Chapter VI: Prepositions (7)

_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 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."

1470 _and_ = _an_ = in; or else _figt_ must be an error for _fagt_ = fought; and _nigt_ = _nagt_. 1477 _Ghe_ is evidently an error for _ghet_ or _get_, yet. _liues_ = alive. Cf. _newes_, anew, etc.

P. 43. l. 1484 _swete mel_, sweet meal (food), not sweet speech. "And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison."—(Gen. xxv. 28.) 1487 _seð a mete_, sod a meat. "sod pottage."—(Gen. xxv. 29.) 1493 _mattilike weri_ = _mattilike and weri_, overcome (faint) and weary. _Mattilike_ is connected with the O.E. _mat_, _mote_, faint, half dead. See Allit. Poems, p. 12, l. 386.

1494

_Iacob wurð war he was gredi_,
Jacob became aware that he (Esau) was hungry.
—(See Gloss. s.v. _Gredi_.)

1495-6 "Brother," quoth he, "sell me those privileges Which are said to be the first (eldest) son's." 1499 _bliðelike_, quickly; _blithelike_ has often this sense in O.E. writers. 1501 _wurði wune_, a worthy (high, great) privilege. 1503 _offrende sel_, offering time.

1504

_Was wune ben scrid semelike and wel_,
Was wont to be clothed seemly and well.

1506 _dede his ending_, came to his end (died). 1507 _heg tide_, hey (high) days. 1510 _twinne del_, two-fold. 1511-12 And when the father were (should be) buried, to have two portions of hereditary property. _ereward_ = _erfeward_, is properly the guardian, keeper of the _erfe_ or inheritance, and hence the heir, so that instead of _ereward riche_ we ought to read _ereward-riche_, corresponding to the A.Sax. _yrfe-land_, hereditary land. The _-riche_ is the affix found in O.E. _heven-riche_, heaven kingdom; _kine-riche_, a kingdom; E. _bishoprick_. The _-ward_ (in _ereward_) = _warder_, keeper, is found in O.E. _gate-ward_, _dore-ward_ (door-keeper), _bat-ward_ (boat-keeper); _hey-ward_ (farm-yard keeper); _sti-ward_ (steward, the officer who originally had care of the highways or _sties_?).

P. 44. l. 1514 _then_, an error for _ten_, to go. 1515 _in wis_, in wise, so that; but may we not read _in-wis_ = _i-wis_, indeed, truly? See l. 2521. 1518 _Holden wurðelike_, esteemed honourably, held in honour, respect; _a_ may be for _and_, or for _aa_ = _aye_, ever.

1519-20

A hundred times as much waxed his honour,
So may God prosper where he will.

1521

_Niðede ðat folk_ [ðat] _him fel wel_,
That folk envied him because he prospered.

1522 And made him change his abode; _flitten_ is to remove, to _flit_.

"O land he (Noe) had ful grette plenté,
For him and for his sons thre;
Mast to tilth he gave him þan,
To _flitt_ þe breres he bigan;
Sua lang wit _flitting_ he þam sloght,
Þat wine-treis he þam wroght."
—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 13.)

1524 _trewðe fest_, _troth-fast_, pledged by troth or plighted faith; _fest_ has usually the sense of confirming, pledging, in O.E.

"Þis neu forward (covenant) was _festened_ þan."
—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 23.)

1527-28

And age came upon Isaac,
_He_ became sightless and weak of (with) age.

_elde swac_ = _eldes wac_, weak of (with) age. 1531 _ðat_, what. 1535 _brogtes_, brought them. 1536 And she well knew the father's choice; _kire_ answers exactly to the later gloss, _wune_ = what is chosen, selected; S. Sax. _cure_, choice.

"Þer stoden in þere temple
ten þusend monnen
þet wes þe bezste _cure_
Of al Brut-londe."—Laȝ. i. 345.

1537 And made exceedingly good, or very opportunely, that meat; _on sele_ = _on-sele_, good, literally timely, opportunely; S.Sax. _on sele_, safely. See note on l. 1542.

"Cnihtes fuseð me mid
leteð slæpen þene king
And fare we _on sele_."—Laȝ. i. 32.

sæ-men æfter
fóron flód-wége
folc wæs _on salum_.

_The_ sea men after
marched the flood way
_the_ folk prospered (was in prosperity).
—(Cædmon, 184, 13.)

1539 Clothed she Jacob and made him rough. 1542 _seles mel_, an error for _selie mel_, good (timely) meal? Cf. _miries dale_ for _mirie dale_, l. 1038, p. 30. See Laȝ. i. 75; ii. 173.

"And þas word saide
Brutus þe _sele_ (the good)."—Laȝ. i. 30.

"haueð mi fader bi þære sæ
Castel swiðe _sæle_."—(_Ibid._ ii. 14.)

1544 For he handled him and found him rough. 1545 When he knew him, opportunely he blessed him, faithfully and well. _on gode sel_, in good time, opportunely. See note to l. 1542.

P. 45. ll. 1547-8

Heaven's dew and earth's fatness,
Abundance of wine and oil.

1550 Supply _and_ after _migt_.

1565-6

Quoth Esau, "right is his name
Called Jacob, to my disadvantage."

1569-70

Nevertheless, dear father, intreat I thee
That thou give me some blessing.

1573 _erðes smere_, earth's fatness; _smere_ is properly _fat_, grease, butter. In the Orm. ii. 106 it is used in the sense of ointment. 1574 granted him blessing that was precious to him; _gere_ is evidently an error for _dere_, beloved, dear, precious.

1575-6

For Idumea, that rich land,
Of pasture good, was in his hand.

_lewse_, cf. O.E. _leswen_, to pasture; _lezzer_[398] (Shropshire), a pasture-land. (Wicliffe, 1 Kings xvi. 11; 1 Cor. ix. 7; Luke viii. 34.) "If ony man schal entre by me, he schal be saved; and he schal go yn, and schal go out, and he schal fynde _lesewis_." (Wicliffe, St John x. 9.) "Egipte aȝenst kynde of oþer londes haþ plenté of corn; he is bareyne of _lesue_, and whan he haþ plenté of _lesue_ it is bareyne of corn." (Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon, vol. 1, p. 131.)

1577-8

Quoth Esau, "_The time of_ mourning shall pass away,
And _I_ shall take vengeance of (on) Jacob."

1577 _grot_ is a noun formed from the vb. to _grete_ (to weep, mourn), just as _wop_ is from _wepe_ (weep). It is the same as the O.E. _gret_, _grete_, cry, outcry.

P. 46. ll. 1583-4

"Be thou there," quoth she, "till Esau
Appeased be, who rages now."

_Eðe-moðed_ (= _eðe-moded_) is literally easy-minded, humble, mild, and hence soft-mooded, appeased. S.Sax. _edmod_, _eadmodied_, _edmodie_. See Laȝ. ii. 554; Ancren Riwle, 246, 278. The insertion of _be_ is necessary to the metre as well as to the sense.

1588-9

Esau married _in order_ to annoy us
When he allied (himself to kin of Canaan) and is so foolish.

1591-2

Wherefore he maketh him stubborn and strong,
For he is mixed amongst that kin.

1594

_Ne bode ic no lengere werldes lif_,
I could endure (abide) no longer world's life.

