Altenglische legenden.

3. Seynt Mergrete. [Diese Hs. enthält: 1) vita Ricardi regis primi, 2) Ysumbra, 3) Katerine, 4) Matutinas de cruce, 5) King Athelstons deth, 6) Beffs de Hamptoun, 7) de spiritu Guidonis.] Ms. Auchinl. fol. 16b. (c. 1310).

Ms. Auchinl., aus dem Anfang des 14. Jhrhds., enthält folg. Legenden: 1) Grego|rius fol. 1, Anfang fehlt, im Ms. als 6. Stück bezeichnet (die ersten 5 sind ausgefallen), 2) Adam und Eva (2 Fragmente), 3) Mergrete, 4) Katherine, 5) eine Marienlegende, Anfang fehlt, (beginnt: An angel sche sent to him anon, He gret þe clerk wiþ milde steuen, Into þe chaumber when he gan gon, He was briȝter þan ani leuen), 6) Mag|dalene fol. 62—5, Anfang fehlt, 7) Geburt Marias und Christi (in Turnbull's Ausg. be|titelt Joachim & Anna), unvollendet, 8) die Entstehung des Psalters Mariä (auch in Ms. Digby 86). Hiervon sind N. 1, 3, 7, 4, 6 abgedruckt in (Turnbull's) "Legendae Catholicae, a lytle boke of Seyntlie Gestes", Edinb. 1840; N. 2 u. 8 in D. Laing's "A Penniworth of witte" 1857 (für den Abbotsford Club); Adam und Eva, und Magda|lene erschienen ausserdem in der "Sammlung altengl. Leg." Heilbronn 1878, p. 139 u. 163 ff. Das Gedicht von der Geburt Marias u. Christi ist ein Theil des längeren, das alte und neue Testament umfassenden Gedichtes in Langversen (diese sind im Ms. Auch. in Kurzzeilen aufgelöst), welches in mehreren Mss. der südengl. Legendensamm|lung erhalten ist; es beginnt mit den Uebergangsversen am Ende des 1. Theiles (alt|testamentliche Gedichte) und stimmt von V. 11 an grösstentheils überein mit dem in den "Altengl. Leg." Paderborn 1875 p. 65 ff. aus Ms. Ashm. 43 und Egert. 1993 ge|druckten Gedichte von V. 81 ab; andere Mss. sind Ms. Vernon fol. 6 b., Trin. Coll. Cbr. R. 3, 25 fol. 20, Lamb. 223 fol. 33, John's Coll. Cbr. B, 6 fol. 25; vgl. "Altengl. Leg." p. XIV Anm. 1. — Mergrete und Katherine sind im Ms. in Halbversen und acht|zeiligen Strophen geschrieben; das Original hatte offenbar Langverse und vierzeilige Strophen. Der älteste Text dieser Merg. hat in der That diese Strophenform, es ist das, nach einem leider! verloren gegangenen Cbr. Ms. in Hickes' Thesaurus I. p. 224 abgedruckte Gedicht (nach Hickes' Text wieder abgedruckt in O. Cockayn's S. Marh.); die 1. Strophe lautet:

Olde and yonge, i prei ou oure folies forto lete, Þenchet on god þat yef ou wit oure sunnes to bete! Here i mai tellen ou wiþ wordes feire ant swete Þe vie of one meidan, was hoten Maregrete.

Die Gedichte in dieser Strophenform gehören wohl noch in die erste Hälfte des 13. Jhrhds. und zu den ältesten Erzeugnissen der altengl. Litt. — Eine jüngere (schlechte) Nachbildung der Merg. enthält Ms. Ashm. 61 fol. 145 (c. 1450). — Eine zweite Hs. der Katherine fand ich in Ms. Caj. Coll. Cbr. 175 fol. 107 (14. Jhrht.), die besonders dadurch werthvoll ist, dass sie den im Ms. Auch. ausgefallenen Schluss (V. 661—794) enthält; hier sind die Hälften der im Ms. Auch. bereits aufgelösten Langverse wieder unter sich durch den Reim verbunden und dadurch in der That achtzeilige Strophen gebildet [E. Kölbing hatte die Güte, die Correctur der 2 folg. Legenden des Ms. Auch. nochmals mit dem Original zu vergleichen.]

