\jf\>C^(r^ r^ M\ CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Coolidge Otis Chapman ,PhD. Cornell, 1927 URIS . CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRAfiY 924 059 407 035 DATE DUE i^Avi OBp PRINTED IN U.S-A. Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924059407035 SELECT EARLY ENGLISH POEMS SELECT EARLY ENGLISH POEMS EDITED BY SIR I. GOLLANCZ. VIII. PEARL, WITH MODERN RENDERING, &c. :'Q^;gf;;'0';.ig):;-.(S;::0"-V0L>;.©}l •^4. -'••' ■' • ■'■ii'iimi'r'n * By arrangement with Messrs. Chatto &^ IVindus, the publishers of " The Medieval Library" in which the Ordinary Edition is included, this Large Paper Edition {limited to 200 copies, 1^0 for sale) has been specially, prepared, to range in format with the Series of " Select Early English Poems" of which it forms Vohcme VIII. J^hlfn^yt ^.^jJi/ OAt PEARL AN ENGLISH POEM OF THE XIVI!? CENTURY: EDITED, WITH MODERN RENDERING, TOGETHER WITH BOCCACCIO'S OLYMPIA, BY SIR ISRAEL GOLLANCZ, Litt.D., F.B.A. HUMPHREY MILFORD : OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS AMEN CORNER: LONDON 1921 URiS LIBRARY lltM 9 k 1QQ1 ''^' vA^ ^■^ ^ All rights reseri>ed WE LOST YOU— FOR HOW LONG A TIME- TRUE PEARL OF OUR POETIC PRIME ! WE FOUND YOU, AND YOU GLEAM RE-SET IN BRITAIN'S LYRIC CORONET. TENNYSON CONTENTS VAGE Quatrain . ... By Tennyson vii Prefatory Note . . . . ix Introduction . . . . xi Translation . . . . 1 Textual Notes . . 107 Explanatory Notes . 114 Glossary .... • 175 Boccaccio's Olympia . 241 ILLUSTRATIONS Frontispiece . . By^. HoLMAN Hunt From MS. Cotton Nero A. x. ; to face title-page Facsimile, 11. 1-29 . » 2 Illustration, U. 57-64 6 „ 11. 101-108 . 16 „ 11. 193-228 . 18 Facsimile, 11. 829-837 72 Illustration, 11. 961-972 . „ 83 PREFATORY NOTE My edition of 'Pearl' in 1891 was my first contribution to Middle English studies, and my interest in the poem has remained unabated all these years, during which I have endeavoured to understand it aright and to unravel many a problem. Many requests have reached me from far and wide to re-issue the book, now long out of print, but I resisted these appeals until I could feel satisfied in respect of all the outstanding difficulties of the poem. I trust that those who are qualified to judge will recognise that the present new edition makes good its claim. As in the issue of 1891, so in the present edition, an unrhymed rendering into modern English faces the Middle English text. A translation which aims at interpreting the original is to my mind the best form of commentary ; at all events it clearly indicates the editor's decision, good or bad, on difficult passages. At the same time, for those who are not deeply interested in Middle English, it may serve as an adequate introduction to the poem, not the less effective for avoiding the perversions and obscurities that too often mar the attempts to maintain the highly complicated rhyming system of the original. It will, I think, be admitted that, both as regards text and inter- pretation, a new edition 6f ' Pearl ' is much needed. I am proud to know that my early enthusiasm for the poem, still maintained, has been efifective in stimulating so much interest in ' Pearl,' far beyond the limited circle of students of Middle English, and has gained for it, through X PREFATORY NOTE its intrinsic worth, a foremost place among the choicest treasures of medieval literature. I feel sure that, whatever may be the views of students as to the relationship of 'Pearl' and Boccaccio's Eclogue, ' Olympia,' they will be grateful to me for adding, as a com- plement to 'Pearl,' the original text of the Latin poem, together with my rendering into English. In 1891 it was my privilege to express my grateful acknow- ledgment to three great men who have since passed away : to Professor Skeat, my beloved master, for valued help ; to Holman Hunt, for having given 'Pearl' a noble place in English art by his drawing of the frontispiece for my edition of the poem ; to Alfred Tennyson for having graced with the most coveted of distinctions my efforts to re-set this Pearl ' in Britain's lyric coronet.' In recognition of cordial help in those now far-off days, it is a pleasure to refer to the fourth name then mentioned, that of Dr. Henry Bradley, happily still with us. I. G. King's College, London July 13, 1921. INTRODUCTION ' Of the West Cuntrh it semeth that he was, Bi his maner of speche and bi his style! ' Pearl ' in the Lineage o£ English Poetry. — While Chaucer was still learning from Guillaume de Machault and his followers the cult of the Marguerite, flower of flowers, as symbol of womanhood, a contemporary English poet had already found inspiration in the more spiritual associations of the Marguerite as the Pearl of Price. It is indeed rather with the Prologue of ' The Legend of Good Women' than with Chaucer's earlier effort of 'The Book of the Duchess ' that the poem of ' Pearl ' may best be contrasted, though Chaucer's Lament for Blanche the Duchess, as an elegy, invites comparison with 'Pearl' as elegy. From this point of view, Chaucer's Lament seems somewhat unreal and conventional ; our poem exercises its spell, not merely by its_ artistic beauty, but even more by its simple and direct appeal to what is eternal and elemental in human nature. Again, its artistic form indicates the peculiar position that this early ' In Memoriam ' holds in the progress of English poetry. It represents the compromise between the two schools of poetry that co-existed during the latter half of the fourteenth century, the period with which Chaucer is especially identified as its greatest and noblest product. xii INTRODUCTION. On the one hand, there were the poets of the East Midland district, with the Court as its literary centre, who sought their first inspiration in the literature of France. Chaucer and his devotees were the representatives of this group, for whom earlier English poetry meant nothing, and whose debt to it was indeed small. These poets preluded 'the spacious times of great Elizabeth ' ; they were the forward link in our literary history. But there were also poets suggesting the backward link, whose literary ancestors may be found before the Conquest, poets belonging to districts of England where the old English spirit lived on from early times and was predominant, notwithstanding other in- fluences. This school had its home in the West — along the line of the Welsh Marches, in Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland, well-nigh to the Tweed ; and it is clear that in these regions not only did the old English spirit survive after the days of the Conquest, but also the old English alliterative measure was at no time wholly forgotten, until at last Langland and a band of other poets, whose names have not come down to us, revived this verse as an instrument of literary expression. In these West Midland poets, kinship in feeling with the older English tradition predominated, even as the Norman in the East Midland poets. It was not merely a matter of vocabulary and versifi- cation, though indeed Chaucer could not have appreciated Langland's poetry at its proper worth ' right for strangness of his dark langage,' to use the actual words of an East Midland poet concerning another, whose 'manner of speech and style' pronounced him 'of the West country." Lang- ' The poet in question was Capgrave ; see Prologue to the ' Life of St. Katherine,' printed in Capgrave's 'Clironicle,' edited by Sir E. Maunde Thompson, Rolls Series. INTRODUCTION. xiii land, on the other hand, with his intensely didactic purpose, would have had but scant sympathy with the light-hearted and genial spirit of his greater contemporary. But it would seem that there arose a third class of poets during this period, whose endeavour was to harmonise these diverse elements of Old and New, to blend the archaic Teutonic rhythm with the measures of Romance song. We see this already in the extant remains of lyrical poetry, especially in a number of those preserved in MS. Harl. 2253, dating from some years before the middle of the fourteenth century. The later political ballads of Minot and other fourteenth-century poems point also in this direction. But I can name no sustained piece of literature at all comparable with ' Pearl' as an instance of success in reconciling elements seemingly so irreconcilable. The poet of 'Pearl' holds, as it were, one hand towards Langland and one towards Chaucer ; as poet of ' Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,' he was the direct precursor of the poet of the 'Faerie Queene,' and helps us to understand the true significance of Spenser as the Elizabethan poet par excellence. ' Pearl ' stands on the very threshold of modern English poetry. The Manuscript.— A kindly fate has preserved this poem from oblivion ; a fate that has saved for us so much from the wreckage of time. Indeed, the Old English Muse must have borne a charmed life, surviving the many ills that ancient books were heirs to. Our knowledge of early English literature seems almost miraculous, when we note that so many extant works are preserved to us in unique MSS. 'Cotton Nero A. x.,' in the British Museum, is one of these priceless treasures. Bound up with a dull •panegyrical oration' on a certain John Ched worth. Arch- deacon of Lincoln in the fifteenth century, four Enghsh xiv INTRODUCTION, poems are contained in this small quarto volume, each of high intrinsic worth, and of special interest to the student of our early literature. The handwriting of the poems, ' small, sharp, and irregular,' belongs on the best authority to the latter years of the fourteenth century or the early fifteenth. There are neither titles nor rubrics in the MS.; but the chief divisions are marked by large initial letters of blue, flourished with red, and several illuminations, coarsely executed, serve by way of illustration, all but one occupying a full page. The difficulty of the language of these poems and the strangeness of the script are no doubt answerable for the treatment they received at the hands of the old cata- loguers of the Cottonian collection ; probably few modern scholars before Warton, Conybeare, and Madden knew more of the poems than the first page of the MS., and from this they hastily inferred that the whole was a continuous poem ' in Old English, on religious and moral subjects,' or, 'Vetus poema Anglicanum, in quo sub insomnii figmento multa ad religionem et mores spectantia explicantur.' An old librarian, who attempted a transcription of the first four lines, produced the following result : ' Perle pleasaunte to prynces paye To claulx clos in gode soeter, Oute se wyent I hardely saye Ne proved I never her precic s pere.' We now know that the MS. came to Sir Robert Cotton from the library of Henry Savile, of Banke in Yorkshire (i 568-161 7), a great collector, who secured rich spoils from the Northern monasteries and abbeys.^ To Madden belongs, it would seem, the credit of having shown for the 1 See Preface to 'Patience,' ed. Sir I. GoUancz, 'Select Early English Poems.' INTRODUCTION; xv first time that these earlier describers of the MS. had confused four distinct poems,' and since his days the poems have received increased, though by no means adequate, attention from all students of our literature. The Vision and the Allegory.— The first of the four poems, ' Pearl,' tells of a father's grief for a lost child, and how he was comforted, and learnt the lesson of resignation. This briefly is the theme of the poem of ' Pearl.' A fourteenth-century poet, casting about for the form best suited for such a theme, had two sources of inspiration. On the one hand, there was that great storehouse of 'dream pictures,' ' The Romaunt of the Rose ' ; on the other, the symbolic pages of Scripture. A poet of the Chaucer school would have chosen the former, and the lost 'Marguerite' would have suggested an allegory of the ' flour that bereth our alder pris in figurynge,' and in his vision the ' Marguerite ' would have been transfigured as the type of truest woman- hood, a maiden in the train of Love's Queen, Alcestis. But the cult of the 'daisy' seems to have been altogether un- known to our poet, or at least to have had no attraction for him ; his lost ' Marguerite,' a beloved child, was for him a lost jewel, a pearl, and 'he bethought him on the man that sought the precious Margarites, and when he had founden one to his liking, he solde all his good to buy that Jewell.' The basis of the ' Vision ' is this verse of the Gospel, together with the closing chapters of the Apocalypse. Mary, the Queen of Heaven, not Alcestis, Queen of Love, reigns in the visionary Paradise that the poet pictures forth. The Pearl of the Gospel was a favourite allegorical theme ' For a general description of the MS., see ' Syr Gawaync,' ed. Sir F. Madden, 1839. xvi INTRODUCTION. with naedieval theologians, but rarely with the poets.' 1 know of but one piece of English literature other than this poem in which it figures strikingly; it is poetical in thought though written in prose, and belongs to a later date than our poem. I allude to the 'Testament of Love,' a rather crude composition, the history of which we know now in relation to the life of its author, Thomas Usk, who was a contemporary and clearly a disciple of Chaucer.^ It is an obvious imitation of the 'Consolation of Philosophy' of Boethius ; but in allegorising the Grace of God by 'a precious Margaret ' — ' Margarete of virtue,' for whose love he pines — the author may perhaps have been influenced by the poem of ' Pearl.' Under any circumstances, the poem gives the prose work some interest ; the ' Testament ' shows how our poet has avoided the danger of being over mystical in the treatment of his subject. Where the poem is simple and direct, the prose is everywhere abstruse and vague, and Usk is forced to close his book with a necessary explanation of his allegory ; — ' Right so a jewel betokeneth a gemme, and that is a stoon vertuous or els a perle, Margarite, a woman, betokeneth grace, lerning, or wisdom of God, or els Holy Church. If breed, thorow vertue, is mad holy flesshe, what is that our God sayth? It is the spirit that yeveth lyf ; the flesshe, of nothing it profiteth. Flesshe is flesshly understandinge ; flessh without grace and love naught is worth. The letter ' In the really fine poem called ' A Luue Run,' by Thomas de Hales (O. E. Miscellany, E.E.T.S., 1882), the precious gem-stone, maidenhood, more precious than any earthly gem, is dealt with most suggestively. It is set ' in Heaven's gold,' and shines bright in Heaven's bower, but is not specified as the peail Up. Note on 1.2). " Sec supplement to 'Works of Chaucer,' ed. Skeat, Vol. VII. INTRODUCTION. xvii sleeth ; the spirit yeveth lyfelich understanding. Charite is love, and love is charite. God graunt us al therin to be frended ! And thus The Testament of Love is ended.' It is not my purpose to deal with the history of the pearl as treated allegorically from far-off times.' To do so would lead me into studies of Oriental mysticism ; but there can be no doubt that in Hebrew symbolism the soul was likened to a pearl, the 'muddy vesture of decay' being regarded as the mere shell, or as the precious metal in which the jewel was 1 Perhaps the most striking mystical poem on the Pearl is the beautiful gnostic ' Hymi) of the Soul,' attributed to the Syrian gnostic Batdaisan, circa A.D. 150. Here the Pearl ' lies in the sea, hard by the loud-breathing Serpent.' It has to be brought by the King's son to the House of his Father's Kingdom. I take the Pearl in the Hymn to be symbol of purity amid the defilements of the world. Mr. G. R. S. Mead, in ' The Hymn of the Robe of Glory ' (London and Benares, 1908), gives the poem, together with Bibliography, Comments, and Notes. Mr. Mead, in a fascinating article in ' The Quest,' January 1913, discussed a new-found Manichean Treatise, from China, translated and annotated by MM. Ed. Chavannes and P. Pelliot ('Journal Asiatique,' November-December 1911). It would appear probable that certain gnostic elements link this work with the Hymn attributed to Bardaisan. Here we have seven pearls ' hidden in the labyrinth of the impure city of the Demon of Lust.' Also, it is of special interest that the precious pearl called 'moon-light,' with which pity and compassion are compared, is 'the first among all jewels.' Dr. R. M. Garrett ('University of Washington Publications, IV, 1918) quotes the charming letter of St. Hilary of Poictiers to his twelve-year-old daughter Abra (a.d. 358), concerning a certain Prince who possesses a pearl and a robe of priceless value. He tells her how humbly he begged the gift for the little daughter he so tenderly loved. With the letter he sends a hymn ; she is to ask her mother to explain both letter and hymn. On the Pearl in Mystical Literature, op. also Kunz and Stevenson's ' The Book of the Pearl' (London, 1908). h xviii INTRODUCTION. set. ' It is meet,' said the Cabbalistic Rabbi, 'a man should have compassionate regard for his soul, the pure pearl which God has given to him, for it is not proper that he should defile it, but, as is said in the Talmud, should give it back to God pure as he received it.' ^ The Pearl of the Gospel links itself to this fine thought ; and our poem emphasises this same aspect of the pearl as the undefiled spirit, the soul of the child, reclaimed by the Prince — the Pearl that He has set in the radiant gold of heaven, transcending its earthly setting in all the grace and charm of child-beauty. The Pearl has now been sundered from the shell. ' The sowle is the precious marguarite vnto God,' the good Knight of La Tour-Landry taught his daughters in his book, which, as I have attempted to show elsewhere, seems to have been well known to our poet." The Plan oJ the Poem. — Distraught with grief at the loss of his little daughter, the poet, prone on the child's grave, beholds her in a vision, gloriously transfigured.' He sees her radiant, clad in white, her surcoat and kirtle broidered with pearls, and on her head a pinnacled crown, her hair ' From the late Cabbalistic work Reshith Chochmah, III. i., by Elias de Vidas, who notes that the idea of the soul as a pearl is in the Zohar, a medieval Jewish gnostic work containing much ancient lore. I owe this reference to the Rev. Morris Joseph, in whose Judaism in Creed and Life the passage is alluded to. ^ See Preface to 'Cleanness' (Select Early Enghsh Poems). ' Nothing that has been written attempting to prove that the poem is merely an allegory, and is not inspired by a personal grief, has impressed me in the least degree. The chief exponent of this view was the late Professor Schofield ; see Appendix. As further illustration of the personal aspect of the poem, cp. De Quincey, on the death of little Kate Wordsworth, who died aged ' not above three' (De Quincey's Works, ed. Masson, 1896, Vol. II. 440-44S). INTRODUCTION. xix loose upon her shoulders, while ' a wonder pearl ' is set upon her breast. The little child, as the very embodiment of Reason, or rather of Divine Sapience, disputes with the father on the error of impious grief, and explains that the whiteness of her robe and the crown on her head betoken her bridal as Queen of Heaven, and that though she has worked but little in the vineyard of earth, her innocence has given her the like reward with those who by righteousness have won the crown. All who enter the realm are kings and queens. The pearl she wears is the token of the bride's betrothal — a token, too, of Truce with God. And the father is begged by his child to purchase his peace, even as the merchant of the Gospel, having found one pearl of price, sold his all to buy it. By her exposition of the Parable of the Vineyard, Pearl explains that, little child as she was, she reached at once the great goal of queenship in the court of heaven, where Mary reigns as Empress. For the father it would have sufficed had she attained the state of countess, or even of a lady of less degree. But, he urges, surely she and her peers dwell in some great manor or within castle-walls. Could he not behold their dwelling-place ? In the vision the father is on one side of the stream, his transfigured child on the other, and she tells him that by Divine grace he is to be granted a sight of their glorious home. She bids him follow on his side, while she shows the way on hers, until he reaches a hill. Then, as the seer of Patmos, from a hill he beholds the New Jerusalem descending as a bride from heaven, and the City of God, as pictured by the Apostle, is revealed to him in all its glory and rich radiance.^ Amid the golden splendour, dazzling as the light of the sun, suddenly there appears within the citadel a procession of maidens, as moons * Cf. Faerie Queene,' Book I. x. XX INTRODUCTION. of glory, all crowned and clad in self-same fashion, gentle ' as modest maids at Mass.' And lo, among them he beholds his 'little queen,' who he thought had stood by him in the glade. The sight of his lost Pearl is too much for his love- longing, and notwithstanding the earlier warning that no one living could pass the stream, the dreamer dashes forward to plunge, determined to cross. The movement wakes him, and he declares that the lesson of resignation has now been learnt. The Poem in Relation to its Main Sources. — As I read the poem, it seems to me that its scheme is elaborated from the one thought of the transfiguration of the child, and that the poet successively explains the significance of the spotless whiteness of her attire, of the regal crown she wears, of the pearl of price ; and then, by a natural culmination, proceeds to portray the heavenly dwelling — the New Jerusalem. For the last, he naturally paraphrased Revelation xxi. and other passages from the Apocalypse of St. John, which book indeed inspired his whole conception of the mystical bridal, — 'And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white/ Rev. xix. 8. Truly, white is almost the burden of the poet's description of the maiden's robe, her kirtle and all her vesture, her crown, and the pearls that bedeck her. It is of interest to contrast this emphasis on ' white ' with the more direct but less effective reference, ■ And gode faire Whyte she hete. That was my lady name right,' * and the lines which follow, in which Chaucer appraises Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster. To Chaucer the possi- ' ' Book of the Duchess,' 948-9. INTRODUCTION, xii bilities of the name with reference to its spiritual significance were hardly present ; in our poet's mind the text is uppermost concerning those ' which have not defiled their garments ; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy,' Rev. iii. 4. With obvious delight in pictorial description, the poet depicts the white surcoat,' with its hanging lappets, after the fashion of those of highest degree, and leads up to the crown, with its whiteness of pearl and its ornamentation of flowers, the aureole of maidenhood. In the Apocalypse it is the Elders that have on their heads the crowns of gold, but the coronation of the Virgin as empress of heaven, and of the brides as queens, forms a very integral part of medieval homiletic literature as of medieval art.^ The allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs in relation to the bridal of the Apocalypse seems to have influenced this idea of the crowning : ' Go forth, O ye daughters of Sion, and behold King Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals' (Song of Solomon iii. 11). A like crown was bestowed upon the bride.* ' Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon' (iv. 8), became the burden of the mystical Epithalamium. Thus our poet applies the words in Stanza Ixiv, 11. 763-4. So, too, in ' Olympia ' we have ' De Libano nunc sponsa veni sacrosque hymenaeos ' as the heavenly songs they sing ; and in the ' Song of Great Sweetness,' belonging to the early fifteenth century, there is the same application, — 'Veni de ' The surcoat above the robe had probably some special mystical significance. So, too, in the ' Hymn of the Soul ' there is the Purple Mantle over the Robe of Glory {fp. Mead, p. 46). ^ Cp. Didron, 'Christian Iconography,' London, 1886. ° Cp. Ezek. xvi. 12. xxu INTRODUCTION. Libano . . . veni coronaberis.' ' The main portion of our poem is drawn from the Parable of the Vineyard and the Apocalypse, and is the amplification of the Gospel text concerning the Pearl of Price in its twofold application, as typifying on the one hand ideal maidenhood, that is, the jewel ' above rubies,' ^ and on the other the Kingdom of Heaven, the Peace of God. In the earlier part of the poem, both in the description of the spice-garden, where Pearl is at rest, and in the visionary scenes through which the poet passes till he comes to the sundering stream beyond which he sees the 'maiden of mensk,' he is haunted by the dream-pictures of the ' Romaunt of the Rose,' and even Divine Love seems to the bereft father to be ' Luf-Daungere,' that is. Love the Severer, as in the Romaunt, ' Daunger ' is the power that keeps the lover from the object of his love. And Pearl, as portrayed and in her utterance, recalls the figure of Reason drawn by William de Lorris (^. Chaucerian version, 11. 3189-216). The wells joined by conduits, in the garden of Sir Mirth, are very directly referred to by our poet in his description of the country of his dream.' Thereafter, the Romaunt, save for a few slight echoes, gives place to the Scriptures. The stream is not the artificial conduit of the Garden of the Rose, but, whatever its Biblical source, its beauty has been sug- gested by the river in the Romaunt described before the Lover reached the garden. ' Et pave Lefons de I'iaue de gravele,' ' Early English Text Society, Original Series, 24, ed. Furnivall. " The marginal reference in Matt. xiv. 45-6 to Proverbs iii. 14-15 indicates this application. ' See note on 11. 139-40. INTRODUCTION. xxiii which in the Chaucerian rendering is as follows, — ' paved everydel With gravel, ful of stones sliene' (11. 126-7) becomes richly transformed in ' Pearl ' ; but the words ' in ]3e founce ' betray the direct source of the lines, — ' In fe founce J)er stonden stonej stepe, As glente ]i\n} glas >at glowed & gly^t,' etc. (U. Ii3ff.). Metre, Diction, and Style. — The stanzaic form of ' Pearl,' twelve lines with four accents, rhymed according to the scheme ababababbcbc, and combining rhyme with allitera- tion, may have been used by previous poets, but it is difficult to say whether any of the extant poems in this metre, which seems to have been popular, belong to a date earlier than ' Pearl.' ' But not one of them is comparable ' The metre is fairly common; see poems in Trans. Phil. Soc, 1858, ed. Furnivall ; ' Political, Religious and Love Poems,' ed. Furnivall, E.E.T.S. 15; 'Hymns to the Virgin and Christ,' ed. Furnivall, E.E.T.S. 24 ; 'Twenty-six Political and Other Poems,' ed. Kail, E.E.T.S. 124. Ten Brink was of opinion that 'Pearl' was modelled on the 'Song of Mercy' (Trans. Phil. Soc, 1858, p, 118), but there is no evidence in favour of this, nor can the date be fixed. The only poem in this metre that seems to give evidence of being influenced by 'Pearl' is 'God's Complaint.' 'Thou art an vnkynde omagere' sounds much like an echo of Pearl's 'fou art no kynde jueler.' Concerning this poem and its author, Glassinbery, and the similar poem, ' This World is Very Vanity,' see my article in ' Athenzeum, ' March 29, 1902. The earlier alliterative rhyming poems in Harl. MS. 2253, though not in the same form as ' Pearl,' indicate certain points in common, and have similar characteristics as regards linking and alliteration. On the metrical structure of the poem, see article by Professor Clark S. Northup, ' Study of the Metrical Structure of The Pearl,' Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, XII. pp. 326-40. This article seems to me to fail by reason of the writer's assumption in respect of the sounding or non-sounding of final -«'s xxiv INTRODUCTION. to our poem in rhythm, beauty of well-defined cassura, and dignity of movement. There are in 'Pearl' loi such stanzas. These divide again into twenty sections, each consisting of five stanzas, having the same refrain ; section fifteen is exceptional, with six stanzas. Throughout the poem the last or main word of the refrain is caught up in the first line of the next stanza.* Finally, the last line of the poem re-echoes the first, and rounds the whole. through not giving sufficient recognition to the trisyllabic character of the metre of the poem. An examination of the rhyming words goes far, in my opinion, to prove that the dialect in respect of the final -e is artificial, for -«'s obviously mute at the end are in many cases distinctly syllabic within the line. Nor do I agree that the great number of words in which final -e is written but unsounded, as compared with the few which sound an -e not written, tends to confirm the theory of Fick and Knigge that the copyist of the MS. spoke Sth. or S.W. M. In the case of so late a MS. as Cotton Nero A. x. the conventional writing of the final -e would prove nothing. In my present text I have supplied the syllabic -e's within the line necessary for the minimum metrical requirement in the follow- ing cases: 11. 17, 51, 72, 122, 225, 286, 381, 486, 564, 586, 635, 678, 683, 825, 912, 999, 1000, 1004, 1036, 1041, 1076. Professor Osgood considers these irregularities as perfectly natural in a poet whose usual medium is the alliterative long line, and therefore re- tains the MS. readings, to the detriment, in my view, of the metrical effect of the poem. The omission of some twenty -e's is a very small proportion in a poem of 1212 lines, and it is noteworthy that a large proportion of the words in question end in consonant combinations, of which the first is often r, or other voiced continuant. As regards I. 709, the line as in the MS. seems to indicate a monosyllabic foot at the beginning of the line and after the caesura; but 'so' was probably omitted by the scribe after 'quo'; cp. 'quat so,' 1. 566. With reference to 1. 990, the only line mentioned by Novthup in which the unstressed syllable is lacking, see my Note. ' On the stanza-linking, cp. 'The Romanic Review,' arts, by Margaret Medary and A. C. L. Brown ; Vol. VII. pp. 243, 271. INTRODUCTION. xxv While alliteration is used effectively by the poet, he does not attempt to employ it rigidly, or sacrifice thereto either thought or feeling. I can point to no direct source to which the poet of ' Pearl ' was indebted for his measure ; that it belongs to French or Provencal poetry, I have little doubt. These twelve-line stanzas seem to me to resemble, in effect, the earliest form of the sonnet more than anything else I have as yet discovered. Perhaps students may find 'a billow of tidal music one and whole' in the 'octave,' and in the closing quatrain of the verse the 'ebbing' of the sonnet's ' sestet.' It is noteworthy that the earliest extant sonnet, that of Pier delle Vigne, for a knowledge of which we are indebted to J. A. Symonds, has the same arrange- ment of rhymes in its octave as the stanzas of ' Pearl,' viz., abababab. Be this as it may, all will, I hope, recognise that there is a distinct gain in giving to the loi stanzas of the poem the appearance of a sonnet sequence, marking ' clearly the break between the initial octave and the closing f quatrain. In the MS. there is no such indication. When 1 ' Pearl ' was written, the sonnet was still foreign to English literature ; the poet, if he knew of this form, wisely chose as its counterpart a measure less ' monumental,' and more suited for lyrical emotion. The refrain, the repetition of the catch-word of each verse, the trammels of alliteration, all seemed to have offered no difficulty ; and as far as power over technical trammels contributes to poetic greatness, the author of ' Pearl ' must take high rank among English poets. To judge by the result, our poet seems to have discovered the artistic form best suited for his subject. With a rich vocabulary at his command, consisting, on the one hand. xxvi INTRODUCTION, of alliterative phrases, ' native mother-words,' derived from his local dialect, in which English, French, and Scandinavian elements were strikingly blended, and on the other hand, of words and allusions due to knowledge of Latin and French literature, he succeeded in producing a series of stanzas so simple in syntax, so varied in rhythmical effect, now lyrical, now epical, never undignified, as to leave the impression that no form of metre could have been more suitably chosen for this elegiac theme. It has been alleged that the diction of the poem is faulty in too great copiousness. On the contrary, the richness of its vocabulary seems to me one of its special charms, and this might be well illustrated by comparing such a section of the poem as the Parable of the Vineyard with the earlier poetical version of the same parable in MS. Harl. 2253, or with the Wycliffite prose version. Imagery. — The wealth and brilliancy of the poet's descrip- tions have been the subject of criticism. But surely this richness is what one would expect in a poem, the inspiration of which is mainly derived from the visionary scenes of the Apocalypse, with its pictorial phantasies, and the ' Roman de la Rose,' with its personifications and allegory. The poet's fancy revels in the richness of the heavenly and the earthly paradise, but it is subordinated to his earnestness and inten- sity. The heightened style of 'Pearl' responds, moreover, to the poet's own genius for touching vividly his dream- pictures with rich imagery and bright colour. The wealth and brilliancy pervading 'Pearl' may still delight those theorists who seek in our literature that ' fairy dew of natural magic,' which is supposed to be the peculiar gift of the Celtic genius, and which can be discovered as 'the sheer inimitable Celtic note' in English poetry. It would, I INTRODUCTION. xxvii think, be fair to say that the Apocalypse has had a special fascination for the poet because of its almost Romantic fancy, and that he has touched certain scenes of the book with a brilliancy of colour and richness of description altogether foreign to the Germanic strain of our literature. ' Pearl ' finds its truest counterpart in the delicate miniatures of medieval missals, steeped in richest colours and bright with gold, and it is just those scenes of the Apocalypse which the old miniaturists loved to portray, one might better say lived to portray, that seemed to have been uppermost in our poet's mind, — such favourite themes as, ' I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven,' which gave special scope to medieval artists. On the title-page of this book will be found an imprint from one of these old miniatures ; it is part of an illustration to the verse just quoted, and may well apply to our poet, ' Falling with his weight of cares Upon the world's great altar-stairs.' The Poet's Sources: (i) The Bible; (2) The Roman de la Rose. — The poet's main sources of inspiration were, as already indicated, the Bible and the ' Roman de la Rose,' that secular Bible of medieval poets. The latter pervades _his__far^^ and influences thought, dictmn, arid imagery, while, when once he has chosen as liis~tKeme the Pearl of the Gospel and the problem of the Parable of the Vineyard, the former dominates his whole conception. Whatever theological questions may be enunciated in the course of the poem, ' Pearl ' is to my mind, without a doubt, an elegiac poem expressive of personal grief, a poet's lament for the loss of his child, and in its treatment transcends the scholastic and theological discussions of the time. xxviii INTRODUCTION. The Question of Boccaccio's 'Olympia,' and Dante. — An attempt has been made to demonstrate that 'Pearl' is merely allegorical and theological, but this view ignores or fails to recognise the personal touches whereby the poem soars above all theological questions, and makes its simple and direct appeal to the human heart. It is of great interest that, soon after 1358, some years before ' Pearl,' Boccaccio wrote an elegy on his young daughter Violante — the Latin Eclogue ' Olympia.' There is no clear evidence that this most charming of Boccaccio's shorter poems was known to our poet, or was one of his sources of inspiration. ' Olympia,' however, may well be considered as a companion poem, of the highest interest and fascination both intrinsically and for the purposes of comparative study. Accordingly, the Latin text, with a translation, is included in the present volume, together with a brief introductory study of its history and the question of its relation to ' Pearl.' I can trace no direct influence of Dante on our poet, though parallels maybe found, both in the ' Divina Commedia' and the ' Vita Nuova,' as regards conception, imagery, and description. However striking the similarities may appear, these parallels are due, in my opinion, to similar thought, and to the common methods of medieval mysticism. It cannot be proved that our poet was acquainted with the writings of the greatest mind of the medieval age. Yet again, it is not without profit for the student of 'Pearl' to re-read the Divine Comedy and the New Life, and to recognise Pearl's spiritual kinship to Dante's Beatrice. The Poet and English Writers. — The author was no doubt acquainted with English poets, his contemporaries and predecessors. He would have been attracted to the writings of Hampole and other mystics, and also to the English INTRODUCTION, xxix homilies on Holy Maidenhood,' the English legends of Saints, especially those dealing with St. Margaret. He was a disciple of the alliterative poets. As regards Chaucer, I can discover no trace of influence. The ' Book of the Duchess,' which is adduced as a source of inspiration, is but another elegiac poem belonging to the same genre as ' Pearl.' That Chaucer should refer to Blanche as the Phoenix of Araby, and that the poet of ' Pearl ' applies the same term to the Virgin Mary, cannot be taken seriously as evidence of direct influence ; and so, too, with other medieval conventional phrases or ideas common to the two elegies. We know from his other poems that he was acquainted with French contemporary literature, the romances of chivalry, and Mandeville's Travels. In 'Pearl' so far we have not succeeded in finding any traces of the influence of this secular literature, though perhaps in such a charming touch as we find in 11. 489-92, ' As countess, damosel, par ma fay, 'Twere fair in heaven to hold estate, Or as a lady of lower degree, But Queen, — it is too high a goal,' we have a note suggestive of a writer who would have been specially interested in the higher social life depicted in romances of courtesy and chivalry. The MS. Illustrations o£ the Poems.— The pictorial character of his poem could not have escaped the poet. The unique MS. of 'Pearl' contains four crude illustrations depicting ' Compare especially the thirteenth-century alliterative homily, 'Kali Meidenhad,' ed. Cockayne, E.E.T.S., 1866, which on p. 2z strikingly illustrates certain passages of the poem, see Note on U. 205, 1 186. XXX INTRODUCTION. its chief episodes. In the first, the author is represented slumbering in a meadow, by the side of a beflowered mound (not a stream, as has been said), clad in a long red gown with falling sleeves, turned up with white, and a blue hood attached round the neck. Madden and others who have described the illustrations have not noticed that there are wings — ' wings of fancy ' — attached to the shoulders of the dreamer, and a cord reaching up into the foliage above, evidently intended to indicate that the spirit has ' sped forth into space.' In the second, the same figure appears, drawn on a larger scale, and standing by a river. In the third, he is again represented in a similar position, with his hands raised, and on the opposite side is Pearl, dressed in white, in the costume of the time of Richard the Second and Henry the Fourth ; her dress is buttoned tight up to the neck, and on her head is a crown. In the fourth, the author is kneeling by the water, and beyond the stream is depicted a castle or palace, on the embattled walls of which Pearl again appears, with her arm extended towards him. I had the good fortune to induce my ever-revered friend, the late W. Holman Hunt, to give Pearl -a place in the history of English art, and by way of contrast to the illustrations of the MS., now reproduced, the portrayal of the poet's theme as conceived by the greatest of modern Pre-Raphaelites is given as frontispiece to the present volume. Two illustrations follow after the pages of ' Pearl ' ; they are evidently intended to represent respectively Noah and his family in the Ark, and the prophet Daniel expounding the writing on the wall to the affrighted Belshazzar and his queen. It is clear that these have nothing to do with the subject of ' Pearl ' ; they belong to a second poem, written in a distinctly different metre, the short lines of ' Pearl ' INTRODUCTION. xxxi giving place to longer lines, alliterative and rhymeless. The subject of the poem is its first word, ' Cleanness,' and it relates in epic style the lessons of the Flood, the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah, Belshazzar's fate, in order to exemplify the Divine resentment that visits the impenitent who are guilty of faults of ' Uncleanness.' A prelude on the parable of the Marriage Feast precedes, and by way of illustrating Divine moderation, the Fall of the Augels and the Fall of Man are briefly handled. In the MS. two new pictures precede what is obviously a third poem. The medieval artist is evidently representing episodes in the life of Jonah. The poem is a metrical rendering of the story of Jonah, and is in the same metre as ' Cleanness' ; the subject, too, is indicated by its first word, ' Patience. ' It is noteworthy that both these alliterative poems, though rhymeless, are intentionally written in quatrains, and the recognition of this device- is necessary for their right understanding and appreciation. Links with ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience.' — These two poems, ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience,' may actually be, or may well be regarded as pendants to ' Pearl,' dwelling more definitely on its two main themes — purity and submission to the Divine will. The link that binds ' Cleanness ' to ' Pearl ' is unmistakable. The significance of the pearl is dwelt on as symbol of the purified spirit : — ' How can'st thou approach His court save thou be clean ? . . . Through shrift thou may'st shine, though thou hast served shame ; Thou may'st become pure through penance, till thou art a pearl. The pearl is praised wherever gems are seen, Though it be not the dearest by way of merchandise. Why is the pearl so prized, save for its purity, That wins praise for it above all white stones ? xxai INTRODUCTION. It shineth so bright, it is so round of shape, Without fault or stain, if it be truly a pearl. It becometh never the worse for wear, Be it ne'er so old, if it remain but whole. If by chance 'tis uncared for and becometh dim, Left neglected in some lady's bower, Wash it worthily in wine, as its nature requireth : It becometh e'en clearer than ever before. So if a mortal be defiled ignobly, Yea, polluted in soul, let liim seek shrift ; He may purify him by priest and by penance, And grow brighter than beryl or clustering pearls.' ' One speck of a spot may deprive us even Of the Sovereign's sight who sitteth on high. . . . As the bright burnished beryl ye must be clean, That is wholly sound and hath no flaw ; Be ye stainless and spotless as a margery pearl.' ('Cleanness,' 11. mo, 1115-32, 551-2, 554-6.) Similarly, it would be an easy matter to point out links that bind together the poems of ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience.' We find in each of them the same didactic purpose, the same strength of descriptive power, the same delight in nature, more especially when agitated by storm and tempest, the same rich gift of expression, and the same diction and rhythm. But if there were any question of the identity of authorship, the descriptions of the Deluge from ' Cleanness ' and of the sea-storm which overtook Jonah from ' Patience ' would, I think, be almost adequate proof; the writer of the one was most certainly the writer of the other. 