1605 _an soðe drem_, in true dream. 1606 _heuene bem_ = heaven-beam (?), the sun (?). 1610 _Lened_ = leaned; but the MS. also sanctions _leued_ = remained; _and [Jacob] wurð ut-suuen_, and Jacob became cast out of (aroused from) _his sleep_. 1615 _i_ = _ic_, I. It is common to find _i_ before _sal_, instead of the fuller _ic_.

P. 47. l. 1620 _amongus_ = _amonges_ = amongst. 1621 _a-gen cumen_ = _agen-cumen_, return. 1623 _for muniging_ = for _a_ memorial. 1624 _And get on olige_ = and poured on oil; _olige_ = the O.E. _olie_, _elye_ = oil; _anelye_, to anoint. 1636 A well well-covered under a stone. 1638 _abiden_ (= abode) is the pret. pl. of _abide_. 1641 _sulden samen_ = should assemble.

1649

_Iacob wið hire wente ðat ston_,
Jacob for her removed that stone.

_wið_ in O.E. signifies in, for, against, etc.

1651-2

And he made known he was her aunt's son,
And kissed her after kins-wise (as a relative).

_mouies_ is properly a female relative; S.Sax. _mawe_, _moȝe_, _mowe_, and must be distinguished from _mæi_, _mey_, _may_, etc., a male relative. "Þis ȝet þuncheð me wurst þæt tu þe ane hauest ouergan þi feder ant ti moder, _meies_ ba ant _mehen_." (St Marherete, p. 16.)

"Nu is afered of þe
þi _mei_ and þi _mowe_;
Alle heo wereð þe weden
þat er weren þin owe."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 178.)

We occasionally, as in this instance, meet with the word in a more limited sense.

"Annd hire _meȝhe_ Elysabaeþ
Wass gladd inoh & bliþe
Off hire dere child Iohan,
And lefliȝ ȝho himm fedd."—(Orm. i. 109.)

"Has þou her," þai said, "ani man,
Sun or dogter, mik or _mau_
To þe langand, or hei or lau."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 17.)

We even find a confusion between the two terms, as in l. 1761, p. 51, and in the following passage:

"Loth went and til his _maues_ (sons-in-law) spak."
—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 17.)

P. 48. ll. 1655-6 Laban welcomed him (Isaac's son travelled from afar) in friend's wise (friendly); _feren_ = S.Sax. _feorren_, afar, far, from a distance. (See Ancren Riwle, p. 70, l. 3888.)

"The sonne, and monne, and many sterren
By easte aryseth swythe _ferren_."—(Shoreham, p. 137.)

1658 _and laban herte ranc_ = and Laban's heart was wrung (with pity)? for _ranc_ read _wranc_ = _wrang_. 1666 _wað_ = _quað_, quoth, spoke. 1668 _wið skil_, in reason, reasonably.

1671

_Luue wel michil it agte a-wold_
Love so great it ought prevail.

_agte awold_, have in power, prevail, avail. Cp. "Þerfore everyche Romayn overcomeþ oþer is overcome wiþ flaterynge and wiþ faire wordes; and ȝif wordes failleþ, ȝiftes schal hym _awelde_." (Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicum, vol. i. p. 253.) 1676 _tog_ = _toc_ = took.

1681

_long wune is her driuen_,
long custom is here held (practised).

P. 49. l. 1693 _londes kire_, custom of the land (country). 1700 _caldes_, called them. Cf. _calde is_ in l. 1702. 1706 _ille bi-nam_, foully ravished. 1712 _charen_, to depart, literally to turn. 1713 _ðelde_ an error for _gelde_ = should requite.

1713-14

Unless Laban should reward better
His service, and withhold (retain) him yet.

1715 _serue he scriðed_ = he entreated _him_ to serve.

1719-26

Covenant is made of all sheep,
Jacob should take charge _of those_ of one colour,
And if of those, spotted _ones_ came,
Those should be taken for hire (wages).
Sheep or goat, speckled, streaked, or gray,
Are placed from Jacob far away;
Nevertheless those of one colour
Bore many unlike and dissimilar.

P. 50. l. 1723 _haswed_ = _haswe_, "livid, a sad colour mixed with blue." It also signifies rugged, shaggy. 1726 _vn-like_ = unlike in colour. It may be, however, an error for _on-like_ = alike; _likeles_, unlike, dissimilar in form. 1729 _ðe sunder bles_, the diverse coloured ones. 1736 To be under him longer is displeasing to him. 1740 _clipping time_, shearing time. See Allit. Poems, A. 802. 1747 _for-olen_ = _for-holen_, secreted.

P. 51. l. 1758

_ðus meðelike spac ðis em_,
thus kindly (mildly) spake this uncle.

1761-2

My relative, my nephew, my fellow (companion)
Thou oughtest not to do me such unlawfulness (wrong).

_mog._ See note to l. 1651.

1763-4

I was afraid it might occur to thee
To take thy daughters from me.

1765 _fro_ an error for _for_ (?).

1767

Theft I deny, that is my advice,
That he be dead (put to death) with whom thou findest them (thy gods).

1768-9 _is_ = them. 1771 _yuel ist bi-togen_, evil is there accused = wrongfully has accusation been made, i. e. I am accused of a crime. _bitogen_, the p.p. of _biteon_, signifies also _befallen_. _bitogen_ may be an error for _bilogen_. 1772 My labour about thy property is drawn (taken up), i. e. I am troubled about thy property. 1774 And to me was thine honour dear; _wurðing_ = honour, respect, good opinion. 1775 _fend sule wit ben_, friends shall _we two be_. 1776 And troth plight (pledge) now _us two_ between. 1779 _glað_ = glad. 1782 Turned backward ere it was light. 1783 _of weie rad_, quickly away. _of liues_ = alive; _of kin_ = akin. 1784 Soon was he far from Laban separated. 1786 _Engel-wirð_ = _engel-wird_, a troop, multitude of angels.

"Þer wes Bruttene _weored_
baldeliche isomned."—(Laȝ. ii. 412.)

1787 _wopnede here_, a weaponed (armed) host.

"_iwepned_ wel alle
heo wenden to þan walle."—(Laȝ. i. 401.)

"& sone anan se þiss wass seȝȝd
Þurrh an off Godess enngless,
A mikell _here_ off enngleþeod
Wass cumenn ut of heoffne,
& all þatt hirdeflocc hemm sahh
& herrde whatt teȝȝ sungenn."—(Orm. i. 115.)

"He comuth with so gret _here_
Wondur is the ground may heom beore."—(Kyng Alys., p. 91, l. 2101.)

P. 52. l. 1797-8

And Jacob sent far before
Him rich gifts, and sundry bearers.

1798 _loac_ = _lac_, _loc_, a gift, present.

"ðe riche reoðeren
& scheop & bule,
hwa se mihte
brohten to _lake_."—(St. Kath. 63.)

"And bi þatt allterr wass þe _lac_
O fele wise ȝarkedd."—(Orm. i. 34.)

"Alle hii nemen þat _lock_."—(Laȝ., later copy, ii. 320.)

_boren_ = bearers. A.S. _bora_. 1804 The sinews sprang from the limb. _lið_ = member, limb. See Hampole's P. of C. 1917.

1805-6

Would they (Jacob's kin) no sinews thenceforth eat,
His own kin will not forget that usage.

1808 Till the dawning up from the east burst. 1811 _leate_ = _lete_, relinquish. 1818 How shall any man be able to hurt thee? 1826 And honoured him as the first-born; _wurðe_ should be _wurð[ed]e_. 1828 _ðo rew him so_, then had he such compassion upon Jacob.

