THE SCALE OF PERFECTION, BOOK II: FOOTNOTES

1 chapitle, chapter; seid, said to be; aftir, according to.

3 coveitest, desire; pur, by.

4 partie, part; discried, described.

5 falle, consent.

6 fulliche, completely.

7 yif, if; wole, will; witen, know; forsothe, in truth.

11 schap, form; myghtes, powers.

13 schoop, formed.

15 schapynge, forming; wondirli, wonderfully; brennynge, burning.

16 goostli, spiritual.

17 forschapen, deformed.

18 myrkenesse, darkness.

19 flemed, driven; han, have.

20 stonden, stood.

24 sam meschief, same misfortune.

25 mykil, much; nedide bi doon, needed to be done.

26 skilful, reasonable.

27 saaff, saved; schoop, created.

31 schulde, could.

33 rightwisenesse, righteousness; but yif, unless.

34 sooth, true; hool, whole.

35 agens, against.

36 biddynge, command; conceile, counsel; feend, i.e., devil (here and throughout).

37 rightwiseli, justly; departid, separated.

37-38 so fer forth, to the extent.

38 stondinge the rightwisenesse of God, were the justice of God to stand.

39 but yif, unless; ful satisfaccioun, the doctrine of the atonement in this chapter is based on Anselm, Cur deus homo, especially 1.20, 2.8-11; see Clark, p. 303n3.

40 kyndeli, natural.

41 skile, reason; unworschipe, dishonor; passide, surpassed.

42 myght, power; skile, reason.

43 hym bihoveth gyve, it is necessary for him to give.

44 over, beyond.

45 sumwhat, something; but oonli, only because.

46 not, nought; ought, owed.

48 oweth, is obliged.

50 ne, nor; yif, if.

51 nedid it, it was necessary.

53 syn, since.

54 kynde, nature.

56 kyndeli, natural.

57 touchid, touched (sexually).

58 gracious, through grace; clene, pure.

61 mannys, man's.

62 oughte, owed; kynde, nature.

65 savacioun, salvation.

66 sooth, truth.

67 ought, owed; paien, pay.

68 o, one.

69 liyf, life; sothfastnesse, truth; ought He nout, owed He not.

70 worschipe, honor.

73 peyne, punishment.

74 oughte, was obliged.

75 oughte, owed; syn, since.

76 manere, kind of.

77 mykil, much.

78 weem, blemish.

80 overmore, moreover; siththe, since.

82 mow be, be able to be.

86 mot, may.

87 wirkynge, working; brennynge suerd, burning sword.

88 droof, drove; ought, out.

89 wole, will.

90 evene, equal.

91 ilke a, each.

92 yif, if; sith, since.

94 sooth, true; profite, benefit.

96 paynymes, pagans.

97 here, their; defaute, fault.

99 troweth, believes; paynemes, pagans.

100 benefeetes, benefits.

104 sclaundre, scandal.

105 fantom, phantom; folie, folly.

109 trowen, believe.

111 untrouthe, unbelief.

112 fro, from; her, their; stondynge there untrouthe, their unbelief continuing.

113 saaf, saved; sooth, true.

114 but yif, unless.

115 comende, coming; comen, having come.

116 Eelde, Old.

117 trouthe, belief.

118 priveli, secretly.

119 imperfight, imperfect.

120 pryvetees, mysteries.

121 han trowed, have believed; felyngeli, in feeling; gosteli, spiritual.

122 han, have; lewed, ignorant.

124 thynketh me, it seems to me; Sarcenys, Saracens.

125 mown be, are able to be.

126 mykil, much.

127 wene, suppose; siker, certain.

128 rightwisenesse, righteousness; peraventure, perhaps.

129 here, theirs.

130 schulde be saaf, the salvation of the heathen was a topic of lively interest in the later Middle Ages; for Langland's more generous view, see Piers Plowman, B.11.62-69; Cindy L. Vitto, The Virtuous Pagan in Middle English Literature; George H. Russell, "The Salvation of the Heathen: The Exploration of a Theme in Piers Plowman," Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 29 (1966), 101-16; and Clark, pp. 303-04 (nns 7 and 8); ynowgh, enough.

131 atwix, between.

133 mowen, can.

136 leven, live.

138 unschapli, misshapen.

139 nought, not.

140 liggen stille, lie constantly.

142 pyne, pain.

145 wite, know.

147 forschapen, deformed.

153 ony, any.

155 brennynge, burning; goostli, spiritual; ai lastandli, everlastingly.

157 agentis, concerning; feer, far.

158 bihaldynge, beholding.

160 umbilapped, surrounded.

162 fleischliheed, state of being fleshly.

163 goostlinesse, state of being spiritual; privei, secret.

167 partie, part.

170 stonde hool, stood whole.

173 resseyven, receive.

174 myghtis, powers; medlere, ming-ling.

175 kynde, nature.

176 ben, be.

178 ai lastande, everlasting; highed, exalted.

179 dowarie, dowry.

180 undeedlinesse, immortality; longeth, belongs.

182 bi cause, because.

184 anoon, at once; lyvande, living.

185 skile, reason.

187 hit nedide, it was necessary.

188 kyndeli, natural; it schulde be fulfilled, the doctrine of the chosen in these paragraphs is based on Anselm, De concordia, q. 3, c. 9; see Clark, p. 304n13.

189 as tite, immediately.

190 abidynge, waiting.

191 resseyved, received.

195 purveyede, provided.

199 skile, reason.

201 chesynge, choosing.

203 fle, flee.

206 anoon, immediately.

209 partie, part.

210 saaf, saved.

213 passande mede, surpassing reward.

220 profitynge, proficient.

221 actif, active; perfight, perfect.

226 alderbest, best of all; toon, one; tothir, other.

227 the thridde, the threefold division of stages of the spiritual life as bigynnynge, profitynge, perfight ("beginning, proficient, perfect") is conventional; see Gregory, Moralia, 24.11.28 (Clark, p. 304n17).

228 baptym, baptism.

231 actuel, actual, i.e., sins actively committed, as opposed to inherited original sin.

233 pyne, pain; or, before.

235 forschapen, deformed; baptym, baptism.

238 brond, firebrand.

241 falleth, happens; or2, before.

242 manciples, stewards; ther, their (see Textual Notes).

244 taryyinge, delay.

245 troweth, believes; as swithe, immediately; ought, out.

246 streite, straightaway; lettynge, hindrance.

247 untrouthe, unbelief.

259 curtesie, graciousness.

260 lightli, easily.

261 geveth, gives; plenté, fullness; abideth, waits for.

262 or, before.

267 dettid, owed; forgeven, forgiven.

268 schewen hym, reveal himself; schryven him, confess himself.

271 skileful, reasonable.

272 veri, true.

273 plener, full.

276 agens, to; inow, enough.

277 sikernesse, security; chartre, charter; that is, the legal document recording an official action or an agreement.

284 skilful, reasonable.

287 rude, rough; boistous, crude; lightli, easily.

288 mowe, be able to.

290 siker, certain.

293 forthenking, repenting; hope, suppose.

294 feelid, felt.

295 ofte sithes, often.

297 schrift, confession.

298 more, greater.

302 aboughte, about.

306 perfighte, perfect; peraventure, perhaps.

308 buxum, obedient.

309 hope, expect.

