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The Owl and the Nightingale
(ed. Stanley 1972)
gb 2009
0001 ICH was in one sumere dale;
ICH I
one a
sumere summer
dale valley
0002 In one suþe di3ele hale
one a
suþe very
di3ele secluded
hale nook
0003 Iherde ich holde grete tale
Iherde heard
ich I
tale debate
0004 An Hule and one Ni3tingale.
Hule owl
one a
0005 Þat plait was stif and starc and strong,
plait pleading
stif hard
starc fierce
strong violent
0006 Sum wile softe and lud among.
sum wile at times
lud loud
among now and then
0007 An aiþer a3en oþer sval,
An and
aiþer each
a3en against
sval became puffed up with rage
0008 And let þat vvole mod ut al;
vvole offensive
mod mood
ut out
0009 And eiþer seide of oþeres custe
eiþer each
seide said
oþeres other’s
custe character
0010 Þat alre worste þat hi wuste.
Þat alre worste the worst of all
hi she
wuste knew
0011 And hure and hure of oþeres songe
hure and hure especially
oþeres the other’s
0012 Hi holde plaiding suþe stronge.
Hi they
holde held
plaiding pleas
suþe very
0013 Þe Ni3tingale bigon þe speche,
bigon began
0014 In one hurne of one breche,
one a
hurne corner
breche fallow field
0015 And sat up one vaire bo3e –
one a
vaire fair
bo3e branch
0016 Þar were abute blosme ino3e! –
Þar there
abute round about
blosme blossoms
ino3e enough
0017 In ore uaste þicke hegge
ore a
uaste impenetrable
hegge hedge
0018 Imeind mid spire and grene segge.
Imeind interspersed
mid with
spire reeds
segge sedge
0019 Ho was þe gladur uor þe rise,
Ho she
gladur gladder
uor because of
rise branch
0020 And song a uele cunne wise.
song sang
a in
uele many
cunne kinds of
wise song
0021 Bet þu3te þe dreim þat he were
Bet rather
þu3te seemed
dreim melody
he he (=melody)
0022 Of harpe and pipe þan he nere,
nere were not
0023 Bet þu3te þat he were ishote
Bet rather
þu3te seemed
ishote shot forth
0024 Of harpe and pipe þan of þrote.
Of from
þrote throat
0025 Þo stod on old stoc þarbiside,
Þo then
on an
stoc tree-stump
þarbiside close by
0026 Þar þo Vle song hire tide,
Þar where
þo the
Vle owl
song sang
hire her
tide (canonical) hours
0027 And was mid iui al bigrowe.
mid with
iui ivy
bigrowe grown over
0028 Hit was þare Hule eardingstowe.
Hit it
þare Hule the owl’s
eardingstowe dwelling-place
0029 Þe Ni3tingale hi ise3,
hi her
ise3 saw
0030 And hi bihold and ouerse3,
hi her
bihold gazed on
ouerse3 looked down at
0031 And þu3te wel vvl of þare Hule,
þu3te it seemed
wel very
vvl foul
of regarding
þare the
Hule owl
0032 For me hi halt lodlich and fule.
me one
hi her
halt considers
lodlich loathsome
fule foul
0033 ‘Vnwi3t!’ ho sede, ‘awei þu flo!
Vnwi3t monster
ho she
sede said
flo fly
0034 Me is þe vvrs þat ich þe so.
vvrs worse
þat because
ich I
þe thee
so see
0035 Iwis for þine vvle lete
Iwis indeed
for because of
þine thy
vvle foul
lete uproar
0036 Wel oft ich mine song forlete.
ich I
mine my
forlete leave off
0037 Min horte atfliþ and falt mi tonge
Min my
horte heart
atfliþ flees away
falt fails
0038 Wonne þu art to me iþrunge.
Wonne when
to on
iþrunge thrust
0039 Me luste bet speten þane singe
Me luste bet I would rather
speten spit
þane than
0040 Of þine fule 3o3elinge.’
Of because of
þine thy
fule foul
3o3elinge hooting
0041 Þos Hule abod fort hit was eve.
Þos this
abod waited
fort until
hit it
eve evening
0042 Ho ne mi3te no leng bileue,
Ho she
ne not
mi3te could
leng longer
bileue hold back
0043 Vor hire horte was so gret
Vor because
horte heart
gret swollen
0044 Þat wel ne3 hire fnast atschet,
wel ne3 almost
hire her
fnast breath
atschet drove out
0045 And warp a word þarafter longe:
warp made
word speech
þarafter then
0046 ‘Hu þincþe nu bi mine songe?
þincþe does it seem to you
nu now
bi as regards
mine my
0047 Wenst þu þat ich ne cunne singe,
Wenst think
ne not
cunne can
0048 Þe3 ich ne cunne of writelinge?
Þe3 though
ne not
cunne know
writelinge warbling
0049 Ilome þu dest me grame,
Ilome often
dest do
grame injury
0050 And seist me boþe tone and schame.
seist me...tone and schame speak to vex and disgrace me
0051 3if ich þe holde on mine uote –
þe thee
holde held
on in
uote claws
0052 So hit bitide þat ich mote! –
hit it
bitide may befall
mote might
0053 And þu were vt of þine rise,
vt out
rise branch
0054 Þu sholdest singe an oþer wise!’
sholdest would
wise tune
0055 Þe Ni3tingale 3af ansvvare:
3af gave
ansvvare answer
0056 ‘3if ich me loki wit þe bare,
3if if
me myself
loki guard
wit against
bare open
0057 And me schilde wit þe blete,
me myself
schilde protect
wit against
blete being exposed
0058 Ne reche ich no3t of þine þrete;
Ne not
reche care
no3t at all
of about
þrete threat
0059 3if ich me holde in mine hegge,
3if if
me myself
hegge hedge
0060 Ne recche ich neuer what þu segge.
Ne not
recche care
neuer at all
segge say
0061 Ich wot þat þu art unmilde
wot know
unmilde ungentle
0062 VViþ hom þat ne mu3e from þe schilde,
VViþ with
hom them
ne not
mu3e can
þe thee
schilde protect
0063 And þu tukest vvroþe and vuele,
tukest tousle
vvroþe angrily
vuele wickedly
0064 VVhar þu mi3t, over smale fu3ele.
VVhar wherever
mi3t can
fu3ele birds
0065 Vorþi þu art loþ al fuelkunne,
Vorþi therefore
loþ loatsome to
fuelkunne tribe of birds
0066 And alle ho þe driueþ honne,
ho they
þe thee
driueþ drive
honne away
0067 And þe bischricheþ and bigredet
þe thee
bischricheþ screech around
bigredet cry out against
0068 And vvel narewe þe biledet;
vvel very
narewe closely
þe thee
biledet mob
0069 And ek forþe þe sulue mose
ek further
forþe therefore
sulue mose titmouse itself
0070 Hire þonkes wolde þe totose.
Hire þonkes gladly
þe thee
totose tear to piece
0071 Þu art lodlich to biholde,
lodlich loathsome
0072 And þu art loþ in monie volde:
loþ loathsome
monie many
volde respects
0073 Þi bodi is short, þi swore is smal,
swore neck
0074 Grettere is þin heued þan þu al;
Grettere greater
heued head
0075 Þin e3ene boþ colblake and brode
e3ene eyes
boþ are
colblake coal-black
brode big
0076 Ri3t svvo ho weren ipeint mid wode.
Ri3t just
svvo as if
ho they
ipeint painted
mid with
wode woad
0077 Þu starest so þu wille abiten
starest stare
so as if
wille wish to
abiten bite to death
0078 Al þat þu mist mid cliure smiten.
mist can
mid with
cliure claws
smiten strike
0079 Þi bile is stif and scharp and hoked
bile beak
stif hard
hoked hook-shaped
0080 Ri3t so an ovvel þat is croked.
Ri3t just
so as if
ovvel hook
croked bent
0081 Þarmid þu clackes oft and longe,
Þarmid with it
clackes clack
0082 And þat is on of þine songe.
on one
songe songs
0083 Ac þu þretest to mine fleshe,
Ac but
þretest utter threats
to against
0084 Mid þine cliures woldest me meshe:
Mid with
cliures claws
woldest would like to
meshe crush
0085 Þe were icundur to one frogge,
Þe thee
were would be
icundur more natural
to in respect of
one a
frogge frog
0086 Þat sit at mulne vnder cogge:
mulne mill
cogge cog-wheel
0087 Snailes, mus, and fule wi3te
mus mice
fule foul
wi3te creatures
0088 Boþ þine cunde and þine ri3te.
Boþ are
cunde nature
ri3te due
0089 Þu sittest a dai and fli3st a ni3t.
a by
fli3st fly
0090 Þu cuþest þat þu art on vnwi3t.
cuþest reveal
on a
vnwi3t monster
0091 Þu art lodlich and unclene –
lodlich loathsome
unclene filthy
0092 Bi þine neste ich hit mene,
Bi to
neste nest
mene refer
0093 And ek bi þine fule brode:
ek also
bi to
fule foul
brode brood
0094 Þu fedest on hom a vvel ful fode.
fedest nurture
on in
hom them
vvel very
ful foul
fode offspring
0095 Vel wostu þat hi doþ þarinne:
Vel well
wostu you know
þat what
hi they
doþ do
þarinne in it
0096 Hi fuleþ hit up to þe chinne:
Hi they
fuleþ soil
chinne chin
0097 Ho sitteþ þar so hi bo bisne.
Ho they
sitteþ sit
þar there
so as if
hi they
bo be
bisne blind
0098 Þarbi men segget a uorbisne:
Þarbi apropos of that
segget say
uorbisne proverb
0099 “Dahet habbe þat ilke best
Dahet ill luck
habbe may have
ilke very
best animal
0100 Þat fuleþ his owe nest.”
fuleþ soils
his its
owe own
0101 Þat oþer 3er a Faukun bredde;
3er year
Faukun falcon
bredde bred
0102 His nest no3t wel he ne bihedde.
no3t not at all
ne not
bihedde watched over
0103 Þarto þu stele in o dai,
Þarto to it
stele stole
o one
0104 And leidest þaron þi fole ey.
leidest laid
þaron in it
fole foul
ey egg
0105 Þo hit bicom þat he ha3te
Þo when
bicom happened
ha3te had hatched
0106 And of his eyre briddes wra3te,
of from
eyre eggs
briddes birds
wra3te had brought to life
0107 Ho bro3te his briddes mete,
Ho she
bro3te brought
briddes birds
mete food
0108 bihold his nest, ise3 hi ete;
bihold gazed on
ise3 saw
hi them
ete eat
0109 He ise3 bi one halue
ise3 saw
halue side
0110 His nest ifuled uthalue.
ifuled soiled
uthalue on the outside
0111 Þe Faucun was wroþ wit his bridde,
wroþ angry
wit with
bridde birds
0112 And lude 3al, and sterne chidde:
lude loud
3al screamed
sterne strenly
chidde scolded
0113 “Segget me, wo hauet þis ido?
Segget say to
wo who
hauet has
ido done
0114 Ov nas neuer icunde þarto.
Ov to you
nas was not
icunde nature
þarto to do that
0115 Hit was idon ov a loþ custe.
idon done
ov to you
a in
loþ loathsome
custe way
0116 Segget me, 3if 3e hit wiste!”
Segget say to
3if if
3e you
wiste knew
0117 Þo quaþ þat on, and quad þat oþer:
Þo then
quaþ said
on one
quad said
0118 “Iwis, it was ure o3e broþer,
Iwis indeed
ure our
o3e own
0119 Þe 3ond, þat haued þat grete heued, –
Þe 3ond tah one over there
haued has
heued head
0120 Wai þat he nis þarof bireued!
Wai what a pity
nis is not
þarof of it
bireued deprived
0121 VVorp hit ut mid þe alre wrste,
VVorp throw
ut out
mid with
þe alre wrste worst (muck) of all
0122 Þat his necke him toberste!
his its
him to it
toberste may break
0123 Þe faucun ilefde his bridde
ilefde believed
bridde birds
0124 And nom þat fule brid a midde,
nom took
fule foul
brid bird
a in
midde middle
0125 And warp hit of þan wilde bowe,
warp threw
of from
þan the
bowe bough
0126 Þar pie and crowe hit todrowe.
Þar where
pie magpie
crowe crow
todrowe tore to pieces
0127 Herbi men segget a bispel –
Herbi apropos of this
segget say
bispel fable
0128 Þe3 hit ne bo fuliche spel –:
Þe3 though
ne not
bo be
fuliche full-length
spel narrative
0129 Also hit is bi þan ungode
Also just so
bi with
þan the
ungode low-born man
0130 Þat is icumen of fule brode
icumen come
of from
fule foul
brode brood
0131 And is meind wit fro monne,
meind brought together
wit with
fro well-born
monne men
0132 Euer he cuþ þat he com þonne,
cuþ reveals
com came
þonne from there
0133 Þat he com of þan adel eye
com came
of from
þan the
adel addled
eye egg
0134 Þe3 he a fro nest leie:
Þe3 though
a in
fro well-born
leie lay
0135 Þe3 appel trendli fron þon trowe
Þe3 though
appel apple
trendli may roll
fron from
þon the
trowe tree
0136 Þar he and oþer mid growe,
Þar where
oþer others
mid also
growe grew
0137 Þe3 he bo þarfrom bicume
Þe3 though
bo be
þarfrom from it
bicume come away
0138 He cuþ wel whonene he is icume.”
cuþ reveals
whonene from where
icume come
0139 Þos word a3af þe ni3tingale,
Þos these
word words
a3af replied
0140 And after þare longe tale
þare the
tale speech
0141 He song so lude and so scharpe,
He she
song sang
lude loud
0142 Ri3t so me grulde schille harpe.
Ri3t just
so as if
me one
grulde were strumming
schille shrill
0143 Þos hule luste þiderward,
Þos this
hule owl
luste listened
þiderward in that direction
0144 And hold hire e3e noþerward,
hold held
e3e eyes
noþerward downwards
0145 And sat tosvolle and ibolwe
tosvolle puffed up
ibolwe swollen with anger
0146 Also ho hadde one frogge isuol3e,
Also as if
ho she
one a
frogge frog
isuol3e swallowed
0147 For ho wiste and was iwar
ho she
wiste knew
iwar aware
0148 Þat ho song hire a bisemar.
ho she
song sang
hire a bisemar in mockery of her
0149 And noþeles ho 3af andsuare:
noþeles nevertheless
ho she
3af gave
andsuare answer
0150 ‘Whi neltu flon into þe bare
neltu will you not
flon fly
bare open
0151 And sewi ware unker bo
sewi show
ware which
unker of the two of us
bo be
0152 Of bri3ter howe, of uairur blo?’
howe colour
uairur fairer
blo complexion
0153 ‘No! þu hauest wel scharpe clawe,
0154 Ne kep ich no3t þat þu me clawe.
Ne not
kep wish
no3t at all
0155 Þu hauest cliuers suþe stronge,
cliuers claws
suþe very
0156 Þu tuengst þarmid so doþ a tonge.
tuengst pinch
þarmid with them
so as
doþ does
tonge pair of pincers
0157 Þu þo3test – so doþ þine ilike –
þo3test intended
doþ do
þine ilike the like of you
0158 Mid faire worde me bisvvike.
Mid with
worde words
bisvvike deceive
0159 Ich nolde don þat þu me raddest,
nolde would not
don do
þat what
raddest advised
0160 Ich wiste wel þat þu me misraddest.
wiste knew
misraddest gave bad advice
0161 Schamie þe for þin unrede!
Schamie þe shame on you
unrede wicked advice
0162 Vnwro3en is þi svikelhede:
Vnwro3en revealed
svikelhede deceitfulness
0163 Schild þine svikeldom vram þe li3te,
Schild shield
svikeldom treachery
vram from
li3te light
0164 And hud þat wo3e amon þe ri3te!
hud hide
wo3e crookedness
amon among
ri3te upright men
0165 Þane þu wilt þin unri3t spene
Þane when
wilt you will
unri3t wickedness
spene put to use
0166 Loke þat hit ne bo isene!
Loke look
ne not
bo is
isene visible
0167 Vor svikedom haued schome and hete
Vor for
svikedom treachery
haued has
schome shame
hete hate
0168 3if hit is ope and under3ete.