'Pearl' and 'Sir Gawain.' — A fourth poem follows ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience ' in the MS. As one turns the leaves, it becomes clear at a glance that the metre of the poem is a combination of the epic alliterative measure and INTRODUCTION. xadii the rhyming verse of romances of the ' Sir Thopas ' type ; for a lyrical burden, introduced by a short line of one accent, and rhyming according to the scheme ababa, breaks the sequence of the unrhymed alliterative lines at irregular intervals, producing the effect of stanzas averaging some twenty lines. The poem is illustrated much in the same way as those that precede it, the scriptural pictures yielding to scenes of medieval romance. In the first a headless knight on horse- back carries his head by its hair in his right hand, looking benignly at an odd-eyed bill-man before him ; while from a raised structure above him a king armed with a knife, his queenj an attendant with a sabre, and another bill-man look on. Three other illustrations, dealing with various episodes of the poem, are added at the end. One of them represents a stolen interview between a lady and a knight. Above the picture is written the following couplet : ' Mi mind is mukel on on, that will me noght amende, Sum time was trewe as ston, and fro schame couthe her defende.' The couplet has proved a crux. ' It does not appear,' wrote Sir Frederick Madden, ' how these lines apply to the painting ' ; Dr. Morris quoted the remark without comment. We shall see the possible value of the cryptic lines later on. But first concerning the subject of the poem. It is the well-known romance of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, — the weird adventure that befell Sir Gawain, the son of Loth and nephew of King Arthur, the favourite hero of medieval romance, popular more especially in the west and northern parts of England, where in all probability traditions of the knight lived on from early times. The English Gawain literature of the fourteenth century, though for the most part ixxiv INTRODUCTION. derived from French originals, betrays on all sides the writers' eagerness to satisfy popular enthusiasm for the hero's ideal character. Sir Gawain was indeed the Sir Calydore of Spenser's fourteenth-century precursor, — ' beloved over all, In whom it seems that gentlenesse of spright And manners mylde were planted natural!, To which he adding comely guise withall And gracious speech did steal men's hearts away. Nathless thereto he was full stout and tall, And well approved in batteilous affray. That did him much renowne, and far his fame display.' The fourteenth-century poets of the West and North of England regarded Gawain, 'the falcon of the month of May,' as the traditional embodiment of all that was chivalrous and knightly. The depreciation of the hero in later English literature was doubtless due to the direct influence of one particular class of French romances, and it is from these very romances that modem Englishmen ultimately derive their view of Gawain's character. ' Light was Gawain in life, and light in death,' is the thought that rises now in every English mind at mention of the hei-o's name. I know but one passage in the whole of early English poetry where the knight is similarly characterised ; it is significantly by an East Midland poet, probably the last of English men of letters to write in Anglo-French. In one of his Anglo-French ballades the 'moral' Gower, singing in praise of truest constancy, declares : ' Cil qui tout dilz change sa fortune, Et ne voet estre en un soul lieu certein Om le poet bien resembler a Gawein, Courtois clamour, mats il fuist trop volage.' During the second half of the fourteenth century there INTRODUCTION. xxxv was special activity in the western districts of England in the making of Gawain romances, the poets vying with each other in their glorification of the hero. The Arthurian literature of the reign of Edward III. may well be considered in relation to that monarch's attempt to revive at Windsor some of the glories of Camelot, and the present poem may be in some way suggested by the Order of the Garter, or connected with the bestowal of the Order upon some noble, in honour of whom Gawain was depicted with such obvious enthusiasm on the part of the poet. It is noteworthy that at the end of the MS. of the romance a somewhat later hand has written the famous legend of the Order : ' Hony soit qui mal penc' There is, moreover, stronger confirmation of this aspect of the poem. A later poet, to whom we are indebted for a ballad of ' The Green Knight,' — a rifacimento of this romance, or of some intermediate form of it,^has used the same story to account for the origin of another Order. Evidently aware of its original application, but wishing to make his ballad topical, he ends it with the following reference to the Knighthood of the Bath, then newly instituted : ' All the Court was full faine Alive when they saw Sir Gawain, They thanked God abone ; That is the matter and the case, Why Knights of the Bath wear the lace, Until they have wonnen their shoon. Or else a ladye of high estate From about his necke shall it take For the doughtye deeds that hee hath done ; It was confirmed by Arthur the King, Thorow Sir Gawain's desiringe, The King granted him his boone.' c 2 xxxvi INTRODUCTION. This theory gives us, at all events, a terminus a quo for the date of the romance of Gawain ; it must belong to some year later than 1345, the probable date of the foundation of the Order of the Garter. Language, diction, thought, rhythm, power of description, moral teaching, vividness of fancy, artistic consciousness, and love of nature, all link this most remarkable Spenserian romance to ' Pearl,' ' Cleanness,' and ' Patience' ; and for a right understanding of the poet and his work the four poems must be treated together. The relation that they bear to one another, as regards time of composition, cannot be definitely determined. Probable Date. — There is no definite evidence for the date of ' Pearl.' General considerations of language point to the second half of the fourteenth century. In view, how- ever, of evidence adduced by me enabling us to fix 1373 as the earliest date for ' Cleanness,' ' it may be safe to accept about 1370 as the date of composition of 'Pearl,' if we are right in assuming that the elegy preceded the homily. ' Patience ' and ' Cleanness ' must certainly belong to about the same time. The workmanship and skill of ' Gawain,' to say nothing of its tone and pervading spirit, are so trans- cendent as to make it difficult for one to assign the poem to a date at all near that of ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience,' unless we have here an instance of an early achievement of a poet's genius which, for some cause or other affecting its buoyancy, joy in life, and enthusiasm for romance, failed to maintain its power. On the whole, I am at present inclined to the view that a long period intervened between the homiletic poems and the matured excellence of ' Gawain.' Yet again in this poem we have a striking reference to the pearl : ' See Preface to ' Cleanness.' /A INTRODUCTION. xixvii ' As perle bi Je quite pese is of prys more, So is Gawayn, in god fayth, bi ofer gay knyjtej,' — ' as the pearl is of greater price than white pease, so is Gawain, in good faith, than other gay knights.' Huchown and the Alliterative Poems.— And who was the poet to whom we are indebted for these remarkable , ' , poems? The question must still remain unanswered. _ f J Unfortunately no tradition concerning their authorship has , ~ •-r >/ . come down to us, and no definite link has as yet been dis- ( )*> ~^ covered connecting the poems with any name. Some fift y li^'*^ yeairs back, Dr. Guest, the historian of English Rhythmip set up a claim for a Scotch poet, Huchown by name, but this claim cannot stand the test of philological analysis, in spite of any circumstantial evidence in its favour. The story of Huchown's supposed connection with the poems is an interesting piece of literary history. Andrew of Wyntown, in his ' Orygynale Cronykil ' of Scotland, written at the end of the fourteenth century, mentions a poet, Huchown of the ' Awle Ryale,' who, in his ' Gest Hystoriale,' ' Called Lucius Hiberius Emperoure, When King of Britain was Arthoure.' The chronicler excuses the poet, for the mistake was not originally his, and adds enthusiastically : ' men off gud dyscretyowne Suld excuse and love Huchowne, That cunnand was in literature. He made the gret Geste of Arthure And the Awntyre of Gawane, The Pystyll als off Swete Susane. He wes curyws in his style, Fayre off fecund, and subtylle. xxxviii INTRODUCTION And ay to plesans and delyte Made in metyre mete his dyte, Lytil or nocht nevyrtheles Waverand fra the suthfastnes.' Huchown was therefore the author of an 'Adventure of Gawain.' Is the poem referred to identical with the 'Gawain ' poem described above, the romance written by the author of ' Pearl ' ? Most certainly not. The ' Pystyll of Susan ' men- tioned by Wyntown is extant ; all are agreed in regarding it as Huchown's work : it is a rhyming poem, arid therefore of special worth as a criterion of dialect. The result of a com- parative study of this poem and of 'Pearl' proves conclusively that they are in different dialects, the one belonging to a district north of the Tweed, the other to a more southern district. ' Pearl ' cannot, therefore, be the work of the poet of the ' Pystyll' ; and if this is true of ' Pearl,' it is equally true of 'Gawain.' It is, moreover, very probable that Huchown's 'gret geste of Arthure' is preserved to us, though in a changed dialect and with some slight intentional modifications, in the alliterative ' Morte Arthur,' and that the ' Awntyre of Gawane ' may be identified with the ' Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyne/ which, as far as diction is concerned, is closely connected with the ' Pystyll of Susan.' Dr. Guest rested his claims for Huchown not merely on this passage from Wyntoun's Chronicle. In the blank space at the head of ' Gawain and the Green Knight,' a hand of the fifteenth century has written ' Hugo de / and this piece of evidence seemed to him to confirm his view of the author- ship of the poem. In the first place, it is not certain that the inscription is intended for the name of the author, but even had we clear proof that ' Hugo de aula regali ' was to INTRODUCTION. xxxix be read, the conclusion, from internal evidence, would be forced upon us, that the writer had made a mistake by no means uncommon in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The great masters of literature have always been made the official fathers of unclaimed productions. It would be easy enough to illustrate this from the pseudo-Chaucerian poems, but an interesting parallel may be adduced from the literary history of Huchown's great contemporary, Barbour. In the Cambridge University Library there is a MS. of Lydgate's ' Troy Book.' Some portion of Lydgate's work has been lost and is replaced by extracts from a version by a northern poet. The scribe definitely assigned these inserted passages to Barbour merely on the evidence of a general likeness in style, but minute investigation places it beyond doubt that the fragments are not from the pen of the author of the ' Bruce.' The works of five individual poets have, at different times, been fathered on Huchown ; ^ of these poems some are undoubtedly West Midland, others genuinely Scottish, but all of them belong to the great period of aUiterative poetry, the second half of the fourteenth century or the early years of the fifteenth, and show the influence of that school of English poets that strove on the one hand to revive the old English measure, and on the other to combine this archaic rhythm with the most complex of Romance metres. In the fifteenth century the tradition of this West Midland influence ' Dr. George Neilson, in his ' Huchown of the Awle Ryale, ' 1902, attempted to assign to Huchown the great bulk of anonymous alliterative poetry, includinji; 'Pearl.' Among other criticisms of Dr. Neilson's work, Dr. MacCracken's 'Concerning Huchown' (Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 1910) should be noted. xl INTRODUCTION. still lived on north of the Tweed, but the greatest of Scottish bards turned to the East Midland poets for their forms, and, following the example of their poet-king, were fascinated by the irresistible spell of Chaucer's genius. This influence of the great English poet on the chief poets of Scotland has received abundant recognition ; not so the earlier influence of the West Midland poets, whose best representative is the nameless author of ' Pearl.' From among all these poems only one can be singled out as being possibly by the author of ' Pearl.' On the strength of diction, metre, and other characteristics, the anonymous alliterative poem of ' Erkenwald,''^ though it lacks the peculiar intensity of ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience,' may be an early or very late work, unless we have here an imitation by an en- thusiastic disciple. The theme, however, seems to point to London as its place of origin, with about 1386 as its probable date. Anyhow, the poem is a noteworthy product of the school, and must be linked with ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience,' even in the matter of the quatrain arrangement.'' Imagiuaiy Biography. — But though he be nameless, the poet's personality is so vividly impressed on his work that one may be forgiven the somewhat hazardous task of attempt- ing to evolve an account of his earlier life from mere con- jecture and inference. Such an attempt, though fanciful, at all events serves to link together certain facts and impres- sions, and with this reservation cannot but prove helpful. ^ An edition of ' Erkenwald,' edited by me, is appearing in ' Select Early English Poems.' The pagan judge, who is described as ' ane heire of anoye,' i. e. a justice in eyre, oyer and terminer, may well have been drawn from some legal contemporary, or as an ideal picture by way of contrast. ' The only other alliterative poem outside this group showing this quatrain arrangement is the ' Siege of Jerusalem. ' INTRODUCTION. ili If documentary evidence is ever discovered, hypothetical conjecture will no doubt be put to a "very severe test. The poet was born about the same time as Chaucer, 1340. His birthplace was somewhere in Lancashire, or perhaps a little to the north,* but under no circumstances in any district beyond the Tweed. The evidence of dialect proves this abundantly. The wild solitudes of the Cumbrian coast, near his native home, seem to have had special attraction for him. Like a later and greater poet, he must already as a youth have felt the subtle spell of Nature's varying aspects in those West Midland parts ; he too loved to contemplate, even in his childhood, ' . . . Presences of Nature in the sky And on the earth ! . . . Visions of the hills And souls of lonely places ! ' Wordsworth's country may perhaps justly claim our poet as one of its sons. Concerning the condition of life to which the boy belonged, we have no definite clue ; but I am inclined to infer that his father was closely connected, in some official capacity, with a family of high rank, and that it was amid the gay scenes that brightened life in some great castle that the poet's earliest years were passed. In later life he loved to picture ' It is noteworthy that the poet in his rhymes uses such Northern forms as wate (502), abate (617), stratej (1043), mare (145), brade (138), ware (151) (cp. wore, 154), side by side with his more common forms. In one case (byswykej, 568) he uses the Northern ■es for IS. pr. ind. With reference to the phonology of the poem in general, Fick's investigation ( ' Zum Mittelenglischen Gedicht von der Perle,' Kiel, 1885), generally referred to as though authoritative, must now be considered obsolete ; and to a large extent the same is true of Knigge's ' Die Sprache des Dichters von Sir Gawain, ' Marburg, 1885. xlii INTRODUCTION. this home, with its battlements and towers, its stately hall and spacious parks. There too, perhaps, the minstrel's tales of chivalry first revealed to him the rich world of medieval Romance, and made him yearn to gain for himself a worthy place among a noble band of contemporary English poets, whose memory is now, for the most part, lost to us for ever. The English poets were certainly his masters in poetic art, and although he had read the ' Roman de la Rose,' and the chief products of early and contemporary French litera- ture, their influence was comparatively slight as far as the general tone of his poetry is concerned. It is a significant fact that the poet's only direct reference to the ' Roman ' speaks of 'Clopyngel's dene Rose.' Indeed, the intensely religious spirit of the poems, together with the knowledge they undoubtedly display of Holy Writ, makes it probable that the youth may have been destined for the service of the Church. He must have studied sacred and profane literature at some monastic school, or at one of the universities. It is evident that theology and scholasticism had formed an important part of his education. But the author of ' Pearl' was certainly no priest. The four poems preserved in the Cottonian collection seem to have belonged to eventful periods of the poet's life. ' Gawain,' written probably for some special occasion, and in honour of some nobleman, perhaps the generous patron to whose household the poet vyas attached, is remarkable for the evidence it contains of the writer's minute knowledge of the ' gentle science of woodcraft,' and of all that pertained to the higher social life of that time. He has introduced into his romance elaborate descriptions of the arming of a knight, and of the hunting of the deer, the boar, and the fox. From his evident enthusiasm it is clear that he wrote INTRODUCTION xliii from personal experience of the pleasures of the chase, and that he was accustomed to the courtly life described by him. The poet had married ; his wedded life was unhappy ; the object of his love had disappointed him, and had perhaps proved unfaithful. He had passed through some such experience before ' Gawain ' was written. The poet was, I think, speaking for himself when he made his knight exclaim : ' It is no marvel for a man to come to sorrow through woman's wiles ; so was Adam beguiled, and Solomon and Samson and David, and many more. It were indeed great bliss for a man to love them well and believe them not — if one but could.' 'Gawain' is the story of a noble knight, bearing the shield of Mary, triumphing over sore temptations that beset his vows of chastity. How often, while drawing his ideal picture of the Knight of Courtesy, did the poet's thoughts recur to the reality of his own life ! Perhaps in a musing mood he wrote in the blank space at the head of one of the illustrations in his MS. the suggestive couplet : ' My mind is much on one, who will not make amend ; Sometime she was true as stone, and from shame could her defend.' His wedded life had brought him happiness — an only child, his 'little queen.' He perhaps named the child 'Mar- gery ' or ' Marguerite ' ; she was his ' pearl,' — emblem of holiness and innocence. But his happiness was short-lived; before two years had passed the poet's home was desolate.' ' It is noteworthy that throughout the poem there is no single reference, such as one might expect, to the mother of the child. The poet's first words when he beholds his transfigured ' Pearl ' are significant : xliv INTRODUCTION. His grief found expression in verse : a heavenly vision of his lost jewel brought him comfort and taught him resignation. On the child's grave he placed a garland of song, blooming yet, after the lapse of five hundred years. With the loss of his dearest possession a blight seems to have fallen on his life, and even poetry may have lost its charm for him. The lyrist became the stern moralist of ' Cleanness ' and ' Patience.' Other troubles, too, seem to have befallen him. ' Patience ' seems to us to be almost as autobiographical as ' Pearl.' The poet is evidently preaching to himself the lesson of fortitude and hope amid misery, pain, and poverty. Something had evidently happened to deprive him of the means of subsistence. 'Poverty and Patience,' he exclaims, ' are needs playfellows ' : ' Be bold and be patient, in pain and in joy, For he that rends his clothes too rashly Must sit anon in worse to sew them together. Wherefore when poverty presses me and pains enow, Calmly in sufferance it behoves me to be patient ; Despite penance and pain, to prove to men's sight That patience is a noble point, though it oft displease. ' 'Cleanness' and 'Patience' were probably written not long after ' Pearl.' But the vivid descriptions of the sea in these two poems perhaps justify the inference that the poet may have sought distraction in travel, and may have weathered the fierce tempests he describes. '"O Pearl," quoth I . . . ' ' Art thou my Pearl that I have playned, Regretted by me, so lone ? " ' [11. 241-3. This is consistent with my theory concerning the poet's married life. INTRODUCTION. xlv Perchance new joy came into his life, and into whatever occupation he may have thrown himself, he may still have found in poetry life's chief delight. In this period the attraction of Romance and Chivalry may well have re- asserted itself Was ' Gawain ' the outcome of this happier condition, or did it, in spite of many considerations gain- saying the view, belong to the period of his early happiness ? If, late in life, he wrote the poem on 'Erkenwald,' the great Bishop of London, whose magnificent shrine was the glory of St. Paul's Cathedral, and whose festival Bishop Braybroke re-established in the year 1386, it would seem that the poet may have found occupation in the City of London, in some secular office, allowing him leisure for poetry or theology or philosophy, or other intellectual exer- cise. It is pleasant to think of the possibility of the poet of 'Pearl' and Chaucer being brought together as London officials. Certainly it was a West Midlander who wrote ' Erkenwald,' but the poem is a London poem, without any doubt, and may, I think, have been associated with Bishop Braybroke's efforts to establish the due observance of St. Erkenwald's Day. If the poet took any part in the Church controversies then troubling men's minds, his attitude would have been in the main conservative. Full of intense hatred towards all forms of vice, especially immorality, he would have spoken out boldly against ignoble priests and friars, and all such servants of the Church, who, preaching righteous- ness, lived unrighteously. But whatever his views on theological questions, his allegiance to the authority of the Church, to Papal supremacy, and to the doctrine of Rome, and his attitude towards the amenities of xlvi INTRODUCTION. social life and wealth, would have kept him aloof from Wycliffe and his partisans. Professor Carleton Brown has well said that his religious outlook was ' evangelical ' rather than ecclesiastical.^ The • Philosophical Strode.'— It is indeed remarkable that no tradition has been handed down to us concerning one of the most distinctive of fourteenth-century writers. It can only be accounted for by the fact that, in the first place, his instrument of expression was regarded as uncouth by the * Professor Carleton Brown in his article on ' The Author of The /■ear/ considered in the Light of his Theological Opinions' (Publi- cations of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol. XIX., 1904) has some interesting and valuable observations on the rela- tion of the poem to the theology of the time. He holds, against my view, that the assumption of a necessary antagonism between our author and Wycliffe is unwarranted. lie deals also with the attitude of the poet, with special reference to the paraphrase of the Parable of the Vineyard, towards the views held by some of his contemporary theologians, notably Bradwardine. As an indication that the author had in miiid the discussions of the theologians, Professor Carleton Brown refers to some of the terms which he employs. He takes as his example the word 'pre- termynable,' 1. 596, suggesting a definite acquaintance wilh the ' predeterminatio ' of the Schoolmen. But see my Note on what I think is the correct interpretation of the word. I am convinced that the poem is not primarily associated with questions of contemporary theology, though, as Professor Brown points out, ' from Augustine to the fourteenth century the "baptized infant" played an important r6le in the treatises of the theologians.' More recently Dr. R. M. Garrett in ' The Pearl : an Interpreta- tion' (University of Washington Publications, IV., No. I, 1918), argues that ' Pearl ' ' has in its central idea the fundamental teach- ing of the Eucharist.' The article, though unconvincing, is of special interest for its quotations from the ' Epistola Sancti Hilarii ad Abram Filiam Suam ' (to which I have already referred) ; and for calling attention to this charming piece of literature Professor Garrett deserves the best thanks of students of the subject. INTRODUCTION. xlvii generality of cultured Englishmen, and, in the second place, that the bulk of his poetry was small as compared with the writings of his better known contemporaries. Langland was indeed the only West Midland poet who gained any- thing approaching national recognition and escaped the oblivion of mere local fame. Nevertheless, one must not despair of finding some evidence that may settle, once for all, the problem of the poet's personality. Indeed, of one fourteenth-century writer, whose name and Latin writings are preserved, it is recorded that during his youth and early manhood he was an ardent wooer of the Muses, and that his fame rested on a poem described as an 'Elegy' and possibly as a 'Vision.' Our knowledge of this writer is mainly due to the happy chance that Chaucer seems to have been his friend and admirer, and dedicated to him no less important a poem than his ' Troilus and Creseide ' : ' O moral Gower this book I direct To thee and to the Philosophical Strode, To vouchsafe there need is for to correct, To your benignities and zelis good.' The antiquary Leland was the first to inquire concerning the second of the two names held in such esteem by Chaucer. In an old catalogue of worthies of Merton College, drawn up in the early years of the fifteenth century, and still pre- served in the College muniment room, he discovered the following most valuable reference : ' Radulphus Strode, nobilis poeta fuit et versificavit librum elegiacum vocatum Phantasma Radulphi.' This Ralph Strode, poet, is clearly to be identified with the famous philosopher of that name whose philosophical works hold an important place in the history of medieval logic. He was also famous in his time as a controversialist xlviii INTRODUCTION. with Wycliffe, and from statements by Wycliffe it is possible to gain some insight into Strode's religious views. But neither his theology nor his philosophy help us to identify him with the writer of the poems in the Cottonian collection. 1 The evidence, such as it is, tending to connect Strode and the writer of 'Pearl,' is derived from the following considerations. The Merton description {\i phanfasma may be taken as a somewhat crude Latin rendering of ' dream ' or some such word) does not apply to any known poem so well as to ' Pearl.' Again, the peculiar force of Chaucer's dedication should be considered. Chaucer felt that his ' Troilus and Creseide ' was open to the charge of being somewhat too free ; wherefore, in a spirit of banter, he evidently offered it to the correction of two fellow-poets whose writings aimed primarily at enforcing moral virtue. Now, if asked to name the very antithesis of 'Troilus,' a student of fourteenth-century literature could choose no better instance than the romance of 'Gawain.' Further, there is a tradition that Strode, leaving his native land, journeyed through France, Germany, and Italy, and visited Syria and the Holy Land. 'An Itinerary to the Holy Land,' by this writer, seems to have been known to Nicholas ' In my article on Strode, in the Dictionary of National Bio- graphy, will be found the first attempt to dispose of the legend of Strode's description as -^ monk of Jedburgh Abbey, and to write an authentic biography of the famous Schoolman. As regards the possible identification of Chaucer's 'philosophical Strode' with the author of ' Pearl,' the theory, whatever maybe its worth, was mine, in spite of a wrongful claim made by Dr. Horstmann. Professor Carleton Brown, in his article to which I have referred, indicates many points that tell against Strode's authorship, though I do not agree with his attempt to differentiate the poet, the philosopher, and the lawyer. INTRODUCTION. xUx Brigham, the enthusiastic devotee of Chaucer, to whom we owe his monument in Westminster Abbey. According to Antony Wood, Strode's name as a fellow of Merton occurs for the last time about 1361. The statement, still repeated in text-books on Chaucer, to the effect that Strode was a Scotch monk in Jedburgh Abbey, was due to the mendacious Dempster, who in his desire to claim the logician for Scotland described Strode as a Scotch monk, who had received his early education at Dryburgh Abbey. It is noteworthy that a 'Ralph Strode' was Common Serjeant of the City of London. There is every reason for identifying him with Chaucer's ' philosophical Strode.' They were evidently neighbours, for Chaucer lived over the gate at Aldgate, while Strode was living over the gate at Alders- gate. Ralph Strode, the Common Serjeant of the City, died in 1387, and his will was proved in the Archdeaconry Court of London ; but, though duly indexed in the archives of the Archdeaconry now at Somerset House, the document itself is missing. He was involved in the municipal politics that distracted London, in the struggles between the partisans of the two great Londoners, Brember and Northampton, the latter the staunch supporter of Wycliffe. The fortunes of Northampton were linked with the fate of Thomas of Usk, the author of the ' Testament of Love.' Usk was executed early in 1388 ; in the same year Strode's friend and supporter, the former Lord Mayor Brember, paid the same penalty. Strode had died the previous year. But so far as the identity of Strode with the author of 'Pearl' is concerned, all is mere conjecture ; no definite piece of evidence tending to confirm it is adducible. The question still remains unanswered, 1 INTRODUCTION. ' Who and what he was — The transitory Being that beheld This Vision ; when and where and how he lived.' Bibliography. — The present edition of ' Pearl ' is based on my edition published by Nutt in l8gi, but both text and translation have been minutely revised as the result of long and continuous study. My attempt in 1891 adequately to interpret the poem and to gain recognition for its intrinsic merit apart from its philological importance succeeded beyond my expectation, and since then much literature, many renderings into modern English, and a number of investigations have testified to the increased interest taken in ' Pearl.' But the credit of having first printed the poem belongs to Dr. Richard Morris, who, in 1864, printed it in the first issue of the Early English Text Society, the 'Al- literative Poems.' The volume was revised and reprinted in 1869, etc. In the Academy,*Voh. XXXIX. and XL., after the publica- tion of my edition, a discussion on a number of difficult problems ensued between Dr. Morris and myself, which helped to elaborate and establish certain views of mine on contestable points. In 1897 I prepared a revised edition of the text, which was privately printed. In 191 8 a revision of the English translation was issued, imprinted and published by George W. Jones, at the Sign of the Dolphin, Gough Square, Fleet Street, London, sold for and on behalf of the British Red Cross. In 1906 Dr. C. G. Osgood published an edition of the poem in the Belles Lettres Series. As will be seen from my notes to the present edition. Dr. Osgood's contribution to the textual interpretation of the poem cannot be considered satisfactory. Indeed, to the textual study of the poem very INTRODUCTION. li little has been contributed in recent years, though many- problems have been hitherto unelucidated. As regards translations, — my own in 1891, being of the nature of a commentary, was rhymeless though metrical. In 1906 Dr. Weir Mitchell produced a charming rendering, on the basis of my own, of about the first half of the poem (New York, 1906). In the same year appeared Mr. Coulton's rendering into modern English in the metre of the original. The very attempt to reproduce the highly elaborate rhyming system of the Middle English must, in my opinion, unless carried through by a gifted poet, prove detrimental to the simple grace of the original ; rhyme and meaning become almost necessarily crude and forced. Mr. Coulton's version exemplified these and other dangers. In 1907 Dr. Osgood published a prose translation of the poem (Princeton). In 1908 (New York) appeared Miss Jewett's rendering in the original metre; in 1912 (London) Miss Jessie L. Weston's in ' Romance, Vision and Satire ' (in a modified form of the original metre) ; in 191 6 (Boston) a prose translation by W. A. Neilson and K. G. T. Webster, in ' Chief British Poets. There have also been other renderings of the whole poem or parts of it ; and, as evidence of the widespread enthusiasm for ' Pearl,' I may mention that I have received MS. versions of portions of the poem not only in various European lan- guages, but also in languages of India. In 1916 appeared a German translation of the poem by Otto Decker (Schwerin). As regards phonological studies, W. Pick's 'Zum mittel- englischen gedicht von der Perle,' Kiel, 1885, as well as F. Knigge's 'Die sprache des dichters von Sir Gawain,' Marburg, 1885, often mentioned in connection with the poem, are now in my opinion quite obsolete, and should be used with the utmost caution. lii INTRODUCTION. In dealing with the metre of the poem, I have referred to the only important contribution on the subject, namely, Dr. C. S. Northup's 'Study of the Metrical Structure of Pearl,' Pub. Mod. Lang. Ass. America, Vol. XII. Professor W. H. Schofield's papers on 'The Nature and Fabric of The Pearl,' ibid. Vol. XIX., ' Symbohsm, Allegory, and Autobiography in The Pearl,' ibid. Vol. XXIV., Professor Carleton Brown's 'Author of The Pearl Considered in the Light of his Theological Opinions,' ibid. Vol. XIX., Dr. Garrett's ' The Pearl : an Interpretation,' University of Washington Publications, IV., No. i, Seattle, 1918, and other studies on interpretation and authorship, are referred to in the course of the present Introduction. All recent histories of English literature recognise the importance of the poet of ' Pearl ' and ' Gawain,' and treat of these and the other two alliterative poems. The first historian of English literature, however, to give them ade- quate consideration was the gifted and scholarly Bernhard Ten Brink, who in the first volume of his ' History of English Literature,' 1877 (translated from the German by Horace M. Kennedy, 1883) dealt in a masterly way with these and other poems of the alliterative revival. In the ' Manual of the Writings in Middle English,' by Professor J. E. Wells, 1916, with Supplement, 1919, will be found a fairly exhaustive bibliography. To this should be added the Bibliography in the Cambridge History of English Literature, Vol. I., pertaining to ch. xv. on 'Pearl,' etc., written by me, and my article on ' Pearl' in the Encyclopedia Britannica, nth edition. Vol. XXL, with the bibliography attached. As regards ' Olympia,' the chief bibliographical data will be found in my Introduction to the poem in this volume. PEARL PERLE §1. f- 39" I ^ERLE plesaunteto prynces paye, wT^ To clanly clos in golde so clere ! Oute of Oryent, I hardyly saye, Ne proued I neu^r her precios pere. So rounde, so reken in vche araye, So smal, so smoje her sydej were ; Quere-so-eu^r I jugged gemmej gay> I sette hyr sengeley in syng[u]l[e]re. Alias ! I leste hyr i« on erbere ; })urj gresse to grou«de hit fro me yot. I dewyne, for-do[k]ked of luf-daungere Of pat pryuy perle wytA-outen spot. 'Vi^V-!/ «JrfVt&^3^ (li'wSiaf tjttr ftv iMt*- v»in- , J if!^(\yW' inftv«OT left?*' rAM.ie. r 1 frWiite jUvk^^. 'fe'i. ^j From Cotton MS. Nero A. x., ll. 1-29. PEARL §1. PEARL all-pleasing, prince's treasure, too chastely set in gold so pure! From out the Orient, I aver, ne'er proved I pearl its precious peer. So round, so royal wherever ranged, so sweetly small, so wondrous smooth ; where'er I judged of joyous gems, I placed my Pearl apart, supreme. I lost it — in a garden— alas ! Through grass to ground 'twas gone from me. I pine, by Severing Love despoil'd of Pearl mine own, without a spot. PERLE. Syfen in Jjat spote hit fro me sprange, Ofte haf I wayted, wyschande fat wele, ))at wont watj whyle deuoyde my wrange, & heuen my happe & al my hele. '6 Jjat dotj bot frych my hert[e] frange, My breste in bale bot bolne & bele ; Jet fpjt me neu^r so swete a sange, As stylle stounde let to me stele. io For-sofe 'per fleten to me fele. To ])enke' hir color so clad in clot. O moul, you marrej a myry [m]ele,- My pn'uy perle wytA-outen spotte. *4 )5at spot of spysej [^mojt nedej sprede, J)er such rychej to rot is runnef ; Blomej blayke & blwe & rede her schynej ful schyr agayn ])e sunne. »° Flor & fryte may not be fede )5er hit dou« drof in moldej dunne ; For vch gresse mot grow of graynej dede, No whete were ellej to wonej wonne. 3* Of goud vche goude is ay by-gonne ; So semly a sede mo^t fayly not, ])at spry[M]gande spycej vp ne sponne Of pat prfcios perle wyth-outen spotte. 3^ PEARL. II. There, in that spot, since hence it sped, oft have I watch'd, wanting that gem that once was wont to vanquish woe, and raise my hap and all my weal. It doth but pierce my heart with pangs, my breast in bale but boil and burn ; yet ne'er me seem'd so sweet a song as that still hour let steal to me. Yea, many a thought to me flow'd there, musing its charm so clad in clay. O earth ! thou marrest a merry theme,- Pearl mine own, without a spot. From spot where such rich treasure wastes fragrant spice must needs spring forth ; blossoms white and blue and red shine there full sheer against the sun. Flower and fruit shall know no flaw where it down drave to earth's dark mould ; for from dead grain each blade must grow, no wheat were else brought ever home. Each good from good is aye begun ; so seemly a seed can never fail ; ne'er fragrant spice shall cease to spring from that precious Pearl without a spot. PERLE. f. 39} To fat spot fat I in speche expouw, I entred in fat erber grene, In Augoste in a hyj seysoun, Quen corne is coruen wyth crokej kene. 4° On huyle fer perle hit trendeled doun Schadowed fis wortej ful schyre & schene,- Gilofre, gyngure, & gromylyouw, & pyonys powdered ay by-twene. 44 Jif hit watj semly on to sene, A fayr reflayr jet fro hit flot, Jjer wonys fat worf yly, I wot & wane, My Tprecious perle wyth-outen spot. 4^ Bifore fat spot my honde I spenn[e]d, For care ful colde fat to me cajt ; A deuely dele in my hert[e] denned, Jjaj resoun sette my seluen sajt. 5* I playned my perle fat f ^r watj pennedf , Wyth fyr[c]e skyllej fat faste fajt ; Jjaj kynde of Kryst me comfort kenned, My wreched wylle in wo ay wrajte. 56 I felle vpon fat floary ilajt, Suche odowr to my hernej schot, I slode vpon a slepyng-slajte, On fat pr«c[»]os perle wjitA-outen spot. 6° From Cotton MS. Nero A.x., Illustrating ll. 57-64. PEARL. Unto the spot I picture forth I enter'd into that garden green ; 'twas August, at a festal tide, when corn is cut with keen-edg'd hook. The mound my Pearl had roU'd adown with herbs was shadow'd, beauteous, bright,- giivers, ginger, and gromwell-seed, and peonies powder'd all about. But if the sight was sweet to see, fair, too, the fragrance floating thence, where dwelleth that glory, I wot full well, my precious Pearl without a spot. Before that spot my hands I clasp' d, for care full cold that seized on me ; a senseless moan dinned in my heart, though Reason bade me be at peace. I plain'd my Pearl, imprison'd there, with wayward words that fiercely fought ; though Christ Himself me comfort show'd, my wretched will worked aye in woe. I fell upon that flowery plat ; such fragrance flash'd into my brain, I slid into a slumber-swoon o'er that precious Pearl without a spot. 8 PERLE. § II. VI. FRO spot my spyryt per sprang in space, My body on balke fer bod in sweuen ; My goste is gon in Godej grace In auenture p^r meruaylej meuen. ^4 I ne wyste in fis worlde quere fat hit wace, Bot I knew me keste Tper klyfej cleuen ; To-warde a foreste I bere ])e face, Where rych[e] rokkej wer to dyscreuen ; 68 ])e lyjt of hem myjt no mon leuen, j)e glemande glory pat of hem glent ; For wern neuer webbej Jjat wyjej weuen Of half so dere adub[be]mente. 7^ f. 40a Dubbed wern alle po downej sydej Wyth crystal klyfFe3 so cler of kynde ; Holte-wodej bryjt aboute hem bydej, Of boUej as blwe as ble of ynde ; 7* As bornyst syluer pe lef onslydej, ))at pike con trylle on vch a tynde ; Quen glera of glodej agaynj hem glydej, Wyth schy nif ry/ig schene ful schrylle pay schynde; jje grauayl pat [I] on grounde con grynde ^i Wern precious perle3 of Oryente ; )3e sunne-bemej bot bio & blynde In respecte of pat adubbement. 84 PEARL. 9 § II. THENCE, from that spot, my spirit sprang ; my body lay in trance on mound ; my soul, by grace of God, had fared adventuring, where marvels be. I knew not where that region was ; I was cast, I knew, where cliffs rose sheer. Towards a forest I set my face, where rocks so rich were to descry, that none can trow how rich the light, the gleaming glory glinting thence, for ne'er a web that mortals wove was half so wondrously bewrought. Wondrously the hill-sides shone with crystal cliffs that were so clear ; and all about were holt-woods bright, with boles as blue as hue of Inde ; and close-set leaves on every branch as burnish'd silver sway'd and swung ; when glided 'gainst them glinting gleams, splendent they shone with shimmering sheen ; and the gravel I ground upon that strand were precious pearls of Orient ; the sunbeams were but dim and dark, if set beside that wondrous glow ! 10 PERLE. The adubbemente of ])0 downe^ dere Garten my goste al grefFe for-jete ; So frech flauorej of frytej were, As fode hit con me fayre refete ; ^^ Fowlej fer flowen in fryth in fere, Of flaumbande hwej, bojie smale & grete ; Bot sytole-stryng & gyt«mere Her reken myrfe mojt not retrete ; 9* For quen fose bryddej her wyngej bete, jjay songen wyth a swete asent; So grac[/]os gle coufe no mon gete As here & se her adubbement. 9* IX. So al wat^ dubbet on dere asyse )3at fryth fer fortwne forth me ferej, )3e derfe fer-of for to deuyse Nis no wyj worfe fat tonge berej. loo I welice ay forth in wely wyse ; No bonk so byg fat did me derej ; Jje fyrre in fe fryth fe fei[r]er con ryse )5e playn, ]>e plonttej, fe spyse, fe perej, 104 & rawej & randej & rych reuere3, As fyldor fyn her b[o]nkes brent. I wan to a water by schore fat scherej,- Lorde, dere watj hit adubbement ! 108 PEARL, II 'Mid the magic of those wondrous hills my spirit soon forgot all grief; flavours of fruit so fresh were there, as food full well they gave me strength ; birds in the wood together flew, of flaming hues, both small and great ; nor citole-string nor citherner could e'er re-tell their goodly glee ; for when those birds did beat their wings, they sang with such a sweet accord, no rapture could so stir a man as to hear and see that wonderment. IX. All was so dight in wondrous wise, no tongue of man hath power to tell the beauty of that forest-land, where fortune led me on and on. Still forth I pressed in blissful mood ; no hill, though high, might hinder me. Deeper in wood, more fair arose plains and plants and spice and fruits, hedgerows and borders, and river-meads ; as fine gold-thread were their steep banks. A water I reach'd that cleft the strand,- Lord, how wondrous was the sight! 12 PERLE. f. 4o4 The dubbemente of ))o derworth depe Wern bonkej bene of beryl bry^t ; Swangeande swete ])e water con swepe, Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryjt ; m In Jie founce ^er stonden stonej stepe, As glente furj glas pat glowed & glyjt, A[s] stremande sternej, quen strofe-men slepe, Staren m welkyn in wynter nyjt ; "6 For vche a pobbel in pole fer pyjt Watj emerad, safFer, oyer gemme gente, Jjat alle pe loje lemed of lyjt. So dere watj hit adubbement. no § III. XI. THE dubbement dere of doun & dale^, Of wod & watfr & wlonk[e] playnej, Bylde in me blys, abated my balej, For-didden my stresse, dystryed my payne^. 124 Doun after a strem pat dryjly halej I bowed in blys, bred-ful my braynej ; )je fyrre I folded pose floty valej, )5e more strenghpe of ioye myn herte straynej. '^8 As fortune fares psr-as ho fraynej, Wheper solace ho sende oyer ellej sore, J3e wyj to wham her wylle ho waynej Hyttej to haue ay more & more. 131 PEARL. 13 X. The marvels of that wondrous flood ! Beauteous its banks with beryl bright ; with music sweet its waters swept ; with whispering voice it wander'd on. And in the depths shone glittering stones ; as glint through glass they glimmer'd and glow'd; as streaming stars in the welkin shine on a winter night, when dalesmen sleep. Each pebble set there in that pool was an emerald, sapphire, or goodly gem, that all the water with light did gleam,- the glamour was so wondrous rare ! § III. THE wondrous glamour of down and dale, of wood and water and noble plain, stirr'd in me bliss, my bale allay'd, scatter'd sorrow, pain destroy'd. Along a stream I wended in joy,— slowly it flow'd,— my mind was full ; the farther I foUow'd those watery vales, the mightier joy constrain'd my heart. Fortune fareth where she listeth, sends she solace, or sends she care ; the wight on whom her will she worketh hath ever chance of more and more. 14 PERLE. XII. More of wele watj in pat wyse )je» I cowpe telle Jiaj [torn I] hade ; For vrpely herte rayjt not sufFyse To pe tenpe dole of fo Gladnej glade ; "3* For-Jjy I fojt ]>al Paradyse Watj per o[u]fr gayn Tpo bonkej brade ; I hoped pe water were a deuyse By-twene [merej] by [Myrpe] made ; «4° By-jonde J)e broke, by slente olper slade, I hope[d] Tpat mote merked wore ; Bot J)e water watj depe, I dorst not wade, & e\xer me longed a[y] more & more. '44 XIII. f. 4ier I con fare, Wel loueloker watj J)e fyrre londe. '4* Abowte me con I stole & stare. To fynde a forpe faste con I fonde ; Bot wopej mo i-wysse J)«r ware, Jje fyrre I stalked by pe stronde ; i5» & euer me jjojt I schulde not wonde For wo[J?e], per welej so wy«ne wore ; ))e»ne nwe note me com on honde, Jjat meued my mynde ay more & more. 156 PEARL. IS More was of wealth there, of this kind, than I could tell, were leisure mine, for earthly heart might not attain unto the tenth of that glad Joy. Certes, methought that Paradise lay there beyond, o'er those broad banks. The stream was some device, I trow'd, Sir Mirth had made between great wells ; beyond the brook, by hill or dale, the castle-bounds, I trow'd, were mark'd; but the water was deep, I durst not wade, and ever long'd I, more and more. More and more, and yet still more, I long'd to see beyond the brook ; for if 'twas fair where I then pass'd, far fairer was the farther land. About me stumbled I and stared ; to find a ford full hard I sought ; but perils more, iwis, there were, the further I stalk'd along the bank ; and ever methought I could not flinch, afeard, where wealth so winsome was ; when new delights at hand were nigh, that moved my mind, e'en more and more. i6 PERLE. More meruayle con my dom adaunt ; I sej byjonde pat myry mere A crystal clyfFe ful relusaunt ; Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere. i6o At fe fote Tper-of Tper sete a fau«t, A mayden of menske, ful debonere ; BIysnande whyt watj hyr bleaunt ; I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere. 164 As glysnande golde fat man con schere, So schon ])at schene an-vnder schore ; - On lenghf I loked to hyr ])ere ; J3e lenger, I knew hyr more & more. 168 The more I frayste hyr fayre face, Her fygure fyn quen I had fonte, Suche gladande glory con to me glace As lyttel byfore ])erto wat^ wonte. 17* To calle hyr lyste con me enchace, Bot baysment gef myn hert a brunt ; I sej hyr in so strange a place. Such a burre myjt make myn herte blunt. 17* Jjenne verej ho vp her fayre frount, Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yuore, }5at stonge myn hert, ful stray a[sJtount, & eaer pe lenger, ]>e more & more. i?o From Cotton MS. Nero A. x., Illustrating ll. ioi- PEARL. 