Selections from the Middle English Metrical Paraphrase of the Old Testament

by: Russell A. Peck (Editor)

from: Heroic Women from the Old Testament in Middle English Verse  1991

•    The Prologue
•    The Story of Jephthah and his Daughter
•    The Story of Judith

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The Prologue*     God, Fader in Hevyn of myghtes most,    that mad this mold and all man kynd, The Sun that sendes us throwth to tast    wesdom and welth and wytt at wyn, The grace of the Holy Gast    in whom all gudness behoves to begyn Thrugh mediacy of Mary chast    that helpes to safe uus of our syn, Swylke myght unto me send    thys boke ryght to aray, Begynnyng, myddes, and end,    that yt be to Goddes pay.     This buke is of grett degré,    os all wettys that ben wyse, For of the Bybyll sall yt be    the poyntes that ar mad most in price, Als maysters of dyvinité    and on, the maystur of storyse, For sympyll men soyn forto se,    settes yt thus in this schort assyse. And in moyr schort maner    is my mynd forto make yt, That men may lyghtly leyre    to tell and under take yt.     This boke that is the Bybyll cald,    and all that owtt of yt is drawn, For Holy Wrytt we sall yt hald    and honour yt ever os our awn. All patriarkes and prophettes yt told,    so ever ther saynges sekerly ar knawn, And all wer fygurs fayr to fald    how coymmyng of Crist myght be kawn. God graunt us Crist to knaw    all our form faders cravyd And so to lere Is law    that our sawlis may be savyd.             The Story of Jephthah and His Daughter*     Jepte was a knyght in armys clere;    fro bayle, he sayd, he suld them bryng. A fayre lady he hade to fere,    and both thei lyvyd to Goddes lovyng. He had a doyghtur that was hym dere    and no mo chyldder, old ne yyng. To hyr befell, os men may heyre,    full gret myschefe, a mervel thyng. He send to cetys and town,    to all that myght armys beyre And bad thei suld be bown    to wend with hym in were.     Then unto God hertly he hett    and mad a vowe with all his mayne That yf he myght the maystry geytt,    als sone os he com home agayn, The fyrst qwyke catell that he mett    of his for Goddes sake suld be slayn In sacrifyce so forto sett.    Thus sayd he suld be done certayn. To batell then thei went    withowtyn more respyte. Ther enmys sone was schent,    both slayn and dyscumfeytt.     Then past thei home with mekyll pride    becawse thei wan the vyctory. His doyghtur herd, is not to hyde,    hyr fader suld come home in hy. Be lyfe scho went, and wold not byd,    agayns hym with gud mynstralsy. When he hyr saw, ``Alas!'' he cryed,    ``My doyghtur dere, now sall thou dy!'' To his hors fette he fell -    in sadyll he myght not sytt. No tong in erth may tell    what kare his hert had hytt.     So when he myght hymselfe stere,    he thoght in hert how he had heyght To slo the fyrst that suld apeyre    and sacrifyce yt in Goddes syght. ``Alas,'' he sayd, ``my doyghtur dere,    for my doyng thi dede is dyght.'' Scho prayd hyr fader to mend his chere    and mad hym myrth all that scho myght. The more that scho mad glee    to comforth hym with all, The more sore hert had he,    for he wyst how yt suld fall.     ``A, doyghtur,'' he sayd, ``I made a vowe    to God when I to batell wentt: Yf I of panyms myght have prow,    what so com fyrst in my present, That suld be slone - that same ys thou.    Alas for my sake now bees thou schent.'' ``Fader,'' scho sayd, ``I beseke yow,    be trew and tornes not your entent. For bettur is that I dye,    that may no thyng avayle, Then so fayr cumpany    as ye broyght from batelle.''     ``Sen ye heyght sacrifyce to make    to God that goverans gud and yll, Leves it not, fader, for my sake,    bot all your forward fast fulfyll. Bot graunteys me grace two wekes to wake,    to speke with lades lowd and styll And of maydyns leve to take,    and then do with me what ye wyll.'' He gafe hyre leve to gang    with grefe and gretyng sore. All that scho come amang    ay menyd hyr more and more.     So went scho furth to mony a frend,    that for hyr syghyng sayd, ``Alas.'' All weped for wo os scho can wend,    when thei wyst how that it was. And when the tyme drogh nere the end    that hyr fader assygned has, Scho went agayn with wordes hend    and proferd hyr with payn to pas.1 Therfor hyr fader noyght leved:    his sword in hand he hent And swythly swopped of hyr hede    and bad scho suld be brent.     Grett sorow yt was this syght to se;    all weped that wyst of hyr wo. Bot most sorow in hert had he    that heddyd hyr and had no mo. Swylke folys suld men fayn to flee    and be abayst or thei vow so. Fowle vow is bettur to broken be    then man or woman sakles slo. Sex yere governd Jepte Ebrews    and saved them from all angers yll Of Phylysteyns and Cananews,    and then he dyed as was Goddes wyll.             The Story of Judith*     Dame Judyth was a gentyll Jew    and woman wyse whore sho suld wende. Now wyll we nevyn hyr story new,    for to sum men yt myght amend To see how sho in trewth was trew    als lang als sho in lyf con lend, And lufed the Law als lele Ebrew    that Moyses tyll hyr kynred kend. That Law forto mayntene    sho ordand in all thyng, Als insampyll was seyn    and wyttenest in werkyng.     Bot to mell this mater more    this lady now wyll we leve of hand, And tell of fare that fell before,    als our faders before us fand. A kyng, Nabogodhonosour,    in Bablion he was dwelland; All other kynges and lordes wore    full stably at his stevyn to stand. All that lufed paynyms law    and lyfed by mawmentry Aftur his dedes con draw    and lowted hym fast forthi.     He had this werld sett at his wyll;    hym thoyght no noye suld neght hym nere, For all his forwardes to fulfyll    all hethyn folke were full fayn in fere. With Ebrews oft hym angerd yll,    for them lyst not his lare to lere. Oft sythys he spyed them to spyll    with engynys and with sawtes sere. By sere cautels he kest    how he myght bryng them down, Bot whyls thei lufed God best,    to beld them ay was He bown.     