Scottish alliterative poems in riming stanzas. Edited with introd., appendix, notes, and glossary. [n.p.]Scottish Text Society, 1897.

APPENDIX
THE PISTILL OF SUSAN
FOUR VERSIONS FROM MSS. OF FIFTEENTH CENTURY

• A = Add. MS., 22,283.
• I = Ingilby MS.
• P = Phillipps MS., 8252.
• C = Cottonian MS. Caligula, A.ii.

HERE BYGYNNEÞ A PISTEL OF SUSAN.

A.

I.

ÞER was in Babiloine a barne, in þat borw riche, Þat was a Jeuȝ gentel, and Joachim he hiht; He was so lele in his lawe, þer lyued non hym liche, Of alle riches þat renk arayed was riht. His innes and his orchardes were with a deope diche, Line 5 Halles and herbagages, heiȝ vpon hiht; To seche þorw þat citee þer nas non siche, Of erbes and of erberi so auenauntly idiht, Þat day, Wiþinne þe sercle of sees, Line 10 Of erberi and alees, Of alle maner of trees, Soþely to say.

II.

He hed a wyf hiht Susan, was sotil and sage; Heo was Elches douȝter, eldest and eyre, Line 15 Loueliche and lilie whit, out of þat lynage, Of alle fason of fode fresscheliche and feyre. Þei lerned hyr lettrure of þat langage, Þe maundement of Moyses þei marked to þat may, To þe mount of Synay þat went in message, Line 20 Þat þe Trinite bitoke of tables a payre To rede. Þus þei lerne hire þe lawe, Cleer clergi to knawe; To God stod hir gret awe, Line 25 Þat wlonkest in wede.

III.

He hed an orchard newe, þat neiȝed wel nere, Þere Jewes with Joachim priuely gon playe; For he rial and riche of rentes euer þere, Honest and auenaunt, and honorable aye. Line 30 I-wis, þer haunted til his hous, hende, ȝe may here, Two domes of þat lawe, þat dred were þat day, Preostes and presidens preised als peere, Of whom vr souereyn lord sawes gan say, And tolde Line 35 How heore wikkednesse comes Of þe wrongwis domes Þat þei haue ȝyue to gomes, Þis juges of olde.

IV.

Þus þis dredful demers on dayes þider drewe, Line 40 Al for gentrise and joye of þat Jewesse; To go in his gardeyn, þat gayliche grewe, To fonge floures and fruit þouht þei no fresse; And whon þei seiȝ Susan, semeliche of hewe, Þei were so set vpon hir, miht þei not sese. Line 45 Þei wolde enchaunte þat child; hou schul heo eschwe? And þus þise churles vnchaste in chaumbur hire chese, Wiþ chere. Wiþ two maydenes al an, Semeliche Susan, Line 50 On daies in þe merian, Of murthes wolde here.

V.

Whon þeos parlous prestes perceyued hir play, Þo þouht þe wrecches to biwile þat worli in wone; Heore wittes wel weiwordes þei wrechen a-wai, Line 55 And turned fro his teching, þat teelde is in trone. For siht of heore souerayn, soþli to say, Heore hore hedes fro heuen þei hid vpon one; Þei cauht for heore couetise þe cursyng of Kai, For rihtwis jugement recordet þei none, Line 60 Þei two. Eueri day by day In þe pomeri þei play, Whiles þei miht Susan assay, To worchen hire wo. Line 65

Line 65

VI.

In þe seson of somere, with Sibell and Jone, Heo greyþed hir til hir gardyn, þat growed so grene, Þer lyndes and lorers were lent vpon lone, Þe sauyne and sipres, selcouþe to sene, Þe palme and þe poplere, þe perie, þe plone, Line 70 Þe junipere ientel, joyned bitwene; Þe rose ragged on ris, richest on rone, I-þeuwed with þe þorn trinaunt to sene, So tiht. Þere were papeiayes prest, Line 75 Nihtgales vpon nest, Bliþest bryddes of þe best, In blossomes so briht.

VII.

Þe briddes in blossomes þei beeren wel loude, On olyues and on amylliers and al kynde of trees; Line 80 Þe papeiayes perken and pruynen for proude, On peren and pynappel þei ioyken in pees; On croppes of canel keneliche þei croude, On grapes þe goldfinche þei gladen and glees; Þer schene briddes in schawe schewen heore schroude, Line 85 On firres and figers þei fongen heore seetes, In ffay. Þere were growyng so grene Þe date wiþ þe damasene; Turtils trouned on trene Line 90 By sixti I say.

VIII.

Þe fige and þe filbert were fode med so fayre, Þe cherie and þe chesteyn, þat chosen is of hewe, Apples and almaundes, þat honest aren of ayre, Grapes and garnettes gayliche þei grewe; Line 95 Þe costardes comeliche in coypes þei cayre, Þe britouns, þe blaunderers, braunches þei bewe, Fele floures and fruit, fresliche of flayre, With wardouns wynliche and walsenotes newe, Þei waled. Line 100 Ouer heore hedes gan hynge Þe wince and þe wederlynge; Spices speden to springe, In erberes enhaled.

IX.

Þe chyue and þe chollet, þe chibolle þe cheue, Line 105 Þe chouwet, þe cheuerol, þat schaggen out niht; Þe persel, þe passenep, poretes to preue, Þe pyon, þe peere, wel proudliche ipiht; Þe lilye, þe louache, launsyng with leue, Þe sauge, þe solsecle, so semeliche to siht; Line 110 Columbyne and charuwe clottes þei creue, With ruwe and rubarbe, ragget ariht, No lees. Daysye and ditoyne, Ysope and aueroyne, Line 115 Peletre and plauntoyne, Proudest in pres.

X.

Als þis schaply þing ȝede in hire ȝarde, Þat was hire hosbondes and hire, þat holden were hende, "Nou folk ben faren from vs, þar vs not be ferde; Line 120 After myn oynement warliche ȝe wende. Aspieþ nou specialy þe ȝates bene sperde, For we wol wassche vs I-wis bi þis welle strende." For-þi þe wyf werp of hire wedes vnwerde, Vndur a lorere ful lowe þat ladi gan lende, Line 125 So sone. By a wynliche welle Susan cast of hir kelle; Bote fele ferlys hire bifelle Bi mydday or none. Line 130

Line 130

XI.

Nou were þis domesmen derf drawen in derne, Whiles þei seo þat ladi was laft al hire one; For to heilse þat (hende) þei hiȝed ful ȝerne, With wordes þei worsschupe þat worli in wone; "Wolt þou, ladi, for loue on vre lay lerne, Line 135 And vnder þis lorere bene vre lemmone? Ȝe ne þarf wonde for no wiht vr willes to werne, For alle gomis þat schulde greue of gardyn ar gone In feere. Ȝif þou þis neodes deny, Line 140 We schal telle trewely We toke þe wiþ a-voutry Vnder þis lorere."

XII.

Þenne Susan was serwful, and seide in hire þouht: "I am with serwe biset on eueriche side; Line 145 Ȝyf I assent to þis synne, þat þis segges haue souht, I be bretenet and brent in baret to byde; And ȝif I nikke hem with nay, hit helpeþ me nouht; Suche toret and teone takeþ me þis tyde. Are I þat worthliche wrethe, þat al þis world wrouht, Line 150 Bettre is wemles weende of þis world wide." Wiþ þis Þo cast heo a careful cri, Þis loueliche lady; Hyr seruans hedde selli, Line 155 No wondur I-wis.

XIII.

Whon kene men of hyr court comen til hire cri, Heo hedde cast of hire calle and hire keuercheue; In at a priue posterne þei passen in hi, And fyndes þis prestes wel prest here poyntes to preue. Line 160 Þo seide þe loselle aloude to þe ladi: "Þou hast gone with a gome, þi god to greue, And ligge with þi lemmon in a-voutri, Bi þe lord and þe lawe þat we on leeue." Þei swere; Line 165 Alle hire seruauns þei shont And stelen a-way in a stont, Of hire were þei neuer wont Suche wordus to here.