Al þat ben in dedly sinne | and þenk wiþ merci to mete, Leue in Crist þat ȝaue ȝou witt | ȝour sinnes forto bete. Listen, and ȝe schul here telle | wiþ wordes fair and swete Þe vie of on maiden, | men clepeþ seyn Mergre(te).

Hir fader was a patriarke, | as y ȝou telle may, Line 5 In Antiage he was born | opon þat false lay; Feble was his hert, | vnstable was his fay, Deue þinges and doumbe | he serued niȝt and day.

Teodosus was his name. | in god no leued he nouȝt: He leued opon his fals godes | wiþ hondes þat were wrouȝt; Line 10 Wicked weren his werkes | and feble was his þouȝt, And euer he þouȝt to bring | cristendom to nouȝt.

As þai liued togider, | þe king and þe quene, Maiden Mergrete | was geten hem bitvene, Þat seþþen leued on Jhesu Crist | and hadde michel tene, Line 15 And miche pine þoled seþþe | hir bodi, þat was so schene.

While þe quen ȝede wiþ child, . . . . . [Hier sind im Ms. 11 Halbzeilen mit der Illustration der Rückseite ausgeschnitten.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 20

. . . . . . . . . . Þat it were to deþ brouȝt | wiþouten more striif. Þo hye herd þat tiding, | sche wex a careful wiif.

Anon so Mergrete was yborn, | hir moder was wel wo, Line 25 For hir fader hadde beden | to deþ þat sche schuld go. Sche þouȝt to saue þe childes liif | and bring hir out of wo: Ful priueliche and stille | to Azie sche sent hir þo.

Into Azies-ward | þe child was taken to loke. Anon as sche was of eld, | Mergrete was sett to boke. Line 30 Hir felawes þat hir lyen bi, | at ich time þat þei woke, Hou Mergrete was in hir bedes | gode hede þai toke.

Þe norice þat hir ȝemed, | sche ȝemed hir wiþ winne; Alle þai loued hir ful wele, | þe hous þer sche wond inne. Anon as sche couþe witt, | michel sche hated sinne; Line 35 Sche toke hir to Jhesu Crist, | hir form liif to biginne.

Anon as þe mayden was | o fiftene winter eld, Hir norice schepe | sche ȝemed on þe feld. Hir felawes þat hir wiþ were | ful ȝern þai hir biheld Hou sche maked hir praier | to Jhesus, þat al may weld. Line 40

Line 40

Olibrious was lord, | as we heren telle, Of Antiage and Azie, | to ȝeuen and to selle. He serued boþe niȝt and day | þe foule fendes of helle. Al þat leued on Jhesu Crist | Olibrious þouȝt to quelle.

Fram Antiage into Asie | er miles ten & fiue. [folio 17] [Ms. tene mit auspunkt. e.] Line 45 For to stru þe cristen folk | (he hiede him biliue). [Hick. he hiede him biliue; Ms. Auch. liest unrichtig: and bringen hem oliue.] Þai seyȝe maiden Mergrete | schepe biforn hir driue: Olibrious for hir fairnesse | ȝerned hir to wiue.

He seyd to his kniȝtes: | "a fair maiden y se; Kestes hir opon hors, | and sche schal wende wiþ me. Line 50 And ȝif ich may enquere | of kin þat sche be fre, Of alle þe wimen þat y wot | best hir schal be.

And for hir michel feirhed, | ȝif sche be born of þral. Hir mariage | no tineþ sche nouȝt al: Wele y schal hir cloþe | in sikelatoun and pal, Line 55 Sche schal be mi leman | and haue gold to wal.

