Almightin louerd, hegest kinge,
ðu giue me seli timinge,
To thaunen ðis werdes biginninge,
ðe, leuerd god, to wurðinge,
Queðer so hic rede or singe!'[175]
He then goes on to relate, in a spirited manner, the chief incidents of the Bible narrative. Lamech's bigamy is thus referred to:—
'ðis Lamech was ðe firme[176] man
ðe bigamie first bi-gan.
Bigamie is unkinde[177] ðing,
On engleis tale, twie-wifing.'