Political, religious, and love poems. Some by Lydgate, Sir Richard Ros, Henry Baradoun, Wm. Huchen, etc. from the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lambeth Ms. no. 306, and other sources, with a fragment of The Romance of Peare of Provence and the fair Magnelone, and a sketch, with the prolog and epilog, of The Romance of the knight Amoryus and the Lady Cleopes, | Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

Page 249

SHORT RELIGIOUS POEMS

FROM MS. HARL. 7322 (FIRST TREATISE, OF THE END OF THE 14TH CENTURY, WHICH HAS ENGLISH VERSES MIXED IN THE LATIN PROSE). [The full stops are mostly those of the MS.]

Christ on the Cross.

                    
                      Ho þat siþ him one þe Rode. [folio 7] 
                    
                      iesus his lemmon.
                    
                      And his moder bi him stonde
                    
                      Sorë wepinde, and seynt iohan.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      And his syden istongë sore.
                    
                      For þe loue of þe, man.
                    
                      Wel shulde he his sunne forsake.
                    
                      Wetë terës and eke leten.
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Þat of loue can.

All is Lost on Death.

[See p. 253.]

Memento nouissima tua, quia hec sunt signa mortis, videlicet:—

                      
                        Whanne þe ffet coldetȝ. [folio 7b] 
                      
                        and þe tunge ffoldetȝ.
                      
                        And þe shyne sharpetȝ.
                      
                        And þe þrote Roteletȝ.
                        Line 4 
                      
                        And þe hew ffalewetȝ.
                      
                        And þe Eyȝen dasewetȝ

Page 250

                      
                        And him atroketȝ his bretȝ.
                      
                        And þe soule a-wey getȝ.
                        Line 8 
                      
                        And on flore me him strecchetȝ.
                      
                        And litel of him þanne me recchetȝ
                      
                        And he þas er so proud.
                      
                        Ne shal he haue bote a cloud.
                        Line 12 
                      
                        And of þat erer was his
                      
                        Nou shal he hauen mys.
                      
                        Et nichil de mundo portabit.

All too Late.

[See p. 253.]

                    
                      Wonne þin eren dinet: and þi nese scharpet. [folio 169b] 
                    
                      And þin hew dunnet: and þi sennewess starket.
                    
                      And þin eyen synket: and þi tunge foldet.
                    
                      And þin honde stinket: and þin fet coldetȝ.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      And þin lippes blaket: and þin teth ratilet.
                    
                      And þin hond quaket: and þi þrote ruteletȝ.
                    
                      —Al to late. al to late. þen is te wayn atte yate.
                    
                      For may þor no man þenne: penaunce make.
                      Line 8

Three Certainties of the Day of Death.

                    
                      Hit beoþ þreo tymes on þo day [folio 8] 
                    
                      Þat soþe to witen me mai:
                    
                      Þat on ys, þat i shal henne;
                    
                      Þat oþer, þat y not whenne;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Þat þridde is my moste care,
                    
                      Þat y not whider i shal fare.

Marriage.

¶ Nupcie moriar, quia nubere dulce est.

For hit is mury to beon a wife.

Anglice sic:

ich wolle leose my life.

Page 251

Sins of our Time.

[Written as prose.]

                    
                      ¶ Ȝissinge and glosinge and felsship beon riue. [folio 64] 
                    
                      luþer lustes ouer floten. with fals gile and strife
                    
                      hardnesse and bakbiting wiþ scornes out bersten;
                    
                      Bote almus dede and trouþe, wiþ semli plei þei resten.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      vnkundenesse, vnkunninge, vnclannesse, beon arerd
                    
                      so þat harmes þei boden, as ich am aferd.

Some go up, and some go down, in this World.

[Printed in Rel. Ant., v. 1, p. 64.]

                    
                      "Kinge i sitte, and loke aboute, [folio 79] 
                    
                      to morwen y mai beon wiþoute."
                    
                      "Wo is me, a kinge ich was;
                    
                      Þis world, ich louede bote þat, ilas!
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Nouth longe gon i was ful riche;
                    
                      Now is riche and poure iliche."
                    
                      "Ich shal beo kinge, þat men shulle seo,
                    
                      When þou, wrecchë, ded shalt beo." [folio 79b] 
                      Line 8

Four Proverbs.

[See Wright's Political Songs (Camden Soc., 1839), p. 386-7.]

¶ primus dixit Mithȝ is Rithȝ; [folio 91b] lithȝ is nithȝ; Fithȝ is flithȝ.

¶ secundus dixit On is two; frend is foo; wil is wo.

¶ tercius dixit lust hath leue; ȝist is Reue; prude hath sleue.

Page 252

¶ quartus dixit wil is Red wit is qued God is ded

nota de mirabilibus mundi.

Narrat solinus de mirabilibus mundi de quadam [folio 103] aue, que in nido suo facit duo foramina, vnum versus orientem, et aliud versus occidentem, vt per primum cicius videat solem de mane, & per 2^m diucius de sero. Et per primum exit de mane, & per secundum intrat sero. Spiritualiter auis iste est quili|bet fidelis qui sibi facit duo foramina in nido, 1. in corde suo, & in prima porta orientali, per quam ingre|ditur mundum, inuenient tres 'welcomeres' horribiles, videlicet.

Welcomers: nuditas; Fletus; debilitas;

Anglice: nakednesse; Reminge; feblesse;

Vel aliter sic quilibet intrat per portas, scilicet, nasty; sory; vnmiȝty; Et certe clamat .A. quod est primum nominis Ade; in qua litera sunt Anguli ad designandum tria incomoda, que quilibet nostrum incurrit quando noscitur; vnde quilibet nostrum quando flet & clamat, .A. quasi dolens, diceret in Anglico sic, videlicet,

                    
                      Wiþ wo & drede i am born; [folio 103b] 
                    
                      Al for adam y am lorn;
                    
                      To wo and sorwe brouȝt y am,
                    
                      Þat haþ mad þi sinne, Adam.
                    
                      Teone and trauail shal beo my lif.
                    
                      Ȝeruþe, Adam, haue þe stiþ.

Vt pro isto dici potest istud psalmi: "In peccatis concepit me mater mea." iob., etc.

Page 253

Signs of Death.

[Printed in Rel. Ant., v. 1, p. 64-5. See p. 249-50 of this Text.]

                    
                      Alle his frendes he shal beo loþ, [folio 121] 
                    
                      And helud shal ben wiþ a cloþ,
                    
                      Hyse eres shullen dewen,
                    
                      & his eyen shullen dymmen,
                      Line 4 
                    
                      & his nese shal sharpen,
                    
                      & his skyn shal starken,
                    
                      & his hew shal falewen,
                    
                      & his tonge shal stameren, oþer famelen,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      & his lippes shulle bliken,
                    
                      & his hondes shulle quaken,
                    
                      & his teþ shulle Ratelen,
                    
                      & his þrote shal Rotelen,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      & his feet shullen streken,
                    
                      & his herte shal breken;
                    
                      & of al þis wordles b[l]isse,
                    
                      ne woldy ȝeue a pese iwis.
                      Line 16 
                    
                      þou þat art so proud,
                    
                      Ne shalt þou haue bote a clout.

The Covetous Man.

                    
                      On hit is, and ne haueþ noþer [folio 121b] 
                    
                      sone, ne suster, ne nouþer broþer;
                    
                      Ne he nere blynneþ of trauaillinge,
                    
                      he nis no child of god halewinge,
                      Line 4 
                    
                      for one him self he ne þenkeþ,
                    
                      for wham he wakeþ and harde swinkeþ,
                    
                      he wakkeþ boþe dai and niȝt,
                    
                      & leteþ his soule ben vuel diȝt.

                      Line 8

Page 254

Death.

                    
                      Est enim mors: mendacissima; [folio 124b]  Occultissima; repacissima; seuerissima;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      þo dedtur so is fals and falende,
                    
                      Stille and eke stalkinge,
                    
                      Gredy and Crepynge,
                    
                      steorne and eke stellende
                      Line 8

Christ announces his Coming.

                    
                      "Nou ȝe alle beo glad and bliþe, [folio 133b] 
                    
                      For i come to leden ou swiþe."
                    
                      In quibus verbis quatuor proponam questiones. . . [quatuor questiones sunt:] 
                    
                      "Ho art þou þat comest so litel and so mithful?
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Ho art þou þat comest so dredful And so Rithful?
                    
                      Ho art þou þat comest so ȝonge And so connynge?
                    
                      Ho art þou þat comest so pore And al weldynge?"
                    
