Legends of the holy rood; Symbols of the passion and cross poems. In Old English of the eleventh, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. Edited from Mss. in the British Museum and Bodleian Libraries, with introduction, translations, and glossarial index, by Richard Morris.

VIII.

DISPUTE BETWEEN MARY AND THE CROSS

Disputacio inter Mariam et Crucem, secundum Apocrafum.

I.

Oure ladi freo·, on Rode treo·, made hire mon: Heo seide on þe· Line 4 þe fruit of me· is wo bigon: Mi fruit I· seo· in blodi bleo· Line 8 Among his fon, Serwe I· seo·, þe veines fleo· from blodi bon: Line 12 Cros·! þou dost no trouþe; On a pillori· my fruit to pinne, He haþ no spot· of Adam sinne; Flesch· and veines· nou fleo a-twinne, Line 16 Wherfore I· rede of routhe·:

II.

Cros· þi bondes schul ben blamed, Mi fayre fruit· þou hast bi-gyled; Þe fruites Mooder· was neuere a-famed, Line 20 Mi wombe is feir·, founden vn-fuyled: Chyld· whi artou not a-schamed

On a pillori· to ben I·-piled? Grete Iewes· þus weore gramed, Line 24 And dyede· for heore werkes wyled; In mournyng· I· may melte; Mi fruit· þat is so holi halwed, In a feeld· is fouled· and falwed; Line 28 Wiþ grete Iewes· he is galwed, And dyeþ· for Monnes gelte:

III.

FOr grete Iewes· galwes were greiþed, Þat euer to Robbyng· Ronne ryf; Line 32 Whi schal my sone· on þe beo leid, Þat neuer nuyȝed· mon nor wyf? A drinke of deþ· soþliche seid, Cros þou ȝeuest· þe lord of lyf: Line 36 His veynes to bursten· wiþ þi breid, Mi fruit stont nou· in a strong stryf; Blod from hed· is hayled, Fouled· is my fayre fruit, Line 40 Þat neuer dude· tripet ne truit Wiþ þeues þat loueden· ryot and ruit; Whi schal my sone· be nayled?

IV.

Þorwȝ Iugement· þou art en-Ioynet Line 44 To bere fooles·, ful of sinne: Mi sone from þe· schulde beon ensoynet, And neuere his blod· vppon þe rinne; But nou is truþe· wiþ tresun teynet, Line 48 Wiþ þeoues to honge·, fer in fenne; Wiþ feole nayles· his limes ben feynet, A careful Moder· men mai me kenne, In Bales· I· am bounde; Line 52

Line 52 Þat fruit was· of a Mayden born, On a þeoues tre· is al to torn; [folio 316] A Broche· þorw-out his brest bo[r]n His holi herte· haþ wounde: Line 56

V.

Tre þou art loked· bi þe lawe Þeoues· traitours· on þe to d[e]ye, But now is trouþe· wiþ tresun drawe, And vertu· falleþ in vices weye; Line 60 But loue· and treuþe·, in soþfast sawe, On a treo· traytours· hem teye, Vertu is· wiþ vices slawe: Of alle vertues· my sone is keye, Line 64 Vertu· swettore þen spices; In fot· and· hond· bereþ blodi prikke, His hed is ful of þornes· þikke, Þe goode hongeþ· a-mong þe wikke, Line 68 Vertu dyeþ wiþ vices·:

VI.

Tre vnkynde; þou schalt be kud, Mi sone step-Moder· I· þe calle: Mi fruit was born· wiþ beestes on bed, Line 72 And be my flesch· my flour gan falle, Wiþ my brestes· my brid I· fed; Cros· þou ȝeuest him· Eysel· and Galle! Mi white Rose· Red is spred, Line 76 Þat fostred was in· a fodderes stalle; Feet· and fayre hondes; Þat nou ben croised· I· custe hem ofte, I· lulled hem· I· leid hem softe: Line 80 Cros þou holdest hem· hiȝe on lofte Bounden· in bledyng bondes·!

VII.