P. 53. l. 1829 _trume_, host. (See Guy of Warwick, p. 291; Laȝ. iii. 73, 107.)

"And he arayeth hare _trome_
As me (one) areyt men in fyȝt."—(Shoreham, p. 108.)

Cp. _shel-ter_ = or _scheltron_ = _schild-trume_. 1833 Jacob was sorrowful that he forsook (refused) them (the presents). 1835 _hol and schir_ = whole and sound; _schir_ = sheer, pure, undefiled. 1837 _him to frame_ = for his own use. 1840 _tgelt_ = _tyelt_ = encamped. Cf. Ger. _zelt_; Eng. _tilt_. 1843 There King Emor sold him a _piece of_ ground. 1848 She departed leave-less (without permission) from that place. 1851 Her own counsel misled (ruined) her. We might read

_for hire listede hire owen red_,
for her own counsel pleased her.

1854

_And his burge-folc fellen in wi_,
And his people (borough-folk) fell in war.

_wi_ = _wig_ = war. Cf. Semi-Sax. _wiȝe_, battle, conflict. (Laȝ. i. 201; ii. 260; iii. 5.) _wi-ax_, _wi-eax_, a battle-axe. (Laȝ. i. 67, 96, 166, 286.) 1855 _bi-speken_, blamed. Cf. _bi-spac_, l. 1444, p. 41.

P. 54. l. 1872 _Gol prenes_ = _golde prenes_ = gold brooches. _Prene_ is connected with O.E. _preonne_, to sew up. (See O.E. Miscell, p. 172, l. 68.) Sc. _prin_, a pin.

1873-4

Deep he them buried under an oak,
No covetousness made him weak (disobedient) in heart.

1877-8

For Solomon shall find them,
And his temple deck withal.

1887 _merke dede_, set up a mark (monument).

P. 55. ll. 1901-2

Of Edom so it was named then,
For it was before called Bozra.

1906 _deden un-red_ = committed sin; _unred_, want of wisdom, miscounsel, folly, wickedness. (See Owl and Nightingale, 161.)

"For _unræd_ is swiðe ræh (rash)."—(Laȝ. i. 278.)

1910 _Brictest of waspene_ (_wasteme_), brightest of form; _witter wune_ = skillwise, skilful, of good abilities. 1912 _vn-hillen & baren_, discover and lay bare (disclose); _vnhillen_ = O.E. _unhelen_. (See Surtees, Ps. xxviii. 9.)

1914 _wel-ðewed_, well conducted, well behaved.

1915

_for-ði wexem wið gret nið_;

unless _wexem_ = _wex hem_, we should perhaps read,

_for-ði he wexen wið gret nið_,
Wherefore they increased in great envy (jealousy).

_wið_ = in. 1919 _soren_ = _shorn_ = reaped. _Shear_ is still an E.Anglian term for to reap.

"And I sal say til men _scherande_,
Gaderes the darnel first in bande,
And brennes it opon the land,
And _scheres_ sithen the corn rathe,
And bringes it unto my lathe."
—(Met. Hom. p. 146.)

1920 _here_ = theirs. Cf. _ure_ = ours. 1923 _hu mai ðis sen_, how may this appear (be seen). 1928 _siðe_ = _siðen_ = afterwards. 1934 In Dothan he found them come. _sogt_ = sought = come, arrived? 1935 _fro feren_ = from afar.

P. 56. l. 1942 _ðisternesse_ = _cisternesse_ = cistern. (See l. 1960.) Cistern occurs in the Middle High German Book of Genesis and Exodus, ed. Diemer, p. 75.

"Nu sehet ze dem trômære, er bringet nivmare
Slahen wir den selben hunt,
Werfen in in der _zisterne_ grunt."

1942-4

In this pit, old and deep,
Yet shall he be cast, naked and cold,
What-so(ever) his dreams may signify.

1943 _wurðe_ = _wurð e_ = _wurð he_ (?) = he shall be. 1950 _derne sped_ = secret haste. I should prefer _derue sped_ = _derfe sped_, bold (wicked) haste. 1952 _spices ware_ = _spices-ware_ = spicery. 1958 Than he should there die in their power. 1961 _ðhogte swem_ = appeared grieved = was sorrowful.

1962-3

Believed him to be slain, set up a cry
He will not cease, such sorrow he endured.

1962 _rem_, cry, outcry.

"ðanne _remen_ he alle a _rem_,
so hornes blast oðer belles drem (noise)."
—(O.E. Miscell., p. 21.)

1967-8

In kid's blood they turned it,
Then was there-on a piteous stain.

1968 _lit_ = stain.

"Ah wið se swiðe lufsume leores
Ha leien, se rudie
& se reade _i-litet_ (coloured)
eauereach leor
as lilie i-leid to rose,
Þæt nawhit ne þuhte hit
Þæt ha weren deade."—(St. Kath. l. 1432.)

"Saide Laverd of Basan torne, torne sal I,
In depnesse of þe se for-þi;
Þat þi fote be _lited_ in blode o lim,
Þe tunge of þi hundes fra faas of him."—(Ps. lxvii. 24.)

P. 57. ll. 1975-8

He wept, and said that "wild beasts
Have my son swallowed here."
His clothes rent, in hair (cloth) shrouded,
Long mourning and sorrow is him befallen.

1977 _haigre_.

"Þai sal be, als þe appocalips spekes,
In harde _hayres_ clende and in sekkes."
—(Hampole's P. of C., 4530.)

1980 _hertedin_, consoled; literally encouraged him (to hope that his son was still alive). 1982 _herting_ = consolation. 1989 _skiuden_ for _skinden_ = went. 1992 They made quickly a gainful covenant. 1995 _wol_ = _wel_ = very.

1999, 2000

But he became then so naturally cold,
To do such deed had he no power.

2004 The author of the poem seems to have confounded Potiphar with Poti-pherah, the priest of On. (See Gen. xli. 45.)

P. 58. l. 2011 _an heg_ for _and heg_ = and high. 2015 _One and stille_, alone and secretly. 2019 Provided that he would with her wanton; _wile_ seems to be the same as _wigele_, to play, sport. May we not supply _plaige_, play, before _wile_? 2020 But what she desired was displeasing to him. 2024 But it was to him all alike displeasing. 2025 _tgeld_ = _tyeld_ = tent. Cf. _tilt_ (of a cart). 2030 _god_ = _goð_ = goes.

2031-2

And saith Joseph would do to her,
What she might not prove (or bring) against him.

2031 _seið_, says.

2035-6

The blame is his, the right is hers,
May God almighty discern the truth.

_wite_, blame, still exists in _twit_; O.E. _at-wite_.

P. 59. l. 2043 _chartre_ for _cwartre_ = prison.

"Forr nass nohht Sannt Johan ȝët ta
Intill _cwarrterrne_ worrpenn."—(Orm. ii. 270.)

2044 _in hagt_, in sorrow. We might translate ll. 2042-4 as follows:—"The gaoler did love him, and hath entrusted him the prison to live in care with the prisoners." 2045 _on-sagen_ = _un-sagen_ = O.E. _mis-saw_, opprobrious language. 2047 One that the king's cup presented (the butler). 2049-50 _onigt_ = _anigt_, by night; _o-frigt_ = _afrigt_, in fright, affrighted. 2054 Hard (troublesome) dreams would cause that (_i. e._ cause them to mourn). 2057 _softe or strong_ = pleasant or unpleasant. 2058 The interpretation will on (to) God belong. 2059 _win-tre_, a vine.