                      ¶ Ad primam reponem, & ad omnes alias:—
                      Line 8 
                    
                      "ich am a knyth for ou to fithten;
                    
                      ich am a pledour ou lede to Rithte;
                    
                      ich am a maister to teche þe lawe;
                    
                      ich am an emperour, a god felawe."
                      Line 12

Learn Love from Christ's Sufferings.

                    
                      Biholt, þou man wiþ Routhful herte, [folio 134] 
                    
                      Þe sharpë scourge wiþ knottës smerte!
                    
                      Mi blodi bak wiþ hit his beten:
                    
                      Leornë, mon, þi lust to leten;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      For, wiþ þis sper þat is so gril,
                    
                      Min herte was stoungen, so was my uel,
                    
                      For loue of þe þat was so dere;
                    
                      Wel auȝtest þou of loue to lere.

                      Line 8

Page 255

Love Christ who Loves Thee.

                    
                      Leorne to loue, as ich loue þe; [folio 135b] 
                    
                      On alle my lymës þou mith seo
                    
                      Hou sore ich quake for colde;
                      Line 3 
                    
                      For þe ich soffre muche colde & wo;
                    
                      Loue me wel, and nomo;
                    
                      To þe i take and holde.
                      Line 6

Et Regina mater sua nichil habuit vnde posset eum induere; ideo dixit sibi:—

(The Virgin's Song to her Baby Christ.)

(1)

                      Iesu, swetë sonë dere! [folio 135b] 
                    
                      On porful bed, list þou here,
                    
                      And þat me greueþ sore;
                      Line 3 
                    
                      For þi cradel is ase a bere,
                    
                      Oxe and assë beþ þi fere;
                    
                      Weope ich mai þar-fore.
                      Line 6

(2)

                      Iesu, swete, beo noth wroþ
                    
                      Þou ich nabbë clout ne cloþ
                    
                      Þe on for to folde,
                      Line 9 
                    
                      Þe on to foldë ne to wrappe;
                    
                      For ich nabbë clout ne lappe;
                    
                      Bote ley þou þi fet to my pappe,
                    
                      And wite þe from þe colde.
                      Line 13

The Vanity of this Life.

                    
                      Þe lif of þis world [folio 136b] 
                    
                      Ys Reuled wiþ wynd.
                    
                      Wepinge, derknesse, ['derknesse' probably for 'drednesse.' The Latin has Flatum, Fletum, Motum, Metum.]  a[n]d steriynge;
                    
                      Wiþ wind we blowen,
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Wiþ wind we lassun.

Page 256

                    
                      Wiþ weopinge we comen,
                    
                      Wiþ weopinge we passun.
                    
                      Wiþ steriinge we byginnen,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Wiþ steriinge we enden;
                    
                      Wiþ drede we dwellen,
                    
                      Wiþ drede we wenden.

Man made God's Brother.

                    
                      Þis timë man haþ ouercome [folio 138b] 
                    
                      Þe fend, and Robbed helle;
                    
                      Lokë þat, on his seruise,
                    
                      Lenge þat þou ne dwelle;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Þis time man is mad kniȝth
                    
                      And shuppare ouer alle þinge;
                    
                      Loke, on non erliche þinge
                    
                      Þou settë þyn endinge;
                      Line 8 
                    
                      For now is erlich man bicome
                    
                      Godës owene broþer;
                    
                      Loke, man, on nonë wyse
                    
                      Þou chaunge for non oþer.
                      Line 12

In Weal think of Woe.

                    
                      In die bonorum non inmemor sis malorum. [folio 139b] 
                    
                      yn time of wele þenke on þi wo.
                    
                      for þe wele of þis world wole sone go.

Four Evils.

. . & facit quatuor mala vbi regnant secundum quod [folio 140b] componitur ex quatuor literis. P. R. E. D. Vnde Anglice:

Anglice:

Hey Priuetȝ gritliche;

Hey Robbetȝ holliche:

Hey Endetȝ shameliche:

Hey Draweþ dredfulliche.

Page 257

Humility.

                    
                      A tokne of godes louiinge, [folio 141b] 
                    
                      A sheld of mithful wynninge,
                    
                      A Celer of siker kepinge,
                    
                      A keye of Redi vndoinge.
                      Line 4

Eve, Mary, and Paradise.

                    
                      Þe ȝates of Parais [folio 143] 
                    
                      Þoruth eue weren iloken;
                    
                      and þoruth oure swete ladi,
                    
                      Aȝein hui beoþ nouþe open.
                      Line 4

Ideo ista humilitas dici potest 'clauis Dauid,' de quo habetur Apocalypsi 3, que claudit, & nemo aperit.

Envy.

De isto malo dicit Angustinus, quod est aliene [folio 143b] felicitatis tristicia, et aduersitatis leticia: ista est mala condicio, & summe cauenda propter quatuor: videlicet:

quia hit Roteþ and brenneþ, Hit freteþ and twynneþ.

& ideo est sicut anglice dicitur, videlicet:

Ase:

þe worm on þe treo,

and þe hul on þe see,

and roust on þe knife,

and ase deþ to þe life.

The Evils of this Time.

Set heu . . . raro inuenitur amor siue caritas! ideo [folio 145] dolorose potest dici modo istud Anglice:

                    
                      Loue is out of lond iwent;
                    
                      Defaute of loue þis lond haþ shent. [folio 145b] 
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Reuthþe and treuthþe and charite
                    
                      Beþ out of lond, alle þreo:

Page 258

                    
                      Prude, enuye, and lecherie,
                    
                      Couetise, and tricherie,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Habbeþ þis lond one here baillye.

Cupidity.

Cupiditas.:

hit falseþ [folio 145b]

hit reymeþ

hit falleþ

hit shendeþ

A Triad.

Frendsship þat is worsshipful [folio 150]

serte þat is blisful

wonyinge þat is ioyeful

Inscriptions. (See page 260-1.)

Þi wyckede dedis þe broutte to care. bot is þe forȝoin, [forȝouin, p. 264, near the foot.] þou sinne no mare. [folio 153] Þe wickede dedis þe made syke sore. bot al i for-ȝiue þe, & sinne no more.

Alius rex sⁱ dedit coronam auream memoratiuam in qua sic sculpebatur:

Þeng wat þou art, & wat þou was, & þat al þi worssepe of me has. Þou þeng wel on þese þinges þre; wat tou art, & wat tou were, & al þe worsse[pe has of me.]

Propugnator dedit anulum in quo sic scribebatur per girum.

Sicut te dilexi disce me diligere / nam in toto corpore poteris illud cernere.

Lere to loue as Ic loue þe; on al my lemes þou mait it se. [Repeated, p. 262.] For þe I suffrede mikel wo. þou loue [me] treuli ant no mo

Page 259

Anulum in quo sic insertum erat:

Noble þou art þat were a-file. be war be onis þat nout þe gile. [See p. 261.]

Mediator dedit ei tercium anulum in quo sic scribe|batur:

Wou michel, ant wat, & werfore. wat I haue þoled for loue of þe.

Germanus proprius sibi dedit quartum anulum in quo sic erat scriptum:

I am þi broþer, be nout in wer; be nout agast to come me ner; I am þi broþer, be nout agast; be hende, & trewe, & stedëfast.

A sponso proprio dabatur sibi sigillum vnum per quod hereditas sibi assecurabatur in quo sic:

Here I take þe to my liue; tac þou non oþer to terme of liue. Here I take þe to my spouse; & ȝiue þe boþë land & house.

The Signs of Faithful Love.

Nam quatuor sunt signa fidelis Amoris, que ostendit [folio 144b] Christus, in quibus nobis exemplum reliquit, videlicet,

On word [and] ȝiuinge, On werke and soffringe.

Christ Comes.

                    
                      Wat is he þis þat comet so brith [folio 153b] 
                    
                      Wit blodi cloþes al be-dith?
                    
                      respondentes superiores dixerunt:
                    
                      "He is boþe god and man:
                      Line 4 
                    
                      swilc ne sawe neuere nan.
                    
                      for adamis sinne he suffrede ded.
                    
                      & þerfore is his robe so red."

Page 260

Love.

Bene debent ista exempla nos mouere ad opera [folio 145] caritatis, & eciam valor ipsius amoris qui habet con|diciones secundum quod ibi sunt quatuor litere, scilicet, L. O. V. E.

                    
                      Hit is Lawe þat sailleþ noth,
                    
                      Hit is Ouer al þat mai beo wrouȝth,
                    
                      Hit Werkeþ wonderliche,
                    
                      And Ernes ȝeueþ sikerliche.
                      Line 4

Poverty.

