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Aftir the deeth of Josue the sones of Irael counseilden the Lord, seyynge, Who shal stye vp bifore vs aȝens Chanane, and be duk of bateil? And the Lord seide, Judas shal stie vp; loo! I haue taak the loond in his hoond. And Juda seith to Symeon, his brothir, Sty vp with me in my lot, and fiȝt aȝens Chanane, that I goo with thee in thi lot. And Symeon wente with hym; and Juda stiede vp. And the Lord took Chanane and Phereze in to the hoondis of hem, and thei smyten in Bezech ten thousand of men. And thei foonden Adonybezech in Besech, and thei fouȝten aȝens hym, and smyten Chanane, and Phereze. Adonybezech forsothe fleiȝ, whom pursuynge thei, token, kit of the ouermost partis of the hoondis of hym, and of feet. And Adonybezech seide, Seuenti kyngis, kut of the ouermore paartis of hoondis and of feet, gedreden vndur my bord relyues of meetis; as I haue doo, so the Lord hath doo to me. And thei brouȝten hym into Jerusalem, and there he died. Thanne the sones of Juda ouercomynge Jerusalem token it, and smyten in mouth of swerd, takynge al the citee to brennynge. And afterward descendynge thei fouȝten aȝens Chanane, that dwellyd in the mounteyns, and at the south, in the wijld feeldis. And Judas goynge aȝens Chanane, that dwellid in Ebron, whos name was bi old tyme Caryatharbe, smoot Sisay, and Achyman, and Tholomay. And thens goon, wenten to the dwellers of Dabir, whos name was old Cariathsepher, that is, the citee of lettris. And Caleph seide, Who smytith Carythsepher, and wastith it, I shal ȝyue to hym a wijf, Axam, my douȝter. And whanne Othonyel, the sone of Senech, the lasse brother of Caleph, hadde taak it, he ȝaf to hym a wijf, Axam, hys douȝter. The which goynge in the weie, hir man monestide, that she shulde axe hir fader a feeld; the which whanne she hadde siȝid, sittynge in an asse, Caleph seide to hir, What hast thou? And she answerde, Ȝif to me a blessynge, for a dry erthe thou hast ȝyue to me; ȝif and a moyst with watris. And Caleph ȝaf to hir moyst aboue, and moyst bynethe. Forsothe the sones of Cyney, cosyn to Moises, stieden vp fro the citee of palmes with the sones of Juda, into the deseert of his lot, that is at the south of Arach; and thei dwelliden with him. And Judas wente with Symeon, his brother; and thei smyten to gidre Chananee, that dwellid in Sephat, and thei slewen hym; and the name of the cytee was clepid Horma, that is, cursynge. And Judas took Gazam with his eendis, and Ascalonem, and Accharon with his teermys. And the Lord was with Judas, and the mounteyns he weeldide; and he myȝte not doo awey the dwellers of the valei, for thei aboundiden in chaarys ful of weepnes in maner of sithis. And thei ȝyuen to Caleph Ebron, as Moises seide, the which dide awey fro it thre sones of Enach. Jebuse forsothe, the dweller of Jerusalem, the sones of Beniamyn, diden not awey; and Jebuse dwelt with the sones of Beniamyn in Jerusalem vnto the day that is nowe. Forsothe the hows of Joseph stiede in to Bethel, and the Lord was with hem. For whanne thei segedyn the cite, that before was clepid Luza, thei seeyȝin a man goynge out of the cytee, and thei seiden to hym, Shewe to vs the entre of the cytee, and we shulen do with thee merci. The which whanne he hadde shewid to hem, thei smyten the citee in mouth of the swerd; forsothe thilk man and al his kynrede thei leften. The which left wente into the loond of Sechym, and bilde there a citee, and clepide it Luzam; the which is clepid so vnto the day that is nowe. Forsothe Manasses dide not awey Bethsan, and Thanael with his lytyl touns, and the dwellers of Endor, and Geblaam, and Magedo with his litil touns; and Chanane bigan to dwel with hem. Forsothe after that Yrael is comfourtyd, he made hem tributaryes, and doon a wey wold he not. Forsothe Effraym slewe not Cananee that dwellid in Gazer, but dwellid with hym. Zabulon dide not a wey the dwellers of Cethron and of Naalon; but Chananee dwelt in the mydil of hym, and is maad to hym tributarie. Forsothe Aser dide not aweye the dwellers of Cho, and of Sidon, Alab, and Azenbus, and Alba, and Aphe, Chaaloa, and Pha, and Roab; and he dwellid in the mydil of Chananei, the dweller of the lond, ne he slewȝ him. Neptalim dide not awei the dwellers of Bethsames, and of Bethanach; and he dwellide among Chanane, the dweller of the lond; and Bethsamytes and Bethanites weren to him tributaries. And Amorre artide the sones of Dan in the hil, ne he ȝaf to hem place that to the pleyner thei myȝten descende; and he dwelte in the hil of Hares, that is to seye, Witnessinge, in Hailon, and Salabym. And the hond of the hous of Joseph is agreggid aȝens Amorre, and he is maad to hym tributarie. Forsothe the terme of Amorre was fro the stiynge vp of Scorpioun, and Petra, and the heiȝer places.
And the aungel of the Lord stiede vp fro Galgala to the place of wepers, and seith, I haue ladde ȝou out of Egipt, and brouȝt into the loond, for the which Y swore to ȝoure faders, and haue bihoot, that Y shulde not maak in veyn my couenaunt with ȝow into with outen eend; so oonly that ȝe smyten no boond of pees with the dwellers of this loond, and that ȝe turnen vpsedoun the auters of hem; and ȝe wolden not here my vois. Why thes thingis han ȝe doon? Whether for Y wolde not do awey hem fro ȝoure face, that ȝe han enemyes, and the goddis of hem ben to ȝou into fallynge. And whanne the aungel of the Lord hadde spoken thes wordis to alle the sones of Yrael, thei rereden vp her vois, and wepten; and the name of that place is clepid, of wepers, or of terys; and thei offerden her oostis to the Lord. Josue thanne lefte the puple; and the sones of Yrael wenten a wey, echoon into his possessioun, that thei holden it. And thei serueden to the Lord alle the days of Josue, and of the eldren that loong tyme after hym lyueden, and knewe alle the greet werkis of the Lord, the whiche he dide with Yrael. And Josue, the seruaunt of the Lord, the sone of Nun, of an hundrid and ten ȝeer died; and thei birieden hym in the eendis of his possessioun, in Thanathsare, in the hil of Effraym, fro the north coost of the hil of Gaas. And al that generacioun is gedrid to her fadris; and other risen, that knewen not the Lord, and the werkis that he dide with Yrael. And the sones of Yrael diden yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, and serueden to Baalym, and Astaroth; and laften the Lord God of her fadris, that ladde hem out of the loond of Egipt, and folweden alien goddis, goddis of the puple that dwelten in the viroun of hem; and thei honourden hem, and to wrath stiriden the Lord, leuynge hym, and seruynge to Baal and to Astaroth. And the Lord, wrooth aȝens Irael, took hem into the hoondis of destruyers, the whyche token hem, and solden to enemyes, that dwelten bi enuyroun; ne thei myȝten aȝenstoond her aduersaries; but whidir euere thei wolden goo, the hoond of the Lord was vpon hem, as he spak and swore to hem; and hugely thei ben tourmentid. And the Lord areride iugis, that shulden delyuer hem fro the hoondis of wasters, but and hem thei wolden not here, doynge fornycacioun with alien goddis, and honourynge hem. Soone thei forsoken the wey, bi the which the faders of hem wenten; and herynge the heestis of the Lord, alle thingis thei diden contrarie. And whanne the Lord hadde reryd iugys in the dais of hem, he was bowid bi mercy, and he herde the weilyngis of the tourmentid, and he delyueride hem fro the deeth of wasters. Forsothe after that the iuge was deed, thei turneden aȝen, and manye thingis diden more than diden the faders of hem, folwynge alien goddis, and seruynge to hem, and honourynge hem; thei laften not her fyndyngis, and the moost hard weye bi the which thei weren wonyd to goo. And the woodnes of the Lord is wrooth aȝens Irael, and seith, For this folk hath maad at nouȝt my couenaunt that Y couenauntide with the faders of hem, and my vois he dispyside to here; and Y shal not doo awey the Gentilis, the whiche Josue lafte, and is deed; that in hem Y haue knoulechynge of Yrael, whethir thei kepen the weie of the Lord, and goon in it, as kepten the faders of hem, or noon. Thanne the Lord lafte alle these naciouns, and wold not anoon ouerturne, ne took into the hoondis of Josue.
Thes ben the Gentilis, that the Lord lafte, for to lerne Irael in hem, and alle that knewen not the bateils of Chananees; and afterward the sones of hem shulden lerne to stryue with enemies, and to haue vsage of fiȝtynge in batayl. The fyue princes of Philistynys, and al Chanane, and Sydon, and Euee the whiche dwelten in Liban hil, fro the hil of Baal of Hermon vnto the entre of Emath. And he lafte hem, that in hem he myȝte haue experiens of Yrael, whether thei wolen here the heestis of the Lord, the which hath comaundid to the faders of hem by the hoondis of Moyses, or noon. And so the sones of Yrael dwelten in the mydil of Chananeei, Ethei, and Amorrei, and Pherezei, and Euei, and Jebusei. And wyues thei token douȝtres of hem, and thei token her douȝtris to the sones of hem, and serueden to the goddis of hem. And thei diden yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, and forȝeten of the Lord her God, seruynge to Baalym, and to Astaroth. And the Lord, wrooth aȝens Yrael, took hem into the hoondis of Chusanrasathaym, kyng of Mesopothanye, and thei serueden to him eiȝt ȝeer. And thei crieden to the Lord, the which areryde to hem a saueour, and delyuerde hem, that is, Othonyel, the sone of Cenez, the lasse brother of Caleph. And the spiryt of the Lord was in hym, and he demyde Irael. And he wente out to fiȝt, and the Lord took into the hoondys of hym Chusanrasathaym, the kyng of Syrie, and oppresside hym. And the loond restid fourti ȝeer; and Othonyel, the sone of Cenez, died. Forsothe the sones of Yrael addiden to doon yuel in the siȝt of the Lord; the which coumfortide aȝens hem Eglo, the kyng of Moab, for thei diden yuel in the siȝt of the Lord. And he cowplid to hem the sones of Amon and of Amalech; and he wente, and smoot Yrael, and he weeldide the citee of Palmys. And the sones of Yrael serueden to Eglon, the kyng of Moab, eiȝteen ȝeer. And aftirward thei cryeden to the Lord; the which reryde to hem a saueour, Aod bi name, the sone of Gera, sone of Gemyny, the which either hoond vside for the riȝt. And the sones of Yrael senden bi hym ȝiftis to Eglon, the kyng of Moab; the which maade to hym a swerd bitynge in eche side, hauynge in the mydil a pomel of lengthe of the palm of an hoond; and he is gird with it vndur the coot armure, in the riȝt hipe. And he offerde ȝiftis to Eglon, the kyng of Moab; forsothe Eglon was myche fat. And whanne he hadde offerd to hym ȝiftis, he folwide felawis that with hym camen; and turned aȝen fro Galgalis, where weren the mawmettis, seide to the kyng, A preue word Y haue to thee, O kyng. And he comaundide silence. And alle men goon out, that weren a bout hym, Aod wente into hym; forsothe he sat in the somer sowpynge place alone. And he seide, The word of God Y haue to thee. The which anoon roos fro the troon. And Aod strauȝte out the left hoond, and he took the swerd fro his riȝt hipe; and he piȝte into his wombe so strongly, that the pomel folwide the yren in the wound, and that with moost fat grees it was streyned; ne he drewe out the swerd, but so as he smoot, he lafte in the bodi; and anoon bi the pryuetees of kynde the tordis of the wombe bursten out. Forsothe Aod, closyde moost bisilich the doris of the sowpynge place, and fastnyd with lok, wente out bi the postern. And the seruauntis of the kyng goon yn, seyȝen the ȝatis of the sowpinge place closid, and seiden, Perauenture he purgith the wombe in the somer sowpynge place. And abidynge long, to the tyme that thei weren ashamyd, and seynge that no man opnyde, thei token the keye, and opnynge thei foonden her lord liggynge deed in the erthe. Forsothe Aod, while thei weren disturbid, flowȝ awey, and he passide the place of mawmettis, whens he turnede aȝen; and he cam into Seyrath. And anoon he sownede with tromp in the hil of Effraym; and the sones of Yrael dessendiden with hym, hym goynge in the frount. The which seide to hem, Folwe ȝe me, forsothe the Lord hath taak oure enemyes, Moabitis, into oure hoondis. And thei wenten doun after hym, and thei occupyeden the foordis of Jordan, that ouersenden in to Moab. And thei sufferden not eny man to passe ouere, but thei smyten Moabites that tyme about ten thowsand, alle myȝti and stronge men; noon of hem myȝte ascaape. And Moab is mekid that day vndur the hows of Yrael, and the loond restide foure scoor ȝeer. After this was Sangar, the sone of Anath, that smoot of Philistiym six hundrid men with a shaar; and he forsothe defendide Irael.
