The early South-English legendary ; or, Lives of saints. I. Ms. Laud, 108, in the Bodleian library. Edited by Carl Horstmann.

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London,: Pub. for the Early English text society by N. Trübner & co.,

1887.

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Christian saints

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"The early South-English legendary ; or, Lives of saints. I. Ms. Laud, 108, in the Bodleian library. Edited by Carl Horstmann." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/AHA2708.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 18, 2024.

Pages

25 Katerine.

                      
                        SEinte Katerine of noble kunne: cam, bi olde dawe; [folio 56] 
                      
                        Hire fader was king, hire Moder Quyene : boþe of þe olde lawe,
                      
                        Þe king . Coste. hire fader het. : gret clerk þis Mayde was;
                      
                        Þare nas non of þe seue .Ars : þat heo maister of nas.
                        Line 4 
                      
                        Maxentius het þe Aumperour : In eche londe he let crie
                      
                        Þat ech kynerich under him : come to Alisaundrie,
                      
                        Euerech Man for is stat : to don to heore godes sacrefise;
                      
                        ho-so it lete, men scholde of him don : swyþe stronge Iustise.
                        Line 8 
                      
                        Þo ech lond was þudere i-come : to don heore lawe,
                      
                        Seinte katerine wel harde-liche : to-ward heom gan drawe;
                      
                        bi-halues heo stod and bi-heold : heore wrechche gydi-hede,
                      
                        heo saiȝ Anouri þe Maumates : and manie cristine Men for drede.
                        Line 12 
                      
                        Þo hadde heo gret deol in hire heorte : and blesse[de] hire a-non
                      
                        And forth anon to þe Aumperour : baldeliche heo gan gon.
                      
                        "Sire," heo seide, "riche Aumperour þou art : swiþe noble and hende,
                      
                        Þov scholdest þi wisdom and þi wit : to some guode wende.
                        Line 16 
                      
                        Þat i segge for þe folie : þat ich i-seo eov do—
                      
                        So muche feorrene folk : þov hast i-cleopet þar-to.
                      
                        Grete Ioie in ouwer heorte : þis temple ȝe makiez i-fo
                      
                        Þat is ymaud of lym and ston : and of ouwer Maumates also;
                        Line 20 
                      
                        Ȝwy ne bi-holde ȝe þe heiȝe temple— : for þer-of wondri ov mai—
                      
                        Of þe heie heuene þat geth a-boute : a-bouen eov niȝt and dai,
                      
                        Of sonne and Mone and steorrene al-so : fram þe este to þe weste
                      
                        Þat trauaillieth and neuere werie ne beoth : ne neuere ne habbeth reste?

                        Line 24

Page 93

                      
                        Line 24 
                      
                        bi-þench þe wel and turne þi wit : to some wisdome, ich rede,
                      
                        And ȝwane þin owene In-wit it seith : þat nouȝwere nis swuch dede,
                      
                        Al-miȝti god þou him hold : þat swuch wonder can make;
                      
                        bi-fore alle oþere Anoure him : and þine Maumates for-sake."
                        Line 28 
                      
                        With oþere resones of clergie : þat mayde proffrede also
                      
                        Þat heore godes nauȝtes ne were : þat heo Anoureden heom to.
                      
                        ¶ Þe Aumperour stod and ne couþe þar-to : Answerie In none wise;
                      
                        Gret wonder him þouȝte of hire fair-hede : and of hire Quoyntise;
                        Line 32 
                      
                        "Mayde," he seide, "a-bijd here-with : for-to aftur ore sacrefise
                      
                        And we schullen more with þe speke : ich oþur mi Iustise."
                      
                        Þo þe sacrefise was i-don : þe Aumperour sat In is trone,
                      
                        And al is folk a-bouten him. : men brouten þat Maide sone.
                        Line 36 
                      
                        "Maide," seide þe Aumperur : "þou þinchest gent and freo;
                      
                        Of ȝwat kunrade art þou i-come? : gret wonder us þinchez of þe."
                      
                        ¶ "Sire Aumperur," þis Maide seide : "I-ne wilni bote luyte
                      
                        to tellen þe of mine kunne : for it were signe of pruyte;
                        Line 40 
                      
                        For In is boke þe wise Man : Catun seith al-so:
                      
                        Þat Man ne schal him-sulue preisi : ne blamie no-þe-mo,
                      
                        For so doth foles þat wilniez muche : of ȝelpingue and of sunne.
                      
