The minor poems of the Vernon ms. ... (with a few from the Digby mss. 2 and 86) ...

Horstmann, Carl, b. 1851., Furnivall, Frederick James, 1825-1910.

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XXXVIII. Castel of Loue.

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Page 407

APPENDIX TO No. XXXVIII.

The Myrour of lewed men.*. [Edited before, but very imperfectly, by M. Cooke, R. Grosse|teste Carmina anglo-normannica, Caxton Soc. 1852.] A free version of Robert Grosseteste's Chateau d'Amour, by a Monk of Sawley, in Yorkshire. MS. Egerton 927 (Yorkshire dialect).

*. [This introduction is written in red. In the MS. final t, f, g have a thin tag (t, f), which I omit; ll is given by ll, h by h, d by d, k by k; don may be doun and done.—The MS., 8, vellum, written in the latter half of the 14th cent., only con|tains this poem, in 28 foll., each page à 24 lines; it is written in the large, clear northern type, is carefully executed, and is most likely a fair copy of the poet's own MS. It must, how|ever, be noted that the scribe frequently leaves out single words. "The Myrour of lewed men" is the title given at the end. The poem can hardly be called a translation: it condenses the narrative, adds from other sources, and introduces, not very happily, passages treating of points of Christian doctrine (10 Commandments, &c.).]IN the name of the fader and the son & the haly gast. Here begynnes a romance of englische of the begynnyng of the world and of al that a lewed man has nede for to knawe for hele of soule. this romance turned [a]*. [name om.?] Munk of sallay out of a frenche romance that sire Robert, Bisschope a*. [r. of] ly|coln, made; and eked mekel therto, as him thoght spedeful to edificacion and swettenes of deuocion, and lering of lewed men. And here is no thing sayd bot as haly writ says and grete doctours: and therfor thou that redys this, and any comfort has ther-Inne, pray god be way of charite to haue mercy on him that turned it in this maner. And if thou couayt to loue god and to plese him, take [this] mirrour and loke oft ther-Inne.

WHo-so wele thinkes, wele may say,

ffor of gode thoghtes comes gode dedes ay.

God send vs thoght to his plesyng,

In whos fre wil hynges all thyng. Page 408

He is god and lord of myȝtes mast,

The fader and sone and haligast;

In godhed are thise persones thre,

And all are on god in trinite;

None is othir of thise persons thre,

Bot alle are on god and ay sal be.

Oure mede is to trowe this with stable thoght,

Al-be-hit that mannes skil proues it noght;

Bot when we sal se god clerly,

Than sal we knawe this witerly.

Of the begynnyng of the world.

GOd in vj dayes made bothe erthe & heuen,

And, to make haliday, cessed at the seuen.

Heuen was occupid with angeles kynde,

Euermore on god for to haue thair mynde—

Bot many thorgh pride fel in to helle,

Thar sal thei all with-outen ende dwelle.

Bothe sunne and mone [mor] briȝt thai ware

Then seuenfold then thay now are,

And all erthli thing more vertuous,

Bi-for Adam thurgh synne was vicious;

And ilk a best sul[d] haue bowed to mannes will,

Had he neuer bi way of synne don none ill.

When god had the world so parfit made

That no partie of hit defaut hade,

Then of erth he made Adam, of man age,

To his liknes in saule he was & his ymage.

Of a rib of Adam syde, when he lay slepand,

God made Eue, that sho to him suld ay be kepand.

Of on god made al man-kynde, for ilkon suld loue other

And non til other do wrong mor then til his brother.*. [vv. 33-4 added.]

What lyf myȝt mor*. [r. mor ioyful?] be schewed to man in charite

Then in saule make him lik to the haly trinite,

Make him lord of al the world, ful of vertueȝ, & wise,

Make him eir of heuen-blis & sette him in paradis,

Thare he and all that come of him myȝt leue with-outen deyng,

If thay vse the frut of lif & kepe wel godes biddyng. Page 409

Of all the trees of paradis bi goddis biddyng thei suld ete,

But the frut of the tre of wetyng of gode & ille thei suld lete;

What tyme as thei ete of that, thai suld forfet thair heritage

& be oblischid to deth & helle-payne, thai & all thair lynage.

Bot, if thai had kepid wel all goddis biddyng,

Thai suld haue leued ioyfully, & all thair ofspring,

Til thai had ben tan til heuen, to fille that fair place

That thurgh pride of lucifer & his feres voyde was;

Thare thai suld haue had mor ioye than hert may thenk or tunge telle,

& neuer non of thair kynd suld haue suffride payn of helle.

Of the losyng of the world thurgh synne.

WHen adam & eue sesyn hade in the blis of paradys,

The fende, for he hade that ioye lost, enuy had to thair delice.

Then he come in neddir liknesse to eue with a wommans face,

& sayde: "whi bad god ȝe suld noȝt ete of all trees that ther was?"

"Of all the trees," quad eue, "that thar is, we may ete at oure liking,

Out-tan on that is forbod, paraunter for dred of deyng."

Than sayde the fend: "ȝe sall noȝt deye therfore, god wot it wele,

Bot as god*. [r. godis, cf. v. 576.] sall ȝe be, knawand bothe gode & yuell."

Eue sagh that the frut was gode & ful gretly lykand:

Sho tastid sone, & gaf therof till her owen husband.

Adam wolde noȝt greue his wyf, bot sone he ete with hir.

Alas, that synne oblisched vs al til wikkid hell-fire!

Sone thai were put fro that place to sorow & to care,

That neuer myȝt no creature recouer it mare. Page 410

Alle thing vnder heuen made was to mannes solace,

And therfor, syn he synned, all thai lesse vertue has.

All man-kynde for-thi was put to thraldom of the fende,

And bounden all to his prison ay with-outen ende.

How may thrall with riȝt clayme a thing of fre heritage?

With his lord may he noȝt mote, ne non of his lynage.

Thus was all this world lost; ther was no help in creature.

Bot god wist what was his wil, that of all thing has cure.

Of the ten commaundements.*. [This passage is added to the Fr.]

THen with the x commandements god forbed all synne

& taght man how he myȝt him gret mede wynne.

The first is, to worschipe on god and no mo.

This biddyng sal be vnderstanden so

That it forbedes all mamettrie,

And also all maner of sorcerie.

Mammentrie is, to do creature that honour

That thou suld do all-onely to thi creatour,

That is, worschipe him for him-self ouer all other thing.

A seint sal thou worschipe for he is his derlyng.

Ymages in the kirk that thou on lokes,

Are to the as to the clerk are his gode bokes:

Thou sal not worschipe thaim bot for thair*. [r. that?] sake

That thei bringe to thi mynd thi prayer to make.

The second is: tak not the name of thi god in vayn.

Ilk fals oth, vnleful & idel*. [swering om.?] is ther-agayn;

He is ay in peril of synne dedly

That sweres bi goddis hert or any party.

This biddyng forbedes alle heresy,

And also all feyned and fals ypocrisy.

The thrid is: thou sal kepe wel thi haliday.

That is thus mekel openly for to say:

Put fro the synne & bodely werkyng,

And gif the to god with hertly prayng.

Tak kepe here that on halyday marchandyse

Lettes man oft of goddes seruise.

The ferd is: worschipe thi fader & thi moder. Page 411

Be way of kynde thes two may noȝt be the to dere;

To thaim ogh thou buxumnes & honour,

101

And also in thair [nede] help and socour.

And haly kirk is thi moder gastly,

And the keper of thi saule thi fadir, sot[h]ly;

104

And who so is thi warldly lord or thi kyng,

Is taken for thi fadir in this byddyng.

The fift is: thou salt no man sle vnlaghfully.

That is to say, nother bodely ne gastly;

108

ffor ille ensaumple, hate, & bakbityng

Are ille to thi neghbur gastly sleyng;

Hurtyng bothe gastly & bodely is forbed,

And wernyng of mete to the pour in peril of ded.

112

The sext is: thou sal don non auoutrie.

And this forbedes all maner of lecherie,

Bot it be betwix the & thi wyf with gode entent,

ffor to kepe the lagh of god in that sacrament.

116

The seuent biddes that thou sal no thing stele

Ne non othir mannes gode agayns his wille dele.

This forbedes fals cautels, deceit, and maystrie,

That mas many to loise his gode vnriȝtwisly;

120

And who so harmes any man in this maner,

Sal noȝt be saf, bot he make asseth at his power.