And the sones of Yrael addeden to doo yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, after the deeth of Aod. And the Lord took hem in to the hoondis of Jabyn, kyng of Chanaan, that regnede in Asor, and hadde a duk of his oost, Siseram bi name; and he dwellyd in Aroseth of Gentilis. And the sones of Yrael crieden to the Lord; forsothe he hadde nyne hundred chaaris, ful of wepenes, the maner of sithis, and bi twenti ȝeer greetli he oppresside hem. Forsothe Delbora was a prophetesse, wijf of Laphidoth, that demyde the puple in that tyme; and she sat vndur the palm tree, the which bi name of hir was clepid, bitwix Rame and Bethel, in the mount of Effraym; and the sones of Yrael stieden vp to hir into al doom. The whiche sente, and clepide Barach, the sone of Abynoen, of Cedes of Neptalym, and she seide to hym, The Lord God of Yrael hath comaundide to thee, Go, leed the oost into the hil of Thabor, and tak with thee ten thousand of fiȝtynge men of the sones of Neptalym and of the sones of Zabulon. Forsothe I shal brynge to thee, in the place of the streem of Cyson, Sisaram, prince of the oost of Jabyn, and the chaaris of hym, and al the multitude; and Y shal taak hem in thin hoond. And Barach seide to hyr, If thow comest with me, Y shal goo; if thow wolt not come with me, Y shal not goo. The which seide to hym, Forsothe Y shal goo with thee; but in this while victory shal not be witid to thee; for in the hoond of a womman Sisara shal be taak. And so Delbora roos, and wente with Barach in to Cedes. The which, clepid Zabulon and Nepthalym, stiede vp with ten thousand of fyȝtynge men, hauynge Delbora in his felawship. Forsothe Aber Cynee wente a wey sumtyme fro other Cynees his britheren, the sones of Obbab, cosyn of Moyses; and he streiȝte tabernaclys vnto the valey, that is clepid Sennym, and was biside Cedes. And it is told to Cysare, that Barach, the sone of Abynoem, hadde stied vp into the hil of Thabor. And he gedryd nyn hundryd chaaris, ful of wepenys, maner of sithis, and al the oost fro Aroseth of gentilis to the streem of Cyson. And Delbora seide to Barach, Rise, this is forsothe the day, in the which the Lord hath taak Sysaram into thin hoondys; loo! he is thi leder. And so Barach descendide fro the hil of Thabor, and ten thowsand of fiȝtynge men with hym. And the Lord feeryde Sisaram, and alle the chaaris of hym, and al the multytude, in the mouth of swerd, at the siȝt of Barach, in so myche that Sisara of the chaar lepynge doun on his feet, fliȝ. And Barach pursuede the fleynge chaaris and the oost vnto the see vnto Aroseth of Gentilis; and al the multitude of enemyes fellen doun vnto the deeth. Sisara forsothe fleynge cam to the tent of Jahel, wijf of Aber Cynei; forsothe there was pees bitwix Jabyn, the kyng of Asor, and the hows of Aber Cynei. Jahel thanne goon out in to aȝen comynge of Sisare, seide to hym, Com into me, my lord; ne drede thow. The which goon into the tabernacle of hyr, and couerd of hir with a mantel, he seide to hir, Ȝif to me, Y biseche, a litil of water, for Y thriste myche. The which openyde a botel of mylk, and ȝaf to hym to drynk, and couerde hym. And Sisara seide to hir, Stoond before the dore of the tabernacle, and whanne there cometh eny man, askinge thee, and seiynge, Whether here is eny man? thou shalt answere, Noon is. And so Jahel, the wijf of Aber, took a neyl of the tabernacle, takynge there with an hamer; and she goon out priuelich, and with silence putte vpon the templis of his heed a neyl, and smyten with an hamer piȝt doun into the brayn vnto the erthe; the whych, felawshipynge sleep to deeth, faylide, and died. And lo! Barach folwynge Sisaram cam; and Jahel, goon into aȝen comynge of hym, seide to hym, Com, and Y shal shewe to thee a man, whom thow sechist. The whych, whanne he hadde goo in to hir, he sawȝ Sisaram liggynge deed, and a neyl piȝt into his templis. God therfor lowide in that day Jabyn, the kyng of Chanaan, bifore the sones of Yrael; the whiche woxen eche day, and with strong hoond beren doun Jabyn, the kyng of Chanaan, to the tyme that thei hadden doo hym awey.
And Delbora and Barach, the sone of Benoem, songen in that day, seiynge, Ȝe that wilfully offerden of Yrael ȝoure lyues to peryl, blissith to the Lord. Here, ȝe kyngis; perseyue, ȝe princes, with eeris; Y am, Y am, the whiche to the Lord shal synge, and seye salm to the God of Yrael. Lord, whanne thow wentist out fro Seyr, and passidist bi the regiouns of Edom, the erthe is meued, and heuens and clowdis droppeden with watris; hillis floweden fro the face of the Lord, and Synai fro the face of the Lord God of Israel. In the dais of Sangar, sone of Anath, in the dais of Jahel, restiden the paththis, and tho that wenten in bi hem ȝeden a wey bi streyt beryd paththis out of the weye. Stronge men seseden in Yrael, and restiden, to the tyme that Delbora roos, moder in Yrael. Newe bataylis hath chosun the Lord, and the ȝatis of enemyes he ouerturnede; swerd and speer aperyde not in fourti thowsand of Yrael. Myn herte shal loue the princis of Yrael; ȝe that bi propre wil han offrid ȝou to peryl, blissith to the Lord; ȝe that stien vp vpon shynynge assis, and sittith aboue in doom, and goon in the weye, spekith. Where the chaaris ben hurtlid, and the oost of the enemyes is queynt, there the riȝtwisnessis of the Lord ben told, and mercy into the stroonge men of Yrael; thanne the puple of the Lord cam doun to the ȝatis, and hadde the prynshod. Ryse, ryse, Delbora, ryse, and spek the dyte of songe; ryse, Barach, and thou, sone of Abynoem, tak thi chaytyues. The relyues of the puple ben saued; the Lord in stronge men hath fouȝten. Fro Effraym he hath doon hem a wey into Amalech, and after hym fro Beniamyn in to thi puplis, O Amalech. Fro Machir princis descendiden, and fro Zabulon, that oost shulden lede to fiȝt. Dukis of Ysachar weren with Delbora, and the steppis of Barach thei folweden, the whiche, as into heuedi fallynge and helle, he ȝaf hym silf to peryl. Ruben aȝens hym diuydide, of greet willi men is foundun stryuynge. Whi dwellist thow bitwix two teermys, that thow here the noysis of flockis? Ruben aȝens hym dyuydide, of greet willi men is foundun a strijf. Gad biȝonde Jordan restide, and Dan tentide to shippis. Aser dwellid in the brenk of the see, and in hauens abood. Forsothe Zabulon and Neptalym offerden her lyues to deeth, in the regioun of Moreme. Kyngis camen, and fouȝten; fouȝten the kyngis of Chanaan in Thanath, biside the watris of Magedan; and neuerthelater no thing token the praytakers. Fro heuene it is fouȝten aȝens hem; sterrys dwellynge in ordre and in her course aȝens Sysaram fouȝten. The streem of Syson drowȝ the careyns of hem, the streem of Cadunym, streem of Cyson. Treed thou, my soule, stronge men. Cleas of hors fellen hem fleynge with feerse, and bi heedlynge fallinge the moost stroonge men of enemyes. Curse ȝe to the loond of Meroth, seide the aungel of the Lord, curse ȝe to the dwellers of it, for thei camen not to the help of the Lord, in to the help of the moost stronge men of hym. Blessid among wymmen Jahel, the wijf of Aber Cynei; be she blessid in hir tabernacle. To the askynge water sche ȝaf mylk, and in the viole of pryncis she brouȝte forth butter. The left hoond she putte to the nayl, and the riȝt to the hamers of smythis; and she smoot Cisaram, sechynge in the heed the place of the wound, and the temple myȝtilich thrillynge. Bitwix the feet of hir he felle, failid, and dyede; and he was wrappid bifore the feet of hir, and he lay out of lijf, and wretchidful. Bi the wyndow biholdynge ȝollide the moder of hym; and fro the sowpynge place she spak, Whi tarieth to turne aȝen the chaar of hym? Whi taryeden the feet of the foure whelid cartis of hym? Oon wiser than that other wijfis of hym to the moder in lawe thes wordis answerde, Perauenture now he dyuydith spuylis, and the moost feyr of wymmen is chosun to hym; clothis of dyuers colours to Sysare ben taak into praye, and dyuerse portenaunce to neckis to be anourned is born to gidre. So perischen alle thin enemyes, thou Lord; forsothe thoo that louen thee, as the sunne in his rysynge shyneth, so glitteren thei. And the loond restide bi fourti ȝeer.
The sones forsothe of Yrael diden yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, the which took hem in the hoond of Madian seuen ȝeer. And thei ben oppressid greetli of hem; and thei maden to hem caaues, and spelunkis in hillis, and moost defensable placis to withstonden. And whanne Irael wex feers, Madian stiede vp, and Amalech, and other of the est naciouns; and anentis hem pitchinge tentis, as thei weren in grasse, alle thingis thei wastiden vnto the entre of Gaze, and no thing perteynynge to the lijf vtterli thei laften in Yrael, ne sheep, ne oxe, ne asses. Forsothe thei and alle the flockis of hem camen with her tabernaclis, and at the licknes of locustis alle placis fulfillide the vnnoumbrable multitude of men and of camels, and wastynge what euere thing thei touchiden. And Yrael is mekid greetli in the siȝt of Madian. And he cryede to the Lord, askynge help aȝens Madianytis; the which sente to hem a man prophete, and spak, Thes thingis seith the Lord God of Yrael, Y haue maad ȝou to come doun fro Egipt, and haue brouȝt ȝou out fro the hous of seruage, and delyuerd fro the hoond of Egipciens, and of alle the enemyes that tourmentiden ȝow; and haue throwun hem out at ȝoure entree, and haue taak to ȝow the loond of hem; and seide, I the Lord ȝoure God; ne drede ȝe the goddis of Amorreis, in whos loond ȝe dwellen; and ȝe wolden not here my vois. Forsothe the aungel of the Lord cam, and sat vndur the ook, that was in Effra, and perteynede to Joas, the fader of the meyne of Ezry. And whanne Gedeon, the sone of hym, shockide out, and purgide whetis in the pressynge place, that he fleiȝ Madian, the aungel of the Lord apperide to hym, and seith, The Lord with thee, moost stroong of men. And Gedion seide to hym, Y biseche, my lord, if the Lord is with vs, whi thanne han taak vs alle thes yuels? Where ben the merueyls of hym, the whiche oure faders tolden, and seiden, The Lord hath lad vs out of Egipt? Now forsothe he hath forsakun vs, and takun in the hoond of Madian. And the Lord bihelde to hym, and seith, Go in this thi strength, and thou shalt delyuer Yrael fro the hoond of Madian; wite thow, that Y haue sent thee. The which answerynge seith, My lord, Y biseche, in what shal Y delyuer Yrael? Loo! my meyne is lowest in Manasse, and Y leest in the hows of my fader. And the Lord seide to hym, I shal be with thee, and thow shalt smyte Madian as o man. And he, If Y haue foundun, he seith, grace before thee, ȝif to me a tokne, that thou be, the which spekist with me; ne goo thou hens, to the tyme that I turne aȝen to thee, bryngynge sacrifice, and offrynge to thee. The which answerde, Y shal abide thi comynge. And so Gedeon wente in, and sethide a kydde, and of a busshel of flour therf looues, and fleish puttynge in the leep; and the flesh broththe puttynge in to the pot, he took alle thingis vndur the ook, and offerde to hym. To whom seide the aungel of the Lord, Tak the flesh, and the therf looues, and putte vpon the stoon, and the broththe heelde there vpon. And whanne he hadde doo so, the aungel of the Lord streiȝte out the vttermost part of the ȝeerde that he heelde in hoond, and he touchid the flesh, and the therf looues; and fier stiede up fro the stoon, and consumede the flesh, and the therf looues. Forsothe the aungel of the Lord vanysshide a wey fro the eyen of hym. And Gedeon seynge that it was the aungel of the Lord seith, Wo me, Lord God, for Y haue seen the aungel of the Lord face to face. And the Lord seide to hym, Pees with thee; ne drede thow, thou shalt not dye. Thanne Gedeon bilde there an auter to the Lord, and he clepide it the Pees of the Lord, vnto the day that is now. And whanne ȝit he hadde be in Effra, that is the meyne of Ezry, that nyȝt the Lord seide to hym, Tak the bole of thi fader, and another bole of seuen ȝeer, and thou shalt distruye the auter of Baal, that is of thi fader, and the wode, that is about the auter, hew doun; and thou shalt bilde an auter to the Lord thi God in the ouermost of this stoon, vpon the which thou puttist before sacrifice; and thou shalt take the secounde bole, and offer brent sacrifice vpon the hepe of wode, that thow hast kut of the wode. Thann Gedeon taken to ten men of his seruauntis, dide as the Lord comaundide to hym. Forsothe dredynge the hows of his fader, and the men of that cytee, by day he wold not doon, but alle thingis the nyȝt he fulfilde. And whanne the men of his burgh toun erly weren rysen, thei seen the auter of Baal destruyed, and the mawmet woode hewun doun, and another bole set vpon the auter, that thanne was bild vp. And thei seiden to gidre, Who hath doon this? And whanne thei souȝten the doer of the dede, it is seide, Gedeon, the sone of Joas, dide alle these thingis. And thei seiden to Joas, Bryng forth thi sone hider, that he be deed, for he hath destruyed the auter of Baal, and hewen doun the wode. To whom he answerde, Whether ȝe ben wrechers of Baal, that ȝe fiȝten for hym? who is the aduersarye of hym, dye he, before the morwetide liȝt come; if he is God, venge he hymsilf of hym that hath deluen vp the auter of hym. Fro that day Gedeon is clepid Jeroboal, forthi that Joas seide, Baal take veniaunce of hym that hath doluen down the auter of hym. Therfor al Madian, and Amelech, and the este puplis ben gedrid to gidre, and passynge ouer Jordan settiden tentis in the valey of Jezrael. Forsothe the spyryt of the Lord clothide Gedeon; the which criynge with tromp clepide to gidre the hows of Abiezer, for he shulde folwe hym. And he sente messangers into al Manassen, the which and he folwide hym; and other messangers into Aser, and Zabulon, and Neptalym, the whiche aȝen camen to hym. And Gedeon seide to the Lord, If thow makist saaf bi myn hoond the puple of Irael, as thow hast spokun, Y shal put this fleese of wul in the floore; if dewe in the fleese alone were, and in al the erthe drouȝth, Y shal wyte, that bi myn hoond, as thou hast spokun, thow shalt delyuer Yrael. And it is doo so. And fro the niȝt risynge, thrust out of the fleese, he fulfillede an holwȝ vessel with dew; and eft he seide to the Lord, Ne wexe not wrooth thi woodnes aȝens me, if ȝit ones Y tempte a tokne sechynge in the fleese; Y preye, that oonli the fleese be drye, and al the erthe with dew moyst. And the Lord dide that nyȝt, as he axide; and there was drouȝth in the fleese alone, and dewe in al the erthe.
