdes, and may ic Iuel ſpeken.
Nu iſ forð gon ðe ðridde dai,
Sende an oðer; bettre he mai." 2820

Quoth God, "Who
made the dumb,
the speaking, the
blind, and the
seeing?"

"Q_u_o made do_m_me, and q_u_o ſpecande?
Q_u_o made bisne, and q_u_o lockende?
Q_u_o but ic, ðat haue al wrogt?
Of me ſal fultu_m_ ben ðe brogt." 2824

[259] ðe?

MOSES AND AARON ARE SENT TO EGYPT.

"Lou_er_d, ſent him ðat iſ to cumen,
Vgging and dred me haueð[260] numen."

"Aaron, thy brother
can speak
well, thou shalt
meet him, and
make known to
him my words."

"Aaron ðin broðer can wel ſpeken,
ðu ſalt him meten and vnſteken 2828
Him bodeword min, and ic ſal red
Gunc boðen bringen read and ſped."

Moses asks leave
of Jethro to visit
his brethren.

Moyſes, frigti, ðo funden gan
to ſpeken wið ietro ðat riche man, 2832
And aſkede him leue to faren and ſen,
If hiſe breðere of liues ben;

[Fol. 55b.]
Moses delayed
until God's message
again came
to him.

ðog drechede he til god ef[t] bad,
And brogte him bode ðe made him glad, 2836
ðat pharaun, ðe wulde him ſ[l]en,
Waſ dead and hadde iſ werkes len.

Then he departed
with his wife and
children.

MOyſes and hiſe wif ſephoram,
And hiſe childre wið him nam; 2840
And ðat on waſ vncircu_m_ciſ.

One child was
uncircumcised,
and the angel in
the way sought
to slay him.

He nam ſo forð, ſoð it is;
An angel, wið an dragen ſwerd,
In ðe weie made him offerd, 2844
for ðat he ledden feren ſwike,
ðe ſulden him deren witt_er_like;

Zipporah circumcised
her son.

Sephora toc ðiſ gunge knaue,
And dede circu_m_ciſe haue, 2848
And gret, and wente frigti a-gen,

Moses pursued
his way alone.

And let moyſes forð one ten.
He bar hiſe gerde forð in iſ hond,
And nam a weie[261] bi deſerd lond; 2852

At Mount Sinai
he meets with
Aaron.

To mount ſynai forð he nam,
Aaron hiſe broðer a-gen him cam;
Eyðer [h]ere was of oðer fagen;
Moyſes him haueð iſ herte[262] vt-dragen, 2856

They come into
Egypt.

And he ben in-to egypte numen,
And a-mong folc ebriſſe ben cumen;
Moyſes tolde hem ðat bliðe bode,

The people believe
them.

And let hem ſen tockenes fro gode; 2860

[260] MS. haued.

[261] MS. aweie.

[262] MS. herðe.

GREATER LABOURS ARE LAID UPON THE ISRAELITES.

[Fol. 56.]

He redden ſamen he ſulden gon
wið[263] wiſe men to pharaon.

Moses and Aaron
come before Pharaoh,

"God," he ſeiden, "of iſr_ae_l
ðe bode ſente, and greteð wel, 2864

and deliver their
message.

ðat, bi ði leue, hiſe folc vt-fare,
ðre daiges gon and ben ðor gare,
In ðe deſerd an ſtede up-on,
Hiſ leue ſacrifiſe to don." 2868
Q_u_ad pharaun, "knowe ic[264] hi_m_ nogt,
Bi q_u_aſe read haue ge ðiſ ſowt?"

Moses says that
he is well known
to the Egyptians,

Seide moyſes, "ic am ſonder man,
Egipte folc me knowen can, 2872
for ic am ðat ilc moyſes,

having delivered
them from the
Ethiopians,

ðe egypte folc of ſorge les,
ðan ethiops woren her cumen;
ic warc al ðat ðu was binumen, 2876
And ſwanc and michel ſorwe dreg,

and that he
brings God's
message from
Mount Sinai.

Get iſt vnſene hu ic it bi-teg?
Ic haue ben ſiðen at munt ſyna,
Godes bode-wurd bringe ic ðor-fra." 2880

Pharaoh chides
Moses,

Qvað pharaun, "ðu art min ðral,
ðat hidel-like min lond vt-ſtal;
Sum ſwike-dom doð it nu ben,
ðat ðu beſt cumen nu eft agen; 2884

and declares that
the Israelites
shall suffer still
greater woe.

ðiſ folc, ðat ðu wilt me leden fro,
ſal ben luken i_n_ more wo."

[Fol. 56b.]

Ðe king it bad, and [it] wurð don;

More labour is
laid upon the Israelites.

More ſwinc ðo was hem leid on. 2888
Hem-ſeluen he fetchden ðe chaf
ðe men ðor hem to gode gaf,
And ðog holden ðe tigeles tale,
And elten and eilden,[265] grete & ſmale. 2892

Moses complains
to God.

Ðo fleg ðiſ folc wið moyſen,
And [he] to god made hiſe bimen.
"Lou_er_ed, q_u_i waſ ic hider ſent?
ðin folc iſ more in ſorwe went." 2896

[263] MS. wid.

[264] MS. ic hic.

[265] ? eldren and children?

MOSES AND AARON PERFORM MIRACLES BEFORE PHARAOH.

God renews his
promise by his
name Adonai,

God q_u_að, "ic ſal hem leſen fro,
And here fon weren wið wo;
Abraham, yſac, and hiſe ſunen
Woren to min ðhun_er_g wunen, 2900
ðog ne tagte ic hem nogt for-ði
Min mig[t]ful name adonay;

which was unknown
to Abraham,
Isaac, and
Jacob.

Min milche witt_er_ name eley
He knewen wel, and ely; 2904
ðat ic ðe haue hoten wel,
Ic it ſal leſten eu_er_ilc del."

