Altenglische legenden.

17. De sca Maria Magdalena historia.

                    
                      Of Mari Maudelayn mai men take [folio 157]  [Magdalena und Christina fehlen im Ms. Tib.] 
                    
                      Ensaumple, sins forto forsake.
                    
                      Scho had a sister, hight Martha;
                    
                      Full nobil wemen war þai twa;
                    
                      Both war lufed with our lord Jhesus.
                      Line 5 
                    
                      A broþer þai had, hight Laȝarus,
                    
                      Wham Crist raysed when he was ded,
                    
                      Als es red in ane oþer stede.
                    
                      Born þai war of gentyll blode
                    
                      And riche þai war of werldly gude.
                      Line 10 
                    
                      And als it es in storise redd,
                    
                      Þis Mari Maudelayne was wedd
                    
                      Vnto saynt John þe Ewangeliste.
                    
                      He left his wife & went with Criste
                    
                      At þe grete fest of Architrycline,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Whore Crist turned water vnto wyne.
                    
                      Sum clerkes wil þis purpose halde:
                    
                      By-cause hir spous was fro hir calde,
                    
                      Þai say þat was enchesun why
                    
                      Scho assentid to syn with hir body,
                      Line 20 
                    
                      And efterwarde for þat same skill
                    
                      God granted gretter grace hyr till.
                    
                      Fro scho had takin hir vnto syn,
                    
                      Þar might no-man mak hir to blyn;
                    
                      Til scho was broght in swilk defame,
                      Line 25 
                    
                      Þat in þat tyme þai turned hir name:
                    
                      Mari þe synner, sum cald hir þan,
                    
                      And sum: Mari þe wikked woman.
                    
                      Til al þe last god vouched saue
                    
                      Þat scho suld his forgifnes haue:
                      Line 30 
                    
                      He sent his grace hir hert with-in
                    
                      Forto haue sorow for hir syn.
                    
                      In Simondes hous when scho herd tell
                    
                      Þat Crist suld vnto soper dwell,
                    
                      Scho thoght on what wise scho might wyn
                      Line 35 
                    
                      To get forgifnes for hir syn —
                    
                      For wele scho trowed with-outyn trayne
                    
                      Þat in hym was all power playne.
                    
                      In þat cuntre, als clerkis wate,
                    
                      Þan was þe sun so wunder hate,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      Þat, who-so wore walkand þarin,
                    
                      All þat war bare euyll wold it brin;
                    
                      Wharfore þe riche men of þat land
                    
                      Had gude vnement þarfore ordand
                    
                      Forto enoynt þaire face and fete,
                      Line 45 
                    
                      So forto saue þam fro þat hete.
                    
                      And for scho hopid so Crist to plese,
                    
                      Vnement broght scho, him to ese.
                    
                      Scho wald noght wande, if it war dere,
                    
                      Bot helt it out with hertly chere
                      Line 50 
                    
                      Both on his heuid and on his fete,
                    
                      And wesch þam with hir teris wete,
                    
                      And sethin scho dried þam with hir hare,
                    
                      And for hir sins scho wepyd sare.
                    
                      Crist knew hir menyng more and les:
                      Line 55 
                    
                      Þarfore he grauntid hir forgifnes.
                    
                      And in his lufe so he hir knyt,
                    
                      Þat þarfro wald scho neuer flit.

Page 82

                    
                      Scho wold noght leue him in no stede,
                    
                      Bot foloud him right vnto þe ded.
                      Line 60 
                    
                      And sethin vnto his graue scho soght
                    
                      And ful gude vnementes with hir broght,
                    
                      Fro wurmes hys body forto saue,
                    
                      And for it suld noght rote in graue.
                    
                      Þarfore kindenes to hir he kyd
                      Line 65 
                    
                      More þan he vnto oþer did:
                    
                      For, when he rase, als we er lerde,
                    
                      Vnto hir first he þan aperde,
                    
                      To mak hir in hir trouth be stabill,
                    
                      To trow it fast with-outen fabill;
                      Line 70 
                    
                      And þan he made hir messangere
                    
                      Vnto al his appostels dere,
                    
                      And bad hir tell to lerd and leude
                    
                      His rising — þus kindnes he scheude.
                    
                      Þan with þe apostels furth scho dweld,
                      Line 75 
                    
                      And euer in halyne(s)scho hir held;
                    
                      Scho lifd in ful grete deuocioune.
                    
                      And sethin, efter Cristes ascensioune
                    
                      When scho had lifde so fourtene ȝere,
                    
                      Þan bifell on þis manere.
                      Line 80 
                    
                      A nobil preste hight Maximyne,
                    
                      Þat in faith of Cr(i)st was ful fyne;
                    
                      He was one of þe sexty and two
                    
                      Þat war wunt with Crist to go.
                    
                      Saint Peter made him cumandment
                      Line 85 
                    
                      To Mary Maudelayne for to tent
                    
                      And to Lazare, hir brother, alswa
                    
                      And vnto hyr sister Martha,
                    
                      With oþer mo of þaire menȝe,
                    
                      And bad he suld þaire ȝemer be.
                      Line 90 
                    
                      Þan was saint Peter made pape of Rome
                    
                      And chefe curate of cristendome,
                    
                      And oþer apostels in sere land
                    
                      Of Cristes passioune went prechand.
                    
                      Mari Maudelayne with hir menȝe
                      Line 95 
                    
                      Dwellid þan in þe land of Jude.
                    
                      Ful mani folk þore gun scho draw
                    
                      Forto lif by Cristes lawe.
                    
                      Þe Jeus þan had ful grete enuy
                    
                      To hir and to all hir cumpany,
                      Line 100 
                    
                      And oft þai cumpast þam omang
                    
                      Þam to destroy with sorow strang.
                    
                      And so þai ordand at þe last
                    
                      Ane olde schip withouten mast,
                    
                      Withouten are, anker or ani gude
                      Line 105 
                    
                      Þat suld fend ogayns þe flode:
                    
                      And þorein did þai euerilkone
                    
                      Þat vnto Cristes trouth had tone,
                    
                      And put þam furth þan to þe se,
                    
                      So for þai suld sune perist be,
                      Line 110 
                    
                      Both with þe felnes of þe flode
                    
                      And also for defaut of fode.
                    
                      Bot Crist, for wham þai war exilde,
                    
                      Wold noght lat þam be bigilde:
                    
                      Al-if þam wanted mast & sayle,
                      Line 115 
                    
                      He sent þam sone gude gouernaile.
                    
                      So þat þai rafe up in ane Ile,
                    
                      A high cuntre, þat hight Marcyle.
                    
                      Þat land knew noght of Cristes lare,
                    
                      Þarfore þai war noght welkum þare.
                      Line 120 
                    
                      Bot sone, when þai war wun to land,
                    
                      Omong þe folk þai went prechand,
                    
                      Of Cristes faith fast þai declarid;
                    
                      Bot no-man toke to þam reward.
                    
                      With daunger gat þai drink & mete,
                      Line 125 
                    
                      Bot herbering þai might none gete.
                    
                      So was þare standand on a wall
                    
                      A maumet þat þo men on call,
                    
                      Als for þaire god to him þai soght;
                    
                      And ouer him was a pentice wroght,
                      Line 130 
                    
                      To couer hym fro weders wete,
                    
                      And þat was made to þe midftrete.
                    
