6 THE GOSPEL OF MATHEW 8 to you, that but your rightfulnesse be more plentevouse than of scribis and of Farisees, ye schulen not entre into the kyngdom of hevenes. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt not slee; and he that sleeth, schal be gilti to doom. But Y seie to you, that ech man that is wrooth to his brothir, schal be Fy! schal be gilti to the counseil; but he gilti to doom; and he that seith to his brother, that seith, Fool, schal be gilti to the fier of helle. Therfor if thou offrist thi yifte at the auter, and ther thou bithenkist, that thi brothir hath sum-what ayens thee, leeve there thi yifte bifor the auter, and go first to be recounselid to thi brothir, and thanne thou schalt come, and schalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soone, while thou art in the weie with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take thee to the domesman,12 and the domesman take thee to the mynystre,13 and thou be sent in-to prisoun. Treuli Y seie to thee, thou shalt not go out fro thennus, til thou yelde 14 the last ferthing. Ye han herd that it was seid to elde men, Thou schalt do no letcherie. But Y seie to you, that every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hir, hath now do letcherie bi hir in his herte. That if thi right iye sclaundre 16 thee, pulle hym out, and caste fro thee; for it spedith 17 to thee, that oon 18 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. And if thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitte 19 hym aweye, and caste fro thee; for it spedith And it to thee that oon 18 of thi membris perische, than that al thi bodi go in-to helle. 18 of thi membris 13 forsothe, this that doth, and techith, shal be clepid grete in the kyngdame of hevenes. Forsothe Y say to you, no-but-yif youre rightwisnesse shal be more plentevouse than of scribis and Pharisees, yee shulen not entre in-to kyngdam of hevenes. Yee han3 herde that it is said to olde men, Thou shal nat slea; forsothe he that sleeth, shal be gylty of dome. But I say to you, that evereche 5 that is wrothe to his brother, shal be gylty of dome; forsothe he that shal say to his brother, Racha, that is, a word of scorn, shal be gylty of counseile; sothly he that shal say, Fool, that is, a word of dispisynge, shal be gylti of the fijr 7 of helle. Therfore yif thou offrist thi yift at the auter, and there shalt bythenke,10 that thi brother hath sum-what ayeins thee, leeve there thi yift before the auter, and go first for to be recounseilid, or acordid, to thi brother, and thanne thou cummynge shalt offre thi yifte. Be thou consentynge to thin adversarie soon, the whijle thou art in the way with hym, lest peraventure thin adversarie take" thee to the domesman,12 and the domesman take thee to the mynystre," and thou be sente in-to prisoun. Trewely I say to thee, Thou shalt not go thennes, til thou yelde 14 the last ferthing. Ye han herd, that it was said to olde men, Thou shalt nat do lecherye. Forsothe Y say to you, forwhy 15 every man that seeth a womman for to coveite hire, now he hath do lecherie by hire in his herte. That yif thi right eiye sclaundre16 thee, pulle it out, and cast it fro thee; for it 17 to thee, that oon speedith perishe, than al thi body go in-to helle. And yif thi right hond sclaundre thee, kitt 19 it awey, and cast it fro thee; for it spedith to thee, that oon of thi membris perishe, than that al thi body go in-to helle. Forsothe it is said, Who-evere shal leeve his wyf, yeve he to hir a libel, that is, a litil boke, of forSothely Y say to you, that every sakyng. man that shal leeve his wyf, outaken of fornicacioun, he makith hire do lecherie and he that weddith the forsaken wijf, doth avoutrie. Efte-soonys 23 yee han herd, that it was said to olde men, Thou shalt not forswere, sothely 24 to the Lord thou shalt yeeld 14 thin oethis.25 Forsothe Y say to you, to nat 2 5 21 20 cause every one 10 remember 3 have 4 judgement 13 officer 14 hath be seyd, Who-evere leeveth his wiif, yyve cut 20 give (subj. of com24 truly again 22 adultery 23 8 9 4 swere on al manere; neither by hevene, for it is the trone of God; nether by the erthe, for it is the stole of his feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the citee of a greet kyng; neither thou shalt swere by thin heved,' for thou maist not make oon heer whyt or blak; but be youre word yea, yea; Nay, nay; forsothe that that is more than this, is of yvel. Yee han herde that it is said, Eiye 2 for eiye,2 toth for toth. But Y say to you, to nat ayeinstonde 3 yvel; but yif any shal smyte thee in the right cheeke, yeve to hym and the tother; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in