Moses told the
Hebrews these
tidings, and yet
were they in
great anguish.

Moyſes told hem ðiſ tidding;
ðog woren he get in ſtrong murni[n]g. 2908
Siðen ſpac god to moyſen,
and tagte him hu it ſulde ben.

Moses was now
fourscore years
old.

fowre ſcore ger he waſ hold,
And aaron ðre more told,[266] 2912

[Fol. 57.]

Q_u_anne he ðat[267] bodewurd ſpoken,
And deden ðe firme token.

Aaron cast down
his rod before
Pharaoh.

AAron ðor warp vt of hiſ hond
Moyſeses migtful wond, 2916
And it wurð bi-foren pharaon

It became an
ugly snake.

An Iglic ſnake ſone on-on;
ðe king ſente after wiches kire,

The sorcerers, by
the devil's help,
did the like.

Wapmen ðe weren in ſowles lire, 2920
ðe ferden al bi fendes red,
fendeſ hem gouen ſinful ſped;
And worpen he ðor wondes dun,

Each of their rods
became a dragon.

fro euerilc ðor crep a dragun; 2924
Oc moyſes wirm hem alle ſmot,

Moses's serpent
bit off their
heads.

And here aldre heuedes he of bot;
ðog deden wicheſ ðo men to ſen
On oðere wiſe or ſoðe ben; 2928
for ðo fendes or he[m] bi-foren
Hadden ðo neddres ðider boren;

[266] At the bottom of this page is the catchword—"Qua_n_ne he ðat
bodewurd."

[267] MS. dat; see the catchword.

THE WATERS ARE TURNED INTO BLOOD.

Pharaoh would
not let the Israelites
go.

And pharaon ſtirte up a-non,
And for-bed ðiſ folc to gon. 2932
ÐO ſeide moyſes to araon,
"Q_u_at redeſ tu, broder, ſule wit don?
ðiſ king him his[268] wel wiðer-ward
Agen ðis folc, and herte hard; 2936

Moses and Aaron
again came before
Pharaoh.

Go we and ſpeken wið hem get,
And fonden wið ðiſ token bet."

[Fol. 57b.]

And ſo deden [he] ſone a-non,
And comen bi-foren pharaon, 2940
Quad aaron, "nu ſaltu ſen
Q_u_ilc godes migtful ſtrengðes ben."

Aaron smote on
the flood with his
wand;

He ſmot on ðat flod wið ðat wond,

soon anon it became
blood,

Sone anon blod men al it fond; 2944

and the fish in it
died.

And ðe fiſſes, in al ðat blod read,
floten a-buuen and wurðeden dead;

In every well and
pool blood was
found,

In eu_er_ilc welle, in eu_er_ilc trike,
men funden blod al witterlike, 2948

except in Goshen.

But-if it were in ðe lond gerſen,
ðor-inne woree[269] ðe ebriſſe men.
ðis wreche, in al egypte rigt,

This plague lasted
seven nights.

Leſtede fulle ſeuene nigt; 2952
ðo waſ ðiſ king ſumdel for-dred,

Pharaoh then
promised that
the Hebrews
should depart.

And het he_m_ he ſulden vt ben led;
And moyſes ðiſ pine vn-dede,
And water wurð on blodeſ ſtede. 2956

When the plague
was removed he
would not release
them.

ðan pharaon wurð war ðis bot,
ðiſ folc of londe funde_n_ ne mot;
Iannes and mambres, wicheſ wod,
Him ðhugte he maden water blod; 2960

Mad sorcerers
misled the king.

It waſ on fendes wiſe wrogt,
for to bi-tou_r_nen[270] ðe kingeſ ðogt.
Moyſes lerede god, ſpac hi_m_ mide,
Al ðat iſ broðer aaron dede. 2964

[Fol. 58.]

Eft he comen to pharaon,
And he wernede ðiſ folc ut-gon.

[268] _read_ is.

[269] woren?

[270] MS. bitou_er_en.

THE PLAGUES OF FROGS AND GNATS.

Aaron held up
his hand towards
the water, and
up came a host
of frogs.

And aaron held up his hond,
to ðe water and ðe more lond; 2968
ðo cam ðor up ſwilc froſkes here
ðe dede[271] al folc egipte dere;

Some were wild
and some tame.

Su_m_me woren wilde, and ſu_m_me tame,
And ðo hem deden ðe[272] moſte ſame; 2972

Some crept into
houses, drink,
meat, and bed.

In huſe, in drinc, in metes, in bed,
It cropen and maden hem for-dred;

Some died and
stank.

Su_m_me ſtoruen and gouen ſtinc,
And vn-hileden mete and drinc; 2976

Tadpoles, frogs,
and toads afflicted
Egypt's folk.

Polheuedes, and froſkes, & podes ſpile
Bond harde egipte folc [273]in ſile.
ðiſ king bad moyſes and aaron,
ðat he ſulden god bone don; 2980

The frogs died,

And ſone ſo moyſes bad iſ bede,
ðiſ wirmes ſtoruen in ðe ſtede;

but the king forbad
the departure
of the Hebrews.

And q_u_ane ðe king wurð war ðis dead,
Anon ðis folc fore he for-bead. 2984
Ðe ðridde wreche dede aaron
Bi-foren ðe king pharaon;

The third plague
of gnats, small
to look at, but
sharp in biting.

He ſmot wið ðat gerde on ðe lond,
And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond, 2988
ſmale to ſen, and ſarp on bite,
In al egypte fleg ðiſ ſmite.

[Fol. 58b.]

And ðo dede men and herf wo,
Anger and tene, ſorge and wo. 2992

The sorcerers said,
"This is token
of God's ghost,"

Q_u_oðen ðo wiches clerkes(.) "ðiſ
fortoken godeſ gaſtes is."

for they lacked
might to do this.

Her hem wantede migt and ſped,
to ſwilc ðing cuðen he non red; 2996
ðiſ toknes dede aaron.

