Adam Davy's 5 dreams about Edward II. The Life of St. Alexius. Solomon's book of wisdom. St. Jeremie's [Jerome's] 15 tokens before doomsday. The Lamentacion of souls. Ed. from the Laud ms. 622 in the Bodleian library by F.J. Furnivall

[Vernon MS., leaf 44.]

Sitteþ stille with-outen strif, And i wol tellen ou of a lyf Of an holy Mon; Line 3 Alix was his nome. To seruen god þhuȝte him no schome, þer-of neuer he ne blon. Line 6

his fadur was a gret lording, Of rome a kyngus euenyng,

and hihte Eufemian. Line 9 Pore men to cloþe and fede, In al rome, þat riche þeode, such nas þer nan. Line 12

eueri day were in his halle I-leid þreo bordus, forte calle pore Men to fede. Line 15 Hem to serue he was wel glad; he dude as iesu crist him bad; he hoped þerfore to haue mede. Line 18

Line 18

whon he was serued bi and bi, þenne was he redi to go to his mete; Line 21 ffor þe loue of Godes sone, wiþ Men of Religione wolde he sitte and ete. Line 24

¶ His wyf hiȝte dame Agloes, to sigge soþ with-oute les, þat muche was to preyse. Line 27

Line 27 But heo dede þe same manere as dede hir lord, as ȝe may here, was heo nout at ese. Line 30

Children bi-twene hem hedde þei none, þer-of to god þei maden heor mone boþe dai & niht. Line 33 Iesu crist herde her bone, & sende hem a ful good sone, heor herte forte liht. Line 36

Line 36

[folio 44b] So sone was bore þat blisful child, Alix boþe meke and Mild, and of maners hende. Line 39 sone after wiþ gret hast, þei Auouwede boþe chast to heore lyues ende. Line 42

Line 42

þer-aftur was hit not longe, Alix couþe speke and gonge, and was i-set to lere; Line 45 sone he was a wel god clerk, & muche he loued godus werk forte speke & here. Line 48

Line 48

As time as he bi-gon to belde, and was i-come to Monnes elde, him was chosen a wyf, Line 51

Line 51 Out of þe Emperors bour, a maiden god with gret honour, to wedden wiþ-oute strif. Line 54

Line 54

¶ whon heo weren weddet þe furste niȝt, in godus lawe as hit was riȝt, & weren i-brouȝt to house, Line 57 Mekeliche he gon hire teche to drede god of sunne is leche, þat is Maidenes spouse. Line 60

Line 60

He preched hire with al his miht, of sunne heo scholde haue no pliȝt, but holden hir Maidenhed. Line 63 Of Iesu þat Maiden clene, in whom was neuere wem i-sene, heo schulde han hire med. Line 66

Line 66

Þenne tok he his gold ryng, and ȝaf hit to þat Maide ȝing, and seide to hire þus: Line 69 'Tac þis Ryng and kep hit me, til þat godes wille be, crist beo bi-twene vs.' Line 72

Line 72

¶ whon he hedde don as i ou sei, he tok his leue & went his wei from þat Maiden fre. Line 75 A parti god with him he tok, & al þat oþur he forsok, and wende him to þe séé. Line 78

Line 78

He fond schipes redi, to on he wente priueli, ouer forte fare. Line 81 whon he was ouere on þe sond, he was in an vnkouþ lond, þer he con neuer are. Line 84

He went him forþ with godus wille, a feir cite he com tille, þe nome i schal ou telle. Line 87 Edissa hette þe cite, godus seruaunt forte be, þerinne forte dwelle. Line 90

Line 90

þe goodus þat he wiþ him brouȝt of hem wolde he riȝt nouȝt, he ȝaf hem pore men. Line 93 His Robe he ȝaf þer he sauh nede, and cloþed him-self in pore wede, for no mon scholde him ken. Line 96

He ede to A chirche hei, þer pore men seeten in þe wei, Almus forte take. Line 99 AMongus hem he sat a-doun, and asked wiþ deuociun sum god for Godus sake. Line 102

Line 102

þat chirche was of vr ladi, þer-Inne was a gret celli, an ymage of hire sone, Line 105 Maked of a wonder werk, þat nouþur lewed mon nor clerk ne miȝt wite hou hit was done; Line 108

fforþi was þider gret sekyng of on and oþur, old and ȝyng, of al þat Cuntre, Line 111

Line 111 fforþi þe pore þat þer ware, Alle þe betere miȝte fare for heore Charite. Line 114

Alix, of al þat miȝte he gete, nedliche bote he moste ete, he ne held to his bi-houe; Line 117 To pore men þat wolde hit take, he ȝaf hit for cristes sake, þat sitteþ us alle aboue. Line 120

Line 120

¶ Nou is Alix dwelled þore: his fader atom sikeþ wel sore, and seiþ, Allas! Allas! Line 123 His Moder wepeþ niht and day, & seiþ, Allas! & weila-wey, þat euere heo i-boren was. Line 126

Line 126

¶ His wyf wepeþ and makeþ hir mone, & seiþ þat heo schal liuen alone as turtul on þe treo. Line 129 Euermore with-outen Make, Ioye and blisse heo wole forsake til heo hire spouse i-seo. Line 132

Line 132

Nou is fader, with dreri chere, biddeþ his Men comen him nere, as þei wolde haue heore mede. Line 135 He preȝeþ hem þat þei ben boun to wenden & sechen his deore sone, in eueriche a þeode; Line 138

þat ȝe ne dwelle for no þing, er ȝe han herd sum god tiþing wher þat he be. Line 141 Goþ nou forþ, and god ow spede, þerfore i schal, so God me rede, ȝiuen ou gold and ffe. Line 144

Line 144

¶ Now wende þei forþ Alix sekande, vchone to diuerse lande, ȝif þei miȝte him winne. Line 147 Summe of hem þorwh Godus grace, comen in-to þat ilke place þat Alix was Inne. Line 150

