Altenglische legenden.

21. S. Margarete, von Lydgate, aus Ms. Bishop Cosin's Library, Durham, V. II. 14, fol. 97b.

Abschrift der folgenden Legende verdanke ich der Freundlichkeit des Herrn Dr. Al. Brandl. — Ms. Durham enthält ausser Lydgate's Margarete das aus Mss. Laud 108 und Vernon bekannte, in Herrig's Archiv abgedruckte (I) Alexiuslied, und ein prosaisches Leben der Magdalena, fol. 106—111, Anfang: Mary Magdaleyn was surnamed of Magdalon the Castell and she was born of the kynred that were descen|did of ryal kynne and hir ffadir highte Syrus and hir modir highte Eucharie; der Schluss letzterer Legende fehlt.

Here begynneth the prolog of the holy seynt Margarete, compendyously compiled in balade by Lidgate dan John, Monk of Bury. A^o VIII^c. h VI^v.

At the reuerence of seynt Margarete My purpos is hir lyfe to compile; Though I haue no rethorikes swete Nor colournoone tenbelisshe with my style. Yet dar I seyn, it happeth so somen while: Line 5 Vnder writyng rude of apparence Mater is hid of grete intellygence. Ful ofte falleth, in this chestys blake Golde and perlys and stones of grete prys Ben ylooke and in-to warde ytake; Line 10 And by sentence and the prudent avys Of philosoffres, that holden were so wys, A royal ruby, in whiche ther is no lak, May closed ben in a ful pore sak. And though that I haue noone eloquence Line 15 For to discryue hir parfit holynesse, Hir chaste lyf, hir tendre innocence, Hir martirdam wrought by grete duresse,— Ay vnmutable in hir stablenesse, Vn-to the dethe ay one in hir suffraunce: Line 20 So was hir herte roted on constaunce; In Crystes feith she gan hir so delyte, For whom she lyste despyse al worldly glorye, This daysye with leves rede and white: Purpul-hewed, as maked is memorye, Line 25 Whan that hir blode was shad oute, by victorye, The chaste lely of whos maydenhede Thorugh martyrdam was spreynt with roses rede. Margarete the storye dothe hir calle After a stone ynamed Margarite, Line 30 A precyous gemme amonge these stones alle; In there bokes as clerkys liste to write, For of nature perlys echone ben white, Right vertuous of kynde, rounde, and small: Whiche propurtees resemblene hir at-alle; Line 35 She was first white by virginyte, In al hir lyvyng preuyde vertuous, And smal she was by humylite, Right strong in god, this maide glorious; And for she was thurgh deth victoryous, Line 40 Thurgh her triumphe she gate the palme in heuene, With laurere crowned above the sterres seuene. This stone in vertu is a cordyal, To the spirit a grete confortatyf: Right so hir herte was imperyal, Line 45

Line 45 I mene in vertu duryng al hir lyf, For she venquesshed withal hir mortal stryf The deuel, the worlde — her storye dothe devyse — And of hir flesshe she made a sacryfice Vnto the lorde, that starf vpon the rode Line 50 Whan he liste deye for oure redempcyoun: So this virgine, taquyte him, shad hir blode Ful benygnely in her passyoun. O gemme of gemmes, vyrgyne of most renoune, Thy lif to write be thou my socoure Line 55 And shede of grace the aureat lycoure Into my penne, quakyng of verray drede, Of retoryke for I haue no muse Duely to write thi martirdome in dede. Ne were oo thyng, I wolde me excuse: Line 60 That thou of grace wylt me not refuse But dyrectyn, o blysful lode-sterre, Me and my penne to conveye, whan I erre. Lat thi lyght in derkenesse be my guyde Tochyng this processe whiche I haue vndertake; Line 65 Remembre, o virgyne, vpon that other side On hir that caused, oonly for thi sake, Thyn holy lyf me to compile and make: My lady Marche I mene, whiche of entent Yafe firste to me in commaundement Line 70 That I shulde considre welle and see In frensshe and latyn thyne holy passyoune, Thi martirdame and thi virginite, And therof make a compilacyoun. So as I cowde, vnder correccioun Line 75 And vnder supporte of alle that shal it rede, Vpon this storye thus I wylle procede.