310 schewe, reveal; nedeful, necessary; bihoveful, obligatory; neither nedeful . . . ne bihoveful, Hilton's sharp rejection of the Wycliffite position on confession is notable; see Clark, p. 305n27.

311 spedful, advantageous.

312 thoo, those.

313 mow, can.

314 standeth, consists.

320 stondeth, consists.

324 privé, secret.

329 clennesse, purity; keep, care.

331 faireheed, fairness.

332 wirkinge, working.

336 agenstondynge, despite.

340 outtaken, except.

342 froward, unruly.

343 unseable, invisible.

344 partener, partner (see Textual Notes).

347 vertu, power; lette, prevent.

349 worschipe, honored status.

352 duelle, dwell; agenstonde, resist.

354 dere, harm; departen, separate.

355 senteth, consents; menede, meant.

364 rightwise, righteous; rightful, just.

367 righted, justified.

368 agenstondynge, withstanding.

372 trouthe, faith.

374 Joon, John.

383 entré, entrance; Ransake, Examine.

385 wityngeli, consciously.

386 mysdoon, misdone; beschreven, confessed.

387 sikirli, certainly.

391 mown, can.

394 evene, fellow.

395 aftir hir kunnynge, according to their knowledge.

396 heved, chief, capital; the reference is to what are commonly called the seven deadly sins; in addition to the four sins mentioned here, the seven capital sins include sloth, gluttony, and avarice.

397 agenstonden, resist; displesynge, displeasure.

399 freelté, frailty; unkunnynge, ignorance; as tite, immediately.

400 pyneth, pains; mown, can; schryven, confessed.

403 saaf, saved.

405 inli, inner.

408 reward, regard.

409 it is not likli, Hilton's stress on the availability of salvation to all, not just the perfect or contemplatives, is notable, as is the emphasis on orthodox belief.

411 purchace, attainment.

412 lowgh, low.

414 mochil, great.

416 wenen, suppose.

420 behight, promised.

426 clennesse, purity.

428 trouthe, belief.

434 witen, know.

436 moun, are able; aftir her connynge, according to their knowledge.

437 longen, belong.

440 profitande, advancing.

442 unperfite, imperfect.

444 fed with mylk, a common image for spiritual beginners derived from 1 Corinthians 3:1-2; used also in Scale Book I, chapter 9, Book II, chapter 31.

448 heele, health; counen, can.

451 traveiled with, troubled by; maad daunger, made difficulty, was reluctant.

452 ceeside, ceased.

453 trouthe, faith.

455 unconnynge, ignorant.

457 brennande, burning.

459 desert, merit.

461 meken, humble.

465 witen, know.

466 geten, obtained; holden, kept.

468 traveile, trouble; bisynesse, activity; hem bihoveth, they must.

469 weikeynesse, weakness.

471 waar, aware.

474 buxum, obedient.

475 unskilfulle, irrational.

477 outetaken, except.

478 werk, deed.

481 so fer forth, to the extent; senten, consent.

482 unskilful, irrational.

483 jangelynge, disruption.

486 feer, far.

497 lymes, limbs.

500 resoun, reason.

506 dispeiren, dispair.

508 seiande, saying.

514 arected, accounted.

518 berthene, burden.

519 unskilful, irrational; bi so, as long as.

520 trouthe, faith; ofte sithis, often.

522 heed, capital; see the list in chapter 10, above; witen, know.

523 sentiden, consented.

524 freel, frail.

526 or thanne, before; dwere, doubt.

528 anemptis, concerning.

531 affeccioun, emotion, feeling.

534 wil paied, well satisfied.

538 sikir, certain.

539 to, too; wenande, supposing.

541 recchelesnesse, carelessness; sikirnesse, security.

542 witte, intelligence.

544 bisi, concerned.

545 schewe, show.

549 aboughte, about.

550 besi, active.

553 unkunnynge, ignorant.

554 moun, are able to.

555 dweris, doubts.

560 unseabli, invisibly.

561 wise, manner.

562-63 yif he doo . . . synnes, to do what is in him to believe, without spiritual feeling, in the forgiveness of his sins.

565 moun, may.

567 gracious, of grace; clennesse, purity.

569 clene, pure; iye, eye.

571 soothfastnesse, truth.

582 medelid, mingled.

583 unskilful, irrational.

589 That is, Hilton's exposition of the Canticle in this chapter is indebted to Bernard, Sermons on the Song of Songs, 25-27; see Clark, p. 306nn57-59.

590 dispice, despise.

593 myrkenesse, darkness.

594 reprevid, condemned.

595 peseble, peaceable.

596 woneth, dwells.

597 quyk, living.

603 swart, dark; defaded, faded.

609 so fer forth, to the extent.

611 twynnynge, separation.

612 doom, judgment.

616 cheseth, chooses.

617 siker, certain.

621 liter, litter; weike, weak.

623 foragenstonde, resist; displesynge, disapproval.

627 eddre, adder.

628 irketh, wearies.

629 ai lastande, everlasting.

633 senteth, consents.

636 lighter, litter; sigh, saw.

637 myschief, misfortune.

646 fairhede, fairness.

648 stilli, constantly.

651 trouth, faith; moun, be able to.

655 aftir, corresponding to; parties, parts.

658 two parties, the definition of the soul that follows is based on Augustine, De trinitate, 12.3-14, as elaborated by medieval theologians; see Clark, p. 307n65.

659 wittes, senses.

660 Up, Of; unskilfulli, irrationally.

662 tothir, other.

663 overe, upper; nethere, lower.

666 buxum1, obedient.

668 iye, eye.

672 freten, eaten.

675 agenstondeth, resists.

679 dere, harm.

680 venyalis, venial sins (in contrast to deadly sins).

683 forschapen, deform; seere, various.

686 outaken, except.

692 ai lastande, everlasting.

698 maken no force, take no care.

699 oither, either; in clergie or in crafte, in learning or in a skill.

701 aver, possession.

706 beestis liknesse, the association of the seven deadly sins with animals is a commonplace in the Middle Ages; compare Spenser, The Faerie Queene, 1.4.18-37.

709 letten, obstruct; fel, fierce.

711 ageen, against.

717 inow, enough.

718 mede, reward.

719 heer, their; irke, wearied.

720 paas, pace.

721 witte, intelligence.

723 rewarde, regard.

726 wolwes, wolves; raveyn, rapine.

727 maistrie, force; overledynge, deceit; wordli, worldly.

731 Yhe, Yea.

733 iyen, eyes.

737 kest, cast.

739 fore to ben, to be.

742 mansleers, murderers.

743 maumetis, idols; see the gloss to Scale, I.2418; dool, sorrow.

749 or, before.

750 seere wise, various ways.

755 witen, know.

756 liggen, lie.

757 moun, can.

758 defaute, fault.

760 froward, contrary.

761 hem bihoveth, they must.

767 ugglen, abhor.

769 ablen, enable.

771 as tite, immediately.

772 hem thenketh, it seems to them.

776 hevy, distressing.

777 so fer forth, to the extent.

780 overmore, moreover; wenen, suppose.

783 siker, certain.

784 noon othir hevene, the ideas in this paragraph were associated in the Middle Ages with the pagan philosophy known as Epicureanism; Sotheli, Truly.

793 weneth, supposes.

796 forgyve, forgive.

798 oure Ladi faste, the regular Saturday fast in honor of the Virgin; orisoun, prayer.

808 witen, know.

809 merthe, happiness.

810 solas, delight.

811 paied, satisfied.