Thanne Jeroboal, the which and Gedeon, fro nyȝt rysynge, and al the puple with hym, cam to the wel that is clepid Arad. Forsothe the tentis of Madian weren in the valey, at the north coost of the hiȝe hil. And the Lord seide to Gedeon, Myche is the puple with thee, and lest Yrael glorie aȝens me, Madian shal not be taak into the hoondis of hym, and lest he seye, Bi my strengthis I am delyuerd. Spek to the puple, and alle herynge, preche, Who is feerful and dredy, turne he aȝen. And there wenten aȝen fro the hil of Galaad, and ben turned aȝen of the puple two and twenti thowsand of men; and onely ten thowsand beden stil. And the Lord seide to Gedeon, Ȝit there is myche puple; lede hem to the watris, and there I shal preue hem, and of whom Y shal seye to thee, that goo with thee, he goo; whom I shal defende to goo, he turne aȝen. And whanne the puple was goon doon to the watris, the Lord seide to Gedeon, Thilk that with hoond and with tonge lapen the watris, as houndis ben woned to lape, thou shalt seuere hem aside; forsothe thilk, that bowiden the knees drynkynge, in that other paart shulen be. And so was the noumbre of hem, that with hoond throwynge to the mouth watris hadden lapid, thre hundrid men; forsothe al that other multitude the knee bowid dronke. And the Lord seith to Gedeon, In three hundrid men, that lapiden watris, Y shal delyuer ȝou, and taak Madian in thin hoond; forsothe al that other multitude be turned aȝen into his place. And so metis taken for the noumbre, and trompis, al that othir multitude he comaundide to goon to her tabernaclis; and he, with thre hundrid men, ȝaf hym silf to the bateil. Forsothe the tentis of Madian weren vndur in the valey. The same nyȝt the Lord seide to hym, Rise, and go doun into the tentis, for Y haue taak hem in thin hoond; forsothe if alone thou dredist to goo, go doun with thee Phara, thi child. And whanne thou herist what thei speken, thanne thin hoondis shulen be coumfortid, and sikerer thou shalt goo doun to the tentis of the enemyes. Thanne descendide he, and Phara, his child, into a paart of the tentis, where weren the watchis of armed men. Forsothe Madian, and Amalech, and alle the este puplis shed layen in the valey, as multitude of locustis; forsothe camels vnnoumbrable there weren, as grauel that lieth in the brenk of the see. And whanne Gedeon was comen, a man tolde a sweuen to his neiȝbore, and in this maner he toolde that he sawȝ, Y sawȝ a sweuen, and it seemed to me, as a loof of barlich maad vndir asshen to be trendlid, and into the tentis of Madyan to goo doun; and whanne it were comyn to the tabernacle, it smoot it, and turnede vpsedoun, and al doun to the erthe euenede. He, to whom he spak, answerde, This is noon othere thing, but the swerd of Gedeon, sone of Joas, a man of Irael; forsothe the Lord hath takun into the hoondis of hym Madian and alle the tentis of it. And whanne Gedeon hadde herd the sweuen, and the remenynge of it, he heryede, and, turned aȝen to the tentis of Yrael, seith, Ryse ȝe; forsothe the Lord hath takun into oure hoondis the tentis of Madian. And he dyuydide the thre hundrid men in thre parties, and he ȝaf trompis in the hoondis of hem, and voyd wyn pottys, and laumpis in the myddis of the pottis. And he seide to hem, What ȝe seen me doon, that doo ȝe; Y shall goo into a paart of the tentis, and what Y shal doo, folwith. Whanne the trompe fulsowneth in myn hoond, forsothe ȝe bi the enuyroun of the tentis trompith, and crieth to gidre, To the Lord and to Gedeon. And Gedeon wente in, and thre hundred men that weren with hym, into a part of the tentis, bigynnynge the watchis of the mydnyȝt; and, the kepers reryd, thei bigunnen with trompis to cryen, and clappen togidre bitwix hem seluen the wyn pottis. And whanne bi enuyroun of the tentis in thre placis thei fulsowneden, and the stenys hadden broken, thei heelden with the left hoondis the laumpis, and with the riȝt the sownynge trompis; and thei crieden, The swerd of the Lord and of Gedeon; stondynge eche in his place, by enuyroun of the enemyes tentis. And so alle the tentis ben disturblid; and criynge out and ȝellynge, flowen; and neuerthelater the thre hundryd men stoden to stedfastli, sownynge with trompis. And the Lord sente yn swerd in alle the tentis, and thei kutten of hem seluen bi sleynge echon other, fleynge into Bethsaka, and bi the cop of the brenke, fro Elmonla into Thebbath. The men of Irael forsothe criynge togidre, of Neptalym, and Aser, and al Manasse, pursueden Madian; and the Lord ȝaf to the puple of Yrael victory in that day. And Gedeon sente messangers into al the hil of Effraym, seiynge, Comith doun into aȝen metynge of Madian, and occupieth the watres vnto Bethhem and Jordan. And al Effraym criede, and forn occupiede the watres and Jordan vnto Bethhara. And two men of Madian takun, Oreb and Zeb, he slowȝ; Oreb in the stoon of Oreb, forsothe Zeb in the pressynge place of Zeb; and thei pursueden Madian, the heedys of Oreb and of Zeb berynge to Gedeon, ouer the floodis of Jordan.
And the men of Effraym seiden to hym, What is this that thou woldest doo, that thou clepedist not vs, whanne thou shuldist go to fiȝt aȝens Madian? chidynge stronglich and almest violence brynggynge yn. To whom he answerde, What siche thing forsothe myȝte Y doo, what ȝe han doon? Whether is not betere the graape of Effraym than the vendage of Abiether? Into ȝoure hoondis the Lord hath takun the princis of Madian, Oreb and Zeb. What siche thing miȝte Y doo, what thing ȝe han doo? The which thing whanne he hadde spoken, the spyryt of hem took rest, bi the which thei bolneden aȝens hym. And whanne Gedeon was comyn to Jordan, he passide it with thre hundrid men, that weren with hym; and for werynes, fleynge thei myȝten not pursue. And he seide to the men of Socchoth, Y biseche, ȝyueth looues to the puple, that is with me; for greetlich thei defauten, that we mowen pursue Zebee and Salmana, kyngis of Madian. The princis of Soccoth answerden, Perauenture the palmes of the hoondis of Zebee and of Salmana ben in thin hoond, and therfor thow askist, that we ȝeuen to thin oost looues. To whom he seith, Whanne therfor the Lord shal taak into myn hoondis Zebee and Salmana, and whanne Y were turned aȝen ouercomer in pees, Y shal to-teren ȝoure flesh with thornes and breris of deseert. And thens goynge he cam into Phanuel; and he spak to the men of that place lijk thingis, and to whom thei answerden, as answerden the men of Soccoth. And to hem he seide also, Whanne Y were turned aȝen ouercomer in pees, Y shall destruy this tour. Zebee forsothe and Salmana restiden with al her oost; forsothe fifteen thowsand men abiden stil of alle the cumpanyes of the est puplis, sleyn an hundryd and twenty thousandis of fiȝters and of drawers out swerd. And Gedeon stiynge vp bi the weye of hem that dwelliden in tabernaclis at the eest coost of Nobee and Lecaa, he smoot the tentis of the enemyes, that weren siker, and no thing of aduersyte ortroweden. And Zebee and Salmana flowen, whom pursuynge Gedeon took, disturblid al the oost of hem. And he turnynge aȝen fro the bateyl before the sunne rysynge, he took a child of the men of Soccoth; and he askyde hym the names of the pryncis, and of the eldren of Soccoth; and he discriuyde seuenty and seuen men bi noumbre. And he cam to Socoth, and seide to hem, Loo Zebee and Salmana! vpon the whiche ȝee mysseyden to me, seiynge, Perauenture the hoondys of Zebee and Salmana in thin hoondis ben, and therfor thou askist, that we ȝeuen to the men, that ben wery and han defautid, looues. He took thanne the eldre of the cyte, and thornes of deseert and breris, and torente with hem, and distruyede the men of Socoth; forsothe the tour of Phanuel he turnede vpsedoun, slayn the dwellers of the cyte. And he seide to Zebee and to Salmana, What weren the men, whom ȝe slowen in Thabor? The whiche answerden, Lijk thee, and oon of hem as the sone of a kyng. To whom he, My britheren thei weren, the sones of my moder; God lyueth, if ȝe hadden kepte hem, Y wolde not haue slayn ȝow. And he seide to Jepter, his fyrst gotun, Ryse, and sle hem. The which drewe not out the swerd; forsothe he dredde, for a child he was ȝit. And Zebee and Salmana seyden, Thow ryse, and fal into vs; for after age and strength thow art of a man. Gedeon roos, and slewe Zebee and Salmana, and took the ournementis, and billis, with the whiche the neckis of kyngis chamels ben wonyd to be anourned. And alle the men of Yrael seiden to Gedeon, Haue lordship of vs, thow, and thi sone, and the sone of thi sone; for thow hast delyuerd vs fro the hoond of Madian. To whom he seith, I shal not haue lordship of ȝou, ne my sone shal haue lordship in ȝou, but the Lord shal haue lordship. And he seide to hem, Oon askynge Y aske of ȝow, ȝeueth to me the eere ryngys of ȝoure praye; forsothe Ysmaelitis weren woned to han golden eereryngis. The whiche answerden, Moost glaadly we shulen ȝeue. And spredynge a brood vpon the erthe a mantil, thei threwen forth in it the eere ryngis of the praye; and the weiȝt of the askid eereryngis was a thousand and seuenti siclis of gold, with outen the ournementis and brochis and purpur clooth, the which the kyngis of Madian weren wont to vse, and biside the goldun beeȝis of chamels. And Gedeon maad of it a coop, and putte it in Effra his citee; and al Yrael dide fornycacioun in it; and it was maad to Gedeon and to alle the hows of hym into fallynge. Forsothe Madian is mekid before the sones of Yrael, ne thei myȝten more ouer reer vp the nollis; but the loond restide bi fourty ȝeer, in the which Gedeon was in dignyte. And so Joroboal, the sone of Joas, ȝede, and dwelte in his hows; and he hadde seuenti sones, that camen out of the hype of hym, forthi that he hadde many wyues. Forsothe the secoundarye wijf of hym, that he had in Sichem, gat hym a sone, Abymalech bi name. And Gedeon, the sone of Joas, is deed in a good age, and biryed in the sepulcre of Joas his fader, in Efra, of the meyne of Ezry. Forsothe after that Gedeon is deed, the sones of Irael ben turned awey, and han doo fornycacioun with Baalym; and thei smyten with Baal couenaunt of pees, that he were to hem into God, ne thei recordiden of the Lord her God, the which delyuerde hem fro the hoond of alle her enemyes bi enuyroun; ne thei diden mercy with the hows of Jeroboal Gedeon, after alle the good thingys that he dide to Yrael.