17 More marvels then did daunt my soul ; I saw beyond that merry mere a crystal clifF that shone full bright, many a noble ray stood forth ; at the foot thereof there sat a child,- so debonair, a maid of grace ; glistening white was her rich robe ; I knew her well, I had seen her ere. As gleaming gold, refin'd and pure, so shone that glory 'neath the cliff ; long toward her there I look'd,- the longer, I knew her more and more. XV. The more I scann'd her face so fair, her beauteous form when I had found, such gladdening glory came to me as seldom had been wont to come. Longing me seized to call her name, but wonder dealt my heart a blow ; I saw her in so strange a place, well might the shock mine heart appal. Then lifted she her visage fair, as ivory pure her face was white ; it thrill'd mine heart, struck all astray, and ever the longer, more and more, c PERLE. §IV. f.41} 1% /TORE fen me lyste my drede aros ; J.yjL I stod fill stylle & dorste not calle ; Wyth yjen open & mouth fill clos, I stod as hende as hawk i« halle. '^4 I hope[d] fat gostlywatj fat porpose ; I dred on-ende quat schulde byfalle, Lest ho me eschaped fat I per chos, Er I at steuen hir mojt stalle. '88 pat gracios gay wyt^-outen galle, So smofe, so smal, so seme slyjt, Rysej vp in hir araye ryalle, A p«c[«]os,pyece in perlej pyjt. '9* Perlej py^te of ryal prys pere mojt mon by grace haf sene, Quen fat firech as flor-de-lys Doun fe bonke con boje by-denc. 196 Al blysnande whyt watj hir beau mys, Vpon at sydej, & bounden bene Wyth fe myryeste margarys, at my deuyse, pat euer I sej jet with myn [ene] ; 200 Wyth lappej large, I wot & I wene, Dubbed with double perle & dyjte ; Her cortel of self sute schene, Wjit^ prfcios perlej al vmbe-pyjte. 104 From Cotton MS. Nero A. x., Illustrating ll. 193-228 PEARL. 19 § IV. XVI. MORE than me pleased was now my dread ; I stood full still, I dared not speak ; with open eyes and fast-closed mouth, I stood as gentle as hawk in hall. A ghostly vision I trow'd it was ; I dreaded what might there betide, lest what I saw should me escape ere I it held within my reach ; when, lo ! > that spotless child of grace, so smooth, so small, so sweetly slight, arose in all her royal array,- a precious piece, bedight with pearls. XVII Choicest pearls, of sovereign price, favour'd mortal there might see, when all as fresh as a fleur-de-lys adown that bank she came anon. Gleaming white was her surcoat fine, open at sides, and nobly edged with pearls, the merriest, I trow, that e'er I saw yet with mine eyes ; ample the sleeves, I ween and wot, with double braid of pearl bedeck'd ; her beauteous kirtle, matching well, with precious pearls was all bedight. 20 PERLE, XVIII. A pyjt coroune ^et wer fat gyrle, Of mariorys & non oTper ston, Hije pynakled of cler quyt perle, Wyth fluited flowrej perfet vpon. 208 To hed hade ho non ofer werle ; Her [h]ere [h]eke al hyr vmbe-gon ; Her semblaunt sade, for doc o^er erle ; Her ble more blajt Jjen whallej bon. 2" As schorne golde schyr her fax Jienne schon, On schylderej fat leghu vnlapped lyijte ; Her depe coloaf jet wonted non Of p«cios perle in porfyl pyjte. 216 XIX. f. 42a Py^t watj poyned & vche a hemme, At honde, at sydej, at ouerture, Wyth whyte perle & non oper gewime, & bornyste quyte watj hyr uesture ; "o Bot a wonder perle, wjrtA-outen wemme, In myddej hyr breste watj sette so sure ; A mannej dom mojt dryjly demme, Er mynde mojt raalte in hit mesure. 124 I hope no tong[e] mojt endure No saufrly saghe say of fat syjt, So watj hit clene & cler & pure, J)at precios perle fer hit watj pyjt. »»8 PEARL. 21 A crown that maiden wore, bedight with raargarites, and no stone else ; high pinnacled with clear white pearls, with figvired flowers wrought thereon. No other tire was on her head ; her hair, too, hung about her neck ; her look was grave, as duke's or earl's ; whiter than whale-bone was her hue. Bright as clear gold her tresses shone, loose on her shoulders they softly lay ; her glowing beauty had no lack of precious pearls on broid'ry dight. The hems and wristbands were bedight, at the hands, at sides, at openings, with white pearl, and none other gem ; and burnish'd white her vesture was ; but a wondrous pearl, without a flaw, amid her breast was firmly set ; soul of man would surely fail ere mortal mind might mete its worth. No tongue might e'er avail, I trow, that sight to tell in fitting word, so fair was it, and clear, and pure, that precious pearl, where it was dight. 22 PERLE. XX. Pyjt in perle, fat prifcios py[ec]e On wyfer-half water com doun pe schore ; No gladder gome hefen in-to Grece, Jen I, quen ho on brymme wore ; »3* Ho watj me nerre Jjen aunte or nece ; My joy for-fy watj much fe more. Ho p[ro]fered me speche, Jat special sp[e]ce, Enclynande lowe in wommon lore ; ^3^ Cajte of her coroun of grete tresore, & hayked me wyth a lote lyjte. Wei watj me fat euer I watj bore, To sware fat swete in perlej pyjte. 24° § V. XXI. " /^ PERLE," q«o]> I, « in perlej pyjt, Vw/ Art fou my perle fat I haf playned, Regretted by myn one, on nyjte ? Much longey«g haf I for f e layned, »44 Syf en into gresse Jjou me agly^te ; Pensyf, payred, I am for-payned, & fou in a lyf of lykyng ly^te In Paradys erde, of stryf vnstrayned. ^48 What wyrde hatj hyder my iuel vayned, & don me in fys del & gret daunger ? Fro we in twynne wern towen & twayned, I haf ben a joyle3 juelere." »5* PEARL. 23 Bedight with pearls, that precious thing came down the shore beyond the stream ; from here to Greece no gladder man than I, when she was at the brink. She was me nearer than aunt or niece, wherefore my joy was much the more. ProfFer'd me speech that creature rare, inclining low in womanly wise ; her crown of richest worth she dofF'd, and hail'd me with obeisance blithe. Well was me that e'er I was born, to answer that Sweet, in pearls bedight § V. XXI. O PEARL ! " quoth I, "bedight in pearle, art thou my Pearl, that I have plain'd, bewept by me, so lone, a-night ? Much longing have I borne for thee, since into grass thou hence didst glide ; pensive, broken, forpined am I ; but thou hast reach'd a life of joy, in the strifeless home of Paradise. What fate hath hither brought my jewel, and me in dolorous plight hath cast i Since we were sunder'd and set apart, a joyless jeweller I have been." 24 PERLE, f. 416 That juel Tpenne, in gemme^ gente, Vered vp her vyse v/yth yjen graye, Set on hyr coroun of perle orient, & soberly after penne con ho say :— »56 " Sir, je haf yoar tale myse-tente, To say yoar perle is al awaye, J3at is in cofer so comly clente, As in fis gardyn gracios gaye, 160 Here-inne to lenge for exter & play, }3er mys nef mornyng com neuer [n]ere ; Her were a forser for fe in faye. If ]jou were a gentyl jueler. 264 " Bot, jueler gente, if f ou schal lose J3y ioy for a gemme fat Jie watj lef. Me Jjynk pe put in a mad porpose, & busyej ]je aboute a raysoun bref ; 16 8 For J)at pon lestej watj bot a rose, )jat flowred & fayled as kynde hyt gef ; Now Jiurj kynde of pe kyste Tpat hyt con close To a perle of prys hit is put in pref. 17^ & Tpaa hatj called ])y wyrde a ))ef, Jjat ojt of nojt hatj mad Tpe cler ; ])ou blamej fe bote of Jiy meschef, Jjou art no kynde jueler. " ^7^ PEARL. 25 XXII. That jewel there, so fair begemm'd, up-rais'd her face, her eyes so grey, put on her crown of Orient pearl, and thus full gravely then she spake : " Sir, thou hast misread thy tale, to say thy Pearl is all perdu, that is in chest so comely and strong as in this garden of grace and glee ; for ever to dwell and play herein, where miss and mourning come never nigh ; this were thy treasure-hold, i' faith, wert thou a gentle jeweller. " But, gentle sir, if thou must lose thy joy for a gem that to thee was dear, thou'rt set, methinks, on mad intent, and carest for too brief a cause : what thou didst lose was but a rose, that flower'd and fail'd, as Nature bade ; through the casket's grace, enclosing it, it now is proved a pearl of price. And thou hast call'd thy fate a thief, that ought from nought hath made for the-e; thou blamest the balm of all thine ill, thou art a graceless jeweller." z6 PERLE. A juel to me pen watj Jjys geste, & iuelej wern hyr gentyl sawej. "I-wyse," qaoj) I, "my blysfol beste, My grate dystresse you al to-drawej. 280 To be excused I make requeste ; I trawed my perle don out of dawej ; Now haf I fonde hyt, I schal ma feste, & wony vryth hyt in schyr wod-schawcj, 284 & loue my Lorde & al his lawej, Jjat hatj me bio3[t] fys bly6[se] ner. Now were I at yow by-jonde pise wawej, I were a ioyfol jueler ! " 288 f. 43a " Jueler," sayde pat gemme clene, " Wy borde je men ? So madde je be ! Jjre wordej hat^ pou spoken at ene ; Vn-a-vysed, for-sope, wern alle pre ; 292 ]3ou ne woste in worlde quat on dotj mene, J3y worde by-fore py wytte con fle. Jjou says pou trawej me in pis dene, By-cawse pou may v/yth yjen me se ; 296 Anop«r pou says, in pys countre )3y self schal won wyth me ryjt here ; J5e prydde, to passe pys water fre,— Jjat may no ioyfol jueler. 3°° PEARL. 27 A jewel to me was then this guest, and jewels were her gentle words, " Indeed," quoth I, " blest dearest mine, my dire distress away thou draw'st. I make request to be excused ; I trow'd my Pearl had pass'd from Day ; but now 'tis found, I shall make mirth, and dwell with it in radiant groves, and praise my Lord and all His laws, who hath me brought this bliss anigh. Were I with thee beyond these waves, I were a joyful jeweller ! " " Jeweller ! " said that purest gem, " Why jest ye men ? So mad ye are ! Three words thou spakest at one time ; thoughtless, forsooth, were all the three ; thou knowest not what one doth mean ; surely thy words outrun thy wit. Thou sayest, thou deemest me in this dale, because thou seest me with thine eyes ; again, thou sayest, that in this land thyself wilt dwell with me e'en here ; thirdly,— this stream would' st freely pass; this may no joyful jeweller. 28 PERLE. § VI. iivi " T HALDE J>at iueler lyttel to prayse, J. Jjat l[e]uej wel fat he se^ wyth yje, & much to blame & vn-cort[a]yse, ))at l[e]ue3 cure I^orde wolde make a lyje, 304 )3at lelly hyjte your lyf to rayse, Jjaj fortune dyd yo«r flesch to dy^e. Je setten hys worde3 ful westernays, )3at l[e]ue3 no fynk bot je hit syje ; 308 & Jiat isf a poy«t o sorquydryje, Jjat vche god mon may euel byseme, To leue no tale be tnie to tryje, Bot fat hys one skyl may dem[e]. .3'* " Deme now fy self, if pou con dayly As man to God wordej schulde heue ; ])tm saytj pou schal won in ])is bayly ; Me pynk pe burde fyrst aske leue ; 3'^ & jet of graunt Jjou myjtej fayle. }3ou wylnej oucr ))ys water to weue; Er moste Jjou ceuer to oTper counsayl[e] ; )jy corse in clot mot calder keue ; 310 For hit watj for-garte at Paradys greue ; Oure jore-fader hit con myssejeme ; JOurj drwry deth boj vch ma dreue, Er oufr fys dam hym Dryjtyn deme." 3*4 PEARL. 29 § VI. XXVI. " T HOLD that jeweller little to praise A. that trusteth what with eye he seeth, and much to blame and graceless he that thinketh our Lord would speak a lie, who leally promised to raise thy life, though fortune gave thy flesh to death. Full widdishins thou read'st His words, that trowest nought but what thou seest ; and 'tis an overweening thing, that ill beseems each righteous man, to trow no tale be trustworthy, save his mere reason deem it so. XXVII. " Deem now thyself, if thou hast dealt such words as man to God should lift. Thou sayest thou wilt dwell in this burgh ; 'twere meet, methinks, first to ask leave ; and yet thou mightest miss the boon. Thou wishest, too, to cross this stream ; first must thou reach another goal,— colder thy corse must cling in clay ; 'twas forfeit in grove of Paradise ; our forefather ill guarded it ; through dreary death each man must pass, ere God deem right he cross this flood." 30 PERLE. f- 43* " Demej ])ou me," quolp I, " my swete, To dol agayn, penne I dowyne. Now haf I fonte fat I for-lete, Schal I efte for-go hit, er ener I fyne ? 3*^ Why schal I hit bo])e mysse & mete ? My pr^cios peile dotj me gret pyne ! What seruej tresor hot garej men grete, When he hit schal efte v/yth tenej tyne ? 33* Now rech I neuer for to declyne, Ne how fer of folde ])at man me fleme. When I am partlej of perlef myne, Bot durande doel what may men deme ? " 33^ XXIX. " Thow deme^ nojt bot doel dystresse," Jjenne sayde ]>at wyjt ; " why dotj ])ou so ? For dyne of doel of lurej lesse Ofte mony mon for-gos fe mo ; 340 Jje ojte better fy seluen blesse, & loue ay God, [in] wele & wo, For anger gaynej fe not a cresee ; Who nedej schal fole, be not so fro. 344 For poj J)ou daunce as any do, Braundysch & bray fy brafej breme, When Jiou no fyrre may, to ne fro, J)ou moste abyde fat he schal deme. 348 PEARL. 31 " Doomest thou me," quoth I, *■' my Sweet, to dole again, I pine away. Now have I found what I had lost, must I forgo it, ere ever I end ? Why must I it both meet and miss ? My precious Pearl doth me great pain ! What serveth treasure but tears to maice, if one must lose it soon with woe ? Now reck. I ne'er how low I droop, how far men drive me from my land ; when in my Pearl no part is mine, what is my doom but endless moan ? " " Thou deem'st of nought but doleful grief," said then that maid ; " why dost thou so ? Through din of dole for losses small many a man oft loseth more. Rather shouldst thou cross thyself, and praise aye God, in woe and weal ; anger avails thee not a cress ; who needs must bow, be not so bold ; for though thou dance as any doe, chafe and cry in fiercest ire, - since, to or fro, no way thou mak'st, thou must abide what He shall deem. 32 PERLE, " Deme Diyjtyn, euer hyra adyte Of f e way a fote ne wyl he wryjie ; }jy mendej mou«tej not a myte, )3aj Tpon for sorje be neuer blyfe. 35* Styntf of fy strot & fyne to flyte, & sech hys blyje ful swefte & swype ; ])y prayer may hys pyte byte, ]jat Mercy schal hyr craftej kyjie. 356 Hys comforte may ])y langour lyfe, [fat alle] J)y lurej of lyjtly I'eme ; For, marre[d] of«r madde, morne & myfe, Al lys in hym to dyjt & deme." 360 § VII. XXXI. f. 44a '"T^HENNE demed I to fat damyselle : A " Ne worpe no wrath})e vnto my Lorde, If rapely [I] raue spornande in spelle. My herte wat^ al wyth myese remorde ; 364 As wallande water gotj out of welle, I do me ay in hys myserecorde. Rebuke me neuer v/yth wordej felle, Jjaj I forloyne, my dere endorde ; 368 Bot [kjyfej me kyndely yoar coumforde, Pytosly fenkande vpon ])ysse,— Of care & me je made acorde, Jjat er watj grounde of alle my blysse. 37* PEARL. 33 XXX. " Doom thou the Lord ! Arraign Him still ! He will not swerve a foot from the way. Thy mending 'mounteth not a mite, though thou, for grief, be never blithe. Stint from thy strife, and cease to chide, and seek His grace full swift and sure ; thy prayer may His pity touch, and Mercy may show forth her craft. His solace may assuage thy grief, that all thy losses glance lightly off; for, marr'd or made, mourning and mirth, all lieth in Him, as He deem fit." § VII. XXXI. THEN deem'd I to that damosel : " Let not my Lord be wroth with me, if wildly I rave, rushing in speech, my heart with mourning all was torn. As welling water goeth from well, I yield me to His mercy aye. Rebuke me ne'er with cruel words, my dear adored, e'en though I stray ; but show me kindly comforting, piteously thinking upon this,- of care and me thou niadest accord, that wast of all my bliss the ground. 34 PERLE. " My blysse, my bale, ^e ban ben bope ; Bot much fe bygger jet watj my mon ; Fro ])ou watj wroken fro vch a woJ)e, I wyste neu^r quere my perle watj gon. 37^ Now I hit se, now lefej my lope ; & quen we departed, we wern at on ; God forbede we be now wrofe ! We meten so selden by stok oTper ston. 3^° Jjaj cortaysly je carp[e] con, I am bot mol, & ma[n]erej mysse ; Bot Crystes mersy & Mary & Jon,- J3ise arn fe grounde of alle my blysse 3^4 " In blysse I se fe blypely blent, & I a man al mornyf mate ; Je take Tper-OTX ful lyttel tente, Jjaj I hente ofte harmej hate. 388 Bot now I am here in yoar prfsente, I wolde bysech, wyth-outen debate, Je wolde me say in sobre asente What lyf je lede, erly & late. 39^ For I am ful fayn ])at your astate Is worpen to worschyp & wele iwysse ; Of alle my joy fe hyje gate. Hit is in grounde of alle my blysse." 396 PEARL. 35 " My bliss, my bale, hast thou been both ; but much the more my moan hath been ; since thou wast banish'd from ev'ry path, I wist not where my Pearl was gone. Now I it see, now less'neth my loss ; and when we parted, at one we were ; God forbid we be now wroth ! We meet so seldom by stock or stone. Though thou canst speak full courteously, I am but dust, and manners lack ; the mercy of Christ, and Mary, and John, these are the ground of all my bliss. XXXIII. " In bliss I see thee blithely blent, and I a man with mourning marr'd ; thereof thou takest little heed, though baleful harms befall me oft. But now, before thy presence here, I would beseech, without demur, that thou wouldst tell, with gentle grace, early and late what life thou lead'st. For I am glad that thine estate is all so changed to worth and weal ; the high-way this of all my joy ; it is the ground of all my bliss." 36 PERLE. f.44i " Now blysse, burne, mot Jie bytyde ! " Jjen sayde fat lufsoum of lyth & lere ; " & welcuBi here to walk & byde, For now )>y speche is to me dere. 4°° Mayster-ful mod & hyjepryde, I hete Tpe, arn heterly hated here ; My Lorde ne louej not for to chyde, For meke arn alle Tpat wone3 hym nere. 4°4 & when in hys place J)ou schal apere^ Be dep deuote in hoi mekenesse ; My Lorde fe Lamb louej ay such chere, }3at is pe grounde of alle my blysse. 4°^ XXXV. " A blysful lyf ])ou says I lede ; Jjou woldej knaw 'per-of pe stage. ]3ow wost wel when Tpj Perle con schede, I watj ful jong & tender of age ; 4i» Bot my Lorde pe Lombe, furj hys God-hede, He toke my self to hys maryage, Corounde me quene in blysse to brede, In lenghf of dayej fat euer schal wage. 4»6 & sesed in alle hys herytage Hys lef is ; I am holy hysse ; Hys prese, hys prys, & hys parage Is rote & grounde of alle my blysse." 4^° PEARL. 37 ' ' Now bliss betide thee, noble sir,' ' said she, so fair of form and face, " and welcome here to bide and walk, for dear to me is now thy speech. Masterful mood and mighty pride, I tell thee, are bitterly hated here ; my Master loveth not to blame, for meek are all that dwell Him nigh. And when in His place appear thou must, in humbleness be deep devout ; my Lord the Lamb such cheer aye loveth ; He is the ground of all my bliss. " A blissful life thou say'st I lead, and thou wouldst know the state thereof : well know'st thou, when thy Pearl fared forth, of tender age, full young, was I ; but, through His Godhead, my Lord the Lamb took me in marriage unto Himself; crown'd me Queen, to revel in bliss, in length of days that ne'er shall wane ; and dower'd with all His heritage His Bride is ; I am wholly His ; His praise, His price. His peerless rank, of ail my bliss are root and ground." 38 PERLE. §VIII. XXXVI. « T>LYSFUL," quo])!, "may fys be trwe ? jJ Dysplesej not if I speke enottr. Art ])ou Jie quene of heuenej blwe, Jjflt al fys woilde schal do honour ? 4*4 We leuen on Marye ])at grace of grewe, )jat her a barne of vyrgyn flour ; ]pe croune fro hyr quo mojt remwe, Bot ho hir passed in sum fauour ? 4*^ Now, for synglerty o hyr dousoar, We calle hyr Fenyx of Arraby, ]3at freles fleje of hyr fasor, Lyk to ]7e Quen of cortaysye." 43* XXXVII. f. 45 LISSFUL," quoth I, « may this be so ? JlJ Speak I amiss, be not displeased. Art thou the Queen of heavens blue, whom all this world must honour now ? We believe in Mary, from whom sprang grace, who bore a child from virgin flower, and who can take from her the crown, save she excel her in some worth ? And for her peerlessness of charm Phoenix of Araby we her call, the bird immaculate of form, like to that Queen of Courtesy." xxxvii. " Courteous Queen ! " said then that joy, kneeling to earth, her face enveil'd, " Matchless Mother, Merriest Maid, Blest Beginner of every grace ! " Then rose she up, and there she paused, and spake toward me from that spot :- " Sir ! folk find here the prize they seek, but no usurpers bide herein. That Empress in her empire hath the heavens all and earth and hell ; from heritage yet she driveth none, for she is Queen of Courtesy. 40 PERLE. " The court of Je kyndom of God alyue Hatj a property in hyt self bey«g ; AUe fat may Jier-inne aryue Of alle Tpe reme is quen oJ)£r kyng, 44^ & neufr ojjcr jet schal depryue ; Bot vchon fayn of of^rej hafy«g, & wolde her corounej wern worjie fo fyue, If possyble were her mendyng. 45* Bot my Lady, of quom Jesu con spryng, Ho haldej Jie empyre ouer yus ful hyje ; & Jiat dysplesej non of oure gyng, For ho is Quene of cortaysye. 45* " Of coartaysye, as saytj Say«t P[a]ule, Al am we membrej of lesu Kryst ; As heued & arme & legg & naule Temen to hys body ful trwe & t[r]yste, 4*° Ryjt so is vch a Krysten saw[l]e A longande lym to Tpe Mayster of myste. Jjenne loke, what hate oTper any gawle Is tached oyer tyjed J>y lymmej by-twyste ? 464 J3y heued hatj naujier greme ne gryste, On arme o]>er fynger faj you ber byje. So fare we alle wyth luf & lyste To kyng & quene by cortaysye." 468 PEARI.. 41 XXXVIII. " The Court of the Kingdom of Living God hath in itself this property,- each one that may arrive therein is king or queen of all the realm, and yet shall not deprive another ; but each is glad of others' weal, and would their crowns were worth live such, were their enhancing possible. But my Lady, from whom Jesu sprang. She holdeth empire high o'er all ; and this displeaseth none of our host, for she is Queen of Courtesy. XXXIX. " By courtesy, as saith Saint Paul, we all are members of Jesu Christ ; as head and arm and leg and trunk, trusty and true, their body serve, so is each Christian soul a limb that to the Lord of Might belongs. Lo now, what hatred or ill-will is fast or fix'd between thy limbs ? Thy head hath neither spleen nor spite, on arm or finger though thou bear ring. So fare we all in love and joy, by courtesy, to King and Queen." 42 PERLE. XL. t- 45* " Cortays[y]e," qKof I, " I leue, & chary te grete be yow amowg ; Bot, my speche pat yow ne greue, [Me ))ynk Jjou spekej now ful wronge ;J 47* )5y self in heuen ouer hyj pou heue, To make pe quen fat watj so jonge. What more honoar mojte he acheue )jat hade endured in worlde stronge, 47^ & lyued in penau«ce hys lyuej longe, Wyti bodyly bale hy»j biysse to byye ? What more worschyp mojt h[ej fonge, Jjen corounde be ky«g by cortays[y]e ? 4^° § IX. XLI. " <" I ""HAT cortays[y]e is to fre of dede, JL 3yf hyt be soth Jjat fou conej saye ; )3ou lyfed not two jer in oure ])ede ; ])oa cowfej neufr God n&uper plese ne pray, 4^4 Ne neuer nawfer Pater ne Crede ; & quen mad on pe fyrst[|e] day ! I may not traw, so God me spede, Jjat God wolde wrype so wrange away. 4*^ Of countes, damysel, par ma fay, Wer fayr in heuen to halde asstate, Olper elle^ a lady of lasse aray ; Bot aquene !-hit is to dere a date." 49^ PEARL. 43 XL. " Courtesy," quoth I, " I grant, and charity great dwell in your midst ; but, pardon if my speech doth grieve, methinketh now thy words full wrong ; thou hast raised thyself in heaven top high, to make thee queen, that wast so young. What greater honour might he win, who sufFer'd bravely in this world, and lived in life-long penance here, with bodily bale to purchase bliss ? What greater glory might he have than king be crown'd by courtesy ? § IX. xm. " '' I '^HIS courtesy is all too free, X if it be sooth that tliou hast said ; thou livedst not two years in our land, God thou conldst not please or pray, and never knewest Pater nor Creed ; yet on the first day made a Queen ! I may not trow, so speed me God, that He would work so all amiss. As countess, damosel, par ma fay, 'twere fair in heaven to hold estate, or as a lady of lower degree : but a Queen,-it is too great a goal." 44 PERLE. " )jer is no date of hys god-nesse," \)en sayde to me pat worfy wyjte ; " For al is trawfe fat he con dresse, & he may do no Jjynk hot ryjt. 49* As Mathew melej i» your messe, In sothfol Gospel of God Al-myjt, In-sample he can ful graypely gesse, & lyknej hit to heuen lyjte. 5°° < My regne,' he saytj, ' is lyk on hyjt To a lorde Tpsit hade a uyne, I wate ; Of tyme of jere Tpe terme watj tyjt, To labor vyne watj dere J)e date. S°4 f. 46a " ' ))at date of jere wel knawe [h]ys hyne ; J3e lorde ful erly vp he ros To hyre werkmen to hys vyne, & fyndej ]ier summe to hys porpos. S°^ Into acorde fay con de-clyne For a penef a day, & forth fay gotj, Wryfen & worchen & don gret pyne, Keruen & caggen & man hit clos. 5'* Aboute vnder fe lorde to marked totj, & ydel men stande he fynde^ ferate : ' Why stande je ydel ? ' he sayde to fos ; ' Ne knawe je of fis day no date ? ' S16 PEARL. 45 " No goal, no end, His goodness hath," then said to me that noble gem, " for all is just where He doth lead ; He can do nought but what is right. As Matthew telleth in your mass, in God Almighty's Gospel true, a parable He made full well ; to Heaven bright He likeneth it. ' My realm on high,' He saith, ' is like to a lord that had a vineyard once ; and, lo ! the time of year was come when vintage was the season's goal. XUII. " ' The season's goal his household knows ; and up full early rose the lord to hire more workmen for his vines ; and to his purpose findeth some. They enter in agreement then for a penny a day, and forth they go ; they strain and strive and do great toil, they prune and bind and fasten firm. About noon the lord the market sought, and idle men found standing there. ' Why stand ye idle ? ' he said to them, ' Or know ye for this day no goal ? ' 46 PERLE. XLIV. " ' ' Er date of daye hider arn we wonwe,' So watj al samen her answar sojt ; ' We haf standen her syn ros Tpe sunne, & no mon byddej vus do ryjt nojt.' 5*° ' Gos in-to my vyne, dotj pat ^e cowne ;' So sayde pe lorde, & made hit tojt :- ' What resnabelef hyre be najt be ru«ne I yow payt in dede & pojte.' 5^4 J3ay wente i«-to pe vyne & wrojte ; & al day fe lorde pus jede his gate, & nw[e] men to hys vyne he brojte, Wel-nej wyWay wat3 passed date. 5^^ " ' At pe [date] of [day] of euen-songe. On oure byfore pe sonne go dou«, He sej per ydel men ful stronge, & sade to he[m], vryth sobre soun :- 53* ' Wy stonde je ydel pise dayej longe ? ' J)ay sayden her hyre watj nawhere boun. ' Gotj to my vyne, jemen jonge, & wyrkej & dotj pat at je mou«.' 53* Sone pe worlde by-com wel brou«, J3e sunne wat^ doun, & fhit wex late ; To take her hyre he mad sumoun ; J)e day watj al apassed date. 54° PEARL. 47 XLIV. " ' ' Ere dawn of day we hither came ; ' so gave they answer, one and all ; ' we have stood here since rose the sun, and no man biddeth us do aught.' ' Enter my vineyard ; do what ye can,' said then the lord, and made it sure,- ' What wage is fair, by fall of night, I will you pay, in thought and deed.' They went unto his vines, and work'd ; and thus all day the lord went forth, and new men to his vineyard brought, well-nigh till day had pass'd its goal. " ' Nigh goal of day, at evensong, one hour before the sun should set, strong men he saw stand idle there, and said to them, with earnest voice :- ' Why stand ye idle the livelong day ? ' Nowhere, said they, was hire for them. ' Go to my vineyard, yeomen young, and work and do as best ye can.' Soon the world grew burnish'd brown ; the sun was down, and it waxed late ; to take their pay he summon'd them ; the day was done, its goal was pass'd. 48 PERLE. § X. XLVI. f. 464 " ' ' I ^HE date of fe daye fe lorde con knaw, J. Called to fe reue : ' Lede, pay f e menyj; Gyf hem pe hyre Jat I hem [a]we ; & fyrre, fat non me may repren[y], 544 Set hem alle vpon a rawe, & gyf vchon i«-lyche a peny. Bygyn at pe laste Jjat standej l[a]we, Tyl to pe fyrste pat pou atteny.' 54^ & penne pe fyrst by-gonne to pleny, & sayden pat pay hade trauayled sore :- ' )3ese hot on cure hem con streny ; Vaj- py«k yus oje to take more. 55^ XL VII. " ' ' More haf we serued, vkj pynk so, Jjat sufFred han pe dayej hete, ]3enn pyse pat wrojt not hourcj two, & pou dotj hem vus to counterfete.' 5S6 Jjenne sayde pe lorde to on| of po :— ' Frende, no wani[n]g I wyl pe jete ; Take pat is pyn owne & go. & I hyred pe for a peny a-grete, 5*° Quy bygynnej pou now to prete ? Watj not a pene py couenauHt pore ? Fyrre pen couenaunde is nojt to plete. Wy schalte pou penne ask[e] more ? 5*'4 PEARL. 49 § X. XLVI. " ' '' I "*HE day was done, the master knew,- A. called to his reeve : ' Sir, pay the men ; give them the wage that I them owe, and further, that none may me reprove, set them all in one long line, and give a penny to each alike ; begin at the last that standeth low, and so until thou- reach the first.' The first began then to complain, and said that they had sorely toil'd :- ' These but an hour have strain'd their strength, seemeth to us we should take more. " ' ' More have we deserved, we think, that here have borne the heat of day, than these that have not work'd two hours, and thou dost make them equal us.' Then said the lord to one of them :- ' Friend, I would not do thee wrong ; take what is thine own and go. Hired I thee for a penny withal, why beginnest thou now to chafe ? Was not a penny thy covenant then ? More than agreed one must not claim. Why shouldest thou then ask for more ? so PERLE. " ' ' More,-weJifr l[e]uyly is me my gyfte, To do wyth myn quat so me lykej, Oyer ellej fyn yje to lyffr is lyfte, For I am goude & now by-swykej ? ' S^^ ' \)us schal I,' quo]) Kryste, ' hit skyfte ; J)e laste schal be Tpe fyrst fat strykej, & Tpe fyrst fe laste, be he neuer so swyft ; For mony ben calle[d], faj fewe be mykej.' 57* ]}us pore men her part ay pykej, Jjaj yny com late & lyttel wore ; & Jjaj her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykej, J)e merci of God is much Tpe more. 57^ XLIX. f. 47a " More haf I of joye & blysse here-inne, Of ladyschyp gret & lyue^ blom', )3en alle Tpe wyjej in Jje worlde myjt wynne, By fe way of ryjt to aske dome. 580 Whefer welnygh now I con bygywne, In euentyde in-to pe vyne I come, Fyrst of my hyre my Lorde con mywne ; I watj payed anon of al & sum. 5^4 3et ojier J)er werne 'pat toke more tom, Jjat swange & swat for long[e] jore, }3at ^et of hyre no Jjynk fay nom, Paraunt^r nojt schal to-jere more." 5*8 PEARL. 51 " ' ' Moreover,- Is it my right to give, to do with mine what so I please, or is it thine eye is bent on ill, since I am good, and none defraud ? ' ' Thus shall I,' quolh Christ, ' ordain : the last shall be the first to go, and the first the last, be he ne'er so swift ; for many are called, though few the elect.' Thus do the poor their portion take, though they come late, and low their place ; though, little done, their toil is spent, the mercy of God is much the more. XLIX. " More have I here of joy and bliss, of ladyship great and bloom of life, than all the men in the world might win, ask'd they award by way of right. Though, well-nigh now, I late began, at even to the vineyard came, first of my hire my Lord bethought ; I was paid anon the payment full. Others were there who had to wait, who sweated long before, and toil'd ; yet nothing got they of their hire, nor will perchance for long years more." 52 PERLE. Then more I meled & sayde apert :- " Me Jjynk ]jy tale vnresou«-able ; Goddej ryjt is redy & eufr-more reit, 0\er Holy Wiyt is hot a fable. 59* In Sauter is sayd a verce ouerte, )3at speke^ a poynt determynable :- ' Jjou quyte^ vchon as hys desserte, j3ou hyje Kywg, ay p[re]termynable.' 59^ Now he fat stod Jje long day stable, & ])ou to payment com hym byfore, Jjenne pe lasse in werke to take more able, & eufr fe lenger fe lasse J)e more." *°° § XI. " i~\i more & lasse in Godej ryche," V-/ Jjat gentyl sayde, " lys no joparde, For fer is vch mon payed inlyche, Whe])er lyttel o^er much be hys rewarde. 6o4 For fe gentyl Cheuentayn is no chyche, QueJ)£r-so-eu^r he dele nesch ojjer harde ; He lauej hys gyftej as wat^r of dyche, Ojj^r gotej of golf fat neu^r charde. 6o8 Hys frauKchyse is large fat eu^r dard To hym pat matj in synne rescoghi? ; No blysse betj fro hem reparde. For Jje grace of God is gret i-noghf. 612 PEARL. 53 Then said I more, and boldly spake :- " Thy tale me seemeth reasonless : God's right is ready, raised eterne, or Holy Writ is but a fable. In Psalter is said a verse full clear, putting, as point determin'd, this :- ' Each Thou requitest as his desert, Thou High King, ever fore-ordained ! ' Now he who all day steadfast stood,- if thou to payment come ere he, then the less the work, the more the pay, and ever the longer the less the more." § XI. LI. " '' I "»WIXT more and less in God's own JL realm," that Gentle said, " lies no debate ; for there is each man paid alike, whether little or much be his reward. That gentle Chieftain is no niggard, whether His dole be hard or soft ; He poureth His gifts as water from weir, or streams of the deep that never turn. Large is his freedom who hath fear'd 'fore Hira that rescueth in sin ; no bliss shall be withheld from such ; the grace of God is great enough. 54 PERLE. LII. f. 474 «' Bot now ])ou mote^ me for to mate, Jjat I my peny haf wrang tan here ; Jjou sayj pat I ]jat com to late Am not worfy so gret [h]ere. ^'6 Where wystej ]jou eu^r any bourne abate, Euer so holy in hys prayere, ))at he ne forfeted by sumkyn gate pe mede suwj-tyme of heuenej clere ? 620 & ay Je ofter, fe alder fay were, Jjay laften ryjt & wrojten vfoghe. Mercy & grace moste hem pen stere, For ])e grace of God is gret in-noje. 624 " Bot in-noghe of grace hatj innocent ; As sone as Jiay arn borne, by lyne In pe water of babtem pay dyssente ; jjen arne pay borojt in-to pe vyne. 6*8 Anon pe day, wyth derk endente, ])e my^t of deth dotj to en-clyne Jjat wrojt neuer wrang er penne pay wente. \}e gentyle Lorde penne payej hys hyne ; 632 })ay dyden hys heste, pay wern pere-ine ; Why schutde he not her labour alow, 3ys, & pay h[e]m at pe fyrst[ej fyne ? For pe grace of God is gret i«-noghe. 63^ PEARL. 55 " Yet now thou mootest, to checkmate me, that I my penny have wrongly ta'en : thou sayest that I, who came too late, am not worth so great a wage. Where knewest thou any man abide, ever so holy in his prayer, who ne'er, in some way, forfeited the meed, some time, of heaven bright ? And aye the ofter, the older they were, left they the right, and wrought amiss ; Mercy and Grace must pilot them ; The grace of God is great enough. " But grace enough have innocents ; as soon as they are born, by rule in the water of baptism they descend ; then are they to the vineyard brought. Anon the day, with darkness fleck'd, unto Death's might doth make them bow who ne'er wrought wrong ere thence they went. The gentle Lord His folk then payeth ; they did His will, they were therein. Why should He not allow their hire, yea, pay them at the first day's close? The grace of God is great enough. S6 PERLE. " I-noje is knawen fat man-kyn grete Fyrste watj wrojt to blysse parfyt ; Oure forme fader hit con forfete, jjurj an apple fat he vpon con byte ; ^4° Al wer we dampned for fat mete To dyje in doel, out of delyt, & syfen wende to helle hete, ))^r-inne to won wjtA-oute respyt. ^44 Bot fer on-com a bote as tyt ; Ryche blod ran on rode so rogh^, & wywne wat^r ; fen at fat plyt )3e grace of God wex gret in-noghf. 648 f. 483 « In-noghc f er wax outf of fat welle, Blod & water of brode wounde ; \)e blod vus bojt fro bale of helle, & delyuered vus of fe deth secounde ; 6s^ Jje water is baptem, f e sof e to telle Jjat folded f e glayue so grymly grounde, Jjat waschej away f e gyltej felle )3at Adam wyth inf deth \us drounde. 656 Now is f er nojt in f e worlde rounde By-twene \us & blysse bot fat he wjt^-dro^, & fat is restored in sely stou«de ; & f e grace of God is gret i«-nogh. 660 PEARL. 57 " Enough is known, how mankind great first was wrought for perfect bliss ; our fore-father it forfeited, through an apple that he bit upon. And for that morsel were we damn'd to die in dolour, afar from joy, and thence to fare to heat of hell, there to abide, with respite none. But soon came there the antidote ; on rood so rough ran richest blood and winsome water ; then, in that plight, the grace of God wax'd great enough. " Enough from out that well there flow'd, blood and water, from wound so wide : from bale of hell the blood us bought, and ransom'd us from second death ; the water is baptism, sooth to say, that follow'd the glaive so grimly ground, that washeth away the guilt so fell that Adam drown'd us with in death. Now is there nought in this round world 'twixt us and bliss but what He withdrew ; all is restored in one fair hour. The grace of God is great enough. S8 PERLE. § XII. LVI. " ^^ RACE i«-nogh Jie mon may haue VJ ))at synnej Tpenne new, jif hyra repente, Bot wyth sorj & syt he mot hit craue, & byde Jje payne ))er-to is bent; 664 Bot resou«, of lyjt fat con not raue, Sauej euer-more ])e innossewt ; Hit is a dom pat neufr God gaue, J3at euer Jie gyltlej schulde be schente. 668 J3e gyltyf may contryssyoun hente, & be J)ur3 mercy to grace f ryjt ; Bot he to gyle J)at neuer glente, At i«-oscen[c]e, is saf [by] ryjte. 672 " Ry^t Tpus f I knaw wel in J)is cas, Two men to saue is god by skylle ; \)e ryjt-wys man schal se hys fa[c]e, Jje harmlej hajjel schal com hym tylle. 676 Jje Saut^r hyt sat^ ]>us in a pace :- ' Lorde, quo schal klymbe J)y hy3[e] hyllef, Oper rest wj/tZi-inne ]jy holy place ? ' Hymself to on- sware he is not dylle :- 680 ' Hondelynge^ harme fat dyt not ille, )jat is of hert bofe clene & lyjt, ))er schal hys step[pe] stable stylle.' Jje innosent is ay saf by ryjt. 684 PEARL. 59 § XII. LVI. " f^^ RACE enough a man may have Vj that sinneth anew, if he repent ; he must it crave with sorrow and sighs, and bide the pain thereto is bound ; but Reason, straying not from right, saveth the innocent evermore ; for 'tis a doom that God ne'er gave, that ever the guiltless should be shamed. The guilty may contrition find, and be by Mercy led to Grace ; but into guile who glided ne'er, in innocence, is saved by right. LVII. " Right well I know of this same thing, two kinds to save is good and just,- the righteous man His face shall see, the harmless one shall come Him nigh. Thus saith the Psalter in a verse,- ' Lord, who shall climb Thy lofty hill, or rest within Thy holy place ? ' Himself to answer He is not slow,- • Whose hands in malice ne'er did hurt, he that is clean and pure of heart, there shall his step stand ever firm.' The innocent is saved by right. 6o PERLE. f. 48* " The ryjtwys man also sertayn Aproche he schal Tpat proper pyle, J3at takej not her lyf in vayne, Ne glauerej her [njejbor wyth no gyle. *^^ Of Tpys ryjt-wys saj Salamon playn How kyntly cure [Koyntyse hym] con aquyle ; By wayej ful street he con hym strayn, & scheued hym fe rengne of God awhyle, 691 As quo says ' lo, jon louely yle ! J30U may hit wynne if pou be wyjte.' Bot, hardyly, viyt^-oute peryle, )3e innosent is ay saue by ryjte. 6g6 " An-ende ryjtwys men jet saytj a gome- Dauid in Sauter, if euer je s[y]3 hit :- ' Lorde, yj seruaunt diaj neuer to dome, [F]or non lyuyande to fe is justyfyet ! ' 7°° For-Jiy to corte quen fou schal com[e], )jer alle oure causey schal be [cjiyed, Alegge Je ryjt, Tpou may be in-nome, By fys iike spech I haue asspyed. 704 Bot he on rode fat blody dyed, DelfuUy ]jurj hondej Jiryjt, Gyue ])e to passe, when })ou arte tryed, By innocens, & not by ryjte ! 7°^ PEARL. 6i " Verily, eke the righteous man approach shall he that noble tower,- who taketh not his life in vain, his neighbour cheateth not with guile. Of such saw Solomon clearly once how well our Wisdom welcomed him ; He guided him by ways full straight, shew'd him awhile the realm of God, as who should say, ' Lo, yon fair place ! thou may'st it win, if thou be brave.' But, without peril, be thou sure, the innocent is saved by right. LIX. " Anent the righteous saith another, David in Psalter. Hast it seen ?- ' Thy servant. Lord, draw never to doom ; none living is justified 'fore Thee.' So when thou comest to the Court, where all our causes shall be cried, renounce thy right, thou mayest come in, by these same words that I have cuU'd. But He that bloodily died on rood, whose hands were pierced so grievously, grant thee to pass, when tried thou art, by innocence and not by right ! 62 PERLE. " Ryjtwysly quo [so] con rede, He loke on bok & be awayed, How Jesus hym welke in are-pede, & burnej her barnej vnto hym brayde ; 7'* For happe & hele J)at fro hym jede, To tou[c]h her chylder fay fayr hym prayed. His dessypelej -wyth blame let be h[e]m bede, & wyth her resounej ful fele restayed. 7'^ Jesus fenne hem swetely sayde :- ' Do way, let chylder vnto me tyjt ; To suche is heuen-ryche arayed.' )3e innocent is ay saf by ryjt. 7*° §XIII. LXI. f. 49« " "W ESUS con calle to hym hys mylde, A. & sayde hys ryche no wyj myjt Wynne Bot he com pyder ryjt as a chylde, 0])er ellej neufr more com Jier-inne ; 724 Harmlej, trwe, & vnde-fylde, WjitA-outen mote olper mascle of sulpande synne, Quen such per cnoken on pe bylde, Tyt schal hem men pe jate vnpynne. 7*^ Jjer is Tpe blys pat con not blynne, J3at Jie jueler sojte purj perre pres, & solde alle hys goud, hope wolen & lynne, To bye hym a perle watj mascelle^. 732 PEARL. 63 " Who knoweth to read the Book aright, let him look in, and learn therefrom how Jesus walk'd once on a time, and folk their bairns press'd near to Him ; to touch their children they Him besought, for hap and health that from Him came. His disciples sternly bade them cease ; and at their words full many stay'd. Then Jesus sweetly said to them :- ' Not so ; let children draw to Me ; for such IS heaven's realm prepared.' The innocent is aye saved by right. § XIII. LXI. « TESUS call'd to Him His meek, J and said, no man might win His realm save he came thither as a child ; else might he never therein come ; harmless, undefiled, and true, with ne'er stain nor spot of sapping sin, when such come knocking on that place, quickly for them the bolt is drawn. There is the bliss that cannot fade, the jeweller sought 'mong precious gems, and sold his all, both linen and wool, to purchase him a spotless pearl. 64 PERLE. " ' This ma[s]ke]le3 perle, fat bojt is dere, pe joueler gef fore alle hys god, Is lyke fe leme of heuenesf [sp]ere ; So sayde Jie Fader of folde & flode ; 73^ For hit is wemlej, clene, & clere, & endele3 rou«de, & blyjie of mode, & commune to alle fat ryjtwys']' were. Lo, euen in myddej my breste hit stode ! 74° My Lorde jje Lombe, Jjat schede hys blodc, He py^t hit Jjere in token of pes. I rede J)e forsake pe worlde wode, & porchace ]jy perle maskelles." 744 " O maskele^ Perle, in perlej pure, Jjat berej," quo]) I, " jje perle of prys. Quo formed fe fy fayre fygure ? Jjat wrojt py wede, he watj ful wys ; 748 Jjy beaute com neu^r of nature ; Pymalyon paynted neu^r Jjy vys ; Ne Arystotel nawf^r by hys lettrure Of carpe[d] pe kynde pese propert[y]3. 75* )3y colo«r passej pe flour-de-lys ; J3yn angel-hauyng so clene corte^ ! Breue me, bryjt, quat kyn of tr«ys Berej pe perle so maskelle^ ? " 756 PEARL. 6s LXII. " 'This spotless pearl, so dearly bought, the jeweller gave his all therefor, is like the realm of Heaven's sphere ; ' so said the Father of field and flood ; for it is flawless, bright, and pure, endlessly round, of lustre blithe, and common to all that righteous were. Lo, its setting amid my breast ! My Lord the Lamb, who shed His blood, He set it there in token of peace. I rede thee forsake the world so wild, and get for thee thy spotless pearl." " O spotless Pearl, in pearls so pure, that bearest," quoth I, " the pearl of price, who form'd for thee thy figure fair ? He was full wise that wrought thy robe ; thy beauty never from Nature came ; Pygmalion painted ne'er thy face ; nor Aristotle, with all his lore, told of the qualities of these gifts ; thy colour passeth the fleur-de-lis ; thy angel-bearing so all debonair ! Tell me. Brightest, what is the peace that beareth as token this spotless pearl ? ' 66 PERLE. f. 49* " My ma[s]kele5 Lambe fat al may bete," Q,uo^ scho, " my dere Destyne, Me ches to hys make, al-Jja^ vnmete Sum-tyme semed fat assemble. 760 When I wente fro yor worlde wete, He calde me to hys honerle :- ' Cnm hyder to me, ray lemman swete, For mote ne spot is non in fe.' 764 He gef me myjt & als bewte ; In hys blod he wesch my wede on dese, &, coronde clene in v^rgynte, [He] pyjt me in perlej maskellej." 768 " Why, maskellej bryd, fat bryjt con flambe, J)at reiatej hatj so ryche & ryf, Quat kyn fyng may be fat Lambe }3at fe wolde wedde vnto hys vyf ? 77* Oufr alle of^r so hyj fou clambe, To lede wyih hym so ladyly lyf. So mony a comly on-Tunder cambe For Kryst han lyued in much stryf ; 776 & fou con alle fo dere out-dryf, & fro fat maryag[e] al 6\>er depres, Al only f yself so stout & styf, A makelej may & maskelle^ ! " 780 PEARL. (>^ " My spotless Lamb, Who can better all," quoth she, " my Destiny so dear, chose me His bride, though all unfit the Spousal might a while well seem. When I went forth from your wet world, He call'd me to His Goodliness :- ' Come hither to Me, My truelove sweet, for stain or spot is none in thee.' He gave me strength and beauty too ; in His blood on the Throne He wash'd my weeds ; and, crownfed clean in maidenhood, with spotless pearls He me beset." LXV, " Why, spotless Bride, that shinest bright, with regal glories rich and rare, what, forsooth, may be the Lamb, that thee as wife to Him would wed ? O'er all the rest hast thou climb'd high, with Him to lead so queenly a life. Many a fair, 'neath maiden crown, for Christ in mickle strife hath lived ; those dear ones thou hast all out-driven, and from that marriage all hast held, all save thyself, so strong and stiff, matchless maid, immaculate ! " 68 PERLE. § XIV. LXVI. " "]% /TASKELLES," qaof fat myry quene, J-TX "Vnblemyst I am, wyth-outen blot, & J)at may I vtylh mensk mewteene ; Bot ' makele^ quene ' penne sade I not. 784 Jje Lambes vyuej in blysse we bene, A bond red & forty [fowrej fowsande flot, As in pe Apocalyppej hit is sene ; Sant John hem syj al in a knot. 788 On fe hyl of Syon, })at semly clot, |5e apostel hem segh in gostly drem, Arayed to fe weddyng in Jjot hyl-coppe, Jje nwe cyte o ietusakm. 792 f. soa " Of Jerusalem I in speche spelle. If pou wyl knaw what kyn he be— My Lombe, my Lorde, my dere Juelle, My Joy, my Blys, my Lemman fre- 79^ J)e profete Ysaye of hym con melle Pitously of hys de-bonerte :- ' Jjat gloryoMj gy[l]tlej Tpat mon con quelle Wj^t^-outen any sake of felon[e] ; 800 As a schep to ])e sla^t Tper lad watj he ; &, as lombe Tpat clypper in lande [n]e[m], So closed he hys mouth fro vch quer[e], Quen Jue^ hym jugged in Jerusalem f.' 804 PEARL. 