XIV.

Hire kynrede, hire cosyns and al þat hire knewe, Line 170 Wrong hondes, I-wis, and wept wel sore, Sikeden for Susan, so semeliche of hewe, Al onwise of þat wyf wrondred þei were. Þei dud hire in a doungon, þer neuer day dewe, While domesmen were dempt þis dede to clare, Line 175 Marred in manicles þat made were newe, Meteles while þe morwen to mydday and mare, In drede. Þer com hyr fadur to freo, With al hys affinite, Line 180 Þe prestes saun pite, And ful of falshede.

XV.

Þo seide þe justices on benche to Joachym þe Jewe, Þat was of Jacobes kuynde, gentel of dedes: "Let sende after Susan, so semeliche of hewe, Line 185 Þat þou hast weddet to wyf, wlankest in wedes; Heo was in trouþe, as we trowe, tristi and trewe, Hir hert holli on hym þat þe heuene hedes." Þer þei brouht hire to þe barre, hire bales to brewe. Noþer dome ne deþ þat day heo ne dredes Line 190 Als þare. Hyre hed was ȝolow as wyre Of gold fyned wiþ fyre, Hire scholdres schaply and schyre, Þat bureliche was bare. Line 195

Line 195

XVI.

Nou in Susan is sale, sengeliche arayed, In a selken schert, with scholdres wel schene. Þo ros vp with rancour þe renkes reneyed, Þis comeliche accused with wordes wel kene; Homeliche on hire hed heore hondes þei leyed, Line 200 And heo wept for wo, no wonder, I wene. "We schul presenten þis pleint, hou þou euer be paied, And say sadlyche þe soþe, riht as we haue sene, O sake." Þus wiþ cauteles qwaynt, Line 205 Preostes presented þis playnt; Ȝit schal trouþe hem ataynt, I dar vndurtake.

XVII.

"Þorwout þe pomeri we passet vs to play, Of preiere and of penaunce was vre perpose; Line 210 Heo com with two maidens, al richeli þat day, In riche robes arayed, red as þe rose; Wyliche heo wyled hire wenches a-way, And comaunded hem kenely þe ȝates to close. Heo eode to a ȝong mon in a valey; Line 215 Þe semblaunt of Susan wolde non suppose For soþ! Be þis cause þat we say, Heo wyled hire wenches away; Þis word we witnesse for ay, Line 220 Wiþ tonge and wiþ toþ."

XVIII.

"Whon we þat semblaunt seiȝ, we siked wel sore, For sert of hire souereyn and for hire owne sake. Vr copes were comberous, and cundelet vs care, But ȝit we trinet a trot, þat traitour to take. Line 225 He was borliche and bigge, bold as a bare, More mihti mon þen we his maistris to make. To þe ȝate ȝaply þei ȝeoden ful ȝare, And he lyft vp þe lach and leop ouer þe lake, Þat ȝouthe. Line 230 Heo ne schunt for no schame, But bouwed aftur for blame; Heo nolde cuyþe vs hys name, For craft þat we couþe."

XIX.

Nou heo is dampned on deis, with deol þauȝ hir deue, Line 235 And hire domes men vndeuwe do hire be withdrawen. Loueliche heo louted, and lacched hire leue, At kynreden and cosyn þat heo hedde euer iknowen; Heo asked merci with mouþe in þis myscheue. "I am sakles of synne," heo seide in hire sawen; Line 240 "Grete God of his grace ȝor gultus forȝiue, Þat doþ me derflich be ded and don out of dawen Wiþ dere. Wold God þat I myht Speke with Joachym a niht; Line 245 And syþen to deþ me be diht, I charge hit not a pere."

XX.

Heo fel doun flat in þe flore, hire feere whon heo fonde, Carped to hym kyndelich, as heo ful wel couþe: "I-wis I wraþed þe neuer, at my wetand, Line 250 Neþer in word ne in werk, in elde ne in ȝouþe." Heo keuered vpon hire knes, and cussed his hand: "For I am dampned, I ne dar disparage þi mouþe." Was neuer more sorweful segge bi see nor bi sand, Ne neuer a soriore siht bi north ne bi souþe, Line 255 Þo þare. Þei toke þe feteres of hire feete, And euer he cussed þat sweete: "In oþer world schul we mete." Seide he no mare. Line 260

Line 260

XXI.

Þen Susan þe serweful seide vpon hiht, Heef hir hondes on hiȝ, biheld heo to heuene: "Þou maker of myddelert, þat most art of miht, Boþe þe sonne and þe see þou sette vpon seuene; Alle my werkes þou wost, þe wrong and þe riht; Line 265 Hit is nedful nou þi names to nemene. Siþe I am deolfully dampned, and to deþ diht, Lord, hertly take hede, and herken my steuene So ffre! Seþþe þou maiȝt not be sene Line 270 With no flescheliche eyene, Þou wost wel þat I am clene, Haue merci nou on me."

XXII.

Nou þei dresse hire to deþ with outen eny drede, And lede furth þat ladi lufsum of lere. Line 275 Grate God, of his grace, of gultes vngnede, Help with þe holi gost, and herde hire preiere. He directed þis dom and þis deolful dede To Daniel þe prophete, of dedes so dere; Suche ȝiftis God hym ȝaf in his ȝouthe hede, Line 280 Ȝit fayled hit a fourteniht ful of þe ȝere, Nouht layne. Þo cried þat freoly foode: "Whi spille ȝe innocens bloode?" And alle þei stoteyd and stoode, Line 285 Þis ferlys to frayne.

XXIII.

"What signefyes, gode sone, þese sawes þat þou seis?" Þus þese maisterful men mouþes gan mele. "Þei ben fendes al þe frape, I sei hit in feiþ, And in folk of Irael be foles wel fele. Line 290 Vmbeloke [ȝ]ou, lordes, suche lawes ben leiþ, Me þinke ȝor dedes vnduwe such domes to dele; Aȝeyn to þe ȝild-halle, ȝe gomes vngreiþ; I schal be processe apert disproue þis apele, For nede. Line 295 Lat twynne hem in two, For now wakeneþ heore wo; Þei schal graunt, ar þei go, Al heore falshede."

XXIV.

Þei disseuered hem sone, and sette hem sere, Line 300 And sodeynly askede þei brouht in to þe sale. Bifore þis ȝonge prophete þise preost gon apere, And he him apeched sone with chekes wel pale: "Þou hast i-be presedent, þe peple to steere, Þou dotest nou on þin old tos in þe dissemmale. Line 305 Nou schal þi concience be knowen, þat euer was vnclere; Þou hast in Babiloigne on bench brewed muche bale, Wel bolde. Nou schal ȝor synne be sene Of fals domes by-dene; Line 310 For [þ]eose in Babiloigne han bene Jugget of olde."

XXV.

"Þou seidest þou seiȝe Susan synned in þi siht; Tel nou me trewly, vnder what tre?" "Mon, bi þe muche God, þat most is of miht, Line 315 Vndur a cyne, soþly, my self I hire se." "Nou þou lyest in þi hed, bi heuene vppon hiht; An angel with a naked swerd þe neiȝes wel nere, He haþ brandest his brond brennynde so briht, To marke þi medel at a mase in more þen in þre, Line 320 No lese. Þou brak Godes comaundement, To sle such an innocent, Wiþ eny fals juggement, Vnduweliche on dese." Line 325

Line 325

XXVI.