Mi loue· i·lol ed vp in þe eyr, Wiþ cradel bond· I· gan him bynde, Line 84 Cros he stikeþ nou· on þi steir, Naked a-ȝeyn· þe wylde wynde: Foules fourmen heor nestes· in þe eyr, Wolues in den· reste þei fynde, Line 88 Bot Godes sone·, in heuene heir, His hed nou leoneþ· on þornes tynde, Of Mournyng· I· may mynne; Godes hed· haþ reste non, Line 92 But leoneþ· on his scholder bon; Þe þornes· þorwh his flesch gon, His wo· I· wyte hit sinne:

VIII.

Cros to slen· hit is þi sleiht, Line 96 Mi fayre fruit· þou berest fro blis; Cros þou holdest him so heih on heiȝþ, Mi fruites feet· I· mai not kis; Mi mouþ I· pulte·, my sweore I· streiȝt Line 100 To cusse his feet·, soþ þing hit is: Þe Iewes· from þe cros me keiȝt, On me· þei made heore mouwes amis, Heore games· and heore gaudes; Line 104 Þe Iewes wrouȝten· me ful wo: Cros· I· fynde· þou art my fo, Þou berest my brid·, beten blo, A-mong þeose fooles fraudes·: Line 108

IX.

Cristes cros· ȝaf onswere:— Ladi to þe· I· owe honour,

Þi brihte palmes· nou I· bere; Mi schyning scheweþ· þorw þi flour, Line 112 Þi feire fruit· on me ginneþ tere; Þi fruit me florischeþ· in blod colour To winne þe world· þat lay in lure; Þat Blosme Blomed· vp in þi bour, Line 116 Ac not for þe· al-one; But for to winne· all þis world, Þat swelte· vndur þe deueles swerd: Þorw feet and hond· God let him gerd, Line 120 To A-mende monnes mone·:

X.

Adam dude· ful huge harmes, Whon he bot A bite· vndur a bouh, Wherfore þi sone· haþ sprad his Armes, Line 124 On a treo tyed· wiþ teone I-nouh; His flesch· is smite wiþ deþes þarmes, And swelteþ heer-in· a swemly swouh; His Breste is bored· wiþ deþes swarmes, Line 128 And wiþ his deþ· fro deþ he drouh Alle· his leoue freondes; As Ozie spac· in prophecie And seide—"þi sone seinte Marie, Line 132 His deþ· slouȝ deþ· on Caluarie, [folio 316:2] Ȝaf lyf· wiþ-outen endes·":

XI.

Þe stipre· þat is vnder þe vyne set May not bringe· forþ þe grape; Line 136 Þeih þe fruit· on me beo knet, His scharpe schour· haue I· not schape: Til grapes· to þe presse beo set Þer renneþ· no red wyn· in rape; Line 140

Line 140 Neuere presse· pressed bet, I· presse wyn· for kniht and knape: Vp-on a Blodi brinke I· presse a grape·, with strok and stryf, Line 144 Þe Rede wyn· renneþ ryf: In Samaritane· God ȝaf a wyf Þat leof licour to drynke:

XII.

LAdi· loue doþ þe to alegge Line 148 Þi fruit is prikked· wiþ speres ord: On Cros·, wiþ-outen knyues egge, I· kerue fruit· of godes hord; Al is al red·, Rib· and Rugge, Line 152 His bodi bledeþ· a-ȝeyn þe bord; I· was piler· and bar a brugge, God is weie·, witnesse of word; God seiþ he is· soþfast weye; Line 156 Mony folk slod· to helle slider, To heuene· mihte no mon þider, Til god dyed· and tauȝte whider Men drawen· whon þei dye·: Line 160

XIII.

Moyses haþ fourmed·, in his figour, A· whit lomb·, and non oþer beste Schulde be sacred vr saueour, And be mete of mihtes meste; Line 164 I· was þat cheef chargeour, I· bar flesch· for folkes feste; Ihesu crist· vre saueour He fedeþ· boþe lest and meste, Line 168 Rosted· a-ȝeyn þe sonne; On me lay· þe lomb of loue,

I· was plater· his bodi a-boue, Til feet· and hondes· al-to cloue, Line 172 Wiþ blood· I· was bi-ronne:

XIV.

