The pricke of conscience (stimulus conscientiæ): a Northumbrian poem / by Richard Rolle de Hampole ; ed. Richard Morris.

Her begynnes þe sext party of þis boke þat spekes of þe paynes of Helle. [This heading is absent from MSS. Galba E IX, Harl. 4196).]

Page 174

                  
                    Many men here spekes of helle,
                  
                    Bot of þe paynes þar fune can telle,
                    Line 6424 
                  
                    Bot wha-swa here mught wit and k[n]aw wele
                  
                    What paynes þe synful þar sal fele,
                  
                    Þai suld in grete ferdlayk be broght,
                  
                    Ay when þai on þa paynes thoght;
                    Line 6428 
                  
                    For þe mynde of þam myght men feer,
                  
                    Swa bitter and swa horribel þai er;
                  
                    Bot forþi þat many knawes noght right,
                  
                    Whatkyn paynes in helle er dight,
                    Line 6432 
                  
                    With-outen ende for synful men,
                  
                    Þarfor I sal shewe yhow, als I can,
                  
                    Aparty of þa paynes sere,
                  
                    Als yhe may sone aftirward here.
                    Line 6436 
                  
                    Bot first I wille shew whare es helle,
                  
                    Als I haf herd som grete clerkes telle,
                  
                    And sythen wille I shew yhow mare,
                  
                    And speke of þe paynes þat er þare.
                    Line 6440 
                  
                    Som clerkes says, als þe buke bers witnes,
                  
                    Þat helle even in myddes þe erthe es;
                  
                    For alle erthe by skille may likend be
                  
                    Til a rounde appel of a tre,
                    Line 6444 
                  
                    Þat even in myddes has a colke,
                  
                    And swa it may be tille an egge yholke;
                  
                    For als a dalk es even Imydward
                  
                    Þe yholke of þe egge, when it es hard,
                    Line 6448 
                  
                    Ryght swa es helle pitte, als clerkes telles,
                  
                    Ymyddes þe erthe and nourwhar elles.
                  
                    And als þe yholk ymyddes þe egge lys,
                  
                    And þe white obout on þe same wys,
                    Line 6452 
                  
                    Right swa es þe erthe, with-outen dout.
                  
                    Ymyddes þe hevens þat gas obout.
                  
                    Þus may men se by an egge hard dight,
                  
                    How heven and erthe and helle standes right.
                    Line 6456 
                  
                    Ful hydus and myrke helle es kyd,
                  
                    For-why it es with-in þe erthe hyd,
                  
                    Þider þe synful sal be dryven,
                  
                    Als tyte als þe last dome es gyven.

                    Line 6460

Page 175

                  
                    Line 6460 
                  
                    With alle þe devels ay þar to duelle,
                  
                    Þat now er in þe ayre and in helle,
                  
                    Þar sal þai alle be stoped togider;
                  
                    Wa sal þam be þat sal wende þider,
                    Line 6464 
                  
                    For þar es swa mykel sorow and bale,
                  
                    And swa many paynes with-outen tale,
                  
                    Þat alle þe clerkes þat ever had wytt,
                  
                    Þat ever was, or þat lyfes yhitt,
                    Line 6468 
                  
                    Couth noght telle ne shew thurgh lare,
                  
                    How mykel sorow and payne er þare.
                  
                    And if it thurgh kynd myght be swa,
                  
                    Þat an hundreth thousand men or ma,
                    Line 6472 
                  
                    Had an hundreth thousand tunges of stele,
                  
                    And ilk tung mught speke wysely and wele
                  
                    And ilka tung of ilka man,
                  
                    Had bygunnen when þe werld bygan,
                    Line 6476 
                  
                    To spek of helle, and swa suld speke ay
                  
                    Whils þe werld suld last til domes day,
                  
                    Yhit mught þai noght þe sorow telle,
                  
                    Þat to synful es ordaynd in helle;
                    Line 6480 
                  
                    For-why na witt of man may ymagyn
                  
                    What paynes þar er ordaynd for syn.
                  
                    Bot men may fynd, wha-swa wil loke,
                  
                    Som maner of paynes wryten in boke,
                    Line 6484 
                  
                    Omang all other paynes þat er in helle,
                  
                    Als men has herd wyse clerkes telle;
                  
                    Bot what man es swa wyse and wytty
                  
                    Þat couthe telle þa paynes proprely,
                    Line 6488 
                  
                    Bot it war he þat had bene þare,
                  
                    And sene þa paynes bath les and mare?
                  
                    Bot he þat þar commes for certayne,
                  
                    May noght lightly turne agayne;
                    Line 6492 
                  
                    He most duelle þar and never oway com,
                  
                    For pe buke says þus of wysdom:
                  
                      Non est agnitus, qui reversus
                    
                      est ab inferis.
                    
                    Line 6496 
                  
                    Þat es on Ynglisse "men knawes nane,
                  
                    Þat turned fra helle þat þider was gane."

Page 176

                  
                    For alle þat er þar most duelle for ay,
                  
                    Þai may never be broght oway,
                    Line 6500 
                  
                    Bot-if war thurgh miracle anely,
                  
                    And thurgh specyal grace of God almyghty,
                  
                    Thurgh whilk som, þat in helle has bene,
                  
                    And horrible paynes þar has sene
                    Line 6504 
                  
                    Has bene broght oway fra alle þat stryf,
                  
                    And bene turned ogayne fra ded til lyf;
                  
                    Als Lazar was Mary brother Maudalayne,
                  
                    Þat saw and herd þare many a payne,
                    Line 6508 
                  
                    Þat tyme namely when he was ded,
                  
                    For his saul þan was at þat sted,
                  
                    Four dayes, als God vouched save,
                  
                    And swa lang his body lay here in grave;
                    Line 6512 
                  
                    And at þe last God raysed hym ryght
                  
                    Fra ded til lyf thurgh his myght;
                  
                    Bot þat þat he saw he noght forgatt,
                  
                    And sone þare-after als he satt
                    Line 6516 
                  
                    With Crist at þe meete in Martha hows,
                  
                    He talde a party of þa paynes hydus;
                  
                    Bot yhit durst he noght al telle,
                  
                    For drede of Crist, þat he saw in helle,
                    Line 6520 
                  
                    Yhit lyfed he after fyften yhere,
                  
                    Bot he lughe [loghe (MS. Harl. 4196).]  never, ne made blythe chere,
                  
                    For drede of dede þat he most efte dreghe,
                  
                    And of þe paynes þat he saw with eghe.
                    Line 6524 
                  
                    For how bitter þe dede es nan may witt,
                  
                    Bot he anely þat has feled itt,
                  
                    And what paynes in helle er, nane wil wene
                  
                    Bot he anely þat has þam sene.
                    Line 6528 
                  
                    Alswa twa of Symeon sons ryght,
                  
                    Þe whilk Caryn and Lentyn hight,
                  
                    When þa first war dede and hethen went,
                  
                    Þai saw in helle many a tourment,
                    Line 6532 
                  
                    And sithen when Crist dighed on þe rode,
                  
                    Þai rase fra ded and obout yhode,
                  
                    And tald how Crist, byfor þat he ras,
                  
                    Til helle come and tuke out þat his was,

                    Line 6536

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                    Line 6536 
                  
                    And mykel couthe þai þan telle
                  
                    Of þe paynes þat þai saw in helle.
                  
                    Bot þai had no leve als I wene
                  
                    To telle alle þat þai þar had sene;
                    Line 6540 
                  
                    Wharfor þai lyfed here ay in penaunce,
                  
                    And never aftir made blithe countinance,
                  
                    Of wham es writen in a pistel þus,
                  
                    Þat Pilat sent til Tyberius,
                    Line 6544 
                  
                    Þat þan emparour of Rome was,
                  
                    For to certifie hym of þis cas.
                  
                    And yhit many other þat war dede,
                  
                    Has bene sumtyme at þat stede,
                    Line 6548 
                  
                    And sene þar many hydus payne,
                  
                    And thurgh miracle turned til lyf agayne;
                  
                    Bot omang alle þat þar has bene sene,
                  
                    I fynde wryten paynes fourtene,
                    Line 6552 
                  
                    Thurgh whilk þe synful sal be pyned ay,
                  
                    In body and saul aftir domesday;
                  
                    Þe whilk er als general paynes of helle,
                  
                    And whilk þas er I sal yhow telle.
                    Line 6556 
                  
                    Þe first es fire swa hate to reken,
                  
                    Þat na maner of thyng may it sleken.
                  
                    Þe secunde es calde als says som,
                  
                    Þat na hete of fire may overcom.
                    Line 6560 
                  
                    Þe thred alswa es filthe and stynk
                  
                    Þat es stranger þan any hert may thynk.
                  
