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

APPENDIX. [The following two Legends are added at the end of MS. Laud by a later hand.]

73 Vita & passio sancti Blasii martyris.

Seynt blase wel clene lyf ladde, wiþoute any hore; [folio 228b] In þe lond of capadoce þis godeman was I-bore. ffor his godnesse cristenemen bisschop him wolde make; Nolde he nat of swich power, ac gan it anon for-sake. Line 4 ffor he it nolde in none manere, he fley out of þe londe In wildernesse to a dep valeye, .ȝ. [ȝ = &.] þer he gan to astonde. Pryueliche he wonede þer, .ȝ. hudde him swiþe longe, And seruede god wel; in penance he duelde swiþe stronge. Line 8 Wilde bestes þat þer were, a-boute him comen þikke, [ȝ] solaseden him, for he was one; his lymes þei wolden likke. Whan any of hem sike were, to him he [= heo, hi] wolden a-non, And arst ar he hem blessede, nane fot fro him nolden gon. Line 12 Ech sik beste sone hol was whan þei hadde his blessinge; Þoru godes grace fro fer to him he comen for þis þingge. [v. 13-14 al. om.] — Þe luþer iustise of þe lond, þat het agrycolas, his men to hunten owt he sente, þer þis gode man was. Line 16 As þei wenden, hem þoute wounder þ^t he so fewe deer founde. he be-hulde into þe depe : þo seye þei on þe grounde Swiþe fele der a-boute aman, þat he [al. om.] sat hem a-mydde A-kne, ȝ be-held to heuene-ward, his beden forto bydde; Line 20 Þese bestes a-louten alle to him-ward. In gret þout þes honten were; he wenten ȝ tolde þe Iustise al þat þei seye þere. he het hem a-ȝen wende ȝ. him [al. om.] seche, ȝif [r. ȝ ȝif] þei him [al. om.] fonde þer gon, Any cristene man, þat hi scholde to-fore him bringge a-non. Line 24 Þo ȝe [= he, heo] comen .ȝ. seint blase founde, he seyden : "þou schalt aryse ȝ. come wiþ ous, ȝ speke anon wiþ þe heye Iustise." "Mine leue sones," seint blase seyde, "ȝe ben to me welcome; ffor now ich wot þat Ihesu crist to me haueþ ȝeme I-nome. Line 28

Line 28 Go we nou forþ in his name, Ich wot he wile vs lede; Ne leueþ nat to don be me al þat he ȝou [al. ȝoure maister] sede." As þei ladde þis holy man toward þe Iustise, Prechinde he turnede many on to oure louerdes seruise; Line 32 Blynde .ȝ. deue .ȝ dombe also .ȝ. þ^t oþer siknesse hadde, Many on to hele he brouȝthe, als me him forþ ladde; Wilde bestes þat sike were, ourne to him also As men him ladde, .ȝ. fette here hele als þei hadde arst i-do.— Line 36 A ȝong child, als he et [MS. het] his mete, a bon schet in his þrote; Al astrangled ȝ ded it lay, þo it was in i-schote. his moder nadde no child bote þat; greth doel ȝe made wiþ-alle, To-fore seint blase ȝe bar þis child .ȝ. as wod gan doun falle, Line 40 ȝ bad he scholde hire sone hele. þis god man his hond vp nom ȝ. blesse[de] it : ȝ þat bon out schet, ȝ þat child hol be-com. "Louerd," seyde þis gode man, "grante me a bone : Þat man in what yuel biddeþ to me, I-here him wel sone Line 44 Ȝif he seye þese wordes to þe : 'louerd cryst, þin ore! [folio 229] ffor loue of seint blase, þi sergeant, help [me] of þis [MS. his] sore!' " In worschipe of godes holy name, who-so him bid þis bone ffor loue of seint blase in good entente, he worþ i-herd wel sone.— Line 48 A pouere wif-man þer was also, þat bote on sowe hadde; a wolf awey to wode it ber. on seint blase loude ȝe gradde Þat he scholde of hire swyne helpe. seint blase low a-non. "Ne dred te noþing of þe wolf, þei he be an yuel swon! Line 52 "A-byd, mayster, ȝ com aȝeyn ȝ bring þis swyn a-now [orig. a-non, corr. to a-now al. nou] To þis pore wifman, þat haþ þerto betere ryȝt þan þou!" Þe wilde beste com aȝen ȝ þat swyn doun a [r. adoun] leyde Al harmles ate wydewe fot, as þe holy man him seyde. Line 56 ffor þer nas no wilde beste þat he nadde to his heste, ffor he hym [r. hem] held, as ȝe habbeþ i-herd, ȝ made wiþ hem gret feste.— Þo he at-fore þe iustise cam, "wel-come, blase," he seyde, "Þou louest oure godes ȝ art here frend; he willen þe wisse ȝ rede." Line 60 "heil be þou, iustise," seint blase seyde, "ȝ alle þat þe i-seþ! Ne clepe nat þes godes so fair a name, for pure deflen he beþ. ffor who þ^t euere [al. hi & hoso] on hem beleueþ, schullen into [al. in] helle pyne Ene ȝ. euere tormentud be, þe lord ȝ ek his hyne." Line 64 Þis iustise for wraþþe anon let hym strepe al nakud, [ȝ] wiþ harde skourges on hym legge; many wounde on him was makud. Euere he seyde, as men hym beet : "ȝe ne turneþ nat my þout; My louerd ihesu is al myn help, .I ne drede ȝou ryȝt nowth." Line 68 Þo he hym hadde longe i-bete þat he wery were,

