I defended so that thou wast rescued,
And laboured, and great sorrow endured,
Yet is it unseen (is it a secret) how I accomplished it?
2882 _hidel-like_ (= hidingly), secretly. Cf. O.E. _hidel_, a hiding place
(Ps. xxvi. 5). 2890 _to gode_, for good, gratuitously. 2891-2 And yet they
hold (keep up) the number of the tiles (bricks), and knead and bake (them),
great and small. 2894 And to God he made his complaint (bemoaning).
P. 83. l. 2900 _ðhunerg_ = _ðuner_; O.E. _thoner_, thunder. 2903 _Min
milche witter name_ may signify (1) my great wise name, or (2) my merciful
wise name. In (1) _milche_ = _michel_ = _mikel_, great; but in (2) it =
_milce_, mild, merciful. See l. 3603. 2918 _Iglic_ = _uglic_, ugly,
horrible. 2919 _wiches kire_, select (choice) witches. 2920 _in sowles
lire_, in soul's loss. 2926 And the heads of them all he bit off.
P. 84. l. 2934 _wit_ = we two. See Orm. vii. 73, H. i. 4, 300. 2935-6 This
king himself is very bitter against this folk, and of heart hard. 2938 And
try better with this token. 2947 _trike_, a rivulet, small stream,
evidently connected with the verb _trick-le_. 2951 _wreche_ = _wreke_,
vengeance, plague. Cf. _michel_ and _mikel_, _dike_ and _diche_, etc. 2957
_bot_ = _boot_, release, deliverance, is connected with O.E. _bete_, to
amend, to alleviate. 2962 _bi-tournen_ = _biturnen_, turn, change.
P. 85. l. 2969 _froskes here_ = host of frogs.
2977-8
Pole-heads (tadpoles) and frogs, and sport of podes (toads),
Bound hard Egypt's wretched folk.
_in sile_ = _vn-sile_ = _vn-sele_, miserable, wretched. Stratmann says that
_sile_ = _sele_, epirhedium. _Polheuedes_ (Provincial Eng. _pole-head_), a
tadpole. Palsgrave has _polet_. _Polly-wigs_, tadpoles. "Tadpoles,
_pole-wigges_, young frogs." (Florio, p. 212.) _Pol-wygle_, wyrme, occurs
in the Prompt. Parv. (Hall.); _pode_ = Prov. E. _pode_, _paddock_, a toad
(Shakespeare); W. Prov. E. _padstool_ = toadstool. (See King Alis. 6124.)
"ðare nakyn best of wenym may
Lywe, or lest atoure a day;
As ask, or eddyre, táde or _pade_,
Suppos þat þai be þiddyr hade."—(Wyntown, i. p. 15.)
2988 _up-wond_ = up-went, but literally up-wound. 2989 _on bite_, in
_their_ bite. 2990 _smite_, a blight, plague.
P. 86. l. 3011 _bad meðe_, entreated for mercy. 3013 _wroð_ = _worð_ =
_wurð_, became. 3014 And broke them that promise (see l. 3062). 3027 _dolc_
= O.E. _dolg_, wound, ulcer. O.E. _dolc_ = pin, tongue. 3037 _ðe to
un-frame_, to thy sorrow.
P. 87. l. 3045 _al sir_ = _all sheer_, clearly, openly. 3047 _vnghere_ may
be an error for _undere_ = badly, or, what is more probable, for _vngere_ =
unready, unexpectedly, _gere_ being the same as _gare_, _yare_, ready,
prepared. 3048 _bergles_ = unprotected, shelterless, from _bergen_, to
protect.
3055-6
Moses, cause this weather to turn,
And I shall let you out fare (go).
3058 _vnweder_, storm. See ll. 3059, 3061. _Weder_ in O.E. is often used
for a tempest, storm. See Ywaine and Gawin, 411; Wyntown, i. 387; Romaunt
of the Rose, 72, 4302. _atwond_, departed = away-wound, or away winded. Cf.