The aghtend is: bere agayn no man fals witnes,

And in tyme & maner skilful layne thou sothfastnes

When it is noȝt lefful & nedful to say,

125

And al lesyng eschue as wele as thou may.

The neyghend is: thi neghbur hous sal thou noȝt coueit.

In this is forboden assent to wrang & deceit.

128

The tend is: thou sall noȝt ȝerne another mannes wyf,

His seruant ne his other thing, that may helpe his lyue.

Here is forbeden alle maner of wikked couetyse

That myght harme thi neghbur on any-maner wise.

132

If slik thoght come to thi hert, thou sal noȝt assent,

Bot euer agayn-stande with gode auysement:

And then sal thou noȝt falle in dedly synne,

Bot ilk a tyme a croun of gret ioye wynne.

136

Thurgh this ten thou may wynne gret ioye, & eschewe payn. Page 412

Bot more help mot open heuen-ȝates the agayn.

Who-so suld agayn blis to man*. [r. mankynd?] wynne,

Him behoued be a man that myȝt noȝt synne,

140

And he most ay fulfille alle goddes wille

And neuer in thoght, word, ne dede don non ille;

Slik on myȝt, if he wald, a gode raunson wage

And bye agayn both man &*. [r. & mannis?] heritage.

144

Bot slik a man in erth myȝt neuer be made,

If he of all creatours all vertues hade.

Of the restoring of the warld.

A Kyng ther was of souerayne worthines,

fful of mercy & wysdam & all godenes.

148

A sone he hadde, knewe all his wille,

And myȝt and wald al hit fulfille.

Thai were ay bothe al on substaunce,

And betwix theim was no distaunce;

152

What as the fader wald haue amendyd,

By his sone godely hit suld be endid.

ffour doghters hade this grete kyng,

That fulfillid all his likyng;

156

Thai were of his substance ilkon,

And all that substance was bot on.

Thai foure doghters thurgh comune assent

Parformed al his iugement.

160

Bot if thise foure vse ay wele thair myght,

May neuer no rewme be rewled right.

The names of thaim with-outen les

Are: Mercy, Sothfastnes, Right, & Pes.

164

Mercy, when sho hade parceyued

How all man-kynde was deceyued

Thurgh the fende that be foul treson

Has geten him to his prison

168

And euermore with enuy

Will torment him as enemy,

Sho was so stered to compassion

That sho wald deliuere that prison. Page 413

172

Here spak Mercy.

THus til her fader sho began

To pray him for synful man:

"Dere fader, kyng of myȝtes mast,

Thi doghter y am, wele thou wast,

176

fful of myknes, swetnes and pite;

Dere fader, all thes haue y of the.

Now here my praier for this prison,

That he may be put til his raunson.

180

His enemys with thair falshede

Has put him to so gret nede

That he may neuer saued be,

Bot thurgh mercy and gret pite.

184

Thair falshed may gretly letted be,

And that prison be ȝolden to me.

Dere fader, mercyful is thi name,

And y thin eldest doghter ame;

188

That y were thi doghter, myȝt y neuer say

Bot y wald euer for sinful man pray.

Thi mercy thurgh riȝt sall he haue,

And thi gret mercy sal him saue.

192

I sal euer crie mercy to the

Til that wreched prison deliuerd be.

Dere fader, my praier may noȝt be lette,

ffor y am ouer all thi werkes to sette."

196

Here spak Sothfastnes.

WHen the second sister, sothfastnes,

Hade herd, mercy thurgh here swetnes

Wold sone bye the synful prison agayn

That sho hade iugged to ay-lastand payne,

200

Sho sayde: "dere fader, thi doghter am y,

As ner sib to the as is my sister mercy.

Mercy of no thing may wele gife the dome,

Bot if y, sothfastnes, with her come;

204

Hir praier may noȝt be herd of the

Bot if hit acordand be with me.

If all hir prayers suld ay be herd,

Neuer no shrewe for the sul be ferd, Page 414

208

Ne neuer punist no wikkednes:

That is gretly agayns riȝtwisnes;

ffor he suld haue no mercy

That is dampned riȝtwysly."

212

Here spak riȝtwysnes.

THen riȝtwisnes, the third sister, sayde:

"Dere fader, in me is all dome laide;

I ne may noȝt spare to say to the,

All that sothfastnes telles to me

216

I mot dele to euer-ilk-one,

Gode or ill after thei haue done.

Thi wikkid seruant is in prison,

As he was demed with gret reson.

220

I may noȝt fro this sentence vary

Bot I to riȝt wald be contrary.

Mercy ne pite is non*. [r. man?] worthi,

ffor that he lost thaim wilfully."—

224

Alas catyf prison, now has thou no frende

Bot mercy, that praies for a gode ende!

Sothfastnes has accused the,

And riȝtwisnes has dampned the;

228

Thou & all that of the come

To helle-fire has herd ȝour dome.

Thin enemy gret stired the to trespas,

And riȝtwisnes of the no mercy has,

232

And mercy may noȝt be herd.

Ther-for pece may be ferd.

When no forgifnes may be,

Thai may noȝt dwelle in cuntre.

236

All mankynde dyes and is put to payn,

Bot Enok and Ely that sal come agayn.

Gret dole is to think on this,

How al mankinde fordone is;

240

Sothfastnes & riȝt has geuen thair iuggement,

Bot mercy & pees were noȝt of that assent.

If all go bi reddure of riȝt & sothfastnes,

How sall mercy and pes shewe the kinges godenes?

244

If al be thaim one deme sothfastnes & riȝt,

Mercy, pete & pece sal loise al thair myȝt. Page 415

¶ Here spake Pece.

NOw pece to the king begynnes to say:

"ffaire gode dere fader, thou has loued me ay,

Thou art endles of pece prince & also king,

249

And euer in pece salt thou be, for ther [is] thi dwellyng;

If y for debate suld away fle,

Thou suld haue no place lykand to the.

252

Mi two dere susters now haue thai me forsaken,

And mercy with thaim two ȝit haue thai not taken;

With-outen vs thai be thaim-self han gyuen a iuggement,

That suld haue ben gyuen trewly with comen*. [MS. cōe, r. commune?] assent.

Ther-fore hit sal noȝt ben of recorde

Til we four ben all of on acorde.

All erthly thing is made for gode pece,

And with-outen*. [outen on the margin.] hit may ben non ese.

260

Iustisry is neuermore nedeful

Bot when it is to pece spedeful.

How suld right & sothfastnes auaile

When thai wil noȝt call me to thair counsaile,

264

Ne mercy my sister that ay so gode is,

That withouten hir no gilt amendid is*. [r. nis]?

Ther-fore out of cuntre wil I fle

Til my thre sisters acorded be.

268

If sothfastnes mete with mercy,

Then sall kis riȝtwisnes & y.

The prison calles euer vppon mercy,

And mercy for him wil ay to the, king, cry

272

Til for him be paied al his raunson

And he be deliuered out of prison."

¶ Here spak the Kinges sone.

NOw the kinges sone has wele sene

That debate is his sisters betwene

276

And hit may noȝt wele be amesed

Bot in to his hande it be sesed.

He says to that myȝty kyng anon:

"Dere fader, thou and I are all on,

280

On substance, on wysdam, & on powere,

And god, while the holy gast is oure fere. Page 416

All on in substance if we be,

Neuer-the-les in persons we are thre.

284

Thurgh me the warld thou made of noȝt:

Thurgh me agayn let hit be boght!

Mercy has so mekel moued me

That of that prison I haue pite.

288

Dere fader, I wil don al thi wille

And punysch al that is don ill:

I sal take the clething of that wretchid prison

And priuily for him sal I paye raunson:

292

Of his kynde wil I become

And for him wil y take dome;

More payn then riȝt & sothfastnes wold haue

Wil y suffre, that prison for to saue.

296

On this maner sothfastnes and mercy

Sal sone be made gode frendes verraly;

Also pece and riȝtwisnes

Thai sal kis with gret swetnes."

300

¶ Here spak the autour.

WHo-so redes this romance,

Trowe in god with on substance.

Bot on is god & persons thre,

Non othir thing in god may be.

304

ffour sisters that we before rede,

Are foure vertues in the godhede:

To foure doghters thai haue lyknyng,

ffor thai procure all gode doyng;

308

Bot all thai are on god of myȝtes mast,

He is fader and sone and haly gast.