he him deden in strong prison, to tormenten him þere. Þat wifman þat seint blase hadde þe swyn þe wolf be-nome, Þo þat he in prison was, ȝ þe tidinge to hire icome, Line 72 Ȝe slou þat swyn, ȝ bar to [al. om.] seint blase boþe heued ȝ feet To þe prison, wel [MS. wel wel] y-sode; ȝ þe godeman þar-of eth. "Wifman," he seyde, "for þe kyndenesse þou hast me her I-do, wexe ȝ eche þine bestes schulle, ȝ þin oþer þing also. Line 76 Ȝ euerich [man] her-afteward þat me haueþ in mynde ȝ honoureþ me wiþ any of his orf, al þulke beste kynde prouen it schal þe bet wiþ him, ȝ al þat him comeþ to;" Akne he bad to oure louerd crist þat it moste ben so.— Line 80 Atfore þe iustise an oþer day seint blase was i-brout. Þo he i-say þat he ne myȝtte aȝen god torne his þout, Mid ropes him hengen [al. hi h. him] on a tre. be-neþe þer stode I-nowe Tormentours wiþ oules kene, ȝ al his fless to-drowe; Line 84 as men wiþ combes wolle to-drauþ, his fless þer-wiþ he tere. Euere prechede þis holy man, as þei him noþing nere. Þo he hym ne myȝtten so ouer-come, to prison aȝen him bere— ffor his lymes him nolde bere, so he to-drawe were. Line 88 as me bar þe godeman, he stremede al o-blode. [folio 229b] seue wifmen þat cristene were, be-helde [þis] [om.] as þei stode : Þei ȝeden ȝ gadereden of þe blod, for it was holden relik, Þer-wiþ hem smere ȝ sum to wyte, to smere þerwiþ þe sike. Line 92 Þo þe luþere men þis i-seye, . faste he hem toke, ȝ bad hem honure here godes; .ȝ al þat he for-soke. Þei seyde : "ȝour godes vn-clene beþ, þerfore ȝe vs hem lene, ȝ bring hem to þe faire water, we schullen hem wassche clene, Line 96 ȝ we hem willeþ honure, als ȝe vs willeþ rede." Þis [iustise] was ryȝth glad; his godes to þe water he let lede. Þes wifmen nomen þese maumettes, wan þider ȝe [corr. to he?] were bi-swonke, ȝ casten hem into þe depe water; a-non þe schrewen sonken. Line 100 "Nou we biddeþ ȝou selue helpuþ, [al. Biddeþ hi seide hom sulue helpe] oþer ȝoure [al. hore] myȝtte is schronke. Why nelle he nat comen vp to helpe ȝou? Ich wene he beþ a-dronke." Þes wreches wiþ poles ȝ wiþ hokes here godes a-non soute; wiþ drery chere ȝ vnneþe he hem to londe broutthe. Þis Iustise was for wraþþe wod, loude he gradde ȝ chidde; Line 105 A wel strong fur he let þer make .ȝ caste þes wifmen amydde. welled led ȝe þrewen on hem, vnneþe it þoute hem warm; Þat fur be-gan to quenche a-non; non of hem nadde harm. Line 108 wel wroþ was þis Iustise þo, ȝ wel loude gradde; he hem let honge opon a tre, as he arst seint blase hadde.