He sat in pore Mennes rowe, þerfore þei couþe him not knowe, þei ȝeuen him Charite. Line 153 He tok hit wiþ mylde mod, and seide, 'Iesus, þat died on Rod, lorde, i þonke þe. Line 156

Line 156

Lord, i-þonked be þou ay, þat i haue beden þat ilke day, þat i may for þi sake; Line 159 Of hem þat in myn owne lond, serued me to fot and hond, her Almus to take.' Line 162

Nou þis Men þat weren out-sent, aȝein ham-ward þei hem went to sire Eufemiane. Line 165 þei sworen alle bi heuene kyng of Alix herde heo noþing, as wide as þei hedden i-gone. Line 168

In eueri lond [þat] we han ben we founde no mon þat him couþe sen, þat to him couþe vs wisse. Line 171

Line 171 "Nou, allas! þat i was boren; boþe haue i nou forloren mi Ioye and my blisse." Line 174

¶ In þis tale wol we non dwelle, of Alix wol we nou telle, þat riche pore mon. Line 177 Alix was pore Monnes fere fulle seuentene ȝere, fro þat he bi-gon, Line 180

Sittinge in a chirche-ȝerde, among pore men an herde, in a simple wede. Line 183 An ymage in þat chirche stoode of his Modur þat died on rode, for ur alre nede. Line 186

Line 186

¶ Atte seuentene ȝeres ende spac and seide wordus hende þat ymage of tre, Line 189 To þe wardein of þe chirche, & seide, "wardein, if þou worche eny-þing for me, Line 192

"ffecche þou in mi sones nom, for seuentene ȝer hit is gon þat he haþ ben þer-oute. Line 195 I warne þe witerli to dwelle her-in he is worþi, þer-of haue þou no doute; Line 198

"He haþ serued heuene briȝt, þe holi gost in him is liht, & ȝiueþ him miȝt and grace, Line 201

Line 201 þat his preȝere, with milde steuene, is swete & god & heiȝ in heuene bi-fore mi sone face." Line 204

¶ þenne seide þe wardeyn, 'ladi,' he seide, 'i wolde fayn, & i wuste whulche.' Line 207 'Go out faste as þou maiȝt go, þou fyndest þer on & no mo, bring him in þat ilche.' Line 210

þe wardein wente him out ful ȝare, he fond him redi sittinge þare, he brouȝte him in ful sone. Line 213 He seide, 'sire, ȝif hit be þi wille, þou art welcome nou vs tille, here-in schaltou wone. Line 216

Line 216

'I was out aftur þe sent, þorwh vr ladies comaundement, þe in forte take; Line 219 with muchel honour schaltou haue alle þing þat þou wolt craue, for þat ladies sake.' Line 222

¶ þenne þis word bi-gon to springe, & of him was gret spekynge, for his holynesse. Line 225 þerfore he þouȝte forte wende, to anoþur lond forte lende, þer me kneuȝ him lesse. Line 228

Line 228

þer wolde he no lengor beo: monnus honour forte fle, fro þat stude he wente Line 231 In-to Laodiciane, forþ þe riȝte wey a-none, as Iesu crist him sente. Line 234

In-to a-noþur lond he þouȝt, godus wille til he hedde wrouȝt, þer nomon hed him knowe. Line 237 Assone as he was in þe se, forte wende þer he wolde beo, þe wynd bi-gon to blowe; Line 240

Line 240

þe wynt bi-gon þe schip to driue, til þei bi-gonne to aryue, as hit was godus wille, Line 243 In rome, þer he was fed & boren, þer his woninge was bi-foren, of al him þhuȝte hit ille. Line 246

Line 246

whon he sauȝ non oþur won, he bi-þouȝte him sone Anon, wher him was best to be. Line 249 To him-self he seide and þouȝt, 'siþen þat Iesu haþ me brouȝt in-to þis Cite, Line 252

Line 252

'I con no beter red of alle, bote go to my fader halle, in pore mennes route. Line 255 I may sitte vppon þe rowe; þer nis no mon schal me knowe, so longe ichaue ben oute. Line 258

¶ Vppon a day Eufemiane fro his paleis was he gane, and ham-ward he eode, Line 261 with muche folk þat wel was diȝt, boþe swein, [&] knaue, & kniȝt, þat gode weren at nede. Line 264

Line 264

¶ Alix þouȝte he wolde him mete, & ron faste bi þe strete, til þat he him mette. Line 267 whon he sauȝ þat he was neiȝ, with a vois [boþ] loude & heiȝ, Eufemian his fader he grette, Line 270

And seide with a milde steuene, 'sire, for godus loue of heuene, haue merci of me. Line 273 Icham a pilgrim pore & naked, þat haþ gret defaute ymaket, sire, as ȝe mowe se. Line 276

Line 276

Receiue me in-to þin halle, [folio 44a:2] þer þi pore men aren alle; and graunte me þe mete, Line 279 And i schal preȝe niȝt and day for þi sone þat is a-way, þat Iesu crist him gete, Line 282

And grante þe, for his woundes fyue, þat þou mai seo him ȝit a-lyue þat was þin herte blisse; Line 285 And þe, sire, withoute strif, Ioye of him in soule lyf, crist þe to him wisse.' Line 288

Line 288

¶ þenne Eufemian with-stod, and grantede wiþ a milde mod þat pore mon his bone. Line 291 He grantede him forte cloþe and feede, and bad his men heo scholden him lede to his hous al sone. Line 294

He grantede him, as i ou telle, an hous al-one þer-in to dwelle, wiþ-outen eny fere; Line 297 And a mon þat scholde him gete, & bringe him boþe drinke and mete, whon þat mester were. Line 300

Line 300

¶ Nou Alix, as ȝe han [i]herd, is dwelled in his fader ȝerd, as a pore mon; Line 303 In preȝere, wakynge, and fastinge, he seruede Iesu, heuene kynge, in al þat he con. Line 306