                        Naþeles ichulle, ake for no pruyte : tellen eov of mine kunne:
                        Line 44 
                      
                        Ich am þe kingus douȝter coste : þat þou wost ȝwuch is.
                      
                        hidere ich cam to speke mid eov : of þat ȝe bi-leuez a-mis;
                      
                        Mid vn-riȝte heo beozþ i-cleped godes : þat o fot ne mouwen go [folio 56b] 
                      
                        Ne no man helpe in none neode : ne heom-sulue no-þe-mo."
                      
                        ¶ "Maide," seide þis Amperur : "ȝif þat þis sothþ were,
                      
                        Al þis world were fals and guydi : ȝif þou one heom scholdest [lere];
                      
                        And we schulle betere i-leue alle men : and more it wole beo note,
                      
                        Þane ani fol womman ase þou art— : for ouwer bolt is sone i-schote."
                      
                        "Sire," seide þis Maide þo : "þei þou luyte telle of me,
                      
                        Also guod mai beo mi reson : ase þat comez of þe.
                        Line 54 
                      
                        For, sire Aumperur, þou art : ase ech man is al-so
                      
                        Þat hote mai and hys men moten : nede hys hestes do,
                        Line 56 
                      
                        Of bodi and of soule þou art y-maud : ase þi-sulf miȝt i-seo;
                      
                        Mid riȝte þi soule Maister is : and þi bodi is hyne schal beo.
                      
                        Ȝif þi bodi maister is : and þi soule is hyne,
                      
                        Aȝen kuynde it is : and þou worst sikur : þare-fore of helle pine."

                        Line 60

Page 94

                      
                        Line 60 
                      
                        Þoruȝ hire clergie þat holi Maide : resones made so quoynte
                      
                        Þat þe Aumperour ne non of his : ne couþe hire ansuerie in none pointe.
                      
                        "Maide," he seide, "þou schalt a-bide : In warde here mid me
                      
                        And oþere ichulle bi tyme finde : þat schullen Answerie þe."
                        Line 64 
                      
                        Þis Aumperour sende anon : wide a-boute is sonde
                      
                        Þat þe gretteste maistres of clergie : to him comen In eche londe,
                      
                        grete Mede of him to habbe : to don a luytel Maystrie,
                      
                        And for-to susteinen op heore lawe : þoru strencþe of clergie.
                        Line 68 
                      
                        So þat þare comen fifti Maistres : þe gretteste þat man fond
                      
                        Also wide ase men miȝten seche : ouȝwere In ani lond.
                      
                        Þe Aumperour heom seide a-non : ȝware-fore he after heom sende:
                      
                        For-to desputi a-ȝein a ȝong womman : þat al heore lawe schende.
                        Line 72 
                      
                        "Nou is þis," þat .o. Maister seide : "gret schame, ich onder-stonde,
                      
                        An Aumperur to sende a-boute : so wide in eche londe
                      
                        After þe gretteste Maistres, for-to despuyti : a-ȝen a fol wenche,
                      
                        Ȝwane on of heore knaue miȝten sone : hire resones alle a-quenche!"
                      
                        "Nai," seide þis Aumperour : "heo is wisore þane ȝe wene;
                      
                        Ȝif ȝe mouwen ouȝt aȝen hire don : sone it worth i-sene.
                        Line 78 
                      
                        For ich habbe leouere þat ȝe hire ouer-come : with resones In some wise,
                      
                        Þane we with strencþe hire maden : to don þe sacrefise."
                        Line 80 
                      
                        "Lat bringue hire forth," seide þat on : "and heo schal segge a-non
                      
                        Þat heo ne spac neuere wit wisore men : are heo fram us gon."
                      
                        ¶ An Aungel to þis maide cam : and bad hire of no-þing drede,
                      
                        And seide heo scholde heom alle þoru hire reson : to cristinedom lede,
                      
                        And heo alle scholden þoru hire reson : a-fonge martyrdam.
                      
                        Þo þat Maide i-herde þis : gret Ioie to hire heo nam,
                        Line 86 
                      
                        baldeliche heo eode forth : þo men aftur hire come.
                      