813 moste defaute, greatest faults.

814 frowardenesse, perversity.

817 letted, prevented.

819 merke, dark.

821 umbilappid, surrounded.

825 moste lettynge, greatest obstructions.

826 aknowe, aware of.

827 chargeth, accounts; siker, secure.

830 mowen, are able.

831 upon this wise, in this manner.

834 as tite, immediately.

835 lightliere, more easily.

837 anoon, at once.

840 for2, because.

843 weikenesse, weakness.

845 oughtake, except.

856 lighteli, easily.

861 plenté, plenty.

863 brente, burnt.

868 as tite, immediately.

869 hym bihoveth, he must.

870 dioten, feed; leche, physician.

878 sunnere, sooner.

882 stirte, start.

883 laddre, as Clark notes (p. 308n82), this is the only reference to the ladder metaphor, despite the title Scale (i.e., "Ladder") of Perfection.

884 stele, rung.

888 liggeth, lies; inli, inward.

890 On encheson, One reason; in regarde of, in respect to.

892 curtais, courteous.

893 in reward of, in regard to.

895 daungerous, niggardly; reward, regard.

897 chesoun, reason.

898 profite, advance.

900 inowgh, enough.

901 yinowgh, enough; saaf, saved.

905 profiten, advance.

908 of, because of.

910 religious, members of a religious order.

911 takynge of religioun, entering a religious order.

919 profetynge, advancing; peirynge, growing worse.

923 feer, far.

925 siker, secure.

929 the enemy, i.e., the devil (this is Hilton's regular usage).

936 yhe, yea.

940 stynten, stop.

946 encheson, reason.

952 wenen, suppose.

954 esid, at ease.

955 lettid, prevented.

956 hevy, doleful.

961 ledande, leading.

964 apprentice, an apprentice.

966 sotiel, difficult; profiteth, advances.

968 sotil, intricate, difficult.

970 prentis, apprentice.

972 repreve, blame.

973 spedeful, advantageous.

974 entré, entrance.

975 covenable mene, suitable manner.

977 drawande, drawing.

979 disese, discomfort.

980 lette, hinder.

982 sautier, psalter.

985 seyn, seen.

995 lowgh, low.

998 spedeful, advantageous.

1003 heed, capital.

1004 spices, species.

1006 clennesse, pur-ity.

1008 myldenesse, gentleness.

1010 disposyngis, dispositions.

1018 skile, reason.

1019 sithen, since.

1020 leche, physician.

1022 kenne, teach.

1029 mede, reward.

1041 hope, expect.

1042 yhe, yea; hym thenketh, it seems to him.

1046 stondeth, consists.

1050 bisynesse, activity.

1052 heire, hairshirt, the traditional garment of the penitent.

1055 rewarde, regard.

1060 felabli, in the senses, palpably.

1061 noughten, make nothing.

1062 perfighteli, perfectly.

1067 arette, account.

1068 not, nought.

1072 swynken, work.

1073 orisons, prayers; sautiers, psalters.

1074 biddynge, praying; bedis, prayers.

1077 bisynesse, activity.

1081 umbiden, remain; fleischlihede, fleshliness.

1086 unablith, disables.

1090 herteli, hearty.

1095 disese, discomfort.

1098 rathere neighen, sooner approach.

1100 ensample, example; pilgrine, pilgrim; wise, manner.

1102 coude, knew.

1103 to that cité, Clark suggests (p. 309n102) that Hilton follows a specific source for his exposition of the commonplace of the Christian life as a pilgrimage to the heavenly Jerusalem, namely Bernard, Sermo in quadrigesima 6.

1104 disese, discomfort; for2, because of.

1105 lettyngis, obstacles.

1107 spoiled, despoiled.

1110 lesen, lose; defaughte, fault.

1111 disese, discomfort.

1112 ascape, escape.

1114 bihote, promise.

1116 kenne, teach.

1117 lette, obstruct.

1120 spoilen, despoil; despice, despise.

1123 tarie, trouble; fage, deceive; leesynges, deceptions.

1132 veri, true; to Jerusalemward, toward Jerusalem.

1133 as ferforth, to the extent.

1136 sikirli, certainly.

1138 spede, thrive.

1139 jornés, journeys.

1141 lastanli, lastingly.

1146 craftli, skillfully.

1150 frieltees, frailties.

1152 medicynable, medicinal; boistous, unruly; regard, aspect.

1160 tome, empty.

1165 Keste, Cast.

1169 lettynge, hindrance.

1174 thin, your.

1177 schewen Him, reveal Himself.

1180 Prente, Print.

1185 ascape, escape; myschevys, misfortunes.

1187 highte, is called.

1188 jorné, journey.

1190 upon this wise, in this manner.

1190-91 aftir the degree . . . goostli, such phrases imply that Hilton intended his work for a wider audience than enclosed anchoresses; see Clark, p. 310n113.

1192 esi, comforting.

1196 wordli, worldly.

1201 mowen, can; moun, can.

1209 lette, hinder.

1216 bedes, prayers.

1220 taryynges, troubles.

1225 lette, prevent.

1231 nexte, closest.

1233 trowe, believe.

1248 aferd, afraid.

1249 tariynge, troubling.

1250 manassynge, menacing; toon, one.

1254 frenesies, frenzies.

1255 myschef, misfortune; schal wille, will want to.

1258 mowen, can.

1263 doughtes, doubts.

1268 wrooth, angry.

1269 neer, nearer to.

1270 mowen, can.

1271 ille, evil.

1272 wers, worse; partie, part.

1276 diseses, discomforts.

1277 tarie, trouble.

1278 not1, 2, nought.

1280 occupacion, attention; frielté, frailty.

1281 diseses, discomforts.

1285 forgen thee, scheme against you.

1289 suffren, endure.

1290 charge nothinge with thi, concern yourself about nothing.

1294 beeren upon thee, emphasize to you.

1297 jangelynge, jangling.

1300 lettynges, hindrances.

1309 gladsum, joyous.

1312 restandli, constantly.

1314 spede, hasten.

1325 oonlynes, solitude.

1326 comonynge, community; goynge, walking.

1330 fortherene, advance.

1334 witen, know.

1342 unseabli, invisibly.

1356 tymeful, temporal, durational; atwixe to, between two.

1357 as tite, immediately.

1359 menede, meant.

1364 highte, promised; byhighte, promised.

1368 spered, closed; utterere yyen, outer eyes.

1369 sigh, saw.

1371 wariede, cursed.

1372 mote, may; rennynge, current.

1381 as tite, immediately; him bihoveth, he must.

1383 foreberynge, withholding.

1386 myrke, dark.

1390 ficched, fixed.

1393 ought, out.

1394 merkere, darker.

1396 deene, din.

1398 menede, meant.

1403 esi, easy.

1405 to Godward, toward God.

1408 hoomlynesse, familiarity.

1409 presen, press; in, inward.

1410 maistrie, force.

1411 merkenesse, darkness.

1415 to mochil, too much; slili, cleverly.

1416 charge, be concerned about.

1417 wite, know.

1418 freli, freely; presynge, pressing; swilk, such.

1420 unconnynge, ignorance; unclennesse, impurity.

1421 esi, comfortable.

1423 lesteth, desires.

1424 nought, nothing.

1427 maistrie, force; chesinge, choosing.

1429 clevandeli, in a clinging way.

1430 eese1, comfort.

1441 travailande, laboring.

