Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Judicum

Here bigynneþ þe bok of Judicum.

Capitulum I.

Aftir þe deeþ of Joſue þe ſones of Irael counſeilden þe Lord, ſeyynge, Who ſhal ſtye vp bifore vs aȝens Chanane, and be duk of bateil? And þe Lord ſeide, Judas ſhal ſtie vp; loo! I haue taak þe loond in his hoond. And Juda ſeiþ to Symeon, his broþir, Sty vp wiþ me in my lot, and fiȝt aȝens Chanane, þat I goo wiþ þee in þi lot. And Symeon wente wiþ hym; and Juda ſtiede vp. And þe Lord took Chanane and Phereze in to þe hoondis of hem, and þei ſmyten in Bezech ten þouſand of men. And þei foonden Adonybezech in Beſech, and þei fouȝten aȝens hym, and ſmyten Chanane, and Phereze. Adonybezech forſoþe fleiȝ, whom purſuynge þei, token, kit of þe ouermoſt partis of þe hoondis of hym, and of feet. And Adonybezech ſeide, Seuenti kyngis, kut of þe ouermore paartis of hoondis and of feet, gedreden vndur my bord relyues of meetis; as I haue doo, ſo þe Lord haþ doo to me. And þei brouȝten hym into Jeruſalem, and þere he died. Þanne þe ſones of Juda ouercomynge Jeruſalem token it, and ſmyten in mouþ of ſwerd, takynge al þe citee to brennynge. And afterward deſcendynge þei fouȝten aȝens Chanane, þat dwellyd in þe mounteyns, and at þe ſouþ, in þe wijld feeldis. And Judas goynge aȝens Chanane, þat dwellid in Ebron, whos name was bi old tyme Caryaþarbe, ſmoot Siſay, and Achyman, and Tholomay. And þens goon, wenten to þe dwellers of Dabir, whos name was old Cariaþſepher, þat is, þe citee of lettris. And Caleph ſeide, Who ſmytiþ Caryþſepher, and waſtiþ it, I ſhal ȝyue to hym a wijf, Axam, my douȝter. And whanne Oþonyel, þe ſone of Senech, þe laſſe broþer of Caleph, hadde taak it, he ȝaf to hym a wijf, Axam, hys douȝter. Þe which goynge in þe weie, hir man moneſtide, þat ſhe ſhulde axe hir fader a feeld; þe which whanne ſhe hadde ſiȝid, ſittynge in an aſſe, Caleph ſeide to hir, What haſt þou? And ſhe anſwerde, Ȝif to me a bleſſynge, for a dry erþe þou haſt ȝyue to me; ȝif and a moyſt wiþ watris. And Caleph ȝaf to hir moyſt aboue, and moyſt byneþe. Forſoþe þe ſones of Cyney, coſyn to Moiſes, ſtieden vp fro þe citee of palmes wiþ þe ſones of Juda, into þe deſeert of his lot, þat is at þe ſouþ of Arach; and þei dwelliden wiþ him. And Judas wente wiþ Symeon, his broþer; and þei ſmyten to gidre Chananee, þat dwellid in Sephat, and þei ſlewen hym; and þe name of þe cytee was clepid Horma, þat is, curſynge. And Judas took Gazam wiþ his eendis, and Aſcalonem, and Accharon wiþ his teermys. And þe Lord was wiþ Judas, and þe mounteyns he weeldide; and he myȝte not doo awey þe dwellers of þe valei, for þei aboundiden in chaarys ful of weepnes in maner of ſiþis. And þei ȝyuen to Caleph Ebron, as Moiſes ſeide, þe which dide awey fro it þre ſones of Enach. Jebuſe forſoþe, þe dweller of Jeruſalem, þe ſones of Beniamyn, diden not awey; and Jebuſe dwelt wiþ þe ſones of Beniamyn in Jeruſalem vnto þe day þat is nowe. Forſoþe þe hows of Joſeph ſtiede in to Beþel, and þe Lord was wiþ hem. For whanne þei ſegedyn þe cite, þat before was clepid Luza, þei ſeeyȝin a man goynge out of þe cytee, and þei ſeiden to hym, Shewe to vs þe entre of þe cytee, and we ſhulen do wiþ þee merci. Þe which whanne he hadde ſhewid to hem, þei ſmyten þe citee in mouþ of þe ſwerd; forſoþe þilk man and al his kynrede þei leften. Þe which left wente into þe loond of Sechym, and bilde þere a citee, and clepide it Luzam; þe which is clepid ſo vnto þe day þat is nowe. Forſoþe Manaſſes dide not awey Beþſan, and Thanael wiþ his lytyl touns, and þe dwellers of Endor, and Geblaam, and Magedo wiþ his litil touns; and Chanane bigan to dwel wiþ hem. Forſoþe after þat Yrael is comfourtyd, he made hem tributaryes, and doon a wey wold he not. Forſoþe Effraym ſlewe not Cananee þat dwellid in Gazer, but dwellid wiþ hym. Zabulon dide not a wey þe dwellers of Ceþron and of Naalon; but Chananee dwelt in þe mydil of hym, and is maad to hym tributarie. Forſoþe Aſer dide not aweye þe dwellers of Cho, and of Sidon, Alab, and Azenbus, and Alba, and Aphe, Chaaloa, and Pha, and Roab; and he dwellid in þe mydil of Chananei, þe dweller of þe lond, ne he ſlewȝ him. Neptalim dide not awei þe dwellers of Beþſames, and of Beþanach; and he dwellide among Chanane, þe dweller of þe lond; and Beþſamytes and Beþanites weren to him tributaries. And Amorre artide þe ſones of Dan in þe hil, ne he ȝaf to hem place þat to þe pleyner þei myȝten deſcende; and he dwelte in þe hil of Hares, þat is to ſeye, Witneſſinge, in Hailon, and Salabym. And þe hond of þe hous of Joſeph is agreggid aȝens Amorre, and he is maad to hym tributarie. Forſoþe þe terme of Amorre was fro þe ſtiynge vp of Scorpioun, and Petra, and þe heiȝer places.

Capitulum II.

And þe aungel of þe Lord ſtiede vp fro Galgala to þe place of wepers, and ſeiþ, I haue ladde ȝou out of Egipt, and brouȝt into þe loond, for þe which Y ſwore to ȝoure faders, and haue bihoot, þat Y ſhulde not maak in veyn my couenaunt wiþ ȝow into wiþ outen eend; ſo oonly þat ȝe ſmyten no boond of pees wiþ þe dwellers of þis loond, and þat ȝe turnen vpſedoun þe auters of hem; and ȝe wolden not here my vois. Why þes þingis han ȝe doon? Wheþer for Y wolde not do awey hem fro ȝoure face, þat ȝe han enemyes, and þe goddis of hem ben to ȝou into fallynge. And whanne þe aungel of þe Lord hadde ſpoken þes wordis to alle þe ſones of Yrael, þei rereden vp her vois, and wepten; and þe name of þat place is clepid, of wepers, or of terys; and þei offerden her ooſtis to þe Lord. Joſue þanne lefte þe puple; and þe ſones of Yrael wenten a wey, echoon into his poſſeſſioun, þat þei holden it. And þei ſerueden to þe Lord alle þe days of Joſue, and of þe eldren þat loong tyme after hym lyueden, and knewe alle þe greet werkis of þe Lord, þe whiche he dide wiþ Yrael. And Joſue, þe ſeruaunt of þe Lord, þe ſone of Nun, of an hundrid and ten ȝeer died; and þei birieden hym in þe eendis of his poſſeſſioun, in Thanaþſare, in þe hil of Effraym, fro þe norþ cooſt of þe hil of Gaas. And al þat generacioun is gedrid to her fadris; and oþer riſen, þat knewen not þe Lord, and þe werkis þat he dide wiþ Yrael. And þe ſones of Yrael diden yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and ſerueden to Baalym, and Aſtaroþ; and laften þe Lord God of her fadris, þat ladde hem out of þe loond of Egipt, and folweden alien goddis, goddis of þe puple þat dwelten in þe viroun of hem; and þei honourden hem, and to wraþ ſtiriden þe Lord, leuynge hym, and ſeruynge to Baal and to Aſtaroþ. And þe Lord, wrooþ aȝens Irael, took hem into þe hoondis of deſtruyers, þe whyche token hem, and ſolden to enemyes, þat dwelten bi enuyroun; ne þei myȝten aȝenſtoond her aduerſaries; but whidir euere þei wolden goo, þe hoond of þe Lord was vpon hem, as he ſpak and ſwore to hem; and hugely þei ben tourmentid. And þe Lord areride iugis, þat ſhulden delyuer hem fro þe hoondis of waſters, but and hem þei wolden not here, doynge fornycacioun wiþ alien goddis, and honourynge hem. Soone þei forſoken þe wey, bi þe which þe faders of hem wenten; and herynge þe heeſtis of þe Lord, alle þingis þei diden contrarie. And whanne þe Lord hadde reryd iugys in þe dais of hem, he was bowid bi mercy, and he herde þe weilyngis of þe tourmentid, and he delyueride hem fro þe deeþ of waſters. Forſoþe after þat þe iuge was deed, þei turneden aȝen, and manye þingis diden more þan diden þe faders of hem, folwynge alien goddis, and ſeruynge to hem, and honourynge hem; þei laften not her fyndyngis, and þe mooſt hard weye bi þe which þei weren wonyd to goo. And þe woodnes of þe Lord is wrooþ aȝens Irael, and ſeiþ, For þis folk haþ maad at nouȝt my couenaunt þat Y couenauntide wiþ þe faders of hem, and my vois he diſpyſide to here; and Y ſhal not doo awey þe Gentilis, þe whiche Joſue lafte, and is deed; þat in hem Y haue knoulechynge of Yrael, wheþir þei kepen þe weie of þe Lord, and goon in it, as kepten þe faders of hem, or noon. Þanne þe Lord lafte alle þeſe naciouns, and wold not anoon ouerturne, ne took into þe hoondis of Joſue.

Capitulum III.

Thes ben þe Gentilis, þat þe Lord lafte, for to lerne Irael in hem, and alle þat knewen not þe bateils of Chananees; and afterward þe ſones of hem ſhulden lerne to ſtryue wiþ enemies, and to haue vſage of fiȝtynge in batayl. Þe fyue princes of Philiſtynys, and al Chanane, and Sydon, and Euee þe whiche dwelten in Liban hil, fro þe hil of Baal of Hermon vnto þe entre of Emaþ. And he lafte hem, þat in hem he myȝte haue experiens of Yrael, wheþer þei wolen here þe heeſtis of þe Lord, þe which haþ comaundid to þe faders of hem by þe hoondis of Moyſes, or noon. And ſo þe ſones of Yrael dwelten in þe mydil of Chananeei, Eþei, and Amorrei, and Pherezei, and Euei, and Jebuſei. And wyues þei token douȝtres of hem, and þei token her douȝtris to þe ſones of hem, and ſerueden to þe goddis of hem. And þei diden yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and forȝeten of þe Lord her God, ſeruynge to Baalym, and to Aſtaroþ. And þe Lord, wrooþ aȝens Yrael, took hem into þe hoondis of Chuſanraſaþaym, kyng of Meſopoþanye, and þei ſerueden to him eiȝt ȝeer. And þei crieden to þe Lord, þe which areryde to hem a ſaueour, and delyuerde hem, þat is, Oþonyel, þe ſone of Cenez, þe laſſe broþer of Caleph. And þe ſpiryt of þe Lord was in hym, and he demyde Irael. And he wente out to fiȝt, and þe Lord took into þe hoondys of hym Chuſanraſaþaym, þe kyng of Syrie, and oppreſſide hym. And þe loond reſtid fourti ȝeer; and Oþonyel, þe ſone of Cenez, died. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael addiden to doon yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord; þe which coumfortide aȝens hem Eglo, þe kyng of Moab, for þei diden yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord. And he cowplid to hem þe ſones of Amon and of Amalech; and he wente, and ſmoot Yrael, and he weeldide þe citee of Palmys. And þe ſones of Yrael ſerueden to Eglon, þe kyng of Moab, eiȝteen ȝeer. And aftirward þei cryeden to þe Lord; þe which reryde to hem a ſaueour, Aod bi name, þe ſone of Gera, ſone of Gemyny, þe which eiþer hoond vſide for þe riȝt. And þe ſones of Yrael ſenden bi hym ȝiftis to Eglon, þe kyng of Moab; þe which maade to hym a ſwerd bitynge in eche ſide, hauynge in þe mydil a pomel of lengþe of þe palm of an hoond; and he is gird wiþ it vndur þe coot armure, in þe riȝt hipe. And he offerde ȝiftis to Eglon, þe kyng of Moab; forſoþe Eglon was myche fat. And whanne he hadde offerd to hym ȝiftis, he folwide felawis þat wiþ hym camen; and turned aȝen fro Galgalis, where weren þe mawmettis, ſeide to þe kyng, A preue word Y haue to þee, O kyng. And he comaundide ſilence. And alle men goon out, þat weren a bout hym, Aod wente into hym; forſoþe he ſat in þe ſomer ſowpynge place alone. And he ſeide, Þe word of God Y haue to þee. Þe which anoon roos fro þe troon. And Aod ſtrauȝte out þe left hoond, and he took þe ſwerd fro his riȝt hipe; and he piȝte into his wombe ſo ſtrongly, þat þe pomel folwide þe yren in þe wound, and þat wiþ mooſt fat grees it was ſtreyned; ne he drewe out þe ſwerd, but ſo as he ſmoot, he lafte in þe bodi; and anoon bi þe pryuetees of kynde þe tordis of þe wombe burſten out. Forſoþe Aod, cloſyde mooſt biſilich þe doris of þe ſowpynge place, and faſtnyd wiþ lok, wente out bi þe poſtern. And þe ſeruauntis of þe kyng goon yn, ſeyȝen þe ȝatis of þe ſowpinge place cloſid, and ſeiden, Perauenture he purgiþ þe wombe in þe ſomer ſowpynge place. And abidynge long, to þe tyme þat þei weren aſhamyd, and ſeynge þat no man opnyde, þei token þe keye, and opnynge þei foonden her lord liggynge deed in þe erþe. Forſoþe Aod, while þei weren diſturbid, flowȝ awey, and he paſſide þe place of mawmettis, whens he turnede aȝen; and he cam into Seyraþ. And anoon he ſownede wiþ tromp in þe hil of Effraym; and þe ſones of Yrael deſſendiden wiþ hym, hym goynge in þe frount. Þe which ſeide to hem, Folwe ȝe me, forſoþe þe Lord haþ taak oure enemyes, Moabitis, into oure hoondis. And þei wenten doun after hym, and þei occupyeden þe foordis of Jordan, þat ouerſenden in to Moab. And þei ſufferden not eny man to paſſe ouere, but þei ſmyten Moabites þat tyme about ten þowſand, alle myȝti and ſtronge men; noon of hem myȝte aſcaape. And Moab is mekid þat day vndur þe hows of Yrael, and þe loond reſtide foure ſcoor ȝeer. After þis was Sangar, þe ſone of Anaþ, þat ſmoot of Philiſtiym ſix hundrid men wiþ a ſhaar; and he forſoþe defendide Irael.