If thou trowe this wele & stedfastly,

Thou may haue mede ay-lastan[d]ly.

312

¶ Here spak the king.*. [This passage is added.]

THe kyng has herd his awen sones speche,

That of all the warld is a god leche;

"Dere sone," he says, "thurgh the I made all thing,

And all the warld hynges in thi keping;

316

Thou, & the haly gast, with me

Dose all gode dede that done sal be; Page 417

Oure dede may neuer departid be,

ffor all on god in kynde are we thre.

320

All only thou sal take manhede.

Bot all we thre sall do the dede,

Riȝt as two virgyns clethes the third

And ȝit none of thaim bot on is cled.

324

Dere sone, this was oure al thre*. [r. althre?] purpos & curage

When we made man to oure liknes & ymage;

This hight y to Abraham and to dauid,

And my prophetes acorded ther-with.

328

If mankynd sal out of his prison wynne,

A man mot for him dye that has no-maner synne,

That is of myȝt to ryse fro dede to the lyue,

And his with him out of prison ryue;

332

And siche myȝt ther be neuer non

Bot he were bothe god & man.

Dere sone, if thou wil dye & suffre payne,

Bothe aungel & mankynde may be ful fayne.

336

That souerayne grace and meknes

Sall be so ful of swetnes,

That neuer may man wele haue in his mynnyng

Bot he be sterid to loue the ouer al thing,

340

And titter be reson his hert suld brest

Then he for any thing suld breken thi hest."

¶ Of ysaies prophecies.

Off ihesu crist telles ysay

To all mankynde verrayly:

344

How a child is born til vs,

And a sone is gyuen til vs,

His name sal be callid wonderful,

Counsellour, & god, & strenghtful,

348

ffader of the warld that sal come,

And prince of pece sal be his nome.

¶ Here spake the autour.

Iff any best in shap passed cours of kynde,

A wonder in that wald many man fynde;

352

Bot if a parfit man were a parfit as,

Mikel more meruayl wald man say it was; Page 418

Bot more maruayl may who so can

How verraily is on bothe god & man.

356

ffor he wald saue mankynde that fouly was lorn,

Child of a nerthly woman wald he be born.

Syn god in erth for loue of man wald mak his halle,

Nede it was to make it best & fairest of alle.

360

¶ How ihesus entred in to a castil.

THer-for a castel has the king made at his devys,

That thar*. [= dar] neuer drede assaut of any enemys;

He sette hit on a whit roche thik & hegh,

With gode dykes al aboute, depe and dregh.

364

Men may neuer with no craft this castil doun myne,

Ne may neuer do harme to hit no-maner engyne.

This castil is euer ful of loue & of grace,

To al that any nede has, socour & solace.

368

ffour toures ay hit has & kernels fair,

Thre bailliees al-aboute that may noȝt apair.

Nouther hert may wele thinke ne tung may wel telle

Al the bounte & the bewte of this ilk castell!

372

Seuen barbicans are sette so sekirly aboute

That no maner of shoting may greue fro with-oute.

This castel is paynted with-out with thre-maner colours:

Rede brennand colour is a-boue toward the fair tours,

Meyne colour is ymyddes of ynde & of blewe,

377

Grene colour be the ground, that neuer changes hewe.

Thes colours both*. [MS. beth.] [fer] & nere castes so mekil liȝt,

That, when men behaldes thaim, comfort mekil thair siȝt.

380

The castel al with-in, who-so may hit knawe,

Ay is blaunched als whit as any dryuen snawe.

ffour fair stremes in hit out of a welle springes

ffro myddes the hegh tour, thai fille the dykinges;

384

So fair and so gode that liquour ther is

That he that drank oght therof myȝt haue mekel blis.

A chaier of yuor ther was sette in this ilk tour,

With seuen grees vpward, with worschipe & gret honour;

Was neuer non half so fair in this warld sene,

389

Ne neuer non so semly hade prince ne quene; Page 419

Hit was made sotilly, & al be compas cast,

The raynbowe enuyround it al stedefast.

392

The kynges sone has made it for his awne se—

Was ther neuer non so fair ne neuer-more sal be.

¶ What betokenes this castil.

THis castil of solas & of socour

Is hir blissed body that bar oure saueour;

396

Hit was made for refuyt to all manes kynde—

Who-so fles ther-to, socour sal he fynde.

The roche whit & fair with his stablenes

399

Is the hert of hir in al halynes,

That sette hir to serue god with-outen any drede

*. [The next leaves are misplaced.]In souerayne clene meknes & clene maydenhede. [folio 14]

The grene colour bi the ground, that wil so wele last,

Is the treuth of oure lady, that ay was stedefast.

404

The meyne colour in the myddest of this castil walle

Was stable hope to come to grace, that saue mankynd sall.

The rede colour abouen, brennand in the siȝt,

Was brennand loue of god & man, that gyues mykil liȝt.

408

No wonder if*. [MS. of] this castil ware ful whit with-Inne,

ffor the hert of that may was neuer foulyd with synne.

The four toures gret & strong, that fair were to se,

Ware gastly strenght & sobernes, riȝt & sutilte;

412

Thes four vertues stekes out al maner of wykkednes

And kepes fast with-ynne al that is godnes.

The baillies, on ay with-ynne a nother in thre stage,

Are clene maydenhed, & moderhed, & in*. [om. in?] trewe spousage;

416

Woman with thes thre bot seint mary was ther neuer non;

Bot who-so sal be sauf of synne, of thes he most haue on.

Seuen barbicans fair seuen vertues calle we,

That in oure lady suffred no vice for to be:

420

ffor gret meknes in hir hert venquist ay al pride;

And hir gret charite enuy myȝt not abyde;

Hir discrete abstinens fordid al glotonye; Page 420

And hir clene maydenhed suffred no lecherie;

424

Wikkid couetyse in hir hert myȝt neuer dwelle,

ffor wilful pouert in hir hert keped the castil;

Pacience in hir hert euer was so prest

That synne of wrath ther-in myȝt neuer haue rest;

428

Ther was so mekil in hir hert of comfort gastly

That ther myȝt neuer synne of slewth dwelle ther-by.

The fair welle in the castil that filles ay the dykes,

Is grace in goddes moder that synful man ay likes.

432

Thou that myster has of grace, go to this spring-welle;

Who so help has of hir, sal neuer go to helle.

*. [vv. 435-446 freely added.]Make the dykes of meknes & of gode wille

And four stremes of that grace sal the sone fille:

436

On streme euermore sal the clene wasch of synne that is past,

Another agayn temptacion sal make the stedefast,

The thirde sal stere the to do werkes of charite,

And the ferd sal bere the to blis that ay sal be.

440

This welle is euermore springand mercy & pite;

If thou haue no part therof, it is al lange on the.

The trone of yuor is the saule of oure swete lady;

Seuen grees that lys therto, are werkes of mercy;

444

The raynbowe that bendes ouer with his colours thre,

Is the myȝt that couers hir of the haly trinite.

No wonder if this castel were ful fair in siȝt,

When god, the sonne of riȝtwisnes, wald ther-in liȝt!

He come thurgh the cloise ȝate, & when he went clois it was;

449

Riȝt as the briȝt sonne-beme comes & goos thurgh the glas. [folio 15]

Al that man nede has of [is] in this ilk castell;

He that help has of hit, has ynogh of wele.

452

¶ Here spak the autour.

GEntil lady of this castell,

Let me my myscheue to the telle.

Moder of mercy & qwene of pite,

To synful man thou art ay avowe:

456

Ther-for at thi ȝates now y lye,

Thi help and mercy for to crye; Page 421

Mercy sal y fast crie befor this louely tour,

Euer til I fynde sum of thi socour.

460

Hope of help me made hider for to fle

When thre gret enemys fast pursued me:

On is the foule fende with al his companie,

That puttes forth pride & wrath & gret enuye;

464

The secund is the fals warld with many schrewed gyse,

That shotes ay at me sharply with all couetise;

The third is myn awne flesch, to me a gret enemy,

That prickes me with lecherie, sleuth, & glotony.

468

Welle of mercy, I be ded & sone al fordon

Bot a streme of thi grace come to me sone.

Lady, let me lye in thi castel dyke

And wasch me wele ther to thi seruant like:

472

Then, if myn enemys wil me assaile,

In traist of thi gode help y tak that bataile.