                        "Sire," he seide to þe Aumperur : "ȝifst þou a wis dom
                      
                        Þat þus fale maistres of clergie : bringest and sest a-benche,
                      
                        And me-self to desputy a-ȝeines heom : þat nam bote a fol wenche?
                      
                        And ȝif þat heo me ouer-comez : þou bi-hast heom gret mede,
                      
                        And makest me mid strencþe with heom speke : and ne bi-hast me bote luyte! [folio 57] 

                        Line 92

Page 95

                      
                        Line 92 
                      
                        Þat þinchez me with on-riȝte it is : ȝwane ich am one a-ȝein heom alle.
                      
                        ¶ Nov ichulle, for god is min help : a-fonge þat me wole falle."
                      
                        "Seie, dame conIoun, ȝwat artþou?" : þis o legistre seide,
                      
                        "Þenchestþou speke a-ȝein ore clergie? : turne þi þouȝt, ich rede!
                        Line 96 
                      
                        Þov seist þat god al-miȝti : dethz on eorþe þolede here:
                      
                        I-chulle proui þat he ne miȝte a-liue beo : nouþe In none manere.
                      
                        For, ho-so deiez, he ne may : neuerefft to liue come,
                      
                        Ȝwane þe vertue of al is bodi : þoru deþe him is bi-nome;
                        Line 100 
                      
                        And þi god al-miȝti is ded : þou ne miȝt libbe nouȝt,
                      
                        Ȝif he þat scholde ȝiue þe lijf : is to deþe i-brouȝt."
                      
                        ¶ "Nai," seide þis holi mayde : "þou faillest of þin art,
                      
                        An-oþur þou most segge, ȝif þou þencst : of þine maistrie to habbe part.
                      
                        God hadde euere and euere he schal : mid him is god-hede,
                      
                        And for loue of us In ore flesche : he nam him man-hede:
                        Line 106 
                      
                        Of twei þingus he was þo imaked : eiþur moste þo is kuynde a-fonge.
                      
                        For þe kunde of man-hede us to bugge : he þolede deth wel stronge;
                      
                        Ake for-to bi-leue ded, a-ȝen kuynde it was : ase of is god-hede,
                      
                        Þare-fore he aros fram deþe to liue : þo he hadde i-don al is dede.
                      
                        For þe stronge deþe þat þoruȝ Adam : we weren to i-brouȝt,
                      
                        Þoruȝ is godhede, i-meynd In ore kuynde : nede moste beon i-bouȝt.
                      
                        Ȝif þou with-seist þis reson : an oþur i-chulle þe make
                      
                        Þat grete clerkes seiden In heore lawe : þat man ne may nouȝt for-sake.
                        Line 114 
                      
                        ¶ Platon, þe grete philosophe : þat was heþene of ouwer lawe,
                      
                        he seide þat god wolde deie : and him-selue to liue aȝen drawe.
                        Line 116 
                      
                        Lokiez In is boke, hov it miȝte beo soth : nouþe In ouwere manere,
                      
                        bote þe muchele god of heuene : bi-come a luyte Man here.
                      
                        Also Balaam, ouwer prophete : þat heþene was al-so,
                      
                        In is bok he seide—ȝe wuten wel ȝware : ȝif ȝe wollez loki þer-to—
                      
                        Þat þare scholde of Iacobes kuynde : a steorre a-rise wel briȝt
                      
                        Þat scholde kinges and princes : al bi-nimen heom heore miȝt.
                        Line 122 
                      
                        Þat was þat ore louerd wolde : of Iacobes kuynde beon i-bore
                      
                        & ouer-comen alle þat euere weren : sethþe oþer bi-fore.
                        Line 124 
                      
                        And ȝuyt þre kinges of ouwer lawe : on þulke steorre þouȝten,
                      
                        For þe steorre þo god was i-bore : and þare-fore lok him brouȝten."
                      
                        Þo þeos Maistres heorden þis mayde speke : of so grete clergie,

Page 96

                      
                        heo ne couþen answerie hire of neuere a word : and ȝeuen hire þe maistrie.
                        Line 128 
                      
                        ¶ Þo seide þe Aumperur In grete wrathþe : "nis non of eov þat can—
                      
                        A-mong so manie grete Maistres— : answerie a fol womman?"
                      