                    Þe ferthe es hunger sharpe and strang.
                  
                    Þe fift es brynnand threst omang.
                    Line 6564 
                  
                    Þe sext es swa mykel myrknes,
                  
                    Þat it may be graped, swa thik it es.
                  
                    Þe seve[n]d es þe horribel sight
                  
                    Of þe devels þat þar er hydusly dight.
                    Line 6568 
                  
                    Þe eghtend payne es vermyn grete,
                  
                    Þat þe synful men sal gnaw and frete.
                  
                    Þe neghend es dyngyng of devels hand,
                  
                    With melles of yren hate glowand.
                    Line 6572 
                  
                    Þe tend payne es gnawyng with-in
                  
                    Of conscience þat bites als vermyn.

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                    Þe ellevend es hate teres of gretyng,
                  
                    Þat þe synful sal scalden in þe dounfallyng.
                    Line 6576 
                  
                    Þe twelfte es shame and shenshepe of syn
                  
                    Þat þai sal haf þat never sal blyn.
                  
                    Þe threttend es bandes of fire brinnand,
                  
                    Þat þai sal be bunden with fote and hand.
                    Line 6580 
                  
                    Þe fourtend payne despayre es cald,
                  
                    Þat þe synful sal ay in hert hald.
                  
                    Alle þir er generale paynes in helle;
                  
                    Bot þar er other ma þan tung may telle,
                    Line 6584 
                  
                    Or hert may thynk or eer may here,
                  
                    Of special paynes þat er sere,
                  
                    Þe whilk many, aftir þai er worthy,
                  
                    Sal thole ever-mare in saule and body;
                    Line 6588 
                  
                    Bot of alle þa paynes can I noght say,
                  
                    For na man þam reken ne specyfy may,
                  
                    Bot yhit wille I speke som-what mare
                  
                    Of þe general paynes þat I shewed are,
                    Line 6592 
                  
                    And with som autorities þam bynd,
                  
                    Als men may in sere bukes writen fynd.
                  
                    Þe first als I tald es þe fire hate,
                  
                    Þat na thyng may sleken ne abate;
                    Line 6596 
                  
                    Whare þe synful men sal bryn thurgh hete
                  
                    Of whilk God spekes þus thurgh þe prophete:
                  
                      Ignis succensus est in furore
                    
                      meo, et ardebit usque ad in|
                    
                    Line 6600 
                  
                      ferni novissima, id est, usque
                    
                      in eternum.
                    
                    "Fyre es kyndeld in my wreth", says he,
                  
                    "And sal bryn until ende of helle sal be,
                    Line 6604 
                  
                    Þat es ever-mare, als God vouches save,
                  
                    For helle sal never-mare ende have."
                  
                    Þat fire es swa hate, and ay brynnes,
                  
                    Þat if alle þe waters þat standes or rynnes
                    Line 6608 
                  
                    On erthe, and alle þe sese with-oute,
                  
                    Þat encloses alle þe erthe oboute,
                  
                    Suld ryn in-til þat fire swa hate,
                  
                    Yhit myght it noght it sleken ne abate,

                    Line 6612

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                    Line 6612 
                  
                    Na mare þan a drope of water shire
                  
                    If alle Rome brend, mught sleken þat fire.
                  
                    For þe fire of helle þat es endeles,
                  
                    Es hatter þan fire here es,
                    Line 6616 
                  
                    Right als þe fire þat es brinnand here,
                  
                    Es hatter and of mare powere,
                  
                    Þan a purtrayd fire on a waghe,
                  
                    Þat es paynted outher heghe or laghe,
                    Line 6620 
                  
                    With a rede coloure til mens sight,
                  
                    Þat nouther brynnes ne gyfes light,
                  
                    Ne on othir manere avales ne ders.
                  
                    Of þir twa fires I fynde writen twa vers.
                    Line 6624 
                  
                      Quam focus est mundi picto fervencior igne,
                    
                      Tam focus inferni superat fervenicia mundi.
                    
                    "Als þe fire of þe werld hatter es
                  
                    Þan a fire paynted, be it mare or les,
                    Line 6628 
                  
                    Rightswa þe fire of helle passes thurgh hete,
                  
                    Alle þe fires of þe werld, smale and grete,
                  
                    And for-þi þat þe synful brynned ay here,
                  
                    In þe fire of fole yhernyngs sere,
                    Line 6632 
                  
                    It es right þat þai brynne þare
                  
                    In þat hate fire for ever-mare.
                  
                      "Est locus indignis ubi non extinguitur ignis,
                    
                      Non qui torquetur, nec qui torquet, morietur."
                    
                    Line 6636 
                  
                    Þe secunde payne es grete calde,
                  
                    Þat þe synful sal fele, als I ar talde;
                  
                    Þat cald sal be swa strang and kene,
                  
                    Þat if þe mast roche þat man has sene,
                    Line 6640 
                  
                    Of þe mast mountayne in any land,
                  
                    War al attanes in fire brynnand,
                  
                    And even Imyddes þat cald war,
                  
                    It suld frese and turne al in-til yse þar;
                    Line 6644 
                  
                    And for-þi þat þai, omang other vice,
                  
                    Brynned ay here in þe calde of malice,
                  
                    And ay was dased in charité,
                  
                    Þarfor it es right þat þai be
                    Line 6648 
                  
                    In þat strang calde ever-mare lastand,
                  
                    Whar þai sal frese, bathe fote and hand.

Page 180

                  
                    Þe devels sal tak þam fra þat fire,
                  
                    And cast þam, with ful grete ire,
                    Line 6652 
                  
                    In-til þat cald to eke þair payne,
                  
                    And efte þam cast in þe fire ogayne;
                  
                    Þus sal þai cast þam to and fra,
                  
                    And ever-mare þai sal fare swa.
                    Line 6656 
                  
                    Of þis þe haly man bers wittenes
                  
                    Iob þat says þus, als writen es:
                  
                      Ab aquis nivium transibunt
                    
                      ad calorem nimium.
                    
                    Line 6660 
                  
                    "Fra waters of snawes þe synful sal wende
                  
                    Til þe over mykel hete þat has nan ende."
                  
                    And Saynt Austyn says on þis manere,
                  
                    In a buke, als es writen here.
                    Line 6664 
                  
                      Dicuntur namque, mali candere
                    
                      exterius calore ut ferum in for|
                    
                      nace, et interius frigore ut
                    
                      glacies in yeme.
                    
                    Line 6668 
                  
                    "Þe wikked sal outwith be glowand
                  
                    Thurgh hete, als men in fire brynnand,
                  
                    And with-in thurgh calde sharpe and kene,
                  
                    Als yse þat es in wynter sene,"
                    Line 6672 
                  
                    Þus sal þai ay be in calde and hete;
                  
                    Þis tourment es ful strang and grete.
                  
                    Þe thred payne es, als men heres clerkes telle,
                  
                    Þe grete stynk and filthe þat es in helle;
                    Line 6676 
                  
                    Of þis Saynt Ierom, þe haly man,
                  
                    Says þus, als I here shewe yhow can:
                  
                      Ibi est ignis inextinguibilis,
                    
                      et fetor intollerabilis.
                    
                    Line 6680 
                  
                    "Þe fire es þar of swa grete pousté,
                  
                    Þat it may never mar slekend be,
                  
                    And swylk filthe and stynk es in þat ugly hole,
                  
                    Þat nan erthely man mught it thole;"
                    Line 6684 
                  
                    For na man in erthe may ymagyn
                  
                    Swa mykel filthe, als sal be þar-in,
                  
                    Whar-for þar sal be mare stynk
                  
                    Þan tung may telle or hert thynk.

                    Line 6688

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                    Line 6688 
                  
                    Þe whilk stynk, with filthe and fen,
                  
                    Sal be strang payne til synful men,
                  
                    And yhit þe fire þat bryn þam sal,
                  
                    Sal gyfe a st[r]ang stynk with-alle,
                    Line 6692 
                  
                    For it sal be fulle of brunstane and pyk,
                  
                    And of other thyng þat es wyk;
                  
                    And for þe synful delyted þam here namly,
                  
                    In þe filthe and stynk of lechery,
                    Line 6696 
                  
                    It es right þat þai be ay omang
                  
                    Þe stynk and filthe in helle swa strang.
                  
                    Þe ferthe payne es, als I haf herd say,
                  
                    Þe strang hunger þat þar sal last ay,
                    Line 6700 
                  
                    Þe whi[l]k þe synful in helle sal fele,
                  
                    Ever-mare als þir clerkes knawes wele.
                  
