The Middle-English Harrowing of hell and Gospel of Nicodemus. Now first ed. from all the known manuscripts, with introduction and glossary, by William Henry Hulme.

The Harrowing of Hell.

Digby MS. TEXT O.

Hou ihesu crist herowede helle [leaf 119] [1. Lines 1-2 in red ink; de in herowede above line; Varn. herewede.] Of harde gates ich wille telle. Leue frend, nou beþ stille, Lesteþ þat ich tellen wille [ 4] Ou ihesu fader him biþoute And adam hout of helle broute. In helle was adam and eve Þat veren ihesu crist wel leve, [ 8] [8. (Hal.=Wright-Halliwell, Reliq. Antiq. i, 253.) Hal. M. Varn. weren.] And seint iohan þe baptist Þat was neweu ihesu crist, [10. Hal. newen.] Dauit þe prophete and abraham, For þe sunnes of adam; [ 12] [12. Hal. Adem.] And moni oþer holi mon Mo þen ich ou tellen con; [Abbreviations.—B=Boeddeker; C=Collier; H=Halliwell; M=Mall; L=Laing; Varn=Varnhagen.]

Til ihesu fader nom fles and blod [15. Hal. Till.] Of þe maiden marie god, [ 16] And suþþen was don ful muchel some, [17. Hal. michel.] Bounden and beten and maked ful lome [18. Hal. Bonden.] Tille þat gode friday at non; Þenne he was on rode idon, [ 20] His honden from his body wonden, Mit here miȝte hoe him shenden. [22. Hal. Nit.] To helle sone he nom gate Adam and eve hout to take; [ 24] Þo þe he to helle cam Sucche wordes he bigan: "Harde gates haui gon, [27. Hardegates: first e inserted from below.] Serewes soffred moni hon, [ 28] þritti winter and half þritti ȝer [29. First i in second þritti above line.] Haui ben wend alonde her; Almest so muchel hit is agon Suþþen þat i bicom furst mon; [ 32] Suþþen haui þoled and west Boþe chele, hounger and þurst; Men duden me so muchel same, Wiþ wounden stronge makede me lame; [ 36]

Hi nomen me wiþouten sake, Bounden min honden to mi bake, Hi beten me þat I ran ablode, [39. þat: t above line.] And suþþen me duden one þe rode; [ 40] ffor adam sunful, Iwis, Al haui þoled þis. Adam, þu hauest about hit sore, And I ne mai soffren hit na more; [ 44] Hit wille þe bringen of helle pine, Þe, adam, and alle þine." "Wo is þat ich here þere? Ne red ich him speken na more, [ 48] He may nou so muchel do, Þat he sal ous comen to To ben houre fere And witen hou we pleyeþ here." [ 52] Þenne spak ihesu, þe king: "Stille be þu, lording, Þat ich here greden þere; Ich rede þat þou ne speke na more, [ 56] [56. o in þou above line.] Þou miȝt wel witen bi mi play Þat ich wile hauen mine away; Wost þu neuere wat ich am? More þen .xxx. vinter hit is agon [ 60] Þat þu hauest fonded me

fforto witen wat I be; Sunne ne foundest þou neuer non [63. o in þou above line.] In me as in anoþer mon; [ 64] Þou miȝt wel witen þe bi þon Þat ich more þen ani mon; Þou salt wel witen þe to-day [leaf 119, bk.] Þat ich wyle hauen mine away; [ 68] Þenne þou letest þe alone, Þenne þou miȝt grunten and grone." Þenne spak him satanas, Maister-fend in helle he was: [ 72] "Par ma fey! ich holde mine Alle þo þat here ben hine; Wiþ reisoun willy tellen þe, Þer aȝein ne miȝt þou nout be; [ 76] Adam þe houngrie com me to, Mani redes he gan me do; ffor on appel þat ich ȝaf him He is min and al is cun." [ 80] "Satanas, hit was min, Þe appel þat þou ȝeue him, Þe appel and þe appeltre, Boþen veren maked þoru me; [ 84] Hou miȝtest þou in eni cunnes wyse Of oþer monnes þing maken marchaundise?

