Altenglische legenden.

2) Marienlegenden, zwei Fragmente.

Die folgenden zwei Bruchstücke gehören, nebst den p. 220 u. 329 ff. gedruckten und den 9 von der Sammlung des Ms. Vernon erhaltenen Marienlegenden, zu den wenigen Ueberresten dieser von der Reformation später absichtlich ausgetilgten Legendengattung; man riss die Blätter aus den Mss., um diese Dichtungen zu ver|nichten, und liess höchstens den Anfang oder das Ende einer solchen Legende stehen, wenn auf demselben Blatte ein anderartiges Gedicht, welches man erhalten wollte, endete oder anfing. Das erste, nur in der letzten Hälfte erhaltene, Fragment des Ms. Auchinl., welches erzählt, wie ein "clerk" den Leib der Mutter Gottes zu sehen ver|langt, obwohl dafür mit dem Verluste seiner Augen bedroht, steht in den sprachlichen Formen der, nur aus Ms. Vernon bekannten, aber ohne Zweifel weit älteren, mittel|ländischen Sammlung von Marienlegenden nahe (vgl. Formen wie kem = came v. 7 u. Vern. Mar. II, 137, corn = chosen, Infin. auf en u. i), und scheint dieser Sammlung angehört zu haben, obwohl von den im Index des Ms. Vern. angeführten Titeln dieser Sammlung keiner auf unser Fragment anwendbar scheint. — Das zweite Fragment des Ms. Thornton ist nur im Anfang und Ende erhalten, da nach v. 97 ein Blatt aus dem Ms. ausgerissen ist; dadurch ist der eigentliche Kern der Geschichte (von einem sündhaften Ritter, der von einem "friar" durch ein Wunder der Mutter Gottes bekehrt wird), das miraculum selbst, unkennbar. Es ist in 12 zeiligen Strophen, nach Art des Child of Bristol p. 315 ff., abgefasst und erscheint in den nördl. Formen der übrigen Gedichte desselben Ms. — Abschrift des 1. Fragments danke ich Prof. Kölbing. Von fol. 37 des Ms. Auch. ist ein Längsstreifen abgerissen, mit den Anfängen der Verse, die ich ergänze.

I. Aus Ms. Auchinl., fol. 37b (c.).

(Anfang fehlt)

[folio 37b] . . . . . (An an)gel sche sent to him anon. (He) gret þe clerk wiþ milde steuen. (Into) þe chamber when he gan gon, (He w)as briȝter þan ani leuen. (Leuen)no no sonnes bem Line 5 (In so)mers day nas neuer so briȝt, (Þan) þat angel, when he doun kem (Into) þat hous about midniȝt. (He þo)uȝt his hert schuld to-spring, (Þo h)e gan on þat angel sen. Line 10 "(Mi) clerk, drede þe no-þing, (Grace) of god be ous bitven! (Tidan)des now y þe bring (Fram M)arie, our heuen quen; (I þe) telle certain tiding: Line 15 (If þou) wilt hir bodi sen, (If sen) þou wilt þat leuedi briȝt, (Þis p)enaunce þou most chesen: (Þou m)iȝt be siker, þine eiȝe-siȝt (Oþer þ)i liif þou schalt forlesen." Line 20

(Þe cler)k anon gan him biþink: "(Ȝet y) can anoþer croke:

(Wiþ) mi no neiȝe y schal wink, (& wiþ) mi noþer y schal loke; (Mi wa)risoun y schal biswink (Til y) may sen opon a boke, Line 25 (& haue) anowe mete & drink." (Gode) comfort to him he tok. (He tok) to him anon gode hede: "(Iwis, m)i no neiȝe may me seruen (Þer to) do wiþ al mi dede; Line 30 (It is) ynouȝ til y schal steruen."

(Þe cl)erk him fair answerd oȝain: [oȝain st. aȝen.] "(Ich) do me alle in her manay. (Sch)eu now what y schal mene (To) Mari, as y þe say. Line 35 (Hir s)eriaunt ichaue long ben; (Wiþ a)ll loue now ichir pray (Þat) ich mot hir ones sen (Aper)tliche, er þan y day. (Whe)n y dye, sche ȝiue me grace Line 40 (To come) to hir wiþ gode entent, (To sen) hir bodi & hir face." (Þe an)gel oȝain to heuene is went.