                    Þe strenthe of hungre sal þam swa chace
                  
                    Þat þair awen flesshe þai sal of-race;
                    Line 6704 
                  
                    And for hungre þai sal yherne it ete,
                  
                    For þai sal gett nan other meete;
                  
                    For hungre þai sal be als brayne-wode,
                  
                    Bot þe dede þar sal be þair fode,
                    Line 6708 
                  
                    Als says þe prophet in a stede:
                  
                    'Þai sal be fedde with þe dede:'
                  
                      Mors depascet
                    
                      eos.
                    
                    Line 6712 
                  
                    Þis es on Inglys þus to rede:
                  
                    "Þe dede þam sal dolefuly fede."
                  
                    For als he þat has here hungre grete,
                  
                    Thurgh kynde langes mast aftir mete,
                    Line 6716 
                  
                    Right swa þe synful þat sal duelle þare,
                  
                    Yhit sal lange aftir þe ded wel mare
                  
                    Þat þai mast hated and drede here,
                  
                    Bot dighe may þai noght on na manere,
                    Line 6720 
                  
                    Of þis Saynt Ion bers wittnes,
                  
                    Als in þe apocalipse writen es:
                  
                      Disiderabunt mori, et mors
                    
                      fugiet ab eis.
                    
                    Line 6724 
                  
                    "Yherne þai sal to dighe fra þair wa,
                  
                    And þe ded sal ay fle þam fra;"

Page 182

                  
                    And forþy þat þai wald gyf na mete
                  
                    Til þe poer, þat here hunger had grete,
                    Line 6728 
                  
                    Ne of þam had nouther reuthe ne mercy,
                  
                    Bot used ay outrage and glotony,
                  
                    It es right þat þai haf þis payne
                  
                    Grete hungre in helle ay þar ogayne.
                    Line 6732 
                  
                    Þe fifte payne es, als sal befalle,
                  
                    Grete threst þat þai sal haf with-alle,
                  
                    Swa mykel in helle sal be þair threst,
                  
                    Þat þair hertes sal nere clewe [clefe (MS. Harl. 4196).]  and brest;
                    Line 6736 
                  
                    Bot þe flaume of fire þai sal drynk,
                  
                    Menged with brunstan þat foul sal stynk,
                  
                    And with smoke of fyre and wyndes blast,
                  
                    And with other stormes þat ay sal last,
                    Line 6740 
                  
                    Þat alle togider þan sal mete;
                  
                    And þarfor says David þe prophete:
                  
                      Ignis et sulphur et spiritus
                    
                      Procellarum pars calicis eorum.
                    
                    Line 6744 
                  
                    He says þus, als we writen fynde,
                  
                    "Fire and brunstan and stormes with wynde,
                  
                    A part sal be þar of þair drynk,"
                  
                    And þat sal be menged with smoke and stynk;
                    Line 6748 
                  
                    Yhit sal þai drynk, ogayne þair wille,
                  
                    Another manere of drynk þat es ille,
                  
                    Þat sal be bitter and venemus,
                  
                    And be cald þair wyne, for þe prophet says þus:
                    Line 6752 
                  
                      Fel draconum vinum eorum, et venenum
                    
                      aspidum insanabile.
                    
                    "Galle of draguns þair wyne sal be,
                  
                    And wenym of snakes þar-with," says he,
                    Line 6756 
                  
                    "Þat may noght be heled wele,"
                  
                    Swa violent it es to fele.
                  
                    Þir wordes, aftir þe lettre, er hard to here,
                  
                    Bot men may þam take on othir manere.
                    Line 6760 
                  
                    Þai sal swa brynnand threst thole,
                  
                    Þat þair hertes sal bryn with-in als a cole,

Page 183

                  
                    For na licour sal þai fynd to fele,
                  
                    Þat þair threst mught sleke and þair hertes kele;
                  
                    Þai sal for threst þe hevedes souke
                    Line 6764 
                  
                    Of þe nedders þat on þam sal rouke,
                  
                    Als a childe þat sittes in þe moder lappe,
                  
                    And when it list, soukes hir pappe;
                  
                    For I fynd þis word in haly writt,
                    Line 6768 
                  
                    Als Iob says þat witnesses it:
                  
                      Caput aspidum
                    
                      sugent.
                    
                    "Þe heved of nedders þat on þam sal fest"
                    Line 6772 
                  
                    He says, "þai sal souke þan for threst."
                  
                    Strang payne of threst þan haf þai
                  
                    When þai sal souke for therst [threst (MS. Harl. 4196).]  swilk venym ay.
                  
                    And for-þi þat þai wald never blethely
                    Line 6776 
                  
                    Gyf til poer at drynk þat war thresty,
                  
                    To sleken þair threst, ne on þam thynk,
                  
                    Ne nouther gyf þam mete ne drynk,
                  
                    And on þair-selven na drynk wald spare
                    Line 6780 
                  
                    Na day, til þai drunken ware,
                  
                    It es þan right þat þat þai in helle fele
                  
                    Brynnand threst þat never sal kele;
                  
                    Þat sal þai haf when þai com þider,
                    Line 6784 
                  
                    And sharp hungre alswa bath to-gydre,
                  
                    Þat never sal cesse, als I sayde ar;
                  
                    For þir twa paynes with othir er endel[e]s þar,
                  
                    Of þis Saynt Ierom bers wittnes,
                    Line 6788 
                  
                    Þat says þus, als writen es:
                  
                      In inferno erit fames infinita,
                    
                      et sitis infinita.
                    
                    "In helle sal be whar never es rest
                    Line 6792 
                  
                    Endel[e]s hungre and endeles threst."
                  
                      Inferni pene sunt hec, vermes, tenebreque
                    
                      flamma, chorus demonum, fetor, frigusque fa|mes, sitis, horror.
                    
                    Þe sext payne es over mykel myrknes,
                    Line 6796 
                  
                    Þat in helle sal be ay endeles;

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                    Þat swa thik es þat men mught it grape,
                  
                    Fra whilk þe synful sal never eschape.
                    Line 6800 
                  
                    For na hert may thynk ne tung telle,
                  
                    Swa mykel mirkenes als es in helle,
                  
                    Of whilk Iob spekes, als þe buk shewes wele,
                  
                    And says, þe synful sal grape and fele
                    Line 6804 
                  
                    Myrkenes, als mykel at mydday
                  
                    Als at mydnyght, þat sal last ay:
                  
                      Palpabunt tenebras in meridie,
                    
                      sicut in media nocte.
                    
                    Line 6808 
                  
                    "In helle es never day bot ever nyght;
                  
                    Þar brynnes ay fire, bot it gyf[es] na light."
                  
                    Bot yhit þe synful sal ay se
                  
                    Alle þe sorowe þat þar sal be,
                    Line 6812 
                  
                    And ilka payne and ilka tourment,
                  
                    Thurgh sparkes of fire þat obout sal sprent.
                  
                    Bot þat sight sal be til þam þare,
                  
                    Na confort, bot sorowe and kare.
                    Line 6816 
                  
                    Þus to eke þair paynes, þai sal haf sight,
                  
                    With-outen any comfort þar of light;
                  
                    And for-þi þat helle es ay lightles,
                  
                    It es cald þe land of myrkenes,
                    Line 6820 
                  
                    Þat es depe and myrke and hydus,
                  
                    Þarfor says Iob, þe haly man, þus:
                  
                      Ut non revertar ad terram
                    
                      tenebrosam.
                    
                    Line 6824 
                  
                    He says; "Loverd þat I noght turne away
                  
                    Til þe myrke land", whare sorow es ay,
                  
                    Whare wonyng es ay hydus and ille,
                  
                    Als Iob says þat þus spekes mar þar-tille:
                    Line 6828 
                  
                      Ubi nullus ordo, sed sempiternus
                    
                      horror inhabitans.
                    