This kyng was strang in ylke stoure,    and in all were he wan degré; And so he gat to grett honowre    and conquered kynges in sere cuntré, Wherfor he fell in fowle errowre,    als men may be exempyll see. He couth not knaw his creatore    bot hoped ther was no god bot he. On payn of lyf and lyme    he warned his men ylkon And bad thei suld hald hym    ther god and other none.     So in this errour con he dwell    als maystur most of more and lese, Wherfore fowle vengance on hym fell    to lyfe als best with grouand grese. Bot here we have no tym to tell    the poyntes that proves all the procese. Furth with our maters wyll we mell    how Jewys ware doyne to grett dystrese. For then the kyng ordand    his ost with playn powere To dystroy ylka land    that his law wyll not lere.     And to fulfyll all this in dede    to semble folke he wolde not sese. He ordand on his ost to lede,    a dughty duke heyght Olyfernes, And bad all men to hym take hede    and with hym wend in were and pese. The folke were fayn and with hym yede,    and for ther cheftan thei hym chese. The kyng bad them not spare    bot dyng down all bedeyne That wold noyght luf ther lare,    tyll all be conquered cleyne.     This dughty duke that I of ment    fro his werke wold no langer abyde. With full grett ost furth is he went    with mynstralsy and mekyll pride. Cytes and burghes both thei brent,    the Jewys to harme full fast thei hyed. Cornes and wynes shamly thei shent,    thor was no trews to take that tyde. The Jewys that were dwelland    in Jerusalem Cité Myght loke over all that land    and full grett soroyng see.     When thei had so dystroyd and strayd    and fuld the folke be fyrth and fell, A sege to that Cité thei layd    whore Jews was dyght most forto dwell. ``We sall not sese, for soth,'' thei sayd,    ``or all the chylder of Israel With all ther Godes to ground be grayd.    So sall thei never of maystry mell.'' Thei loged them thore to lend    and lyfyd at ther lykyng Full fawrty days tyll end    that burgh in bale to bryng.     Bot folke within full wysly wake    ther Cyté fast forto dyffend With allablasters and with bows of brake    ay redy bown forto be bend. With gunys grett styfly thei strake,    within ther dynt durst no man lend. And ever to God ther mayn thei make    ther mornyng with His myght to mend. Within that Cyté ere    prestes to pray plenté And knyghtes full wyse of were    to govern ther degré.     Bot ther degré was not to deme    all yf thei were dughty of dede. Ther enmyse were so bold and breme,    to them thei durst not batell bede. Ther byschope heyght Elyachym,    and unto hym holy thei yede And prayd hym say how yt suld seme    them forto deme swylka drede. He commawnd then that thei    suld both with hert and hend Mekly unto God pray    ther myschefe to amend.     ``For so,'' he says, ``ye sall encrese    and no thyng of your rebels reke.'' He sett ensampyll of Moyses    and of the grett Abymalech: ``He putt his pepyll fast in prese,    to fell Goddes folke thei were full freke. Bot ay whyls Moyses prayd for pese,    God sett ther noys in ther enmys neke. Yf we werke on swylke wyse    and faynd our God to plese, Then sall non yll enmyse    unto us do dysesse.''     Thei were full redy, os he red    forto aray aftur his resown. Full bowsomly, os he them bed,    on the bare erth thei sett them down. In hayrys and sekkes sone were thei cled    and kest powder apon ther crown. All yf ther enmyse wele were fed,    to fyght then had thei no fusyown. Ser Olyfernes thoght    they lay ther full lang whyle. Sere soteltes he soyght    to wyn them be sum wyle.     He wyst wele thei wold have no dawt    whyls thei had welth of waters clere. Therfor he gart spare ylk spowte    whore any wels of watur were. He mad ther bekkes to ryn abowt    that non suld negh that Cité nere. So menes he forto make them lowt    and be full blyth his lay to lere. Then were the Jews in wo    when thei saw stopped ylke streme Fro the Cité of Jerico    and fro Jerusalem.     Thei saw ther wellys wex all dry,    thei fand no tast in town ne feld. No wounder yf thei were sory,    for wyn was wasted all that thei weld. Ther price prophett them heyght Ozi    that in batell them best wold beld. To hym thei come with carfull crye    and bad he suld ther bodes yeld. ``Our lyfes so forto save,    for, sothly, ser,'' thei say, ``bettur is our hele to have    then dye all on a day.''     When Ozi herd them sorowyng so    and lyke to lose all that land, He weped and wrang his hend for wo,    and unto them thus he cummand Unto the tempyll all forto go    and pray ther God all weldand ``Us forto wyn out of this wo,    sen all our hele henges in His hand.'' Full prestly thore thei pray,    nevenand grett God be name, And thus hymself con say,    for thei suld say that same:     ``Lord God, that mad kyrnell and corne    and all may save be land and see, That fed our faders fare beforn    and fro Kyng Pharo mad them free, Sene The lykes noyght that thei be lorn    that trewly trows and treystes in The, Have mercy on us evyn and morn;    save Thi servandes and this Cyté! We wott full wele us aw    for syn swylke lyf to lede, Bot Thi mercy we knaw    is more then our mysdede.     ``We wott wele Thou is all weldand    and all may govern gud and yll, Agayn Thi stevyn may no thyng stand,    all states may Thou steme and styll. Chasty us, Lord, with Thi hand    that our enmyse say not this skyll: `Ther God was wunt them to warrand;    now wyll He not tent them untyll.''' Then all that pepyll prayd    full lowly, lese and more And forto make them payd    to them thus sayd he thore:     ``I rede we fast fyve days to end    with all wrschep we may weld, And see yf God wyll socour send    us forto save under his sheld. And yf no comforth then be kend,    this Cyté sone then sall I yeld Our enmyse to have in ther hend, so that thei hete to be our beld.'' Thei sayd, ``We all assent    this forward to fulfyll.'' And so ther ways thei went    ylkon at ther awn wyll.     Bot then this wyse woman Judyth,    when scho herd of ther tythyng tell, How Ser Ozi had ordand yt    ther Cyté and therselfe to sell, And how he made that mesure fytt    to dome of God fyve days to dwell, Sho wold yt wast with womans wytt,    and furth scho went that fare to fell. To the tempyll rayked scho ryght    and cald tho folke in fere, And up sho stud on heyght    so that thei suld hyr here.     