Nota. non habuit ubi capud potuit reclinare, Mori|endo [folio 147b] ubi capud potuit tegere. Inde, bene potuit dicere 'pauper sum ego.' Istud exemplum debemus sequi propter quatuor que faciunt in possessore:

hit resteþ and hit quemeþ

hit richeþ and hit demeþ

Lechery.

Luxuria facit hec primo:

hit wasteþ [folio 148]

hit Fileþ.

hit wraþþeþ

hit bigileþ.

Chastity.

Castitas est:

A tresour of gret Richesse. [folio 149]

A vertue of douthtynesse,

And is a worsshipful Cloþinge

And an help of gret wynn[i]nge.

Inscriptions, p. 258-9, repeated.

(y and þ are the same.)

Þi wyckede dedis þe broute to care; bot is þe for-ȝoui; þou sinne no mare. [folio 152]

Page 261

                    
                      Þe wickede dedis þe made syke sore; bot al i for-ȝiue þe; & sinne no more
                    
                      Þeng wat þou art & wat þou was; & þat al þi worssepe of me [þou] has.
                    
                      Þou þeng wel on þese þinges yie, wat tou art, & wat tou were, & al þe woisse.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Lere to loue as Ic loue þe: on al my lemes þou mait it se;
                    
                      For þe I suffrede mikel wo; þou loue [me] trueli, ant no mo.
                    
                      Noble þou art, þat were afile; be war be onis þat none þe gile,
                    
                      Wou michel, at wat, & werfore, wat I haue þoled for loue of þe.
                      Line 8 
                    
                      I am þi broþer, be nout in wer; be nout agast to come me nere;
                    
                      I am þi broþer, be nout agast; be hende & trewe, & stedëfast.
                    
                      Here I take þe to my liue, tac þou non oþer to terme of liue;
                    
                      Here I take þe to my spouse, & ȝiue þe boþë land & house.
                      Line 12

The Sinners' Lament.

                    
                      al þe ioȝe of oure herte nou is went a-wey: [folio 153b] 
                    
                      for into serwe & into wo, tornid is al oure pley.
                    
                      þe croune of oure heued is felle to gronde:
                    
                      þat euere we sennede, weylawey þe stonde!
                      Line 4

Christ's Woe.

                    
                      ȝe þat be þis wey pace, [folio 154] 
                    
                      abidid & behaldit my face;
                    
                      & loket wer ani wo or pine
                    
                      may be licnit nou to mine!

                      Line 4

Page 262

A Lover's Complaint.

                    
                      Loue, þou art of mikel mit;
                    
                      Mi day þou tornis into nit,
                    
                      & dos me sikë sore;
                      Line 3 
                    
                      and al for on so swete a wit
                    
                      þat onis þorw loue me trouþë plit,
                    
                      to ben myn euere more.
                      Line 6

Christ's Call to Love.

Lere to loue as .i. loue þe, for on al mi lemes þou mait it se. [[See p. 258.]]

True Love.

                    
                      þey loue be stro[n]g & mikel of mith, [folio 155b] 
                    
                      for wele, for wo, trewloue mat lith.
                    
                      treuloue is largë, fre & hende,
                    
                      & loue ȝif alleþing bleþeli to his frende.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      in wele & wo, loue sto[n]dit faste,
                    
                      for lif, for det, trewloue wil laste.
                    
                      fer & frey loue hat on heu,
                    
                      for trewloue is fress & euere neu.
                      Line 8

Four Inscriptions.

fir & watir, wind & lond. i desire bo haue vnder myn hond vel bond.

                    
                      bede faste, for i come sone.
                    
                      yif þou serwe onli for me,
                    
                      sikerly þou tit þi bone.
                      Line 5

wil ȝe biddin, redi i am; ȝif ȝe leuin, i go you fram.

smertlike i helpe, & noman forsake; [folio 156] bleþeli i fitte, þe maistri forto take. 9

Page 263

Trust not the World.

                    
                      worldis blissë, strif hat wrout, [folio 157] 
                    
                      for it is wit serwe to endë brout.
                    
                      worldes catel [folio 157b]  passet sone.
                    
                      þat wacset & wansit rit as te mone.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      trist nout to þ[i]s wonder world þat lastit bot a wile;
                    
                      for it is not bot wiles of wo a hasardour þat wil þe gile.

Purity.

He is wel siker þat hat clennesse; for al þat oþer renenant [remenant?] is not bot wrechedenesse.

Mortality.

                    
                      allas! in gret sinne, alle beȝete we were: [folio 158] 
                    
                      stronge pines þoleden þe moderis þat vs bere.
                    
                      here we liue bisiliche wit strong serwe & care:
                    
                      deȝe we ssulin sikerliche; bot god wot wanne & were.
                      Line 4

Pride.

in alle maner þrifte, [or þriste] y passe allë þingge; ȝif oni þing be lic me, to det i ssal him bringe.

Mercy.

                    
                      ȝif sinne nere, merci nere non;
                    
                      wan Merci is cald, he comet anon.
                    
                      þer merci is rediest wer sinne is mest.
                    
                      þer merci is lattest were sinne is lest.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Merci abidet & loket aldai,
                    
                      wan mon fro sinne wil torne away.

Page 264

Christ, Man's Help.

                    
                      god help hastou, man & prest;
                    
                      þe moder here sone sewet here brest;
                    
                      þe sone his fadir ssewet his side,
                    
                      hise wondir wondis depe & wide;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      þanne mai þer be no maner werning,
                    
                      þer of so gret loue is so gret tocning.

The King's Letters to his Son.

Fulgencius in gestis romanorum: quidam rex duos habuit filios, quorum senior cum patre in pallacio fuit; Iunior vero in castro pernoctauit periculoso. cui pater litteras 5. transcripsit. prima erat ista, sic:

sinne & folye [MS. may be 'fulþe.'] only for-sake; to clennesse of lif, for mi loue tac.

2^a fuit ista, sic:

loue god boþe wit herte & þout. for to his licnesse þou art wrout. 4

3^a erat ista, sic:

wit-outin louë þou art lorn; [folio 158b] wose hat nout loue, were bettre on-born.

4^ta erat ista sic:

of al þi wele i bidde non oþer, bot loue me wel, as dot þi broþer.

vel sic:

of al þi richesse i bidde no more, bot loue me wel for euere more.

5^ta erat ista.

Come nou, my swete chilt, wan þou come wilt, for redi is þin heritage, & forȝouin is þi gilt.

The Ills of our Time.

                    
                      Charite, chaste, pite, arn waxin al colde;
                    
                      Couetise, Lust, & maistrie, arn be-comin al bolde; [folio 162] 
                    
                      Consel, god acord, & wedloc ben nou noþing of tolde.

                      Line 3

Page 265

                    
                      Line 3 
                    
                      Stronge, trewe, & corteis, kepte þe land;
                    
                      Bot now feynte, false, folis, it han vndir hand;
                    
                      Þeues, liers & fowlwimmen boldeli ferth stand.
                      Line 6 
                    
                      Vnder dercnesse, darket lit of stedefastnesse. [folio 162b] 
                    
                      vnder sleuþe, darkit þe loue of holinesse.
                    
                      For faute of rit domusman, þe lauwe slepit of ritwisnesse.
                      Line 9 
                    
                      wif, wille, and richesse, han þe maistrie ta[ke];
                    
                      vertu, godede, & almisdede, arn al for-sake;
                      Line 11 
                    
                      Oker, lieyng, & wantonesse, mickel serwe make.

Look to the End.

Þis is a wondir merie pley, & longe ssal laste: bot, for þi sete is perilous, war þe ate laste.

A Lover's Saying.

me þing Rit þou art so loueli, so fair, & so swete, þat sikerli it were mi det, þi companie to lete.

Ware the Wheel!

                    
                      þis wondir wel vndir þis trone,
                    
                      it changit ofte as dot þe mone;
                    
                      al þat euere come þer-on,
                    
                      it fondit forto gile:
                      Line 4 
                    
                      & bot þey [folio 163]  be war be-forn,
                    
                      it ȝelt hem euele her wile.

The Lion.

                    
                      þe lion is wondirliche strong,
                    
                      & ful of wiles of wo;
                    
                      & weþer he pleye
                    
                      oþer take his preȝe,
                    
                      he can not do bot slo.

                      Line 5

Page 266

Ware Bear's Play!

war þe from þe bere plei auantir / last he bite; for selde he stintit of his pley, bot yif he bite or smite.

The Dragon.

I wile ȝou alle swelewe wit-outin oni both: dot [bot?] some wile y saue, & some wile y noth.

Fortune's Wheel.