                    "Þar nan ordre wonand es," says he,
                  
                    "Bot uglynes þat ever mare sal be."
                    Line 6832 
                  
                    And forþi þat þe synful in þair lyf here,
                  
                    Lufed ay myrknes of syns sere,
                  
                    And wald noght turne þam when þai myght,
                  
                    Fra þat myrknes til Goddes light,

                    Line 6836

Page 185

                  
                    Line 6836 
                  
                    It es right þat þai duelle þare,
                  
                    In þat hidus myrknes ever-mare,
                  
                    And never-mare aftir light se;
                  
                    A strang payne til þam þat sal be.
                    Line 6840 
                  
                    Þe sevend payne es of þe fourtene
                  
                    Þe sight of devels þat sal be sene
                  
                    Omang þe synful þat sal be in helle,
                  
                    In whas company þai sal ay duelle.
                    Line 6844 
                  
                    Þat sight sal be swa hidus to se,
                  
                    Þat alle þe men of cristianté
                  
                    Couthe noght, thurgh witt, ymagyn right,
                  
                    Ne descryve swa hydus a sight,
                    Line 6848 
                  
                    Als þai þan sal se in helle ever-mare,
                  
                    Of ugly devels þat sal be þare,
                  
                    For þan sal be ma devels in helle,
                  
                    Þan any tung can reken or telle;
                    Line 6852 
                  
                    And ilkan sal mare grysely seme
                  
                    Þan any man can ymagyn and deme:
                  
                    For swa hardy es na man, ne swa balde
                  
                    In þis werld, nouther yhung ne alde,
                    Line 6856 
                  
                    If he myght right consayve in mynde,
                  
                    How grysely a devel es in his kynde,
                  
                    Þat durst for alle gude of mydlerde
                  
                    A devel se here, swa suld he be aferde;
                    Line 6860 
                  
                    For þe hardyest man in flesshe and bane
                  
                    Þat here lyfes, yf he sawe ane
                  
                    Of þa devels in þair awen lyknes,
                  
                    Suld wax wode for ferde and be wittles.
                    Line 6864 
                  
                    For-why na witt of man may endure
                  
                    To se a devel in his propre figure.
                  
                    How sal þai fare þan þat ay sal þam se,
                  
                    And ay in company with pam be?
                    Line 6868 
                  
                    Þe synful sal ever-mare on þam luke
                  
                    For þus we fynde wryten in boke:
                  
                      In inferno videbunt eos, facie ad faciem,
                    
                      quorum opera in terris dilexerunt.
                    
                    Line 6872 
                  
                    "In helle þai sal þam se, face to face,
                  
                    Whas werkes þai lufed and folowed þe trace,

Page 186

                  
                    Whilles þai war here in erthe lyfand;"
                  
                    And with þat syght, als I understand,
                    Line 6876 
                  
                    Þai sal duleful crying and sorow here,
                  
                    For Saynt Austyn says on þis manere:
                  
                      Demones igne scintillante
                    
                      videbunt, et miserabilem
                    
                    Line 6880 
                  
                      clamorem flencium et la|
                    
                      mentancium audient.
                    
                    "Þai sal se þar devels with eghe,
                  
                    Thurgh sparkes þat of þe fire sal fleghe,
                    Line 6884 
                  
                    And here þar-with on ilka party,
                  
                    Þe wreched synful grete and cry."
                  
                    And þe sorow and dule þat þai sal make,
                  
                    Sal never-mar þar cees ne slake;
                    Line 6888 
                  
                    And forþi þat þat here hated to se,
                  
                    And to here þat þat gude suld be,
                  
                    And þarfor it es reson and ryght,
                  
                    Þat þai ay se þat grysely syght,
                    Line 6892 
                  
                    And þat þat [þai?]  heryng haf of duleful dyn,
                  
                    To eke þair payn for þair sin.
                  
                    Þe aghtend payne, als þe buke says us,
                  
                    Es þe horribel vermyn venemus.
                    Line 6896 
                  
                    Þe whilk sal on þe synful rouke,
                  
                    And ever-mare þam gnaw and souke,
                  
                    Als ugly draguns, and nedders kene;
                  
                    And tades swa hydus was never here sene
                    Line 6900 
                  
                    And othir vermyn ful of venym,
                  
                    And wode bestes grysely and grym,
                  
                    Þat with tethe sal with þam ay gnaw and byte,
                  
                    On alle þair lyms, whar þai had delite
                    Line 6904 
                  
                    Synful werkes here for to wirk,
                  
                    Agayne þe law of God and of haly kyrk.
                  
                    Þus for þai did ay ogayns Goddes lawe,
                  
                    Vermyn and wode bestes sal þam ay gnawe,
                    Line 6908 
                  
                    For þair syn þat þam thoght here swete,
                  
                    Þarfor God says þus thurgh þe prophete:
                  
                      Dentes bestiarum immittam in eos, cum furo|
                    
                    re trahencium in terra atque serpencium.

                    Line 6912

Page 187

                  
                    Line 6912 
                  
                    "I sal send in þe synful", says he,
                  
                    "Þe tethe of bestes þat felle sal be
                  
                    With wodenes of þam in-til crthe drawand,
                  
                    And of nedders þam fast gnawand."
                    Line 6916 
                  
                    Þus sal wode bestes and vermyn gnaw þam ay
                  
                    And never-mare pas fra þam oway;
                  
                    And þat payne þe synful byhoves ay dreghe,
                  
                    For-why þair vermyn sal never dieghe,
                    Line 6920 
                  
                    Bot ever-mare lyfand with þam duelle,
                  
                    Þarfor God says þus in þe godspelle:
                  
                      Vermis eorum non morietur,
                    
                      et ignis eorum non extinguetur.
                    
                    Line 6924 
                  
                    "Þair vermyn salle never deghe," says he,
                  
                    "Ne þair fyre salle never slekend be;"
                  
                    And to þat says þus Saynt Austyne,
                  
                    Þat spekes here of þat vermyne:
                    Line 6928 
                  
                      Vermes infernales sunt immortales qui, ut pis|
                    
                      ces in aqua, ita vivunt in flamma.
                    
                    He says, "vermyn of helle salle ay lyfe,
                  
                    And never deghe þe synfulle to gryefe,
                    Line 6932 
                  
                    The whilk salle lyfe in þe flawme of fyre,
                  
                    Als fyssches lyfes in water schyre."
                  
                    Þat vermyn on þam salle ay crepe,
                  
                    In þam fest þair clokes full depe; [And in þaim feste þair clowes ful depe (MS. Harl. 6923).] 
                    Line 6936 
                  
                    Þai salle umlapp þam alle oboute,
                  
                    And gnaw on ilka lym and souke;
                  
                    With vermyn þai salle alle coverd be,
                  
                    Swa þat na lym of þam salle be fre,
                    Line 6940 
                  
                    And swa þai salle be ay gnawand
                  
                    On þair lyms, whether þai lyg or stand;
                  
                    Vermyn in helle salle be þair clethyng
                  
                    And vermyn salle þare be þair beddyng.
                    Line 6944 
                  
                    Na clathes þai salle have to gang in,
                  
                    Ne na beddes to lyg in bot vermyn,
                  
                    Wharfor I fynd wryten þare I have red,
                  
                    How þe prophete discryved swilk a bed
                    Line 6948 
                  
                    To þe kyng Nabogodonosor,
                  
                    And sayd þus to mak him ferd þarfor:

Page 188

                  
                      Subter te sternetur tinea, et
                    
                      operimentum tuum vermes.
                    
                    Line 6952 
                  
                    He says "of wormes þi bed salle be
                  
                    Þat salle be strewed thyk under þe,
                  
                    And þi covertoure on þe sene
                  
                    Salle be vermyn fulle felle and kene."
                    Line 6956 
                  
                    Swilk beddes er ordaynd in helle
                  
                    Ffor synfulle men þat þar salle dwelle.
                  
                    Þus salle þai be pyned for þair syn,
                  
                    Ever-mare with fyre and vermyn,
                    Line 6960 
                  
                    And with many other payns ma;
                  
                    Ffor God vouches safe þat it be swa,
                  
                    Ffor þus fynd we wryten in haly wrytt,
                  
                    In a boke of þe Bibelle þat hate Iudyth:
                    Line 6964 
                  
                      Dabit dominus ignem et vermes
                    
                      in carnes eorum, ut urantur
                    
                      et senciant, usque in sem|
                    
                      piternum.
                    
                    Line 6968 
                  
                    It says "fyre and vermyn þat ay salle lyfe,
                  
                    Our lord tylle þe flesch of synfulle salle gyfe,
                  
                    Swa þat þai salle bryn ever-mare,
                  
                    And ay fele of vermyn bytyng sare."
                    Line 6972 
                  
                    Þis payne es mare to fele and se,
                  
                    Þan alle þe paynes þat may be
                  
                    In þis werld here, mare and les,
                  
                    Als þe boke openly bers witnes,
                    Line 6976 
                  
                    Þus salle vermyn in helle be gret payne,
                  
                    Bot yhit may men say here ogayne,
                  
                    Ffor men may in som boke wryten se
                  
                    Þat after þe gret dome þat last salle be,
                    Line 6980 
                  
                    Na quyk creature salle lyf þan,
                  
                    Bot anely aungelle, develle and man,
                  
                    'How suld in helle þan or ourwhare elles,
                  
                    Any vermyn lyf als men telles,
                    Line 6984 
                  
                    Or any other best þat moght dere?'
                  