                      Þore herberd Mary and hir menȝe
                    
                      For best socure þat þai kouth se.
                    
                      Bot when scho saw sune on þe morn
                      Line 135 
                    
                      How folk come þat maumet biforn
                    
                      And soght to him fro sydes sere
                    
                      Als to þaire god of grete powere
                    
                      And to him made þai sacrifise:
                    
                      Þan was scho ful wroth on hir wise,
                      Line 140 
                    
                      Furth scho stode with face ful playne
                    
                      And said, þaire werkes war all in uayne;
                    
                      With stabill tung to þam scho spak
                    
                      And þaire law fast gun scho lak;
                    
                      Of Crist scho prechid al opinly,
                      Line 145 
                    
                      And said þaire werk was maumetry.
                    
                      Hir wurdes war so wisely wroght,
                    
                      Þat al þe folk grete ferly thoght;
                    
                      Þai had ferly of hir fairehede
                    
                      And how scho durst do swilk a dede.
                      Line 150 
                    
                      Bot hir wurdes war so swete to here,
                    
                      Þat many men held hir dedis dere —

Page 83

                    
                      Bot no wunder if þe wurde war swete
                    
                      Of þe mouth þat kist Cristes fete!
                    
                      Hir wurdes þarfore war of swilk grace,
                      Line 155 
                    
                      Þat mekil pople in þat same place
                    
                      Vnto hir tales swilk tent þan toke
                    
                      Þat þaire fals sacrifise þai forsoke;
                    
                      Sum lerid ful fast of Cristes lay.
                    
                      And so bifell it opon ane day:
                      Line 160 
                    
                      A mighti prince of þat cuntre
                    
                      Soiorned in þat same cete;
                    
                      He and his wife war þedir soght
                    
                      And to þat maumet ofrand broght,
                    
                      For werldes welth þai hade gude wane
                      Line 165 
                    
                      Bot childe bitwix þam had þai nane;
                    
                      Þat maumet soght þai, for þai wend
                    
                      Þat he childe suld to þam send —
                    
                      Þai honord him to þat entent.
                    
                      And when Mari wist what þai ment,
                      Line 170 
                    
                      Ful opinly scho þam reproued,
                    
                      And diuers maters þore scho moued
                    
                      Þat in þat maumet might was none
                    
                      Ne comfort, bot in Crist allone;
                    
                      Þis proued scho wele by proces playne,
                      Line 175 
                    
                      And so scho gert þam turn ogayne. [Ms. and st. þat? l. so to ger?] 
                    
                      And on þe night next folowand
                    
                      Þe prince and his wife lay slepand:
                    
                      Þan þe Maudelayn, to amend þaire life,
                    
                      Aperd vnto þe princes wife
                      Line 180 
                    
                      And bad scho suld hir erand say
                    
                      Vnto hir lord þat by hir lay:
                    
                      Sen werldes welth was to him sent,
                    
                      Þat he suld better tak entent
                    
                      To goddes folk, þat þare peryst
                      Line 185 
                    
                      Herberles for hunger and thrist, [Ms. for herberles st. herberles for.] 
                    
                      And bid him þaire mischef amend
                    
                      For gods sake þat him al send.
                    
                      Þe ladi wakkend & wele scho thoght
                    
                      On þis tale. bot scho tolde it noght
                      Line 190 
                    
                      Vnto hir lord, als had bene right. [folio 158] 
                    
                      & þarfore on þat oþer night
                    
                      Þe Maudelayn vnto hir aperd
                    
                      And þat same lesson eft hir lerd:
                    
                      Scho comand hir with wurdes fell
                      Line 195 
                    
                      Vnto hir lord þat scho suld tell
                    
                      Goddes menȝe forto releue,
                    
                      Or els, scho said, it suld hir greue.
                    
                      When al þir tales war told hir till,
                    
                      Scho wakkend, & ȝit held hir still;
                      Line 200 
                    
                      To hir it was ful grete affray,
                    
                      Bot to hir lord scho durst noght say.
                    
                      Þarfore þe Maudlain was noght fayn;
                    
                      On þe thrid night scho come ogayn:
                    
                      Þan scho aperd vnto þam bathe
                      Line 205 
                    
                      And spak to þam with wurdes wrathe —
                    
                      Þe hous was all fulfild of light:
                    
                      To þam þat was a selkuth sight;
                    
                      In þaire slepe war þai ful affraid.
                    
                      And to þe prince al þus scho sayd:
                      Line 210 
                    
                      "Slepis þou, terand ful of ire?
                    
                      A, lym of Satenas, þi sire!
                    
                      Call þou vp þat nedder kinlyng
                    
                      Þat I bad suld mi message bring:
                    
                      Þat es þi wife þat by þe lise,
                      Line 215 
                    
                      To wham I cumand on þis wise:
                    
                      On mi bihalue at tell to þe
                    
                      Ofe goddes pople to haue pete.
                    
                      Ȝe welter here with wombes grete,
                    
                      And þai haue nowþer drink ne mete;
                      Line 220 
                    
                      Ȝe lig in forures mani follde,
                    
                      And þai perisch with windes colde;
                    
                      Ful mekil beld es ȝow obout,
                    
                      And goddes folk lat ȝe lig þerout;
                    
                      In silk and sendell here ȝe slape —
                      Line 225 
                    
                      I say ȝe sall noght so eschape,
                    
                      Bot ful dere sal ȝe both aby
                    
                      Bot-if ȝe help goddes folk in hy
                    
                      For his sake þat ȝow al has sent."
                    
                      When þis was said, oway scho went.
                      Line 230 
                    
                      Þe ladi wakkend & wepid sore:
                    
                      For so ferd was scho neuer byfore.
                    
                      Þe prince wakind & was euil flayd.
                    
                      And sune þe ladi vnto him said:
                    
                      "Sir, saw ȝe noght þis selkuth sight
                      Line 235 
                    
                      Þat me has noyed in þis night?"
                    
                      "Ȝis, sertes, he sais, I saw it wele;
                    
                      Þarfore ful grete ferdnes I fele.
                    
                      So selkuth sight haue I noght sene —
                    
                      I meruail what it may bymene."
                      Line 240 
                    
                      Scho said: "sir, þus has me bitid
                    
                      Two nightes, and þis es þe thrid.

Page 84

                    
                      Ȝone woman þat ligges in þe way
                    
                      And kens þe folk of Cristes lay,
                    
                      Vnto vs both scho has declarde
                      Line 245 
                    
                      Þat we to hir suld tak rewarde
                    
                      And (mend) hir menȝe fro mischefe, [mend fehlt im Ms.] 
                    
                      Or els it will turn vs to grefe.
                    
                      And better es, we to hir bowe
                    
                      And to hir teching þat we trowe,
                      Line 250 
                    
                      Þan ger hir god be with us wrath;
                    
                      For þan we mai noght skape fro skath."
                    
                      Þe prince said: "so sall be done"
                    
                      And on þe morn he hasted sone
                    
                      To pray Mari and hir menȝe
                      Line 255 
                    
                      At his hous herberd forto be.
                    
                      And at his will with him þai ȝede.
                    
                      Ful faire he ordand þam to fede
                    
                      With al dayntes þat he might gete.
                    
