{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_19937/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_19937","id":"gutenberg_19937","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/19937","summary":null,"tags":["Category: British Literature","Category: History - Medieval/Middle Ages","Category: Poetry","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Poetry"],"text":"Produced by Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed\nProofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was\nproduced from scanned images of public domain material\nfrom the Google Print project.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE\n\nDEPARTING SOUL'S\n\nADDRESS TO THE BODY\n\nA FRAGMENT OF\n\nA SEMI-SAXON POEM,\n\nDISCOVERED AMONG THE ARCHIVES OF WORCESTER CATHEDRAL,\n\nBY SIR THOMAS PHILLIPPS, BART.\n\nWITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION,\n\nBY\n\nS. W. SINGER.\n\nLONDON:\nPRINTED BY LUKE JAMES HANSARD & CO.\n\nM.DCCC.XLV.\n\n\n\n\n_The student of our early literature and language is indebted to the\nzeal of Sir Thomas Phillipps, for the discovery of the following\ninteresting Fragment, which appears to have formed part of a volume that\ncontained \u00c6lfric's Grammar and Glossary, probably of the Twelfth\nCentury. The fragments were discovered among the archives of Worcester\nCathedral; and in 1836 Sir Thomas Phillipps printed the whole of them in\nfolio. I know not whether the form or the typographical arrangement has\nbeen the cause of the neglect of this publication; but it has escaped\nboth Mr. Wright and Mr. Thorpe. The former, in his interesting edition\nof \"The Latin Poems of Walter de Mapes,\" where he has given the literary\nhistory of this legend with extracts, has not even referred to our\nfragment; nor has Mr. Thorpe adverted to it in his publication of the\n\"Codex Exoniensis,\" which contains an Anglo-Saxon poem of the same kind,\nwith which it is interesting to compare this later version of the\nlegend. There is a portion of another semi-Saxon poem, entitled \"The\nGrave,\" printed in Mr. Conybeare's \"Illustrations,\" and by Mr. Thorpe in\nhis \"Analecta Anglo-Saxonica,\" which appears to be by the same hand, or\nat any rate of the same school and age. Indeed some of the lines and\nthoughts are identical with passages of the following poem. Mr. Thorpe\nhas justly called \"The Grave\" a singularly impressive and almost\nappalling fragment; expressions equally characteristic of that with\nwhich the reader is here presented._\n\n_This impressive character, coupled with the interest which the fragment\npossesses, as a specimen of the moral poetry of our ancestors, and as\nthrowing light upon the transition of our language from Saxon to\nEnglish, has been the motive for producing it in a more legible form\nthan that in which it first appeared._\n\n_In one of the smaller poems (No. V.), printed by Mr. Wright with the\nOwl and the Nightingale, from the Cottonian MS. Calig. A. ix. \"The sorie\nsowle maketh hire mone,\" in language not dissimilar to that used in the\nfollowing fragment; and the dreary imagery of the house appointed for\nall living, and the punishment which awaits a wicked life at its close,\nare painted in an equally fearful manner._\n\n_Mr. Thorpe points to an Anglo-Saxon prose Homily as the original of the\npoem on the same theme in the Exeter MS., which is repeated, with some\nvariation, in the Vercelli Codex. In a rude and simple age this dramatic\nway of awakening the sinner to a sense of his perilous state, was\nperhaps the most effective that could have been chosen, and it was\nnaturally a favorite with the moral and religious teachers for some\ncenturies. M. Karajan, in a very pleasing little publication\n(Fr\u00fclingsgabe f\u00fcr freunde Alterer Literatur, Wien 1839) has printed the\n\"Visio Philiberti,\" a Latin poem in dialogue on this subject, with two\nold German versions; and the notes contain some interesting information\nrelating to similar compositions; but Mr. Wright's volume, before\nreferred to, contains ample illustrations of the legend in all\nlanguages._\n\n_The fragment here given, it will be seen, is very defective. An attempt\nhas been made to supply words which were wanting, from the mutilation of\nthe MS. leaves; but what is engrafted on the original is scrupulously\ndistinguished by the Italic character. A version has also been added,\nthe imperfections of which those who are acquainted with the\ndifficulties of such renderings will best know how to excuse._\n\n_The language of this poem seems to have a striking resemblance to that\nof one of the MSS. of La\u021damon, and we may hope, when the lovers of\nour early lore shall be favoured with the long and anxiously expected\nedition of that work by Sir Frederick Madden, that much light will be\nthrown upon the history of the transitions of our language._\n\n_For what has been already done by Conybeare, Price, Kemble, Thorpe,\nMadden, Stevenson, Wright, Way and others, the present writer is most\ngrateful; but he would wish to see the same spirit and enthusiasm, the\nsame unwearied zeal displayed in the elucidation of the noble remains of\nour Anglo-Saxon ancestors, and of the interesting stores of our early\nliterature and language, which has been so long a distinguishing feature\nof Germany, whose example has of late years lighted up a similar\npatriotic flame in France and Belgium._\n\n_Mickleham, August 20, 1844._\n\n\n\n\nTHE\n\nDEPARTING SOUL'S ADDRESS TO THE BODY.\n\n\n*    *    *    *  en earde.             *    *    *    *\nand alle theo isce\u00e6festan.              *    *    *    *\nthe him to  *    *    *                 *    *    *    *\nand mid muchele _wisdome_.              and with much _wisdom_\n_thon_ne mon he idihte.             5   then man he framed,\nand him on ileide.                      bestowed on him\nlif and soule.                          life and soul,\nsoftliche he heo isom_ne_.              tenderly he united them;\nac th\u00e6r bith sor idol.                  but there is a sad portion\nthat bodeth that bearn.            10   which awaits that child.\nthonne hit iboren bith.                 When it is born;\nhit _woan_eth and m\u00e6net theo weowe.     