Seþþen þou boundest him wiþ min, Wiþ reisoun wil ich hauen him." [ 88] "Ihesu, welcomen þou be, Þat ful sore reweþ me; Þou art loured ouer al, Þou hauest þat þou habbe shal; [ 92] [92. shal; the h of sh appears to have been inserted by a later hand wherever it occurs in this MS.] Heuene and erþe weldest þou þe, Þe soules in helle let þou be; Þat ich haue let me helde, Þat þou hauest wel mote þou welde." [ 96] "Stille, stille, satanas! Þe is fallen aunbesas. Wendest þou i were ded for nout? ffor mi deþ was monkun boust; [ 100] [100. Apparently an attempt was made to change s of boust to h.] Hy þat habbeþ serued me Sulen wiþ me in blisse be; Þo þat nolden on me bileuen Sulen wiþ þe here bileuen; [ 104] Þou salt hauen more pine Þen alle þo þat her ben ine." "May mon me so worse do Þene I haue aved hiderto? [ 108] Ich aue þoled so muchel wo Þat I ne recche weder I go; If þou bireuest me of mine, I sal bireuen þe of þine; [ 112] I shal gon from mon to manne And bireuen þe moni anne." "God hit wot, I shal speken þe wiþ, Þat wel shaltou holde griþ; [ 116]

So faste shal I binden þe, Þat fewe shalt þou bireuen me; Þou salt here ben bounden ay, Tille þat comeþ domesday; [ 120] If þou were hounbounden among men, Almest woldest þou bireuen me hem; Þe smale deuelen þat beþ hounstronge, Hoe sulen among moncum ȝonge [ 124] Forto hauen alle hem Þat hem ne willeþ stonden aȝein. Helle ȝates ich come nou to, Nou ich wille þat hy ben houndo; [ 128] Wer is nou þe ȝateward? Ich holde him for a couard." "Ich haue Iherd wordes harde, Ne am ich na more ȝatewarde; [ 132] Ich haue Iherd wordes stronge, [leaf 120] Ne dar ihc duellen er nout longe; [er above line.] Loke hem nou, wose may, [Varn. mai.] Ich lete hem stonden and renne away." [ 136] "Helle ȝates her I falle And suþþen go into helle; Satanas, here I þe binde, Ne salt þou neuere hene winde; [ 140] Ne salt þou neuere wenden away Tille þat comeþ domesday.

Fare so þou euere fare, Ne salt þou neuere do mon kare." [ 144] "Uuelcome, louerd god in londe, Godes sone and godes sonde; Welcome, louerd, wel þou be, fful longe haueþ ous þout after þe; [ 148] fful welcomen art þou ous, [149. h before ous has been erased.] Þou bring ous out of þis loþe hous. Welcome, louerd, ich am adam Þat þou makedest of erþe mon; [ 152] Ihesu crist, bide I þe Þat mine sunnen forȝef þou me." "Welcome, louerd, ich am eve, [155. louerd: d above line.] Adam and I þat weren so leve, [ 156] Þou ȝeue ous leue to loken parais, And we hit lokeden al amis; We þi hit comaundement forleten Þo we of þen appel eten; [ 160] So longe hauen we ben herinne,

Þa fewe nou beþ oure sunne; [162. M. (note, p. 32), Varn. non.] Leue louerd, ȝef ous leue, Adam and I þat weren so leue, [ 164] To faren hof þis loþe lis Into þe blisse of parais." "Adam, adam, ich ȝaf mi lif ffor þe and for eve, þi wif; [ 168] Wendest þou I were ded for nowt? ffor mi deþ was monkun bout; [170. s in was above line.] Adam, nou i sege hit þe, To-day þou salt alesed be [ 172] And comen to paraises blisse, Þerof ne salt þou neuere misse." "Louerd crist, ich hit am Þat þou clepedest abraam; [ 176] Þou bihete þat of mire more Sulde a god chil ben Ibore Þat sulde bringen of helle pine Alle þat þou clepedest for þine; [ 180] Þou art þat child, þou art þat mon Þat boren was of abraom!" "Wel ich wot þat þou art abraam, Of mine cunne þat þou cam, [ 184] More þe bereweþ þi riȝtwisnese Þene þe doþ þi sibnesse; Abraam, I wot ful wel Þat hit is soþ, eueruch del, [ 188] Þat mi suete moder was Bigeten of þy suete fles;

Abraam, I suge hit þe, To-day þou sal alesed be [ 192] And comen to paradises blisse, Þerof ne salt þou neuere misse; Bringen ich will out of pine Abraam þe and alle þine." [ 196] "Louerd, ich am daui, þe king, Þat boren was of þin ofspring; Do also þo me bihete [leaf 120, bk.] Þoru þe wordes of þe prophete; [ 200] Ihesu crist, godes sone, Hou þou art hider Icome, [202. Hou: H scribal error for N; Varn. Nou.] Let ous out of helle pine, Alle þat þou holdest for þine." [ 204] "Daui, þou art boren of mi kun, ffor þi godnese art þou min, More for þi godnesse Þen for þine sibnesse. [ 208] Daui, I suge hit þe, To-day þou salt alesed be And comen to paradises blisse, Þerof ne salt þou neuere misse." [ 212] "Louerd crist, ich am iohan Þat þe heuede of þe flim iordan; Twelue winter hit is agon Þat ich þolede martirdom; [ 216] Þou hete me to helle ware And þat I sulde sugen þare Þat art þou crist, godes sone, Þat solde sone þider come [ 220] fforto lesen of helle pine, Louerd, þat keneden for þine;