_at_ in _at-wot_, departed, p. 30, l. 1049. 3065 _gresseopp-e_,
grasshopp-e-r, locust. Cf. O.E. _hunt-e_, a hunt-e-r, etc.
"And to lefe-worm þar fruit gaf he,
And þar swynkes (labours) to _gress-hope_ to be."
—(Ps. lxxvii. 46.)
3066 And what the hail then left (untouched) shall all be consumed.
P. 88. l. 3075 _but_, without exception (?). 3077 _Hu_ = how? 3080 Erewhile
alone of men was _leave_ besought. 3086 _an newe figt_, in _a_ new
conflict. 3087 _skipperes_, the grasshoppers. See l. 3096, where _opperes_
is similarly used. 3088 They did on grass and corn injuries. 3102
_ðherknesse_ = _derknesse_, darkness, is a genuine form, and occurs in the
Coventry Mysteries:—"_Therknesse_, or derknesse, tenebre, caligo."—(Prompt.
Parv.) 3105 Many there suffered sorrow in life; _bead_ = _abead_, suffered.
3108 _sowen_ = _sogen_, saw. See l. 3329.
P. 89. l. 3111 _boden_ = both. See _bothen_ in Glossary to Morte Arthure,
ed. E. Brock. 3120 Death shall be avenged over you.
3123-6
Said God, "Yet I shall on Pharaoh,
Ere ye go out, put a plague
(Now I shall into Egypt go)—
Such a plague was never any before."
3131-2
I shall not fail you
Of what I have promised you.
3139 Every house-folk (family) that may permit of it.
3141-3
The tenth day it should be taken,
And kept on the tenth night,
And slain on the fourteenth day.
3144 _so it noten mai_, as may partake of it; _noten_ = O.E. _note_,
_naite_, to make use of, enjoy, eat.
P. 90. l. 3147 _bred_ = O.E. _brad_, roasted. (See Sir Gawayne and the
Green Knight, l. 891.) 3148 _wreken_, taken, thrown out. "God nele naȝt þet
me make, his hous marcat ne boþe, huerout he _wrek_ þo þet zyalde and boȝte
in þe temple."—(Ayenbite, p. 172.) 3150 _his owen fond_, his own wants
(need). 3153 _wriðel_; can it mean _haste_? (see Ex. xii. 11.) At first
sight it seems to be a derivative of _wirt_ (by metathesis _writ_), an
herb; but the mention of _rew mete[n]_ in l. 3151 renders this rather
doubtful. 3154 _bi-leuen_, the remainder. O.E. _lave_, _leve_, the
remainder. 3155 _dure-tren_ = door-trees, posts.
"For James the gentile
Jugged in hise bokes
That feith withouten the feet
Is right nothyng worthi
And as ded as a _dore-tre_
But if the dedes folwe."
—(Piers Ploughman, 833.)
_uuerslagen_ = _overslagen_, _ouerslage_, over-piece, lintel. "_Ovyrslay_
of a doore. superliminare."—(Prompt. Parv.) 3172 For their toil they now
have hire.
P. 91. l. 3206 _fro_ = _for_, on account of. 3211 _stunden_ does not mean
stood, but is a vb. (formed from the sb. _stund_, a stound, a short space
of time) signifying to delay awhile, to wait. 3212 How Pharaoh should act
toward them. 3213 Pharaoh summoned (assembled) out his army; _bannen_ = to
call to arms.
"Þa bleou Brutus
& _bonnede_ [_bannede_] his ferde."
Then blew Brutus his horn
And assembled his forces.
—(Laȝ. i. 75.)
3218 _of fote ren_ = swift of foot.
P. 92. l. 3220 _to werchen wi_, to work war, to make war upon. 3224 _ne
gate_ = _no gate_, no ways; _gate_ is often used by Northern writers as an
affix = -wise or -ways; as _al-gate_, _thus-gate_, etc. 3230 On (against)
Moses they set _up_ a cry. 3234 Supply _don_ after _gu_. 3235 _dregen wið
skil_, endure with patience. 3240 That for you ways (paths) may be well
prepared.
