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For
shamefast harm of great and hatefull nede
:
In
depe despayre, as did a wretch
go,
With
ready corde, out of his
life to spede :
His
stumbling foote did finde
an hoorde, lo,
Of
golde I say : where he preparde
this dede ;
And
in eschange, he left the
corde, tho
He
that had hidde the golde,
and founde it not,
Of
that he founde, he shapte
his neck a knot.
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For shamefast harm,
of great and hatefull need,
In
deep despair, as did a wretch
go,
With
ready cord, out of his life
to speed,
His
stumbling foot did find an
hoard, lo,
Of
gold I say, where he prepared
this deed.
And
in exchange, he left the cord,
though
He
that had hid the gold, and found
it not,
Of
that he found, he shaped his
neck a knot.
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NOTES
for
shamefast harm = as a result of shames
which had injured him.
of
great and hateful need = (and) because
of great neediness, which was repellent to him (hateful).
as
did a wretch go = a wretched person
once did go.
with
ready cord = with a rope prepared,
so that he could hang himself.
out
of his life to speed = so as to quit
this life speedily.
where
he prepared this deed = at the very
spot where he had intended to slay himself.
of
that he found = from the thing that
he found, i.e. the rope.
he
shaped his neck = he made for his neck
(so as to hang himself).
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