Ȝit Moyses· in Rule haþ rad, We schulde ete vr lomb· in sour vergeous; Sour vergeous mai make· vr soules glad, Line 176 To serwe sore· for sunnes ours; Sour vergeous schal make· þe deuel a-drad, For he fleccheþ· fro godes spous; Beo a staf· stondeþ sad, Line 180 Whon ȝe fongen flesch· in godes hous, Þat staf· is Cristes Crouche; Stondeþ stifli· bi þat stake, Whon þat ȝe fongen· flesch in Cake, Line 184 Þen schal no feond· maystri make, Ȝoure soules for to touche:

XV.

For pardoun scheweþ· be a shrine, Wiþ nayl· and brede· on bord is smite, Line 188 Rede lettres· write be lyne, Bluwe· Blake· a-mong men pite: Vr lord I· likne· to þis signe, His bodi· vppon a bord· was bite, Line 192 In Briht blod· his bodi gan schyne; Hou wo him was· may no mon wite, Red vp-on þe Roode; Vr pardoun brede·, from top too to, Line 196 Writen hit was· wiþ wonder wo, Wiþ Rede woundes· and strokes blo, Vre Book· was bounden in bloode·:

XVI.

Adam· stod vp in stede, Line 200 In Bitter galle· his gost he dreint; A-ȝeyn þat galle· God ȝaf vs mede, Wiþ swete Merci· Bitter is queynt; His Bodi was Book· þe Cros was brede, Line 204 Whon crist for vs· þer-on was cleynt: No mon gat pardoun· wiþ no bede, Weor he neuere· so sely a seynt, Til book on bord· was sprad;, Line 208 Wiþ sharpe nayles· dunted and driue, Til feet· and hondes· al-to riue; His herte blod· vre book haþ ȝiue, To make· vr gostes glad: Line 212

XVII.

Cristes Cros· ȝit spac þis speche [folio 316:3] Furst was I· presse· wyn to wringe, I· bere a Brugge·, wei to teche, Þer semely Aungeles· sitte and synge: Line 216 Lord of loue· and lyues leche For þe was set· sely sacrynge, To winne þe world· þat was in wreche; Þe Cros was brede·, pardoun to bringe, Line 220 Pardoun· In book is billed; What is pardoun· vppon to minne? Hit is forȝiuenes· of dedly sinne; Whon blod was writen· on cristes kinne, Line 224 Pardoun was· fulfilled:

XVIII.

Oure ladi seide· Cros of þi werk Wonder þe not·, þeiȝ I· be wroþe,

Þus seide Poule·, Cristes clerk;— Line 228 Þe feolle Iewes·, wiþ false oþe, Iewes· ston hard, in sinnes merk, Beoten a lomb· wiþ-outen loþe, Softur þen watur· vndur serk, Line 232 Meode· or· Milk· medled boþe; Þe Iewes· weoren harde stones; Softur þen watur· or eny licour, Or dewȝ þat liþ· on þe lilie flour Line 236 Was cristes bodi· in blod colour, Þe Iewes wolden· ha broken his bones·:

XIX.

And mony A prophete· gan make mon, And seide· "lord send us þi lomb Line 240 Out of þe wildernesses ston, To fende vs· from þe lyon cromp:" Of mylde mount of Syon Be-com mon·, In A Maydens womb, Line 244 Made a bodi·, wiþ blessed bon, In a Maidens blod· þi bodi flomb: At Barreres· weore debate; Þorwȝ stones· In þe wildernes Line 248 Men miȝte better· ha crepet I·-wis, Þen bored· in-to heuene blis, Til blod· brac vp þe ȝate·:

XX.

Sin monnes sone· was so nedi, Line 252 To beo lad· wiþ lomb mylde, Whi weore gylours· so gredi For to defoule· my faire childe? Cros whi weore þou· so redi Line 256 To rende my fruit·, feor in fylde?

Ladi to make· þe deuel dredi, God schop me a scheld·, schame to schilde, Til lomb of loue· dyede; Line 260 And on me ȝeld þe gost· wiþ vois; I· was chose· a Relik chois, Þe signe of Ihesu cristes crois, Þer dar no deuel· a-byde: Line 264

XXI.