Pharaoh remained
obstinate,

God ſente ſiðen hem oðere on,
for euere eld ðiſ king on-on,
And wernede ðiſ folc vt to gon. 3000
Ðo ſeide god to moyſen,
"Go ðu gund pharaon agen;

[271] MS. ðede.

[272] MS. de.

[273] ? un-sile.

PLAGUES OF FLIES, BOILS, AND BLAINS,

Sei him, if min folc ne mote gon,

and was punished
by a plague of
flies.

fleges kin ſal hin ou_er_-gon, 3004
And al hiſ lond to ſorge ten;
Oc lond gerſen ne ſal non ben."

Then gave he
them leave to
depart,

And ðuſ[274] it was, and al ðiſ ſor
Sag pharaun, and dredde hi_m_ ðor. 3008
He gaf hem leue ðo vt to faren
wið-ðanne-ðat he to londe ef[t] charen;
And moyſes bad meðe here on,

and the flight of
flies was removed.

And ðiſ fleges fligt vt iſ don; 3012
And pharaon wroð[275] herte on hard,
And vn-dede hem ðat[276] forward.
Moyſes ſpac ſiðen wið gode,

Message comes to
Pharaoh of a
great plague.

And he brogte pharaun ðiſ bode; 3016

[Fol. 59.]

"To-morgen, bute he mugen vt-pharen,
Egyptes erf ſal al for-faren."

The murrain
among the cattle.

He wið-held[277] hem and, al-ſo he it b[e]ad,
Al ðe erf of egipt wurð dead; 3020
And get ne migte ðiſ folc vt-gon,
ſwilc har[d]neſſe iſ on pharaon.
After ðiſ time, it ſo bi-cam,
ðat moyſes aſkes up-nam, 3024

The plague of
boils and blains.

And warpes vt til heuene-ward;
ðo wex vn-ſelðe on hem wel hard,
dolc, ſor, and blein on erue and man;

The sorcerers hid
themselves, and
would not come
before Pharaoh,

ðe wicches hidden hem for-ðan, 3028
Bi-foren pharaun nolden he ben,

so loathsome
were they to look
upon.

So woren he lodelike on to ſen;
At laſt, q_u_an it waſ ou_er_-gon,
Hadde moyſes ðo leue non. 3032
Siðen ſente ðe lou_er_d gode,

God's message to
Pharaoh.

bi moyſes, to ðiſ king bode;
"for-ði lete ic ðe king her ben,
Men ſal, ðurg ðe, mi_n_ migte ſen, 3036
And knowen ſal ben, ðe to un-frame,
In eu_er_ilc lond min migte name.

[274] MS. duſ.

[275] worð?

[276] MS. dat.

[277] MS. wid-held.

HAIL-STORM, AND GRASSHOPPERS.

He threatens
the king with
hail-storm.

ſwilc hail was her or neuere nomen
So ſal ðiſ ſel to-morgen cumen; 3040
Do men and erue in huſe ben,
If ðu wilt more hem liues ſen."

[Fol. 59b.]

ðo men, ðe weren in eige and dred,
ben borwen, and erue, ðurg ðiſ red. 3044

On the morrow
came thunder,
hail, and lightning.

O morgen, al ſwilc time al ſir,
ðhunder, and hail, and leuenes fir,
Cam wel vnghere; al ðat it fond

It slew many
men, broke down
trees, grass, and
corn.

Bergles, it ſloge i_n_ ðat lond; 3048
Treeſ it for-brac, and greſ, and corn,
ðat waſ up-ſprungen ðor bi-foren;
Oc ðe ebrius in lond gerſen
ne derede it, coren, ne erf, ne men; 3052
ðo ſeide ðe folc to pharaon,

The Egyptians
beseech Moses to
remove this
plague.

"Nu ic wot we haue miſ-don;
Moyſes, do ðiſ weder charen,
And gu ſal [ic] leten ut-faren." 3056
Moyſes gede vt, helde up iſ hond,
And al ðiſ vnweder ðor atwond,

The storm
ceased,

And wurð ðiſ weder ſone al ſtille,
And al after ðe kinges wille. 3060

but though the
weather was soft,
the king's heart
was hard.

ðiſ weder iſ ſofte, And ðiſ king hard,
And brekeð hi_m_ eft ðat forward.
MOyſes ſiðen, and aaron,

Then said Moses,

Seiden bi-foren pharaon, 3064

"To-morrow shall
the grasshoppers
come into the
land."

"To-morgen ſulen greſſeoppes cumen,
And ðat ail ða bileaf ſal al ben numen;
So ſal ðin hardneſſe ben wreken,
ðat men ſulen longe ðor-after ſpeken." 3068

[Fol. 60.]

"Goð vt," q_u_að he, "red ic ſal taken,
And gu ſiðen i ſal anſwer maken."

The Egyptians
advise the king
to let the Israelites
go.

Qvað ðiſ folc, "bet_er_ iſt laten he_m_ vt-pharen,
Al ſal egipte elles for-faren." 3072

Pharaoh is at
first inclined to
let them go,

He calde hem in; q_u_ad pharaon,
"Q_u_ilc ben ðo ðe ſulen vt-gon?"

PLAGUES OF LOCUSTS AND DARKNESS.

Q_u_að moyſes, "but alle wapmen,
wið erf, and childre, and wimmen." 3076

but would only
grant permission
to the men.

"Hu! haue ge wrong," q_u_ad pharaon,
"Gu wapmen giue Ic leue to gon;
Of erf and wimmen leue ic nogt,
Ear one of wapmen waſ bi-ſogt." 3080
Ef[t] ðiſ andſwere, ben vt-gon
moyſes forð and aaron;

Moses held up
his hand, and a
southern wind
uprose,

MOyſes held up hiſ hond,
A ſuðen wind iſ flig[t] up-wond, 3084
And blew ðat day and al ðat nigt
And brogte egipte an newe figt;

which brought
the locusts.

