Sammlung altenglischer legenden, grösstentheils zum ersten male hrsg. von C. Horstmann.

Page [139]

b) aus Ms. Auchinl. Edinb. Advoc. Libr. [Diese Version des Ms. Auchinl. ist in 2 Bruchstücken erhalten: das erste, 2 foll. (v. 1-352) ist jetzt in Mr. David Laing's Privatbesitz, nachdem diese 2 Blätter früher als Deckel von blank paper books gedient hatten, welche vor 1750 von einem Professor von S. Andrews als "note books" angekauft wurden. Der andere Theil findet sich fol. 14-16 in Ms. Auch., als 8 tes Stück dieser Samm|lung (die ersten 5 sind ausgefallen, das Ms. beginnt jetzt mit 6: Gregorius). Beide Fragmente sind von David Laing in: A Penniworth of witte: Florice and Blauncheflore: & other pieces of ancient Engl. poétry selected from the Auch. Ms. Printed at Edinburgh for the Abbotsford Club 1857 heraus|gegeben. — Die Ausgabe dieser Fragm. folgt hier mit Erlaubniss Furnivall's nach einer auf meine Bitte von Miss Toulmin Smith für die Early Engl. Text Soc. angefertigten Abschrift des Ms. für das 2. Fragm., während das erste auf Laing's Ausg. basirt.]

                  
                    . . . . .
                  
                    Liȝtbern, þat angel briȝt,
                  
                    Answerd anon riȝt:
                  
                    "Ich was ar þe warld bigan,
                  
                    Er euer god maked man;
                  
                    Þerfore", he seyd, "so mot yt be:
                    Line 5 
                  
                    He schal first anoure me".
                  
                    Þan seyd þe messanger
                  
                    To Liȝtbern, þat is now Lucifer:
                  
                    "Bot þou do godes comandment,
                  
                    Þou art inobedient
                    Line 10 
                  
                    And wreþþest god almiȝti þerfore,
                  
                    And so miȝt þi mirþe be forlore".
                  
                    Liȝtbern answerd anon riȝt,
                  
                    Þurch pride þat in his word was liȝt:
                  
                    "He schal comen al to late
                    Line 15 
                  
                    Mi mirþe for to abate.
                  
                    Ichil go sitten in my see
                  
                    And be more master þan he".
                  
                    And anon riȝt wiþ þat . . .
                  
                    He sett him in his owen . . .
                    Line 20 
                  
                    And þo Liȝtbern hade seyd so,
                  
                    Mani þousend angels and mo
                  
                    Sayd: þai nold in non manere
                  
                    Anour Adam no Eue, his fere.
                  
                    Þus in heuen pride bigan
                    Line 25 
                  
                    While god in erþe made man.
                  
                    Þo swete Jhesus, þat was wiis,
                  
                    Was comen out of paradis
                  
                    To heuen, þer he . . . . .
                  
                    And hadde maked men of mold,
                    Line 30 
                  
                    He seyȝe where Liȝtbern set,
                  
                    And bad him loke to his fet.
                  
                    And Liȝtbern anon riȝt
                  
                    For pride þat in him was liȝt,
                  
                    In holy writ we heren telle:
                    Line 35 
                  
                    He sanke adoun in to helle;
                  
                    Þer he þoled michel schame —
                  
                    Satanas is now his name.
                  
                    And alle angels in heuen þat wer,
                  
                    Þat him ani wittnesse bere
                    Line 40 
                  
                    Þat he was worþi to sitten in se
                  
                    Þer swete Jhesu was won to be:
                  
                    Þurch þe pouwer of godes miȝt
                  
                    Seuen days and seuen niȝt
                  
                    Angels fellen adoun in to helle:
                    Line 45 
                  
                    In holy writ we heren it telle,
                  
                    For pride þat was in hem liȝt,
                  
                    Of heuen blis þai lorn þe siȝt.
                  
                    And as we finden in lectrure —
                  
                    Y not wheþer it be in holy scripture —:
                    Line 50 
                  
                    Þo Liȝtbern sat in his se
                  
                    And seyd he was worþier þan he:
                  
                    For þe mone bar him witnesse,
                  
                    It waxeþ and wanieþ more and lesse;

Page 140

                  
                    Þe se þurch vertu of godes miȝt
                    Line 55 
                  
                    Ebbeþ and flouweþ day and niȝt;
                  
                    Þis tvay no habbe neuer rest,
                  
                    Naiþer bi est no bi west.
                  
                    In heuen Pride first bigan
                  
                    In angels, ar it cam in man;
                    Line 60 
                  
                    And for it com out of heuen
                  
                    And was þe form sinne of seuen,
                  
                    Þerfore, wiþouten lesing,
                  
                    Of alle sinnes Pride is king.
                  
                    Lete we now Pride be,
                    Line 65 
                  
                    And to Adam wende we,
                  
                    And loke we hou him spet
                  
                    Þat þurch his wiues abet
                  
                    And þurch þe fendes entisement
                  
                    He brak godes comandment.
                    Line 70 
                  
                    God — yblisced mat he be! —
                  
                    He forbede Adam an appel-tre,
                  
                    Þat he ne schuld of liif no lim
                  
                    No frout þerof nim.
                  
                    Þe fende in licknesse of an adder
                    Line 75 
                  
                    Clombe opon þe tre wiþouten ladder
                  
                    And cleped to him Adames wiif,
                  
                    For to apair Adames liif.
                  