3if if
ope open
under3ete obvious
0169 Ne speddestu no3t mid þine unwrenche,
Ne not
speddestu you succeeded
no3t at all
mid with
unwrenche wicked tricks
0170 For ich am war and can wel blenche.
war cautious
blenche dodge
0171 Ne helpþ no3t þat þu bo to þriste:
Ne not
helpþ it is no use
no3t at all
bo be
to too
þriste bold
0172 Ich wolde vi3te bet mid liste
wolde...bet had rather
vi3te fight
mid with
liste cunning
0173 Þan þu mid al þine strengþe.
mid with
0174 Ich habbe on brede and eck on lengþe
habbe have
on in
brede breadth
eck also
0175 Castel god on mine rise:
rise bough
0176 “Wel fi3t þat wel fli3t,” seiþ þe wise.
fi3t fights
þat he who
fli3t flees
seiþ says
wise wise man
0177 Ac lete we awei þos cheste,
Ac but
lere we awai let us refrain from
þos this
cheste contention
0178 Vor suiche wordes boþ unwerste
Vor for
suiche such
boþ are
unwerste unavailing
0179 And fo we on mid ri3te dome,
fo we on let us begin
mid with
dome judgment
0180 Mid faire worde and mid ysome.
Mid with
worde words
ysome peaceable
0181 Þe3 we ne bo at one acorde
Þe3 though
ne not
bo be
at one acorde of one mind
0182 We mu3e bet mid fayre worde,
mu3e bet shall rather
mid with
worde words
0183 Witute cheste, and bute fi3te,
Witute without
cheste contention
bute without
fi3te strife
0184 Plaidi mid fo3e and mid ri3te;
Plaidi plead
mid with
fo3e propriety
ri3te justice
0185 And mai hure eiþer wat hi wile
mai can
hure eiþer each of us
wat what
hi she
wile will
0186 Mid ri3te segge and mid sckile.’
Mid with
ri3te justice
segge speak
sckile reason
0187 Þo quaþ þe Hule, ‘Wu schal us seme,
Þo then
quaþ said
Hule owl
Wu who
seme reconcile
0188 Þat kunne and wille ri3t us deme?’
kunne can
ri3t us deme pass just sentence upon us
0189 ‘Ich wot wel",’ quaþ þe Ni3tingale,
wot know
quaþ said
0190 ‘Ne þaref þarof bo no tale:
Ne not
þaref there is need
þarof of that
bo be
tale debate
0191 Maister Nichole of Guldeforde.
Maister master
Nichole Nicholas
Guldeforde Guildford
0192 He is wis an war of worde.
wis wise
an and
war careful
of in
worde words
0193 He is of dome suþe gleu,
of in
dome judgment
suþe very
gleu prudent
0194 And him is loþ eurich unþeu.
loþ hateful
eurich every
unþeu vice
0195 He wot insi3t in eche songe,
wot insi3t in has understanding of
eche every
0196 Wo singet wel, wo singet wronge;
Wo who
singet sings
0197 And he can schede vrom þe ri3te
schede distinguish
vrom from
0198 Þat wo3e, þat þuster from þe li3te.’
wo3e wrong
þuster darkness
0199 Þo Hule one wile hi biþo3te,
Þo the
Hule owl
one wile for a while
hi herself
biþo3te pondered
0200 And after þan þis word upbro3te:
þan that
word speech
upbro3te brought forth
0201 ‘Ich granti wel þat he us deme,
granti consent
deme judge
0202 Vor þe3 he were wile breme,
þe3 though
wile once
breme fierce
0203 And lof him were ni3tingale
lof dear
him to him
were may have been
0204 And oþer wi3te gente and smale,
wi3te creatures
gente high-born
smale graceful
0205 Ich wot he is nu suþe acoled.
wot know
nu now
suþe very
acoled cooled down
0206 Nis he vor þe no3t afoled,
Nis is not
vor for the sake of
þe thee
no3t at all
afoled made a fool of
0207 Þat he, for þine olde luue,
luue love
0208 Me adun legge and þe buue.
adun down
legge should lay
þe thee
buue above
0209 Ne schaltu neure so him queme
Ne not
schaltu you shall
neure never
queme please
0210 Þat he for þe fals dom deme.
þe thee
dom judgment
deme shall give
0211 He is him ripe and fastrede,
him himself
ripe mature
fastrede steadfast in counsel
0212 Ne lust him nu to none unrede:
Ne not
lust him...to he takes pleasure in
nu now
none no
unrede wicked advice
0213 Nu him ne lust na more pleie,
Nu now
ne not
him...lust he desires
na no
pleie have a gay time
0214 He wile gon a ri3te weie.’
a on
weie way
0215 Þe Ni3tingale was al 3are,
3are ready
0216 Ho hadde ilorned wel aivvare.
Ho she
ilorned learned
aivvare everywhere
0217 ‘Hule,’ ho sede, ‘seie me soþ,
Hule owl
ho she
sede said
seie say to
soþ truth
0218 Wi dostu þat unwi3tis doþ?
Wi why
dostu do you do
þat what
unwi3tis evil beings
doþ do
0219 Þu singist a ni3t and no3t a dai,
a by
no3t not
0220 And al þi song is “wailawai”.
wailawai woe and alas
0221 Þu mi3t mid þine songe afere
mi3t can
mid with
afere frighten
0222 Alle þat ihereþ þine ibere.
ihereþ hears
ibere cries
0223 Þu schirchest and 3ollest to þine fere
schirchest shriek
3ollest scream
fere companions
0224 Þat hit is grislich to ihere.
grislich horrible
ihere hear
0225 Hit þincheþ boþe wise and snepe,
þincheþ seems to
wise wise men
snepe fools
0226 No3t þat þu singe, ac þat þu wepe.
No3t not
ac but
wepe weep
0227 Þu fli3st a ni3t and no3t a dai;
fli3st fly
a by
no3t not
0228 Þarof ich vvndri, and wel mai,
Þarof at that
vvndri am amazed
wel mai have good reason
0229 Vor eurich þing þat schuniet ri3t,
Vor for
eurich every
schuniet shrinks from
ri3t justice
0230 Hit luueþ þuster and hatiet li3t;
luueþ loves
þuster darkness
hatiet hates
0231 And eurich þing þat is lof misdede,
eurich every
þat to which
lof dear
misdede wrong-doing
0232 Hit luueþ þuster to his dede.
luueþ loves
þuster darkness
to for
dede doings
0233 A wis word, þe3 hit bo unclene,
wis wise
word saying
þe3 though
bo be
unclene on the subject of filth
0234 Is fele manne a muþe imene,
fele manne many men
a in
muþe mouth
imene common among
0235 For Alured King hit seide and wrot:
Alured Alfred
seide said
wrot wrote
0236 “He schunet þat hine vvl wot.”
schunet shrinks away
þat who
hine himself
vvl foul
wot knows
0237 Ich wene þat þu dost also,
wene think
dost do
also just so
0238 Vor þu fli3st ni3tes euer mo.
Vor for
fli3st fly
ni3tes by night
euer mo at all times
0239 An oþer þing me is a wene,
a in
wene mind
0240 Þu hauest a ni3t wel bri3te sene:
hauest have
a by
bri3te sharp
sene sight
0241 Bi daie þu art stareblind
stareblind stone-blind
0242 Þat þu ne sichst ne bov ne rind.
Þat so that
ne not
sichst see
ne neither
bov bough
ne nor
rind bark
0243 A dai þu art blind oþer bisne,
A by
blind sightless
oþer or
bisne blind
0244 Þarbi men segget a uorbisne:
Þarbi apropos of that
segget say
uorbisne proverb
0245 Ri3t so hit farþ bi þan ungode
farþ goes
bi with
þan the
ungode wicked man
0246 Þat no3t ne suþ to none gode,
no3t nothing
ne not
suþ sees
none no
gode good
0247 And is so ful of vuele wrenche
ful full
vuele evil
wrenche tricks
0248 Þat him ne mai no man atprenche,
ne not
mai can
atprenche elude
0249 And can wel þane þurste wai,
can knows
þane the
þurste of darkness
wai way
0250 And þane bri3te lat awai,
þane the
lat awai leaves alone
0251 So doþ þat boþ of þine cunde:
doþ do
þat those who
boþ are
cunde nature
0252 Of li3te nabbeþ hi none imunde.’
li3te light
nabbeþ have not
hi they
imunde thought
0253 Þos Hule luste suþe longe,
Þos this
Hule owl
luste listened
suþe very
0254 And was oftoned suþe stronge.
oftoned vexed
suþe very
0255 Ho quaþ ‘Þu attest Ni3tingale,
Ho she
quaþ said
attest you are called
0256 Þu mi3test bet hoten Galegale,
mi3test bet should rather
hoten be called
Galegale chatterbox
0257 Vor þu hauest to monie tale.
Vor for
hauest have
to too
tale tales
0258 Lat þine tunge habbe spale!
Lat let
habbe have
spale rest
0259 Þu wenest þat þes dai bo þin o3e.
wenest think
þes this
bo is
o3e own
0260 Lat me nu habbe mine þro3e!
Lat let
nu now
habbe have
þro3e turn
0261 Bo nu stille, and lat me speke,
Bo be
nu now
stille quiet
lat let
0262 Ich wille bon of þe awreke;
bon be
þe thee
awreke avenged
0263 And lust hu ich con me bitelle
lust listen
hu how
con can
me myself
bitelle defend
0264 Mid ri3te soþe, witute spelle.
Mid with
soþe truth
witute without
spelle talking
0265 Þu seist þat ich me hude a dai;
seist say
me myself
hude hide
a by
0266 Þarto ne segge ich “nich” ne “nai”.
Þarto in answer to that
ne not
segge say
nich not I
ne nor
nai no
0267 And lust, ich telle þe wareuore,
lust listen
þe thee
wareuore why
0268 Al wi hit is and wareuore.
wi why
wareuore what for
0269 Ich habbe bile stif and stronge,
bile beak
stif hard
0270 And gode cliuers scharp and longe,
cliuers claws
0271 So hit bicumeþ to hauekes cunne.
So as
bicumeþ is proper
to for
hauekes hawk’s
cunne tribe
0272 Hit is min hi3te, hit is mi wnne
hi3te delight
wnne joy
0273 Þat ich me dra3e to mine cunde, –
ich me dra3e to I take after
cunde nature
0274 Ne mai no man þareuore schende:
mai can
þareuore therefore
schende revile
0275 On me hit is wel isene
On me in my case
isene manifest
0276 For ri3te cunde ich am so kene.
For because if
ri3te (my) very
cunde nature
kene warlike
0277 Vorþi ich am loþ smale fo3le
Vorþi therefore
loþ hateful to
fo3le birds
0278 Þat floþ bi grunde an bi þuuele.
floþ fly
an and
þuuele thicket
0279 Hi me bichermet and bigredeþ
Hi they
bichermet scream at
bigredeþ cry out at
0280 And hore flockes to me ledeþ.
hore their
to against
ledeþ lead
0281 Me is lof to habbe reste
Me to me
lof dear
0282 And sitte stille in mine neste;
stille quiet
0283 Vor nere ich neuer no þe betere
Vor for
nere would not be
neuer at all
no þe none the
betere better
0284 Yif ich mid chauling and mid chatere
Yif if
mid with
chauling jawing
chatere chatter
0285 Hom schende, and mid fule worde,
Hom them
schende should revile
mid with
fule foul
worde words
0286 So herdes doþ oþer mid schitworde.
So as
herdes shepherds
doþ do
oþer each other
mid with
schitworde mucky words
0287 Ne lust me wit þe screwen chide,
lust it pleases
wit with
screwen blackguards
chide quarrel
0288 Forþi ich wende from hom wide.
Forþi therefore
wende go
hom them
wide far
0289 Hit is a wise monne dome –
a in
wise monne of wise men
dome judgment
0290 And hi hit segget wel ilome –
hi they
segget say
ilome often
0291 Þat me ne chide wit þe gidie,
me one
chide should quarrel
wit with
gidie fools
0292 Ne wit þan ofne me ne 3onie.
Ne nor
wit at
þan the
ofne oven
me one
3onie should gape
0293 At sume siþe herde i telle,
siþe time
0294 Hu Alured sede on his spelle:
Alured Alfred
sede said
on in
spelle sayings
0295 “Loke þat þu ne bo þare
bo be
0296 Þar chauling boþ and cheste 3are;
Þar where
chauling jawing
boþ are
cheste strife
3are ready
0297 Lat sottes chide and uorþ þu go!”
Lat let
sottes fools
chide quarrel
uorþ forth
0298 And ich am wis, and do also.
also just so
0299 And 3et Alured seide an oþer side
3et furthermore
on oþer side on the other hand
0300 A word þat is isprunge wide:
word saying
isprunge spread
wide far and wide
0301 “Þat wit þe fule haueþ imene,
Þat he who
wit with
fule filthy person
haueþ imene has dealings
0302 Ne cumeþ he neuer from him cleine.”
cumeþ comes
cleine clean
0303 Wenestu þat haueck bo þe worse
Wenestu do you think
haueck hawk
bo is
0304 Þo3 crowe bigrede him bi þe mershe,
Þo3 if
crowe crow
bigrede cries out at
mershe marsh
0305 And goþ to him mid hore chirme,
goþ goes
mid with
hore her
chirme clamour
0306 Ri3t so hi wille wit him schirme?
Ri3t just
so as if
hi she
wille wants to
wit with
schirme fight
0307 Þe hauec fol3eþ gode rede,
hauec hawk
fol3eþ follows
rede advice
0308 And fli3t his wei and lat hi grede."
fli3t flies
lat lets
hi her
grede." cry out
0309 3et þu me seist of oþer þinge,
seist speak to
0310 And telst þat ich ne can no3t singe,
telst make the charge
no3t at all
0311 Ac al mi rorde is woning,
Ac but
rorde voice
woning ululation
0312 And to ihire grislich þing.
ihire hear
grislich horrible
0313 Þat nis no3t soþ, ich singe efne
nis is not
no3t at all
soþ truth
efne smoothly
0314 Mid fulle dreme and lude stefne.
Mid with
fulle full
dreme melody
lude loud
stefne voice
0315 Þu wenist þat ech song bo grislich
wenist think
ech every
bo is
grislich horrible
0316 Þat þine pipinge nis ilich:
nis is not
ilich like
0317 Mi stefne is bold and no3t unorne;
stefne voice
no3t not
unorne wretched
0318 Ho is ilich one grete horne,
Ho she
ilich like
one a
0319 And þin is ilich one pipe
ilich like
one a
0320 Of one smale wode unripe.
one a
wode reed
unripe half-grown
0321 Ich singe bet þan þu dest:
bet better
dest do
0322 Þu chaterest so doþ on Irish prost.
chaterest chatter
so as
doþ does
prost priest
0323 Ich singe an eue a ri3te time,
an in
eue evening
a at
0324 And soþþe won hit is bedtime,
soþþe then
won when
0325 Þe þridde siþe ad middelni3te,
þridde third
siþe time
ad at
middelni3te midnight
0326 And so ich mine song adi3te
adi3te set forth
0327 Wone ich iso arise vorre
Wone when
iso see
vorre far
0328 Oþer dairim oþer daisterre,
Oþer either
dairim daybreak
oþer or
daisterre morning star
0329 Ich do god mid mine þrote
god good thing
mid with
þrote throat
0330 And warni men to hore note.
warni warn
hore their
note advantage
0331 Ac þu singest alle longe ni3t
Ac but
alle longe ni3t all night long
0332 From eue fort hit is daili3t,
eue evening
fort until
0333 And eure leist þin o song
eure ever
leist lasts
o one
0334 So longe so þe ni3t is long,
0335 And eure croweþ þi wrecche crei
eure ever
croweþ crows
wrecche wretched
crei throat
0336 Þat he ne swikeþ ni3t ne dai.
Þat so that
swikeþ ceases
ne nor
0337 Mid þine pipinge þu adunest
Mid with
adunest din into
0338 Þas monnes earen þar þu vvunest,
Þas monnes of man
earen ears
þar where
vvunest dwell
0339 And makest þine song so unwrþ
unwrþ worthless
0340 Þat me ne telþ of þar no3t wrþ.
me one
telþ...wrþ sets great store
of þar by it
no3t at all
0341 Eurich mur3þe mai so longe ileste
Eurich every
mur3þe pleasure
mai may
ileste last
0342 Þat ho shal liki wel unwreste:
ho she
liki please
unwreste badly
0343 Vor harpe, and pipe, and fu3eles song
Vor for
fu3eles bird’s
0344 Mislikeþ 3if hit is to long.
Mislikeþ displeases
to too
0345 Ne bo þe song neuer so murie
bo may be
neuer so however
murie joyous
0346 Þat he ne shal þinche wel unmurie
Þat (it is never so joyous) that
he he (=song)
þinche seem
unmurie dull
0347 3ef he ilesteþ oure unwille.