ðiſ wind hem brogte ðe ſkipperes,
He deden on greſ and coren deres. 3088

Then was the
king full of woe,

ðat lond was ful, and ðiſ king wo,
He ſente after ðe breðere ðo.
Q_u_ad pharaon, "ic haue miſ-numen,

and besought
Moses to turn
from them the
evil.

Wreche iſ on vs wið rigte cumen; 3092
Bi-ſek get god, ðis one ſiðe,
ðat he vs of ðiſ pine friðe."

[Fol. 60b.]
A western wind
took away the
locusts.

And ſo [he] dede, and on wind cam
fro weſten, and ðo opperes nam, 3096
And warpes ou_er_ in-to ðe ſe;
ðo pharaun ſag iſ lond al fre,

Pharaoh broke
his covenant.

Hiſ herte ðo wurð ðwert and hard,
And al he brac hem [ðat] forward. 3100
MOyſes ſiðen held up iſ hond,

The plague of
thick darkness.

And ðhikke ðherkneſſe ca_m_ on ðat lond,
ðat migte non egipcien
Abuten hi_m_ for mirkneſſe ſen; 3104
Manige ðor ſorge on liue bead,

Many died from
fear.

And manige weren rewlike dead;
Q_u_or-ſo ðe folc waſ of yſrael,

The Israelites
had light.

He adden ligt and ſowen wel. 3108
ðo q_u_ad pharaon to moyſen,

The king tells
them to go, and

"Led vt al ðat iſ boren of man,

THE INSTITUTION OF THE PASSOVER.

to leave their
flocks and herds
behind.

And let her hen boden er[f] & ſep,
ic wile ðor-on[278] nimen kep." 3112
Q_u_ad moyſes, "la! god it wot,

Moses will not
consent to this
arrangement.

ſal ðe[r]-of bi-leuen non fot,
Al we ſulen iſ wið vs hauen;
'Wold,' q_u_ad god, 'wile ðor-of crauen.'" 3116
Q_u_að pharaon to moyſen,

Moses and Aaron
are driven out
from the presence
of Pharaoh.

"Nu ic rede ðat ge flen;
for ſe ic gu more-ou_er_ nu,
dead ſal be[279] wreken ou_er_ gu." 3120

[Fol. 61.]

MOyſes fleg to lond gerſen,
ðor wuneden hiſ kinnes men.

God tells Moses
of his final vengeance
upon the
Egyptians.

Quað god, "get ic ſal pharaon,
Or ge gon vt, don an wreche on, 3124
(Nu ſal ic in-to egipte gon,)
Swilc wreche waſ ear neu_er_e non;

Each first-born
shall be destroyed.

Deigen ðor ſal ilc firme bigeten
Of men and erf, non forgeten; 3128
Oc among gu, dredeð gu nogt,
to gu ne ſal non iuel ben ſogt,
Ne ſal ic gu nog[t] loten
Of ðat ic haue gu bi-hoten." 3132

The year shall
begin,

Siðen q_u_að god to moyſen,
"ðiſ ſal gure firmeſt moneð[280] ben,
ðoo gune men ðe mone ſen

when in April the
new moon is
seen.

In april Reke-fille ben." 3136
ðanne he lereden he_m_ newe wunen;

The institution
of the Passover.

"Eu_er_ilc ger, more to munen,
Eu_er_ilc huſ-folc ðe mai it ðauen

A lamb or kid of
the first year is
to be taken and
slain by each
household on the
fourteenth day of
the month,

On ger ſep oðer on kide hauen; 3140
ðe tende dai it ſulde ben lagt,
And ho[l]den in ðe tende nagt,
And [slagen] on ðe fowrtende dai;
So mikil hird ſo it noten mai, 3144
Ben at euen folc ſum to ſamen,

and to be roasted
whole.

And ilc folc iſ to fode framen,

[278] MS. dor-on.

[279] MS. me.

[280] MS. moned.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FIRST-BORN.

[Fol. 61b.]

And eten it bred, and non bon breken,

None of it is to
be taken out of
the house.

And nogt ðor-of vt huſe wreken, 3148
Oc ſod and girt, ſtondende, and ſtaf on hond,

It is to be roasted
whole,

Ilc man after his owen fond,

and eaten with
bitter herbs,
and unleavened
bread.

Heued and fet, and in rew mete[n],
leſen fro ðe bones and eten, 3152
Wið[281] wriðel and vn-lif bread;"

The remainder is
to be burnt, and
the blood is to be
sprinkled upon
the door-posts.

ðe bi-leuen brennen he bead.
"ðe dure-tren and ðe uu_er_ſlagen,
wið yſope ðe blod ben dragen; 3156
ðat nigt ſal ben feſt paſche,"
forð-for, on engle tunge, it be.

Vengeance came
upon the Egyptians.

ON midel ſel, ðat[282] ilc nigt,
So cam wreche on egipte rigt; 3160

The first-born of
man and beast
were slain.

Ilc firme bigeten, of erf and man,
was ſtoruen on morwen and dead forðan;
ðo waſ non biging of al egipte
lich-leſ, ſo manige dead ðor kipte.[283] 3164

Pharaoh consented
to let
Israel go.

ðo wurð phara[o]n nede driuen
And haueð[284] hem ðane leue giuen;
And egipte folc bad hem faren,
And ſwiðe a-weiward hem garen. 3168

The Egyptians
gave the Hebrews
whatever
they asked.

Q_u_at-ſo he boden, ſrud[285] or ſat,
Egipte folc hem lenen ðat;
Waſ hem nogt werned ðat he crauen,
for here ſwinc-hire he nu hauen; 3172

[Fol. 62.]

Gold and ſilu_er_ he hauen vt-brogt,

The Israelites
numbered
600,000 men.