Abymalech, the sone of Jeroboal, ȝeed forsothe into Sichem to the britheren of his moder; and he spak to hem, and to al the kynrede of the hows of his modir, seiynge, Spek to alle the men of Sychem, Whether is it betere to ȝou, that seuenti men, alle the sones of Jeroboal, han lordship of ȝow, other o man be lord to ȝow? and to gidre bihold ȝe, for ȝoure boon and ȝoure flesh Y am. And the britheren of his moder speken of hym to alle the men of Sichem alle thes wordes; and thei boweden the herte of hem after Abymalech, seyinge, Oure brother he is. And thei ȝauen to hym seuenti pownde of siluer of the hethen temple of Baal Berith; the which hiride to hym of it nedi men and vagaunt, and thei folweden hym. And he cam into the hows of his fader in Ephra, and he slewȝ his britheren the sones of Jeroboal, seuenti men, vpon o stoon. And Joatham, the sone of Jeroboal, the leest, abood stil, and is hid. And alle the men of Sichem, and al the meynee of the cite of Mello, ben gedred to gidre, and wenten, and ordeyneden hem a kyng, Abymalech, biside the ook that stood in Sichem. The which, whanne was told to Joatham, he ȝede, and stood in the cop of the hil of Garysym, and, arerid vp the voice, cryede, and seyde, Here ȝe me, men of Sichem, so that God here ȝou. Treese wenten for to anoynte vpon hem a kyng; and thei seiden to the olyue, Comaund thou to vs. The whiche answerde, Whethir may Y forsake my fatnes, the whiche and Goddis vsen and men, and come, that bitwix trees Y be auaunsid? And the trees seiden to the fige tree, Com thou, and tak kyngdom vpon vs. The which answerde to hem, Whether may Y forsake my swetnes and moost swete fruytis, and goo that bitwix other trees Y be auaunsid? And the trees speken to the viyn, Com, and comaunde to vs. The which answerde, Whether may Y forsake my wyn, that gladith God and men, and bitwix other trees be auaunsid? And alle the trees seiden to the thorn, Com, and comaund thow vpon vs. The whiche answerde to hem, If verreily me kyng ȝe han ordeynde to ȝou, cometh, and vnder my shadewe restith; forsothe if ȝe wolen not, go out fier fro the thorn, and deuowre the seedis of Liban. Nowe thanne if riȝtly and withouten synne ȝe han ordeynde vpon ȝou a kyng, Abymalech, and wel han doo with Jeroboal, and with the hows of hym, and han ȝolden while to his benfeetis, the which fauȝt for ȝou, and his lijf ȝaf to peryls, for to delyuer ȝou fro the hoond of Madian; the whiche ȝe nowe han rysyn aȝens the hows of my fader, and han slayn his sones, seuenti men, upon o stoon, and han ordeynde a kyng, Abymalech, the sone of the werk womman of hym, vpon the dwellers of Sichem, forthi that ȝoure brother he be; if thanne riȝtly and with outen vice ȝe han doo with Jeroboal and the hows of hym, to day glade ȝe in Abymalech, and he glade in ȝou; forsothe if shrewidli, fier goo out of hym, and waast the dwellers of Sichem, and the burȝ toun of Mello; and go out fier fro the men of Sichem, and fro the burgh toun of Mello, and deuowre Abymalech. The whiche thingis whanne he hadde seid, he fleiȝ, and wente into Bereram, and dwelte there, for drede of Abymalech, his brothir. And Abymalech regnede vpon Yrael thre ȝeer. And God sente the worst spiryte bitwix Abymalech and the dwellers of Sichem, the whiche bigunne to wlaat hym, and the hidows gilt of the slauȝter of the seuenti sones of Jeroboal, and the shedynge of blod of hem, to ȝeelde into Abymalech, his brothir, and into the tother princis of Sichemytis, that hym helpeden. And thei puttiden aspies aȝens hym in the cop of hillis; and while thei biden the comynge of hym, thei hawntiden theftis, takynge prayes of the goers byside; and it is told to Abymalech. Forsothe Gaal, the sone of Obed, with his bretheren cam, and passide into Siccymam; at whos comynge reryd the dwellers of Sichem, wenten out into feeldis, wastynge vynes, and grapis tredynge; and the querys maad of syngers thei wenten into the temple of her God, and bytwix meetis and drynkis thei curseden to Abymalech, criynge Gaal, the sone of Obed, Who is this Abymalech? And what is Sichem, that we seruen to hym? Whether is not he the sone of Jeroboal, and set a prince, Zebul his seruaunt, vpon the men of Emor, the fader of Sichem? Whi thanne shulen we serue to hym? Wolde God eny man ȝeue this puple vnder myn hoond, and I shulde doo a wey fro the mydil Abymalech. And it is seid to Abymalech, Gedre a multitude of oost, and com. Forsothe Zebul, the prince of the cytee, herd the wordis of Gaal, the sone of Obed, is ful wrooth; and sente preueli to Abymalech messagers, seiynge, Loo! Gaal, the sone of Obed, cam into Siccymam with his britheren, and aȝen fiȝtith the citee aȝens thee; aryse also the nyȝt with the puple, that is with thee, and lurk in the feeld; and first eerli rysynge the sunne, fal vpon the cite; forsothe hym goynge out aȝens thee with his puple, do to hym that thow mayst. And so Abymalech with al his oost roos the nyȝt, and sette bushementis biside Siccymam, in foure placis. And Gaal, the sone of Obed, wente out, and stood in the entre of the ȝate of the cytee. Forsothe Abymalech roos, and al the oost with hym, fro the place of the busshementis. And whanne Gaal hadde seen the puple, he seide to Zebul, Loo! fro the hillis a multitude descendith. To whom he answerde, The shadewis of hillis thow seest as mennus heedis, and by this errour thou art desseyued. And eft Gaal seith, Loo! the puple fro the nouel of the erthe cometh doun, and o cumpanye commeth bi the weye that biholdith the ook. To whom seide Zebul, Where is nowe thi mowth, bi the which thou speek, Who is Abymalech, that we seruen to hym? Whether is not this the puple, whom thow despisedist? Go out, and fiȝt aȝens hym. Gaal thanne wente, abydynge the puple of Sichemys, and fauȝte aȝens Abymalech. The which pursuede hym fleynge, and in the cytee threste; and there fellen of the parti of hym many vnto the ȝate of the cyte. And Abymalech sat in Rana; Zebul forsothe Gaal and his felaws he putte out of the cyte, ne in it he suffrede to dwelle. Thanne the day folowynge the puple ȝede out into the feeld; the which whanne it was toold to Abymalech, he took his oost, and dyuydide in thre companyes, settynge busshementis in the feeldis; and seynge that the puple wente out of the cytee, he roos, and felle into hem with his oost, aȝenfiȝtynge and biseegynge the cytee. Forsothe two companyes, opynly rennynge hidir and thidir bi the feeld, the aduersaryes pursueden. Forsothe Abymalech al that day ouercam the cytee, the which he took, slayn the dwellers of it, and it destruyede, so that salt in it he sprengide. The which thing, whanne hadden herd thei that dwelten in the tour of Sychemys, wenten into the temple of her god Beryth, where a boond of pees with hym thei couenauntiden; and of it the place took name, the which was greetli strengthid. And Abymalech herynge the men of the tour of Sichemys togidre gedred in o glob, or company, stiede vp into the hil of Selmon with al his puple; and takun to an axe he kytte of a braunche of a tree, and putte on the shuldir berynge, he seide to felawis, That ȝe seen me doo, that anoon doo ȝe. Thanne stryuyngly of the trees kuttynge of braunchis thei foleweden the duyk; the whiche enuyrounynge the place of socour, brenten vp; and so is doon, that thurȝ smook and fier a thowsand men weren slayn, men togidre and wymmen, of the dwellers of the tour of Sichem. Forsothe Abymalech thens goynge cam to the burgh toun Thebes, the which enuyrounnynge bisegide with oost. Forsothe the tour was hiȝe in the mydil cytee, to the which flowen togidre men and wymmen, and alle the princis of the cytee, closid moost fastly the ȝate; and vpon the roof of the tour stondynge by the pynnaclis. And Abymalech comynge nyȝ biside the tour fauȝt strongli, and neiȝynge to the dore, he was about to put vndir fyre; and, loo! a womman the brekynge of a mylnstoon from aboue throwynge hurtlide to the heed of Abymalech, and brak his brayn. The which clepide anoon his squyer, and seith to hym, Drawe out thi swerd, and smyte me, lest perauenture it be seid, that of a womman I am slayn. The which, fulfillynge the heest, slewȝ him; and him slayn, alle that with hym weren of Yrael ben turned aȝen to her seetis. And God ȝeeldide the yuel that Abymalech dide aȝens his fader, slayn his seuenti bretheren. And to the Sichemys is ȝoldun that thei wrouȝten, and is comen vpon hem the cursynge of Joatham, sone of Jeroboal.
Aftir Abymalech roos a duyk in Yrael, Thola, the sone of Phua, the faders brothir of Abymalech, a man of Ysachar, that dwellide in Sanyr, of the hil of Effraym; and he demyde Irael thre and twenti ȝeer, and he is deed, and biried in Sanyr. To whom cam after Jayr Galadites, that demede Irael bi two and twenti ȝeer; hauynge thretti sones, sittynge vpon thretti coltis of assis, and princis of thretti cytees, the whiche of the name of hym ben clepid Anochiayr, that is, the burghis of Jayr, vnto the day that is nowe, in the loond of Galaad. And Jayr is deed, and biryed in the place to the which is the name Camon. Forsothe the sones of Yrael to oold synnes ioynynge newe, diden yuels in the siȝt of the Lord, and serueden to mawmettis, Baalym and Astaroth, and to goddis of Syrye, and of Sidon, and of Moab, and of the sones of Amon, and of Philistiym; and thei laften the Lord, and heryeden not hym. Aȝens whom the Lord wexe wrooth, and took hem into the hoondis of Philistiym, and of the sones of Amon. And thei ben tourmentid, and hidously oppressid bi eiȝteen ȝeer, alle that dwelliden biȝonde Jordan in the loond of Ammorre, that is in Galaad, in so mych, that the sones of Amon, Jordan ouerpassid, wastiden Judam and Beniamyn and Effraym; and Yrael is tormentid wel myche. And criynge to the Lord thei seiden, We han synned to thee, for we han forsakun oure God, and serueden to Baalym. To whom the Lord spak, Whether not the Egipciens, and Amorreis, and the sones of Amon, and of Philistiym, Sidoneus forsothe, and Amalech, and Chanaan oppressiden ȝou, and ȝe han cried to me, and Y haue delyueryd ȝou fro the hoondis of hem? And neuerthelater ȝe han forsake me, and heried alien goddis; therfor I shal not adde, that eny more I delyuer ȝou. Gooth, and inwardli clepith the goddis the whiche ȝe han chosen; delyuer thei ȝou in the tyme of angwish. And the sones of Yrael seiden to the Lord, We han synned; ȝeeld thow to vs what euere thing plesith to thee; oneli nowe delyuer vs. The whiche ledynge alle thingis fro her coostis, threwen out the mawmettis of alien goddis, and serueden to the Lord; the which sorewide vpon the wrecchidnes of hem. And so the sones of Amon criynge togidre in Galaad piȝten tentis, aȝens whom the sones of Yrael gedryd in Masphat setten tentis. And the princis of Galaad seiden eche to his neiȝbors, He, that first of ȝou aȝen the sones of Amon bigynneth to fiȝt, shal be the duyk of the puple of Galaad.