69 § XIV. LXVI. IMMACULATE," said that merry queen, " unblemish'd I am, without a stain ; and this may I with grace avow ; but ' matchless queen ' — that said I ne'er. We all in bliss are Brides of the Lamb, a hundred and forty-four thousand in all, as in the Apocalypse it is clear ; Saint John beheld them in a throng. On the Hill of Zion, that beauteous spot, the Apostle beheld them, in dream divine, array'd for the Bridal on that hill-top,- the City New of Jerusalem. " Of Jerusalem is now my speech : If thou wouldst know what kind is He, my Lamb, my Lord, my dearest Jewel, my Joy, my Bliss, ray noble Love,— the prophet Isaiah spake of Him, in pity of His gentleness,- ' the Glorious Guiltless whom they killed with ne'er a cause of evil deed. As a sheep to the slaughter He was led ; as lamb the shearer taketh a-field. He closed His mouth 'gainst questioning, when Jews Him judg'd in Jerusale m.' 70 PERLE. " In Jerusalem watj my Lemman slayn & rent on rode v/yth boyej bolde ; Al oure balej to here ful bayn, He toke on hywr self oure carej colde ; 808 WjitA bofFetej watj hys face flayn, }3at watj so fayr on to byholde ; For sy?/ne he set hym self in vayn, Jjat neu^r hade non hym self to wolde. 812 For vus he lette hym flyje & folde & brede vpon a bostwys bem ; As meke as lom[b] Jjat no playnt tolde, For vaj- he swalt in Jerusalem. 816 " [I"II J^'msalem, Jordan, & Galajye, ber-as baptysed fe goude Saynt Jon, His wordej acorded to Ysaye. When Jesus con to hym warde gon, 820 He sayde of hym fys professye :- ' Lo, Godej Lombe as trwe as ston, |)at dotj away fe synnej dryje )3at alle })ys worlde hatj wrojt vpon ! 824 Hym self ne wro3t[e] neuer jet non, WheTper on hym self he con al clem. Hys generacyoun quo recen con, )3at dyjed for \us in Jerusalem ? ' 828 PEARL. 71 Lxvm. " In Jerusalem was my Truelove slain and rent on rood by boist'rous churls ; full ready all our bales to bear, He took on Him our cares so cold. With buffets was His face all flay'd, that v/as so fair to look upon ; for sin He set Himself at nought, that ne'er had sin to call His own. For us He let Him beat and bend and bind upon a rugged rood ; as meek as lamb, that made no plaint, for us He died in Jerusalem. " In Jerusalem, Jordan, and Galilee, where baptized folk the good Saint John, his words accorded with Isaiah's. When Jesus was come a-nigh to him, he spake of Him this prophecy :- ' Behold God's Lamb, as true as stone, who doth away the endless sins that all this world hath ever wrought. Yet He Himself wrought never one, though on Himself all sins He laid. His generation who can tell, that died for us in Jerusalem ? ' 72 PERLE. LXX. f. 50J " In leiusalem ])us my Lemman sw[e]te Twyej for lombe watj taken fare, By trw recorde of nyTjxr prophete, For mode so meke & al hys fare. 832 Jje Jiryde tyme is per-to ful mete, In Apokalypej wryten ful jare. In mydej fe trone, fere sayntej sete, }3e apostel lohn hym sajt as bare, 836 Lesande fe boke with leuej sware, Jjere seuen syngnette^ wern sette in-seme ; & at Jiat syjt Tche douth con dare. In helle, in erpe, & Jerusalem. *4° § XV. LXXI. "'"T^HYSJeruJij/cm Lombe hadeneuerpechche X Of oTper huee bot quyt jolyf, Jjat mot ne mask[e]lle mojt on streche. For wolle quyte so ronk & ryf ; 844 For-J)y vche saule fat hade neufr teche Is to fat Lombe a worthyly wyf ; & faj vch day a store he feche. Among \us commej [n]of fr strot ne stryf ; 848 Bot vchon enle we wolde were fyf,— J3e mo fe myryer, so God me blesse ! In compayny gret our luf con f ryf, In honour more & neuer fe lesse. 851 nVMu^ -Trf 'f- PI? ^Me^ iiMr tntyr luti'f^ >«- HUM- iiirtjiHlWlruui^-rmith'?;^ rttiimi^ Aic- cuiivt'j i-vynaii 0nt«r iu-*flt-'i'»f- .«t^ •T.-e les. 876 PEARL. 75 LXXII. " Less of bliss may none us bring, this pearl who bear upon our breasts, for ne'er a thought of sin know they the crown who bear of spotless pearls. And though our corses cling in clay, and ye for ruth cry ceaselessly, we knowledge have full well of this,- from one death cometh all our hope. Us gladd'neth the Lamb ; our care is cast ; He maketh mirth at every meal ; of each the bliss is bravest and best, and no one's honour is yet the less. LXXIII. " But lest thou deem my tale less true, in Apocalypse is writ a verse :— ' I saw,' saith John, ' where stood the Lamb, on the Mount of Zion, thriven and strong, and with Him maidens a hundred thousand, and four and forty thousand more ; on all their foreheads writ I found the Lamb's own name. His Father's eke. A voice from heaven heard I then, like many floods' roar, a-rushing on ; as thunder hurtles in lowring skies ; that sound, I trow, was none the less. 76 PERLE. " ' Naujjeles, faj hit schowted schaipe, & ledden loude al-faj hit were, A note ful nwe I herde hem warpe ; To lysten fat watj ful lufly dere. 8go As harporej harpen in her harpe, ))at nwe songe fay so«gen ful cler,- In souKande notej a gentyl carpe ; Ful fayre Jje modej Jiay fonge in fere. 884 Ryjt byfore Gode^ chayere, & pe fowre bestej fat hym obes, & fe alder-men so sadde of chere, Her songe fay songen neufr fe les. 888 " ' Nowf e-lese non watj neufr so quoynt, For alle f e craftej fat exier fay knewe, J3at of fat songe myjt synge a poynt, Bot fat mejrny fe Lombe fa[t] swe; 89* For fay arn bojt, fro fe vrfe aloynte, As newe fryt to God ful due, & to fe gentyl Lombe hit arn anioynt, As lyk to hym self of lote & hwe ; 896 For neaer lesyng ne tale vn-trwe Ne towched her tonge for no dysstresse. )jat moteles meyny may neucr remwe Fro fatmaskelej Mayster neuer feles.' " 9°° PEARL, ^^ LXXIV. " ' Nevertheless, though sharp the shout, though loud the voice that echoed there, a note full new I heard them raise ; to list thereto was blissful joy. As harpers harp upon their harps, that new song sang they tunefuUy,- a noble theme in clearest notes ; sweetly in chorus they caught the strain. And e'en before the Throne of God, and the four beasts that bow to Him, and the Elders all, so grave of mien, their song they sang there never the less. LXXV. " ' Nevertheless was none so skill'd, for all the crafts that e'er he knew, that of that song might sing a note, save all the host that follow the Lamb. They are redeem'd, remov'd from earth, as first-fruits wholly due to God, and to that gentle Lamb enjoin'd, as like to Him in hue and look ; for never a lie nor tale untrue had touch'd their tongues, for any paiu. To spotless Lord the spotless host shall nearest be, and never less.' " 78 PERLE. LXXVI. f. SI* " Neuer Jje les let be my fonc," Quo]) I, " my Perle, faj I appose ; I schulde not tempte Jjy wyt so wlonc, To Krystej chambre pat art ichose. 904 I am bot mokke & mul amo«[c], & J3ou so ryche a reken rose, & byde3 here by ])ys blysful bone J5er lyuej lyste may neuer lose. 908 \ Now, hynde, fat sympelnesse conej enclose,', j U j ^ I wolde Jje aske a fynge expresse ; ^ _ ■?/' & faj I be bustwys as a fwlose, U" Let my bone vayl[e] neufr-Jie-lese. 91* § XVI, LXXVII. NEUER-J3E-LESE clerlyowby-calle. If je con se hyt be to done ; As J)ou art gloryoKJ wytA-outen galle, Wyt;6-nay fou neu^r my ruful bone. 916 Haf je no wonej in castel-walle, Ne manifr per je may mete & won[e] ? j3ou tellej me of Jerusalem, ])e ryche ryalle, )jer Dauid dere watj dyjt on trone ; 910 Bot by Jjyse holtej hit con not hone ; Bot in Judee hit is, Jjat noble note ; As je ar maskelej vnder mone. Your wonej schulde be wyth-outen mote. 9»4 PEARL. 79 LXXVI. " And none the less my thanks have thou," quoth I, " my Pearl, though yet I ask ; I should not try thy noble mind, who chosen to Christ's chamber art. I am but earth and dust a-while, and thou so rich a royal rose, and bidest by this blissful bank, where life's delight may ne'er be lost. Now, Lady, — simple wast thou once, — I fain would ask thee but one thing ; and though I be wild as man of the woods, let, ne'ertheless, my prayer avail ! § XVL Lxxvn. " T NONE the less beseech thee fair, A if thou canst see it may be done, as thou art glorious, free from fault, my rueful prayer deny not thou. -Have ye no homes in castle-walls ? No manor where ye may meet and bide ? Thou namest Jerusalem, rich and royal, where David dear was dight on throne ; but by these holts it cannot be ; 'tis in Judsea, that noble place ; as ye are spotless 'neath the moon, all spotless so should be your homes. 8o PERLE. LXXVIII. " ]3ys motelej meyny ]>o\x conej of mele, Of pousandej Jry^t so gret a route ; A gret cete, for ^e arn fele, Yow by-hod haue wjtA-outen doute. 9»8 So cumly a pakke of joly juele Wer euel don schulde lyj 'per-oute ; & by Jjyse bonkej per I con gele, tl se no bygyng nawhere aboute. 93* I trowe al-one je lenge & loute, To loke on pe glory of pys gracli]ous gote ; If fou hatj oper lygyngej stoute, Now tech me to pat inyry mote." 93^ f. 520 (( That mote Jiou mene^ in Judy londe," Jjat specyal spyce pen to me spakk, " J3at is pe cyte pat pe Lombe con fonde, To sofFer inne sor for manej sake,- 94° Jje olde Jerusalem to vnder-stonde, For pere pe olde gulte watj don to slake ; Bot pe nwe, pat lyjt of Godej sonde, }3e apostel in Apocalyppce in theme con take. 944 J)e Lom[b]e Tper, wyt^-outen spottej blake, Hatj feryed pyder hys fayre flote ; & as hys flok is wj^t^-outen flake, So is hys mote wjitA-outen moote- 94^ PEARL. " This spotless band thou speakest of, this throng of thousands, such a host ; a city vast, so many ye are, without a doubt, ye needs must have. So comely a pack of joyous jewels 'twere perilous to lodge without ; but, where I tarry by these banks, I see no dwelling anywhere. I trow ye but linger here and walk, to look on the glory of this fair stream ; if elsewhere thou hast dwellings firm, now lead me to that merry spot." LXXIX. " The spot thou meanest, in Jewry land," that wonder rare then said to me, " the city it is the Lamb did seek, to suffer there sore, for sake of man,- the Old Jerusalem, to wit, for there the old guilt was assoil'd ; but the New, come down by God's own word,- the Apostle's theme in Apocalypse,- 'tis there the Lamb, with no black stain, thither- hath borne His beauteous throng ; and as His flock is without fold, moatless His mansion in that spot. a 82 PERLE. LXXX. " Of motes two to carpe clene, & Jerusalem hyjt boJ)e nawfeles,— Jjat nys to yow no more to mene Bot cete of God o^er syjt of pes,— 95* In pat on oure pes wat^ mad at ene ; WjitA payne to suffer pe Lombe hit chese ; In fat oyer is nojt bot pes to glene, J)at ay schal Jaste wj/t^-outen reles. 95^ |)at is pe borj fat we to pres Fro J)(jt oure fpjesch be layd to rote ; }3er glory & blysse schal eufr encres To fe meyny fat is wj^tA-outen mote." 9*° " Motelej may so meke & mylde," ])en sayde I to fat lufly flor, " Bryng me to fat bygly bylde, & let me se fy blysful bor." 9^4 )3at schene sayde :-" )3at God wyl schylde; )3ou may not enter wyth-'inne hys tor ; Bot of fe Lombe I haue f e aquylde For a sy^t fer-of furj gret fauor. 9^^ Vt-wyth to se fat clene cloystor Jjou may, bot in-wyth not a fote To strech in fe strete f ou hatj no vygour, Bot fou wer clene wytA-outen mote. 97* From Cotton MS. Nero A. x., Illustrating ll. 961-72. PEARL. 83 " Of these twain spots to speak aright, and yet hight both Jerusalem,- which, know thou, meaneth nothing else but City of God, or Sight of Peace,— in the one, our peace one time was made ; the Lamb chose there to suffer pain ; in the other is nought but peace to glean, that aye shall last unceasingly. This is the bourne whereto we press, soon as our flesh is laid to waste ; there glory and bliss shall e'er increase unto the host without a spot." " Spotless maid, so meek and mild," then said I to that flower full fair, " bring me to that blest abode, and let me see thy blissful bower." That glory said : " God this forbiddeth ; within His tower thou may'st not come ; but from the Lamb I welcome thee to a sight thereof, by His great grace. That cloister clean may'st see without ; within — thy vigour availeth not to enter in its street one foot, save thou wert clean in spotlessness. 84 PERLE. § XVII. LXXXII. f- 52* « y F I fis mote \>e schal vn-hyde, X Bow vp to-warde fys bornej heued, & I an-endej Jie on fis syde Schal sve, tyl }>ou to a hil be veued." 97^ \)en wolde [I Jjfr] no lenger byde, Bot lurked by launcej so lufly leued, Tyl on a hyl fat I asspyed & blusched on Jie burghf, as I forth dreued. 9^° By-jonde fe brok fro me warde keued, )3at schyrrer fen sunne vryti schaftej schon ; In J>e Apokalypce is fe fasoun preued, As deuysej hit ]>e apostel Jhon. 984 As John fe apostel hit syj wyth syjt, I syje fat cyty of gret renoun, Jeiusalem so nwe & ryally dyjt, As hit wat^ lyjt fro fe heuen adouw. 988 J3e borj watj al of brende golde bryjt, As glemande glas burnist broun, "Wyth gentyl gemmej an-vnder pyjt, Wyth bantelej twelue on basy«g bourf ; 99* Jje foundementej twelue of riche tenoun ; Vch tabelment watj a serlypej ston ; As derely deuysej fis ilk toun In Apocalyppej jje apostel John. 996 PEARL. 8s § XVII. LXXXII. " OHALL I to thee this spot levea), O bend thou toward this river's head,— I, opposite, upon this bank, shall follow, till thou come to a hill." No longer would I tarry then, but stole 'neath boughs, 'neath lovely leaves, till, from a hill, as on I went, I espied and gazed upon the Burgh. Deep set from me, beyond the brook, with rays it shone, than sun more bright. In Apocalypse is found its form, as pictureth the Apostle John. As John the Apostle saw it then, saw I that City of noble fame,— Jerusalem, new and royally dight, as it was come from Heaven adown. The Burgh was all of burning gold, burnish'd bright as gleaming glass, with glorious gems beneath it set, with twelve steps rising from the base, foundations twelve, with tenons rich, and every slab a special stone ; as in Apocalypse this same Burgh John the Apostle pictureth well. 86 PERLE. As [John] fise stonej in writ con nemme, I knew ]>e narae[3] aher his tale. Jasper hyjt fe fyrst[e] gemme, J3at I on fe fyrst[e] basse con wale ; looo He glente grene in Tpe lowest hewme ; Saffer helde pe secounde stale ; }je calsydoyne Jienne wjitA-outen wemme In ]>e ])ryd[de] table con purly pale ; 1004 J)e emerade pe furpe so grene of scale ; )je sardonyse Jie fyfpe ston ; )5e sexte Jie [sardej ; he con hit wale, In pe Apocalyppce, pe apostel John. 1008 f. 53a ^et joyned John pe crysolyt, Jje seuenpe gemme in fundament ; )3e ajtfe fe beryl cler & quyt ; )je topasye twynne-how pe nente endent ; 101 1 ])e crysopase fe tenfe is tyjt ; \)e jacyngh[t] Jje enleuenfe gent; Jje twelfpe, fe [tryjeste in vch a plyt, jje amatyst purpre wjtA ynde blente. 1016 Jje wal abof fe bantels b[]rjent, jasporye as glas pat glysnande schon,— 1 knew hit by his deuysement In ])e Apocalyppej, pe apostel J[o]hn. 1020 PEARL. 87 As John these stones named in his book, I knew the names, as he doth tell. Jasper hight the first gem there, that on the first base I discern'd ; on lowest course it glisten'd green ; sapphire held the second step ; the chalcedony then, without a spot on tier the third shone pale and pure ; the emerald fourth, so green of scale ; the fifth stone was the sardonyx ; the sardius sixth ; in Apocalypse John the Apostle discern'd it then. To these join'd John the chrysolite, foundation-stone the seventh there; the eighth the beryl, white and clear ; the tA^in-hued topaz ninth was set ; the chrysoprase came next, the tenth ; the gentle jacinth then, eleventh ; the twelfth, the surest in every plight, the purple amethyst, blent with blue. The wall rose sheer above the steps, of jasper as glass that gleaming shone ; I knew it, as he pictured it in Apocalypse, the Apostle John. 88 PERLE. LXXXVI. As John deuysed jet saj I fare,- Jjise twelue de-gres wern brode & stayre ; Jje cyte stod abof ful sware, As longe as brode as hyje ful fayre ; 1024 \)e stretej of golde as glasse al bare ; j)e wal of jasper Jjat glent as glayre ; \)e wonej wjit^-inne enurned ware Wyth alle kywnej perre pat mojt repayre. ioi8 Jjenne helde vch sware of Jiis manayre Twelue [fowsande] forlonge"!' er euer hit fon, Of hejt, of brede, of len]je, to cayre ; For meten hit syj Jje apostel John. 1031 § XVIII. Lxxxvn. AS John hym wrytej jet more I syje : Vch pane of fat place had Jjre jatej ; So twelue in powrsent I con asspye ; Jje portalej pyked of rych[e] platej ; 1036 & vch jate of a margyrye, A parfyt perle fat neucr fatej. Vchon in scrypture a name con plye Of Israel barnej, folewande her datej, 1040 Jjat is to say, as her byrj)[e]-whate5 ; pe aldest ay fyrst per-on watj done. Such lyjt Jjer lemed in alle fe stratej, Hem nedde nawpcr su«ne ne mone. 1044 PEARL. 89 As John there pictured, saw I too,— broad and steep were these twelve steps ; the City stood above full square, in length as great as breadth and height ; the streets of gold, as clear as glass ; the wall of jasper ; as glair it gleam'd. The mansions were adorn'd within with every kind of gem e'er found. And held each side of that domain twelve thousand furlongs, ere ended then, in height, in breadth, in length, its course ; for measured saw it the Apostle John. § XVIII. LXXXVII. AS writeth John, yet saw I more,— three gates had each side of that place, yea, twelve in compass I espied, the portals deck'd with plates full rich ; each gate was of one margery pearl,— a perfect pearl that fadeth ne'er. Each bore thereon a name inscribed of Israel's children, in order of time, that is to say, as their fortunes of birth ; ever the elder first was writ. Such light there gleam'd in all the streets, they needed neither sun nor moon. 90 PERLE. LXXXVIII. !■ S3* Of sunne ne mone had ]7ay no nede ; Jje self[e] God watj her lom[p]e-ly5t, Jje Lombe her lantyrne wjit^-outen drede ; Jjurj hy»! blysned Jje borj al bry^t. 1048 Jjurj woje & won my lokyng jede, For sotyle cler nojt lette no [s]y3t ; J3e hy^e trone fer mojt je hede Wjt^ alle fe apparaylmente vmbe-pyjte, 1052 As John fe appostel in termej tyjte ; }3e hyje Godej self hit set vpone ; A rexier of Tpe trone J)er ran out-ryjte Watj bryjter ]>en bo])e pe sunne & mone, 1056 LXXXIX. Sunne ne mone schon aeuer so swete, A[s] ])at foysoun flode out of ]?at flet ; Swyfe hit swange furj vch a strete, Wj^tA-outen fylpe oyer galle ofer glet. 1060 Kyrk per-inne watj non jete, Chapel ne temple fat eu«r watj set ; J3e Al-myjty wat^ her mynyster mete ; J)e Lombe pe saker-fyse per to reget. 1064 J3e ^ate^ stoken watj neufr jet, Bot euer-more vpen at vche a lone ; J3er entrej non to take reset, J3at berej any spot an-vnde[r] mone. 1068 PEARL. 91 Of sun or moon had they no need ; their lamp-light was the very God ; the Lamb their lantern that never fail'd ; through Him the City brightly gleam'd. Through wall and mansion pierced my gaze ; all was so clear, nought hinder'd sight. The High Throne might ye there behold, engirt with all its fair array, as John the Apostle drew in words ; and thereon sat High God Himself. A river from the Throne ran out ; 'twas brighter than both sun and moon. Nor sun nor moon so sweetly shone as that rich flood from out that floor ; through every street it swiftly surged, free from filth and mud and mire. Church therein was none to see, chapel nor temple that ever was set ; the Almighty was their minster meet, the Lamb their sacrifice, there to atone. The portals never yet were barr'd, but evermore open at ev'ry lane ; none entereth there to take abode, that beareth spot beneath the moon. 92 PERLE. xc. The mone may fei-of acroche no myjte ; To spotty ho is, of body to grym ; & al-so Tfier ne is neuer nyjt. What schulde Jje mone fer compas clym, 107* & to euen wyth ]?at wor])ly lyjt, )jat schynej vpon fe brokej brym ? J3e planetej am i« to pou^r a plyjt, & fe self[e] sunne ful fer to dym. 1076 Aboute fat water arn tres ful schym, J)at twelue frytej of lyf con bere ful sone ; Twelue sypej on jer fay beren ful frym, & re-nowlej nwe in vche a mone. i°8o f. 54a An-vnder mone so gret merwayle No fleschly hert ne myjt endeure, As quen I blusched vpon fat ba[y]l[e], So ferly fer-of watj f e fasure. 1084 I stod as stylle as dased quayle, For ferly of fat freuch fygure, Jjat felde I nawfer reste ne trauayle, So watj I rauyste wyth glymrae pure. 1088 For I dar say vryth conciens sure, Hade bodyly burne abiden fat bone, Jjaj alle clerkej hym hade in cure, His lyf wer loste an-vnder mone. 1092 PEARL. 9J The moon no might may there acquire ; too spotty is she, too grim her form ; and night is never in that place. Why should the moon climb there her course, as 'twere with that rich light to vie, that shineth upon the river's bank ? The planets' plight is all too poor ; the very sun is far too dim. About that stream are trees full bright, that bear full soon twelve fruits of life ; twelve times each year they bravely bear, their fruit renewing every moon. xci. Beneath the moon no heart of flesh so great a marvel might sustain, as I, a-gazing on that Burgh, so wondrous was the form thereof. I stood as still as dazM quail, in wonder of that gladsome sight ; nor rest nor travail felt I then, so ravish'd by that radiance rare. For I, with knowledge sure, dare say, had mortal bodily borne that bliss, though all our clerks had him in cure, his life were lost beneath the moon. 94 PERLE. § XIX. xcii. RYJT as pe maynful mone con rys, Er ])e«ne fe day-glem dryue al dou«, So sodanly on a wonder wyse, I watj war of a prosessyoun. 1096 )3is noble cite of ryche enpr[y]se Watj sodanly ful, wj^tA-outen somniouw, Of such vfrgynej in pe same gyse )3at wat^ my blysful an-vnder croun ; n°o & coronde wern alle of fe same fasou«, Depaynt in perlej & wedej qwyte ; In vchone^ breste watj bounden boun J3e blysful perle i/iylh [gret] delyt. "04 Wyth gret delyt fay glod in fere On golden gatej fat glent as glasse ; Hundreth ])owsande3 I wot fer were, & alle in sute her liure| wasse; 1108 Tor to knaw fe gladdest chere. J3e Lombe byfore con proudly passe, Wyth hornej seuen of red g[ol]de cler ; As praysed perlej his wedef wasse. n" Towarde fe throne fay trone a tras ; jjaj fay wern fele, no pres in plyt ; Bot mylde as raaydenej seme at mas, So dro^ fay forth wyth gret delyt. m6 PEARL. 95 § XIX. icii. AS when the mighty moon doth rise, ere thence the gleam of day may set, so, suddenly, in wondrous way, I was 'ware of a procession there. This noble city of rich renown was suddenly, without summons, full of maidens, all in self-same garb as was my Blissful beneath her crown ; and crownM were they all alike, array'd in pearls and raiment white ; on each one's breast was fasten'd firm, with great delight, the blissful pearl. XCIII. With great delight they fared together on golden streets that gleam'd as glass ; hundreds of thousands I wot there were, as of one Order was their guise; 'twere hard to choose the gladdest mien. Before them proudly pass'd the Lamb, with seven horns of clear red gold ; His robe most like to praisfed pearls. Toward the Throne they took their track ; though they were many, none did press; but mild as modest maids at mass, so drew they on, with great delight. 96 PERLE. i- 54* Delyt J)at [ff] hys come encioched, To much hit were of for to melle ; Jjise alder-men, quen he aproched, Grouelyng to his fete pay felle ; "*o Legyounes of aungelej togeder uoched Jjer kesten ensens of swete smelle ; Jjen glory & gle watj nwe abroched ; Al songe to loue ]jat gay Juelle. "^4 pe steuen mojt stryke purj fe vr))e to helle, Jjat 'pe Vifrtues of heuen of joye endyte ; To loue J)e Lombe, his meyny in melle, I-wysse I lajt a gret delyt. "^8 xcv. Delit fe Lombe for to deuise Wyth much raeruayle in mynde went ; Best watj he, blypest, & moste to pryse, J3at eucr I herde of speche spent. "3* So worfly whyt wern wedej hys[e], His lokej syraple, hy»! self so gent ; Bot a wounde ful wyde & weete con wyse An-ende hys hert, furj hyde to-rente. "3^ Of his quyte syde his blod out-sprent. A-las ! pojt I, who did pat spyt ? Ani breste for bale ajt haf for-brent Er he per-to hade had delyt. "4° PEARL. 97 XCIV. Delight that there His coming brought, too much it were to tell thereof; those Elders all, when He approach'd, prostrate they fell before His feet ; legions of angels, call'd together, scatter'd there incense of sweetest smell ; then glory and glee pour'd forth anew ; all sang to laud that gladsome Jewel. Through earth to hell the strain might strike, that the Virtues of Heaven attune in joy ; to laud the Lamb, His host amid, in sooth possess'd me great delight. xcv. Delight, much marvel, held my mind aright to picture forth the Lamb ; best was He, blithest, and most to prize, that e'er I heard in speech set forth. So wondrous white was His array, simple His looks, Himself so calm ; but a wound full wide and wet was seen, against His heart, through sunder'd skin ; from His white side His blood stream'd out. Alas ! thought I, who did that hurt ? Any breast should all have burnt in bale, ere it thereto had had delight. 98 PERLE. The Lombe delyt non lyste to wene ; Jjaj he were hurt & wounde hade, In his sembelaunt watj neuer sene, So wern his glentej gloryowj glade. i '44 1 loked among his meyny schene, How fay wyth lyf wern laste & lade ; ]3en saj I per my lyttel quene, }jat I wende had standen by me in sclade. 'H* Lorde, much of mirpe watj Jiat ho made. Among her ferej fat watj so quyt ! }jat syjt me gart to fenk to wade. For luf-longyng in gret delyt. "S* § XX. xcvii. (■ 5S<». I "\ELYT me drof in yje & ere ; A_y My manej mynde to maddyng nialte ; Quen I sej my frely, I wolde be pere, Byjonde fe water faj ho were walte. "56 I Jjo^t pat no fyng myjt me dere To fech me bur & take me halte ; & to start in pe strem schulde non me stere, To swyrame pe remnaunt pa^ I fer swalte. 1160 Bot of pat munt I watj bi-talt ; When I schulde start in pe strem astraye. Out of pat caste I watj by-calt ; Hit watj not at my Pryncej paye. "64 PEARL. 99 But none would doubt the Lamb's delight ; though He were hurt and wounded sore, none could it in His semblance see. His glance so glorious was and glad. I look'd among His radiant host, how they with life were fiU'd and fraught ; then saw I there my little queen, I thought was nigh me in the glen. Lord, much of mirth was it she made ! Among her peers she was so fair. That sight there made me think to cross, for love-longing and great delight. § XX. xcvii. DELIGHT so drove me, eye and ear ; melted to madness my mortal mind ; when I saw my Precious, I would be there, beyond the stream though she were held. Nothing, methought, might hinder me from fetching birr and taking-off ; and nought should keep me from the start, though I there perish'd swimming the rest. But I was shaken from that thought ; as I wildly will'd to start a-stream, I was recall'd from out that mood ; it was not pleasing to my Prince. 100 PERLE. Hit payed hym not fat I so flonc Ouer merueloaj merej, so mad arayde , Of raas faj I were rasch & ronk, Jet rapely Jjer-inne I watj restayed. 1168 For ryjt as I sparred vn-to ])e bone, ])at brat[h]e out of my drem me brayde. Jjen wakned I in fat erber wlonk ; My hede vpon fat hylle watj layde, iiyz Jjer-as my perle to grounde strayd. I raxled, & fel in gret affray, & sykyng to myself I sayd, "Now al be to fat Pryncej paye." 1176 xcix. Me payed ful ille to be out-fleme So sodenly of fat fayre regioun. Fro alle f o syjtej so quykef & queme. A longeyng heuy me strok in swone, 11 80 & rewfuUy f enne I con to reme :- " O Perle," qi/of I, " of rych renoun, So wal^ hit me dere fat fou con deme In fys veray avysyoun ! 11 84 Iff hit be ueray & soth sermoun, jDat fou so st[r]ykej in garlande gay. So wel is me in fys doel-doungoun, J3at fou art to fat Prynsej paye." "88 PEARL. loi It pleased Him not I flung me thus, so madly, o'er those wondrous meres ; though on I rush'd, full rash and rude, yet quickly was my running stay'd ; for as I sped me to the brink, the strain me startled from my dream. Then woke I in that garden green ; my head upon that mound was laid, e'en where my Pearl had strayed below. I roused me, and fell in great dismay, and, sighing, to myself I said, " Now, all be as that Prince may please ! " xcix. Me pleased it ill to be out cast so suddenly from that fair realm, from all those sights so blithe and brave. Sore longing struck me, and I swoon'd, and ruefully then I cried aloud :- " O Pearl," quoth I, " of rich renown, how dear to me was all that thou in this true vision didst declare ! And if the tale be verily true, that thou thus farest, in garland gay, so well is me in this dungeon dire, that thou art pleasing to that Prince ! " 102 PERLE. c. f. 5s^. To fat Pryncej paye hade I ay bente, & ^erned no more fen watj me g[y]uen, & halden me per in trwe entent, As ])e Perle me prayed yai watj so pryuen, 119* As helde drawen to Goddej present, To mo of his mysterys I hade ben dryuen. Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente j)en mo^tef by ryjt vpon hem clyuen. "96 j3er-fore my ioye wat^ sone to-riuen, & I kaste of kythej ]>at lastej aye. Lorde, mad hit arn pat agayn pe stryuen, 0])er proferen pe o^t agayn py paye ! >2oo CI. To pay pe Prince, op^r sete sa^te, Hit is ful epe to pe god Krystyin ; For I haf founden hym, hope day & najle, A God, a Lorde, a Frende ful fyin. •i°4 Ouer pis hyul pis lote I la^te. For pyty of my Perle enclyin ; & sypen to God I hit by-tajte, in Krystej dere blessyng & myn, 1*08 Jjat, in pe forme of bred & wyn, )je preste vus schewej vch a daye ; He gef vus to be his homly hyne, Ande preciozw perlej vnto his pay ! i^'* Amen. Amen. PEARL, 103 c. That Prince to please had I still bow'd, nor yearn'd for more than was me given, and held me there with true intent, as the Pearl me pray'd, that was so wise, belike, unto God's presence drawn, to more of His mysteries had I been led. But aye will man seize more of bliss than may abide with him by right. Wherefore my joy was sunder'd soon, and I cast forth from realms eterne. Lord, mad are they that 'gainst Thee strive, or 'gainst Thy pleasure proffer aught ! CI. To please the Prince, to be at peace, good Christian hath it easy here ; for I have found Him, day and night, a God, a Lord, a Friend full firm. Over yon mound had I this hap, prone there for pity of my Pearl ; to God I then committed it, in Christ's dear blessing and mine own,— Christ that in form of br?ad and wine the priest each day to us doth shew ; He grant we be His servants leal,- yea, precious Pearls to please Him aye ! Amen. Amen. \ NOTES: TEXTUAL AND EXPLANATORY ; AND GLOSSARY M. refers to Dr. Richard Morris's revised Alliterative Poem!, E.E.T.S., Original Series, i, i86g. H. = article by Professor Holt- hausen, Archi-v fur das Studium der Neueren Sprachen u. Literatures, Vol. 90. O. = Dr. C. G. Osgood's edition, Belles-Lettres Series (Boston), 1906. The hyphens in the text, with the exception of saker-ffse, 1. 1064, are editorial, and indicate that the component parts of the word are separated in the MS. i and j are, as far as possible, differentiated in accordance with the MS. Italic letters indicate expansions of MS. contractions ; f = excision of letters ; square brackets are used to mark all other emendations. I. TEXTUAL NOTES AND EMENDATIONS. MS. Readings. 8. synglure II. for dolked 17. hert 23. \\i.As{jnarkonihe\) 25. t (blot on preceding letters) 26. ru«nen 35. sprygande 49. spe«nd 51. hert S3. spen«ed 54- fyrte 60. p?-«cos 68. rych 72. adubmente 81. Jat on 89. flowen (w due to correction ofyj) 95. gracos 103. feier 106. hri\ies,{second stroke ofo omitted) I IS- a 122. wlonk 134. I torn 138. o^er 140. by twene myrjjej by merej made 142. hope 144- a 154. wo 179. atoa«t 185. hope 192, pr«cos 200. yjen Emendation in Text. syng[u]l[e]re. for-do[k]ked. hert[e3. [m]ele. [mo]t. spry[»]gande. spe«n[e]d. hertte] pe«ned. H. fyr[c]e. H. p«c[i]os. rych[e]. adub[be]raente. J)at [I] on. H. grac[j]os. fei[r]er. b[o]nkes. a[s]. wlonk [e]. [torn I]. H. o[u]«y. O. by-twene Myr>e hope[d]. a[y]- wo[))e]. a[s]tou«t. hope[d]. ^rec[{\os. [ene]. merej made. by 107 io8 PEARL. MS, Readings. Emendation in Text. 210. lere leke (1 in ecuh [h]ere [h]eke. case hasprobaily resulted from the omission of the tail of \i) 225. long tong[e]. 229. pyse py[ec]e. 235. pfered . . . spyce p[>-tf]fered . . . sp[e]ce 262, nu (altered to ne) ne . . . [n]ere. . . . here 286. bro} . . blys bro3[t] . . . blys[se], 302. louej IWuej. 303. vn cortoyse vn-cort[ajyse. 304. 1 uej {the letter I[e]ue5. between 1 a«rfu is possibly y, now very faint. with a stroke through the up- per part, to indi- cate e) 308. louej I[e]ue3 309. ins is. 312. dem deni[e]. 319. couKsayl cou«sayl[e]. 331- garej gare. 335- perle5 jerle. 342. & wele in] wele. 353. sty«st sty«t. 3S8& |>at alle]. 359. matre marre[d]. 363. rapely raue rapely [I] raue. 369. Iy>e3 [k]yj,e}. H. 381. carp car pre]. 382. marerej ma njerej. 433. syde s[a: yde. 436. bygyner (the con- bygy»ner. traction mark on the first y instead of the second) TEXTUAL NOTES. 109 MS, Readings. 457- poule 458. Ihu (otherwise Jha, 711, 717, 820 ; Ihc, 721 ; Jesu, 453) 400. tyste 461, sawhe 469. cortayse 479- ho 480. cortayse 481. cortayse 486. fyrst 505- >ys 510, peneon a day 523. resonabele 524. pray 527. nw 529. J>e day of date of 532. sade (with stfoke at foot of A, be- longing to an original y) hen 533. longe {altered from. 3ong) 538. & & hit 542. meyny 543. owe 544. reprene S47. lowe 557. on (MS. om, changed by the scribe to on, though the third stroke still clear) 558, yn3.m^{iaithmarli on i) 564. ask 565. louyly 572. calle Etnendatieti in Text. P[a]ule. t[r]yste. saw[l]e. cortaysMe. h[e]. cortays[y]e. cortays[y]e. fyrst[e]. [h]ys. pene a day. resnabele. pay. nw{e]. ))e [date] of [day] of. he[rn]. &hit. meny. [a] we. repren[y]. l[a]we. o[n]. wani[K]g. ask[e]. l[e]uyly. calle[d]. I to PEARL. MS. Readings. 581. \iAny^(the link between g and h resefubles a) 586. long 596. p^rtermynable 616. lere 635- 3ys ('f'e s, though nearly obliter- ated, can still be read) hym . . . fyrst 649. out out of 656. wythi«ne 672. i«-oscente ; saf & ryjte 673. ]>us pus I 675. fate 678. hyj hylle^ 683. step 688. me^bor 690. oure con 698. se; 700. sor 701. com 702. tryed 709. quo con 714. touth 715. hy?« 733. makellej 735. heuenesse clere 739- ryjtywys 752. carpe . . . pro- perte} 757- makelej 768. & pyjt 778. maryag 786. forty fowsande 788. John {so all except 383, 818, Jon; 984,Jhon; 1020, Jhn) Emendation in Text. long[e]. p[«]termynable. [h]ere. h[e]m . . . fyrst[e]. out of. wyth in. i«-oscen[c]e ; saf [byj tyjte. fwj- 1. fa[c]e. hy3[e] hylle. step[pe]. [njejbor. oure[Koyntyse hym] con. s[y]3. [f]or. com[e]. [c]ryed. quo [so] con. tou[c]h. h[e]w2. ma[s]kelle3. heuenes s[p]ere. ryjtwys. carpe[d] . . . p?-flpert[y]5. ma[s]kelej. [He] pyjt. maryag[e]. forty [fowre] ])owsande. TEXTUAL NOTES. Ill MS. Readings. Emenddiioti in Text. 791. hyl (1 corrected front some other letter) 792. (? MS. u) 792. Jlrm [find so throughout ex- cept 804, Jhrin ; 816, Jrlm ; 829, Ilrm. Thisform of spelling may be due to a mis- readingo/Jhim, due perhaps to analogy with Jhs = Jesus) 799. gystlej (s faintly gyWtiej. changed to 1) 800. felonye felone. 802. men Me[m]. 803. query quer[e]. 804. Jhrm JeiHsalera. 815. lomp lom[b]. 817. Jerusalem lln}jeiusalem. 825. wrojt wro3t[e]. 829. swatte sw[e]te. 830. jiare (a altered from e) 836. saytj saj. 843. masklle mask[e]lle. 848. non o\er [n]o])«r. 856. J>a ].a[t]. 860. n {blot on pre- [o]n. ceding letter) 861. loube louMbe 865. talle {but on the tale. bottom of the previous page the catchwords are given as fol- lows : Leste les 112 PEARL. MS. Readings. yow leue my tale fara[de]) 874. laden 892. ))ay 905. amo»g 911. l)lose 912. vayl 918. won 932. & I 934- g''«eojryd 1007. rybe 1014. jacywgh. 1015. gentyleste 1017. bent. 1018. o jaspovye (««; tween a and j there are traces of what may be an added f. rather above the line, in a differ- ent, probably later hand) 1020. ]hn (cp. 98s) 1030. Twelue forlonge space er Emendation in Text. l[e]den. )>a[t]. amo«|.cJ. [w]ose. ,vayl[e] won[e]. I. •g>-ac[j]o«f. Lom[b]e. f[l]esch. wolde [I ))«?-] no- As [John] l)ise. name[5]. fyrst[e]. fyrst [e]. ])ryd[de]. [sarde]. iacy«gh[t]. [try]este. b[r]ent. J[o]hn. Twelue [Jiowsande] for- longe er TEXTUAL NOTES. "3 MS. Readings. 1036. rych 1041. byrj) whatej 1046. self . . . lombe lyjt 1050 lyjt 1058. a 1064. saker-fyse (hyph- en indicated iy : in MS.) 1068. au vndej 1076. self 1083. baly 1084. fasure (s altered from 1) 1097. enpresse 1 104. wytAouten delyt 1 108. liiirej mo. lombe (a ^0/ ok /AzW stroke of ra) I HI. glode 1 1 12. wedej 1117. fat hys 1 133. hys 1 170. brathe {the h ap- pears to be due to the correction o/]>, resembling y, to h) 1 179. quykej 1185. i»f 1 186. stykej I 190. geuen H96. mojten Emendation in Text. rych[e]. byr))[e]-whate3. selfle] . . . lom[p]e-ly3t. aM. an-vnde[r]. self[e]. ba[y]l[e]. enpr[y]se. wyt/4 [gret] delyt. liure. g[Ql]de. wede. fat [])«?-] hys. hys[e]. brat[h]e. quyke. if. st[r]yke3. g[y]uen. mojte. II. EXPLANATORY NOTES. 1-2. The opening lines of the poem have been variously interpreted, the main difficulty being the words ' to clanly clos.' ' Clos' seems to be the O.F. clos, /. e. enclosed, set. Such an interpretation must necessitate taking ' to ' as ' too.' The underlying thought may be illustrated by Cromek's Nithsdale Song : ' She's gane to dwall in heaven, my lassie, She's gane to dwall in heaven ; Ye're owre pure, quo' the voice of God, For dwalling out o' heaven.' Grammatically there is nothing against the possibility that ' clos ' = close, i. e. to enclose, and that the phrase 'to clanly clos' is gerundive, i.e. for setting nobly. The lines would then mean : ' Pearl so pleasant as to please the Prince for setting radiantly in the glorious gold {i.e. heaven) ' ; cp. ' He [/. e. the gemstone] is idon m heouene golde,' ('A Luue Ron,' 1. i8i, ' Old English Miscellany,' E.E.T.S. 1872). The strangest of all comments is that of O., who suggests a possible ' secondary allusion to the maiden's tomb/ adding that 'the poet may have provided costly sepulture for the child,' though he aptly quotes from ' Ipotis ' : — ' The feorjje heuene is gold iliche, Ful of precious stones riche ; To Innocens Jpat place is diht ; ' cp. also ' The Boke of Brome,' p. 27, 11. 69-71. As regards the phrase ' to prynces paye,' cp. the refrains of the last five stanzas, and especially the last line of the poem ; here probably = 'fit for a prince' (with anticipatory suggestion). 114 EXPLANATORY NOTES. 115 The construction with the spHt infinitive (' to clanly clos ') need cause no difficulty, cp. e.g. to lelly layne, 'Gawain' 1863 ; but ' clos ' as adj. gives, 1 think, the poet's meaning. 3. Oute o£ Oiyent ; the best pearls came from the Orient, i. e., the Indian seas ; cp. Chaucer, ' Legend of Good Women,' Prologue 221 : ' Of 00 perle, fyne, oriental. Hire white coroune was ymaked al.' haidyly: cp. 'hardyly,' 695. 4. her. I have carefully avoided using the feminine pro- noun in my rendering of the opening of the poem ; the allegory should reveal itself gradually ; hence ' her precios pere' = 'a gem its peer'; 'I sette hyr sengeley in syn- g[u]l[e]re,' 1. 8 = ' I placed my pearl apart,' eic. It must be borne in mind, however, that the feminine pronoun would not strike a medieval reader as in modern English. At the same time it is noteworthy that the poet frequently uses the indefinite 'hit,' e.g. 11. 10, 41, etc. 6. smal. Here we have probably no suggestion of the sense of ' slender ' as applied to a woman, but rather the use of the word with special reference to the pearl, which is described as little and round, as though the epithet ' smal ' was expressive of the special characteristic of the pearl, as compared with other stones. From this sense it is trans- ferred in 1. 90 to the transfigured child. Indeed, the poet emphasises in ' Cleanness,' 11. 1 1 17-18, that the charm of the pearl is quite independent of its material value, 'pa.) hym not derrest be demed to dele for penies.' 8. sengeley, /. e. seng(e)le -1- y = sengel-y ; cp. sengel, 'Gawain,' 1531. syng[n]l[o]re ; MS. synglure. The reading proposed in the text explains the scribal error, and restores the right rhythmical movement of the hne ; cp. ' synglerty,' 429 (prob. = syngulert^). 9. eibeie : not an arbour, in the ordinary modern sense, but garden, literally ' herb-garden ' ; O.F. herbier. The poet is thinking of the grave-yard as a garden. ii6 PEARL. 1 1. ' I dewyne, {OT-do[k]ked of lui-danngeie Of ]?at pryuy perle wyth-outen spot ; ' it has been objected (Athenaeum, 1891, No. 3328) that my change of MS. 'fordolked' into 'fordokked' is of question- able propriety ; on the other hand, Prof Kolbing (' Englische Studien,' 1891, p. 269) approved of it, quoting from Wyclif, 'Select Works,' III. 180, ']pei docken goddis word.' Many instances might be adduced illustrative of the scribal Ik for kk^ and / for k (cp. ' lyj^ej ' = ' kyj^ej,' 369), but more import- ance is to be attached to the syntax of the passage, which favours ' fordokked ' as against ' fordolked,' or ' fordoUed ' ; the first ' of ' (indicating the agent) = 'by ' ; the second intro- duces the indirect object dependent on ' fordokked.' ' Luf- daungere ' = ' Love's domination,' i. e. ' God's Will.' The lines have evidently this force : ' I pine, robbed by Love's severing power Of that privy pearl without a spot.' ' Daunger ' personifies the power that keeps the lover from the beloved. Some such passages as the following from the ' Romaunt of the Rose' were doubtless in the poet's mind; I quote from the Chaucerian version : ' Thus day by day Daunger is wers, More wonderful & more divers, And feller eke than ever he was ; For him full oft I sing, alas ! For I ne may not through his ire Recover that I most desire.' ' For want of it I grone & grete But Love consent another tide That ones I touche may & kisse, I trow my paine shal never lisse.' ' And Daunger here erly and late The keyes of the utter gate' (11. 4101-208). EXPLANATORY NOTES. 117 To my mind, all question on the matter is settled by the fact that the poet himself interprets the meaning of these words in 1. 273, ' & f>ou hat j called ]?y wyrde a peV ' For- dokked ' implies the idea of ' robbed, despoiled by a thief.' Nowhere else has the poet called his fate a thief. N.E.D. suggests ' for-doUed.' 12. pryuy : O.F. privd, ' intime ' (cp. privy seal, etc.), hence 'one's own.' 17. dot3 : finite verb, not auxiliary = ' serue3' ; cp. 331. Jrych : infinitives of verbs ending in ch do not take e ; cp. 'bysech' 390, 'rech' 333, 'fech' 1158, etc. \>ixaso has here almost the sense of ' thick and fast,' the idea being that of closeness. 19. sange t cp. -songe, 529. 20. stylle stounde : literally, the still time, the silent hour. 21. fele: I still hold that here we have a pregnant use of the word, though it is difficult to find an exact parallel ; it is not necessary to understand 'sanges,' nor (with Prof. Kolbing) to add 'thoughtes' before 'fele'; the common personal use of 'fele,' without substantive, is here simply transferred to the non-personal use. 22. To }7enke hit color so clad in clot : syntactically the meaning of the line is ' In thinking,' etc., i. e. as I thought. For this use of 'to' with the inf., cp. 1. 11 58. 23. In spite of the unusual mark on the first stroke, that seems to make the reading 'iuele,' I believe that the poet wrote 'myry mele,' t. e. a merry theme (namely, my spotless Pearl). The phrase 'a merry meal' is not uncommon in Middle English, as also 'a sorry meal.' N.E.D. refers these phrases to the ordinary sense of ' meal,' repast ; I much doubt the correctness of this. In O.E. we have mSl = talk, speech, and maelan, to speak. The latter, in the form 'mele,' is very common in M.E. In O.N. mal is a well-known word for talk, tale, narrative. I do not think we shall go far wrong in identifying ' mele ' in the phrases under discussion as referable to O.E. msel. 25. spysej : cp. sp[e]ce (MS. spyce), 235. ii8 PEARL, 25-36. Cp. 'And from her fair and unpolluted flesh May violets spring ; ' (' Hamlet,' V. ii.) ' And from his ashes may be made The violets of his native land.' (' In Memoriam,' XVIII.) 26. rot, to be distinguished from 'rote' (O.E. rotian), 958; cp. ' Cleanness ' 1079 : ' Ther watj rose reflayr where rote hatj ben euer.' 27-8. Cp.''Romaunt of the Rose,' 11. 1577-8 : ' Agayn the sonne an hundred hewes, Blewe, yelowe, and rede.' 29. fryte: cp. frytej, 87; dystryed, 124. fede: it is to be regretted that this important word has not received attention at the hands of the lexicographers ; it is obviously distinct from 'fade' (cp. fatej, 1038), and is still used in parts of Lancashire for 'blighted,' 'putrid,' especially of fruit and flowers ; it certainly corresponds to the past part, of O.N. feyja, to let decay (e = O.N. ey ; cp. stremande, 115); cp. fiiinn, rotten; fiii, rottenness (cp. v pu, to stink). I have suggested that the famous refrain, ' The flowers of the forest are a' wede awa' ' (cp. Scott's ' Minstrelsie ') was originally an alliterative line : ' The flowers of the forest are a' fede awa'.' The word can be traced elsewhere in Middle English poetry. 31-2. I Cor. XV. 34-8: cp. also John xii. 24. 34. f ayly : cp. bayly, fayle, 315 ; vayl[e] or vayl[y], 912 ; cp. stanza xci. 38. eibei is not in apposition with ' spot,' as O. suggests, the 'erber' being the garden, and the 'spot' the particular place where the child is buried. 39-40. The high season in August when corn is cut with keen-edged hooks is evidently a reference to Lammastide, EXPLANATORY NOTES, 119 the harvest festival on August i, at which loaves were consecrated made from the first ripe corn. In fact, the poet seems to state that it was the festival of the cutting of the corn for this very purpose. I do not see anything in favour of O.'s theory that the festival referred to is that of the Assumption of the Virgin on August 15. The spiritual significance of this reference to the festival of the harvest connects itself with the earlier references to wheat and all its connotations. 41. I owe to Dr. Craigie the suggestion that 'huyle' here, 'hylle' 1 172, and 'hyul,' 1. 1205, which phonologically must be differentiated from the ordinary word ' hill,' represent the Lancashire ' hile,' a clump or cluster of plants. ' Rush-hile,' written ' rysche-hylle,' is given in the 'Catholicon Angl.' In the nineteenth century it appears as 'rush-aisle.' See also 'hile' in Cunliffe's 'Rochdale Glossary,' 1886. No etymology for this word has been proposed. It seems to me possibly the M.E. representative of an O.E. word corre- sponding to German hiigel, a mound, Goth, hugils ; cp. O.N. haug, a cairn ; English how. The root idea of all these words is that of ' high.' The cognates of the English 'hill' are Lat. coUis, celsus, Eng. holm. 43. This is evidently a direct reminiscence of ' Romaunt of the Rose,' 11. 