Nachträge zu den legenden / [ed. C. Horstmann].

Nachträge zu den Legenden.

I. Alexius, aus Barbour's Legendensammlung. [Die Quelle Barbour's ist die Legenda Aurea. Ein weiteres Alexiuslied, in nord∣engl. Mundart, in Ms. Cbr. Gg V, 31 und Ashm. 42 erhalten, wird in kurzem in einer grösseren Sammlung von Legen∣den veröffentlicht werden. Die bereits zum grössten Theil copirte Sammlung Barbour's wird der Herausgeber demnächst ediren. V. 1 Die Initialen sind im Ms. nicht nachgetragen; ein kleiner Buchstabe deutet sie an.]

Ms. Cambr. Gg II, 6, fol. 164 b.

(Altschottisch.)

(Q)whene euir ilke cristine mane Of Cristis treucht gyf he ocht cane, trewis þat thre statis are sere, in quhilkis al mene sal apere— þat euire tuk lyf & cristine-dome— [ 5] before god one þe day of dome: of matrimone othyre in þe stat, or contenens, as clerkis wat, or ellis of virginite, þe quhilkis mast dygne is of þe thre. [ 10] þo matrimone mad god of hewine [11 Ms. þo st. þe?] & commawndyt to be kepyt ewine: betwix oure fore fadir & his mak [13 Ms. fad^•; das sonst er bezeichnende Häkchen ist in schottischen Mss. durch ir, yr oder auch ire, yre aufzulösen.] matrimone cane he mak, befor þat mane had done syne, [ 15] & als þe place of welth with-In, In paradyse, þe place but pere, þare is blys & Joy but were. & quhene god for ws come mane, [19 Ms. cō, die Abkürzung bezeichnet hier, wie in allen ähnlichen Fällen me (oder ne), wie sich ausgeschrieben nur so findet.] borne he was of wedyt womane; [ 20] & wedyng honouryt he þat tyme þat he turnyt vatyre in-to wyne. [fol. 163 b] & þat weding plesyt hyme, fore ensampil I may bring In þat he in weding borne was [ 25] Of Mary, þe quene of grace. & contynens als wele he lufyt, as syndry ma be prowit: fyrst be þat noble wyf Anna, þat callit was prophetissa [ 30] & treuly to god feruit ay in þe tempil, nycht & day, foure schore of ȝere, forout sak, & prophecy of god cane mak, sayand: forsuth, þis is he [ 35] thru quhame þe warld sawit sal be— Of Cristis byrth þe fourty day of Criste þis word scho cane say, quhene his mody(r) mad hire offerand for hyme eftyr þe law of þe land. [ 40] & Symeone þa(ne), in wedoue-hed [41 Ms. þat st. þane.] þat lang tyme his lyf cane led: [42 Ms. þat lang tyme þat his.]

þocht he blynd was of gret elde, with hartly eene ȝet he beheld, In tempil as þai brocht Jhesum, [ 45] & in armis sone hyme nome & sad: now, lord, lat pas in pece me, þat al tyme þi serwand was, fore myne ene now has sene þe hele þat þu hicht to Israel. [ 50] Of contynens mony vthyre ma ensample mene ma ta: as of Margret, of Scottis quene, In widoued hyre lyf led clene, & of þe noble wyf alsa [ 55] Of Rome, þat callyt was Paula, Eliȝabet of Vnguery, & als þe Magdelayne sancte Mary, sancte Petyre als, & sancte Germane, & of vthyre sic mony ane: [ 60] sume eftyre weding, sume eftir syne þai wex chast, & hewine cane wine. bot to god þai emples mast þat fra þe byrth lifit þane chast: as Margret did, & Agatha, [ 65] Cecile, Katrine, & Lucya; bot in oure laydy is best prowit quhou wele virginite he lufyt. [fol. 164.] For þe honoure of madynehed sancte Johne þe ewangelyst, we red, [ 70] slepand a-pone Crystis kne, was dygne his privete to se, [72 Ms. with st. was.] In Pathmos als þe angel brycht schawyt hyme ful fely sycht. Fore in þame þat lifis chaste, [ 75] makis resting þe haly gaste; for I trew þat god be with maydined & with humelyte.— & I ȝou a tale wil tel, In Rome quhylum quhou befel [ 80] Of a mane, þat wertuise twa Parfytly had & vthyre ma.—

(I)N Rome a nobile mane was, Eufamyane callyt, & his wyf Aglas. & with þe emperoure mast dere [ 85] he was haldine, & but pere; & he thre thousand mene had ay serwand hyme bath nycht & day, In clathis of silk cledine were & beltis of gold, costlyk & dere. [ 90] merciful was Eufamyane til al þat he saw ned begane; Ilke day in his house had he Of pure folk fusyt burdis thre, [94 Ms. schein∣bar sufyt, l. fusyt.] & Ilke day þat oure of nowne [ 95] to pore hyme-self wald serue but hone. & his wyf was of þe sammyne wil, sic godlyk werkis to fulfil. þai had na barnys þame betwene, & þat gretly cane þai mene: [ 100] fore-þi to god þai prayt sa ȝarne, þat þat laydy consawit with barne. syne dyliuere was þat myld thru godis helpe of a knaf chyld, fare & quhyt, as vatir fame, [ 105] and had Alixes to his name. & fra þine in-to castyte þai lufyt furth, scho & he. & þat þare barne suld be na fowl, þai set hyme ayrly to þe schule, [ 110] artis liberalis for-thy þat he suld cone, & philosophy. & fra he come to fourtene ȝere, [f. 164 b] a maydine, þat mycht be his pere, þai socht, & fand, of hys kyne, [ 115] þe emperoure house withine. þai maryt þame of gret nobillay, fore cummyne of mychty mene ware þai; & gret fest at þe weding mad, as þai þat warldly welthis had. [ 120] bot as cummyne was þe nycht & he & scho to bed was dycht: Of fleschly lust he had na thocht, bot beyisit hyme how he mocht gere hyre consent to chastyte; [ 125] & lang sermone þare-of mad he til hyre, quhow scho suld god dred & þare-of resawe gret med In hewine eftyre þis brukil lyf— "fore al mone de, mane & wyf, [ 130] & sic as we are fundyne here before þe Juge we sal apere & gyf reknyne þat Juge til of al dedis, gud & Il, & fore oure dedis, nocht to layne, [ 135] resawe oþire Joy or payne." & quhene he mad had lang preching, he betacht hyre his gold ryng, & syne his belt he schare in-twa & betaucht hyre þe hed alsa, [ 140] sayand til hyre: "my leif swet, þire twa I gyf þe to kepe; fore-þi, my der, as þu lufis me, kepe þame, to god wil I þe se. [144 to = till.] & here to hyme I þe betak, [ 145] as my lufyt warldis mak."

(Q)wene þis was sad, he nocht bad, bot gold in fusione he with hyme had & stal away al priwely, & went hyme to þe se in hy, [ 150] & fand a schepe redy þare to Leodaciane to fare. þar-in he gat, syne passit he to Edysa ine-to þe cite, [154 Ms. edysame st. edysa ine.] of Cyrie in-to þe land. [ 155] þare he of chance a ymag fand [156 Ms. ymag; der feine Strich an g be∣zeichnet wohl kaum e, da er sich stets bei g findet.] of Jhesu Cryst, oure lord dere, but mannis handis mad, but were, in sandale. & quhene he cane luk one It, sic luferand he tuk, [ 160] þat he þare dwelt in body & thocht. & al þe gold, he ydyre brocht, he gaf to pure, & his clething he gaf fore ware in weflyng. In þat towne a kyrk was wrocht [ 165] of oure laydy, & ydyr he socht & in a kyrk-ȝard done sat he of begerys ymang gret pleynte, & Ilke day thigyt his lyf-led at þame þat passag-by þare mad. [ 170] & quhene þat he gat ony gud mare þane nedit til his fud, he gaf It in gret hy to beggeris þat sat hyme by. & lang tyme he sat þare [ 175] as begare, of gud bare, In fastyng, prayng, & in wak, pynand hyme-self fore godis sak.— now lef we hyme in begyng, & of his fadir spek sume thing, [ 180] þat, fra-tyme his sone went fra hyme þis wyse in torment, contynualy he lifyt in wa; sa did his modyre, his wyf alsa. for-þi his fadyre, þat was mychtty, [ 185] of al-kyne landis in sere party send mene to sek his barne— þat ware his ded, gyf he suld tharne,— & bad þame fore na cost spare to sek hyme, quhare sa euir he ware. [ 190] þane passyt þai in landis sere, sekand hyme fere & nere. & quhene mony of þame had socht & trawalyt fere & fand hyme nocht: sa hapnyt þat part of þa [ 195] come to þe towne of Edissa, & passit by quhare he sat. & he of þare almouse gat, & knew þame wel, & þai hyme nocht, þocht þai besyly hyme socht. [ 200] þane thankit he god Increly þat he had mad hyme sa worthy, at his awne mene he mycht sa fra þame in begyng almus ta. þe seruandis al, þat furth went, [ 205] fra þa na hyme fand, agane ar lent & tald how þai tynt al þare trawal, fore hyme to sek mycht nocht awale. his fadyr þane had mykil care, & his modyre mykil mare: [ 210] for, fra þe day he ȝed of towne, In care-bed scho lay done, In mol & hayre & woful fude, ȝouland as half brawne wod, cryand one god ful dulfully [ 215] þat scho in sik wyse ay suld ly, but confort ore Joy, fra þine, til scho hyr sone had gottyne. þe spouse þane til his modir sad: "allace, hard werd to me is lad, [ 220] þat þus has tynt myne warldis fere! neuir-þe-les, modir dere, sic lyf as ȝe tak, I sal ta, & neuire vthyre, for wel na wa." þane scho gret & handis wrang [ 225] & rayf hyre hayre & hyr self dang— quhay þat saw It, & pyte had nane, his (hart) was hardare þane þe stane. [228 hart fehlt im Ms.] & þane scho sad: quhat euir befel, þat but mak ay suld scho dwel [ 230] as turtur, til of hyre mak hyre hapnyt confort for to tak.—

(A)nde quhene Alixes sewintene ȝere had dwelt in þat kirk-ȝard þere, seruand god ful dewotly: [ 235] & ane ymag þane of oure laydy, þat in þe kyrke was honouryt ay, þis to þe sacristane cane say: "bryng in ȝone powre mane þar-owt, [239 Ms. ȝoure st. ȝone.] for he is worthy for to bruk [ 240] þe kynryk of al welth mast; [241 Ms. of al wehl welth.] for in hyme restis þe haly gast, & his prayere ful mony mendis, þat befor god alsone ascendis." bot ȝet quhene þe sacristane [ 245] be þat had persawing nane, to þat ymage prayt he [fol. 166.] þat he þare-of mare wyse mycht be. til hyme grath takine gaf scho þane

quhare-by he suld þat mane kene, [ 250] before þe dure þat sat þare-owt. & for hyre þe sacristane cane lout & lowyt hyre, as he wele aucht, & sped hyme furth, as scho hyme taucht: & brocht Alixes in-til hy, [ 255] & tald til al quhou oure laydy of þat mane mad sa gret lowyng. for-þi sone auld and ȝyng honouryt hyme sa gretly, fra þai hard þis farly. [ 260] bot he of mane lowe wald nane: forþi he fled hyne, or he fane, be þe nycht sa priwely, þat nane mycht wit, þat was by.— bot certis! now are fundine quhone [ 265] [265 quhone few.] þat in þat manere wald haf done, bot erare haf tane þe lowing, for lytil cause, of auld & ȝyng. sa dyd he nocht, for þat he parfyt was in humylyte, [ 270] & fled wane-glore forþi but hone.— & to Leodyce he sped hyme sone, & þare a schipe he fand redy to sayle, & in gat in-to hy, of Tars of Cecile þat was bowne. [ 275] [275 l. to st. of?] & as þai saylyt, a wynd fel done, þe hawine of Rome agane þare wil, disponand god, had þame til, & Alixes, þat cane se þat of his purpos faylit he. [ 280] & hyme-self þane has he thocht [281 u. 289 & ist zu tilgen.] þat he vnkennyt dwel mocht with his awne fadyre in-til house, & til nane oythire be noyus na charg nane vthyre with his fud— [ 285] his fadire had sa mykil gud. one þus purpos quhene he was sat, [287 l. set.] his fadyre sudanely he met, & fra þe place hame gangand [281 u. 289 & ist zu tilgen.] with fele folk hyme folowand [ 290] þat serwyt hyme Ithandly. Alixes one hyme cane cry [f. 166 b.] & sad: "þu godis seruand dere. me poure pylgrame, I pray þe, here, & biddis þat I resawyt be [ 295] [295 & relativisch; in rel. Sätzen endet die 1. Person gewöhnlich auf is.] In-to þi house par cheryte, & with þe crummys gere me fed Of þi bred—sa þi sawle haf med, & as þu wald god had pyte Of þi a sone, quhare-euire he be!" [ 300] ȝet his fadire knew hyme na dele, bot his fadyre he knew rycht wele. his fadyre þane commawndit þat he til his house sowne led suld be, [304 Ms. houise oder house?] & til a serwand gert hyme betak [ 305] to kepe hyme, for his sonnys sak, & bad he suld haf met & clath, & þat na mane did hyme lath.

(I)N his fadyre house he hyme led & as poure mane hyme cled & fed. [ 310] quhare he, forsuth, nycht & day ful Ithandly to god cane pray; & his body ay torment he, þat he to god suld thankful be, thru labore hard & fastyng [ 315] & feble fud & als waking. bot sume, þat had his lyf sene, demyt þat he a sot had bene: fore one na warldly thing he thocht, bot in god was al his thocht. [ 320] fore-þi quhylum personis Il [321 Ms. a personis.] scornefully wald cume hyme til & of þe weschel þe weschyng ful oft one his hed wald fling & mykil ethine at hyme mak; [ 325] bot al he tholyt fore Cristis sak, & neuir for ony tribulnes spak he Il es, mare ore les. [328 Ms. hIl st. Il.] & quhene he sewintene ȝere his lyf leyd in þat manere, [ 330] al vtirly to þame vnknawine, to syb or fremmyt ore to his awine: he wyst be þe haly gast þat of his ded þe terme in hast was nere. for-þi sone askyt he [ 335] at ane, þat was his mast priwe, pene, Ink, and parchemyne; & quhene he saw lasare, syne [338 lasare leisure.] wrat, quhou he had left his wyf, [f. 167.] & al þe procese of his lyf [ 340] þat he had, fere ore nere, quhare he was in placis sere; & plyit þat bil, ore he wald leef, & It closyt in his nefe. & quhene þis was al done, [ 345] to god he ȝald þe gast sone: þat It resawyt worthely with angel sang and melody. & one þe morne, þat sonda was, at þe solempnite of þe mes [ 350] In þe kyrk a woyce cane cry fra þe hewine hely,

sayand þire wordis, les na mare: "Cummys to me, þat trawaland are or chargyt, al! & sowne sal I [ 355] ȝou reward ful plentuisly." þane al þat hard þis gret wondyre, fel to þe ȝerd, þare facis vndyr. syne eftyr þe woyce cane say: "passis & sekis hyme but delay [ 360] In þe house of Ewfamyane!" þane, to sek hyme, mony ane passit til Ewfamy(a)nis hal; bot he sad þane to þame al þat It cuth nocht of hyme say. [ 365] þane come he furth þat seruit hyme ay, & sad: "seris, It ma fall It be he, þat ȝe sek all, þat I seruit sewinetene ȝere Of byding of myne lord now here, [ 370] þat deyt ȝisterday wele late. sa wel I knew hyme þat I wat, be pacience & penance sere þat to god he suld be dere." Eufamyane þane to þe sted [ 375] quhare he wes þane, ȝed, & fand hyme ded, & saw his face brycht & clere as of hewine ane angel were. & wald haf tane of his hand þe wryt, þat he þare closyt fand; [ 380] bot he mocht nocht be ony way. þane passit he furth but delay to þe kyrk, quhare at þe mes bath þe emperoure & þe pape wes— þe tane of þame Archadius [ 385] & þe tothyr Honorius ware callit þane, & of Rome wes pape Innocent. þane þire thre fut hat ȝed til Eufamyanes In with dred of god, & entrit In, [ 390] & come to þe corse, quhare It lay, & til It þus-gat cane say: "þocht we synful wnworthy be, þe gouernale ȝet tane haf we Of haly kyrk & cristine land: [ 395] þare-for we pray þe, opyne þi hand, [396 Ms. band.] & lat ws se þat closyt wryt & It þat wrytine is in It!" þane þe pape come nere-hand: & he hyme tholit vnlok his hand. [ 400] & tuk þe wryt, & he It rede, befor þame al in þat stede. & quhene þat þis had hard Ilkane, sa abaysyt was Eufamyane, þat for wondir in extasy [ 405] he fel done & lang cane ly but strinthe ore word, a gret space. bot quhene þat he ourcumine was & one his sone beheld sadly, ful roydly cane he rayre & cry; [ 410] his clathis in ragis he rafe, his wisage als, & al þe lafe, þat pyte gret was for to se. ful rewfully hyme demanyt he, & sa in þat passione [ 415] one his sone he ruschit done, & criyt, as mane nere al wod: "ful wa is me, my dere sone gud! quhy has þu wrocht sik wa to me, þat neuir ma recoueryt be? [ 420] þu has distrybulyt me but were, swet sone, þis foure & threty ȝere; bot endlas sorow now haf I ded þus to se þe ly! stafe of myne elde þu suld haf bene, [ 425] my ledare & my licht of ene— allace, lewe sone, þat I gat þe! to se þe sycht, I one þe se, þat is my bale, but ony but. for þu na word wil to me mut, [ 430] for-þi my lyf ay I mone leyde [f. 168.] but confort to þe tyme of ded." with þat his mene, al wald he nocht, has tane hyme & away has brocht.

(V)Ith þat his modir, þat þus herd, [ 435] out of wyt for wa scho ferd, as a lyones come ful thra þat mene had tane þe quhelpis fra, & rawe þe clathis, scho one bare, & of hyre hed rawe þe hare; [ 440] gowand to þe hewine sorow mad, & to þe erde syne fel al brad. Ȝet, of hyre sowne to get sycht, scho presyt faste, bot scho ne mycht for multytud of mene, þat þane [ 445] war þare to se þat haly mane. & þane sa hyly cane scho rare til al þat sa thik stud þare: "fore godis sak, gewis me entre, myne awne swet sowne to se [ 450] þat I cane with my papis fede, ful ofte, quhene It was lytil nede; for þat sume confort ma me do." & þat dede cors quhene scho com to, scho rafe hyre face & fel one It, [ 455] as wele nere owt of wyt, & sad þane with sary chere: "quhy did þu þis, my sone dere, þat of myne ene suld be þe lycht? ful butlas bale þu has me dycht, [ 460] hafand, sone, na pyte

of þe dyses & thocht of þe In wondre wa & panys sere now al þire foure & threty ȝere, & now has gotine neuir-þe-les [ 465] Il coweryyng eftyre lang seknes. þu saw þi fadir & me alsa lyf Ithandly in dowle & wa & for þi sak ay sorowful be: & til ws wald neuir schaw þe! [ 470] & quhene ony mys did þe til, þu tholyt with debonare wil." þane eftyre scho fel one hyme, & þat ful oft, ore scho wald blyne, & kyssit hyme with drery chere [ 475] & sad: "ȝe gud folk, þat ar here, gret, & compaciens haf of me, In þis bale butlas þat yhe se! for I had þere fourtene ȝere [479 Ms. haf st. had.] In my house my sone so dere, [ 480] & quhat he was, I mysknew— for-þi of my lyf I rew— his awne seruandis oft seand bufet hyme fel & sare with hand. alace, quha sal now gyf me til [ 485] vatere Inuche, to gret my fil, my sorowful chekis forto wet! for nocht, but ded, my balis ma bet."