In this castil ihesu crist tok of the mankynd:

475

Ther-for hope y euer her*. [MS. hir] socour for to fynde;

Here hid god his gret power in mannes liknes

& laide enbuschement for the fend & al his wikkednes.*. [MS. wilk|ednes]

Thou art the ȝert of aaron that bar the faire flour,

When thou in clene maydenhede bar thi creatour;

480

Thou art the stegh of iacob thurgh wham is gate to heuen—

He may hope wele of help that deuoutly wil the neuen.

The Kinges sone of al this world ligh the with-ynne

ffor to saue & socour wel al synful man of synne.—

484

Now he has acorded alle his sisters foure,

And pece is cryed for man heghe vp in the toure.

Now god & man are to-geder both in O person;

Now has man ynogh wharwith to bye him fro prison;

Now on man more parfit & withouten lak

489

Than euer was Adam ar he goddis biddyng brak,

He is fre to plede for vs & al oure riȝt dereigne,

And no creature may haue cause vp-on him to pleyn.

In token of the prince of pees, when he til vs come,

Pees was ouer-al in the world, & reuling was in rome;

Ioye is sungen now to god vpon hegh in heuen

495

And pes in erthe til al man that are of gode wil euen. Page 422

¶ How ihesus was gode counseillour. [folio 13]

NOw, man, behold thi saueour,

Howe he was gode counseillour,

To bringe the to thin heritage

That was forfet thurgh outrage.

500

If thou wil ay folowe his rede,

Thou sal eschue ay-lastand dede

And so recouer the ioye of heuen,

If thou wil folowe his counseill euen.

504

When he for the become man here,

He fand the a thrall, of no power

ffor to recouer that thou had lost,

Bot he for thi riȝt wold pay the cost.

508

Then souerayn meknes and charite

Schewed ihesu *. [MS. xprist]christ, thi lord, for the;

"Dere brothir," he said, "of the I haue pite grete,

That al thi fair heritage fouly is forfait.

512

Neuer-the-lees fal noȝt in despeir,

ffor of that heritage y am heir;

To double riȝt hit falles to me:*. [515-522 al. Fr.]

The ton of thaim y may wele gyf the;

516

If thou wil kepe my comaundement,

Thou sal ay haue it verrament.

ffor I am god, blis is bounden to me so fast

That y may neuer fro me hit cast;

520

ffor I am of adam kynde & with-outen synne,

I may clayme his heritage & bi skil hit wynne.

If thou wil*. [overlined.] ouer al thing riȝt hertly loue me,

And loue thin euen-cristen for the loue of me,

524

All thin enemys the agayn sal no-thing auaile,

And y sal sone for thi sake to me ta this bataile,

If thou wil hald [in] thi hert how y for the sal fiȝt.

Mi ȝok sal ay be swete to the, & my birthin ful liȝt.

Lerne at me, for I am mylde & also meke of hert."

Ther-to may mekel help ay wilful pouert:

530

Meknes is a verray token of him that is in grace,

And pride an euidence of him that charite non has;

He that settes his hert to mekel on riches,

533

Thai drawe him sone te pride fro vertue of meknes. Page 423

¶ Here spak the autour.

NOw sues that man his lordes counsail

That al to the contrary dos trauail?

536

How may he socour seke of ihesu meknes,

That settes him-self to mekel vpon heghnes?

Ther-for drede he may that so wil him bere

Of a foul falling doun with lucifere.

540

Neuer-the-lees a riche man with his riȝtwisnes,

And he loue ay god wele in hertly meknes,

He may wele saue his saule with fast fleyng of synne, [folio 12]

And with werkes of mercy the Ioye of heuen wynne.

¶ How ihesus mot with the fende.

NOw here how thi lord mette [the fend] for thi riȝt,

Atte last for thi loue put him to fiȝt.

546

When the godhede was hid in the mankynd

And the fende in him no synne myȝt fynde,

548

He tempted him with thre thinges that made adam dede.*. [548-563 added.]

"If thou be goddes sone," he said, "make of stones brede."

"Noght only thurgh brede," quad ihesu crist, "leues man,

551

Bot thurgh ich word that comes of goddes wysdam."

The fend sette crist on the temple & bad him lepe doun,*. [MS. don]

Goddes aungeles to kepe him suld be redy & boun,

If he were goddes sone, in handes thai suld him bere,

So at no ston suld he stumble ne nothing suld him dere.

"Writen," quad ihesu crist, "in haly writ y rede:

557

Thou suld not tempte god thi lord, when thou has no nede."

The fend shewid him al the warld & saide: "this gif y the,

If thou wil bowe doun to the ground & so adour me."

"Writen it is," quad ihesu crist, "thi god sal thou adoure,

561

And only sal thou serue him with so mekil honoure.

Go, satanas," quad ihesu crist, "for the am y noȝt ferd." Page 424

"And I am prince," quad the fend, "of this midlerd;

I haue gode sesyn ther-ynne & of ful lange tyme,

And be confermyng of god al mankynd is myne.

566

ffor man brak goddes bydding & of the appel ete,

He sal be in payn with me euermore, I the hete;

God wil not do so gret wrong to reue me my pray.

If he haue any riȝt, let se what he can say!

The couenant that god made, that sal I alway hold;

No man for to breke it sal neuer be so bold."

572

"Man," quad ihesu, "hade keped al goddes biddyng,

Hade he noȝt be lettid with [thi] betrayng,

When thou saide til eue 'for that mete sal noȝt man dye,

Bot ȝe sal be as goddes, bothe wyse & sle.'

576

How may thou couenant reioys*. [Fr. de c. jouir] be reson

That thou made man to breke be thi foul treson?"

"Alas," then quad the fend, "wher hade thou this connyng

ffor to venquys me to-day thus with thi motyng?

580

Mote euermore how as thou mote will,

Man sal euermore be in my prison stille,

Bot if thou, be-fore he passe forth,

Paye as mekil raunson for him as he is al worth."

584

"That is reson," quad ihesu crist, "& that ful verrailye,

I wil noȝt tak man fro the with vnskilful maistrie.

Loke what his raunson sal be skilfully,

And I sal paye hit for him, & that ful largely."

588

"Better," then quad the fend, "sal his raunson be

Then al this ilk warld is worth that thou now may se." [folio 10]

"I graunt," quad ihesu crist, "to this couenant;

ffor my lest fynger is mekil more vailiant

592

Then a thousand worldes, if that thai ware."

"Certes," quad the fend then, "that is al my care;

ffor of al this warld ay y haue sum skill,

Bot in the is no thing sene at myn awen will.

596

And if thou wil gyue thi fynger him to bye,

Than sal thou make a febil marchandie.

And ȝit most thou suffre for him als mekil payn

As he hade done & he in helle euer hade layn."

600

Ihesu said: "I sal do more than thou has ast,*. [= asked]Page 425

And this couenant betwix vs sal be made ful fast."

Then the fend him to the dede as for his prison toke,

And choked on the godhede as fisch dos on the hoke.

¶ Of cristes passion.

BEhald now the passion of cristes manhede,

605

How he gaf al him-self to socour the at nede,

Both body & saul, & his lymes alle

Lete punysch for the, when that thou was thrall.

608

*. [609-624 added.]Thre & thirty ȝere for the, to bye thi forfete,

He suffred cold, hungur & thrist, & trauail wonder grete.

Befor that he for synne of man til his passion ȝode,

He prayed so hertly til his fader that he swette blode.

He was tane as a thef, & bounden wonder fast,

613

& bette with hard knotty stringes whil thei wold last;

ffro the croun of the hed to the fote-sole

No pece of his skyn myȝt be founden hole.

616

ffete & hande were drawen out & nayled to the tre,

As straitly, for more penaunce, as euer thai myȝt be;

He was lifted vpon hegh & leten doun so fast

That all the vaynes & the synnues in his body brast.

All that blissed body stremed doun of blode,

621

ffor to wasch synne—ther was a noble flode!

His saule [was] ful drery agayn the deyng,

To make asseth for thi saule wikked likyng.

624

The sharpe croun of thornes crouned him so fast

That the sharpnes of thaim in to the brayn brast,

And then he henged doun his heued with mekel meknes,

ffor to make asseth for mannes proudnes.*. [al. Fr.]