                        "Certes, sire," þis Maistres seiden : "so gret clerk nov nis
                      
                        Þat scholde to hire reson ȝiue answere : for heo seith so i-wis,
                        Line 132 
                      
                        We seggeth, þe holie gost is with hire : and In hire mouþe,
                      
                        Þat we ne conne hire answerie nouȝt : ne we ne dorren þei we couþe.
                      
                        Þare-fore, bote we betere of oure lawe : þane we ȝeot i-seon,
                      
                        Alle we seggez with one mouþe : cristine we wollez beon."
                        Line 136 
                      
                        "Ey, trichours," seide þe Aumperur : "is it icome þer-to? [folio 57b] 
                      
                        Certes, ȝe schullen euerech-one : beo to stronge deþe i-do."
                      
                        he het þat Men scholden a-midde toun : fur-berne heom echone.
                      
                        And huy afenge þe deth for godes loue : with-oute anie mone,
                        Line 140 
                      
                        And muche reuþe heo maden to katerine : I-baptizede þat heo nere.
                      
                        Þat Maide heom confortede wel : and cristine lawes gan heom lere,
                      
                        And seide þat heore stronge martyrdom : þat heo þoleden þere,
                      
                        In stude of cristine-dom scholde beon : ȝif heo stude-faste were.
                        Line 144 
                      
                        ¶ Þis Maistres weren wel glade þo : gladliche forth heo eode
                      
                        And nomen þane deth for godes loue : þat men heom wolde beode;
                      
                        Heo maden þe signe of þe croiz : þo men in þat fuyre hem caste.
                      
                        And þo heo hadden longe i-barnd : and dede weren atþe laste
                        Line 148 
                      
                        And þat fuyr was al a-queynt : al-hole heo leien þere,
                      
                        Ȝwittore and wel fairore [of] heuȝ : þane heo euere er were;
                      
                        Þare nas so luyte wem on heom : þat þe leste of heore here
                      
                        Oþur of heore cloþus a-peirede weren— : heo leien with faire chere.
                      
                        Þis Aumperur let fette a-non : þat Maide katerine:
                      
                        "haue reuþe of þi-sulf," he seide : "and schild þe fram pine!
                        Line 154 
                      
                        haue reuþe of þi noble bodi : þat is so fair and hende!
                      
                        For þou schalt beon in grete nobleye : ȝif þou wolt þi þouȝt wende:
                      
                        In mi paleis ich schal þe make : hext after þe quene;
                      
                        After þi fourme ichulle þe make : An ymage, briȝt and schene,
                      
                        Ouer-guld and quoynte i-nov : and sette as a-midde þe cite,
                      
                        Þat ech man hire honouri schal : for honour of þe
                        Line 160 
                      
                        Ase men schullen to one god do. : þou ne schalt mid al þi lore
                      
                        So muche nobleie bi-þenche þe : þat I nelle don þe more."

Page 97

                      
                        ¶ "Sire Aumperur," þis Maide seide : "let þi fole þouȝt,
                      
                        For þov nast non more ȝwile to spille : þane speken embe nouȝt.
                        Line 164 
                      
                        god almiȝties spouse ich am : and al þi blaundisinge
                      
                        Ne alle þine tormenz ne schullen min heorte : enes fram him bringe."
                      
                        Þe Aumperur hire let strep[e] naked : and to a piler faste hire bounden,
                      
                        With stronge schourges men beoten hire sore : and maden hire harde wounden.
                        Line 168 
                      
                        Þo heo ne miȝten þare-with-al : turnen hire þouȝt,
                      
                        In depe prisone and swiþe deorke : sone heo was i-brouȝt;
                      
                        Þat no man hire mete ne ȝaf ne drunch : þei heo scholde for hungur deie,
                      
                        For heo scholde to heore lawe hire þouȝ[t] tuyrne : and beon i-brouȝt out of teie.
                        Line 172 
                      
                        In þat prison þat Maide lai : twelf dawes and twelf niȝt,
                      
                        Þat heo noþer .et. ne dronk : ne i-saiȝ non eorþelich liȝt;
                      