ðe tabernacle ðor[286]-wið wurð[287] wrogt;
He woren ſexe hundred ðhuſent men,
wið-vten childre and wimmen; 3176
Al erf-kin hauen he ut-led,
Egipte folc hem hauen ut-ſped.

Moses thought of
the oath sworn to
Joseph.

Almost redi waſ here fare,
moyſes bi-ðogt him ful gare 3180
Of ðat ðe iſ kin haueð ſworen,

Joseph's grave
could not be
found.

Ioſepes bones ſulen ben boren;

[281] MS. wid.

[282] MS. dat.

[283] caught.

[284] MS. haued.

[285] MS. ſruð.

[286] MS. dor.

[287] MS. wurd.

THE ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT.

Oc ðe ail haueð[288] ſo wide ſpiled,
ðat hiſ graue iſ ðor vnder hiled, 3184

A golden rod
with the name
of God upon it
was laid upon
the flood.

On an gold gad ðe name god
Iſ grauen, and leid up-on ðe flod;

Moses followed
its course, and
thus discovered
the grave.

Moyſes it folwede ðider it flet,
And ſtod ðor ðe graue under let; 3188
ðor he doluen, and hauen ſogt,
And funden, and hauen up-brogt
ðe bones ut of ðe erðe wroken,

Some of the bones
were whole and
some broken.

Su_m_me hole, & ſu_m_me broken; 3192
He dede iſ binden & faire loken
Alle ðe bones ðe he ðor token.

When Israel left
Egypt there was
an earthquake.

Q_u_ane he geden egipte fro,
It wurð erðe-dine, and fellen ðo 3196

Many temples
fell down.

fele chirches and ideles mide,
Miracle it was ðat god ðor dede.

[Fol. 62b.]
Seven score years
were gone since
Joseph was
buried.

Gon woren .vii. ſcore ger
Siðen[289] ioſep waſ doluen ðer;[290] 3200
And .xxiii. ſcore fro ðan
ðat god it ſpac wið[291] abrah_ra_m.

The Israelites
journey from Rameses
to Succoth.

fro Rameſe to ſokoht ſtede
Non man on hem letting dede, 3204
For ſwinc and m_ur_ning hem was on,
fro ðe liches in-to ðe erðe don;
And manige of ðo grete_n_ forði
ðat he adden ben hard hem bi. 3208

From Succoth
they go to Etham,
and thence to Pihahiroth.

To burg ethan fer fro ſokoth,
And ðeðen he ten to pharaoth;[292]
ðor he ſtunden for to ſen
q_u_ilc pharaon wið he_m_ ſal ben. 3212

Pharaoh called
out his army.

Pharaon bannede vt hiſ here,
Iſrael he ðhogte to don dere;

Six hundred chariots
he brought
out of Egypt,
fifty thousand
horsemen, and
ten score thousand
men of foot.

Sex hundred carte-hird i-wrogt[293]
vt of egipte he haueð[294] brogt; 3216
On horſe fifiti ðhusent men,
x ſcore ðhusent of fote ren;

[288] MS. haued.

[289] MS. Siden.

[290] MS. der.

[291] MS. wid.

[292] MS. pharaofh.

[293] MS. hirdi wrogt.

[294] MS. haued.

THE ISRAELITES CROSS THE RED SEA.

Alle he ledde hem vt forði
ðat folc ebru to werchen wi. 3220

When the Israelites
saw the
Egyptian host
they became sore
afraid.

Ðiſ godes folc waſ und_er_-numen,
Q_ua_n he ſegen ðiſ hird al cumen,
Sore he gunen for-dredde ben,
for ne cuðen ne[295] gate flen, 3224

[Fol. 63.]

And if he ðore ben bi-ſet,

for they were
without
weapons.

Ille he ſulen ben hung_er_ gret;
He ne mogen figten a-gen,

They chided
Moses.

for [he] wið-vten wopen ben; 3228
ðanne he ðuſ woren alle in dred,
On moyſen he ſetten a gred.
"Beð nu ſtille," q_u_að moyſes,

Moses promises
them God's
assistance.

"ðor god wile(.) iſ non helpeles; 3232
Ge ſulen ſen ðiſ ilke dai
Q_u_at godes migt for gu mai."
He bad ðiſ folc dregen wið ſkil,
And he bi-ſogte godes wil. 3236

God instructs
Moses to stretch
out his rod over
the sea.

Qvað god, "q_u_or-at calles ðu me?
Hold up ðin gerde to ðe ſe
And del it ſo on ſundri del,
ðat gu ben garknede weigeſ wel." 3240

Moses did so.

ðo moyſes helde up hiſ hond,

A wind blew the
sea from the sand,

A wind blew ðe ſe fro ðe ſond;
On twel[fe] doles delt iſt ðe ſe,

and twelve
thoroughfares
were made for
the people.

xii. weiges ðer-in ben faiger and fre, 3244
ðat eu_er_ilc kinde of iſrael
Mai ðor hiſ weige finden wel.

The water stood
up as a wall on
both sides.

ðe water up-ſtod, ðurg godes migt,
On twinne half, alſo a wal up-rigt; 3248
Moyſes bad hem, alſo he ben boren,
ðe eldeſt kindes gon bi-foren;

[Fol. 63b.]
Moses went first,
and then the men
of Judah.

Oc moyſes gede in bi-foren,
And ðo ðe kinde of iuda boren; 3252
On and on kin, alſ herte he_m_ cam,
ðat folc ilc in his weige nam;

[295] ? he no-gate

THE EGYPTIAN HOSTS ARE DROWNED.

A cloud went before
them.

Bi-foren he_m_ fleg an ſkige brigt
ðat nigt he_m_ made ðe weige ligt; 3256
Egiptes folc gunnen ðiſ ſen,

Pharaoh pursued
the Israelites,

And wenden ðat he wode ben.
Ðis bode herde king pharaon
And him ðuhte ſellic ðer-on, 3260
Garkede his hird & after nam,

and to the Red
Sea he came.