dome," and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to hym and thin over-clothe; and whoevere constrayneth thee a thousand pacis, go thou with hym other tweyne. Forsothe yif 6 to hym that axith of thee, and turne thou nat awey fro hym that wol borwe of thee. Yee han herd that it is said, Thou shalt love thin neighbore, and hate thin enmy. But Y say to you, love yee youre enmyes, do yee wel to hem that haten you, and preye yee for men pursuynge, and falsly chalengynge 10 you; that yee be the sonys of youre Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sune to springe up upon good and yvel men, and rayneth upon juste men and unjuste men. For yif ye loven hem that loven you, what meed 11 shul 12 yee have? whether and puplicans don nat this thing? And yif yee greten, or saluten, youre bretheren oonly, what more over 13 shul yee don? whether and paynymmys 14 don nat this thing? Therfore be yee parfit,15 as and1 youre hevenly Fadir is parfit. Take yee hede, lest ye don your right wisnesse before men, that yee be seen of hem, ellis 16 ye shule nat han meed at youre Fadir that is in hevenes. Therfore when thou dost almesse,17 nyle 18 thou synge byfore thee in a trumpe, as ypocritis don in synagogis and streetis, that thei ben maad worshipful of men; forsothe Y saye to you, thei han resceyved her 19 meede. But thee doynge almesse,17 knowe nat the left hond what thi right hond doth, that thi almes be in hidlis,20 and thi Fadir that seeth in hidlis, shal yelde 21 to thee." 1 head 2 eye 7 borrow 4 3 Ye but be youre word, yhe, yhe; Nay, nay; and that that is more than these, is of yvel. Ye han herd that it hath be seid, Iye for iye, and tothe for tothe. But Y seie to you, that ye ayenstonde not an yvel man; but if ony smyte thee in the right cheke, schewe to him also the tothir; and to hym that wole stryve with thee in doom,5 and take awey thi coote, leeve thou to him also thi mantil; and whoever constreyneth thee a thousynde pacis, go thou with hym othir tweyne. Yyve thou to hym that axith of thee, and turne not awey fro hym that wole borewe of thee. han herd that it was seid, Thou shalt love thi neighbore, and hate thin enemye. But Y seie to you, love ye youre enemyes, do ye wel to hem that hatiden you, and preye ye for hem that pursuen, and sclaundren you; that ye be the sones of your Fadir that is in hevenes, that makith his sunne to rise upon goode and yvele men, and reyneth on just men and unjuste. For if ye loven hem that loven you, what mede " schulen ye han? whether pupplicans doon not this? And if ye greten youre britheren oonli, what schulen ye do more? ne doon not hethene men this? Therfore be ye parfit, as youre hevenli Fadir is parfit. [It will be observed that the Second Version agrees with the Authorized Version in the division into chapters, while the First Version contains a few verses usually assigned to Chapter VI.] 12 shall 3 resist 8 them also 5 6 a lawsuit give 9 hate 10 11 reward accusing 15 perfect 21 secret pay SYR GAWAYN AND THE GRENE KNYGHT (Unknown Author) FYTTE THE FIRST ΧΙ ΧΙ Long was there looking, that lord to behold, For each man had marvel what might be the meaning That a horseman and a horse might such a hue catch. As grow-green as the grass and greener yet seemed they, Than green enamel on gold glowing brighter. All studied that stood there, and stalked to him nearer, With all the wonder in the world what wiles he was planning; For many sights had they seen, but such a sight never; So for phantom and faërie the folk there did deem it. Therefore to answer was fearful many a fine man 4 each grass 5 what 7 knight catch such a colour 8 gleaming 12 nearer 14 25 so slackened their noises suddenly 9 than 26 fear 27 but let him to whom all should bow (= Arthur) many 10 enamel 11 13 do strange things 15 before 16 therefore as illusion were and magic 17 timid 18 19 many a noble knight amazed 20 voice 21 in a swoon-like silence 22 hall 28 speak 29 31 ob dais 30 happening courteously greeted him 33 afraid 34 indeed house 36 I am called serves 32 35 AE Therefore I crave in this court a Christmas gambol, For it is Yule and New Year, and here are many young braggarts; If any in this house holds him so hardy, If he be so bold in his blood, hot-brained of temper That he dare stiffly strike one stroke for another, I shall give him of my gift this gisarme splendid This axe, that is heavy enough to handle as he pleases; And I shall bide the first blow, as bare as I sit here. If any man be so mad as to make such a trial Let him leap to me lightly and lay hold of this weapon 292 I quit-claim it for ever, keep it as his own And I shall stand him a stroke, stiff on this floor, If thou wilt but grant me the grace to give him another, |