80

OverviewTranscribeVersionsHelp

Facsimile

Transcription

Status: Complete
Show Translation

80

Dindimus letter to Alexander.

Neither need
they mercy.
They have no
avarice, adul-
tery, or
lechery, and
have therefore
no penance or
sudden death.

They are ar-
rayed in no
bright clothes.

They always
keep to the
same trades.

They use no
baths.

They will
make no other
man serve
them.

They have no
houses nor
vessels, but
live in caves
and crags.
They sleep on
the earth.
* Leaf 33 bk.
Their houses
become their
graves.
They sail not
the seas for
trade.

They seek no
eloquence but
rather sim-
plicity of
speech. They
have no philo-
sophers, for
such are liars
and of un-
steadfast
speech.
But in their
schools they
learn wisdom
and righteous-
ness.

They love not
plays.

we schulde be called^vn-to dome. A law ])are es ]>ai es contrary
til oure kynde. For we do na mercy, bi-cause we do no thyng
whare-fore we sulde aske mercy. We do na Isibour pat p«rtene5
to couetise or auarice. We giffe no3te oure bodyse to lechorye,
we do nane advowtrye, ne we do na synn) whare-fore vs sulde
nede to do penance. AVe fynde na fawte in na thynge, For we
alt does that ]?at righte es. We dye na sodeyne dede, For
thurgti foule dedis we corupte no^te J»e ayere. We vse na
clathes pat are littede of dyuerse coloures. Oure wiffes ne are
nojte gayly arayed* for to plese vs. Ne wit J^am) we comon) no5te
bi-cause of luste of lecherye, bot bi-cause of childre getynge.
Our wyfPes sekes na noper clethynge, ]?afD pQ forluke of goddT
base granted' Jjam). And whaa dare take apon) hym for to
chaunge his wirkynge, an heghe syn) vs thynke it ware tilt any
mafD for to presume to do it. Baththis vse we nane, ne warme
wat^r to wasclie oure bodys wit att. pe Son) mynistres vs hete,
and pe dewe of pe ayer ministre5 vs moyster & wete. We hafe
na thoghte of na thynge, ne we schewe na lordechipe abownn)
oper men) pat ere lyke vn-titt us. For a grete crueltee we
halde it to constreyne a man) to serue vs, whayme kynde &
pe forluke of godd' base made oure broJ>er als fre als we are.
We brynne na stanes for to make lyme off and pare-wit to make
vs bowses at duette in, and curiouse palasej : ne vessett make
we nane. In caues or creuycej of cragges we duelle, whare thare
comej na noyse of wyndes * ne whare vs thare drede na rayne.
On pe erthe we slepe wit-owtten) any besyness^. Swilk
how^ses we hafe; in pe whilke, whils we lyffe, we duette,
and wliefD we dye, psij ere oure graues. We sayle no^te in
pe see aboute na merchandyse, in J^e whilke J^ay suffre many
p^ritts pat sayles pare'm & many m^ruaylles can) tett offe.
The crafte of Eloquence & faire speche, lere we no^te for to
polishe oure wordes ; Bot thurgh pe sympilnesse pat we hafe
pat suffres vs no3te to lye, alt oure speche we speke. Scoles
of philosophres haunt wee no3te, whase techechynge^ es
alway discordand <fe na thynge certayne, ne stabitt diffines,
bot for pe mare partye lyes. Bot f)a scoles we haunte in pe
whilke we lere to lyffe vertuosly and also thynges pat teches
vs for to do no wrange to no man). Bot aft^r verray right-
wisnesse to helpe ilk man) at oure powere. Plays lufe we nane.

J

12

i6

20

24

I

28

32

36

Notes and Questions

Nobody has written a note for this page yet

Please sign in to write a note for this page