1367-77 : ' Ther was eek wexing many a spyce, As clow-gelofre, and licoryce, Gingere, and greyn de paradys, Canelle, and setewale of prys. To eten whan men ryse fro table,' where the French has : ' Ou vergier mainte bone espice, Cloz de girofle et requelice, Graine de paradis novele, Citoal, anis, et canele, Et mainte espice d^litable. Que bon mengier fait apres table' (11. 1349-54)' 120 PEARL. giomylyoun : O.F. greraillon (? gromillon), a diminutive of ■ grernil,' whence ' gromwell,' lithospermum. It is note- worthy that in the Middle Ages it was believed that the seed of the gromwell resembled a pearl in form. The derivation of the word is unknown, but O.F. fifteenth- century forms such as 'grenil,' as N.E.D. points out, per- haps exhibit some popular etymologising approximation to ' grain.' Chaucer's ' graine de paradis ' may well have suggested this spice. 44. pyonys : again a flower the seed of which was a spice ; it was evidently suggested by the list of spices in the ' Romaunt.' The point is not that the peonies were ranked in beauty with roses and lilies, as O. notes, but that we are dealing here with a list of medieval herbs growing on the mound, all these herb-spices being of medicinal effect. That the sight was beauteous to behold follows as a matter of course. 46. Cp. 'Cleanness,' 1079, quoted in Note on 1. 26. jet : in addition ; cp. 1. 215. 51. denely : we have evidently here a special use of the dialect word ' deavely,' usually applied to a lonely and unfrequented road, used in its literal sense of ' deaf-like ' ; cp. the use of ' deave ' in the sense of ' to stupefy ' ; cp. Latin surdus : The grief that dinned in his heart was deaf to reason. There is no need to change the text and read either ' de[r]nely ' or ' de[r]uely.' dele: rare in the sense of the clamour of grief ; cp. 1. 339, ' dyne of doel.' S3, 4. penned : MS. spe«ned ; Jyr[c]e : MS. fyrte. I accept these two emendations of Dr. Holthausen (Herrig's ' Archiv,' 90). 56. wiajte : cp. ' wrojte,' 525. 59. slepyng-slajte : cp. ' Patience,' 192 : ' In such slajtes of sorje to slepe so faste.' 61. The stanza reminds one strikingly of ' In Memoriam,' XII.: • Lo, as a dove, when up she springs.' EXPLANATORY NOTES, 121 71. webbe3 : probably a reference to the wall tapestries of the Middle Ages. 79. glode3 : probably the bright shining clouds ; cp. Nor- wegian glott, an opening, a clear spot among clouds. In Jakobsen's work on the Norse element in Shetland-speech (' Det Norrone Sprog paa Shetland,' Copenhagen, 1897) I find the following illustrative usages : — ' gloderek {Fetlar) ; a large dark cloud with whitish top, through which the sun shines : gloderet, glodere, adj. (of the air), filled with whitish clouds, the sun shining through, formed from gloder (alSo glod), hot and sudden sunshine between showers ("the sun was out in a gloder").' The word 'glod' is connected with O.N. glaSr, bright, shining (applied to the sky, weather, etc.). In the present passage 'glodej' must mean bright shining clouds, and spaces (cp. sunne-bemej, with which they are contrasted, 1. 83). ' Glade,' an open space in a wood (cp. Skeat, under ' glade'), is a variant form, but it is noteworthy that Beaumont and Fletcher (' Wildgoose Chase,' V. iv.) use the provincial form 'glode' (unnecessarily changed by editors to 'glade') for the open track in a wood, particularly made for placing nets for woodcocks (cp. Halliwell) : ' Bless me, what thing is this ? two pinnacles Upon her pate ! Is't not a glade to catch woodcocks ? ' In the old dictionaries ' to make a glade ' is generally glossed 'coUuco,' which the Latin lexicographers explain: ' succisis arboribus locum luce implere.' The Middle-English instances and uses of the word ' glode,' peculiar to the alliterative poems, have not yet been in- vestigated. I have noted the following four examples : (i) 'As it com glydande adoun on glode hym to schende.' (' Gawain,' 2266.) (ii) ' Hit hade a hole on ]?e ende, & on ayjjer syde, & ouer-growen with gresse in glodes ay where.' ('Gawain,' 2 181.) 122 PEARL. (iii) ' Than bowes he to ]7e baistall • & brymly it semblis, Gedirs of ilk glode grettir & smallire.' ('Wars of Alexander,' 1334.) (iv) ' So was ]?e glode with-in gay, al with golde payntyde.' (Erkenwald, 75.) (i) = the bright turf; (ii) bright patches ; (iii) open forest- spaces ; (iv) the bright space (within the coffin in ' Erken- wald '). Radically connected with 'glod' is M.E. gladene. In the 'Wars of Alexander' ('a gladen he waytes,' 131) gladen seems to be used in the secondary sense of ' a lucky moment ' (z'. e. a bright sky, an auspicious time) ; cp. Skeat, ' Wars of Alexander.' 80. schynde: cp. schyned, 'Cleanness,' 1532; similarly, rysed, ' Gawain,' 1313, ' Cleanness,' 971, etc. 81. grauayl: cp, vessayl, 'Cleanness,' 1791 ; metayl, chapayl, ' Gawain,' 169, 1070 ; [I] ; I have accepted Holt- hausen's suggestion, the insertion of [I] before ' on ' improves both the rhythm and the syntax of the line ; cp. 363, 977. 83. Wo & blynde: literally 'pale and blind'; note the omission of the auxiliary before 'bot.' Icel. blindr is simi- larly used in the sense of ' dark.' 86. garten : for the pi. after ' adubbemente,' cp. fordidden, 124 ; the collective idea of the word, or the plural words intervening, may easily account for the usage. 89-96. Evidently a reminiscence of the ' sweet song ' of the birds in the garden of the ' Romaunt of the Rose ' ; cp. the Chaucerian ' Romaunt,' 11. 482-508, 655-694. 97. dubbet = dubbed ; t = &,passimj cp. stanza LIX, etc. 103. £ei[r]er : usually fayr ; cp. 11. 46, 88, 1024. 105. reueie3 : i. e. river-banks, to be distinguished from ' reuer,' 1055. 107. ' I came to a water that cut along the shore,' i. e. that divided the strand. Schore, ' the boundary or edge cut off' ; cp. scor-en, p.p. of sceran, to cut. See Note on 'schorne,' 213. EXPLANATORY NOTES. 123 109. The dnbbemente : possibly the poet wrote 'thadub- bemente,' i.e. 'the aduhbemente ' (cp. ]3acces, 'Patience,' 325 = ]7e access), but the aphetic form is found in Old French. no. bene: cp. bene, rhyming with sene, by-dene, [e]:?hen, 198 ; to be distinguished from bayn, 807 ; cp. N.E.D. 'been.' III. swangeande : cp. longeyng, 244 ; longyng, 1152. The noun 'swonghe,' in ' AUit. Troy Book,' 342, adduced by O., is an error, duly corrected by the editors in their Glossary, for ' swoughe.' 113. Cp. Chaucerian 'Romaunt of the Rose,' 11. 125-7 : ' Tho saugh I wel The botme paved everydel With gravel, ful of stones shene,' where the French version has ' Le fons de I'iaue de gravele' (1. 121). 115. stl0]7e-men : much ingenuity has been misspent on ' strofie ' ; it is probably identical with the Scottish strath, 'a valley through which a river runs' (cp. Lang-stroth-dale, in Yorkshire); cp. stro]?e-rand, 'Gawain,' 1710. StroJ^e- men = dalesmen. The vowel indicates a district south of the Tweed, and the Yorkshire place-name is very signifi- cant. The earliest date quoted for 'strath' in N.E.D. is 1540. 124. foi-didden: cp. garten, 86. 126. bred-ful: cp. brurdful, 'Cleanness,' 383, 131. wayne^ : cp. vayned, 1. 249. 136. ]?0 Gladne; glade : the poet, with his mind full of the garden of the ' Romaunt of the Rose,' is here thinking of Dame Gladness, and personifying the joyous scene as Joy. Hence it is that ' J>o' must be taken as the fern. ace. sing. The incongruity of ' gladness ' and ' glad ' is thus reduced ; cp. ' Romaunt,' 11. 745-58, and 847-78. Gladness (French L^esce) is the wife of Sir Mirth (D^duit). 124 PEARL. 137. Paradyse : cp. ' Romaunt of the Rose,' 11. 647-8 : ' For wel wende I ful sikerly Have been in paradys eith[e]ly.' 139. I hoped: I thought; 'hope' is frequently used thus in Early English ; so also 1. 142. 140. *By-twene [merej] by [Myr]?e] made': MS. 'By- twene myrfiej by merej made ' ; the scribe had, I feel sure, transposed 'merej' and 'myr]?e' (cp. 529), and having transposed them, naturally wrote ' myrj^ej ' for ' myr]?e.' The poet was thinking of Deduit, the Lord of the Garden in the ' Romaunt of the Rose,' whose name is ' Mirth ' in the English version. The following passage was in his mind — he had possibly the Chaucerian rendering before him: ' In places saw I WELLES ' there In whiche ther no frogges were, And fair in shadwe was every welle ; But I ne can the nombre telle Of stremys smale, that by devys^ MiRTHE had don come through condys. Of which the water,' in renning, Gan make a noyse ful lyking' (11. 1409-1416). ' cp. mere3, 140. ^ cp. deuyse, 139. ^ cp. water, 139. 142. wore: cp. 154, 232; ware, 151, 1027; were, 739; wern, 278. 145. more . . . mare : cp. wore, ware, 151, 154 ; wate, 502 ; wot, 47 ; abate, 617 ; bod, 62. 153-4. I sehulde not wonde for wo[f'e]: MS. wo; cp. 'Cleanness,' 855, 'Gawain,' 488; 'Jje' omitted, owing to 'Tpei' immediately following. 154, wore: see Note on 142. 163. B^^snande whyt watj hyr bleaimt: 'bleauwt,' after O.K. bliant, M. Lat. blialdus, is in M.E. a kind of tunic or upper garment, or a rich stuff or fabric used for this garment. Our poet in ' Gawain ' uses it, in 1. 879, with reference to the EXPLANATORY NOTES. 125 stuff of a mantle ' of a brou« bleeau»t,' and again in 1. 1928, with reference to a long garment, ' He were a bleau«t of blwe, paX bradde to pe er]?e.' What has the poet in mind in the present line ? He is obviously thinking of Rev. xix. 8, ' Et datum est illi ut cooperiat se byssino splendent! et can- dido.' The earlier Wycliffite version renders ' And it is ?ouua to hir, that she couere hir with whijte bijce shijnynge.' Pearl appears clad as a bride, and 'bleauwt' is used here for her attire or covering of white, the white byssus of the verse just quoted, and might even be used for the fabric of this garment. Byssus was vaguely understood by early English writers, and was used for fine and valuable substance, linen, cotton and silk, later translated in the English Bible as 'fine linen.' The earlier Wycliffite version, in Luke xvi. 19, glosses 'biys' as 'white silk.' The point of the verse in Rev. xix. 8 is that the 'byssus' is white and shining, and this our poet brings out well, 'bleau»t' suggesting the richness of the material of her array. See Note on 1. 197. 165. schere : the word here must be taken in close connec- tion with 'schorne,' 1. 213, and at first sight would seem to be from O.E. ' sceran,' to cut. N.E.D. differentiates the two words, referring the former to 'sheer,' to make bright or pure, the latter to the p.p. of ' shear,' in the sense of ' newly cut, so as to have a bright surface.' It is hardly likely that we have here two distinct words. If they are from 'sceran,' to cut, i.e. to cut into threads or some such necessary idea, the sense seems forced. But 'shorn' is nowhere else found applied to gold. Accordingly, I hold that we have here the Scand. verb (cp. O. Swed. sksera, to purify; O.N. skSrr, bright, pure) with sk modified to sck by the influence of O.E. sclr, M.E. schire, pure; hence M.E. scheren (side by side with M.E. skeren) in the sense of 'to purify,' attracted to M.E. sceren, to cut, with its p.p. schorn. N.E.D. refers to this verb also 'scherej,' 107, but this I take to mean ' cuts,' and not ' runs bright and clear.' Knigge's view, adopted by O., that the meaning ' purify ' is 126 PEARL. impossible, since initial Scand. sk is in all eases preserved in these poems, is not decisive, because it is quite possible that a verb *scseran, adj. *scSre, existed in O.E. To sum up, the underlying idea of the word seems to be the refining of gold by fire. 167. Jjere : cp. J^ore, 562, }Jare, 1021. 1 70. fonte : the rhyme indicates that this is a « word, and cannot therefore be, as has been generally assumed, from O.E. fandian ; cp. 1. 327. 177. verej (O.F. virer); evidently a Northern form; cp. enveron, Barbour's ' Bruce,' ' Wars of Alexander,' etc. (v. environ, N.E.D.) ; cp. dyscreuen : leuen : weuen, 68 ; N.E.D. describes it as ' of obscure origin.' 178. vysayge: (?) cp. 'grauayl,' 81. 179. a[s]tonnt: i.e. astoned; MS. atou«t; the alliterative strength of the line perhaps warrants the emendation ; cp. stowned, ' Gawain,' 242, 301 ; ' Patience,' 73 ; stonyed, 'Gawain,' 1291. 185. ' I trowed that that sight was spiritual.' porpose : not, as is usually taken, in the sense of ' intended meaning or purpose,' but ' that which is set before one, vision.' Cp. proposition, in the sense of 'presentation' ; looves of proposicioun = shew-bread. 187-8. Cp. Juliana Barnes's ' Treatise ' : ' And now take hed if your hawke nymme the foule at the ferre syde of the rj-ver,' etc. Morris misses the metaphor, rendering ' chos ' 'was following, was seeking,' and 'at steuen,' 'within reach of discourse ' ; the phrase means, I think, ' at a fixed spot,' ' within reach,' a hawking term, corresponding to the hunter's ' at bay ' ; ' steven ' in Early English denotes not only ' voice,' but also 'appointed place,' cp. O.E. gestefnian; for 'stalle,' to fix, in the sense of ' to hold secure,' preceded as here by ' chose,' cp. : ; Whenas thine eye hath chose the dame. And stalled the deer that thou would'st strike.' ('The Passionate Pilgrim,' XIX.) EXPLANATORY NOTES. 127 O . erroneously, it seems to me, glosses ' at steuen ' as ' by speaking, calling.' 189. Cp. Note on 1. 463. 190. seme slyjt : seme corresponds to the I eel. form 'ssemi,' used in composition; cp. saemiligr, saemileikr, derived from the adj. saemr, becoming, fit. Cp. 1. 6. 196. by-dene : no new light has been thrown on the origin of the word (cp. Curtis, ' Clariodus,' 1 894, § 239) ; the rhymes in this stanza, contrasted with xxv, LXXX, seem rather to favour Prof. Skeat's suggestion, dene ( = dffin), Northern pp. of ' do,' as against Dr. Murray's, ene ( = O.E. Sne). 197. beau mys : Morris read ' uiys,' but later accepted my rendering, ' Academy,' Vol. xxxix. p. 602. ' Mys ' = ' amys.' It is just possible that the poet wrote 'beu amys.' 'Mys' (or 'amys') I take to be ultimately derived through O.F. and Low Lat. (probably some such form as Low Lat. amicia) from Lat. amictus, an upper garment, in contradistinction to an under-dress. This is borne out by the Wycliffite use of 'amice,' Is. xxii. 17, where 'quasi amictum' is translated ' as an amyse.' The ordinary usage of the word is for the ecclesiastical garment of white linen folded diagonally, worn by celebrant priests, formerly on the head. A like word, derived from a different origin, O.F. aumusse, aumuce, of doubtful source, probably German, with the Arabic article ' al ' prefixed, was also applied to ' an article of costume of the religious orders made of, or lined with, grey fur.' This word, as far as form is concerned, may have reacted on the former word. In the later Wyclifiite version ' amyt ' rendering ' capitium,' Ex. xxxix. 21, is in form directly due to O.F. amit. Accordingly, 'mys' or 'amys' in the present passage is used by our poet in the sense of 'upper garment.' The line is not a repetition of 1. 163, where the reference is to the general array ; here the poet is coming to details. The outer garment to which he refers is not only gleam- ing white, but is also richly adorned with pearls, is open at the sides, and has long hanging laps. It came 128 PEARL. over the kirtle, and was worn especially as a mark of rank. One cannot resist a reference to Milton's lines, — ' Morning fair Came forth with pilgrim steps in amice gray.' (' Par. Reg.' IV. 427.) O. actually changes 'beau mys' in his text to 'b[leaunt of biys],' making the poet repeat 1. 163. It is hardly neces- sary to detail all the objections to this unfortunate tampering with the text and with the poet's thought. See Note on 1. 163. 201. lappej large: as I pointed out, 'lappej' must mean here 'sleeves,' not, as Morris interpreted, borders. The reference is to the long hanging sleeves falling from the surcoat, a mark of fashion at this period. ' Large,' i. e. ample, suggests not only fulness, but also length, and is used much as the more common word ' side,' with reference to drapery which extends far down ; cp. ' Winner and Waster,' dated 1352, 11. 410-12, where the long flowing sleeves are spoken of disparagingly, as the new fashion : ' Now are ]?ay nysottes of \>^ new gett, so nysely attyred With [si]de slabbande sleues, sleght to ]?' grouwde Ourlede all vmbto«?ne ■fiith ermyn aboute.' But even at an earlier date sleeves were the object of disparagement, cp. Wright's 'Political Songs' (c. 1311), p. 255 : ' For Pride hath sieve, the lond is almusles.' Our poet deems it fitting that this mark of high rank should be associated with Pearl transfigured. She is now of the Court of Heaven, and leads a 'ladyly lyf,' 774. Similarly in ' Morte Darthur,' Fortune as a duchess has a surcoat of silk ' with ladily lappes the lenghe of a jerde,' 3254. In the illustrations of the MS. these long hanging sleeves appear. 203. cortel : /. e. the under-dress ; its hem, which is bordered with pearls, is lower than the surcoat ; see Note on 1. 217. ' Cortel ' = ' curtel.' O.E. cyrtel, kirtle. EXPLANATORY NOTES. 129 205-8. Cp. Note on 1. 11 86. 207. hi3e pynakled: the poet is evidently alluding to a regal crown, suggestive of the crown borne by the Virgin and by the virgin brides. Thus in the 'Trentalle Sancti Gregorii ' we have : ' He sawe a fuUe swete syght^ : A comely lady dressed & dyght^, That a.\\e ]>e worlde was not so bryjt, Comely crowned as a qwene,' and the lady is taken to be Mary, Queen of Heaven. The 'corowne' in 'Pearl' anticipates 1. 415; cp. 11. 450-6. In Revelation it is the elders who have the crowns, but early in literature and art the crown is one of the symbols of the Virgin (cp. Mrs. Jameson's ' Sacred and Legendary Art '). Our poet, while, no doubt, having this in his mind, is yet all the same influenced, it seems to me, by the description of Reason in the ' Romaunt of the Rose ' : ' And on hir heed she hadde a crown, Hir semede wel an high persoun ; For rounde environ, hir crownet Was ful of riche stonis fret.' (Chaucerian Version, II. 3201-4.) 209. weile : this word, so far as I know, occurs nowhere else, and its history is doubtful. It is possible, as Prof Holthausen has suggested (Archiv, 90) that it may repre- sent an O.E. '''werels= O.N. vesl, attire. The meaning of the word is difficult, but the idea is probably 'covering, head-dress,' and the reference is to the kerchief usually worn with the crown ; cp. ' Wars of Alexander,' 1. 5249, where Queen Candace wears ' A crowne & a corechefFe clust^rt wzt^ ge»?mes.' The line really means ' She wore no other covering upon her head ' ; and ' werle ' seems to catch up the first line of the stanza. The absence of the kerchief betokens maidenhood. K 130 PEARL. It is not necessary to change the text. O.'s 'herle,' which occurs in 'Gawain,' 1. 190, in the sense of 'filament of hair,' will not improve the line nor make any sense, even though explained as an ' embraided fillet.' 210. [h]eie [h]eke: MS. lere leke, / resulting from the fading of the downward stroke of h, or from a scribe's omission to add the downward stroke, cp. 616 ; heke = eke, a common spelling in M.E. The finite verb is omitted. The line means : ' Her hair, too, all about her,' i. e. ' hanging loose.' The point of the line is that the hair was not held in by a kell or hair-net ; but that it was free, as became a bride. The bride's hair was generally loose, and artists depicting the Marriage of the Virgin indicate this. Cp. Spenser's description in his ' Epithalamium ' : — ' Her long loose yellow locks.' hyr vmbe-gon : (was) gone about her ; i. e. hung about her neck. 'Vmbe-gon' is little more than 'vmbe,' and is a parallel use to the more idiomatic 'vmbtourne,' which probably suggested the use ; see my Note, ' Winner & Waster,' 1. 412. 'Vmbe-gon' is certainly not, as O. takes it, a pres. pi., reading ' [h]ere-leke,' in the sense of 'locks of hair (?),' for which there is no authority. 212. whallej bon : cp. ' Winner & Waster,' 1. 181 : ' Whitte als the whalles bone.' It was trisyllabic even in Shakespeare, cp. ' L.L.L.' V. ii. 332: ' To show his teeth as white as whales bone,' so F. I : whale his bone, Fs. 2, 3, 4. 213. scheme : see Note on 1. 165. 215-16. The force of these words must be taken in con- nection with the sun-like radiance of her whole figure ; cp. 11. 165-6. 'Depe' has reference to her intense glowing beauty, used very much- as Milton's ' glowing violet,' •Lycidas,' I. 145. 'Colour' is used here in the sense of EXPLANATORY NOTES. 131 'beauty,' as in other passages in the poem, cp. 11. 22, 753 ; it cannot imply, as O. maintains, a ruddy hue, for her 'ble' has been described as whiter than whalebone, 1. 212. The lines mean : ' Moreover, her glowing beauty had no lack of (;. e. was richly bedecked with) precious pearls on all the borders of her robe,' anticipating, however, the one great pearl that adorned her person. 217. poyned: the MS. is correct, and there is no reason for tampering with the text. Dr. Craigie has kindly sug- gested to me that ' poyned ' is the O.F. poignet, wrist-band, see N.E.D. under ' poignet.' Pinson's edition of the ' Promptorium Parvulorura ' gives the spelling ' ponyed.' The reference is evidently to the wrist-bands of the long narrow sleeves of the kirtle, as opposed to the hanging lappets of the surcoat. 220. uestoie : no mere repetition of the fact that the dress was white. Here 'uesture' takes in the whole array, including the pearls. Then comes the mention of the chief ornament of the ' uesture,' namely the ' wonder perle.' 224. malte (inf.), cp. malte, 1154: ']3y mersy may malte f>y meke to spare,' ' Cleanness,' 776, ' make Jpe vazXer to malt my mynde wyth-i«ne, 1566 ; ' to malte so out of memorie,' 'Erkenwald,' 158; the form of the inf. 'malte' seems to be a dialected variant of O.E. meltan, mealt, due perhaps to confusion of the strong verb 'melten' with the weak ' malten.' 229. py[ec]e : MS. pyse ; Morris, p[r]yse, but the rhymes 'grece,' 'nece,' require 'pyece'; similarly MS. 'spyce' in 1. 23s is emended by me into ' sp[e]ce,' the correct form of the word (O.F. espfece). Cp. Shakespeare's use of 'piece' : ' Thy mother was a piece of virtue' (' Tempest,' I. ii. 56). 231. he]?en in-to Grece: cp. 'J>e gayest i«-to Grece,' ' Gawain,' 2023. 236-7. Compare ' Awutyrs of Arthur,' 1. 626 : ' Scho caughte of hir coronalle, and knelyd hyw till^.' 132 PEARL, 243. by myn one : by me alone, by me so lone. There was in M.E. an idiom of 'one,' preceded by the possessive pronoun in the sense of ' lone, solitary, alone,' thus : 'to kayre al his one' (Gawain/ 1048). 'we bot oure one' (' Gawain,' 1230 ; cp. 2245). ' Onely ' is still used in the sense of 'lonely' in Lancashire, e.g.: ' Mon, aw'm onefy when theaw art'nt theer.' (Waugh's ' Lancashire Songs.') nyjte : cp. 'najte,' 1203. 245. agly3te, /. e. a (pref.) = away, + glla, to shine (cp. of . . . leme, 358); cp. glyjt, 114; used in the sense of ' blinked,' ' Gawain,' 842, 970 ; ' Patience,' 453 ; also ■ squinted,' gliet, gleyit, ' Dest. of Troy,' 3772, 3943, 3995 ; the spelling with ' yj ' conforms to the rhyme of the stanza ; cp. sorquydrjae, 309. 249. vayued, cp. waynej, 131 (for v, to, cp. vyf, 772, veued, 976) ; the rhyme attests the existence of the word, though in other passages 'wayne' may be an editorial error for 'wayue' (cp. 'Gawain,' 'Allit. Poems,' 'Wars of Alexander,' passim) ; it is probably a parallel English formation to O.N. vegna (O.E. ""wegnian), to cause to move. 250. del : cp. pref, 272. 252. iuelere : the 'merchant-man, seeking goodly pearls ' of the Parable is indicated, Matt. xiii. 45. 254. y:jen giaye : gray was the favourite colour in the Middle Ages, and is often referred to in the 'Romauntofthe Rose,' the romances, Chaucer, etc. See N.E.D. under 'gray,' and Skeat's note on Chaucer's Prologue, 152. 255. set on hyr coioun : the implication is that she is now re-assuming her royal rank, and is about to speak with serious authority. 259. cofer: cp. 'Cleanness,' 310, 339. EXPLANATORY NOTES. 133 clente : i. e. clenched, referring to the iron bars riveted on the coffers of the Middle Ages, so as to rtiake them strong- boxes for the keeping of treasure. 269. rose : the word calls up all the associations of the ' Romaunt of the Rose ' ; there was something even more glorious than the Rose of the Earthly Paradise, namely, the proved Pearl of Heaven ! 273. Evidently referring to 11. 11-12. 274. ojt oi n03t : something of nothing ; evidently proverbial. 282. don out o£ dawe3 : i. e. deprived of days, that is, of life. ' A-dawe,' as an adv., = 'of dawe.' The full phrase ' of Hues dawe ' is also found. 283. ma £este : not ' make a feast,' but in the sense of the French 'faire fete,' to make merry, to rejoice. 299. to passe : in respect of passing', i. e. as to passing ; cp. ' to JJenke,' 1. 22 ; ' to fech,' 1. 1 158. 305. hy^te: due to O.E. heht, treated as weak verb ; cp. 402; cp. 'hyjt,' 'Gawain,' 1970 ; pres. 'hete,' 402; p.p. 'hyjt,' 'Cleanness,' 714; 'hette,' 'Gawain,' 540. 306. dyje : cp. 'dyed,' 705 ; ' deje,' ' Gawain,' 996 ; 'dejen,' 1163. 307. wesiemays : this word cannot be another form of 'western ways,' as Morris suggested, deriving it from O.E. 'weste,' barren, empty ; 'western,' a desert place. Had he suggested the ordinary word ' western ' as its first component, the suggestion would have been plausible, but the ending of the word cannot be connected with 'ways,' although the word is used as an adverbial ending in M.E. ; here, however, the rhyme requires a different sound, viz., the French ais, ays, eis, or e's. Now there existed in O.F. the word ' bestorner, besturner,' 'to turn awry,' with its p.p. 'bestorne, bestornes, bestorneis,' 'turned awry'; its component parts are 'bes,' a prefix with the force of ' ill, badly,' and ' tourner/ to turn ; the p.p. 'bestomez' was used in a very special sense for a thing turned wrongly towards the west, instead of towards the east ; thus, a church of St. Benet in Paris was called 134 PEARL, 'saint Beneois li bestornez,' and its name is thus accounted for by a fourteenth-century writer, ' quod ejus majus altare tunc temporis spectaret Occidentem, cum ex ecclesiastica consuetudine Onentem spectare debuisset. Nunc contraria ratione dicitur S. Benoit le Bien tournee, quod ad Orientem translatum sit majus altare, cum instaurata est ecclesia.' From the use of the word in the ' Romaunt of the Rose,' it is clear, too, that popularly the word was used with the idea of ' turned towards the west.^ It is an interesting fact that, in Teutonic languages, the equivalent for 'bestornez,' viz., ' wider-sinnes,' i.e. 'in a contrary direction ' (cp. Icel. sinni, a way, O.E. si]?, O.H.G. sin), was used in exactly the same way for ' contrary to the course of the sun,' and in Northern English it is this word which appears in the strange guise of ' widishins ' (as in the tale of ' Childe Rowland '). My opinion is that the poet of ' Pearl ' tried to naturalise ' bestornez ' in English by changing it to an understandable form, viz., ' westornays ' or ' westernays ' ; it is to be noted that he required a w word for alliteration, and the sound of French ez for rhyme ; ' widishins ' would have satisfied the allitera- tion, but not the rhyme ; it is doubtful, however, if this word was known to our poet. The line may be compared with a parallel from Middle High German, ' Den namen er widersinnes las,' i. e. he read the name backwards, perversely. One thing is quite certain, that the poet has transformed the O.F. bestorneis to suggest to English readers 'west,' and all its connotations in popular lore. In recent times, ' to go west ' has been revived among the soldiery, and has gained new pathos. O., without any explanation, substitutes [iJ] for w, in spite of the MS. reading, which is still further strengthened by the alliteration of the line. 309. soiquydiyje : cp. surquidre, 'Gawain,' 2457. This indicates that the spirant is merely used for the purpose of an eye-rhyme. 313. dayly: the etymology of 'dayly' is probably O.F. EXPLANATORY, NOTES. 135 'dallier,' to sport; further, I would suggest O.F. 'dalle,' a tablet; the earlier use of the word was, I think, 'to play dice,' hence, 'to hazard words.' My note on 'bayly,' 1. 442, explains that here 'dayly' represents the pronunciation of 1 mouill4 rhyming with ' bayle,' ' fayle,' and ' consayl.' This is what one would expect from ' dallier,' which should give two forms in M.E., 'dayle' and 'dalye'; the scribe has blended the two in his spelling 'dayly.' 320. keue = O.N. kefja : see 'sete,' 1201. I see no difficulty in deriving 'keue' from O.N. keQa. This source is not only clear in respect of this passage, but also, in my opinion, in I. 981, the idea being 'sunk down.' In O.N. the word is often applied to a horse sinking belly-deep in the snow. N.E.D. considers that the sense is not satisfactory for 1. 981, but the meaning there is parallel to the present use ; see Note on the line. The literal meaning is : ' Thy corse must sink more coldly in clay.' 323. diwiy, i.e. drury, O.E. drdorig: cp. lude (O.E. Idod), 'Gawain,' 232, 449 ; ludych, 'Cleanness,' 73 ; ludisch, 1375 ; leude{= lede : sede), 'Gawain,' 1124. 331. gare : JVIS. gare^ ; cp. perlej = perle, 1. 335, also II. 1 108, 1 1 12. It is possible, though unlikely, that the MS. reading is correct, 'bot' being taken as conjunction ; the inf. after ' seruej bot ' is probably correct ; cp. ' dotj bot,' 17, 18. 337. doel : used here attributively as in the phrase ' dule habit'; see N.E.D. under 'dole.' The phrase is probably slightly different from the compound ' doel-doungoun,' 1187, i. e. the dungeon of grief. Cp. Dunbar, ' The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo,' 1. 420 : ' I droup with ane deid luik, in my dule habite,' compared with 1. 422 : ' Quhen that I go to the kirk, cled in cairweidis.' 339-40- That is, on account of lamentation for compara- 136 PEARL. lively small losses, oft many a man loses more (than the things he laments) 341. py selnen blesse : to cross oneself ; cp. 'Aryse be tyme oute of thi bedde, And blysse pi brest & thi forhede,' ' Meals & Manners,' p. 266, E.E.T.S., 1904. This seems to be the only possible meaning in this passage, and the word cannot be glossed as 'confer well-being upon,' as O. interprets, from one of the definitions of the word in N.E.D. 349. adyte : cp. endyte, 1126, 'Gawain,' 1600; pref. a- = F. en, perhaps partly due to O.E. adihtan ; but in many cases M.E. a- = A.F. an = O.F. en ; note also doublets with a-, en-, e.£. acroche, encroche (io6g, 11 17); cp. 'endorde,' 368. 353. stynt: MS. sty«st ; it is remarkable that in 'Clean- ness,' 359, the scribe has written 'styste^' (3 s. pr. ind.) evidently for 'stytej,' i.e. stywtej, and it looks as though in both these cases he wrote 'stynst' instead of 'stynt.' If, as it would seem, this is an error, the repetition is very noteworthy. 354. sech : cp. rech, 333 ; bysech, 390 (' seke ' is not found in the poems). 358. []?at alle] f>y lurej : MS. & py lure^. The line is obviously imperfect. I suggest that the scribe misread the abbreviated ' Tpat ' and wrote ' & ' instead, and further omitted 'alle.' In corroboration of my emendation I adduce 1. 119, parallel in movement, alliteration and phraseology. Further, the thought of the passage is brought out, the gliding off of the losses resulting from the comfort's assuaging power. There is no reason therefore for taking ' lurej ' in any other sense than ' deprivations, losses.' The word catches up 1. 337. There is nothing to my mind to favour O.'s rendering of the word as ' frowns,' nor his further suggestion that ' leme ' means 'to beat or drive away with blows.' 'Leme of = ' to glance off,' and is used very effectively. 359. marie[d] ojper madde; I adhere to my proposed emendation of marre[d] for MS. marre. The phrase 'to make or mar,' or 'make and mar' is early, though N.E.D. EXPLANATORY NOTES, 137 quotes as earliest instance c. 1420, Lydgate, 'Assembly of Gods," 556: ' Neptunus, that dothe bothe make and marre.' Prof. Holthausen (Archiv, 90) proposed ' marre of'er mende.' my]7e : all the recorded senses of the word indicate the concealing or dissembling of feelings ; cp. N.E.D. under ' mithe ' ; but here the poet seems to be using the word in the sense of 'to avoid,' hence to escape (mourning). Perhaps here, in view of the rhyme, it means the opposite of ' to mourn,' ;. e. to be happy. The line appears to be the poet's rendering of i Sam. ii. 6 (or one of the parallel passages noted in marginal references): 'The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to the grave and bringeth up.' O. wrongly translates 'grief remembered or forgotten.' 362. ne woT]7e no wiath]pe vnto my loide : MS. wrath \>& probably due to -WT&Yps (O.E. wrSSWo) ; ' let there not be wrath unto my lord,' t. e. ' let not my lord be wroth with me.' Prof. Kolbing (Eng. Stud., 1891, p^ 270) finds great difficulty in this rendering of the words. The poet is probably think- ing of Abraham's supplication to God on behalf of Sodom (Gen. xviii. 32): 'Obsecro, inquit, ne irascaris Domine si loquar adhuc semel ' ; cp. ' Cleanness,' 11. 689-780. 363. [I] : omitted by scribe ; cp. 81, 977. 364. wyth mysse lemoide: i.e. torn by loss; not 'sin or failure,' as O. interprets the word. 365. I take this now with the next line, not the preceding one, and the meaning to be 'like water pouring from a well, I readily resign myself to God's gracious will.' The poet has in mind such Biblical phrases as Lam. ii. 19 : ' Pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord ' ; Ps. Ixii. 8 : ' Trust in him at all times ; ye people, pour out your heart before him.' 368. foiloyne : O.F. forlonger, to go astray, err ; cp. ' 3if I for-loyne as a fol,' ' Cleanness,' 750 ; cp. Note on 1. 362. 369. [k]y]?e3 : MS. lyjjej, cp. I = k, fordo[k]ked, 10 ; the 138 PEARL. proposed emendation certainly strengthens the alliteration of the line, and simplifies its construction ; cp. 357, and ' William of Palerne,' 603 : ' A ! curteyse cosyne . crist mot Tpe it selde of pi kynde cumfort . put JJow me kupest aowpe.' O., keeping 'lyl^ej,' inserts 'wyth' after 'kyndely.' 375. viope: here = 'path,' and is a different word from 'wo]pe^' in 1. 151. The word here is O.E. wa]7, hunting- ground ; hence, generically, place ; as opposed to O.N. va?Si, peril, danger. The sense is confused if the word is rendered ' danger,' as O. glosses it. 382. iua[ii]eie3 : MS. marerej ; the emendation in the text was first proposed in AthenKum, 1891, No. 3328 ; cp. raanerly = with due courtesy, 'Cleanness,' 91. 386. momyf : cp. 'gyltyf/669. 390. bysech: cp. 'sech,'354. 415. in blysse to biede: i.e. to flourish in bliss; O.E. brJedan, to broaden, extend, is used with reference to leaves and trees flourishing. In this phrase it is not O.E. bredan, to breed, even though it were possible, as O. interprets, to take the word in the sense of ' to dwell.' 416. wage: this can hardly be anything else than the French ' wager,' here evidently used in the sense of ' to be assured,' hence ' endure,' though no parallel of the verb in this sense can be adduced. In 'Gawain,' 1. 532-3, ' Til mejel-mas mone Watj cuOTen wyth wynter wage,' the sense appears to be ' with the assurance of winter,' i. e. the certainty that winter was coming. 417. sesed: O.K. saisir; cp. 'Gawain' 822, O.F. at >e before s ; e.g. reles, 956 ; corte^, 754, etc. 419. parage : cp. ' Cleanness,' 167 : 'Aproch poM to paX prynce of parage noble.' 429. synglerty : cp. syng[u]l[e]re, 8. EXPLANATORY NOTES. 139 430. Feuyz 0! Anaby : cp. Chaucer, ' Book of the Duchess,' 11. 980-1 : ' Trewly she was to myn ye The Soleyn Fenix of Arabye.' The poet means that in the uniqueness of her ' douceur,' she is comparable only to the Phoenix, of which there was only one, and which was also immaculate of form. As regards the beauty of the Phoenix, the Anglo-Saxon poem (' Exeter Book,' E.E.T.S., 189s, pp. 200-241) is perhaps the best commentary. 431. Tp&t fieles fle3e: that was wont to fly immaculate of form; 'fleje'used as aorist; 'putfie^e' is little more than a periphrasis for ' bird.' 434. folde: not pt. 3 s. ind., but p.p., 'her face being covered up ' in the hanging folds of her garment. 439. ' Many seek to obtain, and actually obtain a prize.' The line is purposely rhetorical. The point of the word 'porchasej' is that it is used in its literal sense of hunting after, seeking to obtain, and not of acquiring with effort. O., who interprets the word in this way, finds that the figure is not expressive. The whole line is an idiomatic way of saying, ' many find here the prey they seek.' 440. supplaJitoie3 : cp. with reference to the interpretation of Jacob's name, ' supplanter als of heritage,' ' Cursor Mundi,' 3744- 441-4. Cp. 'Cursor Mundi,' 11. 20799-21801 : ' Bot wel we wat, wit-outen wene. Of heuen and erth TpaX scho es quene, Bath imperice and heind leuedi.' 442. bayly : literally, 'jurisdiction'; observe that the word is accented on the second syllable, and rhymes with 'cortaysye'; 'bayly,' from O.F. baillie, is to be carefully distinguished from ' bayly,' a fortress, which represents O.F. bail, baile, bailie. This latter word appears as 'bayly,' 1. 315, and 'baly,' instead of ' bayle,' 1. 1083. 140 PEARL. 446. propeity : cp. 1. 752. 451- I'D fyue: this seems to mean 'those five,' i.e. five such. But the phrase is difficult. The poet wishes to say ' were five times their value.' ' Five ' is often used idio- matically, cp. 1. 849. 459. naule : i. e. navel, a very common form in the four- teenth century, from O.E. nafela, still found in the dialects ; see N.E.p. and E.D.D. Cp. I Cor. xii. 12-27. O., in commenting on my rendering of the word, condemns it, as being 'regardless of phonology, sense, or poetic delicacy.' As regards phonology, it is very difficult to know exactly what phonological laws he applies. Every known law would corroborate the form, and indeed, in Old Frisian, the forms are both 'navla ' and 'naula.' In respect of O.'s own rendering 'nail/ from O.N. nagli, in the first instance ' nagli ' does not mean ' the nail of the hand ' (which in O.N. is 'nagi'), but 'a nail or spike.' Anyhow, the modern English ' nail ' is from O.E. nsegl, giving the normal M.E. nail. No possible form such as ' naule ' is found, or could be expected, from either the O.E. or O.N. forms. The sense and poetic delicacy, of which I am alleged to be unappreciative, need no defence. It may be, however, pointed out that St. Paul himself refers to members of the body which we think to be less honourable, and even Shakespeare in the play of ' Coriolanus,' where the parable of the body's members rebelling against the belly figures strikingly, actually uses the phrase 'the navel of the State' (III. i. 123), though in a later part of the play. 460. temen : belong to, in the sense of ministering to, subserving ; cp. ' Cleanness,' 9, teme« to hym seluen, i. e. are attached to His service. t[r]yste: for scribal omission of r cp. st[r]yke3, 11 86. The omission may be an r superscript ; cp. t«ys, 1. 755. The phrase 'true and trist' occurs in M.E., cp. 'trist and trewe,' N.E.D. under ' trist.' There can be little doubt that this is the correct reading. O. explains 'tyste' as from O.N. Jpettr, i.e. tight. But the idea underlying 'teraen,' EXPLANATORY NOTES. 141 and therefore this qualifying phrase, is the loyalty of service, and the fidelity and faithfulness is well brought out by the phrase 'trwe and t[r]yste,' though it would be possible to explain the form ' tyste ' as parallel phonologically to ' myste.' 462. myste: for the general 'myjt'; cp. 'myjte,' 1069, rhyming with ' nyjt,' etc. ' st ' for ' jt ' is a very common writing in MSS. of the thirteenth century and earlier. It is also found in the fourteenth century. Editors have frequently taken the spelling to be erroneous, and have corrected it accordingly. There can be little doubt that the symbol was intentional. Dr. Hall, in his edition of* King Horn ' (Oxford, 1901), discussing the form 'doster' in one of the MSS., deals with 'st' as a mere graphic variation of 'ht' and 'jt.' It would seem, however, from the present passage, that the ' st ' became in some dialects a phonological variant of a sound which was originally difficult for French palates. It is not merely, in this passage, a question of spelling for the sake of rhyme ; it is a most valuable piece of evidence as regards pronunciation. 463. gawle: z. ^. bitterness ; O.E. gealla, bile. The word must, I think, be differentiated from 'galle,' 11. 189, 915, 1060. The phrase ' without gall ' in the first two passages seems to represent O.N. galla-lauss, faultless, from 'galli,' a fault, and in the third place, ' scum' ; cp. glass-gall. In 'Patience,' 285, however, we have the phrase 'gaule of prophetes,' so it looks as though in this latter sense, 'gaule ' were a variant of 'galle.' 463-4. These lines form a question, which is answered in the next couplet. 469-70. 'I allow that courtesy and great charity are among you.' O. annotates that the line = ' I leue cortayse and charyte be grete amo«g yow.' 480. 'than to be crowned king,' hence the necessary change of the MS. 'ho' to 'he' in the previous line. 485. nempet Pater ne Crede : according to the ' Boke of Curtasye,' when the young child fiirst went to school, it learned the Pater and Creed : 142 PEARL. ' Yf that poa be a jong enfaunt, And thenke po scoles for to haunt, This lessou« schalk Jjy maista/- Ipe merke, Croscrist J>e spede in alle ]?i werke ; Sytthen Tpy pater nosiei he wille Tpt teche, As cristes owne postles con preche ; Aftur Jjy Aue marta and pi crede, pat shalle J?e saue at dome of drede.' (' Early English Meals and Manners,' p. l8i.) 488. away : cp. 350. 492. date: 'goal'; it is difficult to find any other word that will express its various meanings of time and place in this section. 497. your messe : Matt. xx. 1-16 ; the pronoun indicates the detachment of the speaker from even earthly worship ; cp. 11. 1061-2. 499. In-sample : I still prefer to read this as one word, as the direct object of 'gesse.' The ' i» ' of the scribe may be in place of the author's ' en,' owing to the 'in' of the previous lines. he : I take the word to stand for Christ, and not, as O. attributes it, to St. Matthew. This misunderstanding, to my mind, is due to reading the lines erroneously, with a comma at the end of 1. 496, and a semi-colon at 1. 498. 500. lykne^ hit : t. e. the parable ; cp. 501. 502. I wate: cp. wot, 47 ; but 'abate,' 1. 617, also used for the sake of rhyme. 503. terme ; z. e. season ; cp. ' Gawain,' 1671, ' Hit watj nej at ]?e terme psX he to schulde.' I do not agree with O. that 'terme' here means 'end,' and that " ' jere ' is evidently thought of as ending immediately after the grape-harvest, in mid-autumn." This seems to ignore ' of tyme,' but anyhow, the sense of the line seems simple and straightforward. 505. [h]ys : MS. l?ys. I still keep my proposed emenda- tion, though I now understand, as I think . the real EXPLANATORY NOTES. 143 significance of the line thus emended. It has hitherto been argued that ' hyne,' as the hirelings, had not previously been referred to ; and O., keeping the MS. reading, interprets the line as a general observation addressed to the reader, meaning, ' These hirelings as a class well know that season of year (vintage), and went to present themselves for hire.' But 'hyne,' as I take the word, is just the opposite of hirelings, and the word implies ' those of his own house- hold.' His household, i.e. his trusty ones, they well know the season and what is expected of them ; it is to supple- ment their dutiful service that workmen are hired, who afterwards haggle about their pay. The whole idea has been evolved from the use of the word ' paterfamilias ' in the parable ; the ' hyne ' are the ' familia.' Cp. the last line but one of the poem, ' He gef vus to be his homly hyne.' The word also occurs in 1. 632, not as designating the labourers, as O. states, but the innocent, who having been but an hour in the vineyard, are by grace God's 'hyne,' i.e. of the Divine household. In 11. 585-8 it is clearly pointed out that those who have toiled longer may have to wait for their wage. Further, some of the workmen who are satisfied receive their hire, and are dismissed, ' Take that is thine own, and go.' In 1. 572, ' For mony ben calle[d], jjaj fewe be mykej,' the ' mykej ' are the ' electi ' and the ' hyne.' An interesting corroboration of my theory is to be found in the O.E. renderings of ' paterfamilias ' in this very passage ; the Rushworth Gloss gives ' hina feeder,' the Lindisfarne ' higna faeder.' 513. Aboute vnder: cp. circa horam tertiam, Matt. xx. 3. 523. lesnabelet: MS. resonabele. From metrical stand- points, evidently a scribal alteration of the poet's 'resnabele' or 'renable.' So 'Piers Plowman' B., Prologue, 158, 'A raton of renon most renable of tonge,' where the C. text reads ' resonable,' and also ' resnable.' The line means ' what reasonable hire shall be due by night.' 528. wyl day : I now reject my original proposal of reading the two words as one. 144 PEARL. 529. MS. at J?e day of date. The scribe has evidently transposed ' day ' and ' date,' the meaning being that ' at the time of day of evensong.' 530. go: to be taken as subjunctive; 'one hour before the sun should sink.' 536. f>at at: ^Tpat' antecedent of the Northern relative pronoun ' at.' 542. menyf : MS. meyny, rhyming with ' repren[y],' MS. reprene, peny, etc., cp. Note on 313. 553. seiued: i.e. deserved, not as O. glosses, 'served,' as is clear from the words 'vus pynk so.' 558. waiii[ll]g: the ordinary contraction indicating ' n ' is omitted in the MS., but there is a little mark over the 'i' of an unusual character. I am inclined to think that the mark indicated the intention of the scribe to correct the word to ' wrang.' The poet may well have written this word, translating the Vulgate 'amice non facio tibi injuriam.' 565. More,— welder I[e]uyly : MS. more -weper louyly. This line has hitherto proved a crux. In the first place, ' more ' has been misunderstood. Its force is simply ' more- over,' and it is not merely a mark of interrogation, or a comparative modifying the adjective of the sentence. ' Louyly' I take to be a scribal error for l[e]uyly = O.N. leyfiligr, i.e. permitted or allowed. The words translate ' Aut non licet.' M.E. leflich is a different word, from O.E, leofllc, loveable. The M.E. word corresponding to the present word is 'leueful,' cp. 'leesome,' i.e. M.E. lefsum, from O.E. lef, leaf, permission. So far as I know, 'l[e]uyly ' is not recorded elsewhere in English, and has not been identified before. O.'s ' l[awe]ly ' cannot stand. Further, the first four lines of this stanza are the poet's translation of the Vulgate, ' Aut non licet mihi quod volo facere, an oculus tuus nequam est, quia ego bonus sum,' Matt. XX. 1 5. The third and fourth lines give the alternative section of the question ; the second Wycliffite version reading : ' Whether it is not leueful to me to do that that Y wole ? Whether thin 136 is wicked, for Y am good ? ' The EXPLANATORY NOTES. 