\STU DIA IN
THE LIBRARY
of
VICTORIA UNIVERSITY Toronto
toil )otm8 of iitramt
PART II
(WITH A FEW FROM THE DIGBY MSS. 2 AND 86).
EDITED BY
F. J. FUENIVALL, M.A. CAMBRIDGE,
HON. DR. PHIL. BERLIN.
[Part III, the Introduction and Glossary, by Miss F. LEJEUNE, of Somerville College, Oxford (a First-Class in English, June WOO}, is preparing, and will be issued in 1901.]
LONDON : PUBLISHT FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
BY KEGA.N PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO,,
PATERNOSTER HOUSE, CHARING-CROSS ROAD. 1901
PR 0
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PHILADELPHIA : J. B. L1PPINCOTT & CO.
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Original £mtx, No. 117. R. CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON & BUNG AY.
CONTENTS OF THE VERNON MS.
MINOR POEMS.
PART II.
PAGE
XXXIX. OF J)RE MESSAGERS OF DEETH ... ... ... 443
XL. TWO SONGS OF LOVE-LONGING ... ... ... 449
XLI. A LUYTEL TRETYS OF LOUE. OF CODES PASSYON 462
XLII. OF CLENE MAYDENHOD ... ... ... ... 464
XLI1I. A MOURNYNG SONG OF THE LOUE OF GOD ... 469 XLIV. HER IS A LUYTEL SARMOUN, J?AT IS OF GOOD
EDIFICACIOUN ... ... ... ... 476
XLV. HER IS A DISPUTISON BI-TWENE CHILD IHESU &
MAISTRES OF ])E LA WE OF JEWUS ... ... 479
XLVI. A DISPUTISON BY-TWENE A CRISTENEMON AND A
JEW 484
XLVII. HOW TO HEAR MASS 493
XLVIII. SAYINGS OF ST. BERNARD: MAN'S THREE FOES ... 511 XLIX. PROUERBES OF DIUERSE PROFETES AND OF POETES
AND OF O))UR SEYNTES ... ... ... 522
L. HER BI-GINNEjj LUYTEL CATON ... ... ... 553
LI. THE STAOIONS OF ROME ... ... ... ... 609
LII. DISPUTATION BETWEEN MARY AND THE CROSS ... 612
LIII. SUSANNAH, OR SEEMLY SUSAN 626
LIV. TESTAMENTUM CHRISTI ... ... ... ... 637
LV. THIRTY POEMS, MOST WITH REFRAINS :
1. MERCY PASSES ALL THINGS ... ... ... 658
2. DEO GRACIAS I ... ... ... ••• ^64
3. AGAINST MY WILL, I TAKE MY LEAVE ... 666
4. GOD IS LOVE ... ... ... ... ... 668
5. DEO GRACIAS II ••• ^70
6. EACH MAN OUGHT HIMSELF TO KNOW ... 672
7. THINK ON YESTERDAY ... ... ••• 675
8. KEEP WELL CHRIST'S COMMANDMENTS ... 680
9. WHO SAYS THE SOOTH, HE SHALL BE SHENT 683
Contents.
PAGE
10. FY ON A FAINT FRIEND ! ... 686
11. THANK GOD OF ALL ... 688
12. THIS WORLD FARES AS A FANTASY ... 692
13. AY, MERCY, GOD ! ... ... 696
14. TRUTH EVER IS BEST 699
15. CHARITY IS NO LONGER DEAR 701
16. OF WOMEN COMETH THIS WORLDES WEAL ... 704
17. THE PRAISE OF MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST 708
18. MAIDEN MARY AND HER FLEUR DE LYS ... 711
19. SELDOM SEEN IS SOON FORGOT ... ... 715
20. A WARNING TO BE WARE ... ... ... 719
21. LOVE HOLY CHURCH AND ITS PRIESTS ... 721
22. TRY TO SAY THE BEST. CONTROL YOUR TONGUE 723
23. TARRY NOT TILL TO-MORROW ... ... 725
24. MAKE AMENDS FOR THY SINS ... ... 727
25. SUFFER IN TIME, AND THAT IS BEST ... 730
26. MANE NOBISCUM, DOMINE ! ... ... ... 733
27. A PRAYER TO THE VIRGIN MARY 735
28. A PRAYER TO THE TRINITY 740
29. BUT THOU SAY SOOTH, THOU SHALT BE SHENT 740
30. A MORNING THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER TO GOD 744 VARIOUS READINGS TO THE VERNON MS. ... ... 747
APPENDIX. A FEW POEMS FROM THE DIGBY MSS. 2 AND 86, AND ANOTHER LEAF :
1. CHRIST ON THE CROSS ... ... ... 753
2. HAIL, MARY! ... ... ... ... ... 755
3. A RESOLVE TO REFORM ... ... ... 756
4. LES DIZ DE SEINT BERNARD COMENCEENT 1CI,
TRES BEAUS ... ... ... ... ... 757
5. VBI SOUNT QUI ANTE NOS FUEROUNT 1 ... 761 G. CHAUNCOUN DE NOUSTRE DAME ... ... 763
7. HERE BIGINNEJJ ])E SAWE OF SEINT BEDE, PREST 765
8. COMENT LE SAUTER NOUSTRE DAME FU PRIMES
CUNTROUE 777
0. A CONFESSION OF SINS, AND A PRAYER TO
CHRIST 785
XXXIX. Three Messengers of Death.
443
[xxxix. ©f ]>u uuwgm rf
Her biginnef a tretis Of freo Messagers of def , I-wis. Mon fat is of wommon I-bore, His lyf nis heere but a f rowe — So sei]) lob vs heer-bi-fore Al in a Bok fat I wel knowe. 4
He hedde is Muynde al of his def , Wel sore lie con grone and grunte, And seide his lyf nas bote a Bref , Heer mou we none stounde stunte. 8
ffrom def may no mon be fre, ffor his ri}te wol he not lete. Now beof f er Messagers fre A-Mong Monkuynde for to meete : 12
Auenfrures, Seeknesse, and Elde — Jpeos beof Messagers of def ; To hem we moten vs alle ^elde And louten J?er vr Maystres ge]?. 16
Whon Deth come)? fat is so derk, for May no Mon him wif-stonde ; I take witnesse on a noble Clerk
ftat wrot f eos vers wif his honde : 20
Mors necat athletas,1 1 MS. vetat ath letas Ego mortis nesdo metas, I[n]terl Res letas, * MS. iter
Caueat siH guelibet etas — 24
" Def, he sleth fis kempes kene, And kynges in heore worfly won, Eiche & pore alle bi-dene, 3ong ne Old spare f he non." 28
1 So the title in Index. The poem was ed. before in Herrig's Archiv LXXIX, p. 432. It is an old imitation of the "Sayings of S. Bernhard," XLV. VEENON MS.
Disasters,
Sickness, and
Old Age.
Man's life is but a while.
Job groand and grunted, and said his life was only a breath.
Death's Three Mes- sengers are Disasters, Sickness, and Old Age.
No man can
withstand
Death.
He slays Warriors, Kings, Rich, Poor,
Young, and Old.
G G
444
His first Messenger
Disasters,
falls un- awares on husband, wife, child,
and knight on horseback.
Whoever Disaster takes in sin unshriven, goes to Hell.
Let every man beware, for Disasters come as a thief in the night.
Death's Second Mes- senger is Sickness.
r. pis
XXXIX. Three Messengers of Death.
]5er is on of f is Messagers J3at of no mon wol take niede ; He is so hardi and so fers ))at alle Men of him haue drede : TVE1 Messager hette Auentours ; 1
J A3eynes him may beo no strif ; Whon he comef to a Monnes hous, He takef bof e hosebonde & f e wyf.
He takef f e child In his Cradel, Jpeih he beo bot o niht old ; \)e kniht and horse in his sadel I-a[r]med, beo he neuer so bold.
Of him beo vche Mon I-war And mak him clene, ar he beo hent ; ffor \er nis no jeyn-char, Whon Auentures comef to twrnement.
Mony rnon lihf in dedly synne And wenef fat he beo not vey3e, And Auentures comef w^'f his ginne And hontuf til he haue his preye.
In dedly sunne ho1 is I-founde '
Wif-outerfc schrift and repentauwce, He gef in to helle-grounde, ]per to sufFre his penauwce.
Seint Poul bit we schulderc awake — )5is Clerkes witen as wel as I — ftat we schnlden vs clene make And of vr sinnes ben sori ;
And bote we ben, we schulen abugge; Jper schal lio pledur plede fat ; ))er God vs fynt, he wol vs lugge — Nou vche Mon be war bi fat.
fdor Auentures wol come as a f ef Be nihte, whon men ben aslepe, And taken awey fat him is leef — Nou awakef, fat 36 mowe him kepe.
ANof er Messager f er is Of Def , whon m'st wol him sende : Seknesse, Ichaue I-herd ar f is, ]pe Messager is swif e hende.
32
36
MS. he
44
48
52
56
60
64
68
XXXIX. Three Messengers of Death.
Whon seeknesse come)) to a mon, He may*be war $if he is sleih, And greifen his In, }if ]?at he con, And jjenken J?at dej? is swi]?e neih. 72
ffor seknesse come]? apertely, He ne dare]) not in his den ; Hit is vre lordes Cortesy WiJ> seknesse for to warne men.
Mony Men, whon fat heo beoj? seke, To Ihesu Crist a clepen and cri^e And to his Mylde Mooder eke And sigge : " now Jjou help, Marie !
3if ])at we mowe be sound and sane And keuere, J?at we mowe?z habbe^ vr hele, Al jje good pat we haue ffor Godes loue we wolen hit dele." 84
We loue wel God in al vr ]>ou^ While we beo seeke & sore smerte ; Whon we beojj hoi, we louen him nou^t, He nis no lengor in vre herte — 88
Cum few langorem, ffero Religionis amorem ; Expers langoris NOIL sum memor huius amoris. 92
Of crist ne take)? he no?^ hede, He naj) no more wty him to donne ; To Jjonkerc him for his goode dede, He fenkej) no more J>er-vpponne. 96
Suche men ben ofte al-one I-let To pleye as ]>e foul in fe lift, Til Auentures haue wij> hem met, Be-ReueJ) hem bofe hosel and schrift. 100
Men oujten holder vp bofe heore honden To God, while heo ben hoi and feere, To sende, whon he wol hem fonde?^, Seeknesse to ben heore Messagere. 104
Seynt poul seijj, vre lordes kniht, In a pistel J>at he wrot, })at he was strengest & most of miht Whon god him wij? seknesse smot. 108
445
Sickness
comes
openly,
and is God's courtesy to 7 6 warn men.
80
We love God while we're ill ; but when we're well, we forget Him.
Such men are left to play like birds in the air, till Disaster strikes them.
Men should pray God to send them Sickness.
a G 2
446
XXXIX. Three Messengers of Death.
Death's Third Mes- senger is Old Age.
Old Age is like a man kept out of his Lord's gate by the Porter,
who shuts it.
Tho' a roan is 80, his life is woe.
We dwell here but a while.
Death spares not Emperor, King, or Pope.
NOw ichulle siggen ou of Elde, Of Messagers he is f e f ridde. Whon Morales he<i bigiraief to elde, He may not do but beodes bidde.
And he leonef vppon his Crucche, "Whon def him beknef , comen he mot ; Hit helpef noi^t f auh he grucche, He schal wif-stonde neuer a fot.
Also fare}) Elde as do]? a sweyn ]3at stondef at his lordes 3 ate And mot not wenden in a^eyn, ffor f e po[r]ter fat is f er-ate ;
ffor no $iftes fat he may 3iuen, Ne f eire wordes fat he mai speken ; He worf out atte $ate I-driuen, Anon J)e $ate for him is steken.
3if a Mon may libben heer And ben of pouwer for to go J?e Elde of ffoure-score 3er, Jpat of er del is serwe and wo.
ffor hose wole his lyf be-holde irrom biginnynge to pe ende, Wei ofte may his herte colde j)at not what wey he schal wende ;
Wei we witen we schule be ded, Vr dwellyng her nis bote a while — Ihesu crist vs wisse and rede, jpat neuer J>e ffend ne do vs gyle. —
!Nou is de]> a wonder ping And grislich for to Jjenken on ; He ne spare}) Emperour ne kyng, Ne Pope for al J>e good fat he con.
Wher ben heo fat biforen vs weoren, Jjat weore so mihti in heore deden, Houndes ladden and haukes beeren1 An hontyng hei3e vppon heore steeden 1
Def hit haf hem al by-raft, Wip hem fer nis no more pley. And al fat beref monnes schaft, Schal go fat ilke selue wey.
112
116
120
124
128
132
136
140
1 Same v. in Sayings of St. Bernhard, v. 182,
144
148
XXXIX. Three Messengers of Death. 447
Yche Mon may be sore aferd AH should
)5at hap a soule for to sane,
Whon he gep bi a Chirche-^erd who go by a
And seop wher dede men be]? I-graue. 152
Biche men habbep riche stones. ]?at alle men mouwe biholde : )3er-vnder liggep foule bones, I-beddet al in Clop of colde. 156
Wei pore halle per is I-maked, Poor hail is
T,T., , , in the grave:
Wip-outen eny worldes winne ;
Saue a Clout, men beop al naked,
Whon dep is comen I-cast per-Inne. 160
)3e halle-Eoof is cast ful lowe, the roof is
ber beob none Chaumbres wyde ;
J
Me may reche IpQ helewowe
And pe wal on vche a syde. 164
Heore bodies1 pat weorew so softe I-bapen2 l r.bodie bodies are full And I-brou^t forp wip Mete and drynk,
))er hit schal crepe ful of Mapen — of maggots,
In al pis world nis foulore stynk. 168
A Mon pat such a bodi se^e Whon wormes hit hap porw-souht, He ou^te wepe wip his 636 And euere haue him in his pouht. 172
J2er nis non so luyte ne so muche j}at is of fflesch, blod and bon, })at we ne schule ben alle suche, Whon we ben huled vnder a ston. 176
Hou may eny mon be proud HOW can any
, one be proud
ffor eny ping pat he may gete,
Whon he is huled vnder a schroud,
J)at bing pat is wormes mete? 180 of what is
worms' food ?
))at ping pat is vr moste fo, J^erfore we don a gret folye To loue pat ping pat dop vs wo, And eke vr dedliche enemye. 184
3if a Mon may libben lieer if you live
as long as
As longe as dude Matussale — • Methusaieh,
hundred & nyne & sixti 3er 969 years,
So longe on eorpe liuede he — 188
448
XXXIX. Three Messengers of Death.
that is but a few hours compared to eternity.
A Man in Hell shall weep more than oceans- ful, at 1 tear
a day.
No alms, or
prayers '11 get
a man out of
Hell.
But Heaven is
our heritage,
if we serve
God.
Sinner, come to Christ, and His joy!
}3at nis not also muche tyme A3eynes f e tyme fat come]) afterward As fro f e sowne-rysing to prime — To suwfol men fat is ful hard.
)3at I schal seye nou take}? kepe, I drawe to witnesse seynt Austyn : j?at a Mon schal more wepe Jpat dampned is to helle-pyn,
J?en is water vnder f e sonne, And he wepe vche day a ter. Auisef ow now, $if fat 36 cunne, And dof fat $e ne come not f er !
A Mon fat dampned is to helle, His peyne may not ben for-bou^t, Ac endeles he schal f er dwelle ; Almes-dede helpef him nouht.
)2ei alle men fat libbej? noufe Weore prestes Masses to synge, And duden al f«t }jei euer coujje, Ne scholdew him of pyne bringe.
jpat ilke soule fat is dryuen "WiJ? fendes in atte helle-^ate, And his luggement be him ^iuen, To bidde Merci hit is to late.
Heuene hit is vre heritage, To vre bihoue hit is diht, pif]1 we han do feute and homage To vre lord, as hit is riht.
Synful mon, $if Jjat he fallef, A-Rys vp and mak Jn pees, And cum to crist, whon pat he callef To loye fat is endeles.
He fat is al-mihti kyng, ))at hei^e sittef In Trinite, Graunt vs alle his blessyng, AMEN AMEN par charite.
192
196
200
204
208
212
216
220
224
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus. I. 449
[XL. ffifor gongs of fo
Swete Ihesu, now wol I synge foi. ccxcvn. Jesus, m
To be a sonsj of loue longinee : Son^g of Love-
Tk • V A n • Longing.
Do in myn herte a welle springe
)5e to louen oner alle binge. 4
2 Swete Ihesu, kyng of blisse, Jesus, my
Min herte lone, Min herte lisse : In lone, lord, J?on me wisse, And let me neue?*e Jri lone misse.3 8
Swete Ihesu, myn herte liht, ])ow art day wib-oute niht : 3iue me bobe Grace and4 miht ffor to lone5 be ariht. 12
Swete Ihesu, my sonle6 bote, set in my
T , , ,_ _ heart a root
In myn herte bou sette7 a Eoote
Of Jri lone bat is so swote,
And weete hit8 bat hit springe mote ! 16
Swete Ihesu, myn herte gleem, Brihtore fen be sonne Beem : As bou weore boren9 In Bethleem, J3ou make in me bi loue-dreem.10 20
Swete Ihesu, bi loue is swete — Wo is him J>at hit11 schal leete ! 3if me grace for to wepe Give
to weep for
ft or my synnes teres wete.12 24 my sins!
1 Title in Index : An orisons to crist, Songes to vre lady, Orisones to vre lady rehersinge of crist what he dude and suffrede for mankynde. The two first poems (from v. 5) are extant in MS. Harl. 2253, fol. 75 and 77 (ed. in Wright, Specimens of Lyric Poets, Percy Soc. 1842, p. 57 and 68, and Bod- deker, Altengl. Dicht. 1878, p. 191 and 198) ; the 2nd, an imitation of St. Bernard's ' Jesu dulcis memoria ' (Daniel Thes. hymn. I, p. 227), has, in MS. Tern., been divided into several parts, each headed by a stanza to St. Mary (MS. Harl. 2253 has a separate French song to St. Mary. f. 77 : Marie mere al Salveour, ed. Wright), and expanded, by various additions (v. 17-44, 57- 80, 141-191 &c.) and ingredients (f. i. from Testam. Christi, v. 173 ff.) into a history of the Passion, forming at the same time a corollary to St. Mary. The original poems were composed in the South, the additions in the North (by Rich. Rolle ?). Another love-song of this kind, in alliterative long-lines, is contained in the prose-part of MS. Vernon.
2 v. 5-60 occurs as a separate poem in Harl. 2253 (ed. Wright).
pou art suete myd-y-wisse Wo is him J>at }>e shal misse. 4 H pou jeve me strein>e & eke m. 5 H louien 6 H huerte 7 H sete 8 H Ant lene ! Ybore >ou were 10 H pou m. me here >i suete d. L1 H >e 12 23-4 H parefore me shulden ofte fe grete Wi> salte teres & eje wepe.
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jems. I.
Open my heart, and alight in it!
28
32
36
Hear me for Thy Mother' sake!
Swete Ihesu, kyng of londe, Mak bou me to vnderstonde,1 feat I may In myn herte fonde2 Hou swete is3 bi loue-bonde.
Swete Ihesu, me reweb sore Of my misdedes I haue don $ore : ffor-^if me, lord, I wol no more, But I be aske Milce and ore.
Swete Ihesu, Lord4 myn, Mi lyf, my soule is al5 bin : Vndo myn herte and li^te6 berin, And saue7 me from wikked8 engyn. * 9 Swete Ihesu, lord good, ffor me bou scheddest bi blessed blod10 — Out of bin herte hit com11 be flod — fei Moder hit sau$ wij? druyri mod12 :
Swete Ihesu, Briht and Schene, Heere me, lord, for I me mene,13 feorw prey ere of Marie, Milde qweene,14 feat bi loue on me be sene.15 sweet Jesus, Swete Ihesu, Mi soule foode, Alle werkes of be ben goode ; 16 feou bou^test me vppon be Eode And scheddest beron bi swete blode.17
Swete Ihesu, Barn18 Best, fei loue bou in myn herte fest ; 19 Whon I go North, Soub, Est or West,20 In be al-one fynde I rest.21
Swete Ihesu, wel may him be feat be schal22 in bi23 blisse se ! Wib loue-cordes drau$ bou me, feat I may comen and wone wtf be.24 56
1 H pou make me fer v. 2 H p«t min herte mote f. 3 H bue]> 4 H louerd 6 H myn huerte al is 6 H liht 7 H wite 8 H fendes 9 In H precede 45-8, then follows : Suete ihcsu, me reowe> sore, Gultes ]>at y ha wroj>t Jore, parefore y bidde |nn mylse & ore, Merci, lord, ynul na more. 10 H pou me bohtest wi> >i blod u H orn ; hit, om. in H. 12 H seh >at >e by stod 13 H Y preye )>e >ou here my bene 14 pourh erndyng of fe heuene-q . 15 H pat my bone be nou sene. 16 H pin werkes bue> bo suete & gode " H For me >ou sheddest >i blode 18 H berne 19 H Wi]> [>e] ich hope habbe rest 20 H Whe>er y be sou> o>er west 21 pe help of >e \)& me nest ^ H may 23 om. in H ** 55-6 H : After mi soule let aungles te, For me ne gladiej> gome ne gle.
44
48
52
draw me to Thee witli Love-cords !
XL. Two Songs of Love- Longing for Jesus. II.
451
Swete Ihesu, heuene-kyng, ffeir and best ouer1 alle ping : Briwg me in to fat loue-longyng2 To3 come to pe at myn endyng.4
60
EH.]
MArie Moder, Mylde Qween, Send vs grace synne to flen, ]2at we mowe pi sone i-sen And euere wip hym in Blisse ben.
5 Ihesu, swete is pe loue of pe; Ne may no ping so swete be,6
pat mon may penke or se,7
e haue8 swetnesse a^eynes pe.
Ihesu, no song9 mai be swettore,10
e pou^t11 in herte12 Blisfollere, may be feeled lihtsomere13 )pen pou, so swete a louyere14 !
Ihesu, pi loue was vs15 so fre )}at hit16 from heuene brou3te17 pe, ffor loue ful deore bou^test pou18 me, ffor loue pow henge19 on20 Eoode-tre.
21 Ihesu, to pi disciples dere J3ou seydest wip ful dreri chere As pei seeten alle I-feere A luytel ar pou taken were —
Ihesu, pou seydest pat pou wore fful of serwe and herte-sore, And beed hem dwellen a while pore While pou beo-sou^test pi ffader ore ;
Ihesu, pou eodest on pi feete To pe Mount of Olyuete,
12
16
20
24
Mary Mother,
let us see thy Son!
