Altenglische legenden ...

Horstmann, Carl, ed. b. 1851.

Table of contents | Add to bookbag

II. Zur Geburt Jesu.

<< Previous section Next section >>

Page [unnumbered]

A. Ashmol. 43.

Of Joie & blisse is al my song, : kare to bileue, [folio 208b]

& to herie him among : þ^t al our sorwe schal reue.

Icome he is þe suete dew, : to wan is al our hope,

Jhu kyng of alle kynges, : þe swete hony drope;

Bicome he is oure broþer; : war was he so longe?

He it is & non oþer, : þ^t boȝte ous so stronge.

Oure broþer we mowe him clupie wel, : so seiþ he him sulf ilome.

So ne miȝte hi neuer adel : þ^t bifore ous come.

He nas oure broþer noȝt, : ar he oure flesch nome,

þer myde he haþ ous dere aboȝt : to make ous isome.

Isome we nere bifore, : angelis & oure kunde,

Ar swete ihc were ibore, : þ^t to selde is in munde.

Ac nou he haþ oure kunde Inome, : & oure broþer is;

Oure kunde is wel heie i come : among oþer iwis.

Vor he is al oure kunde hext : saue is godhede,

& aboute is trone is next, : so noble is manhede!*. [Nach trone fehlt man.]

Angel ne worþ noȝt so hei, : for he nys oure broþer noȝt,

& oure kunde is eke so hei, : he haþ ous dere abouȝt,

Ne angeles he ne boȝte noȝt; : we beþ him wel ner;

Wen he vs haþ so dere aboȝt, : wel auȝte men louye him her.*. [vs ist im Ms. meist durch v mit dem Zeichen der Abkürzung für us ausgedrückt.]

þe angel nys naþemo : bote as his messager;

Hou miȝte it þanne go : to beo is broþer her?

& In heuene hi scholleþ also, : wen þ^t we beþ þere,

Oure heste & oure wille do, : as hi oure hinen were,

To oure heste seruy ous : to fot & to honde;

Oure owene we mowe holde ous, : as i^c vnderstonde:*. [vnder stonde: das ausschliesslich nach d gebrauchte Zeichen der Abkürzung [gap: 1] ist überall durch er wiedergegeben, obwohl es auch ur vertreten könnte.]Page 66

Ne mowe we þenne glade beo : to habbe suche hyne?

þ^t soþe ȝe mowe her iseo, : as we iseþ ate fyne,*. [suche: Ms. such; der Strich über h ist stets durch e auf|gelöst.]

þ^t we beþ alle kunde hext, : wiþþoute god one, [folio 209]

& in heuene also him next : among is angeles echone,

& alle þ^t nouþe late come, : seþþe our louerd aliȝte

& oure flesch haþ her Inome, : ihered beo is miȝte!

þulke þ^t bifore ous come, : wen hi þen deþ founde,

þenne hi were anon icast : In to helle gronde,

Nere hi so holi ne so good, : þer nas vorbore non:

þerfore hem longede more : after our lord echon.

þe prophetes þ^t were so gode : & so holi alle,

þ^t of oure lord vnderstode : wat it scholde bifalle,

Hi wusten þ^t he wolde come, : ac hi nuste wanne;

þe tyme hem þoȝte longe Inouȝ, : ech vnche hem þoȝte a sponne.

Hi gradden after him wel ofte : In here prophecie

& In þe bokes þ^t hi write, : þ^t he scholde hie.

God ȝeue, quaþ on of hem, : þ^t heuene borste atwo,

þ^t he miȝte liȝte adoun : to sauy ous so.

Somdel hem longede þo, : wen hi nolde abide,

þ^t heuene cloue ofte atwo : to sauy eiþer side;

Ac he scholde al to berste : & oure lord falle adoun.

Ac he hiede noȝt so bliue, : he com softe al isoun;*. [Ms. heiede, mit unterpungirtem e.]

Miȝte hi him habbe ihent : faste bi þe croune,*. [Ms. halbe statt habbe; bb ist im Ms. stets lb geschrieben.]

Hi him wolde narwe habbe iwent, : ac he hem huld þer doune.

Parde ȝut ne com he noȝt, : nere hem no so wo;

Hi þe grond of helle soȝte, : ar he com hem to.