                      And euyn als þai sat at þe mete,
                      Line 260 
                    
                      Mari was carpand euer of Crist
                    
                      And diuers maters scho poplist:
                    
                      "None oþer lord es to a-low,
                    
                      Ne oþer trowth es none to trow",
                    
                      And oþer goddes withouten him
                      Line 265 
                    
                      Demyd scho al for deuils dym.
                    
                      Þe prince hir sufferd in hir saw,
                    
                      Noght all for lufe, bot als for aw.
                    
                      Fel on a day: so als scho prechid
                    
                      And Cristes trouth vnto þam techid,
                      Line 270 
                    
                      Þe prince lete þan als he wold lere,
                    
                      And askid Mari on þis manere:
                    
                      "Troues þou, he sais, þou may defend
                    
                      Þis cristen trouth þat þou has kend,
                    
                      And mayntene it in al manere?"
                      Line 275 
                    
                      Þan answerd scho with stabil chere:
                    
                      "I am redi with hert and hend
                    
                      Þe faith of Crist forto defend.
                    
                      My mayster, Peter, þe pape of Rome,
                    
                      Has biden me do efter his dome;
                      Line 280 
                    
                      He wil wele mayntene al mi dede.
                    
                      And þarfore, sir, it es no nede
                    
                      So straitly of me to enquere
                    
                      To defend þe law þat I ȝow lere.
                    
                      I haue herting of heuynli mede,
                      Line 285 
                    
                      Þat no doute haue I in mi dede."
                    
                      Þan þis prince and his gude lady
                    
                      On þis manere said to Mary:
                    
                      "If al be trew þat þou here techis,
                    
                      And þi god of wham þou prechis
                      Line 290 
                    
                      War of swilk might & swilk powere
                    
                      Als þou has told vnto vs here;
                    
                      And þan þat þou wold of him craue
                    
                      And help þat we a child might haue:
                    
                      Þan wold we to þi sawes assent
                      Line 295 
                    
                      And to þe turn al our entent."
                    
                      Mari was of þir wurdes fayne
                    
                      And þus scho said to þam ogayne:
                    
                      "Mi god mai do what so him list—
                    
                      Þar may no might in him be mist.
                      Line 300 
                    
                      Vnto him sall I pray for ȝow;
                    
                      And if ȝe trewly in him trow,
                    
                      Þan dar I hete þat ȝe sal haue
                    
                      A child, or els what ȝe wil craue,
                    
                      Þat may seme vnto ȝoure saul hele."
                      Line 305 
                    
                      Þan leuyd þai wele þat scho was lele.
                    
                      Þai welkumd hire þan, als was wurthi,
                    
                      Both hir and al hir cumpani;
                    
                      Ful haly folk þe prince þam held,
                    
                      And in grete daynte þore þai dweld.
                      Line 310 
                    
                      Þan Mari, als scho first had sayd,
                    
                      Vnto god for þe gude lady praid;
                    
                      So did Martha and Maximyne
                    
                      And al hir folk with hertes fine,
                    
                      Of hir bone to be hir bylde.
                      Line 315 
                    
                      And als god wold, scho wex with childe
                    
                      And grete scho was by way of kinde.
                    
                      Þan had þe prince grete mirth in mynde.
                    
                      And purpos plainly taken he has
                    
                      Þat he wold vnto saint Peter pas
                      Line 320 
                    
                      And of hym al haly wit he wold
                    
                      If tales war trew þat Mari tolde,
                    
                      And do he wold efter his dome:
                    
                      Sen he was heuid of cristendome.
                    
                      Bot when þe lady þus herd tell
                      Line 325 
                    
                      Þat hir lord wald no langer dwell
                    
                      Bot wend he wold sune ouer þe se,
                    
                      Scho said: "lord, I wil wend with þe;
                    
                      For no-mans speking wil I spare,
                    
                      Bot als þou fars, lord, lat me fare!"
                      Line 330 
                    
                      Þan said þe prince to hir ogayne:
                    
                      "Wife, þir wurdes er al in vayne.
                    
                      Þou mai noght wend so wele als I;
                    
                      I sall þe say encheson why:
                    
                      Þou wote how þou es grete with childe,
                      Line 335 
                    
                      And þe se es wude and wilde

Page 85

                    
                      With moni stormes & mekill wathe,
                    
                      Þat vnto þe might sune do scathe;
                    
                      I wold noght for no werldes gude
                    
                      Þat þou fore euyl opon þe flude.
                      Line 340 
                    
                      And þarfore, gude wife, wun at home
                    
                      And kepe our catell vnto my come —
                    
                      So es wele better, þan forto be
                    
                      In grete perils opon þe see."
                    
                      Þan fel scho doune vnto his fete
                      Line 345 
                    
                      And sore bigan scho forto grete —
                    
                      Als wemen wil noght sone forsake
                    
                      Þaire purpos þat þai to wil take —
                    
                      Sho cried loud: "lord, god forbede
                    
                      Þat I allone here life suld lede
                      Line 350 
                    
                      And þou wend vnto vnkuth land!
                    
                      Þat was to my hert hard tithand. [Ms. was st. war.] 
                    
                      I wil noght let for fa ne frende
                    
                      Bot whore þou wendes will I wende,
                    
                      And when þou restes rest sall I,
                      Line 355 
                    
                      And when þou rises I am redy;
                    
                      With þe, lord, will I lif and lend
                    
                      And tak what grace so god wil send."
                    
                      Þe gude man saw it was no bute
                    
                      Ogayns hir wil more forto mote;
                      Line 360 
                    
                      He graunted hir with him to gang.
                    
                      And ordand þam a schip ful strang
                    
                      And vitaild it with alkins thing
                    
                      Þat nedeful was to þaire lifing.
                    
                      To Mari Maudlayne he bitaght
                      Line 365 
                    
                      Al þat he weldid of werldly aght;
                    
                      His eritage and all oþer thing
                    
                      Putted he vnto hir kepeing.
                    
                      It was hir will so þat þai two
                    
                      Suld to hir maister saint Peter go.
                      Line 370 
                    
                      Crosses on þaire shulders gan scho schere,
                    
                      For þat þe deuils suld þam noght dere;
                    
                      Sho blisced þam with gude entent,
                    
                      And so vnto þaire ship þai went.
                    
                      Ful mekil mirth þan made þai two.
                      Line 375 
                    
                      Bot efterward wakkind þaire wo.
                    
                      When þai war sayled so out of sight
                    
                      Þe space of a day and a night,
                    
                      Þe wind bigan rudely to rise
                    
                      And þe see to bolne on wunder wise;
                      Line 380 
                    
                      Grete stormes wex with weders wik
                    
                      And þe wawes went wunder thik.
                    
                      Al war þai in grete drede to droune, [folio 159] 
                    
                      For ferd þe lady þan fell in swoune;
                    
                      Ilkone þai war ful will of rede,
                      Line 385 
                    
                      Bot scho was moste like to be ded.
                    
                      So was scho stond with weders wilde,
                    
                      Þat sone trauaild scho of childe;
                    
                      Scho sesid noght, fro (s)cho had bygun,
                    
                      Till scho was deliuerd of a sun.
                      Line 390 
                    
                      Bot þan for reuth might hertes riue:
                    
                      Scho lay ded, and þe childe o-liue.
                    