Jesu, sweet is Thy love
that brought Thee from Heaven.
For love Thou
hangedst on the Cross.
Thou wast full of sorrow in the garden ofGethse- mane.
3 H & 4 H adds : Suete ihesu,
1 H of 2 H pou bring me of >is longing al folkes reed, Gnrnnte ous er we buen ded, pe vnderfonge in fourme of bred, Ant se>>e to heouene >ou vs led. 5 This is a 2nd poem in Harl. 2253, fol. 77 b, with the title : ' Dulcis ihmi memorial 6 H Nofing so suete may be 7 H Al \>at [me] may wi)> e3en se 8 H Haue> no 9 H noting 10 H suettere n H noht 12 eor>e 13 H lykerusere u H alumere 15 H wes ous 16 H we 17 H brohten 18 H pou deore bohtest 19 H hong 20 MS. or 21 The next 7 stanzas om. in H.
452
Thou askedst
that Thy pain might pass from Thee.
Thou
sweatedst
blood.
Thy body was pale and wan.
Thou wast crownd and scourgd.
Thou wast hanged for me,
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus.
And to f i ffader, er f ou leete,
feow madest a boone wzf herte swete :
To him fou seidest : " $if hit may be, Deore ffader, I preye f e, feis peyne passe a-wey from me ; As f ow wolt so moot hit be ! "
Ihesu, fou tomedest to hem fan : And founde hem sleperc vch a man ; feow beede hem waken, &, er fou blan, A-non a^eyn f e wey fou nam.
Ihesu, fus eft fe selue boone feat fou beo-fore bi-gonne to done, And eke f e fridde tyme sone feow madest, wif a Milde mone.
Ihesu, wif fat fou preye gon, fee swot of blood from f e ron. ffrom heuene an Angel lihte f on And f e cumfortede, God and Mon. Arie Mylde, freo and gent,
Preye for me — fou art present — Whon my soule is from me went, feat hit haue good luggement.
Ihesu, for loue fou soffredest2 wrong, Woundes sore and peynes3 strong; fei peynes reuf ful weore and long,4 Ne may me hit telle in spel5 ne song.
Ihesu, for loue fou suffredest so6 wo feat7 bloodi stremes Ronne f e fro ; fei white bodi was bleyk8 and bio — Vre suwnes hit made, weylawo9 !
10 Ihesu, fi Coroune sat fe sore, fee scourgyng whon fow scourget wore; Hit was for me — Ihesu, fin ore ! — fee peynes fat fow f oledest fore.
Ihesu swete, fow heng on tre Not for fi gult, but al for me,
44
48
52
56
60
1 This st. is om. in H. hit were 7 om. in next 6 stanzas om. in H.
2 H J>oledest 3 H pine ^ Ki^
long 5 H Ne may hem tellen spel e H dre3edest ; H. 8 H pat >i bodi wes blak 9 H For oure s. hit
4 H pine peynes rykene om. in H. wes so 10 The
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus. II.
453
and straind on the Cross.
Yet Thou never didst wrong.
Why wast Thou so eager to buy vicious
ffor suraies and gult a^eynes f e —
Swete Ihesu, for-^if hem me. 64
Ihesu, whon fow streyned wore, \)\ peynes woxen more and more, jpi Mooder euer wib be was fore, Wib serweful sikynges and wif sore. 68
Ihesu, whi weore bou pyned so ftat neuer wrongest wrong ne wo ? Hit was for me, and moni mo, )5at fou so harde were bi-go. 72
Ihesu, what sauh bow on me Of ou^t bat neodful was to be, J)at bou so harde on Roode-tre fibr me woldest pyned be 1 76
Ihesu, whi weore bou so gelous, So feruent and so disirrous To buggen wib pris so precious Wrecche Mon so vicious ? 80
Ihesu, for vs bou henge1 on Kode, ffor loue pou ^eeue2 J?in herte-blode; Loue ]?e made3 vre soule foode, )5i loue vs brouhte to alle goode. 84
Ihesu my le??^mon, fou art so fre, Jpat al4 jjou dedest5 for loue of me : What6 schal I for fat7 3eelde J>e? Jjow kepest not but fe loue of me.8 88
Ihesu my god, my lord,9 my kyng, ftou askest10 me non ofer fyng But trewe loue and herte longyng11 And loue-teres and stille12 mournyng. 92
Ihesu my deore, my loue, my liht,13 I wol fe louen,14 and fat is riht. Do me f e louen15 wif al my miht, And after16 J>e Mourne17 dai & niht ! 96
Ihesu, do me so loue18 fe ftat my f ouht ay on19 fe be ;
1 H for loue >ou stehe 2 H se^e 3 H fou madest 4 om. in H. 5 H de}- edest 6 H Whet 7 H >arefore 8 H par nys noht bote hit loue be, 9 H ihesu 10 H ne askesd n H & eke seruyng 12 H wij> suete 13 H I. my lyf, ihesn 14 H Ich loue >e 15 H loue >e 16 H for 17 H mournen 18 H semen 19 H pat euer mi }>oht vpon
Thou gavest Thy heart- blood
for me.
What shall I pay Thee ?
My love is all Thou askest.
Jesu, make me love Thee !
454 XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jems. II.
Mother,
pray for me!
Jesu, Thy love is all I think of.
No one knows Love-long- ing so well as Thou,
for love-long- ing made Thee die for us, with
Thy arms spread.
Jesu, when I think of Thee on the Cross,
Wif J)in e$en lok on me,1 And Myldeliche my nede se !2
Arie ladi, Mooder briht, —
feou darst, fou wolt, fou art of nriht,- Myn herte loue, my lyf, my liht, )X>u prey for me bo|?e day & niht. Ihesu, fi loue is* al my fouht, Of ofer fing ne recche I nouht, But fat I haue a-^eyn fe wrouht5 And ]?ou hast me so deore a-bouht.
Ihesu, al-6f au$ I synful be, fful longe hastoti spared7 me ; ])& more owe I to loue8 fe Jjat fou wif 9 me hast10 ben so fre. lllhes\.i, forsofe now nis no fing In al f is world of such lykyng, ])at con so muche of loue-longyng, As f ou Ihesu, my deore swetyng.
Ihesu, wel ou^t I loue ]?e, fTor fou me schewest )ji Eode-tre, pi Coroune12 of jjornes, and13 nayles fre, J)e scharpe spere fat Jjorw-stong pe. Ihesu, of loue I seo tokenyng : u ))in Armes spradde to loue-cluppyng,15 ))in hed bouwede16 to swete cussyng, J)i syde al opene to loue-schewyng.1T
Ihesu, whon I18 jjenke on fe And loke vppon fe Eoode-tre, J)i swete bodi bi-bled19 I se : Lord, do fat siht to wounde me ! 20
Ihesu, ]>i Moder21 fat bi f e stood, Of loue-teres heo wepte22 a flood ; J5y23 W0u?zdes and fyn holy blood Heo maden hire haue a24 dreri mood.
100
104
108
112
116
120
124
128
132
1 H Wi> >ine suete ejen loke towart me 2 H Ant myldeliche myne, y preie, al >at fou se 3 This stanza om. in H. 4 H be 5 H Y 3yrne to haue Ipi wille ywroht For >ou me hauest wel d. yb. 6 om. in H. 7 H Wel longe J>ou hauest y-sp. 8 H oh ich to louie 9 om. in H. 10 H hauest n The next 6 lines om. in H. ^ H bac 13 H >y 14 H of 1. soth tocknynge 15 H sprede> to mankynde 16 H heued doun bowe> 17 H opene> to loue-longynge 18 H when ich 19 H to-toren 20 H Hit make> heorte to smerte me. 2I H fe quene «Hweop a H pin 24 H Made hire huerte of
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesiis. II. 455
Ihesu, loue be dude to wepen,
M
Loue be dude2 bi3 blod to sweten, i see that
A. t , i , Leveled
ffor loue bou were sore beten,4 Thee to lose
Loue be dude bi lyf to leten. 136
Arie, I prei be, as bou art fre, Mary, let me
~ . _. ., be partaker
Of bi serwe parte W£b me, J)at I mowe serwe here w^b be And partiner of bi blisse be. 140 of thy bliss!
Ihesu, bi loue bou tauhtest me W^b swete wordes of herte fre J?at bou speek on Roode-tre — So ful of loue ne mihte non be. 144
Ihesu, be furste word was, as I rede, jesu, on the
J?at bou bi deore ffader beede sat,
))at lie for^af hem heore misdede, i. Forgive
Alle bat duden be to dede. 148 deeds;
Ihesu, bat ober was I-wis J3at bou seidest, as writen is : Jjat be beef schulde haue blis 2. The Thief
. , , . ^ „ ~ shall be in
VV^b be bat day in paradis. 152 Paradise;
Ihesu, be bridde was of Mon : "Whon bi Mooder be schulde forgon, A Sone bou hire be-tauhte«t on, And seidest : " wo??imon, tak heer Ion ! " 156 3. woman,
take John as
Ihesu, as bou weore pyned more, a son;
j)e ffeorbe word bou seydest bore :
" A," seydest bow, " me bursteb sore " — 4. i thirst;
Hit was for hem bat dampned wore. 160
Ihesu, be ffyf be word Reweb me J)at bow seidest on Roode-tre :
"Mi God, Mi God, hou may bis be 5. My God,
bat bou hast al forsake me 1 " 164 Thou for-
' saken me ?
Ihesu, be Sixte word hit was Whon bou seidest " In manus tuas," *• into Thy
J hands I com-
Be-tauhtest bi ffader in bat plas mtemywuij
])\ soule, as his wille was. 168
Ihesu, In al bi peyne mest Neuere was so meke best —
1 H I. suete 1. >e d. gredyn 2 H made 3 om. in H. 4 H y-b. 5 The whole next section, lines 137-192, is left out in H.
456
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus. II.
7. It is
finisht.
Elsewhere,
"Is any sorrow like mine?
Why are you bitter to me ?
How is it that
ye give me shame for bliss?"
Jesu, Thy 5 wells stream blood to wash my soul of sin.
How shall I pay Thee all I owe Thee ?
Jpou seydest " Consummatura est,"
Jryn hed fel doun, Jwu ^elde J>e gost.1 l r. gest 172
Ihesu, J?ou seidest ; " alle 30 )2at passen be J?e wey bi me, A while a-bydej?, come]? and se 175
3 if eny Serwe is lyk to me." 2 2 cf. Testamentum Christi, vv.93-6.
Ihesu, J>ou seidest : " tel ]?ow me, Mi deore folk, what hit may be, What haue I gult a^eynes J?e ))at £ou so bitter art to me ? " 180
Ihesu, ]?ou seydest Jjenne more : " Mi deore folk, ^e tel me ^ore, Haue I wij? myn holi lore And gode dedes I-hurt so sore ? " 184
Ihesu, jjou seidest after ^et : " Mi deore wyn^ard, ne haue I ]?e set, Mi fiader blisse ]>e bi-het, Wty al my-self — what woldest jwu betl" 188
Ihesu, ]?ou seidest : uhou is fis, Mi Swete, what haue I do mis ]?at J)ou wzf-outen eny lis
Me ^eldest schome a^eyn Mi blis 1 " 192
Arie, J?at slakest alle wo,
Helle-peynes schild me fro, And }if me grace her do so J)at I from henne to heuene go. 196
Ihesu, ffyue welles4 I fynde in fe, ]3at loue spring to drawe me5 ; Of Eede blod6 ]>e stremes be, Mi soule of synnes wasschen heo.7 200
Ihesu, my soule drau^ 8 fe to, And mak myn herte9 wyde vndo ; 3if hit Jji loue10 to drynke so, j)at flessches lustes ben11 fordo ! 204
12 Ihesu, Much el Ich owe J)e : Who schal hit al ^elde pe ?
3 This st. om. in H. 4 H woundes 5 H py loue-sprenges tache> me 6 H Of blod & water 7 H Vs to whosshe from cure fon >re. 8 H saule drah 9 H Min heorte opene & 10 H pis hure of 1. u H fleyssliche lust be al 12 The next 2 stanzas om. in H.
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus. II. 457
Me bi-houef ]>i-self hit be, As ]?ou pyne suffredest for me.
Ihesu, f i loue ^ef me follyke, In myn herte fat hit stike, Mi soule hit f urle Inwardliche, )3at hit be fyn enteerliche.
Ihesu,1 do me loue f e so )Pat, wher I beo or what2 I do, )?at I for weole ne for wo3 Ne let4 myn herte torne fe5 fro.
6 Ihesu lord, Mi swetyng, Hold me euere in f y kepyng, Mak of me f i derlyng, j?at I f e loue ouer alle f ing.
Ihesu, my weole and al my wynne, Al my loye is f e wif-Inne : Now and eue?*e kep me from synne, To do f i wille let me not blynne !
Ihesu, mihtful Heuene-kyng, }2i loue beo al my lykyng, Mi mournyng and my longyng, Wif swete teres wepyng.
Ihesu, }if me7 for fi name Pacience In peyne8 and schame, )pat to my soule is9 note and frame ; And mak myn herte Mylde & tame.
Ihesu, Al fat is feir to se,10 }pat to f e fflessches lykyng may be,11 Al worldes blisse do me fle12 And al my tent ^iue13 to fe. 14 1% /TArie, Swete Mayden15 fre,
JLYJL ffor Ihesu [crist] be-seche I fe : ])i swete sone do loue16 me, And mak me worfi fat hit17 so be.
Ihesu, in f e beo al my f ou^t —
208
212
216
220
224
228
Make me Thy darling,
keep me from sin!
Jesu, give
me patience,
232 and make me meek!
236
240
Mary, make thy Son love me, an.d make me worthy of His love!
1 H Ihesn crist 2 H & what-so 3 H Lyf ne de>, weole ne wo 4 H do 5 H }>e turne 6 The next 3 stanzas om. in H. (Similar vv. occur in Kich. Rolle'g ' Founne of parfit liuing.') 7 H do me >at 8 H Me like> to dre3e pyne 9 H pat is >y s. 10 MS. >e, H se u H Al >at to fleyhs mai likyng be 12 H b. to leten, me 13 Graunte, for )>e loue of >e. 14 In H this stanza precedes the last 2 stanzas. 15 H mayde 16 H louie 17 H y
458
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus.
Jesu,
my soul is wedded to Thee.
I crave Thy mercy.
Of of er f yng1 ne recche I2 nou^t ;
Whon I of f e may felen ou^t,
]5en is my soule wel of fou^t.3 244
Ihesu, ^if fou for-lete4 me, What may me lyken5 of fat I se 1 Blisse may non6 wif me be, Til fat7 fou come a^eyn to me. 248
Ihesu, fat me hast deore abouht,8 Al fat to synne drawef ouht Holliche puyt out of my f ou3t, So fat I ne wraff e f e nou^t. 252
Ihesu, my soule is weddet9 to fe — Wif rihte hit ouhte fin owne to be10 ; J?au3 I haue synget a^eynes f e,11 }5i Merci is euere redi to me. 256
Ihesu fi Merci, bi-leue12 I craue — Me bihouef fat13 1 hit haue ; }2e deuh of grace vppon me laue, And worf i me make f i loue to haue. 14 260
Ihesu, f ou be al my 3ernyng,15 In f e be, lord, al my lykyng, Mi f ou^t, my dede, and my Mourny^g To haue f e Euere in loue-longyng. 264
Ihesu, my leof,16 Mylde of mood,17 Mi soule haf neode18 of f i good : Mak hit clene19 and folemood, And ful hit20 of fi loue-flod.21 268
Ihesu, my soule preyef 22 fe, Let hit nou^t vnclof ed be23 ; 24Clofe hit wif fi loue fre, Wif goode werkes fat lyken fe. 272
Ihesu, Beute ne aske I f e nou^t, Ne proude clof es nobli wrou^t,
1 H blisse 2 H recchy 3 H wel y-wroht 4 H forletest 6 H mi likyng 6 H Mai no god blisse 7 H 0 )>at 8 249-252 H Ihesn, ^ef >ou bist ^eorne by- solit : "When )>ou comest, ant elles noht, No fleishlich lust ne wicked }>ont In to myn heorte ne be y-broht. 9 H spoused 10 H Ofte ych habbe misdon a3eynes fe ; u H Ihesu, }?i merci is wel fre ; Ihesu, merci y crie to )>e. 12 H I., wi]> herte >i loue 13 H Hit bihoue> nede 14 H Ant from alle harmes >ou me saue 15 H L, from me be al )>at }>yng pat me (r. J>e) may bo to mislik- yng ; Al J>at is nede >ou me bryng ; To haue >i loue is my Jyrnyng. 16 H lif 17 H of milde 18 H gret n. 19 H Tak hire treufole 2o H hire 21 H blod 22 H "bidde y 23 H Eueremore wel vs be ™ Lines 271-284 om. in H.
Jesu, my dear,
I ask Thee only for
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus. II. 459
Londes ne Kentes, deore bou^t,
But hertly loue and clene Ipoujt. 276 Love and
Ihesu, whorcne so hit lykep J?e, Purity>
Loue-sparkes send J>ou me ; Mak myn herte al hot to be, Brewnynde in J>e loue of J>e. 280
MArie, J?i sone preye hertely ffor me, wrecche vnwoijjy, Mary, pray
pat he wole enterly Sey!S°nf°r
Graunte me his Merci. 284
Ihesu almihti,1 heuene-kyng, jesu,
pi loue is a ful2 derne fing ; May no mon hit witen Jjorw knowyng, But he hit feele forw herte ferakyng.3 288
4 Ihesu, $if me fat I may see let me feel
pe Muchele good bou hast do me. good'rhou
A j T i i i T hast done
And I vnkynde a^eyn haue be, me!
ffor-^if me, lord, fat art so fre. 292
Ihesu, Jn loue and fleschly ])ou^i Wonen to-gedre ne mouwe J?[e]i nou^t, As Hony & galle to-gedre brou^t ; Swete and Bitter a-cordej? nou3t. . 296 I thank Thee.
5Ihesu, \v^'j) herte I )?onke fe. pou3 I wrecche and sunfol be,
In trewe hope I preye }>e, Grant me
pi Blisse & Merci graurcte J?ou me. 300 Thybliss!
Ihesu, Jjauh I be vnworfi To loue Jje, lord Almihti, pi godnesse6 me make])7 hardi Mi soule to don8 in J?i Merci. 304
Ihesu, j)i Merci cumfortej?9 me : jesu,
ffor no mon may so synf ul be, pat synne wol leue10 and to jje fle, pat Merci ful redi fyndej? he.11 308
Ihesu, for synful, as writen is,12 for sinners
pou lihtest from J>in hei^e blis13 tvombiiss
1 H al myhtful 2 H wel 3 287-8 om. in H. 4 The next 2 st. om. in H.
5 H Ihesu, wel mai myn herte se pat milde & meoke he mot be, Alle vnfewes
6 lustes fle, pat felen wole fe blisse of >e. 6 H loue 7 H m. to ben 8 H Ant don me al 9 H Jn mildenesse frore> 10 H $ef lie let sunne u H pat ne find socour at f e. 12 H For sunful folk, suete inesus 13 H pe h. hous
VERNON MS. H H
460
to Mary's womb.
Let me suffer no ill!
Mary, pray thy Son to
K1."
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus.
1In to Marie woinbe, I-wis, To ^iuen vs alle reste and lis.
2 Ihesu, J?au$ I synful be,
I haue euere trust hope in Jje ;
Jperfore, lord, I preye J>e
Jpat of my syrcnes amende J?ou me.
3 Ihesu, J)ou art so good a mon, ])\ loue desyre I as4 I con ;
Me to lette suffre Jjing non,5 Swete Ihesu, my deore lewmon. Ihesu, euere6 beo-seche I J>e, J)in Inward7 loue J>ou graiwte me; £0113 I perto vnworjn8 be, JX>u9 mak me worjn, J)&t art so fre.
10
Jesu, make me do Thy will!
Teach me Thy love- song!
Prey Jri deore Sone for me Jjat he grawite me to be Euere in blisse wi'J> him and ]?e.
Ihesu al swete, Jjat art11 al good, Do J)i loue drynke12 myn herte-blod. })i loue me make]) so swete13-wod )?at wonder blisful is my mood.14
15 Ihesu, do me do Jri wille, Xou and euere, loud and stille ; Wij? y\ loue my soule fulfille And sofire neuere J?at I do ille.
16 Ihesu, J)i loue is swete and strong, Mi lyf is al J)er-on17 I-long :
Tech me, lord,18 Jri loue-song, Wi]j swete teres euer a-mong.
Ihesu, $if }?ou be from me go, Min herte19 is ful of serwe & wo ; What may I sey20 but weylawo, Whon pou, my swete, art went me fro21 ?
312
316
320
324
328
332
336
340
344
1 H Pore & lo^e J>ou were for ous, pin heorte loue )>ou sendest ous. 2 The next st. om. in H. 3 In H this st. follows v. 384. 4 H y ^yrne al-so 5 H pare-fore ne lette me nomon pah, ich for loue be blac ant won. 6 H for>i * H pi suete 8 pat ich >are-to wor>i 9 om. in H. 10 This st. om. in H. 11 H ihem 12 H pi loue drynke> 13 H swi>e 14 H pat y ne drede for no flod. 15 H Ihesu, do me to seruen >e, "Wher in londe so y be ; When ich >e fynde, wel is me, $ef fou ne woldest awey fle. 16 In H this st. precedes v. 393. 17 H on >e 18 H ihera 19 H soule ao H sugge 21 H When mi lif is me at-go.
XL. Two Songs of Love-Longing for Jesus. II. 461
Jesu, pity me!
My soul longs for Thee.