And to ðe ſe bi nigte he cam;

In went this host
after the king.

In ferde ðiſ hird after ðiſ king,
And ðo ſprong ðe daieni_n_g. 3264
ðhunder, and leuene, and rein ðor-mong
God ſente on ðat hird, ſtið and ſtrong;

Some were for
going back.

ðo quoðen he, "wende we a-gen,
An[d] iſrael folc lete we ben." 3268
ðor-q_u_iles ben ðo kinges[296] cumen

The Israelites
reached the land,

Ou_er_, and hauen ðe londes numen;
Egipcienes woren i_n_ twired wen
q_u_eðer he ſulden folgen or flen; 3272
And moyſes ſtod up-on ðe ſond,

and God bade
Moses stretch his
rod over the sea.

God him bad helden up hiſ hond
to-ward ðiſ water, in a morgen q_u_ile
ðe ſe luked, ſo god it wile,[297] 3276

[Fol. 64.]
The sea covered
the Egyptians,

And on and on, ſwiðe litel ſtund,
Egypcienes fellen to ðe grund;[298]

and not one
remained undrowned
in that
salt spot.

Of hem alle bi-leaf non fot
Vn-drincled i_n_ ðat ſalte ſpot.[299] 3280
Ðvs iſ iſrael of hem wreken,
And here welðe iſ to londe weken,
Wepen, and ſrud, ſiluer, and gold;
wel hem mai ben ðe god beð hold! 3284

Moses made a
new song, and
taught it to the
people.

Moyſes ðor made a newe ſong,
And tag[t]e it al ðat folc a-mong;

Each day for a
week it was sung
over.

And ilke dai ðat ſeuen nigt,
Ones he ðor it ſungen rigt; 3288

[296] kindes?

[297] At the bottom of this page is the catchword—"And on and on."

[298] MS. grunð.

[299] MS. ſwot.

THE SOJOURN AT SHUR, ELIM, AND SIN.

In memory of
which are we
wont to come
seven times to the
font at Eastertide.

ðor-of in eſterne be we wunen
Seuene ſiðes to funt cumen.
Ðor q_u_iles he weren in ðe deſert,
God tagte hem weie, wis and pert; 3292
A fair piler ſon hem on o nigt,
And a ſkie[300] eu_er_e on daiges ligt.

The fifth sojourn
was in the wilderness
of Shur;

Ðe fifte ſuriuren ðat he deden,
In ðe deſert ſur, on drie ſtede; 3296

three days the
people were without
water.

ðre dages weren he ðider gon,
ðat he ne funden water non;

At Marah the
waters were
bitter, but

A welle he funde at marath,[301]
ðe water was bit_er_ and al wlath;[302] 3300
A funden trew ðor-inne dede

a tree rendered
them sweet.

Moyſes, and it wurð ſwet on ðe ſtede.

[Fol. 64b.]
The sixth sojourn
was at Elim,

Ðe ſexte ſuriuren at elim,
xij welle-ſpringes weren on him, 3304
An[d] then[303] and ſexti palme tren
bi ðo welles men migte ſen;
He maden ſiðen, fro elim,

and from thence
to Sin.

Mani ſuriuren in ðe deſert ſin. 3308
Bi-twen elim and ſinay,

Bread fails
them.

bred wantede, hem was wo forði;
ðat was on ðe ðrittiðe[304] dai,
ðat here wei fro egypte lay, 3312
ðor he woren hungur for-dred;

They murmur
against Moses.

"Ille," he ſeiden, "haue we ſped,
Bet uſ were in egipte ben,
Bred and fles ðer[305] we muwen ſen." 3316
Moyſes wurð war ðe folc was wroð,
And here gruching ðo god was loð.
"ſtille," q_u_að he, "and on-dreg,
Godeſ fulſum-hed iſ gu ful neg." 3320

God sends them
a flight of fowls,

At euen cam a fugel-fligt,
fro-ward arabie to hem rigt;
ðor migte eu_er_ilc man fugeles taken,
So fele so he wulden raken; 3324

[300] MS. aſkie.

[301] _read_ marach.

[302] _read_ wlach.

[303] ten?

[304] MS. ðrittide.

[305] MS. der.

THE MIRACULOUS FALL OF MANNA.

and on the morrow
a dew,

On morgen fel hem a dew a-gein.
firſt he wenden it were a rein,
knewen he nogt ðiſ dewes coſt;

like rime frost;

It lai ðor, q_u_it als a rim[306] froſt, 3328

"Man-hu," said
they, wherefore
they called it
Manna.

He ðe it ſogen,[307] ſeiden, "man hu,"
Manna for-ði men clepeð it nu.

[Fol. 65.]

Q_u_ad moyſes, "loc! her nu [iſ] bread,
Ille gruching iſ[308] gu for-bead." 3332
A met ðor was, it het Gomor,

Each man gathered
an omer of it
before the sun
shone,

Ilc man iſ he bead, and nu_n_mor,
Hi_m_ gaderen or ðe ſunne-ſine,
Elles he ſulden miſſen hine. 3336

for it melted at
the sunshine.

for it malt at ðe ſunne-ſine,
Oc oðer fir for-hadede hine.

When ground
and made into
bread, it tasted
like wafers made
with honey.

To duſt he it grunden and maden bread,
ðat huni and olies ðef he bead; 3340
Q_u_o-ſo nome up forbone mor,
it wirmede, bredde, and rotede ðor.

Moses filled an
omer of the
manna,

Moyſen dede ful ðe gomor,
In a gold pot, for muning ðor. 3344
Held it ſundri in clene ſtede,

and placed it in
the tabernacle.

And in ðe tabernacle he it dede.
Wið ðiſ mete weren he fed,
fowerti winter vten leð,[309] 3348
Til he to lond canaan
Comen(.) ðat god hem giuen gan.

