Trees on its banks
produce apples,
Waxen i_n_ time, and brimen, and ðen, 1128
Oc q_u_ane here apples ripe ben,
which contain
ashes only.
fier-iſles man mai ðor-i_n_ne ſen;
ðat erd iſ oten ſaltes dale,
Maniman ðor-of holdet litel tale. 1132
Lot soon left
Segor.
Loth wuned litel in ſegor,
for he dredde him for to forfare ðor;
Wið hiſe two dowtres ut he teg,
For fear he fled
to the hills, and
dwelt in a cave.
And for dred to ðo dunes he fleg; 1136
And ðor he biggede i_n_ a caue[n],
ðe waſ ðor i_n_ roche grauen.
Lot's daughters
thought _all mankind_
had perished,
and that, unless
they had
children, the
world would
come to an end.
ðo meidenes herden q_u_ilu_m_ ſeien,
ðat fier ſulde al ðis werld forſweðen, 1140
And wenden wel ðat it were cumen,
And fiereſ wreche on werld numen,
And ðat man-kinde wore al for-loren
but of hem ðre wore man boren. 1144
They consulted
as to what was
best to be done.
ðis maidenes redden ſone[142] on-on
Q_u_at hem two wore beſt to don,
[Fol. 23.]