                    To þis may men gyf answere
                  
                    On þis manere, wha-swa kan;
                  
                    Þe vermyn þat salle be þan,

                    Line 6988

Page 189

                  
                    Line 6988 
                  
                    Als I understand, noght elles es
                  
                    Bot devels in vermyn lyknes,
                  
                    Þat salle byte and gnaw þe synfulle þare,
                  
                    To eke þair payne and mak it mare.
                    Line 6992 
                  
                    Þus salle þe devels gnaw þam with-out,
                  
                    In lyknes of vermyn alle obout.
                  
                    And þair conscience als vermyn,
                  
                    Salle gnaw þam over-alle with-in,
                    Line 6996 
                  
                    And þat gnawyng salle be fulle hard,
                  
                    Of whilk I salle speke sone afterward.
                  
                    Þat vermyn in helle salle be mare grysely
                  
                    Þan vermyn here es, and mare myghty.
                    Line 7000 
                  
                    By vermyn here þan þat greves sare,
                  
                    Men aght to drede þe vermyn þare;
                  
                    And forþi þat þe synfulle was here namely,
                  
                    Ay fulle of hateredyn and of envy,
                    Line 7004 
                  
                    And wald noght amend þam of þat syn,
                  
                    Bot lete it gnaw þam ay with-in,
                  
                    It es ryght and skylle thurgh Godes lawe,
                  
                    Þat þe vermyn in helle ay þam gnawe.
                    Line 7008 
                  
                    Þe neghend payne es to understand,
                  
                    Dyngyng of devels with hamers glowand;
                  
                    Ffor þe devels þe synfulle salle ay bete
                  
                    With glowand hamers huge and grete
                    Line 7012 
                  
                    And als smyths strykes on þe yren fast,
                  
                    Swa þat it brekes and brestes at þe last,
                  
                    Right swa þe devels salle ay dyng
                  
                    On þe synfulle, with-outen styntyng;
                    Line 7016 
                  
                    And with hamers gyf swa gret dyntes,
                  
                    Þatalle to powdre moght stryke hard flyntes;
                  
                    Ffor harder dyntes gaf never engyne,
                  
                    Þan þai salle gyf, als says Saint Austyne:
                    Line 7020 
                  
                      Sicut machina bellita percutit
                    
                      muros opidi, ita demones ym|
                    
                      mo asperius et crudelius, corpora malorum
                    
                      et animas flagellabunt, post iudicium.
                    
                    Line 7024 
                  
                    He says "als men may se ane engyne cast,
                  
                    And at þe walles of a castelle stryke fast

Page 190

                  
                    With a stane þat es huge and hevy,
                  
                    Swa salle devels stryke þase [þuse?]  mare felly
                    Line 7028 
                  
                    Þe ille bodyse and saules þat salle dwelle,
                  
                    After þe last gret dome in helle."
                  
                    Þus salle þai dyng on þam ever-mare,
                  
                    With gret glowand hamers, and nane spare.
                    Line 7032 
                  
                    And þis payne tylle þam salle be endles,
                  
                    Als þe bok here-of bers witnes;
                  
                    Ffor þai salle have power ay and leve,
                  
                    Þe synfull men to dyng and greve,
                    Line 7036 
                  
                    Als in a boke es schewed tylle us,
                  
                    Þat Saynt Austyne made, þare he says þus:
                  
                      Parata iudicia blasphemtoribus, et percu|
                    
                      cientibus malleis stultorum corpora.
                    
                    Line 7040 
                  
                    "Þe domes salle þan be redy
                  
                    Tille þe sklaunderers of God alle myghty,
                  
                    And tylle þase þat salle be ay smytand
                  
                    Þe bodyse of synfulle with melles in hand."
                    Line 7044 
                  
                    And forþi þat þai wald noght take
                  
                    Haly disciplyne here, for Godes sake,
                  
                    Þarfor þe devels salle stryk þam þare,
                  
                    With hevy melles ay, and nane spare.
                    Line 7048 
                  
                    Þe tend payne es þe gnawyng with-in
                  
                    Of þair conscience þat never salle blyn;
                  
                    Ffor with-in þam salle þe worme of conscience frete
                  
                    Als with-outen salle do vermyn grete,
                    Line 7052 
                  
                    And swa salle þai ever-mare, with-outen dout,
                  
                    Be gnawen and byten with-in and with-out.
                  
                    Ffulle mykelle sorow salle þan be in helle
                  
                    Omang þe synfulle þat þare salle dwelle;
                    Line 7056 
                  
                    Ffor þai salle ever þus cry and say,
                  
                    'Allas! Allas! and walaway!
                  
                    Whi ne wald we never are trow,
                  
                    What payne and sorow here es now.'
                    Line 7060 
                  
                    Þan salle þai pleyne þam of þair wickednes,
                  
                    And say þus, als in boke wryten es:
                  
                      Quid nobis profuit superbia, quid divicia|
                    
                    rum iactancia, omnia transierunt velud um|

                    Line 7064

Page 191

                  
                    Line 7064 
                  
                      bra, et tanquam nuncius percurrens, et tanquam
                    
                      na vis procedens in fluctuantem aquam, et tan|
                    
                      quam avis transvolans in aere, cuius itineris non
                    
                      est invenire vestigium.
                    
                    Line 7068 
                  
                    "What avayld us pryde", þai salle say,
                  
                    "What rosyng of ryches or of ryche aray?
                  
                    Alle þat pomp als we se now,
                  
                    Es passed oway als a schadow,
                    Line 7072 
                  
                    And als messanger bifore rynand,
                  
                    And als schypp þat gase in water flowand,
                  
                    And als foghel fleghand in þe ayre als wynd,
                  
                    Of whase gate men may na trace fynd."
                    Line 7076 
                  
                    Þus salle alle þair pomp oway pas,
                  
                    And be als thyng þat never was,
                  
                    Þan salle þam thynk when alle es oway,
                  
                    Alle þair lyfe here bot als ane howr of a day,
                    Line 7080 
                  
                    Þof þai never so lang had lyfed here,
                  
                    Þai may say on þis manere:
                  
                    'Right now born we war in þe world to be,
                  
                    Ryght now in alle our delytes lyfed we,
                    Line 7084 
                  
                    Ryght now we deghed and passed oway
                  
                    Now er we in helle and swa salle be ay,'
                  
                    Þan salle þai knaw how ille þai haf lyfed,
                  
                    When þe worme of conscience þam has greved,
                    Line 7088 
                  
                    Þat with-in salle þam ay gnaw and byte
                  
                    Ffor þai in vanyté had here delyte,
                  
                    And for-þi þat conscience styrd þam noght,
                  
                    To forsake þair folyes þat þai wroght,
                    Line 7092 
                  
                    Bot folowed ay here þair flesschly wille;
                  
                    Þarfor it es gud, ryght, and skylle,
                  
                    Þat þe worme of conscience with-in,
                  
                    Ever-mare in helle þam gnaw for þair syn.
                    Line 7096 
                  
                    Þe ellevend payne es teres of gretyng
                  
                    Of þe synfulle þat, with-outen styntyng,
                  
                    Sal grete ever-mare, als says þe boke;
                  
                    Ffor-whi what for sorow, and what thurgh smoke
                    Line 7100 
                  
                    And what thurgh cald, and what thurgh hete
                  
                    Þat þai salle thole, þai salle ay grete,

Page 192

                  
                    And þus teres fra þair eghen salle ryn
                  
                    Ever-mare and never salle blyn.
                    Line 7104 
                  
                    Swa mykelle water als salle falle þan,
                  
                    Ffra a mans eghe may gesce na man;
                  
                    Ffor-whi þai salle ay be gretand,
                  
                    And þair teres salle be ay flowand,
                    Line 7108 
                  
                    And fra þair eghen ryn swa fast,
                  
                    And þair gretyng swa lang salle last,
                  
                    Þat in alle þe world here, als I wene,
                  
                    Es noght swa mykelle water sene,
                    Line 7112 
                  
                    Als fra þair eghen salle falle þare;
                  
                    Ffor þai salle be gretand ever-mare.
                  
                    Wharfor Saint Austyn says þus,
                  
                    Whase wordes er auctentyke tylle us:
                    Line 7116 
                  
                      In inferno plures effundentur lacrime
                    
                      quam sunt in mari gutte.
                    