Seruauns þat were proude and ȝinge, þei driuen him ofte to skorninge, as heo eoden vp and doun; Line 309 And ofte-siþes broþ of fissches, & watur þat þei wosschen in dissches, heo casten vpon his croun. Line 312

Line 312

Of al þe schome þat þei him wrouȝte, he þonked Iesu þat him bouȝte, & ȝaf him miȝt þer-to. Line 315 He was meke in alle þing, þer-of miȝte no mon him bring, for nouȝt þat þei couþe do. Line 318

¶ Alix dwelled þere stille, as hit was Iesus cristes wille, seuentene ȝere Line 321 In his owne fader Inne; kneuȝ him non of al his kunne, neiþer fer ne nere. Line 324

Line 324

Atte seuentene ȝeres ende, he wuste he scholde heþen wende, þorw grace of þe holi gost, Line 327 To Iesu crist, godus sone, in blisse with him forte wone, in lyf þat euer schal last. Line 330

Line 330

He gat him enke & parchemyn; al his lyf he wrot þer-in, as he hedde i-lyued here, Line 333 And radde hit siþen vchadel, he þonked god, so mihte he wel, wiþ ful bliþe chere. Line 336

Line 336

¶ Whon he hedde don as i ou say, vppon þe holy son[e]day þat com aftur nest, Line 339 With muche Ioie & muche liȝt his soule, þat was so feir & briȝt, went out of his brest. Line 342

Whon þat gost was went to heuene, þer com a vois with milde steuene in-to an holy stede, Line 345 þere as þe folk of Rome were, godus seruise forte here, & biddynge of holy bede, Line 348

Line 348

And seide þis word with-outen fayle: 'comeþ to me, þat haueþ trauayle or tene for mi sake; Line 351 Comeþ to me, i schal ou fille with ioy & blisse, & al or wille, þat neuermore schal slake.' Line 354

Whon þei hedde þis wordus herd, þei weren vchone sore a-ferd, & fullen a-doun to grounde. Line 357 As þei leȝe & hudde heor face, þer com eft, þorw godus grace, in a luytel stounde, Line 360

Line 360

Anoþer steuene milde & meke, & bad þei schulde ris vp, & seke A godus mon of Rome, Line 363 'þat ȝe mowe, þorwȝ his preȝere, of his godnes ben partinere atte day of dome.' Line 366

¶ þei risen Al vp with bliþe chere, & souȝte boþe fer and nere, bi wei and [eke] bi strete. Line 369 And for noþing þat þei wrouȝte, with þat relik þat þei souȝte mouȝte þei nowhere mete, Line 372

Line 372

Til þat vois, with wordes meke, com a-ȝein & bad hem seke in Eufemians house; Line 375 ffor þere scholde þei sone fynde þat scholde hele doumbe & blynde, a relik preciouse. Line 378

¶ þen þei ede sone anan, & asked sire Eufemian ȝif he kneuȝ such a mon. Line 381 He onswerde ful rediliche, 'i sigge ou lordingus sikerliche of such ne wot i non.' Line 384

Line 384

¶ þenne wente forþ þe Emperours, Archadius & honorius, & Inocent þe Pope, Anon to Eufemians in,— er þei weore þer, wolde þei not blin,— with hem a god gret frape. Line 390

þen com a knaue sone a-nan, & seide to sire Eufemian, 'go we, sire, i rede, Line 393

Line 393 And loke, sire, at oure pilgrime, þat ȝe han fed in long tyme, wher he beo quik or dede. Line 396

'Ȝif he be ded þat was so meke, he is þat mon þat þei seke, i wot, with-outen drede. Line 399 He was a mon of holy lif, of him com neiþer cheste ne strif, ne vuel word ne dede.' Line 402

Line 402

Whon Eufemian hedde þis herd, he ron to loke hou Alix ferd, in-to his hous ful riȝt. Line 405 He fond him ded whon he com þare, his visage þer hit lay al bare, as sonne hit schined briȝt. Line 408

In his hond he heold a skrit, Eufemian sturte him forþ as tit, to wite what was þer-Inne. Line 411 Bote with non scunes ginne of þe hond þat hit was Inne miȝte he hit not out winne. Line 414

Line 414

¶ Whon he mihte no betere spede, to þe Emperour he ede, and tolde þat tiþande. Line 417 þenne come þei boþe forþ god pas, til þei come þer hit was, þe dede cors liggande. Line 420

whon þei come in-to þe hous, þis Emperours þei seiden þus, and on þis Maneere: Line 423 'þauȝ we for sunne are vnworþi, we han kepinge not forþi of þeos londes heere. Line 426

Line 426

'And þis Mon þat we pope calle, haþ þe pouwer of vs alle, and of al holichirche; Line 429 fforþi diliuere vp þat scrite, þat we þer-þorwh mai seo and wite hou we schul with þe worche.' Line 432

Line 432

¶ whon þei þus hedde iseid heor wille, þe pope leide his hond þer-tille, & he þenne let hit go. Line 435 Anon þe pope let rede hit þere, bi-foren alle þat þer were, heringe his fader Also. Line 438

Line 438

¶ whon his fader hedde herd hit red, he was a-wondred & a-dred, for serwe he was neiȝ ded. Line 441 As mon þat hedde þe deþes wounde, he fel a-doun to þe grounde as heui as þe led. Line 444

whon he hedde longe i-leyn, & his stat was comen aȝein, he made reuþful chere. Line 447 He tar his cloþus & drouȝ his her, with delful cri & siking sor, þat del hit was to here. Line 450

Line 450

Muche deol hit is to telle, houȝ he on þat bodi felle of weopyng blon he nouht. Line 453 He seide, 'Allas! mi dere sone, hou miȝtest þou þus longe wone with me þat kneuȝ þe nouht? Line 456

Allas! nou hastou dwelled here al þis seuentene ȝere in myn owne Inne; Line 459 And þou hast boren þe so lowe, þat þou woldest neuere ben a-knowe þat þou wer of mi kinne. Line 462