                    And Eue to þe nadder cam,
                  
                    And at þe nadder an appel nam:
                    Line 80 
                  
                    Þe fende gat alle þat he fond,
                  
                    And tok it Eue in hir hond
                  
                    And seyd: "ete þou, and Adam, of þis,
                  
                    And ȝe schul ben al so wiis
                  
                    As god, þat sitt in . . .,
                    Line 85 
                  
                    And witten alle his . . .
                  
                    . . ȝe no schuld nouȝt se no here
                  
                    Which godes . . . . . ere:
                  
                    Þerfore he it ȝou forbede
                  
                    Ite schuld nouȝt comen in ȝour hede".
                    Line 90 
                  
                    Eue of þe nadder þe appel nam,
                  
                    And to Adam anon him cam
                  
                    And seyd: "do as Ich þe rede:
                  
                    And it schal be þe best dede
                  
                    Þat euer ȝete þou dest ywis:
                    Line 95 
                  
                    Ete of þe appel þat here is,
                  
                    And þou schalt be, wiþouten lesing,
                  
                    Also wise of alle þing
                  
                    As he þat it forbede
                  
                    It schuld nouȝt comen in þine hed".
                    Line 100 
                  
                    Þurch þe fendes comberment
                  
                    And þurch his wiues enticement
                  
                    Godes comandment he breke:
                  
                    Þat he and his wiif eke
                  
                    Seþþen hem rewe boþe ful sore,
                    Line 105 
                  
                    Þat þai leueden þe fendes lore.
                  
                    In þe boke it is ywrite:
                  
                    Þo þai hadde of þe appel bite,
                  
                    Aiþer of oþer aschamed was
                  
                    And hiled her kinde wiþ more and gras.
                    Line 110 
                  
                    Adam was of god afliȝt,
                  
                    And went and hidde him anon riȝt.
                  
                    And god out of heuen cam
                  
                    And cleped anon after Adam.
                  
                    Þan seyd swete Jesus:
                    Line 115 
                  
                    "Adam, Adam, why destow þus?
                  
                    Þou hast ybrouȝt þi selue in wo
                  
                    And Eue, þi gode wiif, al so;
                  
                    For þou hast min hest ybroke,
                  
                    For soþe, Adam, ichil be wroke;
                    Line 120 
                  
                    Ȝe haue ydon a sori dede,
                  
                    For soþe, ȝe schul haue ȝour mede".
                  
                    Þo Jesu hadde to hem speke
                  
                    And told hem þat he wald ben awreke —
                  
                    Yblisced be his nam seuen! —,
                    Line 125 
                  
                    He steyȝe of him in to heuen.
                  
                    And þer after anon riȝt
                  
                    He sent to hem an angel briȝt
                  
                    Wiþ a brenand swerd,
                  
                    And drof hem in to miduerd,
                    Line 130 
                  
                    Adam and Eue, his wiif,
                  
                    In care þer to leden her liif.
                  
                    Gret pite it was to here
                  
                    Of Adam and of Eue his fere,
                  
                    Hou þai wepen and grad allas,
                    Line 135 
                  
                    Þo þai schulden for her trespas
                  
                    Out of paradys ygon —
                  
                    It was pite to heren her mon.
                  
                    Þo Adam in to erþe cam,
                  
                    Bowes leues and gras he nam:
                    Line 140 
                  
                    A loȝe he þouȝt to biginne,
                  
                    He and his wiif to crepen inne.
                  
                    And þo þe loȝe was ymaked,
                  
                    Þai lay þe[r]in all star naked,
                  
                    Sex days and sex niȝt,
                    Line 145 
                  
                    For hunger wel iuel ydiȝt:
                  
                    Euerich day þai souȝten mete,
                  
                    Bot nowhar þai no couþe it gete.

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                    Þo sex days weren agon
                  
                    And þai no founde mete non,
                    Line 150 
                  
                    Eue bigan for to crie:
                  
                    "Allas, Adam, for hunger we dye!
                  
                    Alle þe sorwe þat þou art inne,
                  
                    Certes, alle it is for mi sinne.
                  
                    Adam, ich beseke þe,
                    Line 155 
                  
                    Sle me, ȝif þi wille be:
                  
                    For, wer ich out of godes siȝt,
                  
                    Par auentour, Adam, þan þou miȝt
                  
                    Oȝein in to paradys wende
                  
                    And haue þe blis wiþouten ende".
                    Line 160 
                  
                    "A, woman", quaþ Adam þo,
                  
                    "Allas, why seydestow so?
                  
                    Wostow make me so wode
                  
                    To sle min owhen flesche and blode?
                  
                    Boþe in flesche and in bon
                    Line 165 
                  
                    Jesus Crist haþ made ous on:
                  
                    He made þe of mi ribbe —
                  
                    Þou miȝtest be me no ner sibbe.
                  
                    Ȝif þou þenkest more so,
                  
                    Þou wilt bring ous in more wo:
                    Line 170 
                  
                    Ȝif god sende on ous his curs,
                  
                    Þan schul we fare þe wors.
                  
                    Bot go we forþ and seche mete,
                  
                    Wher þat we may ani gete
                  
                    And for fauȝt dye we nouȝt,
                    Line 175 
                  
                    Ȝif we mow finden ouȝt".
                  
                    Þai went forþ and mete souȝten,
                  
                    And of hem seluen litel rouȝten.
                  
                    Astay went to seche mete,
                  
                    Þai seyȝen bestes stonden and ete;
                    Line 180 
                  
                    Ac þai no couþe finde non,
                  
                    As wide as þai couþe gon.
                  