To Ozi fyrst hyr mone sho mase    als to most maystur tho men amang. Sho says, ``Omyse thou takes thi trace,    and to my wytt thi werke is wrang. How dere thou sett in certayn space    the wyll of God to come or gang, Sene He is gyfer of all grace    sone forto leve or to last lang! This is more lyke to greve    our God, that most may gayn; Then us oght to releve    to put us fro this payn.     Therfor is gud that we begyne    of this grevance to geyte relese, And say: This sorow is sent for syn    that we have wroyght and wold not sese, Als was with elders of our kyn,    Abraham, Ysaac, and Moyses. Thei had wo, for God wold them wyn    aftur ther payn to endlese pese And also forto prove    with teyne and with trayveyle Whedder thei wold last in love    or fro hym fayntly fayle.     And for thei wold not groche agayn    bot schewed ay meknes and more and more, Als Job and Thoby dyde sertayn    that were assayd with seknes sor, To Goddes bydyng ay were thei bayn;    therfor ther guddes He con restore And put them into power playn    more fast then ever thei wore before. The same then sall us fall,    and we this fare fulfyll.'' Then Ozi and thei all    graunted to werke hyr wyll.     Thei prayd hyr forto tell them to    hyr purpase both by nyght and day. ``Now, sers,'' sho sayd, ``sen ye wyll so,    all myn entent I sall yow say. This nyght I wyll wende furth yow fro    in other place my God to pray, And pray ye that God with me go,    and lokes none wayte eftur my way. I kepe no cumpany    bot my servand sertayn. Kepes this Cyté seurly    tyll God send us agayn.''     Sho sett yyng men to yeme the gate    and bad thei suld be redy bown To kepe hyr in the evyn late,    for that tyme wold scho wend o town. Then to hyr howse scho toke the gate    and gart hyr servand in that sesown With bawme and with bathes hate    clense all hyr cors fro fote to crown. And sythyn sho hyr arayd    in garmentes gud and gay, And ever to God sho prayd    to wyse hyr in hyr way.     With sylke and sendell and satayn    and baulkyn bettur non myght be, Hyr pellour all of pure armyne,    with pyrry plett full grett plenté, With gyrdyll and garland of gold fyne    to make hyr semly unto se. Hyre maydyn bare both bred and wyne    to fynd them fode for days thre. God wyst wele that sho went    to save His pepyll exprese. Therfor to hyr He sent    both favour and fayrnese.     When hyr aray was all redy,    down on hyr knesse sho kneled then, And sayd, ``My Lord God Allmighty,    That wyll and thoght may clerly kene, Sen in The lygges all vyctory,    to me, Thi servand, myght Thou lene Forto overcom our yll enmy    and save this Cyté and Thi men.'' Scho prayd to God thus gaite    tyll lyght of day con sese. Then wentt scho to the gate    full prevely to prese.     When sho com ydder, redy sho fand    Ozi and other to tent ther toure. Sho bad that thei suld stably stand    that Cyté to save and socoure, And that prestes suld pray with hert and hand    that God suld be hyr governoure. So sent sho furth with hyr servand    to enmys that were strang in stoure. Ever to God sho prays    to be hyr helpe and beld. Wach men that kepes ways    toke them sone in the feld.     They merveld of hyr rych aray    for so semly had thei sene none. Sum of them ware prowd of that pray,    for gay geyre had sho full gud woyne. They asked wher scho was o way    and why sho welke so late allon; And to them sothly con scho say,    ``Sers, fro my frendes thus am I gone. I com to yow in trewse,    and that sall ye here and see. I am on of the Ebrews    that wuns in this Cyté.     To fle ther fro I am full fayn    and leve both catell, kyth and kyn. For wele I wott myself certayn    that ye and yours sone sall yt wyn. To your prince is my purpase playn,    and I sall tell hym, or we twyn, To wyne yt wele withoutyn payn    and dystroy all that ere therin. Sen thei wyll not them yeld    to men that may them save, Yt is no boyte to beld    them that no helpe wyll have.     Unto my hele I wyll take hede    and to my servand that is here. And, sers, I pray yow me to lede    unto your prince that has no pere.'' Thei herd hyr spech was for ther sped;    therfor thei were full fayn in fere. To Olyfernes so thei yede    and fand hym syttand with solace sere. That lady in thei lad    and told thei fand hyr flayd And fro hyr frenschep fled,    and how sho to them sayd.     When Olyfernes saw this syght    and herd ther tayles how thei con tell, In hyr hys hert was ravyscht ryght    and demed that sho suld with hym dwell. Than forto marre hym more in myght    full flatt unto the grownd sho fell. He commawnd men that wer full wyght    to take hyr tyte up them omell. Then on hyr knese sho kneled    and prayd his helpe to have. He sayd he suld hyr beld    in oght that scho wold crave.     Sho thanked hym frendly, noyght at hyde,    and ryght glad in his hert was he. He saw hyr geyre of so heygh prid,    he trowed sho was of grett degré. He made hyr sytt hymself besyd,    that was ryght semly syght to see. Thei fell in talkyng so that tyde    that mery sho mad als his meneyé. Yt was solace sertayn    to se them syt togeydder, And fyrst he con hyr frayn    cause of hyr comyng ydder.     Sho sayd, ``Ser, and yow lyke to here,    I am an Ebrew ald and yyng. My menyng is to mend your chere    by gud bodword that I yow bryng. I wyll maynteyn in my manere    Nabogodhonosour, your kyng, And his law wyll me lyke to lere    when we have endyd other thyng. And, ser, fully I fynd    how thou has in his sted Power to lowse and bynd    als lord of lyfe and ded.     And, ser, I se the soth certayn:    Ebrews, whyls thei may wepyns weld, Wyll hold yond Ceté the agayn    and never assent yt forto yeld. Therfor to fle I am full fayn    to the, that best may be my beld. For wele I wott thei sal be slayn,    for fawt of fode fall fay in feld. And sen thei wyll not crye    to the, that may them save, I hald them wele worthy    swylk hydows herm to have.     And therfore come I to the here,    by certayn sygnes the to say How thou sall all that kynd conquere    lyghtly withoutyn lang delay. Thei may not last, thus I the lere,    because ther watur is haldyn away. I herd them say with sympyll chere    that all suld fayle or the faurt day. And I saw, or I yode,    how thei ther bestes sloght For thyrst to drynke the blood,    bot non had half enogh.     