wiþ oules he to-drowen here fless, as he be-neþe stode; Non oþer þan whyt mylk out of hem com, in stede of here blode. Line 112 Euere þe more men hem to-drowe, þe gladdere he were; "Sire Iustise, it is for nout, þus [r. þu] ne quellest vs nat to-ȝere. Ȝif þou vs wilt don oþer þing, bringge it sone to ende, Þat we mowe to Ihesu crist; we wilneþ þider wende." Line 116 Þis Iustise het þat me scholde here heuedes of smyte anon. Þese wyfman to-ward here martirdom glade gonne gon. Þat on wifman hadde tweye sones, þat cristene were also; he wepe for here moder deþ, he nuste neuere elles what do; Line 120 Þei hengen on hire, ȝ nolden hire fro nat o fote gon, Ȝe sworen ȝe wolden þan deþ a-fonge wiþ hire þer a-non. Gret doel hadde þe moder of hem, for ȝe of elde nere; Ȝe ne [MS. ne ne] myȝtte it for noþing se þat þei martired were, [al. 2 vv. more.] Line 124 he criede opon þe tormentoures þ^t he hem ne sscholde sle: ȝ he hem let here wey so ȝonge alyue gon aȝe, And nome ȝ smyten þe heuedes of þese wifmen alle seuene. Aungles þere soules alle ladde to þe blisse of heuene. Line 128 Þe children gret dol for here moder maden in alle wyse; Þo me nolde hem asle, he ronne to þe iustise, Ȝ seyde þat ȝe cristene were, ȝ þat his lawe nas nawth, Ȝ þat he scholde myd his godes to pyne of helle ben brouth. Line 132 Þe iustise let þes children nyme, þei ȝe ȝonge were; In depe prison ȝe weren i-cast, to tormenten hem þere. Wel glad were þes ȝunge, þo ȝe were y-nome, [folio 230] ffor he hopeden y-martired be, ȝ to heuene-blisse come. Line 136 Þo let þe Iustise anon after seint blase sende, Ȝ het him [MS. hem] honure here godes, ȝ his þout sone wende. "It is for naut," seint blase seyde, "þou ne schalt it nat make Þat ich wreche stones honure, ȝ Ihesu crist for-sake. Line 140 Do wiþ my body what þou wilt, of whom þou hast power; Of my soule ne hast þou [non], it nis nat in þi power." Þer was a water swyþe depe : þe iustise atte laste, ffor-to adranche þis holy man, amyddes he let him caste. Line 144 Signe of þe crois seint blase made : vp [MS. vp fro] þe water he ȝede dreye, Vp ȝ doun als vpe druye lond, ne myȝte þe water him nuye. "Wreche," he seyde, "her þou myȝt se wich is godes myȝth! Loke ȝif ȝoure godes so hardi be þat þei [al. Beþ ȝe so hardi vp ȝoure godes : þat ȝe] doren here a-lyȝth!" Line 148 ffifue ȝ sixti of proute hynen lupen into þe water a-non, Ȝ treste to meche to here godes, ȝ adreynten euerichon. Þo weren þo þat stode a-rowe, [al. þe oþere þe arwere] ech be oþer as þei stode,

Þer ne dorste non of hem to þem go for depe of þe flode. Line 152 Seint blase ȝede vp ȝ doun, ȝ an aungel to him com Ȝ seyde : "þou take þe blisse of heuene þoru þi martirdom!" Þis godeman þonkede ihesu crist, þ^t his aungel to him sende; Ȝ þo his [fon] [om. al. þe oþer] ne dorste comen hym ney, aȝen to londe he wende. he seyde : "nou ȝe ben agast forto comen to me, I come to ȝou in godes name, for I ȝou nelle fle." Þo schon his face as þe sonne, wiþ leme swiþe bryȝthe; Þer nas [non] þat for bryȝthnesse his face sen [MS. þ^t sen] myȝthe. Line 160 Þer were eyȝtte ȝ twenti men .ȝ sixti men also Þat leueden in god for þe miracle þat þere was I-do. I-nome he were wiþ þis gode man, to-fore þe iustise ben brouth. Þe iustise bad seint blase ȝ hem change here þout. Line 164 Þo he sey þei nolde it do, he het [MS. let] his men a-non to smyten of wiþoute þe toun here hefdes euerichon. Þes twey children in prison were; loude he gonne grede Þat me hem scholde to martyrdom wiþ seint blase lede, Line 168 Ȝ seyden : "wharto wilie [= wil ȝe] vs wyte, wreches, in þis hurne? ffor nawth it is þat ȝe weneþ oure þout fro gode turne." Me nomen þe children ȝ ladden hem forþ wiþ oþere to martirdom. Seint blase him sat doun akne, þo he þider com: Line 172 "Louerd ihesu, ȝif it is þi wille, ane bone bidde I. þe: Ȝif þat any man in his annuy habbe mynde of me, In cas of peryl oþer of yuel, oþer ȝif þer is I-schote Bon oþer stre, oþer oþur þing I-comen [al. into eny] in mannes þrote, Line 176 Ȝ he bidde myn help to þe, be daye oþer be nyȝtte, Graunte me þis bone, swete ihesu, for þin holy miȝtte. Ȝif any man assigneþ aut of his in þe honour of me, [folio 230b] Of corn, of orf, of oþer þing, Louerd, ich bidde þe Line 180 Þat al his þing mote [al. om.] þe betere preue, for þi swete myȝthe." Þer cam fram heuene a bryȝth myst ȝ an-oward him a-lyȝthe; Þer-inne oure louerd lyȝtte adoun, to þis holy man he seyde: "Blase, my leue frend, be glad, of deþ haue þou no drede! Line 184 Al þi bone i þe graunte þat þou hast beden here. heye þe nou, ȝ comeþ wiþ me, þou ȝ þine twey [al. triwe] fere!" he was so glad þat god wiþ him spak ȝ grauntede him his bone, "Doþ," seyde he to þe tormentores, "al þat ȝe habbeþ to done." Line 188 Þe tormentores smyten of his heued, .ȝ alle his feren also, Ȝ þe twey childre, þat glad were he myȝtten come þer-to. Sebast hyȝtte þat cite þer seint blase was i-bore, Ȝ þer his heued was of y-smyte—him schamede nat þerfore. Line 192