Here endeth the prolog of seynt Mar|garete, and next folwyng begynneth the storye of hir.

In Anthiochye, a famous grete citee, This blyssed mayde, this martir gloryous Whilom was born — hire legende ye may see; Line 80 Hir fader callid Theodosius, And, as the storye playnly telleth vs, A patryark he was of paynyme lawes, After the ryghtes vsed in tho dawes. To a noryce this mayde was ytake, Line 85 Right gracious of shape and of visage; The paynyme lawe of herte she hath for|sake [folio 99] And was baptised in hir tendre age: For whiche hir fader gan fallen in a rage And to hir-warde bare ful grete haterede, Line 90 Whan that he knewe she crystened was in dede. And whan that she by processe dede atteyne Vnto the age of XV. yere, With othir maydnes of beaute souereyne, This holy virgyne, benygne and glad of chere, Line 95 Flouryng in vertu, moste goodly and entere, Humble of hir porte, this gracyous creature Kepte of hir noryce the shepe in theire pasture. Devoyde of pride, of rancour and of Ire, She called was a mirrour of mekenesse; Line 100 The holy gost hir herte so dede enspire That wille and thought were sette on parfitnesse; To thynke on Criste was holy hir glad|nesse; And chere benygne to alle she dede shewe, Softe of hir speche, and but of wordys fewe. Line 105 She gat hir love vpone euery syde, By-cause she was so inly vertuous — For god and grace with hir dide abide, Al thyng eschewyng that was vycious. Til that the prefecte, called Olibrius, Line 110 Of auenture rode on his pleyng: Where he sawe first this mayde, hir shepe kepyng.

He was rauesshede anoone with hir beaute, Hir grete fairnesse whan he dide aduerte, Hir fresshe face eke whan he dide see; Line 115 Hir heuenly Iyene perced thurgh his herte, Brent in his corage with importable smerte: This cruel wolfe for love impacyent Cast him devowre this cely Innocent. Firste to him-self thus he spake and sayde: Line 120 "What is she this, where dothe this goodely duelle? Who sawe ever to-forne so faire a maide, Whiche alle othir in beaute dothe excelle? Of wommanhede she is the verray welle; For me semeth myn herte in euery weyne Line 125 Is thurgh-perced with hir Iyene tweyne." And with that thought he made for to gone His seruauntes to hir Innocence, Bad thei sholde enquere of hir anōne What that she was, with al hir diligence, Line 130 And reporte vnto his presence Of hir lynage playnly how it stode And where she were borne of gentil blode; "And of hir birthe if that she be fre, I wille hir haue sothely to my wyfe, Line 135 Loue and cherysshe for her grete beaute, As it is skyle, duryng al my lyfe, That atwene vs ther shal be no strife; And if she be borne of foreyne lyne, I wille hir take to my concubyne." Line 140 Whan she was brought vnto his pre|sence, First he enquerede of hir condicyoun, Bad hir declare platly in sentence, Of hir lawe and hir religioun And of hir kyne, by short conclusyoun Line 145 Clerly dyscure—and the trouthe attame— Hooly hir purpos, and what was hir name. She, not to rekel for noon hastynesse, But ful demure and sobre of contenaunce, Gan looke on him, by grete avisenesse Line 150 Dressyng to god hir hertes remem|braunce — Of chere nor colour ther was no va|riaunce; [folio 100] Constaunt of herte, this holy blyssed mayde To the prefecte euene thus she saide: "Touchyng my lynage, by successyoun Line 155 My bloide conveied is fro grete noblesse; My name Margarete; and of religioun I am cristen, in verray sothfastnesse; And in that lawe withoute doublenesse For lyf or dethe playnly I wille abide, Line 160 Perseuere stable, and varien on no side." Wherof the Juge in manere gan dis|deyne, To hir saide, for short conclusioun: "Margarete, ther ben thynges tweyne Ful couenable to thi condicyoun: Line 165 And this the first, to myn oppinioun, Of thi byrthe the grete nobilite, And the seconde is thi grete beaute: Whiche in thi persone Joyned ben y-fere, Worthi to be called a Margarite, Line 170 Of fairnesse of shape and eke of chere A chose gemme among these perles white And in this tweyne for I me delite, Sewyng my counsaille thou mustest con|discende Better avysed the thride to amende. Line 175 To thi beaute it were a ful grete loos, To thi youthe and to thi maydenhede; To leve on him that deide on a croos, I holde it foly: wherfore take goode hede, Forsake his feithe, and do as I the rede: Line 180 First lat that god of the be denyed Whiche on a tre was hange and cruci|fied!" "Certes, quod she, what-euer that thou seye, He wilfully suffred passioun, And humbely liste for mankynde deye Line 185 And shed his blode for oure redempcioun, To make vs fre and payen oure raunsoun, Of his Joye that we ne sholde mysse Where now he regneth eternaly in blysse." The Juge, wrothe, sent hir to prisoun Line 190 There to abide tille on the next day. Makyng, as thoo, no dilacioun, Bad she sholde in al the haste thei may