S. dauyd after his anuy : after him he gradde þus:*. [s mit einem Häkchen darüber = seint ist stets durch s. bezeichnet.]

Louerd In heuene, to ous abowe : & liȝte to ous!

Scewe ous of þin holi face, : & we worþeþ hol anon.

Him longede ek after is face : þe holi symeon,

& alle blisse him was bynome, : & ofte gradde bifore:*. [nach ofte fehlt e oder he.]

Louerd, wanne woltou come? : wenne woltou be ibore?

Wene ȝe i^c mowe dure? : wene ȝe i^c mowe ise? Page 68

Here mone was deol to ihure, : ne gamede hem no gle;

Ac he ne mened hem noȝt : aȝen oþer bifore,*. [hem st. him.]

Vor he nas noȝt to deþe ibroȝt, : ar god were ibore;

Ac he lyuede, vorte he him isei : & in armes nom,*. [Ms. iseie u. inome mit unterpungirtem e.]

þo he acandelmasse dai : to þe temple com.

Louerd, wel may ous beo : bet, þen hem miȝte þo,

þ^t miȝte nowar fleo : ac to helle scholde go.

þer oure lord sede, : þo he was ibore,*. [þer st. þerfore.]

þ^t we miȝte beo wel glad : ouer oþer þ^t were bifore.

þe prophetes wilnede uorte se : & mony kynges also,

þ^t we iseeþ, ȝif it miȝte be, : ac hi ne miȝte noȝt do;

We mowe nou as it were : for noȝt to heuene come,

Seþþe our lord ous haþ iboȝt : & þe deueles power bynome;

Ac hi þ^t such grace nadde, : þ^t to fore ous come,

After oure lord hi gradde : In prophecie ilome;

After him hi gradde : wiþ grete wille & longe,

No mendement hi ne seie : bote þe pine stronge.

So longe þ^t hi weri were : & lete al beo stille,

& here aredinge forbere : & turnde to godes wille,*. [aredinge, st. gredinge verschrieben?]

Vor hi ne seie non oþer won : as ose seieþ uor sore,

Vche of hem to reste drouȝ : & ne speke of him nammore:

þ^t swete bern our kunde : boþe of flesch & felle.*. [Nach kunde fehlt wol nam.]

Of þe kunde of wan we come : somwat i^c mot telle.*. [we come fälschlich st. he com.]

A good mon þ^t me clupede isacar : was bi olde dawe

In bedlehem, þ^t doȝtren hadde two : In þe olde lawe:

þ^t on was s. anne, : þ^t ber our leuedi marie,

þ^t oþer elizabethes moder, : þ^t het Ismarie;

Elisabhet bar of hire : s. Jon þe baptist,

& marie, anne doȝter, : bar our lord ihū crist.

A good mon þer was In galilee, : me clepede ioachym,

Scephurde he was & holi mon, : gode grace was wiþ him.*. [gode st. godes.]Page 70

þo he was of twenti ȝer, : s. anne he nom to wyue.

þer nas couple In ierlm : of so clene lyue.

Boþe hi doutede oure lord, : hi delde here good aþre

Vche ȝer, al þ^t hi hadde, : þ^t ech man miȝte ise:

þ^t o del hi ȝeue to þe temple, : to hem þ^t seruede þer Inne,

As we ȝeueþ oure teþinge : of þ^t we mowe awynne;

þ^t oþer del hi ȝeue to pouere men : & weiueringe also;

Hem silue hi lyuede bi þe þridde : godes seruise to do.

þer nere none men In ierlm : þ^t so muche good hadde,

As ioachim & his wif, : vor triwenesse þ^t hi ladde.

100

Vor hose doþ wel his teþinge : nouþe & eke þo,

His good wole þe betere wexe : nouþe & euer mo.

Joachim & anne is wif : to gadere hor lif ladde

In clene spoushod twenti ȝer, : & no child hi nadde.

Aschamed þer of hi were sore, : for hem þoȝte þ^t hi were

105

Vor ȝete of god to fore alle oþer, : vor no child hi ne bere.

Hi bihete god, ȝif þ^t he wolde : eny child hem sende, [folio 210]

To godes seruice oblege hi wolde : þ^t child wiþþouten ende.