And when I saw that thei dyd so    and that yt wold no bettur be, I hyde me fast to fle them fro    so to save my servand and me. Sen thei wyll not be ware with wo    to save themself and ther Cyté, Yt was Goddes wyll that I suld go    and tell ther tythynges unto the. Lo, ser, this is,'' sho sayd,    ``the cause of my comyng.'' Then was the prince wele payd:    the wyn he bad them bryng.     He dranke and bed hyr furth by raw;    sho thanked hym with hert and hende: ``Ser, me behovys lyfe eftur my law    tyll this bargan be broyght tyll ende. We have ordand, als Ebrews aw,    fode thes four days forto spend. And, ser, by that day sall we knaw    how wele our myrth sal be amend. For als lang als I dwell    His law sadly to save, Then wyll my God me tell    how we sall helpyng have.     And, ser, so sall I tell the tyll    to make a sawt by sotell gyne To weld the Cyté at thy wyll    and esely forto entur therin. And, ser, than may thou spare or spyll    the Ebrews ylkon or thou blyn, And, yf the lyke, to lend thor styll    or home agayn with wrschep wyn.'' With gawdes thus scho hym glosed    to have hyr purpase playn. Hyr sawys soth he supposed,    And thus he glosed agayn:     ``I gyfe the leve to make thi mese    of mete and drynke at thy lykyng, For thou ow wele thi God to plese    That out of bale wyll the bryng. And when we sall the ceté sese,    thou sall have chose of all thyng And lyfe ever then at thin awn ese    with Nabogodhonosour, the kyng. For and I fynd yt fyne    that thou says in thi saw, Then sall thi God be myne,    and I wyll luf thi law.     And all that unto Hym may heve    byd I thou do both nyght and day. Yt is not gud that thou Hym greve,    sen He all soth to the wyll say.'' Sho sayd, ``Then bus thou gyfe me leve    forto have rowm and redy way Ever more at myd nyght forto meve    to certayn place my God to pray.'' Of hyr wyll noyght he wyst;    therfor he graunt sone To lyf at hyr awn lyst    tyll all thier dedes be done.     And to his kepers cummand he    o payn to lose both lyf and land That thei suld to hyr bowsom be    and holy held unto hyr hand And make uschew and entré,    so that no stekyll agayn hyr stand. Thei graunt ylkon in ther degré    kyndly to do als he them cummand. Full mery was ylk man    and full glad of ther gest. So depart thei than    And rede them all to rest.     Then to a chamber thei hyr led    that was with alkyns wrschepe wroyght. All bewtese both for burd and bed    with mekyll blyse was ydder broyght; And in that sted so was sho stede    with alkyns solace sere unsoght. Bot to slepe was sho never unclede;    of other thyng was mare hyr thoght. Ylke nyght scho toke hyr way    ferre down into a dale. Thor menys sho, and sho may,    to hald the Ebrews hale.     In that ylke dale was dyght a well    with Ebrews that before had bene. Thorof thei dranke whore thei con dwell,    and thorin ware thei weschyn clene. And thore scho and hyr damsell    trayveld so them two betwene. Thei mad a spryng that fro yt fell    at the Cyté syde forto be sene, So that thei that wund within    ware warescht wele of thryst. Thus myght sho wende with win    and lend at hyr awn lyst.     So trayveld scho be tyms thre    into that place hyr God to pray. Scho had fre eschew and entré.    And so befell on the fourt day, Olyfernes bad his men suld be    ay redy in ther best aray. For on the fyft day hoped he    the Ebrews folke to fell for ay, For so had Judyth sayd.    he gart ordan forthi A soper gudly grayd    for hyr sake soveranly.     When all was poynted with pomp and pryd,    a knyght then unto hyr sent he Forto com and sytt hym besyde    thar maner of solace forto se. The knyght hyr told so in that tyd.    Sho thanked hym with wordes free And sayd, ``I sall not lang abyde,    for at his bydyng wyll I be.'' Rychly sho hyr arayd    to seme fayr in ther syght. The pepyll were full wele payd,    and the lord was most lyght.     Befor hymself hyr sett was wroyght    full presciosly forto apere. Hyr ryalnes rayvyschyd his thoght;    he bede hyr mete with meré chere. Sho ete mete that hyr maydyn broyght,    and toke that coupe with wyn full clere And made semland and dranke ryght noyght.    Bot Olyfernes for that fere Of myghty wyne dranke more,    for myrth that thei were mett, Than ever he dranke before.    So hymself he oversett.     When Judyth saw that yt was so,    of that werke was sho wele payd. Sho made talkyng betwyx them two    tyll he wyst noyght wele what he sayd. He bad all men to bed suld go    and radly to ther rest arayd, And that none suld take tent hym to,    for at hys lyst he wold be layd. He thynkes that he sall have    that lady hym forto plese. Bot God wyll evermore save    his servand fro dysese.     Unto his bed fast con he hye    hys foly fare forto fulfyll. He bad that lady com lyg hym by,    for all the doreys ar stokyn styll. Sho sayd, ``Ser, I sall be redy    with word and werke to wyrke thi wyll. Bot to my chamber wend wyll I,    and full sone sall I come the tyll.'' To hyr chambre scho wentt    and prayd God specially, Als he knew hyr entent,    to kepe hyr fro velany.     Unto God thor sho prayd and wepe    forto vouchsave hyr sorow to slake. Sone Olyfernes fell on slepe,    for dronkyn man may not wele wake. Sho warnd hyr servand to take kepe    that no kyns noyse suld sho make, And prevely als sho couth crepe    hyr way to his bed con sho take. Thor kneled sho on the ground    and prayd God with Hys wyll To strengh hyr in that stownd    hyr forward to fullfyll.     Sho drogh his sword full sone sertayn,    qwylke sho fand standand in that sted, And with that brand sho brest his brayn;    so with that dynt sone was he dede. Then cutted sho sunder synow and vayn,    and fro hys halse hewed of hys hed And putt yt in a poket playn,    whore thei befor had born ther bred. Sho bad hyr maydyn yt bere    whore als thei were wunt to pray. Thei geydderd sayme ther geyre    and wyghtly went ther way.     To have ther hele thei hastyd fast    and made no tareyng in that tyde. Tyll tyme thei were all perels past,    thei wyst yt was no boyte to byde. Yf yt were late, so at the last    thei neghted nere to the Cyté syde. To the kepers a crye scho cast    and bad them opyn the wekett wyde. Hyr voyce full wele thei knew;    for fayn full fast thei wepe. Full mony a bold Ebrew    com thore hyr forto kepe.     