                    Þan seyd Adam þus:
                  
                    "No hadde wretþed swete Jhesus,
                  
                    He wald haue sent ous mete anouȝ,
                    Line 185 
                  
                    Hongend opon ich bouȝ,
                  
                    As he doþ þis wilde bestes,
                  
                    And whe hadden holden his hestes;
                  
                    Bot for we haue his hest ybroke,
                  
                    Þerfore he wil ben awroke.
                    Line 190 
                  
                    Þerfore, Eue, mi rede it is:
                  
                    For whe han don amis,
                  
                    Go we out of þis wode schawes
                  
                    And liue we in pennaunce fourti dawes:
                  
                    And at þe fourti dawes ende
                    Line 195 
                  
                    God almiȝti, þat is so hende,
                  
                    And we miȝten his loue gete,
                  
                    Þan wolde he send ous mete".
                  
                    "Sir", quaþ Eue to Adam þo,
                  
                    "Þat wold bring me more wo,
                    Line 200 
                  
                    So long penaunce for to take,
                  
                    Bot ich it miȝt an ending make;
                  
                    Ȝif mi penance weren ybroke,
                  
                    Þan wold god ben awroke
                  
                    And be wroþer þan he is,
                    Line 205 
                  
                    And ich dede eft amis".
                  
                    "Eue", quaþ Adam anon riȝt,
                  
                    "Nouȝt bot do þan what þou miȝt!
                  
                    Wende to þe water of Tiges anon
                  
                    And step in opon a ston;
                    Line 210 
                  
                    And whan þou art comen in,
                  
                    Wad in vp to þi chin
                  
                    And fond to stond þerin all stille
                  
                    Fourti days to fulfille.
                  
                    And Jchil in to þe flom go
                    Line 215 
                  
                    And stond þerin fourti days and also
                  
                    Sex days mo and sex niȝt,
                  
                    Þurch þe help of godes miȝt:
                  
                    For in sex dayes and seuen niȝt
                  
                    Alle þe warld was maked and diȝt,
                    Line 220 
                  
                    And fulfild on þe seuen day;
                  
                    Þerfore, as forþ as y may,
                  
                    Jchil fond to helden stille
                  
                    Sex days more to fulfille.
                  
                    Þat ich rede we biginne
                    Line 225 
                  
                    And do penaunce for our sinne.
                  
                    And for þe penaunce wil be so hard,
                  
                    Par auentour þan afterward
                  
                    God, þat haþ ȝeuen ous liif so,
                  
                    Wald sende ous sustenance þerto".
                    Line 230 
                  
                    Eue vnderstode his rede
                  
                    And dede as Adam hir bede.
                  
                    As it telleþ in þe boke,
                  
                    Aiþer at oþer leue tok;
                  
                    Eue in to Tiges wode
                    Line 235 
                  
                    And vp to þe chin sche stode,
                  
                    And in to þe flum wode Adam
                  
                    And his penaunce vndernam.
                  
                    Þo þai hadde stonden þare
                  
                    In miche wo and miche care,
                    Line 240 
                  
                    Tventi days stonden inne
                  
                    In þo to waters in pine:

Page 142

                  
                    Þe fende þouȝt him to awreke
                  
                    And her penaunce for to breke.
                  
                    And formast he com to Eue,
                    Line 245 
                  
                    To brengen hir in misbileue —
                  
                    For Eue hadde leued his lore,
                  
                    He hoped þat sche wald more —
                  
                    And seyd: "Eue, wele is þe!
                  
                    Þi lord sent þe word bi me
                    Line 250 
                  
                    Þat þi trespas is forȝeue,
                  
                    Þat þou dost oȝains his leue.
                  
                    Com out of þat water anon!
                  
                    And as so swiþe astow miȝt gon
                  
                    Go and sigge Adam so,
                    Line 255 
                  
                    And bring him out of his wo!
                  
                    And Ichil go þider wiþ þe
                  
                    And say him as Ichaue don to þe".
                  
                    Of þat tiding Eue was glad
                  
                    And dede as þe fende hir bad:
                    Line 260 
                  
                    Out of þe water sche com anon
                  
                    And wiþ þe fende dedde hir to gon.
                  
                    Þo Adam hadde of Eue a siȝt,
                  
                    He wist wele anon riȝt
                  
                    Þat þe fende hir hadde ouercomen
                    Line 265 
                  
                    And out of hir penance ynomen;
                  
                    And ful gode ȝeme he nam
                  
                    It was þe fende þat wiþ hir cam.
                  
                    And seyd: "Eue, allas allas,
                  
                    Now is wers þan it was!
                    Line 270 
                  
                    He þat comeþ in þi compeynie,
                  
                    Now he haþ ygiled þe tvie:
                  
                    For soþe, Eue, þat is he
                  
                    Þat giled þe to þe appel-tre
                  
                    And made þe wiþ his enticement
                    Line 275 
                  
                    To breke godes comandment".
                  
                    Þo Eue wist it was Satanas,
                  
                    For sorwe þat in hir hert was
                  
                    Sche swoned and fel to grounde,
                  
                    And lay stille a ful gode stounde;
                    Line 280 
                  
                    And anon as sche awoke,
                  
                    For drede of god sche lay and qwoke,
                  
                    And seyd: "allas — ȝif god it wold —
                  
                    Þat euer was ich maked of mold!"
                  
