3

wente out of a Schipp, and wente thorghe the Ile, til that he come to the Castelle, and cam in to the Cave; and wente so longe, til that he fond a Chambre, and there he saughe1 a Damysele, that kembed' hire Hede, and lokede in a Myrour; and sche hadde meche Tresoure abouten hire: and he trowed, that sche hadde ben a comoun Woman, that dwelled there to receyve Men to Folye. And he abode, tille the Damysele saughe the Schadewe of him in the Myrour. And sche turned hire toward him, and asked hym, what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben hire Limman or Paramour. And sche asked him, yif" that he were a Knyghte. And he seyde, nay. And than sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire Lemman: 5 But sche bad him gon ayen unto his Felowes, and make him Knyghte, and come ayen upon the Morwe, and sche scholde come out of the Cave before him; and thanne come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no Drede; "for I schalle do the no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in Lyknesse of a Dragoun. For thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do the to wytene,' that it is made be Enchauntement. For withouten doute, I am non other than thou seest now, a Woman; and therfore drede the noughte. And yif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this Tresoure, and be my Lord, and Lord also of alle that Ile." And he departed fro hire and wente to his Felowes to Schippe, and leet 1o make him Knyghte, and cam ayen upon the Morwe, for to kysse this Damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen" out of the Cave, in forme of a Dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, that he fleyghe 12 ayen to the Schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche saughe, that he turned not ayen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde meche 3 Sorwe: and thanne sche turned ayen, in-to hire Cave; and anon the Knyghte dyede. And siththen 13 hidrewards," myghte Knyghte se hire, but that he dyede anon. But whan a Knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the Damysele in-to hire righte Forme and kyndely 15 Schapp, and he schal be Lord of alle the Contreyes and Iles aboveseyd.

12

no

believed, thought

cause

18 since

• know 14 till now

2

FROM CHAP. XVII

Also yee have herd me seye that Jerusalem is in the myddes of the World; and that may men preven and schewen there be a Spere that is pighte3 in-to the Erthe, upon the hour of mydday, whan it is Equenoxium, that schewethe no schadwe on no syde. And that it scholde ben in the myddes1 of the World, David wytnessethe it in the Psautre, where he seythe, Deus operatus est salute[m] in medio Terre. Thanne thei that parten fro the parties of the West for to go toward Jerusalem, als many jorneyes' as thei gon upward for to go thidre, in als many jorneyes may thei gon fro Jerusalem, unto other Confynes of the Superficialtie of the Erthe beyonde. And whan men gon beyonde tho journeyes toward Ynde and to the foreyn Yles, alle is envyronynge the roundnesse of the Erthe and of the See, undre oure Contrees on this half." And therfore hathe it befallen many tymes of o10 thing that I have herd cownted" whan I was yong: how a worthi man departed somtyme from oure Contrees for to go serche the World.

8

And

16

so he passed Ynde and the Yles beyonde Ynde, where ben mo 12 than 5000 Yles; and so longe he wente be 13 See and Lond and so enviround the World be many seysons, that he fond an Yle where he herde speke his owne Langage, callynge on Oxen in the Plowghe, suche Wordes as men speken to Bestes in his owne Contree; whereof he hadde gret Mervayle,14 for he knewe not how it myghte be. But I seye, that he had gon so longe be Londe and be See that he had envyround alle the Erthe, that he was comen ayen 15 envirounynge, that is to seye, goynge aboute, unto his owne Marches, yif he wolde have passed forthe til he had founden his Contree and his owne knouleche.17 But he turned ayen from thens, from whens he was come fro; and so he loste moche peynefulle labour, as him-self seyde a gret while aftre that he was comen hom. For it befelle aftre, that he wente in to Norweye; and there Tempest of the See toke him; and he arryved in an Yle; and whan he was in that Yle, he knew wel that it was the Yle where he had herd speke his owne Langage before and the callynge of the Oxen at the Plowghe; and that was possible thinge. But how it semethe to symple