Bring me to Thy light,
Ihesu J?in ore, J>ou rewe on1 me ! Whon schal my soule2 come to ]>Ql 3Hou longe schal hit here be, )per I no may J»e, my lemmon, se 1 348
Ihesu, J?i lore techej)4 me WiJ) al myn herte to loue5 ]?e : J?orw Jn miht mak hit so be, ]?at ferto, lord, constreyne me. 352
Ihesu my lef , my lord,6 my kyng, To pe my soule hajj gret longyng,7 Jpou hast hit weddet wty J>i Ryng : 8 "Whon J>i wille is, to J>e hit bring. 356
Ihesu, bat deore bou^test me, Mak me worj)i to9 come to be ; Alle my suwnes for^if bou me, J)at I may comen & wone wib be.10 360
Ihesu al11 feir. my le??imon12 briht, I be13 be-seche wi]) al my miht : Bring my soule in to bi14 liht, )5er is day and neuer15 niht. 364
Ihesu, fin help at myn endyng, Tac my soule at my di^yng,16 Seende hit socour & cumfortyng,17 j?at hit18 ne drede no wikked19 jjing. 368
Ihesu, ffor }»i Merci fre20 In siker hope do J>ou me To21 scapen peyne & come to J?e And euere in blisse W2J? fe be.22 372
Ihesu, Ihesu, Blessed23 ben heo24 ftat in ]?i blisse mowe Jje se25 And haue folliche26 ]?e loue of J>e : Swete Ihesu, j?ou grauwte hit me. 376
Ihesu, J)i Blisse27 haj> non endynge ;28 J?er nis no servve ne no wepynge,
1 H of 2 H For whenne shal ich 3 347-8, 351-2 om. in H. 4 H bidde> 5 H louie, to om. 6 H lif, ihesu 7 H My s. haue> to fe ^yi-nyng. 8 H "When >i wille is, to >e hire bryng, pou art suetest of alle >yng. 9 om. in H. 10 H pat ich wi> blisse >e mowe se. n H so 12 H ihesu so 13 H pat i 14 H J> e 15 H day wi>-oute 16 H Ant ine >at dredful out wendyng. 17 H Send my soule god weryyng 18 H y 19 non eouel 20 HI., fi grace, fat is so fre ! *• H At 22 H To >e blisse fat ay shal be. 23 H ful wel ^ H he 25Hmowenbe 26 H fulliche habbe 27 H loue '2& H endyng
H H 2
to be ever in bliss with Thee,
where no
462
Christ says to man's soul,
" I created the world for you.
For you I sufferd
SO years ;
I died on the Cross,
was spit on
and pierst.
No man would suffer so for his sweetheart.
XLI. The Love-Longing of Jesus.
But pees & loye wty gret lykynge r1 Swete Ihesu, perto vs bringe. Amen. —
2 Hose ofte seij? pis w^'jj good wille, Schal fynde grace his loue to lille ; Holygost his herte schal tille, ffrom synne hiw bridge & ffendes ille.
— 380
384
tratp Df fane, ©f
XLL 11
Ihesu Crist, pat is so fre, To Monnes soule spekep he : ' "Ichaue," lie self, "I-weddet pe, And in myn honden I-writen pe. 4
" Al pat in pis world is ou$t, ffor pi loue I-chaue hit wrou^t ; And sipen after so deore pe bou^t }?at of my lyf ne rotate I nou3t. 8
" What mint I more don pen pis : ])en comen out of my ffader blis And suffren4 mony a schome, I-wis, * MS. suffred ffor to bringe pe to blis ? 12
" jpritti wynter on eorpe I $ode, In pyne & penaurcce, for J)i gode ; Atte laste I dy^ede on Eoode And 3af for J?e myn herte-blode. 16
" Al my bodi was riuen and rent, Mi face was al bi-spit and schent, To saue J>e, Mon, per J>ou were dempt- ffor al ]?at was myn entent. 20
" ffrom myn herte Jjorw my syde Blod and water gon J>orw glyde And clanse fe of fulj?e and pride — So wolde non don In world so wyde ! 24
" In al J?is world nis no mon So muche loue]) his lemmon, }?at wolde suffre pyne on J?at I for J>e ]?olede mony on ! 28
1 H Bote ioie & blisse ant lykyng 2 Last stanza om. in H. 3 Title in Index om.
XLT. The Love- Longing of Jesus.
463
" Myn herte f orsope clef in-two ffor muche pyne and muche wo — Al for pe I polede so, )3at pou ne scholdest to helle go. 32
" Mi soule, pat was wip-oute?i synne, Ede for pe to helle-pywne And leesede pe out, pat was per-inne In serwe & care pat neuer schulde blinne. 36
" Whon I was sprad on pe Eode-tre, Muche was pe loue Ich hedde to pe, Elles hed ich I-leten al be ; Bote loue wolde not suffre me. 40
" ffor loue me brou^te out of my rest, ffor loue I restede In Marie brest ; ffor loue I polede pynes werst, ffor loue made myn herte berst. 44
" Whon Ich heyng vppon pe Eoode, ffor loue I schedde al my blode — jpenk peron, synful, In pi mode, Lef pi sunne and do sum goode ! 48
"Loue made1 me al for^ete l Ms.makeJ>
Harde pynes and duntes grete, Whon I was for pi loue I-bete And as a pef bounden lad in pe strete. 52
"Loue made me bere pe Eode-tre On my bare scholde[r] for pe. ])Q blod doun stremede hi bac & pe, Whon I dude hongen vppon pe Eode-tre. 56
" Mon, Mon, for pe loue of pe Mi peynes dude queme me, })at for delyt hit pou^te me. Do nou kuyndeliche & quit hit me !
" More for pe I-chaue don $ete : I-chaue I-mad me pi mete And 3iue pe my-self at ete, ffrom helle-pyne pe to gete.
" Loke what wolt pou $elde me ffor al pat Ichaue don for pe ! Non oper ping kep I of pe Eut onliche pat pou loue me. 68
My soul went to Hell for you.
For you I sufferd
and shed My blood.
For love of you My blood streamd on the Cross.
60 Now repay it Me!
64
I ask only Love of you.
464
Come to Me, and m kiss you.
Turn to Me, and Heaven's bliss !
Jesu, give
me ever part in Thee !
Let me never go to Hell,
but bring us all to Heaven !
XL! I. Of pure Maidenhood.
" Cum to me and haue my blis, And I f e wole cluppe and cus. Ich ^iue f e al my-self, I-wis, To do wif what f i wille is.
"3if fou hast ben fouled wif synne, Torn a$eyn to me and blynne : And I f e 3iue heuene-wynne — So lof me is fat we a-twynne."
Now and nomeliche at myn endyng, Swete Ihesu, heuene-kyng, In fi wille $if me lykyng, Wif studefast hope & hoi louyng.
Ihesu, fat art of gode foi^elde, ffor^ite me no^t in myn elde ; 3if me studefast hope and belde To haue f e, lord, euer in my welde.
Swete Ihesu, Lyon strong, jpow fat neuere louedest wrong, Chastise me wif myn owne wande And let me neuere to helle gande.1 » for gange
Swete Ihesu, lof les lombe, Jjat swettor is fen hony-Combe, And was boren of Marie wombe : ]3ou bring vs to heuene on f i ri^t ho?ide.
Swete Ihesu, f e feireste wiht, As f ou art Rihtwysnesse and riht, 3iue vs for fin holy miht Alle comen to heuene briht. Amen.
72
76
80
84
92
96
I write you a Poem
[XLII.
Of clene Maydenhod,
To be weddet clanly to god.
O
ff a trewe loue clene & derne I-chaue I-write f e a Eon,
1 Title in Index: pat crist is called lemman to a clene soule. This poem was edited before by Furnivall, The Sta- tions of Rome, E. E. T. S. 1867.
XLII. Of pure Maidenhood.
465
HOW ]?OU
}if j)OW Wolt, leme1 C1 line repeated in MS.]
ffor to loue jri lemmon, Jpat trewest is of alle berne And most of loue chacche con. Beo war, for he is sumdel steorne, His 636 is euere }>e vppon.
(2)
ftou art wrouht of such a kynde : WiJ?-outen loue mai3t feu not be ; And neuermore schalt J?ou fynde )3at is so swete and feir as he. 3if fou miht hym to ])e bynde Wij? trewe loue-bondes j?re, WiJ) al Jnn herte, wille, & mynde, fProm fe wol he neuer fle.
(3)
Heddest Jwu founden such a feere1 Jpat weore so feir as Absolon, And J?er-to so strong to tere As in his tyme was Sampson, So Eiche )>er-to J)at he were And so wys as Salomon ; I-wis, to him riht nou^t hit were1 j}at JJQU hast chosen to J)i lemmon.
to teach you how to love Christ.
12
1 6
You'll find none so sweet as He.
l on erasure.
20
A lover as fair aa Ab- salom,
as strong as Sampson,
as wise as Solomon,
would be as nought to
24 c'hnst.
ffor mo?mes loue, ^if jjou beo-holde, Hit lastej) but a luytel res, And wij) gyle is al bi-folde, Hit is ffikel, ffals and les ; Whon fou wenest hit best to holde, Hit wendej? a-wey as wyndes bles, And bi-comej? wrest and colde — ffor trewe loue hit neuer nes.
(5)
Loue fat wol not wij? J>e a-byde, And j)ou hit desyre, fou hast wouh ; Ar fou beo war, hit wol to-glyde, Hit is fikel, ffals and ffrou^ ;
32
36
Man's love is short,
28 fickle, false,
wayward as the wind,
466
XLII. Of pure Maidenhood.
and wavers like a leaf.
Think not of it!
Love Christ !
He is meek and mighty.
Hit is a-weyward In vche1 a syde, Whiles hit lastej), vnwrest & wouh — Beo war and seo what wol be-tyde : Hit wol to-dryue as lef on bouh.
(6)
J5e loue j?at wole to serwe wende, J}ou do hit al out of J?i pou^t : And his loue in J?in herte bynde Jpat hajj ]?i loue so deore a-boi^t. ffor $if pou heddest al to J?e ende Heuene & eorpe porw^-out souht, To fynde a feere fat weore so hende As he, I-wys hit weore for nou3t.
(7)
He is of Mood wel Meke and Mylde, ffreo of herte, strong of miht, Of glade chere, of wordes vn-wylde, Of louesum leore and Ei^en brilit. 3if J?ou wolt do J>e in his mylde And hi?tt al-one loue ariht, Wfc'Jj-Inne Jnn herte wol he bylde And wone wij) J>e, bope day and niht.
(8)
He has mirth Wel more murfe is in his steuen j)en herte may J>enke or tonge neme ; As be |?e swan J>e blake Eauen, Also be him J>e sonne-gleme ; No more is no J)ing to him I-lyche ))en Galle is to J>e hony-streme.
and Heaven's Of him is al j?6 loye of heuene-riche, J?at wij) his grace alle J)ing wol leme.
(9)
3 if Mon be ded and he him Ryne,1 He reisej) him to lyue anone — fior wele & wynne, serwe and pyne Al is Buxom to him one. 3if J?ow him wole in herte wel tyne And kepe, pat he not from J?e gon,
MS. In vche in vch
joy
40
44
48
52
56
60
64
hrine, touch
G8
XLII. Of pure Maidenhood.
467
Holde him wip loue-lyne — ffor oper bond holdep him non.
(10)
Is non founden here in londe pat is so Kiche Mon of ffee, ffor more good he hap in honde J3en herte may penke or ei$e mai se ; Nis kyng, kniht, sweyn ne bonde J)at heo to him mote Boxum be. He hap I-send a derne sonde And desyrep to haue pe loue of pe.
Hold Him with the rope 72 of Love!
He askep wip pe nouper lond ne leode, Gold ne seluer ne precious stone — To such Binges hap he no neode, Al pat is good is wip hym one. 3if pou wip him pi lyf wolt lede And graunte to ben his owne leramow, I wot fill wel what worp pi meede : ffbrsope, pe heuene-riche won.
(12)
tye weyes ben alle pere I-bete Wip Riche gold pat schynep briht ; ])e loyful song in vche a strete — per is day and neuer-more niht ; To synge wol pei neuer lete, To worschupe god w^'p al heore miht. ))at Blisse forsope schal be pe mete, 3if pou Ihesu crist loue ariht.
(13)
3if pou wolt pi lemmon qweme And to his brihte boure be brou^t, In Chastite kep pou pe clene, })at pou ne be I-wemmed nouht. Non hony-Com pat rennep on streme Was neuer ^ut so swete wrouht, Ne neuere so briht sonne-glerne ]3en Mayden pat is clene of
76
80 He desires thy love,
84
that thou be His Darling,
and win Heaven,
with its golden streets
and songs.
92
96
If thou'lt please thy love Christ, keep chaste.
100
104
468 XLII. Of pure Maidenhood.
(14)
While J>ou art clene vnder gore, Bi-fore God ]?ou art ful hei^e — He loves Jjer is no J)ing he louej) more
to dw«u nigh jjen Maidenhod to wonen him nei^e. 1 08
Ne lerne j>0u neuere Jjat ilke lore Wher-J)orw J?ou leose Mayden Bei3e — \)e ping J>at mon may fynde no more, Bot he hit kepe, he is vn-sle3e. 112
(15) AII the gold bam al be gold of Arabye,
and jewels of
the world Kiche Eynges and ^ymmes-stone,
And al f e tresour of Asye,
Of ojjer londes euerichone, 116
Weore bi-taken in Ipi Baylye,
To welden and ha^le7^ in ]ri wone : are nought to Hit neore nou^t to J>e druwerie Vir|nity.° Of clene Maidenhod al-one ! 120
(16)
Hose jris ^eem-ston miht Louken in a swete loue-ryng, He schulde schyne also briht
As sonne do]?, wi])-outen endyng, 124
And beo holden a ful swete wiht Bi-fore god, [for] al Monkynde }5at wolde in a Mayden liht — fful swete hit is of hire )>e Mnynde ! 128
(17) Give us grace, Lord, a if us miht and grace
0 Lord, to ?
le^ad a chaste Chaste lyf [to lede] pat we ne spille,
Yerrey compungcion and space,
Bepentauwce of dedes ille ; 132
And ^if vs miht to folwe ]?i trace
Euer-more, boj?e loude & stille, and see Thee hat to be siht of bi swete face
at Dooms- *
day! On domes-day we may come tille. 136
XLIII. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
469
XLIII.
jJrnij 0f tly km
0f (Sob.1
(1)
TO loue I-chulle beginne Ihesn bojie day and niht ; Of ffleschlich loue to blynne
I-chul don al my miht. Ihesu wij>-outen synne
In a Mayden lie liht ; Mi loue al for to wynne, Ihesu bi-com my kniht.
(2) He fau^t a-^eyn my fo,
A-\vey he haj> me led )3at me wrou^te ful wo
In care ]?er I was sted; j}orw ferly fiht and J?ro
jpe ffelouTi is from me fled, Mi lewmon let him slo,
In loue to make my bed.
(3) Mi lemmon is ful trewe
Of loue, and ful studefast, Alle dayes I-liche newe
He louej? al on a prast. I wolde fat alle him knewe
And on him loue cast — Scholde non of hem alle rewe,
Noufer furst no last.
foi.ccxcix.
Jesus
took flesh to win my love.
He fought against my foe.
12
16
He is true of love, and
20
24
Mi lemmon is so meke,
So hende, so swete, so stille j fful Mylde he is in speche,
"Wip-outen wordes grille ; jpe gode he wole al eche,
ffor3eten he wole al ille.
1 Title in Index : pat god is ouer alle J?yng to be loued.
meek and
mild.
28
470
If I flee, He'll seek me.
He is not wroth with me.
If I do wrong,
He reminds me of His Cross.
Oh, if we could love Him,
and win Heaven !
For me
He was
wounded,
XLIII. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
3if I fleo, he wol me seche,
And wij? loue lie wole me tille. 32
(5) Reroute al-J>auh he stonde
Callynge at my 3ate Til him frese fot and honde,
ffaste vn-to a stake, 36
He ne take]? staf ne wonde
Wty wra]?]?e me for to wake ; Mi loue him byndej) as bonde,
3if I him murjjes make. 40
(6) He wol me loueliche a-byde
Al-J?auh I dwell e fill longe, He wol me no-Jnng be-chide
Al-J>au3 I-chaue fe wronge ; 44
He seiji : " bi-hold my syde,
And whi on Rode Ich honge. ffor my loue lef J)i pride,
And I Jje wole vnderfonge." 48
(7) Ihesu, fat art so hende,
So swete and so folemood f£rom }?e whon so we weende :
Alias, fat we hit vnder- stod, 52
And to jje coufe leende
And loue wi]> miht and mood, To haue wijj-outen ende
Heuene, jjat is so good ! 56
(8) Ihesu for me is herte
Let Jmrle ]?orw-out his syde, And duntes folede smerte
And woiircdes deope and wyde ; 60
Wo and al vnquerte
He folede, to fordo pride, fie foule synne pat me gerte
In helle from him ine hyde. 64
XLIII. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
(9) Ihesu, my lemmon swete :
Of loue fat Jjou art trewe, }}at is seene in hondes and fete,
In heued, in huyde and hewe, }5i bodi of "blod al wete,
Whon fou gon on me rewe And me brou^test from grete
And from my foule loue vntrewe.
(10) So deore hastou me boulit
To bringe me out of pyne, fter I was Inne I-brouht,
I and mo of myne. Ihesu, so fer f ou me sou^t,
Me and mo of Jjyne, Jpat of j?i lyf was }>e nouht —
So lo]> fe was vs tyne.
471
Mi lemmon let him take,
Putte & Bete and Bynde, So sore as him mihte ake,
His hondes him behynde : And al was for my sake,
Mi loue so he heold In mynde. Ich ou^te euere serwe make,
Vn-trewe yd he me fynde.
(12)
"Wi]> pyne vppon f e Rode
Me bou^te my deore lemmon, Swete Ihesu f e goode,
So much el of loue he con ! ])e teres he lette of blode
ffor me whon he bi-gon. Madde pei aren and woode
To leuen him for Sathan !
(13)
On Eoode he wolde abyde, — He wolde nou^wher fer fle,
in hands 68 and head,
72
to free me from punish- ment.
76
80
He was
beaten
for me.
88
He bought me on the Cross.
92
96
472
His arms spread wide for love.
He hung for my love.
He lost His life
that we might gain
bliss.
He could not do more for me.
XLIII. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
Noufer go ne Hyde,
ffor nayled he is to J>e tre. 100
He spredej) his Amies wyde,
ffor lone as we mowe se ; His herte Jjoru^-out his syde
He 3iueJ> vs, he is so fre ! 104
(14) Mi lemmon ha]? so sprad
His Armes J?at be]) so longe : ffor-Jri am I nou^t dred,
He wol me vnderfonge. 108
Whon I was from hyni fled,
On hym he tok J>e wronge ; To depe til he was bled,
ffor my loue wolde he honge. 112
(15)
He bekenef vs to blisse
WiJ? louynde chere so swete, His MouJ) he beodej) to cusse j
ffor vs his lyf he leete 116
To lere vs and to wisse,
And nayled jjorw-out his feete, Of Mede fat we ne misse
His hondes beoj> J?orw weete. 120
(16)
Swete Ihesu, Jri ore !
Jpat al hast in Jri miht, What mihtest }?ow do more
ffor me, Jri wrecched wihU 124
Of loue fou art my lore,
To come to heuene briht. jjat herte may be ful sore
To loue fe Jjat is not diht ! 128
(17) Now wol I crie and grete —
ffor serwe hit is nei$ J?at I berste, Min herte-blod to blede
ffor my lef fat is }ms feste. 132
473
He is my best help.
I cry
to see Him put to death.
XLTIT. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
Ihesu, $if Jjat I schal spede,
Jpi-self ]>enne is bote beste. ffor grymly grete I drede,
Wijj J)i bodi 31! I reste. 136
(18) How nrihti but I grete
Til I eode out of my wit 1 I seo my le?7&mon blede
To dejje, to liggen in put ; His syde is schoren as schrede,
His herte a spere ha]? hut — And al for my misde[de]
Was he so f elli smit !
(19) Now wot I me no won,
Lemmon, what I do miht. I seo Marie and Ion,
]?i Mooder and J>y kniht, fful druri is hire mon
ffor J>e Jmt weore so briht — Nou is ]>er deolfolore non
Ne vnlikkore in siht.
(20)
Jtyn e$en briht as Sonne,
Mone and Sterres alle, Jpei woxe deske and dimme, waxt dim.
)pi feire Rode dude falle ; 156
)?i blod was al out Runne.
To drinke whon jjou go?^ne calle, )?e wikked men beoden J»e Eysel & atter,
Bitterore fen fe galle. 160
(21) Wi]j spittyng and wijj fen
And blod out-beten sore ftow weore al out of ken,
A La^er as J?ow wore. 164
ftei beote fe, pi foo-men,
Of loue to lere vs lore — S Love.
140
144
Mary and John mournd 148 too.
152
Christ's eyes
He was
beaten and
bled
474
Well may I cry to see my love Jesu die !
For me He lost His life,
and shed His heart's blood on the Cross.
Alas, that I could not do His will!
XLIII. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
Jpou be blessed, amen, Now and euer-more !
(22) Sore I seo pe buye
Al my loue-plawe — Al is for my folye
fiat pou driest heer a prawe. Alias pen may I crie,
And her and huyde to-drawe, I seo my lewmon dy}e
On Eoode wip-outen lawe !
(23) Alias, Alias, out ay,
}}at euer was I boren ! His dep is lewes play,
His Coroune is of porn. Mi lemmon, weylaway !
ffor me is lyf hap lorn, His bodi is al blodi
Be-hynden and bi-foren.
(24) I seo in eorpe synke,
Lemmon, pin herte-blode, }}at pow wz'p pyne and swynke
flbr me scheddest on pe Roode. Jjerof whi ne moste I drynke,
)3at is so swete and goode, On pe pat I mihte pinke
ffor loue ay til I eode wode ?
(25) Alias, pat I ne coupe,
Lemrnon, don al pi wille Wip werk, and word of moupe,
Bope loude and stille ! Almihti god hit oupe
I mihte pe to me tille, So briht so sonne in Soupe,
Of pe pat I mihte haue my wille.
172
176
180
184
188
192
196
200
XLIII. A Mourning Song of God's Love.
475
(26) Marie Mooder Milde,
Mi lemmon is pi sone — Wip him pou eodest wip childe,
ffor me wip him to wone. I haue ben wood and wylde :
}2ou preye him pat I cone Lone him, & pat he me schilde,
Or.eny oper to mone.
(27)
Alle opere I-chnlle forsake
And don out of my pou^t, To pe, Ihesu, I me take —
So deore pou hast me bouht ! Al oper loue wol make
Endynge and waxe to nou^t : fti loue nul I forsake,
ffor pat bringep vs alle o-loft.
(28) To wone wip pe, bi-leue
Lemon, vnder pi tre — May no pyne me greue
NQ do me fro pe fle. I wol in at J)i sleue,
Al in Jjin herte to be, Myn herte schal berste and cleue,
Vn-trewe ar pou me se.