                    Adam was in gret care
                    Line 285 
                  
                    Þat seyȝe his wiif so iuel fare,
                  
                    And seyd to þe fende of helle:
                  
                    "Ich wald þat þou wost me telle
                  
                    Whi þou inwest me and mi wiif
                  
                    And art about to pair our liif?
                    Line 290 
                  
                    And we [did] þe neuer no dede
                  
                    . . . . . stede".
                  
                    Þe fende answerd þo
                  
                    And seyd: "Adam, þou art mi fo.
                  
                    Sone after þe warld bigan
                    Line 295 
                  
                    And god hadde fourmed þe to man,
                  
                    Bi an angel he sent to me
                  
                    Þat y schuld anoure þe;
                  
                    And (y) seyd: þat y nold,
                  
                    For, ar þou wer maked of mold,
                    Line 300 
                  
                    Ich was in heuen an angel briȝt,
                  
                    Of grete pouwer and grete miȝt;
                  
                    And for y nold anour þe nouȝt,
                  
                    In þis sorwe Icham ybrouȝt,
                  
                    In to helle for to wende
                    Line 305 
                  
                    And won þer wiþouten ende.
                  
                    And alle þat were to mi consent,
                  
                    Alle þai hen to helle ywent,
                  
                    Euer to liue [in pine] and wo.
                  
                    Þerfore þou art our alder fo".
                    Line 310 
                  
                    Adam, þer he stode vp riȝt,
                  
                    Bisouȝt god ful of miȝt,
                  
                    Deliuer out of his compeynie
                  
                    Þe fende þat hadde swiche envie
                  
                    To him and to his wiue Eue,
                    Line 315 
                  
                    Þat fonded so her soules to greue.
                  
                    Adam, þer he stode al naked,
                  
                    Þo he hadde his preyer maked:
                  
                    Þurch þe pouwer of godes miȝt
                  
                    Þe fende went out of hir siȝt.
                    Line 320 
                  
                    Þo þe sex and fourti days wer go
                  
                    Þat Adam hadde yþoled þat wo,
                  
                    Out of þe water þo he cam.
                  
                    Þan seyd Eue to Adam:
                  
                    "Adam, Adam, wele is te,
                    Line 325 
                  
                    And Adam, Adam, wo is me!
                  
                    Þou hast þi penaunce to þende brouȝt:
                  
                    Þou miȝt be ful glad in þouȝt;
                  
                    And ich may sing allas allas,
                  
                    Icham wers þan ich was,
                    Line 330 
                  
                    For now Ichaue eft agilt,
                  
                    Seþþen we were out of paradis pilt.
                  
                    Þerfore Ichil now biginne
                  
                    Oȝain penaunce for to winne,
                  
                    And wende and won in þisternesse,
                    Line 335 
                  
                    Out of alle liȝtnesse;

Page 143

                  
                    Þe foule flesche þat haþ agilt,
                  
                    In þesternesse it schal be pilt".
                  
                    Eue went fram Adam,
                  
                    In to þesternesse till þat sche cam;
                    Line 340 
                  
                    And þo sche com to a þester stede,
                  
                    Niȝt and day in holy hede,
                  
                    Gret wiþ child, sche duelled þare,
                  
                    In miche sorwe and michel care.
                  
                    Þe time neiȝed atte last
                    Line 345 
                  
                    Þat Eue bigan to gret fast:
                  
                    And hye bigan to gron sore
                  
                    And seyd: "Louerd, merci, þine ore!
                  
                    Who may telle Adam mi þouȝt,
                  
                    In what sorwe þat ich am brouȝt?
                    Line 350 
                  
                    Y no haue messanger non
                  
                    Þat may on min eirand gon
                  
                    . . . . .

                  
                    . . . . .
                  
                    "& he seyȝe me wiþ his eyȝe,
                  
                    & seyd: "Adam, þou shalt dye.
                  
                    Hold þat word in þi þouȝt,
                  
                    & loke þou forȝete it nouȝt!"
                    Line 355 
                  
                    Þus seyd god almiȝti to me.
                  
                    Þo com ich in to erþe oȝe,
                  
                    & liued in trauail & in pine;
                  
                    & so schulen after al mine;
                  
                    Til god bicom man in erþe,
                    Line 360 
                  
                    We schul haue penaunce — & wele is werþe:
                  
                    For ich & þi moder weren at asent
                  
                    To breke godes comandment.
                  
                    For we haue him so agilt,
                    Line 365 
                  
                    In our hertes he haþ ypilt
                  
                    Boþe an euen & a morwe
                  
                    Sexti woundes of wo & sorwe,
                  
                    Þat schal doure to alle mi blod".
                  
                    & wiþ þat word þer Adam stode
                    Line 370 
                  
                    & bigan to wepe sore
                  
                    & seyd: "merci, lord, þinore!
                  
                    Lord — yblisced mot þou werþe! —
                  
                    Wherto was y made of erþe
                  
                    Swiche pine here to dreye?
                    Line 375 
                  
                    Wer time comen, ich wald dye!"
                  
                    Of Adames sorwe Eue toke kepe
                  
                    & bigan bitter to wepe,
                  
                    & anon in þat ich stounde
                  
                    Sche kneled adoun on þe grounde
                    Line 380 
                  
                    & bad a bone to swete Jhesus,
                  
                    Sore wepende, & seyd þus:
                  
                    "Lord, ich biseche þe,
                  
                    Adames sorwe put in me!
                  
