Lamech is at ðe sexte kne,
ðe ſeuende man after adam,
ðat of caymes kinde cam.
ðiſ lamech waſ ðe firme man,
ðe bigamie firſt bi-gan.
Bigamie is unkinde ðing,
On engleis tale, twie-wifing;
for ai was rigt and kire bi-forn,
On man, on wif, til he was boren.
Lamech him two wifes nam,
On adda, an noðer wif ſellam.
Adda bar him ſune Iobal,
He was hirde wittere and wal;
Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble,
ſundring and ſameni[n]g tagte he;
Iobal iſ broðer ſong and glew,
Wit of muſike, wel he knew;
On two tableſ of tigel and braſ
wrot he ðat wiſtom, wiſ he was,
ðat it ne ſulde ben undon
If fier or water come ðor-on.
Sella wuneð oc lamech wið,
ghe bar tubal, a ſellic ſmið;
Of irin, of golde, ſiluer, and bras
To ſundren and mengen wiſ he was;
Wopen of wigte and tol of grið,
Wel cuðe egte and ſafgte wið.
Lamech is at the sixth degree,
The seventh man after Adam,
That of Cain's kin came.
This Lamech was the first man
Who bigamy first began.
Bigamy is unnatural thing,
In English speech, twi-wiving;
For aye was right and purity before,
One man, one wife, till he was born.
Lamech to him two wives took,
One Adah, another wife Zillah.
Adah bare him a son Jubal,
He was a [shep-]herd wise and able;
Of mark,[7] breed, age, and colour,
Separating and assembling taught he;
Jubal his brother poetry and music,
Craft of music, well he knew;
On two tables of tile and brass,
Wrote he that wisdom, wise he was,
That it should not be effaced
If fire or water came thereon.
Zillah dwelleth also Lamech with,
She bare Tubal, a wonderful smith;
Of iron, of gold, silver and brass
To separate and mix, wise he was;
Weapon of war and tool of peace,
Well could he hurt and heal with.
—(ll. 444-470.)