And euer leue in rest and pese,
Þat ioy and blis schal neuer haue ende."
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XXI.
¶ Þen al þe sorouful soulus in hel,
Þat were þer-in turmentyng,
Þai crydyn "holé archangel Mechael
Haue mercy on vs in payne bydyng;
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And þou poul, belouyd with heuen kyng,
To þat lord for vs þou pray!"
Þen sayd þe angel loke with sore wepyng,
"Prays with poule, ȝif þat ȝe may
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Gete ȝou grace of one merce." [folio 18b]
When he had sayd þis word anon,
Þay wept and cryd out euerechon:—
"A þe sun of dauid in heuen trone,
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Haue merce on vs fore þi gret peté!"
XXII.
¶ A voyse fro heuen answerd aȝayn—
"What good dedes haue ȝe nov done,
Ȝe did me to deþ with passion and payn;
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Hwy aske ȝe me now remyssioun?
I was crucifid on cros fore ȝou al-on,
With spere and nayles y sched my blood,
Of aysel and gal ȝe ȝeuen me drenkyn,
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When I was on-þerst hongyng on þe rode;
And I put my-self to þe deþ fore ȝow,
Þat ȝe schul euer haue leuyd with me;
Bot ȝe were proud, couetyse, ful of enuy,
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And wold do no good dede, bot cursid treuly,
And false lyers in ȝour lyue as wel ȝe cnow."
XXIII.
¶ Þen sore wepyng poul knelid adowne,
And al þe angelis in heuen þer,
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