Thei lete hyr in with torches lyght    and lowtyng low, is not to layn, Thei were full glad to se that syght,    for wele thei wend sho had bene slayn. Sho stud up in a sted of hyght    that all men myght se hyr certayn. And thore scho schewed hyr releke ryght,    the hede out of hyr poket playn. ``Loves God,'' sho sayd sadly,    ``That for you hath ordand To sett your vyctory    in a wake womans hand.''     Then all the pepyll in that place    down on ther knese low thei knele. Thei thanked grett God of his grace    That kyndly so thar care wold kele. When thei saw Olyfernes face,    no wonder yf thei lyked yt wele. Then Judyth spake furth in that space    how thei suld do ever ylke dele. Sho sayd, ``In this same day    belyve loke ye be bowne All in your best aray    to dyng your enmys downe.     Set up this hed over the gate,    so that your enmyse may yt se. For fro thei wyt, full well I wayte,    that ther prince so perysched be, His men wyll make no more debate    bot fayn to cayre to ther cuntré. Then sall ye folow on them fote hate    and fell them or thei ferre flee. Thei sall lefe welth gud woyne,    bot lokes non tent thertyll. When thei ere fled and sloyn,    then may ye fang your fyll.     Evyn als sho demed was done in hye:    the hede was sone sett up on the heyght. Then mad thei myrth and melody    with bemys, als thei were bown to fyght. And when the hethyn hard them crye    And saw a sygne sett in ther syght, Thei ware full yll abayst therby.    To warne ther prince thei went full wyght. To his chambre they hyed    and bad his servandes say How the Ebrews them ascryde    Forto have dede that day.     The chamberer durst make no dyne    for ferd yt suld turn hym to tayne. He wend the woman were within,    and that thei both on slepe had beyne. Bot with hys handes he con begyn    to wakyn them be cowntenance cleyne. And sythyn he come to the curtyn,    thore was no segne of solace seyne. Then nere the bed he yode    and fand rewfull aray: A body laped in blod,    bot the hed was away.     Full lowd he cryd, ``Alas! alas!    Our lyves ere lorn, my lord is ded.'' ``How is yt so?'' ylkon thei asse.    He sayd, ``Se here, he has no hede.'' To Judyth chamber con thei pase    and saw hyr stollyn out of that sted. Then wyst thei wele that werkyng was    by hyr wyles and hyr wekyd red. Thore was no boyte to byde    there welthes oway to wyn, Bot ylkon to ryn and ryd    and forsake kyth and kyn.     Thus of the rest thei were remeved,    ther ryche robes all rafed and rent. Ther restyng thore full sore them rewed,    withoutyn welth away thei went. The Ebrews prestly them persewed,    all lost ther hedes that thei myght hent.2 Thor tho all that this bargan brewed,    full shortly were thei shamed and shent. Then come Ebrews agayn    whore ther enmyse had beyne. Thei fand all safe certayn;    ther was no solpyng seyne,     Bot only of Olyfernes blod    that out of his body was bled. Thor ware garmentes of gold full gud    and gold in bages abowt that bed. The body thei kest to bestes fud    and fowles therwith forto be fede. Thresour thei toke and hame thei yode,    non other welth with them thei led. Non other thyng thei broght    bot of gold full gud woyn. To Judyth sone thei soyght    and thanked hyr everylkon.     Thei broyght hyr gold in bages bun,    and bed themself at hyr wyll to be. Thei say, ``We wott we have yt wun    With wyll of God and wyt of the.'' Scho says, ``Sen God thus has begun    to save your selfe and your Cyté, His tempyll sall therwyth be fun    and goveren ever in gud degré.'' Thei say, ``We have leved thore    of erthly welth to wyn To make us mery evermore    and comforth all our kyn.''     Sho bad them wyghtly wend ther ways    to steyr tho folke that thei not stryfe. ``And partyes the mobyls, sers,'' sho says,    ``be mesure both to man and wyfe.'' And so thei dyd by thirty days    or thei that ryches myght up ryfe. Tho that before were pore to prayse    wer then relyfed for all ther lyfe. Grett myrth was them amang;    thei loved God of His grace With solace and with sange    full specially that space.     And when that space was sped and spend    that thirty days were fully gone, Then Judyth bad them with hyr wend    unto ther tempyull everylkon And love God thor with hert and hend,    that swylke thressour had to them toyne. And thei dyd evyn als sho them kend,    Thei offerd gold ther full grett wone. Sho bad them love only    God, that is all weldand, That sett Hys vyctory    and ther helpe in hyr hand.     Als sho wold deme, thei dyd in dede,    als worthy was withoutyn were. Then home to hyr hows scho yede,    and pepyll past to ther places sere. A lades lyfe then con sho led,    and Goddes law lyked hyr ever to lere. And furth sho weryd hyr wedow wede    bot in soverane sesons of the yere. Then wold sho be more gay    to syght and more honest In purpas God to pay    for wrschepe of that fest.     Sho had enogh of rent and land    in ylke sted whore sho was sted Aftur Manasses, hyr husband,    that lordly lyf before had led. And of all that sho had in hand    over honest spence that suld be sped, Ther with pore folke sho fed and fand    and beldyd both to bake and bede. Sho ocupyed so hyr sted    in pennance and in prayer Fro hyr husband was dede    a hundred and fyve yere.     Hyr servandes, man, maydyn, and knave,    mad sho to goveren gud degré. Then dyed scho as God voched save,    for fro that fytt may no man flee. By hyr husband thei can hyr grave    full solemply in that Cyté, And by sevyn days sorowyng thei have,    als costome was in that cuntré. The Jews makes hyr in mynd    evermore to be on ment, For scho comforth ther kynd    when thei in bale were bent.     Now be this werke wele may we wytt    how God wyll pupplysch his power In wemen forto fall als fytt    als in men on the same manere. Thus endes the Boke of Judyth,    als clerkes may knaw by clergy clere. God graunt hym hele that hath turned yt    in Ynglysch lawd men forto lere! Insampyll may men here se    to be trew in trowyng. God graunt us so to be    and to His blyse to bryng!

