L.12.79KD.12.72 For Moyses witnesseth þat god wrote · for to wisse þe peple
M.12.79KD.12.72For Moyses witytnesseth þat god wrot for to wisse þe p.eple
Cr1.12.79KD.12.72 For Moses witnesseth þat god wrote , þe puple to wish
C.12.78KD.12.72 For Moises witnesse þat god wroot · for to wisse the pepile
G.13.79KD.12.72 for moyses wytnessethe þat god wrote for to wysse the poeple
R.12.82KD.12.72 For moyses witnesseth þat god wrote for to wise þe poeple
.
F.9.199KD.12.72For god wroot to Moyses / þat he sholde wisse þe peple. The elaborate hypotactic structure of Bx and the loss of a line in alpha appear to have defeated the revising scribe. He retains key words, but fails adequately
to capture the sense. Bx reads for this passage:
For Moyses witnesseþ þat god wroot for to wisse þe peple
In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleþ þat was þe lawe of Iewes
That what womman were in auoutrye taken wher she riche or poore
Wiþ stones men sholde hir strike and stone hire to deþe
A womman as we fynden was gilty of þat dede
Ac crist of his curteisie þoruȝ clergie hir saued
For þoruȝ caractes þat crist wroot þe Iewes knewe hemselue
Giltier as afore god and gretter in synne.