Capitulum IIII.

And þe ſones of Yrael addeden to doo yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, after þe deeþ of Aod. And þe Lord took hem in to þe hoondis of Jabyn, kyng of Chanaan, þat regnede in Aſor, and hadde a duk of his ooſt, Siſeram bi name; and he dwellyd in Aroſeþ of Gentilis. And þe ſones of Yrael crieden to þe Lord; forſoþe he hadde nyne hundred chaaris, ful of wepenes, þe maner of ſiþis, and bi twenti ȝeer greetli he oppreſſide hem. Forſoþe Delbora was a propheteſſe, wijf of Laphidoþ, þat demyde þe puple in þat tyme; and ſhe ſat vndur þe palm tree, þe which bi name of hir was clepid, bitwix Rame and Beþel, in þe mount of Effraym; and þe ſones of Yrael ſtieden vp to hir into al doom. Þe whiche ſente, and clepide Barach, þe ſone of Abynoen, of Cedes of Neptalym, and ſhe ſeide to hym, Þe Lord God of Yrael haþ comaundide to þee, Go, leed þe ooſt into þe hil of Thabor, and tak wiþ þee ten þouſand of fiȝtynge men of þe ſones of Neptalym and of þe ſones of Zabulon. Forſoþe I ſhal brynge to þee, in þe place of þe ſtreem of Cyſon, Siſaram, prince of þe ooſt of Jabyn, and þe chaaris of hym, and al þe multitude; and Y ſhal taak hem in þin hoond. And Barach ſeide to hyr, If þow comeſt wiþ me, Y ſhal goo; if þow wolt not come wiþ me, Y ſhal not goo. Þe which ſeide to hym, Forſoþe Y ſhal goo wiþ þee; but in þis while victory ſhal not be witid to þee; for in þe hoond of a womman Siſara ſhal be taak. And ſo Delbora roos, and wente wiþ Barach in to Cedes. Þe which, clepid Zabulon and Nepþalym, ſtiede vp wiþ ten þouſand of fyȝtynge men, hauynge Delbora in his felawſhip. Forſoþe Aber Cynee wente a wey ſumtyme fro oþer Cynees his briþeren, þe ſones of Obbab, coſyn of Moyſes; and he ſtreiȝte tabernaclys vnto þe valey, þat is clepid Sennym, and was biſide Cedes. And it is told to Cyſare, þat Barach, þe ſone of Abynoem, hadde ſtied vp into þe hil of Thabor. And he gedryd nyn hundryd chaaris, ful of wepenys, maner of ſiþis, and al þe ooſt fro Aroſeþ of gentilis to þe ſtreem of Cyſon. And Delbora ſeide to Barach, Riſe, þis is forſoþe þe day, in þe which þe Lord haþ taak Syſaram into þin hoondys; loo! he is þi leder. And ſo Barach deſcendide fro þe hil of Thabor, and ten þowſand of fiȝtynge men wiþ hym. And þe Lord feeryde Siſaram, and alle þe chaaris of hym, and al þe multytude, in þe mouþ of ſwerd, at þe ſiȝt of Barach, in ſo myche þat Siſara of þe chaar lepynge doun on his feet, fliȝ. And Barach purſuede þe fleynge chaaris and þe ooſt vnto þe ſee vnto Aroſeþ of Gentilis; and al þe multitude of enemyes fellen doun vnto þe deeþ. Siſara forſoþe fleynge cam to þe tent of Jahel, wijf of Aber Cynei; forſoþe þere was pees bitwix Jabyn, þe kyng of Aſor, and þe hows of Aber Cynei. Jahel þanne goon out in to aȝen comynge of Siſare, ſeide to hym, Com into me, my lord; ne drede þow. Þe which goon into þe tabernacle of hyr, and couerd of hir wiþ a mantel, he ſeide to hir, Ȝif to me, Y biſeche, a litil of water, for Y þriſte myche. Þe which openyde a botel of mylk, and ȝaf to hym to drynk, and couerde hym. And Siſara ſeide to hir, Stoond before þe dore of þe tabernacle, and whanne þere comeþ eny man, aſkinge þee, and ſeiynge, Wheþer here is eny man? þou ſhalt anſwere, Noon is. And ſo Jahel, þe wijf of Aber, took a neyl of þe tabernacle, takynge þere wiþ an hamer; and ſhe goon out priuelich, and wiþ ſilence putte vpon þe templis of his heed a neyl, and ſmyten wiþ an hamer piȝt doun into þe brayn vnto þe erþe; þe whych, felawſhipynge ſleep to deeþ, faylide, and died. And lo! Barach folwynge Siſaram cam; and Jahel, goon into aȝen comynge of hym, ſeide to hym, Com, and Y ſhal ſhewe to þee a man, whom þow ſechiſt. Þe whych, whanne he hadde goo in to hir, he ſawȝ Siſaram liggynge deed, and a neyl piȝt into his templis. God þerfor lowide in þat day Jabyn, þe kyng of Chanaan, bifore þe ſones of Yrael; þe whiche woxen eche day, and wiþ ſtrong hoond beren doun Jabyn, þe kyng of Chanaan, to þe tyme þat þei hadden doo hym awey.

Capitulum V.

And Delbora and Barach, þe ſone of Benoem, ſongen in þat day, ſeiynge, Ȝe þat wilfully offerden of Yrael ȝoure lyues to peryl, bliſſiþ to þe Lord. Here, ȝe kyngis; perſeyue, ȝe princes, wiþ eeris; Y am, Y am, þe whiche to þe Lord ſhal ſynge, and ſeye ſalm to þe God of Yrael. Lord, whanne þow wentiſt out fro Seyr, and paſſidiſt bi þe regiouns of Edom, þe erþe is meued, and heuens and clowdis droppeden wiþ watris; hillis floweden fro þe face of þe Lord, and Synai fro þe face of þe Lord God of Iſrael. In þe dais of Sangar, ſone of Anaþ, in þe dais of Jahel, reſtiden þe paþþis, and þo þat wenten in bi hem ȝeden a wey bi ſtreyt beryd paþþis out of þe weye. Stronge men ſeſeden in Yrael, and reſtiden, to þe tyme þat Delbora roos, moder in Yrael. Newe bataylis haþ choſun þe Lord, and þe ȝatis of enemyes he ouerturnede; ſwerd and ſpeer aperyde not in fourti þowſand of Yrael. Myn herte ſhal loue þe princis of Yrael; ȝe þat bi propre wil han offrid ȝou to peryl, bliſſiþ to þe Lord; ȝe þat ſtien vp vpon ſhynynge aſſis, and ſittiþ aboue in doom, and goon in þe weye, ſpekiþ. Where þe chaaris ben hurtlid, and þe ooſt of þe enemyes is queynt, þere þe riȝtwiſneſſis of þe Lord ben told, and mercy into þe ſtroonge men of Yrael; þanne þe puple of þe Lord cam doun to þe ȝatis, and hadde þe prynſhod. Ryſe, ryſe, Delbora, ryſe, and ſpek þe dyte of ſonge; ryſe, Barach, and þou, ſone of Abynoem, tak þi chaytyues. Þe relyues of þe puple ben ſaued; þe Lord in ſtronge men haþ fouȝten. Fro Effraym he haþ doon hem a wey into Amalech, and after hym fro Beniamyn in to þi puplis, O Amalech. Fro Machir princis deſcendiden, and fro Zabulon, þat ooſt ſhulden lede to fiȝt. Dukis of Yſachar weren wiþ Delbora, and þe ſteppis of Barach þei folweden, þe whiche, as into heuedi fallynge and helle, he ȝaf hym ſilf to peryl. Ruben aȝens hym diuydide, of greet willi men is foundun ſtryuynge. Whi dwelliſt þow bitwix two teermys, þat þow here þe noyſis of flockis? Ruben aȝens hym dyuydide, of greet willi men is foundun a ſtrijf. Gad biȝonde Jordan reſtide, and Dan tentide to ſhippis. Aſer dwellid in þe brenk of þe ſee, and in hauens abood. Forſoþe Zabulon and Neptalym offerden her lyues to deeþ, in þe regioun of Moreme. Kyngis camen, and fouȝten; fouȝten þe kyngis of Chanaan in Thanaþ, biſide þe watris of Magedan; and neuerþelater no þing token þe praytakers. Fro heuene it is fouȝten aȝens hem; ſterrys dwellynge in ordre and in her courſe aȝens Syſaram fouȝten. Þe ſtreem of Syſon drowȝ þe careyns of hem, þe ſtreem of Cadunym, ſtreem of Cyſon. Treed þou, my ſoule, ſtronge men. Cleas of hors fellen hem fleynge wiþ feerſe, and bi heedlynge fallinge þe mooſt ſtroonge men of enemyes. Curſe ȝe to þe loond of Meroþ, ſeide þe aungel of þe Lord, curſe ȝe to þe dwellers of it, for þei camen not to þe help of þe Lord, in to þe help of þe mooſt ſtronge men of hym. Bleſſid among wymmen Jahel, þe wijf of Aber Cynei; be ſhe bleſſid in hir tabernacle. To þe aſkynge water ſche ȝaf mylk, and in þe viole of pryncis ſhe brouȝte forþ butter. Þe left hoond ſhe putte to þe nayl, and þe riȝt to þe hamers of ſmyþis; and ſhe ſmoot Ciſaram, ſechynge in þe heed þe place of þe wound, and þe temple myȝtilich þrillynge. Bitwix þe feet of hir he felle, failid, and dyede; and he was wrappid bifore þe feet of hir, and he lay out of lijf, and wretchidful. Bi þe wyndow biholdynge ȝollide þe moder of hym; and fro þe ſowpynge place ſhe ſpak, Whi tarieþ to turne aȝen þe chaar of hym? Whi taryeden þe feet of þe foure whelid cartis of hym? Oon wiſer þan þat oþer wijfis of hym to þe moder in lawe þes wordis anſwerde, Perauenture now he dyuydiþ ſpuylis, and þe mooſt feyr of wymmen is choſun to hym; cloþis of dyuers colours to Syſare ben taak into praye, and dyuerſe portenaunce to neckis to be anourned is born to gidre. So periſchen alle þin enemyes, þou Lord; forſoþe þoo þat louen þee, as þe ſunne in his ryſynge ſhyneþ, ſo glitteren þei. And þe loond reſtide bi fourti ȝeer.

Capitulum VI.

The ſones forſoþe of Yrael diden yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, þe which took hem in þe hoond of Madian ſeuen ȝeer. And þei ben oppreſſid greetli of hem; and þei maden to hem caaues, and ſpelunkis in hillis, and mooſt defenſable placis to wiþſtonden. And whanne Irael wex feers, Madian ſtiede vp, and Amalech, and oþer of þe eſt naciouns; and anentis hem pitchinge tentis, as þei weren in graſſe, alle þingis þei waſtiden vnto þe entre of Gaze, and no þing perteynynge to þe lijf vtterli þei laften in Yrael, ne ſheep, ne oxe, ne aſſes. Forſoþe þei and alle þe flockis of hem camen wiþ her tabernaclis, and at þe licknes of locuſtis alle placis fulfillide þe vnnoumbrable multitude of men and of camels, and waſtynge what euere þing þei touchiden. And Yrael is mekid greetli in þe ſiȝt of Madian. And he cryede to þe Lord, aſkynge help aȝens Madianytis; þe which ſente to hem a man prophete, and ſpak, Þes þingis ſeiþ þe Lord God of Yrael, Y haue maad ȝou to come doun fro Egipt, and haue brouȝt ȝou out fro þe hous of ſeruage, and delyuerd fro þe hoond of Egipciens, and of alle þe enemyes þat tourmentiden ȝow; and haue þrowun hem out at ȝoure entree, and haue taak to ȝow þe loond of hem; and ſeide, I þe Lord ȝoure God; ne drede ȝe þe goddis of Amorreis, in whos loond ȝe dwellen; and ȝe wolden not here my vois. Forſoþe þe aungel of þe Lord cam, and ſat vndur þe ook, þat was in Effra, and perteynede to Joas, þe fader of þe meyne of Ezry. And whanne Gedeon, þe ſone of hym, ſhockide out, and purgide whetis in þe preſſynge place, þat he fleiȝ Madian, þe aungel of þe Lord apperide to hym, and ſeiþ, Þe Lord wiþ þee, mooſt ſtroong of men. And Gedion ſeide to hym, Y biſeche, my lord, if þe Lord is wiþ vs, whi þanne han taak vs alle þes yuels? Where ben þe merueyls of hym, þe whiche oure faders tolden, and ſeiden, Þe Lord haþ lad vs out of Egipt? Now forſoþe he haþ forſakun vs, and takun in þe hoond of Madian. And þe Lord bihelde to hym, and ſeiþ, Go in þis þi ſtrengþ, and þou ſhalt delyuer Yrael fro þe hoond of Madian; wite þow, þat Y haue ſent þee. Þe which anſwerynge ſeiþ, My lord, Y biſeche, in what ſhal Y delyuer Yrael? Loo! my meyne is loweſt in Manaſſe, and Y leeſt in þe hows of my fader. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, I ſhal be wiþ þee, and þow ſhalt ſmyte Madian as o man. And he, If Y haue foundun, he ſeiþ, grace before þee, ȝif to me a tokne, þat þou be, þe which ſpekiſt wiþ me; ne goo þou hens, to þe tyme þat I turne aȝen to þee, bryngynge ſacrifice, and offrynge to þee. Þe which anſwerde, Y ſhal abide þi comynge. And ſo Gedeon wente in, and ſeþide a kydde, and of a buſſhel of flour þerf looues, and fleiſh puttynge in þe leep; and þe fleſh broþþe puttynge in to þe pot, he took alle þingis vndur þe ook, and offerde to hym. To whom ſeide þe aungel of þe Lord, Tak þe fleſh, and þe þerf looues, and putte vpon þe ſtoon, and þe broþþe heelde þere vpon. And whanne he hadde doo ſo, þe aungel of þe Lord ſtreiȝte out þe vttermoſt part of þe ȝeerde þat he heelde in hoond, and he touchid þe fleſh, and þe þerf looues; and fier ſtiede up fro þe ſtoon, and conſumede þe fleſh, and þe þerf looues. Forſoþe þe aungel of þe Lord vanyſſhide a wey fro þe eyen of hym. And Gedeon ſeynge þat it was þe aungel of þe Lord ſeiþ, Wo me, Lord God, for Y haue ſeen þe aungel of þe Lord face to face. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, Pees wiþ þee; ne drede þow, þou ſhalt not dye. Þanne Gedeon bilde þere an auter to þe Lord, and he clepide it þe Pees of þe Lord, vnto þe day þat is now. And whanne ȝit he hadde be in Effra, þat is þe meyne of Ezry, þat nyȝt þe Lord ſeide to hym, Tak þe bole of þi fader, and anoþer bole of ſeuen ȝeer, and þou ſhalt diſtruye þe auter of Baal, þat is of þi fader, and þe wode, þat is about þe auter, hew doun; and þou ſhalt bilde an auter to þe Lord þi God in þe ouermoſt of þis ſtoon, vpon þe which þou puttiſt before ſacrifice; and þou ſhalt take þe ſecounde bole, and offer brent ſacrifice vpon þe hepe of wode, þat þow haſt kut of þe wode. Þann Gedeon taken to ten men of his ſeruauntis, dide as þe Lord comaundide to hym. Forſoþe dredynge þe hows of his fader, and þe men of þat cytee, by day he wold not doon, but alle þingis þe nyȝt he fulfilde. And whanne þe men of his burgh toun erly weren ryſen, þei ſeen þe auter of Baal deſtruyed, and þe mawmet woode hewun doun, and anoþer bole ſet vpon þe auter, þat þanne was bild vp. And þei ſeiden to gidre, Who haþ doon þis? And whanne þei ſouȝten þe doer of þe dede, it is ſeide, Gedeon, þe ſone of Joas, dide alle þeſe þingis. And þei ſeiden to Joas, Bryng forþ þi ſone hider, þat he be deed, for he haþ deſtruyed þe auter of Baal, and hewen doun þe wode. To whom he anſwerde, Wheþer ȝe ben wrechers of Baal, þat ȝe fiȝten for hym? who is þe aduerſarye of hym, dye he, before þe morwetide liȝt come; if he is God, venge he hymſilf of hym þat haþ deluen vp þe auter of hym. Fro þat day Gedeon is clepid Jeroboal, forþi þat Joas ſeide, Baal take veniaunce of hym þat haþ doluen down þe auter of hym. Þerfor al Madian, and Amelech, and þe eſte puplis ben gedrid to gidre, and paſſynge ouer Jordan ſettiden tentis in þe valey of Jezrael. Forſoþe þe ſpyryt of þe Lord cloþide Gedeon; þe which criynge wiþ tromp clepide to gidre þe hows of Abiezer, for he ſhulde folwe hym. And he ſente meſſangers into al Manaſſen, þe which and he folwide hym; and oþer meſſangers into Aſer, and Zabulon, and Neptalym, þe whiche aȝen camen to hym. And Gedeon ſeide to þe Lord, If þow makiſt ſaaf bi myn hoond þe puple of Irael, as þow haſt ſpokun, Y ſhal put þis fleeſe of wul in þe floore; if dewe in þe fleeſe alone were, and in al þe erþe drouȝþ, Y ſhal wyte, þat bi myn hoond, as þou haſt ſpokun, þow ſhalt delyuer Yrael. And it is doo ſo. And fro þe niȝt riſynge, þruſt out of þe fleeſe, he fulfillede an holwȝ veſſel wiþ dew; and eft he ſeide to þe Lord, Ne wexe not wrooþ þi woodnes aȝens me, if ȝit ones Y tempte a tokne ſechynge in þe fleeſe; Y preye, þat oonli þe fleeſe be drye, and al þe erþe wiþ dew moyſt. And þe Lord dide þat nyȝt, as he axide; and þere was drouȝþ in þe fleeſe alone, and dewe in al þe erþe.