3ef if
he he (=song)
ilesteþ lasts
oure unwille against our will
0348 So þu mi3t þine song aspille;
mi3t can
aspille waste
0349 Vor hit is soþ, – Alured hit seide
Vor for
soþ truth
Alured Alfred
0350 And me hit mai ine boke rede:
me one
mai can
ine in
boke books
rede read
0351 “Eurich þing mai losen his godhede
Eurich every
mai can
losen lose
his its
godhede goodness
0352 Mid unmeþe and mid ouerdede.”
Mid with
unmeþe immoderation
ouerdede excess
0353 Mid este þu þe mi3t ouerquatie,
Mid with
este pleasure
þe thyself
mi3t may
ouerquatie glut
0354 And ouerfulle makeþ vvlatie;
ouerfulle surfeitin
makeþ makes
vvlatie disgust
0355 An eurich mure3þe mai agon,
An and
eurich every
mure3þe pleasure
agon vanish
0356 3if me hit halt eure forþ in on –
3if if
me one
halt keeps on with
eure continuously
in on without break
0357 Bute one: þat is Godes riche,
Bute except
riche kingdom
0358 Þat eure is svete and eure iliche:
eure ever
svete sweet
iliche (the) same
0359 Þe3 þu nime eure oþþan lepe
Þe3 though
nime take
eure all the time
oþþan from that
lepe basket
0360 Hit is eure ful bi hepe;
eure ever
ful full
bi hepe (and) heaped up
0361 VVunder hit is of Godes riche
VVunder wonder
riche kingdom
0362 Þat eure spenþ and euer is iliche.
eure always
spenþ spends
iliche (the) same
0363 3ut þu me seist an oþer shome,
3ut yet
seist say to
shome (piece of) disgrace
0364 Þat ich am on mine e3en lome,
on in
e3en eyes
lome lame
0365 An seist, forþat ich flo bi ni3te,
An and
forþat because
flo fly
0366 Þat ich ne mai iso bi li3te.
mai can
iso see
0367 Þu liest! On me hit is isene
On me in my case
isene manifest
0368 Þat ich habbe gode sene,
sene sight
0369 Vor nis non so dim þusternesse
nis is not
non no
þusternesse darkness
0370 Þat ich euer iso þe lasse.
iso see
lasse less
0371 Þu wenest þat ich ne mi3te iso
wenest think
mi3te could
iso see
0372 Vor ich bi daie no3t ne flo:
no3t at all
flo fly
0373 Þe hare luteþ al dai,
luteþ lies hidden
0374 Ac noþeles iso he mai.
Ac but
noþeles nevertheless
iso see
mai can
0375 3if hundes urneþ to himward
3if if
hundes hounds
urneþ run
to himward towards him
0376 He gengþ wel suiþe awaiwart,
gengþ goes
suiþe quickly
awaiwart away
0377 And hokeþ paþes sviþe narewe,
hokeþ turns this way and that along
paþes paths
sviþe very
narewe narrow
0378 And haueþ mid him his blenches 3arewe,
haueþ fas
mid with
blenches tricks
3arewe ready
0379 And hupþ, and stard suþe coue,
hupþ darts
stard leaps
suþe very
coue swiftly
0380 An secheþ paþes to þe groue.
An and
secheþ seeks
paþes paths
groue grove
0381 Ne sholde he, uor boþe his e3e,
uor because of
e3e eyes
0382 So don, 3if he þe bet nise3e.
don do
3if if
bet better
nise3e did not see
0383 Ich mai ison so wel so on hare
mai can
ison see
on a
0384 Þe3 ich bi daie sitte an dare.
Þe3 though
an and
dare stay hidden
0385 Þar a3te men boþ in worre,
Þar where
a3te valiant
boþ are
worre war
0386 An fareþ boþe ner an forre,
An and
fareþ travel
ner near
an and
forre far
0387 An oueruareþ fele þode,
An and
oueruareþ overrun
fele many
þode countries
0388 An doþ bi ni3te gode node,
An and
doþ do
node service
0389 Ich fol3i þan a3te manne,
fol3i follow
þan those
a3te valiant
manne men
0390 An flo bi ni3te in hore banne.’
An and
flo fly
hore their
banne troop
0391 Þe Ni3tingale in hire þo3te
hire her
þo3te mind
0392 Athold al þis, and longe þo3te
Athold considered
þo3te thought
0393 Wat ho þarafter mi3te segge;
Wat what
ho she
þarafter after that
mi3te could
segge say
0394 Vor ho ne mi3te no3t alegge
Vor for
ho she
mi3te could
no3t at all
alegge refute
0395 Þat þe Hule hadde hire ised,
Þat what
Hule owl
hire her
ised said to
0396 Vor he spac boþe ri3t an red.
Vor for
he she
spac spoke
ri3t truth
an and
red good sense
0397 An hire ofþu3te þat ho hadde
An and
hire her
ofþu3te it displeased
ho she
0398 Þe speche so for uorþ iladde,
speche law-suit
for far
uorþ forward
iladde led
0399 An was oferd þat hire answare
An and
oferd afraid
0400 Ne wrþe no3t ari3t ifare.
wrþe was going to
no3t at all
ari3t right
ifare go
0401 Ac noþeles he spac boldeliche;
Ac but
noþeles nevertheless
he she
spac spoke
boldeliche boldly
0402 Vor he is wis þat hardeliche
Vor for
wis wise
þat who
hardeliche bravely
0403 Wiþ is uo berþ grete ilete,
is his
uo foe
berþ grete ilete puts on a great show
0404 Þat he uor are3þe hit ne forlete:
Þat so that
uor because of
are3þe cowardice
forlete should give up
0405 Vor suich worþ bold 3if þu fli3st
Vor for
suich the very man
worþ becomes
3if if
fli3st flee
0406 Þat wle flo 3if þu nisvicst;
Þat who
wle will
flo flee
3if if
nisvicst do not leave off
0407 3if he isiþ þat þu nart are3
3if if
isiþ sees
nart are not
are3 cowardly
0408 He wile of bore wrchen bare3.
of from
bore boar
wrchen make
bare3 barrow-pig
0409 And forþi, þe3 þe Ni3tingale
forþi therefore
þe3 though
0410 Were aferd, ho spac bolde tale.
aferd afraid
ho she
spac spoke
tale speech
0411 ‘Hule,’ ho seide, ‘wi dostu so?
Hule owl
ho she
wi why
dostu do you do
0412 Þu singest a winter “wolawo”;
a in
wolawo woe and alas
0413 Þu singest so doþ hen a snowe –
so as
doþ does
a in
snowe snow
0414 Al þat ho singeþ hit is for wowe.
ho she
wowe woe
0415 A wintere þu singest wroþe and 3omere,
A in
wroþe cruelly
3omere dolefully
0416 An eure þu art dumb a sumere.
An and
eure always
a in
0417 Hit is for þine fule niþe
for because of
fule malign
niþe envy
0418 Þat þu ne mi3t mid us bo bliþe,
mi3t can
mid with
bo be
bliþe happy
0419 Vor þu forbernest wel ne3 for onde
Vor for
forbernest are burnt up
wel ne3 almost
for because of
onde spite
0420 Wane ure blisse cumeþ to londe.
Wane when
ure our
blisse joy
cume to londe is here
0421 Þu farest so doþ þe ille:
farest behave
so as
ille man of ill-will
0422 Evrich blisse him is unwille;
Evrich every
blisse joy
him is unwille displeases him
0423 Grucching and luring him boþ rade
Grucching grumbling
luring scowling
him boþ rade come readily to him
0424 3if he isoþ þat men boþ glade;
3if if
isoþ sees
boþ re
glade glad
0425 He wolde þat he ise3e
wolde wished
ise3e saw
0426 Teres in evrich monnes e3e.
Teres tears
monnes man’s
e3e eyes
0427 Ne ro3te he þe3 flockes were
Ne nor
ro3te would mind
þe3 if
flockes flocks of wool
0428 Imeind bi toppes and bi here:
Imeind mixed
bi with
toppes threads
here hair
0429 Also þu dost on þire side,
Also just so
dost do
þire thy
side part
0430 Vor wanne snov liþ þicke and wide
Vor for
wanne when
snov snow
liþ lies
0431 An alle wi3tes habbeþ sor3e,
An and
wi3tes creatures
habbeþ have
sor3e sorrow
0432 Þu singest from eue fort a mor3e.
eue evening
fort till
a in
mor3e morning
0433 Ac ich alle blisse mid me bringe,
Ac but
blisse joy
0434 Ech wi3t is glad for mine þinge
Ech every
wi3t creature
for mine þinge on my account
0435 And blisseþ hit wanne ich cume,
blisseþ rejoices
hit itself
wanne wjhen
cume coem
0436 And hi3teþ a3en mine kume.
hi3teþ a3en looks with hope forward to
kume arrival
0437 Þe blostme ginneþ springe and sprede,
blostme blossoms
ginneþ begin
springe sprout
sprede unfold
0438 boþe ine tro and ek on mede.
ine on
tro tree
ek also
mede field
0439 Þe lilie mid hire faire wlite
lilie lily
mid with
wlite face
0440 wolcumeþ me – þat þu hit wite! –
wolcumeþ welcomes
þat þu hit wite I would have you know
0441 Bid me mid hire faire blo
Bid asks
mid with
blo colour
0442 Þat ich shulle to hire flo.
shulle should
flo fly
0443 Þe rose also, mid hire rude
mid with
rude red hue
0444 Þat cumeþ ut of þe þornevvode,
cumeþ comes
þornevvode briar
0445 Bit me þat ich shulle singe
Bit asks
shulle should
0446 Vor hire luue one skentinge.
Vor for
luue love
one a
skentinge song of delight
0447 And ich so do þur3 ni3t and dai –
þur3 throughout
0448 Þe more ich singe þe more i mai –
mai can
0449 An skente hi mid mine songe,
An and
skente entertain
hi them
mid with
0450 Ac noþeles no3t ouerlonge:
Ac but
noþeles nevertheless
no3t not
ouerlonge for too long
0451 Wane ich iso þat men boþ glade
Wane when
iso see
boþ are
glade glad
0452 Ich nelle þat hi bon to sade;
nelle do not want
hi they
bon should be
to too
sade sated
0453 Wan is ido vor wan ich com
Wan when
ido done
vor wan that for which
com came
0454 ich fare a3en, and do wisdom.
fare travel
a3en back
wisdom what is wise
0455 Wane mon ho3eþ of his sheue,
Wane when
mon man
ho3eþ of in intent on
sheue sheaves
0456 An falevv icumeþ on grene leue,
An and
falevv withering
icumeþ comes
leue leaves
0457 Ich fare hom and nime leue.
fare go
hom home
nime take
leue leave
0458 Ne recche ich no3t of winteres reue;
recche care
no3t at all
winteres winter’s
reue spoils
0459 Wan ich iso þat cumeþ þat harde
Wan when
iso see
cumeþ comes
harde severe season
0460 Ich fare hom to min erde,
fare go
hom home
erde own country
0461 An habbe boþe luue and þonc
An and
habbe have
luue love
þonc thanks
0462 Þat ich her com and hider swonk.
her here
com came
hider here
swonk toiled
0463 Þan min erende is ido
Þan when
erende errand
ido done
0464 Sholde ich bileue? Nai! Warto?
bileue remain
Nai no
Warto what for
0465 Vor he nis noþer 3ep ne wis
Vor for
nis is not
noþer neither
3ep clever
ne nor
wis wise
0466 Þat longe abid þar him nod nis.’
Þat who
abid stays
þar where
nod need
nis is not
0467 Þos Hule luste and leide an hord
Þos this
Hule owl
luste listened
leide an hord stored up
0468 Al þis mot, word after word,
mot argument
after for
0469 An after þo3te hu he mi3te
An and
þo3te thought
hu how
he she
mi3te could
0470 Ansvere uinde best mid ri3te:
Ansvere answer
uinde find
mid ri3te rightly
0471 Vor he mot hine ful wel biþenche
Vor for
mot must
hine himself
biþenche ponder
0472 Þat is aferd of plaites wrenche.
Þat who
aferd afraid
plaites of pleading
wrenche tricks
0473 ‘Þv aishest me,’ þe Hule sede,
aishest ask
Hule owl
sede said
0474 ‘Wi ich a winter singe and grede.
Wi why
a in
grede cry out
0475 Hit is gode monne iwone –
monne man’s
iwone custom
0476 An was from þe worlde frome –
An and
worlde world’s
frome beginning
0477 Þat ech god man his frond icnowe
ech every
frond friend
icnowe shall cherish
0478 An blisse mid hom sume þrowe
An and
blisse shall rejoice
mid with
hom them
sume þrowe for some time
0479 In his huse, at his borde,
huse house
borde table
0480 Mid faire speche and faire worde.
Mid with
0481 And hure and hure to Cristes masse,
hure and hure especially
to at
Cristes masse Christmas
0482 Þane riche and poure, more and lasse,
Þane when
poure poor
more high
lasse low
0483 Singeþ cundut ni3t and dai,
Singeþ sing
cundut part-song
0484 Ich hom helpe what ich mai.
hom them
what as much as
mai can
0485 And ek ich þenche of oþer þinge
ek also
þenche think
0486 Þane to pleien oþer to singe.
Þane than
pleien have a gay time
oþer or
0487 Ich habbe herto gode ansuare
habbe have
herto to this
0488 Anon iredi and al 3are;
Anon straight away
iredi ready
3are at hand
0489 Vor sumeres tide is al to wlonc
sumeres summer’s
tide time
to too
wlonc wanton
0490 An doþ misreken monnes þonk;
An and
doþ makes
misreken go astray
monnes man’s
þonk thought
0491 Vor he ne recþ no3t of clennesse,
Vor for
recþ care
no3t at all
of about
clennesse purity
0492 Al his þo3t is of golnesse;
golnesse lechery
0493 Vor none dor no leng nabideþ,
Vor for
none no
dor animal
no leng no longer
nabideþ does not hold back
0494 Ac eurich upon oþer rideþ.
Ac but
eurich everyone
oþer another
rideþ rides
0495 Þe sulue stottes ine þe stode
sulue stottes jades themselves
ine in
stode stud
0496 Boþ boþe wilde and merewode;
Boþ are
merewode mad after the mares
0497 And þu sulf art þaramong,
sulf self
þaramong among them
0498 For of golnesse is al þi song,
of about
golnesse lechery
0499 An a3en þet þu vvlt teme
An and
a3en þet in anticipation of when
vvlt will
teme breed
0500 Þu art wel modi and wel breme.
modi bold
breme wild
0501 Sone so þu hauest itrede
Sone so as soon as
hauest have
itrede generated
0502 Ne mi3tu leng a word iqueþe,
mi3tu you can
leng any longer
iqueþe say
0503 Ac pipest also doþ a mose
Ac but
also as
doþ does
mose titmouse
0504 Mid chokeringe mid steune hose.
Mid with
chokeringe squeaking
steune voice
hose hoarse
0505 3et þu singst worse þon þe heisugge
þon than
heisugge hedge-sparrow
0506 Þat fli3þ bi grunde among þe stubbe:
fli3þ flies
stubbe stubble
0507 Wane þi lust is ago
Wane when
ago gone
0508 Þanne is þi song ago also.