Be brought aforne him, to seyn yee or nay Touchyng hir creaunce, what was hir lawe or feith, Line 195 And to hir evenne thus he seithe: "Margarete, quod he, haue pite on thyne age, And haue eke mercy on thi grete fair|nesse! Spille not thi thought of foly ne of rage, But tourne thyn herte and thi wittes dresse Line 200 To our goddes, and do thi besynesse Hem to honour and plese her deyete, As thou desirest to lyue in prosperite!" Quod she ageyn: "with hert, wille and thoughte I worship him verrayly in dede Line 205 That made man and after hath him bought, Whom heuene and erthe and the see dothe drede; Alle elementes he dothe conveie and lede: For wynde nor weder nor no creature Withoute his mercy may no while en|dure." Line 210 Quod the Judge: "anoone but thou con|sente To my desire as thou hast herde devyse, Truste fully that thou shalt repente! For first I shal in ful cruel wyse Mercyles thy body so chastyse— [folio 101] Line 215 Trust me welle, this no feyned tale — Thi flesshe assonder kerve on peces smale." Quod Margarete: "while that me last|ethe brethe, I shal abide in this oppinioun. Sytthe Criste for me suffred peyne and dethe, Line 220 Shad al his blode for my redempcyoun: So for his sake, of hole affeccyoun, Be assured that I haue no drede To deye for him and al my blode to shede." The Juge thanne vpon a galowe-tre Line 225 Lete hangene vp this holy pure virgyne, Hir flesshe be rente in his cruelte. Whos blode ran doun right as eny lyne; Lyke a quyke this mayden in hir pyne Shad oute hir blode, hir veynes al to|rent, Line 230 Til of hir hody the lycour was al spent. Allas the while! thei that stode beside, Ful sore weptene of compassyoun; Allas for doole! thei myght vnnethe abide To sene hir blode so renne and rayle doune; Line 235 So unportable was hir passyoun For Cristes feithe, that the peple abraide And of pite thus to hir thei saide: "O Margareta, allas whan we take hede Hou thou whilom were faireste vnto see, Line 240 But now, allas, thi body is al rede, Steyned with blode: whereof we han pite. Allas, allas, hou myght it euere be To sene a mayde yonge, fresshe and ten|dre of age Mighty to endure of tourment suche a rage? Line 245 Whi hast thou lost thyne excellent fairenesse? Whi hast thou lost thi shape and thy beaute? And fynal cause of thi mortal distresse Is thi wilful incredulite. Lete fantasies oute of thyn herte fle Line 250 Now at the last, that thou maist in eese Of thi turment the bitternesse appese!" Quod she: "goth hens, ye fals coun|saylirys! Ye worlde peple, vnsad and euervntrewe, Flesshely, chaungeable and in youre de|sirys Line 255 Delityng euere in thinges that be newe, Amonge remembreth—and wolde god ye knewe— That of my flesshe the mortal tourmentrie Is to my soule chief salve and remedie." And to the Juge thns she saide and spake: Line 260 "O gredy hounde, lyoun insaciable, On my body thou maiste welle taken wrake, But the soule shal perseuere stable, For Cristes feith abiden immutable;