Þe seriaunce went, as he hem bad, | to maiden Mergrete, Þer sche ȝemed hir norice schepe | o dayes bi þe strete. Michel it was þat þai hir bede, | and more þai hir bihete; Þe þouȝtes of hir hert | wald sche nouȝt forlete. Line 60

Þe seriaunce of her erand | wald hir nouȝt biswike: "Damisel, we say it þe | ful wele may þe like. Olibrious is louerd | of Antiage rike, He ȝerneþ þe to wiue, | he nil þe nouȝt biswike".

Þan maiden Mergrete, | briȝt so ani leuen, Line 65 Sche hem answerd | wiþ ful mild steuen: "Ichaue ȝeuen mi maidenhed | to Jhesus Crist of heuen, Ȝeme it, ȝif his willes is, | for his name seuen. [l. wille, namen.]

"Jhesu Crist mi lord, | to ȝou y me rend; In ȝou was no bigining, | no neuer schal ben ende; Line 70 Ȝif it be ȝour wille, | ȝour angel ȝe me sende! Fram þis foule Saraȝins | y may me nouȝt defende.

Al mi kin ichaue forsake | into mi neiȝd kne; Jhesu Crist, mi lord, | y toke me to þe; Bleþeliche wald y, for þi loue | martird to be. Line 75 Þis houndes me han bisett, | þat I no may nouȝt fle".

Þe seriaunce oȝain went | and told al her sawe. "Lord, of þi pouste | no ȝiueþ sche nouȝt an hawe; Sche takeþ hir to Jhesu Crist, | to warantise wil sche drawe. Of al þat ȝe may hir do, | no stont hir non awe". Line 80

Line 80

Þan it spac Olibrious — | weri him sonne and mone! — "Of al min seriance | gode haue y none. Bringeþ hir bifor me! | y turn hir mode ful sone, Y do hir leue opon mi god, | þriies ar it be none".

Þe seriaunce oȝain went, | sone þai gan hir mete; Line 85 Þai leyd hondes hir opon | and brouȝt hir to þe strete. Sche com bifor Olibrious. | sone he gan hir grete, He axed hir what sche hiȝt. | sche seyd: Mergrete.

"Maiden Mergrete, | mi leman schaltow be. Ichold þe for mi wiif, | ȝif þou be of kin fre; Line 90 Ȝif þow be of þraldam born, | y giue þe gold and fe. Þou schalt be mi leman, | so long so it be".

Þe maiden him answerd | sone opon on: "Cristen woman icham | and houen in fun-ston. [Ms. heuen?] Blisced be mi lord, | to wham ichaue me tan! Line 95 No wil y nouȝt leue is loue | for non oþer man".

"Trowestow þat Jhesu liues, | þat was don on rode? Ȝif þou trowest þat he liues, | ich hold þe for wode. Endelong his side | ran þe water and þe blod, Þe coroun was of þornes | þat on his heued stode". Line 100

Þe maiden him answerd, | so þe angel hir kende: "He dede him on þe rode, | al cristen folk to amende. And seþþen into helle | þe holy gost he sende, To del(i)uer ous of þe pine, | þat þou schalt in ende".

Wele þouȝt þat sarraȝin | it was him no bote Line 105 To striue wiþ þat maiden — | hir hert was so gode. He comand þat sche bounden ware, | boþe hond and fot, And seþþen into prisoun don, | to turnen hir mode.

Maiden Mergrete | o niȝt in prisoun lay. Sche was brouȝt biforn him | opon þat oþer day. Line 110 "Maiden Mergrete, he seyd, | þou trowe opon mi lay! Jhesu þatow leuest on, | þou do him al oway!

Trowe on me & be mi wiif: | wele þou schalt spede; Antioge and Azie | þou schalt haue to mede; Sikelatoun and purpel-pal | þat schal be þi wede, Line 115 Wiþ þe best metes in mi lond | wele y schal þe fede".