1450 iye, eye.

1455 to Godward, toward God.

1456 coude, was able to.

1458 proferynges, offerings.

1460 ficchid, fixed.

1461 unaviseli, unprompted.

1465 siche, such.

1469 lightnynges, illuminations.

1471 sithen, since.

1472 stondeth, consists.

1474 unseable, invisible.

1476 menede, meant.

1477 myrke, dark.

1479 schynande, shining.

1481 neer, nearer.

1482 wonen, dwell.

1483 hoomli, familiar.

1491 neigheste, approach.

1492 lightnynges, illuminations.

1493 cranés, crannies.

1495 there, where.

1499 Ezechiel, see Ezekiel 40; the following exposition is from Gregory, Homilia in Ezech. 2.5.1 (Clark, p. 312n147).

1500 heldande, inclining; thought, see Textual Notes for a better reading.

1501 meten, measured; brede, breadth; rodde, rod, i.e., the measuring reed of Ezekiel 40:5.

1502 cubites, the biblical cubit is thought approximately equal to 18 inches; the palm, about four inches.

1503 seigh, saw.

1504 uttirwarde, outside.

1505 biggynge, buildings.

1508 iye, eye.

1510 reed, the unit (six cubits and a palm) measured by the rodde, above.

1513 dissert, merit.

1518 myddai feend, midday devil; see Psalms 90:6. See John Block Friedman, Orpheus in the Middle Ages (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1970), pp. 188-89, for discussions of the midday fiend in the Middle English Sir Orfeo and elsewhere.

1523 of, by; enemye, the devil.

1528 noon, none.

1534 kynde, nature; anemptis, in respect to; bisi, active; hemsilf, themselves.

1538 as tite as, as soon as.

1539 wenen, suppose.

1542 as tite, immediately.

1546 bifore-goynge, preceding.

1554 overe, upper; highinge, exaltation.

1555 doon, down; lowynge, humiliating.

1563 blynt, blinded.

1564 unbuxumnesse to the lawis of Hooli Chirche, disobedience to the laws of Holy Church; possibly a reference to Lollardy; see Clark, p. 313n153.

1565 wenen, suppose.

1567 sounen, tend.

1568 states, conditions.

1572 flitynge, contention.

1576 unbuxumnesse, disobedience.

1590 sutil, rarefied.

1596 noghtynge, rendering as nothing.

1597 lastandli, constantly; perfight, perfect.

1603 entermetynge of, busying oneself with.

1606 siker, certain; sothfast, true.

1608 wissen, guide.

1614 profren hem, offer themselves.

1617 lighti, lightened.

1625 pesibli, peacefully.

1627 frielté, frailty.

1638 folw, follow.

1640 sclaundir, slander; disese, discomfort.

1644 letten, hinder.

1646-47 him behoveth to ablen, he must enable.

1647 lettynges, hindrances.

1650 staat ne degré, condition nor rank; connynge, knowledge.

1652 coveiten, desire.

1657 wenynge, supposing.

1658 lete, esteem.

1660 disese, discomfort; unskilfulli, unreasonably.

1661 matier, matter.

1664 paid, satisfied.

1665 avere, possession.

1677 blent, blinded.

1678 delices, delights; metes, foods; paied, satisfied.

1679 bisynes, activity.

1681 grucchith, complains.

1687 him bihoveth for to, he must.

1692 paied, satisfied.

1693 deed, dead.

1694 rewarde, regard.

1701 seere, various.

1702 disposynges, dispositions.

1709 feer, far.

1725 taried, troubled.

1729 verey, true.

1731 nought, nothing.

1732 eese, comfort; menede, meant.

1738 fulsumli, copiously.

1740 adred, afraid; wone, dwell.

1747 sadli, firmly.

1756 bihighte, promised.

1765 weiken, weaken; leesen, lose.

1766 deren, harm.

1778 forthgoynge, way forward, progress.

1779 of, by.

1785 goven, given.

1789 schapli, conforming.

1790 righted, justified.

1793 mowen ben, can be.

1795 bisynesse, activity; aboughte, about.

1803 rightynge, justification; traveilous, difficult.

1806 lettynge, hindrance.

1807 frowardnesse, perversity.

1809 croked, crooked.

1810 right, straight; beykynge and bowynge, smelting and bonding.

1812 bihofful, necessary; froward, perverse.

1813 taried, troubled.

1814 brent ought, refined (burnt). The use of metallurgic metaphors for the refining of the soul are well suited to a penitenital, purgatorial religion. See II.2278-82, below.

1815 dredis and doughtis, fears and doubts.

1816 neerhande, almost.

1817 outaken, except for.

1820 mortfied, made dead; pyned, tormented.

1821 feleable, palpable.

1822 seli, innocent.

1823 wite, know.

1825 levere, rather; pyne, pain.

1830 departen, separate.

1832 stree, straw.

1833 wormood, wormwood.

1838 assaiande, testing.

1841 evenehede, equality; passiden, surpassed.

1847 dere, harm.

1857-58 comfortable, comforting.

1858 suettenesse, sweetness.

1860 yhis, yes.

1863 stonde, consist.

1864 conpuccion, compunction.

1872 so fer forth, to the extent.

1873 woot, know.

1885 uncouth, unknown.

1887 costret, cask; newe wyne, see the parable of the wineskins, Matthew 9:17.

1888 bolneth, swells; bresten, burst.

1889 spourged, fermented; unclennesse, impurity.

1894 mykilnesse, greatness.

1897 selve, same.

1905 kepid, kept.

1907 hope, suppose.

1908 profitynge, proficiency.

1910 neerhande, nearly.

1913 besines, activity.

1915 defaute, defect; hevynesse, gloom.

1916 grucchynge, complaining.

1918 apaied, satisfied; disese, discomfort.

1920 profitande, proficient.

1924 or they witen, before they know.

1929 neighen, approach.

1937 kynde, nature.

1938 soule, for the commonplace ideas following, see Augustine, De quantitate animae, 13.22 (Clark, p. 315n194).

1945 unseable, invisible.

1946 holdande, maintaining.

1947 quykenande, giving life to.

1949 wittes, senses.

1952 undeedli, immortal.

1960 as tite, immediately.

1966 be, by.

1967 kynde, nature.

1971 travelen, labor.

1974 suettenesse, sweetness.

1975 perfight, perfect.

1980 ilke, each.

1985 for whi, because.

1990 reward, regard.

1991 schapin, shape.

1994 wrooth, angry.

2000 there, where.

2006 whann, when.

2007 to, two.

2008 ooned, united.

2010 manhede, humanity.

2012 deedli, mortal; skile, reason.

2014 medful, worthy of reward.

2016 reward, regard.

2022 unseable, invisible.

2025 strengthed, strengthened.

2030 ooned, united.

2036 bi, be.

2039 departe, separate.

2042 kennede, taught; contemplatif, on Mary Magdalene as a contemplative, see Scale, Book I, chapter 11; the classic expression of the idea is in Gregory, Homiliae in Ezech. 2.2.7-12 (PL 76:952-55).

2044 stied, ascended.

2046 trowed, believed.

2047 suffride, allowed.

2053 stied, ascended.

2054 evene, equal.

2061 kennede, taught.

2064 sotel, refined.

2066 manli, human.

2068 delitable, delightful.

2069 swettenesse, sweetness.

2073 inli, internal.

2074 prived, proved.

2080 lightned, illuminated (ignited).