                    
                      þou most fort, wit wele or wo,
                    
                      be þou lef, oþer be [MS. bo]  þou lot,
                    
                      forto gon vp on þis wel
                    
                      þat eueremore aboutë got.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      ȝif þou be cointë, þou ssalt liue:
                    
                      & ellis dedis dint i ssal þe ȝiue.
                    
                      vel sic
                    
                      ȝif þou go cointeli on þis wel,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      þou ssalt liue eueremore:
                    
                      bot ȝif þou falle, & go amis,
                    
                      wit dulful det i wonde þe sore.

Foolish Love.

                    
                      I am a fol, i can no god:
                    
                      ho þat me louit, hi halde him wod;
                    
                      .I. brennë hote, I smitë sore, [folio 163b] 
                    
                      ho þat me louit ssal þe no more.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      dredful det out of me sprong,
                    
                      fo[r] i am welle of wo:
                    
                      I slou a wis king, fair & strong;
                    
                      & ȝit .i. ssal sle mo.

                      Line 8

Page 267

The Ten Stages of Man's Life.

Vita hominis decurrit in:

10. horis; 10 dictis; 10 radiis

In:

ten times of þe day

ten stappes of oure way

ten spokes þat tornen ay

waich & wreschede þou art in sith; of alle maner beste, lest is ti mith.

Al þis world þe tornit to play; þe more þou playst, þe more þou may.

Richesse makes man beholden aboute; for to þe riche, men bowe & louthe.

Nou hastou fondin þat tou hast sout: be wel war; it lastit nout.

strong þou was, nou failit þi mith; þou waxist heui, þat was wel lit.

Al mi lif ic sorwe & care, for det comit sone, þat noman wil spare.

Lore þou hast, boþe tonge & minde: as tou hast liuid, þou ssalt sone finde.

al þis wo[r]ld þou ssal forsake, for det is comun, þat wil þe take.

man & wimman han on ende; for, esye he comun al; esye ho [[or he]] ssuln wende.

Of þi lif nou litel lete, for þou art tornid to wormis mete.

Four Inducements to Repentance. [folio 166b]

[Q]Vatuor monent ad penitentiam. videlicet:

benignitas diuina, Christi doctrina, horrendum dei iudi|cium, in impeniten|tibus inferendum, & premium eternum, vere penitentibus re|promissum.

anglice:

Godes hore, [folio 167] Cristes lore, Godes grisliche dom,

And the blisse þat ner nis don.

Page 268

God's Goodness.

expectat pacienter, parcit faciliter, suscipit liberaliter, & obliuiscitur totali|ter.

anglice:

he abit þolemodliche,

he fur-geft litliche,

he vnder-fenget freliche,

and he fur-þet holliche.

Written at the foot of the page in pale ink. [folio 168b]

                    
                      Hou þi fairnisse is bi-spit,
                    
                      Hou þi swetnisse is i-betin and ipit,
                    
                      Hou þi lotleschipe to scharp detȝ is of set.

Against Temptation.

                    
                      of vr vife wittes, a wel witiynge; [folio 172] 
                    
                      of þing þat vs egget, a vast vleynge;
                    
                      and of þe laste ende, a bisi biþenkynge.

Alas, that we ever Sinned!

                    
                      Strong it hus to flitte [folio 172b] 
                    
                      Fro worldes blisse to pitte;
                    
                      Strengore is to misse
                    
                      Heuene-richë blisse;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Strengest is to wende
                    
                      To pine wit-outen ende.
                    
                      Þe blisse of oure herte, al it is ago;
                    
                      Al vre welë torned is to wo;
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Þe croune of vre heued
                    
                      Fallen is to grounde:
                    
                      Þat we euer syngeden,
                    
                      Weylawey þe stounde!
                      Line 12

Job said:

þat ylke day be out of Muinde [folio 181] þat y was bron to [do alterd to to.] Monnes kuynde!

Page 269

The Saved says:

For foulë lustës .I. witstod, In blisse .I. werë [This scribe uses ȝ for þ; and þ for ȝ in 'fur-þet,' forgets, 268/4.] ȝys garlond.

The Lost says:

Alas! worldes yissyng Me haueth scehent, [folio 182] [This scribe uses ȝ for þ; and þ for ȝ in 'fur-þet,' forgets, 268/4.] ȝat euere My soule in helle beth brent.

The Saved says:

In heuene blisse .I. am in hele, For I forsok [This scribe uses ȝ for þ; and þ for ȝ in 'fur-þet,' forgets, 268/4.] ȝys worldes wele.

The Lost says:

Alas! helle me hath in [[or an.? MS.]] holt in ruyde; [folio 183] [This scribe uses ȝ for þ; and þ for ȝ in 'fur-þet,' forgets, 268/4.] ȝe deuel in pine for worldes pride.

The Reward of the Meek.

For þou were Meke, an laftuste pruyde, [folio 183b] Wite blisse in heuene I schal þe scruyde.

Matthew's feast.

Matheu hat mad a grete gesteny[n]g te Ihesu at home in his whonyy[n]g.

The Virtues serve us.

Inuitant igitur fides, pietas & beneuolencia;

Recipiunt spes, humilitas & continencia;

Recumbunt pauperes cari|tate & paciencia;

Ministrant sanctitas, zelus & modestia.

vs preyen, bileue, god wille, [folio 184] & pite;

vs kepen, god hope, Meke|nes & kastite;

vus sit by, pouert, wisdom, & god leuy[n]g;

vus seruen clannesse, rych & feyr bery[n]g.

Page 270

Lord, come to my feast.

                    
                      Lord .I. bidde boȝe day & nyth,
                    
                      cum to my feste [This scribe uses ȝ for þ.] ȝat .I. haue dyth.
                    
                      ȝif hit queme Mi lord ȝe ky[n]g, ȝy[n]g [thing]  ȝat I him preye. [folio 184b] 
                    
                      I bidde he come to My gesteni[n]g, wit vus to gomen & pleye.
                    
                      ȝif in þi sith i grace haue fonde,
                    
                      ȝif me Mi wille at [This scribe uses ȝ for þ.] ȝis stonde.

Hindrances of the Devil.

promissio fallax.; promocio mendax.; prolacio Mordax.

anglice:

A fals by-hety[n]g. [folio 185]

A lyeres auansyng.

A bitynde fondi[n]g.

Page 271

An A B C Poem on the Passion of Christ.

[Harl. MS. 3954, leaf 87. The A B C, etc., are not rubri|cated in the MS., but are made black here to catch the eye. The initial þ and y are the same.]

(1)

                      IN place as man may se,
                    
                      Quan a chyld to scole xal set be,
                    
                      A bok hym is browt,
                      Line 3 
                    
                      Naylyd on a brede of tre,
                    
                      Þat men callyt an abece,
                    
                      Pratylych I-wrout.
                      Line 6

(2)

                      Wrout is on þe bok with-oute,
                    
                      .V. paraffys grete & stoute
                    
                      Bolyd in rose red;
                      Line 9 
                    
                      Þat is set with-outyn doute,
                    
                       [[No gap in the MS.]] 
                    
                      In tokenyng of cristis ded.
                      Line 12

(3)

                      Red letter in parchemyn
                    
                      Makyth a chyld good & fyn
                    
                      Lettrys to loke & se.
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Be þis bok men may dyuyne
                    
                      Þat cristis body was ful of pyne
                    
                      Þat deyid on rodë tre.
                      Line 18

(4)

                      On tre he was don ful blythe
                    
                      With grete paraffys, þat be wondis .v.
                    
                      As ȝe mou vnder-stonde.
                      Line 21 
                    
                      Loke in hys body, mayde & wyfe,
                    
                      Qwon hee gun naylys dryue
                    
                      In fot & in honde.

                      Line 24

Page 272

24

(5)

                      Hond & fout þer was ful woo,
                    
                      And þer were lettrys many moo
                    
                      With-in & with-oute,
                      Line 27 
                    
                      With rede wondis & strokis blo
                    
                      He was dryue fro top to þe too,
                    
                      Hys fayre body aboute.
                      Line 30

(6)

                      About þis, a pece I wyl spede,
                    
                      Þat I myth þis lettrys rede
                    
                      With-outyn ony dystaunce;
                      Line 33 
                    
                      But god þat let hys body sprede
                    
                      Vp-on þe rode for manys nede,
                    
                      In heuene vs alle avaunce!
                      Line 36

(7)

                      God with spere was wondyd for vs;
                    
                      Fals iudas, to mendyn hys purs,
                    
                      To ded hath hym sold:
                      Line 39 
                    
                      On goodfryday, clerkys seyn þus,
                    
                      "Mortuus est, ded is Ihesus,
                    
                      In ston is ded & cold."
                      Line 42

(8)

                      A madful mone may men make [folio 87:2] 
                    
                      Quan þat suete Ihesu was take!
                    