P. 93. l. 3255 _an skige_, a cloud. Cf. Milton's '_sky-tinctured_'
(Paradise Lost, Book V.).
"..... it ne left not a _skie_
In al the welkin long and brode."
—(House of Fame, iii. 508-511.)
3264 _daiening_ = _daigening_, dawning. 3271 _in twired wen_, in perplexing
doubt; _twired_ signifies two-fold (doubtful) counsel.
"and [Bruttes] dude_n_ swiðe vnwraste
...... alle his haste,
and weoren alle _twiræde_."
And Brutus did very evilly
all his behests,
and all were of two counsels.
—(Laȝ. ii. 392.)
3274 _helden_, an error for _holden_. 3275 _a morgen quile_, a morrow
while, a minute. 3282 _weken_ seems to be an error for _wreken_, taken (see
l. 3148.)
P. 94. l. 3292 _pert_ = _apert_, open, clear. 3300 _wlath_, the reading of
the MS., = _lað_, loathsome. But _wlach_ = brackish, properly _warm_; cp.
_luke_-warm. 3301 _a funden_ (discovered) _trew_ = a tree _which he_ found.
3310 _bred wantede_, bread failed.
3315
_Bet us were in egipte ben_,
It were better for us in Egypt to be.
3319 _on-dreg_ = 'bear up,' endure patiently. 3324 _so fele so_, as many
as.
P. 95. l. 3327 _ðis dewes cost_, the nature of this dew. For the meaning of
_cost_ see O.E. Miscell., pp. 12, 25; Allit. Poems, p. 66; Chaucer's
Knight's Tale. 3328 _rim frost_ = _rime frost_, hoar frost. 3338
_for-hadede_. Read ? _for-hardede_, hardened. 3340 That it gave a flavour
of honey and oil. 3341 _forbone mor_, more _than_ was bidden; _forbone_ may
be an error for _forbode_, prohibition, command; or we may read (and the
MS. will admit of it) _forboue_, above. Cf. _bi_ and _for-bi_, etc. 3345
Kept it apart in _a_ clean place. 3348 _vten leð_ = in a foreign land;
_withouten let_ = without cessation. 3353 Soon was that water wanting to
them. 3354 MS. _haue_; the rhyme requires _hane_; _ðrist hane_ signifies
torment of thirst.
P. 96. l. 3378 _here ðing_, their affairs. 3381 Moses prayed for the folk
_of_ Israel. 3385 For _leth is_ read _let his_. 3388 They supported them
with a stone. 3393 _bode_ seems wanting after _sente_. 3394 Of this
occurrence to have a memorial.
P. 97. l. 3398 _min blis_. Jehovah-nissi is generally explained as "The
Lord is my banner." 3410 _stering_, government, rule; _stere_ in ll. 3418,
3420, rule; _steres_, rulers, ll. 3413, 3415; _steres-men_, rulers, ll.
3417, 3429. 3412 _a meister wold_, a master (head) ruler, the same as
_ouer-man_, l. 3424. 3413 _tgen_ = _tyen_, ten. See l. 3418. 3414 _Ilc
here_, each of them. 3429-32 He bad them choose rulers, mighty, who are
God-fearing, truth-loving, and who strife and covetousness forsake. 3432
_niðing_ signifies not only strife, but niggardliness, wickedness,
slaughter, etc. O.E. writers usually employ the word in the sense of a
coward, villain, miser, etc.
P. 98. l. 3434 And willingly (gladly) _he_ received (accepted) it. 3438 _is
numen_, has gone. 3448 May we not read _Ic wile min folc cnowen be_ = I
will be known to my people?
3449-51
And Moses told this to Israel,
And they promised him every whit
What he biddeth them they will do.
3453 _ðis to daiges_ = these two days. 3458 _wið goren dragen_ = pierced
with darts.
"heo beoren on heore honde
_gares_ [speres], swiðe stronge."
—(Laȝ. iii. 44.)
3459-60
These _people_ fearful thus abode,
While these days forth have passed.
3462 _Spile_, ravage, destruction (see l. 2977). 3463 On this mount stood a
cloud's shadow; _and_ = _an_ = _a_ (see l. 3475).