Moni folk I· fende· from heore fos: Cristes Cros· þis sawes seide:— Heuene ȝates· weore closed clos Til þe lomb· of loue dyede, Line 268 Þis is write· in tixt· and glos: Aftur Cristes deþ· prophetes preide: Til þe lomb of loue· dyed and ros In helle pyne· monkynde was teyde: Line 272 At houre of his none; Þe lomb of loue· seyde his þouȝt— Nou is folfuld· þat wel is wrouȝt, A Mon is out of bondes brouȝt Line 276 And heuene dores· vndone:

XXII.

Wiþ þe Fader· þat al schal folfille, His sone to heuene is an help, I· was piler· and stod ful stille: Line 280 After oþur ȝiftes· now gostes ȝelp, Þe fend· þat al þis world wolde kille, His swerd he pulte vp· in his kelp; To helle he horlede· from þat hille, Line 284 Beerynge· as a Beore whelp: A beore is bounden· and beted; Cristes Cros· haþ craked his croun,

Þe lomb haþ leid· þe Lyoun a-doun; Line 288 Þe lomb is lord· in eueri toun, So Cristes blod· haþ pleted:

XXIII.

In holy writ· þis tale is herde, Þat goode ȝiftes· god vs ȝaf; Line 292 God seiþ him-self· he is schepherde, And vche an heerde· bi-houeþ a staf; [folio 316b:1] Þe Cros· I· calle· þe heerdes ȝerde, Þer-wiþ þe deuel· a dunt he ȝaf, Line 296 And wiþ þe ȝerde· þe wolf he werde, Wiþ duntes· drof him al to draf: Þe Cros· þis tale tolde; Þat he was staf· in þe heerdes hond, Line 300 Whon schep breken· out of heore bond, Þe wolf he wered· out of lond Þat deuoured· cristes folde:

XXIV.

Ȝit seide· þe Meke Marie— Line 304 Roode· þou reendest my Rose al red: Þreo Iewes coomen· from Caluari Þat day· þat Ihesu þoled ded, Alle þei seiden· þei weore sori, Line 308 For-dolled· in a drouknyng dred; Þei tolden hem alle· wherfore· and whi Heore hertes were colde·, as lumpyng led; Þe furste· heore tale tolde; Line 312 Whon crist was knit· with corde on a stok His bodi bledde· a-ȝein þat blok, Þorw feet and hondes· nayles gan knok, Þen gan myn herte· to colde·: Line 316

Line 316

XXV.

ÞE Secounde seide nay· not þat· Þat dude serwe· in-to myn herte schete; But whon þe Roode ros· and doun was squat, Þe nayles· renten him hondes and feete, Line 320 Þorw-out his helm· þe harde hat Þe þornes· in-to his flesch gan crepe, His Ioyntes· vn-Ioynet· I· tok good gat; Þo weop I· water· and teres leete, Line 324 To care I· was enclyned; In cloddres of blod· his her was clunge, Þe flesch was from· þe bones swonge, Druiȝe drinkeles· was his tonge, Line 328 His lippes to clouen· and chyned·:

XXVI.

ÞE þridde seide· þis þouhte me lest Of þeose peynes· and oþer mo, Þis peyne þouhte me· peyne mest; Line 332 Al his flesch· he let of flo, His Mylde Moder· stod him nest, Loked vpward· And hire was wo, A swerd swapped hire· þorw þe brest: Line 336 Out of þe cros· þe knyf com þo, Þis siht sauh I· my-selue; Þe swerd of loue· þorw hire gan launce, Heo swapte on swownyng· þorw þat chaunce; Line 340 To scornen hire· þei gan daunce, Iewes· bi ten· and twelue·:

XXVII.

Sin Iewes made· so muchel mon, To seon my brid·, bounden in brere, Line 344

Line 344 In sad serwyng· moste I· gon· To seon blodi· my chyldes chere: Fadres· and Modres· þat walken in won Schul loue heore children· beo skiles clere; Line 348 Þeose two loues· weore in me al-on, For fader and moder· I· was here, Þeose two loues· in me weore dalt; I· was fader· of his flesch, Line 352 His Moder hedde· an herte nesch, Mi serwe flowed· as water fresch, Weopyng· and wo· I· walt:

XXVIII.