Line 462

Allas! allas! and weilawai, þat euere I a-bod þis day, þis serwe forte seo. Line 465 I wende haue had of þe solas in myn elde; Allas! Allas! for deol ded wol i beo.' Line 468

¶ whon his Moder herde of þis, heo sturte forþ in haste i-wis, As A lyonesse; Line 471 with hirself heo ferde to wonder, heo ter hir cloþus al in sunder, in a gret woodnesse. Line 474

Line 474

Heo drouȝ hir her as heo weore wod, & seide, 'for him þat died on rod, Men, ȝe ȝiue me way, Line 477 þat I mai to mi sone go; was neuer Moder half so wo as me is þis day. Line 480

Ȝif me roum, & let me se þe bodi þat was boren of me, and fed of my breste. Line 483 Let me come þat cors to, for wel ȝe witen hit is skil so þat i beo hit nexte.' Line 486

Line 486

Whon heo miȝte neiȝe hit neer, heo fel þer-on with deolful cher, & seide, 'Allas! mi sone, Line 489 Whi woldestou þus with us fare, to leten vs dwellen in serwe & care? whi hastou þus done? Line 492

þou hast i-seȝen þi fader and me wepen & maken gret del for þe, boþe erly and late; Line 495 And þou hast seuentene ȝer vnknowen i-dwelled mid vs her, in pore beggers state.' Line 498

Ofte-siþes heo fel doun on þat dede cors al in swoun, and custe hondes and feet; Line 501 And þat face þat was so swete, heo custe hit & mad hit wete with teres þat heo leet. Line 504

Line 504

Heo seide, 'allas! þat me is wo, þou were my sone with-outen mo, wepeþ alle wiþ me. Line 507 Ichaue þe fed moni a day, Allas! sone, weilaway, þat i ne knewh not þe. Line 510

þou mist haue be a gret lordyng, and ben honoured as a king, ȝif hit hedde beo þi wille. Line 513 Nou hastou had despit and wrong of þi þralles euer among, and boren hit ful stille. Line 516

Allas! ho schal ȝiue to me welle of teres to wepe for þe boþe dai and niht? [folio 44b] Line 519 Allas! allas! me is wo, icholde myn herte wolde breken a-two, þat i saiȝ nou þis siht.' Line 522

Line 522

¶ þenne com forþ a dreri þing, i-cloþed in cloþus of mournyng, þat was his owne wyue. Line 525 Heo wepte þat pite was to se, and seide, 'Allas! þat wo is me, þat euere hedde I lyue. Line 528

Nou al my ioye a-wei is gon, er hedde i hope, nou habbe i non to seon him a-lyue. Line 531 Nou am i widewe, allas! þe stounde, serwe haþ ȝiue myn herte a wounde, þat me to deþ wol driue. Line 534

Line 534

Allas! what is me to rede, mi Muror is broken & is dede, þat my likynge was Inne. Line 537 Hope of ioie nou haue I loren, & serwe is newed me beforen þat neuermore schal blinne.' Line 540

Al þe folk þat stod be-side, þat seiȝ heore serwe so vnride, a wepten ful tenderliche. Line 543 þer was non þat miȝte hem holde, Mon ne wommon, ȝong ne olde, and þat was no feorliche. Line 546

Line 546

¶ þe pope com, & þe Emperours bad bringe him forþ out of þe hous & lei him on A bere, And bar him wiþ solempnete, forþ Amidde þe cite, & criȝinge þat almiȝte here, Line 552

And seide, 'come seoþ þat holi mon þat ȝe haue souȝt euerichon, here he is in þis place. Line 555 He is founden, and he is here, þat holi bodi on a beere, þorwh help of godus grace.' Line 558

Line 558

Alle þat wusten of þat cri, þei ornen þidere wel hasteli, þei tolde þeron nout a lyte. Line 561 An Alle þe seke þat þer were, þat miȝte touche þat bodi þere, þei weren hole as tite. Line 564

þe blinde hedde þere of him here siȝt, woode of him heore wit fol riȝt, þe halt here limes hole Anon. Line 567 Hit was non þat þider miȝte winne, what seknes þei were inne, þat þei were hole vchon. Line 570

Line 570

¶ whon þe Emperours sai þe wonder þei toke þe bere & eode þer-vndur, with the Pope helpande; ffor þei wolde be i-mad holi, þorwh beringe of þat bodi, þei toke þe bere in hande. Line 576

þei made sowen in þat cite gold & seluer gret plente; and þat was for þis skil Line 579 þat þe folk scholde hem with-drawe, and þat auayled not worþ an haue, þei tok no tent þer-til. Line 582

Line 582

þei preced euer neer and neere, forte come to þat bere þat þe cors lay Inne. Line 585 þei precede wiþ so gret fors þat vnneþe with þe holi cors, to chirche miȝte þei winne. Line 588

¶ whon þei come to þe chirche, A toumbe of gold þei lette worche of preciouse stones. Line 591 In A schort tyme hit was diht, ful richeliche and Al ariȝt þei leide þer-in his bones. Line 594

Line 594

whon þat holi cors was leid in þat toumbe þat wel was grei|þed, wiþ ful gret honour, Line 597 To alle þat weren in þat place þer com out, þorwh godes grace, a ful swete odour; Line 600

So swote felede þei neuer non, as wyde as þei hedden gon, of no spicerie. Line 603

Line 603 þenne worschupeden heo Alle with o steuene, Iesu, godus sone of heuene, and his Modur Marie. Line 606

Iesu crist, þorwh þe preiȝere of him þat we haue of told here, ȝif þi wille hit be, Line 609 Graunt vs alle god endyng, and in heuene a wonyng. AMEN par Charite. Line 612

[Laud MS. 108, leaf 233, back.]

VITA CUIUSDAM SANCTI VIRI NOMINE ALEX. OPTIMA VITA.