Nou is þis domesmon withdrawen withouten eny drede, And put into prison aȝeyn in to a place, Þei brouhten þat oþer forþ whon þe barne bede, To-fore þe folk and þe faunt frely of face. "Cum forþ, þou cursed caytyf, þou Canaan," he seide; Line 330 "Bi cause of þi couetise þou art in þis case; Þou hast desceyuet þi self with þin oune dede; Of þi wit for a wyf bi-wiled þou wase In wede. Þou sey nou, so mot þou þe, Line 335 Vnder what kynde of tre Semely Susan þou se Do þat derne dede."

XXVII.

"Þou gome of gret elde, þi hed is grei hored, Telle hyt me treuwely, er þou þi lyf tyne." Line 340 Þo þat roþly cherl ruydely rored, And seide bi-fore þe prophete: "þei pleied bi a prine." "Nou þou lyest loude, so helpe me vr lord; For fulþe of þi falshede þou schalt haue vuel pyne; Þou and þi cursed cumpere, ȝe mon not acorde. Line 345 Ȝe schul be drawe to þe deþ þis day ar we dyne, So raþe. An angel is neiȝ honde, Takes þe domes of ȝor honde, Wiþ a brennyng bronde, Line 350 To bite ȝou baþe."

XXVIII.

Þenne þe folk of Israel fel vppon knes, And loued þat louely lord, þat hire þe lyf lent; Alle þe gomes þat hire goode wolde gladen and glees, Þis prophete so pertly proues his entent. Line 355 Þei trompe bifore þis traitours and traylen hem on tres Þorwout þe citee, be comuyn assent. Ho so leeueþ on þat lord, þar hym not lees, Þat þus his seruaunt saued þat schuld ha be schent In sete. Line 360 Þis ferlyes bifel In þe dayes of Daniel, Þe pistel wittenes wel Of þat prophete. God graunt þi grace to play vs pertly in þi place And feiþely þi feire face to se þat is swete.

Amen.

Explicit Epistola Susanne secundum Danielem.

I.

I.

ÞER woned a berne in Babeloyne, in þat burghe riche, He was a Jve gentil, Joachim he hyht; He was so lele in his lay, þer lyued non him lyche, Of al þe ryches þat rayned arayed was he riht. His inne and his horchard was with a depe dyche, Line 5 His halle and his harbegage hyly on hyht; To seche thorowe þe cete was þer none siche, Of erbes and of erbage so dernely dyht Þat day, Within þe serkyl of þe sees, Line 10 Of erbes and of aleres, And all maner of trees, Sothely to sey.

II.

He had a wyfe hyht Soseyne, was sotelest of sage, Was Elches doughter, eldest in ayre; Line 15 Sche was lufsom and lele of hire lynage, Of alle þe fasons on fold þe frelyest and fayre. Þei lerde hir þe letture of þeir langage, Þe maundementys of Moyses to menske hir as mayre; To þe mounte of Synaye þei sent a message, Line 20 And taught hir of þe Trinite tabelles a payre To rede. Þus þei taught hire þe lawe, Of clene clergy to knawe; Of God stode sche gret awe, Line 25 Þat wlonkest in wede.

III.

He þat had an horchard ful newe, þat neghid him nere, Þer Jues with Joachim was wont for to playe; He was þe richest and þe ranclest his rentes to rere, Honest and auenand and honorabelest aye. Line 30 Þer was wont til howse, hende, as ȝe may here, Two domes men of þe lawe, þat dred wer þat day, Prestes hye of priuylage were praysed saune pere, Whilk of þ[e] soueren lordes þeir sawes gun say, And tolde Line 35 How þer wyckednes come Þorow þer wrong wysdome Þat þei had gyuen to þ[e] gome Be juges of olde.

IV.

And þus þiis domesmen ful derf on dayes thidir drewe, Line 40 Al for gentri and joy of þat Jues; To walke in þat gardyn, þat gaylich grewe, To faunge flowres and frute thought þem no fres; And sone þei sawe Sosayne, semeliest of hue, So were þei set apon hire, myht þei not sese. Line 45 Þei thouth to chaumpen þat schene with chinchif and chewe; And þus þiis charles vnchast in chaumber hire ches To ffere. Two maydens allone, And hire sese Sosone, Line 50 On dayes in þe merione, Mirthes wolde here.

V.

And þus þiis perlous prestes persayuyd hire playe, And thowht to begyle þat wrthi in wone; Þer wyttes a-wytherworth þei writhen a-way, Line 55 And turnes fro his teching þat weldes þe trone. For suche a soueren lorde, þe sothe for to say, Þer hore heuedys fro heuen þei hyd apon none, And caut for þer couetyse þe cursyng of Cayme, Of him þat is myhtyest and souerayn allone, Line 60 Þei two. Iche day be þe day, In þe pomer þei play, If þei myht Soseyn assay, To wyrthin hire wo. Line 65

Line 65

VI.

Til in a sesyn of somer, with Sybyll and Jone, Sche glode to hir gardyn, þat growyd so grene, Þer lindes and lorres was lent opon lone, With cypresse and saffers, þat selcouth was to sene, Þe palme and þe perrie, þe popeler, þe plane, Line 70 Þe genopir þe gentil, standand be-twene, Þe rose ragged opon bote, richest in rane, Thewed with þe the-thorne thriuand betwene, On heyht. Þer was papyniayes prest, Line 75 Nyghtyngales apon nest, Blythe briddes of þe best, In blossomes so briht.

VII.

Þies briddes on blossomes þei beren ful lowde, On olives and aueners, and al kyns trees; Line 80 Þies papyniayes pykyn and prenen for prowde, Þies perres and pyoune appilles þei pykyn hem in pees; On croppes of þies canelles ful comelyche þei crowde, On grapes þies goldefynches þei glaþen and glees; Þe schene briddes in þe schawe þei schappyn in schrowde, Line 85 On fikes and firres þei fangen her sees, In faye. Þer was growand ful grene Þe date and þe damysene; And þe throstell syngand be-twene, Line 90 Sexty I say.

VIII.

Þer was þe fike and þe filberd formed ful fayre, Þe chery and þe chestoun semelyche of hue, Appeles and almoundes honest of ayre, With grapes and garnettys þat gaylyche grewe; Line 95 Þis costardes in kyth ful comelyche þei cayre, With bretouns and blaundrelles on bowes þei bowe. Þer was fowles and frute, freliche fayre; With wardons wynlyche and walse-nottes newe At wille. Line 100 Ouer þeir heuedes gan hyng Þe quinces and þe querlyng Spyces sprede and spring In erber on hille.

IX.

Þer was þe cheue and þe chelet, þe chespol þe chefe, Line 105 Þe chaumpet, þe cheuerell, þat schon opon heyght; Þe percel, þe pasnepe, þe polet þe prefe, Þe payne, þe perry, ful prowdelyche pyht; Þe lyly, þe louage, þe launches so lefe, With sauge and with sausikel semely in syght; Line 110 Colabyn and karaway in clottys þei cleue, With rwe and with rwbarbe raunches ful ryght, No lees. Þer was desy and dytayne, Ysop and auerayne, Line 115 Pelletre and plantayne, Pruddest in prese.

X.

Bot als þis ȝarly and ȝouthe ȝede in hyre ȝerde, Þat was hir husbandes and hires, halden ful hende, "Þies folke are faren apon feyre, thare ȝow nouht be fered; Now after myn oynement ful warly ȝe wende. Line 121 Spede ȝe now alle specialy þe ȝates be spered, For I sal wesche myn heued in þis welle strende." Sche warpyd of hire wedys alle holy vnwered, And vnderneth a lorere þat lady gun lende, Line 125 So sone. Be þat comelyche welle Soseyn kast of hire kelle; Fele ferlyes hire be-felle Be mydday or none. Line 130

Line 130

XI.