Capitulum VII.

Thanne Jeroboal, þe which and Gedeon, fro nyȝt ryſynge, and al þe puple wiþ hym, cam to þe wel þat is clepid Arad. Forſoþe þe tentis of Madian weren in þe valey, at þe norþ cooſt of þe hiȝe hil. And þe Lord ſeide to Gedeon, Myche is þe puple wiþ þee, and leſt Yrael glorie aȝens me, Madian ſhal not be taak into þe hoondis of hym, and leſt he ſeye, Bi my ſtrengþis I am delyuerd. Spek to þe puple, and alle herynge, preche, Who is feerful and dredy, turne he aȝen. And þere wenten aȝen fro þe hil of Galaad, and ben turned aȝen of þe puple two and twenti þowſand of men; and onely ten þowſand beden ſtil. And þe Lord ſeide to Gedeon, Ȝit þere is myche puple; lede hem to þe watris, and þere I ſhal preue hem, and of whom Y ſhal ſeye to þee, þat goo wiþ þee, he goo; whom I ſhal defende to goo, he turne aȝen. And whanne þe puple was goon doon to þe watris, þe Lord ſeide to Gedeon, Þilk þat wiþ hoond and wiþ tonge lapen þe watris, as houndis ben woned to lape, þou ſhalt ſeuere hem aſide; forſoþe þilk, þat bowiden þe knees drynkynge, in þat oþer paart ſhulen be. And ſo was þe noumbre of hem, þat wiþ hoond þrowynge to þe mouþ watris hadden lapid, þre hundrid men; forſoþe al þat oþer multitude þe knee bowid dronke. And þe Lord ſeiþ to Gedeon, In þree hundrid men, þat lapiden watris, Y ſhal delyuer ȝou, and taak Madian in þin hoond; forſoþe al þat oþer multitude be turned aȝen into his place. And ſo metis taken for þe noumbre, and trompis, al þat oþir multitude he comaundide to goon to her tabernaclis; and he, wiþ þre hundrid men, ȝaf hym ſilf to þe bateil. Forſoþe þe tentis of Madian weren vndur in þe valey. Þe ſame nyȝt þe Lord ſeide to hym, Riſe, and go doun into þe tentis, for Y haue taak hem in þin hoond; forſoþe if alone þou drediſt to goo, go doun wiþ þee Phara, þi child. And whanne þou heriſt what þei ſpeken, þanne þin hoondis ſhulen be coumfortid, and ſikerer þou ſhalt goo doun to þe tentis of þe enemyes. Þanne deſcendide he, and Phara, his child, into a paart of þe tentis, where weren þe watchis of armed men. Forſoþe Madian, and Amalech, and alle þe eſte puplis ſhed layen in þe valey, as multitude of locuſtis; forſoþe camels vnnoumbrable þere weren, as grauel þat lieþ in þe brenk of þe ſee. And whanne Gedeon was comen, a man tolde a ſweuen to his neiȝbore, and in þis maner he toolde þat he ſawȝ, Y ſawȝ a ſweuen, and it ſeemed to me, as a loof of barlich maad vndir aſſhen to be trendlid, and into þe tentis of Madyan to goo doun; and whanne it were comyn to þe tabernacle, it ſmoot it, and turnede vpſedoun, and al doun to þe erþe euenede. He, to whom he ſpak, anſwerde, Þis is noon oþere þing, but þe ſwerd of Gedeon, ſone of Joas, a man of Irael; forſoþe þe Lord haþ takun into þe hoondis of hym Madian and alle þe tentis of it. And whanne Gedeon hadde herd þe ſweuen, and þe remenynge of it, he heryede, and, turned aȝen to þe tentis of Yrael, ſeiþ, Ryſe ȝe; forſoþe þe Lord haþ takun into oure hoondis þe tentis of Madian. And he dyuydide þe þre hundrid men in þre parties, and he ȝaf trompis in þe hoondis of hem, and voyd wyn pottys, and laumpis in þe myddis of þe pottis. And he ſeide to hem, What ȝe ſeen me doon, þat doo ȝe; Y ſhall goo into a paart of þe tentis, and what Y ſhal doo, folwiþ. Whanne þe trompe fulſowneþ in myn hoond, forſoþe ȝe bi þe enuyroun of þe tentis trompiþ, and crieþ to gidre, To þe Lord and to Gedeon. And Gedeon wente in, and þre hundred men þat weren wiþ hym, into a part of þe tentis, bigynnynge þe watchis of þe mydnyȝt; and, þe kepers reryd, þei bigunnen wiþ trompis to cryen, and clappen togidre bitwix hem ſeluen þe wyn pottis. And whanne bi enuyroun of þe tentis in þre placis þei fulſowneden, and þe ſtenys hadden broken, þei heelden wiþ þe left hoondis þe laumpis, and wiþ þe riȝt þe ſownynge trompis; and þei crieden, Þe ſwerd of þe Lord and of Gedeon; ſtondynge eche in his place, by enuyroun of þe enemyes tentis. And ſo alle þe tentis ben diſturblid; and criynge out and ȝellynge, flowen; and neuerþelater þe þre hundryd men ſtoden to ſtedfaſtli, ſownynge wiþ trompis. And þe Lord ſente yn ſwerd in alle þe tentis, and þei kutten of hem ſeluen bi ſleynge echon oþer, fleynge into Beþſaka, and bi þe cop of þe brenke, fro Elmonla into Thebbaþ. Þe men of Irael forſoþe criynge togidre, of Neptalym, and Aſer, and al Manaſſe, purſueden Madian; and þe Lord ȝaf to þe puple of Yrael victory in þat day. And Gedeon ſente meſſangers into al þe hil of Effraym, ſeiynge, Comiþ doun into aȝen metynge of Madian, and occupieþ þe watres vnto Beþhem and Jordan. And al Effraym criede, and forn occupiede þe watres and Jordan vnto Beþhara. And two men of Madian takun, Oreb and Zeb, he ſlowȝ; Oreb in þe ſtoon of Oreb, forſoþe Zeb in þe preſſynge place of Zeb; and þei purſueden Madian, þe heedys of Oreb and of Zeb berynge to Gedeon, ouer þe floodis of Jordan.

Capitulum VIII.

And þe men of Effraym ſeiden to hym, What is þis þat þou woldeſt doo, þat þou clepediſt not vs, whanne þou ſhuldiſt go to fiȝt aȝens Madian? chidynge ſtronglich and almeſt violence brynggynge yn. To whom he anſwerde, What ſiche þing forſoþe myȝte Y doo, what ȝe han doon? Wheþer is not betere þe graape of Effraym þan þe vendage of Abieþer? Into ȝoure hoondis þe Lord haþ takun þe princis of Madian, Oreb and Zeb. What ſiche þing miȝte Y doo, what þing ȝe han doo? Þe which þing whanne he hadde ſpoken, þe ſpyryt of hem took reſt, bi þe which þei bolneden aȝens hym. And whanne Gedeon was comyn to Jordan, he paſſide it wiþ þre hundrid men, þat weren wiþ hym; and for werynes, fleynge þei myȝten not purſue. And he ſeide to þe men of Socchoþ, Y biſeche, ȝyueþ looues to þe puple, þat is wiþ me; for greetlich þei defauten, þat we mowen purſue Zebee and Salmana, kyngis of Madian. Þe princis of Soccoþ anſwerden, Perauenture þe palmes of þe hoondis of Zebee and of Salmana ben in þin hoond, and þerfor þow aſkiſt, þat we ȝeuen to þin ooſt looues. To whom he ſeiþ, Whanne þerfor þe Lord ſhal taak into myn hoondis Zebee and Salmana, and whanne Y were turned aȝen ouercomer in pees, Y ſhal to-teren ȝoure fleſh wiþ þornes and breris of deſeert. And þens goynge he cam into Phanuel; and he ſpak to þe men of þat place lijk þingis, and to whom þei anſwerden, as anſwerden þe men of Soccoþ. And to hem he ſeide alſo, Whanne Y were turned aȝen ouercomer in pees, Y ſhall deſtruy þis tour. Zebee forſoþe and Salmana reſtiden wiþ al her ooſt; forſoþe fifteen þowſand men abiden ſtil of alle þe cumpanyes of þe eſt puplis, ſleyn an hundryd and twenty þouſandis of fiȝters and of drawers out ſwerd. And Gedeon ſtiynge vp bi þe weye of hem þat dwelliden in tabernaclis at þe eeſt cooſt of Nobee and Lecaa, he ſmoot þe tentis of þe enemyes, þat weren ſiker, and no þing of aduerſyte ortroweden. And Zebee and Salmana flowen, whom purſuynge Gedeon took, diſturblid al þe ooſt of hem. And he turnynge aȝen fro þe bateyl before þe ſunne ryſynge, he took a child of þe men of Soccoþ; and he aſkyde hym þe names of þe pryncis, and of þe eldren of Soccoþ; and he diſcriuyde ſeuenty and ſeuen men bi noumbre. And he cam to Socoþ, and ſeide to hem, Loo Zebee and Salmana! vpon þe whiche ȝee myſſeyden to me, ſeiynge, Perauenture þe hoondys of Zebee and Salmana in þin hoondis ben, and þerfor þou aſkiſt, þat we ȝeuen to þe men, þat ben wery and han defautid, looues. He took þanne þe eldre of þe cyte, and þornes of deſeert and breris, and torente wiþ hem, and diſtruyede þe men of Socoþ; forſoþe þe tour of Phanuel he turnede vpſedoun, ſlayn þe dwellers of þe cyte. And he ſeide to Zebee and to Salmana, What weren þe men, whom ȝe ſlowen in Thabor? Þe whiche anſwerden, Lijk þee, and oon of hem as þe ſone of a kyng. To whom he, My briþeren þei weren, þe ſones of my moder; God lyueþ, if ȝe hadden kepte hem, Y wolde not haue ſlayn ȝow. And he ſeide to Jepter, his fyrſt gotun, Ryſe, and ſle hem. Þe which drewe not out þe ſwerd; forſoþe he dredde, for a child he was ȝit. And Zebee and Salmana ſeyden, Þow ryſe, and fal into vs; for after age and ſtrengþ þow art of a man. Gedeon roos, and ſlewe Zebee and Salmana, and took þe ournementis, and billis, wiþ þe whiche þe neckis of kyngis chamels ben wonyd to be anourned. And alle þe men of Yrael ſeiden to Gedeon, Haue lordſhip of vs, þow, and þi ſone, and þe ſone of þi ſone; for þow haſt delyuerd vs fro þe hoond of Madian. To whom he ſeiþ, I ſhal not haue lordſhip of ȝou, ne my ſone ſhal haue lordſhip in ȝou, but þe Lord ſhal haue lordſhip. And he ſeide to hem, Oon aſkynge Y aſke of ȝow, ȝeueþ to me þe eere ryngys of ȝoure praye; forſoþe Yſmaelitis weren woned to han golden eereryngis. Þe whiche anſwerden, Mooſt glaadly we ſhulen ȝeue. And ſpredynge a brood vpon þe erþe a mantil, þei þrewen forþ in it þe eere ryngis of þe praye; and þe weiȝt of þe aſkid eereryngis was a þouſand and ſeuenti ſiclis of gold, wiþ outen þe ournementis and brochis and purpur clooþ, þe which þe kyngis of Madian weren wont to vſe, and biſide þe goldun beeȝis of chamels. And Gedeon maad of it a coop, and putte it in Effra his citee; and al Yrael dide fornycacioun in it; and it was maad to Gedeon and to alle þe hows of hym into fallynge. Forſoþe Madian is mekid before þe ſones of Yrael, ne þei myȝten more ouer reer vp þe nollis; but þe loond reſtide bi fourty ȝeer, in þe which Gedeon was in dignyte. And ſo Joroboal, þe ſone of Joas, ȝede, and dwelte in his hows; and he hadde ſeuenti ſones, þat camen out of þe hype of hym, forþi þat he hadde many wyues. Forſoþe þe ſecoundarye wijf of hym, þat he had in Sichem, gat hym a ſone, Abymalech bi name. And Gedeon, þe ſone of Joas, is deed in a good age, and biryed in þe ſepulcre of Joas his fader, in Efra, of þe meyne of Ezry. Forſoþe after þat Gedeon is deed, þe ſones of Irael ben turned awey, and han doo fornycacioun wiþ Baalym; and þei ſmyten wiþ Baal couenaunt of pees, þat he were to hem into God, ne þei recordiden of þe Lord her God, þe which delyuerde hem fro þe hoond of alle her enemyes bi enuyroun; ne þei diden mercy wiþ þe hows of Jeroboal Gedeon, after alle þe good þingys þat he dide to Yrael.