(29) fful hard hit is, ])i bed :
A treo pat stondejj stille, In wo and weder sted ;
Reroute he hongej) on hille, ffor-beten and for-bled
WiJ> Men pat wolden hem spille. Al pus hap loue pe led,
)3i le??imon for to tille.
(30) Jpi-self pou mai^t not schelde,
N"e torne, so art pou fest ;
VERNON MS.
Mary, my Darling is thy son ;
204
208
pray Him to shield me!
212
216
I will never forsake Him,
220
224
tho' my heart burst.
Thy bed was hard, a cross of wood;
228
232
476
Thou badst nothing wheron to rest Thy head,
nor clothes to cover Thee.
0 Jesu,
may Thy love pierce me as deep as the spear pierst Thee !
XLIV. Friar Henry's Little Sermon.
J)ou hast nout on to helde
Jjin hed, on for to rest, Almihti kyng to welde
Al pat is worst and best. Hou mint1 I euer J?e 3elde l or
J?e lone Jjat Jms wol lest 1
(31) Closing hast Jjon non —
ffor scorn men make]? J>e bare ; }5i ffrendes aren from j?e gon,
And flowen fat wij> J?e ware, Alle bote Marie and Ion,
fful of serwe and care — fful dreri is here mon,
])i pyne is al ]>e mare !
(32) Ihesu Crist, my lemmon swete,
})at dy^edest on J?e Rode-tre, WiJ> al niy miht I J?e bi-seche
ffor ]?yne wouwdes two and J>re, ))at as depe in to myn herte
Mot J?i loue I-stiked be As was £e spere in to J>yn herte,
Whon Jjou suffredest dej) for me.
236
240
244
248
252
256
In a Sermon
Friar Henry warnd us not to die in gin,
XLIV. |to is a tagtel M is of goolr j
[Ten 8-line stanzas ; after the first, ab, cb, db, eb.]
At a Sarmoun Iper I seet A comely clerk1 Ich herde crauen, "Wyse wordes he ]?er speek ))e Mon J?at wolde in herte hauen ; Ich herde ffrere Henri spellen :
1 k over line.
no suraies in ow dwellen ; )3e Mon j>at is taken in dedly synne, He may wel witen In wo to wellen.
1 Title in Index : A luytul sermoiw of good edificacioim.
XLIV. Friar Henrys Little Sermon.
" A f ing hit is fat we schul do, ])e Mon fat f enkef to liuen in le : Schrift to taken, and fat be tyme — We haue no Borwes heer to be ; 12
Whon we hauen, to holde faste, We ne mowe raples f orw f o f re To Bere f e croune to-fore f e kyng )5at for vs f olede def on tre. 1 6
" He1 fat for vs f olede def on tre, * om. He J5ou Rihtwys lord, f ou deme so : Wis vs to fat ilke stude
Jpat1 euere is wele and neuer wo. i r. j>er 20
God, lete neuere vr wille vr wit be-swiken, ffor whi, vr soule for to slo. Ihesu crist, f ou mihtful kyng, ]3ou haue merci on me and mo. 24
" Mon on Molde, f ou mak ]?e 3are A^eyn fi dejj on domes-day ; )?enk vppon fi muchele neode,
Wher fi soule resten may — 28
Heuene or helle wher hit be-tyde]?, jpou mai3t wel witen Jwu liuest ]?er ay. -Crist schild vs from fat ilke stude, jper no mon ofer ne mene ne may. 32
" Mai no mon ofer hem bi-menen, fFor sek and sori heo fer se ; )3er is hot and cold and hunger wij> And fretes — fo beof vuele f re, 36
^iirst and hunger and festernesse, j?at euere schal lyue wef-outen lee.1 x ong. leo, corr. to lee. Crist schild YS from fat ilke stude, ffrom Bale Iper neuere no bote ne be. 40
" Ne miht f ou seo, syiiful Mon, So dof f e ffisschere W2,'f his hok : Hou he tesef on f e Banke
A brodly breyd I f e Brok ; 44
Comef fe ffisch and fongef hit, So wrofly wrief on f e Crok, )5e ffisch is be-wyled forw f e worm — •So wo is f e ffisch fat he hit tok. 48
477
but to shrive in time,
and to make ready for Doomsday,
for in Hell are hunger and cold,
thirst and darkness.
As the fisher's hook
catches the fish,
I I
478
so with the worm Wo- man is Man caught.
May Christ grant us to shroud our- selves with Shrift,
and live in Heaven !
Judge of Mankind, have mercy on us I
XLIV. Friar Henrys Little Sermon.
" Hok bi-tokenej? helle-pyne— What helpej> hit to hele wij? J>e 1 Wommon is worm, J?er heo is wikke — May no mon Jjorw his surcnes se. ]3e Mon is fnsch and fongej) hire — Him weore wel betere to lete?i hire be, To huyden his hed and hi^en a-wey, ffrorn dedly synne J?er-with fle.
" jtis prechours ]>at bi-foren vs speken, Wel liht a Beren heore tonge in wold To wissen vs to J?at ilke stude, So holy writ hit ha]> hem told. 3if we wol lusten to heore lore, We ou^ten be fayn, and i'ul bold To wonen in jjat ilke stude J3er Ihesu crist fe1 ludas solde.
" }?er Ihesu crist Jje ludas solde He lene vs lust in lawe to lyuen, Wit and wisdam to vnderstonden, Wij) schrift al for to schruden vs here. 3if we haue wille to wikkedlek, God lete vs J?ere stunte and stere ; He deme so lord at domes-day J3at we mote, lord, in )>i wey fere.
" In ))i wey fere, lord, I wolde ben, To wonen in j?at wor]?li won. Heo pat on J)i lift hond leuen, Wel grislych hit is whon Jwu art gon : A ben I-haried in to helle-pyne, To Bale Iper neuer ne bote nis non. He J?at al j)is world schal demen, ))ou Eihtwys lord, j)ou rewe on Mon.
52
56
60
i r. bat ? Cf. Lay Fo7Jcs'
Mass-Boole, v.'407: And so be leuacioun bou be-
halde,
for bat is he bat iudas salde, And sithen was scourged &
don on rode, &c.
68
72
76
Amen.'1 2
80
2 Then follows Eoberd of Cicyle, fol. 299 (ed. in Sammlung altenglischer Legenden 1878, p. 209, from 5 MSS.).
XLV. Dispute of the loy Jesus and the Jew Doctors.
XLV. Her is a feptfeatt M-t&rw "r|ji|TJb
479
of V Into 0f
[Twenty-five 8-line stanzas, one 12 : ab, ab, ab, ab.
Lustne]? lordes, leoue in londe : Sopeli sawes I wol 3ou telle Of gentyl Ihesu, I vnderstonde, jje ffalse ffei fonded to felle. ifor wo ne wrake ne wolde he wonde Of Trinite trewe to lewes telle, He sat in see, lie nolde not stonde, As best of barnes fat bar J>e Belle.
])e> gospel seij? In J>is manere : Whon Ihesu was of twelf }er age, In to J>e Temple he com to lere Wrangful wrecches ]>at wrou^t outrage. Maystres wondrede, pat j?er were, )3at lawes lerede in heore langage, And seide : " child, what destou j?ere? J3ou sittest stalled in vre stage."
A Mayster seide to Ihesu : ' ' J5ou scholdest lerne, and nou^t teche ; )5ou spillest speche ; what seystou 1 ])\ wrangful wordes worchef wreche, }?ou repnngnest in pres a-^eyn vr prou ; As preised prophete, j)e peple preche. Stunt a stounde Jn sawe of Gru ! ])\ wit to teche may not reche.
" jpow schuldest lerne A. b. c, ifor pe fayle)) a f oundemerat ; J?ou tellest tales of Trinite ! In wonderwyse }>i wit is went. 3if ]?ou wolt leorne, pou miht Jjhe, ffor wonder wit on pe is sent ; Of Bales Boote J>ou miht be, 3if ])ou neore In errour hent."
Ihesu seide : "I may wel se \)i Bok is blynt, and J?ou art blent ;
12
16
20
24
28
32
wouldn't turn from telling Jews of the Trinity.
When he was 12, he went to the Temple and taught wrongdoers.
A Master said He shouldn't teach,
but should learn His ABC.
Jesus asks him
1 Ed. before by Horstmann in Altengl. Leg., 1875, p. 211-14. Miss A. F. Parker collates the text with the MS. henceforward.
480 XLV. Dispute of the Boy Jesus and the Jew Doctors.
why A is be- fore B.
The Master threatens to
flog Jesus.
Jesus ex- plains
that A is a letter of three in one,
and is like the Trinity,
and the Deity.
The Master says that Jesus' laws are not in Moses' law.
farest foule, so pynkep me, ffor lewed lore on pe is lent. Whiis ABi-foreb? Tel me, pat spekest in present, Or I schal tymeli teche pe })i Reson rape pe schal Repent."
J?e Maister wip wel wikked wille Spak in pres of people a-pliht ; "Ihesu, pou art a grameful gille, I Rede Rape pou lerne a-Riht ; And bote pou stonde a stouwde stille, To Betyng Bare pou schalt be diht." Qwap Ihesu : " pat is no skille, I com not hider for to fiht.
it," quap Ihesu, " of myn askyng
J3ou ne ^iuest non onswere. I am ful Old, peih I be ^ing. A louely lore I wol pe lere — Tak pis tale of my teching : A Is prys, wip-oute pere. lettre of preo and is o piug ; J)reo partyes A hap knet I-fere.
" Bi A Biginnep pe lettrure, ffo[r] A is lyk pe Trinite. Jjreo pa?*tyes A hap of Mesure, Knet in knotte on A wol be. 3if pou wolt lerne, pou mint hure Hou A is lyk pe deite. Jpe Deite is, pis is sure, Jjreo and on, In Maieste, And euer her after heo schul dure In-departable alle pre. Nou hastou lerned, tac pou cure, Hou A is most of dignite."
}3e Maister seide in pat stounde : " What artou, lettrure to lere 1 Bi Moyses lawe, nis not founde ))e lawes pat pou tellest heere, J)ou seist in pis ilke grounde * pou art old and 3ong I feere ' ;
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
64
68
72
XLV. Dispute of the Boy Jesiis and the Jew .Doctors. 481
}?i sawe sof li nis not founde ; jperfore f on art me no-fing dere.
" Stond f on stille swif e, I seye, And louely lustne to my lore, And f on miht bi alle weye Beo ful wys for euer-more. Jjou hast wit In memorie And wel ^oug Jji wit is core ; Hit is medlet wif ffolye, And fat grenef me grimly sore.
" Of Moyses vr lawe we had And nou newe f ow wolt teche. Of f i sawe swif e am I sad, Of f e Trinite to spille speche. )5ou greuest me, I am not glad, With Infer lawes f on Infer leche ; J2ou spekest of godhed as child al mad, fforf er fen f i wit wol reche."
A-nof er Mayster seide in " Child, her is a wonder f ing ! frow kennest comeli Clergy e, And 3it to teche f on art to )3ou hast not lerned, as men seye : Hon hastou fenne fi connyng1? Deueles demef Moil to dy^e : )3i tonge haf tast of heore teching.
u]5i wrongful wordes worchef wrake. jpow seist fat god is on and f re. I Bede fin errour f ou forsake, )5ou spekest of f ing fat mai not be. As oner-come fou worth of-take, )?at al f is peple hit schal se. J)is qwestion to f e I make : Tel me what is f e Trinite ? "
Ihesu, as best fat bar fe belle, Wolde wite riht a-non, 3if he couf e o f ing telle Of prechynge prophetes wonder won, "fat seide crist scholde dwelle Her on eorf e a-mong his fon,
The' Jew Master bids Jesus learn df him,
and not teach new laws.
76
80
84
88
92
96
100
104
108 and what the Trinity is.
Jesus asks after the Prophets who said Christ should dwell on earth.
Another Master asks the Child
how He's got His know- ledge,
482 XLV. Dispute of the Boy Jesus and the Jew Doctors.
Jesus says
Isaiah fore- told Christ's birth of a maiden.
He came into her like a sunbeam.
The Father's light is in the Son;
the two are
one,
and, with the
Holy Spirit,
one God in
Trinity.
•A' is the letter of the Trinity, and therefore put first.
The Masters of the Law say
that as Mary was old Jo- seph's wife,
Alle ^or lawes to f ulfelle ;
)?is wol 301 lawes euerichon. 116
" Crist is liht of god Almiht And of Godes liht I-core. Ysaye spac her-of a-pliht :
Of a Maydera he scholde be bore. 120
Jjou mi^t wel wite hit is riht, He schal bugge fat is for-lore. God is f e ffader, Crist sone & liht ; J3e sone is geten wif-outen hore. 124
" ffor as J?e sonne ^iuef his leem 3if he wif cloudes is not let, So com crist as sonne-Beem
In to fat Buirde fat Bales bet. 128
3if f ou take wel good ^eem Hou f e sonne-Beem. euere is set Vndeparted, so is f e strem Of crist with God mid knottes knet. 132
" Now tak herto good entent : fte ffader liht in f e sone schal be, Jje ffader liht $it nis nou^t blent, Al is o liht In Deite. 136
J?en is hit proued bi Argument, J?at ffader and sone, o liht beof he : ]3e holy spirit wif hem present, Heo Jjreo Beo]> God In Trinite. 140
" ffor jje Trinite, I fe seye, A is lettre of alle cheef ; jjerfore he is in alle weye
Put bi-fore : her is good preef ! 144
j?e Trinite J?ei schal seo wij> e$e, Alle Men fat ben him leof ; )3en is mon A preised prei^e, J?at to )?e Trinite doj> no greef ! " 148
Jje Maistres seide of jje lawe, }5at deueles tauhte him clergye ; " A Mayde," fei seide, ubi prophetes sawe, Schal bere crist, kyng of glorie. 152
Wel we witen, and wel is knawe, fte Olde loseph weddet Marie ;
XLV. Dispute of the Boy Jesus and the Jew Doctors. 483
Ojjer record cunne we non drawe, He nis not crist bi prophecie."
I hem spac vfith Mylde chere To lewes fat gonne grede & crie : " ffaref feire, ffrendes deore, ^e ffarej) foule wif folye. And o f ing a-non 36 schul heere : What seif f e prophete Ysaye 1 Heo schal be weddet wif oute pere, fee Mylde Mooder of Messye.
" Ysaye sei]> a-nof er f ing : Crist in f e lawe schal be bore — And fat mot ben In weddyng, And elles cristes lawe is lore. Prophetes speeke of his comyng At lesse bi-gon j?e more. 3it ha]> crist no bi-gynnyng, Al-jjau^ )?at crist be mon I-core. Joseph u\xga floruit fatu Ysaye; Coniunx, lex ut monuit, mate? fit Messye."
fie Maystres And lewes mo, Of 3onge Ihesu hedde meruayle, Hou fat he was comen hem to, WiJ? wit and clergye to assayle. Of hem hedde Ihesu mony a fo, if or heore wit gon sone fayle ; Monye w^t7i-drawe and gonne go, Whon heore clergye hem nolde vayle,
In-to te Temple com Marie :
TT , . T
±leo say^ hire sone In see was set, And tau^te Jie peple bi clergye Of loueli lawe wij>-oute let. To him heo seide Eiht in hei^e : " Now is my Bale myd boote I-bet !
.. «, , T .
J5i tiader and 1 wel sorie
pe hauej) sou^t, & nou^wher met.
Ego $ patei tuus dolentes querebamus te"
Ihesu seide in fat stounde : " Mi ffader wille is bat I do : I wol vn-bynde fat was bourcde :
156
160
164
168
her son can't beChrist-
je8U8 an-
that Isaiah Sithe/of
wedded>
and Christ io°ck;mv
yet Christ 172 n5g!!° begm"
The Masters
176
180
His mother
. Mary comes
184 »»,
188 and says she
and his father
have sought
him, sorrow-
192 Jesus teiis doLgHis
Father's will.
484 XL VI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew.
Jesus says He was sent to fulfil His Father's Law.
Romans there
knew that He was Christ,
and honourd Him.
Mi ffader wole J>at hit beo so. ])Q peple I preche wij? facoimde And I teclie ffrend and fo ; Mi sarmoim is bo]>e sojj & soimde ; On me is ffader and sone also.
" Mi ffader lawe I wol fulfelle, jperfore I am hider I-sent ; Doubter and Moder, to J?e I telle, Elles weore J?e world I-schent. Mi ffader wol wiih-oute dwelle, ]5at I teche ow In present ; J?e ffendes fare doun to felle Jpat ha]> vritJi wrong pe world went."
Eomayns j?er were wonder won j)at cunnynge were of Clergye ; Bi prophecie heo wusten vchon ])ai, lie was crist wtt&outen lye ; Honourede him for crist anon, ffor his mint & his maistrie. Preye we crist J>at we so don, To geten J?e gle in his glorie. Amen.
196
200
204
208
212
215
Two Clerks of Divinity met in Paris,
XLV. g, fepfemi 6g4fom a aitir
[Twenty 16-line stanzas : aaab, cccb, dddb, eeeb.]
(i)
A lie BliJ?e mote J)ei be, ]?at folyes blep cliche wole fle. How hit bitidde bi-^onde see,.
J?e sope I wol ^ow say. 4
In J?e Toun of Parys — £at is A Citee of Prys— Twey men mette J>at weore wys,
And wente bi J?e way. 8
J)ei weore Clerkes of Diuinite,
1 Ed. before in Horstmann's Sammlung altengl. Leg., Heil- bronn 1878, p. 204 ff. ; three stanzas, vv. 145—192, are printed in Wartoris Hist, of Engl. Poetry, ed. Hazlitt, III, 181-3.
XL VI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew. 485
Crafti Men in heore degre. Eiper, Maister wolde be,
ffoondep $if pel may. Jpus pel desputed so faste, While pe day mihte1 laste, Nouper oper coupe caste,
Beo Kihtwys lay.
(2)
])Q ton was of Engelonde, A Cristene Mon, Ich vnderstonde ; He hedde I-souht ouer pe sonde,
Wondres to se ; He hedde I-lernd of Clergys, As Men do]? pat beop wys : ])Q mon fat most is of prys,
Maister moste be. J5e toper was A leu^ riht, A Mon muehel of his miht ; To his troupe hedde he tiht,
Trewe as pe tre : — )5at wol I apertly preue : Jpulke lay pat he on leeue, ffor no gold pat [me] mihte hi??i
Chaunge wolde not he.
(3)
])Q Cristene Mon seide as he pou^t " Lo, ^onde vr god pat vs bou^t ! Oper trouwe pou hit noi^t,
Bi daye nor bi niht 1 Certeynliche, 3onde is he ))at for vs di^ede on pe tre, And also bouwed him to be
In A Buyrde Briht, As heo wemles was, Seppe cler as pe glas ; Bi-twene Oxe and an As
I-bore was pat kniht, At pe 30! ful $are, Al for vr wel-fare.
l MS.
12
16
and each wanted to be Master.
They dis- puted all day.
One Divine was an Eng- lish Chris- tian,
20
24
28
32
the other was a Jew.
36
40
44
The Christian said,
•Yonder is our God,
who died on the Cross for us,
and was bora of a pure Maiden,
at Yule-tide.'
486 XLVI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew.
The Jew said,
'There Is but one God,
the Creator, and He never had a son.'
The Christian said,
'You don't believe in the Mass;
yon shall be beaten,
and go to Hell?
The Jew an- swerd,
Woldest JJQU leeue on my lare, Jpi lykyng were liht ! "
(4)
)3e Ieu$ sone seide fare : " Ar we fforjjere fare — )per is 0 god, and no mare,
Hei^ly in holde, And, as I trowe, in J>e trone, He schop J?e sonne and jje Moone ; But he liedde neuer no sone
ffor synful was solde. J?e grete god calle we — ]?at is semely to se : Oj?er may J>er non be,
Conger ne Olde. Wharto makestou J>i mone ? I trouwe, J)i wit beo J?e wone ; Al mis artou gone
Heer on pis wolde."1
(5)
Jpe cristen Mon stonde]> stille, And seffen he talkej) him tille And seij) : " jjat1 \\ wikked wille
Schal worche fe ful wo. )3ou leuest not in Jje Mes, ]3at euer God J>er in Is1 : ifor-])i lyking is J?e les,
And loren artou so, And al fi careful kynde Jpat euer bi-com of his strende. Men schal in Baret J?e bynde,
And bete J)e ful bio. Whon J?ou schalt of Jjis world wende, )3ou schalt be tau^t to fe fende, And euermore wijj-outen ende
In-to Jje pyne go."
(6)
fte leu^ bi-gon him to greue : " j?at wol I apertly preue,
48
1 r. molde
52
56
60
64
1 om. J>at ?
i r. es
68
72
76
80
XLVI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew. 487
Bof e of Adam and of Eue
Of hem we weore alle I-wrouht. 84
And I dar wage wif f e Tonnes of wyn f re feat I schal lete f e him se,
feou seist fat f e bouht, 88
Bof e f e vuel and f e gode : Hou he was don on f e Eoode : And alle fat bi him stoode
Whon he to def e was brouht. 92
So const f ou not do ffor al f i clergye ; f erto, As haue I reste of er Eo,
fei Eeson is no^t." 96
(7)
fee cristen mon Mildely gon malt : " I telle f e, truwaurct for-talt : Men schal in prison f e palt,
And putte f e to pyne ; 100
But $if f ou lete me him se feat for vs dyede on f e tre, Sef f e f e Maystrie $eue I f e,
To fe and alle fyne. 104
Loke f ow holde fat we say ! To morwe, set we fat day, We schal wende on vr way
To winne vs fe wyne. 108
fee Mon fat fayles of his fare, Al loren is his lare ; He may droupe and dare
feat schal his trouf e tyne." 1 1 2
(8) .
feus f ei woke al f e niht, Til on f e Morwen at day-liht fee cristene inon Eos Eiht,
And radly gon say 116
His Matyns in f e Mornyng ; Sef f e his Masse gon he syng ; He f onked vr lord in alle f ing,
As he fat most may. 120
Til bet you 3 tuns of wine that I'll show you your Christ
on the Cross, with all his folk round him.
Tou can't do that.'
The Christian takes the bet, and says
if the Jew
shows him
this,
he'll give him
the mastery.
They'll start to-morrow.
Next morn- ing the Chris- tian says
Matins, and sings his Mass.