                    "In helle," he says, "out-yhetted salle be,
                  
                    Ma teres þan dropes er in þe se,"
                    Line 7120 
                  
                    Þe synfulle salle þare þus ever-mare grete,
                  
                    And þair [teres] salle be of swa gret hete,
                  
                    Þat þe water þat þan salle doun-ryn,
                  
                    Ffra þair eghen, salle þam schald and bryn,
                    Line 7124 
                  
                    Ffor it salle be hatter þan ever was
                  
                    Molten led or welland bras,
                  
                    Als I have herd gret clerkes telle,
                  
                    Þat has descryved þe payns of helle;
                    Line 7128 
                  
                    And for-þi þat þai had here ay lykyng
                  
                    In þair syn and never forthynkyng,
                  
                    Ne sorow þarfore, for þam thoght it swete,
                  
                    Þarfor þai salle in helle ay grete,
                    Line 7132 
                  
                    And with þair teres be schalded sare,
                  
                    To eke þair paynes, als I sayd are.
                  
                    Þe twelfte payne es schame and schenshepe,
                  
                    Þat þe synfulle salle have in helle swa depe,
                    Line 7136 
                  
                    Of ilka syn þat ever þai dyd;
                  
                    Ffor-whi þare salle be knawen and kyd
                  
                    Alle þair syns of thoght, or word and werk,
                  
                    Als says Saint Austyne þe gret clerk:

                    Line 7140

Page 193

                  
                    Line 7140 
                  
                      Omnia in omnibus patebunt, et se ab|
                    
                      scondere non valebunt.
                    
                    "Alle þair syns in þam salle shewed be
                  
                    And þai may nouther þan þam hyde ne fle."
                    Line 7144 
                  
                    Þai salle have mare schame of þair syn þare,
                  
                    And þair schendschepe salle be mare,
                  
                    Þan ever had any man here in thoght
                  
                    Ffor any velany þat ever he wroght,
                    Line 7148 
                  
                    And þat schame with þam salle last ay,
                  
                    And never salle pas fra þam oway;
                  
                    Þai may say þus þat þare þan dwelles,
                  
                    Als þe prophete in þe psauter telles;
                    Line 7152 
                  
                      Tota die verecundia mea contra me est, et
                    
                      confusio faciei mee cooperuit me.
                    
                    Þat es, "my schamefulnes," says he,
                  
                    Alle day es ogayns me,
                    Line 7156 
                  
                    And þe schenschepe of my face
                  
                    Salle cover me, in ilka place."
                  
                    Þai salle swa schame ay of þair syn,
                  
                    Þat þam salle thynk als þai suld bryn,
                    Line 7160 
                  
                    Ffor þe gret schame þat þai salle have þare,
                  
                    Þat never salle cese, bot last ever-mare;
                  
                    Wharfor if na payne war in helle,
                  
                    Bot þat schame anely, þat I of telle,
                    Line 7164 
                  
                    It suld be tylle þam þare mare payne,
                  
                    Þan any man couth here ordayne;
                  
                    And forþi þat þai here in þair lyfe,
                  
                    Durst never for schame of syn þam schryve,
                    Line 7168 
                  
                    Bot with-outen schame to syn was bald,
                  
                    It es ryght þat þai have, als I tald,
                  
                    Schame in helle for þair syn,
                  
                    Of whilk þai wald here never blyn.
                    Line 7172 
                  
                    Þe threttende payne es, als clerkes wate,
                  
                    Þe bandes of fyre brynand fulle hate,
                  
                    With whilk þe synfulle salle be bonden,
                  
                    Als in som boke wryten es fonden;
                    Line 7176 
                  
                    And þa bandes of fyre salle never slake.
                  
                    Ffor þai wald never þair syn forsake,

Page 194

                  
                    Þai salle be with þa bandes brynand,
                  
                    In helle hard bonden, both fote and hand,
                    Line 7180 
                  
                    And straytely streyned ilka lym,
                  
                    Thurgh þe devels þat er ugly and grym.
                  
                    Þair wonyng in helle salle be endeles,
                  
                    Omang stynk and fylth in gret myrknes,
                    Line 7184 
                  
                    Whare ever es nyght and never day,
                  
                    Als men may here gret clerkes say.
                  
                    Þan salle þai fele, when þai þare come,
                  
                    Godes vengeance thurgh ryghtwise dome,
                    Line 7188 
                  
                    Ffor þair syn þat him here myspays,
                  
                    Wharfor God þus in þe gosspelle says:
                  
                      Ligatis manibus et pedibus, mittite
                    
                      in tenebras exteriores.
                    
                    Line 7192 
                  
                    "Lat bynd þair hend and þair fete fast,
                  
                    And in-to þe utter myrknes þam cast,"
                  
                    Þat es in þe deppest pytt of helle,
                  
                    Whare mare sorow es þan tong may telle.
                    Line 7196 
                  
                    Þare salle þair hevedes be turned dounward,
                  
                    And þair fete upward bonden hard,
                  
                    And þair bodyse be streyned bi fete and hed,
                  
                    With brynand bandes glowand red;
                    Line 7200 
                  
                    Þai salle be pyned on þis manere,
                  
                    With other paynes many and sere,
                  
                    Als a gret clerk says openly,
                  
                    In a boke þat he made thurgh study,
                    Line 7204 
                  
                    Of sere questyons of divinité,
                  
                    Þat es cald 'Flos Sciencie'
                  
                    Þat es on Ynglys 'þe flour of konyng'
                  
                    Whare wryten es many privé thyng;
                    Line 7208 
                  
                    In þat boke þus he telles,
                  
                    How þai salle hyng þat þar þan dwelles:
                  
                      Capita, inquit, eorum erunt ad-invicem deorsum versa,
                    
                      pedes sursum erecti, et undique penis distenti.
                    
                    Line 7212 
                  
                    He says "in þe grond of helle dongeoune
                  
                    "Þe hevedes of synfulle salle be turned doune,
                  
                    And þe fete upward fast knytted
                  
                    And in strang payns be streyned and tytted."

                    Line 7216

Page 195

                  
                    Line 7216 
                  
                    And for-þi, þat þai war here ay redy
                  
                    To syn, with sere lyms of þair body,
                  
                    Þarfor þai salle be bonden þare
                  
                    Be divers lyms, als I sayd are,
                    Line 7220 
                  
                    With brynand bandes hate glowand,
                  
                    Þat ever mare salle be lastand;
                  
                    And for-þi þat þai wald noght God knaw,
                  
                    Na kepe þe ordre here of his law,
                    Line 7224 
                  
                    Bot turned þam ay fro God-ward,
                  
                    And on þe world þair hertes sett hard,
                  
                    And swa mysturned here þair lyfyng
                  
                    In-tylle vanyté and flesschly lykyng,
                    Line 7228 
                  
                    Þarfor it es ryght and resoune,
                  
                    Þat þai be turned up-swa-doune,
                  
                    And streyned in helle and bonden fast,
                  
                    With bandes of fire þat ay salle last.
                    Line 7232 
                  
                    Þe fourtende payne es despayre to telle,
                  
                    In whilk þe synfulle salle ay dwelle,
                  
                    With-outen hope of mercy þan,
                  
                    Ffor Salamon says þus, þe wise man:
                    Line 7236 
                  
                      Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad infernum non rever|
                    
                      tentur, nec apprehendent semitas vite.
                    
                    He says "alle þase þat tylle helle wendes,
                  
                    And in despayre salle be omang fendes,
                    Line 7240 
                  
                    Salle never after turne ogayne,
                  
                    Ne tak þe ways of lyfe certayne."
                  
                    For when þai er dampned thurgh iugement,
                  
                    And with body and saule tille helle er sent,
                    Line 7244 
                  
                    Þai salle never after, with-outen dout,
                  
                    Have hope, ne thynk to com out,
                  
                    Bot ever-mare dwelle with-outen hope,
                  
                    Ffor þus says þe haly man Job:
                    Line 7248 
                  
                      Quia in inferno nulla est
                    
                      redempcio.
                    
                    "Ffor in hell", he says, "es na redempcyoune"
                  
                    Thurgh na help of frende; for na devocyone
                    Line 7252 
                  
                    Of prayer, ne almusdede, ne messe,
                  
                    May þam help, ne þair payn mak les.

Page 196

                  
                    A strang payn salle þis be in helle,
                  
                    Ever-mare þus in despayre to dwelle,
                    Line 7256 
                  
                    With-outen hope of recouverere.
                  
                    Þis passes alle þe payns of þis lyfe here,
                  
                    Ffor here has na man payn swa strang,
                  
                    Þat he ne has som tyme hope omang,
                    Line 7260 
                  
                    Outher of remedy þat men may kast,
                  
                    Or þat it salle end and noght ay last;
                  
                    Elles suld þe hert, thurgh sorow and care,
                  
                    Over-tyte fayle, warn som hope ware;
                    Line 7264 
                  
                    Ffor in sorow here hope comfortes best.
                  
                    And men says, warn hope ware it suld brest.
                  
                    Bot in helle na hope may falle in thoght,
                  
                    And þair hertes brest may noght;
                    Line 7268 
                  
                    Ffor þai er ordaynd to lyf ay þare,
                  
                    Swa þat þai may be pyned ever-mare.
                  