Capitulum IX.

Abymalech, þe ſone of Jeroboal, ȝeed forſoþe into Sichem to þe briþeren of his moder; and he ſpak to hem, and to al þe kynrede of þe hows of his modir, ſeiynge, Spek to alle þe men of Sychem, Wheþer is it betere to ȝou, þat ſeuenti men, alle þe ſones of Jeroboal, han lordſhip of ȝow, oþer o man be lord to ȝow? and to gidre bihold ȝe, for ȝoure boon and ȝoure fleſh Y am. And þe briþeren of his moder ſpeken of hym to alle þe men of Sichem alle þes wordes; and þei boweden þe herte of hem after Abymalech, ſeyinge, Oure broþer he is. And þei ȝauen to hym ſeuenti pownde of ſiluer of þe heþen temple of Baal Beriþ; þe which hiride to hym of it nedi men and vagaunt, and þei folweden hym. And he cam into þe hows of his fader in Ephra, and he ſlewȝ his briþeren þe ſones of Jeroboal, ſeuenti men, vpon o ſtoon. And Joaþam, þe ſone of Jeroboal, þe leeſt, abood ſtil, and is hid. And alle þe men of Sichem, and al þe meynee of þe cite of Mello, ben gedred to gidre, and wenten, and ordeyneden hem a kyng, Abymalech, biſide þe ook þat ſtood in Sichem. Þe which, whanne was told to Joaþam, he ȝede, and ſtood in þe cop of þe hil of Garyſym, and, arerid vp þe voice, cryede, and ſeyde, Here ȝe me, men of Sichem, ſo þat God here ȝou. Treeſe wenten for to anoynte vpon hem a kyng; and þei ſeiden to þe olyue, Comaund þou to vs. Þe whiche anſwerde, Wheþir may Y forſake my fatnes, þe whiche and Goddis vſen and men, and come, þat bitwix trees Y be auaunſid? And þe trees ſeiden to þe fige tree, Com þou, and tak kyngdom vpon vs. Þe which anſwerde to hem, Wheþer may Y forſake my ſwetnes and mooſt ſwete fruytis, and goo þat bitwix oþer trees Y be auaunſid? And þe trees ſpeken to þe viyn, Com, and comaunde to vs. Þe which anſwerde, Wheþer may Y forſake my wyn, þat gladiþ God and men, and bitwix oþer trees be auaunſid? And alle þe trees ſeiden to þe þorn, Com, and comaund þow vpon vs. Þe whiche anſwerde to hem, If verreily me kyng ȝe han ordeynde to ȝou, comeþ, and vnder my ſhadewe reſtiþ; forſoþe if ȝe wolen not, go out fier fro þe þorn, and deuowre þe ſeedis of Liban. Nowe þanne if riȝtly and wiþouten ſynne ȝe han ordeynde vpon ȝou a kyng, Abymalech, and wel han doo wiþ Jeroboal, and wiþ þe hows of hym, and han ȝolden while to his benfeetis, þe which fauȝt for ȝou, and his lijf ȝaf to peryls, for to delyuer ȝou fro þe hoond of Madian; þe whiche ȝe nowe han ryſyn aȝens þe hows of my fader, and han ſlayn his ſones, ſeuenti men, upon o ſtoon, and han ordeynde a kyng, Abymalech, þe ſone of þe werk womman of hym, vpon þe dwellers of Sichem, forþi þat ȝoure broþer he be; if þanne riȝtly and wiþ outen vice ȝe han doo wiþ Jeroboal and þe hows of hym, to day glade ȝe in Abymalech, and he glade in ȝou; forſoþe if ſhrewidli, fier goo out of hym, and waaſt þe dwellers of Sichem, and þe burȝ toun of Mello; and go out fier fro þe men of Sichem, and fro þe burgh toun of Mello, and deuowre Abymalech. Þe whiche þingis whanne he hadde ſeid, he fleiȝ, and wente into Bereram, and dwelte þere, for drede of Abymalech, his broþir. And Abymalech regnede vpon Yrael þre ȝeer. And God ſente þe worſt ſpiryte bitwix Abymalech and þe dwellers of Sichem, þe whiche bigunne to wlaat hym, and þe hidows gilt of þe ſlauȝter of þe ſeuenti ſones of Jeroboal, and þe ſhedynge of blod of hem, to ȝeelde into Abymalech, his broþir, and into þe toþer princis of Sichemytis, þat hym helpeden. And þei puttiden aſpies aȝens hym in þe cop of hillis; and while þei biden þe comynge of hym, þei hawntiden þeftis, takynge prayes of þe goers byſide; and it is told to Abymalech. Forſoþe Gaal, þe ſone of Obed, wiþ his breþeren cam, and paſſide into Siccymam; at whos comynge reryd þe dwellers of Sichem, wenten out into feeldis, waſtynge vynes, and grapis tredynge; and þe querys maad of ſyngers þei wenten into þe temple of her God, and bytwix meetis and drynkis þei curſeden to Abymalech, criynge Gaal, þe ſone of Obed, Who is þis Abymalech? And what is Sichem, þat we ſeruen to hym? Wheþer is not he þe ſone of Jeroboal, and ſet a prince, Zebul his ſeruaunt, vpon þe men of Emor, þe fader of Sichem? Whi þanne ſhulen we ſerue to hym? Wolde God eny man ȝeue þis puple vnder myn hoond, and I ſhulde doo a wey fro þe mydil Abymalech. And it is ſeid to Abymalech, Gedre a multitude of ooſt, and com. Forſoþe Zebul, þe prince of þe cytee, herd þe wordis of Gaal, þe ſone of Obed, is ful wrooþ; and ſente preueli to Abymalech meſſagers, ſeiynge, Loo! Gaal, þe ſone of Obed, cam into Siccymam wiþ his briþeren, and aȝen fiȝtiþ þe citee aȝens þee; aryſe alſo þe nyȝt wiþ þe puple, þat is wiþ þee, and lurk in þe feeld; and firſt eerli ryſynge þe ſunne, fal vpon þe cite; forſoþe hym goynge out aȝens þee wiþ his puple, do to hym þat þow mayſt. And ſo Abymalech wiþ al his ooſt roos þe nyȝt, and ſette buſhementis biſide Siccymam, in foure placis. And Gaal, þe ſone of Obed, wente out, and ſtood in þe entre of þe ȝate of þe cytee. Forſoþe Abymalech roos, and al þe ooſt wiþ hym, fro þe place of þe buſſhementis. And whanne Gaal hadde ſeen þe puple, he ſeide to Zebul, Loo! fro þe hillis a multitude deſcendiþ. To whom he anſwerde, Þe ſhadewis of hillis þow ſeeſt as mennus heedis, and by þis errour þou art deſſeyued. And eft Gaal ſeiþ, Loo! þe puple fro þe nouel of þe erþe comeþ doun, and o cumpanye commeþ bi þe weye þat biholdiþ þe ook. To whom ſeide Zebul, Where is nowe þi mowþ, bi þe which þou ſpeek, Who is Abymalech, þat we ſeruen to hym? Wheþer is not þis þe puple, whom þow deſpiſediſt? Go out, and fiȝt aȝens hym. Gaal þanne wente, abydynge þe puple of Sichemys, and fauȝte aȝens Abymalech. Þe which purſuede hym fleynge, and in þe cytee þreſte; and þere fellen of þe parti of hym many vnto þe ȝate of þe cyte. And Abymalech ſat in Rana; Zebul forſoþe Gaal and his felaws he putte out of þe cyte, ne in it he ſuffrede to dwelle. Þanne þe day folowynge þe puple ȝede out into þe feeld; þe which whanne it was toold to Abymalech, he took his ooſt, and dyuydide in þre companyes, ſettynge buſſhementis in þe feeldis; and ſeynge þat þe puple wente out of þe cytee, he roos, and felle into hem wiþ his ooſt, aȝenfiȝtynge and biſeegynge þe cytee. Forſoþe two companyes, opynly rennynge hidir and þidir bi þe feeld, þe aduerſaryes purſueden. Forſoþe Abymalech al þat day ouercam þe cytee, þe which he took, ſlayn þe dwellers of it, and it deſtruyede, ſo þat ſalt in it he ſprengide. Þe which þing, whanne hadden herd þei þat dwelten in þe tour of Sychemys, wenten into þe temple of her god Beryþ, where a boond of pees wiþ hym þei couenauntiden; and of it þe place took name, þe which was greetli ſtrengþid. And Abymalech herynge þe men of þe tour of Sichemys togidre gedred in o glob, or company, ſtiede vp into þe hil of Selmon wiþ al his puple; and takun to an axe he kytte of a braunche of a tree, and putte on þe ſhuldir berynge, he ſeide to felawis, Þat ȝe ſeen me doo, þat anoon doo ȝe. Þanne ſtryuyngly of þe trees kuttynge of braunchis þei foleweden þe duyk; þe whiche enuyrounynge þe place of ſocour, brenten vp; and ſo is doon, þat þurȝ ſmook and fier a þowſand men weren ſlayn, men togidre and wymmen, of þe dwellers of þe tour of Sichem. Forſoþe Abymalech þens goynge cam to þe burgh toun Thebes, þe which enuyrounnynge biſegide wiþ ooſt. Forſoþe þe tour was hiȝe in þe mydil cytee, to þe which flowen togidre men and wymmen, and alle þe princis of þe cytee, cloſid mooſt faſtly þe ȝate; and vpon þe roof of þe tour ſtondynge by þe pynnaclis. And Abymalech comynge nyȝ biſide þe tour fauȝt ſtrongli, and neiȝynge to þe dore, he was about to put vndir fyre; and, loo! a womman þe brekynge of a mylnſtoon from aboue þrowynge hurtlide to þe heed of Abymalech, and brak his brayn. Þe which clepide anoon his ſquyer, and ſeiþ to hym, Drawe out þi ſwerd, and ſmyte me, leſt perauenture it be ſeid, þat of a womman I am ſlayn. Þe which, fulfillynge þe heeſt, ſlewȝ him; and him ſlayn, alle þat wiþ hym weren of Yrael ben turned aȝen to her ſeetis. And God ȝeeldide þe yuel þat Abymalech dide aȝens his fader, ſlayn his ſeuenti breþeren. And to þe Sichemys is ȝoldun þat þei wrouȝten, and is comen vpon hem þe curſynge of Joaþam, ſone of Jeroboal.

Capitulum X.

Aftir Abymalech roos a duyk in Yrael, Thola, þe ſone of Phua, þe faders broþir of Abymalech, a man of Yſachar, þat dwellide in Sanyr, of þe hil of Effraym; and he demyde Irael þre and twenti ȝeer, and he is deed, and biried in Sanyr. To whom cam after Jayr Galadites, þat demede Irael bi two and twenti ȝeer; hauynge þretti ſones, ſittynge vpon þretti coltis of aſſis, and princis of þretti cytees, þe whiche of þe name of hym ben clepid Anochiayr, þat is, þe burghis of Jayr, vnto þe day þat is nowe, in þe loond of Galaad. And Jayr is deed, and biryed in þe place to þe which is þe name Camon. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael to oold ſynnes ioynynge newe, diden yuels in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and ſerueden to mawmettis, Baalym and Aſtaroþ, and to goddis of Syrye, and of Sidon, and of Moab, and of þe ſones of Amon, and of Philiſtiym; and þei laften þe Lord, and heryeden not hym. Aȝens whom þe Lord wexe wrooþ, and took hem into þe hoondis of Philiſtiym, and of þe ſones of Amon. And þei ben tourmentid, and hidouſly oppreſſid bi eiȝteen ȝeer, alle þat dwelliden biȝonde Jordan in þe loond of Ammorre, þat is in Galaad, in ſo mych, þat þe ſones of Amon, Jordan ouerpaſſid, waſtiden Judam and Beniamyn and Effraym; and Yrael is tormentid wel myche. And criynge to þe Lord þei ſeiden, We han ſynned to þee, for we han forſakun oure God, and ſerueden to Baalym. To whom þe Lord ſpak, Wheþer not þe Egipciens, and Amorreis, and þe ſones of Amon, and of Philiſtiym, Sidoneus forſoþe, and Amalech, and Chanaan oppreſſiden ȝou, and ȝe han cried to me, and Y haue delyueryd ȝou fro þe hoondis of hem? And neuerþelater ȝe han forſake me, and heried alien goddis; þerfor I ſhal not adde, þat eny more I delyuer ȝou. Gooþ, and inwardli clepiþ þe goddis þe whiche ȝe han choſen; delyuer þei ȝou in þe tyme of angwiſh. And þe ſones of Yrael ſeiden to þe Lord, We han ſynned; ȝeeld þow to vs what euere þing pleſiþ to þee; oneli nowe delyuer vs. Þe whiche ledynge alle þingis fro her cooſtis, þrewen out þe mawmettis of alien goddis, and ſerueden to þe Lord; þe which ſorewide vpon þe wrecchidnes of hem. And ſo þe ſones of Amon criynge togidre in Galaad piȝten tentis, aȝens whom þe ſones of Yrael gedryd in Maſphat ſetten tentis. And þe princis of Galaad ſeiden eche to his neiȝbors, He, þat firſt of ȝou aȝen þe ſones of Amon bigynneþ to fiȝt, ſhal be þe duyk of þe puple of Galaad.

Capitulum XI.

