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Before that spot my honde I spenned
For care ful colde that to me caght;
A devely dele in my hert denned,
Thagh resoun sette my selven saght.
I playned my perle that ther was spenned
Wyth fyrce skylles that faste faght;
Thagh kynde of Kryst me comfort kenned,
My wreched wylle in wo ay wraghte.
I felle upon that floury flaght,
Suche odour to my hernes schot;
I slode upon a slepyng-slaghte
On that precios perle wythouten spot

II

Fro spot my spyryt ther sprang in space;
My body on balke ther bod in sweven.
My gost is gon in Godes grace
In aventure ther mervayles meven.
I ne wyste in this worlde quere that hit wace,
Bot I knew me keste ther klyfes cleven.
Towarde a foreste I bere the face,
Where rych rokkes wer to dyscreven.
The lyght of hem myght no mon leven,
The glemande glory that of hem glent;
For wern never webbes that wyyes weven
Of half so dere adubbement.
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Before that spot I clasped my hand,
In chilling care my heart was caught;
A bitter grief my soul unmanned
Though reason wiser comfort sought.
I mourned my pearl from freedom banned
With arguments that fiercely fought;
Though Christ's grace bade me understand
My wretched will fresh sorrow brought.
On flowery sward I fell, distraught;
Such fragrance to my senses shot
In deepest sleep I dreamt, methought,
On that dear pearl without a spot.

II

That spot my spirit fled apace
And let my body dreaming lie.
My soul set forth in God's good grace
To range where marvels multiply.
In all this world I knew no place
Like this, where such cliffs clove the sky.
Towards the woods I turned my face,
Where splendid rocks I could descry.
None could believe aught could supply
Such gleaming glory to the sight;
No fabric that men weave could vie
With all that glorious splendour bright


Before the spot I clasped my hands, because of the chill sorrow that overcame me; a desolating grief lay deep in my heart, though reason sought to reconcile me. I mourned my pearl that was imprisoned there with fierce dissention that earnestly fought; though the nature of Christ taught me comfort, my wretched will still caused me sorrow. I fell upon that flowery sward, such fragrance to my senses shot; I slid into a deep slumber on that precious pearl without a spot.

From that place my spirit sprang into space; my body remained there dreaming on the grave-mound. By the grace of God my soul set forth on a quest to where wonders happen. I knew not where in this world I was, but knew that I was cast where cliffs cleave [the sky]. Towards a forest I turned my face where splendid rocks were to be seen. The radiance of them no man could believe, [nor] the gleaming glory that from them shone; for never did men weave fabrics of half such glorious splendour.

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