Line 192 Þe bone þat he hadde i-bede, cristenemen it vnderstode: In þe honurance of seint blase he parteden of here gode: Þe betere preuede al here [on the margin added oþer] god, .ȝ. ȝeth it doþ al-so, In þe stede wher his ymage is, . þei findeþ it wel y-do. Line 196 Ȝ who is in stable beleue, ȝ wille to sein blase crye, Ȝ ȝifue of his good in honur of hym, god nelle nat for him lye. God leue þat we parti mote of þe heye blisse Þere þat seint blase is Inne i-brout, þat we þer-offe ne mysse. amen

74 Vita & passio sancte Cecilie virginis & martiris.

Seinte Cecilie, of noble kynde I-bore ȝe was at rome; Oure louerd crist ȝe louede wel ar ȝe fram cradel come. Stilleliche ȝe hire let baptiȝe, as we fynden I-wryte; To oure louerd crist ȝe bad ȝerne hire maydenhod to wyte. Line 4 So þat þoru strengþe of hire frendes I-spoused ȝe was to a man Of gret nobleye ȝ of richesse, his name was Vallerian. Þis mayde werede robe of pal ȝ cloþes swiþe riche, Garlaundes ȝ tressoures of gold—þe here next hire liche. Line 8 Whane ȝe herde menstrales song, . ȝe song in hire menstralcie, [Ash. Wen þe m. songe hor song: of hor m.] Þis mayde stiliche song of god ȝ of his moder marye. A vers of þe psalter hire song was, wer-on was mast hire þout: "Lat, louerd, myn herte wiþoute wem be, þ^t it confundet be naut!" Line 12 A-nyȝt as ȝe was in riche bed wiþ hire lord i-brouth, Sone he hadde of folye þis clene mayde be-sout. "Swete herte," þis mayde seyde, "for loue þou hast to me, Graunte me y mowe þe telle a litel pryuete, Line 16 Þat ich me mowe þerof schryue, ȝ. þ^t þou it wille hele." "Certes, lemman," þis ȝungman seyde, "noþing telle I nele." "Suete lemman," þis mayde seyde, "in warde icham I-do: An aungel of heuene is my wardeyn, ȝ my lemman þer-to. Line 20 Wel faste he stant her bi me. ȝif he vnderȝete Þat þou be-nome my maydenhod, noþing nolde he lete Þat he ne wolde harde smyte, ȝ be-nyme þe þi myȝtte [folio 231] Of þi ȝungnesse ȝ of noble stat, for þou ne myȝth wiþ him fyȝtthe. Line 24 Ac ȝif he wiste þou louedest me in gode loue ȝ clene, Wytte [MS. wytie?] he wolde þe als he deþ me, ȝ al yuel fro þe ȝene." "Ȝif þou wilt," seyde Vallerian, "þat ich I-leue þis, Þen angel þou most me schewe, þat I se hym I-wis; Line 28 Ȝ wanne I þat soþe i-se, þat þou hast soþ i-seyd, In clenesse for-soþe þi wille I do, al after þi red. Ȝif I se þat in folye þou louest anoþer þan me,