"Þine wicke redes, sche seyd, | y do out of mi þouȝt. Y take me to Jhesu Crist | þat wiþ hondes me wrouȝt; Al þis midlerd | maked he of nouȝt, And seþþen into helle | þe holy gost he brouȝt". Line 120

Þan it spac Olibrious: | "now it schal be sene. Hongeþ hir vp bi þe fete | for hir lordes tene,

On wham þat sche leues | and whi sche is so kene; And beteþ hir wiþ scourges, | til ȝe ded hir wene!"

Þe seriaunce dede as he hem bad, | wiþ þe may þai gan striue, Line 125 Wiþ swepes and wiþ scourges, | boþe man and wiue, — Þe blod ran of hir flesche, | as water doþ fram cliue, — Til þai wende al same | þe maiden were oliue.

Þan it spac Olibrious, | bi hir þer he stode, And seyd: "Maiden Mergrete, | þenke þe þis paines gode? Line 130 Trowe on min goddes | and wende þou þi mode! Haue merci on þi white flesche! | men spilleþ þi blod".

"Blisced be mi lord, | þat was born in Bedlem [folio 18] Of þat swete maiden, | briȝt so ani lem! Þou do as þe teches | Satanas, þi nem. Line 135 Me þenke þis paines swetter | þan ani milkes rem".

Þan it spac Olibrious: | "haþ sche non ahȝe? Alle þe paines ȝe hir do, | hir þenke it bot plawe. Wiþ ȝour croked nayles | þe hide of ȝe drawe, As clene fram þe bon | has houndes it hadde knawe!" [knawe st. gnawe.] Line 140

Alle þe curssed þeues | were ful glad in þouȝt; To do þe kinges hest | þai no targed nouȝt. Anon as þe turmentours | to Mergrete were ybrouȝt, Þai to-drowen hir white flesche | wiþ iren croke(d)ly wrouȝt. [Ms. crokekely.]

Sum þat bi hir stoden, | her hertes were wel sore Line 145 And seyd sore wepeand: | "Mergrete, þi nore! Do after Olibrious | and leue opon his lore! Haue merci on þi fair bodi | and þole þis paines no more!"

Mergrete answerd | to hem þat bi hir stode: "I do me out of ȝour conseyl: | ȝour redes be nouȝt gode; Line 150 Y take me to Jhesu Crist, | þat was don on þe rode. Al þe pine þat ich þole | it is þe soules fode".

Sche loked vp to Jhesu Crist, | Mergrete, and siȝed sore And seyd: "swete Jhesu Crist, | y leue opon þi lore. For þis men þat pin me þus, | y crie, lord, þi nore: Line 155 Forȝif hem and lete me suffre! | for me þou suffredest more",

Þan it spac Olibrious — | werri him sonne and mone! —: "Fórsoþe, wenche, þi god is nouȝt | to whom þou biddest þi bone. Bot þou leue on our godes | and forsake him sone, Y warn þe wele, for al his help | þine liif-days ben al don". Line 160

Mergrete answerd | Olibrious anon: "Þine godes þatow leuest on | er dom so þe ston. Þou hast pouer to reue me | mi flesche fram þe bon; To reue me mi soule | pouwer hastow non".

Þan seyd Olibrious: | "bot þou turn þi þouȝt Line 165 Smertliche and sone, | to deþ þou schalt be brouȝt. Bot first þou schalt to prisoun | and m(i)chel wo be wrouȝt. Þi god þat þou leuest on | he no schal help þe nouȝt".

Mergrete answerd þo | milde wordes and stille: "Certes, wreche, of al þi þret | þat þou may do me tille Line 170 Icham redi to suffre here | al mi lordes wille; And þou schalt to þe pine of helle | for þine werkes ille".