(V)Ithe þat hys spouse come gud spede, [489 Ms. hyre st. hys.] fast murnande, in sorouful wede, [ 490] & sad: "alace, þat I was borne, til haf sic lyf me beforne! þat I sal se þis brocht one bere [493 Ms. be st. se.] my blyse, my beld, my lef-mane dere! quhame of I thocht ay to hafe [ 495] solace & confourte oure þe lafe, & now is lewyt desolat, as waful wedow, now I wat. now is my meroure brokine smal, & my gud hope tynt is all; [ 500] euir my sorow groys, alace." & þai þat stud in þat place [502 Ms. þast.] & herd hyre mak sic murnyng, gret for hyr, auld & ȝyng.

(T)hane Innocent, pape of Rome, [ 505] & þe twa emperouris alsone þat haly cors honorabily tuk vpe & lad one bere in hy, & one þare schuldiris bath hyme rath þe pape & þe emperoure bare bath [ 510] & one-to þe mydis of þe way. [511 & ist zu tilgen oder l. come st. one.] & fra þe puple hard say at þat mane was in stret brocht [513 at = þat.] quhame al þe cite lang had socht: In Ilke syd þai gadryt owt, [ 515] to met þat sancte, In-to gret rowt. & quhat sek mane þat twechit hyme, his hele he gat in lith & lyme: to blynd & def he gaf sycht & heryng, & to dume mene he gaf spekine, [ 520] to sere halt he gaf fet, & vthyr of lepyre he cane bet, [f. 169.] of ydrope & of parlesy [523 l. ydrops?] he heylyt syndry þare in hy, & gafe þame wyt þat ware brawne wod; [ 525] & til al þat abowt hyme stud, þat mycht hyme tweche, quhat II þai had for-owt delay hale ware þai mad.

(T)hane þe emperoure & pape but wene, þat sa ferly warkis has sene, [ 530] þat haly cors bare al thre, for þai of hyme wald halowit be. þar gert þai bryng in gret quantyte gold & siluire & skalyt be, þat, til folk ware It gaderand, [ 535] [535 til=quhil.] þai thru þe puple mycht be passand & with þe sancte to þe kyrk wane— bot ȝet þe puple lewyt nocht þane to pres, þe relyk to behald þat sa gaf hele to ȝoung & auld. [ 540] & wittis wele, þai ware Irk, or þai mycht bryng hyme to þe kirk, þat in honoure halowit was of þe mertir sancte Bonyface. & dwelt þare with þat haly thing [ 545] sewine dais in-to godis lowing; & þe mene tyme sparand nocht, (of) gret ryches þai gert be vrocht [548 Ms. to st. of; Ms. brocht st. vrocht.] a towine þat fare was for þe nanys, of fyne gold & precius stanys. [ 550] quhare in honoure þai cane lay þat haly cors, þe sewint day of þe moneth of July. þare-of sic fleure sprang in hy, þat of balme & aromatykis al [ 555] It oure-passit bath gret & smal. & he þe sewinetend kalend of August of his lyf mad end, fra þat Criste oure flesche laucht thre hundird ȝere twenty & aucht.

II. Zu S. Paul's Vision von der Hölle,

aus Ms. Digby 86, fol. 132 [Die älteste Hs. dieser Version ist Ms. Jes. Coll. Oxf. 29, gedruckt in Morris: An old English Miscellany, London 1872. Die anderen Legenden dieses sehr alten Ms. Digby (ausser Maximian) werden in einer nächstdem erscheinenden grösseren Sammlung veröffentlicht werden.] (c. 1290).

Les ounsse peines de enfer.

Oiez, seynourf, vne demaunde Qui le deble fist estraunge A vn cheytif peccheour, Qui fv mis hors de tristour, De mort en vie resuscite [ 5] Par la grace de deu: "hounseli gost, wat dest þou here? þou were in helle nou for ȝere. wo haueþ helle dore ounloken? And ou art þou of pine Ibroken?" [ 10] Ore respount le mort a lu De cest secle ou il fu, E tint en ordre countes & dist Les ounse peines qui sen Pol uist E des autres qui il senti— [ 15] wn soul mot ne menti.

Vuoltou heren nou, satan, Ou ich am from helle igan? wormes haueþ mi fles ifreten, And alle mine frend me abeþ for∣ȝeten. [ 20] Ich was a mon, as þou wel wost, And nou icham a wreche gost. In helle ich babbe ȝare Iben— þat me may on min eien sen. Of me may mon forbisne take [ 25] þat wole his sunnen al forsake: To wroþer-hele he was Iboren þe schal for sunnen ben forloren, [28 þe = þat, wie 107.] And þe mon þat wercheþ wo his soule schal into helle go. [ 30] In mo pinen hoe schal be þen foweles bi þe heuene fle. wor þer beþ berninde tre— No mon ne may herre Ise— þer þe soulen beþ an-hon [ 35] þat here habbeþ sunne Idon And nolden neuere to Criste go: wor-þi hy þolieþ þer sech wo. þickore hy hongeþ þer oural þen ben beþ in þe winter stal. [ 40]

Seþen þer is on ouen Ihat seuene deuelen þer stondeþ at þat þe soulen ounderfon And hem in-to pine don. þinges þer beþ alaboute [ 45] þat mon aute muchel to doute: Snou and iis and liured blod, [47 liured = loppered. Die letzte Silbe ist schwer lesbar.] Neddren and snaken þer stingeþ for wod. Of þe fuir hoe doþ hem þere: And beþ as hoe weren ere. [ 50] þe soule þat þer comeþ to Ne bideþ hoe neuere-more ro; hoe wolde þenne, and hoe ne may, ffor þer hoe schal ben alne way. sswecche pinen he þolien schal [ 55] þat her wes of his fles ful gal And wolde louien his fleses wil And fonden al þat wes oun-sckil. þer he woneþ in seche wondrawe ffor he loueden ounriȝt lawe, [ 60] And for hy ne leten here sunne away And sriuen hem eer here endeday.

A wel of stel is forþer-mo, þat berneþ liȝte and turneþ ho; [64 ho = o = ay.] A þousent spoken þer beþ on, [ 65] And pikes oueral idon. þer þe soulen beþ to-drawen þat here arereden euele lawen, þider wendeþ þe soulen Ilome þat her demeden false dome. [ 70] Mo soulen þolieþ þer sech wo þen fisses ben in al þe se. ffourþer þer is a water hot, þat is long and dep and brot, blacore þen þe swarte pich, [ 75] And stinkeþ as for-rotet lich. Of þe pine þat hit bereþ (!)— Oþer hit stingeþ oþer hit tereþ— Ifuld is þat fowele pol, þat euere is hot and neuere col. [ 80] þer-bi stondeþ a develes trome And wayteþ þe soule, wen hoe come: hoe þere wercheþ al arep (!) [f. 133.] [83 l. a-þrep.] As þe wolf deþ bi þe sheep. Wen þe deuelen hem forleteþ, [ 85] Snaken and neddren hem to-wreteþ And draieþ hem into one welle, And þere hoe þolieþ alle ounselle. wen hoe habbeþ þat Idon, Eft-sone hit is al foren hon. [ 90] Ne may hoe svggen weilaway

þat so schal pinen niȝt and day? some me may þere Isee þat stondeþ in to heere knee, Some to heere middil þei, [ 95] And some to heere ouere brei, And some riȝt to heere tiit,— As heere sunnen beþ Ibet. Ba(k)-bitter is þat weren inne [99 Ms. baþ bitter.] þat stondeþ in to hoere chinne; [ 100] he þat wes owre oþer kopiner [101 owre = hore, whore.] þat stondeþ in to hoere sheer; And hoe þat euere wedlak brekeþ þe flod to heere nauele takeþ; Wose his glad of oþres harm [ 105] þe flod takeþ to his arm; þe spekeþ in chirche, þat nis nout god, To his mouþe takeþ þe flod; þe wreieþ his sibnesse oþer his steleþ Abouen his heien þe flod heleþ; [ 110] þat deþ his wille aȝeines riȝt Of him nemay me saie nowiit. wose is wis and eke war, loke þat his soule necome þar; wor, wen þis middellert ago, [ 115] heere pine Ilesteþ eueremo.

Forþer is a ful dep fen, ffoul of wowers and of wimmen; þe stude is þestriore þen þe niȝt, ffor þer ne comeþ neuere liiȝt; [ 120] And stinkeþ foulore þen þe hount, ffor brunston walleþ in þe grount. Two þousent soulen and wel mo þerine freteþ hoere tounge atwo And draweþ out hoere brain, [ 125] ffor hoe weren of gauele fain. Swech is hoere pine þer, wor hoe weren gauelers her.

Sweche beþ forþer Idon þat nowiit nabbeþ hem houpon: [ 130] hem me drepeþ wiþ þe pich, sso þe brede wiþ þe spich; Neddren hoere breste soukeþ And snaken þere hem to-loukeþ, helle houndes gnaieþ hoere fet, [ 135] And sevene deuelen hem stondeþ het: [136 het = at.] wor hoe heere maidenhot lore Are hi comen to chirche dore, And for hy duden hoere stren, [139 for hy duden st. hy forduden.] þat ne moste cristnet ben: [ 140] hoe werpen hit houndes oþer swin: ffor-þi hy þolieþ sori pin.

Forþer beþ wepmen and wimmen bo, þat fendes draieþ alle to; half me doþ hem in a fuir [ 145] And half in a worse muir. [146 worse st. frore?] wen hoe beþ so to-drawen, Gripes freteþ hoere mawen And hoere inward everuidel, Ne be þe þarof no so gal, [ 150] Eft hoe werpeþ al in al And herneþ to þat ilke gal. So hy pinez, and worse Inou, þat here duden þe widewe wou Oþer reueden wrecches here lond [ 155] And brouten hem to muchel shond: hoe nedden frend ne fader hem bi, wor-þi me drof hem of londe awi. hoe sikeþ loude and gredeþ sore, ffor bote ne comeþ hem neueremore. [ 160] Of men hoe taken hounriȝt mol: [161 l. token.] wor-þi hy beþ in silli sol.

Furþer þer is a watres flod þat is meind al wiþ blod. a þousent soulen þer beþ bi [ 165] ffoul sore of-þurst and foul houngri; Ne moten hi biten hone sope, Ne habben hy so muchel hope. In fuir hoe berneþ niȝt and day, And so hoe pineþ alneway. [ 170] wiþ seche pinen hoe beþ Imet þat breken þe heste þat hem wes set In holi chirche oueral.

Forþer-mo beþ holde men þat among nedderen abbeþ den; [ 175] hoe tosnieþ (!) þoru euche hon And freteþ þe fles al to þe bon, þoru hoere heren hoe freteþ þe brain And crepeþ in and out aȝein; ssomme beþ brende, and somme beþ froren, [ 180] And alle þe bones beþ to-droren. wen hoe habbeþ Ifreten ewche on, Eft hoe beþ Ihole anon— Nowiit for to comen oni from, Ac for to þolien þe wreche dom. [ 185] hy woneþ and groneþ day and niȝt, And hit ne helpeþ hem nowiȝt— wor hoe nolden ben Isriven, þe wile þat hoe mosten liuen ffor fendes hem stondeþ bi [ 190] [190 Ms. Jes. four st. for.] And pineþ hem swiþe selli. Ounseli men, wi neren þey war, þe wiles þat þei weren þar?

by nolden don for him no goed þat bohout ous mid his holi blod; [ 195] [195 Ms. bohout st. bouht.] he haf ous of helle, and ȝaf ous long lif, And lond and lede, and wele and wif, And al þat on þe world wes goed; Ac non of ous ne hit ounderstod. Nolde þer hy nowiȝt þenche þer-on, [ 200] þe poure wrecches, ne god don; hoe wenden hit sholde Ilesten ho: ffor-þi hoe beþ in þis wo; prestes hestes, ne godes lawe Ne duden hoe nout bi houre dawe, [ 205] Ac trichiours þey weren and les— ssoþliche I saye, wo is hem þes!— Ne wenden neuere to ben ded— þat wes þe foles wicke red— Ac euere as (hoe) sunegeden longe [ 210] sso here sunnen weren stronge. Neren nowiȝt hoe þerof adrad: ffor-þi hoe slepeþ in sulli bed. þan al þe worlde be agon, [f. 134.] [214 þan relat. = whan, wie 272, 278.] Terme ne habbeþ hoe neuere non; [ 215] ffor þe pine of helle is hendeles. wo is him þat þer woninge ches!

Of þis pine nis riȝt nouht Aȝein þe puet, wat er is wrout; [219 Ms. water.] Niene cheiles þer beþ oupon, [ 220] Ne comeþ hoe neuere-more oundon. [221 comeþ = bicomeþ, wie 245.] Monie mo soulen þer beþ in þen heþ in Fraunce dropen of win, Of hem þat heueden monnes trome And ne leueden nout godes come [ 225] Ne þat Jhesu Crist wes Iboren Of þe maiden, þat wes Icoren ffor to feden þat holi stren— wel is him þat him may seen! þis his hof helle þe gaiol. [ 230] þer ounder is a wel dep pol: Ten þousent deuelen and welmo þer doþ þe wrecche soule wo: wiþ irene houeles hoe hem to-draieþ Niȝt and eueri day þat dayeþ. [ 235] Among þe fendes in þester niȝt Beþ þee þat demeden Jhesu Crist; Nis no pine al-so strong sso is þe stunch þat hem is among. þes hoppe biforen oure heuen kinge [ 240] [240 hoppe = up.] Ne spekeþ of hem riȝt noþing, Ne dar no sont hem bidde fore, [242 sont = saint.] ffor-þi hy beþ euere forlore.

Eft þer is on oþer puet. Ne comeþ he neuere Iduet; [ 245] sseuene doren þer beþ on, ffor-to þe soulen ounderfon: Liȝtliche hoe may comen þer inne, An neuer aȝein, for none ginne. Two so dep he is welni [ 250] As þe heuene is from þen herþe hey. þerinne goþ soulen þicckore Inou þen leues fallen from þe bou. þis put is hot in helle grount: þerinne is moni on houngri hount, [ 255] And alle þe der þat euele beþ, And þe foules þat niȝttes fleþ, And þe hound þat wes so strong þat al þis world he houngri fong— Seþþen he wes Ibrout adoun [ 260] þoru Cristes holi passioun. Per-ounder is on iren wal, þat is of soulen Ifuld al; On hem is moni iren bond, þat is hattore þen eni brond. [ 265] þerinne beþ þe fendes Idon þat weren bihauedede oþer anhon, Oþer þat heueden so heuele Isped þat hy leien in wiues bed, Oþer þat weren acursed binome: [ 270] for(þi) hy habbeþ godes grome. [271 Ms. for st. forþi.] þan me ȝeue al þis world hem fore, Ne holpe hit hem nout worþ a pere. wolle ȝe heren nou a soþ— wose hit halt, goet hit him doþ—: [ 275] hit is writen in holi bok— þer-of nou witnesse I tok: þan on houndret heueden Iseten, Seþþen Kaim wes biȝeten, And heueden day and niȝt Iwaket [ 280] And teþ and tonge of stel Imaket And of helle pine told ho, ȝet þer beþ on houndret mo. And wose is wis and eke war, Loke þat he ne come þar! [ 285] A Jhesu Crist, þat ous is boue, ffor his swete moder loue Let ous swecche werkes werche And so to serui holi chirche, þat we moten ben Iborewe [ 290] And Ibrout from alle serewe— ffor þilke þat beþ Iboreuen Iwis hoe wendeþ into paradis; So wolle god þat we mote hounder-fongen heueriche bote. [ 295] swete Jhesu, king of blisse, Min herte loue, min herte lisse,

þou art swete mid-Iwisse— wo is him þat þe shal misse— sswete Jhesu, min herte liȝt, [ 300] þou art dai wiþ-houten niȝt: þou ȝeue me strengþe and eke miȝt ffor-to louien þe al riȝt! sswete Jhesu, mi soule bote, In min herte þou sette a rote [ 305] Of þi loue, þat is so swote, And wite hit þat hit springe mote!

III. Susanna.

a) Aus Ms. Cotton Cal. A II, fol 1 (c. 1430). [Nachtrag zur Ausgabe der Susanna aus Ms. Vernon in der Anglia Bd. 1, Heft 1.]

(Die ersten 104 V. fehlen, da vorne Blätter ausgefallen sind.)

The chyue, þe cholet | and þe chesboke cheue, [ 105] [105 l. chesbole?] The chyboll, þe cheueron, | þat chaungeth at nyghte, The percele, þe pasnepes, | þe porettes to preue, [112 Der 9. und 13. Vers ist im Ms. stets hintergeschrie∣ben.] The pyony, þe plawnteyn, | prowdly pyghte, The lylly, þe louge, | lawnced full(!) leue, The sawge & þe solsykell, | semyly in syghte, [ 110] The columbyne, þe caraway, | in clottys þey cleue, The Rewe, þe Rubarbe, | Rawnged full Ryghte In Rees, Dayse & datayne, Isope & sauerayne, [ 115] Pelletur & plantayne, The prowdeste in prees.

Thus þe ȝonge ȝepply | ȝede in here ȝerde, That was hyr husbandys & herys, | holden full hende. "The folke be faren vs fro, she sayde, | we dar not be ferde. [ 120] Aftyr myn Oynement | warly ȝe wende! Spede ȝou specyally | the ȝate be sperde, [122 Vern. aspieþ. spede (st. spire?) ist sinnlos.] ffor we wyll washe vs I-wys | by þe welle strende. ffor-þy we wyll warpe of | our wedys vn-werde." vnther a lawrer so lowe | þe lady gon lende [ 125] So sone. Be a wynlyche welle Sussanne cawghte of her kelle. Butt fele ferles her byfelle By mydday or none. [ 130]

Now ar þese domesmen | drawen into derne, whyle þat þey syghe þe lady | lout hyr alone; ffor to halse þat hende, | thay hyed hem full ȝerne, wythe wordys þey worshepyd | þat wordyly in wone: "wylt thow, lady, for loue | on our lay lerne [ 135] And vnther þis lowrer | be our lemman? The thar warne for no wyghte | our wyllis to werne, ffor all gomes, þat schulde greue, | of gardyn ar gone In-fere. ȝyf thow our nedys deny, [ 140] we shall say sykyrly: we toke þe In avowtry Vnther þis lowrere."

Sussan was sorowfull, | & seyde in her thoughte: "I am withe sorowe vmbe-sette | on euer-ylke a syde: [ 145] ȝyf I assent to þis synne | these segges han sowghte, I shall be brytened & brent, | in bales to abyde; ȝyf I nykke hem with nay, | hyt helpes me nowghte. Trybulacyon & tene | me takes þis tyde. (ȝ)ett er I þat wordy wrathe | þat all þis worlde wroghte, [ 150] (B)ettyr ys wemles to wende | out of þis worlde wyde." with thys (Sh)e kest a carefull cry, (þa)t comelyche lady. (her) seruantys had ferly— [ 155] And no wondyr, I-wys.

Kene men of þe courte | comen to þat cry, And sche had kast of | her kelle & hyr kyrchefe; In at a priuy posterne | þey presyd in hy And fownden þe prestes, full prest | þer poyntes to preue. [ 160] Then sayde þo loselles on-lowde | to þat lady: "Thow hast gone with a gome, | þy goddys to greue, And leyn with þy lemman | in avowtry, Be þat lorde & þe lawe | þat we on be-leue!" They swere. [ 165] All here seruauntes schunt And stale away in a stunt: Of here were þey neuere wont Suche wordys to here.

hyr kynrade, hyr cosyns, | & alle þat her knewe [ 170] wrongon hondys I-wys | & wepten full sare Certys, for Sussan sothfast | & semyly of hewe; All wyues & wydowes | a-wondred þey ware. They dyde hyr in a downgon, | wher neuer day dewe, Tyll domes-men hadde dempte | þe dede to declare, [ 175] Marred with manycles, | þat made were newe, Meteles fro þe morn | tyll mydday & mare, In drede. Tho come here fadyr so fre, wythe all hys affynyte. [ 180] The prestes were with-out pyte And full of falshede.