Þanne then
ago gone
0509 A sumere chorles awedeþ
A in
sumere summer
chorles rustics
awedeþ go mad
0510 And uorcrempeþ and uorbredeþ.
uorcrempeþ cramp themselves up
uorbredeþ contort themselves
0511 Hit nis for luue noþeles,
nis is not
luue love
noþeles nevertheless
0512 Ac is þe chorles wode res;
Ac is it is rather
chorles rustic’s
wode mad
res rush
0513 Vor wane he haueþ ido his dede
Vor for
wane when
haueþ has
ido done
dede deed
0514 Ifallen is al his boldhede;
Ifallen fallen off
boldhede boldness
0515 Habbe he istunge under gore
Habbe he once he has
istunge stung
gore dress
0516 Ne last his luue no leng more.
last lasts
luue love
no leng more no more
0517 Also hit is on þine mode:
Also just so
on in
mode spirit
0518 So sone so þu sittest a brode
So sone so as soon as
a brode brooding
0519 Þu forlost al þine wise.
forlost lose
wise songs
0520 Also þu farest on þine rise:
Also just so
farest behave
rise branch
0521 Wane þu hauest ido þi gome
Wane when
ido done
gome game
0522 Þi steune goþ anon to shome.
steune voice
anon at once
goþ to schome is ruined
0523 Ac wane ni3tes cumeþ longe
Ac but
wane when
ni3tes nights
cumeþ come
0524 And bringeþ forstes starke an stronge,
forstes frosts
starke fierce
an and
stronge hard
0525 Þanne erest hit is isene
Þanne erest only then
isene clear
0526 War is þe snelle, war is þe kene:
War where
snelle vigorous one
kene bold one
0527 At þan harde me mai auinde
þan that
harde hard time
me one
mai can
auinde find out
0528 Wo geþ forþ, wo liþ bihinde.
Wo who
geþ goes
liþ falls
0529 Me mai ison at þare node
Me one
mai can
ison see
þare the
node time of need
0530 Wan me shal harde wike bode;
Wan whom
me one
wike duties
bode offer
0531 Þanne ich am snel and pleie and singe,
Þanne then
snel vigorous
pleie have a gay time
0532 And hi3te me mid mi skentinge.
hi3te rejoice
me myself
mid with
skentinge songs of delight
0533 Of none wintere ich ne recche,
Of about
none no
recche care
0534 For ich nam non asvnde wrecche.
nam am not
asvnde feeble
0535 And ek ich frouri uele wi3te
ek also
frouri bring comfort to
uele many
wi3te creatures
0536 Þat mid hom nabbed none mi3tte.
mid in
hom themselves
nabbed have not
mi3tte ability
0537 Hi boþ ho3fule and uel arme,
Hi they
boþ are
ho3fule anxious
uel very
arme miserable
0538 An secheþ 3orne to þe warme.
An and
seche to seek
3orne eagerly
warme warm place
0539 Oft ich singe uor hom þe more
uor for
hom them
0540 For lutli sum of hore sore.
For in order to
lutli lessen
sum some
hore their
sore suffering
0541 Hu þincþ þe? Artu 3ut inume,
þincþ does it seem to
þe thee
Artu do you are
3ut yet
inume refuted
0542 Artu mid ri3te ouercume?’
Artu do you are
mid ri3te justly
ouercume overcome
0543 ‘Nay, nay,’ sede þe Ni3tingale,
Nay no
sede said
0544 ‘Þu shalt ihere anoþer tale.
ihere hear
tale speech
0545 3et nis þos speche ibro3t to dome.
nis is not
þos this
speche plea
ibro3t brought
dome judgment
0546 Ac bo wel stille and lust nu to me!
Ac but
bo be
lust listen
0547 Ich shal mid one bare worde
mid with
one a
bare mere
0548 Do þat þi speche wrþ forworþe.’
Do bring it about
speche plea
wrþ will be
forworþe made useless
0549 ‘Þat nere noht ri3t,’ þe Hule sede,
nere would not be
noht not
Hule owl
sede said
0550 ‘Þu hauest bicloped also þu bede,
bicloped brought an indictment
also as
bede asked
0551 An ich þe habbe i3iue ansuare.
An and
þe thee
i3iue given
0552 Ac ar we to unker dome fare
Ac but
ar before
unker of the two of us
dome judgment
fare go
0553 Ich wille speke toward þe
toward against
þe thee
0554 Also þu speke toward me,
Also just as
toward against
0555 An þu me ansuare 3if þu mi3t.
An and
mi3t can
0556 Seie me nu, þu wrecche wi3t,
Seie say to
wrecche wretched
wi3t creature
0557 Is in þe eni oþer note
þe thee
eni any
note usefulness
0558 Bute þu hauest schille þrote?
Bute except that
schille shrill
0559 Þu nart no3t to non oþer þinge
nart are not
no3t at all
to non oþer þinge for nothing else
0560 Bute þu canst of chateringe;
Bute except that
canst know
of about
chateringe chatter
0561 Vor þu art lutel an unstrong,
Vor for
lutel small
an and
unstrong weak
0562 An nis þi regel no þing long.
An and
nis is not
regel dress
no þing at all
0563 Wat dostu godes among monne?
Wat...godes what good
dostu dod you do
monne men
0564 Na mo þe deþ a wercche wranne!
Na mo no more
þe than
deþ does
wercche wretched
wranne wren
0565 Of þe ne cumeþ non oþer god
Of fom
þe thee
cumeþ comes
non no
god good
0566 Bute þu gredest suich þu bo wod;
Bute except that
gredest cry out
suich as if
bo were
wod mad
0567 An bo þi piping ouergo
An and
bo if...is
ouergo spent
0568 Ne boþ on þe craftes na mo.
boþ are
on in
þe thee
craftes skills
na mo any more
0569 Alured sede, þat was wis –
Alured Alfred
sede said
þat who
wis wise
0570 He mi3te wel, for soþ hit is:
mi3te wel had good reason
soþ truth
0571 “Nis no man for is bare songe
Nis is not
is his
bare mere
0572 Lof ne wrþ no3t suþe longe;”
Lof agreeable
ne nor
wrþ honoured
no3t at all
suþe very
0573 Vor þat is a forworþe man
Vor for
forworþe ruined
0574 Þat bute singe no3t ne can.
Þat who
bute except
no3t nothing
can can do
0575 Þu nart bute on forworþe þing:
nart are not
bute only
on a
forworþe ruined
þing creature
0576 On þe nis bute chatering.
On in
þe thee
bute only
chatering chatter
0577 Þu art dim an of fule howe,
an and
fule foul
howe colour
0578 An þinchest a lutel soti clowe.
An and
þinchest seem
soti sooty
clowe bundle
0579 Þu nart fair, no þu nart strong,
nart are not
no not
nart are not
0580 Ne þu nart þicke, ne þu nart long.
Ne nor
nart are not
þicke stout
ne nor
0581 Þu hauest imist al of fairhede,
hauest imist al of lack altogether
fairhede beauty
0582 An lutel is al þi godede.
An and
lutel little
godede goodness
0583 An oþer þing of þe ich mene:
An oþer þing something else
þe thee
mene complain of
0584 Þu nart vair, ne þu nart clene
nart are not
vair beautiful
ne nor
nart are not
clene clean
0585 Wane þu comest to manne ha3e,
Wane when
manne men’s
ha3e enclosures
0586 Þar þornes boþ and ris idra3e
Þar where
þornes thorns
boþ are
ris twigs
idra3e drawn together
0587 Bi hegge and bi þicke wode.
hegge hedge
wode reed
0588 Þar men goþ oft to hore node
Þar there
goþ go
hore their
node business
0589 Þarto þu dra3st, þarto þu wnest,
Þarto to that place
dra3st draw near
wnest go and live
0590 An oþer clene stede þu schunest.
An and
clene clean
stede places
schunest shun
0591 Wan ich flo ni3tes after muse
Wan when
flo fly
ni3tes by night
muse mice
0592 I mai þe uinde ate rumhuse;
mai can
þe thee
uinde find
ate at the
rumhuse privy
0593 Among þe wode, among þe netle
wode reeds
netle nettles
0594 Þu sittest and singst bihinde þe setle.
setle seat
0595 Þar me mai þe ilomest finde
Þar there
me one
mai can
þe thee
ilomest most often
0596 Þar men worpeþ hore bihinde.
Þar where
worpeþ thust out
hore their
bihinde backside
0597 3et þu atuitest me mine mete
atuitest blame...for
mete food
0598 An seist þat ich fule wi3tes ete;
An and
seist say
fule foul
wi3tes creatures
ete eat
0599 Ac wat etestu – þat þu ne li3e! –
Ac but
etestu do you eat
þat þu ne li3e and don’t you lie
0600 Bute attercoppe and fule ulige
Bute except for
attercoppe spiders
ulige flies
0601 And wormes, 3if þu mi3te finde
mi3te could
0602 Among þe uolde of harde rinde?
uolde crevices
rinde bark
0603 3et ich can do wel gode wike,
wike services
0604 Vor ich can loki manne wike;
Vor for
loki watch over
manne men’s
wike dwellings
0605 An mine wike boþ wel gode,
An and
wike services
boþ are
0606 Vor ich helpe to manne uode.
Vor for
to to produce
manne men’s
uode food
0607 Ich can nimen mus at berne
nimen seize
mus mice
at in
berne barns
0608 An ek at chirche ine þe derne:
An and
ek also
at in
chirche churches
ine in
derne dark
0609 Vor me is lof to Cristes huse,
Vor for
me is lof to I hold dear
huse house
0610 To clansi hit wiþ fule muse;
clansi cleanse
wiþ of
fule foul
muse mice
0611 Ne schal þar neure come to
þar there
neure never
to near
0612 Ful wi3t, 3if ich hit mai iuo.
Ful foul
wi3t creature
mai can
iuo catch
0613 An 3if me lust, one mi skentinge,
An and
lust it pleases
one in
skentinge songs of delight
0614 To wernen oþer wnienge,
wernen reject
wnienge dwellings
0615 Ich habbe at wude trou wel grete
at in
wude wood
trou tree
0616 Mit þicke bo3e no þing blete,
Mit with
bo3e branches
no þing not at all
blete bare
0617 Mid iui grene al bigrowe,
Mid with
iui ivy
bigrowe grown over
0618 Þat eure stont iliche iblowe
eure ever
stont stands
iliche without change
iblowe blossoming
0619 An his hou neuer ne uorlost,
An and
his its
hou colour
uorlost lost
0620 Wan hit sniuþ, ne wan hit frost.
Wan when
sniuþ snows
ne nor
frost freezes
0621 Þarin ich habbe god ihold,
Þarin there
ihold stronghold
0622 A winter warm, a sumere cold:
A in
a in
cold cool
0623 Wane min hus stont bri3t and grene
Wane when
stont stands
0624 Of þine nis no þing isene.
nis is not
no þing at all
isene visible
0625 3et þu me telst of oþer þinge,
telst calumniate
0626 Of mine briddes seist gabbinge,
briddes birds
seist say
gabbinge falsehood
0627 Þat hore nest nis no3t clene:
hore their
nis is not
no3t at all
clene clean
0628 Hit is fale oþer wi3te imene,
fale many
wi3te creatures
imene common among
0629 Vor hors a stable and oxe a stalle
Vor for
a in
oxe ox
0630 Doþ al þat hom wule þar falle,
Doþ do
hom them
wule will
þar there
falle drop
0631 An lutle children in þe cradele –
An and
lutle little
0632 Boþe chorles an ek aþele –
chorles rustics
an and
ek also
0633 Doþ al þat in hore 3oeþe
Doþ do
hore their
3oeþe youth
0634 Þat hi uorleteþ in hore du3eþe.
hi they
uorleteþ leave off
hore their
du3eþe maturity
0635 Wat can þat 3ongling hit bihede?
Wat how
3ongling youngster
bihede prevent
0636 3if hit misdeþ, hit mod nede.
misdeþ misbehaves
mod must
nede of necessity
0637 A uorbisne is of olde ivvrne,
uorbisne proverb
of olde ivvrne from distant days long past
0638 Þat node makeþ old wif urne.
node need
makeþ makes
wif woman
urne run
0639 An 3et ich habbe an oþer andsware:
An and
0640 Wiltu to mine neste uare
Wiltu will you
uare go
0641 An loki hu hit is idi3t?
An and
loki look
idi3t appointed
0642 3if þu art wis, lorni þu mi3st:
lorni learn
mi3st can
0643 Mi nest is hol3 and rum a midde,
hol3 hollow
rum spacious
a in
midde middle
0644 So hit is softest mine bridde;
softest softest for
bridde birds
0645 Hit is broiden al abute
broiden plaited
0646 Vrom þe neste uor wiþute.
Vrom from
uor far
wiþute outside
0647 Þarto hi god to hore node;
Þarto to it
hi they
god go
hore their
node business
0648 Ac þat þu menest ich hom forbode.
Ac but
þat what
menest refer to
hom them
forbode forbid
0649 We nimeþ 3eme of manne bure
nimeþ take
3eme note
manne men’s
bure dwelling
0650 An after þan we makeþ ure:
An and
after þan accordingly
ure ours
0651 Men habbet, among oþer iwende,
iwende contrivances
0652 A rumhus at hore bures ende,
rumhus privy
hore their
bures dwelling’s
0653 Vorþat hi nelleþ to uor go;
Vorþat because
hi they
nelleþ do not want to
to too
uor far
0654 An mine briddes doþ also.
An and
briddes birds
doþ do
also just so
0655 Site nu stille, chaterestre!
Site sit
stille quiet
chaterestre chatterbox
0656 Nere þu neuer ibunde uastre;
Nere were not
ibunde tied
uastre more securely
0657 Herto ne uindestu neuer andsware.
Herto to this
uindestu you will not find
0658 Hong up þin ax! Nu þu mi3t fare!’
Hong hang
ax axe
mi3t can
fare go
0659 Þe Ni3tingale at þisse worde
þisse these
worde words
0660 Was wel ne3 ut of rede iworþe,
wel ne3 almost
ut of devoid of
rede good idea
iworþe become
0661 An þo3te 3orne on hire mode
An and
3orne eagerly
on in
mode mind
0662 3if ho o3t elles understode,
ho she
o3t anything
0663 3if ho kuþe o3t bute singe
ho she
kuþe could do
o3t anything
bute but
0664 Þat mi3te helpe to oþer þinge.
to oþer þinge for anything else
0665 Herto ho moste andswere uinde,
Herto to this
ho she
moste had to
uinde find
0666 Oþer mid alle bon bihinde:
Oþer or
mid alle altogether
bon be
0667 An hit is suþe strong to fi3te
An and
suþe very
strong hard
0668 A3en soþ and a3en ri3te.
A3en against
soþ truth
ri3te right
0669 He mot gon to al mid ginne,
mot must
gon to go about it
ginne ingenuity
0670 Wan þe horte boþ on winne;
Wan when
horte heart
on winne agitated
0671 An þe man mot on oþer segge:
An and
mot must
on oþer otherwise
segge speak
0672 He mot bihemmen and bilegge,
mot must
bihemmen trim it up
bilegge gloze over
0673 3if muþ wiþute mai biwro
muþ mouth
wiþute ouwardly
mai can
biwro conceal
0674 Þat me þe horte no3t niso.
Þat so that
me one
horte heart
no3t at all
niso shall not see
0675 An sone mai a word misreke
An and
sone easily
mai may
misreke go astray
0676 Þar muþ shal a3en horte speke,
Þar when
a3en against
horte heart
0677 An sone mai a word misstorte
An and
sone easily
misstorte start off wrong
0678 Þar muþ shal speken a3en horte.
Þar when
a3en against
horte heart
0679 Ac noþeles, 3ut upe þon,
Ac but
noþeles nevertheless
3ut still
upe þon even so
0680 Her is to red wo hine kon,
Her here
is to red is an advisable course of action
wo who
hine him (=course of action)
kon knows
0681 Vor neuer nis wit so kene
Vor for
nis is not
wit intelligence
kene keen
0682 So þane red him is a wene;
So as
þane when
red course of action
him with it (=intelligence)
a wene in doubt
0683 Þanne erest kumed his 3ephede
Þanne erest only then
kumed arrives
3ephede cunning
0684 Þone hit is alre mest on drede.
Þone when
alre of all
mest most
on in
drede jeopardy
0685 For Aluered seide of olde quide –
Aluered Alfred
of olde long ago
quide saying
0686 An 3ut hit nis of horte islide:
An and
3ut yet
nis is not
of from
horte memory
islide slipped
0687 ‘Wone þe bale is alre hecst
Wone when
bale calamity
alre hecst at its highest
0688 Þonne is þe bote alre necst;’
Þonne then
bote help
alre of all
necst nearest
0689 Vor wit west his sore,
wit intelligence
west prospers
his its
sore troubles
0690 An for his sore hit is þe more.
An and
for because of
sore troubles
more greater
0691 Vorþi nis neuere mon redles
Vorþi therefore
nis is not
mon man
redles helpless
0692 Ar his horte bo witles,
Ar before
horte heorte
bo is
witles not guided by reason
0693 Ac 3if þat he forlost his wit
Ac but
3if þat if
forlost forfeits
wit intelligence
0694 Þonne is his redpurs al toslit:
Þonne then
redpurs bag of good ideas
toslit slit open
0695 3if he ne kon his wit atholde
kon can
wit intelligence
atholde retain
0696 Ne uint he red in one uolde.
uint will find
red advice
one a
uolde fold (of bag)
0697 Vor Aluerid seide, þat wel kuþe –
Vor for
Aluerid Alfred
þat who
kuþe knew
0698 Eure he spac mid soþe muþe:
Eure ever
spac spoke
mid with
soþe truthful
muþe mouth
0699 ‘Wone þe bale is alre hecst
Wone when
bale calamity
alre hecst at its highest
0700 Þanne is þe bote alre nest.’