There was also in that tyme Jeptee Galadites, a man moost strong and fyȝter, the sone of a womman strompet, that is born of Galaad. Forsothe Galaad hadde a wijf, of whom he took sones, the whiche aftirward that thei weren waxen, kesten out Jeptee, seiynge, Eyre in the hows of oure fader thou shalt not mowe be, for of avowtresse modir thou art born. Whom he fleynge and shonnynge dwellide in the loond of Tob; and there ben gedrid to hym nedi men and stelynge, and as prince thei sueden. In thoo days fouȝten the sones of Amon aȝens Yrael; the whiche sharpli instoondynge, the more thurȝ birth wenten fro Galaad for to take into her help Jeptee of the loond of Tob; and thei seiden to hym, Com, and be oure prince, and fiȝt aȝens the sones of Amon. To whom he answerde, Ben not ȝe, that hatiden me, and kesten out fro the hows of my fader, and nowe ȝe ben comen to me thurȝ nede constreyned? And the princis of Galaad seiden to Jepte, For this cause thanne nowe to thee we ben comen, that thou goo with vs, and fiȝt aȝens the sones of Amon, and be duyk of alle that dwellen in Galaad. Forsothe Jeptee seide to hem, If vereyli ȝe ben comen to me, that I fiȝte for ȝow aȝen the sones of Amon, and the Lord take hem into myn hoondis, shal Y be ȝoure prynce? The whiche answerden to hym, The Lord, that thes thingis herith, he meene and witnes is, that oure biheestis we shulen doo. And so Jeptee ȝede with the princis of Galaad, and the puple made hym their prince; and Jeptee spak alle his wordis before the Lord in Maspha. And he sente messagers to the kyng of the sones of Amon, the which of his persone shulde seye, What to me and to thee is, for thou art comun aȝens me, that thou waste my loond? To whom he answerde, For Yrael took my loond, whanne he stiede vp fro Egipt, fro the coostis of Arnon vnto Jaboth and Jordan, nowe thanne with pees ȝeeld to me it. Bi whom eft Jeptee sente, and comaundide to hem, that thei shulden seye to the kyng of Amon, Thes thingis seith Jeptee, Yrael took not the loond of Moab, ne the loond of the sones of Amon; but whanne fro Egipt thei styeden, he ȝede bi wildernes vnto the Reed See, and cam into Cades; and he sente messagers to the kyng of Edom, seiynge, Let me, that I passe bi thi loond; the which wold not assente to his preiers. And he sente to the kyng of Moab, the which and he dispiside to ȝyue passynge; and so he abood in Cades, and enuyrounde aside the loond of Edom, and the loond of Moab; and he cam to the eest coost of the loond of Moab, and he sette tentis biȝonde Arnon, and he wold not entre the teermys of Moab; forsothe Arnon is niȝ coost to the loond of Moab. And so Yrael sente messagers to Seon, the kyng of Ammorreis, that dwellide in Esebon; and seide to hym, Leete me, that Y passe bi thi loond vnto the flood. The which and he, dispisynge the wordis of Yrael, leete hym not passe bi his teermys, but a multitude with outen eend gedrid wente out aȝens hym into Gessa, and strongli withstood. And the Lord took hym into the hoondis of Yrael with al his oost; the which smoot hym, and weeldide al the loond of Ammorree, the dweller of that regioun, and al the costus of it fro Arnon vnto Jaboch, and fro the wildernes vnto Jordan. The Lord than God of Yrael turnede vpsedoun Amorre, fiȝtynge aȝens hym to his puple Yrael. And thou nowe wolt weelde the loond of hym? Whether not thoo thingis, the whiche weeldith Camos, thi god, to thee thurȝ riȝt ben owid? Forsothe thingis that the Lord oure God ouercomer heelde, in oure possessioun shulen falle; but perauenture thow be betere than Baalach, the sone of Sephor, kyng of Moab, othere thou mayst teche, that he stroue aȝens Yrael, and fauȝte aȝens hym, whanne he dwelte in Esebon, and in the litil touns of it, and in Aroer and hys litil touns, and in alle the cytees beȝonde Jordan, by thre hundred ȝeer. Whi so mych tyme no thing vpon this askynge thou asaydist? Therfor I synne not in thee, but thou aȝens me dost yuel, bryngynge into me bataylys not ryȝtwise; deme the Lord, domysman of this day, bitwexe Yrael and the sones of Amon. And the kyng of the sones of Amon wold not assente to the wordis of Jeptee, the whiche bi messagers he sente. Thanne is doon vpon Jeptee the spyrit of the Lord, and he enuyrounnynge Galaad and Manasse, Maspha and Galaad, and thens passynge to the sones of Amon, he vowede avowe to the Lord, seiynge, If thou takist the sones of Amon into myn hoondis, who so euere first were gon out fro the ȝatis of myn hous, and aȝen cometh to me turnynge aȝen with pees fro the sones of Amon, I shal offre hym brent sacrifice to the Lord. And Jeptee passide forth to the sones of Amon, for to fiȝte aȝens hem, whom the Lord took into the hoondis of hym; and he smoot fro Aroer for to that thou come into Mennyth, twenti citees, and vnto Abel, that is with vynes set, with a wel greet veniaunce; and the sones of Amon ben mekid of the sones of Yrael. Forsothe to Jeptee turnynge aȝens into Maspha, his hous, aȝencam to hym his oonli goten douȝter with tymbrys and chorys; forsothe he hadde noon other free children. The whiche seen, he kitte his clothis, and seith, Allas! douȝter myn, thou hast disseyued me, and thi self art desseyued; forsothe Y haue openyd my mouth to the Lord, and I shal not mowe doo other thing. To whom she answerde, Fader myn, if thou hast openyd thi mouth to the Lord, do to me what euere thing thou hast bihoot, grauntid to thee veniaunce and victorye of thin enemyes. And she seide to the fader, This oonli ȝif to me, that I praye; leete me, that two monthis Y enuyroun the hillis, and weyle my maydenhod with my felawis. To whom he answerde, Go. And he lafte hir two monthis. And whanne she was goon with felawis and hir compeers, she wepte hyr maydenhod in the hillis. And fulfillid two monthis, she is turned aȝen to hir fader, and he dyde to hire, as he auowide; the which knewe not man. Therfor maner spronge in Yrael, and vsage is kept, that after the sercle of o ȝeer the douȝtris of Yrael comen to gidre in oon, and weylen the douȝter of Jeptee Galadyte foure dayes.
Loo! forsothe in Effraym is sprongun a debate; forsothe the goers aȝen the north seiden to Jeptee, Whi goynge to the fiȝt aȝens the sones of Amon thou woldist not clepe vs, that we wenten with thee? Therfor we shulen brenne thin hows. To whom he answerde, An hydows debate was to me and my puple aȝen the sones of Amon, and ȝow Y clepyde, for ȝe shulden ȝyue help to me, and ȝe wolden not doon. The which biholdynge Y putte in myn hondis my lijf; and Y passide to the sones of Amon, and the Lord took hem into myn hoondis; what haue Y disserued, that aȝens me ȝe rysen into batayl? And so clepid to him alle the men of Galaad, he fauȝt aȝens Effraym; and the men of Galaad smyten Effraym; for he seide, Fugitiue is Galaad fro Effraym, and dwellith in mydil of Effraym and Manasse. And Galadites men occupiden the forthis of Jordan, bi whiche Effraym was for to turne aȝen. And whanne a man of the noumbre of Effraym fleynge was comyn to tho fordis, and hadde seyde, Y preye, that ȝe leten me passe; Galaaditis seiden to hym, Whether art thou an Effrate? The which seiynge, Y am not, thei askiden hym, Seye thanne Sebolech, that is to mene, an eere. The which answerde, Shebolech, bi the same lettre an eere not myȝti to bryngen out. And anoon takyn thei kyttiden his throot in that goynge ouer Jordan; and there fellen in that tyme of Effraym two and fourti thowsandis. And so Jeptee demyde Galaadites of Yrael sexe ȝeer; and he is deed, and biryed in his citee of Galaad. After this demyde Yrael Abethsan of Bethleem, that hadde thretti sones, and so feele douȝtris, the whiche sendynge out to housbondis he ȝaf, and of the same noumbre to his sones he took wyues, bryngynge yn to his hows; the which seuen ȝeer demyde Yrael, deed, and byryed in Bethlem. To whom cam aftir Degelon Zabulonyt, and demyde Yrael ten ȝeer, and is deed, and byried in Zabulon. After hym demyde Yrael Abdom, the sone of Elel, Pharatonyt; the which hadde fourty sones, and thretti of hem sones sones, stiynge vp vpon seuenti coltis of assis, and he demyde Yrael eiȝt ȝeer; and he is deed, and biried in Pharaton, the loond of Effraym, in the hil of Amalech.
And eft the sones of Yrael diden yuel in the siȝt of the Lord, the which took hem in to the hoondis of the Philisteyns fourti ȝeer. And there was a maner man of Saraa, and of the lynage of Dan, Manue bi name, hauynge a wijf bareyn. To whom aperyde the aungel of the Lord, and seide to hyre, Bareyn thou art, and with out free children; but thou shalt conseyue, and bere a sone. Be war thanne, lest thou drynke wyn and sither, ne eny thing vnclene thou eete; for thou shalt conseyue, and bere a sone, whos heed shal no rasure towche; forsothe he shal be a Nazare of God from his childhod, and fro the wombe of the moder; and he shal bygynne to delyuer Yrael fro the hoond of the Philistiens. The which, whanne she was comen to hire housbond, seide to hym, A man of God cam to me, hauynge an aungelis chere, feerful wel myche; whom whanne Y hadde askid, who he was, and whennus he was comen, and what name he were clepid, he wolde not to me seye; but thus he answerde, Loo! thou shalt conseyue, and bere a sone; be war that thou drynke no wyn ne sither, ne eete eny thing vnclene; forsothe he shal be a Nazare child of the Lord, fro his ȝonȝth and fro the wombe of the moder into the day of his deeth. And so Manue preyede the Lord, and seith, Y biseche, Lord, that the man of God, the whiche thou sentist, com eft, and teche vs, what we owen to doo of the child, that is to be born. And the Lord herde Manue preiynge; and eft aperide the aungel of the Lord to his wijf sittynge in the feeld; forsothe Manue hir housboond was not with hir. The which, whanne she hadde seen the aungel, hiede, and ranne to hir man, and tolde to hym, seiynge, Loo! the man aperide to me, whom before I sawȝ. The which roos, and folewide his wijf; and comynge to the man he seide to hym, Art thow the which spak to the womman? And he answerde, Y am. To whom Manue, Whanne, he seith, thi word were fulfillid, what wolt thou, that the child doo, or fro what thing shal he kepe hym silf? And the aungel of the Lord seide to Manue, Fro alle thingis that Y spak to thi wijf, absteine he hym. And what euer thing growith of the vyn eete he not, wyn and sithir drynk he not, noon vnclene thing eete he; and that Y haue comaundid to hym, fulfille he and kepe. And so Manue seide to the aungel of the Lord, Y biseche thee, that thou assente to my preiers, and we make to thee a kidde of the she geet. To whom answerde the aungel, If thou me constreynest, Y shal not eete thi looues; forsothe if thou wolt doo brent sacrifice, offre thou that to the Lord. And Manue wist not, that it was the aungel of the Lord. And he seide to hym, What is name to thee, that if thi word were fulfillid, we doon worship to thee? To whom he answerde, Whi askist thou my name, that is merueylows? And so Manue took a kidde of the geet, and sacrifices of licours, and putte vpon the stoon, offrynge to the Lord that doth merueylows thingis. Forsothe he and the wijf of hym biheelden. And whanne the flawme of the auter stiede into heuene, the aungel of the Lord togidre in the flawme stiede vp. The which thing whanne Manue hadde seen and his wijf, redi thei fellen into the erthe. And na more to hym aperide the aungel of the Lord. And anoon Manue vndurstood to be the aungel of the Lord. And he seide to hys wijf, Bi deeth die we, for we han seen the Lord. To whom answerde the womman, If the Lord wold slee vs, of oure hoondis brent sacrifice and offryngis of licours he wold not haue take; but alle thes thingis he wold not haue shewid to vs, ne tho thingis that ben to com haue seid. And so she beere a child, and clepide the name of him Sampson; and the child wexe, and the Lord blesside to hym. And the spyrit of the Lord began to be with hym in the tentis of Dan, bitwix Saraa and Eskahol.