Then sayde þe Justyces on benche | to Joachym þe Jewe, That was of Jacobus kynde, | gentyll of dedys: "Lett sende aftyr Sussan, | semelyche of hewe, [ 185] That þou bast weddyd to wyfe, | & wlonkest in wedys! Sche ys of thoghte, as I trowe, | trysty & trewe And has herte haly on hym | þat þe heuen hedys." Thus þey broghte hyr to þe barre, | hyr bales to brewe. Nother dethe ne dome | þat day sche ne dredys, [ 190] Als ȝare. hyr here was ȝelow as þe wyre Of gold, fynyde with þe fyre, hyr scholdres shaply & schyre, þat borely were bare. [ 195]

Thus ys Sussan in sale, | senglyche arayde In a serke of sylke, | with sholdres full schene. Then Rysen with Rancour | þe Renkes Renayde

And þey þat comelyche acused | with wordes full kene; homely on here heddys (!) | here hondys þey leyde, [ 200] [200 l. hed.] And sche wepte for wo, | no wondyr, I wene! "we schull present þe pleynte, | how-so-euer þou be payde, And say sadly þe sothe, | ryth as we (haue) sene, On sake." [204 Vor sene fehlt han oder haue.] Thus with cautelys qwaynt [ 205] [205 Ms. Iwaynt oder qwaynt?] They present þer playnt. ȝett shall trewthe hem attaynt, I dar vnþurtake.

"Thorow-out þe pomery | we passed to play— wyth prayer & penaunce, | was our purpose. [ 210] Sche cometh with two maydyns, | dressyd þat day, wyth Ryche Robys arayde, | Reed as þe Rose. wylyly hyr wenches | she wyssed a-way, Comaundede hem kenely | þe ȝates to close. Sche wente forthe to a ȝong man | in a valey— [ 215] The semblant of Sussan | wolde no-man suppose, for sothe! Be this case þat y say She wyssed her wenchis away. These wordes wettenesse we ay [ 220] withe tonge & with tothe.

when we þat semblant syghe, | sykyng for care ffor sert of hyr souerayn | & for hir owen sake— [223 sert = desert.] Our copes were combrouse, | þat kyndeled our kare: But ȝett we turned a croke (!), | þat traytour to take. [ 225] he was borely & bygge, | bolde as a bare, Myche myghtyer þen we, | syche maystries to make. And to þe ȝate ȝeply | þen ȝede he full ȝare, And lyfte vp þe lacche | & lepte ouyr þe lake, So (!) ȝowthe. [ 230] [230 so = se ille?] Sche withe-shonte for no shame, But bowed aftyr, for blame, And wolde not kythe vs his name ffor crafte þat we kowthe."

Now ys sche dampned on days, | with dyn þey hyr deme(!), [ 235] And þe domesmen derf | done hir be withdrawen. Lowely sche lowted | and lawghte hyr leue, Att kynrede & cosyns, | þat sche had er knowen, Sche asked mercy with mowthe | in þat myschefe: "I am sakles of synne," sche sayde | in hyr sawen. [ 240] "Grete god, of þy grace | þese gomes forgyfe That don me delfully be ded | & don vpon dawen [242 vpon st. out of.] with dere! Now wolde god, þat I myghte Speke with Joachym or nyghte; [ 245] And sythen, what deth me were dyghte, ! ne sett at a pere.

Sche fyll flatte on þe flore, | hyr fere when sche fonde, And karpyd to þat karemon, | as she well kowthe: "I wratthed ȝou neuyr, | at my wyttande, [ 250]

Neyther in worde ner in werke, | in elde ne in ȝowghte." Sche keuered vpon her kneys, | kyst she his honde— "I am dampned, I ne dar | dispar(a)ge ȝour mowthe." [253 Ms. disparge.] was ther neuer a soryer syghte, | be see ner be sonde, Ne a sorowfuller segge, | be northe ne be sowth, [ 255] þen þore. They toke þe feteres from her fete. And þen kyst she þat swete, "In þis worlde shall we mete" Seyde sche, "no more." [ 260]

Then Sussanne was sorowfull | & seyde vpon hyghte, wythe hondys full hye, | behelde to þe heuen: "Maker of myddulerthe, ‖ at most art of myghte, Bothe þe sonne & þe see | þou sette vpon seuen: All my wyrkes þow wote, | þe wronge & þe Ryghte. [ 265] hyt ys nedfull now | thy names to neuen, As y am delfully dampned | & to þe dethe dyghte. Lord, hertyly take hede | and harken my steuen So fre, Syn thow may not be sene [ 270] wythe no fleshly yne— Thow knowest well I am clene: So haue mercy on me!"

Now ys sche dampned on deyse | withouten any drede, And ladde forthe, þat lady, | lofsom of lere. [ 275] Grete god of his grace, | and of gyftes vngnede, [276 þyst. his.] Thorow þe help of þe holy gost | herde hyr prayere. he dyrects hys dome | and hys derf dede [278 Ms. directs oder directe?] To Danyell þe prophete, | of dedys so dere: Suche ȝyftys he hym ȝaf | in hys ȝonghede— [ 280] ȝett fayled he a fourtenyȝt | of a full ȝere, Not to layn. Then cryed þat frely food: "why spylle ȝe þat Innocent blod?" All were astonyed & withstood, [ 285] Thes ferlees to frayn.

"What sygnyfyethe, good sone, | þys sawe, & what hyt seythe?" That þese maysterfull men | with mowthe gon melle. "ȝe arn fonned, all þe frape, | to telle ȝou in faythe, And in þe folke of I(s)rael | arn foles full fele. [ 290] Vmbe-loke ȝou, ledes! | such lawes arn leythe, Me thynkthet ȝour dedes full dull, | such dedis to dele. haue agayn to þe gylde-halle | þe gomes vngraythe: I schall be processe apret | dyspreue þys apele [294 apret st. apert.] In dede. [ 295] Lett desseuere hem in two, ffor now wakenes her woo— They shall graunt, er þey goo, All here falshede."

They dysceuered hem in two | & sett hem on sere. [ 300] And sodeynly þat senek (!) | þey broghte into sale. Byfore þe prophete | þys prest gon apere, And he apposed hym full sone | with chekes full pale:

"Thow hast be a presydent, | þe pepull to stere, Now dotest þou on þyn olde toes | in þe dysemale; [ 305] Now schall þy couetyse be knowen, | þat er was vnclere— Thow hast in Babylon on benche | browen mykyll bale So bolde. Now schull ȝour synnes be sene Of fals domes bedene, [ 310] whyle ȝe in Babylone haue bene Jugges of olde.

Thow seyst, þou seghe Sussanus | synne in þy syghte: Tell me now trystily, | vndur what tre?" he swere: "be the myche god, | þat most ys of myghte, [ 315] Vndur a syne sothly | my-self I he(r) se." [316 Ms. he st. her.] "Now þou lyest in þy hed, | be heuen vpon hyghte! An angell with a naked swerde | þe nyȝes full ne, he hathe braundest þat bronde, | & burnysched full bryghte, To merke þe at medyll in messe | in two or in thre, [ 320] No lees. Thow brekest goddes comaundement, To sle suche an Innocent wythe any fals Jugement vndewly on dees." [ 325]

Now ys thys domesman withdrawe | withowtyn any drede, And putte in a pryson | aȝen to hys place. They broughte forth þat oþur to þe barre, | when þe chylde bede, Before þe folke & þe fawnte, | frely of face. "Cum forthe, þou cursyd caytyf, | of Caymes sede! [ 330] Because of þy couetyse | þou art in thys case; Thow hast dysseyued þy-self | with þyn owen dede, Of alle þe wyte of a wyfe | bewyled þou wase In drede. [334 l. dede?] Say now, so mote þou the, [ 335] vndyr what kynnes tre Semyly Sussanne þou se Do þys derf dede!

Thow gome of grett elde, | þy hed ys gray-hored, Tell me tristili, | er þow þy lyfe tyne!" [ 340] Then þe Rodely churle | Rudely he Rored And seyde to þe prophete: | "þey pleyde be a pyne". "Now þou lyest vpon loude, | so helpe me our lorde! ffor fylthe of þy falshede | þou shalt haue an euyll fyne: Thy cursed comper & þou | may not acorde: [ 345] ȝe shull be drawen to þe deth | to day, or I dyne— So Rathe. I se an angell stande, To take þe dome of ȝour honde, wyth a brennand bronde, [ 350] To brytyn ȝow bathe."

Then þe folk of Israell | fellen vpon knees And lowely thanked our lord | þat her þe lyf lent; All gomes, þat her gode wolde, | glades & glees, That þys prophete so pertly | preued hys entente. [ 355] They trumpped before þe traytoures | & trayled hem on trees

Thorow-out þe cyte | be comune assent.— he þat louethe þat lorde, | þar hym not drede, no lees, That þus his seruant con saue, | þat shuld haue be schent, So swete. [ 360] Thys ferly befell In þe dayes of Danyell. The wytnesse wyll well tell Of þe same prophete.

b) Varianten des Ms. Addit. 22283, [Diese Hs., von grösstem Format (jede Seite hat 3 Columnen zu je 90 Versen) und vortrefflich ausgeführt, ist nichts weiter als eine wörtlich getreue Ab∣schrift des Ms. Vernon, in derselben Handschrift und wohl von demselben Schreiber, genau, selbst in den graphischen und dialect. Eigenthümlichkeiten überein∣stimmend. Sie beginnt erst mit fol. CLXXVII (die Numerirung der foll. geschieht, wie im Ms. Vernon, auf der linken Seite) in der Mitte der nördlichen Homiliensamm∣lung (22 V. vor dem Schlusse der Homilie zum Evang. Factum est in vna dierum = Nr. 48 Vernon, dann folgt die Homilie zu Surgens Jhc de sinagoga, Erat homo ex Pharis. Nichodemus, u. s. w.); am Ende, fol. CXCVII folgt ein Zusatz von Homilien (ders. wie in Ms. Vernon). Alle in dieser Hs. erhaltenen Gedichte und Prosawerke finden sich in Ms. Vernon wieder vor; leider sind eine Reihe von foll. ausgefallen und viele Gedichte daher nur fragmentarisch erhalten. An Legenden enthält diese Hs. noch: die Vision des Paulus von der Hölle (die ersten 126 Verse), Ipotis fol. 270, Susanna, Roberd of Sicily fol. 273 (wörtlich mit Vernon übereinstimmend), Disputisoun bitwene child Jhū and the maistres of the lawe (nur die ersten 104 Verse, das folgende Blatt fehlt). Ausserdem das Gedicht über das vollkommene Leben, über die sieben Todsünden und deren Zweige, Pricke of Conscience, über das Credo und Vaterunser, Dabate of body and soul, Disputisoun bitwene a gode man and the deuel, viele lyrische und moralische Gedichte (viele mit Refrain), und Prosawerke.] fol. 326, zum Texte des Ms. Vernon.

Ueberschrift: here bygynneþ a pistel of Susan.

V. 1 barne. 2 gentel. 4 riches . renk . arayed was riht; he fehlt. 5 orchardes . deope diche. 6 herbagages . hiht. 7 þorw . Citee . siche. 9 erbes . auenauntly. 16 loueliche . out of st. on of. 17 fode fressche∣liche. 18 hyr. 21 bitoke . a payre. 24 clergi. 25 hir. 27 hed. 28 þere. priuely. 29 was fehlt auch hier. rial . rentus. 30 honorable. 31 til his hous . hende (Punct vor hende). 32 dred. 36 heore wikkednesse. 38 ȝyue. 40 þer st. þus . þidur. 41 Jewesse. 44 semeliche. 45 were. hir. 46 schul . eschwe. 47 þise churlus . chaumbur . hire. 49 alan. 50 Susan. 51 merian. 52 wolde. 53 hir play. 54 þouht . biwile. 55 wittus . wei wordus. 56 teelde. 57 heore. 58 heore hore hedus . heuen . vpon. 59 cauht . heore. 61 þei. 64 miht. 67 hir . hir. 69 selcouþe. 70 perie. 71 Joyned. 75 were papeiayes. 76 nihtgales. 77 of þe best. 78, 79 blossomes. 80 & on amylliers. 81 papeiayes . for proude (!). 84 grapus . goldfinche. 85 þer st. þus. 86 þere were. 89 Damasene. 90 trouned. 93 cherie. 94 aren. 95 grapes & garnettus. 96 costardus . in coypes (!). 97 bewe, aus bowe corr. 98 fresliche. 99 wardouns wynliche . walse. 101 heore . gan hynge. 102 wederlynge. 103 springe. 104 Erberes. 106 out niht (!). 110 solsecle. 119 hire . holden were hende. 120 ben. 121 wende. 122 bene. 124 hire wedus. 125 lende. 128 cast. 129 fele. 133 forto. 134 worsschupe . worli. 136 bene vre. 138 schulde. 144 þenne. 146 ȝyf . synne. 149 suche. 150 wrethe (Vern. falsch wreche). 151 bettre. 155 ser∣uauns. 156 wondur. 157 hire. 158 hire. 160 here. 163 lemmon. 164 on.

167 away. 168 wer. 169 suche wordus. 170 hire . hire. 171 hondes . wept. 173 were. 174 dud . doungon. 176 were. 177 while. 179 come . fadur . freo. 181 saun. 183 on benche. 184 gentel. 185 sende . seme∣liche. 188 hert holli. 189 þer st. þus . hire balus. 190 noþur dome. 192 hyre. 199 comeliche . wordus. 200 homeliche on hire hed heore. 201 wept . wondur. 203 soþe. 205 qwaynt. 208 vndurtake. 209 passet. 213 wyliche . hire. 215 valey. 219 hire. 223 souereyn . hire. 224 were comberous. 225 traitour . to take. 226 borliche. 228 ful ȝare. 231 schunt. 235 hire. 236 vndeuwe . do hire. 237 hire leue. 238 kynreden . hedde euer iknowen. 239 asked . mouþe. 240 sakles . synne . hir. 242 derflich. 244 wold. 248 hire feere . fonde. 249 kyndelich. 250 wraþed . neuer . wetand. 251 neþer. 252 hire knes. 253 mouþe. 254 serweful. 266 nemene. 267 siþe . deolfully. 268 hertly take . herken. 271 flescheliche. 275 furth . lufsum. 276 gultus. 277 hire. 278 deolful. 280 suche ȝiftus. 281 fayled. 283 cried. 284 bloode. 285 þei . stoode. 287 gode sone. 288 gan. 289 þei ben. 291 vmbeloke ou lordus suche. 292 þinke . dedus. 293 þe vor gomes ist von derselben Hand in ȝe corr. 294 processe. 297 wakeneþ heore. 298 graunt. 302 þise. 305 dissemale. 306 concience. 307 bench. 309 synne . sene. 310 bi dene. 311 for eose (!) . babiloigne. 313 seiȝe Susan. 314 vndur. 316 self . hire. 317 þi . heuene. 319 brandest. 320 medel. 327 into a place. 328 þat oþur . barne. 330 cursed. 332 desceyuet. 335 mot. 339 þi. 340 telle . treuwely . er. 342 prophete. 344 falshede . haue vuel. 346 drawe. 350 brennyng. 352 þenne . fel. 353 loued. 354 goode. 356 traitours. 357 be. 358 hoso. 359 schuld. 361 ferlyes. 362 dayes. 363 wittenes. 364 prophete.

Statt der zwei Schlussverse in Vern. liest diese Hs.: God graunt vs þi grace . to play vs pertly in þis place—And feiþely þi feire face . to se þat is swete. Amen. Explicit Epistola Susanne secundam Danielem.—

Die letzte der bekannten Hss. dieser Legende ist das (früher im Besitz des Mr. Heber befindliche) Ms. Philipps 8252 in Cheltenham, aus der Zeit Heinrich's IV., welches ausserdem Piers Ploughman, the Travels of Sir Maundevyle, the three kings of Cologne, und Lucifer Prince of the depe dominion of Darkness, enthält. Da der jetzige Besitzer der Sammlung Phi∣lipps', dessen Schwiegersohn Fenwick, die Einsicht in seine Sammlung sich theuer (mit 5 Lstrl.) bezahlen lässt, so bin ich vor der Hand nicht im Stande, diese Hs. mitzutheilen. Laing, in seiner Ausg. der Sus., theilt die erste Strophe dieser Hs. mit. Ob ein im Besitz des Marquis von Bath befind∣liches, bisher unbekanntes, sehr werthvolles, enthaltend eine historia scho∣lastica des alten Testamentes (nach Petrus Comestor) und im Anschluss daran die Geschichten der Judith, Esther, der 7 Macchabäer, Job, in alliterirenden und gereimten Versen, und 12zeiligen Strophen nach Art des Evang. Nicod. (aber in 6 Langzeilen zusammengeschrieben), ob dieses Ms. auch die Su∣sanna einschliesst, habe ich nicht ermitteln können; Sprache und Versmass weisen auf nördlichen Ursprung.—Laing's Ausg. der Sus. folgt wesent∣lich Ms. Vernon (nicht Ms. Phil., wie Morris in seiner Ausgabe des Sir Gaw. mittheilt), doch hat er moderne Schreibung (th st. þ, gh und y st. ȝ, er st. ur, es st. us in der Endung u. a.) durchgeführt. Folgende sind die von Ms. Vernon abweichenden Lesarten in Laing's Text:

3 there. 4 all riches . reuke (mit u). 5 weren withinne. 6 hey . height. 14 had. 19 to that deire (!). 28 preveliche. 29 were st. þere als Reimwort. 40 domes(men) st. demers. 45 hir (L. lässt die Abbrev. für e unberücksichtigt). sesse. 47 chesse. 54 wretches. 58 heore. 64 while. 66 somer. 67 grethed hir. 71 Juniper. 73 Ipeuwed (!). 81 for. 86 On figges and fygers (!). sees (!). 95 grew. 96 cuylthes (!). 97 (the) braun∣ches, the bewe. 100 wald. charuwé 111 u. peletré 116 mit Accent. 117 prees. 118 ȝerde. 121 wende. 122 espieth now. 123 as st. us. 125 low . lende. 127 well. 137 þe st. ȝe. 150 Ar. worthlich . wrech (! st. wrethe,

auch in Vern. verschrieben). 151 beter. 157 her cri. 159 thi st. þei. 161 seid. aloud. 171 sare. 173 were. 177 mar. 186 wedded . wlonkest. 189 hir . barr. 198 reukes. 200 her. 204 on. 215 rode st. eode . ȝoung. 222 semblant . sare. 235 thaigh st. þauȝ. 237 latched. 239 asked. mony st. mouþ (!). 244 micht (schott. Schreibung!), 245 nicht. 248 feer. whom . fand. 255 sorioure. 266 neven. 276 vnguede. 277 holp (!). 281 failed. 282 sayne (!). 284 why . innocent. 285 thei stodeyd (!). sttode. 287 gode sone . seeth (!). 293 ye gomes. 300 him sone. 302 go st. gō (!). 307 much. 313 thow seighe. 318 nei (l. ne) st. nere. 324 fols. 328 whom. 332 thi st. þī. 336 kind. 342 seid bifor. 343 lorde. 345 ȝe mon(!). 350 orennynge. 352 upon knees. 354 all . hir. 356 traitours . trees. 358 the lord. 359 servant. Die 2 Schlussverse hat L. ausgelassen.