"Me thoght I sagh a _win-tre_,
A bogh þar was wit branches thre;
O þis tre apon ilk bogh,
Me thoght hang _winberis_ inogh."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 26.)

2060 That had full grown boughs three; _waxen_ = full grown, explains Shakespear's _man of wax_. 2061 First it bloomed, and afterwards bore. 2062 Of the berries ripe became I aware. 2073 Present my petition (intercede for me) to Pharaoh; _herdne_ = _ernde_. Cf. O.E. _wordle_ = world.

"Bute heore almesdede
heore _ernde_ schal bere."

But their alms-deed
Shall intercede for them.
—(O.E. Miscell. p. 164.)

2075 _kinde lond_, native land. 2076 And here wrongfully held in bond; _wrigteleslike_ = _wrigte-les-like_, fault-less-ly; _wrigte_ = _wrihhte_, a fault, crime.

"For niss nohht Godess griþþ wiþþ þa
Þatt wiþþrenn Godd onnȝæness,
Acc helle-wawenn iss till þa
All affterr þeȝȝre _wrihhte_."—(Orm. i. 136.)

P. 60. l. 2077 _liðeð nu me_, listen now to me. 2078 _bread-lepes_ = bread-baskets. Cf. O.E. _bar-lepe_, a basket for keeping barley in. See Townley Myst., p. 329; Wicliffe, Exod. ii. 3. _Leep_, or baskett (lepp. K). Sporta, calathus, corbis.—(Prompt. Parv.)

2085-6

It were preferable to me (I had rather) quoth Joseph,
Tell the meaning of pleasant dreams.

2086 _rechen_ = _recken_ = to tell, explain; _swep_ = force, stroke. Cf. the use of _bond_, _wold_, ll. 2114, 2122. 2088 _ben do[n] on rode_, be put on the cross (be crucified).

2089-90

And fowls shall tear away thy flesh,
That no wealth shall be able to save thee.

2094 _wið-uten erd_, in _a_ foreign land. 2105 On a bush full grown and very beautiful (seasonable? well-seasoned, prime?). 2107 _welkede_ = withered. _drugte numen_, seized with drought (dryness).

P. 61. l. 2114 Who could explain the meaning of these dreams. 2119 _ðo hogt_. Is _hogt_ an error for _logt_ = _lagt_, taken, or for _sogt_ = sought? 2122 _ðis dremes wold_ = this dream's meaning. _Wold_ signifies (1) power, (2) force, (3) meaning. 2130 _nedful_ = grievous; the O.E. _ned_ often signifies grief, trouble. 2132 _rospen and raken_, rasp and rake, diminish and scatter. The Swedish _raka_ signifies to clip, shave, shear. 2134 _laðes_, barns. (See note to l. 1919.) Chaucer uses the word in the Reve's Tale. "Berne or _lathe_, Horreum."—(Prompt. Parv.) 2136 _hungri gere_, famine years. 2146 _so to-bar_, so _falsely_ accused him. (See _baren_ in l. 1912.) In the Castle of Love _to-beren_ = disagree; _to-boren_, at enmity, l. 49.

P. 62. l. 2153

The seven years of plenty pass away.
Joseph himself knew how to provide beforehand.

2161 _for nede sogt_, _sought_, come by compulsion. (See l. 2165.) 2163 _he lutten him_, they did obeisance to him.

2167-8

Joseph knew them all in his thought (mind),
He made as _if_ he knew them not.

2176 For hunger doth (causes) them (Jacob's sons) hither to come.

2178 _bi gure bering_, by your behaviour. 2181 For seldom betideth even any king.

P. 63. l. 2190 _ða_ = _ðat_; _pore_ is evidently an error for _gure_ = your.

2191-2

For then was Joseph sore afraid
That he were also through them deceived.

2196 _ðe ton_ = the one. 2198 _to wedde_ = in pledge, as hostage.

"He said, 'Forsothe, a tokyne _to wedde_
Salle thou lefe with me.'"—(Sir Perceval of Galles, p. 19.)

2204 _Wrigtful_ = sinful. (See note to l. 2076.) 2209 For we denied him mercy; _werneden_ = denied, refused.

"God schewes in his godspelle
Of þe riche man and laȝarus,
How þat he _warned_ him almus,
Þarfor God _warned_ him agayne
A drope of water, to sloken his payne
In þe fire of helle when he was þan."
—(Cott. MS. Tib. E. vii., fol. 37.)

2214 _pilt_ = O.E. _pult_, thrown, placed (R. of Gloucester, 3376, 459; Lay le Freine, 136).

P. 64. l. 2219 _ouer-ðogt_, over-anxious. 2224 _ðo agtes_ = the monies. 2232 Death and sorrow come on me; _segeð_ = _sigeð_, cometh, alighteth, falleth.

"& þi wracche (wretched) saule
[Scal] _siȝen_ to helle."—(Laȝ. ii. 186.)

2233 _bi-lewen_ = _bi-liuen_ = remain.

2235-8

Then quoth Judah, "It will go hard with us,
If we do not keep our agreement with him."
Famine increased, this corn is gone,
Jacob again biddeth them go again (to Egypt).

2241-2

Then quoth he, "When (since) it is necessary,
And _I_ know no better plan."

2249 God grant that he may be kindly disposed (towards you); _eði-modes_ = _eðe-moded_ (see note to l. 1584). 2252 _ligt_ = soon; literally easily, without difficulty. 2254 Kind thought (natural affection) was in his heart then; _ðag_ = _ða_ = _ðo_ = then, is necessary for the sense and the rhyme.

P. 65. l. 2255 _gerken_ = O.E. _ȝarke_, Mod. Eng. _yark_, prepare, get ready.

"He lætte bi sæ flode
_ȝearkien_ scipen gode."—(Laȝ. i. 111.)

2258 None of them had then merry cheers (countenances). 2262 _ur non_, none of us; _ur_ should be properly _ure_. Cf. l. 2260, where we have _gur_ for _gure_.

2267-8

Very glad (fain) he was of their coming,
For he was held there as a prisoner.

_to nome_ may have the same signification as the phrase _to wedde_ = as hostage, as security; _nome_ (_nom_?), derived from _nimen_, to take, capture, signifies seizure. Cf. _wop_ from _wepe_ (weep), _grot_ from _grete_ (lament, cry), _lop_ (flee) from _lepe_ (leap, run), etc. 2269 _vndren time_ = A.Sax. _undern-tid_; _vndren_ is the Prov. _aandorn_, _oandurth_, _orndorn_. It literally denotes "the intervening period, which accounts for its sometimes denoting a part of the forenoon, or a meal taken at that time, and sometimes a period between noon and sunset."—(Garnett.) 2275 And he willingly accepted it. 2279 Know I that none of them but what trembles.

2287-9

Soon he went out, and secretly he wept,
That all his face became wet with tears.
After that weeping, he washed his face.

P. 66. l. 2295 _of euerilc sonde_, of every dish, of every mess; _sond_ signifies a dish, mess, meal. S.Sax. _sonden_, _sunde_, viands.

"wanliche (bad) weoren þa _sonden_."—(Laȝ. iii. 32.)

"þas beorn þa _sunde_
(þes beare þe _sondes_)
from kuchene to þan kinge."—(Laȝ. ii. 611.)