2082 bihighte, promised.

2088 hope, believe.

2101 hope1, suppose.

2102 wheer, whether.

2117 newehede, newness.

2131 overe partie, upper part.

2138 Spoile, Despoil.

2156 on, one; sperid, closed.

2157 righted, justified.

2160 lightneth, illuminates.

2167 be clergie, by learning.

2178 myrk, dark; reward of, regard to.

2184 this, that this.

2188 spered, closed.

2190 trewe, true.

2192 tothir, other.

2193 letteth, hinder.

2196 kynde, nature.

2197 atwixe, between.

2199 beynge, being.

2201 agenstondynge, withstanding; clene, pure; sotil, subtle.

2212 ilike ferforth, alike advanced.

2217 leef, preferred.

2219 clennere, purer.

2223 wenen, suppose.

2226 hiere, higher; stiyeth, climbs.

2228 suffrable, permissable; kunne, know how to.

2240 stide, place.

2242 sutilté, subtlety.

2244 stide, place.

2246 persen, pierce.

2255 schale, shell; note, nut.

2256 beynge, being.

2263 quykeneth, gives life to.

2271 beest, best.

2272 skile, reason.

2273 soothfastnesse, truth.

2278 selve wise, same manner.

2286 conne not, know nothing.

2288 inowgh, enough.

2292 trowing, belief.

2304 biynge, being.

2321 Holi writeres seyn, Clark (p. 317n235) suggests Augustine, De trinitate, 15.18.32 and 15.19.37, as well as Bernard and William of St. Thierry.

2333 feer, far.

2343 departen, share.

2347 manhede, humanity.

2350 siker, secure.

2352 biynge, buying, i.e., redemption.

2356 autier, altar.

2360 skile, reason.

2361 arrected, accounted.

2362 approprid, appropriated.

2364 oneth it, conjoins it (the soul).

2368 witte, intelligence.

2374 biynge, redemption.

2375 Sarsenes, Saracens.

2377 biynge, redemption.

2378 rightynge, justification.

2379 halewinge, making holy.

2386 agenstonden, resist.

2391 conversacioun, manner of living; wordli loveris, lovers of the world.

2414 fulhede, fullness.

2426 wenen, suppose.

2434 meedful, worthy of reward.

2437 bisi, busy.

2449 neigheth, approaches.

2455 buxum, obedient.

2458 kunne, know how to.

2460 maistrie, force.

2461 medefulli, in a manner worthy of reward.

2465 medful, worthy of reward; yyf, if.

2469 moun, may.

2482 ferli, from a distance.

2483 veryli, truly.

2496 kunnynge, knowledge.

2498 repreved, condemned.

2501 chargen, value.

2503 partenere, partner; see Textual Notes.

2509 schedynge, separation.

2510 oneth, unites.

2513 lightnen, illuminate.

2524 loveli, lovingly.

2534 lightned, illuminated.

2535 fulheed, fullness.

2539 unspecable, unspeakable.

2541 sadnesse, resolve; clennesse, purity; lovereden, love.

2551 highere, upper.

2556 stabeli, steadily.

2559 buxum, obedient.

2560 umbischadueth, overshadows.

2562 disese, discomfort.

2564 sleth, slays.

2579 agenstonde, resist.

2582 connynge, knowledge; preisynge, praising.

2583 yvel paid, ill-satisfied.

2591 leneth, inclines.

2596 unmaad, uncreated.

2598 agens, in comparison with; anemptis, in respect to; reward, regard.

2600 evene, equal; ilike, alike.

2605 acconttid, accounted.

2606 kynde, nature.

2608 beynge, being.

2613 lenynge, inclination.

2618 not, nothing.

2619 liketh, pleases.

2620 kunynge, knowledge; sevene artis of clergie, i.e., the seven liberal arts.

2621 deynté, value.

2622 levere, rather.

2631 hevynesse, gloominess.

2638 maketh no fors, has no concern; lakken, blame; preisen, praise.

2639 despicen, despise; as fore hymsilf, as far as he is concerned.

2640 paied, satisfied.

2641 levere, rather.

2643 sikerere, more certain.

2647 undircasteth, casts beneath; siker, secure; warde, guardianship.

2650 schelde, shield.

2652 umbiclippe, embrace.

2656 despiced, despised; repreved, condemned.

2658 fleynge, flying.

2660 restyngli, continuously.

2662 stabli, steadily.

2663 umbilapped, surrounded.

2664 glenteth, glances.

2670 ilikeful, to the same extent.

2676 perfighte, perfect.

2682 pesiblité, peaceability; lovereden, love.

2683 maistrie, feat of skill.

2685 anemptis, in respect to; disese, disturb; unskilfulli, unreasonably.

2690 weikeli, weakly.

2692 unskilfulle, irrational.

2693 maistrie, feat of skill.

2695 pesible, peaceable; suffrande, tolerant.

2697-98 he chargeth it not, it does not concern him.

2702 lyvere, rather; eese, comfort.

2706 harm, injury.

2707 levere, more desirable.

2709 disese, trouble; falleth, occurs; withouteforth, externally.

2710 neer, nearer.

2719 goven, given; hooli martires, see Pseudo-Augustine, Sermo de nativitate S. Laurentii 206 (PL 39:2127); Clark, p. 321n288.

2721 yeeden, went.

2724 felnesse, fierceness.

2726 heighnesse, exaltation.

2727 demynge, judgment.

2731 autier, altar.

2732 menged, mingled.

2734 wenen, suppose.

2735 myddai feend, midday devil; see also Scale, II.1518, above.

2750 deynté, value.

2753 chargeth, values.

2754 price, value; deynteli, preciously.

2757 pleten, debate.

2764 dispendynge, spending.

2766 coveitise, desire; for whi, for the reason that.

2767 up, upon.

2770 Outetaken, Except.

2771 hym were levere, he would rather.

2776 dispendynge, spending.

2778 stree, straw; defaute, fault.

2791 conpleccioun, constitution.

2794 discrecioun, careful judgment.

2799 besynesse, activity.

2802 leverere, more desirable.

2805 reward, regard.

2806 stabli, steadily.

2810 outetaken, except for; curie, cooking.

2815 accidie, sloth.

2816 lifli, lively; spedi, hastening.

2817 nameli, especially.

2822 pyne, pain.

2823 disese, trouble.

2836 irke, disgusted.

2841 wordeli, worldly.

2848-49 ofte sithes, often.

2856 sotil, subtle.

2858 kyndeli, natural.

2862 hope1, expect.

2863 lighti, light-filled; merkenesse, darkness.

2864 nought, nothing.

2865 oonlynesse, solitude.

2866 liyfli, lively; waker, wakeful.

2876 liyf, life.

2877-78 so fer forth, to the extent.

2882 noie, noise.

2883 tariynge, distress.

2885 sikirnesse, certainty.

2895 spedi, advantageous.

2897 persynge, piercing.

2906 flitynge, contention.

2923 overgooth, overcomes; maistrie, force; sen, see.

2926 yye, eye.

2929 undeynté, disdain; buxum, obedient.

2936 highed, exalted.

2938 straunged, estranged.

2940 sighe, saw.

2942 hoomlynesse, familiarity.

2946 oonlynesse, solitude.

2948 oonli stide, solitary place.

2949 noious, hurtful.

2967 bihotith, promises.

2985 sekely, sickly.

2990 releef, remains; leveth, lives; sadnesse, firmness.