Grösstentheils sind diese Lesungen Versehen und Fehler Laing's, nicht der Hs., an einigen Stellen hat L. den richtigen Reim hergestellt oder gleichartig gemacht (auch V. 19? 29? 287?); in micht nicht 244 hat L. ohne Grund nördliche Schreibung willkürlich eingeführt; aber aus dem Ms. Philipps sind seine abweichenden Lesungen gewiss nicht geflossen. [

Varianten des Ms. Addit. 22283 zur Disputison of Child Jesu. Dieselbe Hs., Addit. 22283, enthält die ersten 104 Verse des aus Ms. Vernon in den "Altengl. Legenden", Beilage I, p. 212 veröffentlichten Gedichtes: Disputi∣son bitwene child Jhū and maistres of þe lawe of Jewus, welches ausserdem in die Kindheit Jesu des Ms. Harl. 3954, v. 211-265 (ed. in "Sammlung altengl. Leg." p. 103) verwebt ist. Bei dem genauen Anschluss an Ms. Vernon sind nur fol∣gende, meist graphische, Abweichungen zu merken:

V. 2 soþly. 3 gentil . vndur. 4 fondeþ. 10 twelue. 13 maistres. 19 seist þou. 21 þow . aȝein. 25 leorne. 29 miȝt þe. 34 blynd. 37 A. B. 39 tymely. 40 Resun. 42 spac . peple . apliȝt. 47 quaþ. 48 hidere. 51 þeiȝ . beo. 59 parties . he st. a. 60 knut in knot. 61 leorne. 65 heer aftur. 67 now . tak. 70 art þou. 72 here. 74 Ifere. 75 soþly. 77 swiþe I feere (! falscher Reim). 86 þou. 87 am I swiþe. 90 luþur lawas (!). 92 forþur . may st. wol. 94 here. 95 þou. 96 ȝing. 98 hast þou . cunnyng. 99 dye. 100 techyng. 102 þou. 103 I rede st. bede. 104 may.—Die folgenden Blätter sind im Ms. ausgerissen.

]

IV. Erasmus.

Aus Ms. Cbr. Dd. I, 1, fol. 295 (c. 1370).

Von der in der "Sammlung altengl. Leg." Heilbronn 1878, p. 198 ff. aus Ms. Harl. 2382 (u. Ms. Bedford) veröffentlichten Legende von Erasmus habe ich nachträglich noch ein weiteres Ms.: Cbr. Dd. I, 1 gefunden, wel∣ches, da es nicht wenig älter ist (c. 1370) als Harl., und häufig den besseren Text bietet, hier ganz folgt, obwohl es nicht das Original ist; Ms. Bedford steht dieser Hs. näher als Harl. Ms. Dd I, 1 enthält die in einen südlicheren Dialect umschriebene nördliche Homiliensammlung (Grund∣lage des Ms. Vernon), dann, nach Erasmus, ein Gedicht auf die Fastenzeit (Anf.: Lenten is an holy tyme, In which folk wile hem schryue Of alle þe synnes þat þei han don Before tyme in hire lyue), dann ein Gedicht betitelt: A good lesson of IX vertewis in 256 V., welches schildert, wie im Jahre 1345 in einer Vision Christus einen frommen Mann über neun wichtige Tugenden belehrt (Anf.: Alle þat loue to here þis lessoun—Crist graunt hem his benisoun.—þat ȝere of oure lord a þousand—CCC & XLV as I vnder∣stand—A good trewe man mad his preyere—Vnto oure lord god on þis manere.); endlich ein Gedicht über das jüngste Gericht, Busse und Beichte in 216 V., mit dem Motto: O Iudex vi feruida hanc servabis artem—Acu

tinali merida (=〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) i.e. audi alteram partem, (Anf.: And þerfor ȝe lordingis þat louedays wile holde—Loke ȝe here boþe partyes & who haþ ryght or wrong—And to confound al falsnes be ȝe brim & bolde—& to mayntene rightwisnes make ȝou stif & strong); letzteres Gedicht ist in denselben wechselnden Versmassen geschrieben und daher wohl dem∣selben Verfasser zuzutheilen als Erasmus, dessen Abfassungszeit um die Mitte des 14. Jahrhunderts anzunehmen ist.

Hinter t und g stehendes Häkchen ist durch e aufgelöst; obengeschriebenes e in þ^e u. a. cursiv gesetzt.

Ne noceat spasmus michi. me iuuet almus Erasmus: O sacer Erasme, meritis precibusque regas me. Amen.

Alle cristen folk, ȝe listen & lere of an holy buschop & a martere, whos name is clepid seynte Erasmus, as þe boke seyth & trewe men tel∣len vs. Of þis holy man here may men rede, [ 5] whate merite þei may han & whate mede þat wile worschipe god & him de∣nowteli eueri sonday wiþ III thingis principali. and þese III ben þei, as ȝe schal here: wiþ a deuoute pater noster or oþer preyere, [ 10] & wiþ sum almes - dede, lesse or more, of mete or of money ȝouen to þe pore, & wiþ sum candil-light mor or lesse Brennynge ate euensonge, matyns, or messe. he þat doþ these III thingis for his sake, [ 15] þese rewardis folowing schal he take: On is þis: þat he schal han to his lyuynge a resonable fode vn-to his laste end∣ynge; anoþer is þis: þat alle his fone Dissese to him schul þei don none, [ 20] if his cause be trewe—þis is certan, þorw preyere & help of þis holi man, & whate þat he askiþ resonabli God wile graunte ite him of his mercy; anoþer is þis—þat him schal plese: [ 25] he schal ben vnbounden of al disese; anoþer is þis, as þe boke seyth: he schal deyen in righte beleue & feyth, and, or þe soule fro þe body twynne, he schal han sorow & schrifte of his synne [ 30] and he schal receyue, or he be deed, Cristis owne bodi in forme of breed & he schal receyue aforn his endynge þe holi sacramente of anoyntynge: & so rather come to þat ioye & þat blys [ 35] In þe which þis holy man euere-mor is, þat is þe blisse of heuene þat neuere schal han ende— God ȝeue vs alle grace þedir to wende.

amen.

SIres, ȝe schul vnderstond, as we fynde, þat þis holiman was poneschid & pynde [ 40] In þe cuntre of Champayn, as þe boke telles & as men seyn þat in þat place dwelles. whos day falliþ in somer on þe thrid day Of Juny, þe nexte after May. and on þe sonday he had his moste wo— [ 45] of which I schal tel ȝou somwhate, or I go— vnder II fals tirauntis ful vntruly, þat were fals traytouris to god al∣myghti: þe name of þe firste was Diocliciane, & þe secounde tiraunte highte Maxi∣miane. [ 50] Aforn Dioclician þis buschop was broughte, þat spit on him & spisid & sete him ate noughte, & pute him in prisone & dide him mekil dere & leyd on him yren, als mekil as he mighte bere. & after þat þis traytour dide take him oute, [ 55] & made his bodi nakid & bare al aboute

& to a strong piler he dide him faste bynde & bete him al aboute, beforn & be∣hynde, & of his bare bodi, þat was ful fayr & fresch, wiþ punchouns & pynsouns þei pullid awei þe flesch, [ 60] & buffete him & bete him, as þei had ben wode, vn-til his bare bodi ran al on blode. Bute in þat mene-tyme, as trewe men tel, Dioclician deyde, þat fals was & fel; and after þat schrewe anon com anoþer: [ 65] Maximian, in malice þat was his broþer. which fals schrewe & fel, Maximiane, to þis holi man was bodili bane. for he did ordeyne & fillid a grete furnas wiþ pik & wiþ lede, wiþ brimston & wiþ bras, [ 70] and vnder þat furnas a fire brennynge faste: & þer-in þis holi man anon he did caste, & al his bare bodi þer-in did he baþe— Bute, blissid be god! he had no maner skaþe. And after þat þis fals tiraunte, ful of vnsele, [ 75] toke an heuy haberioun of yren & of stele & leyd ite in þe fyre, til ite was al glowinge, & pute ite on þis holi man nakid stondinge— Bute þorw goddis grace he felte no mor smerte þan doþ a man or a woman of a softe scherte. [ 80] þan was þis tiraunte as wood as an hare, for he coude no crafte to bringe þis man to care. Afterward a newe gette þis tiraunte did aray: on II stronge tristelis a longe bord did he lay & þis holi man he did bynde on þat bord, [ 85] and to his turmentouris þis was his word: "Kute ȝe wiþ a knyf his bodi al aboute, þat alle his guttis anon may come oute, and wynde hem vp after on a longe spite: & lete him þan afterward don his profite!" [ 90] & as þis tiraunt bad, anon ite was done of his fals turmentoures sodeynli & sone. & þer þis holi man wiþ-in a schort spas he ȝeldid his gost, as goddis wil it was. fro þe wo of þis world þus dide he wende [ 95] to þe ioye & blisse þat neuere schal han ende. God of his goodnes & of his grete gras þorw help of þis holi man bring vs to þat plas.

amen.

SEynte Erasmus, þou holi Buschope & goddis meke martir, as we hope: [ 100] as þou on þe sunday offrid vp þi gode for þe loue of oure lord þat deyde on þe rode, & as þou on þe sunday suffrid dissese for goddis loue, whom þou wold plese: þou receyue oure preyere & oure of∣feringe [ 105] to þe worschip of god & to his ples∣inge: & saue vs fro al dissese & pyne, if ite so be þat ite be goddis wil & thyne, & saue vs fro oure enemyes & oure fone, boþe bodily & gostely, euerichone, [ 110] & þorw þe mercy of god & þi mede Graunte vs repentaunce for oure mys∣dede, & hosil & schrifte, or we hens wende, & þe sacramente of anoyntinge ate oure laste ende; & whan we ben dede & poneschid for oure synne [ 115] in þe peyne of purgatori þat we schul ben inne, þou bringe vs fro þat wo, be ite mor or mynne, to þe blisse of heuene, þat neuere schal blynne!

Almyghti gode, god in trenyte, in godhed on, in personis thre, [ 120] þe fader & þe sone & holi goste, o lord & kinge of eueri coste: we prey the, lord, þat þou here vs for þe loue þat þou haste to seynte Erasmus:

whos grete loue & good lyuynge [ 125] vn-to the, lord, was ful plesinge: wurschipe to the he dide alway, bute principali on þe sunday: wiþ matyns & messe & gode orisouns & oþer dedis þat he dide & deuo∣ciouns. [ 130] On þe sunday þus wold he wirk, & he wold teche þe pepil in holi kirke, & on þe sunday he ȝaf mekil gode to þe pore pepil for hire fleschli fode: þan fedde he folk gostli wiþ goddis word [ 135] & pore folk bodili at his owne bord. & on þe sunday he fond fayr lighte brennyng in holi kirke fayre & bright In worschipe & honour of þe holi trenyte & of alle þe seyntes þat in he∣ueue be. [ 140] and on þe sonday, lord, for þi loue he suffrid moche peyne & reproue for many ȝeris to-gedir as men say; he had grete turmentrye on þe sunday: he was on þe sunday ful reweli arayd [ 145] þorw II fals tirauntis, as ite is aforn sayd; þus on þe sunday ful pacientli he suffrid moste parte of his turmentri, & on þe sunday ate þe laste was he slayn for þe loue of oure lord, þis is cer∣tayn, [ 150] & þus on þe sunday he wente vnto blys— God bringe vs thedir, whan his wil is.

amen.

God, þat of þi goodnes & of þi grace ȝaf þis goodman wil, tyme & space to suffre hard peyne, his paciens to proue, [ 155] lord, to þi plesaunce & to his behoue; * as þou on þe sunday did him make his ende & fro world(l)i wo to blisse dide him wende: þou god, of þi goodnes, þou graunte vs al-ways to hold wol & holi al oure holi days, [ 160] & nameli þe sundays, to hold hem holi as dide þis holi man lyuynge bodili: wiþ prechinge & techinge on good maner wise, & good bedis & besynes in goddis seruise, & oþer good dedis as dide þis holy man, [ 165] eueri-man in his degre, as he beste may & can: to þe worschip of god, as þis good man did, & wiþ loue & charite, as oure bokis bid; & so for to suffer þe wele & þe wo of þis wrecchid werld, or we hens go, [ 170] þat we in tyme comynge mow come to þat blis þat neuere had beginnynge & is en∣deles. to which ioye & blis, good god, bringe vs þorw help of þis holy man, seynte Erasmus.

amen.

Ne noceat spasmus: michi, me iuuet almus Erasmus. O sacer Erasme, meritis precibusque regas me. amen.

V. Roberd of Sicily.

Ausser den bei der Ausgabe in der "Sammlung altengl. Leg." Heil∣bronn 1878 p. 209 ff. benutzten vier Hss. dieser Legende giebt es noch drei andere: Cbr Ji IV, 9, Cbr. Caj. Coll. 174 (diese bis jetzt unbekannt) und Cbr. Ff. II, 38 fol. 93 ff.

Die erste schliesst sich in der grösseren Hälfte enger an Ms. Harl. 1701 (H.), dem sie besonders auch in der Anordnung der Verse folgt (so bei V. 171-194, bes. 191-4, doch fehlen die 2 letzten Verse des Ms. H., und 4 V. vor 171; 223 ff., 263-4); doch folgt sie 291 ff. unmittelbar Ms. Trin. Coll. 57, wie sie auch nur ein Quatrain für das Gebet an Maria hat 299-302, auch fehlen nach 362 die an dieser Stelle in H. eingeschalteten 16 Verse. Mit Ms. Harl. 525, dem sie in der Ordnung der Verse völlig fern steht, hat sie einige Lesarten gemein, die jedoch wohl auf eine ge∣meinsame

Vorlage beider zurückzuführen sind. Zu bemerken ist der Aus∣fall vieler Verspaare und selbst grösserer Abschnitte; so fehlen von dem Texte VT, der in der genannten "Sammlung a. L." zu Grunde gelegt ist, 87-88, 100 u. 102, 125-9 (fehlen auch in H.), 159-160, 177-180, 189-193, 209-212, 215-6, 231-2, 235-242, 251-260 u. 263-6 (die Folge der übrigen V. wie in H.), 309-331 (der ganze Passus von Nabugo∣donosor), 349-353 (auch die nach 364 in H. eingeschalteten 12 Verse, weil die Hs. hier Ms. Trin. folgt), 373-4, 436-440. Auch im Einzelnen zeigt diese Hs. viele Freiheiten, und Lesarten, die sich in keiner anderen Hs. finden; der Schluss 369-374 ist Zusatz.

Ms. Caj. Coll. 174, schlecht geschrieben und spät, folgt ebenfalls meist Harl. 1701, doch weisen einige Stellen auf Harl. 525 (Ha.), so 183-4, 213-214, dem auch viele einzelne Lesarten entlehnt sind, während es an an∣deren Stellen, V. 260, 261 ff., 305-8, 364 ff. dem Texte von VT näher steht. In der Anordnung der Verse folgt es meist Harl. 1701, so bei 185-215 (nur sind 185-8 u. 189-192 umgestellt, ebenso 193 u. 194), beson∣ders 209 ff. (aber 213-4 in der Fassung von Ha.), 221-4, 253 ff., 259 ff. (doch hat 260 die Fassung von VT), 308-311, 369-371, 372-5, 448 ff. Ausgelassen ist je ein Verspaar nach 264, (266), 452, 456. Freie Anordnung zeigt es V. 357 ff. Das Ms. ist oft fehlerhaft.

Während die genannten 2 Mss. sich hauptsächlich an Harl. 1701 an∣schliessen, zweigt sich Ms. Cbr. Ff. II, 38 von Harl. 525 ab, jedoch unter Zuziehung anderer Mss. und mit eigenen grösseren Zusätzen (es zählt 516 V.). Es entfernt sich daher am weitesten von der ursprünglichen Fassung. In der Anordnung der Verse folgt es ganz Harl. 525, so bei 191 ff., 207 ff. (nur sind 213-4 u. 215-6 umgesetzt, ebenso 227-8), bes. 229-234, 241-243, 309 ff. (313 ff., 321-2, 327-330 stehen an derselben Stelle wie in Ha.), 337 ff. (doch fehlen 4 V. nach 336; in den anderen Mss. folgen 337-349 erst nach der Betrachtung über Nabugodonosor), 371-372 Zus. aus Ha., 387 ff. (doch ist 393-404 freier Zus.) u. 407-416 (es fehlt, wie in Ha., das Gebet an Maria), 489 ff. (besonders 501-502); auch die 4 Schlussverse lauten wie in Ha. An einigen Stellen sind in Ha. fehlende Verspaare wieder eingesetzt, so 101-2, 127-130 fehlen in Ha. u. H., sind aus VT ergänzt), 205-6, 478-80 (= VT 194-6). Eigene Zusätze sind 103-4, 139-140, 199-204 (199 ist aus 281, 201-4 aus 249-254 vorgegriffen), 217-8, 303-8, 393-404, 469-484 (jedoch ist 478-80 nachgeholt aus VT 194-6, die in Ha. an dieser Stelle fehlten). Es fehlt ein Verspaar nach 254, 260, 295, vier Verse nach 336.

Um das Material dieser Legende abzuschliessen, lasse ich den Text dieser drei Hss. folgen; die Varianten allein mitzutheilen, würde fast den∣selben Raum erfordern.

a) Aus Ms. Cbr. Ji IV, 9.

Pryncys prowde that bene in pres, I xal you telle þat is no les. In Cysyle was a nobylle kynge, ffayre & stronge and sumdelle yenge. he had a brother in gret Rome, [ 5] Pope he was of Crystendome; he had ane oþer brothyr, of Almayne Emperour, that Sareseynys wroughte payne. The kynge hyghte kynge Roberd; Neuer mane woste hyme aferde; [ 10] he was kynge of gret honour, And clepyd he was a conquerowre; In alle thys warlde ne was hys pere, kynge ne dewke, ferre nor nere, Of chyvalrye he was the flowre: [ 15] hys broþer þerfor was made Em∣perour; hys oþer broþer goddys wykerye, Pope of Rome, as (y) seyde ere: he was clepyd pope Vrbane— he lowyd wylle god and also man. [ 20] The Emperour hyte ser Belamound, A stronger werryowre was none fownde,

Aftyr hys broþer of Cysile, Of whome we wylle speke a whyle. The kyng thoughte he hade no pere [ 25] In alle þe warde, ferre ne nere; In his thoughte he had gret pride Noo pere he had in no syde. And one þe evyne of seynt Johne Kynge Roberd come to chyrche anone, [ 30] for to here hys evyne-songe. hyme thoughte he was þere to longe: he thoughte more of werdelys honour Thane vpone Jhesu, owre sauyowre. In magnificat he herd a wers: [ 35] he mad a clerke to hym it reherse In lang(a)ge of his owene tonge— In latyne he ne wost quat þei songe. The wers was, I telle þe: Deposuit potentes de cede [ 40] Et exaltauit humiles— That is þe ende of þe wers. The clerke seyd anone ryghte: "Syr, suche is goddys myghte That he may makyne hygh lowe, [ 45] And lowe hyghe—also I trowe; he may done, withowtyn lye, Is wylle in þe twynkelyng of ane ye." The kynge seyd withoute fabylle: "This wers is ful vnestable. [ 50] what man hathe suche powere To brynge me lowe in daunger? I ame flowre of alle chyvalrye, My enemyes to dystroye; Ther is no man nor wyghte in londe [ 55] That may me ayene withstande. Thane is this a songe of nowth." So in errowre was hys thoughte. and in hys slepe a though(t) he toke (!) [59 So Ms. Harl. 525.] In hys travas, as seyth þe boke. [ 60] And whane euensonge was Idone, A kynge lyche hym owt gane goone, And alle men wyth hym gane wynde— kynge Roberd is alle owt of mynde. The newe kynge was, I þe telle, [ 65] Goddys aungelle, hys pride to felle. The aungelle in þe halle Joy made— Alle mene of hym were glad. The kyng wakyd þat lay ine chyrche. To hys mene he thoughte sorowe to wreche (!), [ 70] [70 Ms. wreche st. werche.] for he was lefte þere alone and dyrke nyghte fel hym vpone. he gane crye aftyr hys men: There was none answerd aȝene, But þe sextayne at þe ende [ 75] In to þe chyrche to hym gane wende and seyd: "quat dost þou here, fals theue and theffys fere? Thow art here with vylonye, wyth thefte and with roberye." [ 80] and he seyde: "fowle gadlynge, I ame no thefe, I am þi kynge. Opyne þe chyrche-dore anone, That I may to my paleys gone!" The sextayne thouth anone þane [ 85] That it was sum woode mane, and openyd þe chyrche-dore faste. The kynge oute rane in gret haste, as a man þat were nere wood, Tyl at hys paleys gate he stode. [ 90] And clepyd the portere gadlynge and bad hym comyne hyynge, anoone the gatys vp to doo. The portere axid, who callyd so? Roberd answerd anone: [ 95] "Thow xalt wette, or we goone. Thy lorde I am, þou xalt wylle knowe; Thow xalt ben hangyd & Idrawe— þou xalt wylle wete I ame a kynge. Opyne þe gate, fowle gadlynge!" [ 100] The portere seyde: "so mote I the, The kynge is with-Inne with his meyne; wylle I wotte withowtyne dowte þat he ne is not now þer owte." The portere come in to þe halle, [ 105] afor þe aungelle one kne gane falle and seyd: "þer is at þe ȝate a nyce fool Icomyn late and seythe he is lorde & kynge, and callythe me foole gadlynge. [ 110] lord, what wol ȝe þat I doo? Lete hym In or lete hym goo?" The aungelle seyde in haste: "Brynge hym in to me faste! for my fool I wolle hym make, [ 115] Tyl þe worde of kynge he wol for∣sake." The porter wente vnto þe yate, Roberd he clepyd, hyme in to lete. he smote þe porter, quan he come In, Tyl þe blod braste oute at hys chyne. [ 120] The porter & hys man in haste kynge Roberd in a podelle caste— One-semely was hys body thane, That it was leche noone oþer mane— And browte hym before þe aungelle∣kynge, [ 125] And seyd: "lorde, this gadlynge

