amidst hell,
fire, and broad flames;
so also the bitter reeks
smoke and darkness.
(Caedmon, p. 21, 18.)
[45] ðu wislike mune = do thou wisely bear in mind. [47] hin = hine = him. [48] or, another form of ar, = ere, before. [49]-56 The meaning of these lines may be expressed as follows:—"And of them two [God the Father and God the Son] that dearly love, who wield all here and above, proceeds that holy love, that wise will [the Holy Ghost], that wieldeth all things with right and skill [reason]. Might bad with word light exist; also that might [the Holy Ghost] wieldeth holy consolation, for there are three persons and one counsel, one might, and one godhead." [54] Hali froure = holy comfort, an allusion to the office of Holy Ghost as the comforter.
"Hire uoster moder wes an þe frourede hire."
= Her foster mother was one who comforted her.—(St. Marherete, p. 8.) [58] o sunde[r] sad = on sunder shad, i. e. a-sunder shed = divided apart, separated. It still exists in water-shed, Ger. wasser-scheide. Cf. l. 116. See Hampole's Pricke of Conscience, p. 271, l. 32. Cp. "the schedynge of tonges." (Trevisa's Translation of Higden's Polychron., p. 251.) "The longages & tonges were ischad & to-schift."—Ib. p. 251.
P. 3. l. [63] ðis walkenes turn = this welkin's course. See l. [79]. [64] quuad = biquuad = bequeathed, ordained. See l. [117].