BALAAM SETS OUT TO CURSE ISRAEL.

Bi-luken ille, in fendes red.
On nigt him cam ſonde fro gode,
3932 Agen ðiſ kinges[[369]] red for-bode,
And ðat he ne curſe non del
ðiſ folc ðat god bliſcede wel.
O morgen ſeide he, "fare ic nogt,
3936 for bode iſ me fro gode brogt."
God forbids Balaam to curse the Israelites.
Balaac ſente richere an[d] mo
Medes, and oðer men to ðo.
"Sondes, ſondes," quað balaam,
3940 Or he ðeſe oðere medes nam,
Balak's second message to the prophet.
"Ðog balaac king me goue hold,
Hiſ huſ ful of ſiluer and of gold,
Ne mai ic wenden her bi-neðen;"
3944 Godes wurd iſ cumen alſ it iſ queðen;[[370]]
Oc or or ge wenden agen,
ðiſ nigt ic ſal fonden and ſen."
Quat tiding so it cam on ðe nigt,
3948 On morgen, at ðe daiges ligt,
Balaam's answer to the messengers.
Vp-on hiſe aſſe hiſ ſadel he dede,
To madian lond wente he hiſ ride,
And wente iſ herte on werre ðhogt;
3952 Wicke giſcing it haueð[[371]] al wrogt.
He consents to go with the princes of Moab,
ðuſ rideð forð ðiſ man for-loren,
being influenced by covetousness.
An angel drog an ſwerd him bi-foren,
ðiſ aſſe wurð ſo ſore of-dred,
3956 Vt of ðe weige it haueð him led.
Sellic ðogte balaam for-ði,
And bet and wente it to ðe ſti
Bi-twen two walles of ſton;
 [Fol. 77.]
An angel meets him in the way. The ass is frightened,
3960 Eft ſtod ðiſ angel him a-gon,[[372]]
ðiſ aſſe iſ eft of weige ſtired,[[373]]
So ðat balames fot iſ hird;[[374]]
and turns aside to the wall,
And he wurð ðo for anger wroð,
3964 And ðiſ prikeð and negt ſloð;
so that Balaam's foot is crushed.

[369]

MS. ginges.

[370]

MS. queden.

[371]

MS. haued.

[372]

? agen.

[373]

? stirt.

[374]

? hirt.