Forth came this
folk, and came to
Rephidim,

Forð nam ðiſ folc, ſo god tagte him,
to ðe deſert of rafadim;[310] 3352

where they murmured
for thirst,
and did chide
with Moses.

Tidlike hem waſ ðat wat_er_ wane,
ðor he grucheden for ðriſt hane;[311]

[Fol. 65b.]

Harde he bi-haluen ðer moyſes,
And to god he made is bi-men. 3356
"Lou_er_ed," q_u_ad he, "q_u_at ſal ic don?
He ſulen me werpen ſtones on."

God sent him for
water to a rock
in Horeb.

Q_u_að god, "go ðu to erebiſ ſton,
And ſmit wið ðin gerde ðor-on." 3360

[306] MS. rin.

[307] MS. logen.

[308] ? ic.

[309] led?

[310] MS. rafaclim.

[311] MS. haue.

THE ISRAELITES OVERCOME THE AMALEKITES.

It was a ſtede henden ðor-bi,

Moses smote the
rock,

On a ſyde of munt ſynay;
And he ſmot wið his wond ðor-on,
And water gan ðor-vten gon; 3364

and the people
had enough to
drink without
toiling for it.

Anog adden he ðanne drinc,
Redi funden wið litel ſwinc;

This place was
called Temptation.

ðat ſtede waſ cald temptatio,
for he ðo god fondeden so. 3368

Amalek comes to
war against Israel.

Amalec, yſmaeles ſune,
Was ðor hende rafadim[312] wune,
He welte ðor ſtone and iaboch,
ðat herdes folc him lou_er_d toch; 3372
Wopened he ben a-gen iſrael.

Moses sends
Joshua with the
army to fight
with Amalek.

Moyſes ear it wiſte wel,
And ſente agen hem king ih_esu_m,
w_i_ð folc iſrael wopened ſum; 3376
He let bi-aften ðe[313] more del,

Moses, accompanied
by Aaron
and Hur, goes up
to the top of a
hill, and prays
for the folk of
Israel.

To kepen here ðing al wel.
He, and aaron, and hur ben gon,
Heg up to a dune ſone o-non; 3380

[Fol. 66.]

Moyſes bad [for] folc yſrael,
And hiſe benes hem holpen wel;
Ai q_u_iles he up iſ hondes bead,

Amalek is overcome
by the holding
up of Moses'
hands.

Amalechkes folc fledde for agte of dead, 3384
And q_u_ane he let[314] iſ hondes niðer,
Amalech folc fagt hard and wiðer;
Q_u_ane it wurð war, vr[315] and aaron
He iſ under-leiden wið an ſton, 3388
Til ſunne him ſeilede in ðe weſt;

Thus Moses
fought best of all.

ðus fagt Moyſes ðor alðer-beſt.
Amalech fleg, and iſrael
Hadde hegere hond, and timede wel. 3392
ðo ſente god to moyſen,
wið ðis timing to muning ben,

The future destruction
of
Amalek.

"Get ſal ðe kinde of amalech
Ben al fled dun in deades wrech." 3396

[312] MS. rafaclim.

[313] MS. de.

[314] MS. leth.

[315] MS. ut.

JETHRO VISITS MOSES.

Moses raises an
altar.

Moyſes made ðor alter on,
"Min bliſ" iſ name ðor-one don.

Jethro visits
Moses,

ÐO cam ietro to moysen,
To ſpeken him and ðo kinnes-men, 3400

bringing with
him Zipporah and
her two sons.

And ſephora, moyſes wif,
And hire two ſunes of faiger lif;
Ietro liſtnede moyſes tale,

Moses relates to
him the destruction
of Pharaoh.

Of him and pharaon ðe dwale, 3404
And ðhankede[316] it almigten wel,
ðat waſ bi-tid for iſrael;

[Fol. 66b.]

And at wið moyſen feſtelike,

Jethro counsels
Moses to appoint
rulers of the
people,

And tagte him ſiðen witt_er_like 3408
Vnder him helpes oðere don,
ðat folc ſtering to ſtreng[t]hen on.

rulers of thousands,

Al bi ðhuſenz ðiſ folc was told,
Ilc ðhuſent adde a meiſter wold; 3412
And vnder ðiſ tgen[317] ſteres ben,

rulers of hundreds,

Ilc here on hundred to bi-ſen;
Vnder ðis ilc two ſteres wunen,

rulers of fifties,

And vnder hem fif oðere numen; 3416

and rulers of
tens.

Ilc of ðe .v. ſteres-men
Vnder hem welden in ſtere tgen.[317]

An appeal to be
made from the
ruler of ten,

If ymong .x. wurð ogt miſ-don,
Here ſtere rigten [ſulde] ðor-on, 3420
And if he ne mai it rigten wel,

to the ruler of
hundreds,

Taunet iſ meiſter eu_er_ilc del;
And if he rigten it ne can,

and thence to the
superior ruler.

He taune it al hiſ ouer-man, 3424
Ai ſo forð fro man to man,
Til he it here, ðe rigten can;

The final appeal
to be made to
Moses.

If it ne mai or rigted ben,
ſo ſal it cumen to moysen. 3428

These rulers were
to be able men,
god-fearing,
lovers of truth,
and haters of
covetousness.

He bad him cheſen ſtereſ-men
Migti, ðe gode-frigti ben,
ðe ſoð-faſtneſſe lef ben,
And ðe niðing [and] giſcing flen. 3432

[316] MS. ðahankede.

[317] ten?

THE PEOPLE COME TO SINAI.

[Fol. 67.]
Moses accepts the
counsel.

ðiſ red ðhugte moyſes ful god,
And leuelike it under-ſtod.
Ietro wente in-to his lond a-gen;
Al[ſ] he redde, al-ſo gan it ben. 3436

In the third
month of the year
Exodus, and in
the forty-seventh
day after they
left Egypt,

Ðe ðridde moneð in iſ cumen,
To ſynay ðiſ folc iſ numen;
ðe ſeuene and forwerti dai
ðat he nomen fro egipte awei, 3440

the people come
to the desert of
Sinai.