                    For al þe sorwe þat he is inne,
                    Line 385 
                  
                    Is for mi gilt & for mi sinne".
                  
                    Adam hadde rewþe of his wiif,
                  
                    & was al ful of his liif,
                  
                    & seyd: "Eue, lat be þi fare,
                  
                    & fond to bring me out of care!
                    Line 390 
                  
                    Take Seþ in þi compeynie,
                  
                    & lok þat þou fast heyȝe,
                  
                    Lade him to paradise to þe ȝate,
                  
                    & lat him abide þer ate
                  
                    & let him stonden in þe siȝt:
                    Line 395 
                  
                    & god, þat is ful of miȝt,
                  
                    For he haþ nouȝt trespast so miche
                  
                    As haue we, sikerliche,
                  
                    Þerfore he may þe balder be
                  
                    To speke wiþ Jhesu Crist, þan we".
                    Line 400 
                  
                    Eue toke Seþ anon,
                  
                    & dede hem in þe way, to gon.
                  
                    Toward paradis anon þai go.
                  
                    & þe fende, þat was her fo,
                  
                    Com & mett wiþ hem tvaye
                    Line 405 
                  
                    Riȝt amid in þe waye,
                  
                    & bot Seþ in þe visage:
                  
                    & afterward a gret stage
                  
                    In his visage it was ysene,
                  
                    Where stoden his teþ kene.
                    Line 410 
                  
                    "Allas allas", quaþ Eue þo,
                  
                    "What icham curssed, & oþer mo,
                  
                    Þat breken godes comandment!
                  
                    Now is mi sones visage schent.
                  
                    Hadde we holden his hest ariȝt,
                    Line 415 
                  
                    Þan hadde þe fende hadde no miȝt
                  
                    For to touche nouȝt of our blod,
                  
                    No hadde ydon hem nouȝt bot gode".
                  
                    To þe fende þo seyd Eue.
                  
                    "Hou artow so hardi to greue
                    Line 420 
                  
                    Godes creatour þat þurch his grace
                  
                    Is fourmed after his owhen face?
                  
                    Me þenke þat þou dost nouȝt riȝt
                  
                    To wretþe wiþ þe king of miȝt.
                  
                    Why artow so malicious

                    Line 425

Page 144

                  
                    Line 425 
                  
                    Toward god & toward ous?"
                  
                    Þe fende answerd anon þis:
                  
                    "Nouȝt toward god our malice nis,
                  
                    Bot toward þe & al þe brod
                  
                    Þat euer comeþ of ȝour blod:
                    Line 430 
                  
                    For þurch ȝou we ben ybrouȝt [Ms. þurth st. þurch, wie 421, 439, 442, 455 u. ö.; Laing liest þurch.] 
                  
                    Þer wo & sinne is euer wrouȝt.
                  
                    &, Eue, ichil þat þou it wite:
                  
                    Seþþen þou & Adam of þe appel bite,
                  
                    We haue hadde pouwer & miȝt
                    Line 435 
                  
                    To dere ȝou boþe day & niȝt".
                  
                    "A, foule þing!" quaþ Seþ,
                  
                    "Fro mi moder þat here geþ, [L. l. heren.] 
                  
                    & fro me, þurch godes miȝt
                  
                    Passe oway out of our siȝt!"
                    Line 440 
                  
                    & þe fende, þe foule þing,
                  
                    Þurch miȝt of þe heuen king
                  
                    Out of her siȝt oway he nam,
                  
                    Þai nist neuer whar he bicam.
                  
                    Eue haþ Seþ yladde
                    Line 445 
                  
                    To paradys, as Adam badde.
                  
                    & Eue drouȝ hir fram þe ȝate,
                  
                    Sche no durst nouȝt loke in þerate,
                  
                    Sche durst nouȝt schewe god hir face,
                  
                    Bot lete Seþ abide grace.
                    Line 450 
                  
                    & Seþ in þilke stede,
                  
                    Sore wepeand, in holy bede
                  
                    He abod þer alle stille
                  
                    Godes merci & godes wille.
                  
                    Þurch þe vertu of godes miȝt
                    Line 455 
                  
                    Þer com adoun an angel briȝt,
                  
                    & seyd to Seþ in þis maner,
                  
                    Þat he miȝt wiþ eren here:
                  
                    "God, þat al þe warld haþ wrouȝt,
                  
                    Sent þe word: þou biddest for nouȝt,
                    Line 460 
                  
                    Er þe term be ygon
                  
                    Of fiue þousende winter & on
                  
                    & fiue & tenti winter & mo,
                  
                    Er þat terme be ago
                  
                    & god, þat is ful of miȝt,
                    Line 465 
                  
                    Be in to erþe yliȝt
                  
                    & haue ynomen kind of man
                  
                    & baþed in þe flom Jordan:
                  
                    Þan schal Adam & Eue, his wiif,
                  
                    Be anoint wiþ oyle of liif,
                    Line 470 
                  
                    & alle þo þat after hem comen
                  
                    Þat haue ciristendom ynomen.
                  
                    Go tel Adam, þi fader, þis
                  
                    Þat no noþer grace þer nis.
                  
                    & to grayþe him, bid him heyȝe:
                    Line 475 
                  
                    His terme neiȝeþ þat he schal dye.
                  
                    & when þe bodi, þat haþ don sinne,
                  
                    & þe soule schal parten atvinne,
                  
                    Riȝt whan þat time schal be:
                  
                    Miche meruayl ȝe schullen yse —
                    Line 480 
                  
                    So seyt mi lord, þat alle haþ wrouȝt,
                  
                    & biddeþ þat ȝe no drede nouȝt
                  
                    For nouȝt þat ȝe schul here no se.
                  