The Jew and lie set off.
The Chris- tian, after Mass, takes God with him,
488 XLVI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew.
Soone J?ei metten, as J>ei miht.
" Haue I-don," lie seide, " artou diht
ffor to liolde fat J?ou hiht 1
)5is is vr day. 124
Oper a nay, or A $a 1 Soone tel J?ou me swa ! " Him grauwtes for-to ga,
And went on heore way. 128
(9)
]2e Cristen mon seide son,
Whon his Masse was don : " I wol take god me vppon,
And here him wij) me : 132
BoJ)e in lond and in leode, Al J>e lasse is my drede : )2e mon pat to him take)) hede,
J)e better he may be. 136
J?er nis non enemy in helle, Non so fers ne so felle, And he here of vre lord telle,
Jjat on Is in pre : 140
ffor al pe gold in pe grou^de, He wolde not byde him a stovwde Jpat he nolde freschly founde,
And a-wey fle." 144
(10)
ffor]) heo wenten on pe ffeld To an Hul pei bi-heold. ])Q eorpe cleuet as a scheld
On J>e grounde grene. 148
Sone fond J?ei a stih : ))ei went per-on radly ; be Cristene mon hedde ferly
What hit mihte mene. 152
After pat sti$ lay a strete, Clene I-pauet wip grete. J?ei fond a maner jjat was meete
Wij) Murpes ful schene, 156
Wei coruen and wrouht, WiJ> halles hei3e vppon loft.
as every Hell- fiend
will flee from the Mass- bread.
They go to a hill.
The earth cleaves.
They cross by a path,
to a street,
and came to a mansion,
with high halls
XLVI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew. 489
To a place weore pei brouht,
As paradys pe clene. 160 like Paradise,
fter was f oulene song, with singing
,. , _.. . birds,
Mucne Murpes a-mong — Hose lenge wolde long,
fful luitel him fount. 164
On vche a syde of pe halle,
Pourpul, pelure and palle; purple pails,
Wyndouwes I pe walle, windows,
Was wonderli I-wrouht. 168
)per was dosers on pe dees, dorsers on
Hose pe cheef wolde ch.es, J?at neuere Eicchere wes
In no sale souht. 172
Bope pe Mot and pe molde Schon al on red golde. J3e cristen mon hedde ferli on J?at folde
)3at pider was brou^t. 176
(12)
Jper was Erhes growen grene, green herbs,
Spices springynge bi-twene ; " Such hedde I non sene,
ffor-sope, as I say." 180
])e frestel song ful schille, a thrush
He iiewed notes at his wille j ffeire ffloures to fille, flowers,
ffeire in pat fiey. 184
And al be EouTide table good, and aii Ar-
thur's Round Hou Arthur in eorjje 3od, Table
Sum sat and sum stod
0 pe grounde grey — 188
Hit was a wonderful siht :
As pei weore quik men diht,
To seo hou pey play. 192 at play.
(13)
J?e Iew$ sone in pat tyde, He spak per a word of pryde :
490 XLVI. A Disputation "between a Christian and a Jew.
Then they come to a Nunnery,
with dames
and squires.
Tables were laid;
they washt,
and food was brought.
But the Chris- tian wouldn't eat or drink.
Mirth and minstrelsy were there.
They stood up,
and saw a Cross with
a wounded body on it ;
and by it, Mary, John,
Hose wol lenge and abyde
May lusten and lere. Til a Noranerie fei came ; But I knowe not J?e name : fter was mony a derworfe dame
In Dyapre dere. Squi3ers in vch a syde In J?e wones so wyde. " Heer schul we lenge and abyde,
Aunties to heere." J3e?me swife spekej? he Til a ladi so fre And biddef : fat he welcome be,
" Sire Water, my feere."
(14)
J)er was Bordes I-clofed clene Wif schire clones and schene. Seffe a wasschen, I weene,
And wente to f e sete. Eiche metes was for]) brouht, To alle men fat good fouht ; })e Cristen inon wolde nouht
Drynke nor ete. J3er was wyn ful clere In mony a feir Maseere, And ofer drynkes fat weore dere
In Coupes ful gret. Siffe was schewed hem bi, Murfe and Munstralsy, And preyed hem do gladly
WiJ> Eial Rehet.
(15)
By fe Bordes vp fei stode. Or f ei forf ere 3ode, So weore fei war of a Eode
fful Eafe, as I Eede, And a bodi f er-vppon, feat woundes hedde mony on ; Bi him stod Marie and Ion,
Wepynde good spede,
196
200
204
208
212
216
220
224
228
232
XLVI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew. 491
Of ur Apostles of prys, Poul and Peter f e wys, And seint Ion f e Baptys,
Was douhti of dede. 236
Whon he was schewed to f e siht, Bof e of leom and of liht J)e Mon fat most was of miht,
His woundes gon blede. [Foi. 302, coi. s.j
(16)
])Q leu^, sone seide he : "Holden is fat I hihte fe." J?e tof er seide : " \at schal I se,
Certeynly, ful sone." J?e Cristen Mon hedde a derworf f iwge, On his Bodi, he gon hit brynge : Jjat a prest schulde wif synge
Whon Masse schulde be don. "3if Ipou be god so fre J)at for me di^ed on f e tre, Here fi sone mai f ou se,"
And heold him a-bouen. Whon he was schewed to f e siht, He barst f e Buyldynge so briht. Bof e was derk as f e niht,
Heore sonne and heore mone.
(17)
Al f e gere fat was gay Was f enne I- wasted a- way. )3e Cristene Mon gon say :
" Beon f eos f i godes here 1 " ])e leuh onswerde him wif ' nay ' And ofte Merci gon him pray : "I wol leue my lay,
And on f i lore lere. Sore I doute me of dred. I haue i-lost my wed : )2o fat are forf fled
Was fendes in feere, Non good, but al ille." No more he tented hem tille.
VEBNON MS. K K
Paul, Peter,
and John the Baptist.
The cruci- fied man's 240 wounds bled.
The Jew says he's won his bet.
244
248
'252
256
The Christian
shows the Masswafer to the man on the Cross,
and it bursts the whole building.
All the show vanishes.
The Jew says
he'll turn Christian.
He's lost his bet.
268 His saints were but fiends.
260
264
492 XL VI. A Disputation between a Christian and a Jew.
Heo f o stoden o f e hulle
ber fey furst were. 272
(18) The Jew bus he seldes him sare,
gives in, ' *
Al for his wel-iare.
He seide : " of Blisse I haue be bare
Seffen I was furst born. 276
and confesses IS"ow knowe I wel bat hit niai be
that One God
may be in bat 0-f old god Is in f re :
three persons. '
Whuch fat f ou brou^t wif f e
bis day at Morn. He is vre heuene kyng, Makere of alle f yng, And schop f e fruit for to spryng,
Bof e Curnel and Corn." 284
bus he Eapes of his res, To vre God he him ches, Let al his lucernes,
Was poynt to be lorn. 288
(19) He and the Sebbe bei wente to be Cite.
Christian are , /, , . , , , ,
both satisfied. A-cordet, as J)ei scnolde be. Who was payed bote he,
And eifer of oper ! 292
He Jjonked god his swete sonde bat he hedde brou3t out of bonde, Wei I-wonne to his honde,
Blijjely his Broker. 296
They eat and Mete and drynke J?ei hedde at wille, Wi]?-outen grucchyng or grille In troupe tente J?ei \er tille,
And lafte al fat ofer. 300
be Mon fat haf synne I-wrou3t And sifen repentes him ou^t, God is a-payed, fat vs bou^t.
Leeue we non of er.
(20)
TheChristian What wag ^ Mownes nome J^yfe
BVearwfck°.f But Sir Water of Berewyk ?
XL VII. How to hear Mass.
493
He was wonynge I )>e Ryk,
At Roome was called. )5e pope 3af him pouste — }3at mony mon mihte se — Penitauncer for to be
Of 3onge and of olde, Se])J>e to soyle and to schriue Bo)>e to Mon and to1 wyue, Eke to mende heore lyne
And to be troupe holde. ])QnnQ tok bei be leu}, Anon cn'stercd hyni neu^ ; J)us to vre God he hym
And 3eply him 3olde.
MS. two
308
312
316
320
The .Pope made Sir Walter a Penitancer.
The Jew was baptized.
[XLVII.
to \m itos.1]
Her techeb bys tretys benne [Foi. 302 &., coi. i.] Hou mon scholde here hys masse ; Hit is ful nedful to alle menne, To more and eke to lasse.
ng & olde, More and lasse,
fful god hit is to here a Masse,
)3at Cristendam hab tan. 3
Hit was mad for soule-hele, J9e Pater noster wijj bedes2 fele, 2 MS. dedes
And de profundis Is on. 6
j}e Pater noster Is pris preyere, WiJ? O]>QI orisons mony and sere.
HoldeJ) ow stille as ston : 9
And 36 schul here J>e beste ])ing ))at euer 36 herde of Olde or 3yng
As wyde as inon haj? gon. 12
1 So the title in Index. The poem was ed. before by Canon Simmons in "The Lay Folks' Mass Book," 1879, E. E. T. S.,
£128 ff. (His sidenotes are reprinted here.) It is a free Mid- nd version of Dan Jeremy's Massbook for Laymen, a northern translation of which was ed.,from 4 MSS., by Simmons, 1. c. The liturgical prayers are mostly omitted in MS. Vernon, either because prayers of that kind were given before in MS. Vernon, or because the uses were different in different churches.
K K 2
How a Man
should hear
Ma Mass.
The Mass was made for the soul's health.
494
XLVIL How to hear Mass.
I'll tell you the benefits of the Mass.
All should know how to take part in common prayer, and use of private devotion ;
and how they may turn to
His long- suffering and readiness to help.
If we have a good will, be teaches the way to heaven.
No man in the like case would he so longsufter- ing,
and we hy sin crucily the Lord afresh,
but His mercy clears us.
He grieves for us,
Lustnep here, & 30 wol lype : Of a talkyng I wol 3011 kipe,
Cumfort to al Mon-kynde : )5at is pe Meedes of pe Masse. Eueri mon bope more and lasse
Schulde haue hit in his mynde, Hou pat 36 scholde $or seruise seye And priueliche ^or preyers preye
To him pat may vn-bynde, In saluyng of 3 or synnes seuene, To pe mihtful kyng of heuene,
Vr ffader pat \ve schal fynde.
And hou vr ffader schal be founde To vche a mon pat is I-bounde
In sunne, as I ow say. His suffrance we may se, Hou pat he suffrep pe and me
Wip miht al pat he may, And euere is redi vr bales to bete, To loke what tyme pat we wol leete,
In-to vr laste day ; 3if we ben in wille to leue vr synne, He techep vs wel hou we schal wynne
To heuene pe hei^e way.
What mon wolde now suffre so His sone I-slayen, and hedde no mo,
But 3if he mi3te lyue a-^eyn ; 3if he for traytrie weore take, Sone he schulde be forsake
Or elles sopli slayn. Whon pou dost a dedly synne, Al pe while pat pou dwellest pe?*-Inne
Jpou puttest to his payn ; }3e same he suffred for vr sake, )3en most merci a-mendes make
Bope wip miht and mayn.
))orw his Merci and his miht He rewep of vs, a^eynes pe riht, As Rihtwysnes wol rede.
15
18
21
24
27
30
33
36
39
42
45
48
51
XL VII. How to hear Mass.
495
Rihtwysnes wolde, assone
As we dedly synne haue done,
To dampne vs to pe dede : Jjen most Merci be Mayster most J)orw pe miht of pe holy gost,
And stonde wip vs in stede ; And lenge wip vs in leo and lede, Til we beo don out of pat dede
Jjorw bone of holy bede.
Wip ^or leue, I wol be-gynne Of a Mater for to mynne,
A good ping for to make, On pe hexte Jring hit is J)at euer was mad : pat is pe Mes,
Monnes sunnes to slake. Eueri day pou mai^t se )3e same bodi pat di^ed for pe,
Tent $if pou wolt take, In figure and in fourme of Bred, feat Ihesu dalte, er he weore ded,
ffor his disciples sake.
On pe hexte ping to here, And pe lihtest for to lere,
ffor lewed men In lare, Hou pat ^e schul $or seruise say, And priueliche $or preyers pray,
In churche whon pat $e are. I do ow wel to witen wip-outen drede, Jje Masse was mad for monnes nede,
ffor al folk lasse and mare. As pe prest seij? his preyere, So schulde vche mon pat him. gon here,
And pei wuste what hit ware.
3if I seide pis word wip my wit, Wip-outen witnesse of holi writ
Wisdam weore hit non ; Jjerfore I wole pat $e hit witen, Hou pat we fynde hit writen
Wip Auctours mony on.
where justice would con- 04 demn us to death. Therefore, mercy, stand us in stead,
57 and remain with us till prayer has freed us from that sentence of death.
60
Now I begin to put you in mind of the Mass,
63 and it is a good subject for my verse- making.
66
69
Thou mayest see the Body of Christ, who died for thee,
in figure, and in form of bread, as He gave it before 72 His death.
High as it is,
it is easy for the unlearned 75 to learn
when to join in the service, [Fol. 3026., »Q col. 2] 7 o and when to pray by them- selves,
for the Mass is for all. 81
All ought to pray as the priest, if they knew what 84 he said.
I do not speak of myself, without war- rant of holy 87 writ,
90
406
XLVIT. How to hear Mass.
and so I give the reasons of St Augustine, &c.,
who put on record the merits of the Mass.
Every step to and from hearing Mass is noted by the guardian angel.
That day a man does not age,
nor become blind:
he has God's pardon, if he goes to con- fession ;
and if he die, it avails as the viaticum.
It makes work to be without an- noyance or trouble,
and helps to cure sharp sorrows.
Before a journey hear early Mass,
or ad terti- om,
or ad sextam.
It will not hinder your journey.
Of Austin, Ambrose, Bernard, and Bede, 3it heore Eesons wol I rede
A-Mong $ow euerichon. j)ei make muynde of mony a mede J?at we schul haue for vre good dede,
To churche whon fat we gon.
What tyme fat f ow biginnest to go Ouf er to f e churche or fro,
To here a Masse ^if f ou may, Eueri fote fat f ou gas, J)yn Angel poyntef hit vch a pas,
})e Prince of heuene to pay. ftat day schalt fou elde nou^t, 3if fou beo studefast in f i f ouht
On God fat is verray ; Not Blynt fat day schalt f mi not be J)at f ou f i sauiour hast se,
Jporw him fat mihtes may.
A ffair grace God haf f e 3iuen, Of f i sunnes and f ou be schriuen
feat day f ou hast god se : 3if f ou be ded f e same day, ))ou schalt be founden I f e fay,
Hoseled as f ou hed be. Baldely mai3t f ou swete and swynke ffor to wynne f e Mete and drinke
Wif -outen tray or tene ; And $if f ou be in eny drede, Al f e better schalt f ou spede
To keuere of cares kene.
3if f ou haue eny wey to wende, I rede f ou here a masse to ende
In f e Morennynge ^if f ow may ; And $if f ou may not do so, I rede, beo vnderne ar fou go,
Or elles be hei^ midday. Serteynliche wif-outen fayle ftou schalt not leose of f i trauayle
Not half a f oote of way ;
93
96
102
105
108
111
1H
117
120
123
126
129
XLVII. How to hear Mass
0 fi bodi J?ou schalt be lihtore, And ]>i weyes wende fe Rihtore,
J?orwh him pat mihtes may. 132
"NOuh he be nou^t at pi lykynge, J fie prest pat schal py masse synge,
fterfore lette pou nouht : 135
His Masse schal be as1 good to heere l altered from a to as
° by another hand.
As Mowk, Cnanoun, Hermyte or ffrere, —
J?us penk hit in py pouht, — 138
J3au$ his preyere and his bone
Bi-fore God come not so sone
As he pat neuer synne wrou^t : 141
Ihesu crist, souereyn of al,
He may deeme bope gret and smal, )3us Doctours han I-souht.
497
Seynt Ambrose seif, hose rede]) riht : )5e Masse Is of so muche miht,
)?er nys no mon fat May, Whefer fat he be old or 3onge, Jje tenf e part telle wif tonge,
J3ei} he schulde line for ay. Jpe Exposission is so expres, Wif al J>e priuete of f e Mes,
Serteyn wif-oute delay, fiat, coufe a mon neuere so muche of art, He mihte not telle f e tenfe part,
)5au3 he hedde foi^t to say.
Seynt lerom seif : for soules sere, )3auh a Mon wolde a fousent 3ere
Do a Masse for to synge, Hit1 is noufer more ne las 2
But vch a soule schal haue a mas —
Hit is so hei^ a finge. 3it I Rede ow go to chirche, Godes werkes for to worche,
In-to vr laste endynge : Haue we no doute of vr dole, Vch soule schal haue a masse al hole,
Jjorw help of heuene-kynge.
MS. His
144
147
150
153
156
159
162
165
168
Be not kept away by any priest.
His unwor- thiness can- not hinder the Sacra- ment]
and his Mas- ter, Christ, will judge him.
St Ambrose says
the subject is inexhaustible by time or skill.
[Fol. 3026,
col. 3] St Jerome cited for the necessity lor a mass for every several soul.
Still go to church and be doing God's work.
Every soul shall have a separate Muss.
498 XLVIL How to hear Mass.
Hard to prove fful hard hit were to vre bi-houe
all this by
all these Ych a pTOUQI D6 for to pWCLQ
Of feos Auctours alle; 171
Serteynliche wif-outen lees
for I foresee, Of SUD1 of hem fen Wol I S66S
if I only cited T. j? n 1^7,4
some at ffor fing fat may be-lalle ; 174:
3if I droua. hem on lengf e, no man could I trou no moft schulde haue be stre^gbe
stand it out; , , .. ,, ., __
To stonde and heere hem alle. 177
but i shall Lewed men, and 30 wol list, you to know fful fayn I wolde J?at ^e hit wist on Christ.' On Crist whon ^e schulde calle. 180
YOU are igno- To calle on Crist w^b mylde chere.
rant, and I
will teach Lewed Men, I schal sou lere.
you.
Whon fat J?e prest bi-ginnes, 183
when the Whon he seij> his Confiteore, his confiteor, ffeire he louteb be Auter bi-fore,
bowing be- fore the altar, To schriue him of his synnes. 186
Serteynly, wif-oute delay and you pray And 2e for be prest pray.
for him, if he ' J r J. J >
'oul^the8 '^Ln<^ ^e a^e ^asse 3OU myniie,
ysfrjis Sikerli T dar wel sa^
reward. £er nj;s no tonge fat telle may
What Mede fat ^e may wynne. 192
But if you But ;it I telle aou, sikerly :
only pray for ' , , ,
yourself, it is And 2e preye but only
not lialf what ' r J J
ifor ^or owne hele, 195
I do 3ow to witen w^f-outen drede 3e beo not worf so muche meede,
^N"ot be fe haluendele, ' 198
As f i kuynde puttes f e to since it in- To don vuele he biddes be do.
clines you to J
evil. 3if fou wol wone in weole, 201
where there Prey for be prest, and he for be :
is this mutual
prayer, there bat Is a prey ere of charite, .
is true praise. '
ben mai^t fou synge of loue lele. 204
Loue is trevve in vche a leede ; «« in deed, ill $if f ou do ille, vuel schalt fou spede
ffor al f e craftes fat fou con. 207
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
499
"Whon J>at Jwu comest J»e chirche wit/i-Inne And J?ou sest J?e prest bi-gynne,
Take his vestimens on : Loke jjou do as I sey J>e, Knele a-doun vppon Jn kne,
Noyse fat f ow make non ; Seff e stond vp at j?i seruise, And serue god on fis wyse,
Al folk euerichon :
)5ou schalt say : " Jri. drihten And deore god almihten,
And In Marie I me a-seure, )3at heo sane vs alle, Bofe grete and smalle,
Of sunnes we bej> vn-pure ; And fat I may me schriue Of al my wikked lyue
To Prest fat beref f e cure, ))at I haue I-wroujt And in herte I-foujt
As vnkuynde creature.
" I was vn-kuynde, And was pewne blynde,
To worche a-^eynes his wille )5at fust me wroujt, And sejjjje me bou3t
ffro peynes he was put to ille. )5er-fore we pray To Jje to-day,
])3,t knowes bojje good and ille : Graunt vs lyue, We may vs schriue,
Vr penaunce to folfille."
We schal prey^e Ihesus Jjat he forjiue vs
Vr sunnes, fat we may synge, )5at we may pray J)e Prince to-day,
Schop eor]?e and alle jnnge,
Whilst the priest is vest- 210 ing,
213
kneel and be still,
then stand and do your service,
216 all of you.
Say thy Domine in multitudine, __ _ &c., and place 219 thyself under the safeguard of the Blessed Virgin;
and pray for shrift of sins
in deed and thought against man's better nature.
A Form of Confession.
222
225
228
231
234
237 [Fol.303,
col. 1]
Prayer to live to complete penance.
240
243
246
Prayer to Christ for for- giveness,
500
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
for purity, and for bene- fit from the Mass.
It is no doubt good to stand and say a word of
at the
you may pray for scores,
either nam- ing them or thinking of them,
and every soul of them has a Mass, if not lost in hell for ever.
If my father was in hell,
I would no more pray for him than for a dead
but still, as this is not known, we pray for all the faithful.
Now take care you don't talk with any
after the priest begins to vest,
or the Devil will write all you say,
jjat in Clannesse We may pe Messe
Jporw nriht of heuene-kynge, So deorliche to do, To tome pe to
Vs alle to good endynge.
Certes, sires, ful good hit is To stonde stille at pe Mes,
Sum good word for to say ; Whuche pat 36 wole preye fore, Jjauli 36 do for mony a score,
At a Masse 36 may ; Alle po- pat 36 nernpne noi^t, But only penke in 3or po^t
)?at 36 wolde fore pray, I do ow to wite w^p-outen doute, Jjer nis no soule a Masse wip-oute,
But he haue helle for ay.
Wust I my ffader in flesch and felle Weore holliche I-holden in helle,
))er weore non hope of hele, To preye for him I couj>e no Eed, No more pen for a Dogge were ded,
But let hem wip him dele. 3 it I rede we go to chirche, Godes werkes for to worche,
3if we wole wone in wele ; Seppe hit is vnknowe to vs, We schul preye for alle ffidelibus
To Rewe soules pat be]> lele.
