[241]. for to done &c., so far as concerned the doing of the works of the devil, they had been industrious enough at that. But that is idleness in God’s sight. ‘Il nauient mie estie oiseus damier le diable . ⁊ de fere les lecheries ⁊ de feire les mauues enginz de gahannier (cultivate) lor terres . de faere lor uignes.’
[243]. For—man is: the French has, ‘Car ce que home faet (fet, A) en cest siecle, desque il deu nen aime; ne ne sert; tote deit estre recontie pur oiseyse.’ Apparently the translator has read seit for faet.
[244]. al &c., he may count it all as loss and idleness. for, as; comp. 27/304: ‘tote deit estre recontie pur oiseyse . ⁊ tot reuient a nient.’ But Bülbring, Ablaut 25, takes for lore for past participle.
[245]. aresunede, called to account; ‘chosa.’
[246]. þo þet, inasmuch as, so in l. 242; lit. when that: ‘quant,’ A.
[248]. neuer te: see 218/135. Restore the MS. iheed in the text. ‘Ceo est a dire . que il nauient onques eu ne prophete ne apostre.’
[256]. al so . . . ase, just as.
[259]. of diuers wordles: ‘del diuers tens del siecle.’
[260]. elde, age, period of life: ‘aez,’ D; ‘age,’ A.
[262]. ‘quant il apele de tels ia a son seruise.’ þer bieþ appears to be a false translation of ‘ia,’ already, as if it were i a.