Bot sone þies perlous prestes drowe þem in derne, Ant to þat louely lady was lent opo lone; For to haylse þat hende þei spede þem ful ȝerne, With wordes to worchippe þat worthily in wone. "Wolde þou, louely lady, apon oure lore lerne Line 135 Vnderneth þis lorrere to bene our lemmon? For no wyht thar þe wonde oure willes to werne, For alle þe gomes þat schulde greue in gardin ben gone In fere. If þou oure nedys deny, Line 140 We will tell trewly We toke þe in avowtri Vnder þis lorrere."

XII.

Þen was Soseyn sorowful, and seyd in hire thowth: "I am with sorow vmbeset on euerilke syde; Line 145 For if I sent to þis synne þies segges has me sowht, I mon be bretened and brent in balis to byde; And if I nyk hem with nay, it helpes me nouht; So mykyl tray and tene takes me þis tide. Er I schuld wrathe þat worthi, þat al þis werld wrowht, Line 150 Er schuld I wemles wende oute of þis werlde wyde." With this, Sche cast vp a doleful crye, Þat louelyche lady; Hire seruandes had ferly, Line 155 No wonder I-wysse.

XIII.

Þe kene men of hire cowrte com til hire crye; Þan had sche kast of hire kell and hire courcheffe; In at þe priue postrene þei presed in hye, And fonde þe prestes ful preste þeir poyntys to preue. Line 160 Lowde on þat lady þos loselles gun lye, And seyde: "Sche is gon with a gome hir godḍẹṣ to greue, And lyes with hir lemman in a-vowtri, Be þe lorde and þe lay þat we apon leue In fere." Line 165 Alle hire seruauntes were a-schonte And stale away in þat stonte; Of hire were þei neuer wonte Swiche wonderes to here.

XIV.

Þen cosynes and kynred, and al þat hire knewe, Line 170 Wrang handes, I-wisse, and syghed ful sore; Al for dam(?) Soseyne, semelyest of hwe, Alle wyes for þat wyfe a-wondered þei were. Þei did hire in a dongen, þer no day dew, Meteles fro morne to mydday and mare, Line 175 Marred hire with manycles were made of þe newe, Til þe domes men were depute hire dedys to clare, For drede. Þen come hire fader so fre, With al his dignite, Line 180 And þe prestes saunce pite, Ful of falshede.

XV.

Þan seide þe justice on þe benke to Joachim þe Jwe, Þat was of Jacobs kynne, gentil of dedis: "Feche forthe dame Soseyn, semelyest of hwe, Line 185 Þat thow hast weddid to þi wyfe, wlonkest in wedes; Sche is in trowthe, als I trowe, trusty and trewe, Hire hert is holy on him þat þe heuen hydes." And þus thei browht hire to þe barre, hire bales to brewe, Neythire of dowte ne of dede þat day sche ne dredis Line 190 Als ȝare. Hir hare was ȝelow as þe wire, As gold fyned in þe fire, Hir schulderes schappely and schire, Þat burly stode bare. Line 195

Line 195

XVI.

Þus was Soseyne in sale, sengely arayȝed, And in a serke ful schire, with schulderis ful schene. Vp ros þo renkes þeire rentes renayȝid, And þat cumly acusyd with wordes ful kene; Hyly on hire hede þeir handdes þei leyde, Line 200 Þen sche wepyd for wo, no wonder, I wene. "We sal present vp oure playnte, if þat þou be payȝed, And sey saddely þe sothe, rith as we haue sene, For sake." Thus with cauteles quaynte, Line 205 Þe prestes present vp her playnte; Ȝit schal trewthe hem a-taynte, Þat dar I vndertake.

XVII. [This stanza and the next are placed in the MS. after st. xiii.]

"Als we passed thorow þe pomer vs for to playe, In prayere and penaunce, as was oure purpos, Line 210 Sche come til hire maydenes dressand þat day, In rowbe ryall arayed, red as þe rose; Wysely her wenches sche wyled away, And comaunded hem kyndely þe ȝates to close. Sche wente to a ȝong man in a valey; Line 215 Þe semland of dame Soseyn wilde no man suppose, For sothe! Þies wordes þat we say, On þis womman verray, Þat wil we mayntan for aye, Line 220 With tung and with toth."

XVIII.

"Oure copes were cumberowse, þat kyndelid oure care; Bot ȝit we trined on a trot, þat traytour to take. He was borely and bigge, bold as a bare, And more mihty þan we his maystre to make. Line 225 To þe ȝate ȝapely he hyed him ful ȝare, And lifte lyhtly þe lache, and lepe ouer þe lake. Þe sertan sothe for to say wil we nouth spare, And sche may it not deny, we gun him ouertake, Þat ȝowthe. Line 230 Sche wold schont for no schame, Bot bowed after him with blame; Sche wold not kythe vs his name, For craft þat we cowthe."

XIX.

Thus þei dressed hire to dede withouten ony lawe; Line 235 Ful lowly sche lowtet and lawhte hire leue Of cosynes and kynred þat (s)che had er knawe. "I aske mercy with mouthe of al þis myscheue, As I þ(at) am sakles," sche seyde in her sawe; "Grete God, of þi grace þiis gomes forgiffe, Line 240 Þos þat me dampned and to ded and don me o dawe, And þus has put me to pyne and to myscheue For to dere. Wold God þat I myht Speyke with Joachim to-nyht; Line 245 And sethin to ded be dyht, I counte nouth a pere."

XX.

Sche fell flat to þe flore, whan sche hire fande, And carped to him kyndely, as sche wele cowde: "Sire, I wrethed ȝow neuer, at my witand, Line 250 Neythir in worde no in werke, in elde no in ȝowde." Sche couerde on hire knes, and kissid his hande: "For I am dampned I ne dare disparage ȝour mowthe." Was neuer a sorowfuler syht be see no be sande, Nor a dolefuler partyng be north ne be sowthe, Line 255 Als þore. He toke þe fetteres fro hir fete, And ofte kyssyd he þat swete: "In oþer werld sal we mete." Sayde he no more. Line 260

Line 260

XXI.

Þan was Soseyne sorowful, and sayde in hire syght, And heued handes apon heyht, behelde to heuene: "Þou maker of mydelerde, þat most is of myht, Bothe þe sunne and þe see þou seites apon seuene; Alle my werkys þou wates, þo wrange and þe riht; Line 265 Als now is nedful to me þi names to neuene. Als I am derely dampned, and to dethe diht, Lorde, þou lysten to me, and herkyne my steuen, Þou fre! Als þou may nouth be sene Line 270 With none erthely eyene, Þou wotes wele I am clene, Haue mercy on me."

XXII.

Þus þei dressyd hire to deth withouten ony drede, And led forth þat lady lufsome of lere. Line 275 "Grete God, of þi grace, of gyftes full gnede, Helpe with þe holy goste at hire prayere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Line 280 . . . . . Nouth to leyne. Þen spake þat frely fode: "Why stroy þe innocentes blode?" Alle þei stynted and stode, Line 285 Þat frely to freyne.

XXIII.

"Now, leue sone, what sygnifies þe sawes þat þou seyth, Þat þies maysterful men with mouthes gan mele? Ȝe bene fonned alle þe frappe, I tel ȝow in faythe, For in þe land of Irael bene foles ful fele. Line 290 . . . . . Swyche domes on dece vnduly do dele. Agayne to ȝoure gilde-halle, ȝe gomes, ȝow greythe, And I sal with profecye apert aproue þir apele, For nede. Line 295 We schal disseuere þem two, Now sal wacken þer wo; For þei sal graunte, or þei go, All þeir falshed."

XXIV.