^it I bidde 3ou takep good tent c ))at 36 holde no parlyment
Wip no cristen mon, Whon 36 come pe Churche And 30 seo pe prest bi-ginne
Take pe vestimens on : )?e foule fend so fel is, He writ 3or wordes I-wis
On a Kolle euerichon.
249
252
255
258
261
264
267
270
273
276
279
282
285
XLVIT. How to hear Mass.
501
It is in R. Brunne's Handlyng Synne, p. 287-8. 3 pope erased.
Also witnessef seynt Austine,
jpat furst wit in Engelond gan lene,
And preche1 f e treufe bi-gon. J MS. preched
2 Ar seynt Austin In Engelond come, Wif pope3 Gregori of Rome
fful long tyme gon he dwelle. Vppon a day for worschupefulnesse Jpe Pope3 wolde synge a Messe
As him ful fayre bi-felle : He made a signe to seynt Austyne, ffor he schulde ben his dekne digne
To Rede f e gospelle. And as he radde, fen sauh he fen Two wyues, as 36 may witen,
Tales fen gonne f ei telle.
Seynt Austin herde J>is wordes alle ; In A wyndow on f e walle
)2er bi-fore his face A foul fend he sau$ f er-In, Wif pewne & enke & parchemin,
As God ^af him f e grace ; He wrot so faste til fat he want, ffor his pcerchemyn-skin was so scant,
To speken f ei hedde such space ; Wif his teef he gon hit togge, And so radii he gon hit Rogge
Jpat al f e Rolle gon race.
So harde raced he fat Rolle, J)at he chopped his Cholle
A$eyn f e Marbel-ston. Al f e folk I f e chirche About Was a-stoneid of fat clout
And herden hit euerichone. Seynt Austin sei$ hou faste he drouh : He barst on lauhtre, and loude louh.
})e Pope4 ful sore gon grone, ffor serwe nei$ fe Pope4 wept. *
After masse, Austyn he met,
And Mekelv made his mone.
288
294
297
300
303
306
309
312
as witness Saint Augus- tine of Eng- land.
When he was at Rome, he was one day called to minister as deacon by Saint Gregory
the Great, and he saw two women talking to- gether, whilst he read the gospel,
and he saw a devil also (so God gave him grace), who wrote what they said,
but soon used his parch- ment,
so he tugged it with his teeth, till it stretched,
and he knocked his 0 1 0 head against the wall.
318
[Fol.'SOS,
heard the blow,
and St Aus- tin burst out
321 laughing, to the great grief of the Pope,
who remon- strated with
Q94. him after
°^* Mass,
502
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
charging him with madness for what he had done;
but he asked him not to grieve till he knew all,
and told him the story of the women and the fiend,
who wrote all they said,
and how in stretching the parchment,
he dashed his head against the marble,
and that cut the saint short in his reading.
He said as he saw, without a lie,
and led the Pope to the window,
and there they found black filth on the ashlar.
This is a miracle, no doubt, for devils have no blood,
He made his mone wip mylde mod : " Whi weore pou so wikked and wod
ffor to do pat dede 1 A worse dede miht pou neuer done." Austin onswerde him ful sone — •
Jperof he hedde gret drede : " Lord, greue 36 nou^t til pat 36 wite. A foul fend I say site —
Serwe mot ben his mede ! — Two wyues sat Bonder langare, Alle heore wordes wrot he pare
Yppon a Kolle to rede.
" ftei tok no tent til heore Mas : Al heore wordes more and las,
He wrot hem euerichon ; ffor to speke pei hedde such space, ]3e fend wrot wip a foul face
Til his Parchemyn was al gon. Whon his parchemyn was al spende, He rauhte pe Kolle bi pe ende,
Wip his teth a-non He logged, pat al in-synder gon lasch, And wip his hed he $af a dasch
A^eyn pe Marbel-ston.
" Lord, greue 30 not for pat dnnt ! He stoneyd me, and made me stunt
Stille out of my steuene. I wol sigge as I se3e, ffor a word wol I not ly^e,
Be Mihtful kyng of heuene." He ladde him forp, as I trowe, Til he com to pe wynt-douwe
J?at I be-fore gon nemene : ffoul pei fond per I-sched, As blac as pich was I-spred
Yppon pe Aschelers euene.
Jjis is wonder ping w^'p-outen drede ; \)er was neuer fend blod mihte blede, He hap nouper flesch ne bon ;
327
330
333
336
339
342
345
348
351
354
357
360
363
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
503
But god wolde fat hit were so, To chastise hem and of er mo
)3at to churche, gun gon. Til a Masse was seid to ende, A Mon schulde talke with fo nor frende,
But holde him stille as ston ; }5at hous was mad for preyere To Ihesu and to his Moder dere,
To f onke hem al heore Ion.
At f e wyues gon f ei witen What f ei seidew whorc f ei siten
Seynt Austyn hem bi-syde, Bi heore onswere f ei wuste ful wel Jpat ))ei hedde spoken muchel vncel,
And in heore hertes gun hyde. jjerfore, sires, I rede 36 loke, God tent I wolde 36 toke,
ffor f ing fat may bi-tyde, Jpat 36 mesure $ou f e mare, Of speche fat 36 ow spare,
At Masse whon fat 36 byde.
366
369
372
375
381
384
but it was allowed for correction sake.
Till Mass is ended, a man should be stone-still,
for it is the house of prayer to Jesus and His mother.
The women had much un- seemly talk,
and would fain have kept 378 it secret;
])e Pope1 greued hi??^ wel fe lasse; 1 Pope erased. He let comauwden at f e Masse
Of fat Miracle to mynne, 387
And also bad wif ful good wille J2at eueri Mon schulde stonde stille
Whon he comef f e churche W2.'t7?-Inne ; 390
And fe?ike2 hou wel fat god may wreke 2 MS. J?ewne Euerich a word fat we speke ;
We do ful muche synne : 393
A Prest mi3t be let of his mes, Al fis world mi3t fare f e wers,
Ys alle to wo to wynne. — 396
" Vr ffader vre al-weldyng is, God let vs neuere his murf es mis.
Lord, halwed be fi name. 399
In heuene and eorf e f i wille Be don, and fat is skille,
Or elles we ben to blame. 402
so do you take care,
and moderate your loqua- city at Mass.
The Pope commanded that the mira- cle should be borne in mind,
and that every one should be si- lent at Mass. Think of God's anger. A word might hinder the priest in his Mass,
and the whole world might suffer for it.
[F. 303, col. 3] The Pater-
Noster. Here follows a paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer with a Farsura.
504
XLVII. How to hear
Give us to- Vr vche-daves bred zii vs to-day.
day our daily
bread. Jjat we may trustily whon we schul away
To come to pi kyndame. God kepe vs to vre laste endynge, Let neuer pe fend w^'p fals fondynge Cumbre vs in no schame."
The Pater- noster should be put aside for no prayer,
for it was He made it who redeemed the world from •woe.
Believe the
Lord's
Prayer,
as none other comprises all we need in this world and the next.
The Gospel. Stand at the gospel;
you may understand none of it, but it is what Christ wrought, and it is wisdom in the un- learned to honour His work. Now learn that.
exemplum.
And here's a reason.
The adder understands not a word of thy charm, but she knows thy meaning.
Jrts pater noster schulde ben vsed And for non orison beo refused,
I schal 3ow telle for whi : Of his Moup hit was maad, J)at al pis world long and braad
Out of Bale gan buy3e. Leeue hit wel, and not wene hit, ])Q pater noster contened
Alle ping hollye J)at vs neodep, and non oper, Bope for pis world and pat oper,
Quik whon we schal dye.
At pe gospel, were ful good Studefastliche pat 30 stod,
ffor no ping pat 36 stured hit ; Al 3or lykyng per-on leip To wite what pe prest seip,
Holliche pat 36 here hit. j)au3 30 vnderstonde hit nou3t, 3e may wel wite J?at god hit
And perfore wisdam were hit ffor to worschupe al godes werkes, To lewed men pat ben none clerkes.
J)is lesson, now go lere it.
And whi 30 schulde pis lessuw lere, Herknep alle and 36 may here.
)?er a Neddre hauntes, 3e may wel fynde, and 30 wol seche, He vnderstond noping pi speche
Whon pou hire enchauntes, Neuerpeles heo wot ful wel What is pi menynge eueri-del
Whon pat pou hire endauntes.
405
408
411
414
41T
420
425
426
429
432
435
438
441
XLYII. How to hear Mass.
So farep per vnderstondyng fayles, Jpe verrey vertu 3ow alle a-vayles Jporw grace pat god 3ow grau^tes.
Whon pe gospel is I-don, 3it wolde I, gode men euerichon,
]5at 36 coupe 3or crede ; What tyme pat pe prest say J?at 36 mi3te 3or-self pray,
fforsope hit were gret nede ; And seppe trewely trouwe per-Inne, And fulliche out of 3or moup hit mynne,
J}er-to liht muche mede. And 3if 36 trowe and wol not telle, So dude pe fend pat from heuene felle,
And dop hit nouht in dede,
J2ou$ pou neuere so trewely trowe, Wip-oute dede ful luytel hit douwe,
So dop pe deuel pat dredes. But seynt lacob, losepes broper, Seip pat we schal don non oper,
In his pistel whose redes. Such ping as pou seyst and doos, ])i Nei3ebor wol perof make Roos
What lyf pat pow lede. Wip-In a storie in pat stede He seip pat troupe is but dede
But hit be don in dede.
3it beo per mo men lyuing in lede )3at I wolde coupe heore crede, .
And whon pei coupe ken hit. I haue I-seid as I con : 3if per beo euer eny mon
)3at seip he con a-mende hit, Saute per-Inne 3 if pat he fynde, Mak no scornynge me be-hynde
But a3eyn to me he sende hit, Or elles help pat I may here hit. J)us an Englisch as I lernde hit
I haue I-pouht to ende hit,1 ...
505
So, when not understood, the power of God's word 444 still avails.
447
450
453
456
459
The Creed. After the Gospel
comes the Creed. Would that you knew it, and could say- it with the priest,
and believed it, as well as said it, for therein is great re ward;
but believing without dp- ing is devil's deed.
To believe without works is no- thing; the devil believes and trembles;
471
474
477
The Engl. text is, however, omitted.
480
462
and man's praise is ac- cording to the life you 465 !ead. '
"Faith with- out works is 468 ^ad,"
(Ja.ii.20.)
still I would more men, that live in the world, knew their creed. I have done my best to English it— if there is a fault, do not turn me into ridicule be- hind my back, but let me know of it.
[Fol. 3036., col. 1J
506
The reason why day precedes the night.
Adam sinned.
Christ betters our woe.
Adam for his sin became the prisoner of hell,
though at first so free.
Another rea- son—why night before day.
Christ suf- fered, and harrowed hell, and then rose again out of dark- ness:
He restored Adam to the light of para- dise.
Before the priestwashes, don't wait for him to ask for the mass- penny, but go up and offer.
Though there is no obliga- tion, it is well bestowed,
for it will keep thee from sin, and make thy chattel increase in thy strong box.
Devotion to be said at the offering to God,
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
A Eesun I schal reden ow riht Whi pe day bi-fore pe niht
Was ordeynt for to be. ffor Adam of pe Appel eete, Ihesu Crist vr bales con beete,
Jjat dyed vppon pe Tre ; Out of liht pat he was Inne, In-to helle for his sinne,
Holliche per was he ; He was banischt out of blis In-to helle, bope he and his,
Bi-foren pat was so fre.
3it a Eesun I schal ^ou say : Whi pe niht bi-fore pe day
Was ordeynt, I schal 3011 telle : ffor Thesus suffred woundes fyue, And sippe a-Eos fro dep to lyue,
And after herwede helle ; Out of pesternes porw his miht A}eyn he put him to pe liht
Whuch pat he fro felle, And dude him a^eyn in paradis jpat he hedde lost bope he & his,
Wip speche as I ow spelle.
Aluytel bi-fore pe prest wasch Let hi??z not his offryng asch
3if pou penke for to offre : Whon he tornep a-non pe tille, Go vp to him w/t/i ful good wille
And pi peny him profre. j)au3 pou be not per-to in dette, )pou schalt pinke hit ful wel bi-set,
I swere bi seynt Cristofre ; Of sinnes hit wol make pe to sese, And pi catel also encrese
Of seluer in pi Cofre.
But fayn I wolde pat pou pus seide Whon pou in his hond hit leide, Or penk hit in pi pouht :
483
486
489
492
495
498
501
504
507
510
513
516
519
XL VI I. How to hear Mass.
507
1<<Ood, pat was In Bethleem bore, )2reo kynges kneled pe beo-fore,
And heore offryng broi^t ; J3ou tok heore offryng of alle pre : So receyue pis of me,
And for^ete me nou^t, )3at I may euere wip pe wone, And kuyndelich clepe pe godes sone,
On pe Roode as pou me bou^t."
Whon he hap waschen, pen he walkes, Priueliche and stille he stalkes
To his Auter a^eyn. J)e furste ping he dop, wip-oute doute, To his weuede pen wol he loute,
J)e sope is nou^t to leyn ; Seppe he stondep vp-riht, His hondes heuep vppon hiht
Him-self for to sayn, Jjeraie he tornep him to ^ow. Cristene men, herkenep now
And preyep wip al 3 or niayn
|5en he biginnes his secre ; Adoun perme knele 36
A luyte while way, Til pat he sep ^>er omnia, And seppe Sursum corda.1
What is pat to say ? Hit is a nedful note to nemen : " Hef vp 3or hertes in to heuen
To him pat al niihtes may." Seppe schul ^e ponke him pus Of bodi and soule has 3iuen vs,
And pus-rnaner schul 36 pray . . .
Lustnep alle to pis ping.
Ei-twene pe sanctus and pe sakeryng
3e schal preye stondynge — Hit semes wel in pat whyle )?at god in his Exyle
In pis world was wonynge.
VERNON MS.
1 Similar prayer in Mass- Book, v. 247.
522
525
528
531
534
537
(Prayer omitted.) 540
543
cf. Mass-Book, v. 306-7.
546
549
314-326.
555
558
L L
that was born in Bethlehem,
and accepted the gifts of the Magi to receive thine,
and that thou mayest dwell with Him.
After wash- ing the priest returns to the altar,
when he bows before it,
and crosses himself,
and turns towards the people to ask their prayers.
Then he says his secreta, the people kneeling,
until the Stir- sum cor da;
Heave (lift) up your hearts.
From the Sanctus to the consecra- tion, the peo- ple stand,
508
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
but then kneel and meditftte of Christ's pas- sion,
though be- fore the bell rings they may pray as they will.
A warning against scorn of the doc- trine—go home, ye scorners !
At the eleva- tion of the body and also of the blood,
kneel and say a prayer.
Both the species and the crucified are but one. Then the priest spreads liis arms cross-wise.
After the Lord's prayer follows the Agnus Dei.
Sej)J>e schul ^e knele a-doun And j?enke vppon his passioun
ftat he hedde heer suffrande, Hou J?at he suffrede wouwdes fyue, And sejjjje he ros from dej>e to lyue
And nou has heuene in hande.
3it schul ^e preye for eny Jjing Bi-twene pe sanctus and J?e sakeryng
Til fat J?e belle knelle.1 3if eny mon haj) scorn to here hit, Be my troupe, wisdam weore hit
)3at he heolde him stille ; J}e same inon ^e laujwhe to scorn Was of a May den in Bethleem born.
Me j)inke $e don ful ille. Whose has hoker gas hame ; To telle hit 3011 me J?i?zkes no schame,
I preue hit bi a Bille.
Godes fflesch he reiseth o lofte And his blod feir and softe
In J>e chalis wif-Inne : )3en schul 36 knele a-doun And sey a luyte orisoun,1
ffor no f>ing J?at ^e blynne. God J>at on ]?e Eode was slon, }5o two and he beoj? bo]?e on,
)5at dyed for al nionnes synne. After Jje prest his Armes spredej? he, In toknynge he dyed vppon J>e tre
ffor me and al mon-kunne.
1 The Mass-Book, v. 336-397, contains the prayer.
cf. Mass-Book, v. 428-436.
561
564
567
570
573
576
579
582
585
588
Whon J?e pater noster is don,
To }>G Agnus dei he go]? ful son —
Herknej) hende in halle — " Godes lomb " hit is to sei, ")2is worldes sinne to don a-wey1
And haue inerci on vs alle. )3e same lomb hit is to minne, To don a-wei Jris worldes synne,
To J>e we crie and calle,
591
cf. Mass-Book, v. 516 ff. 594
597
XLVIL How to hear 1
509
Ihesu, for )>i miht and grace A-bate vr synnes In vch a place, ]}i pes mot on vs falle."
Whon he hajj vsed, he walkej? riht To Lauatorie ]?er hit is diht,
ffor to wassche his hende. So gostly he comes a-geyn, Vn-to god for to preyen
Sum special grace hym sende, ffor al £e folk J?at £er wore Whuch Ipai, he haj? preyed fore
)}at a Masse may mende. J5en to knele hit is best, Til hit cum to Ite Missa est
Be seid in to ]>e ende.
J^ewne schul ^e knele a-doun And sei a luytel Orisoun
Riht on J>is Maneere — })Q Orisoun is of seynt Ambrose, Jpat he properly in prose
Made in his preyere ; j)en to preye is ful good tyme. I con not wonder wel ryme
On latin $ou to lere, But nofeles I wol assay As nei$ Ipe text as euer I may —
Herkne and 36 may heere.
" God J>at di^ed vppon Ipe tre, ftat Jie prest receyuede bodile
Vppon J?e Auter-ston, Graiwt vs grace, whon we hennes go, )3at we may wordily don al so,
In vre concience al-on. After vr dedes & we be demed, ffrom his blisse we schal be flemed,
Out of J?at wor])li won. God graunt vs grace In wille & word We may be worjn to his bord,
Yr lord leue vs f>at Ion."
600
603
606
A prayer for strength and grace and peace.
After the priest has communi- cated, he washes again, and says the Post- communion,
609
and the peo- ple are to kneel to the end of the 612 Mass«
and say a prayer of 615 Saint Am-
618
which he made in Latin prose,
621
but I render it into Eng- lish verse, as well as I 624 can.
627
630
A prayer to our Lord,
for inward peace of conscience.
If we were judged ac- cording to our works we 633 should be u banished from His bliss.
636
510
XLVII. How to hear Mass.
[Fol.3036.,
col. 8]
And pray also to the Virgin, and don't forget the gospel after the Mass:
an indulgence to those who kiss the ground, when it is ended.
Now I have finished,
and well pleased I am.
I think no- thing of my trouble, if you profit by
but it is good to know it, listen who will.
Still I have made excep- tion of three things in the mass-book ;
but none has heard tell of better things than I have told,
except the words of con- secration, which are for a priest alone.
A prayer to Christ,
it prei vr ladi, as I ow telle, feat 36 for3ete not pe god-spelle, ffor no ping pat may bi-falle ;
Tac a good entent per-to :
Hit is pe In principio On latin fat men calle.
A 3er and fourti dayes atte lest
ff or verbum caro factum est To pardoun haue 36 schalle ;
Mon or wo?»mon schul haue pis
feat kneles doun pe eorpe to kis — ffor-pi penk on hit alle !
Now haue I endet so as is
fee Maner and j)e Mede of Jje Mes,
feerof I am ful blipe, Ne more perof to mele w^p nioupe, I haue seid as I coupe,
I ponke god fele sipe. Of my trauayle is me nou^t ; Wolde 36 penke hit in 3or pou3t
And in fe chirche hit kij>e, feen were hit lykynge of 3or mynde, And gret cumfort to al Monkynde,
Hose wol lusten and lyfe.
3 it is fer freo pinges on pe Bok, Sikerly fat I out tok
And neuer dar make in Mynde; Hit was wel f ou3t at my likynge I ches hit out bi heuene-kynge,
fee toper is jit bi-hynde. Eut better ping pen I haue told, Herde 30 neuere of 3ong ne old,
On ground pat men may fynde ; Saue fyue wordes, wip-outen drede, feat no mon but a prest schulde rede
Is comen of cristen kynde.
God pat dy3ed vppon pe Eoode, feat bou3t vs w/p his blessed blode Vp-on pe harde tre,
639
642
645
648
651
654
657
660
663
666
669
672
675
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Man's three Foes.
3iue vs grace, boj?e more and lasse, ftorw J>e vertu of Jje Masse
Vr soules mai saued be. ffader & Sone and Holigost, As J>ou art lord of mihtes most
And sittes In Trinite, Whon we schal dye, no lengor dwelle, Kep vs from fe pyne of helle,
AMEN" ffor charite.1
678
681
684
1 Then follows, fol. 303, pe guldene trentat — Pope Gregory's, ). 260-7 above— repeated, with quite the same text.
511
for grace,
unto salva- tion.
A prayer to the holy Tri- nity against hell-torment;
[XLVIII. Casings of $t. m's
Her tellej seynt Bernard Mon haj? ]>reo enemys hard.
Seint Bernard seif in his Bok ]3at Mon is worm & wormes Cok, And wormes he schal feden ; 3
Whon his lyf is him bi-reued, In his Rug and in his heued
Wol foule wormes breden. 6
1 Title in Index : pat a man had ]>re enemys. The same poem is extant in MS. Laud 108 (together with the Vision of St. Paul), ed. by me in Herrig's Archiv 1874, and MS. Harl. 2253, fol. 106, ed. in Wright, Spec, of lyric poetry, p. 101.
St. Bernard says that man shall feed and breed worms.
MS. Laud 108, fol. 198 a.
HErkniez me a luytel frowe, 3e )?at wollez ou-self i-knowe, Wise pei ^e beo : Ichulle on telle, ase ich can, 3wat holie writ spekz of Man, 3if 36 wullez i-heore me.
Seint bernard seith in his bok J3at man is worm and wormes cok,
For he schal wormes fede ; 3 wan his lijf him is bi-reued, In his rug and in his heued
Schullen grisliche wormes brede.
MS. Harl. 2253, fol. 106 a.
Lustnej? alle a lutel pro we, 3e fat wollej? ou-selue y-knowe, Vnwys J) ah y be : 3
Ichulle telle ou ase y con Hou holy wryt spekej) of mon — HerkneJ? nou to me. 6
J?e holy mon sayj? in is bok |)at mon is worm & wormes kok,
Ant wormes he shal vede ; 9
When is lif is hym by-reued, In is rug & in ys heued
He shal foule wormes brede. 12
512
XLYIII. St. Bernard on Mans three Foes,
Man's flesh sbal melt from his bones.