There was alſo in þat tyme Jeptee Galadites, a man mooſt ſtrong and fyȝter, þe ſone of a womman ſtrompet, þat is born of Galaad. Forſoþe Galaad hadde a wijf, of whom he took ſones, þe whiche aftirward þat þei weren waxen, keſten out Jeptee, ſeiynge, Eyre in þe hows of oure fader þou ſhalt not mowe be, for of avowtreſſe modir þou art born. Whom he fleynge and ſhonnynge dwellide in þe loond of Tob; and þere ben gedrid to hym nedi men and ſtelynge, and as prince þei ſueden. In þoo days fouȝten þe ſones of Amon aȝens Yrael; þe whiche ſharpli inſtoondynge, þe more þurȝ birþ wenten fro Galaad for to take into her help Jeptee of þe loond of Tob; and þei ſeiden to hym, Com, and be oure prince, and fiȝt aȝens þe ſones of Amon. To whom he anſwerde, Ben not ȝe, þat hatiden me, and keſten out fro þe hows of my fader, and nowe ȝe ben comen to me þurȝ nede conſtreyned? And þe princis of Galaad ſeiden to Jepte, For þis cauſe þanne nowe to þee we ben comen, þat þou goo wiþ vs, and fiȝt aȝens þe ſones of Amon, and be duyk of alle þat dwellen in Galaad. Forſoþe Jeptee ſeide to hem, If vereyli ȝe ben comen to me, þat I fiȝte for ȝow aȝen þe ſones of Amon, and þe Lord take hem into myn hoondis, ſhal Y be ȝoure prynce? Þe whiche anſwerden to hym, Þe Lord, þat þes þingis heriþ, he meene and witnes is, þat oure biheeſtis we ſhulen doo. And ſo Jeptee ȝede wiþ þe princis of Galaad, and þe puple made hym þeir prince; and Jeptee ſpak alle his wordis before þe Lord in Maſpha. And he ſente meſſagers to þe kyng of þe ſones of Amon, þe which of his perſone ſhulde ſeye, What to me and to þee is, for þou art comun aȝens me, þat þou waſte my loond? To whom he anſwerde, For Yrael took my loond, whanne he ſtiede vp fro Egipt, fro þe cooſtis of Arnon vnto Jaboþ and Jordan, nowe þanne wiþ pees ȝeeld to me it. Bi whom eft Jeptee ſente, and comaundide to hem, þat þei ſhulden ſeye to þe kyng of Amon, Þes þingis ſeiþ Jeptee, Yrael took not þe loond of Moab, ne þe loond of þe ſones of Amon; but whanne fro Egipt þei ſtyeden, he ȝede bi wildernes vnto þe Reed See, and cam into Cades; and he ſente meſſagers to þe kyng of Edom, ſeiynge, Let me, þat I paſſe bi þi loond; þe which wold not aſſente to his preiers. And he ſente to þe kyng of Moab, þe which and he diſpiſide to ȝyue paſſynge; and ſo he abood in Cades, and enuyrounde aſide þe loond of Edom, and þe loond of Moab; and he cam to þe eeſt cooſt of þe loond of Moab, and he ſette tentis biȝonde Arnon, and he wold not entre þe teermys of Moab; forſoþe Arnon is niȝ cooſt to þe loond of Moab. And ſo Yrael ſente meſſagers to Seon, þe kyng of Ammorreis, þat dwellide in Eſebon; and ſeide to hym, Leete me, þat Y paſſe bi þi loond vnto þe flood. Þe which and he, diſpiſynge þe wordis of Yrael, leete hym not paſſe bi his teermys, but a multitude wiþ outen eend gedrid wente out aȝens hym into Geſſa, and ſtrongli wiþſtood. And þe Lord took hym into þe hoondis of Yrael wiþ al his ooſt; þe which ſmoot hym, and weeldide al þe loond of Ammorree, þe dweller of þat regioun, and al þe coſtus of it fro Arnon vnto Jaboch, and fro þe wildernes vnto Jordan. Þe Lord þan God of Yrael turnede vpſedoun Amorre, fiȝtynge aȝens hym to his puple Yrael. And þou nowe wolt weelde þe loond of hym? Wheþer not þoo þingis, þe whiche weeldiþ Camos, þi god, to þee þurȝ riȝt ben owid? Forſoþe þingis þat þe Lord oure God ouercomer heelde, in oure poſſeſſioun ſhulen falle; but perauenture þow be betere þan Baalach, þe ſone of Sephor, kyng of Moab, oþere þou mayſt teche, þat he ſtroue aȝens Yrael, and fauȝte aȝens hym, whanne he dwelte in Eſebon, and in þe litil touns of it, and in Aroer and hys litil touns, and in alle þe cytees beȝonde Jordan, by þre hundred ȝeer. Whi ſo mych tyme no þing vpon þis aſkynge þou aſaydiſt? Þerfor I ſynne not in þee, but þou aȝens me doſt yuel, bryngynge into me bataylys not ryȝtwiſe; deme þe Lord, domyſman of þis day, bitwexe Yrael and þe ſones of Amon. And þe kyng of þe ſones of Amon wold not aſſente to þe wordis of Jeptee, þe whiche bi meſſagers he ſente. Þanne is doon vpon Jeptee þe ſpyrit of þe Lord, and he enuyrounnynge Galaad and Manaſſe, Maſpha and Galaad, and þens paſſynge to þe ſones of Amon, he vowede avowe to þe Lord, ſeiynge, If þou takiſt þe ſones of Amon into myn hoondis, who ſo euere firſt were gon out fro þe ȝatis of myn hous, and aȝen comeþ to me turnynge aȝen wiþ pees fro þe ſones of Amon, I ſhal offre hym brent ſacrifice to þe Lord. And Jeptee paſſide forþ to þe ſones of Amon, for to fiȝte aȝens hem, whom þe Lord took into þe hoondis of hym; and he ſmoot fro Aroer for to þat þou come into Mennyþ, twenti citees, and vnto Abel, þat is wiþ vynes ſet, wiþ a wel greet veniaunce; and þe ſones of Amon ben mekid of þe ſones of Yrael. Forſoþe to Jeptee turnynge aȝens into Maſpha, his hous, aȝencam to hym his oonli goten douȝter wiþ tymbrys and chorys; forſoþe he hadde noon oþer free children. Þe whiche ſeen, he kitte his cloþis, and ſeiþ, Allas! douȝter myn, þou haſt diſſeyued me, and þi ſelf art deſſeyued; forſoþe Y haue openyd my mouþ to þe Lord, and I ſhal not mowe doo oþer þing. To whom ſhe anſwerde, Fader myn, if þou haſt openyd þi mouþ to þe Lord, do to me what euere þing þou haſt bihoot, grauntid to þee veniaunce and victorye of þin enemyes. And ſhe ſeide to þe fader, Þis oonli ȝif to me, þat I praye; leete me, þat two monþis Y enuyroun þe hillis, and weyle my maydenhod wiþ my felawis. To whom he anſwerde, Go. And he lafte hir two monþis. And whanne ſhe was goon wiþ felawis and hir compeers, ſhe wepte hyr maydenhod in þe hillis. And fulfillid two monþis, ſhe is turned aȝen to hir fader, and he dyde to hire, as he auowide; þe which knewe not man. Þerfor maner ſpronge in Yrael, and vſage is kept, þat after þe ſercle of o ȝeer þe douȝtris of Yrael comen to gidre in oon, and weylen þe douȝter of Jeptee Galadyte foure dayes.

Capitulum XII.

Loo! forſoþe in Effraym is ſprongun a debate; forſoþe þe goers aȝen þe norþ ſeiden to Jeptee, Whi goynge to þe fiȝt aȝens þe ſones of Amon þou woldiſt not clepe vs, þat we wenten wiþ þee? Þerfor we ſhulen brenne þin hows. To whom he anſwerde, An hydows debate was to me and my puple aȝen þe ſones of Amon, and ȝow Y clepyde, for ȝe ſhulden ȝyue help to me, and ȝe wolden not doon. Þe which biholdynge Y putte in myn hondis my lijf; and Y paſſide to þe ſones of Amon, and þe Lord took hem into myn hoondis; what haue Y diſſerued, þat aȝens me ȝe ryſen into batayl? And ſo clepid to him alle þe men of Galaad, he fauȝt aȝens Effraym; and þe men of Galaad ſmyten Effraym; for he ſeide, Fugitiue is Galaad fro Effraym, and dwelliþ in mydil of Effraym and Manaſſe. And Galadites men occupiden þe forþis of Jordan, bi whiche Effraym was for to turne aȝen. And whanne a man of þe noumbre of Effraym fleynge was comyn to þo fordis, and hadde ſeyde, Y preye, þat ȝe leten me paſſe; Galaaditis ſeiden to hym, Wheþer art þou an Effrate? Þe which ſeiynge, Y am not, þei aſkiden hym, Seye þanne Sebolech, þat is to mene, an eere. Þe which anſwerde, Shebolech, bi þe ſame lettre an eere not myȝti to bryngen out. And anoon takyn þei kyttiden his þroot in þat goynge ouer Jordan; and þere fellen in þat tyme of Effraym two and fourti þowſandis. And ſo Jeptee demyde Galaadites of Yrael ſexe ȝeer; and he is deed, and biryed in his citee of Galaad. After þis demyde Yrael Abeþſan of Beþleem, þat hadde þretti ſones, and ſo feele douȝtris, þe whiche ſendynge out to houſbondis he ȝaf, and of þe ſame noumbre to his ſones he took wyues, bryngynge yn to his hows; þe which ſeuen ȝeer demyde Yrael, deed, and byryed in Beþlem. To whom cam aftir Degelon Zabulonyt, and demyde Yrael ten ȝeer, and is deed, and byried in Zabulon. After hym demyde Yrael Abdom, þe ſone of Elel, Pharatonyt; þe which hadde fourty ſones, and þretti of hem ſones ſones, ſtiynge vp vpon ſeuenti coltis of aſſis, and he demyde Yrael eiȝt ȝeer; and he is deed, and biried in Pharaton, þe loond of Effraym, in þe hil of Amalech.

Capitulum XIII.

And eft þe ſones of Yrael diden yuel in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, þe which took hem in to þe hoondis of þe Philiſteyns fourti ȝeer. And þere was a maner man of Saraa, and of þe lynage of Dan, Manue bi name, hauynge a wijf bareyn. To whom aperyde þe aungel of þe Lord, and ſeide to hyre, Bareyn þou art, and wiþ out free children; but þou ſhalt conſeyue, and bere a ſone. Be war þanne, leſt þou drynke wyn and ſiþer, ne eny þing vnclene þou eete; for þou ſhalt conſeyue, and bere a ſone, whos heed ſhal no raſure towche; forſoþe he ſhal be a Nazare of God from his childhod, and fro þe wombe of þe moder; and he ſhal bygynne to delyuer Yrael fro þe hoond of þe Philiſtiens. Þe which, whanne ſhe was comen to hire houſbond, ſeide to hym, A man of God cam to me, hauynge an aungelis chere, feerful wel myche; whom whanne Y hadde aſkid, who he was, and whennus he was comen, and what name he were clepid, he wolde not to me ſeye; but þus he anſwerde, Loo! þou ſhalt conſeyue, and bere a ſone; be war þat þou drynke no wyn ne ſiþer, ne eete eny þing vnclene; forſoþe he ſhal be a Nazare child of þe Lord, fro his ȝonȝþ and fro þe wombe of þe moder into þe day of his deeþ. And ſo Manue preyede þe Lord, and ſeiþ, Y biſeche, Lord, þat þe man of God, þe whiche þou ſentiſt, com eft, and teche vs, what we owen to doo of þe child, þat is to be born. And þe Lord herde Manue preiynge; and eft aperide þe aungel of þe Lord to his wijf ſittynge in þe feeld; forſoþe Manue hir houſboond was not wiþ hir. Þe which, whanne ſhe hadde ſeen þe aungel, hiede, and ranne to hir man, and tolde to hym, ſeiynge, Loo! þe man aperide to me, whom before I ſawȝ. Þe which roos, and folewide his wijf; and comynge to þe man he ſeide to hym, Art þow þe which ſpak to þe womman? And he anſwerde, Y am. To whom Manue, Whanne, he ſeiþ, þi word were fulfillid, what wolt þou, þat þe child doo, or fro what þing ſhal he kepe hym ſilf? And þe aungel of þe Lord ſeide to Manue, Fro alle þingis þat Y ſpak to þi wijf, abſteine he hym. And what euer þing growiþ of þe vyn eete he not, wyn and ſiþir drynk he not, noon vnclene þing eete he; and þat Y haue comaundid to hym, fulfille he and kepe. And ſo Manue ſeide to þe aungel of þe Lord, Y biſeche þee, þat þou aſſente to my preiers, and we make to þee a kidde of þe ſhe geet. To whom anſwerde þe aungel, If þou me conſtreyneſt, Y ſhal not eete þi looues; forſoþe if þou wolt doo brent ſacrifice, offre þou þat to þe Lord. And Manue wiſt not, þat it was þe aungel of þe Lord. And he ſeide to hym, What is name to þee, þat if þi word were fulfillid, we doon worſhip to þee? To whom he anſwerde, Whi aſkiſt þou my name, þat is merueylows? And ſo Manue took a kidde of þe geet, and ſacrifices of licours, and putte vpon þe ſtoon, offrynge to þe Lord þat doþ merueylows þingis. Forſoþe he and þe wijf of hym biheelden. And whanne þe flawme of þe auter ſtiede into heuene, þe aungel of þe Lord togidre in þe flawme ſtiede vp. Þe which þing whanne Manue hadde ſeen and his wijf, redi þei fellen into þe erþe. And na more to hym aperide þe aungel of þe Lord. And anoon Manue vndurſtood to be þe aungel of þe Lord. And he ſeide to hys wijf, Bi deeþ die we, for we han ſeen þe Lord. To whom anſwerde þe womman, If þe Lord wold ſlee vs, of oure hoondis brent ſacrifice and offryngis of licours he wold not haue take; but alle þes þingis he wold not haue ſhewid to vs, ne þo þingis þat ben to com haue ſeid. And ſo ſhe beere a child, and clepide þe name of him Sampſon; and þe child wexe, and þe Lord bleſſide to hym. And þe ſpyrit of þe Lord began to be wiþ hym in þe tentis of Dan, bitwix Saraa and Eſkahol.

Capitulum XIIII.