Þanne then
bote help
alre of all
nest nearest
0701 Þe Ni3tingale al hire ho3e
ho3e trouble
0702 Mid rede hadde wel bito3e;
Mid with
rede good sense
bito3e employed
0703 Among þe harde, among þe to3te,
harde difficult circumstances
to3te strained circumstance
0704 Ful wel mid rede hire biþo3te,
mid with
rede good sense
hire herself
biþo3te pondered
0705 An hadde andsuere gode ifunde
ifunde found
0706 Among al hire harde stunde.
stunde times
0707 ‘Hule, þu axest me,’ ho seide,
Hule owl
axest ask
ho she
0708 ‘3if ich kon eni oþer dede
kon can do
eni any
dede activity
0709 Bute singen in sumere tide,
Bute except
singen sing
sumere summer’s
tide time
0710 An bringe blisse for and wide.
blisse joy
for far
0711 Wi axestu of craftes mine?
Wi why
axestu do you ask
craftes abilities
0712 Betere is min on þan alle þine:
on one
0713 Betere is o song of mine muþe
o one
of from
muþe mouth
0714 Þan al þat eure þi kun kuþe.
eure ever
kun kin
kuþe knew
0715 An lust! Ich telle þe wareuore:
An and
lust listen
þe thee
wareuore why
0716 Wostu to wan man was ibore? –
Wostu do you know
wan what purpose
ibore born
0717 To þare blisse of houene riche,
To for
þare the
houene of heaven
riche kingdom
0718 Þar euer is song and mur3þe iliche;
Þar where
mur3þe joy
iliche without change
0719 Þider fundeþ eurich man
Þider thither
fundeþ sets out for
eurich every
0720 Þat eni þing of gode kan.
gode good
kan knows
0721 Vorþi me singþ in holi chirche
Vorþi therefore
me one
singþ sings
chirche church
0722 An clerkes ginneþ songes wirche,
An and
clerkes clerics
ginneþ begin
wirche make
0723 Þat man iþenche bi þe songe
Þat so that
iþenche may consider
0724 Wider he shal, and þar bon longe;
Wider where
shal must go
bon be
0725 Þat he þe mur3þe ne uor3ete,
Þat so that
mur3þe joy
uor3ete may forget
0726 Ac þarof þenche and bi3ete,
Ac but
þarof about it
þenche may think
bi3ete may attain (it)
0727 An nime 3eme of chirche steuene,
An and
nime may take
3eme note
chirche church’s
steuene voice
0728 Hu murie is þe blisse of houene.
murie sweet
houene heaven
0729 Clerkes, munekes, and kanunes,
Clerkes clerics
munekes monks
kanunes canons
0730 Þar boþ þos gode wicketunes,
Þar there
boþ are
þos these
wicketunes dwelling-places
0731 Ariseþ up to midelni3te,
Ariseþ rise
to at
midelni3te midnight
0732 An singeþ of þe houene li3te,
An and
houene of heaven
li3te light
0733 An prostes upe londe singeþ
An and
prostes priests
upe londe in the country
0734 Wane þe li3t of daie springeþ.
Wane when
0735 An ich hom helpe wat i mai:
An and
hom them
wat as much as
mai can
0736 Ich singe mid hom ni3t and dai;
mid with
hom them
0737 An ho boþ alle for me þe gladdere
An and
ho they
boþ are
0738 An to þe songe boþ þe raddere.
An and
boþ are
raddere readier
0739 Ich warni men to hore gode
warni warn
to for
hore their
gode good
0740 Þat hi bon bliþe on hore mode,
Þat so that
hi they
bon may be
bliþe in
hore their
mode mind
0741 An bidde þat hi moten iseche
An and
bidde pray
hi they
moten might
iseche attain to
0742 Þan ilke song þat euer is eche.
Þan the
ilke same
eche eternal
0743 Nu þu mi3t, Hule, sitte and clinge;
mi3t can
Hule owl
clinge shrivel up
0744 Heramong nis no chateringe:
Heramong in this
nis is not
chateringe chatter
0745 Ich graunti þat we go to dome
graunti consent
dome judgment
0746 Tofore þe sulfe þe Pope of Rome.
Tofore before
þe sulfe the very one
0747 Ac abid, 3ete noþeles
Ac but
abid wait
3ete yet
noþeles nevertheless
0748 Þu shalt ihere an oþer þes.
ihere hear
an oþer another thing
þes about that
0749 Ne shaltu, for Engelonde,
0750 At þisse worde me atstonde.
At faced with
þisse these
worde words
atstonde withstand
0751 Wi atuitestu me mine unstrengþe
Wi why
atuitestu do you blame for
unstrengþe want of strength
0752 An mine ungrete and mine unlengþe,
An and
ungrete want of size
unlengþe want of tallness
0753 An seist þat ich nam no3t strong
An and
seist say
nam am not
no3t at all
0754 Vor ich nam noþer gret ne long?
Vor because
nam am not
noþer neither
ne nor
0755 Ac þu nost neuer wat þu menst,
Ac but
nost do not know
wat what
menst mean
0756 Bute lese wordes þu me lenst:
Bute only
lese lying
lenst lend
0757 For ich kan craft, and ich kan liste,
kan craft am skilful
kan liste am shrewd
0758 An þareuore ich am þus þriste.
An and
þareuore therefore
þriste bold
0759 Ich kan wit and song mani eine,
kan know
wit wisdom
mani many a
eine one
0760 Ne triste ich to non oþer maine;
triste trust
to in
non no
maine strenght
0761 Vor soþ hit is þat seide Alured:
Vor for
soþ truth
þat that which
Alured Alfred
0762 “Ne mai no strengþe a3en red.”
mai can avail
a3en against
red shrewdness
0763 Oft spet wel a lute liste,
spet succeeds
lute little
liste cunning
0764 Þar muche strengþe sholde miste:
Þar where
sholde would
miste fail
0765 Mid lutle strengþe þur3 ginne
Mid with
lutle little
þur3 through
ginne ingenuity
0766 Castel and bur3 me mai iwinne;
bur3 town
me one
mai can
iwinne conquer
0767 Mid liste me mai walles felle
Mid with
liste cunning
me one
mai can
felle knock down
0768 An worpe of horsse kni3tes snelle.
An and
worpe throw
of off
snelle bold
0769 Vuel strengþe is lutel wurþ,
Vuel brute
strengþe force
lutel little
wurþ worth
0770 Ac wisdom ne wrþ neuer unwrþ.
Ac but
wrþ becomes
unwrþ worthless
0771 Þu myht iseo þurh alle þing
myht can
iseo see
þurh through
þing things
0772 Þat wisdom naueþ non euening.
naueþ has not
non no
euening equal
0773 An hors is strengur þan a mon,
An a
strengur stronger
mon man
0774 Ac, for hit non iwit ne kon,
Ac but
non no
iwit wisdom
kon knows
0775 Hit berþ on rugge grete semes,
berþ carries
rugge back
semes loads
0776 An dra3þ biuore grete temes,
An and
dra3þ draws
biuore in front of
temes teams
0777 An þoleþ boþe 3erd and spure,
þoleþ endures
3erd rod
spure spur
0778 An stont iteid at mulne dure:
stont stands
iteid tied
mulne of a mill
dure door
0779 An hit deþ þat mon hit hot,
An and
deþ does
þat what
mon man
hot commands
0780 An, forþan þat hit no wit not,
An and
forþan þat because
wit wisdom
not does not know
0781 Ne mai his strenþe hit ishilde
mai can
ishilde protect
0782 Þat hit nabu3þ þe lutle childe.
Þat so that
nabu3þ does not submit to
lutle little
0783 Mon deþ mid strengþe and mid witte
Mon man
deþ brings it about
mid with
witte wisdom
0784 Þat oþer þing nis non his fitte:
oþer þing nis non nothing else is
fitte match
0785 Þe3 alle strengþe at one were
Þe3 even if
at one united in one
0786 Monnes wit 3et more were;
Monnes man’s
wit wisdom
more greater
were would be
0787 Vorþe mon mid his crafte
Vorþe therefore
mon man
mid with
crafte skill
0788 Ouerkumeþ al orþliche shafte.
Ouerkumeþ overcomes
orþliche earthly
shafte creatures
0789 Also ich do mid mine one songe
Also just so
mid with
one alone
0790 Bet þan þu al þe 3er longe:
Bet better
3er year
0791 Vor mine crafte men me luuieþ,
Vor for
crafte skill
luuieþ love
0792 Vor þine strengþe men þe shunieþ.
Vor for
shunieþ shun
0793 Telstu bi me þe wurs forþan
Telstu do you think
bi of
wurs worse
forþan þat because
0794 Þat ich bute anne craft ne kan?
bute only
anne one
craft...kan am...skilful
0795 3if tueie men goþ to wraslinge
tueie two
goþ go
wraslinge wrestling-match
0796 An eiþer oþer faste þringe,
An and
eiþer each
faste firmly
þringe throws down
0797 An þe on can swenges suþe fele,
An and
on one
can knows
swenges blows
suþe very
fele many
0798 An kan his wrenches wel forhele,
An and
wrenches tricks
forhele conceal
0799 An þe oþer ne can sweng but anne,
An and
can knows
sweng blow
ne...but only
anne one
0800 An þe is god wiþ eche manne,
þe that
god effective
eche each
0801 An mid þon one leiþ to grunde
An and
mid with
þon that
leiþ brings down
0802 Anne after oþer a lutle stunde,
Anne one
a in
lutle little
stunde time
0803 Wat þarf he recche of a mo swenge
Wat what
þarf needs
recche care
mo greater
swenge blow
0804 Þone þe on him is swo genge?
Þone when
þe on that one
swo so
genge effective
0805 Þu seist þat þu canst fele wike.
seist say
canst dan do
fele many
wike services
0806 Ac euer ich am þin unilike:
Ac but
þin unilike a different person from you
0807 Do þine craftes alle togadere,
Do put
craftes skills
0808 3et is min on horte betere.
on horte radically
0809 Oft þan hundes foxes driueþ
þan when
hundes hounds
driueþ hunt
0810 Þe kat ful wel him sulue liueþ,
kat cat
him sulue himself
liueþ trusts in
0811 Þe3 he ne kunne wrench bute anne;
Þe3 though
kunne knows
wrench trick
ne...bute only
anne one
0812 Þe fox so godne ne can nanne,
can knows
so godne...nanne none so good
0813 Þe3 he kunne so uele wrenche
Þe3 though
kunne knows
uele many
wrenche tricks
0814 Þat he wenþ eche hunde atprenche;
wenþ expects to
eche every
hunde hound
atprenche elude
0815 Vor he can paþes ri3te and wo3e,
Vor for
can knows
paþes paths
ri3te straight
wo3e crooked
0816 An he kan hongi bi þe bo3e,
An and
hongi hang
bi from
bo3e bough
0817 An so forlost þe hund his fore,
An and
forlost loses
hund hound
fore trail
0818 An turnþ a3en eft to þan more.
An and
turnþ turns
a3en back
eft once more
þan the
more moorland
0819 Þe uox kan crope bi þe heie,
uox fox
crope creep
heie hedge
0820 An turne ut from his forme weie,
An and
ut aside
forme former
0821 An eft sone kume þarto.
An and
eft sone again
kume come
þarto to it
0822 Þonne is þe hundes smel fordo:
Þonne then
hundes hound’s
smel sense of smell
fordo rendered powerless
0823 He not þur3 þe imeinde smak
not does not know
þur3 because of
imeinde confused
smak sense of taste
0824 Weþer he shal auorþ þe abak.
Weþer whether
auorþ forward
þe or
abak backwards
0825 3if þe uox mist of al þis dwole,
uox fox
mist escapes
of from
dwole mad course
0826 At þan ende he cropþ to hole;
þan the
cropþ creeps
0827 Ac naþeles mid alle his wrenche
Ac but
naþeles nevertheless
mid alle for all
wrenche tricks
0828 Ne kan he hine so biþenche –
hine himself
biþenche contrive it
0829 Þe3 he bo 3ep an suþe snel –
Þe3 though
bo is
3ep clever
suþe very
snel quick
0830 Þat he ne lost his rede uel.
lost loses
rede red
uel skin
0831 Þe cat ne kan wrench bute anne,
kan knows
wrench trick
ne...bute only
anne one
0832 Noþer bi dune ne bi uenne,
Noþer neither
dune hill-country
ne nor
uenne fenland
0833 Bute he kan climbe suþe wel;
Bute except that
suþe very
0834 Þarmid he wereþ his greie uel.
Þarmid with that
wereþ defends
greie gray
uel skin
0835 Also ich segge bi mi solue:
Also jus so
segge say
bi as regards
mi solue myself
0836 Betere is min on þan þine twelue.’
on one
0837 ‘Abid! Abid!’ þe Ule seide,
Abid wait
Ule owl
0838 ‘Þu gest al to mid swikelede.
gest...to go about it
al wholly
mid with
swikelede deceitfulness
0839 Alle þine wordes þu bileist
bileist gloze over
0840 Þat hit þincþ soþ al þat þu seist,
Þat so that
þincþ seems
soþ truth
seist say
0841 Alle þine wordes boþ isliked,
boþ are
isliked smoothed over
0842 An so bisemed an biliked,
An and
bisemed made decent
an and
biliked made pleasing
0843 Þat alle þo þat hi auoþ,
þo those
hi them
auoþ give ear to
0844 Hi weneþ þat þu segge soþ.
Hi them
weneþ think
segge say
soþ truth
0845 Abid! Abid! me shal þe 3ene;
Abid wait
me one
þe thee
3ene counter
0846 Nu hit shal wrþe wel isene
wrþe be
isene clear
0847 Þat þu hauest muchel ilo3e,
muchel much
ilo3e lied
0848 Wone þi lesing boþ unwro3e.
Wone as soon as
boþ are
unwro3e exposed
0849 Þu seist þat þu singist mankunne,
singist sing for
mankunne mankind
0850 And techest hom þat hi fundieþ honne
techest teach
hom them
fundieþ set out
honne from here
0851 Vp to þe songe þat eure ilest.
eure forever
ilest lasts
0852 Ac hit is alre wnder mest
Ac but
alre of all
wnder wonder
mest greatest
0853 Þat þu darst li3e so opeliche.
darst dare
li3e tell lies
opeliche openly
0854 Wenest þu hi bringe so li3tliche
Wenest do you think to
hi them
li3tliche easily
0855 To Godes riche al singinge?
riche kingdom
al just
singinge by singing
0856 Nai, nai, hi shulle wel auinde
Nai no
hi they
shulle shall
auinde find out
0857 Þat hi mid longe wope mote
hi they
wope weeping
mote must
0858 of hore sunnen bidde bote,
of on account of
hore their
sunnen sins
bidde pray for
bote help
0859 ar hi mote euer kume þare.
ar before
hi they
mote may
kume come
þare there
0860 Ich rede þi þat men bo 3are
rede advise
þi therefore
bo should be
3are ready
0861 An more wepe þane singe,
An and
þane than
0862 Þat fundeþ to þan houenkinge:
fundeþ set out
to for
þan the
houenkinge king of heaven
0863 Vor nis no man witute sunne.
Vor for
nis is not
witute without
sunne sin
0864 Vorþi he mot, ar he wende honne,
Vorþi therefore
mot must
ar before
wende goes
honne from here
0865 Mid teres an mid wope bete,
Mid with
teres tears
an and
wope weeping
bete make amends
0866 Þat him bo sur þat er was swete.
Þat so that
bo be
sur bitter
þat what
er before
swete sweet
0867 Þarto ich helpe – God hit wot!
Þarto to that end
wot knows
0868 Ne singe ih hom no foliot,
singe sing for
ih I
hom them
foliot foolish snare
0869 For al mi song is of longinge
0870 An imend sumdel mid woninge,
imend mixed
sumdel a little
mid with
woninge lamentation
0871 Þat mon bi me hine biþenche,
Þat so that
hine himself
biþenche may ponder
0872 Þat he groni for his unwrenche.
Þat so that
groni may groan
unwrenche wicked sins
0873 Mid mine songe ich hine pulte,
Mid with
hine him
pulte assail
0874 Þat he groni for his gulte.