                    Bot þe lyfe of þam in þat stede
                  
                    Es wers and bytterer þan þe dede.
                    Line 7272 
                  
                    Bot better it war to be fully slayne,
                  
                    Þan over-lang lyfe in strang payne;
                  
                    Bot þe synfulle salle ay þare in payne be,
                  
                    And na ded may þam sla bot ay þam fle,
                    Line 7276 
                  
                    Als þe boke openly schewes us,
                  
                    Whare we may fynd wryten þus:
                  
                      Mors fugiet ab eis.
                    
                    "Þe ded", þat here es strang and hard
                    Line 7280 
                  
                    "Salle ay þan fle fra þam-ward,"
                  
                    Þe payns of þe ded þai salle ay dreghe,
                  
                    Bot þai salle never-mare fully deghe;
                  
                    Þai salle ay lyf in sorow and stryfe,
                    Line 7284 
                  
                    Bot þair lyf salle seme mare ded þan lyfe;
                  
                    Þair lyfe in mydward þe ded salle stand,
                  
                    Ffor þai salle lyfe ever-mare deghand,
                  
                    And deghe ever-mare lyfand with-alle,
                    Line 7288 
                  
                    Als men dose þat we se in swowne falle;
                  
                    And for-þi, þat þai here mykelle lufed syn,
                  
                    And thurgh over-mykelle hope ay lyfed þar-in,

Page 197

                  
                    And to leve þair syn had never wille,
                    Line 7292 
                  
                    Þarfor it es gud, ryght and skylle,
                  
                    Þat þai be ay for þair foly,
                  
                    In helle with-outen hope of mercy.
                  
                    Now have I schewed yhow, als I couth telle,
                    Line 7296 
                  
                    Þe fourtene generalle payns in helle;
                  
                    Bot yhit es over þase a payne generalle,
                  
                    Þat of alle other es mast principalle,
                  
                    Þat es tharnyng for ever of the syght namly,
                    Line 7300 
                  
                    Of our Lord God alle-myghty.
                  
                    Ffor whilk syght þat þai for ever have tynt,
                  
                    Þai salle have sorow þat never salle stynt;
                  
                    And þe sorow þat þarfor salle falle
                    Line 7304 
                  
                    Salle be mast payne to þam of alle,
                  
                    For als þe syght of God in heven, es
                  
                    Mast ioy of alle other, mare and les,
                  
                    Right swa þe tharnyng for ever of þat syght,
                    Line 7308 
                  
                    Es þe mast payne in helle dyght;
                  
                    Ffor alle þe payns þat in helle may be,
                  
                    Suld noght þam dere if þai moght him se.
                  
                    Yhit salle þare be sere payns many ma
                    Line 7312 
                  
                    Als þe boke says, and mare sorow and wa
                  
                    Þan alle þe men of erth, ald and yhong,
                  
                    Moght thynk with hert or telle with tong,
                  
                    Þat þe synful men þat salle wende
                    Line 7316 
                  
                    Tille helle salle have with-outen ende,
                  
                    Þe whilk payns and sorow salle never cees;
                  
                    Ffor þare salle never be rest ne pees,
                  
                    Bot travail and stryfe with sorow and care,
                    Line 7320 
                  
                    Fulle wa salle þam be þat salle dwelle þare;
                  
                    Þai sall thynk on nathyng elles,
                  
                    Bot on þair payns, als som clerkes telles,
                  
                    And on þair syn þat þai here wroght,
                    Line 7324 
                  
                    Swa salle payns and sorow troble þair thoght;
                  
                    Ffor þare salle be þan herd and sene,
                  
                    Alkyn sorow and trey and tene.
                  
                    Þare salle be wantyng of alkyn thyng,
                    Line 7328 
                  
                    In whilk moght be any lykyng,

Page 198

                  
                    And defaut of alle thyng þat gud moght be,
                  
                    And of alle þat ille es gret plenté.
                  
                    In helle salle be þan fulle dolefulle dyn,
                    Line 7332 
                  
                    Omang þe synfulle þat salle dwelle þar-in,
                  
                    Þat ever-mare salle þus cry and say:
                  
                    "Allas, allas and walaway!
                  
                    Þat ever we war of wemmen borne,
                    Line 7336 
                  
                    Ffor we er fra God for ever lorne?"
                  
                    Þan salle þai grete and goule and with teth gnayste
                  
                    Ffor of help ne mercy þar þam noght trayste. [Þai salle gret and with teth gnayste, For mercy þar þaim nane traiste (MS. Harl. 6923).] 
                  
                    Þe devels obout þam þan in helle,
                    Line 7340 
                  
                    On þam salle ever-mare rare and yhelle;
                  
                    Swa hydus noyse þai salle þan make,
                  
                    Þat alle þe world it moght do qwake,
                  
                    And alle þe men lyfand þat herd it,
                    Line 7344 
                  
                    To ga wode for ferd and tyne þair witt.
                  
                    Þe devils ay omang on þam salle stryke,
                  
                    And þe synfulle þare-with ay cry and skryke;
                  
                    Þare salle be þan mare noyse and dyn,
                    Line 7348 
                  
                    Þan alle þe men of erth couth ymagyn,
                  
                    Ffor þare salle be swilk rareyng and ruschyng
                  
                    And raumpyng of devels and dyngyng and dusching
                  
                    And skrykyng of synfulle, als I said are,
                    Line 7352 
                  
                    Þat þe noyse salle be swa hydus þare,
                  
                    Omang devels and þase þat salle com þider,
                  
                    Ryght als heven and erth strake togyder.
                  
                    Ane hydus thing es it to telle
                    Line 7356 
                  
                    Of þe noyse þat salle þan be in helle;
                  
                    Þe devels, þat ay salle be fulle of ire,
                  
                    Salle stopp þe synfulle ay in þe fyre,
                  
                    Swa þat þai salle glowe ay als fyre brandes
                    Line 7360 
                  
                    And ay when þai may weld þair hands, [MS. Harl. 6923 reads styr for weld.] 
                  
                    Ffor sorow þai salle þam hard wryng;
                  
                    And walaway þai salle ay syng.
                  
                    In helle salle be þan swa gret thrang,
                    Line 7364 
                  
                    Þat nane may remow for other ne gang.

Page 199

                  
                    On na syde, backward ne forward
                  
                    Ffor þai salle be pressed togyder swaharde,
                  
                    Als þai war stopped togyder in ane oven,
                    Line 7368 
                  
                    Ffulle of fyre bineth and oboven;
                  
                    Bot never-þe-les helle yhit es swa depe,
                  
                    And swa wyde and large, þat it moght kepe
                  
                    Alle þe creatures, les and mare,
                    Line 7372 
                  
                    Of alle þe world if myster ware.
                  
                    Ilka synfulle salle þare on other prese,
                  
                    And nane of þam salle other eese,
                  
                    Bot ever fyght togyder and stryfe,
                    Line 7376 
                  
                    Als þai war wode men of þis lyfe,
                  
                    And ilk ane scratte other in þe face,
                  
                    And þair awen flessch of-ryve and race,
                  
                    Swa þat ilk ane wald him self fayn sla,
                    Line 7380 
                  
                    If he moght, swa salle him be wa,
                  
                    Bot þare-to salle þai haf na myght,
                  
                    Ffor þe ded salle never mar on þam lyght.
                  
                    Ffulle fayn þai wald þan ded be,
                    Line 7384 
                  
                    Bot þe ded salle ay fra þam fle;
                  
                    After þe ded þai salle yherne ilk ane,
                  
                    Als in þe apocalypse schewes Saint Iohan:
                  
                      Desiderabunt mori, et
                    
                    Line 7388 
                  
                      mors fugit ab eis.
                    
                    "Þai sall yherne", he says, "to deghe ay,
                  
                    And þe ded salle fle fra þam oway;"
                  
                    Omang þam salle ay be debate,
                    Line 7392 
                  
                    Ilk ane of þam salle other hate.
                  
                    Þai salle be fulle of hateredyn þan;
                  
                    Ilk ane salle other wery and ban,
                  
                    And say "cursed kaytif and wa worth þe,
                    Line 7396 
                  
                    And weryed mot þou ever be,
                  
                    And weryed mot þai be ever-mare,
                  
                    Þat þe gat and þat þe bare,
                  
                    And þe tyme þat þou was born alswa,
                    Line 7400 
                  
                    Ffor þi payne es tylle me sorow and wa;
                  
                    It pynes me and greves me sare,
                  
                    Als mykelle als myne awen payn or mare,

Page 200

                  
                    Ffor my payne it ekes, and mase mare grevus."
                    Line 7404 
                  
                    Ilk ane tylle other þan salle say þus.
                  