Þou art comen, nou þou do Þat þu seidest me to." [ 224] "Iohan, iohan, ich hit wot þat I seide þe þat, Þat þou salt comen me to, Þat I seide þe do." [ 228] "Louerd, ich am moises, þe prophete, Ich dude þe lawen, þat þou hete, Ich dude þe lawen þat þou astolde [231. MS. possibly astvlde.] Wor to ben oþin on wolde; [ 232] [232. oþin; Varn. opin.] Þou teitest me þene riȝte wey Opone þe mounte of sinay, Þat me sulde comen to bote, Þe sune þat adam þoute suete." [ 236] "þou dedest wel wiþhouten delay Þe comaundement of þe lay; Þou mi comaundement wel helde wiþ þe, ffor þou nou salt in blisse be; [ 240] Hy þat habbeþ me serued treuliche [241. Varn. treulich.] Comeþ wiþ me to heuene riche, Hy sulen alle to heuene blysse, Þe curssede gostes sulen misse; [ 244] Hy þat nolde nout on me bileue, Hy sulen in helle wiþ satanas bileue; Long is O and long is ay Tille þat comeþ domesday; [ 248] Þou, satanas, and alle þine, Wenden ȝe sulen to helle pine."

Heueriche is redy to mon, Gou we þider, gou we anon; [ 252] Louerd, ȝef ous þat ilke blisse Þat þou wonest ine iwisse, [254. Varn. inne.] Þat we moten comen þe to And hauen wiþ þe reste and ro. [ 256] [256. Varn. a for amen.]

amen.

Harley MS. TEXT L.

Alle herkneþ to me nou! [leaf 55, bk.] a strif wolle y tellen ou [2. M. wille I. Mall always alters MS. y to i.] of ihesu ant of Sathan, [3. B. iesu (regularly); C. Jesus (always); M. Jesu (always); M. Satan.] þo ihesu wes to helle ygan [ 4] [4. M. gan.] fforte vacche þenne hys, [5. M. For to fette . . his.] ant bringen hem to parays. [6. M. And (always); parais.] þe deuel heuede so muche pouste [7. M. michel.] þat alle mosten to helle te; [ 8] nas non so holy prophete seþþe Adam & eue þen appel ete, [10 .M. Siþþen. Varn eve.] ant he were at þis worldes fyne, þat he ne moste to helle pyne; [ 12] ne shulde he neuer þenne come nere ihesu crist godes sone. vor þat wes seid to Adam ant eue, [15. M. For.] þat were ihesu crist so leeue; [ 16] [16. M. leue.] ant so wes seyd to habraham, [17. C. sayd; M. seid . . Abraham; last a in habraham above line.] þat wes sothfast holy man; [18. M. soþfast.] an[t] so wes seid to dauyd þe kyng, [19. B. ant; H.M. And.] þat wes of cristes oune ofspryng; [ 20] [20. H. onne.] ant to Iohan þ[e] baptist, [21. C.H. the; M. þe; a in Iohan above line; C. John the.] þat folewede ihesu crist; ant to Moyses þe holy whyt, [23. B. wyht; M. wiht.] þe heuede þe lawe to ȝeme ryht; [ 24] [24. C. theme.]

ant to mony oþer holy mon [25. M. mani . . man (Mall often alters o before nasal of MS. to a, but he shows no consistency in making this change).] mo þen ich telle con, [26. M. þan.] þat weren alle in more wo þen y con ou telle fro. [ 28] [28. M. þan I; H. i.] Ihesu crist arew hem sore [29. M. areu.] ant seide he wolde vacche hem þore; [30. M. fette.] he lyhte of ys heȝe tour [31. C. hege; M. his.] into seinte Marie bour; [ 32] he wes bore for oure nede [33. M. boren.] in þis world in pore wede, [34. M. poure.] In þis world he wes ded forte losen vs from þe qued; [ 36] [36. M. For to; B.M. lesen; M.ous; Varn. us.] þo ihesu heuede shed ys blod [37. M. his.] for oure neode vpon þe rod, [38. M. sinnes on.] In godhed toke he þen way [39. B. tok; M. reads line, He nam him þe rihte wei.] þat to helle gates lay; [ 40] [40. M. Unto helle for soþe to sei.] þe he com þere þo seide he, [41. B. þen; M. þo . . þer.] asse y shal nouþe telle þe. [42. H. Asse i; M. nou; Dominus ait (B), and Dominus (M), not in version L.] HArde gates hauy gon, [43. M. gon.] sorewen soffred mony on; [ 44] [44. C. sorowen; M. sorewes suffred . . on; Varn. Serewen.] þritty wynter ant þridde half yer [45. M. ȝer.] hauy woned in londe her; [46. M. woned . . londe (inconsistent).] almost ys so muche agon [47. M. michel gan.] seþþe y bycom furst mon; [ 48] [48. M. siþþen . . first.] Ich haue seþþe þoled ant wyst [49. M. siþþen.] hot, cold, honger ant þurst; [50. M. hunger . . þrist.] Mon haþ do me shome ynoh [51. M. don.] wyþ word ant dede in heore woh; [ 52] [52. M. here.]

