"Nai, for gode," q_u_ad moyſes,
"It iſ a ſong wikke and redles."
and seeing the
idolatry of the
people, he brake
them in pieces.
Moyſes cam ner and ſag ðiſ plages,[334]
And ðiſ calf, and ðiſ ille lages; 3576
So wurð he wroð, o mode ſarp,
Hiſ tables broken dun he iſ warp,
The calf he burnt
and ground to
powder, and mixed
it with the
water they drank.
And dede ðat calf melten i_n_ fir,
And ſtired it al to duſt ſir, 3580
And mengde in wat_er_ and forð it of,
And gaf ðat folc drinken ðat drof.
ðo wiſte he wel q_u_ilc hauen it don,
Sene it was here berdes on. 3584
ðo gredde he lude, "goð me to,
Alle ðe god luuen so."
Moses caused the
idolaters to be
put to death.
Frend ne broðer ne ſpared he nogt
On of hem ðat haued ðiſ wunder wrogt; 3588
[Fol. 70.]
Of ðo ðe weren to ðiſ red,
The number slain
were about 3000.
.xxx. hundred to ðe dead
woren ðane don ſone a-non,
ðurg ſtrengðe of moyſes and aaron; 3592
On oðer ſtede men writen ſen,
xxiii. ðhusent ðat ðor ben;
On the morrow,
Moses reminded
the people of
their sin.
Ðo woren on liue ſumdel les.
On oðer dai q_u_ad moyſes, 3596
"Michel ſinne haue ðe[335] don,[336]
Ic ſal gon ſeken bote her on."
He returned to
Mount Sinai to
seek God's
mercy.
Eft he ſteg up to munt ſynay,
for to bi-ſeken god merci. 3600
"Lou_er_d," q_u_ad he, "ðin meðe iſ god,
Merci get for ðin milde mod![337]
Or ðu ðiſ folc wið milche mod,[338]
Or do min name ut of ðin boc." 3604
God promises to
send his angel
before the people.
God anſwerede, "of ſal ic don
Hem, ðe arn nogt to ben ðor-on;
Go, led ðiſ folc, min engel on
[334] MS. wlages.
[335] ge?
[336] MS. Michel ſinne q_u_að haue ðe don.
[337] ? milde-hod.
[338] MS. moð.