628

His eghen wex fade & dym & lost al thaire myȝt,

ffor to make asseth alway for synne of mannes siȝt.

His eres hard fals reproues with gret scornyng,

ffor to make asseth fully for synne of oure hering.

632

His neys smelled of the Iewes snot & foul spitting

That thei cast vpon his face to blode & sweting:

This suffrance of ihesu crist that lord is of al thing

May make asseth for all synne of oure smelling.

636

Bitter aisel and galle, when he was thristy, [folio 11]

Drank he, to make fully asseth for mannes glotony. Page 426

When he was aght dayes old, with a culter of stone

Thai karf his tendre membre away—that bi the lagh was don:

640

This penance of that child that was so worthi

Miȝt make asseth for synne of mannes lechery.*. [639-42 added.]

Al the body aboute with brising & beting

Was punysched ynogh for synne of touching.

644

His hende nayled to the crosse al for thi sake

May for synne of thin hend asseth ynogh make.

His fete nayled thurg*. [MS. thurd] with yrne nayles

Made asseth for al thi wikkid trauayles.

648

He prayed for man til his fader hyngand an the croys

With bittir teres, & ȝeld the gast with a gret voys.

He was both god & man ful verraily,

That so ȝelded the gast lyueand the body:

652

ffor saule goos neuer fro the body be the cours of kynde

Whyl thou may in the body fyue wittes fynde;

Bot god strenghed his body to suffre more reddure

Than euer myȝt haue suffred any other creature.

656

His hert that was clouen thurgh with a sharp spere,

That may make asseth for al synne that may dere;

His hert-blode & clene water was ther-out broȝt,

To wasch away al enuy & al ille thoȝt.

660

This of ful gret mercy is sette on comon broche,

And the welle of pite springes out of this roche.

If thou wil forsake synne & cry mercy,

Thou sal neuer faile ther-of, certaynly;

664

How that thou may synne with any lymme that is thine,

A lymme of crist is punysched to thi medicine.—

When god thus suffred dede, as we rede in boke,

667

The sunne sone with-drogh his liȝt, and the erthe whoke,*. [= quoke]

And the vail of the temple euen brast in two,

And the harde stones swiftly cleue also;

Many a man rose than that were before dede,

And al bare thei wittenes of his godhede.*. [vv. 667-672 added.]

672

¶ Of the sorowe of oure lady.

WHat sorowe hopes thou then hade his modur mary,

When thing that has no reson for him was so sary! Page 427

Certes, lady, Symond swerd past thurgh-out thi hert,

And the paynes of thi sone were in the ful smert,

676

That thi hert hade neuer lasted on non-kyn wyse

Hade thou noȝt trewed stedfastly that he suld vprise.

Lady, what nede was the for to make sorowe,

ffor thi sone dyed synful man to borowe?

680

Thou wote that he sal ryse agayn thurgh his awen myȝt

& with a body ful of ioye, apertely to thi siȝt.

Thou wote the fend is venquist, & wetes it noȝt,

Til thi sone out of helle haue al his chosen broȝt. [folio 16]

ffro he dyed til he rose that [men] myȝt him se,

685

Alle the trewth of halikerk was stedfast in the;

Alle his awen disciples of him thai were dredand,

Bot the faith in thi hert ay it was lastand.

688

Dere lady, succour vs of dedly synnyng,

ffor the ioye that thou hade of his vprising!

¶ How ihesus is almyȝti.*. [Fr. deus omnipotent]

HE rose by his awne myȝt, & that verraily,

And shewed so that he was ihesus almyghti.

692

He that al this warld made first of riȝt noȝt,

Man dampned agayn with his blode he boȝt.

Thus has he gyuen vs a gode counsail,

And thurgh riȝt venquist the fend in batail.

696

His lyf has shewed vs a ful redy gate

ffor to entre, if we will, in-with heuen-ȝate.

ffor we sul traist on him in al oure nede,

He shewed vs the myȝt of god in his manhede.

700

Power of god and man was mellid in his dedis,

And that to stablenes of oure treuth gretly spedis.

Riȝt as a sharp swerd of the fire al glowand

The egge kerues if he smyte, the hete is brennand,

704

So godhede & manhede in o person

Shewed thair kyndnes*. [r. kyndes] to mannes reson.

We rede: when he was called til a weddyng,

Whan thaim failed wyne, sone at his bydding

708

Thai filled pottes of clene water in the stede of wyne:

And thai were turned in to wyne, & that gode & fyne.

When he bad fette water, he shewed his manhed,

711

And when he turned hit to wyne, he shewed his godhed. Page 428

ffor he myȝt haue made wyne with-outen water broȝt,

Riȝt as he made, when he wald, al the warld a*. [r. of] noȝt.

Also with fyue loues & only fisches two

He fedde, as we rede, fyue thousand & mo;

716

When thai hade eten ynogh, all that ther were,

Twelf lepes of relef ful away thei bere.

His manhed to thaim all delt bret & fische,

Bot his godhed ther multiplied al this.

720

Ȝit we rede that lazar hade [lain] four dayes in his graue

When ihesu crist fro ded to lyue wald him vp haue;

ffirst he grette & sithen he cryed to laȝar:

That shewed that he was verray man thar;

724

When lazare rose fro the ded & died*. [r. did] mannes dede,

Then was shewed that in crist was verray godhede.

¶ Of the sacrament of the auter.*. [This passage is added.]

GOd of all his meruailes made vs a gode mynd

When he wold in forme of brede dwell with mankind.

728

Thurgh the vertue of cristes wordes of the sacrament

That the prest reherces at his messe with gode entent,

Brede in to cristes flesch, & wyne in to his blode, [folio 17]

Sudanly is turned, for mannes gastly fode;

732

Nother brede ne wyne is after sacryng in the messe,

Bot verray goddes flesch & blode, in thair liknes.

Ther is of brede & wyne sauour, colour, & figure,

Lastand thurgh goddes wil agayn cours of nature;

736

But vnder this liknes is non other substance

Bot goddes body & his blode with thair purtenance.

In crist god & man, saul & body, flesch & blode

Are so fast knyt to-geder with kynde & loue gode

740

That whar that is any party of cristes awen body

Ther will god be & thai all verraily.

Ther-for vndir liknes both of wyn & brede

Is verray both god & man that for vs was dede.

744

This is goddes dede, & passes mannes wit—

He has mekel mede that trewly trowes hit.

In this liknes gyues hit vs god, that is so gode,

ffor we wald be escheu of rawe flesch & of blode.

748

Brede & wyne in the stomak taken to mete Page 429

Turnes in to flesch & blode thurgh kyndly hete:

Whi may noȝt god then, that al thing made of noȝt

And as haly writ sais many wonder wroȝt,

752

Turne sone in to flesch & blode both brede & wyne,

ffor to be to cristen man gastly medicine?

If thou receyue his flesch & blode worthily,

Thou sal be as [a] quik lym of his body;

756

And if thou kepe the so out of dedly synne,

As a cosyn of his thou sal heuen wynne.

The pask-lambe in the ald lawe that al men suld ete,

And man*. [i. manna, Hebr. man.] that god send fro heuen til his folk [to] mete,

& blod that was euer offrid for clensyng of synne:

761

Was taken of his sacrament that oure help is ynne.

All the tokens of this sacrament that we ay can fynd

In the old lawe, t[h]rugh trouth of this comes til oure mynd,

764

& all the maruailes that god [wroȝt] ar he man ware

& [comen]*. [om., or r. boren?] of that clene mayden & modir that him bare.

If man wil with al his myȝt loue this sacrament

& vse hit out of dedly synne ay with gode entent,

768

Nother tunge may wel telle ne hert may wel think

The noble and gastly profit of this mete & drink.

¶ How ihesus is al strenghty.

NOw hast thou herd wele how ihesus is almyȝty;

Here now how he is ouer al other strenghty.

772

This name of ihesus has so gret in him*. [r. in him so gret] vertu & myȝt

That all in heuen, erth & helle suld til him loute with riȝt;

Oft in this name god mannes prayer spedes

Agayn the fend that hit ful mekil dredes.

776

This name is mirthe in hering, & comfort in siȝt,

Triacle in mouth & in hert, that is of mekil myȝt,

Socour to all synful men, & to seke solace,

To him that is repentant ay ful of grace.