Vnder ðiſ munt he funden ſteden,
And here teldes ðor he deden.
On oðer daiges morgen q_u_ile,
God tauned[318] moyſi q_u_at he wile. 3444
"Sei ðiſ folc ðat nu ðolen,

God's message by
Moses unto the
people out of the
mount.

for iſ here ðhogt nogt me for-holen;
'If ye liſten lefful to me,
Ic wile min folc owen be.'" 3448
And moyſes tolde ðiſ iſrael,
And him heten eu_er_ilc del,
ðat hem bideð, ſulen he don.
God dede moyſes ðiſ bodeword on, 3452

The people are to
be prepared
against the third
day.

"Clenſe ðiſ folc wel ðiſ to daiges,
And bidde hem leden clene la[i]ges;
Abute ðiſ munt ðu merke make,[319]
If erf or man ðor-one take, 3456

The mountain
must not be
touched.

It dead ðolen, wið ſtones ſlagen,
Or to dead wið goren dragen;

[Fol. 67b.]

ðiſ frig[t]ful [folc] ðus a-biden,
Q_u_iles ðiſ daiges for[ð] ben gliden." 3460

On the third day
there were thunders
and lightning
and a thick
cloud upon the
mount.

Ðe ðridde daiges morge q_u_ile,
ðunder and leuene made ſpile,
On ðiſ munt ſtod, and ſkies caſt,
And dinede an migtful hornes blast; 3464

Smoke up reeked
and the mount
quaked.

Smoke up-rekeð and munt q_u_akeð,
Slep ðor non ðe[320] ðane up-wakeð;
Ai was moſes one in ðis dine,
ðiſ folc wende haue_n_ for-loren hine;[321] 3468

[318] ? tauneð.

[319] MS. made.

[320] MS. de.

[321] MS. hi_m_ine.

MOSES RECEIVES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Oc he cam faiger and fer him to,

Moses addresses
the people.

And gan wið hem ſpeken ſo;
"Ilc gure wel in herte mune,
Ne iſt nogt moyſes, amrame ſune, 3472

He reminds them
of their deliverance
from the
Egyptians,

ðe ge ſulen to dai here ſpeken;
Oc he ðe ſlog, gu for to wreken,
Egypte, an weige made in ðe se,
And let adam fonden ðe tre 3476
ðe noe barg, and abraham

and of God's
kindness to their
ancestors, to
Abraham, to
Isaac, and Joseph.

Ledde vt in-to lond canaan;
Of olde abraham and of ſarra bigeten
Dede yſaac, of olde teten; 3480
ðe gaf yſaac so manige ſunen,
ðe Ioſep dede ſo riche wunen;
His word gu wurðe digere[322] al-ſo lif,
Digere[322] or eiðer child or wif. 3484

[Fol. 68.]

Cumeð her forð, and beð alle reken,
And lereð wel q_u_at he ſal ſpeken."

Moses leadeth
the people to the
foot of the
mount.

He ledde hem to ðe muntes fot,
Non but non[323] forðere ne mot, 3488
And on iſ broðer aaron;
God bad hem ðat merke ou_er_-gon;
ðo ſo ſpac god ſo brigt-like,
ðat alle he it herden witt_er_like. 3492

The Ten Commandments.
First Commandment.

LOke ðat ð_u_ god oðer ne make,
Ne oðer ðan me ðat ðu ne take.
for ic am god, gelus and ſtrong,
Min wreche iſ hard, min ðole iſ long. 3496

Third Commandment.

Tac ðu nogt i_n_ idel min name[n],
Ne ſwer it les to fele in gamen,
Ne let ðu nogt min wurðfulhed
for-faren in ðe fendes red. 3500

Fourth Commandment.

Min hali dai ðu halge wel,
An do ðin dede on oðer ſel.

Fifth Commandment.

Wurð ðin fader and moder ſo,
ðat ðu hem drede and helpe do. 3504

[322] = dgere = diere = dere.

[323] ? Nun.

THE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.

Sixth Commandment.

Ne ſlo ðu nogt wið hond ne wil,
Ne rend, ne beat nogt wið vn-ſkil;
Help de nedful, ðat he ne be dead
for truke of ðin helpe an[d] read. 3508

Seventh Commandment.

Oc horedom ðat ðu ne do,
Ne wend no lecherie to.

[Fol. 68b.]
Eighth Commandment.

Loke ðe wel ðat ðu ne ſtele,
Ne reflac, ne ðefte, for-hele.[324] 3512

Ninth Commandment.

Falſe witneſſe ðat[325] ðu ne bere,
Ne wið ðe leſe non ma[_n_][326] ne dere.

Tenth Commandment.

Ne giſce ðu nog[t] ðin neſtes ðing,
Huſ, ne agte, ne wif, in ðin giſcing; 3516
For if ðu it gernes and giſſe,
ðu tines vn-ended bliſce."

The Israelites at
the foot of the
mount are in
great dread and
fear.

Ðiſ for-frigted folc figeren ſtod,
dredful, and bleð, and ſori mod; 3520
Herden ðat dredful beames blaſt,
Sogen ðat figer, dred held he_m_ faſt.
ðo ſeiden he to moyſen,

They intreat
Moses to stand
between them
and God.

"Be ðu nu god and us bi-twen, 3524
Her nu q_u_at god ſal more q_ue_ðen,
And tellet uſ ſiðen her bi-neðen."
And moyſes ſteg up a-non,

God gave to
Moses many commandments
and
laws,

God hem bad bodes manige on 3528
And lages; and hu he ſulen maken
ðe tabernacle, and wor-of taken

instructed him
concerning the
making of the
Tabernacle,