bounden ant bueten yron of blode, [53. B.M. omit this line and interpolate three lines which are a patch-work partly from version O, partly from E: He nomen me wiþ-outen sake / Bounden min honden to mi bake / He beten me, þat I ran on blode (B. þat y ron); for consistency M. should have namen and handen.] demeden me to deȝe on rode; [54 (B.M. 56). M. demden; C. dethe.] for Adames sunne fol ywis [55 (B.M. 57). H. Fore; M. sinne, ful.] Ich haue þoled al þis. [ 56] Adam, þou hauest aboht sore, [57 (B. 59, M. 61). B. aboht hit; M. it.] Inul soffre þat no more; [58 (B. 60, M. 62). B. Ant Inul; M. And I nil; M. suffre-na.] Adam, þou hast duere aboht, [59 (B. 57, M. 59). M. hauest dere.] þat þou leuedest me noht; [ 60] y shal þe bringe of helle pyne ant wyþ þe alle myne.

Sathan ait.

Who ys þat ych here þore? Ich him rede speke na more, [ 64] for he may so muche do [65. M. (67) michel.] þat he shal vs come to [66. M. (68) ous (always).] forte buen oure fere [67. M. (69) to ben.] ant fonden hou we pleyen here. [ 68] [68. C. playen; M. (70) fonden.]

Dominus ait.

þou miht wyten in þy lay [69. M. brackets this line and 70 (i. e. 71, 72), reading, þou miht wel wite bi mi plei; while B. transfers them almost to the end of this speech (77, 78 B.). B. reads for 69, ant þou shalt wyte wel to-day.] þat mine woll y haue away; [70. M. (72) willi haue awei; B. wolle.] wost þou neuer whet ych am? [71. M. (73) what.] almost ys þritti wynter gan [ 72] [72. M. (74) almost þe þridde winter is gan; B. wynter ys.] þat þou hast fonded me [73. M. (75) hauest fonded.]

forte knowe wet y be; [74. B. whet; M. (76) what; M. For to.] Sunne fond þou neuer non [75. M. (77) sinne . . found.] In me as in oþer mon; [ 76] ant þou shalt wyte wel to-day þat mine wolle y haue away; [78. haue, e corrected from a; M. (80) willi haue awei.] wen þou bileuest al þyn one, [79. B. when; M. (81) whan.. one; B. alle.] þenne myht þou grede ant grone. [ 80] [80. M. (82) þanne-grete . . grone.]

Sathan.

Par ma fey! ich holde myne alle þo þat bueþ heryne; [82. C. Alle so; M. (84) ben . . inne.] resoun wol y telle þe [83. C. Resonn; M. (85) willi.] þer aȝeyn myht þou nouht be; [ 84] [84. C. ageyn; M. (86) aȝen . . noht.] Whose buyþ any þyng, [leaf 56] [85. C. whoso; M. (87) whoso biggeþ.] hit is hys ant hys ofspryng; [86. M. (88) It.] Adam hungry com me to, Monrade dude y him me do; [ 88] [88. M. (90) Manrede dide.] ffor on appel ich ȝef hym [89. C. gef; M. (91) on . . ȝaf.] he is myn ant al hys kun. [90. C. kinn; M. (92) kin.]

Dominus.

Sathanas, hit wes myn, [91. M. (93) Satanas, it.] þe appel þat þou ȝeue hym, [ 92] [92. C. geue; M. (94) ȝaue.] þe appel ant þe appeltre boþe were maked þourh me; hou myhstest þou on eny wyse [95. M. (97) mihtest . . ani; B. myhtest.] of oþer monnes þyng make marchan∣dise?

Seþþe he wes boht wyþ myn, [97. M. (99) siþþen (always).] wyþ resoun wolle ich hauen hym. [98. C. resonn; M. (100) wil.]