P. 99. l. 3471-84 Each of you bear in mind, that it is not Moses, Amram's
son, whom ye shall to-day hear speak, but He who slew Egypt (you for to
avenge), and a path made in the sea; and who let Adam discover the tree
which preserved Noah, and led Abraham out into the land of Canaan; who
caused Isaac to be begotten of old Abraham and of Sarah (of old teats); who
gave Isaac (Jacob?) so many sons, and who gave Joseph such rich gifts
(abilities); let His word be to you as precious as life, dearer than either
child or wife.
3488-9
None might go further except Nun,
And also his brother Aaron.
3489 _on_ = _one_. It may be an error for _oc_ = also. 3496 My vengeance is
severe, my forbearance is long. 3497 _in idel_, in vain; _idel_ in O.E.
signifies _empty_, _void_. 3498-3500 Nor swear it lyingly to defile in
sport, Nor let thou my honour be lost in the fiend's tempting (_i. e._ in
yielding to the devil's advice).
P. 100. l. 3508 _for truke of_ = for failure of, for want of. 3515 Covet
not thy neighbour's thing. 3518 Thou losest everlasting bliss. 3519
_figeren_ = _fiyeren_ = _feren_, afar. 3533 _nemeld_ = _nemend_ = _nemned_,
named, appointed (?).
P. 101. l. 3545-6 That mad folk there of day brought Hur (_i. e._ put Hur
to death) and put Aaron in fear; 'to don of dawe' = to bringen of dage =
put to death. (See Legend of St. Beket, l. 622; Allit. Poems, p. 9, l.
282.)
"For quen the childe es born, sal I
_Do it of daw_ sa priuely,
That na wiht sal the squeling here,
And delf it sithen in our herbere."—(Met. Hom. p. 167.)
P. 102. l. 3573 _for gode_ is frequently employed by Chaucer. 3574 It is a
song wicked and foolish.
3581-2
And mixed _it_ in _the_ water and poured it off,
And gave that folk that draff (dregs) to drink.
Cf. O.E. _draff_, chaff. "_Draffe_ or drosse, or mater stampyd, pilumen."
(Prompt. Parv.) Cf. "_draf-sak_." (Chaucer.)
3583-4
Then wist he well who had done it (committed idolatry),
Seen it (the dregs) was on their beards.
3603 _milche moð_ = _milce mod_, mild (merciful) mood.
3605-6
God answered, "Off shall I take them,
Who are not _worthy_ to be placed thereon."
3607 _min engel on_, my angel alone.
P. 103. l. 3611 _to pligt_, for _their_ sin. 3614 And as sun-beam bright
shone his features. 3624 _wið witter dragt_, with skilful device. 3626 And
their labour they well apply. 3635 _of lore wal_, of choice lore. 3637
_betten_ = _beten_, amend, from _bet_, better. 3640 Ere they from Sinai
forth have passed. 3642 _ðe oðer_, the second.
P. 104. l. 3647 This folk has after pleasure gone. 3653 Moses caused it to
cease with his prayer. See note on _blissen_, p. 182. 3658 _for-hirked_ =
_for-irked_, tired. 3661 _Loruerd_ = _louerd_, lord. 3664 Thou shalt cause
me quickly to suffer death. 3676 And brought a great mint of quails; but
_turles_ = _turtles_, doves. See Ayenbite of Inwyt, p. 181.
P. 105. l. 3688 There became Miriam somewhat foolish; _soth_ = _sott_, a
fool (see l. 3685). 3710 A bunch of grapes on a long pole; O.E. _cowele_,
_cowle_, a coop, tub, etc.; Prov. E. _cowl_; _cuuel-staf_ signifies the
staff or pole upon which the people carried their kneading troughs. This
interpretation is supported by the form _cowle-tre_ or _soo-tree_. Falanga,
vectatorium. (Prompt. Parv.) "Phalanga est hasta, vel quidam baculus ad
portandas cupas, Anglice a stang, or a _culstaffe_."—(Ortus.) "_Courge_, a
stang, pale-staffe, or _cole-staffe_, carried on the shoulder, and notched
for the hanging of a pale at both ends."—(Cotgrave.) In Caxton's Mirrour of
the World, c. 10, A.D. 1481, it is related that in Ynde "the clusters of
grapes ben so grete and so fulle of muste, that two men ben gretly charged
to bere one of them only upon a _cole-staff_." In Hoole's translation of
the Orbis sensualium, by Comenius, 1658, is given a representation of the
_cole-staff_ (_ærumna_), used for bearing a burden between two persons, p.