Þei disseuered hem sone and set hem in sonder; Line 300 Þan was sodayne asined and browgth to þe sale. Be-for þe childe ful prest þe prestes gun apere, And he gun þem apeche with chekes ful pale: "Thow has bene a preuedance þe pupill to stere, And now þou dotes in þin elde in þe dysemale. Line 305 Now schal þi couetyse be knawyn, þat euer was vnclere; For þou has in Babeloyne on benk browen mykel bale, And tolde Now how þi wyckednes come Þorowh þi wrong wysdome, Line 310 Þat þou has gyuen to þis gome Be juges of olde."

XXV.

"Now sey me, sodayne, þi sawe sothli in sight; Were saw þou Sosayne synne and vnder wat tre?" "Man, be þe mikel God, þat most is of miht, Line 315 Vndere a sayne, sothely, my seluen I it se." "Now þou lyes ful lowde, be heuyn apon hyht; An aungel with a naked swerde he neghes nere þe, And has drawen his brand brennand ful bright, To merk þi mydel in meses moo þan in thre, Line 320 No lece. Why brake þou Goddes comaundement, To stroy suche an innocent, With any false jugement, Vnduly on dece?" Line 325

Line 325

XXVI.

Þen was sodan withdrawen withouten ony drede, And put to þe prison agayne to his place, And þo tother browht forth when þo barne bede, Before þe folk and þe faunt frely on face. "Cum forth, þou cursed kaytefe, of Caynoun sede; Line 330 Be cause of þi couetyse þou art in þis case; Þow haues dissayued þi selue thorow þin awen dede; And thorow syht of a womman be-wyled þou wace For nede. Tel me now, so mot þou the, Line 335 Vnderneth what tree Semely Soseyne þou see Do þat derne dede."

XXVII.

"Þou gome of a gret elde, þin heued is grey hore, Tel me now trewly, er þou þin lyfe tyne." Line 340 And þen þat rewful charle began for to rore, And seyde befor þat profete: "þei playȝed be a pyne." "Now þou lyes ful lowde, so helpe me oure lorde; Thorowe fylthe of þin falshede þou sal haue euel syne; Thow and þin cursud cumper, ȝe may nouht a-corde. Line 345 Ȝe schal be drawen to deth to day er I dyne, So rathe. An aungel neyghes þe fil hande, With a briht brennyng brande, To take þe dome with his hande, Line 350 To bryttyn ȝow bathe."

XXVIII.

Þen alle þe folke of Israel knelyd on þer knes, And þanked louelyche God þat hire þe lyfe lent; Þe gomes þat hire gode wolde gladdes and gles, So pertely þe prophete aproued his atent. Line 355 Þei tromped be-for þos traytors and treyled þem on trees Thorowoute þe cete, for soth, be commune assent. Now qwo so loues oure lorde wele, thare him neuer lese, Þat þus his seruaunde þat schamely was schent Vn-sete. Line 360 Þis ferly befell In þe dayes of Danyel, Þe pystel wittenesse it well Of þe prophete.

Qui scripsit carmen sit benedictus amen.

P.

I.

THER was in Babyloyn a biern, in þat burgh riche, Þat was a Jewe jentil, and Joachym he highte; He was so lele in his lawe, þer was none hym liche, Of all ricchesses þat renke arayed was right. His ynnes and his orchardes wer wiþ a depe diche, Line 5 Hallis and herbergages, hye vp on highte; To seche þurgh þat Cite þer was non siche, Of arbres and herbes so auenauntly dight, That day, Wiþin þe cercle of the sees, Line 10 Of arborye and aloes, Of all manere of trees, Sothely to say.

II.

He had a wyf hight Susanne, sotil and sage; She was Elchies doghtir, eldest and ayr, Line 15 Lovely and lilys white, of þat lynage, Of all faceon and food freely and fair. . . . . . Þe maundement of Moyses þes markid to þat lair, To þe mount Synay þat went in message, Line 20 Þer þe trinite bytoke of tables a payr To rede. Thus þei lernyd her þe lawe, Clere Clergy to knawe; To God stood her grete awe, Line 25 That wlonkest in wede.

III.

He had an orchard newe to his hous nere, Þere Jewes wiþ Joachym priuyly gan play; For he was rial and riche of rentes euery where Honest and auenaunt, and honourest ay. Line 30 I-wis, þer hauntyd to his hows, hendis, ȝe may here, Too domysmen of þe lawe, þat dred were þat day, Prestes as presidentes, preysid as piere, Of whom our souereyn lord sawes gan sey, And tolde Line 35 How her wykkidnes comys Of þe wrongful domys Þat þei have ȝeve to gomys, Þe gomys so olde.

IV.

Thus þes derf domysmen on dayes þidir drewe, Line 40 For jentry and ioy of þat Jewesse, To go in þo gardyns þat gaylich grewe, Of þe flowres and þe froyt to fong so fresshe; And whane þei sawe Susanne, semely of hewe, Þei were set so on her, myght þei not sese. Line 45 Þei wold enchaunte þat child; how shold she eschewe? And þo þes cherles unchast in chaumbre her chest, Wiþ chere. With two maydenes allone, Semely Susone, Line 50 On dayes menyone, Of mirthes wold here.

V.

Whan þes perlous prestes perceyvid her play, Þo þoght þat wrecches to bygile þat worþi in wone; Her wittys were wayward þei wriþyn away, Line 55 And turnyd fro his techyng, þat told is in trone. For sight of her soueraingne, soþly to say, Her here hedis fro hevyn þei hidyn a-none; Þei caught for her covetyse Cristis curs for ay, For rightwis juggement recordid þei none, Line 60 They two. Every day by day In þe pomery þei play, Whil þei myght Susan a-say, To worchyn her woo. Line 65

Line 65

VI.

In þe sesone of somyr, with Isabell and Jone, She greiþid her to gardyn, noght to be sene; Þer lyndes and lorers were bred vp-on lone, Þe saveyne and cipresse, þe sicamours to sene, The palme and þe popeler, þe perer and the plowine, Line 70 The jwnipre gentill, ioynyng hem bytwene, The rose raggyd on rys, ricchest in sowme, Thewyd with thevethorne thryvyng to sene, So þikke. Þer were popyniayes prest, Line 75 Nightyngales upon nest, Blithe briddis of the best, On blosmes to sytte.

VII.

Ther briddis on blosmes blokkid wel loud, On olyves and amylers, and al kyn trees; Line 80 Þe popiniayes perchyn and prunyn for proud, On piries and pynapples þei prikkyn in prees; On croppis of canel kenely þei crowe, On grapis þe goldfynches gladyn in her glees; Þe shene briddis in shawe shewyn her shroud, Line 85 On ferrers and fygges þei song in her sees, In fay. Ther were growyng so grene Þe date wiþ þe damacene; Turtlis tronyd on trene Line 90 By syxty I say.

VIII.

The fyg and þe filberd were found so fair, The chirie and þe chesteyn, þat chief are of hewe, Apples and almaundis þat honest ar of ayr, Grapes and garnettis þat gaylich þere grewe; Line 95 Costardis comly in kitthes þei kayre, Brytans þe blaundelers braunches þei knewe, Fele floures and froyt, frely and faire, Wiþ wardons wardid and walsshnotes trewe, As y telle. Line 100 Ouere her hedis gan hyng The qwince and þe qwerdlyng; Spicys spedely þei spryng, And in herbere þei felle.

IX.

The cheruyle, þe cholet, þe chesboll þe cheve, Line 105 The chowet, þe chervell, þan chaungyn on nyght; The persile, þe pasnepe, porettis to preve, The pyone, þe pirye, prowdely pyght; The lylye, þe loveache, launcyng ful evene, The sawge and þe solcecle, so semely to sight; Line 110 Colombyne and clarrey, colourid ful clene, Wiþ rewe and rewbarbe, raylid on right, No les. Daysye and dyteyne, Isope and auereyne, Line 115 Peletre and planteyne, Pyght in þat pres.

X.

