21. S. Margarete, von Lydgate, aus Ms. Bishop Cosin's Library, Durham, V. II. 14, fol. 97b.
Abschrift der folgenden Legende verdanke ich der Freundlichkeit des Herrn Dr. Al. Brandl. — Ms. Durham enthält ausser Lydgate's Margarete das aus Mss. Laud 108 und Vernon bekannte, in Herrig's Archiv abgedruckte (I) Alexiuslied, und ein prosaisches Leben der Magdalena, fol. 106—111, Anfang: Mary Magdaleyn was surnamed of Magdalon the Castell and she was born of the kynred that were descen|did of ryal kynne and hir ffadir highte Syrus and hir modir highte Eucharie; der Schluss letzterer Legende fehlt.
Here begynneth the prolog of the holy seynt Margarete, compendyously compiled in balade by Lidgate dan John, Monk of Bury. Ao VIIIc. h VIv.
At the reuerence of seynt Margarete
My purpos is hir lyfe to compile;
Though I haue no rethorikes swete
Nor colournoone tenbelisshe with my style. [Ms. noōn; den Strich habe ich hier und in ähnlichen Fällen durch e aufgelöst, aber opinion u. a. durch opinioun gegeben.]
Yet dar I seyn, it happeth so somen while:
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Vnder writyng rude of apparence
Mater is hid of grete intellygence.
Ful ofte falleth, in this chestys blake
Golde and perlys and stones of grete prys
Ben ylooke and in-to warde ytake;
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And by sentence and the prudent avys
Of philosoffres, that holden were so wys,
A royal ruby, in whiche ther is no lak,
May closed ben in a ful pore sak.
And though that I haue noone eloquence
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For to discryue hir parfit holynesse,
Hir chaste lyf, hir tendre innocence,
Hir martirdam wrought by grete duresse,—
Ay vnmutable in hir stablenesse,
Vn-to the dethe ay one in hir suffraunce:
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So was hir herte roted on constaunce;
In Crystes feith she gan hir so delyte,
For whom she lyste despyse al worldly glorye,
This daysye with leves rede and white:
Purpul-hewed, as maked is memorye,
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Whan that hir blode was shad oute, by victorye,
The chaste lely of whos maydenhede
Thorugh martyrdam was spreynt with roses rede.
Margarete the storye dothe hir calle
After a stone ynamed Margarite,
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A precyous gemme amonge these stones alle;
In there bokes as clerkys liste to write,
For of nature perlys echone ben white,
Right vertuous of kynde, rounde, and small:
Whiche propurtees resemblene hir at-alle;
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She was first white by virginyte,
In al hir lyvyng preuyde vertuous,
And smal she was by humylite,
Right strong in god, this maide glorious;
And for she was thurgh deth victoryous,
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Thurgh her triumphe she gate the palme in heuene,
With laurere crowned above the sterres seuene.
This stone in vertu is a cordyal,
To the spirit a grete confortatyf:
Right so hir herte was imperyal,
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