men unlerned that men ne mowe1 not go undre the Erthe, and also that men scholde falle toward the Hevene from undre! But that may not be, upon lesse than wee mowe falle toward Hevene fro the Erthe where wee ben.' For fro what partie of the Erthe that men duelle, outher1 aboven or benethen, it semethe alweys to hem that duellen that thei gon more righte than ony other folk. And righte as it semethe to us that thei ben undre us, righte so it semethe hem that wee ben undre hem. For yif a man myghte falle fro the Erthe unto the Firmament, be grettere resoun, the Erthe and the See, that ben so grete and so hevy, scholde fallen to the Firmament: but that may not be; and therefore seithe oure Lord God, Non timeas me, qui suspendi Terra[m] ex nichilo?® And alle be it that it be possible thing that men may so envyronne alle the World, natheles of a 1000 persones on ne myghte not happen to returnen in-to his Contree. For the gretnesse of the Erthe and of the See, men may go be a 1000 and a 1000 other weyes, that no man cowde redye 10 him perfitely toward the parties that he cam fro, but-yif it were be aventure and happ or be the grace of God. For the Erthe is fulle large and fulle gret, and holt 12 in roundnesse and aboute envyroun, be aboven and be benethen, 20425 Myles, aftre the opynyoun of the olde wise Astronomeres. And here Seyenges I repreve 13 noughte. But aftre my lytylle wytt, it semethe me, savynge here" reverence, that it is more.

8

FROM CHAP. XXVII

In the Lond of Prestre John ben many dyverse thinges and many precious Stones, so grete and so large that men maken of hem 5 Vesselle; 15 as Plateres, Dissches, and Cuppes. And many other marveylles ben there; that it were to 10 combrous and to 16 long to putten it in scripture 17 of Bokes.

But of the princypalle Yles and of his Estate and of his Lawe I schalle telle you som partye.18 This Emperour Prestre John is Cristene; and a gret partie of his Contree also: but yit thei have not alle the Articles of oure Feythe, as wee have. Thei beleven wel in the

8

Fadre, in the Sone, and in the Holy Gost: and thei ben fulle devoute and righte trewe on ' to another. And thei sette not be no Barettes,3 ne be Cawteles,* ne of no Disceytes. And he hathe undre him 72 Provynces; and in every Provynce is a Kyng. And theise Kynges han Kynges undre hem; and alle ben tributaries to Prestre John. And he hathe in his Lordschipes many grete marveyles. For in his Contree is the See that men clepen the Gravely See, that is alle Gravelle and Sond' with-outen ony drope of Watre; and it ebbethe and flowethe in grete Wawes as other Sees don; and it is never stille ne in pes" in no maner 12 cesoun.13 And no man may passe that See be Navye1 ne be no maner of craft: 15 and therfore may no man knowe what Lond is beyond that See. And alle-be-it that it have no Watre, yit men fynden 10 there-in and on the Bankes fulle gode Fissche of other maner of kynde and schappe thanne men fynden in ony other See; and thei ben of right goode tast and delycious to mannes

mete.

10

17

19

17

18

And a 3 journeys long fro that See, ben gret Mountaynes; out of the whiche gothe 1 out a gret Flood,18 that comethe out of Paradys; and it is fulle of precious Stones, withouten ony drope of Water; and it rennethe 10 thorghe the Desert, on that 20 o1 syde, so that it makethe the See gravely; and it berethe 1 in-to that See, and there it endethe. And that Flome rennethe also 3 dayes in the Woke," and bryngethe with him grete Stones and the Roches 22 also therewith, and that gret plentee. And anon as thei ben entred in-to the gravely See, thei ben seyn 23 no more, but lost for evere more. And in tho 3 dayes that that Ryvere rennethe no man dar24 entren in-to it: but in the other dayes men dar entren wel ynow.25 Also beyonde that Flome,18 more upward to the Desertes, is a gret Pleyn alle gravelly betwene the Mountaynes; and in that Playn every day at the Sonne risynge begynnen to growe smale Trees; and thei growen til mydday, berynge Frute; but no man dar taken of that Frute, for it is a thing of Fayrye.20 And aftre mydday thei discrecen and entren ayen in-to the Erthe; so that at the goynge doun of the Sonne thei apperen no more; and so thei don every day: and that is a gret marvaylle.