780

The fend was prince of this warld & hade man in prison

Ay til our [lord] ihesu crist hade suffred passion;

Ther was non so hely*. [= haly] that myȝt in erth dwell

Bot his saule, qwen he died, suld go to hell.

784

Hely men were in merknes ther thai no payn feld,

Bot the fend fro thair ioye agayn thair wil thaim held, Page 430

And the ȝate of paradys was agayn thaim stoken,

Til ihesus with his passion hade made it open.

788

When the fende sagh him wele on the crois hyngand,

He wend to haue made him forth ay in hell lengand;

Bot sone the saul with the godhede as a fere lyon

And a kyng of al the warld, & noȝt as a prison,

792

Come to hell & brast thair barres with his will fre,

And toke out all anon with him that dyed in charite.

Him calles men a lord strong and myȝty

That has ay when he wil in batail the maistry.

796

Sone he venquist the fend & cuttyd his power,

That he suld noȝt tempt vs more then we miȝt bere.

Thus is ihesus our refut, strenght & socour,

Our help & our hele, our ioye & our honour.

800

¶ How crist is oure fader gastly.

HEre now how crist was oure formfader gastly,

Riȝt as adam was to man formfader fleschly.

All that was of adam born, lost heuen for his synne,

And all that cristes children will be bi him may hit wynne;

804

Baptisme has the vertu of cristes hert-blode,

To make thaim his childer that wil take hit with*. [wil om.?] gode.

Thus riȝt as al men dyed thurgh adam,

So may al be quikned agayn in cristes name.

808

Was neuer no fader that any son so dere hade boȝt

As crist, that man wesch of synne & out of prison broȝt.

In fourty houres after his ded herged he helle*. [[1 verse wanting.]]

812

And apered to his disciples in many-maner wyse,

To proue soth that he said that he suld vprise.

He ete & drank with thaim ichon, riȝt in thair siȝt,

And spak that was nedeful to thaim, mekel of gastli liȝt.

And elleuen of thaim he blamed sithen

817

ffor thei trowed noȝt that he was vprisen.

Bot it was til our faith ful heply

That Thomas of ynde trowed lattly,

820

Til he in to crist[es] hert-wond hade put his hand;

Than said he: "thou art my god & my lord lyuand." Page 431

"ffor thou has sene me," quad crist, "now thou trowes riȝt;

Blissed be thai [that] trowes wele with-outen any siȝt!"

When our faith was thus confermed as thou has wele hard,

825

Then bad crist thei suld it preche thurgh-out al the warld,

And [baptize] all that wald be in trouth stedfast,

In the name of the fader & the son & the haligast;

828

ffor ther [may] neuer non in heuen-blis wone

Bot he thurgh baptyme be made cristes awen sone.

In this fader was neuer no wemme of synne,

The-for be him may [we] blis clayme & wynne.

832

Adam come of erth & band vs all to prison:

Crist then come fro heuen & payed for vs raunson.

When he stegh vp agayn to heuen-riche blis,

He tok al the ded with him that was his.

836

Ther he haldes sesyn in his heritage

To al that wil folow him of his lynage.

Thar fader & sone & haligast

Are all on god of myȝtes mast.

840

In siȝt of this thre persons in on godhede

Sal be in heuen our gret ioye & our mede;

Then sal we se in that ioyfulnes

How crist, our dere fader, is verray prince of pees.—

*. [vv. 845-954 added.]When ihesu crist of heuen had wonnen his gret riȝt,

Then was sent the haligast anon, as he hade hiȝt;

His disciples hertes anon he wald enspire

In the fader liknes with tunges of fire.

848

So the haligast was send & sest thaim aboue,

That of the fader & the sone is the gode loue,

And is al on god with thaim in verray vnite,

Bot he is third person in the trinite.

852

When thei were thus fulfilled of the haligast,

Thai couth wele al langage & speke hit sone in hast;

Thai were so confermed in trouth & al ful of grace

855

That for to preche goddes lawe thai dred no kinges face. Page 432

¶ Of the articles of trouth.

HEre now of the articles of our trouth that we al traist Inne,

& the seuen sacramentȝ that soccours vs of synne.

We sal trowen in on god of myȝtes alther-mast,

That is the fader & the sone & the haligast;

860

None is other of this persones thre,

Bot all are on god in the*. [MS. thre] trinite:

Thes thre are on god & on verray nature,

That made first of riȝt noȝt al-maner creature.

864

We trowe in haly kirk, & haly mannes dedes,

That god ay with his grace thaim strenghtes wel & spedes

In trouth & sacramentȝ & dedes of charite,

867

Thurgh whilk to the repentant forgifnes of synne sal be.

He that trowes noȝt as halikirk, is in dedly synne,

And mede in heuen in that state may he neuer wynne.

At day of dome sal al mankynd vprise,*. [This point is re|peated in v. 891.]

ffor to take ay-lastand dome on many diuers wise;

872

The gode sal go to heuen to ay-lastand blis,

And the wikkid to helle-fire that ay-lastand is.

The aghtend article is of cristes manhede:

How mary conceyued him in clen maydenhede;

876

When the aungel gabriel come & gret hir with gode,

The haligast made a body of hir clennest blode,

& put a saul in to hit that al wysdam can;

Then god the sone toke that & become man.

880

The neghend is that he of maiden mary was born

& no-thing of hir maydenhede ther-for was lorn.

The tend is that he suffred paynes wilfully,

Al to ded op-on the crois & biryng of body.

884

The elleuend that crist in saule went doun to hell

& toke out al his awen chosen that with him suld dwell.

The twelft is that he rose fro dede on the thrid day

And apperyd qwik in flesch with many tokens verray.

The thrittend is that he stegh vp hegh in to heuen,

Ther he sittes in manhed with his fader euen.

890

The fourtend is that he sal come vpon domesday

And gyue riȝtwis dome to qwik & dede, that sal last ay. Page 433

¶ Of the seuen sacraments.

ȜEt the seuen sacramentȝ are nedful to kenne.

ffor baptyme of al synne may soccour all men;

For who as taas hit lawefully,

Of synne is clensed al fully.

896

The secund sacrament is confermyng:

That agayn the fend is a gret strenghting.

The third is the sacrament of the auter,

That is declared a litel befor here.

900

The ferth is penance ordaynd for mannes synne;

This lawefully has thre parties him with-Inne:

Sorow of hert, schrift of mouth, & asseth making—

This thre of mede & grace bringes agayn taking.

904

The fift sacrament is for seke men anoynting:

This is soccour agayn al uenial synnyng.

The sext is ordour that clerkes has on diuerse wise,

And ther-thurgh has diuerse power in goddes seruise.

That seuend betwix man & womman is wedding,

909

ffor remedie of lecherie & childer nurishing.

Thurgh gode & laweful vsyng of any of this seuen

May men wele escheu payn & liȝtly come til heuen.

Grace in this seuen heles man of al gastly sore;

913

And seuen vertues ables him that thou red be-fore.*. [v. 421 ff.]

Seuen giftes of the haligast helpes ay his dede,

And seuen maner of blis parfourmes his mede.

916

¶ Of the seuen giftes of the haligast.

THe first gift, dred of god, puttes fro man pride mast

& makes him wele-manerd, pouer in hert and tast;

& that are thus meke in hert, & pouer gastly,

Crist blesses thaim alway, & heuen is thaires, treuly.

The second gift is pite, that puttes out enuy

921

& makes man to worschipe god, his fader gastly,

& goddes lawe & his neghbour for goddes awen sake,

& thes gode dedes gode, benigne & myld wil him make;

Thai that has vertuously that ilk myldnes,

925

Ay sal haue lyuyng in mekil blissednes.

The third gift is cunnyng, that puttes away wrath

& mas man to loue godenes, & with wikkednes to wlath, Page 434

And haue sorow for his synne & taryyng of blis;

929

ffor this is man blissed, & heuen sal be his;

This gift of cunnyng may noȝt ful longe be

With-outen gastly ioye & gret charite.

932

The ferth gift is gastly strenght, that puttes away slouth

& to eschape all perils mas man to haue trouth;

Hit mas man to suffre wel, & long to bide riȝt,

& riȝt be done to god & man ȝerne with al his myȝt;

& who-so has this ȝernyng & hungres riȝtwisnes,

937

Thai sal be ful-filled of hit & haue gret blissednes.