Þat so that
groni may groan
gulte offense
0875 3if þu gest herof to disputinge,
gest...to enter upon
herof about this
disputinge disputation
0876 Ich wepe bet þane þu singe:
wepe weep
bet better
þane than
0877 3if ri3t goþ forþ, and abak wrong,
goþ goes
forþ ahead
abak backwards
0878 Betere is mi wop þane þi song.
wop weeping
þane than
0879 Þe3 sume men bo þur3ut gode
Þe3 though
sume some
bo are
þur3ut thoroughly
0880 An þur3ut clene on hore mode,
An and
þur3ut thoroughly
clene pure
on in
hore their
mode mind
0881 Hon longeþ honne noþeles:
Hon longeþ they long
honne from here
noþeles nevertheless
0882 Þat boþ her, wo is hom þes,
Þat those who
boþ are
her here
wo woe
hom them
þes because of that
0883 Vor, þe3 hi bon hom solue ibor3e,
Vor for
þe3 though
hi they
bon are
hom solue themselves
ibor3e saved
0884 Hi ne soþ her nowi3t bote sorwe;
Hi they
soþ see
her here
nowi3t nothing
bote but
sorwe sorrow
0885 Vor oþer men hi wepeþ sore
Vor for
hi they
wepeþ weep
sore sorely
0886 An for hom biddeþ Cristes ore.
An and
hom them
biddeþ pray for
ore mercy
0887 Ich helpe monne on eiþer halue,
monne man
on in
halue case
0888 Mi muþ haueþ tweire kunne salue:
muþ mouth
tweire kunne of two kinds
salue balm
0889 Þan gode ich fulste to longinge,
Þan the
gode good man
fulste help
to with
0890 Vor þan hin longeþ, ich him singe;
þan when
hin longeþ he yearns
singe sing for
0891 An þan sunfulle ich helpe alswo,
An and
þan the
sunfulle sinful man
alswo also
0892 Vor ich him teche ware is wo.
Vor because
teche show
ware where
0893 3et ich þe 3ene in oþer wise:
þe thee
3ene counter
wise way of life
0894 Vor þane þu sittest on þine rise
Vor for
þane when
rise branch
0895 Þu dra3st men to fleses luste,
dra3st entice
fleses of the flesh
luste pleasures
0896 Þat wlleþ þine songes luste;
Þat who
wlleþ will
luste listen to
0897 Al þu forlost þe mur3þe of houene,
forlost forfeit
mur3þe joy
houene heaven
0898 For þarto neuestu none steuene.
þarto to that end
neuestu yo have not
none no
steuene voice
0899 Al þat þu singst is of golnesse,
golnesse lechery
0900 For nis on þe non holinesse;
nis is not
on in
non no
0901 Ne wened na man for þi pipinge
wened thinks
na no
0902 Þat eni preost in chircce singe.
eni any
preost priest
chircce church
0903 3et i þe wulle an oder segge,
wulle will
oder anothe thing
segge say
0904 3if þu hit const ariht bilegge:
const can
ariht properly
bilegge cloze oevr
0905 Wi nultu singe an oder þeode
Wi why
nultu will you not to
oder other
þeode country
0906 Þar hit is muchele more neode?
Þar where
muchele much
neode need
0907 Þu neauer ne singst in Irlonde,
neauer never
0908 Ne þu ne cumest no3t in Scotlonde.
Ne nor
cumest come
no3t at all
0909 Hwi nultu fare to Noreweie,
Hwi why
nultu will you not
fare travel
Noreweie Norway
0910 An singin men of Galeweie,
An and
singin sing to
Galeweie Galloway
0911 Þar beoð men þat lutel kunne
Þar where
beoð are
lutel little
kunne know
0912 Of songe þat is bineoðe þe sunne?
bineoðe under
sunne son
0913 Wi nultu þare preoste singe
Wi why
nultu wil you not
þar preoste to the priests
0914 An teche of þire writelinge,
An and
teche teach
þire thy
writelinge warbling
0915 An wisi hom mid þire steuene
An and
wisi show
hom them
mid with
þire thy
steuene voice
0916 Hu engeles singeð ine heouene?
Hu how
singeð sing
ine in
0917 Þu farest so doð an ydel wel
farest behave
so as
doð does
ydel useless
wel spring
0918 Þat springeþ bi burne þat is snel,
burne stream
snel vigorous
0919 An let fordrue þe dune,
An and
let lets
fordrue dry up
dune hill-side
0920 And floþ on idel þar adune.
floþ flows
on idel uselessly
þar there
adune down
0921 Ac ich fare boþe norþ and soþ:
Ac but
fare travel
soþ south
0922 In eauereuch londe ich am cuuþ:
eauereuch every
cuuþ known
0923 East and west, feor and neor,
feor far
neor near
0924 I do wel faire mi meoster,
do follow
wel faire very well
meoster calling
0925 An warni men mid mine bere,
An and
warni warn
mid with
bere outcry
0926 Þat þi dweole song heo ne forlere.
Þat so that
dweole perverse
heo them
forlere may misguide
0927 Ich wisse men mid mine songe,
wisse direct
mid with
0928 Þat hi ne sunegi nowiht longe;
sunegi commit sins
nowiht not
0929 I bidde hom þat heo iswike,
bidde beg
hom them
heo they
iswike cease
0930 Þat heom seolue ne biswike:
heom seolue themselves
biswike deceive
0931 For betere is þat heo wepen here
heo they
wepen weep
0932 Þan elleshwar to beon deoulene fere.’
elleshwar elsewhere
beon be
deoulene of devils
fere companions
0933 Þe ni3tingale was igremet,
igremet vexed
0934 An ek heo was sumdel ofchamed,
An and
ek also
heo she
sumdel a little
ofchamed ashamed
0935 For þe Hule hire atwiten hadde
Hule owl
hire her
atwiten reproached
0936 In hwucche stude he sat an gradde,
hwucche what sort of
stude place
he she
an and
gradde cried out
0937 Bihinde þe bure, among þe vvede,
bure dwelling
vvede reeds
0938 Þar men goð to here neode;
Þar where
goð go
here their
neode business
0939 An sat sumdel, and heo biþohte,
An and
sumdel a little
heo herself
biþohte pondered
0940 An wiste wel on hire þohte
An and
wiste knew
on in
þohte mind
0941 Þe wraþþe binimeþ monnes red.
Þe that
wraþþe wrath
binimeþ takes away
red good sense
0942 For hit seide þe king Alfred:
0943 ‘Selde erendeð wel þe loþe,
Selde seldom
erendeð intercedes
loþe hated man
0944 An selde plaideð wel þe wroþe;’
An and
selde seldom
plaideð pleads
wroþe angry man
0945 For wraþþe meinþ þe horte blod
wraþþe wrath
meinþ stirs up
horte heart’s
blod blood
0946 Þat hit floweþ so wilde flod
Þat so that
floweþ flows
flod flood
0947 An al þe heorte ouergeþ,
An and
ouergeþ overwhelms
0948 Þat heo naueþ no þing bute breþ,
heo she
naueþ has not
bute except
breþ fervour
0949 An so forleost al hire liht
An and
forleost forfeits
liht discernment
0950 Þat heo ne siþ soþ ne riht.
heo she
siþ sees
soþ truth
0951 Þe Ni3tingale hi understod,
hi them
0952 An ouergan lette hire mod.
An and
ouergan pass over
lette let
mod anger
0953 He mihte bet speken a sele
He she
mihte could
bet better
a in
sele a happy mood
0954 Þan mid wraþþe wordes deale.
mid with
wraþþe wrath
deale bandy
0955 ‘Hule,’ heo seide, ‘lust nu hider!
Hule owl
heo she
lust listen
hider here
0956 Þu schalt falle, þe wei is slider.
slider slippery
0957 Þu seist ich fleo bihinde bure:
seist say
fleo fly
bure dwelling
0958 Hit is riht, þe bur is ure.
bur dwelling
ure ours
0959 Þar lauerd liggeþ and lauedi
Þar where
lauerd lord
liggeþ lies
lauedi lady
0960 Ich schal heom singe and sitte bi.
heom them
singe sing to
0961 Wenstu þat uise men forlete
Wenstu do you think
uise wise
forlete leave
0962 For fule venne þe ri3tte strete,
For because of
fule foul
venne mud
strete road
0963 Ne sunne þe later shine
Ne nor
sunne sun
þe later less punctually
0964 Þe3 hit bo ful ine nest þine?
Þe3 though
bo is
ful foul
ine in
0965 Sholde ich for one hole brede
one a
hole brede plank with a hole
0966 Forlete mine ri3te stede,
Forlete leave
ri3te rightful
stede place
0967 Þat ich ne singe bi þe bedde
Þat so that
bedde bed
0968 Þar louerd haueþ his loue ibedde?
Þar where
louerd lord
loue beloved
ibedde bed-fellow
0969 Hit is mi ri3t, hit is mi la3e
la3e law
0970 Þat to þe hexst ich me dra3e.
hexst highest
to...ich me dra3e I take after
0971 Ac 3et þu 3elpst of þine songe
Ac but
3et furthermore
3elpst boast
0972 Þat þu canst 3olle wroþe and stronge,
canst can
3olle scream
wroþe angrily
0973 An seist þu uisest mankunne
An and
seist say
uisest direct
mankunne mankind
0974 Þat hi biwepen hore sunne.
hi they
biwepen should weep over
hore their
sunne sins
0975 Solde euch mon vvonie and grede
Solde if...should
euch every
mon man
vvonie wail
grede cry
0976 Ri3t suich hi weren unlede,
suich as if
hi they
unlede miserable
0977 Solde hi 3ollen also þu dest,
Solde if...should
hi they
3ollen scream
also just as
dest do
0978 Hi mi3te oferen here prost.
Hi they
oferen frighten
here their
prost priest
0979 Man schal bo stille and no3t grede;
bo be
stille quiet
no3t not
grede cry
0980 He mot biwepe his misdede,
mot must
biwepe weep over
misdede misdeeds
0981 Ac þar is Cristes heriinge,
Ac but
þar there
heriinge glorification
0982 Þar me shal grede and lude singe:
Þar where
me one
grede cry out
lude loudly
0983 Nis noþer to lud ne to long
Nis is not
noþer neither
to too
ne nor
to too
0984 At ri3te time chirche song.
chirche song hymn-singing
0985 Þu 3olst and wonest, and ich singe,
3olst scream
wonest wail
0986 Þi steuene is wop, and min skentinge.
steuene voice
wop weeping
skentinge song of delight
0987 Euer mote þu 3olle and wepen
mote may
3olle scream
wepen weep
0988 Þat þu þi lif mote forleten,
Þat so that
mote may
forleten leave
0989 An 3ollen mote þu so he3e
3ollen scream
mote may
he3e loud
0990 Þat ut berste bo þin e3e!
berste may burst
bo both
e3e eyes
0991 Weþer is betere of twere twom,
Weþer which
of twere twom of two of two
0992 Þat mon bo bliþe oþer grom?
mon man
bo be
bliþe happy
oþer or
grom grieved
0993 So bo hit euer in unker siþe
bo is
unker of the two of us
siþe case
0994 Þat þu bo sori, and ich bliþe!
bo are
sori sad
bliþe happy
0995 3ut þu aisheist wi ich ne fare
3ut yet
aisheist ask
wi why
fare travel
0996 Into oþer londe and singe þare.
þare there
0997 No! Wat sholde ich among hom do,
hom them
0998 Þar neuer blisse ne com to?
Þar where
blisse joy
0999 Þat lond nis god, ne hit nis este,
nis is not
ne nor
este pleasant
1000 Ac wildernisse hit is and weste:
Ac but
weste waste land
1001 Knarres and cludes houentinge,
Knarres crags
cludes rocks
houentinge reaching to the sky
1002 Snou and ha3el hom is genge;
Snou snow
ha3el hail
hom is genge is what they know
1003 Þat lond is grislich and unuele.
grislich horrible
unuele wretched
1004 Þe men boþ wilde and unisele,
boþ are
unisele unhappy
1005 Hi nabbeþ noþer griþ ne sibbe.
Hi they
nabbeþ have not
noþer neither
griþ peace
ne nor
sibbe concord
1006 Hi ne reccheþ hu hi libbe:
Hi they
reccheþ care
libbe live
1007 Hi eteþ fihs an flehs unsode
Hi they
eteþ eat
fihs fish
an and
flehs flash
unsode raw
1008 Suich wulues hit hadde tobrode,
Suich as if
wulues wolves
tobrode torn apart
1009 Hi drinkeþ milc and wei þarto –
Hi they
wei whey
þarto besides
1010 Hi nute elles þat hi do;
Hi they
nute do not know
elles otherwise
þat what
1011 Hi nabbeþ noþer win ne bor,
Hi they
nabbeþ have not
noþer neither
win wine
ne nor
bor beer
1012 Ac libbeþ also wilde dor;
Ac but
libbeþ live
also just as
dor animals
1013 Hi goþ biti3t mid ru3e uelle,
Hi they
goþ go
biti3t attired
mid with
ru3e rough
uelle skins
1014 Ri3t suich hi comen ut of helle.
suich as if
hi they
comen came
1015 Þe3 eni god man to hom come –
Þe3 if
hom them
come came
1016 So wile dude sum from Rome –
wile once
dude did
sum some
1017 For hom to lere gode þewes,
hom them
lere teach
þewes manners
1018 An for to leten hore unþewes,
An and
leten leave off
hore their
unþewes wicked ways
1019 He mi3te bet sitte stille,
bet better
1020 Vor al his wile he sholde spille:
Vor because
his time
wile time
sholde would
spille waste
1021 He mi3te bet teche ane bore
bet better
teche teach
ane a
bore boar
1022 To we3e boþe sheld and spere,
we3e bear
sheld shield
spere spear
1023 Þan me þat wilde folc ibringe
Þan than that
me one
ibringe should induce
1024 Þat hi me wolde ihere singe.
hi they
ihere hear
1025 Wat soldich þar mid mine songe?
Wat what
soldich should I do
þar there
mid with
1026 Ne sunge ich hom neuer so longe
sunge sang to
hom them
neuer so however
1027 Mi song were ispild ech del;
were would be
ispild wasted
ech del altogether
1028 For hom ne mai halter ne bridel
hom them
mai can
ne nor
bridel bridle
1029 Bringe vrom hore wode wise,
Bringe deflect
vrom from
hore their
wode mad
wise habits
1030 Ne mon mid stele ne mid ire.
Ne nor
mon anyone
stele steel
ire iron
1031 Ac war lond is boþe este and god,
Ac but
war where
este pleasant
1032 An þar men habbeþ milde mod,
An and
þar where
mod mind
1033 ich noti mid hom mine þrote;
noti use
hom them
1034 Vor ich mai do þar gode note
mai can
þar there
note work
1035 An bringe hom loue tiþinge,
An and
hom them
loue agreeable
tiþinge news
1036 Vor ich of chirche songe singe.
chirche songe hymns
1037 Hit was iseid in olde la3e –
iseid said
la3e dictum
1038 An 3et ilast þilke soþsa3e –
An and
3et still
ilast endures
þilke that same
soþsa3e true saying
1039 Þat man shal erien an sowe
erien plough
an and
1040 Þar he wenþ after sum god mowe,
Þar where
wenþ expects
after afterwards
sum some
god good thing
mowe mow
1041 For he is wod þat soweþ his sed
wod mad
þat who
sed seed
1042 Þar neuer gras ne sprinþ ne bled.’
Þar where
sprinþ sprouts
ne nor
bled blossom
1043 Þe Hule was wroþ, to cheste rad
Hule owl
wroþ angry
cheste contention
rad quick
1044 Mid þisse worde, hire e3en abrad:
Mid with
þisse these
worde words
e3en eyes
abrad dilated
1045 ‘Þu seist þu witest manne bures,
seist say
witest know
manne men’s
bures dwellings
1046 Þar leues boþ and faire flores,
Þar where
leues leaves
boþ are
flores flowers
1047 Þar two iloue in one bedde
Þar where
iloue lovers
one a
bedde bed
1048 Liggeþ biclopt and wel bihedde.
Liggeþ lie
biclopt clasped
bihedde watched over
1049 Enes þu sunge – ic wod wel ware –
Enes once upon a time
sunge sang
wod knew
ware where
1050 Bi one bure, and woldest lere
one a
bure dwelling
woldest wanted to
lere teach
1051 Þe lefdi to an uuel luue;
lefdi lady
to in
an a
uuel wicked
luue love
1052 An sunge boþe lo3e and buue,
An and
sunge sang
lo3e low
buue high
1053 An lerdest hi to don shome
An and
lerdest taught
hi her
don shome...of defile
1054 An vnri3t of hire licome.
An and
(don) vnri3t of ourage
licome body
1055 Þe louerd þat sone under3at;
louerd husband
sone soon
under3at learnt
1056 Liim and grine and wel eiwat
Liim bird-lime
grine snares
wel indeed
eiwat everything
1057 Sette and lede þe for to lacche.
lede laid
þe thee
lacche catch
1058 Þu come sone to þan hacche,
come came
sone soon
þan the
hacche casement
1059 Þu were inume in one grine;
inume taken
one a
grine snare
1060 Al hit abo3te þine shine;
Al hit abo3te paid for it all
shine shins
1061 Þu naddest non oþer dom ne la3e
naddest had not
non no
dom judgment
ne nor
la3e sentence
1062 Bute mid wilde horse were todra3e.
Bute except that
mid with
horse horses
todra3e torn to pieces
1063 Vonde 3if þu mi3t eft misrede
Vonde try
mi3t can
eft again
misrede lead astray
1064 Waþer þu wult, wif þe maide:
Waþer whichr
wult will
wif wife
þe or
maide maiden
1065 Þi song mai bo so longe genge
bo be
genge prevalent
1066 Þat þu shalt wippen on a sprenge.’
wippen dangle
on in
sprenge snare
1067 Þe Ni3tingale at þisse worde
þisse these
worde words
1068 Mid sworde an mid speres orde,
Mid with
an and
mid with
speres of spear
orde point
1069 3if ho mon were, wolde fi3te;
ho she
mon man
wolde wanted to
fi3te fight
1070 Ac þo ho bet do ne mi3te
Ac but
þo seeing that
ho she
bet better
mi3te could
1071 Ho ua3t mid hire wise tunge.
Ho she
ua3t fought
mid with
tunge tongue
1072 ‘Wel fi3t þat wel specþ,’ seiþ in þe songe.
fi3t fights
þat he who
specþ speaks
seiþ says
1073 Of hire tunge ho nom red;
ho she
of...nom red went to...for help
1074 ‘Wel fi3t þat wel specþ,’ seide Alured.
fi3t fights
þat he who
specþ speaks
Alured Alfred
1075 ‘Wat! seistu þis for mine shome?