it waileth, and bemoans the woe,\nand thene seoruhfule sith.              and the sorrowful time,\nand that sori idol.                     and that sad lot,\nthat soule schal _hire li_came.    15   that shall the soul from her body\nsorliche id\u00e6len.                        sadly separate.\nForthon hit cumeth weopinde.            Therefore it cometh weeping,\nand woniende iwiteth.                   and wailing departeth,\n_thonne D_eath mid his pricke.          when Death, with his dart,\npineth thene licame.               20   pineth the body.\nHe walketh and wendeth.                 He walketh and goeth,\nand woneth _his si_thes.                and bewails his destiny;\nhe s\u00e6ith on his bedde.                  he saith, on his bed,\nwo me that ic libbe.                    Wo me! that I live;\nthat \u00e6ffre min lif dawes.          25   that ever my life\nthus _lon_ge me ilesteth.               so long endureth.\nfor heui is his greoning.               For heavy is his groaning,\nand seohrful is his woaning.            and sorrowful his wailing.\nand all _reowliche_ his sith.           and all rueful his lot,\nmid seorwe biwunden.               30   with sorrow encompassed.\nhim deaueth tha \u00e6ren.                   His ears deafen,\nhim dimmeth _tha_ ei\u021den.                his eyes become dim,\nhim scerpeth the neose.                 his nose sharpens,\nhim scrincketh tha lippen.              his lips shrink,\nhim scorteth _the_ tunge.          35   his tongue shorteneth\nhim truketh his iwit.                   his sense faileth,\nhim teoreth his miht.                   his strength wasteth,\nhim coldeth his _heorte_.               his _heart_ chilleth,\n_him_ leggeth the ban stille.           his bones lie still;\nthonne bith that soule hus.        40   then is that soul-house\nseoruhliche bereaved.                   wofully bereaved\n_of_ also muchele wunne.                of as much delight\nthe ther inne wunede                    as therein dwelled.\nthus bith th\u00e6s bearnes.                 Thus are these children\nmid pin_unge_ ifulled.             45   filled with torment;\ntheo moder greoneth.                    The mother groaneth,\nand that bearn woaneth.                 and the child waileth;\nso bith theo _hear_dtid.                so is that hard hap\nmid balewen imenged.                    with torment mingled.\nSo bith eft the feorthsith.        50   So is oft the departure,\nsorhliche to d\u00e6_led_                    miserably apportioned,\nmid seoruwen al bewunden.               with sorrow all surrounded,\nthonne the licame and the sowle.        when the body and the soul\nsoriliche to _d\u00e6l_eth.                  sorrowfully separate.\nthonne bith that wr\u00e6cche lif.      55   Then is that wretched life\niended al mid sori sith.                ended all with sad departure;\nthonne bith the _bodi_ge.               then is the body\niflut to then flore.                    banished to the floor;\nhe bith eastward istreiht.              he is stretcht eastward;\nhe bith sone stif.                 60   he is soon stiff;\nhe _hear_deth also clei.                he hardens like clay;\nhit is him ikunde.                      it is of kin to him.\nmon hine met mit on \u021derde.              They measure him with a yard,\nand tha mol_de_ seoththen.              and that dust, thenceforth,\nne mot he of th\u00e6re molde.          65   may not of the earth\nhabben namore.                          have any more\nthonne that rihte imet.                 than that right measured\nr_ih_tliche t\u00e6cheth.                    rightly teacheth.\nThonne lith the clei clot.              Then lies the clay clod\ncold on then flore.                70   cold on the floor,\nand him sone from _fleoth_.             and soon from him _flee_\ntheo he \u00e6r freome dude.                 those he before help did;\nnulleth heo mid honden.                 nor will they, with _their_ hands,\nhis heafod riht wen_den_.               lay his head straight;\nheom thuncheth that hore honden.        they think that their hands\nswuthe beoth ifuled.               76   are much defiled\ngif heo hondleth the _d_\u00e6de.            if they handle the dead.\nSeoththen his dea\u021des beoth igon.        After his days are gone,\nsone cumeth that wrecche wif.           soon cometh the wretched wife,\n_forh_oweth thene earfeth sith.    80   lamenteth the woeful time,\nforbindeth th\u00e6s d\u00e6dan muth.             binds up the mouth of the dead,\nand his dimme ei\u021den.                    and closes his dim eyes.\n*    *    *  _ie_ thet riche[A] wif.    *    *    *  that wretched wife\nforhoweth thene earueth sith.           lamenteth the woeful time;\nfor ufel is that wrecche lufe.     85   for evil is that wretched love\n_thon_ne theo unblisse cumath.          when adversity cometh.\nThonne besihth theo soule.              Then saith the soul\nsorliche to then lich_ame_.             sadly to the body,\n*    *    *    *    *                   *    *    *    *    *\n_hwi noldest bethenchen_ thu me.   90   _why wouldst thou not think of me_\ntheo hwule thet ic wunede inne the.     while that I dwelt in thee,\nfor thu were leas and luti\u021d.            for thou wert false and deceitful,\nand _un_riht lufedest.                  and iniquity didst love;\ngodnesse and riht.                      goodness and justice\n\u00e6fre thu onscunedest.              95   ever thou didst shun.\nhwar is nu the _mo_dinesse.             Where is now the pride\nswo muchel the thu lufed\u00e6st.            thou so much didst love?\nhwar beoth nu theo pundes.              Where are now the pounds\nthurh  *    *    *  newes ig\u00e6dered.     by  *    *    *  gathered?\nheo weren monifolde.              100   they were manifold,\nbi markes itolde.                       counted by marks.\nhwar beoth _nu_ theo goldf\u00e6ten.         Where are now the vessels of gold\ntheo the guldene.                       that thou idolized,\ncomen to thine honden.                  as they came to thy hands?\nthin blisse is _nu_ al igon.      105   Thy bliss is now all gone;\nmin seoruwe is fornon.                  my sorrow is near.\nhwar beoth nu thin w\u00e6de.                Where are now thy clothes\nthe th_u_ wel lufedest.                 that thou well didst love?\nhwar beoth the.                         Where are they\nseten sori ofer the.              110   that sate sorry over thee,\nbeden swuthe \u021deorne.                    