made; world Son; truth; taste wisdom; intelligence to obtain     goodness must needs begin mediation; chaste save us from Such correctly to compose     liking         as all know Bible shall are made; excellence By and also by; story-telling; (see note) soon; understand paraphrase; (see note) more brief     easily learn recite; understand     called     shall; hold as our own     wherever; certainly; (see note) were figures; tell meditated upon; (see note)     desired to know learn His law                         bright; (see note) confinement; [the Jews] as companion according to     young as; hear strange cities bear; (see note) commanded; conscripted go; war     heartily; promised; (see note) might victory win as; as living creature should                 enemies soon were destroyed defeated     passed; great; (see note) won heard, there's no hiding it should; haste; (see note) Quickly; wait; (see note) toward (in anticipation of) him; (see note) (see note) shall you die horse's feet (see note) tongue grief; struck     restrain promised slay         death is doomed; (see note) amend; countenance made         sorrowful heart knew; turn out             over the pagans; victory presence slain will you be destroyed     true; don't change die (see note) Than         Since you promised     Tarry not; (see note) covenant precisely fulfill weeks to lament (keep vigil); (see note) ladies openly and privately         gave her permission to go grief; weeping sorrow     ever grieved for her             woe as she left     drew near     courteous     delayed not siezed quickly swapped off; head ordered; burnt         wept; knew; woe     beheaded; more [children]; (see note) fools; be eager to avoid abashed before A foolish vow; (see note) than; be slain without guilt Six years evil vexations Philistines; Canaanites; (see note)                             wise wherever; go tell; anew be profitable she lived loyal Hebrew Moses to; taught     determined As example witnessed in her behavior     speak of; matter; (see note) leave for awhile events found; (see note)     dwelling     steadfastly; command loved pagan lived; idolatry     bowed to him firmly therefore         annoyance; approach agreements glad together     desired not; teaching; learn times; to destroy them; (see note) machines; many assaults many crafty devices         comfort; ever; committed     powerful; every battle warfare; victory     several             but himself limb everyone                         live; beast upon growing grass                 ordered army; naked power destroy whatever obey (learn)         assemble; cease ordered one; army named heed go; war; peace glad; went chose     strike; straight away love their teaching utterly     alluded to desist army     towns; burned hastened shamefully; destroyed truce; time living; (see note)                 scattered despoiled; woods; hills siege were most prepared; (see note) stop; they [Holofernes' army] Until; children smitten; (see note) speak of victory remain     forty city; grief     wisely are vigilant their; defend steel cross-bows; winches and racks already prepared to be cocked great cannons powerfully range; remain their complaint (moan) their mourning are     learned in warfare maintain their position     position; judge whether they were all doughty warriors fierce engage was named as a group they went     understand such terror; (see note)     hand meekly             enemies reckon (see note) (see note) He [Abimalech]; conscription destroy; bold     noise (prayers) work in similar manner endeavor no wicked enemies harm     as he advised; (see note)     obediently; commanded     hairshirts; sackcloth dirt; head     provisions (see note) held out Many subtle tricks by deceitful strategem     knew; doubt; (see note) as long as; plenty made scarce every spout     brooks to be diverted nigh; run near intends; bow eager; law; learn                                 spoiled; possessed best; was named Ozias protect     dwelling place surrender     truly health             likely             powerful; (see note)     welfare hangs earnestly there naming; by Ozias himself did say         made seed and grain by food in former times; (see note)     Since You like not; lost who; believes; trusts night and day servants know; ought because of; such     greater than our sins     all-powerful     Against Thy voice contain and silence Chasten; (see note) enemies; saying Their God used to protect them care for them so long     meekly, the lesser and the greater satisfied    there     advise devotion; wield     shield (protection) shown surrender their power promise; protection     agreement                 heard tell of their plans Ozias, the high priest; proclaimed their; themselves     demand of God results in five days it [their plan] destroy; intelligence plan to squelch she went steadfastly called those people together stood in a prominent place they should hear her     complaint she makes most important among those Amiss; your course     dare; specific time go Since; giver terminate; abide grieve who may help most find relief; (see note) (see note)         to get release because of sin wrought; cease         woe; win them their; peace     suffering; travail Whether; abide         since; complain ever showed meekness (see note) tried; sickness obedient did restore manifest power secure shall befall us if; mission                 (see note) sirs; since                 make sure that none follow; (see note)         Guard; securely until; returns     young; guard bade; readily prepared To attend her; evening depart from returned home made her servant; time; (see note) ointment; hot baths body; foot then she had herself dressed         guide; (see note)     silk; fine silk; satin brocade furs; ermine; (see note) precious stones adorned girdle         provide them with food knew well expressly                 knees she kneeled     Whose; understand Since in Thee lies incline wicked enemy Thy people in this way was gone; (see note)     secretly to hasten forward     thither; found attend their tower ordered; steadfastly help         So she sallied forth powerful in battle     comfort Watchmen who patrol the ways captured; field; (see note)     (see note) (see note) prey fancy dress; great plenty going walked; alone; (see note) truly she said from truce hear one dwells     eager abandon; property; family; kin     soon shall conquer it     before we depart How to win it easily are; (see note) Since; surrender themselves     profit in helping (see note)     welfare; heed     lead peer good fortune glad together went found; sitting; apart led terrified people                 heart; utterly ravished     in order to deceive him     strong quickly up between them knees she kneeled     comfort whatever; desire     there's no hiding it     apparel; high; (see note) believed         time company; (see note)     (see note) did ask her hither     if you wish to hear old; young intention good advice adhere; behavior [to]     learn         have; place; (see note) loose; bind life; death     speak the absolute truth weapons carry against you surrender     protection     lack of food fall dead; (see note)             such hideous harm     to you signs to tell you people     advise you withheld     before the fourth before I left beasts slaughtered                     hastened                 their circumstances         well pleased wine     invited her [to drink] in turn heart; hand it behooves me to live according to until ought (see note)                             tell you when; (see note) assault by subtle device conquer; (see note)         everyone before you stop to stay there still return home decked with honors flattering promises; deceived     words (sayings) true talked flatteringly     permission; prepare your food     ought Who out of grief capture choice         For if I find; true speech             pertain; (see note)     grieve     must; give; permission leeway; ready access go (move)     he knew nothing     live according to her own desire         guards upon pain of loss of be obedient wholly exit (issue); entrance doorbar against         each person guest; (see note)     prepare themselves; (see note)     (see note) all manner of splendor beauteous things; board     placed all manner of unsought comforts for sleep; undressed more Each night far There she intends if she may keep; healthy     same; a well had been dug; (see note) by; in years past Thereof; where; went therein were     labored         dwelt were relieved return with joy remain; own pleasure     journeyed     exit (issue)                 to destroy forever     gave orders therefore superbly prepared majestically     appointed (see note)         at that time                 their sight pleased wantonly cheerful     her chair; prepared     queenliness ordered her to feast; merry cheer ate food     semblance but drank nothing companion strong wine joy; together     overwhelmed         well pleased             promptly pay attention to him desire             distress     did he hasten foolish fancy lie doors are firmly barred         go come to thee             villainy     there; wept vouchsafe; allay         pay attention no kind of noise; (see note) quietly as she could creep     There she kneeled     strengthen; moment promise     drew which; place sword; burst blow asunder sinew; vein neck cut off simple bag their bread     to the place where; wont gathered together their gear manfully     To secure their welfare time perils use to tarry     approached near     wicket     joy; wept                 bowing; it is no lie     thought high place see her for sure relic head Love God; solemnly Who (see note) weak         knees     Who; relieve (cool)             should do each and every detail     quickly; ready     strike down your enemies             For when they know; know         be eager to go pursue them hot-foot destroy; before; flee far leave much desirable wealth pay no attention to that are; slain seize     Even as; quickly         trumpets; prepared         abashed quickly hastened     cried out to them battle     noise fear; get him in trouble thought been             seen went rueful lapped             are lost ask                 wiles; evil counsel no use to take time their loot to take away each one did run; ride             tattered and torn; (see note) sorely; rued     swiftly; pursued     There then all who; seige dreamed up destroyed     where their; been     defiling seen; (see note)                     cast out as food for beasts     Treasure; home they went     (see note) in abundance     each and everyone     bound offered themselves won your intelligence         supplied                         bade; quickly go guide divide; moveable goods just proportions     divide up Those who relieved                     over and past                 treasure; given advised abundance     powerful             deed doubt         lady's     wore her widow's weeds except; religious holidays         please                             expense; paid supplied provided; clothes and lodging         From the time a hundred and five years                 fate buried her                 remembered     misery; afflicted     by; know make known (publish) women; fitting         learning health into; unlearned people to teach Example true in belie