                      Þat was a siteful syght to se
                    
                      And to all gude men grete pete.
                    
                      Bot þe prince, als no wunder was,
                      Line 395 
                    
                      Cryed ful loud allas, allas;
                    
                      "A, wife, he said, ful wo es me
                    
                      Þat I þis sight suld on þe se!"
                    
                      Þe childe soght by cours of kinde
                    
                      Efter þe fude, þe pap to finde,
                      Line 400 
                    
                      Sethin it swelid and turned & tauyd —
                    
                      Þe fader fel and for reuth raued.
                    
                      And al-if he had sorows ful sore,
                    
                      Þe schipmen made his murnyng more
                    
                      When þai al samyn said þis wurd:
                      Line 405 
                    
                      "Þis ded body bus ouer þe burd,
                    
                      For are will noght þis weder sese" —
                    
                      Þe knightes care þus þai encrese.
                    
                      His care was mikill for his wife,
                    
                      And more for his sun þat had life,
                      Line 410 
                    
                      Þe whilk he wist bud nedes dy,
                    
                      For it had noght left to lif by.
                    
                      To him þat was a bitter brayd
                    
                      And to him-self al þus he sayd:
                    
                      "Allas, cayteff, þou ert bigilde;
                      Line 415 
                    
                      Whi couayt þou to haue a childe,
                    
                      Forto haue liking in þi life?
                    
                      Now has þou lorn both child & wife.
                    
                      Þou ȝernid one, and loses two.
                    
                      Allas for dole, whi did þou so?"
                      Line 420 
                    
                      Þe schipmen fast bigan to cry:
                    
                      "cast ouer þe burd þis dede body,
                    
                      Els wil þis storm noght sese!" þai said.
                    
                      Þe knight þan knelid & to þam prayd
                    
                      Þat þai wold bide a litell space,
                      Line 425 
                    
                      To luke if god wold send his grace

Page 86

                    
                      Þe lady vnto life forto restore.
                    
                      And als þai war so wepeand sore,
                    
                      Fer in þe se þai saw a playne.
                    
                      Þan was þe knight ful ferly fayn.
                      Line 430 
                    
                      Sune when þai (se) þe soyle was sad(!), [Ms. þe seyle (oder soyle) st. se þe yle? oder es fehlt se od. saw.] 
                    
                      Þe weders sesid, and þai war glad.
                    
                      Þe knight þan prayd & hight þam mede
                    
                      Vnto þat land him forto lede,
                    
                      Þat þo bodis might beried be,
                      Line 435 
                    
                      Leuer þan sunken in þe se.
                    
                      And als þe knight praid & cumand,
                    
                      Þai set þaire schip nere to þe land.
                    
                      Into a bote þan both þai kepid
                    
                      Þe bodi and þe child þat wepid —
                      Line 440 
                    
                      Þarof þai kouth no better rede;
                    
                      For faut of fude it bihoued be dede.
                    
                      Þore fand þai roches hard of stone;
                    
                      And toles to wirk with had þai none,
                    
                      So þat þai might mak no graue.
                      Line 445 
                    
                      Bot vnder a crag þai fand a kaue:
                    
                      Þe knight þore laid his mantil doune
                    
                      And þe ded body þar oboune,
                    
                      He put þe child vnto þe pap,
                    
                      And ouer þam laid his mantil lap;
                      Line 450 
                    
                      Ful sore he wepid and wrong his hend
                    
                      And vnto god þam both bikend.
                    
                      And als he went sore wepand þein,
                    
                      On Mari Maudlayn gun he him pleyn:
                    
                      "A, Mari, he said, what moued þe
                      Line 455 
                    
                      Þat þou suld cum to my cuntre
                    
                      With þi wordes so me to plese,
                    
                      And sethin be caus of mi dissese?
                    
                      If it had noght þi counsail bene,
                    
                      Þis grete sorow had neuer (be) sene. [Im Ms. fehlt be?] 
                      Line 460 
                    
                      Whi wold þou prai so for mi wife
                    
                      To haue a childe and lose hir life?
                    
                      Allas, þat euer þou met with me!
                    
                      For all my los es lang on þe.
                    
                      I was bousom, what þou wald bid,
                      Line 465 
                    
                      And grete kindnes to þe I kid
                    
                      When I þe left bothe land and rent
                    
                      And for þi wurdes þir wais I went.
                    
                      And sen I was to þe so kinde,
                    
                      In þis meschefe of me haue mynde;
                      Line 470 
                    
                      And if þi god be of swilk might
                    
                      Als þou has techid day and night,
                    
                      Ordayns now so yow bitwene
                    
                      Þat his might may on me be sene,
                    
                      And send me cumfort of my care!"
                      Line 475 
                    
                      To schip ogayn þan gun he fare.
                    
                      Þe weders fand þai gude and gayne,
                    
                      So þat þai raue up in Romayne.
                    
                      Þe knight sone, when he landid was,
                    
                      Soght vnto þe papes palas.
                      Line 480 
                    
                      And sone, when he come him byforn
                    
                      And þe pape saw his schulder schorn
                    
                      With þe takinyng of þe croyce,
                    
                      Þan askid he him with opyn voyce
                    
                      In what cuntre he was at home,
                      Line 485 
                    
                      And Þe caus whi he þeder come.
                    
                      Þan said þe knight with sighin sore [sighin st. sighing.] 
                    
                      Al on what wise he ferd byfore:
                    
                      How he was in his awin cuntre
                    
                      A prince þat gouernd grete pouste,
                      Line 490 
                    
                      And how þe Maudelayne with him dweld
                    
                      And all his gudes in hir handes held,
                    
                      And how he had thurgh hir counsayl
                    
                      Takyn hym vnto swilk trauayl:
                    
                      "And, sir, he said, scho told to me
                      Line 495 
                    
                      Þat hir god was of swilk pouste,
                    
                      Þat he might all men wele releue:
                    
                      And all es turned me to mischeue."
                    
                      And þan he tolde of his dede wyue,
                    
                      And how he left his sun o-lyue
                      Line 500 
                    
                      Ligand in þe krag of stone —
                    
                      "Was neuer man so wil of wone!
                    
                      Al my liking I leuyd þore" —
                    
                      And with þo wurdes he wepid sore.
                    
                      Saint Peter, when he þir wurdes herd,
                      Line 505 
                    
                      Ful hendly to him he answerd,
                    
                      He said: "dere brother, drede þe noght!
                    
                      Efter wise counsail has þou wroght.
                    
                      Lat stabyll faith in þe be fest,
                    
                      And all sal turn þe to þi best.
                      Line 510 
                    
                      And wit þou wele, goddes might es more
                    
                      Þan to leche þi wife þat ligges þore
                    
                      And when him list rais hir fro slepe,
                    
                      And þi ȝong sun sauely to kepe;
                    
                      Oure god may gif life als him list,
                      Line 515 
                    
                      For in him may no might be mist,

Page 87

                    
                      Of al sorous mai he socure send,
                    
                      And al þat es mis may he mend.
                    
                      Þarfore in trouth luke þou be trew,
                    
                      And al þi solace sall be new."
                      Line 520 
                    
                      Þe knight said: "sir, þat wold I fain." [king in knight corr.] 
                    