Me hath smetyne withoute desert, and seyth he is our lorde apert; To me he seyth none other worde But þat he is kynge and lorde. [ 130] [128-9 u. 130-1 sind in den an∣deren Mss. umgesetzt.] That traytowre xal for hys sawe Be boþe hangyd and Idrawe." The aungelle seyd to kynge Roberde: "fool, why art þou not aferde My mene to done suche vilonye? [ 135] This gylte þou muste nedys abye. What art þou?" þane seyd þe aungelle. Quod Roberte: "þou xalt wete fulle wylle: I ame kynge & kynge wol be, with wronge þou haste my dygnyte. [ 140] The pope of Rome is my brother, The Emperour of Almayne in þe othere: They wol me wreke, I þe telle; I wot þey wolnote longe dwelle." "Thow arte my fool," seyd þe aun∣gelle, [ 145] "Thow xalt be schorne euery delle lyke a foole, a foole to be; for þou hast lorne þi degre. Thy counselour xal be þe ape, Thy (!) clothynge xal bene Ishape, [ 150] The ape xal bene þi owne fere— Of hym wytt þou may lere. Thow xalt with howndes, how it be∣falle, Ete, wythe þe in þe halle; Thow xalt etyne one þe grownde [ 155] and þi tastour xal bene ane hownd, To asaye þi mete afore the— Getyst þou here none oþer degre." he callyd a barbour hyme before, That a foole he shulde be shore [ 160] alle rownde, lyke to a frere, a hande brede aboue þe ere, and one hys crowne make a crosse. he cryed faste & mad gret noyse, and seyd þey schulde alle abye [ 165] That ded hyme suche wylonye— for euer he wende in no wyse That god cowde so dewyse To brynge hym to so lowe estate, with suche rodde stylle to be made. [ 170] To euery mane he was vndyrlynge— alas, this was a doolful þynge That þere schulde for hy(s) pride sweche hap mene (!) betyde. God put hym owt of hys lykenes [ 175] ffor his gret vnbuxumnes. hunger & threste he had gret, for he myghte noo mete ete But houndys etyne of hys dyshe, whedyr it were flesche or fysche; [ 180] he was to deth nere Ibrowth ffor hungyr, or he myte ete owte with houndys þat were in þe halle— how myte hym herder befalle? whane it myte no better be, [ 185] with þe houndys he ete plente. with þe houndys euery nyghte he laye, and ofte he cryed: welawey, That euer he was Ibore, for he was mane forlore! [ 190] The aungel axid euery day: "fool, art þou kynge? þou me saye!" Roberd seyd: "þat it xal be knowe, I ame kynge, if I be lowe."— [194 Hier hat Harl. 1701 2 Verse mehr; sonst stimmt die Ordnung der Verse überein.] The aungel thoughte he was kynge longe. [ 195] In his tyme was neuer wronge, In hys tyme was neuer stryfe Betwyne no man & hys wyfe. I trowe, it was a Joyfulle thynge In londe to haue suche a kynge. [ 200] kynge he was III ȝere & more. Roberd yede as a man forlore. sit it befelle vpone a daye a lytyl before þe monethe of maye: syr Belawmonde, þe Emperour, [ 205] sent l(ett)res of gret honore To hys broþer, of Cysile kynge, and bad hym come withowte lettynge, That they myte alle ane soome Be with her broþer, pope of Rome; [ 210] he thoughte þei were longe atwene, and bad he schulde lette for no wyne. The aungel wolcomyd þe massangere and ȝafe hym clothis of ryche were— where suche cloth was to selle, [ 215] Ne who it mad, no-man cowde telle. The messengere went with þe kynge vne-to Rome withoute lettynge. Roberd, þe fool, wyth hym wente In a ful sory garmente, [ 220] with fox tayles rownde abowte— Mene myte hym knowe in þe rowte! and ane ape rydynge in his clothynge— so fowle rood neuer kynge. alle other were of ryche araye, [ 225] But one kynge Roberde, as I yo saye. alle mene gone one hym prye, for he rod so nycelye.

The pope & þe Emperour also, and oþer lordys many moo, [ 230] wolcome þe aungel as for kynge, and Joye of his comynge. So ryal a kynge come neuer in Rome— alle mene marvaylde quan he come. The III brotheris mad com̄fort— [ 235] The aungelle was broþer of þe sorte; wel were pope & Emperour her broþer was of suche honour. fforth come styrtynge kynge Roberde, as a fool noþing aferde, [ 240] and cryed with a fulle hygh speche To his brotherne: hyme to wreche One hyme þat hathe wyth gyle his crowne and lond of Cysele. Pope, Emperour, ner noone oþer, [ 245] The fool knewe not for her broþer. a moche foole þane was he holde More thane before a M folde: for to cleyme suche a broþerhode lit was Iholde a foly dede. [ 250] Kynge Roberd gane to care Meche more þane he dede eare, whane his brotheryne hym nold knowe: "alas, he seyd, now ame I lowe!" for he hopyd be summe thynge [ 255] hys brothrene wolde haue mad hym kynge. he sey his helpe was agoo: "alas, he seyd, so I ame wo. alas, quad he, þat I was borne, for now I ame mane forlorne!" [ 260] alas, he seyde, þat he was made, "for of my lyfe I ame ful sade!" "alas, he seyd, what xal I do? hert, cleue & breste vne-too!" [264 Ms. vn too st. ontoo.] [263-4 aus H.] alas, alas, was þane his songe— [ 265] his her he taar, his handys he wronge. Euer he cryed alas, alas. Thane he thoughte one his trespas. [268 Hier fehlt der ganze Pas∣sus über Nabugodonosor (in allen an∣deren Mss.).] he cryed mercy with sory chere: God hym restoryd as he was ere. [ 270] "Now ame I wers þane euer I was and also stand in ewyl cas. whane god yaf me suche honour That I was clepyd conquerour, In euery londe in Crystendome [ 275] Of me þey spoke alle & some and seyd noo-where was my pere In alle this werde, ferre ne nere: for þat name I had pride, as þe aungel þat fro Joye dede glyde [ 280] and in þe twynkelyng of ane ey God bename her maystrye. so hathe he myn for my gylt, Now ame I lowe & neer Ipylt. It is ryghte þat I so be— [ 285] lord, one þi fool haue mercy! holy wrytthe I hadde in dyspyte: Therfor was rewyd al my delyte, Therfor ryghte is a fool I be— lorde, one þi fool haue pete! [ 290] lorde, I ame þi creature; This wo is ryghte þat I endure and wyl more, and it myte be— lorde, one þi fool haue mercy! lorde, I haue gylte þe sore: [ 295] Mercy, lorde, I wol no more; Euer thy fool, lord, I wol be— lorde, one þi fool haue pete! Blysful Mary, one-to þe I crye: as þou art ful of curtesye, [ 300] Pray to þi sone þat deyd one tre! One me, his fool, haue mercy!" [291-302 aus Ms. Trin.] And þane he gane hym-selfe stylle and thanke god with good wylle.— The pope, Emperour & kynge [ 305] ffyve wekys make þere dwellyng; whane V wekes was come & gone, To her owne lond wolde þei gone, Boþe þe Emperour & þe kynge— Ther was a fayr partyng. [ 310] The aungel come to Cysyle, he and hys mene, þat whyle. whane he come in to his halle, Tho Roberd forthe dede he calle and seyd: "fool, art þou kynge?" [ 315] "Nay, quad he, withoute lesynge." "what art þou?" seyd þe aungel. "Syr, a fool, þat wot I welle, and more and a fool, if it may be; kepe I noone oþer dignite." [ 320] The aungel in to þe chambyr wente, and aftyr Roberd sone he sent; he bad alle folke frome chambyr gone: There lefte noone but he alone. and to þe foole þat stod hym by [ 325] The aungel seyde: "þou hast mercy. Thynke, þou were lowe Ipylt, and for þi owne gylte a fool þou were to heuene kynge: Therfor þou art ane vndyrlynge. [ 330] God hath foryowe þe þi mysdede— Euere here-aftyr þou hym drede!

I ame ane aungelle of renowne, Isent to kepe þi regione; More Joye me xal befalle [ 335] In heuene amonge my ferys alle In ane owre of a daye Thane in þe erthe, I þe say, In ane C M yere, Though alle þe warde ferre or nere [ 340] were myn at my lykynge. I ame ane aungel, þou art a kynge." he passyd in twynkelynge of ane eye— No more of hyme Roberd seye. Kynge Roberd come in to þe halle, [ 345] his mene he dede forth calle: and alle werene at his wylle, as to her lorde was ryghte & skylle. he louyd god and holy chyrche and euer he plyed good dedys to werche. [ 350] he reynyd aftyr II ȝere & more and (loued) wel god & his lore. The aungel ȝaf hym warnynge Of þe tyme of hys deynge. whane tyme come to deyne soone, [ 355] he dede wryte sone anoone, loo (!) how god of meche mythe Made hym lowe, as it was ryghte. These tydyngys euery delle he wrotte to his brothrene vnder selle. [ 360] and þe tyme þat he schuld (haue) deyed, That tyme he deyd, as he seyd. and this is wretyne withoute lye at Rome, to be in memorye. Cryst þat for vs gane dye, [ 365] In hys kyndome lete vs bene hye, Eueremore to be above, Where is Joye and euer loue, and graunt vs euer for his godhed To repent of owre mysdede, [ 370] Thorugh prayr of mayd Marie That is so ful of curtesye, Comfort vs, whane we hens wende In to þat blysse þat hath none ende!

here endyth kynge Roberd of Cysyle.

b) Aus Ms. Cbr. Caj. Coll. 174.

Pryncys provde that be in prees, I schall you tell that is noo leesse. In Cesylle was a nobylle kyng, ffayr and strong and somdele yong. he had a brother at gret Rome, [ 5] Pope of alle crystyndome; a nother brother in Almayne, an emperoure that wrouȝt the sar∣ȝenys payne. The kyng was clepyd kyng Roberd; Nevyr mane wyst hyme aferde; [ 10] he was kyng of grete honoure, so that mene clepyd hyme conquer∣oure; In alle the worlde was none hys pere, kyng ne duke, far ne nere. and for he was of chevalry the floure, [ 15] hys brother was made emperoure; hys other brother goddys vycare, pope of Rome, as i say the; he lovyd bothe god & mane. The pope was clepyd Vrbane, [ 20] The emperoure was clepyd Vala∣monde— a strenger mane was neuer none fonde, Save hys brother, kyng of Cesylle, Of whome i wylle you telle a whyle. The kyng thouȝt he had no pere [ 25] In alle the wo(r)lde, far ne nere, and in hys ȝongeth(!) he had gret pride ffor he was vmpere on euery syde. at mydsomer, on seynt Jonys day, The kyng come to chyrch fulle gay, [ 30] fforto here hys evynsong. hyme thouȝt he dwellyd alle to long: he thouȝt more on werldly honoure Thane on god, oure savioure. In Mangnifigat he herd a vers: [ 35] he made a doctore hit to reherse In language of hys ovyne tounge— he ne wyst what they sounge. The vers was, I telle the: Deposuit potentes de cede [ 40] Et exultauit humiles— Thys was the vers withoutyn lesse. The doctore seyd anone ryȝt: "such power hath god almyȝt: he may hye mene make low [ 45] and lowe mene hye in a litelle throw. he may it do, without lye, In the twynkyllyng of an ye." The kyng sayde withe hert onstabylle: "alle thy song is fals & fable. [ 50] what mane hath suche power To bryng me lowe or in danger? ffor i ame floure of cheualrye; alle my enmyes i may dystroy;

Ther is no mane that lyveth on londe [ 55] That me may with strenght with∣stonde. Therfore this is a song of nouȝt." and this erroure had in hys thouȝt, and in hys thouȝt a slepe hyme toke In hys closset, as seyeth the boke. [ 60] whane evynsong was alle done, a kyng lyke to hyme cane goene, and alle mene with hyme can wende— kyng Robert left alle behynde. The new kyng, as i the telle, [ 65] was goddys angelle, hys pride to felle. The angelle in halle gret Joi made, and alle mene of hyme were glade. The kyng awoke, that lay in chyrch: hys mene he thouȝt wo to wyrch, [ 70] ffor he was lefte ther alone and darke nyȝt felle hyme one. he begane to cry one hys mene: But there was none wolde speke to hyme, But the sextene in the chyrche ende; [ 75] ffast to hyme thane cane he wynde. The sextene sayde: "what doyst thou here, Thou fals wreche & losyngere? Thow art here for some felony, holy chyrche forto dystroye." [ 80] Thane sayde Robert: "thou foule gadlyng, I ame no theyf, i ame a kyng. Opyne the dore ryȝt anone, That i may to my palysse goene!" The sextene thouȝte anone thane [ 85] þat it was some wode mane, and wolde the chyrch delyuered were— The sextene of hyme had fere; he opynnyd the dore anone in haste. The kyng begane to ryne faste, [ 90] as a mane that were nere wode. at hys ovyne palysse gate he stode and clepyd the porter gadlyng, and bad let hyme in In hastyng, anone the ȝatys to ondo. [ 95] The porter sawe he clepyd so(!). [96 Ms. sawe he st. saide ho.] and he answeryd sone anone: "Thou schalt wete, or we goone: Thy lorde i ame, that schalt þou knowe, and in prisone thou schalt lye fulle lowe [ 100] and be hangyd & to-drawe as a traytor, be the lawe! Thow schalt wele wete that i ame kyng. Opyne the gate, thou foule gadlyng!" The porter seyde: "so mot i the, [ 105] The kyng is with hys meyne. wel i wote without douȝte That the kyng is not now without." The porter come in to the halle, and on kne before the kyng cane falle [ 110] and seyd: "ther is at ȝoure gate a nyce fole icome late, he seyeth he is both lorde & kyng, and clepith me foule gadlyng. lorde, what wylle ye that i doo? [ 115] let hyme in or let hyme goo?" The angelle seyde in haste: "let hyme come in faste! ffor my fole I wylle hyme make, sith the name of a kyng he hathe take." [ 120] The porter come to the yate and hyme callyd, in to late. he smote the porter, whene he come in, That blode start out on mouth & chynne. The porter yolde hyme hys tra∣waylle [ 125] and smote hyme ayene without faylle, That nose & mouth brafte on blode. [127 u. 132 Ms. the st. that.] Thane he faryd, as he were wode. The porter and hys mene in haste Kyng Roberd in a podelle dyd caste, [ 130] Onsemely made hys body thane That he was lyke no other mane. [127 u. 132 Ms. the st. that.] and brouȝt hyme before the new kyng and seyd: "lorde, this gadlyng Me hathe smete without desert [ 135] and seyeth he is kyng apert. This traytor schulde be for hys sawe Bothe ihangyd & to-drawe, ffor he seyethe no other worde But that he is both kyng & lorde." [ 140] The angelle seyde to kyng Roberde: Thow fole, art thou not aferde My mene to do suche vilenye? That gylte thou moste nedys abye. whatt art thou?" seyde the angelle. [ 145] Robard seyde: "thou schalt wete fulle welle: I ame kyng, & kyng wylle be; withe wrong thou hast my dyngnite. The pope of Rome is my brothere, The emperoure ys an other, [ 150] he wylle me wreke, i the telle, I wote he wylle not long dwelle." "Thou art my fole, seyd the angelle,

Thou schalt be schorne euerydelle lyke a fole, a fole to be, [ 155] ffor thou haste no dyngnite. Thy councelore schalle be an ape, and oo clothyng schalle be to you schape: I schalle hyme cloth as thy brothere, Both of a sute, it schalle be none othere; [ 160] he schal be thy ovyn fere— some wit of hyme may thou lere. hovndys, how so it befalle, Schalle ete with the in the halle; Thou schalte ete on the grounde, [ 165] Thy taster schalle be an hovnde, To asay thy mete before the— loke thane where is thy dyngnite?" he set a barbore hyme beforne and bad as a fole he schulde be schorne, [ 170] alle rovnde lyke a frere, a hand brede above the ere, and one hys crovne to make a crosse. he begane to cry & make a noyse, he swore they schulde þerfore abye [ 175] alle that dyd hym that vylony, [176 Ms. hyn.] and euer he seyde that he was lorde. Therfore mene sayde that he was wode. he ne wende in no wyse That god almyȝthty cowde not de∣vyse [ 180] hyme to bryng to lower estate— and withe a drauȝt he was ckek-mate. at lower estate myȝt he not be Thene to be a fole, as semyth me. so low ȝit was neuer kyng. [ 185] alasse, that was a dolefulle thyng That he schulde for hys pride such schame among hys mene abyde. Ther was in court neyther grome ne page But of the kyng they made rage; [ 190] ffor no-mane myȝt hyme knowe: he was so dyffugyd (!) in a throwe.— [192 l. dyffigured.] God put hyme in other lyknesse ffor hys gret onbuxumnesse. hunger & thryste he had grete, [ 195] ffor he ne myȝt no mete ete But hovndys etyne of hys dysche, whethyr it were flesche or fysche; he was to deth nere brouȝt, or euer he wolde ete ouȝte [ 200] withe hovndys that weryne in the halle— harder myȝt hyme not befalle; and whene it myȝt no oþer be, he ete with houndys gret plente. with hovndys day & nyȝt he lay, [ 205] and oftene he cryed welaweye That euer he was borne ffor he was almost forlorne. The angelle hyme askyd euery day: "ffole, art thou kyng? þou me say!" [ 210] "I am a kyng, iff i be lowe; and that schalt thou fulle wele knowe." "That semyth the wele, sayde the angelle, Thou art a fole, & that is dole." The angelle was kyng, hyme thouȝt long. [ 215] In hys tyme nas neuer wrong, Tresoun, falshede, ne no gyle In alle the londe of Cysylle; off alle maner gode grete plente; a mong alle folke love and charite: [ 220] Eche mane lovyd wele other, as wele as hys owyne brother; In hys tyme was neuer stryeff Betwyxt mane & hys wyeff. Thane was that a Joyfulle thyng [ 225] In lond to have suche a kyng! kyng he was thre ȝere & more, and Roberde went as a mane forlore. so hit befelle one a daye a lytylle before the monythe of maye: [ 230] syr Valamonde, the emperoure, sent lettrys of grete honoure To hys brother, of Cesylle kyng, and prayd hyme come without lettyng, That the myȝt bothe with oone [ 235] Speke with hys. (!) brother, pope of Rome; hyme thouȝt long they were atwynne; he had hyme let for no wynne That he were in gode araye In Rome on holy-thursdaye. [ 240] The angelle welcomyd the masyn∣gerys, and gaffe theme clothys of gret pryse, ffurryd alle withe ermyne— In crystyndome are none so fyne, and alle was couchyd withe perle— [ 245] Of better may there nomane telle. off that wondryd alle the londe how that clothe was wrouȝte wythe honde; yf such a clothe were to dyȝte, alle crystyndome hit ne make myȝte. [ 250] where suche clothe was to selle Ne who hit made, cane nomane telle.