praying right earnestly\n_that_ the come bote.                   that help _might_ come to thee?\nheo_m_ thuthte alto longe.              They thought it all too long\nthat thu were on live.                  that thou wert alive,\nfor heo _we_ren gr\u00e6die.           115   for they were greedy\nto gripen thin \u00e6ihte.                   to gripe thy property.\nnu heo hi d\u00e6lith heom imang.            Now they divide it among them,\n_heo_ doth the withuten.                they do without thee,\nac nu heo beoth fuse.                   eke now they are prompt\nto bringen the ut of huse.        120   to bring thee out of house;\nbergen the ut \u00e6t thire dure.            bearing thee out at the door.\nOf weolen thu art bed\u00e6led.              Of wealth thou art deprived.\nHwui noldest th_u be_thenchen me.       Why wouldst thou not think of me\ntheo hwile ic was innen the.            while I was within thee?\nac scendest me mid sunne.         125   but blemished me with sin.\nfo_rthi_ ic seoruhful eam.              Therefore I sorrowful am;\nweile that ic souhte.                   alas! that I sought\nso seoruhfulne buc.                     such a miserable body.\nnoldest th_u lo_kien lufe.              Nor wouldst thou observe love\nwith il\u00e6rede men.                 130   with learned men,\n\u021diven ham of thine gode.                give them part of thy wealth\nthat heo the fo_re_ beden.              that they _might_ pray for thee,\nheo mihten mid salm songe.              that they might with psalm sung\nthine sunne acwenchen.                  thy sin extinguish,\nmid  *    *    *  re_in_esse.     135   with  *    *    *\nthine misdeden forebiddan.              pray for thy misdeeds;\nheo mihten offrian loc.                 that they might offer gifts\nleofli_che_ for the.                    acceptable for thee,\nswuth deor thurthe lac.                 through the most dear sacrifice\nlicame Cristes.                   140   of Christ's body;\nthurh th\u00e6re thu w\u00e6re.                   by which thou were\nalese_d_ from helle wite.               redeemed from pains of hell;\nand mid his reade blode.                and with his red blood,\nthat he \u021deat on rode.                   that he shed on the cross,\nthe thu we_ren_ ifreoed.          145   by which thou wert freed\nto farene into heouene.                 to enter into heaven.\nac thu fenge to theowdome.              But thou took to thraldom\nthurh th\u00e6s de_ofles_ lore.              through the devil's lore.\nBi the hit is iseid.                    Concerning thee it is said\nand soth hit is on boken.         150   in books, and true it is:\n_Qui custodiat divitias._               _Qui custodiat divitias,_\n_Ser_vus _est divitiis._                _Servus est divitiis._\nThu were theow.                         Thou wert slave\nthines weolan.                          to thy wealth,\nnoldest thu nouht.                155   nor wouldst thou ought\nth\u00e6rof d_\u00e6len_.                         thereof distribute\nfor Drihtenes will\u00e6n.                   for God's pleasure;\nac \u00e6fre thu gr\u00e6diliche,                 but thou ever greedily\ng\u00e6derdest the more.                     didst gather the more.\nlu_ther_liche eart thu forloren.  160   Miserably art thou separated\nfrom al that thu lufedest.              from all that thou lovedst,\nand ic scal wr\u00e6cche soule.              and I, wretched soul, shall\n_ece_ we nu dri\u00e6n.                      now suffer everlasting woe.\neart thu nu loth and unwurth.           Thou art now loathsome and contemptible\nalle thine freonden.              165   to all thy friends.\nnu ha_m thun_cheth alto long.           Now they think it all too long\nthat thu ham neih list.                 that thou liest nigh them,\n\u00e6r thu beo ibrouht.                     ere thou be brought\nth\u00e6r thu be_grafen_ scalt.              where thou shalt be buried\non deope s\u00e6the.                   170   in a deep pit,\non durelease huse.                      in a doorless house,\nth\u00e6r wurmes w\u00e6ldeth.                    where worms possess\nal_le that_ wurthest was.               all that was most honoured\nfuweles quale holde.                    of the foul dead carcase,\nthe thu icwemedest \u00e6r.            175   that thou formerly delightedst\nmid alre _kunde_ swetnesse.             with all kind of sweetness,\ntheo thu swuthe lufedest.               that thou much didst love.\ntheo swetnesse is nu al agon.           The sweetness is now all gone,\nthat b_ittere_ the bith fornon.         the bitter is thee near,\nthat bittere il\u00e6steth \u00e6ffre.      180   that bitter lasteth ever,\nthat swete ne cumeth the _n\u00e6ffre_.      that sweet cometh to thee never.\n*    *    *    *    *                   *    *    *    *    *\n_thun_cheth that thu hire bi_lei_ben.   thinketh that thou here remain.\n\u021det s\u00e6ith theo sowle.                   Yet saith the soul\nsoriliche to then licame.         185   sadly to the body:\ns\u00e6 _ne thea_rft thu on stirope.         see, thou canst not on stirrup\nstonden mid fotan.                      stand with thy feet,\non nenne goldfohne bowe.                on no gold-glittering saddle;\nfor thu _scal_t faren alto howe.        for thou shalt journey all to woe,\nand thu scalt nu ruglunge.        190   and thou shalt now backwards\nrid\u00e6n to th\u00e6re eorthe.                  ride to the earth;\nut _sceo_t \u00e6t th\u00e6re dure.               shut out at the door,\nne thearft thu n\u00e6ffre on\u021dean.           nor canst thou ever again\ncum\u00e6n reowliche riden.                  come fiercely riding.\n_nu alle_ ber\u00e6fed.                195   Now all bereaved,\nac thene eorthliche weole.              eke the earthly wealth,\nthe thu iwold ohtest.                   that thou possessed power _over_.\nnu mon m\u00e6i _seg_gen bi the.             Now they may say of thee,\nthes mon is iwiten.                     this man is departed,\nnu her weila.                     200   Alas! now here,\nand his weol\u00e6n beoth her bel\u00e6fed.       and his wealth is here left behind.\n_nol_de he nefre th\u00e6r of don.           he would never do therewith\nhis drihtenes wille.                    his Lord's will.\nac \u00e6fre thu g\u00e6derest.                   