28

1 one

4 tricks

10 waves

18 device

27

20 the 21 week 22 rocks

26 magic 27 decrease

13

season

18 river

3 frauds

sand

14 ship

19 runs

enough

THE GOSPEL OF MATHEU

JOHN WICLIF (D. 1384)

THE GOSPEL OF MATHEW (FIRST VERSION)

16

CHAP. V

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Jhesus forsothe,' seynge' cumpanyes, wente up in-to an hill; and when he hadde sete, his disciplis camen nighe to hym. And he, openynge his mouthe, taughte to hem, sayinge, "Blessid be the pore in spirit, for the kingdam in hevenes is heren. Blessid be mylde men, for thei shuln' welde the eerthe. Blessid be thei that mournen, for thei shuln be comfortid. Blessid be thei that hungren and thristen rightwisnesse,' for thei shuln ben fulfillid. Blessid be mercyful men, for thei shuln gete mercye. Blessid be thei that ben of clene herte, for thei shuln see God. Blessid be pesible men, for thei shuln be clepid' the sonys of God. Blessid be thei that suffren persecucioun for rightwisnesse,' for the kyngdam of hevenes is herun. Yee shulen be blessid, when men shulen curse you, and shulen pursue you, and shulen say al yvel 10 ayeins " you leezing," for me. Joye 13 yee with-yn-forth," and glade yee with-out-forth, for youre meede 15 is plentevouse in hevenes; forsothe so thei han 17 pursued and 18 prophetis that weren before you. Yee ben salt of the erthe; that yif the salt shal vanyshe awey, wherynne shal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth over,20 no bot 22 that it be sent out, and defoulid of men. Ye ben light of the world; a citee putt on an hill may nat be hid; nether men tendyn 23 lanterne, and putten it undir a busshel, but on a candilstike, that it yeve 24 light to alle that ben in the hous. So shyyne youre light before men, that thei see youre good werkis, and glorifie youre Fadir that is in hevens. Nyle ye gesse, or deme,27 that Y came to undo, or distruye, the lawe, or the prophetis; I came not to undo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe 28 I say to you trewthe, til heven and erthe passe, oon 29 i, that is leste 30 lettre, or titil, shal nat passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be don. Therfore he that undoth, or breketh, oon of these leste 30 maundementis, and techith thus men, shal be clepid 32 the leste in the rewme 33 of hevenes; forsothe, this 34 that doth, and techith, shal be clepid grete in the kyngdame of hevenes. Forsothe Y say to you, no-but-yif 35 youre rightwisnesse shal be more

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a

sat 4 theirs shall 6 rule

7 righteousness are • called 10 evil 11 against 12 lying 13 rejoice 14 with-yn-forth = inwardly

15

re

(SECOND VERSION)