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Footnotes

THE MIDDLE ENGLISH METRICAL PARAPHRASE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: FOOTNOTES

1 And presented herself so that the execution might take place

2 All they were able to seize lost their heads

THE MIDDLE ENGLISH METRICAL PARAPHRASE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT: NOTES

S = MS Selden Supra 52, the manuscript on which this and the Kalén-Ohlander edition are based. L = MS Longleat 257, the only other known manuscript of the paraphrase. O = Ohlander's edition. Citations are by stanza number and line number within the stanza.

The Prologue: Since L is missing the first 1472 lines of the poem (i.e., all of Genesis and the first two and a half stanzas of Exodus) the Prologue in this edition is based exclusively on Selden Supra 52. Because of the great length of the poem and because I have selected only three disparate sections, lines commented on in the notes are indicated by stanza number in the Kalén-Ohlander edition (which is basically the same stanza arrangement as one would find in the Selden MS). Both manuscripts of the poem are written in long lines (two verses per line), with stanzas usually marked every six lines, either in the margin or by capitalization.

2.6 on, the maystur of storyse. The one referred to here is Peter Comestor, "magister historiarum," whose Historia scholastica (c. 1170) was a principal source for legendary events for this poet and other Northern writers such as the authors of Cursor Mundi, the York Plays, the Northern Cycle, and Genesis and Exodus (MS Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 444, which is based on a Northern original of the late twelfth century) as well. When the poet refers to the "storyse," he means Comestor's Historia.

2.8 schort. S: schortes. Kalén's emendation.

3.6 ever. S: ouer. Kalén's emendation.

3.8 kawn. Heuser (p. 4) would emend to knawn, but Kalén suggests that kawn is the past participle of OE ceowan in the ME sense of "meditate on" (I.4n).

The Story of Jephthah and His Daughter: For the Story of Jephthah and His Daughter and the Story of Judith, I follow Kalén-Ohlander in using S as the primary text, with emendation derived mainly from L. The story is found in stanzas 292-99 (lines 33493-588) of the Middle English poem. The narrative loosely follows the Vulgate account in Judges 11. The most radical divergences occur in the dialogue between Jephthah and the daughter. See the note to stanzas 294 ff., which provides the Douay translation of the Vulgate for comparison.

292.1 Jepte. S: Septe; L: Iepte.

292.10 S: all that armys beyre. Kalén emends to: [to] all that [my?t] armys beyre, following L: all to men that myght armes bere.

293.1 S: herthy; L: hertly.

294 ff. The poet alters several details of the Vulgate text by developing Jephthah's concern for his daughter, his falling from his horse in grief, his daughter's self-sacrificing responses to his vow; by deleting the daughter's lament for her virginity; and by adding details of Jephthah's execution of the vow with beheading and cremation. The Vulgate reads: "And when Jephte returned into Maspha to his house, his only daughter met him with timbrels and with dances: for he had no other children. / And when he saw her, he rent his garments, and said: Alas! my daughter, thou hast deceived me, and thou thyself art deceived: for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can do no other thing. / And she answered him: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth to the Lord, do unto me what soever thou hast promised, since the victory hath been granted to thee, and revenge of thy enemies. / And she said to her father: Grant me only this which I desire: Let me go, that I may go about the mountains for two months, and may bewail my virginity with my companions. / And he answered her: Go. And he sent her away for two months. And when she was gone with her comrades and companions, she mourned her virginity in the mountains. / And the two months being expired, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed, and she knew no man. From thence came a fashion in Israel, and a custom has been kept: / That from year to year the daughters of Israel assemble together, and lament the daughter of Jephte the Galaadite for four days" (Judges 11:34-40 - Douay translation).