For thilke lorde Crist Jhesu, whom I serve, Line 265 From al myschief my spirit shal preserve." The Juge, confuse sittyng in the place, To beholde myght not sustene The rede blode rayle aboute hir face, Lyke a ryver rennyng on the grene; Line 270 Toke his mantel in his mortal tene, Hid his visage, whanne that he toke hede In herte astoned to sene hir sydes blede; Made hir in hast to be take doune Myd of hir peyne cruel and horrible, Line 275 And efte ageyne putte hir in prisoune. Where she prayde: if it were possible, Hir mortal foo, dredful and odible, The lorde besechynge that she myght him see, Whiche cause was of hir aduersite, [folio 102] Line 280 Hir impugnynge thurgh his mortal fight That man first brought to destruccyoun. And sodeynly appered in hir sight, Where as she lay boundene in prisoun, In the lykenesse of a felle dragoun Line 285 The olde serpent, whiche called is Sathan, And hastyly to assayle hir he begane; With open mouthe, the virgyne to de|uour, First of alle he swolwed in hir hede. And she deuoutly, hir self to socoure, Line 290 Gan crosse hir-self, in hir mortal drede. And by grace anoone, or she toke hede, The horrible beste, in relees of hir peyne, Brast assondre and partyd was on-tweyne. And efte ageyne to assayl hir he be|gane, Line 295 The story seith, and after dothe appeere By gret disceit in lykenesse of a man; And she deuoutly, with hir yen clere Lyfte vp to god, gan maken hir prayere. And as she lay in hir orisoun, Line 300 Vnder hir fete lyggyng the dragoun, The deuel venquysshed toke hir by the honde, Spake thes wordes as I shal devyse: "Thou hast me bounde with invisible bonde: Whiche victorie ought ynogh suffice; Line 305 Cese of thy power, and lat me now aryse, For I may not abidene thi constreynt: In this batayle thou hast me made so feynt." And she aroos withouthe fere or drede, This cely ma(i)de, this tendre creature, Line 310 By grace of god hent him by the hede And cast him doun, for al his felle ar|mure, Vnder hir fete — he myght not recure; And on this serpent for to do more wrake, Hir ryght fote she sette vpon his bake. Line 315 "Oo feende, quod she, of malys serpen|tyne, Remembre of the how I haue victorye, A clene mayde, by powere femynyne: Whiche shal be rad to myn encrees of glorye, Perpetuelly putte eke in memorie, Line 320 How a mayde hath put vnder fote Sathan, that is of synne crope and roote". With that the serpent lowde gan to crie: "Thou hast me brought shortly to vt|traunce, I am ve(n)quysshed, I may it not denye, Line 325 Ageyns the ful feble is my puyssaunce; Thyn Innocence hath brought me to mys|chaunce, And a mayde, but of yeeres tendre, Hath me outrayed with hir lymmes sklendre. Yif that a man, whiche had force and myght, Line 330 Had me venquysshed, I myght it welle sustene; But now, allas, ageyn al skele and ryght A cely virgyne, a mayde pure and clene Hath me bore doun in-til my felle tene: And this, allas, bothe atte eve and mo|rowe Line 335 Is grettest cause of my dedly sorowe. This encreseth grete party of my peyne Whan I consydre withynne my-self and see How thi fader and moder bothe tweyne Were in there tyme frendly vnto me; Line 340