Vche ȝer also ioachim : to þe temple wende

þre siþe, to stable his biheste, : ȝif god him eny sende;*. [Nach eny fehlt child.]

110

& offrede largeliche : of þing þ^t he hadde,

ffor schame & for sorynesse : þ^t hi no child nadde.

þo hi hadde twenti ȝer : hor lif ilad so,

Joachim offrede to þe temple, : as he was iwoned to do.

þe prest þ^t þe temple wuste : pulte him abac anon

115

& sede þ^t he werþi nas : a mong godemen to gon,

& oure lord him scewede wel, : wen he ne þolede noȝt*. [Nach & fehlt þat.]

þ^t eny child as of oþer men : were of him ibroȝt.

Joachim was so sore of schamed : þ^t he wende out anon,

ffor schame among oþer men : In þe temple he nolde gon.

120

Wiþ is scip he wende in to anoþer lond : wepinge wel sore.

He ne þoȝte to þe temple come : ne to anne is wif nammore.

Wiþ scephurdes þer he was : In sorwe monþes fiue,

He ne hurde noȝt of is frendes : ne of anne is wyue.

An angel com adoun to him : & bad him be wel bliþe, Page 72

125

& sede our lord him wolde sende : þ^t he wilnede ofte siþe,

þ^t anne scholde a doȝter bere : & of him be biȝite,

To blisse of al þe world, : as þe prophetes hadde iwrite.

In toknynge he bad him go hom, : ȝif he ileue nolde,

At þe guldene ȝate his wif : he mete scholde.

130

Joachim ne leuede it noȝt, : uor longe childles hi were,

Ac hamward he wende naþeles, : he ne dorste elles for fere.

Gret deol made his wif vor him, : no womman miȝte more.

As heo was in morninge adai : wepinge wel sore

& gan to wringe hire honde: : swete lord, heo sede,

135

Eche þing þ^u ȝeuest Joie : & eche þing of blede,

Me one þ^u makes Joie les, : Ine seo non oþer so;

Me wondreþ ȝif i^c dorste segge : wi þ^u þenchest so do,*. [Ms. þencheste mit unterpungirtem e.]

Wen þ^u children hast me bynome, : & me eke hast bynome

Myn hosebonde þ^t is my Joie, : Inot war he is bicome.

140

þo com þus an angel to hire; : doute þe noȝt! he sede,

Icham þe angel þ^t habbe ibore : bifore god þi godhede;

A douȝter þ^u schalt her bere : al bi godes rede,

Marie schal hire name beo, : þ^t holi lif schal lede;

Of hire schal wondri al þe world : & þoru hire isaued beo;

145

þ^t child þ^u schalt bityme bere : & þ^t soþe iseo;

Aȝen þin hosebonde þ^u go; : to voluelle þi bone,

Ate guldene ȝate þ^u schalt him mete, : ne come þ^u so sone.

Anne ne leuede noȝt þis, : ac naþeles uorþ heo wende

Vorte Imete hire hosebonde, : as þe angel hire kende.

150

Joachim & anne is wif : sone to gadere hem mette

Ate guldene ȝate wiþ grete Joie, : as þe angel hem sette.

Hi clupte & custe wiþ Joie Inou; : þe bet hi leuede þo,

Vor hope of þis holi child, : hamward hi gonne go.

Anne seþþe wiþ childe was, : & seþþe wiþ riȝte kunde

155

Bar þ^t swete holi bern : þ^t euer worþ In munde,

Marie, þ^t ous haþ isaued : þ^t erore were ilore.

þe eiȝteþe dai of septembre : þ^t swete child was ibore. Page 74

In ierlm heo was ibore : In hire fader house iwis

Biside þe ȝate of iosaphat, : þ^t nouþe an abbei is

160

In honourance of s. anne : of blake nonnerie,

In þe stude þer heo was bore : þe swete maide marie.

Holi chirche nuste noȝt : wuch dai heo was ibore,

Ar nou late þoru myracle : þ^t god dude þeruore.

A good mon nou late eche ȝer : gret Joie in heuene isay

165

ffram ȝere to ȝere In septembre, : as falleþ our leuedi day.