That fift gift is counsail, that fordos couetise

& in hegh thing & hard mas man of gode auyse;

940

Hit mas man ay gode & benigne in alkyn thinge,

And rewles hym wele in warkes of mercy doyng;

& all that warkes of mercy dos deuoutely,

Are blissed of ihesu crist & ay sal haue mercy.

944

The sext gift is vnderstanding, that glotery fordos

& stires to certayn*. [= make certain] trouth that him gastly behose,

& makes him of all synne clene in hert to be;

Suche men are blissid of crist, for thai sal god se.

948

The seuent gift is wysdam, that fordos lecherie

& confortes man in Ioye of god & pes swetly,

And mas man to kepe & make pees with gret besines;

Siche are called goddes childer, & sal haue blissednes.

In suffring oght for riȝt standes the aghtend blis,

& who as euer suffres so, the rewme of heuen is his.

¶ Of antecristes commyng.*. [This passage is added.]

THat tyme when god wil suffre, before the [day] of dome

955

To tempte & pursue cristen men anticrist sal come;

He sal be born in babiloyn of the kynd of dan

That sum tyme here in erth of Iacob childer was an;

He sal regne in Ierusalem & him-self [crist] call.

959

Then many of ther wretched Iewes sal fast til him fall.

When he mas him god, his gode aungel sal him forsake,

Then the fend sal him enspire & hede of wikkednes make;

He sal feyne thurgh fendes craft nere al cristes meruailes, Page 435

Bot ay in him charite, mercy & meknes failes.

964

Simple men sal he deceyue with miracles doyng,

Couetous with gret giftes, & gode with punysching,

He sal make men as god to adour his ymage

967

& on thair [forehede]*. [a word om.: right hand or forehede, cf. Apoc. 13, 16.] bere a mark of his seruage;

Who-so has noȝt that mark, sal nouther bye ne sell,

Bot antecristes tyrant sal thaim to ded quell.

Be reson & in haly writ it is goddes sawe:

Thurgh payn sal god neuer stresse man to forsake his lawe,

972

Bot what as any man dos here with his fre will,

Sal turne him, after it is, to gode or to ill.

Betwix antecristes comyng & his gret ill doyng

Sal Ely & Ennok com preche for mennes sauyng;

976

Then antecrist sal sle thaim in Ierusalem,

& god sal raise thaim to lif & tak thaim to his leme.

Bot thre ȝere & a half sal antecrist haue maistry—

ffor to saue his chosen that ordayns goddes mercy.

980

Then thurgh goddes myȝt sal that wikked be slayn,

& all chosen that trespast then sal turne agayn.

The[n] ful many Iewes sal turne to cristes lawe,

& halikirk sal liue in pes out of tyrantȝ awe,

984

Shortir tyme or lenger, til that crist wil come,

To make the worldes ende & gif his grete dome.

¶ Of the day of dome.

IN the same fourme in whilk crist suffrid payn,

To deme both qwhik & ded he sal come agayn.

988

Then sal he shewe his body stremand al on blode,

& his hert clouen in two as he henge on rode,

& say: "for ȝow suffred I al this gret payn.

Telles now what ȝe to me has done ther-agayn!"

992

Allas, what may then til him synful man say

That neuer wele with-outen synne spendes on day?

Man sal ȝelde acompt then of al that god him sende,

Body & saul, witte & gode, how he has it spende,

996

& of ilk a nydel word that euer he here spak;

In wikked word & wikked dede then sal be gret lak.

After that degre of synne or of charite

That any man dyes Inne, sal he domed be. Page 436

1000

Than sal clere conscience be mekil more of told

Than any gret lordship with a world ful of gold:

ffor al sal then perisch that we here now make,

& synful man sal for drede sore tremble & qwak.

1004

All synne for whilk is noȝt worthily asseth made here,

Bes shewed ther al openly, to shame & gret lere.

Ilk a man then sal se his dome verraily

& for gret drede of god thus sal thei all cry:

1008

"Montayns, falles doun on vs, for to hid vs,

That we se noȝt the wrath of god that is so hedous!

Allas that euer were we born any thing to craue,

ffor with-outen ende we are lorn, for nothing may vs saue.

1012

Alas, alas, & wele-away, wher-of may we ȝelp?

Whe are shent for euer & ay, for no thing may vs help."

Haly writ sais that befor this dome

Ouer al this wide warld a huge fire sal come;

1016

Seint Peter sais*. [2 Petr. 3, 10.] that then al sal brenne

Erth & water & al the warld, & al that is ther-Inne.

Heuens & ayr & all the elements

ffire thurgh brennyng then sal clens.

1020

ffire sal noȝt touche heuen in the whilk is blis,

Bot other heuens that vnder hit is.

The fire sal purge venial synne,

1023

& ful hard pyne thaim that dedly [syn] is lnne;*. [1021-4 added.]

Hit sal fordo thing that sal noȝt endure,

And make al the remanant of fairer figure.

*. [1027-42 added.]Then al the qwik bestes sal tak thair endyng,

That were made bot for a tyme of mannes leuyng.

The four elements sal be fairer seuen-fold

1029

Then euer thai were any tyme, other newe or old.

Ther sal be no chaunging fro cold to the hete,

Ne non other tempest of wynd & wedirs gret;

1032

Al cold & hete, foul venum, fylth & stynk,

ffor to punish thaim in hell, sal doun then synk.*. [cf. v. 1095.]

The heuens sal noȝt turne aboute, bot stand ay in rest,

The sunne ay in the est, the mone in the west;

1036

Ilkon sal be more clere seuen-fold than he was,

Bot[h] to goddes worschipe & to mannes solas. Page 437

This sais god bi ysaie, that his wil wele knewe:

"Lo, I make both heuens & erth all span-newe."

1040

This fairnes of the warld sal dampned men noȝt se,

ffor thai sal be in helle-payne or that fairnes sal be.

ffirst, when god wil, sall aungeles a gret noyse make,

& crist thaim that are in blis sal with him take,

1044

Then the remanant that sal be in that blis faire,

Sal be rauyst him agayn vp in to the aere.

All sall ryse fro ded to lyf of Adames lynage

Als in thair awen statur of thritty ȝer age;

1048

All goddes chosen then sal ful parfit be,

With-outen any foulnes or superfluite.

Then sal crist say to thaim on his riȝt honde

A gode word, of all wordes comfortande:

1052

"Come ȝe, my fader blissed, & haues the reume of heuen,

That, befor the warld was made, [was] ordaynd ȝow ful euen.

Ȝe gaf me mete whan I was hungry,

Ȝe gaf me drynk whan y was thristy;

1056

When I hade nede ȝe harbard me;

When I was naked ȝe cleded me;

Ȝe visit me when I was seke,

And in prison ȝe wald me seke.

1060

That ȝe did for my loue to the lest of myne,

That same ȝe did to myself, theron sal ȝe noȝt tyne."

Then wikked men for heuenes of synne

Sall noȝt agayn crist in to the aier wynne,

1064

Bot thai on the erth [sal] cristes wordes here,

That sal be to thaim with-outen ende a lere,

When he sais: "go, waried, in to the fire of helle,

Thar ȝe in payne with-outen ende with the fend sal dwell.

1068

Ȝe serued neuer ioye aylastandly,

ffor ȝe fulfilled noȝt the warkes of mercy."—

*. [1071-1090 added.]Take now gode kepe here, wardly cristen man,*. [MS. men]

& do thi saule profit als wele as thou can!

1072

Thurgh warkes of mercy may men heuen wynne,

& thai that dos thaim noȝt, sal noȝt come ther-Inne.—

Bot ther are seuen warkes of mercy bodely, Page 438

& also other seuen warkes of mercy gastly;

1076

Thurgh trewe kepyng of any of this seuen

May a trewe cristen man wel come to heuen.

Sex bodely warkes has thou befor redde,

The [seuent] taght Tobie when he beryd the dede.

Seuen gastly warkes, that are of more mede,

1081

May thou hald in thi mynd to thin awen spede:

The first is for to teche the vncunnand.

The second is to counsail the doutand.

1084

The third is to confort him that is sorowful.

The ferth is to chasty him that is in synne wilful.

The fift is to forgif him that has ill wratthed the.

The sext is to support him that irksum is to the.

1088

The seuent is to pray to god for all thes hertely,

That he amend thaim of thair faute thurgh his gret mercy.

¶ Of the paynes of hell.*. [The next passages are treated freely: most of the particulars are added.]