CAP. V

And Jhesus, seynge the puple, wente up into an hil; and whanne he was set, hise disciplis camen to hym. And he openyde his mouth, and taughte hem, and seide," Blessed ben pore men in spirit, for the kyngdom of hevenes is herne. Blessid ben mylde men, for thei schulen welde the erthe. Blessid ben thei that mornen, for thei schulen be coumfortid. Blessid ben thei that hungren and thristen rightwisnesse, for thei schulen be fulfillid. Blessid ben merciful men, for thei schulen gete merci. Blessid ben thei that ben of clene herte, for thei schulen se God. Blessid ben pesible men, for thei schulen be clepid Goddis children. Blessid ben thei that suffren persecusioun for rightfulnesse, for the kingdam of hevenes is herne. Ye schulen be blessid, whanne men schulen curse you, and schulen pursue you, and shulen seie al yvel 10 ayens you liynge, for me. Joie ye, and be ye glad for youre meede 15 is plentevouse 10 in hevenes; for so thei han 17 pursued also profetis that weren bifor you. Ye ben salt of the erthe; that if the salt vanysche awey, whereynne schal it be saltid? To no thing it is worth overe,2 no but 22 that it be cast out, and be defoulid of men. Ye ben light of the world; a citee set on an hil may not be hid; ne me teendith 23 not a lanterne, and puttith it undur a busschel, but on a candilstike, that it yyve light to alle that ben in the hous. So schyne youre light befor men, that thei se youre goode werkis, and glorifie youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Nil 26 ye deme,27 that Y cam to undo the lawe, or the profetis; Y cam not to undo the lawe, but to fulfille. Forsothe Y seie to you, til hevene and erthe passe, o 2o lettir or o 29 titel shal not passe fro the lawe, til alle thingis be doon. Therfor he that brekith oon of these leeste maundementis, and techith thus men, schal be clepid 32 the leste in the rewme 33 of hevenes; but he that doith, and techith, schal be clepid greet in the kyngdom of hevenes. And Y seie to you, that but your rightfulnesse be more plentevouse than of scribis and of Farisees, ye

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plentevouse than of scribis and Pharisees, yee shulen not entre in-to kyngdam of hevenes. Yee han herde that it is said to olde men, Thou shal nat slea; forsothe he that sleeth, shal be gylty of dome. But I say to you, that evereche that is wrothe to his brother, shal be gylty of dome; forsothe he that shal say to his brother, Racha, that is, a word of scorn, shal be gylty of counseile; sothly he that shal say, Fool, that is, a word of dispisynge, shal be gylti of the fijr of helle. Therfore yif thou offrist thi yift at the auter,' and there shalt bythenke, that thi brother hath sum-what ayeins thee, leeve there thi yift before the auter, and go first for to be recounseilid, or acordid, to thi brother, and thanne thou cummynge shalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soon, the whijle thou art in the way with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman,10 and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sente in-to prisoun. Trewely I say to thee, Thou shalt not go thennes, til thou yelde the last ferthing. Ye han herd for it was said to olde men, Thou shalt nat do lecherye. Forsothe Y say to you, for-why 13 every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hire, now he hath do lecherie by hire in his herte. That yif thi right eiye sclaundre 1 thee, pulle it out, and cast it fro thee; for it speedith' to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than al thi body go in-to helle. And yif thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitt 17 it awey, and cast it fro thee; for it spedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than that al thi body go in-to helle. Forsothe it is said, Who-evere shal leeve

12

his wyf, yeve 18 he to hir a libel, that is, a litil boke, of forsakyng. Sothely Y say to you, that every man that shal leeve his wyf, outaken 1o cause of fornicacioun, he makith hire do lecherie and he that weddith the forsaken wijf, doth avoutrie.20 Efte-soonys "yee han herd, that it was said to olde men, Thou shalt not forswere, sothely 22 to the Lord thou shalt yeeld 23 thin œthis.24 Forsothe Y say to you, to nat swere on al manere; neither by hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heved,25 for thou maist not make oon heer whyt or blak; but be youre word yea, yea; Nay, nay; forsothe that that is more