"Hwer beoð þine disches
midd þine swete _sonde_?"—(O.E. Miscell., p. 174.)

2297 In abundance they became glad. 2302 _ðeden_ = peoples. 2311 _weren ... went_ = had gone. 2316 _vn-selðehe_ = _vnselðe_, misfortune, evil.

"Her waas _unnseollþe_ unnride inoh
Till an mann forr to dreȝhenn."—(Orm. i. 165.)

"Ah ich heom singe, for ich wolde
That hi wel understonde schulde
That sum _unselthe_ heom is i-hende (near)."
—(Owl and Nightingale, p. 43.)

Later writers use the word in the sense of wickedness. (See Shoreham's Poems, p. 43.) 2314 _bi-calleð_, accuses. See Ywain and Gawin, p. 21, l. 491. 2318 _gure on_ = one of you. 2320 _vp_ = _vpe_ = _upon_.

"Moni of þisse riche
þat wereden foh and grei,
An rideþ _uppe_ stede
and uppen palefrai,
Heo schulen atte dome,
suggen weilawei."—(O.E. Miscell., p. 164.)

P. 67. l. 2335 Provided that thou spare Benjamin. 2341 _so e gret_ = _so he gret_, so he wept. 2342 That all his face became wet of (with) tears. See l. 2356. 2354 _sundri_ = _on-sundri_, apart. 2356 _Ilc here_, each of them.

P. 68. l. 2367 _twinne srud_, two _changes of_ raiment. 2369 _fif weden_, five garments. 2373 _wið semes fest_, with burdens loaded. 2380 He knew not who they were (on account of their princely garments). 2384 All Egypt in his power is placed (fixed). 2390 _or ic of werlde chare_, ere I from the world go (turn) = ere I die.

P. 69. l. 2399 _derer_, an error for _derë_ = beloved. 2400 How many years are on thee. 2403 _fo_ = few; O.E. _fowe_. Cp. Northern _fon_, few, in Hampole's P. of C. 2404 Although I have passed (suffered) them in woe. 2406 _her vten erd_ = here in foreign lands. See l. 2410. 2412 _seli mel_, good sustenance (food). Cf. l. 1542. 2416 _y-oten_ = _y-hoten_, called.

2427-31

So was it pleasing to him to be laid,
Where the Holy Ghost secretly had said
To him and his elders, far ere before,
Where Jesus Christ would be born,
And where be dead, and where be buried.

P. 70. l. 2435 _Or ðan_ = ere that.

2441-3

Joseph caused his body to be honourably prepared (for burial),
To be washed, richly anointed,
And with spices to be scented.

_Smaken_ usually signifies to taste, savour, but here means to scent, to be scented. _Smac_ in the Owl and Night., 821, is used for scent, while in the Ayenbite of Inwyt it has the sense of flavour.

"Zalt yefþ _smac_ to þe mete."

See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _Smach_.

2444-9

And Egypt's folk him bewaked,
Forty nights and forty days,
Such were Egypt's laws;
_The_ first nine nights the bodies they bathe,
And anoint, and shroud, and bewail
And watch them afterwards forty nights.

2451-5

And Hebrew folk had a custom,
Not immediately to bury it with iron,
But to wash it (the corpse) and keep it right,
Without anointing, seven nights,
And afterwards (keep it) anointed thirty days.

2452 _yre_ = iron; O.E. _ire_, _iren_ (Owl and Night. 1028). The form _ize_, iron, is also met with in O.E. writers. (See Ayenbite, pp. 110, 133.) 2454 _smerles_, ointment, belongs to the same class of words as _feteles_, a vessel, _reckeles_, incense, etc. "þe _smeryels_ ne is naȝt worþ to hele þe wonde ne non oþer þing þer huile þet þet yzen is þerinne."—(Ayenbite, p. 174.)

2459-60

For truth and with good deeds,
Done is then all that watch-deed.

2460 _wech-dede_, vigils. 2463 And some every year as it happens or comes round. 2465 Do for the dead church-going; _chirche-gong_ = church-going.

"Þe gret cyte of Medes suþþe afure he (William) sette,
Vor me (one) ne myȝte non _chyrche gong_ wyþ out lyȝte do."
—(R. of Gloucester, p. 380.)

2467 And that is instead of the vigils.

P. 71. l. 2472 _daiges_ is evidently an error for _laiges_, laws. See l. 2456. 2479 _wis of here[n]_, skilful in arms. 2487 _ouer-pharan_ = _ouer-faren_, pass over _or_ beyond Pharan. 2488 _in biriele don_, put into the tomb. "And whanne Jhesus hadde comen over the water at the cuntre of men of Genazereth, twey men havynge develis runnen to him, goynge out fro _birielis_ (tombs), ful feerse, _or wickid_, so that no man miȝte passe by that way."—(Wicliffe, St. Matt. viii. 28.) 2498 _To beðen meðe_, to supplicate for mercy; _beðen_ may be an error for _beden_, to entreat, _bedden oc_ = _beoden oth_ = to offer oath [of obedience].

P. 72. l. 2505-12

"It shall," quoth he, "be fulfilled
What God before hath to our elders sworn;
He shall lead you in his hand
Hence to that promised land;
For God's love I yet entreat you;
Perform it (my prayer) then, promise it now
That my petition shall not be lost (sight of);
With you let my bones be borne.

2510 _Lested_ = _lesteð_, perform. 2514 God bring the soul into bliss. 2516 _egipte-like_, after the custom of the Egyptians. 2521 _to ful in wis_ = _to ful-iwis_, very full (completely), indeed. See l. 109. Orm uses the word _fuliwis_, _ful iwiss_, _fuliȝwiss_, in the sense of certainly, truly. See Gloss. to Orm, s. v. _fuliwis_. 2524 _for lefful soules ned_, for the need of faithful souls. 2528 May God help him kindly (joyfully). For the meaning of _weli_ see Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _wely_. 2529 And preserve his soul from sorrow and tears. 2532 God grant them in his bliss to have pleasure; _spilen_ signifies to sport, live pleasantly.

"Þan was Uortigerne þa king
in Cantuarie-buri.
Þer he mid his hirede,
hæhliche _spilede_ (nobly diverted themselves)."
—(Laȝ. ii. 153.)

"dâ was _spil_ unde wunne
under wîben unde manne.
vone benche ze benche
hiez man allûteren wîn scenchen:
Si _spilten_ unde trunchan
unz in iz der slâf binam."
—(M.H.G. version of Genesis and Exodus, ed. Deimer.)

P. 73. l. 2544 _hatel_, severe, cruel. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _Hatel_. 2546 _seli sið_, prosperity. 2547 Quoth (spoke) this king with them, secretly, in council. 2548 _michil sped_ = great speed, rapidly. 2553 _feten_ seems to be an error for _seten_, made. 2555 _vn-ðewed swinc_, unaccustomed (extraordinary) labour; _vn-ðewed_ also signifies immoral, wicked. See Orm. i. 74, Allit. Poems, B, l. 190. 2556 _fugel_ = _ful_, foul, loathsome. 2560 They caused them to creep along (or through) dikes; _dikes_ = O.E. _diches_, may here signify subterraneous passages, burrows; or perhaps _dikes_ = sewers, from the allusion to _muc_ and _fen_. "And Jhesus said to him, Foxes han _dichis_, or _borowis_, and briddis of the eir han nestis, but mannes sone hath not where he reste his heued."-(Wicliffe, St. Matt. viii. 20.)