                    So he sent ȝou word bi me".
                  
                    Eue & Seþ her way nome
                    Line 485 
                  
                    & went oȝain, as þai come,
                  
                    & told Adam þe tiding
                  
                    Þat him sent þe heuen king.
                  
                    & Adam held vp boþe his hond
                  
                    & þonked god of alle his sond.
                    Line 490 
                  
                    Adam his eiȝen vnfeld:
                  
                    & seþþen his sone he biheld
                  
                    & seyd: "merci, swete Jhesus!
                  
                    Who haþ wounded mi sone þus?"
                  
                    "Bi god! Adam", quaþ Eue,
                    Line 495 
                  
                    "He þat is about to greue
                  
                    Oure soules, boþe niȝt & day,
                  
                    As michel as euer he may;
                  
                    Þat is þe fende, þat is our fo,
                  
                    Þat haþ ous brouȝt in to þis wo:
                    Line 500 
                  
                    He com & mett wiþ ous tvay,
                  
                    As we ȝeden in þe way
                  
                    & went toward paradys:
                  
                    Þus he bot him in þe viis".
                  
                    "Owe, Eue!" quaþ Adam þo,
                    Line 505 
                  
                    "Þou hast ywrouȝt michel wo!
                  
                    Alle þat after ous be bore,
                  
                    Alle schal curssen ous þer fore,
                  
                    & alle þat after ous liuen
                  
                    Boþe amorwe & eke aneuen
                    Line 510 
                  
                    Schul be bisy to bere þe wo
                  
                    Þat is ywakened of ous tvo.
                  
                    Þerfore, Eue, telle alle þine childer,
                  
                    Boþe þe ȝonger & þe elder:
                  
                    Þat þai be filed of our sinne;

                    Line 515

Page 145

                  
                    Line 515 
                  
                    & bid hem ichon biginne
                  
                    Niȝt & day merci to crie.
                  
                    Mi time is comen, y schal dye".
                  
                    Þus Adam bad Eue, his wiif,
                  
                    Techen his childer after his liif,
                    Line 520 
                  
                    Hou þai schuld anon biginne
                  
                    To crien merci for her sinne.
                  
                    & þo he hadde ytauȝt hem þus,
                  
                    As þe boke telleþ ous:
                  
                    He kneled adoun in his bede,
                    Line 525 
                  
                    & dyed anon in þat stede.
                  
                    & as þe angel hadde yseyd:
                  
                    Alle þe liȝtnisse was aleyd,
                  
                    Sonne & mone lorn her liȝt,
                  
                    Sex days & sex niȝt.
                    Line 530 
                  
                    Eue bigan to wepe & crie,
                  
                    Þo he seyȝe Adam dye;
                  
                    & Seþ made reweli mon
                  
                    & fel doun on his fader anon,
                  
                    &, as it telleþ in þe boke,
                    Line 535 
                  
                    In his armes his fader he tok,
                  
                    & ful bitterliche he wepe.
                  
                    & god almiȝti þerof toke kepe,
                  
                    & sent adoun an angel briȝt,
                  
                    Þat seyd to Seþ anon riȝt:
                    Line 540 
                  
                    "Arise, & lete þi sorwe be!
                  
                    & wiþ þine eyȝen þou schalt se,
                  
                    God, þat al þe warld schal glade,
                  
                    What he wil do wiþ þat he made".
                  
                    God, þat sit in heuen heyȝe,
                    Line 545 
                  
                    Tok Adam soule, þat Seþ it seiȝe,
                  
                    & bitok it seyn Miȝhel
                  
                    & seyd: "haue, loke þis soule wel,
                  
                    & put it in sorwe & þesternisse,
                  
                    Out of ioie & alle liȝtnisse,
                    Line 550 
                  
                    Til fiue þousend winter ben ago,
                  
                    Tvo hundred & eiȝte & tventi mo,
                  
                    Fro þe time þat he ete
                  
                    Of þat appel him þouȝt so swete:
                  
                    So long for his gilt
                    Line 555 
                  
                    In his ward he schal be pilt
                  
                    Þat maked him min hest breke;
                  
                    So long ich wil ben awreke,
                  
                    On him, & alle his blod eke,
                  
                    Mi comandment for he breke.
                    Line 560 
                  
                    & whan þat terme is ago,
                  
                    To ioie schal turn al his wo:
                  
                    & afterward þan schal he
                  
                    Sitten in þilke selue se
                  
                    Þat Liȝtbern sat, min angel briȝt,
                    Line 565 
                  
                    Er pride was in his hert aliȝt".
                  
                    Þus seyd Jhesus, þat sitt an heyȝe,
                  
                    & seþþen in to heuen he steiȝe.
                  
                    Fram þe time þat cas fel
                  
                    Þat curssed Kaim slouȝ Abel
                    Line 570 
                  
                    Til Adam dyed opon mold,
                  
                    As swete Jhesus Crist wold,
                  
                    Ȝete lay Abel aboue erþe:
                  
                    Til Jhesu Crist — herd mot he werþe —
                  
                    Bad his angels þat þai scholde
                    Line 575 
                  
                    Biry þe bodis vnder molde.
                  
                    Þe angels al wiþouten chest
                  
                    Dede anon godes hest,
                  
                    I(n)to cloþes þe bodi þai feld.
                  