                      Lystyn a lytyl pas:
                      Line 45 
                    
                      Þe iewys wroutyn hym wo & wrake; [[MS. warke]] 
                    
                      Hee ledyn hym forth a gret shake
                    
                      Aforn busshop Cayfas.
                      Line 48

(9)

                      Bondyn he was for our bounte,
                    
                      And suffryd strokis gret plente
                    
                      Be-forn cayfas þat nyth.
                      Line 51 
                    
                      On þe morn, I tel þe,
                    
                      Eft was he betyn at þe tre
                    
                      Be-forn pylatis syth;

                      Line 54

Page 273

54

(10)

                      Cananis hym crodyn to heroudis kyng,
                    
                      Þer had he gret scornyng,
                    
                      Þei bodyn hym turne þe gate.
                      Line 57 
                    
                      Hee leddyn þat maydynus sone ȝyng
                    
                      For to takyn hys damnyng
                    
                      Be-forn iustice pylate.
                      Line 60

(11)

                      Dempt he was on a stounde,
                    
                      Sethen betyn with many wonde.
                    
                      He tokyn a clout, as it is founde,
                    
                      And wondyn hus body þer-inne.
                      Line 64 
                    
                      With dry blod quan was he bounde,
                    
                      Tho iewys, egre as ony hounde,
                    
                      Threwyn hus body to þe grounde,
                    
                      And rentyn of cloth & scynne:
                      Line 68

(12)

                      Euene in hus eyne greye
                    
                      Hee spyttyd on hym, þe soþe to seye:
                    
                      He lokyd on hem ful mylde.
                      Line 71 
                    
                      Mary hys moder went þe weye
                    
                      To caluery þer he xuld deye,
                    
                      And waytyd þer here chylde.
                      Line 74

(13)

                      For feyntyce fel þat fayre fode,
                    
                      Nakyd he bar þat hard rode
                    
                      To-ward caluery,
                      Line 77 
                    
                      Al be-ronne with red blod;
                    
                      Among þe iewys wylde & wod,
                    
                      He suonnyd cekerly.
                      Line 80

(14)

God! with iewys gret was þi pyne, Naylyd on rode, soth for to seyne. Hee leydyn þe on þe gronnde 83

Page 274

                    
                      Line 83 
                    
                      And ryuyn þi body holy & dygne,— [folio 87b] 
                    
                      On þe he madyn a gret sygne,—
                    
                      Hee naylyd þe fot & honnde;
                      Line 86

(15)

                      Harde þei bondyn þat heuy rode;
                    
                      Þer-on hys body heng al on blode,
                    
                      As beryt wytnesse sen Ion.
                      Line 89 
                    
                      Þe wyckyd iewys, wyld & wode,
                    
                      Hard þei dryuyn þat heuy rode
                    
                      In-to a morteys of ston.
                      Line 92

(16)

                      Ihesu, with iewys gret was þi pyne!
                    
                      Hand & fot, for soþe to seyne,
                    
                      Al to-toryn in þat tyde,
                      Line 95 
                    
                      Al to-broste synwe & veyne,
                    
                      As beryt wytnesse Maudeleyne;
                    
                      She sau þe wondis wyde.
                      Line 98

(17)

                      Kyng crist was klad in poure wede:
                    
                      Al þe syn of manys dede
                    
                      He hath bout wol dere;
                      Line 101 
                    
                      To byȝyn vs heuene, þat mery mede,
                    
                      Al hys blod he gan blede,
                    
                      And sythyn water clere.
                      Line 104

(18)

                      Loue made crist fro heuene to comyn,
                    
                      Loue made hym with man to wonyn,—
                    
                      As clerkys in bokys rede,—
                      Line 107 
                    
                      Loue made hus hert to bledyn,
                    
                      With hus blod oure soulys to fedyn,
                    
                      To bryngyn vs to oure mede.
                      Line 110

(19)

Man, for þi mekel mercy, Maydynnus sone Mary, On godfryday þus deyide! 113

Page 275

                    
                      Line 113 
                    
                      Þus he heng on caluery
                    
                      With wondis weyde cekerly,
                    
                      A thef on eyþer [[MS. eyeryer]]  syde.
                      Line 116

(20)

                      Nout he hadde at hys nede
                    
                      To restyn hus hed, as clerkys rede,
                    
                      But al was hym be-reuyd.
                      Line 119 
                    
                      Fox & foul may reste & hede,
                    
                      But crist, þat deyid for manus nede,
                    
                      Hat nout to reste in hus had.
                      Line 122

(21)

                      Out ran hus blod þat was so bryth;
                    
                      Þan seyde our lord god almyth
                    
                      A word of gret pete, [folio 87b:2] 
                      Line 125 
                    
                      "Al þus with iewys I am dyth,
                    
                      I seme a wyrm to manus syth."
                    
                      Man! for loue of þe,
                      Line 128

(22)

                      Pryckis hym peynyd, ȝe may here;
                    
                      Hys hed was broydyn on a brere,
                    
                      Þis is þe soþe to seyne;
                      Line 131 
                    
                      With red blod was wet hus lere;
                    
                      Þo pryckis, þoru hus panne so dere,
                    
                      Wentyn in-to þe brayn!
                      Line 134

(23)

                      Qwen of heuene, wo was she
                    
                      To sen hangyn on rode tre
                    
                      Ihesu, here sone so suete;
                      Line 137 
                    
                      Here tendre hert myth breste on iij
                    
                      Quan she sau here sonë fre
                    
                      On rode hys lyf lete.
                      Line 140

(24)

Ragyd & rent, in red blod, Þus heng he vp-on þe rod Aȝen þe sonë glem. 143

Page 276

                    
                      Line 143 
                    
                      For soþe he weryn werse þan wod
                    
                      To slon Ihesu so good,
                    
                      Þe iewys of ierusalem. [[MS. ielrm]] 
                      Line 146

(25)

                      Slyt was hus flech, & slawe;
                    
                      Þe iewys in here falcë lawe,
                    
                      Þei dedyn hym mekel peyne:
                      Line 149 
                    
                      As seyt þe gospel in hus sawe,
                    
                      Euery lyth fro oþer was drawe;
                    
                      Þat is nout to layne.
                      Line 152

(26)

                      Togyd with tene was god of prys;
                    
                      To don hym sorwe was here delys:
                    
                      He seydë no word loth.
                      Line 155 
                    
                      Quan he was naylyd at here a-vys,
                    
                      Þo iewys kestyn at þe dys
                    
                      Qweþer xuld han hys cloth.
                      Line 158

(27)

                      Wyde weryn hus wondis wete,
                    
                      Fro þe hond[es] to þe fete
                    
                      With deth he was [i]slawe.
                      Line 161 
                    
                      Hys lomeber blod our bale may bete,
                    
                      Of qwom spac Moyses þe prophete,
                    
                      Ryth in þe held lawe.
                      Line 164

(28)

                      Xpc crist on croys was sleynt;
                    
                      To hys fader he made a pleynt, [folio 88] 
                    
                      Hys cry was, "hely!
                      Line 167 
                    
                      Fader god in trynite!
                    
                      Qwy hast þou forsakë me?"
                    
                      Cryst seyde on caluery.
                      Line 170

(29)

Y for I, in wryt is set. Cryst for vs on croys was knet, Nalyd on þe rode: 173

Page 277

                    
                      Line 173 
                    
                      Out of thraldam he vs fet,
                    
                      Þat we þoru syn hadde get,
                    
                      And bout vs with hys blode.
                      Line 176

(30)

                      Ȝet he was in suffryng
                    
                      Of trokys & naylis clynkyng,
                    
                      Tyl it was pacyd non;
                      Line 179 
                    
                      Ne blenchyd he neuer for betyng;
                    
                      To dede hee dedyn heuene kyng;
                    
                      Þis was a ruful mon.
                      Line 182

(31)

                      & is to seyn, god is ded,
                    
                      Of hys blod hys body is red.
                    
                      He ros on estryn morwe;
                      Line 185 
                    
                      To helle he ȝede with-outyn abod,
                    
                      For to stroyn þe fendys wod,
                    
                      To sauyn vs fro sorwe.
                      Line 188

(32)

                      Loke þat we ben seker & kende,
                    
                      And kepe þis apece [[for above]]  in oure mende,
                    
                      Þan sekere be we of blys with-outyn ende
                    
                      In tyme quan we xul dey;
                      Line 192 
                    
                      Afterward men xal vp-ryce,
                    
                      And wende for, boþe fol & wyce,
                    
                      To Iosaphat sekerly;
                      Line 195

(33)

                      And west, nort, & south,
                    
                      Euery man, boþe fremyd & kouth,
                    
                      Xul comyn with-outyn ly.
                      Line 198 
                    
                      Þer xal be gret asyce
                    
                      Be-forn ihesu, þat hey Iustyce,
                    
                      With woundis al blody.
                      Line 201

(34)

Quan mannus soule hat in mynde Þe blod þat cryst let for mankende With terys & woundis smerte, 204

Page 278

                    
                      Line 204 
                    
                      Man fynde þou non vnkyndnesse
                    
                      Quan þe wey of suetnesse
                    
                      Wyl entryn in-to þin herte; [folio 88:2] 
                      Line 207

(35)

                      Sey, "a, ihesu! quat hast þou gylt?
                    