Fram heuen into þe clerkes bour, [folio 38] Riȝt doun biforn his beddes fet, Line 45 Þe angel aliȝt wiþ gret honour, & wel fair he gan him gret. "Mari, þat bar our saueour, He seyd, þou schalt sen as sket." Wiþ him þer com a gret odour, Line 50 Nas neuer no smel half so swete. So swete a smel nas neuer non, Of rose no of no spicerie, As com in-to þat leueli won [leueli = loueli.] Befor þat leueliche compeynie. [leueli = loueli.] Line 55

Wiþ angel song & miri play Our leuedi adoun sche liȝt Into þe chaumber þer he lay, & seyd: "clerk, drede þe no-wiȝt!"— Þei a man biþouȝt him ay, Line 60 No schuld he reden apoin (!) ariȝt Hennes vn-to domesday Hou fair sche is, þat maiden briȝt. Hou briȝt sche is, no tong may telle— Yblisced mot hye euer ben! Line 65 Of heuen, of erþe & of helle Sche is emperice & quene.

A mantel our leuedy vnfeld, Briȝter þan sonne þat schineþ schire. "Clerk, drede þe nouȝt, but be nov beld, [Ms. nob beld.] Line 70 For þou schalt haue þi desire; Þer-whiles þou hast þine eiȝen in weld, Avise þe wele of min atire, Apertliche þou me biheld, Bodi & face, brest & swire!" Line 75 Swire & al hir bodi he seiȝe, When sche hadde to him spoken: He loked on hir wiþ his oneiȝe— Þat oþer he held stille yloken.

Oȝain to heuen our leuedi went Line 80 Wel stillelich out of þat clos. Þe clerk held him foulely schent, Amorwe, when þat he aros. His ȝalu here he haþ al to-rent, & in his hert sore him agros; Line 85 Al þus he seyd, & him bi-ment: "Þis niȝt y saued on of mi fos; Mi fo y spard, allas þat while! [Der Feind ist das eine, gerettete Auge.] Sori icham, & wele ich owe: Mineiȝe doþ mi soule gile, Line 90 & often bringeþ it ful lowe."

Riȝt in his chaumber, þer he stode, Him þouȝt his liif was him ful loþ, He wepe sore wiþ dreri mode, & out of his chaumber he goþ. Line 95 "Þat me no deined, ich was wode, To loke wiþ min eiȝen boþe [Ms. deined, vgl. Old Engl. Misc. 228, 168: þat hem deynet not of to ete.] Opon þat leuedi fair & gode; Y wot þerfore þat sche is wroþ. Wroþ sche is, & wele sche may, Line 100 Wiþ me, þat am sinful chaitif, Þat y schuld hir so bitraye, Þat ichaue loued in al mi liif.

Euer me may rewe þat ich while Þat y schuld for ani drede Line 105 Do Marie þat gret gile.

Allas, what schal me to rede? Mi soule y brouȝt in gret periil. A, leuedi, for þi maidenhed Forȝiue me mi sinnes vile, Line 110 & help me in þis muchel nede! In þis nede þou me saue, Þat y no be neuer forlorn; Graunt me þat y þe craue, For his loue þat of þe was born! Line 115

A, leuedi, to me þou liþe, For care min hert wil to-riue; Michel loue ichil þe kiþe & worþschip þine ioies fiue. Lene me grace, anoþer siþe Line 120 To se þi bodi wiþouten striue! Bi so, ichil be bliþe To be blinde in al mi liue. In al mi liue ichil be glad In swiche penaunce forto ben, Line 125 Bi so þou graunt þat y þe bad: Efsones y mot þe sen."

Alday he was in sorwe strong; & after-ward þat com þe niȝt, His white honden hard he wrong, Line 130 He ne may for wo slepe no-wiȝt. He herd þan a miri song Of angels þat were so briȝt; Our leuedi com hem among, & seyd: "clerk, drede (þe) no-wiȝt!"— Line 135 Sche spac þe clerk so fair vntille: [Þe fehlt im Ms.] "Ich forȝiue þe al þi gilt; Þi praier y schal fulfille: [Ms. mi st. þi.] Loke on me, ȝif þat þou wilt!