Al þis aray rapely rest in þat ȝerde, Þat was hers husbondes and hers, þat holdyn were hende. "Now folk be faryn a-fer, þare vs noght be ferde; Line 120 Aftir myn oynement warly ȝe wende. Spyes now specialy if þe ȝatis be sperid, For we wole wasshe vs y-wis by þis wel strond." For why þe wyf warpyd of her wedis unwerd, Undir a lorere on lowe þat lady gan lend, Line 125 So sone. By þat worthy welle Susan caght of her kelle; But fele ferlies by-felle By mydday or none. Line 130

Line 130

XI.

Nowe þes derf domysmen in to þe derk drewyn so derne, Why þei saw þis lady was left al alone; For to halse þat hiend þei hyen ful ȝerne, Syche woordis þei warpyd to þat worthy in wone: "Wilt þou, lady, for love of our lay lerne, Line 135 And undir þis lorere bene our lemman? Þe þar not wond for noght our willis to ȝerne, For all þe gomys þat greve myght out of þe gardyn be gone In fere. If þow þes nedis denye, Line 140 We shul telle trewly We toke þe with avoutry Undir þis lorere."

XII.

Than Susan was sorowful, and seyd in her þoght: "I am wiþ sorow by-set on euerych a side; Line 145 If y assent to þis senne, þat þes segges have soght, I shal be britnyd or brent wiþ baret to byde; And if y nek hem wiþ nay, it helpiþ me noght; Such turment and tene me takiþ þis tyde. But or y hym wraþ, þat al þis world wroght, Line 150 Bettre is wemles to wende þat with her wil wriþe So mysse." Tho kast she a careful crye, This lovely lady; Her seruauntis had ferly, Line 155 No woundre y-wis.

XIII.

Whan kene men her courte come to her crye, She had kast of her kolle and her kerchief; In at a prive posterne þei passyn yn hye, And fynd þes prestes ful prest her poyntes to pres. Line 160 Tho seyd þes losels on lowe to þat lady: "Þow hast gamyd wiþ a gome, þi god for to greve, And lyvid wiþ þi lemman yn avoutrye, By þat lord and þe lawe þat we on leve." They swere; Line 165 All her seruauntes shounte And stale a-wey in a stounte; Of her were þei not wonte Such wordis to here.

XIV.

Her kynrede, her cosyns and al þat her knewe, Line 170 Wronge hondis, y-wis, and wept ful sore, Sighyd for Susan, so semely of hewe, Al unwyse of þat wyf wondrid þei wore. Þei ded her in a donione, þer neuere day drewe, While domysmen were deputid þis dede to declare, Line 175 Marrid in manicles þat made were newe, Metles tul on þe morow mydday and mare, In drede. Ther come her fadir so fre, Wiþ al his affynyte, Line 180 The prestes wiþout pite, And ful of falshede.

XV.

Tho seyd þe justises on benche to Joachym þe Jewe, Þat was of Jacobis kynd, gentil of dedis: "Lete sende aftir Susan, semely of hewe, Line 185 Þat þou hast weddid to wyf, wlonkest on wedis. She was in trouþe, as we trowe, trusty and trewe, Her hert holy on hym þat þe hevyn ledis." Þus þei broght her to þe barre, her balis to brewe. Neiþer dome ne dethe þat day she ne dredis Line 190 As þare. Her here was yolow as wyre Of gold fynyd wiþ fyre, Her shuldris shaply and shyre, Þat þo were bare. Line 195

Line 195

XVI.

Now is Susan in sale, sengeliche arayed, In a silkyn shert, wiþ shuldris ful shene. Tho roos up þes renkes wiþ rancour renayed, Þat comely kiþ acusyd wiþ wordis vnkene(?); Homely on her heed her hondis þei layd, Line 200 And she wept for wo, no wondur, y wene. "We shul presente þis pleynt, how euer þou be payd, And sey sadly þe soþe, right as we have sene, For her sake." Thus wiþ cawtelis qwaynt, Line 205 The prestis presentyn þe playnt; Yet shal trowþe hem ateynt, I dare undirtake.

XVII.

"Thurgh out þe pomery we passyd us to play, Of prayers and penaunces was our purpos; Line 210 She come wiþ too maydenys, deftly þat day, In riche robes arayed, reed as þe rose; Wilily she wylid her wenchis away, And commaundid hem kenely þe yates to close. She ȝode to (a) yong man in a valey; Line 215 The semblaunt of Susanne wold no man suppose, For sothe! By this cause þat we say, She wylid her wenchis away; This word witnessiþ for ay, Line 220 With tung and wiþ toþe."

XVIII.

"Whan we þat semblaunt sawe we sighyd ful sore, For sorow of her souerayn, and for her owne sake. Our copes were cumbrous, and kyndlyd us care, But ȝet we trynyd a trot, þat traytour to take. Line 225 He was full bayne and bygge, bold as a bore, More myghty man þan we his maystries to make. To þe ȝate rapely they ȝedyn ful yare, And he left up þe lacche, and lepe ouere þe lake, Þat youthe. Line 230 She ne shont for no shame, But bowyd aftir for blame; She nold kyþe us his name, For craft þat we couthe."

XIX.

Now is she dampnyd on dees, with dool þey her deve, Line 235 And her domysmen undewe done her wiþdrawyn. Lovely she loutyd, and lacchyd her leve At kynrede and cosyn þat she had euere knawyn; She askyd mercy wiþ mouþe of þis myschef. "I am sakles of þis synne," she seyd in her sawe; Line 240 "Grete God of his grace your gyltis foryeve, Þat do me derfly be dede and done out of dawe Wiþ dere. Wold god þat y myght Speke wiþ Joachym aright; Line 245 And seþ to deþ me to dight, I ȝeve not a pere."

XX.

She fil flat in þe flore, her fere whan she fand, Carpyd to hym kyndly, as she wel couþe: "I wis y wratthid þe neuere, at my wytand, Line 250 Neiþer in woord ne wyrk, yn elde ne in youþe." She keueryd up on knees, and kyssid his hond: "For y am dampnyd, y ne dare disparage þi mouþe." Was neuere sorowfuller segge by see ne by sand, Ne no sorier sight by norþe ne by souþe, Line 255 Tho þare. They toke þe fetris of her feet, And euere she kyssid his hand sweet: "In oþir world shul we meet." Þo seyd she na mare. Line 260

Line 260

XXI.

Than Susan þe sorowful seyd up on hight, Helt up her hondis, byheld to hevyn: "Þou maker of myddil erþe, þat moost art of myght, Boþe þe sonne and þe see þat sit up a sevyn, Al my werkis þou woost, þe wrong and þe right; Line 265 Hit is nedeful now þi names to nevene. Seþ y am dolefully dampnyd, and to deþ dight, Lord, hertly take, and lestyn my stevene So free! Seþ þou may not be sene Line 270 Wiþ no bodily eyene, Þou wost wele y am clene, Have mercy on me."

XXII.

Now þei dresse her to deþe wiþout eny drede, And led forþ þat lady louesome of leyre. Line 275 Grete god, of his grace, of yeftes ungwede, Wiþ help of þe holy goost herd her prayere. He directid þis dome and þis derf dede To Danyell þe prophete of dedis so derne; Such ȝeftis he hym yaf in his yonghede, Line 280 Ȝot faylid hym a fourtenight ful of a yere, Noght to layne. Tho cryed þat ferly fode: "Why spillist þou innocentis blode?" And all þei starid and stode, Line 285 Thes ferlies to freyne.

XXIII.