No-þing ne schal ȝou helpe, þat I ne sle him ȝ þe." Line 32 "Swete herte," seyde þat mayde, "ȝ þou wile þe aungel se, Þou most bileuen on Ihesu crist ȝ I-cristned be, Ȝ sen him þou schalt ȝif þou wilt so; he þe wile wytte [MS. wytie?] fro helle, So gret ioye of oure loue schal be þat no tunge ne may telle. Line 36 Ac henne ouer þre myle þou most gon þe wey to [al. of] apye; Þere [pore] men þou schalt fynde on Ihesu crist faste crye, Sey þ^t ich to hem þe sende, ȝ þ^t he þe teche anon Whar is seint vrban þe holi old man, for þou most to him gon, Line 40 ffor priue counseil þou wilt wiþ him speke. ȝ he þe schal baptiȝe. Ȝ þanne þou schalt þan angel se, ȝ do as he þe wile wise." Vallerian a-ros a-non, as oure louerd him ȝaf wille, To þe stede þe mayde bad he wende forþ wel stille. Line 44 Þes pore men him taute a-non to þe olde seint vrban; he fond him in an old for-late stede, þat [r. þer] wonede neuere man, Among puttes ȝ burieles als men cristene men þreu After þat he martired were, men anye kneu(!) Line 48 To his feet he ful a-doun a-kne, als-sone as [overlined.] [he] to him come, Ȝ seyde þat cesilie send him þider to asken cristendome. "Louerd, I-herd be þi myȝtte," seyde seint vrban, "Weþer þis be þat Luþere werreor men clepuþ vallerian? Line 52 Were cecilie haue him now y-mad, him þ^t was so wilde Ȝ more tyrant þan any wolf, als a lomb he is [om. he is] now mylde?" Þo com þer go a swiþe old man a lyȝtthe fro heuene þer, hor, wiþ whyte vestemens, a swiþe fair wryt he ber. Line 56 Þo vallerian it [al. him] I-sey, a-doun he fel for drede; Seint vrban nom him vp aȝen . ȝ gan him forþ lede. Þis halewe of heuene tok him þat wryt, ȝ bad him forto rede. Vallerian tok it anon, & þus þe wordes sede: Line 60 "On [MS. Oure] louerd is, .ȝ. on bi-leue, .ȝ on baptiȝingge, On god .ȝ fader of alle þat beþ, þ^t oueral is .ȝ in eche þingge." "I-leuestou þis," quaþ seint vrban, "þat þou dost her I-se?" "Þer nis noþing," quaþ þis oþer, "þat bet to leue be." Line 64 After þis whyte man he be-held; he nuste wher he be-cam. Seint vrban him nom a-non, ȝ ȝaf him cristendom. To sein Cecilie he wente aȝen, þo he was þare is fulle: [folio 231b] he fond hire chambre lyȝth wiþ-inne, .ȝ swiþe swote smulle. Line 68 he fond cecilie, his gode spouse, ȝ an aungel wiþ hire stonde, Bryȝttere þan any leme [MS. lome] ; twey garlondes he hadde on honde, Of rose ȝ of lilie swote; þat on, cecilie he tok, Ȝ þat oþer, vallerian, as we fynden in bok. Line 72