                      And þan saynt Peter said ogayne:
                    
                      "Sir, bi þi cros þe Maudlayn mened
                    
                      To Jerusalem þat þou suld wende:
                    
                      And þarfore þeder mak þe boun
                      Line 525 
                    
                      In mynde of Cristes passioun
                    
                      And do honure in ilka stede
                    
                      Whore he sufferd bifore his ded!
                    
                      I sall wend with þe pase ful playne,
                    
                      To-tyme þat þou cum heder ogayne:
                      Line 530 
                    
                      Þarfore of no thing haue þou drede!"
                    
                      On þis maner þe knight furth ȝede
                    
                      To Jerusalem. And when he come þore,
                    
                      He fand saynt Peter him bifore,
                    
                      Þat to ilk place playnli him techid
                      Line 535 
                    
                      Whore Crist vnto his pople prechid;
                    
                      And sethin vnto sere place þai went
                    
                      Whore Crist had sufferd sere turment,
                    
                      To þe mount, & to many oþer stede,
                    
                      Whore he apperd efter his ded,
                      Line 540 
                    
                      And sethin whore he to heuin ascend,
                    
                      And whore he sal cum to mak end.
                    
                      And when he had þir werkis wroght,
                    
                      To Rome ogayn sadly he soght.
                    
                      Saint Peter þore redy he fand
                      Line 545 
                    
                      And tolde to him al þis tithand,
                    
                      How he had soght þir places sere.
                    
                      And in þis space war spend two ȝere.
                    
                      Þan said þe knight: he wold ful fayn
                    
                      With þe popes will wend home ogayn.
                      Line 550 
                    
                      Saint Peter þe trouth vnto him tolde
                    
                      And bad him wend, when so he wold.
                    
                      A schip þan ordand he gude spede
                    
                      With al thing þat þai of had nede.
                    
                      And when þai war al redy boun,
                      Line 555 
                    
                      Þan toke he þe popes benysoun.
                    
                      Þai went & wold no langer dwell.
                    
                      And als god wolld, so it bifell:
                    
                      By þat ilk ile þaire way was graid
                    
                      Whore þe knight had his ladi layd.
                      Line 560 
                    
                      Þe knight þarto toke ful gude hede
                    
                      And praid þe schipmen for þaire mede
                    
                      To set þaire bote vnto þat hill;
                    
                      And hastily þai wroght his will.
                    
                      And als þe knight luked to þe land,
                      Line 565 
                    
                      He saw a childe sit on þe sand
                    
                      Nakid & nemely for þe nones
                    
                      Playand it with precius stones.
                    
                      And when it saw þe schip cum þore
                    
                      And had noght sene swilk sight bifore,
                      Line 570 
                    
                      For ferd it crepid ful fast oway
                    
                      To þe mount whore þe moder lay;
                    
                      It lurked vnder þe mantill lapp
                    
                      And lay and plaid it with þe pap.
                    
                      Þe knight it saw and thoght ferly, [folio 160] 
                      Line 575 
                    
                      And efter it fast he gun him hy.
                    
                      His wife lay þore als he hir leuyd.
                    
                      Þe childe up in his hand he heuyd,
                    
                      He cherist it with lufly chere,
                    
                      And þan he said on þis manere:
                      Line 580 
                    
                      "Blist be þou, Maudelayn, euermare!
                    
                      I loue þe, lady, and þi lare,
                    
                      Þat thurgh þi might on þis manere
                    
                      Has saued þis childe al þies two ȝere.
                    
                      Dere lady, haue mercy on me,
                      Line 585 
                    
                      For maystri es it none to þe
                    
                      To saue my wife, wele if þou will!
                    
                      For saint Peter said me vntill
                    
                      God might warisch mi wife þat slepid".
                    
                      And als he spak þir wurdes & wepid,
                      Line 590 
                    
                      Þe lady wakkind & with him spak —
                    
                      Ful mekil Joy þan gun he mak.
                    
                      Sho rase yp right als scho was laid,
                    
                      And þir wurdes als sone scho sayd:
                    
                      "I loue þe, Maudelayn, in my minde:
                      Line 595 
                    
                      Mekill es þi might omang man-kinde.
                    
                      Þou was my gide in mi moste grefe
                    
                      And midwif in moste mischefe;
                    
                      Mi sun þus has þou saued here,
                    
                      And went with me al þir two ȝere".
                      Line 600 
                    
                      Þan had þe knight liking in life
                    
                      And loud he sayd: "lifs þou, mi wife?
                    
                      Sum wurd of gladnes to me gif!"
                    
                      "Syr, scho sayd, for suthe I lyf.
                    
                      Fro pilgrimage now com I hame:
                      Line 605 
                    
                      Þat þou has done, I did þat same.

Page 88

                    
                      Mi mayster Peter with þe went
                    
                      And tolde þe to Cristes monument [Ms. tolde st. toke?] 
                    
                      And to þe mount & moni a stede
                    
                      Whore Crist was sene & sufferd ded;
                      Line 610 
                    
                      And right als Peter went with þe,
                    
                      So Mari Maudelayn was with me;
                    
                      Scho led me into ilka place,
                    
                      Both fer and nere, folowand ȝoure trace.
                    
                      And to proue þis suth þat I say:
                      Line 615 
                    
                      I wote wele how ȝe wroght alway".
                    
                      On raw scho rekind les and more
                    
                      And said: þus did ȝe þore and þore;
                    
                      So al þe gates þat he had gone
                    
                      Scho tolde fully, and faylid of none.
                      Line 620 
                    
                      Þan was þe knight ful glad & blith
                    
                      And thankid þe Maudelain monysith.
                    
                      He toke his wife and ȝong boy
                    
                      And went to schip with mekill Joy —
                    
                      Þarfro he went with mekil payn
                      Line 625 
                    
                      And with grete mirth he come ogayn.
                    
                      Þai sayled furth and sune þai come
                    
                      To Marcyll, whore þai wer at home.
                    
                      And in þat cete sone þai fand
                    
                      Þe Maudelayn and hir men precheand:
                      Line 630 
                    
                      Fast fell þai doun bifor hir fete
                    
                      And for gladnes ilkone þai grete.
                    
                      And sethin þai tolde with trew entent
                    
                      How þai had wroght ay sen þai went,
                    
                      How þai had sorous fell to fele
                      Line 635 
                    
                      And sethin how þai war cumfort wele.
                    
                      Þan war þai fayn ilkone in-fere
                    
                      And thankid god with ful gude chere.
                    
                      And þus was þis prince and his wife
                    
                      Trewly turned to cristen life;
                      Line 640 
                    
                      Saynt Maximine þam both baptist
                    
                      And confermid þam in law of Crist;
                    
                      Þaire ȝong sun also baptist he
                    
                      And kend him cristen man to be.
                    
                      In Cristes faith when þai war fest,
                      Line 645 
                    
                      Al þaire maumettes doun þai kest,
                    
                      Þai brak þam doun & did þam schame,
                    
                      And bigged kirkes in Cristes name.
                    
                      And Laȝar ordand þai to be
                    
                      Bisschop in þat same cete,
                      Line 650 
                    
                      With prestes and clerkes on sides sere,
                    
                      To serue to god on gude manere.
                    
                      So al þe puple turned þai
                    
                      And conuert þam to Cristes lay.
                    