                      Qwy art þou for my syn spylt,
                    
                      Flour of lowënesse?
                      Line 210 
                    
                      I am a thef, þou for me deyist,
                    
                      I am gylty, & þou abeyst
                    
                      For my wykydnesse;
                      Line 213

(36)

                      So gret raunsom for so wyl thyng!
                    
                      Quat hast þou wonne with þi peynyng,
                    
                      Þou hey in blysce aboue?
                      Line 216 
                    
                      Gret godnesse hat þe makyd
                    
                      For to hangyn on rode nakyd
                    
                      For mannus soulë loue!
                      Line 219

(37)

                      But, lord ihesu, I kan no more
                    
                      But þe besekyn with al my myth,
                    
                      Þat I motë wepyn sore
                      Line 222 
                    
                      Thyn hardë peynus day & nyth,
                    
                      And þat loue mote also faste
                    
                      In-to myn hertë stykyd be,
                    
                      As was þe spere in-to þin herte
                    
                      Quan þou suffrydyst ded for me. Amen.

                      Line 226

Page 279

The fifty-first Psalm.

[Additional MS., No. 10,036, Brit. Mus., leaf 96, bk. [There is another copy of this Poem in Harl. MS. 3810, Part I.] ] (Twenty 4-measure stanzas of 8, abab abab.)

(1) MIserere mei deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam!

                      Mercy, god, of my mysdede!
                    
                      For þi mercy þat mychel ys,
                    
                      Late þi pite sprynge & sprede,
                    
                      Off þi mercy þat I ne mys.
                      Line 4 
                    
                      Aftur gostliche grace I grede;
                    
                      Good god! þou graunt me þis,
                    
                      That I may lyue in loue & drede,
                    
                      And neuer efter to do more amys.
                      Line 8

(2) Et secundum multitudinem miseracionum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.

                      And after þi mercies þat ben fele,
                    
                      Lord, fordo my wickydnesse.
                    
                      Ȝyue me grace to hyde & hele
                    
                      The blamë of my bruchelnesse.
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Ȝif any sterynge on me stele,
                    
                      Out of þe clos of þi clennesse
                    
                      Wysse me, lord, in wo & wele,
                    
                      And kepë me fram vnkyndnesse.
                      Line 16

(3) Amplius laua me ab iniquitate mea: & a peccato meo munda me.

Page 280

                    
                      More-ouer, wasche me of my synne, [folio 97] 
                    
                      And of my gultës clanse þow me;
                    
                      And serche my soule with out & Inne,
                    
                      That I no more defowlid be.
                      Line 20 
                    
                      And as þyn hert aclef atwynne
                    
                      With doleful deth on þe rodë tre,
                    
                      Late me neuer no werke bigynne,
                    
                      Lord, but ȝif it lykë þee.
                      Line 24

(4) Qoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: & peccatum meum contra me est semper.

                      For al my wickidnesse I knowe,
                    
                      And my synne is euer me aȝeyn;
                    
                      Ther-fore late þi gracë growe,
                    
                      Ihesu, þat was with iewis sleyn.
                      Line 28 
                    
                      Ryche & porë, hye & lowe,
                    
                      Smale & gret[ë], in certeyn,
                    
                      Atte domesdaie, when þou schalt blowe,
                    
                      Of þi mercy schul be ful feyn.
                      Line 32

(5) Tibi soli peccaui, & malum coram te feci: ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis, &c.

                      To þee only trespassed haue I,
                    
                      Wrouȝt wickidly aȝens þi glorie
                    
                      With wordes & eke with trecherie.
                    
                      Thou demyst riȝt, & hast þe victórie;
                      Line 36 
                    
                      Ther-fore, þee biseche now I,— [folio 97b] 
                    
                      For tolde hit is in many story,—
                    
                      That who so trusteþ to þi mercy,
                    
                      Is endëles in þi memórie.
                      Line 40

(6) Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: & in peccatis concepit me mater mea.

Biholde, in synne I was conceyued Of my modre, as we ben alle:

Page 281

                    
                      Off my fadre I nouȝt conceyued
                    
                      But flesche ful frel, & fayn to falle.
                      Line 44 
                    
                      And sithe þi flesche, lord, was furst perceyued,
                    
                      And for oure sake laide streiȝt in stalle,
                    
                      Was neuer synful man deceyued,
                    
                      That to þi mercy woldë calle.
                      Line 48

(7) Ecce enim ueritatem dilexisti: incerta & occulta sapiencie tue manifestasti michi.

                      Lo! þou hast louyd ryȝt,
                    
                      And schewid me counceil of þi wyt,
                    
                      How, þorw mercy & þorw myȝt,
                    
                      Two kyndës ben to-gidre knyt:
                      Line 52 
                    
                      Thral ys fre, & knaue is knyȝt,
                    
                      And god is man, as gospel wryt;
                    
                      And ȝit my soule in perel be pyȝt,
                    
                      Mercyful god, help þou yt!
                      Line 56

(8) Asperges me ysopo, & mundabor: lauabis me, & super niuem dealbabor. [folio 98] 

                      With holi water þou schalt me springe,
                    
                      And as þe snowe I schal be whyt;
                    
                      And ȝif my soule in synnë stynke,
                    
                      With wepinge water I may it quyt.
                      Line 60 
                    
                      Dedly drauȝtes al-þouȝ I drynke,
                    
                      Of répentaunce ȝyue me respit;
                    
                      For who-so on þi þrowës þynke,
                    
                      In worldës welþe is no delit.
                      Line 64

(9) Auditui meo gaudium & leticiam: et exultabunt ossa humiliata.

To myn heryng þou schalt ȝyue Gladnesse, to gladë bonës meke. In lownesse lernë me to lyue, Leuë lord, I þee by-seke! 68

Page 282

                    
                      Line 68 
                    
                      The þeuës gult, hit was forȝyue
                    
                      On rodë wher his bonës breke.
                    
                      A contryt hert, & clene yschryue,
                    
                      Saueþ soule & body eke.
                      Line 72

(10) Auerte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.

                      Fro my synnës turne þi face,
                    
                      Do al my wickidnesse a-way!
                    
                      Grete is my gult, gretter is þi [my alterd to þi.]  grace, [folio 98b] 
                    
                      And ellis, faileþ al oure fay.
                      Line 76 
                    
                      And fawtës fele þat me doþ face,
                    
                      Makeþ þat I may noȝt say,
                    
                      But crie mercy when I trespace;
                    
                      I-wis I wote no better way.
                      Line 80

(11) Cor mundum crea in me deus: & spiritum rectum innoua in uisceribus meis.

                      God! make þou myn hert[ë] clene,
                    
                      And a riȝtful spirit in me newe;
                    
                      Fro seuene synnes þou make me schene,
                    
                      That where þou go, I may þee seewe.
                      Line 84 
                    
                      Al þi turment and þi tene,
                    
                      Thi bodi blacke, þi bonës blewe,—
                    
                      Now, graunt, cryst, þat it be sene
                    
                      In myn hert, þat hidowes hewe.
                      Line 88

(12) NE proicias me a facie tua: & spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.

                      Cast me nouȝt fro þi visage,
                    
                      Take noȝt fro me þine holigost!
                    
                      To byholde þi faire ymage,
                    
                      Of allë murþës hit is most.
                      Line 92 
                    
                      A blisful bryd was born in cage,
                    
                      Cowþe ykid in euery cost,

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                      When he were drawe in tendre age, [folio 99] 
                    
                      To dryue adoun þe deueles bost.
                      Line 96

(13) REdde michi leticiam salutaris tui: & spiritu principali confirma me.

                      Of þine helþe ȝyue me þe blisse,
                    
                      And strengþe me with þi spirit cheef;
                    
                      And alle my fyuë wittes þou wisse,
                    
                      That I may lyue as þee is leef,
                      Line 100 
                    
                      And þou maist my langor lysse,
                    
                      That brouȝtest man to gret boncheef;
                    
                      So late me neuer þi mercy mysse,
                    
                      When I am gurt with gostly greef.
                      Line 104

(14) DOcebo iniquos uias tuas: & impij ad te co[n]uertentur.