Sampſon þanne deſſendide in Thannaþa, and ſeynge þere a womman of þe douȝtris of Philiſtien, ſtiede vp, and tolde to his fader and his moder, ſeiynge, Y ſawȝ a womman in Thannaþa of þe douȝtris of Philiſtiens, whom, Y biſeche, þat þou take to me wijf. To whom ſeiden þe fader and his moder, Wheþer is þere no womman in þe douȝtres of þi briþeren and in al þi puple, for þou wolt take a wijf of Philiſtien, þat ben vncircumcidid? And Sampſon ſeide to his fader, Þis tak to me, for ſhe pleſide to myn eyen. His fader and moder wiſten not, þat þe þing ſhulde be doo of þe Lord; and he ſhulde ſeche occaſioun aȝens þe Philiſtien; forſoþe þat tyme Philiſtien lordſhipide to Yrael. And ſo Sampſon deſſendide wiþ his fader and moder in to Thannaþa; and whanne þei weren comen to þe vynes of þe bourȝ toun, and þere aperide a feers whelp of a lyoun and rorynge, and aȝen cam to hym. Þe ſpyrit of þe Lord forſoþe felle into Sampſon, and he taar þe lioun, as he ſhulde to-teer out a kide, into gobetis, no þing vtterli hauynge in hoond; and þat to fader and moder he wold not ſhewe. And he deſſendide, and ſpak to þe womman, þat pleſide to his eyen. And after a fewe days turnynge aȝen for to take hir, he wente aſide for to ſe þe careyn of þe lioun; and loo! a ſwarm of beeſe was in þe mouþ of þe lioun, and an hony coombe. Þe which whanne he hadde takun in hoondis, he ete in þe weye; and comynge to his fader and moder, he ȝaf to hem part, þe which and þei eeten; and neuerþelater he wolde not ſhewe to hem, þat þe hony he took of þe mouþ of þe lioun. And ſo his fader deſſendide to þe womman, and made to his ſone Sampſon a feeſt; forſoþe ſo ȝong men weren wont to doo. Whanne þanne þe cyteſeyns of þat place hadden ſeen him, þei ȝouen to him bord felawis þretti, þe whiche ſhulden be wiþ hym. To whom ſpak Sampſon, Y ſhal purpoſe to ȝow a dowtous word, þe which if ȝe ſoylen to me wiþ ynne ſeuen dais of þe feeſt, Y ſhal ȝyue to ȝou þretti lynnen cloþis, and ſo fele cootis; forſoþe if ȝe mowen not aſſoyle, ȝe ſhulen ȝyue to me þretty lynnen cloþis, and of þe ſame noumbre cootis. Þe whiche anſwerden to hym, Purpos þe probleme, þat we heren. And he ſeide to hem, Of þe eter ȝede out meete, and of þe ſtrong wente out ſwetnes. And þei miȝten not bi þre days ſoylen þe propoſicioun. And whanne þe ſeuenþe day was nyȝ, þei ſeiden to þe wijf of Sampſon, Faage to þi man, and meue hym, þat he ſhewe to þee what bitokeneþ þe probleme. Þe which þing if þou wold not doo, we ſhulen brenne þee and þe hows of þi fader. Wheþer þerfor ȝe han clepid vs to þe brydale for to robben? Þe which ſhedde anentis Sampſon teeris, and pleynede, ſeiynge, Þow hatidiſt me, and not loueſt, and þerfor þe redels, þat þow haſt purpoſid to þe ſones of my puple, þou wolt not to me expowne. He anſwerde, To my fadir and moder I wold not ſeye, and to þe ſhal I mowe ſhewe? Þerfor ſeuen days of þe feeſt ſhe wepte anentis hym, at þe laſt þe ſeuenþe dai whanne ſhe was heuy to hym, he expownede. Þe which anoon tolde to hir citeſeyns. And þei ſeiden to him þe ſeuenþe day before þe ſunne goynge doun, What is ſwetter þan hony, and what is ſtronger þan a lyoun? Þe which ſeide to hem, If ȝe hadden not erid in my ſhe calf, ȝe ſhulden not haue founden my propoſicioun. And ſo þe ſpyryt of þe Lord felle into hym; and he wente doun to Aſchalonen, and he ſmoot þere þretti men, of whom þe takun cloþis he ȝaf to hem þat þe redilis ſoileden; and wrooþ wel myche he ſtiede vp into þe hows of his fader. Forſoþe þe wijf of hym took an houſboond, oon of hir freendis and wowers.

Capitulum XV.

Afftir a litil forſoþe of tyme, whanne þe dais of whete ripynge ſtooden yn, cam Sampſon wilnynge to ſe his wijf, and he brouȝte to hir a kide of þe ſhe geet; and whanne he wold goo into þe bedde of hir, as he was wont, þe fadir of hir defendide hym, ſeiynge, Y wende þat þou haddiſt hatid hyr, and þerfor Y took hir to þi freend; but ſhe haþ a ſiſter, þat is ȝonger and feyrer þan ſhe, be ſhe to þee for hir a wijf. To whom Sampſon anſwerde, Fro þis day blame ſhal not be in me aȝens þe Philiſtiens, Y ſhal do to ȝow forſoþe yuels. And he ȝede, and took þre hundryd foxys, and þe taylis of hem he ioynede to þe taylis, and broondis he boond in þe myddil, þe whiche teendynge wiþ fier he lafte, and hidir and þidir þei runnen; þe whiche anoon wenten into þe cornys of þe Philiſtiens, þe whiche ſette a fier, and þe fruytis, now brouȝt to gidre, and þe ȝit ſtoondynge in þe ſtobil, ben brent, in ſo mych þat vynes and olyues þe flawm waſtide. And þe Philiſtiens ſeiden, Who haþ doon þis þing? To whom it is ſeide, Sampſon, þe ſone in lawe of Thannaþ, for he took his wijf, and ȝaf to anoþer, þes þingis he haþ wrouȝt. And þe Philiſtiens ſtieden vp and brenten as wel þe womman as hir fader. To whom ſeiþ Sampſon, Al be it þat þes þingis ȝe han doon, neuerþelater ȝit of ȝou Y ſhal aſke a veniaunce, and þanne Y ſhal reſte. And he ſmoot hem wiþ a greet veniaunce, ſo þat aſtonyinge þei putten on þe calf of þe leg to þe hipe; and he deſſendynge dwellide in þe ſpelunk of þe ſtoon of Eþan. Þan Philiſtiens ſtiynge vp into þe loond of Juda ſetten tentis in þe place, þe which afterward is clepid Leþi, þat is, a cheek boon, where þe ooſt of hem is hellid. And þei of þe lynage of Juda ſeiden to hem, Whi han ȝe ſtied vp aȝens vs? Þe whiche anſwerden, Þat we bynden Sampſon we ben comen, and we ȝeelden to hym þat in vs he haþ wrouȝt. Þanne þre þouſand of men of Juda deſſendiden to þe den of þe flynt of Eþan; and þei ſeiden to Sampſon, Woſt þou not, þat þe Philiſtiens comaunden to vs? Whi þis þing woldiſt þou doo? To whom he ſeiþ, As þei diden to me, Y dide to hem. To bynden þee, þei ſeyn, we ben comen, and to take into þe hoondis of Philiſtiens. To whom anſwerde Sampſon, Sweriþ, and bihotiþ to me, þat ȝe ſhulen not ſlee me. And þei ſeiden, We ſhulen not ſlee þee, but bounden we ſhulen ȝyue. And þei bounden hym wiþ two newe coordis, and token hym fro þe ſtoon of Eþan. Þe which whanne was comen to þe place of þe cheek boon, and Philiſtiens criynge out weren aȝen comen to hym, þe ſpiryt of þe Lord felle into him, and as ben wont at þe ſmelle of fier trees to be waaſtid, ſo and þe boondis, wiþ þe whiche he was bounden, ben ſcaterid and looſid. And takynge a foundun cheek boon, þat is, þe cheeklap of an aſſe, þat lay, he ſlewȝ wiþ it a þouſand men; and ſeiþ, In þe cheek boon of an aſſe, þat is, in þe iow of þe colt of aſſis, I haue doon hem a wey, and ſmyten a þouſand men. And whanne þes wordis ſyngynge he hadde fulfillid, he þrewe a wey þe iow fro þe hoond; and he clepide þe name of þat place Ramaþlei, þat is to mene, þe heuynge vp of þe cheek boon. And þreſtynge wel mych he criede to þe Lord, and ſeiþ, Þou haſt ȝeuen in þe hoond of þi ſeruaunt þis mooſt helþe and victorie; and loo! for þreſt I dye, and I ſhal falle into þe hoondis of þe vncircumcidid. And ſo þe Lord opnede a woong tooþ in þe cheek boon of þe aſſe, and watris wenten out of it, þe whiche drunkun he fedde þe ſpiryt, and ſtrengþis took aȝen; and þerfor is clepid þe name of þat place a Welle of þe inwardli clepynge fro þe cheek boon vnto þis day þat is nowe. And he demyde Yrael in þe dais of þe Philiſtiens twenti ȝeer.

Capitulum XVI.

He ȝede forſoþe into Gazam, and þere he ſawȝ a womman ſtrompet, and wente yn to hir. Þe which þing whanne Philiſtiens hadden ſeen, and was puppliſhid anentis hem, Sampſon to haue comen into þe citee, þei ſegeden hym about, kepers put in þe ȝatis of þe citee; and þere al nyȝt wiþ ſilence abidynge, þat þe morwetide comen him goynge out þei myȝten ſlee. Forſoþe Sampſon ſlept vnto mydnyȝt; and þens ryſynge he took boþ leeues of þe ȝate, wiþ her poſtes and lok; and put on þe ſhuldres he beer to þe cop of þe hil þat biholdiþ Ebron. After þes þingis he louede a woman þat dwellide in þe valey of Soreþ, and ſhe was clepid Dalida. And þere camen to hyr princis of Philiſtiens, and ſeiden, Bigijl hym, and lern of hym, in what he haþ ſo myche ſtrengþ, and in what maner wiſe hym we mowen ouercome, and bounden tourmente; þe which þing if þou doſt, we ſhulen ȝyue to þee ech a þouſand hundrid platis of ſiluer. Þanne Dalyda ſpak to Sampſon, Sey to me, I biſeche, in what is þi mooſt ſtrengþ, and what þing be wiþ þe which boundun þou maiſt not breek? To whom anſwerde Sampſon, If wiþ ſeuen ſenewy coordis not ȝit dried and ȝit moyſt Y were boundun, Y ſhal be feble as oþer men. And þe princis of þe Philiſtiens brouȝten to hir ſeuen coordis, as ſhe ſeide; wiþ þe whiche ſhe bounden hym, lurkynge anentis hir buſſhementis, and in þe bed place abidynge þe ende of þe þing. And ſhe criede to him, Philiſtien vpon þee, Sampſon! Þe which brak þe boondis, in what maner wiſe a man wold breeke þe þreed of a top of flexe, þat is ſponnen wiþ ſpotel, whanne þe ſmelle of fier it haþ takun; and it is not knowun in what þing his ſtrengþ was. And Dalida ſeide to hym, Loo! þow haſt bigilid me, and fals þou haſt ſpokyn; namely nowe ſhewe to me, wiþ what þing þow owiſt to be boundun. To whom he anſwerde, If I were boundun wiþ newe coordis, þe whiche weren not ȝit in werk, I ſhal be feble, and of oþer men lijk. Wiþ þe which eft Dalida boond him, and criede, Philiſtien vpon þee, Sampſon! in þe bed place buſſhementis maad redi. Þe which ſo brak þe boondis as þredis of webbis. And Dalida eft ſeide to hym, Howe long ſhalt þou bigile me, and fals þow ſhalt ſpeek? Shewe where wiþ þou owiſt to be boundun. To whom anſwerde Sampſon, he ſeiþ, If ſeuen heerys of myn heed wiþ warp þreed þou plattiſt, and a nayl wiþ hem about bounden to þe erþe þow ficchiſt, I ſhal be feble. Þe which þing whanne Dalida hadde doo, ſhe ſeide to hym, Philiſtien vpon þee, Sampſon! Þe which aryſynge fro ſleep, drowȝ out þe nayl, wiþ heeris and warp. And Dalida ſeide to hym, What maner wiſe þou ſeiſt, þat þou loueſt me, whanne þin ynwit is not wiþ me? Bi þre ſiþis þou haſt lowen to me, and þou woldiſt not ſeye to me, in what þing is þi mooſt ſtrengþ. And whanne ſhe was heuy to hym, and bi manye dais to hym biſili cleuede, ſpace to reſten not ȝyuynge, hyre lijf failide, and vnto þe deeþ is feblid. Þanne openynge þe trewþ of þe þing, he ſeide to hir, Yren neuer wente vpon myn heed, for þi Nazare, þat is, ſacrid to þe Lord, Y am fro þe wombe of my moder; if myn heed were ſhauen, my ſtrengþ ſhal goon awey fro me, and ſhal fayl, and be as oþer men. And ſhe ſeynge þat he hadde knowlechid to hir al his inwit, ſhe ſente to þe princis of Philiſtiens, and badde, Stye ȝe vp ȝyt oons, for nowe to me he haþ openyd his herte. Þe whiche ſtieden vp, takun to þe money þat þei bihiȝten. And ſhe made hym ſleep vpon hir knees, and in her boſum to leyn þe heed; and ſhe clepide þe barbour, and he ſhoofe ſeuen heeris of hym; and ſhe biganne to þrowe hym awey, and fro hir to putte; forſoþe anoon ſtrengþ fro hym wente. And ſhe ſeide, Philiſtiens vpon þee, Sampſon! Þe which fro ſleep ryſynge, ſeide in his inwit, I ſhal goo out, as I dide before, and me I ſhal ſhaake out; vnknowinge þat þe Lord was goon awey fro hym. Whom whanne Philiſtiens hadden cauȝt, anoon þei drewen out his eyen, and ladden hym boundun wiþ cheyns to Gazam, and cloſid in priſoun þei maden to grynde. And nowe his heeris bigunnen to growe aȝen; and þe princis of Philiſtiens camen to gidre in oon, for to offre ooſtis of greet worſhip to Dagon, her god, and for to eete, ſeyinge, Oure god haþ takun oure enemye Sampſon into oure hoondis. Þe which alſo þe puple ſeynge preyſeden her god, and þe ſame þing ſeiden, Oure god haþ taken into oure hoondis oure aduerſarie, þe which haþ doon a wey oure loond, and ſlayn many. And þei ioiynge bi feeſtis, nowe taken meetis, þei comaundiden, þat Sampſon ſhulde be clepid, and biforn hem pleye; þe which lad out fro þe priſoun pleyde beforn hem; and þei maden hym ſtoond bitwen two pileers. Þe whiche ſeide to þe child gouernynge his goyngis, Leet me, þat I towche þe pileers on þe whiche ſtoondiþ al þe hows, þat Y lene vpon hem, and a litil while reſte. Forſoþe þe hows was ful of men and of wymmen, and þere weren þe princis of Philiſtiens, and of þe roof and ſoleer aboute þre þowſand of eiþer kynde, bidynge Sampſon pleiynge. And he ſeiþ, þe Lord inwardli clepid, Lord, my God, haue mynde of me, and ȝeeld to me nowe þe fornhad ſtrengþ, my God, þat I wreche me on myn enemyes, and for þe leſynge of two liȝtis o veniaunce I take. And catchynge þe twey pileers, to þe whiche al þe hows ſtood, and þe toþer of hem wiþ þe riȝt, and þe toþer wiþ þe left holdynge, ſeiþ, Die my lijf wiþ Philiſtien! And þe pileers ſtrongly ſmyten to gidere, þe hows felle vpon alle þe princis, and þe toþir multitude, þat þere was; and many mo he ſlewȝ diynge, þan beforn he ſlewȝ on lyue. And his breþeren comynge doun, and al his kynrede, token hys bodi, and byrieden it bitwix Saraa and Eſcahol, in þe birielis of his fader Manue; and he demyde Yrael twenti ȝeer.