The masyngerys rydyne withe the kyng To gret Rome without lettyng. The fole Roberd also went, [ 255] clothyd in a lothly garment, withe fox taylys sowyd abouȝte— Mene myȝte hyme know in that rouȝthe! an ape & he in oo clothynge, In signe that he was an vnderlyng. [ 260] The angelle was clothyd alle in white: Neuer was seyne suche a syȝte; all was couchyd withe perle riche: Neuyr mane saw no suche; so fayr a stede as he on rode, [ 265] Nas neuer kyng that euer bestrode. so royalle a kyng come nevyr in Rome: alle mene wondyrd whene he come. hys mene were rychly dyȝthe, her richesse coude say no wyȝte; [ 270] of clothys, gyrdyllys & othere thynge Euery squyer semyd a kynge; and alle they rydene in rych aray— save kyng Roberd, i you say. alle mene on hyme cane loke, [ 275] ffor he rode lyke a coke. The pope & the emperoure also and other lordys many moo welcomyd the angelle as kyng, and made Joi of hys comyng. [ 280] These thre bretherne had gret com∣fort— The angelle was made kyng be sort; wele was the pope & the emperoure wan the had a brother of such hon∣oure. fforthe cane stert kyng Roberde, [ 285] as a fole þat was not aferde, and cryed withe eger speche On hys bretherne: to do hyme wreche To hyme that hathe withe queynt gyle hys crovne of the lond of Cesyle. [ 290] Pope ne emperoure ne no other knew not hyme for there brother, But for a pore fole he was holde More thane he was yere a thousandde folde; To clayme such a brotherhede [ 295] hit was but a folys dede. kyng Roberd begane to make care, Meche more thane he dyd yare, whane hys bretherne wolde hyme not knowe: "alasse, seyde he, now ame i lowe!" [ 300] ffor he hopyd in alle thyng hys bretherne wolde have made hyme kyng. and whane his hope was alle igoo, he cryde: "alas, now am i woo!" he seyde alas that he was borne [ 305] ffor he was a mane forlorne; he seyd alas that he was made ffor of hys sylfe he was not glade; he seyde alas that he was alyve, "sorowe, thou art to me fulle ryve." [ 310] he seyde alasse & welawoo, "hert, cleffe, & brast on-twoe!" alasse, alasse, was alle hys song, he tore hys here, hys handys he wrong, and euer he seyde alasse, alasse. [ 315] and thane he thouȝth on hys tres∣passe. he thouȝt thane of Nabegoddonaȝofore, a nobylle kyng, was hyme before; In alle this worlde was none hys pere, kyng ne duke, far ne nere; [ 320] wythe hyme was syr Olyverne, prynce of knytys, stout & sterne; Olyferne swore euermore Nabegoddonasore, and seyde there was no god in londe [ 325] But Nabegoddonaȝore, i vnderstande. Therfore Nabegoddonasore was gladde That he the name of god had, and loved Olyuerne the more. and sythene hit grevyd theme both sore: [ 330] Olyferne dyed in gret doloure, ffor he was slayne in scharp schoure; Nabegoddonaȝore lyved in desert, Ne durst he not be apert; ffyftene yere he lyved there [ 335] with rotys, grasse, & euylle fare, and alle of mosse hys clothyng was— alle come hyme be goddys grace. he cryde mercy with drewry chere: God hyme restoryd as he was ere. [ 340] "Nowe am i in such a case, and wele wers thane he was. whane god me yave suche honoure That i was clepyd conqueroure, In euery londe of crystyndome [ 345] Of me they spokyne euerychone and seyd ther was neuer my pere In alle the worlde, far ne nere: ffor that i felle in gret pride, as angellys that can fro hevyne glide [ 350] and in twynkyllyng of an Ie God benam them there mastry. so hathe he myne for my gylt, ffor now i ame fulle low pilte. It is ryȝt that i so be— [ 355] lorde, of thi fole have pete! Mercy, lorde, i wylle nomore,

lorde, i have grevyd the fulsore: holy wryȝt i had in dyspite: Therfore ys revyd me my delite, [ 360] ffor hit is ryȝt a fole i be— I ame worthy non other dygnite. Euer thi fole, lorde, wylle i be— lorde, on thy fole haue pyte! lorde, thynk, i am thi creature; [ 365] This wo is ryȝte that i endure, and welmore ȝit, & it myȝt be: lorde, withe tender hert then thynk on me! Of my kyngdome me grevith nouȝte, hit is lorne for my evylle thouȝte; [ 370] at better state kepe i neuer to be, lorde, so that thou rew on me. Blessyd Mary, of womene borne, pray for me i be not forlorne, pray to thy sone that dyed for me [ 375] On me, hys fole, to have pite! Blessyd Mary, fulle of curtsy, I pray to the tendurly That thou pray thy sone one thy kne, On me, hys wreche, to haue pite! [ 380] Pereles lady, thou gete me grace: To the i knowe alle my trespasse: Thou let me neuer lorne be, sithe he dyed for me on tre!" he seyd nomore alasse, alasse, [ 385] But thankyd god of hys grace. Thus he gane hyme sylf stylle and thankyd god with gode wylle. The pope, the emperoure, & the kyng V wekys they made there dwellyng. [ 390] and whene the fyve wekys were gone, To there ovyne lond they went anone, Both emperoure & the kyng— There was a fayr partyng. The angell come in to Cysylle, [ 395] he & hys mene, fulle wele. whane he come in to the halle, The fole he dyd forthe calle and seyde: "fole, art thou kyng?" "Nay, syr, without lesyng." [ 400] "what art thou!" seyd the angelle. "Syr, a fole, that i wote wele, and more thane a fole, and it myȝt be: I kepe non other dygnite." The angelle in to chamber went, [ 405] and after the fole anone he sent. he bad hys meyne out to gone: Ther left no mo but he alone and the fole that stode hyme by. To hyme he seyde: "thou hast mercy; [ 410] God hath foryevyne the thy trespas. knowe thy sylfe, and have grace! Thynk thou art fulle low pilte, and alle was for thy ovyne gylte; at lower degre myȝt nomane be [ 415] Thane be a fole—how thenkyth the? a fole thow were to heuyne kyng, Therfore thou art an vnderlyng. I ame an angelle of renowne, sent to kepe thy regioun. [ 420] More Joi me schalle befalle In hevyne among my ferys alle In on oure of a daye Thane in the erthe here, i the say, In a C thousand yere, [ 425] yf alle the worlde far & nere were at my lykyng. I ame an angelle & thou art a kyng." he went in twynklyng of an Ie— No more of hym there was sye. [ 430] kyng Roberd come in to the halle. hys meyne he dyd before hyme calle: and alle were at hys wylle, as to ther lorde, as it is skylle. he lovyd god & holy chyrche, [ 435] and euer thouȝt after hys wylle to wyrche. he reyned after II yere & more, and lovyd god & hys lore. The angelle yaue hyme warnyng The tyme of hys dyeng. [ 440] whene tyme came he dyed sone, he let wryte sone anone how Cryst with his gret myȝte Made hym low, as it was ryȝte. Thys story he sent euerydelle [ 445] To hys bretherne vnder hys sele. and the tyme whene he schulde dye, [447 Ms. thy st. the.] That tyme he dyed, as he cane saye. hys bretherne thane thouȝte on the fole That cryde on theme & made dole: [ 450] Thane they wyst wele hit was þer brothere— without dout hit was non othere. The pope of Rome therof cane preche, and the people þerof dyd teche, That they schulde pride forsake [ 455] and to god ryȝtfulle heme take: ffor pride wylle, & it myȝte be, surmount Crystys dygnite; and he myȝt have had hys ovene wylle, Thorow pride he wolde hyme sylfe spylle. [ 460]

This story is without lye In Rome to be kept trulye, at seynt Petur-is chirch, i hit say. and thys is truthe without nay That lowe be hyghed at goddys wylle, [ 465] and the hye lowyd, as it is skylle. Ihesus, that for us can dye, In hys kyngdome let us be hye, Euermore to be above, ffor there is euyr Joy, peas & loue. [ 470]

c) Aus Ms. Cbr. Ff. II, 38.

Pryncis þat be prowde in prese, I wyll þat (!) þat ys no lees. yn Cysyll was a nobull kynge, Fayre & stronge & some dele ȝynge. He had a brodur in grete Rome [ 5] That was pope of all Crystendome; Of Almayne hys odur brodur was Emperowre, Thorow crystendome he had honowre. The kynge was calde kynge Roberde; Neuer man in hys tyme wyste hym aferde, [ 10] He was kynge of grete valowre, And also callyd conquerowre; Nowhere in no lande was hys pere, Kynge nor dewke, ferre nor nere, And also he was of cheualrye þe flowre; [ 15] And hys odur brodur was Emperowre, Hys oon brodur in ȝorthe godys ge∣nerall vykere, Pope of Rome, as ye may here. Thys Pope was callyd pope Vrbane, For (!) hym louyd bothe god and mane; [ 20] The Emperowre was callyd Vala∣mownde: A strawnger warreowre was none fownde Aftur hys brodur, the kyng of Cysyle, Of whome y thynke to speke a whyle. The kynge thoght he had no pere [ 25] For to acownte, nodur fer nor nere; And þorow hys þoght he had a pryde, For he had no pere, he þoȝt, on no syde. And on a nyght of seynt Johne Thys kynge to þe churche come, [ 30] For to here hys euynsonge. Hys dwellynge þoȝt he þere to longe: He þoght more of worldys honowre Then of Cryste, hys saueowre. In magnificat he harde a vers: [ 35] He made a clerke to hym hyt to re∣herse In þe langage of hys owne tonge— For in latene wyste he not what þey songe. The verse was thys, as y telle the: Deposuit potentes de sede [ 40] Et exaltavit humiles— Thys was þe verse wythowten lees. The clerke seyde anon ryghte: "Syr, soche ys godys myghte That he make may hye lowe [ 45] And lowe hye, in a lytyll throwe— God may do wythowten lye Hys wylle in þe twynkelyng of an ye." The kyng seyde þan wyth þoȝt vn∣stabull: "Ye synge þys ofte, and all hys a fabull: [ 50] What man hath that powere To make me lowear & in dawngere? I am flowre of cheualrye; All myn enmyes I may dystroye; Ther leuyth no-man in no lande [ 55] That my myght may wythstande. Then ys yowre songe a songe of noght." Thys arrowre had he in hys thoght. And in hys thoght a slepe hym toke In hys closet, so seyth the boke. [ 60] When euynsonge was all done, A kynge hym lyke owte can come, And all men wyth hym can wende— And kynge Roberde lefte behynde. The newe kynge was, y yow telle, [ 65] Godys aungell, hys pryde to felle. The aungell in þe halle yoye made, And all men of hym were glade. Kynge Roberde wakenyd þat was in þe kyrke: Hys men he þoȝt woo forto wyrke [ 70] For he was lefte there allone And merke nyght felle hym vpone. He begane to crye vpon hys mene: But þere was none þat answeryd þene— But þe sexten at the ende [ 75] Of þe kyrke, & to hym can wende And seyde: "lurden, what doyst þou here? Thou art a þefe, or þefeys fere! Thou arte here sykerlye

Thys churche to robbe wyth felonye." [ 80] He seyde: "fals þefe & fowle gadlyng, Thou lyest falsely—y am þy kynge. Opyn the churche-dore anone, That y may to my pales gone!" The sexesten went well than [ 85] That he had be a wode mane, And of hym he had ferlye, And wolde delyuer the churche in hye: And openyd þe dore ryȝt sone in haste. The kyng begane to renne owte faste, [ 90] As a man that was nere wode, And at hys pales ȝate he stode And callyd þe portar: "gadlyng, be gone," And bad hym come faste & hye hym soone, "Anon the ȝates that þou vndoo." [ 95] The portar askyd, who bad soo. And he answeryd ryght soone anone: "Thou schalt wytt, or y hens gone. Thy lorde y am: þat schalt þou knowe. In pryson schalt þou lye full lowe [ 100] And bothe be hangyd & be drawe, And odur moo, as be the lawe. I schall yow teche me for to knawe, And brynge yow fro yowre lyfe-dawe. Thou schalt wyt þat y am kynge. [ 105] Do opyn þe ȝatys, þou false gadlynge!" The porter seyde: "forsothe, y telle þe, The kyng ys in þe halle wyth hys meyne; Well y wote wythowten dowte The kynge ys not þus late owte" [ 110] The porter went in-to the halle, And before the kynge can falle And seyde: "ther ys, lorde, at þe ȝate A nyce fole comyn ther to late, And seyth he ys here lorde & kynge [ 115] And callyþ me false & fowle gadlynge. Lorde, what wyll ye that y doo? Let hym yn or let hym goo?" The aungell seyde to hym in haste: "Let hym in come swythe faste! [ 120] For my fole y schall hym make." The portar came vn-to þe ȝate And calde hym swyþe yn þer-ate. And he began for to debate, He smote þe porter, when he came yn, [ 125] That þe blode braste owt at mowþe & chyne. The portar ȝalde hym hys trauayle: He smote hym agayne wythowten fayle, That mowþe & nose braste on blode. And þen he semyd almoost wode. [ 130] The porter and hys men in haste Kynge Roberde in a podell caste; Vnsemely was hys body than, That he was lyke no nodur mane. Then broȝt þey hym before þe kynge [ 135] And seyde: "lorde, thys gadlynge Me hath smetyn wythowten deserte And seyþ þat he ys owre kynge aperte; He seyde y schulde be drawe & honge. Hys owne dome ys ryght he fonge. [ 140] To me he seyde no nodur worde But þat he was bothe kynge & lorde. The traytur schulde for hys sawe Be þe lawe bothe be hangyd & drawe." The aungell seyde to kyng Roberde: [ 145] "Thou art a foole, that art not aferde My men to do soche velanye. That ylke trespas thou muste abye. What art thou?" seyde the aungell. Tho seyde Roberde: "thou schalt wyt well: [ 150] I am kynge, and kynge wyll bee; Wyth wrange þou haste my dygnyte. The pope of Rome ys my brodur, The Emperowre Valamownde ys þe todur: He wyll me a-wreke, y dar well telle, [ 155] I wot he wyll not longe dwelle." "Thou art a fole," seyde the aungell, "Thou schalt be schauyn ouyr ylke a dele Lyke a fole and a fole to bee, Thy babull schall be thy dygnyte. [ 160] Thy crowne schall be newe schorne, For thy crowne of golde ys lorne; Thy councellere schall be an ape, And in a clothyng ye schall be schape, And he schall be thyn owne fere— [ 165] Some wytt of hym ȝyt may þou lere; He schall be cladde ryght as þy brodur Of oon cloþyng—hyt schall be no nodur. Howndys, how so hyt befalle, Schall ete wyth the in the halle; [ 170] Thou schalt ete on the grownde, Thyn assayar schall be an hownde To assaye thy mete before the, For thou art a kynge of dygnyte." They broght a barbur hym beforne, [ 175] That as a fole schulde be shorne All arownde lyke a frere, And þen ouyrthwart to eydur ere,

And on þe crowne hym make a crosse. Then he began to crye & make noyse; [ 180] He sware þat þey schulde all dye That dud hym soche velanye, And euer he seyde he was þer lorde— And all men scornyd hym for þat worde, And euery man seyde þat he was wode [ 185] That prouyd wele he cowde no gode. For he wende on no kyns wyse That myghtfull god cowde deuyse Hym to brynge to lowar estate— And wyth a draght he was chek∣mate: [ 190] At lowar degre he myght not bee Then become a fole, as thynkyth me; And euery man made scornynge Of hym þat afore was a nobull kynge. Lo, how soone be goddys myght [ 195] He was lowe—& that was ryght. He was euyr so harde bestadde That mete nor drynke noone he had; But hys babull was in hys hande. [199 vgl.] The aungell before hym made hym to stande [ 200] And seyde: "fole, art þou kynge?" He seyde: "ye, wythowte lesynge, And here-aftur kynge wyll bee." The aungell seyde: "so semyth the." Honger and thurste he had full grete, [ 205] For he myght no mete ete But howndys ete of hys dysche, Whedur hyt were flesche or fysche; When þat þe howndys had etyn þer fylle, Then myȝt he ete at hys wylle. [ 210] He was to dethe nere broght For honger, or he wolde ete oght; But when hyt wolde no nodur be, He ete wyth howndys grete plente, Wyth þe howndys þat were in þe halle— [ 215] How myȝt to hym barder befalle? Bettur he were, to yow sey y, So to do þen for hunger dye. Ther was not in þe court grome ne page But þey of þe kyng made game & rage— [ 220] For no-man myght hym not knowe: He was so dysfygerde in a throwe. Wyth howndys euery nyght he laye, And ofte he cryed wellawaye That euer ȝyt þat he was borne. [ 225] Hys ryalte he had forlorne, He was to all men vndurlynge— So lowe was neuer ȝyt no kynge. Yf pryde had not bene, y vndur∣stande, A wyser kynge was neuer in lande; [ 230] Wyth hys pryde god can hym greve: God boȝt hym dere & wolde hym not leve: God made hym to knowe hys chas∣tysyng(e), To be a fole þat afore was kynge. The aungell was kyng full longe: [ 235] But in hys tyme was neuer no wrong(e), Trechery, falsehed, nor no gyle Done in þe lande of Cysyle; Of all gode þere was plente, Amonge men loue & charyte, [ 240] And in hys tyme was neuer stryfe Nodur betwene man nor wyfe, But euery man louyd well odur, Bettur loue was neuer of brodur. Then was þat a yoyfull thynge [ 245] In londe to haue soche a kynge! Kynge he was III yere & more— And Roberde as a fole ȝede þore. The aungell askyd hym euery day: "Fole, art thou kyng? þou me say!" [ 250] He seyde: "ye, þat well y knowe: My brodur schall brynge þe full lowe." "That semyþ the wele, seyde þe aungell, The crowne semyþ þe no-þyng well."