Sampson thanne dessendide in Thannatha, and seynge there a womman of the douȝtris of Philistien, stiede vp, and tolde to his fader and his moder, seiynge, Y sawȝ a womman in Thannatha of the douȝtris of Philistiens, whom, Y biseche, that thou take to me wijf. To whom seiden the fader and his moder, Whether is there no womman in the douȝtres of thi britheren and in al thi puple, for thou wolt take a wijf of Philistien, that ben vncircumcidid? And Sampson seide to his fader, This tak to me, for she pleside to myn eyen. His fader and moder wisten not, that the thing shulde be doo of the Lord; and he shulde seche occasioun aȝens the Philistien; forsothe that tyme Philistien lordshipide to Yrael. And so Sampson dessendide with his fader and moder in to Thannatha; and whanne thei weren comen to the vynes of the bourȝ toun, and there aperide a feers whelp of a lyoun and rorynge, and aȝen cam to hym. The spyrit of the Lord forsothe felle into Sampson, and he taar the lioun, as he shulde to-teer out a kide, into gobetis, no thing vtterli hauynge in hoond; and that to fader and moder he wold not shewe. And he dessendide, and spak to the womman, that pleside to his eyen. And after a fewe days turnynge aȝen for to take hir, he wente aside for to se the careyn of the lioun; and loo! a swarm of beese was in the mouth of the lioun, and an hony coombe. The which whanne he hadde takun in hoondis, he ete in the weye; and comynge to his fader and moder, he ȝaf to hem part, the which and thei eeten; and neuerthelater he wolde not shewe to hem, that the hony he took of the mouth of the lioun. And so his fader dessendide to the womman, and made to his sone Sampson a feest; forsothe so ȝong men weren wont to doo. Whanne thanne the cyteseyns of that place hadden seen him, thei ȝouen to him bord felawis thretti, the whiche shulden be with hym. To whom spak Sampson, Y shal purpose to ȝow a dowtous word, the which if ȝe soylen to me with ynne seuen dais of the feest, Y shal ȝyue to ȝou thretti lynnen clothis, and so fele cootis; forsothe if ȝe mowen not assoyle, ȝe shulen ȝyue to me thretty lynnen clothis, and of the same noumbre cootis. The whiche answerden to hym, Purpos the probleme, that we heren. And he seide to hem, Of the eter ȝede out meete, and of the strong wente out swetnes. And thei miȝten not bi thre days soylen the proposicioun. And whanne the seuenthe day was nyȝ, thei seiden to the wijf of Sampson, Faage to thi man, and meue hym, that he shewe to thee what bitokeneth the probleme. The which thing if thou wold not doo, we shulen brenne thee and the hows of thi fader. Whether therfor ȝe han clepid vs to the brydale for to robben? The which shedde anentis Sampson teeris, and pleynede, seiynge, Thow hatidist me, and not louest, and therfor the redels, that thow hast purposid to the sones of my puple, thou wolt not to me expowne. He answerde, To my fadir and moder I wold not seye, and to the shal I mowe shewe? Therfor seuen days of the feest she wepte anentis hym, at the last the seuenthe dai whanne she was heuy to hym, he expownede. The which anoon tolde to hir citeseyns. And thei seiden to him the seuenthe day before the sunne goynge doun, What is swetter than hony, and what is stronger than a lyoun? The which seide to hem, If ȝe hadden not erid in my she calf, ȝe shulden not haue founden my proposicioun. And so the spyryt of the Lord felle into hym; and he wente doun to Aschalonen, and he smoot there thretti men, of whom the takun clothis he ȝaf to hem that the redilis soileden; and wrooth wel myche he stiede vp into the hows of his fader. Forsothe the wijf of hym took an housboond, oon of hir freendis and wowers.
Afftir a litil forsothe of tyme, whanne the dais of whete ripynge stooden yn, cam Sampson wilnynge to se his wijf, and he brouȝte to hir a kide of the she geet; and whanne he wold goo into the bedde of hir, as he was wont, the fadir of hir defendide hym, seiynge, Y wende that thou haddist hatid hyr, and therfor Y took hir to thi freend; but she hath a sister, that is ȝonger and feyrer than she, be she to thee for hir a wijf. To whom Sampson answerde, Fro this day blame shal not be in me aȝens the Philistiens, Y shal do to ȝow forsothe yuels. And he ȝede, and took thre hundryd foxys, and the taylis of hem he ioynede to the taylis, and broondis he boond in the myddil, the whiche teendynge with fier he lafte, and hidir and thidir thei runnen; the whiche anoon wenten into the cornys of the Philistiens, the whiche sette a fier, and the fruytis, now brouȝt to gidre, and the ȝit stoondynge in the stobil, ben brent, in so mych that vynes and olyues the flawm wastide. And the Philistiens seiden, Who hath doon this thing? To whom it is seide, Sampson, the sone in lawe of Thannath, for he took his wijf, and ȝaf to another, thes thingis he hath wrouȝt. And the Philistiens stieden vp and brenten as wel the womman as hir fader. To whom seith Sampson, Al be it that thes thingis ȝe han doon, neuerthelater ȝit of ȝou Y shal aske a veniaunce, and thanne Y shal reste. And he smoot hem with a greet veniaunce, so that astonyinge thei putten on the calf of the leg to the hipe; and he dessendynge dwellide in the spelunk of the stoon of Ethan. Than Philistiens stiynge vp into the loond of Juda setten tentis in the place, the which afterward is clepid Lethi, that is, a cheek boon, where the oost of hem is hellid. And thei of the lynage of Juda seiden to hem, Whi han ȝe stied vp aȝens vs? The whiche answerden, That we bynden Sampson we ben comen, and we ȝeelden to hym that in vs he hath wrouȝt. Thanne thre thousand of men of Juda dessendiden to the den of the flynt of Ethan; and thei seiden to Sampson, Wost thou not, that the Philistiens comaunden to vs? Whi this thing woldist thou doo? To whom he seith, As thei diden to me, Y dide to hem. To bynden thee, thei seyn, we ben comen, and to take into the hoondis of Philistiens. To whom answerde Sampson, Swerith, and bihotith to me, that ȝe shulen not slee me. And thei seiden, We shulen not slee thee, but bounden we shulen ȝyue. And thei bounden hym with two newe coordis, and token hym fro the stoon of Ethan. The which whanne was comen to the place of the cheek boon, and Philistiens criynge out weren aȝen comen to hym, the spiryt of the Lord felle into him, and as ben wont at the smelle of fier trees to be waastid, so and the boondis, with the whiche he was bounden, ben scaterid and loosid. And takynge a foundun cheek boon, that is, the cheeklap of an asse, that lay, he slewȝ with it a thousand men; and seith, In the cheek boon of an asse, that is, in the iow of the colt of assis, I haue doon hem a wey, and smyten a thousand men. And whanne thes wordis syngynge he hadde fulfillid, he threwe a wey the iow fro the hoond; and he clepide the name of that place Ramathlei, that is to mene, the heuynge vp of the cheek boon. And threstynge wel mych he criede to the Lord, and seith, Thou hast ȝeuen in the hoond of thi seruaunt this moost helthe and victorie; and loo! for threst I dye, and I shal falle into the hoondis of the vncircumcidid. And so the Lord opnede a woong tooth in the cheek boon of the asse, and watris wenten out of it, the whiche drunkun he fedde the spiryt, and strengthis took aȝen; and therfor is clepid the name of that place a Welle of the inwardli clepynge fro the cheek boon vnto this day that is nowe. And he demyde Yrael in the dais of the Philistiens twenti ȝeer.
He ȝede forsothe into Gazam, and there he sawȝ a womman strompet, and wente yn to hir. The which thing whanne Philistiens hadden seen, and was pupplishid anentis hem, Sampson to haue comen into the citee, thei segeden hym about, kepers put in the ȝatis of the citee; and there al nyȝt with silence abidynge, that the morwetide comen him goynge out thei myȝten slee. Forsothe Sampson slept vnto mydnyȝt; and thens rysynge he took both leeues of the ȝate, with her postes and lok; and put on the shuldres he beer to the cop of the hil that biholdith Ebron. After thes thingis he louede a woman that dwellide in the valey of Soreth, and she was clepid Dalida. And there camen to hyr princis of Philistiens, and seiden, Bigijl hym, and lern of hym, in what he hath so myche strength, and in what maner wise hym we mowen ouercome, and bounden tourmente; the which thing if thou dost, we shulen ȝyue to thee ech a thousand hundrid platis of siluer. Thanne Dalyda spak to Sampson, Sey to me, I biseche, in what is thi moost strength, and what thing be with the which boundun thou maist not breek? To whom answerde Sampson, If with seuen senewy coordis not ȝit dried and ȝit moyst Y were boundun, Y shal be feble as other men. And the princis of the Philistiens brouȝten to hir seuen coordis, as she seide; with the whiche she bounden hym, lurkynge anentis hir busshementis, and in the bed place abidynge the ende of the thing. And she criede to him, Philistien vpon thee, Sampson! The which brak the boondis, in what maner wise a man wold breeke the threed of a top of flexe, that is sponnen with spotel, whanne the smelle of fier it hath takun; and it is not knowun in what thing his strength was. And Dalida seide to hym, Loo! thow hast bigilid me, and fals thou hast spokyn; namely nowe shewe to me, with what thing thow owist to be boundun. To whom he answerde, If I were boundun with newe coordis, the whiche weren not ȝit in werk, I shal be feble, and of other men lijk. With the which eft Dalida boond him, and criede, Philistien vpon thee, Sampson! in the bed place busshementis maad redi. The which so brak the boondis as thredis of webbis. And Dalida eft seide to hym, Howe long shalt thou bigile me, and fals thow shalt speek? Shewe where with thou owist to be boundun. To whom answerde Sampson, he seith, If seuen heerys of myn heed with warp threed thou plattist, and a nayl with hem about bounden to the erthe thow ficchist, I shal be feble. The which thing whanne Dalida hadde doo, she seide to hym, Philistien vpon thee, Sampson! The which arysynge fro sleep, drowȝ out the nayl, with heeris and warp. And Dalida seide to hym, What maner wise thou seist, that thou louest me, whanne thin ynwit is not with me? Bi thre sithis thou hast lowen to me, and thou woldist not seye to me, in what thing is thi moost strength. And whanne she was heuy to hym, and bi manye dais to hym bisili cleuede, space to resten not ȝyuynge, hyre lijf failide, and vnto the deeth is feblid. Thanne openynge the trewth of the thing, he seide to hir, Yren neuer wente vpon myn heed, for thi Nazare, that is, sacrid to the Lord, Y am fro the wombe of my moder; if myn heed were shauen, my strength shal goon awey fro me, and shal fayl, and be as other men. And she seynge that he hadde knowlechid to hir al his inwit, she sente to the princis of Philistiens, and badde, Stye ȝe vp ȝyt oons, for nowe to me he hath openyd his herte. The whiche stieden vp, takun to the money that thei bihiȝten. And she made hym sleep vpon hir knees, and in her bosum to leyn the heed; and she clepide the barbour, and he shoofe seuen heeris of hym; and she biganne to throwe hym awey, and fro hir to putte; forsothe anoon strength fro hym wente. And she seide, Philistiens vpon thee, Sampson! The which fro sleep rysynge, seide in his inwit, I shal goo out, as I dide before, and me I shal shaake out; vnknowinge that the Lord was goon awey fro hym. Whom whanne Philistiens hadden cauȝt, anoon thei drewen out his eyen, and ladden hym boundun with cheyns to Gazam, and closid in prisoun thei maden to grynde. And nowe his heeris bigunnen to growe aȝen; and the princis of Philistiens camen to gidre in oon, for to offre oostis of greet worship to Dagon, her god, and for to eete, seyinge, Oure god hath takun oure enemye Sampson into oure hoondis. The which also the puple seynge preyseden her god, and the same thing seiden, Oure god hath taken into oure hoondis oure aduersarie, the which hath doon a wey oure loond, and slayn many. And thei ioiynge bi feestis, nowe taken meetis, thei comaundiden, that Sampson shulde be clepid, and biforn hem pleye; the which lad out fro the prisoun pleyde beforn hem; and thei maden hym stoond bitwen two pileers. The whiche seide to the child gouernynge his goyngis, Leet me, that I towche the pileers on the whiche stoondith al the hows, that Y lene vpon hem, and a litil while reste. Forsothe the hows was ful of men and of wymmen, and there weren the princis of Philistiens, and of the roof and soleer aboute thre thowsand of either kynde, bidynge Sampson pleiynge. And he seith, the Lord inwardli clepid, Lord, my God, haue mynde of me, and ȝeeld to me nowe the fornhad strength, my God, that I wreche me on myn enemyes, and for the lesynge of two liȝtis o veniaunce I take. And catchynge the twey pileers, to the whiche al the hows stood, and the tother of hem with the riȝt, and the tother with the left holdynge, seith, Die my lijf with Philistien! And the pileers strongly smyten to gidere, the hows felle vpon alle the princis, and the tothir multitude, that there was; and many mo he slewȝ diynge, than beforn he slewȝ on lyue. And his bretheren comynge doun, and al his kynrede, token hys bodi, and byrieden it bitwix Saraa and Escahol, in the birielis of his fader Manue; and he demyde Yrael twenti ȝeer.