Line 72 "Wyteþ þis wiþ trewe loue, wiþ chaste body ȝ clene, Ich hem habbe fro heuene i-brouȝth, oure lord hem doþ ȝou lene; ffor-falewe ne olde wille þei nat, ac euere he willeþ laste. Two manere floures þer beþ on, nelle neuere here heu caste; Line 76 Þe lilie be-tokneþ ȝoure maydenhod, þ^t is so whyt ȝ swote, Þe rose be-tokneþ ȝoure martirdom; for þer-on deye ȝe mote. And for þou dest, vallerian, cecilie red so sone, What þou be-sekest of my lord, he wille þe graunte sone." Line 80 "I ne wille [al. wilny] noþing so miche," seyde vallerian, "Bote [al. As] þat Tiburs, [MS. Tiburft] my broþer, wiþ me were cristeneman." "Mi lord," quaþ þis aungel, "wile ȝiuen þat ilke grace, Ȝ boþe ȝe schulle I-martired be at o tyme, in o place." Line 84 Þe aungel [wende] wiþ þis word, he nuste wher he be-com. Þis two clene þingges ioye I-now ech of oþer nom. Tiburs com to chambre ȝ spac [al. to speke] wiþ his broþer þere: he stod ȝ be-held al-a-boute als he nuste wher he were; Line 88 "Broþer," he seyde, "hou goþ þis? þis tyme of þe ȝere So swote smul ne smelde I neuere, me þinkþ, as I do here! Þei þis hous were ful of newe roses ȝ of lylie also, I ne myȝtte hem versschere smelle, me þinkþ, þan I now do. Line 92 So ful ich am al of þe smul, ȝ so muche it is in my þout, Þat Ich am for-soþe in an-oþer wytte I-brouth." "Leue broþer," quaþ vallerian, "garlandes we habbeþ here Of floures þat þou ne myȝt i-se bote þou were oure fere. Line 96 als þou hast þane swote smel þar-of for oure bone, Ȝif þou wilt be-leue as we, þou myȝt sen hem sone." "Leue broþer," seyde þis oþer, "wheþur it be soþ þis, Oþer I stonde in matyngge .ȝ mete þat so it is?" Line 100 "In metyngge," quaþ vallerian, "we habbeþ euere I-be; Nou we ben ferst of slepe a-waked, nou we mowe ferst i-se." "Sestow nou bet," quaþ þis oþer, "þan þou hast er I-do?" "Ȝe," seyde vallerian, "wel sone [al. om.] me be-houeþ so, Line 104 ffor my lordes aungel of heuene haþ I-ȝoue me syȝth; Ȝ for oure loue he þe schal also, ȝif þou wile leue a-ryȝth." Þo seyde þis holy mayde: "tibors, leue broþer, What ben maumettes bote wrechedhede? þou sest on hem non oþer. Ne sestou þat þese maumets ben mad of old tre? Þing þ^t ne may him-sulf helpe, hou myȝte it hel[p]e þe?" [folio 232] Line 110 "No-þing nis soþere," quaþ tiburs, [MS. tiburus] "þanne þat þou hast i-seyd; Gydiere he were þan any beste þat nolde don þi red." Line 112 Seinte cecilie him custe a-non: "leue tiburs," he seyde,

"To-day þou schalt my broþer be, for þou wilt don be rede. Þoru clene loue ȝ good be-leue þi broþer my spouse is, Þar-þoru þou schalt be-come also my broþer when þou art his. Line 116 Mid Vallerian þou most go to þe bisschop Vrban Ȝ be cristned, ȝ do also as he þe rede can." "Is þat vrban," quaþ tiburs, "þat so ȝerne haþ be souȝth, Þat ȝare haþ be fleme ȝ hud? ȝ ȝif he were forþ brouȝth, Line 120 ffor-berne he scholde, ȝ we also, ȝif we wiþ him were; Ȝ so þe while we heuene souȝthen, for-barnd we scholde ben here." "Ȝif þer nere," quaþ þis mayde, "onliche bote þis lyf, ffol he were þat it wolde [lese] for any-maner strif; Line 124 Ȝ seþe þer is so mury lif þer þat we schulle after a-fonge, ffol is þat nelle a whyle ben wo, to be in ioye so longe." "Leue broþer," quaþ tiburs, "þou haue merci of me Ȝ led me to þat gode man, ich be-seche þe." Line 128 Þat o broþer þat oþer ladde to þe bisschop Vrban; Þar he for-sok his foule lawe, ȝ be-cam cristene man. Tiburs, þo he com aȝen, þan aungel sey a-non Þat cecilie him hadde be-hote, in þe chambre wiþ hire gon.— Line 132 Cecilie, for ȝe wyfman was, at hom ȝe moste a-byde; Ak þese breþeren, þat men were, a-boute wenten wyde, And whane me martyreden cristenemen, þider he wolden gon Ȝ stele to whan [MS. whom] he myȝtte best, ȝ burien hem [MS. him] a-non. Line 136 Als þei burieden twey godemen þat y-martired were, Come þe emperoures men .ȝ nomen hem ryȝt þere. To-fore þe Iustise he weren i-brouth. þei [al. me] askede hem [MS. him] a-non: "Who made ȝou so hardi to burie þe emperoures foon, Line 140 Þe mys-bi-leuede trichours þ^t were aȝen oure lawe, Þat wiþ ryȝth Iugement of þe lond were i-brout of dawe?" "Sire, we wolde," þis oþere seyde, "þat we worþi were here knaues forto habbe I-be, þat þou let quelle þare! Line 144 he leften þing þat nas nawt, þei it semblance hadde, Ȝ toke good þing þat was ȝ worþ .ȝ. no semblance nadde. Þe worldes ioye, þat haþ semblance, for so[þe] nawt it nys; And þei þe blisse of heuen þinke lite, . mechul ȝ swete it is." Line 148 "Beaus amys, me þynkþ þat ȝe ben wode: worþe he is to habbe wo, who-so ne keput nat of gode." "In wynter," quaþ Vallerian, "Idel men sitten ȝ drynkun, To bismere he leyen here [al. erþe] tilien þat a-boute sowynge swynkeþ; Line 152 In heruest, whan þe swynkeres moweþ fair schef ȝ good ȝ rype, [al. erþe] In meseyse ȝe mowen gon vp ȝ doun, he nabbeþ neuere agripe:

