Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/42

ANONYMOUS

Nou hit is, and nou hit nys,^[1]
Al so hit ner nere,^[2] ywys;
That moni mon seith, soth^[3] hit ys:
    Al goth bote Godes wille:
    Alle we shule deye, thah^[4] us like ylle.

Al that gren me graveth grene,
Nou hit faleweth^[5] al bydene:^[6]
Jehsu, help that hit be sene
    And shild us from helle!
For y not whider^[7] y shal, ne hou longe her duelle.^[8]

c 1375

IESU, swete sone dere!
On porful bed list thou here,
And that me greveth sore,
For thi cradel is ase a bere,^[9]
Oxe and asse beth thi fere^[10]
    Weepe ich mai tharfore.

Iesu, swete, beo noth wroth,
Thou ich nabbe clout ne cloth
    The on for to folde,
    The on to folde ne to wrappe,
For ich nabbe clout ne lappe,^[11]
Bote ley thou thi fet to my pappe,
    And wite^[12] the from the colde.

 

1. nys] is not
2. al so hit ner nere] as though it had never been.
3. soth] sooth
4. thah] though.
5. faleweth] fadeth.
6. al bydene] forthwith.
7. y not whider] I know not whither.
8. her duelle] here dwell.
9. bere] byre.
10. fere] companion.
11. lappe] fold of garment.
12. wite] keep.