Page:The Sources of Standard English.djvu/96

Rh

THE CONTRAST TO THE EAST MIDLAND.

(About A.D. 1120.)

Ure hlaford almihtiʓ God wile and us hot þat we hine lufie. and of him smaʓe and spece. naht him to mede ac hus to freme and to fultume. for him seiʓe alle hiscefte. . . . Gif non man ne þoht of Gode. non ne spece of him. Gif non of him ne spece. non hine ne lufede. Gif non hine ne lufede. non to him ne come. ne delende. nere of his eadinesse. nof his merhðe. Hit is wel swete of him to specene. þenche ʓie ælc word of him swete. al swa an huni tiar felle upe ʓiure hierte. Heo is hefone liht and eorðe brihtnesse. loftes leom. and all hiscefte ʓimston. anglene blisse. and mancenne hiht and hope, richtwisen strenhcþe. and niedfulle frouer.