Þer-whiles þat þou art hayl & quert, Line 140 Biheld me wele euerich a bon! Biþenche in þine owhen hert Þat warisoun no hastow non; Þine axing sore schal þe smert, Ȝif þou be blinde as ani ston; Line 145 Þou most liue in gret pouert, (W)hen þou hast þine eiȝen forgon. When þou forgos þi warldes wele, & loue of frendes, fremed & sibbe, Angwis þou most suffri fele, Line 150 In alle time þat þou schalt libbe."

Þe clerk answerd, & louȝ: "Min hert is ful of gret solas; Icham bliþer þan brid on bouȝ, Þat ich haue seyn þine holy face; Line 155 Of al ioie ichaue anouȝ, Sende me now, leuedi, of þi grace!— To suffren wo mi body is touȝ, Bi so ich mot hauen a place: A place graunt me, Marie, Line 160 Þat mi soule mot wone, Wiþ ioie & wiþ melodye, In heuen bifor þi swet sone!"

Sche seyd: "mi clerk, no wepe þou nouȝt, No make no mornand chere! Line 165 Þi bon, þou hast me bisouȝt, Ich graunt þe in al maner: In-to þat ioie þou schalt be brouȝt, When þou hast laten þi liif here, Þat mi swete sone haþ wrouȝt Line 170 To hem þat ben him leue & dere. Dere þou art to me, ywis. Oȝain to heuen now ich mot wende; & þou schalt com in-to þat blis, When þou hast laten þi liues ende." Line 175

Vp into heuen anon sche steyȝe, Þer sche is quen & leuedi corn. Þe clerk his eiȝen fast he wreiȝe, He wende his siȝt were forlorn. When it was day, ful wele he seiȝe Line 180 Þis warldes pride al him biforn. "Merci, leuedi! he crid on heiȝe, Wele be þe time þat þou were born! Þat þou were born of o wiman, Blisced be euer þe day! Line 185 Þer liueþ nowiȝt þat telle can Þe ioie þat of þe springeþ ay.

Leuedi, flour & frout of Jesse, Þou art maiden, gode & hende, Godes moder, mild & fre; Line 190 Michel þou helpest al man-kende: On þi seruaunt haue pite, & saue ous, lord, fram þe fende & graunt ous, ȝif þi wille be: [Ms. lord st. leuedi.] When we schul of þis warld wende, Line 195 When we schul wend out of þis liue, Here our prayer & our steuen: Bring ous, for þine ioies fiue, Into þe swete blis of heuen. Amen. Explicit. Line 200

II. De miraculo be(ate) Marie. Aus Ms. Thornton fol. 147.

Jhesu, lorde in trinyte, Þat was & es and aye schall be, Þou brynge vs to thi blyffe; Þe same blyffe þou bryng vs to, Thou late vs neuer so menly do Line 5 Thy mirthis þat we mysse! Ȝe þat will a storye lere, A better Ensample may no-mane here, Trewly, þane es this. And by a knyght it sall be talde, Line 10 Þat was hardy wyghte & balde And wondir wykked I-wysse.

He was bothe fers and felle — A fellere deuyll was noghte in helle, Ne none so lefe to do ill; Line 15 Weddid wyffes wolde he ta, Maydyns, maryage alfwa Blethely wolde he spill, And refe lele m(en) . . . . [Das Blatt ist unten beschnitten.] So wexe . . . . . Line 20 Durf . . . . . And who so did oghte hym agayne, Full sone he garte þam be slayne — So wexe he wikkede of will.

Messe ne matyns wolde he none here, Line 25 Ne ȝitt no prechynge of no frere — Thare-to hym was full lathe; Who so stode vpe & oghte fold faye, He bade þame ga in þe deuyll waye, And glomede als he were wrathe. Line 30 Hym ware wele leuer ga by þe water Þan for to here a frere clater — Sa wexe he bryme and brathe; Thaym were wele better ga þaire gate Þan for to come vnto his ȝate Line 35 To aske hym corne or clathe.