Our lord he bad ententifliche : sum tokene him sende þere,

Wi more Joie were In heuene þo : þen in oþer time were.

Angeles sede þ^t for our leuedi : ibore was þulke dai,*. [þat for wol st. for þat.]

& of hire burtime was al þ^t ioie : þ^t he In heuene isai;

170

& bad warny holi churche : & men on erþe also

þ^t hi made feste of þulke dai, : as he sei in heuene do.

Hire burtime holi chirche : wuste In þisse manere.

Telle we of hire lif, : þ^t heo ladde anerþe here!

Anon as heo was þre ȝer old, : as it vel in þe lawe,

175

I offred heo was to þe temple, : as it vel bi olde dawe,

þo heo bileuede hire moder breste : & ne sek namore.

þo heo to þe temple com, : me miȝte ise godes ore:

Vor þer were viftene de gres : bifore þe heie auter

In þe honur of þe viftene saumes : þ^t beþ In þe sauter;

180

þis maide clamb ech after oþer, : vorte heo com vp an hei,

As heo were of gret elde, : ne com nomon hire nei;

Heo ne lokede after no moder, : þo heo vpard stei.

Gret Joie hadde ech man : of hire þ^t hit isei.

Chastete heo bihet, : ȝif godes wille it were.

185

Wiþ oþer maidens In þe temple : heo was iset to lere.

So vair heo was & queynte : of witte & of dede,

þ^t ech mon of such ȝong þing : wondrede & were in drede.

Heo nas neuer iseie wroþ : ne enes liȝynge gon

Ne no misword enes segge, : bote euer heo was In on. [folio 211]

190

Heo sewede & span & waf : boþe wollone & lynne,

Heo hadde lute erliche good, bote as heo miȝte wynne,*. [Ms. erliche st. erþliche, wie häufig im Ms.]

Eche werkedai bi riȝte tyme : þen dai heo delde a þre: Page 76

Eche day vorte vnderne : In bedes heo wolde beo,

ffram vnderne to mydouernon : to werke heo wolde sitte,

195

To spinne oþer to sewe, : heo was of gode witte;

In hire beden heo wolde þenne beo : vorte eue wel softe.

To hire angeles come al day : & confortede hire wel ofte.

Wen heo hurde of sikemen, : sone to hem heo wende

& confortede & helde hem : þoru grace þ^t god hire sende.

200

In hire childhod hit was : þ^t i^c ȝou habbe itold.

ffor ech godnesse myd hire was : boþe ȝong & old.

þo heo was fourtene ȝer old, : þe biscop of þe lawe

Het ech maide of þulke elde : to hore contreie drawe,

To take hosebondes as þe lawe was; : þe maidens were vawe

205

Of þulke heste, bote marie : ne likede noȝt þe sawe;

þo heo wiþ oþer was ihote go : hosebonde to take,

Heo sede : þ^t þe lawe wole, : nele i^c noȝt vorsake;

Mi fader & my moder made biheste, : ar i^c were biȝute,

þ^t i^c scholde in godes seruise : my maidenhod wute;

210

I^c my sulf, þo i^c was child, : bihet our lord al one

To lede my lif in chastete : wiþþoute mannes mone;

þerfore i^c ȝou segge to soþe : al myne wille:

Nei man ne schal i^c neuer come : my maidenhod to spille.

þe biscop & þe oþer maistres, : þ^t In þe temple were,

215

Gret conseil nome of þis word : & were in gret fere,

Vor þe lawe wolde þ^t noman : aȝen suche biheste scholde beo,

& þe lawe wolde þ^t no womman : vn spoused me scholde iseo.

Gret conseil þer of hi nome : fram daie to dai in þe ȝere

In orisoun to bidde our lord, : som toknynge to sende hem þere.

220

þo com a uois to hem & sede: : þencheþ in isaie!

þ^t maide ches hire spouse : þoru his prophecie.

Nou sede isaye : þ^t þer scholde springe

A ȝerde of Jessees more : of dauid þe kynge,

& aflour scholde springe : of þulke more also,

225

& þer vppe aliȝte þe holi gost : & come so þerto.

Her þoru þis men wuste : hou hi scholde on take.