                      To þe wickid I schal þe [for þi]  waies teche,
                    
                      The synneful schulle to þee conuerte.
                    
                      Synful man, be war of wreche,
                    
                      And þenke on crystës hede & herte!
                      Line 108 
                    
                      Brest & hert was bete to bleche,
                    
                      On barë bodi, with-outë sherte;
                    
                      To rewe on him I wol þee preche,
                    
                      But alas! þer wolde no teer oute sterte.
                      Line 112

(15) LIbera me de sanguinibus, deus meus salutis mee: & exaltabit lingua mea iusticiam tuam.

                      Delyuere me fram blameful [m, n, alterd.]  blode, [folio 99b] 
                    
                      My lord, god of myn [m, n, alterd.]  helþe;
                    
                      And my mouþe schal with myldë mode
                    
                      Apertely schewe þi sely selþe.
                      Line 116 
                    
                      Thi riȝtful blode ran doun on rode
                    
                      To waschen vs fram oure fleschly felþe;
                    
                      Agayn many a storme þou stode
                    
                      To wyssen vs fro þe worldës welþe.

                      Line 120

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120

(16) Domine, labia mea aperies: & os meum annunciabit laudem tuam.

                      Lord, my lippes þou schalt vndo,
                    
                      And my mouþe schal þi prechinge [for preisinge]  spelle;
                    
                      Thi mercy & þi myȝt also,
                    
                      Soþfastly no tunge may telle;
                      Line 124 
                    
                      For when we dedly synnë do,
                    
                      Thi riȝt vs demeþ doun to helle;
                    
                      But when we ceesen & wol saie 'ho!'
                    
                      Thi mercy is oure waschynge welle.
                      Line 128

(17) Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium dedissem utique: holocaustis non dilectaberis.

                      Ȝif sacrifice hadde ben offrynge,
                    
                      I hadde to þee ȝyuen with hert fre;
                    
                      But certeynly hit is none suche þinge,
                    
                      That, to þi, plesaunt may be.
                      Line 132 
                    
                      Thi self was offrid a child ful ȝynge, [folio 100] 
                    
                      And afterwarde on þe rodë tre
                    
                      Oute of þin herte þat blode gan sprynge,
                    
                      And þer-fore myn hert I offre to þee.
                      Line 136

(18) SAcrificium deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non despicies.

                      To god hit is a sacryfice,
                    
                      A synful spirit to sorwe sore;
                    
                      A meke hert [þou] schal noȝt despice,
                    
                      Whan répentaunce hit wol restore.
                      Line 140 
                    
                      I haue for sleuþe [left] þi seruyce,
                    
                      And litel lyued aftur þi lore;
                    
                      But I repente, & wille now aryse;
                    
                      Mercy, god! I wolle no more.

                      Line 144

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144

(19) Benigne fac domine in bona uoluntate tua syon: & edificentur muri ierusalem.

                      With benygne wil, do to syon,
                    
                      That ierusalem walles were wrouȝt.
                    
                      Ierusalem, as telleþ seynt Ion,
                    
                      Is holy churche þat erreþ nouȝt:
                      Line 148 
                    
                      Tho testamentis cordiþ in on.
                    
                      The wallës were to-gidre brouȝt,
                    
                      When cryst hym self was corner ston,
                    
                      That mannës synne haþ dere ybouȝt.
                      Line 152

(20) Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iusticie oblaciones & holocausta: tunc im|ponent super altare tuum [vitulos] [vitulos omitted.]  domine. [folio 100b] 

                      Than schalt þou sacrifice accepte
                    
                      Of riȝtwisnesse & treuþe entere;
                    
                      And caluës, aftur þi precepte,
                    
                      Schulle be leide on þine autere;
                      Line 156 
                    
                      On caluarie a calf þer crepte.
                    
                      Cryst on crosse, boþe clene & clere!
                    
                      For þo teeris þat þi modre wepte,
                    
                      Thow schelde [us] fro þe fendes fere! Amen!
                      Line 160

[In a later hand:]

now, lord, be thou our helpe & guide, and pardon things that cause vs slide!

Page 286

Verse Prolog and Epilog to a Book on Medicine.

Verses written as a Preface to an English Treatise on Medicine. (From Dr. J. F. Payne's vellum MS. of the first half of the 15th century.) [(S. is Sloane 1314; Sl. is Sloane 2584, of the same type as P.]

                    
                      The man þat wol of lechecraft lere,
                    
                      Red ovyr this book, and he may here
                    
                      Many medycinis both [Many a medicyn S. Sl.]  good and trewe [trewe S. Sl., newe P.] 
                    
                      To helë [To alle S., To leche Sl.]  sores both oolde and newe,
                      Line 4 
                    
                       [S. and Sl. leave out lines 5-10.] And preciouse medycinis, þorw goddis grace,
                    
                      To save men lyves in diverse place.
                    
                      Cryst, þat made bothe Est and West,
                    
                      Geve grace her sowlës have god rest,
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Evere more in hevene for to be,
                    
                      In hevene wyt þe Trinite.
                    
                      Her-inne be medycinis, wythout-yn fable,
                    
                      To hele alle sores þat ben curáble,
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Of swerd, of knyf, and of arwe,—
                    
                      Be þe wounde wyde or narwe,—
                    
                      Of sper, of quarel, of dagger, of [of dagger of PS., or . . . or Sl.]  dart,
                    
                      To make him hool in ylkë [in ilka S., on eche Sl.]  part,
                      Line 16 
                    
                      So [ȝyf S., So þat Sl.]  þe seek wol do wysely,
                    
                      And kepe him-self fro surfety. [from queysy S., fro serfetrie Sl.] 
                    
                      Be þe wounde nevere so deep,
                    
                      Þer-of dar [thar S., þar hem (om. no kepe) Sl.]  him take no kep,

                      Line 20

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                      Line 20 
                    
                      So þat he drynke save [ȝyf he drynk antioche or saue S., So þat þei drynke saue or antioche Sl., So . . save or anteocke P.]  or anteoche,
                    
                      Him dar not drede of þat outrage: [Hem . . of non outrage Sl., & Drede of hys wondes thar hym non haue S.] 
                    
                      Be þat on and twenti days be goon, [Be on & twenti dayes gone S., Be . . be comyn and goon P., Be þat .21. daies be come & gon Sl.] 
                    
                      He schal be hol, both [both om. S., boþe Sl.]  flesch and bon,
                      Line 24 
                    
                      To ride and go in ylk[o]n [ilka S., eche Sl.]  place,
                    
                      Thorw þe verteu [myht S., myȝht Sl.]  of goddys grace;
                    
                      Thus seyth Ypocras, þe good surgien,
                    
                      And socrates and Galyen,
                      Line 28 
                    
                      Þat weren [wore Sl.]  philisophres alle thre,
                    
                      Þat tyme þe best [Þe best þat were S., þe best Sl.]  in any countree:
                    
                      In þis we[r]ld were non her pere,
                    
                      As fer as any man coude [Als wyde as men myht here S., As fer . . myght Sl.]  here.
                      Line 32 
                    
                      Þei [And Sl.]  practised medicynus, wit [be Sl.]  godus grace,
                    
                      To saue men lyues [mannes lyf Sl.]  in many a [in dyuers Sl.]  place.
                    
                      Crist þat made bothe est and west,
                    
                      Grant her soules in heuen, [Leue here soules haue Sl.]  good rest,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      Euermore in ioy to be
                    
                      In heuen with god in trinite. [In . . . trinite Sl., om. P.] 
                    
                      Amen! [Amen P., om. Sl.]  Amen! for charite.
                      Line 39

(The verses in the Payne MS. are written in double columns, and the order of the first eight verses is a little confused; so I have corrected it.)

The above agrees very nearly with a poem printed by the Rev. G. Henslow, in his Medical Works of the 14th Century, p. 125 (1899), from Sloane MS. 2584; with variants from Sloane MS. 1314.

Page 288

At the end are the following verses, which I have not seen elsewhere:—

                    
                      This book hat Ypocras,
                    
                      Oon of þe beest surgien þat evere was;
                    
                      And Galien his felaw, and Socrates,
                    
                      To þis book þ[e]i beren witnesse,
                    
                      Ffor alle þei were felawes & fere
                    
                      Whil þei leveden in erde here;
                    
                      And þorw þe grace of hevene kyng,
                    
                      Þei practiseden medicines to helpe manky[n]d.
                    