Capitulum XVII.

A maner man þere was in þat tyme of þe hil of Effraym, Mychas bi name. Þe which ſeide to his moder, Þe þouſand hundryd platis of ſiluer, þe whiche þow ſeuerediſt to þee, and vpon þe whiche me herynge þou ſwore, loo! Y haue, and anentis me ben. To whom ſhe anſwerde, Bleſſid my ſone to þe Lord. Þanne he ȝeeldide hem to his moder; þe which ſeide to hym, I haue ſacrid and auowid þis ſiluer to þe Lord, þat of myn hoond my ſone tak, and mak a grauen þing and a ȝotun; and now I take it to þee. Þanne he ȝeeld to his moder; þe which took two hundrid platis of ſiluer, and ȝaf hem to þe ſiluer ſmiþ, þat he make of hem a grauen þing and a ȝotun, þe which was in þe hows of Mychee. Þe which a litil hows forſoþe in it to God ſeuerde; and made a coope, and þeraphyn, þat is, þe preſtis clooþ, and mawmettis; and he fulfillid þe hoond of oon of his ſones, and he is maad to hym a preeſt. In þo dais was no kyng in Irael, but echon, what ſemyd to hym riȝt, þat he dide. And þere was anoþer ȝonglynge of Beþlem of Juda, of þe kynrede of him, and he was a Leuyte, and dwellide þere. And gon out of þe cytee of Beþlem pilgrimage he wold, where euere he founde profijt to hym. And whanne he was comen in to þe hil of Effraym, and weye makynge hadde bowid doun a litil in to þe hows of Myche, he is aſkid of hym, Whens comeſt þou? Þe which anſwerde, A Leuyte Y am of Beþlem of Juda, and I goo, þat I dwelle where I ſhal mowe, and biholde to be profitable to me. Dwel, he ſeiþ, anentis me, and be to me fader and preeſt; and I ſhal ȝyue to þee bi eche ȝeer ten platis of ſiluer, and dowble cloþinge, and what þingis ben neceſſarye to lijflod. And he aſentide, and dwellyde anentis þe man; and was to hym as oon of þe ſones. And Mycha fulfillid þe hoond of hym, and hadde a child preeſt anentis hym, ſeiynge, Nowe I woot, þat God wol doo wel to me, hauynge a preeſt of Leuytis kynde.

Capitulum XVIII.

In þo days was no kyng in Yrael; and þe lynage of Dan ſouȝte poſſeſſioun to hym, þat he myȝte dwelle in it; forſoþe vnto þat day amonge oþere lynagis he hadde takun no lot. Þanne ſenten þe ſones of Dannys ſtok, and of his meyne, fyue mooſt ſtronge men fro Saraa and Eſcahol, þat þei aſpien þe loond, and biſily biholden. And þei ſeiden to hem, Gooþ, and biholdiþ þe loond. Þe whiche, whanne goynge þei weren comen into þe hil of Effraym, and weren goon into þe hows of Myche, þei reſtiden þere. And knowynge þe voys of þe ȝonglynge Leuyte, and vſynge þe reſtynge place of hym, þei ſeiden to hym, Who brouȝte þe hidir? What here doſt þow? For what cauſe hidir come þou woldiſt? Þe which anſwerde to hem, Þes þingis and þes þingis Mychas haþ ȝeuen to me, and me bi meed haþ hyrid, þat I be to hym a preeſt. And þei preiden hym, þat he ſhulde counſeyl þe Lord, and wite þei myȝten, wheþir welſum weye þei ſhulden goo, and þe þing ſhulde han effecte. Þe which anſwerde to hem, Gooþ wiþ pees, þe Lord haþ biholden ȝoure weye, and þe gaat þat ȝe goon. And ſo goynge þe fyue men camen to Lachis; and þei ſeen þe puple dwellinge in it wiþouten eny drede, after þe vſage of Sydonyes, ſikir and in reſt, no man to hem vtterli wiþſtondynge, and of greet ritcheſſis, and fer fro Sidon, and fro alle men ſeuerd. And þei turneden aȝen to her briþeren in Saraa and Eſchahol; and what þei hadden doo to hem aſkynge, þei anſwerden, Ryſiþ, and ſtie we vp to hem; forſoþe we han ſeen þe loond ful riche and plenteuous; woliþ not leeue, woleþ not ceeſe, goo we, and weeld we it; no traueyle it ſhal be; we ſhulen goo into þe ſikyr, in to þe regyoun mooſt brood; and þe Lord ſhal taak to vs þe place, in which is ſcarſneſſe of no þing of hem þat ben goten in þe erþe. Þanne wenten of þe kynrede of Dan, þat is, of Saraa and Eſcahol, ſix hundrid men gird wiþ armes of werre. And þei ſtiynge vp dwelliden in Cariaþiarym of Jude, þe which place fro þat tyme took name of þe Tentis of Dan, and is bihynde þe bak of Kyriaþiarym. Þens þei paſſiden into þe hil of Effraym; and whanne þei weren comen to þe hows of Myche, ſeiden þe fyue men, þat before hoond weren ſent to þe loond of Lachis to ben biholden, to her oþer briþeren, Knowe ȝe, þat in þes howſis be ephot, and þeraphyn, and grauen þing and ȝoten; ſeeþ what pleſiþ to ȝou. And whanne a litil þei hadden bowid doun, þei wenten into þe hows of þe ȝonglynge Leuyte, þat was in þe hows of Myche, and þei ſalutiden hym wiþ peſible wordis. Forſoþe ſixe hundrid men, ſo as þei weren armed, ſtoden before þe dore. And þei, þe whiche weren goon into þe hous of þe ȝong man, þe grauen þing and ȝoten, and ephot, and þeraphyn þei enforſiden to taak; and þe preeſt ſtood before þe dore, þe ſixe hundrid men mooſt ſtronge not ferre abidynge. Þanne þo ilk þat entriden token þe grauen þing, ephot, and þe mawmettis, and þe ȝoten; to whom ſeide þe preeſt, What doon ȝe? To whom þei anſwerden, Whiſt, and put fynger vpon þi mouþ, and com wiþ vs, þat we han þee fader and preeſt. Wheþer is it beter to þee, þat þou be a preeſt in þe hows of o man, oþir in o lynage and meyne in Yrael? Þe which þing whanne he hadde herd, he aſſentyde to þe wordis of hem, and took ephot, and þe grauen þing, and mawmettis, and wiþ hem wente. Þe whiche whanne weren goon, and before hem hadden maad children and beeſtis to goon, and al þat was precious, and now whanne fro þe hows of Myche þei weren ferre, þe men þat dwelliden in þe howſes of Myche, to gidre criynge folweden, and after þe bak bigunne to crien. Þe whiche whanne þei hadden beholdun, þei ſeiden to Myche, What to þee wolt þow? whi crieſt þow? Þe whiche anſwerde, My goddis þat I made to me, ȝe han takun, and a preeſt, and alle þingis þat Y haue; and ȝe ſeyn, What is to þee? And þe ſones of Dan ſeiden to hym, Be war, leſt eny more þou ſpeke to vs, and men ſtyred wiþ corage comen to þee, and þou þi ſilf wiþ al þin hows periſhe. And ſo þe bigunne weie þei wenten. Forſoþe Mycha ſeynge, þat þei weren ſtrenger þan him ſelf, he turnyde aȝen into his hows. Forſoþe ſixe hundrid men token þe preeſt and þat we aboue ſeiden, and camen into Lachis to þe puple reſtynge and ſiker; and þei ſmyten hem in mouþ of ſwerd, and þe cite wiþ brennynge þei token, no man vtterly berynge ſokour, forþi þat ferre þei dwelten fro Sydon, and wiþ noon of men þei hadden eny þing of felawſhip and of erand. Forſoþe þe citee was ſet in þe regioun of Roob; þe which eft makynge out dwelliden in it; þe name of þe citee is clepid Dan after þe name of his fader, whom Irael gat, þe which before Lachis was ſeid. And þei putten to hem a grauen þing, and Jonaþan, þe ſone of Gerſon, ſone of Moyſy, and þe ſones of hym, preſtis in þe lynage of Dan, vnto þe day of his chetifte. And þere dwellide anentis hem þe mawmet of Myche, al þe tyme þat þe hows of God was in Sylo.

Capitulum XIX.

In þo days was no kyng in Yrael. A maner man Leuyte was dwellinge in þe ſide of þe hil of Effraym, þe which took a wijf in Beþlem Juda. Þe which lafte hym, and is turned aȝen into hir fader hows of Beþlem, and ſhe dwellide anentis hym foure moneþis. And hir man folwede hyr, wolnynge to be recounſeild to hir, and to ſoftli treten, and to brynge aȝen wiþ hym; hauynge in ledynge a child, and two aſſis. Þe which took hym, and brouȝte hym into þe hows of hyr fader; þat whanne his fader in lawe hadde herd him, and ſeen, glad he aȝens cam to hym, and clepide þe man. And þe ſone in lawe dwellide in þe hows of þe fader in lawe þre days, etynge and drynkynge wiþ hym homeli. Forſoþe þe ferþe day fro nyȝt ryſynge wold goo forþ; whom wiþ heelde þe fader in lawe, and ſeiþ to hym, Taſt raþer a litil of breed, and comfort þe ſtomak, and ſo þow ſhalt goo. And þei ſeten, and eten to gidir, and dronken. And þe fader of þe womman ſeide to his ſone in lawe, Y biſeche þee, þat þis day here þou dwelle, and to gider we gladen. And he ryſyn ganne to wiln to goo forþ; and neuerþelater þe fader in lawe biſily heelde hym aȝen, and anentis hym he made hym to dwelle. Forſoþe erely bigunne þe Leuyte made redi þe weye; to whom þe fader in lawe eft, I biſeche, he ſeiþ, þat a litil of meet þou take, and ſtrengþis nomen to þe tyme þat ful ſprynge þe day, and after go þow forþ. Þei eten þanne to gider. And þe ȝonglynge roos for to goo wiþ his wijf and child; to whom eft ſpak þe fader in lawe, Behoold, þat þe day is more bowid to þe ſunne goynge doun, and neiȝeþ to þe euen; dwel anentis me alſo þis day, and lede a myrye day, and to morwe þou ſhalt goo forþ, þat þou goo into þin hows. Þe ſone in lawe wolde not aſſente to his wordis; but anoon wente, and cam aȝens Jebuſe, þat bi anoþer name is clepid Jeruſalem, ledynge wiþ hym two aſſis chargid, and a ſecoundarie wijf. And nowe þei camen nyȝ biſide Jebus, and þe day was turned into nyȝt. And þe child ſeide to his lord, Com, I biſeche, and bowe we down to þe citee of Jebuſees, and dwelle we in it. To whom anſwerde þe lord, I ſhal not goo into þe burgh toun of an alien folk, þat is not of þe ſones of Yrael, but I ſhal paſſe to Gaba; and whanne þider I ſhal come, we ſhulen dwelle in it, oþir certeyn in þe citee of Rama. Þanne þei paſſiden Jebus, and þe bigunnen weie þei wenten. And þe ſunne wente doun to hem biſide Gaba, þat is in þe lynage of Beniamyn; and þei turneden biſide to it, þat þei myȝten dwelle þere. Whider whanne þei entreden, þei ſeeten in þe ſtrete of þe cytee, and no man hym wold reſſeyue in hows. And, loo! an oold man aperyde to hem turnynge aȝen fro þe feeld, and fro his werk at euen, þe which and he was of þe hil of Effraym, and a pilgrime dwellide in Gaba. Forſoþe þe men of þat regioun weren þe ſones of Gemyny. And areryd vp þe eyen, þe oold man ſawȝ a man ſittynge wiþ his litil chargis in þe ſtrete of þe cytee, and ſeide to hym, Whens comeſt þow? and whidre goſt þow? Þe which anſwerde to hym, We ben comen fro Beþlem Juda, and we goon to oure place, þat is in þe ſide of þe hil of Effraim, fro whennus we ȝeden to Beþlem; and nowe we goon to þe hows of God, and no man vndur his roof reſſeyue vs, hauynge chaf and hay into þe fodre of aſſis, and breed and wyn into myn, and of þin handmaydenys vſis, and of þe child þat is wiþ me; no þing we neden, but hows. To whom anſwerde þe oold man, Pees be wiþ þee; I ſhal make redi alle þingis, þat ben neceſſarye; oonli, I biſeche, ne bide þow in þe ſtrete. And he brouȝte hym into his hows, and fodre to aſſis he ȝaf; and after þat þei weſſhen her feet, he took hem into metſhip. Hem etynge, and after þe traueyl of þe weye wiþ meet and drynke fillinge þe bodies, camen men of þat cytee, þe ſones of Belial, þat is, wiþ outen ȝok, and enuyrownynge þe hows of þe oold man þei bigunnen to knoke þe ȝatis; criynge to þe lord of þe hows, and ſeiynge, Bryng out þe man þat is goon into þin hows, þat we myſuſen hym. And þe oold man wente oute to hem, and ſeiþ, Woliþ not, breþeren, woliþ not doon þis yuel; for a man is goo into myn hows; and cees ȝe fro þis foly. I haue a douȝter mayden, and þis man haþ a ſecoundarie wijf; I ſhal brynge hem out to ȝow, þat ȝe lowen hem, and ȝoure luſt ȝe fulfil; oonli, I byſeche, ne þis hidows gilt aȝens kynde ȝe worchen in þe man. Þei wolden not aſſente to his wordis; þe which þing biholdynge þe man broute out to hem his ſecoundarie wijf, and to hem he took hir to be ſcorned. Þe which whanne al nyȝt þei hadden myſuſid, þei laften hir eerly. And þe womman, goynge aweie þe derkneſſis, came to þe dore of þe hows, where dwellide hir lord, and þere ſhe felle down. Þe morwe tide doon, þe man roos, and openede þe dore for to fulfil þe bigunne weye; and, loo! his ſecoundarie wijf lay at þe dore, ſpred þe hoondis in þe þreſwold. To whom he wenynge hir to riſte ſpak, Ryſe, and goo we. Þe which no þing anſwerynge, vndurſtondynge þat ſhe was deed, took hir, and putte on þe aſſe; and he is turnyd aȝen into his hows. Þe which whanne he was goon yn, he cauȝte a ſwerd, and þe careyn of þe wijf wiþ hir bonys in twelue parties and gobetis hewynge, he ſente into alle þe teermys of Yrael. Þe which þing whanne alle þei hadden ſeen, þei crieden to gidre, Neuer ſiche þing is don in Iſrael, fro þat dai þat oure faders ſtieden vp fro Egipt vnto þe tyme þat is nowe; ȝyueþ ſentens, and in comoun deme ȝe, what is nede to þe deed.