Line 340 But thou allone thurgh thi virginite, Thi chast lyf, thy parfyt holynesse Han me venquysshed and outrayed in di|stresse". Whan she bigan the serpent to con|streyne [folio 103] To discure, and no-thinge to hyde, Line 345 By what mene and what-manere treyne, Outher by malys outher by envye and pryde, That he assailed man on any syde, The kynde of man: "telle on anoon, quod she, And be welle ware thou lye nat to me!" Line 350 "So thely, quod he, I may it not denye,— To seyn the trouthe playnly, and not spare: My nature is of custume for to lye, As I that am of trouthe and vertue bare; Lyggynge awayte ayenste the welfare Line 355 Of folkes goode, and alway envyous To alle that ben parfite and vertuous. Naturelly to hem I haue envye, Though thei thurgh vertu me ofte put abak And whan it falleth thei haue of me mastrie, Line 360 Ageyn to me resorteth al the wrak; Of charite I have so grete a lak, So grete sorowe only for lak of grace That man in heuene sholde occupye my place. Yet wote I welle I may it not recure Line 365 Nor in that place shal I neuer abide, But in helle sorowe and peyne endure, From heuene caste for my grete pryde — This foule vice fro thennes was my guyde; Yet of malys, the trouthe for to telle, Line 370 Envye I haue that man ther sholde duelle. This eke trouthe that whilom Salamon, As bookes olde recorden and conclude, Closed in a vesselle fendes many one And of spiritus a grete multitude, Line 375 Whiche Innocentes ful often can delude. But after dethe of that prudent kynge Fro that vessel thei caste oute fire spark|lynge; Men supposyng in theire oppinioun There was closed grete tresour and rychesse, Line 380 Brak the vessel, of entencyoun, And sodeynely the fendes gan hem dresse Oute of that holde fer fro that distresse, At her oute-goyng enfectyng al thayre, Where thei abidene and haue thene re|paire. Line 385 Whiche to mankynde do ful grete da|mage By ther malys and ther temptacions, To olde and yonge and euery manere age, By ther conspired fals illusyouns. But fynally alle ther collusyons Line 390 Goth vnto nought, and al ther violence, Whan ther is made myghty resistence." Whan the serpent malicyous and olde To the mayde, whos fote dede him op|presse, Had his processe and his tale tolde, Line 395 She withe-drowe to done him more du|resse; And the dragoun vpwarde gan him dresse, Disapered, and forth his wey is goo. And she assured of hir gostly foo, Wenquysshed hath the prynce of al derkenesse; Line 400 And sitthe she hathe ouercome the hede, It faylethe nat she nedes moste oppresse His cruel mynystre, and haue of him no drede. And sewyng on this floure of goodelyhede The next day, voyde of al refuge Line 405 Save of the lorde, was brought afore the Juge, Ful moche peple beynge in presence. And for she wolde do no sacryfice [folio 104] The fals goddes, by mortal violence She was dispoiled in ful cruel wyse Line 410 And naked stode, that folke myght hir despise; And after that this gemme of maydenhede

Was brent with brondus bright as eny glede, Hir sydes skorched, whilom white as melke — The cruel mynystres liste hir nat to spare — Line 415 For Crystes sake hir body, softe as selke, Mercyles naked stode and bare; And to avment and encrese hir care, In boylyng water she was caste and bounde, The water blowyng . . . . . Line 420 The folkes alle, that stondene enviroun, Of doo(l)ful pite, that sawe this auenture, Gan wepe and pleyne, and of compas|syoune; Merueyled sore a tendre creature Sustene myght suche tourment and en|dure: Line 425 For the tyraunt, to make hir peynes strange, In fire and water gan hir tourment change. And sodeynly there fille an erthe-quave: The peple, in drede, dempte it was ven|geaunce, And fyve thousand, for god wolde hem save, Line 430 Conuerted weren from there myscreaunce, For Cristes sake heveded by vengeaunce — Se how a mayde in al hir tourmentrie The feith of Crist coude magnifie! The blynde Juge, al voyde of happe and grace, Line 435 Last that othre conuerted wolde be To Cristes feith, withoute lenger space Commaunded hath that this mayde fre, In youthe flourynge and virginite, To ben heueded, withoute more tar|ying, [folio 104b] Line 440 In hir praier as she lay knelynge. But first she praied of humble affeccyoun To the Juge, to graunten hir leysere That she myght make hir orisoun, And haue a space to lyue in hir praiere. Line 445 And ful deuoutly with hert hole and entere, Vpone the poynte whan she sholde deye, The blessed virgyne thus bygan to preye: First she praide of parfite charite For hir enemys and hir tourmentours, Line 450 For hem that caused hir aduersite And had hir pursued with mony sharpe shours — Of parfit love she gadrid oute the flours; Praying also for thoo folkes alle That after helpe vnto hir grace calle, Line 455 And for alle thoo that haue hir in me|morie And swiche as truste in hir helpe at nede: That god hem graunte, sittinge in his glorie, Of his grace that thei may welle spede, And ageyne right that no-man hem mys|lede, Line 460 "And, lorde, quod she, to alle be socoure That for thi sake done to me honoure! And specyally to the I beseche To alle wymmen whiche of childe tra|uayle, For my sake, oo lorde, be thou her leche, Line 465 Lat my prayere vnto hem availe, Suffre no myschief tho wymmen, lorde, assaile That calle to me for helpe in theire greu|aunce, But for my sake save hem fro myschaunce; Lat hem, lorde, not perisshe in theire childynge, Line 470 Be thou her cōmforte and consolacyoun, To be deliuered thurgh grace of thyne helpynge [folio 105] Socoure hem, lorde, in theire tribula|cyoun! This is my praier, this is myn orisoun, And specially do alle folkes grace Line 475 That calle to me for helpe in any place!"