Wat what
seistu dou you say
shome disgrace
1076 Þe louerd hadde herof grame.
louerd husband
herof for it
grame grief
1077 He was so gelus of his wiue
gelus jelous
wiue wife
1078 Þat he ne mi3te, for his liue,
mi3te could bear to
liue life
1079 Iso þat man wiþ hire speke,
Iso see
man anyone
speke should speak
1080 Þat his horte nolde breke.
horte heart
nolde would not
1081 He hire bileck in one bure,
bileck locked up
one a
bure chamber
1082 Þat hire was boþe stronge and sure.
Þat so that
stronge hard
sure bitter
1083 Ich hadde of hire milse an ore,
hadde took
of on
milse pity
an and
ore mercy
1084 An sori was for hire sore,
An and
sore grief
1085 An skente hi mid mine songe
An and
skente entertained
hi her
mid with
1086 Al þat ich mi3te, raþe an longe.
mi3te could
raþe soon
an and
1087 Vorþan þe kni3t was wiþ me wroþ,
Vorþan therefore
kni3t knight
wroþ angry
1088 Vor ri3te niþe ich was him loþ.
Vor because of
ri3te downright
niþe envy
loþ hateful
1089 He dude me his o3ene shome,
dude brought on
o3ene own
shome shame
1090 Ac al him turnde it to grome.
Ac but
grome grief
1091 Þat underyat þe king Henri –
underyat learnt
1092 Iesus his soule do merci! –
do merci may have mercy on
1093 He let forbonne þene kni3t,
let caused to
forbonne banish
þene the
1094 Þat hadde idon so muchel unri3t
Þat who
idon done
muchel much
unri3t wrong
1095 Ine so gode kinges londe:
Ine in
kinges king’s
1096 Vor ri3te niþe and for fule onde
Vor because of
ri3te downright
niþe envy
fule malign
onde spite
1097 Let þane lutle fu3el nime
Let caused to
þane the
lutle little
fu3el bird
nime seize
1098 An him fordeme lif an lime.
An and
fordeme condemn
an and
lif an lime life and limb (=capitally)
1099 Hit was wrþsipe al mine kunne,
was wrþsipe redounded to the honour of
kunne tribe
1100 Forþon þe kni3t forles his wunne
Forþon because
forles forfeited
wunne joy
1101 An 3af for me an hundred punde;
An and
3af gave
punde pounds
1102 An mine briddes seten isunde,
An and
briddes birds
seten sat
isunde healthy
1103 An hadde soþþe blisse and hi3te,
An and
soþþe after that
blisse joy
hi3te delight
1104 An were bliþe, and wel mi3te.
An and
bliþe happy
wel mi3te had good reason
1105 Vorþon ich was so wel awreke
Vorþon because
awreke avenged
1106 Euer eft ich darr þe bet speke:
eft afterwards
darr dare
bet better
1107 Vor hit bitidde ene swo
Vor because
bitidde came to pass
ene once
swo so
1108 Ich am þe bliþur euer mo.
bliþur happier
euer mo for ever after
1109 Nu ich mai singe war ich wulle,
mai can
war wherever
wulle will
1110 Ne dar me neuer eft mon agrulle.
dar dare
eft again
mon anyone
agrulle annoy
1111 Ac þu, ereming! þu wrecche gost!
Ac but
ereming poor thing
wrecche wretched
gost being
1112 Þu ne canst finde, ne þu nost,
canst can
ne nor
nost do not know
1113 An hol3 stok þar þu þe mi3t hude,
An a
hol3 hollow
stok tree-stump
þar where
þe thyself
mi3t can
hude hide
1114 Þat me ne twengeþ þine hude.
Þat so that
twengeþ pinches
hude skin
1115 Vor children, gromes, heme and hine,
Vor for
children monastery boys
gromes lads in service
heme villagers
hine monastics
1116 Hi þencheþ alle of þire pine:
Hi they
þenche...of plot
þire thy
pine torment
1117 3if hi mu3e iso þe sitte
hi they
mu3e can
iso see
þe thee
1118 Stones hi doþ in hore slitte,
hi they
doþ put
hore their
slitte pockets
1119 An þe totorued and toheneþ,
An and
þe thee
totorued pelt to bits
toheneþ stone to pieces
1120 An þine fule bon tosheneþ.
An and
fule foul
bon bones
tosheneþ break up
1121 3if þu art iworpe oþer ishote
3if...Þanne...erest once
iworpe hit
oþer or
ishote shot down
1122 Þanne þu mi3t erest to note;
Þanne n
mi3t may be
to note of use
1123 Vor me þe hoþ in one rodde,
Vor for
me one
þe thee
hoþ hangs
one a
rodde rod
1124 An þu, mid þine fule codde
An and
mid with
fule foul
codde carcass
1125 An mid þine ateliche swore,
An and
mid with
ateliche loathsome
swore neck
1126 Biwerest manne corn urom dore.
Biwerest defends
manne men’s
urom against
dore animals
1127 Nis noþer no3t, þi lif ne þi blod,
Nis is not
noþer either
no3t good for nothing
ne or
blod blood
1128 Ac þu art shueles suþe god.
Ac but
shueles scarecrow
suþe very
god good
1129 Þar nowe sedes boþe isowe,
Þar where
nowe new
sedes seeds
boþe are
isowe sown
1130 Pinnuc, golfinc, rok, ne crowe
Pinnuc hedge-sparrow
golfinc goldfinch
rok rook
ne nor
1131 Ne dar þar neuer cumen ihende
dar dare
þar there
cumen come
ihende close
1132 3if þi buc hongeþ at þan ende;
buc carcass
hongeþ hangs
þan the
ende far side
1133 Þar tron shulle a 3ere blowe,
Þar where
tron trees
shulle shall
a 3ere in spring
blowe blossom
1134 An 3unge sedes springe and growe,
An and
3unge young
sedes seeds
springe sprout
1135 Ne dar no fu3el þarto uonge
dar dare
fu3el bird
þarto them
uonge ravage
1136 3if þu art þarouer ihonge.
þarouer above them
ihonge hung
1137 Þi lif is eure luþer and qued:
luþer worthless
qued wicked
1138 Þu nard no3t bute ded.
nard are not
no3t nothing
bute but
ded dead
1139 Nu þu mi3t wite sikerliche
mi3t can
wite know
sikerliche for certain
1140 Þat þine leches boþ grisliche
leches looks
boþ are
grisliche horrible
1141 Þe wile þu art on lifda3e,
Þe wile while
on lifada3e alive
1142 Vor wane þu hongest isla3e
Vor for
wane when
hongest hang
isla3e slain
1143 3ut hi boþ of þe ofdradde,
3ut even then
hi they
boþ are
þe thee
ofdradde afraid
1144 Þe fu3eles þat þe er bigradde.
fu3eles birds
þe thee
er before
bigradde cried out against
1145 Mid ri3te men boþ wiþ þe wroþe,
Mid ri3te rightly
boþ are
þe thee
wroþe angry
1146 For þu singist euer of hore loþe:
hore their
loþe troubles
1147 Al þat þu singst, raþe oþer late,
raþe early
oþer or
1148 Hit is euer of manne unwate;
manne men’s
unwate misfortunes
1149 Wane þu hauest a ni3t igrad
Wane when
a by
igrad cried out
1150 Men boþ of þe wel sore ofdrad.
boþ are
sore sorely
ofdrad afraid
1151 Þu singst þar sum man shal be ded;
þar where
sum some
be ded die
1152 Euer þu bodest sumne qued:
bodest foretell
sumne some
qued misfortune
1153 Þu singst a3en ei3te lure,
a3en in expectation
ei3te of property
lure loss
1154 Oþer of summe frondes rure,
Oþer or
summe some
frondes friend’s
rure ruin
1155 Oþer þu bodes huses brune,
Oþer or
bodes foretell
huses of a house
brune burning
1156 Oþer ferde of manne, oþer þoues rune,
Oþer or
ferde battle
manne men
þoues rune hue and cry for a thief
1157 Oþer þu bodest cualm of oreue,
Oþer or
bodest foretell
cualm murrain
oreue cattle
1158 Oþer þat londfolc wurþ idorue,
Oþer or
londfolc population
wurþ will be
idorue stricken
1159 Oþer þat wif lost hire make,
Oþer or
lost loses
make husband
1160 Oþer þu bodest cheste an sake.
Oþer or
bodest foretell
cheste strife
an and
sake contention
1161 Euer þu singist of manne hareme,
1162 Þur3 þe hi boþ sori and areme;
Þur3 because of
þe thee
hi they
boþ are
sori sad
areme miserable
1163 Þu ne singst neuer one siþe
one siþe once
1164 Þat hit nis for sum unsiþe.
nis is not
sum some
unsiþe mishap
1165 Heruore hit is þat me þe shuneþ
Heruore for this
me one
þe thee
shuneþ shuns
1166 An þe totorueþ and tobuneþ
An and
þe thee
totorueþ pelts to bits
tobuneþ thrashes
1167 Mid staue and stoone and turf and clute,
Mid with
staue sticks
stoone stones
turf peat
clute clods
1168 Þat þu ne mi3t nowar atrute.
Þat so that
mi3t can
nowar nowhere
atrute escape
1169 Dahet euer suich budel in tune
Dahet euer a curse forever on
suich such
budel in tune town-crier
1170 Þat euer bodeþ unwreste rune,
bodeþ foretells
unwreste sorry
rune news
1171 An euer bringeþ vuele tiþinge,
An and
vuele evil
tiþinge tidings
1172 An þat euer specþ of vuele þinge!
An and
specþ speaks
vuele evil
1173 God Almi3ti wrþe him wroþ,
wrþe may grow
wroþ angry with
1174 An al þat werieþ linnene cloþ!’
An and
werieþ wear
linnene linen
cloþ clothes
1175 Þe Hule ne abot no3t swiþ longe,
Hule owl
abot waited
no3t at all
swiþ very
1176 Ah 3ef ondsware starke and stronge:
Ah but
3ef gave
ondsware answer
starke fierce
1177 ‘Wat!’ quaþ ho, ‘hartu ihoded,
Wat what
quaþ said
ho she
hartu are you
ihoded ordained
1178 Oþer þu kursest al unihoded?
Oþer or
kursest curse
unihoded unordained
1179 For prestes wike ich wat þu dest;
prestes priest’s
wike office
wat know
dest do
1180 Ich not 3ef þu were 3aure prest,
not do not know
3ef if
3aure ever
1181 Ich not 3ef þu canst masse singe:
not do not know
3ef if
canst can
1182 Inoh þu canst of mansinge.
Inoh enough
canst know
mansinge cursing
1183 Ah hit is for þine alde niþe
Ah but
alde old
niþe malice
1184 Þat þu me akursedest oðer siþe.
akursedest cursed
oðer siþe once more
1185 Ah þarto is lihtlich ondsware:
Ah but
þarto to that
lihtlich easy
ondsware answer
1186 “Drah to þe!” cwaþ þe cartare.
Drah to þe slow you down (?)
cwaþ said
cartare carter
1187 Wi attwitestu me mine insihte,
Wi why
attwitestu do you blame for
insihte understanding
1188 An min iwit, and mine mi3te?
An and
iwit wisdom
mi3te ability
1189 For ich am witi, ful iwis,
witi wise
iwis certainly
1190 An wod al þat to kumen is:
An and
wod know
kumen occur
1191 Ich wot of hunger, of hergonge,
wot know
hergonge invasion
1192 Ich wot 3ef men schule libbe longe,
wot know
3ef if
schule shall
libbe live
1193 Ich wat 3ef wif luste hire make,
wat know
3ef if
luste loses
make husband
1194 Ich wat þar schal beo niþ and wrake,
wat know
þar where
beo be
niþ hatred
wrake enmity
1195 Ich wot hwo schal beon anhonge
wot know
hwo who
beon be
anhonge hanged
1196 Oþer elles fulne deþ afonge.
Oþer or
elles else
fulne foul
deþ death
afonge suffer
1197 3ef men habbeþ bataile inume
3ef if
bataile battle
inume undertaken
1198 Ich wat hwaþer schal beon ouerkume.
wat know
hwaþer which
ouerkume overcome
1199 Ich wat 3if cwalm scal comen on orfe,
wat know
cwalm murrain
orfe cattle
1200 An 3if dor schul ligge astorue;
An and
dor animals
schul shall
ligge lie
astorue dead
1201 Ich wot 3ef treon schule blowe,
wot know
3ef if
treon trees
schule shall
blowe blossom
1202 Ich wat 3ef cornes schule growe,
wat know
3ef if
cornes corns
schule shall
1203 Ich wot 3ef huses schule berne,
wot know
3ef if
schule shall
berne burn
1204 Ich wot 3ef men schule eorne oþer erne,
wot know
3ef if
schule shall
eorne run
oþer or
erne ride
1205 Ich wot 3ef sea schal schipes drenche,
wot know
3ef if
schipes ships
drenche drown
1206 Ich wot 3ef smiþes schal uuele clenche.
wot know
3ef if
smiþes armoures
uuele wickedly
clenche river
1207 An 3et ich con muchel more:
An and
con know
muchel much
1208 Ich con inoh in bokes lore,
con am skilled
inoh enough
boke lore book-learning
1209 An eke ich can of þe goddspelle
An and
eke also
can know
goddspelle gospels
1210 More þan ich nule þe telle;
nule will not (=wish to)
þe thee
1211 For ich at chirche come ilome
ilome often
1212 An muche leorni of wisdome.
An and
leorni learn
1213 Ich wat al of þe tacninge
wat know
tacninge presaging
1214 An of oþer feole þinge.
An and
oþer feole many other
1215 3ef eni mon schal rem abide
3ef if
eni any
rem hue and cry
abide be pursued by
1216 Al ich hit wot ear hit itide.
wot know
ear before
itide happens
1217 Ofte for mine muchele iwitte
muchele great
iwitte wisdom
1218 Wel sorimod and worþ ich sitte.
Wel very
sorimod sad at heart
worþ angry
1219 Wan ich iseo þat sum wrechede
Wan when
iseo see
sum some
wrechede misery
1220 Is manne neh, innoh ich grede:
manne men
neh near
innoh enough
grede cry out
1221 Ich bidde þat men beon iwarre,
bidde beg
beon be
iwarre vigilant
1222 An habbe gode reades 3arre.
An and
reades advice
3arre ready
1223 For Alfred seide a wis word –
word saying
1224 Euch mon hit schulde legge on hord:
Euch every
mon man
legge on hord store up
1225 “3ef þu isihst her he beo icume
3ef if
isihst see
her before
he he (=calamity)
beo is
icume arrived
1226 His strencþe is him wel neh binume.”
wel neh almost
binume taken from
1227 An grete duntes beoþ þe lasse
An and
duntes blows
beoþ are
lasse smaller
1228 3ef me ikepþ mid iwarnesse:
3ef if
me one
ikepþ is on the look-out
mid with
iwarnesse vigilance
1229 An flo schal toward mis3enge
An a
flo arrow
toward flying on its way
mis3enge miss its mark
1230 3ef þu isihst hu fleo of strenge,
3ef if
isihst see
fleo (it) flew
of from
strenge string
1231 For þu mi3t blenche vvel and fleo
mi3t can
blenche dodge
vvel easily
fleo flee
1232 3if þu isihst heo to þe teo.
isihst see
heo her (=arrow)
þe thee
teo proceed
1233 Þat eni man beo falle in odwite,
beo is
falle fallen
odwite shame
1234 Wi schal he me his sor atwite?
Wi why
sor trouble
atwite blame for
1235 Þah ich iseo his harm biuore
Þah even if
iseo see
biuore in advance
1236 Ne comeþ hit no3t of me þaruore.
no3t at all
of from
þaruore for that reason
1237 Þah þu iseo þat sum blind mon,
Þah even if
iseo see
sum some
mon man
1238 Þat nanne rihtne wei ne con,
Þat who
nanne no
rihtne right
con knows
1239 To þare diche his dweole fulied,
þare the
diche ditch
dweole devious way
fulied follows
1240 An falleþ, and þarone sulied,
An and
þarone in it
sulied gets dirty
1241 Wenest þu, þah ich al iseo,
Wenest do you think
þah even if
iseo see
1242 Þat hit for me þe raþere beo?
for because of
raþere more quickly
beo is
1243 Alswo hit fareþ bi mine witte:
Alswo just so
fareþ goes
bi with
witte wisdom
1244 Hhwanne ich on mine bowe sitte
Hhwanne when
bowe bough
1245 Ich wot and iseo swiþe brihte
wot know
iseo see
swiþe very
brihte clearly
1246 An summe men kumed harm þarrihte,
summe some
men man
An...kumed befalls
þarrihte at once
1247 Schal he, þat þerof no þing not,
þat who
þerof of it
no þing at all
not does not know
1248 Hit wite me, for ich hit wot?
wite blame on
for because
wot know
1249 Schal he his mishap wite me
wite blame on
1250 For ich am wisure þane he?
For because
wisure wiser
þane than
1251 Hwanne ich iseo þat sum wrechede
Hwanne when
iseo see
sum some
wrechede misery
1252 Is manne neh, inoh ich grede,
manne men
neh near
inoh enough
grede cry out
1253 An bidde inoh þat hi heom schilde,
An and
bidde beg
inoh enough
hi they
heom themselves
schilde protect
1254 For toward heom is harm unmylde.
toward against
heom them
unmylde harsh
1255 Ah þah ich grede lude an stille
Ah but
þah though
grede cry out
lude loud
an and
stille softly
1256 Al hit itid þurh Godes wille.
itid happens
þurh because of
1257 Hwi wulleþ men of me hi mene,
Hwi why
wulleþ will
hi themselves
mene complain
1258 Þah ich mid soþe heo awene?