                        A ȝwit coluere þare cam fram heuene : to hire euer-ech dai
                      
                        And brouȝte hire fram heuene mete : In-to prisone ase heo lai.
                        Line 176 
                      
                        A day ase þe Aumperur was : out of þe toune i-fare,
                      
                        Þe Aumperesse þouȝte on katerine : and hadde of hire gret care:
                      
                        Of hire bede wel priueliche : heo a-ros at mid-Niȝt,
                      
                        And nam with hire sire porfirie : þat was hire priue knyȝt.
                        Line 180 
                      
                        Þo heo to þe prisone come : heo i-seiȝen þare gret liȝt;
                      
                         [folio 58] gret wounder heom þouȝte ȝwar-of were : þe deorke stude so briȝt.
                      
                        Þo heo i-seiȝen seinte katerine : was In þe prisone grounde
                      
                        And an Aungel of heuene with hire stonde : and smerede hire wounde:
                      
                        ¶ Þe Aumperesse cride a-non : "Katerine," heo seide, "þin ore!
                      
                        Mine riȝte bi-leue þov tech me : I nelle beo fol non more."
                      
                        Þe kniȝt al-so, sire porfirie : loude cride al-so,
                      
                        Þat muche folk þat þare-a-boute was : sone cam þer-to;
                        Line 188 
                      
                        Sire porfirie ful a-doun to hire fet : and merci he gan crie.
                      
                        With grete Ioye þis Maide prechede heom : of god and seinte marie;
                      
                        So þat Aumperesse and porfirie : þoruȝ þis Maide þere,
                      
                        And twei hondred of oþur folk : I-baptizede weren.
                        Line 192 
                      
                        ¶ Ore louerd him-sulf cam sethþe a-doun : to seinte katerine :
                      
                        "Lo," he seide, "here ich am : for ȝwam þou hast þis pine.
                      
                        In þine tormenz beo studefast : Ichulle beo mid þe;

Page 98

                      
                        Þi sege is in heue[ne] i-maud : þare þov schalt wonien mid me."
                        Line 196 
                      
                        An oþur dai þe Aumperour : after þis Maide sende;
                      
                        Þat heo were ded, oþur al fur-fare : swiþe wel he wende.
                      
                        Þis Maide was bi-fore him y-brouȝt : swiþe fat and round.
                      
                        "Ȝwat," he seide, "hou geth þis? : heo is hol and sound?
                        Line 200 
                      
                        Ȝware beoth þis traitores," he seide : "þat hire In prisone wuste?
                      
                        Stilleliche heo hire habbeth i-fed : þat no man it nuste.
                      
                        bi þe treuþe þat i schal to Mahon : heo ne schullen so non-more!"
                      
                        he let nime alle þe gayholers : and tormenti heom ful sore.
                        Line 204 
                      
                        ¶ "Sire Aumperur," þis Maide seide : "is þis a guod Ivggement,
                      
                        gulte-lese Men for mine gulte : to bringe in swuche torment?
                      
                        he þat hath me i-fed : him ne drat of þe riȝt nouȝt:
                      
                        For an Aungel it was of heuene : þat mete me hath i-brouȝt.
                        Line 208 
                      
                        Do me ȝwat torment þat þov wolt : and lat heom quite gon:
                      
                        For-soþe, þat þou on heom seist : gult heo ne habbez non."
                      
                        "Ey., hendie Maide Katerine" : seide þis Aumperour,
                      
                        "Þench op-on þi noble stat : of alle Maidenes þov art flour;
                        Line 212 
                      
                        Torne þi þouȝt and þou schalt beon : þe Aumperesse per;
                      
                        heo ne schal no-þing bi-fore þe habbe : bote þat heo me mot beo ner."
                      
                        "guode man," seide þis holie mayde : "þov spext embe nouȝt:
                      
                        For al þi pouwer þou ne schalt : fram ihesu crist wende mi þouȝt.
                        Line 216 
                      
                        Al þat torment þat þou miȝt þenche : And of alle [day longe,]
                      
                        Þov miȝt don me ȝif þou wolt : redi ich am to fonge;
                      
                        For ich ne wilni no-þing so muche : ase mi flechs and mi blod, i-wis,
                      
                        to ȝiue for mi louerdes loue : þat for me he ȝaf his."
                        Line 220 
                      
                        Þo was þe Aumperur so wroth : þat he was neiȝ i-swowe.
                      