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schulen not entre into the kyngdom of hevenes. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not slee; and he that sleeth, schal be gilti to doom.2 But Y seie to you, that ech man that is wrooth to his brothir, schal be gilti to doom; and he that seith to his brother, Fy! schal be gilti to the counseil; but he that seith, Fool, schal be gilti to the fier of helle. Therfor if thou offrist thi yifte at the auter," and ther thou bithenkist, that thi brothir hath sum-what ayens thee, leeve there thi yifte bifor the auter, and go first to be recounselid to thi brothir, and thanne thou schalt come, and schalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soone, while thou art in the weie with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman,1o and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sent in-to prisoun. Treuli Y seie to thee, thou shalt not go out fro thennus, til thou yelde 12 the last ferthing. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt do no letcherie. But Y seie to you, that every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hir, hath now do letcherie bi hir in his herte. That if thi right iye sclaundre 14 thee, pulle hym out, and caste fro thee; for it spedith 15 to thee, that oon1 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And if thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitte 17 hym aweye, and caste fro thee; for it spedith to thee that oon 16 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And it hath be seyd, Who-evere leeveth his wiif, yyve he to hir a libel of forsakyng. But Y seie to you, that every man that leeveth his wiif, outtakun cause of fornycacioun, makith hir to do letcherie, and he that weddith the forsakun wiif, doith avowtrye. Eftsoone ye han herd, that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not forswere, but thou schalt yelde thin othis to the Lord. But Y seie to you, that ye swere not for ony thing; nethir bi hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether bi the* erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; nether bi Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; nether thou shalt not swere bi thin heed, for thou maist not make oon heere white ne blacke; but be youre word, yhe, yhe; Nay, nay; and that that is more than these, is of yvel. Ye han herd that it hath be seid, Iye for iye, and tothe for tothe. But Y seie to you, that ye ayenstonde not an yvel man; but if ony

26

profiteth one cut give (subj. of 19 except 20 adultery 21 again 22 truly 24 oaths 25 head 26 resist

than this, is of yvel. Yee han herde that it is said, Eiye' for eiye,' toth for toth. But Y say to you, to nat ayein-stonde' yvel; but yif any shal smyte thee in the right cheeke, yeve to hym and the tother; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in dome, and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to hym and thin over-clothe; and who-evere constrayneth thee a thousand pacis, go thou with hym other tweyne. Forsothe yif to hym that axith of thee, and turne thou nat awey fro hym that wol borwe of thee. Yee han herd that it is said, Thou shalt love thin neighbore, and hate thin enmy. But Y say to you, love yee youre enmyes, do yee wel to hem that haten you, and preye yee for men pursuynge, and falsly chalengynge you; that yee be the sonys of youre Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sune to springe up upon good and yvel men, and rayneth upon juste men and unjuste men. For yif ye loven hem that loven you, what meed 10 shul have? whether and puplicans don nat this thing? And yif yee greten, or saluten, youre bretheren oonly, what more over 12 shul yee don? whether and paynymmys 13 don nat this thing? Therfore be yee parfit," as and3 youre hevenly Fadir is parfit. Take yee hede, lest ye don your rightwisnesse before men, that yee be seen of hem, ellis 15 ye shule nat han meed at youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Therfore when thou dost almesse,16 nyle 17 thou synge byfore thee in a trumpe, as ypocritis don in synagogis and streetis, that thei ben maad worshipful of men; forsothe Y saye to you, thei han resceyved her 18 meede. But thee doynge almesse, i knowe nat the left hond what thi right hond doth, that thi almes be in hidlis,1o and thi Fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal yelde 20 to thee."

16

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yee

smyte thee in the right cheke, schewe to him also the tothir; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in doom, and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to him also thi mantil; and who-ever constreyneth thee a thousynde pacis, go thou with hym othir tweyne. Yyve thou to hym that axith of thee, and turne not awey fro hym that wole borewe of thee. Ye han herd that it was seid, Thou shalt love thi neighbore, and hate thin enemye. But Y seie to you, love ye youre enemyes, do ye wel to hem that hatiden you, and preye ye for hem that pursuen, and sclaundren you; that ye be the sones of your Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sunne to rise upon goode and yvele men, and reyneth on just men and unjuste. For if ye loven hem ' that loven you, what mede 10 schulen ye han? whether pupplicans doon not this? And if ye greten youre britheren oonli, what schulen ye do more? ne doon not hethene men this? Therfore be ye parfit, as youre hevenli Fadir is parfit."