Sathan.

Ihesu, wel y knowe þe, þat ful sore reweþ me; [ 100] þou art louerd ouer al, wo ys him þat þe knowe ne shal! heouene ant erþe tac to þe, [103. M. (105) Heuene . . tak.] Soules in helle lef þou me; [ 104] [104. M. (106) þe soules.] Let me hauen hem ant helde, [105. B.M. (107) substitute corrupt form of this line from E: Let me hauen (M. haue) þat ich helde.] þat þou hauest wel mote þou welde.

Dominus.

Stille be þou, Sathanas! þe ys fallen ambesaas. [ 108] [108. M. ambes as.] Wendest þou ich were ded for noht? þourh my deþ ys monkune boht; [110. M. (112) For mi..Mankin; C.kinne.] þey þat haued serued me, [111. B. haueþ; M. (113) hauen.] wyþ me he shulen in heuene be; [ 112] þou shalt buen in more pyne [113. M. (115) ben.] þen eny þat þer is heryne. [114. M. (116) þan ani . . inne.]

Sathan.

Ne may non me worse do [115. M. (117) non . . werse.] þen ich haue had hiderto; [ 116] [116. M. (118) þan.] Ich haue had so muche wo [117. M. (119) michel.] þat y ne recche whyder y go; ȝef þou reuest me of myne, [119. C. Gef; M. (121) ȝif.] y shal reue þe of þyne; [ 120] y shal gon from mon to mon [121. M. (123) go. 123. M. (125) wiþ.] ant reue þe of mony on.

Dominus.

God wot y shal speke þe wyht ant do þe to holde gryht; [ 124] [124. M. (126) griþ.]

so faste shal y bynde þe, Lutel shalt þou reue me; [126. C. Littel; M. (128) Litel.] þou shalt buen in bondes ay o þat come domesday; [ 128] þou shalt neuer out wende monkunne forte shende; [127-130. B.M. omit these four lines, and M. brackets 129-30.] [130. C. Monkinne.] for were þou among men, [ 131] [131. M. (129) omits for.] þou woldest me reuen moni of hem; þe smale fendes þat bueþ nout stronge, [133. M. (131) ben unstronge.] he shulen among men yonge; [134. M. (132) ȝonge.] þilke þat nulleþ aȝeyn hem stonde, [135. C. ageyn; M. (133-134) For to hauen alle hem / þat hem ne willen stonden aȝen.] Ichulle he habben hem in honde. [ 136] helle gates y come nou to [137. M. (135) ȝates.] ant y wole þat heo vndo; [138. M. Ich wille . . he.] wer ys nou þis ȝateward? [139. B. (135) wher; M. (137) where; C. gate.] me þuncheþ he is a coward. [ 140] [140. M. (138) þinkeþ.]

IAnitor.

Ich haue herd wordes stronge, ne dar y her no lengore stonde; kepe þe gates whose may, [143. M. (141) ȝates whoso.] y lete hem stonde ant renne away. [ 144] [144. M. (142) stonde . . awei.]

Dominus.

Helle gates wolle y falle [145. M. (143) ȝates her I felle / And siþþen wil ich herwe helle.] ant out taken myne alle; Sathanas, y bynde þe, her shalt þou lay [147 (B. 143, M. 145). B.M. substitute three lines for this one, which are pure makeshifts of their own: Satanas, her y þe bynde / Ne shalt þou neuer henne winde / þou shalt (M. Her shalt þou) buen (M. ben) in bondes ay (M. ai) /.] o þat come domesday. [ 148] [148. M. Til þat.]

Adam.

Welcome, louerd god of londe, godes sone ant godes sonde; [149-150. M. often inconsistent in using a for o, here londe—sonde.] welcome, louerd, mote þou be, þat þou wolt vs come & se, [ 152] [152. M. introduces a line patched to∣gether from other MSS.: Longe haueþ ous þoht after þe.] Louerd, nou þou art come to ous, [153. M. comen; H. us.] bring ous of þis loþe hous; bryng vs of þis loþe lond, louerd, henne into þyn hond; [ 156] [155-156. B.M. omit both these lines from the text.] louerd, wost þou whet ych am? [157. M. what.] þou me shuptest of eorþe Adam; [158. M. shope of erþe.] for y þyn heste hueld noht, [159. M. held.] duere ich habbe hit her aboht; [ 160] [160. M. Dere . . haue it.] haue merci of vs, godes sone, [161. M. ous.] let ous no more her wone; alle þat herynne be Ȝore haueþ ȝyrned after þe; [ 164] [164. C. Zore . . yyrned; M. hauen ȝerned.] we hopeþ wel þourh þy comyng [165. M. hopen.] of oure sunnes hauen froryng. [166. M. sinnes.]