Sitteþ stille wiþouten strif, And I schal telle ȝou þe lif Of an holy man. Line 3 Alex was his ryȝtte name; To serue god þoute him no schame, & þerof neuere he ne blan. Line 6

his fader was a gret lording Of rome, a kynges euening,

& hyȝtte sire Eufemian. Line 9 Pore men to cloþe & fede, In al rome, þat riche þede, Swich ne waster non. Line 12

Eche day were in his halle Leyd þre bordes, forto calle Pore men to fede. Line 15 Hem to serue he was wel glad, & dede as Iesu crist him bad; þerfore he hopede han mede. Line 18

Line 18

When þei were serued by & by, þane at arst was he redy To gon to his mete; Line 21 þanne in drede of godes sone, Wiþ men of religione He wolde sitte & ete. Line 24

His wif hyȝtte dame Agles, To seye þe soþe wiþoute les, þat meche was to preyse; Line 27

Line 27 Bote ȝe myȝtte do þe same maner þat dede hire lord, as y seyde er, Was ȝe nat wel atayse. Line 30

[folio 234a] Child hem bi-twene ne hadde þei non; þer-fore to god he maden here mon, Boþe be day & nyȝthe; Line 33 Iesu crist herde here bone, & sente hem a ful god sone, here hertes forto lyȝthe. Line 36

Line 36

When he was bore, þat blisful child, Alex, boþe mek & myld, And of maneres hende: Line 39 A litel after, wiþ greth hast þei a-voweden to him chast, To here lyues ende. Line 42

Line 42

þer-after was it nat lange: Alex coude speke & gange, And was set to lere. Line 45 Sone he was a ful good clerk, & meche he louede godes werk fforto speke & here. Line 48

Line 48

Sone whan he gan to belde, & forto comen to mannes elde, him was chosen a wif, Line 51

Line 51 Out of þe emperoures bour, A mayde good, of greth honur, To wedde wiþ-oute strif. Line 54

Line 54

Whan þei were wedded þe ferste nyȝth In godes [lawe], as it was ryȝth, & was I-brouth to house: Line 57 Mek[e]liche he gan hire teche, To drede god, of sinne leche, þat is maydenes spouse. Line 60

Line 60

he prechede hire wiþ al his myȝth: Of s[i]nne ȝe scholde hauen no plyȝth, Bote kepe hire maydenhod; Line 63 & of iesu, þat mayde clene, In whom was neuere wem I-sene, ȝe scholde habbe hire mede. Line 66

Line 66

þanne tok he his gold ring, & ȝaf þat mayde, þat was ȝing, & seyde to hire þus: Line 69 'Tak þis ring, & kep it me, Til þat godes wille be, God bi-twene vs.' Line 72

Line 72

Whanne he hadde ido, as [I] ȝou sey, He tok his leue & wente his wey fro þat mayde fre; Line 75 A parti of his good he wiþ him tok, And al þat oþer he for-sok, he wente to þe see. Line 78

Line 78

He fond schipes redely; To on he wente priueli, ouer forto fare; Line 81 He seyde he was a chapman, & preyde, he moste wiþ hem gon, ȝif þat here schip were ȝare. Line 84

fforþ he wente wiþ godes wille; A fair cyte he com vn-tille; þe name I schal ȝou telle: Line 87 Edissa hatte þat cite; Godes seruant þer to be, þer-inne wolde he dwelle. Line 90

Line 90

þe goodes þat he wiþ him brougth, Of hem ne wolde he ryȝth nowth, Bote ȝaf hem pore menne; Line 93 his robe he ȝaf þer he sey nede, & cloþede him-sulf in pore wede, ffor noman scholde him kenne. Line 96

he ȝede to a churche-ȝate, þer pouere men sete in þe gate, Almesse forto take; Line 99 Among hem he sat a-doun, & Askede wiþ deuocion Sum good for godes sake. Line 102

Line 102

þat churche was of oure leuedy; þer-inne was a greth selly, An ymage of hire son, Line 105 Maked of a wonder werk, [folio 234b] þat neyþer lewed man ne clerk Niste hou it was don. Line 108

þerfore was þider greth sekyng Of on & oþer, old & ȝing, Of al þat countre; Line 111

Line 111 ffor-þi þe pouere þat þer were, Alle þe betere myȝtte fare þoru here charite. Line 114

Alex, of þat he myȝtte gete Nedliche bote þat him-self wolde ete he ne held to his by-houe; Line 117 To pouere men þat wolde it take, Al he ȝaf for godes sake, þat is in heuene A-boue. Line 120

Line 120

Nou is Alex dwelled þere; his fader at hom seyetȝ sore, & seyþ 'allas! allas!' Line 123 his moder wepuþ nyȝth & day & seyþ 'allas & weylawey, þat euere ȝhe born was.' Line 126

Line 126

his wif wepþ & makeþ hire mone, & þus [ȝhe] schal lyuen allone, As turtle opon þe tre, Line 129 Euere-more wiþoute make; Ioye & blisse ȝe wile for-sake, Til ȝe hire spouse se. Line 132

Line 132

Nou his fader wiþ dreri chere He biddeþ his men him comen nere, Als þei willen hauen þere mede, Line 135 & preyeþ hem þat þei ben boun, To wende & sechen his dere sone In euerich ilk a þede. Line 138

'þat ȝe ne dwelle for no þing, Ar ȝe hauen herd sum tyding, Where þat he be; Line 141 Goþ nou swyþe, & god ȝou spede! þerfore I schal, so god me rede, ȝiuen ȝou gold & fee.' Line 144

Line 144

Nou gon þei forþ Alex sekynd In diuerse londes to here tyding, ȝif þei him myȝtte wynne; Line 147 Somme of hem, þoru godes grace, Comen into þat ilke place þer Alex was Inne. Line 150

he sat in pore mene rowe; þerfore couden he hym nat knowe; he ȝaf him charite; Line 153 & he it tok wiþ milde mod, And seyde 'Iesu, þat deyde on rod, Louerd, I þanke þe! Line 156

Line 156

Louerd, i-her[i]d be þou ay! þat i haue beden þat ilke day, þat I may, for þi sake, Line 159 Of hem þat in myn owene lond Serueden me to fot & hond Here Almesse forto take.' Line 162

Nou þese men þat were out-sent, aȝen homward þei ben I-went To sire eufemian. Line 165 þei swore to him be heuene king: Of Alex herde þei no tyding, As wyde as þei hadde gan. Line 168

'In eche a lond þan haue we be, We ne founden no man þat couþe him se, þat to him coude vs wisse.'