                    Þus ilk mans payne salle other dere,
                  
                    And nane of þam salle other forbere;
                  
                    Nouther son, ne doghter, ne syster, ne brother
                    Line 7408 
                  
                    Ffader ne moder, ne yhit nane other;
                  
                    Ffor ilk ane salle other hate dedly,
                  
                    And ilk ane gryn on other and cry.
                  
                    Ilk ane salle gnaw þair awen tonges in sonder,
                    Line 7412 
                  
                    And ilk ane salle þare on other wonder.
                  
                    Þus in helle salle þai far ay,
                  
                    And þar-with sklaundre God and say:
                  
                    "Whar-to made God us tylle his lyknes,
                    Line 7416 
                  
                    And lates us now dwell þare sorow ay es;
                  
                    Bot it semes þat God made us in vayne,
                  
                    When we er þus putted tille endles payne,
                  
                    Or he us made for noght els to dwelle
                    Line 7420 
                  
                    In erth, bot to be fyre brandes in helle."
                  
                    Þai salle wery þe tyme þat þai war wroght,
                  
                    And say "allas whine war we noght."
                  
                    Þus salle þai sklaundre God omang,
                    Line 7424 
                  
                    Swa hard þair payns salle be, and swa strang;
                  
                    Þai salle ilk ane on other stare and gryn,
                  
                    Als wode men dose here, and makes gret dyn;
                  
                    An hydus thing to here it ware,
                    Line 7428 
                  
                    Wha-swa couth telle þe payns þare,
                  
                    Als properly als þai salle þare be.
                  
                    Bot þat couth noght alle þe men of cristianté.
                  
                    Ne alle þe clerkes þat ever had witt,
                    Line 7432 
                  
                    Sen þe world bigan, ne þat lyfes yhit
                  
                    Couth never telle, bi clergy, ne arte
                  
                    Of þa payns of helle þe thowsand parte.
                  
                    Ffor þe noumbre of payns þat þare griefes
                    Line 7436 
                  
                    Passes þe mens witt þat here liefes,
                  
                    Or þat ever lyfed in any degré,
                  
                    And þat may men bi skylle þus se;
                  
                    Ffor ilka syn þat þe synfulle has wroght,
                    Line 7440 
                  
                    Whar it never swa lytelle venyalle thoght,

Page 201

                  
                    Þai salle have certayne payne þare,
                  
                    After þat þe syn es les or mare.
                  
                    Wha couth þan telle, war he never swa wyse,
                    Line 7444 
                  
                    Alle þe syns and alle þe folyse,
                  
                    Both dedly and alswa venyale,
                  
                    And leve nane untald, gret ne smale,
                  
                    Þe whilk a man has here fallen in,
                    Line 7448 
                  
                    Ffra þe tyme þat he first bigan to syn,
                  
                    Both in thoght, in word and dede?
                  
                    Alswa say nane es þat tyme couth rede. [Als wha say na man couth thaim rede (MS. Harl. 6923).] 
                  
                    And for ilka thing done here in vayne,
                    Line 7452 
                  
                    In helle es ordaynd certayne payne
                  
                    Tille synfulle men þat salle dwelle þare.
                  
                    Þan bihoves þam, als I sayd are,
                  
                    Ffor ilka syn þat þai dyd here,
                    Line 7456 
                  
                    Have certayne payne singulere;
                  
                    And for ilka manere of syn and foly,
                  
                    Be pyned in helle specyaly.
                  
                    And als oft-sythe als þai here newed þair syn
                    Line 7460 
                  
                    Als oft-syth þair payn salle new þare bigyn;
                  
                    Þarfor swamany payns tylle þam salle falle,
                  
                    Þat na witt may comprehende þam alle;
                  
                    Ffor na syn þat þai ever here dyd,
                    Line 7464 
                  
                    Dedly ne veniele, salle be hyd,
                  
                    Bot alle openly sene and nan be laynd,
                  
                    Ffor whilk salle be þare sere payns ordaynd;
                  
                    Wha moght þan alle þe payns telle,
                    Line 7468 
                  
                    Þat þe synfulle men salle have in helle?
                  
                    Ffor-whi if a man fra hethen pass oway
                  
                    In a dedly syn, at his last day,
                  
                    Ffor ilka venyel syn, þat ever dyd he,
                    Line 7472 
                  
                    He salle þan diversly pyned be;
                  
                    And als oft renoueld [renewed?]  salle be ilk payne,
                  
                    Als he turned new tylle ilk syn ogayne.
                  
                    And þe lest payne þare es mare to se,
                    Line 7476 
                  
                    Þan alle þe payns of þis world may be,

Page 202

                  
                    Ffor alle þe payns of þis world here,
                  
                    Þat ever was sene fer or nere,
                  
                    Als to þe lest payne þare moght noght be tald,
                    Line 7480 
                  
                    Bot als a bathe of water, nouther hate ne cald [Als a leuke bath nouther hate ne calde (MS. Harl. 6923).] 
                  
                    Ffor alle þe sorow of þis world, ilka dele,
                  
                    War noght bot als solace and ioy to fele,
                  
                    Als to regard of þe lest payne,
                    Line 7484 
                  
                    Þat es in helle; þis es certayne,
                  
                    Ilk synfulle salle haf syght þare
                  
                    Of alle þe payns, both les and mare,
                  
                    Þat alle þe synfulle men salle dreghe.
                    Line 7488 
                  
                    Þan salle ilk ane se þare with eghe
                  
                    Men and wymmen, many a thousand,
                  
                    On ilk syde obout, in sere payns dwelland;
                  
                    And þat syght, þat ilk ane salle þare se
                    Line 7492 
                  
                    Of ilka payne, tylle þam payne salle be;
                  
                    Ffor alle þe payns þat salle falle tylle ilk man
                  
                    Salle be sorow tylle alle þat sese þam þan.
                  
                    Þus salle ilk ane dreghe mare payn in helle,
                    Line 7496 
                  
                    Þan hert moght ever think or tong telle;
                  
                    What of payns þat to þam-self salle be dyght,
                  
                    And what of payns þat þai salle have of syght.
                  
                    Ffor alle þe payns, þat þare salle be knawen,
                    Line 7500 
                  
                    Salle greve ilk man als mykelle als his awen;
                  
                    Swilk payns to here, als men may here rede,
                  
                    Aght to mak ilk man of helle have drede;
                  
                    For I trow þat here es no man lyfand,
                    Line 7504 
                  
                    Swa hard-herted, þat wald understand
                  
                    And trow what payns in helle er wroght,
                  
                    Þat he ne suld have gret dred in thoght,
                  
                    Þe whilk suld mak him hate alle foly,
                    Line 7508 
                  
                    Wharfor he war swylk payns worthy.
                  
                    Bot alle þase þat wille þair syn forsake,
                  
                    Whils þai lyfe here, ar þe ded þam take,
                  
                    And of alle thing have forthynkyng
                    Line 7512 
                  
                    Þat þai have done ogayns Godes bydyng,

Page 203

                  
                    And turn þam tylle God fra þair syn,
                  
                    And ask his mercy and trayst þar-in,
                  
                    And be lufand un-tylle him and bowsom,
                    Line 7516 
                  
                    In þa payns of helle salle never com,
                  
                    Bot tylle þe blys of heven mon þai wende,
                  
                    And have þare þair lykyng with-outen ende.
                  
                    Here have I spoken of þe payns of helle,
                    Line 7520 
                  
                    Als yhe have herd me openly telle,
                  
                    And of þe sext part of þis boke made ende.
                  
                    Now wille I tylle þe sevend part wende,
                  
                    Þat es þe last part of alle;
                    Line 7524 
                  
                    Þe whilk spekes als I shew yhow salle,
                  
                    Specialy of þe ioyes in heven,
                  
                    Þat er mare þan any tong may neven.
                  
                    Bot fyrst I wille schew yhow whare heven es,
                    Line 7528 
                  
                    Als clerkes says and þe boke bers witnes;
                  
                    And efter þat I salle schew yhow mare,
                  
                    And telle yhow of sere ioyes þat er þare.

About this Item

Pages

Her begynnes þe sext party of þis boke þat spekes of þe paynes of Helle. [This heading is absent from MSS. Galba E IX, Harl. 4196).]

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The pricke of conscience (stimulus conscientiæ): a Northumbrian poem / by Richard Rolle de Hampole ; ed. Richard Morris.

About this Item

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Her begynnes þe sext party of þis boke þat spekes of þe paynes of Helle. [This heading is absent from MSS. Galba E IX, Harl. 4196).]

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