But ever thou didst gather\ng\u00e6r_sumen_ thine feonde.          205   riches of thine enemies.\nnulleth heo nimen gete.                 Yet will they not take\nhwo hit bi\u021dete.                         who procured it?\nnafst thu bute _we_lawei.               nor hast thou but well away!\nthat thu weole heuedest.                that thou hadst wealth.\nal is reowliche thin sith.        210   All ruefull is thy lot,\nefter thin wrecche lif.                 after thy wicked life.\ntheo men beoth the blithre.             Those men are the blither\nthe arisen \u00e6r with the.                 that formerly jangled with thee,\nthat thin muth is betuned.              that thy mouth is closed,\n_the_ theo teone ut lettest.      215   with which thou reproach uttered,\nthe he heom sore grulde.                which sorely provoked them;\nthet ham gros the a\u021dan.                 that they raged against thee;\n_d\u00e6_th hine haveth bituned.             death hath closed it,\nand thene teone aleid.                  and the anger taken away.\nSoth is iseid.                    220   Truly it is said\non then salme _be_c.                    in the Psalm book,\n_Os tuum habundavit malitia_,           _os tuum habundavit malitia_,\nwas on thine muthe.                     wickedness ripe\nluthernesse ripe.                       was in thy mouth.\n_no_ldest thu on thine huse.      225   Thou wouldst not in thy house\nherborwen theo wrecchen.                shelter the poor,\nne mihten heo under _thine_ roue.       nor might they under thy roof\nnone reste finden.                      find any rest;\nnoldest thu n\u00e6fre helpen.               nor wouldst thou ever help\ntham orlease w_recche_n.          230   the unhappy wretches;\nac thu sete on thine benche.            but thou sate on thy bench,\nunderleid mid thine bolstre.            underlaid with thy bolster,\nthu wurpe _cn_eow ofer cneow.           thou threw knee over knee,\nne icneowe thu the sulfen.              nor knew thou thyself\nthat thu scoldest mid wurmen.     235   that thou shouldst with worms\n_husien_ in eorthan.                    dwell in the earth.\nnu thu hauest neowe hus.                Now thou hast a new house,\ninne bethrungen.                        a crowded dwelling;\nlowe beoth the helewewes.               low is the covering,\nunhei\u021de beoth the sidwowes.       240   unhigh the sidewalls,\nthin rof liith on thin breoste ful      thy roof lieth on thy breast full\n    _nei_.                                  _nigh_.\ncolde is the ibedded.                   Cold art thou embedded,\nclothes bidcled.                        beclad in clothes\nnulleth thine hinen.                    thy hinds would refuse.\nclothes the sen  *    *    *      245   Clothes the sen  *    *    *\nfor heom thuncheth alto lut.            for they think all too little\nthat thu heom bilefdest.                that thou didst leave them;\nthat thu hefdest on hor_de_.            that thou hadst in hoard\ntheo hit wulleth heldan.                they will it keep.\nthus is iwitan thin weole.        250   Thus is departed thy wealth,\nwendest thet hit thin were.             _thou_ thoughtest that it thine were.\nthus _reowliche_ nu thin sith.          Thus ruefull now thy lot,\nefter thin wrecche lif.                 after thy wretched life.\nthe sculen nu waxen.                    Now wormes shall grow\nwurmes besiden.                   255   beside thee,\n_thene_ hungrie feond.                  the hungry enemy\ntheo the freten wulleth.                that will devour thee,\nheo wulleth the frecliche freten.       they will thee greedily devour;\nfor _heo_ thin fl\u00e6sc liketh.            for they like thy flesh,\nhe_o_ wulleth freten thin fule hold.    they will devour thy foul carcase,\ntheo hwule heo hit fin_deth_.     261   as long as they find it;\nthonne hit al bith agon.                when it is all gone\nheo wulleth gnawen thin bon.            they will gnaw thy bone;\ntheo orlease wu_rmes_.                  those vile worms,\nheo windeth on thin armes.        265   they wind on thy arms,\nheo breketh thine breoste.              they break up thy breast,\nand borieth the ofer al.                and perforate thee all over;\n_heo_ reoweth in and ut.                they rove in and out,\nthet hord is hore open.                 that hoard is open to them,\nand so heo wulleth waden.         270   and so they will wade\nwide in thi _wom_be.                    wide in thy stomach;\ntodelen thine thermes.                  parting thy entrails\ntheo the deore weren.                   that were dear to thee.\nlifre and thine lihte.                  Thy liver and thy lights\nlod_liche_ torenden.              275   loathfully rending,\nand so scal formelten.                  and so shall waste away\nmawe and thin milte.                    thy maw and thy melt,\nand so scal win  *    *    *            and so shall win  *    *    *\n*    *    *    *    *                   *    *    *    *    *\n_wur_mes of thine fl\u00e6sc.          280   worms of thy flesh,\nthu scalt fostren thine feond.          thou shalt nourish thine enemy\nthet thu beo al ifreten                 until thou art all devoured;\n_thu_ scalt nu herborwen.               thou shalt now harbour\nunhol wihte.                            hateful creatures,\nnoldest thu \u00e6r gode men.          285   (heretofore thou wouldst not, good men,\nfor lufe go_de sel_lan.                 for love, give _of thy_ goods;)\nheo wulleth wurchen hore hord.          they will work their hoard\non thine heaued ponne.                  in thy skull.\nm_oton_ heo bileafen.                   Should they leave\nthine lippen unfreten.            290   thy lips undevoured,\nac thu scalt grisliche grennien.        eke thou shalt grin horribly,\n_that_ hwo so hit isei\u021de.               that whosoever sees it\nhe mihte beon offered.                  he might be frightened;\nReowliche bith so thin sith.            so rueful is thy lot,\nefter _thin_ wercche lif.         295   after thy wicked life.\nnu me wule swopen thine flor.           Now men will sweep thy floor,\nand thet flet clensien.                 and cleanse the dwelling;\nfor hit is h_eom_ lothre.               for it is the loather to them\nthe thu theron lei\u021de.                   that thou liest thereon.\nheo wulleth mid holiwatere.       