Capitulum XX.

And þe ſones of Yrael wenten out, and to gidre gedreden as o man, fro Dan vnto Berſabee, and fro þe loond of Galaad to þe hows of Maſpha; and alle þe corneres of puplis, and alle þe lynages of Yrael camen to gidre into þe chirche of þe puple of God, foure hundryd þowſandis of foot men fiȝters. And it was not vnknowun to þe ſones of Beniamyn, þat þe ſones of Yrael hadden ſtied vp into Maſpha. And a Leuyte, þe houſboond of þe ſlayn womman, aſkid, what maner wyſe ſo myche hidows gilt were doon, he anſwerde, I cam into Gabaa of Beniamyn wiþ my wijf, and þidre I turnede. And loo! þe men of þat cytee enuyrounden at nyȝt þe hows, in þe which Y dwelte, willynge to ſlee me, and my wijf traueylynge wiþ vntrowable woodnes of luſt, and þerfor ſhe is deed. Þe which taken Y hewȝ into gobetis, and I ſente partis into alle þe teermys of ȝoure poſſeſſioun; for neuer ſo myche felony and ſo myche treſpas worþi to be punyſſhid is doon in Irael. Ȝe ben nyȝ to alle þe ſones of Yrael; demeþ, what ȝe owen to doon. And ſtondynge al þe puple as wiþ word of o man anſwerd, We ſhulen not goon aȝen into oure tabernaclis, ne eny man ſhal goo into his hows; but þis aȝens Gabaa in comoun we ſhulen doo. Ten men ben choſun of an hundrid, of alle þe lynagis of Yrael, and an hundrid of a þowſand, and a þouſand of ten þowſandis, þat þei beren to þe ooſt metis, and we fiȝtynge mowen aȝens Gabaa of Beniamyn ȝeelden to hym for þe hidows gilt, þat he deſerueþ. And al Yrael cam to gidre to þe citee, as o man, in þe ſame þouȝt and wiþ o counſeil. And þei ſenten meſſageris to al þe linage of Beniamyn, þe whiche ſhulden ſeye, Whi ſo myche felonye is foundun in ȝou? Takiþ þe men of Gabaa, þat þis treſpaſſe han doo, þat þei dyen, and yuel be doo awey fro Yrael. Þe whiche wolden not here þe mawndement of þe ſones of Yrael, her briþeren, but of alle þe cytees, þat weren of her lot, camen togidre in Gabaa, þat to hem þei myȝten bere helpe, and aȝens al þe puple of Yrael fiȝten. And þere ben founden fyue and twenti þowſandis of Beniamyn, of men drawynge out ſwerd, biſide þe dwellers of Gabaa, þat weren ſeuen hundryd mooſt myȝti men, ſo wiþ þe lift as wiþ þe riȝt fiȝtynge, and ſo wiþ ſlyngis ſtones at certeyn þrowynge, þat an heer forſoþe þei myȝten ſmyte, and in to noon oþer partie þe ſtrook of þe ſtoon ſhulde be born a weye. Forſoþe of þe men of Yrael, wiþ outen þe ſones of Beniamyn, ben foundun foure hundrid þowſandis of men drawynge out þe ſwerd and redi to þe fiȝt. Þe whiche ryſynge camen into þe hows of God, þat is in Silo; and þei counſeylden hym, and ſeiden, Who ſhal be in oure ooſt prince of þe ſtrijf aȝens Beniamyn? To whom þe Lord anſwerde, Judas be he ȝoure duyk. And anoon þe ſones of Yrael ryſynge eerly ſetten tentis aȝens Gabaa. And þens goynge forþ to þe fiȝt aȝens Beniamyn, þei bigunnen to fiȝt aȝens þe cytee. And þe ſones of Beniamyn goon out fro Gabaa, ſlowen of þe ſones of Irael þat day two and twenti þowſandis of men. And eft þe ſones of Yrael and in ſtrengþ and in noumbre truſtynge, in þe ſame place in which raþer þei ſtryuen, þei dreſſeden þe ſheltroun; ſo neuerþelater þat before þei ſtieden, and wepten before þe Lord vnto þe nyȝt, and counſeilden hym, and ſeiden, Shal I more goon forþ to fiȝten aȝens þe ſones of Beniamyn, my breþeren, or nay? To whom he anſwerde, Stieþ vp to hem, and goþ into þe ſtrijf. And whanne þe ſones of Yrael þe toþer day aȝens Beniamyn to þe batayl weren goon, þe ſones of Beniamyn breken out fro þe ȝatis of Gabaa, and aȝen comynge to hem, ſo mych ſlauȝter þei mich wexen wood in hem, þat eiȝt and twenti þouſandis of men drawynge out ſwerdis þei þrewen doun. For what þing alle þe ſones of Yrael camen into þe hows of God, and ſittynge þei wepten before þe Lord, and þei faſtiden þat day vnto euen; and þei offreden to him brent ſacrifices and peſible ſleyn ſacrificis, and vpon her ſtaat þei aſkiden. Þat tyme was þere þe arke of þe boond of pees of God in Sylo; and Phynees, þe ſone of Eliazar, ſone of Aaron, was prouoſt of þe hows. Þanne þei counſeilden þe Lord, and ſeiden, Shulen we more goon out to þe fiȝt aȝens þe ſones of Beniamyn oure breþeren, oþir reſten? To whom ſeiþ þe Lord, Stieþ vp, forſoþe to morwe I ſhal taak hem into ȝoure hoondis. And þe ſones of Yrael putten buſſhementis bi þe enuyroun of þe cytee of Gabaa; and þe þridde ſiþe as oons and twyes aȝens Beniamyn þe ooſt brouȝte forþ. But and þe ſones of Beniamyn hardili breken out of þe cytee, and þe aduerſaryes fleynge lenger þei purſueden, ſo þat þei woundiden of hem, as þe firſt day and þe ſecounde, and ſlowen bi two paþis þe turninge backis; of þe whiche oon beer into Beþel, and þe toþir into Gabaa. And þei þrewen doun aboute þretti men; forſoþe þei wenden in þe wont maner to ſleen hem; þe whiche feynynge fliȝt at þe bigynnynge, wenten in counſeil for to drawe hem a wey fro þe cytee, and as fleynge to bryngen to þe forſeide paþis. And ſo alle þe ſones of Yrael ryſynge fro her ſeetis tiȝten ſhiltron in þe place þat is clepid Baalþamar. Forſoþe þe buſſhementis, þat about þe cytee weren, litil melome hem ſeluen bigunnen to opne, and fro þe weſt parti of þe citee to goon forþ. But and oþere ten þouſandis of men of Yrael dwellers of þe cytee terreden to ſtryues; and þe bateil is agreggid aȝens þe ſones of Beniamyn, and þei vndurſtoden not, þat on alle ſidis to hem ſtood yn deeþ. And þe Lord ſmoot hem in þe ſiȝt of þe ſones of Yrael, and þei ſlowen of hem in þat day fyue and twenti þowſandis and an hundrid men, alle fiȝters and drawinge out ſwerd. Forſoþe þe ſones of Beniamyn, whanne þei hadden ſeen hem ſelf to be þe neþermore, þei bigunne to flee. Þe which þing biholdynge þe ſones of Yrael, ȝeuen to hem place to flee, þat þei miȝten come to þe maad redi buſſhementis, þe whiche biſyde þe cytee þei ſetten. Þe whiche whanne hadden ryſe ſodeynly fro þe hidilis, and Beniamyn ȝaf backis to þe ſleers, þei wenten into þe cytee, and ſmyten it in mouþ of ſwerd. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael hadden ȝeuen a tokne to hem þat weren ſett in buſſhementis, þat after þat þei hadden take þe cytee, fier þei ſhulden teend, and þe ſmook ſtiynge vp into heiȝt, þei ſhulden ſhewe þe cytee takun. Þe which þing whanne þe ſones of Yrael put in þat ſtrijf ſhulden biholde; forſoþe þe ſones of Beniamyn wenden hem to fleen, and more biſily folweden, ſleyn of þe ooſt of hem þretti men; and þei ſeen as a piler of ſmook fro þe citee to ſtien vp; forſoþe Beniamyn biholdynge bihynde, whanne he ſawȝ þe cytee takun, and þe flawmis to be born into heiȝt, þe whiche beforehond feyneden fliȝt, turnede þe face ſtrongly wiþſtoden. Þe which þing whanne þe ſones of Beniamyn hadden ſeen, þei ben turned in fliȝt, and to þe weye of deſeert þei bigunne to goon; forſoþe þider hem aduerſaryes purſuynge, but and þes, þat ſetten þe toun on fier, aȝen comynge to hem. And ſo it is doon, þat on eiþer parti þei ben ſlayn of enemyes, ne þere was eny reſte of men dyynge; and þei fellen, and ben þrowen down at þe eeſt cooſt of þe cytee of Gabaa. Forſoþe þere weren, þat in þe ſame place ben ſlayn, eiȝteen þouſandis of men, al mooſt ſtronge fiȝters. Þe which þing whanne hadden ſeen þat leften of Beniamyn, þei flowen into wildirnes, and wenten to þe ſtoon, whos name is Remmon. Forſoþe in þat fliȝt opynli hidir and þider rennynge and into dyuerſe placis goynge þei ſlowen fyue þowſandis of men; and whanne ferþer þei wenten, þei purſueden hem, and ſlewen alſo oþere two þowſandis. And ſo is doo, þat alle þat fellen of Beniamyn in dyuerſe placis, weren fyue and twenti þowſandis, fiȝters at batayls mooſt redy. And ſo þere laften of al þe noumbre of Beniamyn, þat myȝten ſcape, and fleen into wilderneſſe, ſixe hundred men; and þei ſetten in þe ſtoon of Remmon foure moneþis. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael goon out, ſmyten wiþ ſwerd al þe relif of þe cyte, fro man vnto beeſt; and alle þe citees and lytil touns of Beniamyn deuowrynge flawm waaſtide.

Capitulum XXI.

The ſones forſoþe of Yrael hadden ſworn in Maſpha, and ſeiden, Noon of vs ſhal ȝyue to þe ſones of Beniamyn of his douȝtris a wijf. And alle þei camen to þe hows of God in Sylo, and in þe ſiȝt of hym ſittynge vnto euen þei rereden a voys, and wiþ greet ȝeelynge bigunnen to wepe, ſeiynge, Whi, Lord God of Yrael, þis yuel ys doo in þi puple, þat þis day o lynage be doon awei fro vs? Forſoþe þe toþir day eerli ryſynge þei maden vp an auter, and offreden þere brent ſacrificis and peſible ſleyn offryngis, and ſeiden, Who ſtiede not vp in þe ooſt of þe Lord of alle þe lynagis of Yrael? Forſoþe wiþ greet ooþ þei bounden hem ſeluen, whanne þei weren in Maſpha, hem to be ſlayn þat þennus weren. And lad by oþenkynge þe ſones of Yrael vpon her broþer Beniamyn, þei bigunnen to ſeyn, Þere is doon awey o lynage fro Irael; whens ſhulen þei taake wyues? forſoþe alle in comyn we han ſworn vs not to ȝyue oure douȝtres to hem. And þerfor þei ſeiden, Who is of alle þe lynagis of Irael, þat ſtiede not vp to þe Lord in to Maſpha? And loo! þere ben foundun dwellers of Jabis Galaad not haue ben in þat ooſt. Forſoþe þat tyme, whanne þei weren in Sylo, noon of hem is foundun þere. And ſo þei ſenten ten þouſand mooſt ſtronge men, and comaundiden to hem, Goþ, and ſmitiþ þe dwellers of Jabis Galaad in mouþ of ſwerd, as wel wymmen as þe litil children of hem. And þis ſhal be, þat ȝe ſhulen kepe wel, alle of maal kynde and wymmen, þat han knowun men, ſleeþ; maydens kepe ȝe. And þere ben foundun of Jabis Galaad foure hundryd maydens, þat knewen not þe bed of man; and þei brouȝten hem to þe tentis in Silo, in to þe loond of Chanaan. And þei ſenten meſſagers to þe ſones of Beniamyn, þat weren in þe ſtoon of Remmon; and þei comaundiden to hem, þat þei ſhulden take hem in pees. And þe ſones of Beniamyn camen in þat tyme, and ben ȝeuen to hem wyues of þe douȝtres of Jabis Galaad; forſoþe oþer þei founden, þe whiche lijk maner þei ſhulden take. And al Yrael greetli ſorowide, and dide oþenkynge vpon þe ſlauȝter of o lynage of Yrael. And þe more þurþ birþ ſeiden, What ſhulen we doo to þe toþer, þat han take no wyues? Alle þe wymmen in Beniamyn fellen togidre, and wiþ greet biſynes to vs and myche ſtodye it is to puruey, leſt o lynage be doon awey fro Yrael. Oure douȝtres we mowen not ȝyue to hem, bounden bi ooþ and curſynge, in þe which we han ſeide, Curſid þat ſhal ȝyue of his douȝtris a wijf to Beniamyn. And þei token counſeil, and ſeiden, Loo, þe ſolempnete of þe Lord is in Silo, torn aboute bi þe ȝeer, þat is ſet at þe norþ of þe cytee of Beþel, and at þe eeſt cooſt of þe weye þat goþ fro Beþel to Siccymam, and to þe ſouþ of þe burȝ toun of Lebona. And þei comaundiden to þe ſones of Beniamyn, and ſeiden, Goþ, and lurkiþ in þe vynes; and whan ȝe ſeen þe douȝtris of Sylo at þe dauncis to be lad aftir þe maner to goo forþ, goþ out ſodeynly out of þe vines, and takiþ hem, eche ſondry wyues, and goþ into þe loond of Beniamyn. And whanne þe faders of hem and briþeren comen, and aȝens ȝou bigynnen to pleyne and chiden, we ſhulen ſeye to hem, Haþ mercy on hem; forſoþe þei rauyſheden not hem bi lawe of fiȝters and of ouercomers; but to hem preyinge, þat þei myȝten take, ȝe han not ȝeuen; and on ȝoure parti is þe ſynne. And þe ſones of Beniamyn diden as to hem was comaundid, and after her noumbre þei rauyſſheden to hem, of hem þat ladden dauncis, ſondry wyues. And þei wenten into her poſſeſſioun, bildynge vp cytees, and dwellynge in hem. Forſoþe þe ſones of Yrael turneden aȝen, bi lynagis and meynees, into her tabernaclis. In þo days was no kyng in Yrael, but ech on þat to hym ſemyde ryȝt, þat dide he.

Here endiþ þe book of Judicum, and nowe bigynneþ þe book of Ruþ.