Þah though
mid with
soþe truth
heo them
awene trouble
1259 Þah ich hi warni al þat 3er,
Þah though
hi them
warni warn
þat the
3er year
1260 Nis heom þerfore harem no þe ner.
Nis is not
heom them
harem harm
no þe none the
ner nearer
1261 Ah ich heom singe, for ich wolde
Ah but
heom them
singe sing for
for because
wolde wished
1262 Þat hi wel understonde schulde
hi they
1263 þat sum unselþe heom is ihende
sum some
unselþe misfortune
heom them
ihende near
1264 Hwan ich min huing to heom sende.
Hwan when
huing hooting
heom them
1265 Naueþ no man none sikerhede,
Naueþ has not
sikerhede certainty
1266 Þat he ne mai wene and adrede
mai can
wene expect
adrede fear
1267 Þat sum unhwate neþ him beo,
sum some
unhwate misfortune
neþ near
beo is
1268 Þah he ne conne hit iseo.
Þah even if
conne can
iseo see
1269 Forþi seide Alfred swiþe wel –
Forþi therefore
swiþe very
1270 And his worde was goddspel –
worde saying
goddspel gospel
1271 Þat euereuch man, þe bet him beo,
euereuch every
bet better
him to him
beo (it) is
1272 Eauer þe bet he hine beseo;
Eauer ever
bet better
hine himself
beseo shall look to
1273 Ne truste no mon to his weole
truste let...put his trust
mon man
to in
weole prosperity
1274 To swiþe, þah he habbe ueole:
To too
swiþe much
þah though
ueole much
1275 “Nis nout so hot þat hit nacoleþ,
Nis is not
nout nothing
nacoleþ does not cool off
1276 Ne no3t so hwit þat hit ne soleþ,
no3t nothing
hwit white
soleþ gets dirty
1277 Ne no3t so leof þat hit ne aloþeþ,
no3t nothing
leof dear
aloþeþ grows loathsome
1278 Ne no3t so glad þat hit ne awroþeþ:
no3t nothing
awroþeþ becomes angry
1279 Ah eauere euch þing þat eche nis
Ah but
eauere always
euch every
eche eternal
nis is not
1280 Agon schal, and al þis worldes blis.”
Agon pass
worldes world’s
blis joy
1281 Nu þu mi3t wite readliche
mi3t can
wite know
readliche readily
1282 Þat eauere þu spekest gideliche,
eauere always
gideliche foolishly
1283 For al þat þu me seist for schame,
me seist for schame say to disgrace me
1284 Euer þe seolue hit turneþ to grome.
Euer always
þe seolue...to grome to your own harm
1285 Go so hit go, at eche fenge
Go so hit go come what may
eche each
fenge round
1286 Þu fallest mid þine ahene swenge:
ahene own
swenge blow
1287 Al þat þu seist for me to schende,
schende put to shame
1288 Hit is mi wurschipe at þan ende.
wurschipe honour
þan the
1289 Bute þu wille bet aginne
Bute unless
bet better
aginne go about it
1290 Ne shaltu bute schame iwinne.’
shaltu you shall
bute only
iwinne gain
1291 Þe Ni3tingale sat and si3te,
si3te sighed
1292 And hohful was, and ful wel mi3te,
hohful anxious
ful wel mi3te had very good reason
1293 For þe Hule swo ispeke hadde
Hule owl
swo so
ispeke spoken
1294 An hire speche swo iladde,
An and
swo so
iladde conducted
1295 Heo was hoþful and erede
Heo she
hoþful anxious
erede devoid of counsel
1296 Hwat heo þarafter hire sede.
Hwat what
þarafter after that
sede should say
1297 Ah neoþeles heo hire understod.
Ah but
neoþeles nevertheless
heo she
1298 ‘Wat! heo seide, ‘Hule, artu wod?
Wat what
heo she
Hule owl
artu are you
wod mad
1299 Þu 3eolpest of seolliche wisdome;
3eolpest boast
seolliche marvellous
1300 Þu nustest wanene he þe come,
nustest did not know
wanene from where
þe thee
come came to
1301 Bute hit of wicche crefte were.
Bute unless
wicche crefte witchcraft
1302 Þarof þu, wrecche, moste þe skere,
Þarof from that
wrecche wretch
moste must
þe thyself
skere clear
1303 3if þu wult among manne boe,
wult want to
manne men
boe be
1304 Oþer þu most of londe fleo;
Oþer or
most must
of from
fleo flee
1305 For alle þeo þat þerof cuþe,
þeo those
þerof about that
cuþe knew
1306 Heo uere ifurn of prestes muþe
Heo they
uere formerly
of from
prestes priest’s
muþe mouth
1307 Amanset: swuch þu art 3ette,
Amanset cursed
swuch such
3ette still
1308 Þu wiecche crafte neauer ne lete.
wiecche crafte witchcraft
neauer never
lete abandoned
1309 Ich þe seide nu lutel ere,
þe thee
seide said (so) to
nu lutel ere just now
1310 An þu askedest 3ef ich were,
An and
askedest asked
3ef if
1311 A bisemere, to preost ihoded:
A in
bisemere mockery
to as
ihoded ordained
1312 Ah þe mansing is so ibroded,
Ah but
mansing cursing
ibroded widespread
1313 Þah no preost a londe nere,
Þah though
a in
nere were not
1314 A wrecche neoþeles þu were,
neoþeles nevertheless
were would be
1315 For eauereuch chil þe cleopeþ fule,
eauereuch every
chil child
þe thee
cleopeþ calls
fule foul
1316 An euereuch man a wrecche hule.
An and
euereuch every
wrecche miserable
hule owl
1317 Ich habbe iherd, and soþ hit is,
iherd heard
soþ truth
1318 Þe mon mot beo wel storrewis
mon man
mot must
beo be
storrewis skilled in astrology
1319 Þat wite innoþ of wucche þinge kume,
wite may know
innoþ inner source
wucche whatever
kume may come
1320 So þu seist þe is iwune:
So as
þe thee
iwune usual with
1321 Hwat canstu, wrecche þing, of storre,
canstu know
wrecche miserable
þing creature
storre stars
1322 Bute þat þu bihaltst hi feorre?
Bute except
bihaltst behold
hi them
feorre far away
1323 Alswo deþ mani dor and man
Alswo just so
deþ does
mani many a
dor animal
1324 Þeo of swucche nawiht ne con.
Þeo that
swucche such matters
nawiht nothing
con know
1325 On ape mai a boc bihalde,
On an
boc book
bihalde look at
1326 An leues wenden and eft folde,
An and
leues leaves
wenden turn
eft again
folde shut
1327 Ah he ne con þe bet þaruore
Ah but
con knows
ne...þe bet no better
þaruore on that account
1328 Of clerkes lore, top ne more.
clerkes clerics’
lore learning
top ne more from beginning to end
1329 Þah þu iseo þe steorre alswa
Þah though
iseo see
steorre stars
alswa likewise
1330 Nartu þe wisure neauer þe mo.
Nartu you are not
wisure wiser
neauer þe mo for all that
1331 Ah 3et þu, fule þing, me chist,
Ah but
fule foul
þing creature
chist rebuke
1332 An wel grimliche me atwist
An and
grimliche fiercely
atwist blame
1333 Þat ich singe bi manne huse
manne men’s
huse houses
1334 An teache wif breke spuse.
An and
wif wives
breke spuse to commit adultery
1335 Þu liest iwis, þu fule þing,
iwis indeed
fule foul
þing creature
1336 Þurh me nas neauer ischend spusing.
Þurh because of
nas was not
neauer never
ischend violated
spusing wedlock
1337 Ah soþ hit is, ich singe and grede
Ah but
soþ truth
grede cry out
1338 Þar lauedies beoþ and faire maide,
Þar where
lauedies ladies
beoþ are
maide maidens
1339 And soþ hit is, of luue ich singe:
soþ truth
luue love
1340 For god wif mai i spusing
i in
spusing wedlock
1341 Bet luuien hire o3ene were
Bet better
luuien love
o3ene own
were husband
1342 Þane awer hire copenere,
Þane than
awer in any way
copenere lover
1343 An maide mai luue cheose
An and
luue sweetheart
cheose choose
1344 Þat hire wurþschipe ne forleose,
Þat so that
wurþschipe honour
forleose (she) loses
1345 An luuie mid rihte luue
An and
luuie love
mid with
1346 Þane þe schal beon hire buue.
Þane that man
þe who
beon be
buue master over
1347 Swiche luue ich itache and lere,
Swiche such
itache show
lere teach
1348 Þerof beoþ al mine ibere.
Þerof about it
beoþ are
ibere cries
1349 Þah sum wif beo of nesche mode –
Þah though
sum some
beo is
nesche tender
mode heart
1350 For wummon beoþ of softe blode –
wummon women
beoþ are
blode nature
1351 Þat heo, þurh sume sottes lore
heo she
þurh through
sume some
sottes fool’s
lore suggestion
1352 Þe 3eorne bit and sikeþ sore,
Þe who
3eorne eagerly
bit asks
sikeþ sighs
sore bitterly
1353 Misrempe and misdo summe stunde,
Misrempe goes astray
misdo does wrong
summe stunde sometimes
1354 Schal ich þaruore beon ibunde?
þaruore therefore
beon be
ibunde held responsible
1355 3if wimmen luuieþ unrede,
wimmen women
luuieþ love
unrede folly
1356 Wi witistu me hore misdede?
Wi why
witistu do you blame for
hore their
misdede misdeeds
1357 3ef wimmon þencheþ luuie derne
3ef if
wimmon women
þencheþ intend to
luuie love
derne in secret
1358 Ne mai ich mine songes werne.
mai can
werne deny
1359 Wummon mai pleie under cloþe
Wummon woman
pleie have a gay time
cloþe clothes
1360 Weþer heo wile, wel þe wroþe,
Weþer which way
heo she
wile wants to
wel honestly
þe or
wroþe wickedly
1361 And heo mai do bi mine songe
heo she
1362 Hwaþer heo wule, wel þe wronge;
Hwaþer which way
heo she
wule wants to
wel honestly
þe or
wronge wickedly
1363 For nis a worlde þing so god
nis is not
a in
god good
1364 Þat ne mai do sum ungod
sum some
ungod evil
1365 3if me hit wule turne amis:
me one
wule wants to
turne amis pervert
1366 For gold and seoluer, god hit is,
seoluer silver
1367 An noþeles þarmid þu mi3t
An and
noþeles nevertheless
þarmid with them
mi3t can
1368 Spusbruche buggen and unri3t;
Spusbruche adultery
buggen procure
unri3t wickedness
1369 Wepne beoþ gode griþ to halde,
Wepne weapons
beoþ are
griþ peace
halde keep
1370 Ah neoþeles þarmide beoþ men acwalde
Ah but
neoþeles nevertheless
þarmide with them
beoþ are
acwalde killed
1371 A3eines riht an fale londe
A3eines contrary tot
an in
fale many
londe lands
1372 Þar þeoues hi bereð an honde.
Þar where
þeoues thieves
hi them
bereð carry
an in
1373 Alswa hit is bi mine songe:
Alswa just so
1374 Þah he beo god, me hine mai misfonge
Þah though
beo is
god virtuous
me one
hine him (=song)
misfonge misapply
1375 An drahe hine to sothede
An and
drahe convert
hine him
sothede folly
1376 An to oþre uuele dede.
An and
uuele wicked
dede deed
1377 Ah schaltu, wrecch, luue tele?
Ah but
schaltu shall you
luue love
tele blame
1378 Bo wuch ho bo, vich luue is fele
Bo wuch ho bo whatever it may be
vich what sort of
luue love
fele proper
1379 Bitweone wepmon and wimmane;
wepmon man
wimmane women
1380 Ah 3ef heo is atbroide, þenne
Ah but
3ef if
heo she (=love)
atbroide extorted
1381 He is unfele and forbrode.
unfele evil
forbrode perverted
1382 Wroþ wurþe heom þe holi rode,
Wroþ angry with
wurþe may become
heom them
rode cross
1383 Þe rihte ikunde swo forbreideþ!
Þe who
ikunde instincts
swo so
forbreideþ corrupt
1384 Wunder hit is þat heo nawedeþ –
heo they
nawedeþ do not go mad
1385 An swo heo doþ, for heo beoþ wode
An and
swo so
heo they
doþ do
beoþ are
wode mad
1386 Þe bute nest goþ to brode.
Þe who
bute outside
goþ to brode go and breed
1387 Wummon is of nesche flesche,
Wummon woman
nesche frail
1388 An flesches lustes is strong to cwesse;
An and
flesches of the flesh
lustes desires
is it is
cwesse suppress
1389 Nis wunder nan þah he abide,
Nis it is not
nan at all
þah if
he she
abide persists
1390 For flesches lustes hi makeþ slide:
flesches of the flesh
lustes desires
hi her
makeþ make
slide slip
1391 Ne beoþ heo nowt alle forlore
beoþ are
heo they
nowt at all
forlore lost
1392 Þat stumpeþ at þe flesches more,
stumpeþ stumble
at over
flesches of the flesh
more root
1393 For moni wummon haueþ misdo
wummon women
misdo misbehaved
1394 Þat arist op of þe slo.
arist arise
op up
of from
slo mire
1395 Ne beoþ nowt ones alle sunne,
beoþ are
nowt at all
ones of one kind
sunne sins
1396 Forþan hi beoþ tweire kunne:
Forþan because
hi they
beoþ are
tweire kunne of two kinds
1397 Sun arist of þe flesches luste,
Sun sin
arist arises
of from
flesches of the flesh
luste desire
1398 An sum of þe gostes custe.
An and
sum some
gostes of the spirit
custe qualities
1399 Þar flesch draheþ men to drunnesse
Þar wherever
draheþ entices
drunnesse drunkenness
1400 An to wrouehede and to golnesse,
An and
wrouehede irritability
golnesse lechery
1401 Þe gost misdeþ þurch niþe an onde,
gost spirit
misdeþ errs
þurch through
niþe ill-will
an and
onde envy
1402 And seoþþe mid murhþe of monne shonde,
seoþþe then
mid with
murhþe joy
monne men’s
shonde disgrace
1403 An 3eoneþ after more and more
An and
3eoneþ longs with mouth wide open
after for
1404 An lutel rehþ of milce and ore,
An and
lutel little
rehþ cares
of for
milce grace
ore mercy
1405 An sti3þ on heþ þurþ modinesse
An and
sti3þ rises
on heþ up high
þurþ through
modinesse pride
1406 An ouerhoheð þanne lasse.
An and
ouerhoheð scorns
þanne the
lasse humble man
1407 Sei me sooþ, 3ef þu hit wost,
Sei say to
sooþ truth
3ef if
wost know
1408 Hweþer deþ vvurse, flesch þe gost?
Hweþer which
deþ does
vvurse worse
þe or
gost spirit
1409 Þu mi3t segge, 3ef þu wult,
segge say
3ef if
wult will
1410 Þat lasse is þe flesches gult:
lasse less
gult offence
1411 Moni man is of his flesche clene
Moni many a
of as regards
clene clean
1412 Þat is mid mode deouel imene.
mid in
mode spirit
deouel devil’s
imene companion
1413 Ne schal non mon vvimman bigrede,
non no
mon man
vvimman woman
bigrede cry out against
1414 An flesches lustes hire upbreide;
An and