                      And sethin, als god turned þaire entent,
                      Line 655 
                    
                      Vnto a noþer cete þai went
                    
                      And turned þe folk to cristen lare,
                    
                      And Maxymiyne made þai bisschop þare;
                    
                      And thurgh him was grete vertu schewd
                    
                      Off Cristes law to lerd and lewd.
                      Line 660 
                    
                      Þe prince & his sun and his wife
                    
                      With ioy and liking led þare lyfe,
                    
                      In Cristes law ay gun þai lend
                    
                      And to him went þai at þaire end.

De vita beate Marie Magd. in heremo viuente.

                    
                      Mari þan gun purpose take
                      Line 665 
                    
                      All werldly sight forto forsake.
                    
                      Scho toke hir leue at more and les
                    
                      And went allone to wildernes.
                    
                      Scho fand þare logeing, in to lend,
                    
                      Þat was ordand with angels hend;
                      Line 670 
                    
                      And in þat loge scho lengid allone,
                    
                      To thritty winters wer all gone.
                    
                      In al þat tyme scho was vnknawn,
                    
                      And scho knew no life bot hir awin;
                    
                      In al þat sesoun none hir soght
                      Line 675 
                    
                      Ne nonekins beld vnto (hir) broght.
                    
                      Of fruit þore had scho no confort,
                    
                      Ne of herbis had scho no disport,
                    
                      Ne water was þore none hir nere.
                    
                      Wharfore men might haue knawing clere
                      Line 680 
                    
                      Þat scho was fed with angels fode
                    
                      Of god, and of none erthely gude.
                    
                      Euer-ilkaday by oures seuyn
                    
                      War angels sent to hir fro heuyn;
                    
                      Þai raysed hir vp into þe ayre
                      Line 685 
                    
                      And fed hir þore with fude ful faire;
                    
                      Ful mekil m(i)rth and solempne sang
                    
                      Might scho here made þam omang.
                    
                      More fully was scho so refete
                    
                      Þan with any erthly drink or mete.
                      Line 690 
                    
                      And when þe angels þus had done,
                    
                      In hir fell þai fet hir sone.
                    
                      Ful thritty ȝere scho þore habid.

Page 89

                    
                      And on a tyme þan þus bityd:
                    
                      Ane haly preste had purpose tone
                      Line 695 
                    
                      Þat he in wildernes wald lif allone; [Ms. wilde mit überschr. rnes. Ms. alkone.] 
                    
                      To þat wildernes gun he pas [gun fehlt?] 
                    
                      Whore Mary Maudlain wunand was.
                    
                      And þore he logid him als him list;
                    
                      Bot of hir wunyng noght he wist,
                      Line 700 
                    
                      For no man might cum to hir place
                    
                      Ne se it, bot god gaf þam grace.
                    
                      And opon a day so it byfell,
                    
                      Als þis ilk preste sat in his sell,
                    
                      God gaf hym grace to here and se
                      Line 705 
                    
                      Sum poyntes of his owin preuete:
                    
                      He herd a noys and nobil steuyn
                    
                      Of angels þat war sent fro heuyn.
                    
                      Þan prayd he god with gude entent
                    
                      Þat he might wit more what it ment.
                      Line 710 
                    
                      Toward þat stede he went in hy
                    
                      Whore he herd made þat melody.
                    
                      And als he lukid ogayn þe light,
                    
                      Ful sone he saw a solempne sight:
                    
                      Of angels þat fro heuyn descend;
                      Line 715 
                    
                      And on þat loge he saw þam lend,
                    
                      Þai toke vp Mary þam al omang [Ms. onang.] 
                    
                      With mynstralsy and meri sang
                    
                      Into þe ayre, and þore þai last
                    
                      Vntil ane oure was fully past,
                      Line 720 
                    
                      And sethin he saw al hou þai come
                    
                      With mekill blis & broght hir home,
                    
                      In hir loge, þan þai hir left.
                    
                      And sethen he saw þam fetche hir eft
                    
                      And serue hir on þe same manere.
                      Line 725 
                    
                      Þis had he grete liking to lere.
                    
                      Ner to þat place þe prest him flit,
                    
                      More of þat werk for he wold wit;
                    
                      He praid to god with gude entent
                    
                      More forto wit, and ner he went.
                      Line 730 
                    
                      And when he had þe gate all gone
                    
                      Bot þe space of casting of a stone,
                    
                      His lims bigan fayntly to fail,
                    
                      So þat he might no ferr trauail;
                    
                      And his hert was so affrayd,
                      Line 735 
                    
                      Þat home to gang he him puruayd.
                    
                      And als sone als he turned ogayn,
                    
                      His lims þan had þare power playn.
                    
                      And eft he turned toward þat stede:
                    
                      Þan wex þai waik als þai war ded.
                      Line 740 
                    
                      Þis made him meruayld in his mode; [Ms. meruayd mit übergeschr. l.] 
                    
                      Bot þarby wele he vnderstode
                    
                      Þat all þis sight was of godsande:
                    
                      Þarfore he durst no ferrer fande;
                    
                      Ful wele he hopid þat mans might
                      Line 745 
                    
                      Suld cum no ner to se þat sight.
                    
                      And fayn he wold þat place haue spied,
                    
                      Þarfore o ferrom fast he cried:
                    
                      "On goddes byhalue I coniore þe,
                    
                      Man or beste, wheþir so þou be,
                      Line 750 
                    
                      Or any creature of resoun els,
                    
                      Þat in þat loge lendis & dwels:
                    
                      Þat þou speke with me, & þou may,
                    
                      And þe suth of þi self me say
                    
                      Þat schews þir wunders on þis wise!"
                      Line 755 
                    
                      And when he had rehercid þis thrise:
                    
                      Mary him answerd on þis manere:
                    
                      "Cum nerr! scho said, and þou sall here.
                    
                      Al þat þi hert ȝernis, sal þou haue
                    
                      And knaw what þou will efter craue".
                      Line 760 
                    
                      Grete light he saw bifore hym ferr,
                    
                      And, als he durst, þan drogh he nerr.
                    
                      And when he had went half þe way,
                    
                      He herd a woman þus speke and say:
                    
                      "Sir, scho said, ne menes þe noght [folio 161] 
                      Line 765 
                    
                      Of a woman þat wikkedly wroght —
                    
                      Mari Maudelayn sum name hir wald,
                    
                      And Mari þe synner sum hir cald;
                    
                      With sere men was scho serely namid,
                    
                      For of grete foly was scho defamid.
                      Line 770 
                    
                      And sethin hir bitter bale to bete,
                    
                      With hir teris wesch scho Cristes fete,
                    
                      Hir sin scho scheud with sorow sare,
                    
                      And so scho gat forgifnes þare.
                    
                      Haues þou oght minde of þat woman?"
                      Line 775 
                    
                      Þe prest vnto hir answerd þan:
                    
                      "Ȝa, sertes, he said, I knew hir wele
                    
                      And of hir dedis I knew sum dele;
                    
                      And haly kirk of hir mase minde
                    
                      For ensaumple omang man-kinde;
                      Line 780 
                    
                      Euermore sal hir life be kend,

Page 90

                    
                      To gif men will þair mis to mend.
                    
                      It es now thritty ȝere and more
                    
                      Sen scho was went, men wote noght whore;
                    
                      Sethin was scho noght sene in no stede,
                      Line 785 
                    
                      Þarfore men demes þat scho es dede".
                    