IN me weore tacched· sorwes two, Line 356 In þe fader· mihte non a-byde, For he was euere· in reste and Ro, Ioyned· in his Ioyes wyde, I· serwed sore· for to sei so: Line 360 I· say whon þat my derlyng dide, Wiþ duntes· he was to deþe i-do, Vp-on a tre· his bodi was soyled; Whon trouþe is told· and darted; Line 364 Of alle Ioyes· God is welle, Þer mihte no serwe· in him dwelle, I· serwed sore· as Clerkes telle, Mi pyne· was not departed·: Line 368

XXIX.

ÞE hattore loue· þe caldore care, Whon frendes fynde· heore fruit defoyled; Þe dispitous Iewes· nolde not spare, Til trie fruit· weore tore and toyled; Line 372 Neuer Mayden· Mournede mare, [folio 316b:2] I· sauh my child· ben surded and soyled,

Myn herte to-clef· wiþ swerd of care; I· sauȝ my brid· with blod bem-oyled, Line 376 As Symeon· seide beo-forn;, Þe swerd of serwe·, scharp I·-grounde, Schulde ȝiue· myn herte a wounde; In more wo· þen I· was bounde Line 380 Neuere buirde· haþ born·:

XXX.

ÞE dede· worþily· gan wake, Þe dai turned· to nihtes donne, Þe Merke Mone· gan Mournyng make, Line 384 Þe lyht out leop· of þe sonne, Þe temple walles· gan chiuere· and schake, Veiles in þe temple· a-two þei sponne: Cros· whi noldestou not crake, Line 388 Whon rihtful blod· on þe was ronne, And kuyndes· losten heore kende;: Whon my fruit· on þe was fast, Cros· whi weore þou not a-gast? Line 392 Þow stod stif· as eny mast, Whon lyf· left vp his ende·:

XXXI.

Whon þat Prince· of Paradys Bledde· boþe brest· and bak: Line 396 An heþene clerk· was seint Denys, He seide· þis world· wente al to wrak, He sauȝ þe planetes passen· out of here pris, Þe brihte sonne· gan waxen blak; Line 400 Þe Clerk· þat was so wonderly wys Wonder wordes· þer he spak, Denys· þis grete Clerk seide; Þe day of doom· draweþ to an ende, Line 404

Line 404 Al vr kuyndes· haþ lost vr kende; Til God þat dyed· for vch a kuynde For Monnes kuynde deyde·:

XXXII.

Foules fellen· out of heore fliht, Line 408 Beestes gan Belwe· in eueri binne: Cros· whon Crist· on þe was cliht, Whi noldestou not· of mournyng minne? Þe Cros seide· ladi briht, Line 412 I· bar ones þi fruit· for monnes sinne, More to amende· monnes riht Þen for eny weolþe· þat I· gan winne; Wiþ blod· God bouȝte his broþer; Line 416 Whon Adam· Godes biddyng brak; He bot a bite· þat made vs blak, Til fruit weore tied· on treo wiþ tak·, O· fruit· for anoþer·: Line 420

XXXIII.

Sin Cristes Cros· þat kepeþ ȝifte Graunted· of þe fadres graunt, I· was loked· I· schulde vp-lifte Godes sone· and maydenes faunt, Line 424 No Mon hedde· scheld of schrifte; Þe deuel stod lyk· A lyon raumpaunt, Mony folk· In-to helle he clihte, Til þe crosses dunt· ȝaf him a daunt; Line 428 Mi dedes are bounden· and booked; Alle þe werkes· þat I· haue wrouht Weore founden· in þe Faderes· fore-þouht, Þerfore ladi· lakkeþ me nouht, Line 432 I· dude· as me was looked:

XXXIV.

Þorw Blod· and Watur· cristendam was wrouht, Holy writ· witnesseþ hit wel, And in wille· of soþfast þouht, Line 436 A Mon mai· be cristened skil; Þat blod· þat us alle bouht Digne cristenyng· gan vs del; At cristenyng· crist for-ȝat vs nouht, Line 440 His blessede blod· whon we gan fel: Maiden· Moder· and Wyue; Þi fruit haþ ȝiuen vs baptem, Cristened we weore· In Red rem, Line 444 Whon his bodi bledde· on þe Beem, Of Cipresse. and Olyue·:

XXXV.