In þe lande þat tyme þer welke a frere, A better clerke thurt na-mane here Ne nane wyth eghne see, To teche mene þe redy lare Line 40 How þat þay solde till heuene fare & euer in blys to bee. So many a mane had he conuert And ploukked þe fend owt of þaire herte Als apills ere on the tre. Line 45 Þis knyght þer-at had grete envy, & saide he techide bot heresy Þat euer ȝitt prechide hee.

Till on an tyme þe frere herd tell How nere-hand þe knyght gune duelle, [Nach v. 50 fehlt eine Stro he?] Line 50 Byfore þe nōne in a kirke. And firste he prechide gud latyne, And sythyne Inglysche gud & fyne, Wha sa after hym walde wyrke. Line 55 So þat many mene full sore wepide. (Þ)e knyghte satt ay styll & slepide, . . . . in to the myrke. . . . . .lowde to hym . . . . . Line 60 . . . . .Irke.

"It es me tolde in this contre Þat þou spekes mekill agaynes me And sais I preche bot herefy; To holy kirke wittnes I drawe I preche no thynge agaynes þe lawe, Line 65 & I sall telle the why, Þe same ordir þat god gafe here Þe foure gosepells wretyne fere On þe rode whene he gune dy; Þat þou arte bot an heretyke; Line 70 Þe fende of helle þou erte full lyke, Þou lyffes noghte ryghtwyffly."

Þe knyghtes hert bygane to tene, Bot he ne wold not hym to no-mane mene, Bot satt ay still als stane; Line 75 Had it noghte bene mare for manes sp(e)che, Þe frere had nedid none oþer leche Bot sone he hade bene slayne; — For þe awe of god ne lettyd he noghte, Bot for dishonour þat hym thoghte Line 80 Þat he thare had tane. Þe frere tuke vp anoþ(er) tale; Þe knyght satt still & wexe alle pale, Als his lyfe had bene gane.

Whene þe frere had sayd what he walde, Line 85 Folke drew to hym thikk-falde, To schryfe þame of thaire synne. [Die Reime sind verderbt, oder nach v. 90 fehlt eine Strophe.] Þe knyghte, þat was þe fendys fere, He styrte by-twix þame & þe frere: Þay myghte noghte to hym wynne. [Die Reime sind verderbt, oder nach v. 90 fehlt eine Strophe.] Line 90 Ilk a mane wend he wold do saa Penance for his synns to taa: So wende both mane & wyfe; He was abowte þe frere to tary, Bathe to fkorne god & Mary Line 95 & thayme to hethyng to dryfe.

Of his commyng þe frere was fayne [(Hier ist grosse Lücke).] . . . . . [folio 148] "The thare noghte be so bayne." Full preualy he helde hym still, And thanked Mary hir gud will, [Ms. fewlis st. fowlis.] Line 100 Þat helde hym fra þat trayne.

Þe frere, þe fend vaneste awaye. It was myrke & ferre fra daye, Þe fewlis sange was still. Þe foulle warlawes of helle Line 105 Vndir þe wallys fkrykked schille, And sayd: Mary did wrange & ill Þat scho solde with hir qwaynt fare Reue þam þat þairs ware, Thay myght noghte come þer-till; Line 110 Mighte þay hafe getyne hym on any wyse, Þay wold hafe qwitt hym his seruyse. For sorowe þay cryed fchill.

Fra þat tym, to þe sone rase, Byfore oure lady kneland he was Line 115 And prayed hir þat scho walde gaa And bere his erande to hir dere childe To forgyffe hym his werkes wylde, Þat he had bene so thraa. At forthe dayes þane come his ownne frere Line 120 With a full mylde chere, The better of thase twa. And appone his knes he sett hym downne And tuk hys absolucyone. The fend was flayed hym fra. Line 125

And þare he schrafe hym of his synne Þat he had lange lyuede Inne, Wele ferly lange. Ilk a mane agayne his gud he gaffe Þat he had tane with ryfe & raffe, Line 130 With falsehed & with wrange. And þus to þe blysse gune he wyne. God late vs neuer byleue in syne With hert þat es so strange. Þe mane þat will ilk day do better þane oþer, Line 135 He may be goddis ownne broþer And duelle angells amange.

Þus Endis here our talkyng. Jhesu till his blysse vs brynge, Þat es euer-lastande. amen. par charite. Line 140