English metrical homilies from manuscripts of the fourteenth century : with an introduction and notes / by John Small.

Explicit Prologus. Incipit ratio quare presens opus in∣cipiat dominicam primam Adventus Domini.

AR the fulthe of tim was comen, Satenas al folk aued nomen, For mankind in prisoun he held, Wiht outen help wit outen belde, Ai til God in trinite Of mankind hafd sa gret pite, That he send his son for to take Fleys and blod for mannes sake, For wit outen fleis and blode, Moht Crist noht by apon the rode Mankind, that in fleis and felle, Was demed to the pin of helle, Forthi hafd God of man mercye, That was bigiled thoru envie Of Satenas that wiht lesinge Gabbid Adam and his ofspringe,

And gert mankind ga tille helle, Thar he suld euer mar duelle, Yef it ne hauid ben Godd almihti, That send his son thoru his merci, To yeld for mankind raunceoun, And lesse us al of prisoun, Goddes sun and Goddes sande, Com to les mankind of bande, And was born of mayden Marye, Mankind on rode for to bie, And forthi Crist com us to, Our aller nedes for to do, A monethe bifor his birthe, Hali kirk wit menske and mirht, Welcomes him euer ilke a yer, And thankes God on fair maner, For Cristes com and Goddes sande, That lesed us of the fendes bande, And forthi at that blissful tyme, Quen hali kirk welcumes hime, Wil I bigin to mak my spelle, And of his com sum thing telle, For Cristes to com mad endinge, Of al our soru and our murning.