135; and again, at p. 113, where it appears as used by brewers to carry to
the cellar the new-made beer in "soes," or tubs with two handles (_labra_),
called also _cowls_. In Brand's "Popular Antiquities," ii. 107, will be
found an account of the local custom of riding the _cowl-staff_ or _stang_
(Way in Prompt. Parv.)
P. 106. l. 3721 _swerdes slagen_, slain of (with) sword. 3723 _loder-man_ =
_lodesman_, leader. A leader we will choose (take); _sen_ = _bi-sen_. 3730
If Moses were not opposed there-_to_. 3732 _milche_ = _milce_, mercy, pity.
See l. 3728, where the correct form occurs. 3740 Their righteousness was
pleasing to God. 3742 _sorwes dere_ = sorrow's hurt.
3745-6
Again (backwards) they made their course,
As that cloud had taught.
P. 107. l. 3755 _migtful_ qualifies _meistres_ in l. 3756. 3760-61 _ilc
gure_, each of you. Cf. _quilc gure_, which of you, l. 3764. 3761
_reklefat_, incense vat, the vessel holding the incense, censer. See Orm.
i. 2, 35, 58. 3762 _timinge_ seems to be an error for _time ge_, wait ye.
3767 _orgel pride_, arrogant pride. Cf. _orrȝhellmod_, pride (Orm. i. 216).
"Ichabbe isehen his ouergart, ant his egede _orhel_ ferliche afallet."—(St.
Marh. p. 11.) I have seen his presumption and his arrogance fearfully
felled. 3770 Instead of the reading in the text substitute the following:
_Moyses, and vt ne wulde gon_; _vr_ seems to be an error for _vt_ = out.
See Numbers xvi. 12. 3774 Held up neither stone nor grit. I do not think
_ston ne gret_ = _strong ne gret_ = strong nor great.
3777-80
Such destruction they have unexpectedly
No man need labour to bury them
This earth is together closed
As it were never ere broken up.
3786 _fieres swaðe_, flame (burning) of fire.
P. 108. l. 3796 There hath a cloud them well girded. 3802 Ran and stood
_between_ the living and the dead; _tiren_ seems, from the way it is
written in the MS., to be an error for _tuen_ = _twen_, between. 3807-14
Though this folk, much frightened, remained quiet for a time, nevertheless
they are yet in diverse counsels (_i. e._ of conflicting opinions).
Moreover, they vacillate in purpose, and think that it may be decided
better. Though these burnt (_i. e._ those destroyed by fire) are refused,
yet they ween that God shall take of the twelve tribes some more to be in
the place of those whom he had despised (rejected). _miðe_ is the pret.
subj. of _miðen_ = A.S. _míðan_ (pret. _mád_, pl. _midon_; pret. subj.
_mide_), to lie hid, to avoid, omit, hide, dissemble. 3809 _aglen_ =
_aylen_ = _ail_, become weak or foolish. 3814 _for-hugede_, despised,
rejected.
"Ah Gurmu_n_d hit _for-hoȝede_
And habbe he heo nolde."—(Laȝ. iii. 156.)
"For niss nan mann þatt uss birrþ att
_Forrhoȝhenn_ god to lernenn."—(Orm. ii. 107.)
P. 109. l. 3824. The name of the tribe which _shall_ thereto belong. 3826
Which tribe he desires this service _to be_ on.
3851-2
Here and there (yonder) there they buried lie,
All the old (ones) did there end (i. e. died).