Manuscripts and Special Collections
WLC/LM/9, ff. 169r-v: ‘Speculum Vitae’, lines 10991-11032 (composed mid-14th century, English)
Transcript
¶ For spousayle is as men may se
A state of gret autorite
Of dignite and of holynes
Þorow þese þre spousayle stabled es
¶ Of gret autorite is it
As bereth witnes holy writ
For whi oure lord god rightwise
Hit stabled first in paradyse
In the state of obedience
Or euer man synned þorow neclygence
Þerfore men schuld þorow al her myght
Þat state kepe clene bothe day and nyght
As techeth and biddeth holy writ
Be resoun of god þat stabled hit
And be resoun of þe stede clene
Þer it was first stabled sene
¶ Also spousayle is an hey state
Of gret dignite as clerkes wate
A state of gret autorite
Of dignite and of holynes
Þorow þese þre spousayle stabled es
¶ Of gret autorite is it
As bereth witnes holy writ
For whi oure lord god rightwise
Hit stabled first in paradyse
In the state of obedience
Or euer man synned þorow neclygence
Þerfore men schuld þorow al her myght
Þat state kepe clene bothe day and nyght
As techeth and biddeth holy writ
Be resoun of god þat stabled hit
And be resoun of þe stede clene
Þer it was first stabled sene
¶ Also spousayle is an hey state
Of gret dignite as clerkes wate
Translation
The sacrament of marriage is, as men say, a state of excellent authority, of spiritual worth, and of holiness. Through these three things marriage is permanently ordained. It is of excellent authority, as Holy Writ bears witness, because our good Lord God established it in Paradise first, in that state of obedience, before man sinned through negligence.
Therefore, man should try to remain in a pure state, both day and night, as is taught and required in Holy Writ, by God’s reason, who established it, and because of the holy place [Paradise, the Garden of Eden] where it was first established and seen.
Also, marriage is a high state, of great dignity, as learned men know,