Eua.

Knou me, louerd, ich am eue, Ich ant Adam þe were so leoue; [ 168] [168. M. leue.] þou laddest ous to parays, [leaf 56 bk.] we hit forgulten ase vnwys; [169-170. M. þou ȝaue ous to ȝeme parais / We it ȝemeden asse unwis!] we þin heste dude forleten, [171. M. dide.] þo we þen appel eten; [ 172] [172. B.M. of þen.] So longe we haueþ buen herynne, [173. M. haue we ben.]

deore haue we aboht vr synne; [174. M. Dere haue we bet oure sinne.] Louerd god, ȝef vs leue, [175. C. gef; M. ȝif ous.] Adam ant me, ys wyf eue, [ 176] [176. M. his.] to faren of þis loþe wyke to þe blisse of heueneryke.

Dominus.

Adam, ich haue ȝeue mi lyf [179. C. geue; M. ȝouen.] for þe & for eue þi wyf; [ 180] wendest þou ich were ded for noht? ffor my deþ wes monkune yboht. [182. C. monkinne; M. mankin boht.]

Habraham.

Louerd crist, ich am [183. M. ich it.] þat þou calledest habraham; [ 184] [184. M. Abraham; last a in habraham above line.] þou me seidest þat of me shulde such a child ybore be [186. M. Shulde a god child boren be; H. suche.] þat vs shulde brynge of pyne, Me ant wyþ me alle myne; [ 188] þou art þe child, þou art þe man þat wes ybore of habraham; [190. M. boren . . Abraham; last a in habraham above line.] do nou þat þou byhihstes me, [191. M. bihete.] bring me to heuene vp wiþ þe. [ 192]

Dominus.

Habraham, ych wot ful wel wet þou seidest, eueruch del, [194. (B. 190). B. whet, M. what . . . euerich.] þat mi leue moder wes [195. M. suete; Varn. leve] boren & shaped of þi fleyhs. [ 196] [196. M. fles.]

[Dauid: entered by later hand.] Dauid

Louerd, ich am dauid þe kyng, þat bore was of þyn ofspring; [198. M. boren wes.] do me ase þou bihete [199. H. as; M. also.] þourh þe lawe of þe prophete; [ 200] nou þou art come to ous, [201. M. comen.] bring vs from þis dredful hous.

Dominus

Dauid, þou were bore of my kyn, [203. M. boren.] for þi godnesse art þou myn, [ 204] More for þi godnesse þen for eny sibnesse. [206. M. þan—ani.]

Iohannes

Louerd crist, ich am Iohan þat þe folewede in flum iordan; [ 208] Tuelf moneþ is agon, [col. 2] [209. M. Tuelue.] þat y þolede martirdom; þou sendest me þe ryhte wey into helle forte sey [ 212] [212. M. for soþe to sei.] þat þou, crist, godes sone, Sone shuldest to helle come [214. B. (210), M. (212) þider for to helle.] forto lesen of helle pyne [215. C. forte.] alle þat þou holdest þyne; [ 216]

nou þou art come, nou þou do [217. M. comen.] þat þou seidest fer ant þo. [218. B. (219) er ant þo; M. (216) me unto.]

Dominus

Iohan, iohan, ich wot ful wel whet þou seidest, eueruch del; [ 220] [219-220. B. (215-216), M. (217-218) substitute the two lines from E., slightly changed; Iohan, Iohan, ich it wat / þat I sende þe þe gat / ; C. John.] þou shalt seo whet y shal do [221. (B, 217, M. 219). M. se, B.M. þat, C. what.] þat y seyde er þe to.

Moyses

Louerd, þou knowest al wyþ skyl [223 (B. 219, M. 221). B. ȝeue (M. ȝaue) me (for knowest).] þe lawe of Synay vpon þe hyl; [ 224] Ich am moyses, þe prophete þat hueld þe lawes þat þou byhete, [226. (B. 222, M. 224). B.M. Ich; M. held; B.M. hete.] þat þou ihesu, godes sone, woldest to þe helle come, [ 228] [227-228. B.M. omit these lines from the text.] ant þat þou woldest come to bete [229. (B. 223, M. 225). B.M. þat men shulde come, etc.] þe sunnes þat Adam þohte suete. [230. (B. 224, M. 226). B. Sunne, M. sinne.]