'Allas, he seyde, þat he was born! boþe haue I nou for-lorn Mi ioye & ek my blisse.' Line 174

In þis tale wille we nat dwelle, Bote of Alex wile we telle, þat riche pore man. Line 177 Alex was pouere mannes fere ffulli seuentene ȝere, fro þat he bi-gan, Line 180

Syttynde in a churche-ȝerd Amonges oþere men an herd In a simple wede. Line 183 An ymage in þat cherche stod, Of his moder þat deyde on rood ffor oure alþres nede. Line 186

Line 186

At þe seuentene ȝeres ende, Spak & seyde wordes hende, þat ymage of tre, Line 189 To þe wardeyn of þe churche, & seyde: 'wardeyn, ȝif þou werche Enyþing for me, Line 192

ffeche þou In my sones man, ffor seuentene ȝer it is i-gan þat he haþ ben þer-oute; Line 195 I þe warne wyterly, To duelle her-inne he is worþi; Whar-of ne haue no doute. Line 198

he haþ deserued heuene bryȝth, þe holy gost is in him lyȝth & ȝiuen him myȝtte & grace, Line 201

Line 201 þat his preyer wiþ milde stephene Is good & swete & mylde in heuene Byfore my sones face.' Line 204

þanne ansuerede þe wardeyn & seyde: 'lauedi, I wille ful fayn, and I wiste wilk.' [folio 235a] Line 207 'Go owt so swiþe so þou mayst go, þou ne fyndest þer no mo, Bryng him [in] þat ilk!' Line 210

þe wardeyn wente him out ful ȝare, he fond [him] redy sittinde þere, he brougthe him In ful sone; Line 213 And [seyde]: 'sire, ȝif it be þi wille, þou art welcome vs vntille, Her-Inne schaltou wone; Line 216

Line 216

I was out after þe i-sent þoru our lauedies comandement, þe in forto take. Mechul honur schaltou haue, & alle þing þat þou wilt craue, ffor þat lauedies sake.' Line 222

Whan þis word be-gan to springe, þat of him was a gret spekyngge ffor his holinesse, Line 225 Sone he þoutthe forto wende, To oþer londe forto lende, þere men him knewe lesse. Line 228

Line 228

þere ne wolde he lengere be, Mannes honur forto fle, ffro þat stede he wende Line 231 Anon to laodician fforþ þe ryȝtte wey anon, Als iesu crist him sende. Line 234

To A-noþer lond he þout, Godes wille to han I-wrouth, þer noman ne hadde him knowe. Line 237 Als swiþe as he was in þe se fforto wende þer he wolde be, þe wynd be-gan to blowe. Line 240

Line 240

þe wynd be-gan þe schip to dryue Til þat he be-gonne to Aryue, Als it was godes wille, Line 243 In rome þer he was fed & born, þer his wonyng was be-forn, þei al him þoute ille. Line 246

Line 246

Whan he saw non oþer won, he be-þoutte him sone anon, Whare him was best to be; Line 249 To him-sulf he seyde & þouȝth: 'Siþen Iesus me haþ hider i-brouȝth In-to þis cite, Line 252

Line 252

I ne can no betere red of alle, Bote gon to my faderes halle In pore mannes rowte, Line 255 I may sitte in þe rowe, þer nis no man þat me schal knowe: So longe Ich haue ben oute.' Line 258

Vpon a day sire Eufemian ffro þe paleys was he gan, And homward he ȝede, Line 261 Wiþ mikel folk þat wel waren dyȝth, Boþe knaue sweyn & knyth, þat gode were in nede. Line 264

Line 264

Alex þoute he wolde him mete; & ran forþ faste be þe strete Vn-til þat he him mette; Line 267 Whan he say þat [he] was ney, Wiþ a voys boþe loud & hey, Sire Eufemian he grette, Line 270

& seyde wiþ a mylde stephene: 'Sire, for godes loue of heuene haue merci on me! Line 273 Ich am a pilgrym pore & nakud, þat gret defaute haþ I-maked, Sire, as ȝe may I-se. Line 276

Line 276

'Resceyue me into þin halle, þere þine pore men ben alle, & graunte me þe mete! Line 279 And I schal preye nyȝth & day for þi sone þat is awey, þat Iesu crist him þe gete, Line 282

'& grante þe, for his wondes fiue, þat þou myttest him se in þine lyue, þat was þin herte blisse, Line 285 &, sire, to habbe wiþoute strif Ioye of him in soule & lif, Crist þe til him wisse.' Line 288

Line 288

þanne eufemian þer wiþstod, & grantede him wiþ milde mod, þe pore man his bone; Line 291 he grantede him to cloþe & fede, & bad his men he scholde him lede To his hous as sone; Line 294

And grauntede him, as [I] ȝou telle, An hous allone þer-in to dwelle Wiþ-outen eny fere, Line 297 & a man þat scholde him gete And bringe him boþe drynk & mete, Whan þat mester were. Line 300

Line 300

Nou Alex, As ȝe habbeþ i-herd, Is dweld in his fader ȝerd As a pore man. Line 303 In preyere of fasting & waking, he seruede Iesu, heuene kyng, In al þat he can. Line 306