And fro that high heuenly mansyoun Was herde a voys in open audience: That god had herde hir peticioun, To be parfourmed withoute resistence. Line 480 And than this maide, moste of excellence, Roos vp deuoutly, and no-thynge afferde, Seide vnto him whiche that helde the swerde: "Come nere, quod she, myn oune bro|ther dere, Smyte with the swerde, and loke thou spare nought! Line 485 My body shal behynde abidene here, But my soule to heuene shal be brought." Hir hede enclynynge with an humble thought; The mynystre with al his myght and peyne Lefte vp his swerde and smote hir necke on-tweyne. — Line 490 The peple of pite gan to crie and soune That stode and sawe hir bitter passioun. Of martirdam thus she toke the croun, For Cristes feithe, with hole affeccyoun; Threttene kalendes, the boke maketh mencyoun, Line 495 Of Jul, this maide, a merour of constaunce, Was laureat thurgh hir parfit suffraunce. An holy seynt writeth of this maide and seithe: This Margareta, parfyt of hir creaunce, With drede of god moste stable in hir feythe, Line 500 Vnto the deth hauyng perseueraunce, Sette hoole to god with thought & remem|braunce, In herte ay compun(c)t — she was so ver|tuous, Euery thing eschewyng that was vi|cious; [folio 105b] Hir blyssed lyf, hir conuersacioun Line 505 Were example of parfite pacience, Of grounded clennesse and of religioun, Of chastite founded on prudence; God gaf to hir souerayn excellence In hir tyme that she sholde be Line 510 To alle a maisterasse of virginite; Hir fadir, modir, hir kynred she for|soke — Hir holy lyuynge was to hem odious — To Cristes lawe al holy she hir toke, This blissed mayde, this virgyn glorious; Line 515 Of alle hir enemyes she was victorious, Til at the laste, in vertu complet goode, For Cristes sake she shad hir chaste bloode.

Explicit vita sce Margarete.

Lenvoy.

Noble princesses and ladyes of estate, Line 520 And gentilwomen lower of degre, Lefte vp your hertes, calle to your ad|uocate Seynt Margarete, gemme of chastite; And all wymmen that haue necessite, Praye this mayde ageyn sykenesse and dissese, Line 525 In trayvalynge for to do yow ese! And folkes alle that be disconsolat In your myschief and grete aduersite, And alle that stonde of helpe desolate, With devout hert and with humylite Line 530 Of ful trust knelyng on your kne, Pray this mayde in trouble and alle dissese Yow to releve and to do yow ese! Now, blissed virgyne, in heuene hy exaltat, [folio 106b] With other martirs in the celestialle se, Line 535 Styntith werre, the dredfulle fel debat That vs assailith of oure enemyes thre, From whos assaute inpossible is to fle; But, chaste gemme, thi servauntes sette at ese And be her shelde in myschief and dis|sese! Line 540

Explicit.

Notes

• Ms. noōn; den Strich habe ich hier und in ähnlichen Fällen durch e aufgelöst, aber opinion u. a. durch opinioun gegeben.
• Ms. marche.
• Ms. prefette.
• hir st. her.
• Ms. the the thride.
• thayre = the ayre.
• die Zeile ist lückenhaft.
• Ms. dooful.
• a. R.: Primo orauit pro suis per|secutoribus,
• a. R. Necnon et pro eius memoriam agentibus et se inuocantibus.
• a. R. Etiam deuote orauit ad deum ut, quecumque in partu periclitans se inuocauerit, ille suam prolem emittet.
• Ms. compinct od. compunt st. compunct.