                    Eue & hir children stode & biheld
                    Line 580 
                  
                    Riȝt in þilke selue stede,
                  
                    & hadde wonder what þai dede:
                  
                    For þai no hadde ar þan
                  
                    Neuer sen biry no man.
                  
                    Þan seyd an angel, þer he stode,
                    Line 585 
                  
                    To Eue & to al hir brode:
                  
                    "Take ȝeme hou we do!
                  
                    & her afterward do so:
                  
                    Birieþ alle so þat dyen
                  
                    As ȝe se wiþ ȝour eyȝen
                    Line 590 
                  
                    Þat we don þis bodis here —
                  
                    Doþ ȝe in þe selue manere"!
                  
                    Þo þe angels had seyd þus,
                  
                    Þai wenten oȝain to swete Jhesus,
                  
                    To heuen þer þai formast were,
                    Line 595 
                  
                    & leued Eue & hir children þere.
                  
                    Sex days after Adam was dede,
                  
                    God almiȝti an angel bede
                  
                    Go tellen Eue, Adames wiif:
                  
                    Þe terme was comen of hir liif.
                    Line 600 
                  
                    Þo Eue wist sche schuld dye,
                  
                    Sche cleped forþ hir progenie,
                  
                    Boþe þe ȝonger & þe eldre,
                  
                    Hir childer & hir childer childre,
                  
                    & sayd, þat alle miȝten here:
                    Line 605 
                  
                    "Þo ich & Adam, mi fere,
                  
                    Breken godes comandment,
                  
                    Anon his wretþe was ysent
                  
                    On ous, & on our progenie:

Page 146

                  
                    & þerfore merci ȝe schul crie,
                    Line 610 
                  
                    & boþe bi day & eke bi niȝt
                  
                    Doþ penance bi al ȝour miȝt!
                  
                    & þou, Seþ, for ani þing
                  
                    Ich comand þe on mi blisceing
                  
                    Þat þi fader liif be write,
                    Line 615 
                  
                    & min also, eueri smite,
                  
                    Fro þe bigining of his liif
                  
                    Þat he was maked, & ich, his wiif,
                  
                    & hou we were filed wiþ sinne,
                  
                    & what sorwe whe han liued inne,
                    Line 620 
                  
                    & in whiche maner þat þou seye
                  
                    Rediliche wiþ þine eiȝe
                  
                    Þi fader soule to pine sent,
                  
                    For he brak godes comandment.
                  
                    Alle þis loke þat þou write,
                    Line 625 
                  
                    As wele as þou kanst it dite,
                  
                    Þat þo þat be now ȝong childre
                  
                    Mai it see, & her elder,
                  
                    & oþer þat here after be bore,
                  
                    Hou we han wrouȝt here bifore,
                    Line 630 
                  
                    Þat þai mowe taken ensaumple of ous
                  
                    & amenden oȝain Jhesus".
                  
                    Þo Eue hadde þus yseyd
                  
                    & hir erand on Seþ yleyd,
                  
                    Sche kneled adoun & bad hir bede,
                    Line 635 
                  
                    & riȝt in þilke selue stede
                  
                    Þat alle her kin stoden & seyȝe
                  
                    Where, sche dyed biforn her eyȝe.
                  
                    Anon riȝt as Eue was dede,
                  
                    Her children token hem to rede
                    Line 640 
                  
                    & beren hir þilke selue day
                  
                    Vnto þe stede þer Adam lay,
                  
                    & biried hir in þilke stede
                  
                    Riȝt as þe angels dede
                  
                    Þat biried Adam & Abel:
                    Line 645 
                  
                    Þerof þai token hede ful wel.
                  
                    & þo sche was in erþe ybrouȝt,
                  
                    Þai were sori in her þouȝt
                  
                    & wopen & made miche wo,
                  
                    Þo Adam & Eue was ago,
                    Line 650 
                  
                    Boþe an euen & a morwe
                  
                    Þai wopen & made miche sorwe.
                  
                    & at þe four dayes ende
                  
                    Jhesu made an angel wende,
                  
                    & seyd, þer þai wepen sore:
                    Line 655 
                  
                    "Doleþ sex days, & na more,
                  
                    Þe seuen day rest of ȝour sorwe,
                  
                    Boþe aneuen & a morwe!
                  
                    For god þat alle þe warld haþ wrouȝt
                  
                    & alle þe warld made of nouȝt,
                    Line 660 
                  
                    As him þouȝt it wald be best,
                  
                    Þe seuen day he toke rest.
                  
                    & anoþer þing witterly:
                  
                    It bitokneþ þe day of merci:
                  
                    Þe seuenday was sononday,
                    Line 665 
                  
                    & þat day schal be domesday
                  
                    & alle þe soules þat wele haue wrouȝt
                  
                    Þat day schul to rest be brouȝt".
                  
                    Þo þe angel hadde his erand seyd [Ms. To st. þo.] 
                  
                    Þat god almiȝten hadde on him leyd, [Ms. al miȝten st. almiȝti.] 
                    Line 670 
                  
                    In to heuen þe way he nam —
                  
                    Þai wist neuer whar he bicam.
                  
                    Seþ anon riȝt bigan,
                  
                    Of Adam, þat was þe forme man,
                  
                    Al to gider he wrot his liif,
                    Line 675 
                  
                    As Eue hade beden, Adames wiif.
                  
