The Testament of John Lydgate: British Library Additional 34193 Verses

Data Dictionary

Folio 226 Verso

Compare Witnesses: •

Let not be lost that thow hast bought So dere •
With golde nore with Silvyr but with precius blode •
Oure flessh is freełł but shorte abydinge here •
The olde sarpent malisious and wode •
The worlde vnstabułł now Ebbe now flode •
Eche thynge concludynge on A mutabilite •
A gayne whose dangeris I holde this consełł gode •
To pray for mercy to Ihesu on oure knee •

And vndir Support Ihesu of thy fauoure •
Or passe hens this holy myn entent •
To make Ihesu cheffe Surveoure •
Of my last wyłłe Sette my testament •
Wiche of my Selfe am In Sufficiaunt •
To Recon and compter but mercy and pyte •
Be preferred or thou doo Iugement •
To ałł to Ihesu ther on knee •

Age is crope in And callith me to my greve •
To ma kenynge how I haue my spent •
Baren of vertu alas who shałł me save •
ffrom frendis danger to A count my talent •
But Ihesu be my staffe and my potent •
Over streth audite is like to encombre •
Or done be yeffe be yeve1lete mercy by present •
To ałł þat knelyn to Ihesu on ther keeknee •

Now in the name of my lord Ihesu •
Of right hole herte in ałł my best entente •
My childe remembrynge froward and vicious •
Aye contrary to þe commaundement •
of crist ihesu now withe advysement •
The lord beshechinge to have mercy and pyte •
My ȝouthe my age how I have myswent •
With this worde saide knelynge vpon my knee •

Notes

It appears the scribe may have written two versions of the same phrase. ↩