The Text

The Poema Morale, a sermon written by an unknown preacher in the South-Eastern dialect around the year 1170, is the earliest example of middle English literature. The meter is the first known adaption of the Latin septenary in English literature. Concerned with the sins of the people the sermon was very popular for a long time and is preserved in seven versions, varying in length and in wording. The earliest version is contained in the Lambeth Manuscript (written towards the end of the twelfth century), which is presented here.

Poema Morale

Appendix

Sources/Colophon