Dominus

Moyses, þat ich hihte þe In þe olde lawe þou dudest me; [ 232] [232. M. didest.] & alle þe oþer þat mine buen [233. M. ben.] shule to blisse wiþ me tuen; [234. M. Shulen . . ten.] þey þat nolden on me leuen shule wiþ Sathanas bileuen; [ 236] [236. M. Shulen.] þer hue shulen wonen ay [237. C. There; M. he.] o þat come domesday. [238. M. Til þat.]

god, for is moder loue, [239. M. his; C. lone.] let vs neuer þider come! [ 240] louerd, for þi muchele grace, [241. M. michele.] graunte vs in heouene one place; [242. M. heuene.] let vs neuer be forloren for no sunne, crist ycoren; [ 244] [244. M. sinne.] ah bring vs out of helle pyne, louerd, ous & alle þyne, ant ȝef vs grace to libbe & ende [247. C. gef; M. ȝif . . . liue.] In þi seruice ant to heuene wende.

amen. [It should be said in conclusion, that in those lines and passages where Mall (generally followed by Boeddeker) makes alterations of and interpolations into the text as given in the Harleian MS., he generally gives the correct readings in his footnotes.]

Auchinleck MS. TEXT E.

[Initial letters of lines always touched with red.] Vntil crist loked þaim vnto, [leaf 36] as man auȝt to prisouns do; he liȝted out of his heiȝe tour Into seynt mari bour; [ 32] he was born for our misdede In þis world in pouer wede, In þis world he suffred dede, forto deliuer ous fram þe qued; [ 36] þan ihesu hadde spilt his blod for our sinnes on þe rode, he nam him þe riȝt way vnto helle for soþe to say; [ 40] þan he com þer þan seyd he, as y schal now telle þe.

dominus ait.

Hard gates haue y gon [& is the contraction always used for and.] & suffred pines mani on; [ 44] þritti winter & þridde half ȝere haue y wond in lond here; almast is so michel gan seþþen y bicom first man; seþþen haue y fond & wist hot & cold, hunger & þrest; Man haþ don me schame & þouȝ wiþ word, wiþ dede & michel wouȝ;

þai tok me wiþouten sake, [53. Laing toke.] þai bond min honden bihinde mi bac, þai bete me til y ran on blode, þai dempt me to hong on rode; [ 56] alle for adams sinne ywis, þan haue y þoled þis. adam, þus dere haue y bouȝt, & þou no louedest me neuer nouȝt; [ 60] adam, y haue bouȝt ful sare & y wil suffre it na mare; to-day y schal bring of pine adam, þe & alle þine. [ 64]

satanas dixit.

Who is þat ich here þare? [65. Varn. Wo.] y rede þat he spek na mare, for he may so michel do þat he schal comen ous vnto [ 68] forto ben our fere & loke hou we playen here.

dominus ait.

Þou may wele wite mi play þat min wil y haue oway; [ 72] wele þou wost wat ich am, More þan þritti winter is gan þat þou hast frained me [75. Laing framed.]

forto wite what y be; [ 76] seþþen fondestow neuer nan [77. Laing, foundestow.] Wiþ me as wiþ anoþer man, & þou wost wele for þan þat ich am more þan ani man; [ 80] þou schalt wite þis ich day þat y schal haue min oway, & y schal þe leue here In sorwe among þine fere. [ 84]

satanas dixit.

Par ma fay! ich hald mine al þat ben hereinne; Wiþ resoun wil y telle þe þat þer ogain may þou nouȝt be, [ 88] þat me bihoueþ haue & hald & wiþouten ende wald; for whoso biggeþ aniþing, It owe to ben his wiþouten lesing; [ 92] [92. Laing Nowe.] adam hungri come me to, manred y made him me to do; [94. y: Laing I.] for an appel þat y ȝaf him [95. y: Laing I.] he is min & al his kin. [ 96]

dominus ait.

Satanas, he seyd, it was min, þe appel þat þou ȝaf him, þe appel & þe appeltre, boþe war maked þurch me; [ 100] hou may þou on ani wise of oþer mennes þing mak marchandise?

seþþen þou bouȝtest him wiþ mine, Wiþ resoun schuld ichaue him. [ 104]

satanas dixit.

Ihesu, wele y knawe þe, þat ful sore reweþ me; þou art lord ouer al, & euer was & ay be schal; [ 108] heuen & erþe weld þou þe, þe soules in helle lat þou be; lat me haue þat ich halde, [lf. 36, bk.] þat þou hast wele mot þou it wald. [ 112]

dominus ait.

Sitte now stille, satanas! þe is fallen amesas. Wenestow þat y dyed for nouȝt? [115. Laing, Wenestou.] Wiþ mi dede was mankin bouȝt; [ 116] þai þat haue serued me, In blis schal þai euer be; þai þat noþing serued me, þai schal in helle be wiþ þe; [ 120] bot þou schalt ben in more pine þan ani oþer þat is þereinne.

satanas dixit.