A maner man there was in that tyme of the hil of Effraym, Mychas bi name. The which seide to his moder, The thousand hundryd platis of siluer, the whiche thow seueredist to thee, and vpon the whiche me herynge thou swore, loo! Y haue, and anentis me ben. To whom she answerde, Blessid my sone to the Lord. Thanne he ȝeeldide hem to his moder; the which seide to hym, I haue sacrid and auowid this siluer to the Lord, that of myn hoond my sone tak, and mak a grauen thing and a ȝotun; and now I take it to thee. Thanne he ȝeeld to his moder; the which took two hundrid platis of siluer, and ȝaf hem to the siluer smith, that he make of hem a grauen thing and a ȝotun, the which was in the hows of Mychee. The which a litil hows forsothe in it to God seuerde; and made a coope, and theraphyn, that is, the prestis clooth, and mawmettis; and he fulfillid the hoond of oon of his sones, and he is maad to hym a preest. In tho dais was no kyng in Irael, but echon, what semyd to hym riȝt, that he dide. And there was another ȝonglynge of Bethlem of Juda, of the kynrede of him, and he was a Leuyte, and dwellide there. And gon out of the cytee of Bethlem pilgrimage he wold, where euere he founde profijt to hym. And whanne he was comen in to the hil of Effraym, and weye makynge hadde bowid doun a litil in to the hows of Myche, he is askid of hym, Whens comest thou? The which answerde, A Leuyte Y am of Bethlem of Juda, and I goo, that I dwelle where I shal mowe, and biholde to be profitable to me. Dwel, he seith, anentis me, and be to me fader and preest; and I shal ȝyue to thee bi eche ȝeer ten platis of siluer, and dowble clothinge, and what thingis ben necessarye to lijflod. And he asentide, and dwellyde anentis the man; and was to hym as oon of the sones. And Mycha fulfillid the hoond of hym, and hadde a child preest anentis hym, seiynge, Nowe I woot, that God wol doo wel to me, hauynge a preest of Leuytis kynde.
In tho days was no kyng in Yrael; and the lynage of Dan souȝte possessioun to hym, that he myȝte dwelle in it; forsothe vnto that day amonge othere lynagis he hadde takun no lot. Thanne senten the sones of Dannys stok, and of his meyne, fyue moost stronge men fro Saraa and Escahol, that thei aspien the loond, and bisily biholden. And thei seiden to hem, Gooth, and biholdith the loond. The whiche, whanne goynge thei weren comen into the hil of Effraym, and weren goon into the hows of Myche, thei restiden there. And knowynge the voys of the ȝonglynge Leuyte, and vsynge the restynge place of hym, thei seiden to hym, Who brouȝte the hidir? What here dost thow? For what cause hidir come thou woldist? The which answerde to hem, Thes thingis and thes thingis Mychas hath ȝeuen to me, and me bi meed hath hyrid, that I be to hym a preest. And thei preiden hym, that he shulde counseyl the Lord, and wite thei myȝten, whethir welsum weye thei shulden goo, and the thing shulde han effecte. The which answerde to hem, Gooth with pees, the Lord hath biholden ȝoure weye, and the gaat that ȝe goon. And so goynge the fyue men camen to Lachis; and thei seen the puple dwellinge in it withouten eny drede, after the vsage of Sydonyes, sikir and in rest, no man to hem vtterli withstondynge, and of greet ritchessis, and fer fro Sidon, and fro alle men seuerd. And thei turneden aȝen to her britheren in Saraa and Eschahol; and what thei hadden doo to hem askynge, thei answerden, Rysith, and stie we vp to hem; forsothe we han seen the loond ful riche and plenteuous; wolith not leeue, woleth not ceese, goo we, and weeld we it; no traueyle it shal be; we shulen goo into the sikyr, in to the regyoun moost brood; and the Lord shal taak to vs the place, in which is scarsnesse of no thing of hem that ben goten in the erthe. Thanne wenten of the kynrede of Dan, that is, of Saraa and Escahol, six hundrid men gird with armes of werre. And thei stiynge vp dwelliden in Cariathiarym of Jude, the which place fro that tyme took name of the Tentis of Dan, and is bihynde the bak of Kyriathiarym. Thens thei passiden into the hil of Effraym; and whanne thei weren comen to the hows of Myche, seiden the fyue men, that before hoond weren sent to the loond of Lachis to ben biholden, to her other britheren, Knowe ȝe, that in thes howsis be ephot, and theraphyn, and grauen thing and ȝoten; seeth what plesith to ȝou. And whanne a litil thei hadden bowid doun, thei wenten into the hows of the ȝonglynge Leuyte, that was in the hows of Myche, and thei salutiden hym with pesible wordis. Forsothe sixe hundrid men, so as thei weren armed, stoden before the dore. And thei, the whiche weren goon into the hous of the ȝong man, the grauen thing and ȝoten, and ephot, and theraphyn thei enforsiden to taak; and the preest stood before the dore, the sixe hundrid men moost stronge not ferre abidynge. Thanne tho ilk that entriden token the grauen thing, ephot, and the mawmettis, and the ȝoten; to whom seide the preest, What doon ȝe? To whom thei answerden, Whist, and put fynger vpon thi mouth, and com with vs, that we han thee fader and preest. Whether is it beter to thee, that thou be a preest in the hows of o man, othir in o lynage and meyne in Yrael? The which thing whanne he hadde herd, he assentyde to the wordis of hem, and took ephot, and the grauen thing, and mawmettis, and with hem wente. The whiche whanne weren goon, and before hem hadden maad children and beestis to goon, and al that was precious, and now whanne fro the hows of Myche thei weren ferre, the men that dwelliden in the howses of Myche, to gidre criynge folweden, and after the bak bigunne to crien. The whiche whanne thei hadden beholdun, thei seiden to Myche, What to thee wolt thow? whi criest thow? The whiche answerde, My goddis that I made to me, ȝe han takun, and a preest, and alle thingis that Y haue; and ȝe seyn, What is to thee? And the sones of Dan seiden to hym, Be war, lest eny more thou speke to vs, and men styred with corage comen to thee, and thou thi silf with al thin hows perishe. And so the bigunne weie thei wenten. Forsothe Mycha seynge, that thei weren strenger than him self, he turnyde aȝen into his hows. Forsothe sixe hundrid men token the preest and that we aboue seiden, and camen into Lachis to the puple restynge and siker; and thei smyten hem in mouth of swerd, and the cite with brennynge thei token, no man vtterly berynge sokour, forthi that ferre thei dwelten fro Sydon, and with noon of men thei hadden eny thing of felawship and of erand. Forsothe the citee was set in the regioun of Roob; the which eft makynge out dwelliden in it; the name of the citee is clepid Dan after the name of his fader, whom Irael gat, the which before Lachis was seid. And thei putten to hem a grauen thing, and Jonathan, the sone of Gerson, sone of Moysy, and the sones of hym, prestis in the lynage of Dan, vnto the day of his chetifte. And there dwellide anentis hem the mawmet of Myche, al the tyme that the hows of God was in Sylo.
In tho days was no kyng in Yrael. A maner man Leuyte was dwellinge in the side of the hil of Effraym, the which took a wijf in Bethlem Juda. The which lafte hym, and is turned aȝen into hir fader hows of Bethlem, and she dwellide anentis hym foure monethis. And hir man folwede hyr, wolnynge to be recounseild to hir, and to softli treten, and to brynge aȝen with hym; hauynge in ledynge a child, and two assis. The which took hym, and brouȝte hym into the hows of hyr fader; that whanne his fader in lawe hadde herd him, and seen, glad he aȝens cam to hym, and clepide the man. And the sone in lawe dwellide in the hows of the fader in lawe thre days, etynge and drynkynge with hym homeli. Forsothe the ferthe day fro nyȝt rysynge wold goo forth; whom with heelde the fader in lawe, and seith to hym, Tast rather a litil of breed, and comfort the stomak, and so thow shalt goo. And thei seten, and eten to gidir, and dronken. And the fader of the womman seide to his sone in lawe, Y biseche thee, that this day here thou dwelle, and to gider we gladen. And he rysyn ganne to wiln to goo forth; and neuerthelater the fader in lawe bisily heelde hym aȝen, and anentis hym he made hym to dwelle. Forsothe erely bigunne the Leuyte made redi the weye; to whom the fader in lawe eft, I biseche, he seith, that a litil of meet thou take, and strengthis nomen to the tyme that ful sprynge the day, and after go thow forth. Thei eten thanne to gider. And the ȝonglynge roos for to goo with his wijf and child; to whom eft spak the fader in lawe, Behoold, that the day is more bowid to the sunne goynge doun, and neiȝeth to the euen; dwel anentis me also this day, and lede a myrye day, and to morwe thou shalt goo forth, that thou goo into thin hows. The sone in lawe wolde not assente to his wordis; but anoon wente, and cam aȝens Jebuse, that bi another name is clepid Jerusalem, ledynge with hym two assis chargid, and a secoundarie wijf. And nowe thei camen nyȝ biside Jebus, and the day was turned into nyȝt. And the child seide to his lord, Com, I biseche, and bowe we down to the citee of Jebusees, and dwelle we in it. To whom answerde the lord, I shal not goo into the burgh toun of an alien folk, that is not of the sones of Yrael, but I shal passe to Gaba; and whanne thider I shal come, we shulen dwelle in it, othir certeyn in the citee of Rama. Thanne thei passiden Jebus, and the bigunnen weie thei wenten. And the sunne wente doun to hem biside Gaba, that is in the lynage of Beniamyn; and thei turneden biside to it, that thei myȝten dwelle there. Whider whanne thei entreden, thei seeten in the strete of the cytee, and no man hym wold resseyue in hows. And, loo! an oold man aperyde to hem turnynge aȝen fro the feeld, and fro his werk at euen, the which and he was of the hil of Effraym, and a pilgrime dwellide in Gaba. Forsothe the men of that regioun weren the sones of Gemyny. And areryd vp the eyen, the oold man sawȝ a man sittynge with his litil chargis in the strete of the cytee, and seide to hym, Whens comest thow? and whidre gost thow? The which answerde to hym, We ben comen fro Bethlem Juda, and we goon to oure place, that is in the side of the hil of Effraim, fro whennus we ȝeden to Bethlem; and nowe we goon to the hows of God, and no man vndur his roof resseyue vs, hauynge chaf and hay into the fodre of assis, and breed and wyn into myn, and of thin handmaydenys vsis, and of the child that is with me; no thing we neden, but hows. To whom answerde the oold man, Pees be with thee; I shal make redi alle thingis, that ben necessarye; oonli, I biseche, ne bide thow in the strete. And he brouȝte hym into his hows, and fodre to assis he ȝaf; and after that thei wesshen her feet, he took hem into metship. Hem etynge, and after the traueyl of the weye with meet and drynke fillinge the bodies, camen men of that cytee, the sones of Belial, that is, with outen ȝok, and enuyrownynge the hows of the oold man thei bigunnen to knoke the ȝatis; criynge to the lord of the hows, and seiynge, Bryng out the man that is goon into thin hows, that we mysusen hym. And the oold man wente oute to hem, and seith, Wolith not, bretheren, wolith not doon this yuel; for a man is goo into myn hows; and cees ȝe fro this foly. I haue a douȝter mayden, and this man hath a secoundarie wijf; I shal brynge hem out to ȝow, that ȝe lowen hem, and ȝoure lust ȝe fulfil; oonli, I byseche, ne this hidows gilt aȝens kynde ȝe worchen in the man. Thei wolden not assente to his wordis; the which thing biholdynge the man broute out to hem his secoundarie wijf, and to hem he took hir to be scorned. The which whanne al nyȝt thei hadden mysusid, thei laften hir eerly. And the womman, goynge aweie the derknessis, came to the dore of the hows, where dwellide hir lord, and there she felle down. The morwe tide doon, the man roos, and openede the dore for to fulfil the bigunne weye; and, loo! his secoundarie wijf lay at the dore, spred the hoondis in the threswold. To whom he wenynge hir to riste spak, Ryse, and goo we. The which no thing answerynge, vndurstondynge that she was deed, took hir, and putte on the asse; and he is turnyd aȝen into his hows. The which whanne he was goon yn, he cauȝte a swerd, and the careyn of the wijf with hir bonys in twelue parties and gobetis hewynge, he sente into alle the teermys of Yrael. The which thing whanne alle thei hadden seen, thei crieden to gidre, Neuer siche thing is don in Israel, fro that dai that oure faders stieden vp fro Egipt vnto the tyme that is nowe; ȝyueth sentens, and in comoun deme ȝe, what is nede to the deed.