                        Four ȝweles of Iren he let fullen : with rasores, kene I-nowe,
                      
                        And with ginne heom makede tuyrne a-boute : þe tweien on þat on half opward,
                      
                        Þe oþur tweine euene heom a-ȝein : In þat oþur half a-done-ward,
                        Line 224 
                      
                        Þat, ho-so bi-twene were : In none half ne miȝte him wende
                      
                        Þat þe rasores nolden al is flechs : to-drawen and to-rende.
                      
                        Sone so þis Maide was i-don þar-on : hire bodi for-to schende, [folio 58b] 
                      
                        Ore swete louerd fram heuene : an Aungel to hire gan sende:
                        Line 228 
                      
                        Þis Aungel with a drawe swerd : þe ȝweoles al-to-hev,
                      
                        Þat þe peces a-boute flowen : ase corn ȝwane man it sev,

Page 99

                      
                        And smot of þis luþere men : wel harde to þe grounde;
                      
                        Four þousend þ[er]e weren a-slawe : In a lutel stounde.
                        Line 232 
                      
                        Þo nuste þe Aumperur ȝwat he miȝte don : for deol ne for sore.
                      
                        Þe Aumperesse nolde hele hire stat : lengore þo nam-more:
                      
                        ¶ "Sire," heo seide, "hou gez þis? : for godes loue, þin ore!
                      
                        Ich i-seo þat þis mayde is guod : and of holi lore,
                        Line 236 
                      
                        Ower Maumates ichulle for-sake : Inelle on hem bi-leue more."
                      
                        Þo gan þe Aumperur for wrathþe : loude ȝeolle and rore.
                      
                        he ne miȝte fram Ihesu crist : hire þouȝt no-þing wende:
                      
                        he het men þat scholden hire lede : to þe tounes ende
                        Line 240 
                      
                        And hire bresten fram hire bodi : with Irene crokes rende
                      
                        And þare-after smiten of hire heued : þe more forto schende.
                      
                        Wit guode heorte þe Aumperesse : þane deth gan a-fonge;
                      
                        Þe quellares heo bad hiȝen faste : and ne a-biden nouȝt to longe.
                        Line 244 
                      
                        Heo nomen þe kene crokes of Ire : þat hire flechs depe gnowe,
                      
                        And, also man draweth with combes wolle : hire tetes heo to-drowe
                      
                        Fram hire bodi mossel mele : and sethþe smiten of hire heued.
                      
                        Þat bodi, for houndes it scholden ete : vn-bured it was bi-leued.
                        Line 248 
                      
                        Ake porfirie it burede a-niȝt : þat holi bodi and guod.
                      
                        Þo þe Aumperur þat bodi miste : he was wroth and wod;
                      
                        he tormentede þare-fore manie Men : þat ne miȝten heom nouȝt skere.
                      
                        Þo eode porfirie forth : and seide, "sire, lo me here,
                        Line 252 
                      
                        Ich burede þat holie bodi : þat was cristus make;
                      
                        And to Ihesu crist ich habbe al-so : al min heorte i-take;
                      
                        For no pouwer þat þou miȝt don : I-nelle him for-sake."
                      
                        Þo gan þe Aumperur for deol and sor : alle is lymes to schake.
                        Line 256 
                      
                        ¶ "Mahun," he seide, "hou schal þis beo? : ȝwat schal ich nou do,
                      
                        Nov Ich habbe mi wif for-lore : and mi kniȝt porfirie al-so?
                      
                        And porfirie al min heorte was! : ȝwy neltþou me rede?"
                      
                        Þo wenden þis oþure knyȝtes forth : and loude heo gonne grede,
                        Line 260 
                      
                        "We nellez þane deth for godes loue : no leng bi-leue for drede."
                      
                        Þo gan þe Aumperur to-drawe is her : and sore siche and grone,
                      
                        "Mahun," he seide, "ȝwat schal ich do? : hov schal ich bi-leue allone?
                      
                        Ȝwi neltþou raþer fette me : and bringe me of þusse liue,
                        Line 264 
                      
                        Þane soffri alle mine men to leose : after mine leoue wiue?
                      