                    As telleþ þe boke, þat wele wot,
                  
                    In ston alle þe letters he wrot,
                  
                    For fir no water opon mold
                  
                    Neuer greuen it no schold.
                    Line 680 
                  
                    Þo Seþ hadde writen Adames liif,
                  
                    & Eues, þat was Adames wiif:
                  
                    Riȝt in þilke selue stede
                  
                    Þer Adam was won to bide his bede,
                  
                    In þilke stede þe bok he leyd —
                    Line 865 
                  
                    As wisemen er þis han yseyd —
                  
                    Þer Adam was won to biden his bede,
                  
                    & leued it in þilke stede.
                  
                    & þer it lay alle Noes flode
                  
                    & no hadde nouȝt bot gode.
                    Line 690 
                  
                    Long after N[o]es flod was go,
                  
                    Salamon þe king com þo,
                  
                    Þat was air of Dauid lond:
                  
                    & Adames liif þer he fond,
                  
                    & al in ston writen it was,
                    Line 695 
                  
                    & damaghed non letter þer nas.
                  
                    For alle þat euer Salamon couþe
                  
                    Þink in hert or speke wiþ mouþe,
                  
                    On word he no couþe wite

Page 147

                  
                    Of alle þat euer was þer write,
                    Line 700 
                  
                    He no couþe o word vnderstond
                  
                    Þat Seþ hadde writen wiþ his hond.
                  
                    & Salamon, þat was wiis,
                  
                    Bisouȝt þe king of paradys
                  
                    Þat he schuld for his miȝt
                    Line 705 
                  
                    Sende him grace fram heuen liȝt
                  
                    Þat he miȝt haue grace to wite
                  
                    What þing weren þere ywrite.
                  
                    God — yblisced mot he werþe! —
                  
                    He sent an angel in to erþe,
                    Line 710 
                  
                    Þat tauȝt Salamon eueri smite
                  
                    Alle Adames liif ywrite,
                  
                    & seyd to Salamon ywis:
                  
                    "Here, þer þis writeing is,
                  
                    Riȝt in þis selue stede
                    Line 715 
                  
                    Adam was wont to bid his bede.
                  
                    & here þou schalt a temple wirche,
                  
                    Þat schal be cleped holi chirche;
                  
                    Þer men schal bid holy bede,
                  
                    As Adam dede in þis stede".
                    Line 720 
                  
                    & Salamon þe king anon
                  
                    Lete reren a temple of lime & ston:
                  
                    Þe first chirche vnder sonne
                  
                    Þat euer in warld was bigonne.
                  
                    Now haue ȝe herd of Adames liif
                    Line 725 
                  
                    & of Eue, þat was his wiif,
                  
                    Whiche liif þai ladden here on mold
                  
                    & seþþen diden, as god wold.
                  
                    & þo Adam in erþe was ded,
                  
                    For sinne þat com of her sed
                    Line 730 
                  
                    God sent Noes flod
                  
                    & adrenched al þe blod — [blod st. brod?] 
                  
                    Swich wreche god nam
                  
                    Of alle þat of Adam cam —
                  
                    Saue Noee & his wiif,
                    Line 735 
                  
                    Þat god hadde graunted liif,
                  
                    & his children þat he hadde,
                  
                    To schip wiþ him þat he ladde.
                  
                    Of Noee seþþen & of his childer
                  
                    We beþ ycomen alto gider.
                    Line 740 
                  
                    & seþþen þai leued in swiche sinne
                  
                    Þat for þe liif þai liueden inne
                  
                    Sodom & Gomore, þat wer þo
                  
                    Swiþe noble cites tvo,
                  
                    Boþe sonken in to helle,
                    Line 745 
                  
                    As we here clerkes telle.
                  
                    & anoþer noble cite,
                  
                    Þat was yhoten Niniue,
                  
                    Was in þilke selue cas;
                  
                    Bot as þe prophete Jonas
                    Line 750 
                  
                    Bad for hem day & niȝt
                  
                    To swete Jhesu ful of miȝt,
                  
                    & made boþe king & quene
                  
                    & alle þat oþer pople bidene
                  
                    In her bedes he made hem wake
                    Line 755 
                  
                    & hard penaunce he dede hem take:
                  
                    & þo þai were to penaunce pilt,
                  
                    God forȝaf hem her gilt;
                  
                    Þus Niniue saued was
                  
                    Þurch bisekeing of Jonas.
                    Line 760 
                  
                    Ȝete after Noes flod
                  
                    Al þat com of Noees blod,
                  
                    Weren he neuer so holy man,
                  
                    For þe sinne þat Adam bigan
                  
                    Þer most non in heuen com,
                    Line 765 
                  
                    Er god hadde his conseyl nome
                  
                    To liȝten in þe virgine Marie
                  
                    & on þe rode wald dye,
                  
                    For to biggen ous alle fre —
                  
                    Yherd & heyed mot he be!
                    Line 770 
                  
                    Now haue ȝe herd of swete Jhesus,
                  
                    As þe bok telleþ ous,
                  
                    Of þe warld hou it bigan
                  
                    & hou he made of mold man
                  
                    Jhesu þat was nomen wiþ wrong
                    Line 775 
                  
                    & þoled mani paines strong
                  
                    Among þe Jewes, þat wer felle,
                  
                    To bring Adam out of helle:
                  
                    Ȝif ous grace for to winne
                  
                    Þe ioie þat Adam now is inne.

                    Line 780

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Sammlung altenglischer legenden, grösstentheils zum ersten male hrsg. von C. Horstmann.

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Page [139]

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