Of Olibrious lokeing | men miȝt ben agast. "Takeþ Mergrete, he seyd, | and fetereþ hir ful fast, And in þe deppest prisoun | þerin ȝe schullen hir cast, Line 175 And lete hir cole hir bodi þare, | for hir wordes vnwrast".

Þei Mergrette were to-drawe | þe flesche fram þe bon, [Ms. Mergretre.] Pite of þat maiden | Olibrious hadd non. Wel hard was Mergrete | biset among her fon — Saue þe help of Jhesu Crist | help no hadde sche non. Line 180

Into prisoun fetred | Mergrete was brouȝt. Jhesu Crist of heuen | was algat in hir þouȝt. And — yblisced mot he be! — | he ne forȝat hir nouȝt: Out of þe court of heuen | comfort hir was brouȝt.

Sone after þat Mergrete | was in prisoun done, Line 185 Þer com an angel fram heuen, | long er it war none, And brouȝt Margrete a staf | þat hye schuld vnder-fon, Fourmed after þe rode tre | þat god was on ydon.

Þan seyd þat angel | to Mergrete, þe briȝt: "Jhesu Crist mi lord, | þat is ful of miȝt, Line 190 To wite þe fram þine enemis | and to saue þi riȝt, He haþ sent þe þis staf, | oȝain þe fende to fiȝt.

Maiden Mergrete, he seyd, | drede þe no-wiȝt! Þi sete is made in heuen | bifor mi lord so briȝt. No is no tong in erþe | no non eiȝe-siȝt Line 195 Þat may telle þe ioie | was made of þe þis niȝt".

Þe angel into paradis | went oȝain ful heuen. [Ms. heuen = euen.] And maiden Mergrete | wiþ a milde steuen Þonked swete Jhesu Crist | and his names seuen, Þat hir hadde swiche confort sent | out of þe blisse of heuen. Line 200

Maiden Mergrete þo | loked hir biside: And seiȝe a loþlich dragoun | out of an hirn glide; His eiȝen wer ful griseliche, | his mouþe ȝened wide. And Mergrete miȝt nowhar fle, | þer sche most abide.

Maiden Mergrete | stod stille so ani ston. Line 205 And þat loþliche worm | to hir-ward gan gon,

He toke hir in his foule mouþe | and swalled hir, flesche and bon. Anon he to-brast — | damage no hadde sche non.

Maiden Mergrete | opon þe dragoun stode, Bliþe was hir hert | and ioieful was hir mode. Line 210 "Blisced worþ Jhesu Crist, | his vertus er wel gode: Slayn is þe d(r)agoun | þurch vertu of þe rode!"

Maiden Mergrete | went þe dragoun fro: Sche seiȝe a wele fouler þing | sitten in a wro: He hadde honden on his knes | and eiȝe on euerich to — Line 215 Miȝt þer neuer loþer þing | opon erþe go.

Sche ȝede to þat foule wiȝt, | wiþ þe croice in hir hond, And þurch þe miȝt of Jhesu Crist | wiþ hir wimpel sche him bond, Sche toke him bi þe temples, | about sche him swong, Sche set hir fot in his nek, | to þe erþe sche him þrong. Line 220

"Say me sone, þou foule wiȝt | and þou loþeliche þing, [folio 19] Who þan is þi lord | and who is þi king, And who þe hider sent | to make me sturbling? Seiȝe y neuer, seþþen y was born, | so loþeliche a þing."

"Leuedi, for þi lordes loue | þou may ful wele fond — Line 225 Left a litel þi fot | þat in mi nek stond! For michel haue y walked | bi water and bi lond, Nas y neuer are bounden | in so hard bond.

Ruffin was mi broþer, | þe dragoun þat þou slouȝ; Whiles he was on liue, | he wrouȝt wonder anouȝ: Line 230 He maked þeues to stele o niȝt, | o day to ligge and gouȝ, And ȝelt hem her seruise | wiþ wel michel wouȝ.