2561-2

And wide about (through) the cities to go,
And come where none had been before.

2564 _comb_, crest or top (?). 2567 _ðhogen_ = _ðogen_, throve. See l. 2542.

P. 74. l. 2575 But they disobeyed from fear of God. 2578 They defended themselves with lies.

2581-2

God requited it these women well,
On _their_ homes, _their_ wealth, _a_ happy time.

_eddi sel_ is, literally, pleasant time, but may here denote prosperity, success, etc. 2583 _opelike_ = openlike, openly. 2588 _Abraham_ is an error for _Amram_, _i.e._ Amram was Moses' first name. 2590 _dreful and bleð_, sorrowful and afraid; _bleð_. In A.Sax. _bleað_ = gentle, slow; _blæt_ = miserable; the S.Sax. _blæð_ = destitute, poor; _bliðere_, cowardlier. 2594 Nor could she take him stealthily (secretly) of (from) the water; or _stelen_ may signify to still, to quiet. 2595 _rigesses_ = rushes. Cf. Sc. _reesk_, _reyss_. 2596 _terred_ = _tarred_, pitched.

P. 75. l. 2609-10

God had such beauty him given,
That the very foes let him live.

2611-5

Egypt's women came near,
And bad _her_ leave the child there,
But she took it away with a cry (scream);
Of their command took she no heed.

2613-4 _he_ = _ghe_ = she. It cannot be the plural _he_ = they, for this would require _namen_ instead of _nam_. 2621 On whose _teat_ (paps) he soon hath seized. 2629 _on sunes stede_, instead of a son. See l. 2637. 2639 _ayne_ [= _ane_] _stund_, one minute. 2644 _ðis timing_ = this occurrence, this timely assistance.

P. 76. l. 2647-8

If help had not run between
This child had then soon been killed.

2650-8 He said, "The child doth as he knows (_i. e._ acts according to the extent of his knowledge); we shall now learn whether it did this wittingly, or in childishness." He offered this child two burning coals, and he took them; how was he able to bear it? and in his mouth so deep he placed them, that his tongue's end is burnt therewith; therefore said the Hebrews truly that he afterwards spake indistinctly. This legend is thus given in Lady Eastlake's Life of Our Lord:—"Therefore when he (Moses) was three years of age she (Thermutis) brought him to Pharaoh, who caressed him, and in sport, put the crown on his head, when the child eagerly pulled it off, and dashed it to the ground; for it is said that the crown was engraved within with figures of idols, which Moses instinctively abominated.... Those around Pharaoh looked upon it as a bad omen, and they counselled the king that he should be slain; but another counsellor said that he should be pardoned, because he was too young to know right from wrong; and a third counsellor said, 'There is in this child something miraculous and uncommon. Cause, therefore, a burning coal and a ruby ring to be set before him; and if he take the ring it will show that he knows right from wrong, and then let him be destroyed, lest he spoil the kingdom of Egypt. But if he take up the burning coal, it will show that he is too young to know right from wrong, and then let his life be spared.' Then the king said, 'Let the hot burning coal and the king's signet ring (which was a large shining ruby) be placed side by side, and we shall see what he will do.' And immediately the child stretched out his hand to take the signet ring; but the angel Gabriel (who instantly took the form of one of the attendants) turned his hand aside, and the child Moses took up the burning coal, and put it to his mouth, and his tongue was burnt therewith, so that he was unable afterwards to speak distinctly, even to the end of his days." 2652 _childhede_; "ac zeþþe ich com to elde of vol man, ich vorlet alle mine _childhedes_."—(Ayenbite, p. 208.) 2653 _brennen_ = _brennende_, burning; _to_ = _two_. 2654-5 _is_ = them. 2658 _miserlike_ = S.Sax. _misliche_, variously, differently; and, hence, thickly, indistinctly. The form _miser-like_ may be a corruption of the A.Sax. _missen-lic_, dissimilar. _Misliche_ in Owl and Nightingale, l. 1771, signifies erroneously. 2662 _b[i]leph_ = _bi-lef_, remained.

2665-8

By that time that he was a youth (young man)
With (for) beauty and strength renowned,
The Ethiopian folk on Egypt came,
And burnt, and slew, and vengeance took.

2675-8

Teremuth scarcely might bring it about (prevail)
That Moses shall with them forth-go,
Ere she have her pledged and sworn,
That to him shall be borne (kept) honourable faith.

2676 _hire_, an error for _hem_, them. 2677 _he_ = _ghe_ = she. 2680 _were_ (a substantive from _weren_, to defend), a defender, protector. Cf. _dere_, harm, from _deren_, to hurt.

P. 77. l. 2682 _vn-warnede_, unexpected. This enables us to correct the reading _unwarde_ in l. 480. 2688 _ut-ðhurg_ = out-through, throughout. Cf. O.E. _ut-with_, without, _in-with_, within, etc. 2696 Nevertheless that sojourn was very distasteful to him. 2701 _meten_ is the p.p. of _mete_, to measure. 2702 _This_ causes remembrance, _the other_ causes forgetfulness. 2703 _He fest is_ = he fixed them. 2704 Gave her the first _gem_; he was kind to her. Two lines seem missing after this line. We might supply the following:—

And quan awei nimen [faren] he wolde
Gaf hire ðe toðer, he was hire colde.

And when he would go away, he gave her the other gem, and was distasteful to her. 2708 _e_ = he. 2712 _a modi stiward_, a moody (proud) steward. 2714 That seemed to Moses _a_ great shame.

P. 78. ll. 2718-20

And secretly he buried him in the sand,
He weened that no Egyptian
Had known it, or should have seen it.

2720 _a sen_ may signify 'have seen.' Northumbrian _ha_, to have; but more probably we should read _a-sen_, to see, the infinitive being required after _sulde_, so that _sulde a-sen_ = should see. In the Romans of King Alysaundre _asen_ occurs as the p.p. of _a-see_, to see. Cf. our modern words _wake_ and _awake_, _rise_ and _arise_, etc. These double forms were far more common in O.E. writers than in the modern stage of our language. 2727 And enquired _of_ him what it should mean. 2730 _to rad_, too hasty. 2736 _his weige ðeðen ches_ = chose (took) his way thence.

P. 79. l. 2757 _ðewe and wursipe_, courtesy and honour. 2758 _estdede_, kindly deed (actions). (See Owl and Nightingale, l. 997.) _Esste mete_ occurs in the Ormulum for delicate meat (food), etc.

"Ac thar lond is bothe _este_ and god."
—(Owl and Nightingale, p. 36, l. 1029.)

2764 To wife in law he her took; _in lage_ = in law, in marriage, is an early use of a common phrase. 2769 And Moses had gone on a time. 2771 To look after the condition of the herds. 2775 _brennen_ = _brennende_. See l. 2653. 2776 And nevertheless green and whole remained. 2783 _in min geming_, under my care (protection). 2788 _milche_, milk; _queðen_, to promise.