294.4 home. Omitted in S; supplied according to L.

294.5 byd. S: hyd. L: noght abyde.

294.6 agayns. This word carries connotations of expectation, the sense here being that the daughter comes out joyously in anticipation of Jephthah's triumphal arrival.

294.7 saw. Omitted in S. L: hire saw allas.

294.10 not. Omitted in S. L: myght not sytt.

295.6 dyght. With dede (death), dyght bears the sense of something being destined, predetermined, foredoomed, or caused. See MED dighten 2b, 2c, 3a(d).

296.10 that may no thyng avayle: "who may accomplish nothing"; or, "who [compared to the soldiers who were saved] am of no value."

297.3 fader. Omitted in S. Emendation based on L.

297.5 two wekes. In the Vulgate she gets a two-month respite to lament that she dies a virgin, thus establishing a Hebrew ritual. The Christian paraphrase places a premium on virginity and alters both the time interval and the details of her lament (that is, she laments her death with her friends, but not that she dies a virgin). Compare Chaucer's Physician's Tale, where Virginia likewise cites Jephthah's daughter to celebrate her virginity in death rather than lament it.

299.4 S: that he heddyd hyr; L: that heded hire. I follow L for the sake of meter.

299.7 S: ffeyle bow; L: ffowle vow. K: ff[e]le [v]ow.

299.11 S and L begin the line with Both; Kalén deletes it to preserve the three-stress line, which makes sense to me.

The Story of Judith: Stanzas 1414-79 (lines 16957-17748) of the Middle English poem.

1415.1 L: mell with this. O follows L here.

1415.4 S omits our. L and O include it.

1416.7 S omits them. L: theym and O: them. O's emendation maintains the dialect.

1420.9-12 Perhaps the Jews in Jerusalem overlooking that land are to be understood as looking out upon Bethulia, the city under siege in the Vulgate. But Bethulia is never mentioned in the paraphrase, and the sense here is ambiguous. It seems that the poet means that the holy city of Jerusalem is under attack. See 1421.3, where the Cité seems to be Jerusalem. In S the scribe regularly capitalizes the references to the City in the Judith story, perhaps to focus attention on the Jews' special dwelling place. But n.b. 1426.11-12, where the poet refers to the water conduits from Jerusalem and Jericho being cut off, which suggests that some other Cité could be intended.

1421.4 S omits dyght most. Included in L and O.

1421.7 S omits ther. Included in L and O.

1423.8 L: do in such a; O: deme in swylka.

1424.3 S omits of Moyses. Included in L and O.

1424.4 Abymalech. The Vulgate reads: "Remember Moses the servant of the Lord, who overcame Amalec that trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting with the sword, but by holy prayers" (Judith 4:12 - Douay translation). See also Exodus 17:8. The poet seems to have confused Amalec with Abimelech in Genesis 20, 21, or 26.

1425.1 L: as he theim red. O follows L.

1425.9 thoght. S: toy3t, the spelling throughout S, which I have universally emended to thoght, following L.

1426.1 thei. S: the; L: they.

1428.6 S omits God all. Included in L and O.

1429.2 land. S: sand; L: land. S enhances the alliteration and maintains the sense, though L is the more likely juxtaposition with "sea."

1430.5 hand. L: wand, in the sense of rod, is perhaps the preferable reading in that it picks up the alliteration.

1433.11 S omits us, which is supplied from L, as the sense of the line requires.

1433.12 S: at put us fro this payn. At appears to be a relative pronoun, the sense being "that will put us away from this agony." But L is more clear: to put us fro this payne.

1435.3 Job and Tobias survive by meekness and patience. In the Book of Tobias the younger Tobias, through prayer and patience, defeats a fiend who has slain Sarah's first seven husbands, and then weds her himself (chapters 6-9).

1436.2 S omits both, which is supplied from L.

1436.8 wayte. L: espy.

1437.6 gart. L: made hire seruant.

1437.12 wyse. L: help.

1438.3 pellour. O's emendation. S: plessour; L: pelure. O notes that S could be correct, however, citing NED pleasure sb B3 Torkington: "they Caryed with them Riches and plesurs, As clothe of gold and Crymsyn velvett."

1438.3 L: pured.

1439.10 S: tyll; L: to.

1440.12 S: sho fand them sone; L: toke theym sone in the felde. O emends to: [sone] fand them in the feld.

1441.1 They. S: The; L: they. So also in line 5.

1441.2 semly. S: sembly; L: semely.

1441.6 S: solace. L: so late, which is more likely.

1442.8 S: ther ere ther in; L: that er therin.

1442.12 S: have; L: creve.

1445.3 geyre. S: gyrde; L: gere. O's emendation.

1445.8 S omits sho. L: mery she made as his menye. O follows L.

1445.10 them. S: then; L: theim.

1446.10 how thou has. S: how that has; L: how thov haves.

1447.8 S: for fawt fell fay in feld; L: for faute of foode fall they shal in felde.

1450.6 thes. S: ther; L: thes.

1451.1 L: And ser I shal tell the a skill.

1451.3 S omits thy. L: at thy will is preferable metrically.

1453.1 O emends the line to read: And all that to [hym] may [be] [l]eue.

1454.10 S: gest; L: kest.

1454.12 rede. L: went.

1455.1-6 In the Vulgate Judith is sent to the place where Holofernes keeps his treasures, thus the beauteous things of line 3. See Judith 12:1.

1456.1-10 In romance tradition the woman normally needs a guardian for her well (e.g., Chrétien de Troyes' Yvain). Here Judith tends the well herself for the benefit of the whole city.

1458.2 The knight is identified in the Vulgate as Bagao, Holofernes' eunuch (Judith 12:10). See stanza 1469 (below), where he is identified as "the chamberer" but is still left unnamed. Bagoas and Holofernes were the chief Persian generals under the command of Artaxerxes Ochus in the expedition against Phoenicia and Egypt in 350 B.C., a fact that neither our poet nor the original author of Judith probably knew.

1462.6 suld sho. S: suld no man; L: shuld she.

1465.11 To mistakenly cancelled in S; L: To sett.

1471.2 S: all rafed; L: they raced. O emends to thei rafe.

1471.12 solpyng. L: spoiling.

1472.9 broght. S: brogh; L: broght.