In a dragoun fourme | sent he was to þe, For to spille þi memorie | oþer to quelle þe. Broften is he of peces, | and bounden hastow me. Line 235 A maiden haþ ous ouercomen, | litel is our pouste!

Belgys is mi name — | nis no bot to lyȝe. [Ms. Belsys? Hick. Belsebug.] No may ich in non wise | þis pain long dreyȝe. Is nouȝt mi gat in erþe: | wiþ þe winde y fleye. Al y fond for to quelle | þat y see wiþ eiȝe. Line 240

Þer ich finde a wiif | þat liȝter is of barn, Y com þer also sone | as euer ani arn; Ȝif it be vnblisced, | y croke it fot or arm, Oþer þe wiif hir-seluen | of childebed be forfarn. [Ms. childehed.]

Ȝif þou wilt al wite, | astow may ful wel, Line 245 Loke in ich a strete: | þou findes it eueridel. Y pray þe for þi lordes loue, | þou binde me wiþ stiel, Þat y no may wiþ þine men | neuer striue adel.

Salamon þe wise, | til he was oliue, He dede ous in a bras fat | and delued ous vnder cliue. Line 250 When he was oliue farn, | þai lete ous out driue, Þe men out of Babiloine, | þe bras fat þai gun riue:

Þai wend to finde gold anouȝ | and lete ous alle go. Sum wer swifter þan þe winde, | and sum þan þe ro. Ȝete þer er in erþe | ten þousend and mo. Line 255 Al þat trowe on Jhesu Crist | þai fond at wirche ful wo."

"Be stille, þou foule gost, | and decende into helle! Be þou neuer so hardi | more man to quelle! Y pray mi lord Jhesu Crist | þi pouste þat he felle." He sank into erþe, | so ston in drauȝt-welle. Line 260

On þat oþer day | after it was non, [Ms. is st. it.] Olibrious comand | sche were of prisoun don. Þe holy gost of heuen | he com to hir ful sone, Þe rode token in hir hond | þat Crist was on don.

Þan it spac Olibrious — | Crist ȝiue him iuel dede! —: Line 265 "Maiden Mergrete, he seyd, | hastow taken þi rede? Wiltow be mi leman, | y finde þe cloþ and mete. Trowe on mi godes anon, | or þi liif þou schalt forlete."

"Þine godes þai be doumbe | þat þou trouwest inne; Þai er ich a dele | ful of sake and sinne; Line 270 Þai er comen out of helle, | of Satanas kinne. Þan þou wenes best to liue, | Þou schalt to helle winne. [þan = when.]

Y rede þou leue on Jhesu Crist | þat al þe world haþ wrouȝt, Fader and sone and holy gost, | þat al þing made of nouȝt, And wiþ his swete blod | he haþ ous alle bouȝt. Line 275 Leue on him and be cristen man, | and lete þi wicke þouȝt!"

Þan spac Olibrious, | þer he sat on his des: "Ichil bileue on mi godes | þat y formast ches; For min godes be trewe, | and þine er fals and les — While þou leuest on him, | þou schalt haue no pes." Line 280

Maiden Mergrete | answerd, þer sche stode: "Yblisced be Jhesu Crist, | his help it is ful gode. Y no doute þe noþing, | be þou neuer so wode, Mi trust is al on Jhesu Crist | þat for ous schadde his blod."

Olibrious on Mergrete | anon he gan to grenne, Line 285 And seyd to his turmentours: | "a pine y wil ȝou kenne. Takeþ and walleþ oyle | and lete opon hir renne! And bot þe wiche turn hir mode, | to deþ ȝe schul hir brenne."

Forþ went þo turmentours — | sorwe hem mot bitide! — And setten oyle opon þe fer, | þai nold no lenger abide. Line 290 Opon hir fair bodi | adoun þai lete it glide. Jhesu sent his angels doun | to stond bi hir side.