145 idiom of-1. 567 is due to the interrogative '-vitper' being understood. The two couplets are therefore parallel, as in the Vulgate, and the second is not a mere affirmative statement, as O. punctuates. 568. by-swyke^ : ist pr. ind., an exceptional (Northern) inflexion, necessitated by the rhyme. 572. myke^ : I am now inclined to doubt my original suggestion, which seemed plausible, and has been accepted, that 'mykej' represented O.N. 'mikill' and meant 'great ones.' It is true 'mike,' as I pointed out, is found in ' Havelok ' as an adjective for ' mikel,' but no instance occurs of the word as a noun. ' Mykej ' translates ' electi,' and it would appear that 'mik' in the sense of 'a near friend,' existed in Northern English. It occurs in ' Cursor Mundi,' 2807, in the phrase ' sun or doghter, mik or mau,' and in Harding's 'Chronicle' (Harding was a Northerner) 'the Dukes preuy myke' occurs. N.E.D. quotes both these passages as illustrating the present word. It would appear, therefore, that 'myke' means 'someone very near,' even more than a kinsman. The sense of the word in the present passage must mean, ' chosen as special friend, a privy friend.' It suggests the phrase ' homly hyne,' 1. 1 2 1 1 ; see Note on 1. 505. The word seems to be of Scandinavian origin. 588. to-:;eie : the ordinary meaning of this is ' this year,' but here this accepted sense does not bring out the force of the line, which suggests long years to come, rather than this year. Now in North Lancashire the word is used in this idiomatic sense. Cp. ' I have not seen it te-ere ' = yet, for a long time, never, E.D.D. We get something of the same idiomatic use in Chaucer, ' Cant. Tales,' D. 166-8, the humour of the line being lost through the line not being understood : ' I was aboute to wedde a wyf, alias ! What sholde I bye it on my flesh so dere ? Yet hadde I lever wedde no-Vyf to-yere.' 593. Vulgate, Ps. Ixi. 12, 13 (Authorised Version, Ps. Ixii. 146 PEARL, 12): ' Semel locutus est Deus, duo hsec audivi, quia potestas Dei est, et tibi Domine misericordia : quia tu reddes unicuique juxta opera sua.' This passage of the Psalms lent itself to many exegetical interpretations, and the words and the thought, especially the rendering to each man according to his work, are often found in both Old and New Testaments, as may be seen from the marginal references to the passage. But in the present passage I venture to propose that we have a distinct reference to i Peter i. 17-20, as evidenced by my suggested interpretation of 1. 596. 596. ay p[ie]tenuynahle : this word is not recorded else- where, nor is it found in late Latin, though N.E.D. suggests that it may represent a scholastic Latin ' preterminalailis.' There is no evidence in support of this, nor of the apparent meaning, in an active sense, ' predetermining, pre-ordaining.' ' P[r^]termynable ' is evidently for ' predetermynable,' for the purpose of euphony and rhyme. We know the meaning of ' determynable,' i. e. fixed, determined ; there- fore ' p[r^]termynable ' should mean ' fixed beforehand, pre-ordained,' and this, I think, is the meaning of the word here. ' Thou high King, t. e. Christ, pre-ordained from the beginning,' with a reference to 1 Peter i. 20, ' praecogniti quidem ante mundi constitutionem.' Accordingly, I do not agree with Professor Carleton Brown, that the word here suggests a definite acquaintance with the ' predeterminatio ' of the Schoolmen, nor with O.'s comments on the passage, amplifying the idea of ' fore-ordaining ' with reference to the word. 605. chyche: Professor Carleton Brown appositely quotes from Richard RoUe, ' De Gracia,' cp. Horstmann, ' Richard Rolle of Hampole,' \. 133, ' God is na chynche of his grace ; for he haues ynogh ^eroie — for \>oie he dele it nt\xer so iexxe / ne to so mony : he haues neu^^ f>e lesse ; for hi;;j wantes noght bot clene vessels : til do his grace inne.' ' Chyche ' is the older form, coexisting with ' chynche,' see N.E.D. under ' chinch.' 609. Misunderstanding of this passage has generally been EXPLANATORY NOTES. 147 due to assuming that ' hys ' repeated in sense the previous occurrences of the word in the lines preceding, and referred to God. But the thought has changed, and the reference is here to man. The freedom or liberty of that man is ample, who has ever stood in fear towards Him Who makes rescue in sin, i. e. there is freedom in heaven where there has been fear on earth. The thought is evidently derived from Ps. cxviii. 45 (English version, Ps. cxix.) : ' Et ambulabam in latitudine : quia mandata tua exquisivi.' Cp. Newman's ' Dream of Gerontius ' ; 'Soul of Gerontius. I feel in me An inexpressive lightness, and a sense Of freedom, as I were at length myself, And ne'er had been before. . . . Angel It is because Then thou didst fear, that now thou dost not fear.' As further parallel to this passage, I may quote from the same poem : 'Fifth Choir of Angelicals. O loving wisdom of our God ! When all was sin and shame A second Adam to the fight And to the rescue came.' daid : in the sense of ' lurked in dread,' z. e. feared, would under ordinary conditions be followed by 'from,' and not ' to,' but the thought is not of fear that recoils, but the attitude of fear towards God. Accordingly the poet uses ' to ' instead of ' from.' O.'s suggestion that ' dard ' may be an error for ' fard,' i. e. fared, seems to me altogether untenable, as destructive of the poet's meaning. 610. rescoghe : in retaining the MS. reading in place of '[no] scoghe,' suggested by Morris, I pointed out in 148 PEARL. 'Academy,' July 11, 1891, that the line is a poetical peri- phrasis for ' the Rescuer, the Saviour.' The technical sense of ' rescue ' applies in a special way to Christ as the rescuer of souls from Limbo (cp. O.F. rescousse, ' Paction de delivrer un prisonnier qui I'ennemi emmfene'). 616. [h]ere: MS.lere; for/writtenfor^,cp.2io. Thepoet's regular form is ' hyre,' and it is possible that ' here ' = ' ere ' = O.N. eyri(r), originally an ounce of silver, but used in the more general sense of ' sum of money for payment.' For unessential h, cp. ' [hjeke,' 210. Were this suggestion correct, we should get over the difficulty of two words of identical form rhyming. Cp. O.E. ora, one-eighth of a mark, from O.N.//, aurar. 617. abate: see Note on 1. 502. 627. babtem : cp. baptem, 653. 628. boro^t : cp. bereste, 854. 629-32. The meaning of these lines seems to be clear, though the order of the words requires careful consideration. The sense is ' that day, flecked with darkness, makes incline to the might of death those who had never wrought wrong ere they went thence.' The thought of the passage is missed by taking it, as O. interprets, ' Anon the day, in- dented with darkness, doth yield to* the power of death.' In consequence of this erroneous rendering, the two lines that follow are taken together by him, with awkward effect. 632. hyne : see Note on 1. 505. 635. 9ys: the last letter is well-nigh faded. Morris suggested ' 3y[rd] ' ; I originally proposed ' 3y[ld] ' ; O. was at a loss to read the letter or letters after ' y.' 647. plyt : see Note on 'ply:?t,' 1075. 652. J?e deth secoimde : see Rev. xx. 14, xxi. 8. 654. glayue : i. e. the spear of Longeus, from John xix. 34. The story is amplified in the Gospel of Nicodemus, whence came the name Longinus (or Longeus), probably from Gk. Kiyxn, a spear. 656. wyth in : MS. wythiwne. But the MS. reading is clearly due to a scribal error which has destroyed not only EXPLANATORY NOTES. 149 the sense, but also the right rhythm of the line. The meaning is simply, 'By means of which Adam drowned us in death.' O. keeps ' wythi«ne ' and considers the line as a case of the poet's ' asyntactic style ' ; he renders as follows : — ' the offence which Adam [by bringing upon us] drowned us in death.' 659. & J^at, i.e. & bot ]?at, continuing the previous sentence. 672. at i]i-oscen[c]e : MS. i«-oscente, obviously a scribal error, for in every other case in the poem ' inoscent ' has no final -e. I take the phrase to mean 'according to (his) innocence.' O. keeps ' i«-oscente,' and suggests that 'at' may be a scribal error for 'J^at,' objecting to my reading as forced, and contrary to the ordinary idiom, 'by' being the preposition elsewhere. But 'at' may be paralleled by ' at my Prynce^ paye,' 1 164. 678. Vulgate, Ps. xxiii. 3, 4 (A.V., Ps. xxiv.). 680. I have little doubt that this was suggested by some commentary that the poet had before him, for I find in the Anglo-Saxon version of the parallel Psalm (Vulgate xiv. 2, Authorised Version xv. 2), ' He that walketh uprightly,' the following introductory words not in the original text : ]7a andswarode Drihten ]?Ees wftgan mode, ]?urh onbryrdnesse \>gh[t]: MS. jacyngh ; but final ng-k is not a possible spelling for our poet, and we may safely assume that the scribe has left out the /. Cp. O.F. jacincte ; other M.E. spellings are 'jacinct, jasynkt'; see N.E.D. Cp. bro3[t], 286. 1015. [try]este: MS. gentyleste. It is certain that the scribe has made an error here, due to his having written 'gent' in the previous line. The poet would not have repeated the epithet, nor would he have used so colourless a word with his obvious knowledge of the wonderful powers attributed to the amethyst. No stone was so efficacious in all difficulties, not only, as its derivation was said to imply, as a preventive of intoxication, but as a ' sovereign remedy against charms and sorceries that be practised, with poison- ing ' (Pliny, Bk. xxxvil. ch. ix.). Some effective epithet would have been used by our poet, and although certainty is not EXPLANATORY NOTES. 165 possible, I have made bold to insert 'tryeste,' i.e. surest, safest, alliterating with ' twelfj^e,' in place of the erroneous ' gentyleste.' plyt: see Note on 1. 1075. 1 01 6. puipre wyth ynde blente: see Pliny, as in previous note ; also cp. Trevisa, ' Barth. De P. R.,' xvi. ix. ' Amatistus is purpre red in colour medelyd wyth colour of uyolette.' 1017. b[r]ent: MS. bent. The emendation is due to the impossibility of interpreting 'bent,' and to my conviction that the poet is here referring to Rev. xxi. 12, 'et habebat murum magnum et altum.' Graphically, the poet glances from the steps to the great high wall, even as he makes Gawain, when he reaches the castle, pass from his descrip- tion of the moat to the wall that went deep in the water, ' Ande eft a ful huge heat hit haled vpon lofte,' (1. 788). Also cp. 'Cleanness,' 1381. For 'brent' see 1. 106, 'Gawain,' 2165; 'brentest,' 'Cleanness,' 379. 1018. jaspoiye: 'ex lapide iaspide,' Rev. xxi. 18. The form ' jasporye ' is anomalous ; it cannot be a variant of jasper, 11. 999, 1026. There may be some adjectival forma- tion parallel to such a word as 'diapery,' 'jasporye' standing therefore for 'jasper s^one.' The may well be a scribal error for e. But in 1026 we have ' ]?e wal of jaspei.' as glas fiat glysnande schon : these words qualify ' jasporye,' and are due, I think, to Rev. xxi. 11, 'tanquam lapide jaspidis, sicut crystallum.' The Greek is altogether clearer, loiririSi KpvffTa\\i(ai'Tt, i. e. jasper crystal-clear. There were various kinds of jasper, and Pliny notes that there was ' a Jasper which seemeth as it were infected with smoke' (Bk. XXXVII. ch. ix.). 1024. Cp. Rev. xxi. 16, 'longitudo et altitudo et latitude ejus aequalia sunt.' ' Ful fayre ' is perhaps suggested by ' asqualia,' and if so, means ' full, evenly,' otherwise, simply ' full clear to view.' 1025. Rev. xxi. 21, 'platea civitatis aurum mundum. i66 PEARL, ■ tanquam vitrum perlucidum ' ; Wycliffite versions 'stretes,' A.V. 'street.' Vulgate reads 'platea,' but other codices 'platese.' Cp. strate3, 1043 ; vch a strete, 1059. 1026. glayre, i. e. the glair or white of egg, well known in the Middle Ages in various processes, but here especially with reference to its brightness. At first sight it would seem that the poet is crudely repeating 11. 1017-18, but this is not the case. In the previous passage he is emphasising the brightness of the jasper ; here, its transparency, pre- paring the way for his description of the 'wonej wytA-i«ne.' ' Glayre ' cannot come from O.E. glaer, amber, as O. suggests, comparing Ezek. viii. 2 and i. 27. 1027. ]7e wone^ wyth-inne enumed: nothing is said in Rev. xxi., the passage which the poet is paraphrasing, con- cerning the dwellings within, but the phraseology used by our poet with reference to these dwellings is derived from V. ig, which in the earlier Wycliffite rendering runs as follows : 'And the foundementes of the wal of the citee ourned with al precious stoon,' the various stones of the foundations being then mentioned. It seems, to me just possible that the poet's transference of the words belonging to the foundations (already described by him) to the dwell- ings within the wall may have been due to a reference at this place in his commentary or text to Isa. liv. 11, 12, ' Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.' It was important for our poet to bring in a reference to 'wonej,' seeing that the whole episode of the revealing to him of the New Jerusalem is the answer to the poet's question, ' Haf 3e no wonej \n castel-walle, Ne man^r?' (11. 917-18). For the phrase 'wonej wytA-i«ne,' compare 'Cleanness,' 1391, ' Heje houses w^t^-i«ne.' 1030. Twelue [)70wsande] Jorlongefer: MS. twelue for- EXPLANATORY NOTES. 167 longe space er. The poet certainly did not depart from his original. I have no doubt that 'space' was a marginal gloss on 'sware' of the previous line, and got by scribal mistake into this line. The erroneous insertion of the word probably antedated the omission of ' ]?owsande,' which was then dropped for metrical considerations. 'Sware' must have puzzled some reader, for the word is used here in the sense of ' side of a square,' referring to linear measurement. 1031. to cayre, i.e. in the traversing (gerundial inf.), in the going from point to point. The word 'cayre' cannot well come, as O. maintains, from F. quarer 'with the vowel slightly modified for rime.' Seeing that the rhymes of the whole verse are on are and aire, the poet would not here have ventured on the slight modification for rhyme. 1033-42. Rev. xxi. 12, 21. 1035. pouisent : I now hold that this is the correct read- ing, and not ' poz^^eut,' i. e. succession, the meaning being 'precinct' or earlier 'purcint'; cp. 'Cleanness,' 1385, ']3e place }?at plyed J>e pursauwt wyth-i«ne,' the sense being 'boundary or limit or compass,' though this meaning, so far as N.E.D. gives instances, seems rather later. In Rev. vii. 5-8, and in Ezek. xlviii. 31-34, the order of »the names, i.e. their nativities or fortunes of birth, is not that of birth ; 'byrf>[e]-whatej' evidently refers to Gen. xlix. 1-28, Jacob's blessing of his sons in their birth order — 'all these are the twelve tribes of Israel.' 1041. byr]?[e]-whate3 :?.^. birth omens ; O.E.hwast. Morris and O. read ' byr]? whatej,' making ' whatej '= ' watj,' ' was ' ; an absolutely impossible solution of the problem. Other- wise, 'hwatej' must be taken as a verb (cp. O.N. hvata), with the sense of ' hastens, runs.' 1043-8. stiate3: cp. 'stretej,' 1025, and 'strete' (rhyming), 1059. Cp. Rev. xxi. 23. 1050. [sjyjt: MS. lyjtj ; but it is hardly likely that the poet would have repeated the rhyming word in the same stanza. The obvious meaning is that ' on account of the subtle clearness nothing hindered sight,' i. e. he could look through i68 PEARL. the walls. O. strangely renders ' for air so subtle and clear could bar no light.' 105 1-3. Cp. Rev. iv. 1055-60. Rev. xxii. i. 1058. foysoun : at first sight this would seem to be a noun used anomalously as an adj. No similar instance occurs in English, but Godefroy gives examples of the word as an adverb, and its adjectival use may be assumed. 1060. galle o]7ei glet : cp. Note on 463. 1061-3. Rev. xxi. 22. 1064. Rev. V. 6. 1065-6. Rev. xxi. 25. 1065. wata : the poet uses the past tense, though in Rev. xxi. 25 we have the future. I suspect 'watj' with plural subject, and am inclined to think that the scribe, having written ' watj ' three times, in the previous four lines, has by an error repeated it instead of writing ' wern.' 1067-8. Rev. xxi. 27. 1069-76. Rev. xxi. 23, xxii. 5. 1070. spotty: cp. Milton, 'Paradise Lost,' I. 287-90 :— ' The moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening, from the top of Fesol^, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands.' 1071. Perhaps the poet wrote ' & also per-as nis neuer nyjt,' z. e. ' And also where is never night, why should the moon,' etc. If so, there would be a stop at ' grym.' Cp. Rev. xxi. 25. 1073. & to euen: for added 'to' in the second of two infinitives, cp. ' Cleanness,' 53-4, ' f>at Jjay samne schulde, & in comly quoyntis to com to his feste.' O. reads ' to-euen,' but the compound does not occur. 1075. plyjt: one would expect 'plyt,' condition (O.F. plite) ; not 'plyjt,' O.E. pliht, peril. I am of opinion that the two words were used indifferently by our poet ; here ' plyjt ' = ' plyt ' ; 'plyt,' 647, 1015 = ' ply3t ' ; but 'plyt' correctly, 1 114. 1077-80. Rev. xxii. 2. EXPLANATORY NOTES. 169 1083. ba[y]l[e] : MS. baly ; see Note on 1. 442. 1085. dased auayle : the reference is evidently to the ' couching,' i. e. the crouching or cowering of the quail ; cp. Chaucer, ' Clerk's Tale,' 1 1 50 : ' Thou shalt make him couche as dooth a quaille.' Couch-quail, in the phrase ' to play couch-quail,' is recorded in the early sixteenth century, in the sense of ' to cower, to crouch timidly' ; see N.E.D. 1086. for ferly : this phrase looks like a weak repetition of 'so ferly,' 1. 1084. It ™ay mean 'because of my wonder at,' or ' because of the marvel of ; but in view of the previous line, the sense is evidently the former : cp. 11. 183-8, where 'hende as hawk' is parallel to 'dased quayle.' I am in- clined to hold that the poet wrote ' for-ferlyd,' i.e. utterly astonished. freuch : Morris ' french ' ; whatever the significance of the word, 'freuch' may safely be accepted, as formerly proposed by me. I am no longer of opinion that it is the Scottish frusch, frush, freuch, fragile (cp. O.F. fruisser, to bruise), which is synonymous with ' frough,' of obscure origin, with meanings suggestive of 'frail, brittle, not to be depended on,' and is referred back to an O.E. ""froh ; so O. renders 'frail, uncertain, evanescent.' But it is not likely that such an epithet would be applied by the poet to the New Jerusalem. I have little doubt that we have here the M.E. corresponding to M.H.G. vro, O.Fris. fro, O.S. frao, gen. frahes, meaning 'joyous.' Jygure : ' shape, form,' here very much as ' fasure,' 1084, not ' vision ' -as O. glosses. 1 106. Rev. xxi. 21. 1107. Hundieth ^^owsandej : perhaps suggested by the number of the angels in Rev. v. 11. 1 108. liure: MS. liure^. The collective sg. is what one would expect here, and not the plural, and the emendation is further justified by the sg. verb. The scribe has, in my opinion, made a similar error as regards 'wedej,' 11 12, 170 PEARL. though there he may have been influenced by metrical considerations. 1 11 1. red g[ol]de cler: this does not occur in Rev., but is evidently due to the Song of Songs v. il, 'caput eius aurum optimum.' It is not, as O. notes, ' apparently added for embellishment by the poet.' 1 112. Cp. 11. 841-4. 11 13. thione: elsewhere 'trone' ; this looks like an inten- tional variant directly from the Lat. thronus {e.g. Rev. iv. 5), used here by the poet to avoid the repetition in the line of the same sound. O., comparing ' theme,' 1. 944 = ' teme,' would make 'throne' = 'trone.' 1 119-20. Rev. v. 8. 1 12 1, legyounes o£ aungelej : cp. Rev. v. 11 ; as N.E.D. points out, ' legion,' in the sense of a vast host or multitude, with special reference to angels or spirits, is a reminiscence of Matt. xxvi. S3. Cp. ' Piers Plowman,' A. i., 109, ' Lucifer with legiouns lerede hit in heuene.' 1 1 22. \>et kesten ensens: probably suggested by Rev. viii. 3. 1 126. Veitues; one of the orders of the angels (for a list see 'Ypotis,' 1. 90, Horstmann's ' Altenglische Legenden, Neue Folge,' where the ' virtues ' are seventh in order) ; cp. I Peter iii. 22, 'subjectis sibi angelis et potestatibus et virtutibus,' and Rom. viii. 38. 1129-30. 'Delight and much marvel were in my mind;' not, as O. thinks that the lines mean, ' Glad desire entered my heart to describe the Lamb with many a marvel.' 1 135. wyse: if this is from O.E. wisian, it should mean ' point out, show,' and may possibly be used here intransi- tively, i.e. 'show itself, appear.' This verb, in con- tradistinction to O.E. wissian, occurs only once in the poems, ' Cleanness,' 453-4, ' wysed Jj^route a message,' z. e. he directed thereout a messenger ; with reference to the raven sent by Noah. Strictly, therefore, the sense should be ' directed.' Could it here signify ' directed, i. e. pointed, towards the heart ' ? EXPLANATORY NOTES. 171 1 141. The Lombe delyt non lyste to wene: MS. lyste. ' Lombe ' is evidently gen. sg. without inflection. The sense of the line seems to be : ' to no one was there the desire to question the delight of the Lamb (for it was obvious).' ' Lyste ' is used here in rather a rare sense, ' to no one came the inclination.' ' Wene ' is 'to think out ' ; cp. ' but wene,' without doubt, doubtless. 1 146. Cp. Rev. ii. 10, 'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,' James i. 12, etc. 1149-50. Cp. Ps. xlv. 14, 15, ' The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought ; they shall enter into the King's palace.' 1 1 54. Cp. 224; also 'hys madding mynd,' Spenser, 'Shepherd's Calendar,' April, 1. 25. 1 1 58. To £eoh me bur: 'to' in this line and elsewhere indicates the gerundial infinitive; and I am strongly in- clined to hold that my former suggestion in respect of ' to feche me bur ' is correct, the phrase meaning ' to take the preliminary spurt' ; cp. E.D.D., 'to take birr,' a leap taken after a quick run ; Cotgrave, ' II recule pour mieux sauter, he goes back to take bur, or to leap the better.' Possibly the poet wrote 'my bur/ instead of 'me bur.' take me halte ; this I take to be parallel in sense to the previous words, and interpret it to mean, ' in taking off.' It may have been used technically, as the modern phrase 'to take off,' in the sense of 'to start in leaping.' The poet is here using two technical terms with reference to the initial movements before plunging, and he goes on to say that if no one prevented the ' bur ' and the ' take-off,' he would start on his swim, though he perished in the course. The force^of the line has hitherto, in my view, been altogether missed. 1 160. to swymme : again the gerundial infinitive, i. e. in swimming, 'and nought (methought) should keep me from the start, though I perished there in swimming the rest,' z. e. though he perished before reaching the other bank. 172 PEARL. O. in his translation takes ' to swymme ' as dependent on ' I f'ojt,' and renders the lines as follows : ' if no one could prevent my plunging in the stream, I hoped to swim the interval in safety, though I should die for it at last.' 1165. flonc: cp. Jjynk, 587. 1172. hylle: see Note on 1205. 1 175- and sykyng : cp. ' Gawain,' 753, ' & perfore sykyng ; ' ' Destr. Troy,' 866, ' Thus sykyng ho said'; ' and also ' Gawain,' 1796, 'Sykande ho sweje dou«,' and 'Cleanness,' 715, 'Al sykande he sayde.' Evidently the verbal noun had in the case of this word very early taken the place of the present participle, and coexisted with the older pr. part, forms, as in the present case. So, too, in such a Southern text as 'William of Palerne' we have 'sikande, sikende, sikinde, siking,' all present participles. 1 1 77. out-fleme: 'an outcast,' not 'banished,' as M. glosses; O.E. fliema, flema, a fugitive. 'Ut-flema' does not occur ; but we have ' ut-laga,' an outlaw, borrowed from Scand. ; cp. O.N. ut-lagi. Side by side with 'ut-laga' there was 'ut-laj, ut-lah,' outlawed, the adj. being used as a sb., so that ' outlaw ' frequently has the sense of ' out- lawed.' Hence the similar usage in respect of the synonym 'out-fleme,' as in the present passage, without 'an.' 1 1 80. in swone: the original form of the phrase would appear to have been ' a-swoune,' which became ' on swoune,' and then ' in swoune.' ' Swone,' rhyming with ' regioun,' etc. = ' swoune ' ; cp. rhymes in stanza Lxxxi. 1 181. to: not marking the infinitive, but adverbial, i.e. 'towards, to'; cp. 'Cleanness,' 155 1, 'He bede his burnes bo J to'; unless 'to-reme' is a compound, the prefix im- plying intensity. 1 1 86. garlande gay: the reference must be to the crown, 11. 205-8. The crown has ' flurted flowrej ' ; but it is doubtful whether the flowers are necessarily implied in the word ' garlande ' here. ' Garlande ' may mean the whole crown or diadem ; cp. Matthew Paris (Du Cange), ' Rex veste deaurata, et coronula aurea, quae vulgariter garlanda EXPLANATORY NOTES. 173 dicitur, redimitus,' and this use of the word is not rare in the fourteenth century. The word ' garlande ' seems to be ultimately due to M.H.G. wiere, gold wire. It is noteworthy that the thirteenth-century alliterative homily, 'Hali Meidenhad/ has the following statement in respect of the crowns worn in heaven by maidens. Over and above the crowns common to all the blest, they have ' a gerlaundesche schinende schenre pen pe sunne, Auriole ihate« o latines ledene ; pe flurs pat beoS idrahe J?ron, ne pe jimstanes ]?rin to tellen of hare euene ne is na mo«nes speche.' The auriole, equivalent to 'coronula,' was 'a celestial crown, worn by a martyr, virgin or doctor, as victor over the world, the flesh or the devil.' The aureola of the virgins was white, of the martyrs red, of the doctors green. Hence the aureole of Pearl is of clear white pearl, 1. 207. 1 193. As helde: 'as likely as possible.' This difficult phrase has not hitherto been explained, but I now adduce the Lanes, dialect 'belt' (see E.D.D.), in the sense of 'likely, easily.' The word is not recorded in M.E., though 'helder' (in the sense of 'rather') is of course common. It is not necessary to add, as O. does, ' r' to 'helde' ; indeed he misunderstands the force of the words, translating, 'had I been rather drawn to God's presence than forced my way.' This line goes with the apodosis, and not with the protasis. ' Helt ' would represent an older comparative form of the adverb; cp. Goth, haldis. In O.N. the adv. is 'heldr,' as opposed to the adj. 'heldri.' It seems likely, therefore, that 'held' represents a lost O.E. comparative adverb, the M.E. 'helder' being of Scand. origin. The syllabic e in ' helde ' was evidently added to intensify the adverbial force of ' held.' The adverbial comparative would be parallel to such adverbial comparatives as ' leng ' (= longer). present ; cp. 389. 1201. sete sa3te: this is clearly the O.N. phrase 'setja satt ' ; cp. ' setja friS, griS,' to establish peace. The Scan- dinavian origin of the phrase is strikingly attested by 174 PEARL the spelling *sete,' as opposed to the ordinary 'sette,' the former representing O.N. setja, the latter O.E. settan. There is, I think, a neglected law of M.E. phonology that words of Scandinavian origin showing a short e in the root followed by a single consonant with -ja suffix, have their radical lengthened ; hence 'sete,' against M.E. 'sette' from O.E. settan. Similarly in 11. 320, 981, we have 'keue' from O.N. kefja, where the rhyme shows the length. O. unnecessarily emends to ' sete [hym] sajte,' deriving ' sete ' from O.E. settan. 1204. Perhaps the most striking M.E. poem recalling Pearl, being in the same metre and with much the same feeling, is the fine poem 'God's Complaint,' with the refrain ' Whi art ]7ou to ]?i freend vnkinde ' (ed. Furnivall, ' Political, Religious and Love Poems,' E.E.T.S. Original Series, 15). 1205. hyul: I am now convinced that this is the reading of the MS., and that the scribe did not, as has been generally maintained, write ' hyiil ' with a dot on the first i. O. says, "MS. clearly 'hyiil,'" but the same stanza, in the case of 'Krystyin' and 'enclyin,' shows how the scribe, when he wished to mark an i, used a stroke resembling an acute accent, while the small dot was often used over a y, and it is this dot which is used in the present word, though written rather over the first stroke of the u than the_j/. For 'hyul,' cp. 'huyle,' 41, and see Note. 121 1. ge£: the more ordinary form of the pres. subj. would be 'geue' ; but ^%&V is probably correct ; cp. 'J'ryf,' 851. Anyhow, it is not a probable error for 'gyue,' as O. states, although that form occurs in 1. 707. homly hyne : ' homly ' = ' intimate, friendly.' The word does not occur in O.E. ; the M.E. 'homly' was probably influenced by Scand. ' heimuligr,' as used in such phrases as 'bans heimuligt f61k,' 'his household folk'; 'heimuligr clerkr,' 'a private clerk.' In Scottish the word is still common in this sense. For 'hyne,' see Note on 505. 1212. The last line of the poem catches up, as it were, the first, and indeed emphasises its deeper suggestion. GLOSSARY a, indef. art. a, 19, 23, 34, etc.; one, 786 (cp. 869), 1037 ; voh a, see veh ; cp. an, on (i). abate, see abyde. abated, pt. 3 pi. 123. OF. abatre. able, adj. 599. OF. able. abof, adv. above, 1023; prep. 1017. OE. a-bufan. abottte, prep, round about, 75. 1077; abowte, 149; concerning, 268 ; near, 513 ; adv. near, 932. OE. a-butan. abroched, pp. set abroach, 1 123; (lit. let forth as liquor from a pierced cask). OF. abrochier; broche, a spit. abyde, inf. endure, 348; pt. 3 i. abate, 617; pp. abiden, logo. OE. abi- dan; cp. byde. acheue, inf. achieve, 475. OF. achever. aoorde, agreement, 371, 509. OF. acord. acorded, pt. 3 pt- agreed with, 819. OF. acorder. acroche, inf. gain, lit. draw to itself as with a crook, 1069. OF. acrocher; cp. encroched. Adam, 656. adaunt, inf. subdue, 157. OF. adanter. adoun, adv. down, 988. OE. of dune; c^. doun(i). adubbement, adornment, splendour, glory, 84, 96, 108, 120; adub[be]mente, 72 ; adubbemente, 85 ; cp. dubbed, dubbement. adyte, imp. s. indict, 349; prob. OE. adihtan, in- fluenced in form and meaning by ME. endite, later indict; AF. enditer; late L.* indictare. aSray, fright, terror, lit. the sudden losing of one's peace, 1174. OF. effreer ; late L. ex-fridare, a Latinising from Teut. friSu, peace. alter, prep, along, 125; according to, 998; adv. afterwards, 256. OE. aefter. 17/ 176 PEARL. agayn, prep, against, 28, 1 199, 1200; agaynj, 79; adv. again, 326. OE. ongean. age, n. 412. OF. aage. aglyjte, pt. 2 s. didst glance ofi, slip away, go agley, 245. Cp. ON. glia, to shine; cp. glyjt. a-grete, 'in the great,' by the job, 560; cp. OF. en gros ; cp. gret. a^t, see 036. a3tl)e, eighth, ion. OE. eahtoSa. al, adj. all, 16, 86, 285, 424, etc. ; everything, 360 ; everybody, 1124; of al & sum, in full, entirely, 584 ; alle, 73, 119. 292, 372, 384, etc. ; everybody, 404, 447; adv. wholly, fully, 97, 197, 204, 210, 258, 280, 364, 540, etc. ; al samen, all together, 518. OE. call. a-las, alas I 113S; alias, 9- OF. a las. alder, aldest, see olde. alder-men, elders, 887, 1119. OE. ealdormann. alegge, imp. s. lay aside, give up, 703. OE. alec- gan; {not OF. esligier, ' allege,' which gives the contrary meaning). al-my3t, almighty, 498 ; OE. aelmiht. al-myjty, 1063. OE. sel- mihtig. al-one, solely, 933 ; OE. eal ana. alow, inf. reckon, take into count, place to credit, 634. OF. alouer. aloynte, pp. removed, far off, 893. AF, aloyner, k loin. also, adv. 685, 872; al-so, 1071 ; als,765. OE.eal swa. al-l^aj, conj. although, 759, 857, 878. OE. al 8eah. alyue, adj. living, 445, OE. on life. am, see be (i). amatyst, amethyst, 1 016. OF. amatiste. Amen, 1212. among, prep. 470, 848, 1145, 1150; adv. amon[c], in the meanwhile, 905. OE. onmang, on gemang. an, indef. art. 640; cp. a, on (i), vchon. and (&), and, 16, 18, 27, etc. ; if, 560, 598, etc. ; (?) as if, 1073 ; ande, 1212. au-ende, prep, in respect of, concerning, 697 ; over against, 1136; an-ende;, on a level with, in a line with, 975; on-ende, as regards, 186. OE. on efn. augel-hauyng, angelic de- meanour, 754; cp. ann- gele;, hafyng. anger, anguish, passionate grief, 343. ON. angr, trouble, affection. ani, see any. GLOSSARY. 177 anioynt, pp. enjoined, appointed, 895. OF. enjoindre. anon, adv. forthwith, 584, 629. OE. on an. ano^er, adj. a second, 297. answai, n. 518; OE. and swaru ; cp. on-sware, inf. an-vnder, prep, at the foot of, 166 ; under, 1081, 1092 1 100; an-vnde[r], 1068; on-vunder, 775 ; cp. vnder (2)- any, adj. 345, 463, 617, 800, 1068; ani, 1139. OE. jenig. apassed, pp. passed, 540. OF. apasser; cp. passe. apere, inf. appear, 405. OF. aparoir (stem aper-) . apert, adv. plainly, 589. , OF. apert. Apocalyppce, the Apo- calypse, 944, 1008; Apo- oalyppej, 787. 996, 1020; Apokalypce, 983 ; Apo- kalypej, 834; Appocalyp- pece, 866. apostel, n. 790, 836, 944, 984, 985, 996, 1008, 1020, 1032; appostel, 1053. OE. apostol. appaiaylmente, n. array, 1052. OF. apareillement. apple, n. 640. OE. Beppel. appose, pr. IS. interrogate, pose with question, 902 ; cp. Apposition, still used at St. Paul's School, origi- nally the public examina- tion day. OF. aposer, apposer, by the side of, oposer, opposer. appostel, see apostel. aproche, inf. approach, 686 ; pt. 3 s. aproched, 11 19. OF. aprochier. aoiuyle, inf. receive, wel- come, 690 ; pp. aquylde, 967. OF. aquillir, acuillir, accueillir ; late L. accolUgere. ar, am, art, see be (i). araye,position,arrangement, 5; array, 191 ; aray, 491. OF. arei. aiayed, pp. prepared, 719, 791 ; arayde, conditioned, 1 166. OF. areier. are-fede, people of yore, 711. ON. ar; cp. Jjede. aime, n. arm, 459, 466. OE. earm. aros.^i. 3 s. arose, 181. OE. arisan; cp: ryse. Arraby, Arabia, 430. arjnt, adv. straight on, 112. OE. on riht. Aiystotel, Aristotle, 751. aryue, inf. arrive, 447. OF. ariver. as, adv. 20, 76, 822, 1024, etc.; conj. 787, 801, 915, 923, 980, etc.; ])er as, where, 129, 818, 1173; as auo, as if one, 693; uses idiomatically with adjectives, 836, 1193. OE. al swa; cp. bare, belde, as tyt, ]>er. 178 PEARL. asent, harmony, 94 ; asente, concurrence, 391. OF. asent. aske, inf. ask, 316, 580, 910; ask[e], 564. OE. ascian. assemble, union, 760. OF. assemblee. asspye, inf. espy, 1035; pt. I s. asspyed, 979; fp- descried, 704. OF. espier. astate, estate, 393; asstate, state, rank, 490. OF. estat. a[s]tount, pp. astounded, 179. OF. estoner. astraye, adv. out of the right way, 11 62. OF. estraie; cp. stray. as tyt, as quickly as pos- sible, 645; cp. tyt, as. asyse, manner, 97. OF. asise. at (i), prep. 161, 198, 218, 321, 529, 547, 635, 647, 839, 862, 1066, 1115; beside, 287 ; according to, 199, 1 1 64; in the condition of, 672. OE. aet ; cp.&OB, on (i), steuen. at (2), pron. rel. which, 536. ON. at. at-slykej, pr. 3 s. slips away, 575. OE. *sllcan {not found), with pref. at. atteuy, pr. 2 j. stthj. come up to, reach, 548. OF. ateindre. Augoste, August, 39. L. augustus. aungelej, angels, 1 121. OF. angele ; cp. angel-hauyng, aunte, aunt, 233. OF. ante. auenture, adventurous quest, 64. OF. aventure. avysyoun, vision, 11 84. OF. avisiou. away, adv. away, 655, 823; from the right way, amiss, 488; awaye, 258. OE. onweg; cp. way (2). awayed, pp. instructed, taught, 710. OF. avier; late L. * adviare, to put on the way. [a]we, see 036. awhyle, adv. awhile, 692; cp. whyle. ay, adv. ever, 33, 44, 56, 366, 1 189, etc. ; a[y], 144 ; aye, 1 198. ON. ei. aylJer, each of the two, 831. OE. Sgfer. bale, harm, grief, 18, 373, 478, 651, 1139; pi. bale?, 123, 807. OE. balu. balke, mound, ridge, 62. OE. balca. bantelej, risings, steps, 992 ; bantels, 1017; prob. OF. bandel, a rising, in archi- tecture : hence, step. baptem, baptism, 653 ; bab- tem, 627. OF. bapteme. baptysed, pt. 3 s. baptised, 818. OF. baptiser. bare, clear, 1025 ; ' as b.', as clear as possible, 836. OE. baer. GLOSSARY. 179 barne, child, 426 ; pi. barney, 712 Israel bar- nej, 1040. OE. beam. basse, n. base, 1000. OF. base. basyng, n. base, 992. ba[y]l[e], ' bail,' ' bai- ley,' the external wall of a feudal castle, 1083 ; bayly, the domain en- closed, 315; (cp. Med. Lat. ballium; OF. bail, bailie). bayly, jurisdiction, 442 . OF. baillie. bayn, willing, 807. ON, beinn. baysment, discomfiture from surprise, 174; (aphetic form of abaysment. OF. abaissement) . be (i), inf. 29, 281, etc. ; pr. I s. am, 246, 335, etc. ; 2 s. art, 242, 276, etc. ; arte, 7°?; 3s- is, 26, 33, etc^ ; nis (= ne is), 100; nys, 951; pl- am, 384, 402, 517, 927, etc. ; ar, 923 ; bene, 785 ; ben, 572; 3 s. (= futufe) betj, 6ir; pr. subj. be, 379, 470, 572, 694, etc. ; imp, s. 344, 406; pt. s. watj, 45. 372. 1088, etc. ; wace, 65; wasse, 1 108, 1 1 12; wore, 232; pi. wern, 71, 251, etc.; wer, 68, 641; were, 1107; ware, 151, 1027; wore, 154; ( ?) watj, 1065 ; pt. s. subj. wer, 972, 1092 ; were, 264, 1167, etc.; wore, 142; pi. wern, 451; wore, 574; pp. ben, 252, 373. OE. beon. be (2), prep, see by. beau, beauteous, 197. OF. beau. beauty, beauty, 749; bew- t6, 765. OF. beaute. bede, see bydde^ bele, inf. burn, 18. ON. bSla. bem, beam, rood, 814. OE. beam. beme;, see sunne-beme;. ben, bene, see be (i). bene, gracious, bright, no, 198. (?) etym. bent, pp. bound, 664 ; bente, bowed, 1 189. OE. ben- dan. bere, inf. bear, carry, 807, 1078 ; pr. 3 s. berej, 100, 746, 756, 1068; pi. beren, 854, 856, 1079 ; pr. 2 s. subj. ber, 466 ; pt. i s. here, 67; 3 s. ber, 426; pp. bore, 239; borne, 626. OE. beran. bereste, see breste. beryl, beryl, ion ; ' cry- stal,' no. OF. beryl. beste, see god. bestej, beasts, 886. OF. beste. bete (i). inf. make good, amend, 757. OE. betan. bete (2), pt. 3 pi. beat, 93. OE. beatan. i8o PEARL, better, see wel. bewt6, see beauty, beyng, being, nature, 446. bi-talt, pp. shaken, 1161. OE.-tealtian, to shake. blast, pp. bleached, 212. OE. blscan, bljecean, pp. bl*ht. blake, black, 945. OE. blaec. blame (i), n. rebuke, 715. OF. bUme. blame (2), inf. 303 ; pr. 2 s. blame;, 275. OF. bia- mer. blayke, pale, 27. ON. bleikr. ble, colour, 76; hue, com- plexion, 212. OE. bleo. bleaunt, garment, or the stuff of which it is made, 163. OF. bliaut. blent, pp. blended, mingled, 385; blente, 1016. ON. blanda {pr. sg. blend-). blesse, pr. 3 s. subj., 850; inf. to cross oneself, 341 ; pp. blessed, blessed, 436. OE. bletsian. blessyng, n. 1208. bio, dark, livid, 83, 875. ON. blar. blod, blood, 646, 650, etc.; blode, 74. OE. blod. blody, bloodily, 705. OE. blodig. blom, bloom, blossom, flower, 578; pi. blome;, 27. OE. blom. blot, stain, 782; cp. OF. bloustre, blotte, a clot of earth. blunt, stunned, 176; cp. ON. blunda, to doze. blusched, pt. js. looked, 980, 1083; {cp. OE. ablisian, to blush; blysa, torch; (?) OE. blyscan), cp. blysned. blwe, blue, 27, 76, 423. OF. bleu. blynde, dark, dim, 83. OE. blind. blynne, inf. cease, 729. OE. blinnan. blys, bliss, 123, 126, etc. ; blysse, 372. 373. etc.; blys[se], 286. OE. bli))s, ace. bliSse. blysfnl, 421, 907, etc. ; blys- fol, 279. blysned, pt. 3 s. gleamed, 1048; py. p. blysnande, 163, 197. OE.* blysnian, {not found). bly^e (i), adj. joyous, gentle, 352. 738; sup. blyjjest, 1131. OE. bliSe; cp. n. bly|>e. blylie (2), n. joy, goodwill, grace, 354. ON. bliSa. blyjiely, joyously, 385. bod, see byde. body, n. 62, 460, 1070. OE. bodig. bodyly, adj. bodily, 478; adv., with the body, 1090. boffetej, pi. buffets, 809. OF. bufet. GLOSSARY. igi b03e, inf. take one's way, 196; imp. s., bow, 974; pt. I s. bowed, 126. OE. bugan. bojt, see bye. bok, book, 710; boke, 837. OE. boc. bolde, audacious, 806. OE. bald. bolle;, boles, trunks, 76. ON. bolr. bolne, inf. swell, 18. ON. bolgna; Dan. bolne. bon, bone, 212. OE. ban. bone, high ground, slope, bank of a stream, 907, 1 169; bonk, 102; bonke, 196; pi. bonke;, no, 138, 931 ; b[o]nkes, 106; cp. ON. bakki (= banke) . bone, petition, prayer, 912, 916; boon, favour, 1090. ON. bon. bonert6, goodness, 762. OF. bonerte. bonke, bonke;, see bone, bor, dwelling, 964. OE. bur. borde, pr. 2 pi. jest, 290. OF. bourder. bor;, burgh, city, 957, 989, 1048 ; burghe, 980. OE. burh. borne;, gen. s. river's, 974. OE. burna. bornyst, pp. burnished, 77; bornyste, 220; burnist, 990. OF. burnir, pr. p. burnis-ant. boro3t, see bryng. boatwys, rough, rude, 814; bustwys, savage, wild, 911; see Note, 1. 911. bot, adv. but, only, 17, 18, 83, 269, 382, 551, 592, 905 ; conj. co-ord. 66, 91, 265, etc. ; subord. unless, 308, 428, 723, 972 ; prep. except, 331, 336, 337, 496, 842, 892, 952, 955 ; after negative, 658; O.E. butan. bote, remedy, 275, 645. OE. bot. boJ>e (i), pron. both, 950; cp. ON. baair, Sw. ba- da, Dan. baade. boje (2), conj. both, with and, 90, 329, 682, 731, 1056, 1203 ; without and, 373 ; cp- ON. baSir, Sw. bS,da, Dan. baade. boun, ready, 534; fixed, 992, 1 103. ON. buinn. bounden, pp. bound, edged, 198 5' fastened, 1103. OE. bindan. bourne, see bnme. bow, bowed, see bo;e. boye;, churls, 806; not in OE., cp. EFris. boi. bo;, impers. pr. behoves, 323; />«. by-hod, 92S. OE. bihofian. brade, see brode. brat[h]e, violence, 11 70; pi. bra]>e3, violent emo- I«2 PEARL. tions, 346. ON. bra8(r), adj. with-]>e, suff. biaundysch, pr. 2 s. subj. toss about, 346. OF. brandir, pr. p. brandis- sant. bray, pr. 2 s. subj. utter harshly, 346. OF. braire. brayde, pt. 3 s. roused sud- denly, 1 170; 3 pi. brought, 712. OE. breg- dan, braegd. biaynej, brains, 126. OE. braegn. bred, bread, 1209. OE. bread. biede (i), n. breadth, 1031. OE. breedu. brede(2), iM/.extend,stretch, 814; grow, flourish, 415. OE. brSdan. bted-ful, brimful, 126; cp. Sw. braddfull ; OE. brerd. bref, brief, 268. OF. bref. bieme, spirited, bold, 346; valiant, glorious, 863. OE. breme. brende, pp. burnt, bur- nished, ' red," applied to gold (cp. brantail), 989. ON. brenna; cp. OE. bernan; cp. for-brent. brent, adj. steep, 106; b[r]ent, loi 7. OE. brant ; Sw. brant; ON. brattr. breste, »• breast, 18, 222, 740, 1 103, 1 1 39; bereste, 854. OE. breost. bieue, imp. s. tell, 755. ON. brefa. brode, broad, 650, 1022, 1024; brade, 138. OE. brad. bio;te, br03[t], see bryng. broke, n. brook, 141, 146; brok, 981 ; gen. s. bro- ke?, 1074. OE. broc. bronn, brown, dark, 537; the colour of burnished metal, 990. OE. brun. brunt, n. smart blow, 174. cp. ON. bruna, to ad- vance at fire-speed. bryd, bride, 769. OE. bryd. brydde;, birds, 93. OE. brid. bry3t, adj. bright, 75, no, 989; used as n., 755; camp, bryjter, 1056; adv. bryjt, 769, 1048. OE. beorht. brym, brink, 1074; brym- me, 232. OE. brymme. bryng, inf. bring, 853; imp. s. 963 ; pt. 3 s. brojte, 527; PP- bro3[t], 286; boro3t, 628. OE. bringan. bur, n. impetus, 1 1 58 ; burre, blow, 176. ON. byrr. burde, impers. pt. it was meet, 316. OE. (ge)- byrian. burghe, see bor3. burne, man, 397, 1090; bourne, 617; pi. burne3, 712. OE. beorn. burnist, see bornyst. GLOSSARY. 183 buire, see bur. bustwys, see bost-wys. busye;, pr. 2 s. troublest, 268. OE. bisgian. by, prep. 107, 140, 141, etc. ; [by], 672 ; be, 523- OE. hi. by-calle, pr. i s. call upon, 913; pp. by-calt, called, 1 163; cp. calle. by-cawse, conj. 296. by-com, pt. 3 s. became, 537 ; op- com. bydde;, pr. 3 s. bids, 520; pt. 3 pi. bede, 715- OE. biddan. byde, inf. remain, 399, 977 ; endure, 664 ; pr. 2 s. bydej, 907 ; 3 pl- 75 ; pt. 5 s. bod, 62. OE. bidan; cp, abyde. by-dene, straightway, 196. (?) OE. bi den(e), pp. of dsn (Skeat). bye, inf. buy, 732; byye, 478; pt. 3 i. bojt, 651; PP- 733 ; redeemed, 893. OE. bycgan. byfalle, inf. happen, 186. OE. befeallan ; cp. fel. byfore, adv. formerly, 172; in front, 11 10; conj. 530; prep. 598, 885; by-£ore, 294; bifore, 49- OE. beforan. byg, big, 102 ; comp. bygger, 374- ''P- Nor. bugge, a strong man. bygly, inhabitable, pleasant, 963 ; cp. bygyng. by-gonne, see bygynne. bygyng, n. dwelling, 932. ON. V. byggja ; cp. bygly. bygynne, inf. begin, 581 ; pr. 2 s. bygynne^, 561 ; imp. s. bygyn, 547; pt- 3 pl- by-gonne, 549 ; PP- 33. OE. biginnan. bygynner, beginner, 436. byje, ring, bracelet, 466, OE. beah. by3onde, prep, beyond, 141, 146, 158, 287, 981, 1156. OE. begeondan. by-hod, see ho). byholde, inf. behold, 810. OE. bihaldan; cp. halde, bylde (i), n. building, 727, 963 ; cp. OE. byldan. bylde (2), pi. 3 pl. encour- aged, stirred up, 123. OE. bieldan. byrKe], birth, 1041. ON. byrS ;- see whate; . bysech, inf. beseech, 390; cp. sech. byseme, v. impers. inf. befit, 310; cp. semed. by-swyke?, pr. i s. defraud, 568. OE. beswican. by-tajte, pt. i s. committed, 1207. OE. betScan; cp. tech. byte, inf. bite, 640; seize upon, 355. OE. bitan. by-twene, adv. around, 44; prep, between, 140, 658. OE. bitweonum. by-twyste, prep, betwixt, 464. OE. betweox. 184 PEARL. bytyde, inf. befal, 397. OE. tidan, with pref. be. byye, see bye. caggen, pr. 3 pi. fasten, bind, 512; {origin doubt- ful; ? cp. catch). ca3t, pt. 3 ». seized, 50; cajte, 237. O. North F. cachier ; ME. cacchen, cajt, on analogy with lajt, fr. lacchen. calder, see colde. calle, inf. 173, 182, 721 ; pr. I pi. 430; pt. 3 s. called, 542; calde, 762; pp. called, 273; calle[d], 572. ON. kalla; cp. by- calle. calsydoyne, chalcedony, 1003. OF: calcidoine. cambe, n. comb, 775. OE. camb. can, see con (i). care, n. 50, 371, 861 ; pi. caiej, 808. OE. caru. carpe, inf. speak, 949; carp[e], 381; pt. 3 s. caipe[d], 752- ON. karpa. Caipe, n. discourse, 883. ON. karpa, vb. cas, case, 673. OF. cas. caste, intention, 11 63; cp. ON. V. kasta, to throw, meditate. castel - walle, 917- OF- castel; cp. wjd. cause?, pi. 702. OF. cause. cayie, ger. inf. proceed, 1031. ON. keyra. cete, see cyte. ceuer, inf. attain, 319. OF. cuvrer, cuevr-. chace, inf. 443. OF. chacier; cp. enchace. chambre, 904. OF. chambre. chapel, 1062. OF. chapel. charde, pt. 3 pi. turned, 608. OE. cerran. chaiyt^, 470. OF. charite. chayere, chair, throne, 885. OF. chaiere. chere, cheer, mien, 407, 887, 1109. OF. chiere, chere. ches, chese, see chos. cheuentayn, chieftain, 605. OF. chevetaine. chos, pt. I s. chose, 187; 3 s. ches, 759 ; chese, 954 ; pp. ichose, 904. OE. ceosan. chyche, niggard, 605. OF. chiche. Chyde, inf. chide, blame, 403. OE. cidan. chylde, 723; pi. chylder, 714, 718. OE. cild, cildru. cite, see cyte. clad, 22. OE. claSod. clambe, see clym. clanly, adv., nobly, chastely, 2. OE. clEenlice ; cp. clene. clem, inf. claim, 826. OF. claimer. clene, pure, 227, 289, 682, 737. 