"What signifies, good sone, þes sawes þat þou sayes?" Thus þes maystreful men wiþ mouþes gan mele. "Ȝe be fendis al þe frappe, I say it in faiþe, And in folk of Israel bene folys wele fele. Line 290 Umbyloke you, lordis, such lawes be laiþe, Me think ȝour dedis undewe such domys to dele; Agayn to þe geldhalle þe gomes ungraiþe; I shal by processe apert dispreue þis appele, For nede. Line 295 Lete disseuere hem too, For now wakiþ her woo; They shul graunte, or þei go, All her falshede."

XXIV.

They disseueryd hem sone and settyn hem sere, Line 300 And sodenly a seneke þei broght in to sale. To-for þis yong profete þe prestis gan apere, And he hem apechyd sone wiþ chekis wel pale: "Thow hast be president, þe peple to stere, Þou dotist in þin olde dayes now in þe dismale. Line 305 Now shal þi concience be knowe, þat euere was unclere, Thow hast in Babyloyne on benche brow mych bale, Wele bolde. Now shal ȝour synnis be sene Of your fals domys bydene; Line 310 For ye in Babyloyne have bene Juggis of olde."

XXV.

"Thow seyst þou sawe Susanne syn in þi sight; Telle me þan trewly, undir what tre?" "Man, by þe mych god, þat moost is of myght, Line 315 Undir a sene, sothely, my self ded y se." "Þow lyest in þi hede, by hevyn upon hight; An aungil wiþ a nakid swerd is ful ny þe, He haþ braundisshid his brond brennyng so bright, To marke þi myddil at a messe in more þan in þre, Line 320 No lesse. Ye brak goddis commaundement, To sle suche an ynnocent, Wiþ ȝour fals juggement, Undewly on desse." Line 325

Line 325

XXVI.

Now is þe domysman wiþdrawe wiþout eny drede, And put in to prison ayen in his place; Þan broght þei þe toþir forþ whan þe barne bede, To-for þe folk and þe faunt frely of face. "Come forþ, caytif of Canaan sede; Line 330 By cause of þis couetise þou art in þis caas; Þou hast deceyvid þi self wiþ þin owne dede; Of þi wyt for a wyf bywylid þou was In wede. Sey now, so mote þou the, Line 335 Undir what kyn tre Semely Susan ded þou se Do þat derf dede."

XXVII.

"Þow gome of grete elde, þin heed is grayherd, Tel þou now trwly, or þou þi lyf tyne." Line 340 Þo þat loþely cherle lothely roryd, And seyd to [þe] prophete: "þei pleyd by a pryne." "Now þow lyest alowd, so help me our lord; Fulfillid of þi falshed þou shalt haue euyl fyne; Þou and þi cursid compier mow not acord. Line 345 Ȝe shul be drawe to þe deþ þis day or we dyne, So rathe. An aungel is nyhond, Takiþ þe dome of ȝour hond, Wiþ a brennyng brond, Line 350 To brittyn ȝow bathe."

XXVIII.

Than þe folk of Israel fell upon knees, And lovyd þat lovely lord, þat her lyf lente; All þe goomes in her game gladid in her glees, This prophete so pertely previþ his entente. Line 355 They trumpe to-for þe traytours and trayle hem on trees Thurgh out þe citee, by comen assente. Who so leviþ on our lord dar hym not lese, Þat þus his seruaunt savyd þat shold have be shent In sete. Line 360 These ferlies byfelle In þe dayes of Danyell, Þe pistil witnessiþ it well Of þe prophete.

Here endith þe storye of Susanne and Danyell.

C.

[The first eight stanzas are missing in the Cottonian MS.]

IX.

The chyue, þe cholet and þe chesboke cheue, Line 105 The chybolle, þe cheueron þat chaungethe at nyghte; The percele, þe pasnepes, þe porettes to preue, The pyony, þe plawnteyn, prowdly pyghte; The lylly, þe louge, lawnced fulle leue, The sawge and þe solsykelle, semyly in syghte; Line 110 The columbyne, þe caraway, in clottys þey cleue, The rewe, þe rubarbe, rawnged fulle ryghte In rees. Dayse and dytayne, Isope and sauerayne, Line 115 Pelletur and plantayne, The prowdeste in prees.

X.

Thus þe ȝonge ȝepply ȝede in here ȝerde, That was hyr husbandys and herys, holden fulle hende. "The folke be faren vs fro," she sayde, "we dar not be ferde; Aftyr myn oynement warly ȝe wende. Line 121 Spede ȝou specyally the ȝate be sperde, For we wylle washe vs I-wys by þe welle strende; For-þy we wylle warpe of our wedys vn-werde." Unther a lawrer belowe þe lady gon lende, Line 125 So sone. Be a wynlyche welle Sussanne cawghte of her kelle; Butt fele ferles her by-felle By mydday or none. Line 130

Line 130

XI.

Now ar þese domes men drawen in to derne, Whyle þat þey syghe þe lady lont hyr alone; For to halse þat hende thay hyed hem full ȝerne, Wythe wordys þey worshepyd þat wordyly in wone. "Wylt thow, lady, for loue on our lay lerne, Line 135 And unther þis lowrer be our lemman? The thar warne for no wyghte our wyllis to werne, For alle gomes þat shulde greue of gardyn ar gone In fere. Ȝyf thow our nedys deny, Line 140 We shalle say sykyrly We toke þe in avowtry Vnther þis lowrere."

XII.

Sussan was sorowfulle, and seyde in her thoughte: "I am withe sorowe vmbe-sette on euerylke a syde; Line 145 Ȝyf I assent to þis synne these segges han sowghte, I shall be brytened and brent in bales to abyde; Ȝyf I nykke hem with nay hyt helpes me nowghte; Trybulacyon and tene me takes þis tyde. [Ȝ]ett er I þat wordy wrathe þat alle þis worlde wroghte, Line 150 [Be]ttyr ys wemles to wende out of þis worlde wyde." With thys, [Sch]e kest a carefull cry, [Tha]t comelyche lady; [He]r seruantys had ferly, Line 155 And no wondyr I-wys.

XIII.

Kene men of þe courte comen to þat cry, And sche had kast of her kelle and hyr kyrchefe; In at a priuy posterne þey presyd in hy, And fownden þe prestes full prest þer poyntes to preue. Line 160 Then sayde þo loselles on lowde to þat lady: "Thow hast gone with a gome þy goddys to greue, And leyn with þy lemman in avowtry, Be þat lorde and þe lawe þat we on be-leue." They swere; Line 165 All here seruauntes schunt And stale away in a stunt; Of here were þey neuere wont Suche wordys to here.

XIV.

Hyr kynrade, hyr cosyns, and alle þat her knewe, Line 170 Wrongon hondys, I-wys, and wepten fulle sare; Certys for Sussan, sothfast and semyly of hewe, Alle wyues and wydowes a-wondred þey ware. They dyde hyr in a downgon wher neuer day dewe Tylle domes men had dempte þe dede to declare, Line 175 Marred with manycles þat made were newe, Meteles fro þe morn tyll mydday and mare, In drede. Tho come here fadyr so fre, Wythe alle hys affynyte, Line 180 The prestes were with out pyte, And full of falshede.

XV.

Then sayde þe justyces on benche to Joachym þe Jewe, That was of Jacobus kynde, gentylle of dedys: "Lett sende aftyr Sussan, semelyche of hewe, Line 185 That þou hast weddyd to wyfe and wlonkest in wedys; Sche ys of thoghte, as I trowe, trysty and trewe, And has herte haly on hym þat þe heuen hedys." Thus þey broghte hyr to þe barre, hyr bales to brewe. Nother dethe ne dome þat day sche ne dredys Line 190 Als ȝare. Hyr here was ȝelow as þe wyre Of gold fynyde with þe fyre, Hyr scholdres shaply and schyre, Þat borely were bare. Line 195

Line 195

XVI.