Seruantȝ þat were proute & ȝungge, him dryuen ofte to heþingge, As he ȝede vp & doun; Line 309 & ofte-siþes, broþ of ffissches, & water, as he wessch here dissches, þei caste vp-on his croun. Line 312

Line 312

[folio 235b] Of al þe schame þat þei him wrouȝthe, He þonkede Iesu, þat him bouthe, & ȝaf him myȝtte þerto; He was þolemod in alle þinge, þer-out ne myȝtte no man him bringe, ffor nowth þei couden do. Line 318

þere dwelde Alex stille, As it was Iesu cristes wille, Seuentene ȝer; Line 321 In his owene faderes In, kneu him non of al his kyn, Neyþer fer ne ner. Line 324

Line 324

At þe seuenteþe ȝeres ende, he wiste he scholde hennes wende, þoru grace of þe holy gast, Line 327 To Iesu crist, godes sone, In blisse of heuene ay forto wone, In þe lif þat euere schal last. Line 330

Line 330

// he gat him enke & parchemyn; And al his lif he wrot þer-In, þat he had lyued here, Line 333 And radde it seþen eueri-del, & þonkede god, so myȝt he wel, Wiþ ful bliþe chere. Line 336

Line 336

Whan he hadde I-do as I ȝou say, Vpon þe holy soneday þat com after nest, Line 339 Wiþ meche ioye & meche lyȝth, his soule, þat was so fair & bryȝth, Wente out at his brest. Line 342

When his soule was went to heuene, þer com a vois wiþ milde stephene In-to an holy stede, Line 345 þer al þe folk of rome were, Godes seruise forto here, To bidden holy bede, Line 348

Line 348

And seyde þes wordes wiþoute faille: "Comeþ to me, þat haueþ trauaille Oþer charge for my sake! Line 351 Comeþ to me, I schal ȝou fille Wiþ ioye & blisse at al ȝoure wille, þat neuere mor schal slake." Line 354

Whan þe folk hadde þat word herd, þe[i] were echone sore a-fered & fullen doun to grounde; Line 357 As þei leyen & hedde here face, þar com owth, þoru godes grace, In a litel stounde, Line 360

Line 360

Anoþer stephene mylde & meke, & bad hem vp arise, & seke A godes man of rome, Line 363 'þat ȝe mowe, þoru his preyer, Of his godnesse ben partener At þe day of dome.' Line 366

// þei risen alle wiþ bliþe chere & southe boþe fer & nere, Be weye & ek be strete; Line 369 Bote for noþing þat þei wrouth, Wiþ þat relyk þat þei south, Myȝtte þe[i] nowar mete; Line 372

Line 372

Til þat voitȝ wiþ worde meke Com aȝen, & bad hem seke In sire Eufemianes hous, Line 375 'þer ȝe scholle sone fynde þat schal hele dombe & blynde, A relik precious.' Line 378

þanne wente þei forþ a-nan, & askeden sire eufemian: ȝif he knew swich a man. Line 381 he ansuerede redely & seyde: lordingges, sikerly, Of swich ne wot I non. Line 384

Line 384

þanne wente forþ þe emperuors, Archadious & honorius, & Innocent þe pape, Line 387 Anon to sire Eufemia[n]s In; Til þei come þere, wolde þei nat blyn; Wiþ hem wente forþ greth frape. Line 390

þanne cam forþ a knaue anan, & seyde to sire eufemian: 'Go we, sire, I rede, Line 393

Line 393 And loken [sire] at ȝoure pilgrim þat ȝe han fed of long tym, Wher he be quik oþer dede. Line 396

'ȝif he be ded þat was so meke, he is þat man þat þei seke, I wot wiþ-oute drede: Line 399 he was a man of holy lif, Of him com neuere stout ne strif, Ne wikke word ne dede.' Line 402

Line 402

Whanne eufemian þat i-herde, he ȝede to loke hou alex ferde, To his hous ful ryȝth; Line 405 [folio 236a] he fond him ded whan he com þare, his face, þer it lay on bere, As sonne schinede bryȝth. Line 408

In his hond he fond a skript, Eufemian ȝede to him as tyd To wyte what was þer-Inne; Line 411 Bote for nones kynnes gyn out of þe hond þat it was In Myȝtte he it nat wynne. Line 414

Line 414

Whan he ne myȝtte no betere spede, To þe emperour he ȝede, & tolde him þat tydingge. Line 417 þane comeþ he aȝen god pas, Til he comen þar he was, þe dede corps liggynde. Line 420

Whan þei comen Into þe hous, þe emperour seyde þus And on þis manere: Line 423 "þei we for synne ben vn-worþi, We han to kepyng nawth for-þi of þese londes here; Line 426

Line 426

"And þis man þat we pope calle, haþ þe kepyng of vs alle & of holy churche; Line 429 þerfore deliure vs vp þe skryt, þat we þere-þoru may se & wyt hou we schulle wiþ þe werche." Line 432

Line 432

Wen þei hadde þus seid here wille, þe pope leyde his hond þer-tille, Alex þan let go. Line 435 þe pope as tyd let rede it þere Byfore al þo þat þer were, herynde his fader also. Line 438

Line 438

Whan his fader herde it rede, he was for-wondred & for-drede, for sorwe he was ney ded; Line 441 As man þat hadde deþes wounde He fel swingge doun to grounde, Heuy so any led. Line 444

Wan he hadde longe I-leyn, þan his stat bi-com a-gayn, & made reuly chere; Line 447 he rof his brest, he drou his her wiþ duelful cry & syking sor, þat pite it was to here. Line 450

Line 450

Meche doel it is to telle hou he on þat body felle, of weping blan he nouth. Line 453 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

'Allas nou hastou duelled here Alle þese seuentene ȝere In myn owene In, Line 459 & þou hast boren þe so lowe, & noldest neuere ben o knowe þat þou were of oure kyn. Line 462

Line 462

Out ay, allas, & weylawey, þat I euere a-bod þis day þis sorwe forto se! Line 465 I wende han had of þe solas In myn elde, allas, allas, for doel ded willi be!' Line 468