Than ser Valamownde, þe emper∣owre, [ 255] Sende lettyrs of grete honowre To hys brodur, of Cysyle þe kynge, To come to hym wythowte lettynge, That þey myght bothe in same Wende to þer brodur, þe pope of Rome, [ 260] To see hys nobull & ryall arraye In Rome on halowe-thursdaye. The aungell welcomyd þe messengerys And clad them all in cloþys of pryse, And furryd them wyth armyne— [ 265] Ther was neuer ȝyt pellere half so fyne, And all was set wyth perrye— Ther was neuer no bettur in crystyante;

Soche cloþyng, & hyt were to dyght, All crysten men hyt make ne myght; [ 270] Where soche clothys were to selle Nor who þem made, can no - man telle; On þat wondyrd all þat lande Who wroȝt þose cloþys wyth any hande. The messengerys went wyth þe kynge [ 275] To grete Rome wythowte lesynge. The fole Roberde wyth hym went, Clad in a full sympull garment, Wyth foxe tayles to renne (!) abowte— Men myght hym knowe in all þe rowte! [ 280] A babull he bare agenste hys wylle, [160-281; dieser Zusatz ist aus Ha. geflossen.] The aungels harte to fulfylle. To Rome came the aungell soone: So ryall a kyng came neuer in Rome; All men wondurde, fro whens he came— [ 285] So well hys rayment sate hym one. The aungell was clad all in whyte: Ther was neuer in ȝerthe snowe hyt lyke, And all was cowchyd wyth perlys ryche: Bettur were neuyr, nor noone þem lyche. [ 290] All was whyte, atyre & stede; The sted was feyre, where þat he yede; So feyre a stede as he on rode, Was neuer man þat euer be-strode. And so was all hys apparell dyght— [ 295] The ryches can not telle no wyght. Of clothys, gyrdyls & odur thynge Euery squyer semyd a kynge. All they rode in ryche arraye— But kyng Roberde, y dar wele saye; [ 300] For all men on hym can pyke, For he rode no nodur lyke. But ofte he made sory chere, That schulde be kyng & kyngys fere, That rode in Rome & bare an ape [ 305] And hys clothyng full euyll schape; That so be foly a fole was made, A wondur hyt were yf he were glade. The Pope & the Emperowre also And odur barons many moo [ 310] Welcomyd þe aungell as for kynge, And made yoye for hys comynge. Forþe þen came stertyng kyng Ro∣berde, As fole & man þat was not aferde, And lowde on hym he began to speke [ 315] And seyde: hys bredyrne schulde hym awreke Of hym that hath wyth queynt gyle Hys crowne & lande of Cysyle. Pope, Emperowre, nor no nodur The fole knewe not for þer brodur— [ 320] God put hym in odur lyknes For hys grete vnbuxvmnes. A mekyll fole he was holde More then þare be an C folde: To calle soche a brodurhede [ 325] Hyt was holdyn a folys dede. Tho thre bredyr made grete com∣fort— The aungell was made brodur be sorte; Wele was þe Pope & þe Emperowre That had a brodur of soche hon∣owre. [ 330] Kynge Roberde began to make care, Mekyll more þen he can are: For he trowyd of all thynge Hys bredur schulde haue made hym kynge; And when hys hope was all awaye, [ 335] He seyde allas and weleaway.— The Pope, þe Emperowre & þe kynge Fyve wekys made þey þer dwellynge. And when þe V^the weke was all done, To þer owne londys went þey home, [ 340] Bothe þe Emperowre and þe kynge— Ther was a feyre departynge. When euery-oon of odur leeve can take, The fole Robert grete sorow can make; When no brodur hym can knowe, [ 345] "Allas, he seyde, now am y lowe!" He þoght mekyll in þat case How he was lowe. he seyde allas. He þoght vpon Nabegodhonosore: A nobull kynge was he before, [ 350] In all þe worlde was not hys pere For to acownt, nodur far nor nere; Wyth hym was ser Olyverne, Prynce of knyghtys, stowte & sterne; Olyverne sware euyrmore [ 355] Be god Nabegodhonosore, For he helde no god in lande But Nabegodhonosore, y vnderstande; Nabegodhonosore was þen full gladde, When he þe name of god hadde, [ 360] And louyd Olyverne well þe more. And syþen hyt greuyd þem boþe full sore: Olyverne dyed in grete dolowre, For he was slayne in a harde schowre; Nabegodhonosore was in deserte— [ 365]

He durste not nowhere be aperte; Fyftene yere he leuyd thare Wyth rotys & grasse & euyll fare, And all of mosse hys cloþyng was: And þat came all be godys grace— [ 370] For pryde was þat euery dele, Ther-wyth lykyd hym noþyng wele. He cryed mercy wyth sory chere: And god hym restored as he was ere. "And now y am in soche a case, [ 375] Ye, & in well warse þen euer he was, When god me gave soche honowre That y was callyd conquerowre, In euery lande of Crystendome Of me þey spake boþe all & some [ 380] And seyde nowhere ys my pere In no lande, nodur farre nor nere; And þorow þat worde y felle in pryde, As the aungell þat can of heuyn glyde; And wyth þe twynklyng of an eye [ 385] God fordud all that maystrye— And so hath he done my forgylte (!). [387 l. for my gylte.] Now am y of my lande pylte. And þat ys ryght that y so bee, For, lorde, y leeuyd not on the. [ 390] I had an errowre in my harte, And þat errowre haþ made me to smarte: When y seyde in my sawe [393 Ms. for when.] That noþynge myght make me lawe, And holy wrytt dyspysed wyth-all. [ 395] And for-þy "wrech of wrechys" men me calle. And fole of all folys y am ȝyt, For he ys a fole, god wottyþ well hyt, That turneth hys wytt vnto folye: So haue y done. mercy y crye. [ 400]

Now mercy, lorde, for þy pyte! aftur my gylte geue not me, let me abye hyt in my lyve þat y haue synned wyth wyttys fyve! For hyt ys ryght, a fole that I bee— [ 405] Now, lorde, of þy fole þou haue pyte! Ryght so, how þat hyt befalle, I ete wyth þe howndys in þe halle And leue so here for euyrmore As leuyd Nabegodhonosore." [ 410] When he to Cryste þus can calle, Downe in swowne can he falle, And euyr he seyde wyth mylde mode: "I thanke the, lorde, þat ys so gode. Of my kyngdome me greuyþ noȝt, [ 415] Hyt ys for my gylt & leder þoght. Euyr thy fole, lorde, wyll y bee, Now, lorde, of þy fole þou haue pyte!" The aungell came into Cysyle, He & hys men, wythynne a whyle. [ 420] When he came into the halle, The fole he gart before hym calle, And seyde: "Fole, art þou kynge?" "Nay, ser, he seyde, wythowte les∣ynge." "What art þou?" seyde the aungell. [ 425] "Syr, a Fole, þat wote ye well, And more þen a fole, & hyt may bee— I kepe no nodur dygnyte." The aungell þen to chaumbur went And aftur the Fole anon he sente; [ 430] He bad hys men forþe of þe chaum∣bur to gone: There was lefte noone but he allone And þe fole that stode hym by. To hym he seyde: "þou haste mercye: God hath forgeuyn þe þy mysdede. [ 435] And euer here-aftur loke þou hym drede! Thynke how þou was owte pylte Of thy lande for thy mysgylte, To þe lowest state þat ys in lande: That ys a fole, y vndurstande; [ 440] A fole þou were to heuyn kynge, And þerfore þou art an vndurlynge. I am an aungell of renowne, Sente to kepe thy regyowne; More blysse me schall befalle [ 445] In heuyn amonge my ferys all, Ye, in oon owre of a day Then in erthe, y dar well saye, In an hundurd thousande yere, Thogh all þe worlde far & nere [ 450] Were all myn at my lykynge. I am an aungell, & þou art kynge." He went in þe twynklyng of an yee— No more of hym there was sye. Kyng Roberd came into þe halle. [ 455] Hys men he gart before hym calle: And all þey were at hys wylle As to þer lorde, for hyt was skylle. He loueyd God & holy kyrke, And euyr he thoght well to wyrke. [ 460] He leuyd aftur two yere & more, And loouyd god & all hys lore. The aungell gaf hym in warnynge Of the tyme of hys leuynge. When þe tyme came of hys day soone, [ 465] He made to wryte ryght anone How god be hys mekyll myght Made hym lowe, as hyt was ryght.

For he wende he myght not be Thorow godys myȝt at lowar degre, [ 470] He was made lowe in a lytyll þrowe, And þat was kyd & full well knowe: To be a fole to euery knave, More schame myght he not haue; He ete & laye wyth howndys eke; [ 475] Thogh he were prowde, hyt wolde hym meke; To all men he was scornynge. Loo, here was a dolefull thynge That he schulde so for hys pryde Soche happe among hys men be∣tyde. [ 480] Well may ye wete, hyt dyd hym gode: Hyt made hym meke þat arst was wode, Hyt made hym to knowe god all∣myght, That hym broght to heuyn lyght. Thys story he sente euery dele [ 485] To hys brodur vndur hys sele. And to þe tyme of hys laste day (!), For þat tyme he dyed, as he can saye. Hys bredur þoght wele on þe Fole That cryed to þem wyth mekyll dole: [ 490] And wyste wele þat he was þer brodur, And knewe sothely hyt was no nodur. In Cysyle knewe hyt many moo That were wyth hym, when hyt was soo. The Pope of Rome here-of can preche, [ 495] And the pepull he can teche That þer pryde þey schulde forsake And to gode vertues þey schulde þem take; And seyde, hys brodur, þat was kynge, For hys pryde was an vndurlynge. [ 500] For pryde ys ferre fro god allmyght, Hyt may not come in hys syght; For pryde wolde, yf hyt myght bee, Ouyrmownte goddys dygnyte, And all at hys owne wylle: [ 505] Thus þorow pryde may man hym spylle. Thys storye ys wythowten lye At Rome wretyn in memorye, At seynt Petur kyrke, hyt ys knawe. And that ys Crystys owne lawe [ 510] That lowe be hye at godys wylle, And hye lowe, thogh hyt be ylle. Prey we now to god in Trynyte, That ys so gode in dygnyte, That he graunt vs þat ylk blysse [ 515] That he haþ ordeyned for all hys.

Amen.

Evangelium Nicodemi, aus Ms. Sion, fol. 13-39. [Das nordenglische Evangelium Nico∣demi, eins der formvollendetsten Werke der nordenglischen Litteratur, ist ausser in Ms. Harl. 4196 fol. 206 ff. (ediert in Herrigs Arch. 1874 p. 389-424) und dem, mit jenem genau übereinstimmenden Ms. Cotton Galba E IX (die Varianten dieser Hs. s. in Herrigs Archiv 1876), noch in Ms. Sion Coll. fol. 13-39 er∣halten. Diese Hs. ist jedoch nicht die beste, sondern die am wenigsten wert∣volle und für die Textkritik fast bedeu∣tungslos, da sie den ursprünglichen Text an vielen Stellen willkürlich verändert zeigt; auch ist sie jünger als die zwei anderen Hss. Um der Vollständigkeit wegen lasse ich jedoch auch diese Hs. hier folgen.]

Of þe passioun of Crist, als wittenes Nichodeme.

BItide þe tyme þat Tiberius reweled Rome with realte, þe same tyme Theodosius was halden prynce in Galile: þis stori wrate Nechodemus [ 5] in Ebru for grette daynte. Sythen þe emperoure Theodosius gert itte al translated bee. ande sithen fra hande to hande (!) ffor þere vnletterde ledes [ 10] a clerk of Inglande in his rymaly þus redes.

Symeon, Ȝairus, and Cayphas, Datan ande Gamaliele, Neptalym, Leuy, Judas, [ 15] with þaire accusynges felle, Alexander and Annas, ogayne Ihesu gun spelle, by-fore sire Pylate gun þai pas, þaire tales þus forto telle: [ 20] "þis moppe, þat merres þe men, calles hym Goddes sonne of heuen: hijs sire, hijs dame we wele ken, by name we kan þayme neuen:

Welle wate we, Joseph, was a wrighte, [ 25] sothely he was hijs sire, hijs modir vs menes Mary highte— [27 Ms. urspr. we mene, corr. in vs menes.] we, whakyns goddes er þere? Mare sary er we for a sighte þat egges vs alle tille Ire: [ 30] oure lawes he brekes at alle hys myghte, þat egges vs alle tille ire." Pilate says til þam þan: "say me what er his saghe, on what manere þat man [ 35] alleges ogayne yhoure lawes?"

"Oure lawes vs Juges, quode a Jowe, [37 Juges st. leres.] þe sabbot-day to do na thynge;

þan wirkes he wonder werkes inoghe, heles alle þat askes helynge, [ 40] of criples and cruked þat we knowe, it es to here a grette wonderynge; [42 Ms. to he here.] wilde and wode to his bydynge gun bowe, and alle thurgh his fals charmynge." Pilate sayde tille þayme alle (!): [ 45] "how may yhe blame his dedes?" "with crafte he wirkes with-alle, with fendes crafte he hym fedes."

þan sayd Pilate: "yhe haue na righte to blame hym by nanekyn way: [ 50] his miracles mustres his myghte, [51 Ms. my myght.] it es noght als ye say. Sythen he þus þe blynde has sent þe sight and raysed þat byriede lay, wa suld deme hym to deede be dighte [ 55] þat mendes men als he may?" "Sire Pilate, we þe praye," quod alle þere Jewes þan, "brynge hym till barre þis day, to coupe hym þare, if we kan." [ 60]

A bedel he bad buske hym to bidde, Romayne he highte, we rede; and he, als curtayse þat was kidde, þat erand did in dede. Of wonden wrethes his heued vnhid, [ 65] in space he gun it sprede: "Louerd, þe to kalle þe domesman me didde, botte walk yn on þis wede." þire Jewes, þare þai satte, ffor gram wex gulle and grene, [ 70] and sayde to sire Pilate: "Ey dieux, what may þis mene?

Bedels suld tille þi bidynge bowe and cry þi comandment; on knese he knelede to Ihesu [ 75] righte in þine awen present. Nedelynges us noyes þire notes newe, we toke þare-to fulle gude tente; swilke curtasy neuer yit we knewe: vppon his wrethe he wente." [ 80] Pilate asked why he kidde Ihesu swilke curtasy. And he sayd: "þat þat .I. didde, I hade enchesoun why.

Tille Alexander, wele ye wate, [ 85] messagere was I made, botte to Jerusalem come I late: vn-to þe morn I habade. þisse Ihesu on ane asse satte and thurgh þe toun he rade; [ 90] childer byfor his fete algate spredde þaire clathes on brade— swilke wirchippe þare had he; ""Osanna, was þaire sange, ""þat comes, blissed mot he be, [ 95] in goddes name vs omang."

þir Jewes sayde þan: "traytoure vntrwe, with leghes þou haues vs ledde, þayr carpyng þare nathyng þou knewe, we welle lay our lyfe to wedde. [ 100] Jerusalem langage es Ebru— ffulle ferre þethen was þou fedde." he sayde: "I spird at men I-nowe þat in þat burgh was bredde." "Osanna, quod Pilate, [ 105] "what es it forto say?" Quod þe Jewes: "it menes þus-gate: Lord, saue vs, we þe pray."

"Me thynk, quod Pilat, in my thoght with wrange þe bedel yhe blame; [ 110] yhour childer saghes forsak yhe noght, yhour-seluen says þe same. Bot, bedel, tille barre sithen þou hym broght, at scheld þi-self fra schame led hym forthe þat þou worschepe wroght, [ 115] calle hym eft in by name!" Oute of þat route Romayne our lorde Ihesu he ledes, and calles hym ogayne, als he þat domesman dredes. [ 120]

Of emperours þat þar had bene þis was þe lawe in lande: ffor men suld of þair menskes mene, men suld hald itte in þair hande [124 itte zu tilgen.] men-heuedes sette on schaftes schene, graythed of golde gliterande. saunȝ doute swa dide þai alle by-dene, stille stably gun þai stande. when he, þat alle salle welde, was had in-til þat halle, [ 130] [130 vor had ist halden auspunktiert.] þhe heuedes haaly gun helde, at wirchipe hym with-alle.

þan saide þere Jewes steren and stoute: "þis hald we hard hethynge;

þire Jewes lete þaire schaftes loute, [ 135] [135 Vor lete ist lele auspunktiert.] at wirk hym worschipyng." And Pilate asked þam alle aboute: "Why did yhe swylk athynge?" þai sayde: "we do yhow oute of doute, it was noght oure wittynge; [ 140] we toke na tent þare-to, þe baners gun hym bowe— what had we for to do to make reuerence to Ihesu?"

"Lowte hym we sawe þam, sykerly," þe Jewes swore to Pilate. Quod Pilate: "þai say oppenly it was noght swa nane-gate. Bot take vs men mare myghty, strang and stabil of state, [ 150] to hald yhour schaftes tentifly, þis barete alle to habate." [152 barete undeutlich.] Thurgh-out alle þe Jewery sykyr men haf þai soght, at stere þam strenghefully, [ 155] þe best þan haf þai broght.

Syr Pilate tille þa Jewes sware þat suld halde þa heuedes in hande: "and (þai) louted Ihesu any mar, [159 l. lout,] yhe sal loose bathe lyfe and lande." [ 160] And þai, þat wight and willy ware, sayd: "to þi dome wille we stande; what heued helded þe bred of anne hare, hardly hagge of his hand!" "Late haue hym out of halle" [ 165] quod Pilate þe bedel tille, "and eft in þou hym calle, on what wyse swa þou wylle."

His heued vnhild, on knese he kneled, his clathes by-for hym sprede, [ 170] with alle þe worschepe þat he couthe welde in eft our lourd he ledde. þair heuedes on heghe haalely gun helde, bowyng tille Ihesu þai bedde— þere Jewes, þat þam in handes helde, ware drowpand and for-dredde. When Pilate sawe þat sighte how þa baners gun bowe, ffor drede he ras vp ryght ogayne oure lorde Ihesu. [ 180] (Hier fehlt eine Strophe.) Sire Pilate wyfe, dam Procula, sent hire lorde forto say: "Deme nouther Ihesu til na fra, [ 195] bot menske hym þat yhe may! I haue bene dreched with dremes swa þis ilk nyght als I lay; if he thurgh dome tille deede ga, our welthe sal wende oway." [ 200] Pilate, als man amayed, stude in a greete study. He sayde: "I am noght payde; yhe wreghe hym wrangwisly.

My wyf, yhe wate wele, es na Jewe, [ 205] scho es a sarȝine, many mynsters has scho made yhow and done gode dedis bydene. [208 Ms. in gode.] þai say Ihesu of trouthe es trewe; [209 þai st. scho.] slepand þus has scho sene; [ 210] if we hym reyne, it sal vs rewe, euer þare-of to mene." þai sayde: "þis sayde we are— yhe may see suthe es þis—: he fares with fendes fare, [ 215] he has witched þi wif, I-wyse."

þan sayd Pilate: "me thynk selcouthe þat þou standes so stille ..... [Nach 218 fehlt ein Verspaar.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ." [ 220] Ihesu sayde: "ilk man has a mouthe at weld it at his wille. þair sawes mon be knawen and couthe whethir þai be gode or ille." "Ihesu, lat be þi dyn!" [ 225] sayde alle þere Jewes on rawe, "ane horcop born in synne ffulle couthely we þe knawe.

We wate wele for þi sake was slayne alle þe barnes in Betheleem born; [ 230] at fle with þe þi frendes ware fayne, elles had þi lyfe bene lorne. Aftir Herodes, es noght to layne, þat had þi deede sworne, tille yhoure contre yhe come agayne [ 235] þat ye fore fra be-forne." Sayde Pilate: "es þis he þat Herode pursued swa?" þai sayde: "syre, ya, parde! Botte yite he schape hym fra." [ 240]

When Pilate hard þat it was he, he dred hym mykil mare. He chees a queste, on hym to pas,

of Jewes þat suthefaste ware. þai saide tille Pilate and Cayfas: [ 245] "þe suthe botte we wille spare, Mary with Joseph weddyde was, and at þaire weddynge we ware." Pilate sayde to þayme þan þat couped hym byforne: [ 250] "yhe putte wrange on þis man; In wedlayke was he borne."

Vppe stirte a Jewe bittir and balde and sayd to sire Pilate: "þe tales þat we haue on hym talde, [ 255] we wille avowe al-gate; at þayme es littille helpe or halde sire, þai say als þai wa(te), þai comlyngs of cunnynge calde, comen tille oure lawe nowe late." [ 260] þis queste, stedfast als stele, sayde tille þe othir twelfe: "we er Jewes, witte yhe wele, borne frely als yhoure-seluen."

Pilate tille barre a buke had broghte, [265 had st. has (so oft).] þe twa questes to twynne: "withe swerynge sal þe suthe by soghte." He bydes þe trewe bygynne. And þai say þan: "þat falles vs noghte, we sai swerynge es synne; [ 270] latte þaime swere þat þis wrangh has wroghte, alle knawe þai Ihesu kyn. [272 þai st. we.] Yff we be funden gilty in þis thynge þat we say, we oblesse vs forto dye [ 275] byfore domesman to-day."