300   They will, with holy water,\nbeworpen ec theo p_\u00e6das_.               sprinkle eke the vestments,\nblecsien ham \u021deorne.                    cleansing them carefully\nto burewen ham with the.                to bury them with thee;\nberen ut thin bed strau.                bear out thy bed-straw\nb_rennen_ hit mid fure.           305   to burn it with fire.\nthus thu ert nu ilufed.                 Thus thou art now beloved\nseoththen thu me forlure.               since thou lost me.\nal hit is reow_liche_ thin sith.        All rueful is thy lot,\nefter thin wrecche lif.                 after thy wicked life.\n\u021det s\u00e6ith the soule.              310   Yet saith the soul\nso_r_iliche to hire licame.             sadly to the body,\n_nol_dest thu la erming.                Alas! miserable, wouldst thou not\nher o to wunienne.                      here for ever dwell?\nnes hit the no wiht icunde.             it was no whit known to thee\nthat thu icore_n me_ hefdest.     315   that thou hadst chosen me;\nnes hit icunde the.                     it was not known to thee\nmore then thine cunne biuoren the.      more than to thy kin before thee,\nne heold is thin _\u00e6i\u021de_ opene.          nor was thine eye held open\ntheo hwule ic the inne was.             while I was within thee.\nhwi noldest thu lefen.            320   Why wouldst thou not believe,\ntha thu hi isei\u021de.                      though thou saw it,\nhu thin ford_feren_.                    how thy forefathers\nferden biforen the.                     went before thee.\nnu heo wunieth on eorthe.               Now they dwell in the earth,\nwurmes ham habbeth tod\u00e6led.       325   worms have shared them,\nis_ceorf hore_ sorhfulle bones.         gnawed their miserable bones\nthe theo sunne wrohten.                 with which they wrought sin.\ntha \u021det seith theo soule.               Again saith the soul,\nsoriliche to hire li_chame_.            sorrowfully to the body,\n\u00e6fre thu were luther.             330   thou wert ever wicked\ntheo hwile thu lif h\u00e6fdest.             whilst thou hadst life,\nthu were leas and luti.                 thou wert false and deceitful,\nand unriht lufede_st_.                  and loved injustice\n_and_ luthere deden.                    and wicked deeds,\nderedest cristene men.            335   and injured Christian men\nand mid worde and mid werke.            with word and with work,\nso thu wurst mihte.                     as thou worst might.\n_ic was_ from Gode clene.               I was sent to thee\nto the isend.                           innocent from God,\nac thu hauest unc fordon.         340   but thou hast undone us,\nmid thine luthere deden.                with thy wicked deeds.\n_\u00e6fre_ thu were gredi.                  Ever thou wert greedy,\nand mid gromen the onfulled.            and filled thyself with fierceness,\nunneathe ic on the.                     I hardly in thee\neni wununge ha_uede_.             345   had any dwelling,\nfor hearde nithe.                       for hard covetousness,\nand ofer mete fulle.                    and foul gluttony;\nfor thin wombe was thin god.            for thy belly was thy god,\nand thin wulder _thu_ iscend.     349   and thou spoiled thy glory.\nforloren thu havest theo ece blisse.    Lost thou hast everlasting bliss,\nbinumen thu havest the paradis.         thou hast deprived thee of Paradise.\nbi_nu_men the is that holi lond.        Taken from thee is that holy land;\nthen deofle thu bist isold on hond.     thou art given into the devil's hand,\nfor noldest thu nefre _habb_en inouh.   for thou wouldst never have enough,\nbuten thu hefdest unifouh.        355   unless thou hadst repletion.\nNu is that swete al agon.               Now is the sweet all gone,\nthet bittere the bi_th_ fornon.         the bitter is near thee,\nthat bittere ilest the efre.            that bitter lasteth thee ever,\nthet gode ne cumeth the nefre.          that good cometh to thee never.\nthus ageth nu th_in sith_.        360   Thus goeth now thy lot,\n\u00e6fter thin wrecce lif.                  after thy wicked life.\nthu wendest that thin ende.             Thou thoughtest that thine end\nnefre ne cuman scolde.                  should never come.\nto long  *    *    *  lede death the.   Too long  *    *    *  death thee,\nthat he nolde nimen the.          365   that he would not take thee,\nfor efre thu arerdest sake.             for thou ever raised up strife\nand unseihte  *    *    *               and discord,  *    *    *\nand ic was with innen the.              and I was within thee\nbiclused swuthe fule.                   most foully enclosed;\nthu were wedlowe.                 370   thou wert faithless\nand mon sware.                          and perjured,\nand  *    *    *  hund inouh.           and  *    *    *  enough;\nfor thu were mid sunne.                 for thou wert with sin\nifulled al with inne.                   filled all within,\nfor the deofle l_ored the al_l.   375   for the devil taught thee all,\nord fulneih thine heorte.               chief full nigh thy heart.\nefre thu woldest fullen.                Ever thou wouldst fulfil,\nal that was his wille.                  all that was his will.\n*    *    *    *    *                   *    *    *    *    *\n*    *    *  thu nefre th.        380   *    *    *    *    *\n_drihtenes_  *    *    *                *    *    *    *    *\n*    *    *  _iwo_ld ahte.              *    *    *    *    *\nThe \u021det seith theo soule.               Again, saith the soul,\nsoriliche to hire licame.               sadly to the body,\nclene bith the eor_the_.          385   the earth is pure\n_\u00e6r_ thu to hire to cume.               e'er thou come to it,\nac thu heo afulest.                     but thou defilest it\nmid thin fule holde.                    with thy foul carcase;\nthet is that fu_lnesse_.                only that foulness is\nafursed from monnen.              390   removed from men;\nnu thu bist bihuded.                    now thou art hidden\non alre horde fulest.                   in foulest hoard,\non _deope_ seathe.                      in a deep pit,\non durelease huse.                      in a doorless house.\nthu scalt rotien.                 395   Thou shalt rot\nand brostnian.                          