969, 972 ; adv. per- fectly, 754, 767; cor- rectly, 949. OE. cljene; cp. clanly. GLOSSARY. i8s dente, pp. clenched, riveted, 259. OE. *clen- can (not found) ; cp. MHG. klenken. der, adj. clear, pure, bright, 74, 207, 227, loii, iiii ; clere, 2, 620, 737; adv. cler, 274, 882, 913; n. clearness, 1050. OF. cler. clerkej, 1091. OF. clerc. cleuen, see clyuen. clos, adj. enclosed, set, 2; closed, shut, 183 ; secure, (?) shut in, 512. OF. clos, pp. o/clore; cp. enclose, close, inf. 271 ; pt. 3 s. closed, 803. OF. clos, pp. o/clore; cp. clos. clot, clay, 22, 320; ground, 789;^?.clotte3,857. OE. clott, clot. doystor, 969- Cp. Low L. claustiira. clyffe, cliff, 159; pi. klyfej, 66; klyfle?, 74- OE. clif. clym, inf. climb, 1072 ; klymbe, 678; pt. 2 s. clambe, 773- OE. clim- ban. dynge, pr. 3 pi. shrink, 857. OE. clingan. Clypper, shearer, 802 ; cp. ON. V. klippa. clyuen, inf. remain, 11 96; pr. 3 pi. cleuen, rise, 66. OE. clifian, cleofian. cnawyng, knowledge, 859; cp. knaw. cnoken, pr. 3 pi. knock, 727. OE. cnucian, (ge)- cnocian; cp. ON. knoka. cofer, cofiejr, 259. OF. cofre. colde, adj. 50, 808; comp. calder, 320. OE. cald. coloui, beauty, 215, 753 ^ color, 22. OF. colour. com, inf. come, 676; comfe], 701 ; 3 s. com- me?, 848; imp. i. cum, 763 ; pt. I s. come, 582 ; com, 615; 3 s. 155. 230, 262, 645, 749; pi. 574; pt. 2 s. subj. 598; 3 s. 723, 724. OE. cuman; cp. by- com. come, n. coming, 11 17. OE. cyme. comfort, n. 55; comforte, 357 ; coumiorde, 369. OF. con-, cuufort. cotnly, fair, 775; cumly, 929; adv. comly, 259. OE. cymlic. commune, adj. common, 739. OF. comun. compas, circuit, 1072. OF. compas. compayny, 851. OF. com- paignie. con (i), can, does; pr. i s. 931; 25.769:35.294,495, 665, etc. ; can, 499 ; 2 pi. con, 381, 914 ; conne, 521 ; 3 pi. con, 509. 1078 ; pt. I s. cow]>e, 134; 2 5. cow])e3, 484; 3 s. couJ>e, 1 86 PEARL. 95 ; 3 pi- 855- OE. cun- nan, cann, ctiSe. con (2) did, I s. 81, 147, 149, etc. ; 2 s. 313, 777, 1 1 83; conej, 482, 909, 925; 3 s. Ill, 171, 173, etc. ; 3 pi. 78, 551 ; orig. for gan {pt. of girman), used for auxiliary ' did', attracted to, and confused with, can, con (cunnan, 'to be able'), and ac- cordingly used as pres- ent and past auxiliaries in sense of 'do' and ' did.' conciens, consciousness, 1089. OF. conscience. conne, see con (i). contryssyoun, contrition, 669. OF. contriciun. coppe, see hyl-coppe. come, 40. OE. corn. coroun, 237, 255 ; coroune, crown, 205 ; croune, 427; croan, 1100; pi. coroune;, 451. OF. co- rone. COIOunde, pt. 3 s. crowned, 415; pp. 480; coronde, 767,1101. OF. coroner. corse, body, 320 ; pi. corses, 857. OF. cors. cortayse, courteous, 433 ; corte?, 754. OF. cor- teis ; cp. vn-cort[a]yse. cortaysly, courteously, 381. cortaysye, courtesy, 432, 444, 456, 468 ; cortays[y]e, 469, 480, 481 ; cour- taysye, 457. OF. cor- tesie. corte, see court, cortel, Ifirtle, 203. OE. cyrtel. Corte;, see cortayse. coruen, see keruen. coumforde, see comfort. C0unsayl[ei, course, state of being, 319. AF. cun- seil. counterfete, inf. resemble, 556. OF. contrefait, pp. of contrefaire. couutes, countess, 489. OF. cuntesse. country, 297. OF. coun- tree. court, 445; corte, 701. OF. cort, curt. courtaysye, see cortaysye. coulie, cowjie, see con (i). couenaunt, 562 ; couen- aunde, 563. OF. cove- nant, crafte;, powers, 356, 890. OE. craeft. craue, inf. crave, 663. OE. crafian. Crede, the Creed, 485. L. credo. cresse, cress, 343. OE. cresse. creste, crown, 856. OF. creste. croke;, pi. reaping-hooks, sickles, 40. ON. krokr. croun, croune, see coroun. [c]ryed, pp. cried, 702. OF. crier. GLOSSARY. 187 orysolyt, chrysolite, 1009. G. xp"f<^Ai9os, the gold- coloured stone. ciysopase, chrysoprase, a golden green stone, 1013. G. xp^'^^P^'^o^ ' xp^^^^i gold, irpdaov, leek; L. chrysoprassus, chryso- passus ; OF. cryso- prasse, crisopase. crystal, 74, 159. OF. cristal. Crystes, see Kryst. cum, see com. cumly, see comly. CUie, n. care, charge, 1091. OF. cure. cyte, city, 792, 939, 1023; cete, 927, 952 ; cite, 1097 ; cyty, 986. OF. cit6. dalej, 121. OE. dael. dam, «. stream, 324; cp. OFris. dam ; ON. dammr; OE. -demman. dampned, pp. condemned, 641. OF. dampner. damysel, 489 ; damyselle, 361. OF. dameisele, damisele. dar, pr. I 5. dare, 1089; pt. I s. dorst, 143; dorste, 182. OE. dear, dorste. dare, inf. lie low, fear, 839; pt. 3 s. dard, 609; cp. LG. (be)daren; Sw. dasa, to lie idle ; E. daze. dased, pp. dazed, 1085. ON. dasa(sk), to daze oneself. date, end, goal, 492, 493, 516, 528, 540, 541 ; [date], 529 ; appointed season, 504, 505; fixed time (?) = dawn, 517 ; pi. datej, dates, 1040. OF. date. daunce, pr. 2 s. siibj., 345. OF. dancer. daunger, subjection, de- pression, 250. OF. dan- ger; LL. *domniarium; cp. luf-danngere. Dauid, 698, 920. day, 486, 510, 516, etc.; daye, 517, 541, 1210; gen. s. dayej, 533. 554; pi. 416; dawej, 282. OE. dseg, dagas. day-glem, day-gleam, sun- light, 1094 ; cp. glem. dayly, inf. hazard, dally (with words), 313. AF. dalier; OF. dallier; cp. prov. G. dahlen, to trifle. debate, discussion, dispute, 390. OF. debat. debonere, 162. OF. de- bonere. de-bonert4, gentleness, 798. OF. debonairete. declyne, inf. droop, 333 de-clyne, ijend, yield, con- sent, 509. OF. decliner. dede (i), adj. dead, 31. OE. dead. , dede (2), n. deed, 481, 524. OE. died. de-gres, pi. steps, 1022. OF. degre. del, dele, see doel. PEARL. dele, pr. 3 s. subj. deal, 606. OE. dalan. delf ally, grievously, 706 ; cp. doel. delyt, n. delight, 642, 1104, 1105, 1116, etc.; delit, 1 1 29. OF. delit. delyaered, pt. 3 s. delivered, 652. OF. delivrer. deme, inf. deem, judge, de- clare, 336, 348, 360, 1 183; dem[e], 312; pr. 2 s. demej, 325, 337) imp. s. deme, 313, 349; py. 3 i. subj. deme, 324; pt. I s. demed, 361. OE. deman; cp. dom. demme, inf. be dammed, checked, 223. OE. (for-) demman; cp. dam. dene, valley, 295. OE. denu. denned, pt. 3 s. resounded, 51. OE. dynian; cp. dyne. dep, see depe (2). departed, pt. i pi. separated, 378. OF. departir. depaynt, pp. depicted, ar- rayed, 1 102. OF. de- peint; cp. paynted. depe (i), n. pi. depths, waters, 109. OE. deop. depe (2), adj. deep, 143, intense, 215; adv. dep, 406. OE. deop, deope. depies, inf. vanquish, 778. OF. depresser. depiyae, tnf. 449. OF. de- priver. dere (i), adj. beloved, pre- cious, wonderful, 72, 85, 97, etc. ; adv. 733. OE. deore. dere (2), inf. harm, 11 57. OE. derian. derely, wondrously, 995. dere;, pi. hindrances, 102. OE. n. daru, v. derian; cp. dere (2). derk, dark, darkness, 629. OE. deorc. der)>e, beauty, 99. OE. deore=dere-f -^suff.; cp. ON. dyrS; cp. dere (i)i derworth, wonderful, 109. OE. deorwurSe. I, dais, 766. OF. dels. n. desert, 595. OF. desserte. dessypele;, disciples, 715. OF. disciple. destyn6, destined beloved one, 758. OF. destinee. determynable, determined, fixed, 594. OF. deter- minable. deth, death, 323, 630, 652, 656; dethe, 860. OE. deap. deuely, deaf-like, dull, OE. *deaflic ; ON. daufligr. deuise, inf. picture. 11 29; pr. 3 s. deuysej, 984, 995 ; pt. 3 s. deuysed, 1021. OF. deviser. denote, devout, 406. OF. devot. deuoyde, inf. drive away, 15. OF. desvoidier. GLOSSARY. 189 deuyse, device," 139; at my deuyse, in my opinion, 199. OF. devise. deuysed, deuyse?, see deuise. deuysement, portrayal, 1019. OF. devisement. dewyne, pr. i s. pine, 11; dowyne, 326. O dwi- nan. do, doe, 345. OE. da. do, do, 338, 496, etc.; cause, 102, 306, etc.; put, 366, 1042; do way, cease, 718; inf. 424, 496, etc.; done, 914 ; pi'- 1 s- do, 366 ; 2 s. and 3 s. dotj, 338, 556. 17. 293, etc. ; 3 pi. don, 511; imp. pi. do, 718 ; dot?, 521, 536;^*. 3 i. did, 102, 1138; dyt, 681; 3 pi. dyden, 633, pt. 3 s. subj. dyd, 306; pp. don, 250, 282, etc. ; done, 1042. OE. don. doc, duke, 211. OF. due. doel, grief, 3 36, 3 3 9, 642 ; used attributively, 337 ; del, 250; dele, 51; dol, 326; OF. doel, duel, dol; cp. deUuUy. doel-doungoun, dungeon of grief, 1 187. OF. donjon; LL. domnionem keep- tower; cp. doel. dole, part, 136. OE. dal. dom, mind, judgment, 157, 223, 667 ; dome, 580, 699, OE. dom; cp. deme. doist, dorste, see dai. dot;, see do. double, 202. OF. double. doun (i), adv. down, 30, 41, 125, etc.; prep. 196, 230; cp. adoun. doun (2), hill, 121; pi. downej, 73, 85. OE. dun. doungoun, see doel-donn- gonn. dousour, sweetness, 429. OF. dou50r. doute, n. doubt, 928. OF. doute. douth, doughty one, 839. OE. duguj). dowyne, see dewyne. draj, imp. s. draw 699; pt. 3 pi. dro3, 1 1 16; pp. drawen, 1193. OE. dragan; cp. o-drawej, wyth-droj. dred, pt. i s. feared, 186. OE. (on)drEedan. diede, n. dread, i8i ; wyth- outen drede, without doubt, 1047; from i/. drede. diem, n. dream, 790, 1170. OE. dream, diesse, inf. ordain, 495 ; pp. drest, directed, drawn, 860. OF. dresser. dieue, inf. go, 323 ; pt. I s. dieued, 980. OE. drjefan. drof, see dryue. dl03, see dra;. drounde, pt. 3 s. drowned, 656 ; cp. Dan. drukne, droune =• OE. druncnian, ON. drukkna. I go PEARL. drwiy, dreary, 323. OE. dreorig. dryje, incessant, 823. ON. drjugr. dryjly, continuously, stead- ily, 125, 223; cp. dryje. Dryjtyn, Lord, 324, 349. OE. dryhten. dryue, pr. 3 s. subj. drive, 1094; pt. 3 s. drof, 30, 1153; PP- dryaen, 1194. OE. drifan; cp. out-dtyf. dubbed, pp. adorned, 73, 202; dubbet, 97. OF. adouber, prob. of Germanic orig. ; cp. Norw. dubba, to nod, Fris. dubben, to strike ; cp. diibbement. dubbement, adornment, 121 ; dubbemente, 109. OF. adoubement ; cp. adubbement. due, 894. OF. deu. dunne,dark, 30. OE. dunn. durande, lasting, 336. OF. durer. dycbe, water-course, 607. OE. die ; dat. dice. dyd, dyden, see do. dyje, inf. die, 306, 642 ; pt. 3 s. dyjed, 828 ; dyed, 705. ( ?) ON. deyja. dyst, inf. order, 360; pp. adorned, 920, 987 ; dyjte, 202. OE. dibtan. dylle, dull, slow, 680; cp. OE. dol. dym, 1076. OE. dim. dyne, din, 339. OE. dyne; cp. denned. dyscreuen, inf. descry, 68. OF. descrivre. dysplese3, pr. 3 s. displeases, 455; imp. s. be not displeased, 422. OF. desplaisir. dyssente, pr. 3 pi. descend, 627. OF. descendre. dystiesse, n. distress, 280, 337 . dysstresse, 898. OF. destresse; cp. stresse. dystryed, pt. 3 pi. destroyed, 124. OF. destruire. dyt, see do. efte, again, 328, 332. OE. eft. ellej, else, 32, 130, 491, 567, 724. OE. elles. emeiad, «. emerald, 118; emei'ade, 1005. OF. esmeraud. emperise, empress, 441. OF. emperesse. empyre, 54. OF. empire. enchace, inf. pursue, 173. OF. enchacier ; cp. chace. enclose, inf. enclose, con- tain, 909. OF. enclos, pp. of enclore; cp. clos. enclyin, aa!;. prostrate, 1206. OF. enclin. en-dyne, inf. bow 630; pr. p. enclynande, 236. OF. encliner. eucres, inf. increase, 959. OF. encreistre. encroched, pt. 3 s. obtained, brought, 1 1 17. OF. en- crochier; cp. acroche. GLOSSARY. 191 endele;, adv. perfectly, without end, 738. OE. endeleas. endent, pp. notched, cut into, inlaid, 1012 ; en- dente, 629. L. inden- tare. endoide, pp. used as n. adored, 368. OF. adorer, earlier aorer. enduie, inf. 225; endeuie, 1082; pp. endured, 476. OF. endurer. endyte, pr. 3 pi. proclaim, give forth, 1126. OF. enditer. ene (i), adv. ; at ene, at one time, 291, 953. OE. Sne. [ene] (2), see yje. enle, singly, 849. OE. aenllc. enleuen)>e, eleventh, 1014. OE. endlyfta ; cp, endlu- fon, endleofan. enpi[y]se, renown, 1097. OF. enprise. ensens, n. incense, 1122. OF. encens. entent, intention, purpose, 1191. OF. entent. enter, inf. 966; pr. 3 s. entrej, 1067; pt. i s. entted, 38. OF. entrer. enurned, pp. adorned, 1027. OF. aorner. er, conj. before, 188, 224, 324, etc.; prep. 517; adv. first, 319 ; formerly, 372 ; ere, 164. OE. *r. erber, herb-garden, garden. 38, 1 171; erbere, 9. OF. herbier. erde, land, country, 248. OE. eard. ere (i), see er. ere (2), ». ear, 1153. OE. eare. erle, earl, 211. OE. eorl. erly, adv. early, 392, 506. OE. aerlice. errour, n. 402. OF. errour. erlie, see vrjie. erytage, see herytage. eschaped, pt. 3 s. subj. escaped from, evaded, 187. OF. eschaper. efe, easy, 1202. OE. eaSe. euel, adv. ill, 310 930. OE. yfele. euen (i), adv. exactly, 740. OE. efne. euen (2), inf. vie, compare, 1073. OE. efn(i)an. euen-songe, evensong, ves- pers, 529. OE. afensang; cp. songe (i). euentyde, n. 582. OE. Eefentld. euer, adv. ever, 144, 153, 180, etc. OE. aefre. euer-more, adv. 591, 666, 1066; cp. much, excused pp. 281. OF. ex- cuser. espoun, pr. I s. set forth, 37. OF. espondre. expresse, adf. positively, dis- tinctly, 910. OF. expres. fable, 592. OF. fable. 192 PEARL. face, 67, 169, 434, 809; fa[c]e, 675. OF. face. fader, father, 639, 736 ; gen. s. taderej, 872. OE. faeder; cp. jore-fader. fajt, pt. 3 pi. fought, 54. OE. feohtan, feaht. fande, see fynde. farande, plausible, fitting, 865. OE. faran; cp. fare {2). fare (i), n. demeanour, 832. OE. faer. fare (2), inf. go, 147 ; pr. 3 s. fares, 129; i pi. fare to, behave towards, 467. OE. faran; cp, farande. fasoun, form, manner, 983, iioi. OF. fafon. faste, adv. determinedly, 54, 150. ON. fast; cp. OE. faest, firm; cp. feste. fasure, form, 1084; fasor, 431. OF. faisure. fate;, pr. 3 s. fades, 1038. OF. fader. faunt, child, 161. OF. en- fant. fanour, grace, 428; fauor, 968. OF. favour. fax, hair, 213. OE. feax. faye, faith, 263; par ma fay, 489. OF. fei. fayly, inf. fail, 34; fayle, 317; pt. 3 s. fayled, 270. OF. faillir. fayn, glad, 393, 450. OE. fsegen. fayr, adj. fair, 147, 490, 810; fayre, 169, 177, 747, 1024 {see Note), etc. ; comp. fei[r]er,io3; aiw.tayr,7i4; fayre, 88, 884. OE. faeger. fech, inf. fetch, 1158; pr. 3 s. subj. feche, 847. OE. feccan. fede, pp. blighted, 29. ON. feyja. fei[r]er, see fayr. fel, pi. I s. fell, 1 1 74; felle, 57; 3 pi. 1 120. OE. feallan, feoU; cp. byfalle. felde, pt. I s. felt, 1087. OE. felan. fele, many, 21, 439, 716, etc. OE. fela. felle, adj. fell, 367, 655. OF. fel. feIon[e], crime, 800. OF. felonie. fenyx, phoenix, 430. OE. fenix. fer, adv. far, 334, 1076; comp. fyrre, 103, 127, 152, 347, etc. OE. feor, fyrr; cp. fyrre, adj. fere, company; In fere, together, 89, 884, nog. OE. (ge)fer. ferej (i), n. companions, 1 150. OE. (ge)fera. fere? {2), pr. 3 s. transports, 98 ; pp. f eryed, 946. OE. ferian. ferly, wondrous, 1084 ; used as n. wonder, 1086. OE. fSrlic. f eryed, see ferej. feste, feast ; mafeste, 283, to make merry. OF. feste. GLOSSARY, 193 fete, see fote. fewe, few, 572. OE. feawe. flajt, sod, 57; cp. ON. flag. flake, n. fold, 947. ON. flaki, a hurdle. flambe, inf. flame, shine, 769; pr. p. flaumbande, 90. OF. flamber. flauoiej, pi. flavours, scents, 87. OF. flavour. fiayn, see flyje. fle, inf. flee, 294. OE. fleon. . I, pt. 3 s. flew, 431 ; pi. flowen, 89. OE. fleogan, fleah. fleme, pr. 3 s. subj. drive, 334. OE. fleman; cp. out-fleme. flescb, 306; f[l]esch, 958. OE. fljesc. flesehly, 1082. OE. flcesclic. flet, floor, 1058. OE. flet. fleten, pr. pi. flow, 21; pt. 3 s. flot, 46. OE. fleotan, flotian. flode (i), n. flood, river, water, 736, 1058; pi. flodej, 874. OE. flod. flok, n. flock, company, 947. OE. flocc. flone, pt. I s. flwig, 1165. (?) ON. flinga; cp. ON. flengja; Sw. flanga. flor, n. flower, 29, 962 ; flour, 426; pi. flowrej, 208. OF. flour, flor. flor-de-lys, 195 ; flour-de- lys, 753- OF. flour-de-lys. o flot (i), n. company, 786; flote, 946. OF. flote. flot (2), see fleten. floty, watery, 127. Cp. OF. pre flotis. floui, see flor. floury, flowery, 57. flowen, see fle;e. flowred, pt. 3 s. 270. OF. florir. flowre;, see flor. flurted, pp. figured, 208 ; cp. OF. fleurete. flyje, inf. flay, 813; pp. flayn, 809. OE. flean. flyte, inf. chide, 353. OE. ^tan. lode, food, 88. OE. foda. folde (i), n. land, 334, 736. OE. folde. folde (2), inf. bend, 813; pp. enfolded. 434. OWS. fealdan ; OMerc. faldan. fol3ed, pt. s. followed, 127, 654; pr. p. folewande, 1040. OE. folgian. fou, see fyne (2). fonde (i), irif. seek, try, prove, I go, 939; OE. fandian. fonde (2), fonte, see fynde. fonge, inf. receive, take, 179 ;i>r. 3 ^^.fongej, 439; pt. 3 pi. lomse, 8S4. OE. fon, fangen. for (i), conf. 269, 321, 343, etc; [f]or, 700. OE.for, prep. for (2), prep. 50, 99, 1050, etc. ; fore, 734. OE. for. 194 PEARL. forbede, py. 3 a. subj. forbid, 379. OE forbeodan. for-brent, pp. burnt up, 1 1 39. OE. forbeman. ON. brenna; cp. blende, for-didden, pt. 3 pi. did away with, 124. OE. fordon, -dyde; cp. do. for-do[k]ked, pp. despoiled, robbed, 11; see Note. foieste, 67. OF. forest. foifete, inf. forfeit, 639 pt. 3 s. subj. forieted, 619. OF. forfet, a fine for transgression. for-garte, pp. forfeited, 321. ON. fynrgora; cp. gate, for-go, inf. 328 ; />»-. 3 s. for- gOS, 340. OE. forgan; cp. gon. for-jete, inf. forget 86. OE. forgietan. forhede;, foreheads, 871. OE. forheafod. £or-lete, pt. i s. lost, 327. OE. forlatan ; cp. let. forlonge, furlongs, 1030. OE. furlang. forloyne, pr. 1 s. subj. go astray, err, 368. OF. porloignier. forme (i), adj. first, 639. OE. forma. forme (2), n. 1209. OF. forme. formed, pt. 3 s. 747. OF. former. for-payned, pp. severely tor- mented, 246. OF. peiner, with pre}. ; cp. E. f orpined. forsake, inf. 743. OE. forsacan. forser, treasure chest, 263. OF. forsier. for-soje, forsooth, 21, 292. OE. for soSe ; cp. soth. forth, 98, loi, 510, 980, 1 1 16. OE. for]). fortmie, 129, 306; fortwne, 98. OF. fortune. forty, 786, 870. OE. feowertig. for)je, ford, 150. OE, ford, for-fy, therefore, 137, 234, 701, 845. OE. for Sy. fote, foot, 161, 350, 970; pi. fete, 1 120. OE. fot; pi. fet. fonnce, bottom, 113. OF. funz. foandemeutej, see funda- ment, founden, see fynde. fowle;, birds, 89. OE. fugol. fowre, four, 870, 886. OE. feower; cp. fur]je. foysoun, n. abundance, used as adj. 1058. OF. foison. fraunchyse, freedom, 609. OF. franchise. fraynej, pr. 3 s. asks, 129. OE. fregnan. frayste, pt. i s. scanned, 169. ON. freista. fre, adj. free, liberal, 481, 796 ; adv. 299. OE. freo. frech, adj. fresh, 87; used as n. 195. OE, fersc. GLOSSARY. 19s freles, blameless, immacu- late, 431; cp. ON. fryjulauss. frely, adj. free, noble, used as n. 1155. OE. freolic. freude, friend, 558, 1204. OE. freond. freuch, joyous, 1086; see Note. £ro, adv. 347; conj. since, 251, 375. 958; prep. 10, 13, 46, etc. ; fro me warde, from me, 981. ON. fra; cp. warde. frount, forehead, 177. OF. front. frym, vigorously, 1079. OE, freme. fryt, fruit 894; Iryte, 29; pl. frytej, 87, 1078. OF. fruit, fryth, forest, 89, 98, 103. OE. fri]). ful, adj. 1098; adv. 28, 42, 50, etc. OE. full. fundament, foundation, loio; pl. foundementea, 993. OF. funde- ment. lut}e, fourth, loog. OE. feorSa; cp. fowre, lyf, five, 849; fyue, 451. OE. fif. fyf|)e, fifth ioo5. OE. fifta. fygure, 170, 747; form, shape, 1086. OF. figure. fyldor, gold thread, 106. OF. fil d'or. fylpe, filth, 1060. OE. iyl]>; cp. vnde-fylde. fyn, fine, 106; finished, perfect, 170; fyin, 1204. OF. fin. fynde, pr. i s. find, 150; pr. 3 s. fyndej, 508, 514 ; pt. I s. fande, 871 ; pp. fonde, 283 ; fonte,i 70, 327 ; foun- den, 1203. OK findan; cp. fonde (i). fyne (i), n. finish, 635. OF. fin. fyne (2), pr. i i. cease, 328; imp. sing. 353; pt. 3 s. fon, 1030. OF. finer. fynger, 466. OE. finger. fyr[o]e, fierce, 54. OF. fers, fiers. fyne, adj. further, 148. OE. feorr, fyrra; adv. see fer. fyrst,a(i;.S7o. 571; tyist[e], 486, 549, 999, 1000; fyiste, 548; adv. 316, 583, 1042; fyrste, 638. OE. fyrst. fyne, see fyf. Galalye, 817. galle, (i) scum, 1060; gawle, bitterness, 463. OE. gealla; ON. gall. galle (2) flaw, 189, 915. ON. galli. gaidyn, 260. OF. gardin. gare, inf. cause, 331 ; pi. 3 s- gart, 1 151; 3 pl. garten, 86. ON. gera. d^f-W ■' iUv-^ ^ j y, '■ I. is.i 196 PEARL. gailande, diadem, crown, 1 186. OF. garlande. gate, way, 395, 526, 619; ■pi. gate;, streets, 1106. ON. gata. gaue, gawle, see gyue, galle. gay, adj. 1 124, 1 186; gaye, 7, 260; used as n. gay, 189; gaye, 433. OF. I gai. I gayn, against, 138. OE. gegn. gayne;, pr. 3 s. gains, 343. ON. gegna. gef, see gyue. gele, inf. tarry, 931. OE. g£Ian. gemme, gem, 118, 219, 266, etc. ; pi. gemme;, 7, 253, 991. OF. gemme. generacyoun, 827 ; OF. generacion. gent, fair, gentle, 1014, 1 134; gente, 118, 253, 265. OF. gent. gentyl, adj. gentle, 264, 278, 605, 883, etc. ; used as n. 602; gentyle, 632. OF. gentil. gesse, inf. guess, think out, 499; cp. Dan. gissa. geste, guest, 277. OE. gSBSt. gete, inf. get, obtain, 95. ON. geta; cp. reget. gilofre, gillyflower, 43. OF. girofre. glace, inf. glide, 171. OF. glacer. glade, glad, 136, 1144; comp. gladder, 231 ; sup. gladdest, 1109. OE. glaed. glade;, pr. 3 «■ gladdens, 861; pr. p. gladande, 171. OE. gladian. Gladue;, Gladness, 136. glas, glass, 114, 990, 1018; glasse, 1025, 1 106. OE. glass. i glauere;, pr. 3 pi. deceive, 688. glayre, amber, 1026. glayue,sword,654.0F.glaive. gle, music, joy, 95, 1123. OE. gleo. glem, n. gleam, 79. OE. glSm; cp. day-glem. glemande, pr. p. gleaming, 70, 990. glene, inf. glean, 955. OF. glener. gleut, pt. 3 s. shone, 70, 1026; glente, looi; glanced aside, 671 ; pt. pi. glent, 1 106. Sw. glanta; cp. glente. glente, n. light, 114; pi. glente;, glances, 11 44; cp. glent. glet, mire, 1060. OF. glette. glod, see glyde;. glode;, clear patches in the sky between clouds, 79; cp. ON. glaSr, shining, solar-glaSan, sunset; OE. glsed, shining ; OE. 'sunne gS]) to glade'; Orkney dial, glode ; cp. E. glade, glode. GLOSSARY. 197 glory, 70, 171, 934, 959, H23. OF. glorie. gloiyous, adj. 799, 915; used as adv. 1144' OF. glorious. glowed, pt. 3 pi. 114. OE. glowan. glydej, pr. 3 s. glides, 79; pt. 3 pi. glod, 1105. OE. glldan. glyjt, pt. 3 pi. shone, 114. ON. glia; cp. agly3te. glymme, radiance, 1088 ; cp. OE. gleomu; Sw. glimma, to shine. glysnande, pf. p. glistening, 165, 1018. OE. glisnian. go, see gon. God, 314, 342, 379, etc.; gen. s. Godej, 63, 601, 822, etc.; Goddej, 591, 1 193. OE. God. god, good, 310, 674, 1202; goude, 568, 818; used as n. goud, 33; goude, 33; goods, goud, 731; god, 734; sup. best, 1131; beste, 863; used as n. 279; op. wel. OE. god. God-hede, Godhead, 413. god-nesse, goodness, 493. golde, n. gold, 2, 165, 213, 989, 1025; g[ol]de, iiii. OE. gold. golden, golden, 11 06; changed from gulden, OE. gylden. golf, whirlpool, deep water, 608. OF. golfe. gome, man, 231, 697. OE. guma. gon, inf. go, 820 ; pr. 3 s. got?, 365; 3 pl- 510; pr. 3 s. subj. go, 53°; imp. s. 559; pi. gos, 521; gotj, 535; pt. 3 ^• jede, 526, 1049; 3 pi. 713; pp. gon, 63, 376. OE. gan, geeode; cp. vmbe-gon, £or-go. gos, see gon. gospel, 498. OE. godspel. goste, spirit, 63, 86. OE. gast. gostly, spiritual, 185, 790. OE; gastlic. gote, n. stream, 934; pi. gotej, 608; cp. MDu. n. gote ; OE. v. geotan, pp. goten. got?, see gon. goud, goude, see god. grace, grace. Divine favour, 63, 194, 425, etc. OF. grace. giacios, beautiful, full of grace, 189; grac[l]ps, 93; grac[i]ous, 934 ; with adv. force, 260. OF. gracious. grauayl, gravel, 81. OF. gravele. graunt, permission, 317; from OF. v. graunter. graye, adj. 254. OE. gr£g. graynej,)!'/. grain, 31. OF. grain. giay))ely, fittingly, 499. ON. greiSliga. Grece, Greece, 231. 198 PEARL. greffe, grief, 86. OF. gref. greme, anger, 465. ON. gremi. grene, adj. green, 38, looi, 1005. OE. grene. gresse, grass, 10, 245 ; blade of grass, 31. OE. grses. gret, adj. great, 250, 330, 511, etc., [gret], 1104; grete, 90, 237, 280, 470, 637. OE. great. giete, inf. weep, 331. OE. grjetan. greue (i), n. grove, 321. OE. grjefa. greue (2), pr. 3 s. subj. grieve, 471. OF. grever. grewe, see grow, giomylyoun, gromwell, 43. OF. gremillon, gremil, gromil. grounde (i), n. earth, 10, 81, 434, 1173; founda- tion, 372, 384, 396, 408, 420. OE. grund. grounde (2), see grynde. grouelyng, adv. prostrate, 1 120; cp. ON. a grufu, Bupinus; ME. (a) graf, with adv. suff. -ling. grow, inf. 31 ; pt. 3 s. grewe, 425. OE. growan. grym, grim, 1070. - OE. grim. grymly, cruelly, 654. OE. grimllce. grynde, inf. grind, 81 ; pp. grounde, 654. OE. grindan. gryste, spite, 465. OE. grist. gulte, guilt, 942 ; pi. gyltej, 655. OE. gylt. gyfte, gift, 565; pi. gyftej, 607. OE. gift; ON. gipt. gyle, guile, 671, 688. OF. guile. gyltej, see gulte. gyltle;, adj. used as «. 668 ; gyUltlej, 799- OE. gylt- leas. gyltyf, guilty, 669. OE. gyltig; ME. gilti, with su§. -ive; cp. momyf. gyng, company, 453. OE. genge; ON. gengi. gyngure, ginger, 43. OF. gengibre, gengivre. gyrle, girl, 205; cp. LG. gor, girl; Norw. gorre, a small child. gyse, guise, 1099. OF. guise. gyternere, guitar-player, 91. OF. guiteme, with E. suff. gyue, pr. 3 s. subj. give, grant, 707; gef, 1211; imp. s. gyl, 543, 546; pt. 3 5. gef, 174, 270, 734. 765 ; gaue, 667 ; pp. g[yjuen, 1190. OE. gie- fan. jare, well, readily, 834. OE. gearo. jate, gate, 728, 1037; pi. jatej, 1034, 1065. OE. geat. 3e, see 1)0U. GLOSSARY. 199 ^ede, see gou. jemen, yeomen, 535 ; prob, OE. *gea-maii (not found), a villager. 3er, year, 1079; jere, 503. 505; pl- 3er, 483; OE. gear; cp. to-;ere. 3erned, pp. desired, 1190. OE. geornian. 3et, yet, 19, 46, 145, etc.; jete, 1061. OE. get. jete, inf. grant, allot, 558. (?) late OE. geatan. jif, jyf, see if. 30n, adj. yonder, 693. OE. geon. 30ng, young, 412; 30nge, 474. 535- OE. geong. }ore, adv. formerly, of yore, 586. OE. geara. jore-fader, forefather, 322 ; cp. fader. 3ys, yes, yea, verily, 635. OE. gise. bad, hade, haf, see haue. hafyng, possession, enrich- ment, 450; cp. angel- haujmg. balde, inf. hold, possess, 490 ; pr. I s. deem, 301 ; 3 s- haldej, 454; pt- 3 *■ helde, 1002, 1029; pp. halden, 1191- OE. hal- dan; cp. byholde. hale;, pr. 3 «. flows, 125. OF. haler. half, 72. OE. healf; cp. wyfer-half. halle, hall, 184. OE. heall. halte,n. hold,support,"take- ofi," 1158. OE. heald. han, see haue. happe, good fortune, 16, 713, 1 195. ON. happ. harde, adj. used as n., 606. OE. heard, hardyly, boldly, 3; as- suredly, 695. OF. hardi with E. suff. harme, n. 681 ; pi. barmen, griefs, 388. OE. hearm. harmlej, harmless, 676, 725. harpe, n. harp, 881. OE. hearpe. barpen, pr. 3 pi. harp, 881. OE. hearpian. barporeq, harpers, 881. OE. hearpere. bate (i), adj. hot, 388. OE. hat. hate (2), n. hatred, 463. OE. hete; v. hatian; cp. ON. hatr. hated, pp. 402. OE. hatian. bat;, see haue. ha^el, man, 676. OE. aeSele. bane, inf. have, 132, 66i, 928; baf, 194. 1139; pr. I s. 14, 242, 244; haue, 704, 967 ; 2 s. ha)?, 291, 770. 935, 971; 3 s- 446, 465, 625, 824, etc. ; I pi. haf, 519, 553; hanen, 859; ban, 554; 2 pl. baf, 257, 917; ban, 373; 3 pl. 776; pt. I i. had, 170; bade, 164; 3 s. had, 1034, 1 148; hade, 209 200 PEARL. 476, 502, etc.; 3 pi. hade, 550; had, 1045; pt. I s. subj. hade, 134, 1189, 1194; 3 s. 1090, 1142; 3 pi. 1091; pp. had, 1 140. OE. habban. hauyng, see angel-hauyng. hawk, 184. OE. hafoc. haylsed, pt. 3 s. hailed, 238. ON. heilsa. he, pron. pers. nom. s. m. 302, 332, 348, etc. ref. to jasper, looi ; h[e], 479 ; dat. ace. hym, 324, 349, 360, etc.; [hym], 690; n. nom. hit, 10, 13, 30, etc., with pi. verb. 895, 1 1 99; hyt, 482; dat. ace. hit, 41, 46, 160, etc.; hyt, 270, 271, 283, 284, 677, 914; /. nom. ho, 129, 130, 131, etc.; scho, 758; dat. ace, hyr, 8, 9, 164, etc., hir, 188, 428; pi. nom. fay, 80, 94, 509, etc. ; dat. ace. hem, 69, 70 75, etc.; h[e]m, 635, 715; he[m], 532. OE. he ; c^.her,hit(2),hys. bed, hede, see heued. hede, inf. heed, behold, 1051. OE. hedan. hejt, see hyjt (i). [h]eke, also, 210. OE. eac. helde (i), comp. adv. more likely; as helde, belike, 1 193. ON. heldr; Goth, haldis; cp. helt. Dial. Diet, (see Note). belde (2), see halde. hele, welfare, 16, 713. OE. hselu. helle, hell, 442, 651, 840, 1125; gen. s. 643. OE. hel; gen. helle. hem, see he. hemme, hem, 217; border, looi. OE. hemm. hende, ready, quiet, gentle, 184; used as n. hynde, gracious, 909. OE. (ge)- hende; cp. ON. hentr. hente, inf. get, find, 669, 1 1 95; pr. 1 s. 388. OE. hentan. her (i), pron. pass, her, 4, 5, 131, etc.; hir, 22, 191, 197; hyr, 163, 169, 178, etc. ; cp. he. her (2), pron. pass, their, 92, 93, 96, etc. ; cp. he. here (i), adv. 298, 389, 399, etc. ; her, 263, 519. OE. her. here (2), inf. hear, 96; pi. I s. herde, 873, 879, 1132. OE. heran. [h]ere (3), n. hair, 210. OE. hfir, her. [h]ere (4), see hyte (i). here-inne, herein, 261, 577; cp. inne. heme;, brains, 58. Late OE. haernes; cp. ON. hjar- ni; MDu. heme; OHG. hirni. herte, heart, 128, 135, 176, 364; hert[e], 17, 51; hert, 174, 179, 682, 1082, 1 136. OE. heorte. GLOSSARY. 201 herytage, n. 417; erytage, 443. OF. heritage. heste, commandment, 633. OE. hSs. hete (i), n. heat, 554, 643. OE. hsetu. hete (2), pr. i s. promise, 402; pt.3 s.hy3te,305; hyst, was called, 999 ; pi. 950. OE.hatan.het ; pass.ha.tte. heterly, fiercely, 402; cp. MLG. better. he]>en, hence, 231. ON. he- San. heue, inf. raise, 314 ; pt.zs. bene, 473. OE. hebban. heued, head, 459, 465; source, 974; hede, 1172, hed, 209. OE. heafod. heuen (i), heaven, 473, 490, 500, 873, 988, 1 126; pi. heuene3,423, 620 ; heuen;, 441 ; g. sg. heuenes, 735. OE. heofon. heueu (2), inf. raise, i6. OE. hafenian. heuen-ryche, kingdom of heaven, 719. OE. heofon- rice; cp. ryche (2). heuy, heavy, n8o. OE. hefig. hider, see hyder. hi3e, see hy^e. hil, see hyl. hir, see he, her (i). his, see hys. hit (i), pron. pers., see he. hit (2), pron. pass, its, 108, 120, 224, 740 ; hyt, 446. bo, see be. bol, coniplete, 406. OE. hal. holte-wode;, woods, 75 ; cp. wod. bolte;, woods, 921. OE. holt. boly (i), adj. holy, 592, 618, 679. OE. halig. boly (2), adv. wholly, 418; cp. hoi. homly, adj. belonging to the household, intimate, 1211; not in OE., cp. OHG. heimlich. honde, hand; com on honde, came to hand, was perceived, 155; pi. 49, 218; bondej, 706. OE. hand. hondelyngej, adv. with one's hands, 681. OE. hand- linga. bondied, see hundreth. bone, inf. remain, be, 921 ; see Note. honour, «. 424, 475, 852, 864. OF. honur. hope (i), n. 860. OE. hopa. hope (2), pr. I s. think, suppose, 225; pt. I s. bop8[d], 142, 185; hoped, 139, OE. hopian. borne;, horns, 11 11. OE. horn, houre;, Me oure (i). how, 334, 690, 711, 1146. OE. hu. bue, M. shout, 873. OF. hu. buee, see bwe. 202 PEARL. hundreth, hundred, 1107; hundre])e, 869; hondied, 786. OE. hundred ; ON. hundraS. hurt, pp. 1 142. OF. hurter. huyle, clump, applied to shrubs, hence mound, 41 ; hyul (see Note), 1205; hylle, 1 1 72. hwe, hue, 896; huee, 842; pi. hwej, 90. OE. hiw; cp. twynue-how. hyde, skin, 11 36. OE. hyd. hyder, hither, 249, 763; hider, 517. OE. hider. hyje, high, 395, 401, 596, 1024, 1051, 1054; hyjM, 678; hyj, 39; adv. hyj. 473. 773; hyje, 454; hije, 207. OE. heah. hyjt (i), n. height, 501; hejt, 1031. OE. heahSu, hehSu, hiehSu. hyjt (2), hyjte, see hete (2). hyl, hill, 789, 979; hil, 976; hyUe, 678. OE. hyll. hyl-coppe, hill-top, 791. OE. copp. hym, see he. hymseU, pron. reflex. 808, 811, 826; hymself, 680; emphatic, h])m-self, 812, 825, 896, 1134; cp. self. hynde, see heude. hyne (monosyllabic), house- hold servants, 505, 632, 121 1. OE. hiwan, gen. hina, domestics ; cp. ON. hju, pi. hjun. hyr, see he, her (i). hyre (r), n. wages, hire, 523, 534. 539, 543. 583. 587; ( ?) [h]ere, 616 (see Note). OE. hyr; cp. OFris. her. hyre {2), inf. hire, 507; pt. I s. hyred, 560. OE. hyrian. hys, pron. pass, his, 307, 312, 354, etc.; his, 285, 526, 715,819; [h]ys, 505; hys[e], 1 1 33; hysse, 418; cp. he, hit (2). hyt, see he, hit (2). hyttej, pr. 3 s. has the chance, 132. ON. hitta, to light upon. hyul, see huyle. I, prmi. pers. i s. nom. 3, 4. 7, etc.; [I], 81, 363, 977; dat. ace. me, 10, 13, 19, etc.; nom. pi. we, 251, 378, 379, etc.; dat. ace. vus, 454, 520, 552, etc. OE. ic. ichose, see chos. if, conj. 147, 264, 265, etc. ; jif, 45, 662; jyf, 482. OE. gif. ilke, same, very, 704; ilk, 995. OE. ilea. ille, adv. ill, 681, 1177. ON. ilia. in, prep. 2, 5, 8, etc.; on, 881, 1103; into, 30, 61, 224, 366, 627, 1 159, 1 162, 1 174, 1 180; [in], 342. OE. in. in-lyche, adv. alike, 546; GLOSSARY. 203 inlyche, 603. OE. gelice; (ME. ilyche; extended to in-lyche ; cp. OE. onlice) ; cp. lyk. inne, adv. in, 940. OE. inne ; cp. here-inne. innocens, innocence, 708 ; i]i-osceu[c]c, 672. OF. innocence. iuuoceat, adj. used as n. 625, 720; innosent, 684, 696; inuossent, 666. OF. innocent. in-noghe, adj. enough, 625, 649; in-nogh, 661; adv. in-noghe, 636; in-no3e, 624; in-nogh, 660; i- noghe, 612; i-noje, 637. OE. genog. in-nome, pp. received, 703 ; cp. [n]e[m]. in-sample,example, parable, 499. OF. ensample. in-seme, together, 838; cp. OE. adj. gesom; v. gese- man. in-to, prep. 521, 525, 582, 628; to, 231; into, 245, 509- in-wyth, adv. within, 970. is, see be. Israel, 1040. i-wysse, certainly, 151, 1 128; iwysse, 394; i- wyse, 279. OE. gewis. jaoyngh[tl, jacinth, 1014. OF. jacincte. jasper, 999. 1026; jasporye, Toi8(ieeNote).OF. jaspre. Jerusalem, 792, 793. 804, etc. ; lerusalem, 829. Jesus, 711, 717, 820; Jesu, 453 ; lesus, 721 ; lesu, 458. John, 788, 867, etc. ; John, 836 ; Jon, 383, 818 ; Jhon, 984; J[o]hn, 1020. jolyf, joyous, fair, 842; joly, 929. OF. jolif, joli. joparde, hazard, risk, doubt, 602. OF. jeu parti. Jordan, 817. joueler, see jueler. joy, 234. 395, 796; joye, 577,1126; ioy,266; ioye, 128, 1 197. OF. joye. loyfol, joyful, 288, 300. joyle3, joyless, 252. joyned, pt. 3 s. 1009. OF. joindre. Judee, Judsea, 922; Judy, 937- juel, jewel, 253, 277; iuel, 249; juelle, 795. 1 1 24; pl. iuele;, 278; jnele, 929. AF. juel. OF. joiel, jouel. jueler, jeweller, 264, 265, etc. ; juelere, 252 ; iueler, 301 ; joueler, 734. Jue;, Jews, 804. AF. Jeu, Geu; OF. Giu, Jui. jugged, pt. I s. judged, 7; 3 pl. iugged, 804. OF. jugier. justyfyet, pp. justified, 700. OF. justifier. kaste, see kesten, kene, keen, 40. OE. cene. 204 PEARL. kenned, pt. 3 s. taught, 55. OE. cennan. keruen, pr. 3 pi. cut, 512 ; pp. coruen, 40. OE. ceorfan. kesten, pt. 3 pi. cast, flung, 1 122; pp. kest, 861; keste, 66; kaste, iigS. ON. kasta. keue, inf. dip, 320; pp. keued, 981. ON. kefja. klyfe;, klyffej, see clyfEe. klymbe, see dym. knaw, inf. know, 410, 541, 794, 1 109; pr. I s. 673; 2 ^/. knawe, 516; 3 pl- 505 ; ?'• I s. knew, 66, 164, 168, 998, 1019; 3 pl. knewe, 890; pp. knawen, 637. OE. cna- wan; cp. cnawyng. knelande, kneeling, 434. OE. cneowlian. knot, n. throng, 788. OE. cnotta. [Koyntyse], Wisdom, 690. OF. cointise. Kryst, Christ, 55, 458, 776; Kryste, 569; gen. Kry- stej, 904, 1208; Crystes, 383. OE. Crist. Kiysten, adj. Christian, 461. OE. Cristen. Krystyin, adj. used as «. Christian, 1202. OF. Cristine. kyn, «. kind, quat kyn, 755, 771 ; what kyn, what kind of, 794; alle kynne;, all kinds of, 1028. OE. cynn ; cp. man-kyn, sumkyn. kynde (i), n. nature, 55, 74, 752, OE. cynd. kynde (2), adj. grateful, 276. OE. cynde. kyndely, adv. kindly, 369; kyntly, properly, 690. OE. cyndellce. kyndom, kingdom, 445. OE. cynedom. kyng, 448, 468, 480, 596. OE. cyning. kynnej, see kyn. kyrk, church, 1061. OE. circa; cp. ON. kirkja. kyste, cofier, 271. OE. cyst, kythej, regions, 1 198. OE. CyJ^. cy))))U. ky))e, inf. show, 356; imp. pl- Mype?, 369. OE. cySan. labor, inf. cultivate, 504. OF. laborer. labour, n. 634. OF. labour, labeur. lad, see lede (2). lade, pp. laden, 1146. OE. hladan. lady, 491 ; " my lady," 453 ; OE. hlaefdige. ladyly, queenly, noble, 774. ladyschyp, rank, dignity, 578. laften, pi. 3 pl. left, 622. OE. ISfan. la^t, pt. I s. caught, ob- tained, 1128; la3te, 1205. OE. laeccan. lamb, lambes, see lombe. GLOSSARY. 205 lande, see londe. langoui, sickness, 357. OF. langouT. lantyrne, lantern, 1047. OF. lanterne. lappej, hanging sleeves, 201. OE. lasppa. large, 201 ; bounteous, 609. OF. large. lasse, see lyttel. laste (i), I'm/, last, 956; pr. 3 pl- lastej, 1 198. OE. Ijestan. laste (2), pp. loaded, 1146. OE. hlaestan. late, adv. 392, 538, 574, 615 ; adj. sup. laste, 547, 570; 571. OE. laet. launce;, pl. boughs, 978. OF. lance. lane;, pr. 3 s. pours, 607. OF. laver. l[a]we, see lows. Iawe3, ^i.laws,285. OE.lagu. layd, pp. 958; layde, 1172. OE. lecgan. layned, pp. concealed, 244. ON. leyna. ledden, speech, noise, 878; l[e]den, 874. OE. Igeden. lede (i), n. man, Sir, 542. OE. leod. lede (2), inf. lead, 774; pr. I i. 409; 2 pl. 392; pp. lad, 801. OE. lEedan. lef (i), pl. leaves, 77; (of a book), leuej, 837. OE. leaf (neut.) ; cp. leaed. lef (2), beloved, 266; used as n. 418. OE. leof. legg, 439. ON. leggr. leghe, see lyj. legyounes, legions, 1121. OF. legion. lelly, loyally, faithfully, 305. OF. leel, with E. suff. leme, inf. glance, glide, 358 ; pt. 3 s. lemed, gleamed, 119, 1043. (?) OE. leo- mian; cp. geleomod; n. leoma. lemman, n. loved one, 763, 796, 865, 829. OE. leof- man. leuge, inf. dwell, 261 ; pr. 2, pl. 933. OE. lengan. lenger, see long, lenghe, length, 416; on lenghe, for a long time, 167. OE. lengu. leu|>e, length, 1031. OE. lengSu. lere, face, 398, OE. hleor. lesaude, pr. p. loosening, opening, 837. OE. le- san, llesan. lese, see neuer-Jie-lese. lesse, les, see lyttel. lest, conj. 187, 863. OE. (Sy) l£s Se. leste, see lose (i). lesyng, n. lie, 897. OE. leasung. let, inf. allow; let be, cease, 715; imp. s. 901, 912, 964; pl.jiS; pt.ss. 20; lette, 813. OE. Iffitan. lette, pt. 3 s. hindered, 1050. OE. lettan. lettrure, knowledge of 2o6 PEARL. letters, learning, 751. OF. lettreure. lejiej, pr. 3 s. abates, 377; ME. lej), n. cp. G. ledig, free, MDu. onlede, trouble. leue (i), n. permission, 316. OE. leaf. leue (2), inf. believe, 311; leuen, 69; pr. i s. leue, 469, 876; 3 i. I[e]ue3, 302, 304, 308; I pi. leuen, 425 ; 2 pi. IMuej, 308; pr. 2 s. sub], leue, 865. OE. (ge)lyfan. leued, covered with leaves, 978; cp. le! (i). leuej, see lef (i). l[e]uyly, permissible, 565. See Note. liure, livery, that which is delivered, given freely, to the servants of a household, 1108. AF. livere, OF. livree. lo, interj. 693, 740, 822. OE. la. loje, pool, 119. (?) OE. luh. loke, inf. 934 ; P''- 3 s- subj. 710; imp. s. 463; pt. t s. loked, 167, 1 145. OE. locian. loke;, looks, appearance, "34- lokyng, n. gaze, 1049. lombe, lamb, 413, 741, 793, etc. ; loin[b]e, 945 ; lom[b], 815; lambe, 757. 771 ; lamb, 407 ; lou[m]be. 861; loumbe, 867; gen. lombej, 872 ; lambes, 785 ; lombe, 1 141. OE. lamb. Iom[p]e-ly3t,lamplight,io46, OF. lampe ; cp. lyjt. londe, land, 148, 937; in lande, in the fields, 802. OE. lond. lone, lane, 1066. OE. lane, lone, long, adj. 597; long[e], 586; longe, 1024; adv. longe, hys lyuej longe, all his life, 477 ; 533 ; comp. lenger, 168, 180, 600, 977. OE. adj. long, lengra, tidv. longe. longaude, pr. p. belonging, 462. (?) OE. langian, to long for; gelang, depen- dent. longed, pt. 3 s., me longed, 1 longed, 144. OE. lan- gian. longeyng, n. longing, 244, 1 180. OE. langung; cp. lul-longyng. loide, God, Christ, 285, 304, 362, etc. ; master of vine- yard, 502, 506, 513, etc.; interj. 108, 1149. OE. hlaford. lore, learning, custom, 236. OE. lar. lose (i), inf. 265; pt. I s. teste, 9; 2 s. lestej, 269; pp. loste, 1092. OE. leo- san, losian. lose (2), inf. perish, 908. OE. losian. GLOSSARY. 207 lote, gesture, 238; sound, 876; expression, appear- ance, 896; vision, 1205. ON. lat, appearance; cp. Sw. lat, sound. lo>e, n. trouble, 377. OE.la)). loude, adj. 878. OE. hlud. loue, inf. praise, 285, 342, 1124, 1127. OE. lofian. loueloker, louely, see lufly. loue;, pr. 3 s. loves, 403, 407. OE. lufian. loumbe, see lombe. loute, pr. 2 pi. bow, bend, 933. OE. lutan. lowe, adv. 236 ; l[a]we, 547 ; lowest, adj. sttp. looi. ON. lagr. luf,«.love,467,85i. OE.lufu. luf-daungeie, might of love, 11; cp. dannger. luf-longyng, 1152 ; cp. long- eyng. lufly, adj. 962 ; louely, 693 ; comp. loueloker, 148 ; adv. lufly, 880, 978. OE. luflic. lufsoum, loveable, 398. OE. lufsum. lure;, losses, 339; losses, deprivations, 358. OE. lyre. lurked, pt. 1 s. crept, 978; cp. Norw. lurka, to sneak away. lyf, life, 247, 305, 392, etc. ; gen. s. lyuej, 477. 578. 908. OE. lif. lyfed, pt. 2 s. 483; pr. p. lyuyande, 700; pp. lyued, 477. 776. OE. liiian, libban. lyfte, pp. lifted, 567. ON. lypta. lygyngej, dwellings, 935 ; cp. ON. V. liggja. lyj, inf. lie, 930 ; pr. 3 s. lys, 360, 602; pt. 3 s. leghe, 214. OE. licgan. lyje, n. lie, 304. OE. lyge. lyjt, n. light, 69, 119, 1043, 1073. OE. leoht; cp. lom[p]e-ly3t. ly^te (i), adj. bright, 238, 500; lyjt, pure, 682. OE. leoht. lyjte (2), adv. lightly, 214. OE. leohte. lyjte (3). pt. 2 s. alighted, arrived, 247; 3 s. lyjt, descended, 943 ; pp. Iy3t, 988. OE. lihtan. lystly, lightly, easily, 358. OE. leohtlice. lyk, adj. like, 432, 501, 874, 896; lyke, 735; OE. (ge)lic; cp. in-lyche. lyke;, pr. impers. pleases, 566. OE. lician. lyknej, pr. 3 s. likens, 500; cp. Sw. likna. lykyng, pleasure, joy, 247. OE. licung. lym, limb, 462; pi. lym- mej, 464. OE. lim. lyne, line; by lyne, in due order, 626. OF. ligne, L. linca. lynne, adj. linen, 731. OE. linen; cp. OFris. linnen. 208 PEARL. lys, see lyj. lyste (i), n. desire, 173; joy, 467. 908. ON. lyst ; cp. OE. lust, lystan (vb.). lyste (2), pt. impers. de- sired, 146, 181 ; cared, chose, 1 141. OE. lystan. lysten, inf. listen to, 880. OE. hlystan. lyth,limb,figure,398. OE.liJ;. lyttel, adj. 387, 575, 604, 1 147; unimportant, 574 ; comp. lasse, 491, 599, 600, 601, 853 ; lesse, 339. 852 ; les, 864, 876 ; adv. lyttel, 172, 301 ; comp. les, 865, 888,900,901. OE. lytel. lyfe, inf. soothe, 357. OE. liSian; cp. lejiej. lyjier, adj. used as n. evil, 567. OE. lySre. lyned, lyuyande, see lyfed. lyuej, see lyf. ma (I), pron. pass. (French), my, 489. ma (2), (3), mad, made, madde, see make (2), mon. mad, adj. 267, 1199; madde, 290; adv. 1 166. OE. (ge)m2edd. maddyng, madness, 1154. make (i), spouse, 759. OE. (ge)maca; ON. mala. make (2), inf. make, 176, 304. 474; ma, 283; pr. I s. make, 281 ; 3 s. mat; rescoghe, rescues, 610 ; 3 pl. man, 512; pt. 3 s. made, 522, 1149; mad, 539; 2pl.m&&e,37i;pp. mad, 274, 486, 953; made, 140; madde, 359. OE. macian. makelej, matchless, 435, 780, 784; cp. make (I)- malte, inf. melt, malte in hit mesure, enter into the measure of it, 224 ; pt. 3 s. 1 154. OE. meltan. man (i), manej, manner, see mon (i). man (2), see make (2). maner, manor-house, 918; manayre, enclosed city, 1029. OF. manoir. ma[u]ere3, pl. manners, 382. AF. manere; OF. maniere. man-kyn, mankind, 637. OE. mancynn; cp. kyn. mare, see much, margyiye, pearl, 1037; pl. margarys, 199 ; maiio- rys, 206. OF. margerie. marked, market, 513. Late OE. market, from OF. (L. mercatum). marrej, pr. 2 i. marrest, 23 ; pp. marre[d], 359- OE. merran. Mary, 383; Marye, 425. maryage, marriage, 414; maryag[e], 778. OF. mariage. mas, service of the mass, 1 1 15; messe, 497- OE. msesse; OF. messe; L. missa. GLOSSARY. 209 mask[e]lle, spot, 843 ; mas- cle, 726. OF. mascle, made ; L. macula. maskellej, spotless, 756, 768, 769, 780; iua[s]kel- lej, 733; maskelles, 744, 781 ; maskele;, 745, 900, 923 ; maMkelej, 757 ; mascellej, 732. mate (i), adj. depressed, dejected, 386. OF. mat. mate (2), inf. checkmate, confuse, 613. OF. ma- ter. Mathew, 497. mat;, see make (2). may (i), maiden, 435, 780, 961. (?) OE. mSg. may (2), pr. x s. can, may, 487, 783; 2 s. 296, 347, 694, 703, 966, 970; 3 s. 300, 310, 312, etc. ; 2 pi. 918; moun, 536; 3 pl- 29. 336; pt. I s. mojt, 188; 2 s. myjte;, 317; 3 s. most, 34, 194. 223, etc.; mojte, 475, 1196; myjt, 69,135,176,722,891, 1082, 1157; 2 pi. mojt, 105 1 ; 3 pi. mojt, 92; myjt, 579. OE. maeg, magon, meahte, mihte. mayden, 162; pi. may- dene; , 1 1 1 5 ; may dennej , 869. OE. meegden. maynful, mighty, powerful, 1093. OE. n. maegen; suff. -ful. mayster, master, 462, 900. OF. maistre. mayster-fnl, masterfvil, 401 me, see I. mede, n. reward, 620. OE. med. meke, meek, 404, 815, 832, 961. ON. mjCikr. mekenesse, 406. mele, inf. speak, 925 ; melle, 797, 1118; pr. 3 s. mele;, 497; pt. I s. meled, 589. OE. mjelan. [m]ele, n. discourse, 23. OE. msl. melle, n. in melle, in midst, among, 1127. ON. I milli. membre;, members, 458. OF. membre. men, see men (i). mende;, n. pi. amends, 351. OF. amende. mendyng, improvement, 452. OF. amender. mene, inf. mean, 293, 951 ; py. 2 s. mene;, 937- OE. maenan. mensk, grace, dignity, 783; menske, 162. OE. men- nisc; ON. menska. menteene, inf. maintain, 783. OF. maintenir. meny, see meyny. mercy, 356, 623, 670; merci, 576; mersy, 383- mere, mere, stream, 158; pi. mere;,i40,ii66.0E.mere. merked, pp. marked out, situated, 142. OE. mear- cian. mersy, see mercy, meruayle, n. astonishment, 2l0 PEARL. 1130; marvel, portent, 157; merwayle, 1081 ; pi. meruaylea, 64. OF. mer- veille. meruelous, marvellous, ii65. OF. merveillous. raes, course, meal, 862. OF. mes. meschef, misfortune, ill, 275. OF. meschef. mesnre, measure, worth, 224. OF. mesure. mete (i), adj. fit, 833, 1063. OE. (ge)m£ete; cp. vn- mete. mete (2), n. food, 641. OE. mete. mete (3), inf. meet, 918; find, 329 ; pr. i pi. meteu, 380. OE. metan. meten, pp. measured, 1032. OE. metan. meuen, pr. 3 pi. move, dwell, exist, 64; pt. 3 s. meaed, moved, 156. OF. movoir ; stem muev-. meyny, company, retinue, 892, 899, 925, 960, 1 127, 1145; meny, 542- OF. mesniee, maisnee. mirfe, see myrlje. mo, see much, mod, disposition, 401 ; mode, 738, 832. OE. mod. moder, mother, 435. OE. modor. mode), modulations, 884. OF. mode. mojt, mo^te, molten, see may (2). 905. ON. 30. mokke, dirt, mykr. mol, see mul. molde;, pi, moulds, OE. molde. mon ( I ), ». man, 69, 95, 310, etc.; man, 314, 386, 675, 685, 1 195 ; gen. s. manne;, 223 ; manej, 940, 1 154 ; pi. men, 290, 331, 336, etc. ; pro;i. indef. one, 194, 799 ; man, 165, 334; ma, 323. OE. mann ; cp. strojie- men. mon (2), n. moan, 374. OE.* man {not found ; cp. mienan). mone, moon, 923, 1045, 1056, 1057, 1069, 1072, 1081, 1093 ; month, 1080. mona. mony, many, 160, 340, 572. mony a, 775- OE. manig. moote, 948, moat. OF. mote, more, see much, morne, inf. mourn, 359. OE. murnan. moinyf, adj. as adv. miser- ably, 386. OE. murne, + stiff, -ive; cp. gyltyf. moinyug, «. mourning, 262. OE. murnung. moste, see much, mot (2). mot (i), see mote (2). mot (2), pr. 3 i. must, 31, 320, 663; [mo]t, 25; mot, may, 397; pt. 2 i. moste, 319, 348 ; 3 pl- 623. OE. mot, moste. 1044, 1068, 1092, OE. GLOSSARY. 211 mote (i). castle, walled city, 142, 936, 937, 948, 973; i>l. motes, 949- OF. mote. mote (2), spot, speck, 726, 764. 855, 924, 960, 972; mot, 843. OE, mot. motele;, spotless, 925, 961 ; moteles, 899. mote;, pr. 2 s. arguest, 613. OE. motian. moul, mould, eartli, 23 ; cp. Sw. dial, mul, muel. moun, see may (2). mount, n. 868. OE. munt. mounte;, pr. 3 pi. amount to, 351. OF. munter. mouth, 183, 803. OE. mu|). much, adj. 244, 604, 776, 1118, 1130, 1149; comp. more, 128, 132, 133, etc.; mo, 151, 340, 850, 870, 1194; adv. 234, 303, 374, 576 ; comp. more, 144, 145, 156, 168, 169, 180, 181, 212, 565, 588, 589, 599; mare, 145; sup. moste, 1131. OE. micel; mara, mare, ma; mfest; cp. euer-more. mul, dust, 905; mol, 382. OE. myl. munt, intention, 11 61; cp. OE. myntan. my, pron. pass. 13, 16, 17, etc.; myn, 128, 174, 176, 179, 200, 566, 1208; by myn one, by me in soli- tude, 243; myne, 335. OE. min; cp. I. myddej, in mydde;, in the midst of, 222, 740; in mydej, 835; cp. OE. to middes. myjt (i), power, 630, 765; my^te, 1069; myste, 462. OE. miht. myst (2), mystej, see may (2). mykej, pi. special friends, 572 (see Note). mylde," mild, 961, 1113; used as n. gentle ones, 721. OE. milde. myn, myne, see my. mynde, n. mind, 156, 224, 1130, 1154. OE (ge)- mynd. mynge, inf. remember, think, 855. OE. myn- gian. mynne, inf. remember, 583. ON. minna. mynyster, minster, 1063. OE. mynster. myr>e, mirth, 92 ; mirpe, 1 149 ; personified, [Myr))e], 140. OE. myrg]). myrjiej, pr. 3 s. gladdens, 862. myry, merry, 23, 158, 781, 936 ; comp. myryer, 850; 5«p. myryeste, 199; myryest, 435- OE. myrige. mys (i), amice, robe, 197. OF. amis; L. amictus. mys (2), see mysse (i). "[, pron. reflex. 