                      Prey we alle to ihesu, hevene kyng,
                    
                      Þat [he] gif her sowles god wonnyng. [These verses are at the end of the same treatise (fol. 20* or page 40), which appears to be quite complete. It refers to "the good Earl of Hereford, that was a noble surgeon"; and I think must have been composed in the 14th century.—J. F. PAYNE.]

Page 289

The Prentise unto woe,

By HENRY BARADOUN, ab. 1483. Hodson MS. 39, leaf 4; 2nd flyleaf. (Mr. Hodson's 3rd MS. of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.) [Mr. Hodson's Librarian, Miss Constance Belliss, kindly copied the poem for me, and read the proof with the MS.]

(1)

                      Musyng alone, voide of consolacion, [folio 4] 
                    
                      Drownèd in sorowe, sighyng wondre sore,
                    
                      I may complayn, with deedly lamentacion,
                    
                      My tyme evill spent / sith first I was bore;
                      Line 4 
                    
                      My yongë yeres, in Courte I haue forlore;
                    
                      Ȝhit, not-withstondyng howe I haue so do,
                    
                      Vnto more peyne then I was into-fore,
                    
                      I haue me yoked, as prentice vnto woo.
                      Line 8

(2)

                      ¶ For [MS. As for.]  liberte is laide alone apart;
                    
                      My will also, hath no dominacion;
                    
                      And as for easë, that most nedis depart;
                    
                      A greuous payn, in myn oppinïon:
                      Line 12 
                    
                      labour & trouble hath predominacion
                    
                      Of my spiritis, wher-euer I ride or go:
                    
                      hertis ease & I be not at vnion:
                    
                      Thus am I yoked / a prentise vnto wo.
                      Line 16

(3)

                      ¶ In the courte, is many noble Roome;
                    
                      But god knowith, I can noon sochë cacche:
                    
                      ffrom a maister, I am be-come a grome,
                    
                      And bonde mysilff to waytyng & to wacche;
                      Line 20 
                    
                      With euere gadrin, I stonde behynde the hacche,
                    
                      Gapyng & staryng / wanderyng to & fro;
                    
                      Ȝhit for all this, no good can I cacche:
                    
                      Thus am I prentice & seruaunt vnto woo.

                      Line 24

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24

(4)

                      ¶ When I wolde etc, nature for to sustayn,
                    
                      Or I may haue it / myn appetite is past;
                    
                      When I wolde slepë, to releve my payn,
                    
                      I do but slumbre / for I most rise in hast;
                      Line 28 
                    
                      When I wolde speke / my lippes be closed fast;
                    
                      When I wolde sporte with company also,
                    
                      I dare not out / I am so sore agast:
                    
                      Thus am I prentice to wrecchidnes & wo.
                      Line 32

(5)

                      ¶ Whan I wolde pray, & serue my heuynly kyng,
                    
                      (As euery creature is bounde of verrey right,)
                    
                      Anon ther is some obstacle or thyng
                    
                      That pullyth me thens, magre of my might;
                      Line 36 
                    
                      Soche is my liff, by day and eke by nyght;
                    
                      And be-side this, my frende well fro my ffo
                    
                      I can not knowe / this I, most wrecched wight, [folio 4b] 
                    
                      haue bounde me prentice to misery and wo.
                      Line 40

(6)

¶ Well is he, that can holde hym content With a meane lifë, voide of gredynes, Out of trouble leuyng, with litle rent, beyng at home in perfite stedfastnes, 44 Wher pompe nor envy is counted for mastres. Soche a life, not I, but othir moo Myght haue full wele; but ȝhit folissh wilfulnes Doth bynde ffolkys prentise to wrecchidnes and wo.

Baradoun henricus traistulit istud opus þer semet ipsum.

Page 291

Hymn to the Virgin.

BY WILLIAM HUCHEN.

[MS. no. cccxx. in the Library of New College, Oxford.]

THE MS., written about 1460, contains the Psalter in the later Wyclif version (Purvey), and prose translations of various canticles. The hymn, which is on the last page, appears to be in the same handwriting as the rest. Each of the seven stanzas (in "rime royal") is an acrostic on the name Stanlei. The person meant may possibly be Sir Thomas Stanley, who was created Baron Stanley in 1456, and died in 1459.—HENRY BRADLEY.

(1)

                      Swete and benygne moder and may,
                      Line 1 
                    
                      Turtill trew, flowre of women alle,
                    
                      Aurora bryght, clere as the day,
                    
                      Noblest of hewe, þus we the calle;
                    
                      Lyle fragrant eke of the walle;
                      Line 5 
                    
                      Ennewid wiþ bemys of blys,
                    
                      In whom neuer was founden mys.
                      Line 7

(2)

                      So fayre, so good, was neuer non;
                      Line 8 
                    
                      Transcendyng is ther-for þi place
                    
                      Aungels alle and seyntis echone;
                    
                      Next vnto god, such is þi grace.
                    
                      Lo, þi mekenes þe did purchace
                      Line 12 
                    
                      Euer in ioy so to endure
                    
                      In þi grete lande [sic], o princes pure.

(3)

                      Surmountyng is þin excellence,
                      Line 15 
                    
                      Thou rose of prys, thou flowre of may;
                    
                      And phebus lyke in his ascence,
                    
                      Natyff of blys where þou art ay,
                    
                      Lady saunzpere, þis is no nay.
                      Line 19 
                    
                      Empres of helle also of righte,
                    
                      In þe is eke owre anker pight

                      Line 21

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21

(4)

                      Stormys ageyne of cruell syn
                      Line 22 
                    
                      That puyssauntlye us do assayle;
                    
                      And while we þis world be yn
                    
                      Now, lady fayre, þou us not fayle.
                    
                      Lat neuer vice on us prevayle.
                      Line 26 
                    
                      Entrete þi babe, so, quene on hie,
                    
                      In whom to þe is no denye.
                      Line 28

(5)

                      Siþ here is nought but myserie;
                      Line 29 
                    
                      The fende, þe fleish, þe world also,
                    
                      Assaute us ay wiþ-oute mercy.
                    
                      Not comfortles ȝit is owre wo;
                    
                      Lady, to þe resorte we do,
                      Line 33 
                    
                      Euyr tristyng thi grace and ayde,
                    
                      In whom fully owre trist is layde.
                      Line 35

(6)

                      Sewte and servise we owe, parde,
                      Line 36 
                    
                      To þi hiȝnesse of very due,
                    
                      As royall most by pedigre,
                    
                      None lyke of grace ne of vertu,
                    
                      Louely lady, þi servauntes trew,
                      Line 40 
                    
                      Entrikid wiþ passiouns wylde,
                    
                      In tyme of nede socour and shilde.
                      Line 42

(7)

Saue hem fro syn and worldly shame 43 That þe worship with humble herte, And to þi son, iesus by name, Not sete (sic) to pray that we not smert. Lord, þi iugement we may not sterte; 47 Euere þerfor thi grace us hight, In worship of þi modere bright. 49

By William Huchen.

About this Item

Pages

description Page 249

SHORT RELIGIOUS POEMS

Christ on the Cross.

All is Lost on Death.

Memento nouissima tua, quia hec sunt signa mortis, videlicet:—

description Page 250

All too Late.

Three Certainties of the Day of Death.

Marriage.

description Page 251

Sins of our Time.

Some go up, and some go down, in this World.

Four Proverbs.

description Page 252

description Page 253

Signs of Death.

The Covetous Man.

description Page 254

Death.

Christ announces his Coming.

Learn Love from Christ's Sufferings.

description Page 255

Love Christ who Loves Thee.

(The Virgin's Song to her Baby Christ.)

The Vanity of this Life.

description Page 256

Man made God's Brother.

In Weal think of Woe.

Four Evils.

description Page 257

Humility.

Eve, Mary, and Paradise.

Envy.

The Evils of this Time.

description Page 258

Cupidity.

A Triad.

Inscriptions. (See page 260-1.)

description Page 259

The Signs of Faithful Love.

Christ Comes.

description Page 260

Love.

Poverty.

Lechery.

Chastity.

Inscriptions, p. 258-9, repeated.

description Page 261

The Sinners' Lament.

Christ's Woe.

description Page 262

A Lover's Complaint.

Christ's Call to Love.

True Love.

Four Inscriptions.

description Page 263

Trust not the World.

Purity.

Mortality.

Pride.

Mercy.

description Page 264

Christ, Man's Help.

The King's Letters to his Son.

The Ills of our Time.

description Page 265

Look to the End.

A Lover's Saying.

Ware the Wheel!

The Lion.

description Page 266

Ware Bear's Play!

The Dragon.

Fortune's Wheel.

Foolish Love.

description Page 267

The Ten Stages of Man's Life.

Four Inducements to Repentance. [folio 166b]

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