Man must die.
He has no sure home.
))e fflesch schal melten from pe bon, }pe Senewes sundren euerichon,
fte Bodi schal de-fyen ; And 36 pat wolen pe sope sen, Vnder pe graues per pey ben,
And lokep hou pei Iy3en.
"UI fflesch fi^tejj a3eyn pi gost.
J Whon pou schalt dyen pou hit nost,
Wheper day or niht ; Woltou niltou, pou schalt dy3en, ISJ"e may no Kauwsoun pe for-buy^en —
}3ou greip pe whil pou miht !
Mon, pou art of feble fom, Jpow ne hast her no siker horn,
3if Jjow bi-seo J?e ariht ; Vre riht wonynge were elles-where. Lord let vs comew fere
ffor his muchele miht.
12
15
18
24
MS. Laud 108.
Jpi fleschs schal melte fram J>e bon, pi senues sundriez euerech-on,
})\ bodi schal al to-sie. 15
3e J»at wollez fe sojje i-seo, Vndoz J?e burieles fare hi beoz,
And lokiez $wat pare lie. 18
Man, pu art a feble fom ; Here nast pou no siker hom,
I segge it ]?e wel stille. 21
])i ri^hte hom is elles-^wer — Ihesus us graunti to come per,
3wan it is his wille. 24
})i flesch stant a-^ein pi gost ; 3wanne pu schalt dei^e, pu it nost,
JNTopur day ne ny^ht. 27
Nedescostes pou most dei^e, Ne may no raunchoun pe f ur-buye —
Striue pe 3\vile pou mi3ht ! 30
MS. Hart. 2253.
)3e fleyhs shal rotie from pe bon, J?e senewes vntuen eueruchon,
Jpe body shal to-fye. 3e pat wollep pat sope y-suen, Vnder grases, per hue buen,
By-holdep whet per lye.
Mon is mad of feble fom, Ne hap he no syker hom
To stunte alle-wey stille ; Ys ryhte stude is elles-wher — Ihesu, bring vs alle per,
Jef hit be py wille.
15
18
2 1
24
J?e fleysh stont a3eyn pe gost When pou shalt de3e, iier pou nost,
Nouper day ne nyht ; 27
On stede ne sitte pou ner so he^e, 3et a-last pou shalt de3e —
Greyp pe whil pou myht. 30
XL VI 1 1. St. Bernard on Mans three Foes. 513
Of f eble fro)), Mon, is pi lyf, His Hfe is tat
Whon dep drawep his kene knyf,
I rede pat pou pe schryue ; 27
ffbr 3if pou be-seo pi-self a-riht, ffinstou not her but flit & fiht,
Whiles pou art in Jris lyue. 30
and unstable.
Vnstable is pi lyf I-diht,
Nou art pou heuy, nou artou liht,
Sturtynde as a Ko ; 33
Nou pou richest, & now pou porest, Nou art pou sek, now pou rekeuerest,
In wandrep and In wo. 36
fri fflesch self Mht and day The Flesh
« I wole haue ese while I may,"
])i soule seip "nay, 39
Ac 3if pou bere hit to muchel me]?, Hit wol pe worchen soule dep
And wo pat la[s]tep ay." 42
MS. Laud 108. 4f#. Harl. 2253.
Of feble wynd, man, is ]n lijf, In false wonyng is monnes lyf,
3\vanne dez drawez is scharpe knyf, When dej> drawe)) is sharpe knyf,
]2ou do Jje sone to schriue ; 33 Do pe sone to shryue ; 33
For, 3if pat pou canst loken aright, ffor ^ef pou const loke a-riht,
Ne hast pou here bote fi3ht, Nast pou nopyng bote fyght
])Q ^wile pou ar aliue. 36 Whil pou art a-lyue. 36
[fol. 198 6.]
Nov pu art wrong, nov pu art ry^ht, Nou pou hast wrong, & nou ryht,
Nou pou art heuy, nou pu art Iy3ht, Nou pou art heuy & nou lyht,
)pou lepest also a ro ; 39 )5ou lepest ase a roo ; 39
NOY pu art sik, nou pou art coueret, Nou pou art sekest & nou holest,
Nov pou art riche, nou pu art pouere — Nou pou art rychest & nou porest —
Ne is pis muche wo 1 42 Nis pis muche woo 1 42
])i flesch pe seith bope ni^ht and day : fry fleysh ne swy[n]kep nyht ne day,
"Iclmlle habbe ayse pe ^wile i may." Hit wol han eyse whil hit may,
fri soule seith a-jein him " nay ! 45 Ant pe soule sayp : " nay, 45
3if ich am a^ein pe of muche meth, $ef ich pe buere to muche mep,
frou bringust me to helle to pe deth, frou wolt me bringe to helle-dep,
And to wo pat lastez ay.;J 48 Ant wo pat lastep ay." 48
514
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Man's three Foes:
are ever at strife,
yet the Soul ought to rule.
Look, man, at what comes
out of thee.
No so vile dung-heap exists.
But in it is a precious soul.
]?us striuef euer more fei two, Jpat on eggef to, fat tyur fro,
Ne conne fei neuer Wynne ; Ac, wel we mowe?i vs-selueft i-sen, ]pe soule ou3te Maister ben
Al f e pris for to wynne.
Mon, I rede fat fou be wys, And 3if fou falle, sone arys,
Ne ligge fou none stounde. ffor 3if fou worclie wel wif f is, Jje godspel seif , and sof hit is,
|3at fou hast blisse I-founde.
Mon, beo nou^t f i-self vn-couf , Ac loke what comef out at f i Mouf
And elles-wher a-botiten ; And jif JJGU nyme rihtliche keep, ffyndest f»ou non so vyl donge-hep,
Wif-Innen no wijj-owten.
Ac jjou hast in fat vyle hous A f ing fat is ful precious, And dere it was I-bouht ;
48
51
57
GO
63
MS. Laud 108.
MS. Harl. 2253.
jpus it farez bi-twene heom to, ]3us hit gef bi-tuene hem tuo,
])at on seith " let," fat of ur seith " do," Jjat on saif " let," fat of er seyf " do."
Ne connen huy neaere blinne. 51 Ne wane hue nout lynne ;" 51
Ake wel 36 mouwen ov-self i-seo : Wel we mowe alle y-se
))e soule o^hte maister to beo, )2e soule shulde maister be,
J)e niaistrie for to winne. 54 Jpe pris forte wynne. 54
A, man, ne beo nou3ht f i-sulf vnkouth, Ne be f e nout f i fleysh vncouf ,
Loke 3wat comez out of f i mouth, Loke whet comef out of fy mouf ,
And elles-3ware with-oute. 57 And elles-wher wyf-oute ; 57
3if f ou wolt nime wel guod kepe, 3®f f ou nymest wel god keep,
J)ou ne findest bote a foul doung hepe, Ne fyndest f ou non so fyl dung-heep,
J?ei fou loke fe al a-boute. 60 Ant fou loke a-boute. 60
Man, f u hast in f i foule hous A deoreworf e f ing and precious, And ful deore it was a-bou3ht.
63
fou hast in fat foul hous A f yng fat is ful precious, tful duere hit ys a-boht ;
63
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Man's three Foes.
515
Ac I f e holde for wylde and wood, 3if f ou 3iue so much el good To f e ffeond for nouht.
Mon, foil hast f reo lufer fon, Heore nomes con I wel vchon
3if I schal touchen alle : ))yn oune nesch, f e world, fe fend. Ac he fat schulde best be f i f rend
Do]) f e rarest to falle,
And f>at is f i flesch, f i f urste fo, )5at fou pamprest and seruest so,
3if ich hit dorste seyen. )3ou dost f i soule muche wrong, Whon foil makest his fo so strong
To fihten him a^eyn.
66
69
72
75
78
Man's three foes are
the Flesh, th& World, and the Fiend.
The first is the Flesh.
You wrong your soul by strengthen- ing its foe.
MS. Laud 108.
Ich holde f e more fane wod, 3if [fou] letest so muche guod )3e feond habbe al for nought.
66
Man, beo fou i-war and eke wys : 3if fou doun fallest, sone aris,
Ne lie fou none stounde. 69
With al f i mi^ht ^if fou dost jris, ])i soule J)e seyth, and soth it is,
Jjat blisse ]?ou hast i-founde. 72
MS. Harl. 2253.
Icholde ]?e ful wilde & wod, 3ef fou lesest so muche god,
And ^euest hit for noht. 66
Mon, be war & eke wis 3ef foil fallest, sone a-rys,
Ne by f ou none stounde ; 69
Wif al f i myhte fou do f is, |3y soule sihf, & sof hit ys
Blysse ichaue y-founde. 72
Man, fou hauest f reo wicke fon. Mon, foil hauest wicked fon,
Heore names i can nemme echon, \)e alre-worst is fat on (!),
3if ich schal tellen hem alle : 75 Here nomes y shal telle ; 75
j^in owene flechs, fe world, fe feond. ]3yn oune fleysh fy worst is fend (!) ;
And he fat best scholde beo f i freond, ]3at best shulde be f y frend,
Maketh fe rafest doun falle. 78 j?at most dof fe to quelle. 78
J5ou clof est him with fair[e] schroud, }5ou makest f i fo fat and proud,
To fy^hte fe a-^ein ; 81
jpou dost f i-sulf wel muche wronk : }?ou makest f i fo fat and strong,
3if ich it dorste seyen. 84
))ou clof est him in feir[e] shroud, Ant makest f y fomon fat & proud,
3ef y durste seyn ; )}ou dest fy-selue muche wrong, jpou makest him bo fat & strong,
To fyhte f e a^eyn. 84
516
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Mans three Foes.
J0f pe furste fo so fel Muche wonder hit is to tel,
Hose schulde riht be-gynne : )5at such a foul stinkynde sek Ha)> such a burpen in his nek
Of serwe and of synne.
Your carrion bis Careyn bat bou berest a-bouten,
is but worms' £ J. * * , .L
food; So vyl wip-Innew and mp-outen,
A luytel wormes mete ;
Euer ])& bet pat J)ou hi??^ do,
Siker be pou, euer-mo ]3e worse he wol pe gete.
And $if pou penke her-vppon Hou vyl a vessel hit is on,
ffor al pe metes and drynkes, Hou hit schal foulore smelle & smake J?en eny careyne pat is forsake
Of best pat brepe stinkes.
From here MS. Vernon differs from the other MSS.
it stinks and tastes horribly.
Man's 2nd foe is the World.
ffor hose bi-heolde pi bodi ariht After pi dep a fourtene niht,
JNeore he pi frend neuer so good, j)at he nolde hi^en him away And Jjynken seuen ^er of a day
))at he bi Jje stod. —
n oper fo Is a wonder ping, ))is world, vfip diuerse fondyng Temptep pe more & more ;
81
84
87
90
93
96
99
102
105
MS. Laud 108.
Man, do pu bi conseil and bi red And with-drau^ pou him of is bred,
And watur ^if him to drinke ; 87 !N"e lat him no-ping Idel gon, Ake do him pines mani on,
And ofte forto swynke. 90
To coueitise of mani ping )?e world pe drawez a misliking ; A-^eynes pe more and more.
MS. Harl. 2253.
Do my counsail & my reed : Wip-drah hym ofte of is breed,
Ant $ef him water drynke ; IsTe let hym noping ydel go, Bote pyne do hym & wo,
Ant ofte let hym swynke.
87
90
Coueytise of mony pyng ])e world pe bringep in fleish lykyng, 93 Ant ^euep pe more & more ; 93
XLYIII. St. Bernard on Man's three Foes.
517
ffals hit is and feir hit seme]),
And whon hit aller best f e qwemef ,
Hit greuef f e ful sore. ])is ffo haf so ablendet f e jpat f ou mi^t nou^t hi-fore f e se
How vyl f ou art and pore, Hou bare in to f is world f ou come, Ne hou bare f ou wendest home
In to f i puttes ore.
He schewe]) fe wele & worldes wywne' And dilyces so mony kinne,
And eggef f e f er-to ; He reuef f e mony a nihtes rest, fforsake schuldestou such a gest
ftat f e con seruen so. ffor whon f ou hast gedred al f i pride, Come]) de}) on fat of er syde
And reue}) f e al I-feere. And whon he haf f e doun Least, He wol deceyuen f e atte last,
As hit fin neuer nere. Ac to J)i put he wol J)e leden, And leue fe fere wormes to feden —
Loke whuch a seruise ! He semef fe of & of no more ; £at al fi lyue lustnest his lore,
He quytef f e on fis wyse. And ri^t so schaltou go fi wey Naked and bare — weylawey !
Wrecche, hou hastou sped !
The world is false.
108
114
It tempts you with pleasures.
117
120
But Death 100 r«bs you of 123 them,
126
129
132
135
and leaves you naked and bare.
MS. Laud 108. Fals he is and fayr he semez ; Alre best 3 wane he fe quemez,
He fe bindez sore. 96
Jjou wost fis world schal gon to nought;
e hast fou no fing hidere i-brou^ht,
Ne nought ne schalt bere with \ e. ))ou schalt al one gon fi wey, 100 With-outen stede and palefrey,
With-oute gold and feo. 102
MS. Harl. 2253. ffals he is & feyr he semef, Alre-best when he f e quemef
He byndef fe fol sore. 96
ftenne shal he go to noht : Nast f ou nof ing hyder y-broht,
Ne nout shalt buere wyf f e ; 99 Jpou shalt al one go f y wey, Wi])-oute stede & palefrey,
Wif-oute gold & fee. 102
518
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Mans three Foes.
Man's 3rd foe is the foul Fiend of Hell.
Beware of his hook
and crook !
And }if f ou haue eny good wroi^t In word, in werk or in fo^t, pat berest f ou to f i bed.
"UE f ridde fo, I may f e telle, J })at is fe foule fend of helle,
])Q worste fo of alle. Vnderstonde, he louef f e nou^t, He wol chau??gen al f i f ou^t
And maken fe foule to falle.
Yndersto??de, he nolde fe no good, He wolde inarren al ])i mood —
jjow war f e from his hok ! And $if f ou do as I f e seye, Al his wrenches mint f ou leye
Al mid his oune crok.*
138
141
144
147
150
MS. Laud 108.
])\ fridde fo is f e foule wi^ht, jjat fondeth bo]? e day and ny^ht
With his guyles alle. 105
Wei fou wost he ne louez fe nought, He fondez ay to chaungen f i fought,
And makez fe forto falle. 108
])on wost wel he nele ]?e no guod, He wolde hauen ]?in herte-blod —
Beo iwar of his hok ! Ill
Ake do ase ich ))e habbe i-seid, And Jnne )?reo fon worfez a-leyd
With heore owene Crok.* 114
3if ]?u seist " ]?is spel is hard,
I ne may nought holde )?is foreward,
Holde ne wel it dri$e," 117
A luytel ))ing ich axi J?e — jjou seie it me par charite —
ftat J)ou me nought ne lye ! 120
3 ware beoth nou J>ei fat bi-fore us
weren, ]5at hound es ladden and hauekes beren
And hadden field and wode? 123 ]3is riche leuedies in heore bour, )5et wereden gold on heore tressour,
With heore bri^hte rode ? 126
MS. Harl. 2253.
Lucifer, fiat foule wyht,
jpat wes him-selue so feyr & bryht,
105
108
fturh prude fel to helle ; Wijj foule wille & foul Jioht He fondej) bringe J)e to noht,
Ant j?e forte quelle.
])ench fat he j?e lies nout god, He wolde haue fyn huerte-blod —
War J?e for his hokes ! Ill
Do nou ase ichaue j?e seyd, Ant alle J>re shule ben a-leyd
WiJ> huere foule croke6\*
3ef jjou seist " my spel ys hard," Jpat fou ne miht jns foreward
Holde ne dre^e, A Intel fyng y aske fe — Sey me sof, par charite,
)per-of fat fou ne le^e ! 120
Wher bef hue fat by-foren vs
were, Lordes, led yes, fat hauekes here,
Hadenfeld& wode? 123
J?e ryche ledies is huere bour J5at wereden gold on huere tressour.
Wif huere bryhte rode 1 1 26
114
117
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Mans three Foes. 519
MS. Laud 108. (fol. 199 a), MS. Harl. 2253.
Huy eten and dronken and xnaden Hue eten & dronken & maden huem
hem glad, glad,
Here lyf was al in loye a-lad, Huere lyf al wif ioie y-lad,
Men knevleden hem bi-fore ; 129 Me knelede huem by-fore ; 129 Huy beren heom here so swif e hey^e Hue beren huem so swyf e he$e, })at f oru} twinklingues of heore ey^en And in a twynglyng of an e$e
Heore soules beon alle for-lore. 132 So hue weren for-lore. 132
3 ware beoz fulke fat coufen so wel With vnri^hte and wrongliche echdel
Winne rentes and londes, 135
And nolden nought here beon aknowe J?at it was unri^htfulliche heore owe,
For f e worldes schonde ? 138
Jpulke fat deiden on vrf e here
And wonnen ou^ht in swuch manere,
Londes ojmr rente, 141
For sof e i segge it eou to-wisse, Huy ne comiez neuere in heuene- b[l]isse,
Ake in helle huy schullen stunte. J3ei huy ligge sike longue And in heore dez-bedde fienchez "mid wronge
To fulke fing we come," 147
Fain huy wolden, hadden huy space, Ake manie nabbez f er-to no grace,
To Deiden a-^ein eft-sone. 150
)3are seith f e bok a-pli^ht
)}at eoii ne baroun cler[c] ne kny^ht,
Bacheler ne sweyn, 153
Noting ne mouwe huy with onri^ht. In f is manere habbe no wi^ht,
Bote huy it Deiden a^ein. . 156
3 ware is )>is hoppingue and ]>is song, Wher bue]) hue, ]>y wedes longe? ))is ridingue and )>is proute ^ong, j)is muchele mur^e, ioie, & songe ?
])is hauekes and Jns houndes ? 159 ))is hauekes & ]?is houndes 1 135 Al J?at weole is went awey ; Al J?at weole is wend a-way,
|3at Joy^e is come to weilawey, Ant al is turnd to weylaway,
And to main harde stouudes. 162 To monye harde stoundes. 138
Jjole foil, man, }if fat J)ou mi^ht, Huere parais hue maden here
A luyte pine fat man f e bit ; Ant nou hue liggef in helle yfere,
With-drau^h fine ayses ofte. 165 Jjat fur huem bernef euer ; 141
))ei fine pines fe f inchen on-lede, Stronge y-pyne & stronge in wo,
J?ou f ench opon f e muchele mede : Longe is ay & longe ys o,
Hit schal fe liken softe. 168 Out ne cornef hue neuer. 144
520
XLVIII. St. Bernard on Man's three Foes.
If the Fiend tempts tlieo into sin,
take Christ as thy shield,
the Cross as thy staff,
and fight for
heaven's
bliss.
3if f e fend f orw his fondyng ' Or for defaute of wif-stondyng
In eny synne haf f e cast, A-Eys vp as a Champioun, Stond stif and fal no more a-doun ffor such a wyndes blast.
}5ow go In to f e feire feld And tak vr lord to fi scheld,
fim hond fou strecche and fonde, And f eiik vppon him wif mylde mod J)at for f e ^af his herte-blod
And get fat lyflich londe.
J)ow take f e crois to f i staf And f enk on him fat f eron $af
His lyf fat was so lef ; Wite wel f i fot wif staues ord And mak f e traytur speke f e word
And wrek f e on fat f ef.
ffiht faste for fyn owne riht And get f e heuene-blisse briht,
"While f ou hast tyme f er-to ; j)in owne heritage hit is, And f erof schaltou neuer mis
But ^if fou hit fordo.
153
156
159
162
165
168
171
174
MS. Laud 108.
3if f e feond, fat foule f ing, With wicke roun of ur vuel egging
Hauez fe ene a-kast, 171
Op stond and beo guod Chaumpiun, And ne fal fou non more a-doun
For a luytel blast. 174
}?ou tak f e rode to f i staf, And f enk on him fat f aron $af
His lif fat was so leof ; 177
He ^af it for f e, fou 3eld it him ; A-^ein is fo a staf fu nim
And awrek him on fat feof ! 180
MS. Harl. 2253.
3ef f e feond, f e foule f yng, ]?ourh wycked werk of er eggyng
A-doun haf fe y-cast, 147
Vp, & be god champioun, Stond & fal no more a-doun
For a lutel blast, 150
Tac f e rode to fy staf,
Ant f enke on him fat for f e ^af
His lyf fat was so luef ; 153
He hit ^ef , fou f onke hym ; A^eyn fy fo such staf fou nym,
Ant wrek fe on fat fuef. 156
XL VIII. St. Bernard on Mans three Foes. 521
Ac }if f ow haue wel in muynde Remember
Hou feble fat f ou art of kuynde, fcJtti!
And hou fou gost to nou^t, 177
Hit mihte wel fin lierte whetten And of fflesches lustes letten,
Weore fou wel bi-f ou^t. 180
"Where ben heo fat bi-foren vs weren, Thyforegoers
]pat houndes ladden & haukes beeren
And hedden feld and wode ; 183
J^is Kiche ladys in heore bour, )3at wereden gold in heore tressour,
Wif heore brihte rode? 186
J)ei eeten and dronken & maden hem glad, ate, drank,
_ . . , . and made
In loye was al heore lyi 1-lad, glad,
Men knelede hem bi-foren : 189
J)ei beren hem here so stout and hi^e,
Ac in twynklyng of an ei^e
Heore soules were for-loren. 192 but lost their
souls.
Wher is fat gomen and fat song, J)at traylyng & fat comelich ^ong,
))o haukes and fe houndes? 195
Al fat loye is went a-wey, Heore weole is comen to weilawei,
To monye harde stoundes. 198
Heore paradys bei hedden hyr,1 1 r. her Their para-
J ' dise was here.
And now fei liggen in helle-fyr,2 2 r. fer NOW they are
J)er pit and peyne is euere ; 201
Strong is fere in peyne and wo,
Ac hopen far hem neuer-mo,
ffor out ne comen fei neuere. 204
Alias, fat fei euere were boren or bred ))at heer on eorf e such lyf han led
And deserued such meedes, 207
To brercnen in f e f uir of helle, burning for
: ever.
Euer-rnore f er-Inne to dwelle
And glowen in fo gledes ! 210
522 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
r, help
us to flee sin and live with •Christ !