and corrupt;\nthine bon beoth bed\u00e6led.                thy bones will be separated\n_from th_\u00e6re w\u00e6de.                      from the clothing\nthe heo weren to iwunede.               in which they were inhabited;\nbreketh lith from lithe.          400   limb breaks from limb;\nliggeth the bon stil.                   the bones lie still,\n_tha_ ure drihten eft.                  until our Lord again\nof deathe heo ar\u00e6reth.                  from death raiseth them,\nso he alle men deth.                    as he doth all men,\nthonne domes daie _cume_th.       405   when doomsday cometh.\nthonne scalt thu erming.                Then shalt thou, miserable!\nup arisen.                              up arise,\nimeten thine morth deden.               thy deadly sins measured,\ntheo the murie _were_n.                 that were so pleasant to thee;\nseoruhful and sorimod.            410   sorrowful and melancholy,\nso thin lif wrouhte.                    the crimes of thy life.\nnu beoth thine earen fordutte.          Now are thine ears closed,\n_non drea_me ihereth.                   no pleasant sounds they hear;\ntheo leorneden theo listen.             they learned, they listened\ntha luthere weren.                415   to those that were wicked.\n[_mid_] wowe domes.                     With unjust judgments,\nand gultes _feole_.                     and many trespasses,\n_thu_ othre ber\u00e6fedest.                 thou others bereaved\nrihtes istreones.                       of rightful wealth,\n_thurh_ th\u00e6s deofles lore,        420   through the devil's lore,\ntheo the likede wel.                    that thou liked well.\nthe _deofle_ tuhte his hearpe.          The _devil_ touched his harp,\nand tuhte the to him.                   and enticed thee to him;\nthu iherdest thene dream.               thou heardest the harmony;\nhe was drih_tene f_ulloth.        425   it was hateful to the Lord.\nhe swefede the.                         He lulled thee\nmid then sweize.                        with the sound;\nswote thu sleptest.                     sweetly thou sleptest\nlonge on thine bedde.                   long in thy bed;\n_n_is the to chirche.             430   nor art thou at church,\nne mostes thu iheren.                   nor canst thou hear\ntheo holie dr\u00e6mes.                      those holy sounds,\ntheo bellen rungen.                     the bells tolling,\n_that s_iker becnunge w\u00e6s.              that a sure beckoning was;\nne holie lore.                    435   nor holy lore\nthe unker helpe w\u00e6re.                   that should be our help.\nac efre he tuhte the.                   But ever he enticed thee,\n_andnu_ beo the iwold ahte.             and now thou art in his power;\nac nu beoth fordutte.                   eke now are closed\nthine dream thurles.              440   thy doors of sound,\nne ihereth heo _ne_ more.               nor hear they more\nnon herunge of the.                     any praise of thee,\n\u00e6r theo bemen blowen.                   until the trumpets blow\nthe unc becnien scu_llen_.              which shall summon us\n_f_rom deathes dimnesse.          445   from death's dimness\nto drihtenes dome.                      to the Lord's doom.\nthonne thu scalt iheren.                Then thou shalt hear\nthene _lauer_de dom.                    the Lord doom,\nthe thu on thisse life.                 that thou in this life\nlutherliche of eodest.            450   wickedly walked.\nThet et seith the sowle.                Again saith the soul\n_soril_iche to hire licame.             sadly to the body,\nnu thu bist afursed.                    now thou art separated\nfrom alle thine freonden.               from all thy friends;\nnu is thin muth forscutted.       455   now is thy mouth prevented,\nfor death hine haueth fordutted.        for death has closed it;\nne bith he _ne m_are undon.             nor will it be ever opened\n\u00e6r cume th\u00e6s hei\u021de kinges dom.          before the high King's doom.\nthonne hit bith isene.                  Then it will be seen,\n_thet_ on Psalme seith.           460   as the Psalm sayeth,\n_Reddituri sunt de factis propriis      _Reddituri sunt de factis propriis\n    rationem._                              rationem._\nthonne sculen theo _w_eile.             Then shall those servants\nseggen hore deden.                      tell their deeds,\nwisliche thurh wisdome.                 truly through wisdom,\nfor drihten hit wot.              465   for the Lord knoweth them;\n_thon_ne heo onfoth hore dom.           then they receive their doom\nof drihtenes muthe.                     from the Lord's mouth,\nalso hit is awriten.                    as it is written;\nof _drih_tenes muthe.                   from the Lord's mouth:\n_Ite maledicti in ignem eternum._ 470   _Ite maledicti in ignem eternum._\nthonne sculen wit si_thien_.            Then shall we depart\nto alre seoruwe mest.                   into uttermost sorrow,\nfaren mid feondes.                      go with fiends\nin thet eche fur.                       in that everlasting fire,\nbeornen _\u00e6_fre.                   475   to burn for ever;\nende nis ther nefre.                    end is there never.\n_Et quia bona egerunt ibunt in vitam    _Et quia bona egerunt ibunt in vitam\n    eternam._                               eternam._\nthonne _go_n theo goden.                Then go the good,\nmid Gode sithian.                       departing with God,\necheliche wunien.                 480   to dwell everlastingly\nin alre wuldre.                         in ever-during glory.\n*    *    *    *    *                   *    *    *    *    *\n*    *    *  me suke to the.            *    *    *    *    *\n_Osmeum aperui, et attraxi ipsum._      _Osmeum aperui, et attraxi ipsum._\nthu  *    *    *  et drowe me to the.   thou  *    *    *  drew me to thee,\nwalawa! and wa is me.             486   well away! and woe is me!\nthat ic efre com to the.                that I ever came to thee;\nfor noldest _thu_ mid thine muthe.      for thou wouldst not with thy mouth\nbim\u00e6nen thine neode.                    bewail thy infirmities;\nac \u00e6fre di\u021delliche.               490   but ever darkly\nthu woldest _ham_ bidernan.             thou wouldst hide them;\nnoldest thu ham siggen.                 nor wouldst thou confess them;\nbiforen none preosten.                  