Whenne his moder herde of þis, ȝe sterte forþ in haste i-wis as a leonesse, Line 471 Wiþ hire sulf sche ferde to wonder, Sche rof hire cloþes al to sonder In a gret wodnesse; Line 474

Line 474

Sche drou hire her as sche were wod, & seyde: "for him þat deyde on rod, ȝe men, ȝiueþ me wey, Line 477 þat I may to my sone go! Was neuere moder half so wo As me is þis day. Line 480

ȝiueþ me roum, & lat me se þe body þat was boren of me, & fed was of my brest! Line 483 leteþ me come þe cors vntil, ffor ȝe wyten þat it is skyl þat I be it next." Line 486

Line 486

Whan sche myȝtte neyh it nere, Sche fel þer-on wiþ sori chere, & seyde: "allas, my son, Line 489 Whi hauest tou þus wiþ vs fare, Suffred vs for þe sorwe & care, Whi hastou þus don? Line 492

þou hast i-seye þi fader & me Wepen & maken gret doel for þe Boþe erly & late; Line 495 And tou hast seuentene ȝer Vn-knowe duelled wiþ vs her In pouere beggeres state." Line 498

Ofte-siþe ȝe fel doun opon þe body al I-swoun, & kissede honden & feet; Line 501 & þat face þat was so swete, Sche it kiste, & made it wete Wiþ teres þat sche let. Line 504

Line 504

Sche seide: "allas, what me is wo! [folio 236b] þou were my sone wiþ-oute mo; Wepeþ al folk wiþ me! I haue þe fed many a day; Allas owt & weylawey, þat I ne knew nout þe! Line 510

þou myȝtest han ben a greth lording, & honured als a kyng, ȝif it hadde ben þi wille; Line 513 Nou hauest þou had despit & wrong Of þine þralles euere among, & bor[e]n it ful stille. Line 516

Allas, who schal ȝiue to me Welle of teres to wepe for þe Boþe day & nyȝth? Line 519 Allas allas, what me is wo! I wolde myn herte it breke a-tuo þat I ne saye nowth þis syȝth." Line 522

Line 522

// þanne cam forþ a drery þing, I-clad in cloþes of mournyng, It was Alex wif; Line 525 Sche wep þat pite was to se & seyde: "Allas, ful wo is me, þat euere hadde I lyf! Line 528

Nou al my ioye awey is gon. Er hadde I hope, now haue I non To sen him on lyue; Line 531 Nou am I wydewe, allas þat stounde! Sorwe haþ ȝiuen myn herte a wounde þat me to deþe schal dryue. Line 534

Line 534

// Allas! what is me to rede? Mi mirour is broken & is dede þat my liking was Inne. Line 537 hope of ioye now haue I lorn, & sorwe is newed me be-forn þat neuere more schal blynne." Line 540

// Al þat folk þat stod be-syde, þat say þe sorwe so vn-ruyde, þey wepe ful tendreliche; Line 543 þer ne was non þat myȝtte him holde, Man ne wif man, ȝung ne old; & þat nas no ferliche. Line 546

Line 546

// þe pope com forþ, & te Emperours Leten him bringe owt of þe hous, & leyden him on a bere, Line 549 And beren wiþ gret solempnete In-to þe mydeward of þe cyte, & cryeden þat alle myȝten here, Line 552

& seyden: "comeþ, seþ þis holyman þat ȝe han south euerichon! here he is in þis place; Line 555 ffounden he is, & is here, þat holy body on a bere, þoru help of godes grace." Line 558

Line 558

// Alle þat wisten of þat cry, þei ronne þider hastifly, & ne drou it nowt to abyd. Line 561 And alle þe sike þat þer were, þat myȝtte touche þe body þere, þei were hol als tyd. Line 564

// þe blynde, of him hadden here syȝth; þe wode, here wyth hadde ful ryȝth; þe halte, here lymes lele. Line 567 þer ne was non þat þider myȝte wynne, What syknesse þat þei were Inne, þat þei ne hadde here hele. Line 570

Line 570

// Whan þe emperour him say þat won|der, he tok þe bere & ȝide þer-vnder, Wiþ þe pope he wende, ffor he wolde ben mad holy þoru þe bering of þat body, he tok þe bere in hande. Line 576

// he let sowe in þe cyte Gold & siluer gret plente, & þat was for þis skyl, Line 579 ffor þe folk scholde hem wiþdrawe; bote þat a-vaillede nat an hawe, þey toke no tent þer-til. Line 582

Line 582

þei preceden euere ner & nerre, fforto comen to þe bere þat þe corps lay Inne; Line 585 þei preseden þerto wiþ gret fors, þat vnneþe wiþ þat holy cors To churche myȝte þei wynne. Line 588

// Whanne þei comen to þe churche, A toumbe of gold he leten wurche Wiþ preciouse stones; Line 591 In seue dayes it was dyȝth fful richeliche al a-ryȝth, þei leyden þer-inne þe bones. [folio 237a]

Wan þat holy cors was leyd In-to þe toumbe richeliche I-grey|þud Wiþ ful meche honour: Line 597 To alle þat were in þat place þer com owt þoru godes grace A ful swete odour. Line 600

So swete ne smelde þei neuere non, Als so wyde as þey hadden gon, Of no spiserye. Line 603

Line 603 þei worchipeden him alle wiþ o stephne & þankeden Iesu crist of heuene & his moder Marye. Line 606

// Nou Iesu crist þoru þe preyer of þat cors seint I tolde ȝou her, ȝif þi wille it be, Line 609 Graunte vs alle god endyng, And in heuene a wonying! Amen, par charite. Line 612

Notes

• [Pope eras't]
• [pope eras't]
• [pope eras't]
• [pope eras't]
• [pope crosst through]
• [crosst out]
• [boþo MS.]
• [MS. comandemement]
• no gap in the MS.
• [MS. ho]