Þe angels stode hir so neiȝe | þat noþing miȝt hir greue, And hir hert was ful gode | to godes owhen biheue. Olibrious was abouten | to turn hir bileue, Line 295 And euer sche held to Jhesu Crist, | þat made Adam and Eue.

"Maiden, quaþ Olibrious, | is þi rede ytake? Wiltow leue on Mahoun | and þi god forsake? Ywis, bot þou turn þi mode, | þi sorwe biginneþ to wake, Þou schalt þole deþ to-day | for þi lordes sake." Line 300

Mergrete him answerd | mildeliche and stille: "Ȝif y schal dye for his loue, | icham at his wille. Þei þou reue me mi liif, | y nil nouȝt turn þe tille; Þou schal nouȝt mi soule greue | for al þine pines ille."

Olibrious was neiȝe wode | for wretþe of þat wenche. Line 305 Opon a grete wickednisse | he gan him biþenche: In a fat ful of water | he bad men schuld hir sinche, And bot sche wald turn hir mode, | þerin men schuld hir drenche.

Alle þe wicke turmentours — | hong mot þay heiȝe! — [folio 20] Fast þai were about | þat Mergrete schuld dye: Line 310 Þai fild a fat ful of water | fast bi þe eiȝe; To drenche Mergrete þerinne | fast þai gun heye.

Þan spac þat maiden, | Mergrete, þat was so fre: "Jhesu Crist mi louerd — | yblisced mot þou be! — Ȝif it be þi wille, | þe water þat y se, Line 315 Lete me cristen þerinne | in þe name of þe!"

Þe turmentours token hir, | boþe bon and fel, And wold drenche hir þerinne — | þai wende do ful wel. To confort þat maiden, | an angel was ful snel, Þat swete Jhesus Crist hir sent | to confort hir ful wel. Line 320

Alle þe pople seiȝe þere | an angel com fle And toke Mergrete of þe water, | þat þai al miȝt se. Þe fat brast on peces, | þe folk bigan to fle. Olibrious þat was king | a sori man was he! [Die letzte Halbzeile ist im Ms. unten nachge|tragen.]

Þo þe popel seiȝen | al þe fat to-driue, Line 325 To forsake Mahoun | þai heyed hem biliue And leued opon Jhesu Crist, | fif þousend and fiue. Olibrious lete slen hem alle | and bringen hem oliue.

Anon bifor Olibrious | þe turmentours ronne And seyd: "sir, it is for nouȝt | al þat we han bigonne. Line 330 Þer com fleyand bestes, | as briȝt as ani sonne, And sauen hir fram harm | for al þat euer we conne." [sauen st. saued.]

Olibrious was neiȝe wode, | ailed him no game. He cleped forþ a turmentour: | was he noþing lame, A strong manqueller, | Malcous was his name. Line 335 Olibrious biþouȝt him | to do Mergrete schame.

"Malcous, quaþ Olibrius, | go and heiȝe þe swiþe! Lade þis wiche out of toun | and bring hir oliue, Wiþ þi swerd smite of hir hed | and lat þe blod out driue! No schal sche neuer after þis day | more oȝains me striue." Line 340

Malcous tok Mergrete | and ladde hir out of toun — Þer was þe stede to heued men, | a litel biside adoun. And seyd: "maiden, stoupe here, | þer whiles y schaue þi croun, And y schal maken al blodi | þine lockes þat ben broun."

Þer suwed Mergrete to þe deþ | al þat miȝten go; Line 345 Mani was þat moder child | þat for hir deþ was wo. Þe þonder gan to brest, | þe sonne wex al blo: Þe pople fel adoun to grounde, | þai nist of wele no wo.

Þer com an angel fram heuen, | þat was briȝt of ble, And seyd: "Mergrete, | yblisced mot þou be! Line 350 Jhesus Crist of heuen | sent þe word bi me: In þe blisse of heuen | coround schaltow be."