                      Þan said Mary: "I am þat same.
                    
                      So lang I haue bene here at hame,
                    
                      Gouerned wele thurgh goddes might,
                    
                      And fere out of all erthly sight,
                      Line 790 
                    
                      With cumpany of angels clene:
                    
                      Als þi-self sumdele has sene,
                    
                      How þai heue me vp in þe ayre [Ms. heue oder haue?] 
                    
                      And fedes me þore with fode ful faire,
                    
                      With mirth þat no-man mesure mai.
                      Line 795 
                    
                      So do þai seuyn oures ilka day.
                    
                      Now am I warned thurgh goddes will
                    
                      Þat cours of kinde I sal fulfill,
                    
                      To wend out of þis werldly life
                    
                      And wun in welth with-outen strife.
                      Line 800 
                    
                      Þarfore mine erand sal þou wende
                    
                      Vnto saynt Maximyne, mi frende,
                    
                      Þat es bisschop of Aquens cete,
                    
                      And say him þis message fro me:
                    
                      All of þe sight þat þou has sene,
                      Line 805 
                    
                      And tel him þus ȝow two bitwene:
                    
                      On pase-day next for any thing,
                    
                      When men redes of Cristes rising,
                    
                      When he has sayd solempne seruise
                    
                      Bid hym wirk þan on þis wise:
                      Line 810 
                    
                      Wend him-allone, or it be day,
                    
                      To þe place whore he vses to pray,
                    
                      And sai him þat, when he cums þore,
                    
                      He sall find me þan him bifore:
                    
                      Þan sal I tell him mine entent.
                      Line 815 
                    
                      Go, say him þus how I þe sent!"
                    
                      Þe prest had ferly of all þis fare;
                    
                      Him thoght als it ane angel ware
                    
                      Þat spak to him on þis manere:
                    
                      So was þe voice heuynly and clere.
                      Line 820 
                    
                      Bot on þo wurdes ful wele he thoght
                    
                      And to cete sone he soght
                    
                      Whore Maximyne was bischop in.
                    
                      And sone, when he might to him wyn,
                    
                      He haylsid him with wurdes hende
                      Line 825 
                    
                      And sone he tolde him tale till ende [Ms. him st. his?] 
                    
                      How he had with Maudlayn met
                    
                      And how scho him so gudely grett,
                    
                      And furth he tolde þam two bitwene
                    
                      Of þe sightes þat he had sene.
                      Line 830 
                    
                      When Maximyne had herd þis tale,
                    
                      Him thoght his hert was neuer so hale;
                    
                      And so fayn was he of þat fare,
                    
                      Þat so grete Joy had he neuer are;
                    
                      He loued god with ful gude entent
                      Line 835 
                    
                      Þat swilk fande vnto him was sent.
                    
                      For al men wend in ilka stede
                    
                      Þat þe Maudlayn had bene dede;
                    
                      Þarfore þe bisschop was ful glad
                    
                      Þat he of hir swilk tythinges had.
                      Line 840 
                    
                      Þe preste þore still with him he held
                    
                      And to þat tyme graythly þai teld.
                    
                      And when it come to þat sesoun,
                    
                      Þe tyme of Cristes Resureccioun,
                    
                      Saint Maximyne with hert ful light
                      Line 845 
                    
                      Was in his prayers al þat night,
                    
                      And efter midnyght þai puplist
                    
                      Þe resurreccioun of Jhesu Crist.
                    
                      And when þat seruis was aldone,
                    
                      To his chapell he went allone.
                      Line 850 
                    
                      And, als þe prest had told bifore,
                    
                      Þe Maudelayn fand he redi þore,
                    
                      With faire cumpani, als him thoght,
                    
                      Of angels þat hir þeder broght,
                    
                      And euer him thoght scho stode þat stound
                      Line 855 
                    
                      Two cubites heght vp fro þe grounde;
                    
                      Hir hend scho held up to þe heuyn,
                    
                      Prayand to god with stabil steuyn.
                    
                      Þe bisschop saw þis sight o ferr,
                    
                      And for drede durst he noght cum ner —
                      Line 860 
                    
                      In hert he was sumdele affraid.
                    
                      And sone þe Maudelayn to him sayd:
                    
                      "Fader, cum ner and speke with me!
                    
                      Whi suld þou fro þi doghter fle?"
                    
                      Þo wurdes ful mekil amend his chere
                      Line 865 
                    
                      And, als he durst, he drogh hir nere.
                    
                      Hir face to luke on was so light
                    
                      And so schineand vnto his sight:
                    
                      Hym thog(ht) he might luke langer space
                    
                      On þe suns beme þan on hir face.

                      Line 870

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                      Line 870 
                    
                      "A, ladi, he sayd, ful wele es me
                    
                      Þat I þis semeli sight mai se!
                    
                      I wend þou had bene ded forlang,
                    
                      Now wote I wele my wit was wrang.
                    
                      I loue þe, lady, loud and still,
                      Line 875 
                    
                      And boun I am to wirk þi will".
                    
                      Scho said: "my mayster Maximyne,
                    
                      In faith luke þou be fast and fyne
                    
                      And trewly trow, I am þat same
                    
                      Þat was cristend in Cristes name,
                      Line 880 
                    
                      Þat gat forgifnes thurgh his grace,
                    
                      And wund with þe a sertan space;
                    
                      And sen-tyme þat we two gun twin,
                    
                      Wildernes I haue wund in
                    
                      More þan þe space of thretti ȝere,
                      Line 885 
                    
                      With cumpany of angels clere:
                    
                      Þai haue me fed with angels fode
                    
                      And susstaynd me with gastly gude.
                    
                      Now am I warned þat I sall wende
                    
                      Vnto þe welth with-outen ende.
                      Line 890 
                    
                      And for þat caus I cum to þe,
                    
                      Of þi hand howsild forto be,
                    
                      And my body in erth to bring —
                    
                      I ask of þe none oþer thing".
                    
                      Þe bisschop þan ful hastily
                      Line 895 
                    
                      Gert call togeder al his clergy
                    
                      With þe prest þat þe bodwurd broght.
                    
                      And when þai war al samyn soght,
                    
                      He broght þe solempne sacrament,
                    
                      And scho toke it with gude entent.
                      Line 900 
                    
                      And with ful mekil deuocioune
                    
                      Þan on þe ground scho laid hir doune
                    
                      Lukeand to heuyn, and so in haste
                    
                      Vnto god scho gaffe hir gaste.
                    
                      Þe angels went with bemis light
                      Line 905 
                    
                      Bereand it up to heuyn on hight.
                    
                      In þat stede was ful nobil smell,
                    
                      Swetter þan ani tung might tell,
                    
                      And þat swettnes lasted always
                    
                      More þan þe space of seuyn days.
                      Line 910 
                    
                      Þe bisschop berid hir body,
                    
                      With wirschip, als it was wurthi,
                    
                      And ordand, when he suld be dede,
                    
                      To beri him-self in þat same stede,
                    
                      Þat þai in ded might samyn lend
                      Line 915 
                    
                      Als þai in life war frendes kend.
                    