Thus ys Sussan in sale, senglyche arayde, In a serke of sylke, with sholdres fulle schene. Then rysen with rancour þe renkes renayde, And þey þat comelyche acused with wordes fulle kene; Homely on here heddys here hondis þey leyde, Line 200 And sche wepte for wo, no wondyr, I wene. "We schulle present þe pleynte, how so euer þou be payde And say sadly þe sothe, ryth as we sene, On sake." Thus with cautelys qwaynt, Line 205 They present þer playnt; Ȝett shalle trewthe hem attaynt, I dar vnþertake.

XVII.

"Thorowout þe pomery we passed to play, Wyth prayer and penaunce was our purpose; Line 210 Sche cometh with two maydyns, dressyd þat day, Wyth ryche robys arayde, reed as þe rose; Wylyly hyr wenches she wyssed a-way, Comaunded hem kenely þe ȝates to close. Sche wente forthe to a ȝong man in a valey; Line 215 The semblant of Sussan wolde no man suppose, For sothe! Be this case þat I say, She wyssed her wenchis away; These wordes wettenesse we ay, Line 220 Withe tonge and with tothe."

XVIII.

"When we þat semblant syghe, sykyng for care, For sert of hyr souerayn and for hir owen sake; Our copes were combrouse, þat kyndeled our care, But ȝett we turned a croke, þat traytour to take. Line 225 He was borely and bygge, bolde as a bare, Myche myghtyer þen we syche maystries to make. And to þe ȝate ȝeply þen ȝede he fulle ȝare, And lyfte vp þe lacche and lepte ouyr þe lake, So ȝowthe. Line 230 Sche withe-shonte for no shame, But bowed aftyr for blame, And wolde not kythe us his name, For crafte þat we kowthe."

XIX.

Now ys sche dampned on days, with dyn þey hyr deiue, Line 235 And þe domesmen derf done hir be with drawen. Lowely sche lowted, and lawghte hyr leue Att kynrede and cosyns þat sche had er knowen; Sche asked mercy with mowthe in þat myschefe. "I am sakles of synne," sche sayde in hyr sawen; Line 240 "Grete God, of þy grace þese gomes for-gyfe That don me delfully be ded and don vpon dawen With dere. Now wolde God þat I myghte Speke with Joachym or nyghte; Line 245 And sythen what deth me were dyghte, I ne sett at a pere."

XX.

Sche fylle flatte on þe flore, hyr fere when sche fonde, And karpyd to þat karemon, as she well kowthe: "I wratthed ȝou neuyr, at my wyttande, Line 250 Neyther in worde ner in werke, in elde ne in ȝowghte." Sche keuered vpon her kneys, kyst she his honde: "I am dampned, I ne dar disperge ȝour mowthe." Was ther neuer a soryer syghte be see ner be sonde, Ne a sorowfuller segge be northe ne be sowth Line 255 Þen þore. They toke þe feteres from her fete, And þen kyst she þat swete: "In þis worlde shalle we mete," Seyde sche, "no more."

XXI.

Then Sussanne was sorowfulle, and seyde vpon hyghte, Wythe hondys full hye be-helde to þe heuen: "Maker of myddulerthe, þat most art of myghte, Bothe þe sonne and þe see þou sette vpon seuen; Alle my wyrkes þow wote, þe wronge and þe ryghte; Line 265 Hyt ys nedfulle now thy names to neuen. As y am delfully dampned, and to þe deth dyghte, Lord, hertyly take hede, and harken my steuen So fre! Syn thow may not be sene Line 270 Wythe no fleshly yne, Thow knowest welle I am clene, So haue mercy on me."

XXII.

Now ys sche dampned on deyse withouten any drede, And ladde forthe þat lady lofsom of lere. Line 275 Grete God, of þy grace, and of gyftes vngnede, Thorow the help of þe holy gost herde hyr prayere. He dyrects hys dome and hys derf dede To Danyelle þe prophete, of dedys so dere; Suche ȝyftys he hym ȝaf in his ȝong hede, Line 280 Ȝett fayled he a fourtenyȝt of a fulle ȝere, Not to layn. Then cryed þat frely food: "Why spylle ȝe þat innocent blod?" Alle were a-stonyed and with-stood, Line 285 Thes ferlees to frayn.

XXIII.

"What sygnyfyeth, good sone, þys sawe and what hyt seythe, Þat þese maysterfulle men with mowthe gon melle? Ȝe arn fonned alle þe frape, to telle you in faythe, And in þe folke of Irael arn foles fulle fele. Line 290 Vmbe-loke ȝou, ledes, such lawes arn leythe, Me thynk thet ȝour dedes fulle dulle such dedis to dele; Haue agayn to þe gylde-halle þe gomes vngraythe; I shalle be processe apret dyspreue þys apele, In dede. Line 295 Lett desseuere hem in two, For now wakenes her woo; They shalle graunt, er þey goo, Alle here falshede."

XXIV.

They dysceuered hem in two and sett hem on sere, Line 300 And sodeynly þat senek þey broghte in to sale. Byfore þe prophete þys prest gon apere, And he apposed hym fulle sone with chekes fulle pale: "Thow hast be a presydent, þe pepulle to stere, Now dotest þou on þyn olde toes in þe dysemale. Line 305 Now shalle þy couetyse be knowen þat er was vnclere; Thow hast in Babylon on benche browen mykylle bale, So bolde. Now schulle ȝour synnes be sene Of fals domes be-dene, Line 310 Whyle ȝe in Babylone haue bene Jugges of olde."

XXV.

"Thow seyst þou seghe Sussanne synne in þy syghte; Tell me now trystily, vndur what tre?" He swere be the myche God, þat most ys of myghte, Line 315 "Vndur a syne sothly myself I he(r) se." "Now þou lyest in þy hed, be heuen vpon hyghte; An angelle with a naked swerde þe nyȝes fulle ne, He hathe braundest þat bronde and burnysched fulle bryghte, To merke þe at medylle in messe in two or in thre, Line 320 No lees. Thow brekest Goddes comaundement, To sle suche an innocent, Wythe any fals jugement, Vn-dewly on dees." Line 325

Line 325

XXVI.

Now ys thys domesman withdrawe withowtyn any drede, And putte in a pryson aȝen to hys place; They broughte forth þat oþer to þe barre when þe chylde bede, Be-fore þe folke and þe fawnte frely of face. "Cum forthe, þou cursyd caytyf, of Caymes sede; Line 330 Be cause of þy couetyse þou art in this case; Thow hast dysseyued þy self with þyn owen dede; Of alle þe wyte of a wyfe be-wyled þou wase In drede. Say now, so mote þou þe, Line 335 Vndyr what kynnes tre Semyly Sussane þou se Do þys derf dede."

XXVII.

"Thow gome of grett elde, þy hed ys gray hored, Telle me tristili, er þow þy lyfe tyne." Line 340 Then þe rodely churle rudely he rored, And seyde to þe prophete: "þey pleyde be a pyne." "Now þou lyest vpon loude, so helpe me oure lorde; For fylthe of þy falshede þou shalt haue an euylle fyne; Thy cursed comper and þou may not a-corde. Line 345 Ȝe shulle be drawen to þe deth to day or I dyne, So rathe. I se an angelle stande, To take þe dome of ȝour honde, Wyth a brennand bronde, Line 350 To brytyn ȝow bathe."

XXVIII.

Then þe folk of Israelle fellen vpon knees, And lowely thanked our lord, þat her þe lyf lent; All gomes þat her gode wolde glades and glees, That þys prophete so pertly preued hys entente. Line 355 They trumpped before þe traytoures and trayled hem on trees Thorow out þe cyte, be comune assent. He þat loueth þat lorde, þar hym not drede, no lees, That þus his seruant con saue þat schuld haue be schent, So swete. Line 360 Thys ferly befelle In þe dayes of Danyelle, The wytnesse wylle welle telle Of þe same prophete.

Explicit.