249-51. On the meaning of these lines there is no agreement. Gollancz and Osgood interpret: 'That man's privilege is great who ever stood in awe of Him (God) who rescues sinners. From such men no happiness is withheld, for,' &c. Yet it is difficult to believe that even a poet hard pressed would use dard to Hym to mean 'feared Him'. One of several rival interpretations will suffice to show the ambiguities of the text: 'His (God's) generosity, which is always inscrutable (lit. lay hidden), is abundant to the man who recovers his soul from sin. From such men no happiness is withheld', &c. The sense and construction of dard (for which the emendation fard, pret. of fere 'to go', has been suggested, the rest of the interpretation following Gollancz), and the obscurity of the argument, are the chief obstacles to a satisfactory solution.
[VII]
Dialect: Irregular, but predominantly North-West Midland; cp. V and VI.
Inflexions:—
VERB: pres. ind. 3 sg. warys 19, has 20.
3 pl. ben 11, sayn 182, haue 31.
pres. p. claterand 137, þriuaund 158, leymonde 153; beside blowyng 106, doutyng 114.
strong pp. slydyn 6, stoken 11.
The weak pp. and pa. t. have -it, -(e)t for -(e)d: drepit 9, suet 24.