2994 deeded, made dead.

2995 taried, troubled.

2999 sperynge, closing; dooth the soule slepen, causes the soul to sleep.

3000 helid, concealed.

3003 sighen, saw.

3004 heer, their.

3005 dene, din.

3007 spered, closed.

3016 so feer forth, to the extent that.

3019 sighhande, sighing for.

3025 ofte sithes, often.

3026 freelté, frailty.

3028 weike, weak.

3033 merke, dark.

3034 sotil, subtle.

3043 felable, capable of being felt.

3046 wantynge, deficiency.

3047 maketh straunge, remains remote.

3048 siker inough, certain enough.

3054 yoten, poured.

3054-55 Thi name Jhesu, on the association of this verse of the Canticle with devotion to the name of Jesus, see Clark, p. 324n334.

3085-86 comonynge of, communion with.

3094 truthe, faith.

3095 rewarden, esteem.

3103 homlinesse, familiarity.

3106 feelid, felt.

3107 conne, know how to.

3109 yight, yet.

3110 reward, regard.

3112 neighynge, approaching; oonynge, uniting.

3113 unseable, invisible.

3117 confortable2, comforting; oughte, out.

3118 noie, hurt.

3124 fer, far.

3141 ilike, alike.

3146 or, before.

3147 dooth, causes.

3148 sowneth, sounds.

3149 wite, know.

3150 sobirté, soberness.

3151 duelleth, dwells.

3152 reccheleshede, recklessness.

3159 blont, dull, stupid, morally blind; boistous, rough.

3160 can not, knows nothing.

3161 cold and drie, dominated by bile.

3162 sotiel, keen.

3163 buxum, obedient.

3164 iye, eye.

3168 sautier, psalter; lewid, ignorant.

3171 renable, eloquent.

3172 taried, disturbed.

3181 lovynges, praisings.

3183 apeert, open.

3187 irkynge, annoyance.

3189 Dressed, Directed.

3190 reek, smoke.

3191 stiynge, rising; iye, eye.

3192 suete, sweet.

3194 flesch flie, fly (the insect).

3195 lapped, surrounded.

3196 plaiand, playing; lovynges, praisings.

3197 homli, familiar.

3198 felawli, companionable.

3202 plenté, fullness.

3206 besied, occupied.

3215 trompe, trumpet.

3216 lovynges, praises.

3223 queynte, elegant.

3227-28 thee thar, it is necessary for you.

3235 reeve, rob.

3241 siker, certain.

3243 wite, know.

3246 conpuccion, compunction.

3247 boistousli, roughly.

3248 feelid, felt.

3250 selve, same.

3255 mait, might; siker, certain.

3261 mow, be able to be; loned, inclined.

3265 deynté, value.

3271 on, one.

3281 helid, concealed; sendeel, rich cloth.

3285 laynynge, concealment.

3289 not, nothing.

3296 abite, habit.

3307 resonable, rational.

3309 litterali, morali, mistili, and heveneli, literally, morally (or tropologically), mystically (or allegorically), and heavenly (or anagogically); the traditional four senses of scripture; suffre, allow.

3311 kunne departe, know how to separate; toon, one; tother, other.

3312 mystihede, the mystical.

3323 palet, palate.

3327 white teeth, see Augustine, De doctrina christiana, 2.6.7; Clark, p. 326n373.

3328 inli, inner.

3332 kunnen, know how to; kyndeli, natural.

3333 actuel, actual.

3334 Carpe, Speak.

3338 Jhesuis, Jesus'.

3340 connynge, knowledge.

3347 freelté, frailty; ablenesse, capability.

3353 anemptis, concerning.

3355 ablid, empowered.

3356 lightned, illuminated; lettynge, hindrance.

3357 comonynge, community.

3359 ordinatli, regularly.

3360 sadli, seriously.

3364 bi so, because.

3369 suettere, sweeter.

3378 ordinat, well ordered.

3386 clei, clay.

3388 delices, delights.

3390 irkenesse, weariness.

3391 bihetynges, promises.

3399 price, value.

3400 connynges, knowledge.

3405 clene, pure.

3410 Whidirso yeede, Wherever went; wheles, wheels.

3412 frowardnesse, perversity.

3413 aftir that, according to how.

3414 assai, test.

3415 mowen, are able to.

3416 myddai fend, see gloss on II.1518.

3422 leith of hande, puts aside.

3424 herende, hearing; stevene, sound.

3426 Him, Himself; eighful, terrible.

3437 lovende, praising; wondrende, wondering.

3440 tome, leisure.

3445 or, before.

3447 wowere, wooer.

3470 université, totality.

3472 umgo, go about.

3475 ordenaunce, ordered plan.

3488 domes, judgments.

3490 comfortable, comforting.

3493 kende, nature.

3495 clumsid caitif, clumsy wretch.

3496 deren, harm.

3497 upsodoun, upside down; spoileth, despoils.

3503 entre into a swyne, see Mark 5.11-13.

3504 noien, harm.

3510 demed, judged.

3513 wite, know.

3518 schent, injured; faren, dealt; of, by.

3520 deereth, harms.

3521 loovynges, praisings.

3527 sondriheed, diversity.

3534 kenne, teach.

3539 yhis, yes.

3542 teeld, told; lightnynges, illuminations.

3545 not, nothing.

3547 kynde, nature.

3548 highed, exalted.

3553 oonheed, unity.

3555 matier, matter.

3558 trouthe, faith.

3564 for whi, because.

3569 université, totality.

3571 privetees, secrets.

3577 rownynges, whisperings.

3587 greithynge, preparing; hertis, harts; thikke, thicket.

3588 stirten, start.

3589 thikke, thicket; privytees, secrets.

3593 wissynge, guidance.

 

THE SCALE OF PERFECTION, BOOK II: TEXTUAL NOTES

9 and that a worthi image. B omits.

13-14 of Him. B omits.

14 and schal speken of. B omits.

15 liknesse. B: ymage.

18 myrkenesse. B: derknesse; B consistently uses derk- where MS has myrk- or merk-. beestli. B omits.

27 goodnesse. B adds: ferst.

38 the trespaas. B: hit.

40 of. MS: of of.

44 oweth. B adds: of duyt? or dette.

48 alle. B omits.

49 deede. B: deth.

56 kyndeli. B omits.

59 Crist. B omits.

67 man. B omits. thingis. B: God on thyng.

72 He was bounde to rightfulnesse, but. Inserted from margin. dyen. B: deth.

76 manere deede. B: mannes deth.

86 His. B adds: preciose.

99 troweth. B: leeveth (B regularly uses leeven where MS has trowen).

111 untrouthe. B: unbyleeve (here and elsewhere).

115 other comende or comen. B: comande as in the olde lawe or comen as now.

125 and paynemes. B omits. kepynge. B: knowynge.

126 and as Cristen men doon. B omits.

143 trouthe. B: feyth (here and elsewhere).

149 whiche. B adds: restorynge and.

150 in feith. B omits.

174 medlere. B: medlynge.

184 to alle chosen soulis that were lyvande in tyme of His passioun. Added from margin.

192 maad. B omits.

212 feith. B adds: only.

214 thorugh lengthe. B: by processe.

216 yit he mai. B omits.

217 not withstondynge al. Following withstondynge, MS has synne, which seems to be expunged; B: a3eynstondynge.

222 reformynge. MS: reformyge.