P. 80. l. 2789 _an_ = _in_. 2790 _on hond_ = _on-hond_, soon, speedily. Ger. _in die hand_. (See Laȝ. vol. ii. pp. 96, 106, 251, 264.) 2792 _to ðan_, to that = for that purpose. 2797 If he refuse it and be there-_to_ contrary. 2803 _to token_, for a token (sign). Cf. _to wedde_, for a pledge, etc. 2812 _fer_, sound, and hence _unfer_ (l. 2810), diseased. (See Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, l. 103; Ormulum, i. 41, 153, 212.) 2815 _get_ = pour (see l. 582). 2817 _wanmol_ = un-eloquent; _wan_ occurs in O.E. _wan-hope_, despair; _wan-trauthe_, disbelief; _mol_ is the same as _moal_ (speech) in l. 81, p. 3; _vn-reken_ = un-ready, slow. (See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _reken_.) 2822 Who made the blind, and who the looking (seeing)? 2824 _fultum_, aid, assistance.

Þa cristine liðen after,
and heom on læide_n_,
& cleopeden Crist, godes sune,
beo_n_ heom a _fultume_.

The Christians pursued after,
and laid on them,
and called Christ, God's Son,
To be to them in aid (to help them).
—(Laȝ. ii. 264.)

P. 81. l. 2828 _vnsteken_, disclose. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _Steke_. 2830 _Gunc_ = you two. See Orm. i. 301; ii. 98. 2831 _funden_; O.E. _founde_, to go, occurs in Allit. Poems, p. 63, l. 903. 2834 _of liues_ = alive. 2838 _is werkes len_, reward of his works. 2845 _feren swike_, unfaithful companions, that is, his two sons who were uncircumcised. _he_ = they, refers to Moses and his wife. 2847-50 Zipporah took this young lad, and made him to have circumcision, and wept, and turned back frightened, and let Moses forth alone proceed. 2855 _Eyðer [h]ere_ = each of them. 2856 _haueð is herte vt-dragen_ = hath his heart out-drawn. Cf. our expression, to unbosom oneself, with the Ger. _sein herz anschütten_.

P. 82. l. 2876-78

I defended so that thou wast rescued,
And laboured, and great sorrow endured,
Yet is it unseen (is it a secret) how I accomplished it?

2882 _hidel-like_ (= hidingly), secretly. Cf. O.E. _hidel_, a hiding place (Ps. xxvi. 5). 2890 _to gode_, for good, gratuitously. 2891-2 And yet they hold (keep up) the number of the tiles (bricks), and knead and bake (them), great and small. 2894 And to God he made his complaint (bemoaning).

P. 83. l. 2900 _ðhunerg_ = _ðuner_; O.E. _thoner_, thunder. 2903 _Min milche witter name_ may signify (1) my great wise name, or (2) my merciful wise name. In (1) _milche_ = _michel_ = _mikel_, great; but in (2) it = _milce_, mild, merciful. See l. 3603. 2918 _Iglic_ = _uglic_, ugly, horrible. 2919 _wiches kire_, select (choice) witches. 2920 _in sowles lire_, in soul's loss. 2926 And the heads of them all he bit off.

P. 84. l. 2934 _wit_ = we two. See Orm. vii. 73, H. i. 4, 300. 2935-6 This king himself is very bitter against this folk, and of heart hard. 2938 And try better with this token. 2947 _trike_, a rivulet, small stream, evidently connected with the verb _trick-le_. 2951 _wreche_ = _wreke_, vengeance, plague. Cf. _michel_ and _mikel_, _dike_ and _diche_, etc. 2957 _bot_ = _boot_, release, deliverance, is connected with O.E. _bete_, to amend, to alleviate. 2962 _bi-tournen_ = _biturnen_, turn, change.

P. 85. l. 2969 _froskes here_ = host of frogs.

2977-8

Pole-heads (tadpoles) and frogs, and sport of podes (toads),
Bound hard Egypt's wretched folk.

_in sile_ = _vn-sile_ = _vn-sele_, miserable, wretched. Stratmann says that _sile_ = _sele_, epirhedium. _Polheuedes_ (Provincial Eng. _pole-head_), a tadpole. Palsgrave has _polet_. _Polly-wigs_, tadpoles. "Tadpoles, _pole-wigges_, young frogs." (Florio, p. 212.) _Pol-wygle_, wyrme, occurs in the Prompt. Parv. (Hall.); _pode_ = Prov. E. _pode_, _paddock_, a toad (Shakespeare); W. Prov. E. _padstool_ = toadstool. (See King Alis. 6124.)

"ðare nakyn best of wenym may
Lywe, or lest atoure a day;
As ask, or eddyre, táde or _pade_,
Suppos þat þai be þiddyr hade."—(Wyntown, i. p. 15.)

2988 _up-wond_ = up-went, but literally up-wound. 2989 _on bite_, in _their_ bite. 2990 _smite_, a blight, plague.

P. 86. l. 3011 _bad meðe_, entreated for mercy. 3013 _wroð_ = _worð_ = _wurð_, became. 3014 And broke them that promise (see l. 3062). 3027 _dolc_ = O.E. _dolg_, wound, ulcer. O.E. _dolc_ = pin, tongue. 3037 _ðe to un-frame_, to thy sorrow.

P. 87. l. 3045 _al sir_ = _all sheer_, clearly, openly. 3047 _vnghere_ may be an error for _undere_ = badly, or, what is more probable, for _vngere_ = unready, unexpectedly, _gere_ being the same as _gare_, _yare_, ready, prepared. 3048 _bergles_ = unprotected, shelterless, from _bergen_, to protect.

3055-6

Moses, cause this weather to turn,
And I shall let you out fare (go).

3058 _vnweder_, storm. See ll. 3059, 3061. _Weder_ in O.E. is often used for a tempest, storm. See Ywaine and Gawin, 411; Wyntown, i. 387; Romaunt of the Rose, 72, 4302. _atwond_, departed = away-wound, or away winded. Cf. _at_ in _at-wot_, departed, p. 30, l. 1049. 3065 _gresseopp-e_, grasshopp-e-r, locust. Cf. O.E. _hunt-e_, a hunt-e-r, etc.

"And to lefe-worm þar fruit gaf he,
And þar swynkes (labours) to _gress-hope_ to be."
—(Ps. lxxvii. 46.)

3066 And what the hail then left (untouched) shall all be consumed.

P. 88. l. 3075 _but_, without exception (?). 3077 _Hu_ = how? 3080 Erewhile alone of men was _leave_ besought. 3086 _an newe figt_, in _a_ new conflict. 3087 _skipperes_, the grasshoppers. See l. 3096, where _opperes_ is similarly used. 3088 They did on grass and corn injuries. 3102 _ðherknesse_ = _derknesse_, darkness, is a genuine form, and occurs in the Coventry Mysteries:—"_Therknesse_, or derknesse, tenebre, caligo."—(Prompt. Parv.) 3105 Many there suffered sorrow in life; _bead_ = _abead_, suffered. 3108 _sowen_ = _sogen_, saw. See l. 3329.

P. 89. l. 3111 _boden_ = both. See _bothen_ in Glossary to Morte Arthure, ed. E. Brock. 3120 Death shall be avenged over you.

3123-6

Said God, "Yet I shall on Pharaoh,
Ere ye go out, put a plague
(Now I shall into Egypt go)—
Such a plague was never any before."

3131-2

I shall not fail you
Of what I have promised you.

3139 Every house-folk (family) that may permit of it.

3141-3

The tenth day it should be taken,
And kept on the tenth night,
And slain on the fourteenth day.

3144 _so it noten mai_, as may partake of it; _noten_ = O.E. _note_, _naite_, to make use of, enjoy, eat.