Als we schulle for oure trauayl In blisse rype atte ende, [folio 232b] whanne ȝe schulle for ȝoure ioye to helle wepynde wende." Line 156 "Ek he [al. we] ," seyde þe Iustise, "þat Lordes scholde be, Beþ lasse worþ þan swiche wreches, þat nolde neuere þe?" "Certes," quaþ vallerian, "þou art lasse i-told Þan is a saly beggere aȝen god, ne be þou neuere so bold." Line 160 "Bel amy," quaþ þe Iustise, "yne kepe nat of þi Ianglyngge. Doþ ȝoure sacrefise a-non, oþer me schal ȝou to deþe bringge." "Certes," quaþ þis godeman, "þou ne bringgest me neuere þerto." Þe Iustise hem let a-non in strong prisone do. Line 164 Maxime þe gayler [het] þat hem in warde nom; So þat he ȝ alle his þorw hem cristene bi-com. Seinte cecilie com be þe prison; loude ȝe gan grede : "What do ȝe, godes knytes? kuþeþ ȝour staleworthede! Line 168 Fyȝteþ nou staleworþliche, to leue þis derkhede, Þat ȝe were in þe weye i-brouth þ^t to cler lyȝt schal ȝou lede." Opon þe morue, to þe maumets þis gode men were brouth. Þe Iustise het hem don sacrifise; ac þei ne wolde nat. Line 172 here heued he let of smyte, ȝ maxime it [al. om.] I-sey Whare aungles here soules nome ȝ to heuene baren an hey. To þe Iustise he ȝede anon : "cristene ich am," he sede, "Ich i-sey þe godemannes [al. menne] soule aungles to heuene lede." Line 176 Þe Iustise him let nymen a non, naked he let him bete Wiþ stronge skourgen, faste i-bounde, forto he gan þat lif lete. Þe body þei casten wiþoute þe toun. þo gan cecilie forþ gon : Þese þre holy martires ȝe burede to-gydere a-non. Line 180 [Ȝe was sone i-nome ȝ ilad before þe Iustise þo.] [This v. om.] "What," sede he, "hou goþ þis? beþ þer ȝet schrewen mo? artou Vallerianus wif? be þe fey Ich owe mahoun, Bote þou oþer do, þi wyth [al. wite heu] worþ sone I-brouth a-doun. Line 184 Of what kynne artou of y-come, þ^t þus foleliche wilt [al. þe doþ] lere?" "Of betere kunne," quaþ cecilie, "þan þou euere were." "In wich-maner lif," quaþ þis oþer, "þenkest tou to lyue?" "ffor-soþe þou axest as a fol, ȝ swich ansuere me schul þe ȝiue. Line 188 for al þi poer, þou schalt i-se, be þat þou wost þen ende, Þat þou ne schalt fro ihesu cryst ones myn herte wende." "hou comeþ it þe," seyde þe iustise, "to be so hardy her, To clepe me fol þat am þi maister? ne sixte nower my per. [al. poer] " Line 192 "Þi per, [al. poer] wreche," quaþ þis mayde, "worþ sone i-brouȝth be-hynde, for it nis bote a bladre I-blowe fol of a wreche wynde; be it wiþ a litel prikke I-priked, a-wey it schrinkeþ al :

