Bi-luken ille, in fendes red.
On nigt hi_m_ cam ſonde fro gode,
Agen ðiſ kinges[369] red for-bode, 3932
God forbids
Balaam to curse
the Israelites.
And ðat he ne curſe non del
ðiſ folc ðat god bliſcede wel.
O morgen ſeide he, "fare ic nogt,
for bode iſ me fro gode brogt." 3936
Balak's second
message to the
prophet.
Balaac ſente richere an[d] mo
Medes, and oðer men to ðo.
"Sondes, ſondes," q_u_að balaam,
Or he ðeſe oðere medes nam, 3940
Balaam's answer
to the messengers.
"Ðog balaac king me goue hold,
Hiſ huſ ful of ſiluer and of gold,
Ne mai ic wenden her bi-neðen;"
Godes wurd iſ cumen alſ it iſ q_ue_ðen;[370] 3944
Oc or or ge wenden agen,
ðiſ nigt ic ſal fonden and ſen."
Q_u_at tiding so it cam on ðe nigt,
On morgen, at ðe daiges ligt, 3948
He consents to go
with the princes
of Moab,
Vp-on hiſe aſſe hiſ ſadel he dede,
To madian lond wente he hiſ ride,
And wente iſ herte on werre ðhogt;
Wicke giſcing it haueð[371] al wrogt. 3952
being influenced
by covetousness.
ðuſ rideð forð ðiſ man for-loren,
[Fol. 77.]
An angel meets
him in the way.
The ass is frightened,
An angel drog an ſwerd him bi-foren,
ðiſ aſſe wurð ſo ſore of-dred,
Vt of ðe weige it haueð him led. 3956
Sellic ðogte balaam for-ði,
And bet and wente it to ðe ſti
Bi-twen two walles of ſton;
and turns aside
to the wall,
Eft ſtod ðiſ angel him a-gon,[372] 3960
ðiſ aſſe iſ eft of weige ſtired,[373]
So ðat balames fot iſ hird;[374]
so that Balaam's
foot is crushed.
And he wurð ðo for anger wroð,
And ðiſ prikeð and negt ſloð; 3964
[369] MS. ginges.
[370] MS. queden.
[371] MS. haued.
[372] ? agen.
[373] ? stirt.
[374] ? hirt.