Þer may me no man wers do þan ichaue had hiderto; [ 124] Ich haue hadde so michel wo, þat me no rek whider y go; Ȝif þou bireuest me of mine, y schal bireue þe of þine; [ 128] y schal go fro man to man & bireue þe mani an.

[d]ominus ait.

So y schal speke þe wiþ, þat y schal do þe hold griþ; [ 132]

so fast schal y binde þe, þat fewe schaltow binim me; were þou vnbounde among men, al þou wost binim me hem; [ 136] þe smale deuels þat er vnstrang, þai schal among mankin gang, & al schul þai haue pain þat wil nouȝt stond hem oȝain. [ 140] helle ȝates, y com ȝou to, now ich wil þat ȝe vndo; whare is he þat ȝateward? Ich hold him for a coward. [ 144]

Iannator ait.

Ich haue herd wordes hard whi y no may be no steward; y lete hem stond & ren oway, lete hem ȝeme whoso may. [ 148] [148. Laing Let.]

dominus ait.

Helle ȝates, here ȝou felle, & seþþen wil ich herwe helle; lucifer, here y þe binde, schaltow neuer heþen winde [ 152] vntil it com domesday. fare þou seþþen whare þou may,

fare þou seþþen ware þou fare, no dostow neuer man care. [ 156]

adam dixit.

Welcom, lord god of lond, godes sone & godes sond, welcom, lord, mot þou be, long haues ous þouȝt after þe; [ 160] [160. haues: Varn. (176) haves.] lord, seþþen þou art comen to ous, þou bring ous out of þis hous; lord, þou wost what ich am þou me schope of erþe man, [ 164] & þou me madest formast man, [165. A 2nd me marked for erasure in MS. Laing omits this line.] & þou me clepetest sone, adam; & ȝif ich haue sinnes wrouȝt, ful dere now here ichaue hem bouȝt; whoso sinneþ ani wiȝt, [ 169] þe sinne is more þan þe pliȝt. ȝa, leue lord, godes sone, welcom be þou & worþ come; [ 172] al, lord, þat here be haue ȝerned, lord, after þe; we hope wele of þi coming of our sinnes haue botening. [ 176]

eua ait.

Knawe me, lord, ich am eue, adam & ich ware þe so leue, þou ȝaue ous to ȝeme paradis, & we it ȝemed as vnwise [ 180] when we þi comandment forlete, when we of þat appel ete; so long haue we ben herinne,

þat wele haue we bet our sinne; [ 184] leue lord, ȝiue ous leue, adam & his wiif eue, to fare out of þis foule wike [187. Laing foul.] Into þe blis of heuenrike. [ 188]

dominus ait.

Adam, y haue ȝouen mi liif for þe & for eue þi wiif; wenestow ichadde ben ded for nouȝt? for mi ded is mankin bouȝt. [leaf 37] [ 192]

abraham ait.

Lord crist, ich it am þat þou cleptest abraham; þou schust com to helle pine [195. Laing schult.] forto haue ous, lord, for þin[e]; [ 196] [196. Letters and words in brackets sup∣plied by Laing; a strip torn from leaf in MS.] do astow bihet me, bring me lord to heuen wiþ[þe].

dominus dixit.

Abraham, it was wel þat þou seydest, eueri del, [ 200] for mi swete moder wes born & schapen of þi fles.

dauid dixit.

[This initial is not an L as it should be.] Hord, ich am dauid þe king, þat was born of þine of∣s[pring] also astow me bihet þurch þe lore of þat prophete, [ 206] þou bring ous of þis foule [hous] to þe blis of heuen ycore[n ous]. [ 208] [207-208. hous—ous supplied from Varn.]

dominus ait.

Dauid, þou was born of mi[kin] for þi godenes þou art m[in], more for þi godenesse þan for ani sibbenesse. [ 212]

Iohannes dixit.

[This initial is not an L as it should be.] Hord crist, ich am Iohan þat þe hof in þe flom Iordan; now a gode while is agon, þat y suffred martirdom; [ 216] þou sentest me þe riȝt way Into helle, for soþ to say, þat þou schust deliuer of hell[e pine] [219. Laing, schult.] þat þou þerin fond, lord, of þi[ne];

now artow comen forto do þat þou saidest me vnto.

dominus ait.

Iohan, Iohan, ich it wat þat y sent þe þe gat; [ 224] þou schalt se þat y schal do þat þou seydest me vnto.

moyses dixit.

Lord þou ȝaue me al wiþ skil þe lay sinay on þe hil. [ 228]