P. 90. l. 3147 _bred_ = O.E. _brad_, roasted. (See Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, l. 891.) 3148 _wreken_, taken, thrown out. "God nele naȝt þet me make, his hous marcat ne boþe, huerout he _wrek_ þo þet zyalde and boȝte in þe temple."—(Ayenbite, p. 172.) 3150 _his owen fond_, his own wants (need). 3153 _wriðel_; can it mean _haste_? (see Ex. xii. 11.) At first sight it seems to be a derivative of _wirt_ (by metathesis _writ_), an herb; but the mention of _rew mete[n]_ in l. 3151 renders this rather doubtful. 3154 _bi-leuen_, the remainder. O.E. _lave_, _leve_, the remainder. 3155 _dure-tren_ = door-trees, posts.

"For James the gentile
Jugged in hise bokes
That feith withouten the feet
Is right nothyng worthi
And as ded as a _dore-tre_
But if the dedes folwe."
—(Piers Ploughman, 833.)

_uuerslagen_ = _overslagen_, _ouerslage_, over-piece, lintel. "_Ovyrslay_ of a doore. superliminare."—(Prompt. Parv.) 3172 For their toil they now have hire.

P. 91. l. 3206 _fro_ = _for_, on account of. 3211 _stunden_ does not mean stood, but is a vb. (formed from the sb. _stund_, a stound, a short space of time) signifying to delay awhile, to wait. 3212 How Pharaoh should act toward them. 3213 Pharaoh summoned (assembled) out his army; _bannen_ = to call to arms.

"Þa bleou Brutus
& _bonnede_ [_bannede_] his ferde."

Then blew Brutus his horn
And assembled his forces.
—(Laȝ. i. 75.)

3218 _of fote ren_ = swift of foot.

P. 92. l. 3220 _to werchen wi_, to work war, to make war upon. 3224 _ne gate_ = _no gate_, no ways; _gate_ is often used by Northern writers as an affix = -wise or -ways; as _al-gate_, _thus-gate_, etc. 3230 On (against) Moses they set _up_ a cry. 3234 Supply _don_ after _gu_. 3235 _dregen wið skil_, endure with patience. 3240 That for you ways (paths) may be well prepared.

P. 93. l. 3255 _an skige_, a cloud. Cf. Milton's '_sky-tinctured_' (Paradise Lost, Book V.).

"..... it ne left not a _skie_
In al the welkin long and brode."
—(House of Fame, iii. 508-511.)

3264 _daiening_ = _daigening_, dawning. 3271 _in twired wen_, in perplexing doubt; _twired_ signifies two-fold (doubtful) counsel.

"and [Bruttes] dude_n_ swiðe vnwraste
...... alle his haste,
and weoren alle _twiræde_."

And Brutus did very evilly
all his behests,
and all were of two counsels.
—(Laȝ. ii. 392.)

3274 _helden_, an error for _holden_. 3275 _a morgen quile_, a morrow while, a minute. 3282 _weken_ seems to be an error for _wreken_, taken (see l. 3148.)

P. 94. l. 3292 _pert_ = _apert_, open, clear. 3300 _wlath_, the reading of the MS., = _lað_, loathsome. But _wlach_ = brackish, properly _warm_; cp. _luke_-warm. 3301 _a funden_ (discovered) _trew_ = a tree _which he_ found. 3310 _bred wantede_, bread failed.

3315

_Bet us were in egipte ben_,
It were better for us in Egypt to be.

3319 _on-dreg_ = 'bear up,' endure patiently. 3324 _so fele so_, as many as.

P. 95. l. 3327 _ðis dewes cost_, the nature of this dew. For the meaning of _cost_ see O.E. Miscell., pp. 12, 25; Allit. Poems, p. 66; Chaucer's Knight's Tale. 3328 _rim frost_ = _rime frost_, hoar frost. 3338 _for-hadede_. Read ? _for-hardede_, hardened. 3340 That it gave a flavour of honey and oil. 3341 _forbone mor_, more _than_ was bidden; _forbone_ may be an error for _forbode_, prohibition, command; or we may read (and the MS. will admit of it) _forboue_, above. Cf. _bi_ and _for-bi_, etc. 3345 Kept it apart in _a_ clean place. 3348 _vten leð_ = in a foreign land; _withouten let_ = without cessation. 3353 Soon was that water wanting to them. 3354 MS. _haue_; the rhyme requires _hane_; _ðrist hane_ signifies torment of thirst.

P. 96. l. 3378 _here ðing_, their affairs. 3381 Moses prayed for the folk _of_ Israel. 3385 For _leth is_ read _let his_. 3388 They supported them with a stone. 3393 _bode_ seems wanting after _sente_. 3394 Of this occurrence to have a memorial.

P. 97. l. 3398 _min blis_. Jehovah-nissi is generally explained as "The Lord is my banner." 3410 _stering_, government, rule; _stere_ in ll. 3418, 3420, rule; _steres_, rulers, ll. 3413, 3415; _steres-men_, rulers, ll. 3417, 3429. 3412 _a meister wold_, a master (head) ruler, the same as _ouer-man_, l. 3424. 3413 _tgen_ = _tyen_, ten. See l. 3418. 3414 _Ilc here_, each of them. 3429-32 He bad them choose rulers, mighty, who are God-fearing, truth-loving, and who strife and covetousness forsake. 3432 _niðing_ signifies not only strife, but niggardliness, wickedness, slaughter, etc. O.E. writers usually employ the word in the sense of a coward, villain, miser, etc.

P. 98. l. 3434 And willingly (gladly) _he_ received (accepted) it. 3438 _is numen_, has gone. 3448 May we not read _Ic wile min folc cnowen be_ = I will be known to my people?

3449-51

And Moses told this to Israel,
And they promised him every whit
What he biddeth them they will do.

3453 _ðis to daiges_ = these two days. 3458 _wið goren dragen_ = pierced with darts.

"heo beoren on heore honde
_gares_ [speres], swiðe stronge."
—(Laȝ. iii. 44.)

3459-60

These _people_ fearful thus abode,
While these days forth have passed.

3462 _Spile_, ravage, destruction (see l. 2977). 3463 On this mount stood a cloud's shadow; _and_ = _an_ = _a_ (see l. 3475).

P. 99. l. 3471-84 Each of you bear in mind, that it is not Moses, Amram's son, whom ye shall to-day hear speak, but He who slew Egypt (you for to avenge), and a path made in the sea; and who let Adam discover the tree which preserved Noah, and led Abraham out into the land of Canaan; who caused Isaac to be begotten of old Abraham and of Sarah (of old teats); who gave Isaac (Jacob?) so many sons, and who gave Joseph such rich gifts (abilities); let His word be to you as precious as life, dearer than either child or wife.

3488-9

None might go further except Nun,
And also his brother Aaron.

3489 _on_ = _one_. It may be an error for _oc_ = also. 3496 My vengeance is severe, my forbearance is long. 3497 _in idel_, in vain; _idel_ in O.E. signifies _empty_, _void_. 3498-3500 Nor swear it lyingly to defile in sport, Nor let thou my honour be lost in the fiend's tempting (_i. e._ in yielding to the devil's advice).

P. 100. l. 3508 _for truke of_ = for failure of, for want of. 3515 Covet not thy neighbour's thing. 3518 Thou losest everlasting bliss. 3519 _figeren_ = _fiyeren_ = _feren_, afar. 3533 _nemeld_ = _nemend_ = _nemned_, named, appointed (?).