before any priest,\nther _al_le men secheth ham ore.        where all men seek pardon,\nbim\u00e6neth hore misdeden.           495   bewail their misdeeds,\nand seoththen milts_unge_ foth.         and afterwards obtain mercy;\nthurh sothne scrift.                    through true shrift\nsithieth to Criste.                     depart to Christ;\nseggeth hore sunnen.                    confess their sins\nand hor _soules_ helpith.         500   and help their souls,\nthurh sothe bireousunge.                through true repentance.\ntheo soule reste onfoth.                the soul acquires rest;\nac ne the _scalt_ nefre resten.         but thou shalt never rest,\nthurh thine bireousunge.                through thy repentance.\nac altog\u00e6dere ic am forlor_en_.   505   Eke I am altogether lost\n_thurh_ thine luthere deden.            through thy wicked deeds;\nnoldest thu mid muthe.                  thou wouldst not with thy mouth\nbidden me none milt_sunge_.             pray for mercy to me;\nnu thu ert adumbed.                     now thou art bedumbed,\nand death haueth the kei\u021de.       510   and death has caught thee;\nmid clutes thu ert forl_ig_den.         thou art laid out with rags,\nand loth alle freonden.                 and loath to all thy friends,\nefre ma eft.                            for ever and ever\non to lokienne.                         to look on.\nthus is reoulic_he thin_ sith.    515   Thus rueful is thy lot,\nefter thine wrecche lif.                after thy wicked life;\nfor thu were beset.                     for thou wert beset\nthicke mid sunne.                       thick with sin,\nand alle _theo_ weren prickiende.       and they all were pricking\nso wiles on ile.                  520   like quills on porcupine;\nhe bith thicke mid wiles.               he is thick _set_ with quills;\nne prikieth he_om_ no wiht.             they prick him not,\nfor al bith that softe.                 for the soft part is all\niwend to him sulfen.                    turned to himself,\nthat ne mawen his wil_es_.        525   that his quills cannot\n_pri_kien him sore.                     prick him sore,\nfor al bith that scearpe.               for the points are all\nhim iwend fromward.                     turned him fromward.\nSo thu we_ren_ mid sunne.               Thus thou wert with sin\niset alle with inne.              530   beset all within;\ntheo sunfule pikes.                     those sinful pikes\nprikieth me fuls_ore_.                  prick me full sore,\n_ac thu al that_ softe was.             but thou all that was soft\niwend to the sulven.                    turned to thyself,\nand efre thet scerpe.             535   and ever the sharp\nscored me touar_des_.                   scored me towards,\nheo weren iwend.                        they were turned\nso me wurst was.                        as was worst for me,\nich was mid thine prickunge.            I was with the pricking\nipin_ed ful_sore.                 540   pained ful sore:\nac nu me wulleth prikien.               but now will prick me\ntheo pikes inne helle.                  those pikes in hell;\npinion me ful so_re_.                   punish me full sore\nfor thine sunne.                        for thy sin.\nIc was on heihnes isceapen.       545   On high was I created,\nand soule ihoten.                       and named soul.\nIc was the seo_fothe_ isceaft.          I was the seventh creation,\nSo theo bec seggeth.                    as the book says,\nthe the Almihti God.                    that Almighty God\nmildeliche iwrouhte.              550   mercifully wrought.\nwisli_che_ mid worde.                   Truly by his word\nso hit al iwearth.                      thus it all came to pass:\nheouene and eorthe.                     heaven and earth,\nluft and engles.                        air and angels,\nwind and wa_tere_.                555   wind and water,\nth\u00e6s monnes soule.                      the soul of man,\nthis beoth theo seouene.                these are the seven\nthe ic \u00e6r foreseide.                    that I before mentioned.\nthis was ma_kede_.                      These were made\nth\u00e6s Almihties f\u00e6der.             560   by the Almighty Father;\nof thissen andweorke.                   of this substance\nalle thing he iwrouhte.                 all things he wrought;\nand th_us_ hit is iwriten.              and thus it is written\non holie wisdome.                       in holy wisdom,\n_Fiat et facta sunt omnia._       565   _Fiat et facta sunt omnia._\nHe seide iwu_rthe_.                     He said, let be,\n_and_ alle thing iworthen.              and all things were;\nthus mid one worde.                     thus with one word\nal hit was iwurthen.                    was all created;\nhe iscop th_onne_ thene sune.     570   he made then the sun,\nalle isceafte wisliche.                 all truly created\nthurh wisdome.                          by his wisdom,\nand efre he hit wiseth.                 and he guides it ever,\n_Imaginem et similitudinem._            _Imaginem et similitudinem._\nand ic deorewurthe.               575   And I, in the dear\ndrihtenes onlicn_esse_.                 Lord's likeness.\n*    *    *    *    *                   *    *    *    *    *\n*    *    *    *  of God.               *    *    *  of God,\nand ic the im\u00e6ne.                       and me between,\nmid lothre lufe.                  580   with pure love,\nand ic thin wale iwearth.               and I thy bliss decreed;\nhu so _thu nol_dest.                    how so thou wouldst not;\nweila thine fule iwill.                 alas! thy foul will\nwo haveth hit me idon.                  hath wrought my woe.\nThu fule mathe _m\u00e6_te.            585   Thou foul food for worms,\nhwi hauest thu me biswiken.             why hast thou deceived me?\nFor thine fule sunne.                   For thy wicked sin\nic scal nu _in helle_.                  I shall now in hell\ndrei\u021den ther wrecche sith.              suffer there a wretched time,\nall for thine fule lif.           590   all for thy wicked life;\n\u021det ic wulle the \u00e6twi_nne_.             yet I will flee thee\n_and thine_ wea sithes.                 and thy dreary fate.\nNu ic scal soriliche.                   Now I shall sorrowfully\nsithien from the.                       depart from thee;\nnu beoth thine teth atru.         595   thy teeth are now poisonous;\n_thin_ tunge is ascorted.               