11 75; 2t2 PEARL. emphatic, 414; my-seluen, 52. myseiecorde, compassion, 366. OF. misericorde. myse-tente, pp. misunder- stood, 257; cp. tente. mysse (i), n. loss, 364; mys, 262; cp. OE. missan, to fail to meet. mysse (2), inf. miss, 329; pr. I s. 382. OE. missan; ON. missa. mysse^eme, inf. neglect, leave ill-guarded, 322. OE. misgeman. myste, see my^t (i). mysterys, mysteries, 1194. L. mysterium. myte, mite, 351. OF. mite. my])e, inf. avoid (sorrow), 359. OE.miaan (sec Note). najt, na3te, see nyjt. name, n. 1039 ; nome, 872 ; p^name[5],998. OE.nama. nature, n. 749. OF. nature. naule, navel, 459. OE. nafela. nau]>eles, naw)>eles, see neuer-])e-Iese. nawhere, nowhere, 534, 932. OE. nahwSr. nawj)er, conj. neither, alter- native with ne, 485, 1044, 1087; nau^er, 465, 484; [n]oJ)er, 848; ne . . . naw])er, nor . . . neither, 751. OE. nahwas8er. ne, adv. not, 35, 65, 293, 350, 471, 619; strengthening another negative, 4, 362, 403, 516, 1071, 1082; strengthening two nega- tives, 825, 898; conj. nor, 262, 334, 347, 465, 484, 485, 688, 751, 764, 843, 848, 897, 918, 1044, 1045, 1057, 1062, 1087; c^. nis. nece, niece, 233. OF. niece; pop. L. neptia. nedde, pt. impers. needed, 1044. OE. neodian. nede, n. need, 1045; gen. s. nedej, necessarily, 25, 344, OE. ned. [nlejbor, neighbour, 688. OE. neahgebur. [n]e[m], pt. 3 s. seized, 802 ; 3 -pi. nom, received, 587 ; OE. niman. cp. in-nome. nemme, inf. name, 997. OE. nemnan. nente, ninth, 1012. OE. nigoSa; ON. niundi. ner, adv. near, 286; nere, 404;[n]ere,252. OE. near; cp. welnygh. neire, adj. comp. nearer 233. OE. nearra. nesch, soft, pleasant, 606. OE. hnesce. neuer, never, 19, 71, 333, etc. ; with negative, not ever, 4, 262, 825, 889, 900, 1071. OE. nsfre. neuer-])e-lese, neverthe- less, 912, 913; naa]>eles, 877 ; naw^eles, 95° ; now))e-lese,889 ; c^.lyttel. newe, new, see nwe. GLOSSARY. 213 nis, see be (i). no, pron. 32, 69, 93, etc. ; non, 206, 209, 215, 219, etc.; none, 440; i^dv. 347. 951. 977. 1190- OE. nan, na. noble, adj. 922, 1097. OF. noble. nojt, pron. nothing, 274, 337. 563. 588, 657, 1050; with negative, anything, 520. OE. nawiht. nom, see [n]e[ni]. nome, see name, non, none, see no. not, 29, 34, 92, etc.; cp. no^t. note (i), matter, 155, 922. OE. notu. note (2), song, 879; pi. note;, musical notes, 883. OF. note. [n]o|)er, see nawjjer. now, 271, 283, etc. OE. nu. nowjie-lese, see neuer-])e- lese. nwe, new, 155, 792, 879, 882, 943, 987; nw[e], 527; newe, 894; adv. nwe, anew, 1080, 1123; new, 662. OE. niwe, neowe. ny^t, night, 116, 1071; nyjte, 243; najt, 523; najte, 1203. OE. niht, neaht. nys, see be (i). (i). interj, 23, 241, 745, 1182. o (2), prep., see of. obes, py. 3 pi. do obeisance to,886. OF.pbeiss-,obeir. odour, 58. OF. odur. of, adv. off, 237, 358; prep. 3, 12, 55, etc. ; by (of agent) 11, 248; from, 31, 33, 36, etc.; with, 25, 76, 119, 206, 207; in, 896, iioi; out of, 1 126; o, 309, 429, 792, 1018; of al and sum, in full, 584. OE. of. ofte, often, 14, 340, 388; comp. ofter, 621. OE. oft. oje, pr. (impers.) ought, 552 ; pr. I s. [a]we (MS. owe), owe, 543; pt. 3 s. a3t, ought, 1 1 39; (im- pers.) 03te, 341. OE. agan. ojt, pron. something, 274 ; anything, 1200. OE. awiht. olde, 941, 942 ; comp. alder, 621 ; sup. aldest, 1042. OE. aid. on (i), num. one, 293, 530, 551. 557; [o]n, 860; at on, in accord, 378; an, 869 (cp. 786) ; indff. pron. 953 ; gen. s. one?, 864 ; indef. art. on, 9 ; adv. one, alone, 243, 312. OE. an; cp. a, an, vchon. on (2), prep, on, upon, 41, 45, 60, etc. ; in, 97, 243. 425. 710. 874, 1079, 214 PEARL. 1095 ; on honde, to hand, 155; on lenghe, for a long time, 167; adv. 255, 645- one?, see on (i). only, adv. used as prep. except, 779. OE. anlic. onslyde;, pr. 3 pi. sway, 77 ; cp. slode. ? OE. aslidan. on-sware, inf. answer, 680. •OE. andswerian ; cp. answar, swaie. on-vunder, see an-vnder. open, adj. 183; vpen, 1066; vpon, 198. OE. open. or, see ojier (i). oryent, n. Orient, 3; ory- ente, 82; used as adj. orient, 255. OF. orient. oVer (i), conj. or, 118, 130, 141, 491, etc.; or, 233; cp. OE. o])j)e. ojier (2), adj. otlier, 206, 209, 219, 319, 842, 935 ; pron. 449 ; gen. s. ojjere?, 450; pi. ojjer, 585, 773. 778. OE. oSer. oure (i), n. hour, 530, 551; pi. honrej, 555- OF. hore, ure. oure (2), pron. pass. 304, 322, 455, etc.; our, 851. OE. lire; cp. I. out, adv. with of, 282, 365, 642, 649, 1058, 1 163, 1170; oute of, 3. OE. lit. out-dryf, inf. drive out, 777; cp. dryue. out-fieme, «. exile, 1177. OE. at-flema; cp. fleme {see Note). out-ryste, adv. straight out, 1055; cp. ry3t. out-sprent, pt. 3 i. spurted out, 1 137; cp. Sw. dial, sprinnta, to burst ; spritta, to start. ouer, adv. too, 473; prep. over, 318, 324, 454, 773, 1166; above, 1205; o[u]er gayn, over against, 138. OE. ofer ; cp. gayn. onerte, open, plain, 593. OF. overt. ouerture, n. opening, 218. owne, adj. own, 559. OE. agen. pace, passage, verse, 677. OF. pas. pakke, pack, company, 929 : cp. Du. pak. pale, inf. appear pale, 1004. OF palir. pane, M. side, 1034. OF. pan. ■gaXtprep. {IFfench), hy, ^8g. paradys, Paradise, 248, 321 ; paradyse, 137- OF. pa- radis; Gk. 7rapa5ei. subj. passed, surpassed, 428; pp. passed, 528. OF. passer; cp. apassed. Pater, n. the Lord's Prayer, 485. L. pater, father. P[a]ule, Paul, 457. pay, inf. pay, 635; please, 1201 ; pr. I s. 524; 3 s. payej, 632; imp. s. pay, 542; impers. pt. s. payed, pleased, 1165, 1 1 77; pp. payed, 584. 603. OF. payer. paye, pleasure, i, 11 64, 1176, 1188, 1189, 1200; pay, 1212. OF. paye. payment, 598. OF. paye- ment. payne, n. pain, 664, 954; pi. payne;, 124. OF. peine; cp. for-payned. paynted, pt- 3 «■ 75°- OF. peindre ; cp. depaynt. payred, ■ pp. injured, 246. OF. empeirer, apeirer. pechohe, «• speck, 841. OF. pechet. penaunce, 477- OF- pene- aunce, penance. pene, see peny. penned (MS. spenned), pp. imprisoned, 53. OF. pennian. pensyf, pensive, 246. OF. pensif. peny, penny, 546, 560, 614 ; pene, 510, 562. OF. pening, penig. pere, n. peer, equal, 4. OF. per, peer. pere;, pear-trees, 104. OE. peru. perfet, see parfyt. perle, n. pearl, 1, 12, 24, etc. ; pi. perle;, 82, 192, 193, etc. OF. perle. perre, precious stones, 1028; "p. pres.," jewels of price, 730. OF. pierre. peryle, peril, 695. OF. peril. pes, peace, 742, 952, 953, 955. OF. pais. pitously, see pytosly. place, n. 175, 405, 440, 679, 1034. OF. place. planete;, planets, 1075. OF. planete. plate;, pi. plates, 1036. OF. plate. play, inf. 261. OE. ple- gan. playn, adj. flat, clear, smooth, 178 ; adv. plainly, 689; n. plain, 104; pi. playne;, 122. OF. plain. playned, see pleny. playnt, complaint, 815. OF. pleint. pleny, inf. complain, 549; pt. I s. playned, lamented, 53 ; pp. 242. OF. plain- dre. 2l6 PEARL. plesaunte, adj. pleasing, i. OF. plesant. plese, inf. please, 484. OF. plesir. plete, inf. plead, 563. OF. plaider; (m. plaid, plet; late L. placitum, a deci- sion), plontte?, /ji. plants,io4. OE. plante. plye, inf. mould, shape, show forth, 1039. OF. plier. plyjt, see plyt. plyt, state, condition, 1015, J 1 14; sore plight, 647; plyjt, 1075. OF. plite, condition ; OE. pliht, danger (the words were not always kept apart). pobbel, pebble, 117. OE. papol(stan). pole, pool, stream, 117. OE. pol. porchace, inf. purchase, 744; pr. 3 pi. porchase;, hunt after, 439. OF. porchacier. pore, see pouer. poifyl, embroidery, 216 ; cp. OF. pourfiler. poipos, intention, 508 ; por- pose, 185, 267. OF. por- pos. poi'talej, portals, 1036. OF. portal. possyble, 452. OF. possible. pouer, adj. poor, 1075 ; pore, 573. OF. povre; dial, poure. pouisent, precinct, 1035. AF purceynt ; OF. porceint. powdered, pp. 44. OF. poudre. -. poyued, n. wristband, 217. ) F. poignet. t poynt, n. 594; mark, 309; jot, single note, 891. OF. point. pray (i), n. prey, booty, 439. OF. praie. pray (2), inf. 484; pt. 3 s. prayed, 1192; 3 pi. 714. OF. preier. prayer, 355; prayere, 618. OF. preiere. prayse, inf. 301; pp. pray- sed, 1 1 12. OF. preisier. precios, precious, 4, 36, 204, 216, 228, 229, 330: ^ prec[i]os, 60, 192; preci- ous, 48, 82, 1212. OF. precios. pref, n. put in prei to, proved to be, 272. OF. preuve. pres (i), n. throng, multi- tude, crowding, 1114. OF. presse. pres (2), pr. I pi. press, has- ten, 957. OF. presser. prese, n. price, worth, 419; used as adj. pres, 730. ( ?) OF. preis. present, n. presence, 1193; presente, 389. OF. pre- sent; orig. in phrase ' en present.' preste, priest, 1210. OE. preost. GLOSSARY. 217 p[ie]teiinynable, adj. fore- ordaining, 596 ; prob. — L. predeterminabilis. pieued, see proued. prince, n. izoi ; gen. s. piynce3, 1164, 11 76, 1 1 89; piynces, i; pryn- sej, 1 188. OF. prince. priuy, see pryuy. proferen, pr. 3 pi. proiier, 1200; pt. 3 5. p[ro]fered, 235. OF. proferer. professye, n. prophecy, 821. OF. propliecie. piofete, propliet, 797; pro- phete, 831. OF. pro- phete. proper, fitting, noble, 686. OF. propre. property, property, peculiar- ity, 446; pi. propert[y]3, 752. OF. proprete. proudly, mo. OE. prut- lice. proued, pt. i s. tested, found, 4; pp. preued, 983. OF. prover, stem preuv-. prosessyoun, procession, 1096. OF. procession. pryde, n. 401. OE. pryte. pryncej, see prince. prys, price, excellence, 193, 272, 419, 746. OF. pris. pryse, i«/. prize, 1131. OF. priser. pryuy, adj. intimate, own, 12; priuy, 24. OF. prive. pure, 227, 745, 1088. OF. pur. pnrly, chastely, 1004. purpre, adj. purple, 1016. OF. pourpre. put, pp. 267, 272. OE. potian. pyece, n. thing, person, 192; py[ec]e, 229. OF. piece. Pyjt, pt. 3 s. set (with jewels), 742, 768; pp. 117, 192, 205, 217, 228, 229, 241, 991 ; pyjte, 193. 216, 240; cp. MDu. picken; cp. vmbe-pyjte. pykej, py. 3 pi. pick up, get, 573; PP- pyked, set, adorned, 1036; cp. ON. pikka. pyle, castle, stronghold, 686 ; origin unknown. Fymalyon, Pygmalion, 750. pynakled, pp. pinnacled, 207. OF. pinacle. pyne, pain, 330; labour, 511. OE. pin. pyonys, peonies, 44. OF. pione,pioine ; Lat. paeonia. pytosly, piteously, 370; pitously, 798. OF. pi- teus, pitous. pyty, n. pity, 1206; pyte, 355. OF. pite. quat, see quo. quat so, pron. rel. whatever, 566; cp. quo (2). quayle, n. quail, 1085. OF. quaille. quelle, inf. kUl, 799. OE. cwellan. 2l8 PEARL. queme, pleasant, 1179. OE. (ge)cweme. queu, conj. when, 40, 79, 93, etc. ; when, 332. 335. 347, etc. OE. hwaenne. queue, queen, 415, 423, 456, etc.; qnen, 432, 433, 444, 448, 474, 486. OE. cwen. queie, conj. where, 65, 376; where, 68, 617. OE. hwEer. quer[e], query, question, 803. L. quaerere (2 i,-. imp.). quere-so-euer, conj. wher- ever, 7 ; cp. euer. quel-er-so-euer, conj. whe- ther, 606; cp. whe- fer. quo {i) .pron.interr.masc.fem. 427, 678, 747, 827; who, 1 1 38; neut. quat, 755, 771; what, 249, 331, 336, 463, 475, 479; why, 1072. OE. hwa. quo (2), pron. rel. nom. masc. fern, who, 693, 709; who, whoever, 344; dat. quom, 453; wham, 131 ; quo [so], whoever, 709 ; neut. quat, 186, 293 ; what, 392, 794; what- ever, 523 ; cp. qaat so. quo|>, pt. I s. said, 241, 279, 325, etc. ; 3 s. 569, 758, 781. OE. cwetian, cwae];. quoynt, clever, skilful, 889: OF. coint. quy, see why. quyke, lifelike, 1179. OE. cwic. quyt, adj. white, 207, 842, loii, 1150; quyte, 220, 844, 1 137; qwyte, 1102; whyt, 163, 178, 197, 1 133; whyte, 219. OE. hwit. quytea, pr. 2 s. requitest, 595. OF. quiter. laas, see resse. ran, pt. 3 s. 646, 1055; pp. runne, 26, 523; rnnnen, 874. OE. rinnan. rande3, borders, 105. OE. rand, rapely, hastily, 11 68; rash- ly. 363. ON. hrapaliga. rasob, adj. hasty, 1167; cp. ON. roskr; Du. rasch. rau^e, grief, 858. ON. hrygS; c^. ruJul. raue (i), inf. wander, stray, 665. ON. rafa. raue (2), pr. i s. rave, 363. OF. raver. rauyste, pp. ravished, filled with ecstasy, 1088. OF. ravir ; stem raviss-. rawe, n. row, 545; pi. rawe;, hedgerows, 105. OE. raw. raxled, pi. i s. stretched myself, 11 74. OE. * rax- lian ( lot found). ray, n. 160. OF. rai. raykande, pr. p. wandering, 112. ON. reika. rayse, inf. 305. , ON. reisa. GLOSSARY. Z19 raysoun, see lesoun. rebuke, imp. pi. 367. AF. rebuker; OF. rebuchier. recen, inf. relate, 827. OE. (ge)receman. lecb, pr. I s. care, 333. OE. reccan. recoide, n. 831. OF. re- cord. red, adj. mi; rede, 27. OE. read. rede, inf. read, 709; pr. i s. advise, 743. OE. rjedan. redy, ready, 591. OE. raede + -ig. refete, inf. revive, 88. OF. refet, pp. o/refaire. reflayr, fragrance, 46. OF. re-flair. reget, inf. get again, re- deem, 1064 ; cp. gete. regioun, n. 11 78. OF. region. regne, kingdom, 501; ren- gne, 692. OF. regne. regretted, pp. 243. F. re- gretter ; OF. regrater ; (? cp. ON. grata, to weep). reiate3, attributes of royal- tyi 77°- OF. reiaute. reken, quick, noble, radiant, 5, 92, go6. OE. recen. reles, intermission, 956. OF. reles. relnsauat, pr. p. shining, 159. OF. reluisant. reme (i), n. realm, 448, 735. OF. reaume. reme (2), inf. cry aloud, 1 1 81; pr. 2 pi. remen, 858. OE. hreman. remuaunt, remainder, 1160. OF. remenant. remorde, pp. tormented, 364. OF. remordre. rem we, inf. remove, 427; depart, 899. OF. remuer. rengne, see regne. renoun, renown, 986, 11 82. AF. renoun; OF. renon. re-nOwle3, pr. 3 pi. renew, 1080. OF. renoveler. rent, pp. torn, 806. OE. rendan; cp. to-rente. reparde, pp. shut off, kept back, 611. ME. parren, to enclose. OE. *pearrian (cp. parrock); with pref. re- in sense of ' back, away from.' repayre, inf. resort, come together, 1028. OF. re- pairer ; L. repatriare. repente, impers. pr. subj. repent, 662. OF. re- pentir. repren[y], inf. reprove, 544. OF. reprendre. re^ueste, n. 281. OF. re- queste. rere, inf. stand out, 160; pp. rert, upraised, 591. OE. raeran. rescoghe, «. rescue, 610. OF. rescousse; cp. v. rescourre. reset, refuge, harbour, 1067. OF. recet. resnabelef, reasonable, 523. 220 PEARL. OF. resonable; cp. vn- resounable. resouu, n. reason, 52, 665; raysoun, cause, 268; pi. resoune3, arguments, 716. OF. raisun, resun. respects, n. 84. OF. respect. respyt, n. respite, 644. OF. respit, resse, «. rush, haste, 874; raas, 1167. OE. rSs; ON. ras. rest, inf. 679. OF. rester. restay, inf. pause, 437; ft. 3 pi. restayed, hindered, 716; pp. 1168. OF. restaier. reste, n. 858, 1087. OE. rest. restored, pp. 659. OF. re- storer; L. restaurare. retrete, inf. re-tell, 92. OF. retreter. reiie, reeve, steward, 542. OE. (ge)refa. reuer, river, 1055; pi. reu^rej, river-meadows, 105. OF. rivere, reviere. rewarde, n. 604. OF. re- ward. rewfuUy, sorrowfully, 1181; cp. ruful. riche, see ryche (i). rode, rood, cross, 646, 705, 806. OE. rod. roghe, adj. rough, 646. OE. riih. rokkej, n. rocks, 68. OF. roc. ronk, luxuriant, 844 ; vio- lent, 1 167. OE. ranc. ros, see ryse. rose, n. 269, 906. OE., OF. rose. rot, n. decay, z6; cp. MDu. rot. rote (i), n. root, 420. ON. rot. rote (2), inf. decay, 958. OE. rotian. rounde, adj. 5, 657, 738. OF. roond. rourde, voice, 112. OE. reord. route, company, 926. OF. route. rownande, pr. p. whisper- ing, 112. OE. runian. ruful, sorrowful, 916. OE. adj. hreow; cp. rewfuUy, raupe. runne, runnen, see rau. ryal, royal, 160, 193; ryalle, 191, 919. OF. real, ryally, royally, 987. ryche (i), adj. rich, 646, 770, 906, 919, 1097; rych[e], 68, 1036; rych, 105, 1182; riche, 993- OE. rice. ryche (2), n. kingdom, 601, 722. OE. rice; cp. heuen-ryche. ryche;, n. treasure, 26. OF. richesse. ryf, abundant, 770, 844. ON. rifr. ryjt, adj. used as n. well- doing, 496, 622; justice, 580, 591, 665, 684, 720, 1 196; ry3te, 672, 696; GLOSSARY. 221 claim, 708; alegge Jie ryjt, renounce thy claim, 703; adv. even, 298,461, 673.723. 885, 1093, 1 169; ryjt nojt, nothing at all, 520. OE. riht; cp. out- ryjte. lyjtwys, righteous, 685, 697, 739 ; ryjt-wys, 675, 689. OE. rihtwis. ryjtwysly, adv. rightly, 709. ryse, inf. rise,i03 ; rys,io93 ; pr. 3 s. rysej, 191 ; pt- 3 «■ ros, 437. 506, 519. OE. risan; cp. aros. sadde, serious, grave, 887; sade, 211. OE. saed, sated, sade, see gay. saf, secure, safe, saved, 672, 684, 720 ; saue, 696. OF. sauf. safEer, sapphire, 118, 1002. OF. saphir, safir. saghe, saying, word, 226; sawej, 278. OE. sagu. sa;, see se. sa3t, n. peace, 52; sete sa3te=to establish peace, 1201. OE. seaht, from ON. *saht (cp. Icel. satt). sake, n, cause, 800; sake, 940. OE. sacu. saker-fyse, n. sacrifice, 1064. OF. sacrifice. Salamon, Solomon, 689. same, adj. 1099, iioi. ON. same. samen, adv. together, 518. ON. saman; OE. somen. sange, see songe (i). Sant, see Saynt. [sarde], sardius, 1007. F. sarde. sardonyse, sardonyx, 1006. L. sardonyx, sat;, see say. saule, see s^wle. Sauter, Psalter, 593, 677, 698. OF. sautier. saue (i), see sat. saue (2), inf. save, 674; pr. 3 s. sauej, 666. OF. sauver. sauerly, adj. tasty, fitting, 226. OF. savour, saveur. sawe;, see saghe. saw[l]e, soul,46i ; saule,845. OE. sawel. say, inf. 226, 256, 258, 391, 1041, 1089; saye, 482; pr. I s. saye, 3 ; 2 s. says, 295, 297. 409 ; say;, 615 ; sayt;, 315; 3 s. says, 693, 867; saytj, 457, 501, 697; sat;, 677; pt. I s. sayde, 589, 962; sade, 784; sayd, 1 1 75; 3 s. sayde, 289, 338, 398, etc.; s[a]yde, 433 : sade, 532; 3 pi. sayden, 534, 550 ; PP- sayd, 593- OE. secgan. Saynt, adj. 457, 818; Sant, 788 ; used as noun in pi. saynte;, 835. OF. saint. say;, sayt;, see say. scale, surface, 1005 ; cp. OE. scealu; OF. escale; OHG. scala. 222 PEARL, schadowed, pt. 3 pi. shaded, 42. OK. sceadwian. SChafte;, rays, 982. OE. sceaft. schal, I, 2, 3 s. 3 pi. forming fut. tense, 283, 348, 405, etc. ; must, 328, 329, 332, 344, 424 ; intend to, 265, 298, 315; 2 s. schalte, 564; pt. i, 3 s. 3 ^^ schulde, ought, 314, 634, 903, 924 ; intended to, 153, 1 1 62; could, 1159; must 668; form- ing subj. 186, 930, 1072. OE. sculan. scharpe, adv. sharply, 877. OE. scearpe. schawej, see wod-schawej. schede, inf. separate, de- part, 411; pt. ^ s. shed, 741. OE. sceadan. SChene, beautiful, resplen- dent, 42, 80, 203, 1145; used as n. 166, 965. OE. scene. schente, pp. shamed, 668. OE. scendan. schep, sheep,' 801. OE. sceap. schere, inf. purify, refine, 165; pp. sehorne, 213; see Note. schere;, pr. 3 s. cuts, cleaves, 107. OE. sceran. schewe;, pr. 3 s. shows, 1 2 10; pt. -i s. schened, 692. OE. sceawian. scho, see he. schon, see schyne;. schore, bank, 107, 230; cliff, 166 ; cp. OE. sco- ren, pp. of sceran, to cut ; ' the part shorn off.' sehorne, see schere. sohot, pt. 3 s. shot, 58. OE. sceotan. schowted, pt. 3 s. shouted, 877. SChrylle, adv. shrilly, re- splendently, 80. Cp. LG. schrell ; cp. schyr. schulde, see schal. schylde, inf. prevent, 965. OE. scildan. schylderej, shoulders, 214. OE. sculdor. schym, bright, 1077. OE. scima, brightness. schymeryng, brightness, 80 ; cp. OE. scimrian. schynde, see schynej. schyne;, pr. 3 s. shines, 1074; 3 pl- 28; pt. 3 s. schon, 166, 213, 982, 1018,1057; 3^?. schynde, 80. OE. scinan. schyr, bright, pure, 28, 213, 284; schyre, 42; comp. schyrrer, 982. OE. scir ; cp. SChrylle. sdade, see slade. scrypture, n. writing, 1039. OF. escripture. se, inf. see, 96, 146, 296, 675, 914, 964, 969; sene, 45 ; pr. I i. se, 377, 385, 932; 3 s- se?, 302; 2 pi. subj. sy;e, 308; pt. I s. sej, 158, 175, 200, 1155; GLOSSARY. 223 seghe, 867; saj, 1021, 1 147; syje, 986, 1033; 3 s- syj, 788, 985. 1032; saj, 689, 836; sej, 531; segh, 790; 2 /Ji. s[y]3, 698; pp. sen, 164; sene, 194, 787, 1 143. OE. seon. sech, imp. s. seek, 354; pt. 3 s. sojte, 730; pp. SOjt, sought, given, 518. OE. secan; cp. bysech. secouude, adj. second, 652, 1002. OF. second. sede, n. seed, 34. OE. sad. segh, sej, see se. selden, seldom, 380. OE. seldan. self, adj. selfsame, very, 203, 446; sel£[e], 1046, 1076; used as n. ]>e hyje Godej self, 1054; cp. myself, ]>y self, hymself. sely, happy, 659. OE. s&Iig. semblaunt, face, expression, 211; sembelaunt, 1143. OF. semblant. seme, modest, 11 15; adv. becomingly, 190. ON. soemr. semed, pt. 3 s. subj. seemed, 760. OE. seman, to satisfy; cp. ON. soema, to honour, befit; cp. byseme. semly, adj. fair, 34, 45, 789. ON. soemiligr. sen, sene, see se. sende, pr. 3 s. subj. send, 130. OE. sendan. sengeley, adv. apart, 8. OF. sengle, with E. suff. serlypej, adv. used as adj. separate, 994. ON. ser; OE. liepig; cp. OE. an- liepig. sermoun, speech, 1 185. OF. sermun. sertayn, certainly, 685. OF. certain. seruaunt, servant, 699. OF. servant. serue;, pr. 3 s. avails, 331 ; pp. serued, deserved, 553. OF. servir. sesed, pp. given seisin of, enfeofied, dowered, 417. OF. seisir, saisir. set, pt. 3 s. sat, 1054; sete, 161; 3 pi. 835. OE. sittan, sset, saeton. sete, inf. set, 120 1 ; pr. z pi. setten, 307; imp. s. set, 545; pt. I s. sette, 8 ; 3 s. subj. 52 ; ind. set, 255, 811; pp. sette, 222, 838 ; set, 1062. OE. settan; ON. set] a. seuenj>e, seventh, loio. OE. seofoSa. seuen, seven, 838, iiii. OE. seofon. sexte, sixth, 1007. OE. siexta. seysoun, season, 39. OF. seison. sej, see se. Sir, 257, 439. OF. sire. skyfte, inf. arrange, ordain. 224 PEARL. 569. ON. skipta; OE. sciftan. skyl, n. reason, 312; skylle, 674 ; pi. skylle;, question- ings, 54. ON. skil. slade, valley, 141; selade, 1148. OE. slaed. slajt, slaughter, 801. OE. sleaht; c^. slepyng-slajte. slake, inf. abate, don to slake, brought to an end, 942. OE. sleacian. slayn, pp. slain, 805. OE. slegen (/j-om slean). slente, n. slope, hill-side, 141 ; cp. Norw. slenta, to fall aside, slant. Slepe, pr. 3 pi. sleep, 115. OE. sljepan, slepan. slepyng-slajte, slumber- stroke, dead sleep, 59; cp. slajt. slode, pt. I s. slid, 59. OE. slidan; cp. onslyde;. slyjt, adj. slight, 190; cp. MDu. slicht. smal, small, 6, 190; smale, 90. OE. smael. smelle, n. 1122. Etym. unknown. Smo}>e, smooth, 6, 190. OE. smoSe (commonly smeSe). SO, 2, 5, 6 etc. ; thus, 97, 338, 461, 467, 518, 522, 553. 736, 1035, 1116, 1165, 1186; with sub]'. expressing wish, 487, 850. OE. swa. soberly, adv. seriously, gravely, 256. sobre, serious, earnest, 391, 532. OF. sobre. sodanly, suddenly, 1095, 1098; sodenly, 1178. OF. sodain, sudain; ME. suff. -ly. soffer, see suffer, sojt, so;te, see sech. solace, n. 130. OF. solaz. solde, pt. 3 s. sold, 731. OE. sellan. sommoun, summons, warn- ing, 1098; cp. V. sumoun. sonde, n. sending, 943. OE. sand, sond. soue, soon, 537, 626, 1 197; early, 1078. OE. sona. songe (i), n. song, 882, 888, 891 ; sange, 19. OE. sang.song ; c^.euen-songe. songe (2), songen, see synge. Sonne, see sunne. sore (i), adv. sorely, 550; sor, 940. OE. sare. sore (2), n. sorrow, 130. OE. sar. sorj, sorrow, 663; sorje, 352. OE. sorg. sorquydryje, «. overweening, 309. OF. surquiderie. soth, true, 482, 1185; sofis, truth, 653. OE. soJi;c^. for-so>e. sothfol, true, 498. OE. s6|); suff. -ful. sotyle, thin, transparent, 1050. OF. sutU, soutil. soun, voice, 532. OF. soun. GLOSSARY. 225 sounande, pr. p. resounding, 883. OF. soner, suner. apace, n. 61; place, 438. OF. espace. Mpakk, see speke. sparred, pt. i s. struck out, flung forward, 1169. ( ?) OF. esparer, to spar (see Skeat). sp[e]ce, see spyce. speche, speech, saying, 37, 235, 400, 471, 793, 1 132; spech, 704. OE. spsc. special, unique, rare, 235; specyal, 938. OF. special. spede, pr. 3 s. s«6/. prosper, 487. OE. spedan. speke, pr. i s. speak, 422; 3s. speke;, 594; pt- 3 s- speke, 438; spakk, 938; pp. spoken, 291. OE. specan. spelle {1), pr. i s. relate, 793. OE. spellian. spelle (2), n. speech, 363. OE. spell. speim[e]d, pt. i s. clasped, 49. ON. spenna. spent, pp. 1132. OE. spendan. fspjere, sphere, 735. OF. espere. sponne, pt. 3 pi. subj. sprang, 35. OE. spinnan. spornande, pr.p. stumbling. 363. OE. spornan, spur- nan. spot, n. place, 25, 37, 49, 61 ; spote, 13; spot, blemish, 12, 48, 60, 764 1068; spotte, 24, 36 ; pi. spottej, 945; cp. MDu. spotte; EFris. spot; ON. spotti. spotle;, spotless, 856. spotty, adj. 1070. sprang, see spryng. sprede, inf. spread, abound, 25. OE. spraedan. spryng, inf. spring, 453; pr. p. spry[n]gande, 35: pt. 3 s. sprang, 61; sprange, 13- OE. springan. spyce, n. kind, creature, 938; sp[e]ce, 235; spyse, spice, 104 ; pi. spycej, 35 ; spyse;, 25. OF. espice, espece. spyryt, spirit, 61. OF. espirit. spyt, n. insult, 1138. OF. despit. stable (i), adj. steadfast, 597. OF. estable. stable (2), inf. stand firm, 683. OF. establir. stage, n. state, condition, 410. OF. estage. stale, n. step, ground-course, 1002. OE. staela. stalked, pt. i s. walked cautiously, 152. OE. stealcan. stalle, inf. hold, fix, 188. OE. steallian. stande, inf. stand, 514, 867; pr. 3 s. stande;, 547; 2 pi. stande, 515; stoude, 533; 3 pl. stonden, 113; pt. I s. stod, 182, 184, 1085 ; 3 s. 1023 ; endured, 226 PEARL. 597; PP- standen, 519. 1 148. OE. standan; cp. vnder-stonde. staie, inf. gaze, 149; pr. 3 pl. staien, shine, 116. OE. starian. start, inf. start, plunge, 1159, 1162 : prob. OE. *styrtan ; cp. Du. storten ; G. stiirzen. stayre, adj. steep, 1022 : cp. LG. steger, steep ; OE. stSger, stair. stele, inf. steal, 20. OE. stelan. stepe, adj. bright, shining, 113. OE. steap. step[pe], ». step, 683. OE. stsepa. stere, inf. guide, 623; ires- train, 1159. OE. steoran. sterna;, stars, 115. ON. stjarna. steuen, voice, sound, 1125; at steuen, within reach, 188. OE. stefn. stode, support, stud, set- ting, 740. OE. studu. stok, stock, stump of tree, 380. OE. stoc. Stoken, pp. barred, 1065 ; cp. OLG. stecan. ston, stone, gem, 206, 822, 994, 1006; stok o>er ston, 380; pl. stones, 113, 997- OE. Stan. stonde, stonden, see stande. stonge, pt. 3 s. stung, pierced, 179. OE. stin- gan. store, n. number, 847. OF. estore. stote, inf. stumble, 149 : cp. MDu. stoten. stounde, hour, time, 20, 659. OE. stund. stout, proud, strong, 779; stoute, 935. OF. estout. strange, strange, 175. OF. estrange, stratej, see strete. stray, adv. astray, 179; cp. astoaye. strayd, pt. 3 s. strayed, 1173. OF. estraier. strayn, inf. guide, 691; streny, strain, 551 ; pr. 3 5. straynej, constrains, 128. OF. estraindre; cp. vnstrayned. streche, inf. extend, on streche, rest upon, 843; strech, proceed, 971. OE. streccan. street, adj. straight, direct, 691. OE. streht, pp. of streccan. strem, n. stream, 125, 1159, 1 1 62. OE. stream. stremande, pf. p. streaming, 115 : from strem; cp. ON. streyma. strengh]>e, strength, 128. OE. strengSu. streuy, see strayn. stresse, distress, 124. OF. destresse; cp. dystresse. strete, street, 971, 1059; pl. stretej, 1025 ; stratej. I 1043. OE. strSbt. GLOSSARY. 227 strok, see stryke. stronde, bank, 152. OE. strand. stronge, adj. strong, 531; adv. firmly, 476. OE. strong. Sttot, contention, 353,-848; cp. Dan. strutte, to strut. strol)e-men, pi. strath-men, dalesmen, 113. Gael. strath, valley, country near a river ; cp. mon (i). strsf, strife, 248, 776, 848. OF. estrif. stryke, inf. go, 1125; pr. 2 s. stMykej, 1186; 3 s. strykej, 57° I P*- 3 «• strok, struck, 1 1 80. OE. strican. stryng, see sytole-stryug. stryuen, pr. 3 pi. strive, 1 1 99. OF. estriver. styf, adj. firm, 779. OE. stif. stylle, adj. quiet, 20, 182, 1085 ; adv. ever, 683. OE. stille. styutf, imp. s. cease, 353. OE. styntan. such, adj. 26, 407, 1043,1099; such a, 176; snche, 58, 171 ; used as pron. such, 727; suche, 719. OE. swylc. sve, inf. follow, 976; pr. 3 pi. swe, 892. OF. suir. suffer, inf. 954 ; soiler, 940 ; pp. suffred, 554- OF- sofirir, sufirir. SUffyse, inf. be enough, suffice, 135. OF. suffire; suffis-. sulpande, pr. p. polluting, 726. Cp. G. dial, solpern. sum, pron. some, 428; oJ al & sum, entirely, 584; pi. summe, 508. OE. sum. sumkyn, adj. some kind of, 619; cp. kyn. sumoun, inf. summon, 539. OF. somoner; cp. som- moun. sum-tyme, adv. at some time, 620, 760; cp. tyme. sunne, sun, 28, 519, 538, 982, 1044, 1045, 1056, 1057, 1076; Sonne, 530. OE. sunne. sunne-bemej, sunbeams, 83. OE. sunnebeam; cp. bem. supplantore;, supplanters, 440. OF. supplantour. sure, adj. 1089 ; adv. firmly, 222. OF. sur, seur. sute, n. fashion, 203 ; in sute, of the same pattern, 1108. OF. suite. 3 wait, pt. 3 s. died, 816 ; pt. I s. subj. swalte, 1 1 60. OE. sweltan. swange, pt. 3 s. rushed, 1059; 3 pi. toiled, 586. OE. swingan. swangeande, pr. p. rushing III. (?) OE.* swangian; cp. OE. swengan. sware (i), adj. square, 837, 228 PEARL. 1023 ; ». dimension, 1029. OF. esquarre. sware (2), inf. answer, 240. ON. svara ; cp. on-sware. swat, pt. 3 pi. sweated, 586. OE. swjetan. swe, see sve. swefte, see swyft. sweng, n. labour, 575. OE. sweng. swepe,i»/. sweep. III. OE. * swSpan {not found). swete, sweet, 19, 94, 763, 1 122; sw[e}te, S29; used as n., 240, 325; adv. iii, 1057. OE. swete. swetely, sweetly, 717. OE. swetlice. sweuen, sleep, dream, 62. OE. swefen. swone, n. swoon, 11 80; cp. OE. swogan. swyft, adj. 571 ; adv. swefte, 354. OE. swift. swymme, inf. swim, ii6o. OE. swimman. swyjie, quickly, 354, 1059. OE. swiSe. syde, n. 975, 1137; pi. syde;, 6, 73, 198, 218. OE. side. sy;, syje, see se. syjt, n. sight, 226, 839, 952, 968, 1151; eyesight, 985; [sjyjt, 1050; pi. syjtej, 1 179. OE. sih>. sykyng, pr. p. sighing, 11 75. OE. sican. syluer, n. silver, 77. OE. sylfor. sympeluesse, simplicity, 909. OF. simple ; ME. suff. -nesse, symple, adj. 1134. OF. simple. syn, see sy>en. synge, inf. sing, 891; pt. 3 pi. sougen, 94, 882, 888 ; songe, 1124. OE. singan. synglerty, uniqueness, 429. OF. senglierte. ; cp. syn- gMIEelre. syngnette;, pi. seals, 838. OF. signet. syng[u]l[e]re, adj. alone, used as n. in syng[u]I[e]re, in uniqueness, 8. OF. singulier; c/). synglerty. synne, n. sin, 610, 726, 811; pi. synnej, 823. OE. syn. synne;, pr. 3 s. sins, 662. OE. syngian. Syon, 789, 868. syt, lamentation, 663. ON. syt. sytole-stryng, citole-string, 91. OF. citole; OE. strenge. sy^en, adv. afterwards, 643, 1207; conj. since, 13,245; syn, 519. OE. sijfan. sy|)»3, times, 1079. OE. si^. tabelmmt, tier of ground- course, 994. table, tier, course, 1004. tached, pp. fastened, 464. OF. atachier. GLOSSARY. 229 take, inf. 539, 552, 599, 944, 1067, 1 158; pr. 2 pi. 387; 3 pi. take?, 687; imp. s. take, 559; pt. 3 s. toke, 414, 808; 3 pl- 585 ; pp- taken lor, considered as, 830; tan, 614. ON. taka. tale, 257. 3". 590. 865, 897, 998. OE. talu. tan, see take, tech, imp. s. direct, 936. OE. tsecan; cp. by- tajte. teche, n. stain, 845. OF. teche. telle, inf. tell, 134, 653; pr. 2 s. tellej, 919; pt- 3 s. tolde, uttered, 815. OE. tellan. temen, pr. i pi. are joined to, subserve, 460; cp. LG. tamen, temen, to fit. temple, 1062. OF. temple. tempte, inf. try, 903. OF. tempter. tender, adj. 412. OF. tendre. tene;, vexations, 332. OE. teona. tenoun, n. tenon, joining, 993. OF. tenon. tente, n. heed, 387. OF. atente; cp. myse-tente. ten]ie, tenth, 136, 1013. OE. teoSa; ON. tlundi. terme, n. end, 503; pi. teimej, words, 1053. OF. terme. that, the see p&t, )«. theme, n. subject, 944. OF. *teme; L. thema. then, thenne, this, thow, see \ienne (i), ])ys, pou. throne, see trone. thys, see ))is. to, adv. too, 2, 481, 492, 615, 1070, 1075, 1076, 1118; to ne fro, to or fro, 347; prep, i, 10, 20, etc. ; forming ger. 22, 45, etc.; for, 507, 638, 719, 759. 791 ; before, 700 ; on, 434; to hym warde, towards him, 820. OE.to. to-drawej, pr. 2 s. removest, 280; c^. dra;, wyth-droj. togeder, together, 1 121. to-jere, adv. for a long time, 588. OE. to-geare; cp. 3er. tojt, adj. taut, firm, sure, 522; (?) pp. of ME. tojen. OE. togian, to tow, pull; cp. OE. teon, to draw. toke, see take. token, n. 742. OE. tacen. tolde, see telle. tom, leisure, 134; toke more tom, had to wait longer, 585. ON. tom. toi^e, tongue, loo, 898; tong[e], 225. OE. tunge. topasye, n. topaz, 1012. OF. topase; L. topazus, topazon, topazion. tor (i), adj. difficult, 1109. OE., ON. tor-, only as prefix. 230 PEARL. tor (2), n. tower, citadel, 966. OF. tur. to-rente, pp. torn asunder, 1 136; cp. rent, to-rinen, pp. torn away, H97. OE. to-; ON. rifa. torre?, tors, cloud-peaks, 875. OE. tor. totj, pr. 3 s. betakes him- self, 513; pp. towen, drawn, 251. OE. teon. tou[C]h, inf. 714; pt. 3 s. towohed, 898. OF. tou- cher. toun, town, 995. OE. tun. towarde, prep. 438, 11 13; to-warde, 67, 974. OE. toweard ; cp. to, waide. towched, see touch, tras, path, 1113. OF. trace. trauayle, n. labour, 1087. trauayled, pp. toiled, 550. traw, inf. believe, 487; pr. I s. tiowe, 933; 2 s. trawej, 295; pt. i s. trawed, 282. OE. treo- wian. traw}>e, justice, 495. OE. treow)). trendeled, pt. 3 s. rolled, 41. OE. trendlian. ttes, trees, 1077. OE. treo. tresor, treasure, 331; tre- sore, worth, 237. OF. tresor. triys, ' truce,' peace, 755. OE. treow, pledge; ME. trew, pi. trews; cp. AF. triwes. trone (i), throne, 835, 920, 1051, 1055; throne, 1 1 13. OF. trone; L. thronus. trone (2), pt. 3 P^- went, 1 1 13; cp. Sw. tiina, tran. trowe, see traw. trwe, true, 421, 725, 822, iigi; true, 311; trw, 831 ; adv. trwe, 460. OE. treowe ; cp. vn-trwe. tryed, pp. brought to trial, 707. OF. trier. [try]este, surest, 1015. OF. trie. try3e, inf. trow, believe, 311. OE. triewan. trylle, inf. quiver, 78; Sw. trilla, to twist. t[r]yste, adv. trustily, 460 (see Note). twayned, pp. separated, 251. OE. twegen, twain. tweU]>e, twelfth, 1015. OE. twelfta. twelue, twelve, 992, 993, 1022, 1030, 1035, 1078, 1079. OE. twelf. two, 483, 555, 674, 949. OE. twa. twyej, twice, 830. OE. twia + -S. twynne.r;.; in twynne,apart, 251. OE. (ge)twinn. twynne-how, adj. of two colours, 1012 ; cp. hwe. tyjed, pp. tied, 464. OE. tigan. tyjt, inf. come, 718; pp. 503. OE. tihtan. GLOSSARY. 231 tyjte, -pt. 3 s. described, 1053; pp. tyjt, 1013; {i)cp. OE. dihtan.to com- pose. tyl, conj. till, 548, 976, 979 ; prep, tylle, to, 676. ON. til. tyme, n. 503, 833. OE. tima; cp. sum-tyme. tynde, n. branch, 78. OE. tind. tyne, inf. lose, 332. ON. tyna. tyt, quickly, 645, 728. ON. tiSr, neut. titt ; c^. as tyt. Jja?, conj. though, 52, 55, 134, etc.; \0h 345. OE. 8eah. fare, see per. ))at (i), conj. that, 65, 137, 185, etc. ; so that (effect), 35. 119. 356, 1087; in order that, 471, 544. OE. Sset. fat (2), def. art. the, 953, 955; cp. ))e (I). J'at (3), pron. dem. that, 12, 13, 14, etc.; that, 253, 481, 937; fern. ace. sing. fo, 136; pi. 73. 85. 109, 138, 451, 557, 777. 1179; iJOSe, 93. IZ7; JOS, sis- fat (4), pron. rel. that, is, 17.37; liot fat, 657, 6s8; fact], 8s6, 892. fay, see he. fe (i), def. art. the, 28, 67, 69, etc. ; the, 85, 109, 121, 445. 541. 685, 1141; with camp, fe, 103, 127, 128, etc.; the, 169; cp. pat (2). 1)6 (2), iee fou. fede, land, 483. OE. feod; cp. are-fede. fef, thief, 273. OE. feof. fen (i), adv., see fenne (I)- fen (2), conj. than, 134, 181, 212, etc.; fenn, 5SS- OE. eSaenne. f enke, inf. think, 22 ; f enk, 1151; pr. p. fenkands, 370; pt. I s. fojt, 137. 1 138, 1 157. OE. fencan. fenn, see fen {2). fenne (i), adv. then, iss, 177, 213, etc.; thenne, 361; fen, 277, 398, 494, etc.; then, 589. OE. ?S£eune, Banne. [jenne (2), adv. thence, 631, 1094. OE. Sauon, Sa- none. fer, adv. there, 28, 47, 53, etc.; [iier], II 17; fere, 167, 194, 742, 942, 1 155; fare, 830, 1021 ; fore, S62; as subj. of verb, fer, 21, 113, 161, 493, 657, 1 107 ; conj. where,26, 30, 41, etc.; fere, 835, 838. OE. Seer, iSar. fer-as, 129, 818, 1173. |)erate,a«iti. there, 514. OE. SSr at. fer-£ore, therefore, 1197. fer-inne, therein, 447, 644, 232 PEARL, 724, 1061, 1168; pere- ine, 633. O.E. Ssrinne. fer-of, thereof, 99, i6i, 410, 968, 1084; there- from, 1069. OE. esSr of. ])er-on, thereon, 1042 ; there- of, 387. OE. SEeron. ])er-oute, out of doors, 930. OE. Sarut. Jier-to, thereto, 664, 833, 1140; ])erto, 172. OE. essrto. Jiese, see jjys. ])ike, thickly, 78. OE. ])icce ; ON. Jjykkr, ])is, >ise, see fys. JjO, see ^at (3). ])03, see Jjaj. pojte, «. thought, 524. OE. Jpoht. fojt, see ))enke, fynk. jjole, i«/. endure, 344. OE. ])Olian. ]>onc, n. thanks, 901, OE. ))anc. J)00, then, 873. OE. 8a. Jjore, xee Jier. fos, ))Ose, see ])at (3). t)On, ^ro)?. pers. nom. s. thou, 23, 242, 245, etc.; ))0W, 411; thow, 337; dat. ace. s. ]>e, 244, 263, 266, etc. ; nom, pi. je, 290, 515, 516, etc.; dat. ace. yow, 470, 471, 524, 928 : used for s., nom. 36, 307. 308, 371, etc.; dat. ace. yow, 287, 913, 951. OE. Su; cp. Jjy, your. Jiowsande, thousand, 786, 869, 870; pi. iiowsande;, 1 107; pousande^, 926. OE. Jiusend. Irange, closely, 17. ON. Jirongr. I^re, three, 291, 292, 1034. OE. ))reo. Jirete, inf. complain, 561. OE. ])reatian. fro, bold, impatient, 344; strong, 868. ON. Jjrar. Jirowej, pr. 3 s. whirls, hurls itself, 875. OE. Jjrawan. Irych, inf. press, 17; pp. |)ry3t, crowded together, 926; brought forcibly, 670; pierced, 706. OE. Jjryccan. J'lydde, third, 299; >ryd[de], 1004; ];ryde, 833. OE. ])ridda. ]>rsi, inf. thrive, 851; pp. tryuen, mighty, 868 ; wise, 1192. ON. >rifa. jiryjt, see fryoh. >ryuen, see jiryf. )>nnder, «.thunder, 875. OE. ))unor. ])Ur5, prep, through, 10, 114, 271, etc. OE. Surh. Jiurj-outly, entirely, 859. OE. Surhiit -|- -lice. fUS, thus, 526, 569, 573, 673. 677, 829. OE. Sus. >y, pron. poss. thy, 266, 273. 275, etc.; ),yn, 559, 567, 754- OE. mn. fyder, thither, 723, 946. OE. Sider. >yil, see Jjy, GLOSSARY. 233 >yng, thing, 771, 1157; Jiynge, 910; \>yuk, 308, 496, 587. OE. Ving. pynk, impers. v. seem; pr. 267, 316. 552, 553, 590; pf. fojt, 19. 153- OE. Jiyncan. ])ys, pron. dem. this, 250, 277, 297, etc.; ])is, 65, 260, 295, etc. ; thys, 841 ; this, 733; pysse, 37°: gen. s. Hse, 533 : pl- Vise. 287, 384, 997, 1022, 1119 ; >yse, 555. 921, 931; fis, 42; jese, 551. 752- OE. netU. Sis. ys- sell, pron. reflex. 473; jiyseU, 779; liy seluen, 341 ; emphatic, l^y self, 298, 313. OE. Su Se self, 8e selfum. Jjysse, see ])ys. vayned, see waynej. VOh, adj. each, 31, 323, 603, etc. ; vch a, 78, 375, 436, etc.; vche, 5, 33, 310, 839, 845; vche a, 117, 217, 1066, 1080. OE. gehwilc. vchon, pron. each one, 450, 546, 595. 849, 1039; gen. vchonej, 863, 1103; cp. on (I). aeray, see veray. uestuie, see under V. Tened, see weue. vmbe-gon, pp. hung round, 210. OE. ymbe; cp. gon. vmbe-pyjte, pp. set round, 204, 1052 ; cp. pyjt. vn-a-vysed, adj. ill-advised, 292. OE. un- + OF. aviser. vnblemyst, adj. unblem- ished, 782. OF. blemir, blemiss-. vn-cort[a]yse, uncourteous, 303 ; cp. cortayse. vnde-fylde, adj. undefiled, 725. OF. defouler; OE. fylan; cp. fyljie. vnder (i), n. forenoon, the time from 9 a.m. to midday, noon, 513. OE. undern; cp. Goth, un- daurni-mats, a morning meal. vnder (2), prep, under, 923; cp. an-vnder. vnder-stonde, inf. under- stand, 941 ; cp. stande. vn-hyde, inf. reveal, 973. OE. hydan. vnlapped, adj. unfolded, un- bound, 214; cp. OE. laeppa, a loose fold ; hence ME. lappen, to wrap. vnmete, adj. unfit, 759; cp. mete (i). vnpynne, inf. unfasten, 728; cp. late OE. pinn. vnresonn-able, illogical, 590; cp. resnabelef. vnstrayned, adj. uncon- strained, 248; cp. strayn. vnto, prep. 712, 718; vn-to, 1 169; for, 772, 1212 ; on the part of, 362. 234 PEARL. vn-trwe, untrue, 897; cp. trwe. uoched, see under V, vp, adv. up, 35, 177, 191, 254. 434. 437. 506, 974- OE. up. vpen, vpon, see open, vpon, adv. thereon, 20S; prep, upon, 57, 59, 370, 824, etc.; vpone, 1054. OE. uppon. vr))e, the earth, 442, 893, 1 125; er))e, 840. OE. eorSe. vrt)ely. earthly, 135. OE. eorSlic. vt-wyth, adv. from outside, 969. OE. ut + wi|). vns, see I. vyf, vyue;, see wyt. uyne, see vyne. vale?, vales, 127. OF. val. vayl[e], inf. avail, 912. OF. valoir. vayn, adj. in vayn, at nought, 811; adv. in vayne, foolishly, 687. OF. vain. vayned, see wayne?. veray, true, 1184; ueray, 1185. OF. verai. verce, verse, 593. OF. vers. verej, pr. 3 i. turns, 177; pt.^ i.vered,254. OF.virer. vergynej, see vyrgyn. vergyntfe, virginity, 767. OF. verginite. Vertues, pi. Virtues, an order of angels, 1126. uestuie, raiment, 220. OF. vesture. veued, see weue. vm-, vn-, vp-, vr-, vt-, see under IT. uoched, pp. summoned, 1 121. OF. vochier; L. vocare. vus, see I. vyf, vyue?, see wyi. vygour, n. power, 971. OF. vigur, vigor. vyne, vineyard, 504, 507, 521. 525. 527. 535. 582. 628 ; uyne, 502. OF. vine, vyrgyn, n. virgin, used as adj. 426; pi. vsrgynej, 1099. OF. virgine. vys, n. face, 750 ; vyse, 254. OF. vis. vysayge, v. visage, 178. OF. visage. wace, see be (i). wade, inf. 143, 1151. OE. wadan. wage, inf. endure, 416. OF. wager, to engage. wakned, pt. i s. awoke, 1171. OE. wsBcnau. wal, wall, 1017, 1026. OE. weall ; cp. castel-walle. wale, inf. choose, point out, discern, 1000, 1007; cp. ON. val, choice. walk, inf. 399 ; pt. s. weike, loi, 711. OE. wealcan, weolc. wallande, pr. p. bubbling, 365. OE. weallan. GLOSSARY. 23s walle, see castel-walle. walte, see wolde (i). wan, see Wynne (2). wani[n]g, n. diminution, 558. OE. wanung. war, adj. aware, 1096. OE. waer. warde, adv. to hym warde, towards him, 820; fro me warde, away from me, 981. OE. weard. ware, see be (i). warpe, inf. give forth, utter, 879. ON. varpa, to throw. waschej, py. 3 i. washes, 655; pt.i s. wesch, 766. OE. wsescan. wasse, see be (i). wate, see wot. water, n. 107, iii, 122, etc. OE. wEeter. watj, see be (i). wawe;, pi. waves, 287 ; cp. MLG. wage. wax, see wex. way (i), path, 350, 580; pi. waye;, 691. oe. weg. way (2), adv. away, 718. Aphetic form of OE. on- weg, aweg; cp. away. wayne;, pr. 3 s. sends, grants, ,131; pp. vayned, 249. ON. vegna. wayted, pp. watched, held vigil, 14. OF. waiter. we, see I. webbe3, woven fabrics, 71. OE. webb. wedde, inf. wed, 772. OE. weddian. weddyng, n. 791. OE. wed- dung. wede, n. dress, 748, 766, 1 1 12; pi. wedej, 1 102, 1 133. OE. WEede. weete, see wete. wel, adj. 239, 1187; sup. best, 1 131; beste, 279, 863; adv. 164, 302, 411, 505. 673; very, 537; much, 145, 148; comp. better, rather, 341. OE. wel; cp. god. welcum, adj. welcome, 399. OE. wilcuma, n. one who comes pleasing ; ON. vel- kominn, pp. welcome. wele, weal, prosperity, joy, 14. 133. 342. 394; Pl- welej, 154. OE. wela. welke, see walk, welkyn, n. 116. OE. wolcnu, pi. of wolcen, cloud. welle, n. 365, 649. OE. wella. welnygh, adv. well-nigh, 581 ; wel-nej, 528. OE. welneah; cp. ner. wely, blissful, loi. OE. welig. wemle;, spotless, 737. OE. wamleas. wemme, spot, fault, 221, 1003. OE. wemman, to stain ; ji. wamm. wende (i), inf. go, 643, pt. i s. wente, 761 ; 3 s. went, 236 PEARL. 1 1 1 30; 3 pi. wente, 525, 631. OE. wendan. wende (2), see wene. wene, inf. think out, ima- gine, suppose, 1141 ; py. i 5. I wot & wene, I know full well, 47, 201 ; pt. I s. wende, supposed, 1148. OE. wenan. went, wente, see wende (i). wer'(i), pt. 3 s. wore, 205. OE. werian. wer (2), were, see be (i). werke, n. work, 599. OE. weorc. weikmen, pi. 507. OE. weorcmann. werle, n. attire, covering, 209. ( ?) OE.* werels {cp. ON. vesl). wern, see be (i). wesch, see wasche;. westernays, ' widdishins, ' contrariwise, turned away, perversely, 307. OF. bes-torneis, so trans- formed as to suggest ' westerly.' wete, wet, 761 ; weete, 1 135. OE. wEet. we]?er, see whe^er. weue, inf. come, 318; pp. veued, 976. OE. wjefan. weuen, pt. 3 pi. wove, 71. OE. wefan, waef. wex, pt. 3 s. grew, 538, 648 ; wax, flowed, 649. OE. weaxan. whallej, gen. s. whale's, 212. OE. hwael. wham, see quo (2). what, see quo. whate3, omens, fortunes, 1041. OE. hwcBt ; see byrKe]. when, see quen. where, see quere. whete, wheat, 32. OE. hwSte. whe])er, adv. nevertheless, 581, 826; conj. subord. with o])er, whether . . . or, 130, 604; welder, in- troducing question, 565. OE. hwaeSer. who, see quo. why, adv. interr. 329, 338, 515, 634; wy, 290, 533, 564; quy, 561; interj. why, 769. OE. hwy. whyle, adv. once on a time, 15. OE. «.hwil ; c^.awhyle. whyt, whyte, see quyt. with, see wyth. wlonk, noble, beauteous, 1171; wlonk[e], 122; wlonc, 903. OE. wlanc. wo, n. woe, 56, 154, 342. OE. wa. wod,forest, 122. OE. wudu ; cp. holte-wode3. wode, mad, 743. OE. wod. wod-schawej, pi. groves, 284. OE. sceaga. woghe, wickedness, 622. OE. woh. WOje, wall, 1049. OE. wah. wolde (i), inf. possess, 812; pp. walte, held, 1156. OE. waldan. GLOSSARY. 237 wolde (2), wolde;, see wyl (a). wolen, adj. woollen, 731. OE. wyllen. WoUe, n. wool, 844. OE. wuU. wommon, gen. pi. women's, 236. OE. wifmann. won (i), n. dwelling-place, 1049 ; pi. wonejj 917. 924. 1027 ; to wonej, home, 32. OE.(ge)wuna; ON. vani. won (2), inf. dwell, 298, 315, 644 ; won[e], 918 ; wony, 284; pr. 3 s. wonys, 47; 3 pi. wone3, 404. OE. wunian. wonde, inf. turn back, 153. OE. wandian. wonder, n. used as adj. won- drous, 221, 1095. OE. wundor. wonne, see wynne (2). wont, adj. accustomed, 15; wonte, 172. OE. wunod, pp. of wunian. wonted, pt. 3 s. lacked, 215. ON. vanta. wony, wonys, see won (2). worchen, pr. 3 pi. work, 511 ; imp. pi. wyrkej, 536; pt. 3 s. wrojt, 748; wro3t[e], 825 ; wrajte, 56; 3 ^^- wrojt, 555. 631; wrojte, 525 ; wrojteu, 622 ; pp. wrojt, 638, 824. OE. wyrcan. worde, word, 294 ; pi. wor- dej, 291, 307, 314, 367, 819. OE. word. wore, see be (i). worlde, world, 65, 424, 476, 537. 579. 657, 743, 761, 824; in woilde, at all, 293. OE. weoruld, wor- old. woischyp, n. honour, 394, 479. OE. weor})SCipe. wortej, pi. plants, 42. OE. wyrt. worjje (i), adj. worthy, 100; worth, 451. OE. weorj), wurj). worjie (2), pr. 3 s. subj. be, 362; pp. worjien to, be- come, 394. OE. weorSan. WOrJ)Iy, adj. noble, 1073; worthyly, 846; used as n. worjiyly, 47; adv. 1133. OE. weortSlic; ON. verSuligr. worjiy, noble, 494; worth, 616; cp. OE. wyrSig; ON. verSugr. [wlose, wild man, 911. OE (wudu)-wasa. wost, see wot. wot, pr. I s. know, 47, 201, 1107; wate, 502; 2 s. wost, 411; woste, 293; pt. I s. wyste, 65, 376; 2 s. wystej, 617. OE. witan. wo]>e, n. open country, vch a WOfe, every place, 375. OE. wa|), hunting- ground, place; cp. G. weide. WOM, «. peril, 154; pi. WOjiej, 151. ON. vaSi. wounde, n. wound, 650, 1 135, 1 142. OE. wund. 238 PEARL, UxvlM^ wrajte, see woichen. wrang, n. wrong, 631 ; Wiange, 15. OE. wrang. wrauge, adv. wrongly, 488; wrang, 614. wrath}>e, n. wrath, 362. OE. wrS))])o; cp. wrojie. wreched, wretched, made miserable, 56. OE. wrecca, an outcast. writ, see wryt. wro, n. corner, 866. ON. ra. wrojt, wrojten, see wor- chen. wroken, pp. banished, 375. OE. wrecan, wraec, wre- cen. wrope, adj. wroth, 379. OE. wraj; cp. wrathlie. wryt, writing, Scripture, 592 ; writ, 997. OE. writ. wryte3, pr. 3 s. writes, 1033 ; pp. wryten, 834, 866, 871. OE. writan. wry])e, inf. turn, 350, 488; pr. 3 pi. wryfen, strain themselves, 511. OE. wriSan. wy, see why. wyde, adj. 11 35. OE. wid. wyf, wife, 846; vyi, 772; pl. vyuej, 785- OE. wif. wyj, n. person, 100, 131, 722; pl. wyjej, 71. 579. OE. wiga. wyjt, n. person, 338 ; wy3te, 494. OE. wiht. wyjte, adj. active, brave, 694. ON. adj. m. vigr, n. vigt, in fighting form. wyl (2), pr. I s. wish, 558; 3 «• 350. 443. 965; 2 s. subj. 794; pt. {with pr. significance) i s. wolde, 390, 910; 2 s. woldej, 410; 3 i. wolde, 304, 451, 488, 772, 1195; pl- 391. 849; {uiifh pt. signifi- cance) I «. 977, 1 155. OE. willan. wylle, n. will, 56, 131. OE. willa. wyluej, pr. 2 s. wishest, 318. OE. wilnian. wyn, wine, 1209. OE. win. wyngej, pl. wings, 93. ON. vengr, vasngr. Wynne (i), adj. winsome, 154, 647. OE. wynn, joy; (') M!E. adj. from wynnum, joyfully. Wynne (2), inf. win, 579, 722 ; attain, 694 ; pt. i s. wan, came, 107; pp. wonne, brought, 32 ; come, 517. OE. winnan, wann, wunnen. wynter, n. used as adj. 116. OE. winter. wyrde, fate, 249, 273. OE. wyrd. wyrkej, see worchen. wys, adj. wise, 748. OE. wis. wyschande, pr. p. desiring, 14. OE. wyscan. wyse (i), n. manner, kind, loi, 133, 1095. OE. wise. f^^a^ GLOSSARY, 239 wyse (2), inf. appear, 1135. OE. wisian. wyste, see wot. wyt, mind, understanding, 903; wytte, 294. OE. witt. wyth, pf'^p. with, 40, 54, 74, etc ; with, 200, 202, 837 ; by, 806. OE. wij). wyth-droj, pt. 3 s. withdrew, 658; cp. draj, to-diawe;. wyth-inae, a