241 whiche. Preceding whiche is a decorative filler.

242 ther. The scribe=s usual usage is the southern forms, her(e), hire.

245 as swithe. B: anoon.

247 untrouthe. B adds: of byleeve.

272 mekenesse. B: mekenesse and obedience.

291 Chirche. B adds: and the feyth.

297 schrift. B: confessioun.

340 oonli. B omits.

343 unseable. B: that is gostly and invisible.

344 partener. Hussey (1992, pp. 103B04) suggests the reading percener (Asharer@); see the same phrase below in chapter 36 with note.

348 man. B: mannes soule.

372 trouthe. B: feyth.

396 ire. B: wreththe.

heved. B: capital.

399 as tite. B omits.

409 likli. B omits.

435 trouthe. B: leve or feyth.

445 merci. B adds: and godnesse.

459 desert. B: desire.

468 hem bihoveth. B: moste they.

470 neer. B omits.

473 fightynge. B: chydynge.

475 he1. MS: he preceded by an expunged thou.

477 outetaken. B: save.

478 werk. B: dede.

486 feer. B: free.

487 feer. B: free.

499 double. B: dedly.

500 resoun. Capitalized in MS here and elsewhere, but not consistently. See also, for example, line 2080.

524 light. B: sight (perhaps correctly).

535 and that he feelith no more of it. B omits.

538 and certayn. B omits.

560 thee. B adds: for (almost required by the sense).

567 yif it be gracious. MS: yif it be gracicious; B omits.

569 God. B adds: that is, they ssal see God.

583 this. B adds: foule.

603 defaded. B: defaced.

620 weike. B: fable.

625 likynges. B: styrenges.

628 irketh. B: weryeth.

632 the. B adds: evele. defoulynge. MS: defoulyge.

641 in the whiche he was born in. B: the wiche bar hym.

645 feelist. B: sechest.

648 trouthe stilli. B: feyth styfly.

651 trouth. B: byleve, that is trewe feyth.

665 God2. B: hym.

673 ymage. B: lyknesse.

682 heveneli. B: gostly.

692 loveth not. not written above line; B: leeveth.

709 proud. B: mysproude.

716 unwillid. B: evele willed.

741 stangno. Perhaps an error, but more likely a possible spelling of Vulgate stagno.

743 worschiperis of maumetis. Inserted from margin. dool. B: here part.

767 ugglen. B: abhorreth.

796 flee. B: leeve.

805 peyne. B adds: he ssal knowen it.

814 stoppe. B: stoppeth.

840 thei han no. B: lakkynge of.

854 That. MS: That crossed out.

863 brente. B: brought.

876 schal langure. B: be feble and syklich.

878 and reformyd. B omits.

884 stele. B: gree.

913 come to mychil grace. B omits.

917 geven. B adds: hym besyly.

920 foule. B omits.

943 yernynge. B: covetynge.

957 dedli. MS: deeli; B: dedly.

960 first. Inserted above the line; B omits.

978 othir wilful custum. B: here customes.

996 to deedli synne. B omits.

1019 and. MS: and and.

1022 kenne. B: teche.

1025 lyvynge. B: lernynge, perhaps correctly.

1033 mykil as. B omits.

1062 God. B omits.

1067 dedes. MS: des; B: dedys.

1074 biddynge. B omits.

1099 the schorteste and the redieste helpe that I knowe in this wirkynge. B omits.

1134 bigynnynge. MS: bigynnnynge (otiose abbr. stroke).

1142 speciali. B omits.

1145 strynges. MS: stirynges.

1147 that1. MS: that that.

1160 tome or voide. B: empty.

1172 lene. B: abyde.

1204 flawme and the hattere is the. B omits.

1230 of the love of Jhesu. B: fro the love of God.

1235 for to love. B: the love of.

1239 first and. B omits.

1260 a good. B: the.

1277 oonly. Inserted above the line; B: thenk oonly (perhaps rightly).

1292 and1. B adds: veyn.

1315 thee. B adds: charge hit noght, jangle naght therwyth, ne angre the naght.

1318 strengthe it. B adds: and meynteyne hit.

1328 wirkynge. MS: wirkyge.

1343 therfore see Hym gostly yif thou myght. Inserted from margin.

1368 spered. B: closed.

1369 knowynge. B: likynge.

1378 thus. B: and therfore he that loveth hym he is in lyght everelastynge, as.

1381 him bihoveth a while abiden. B: he moste abyde a wyle.

1384 the affeccioun and. B omits.

1385 and loven. B omits.

1389 fleschli2. B: bodily.

1390 bounden. B adds: ne peyned.

1395 light. B: day.

1396-97 werldli desires. B omits.

1422 feling of. B omits.

1427 chesinge. B: clefynde.

1437 bryngeth. B adds: hit (perhaps rightly).

1457 merkenesse. MS: altered from mekenesse; ir inserted above the line between e and k.

1474 unseable. B: invisible.

1482 thee. B omits.

1486 To hem that wonen. B: that is, wonynge. the. fals inserted here from margin, but expunged.

1500 thought. Marginal gloss: inere (Ainner@); B: sowth. Despite the gloss, B=s reading is better (see Ezekiel 40:2).

1501 rodde. B: reed.

1505 biggynge. B: beldenges.

1508 liyf. B: hylle. iye. B: syght.

1509-10 semeth sumwhat, but it. B omits.

1523 of the enemye. MS: of enemye. Emendation may be unnecessary; see the heading for I.984 (chapter 38), for feend without the article.

1527 ney. ney inserted above the line preceding an expunged newe; B omits newe.

1533 ben. B adds: byfore.

1534 hemsilf. Corrected from himsilf. thinges. B adds: outward.

1537 wepynge. B: wakynge.

1539 holi and. B: hooly.

1545 knowinge. B: cunnynge.

1553 knowynge. MS: knowyge.

1561 knowynge. MS: knowyge.

1564 and. B: thorugh.

1569 zele. B: love.

1572 flitynge. B: chydynge.

1573 that knowynge. B: such cunnynge.

1574 God. MS: good, with the second o expunged; B: God.

1577 the fendes. B: comynly.

1578 fendes. B: feyned.

1580 blake. B omits.

1591 undirstandynge. B: gostly knowynge.

1598 risen. B: spryngyn.

1599 kyndele. B adds: or tenden.

1612 ne ypocrisies. B omits. into a soule. B: in.

1613 resten. B: rysen.

1639-40 goo where. B: do what.

1656 resten. B: rysen.

1684 mai1. B adds: naght.

1700 dyverse. B: sondry.

1701 seere. B: diverse.

1703 gate. B: way (and elsewhere in this chapter).

1716 lif. B: love.

1733 nought. B: nyght.

1735 brent. B: brought.

1747 sadli. B omits. mekeli. B omits. fareth bi it. B: falleth therby.

1753 and1. MS omits; B: and.

1762 knowynge. MS: knowyge.

1783 forsakynge. MS: forsakyge.

1799 bigynnyng. MS: bigynnyg.

1801 in conpunccion. B: of contemplacioun.

1810 beykynge. B: bethynge.

1811 staaf. B: stykke.

1814 brent. B: brought.

1823 for it schal not wite where ne how. Inserted from margin.

1829 feelynge. B: lyvynge.

1830 luste. B: the love.

a name="1840">1840 receyve up hem. B: rysen up.

1842 knowynge. MS: knowyge.

1847-48 the soule. B: thee.