thy tongue is shortened,\ntheo the facen was.                     which was so deceitful\nand then feonde icweme.                 and pleasing to the fiend.\nMid wowe _dreames_.                     With unjust judgments,\nand mid gultes feole.             600   and with many trespasses,\n_thu_ othre birefedest.                 thou bereaved others\nrihtes istreones.                       of their rightful wealth,\ng\u00e6derest to  *    *    *  ime.          gatheredest  *    *    *\nac hit is nu all igon.                  but it is now all gone\nthurh th\u00e6s deofles lore.          605   through the devil's lore,\nthe the licode wel.                     that thou liked so well.\nNu lith thin _bodige_ stille.           Now lieth thy body still\non ful colde denne.                     in full cold den;\nnafest thu gaersume themo.              nor hast thou the treasure\nthe heo was spekinde.             610   of which she spake;\n_for_ heo was faken biforen.            for she was deceitful before,\nand atterne bihinden.                   and envenomed after;\nheo demde feole domes.                  she pronounced many judgments\nthe drihten _was_ lothe.                that were hateful to the Lord.\nIseid hit is on psalme.           615   It is said in the Psalm,\nand ful sothe hit is bihire.            and full true it is of her:\n_Lingua tua concinnabat dolos._         _Lingua tua concinnabat dolos._\nHeo \u021deothede fakenliche.                She poured out deceitfully,\nand then feonde icwemde.                and pleased the fiend;\nheo heou mid hearde worde.        620   she hewed with hard words,\nand _icwem_de tha wrecches.             and delighted the wretches.\nscearpe heo was and kene.               Sharp she was and keen,\nand cwemde then deofle.                 and pleased the devil\nmid alle then sun_ne_.                  with all the sin\n_that_ efre was his wille.        625   that ever was his will.\nA wurthe hire wa.                       Wo be to her!\nthat heo spekinde was so.               that she spake so;\nheo haue_th_ unc _dom_ned.              she has damned us\nto deoppere helle.                      to deeper hell.\nNis hit non sellic.               630   Is it not wonderful,\nthauh ic segge of boken.                though I read in books,\nthauh ic _thonne_ that sothe repie.     though I then the truth gathered,\nfor ic was ilered.                      for I was taught\nof mine leoue f\u00e6der.                    by my dear father\nfeire on frumthe.                 635   beautifully in the beginning,\naer ic _ford_ferde.                     before I departed,\nic was Godes douhter.                   I was God's daughter,\nac thu amerdest that foster.            but thou didst hinder that fostering.\nic sceolde lif holden.                  I might life have held,\n_me selle_the he wolde.           640   that he would have given me.\nSone thu were lifleas.                  Soon thou wert lifeless,\nseoththen ic the forleas.               sithence I left thee.\nIc was thin imake.                      I was thy wife,\n_so so_ bec seggeth.                    as the book says:\n_Uxor tua sicut vitis habundans._ 645   _Uxor tua sicut vitis habundans._\nIc was the biwedded.                    I was wedded to thee\nwurthliche  *    *    *  e.             honourably,\net then fontstone.                      at the fount stone,\nthat thu haucst ifuled.                 that thou hast defiled\nmid thine fule othes.             650   with thy foul oaths.\nThu hafest thin ful_luht_ forloren.     Thou hast forfeited thy baptism\nbehinden and biuoren.                   here and hereafter.\nFeire thu were imerked.                 Fair thou wert marked,\nheie on thine heafde.                   high on thy head,\n_mid th_en holie ele.             655   with the holy oil\nThu hauest kine merke.                  Thou hadst the mark of royalty;\nthu scoldest beon on heouene.           thou mightst have been in heaven,\nheih  *    *    *  under Gode.          high  *    *    *  under God,\n\u021dif thu hit ne forlure.                 if thou hadst not forfeited it\nthuruh th\u00e6s deofles lore.         660   through the devil's lore.\nThine godf\u00e6deres _ihat_en.              Thy godfathers promised,\n\u00e6r heo the forleten.                    before they relinquished thee,\nthat thu me scoldest holden.            that thou shouldst keep me\nthuruh holie lufe Cristes.              in Christ's holy love\nand _drig_htene lawe.             665   and the law of God,\nledene me to Criste.                    and lead me to Christ.\nThu withsoke thene deofel.              Thou renounced the devil,\nefter drihtenes cw_ithe_.               (after the Lord's word,)\n_his_ modes and his wr\u00e6nches.           his moods, and his deceits,\nand his wieles th\u00e6rto.            670   and his wiles thereto.\nSeoththen thu hine lufedest.            Afterwards thou lovedst him,\nand for_w_inne drihten.                 and rebelled against the Lord,\nfor thu lufedest theo lawen.            for thou lovedst the traitors\nthe drihten weren lothe.                that were hateful to God;\nunker team _for_loren.            675   our progeny lost\nthe wit scolden teman.                  that we should bring forth;\nso ic was the bet\u00e6iht.                  as I was given to thee\nthat wit scolden teman.                 that we might propagate.\nThu _haue_st beon bearne f\u00e6der.         Thou hast been father of children,\nand ic hore moder.                680   and I their mother;\nwit scolden fostrien bearn.             we should foster our progeny,\nand bring _ham_ to Criste.              and bring them to Christ.\nThet beoth theos bearn.                 These are the children\nso so bec m\u00e6neth.                       that the book mentions:\n_Filii tui sicut novell_  *    *    *   _Filii tui sicut novell_  *    *    *\n\n                              _Cetera desunt._\n\n[Footnote A: Wrecche?]\n\n\nLONDON:\nPRINTED BY LUKE JAMES HANSARD & CO.\n\nM.DCCC.XLV.\nONE HUNDRED COPIES.\n\nNo 5","title":"The Departing Soul's Address to the Body: A Fragment of a Semi-Saxon Poem: Discovered Among the Archives of Worcester Cathedral","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":6840}