And the sones of Yrael wenten out, and to gidre gedreden as o man, fro Dan vnto Bersabee, and fro the loond of Galaad to the hows of Maspha; and alle the corneres of puplis, and alle the lynages of Yrael camen to gidre into the chirche of the puple of God, foure hundryd thowsandis of foot men fiȝters. And it was not vnknowun to the sones of Beniamyn, that the sones of Yrael hadden stied vp into Maspha. And a Leuyte, the housboond of the slayn womman, askid, what maner wyse so myche hidows gilt were doon, he answerde, I cam into Gabaa of Beniamyn with my wijf, and thidre I turnede. And loo! the men of that cytee enuyrounden at nyȝt the hows, in the which Y dwelte, willynge to slee me, and my wijf traueylynge with vntrowable woodnes of lust, and therfor she is deed. The which taken Y hewȝ into gobetis, and I sente partis into alle the teermys of ȝoure possessioun; for neuer so myche felony and so myche trespas worthi to be punysshid is doon in Irael. Ȝe ben nyȝ to alle the sones of Yrael; demeth, what ȝe owen to doon. And stondynge al the puple as with word of o man answerd, We shulen not goon aȝen into oure tabernaclis, ne eny man shal goo into his hows; but this aȝens Gabaa in comoun we shulen doo. Ten men ben chosun of an hundrid, of alle the lynagis of Yrael, and an hundrid of a thowsand, and a thousand of ten thowsandis, that thei beren to the oost metis, and we fiȝtynge mowen aȝens Gabaa of Beniamyn ȝeelden to hym for the hidows gilt, that he deserueth. And al Yrael cam to gidre to the citee, as o man, in the same thouȝt and with o counseil. And thei senten messageris to al the linage of Beniamyn, the whiche shulden seye, Whi so myche felonye is foundun in ȝou? Takith the men of Gabaa, that this trespasse han doo, that thei dyen, and yuel be doo awey fro Yrael. The whiche wolden not here the mawndement of the sones of Yrael, her britheren, but of alle the cytees, that weren of her lot, camen togidre in Gabaa, that to hem thei myȝten bere helpe, and aȝens al the puple of Yrael fiȝten. And there ben founden fyue and twenti thowsandis of Beniamyn, of men drawynge out swerd, biside the dwellers of Gabaa, that weren seuen hundryd moost myȝti men, so with the lift as with the riȝt fiȝtynge, and so with slyngis stones at certeyn throwynge, that an heer forsothe thei myȝten smyte, and in to noon other partie the strook of the stoon shulde be born a weye. Forsothe of the men of Yrael, with outen the sones of Beniamyn, ben foundun foure hundrid thowsandis of men drawynge out the swerd and redi to the fiȝt. The whiche rysynge camen into the hows of God, that is in Silo; and thei counseylden hym, and seiden, Who shal be in oure oost prince of the strijf aȝens Beniamyn? To whom the Lord answerde, Judas be he ȝoure duyk. And anoon the sones of Yrael rysynge eerly setten tentis aȝens Gabaa. And thens goynge forth to the fiȝt aȝens Beniamyn, thei bigunnen to fiȝt aȝens the cytee. And the sones of Beniamyn goon out fro Gabaa, slowen of the sones of Irael that day two and twenti thowsandis of men. And eft the sones of Yrael and in strength and in noumbre trustynge, in the same place in which rather thei stryuen, thei dresseden the sheltroun; so neuerthelater that before thei stieden, and wepten before the Lord vnto the nyȝt, and counseilden hym, and seiden, Shal I more goon forth to fiȝten aȝens the sones of Beniamyn, my bretheren, or nay? To whom he answerde, Stieth vp to hem, and goth into the strijf. And whanne the sones of Yrael the tother day aȝens Beniamyn to the batayl weren goon, the sones of Beniamyn breken out fro the ȝatis of Gabaa, and aȝen comynge to hem, so mych slauȝter thei mich wexen wood in hem, that eiȝt and twenti thousandis of men drawynge out swerdis thei threwen doun. For what thing alle the sones of Yrael camen into the hows of God, and sittynge thei wepten before the Lord, and thei fastiden that day vnto euen; and thei offreden to him brent sacrifices and pesible sleyn sacrificis, and vpon her staat thei askiden. That tyme was there the arke of the boond of pees of God in Sylo; and Phynees, the sone of Eliazar, sone of Aaron, was prouost of the hows. Thanne thei counseilden the Lord, and seiden, Shulen we more goon out to the fiȝt aȝens the sones of Beniamyn oure bretheren, othir resten? To whom seith the Lord, Stieth vp, forsothe to morwe I shal taak hem into ȝoure hoondis. And the sones of Yrael putten busshementis bi the enuyroun of the cytee of Gabaa; and the thridde sithe as oons and twyes aȝens Beniamyn the oost brouȝte forth. But and the sones of Beniamyn hardili breken out of the cytee, and the aduersaryes fleynge lenger thei pursueden, so that thei woundiden of hem, as the first day and the secounde, and slowen bi two pathis the turninge backis; of the whiche oon beer into Bethel, and the tothir into Gabaa. And thei threwen doun aboute thretti men; forsothe thei wenden in the wont maner to sleen hem; the whiche feynynge fliȝt at the bigynnynge, wenten in counseil for to drawe hem a wey fro the cytee, and as fleynge to bryngen to the forseide pathis. And so alle the sones of Yrael rysynge fro her seetis tiȝten shiltron in the place that is clepid Baalthamar. Forsothe the busshementis, that about the cytee weren, litil melome hem seluen bigunnen to opne, and fro the west parti of the citee to goon forth. But and othere ten thousandis of men of Yrael dwellers of the cytee terreden to stryues; and the bateil is agreggid aȝens the sones of Beniamyn, and thei vndurstoden not, that on alle sidis to hem stood yn deeth. And the Lord smoot hem in the siȝt of the sones of Yrael, and thei slowen of hem in that day fyue and twenti thowsandis and an hundrid men, alle fiȝters and drawinge out swerd. Forsothe the sones of Beniamyn, whanne thei hadden seen hem self to be the nethermore, thei bigunne to flee. The which thing biholdynge the sones of Yrael, ȝeuen to hem place to flee, that thei miȝten come to the maad redi busshementis, the whiche bisyde the cytee thei setten. The whiche whanne hadden ryse sodeynly fro the hidilis, and Beniamyn ȝaf backis to the sleers, thei wenten into the cytee, and smyten it in mouth of swerd. Forsothe the sones of Yrael hadden ȝeuen a tokne to hem that weren sett in busshementis, that after that thei hadden take the cytee, fier thei shulden teend, and the smook stiynge vp into heiȝt, thei shulden shewe the cytee takun. The which thing whanne the sones of Yrael put in that strijf shulden biholde; forsothe the sones of Beniamyn wenden hem to fleen, and more bisily folweden, sleyn of the oost of hem thretti men; and thei seen as a piler of smook fro the citee to stien vp; forsothe Beniamyn biholdynge bihynde, whanne he sawȝ the cytee takun, and the flawmis to be born into heiȝt, the whiche beforehond feyneden fliȝt, turnede the face strongly withstoden. The which thing whanne the sones of Beniamyn hadden seen, thei ben turned in fliȝt, and to the weye of deseert thei bigunne to goon; forsothe thider hem aduersaryes pursuynge, but and thes, that setten the toun on fier, aȝen comynge to hem. And so it is doon, that on either parti thei ben slayn of enemyes, ne there was eny reste of men dyynge; and thei fellen, and ben throwen down at the eest coost of the cytee of Gabaa. Forsothe there weren, that in the same place ben slayn, eiȝteen thousandis of men, al moost stronge fiȝters. The which thing whanne hadden seen that leften of Beniamyn, thei flowen into wildirnes, and wenten to the stoon, whos name is Remmon. Forsothe in that fliȝt opynli hidir and thider rennynge and into dyuerse placis goynge thei slowen fyue thowsandis of men; and whanne ferther thei wenten, thei pursueden hem, and slewen also othere two thowsandis. And so is doo, that alle that fellen of Beniamyn in dyuerse placis, weren fyue and twenti thowsandis, fiȝters at batayls moost redy. And so there laften of al the noumbre of Beniamyn, that myȝten scape, and fleen into wildernesse, sixe hundred men; and thei setten in the stoon of Remmon foure monethis. Forsothe the sones of Yrael goon out, smyten with swerd al the relif of the cyte, fro man vnto beest; and alle the citees and lytil touns of Beniamyn deuowrynge flawm waastide.
The sones forsothe of Yrael hadden sworn in Maspha, and seiden, Noon of vs shal ȝyue to the sones of Beniamyn of his douȝtris a wijf. And alle thei camen to the hows of God in Sylo, and in the siȝt of hym sittynge vnto euen thei rereden a voys, and with greet ȝeelynge bigunnen to wepe, seiynge, Whi, Lord God of Yrael, this yuel ys doo in thi puple, that this day o lynage be doon awei fro vs? Forsothe the tothir day eerli rysynge thei maden vp an auter, and offreden there brent sacrificis and pesible sleyn offryngis, and seiden, Who stiede not vp in the oost of the Lord of alle the lynagis of Yrael? Forsothe with greet ooth thei bounden hem seluen, whanne thei weren in Maspha, hem to be slayn that thennus weren. And lad by othenkynge the sones of Yrael vpon her brother Beniamyn, thei bigunnen to seyn, There is doon awey o lynage fro Irael; whens shulen thei taake wyues? forsothe alle in comyn we han sworn vs not to ȝyue oure douȝtres to hem. And therfor thei seiden, Who is of alle the lynagis of Irael, that stiede not vp to the Lord in to Maspha? And loo! there ben foundun dwellers of Jabis Galaad not haue ben in that oost. Forsothe that tyme, whanne thei weren in Sylo, noon of hem is foundun there. And so thei senten ten thousand moost stronge men, and comaundiden to hem, Goth, and smitith the dwellers of Jabis Galaad in mouth of swerd, as wel wymmen as the litil children of hem. And this shal be, that ȝe shulen kepe wel, alle of maal kynde and wymmen, that han knowun men, sleeth; maydens kepe ȝe. And there ben foundun of Jabis Galaad foure hundryd maydens, that knewen not the bed of man; and thei brouȝten hem to the tentis in Silo, in to the loond of Chanaan. And thei senten messagers to the sones of Beniamyn, that weren in the stoon of Remmon; and thei comaundiden to hem, that thei shulden take hem in pees. And the sones of Beniamyn camen in that tyme, and ben ȝeuen to hem wyues of the douȝtres of Jabis Galaad; forsothe other thei founden, the whiche lijk maner thei shulden take. And al Yrael greetli sorowide, and dide othenkynge vpon the slauȝter of o lynage of Yrael. And the more thurth birth seiden, What shulen we doo to the tother, that han take no wyues? Alle the wymmen in Beniamyn fellen togidre, and with greet bisynes to vs and myche stodye it is to puruey, lest o lynage be doon awey fro Yrael. Oure douȝtres we mowen not ȝyue to hem, bounden bi ooth and cursynge, in the which we han seide, Cursid that shal ȝyue of his douȝtris a wijf to Beniamyn. And thei token counseil, and seiden, Loo, the solempnete of the Lord is in Silo, torn aboute bi the ȝeer, that is set at the north of the cytee of Bethel, and at the eest coost of the weye that goth fro Bethel to Siccymam, and to the south of the burȝ toun of Lebona. And thei comaundiden to the sones of Beniamyn, and seiden, Goth, and lurkith in the vynes; and whan ȝe seen the douȝtris of Sylo at the dauncis to be lad aftir the maner to goo forth, goth out sodeynly out of the vines, and takith hem, eche sondry wyues, and goth into the loond of Beniamyn. And whanne the faders of hem and britheren comen, and aȝens ȝou bigynnen to pleyne and chiden, we shulen seye to hem, Hath mercy on hem; forsothe thei rauysheden not hem bi lawe of fiȝters and of ouercomers; but to hem preyinge, that thei myȝten take, ȝe han not ȝeuen; and on ȝoure parti is the synne. And the sones of Beniamyn diden as to hem was comaundid, and after her noumbre thei rauyssheden to hem, of hem that ladden dauncis, sondry wyues. And thei wenten into her possessioun, bildynge vp cytees, and dwellynge in hem. Forsothe the sones of Yrael turneden aȝen, bi lynagis and meynees, into her tabernaclis. In tho days was no kyng in Yrael, but ech on that to hym semyde ryȝt, that dide he.
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