                        Þei þou nelle, mahun, helpe me : I-ne for-sake þe nouȝt,

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                        Þis foles þat habbez þe for-sake : to deþe heo schulle beo brouȝt."
                      
                        He let nime porfire þene guode knyȝt : and is felawes echone
                        Line 268 
                      
                        And smiten of heore heuedes with-oute toun : ase Mahones fon.
                      
                        Þo let he fette katerine : "Dameysele," he seide,
                      
                        Þei þov me bi-nome mi wijf : mid þine fole rede,
                        Line 271 
                      
                        I-chulle, ȝif þou wul torni þi þouȝt : fur-ȝiue þine misdede [folio 59] 
                      
                        And with gret nobleie ase min Aumperesse : ouer-al with me þe lede."
                      
                        ¶ "Certes, sire," þis Maide seide : "þis wordes beoth alle for nauȝt:
                      
                        Þov ne schalt me neuere bringue fram him : þat hath min heorte i-cauȝt.
                      
                        Do þat þov wolt, and haue i-don : and bring þi wille to ende,
                        Line 276 
                      
                        For þou ne schalt neuere for no-þing : min herte fram Ihesu wende."
                      
                        "Ȝware beo ȝe, mine quellares?" : þe Aumperur þo seide,
                      
                        "Faste ȝe schulle þe wychche binde : and with-oute toune lede,
                      
                        And smitez of hire heued a-non : an don þe guode dede,
                        Line 280 
                      
                        Þat heo ne bringe us neuereft : In soruwe ne In drede."
                      
                        Þo þis Maide was i-brouȝt : to slene with-oute þe toun,
                      
                        hire preiere heo maude to god : a-knes heo sat a-doun:
                      
                        "Louerd," heo seide, "graunte þou me : þat ech man þat hath in mone
                      
                        In ani neode oþur in ani anuy : of mine passione,
                      
                        graunte þat he mote to is wille : help a-fonge sone."
                        Line 286 
                      
                        Þo cam ore louerd him-self to hire : and grauntede hire bone.
                      
                        ¶ "Cum forth," he seide, "mi suete leman : mi leue spouse al-so:
                      
                        heuene-ȝat a-ȝein þe I-opened is : þare þou schalt comen to."
                      
                        A quellare hire heued of smot. : þat folk þat a-boute heom stode,
                      
                        Ȝwijt Milk heo i-seiȝen eorne out of þe wounde : and nouȝt o drope of blode.
                      
                        Aungles comen and nomen þat bodi : a-mong alle þe manne
                        Line 292 
                      
                        And to þe hul of synay it beren : tuenti Iorneies þanne,
                      
                        And bureden it þare In one faire place : wit grete nobleye and riche;
                      
                        Þare þoruȝ Ihesu cristes grace : hire bones restez ȝuyte.
                      
                        Þare-of ȝeot to þis day : þare eornez eoille wel riue,
                        Line 296 
                      
                        Ȝware-with manie sike Men : beoz to hele i-brouȝt and to liue;
                      
                        Wide In londe it is i-lad : þat ho-so it habbe mote,
                      
                        Noble relike it is al-so : sike Men to don bote.
                      
                        Þre hundred ȝer and twenti : after þat god was i-bore,
                        Line 300 
                      
                        I-Martred was þis holie Maide : of ȝwam we tolden bi-fore.

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                        Ihesu crist, for þe suete loue : of seinte Katerine
                      
                        graunti us þe Ioye of heuene : and schilde us fram helle pine.
                      
                        Amen amen, segge we alle : for is holie tyme.
                        Line 304

Notes

MS. gon

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MS. seide seide

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MS. heom heom

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MS. ich þou

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superscribed later.

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superscribed.

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= heo

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omit in is boke

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r. oþer

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added.

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al. soþ

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om.

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al. seiȝen heo

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al. of þat

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d. l. wr. by a later hand on an erasure.

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al. smite

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r. þat men

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r. hire to

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r. smite

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om. in

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The early South-English legendary ; or, Lives of saints. I. Ms. Laud, 108, in the Bodleian library. Edited by Carl Horstmann.

About this Item

Pages

25 Katerine.

description Page 93

description Page 94

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Notes

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