1888 bolneth. B: swelleth.

1920 falleth. B: faryth.

1948 thought. B: body.

1953 and for to love the sovereyn goodnesse. Inserted from margin.

1962 undirstondyng. MS: undirstondyg.

1977 thenkynge. MS: thenkyge.

2001 worschipen. B omits.

2005 is1. B adds: good and.

2006 lasse. B adds: and (perhaps rightly).

2017 in. MS: in in.

2042 contemplatif. MS: conteplatif.

2068 heeryng. MS: heeryg.

2096 reformynge. MS: reformyge.

2103 schorter. Last two letters illegible; B: schortere.

2149 hool. B: holy.

2152 oolde. B: holy.

2166 blyndli. B adds: and nakedly. savourli. B: unsavourly.

2180 eum. Not in MS; see 1 John 3:2.

2188 spered. B: yclosed.

2197 Jhesu. B adds: God.

2205 thorugh grace. B omits.

2212 ferforth. B: forward.

2221 openynge. MS: openyge.

2240 worthiere. B: worthynesse.

2264 privei. B omits.

2271 sothfastnesse. MS: sostfastnesse.

2286 not. B adds: speken.

2296 aren. B adds: temporal and.

2299-2300 Thus seith oure Lord. B omits.

2302 Jhesu Crist. B omits.

2306 love. A following of Jhesu is expunged.

2313 that. B adds: in knowynge.

2318 symple. B: synful.

2335 mekenesse. B: mochelnesse.

2343 departen. B: share.

2370 forgyvnesse. MS: for3ynesse.

2377 biynge. Corrected from biggynge (i.e., Abuying@).

2406 wrecchid. B: wykkede.

2429 streynen. B: steren.

2439 Jhesu. B: God.

2445 schewynge of. B omits.

2460 fervours. B: by fervours.

2478 bothe. B: god.

2479 of God. B: goode.

2483 for the tyme. B omits.

2503 partenere. B: takere; Hussey (1992, pp. 103B04) suggests percener (Asharer@); compare the same phrase above in chapter 8; and see Clark, p. 319n263.

2509 schedynge. B: disseveraunce.

2515-16 and it schal werken . . . schalt biholden Him. Interpolated from the margin; B: . . .biholden Jhesu.

2518 Ceese yee. B: Taketh heede.

2521 God. B: God and man.

2540 pacience. B: of penaunce.

2549 alle. Inserted above the line.

2564 biholding. MS: biholdig.

2580 disposeth. B: dispyseth.

2584 forgyvnesse. MS: foryynesse.

2605 veyn. Written over erasure.

2607 into. MS: into into.

2611 circumstaunces. MS: circustaunces.

2636 bihaldynge. MS: bihaldyge.

2645 ai upon. B: evere opene to.

2646 snaris. B adds: or greves.

2652 of God. B omits.

2660 passynge. B adds: and weyward.

2694 risynges. B: stirynge.

2698 he wil not ben angrid ne sterid agens hem. Inserted from margin.

2721 yeeden. B: wende or yeeden.

2734 wronge. B omits.

2742 thorugh his. B: of the. dede. B adds: of that other man.

2752 and passen. B omits.

2773 the love of Jhesu. B: Godes love.

2792 Jhesu. B: God.

2815 accidie. B: slouthe.

2840 heren. B: spekyn, huyren.

2865 or deepnesse. B omits.

2895 apostil. B: gospel.

2896 ancipiti. B omits.

2906 flitynge. B: chydynge.

2929 undeynt?. B: dedeyn.

2946 ne peynfulli. B omits. oonlynesse. B: wyldernesse.

2947 an. B: wyldernesse or.

2949 of thought. B: or wyldernesse.

2954 oonlynesse of bodi. B: that.

2965 in. B: thy.

2973 the liyf of his bodi. B: thys bodyly lyf.

2975 bygynynge. MS: bygynnge.

2978 and likynge. B omits.

2981 perfite. B omits. bygynyng. MS: bygynng.

3003 that wakeneden. B: wakynge.

3004 is. B: is understonden.

3005 dene. B: dyynge.

3007 wordli. B: erthly.

3019 sothli. B: softly.

3023 openynge. MS: openyge.

3033 abidynge. B: hydynge.

3040 feelinge. B: fleynge

3043 herte. B: soule.

3045 loves. B: lustys.

3049 to wordli love. B omits.

3058 sodaynly. MS: sosodaynly; so sodaynly makes sense, but the second so begins the verso and is thus more likely to be a repetition error.

3060 merthe. B: myght.

3064 feleabli. B: evere.

3065 brennynge. B omits.

3072 grace. B adds: the lasse ys the grace.

3103 reverence. MS: rereverence.

3120 favour. B: savour.

3124 fer. B: fre.

3139 and of Hooli Chirche. B omits.

3169 lettred men. B: lettred.

3190-91 reek stiynge. B: smoke rysynge.

3191 iye. B: eyre.

3194 flesch flie. B: flesschly.

3196 plaiand. B: reekynge. Jhesu. B adds: hit yeldeth grace to Jhesu.

3219 openynge. MS: openyge.

3229 Jhesu. B: God. Hym. B: God.

3246 special. B omits. of conpuccion. B: in a bygynnere, that is called grace of contemplacion.

3248 and seen. B omits. goostli. B: godly. betere. B adds: ne may no betere.

3261 loned. B: lened.

3265 seen. B adds: and felen.

3267 mekeli, til. B: til thou come to.

3269 love. B: grace.

3272-73 I wole of thise foure. B: of these foure that me lust.

3279 to1. MS: fro added above the line after to, perhaps as an alternative.

3283 a clene. B omits.

3286 trusteth. B: troweth or byleveth.

3289 God. B: Jhesu.

3290 favour. B: fervour.

3305 mysterie. B: ministrynge.

3330 vertues. B: swetnesse.

3388 neverthelees yit. B: noght for than.

3405 aren. B adds: fayre.

3409 feelynge. B: styrynges.

3413 stirynge. B: the stondynge. toucheth. B: techeth.

3414 myghti. B: syker.

3433 favour. B: savoure.

3434 o. B: that is, that.

3437 wondrende. B: worschepande.

3443 spouse. B: perfyght spouse.

3444 highnesse. B adds: and the fulnesse.

3467 Songes. B adds: of the Spouse.

3472 umgo. B: go aboughte.

3480 light. B: love.

3481 grace. B: mercy.

3496 deren. Marginal gloss: or greve.

3505 and troble us. B omits.

3509 is. MS: his; B: is.

3519 Holi Goost. B: myght of the hygheste.

3524 heere. A following in this liyf has been expunged; not in the Table of Contents preceding Book II.

3525 selve. B adds: lyght, perhaps correctly.

3527 sondriheed. B: diversit? of sondry.

3529 of the Hooli Goost. B omits.

3531 maner. B omits.

3532 spirites. Replaces expunged creatures.

3535 soule. B adds: and they illumynen the soule gratiously, they conforten the soule with swete wordes sodeynly sowned in a clene herte and yyf eny disese falle gostly they serven the soule.

3551 bifore. B adds: and therfore.

3565 of1. MS: of in.

3587 greithynge. B: ordeinynge.

3588 stirten fro the herthe of. B: lepen over.

3589 the thikke, that aren. B omits.

3590 bihooldynges. B adds: sothfastliche grounded in grace and mekenesse.

3592 callid. B adds: newe.