Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der,
Qwel[85] man mai ſen on werlde her.
God knew that
Adam would sin,
God ſag bi-fore quat after cam,
ðat ſingen ſulde firme adam, 172
And him to fremen and do[86] frame,
so He made tame
cattle to help him
in his labour and
to give him food
and clothing.
He made on werlde al erue tame,
ðe ſulde him her, in ſwinkes ſtrif,
to fode, and ſrud, to helpen ðe lif; 176
And him to pine, and loar her,
God made the
wild deer to
trouble man with
sorrow and dread
and cause him to
moan his sinfulness.
God made wirme _and_ wilde der.
He pine man wid[87] ſorwe and dred,
And don hem[88] monen hiſ ſinfulhed, 180
ðat iſ him loar quan he ſeð,
ðan he for ſinne i_n_ ſorwe beð.
Each kind of
cattle, reptile,
and beast was
made of earth.
Ilk kinnes erf, and wrim, and der
Was mad of erðe on werlde her, 184
[Fol. 4b.]
All were good
while Adam was
pure.
And eu_er_ilc on in kinde good,
ðor quiles ada_m_ fro ſinne ſtod;
But reptiles and
wild beasts hurt
man as soon as he
became sinful.
Oc der and wrim it deren man
fro ðan ðat he ſingen bi-gan; 188
In ðe moſte and i_n_ ðe leſte he forleſ
Hiſ lou_er_d-hed[89] q_u_uanne he miſ-cheſ;
Lions and bears
tear him in
pieces.
Leunes and beres him wile to-dragen,
Flies have no awe
of him.
And fleges ſen on him non agen; 192
Hadde he wel loked him wið ſkil,
Ilc beſte ſulde don hiſ wil;
Cattle help him
through God's
mercy.
Erf helpeð him ðurg godes með,
Hiſ lordehed[90] ðor-onne he ſeð. 196
And for hiſe ſinne oc he to munen,
ðat moſte and leiſte hi_m_ ben binumen.
On this sixth day
God made Adam
of earth,
Ðiſ ſexte dai god made Adam,
And his licham of erðe he nam, 200
and blew into his
body a "life's
blast,"
And blew ðor-in a liues blaſt,
"a likeness of His
Holy Ghost,
A likneſſe of his hali gaſt,
[85] qwilc?
[86] to?
[87] _read_ wið
[88] him?
[89] louerd-hel in MS.
[90] _read_ louerd-hed