[3607] min engel on, my angel alone.
P. 103. l. [3611] to pligt, for their sin. [3614] And as sun-beam bright shone his features. [3624] wið witter dragt, with skilful device. [3626] And their labour they well apply. [3635] of lore wal, of choice lore. [3637] betten = beten, amend, from bet, better. [3640] Ere they from Sinai forth have passed. [3642] ðe oðer, the second.
P. 104. l. [3647] This folk has after pleasure gone. [3653] Moses caused it to cease with his prayer. See [note] on blissen, p. 182. [3658] for-hirked = for-irked, tired. [3661] Loruerd = louerd, lord. [3664] Thou shalt cause me quickly to suffer death. [3676] And brought a great mint of quails; but turles = turtles, doves. See Ayenbite of Inwyt, p. 181.
P. 105. l. [3688] There became Miriam somewhat foolish; soth = sott, a fool (see l. [3685]). [3710] A bunch of grapes on a long pole; O.E. cowele, cowle, a coop, tub, etc.; Prov. E. cowl; cuuel-staf signifies the staff or pole upon which the people carried their kneading troughs. This interpretation is supported by the form cowle-tre or soo-tree. Falanga, vectatorium. (Prompt. Parv.) "Phalanga est hasta, vel quidam baculus ad portandas cupas, Anglice a stang, or a culstaffe."—(Ortus.) "Courge, a stang, pale-staffe, or cole-staffe, carried on the shoulder, and notched for the hanging of a pale at both ends."—(Cotgrave.) In Caxton's Mirrour of the World, c. 10, A.D. 1481, it is related that in Ynde "the clusters of grapes ben so grete and so fulle of muste, that two men ben gretly charged to bere one of them only upon a cole-staff." In Hoole's translation of the Orbis sensualium, by Comenius, 1658, is given a representation of the cole-staff (ærumna), used for bearing a burden between two persons, p. 135; and again, at p. 113, where it appears as used by brewers to carry to the cellar the new-made beer in "soes," or tubs with two handles (labra), called also cowls. In Brand's "Popular Antiquities," ii. 107, will be found an account of the local custom of riding the cowl-staff or stang (Way in Prompt. Parv.)
P. 106. l. [3721] swerdes slagen, slain of (with) sword. [3723] loder-man = lodesman, leader. A leader we will choose (take); sen = bi-sen. [3730] If Moses were not opposed there-to. [3732] milche = milce, mercy, pity. See l. [3728], where the correct form occurs. [3740] Their righteousness was pleasing to God. [3742] sorwes dere = sorrow's hurt.
[3745]-6
Again (backwards) they made their course,
As that cloud had taught.
P. 107. l. [3755] migtful qualifies meistres in l. 3756. [3760]-61 ilc gure, each of you. Cf. quilc gure, which of you, l. [3764]. [3761] reklefat, incense vat, the vessel holding the incense, censer. See Orm. i. 2, 35, 58. [3762] timinge seems to be an error for time ge, wait ye. [3767] orgel pride, arrogant pride. Cf. orrȝhellmod, pride (Orm. i. 216). "Ichabbe isehen his ouergart, ant his egede orhel ferliche afallet."—(St. Marh. p. 11.) I have seen his presumption and his arrogance fearfully felled. [3770] Instead of the reading in the text substitute the following: Moyses, and vt ne wulde gon; vr seems to be an error for vt = out. See Numbers xvi. 12. [3774] Held up neither stone nor grit. I do not think ston ne gret = strong ne gret = strong nor great.
[3777]-80