Of dauies kunde he het eche man, : þ^t was wiþþoute make Page 78

& of elde to habbe wif, : þ^t ech of hem bere

A ȝerde to þe auter, : þ^t non vorbore nere;

230

& wuche ȝerde bigonne to blowe : & a coluere þer vppe ibroȝt,

þ^t he tok maric to spouse, : þ^t it nere bileued noȝt.

þe biscop was þo glad Inouȝ, : he let crie þere

Al þ^t were of dauies kunde : aȝerde to þe auter bere.

þo hi were to þe auter icome, : ech hadde a ȝerde an honde.

235

þer was Josep an old mon, : þ^t bihynde alle gan stonde.

Aȝenes wille he þuder com, : he ne dorste elles vor fere;

His ȝerde he hudde, þo oþer men : hore to þe auter bere.

þer nas non þ^t gan to blowe, : ac iosep hi vnderȝete

þ^t he hadde is ȝerde ihud; : hi gonne anon to þrete;

240

Hi made him bere uorþ is ȝerd, : hit ne moste non oþer beo;

þo he to þe auter com, : me miȝte miracle iseo:

His ȝerde bigan to blowe anon, : þ^t raþer was old & bar,

Anoueward sat acoluere; : fair miracle was þar:

Vpe þe ȝerde longe heo sat, : & seþþe þ^t folc isei:

245

Heo flei in to al þe temple : & seþþe in to heuene an hei.

þer nas non þ^t þis isei, : þ^t sore adrad nas.

Ac Joseph þe oldeman : swiþe sori was;

þo me lokede him þe maide, : a schamed he was sore.

Lokeþ, he sede, my feblesse : & habbeþ of me milce & ore!

250

Nam i^c old & cke feble? : my miȝte is me bynome;

Heo is ȝong & sunne it is : make ous to gadere come.

Nym ȝeme, quaþ þe biscop, : þ^t þ^u þi sulf ne aspille,

As dude datan & abiron, : vor hi were aȝen godes wille.

þo was Joseph sore adrad, : he ne dorste wiþsegge namore

255

Vor drede of oure lordes heste; : he gan to sike sore.

Inele noȝt god misdo; : wenne it mot be so nede,

Ichulle hire wedde, ac heo ne schal : for me hire maidenhod scede;

Ichulle hire wite as hire wardeyn, : oþer ne mai i^c noȝt,

þ^t my sone hire wedde after me, : þ^t hire kunde be uorþ ibroȝt.*. [Ms. kude st. kunde.]

260

Vor þe lawe was: wen man ne miȝte : biȝute child bi is wyue,

þ^t is nexte kun scholde : hire wedde after is lyue,

& ech after oþer, vorte sun child : of þe blode come;*. [Ms. sun st. sum.]

Hoso non wonne, vnwerþi was, : as it verde ilome. Page 80

Joseph wedde in þis entente : þis clene maide þere.*. [wedde st. weddede.]

265

Ac for oþer þing our lord nolde : þ^t heo iwedded nere:

þ^t is moder nere isclaundred : þ^t heo vnwedded wiþ childe were,

Ne þ^t þe deuel it vnderȝete : þ^t a maide child bere;

Vor þer bi he wolde habbe iwust : þ^t it were godes sone,*. [Hinter sone ist von späterer Hand þere, hinter 271 sone zugefügt, offenbar um den irrthümlich ver|missten Reim zu ergänzen.]

& habbe destourbed in alle þing : of his passione;

270

& god wolde ek, þ^t is moder : were in eche god hod;*. [Ms. goohod st. godhod.]

Of wymmen þre þer beþ : þe hexte is maiden hod,

þe oþer hexte is widewehod, : spoushod þe þridde is. [folio 212]

Alle þre þe maide hadde : þ^t bar oure lord crist:

Heo was maide widewe & wif; : hoso nys non of þis þre,

275

Bote heo come to amendement, : non hope ne mai of hire be.

Ac naþeles þer wiþþoute : me mai ifynde some,

Ac, ȝif god wole, hi mowe amende, : ar hi to deþe come.*. [Hier schliesst Ms. Ashmol. 43 ab; das Uebrige findet sich allein in Ms. Egerton 1993.]

<< Previous section Next section >>