AS Ihesu seide· to Nichodemus "But a Barn· be twyȝes born, Line 448 Whon domus-day· schal blowen his bemus, He may elles liggen· loddere for-lorn, Furst of a wombe·, þer reuþe remus, Siþþe in a font·, þer synne awey is schorn": Line 452 I· was cros· to monnes quemus, I· bar þe fruit· þow bar bi-forn, [folio 316b:3] For þi beryng· Al-one; But ȝif I· hedde· I·-boren him eft, Line 456 From riche reste· mon hedde beo-reft In a loren logge· I·-left·, Ay· to grunte· and grone·:

XXXVI.

Þou art I·-Crouned· heuene quene, Line 460 Þorw þe burþe· þat þou beere,

Þi garlond is al· of graces grene, Helle Emperesse· in heuene Empere: I· am a Relyk· þat shineþ shene, Line 464 Men wolde wite· wher þat I· were, At þe parlement· wol I· bene, On domes-day· prestly a-pere; Whon Ihesu schal seye· riht þere; Line 468 "Trewely· vppon þe Roode tre Mon· I dyede for þe; Mon what hastou· don for me· To beon· my frendly feere·?" Line 472

XXXVII.

At þe parlement· shul puiten vp pleynyng, Hou Maydenes fruit· on me gan sterue, Spere· and spounge· and sharp nayling, Þorw þe harde hat· þe heued shal kerue, Line 476 Shul preie· to þat rihtful kyng: Vche mon schal haue· as þei a serue, Rihtful schul ryse· to riche restyng, Truyt· and tripet· to helle shal sterue: Line 480 Mayden Meoke and Mylde; God haþ taken in þe· his fleschly trene I· bar þi fruit· leoþi and lene; Hit is riht þe Roode· helpe to a-rene Line 484 Wrecches· þat wraþþe þi chylde·:

XXXVIII.

ÞE queen a-cordet· wiþ þe cros And a-ȝeyn him spak· no more speche; Þe queen ȝaf· þe Cros a cos, Line 488 Þe ladi of loue· loue gan seche, Þeiȝ hire fruit· on him were· diȝt to dros, Whon rendyng ropus· gan him reche:

Cristes cros· haþ kept vs from los, Line 492 Maries preyers· And God vr leche, Þe qween· and þe Cros· a corde: Þe qween bar furst· þe cros afturward, To fecche folk· from helleward, Line 496 On holy stayers· to steyen vpward And regne· wiþ God vr lorde·:

XXXIX.

ÞE Clerk· þat fourmed· þis figour Of Maries wo· to wite som, Line 500 He saih him-self· þat harde stour, Whon godes Armus· weore rent aroum; Þe Cros is a cold· Creatour, And euere ȝit haþ ben· def· and dom, Line 504 Þeiȝ þis tale beo florisshed· with faire flour, I· preue hit· on Apocrafum; For witnesse· was neuer foundet; Þat neuere cristes cros spak, Line 508 Oure ladi leide· on him no lak, Bot to pulte· þe deuel a-bak, We speke· hou crist was woundet·:

XL.

IN Flesshly wede Line 512 God gan him hede, Of Mylde May Was bore to blede, As Cristes Crede Line 516 Soþly wol say; On a stokky stede He Rod· we Rede, In Red Array; Line 520 From deueles drede

Þat Duyk vs lede, At domes-day: Whon peple· schal parte· and pace; Line 524 To heuene halle· or to helle woode, Cristes cros· and cristes blode And Marie preiers·, þat ben ful goode, Grant vs þe lyf· of grace· Amen. Line 528

Explicit disputacio inter Mariam et Crucem. Secundum Apocrafum.

Notes

• [Vernon MS. [folio 315b:3] .]
• [Cross responds.]
• [Cross replies:]
• [crux respondit:]
• [respondit Maria.]
• MS. ben oyled.