Ac Moder & Mayden, heuene-Qween, As we hopen )>at )>ou wol ben
Vr warant from be fende : J?ou help vs dedly synne to fleen, And bat we mote bi sone seen
World wib-outen ende. AMEN".1
213
216
I send you a present of good teach- ing,
translated from Latin into
French (and English).
MS. Laud 108. Marie, moder, houene-quen, )}ou canst, and mi^ht, and owest to ben
Ore help a^ein j!e feonde : 183
Help us sunnes forto fleon, )}at we moten bi sone i-seon
In Joye with-outen ende. Amen. 186
[XLIX. f rmierfas ot Mume p^fete 0f poetes anb 0f
c
her amys, receuez de moy Vn ben piesent ke vous enuoy, Nunpas de or ne de Argent, Mes de bon enseignement ; Ki en escripture ai troue E de latin translate En comun langage pur amis Ke de clergie ne ount a-pris. Trestut est sen e verite Ke issi trouere$ en Romaunce.
[fol. cccvi.]
10
1 Then follows 'Kyng of Thars,' ed., with MS. AuchinL, in Engl. Stud.
2 So the title in Index. Similar collections of sayings of fam- ous men, in prose, are frequent in northern. MSS. (f. i. Rawl. A, Bodl. 938). A collection, comprising all the sayings of ' Philo- sophers ' under each name, is Caxton's ' Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers,' fol. (1st ed. Westm., 1477, 2nd ed. Westm., 1480?, 3rded. Westm., 1490?— the 1st ed. being the 1st book printed in England ; it was reproduced from Christie Miller's perfect copy by W. Blades, London 1877). These were originally compiled in Latin ab. 1350, and in 1410 translated into French by Guilleaume de Tignonville, from which version Earl Rivers made the English transl. ed. by Caxton : (it contains Sayings of Sedechias, Hermes, Tac, Zalquinus, Omer, Solon, Sabyon, Ypo- cras, Pitagoras, Dyogenes, Socrates, Platon, Aristotle, Alexander Tholome, Assaron, Legmon, Anese, Sacdarge, Thesille, S. Gre- gorie, Galyen). Lord Tollemache has a varying MS of the Dictes.
XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
523
Ki ben len entent e souent list, Prou en auera e delist ; Dount cely seit de dieu benet Ki sa entente bien i mest.
[Fol. 307, col. 2] (11)
I
I
DAUID. 'nicium sapiencie timor domini.
Li sages dit en soun lyuere
Ke comencement de bien viuere
Sour tote rien est de doter
Dampne dieu e lionourer. ]?e wyse mon in his bok ha]? J?is seying )5at J?e bigiranyng of good liuyng Ouer alle ping is God to drede And him to worschupe we']? al vr spede.
SALOMON.
n bonis sit cor tuum in. diebus iuuentutis tue. Le Auctor dit ke vostre entente Deue$ mettre en ta iuuenie De touyt pecclies vous retrere, E bones heueres1 vser e fere. l = oevres
])is Auctor sei)) verreyment J3at in ]?i ^oujie J)0u schalt do 1pm entent To wif-drawe J)e fro sinnes euer-mo, And goode werkes vse and do.
udendo crescit virtus, tardando timor. Cum plus targefy de bien ouerer Plus serre^ pourous de comencer ; Par comencement vvctu acrest, E par targer retret est. J3e lattor )?ou art of good worching ])Q more feruol jwu schalt be of bi-ginnyng ; ffor J»orw bi-giwnyng vertu encrescef, And Jjorw latschipe hit is w^jj-drawe & cesej).
ISAYAS.
ola vexacio dabit intellectum. En trauaile mette^ cors e quer Pur la parole dieu oyer ; Kar par parole len quert sen, E'par sen se garde len.
VERNON MS.
(15)
1 5 The fear of God is the beginning of good living.
18
(19)
19 Do good works in
youth.
in thy
22 (23)
23 Virtue grows by early action, but dwindles by delay.
26
(27)
(30)
M
524 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
Give body and soul to bear- ing God's word.
Don't despise the reproof of a truth- teller.
Defending a
sin is worse than sinning.
Go oft to Church, the Gate of Heaven.
In trauayle set bodi and herte i-fere 27
Godes word ay wel to here ;
ffor Jjorw word lernen wit men,
And be wit Men kepen hem fen. 30
SALAMON.
i odit correpcionem i\\sipiens erit ; melius est enim a sapiente con*ipi qu&m a stulto adulari.
Si vous haye$ de estre reprys, Ne serre$ iammes ben a-pris ; Meu^ vaut tenson de veir disour Ke deceyte de lonsengour. 3if J>ou hate to be repreyuet auht, Schalt J?ou neuer be wel I-tauht ; Bettre is chidyng of a so]) seyere Jpen deceyuyng of a losyngere.
IEREMIAS.
f^onfessori monstra deli.ctum. \_J Si vous aue$ de ren mesfet E puis defende^ vostrefest, Pluis est dieu de ceo greue Ke eyn$ ne fust del pecche. ^if ]jou hast don a^eyn god auis And after defendest hit I-wis, God is more greuet of fat defewdyng Jpen of ]?e furste sungyng.
(31)
31
34
(35)
38
N"
IACOB.
'on est Me aliud nisi domus dei fy porta cell.
JSoueiit hauntej les mosters (39)
E la dieu prie^ volunters ;
la porte de del oy nomer,
par ou vus couent le eel entrer.
Ofte to churche loke ]?ow sterte 391
And prei J?er to god wilp al J?in herte ; ])Q 3ate of heuene I haue herd hit cald, Be J?e w^uche in to heuene entre J?ou schalt 42
SALAMON.
Fis habere impeiium, impera tibi. Si vous desire^ graunt honour, (43)
leo vous fray Emperour :
XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
525
i an Em- peror.
Turn not thy face from the poor!
Emperour le dey nomer
Ki sei meymes set lusticer.
3if pou desyre gretliche honour, 43 He who can
I schal pe make an Emperour ; An Emperour I schal him calle j)at con him-self lustifie (!) ouer alle. 46
>lil aueitete faciem tuam ab vllo paupeie.
Si vus desire^ de dieu la grace, l MS. voio (47)
De nuly poure turne\ la face,
Ke dieu ne tume sa face de vous —
Si dit le sage a nous tons.
3if pou desyre of god to haue grace, 47
ffrorn no pore mon tw?*ne pi face. Leste god twrne his face from pe — Joe wise mon techep alle pus, parde. 50
TOBIAS. i multum kibi fuerit, liabundanter tiibue.
Si poy as, poy durras, (51)
E durras mout si mout as ; . . Si rien ne as mout durras
Quaunt de doner la volunte as.
3if pou haue luytel, luitel ^iue and do ; 51
3if pou haue niuchel, muche ^iue also ; 3if pou haue nou^t, muche pou schalt 3iue And pi wille be to ^iue ^if pou were I-priue. 54
EAPHAEL.
M, jlemosina purgat peccata $ facit inueniri vitam f'J eternam.
Bon est estre augmoners ; (55)
Deuj bens est p\w ce apparaylers :
De ces pecclies remissioun,
E vye 2^^ durable en guerdoun.
Hit is good to don almes-dede, 55
ffor twei godes beri ordey?zt to pi rnede : On is of pi suwnes remission, \)ai topwr euer-lasti?zge lyf to pi gerdon. 58
SENECA.
A uarus nullis est bonus, in se pessimus. S\ Mai est estre trop auers, (59)
M M 2
If thou hast
little, give
little;
if nothing,
have the will
to give.
Almsgiving wins thee re- mission of sins, and everlasting life.
526 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
Avarice
ishment after death.
Fear thy con- science more than men.
Act in private as you do in public.
Don't annoy
a powerful
man.
An earthen
pot can't
fight with a
caldron.
Deu$ mauls est pur ce aparrayles :
De sa malice longe record,
E peyne horible a-pres la mort.
Hit is euel to ben auerous, 59
Tweyn euel frmgus Jjerfore bew ordeywt to vs : Long record of J?at malice, And horible peyne for suche vice. 62
SENECA.
f^onscienciam pocius qu&m famam time; nullum \^J magis time quam te ipsum : alium effugeie
potes, te ipsiwi numquam.
Plus dote$ ta conscience (63)
Ke de mil autre la presence ; Ta conscience ne eschapere^, Autri presence bien porre$.
Loke J>ou doute more J>i concience 63
Ipen oj>er mennes presence ; jjin oune concience mai^t Ipou not skap, Qlpur me?mes p?*ese^ce Jwu mai^t in hap. 66
SENECA. 'on mucus alitei in solitudine qu&m in foro.
Vse$ de fere priuement (67)
Cum fere vole^ de-vaunt la gent,
Ou par cas vous escliapera
ffet ou dit Jce mes auendra.
Vse ]>Q to do priueliche 67
As Ipou wolt do to-fore men openliche, Or elles parau?^ter ]>Q may askap Word or dede or sum mis hap. 70
SENECA.
lid communicabit cacabus ad ollam.
Ne vous bote$ trop auaunt (71)
De quere greuaunce al puissaunt ;
Rien ne vaut au pot de tere
Countre le Caudron tener guere.
Put fe not to f erf or]?, I rede now, 71
To greue him Ipat is mihtyore Jjew ]?ow ; Hit nis not worj? an old Botoun An eorfene pot to fihte wif a Caudroun. 74
XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints. 527
SERAFYN. Pondus supei se tollit qm diciori se sodm fuerit.
Ne trap ne quere$ espedaute (75)
De homme Jci est en dignete ;
Vos beaus piesens receiuera,
Si rien ne ly done^ il vous greuera,
Si poure deuene^ il vous moltera —
De autre bou\\te ne espere^ ia. (80)
Drau3 vppon Jje no specialte 75 Don't seek
Of Mon J?at is of gret dignite ; foikTgl
])\ feire presentes he wole receue, They'll take
+-P , • i i i y°ur gifts,
3it |)ou ^me nou^t he wole pe greue, and scorn
3if jjou waxe pore he wol skorne jje —
Wayte of him neuere ojjer bou?^te. 80
SALOMON. Melius est vicinus iuxta quzm /[r]afor piocuL
De vostre veisyn pres de vous (81)
Seye^ tendre e gelous ;
Kar meu$ vaut bon veisyn
Ke ne fet frere loyn$ tayn.
Of fi nei^ebor ]?at nei} is to pe 81 Be kind to
Ee J?ou tendre and haue him in cherte ; bour.
ffor bettre is a nei3ebore nei^e )pen a brojjz^r fer fro J?in ei3e. 84
A
SENECA. cceptum benejicium eterne memorie est inserendum.
Ne mete$ iammes en obly (85)
Vn bien-fet de vostre amy ;
En quer vus soit tut-Iours tenu
Le bien ke aue$ vne fe$ receu.
ffor-^ete J>ou neue?'e out of Ipi mynde 85 Never |orget
A benfet don of J>i frende ; In herte loke J>ou holde stedefast }pe benfet ]?at pou ones hast. 88
SERAFYN.
ude meditari, si bene velisfari.
Si vne pense vous saut enquer, (89)
Ne seye^ pas primesauter
528 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
Think well before you speak.
Don't ask your friend for a thing that you'd deny him.
If you'll not give, don't ask for any- thing.
Gifts
Witts perve thejudgme
rvert nt.
Defere ou dyre ceke pensej,
De-vaunt ceke vus seie$ Men auyse$. $if in Jmi herte falle a Jjou^t, 89
To liasti loke £at pou be nou^t To do o])er speke J)in entent, Til ]?ou haue take good auysement. 92
SENECA.
Ne petas quod neyaturus es, Nee neges quod petiturus es.
Ne prie$ iamm.es a vostre amy (93)
Chose 7fe vous ne fre$ a ly ; Ne vous ne deue^ pas nyer,1 l MS. vyer
Ce Ice est a demaunder.
Prei not ]?i frend to bisilye 93
Of J)i%g J)at ))ou woldes him denye ; 2s"e denye fou not J?at is asked J?e, 3if hit1 be couenable asked to be. 96
SENECA.
Qui beneficium dare nescit in-iuste petit.
Ki mout ad e rien ne doyne, (97)
Pur demaunder mot ne soyne ;
En demaundaunt guert hountage
Ki ne fet a autres null auauntage. Hose ha]) muche and mil not ^iue, 97
Ou3t to aske he nis not Jjriue ; In his askyng he getej? hountage ))at to non olpur wole do auauntage. 1 00
SENECA.
Beneficiuw accipere est libertatem vender e.
Gil est franc pur fere dreyt ( 10 1 )
Ki doun ne piesent ne receyt ;
Ky doun receit san$ soun desert,
Sa fraunchise vent e pert.
ffreo he is to do men riht 101
Jpat $if t ne p?-esent take)) of no wiht ; He ])at 3iftes [take])] w^])-outen decert, His freodam he sullej) & leose)) apert. 104
XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
529
1 Thus far the poem is in the Simeon MS.
SALOMON.
Multi quasi inuencionem estimant fenns et piestiterunt molestiam hijs qui se adiuuerunt ; dum accipiunt man\is osculantur, $ in tempoie redicioi\is loquntur verba tedij.
Perne$ garde en vostre arrest (105)
A Tf.y vous prestej queus il est ;
Tels sefet auant amy1
Ki jpar toun. prest tei ert enemy.
Quant il receyt yl beise ta meyn,
Quant rendre deit tei apele vileyn,
E vo$ rent pur vos ben-fe$
Vile reposes alautre me$. Wlion }>ou lenest ]?i )?iwg, tak hede of jjis To whom pou lenest and what he is ; Such mon to-fore schewej) him J>i frende, J?at schal be j)in enemy at J>e ende ; "VVhon he receyuej? he wol cusse J>i?i ho?zde, Whon he schulde paie he wol cal J)e cherl bo?ide ; He wol ]>e ^elde for J?i gode dede ffoul repreyuynge to ]?i mede. 112
105 Mind whom you lend to,
108
or you'll get abuse with repayment.
SENECA. Amid guic/em g?a,ues sunt, inimici leues.
Vous poye^ auer tei amy
Ke plus vou$. vaudreit vn enemy ;
De vo$ deuers lun nad cure,
Lautre ne seit poynt de mesure
De a-prompter ne de venir,
De soiourner a soun pleiser ;
Dount plus vous (jreuera tei ameste
Ke de lautre le enemiste. Such a frend J?ou miht haue sikerli J)at Jjou were bettre haue an enemy ; )?at on of Y\ moneye haj) hede ne cure, J?at o$ur naj? wij? hym no mesure To Borwe of ])e ne of ofte comyng Ne to soiourne at his likyng. Such frendschupe J?e greue schal more pa?'de Jpen J?at ojjeres
(113)
(120)
113 Some friends are worse than foes.
116
120
530 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
Don't scold bad servants.
Get rid of em.
He's a bad servant who can't put up with his lord's word that doesn't hurt him.
Don't tell your secrets to a servant who may leave ' and them.
Don't blame others for not keeping your counsel : blame your- self.
SATJLUS.
Admone illos non litigiosos esse, set mansuetos ad omnes. Si vous aue$ vos seruauns Ki vous sount contrariauns, Ne les tense^ pas souent — Seint Eglise le defent ; — • Mes ki ne cert a soun auenaunt, Prenge conge e vous auaimt.
SAMUEL. Loguere domine quia audit seruus tuus.
Mout est li seruaunt de mal escole (121)
Ki soffri ne pent la parole
Soun seignour a Icy il sert,
Quant par sa parole rien ne pert He is vuel worjri Clop or bord 121
jpat may not suffre a luytel word Of his lord pat he seruep to, Whon for such a word leosep neimr pe mo. 124
SERAFYN. A ^elantibus te absconde consilium.
Ne moustre^ pas tut vostre guer (125)
A vostre seruaunt ; kar de leger
Ky ore est prest, ert loyns de vous ;
Ke auaunt set vn, donke sauerunt tous. Schewe not fin herte outerliche 125
To Jn seruaiiTzt. for-whi lihtliche To-day he is wi]> J?e, to-morwe he flit ; }5at tofore wuste but on, $en moni schul wit. 128
SENECA. Quod uis esse taciturn nemini dixeris.
Si vus blarney petit ou graunt (129)
Ki vostre conseil est mys auaunt,
Ki ne blarney vous vostre guer,
Ki vostre counseil ne set celer.
3if ])ou blame luitel or muche 129
ffor ))i cou^seil is outet openliche, Blame J)ou mai^t fin oune herte wel, J?at coupe not hele fin oune couwseil. 132
XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints. 53
SALOMON.
Sicut sagitta in femore canis, sic mrlum in corde stulti. Sete e counseil a-cordent bien (133)
En quer defol e en guise de chen: Leun e lautre fount courte soiour, Par louche pasent saun$ restour.
An arwe in an homzdes buttoke 133 An arrow in
And coiwseil in a foles herte istoke fsii°kgecSe
, , , ., in a fool's
A-cordeJ) wel, for noujm?- make]) soiournmg ; heart.
)3orw mouj? ])ei passes wz'Jj-oute^ restreyniwg. 136
IOB.
Noli de seruis querelam facientibus ciedere pimsqM&m facti veritas aperte discernatur.
Si vous oye$ encusement (137)
De aJmn de vostre gent, En querey prymes la verite, De-vaunt Tee en seye$ trop greue. 3if fou here eni accusacioun 137 Don't believe
r\f 'ft i • f i i your folk's
Ui eni 01 by peple in teld or toun, complaints
^ /J ; without en-
Jinquere iurst Jjeroi ]>e vente quiry,
Or J?ou ferfore in herte greue J?e. 140
AUGUSTINU[S].
Qui enim credit veiba loquencium, cum. ceteri per risus gaudent decorem, per doloris cruciabitur merorem.
Souent auent de meynte bonfet (141)
Par medisaun^ bestorne est ;
Kyke tut creyt quant-ke homme li dist,
H ert inoume^ quant autre rist.
Ofte hit fallejj jj«t mony good ded 141
Wif euel-siggers is ouer-torned ; Hose leeueb vche monnes seying, or you'll
TTTI -i i i 111 • -i mourn when
Wnon opur lau^wnen, he schal make wurmng. 144 others laugh.
IEREMIAS.
Erubescere nescieruid, pwpterea cadent inter ruentes. Si vous pQude^ curtesye [^*] bounte, Vous cheyere$ tut en vyle hounte ; Hotmte, curteisye e seyntete Par a-cord sount freres iure.
532 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
Don't cease to be courteous and generous, or you'll be shund.
Don't brag about what you give away.
He is a
wretch who has enough and yet grumbles.
Never trust your foe : foul deed '11 follow fair word.
3if J>0u lese cwrtesye and boiwte 145
To falle in foul scliame hit bi-houej> £e ;
Good schame, holynesse, & curtesye
As Brejwren ben swore??, witterlye. 148
SENECA.
Enormiter petit qiii se beneficium dedisse dicit.
Vileynement quert il loner (149)
Ky sei auaunte de soun doner ;
Ky a ptodomme doyne doun, •
Asse$ receyt saun$ autre guerdoim. In foul maner he askej) a louwau?ice 149
pat of his ^ifte make]? bobauwce ; Hose ^iuej) a $ift to a good man, I-nouh he take]) w^])-oute reward pan. 152
IPOCKAS.
Cui non videtvua bona sua esse amplissima, miser est, qu&mms sit dominus tocius mundi.
Yl est bien clieytif apele^ Ky se pleynt e ad a-se$ : Mes by tut le mond fust le suen, Yl mis dirroyt Id il nust ren. A wrecche forsojje me may hym cal ])ai pleynej? hi??^ and ha]) i-nou.^ at al ffor fou^ al J)e world were only his, He wolde seie he hedde noujt, i-wis.
SEKAFYN.
(153)
153
156
Non ciedas inimico tuo m sternum, $• si inimicus tuus uadat tibi obuiam, firma animum tuum § custodi te ab illo.
Vostre enymi ne creie^ ia (1-57)
De nuyl ren Ice il vous dirra ;
Cum plus yus mostre bien sembla\ii\t,
Plus dote$ le fet suaunt.
Leef neuer J)in enemi, ho-so hit be, 157
Of no J)ing fat he spekej) to £e ; Whon he J)e make]) fe[i]rest spekyng pen drede J)0u most his dedes suwyng. 1 60
XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints. 533
SENECA.
ffrequencia peiagit deesse locum remedio dum vicia mores sunt.
Si vous bye$ de estre pwdomme, (161)
Retree$ vus de mal custume ; Kar par custume de mes-fere Maueyse tecche comense plere. 3 if bou caste be good mon to be, 161 if you want
«> , , to be good,
nrom euel custom euer drawe ]?e ; give up evil
ffor bi wone of vuel doyng
Yuel tecches twrnejj in to plesyng ;
And whon J>i?2g plesejj J>e ]>at ]wu scholdest hat,
Better )>e hedde ben to-fore forsaken J>at. 166
SALOMON.
Honor est liomini cum sep&mt se a contenciombus, stulti autem miscentur contumelijs.
Mout est Jwneste vileynye (167)
Estre vencu en tenserye, E mout est vileyne curteysye Empromter de ylelc la Mestrye. Hit is a wel honeste vileynye 167 it's honour-
J J able to lose
In chydyng to be ouercomen, sikerlye, But hit is a vileyn curtesye
able to win.
Jjerof to bere a-wey ]?e maystrie. 1 / 0
SEXECA.
Cum inferiori contenders sordidum est, cum superiori furiosum.
Si vous tense^ vostre soget, (171)
Ceo est grauut vileynye e led ;
Si vous tense^ ton cumpaynon,
Par tant frej discencion ;
Si vous tense^ ton souereyn,
Se est deuerye tut pleyn.
3if J>at J?ou chyde j)i soget, 171
Hit is to J>e vileynye gret ; base;
Wi]? pi felawe 5if fou chyde, Discencion ]>o\\ schalt make j?at tyde ;
And $if jjou chyde ]>\ souereyn, ^^» mad-
Men mow seye J?ou art wocl, certeyn. 176
534 XLIX. Proverbs of Prophets, Poets, and Saints.
SERAFYN.
Risus dencium § incessus 7?omims enunciard de itto. Seye$ tu$ iours de beau semblaunt, Me$ ne mye trop haut ryaunt ; Ly fous est conu par sa rise, E ly sages par sa meurte. Loke jjou eue?*e be of feir chere, Lauhwe not to muche as nyce of geere ; as a fool does. J)e fol is knowen bi his lauhwhing, And J?e \vyse bi his sad beryng.