                      Sethin at hir graue grete ferlis fell,
                    
                      Als men may in sere storis tell. —
                    
                      Of hir we suld ensaumple take,
                    
                      Þat sinful er, sins to forsake
                      Line 920 
                    
                      And with penance amend our mis
                    
                      And kepe vs klene and cum to blis
                    
                      And lend in life þat lastes ay —
                    
                      God wis vs forto wend þat way!
                    
                      Sant Maximyne lifde efter still
                      Line 925 
                    
                      An(d) sethin he died at goddes will.
                    
                      His body was enterd right þore
                    
                      Als him-self had ordand bifore.
                    
                      Bot efter þe dede of saynt Maximyne
                    
                      Was þat pople put vnto grete pine:
                      Line 930 
                    
                      Payenis come to þat cuntre
                    
                      And destroyd all þat same cete
                    
                      Whore Mari Maudelayn lai in graue.
                    
                      Bot sethin, als god vouched saue,
                    
                      Efter Cristes ascension fell it syne
                      Line 935 
                    
                      Seuyn hundreth ȝere fourty & nyne,
                    
                      In tyme of Charls, þe nobil king,
                    
                      Þan bifell þis ferly thing:
                    
                      A duke in Burgoyne was dwelland,
                    
                      Þat had lordschips in moni a land;
                      Line 940 
                    
                      He had a lady meke and milde,
                    
                      Bot bitwix þam þai had no childe.
                    
                      Oft prayd þai god with hert & hend
                    
                      Þat he a childe suld to þam send.
                    
                      To do almus þe duke was glad
                      Line 945 
                    
                      Til þat he hopid mister had;
                    
                      Mynsters made he mani one
                    
                      And kirkes les(!) of lyme and stone. [Ms. les st. als?] 
                    
                      Oft herd he tell bi proces playne
                    
                      Grete might of Mari Maudelayne;
                      Line 950 
                    
                      Þarfore to hir oft gun he pray,
                    
                      And for hir made he ane abbay,
                    
                      With monkes, forto rede and sing,
                    
                      And ane abbot þare ouerling,
                    
                      To gouern þam in gude degre.
                      Line 955 
                    
                      And on a night warned was he [folio 162] 
                    
                      Þat þe Maudlayn graue suld be soght
                    
                      And hir bones suld be þeder broght.
                    
                      On þe morn he toke with gude entent
                    
                      Þe counsail of þe hale couent.

                      Line 960

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                      Line 960 
                    
                      And hastili þai ordand þen
                    
                      One of þaire monkes and oþer men
                    
                      And bad þai suld let for no spens
                    
                      To seke to þe cete of Aquens:
                    
                      If þai might find þe Maudlayn graue
                      Line 965 
                    
                      And hir relikis þore forto haue,
                    
                      To bring þam home both more and les,
                    
                      To be wirschiped, als wurthy es.
                    
                      Þan þis ilk monk and his menȝe
                    
                      Soght vnto þat same cete.
                      Line 970 
                    
                      Þai fand it wasted and all destroid
                    
                      With payenis þat þe pople noyed.
                    
                      Bot, als god þan wold it wore,
                    
                      A toumb of marble fand þai þore
                    
                      And writen it with letters playne
                      Line 975 
                    
                      Þat þore lay Mary Maudelayne.
                    
                      Bot þai durst noght touche it þat tyde
                    
                      For hathen folk þat þam asspide.
                    
                      Bot on þat night wele war þai lerd:
                    
                      Þe Maudelayn to þat monk aperd:
                      Line 980 
                    
                      Scho bad him he suld haue no drede
                    
                      Bot, als he thoght, do furth his dede;
                    
                      Ful wele scho hight him forto were,
                    
                      Þat no-thing suld vnto þam dere.
                    
                      Þan þis monk was wunder glad
                      Line 985 
                    
                      Þat he of hir so gude herting had.
                    
                      And al þat oþer night þai wuke
                    
                      And al þo relikes vp þai toke.
                    
                      Þai closid þam in cases clene
                    
                      And furth þai went, & war noght sene.
                      Line 990 
                    
                      And so fel, when þai come þat while
                    
                      Fro þaire Abbay bot half a mile:
                    
                      Þe relikis wold no ferrer flyt,
                    
                      And whi it was þai kouth noght wit.
                    
                      Sum left þai þore, þam forto tent,
                      Line 995 
                    
                      And sum vnto þe abbay went;
                    
                      Þai told þe abbot al þis tale.
                    
                      And he ordand by counsail hale
                    
                      To wend with fare processioune [fare-faire.] 
                    
                      And bring þo relikes so to toune.
                      Line 1000 
                    
                      When þai on þis wise ordand ere,
                    
                      Þai war þan ful light to bere.
                    
                      To þe abbay war þo relikes broght,
                    
                      And grete wirschip was to þam wroght.
                    
                      And sethin war scheud in þat Abbay
                      Line 1005 
                    
                      Ful mony miracles ilka day,
                    
                      Of seke men þat war sore bistad,
                    
                      And al folk helid þat mister had.
                    
                      And noght allone for þe life space,
                    
                      Bot vnto ded men did scho grace
                      Line 1010 
                    
                      And gastly gert scho þam be hale,
                    
                      Als men may se by ane schort tale.
                    
                      In þat land þan lifd a knyght
                    
                      Þat lufd Maudlayn with al his might;
                    
                      Euer-ilk ȝere ones to hir he soght
                      Line 1015 
                    
                      And grete wirschip vnto hir wroght.
                    
                      And sethin bifell him in a stede
                    
                      Sudaynli forto be dede
                    
                      With-outen schrift or howsell tane.
                    
                      Þarfore his frendes war will of wane.
                      Line 1020 
                    
                      His kinred and his frendes dere
                    
                      Toke þe body vp on a bere,
                    
                      Vnto biriell it forto bring.
                    
                      And þus þai said in þaire sorowing:
                    
                      "A, Mari Maudlain, mekil of might,
                      Line 1025 
                    
                      Whi has þou þus sufferd þi knight,
                    
                      Þat to þi seruis ai was swift,
                    
                      To dy with-outen housil & schrift?
                    
                      Þou might wele, & it war þi will,
                    
                      Haue ordand better hap him till".
                      Line 1030 
                    
                      Þan sudanly with-outen more
                    
                      He, þat lay ded lang time bifore,
                    
                      Turned to life omang þam all,
                    
                      And bad þam a prest to him call.
                    
                      He schraue him with gude entent
                      Line 1035 
                    
                      And sethin resayued his sacrament.
                    
                      And when he had on þis wise done,
                    
                      Doun he lay and died als sone.
                    
                      His frendes þan war ferly fayne
                    
                      And loued al Mari Maudelayne,
                      Line 1040 
                    
                      Þat dose swilk socure in sere stede
                    
                      Both vnto quik and vnto dede.
                    
                      Now god, þat al þir mightes mase
                    
                      And vnto Maudlayn gaf swilk grace
                    
                      In erth here to forsake hir syn
                      Line 1045 
                    
                      And sethin to endles welth to win,
                    
                      Vnto his kingdom he vs ken,
                    
                      Thurgh prayer of Maudlayn! Amen.

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17. De sca Maria Magdalena historia.

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De vita beate Marie Magd. in heremo viuente.

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Altenglische legenden.

About this Item

Pages

17. De sca Maria Magdalena historia.

description Page 82

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De vita beate Marie Magd. in heremo viuente.

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