Als þi caroigne wiþ siknesse, wreche, a-dwyne schal. [folio 233] Line 196 Þi poer þat þou ȝelpest of, boþe is þenne ȝ lite." "hou goþ þis, dame?" seyde þe Iustise, "whenne comeþ al þis prute? I may þe ȝiue deþ ȝ lif, as þou sixt myd þin eye." "Certes," quaþ þe mayde þo, "þou lixt þer-of wel heye : Line 200 a wreche caroyne þou myȝth ȝiue, ȝ [al. om.] deþ þat wel schort is, Ak of lyf ne myȝtte no-þing ȝiue þi-selue nat, i-wis. Seþe þou myȝth ȝiue deþ ȝ no lif, me þinkþ be pur ryȝtte Þat þou art deþes seriant, for of lif hasto no myȝtte. Line 204 ffor [al. &] whan þou deþes sergeant art, deþ þi louerd is, Ȝ in deþ wiþ-outen ende þou wilt be, I-wis." "Dame," quaþ þe iustise, "of þi gydihede ne kepe ich ryȝth nowth. Do sacrifise to oure godes, oþer þou worst to deþe i-brouth!" Line 208 "Þou seist þat ich gydi am," seinte cecilie sede, "Ac þou art gydi, ȝ ek blind, i-sene is on þi rede. Scholde I honure þine [godes] ymad of ston ȝ tre? I nelle it do, for-soþe, for þou ne myȝt nat I-se. Line 212 Bote þou myȝth i-se þat art blynd [al. Bote þ^u Þ^u blynd, Þ^u miȝt ise] , . þat þis þing soþ is; Ȝif þou sixt .ȝ. ne leuest it naut, gydi þou art, I-wys, for gydi he is þat nelle I-leue þat he seþ myd his eye; Gydi ȝ blind þou schalt deye, in helle pyne deye." Line 216 Þo ferde þe schrewe as he were wod, he het þis mayde take Ȝ leden in-to an out-hous, ȝ a greth fur make, Ȝ þer-ouer a led-ful of water, ȝ al amydde hire caste, To seþe hire þer while any Lime hol on hire I-laste. Line 220 Þo þis Iuggement was I-ȝiue, ȝ men hire forþ ladde, Wifmen ȝ men þat [it] i-seye, loude ȝe wopen ȝ gradde, "Allas," þei seyde, "þat þis ȝongge þing, [MS. þis] þus fair a creature, Schal nou lese hire ȝongge lif, ȝ deye þoru þe fure!" Line 224 "Beþ stille," quaþ þis holi mayde, "for me ne wepeþ nout! Mi ȝongge lif ne lese I nowth, ac to lyue Icham i-brouth. Ane schorte deþ I schal a-vonge, ȝ lif wiþ-outen ende; ffol he were þat nolde also. god he [al. om.] me sone hyne sende." Line 228 Men casten hire in þe seþing water. þar-Inne al nyȝt ȝe seeþ; Þe lengere ȝe þer-inne sat, þe ferþere ȝe was hire deeþ; Wiþ þe welmes ȝe sat ȝ pleyde, ȝ prechede of godes grace. Mo þan four hondred be-come cristene in þat place. Line 232 Þe Iustise sey þat he myȝtte in swich deþ hire quelle naut : he het of smyte hire heued, þat ȝe were to deþe i-brout. Þe quellere hire smot wiþ al his mayn þre siþe in þe swere, he ne smot it nat fulliche of, hire deþ was bouth to dere! Line 236

Line 236 No quellere ne moste be þulke daye smyte oftere þan þrie; [folio 233b] half-slawe he leuede hire so; a-weyward he gan hye. Nou an yuel stede gon he mote, for he was a schrewe! Wo dede he þat holy mayde, gulteles hire so to hewe, Line 240 Ȝ bi-lefte [al. beleue] hire so half a-lyue; welle, wo him be! ffor who-so nuste of no doel, þer men myȝtte it se : Þis holi mayde ȝede a-boute, hire heued half of-smyte, Ȝ was half quik ȝ half ded, þat rewþe it was to wyte; Line 244 Ȝ pouere men mechel of hire good ȝe delde wiþ hire honde— It was a wel fair grace of god þat ȝe aut myȝtte stonde. Ȝe prechede, ȝ to Ihesu cryst many a god man wende, Ȝ alle to seint vrban þe bisschop to baptiȝe ȝe hem sende, Line 248 Ȝ bad þat he scholde hire hous þat ȝe hadde woned Inne halewen in oure louerdes name ȝ a churche þer bigynne, And burien þere hire swete body, ȝ þat oure louerdes seruise Vpe his poer þer-inne were i-do on alle-kynne wyse. Line 252 Þe þridde day after hire martirdom þe mayde a-doun lay, And prechede to þe cristenemen, ȝ bad hem habbe god day, Ȝ seyde : "now ich habbe i-do al þat my wille is to, Wende I wile to Ihesu crist, ȝ ȝe schulle also." Line 256 Þis was two hundred ȝer ȝ þre ȝ twenti ryȝth After þat oure louer[d] was in his moder a-lyȝth. Nou bidde we oure swete louerd, for hire martirdom, To bringge vs to þat ioye þat hire soule to com. [After this there follows: 75. S. Alexius, in six-lined stanzas, ed. by me in Herrig's Archiv, 1873, and by Furnivall for the Early English Text Society, Original Series, no. 69.] —Amen. Line 260