Milde Mergrete, | þat was so gode a mayde, Þo sche herd þe angel voice, | sche bigan to abrayd. Þe tidinges þat he brouȝt hir | neiȝe hir hert sche leyd, Line 355 And sett hir doun opon hir kne | and þis wordes sche seyd:

"Blisced be Jhesu Crist | þat haþ me sent þat sond, And dyed on þe rode tre | to bring ous out of bond. Lord, ich biseke þe, | lete mi biding stond Of þat ichil biseke þe | for sinful men in lond!"— Line 360

Mergrete þe milde, | þat was godes mayde, Þouȝt opon þe wordes | þe dragoun in prisoun seyd: Þat deuels ȝede in erþe | women for to breyd [Ms. vp breyd, mit auspunkt. vp.] Þat were traueland of child | or doun in childe-bed leyd. —

Þan bad Mergrete | to Jhesu, þat was so fre: Line 365 "Ȝif ani woman trauayl | and hard clepeþ to me, Deliuer hir, lord, wiþ ioie | þurch vertu of þe tre Þat þou dest þi body on | to make ous al fre!

Alle þat mi passioun | heren oþer rede Oþer þat in mi name | don ani almos-dede, Line 370 Jhesu Crist, mi lord, | wiþ honour þou hem fede, Þe swete blis of heuen | grant hem, lord, to mede!"

Þer com a voice fram Jhesu Crist, | þat sitt in trinite, And seyd to maiden Mergrete: | "yblisced mot þou be!

Of þatow hast me bisouȝt | þi bone graunt y the. Line 375 & in þe blisse of heuen | þou schalt won wiþ me."

Þo þat maiden Mergrete | hadde herd þat miri steuen Þat com fram swete Jhesu Crist | out of þe blis of heuen: Bifor Malcous sche kneled | opon hir knes ful euen And bad him smite of hir heued, | mo times þan seuen. Line 380

Sche crid opon Malcous — | nold sche neuer blinne: "Malcous, smite of mi heued! | forȝiue y þe þe sinne". "Þat nold y do, he seyd, | for al þis warld to winne: Þi louerd haþ wiþ þe speke | in wham þou leuest inne."

"Malcous, quaþ Mergrete, | forsoþe y telle þe: Line 385 Bot þou smite of min heued, | þou miȝt nouȝt saued be. Haue ydon and smite it of! | and y wil bid for þe Þat þou schalt haue þe blis | þat Jhesu haþ graunted me."

Malcous had turned his þouȝt | to Jhesu Crist biheue: For þe miracle þat he seiȝe | he turned to gode bileue. Line 390 And sori he was in hert | þat he schuld hir greue, And ȝete he smot of hir heued, | ar þat it was eue.

Anon as he had ydon, | he kneled opon þe grounde And bisouȝt him merci | þat for ous þoled wounde. Þe angels cam from heuen | wiþ-in a litel stounde Line 395 And bar Mergrete soule, | þer al mirþe is founde.

Teodosious, a kniȝt | þat leued on godes lay, [folio 21] And þe norice of Asie | þat loked þat fair may, Þai tok vp hir swete bodi, | slawe þer it lay, And bir(i)d it wiþ miche anour | opon þat oþer day. Line 400

Þo Mergrete was bir(i)d, | as beþ oþer mo, And Teodosious þe kniȝt | was ywent hir fro: Alle þat were seke, | þat þ(i)der wald go, Jhesu þurch his vertu | deliuerd hem of wo.

Teodosious þe kniȝt | he lete writen hir liif, Line 405 Þat is now ouer al þe world | name-couþe and riif: Hou sche þoled hir passioun | stille wiþouten striif, Þat mirþe is of to here | to maiden and to wiif.

Jhesu, þat on þe rode was don | our soules forto borwe, Scheld ous fram þe pine of helle | and bring ous out of sorwe, Line 410 And grace forto ȝeme ous | out of dedli sinne, And grant ous þe miche ioie | þer seynt Mergrete is inne!

Amen.

Explicit.