| Lamech is at ðe sexte kne, | Lamech is at the sixth degree, |
| ðe ſeuende man after adam, | The seventh man after Adam, |
| ðat of caymes kinde cam. | That of Cain's kin came. |
| ðiſ lamech waſ ðe firme man, | This Lamech was the first man |
| ðe bigamie firſt bi-gan. | Who bigamy first began. |
| Bigamie is unkinde ðing, | Bigamy is unnatural thing, |
| On engleis tale, twie-wifing; | In English speech, twi-wiving; |
| for ai was rigt and kire bi-forn, | For aye was right and purity before, |
| On man, on wif, til he was boren. | One man, one wife, till he was born. |
| Lamech him two wifes nam, | Lamech to him two wives took, |
| On adda, an noðer wif ſellam. | One Adah, another wife Zillah. |
| Adda bar him ſune Iobal, | Adah bare him a son Jubal, |
| He was hirde wittere and wal; | He was a [shep-]herd wise and able; |
| Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble, | Of mark,[[7]] breed, age, and
colour, |
| ſundring and ſameni[n]g tagte he; | Separating and assembling taught he; |
| Iobal iſ broðer ſong and glew, | Jubal his brother poetry and music, |
| Wit of muſike, wel he knew; | Craft of music, well he knew; |
| On two tableſ of tigel and braſ | On two tables of tile and brass, |
| wrot he ðat wiſtom, wiſ he was, | Wrote he that wisdom, wise he was, |
| ðat it ne ſulde ben undon | That it should not be effaced |
|
If fier or water come ðor-on.
| If fire or water came thereon. |
| Sella wuneð oc lamech wið, | Zillah dwelleth also Lamech with, |
| ghe bar tubal, a ſellic ſmið; | She bare Tubal, a wonderful smith; |
| Of irin, of golde, ſiluer, and bras | Of iron, of gold, silver and brass |
| To ſundren and mengen wiſ he was; | To separate and mix, wise he was; |
| Wopen of wigte and tol of grið, | Weapon of war and tool of peace, |
| Wel cuðe egte and ſafgte wið. | Well could he hurt and heal with. |
| —(ll.
444-470.) |