EVE AND ADAM EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT.
| for gef he don ðad[[98]] god
for-bead, 312 ðat ſal hem bringen to ðo dead, | For if they do what God forbiddeth they shall die. |
| And ſal get ðis ilke dai, ðor buten hunte if ic mai | This I will without delay bring about to-day. |
| Ic wene ðat ic and eue hiſe wif 316 ſulen adam bilirten of hiſe lif. Ic wene ðat ic and eue ſulen alle is bliſſe dreue." | [Fol. 7.] I think that Eve and I shall deprive Adam of his life." |
| Ðus he ðhogte, and up he
ſteg, 320 And eſten[[99]] til dat[[100]] erð he teg, | Thus he thought, and up he went, and to the earth he came. |
| Wente in to a wirme, and tolde eue a tale; And ſenkede hire hure aldre bale. | He went into a "worm" and told Eve a tale. |
| "Eue," ſeide he, ðat neddre bold, 324 "Quat oget nu ðat for-bode o-wold, ðat a tre gu forboden is, | "Eve," he said, "what meaneth it that a tree is forbidden you, |
| ðat ouer alle oðre bered pris? for iſ fruit ſired mannes mood, | a tree that surpasses all others, |
|
328
To witen boðen iwel and good, Sone ge it ðor-of hauen eten, Al ge it ſulen witent[[101]] and nogt forgeten, | which shall teach you evil and good, |
| And ben ſo wiſe alle euene 332 So ðo ðe wunen a-buuen in heuone." | and make you as wise as those who dwell above in heaven?" |
| Ðanne ðogte eue on hire mod, ðanne iſ tiſ fruit wel ſwiðe good, fair on ſigðhe and ſofte on hond, 336 Of ðiſ fruit wile ic hauen fond. | When Eve saw that it was fair to the sight and soft to the hand, |
| Sum ghe ðer at, and ſum ghe nam, And bar it to her fere adam; So manie times ghe him ſcroðt, | she ate thereof, and took some and brought it to Adam. |
|
340
Queðer so him was lef or loðt, for to forðen iſ fendes wil, | [Fol. 7b.] |
| At he dat[[100]] fruit, and dede
unskil; Sone it was under breſt numen; | He ate that fruit and did foolishly. |
|
344
Dedes two bondes on hem ben comen; | Then death's two bonds came upon them. |
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