TVrne we now agayn, sum-what for to telle

Of the orrible paynes that ay are in helle.

1092

Helle is a depe pit stynkand, with all myrknes:

Ther the dampned ay sal be halden in gret distres.

All that is in the warld of filth & of stynk,

At day of dome sal doun thedir synk,

1096

ffor to eke thair stynkand payne, al be hit gret.

ffor ther sal be of hell-fire wondir huge hete;

That brennand fire with-outen ende so gretly hit glowes

That al the watur in the warld may not sloken his lowes.

1100

Ther is als gret cold on another side:

Ther sudanly for more payne in to hit sal thei glide.

Thai sal noȝt haue no roume ther on be-side another,

Bot all be cast on a hepe as of turf a fother;

1104

Ilkon sal stynk on other & double his payne,

& ilkon ay to greue other sall be ful fayne.

Ther sal be gnasting of teth for gretnes of payne,

And euer in the hert a sorowe souerayne

1108

That thai haue lost for a litil lykyng of synne

The ioye of the siȝt of god that al godenes is Inne; Page 439

& this worme of conscience sal bit thaim euermore

& ouer all paynes ay be to thaim a sore.

1112

No likyng sal thai haue, shortly for to say,

Bot al thing agayn thair wil that thaim gref may.

& thus sal thai be punist aylastandly,

With-outen hope of mercy or any remedy.

1116

¶ Of the ioyes of heuen.

THair ioye in heuen sal wele more be

Then any hert may think or any egh se,

Ne non ert[h]ly mannes ere may wele here

The Ioye that god has ordaynd til his awen dere.

1120

This ioye sall haue then aylastand sekirnes,

ffor crist, kyng of ioye, sal then be prince of pes.

Ilk mannes body of thaim that god wil saue

ffour fair dowers of ioye in heuen sal haue:

1124

¶ ffirst the body sal be [so] parfit there,

That no thing in al the warld myȝt him there [dere],

All the fir of hell myȝt him neuer brenne,

If he neuer so lange were laide ther-Inne.

1128

¶ The second dower of the body sal be briȝtnes

That man sal haue that dede*. [= died] in gastly clennes;

Ilk a body sal be there seuen-[fold]*. [om.] more briȝt

Then the sunne is here when it most liȝt;

1132

& this gret briȝtnes of the body

Sal euermore cleth hit fair & honestly.

¶ The third dower of the body sal be sutilnes,

ffor hit sal be so clensid of all rudnes

1136

That non erthly body may lette hit to passe,

More then the sunne-beme is lettid be the glas.

¶ The ferth dower of the body sal be deliuernes,

ffor hit sal be clensid so wel of alkyn heuynes

1140

That sudanly, whedir as the saul has ȝernyng,

Thedir sal the body glide with-outen more letting.

In thes four dowers sal thi body be so parfit

1143

That of all erthly ioye of hit sal be delit.

*. [1145-1172 added.]Thre gastly parties of thi saul ioye sal fulfill:

Thes are vnderstanding, a mynd, & a will.

Vndirstanding that here was in trewth stedfast

1147

Of poyntes of oure faith that manes [reson past],*. [om.]Page 440

Sal in clere siȝht of god al that he trowed se,

& in that souerayn fair siȝt al ful of blis be.

All wysdam, al godenes, all fairnes, al myȝt

Sal rauysh man to the loue of god in that fair siȝt.

Man sal se in god as in a myrour

1153

All that he wil or may be to his honour.

Ilk man as he deserued mor or lesse here,

Sal haue ther ay the siȝt of god more or lesse clere;

Bot al sal be so fully payd in that siȝt

1157

That couayt clerer siȝt non sal haue no myȝt.

And thus in the saul the vnderstanding

Sal ay be fulfilled of ioye & likyng,

1160

And this sal be in mannes saul the first dower,

After that he deserued when that he was here.

His will that here loued god ouer al thing

& his euen-cristen for goddes bidding,

1164

In the loue of god ther sal be so parfit

That al his ȝernyng sal be ful of delit;

That loue sal be ay so gret, so gode, & so faire

That nothing that may befall sal hit oght empaire.

His mynd that hoped to haue ioye thurgh grace & mercy

1169

& dyed stedfast in trouth with-outen synne dedly,

Sal haue mekil more ioye then he euer wend,

& sikirnes that hit last ay with-outen end.

1172

So sal ilk blissed saul be fulfillid of blis

That hit may nothing ȝern thare that hit may mys.

He has parfit blis that has al his will,

& so be that he then*. [MS. tben] nothing will ill.

1176

Ther sal nothing be that may greue, bot al liking,

That sal ay last sikirly with-outen endyng.

Sothly, [thes] thre dowers of the saul are the gret blis,

And mannes ioye is mesurd after he has of this.

1180

This gret ioye is of gode loue & likyng & siȝt.

Al other ioye toward this [is] of litil myȝt,

As he that has the sunne-liȝt vpon a fair day,

ffor many torches if he liȝt no better se he may;

1184

Noȝt more liȝt, bot more maners of liȝt he has,

& that may be to him a maner of solace.

Clere siȝt of god sal ther be mannes fode Page 441

And briȝtnes of body sal be clething gode.

1188

Wark sal be thare, of god a mery louyng,

That neuer with-outen end sal haue irking.

If adam hade lyued to the warldes ende

And al the wittes of all men god had him send,

1192

Ȝit myȝt he noȝt haue told fully

The lest poynt of that ioye, verraily.

Ther sal be nothing that may displese,

Bot al honeste & gode that may ese.

1196

[Thre]*. [MS. ffour] maner of men sal haue a ioye special,

That is callid in haly writ of ioye a coronale;

Thes thre maners are: verray martires,

Alle-clene uirgines, & haly techers.

1200

Ilkon sal haue ther als [mekil] ioye of othir

Als he were a thousand sith his brothir;

Ilkon of other ioye sal haue a liking,

& that sal be [to] thaim of ioye a doubling;

1204

This doubling sal be in noumbre a gretnes,

Noȝt to the ioye before euen mykilnes.

After degre of loue of god that man hade here

Sal his ioye be mesurd, with-outen any were.

1208

Man sal haue souerayne ioye in siȝt of godhede,

And sithen a gret ioye of crist[es] manhede,

That he is both god & man that boȝt him with his blode

& deyned to shewe to man so hertly mekil gode;

1212

That his brother sal euer be his lord & his god,

That sal be a confort to him with-outen make od.

In him-self he has his ioye of al the dowers

Both of body & of saul, as clerkes vs leres.

1216

Of the qwene of heuen, our lady mary,

That is goddes moder & well of mercy,

fflour of all uirgines & avowe to mankynd,

May all that are in heuen gret confort fynd;

1220

Amang all creatures sho has wele of all weles,

ffor sho is moder of the king that al ioye deles.

Sithen ix. ordres of aungeles comfortes man in blis,

With thair gret myrth & ioyfulnes that thai may neuer mys;

1224

Sithen al maner of men that to blis wendis,

And specialy all gode men frendes Page 442

Ekys*. [MS. Ek ys] his ioye & confort when thai are mette,

And that sall ay last with-outen any lette.

1228

Ȝit heuen & erth & all creatures

Sal be to mannes ioye, whiles hit endures.

All the sorow & paynes of hell ay-lastandly

Sall confort him that eschaped thaim thurgh mercy.

Thus sal man in heuen ay fynd ioye & leth,

1233

Aboue him, with-Inne him, aboute & beneth.

Ay, sais seint austyn sothfastly,

Man suld forsake resonably

1236

All the welthes of this warld euermore & ay,

ffor to haue the ioye of heuen only a day.

How mekil more then suld man ay forsake synne

While he lyued in erth, that blis for to wynne?

The godenes of god, the fairnes, the wysdam, the myȝt,

The ioye, the solace, the confort that ay is In his siȝt,

Passes all mannes mynd, vndirstanding & wit,

Bot if he may come to blis fully & clerly se hit.

1244

Ther-for he that all creatures first made of noȝt

And with his awne hert-blode al mankynd boȝt,

Thurgh his grace & mercy graunt vs that ioye to se,

How thre persones are all on god in trinite.

1248

Amen.

Here endes the myrour of lewed men.

A Munk made this myrour, only for lewed mennes sake.
Thou that will se saule-hele, this thi myrour thou take!

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