þan spacke Annas and Cayphas and sayd to sire Pilate: "we trowe wele, Mary weddide was tille Joseph, þat hym gatte. [ 280] Botte tille anothir poynte we pas þat (sall) hym halde ful hate: we say: (a) spirite inclosed he has, whare-thurghe alle thyng he watte." [284 Ms. thynges mit auspunkt. es.] Pilate gartte haf oute alle [ 285] þat was with-in þat house, and þat queste gertte he calle þat proued hym borne in spouse.

He sayde: "I fande yhow trowe lan∣gare, [289 l. trewe.] say me, qwate es yhowre rede, [ 290] whi hates þire Jewes Ihesu swa sare, whi wille þai haue hym deede?" þai say: "hys lerynge passes þaire lare: þat gers þaime haue hattrede; his myrecles merres þaime mare, [ 295] þat standes mykel in stedde." Wrathe es Pilate þan, he says: "þis es envy. Wille þai þus deme a man ffor his godde dedes to dye?" [ 300]

Pilate hym hyld oute of þe halle [301 hyld st. hyed.] and sayde þe Jewes vntille: "Loo here wittnes byfore yhowe alle, in hym es funden nane ille." þan þai answerde, bathe grette and smalle: [ 305] "Sire, if it be þi wille, we gert hym noght come to þi calle to coupe hym with-outen skylle." Pilate sayd: "hym byhoues dye, I see wele be yhoure saghes. [ 310] take hym tille yhow alle for-þi and deme hym be yowre laghes!"

þan sayd þire Jewes: "wele þou wate, God biddes vs sla na man." Vntil þire Jewes answerd Pilate: [ 315] "Biddes gode me slaa men þan? I haue wele hard whi yhe hym hate, ande how yhoure hatred bygan; with my wille he bes deede nane-gate, ffor na craft þat yhe can. [ 320] It es noght botte hatrede— þat ware ful lyttelle resoune fforto deme aman to deede, botte þare ware mare enchesoun."

Pilate ledde Ihesu þe Jewes fra [ 325] þat stode by-fore hym by, and sayde til hym by-twyx þaime twa: "þou ert kynge of Jewery?" Ihesu sayde: "outhir it was sayde þe swa, or þou redde righ(t)wisly." [ 330] And Pilate sayde: "me ware full wa þi folke suld gar þe dye. þi folke haues taght þe me fforto be damned to-day: kynge of Jewes if þou be, [ 335] answer to þat, I say."

Ihesu answard tille hym agayne: "My kyngdome es noght here; If my kyndome, sothely to sayne, with-in þaire grethe (!) were: [ 340] are I omange þire Jewes ware here tane, my men þat ware me dere

wald stande and stryfe fulle faste agayne with fulle grette powere." þan ert þou kynge algate," [ 345] quod Pilate, "sykerly?" Ihesu sayde tille Pilate: "þou says, for kynge am I.

And I am comen to þis contre, and þarto was I borne, [ 350] witnes of sothefastnes to be þat was noght sene byforne; alle þat es sothefast, lys in me (!), leely bathe euen and morne; in erthe suthefastnes dampned by∣houes be [ 355] of þam þat has it lorne." Pilate asked hym eft: "What es suthefastnes?" with þat Ihesu he left, als man þan stonayd es. [ 360] [360 þan st. þat.]

Pilate sayde tille þire Jewes þus: "syrs, if it be yhoure wille, I haf enquered mare of Ihesus: In hym es funden nane ille." þai sayde: "we wald noght coup hym þus [ 365] nane-gates with-outen skille." Quod Pilate: "algate dye hym by∣houes, I consent noght þare-tille; I am with-outen gilt, clene als anne innocent; [ 370] his blode sal neuere be spilt Nanegates thurgh myne assent."

And þan answerd þire Jewes alle, and made þam wondir wrathe, þai sayde: "hys blode mot (on) vs falle [ 375] [375 on fehlt.] and on our childer bathe!" And Pilate sayde: "perchaunce it salle, and þat es mekel wathe. þarefore lat haf hym oute of halle and late hym haf na scathe!" [ 380] þai sayde: "syre, wele þou wate we say bot lawefully: wha-so blemysshe þe kyng state es worthy forto dye;

and wha-swa sclaunders þe god∣hede, [ 385] es mare syn þan swylk seuen. he, þat es made of pure manhed, Goddes son he wille hym neuen; he says he has his sittynge stede on goddes right hand in heuen, [ 390] and says he sal deme bath quyk and deede after oure dedes fulle euen." Out of þat company Pilate yhede Ihesu vnto, and sayde: "sire, sykerly, [ 395] I ne wate what I sal do."

"Als it es gyfen tille þe and me, quod Ihesu, bes done alle-wyse." Pilate askes: how? And þan says he: "als telles þe prophecyse, [ 400] Moyses, Dauid, and Josue, and othir many þan þise; þat þai say, byhoues be fulfild in me: T(o) suffir deede and ryse." Pilate went oute of halle [ 405] als man þat was amayed, and talde þire Jewes alle how þat Ihesu had sayde.

þire Jewes sayde alle tille syre Pi∣late: "loo in what erroure he dwelles; [ 410] with mare wittenes what suld yhe do bot als hym-seluen telles?" Pilate sayde: "tak (him) yhow vnto, sithe ilk man þus hym melles, deme forthe, als yhe bygan þis bro, [ 415] ffor I will say noght elles." þai say: "wha-swa mellynge makes tille man, þis fynde we written, ane wane of fourty strakes with yherde falles hym be smyten; [ 420]

and he þat trespas god, alsone hym falles be staned to deede. Sithen he says he es goddes sone and we knawe hys kynrede, and says þat he salle sitte in trone, [ 425] þare-fore gyf we þis rede: we wille þat he on cros be done, are we passe of þis stede. ffor if he regne, sykerly, alle sal trowe on his lare; [ 430] better it es þat a man dye þan alle þe folke forfare."

In come sire Nichodeme be þan, þat was prince of þe Jewery. He sayd: "I rede yhow, do þis man [ 435] namare of vilany; swilke takyngs (!) als he do kan and has schewed vs oppenly, was neuer sene, sithen þis warlde

In alle oure prophecy. [ 440] And if þat he be fals, It sal be knawen fulle sone: his saghes, his takens als, salle dye and be fordone.

When syngnes ware schewed thurgh Moyses [ 445] tille Faraon þe kynge, twa witches, Jamnes and Mambres, did hym ful grette hethynge: syngnes þat he schewed, þai made þam les with þaire enchauntisyng, [ 450] als goddes þam helde alle haythenes. bot lithe þe laste endyng: ffor his dedes ware suthefaste and þairs ware sorcery, his dedes sall euermare last, [ 455] and þairs byhoued nedelyngs dye.

And perchaunce he may be sent a prophete vs to lere: I ne wate by wham þat Moyses ment, he telles on þis manere: [ 460] a prophete tille yhoure laghe be(s) lent [461 Ms. be st. bes.] þat bes born omang yow here; he says alle þase bes schamely schent of hym þat wille noght here." [464 Ms. þere.] þire Jewes by-fore Pilate [ 465] sayde vntille Nichodeme: "his strenghe (!) be þin allegate, and his pees mote þe yheme!"

And Nichodeme a(n)swerd: "amen", and helde vppe bathe his hende, [ 470] "vnto his strenghe I me by-ken, his pees mote on me lende." Byfor Pilate þan come þar ten þat ware for laȝars kende: "we ware laȝars, þai sayde, we ken, [ 475] hale thurgh his word we wende." In come anothir and sayde: "louerd, blynde-bore was I; [478 Ms. bore blynde bore.] handes on myn eghen he layde: and sone saghe I þus, sykerly." [ 480]

Ane sayde: "Pilate, bedred I lay ffourty yhere alle bot twa; I asked mercy, and he gun say: ""Tite ta þi bedde and ga!"" þare was I heled, and went my way." [ 485] þus come ay ma and ma, þai sayde: it ware ful mekel at say how many he had heled swa. Alle halely sayde þai þus: "a greete prophete es he, [ 490] our saueor Ihesus; euer blissed mot he be!"

"Yhour prestes, yhoure bisschope... þusgate why heele þai noght?" and (þai) a(n)swerd: "sire, we (ne) wate; [ 495] [495 þai u. ne fehlt im Ms.] bot þis werk Ihesu wroght. Ane Laȝare þat was deede nowe late and tille his berying broght, he leues ogayne in ful gude state— here-of wonder vs thoght." [ 500] Here-of had Pilate drede, and sayde: "whi wille þai spille [502 þai st. ye.] þe man þat helpes in nede alle þat calle to hym wille?"

He called Nichodeme and þe quest þat he fand trewe algate, he sayd: "lordyng, qwat hald ye best? þise folk falles in debate." And þai of answere ware ful prest and sayd: "syre, we ne wate. [ 510] Tille þaire counsayle, als haue we rest, we wille assent nane-ga(te). We pray god þat he sende ryghtwis dome þaime omange, on þaire saules mot it lende [ 515] whethir þai do right or wrange."

þire Jewes at paches euer wont was anne oute of prisoun take ande with-outen dome quyte late hym pas, ffor þaire grette feste sake. [ 520] Ane was prisound, hight Barabas, ffor murthers þat he gun make. whethir hym or Ihesu, Pilate asked has, þai sall of prisoun take? And þai sayd all: Baraban. [ 525] And Pilate asked þayme alle: "Of Ihesu what sal be þan?" þai sayde: "croyse hym þou salle.

And botte þou do, it es wele sene þou ert noght Cesar frende: [ 530] ffor wha-so makes þayme kynge, we wene, ogayne Cesar þai wende." And Pilate saide right in a tene: "yhe folke fulle of þe fende,

tille yhoure ay haue ye bene [ 535] [535 Nach yhoure fehlt belders.] grotchant and ay schrewes at þe ende." ffore wrethe þai wex nere wode, [537 Ms. wreche.] and sayde: "why say þou swa? wha dide vs euer any gode, botte we did þaime swilke twa?" [ 540]

He sayde: "fra Egipte when (ye) ware ledde thurgh Moyses þe prophete, Euen thurgh þe se euen yhe fledde and wette noghte anes youre fette; in þe wildernes god yhow fedde [ 545] with aungel meete fulle swete, ffogheles til yhoure fode þat neuer was bredde, rayne fra þe heuen he lete; oute of þe stane he sent yhow water witerly: [ 550] and yhe brak hys comandement and lyfed on mawmettry!

Bot Moyses gun for yhow pray, he had elles fordone yhow þare. [554 l. yare?] And here es a man þat ilk (a) day [ 555] heles yhoure seke and yhoure sare, ffor I deme hym noght tille yhoure paye bot wald þe giltles spare, I am noght Cesar frend, yhe say; þis es vnryghtwise fare." [ 560] þai sayd: "we haf na kyng bot emperoure of Rome; to hald hym for hys Jangelyng ware na ryghtwyse dome.

Bot for thre kynges of Peers by∣forn [ 565] ffra Peers tille Bethelem soght, sayde: kynge of Jewes whare es he born, and till hym offrandes broght: when Herod wiste sone on þe morn what wyrshipe þai hym wroght, [ 570] omang othyr he suld haf bene lorn, þis was in Herodes thoght; ffor he neuer Rome suld welde, Betheelem barnes gert he slaa, alle withe-in twa yhere elde; [ 575] bot he eschapyd hym fra."

When Pilate hard, he had pite and gert alle men be stille, he sayde: "whethir þis þat Ihesu be þat Horode pursued with ille?" [ 580] þai sayd: ya. Water þan asked he, and wesshe his hende by þat skille; he sayd: "I am giltes, ye se, þis rightwis man to spille." þan cryed þire Jewes alle: [ 585] "þare-of haue þou na doute! þe gilte mote on vs falle, putte vs in and þe oute!"

þan gart Pilate til bar brynge kynghtes ful grette plente, [ 590] he says: "his folkevnproues hym kynge, ffor kyngdome claymes he: þare-fore with scourges yhe hym dynge— þus wille þe laghe it be—, sithen on croys yhe sal hym hynge, [ 595] heghe, þat alle men may see; a thefe on ayther syde yhe hynge hym at my bedynge, als kynge of mykel pride imyddes heghe sal he hynge." [ 600]

þe kynghtes þan his clathes of hente and bad hym tille a piler faste, and with scharpe scourges aboute hym went and dange hym, alto þe hyde braste; a corked (!) mantil þai hym þan lent [605 l. purpur.] ande aboute hym lapped it at þe laste, bott when it cleuede to, þai it of rent— þus-gate to pyne hym, was þaire caste. Sone ogayne þai hym cledde, ande a croun of thornes thrested on his heuede; [ 610] and forthe þan þai hym ledde whare he sulde be demed to deede.

To raise hym on rode þai gun þaime sped, and hyngede a thefe on ayther syde; Ayssel ande galle raysed on a rede [ 615] with-in a spounge þai gun hyde and tille his mouthe þat drynk gun bede. And Ihesu sayde þat tyde: "ffader, forgyf þam þis mysdede þat I of þam habide!" [ 620] þe Jewes þat þare stode sayde: "goddes sone if þou be, come now doun fra þe rode, and we sall trow on þe."

þai gert Longys a spere take, [ 625] a blynd knyght of þat route: and euen tille his hert he strake, and water and blode þan come oute.

Pilate, of dome wittenes to make, a title gert write to doute, [ 630] þat euen obouen his heued stake, þat alle myght rede aboute, Latyn, Gru and Ebru; his titel was þus-gate: "he þis, þis ilk es Ihesu [ 635] kyng of Jewes"—þus he wrate.

On goddes left hand hynges Jesmas, þat sayd to Ihesu: "by name if þou be goddes sone, lat vs pas, saue þe and vs fra schame!" [ 640] Opon his ryght hand hynges Dismas, þat fast his felaghe gun blame: "als þou has serued, als þou has, and I may say þe same; ffulle litel god þou dredes, [ 645] we suffir for oure gilte; and he for his gode dedes ffulwrangwisly es spilte."

And Dismas gun to Ihesu pray: "als þou ert heghe Justys, [ 650] in þi regne when þou comes for ay thyngke on me, kynge rightwys!" Ihesu agayne tille hym gun say and answerde on þis wise: "Sothefastly þou sal be to-day [ 655] with me in paradise." At vndren þis was done. þe son nyght wex myrke. Quyte in-sonder alsone þe vayle raue in þe kirke. [ 660]

And in þe stori als we rede, wha wille it vndirstande, anne aungel was sene done þat dede with a swerd brynnande, and sayde þere wordes, ar he yhede: "here als wittnes I stand of Ihesu deede, þat I see blede, and nayled thurght fote and hande." [668 tilge and.] Ihesu sayd: "in þi hende, ffadir of myght maste, [ 670] my saule to þe mote be by-gend." [671 gend st. kend.] With þat he gaf þe gaste.

Centurio sayde, when he sulde dye and þe sone wex myrke als nyght: "he þis was goddes sone, sykirly, [ 675] þat þus to dede was dyghte." And many other þat stode hym by, þat sawe þat selly sighte, knockede on þaire brestes and cryede mercy, and amended þaime at þaire myghte. [ 680] Of þis wondirfulle deede when sir Pilate hard say, ffor sorowe and for dreede he eete na mete þat day.

Pilate yhede til þire Jewes alle, [ 685] and sayd: "what es yhoure rede? swilke selcouthes wist we neuer byfalle als now at Ihesu deede." þai sayde: "þire clerkes þe clippes calle [689 þire st. sire.] þat þe sone made dym ande rede." [ 690] Quod Pilate: "what brak youre stanes swa smalle, þat nane myght stire of stede? what raue in-tw(a) yhoure wayle þat in yhoure temple hange? vs alle till iller-hayle [ 695] I doute we haf done wrange."

Centurio come forthe by þan, and alle þat with hym ware, tille alle þire Jewes þai by-gan to telle of þis wondir fare: [ 700] "Of coupynge of þis rightwisman yhe may yhow drede fulle sare; þe sone at his deede wex dym and wan wele thre myle way and mare, þe stannes in-sundir brake, [ 705] þe erthe tremelde and qwakede and made noys, als man it spake, swilke mane of hym it makede;

Deede men er rysen oute of graue here in oure aller sight. [ 710] Whare-fore we trowe and hoope we haue he was goddes son full righte." And als þai þus to-gyder straue, tille Pilate come a knyghte and Ihesu body gun he craue [ 715] þat þus tille deede was dight. And Pilate graunted þat bone tille Joseph of Aramathi. And he fra croyce alson tuke doun þat blyssed body. [ 720]

Sythen he wand hym withe gode enten(t) in sendel newe and clene, and layd hym in his newe moniment, þare nane byfore had bene. þe Jewes sayde þan withe alle as∣sente: [ 725] "als ille we sall hym tene." And hym to seke, men had þai sent; [727 u. 732 had st. has.] bot he durst noght be sene.

þe quest þat gun hym deme trewe in sposage born, [ 730] and ryghtwyse Nichodeme, [727 u. 732 had st. has.] at slaa alle had þai sworn;

and slaa alle þas had þai thoght þat helede thurgh Ihesu ware. þai hidde þam, þat þai fand þam noght; þare-at þaime tened sare. And when þai ware to-geder broght, þe maysters of þaire lare, at þe temple Nichodeme þam soght: to speke (he) wald noght spare. [ 740] He sayde: "yhe wors and wode, [741 and st. þan.] how dare yhe negh þis stede, and yhoure handes fulle of blode of rightwise Ihesu deede?"

þe Jewes hym answerde alle in fere: "þou oute-caste of alle men, how dare þou neghe þis temple nere, [747 Ms. þa st. þou.] his frende sithen we þe ken? his pees motte light on þe here." And he answarde: amen, [ 750] and sayde alswa. and þai gun answer: "his pees we þe by-ken (!)." And when þai had þus sayde, Joseph of Armathy þan hym in graue had layde, [ 755] [755 þan st. þat.] come forthe þan appertly.

He sayde: "lordynges, als god yhow saue, why er yhe wrathe with me ffor I layde Ihesu in my graue, þat yhe hyngede on rode-tre? [ 760] with fulle grette wrange slayne hym ye haue, and þat here-after sal men see; when yhe for hym with Pilate straue als yhe sayd, mot it be: when Pilate wesshe his hende [ 765] hym giltles forto make, yhe sayd on yhow dessende his blode, vengaunce and wrake."

Omange þire Jewes Joseph was tane, in prisoun þai hym kast, [ 770] þat wyndowles was, and dore bot ane, and þat þai sperd fulfaste. Hard þai hym thrette he suld be slaane ffra þaire sabbaut ware past. [774 u. 781 Ms. sab∣bant oder sabbaut.] þe dore to kepe knyghtes ware gane, [ 775] Meeteles þai gert hym fast. ffor he gun Ihesu craue, [777 l. graue.] þai sayde alle, in þe felde na beryels sal he haue, wilde bestes his banes sald weld. [ 780] [780 sald st. sall.]

When þair sabbaut was comen and gane, [774 u. 781 Ms. sab∣bant oder sabbaut.] Joseph fore-gat þai noght: alle þai hym demed forto be slayne for þat werk þat he wroght. Vntil þe presoun þai yhed onane, [ 785] and wende hym forthe haue broght; þai oppend þe dore: bot þare was nane, þai fand noght þat þai soght. Ilkan til other gun say: "þis es a wondir thyng; [ 790] how myght he wynne away þus in owre awine kepyng?"

þan sayde a knyght of þam þat woke Ihesu in þe moniment: "þe body, to kepe þat yhe vs tuke, [ 795] he ras and fra vs went; þe erthe trembled and alto schoke, ane aungel doun was sent— we durked for drede, durst noght luke, ne take tille hym na tent; [ 800] þe mekel stane þat lay his rysyng for to lette, lyghtly he put oway, and þar-oppon hym sette.

Wemen þare was, to þaime he sayde, þat ware of his meynyhe, he bad þaime be noght for hym afrayde: "he es rysen, come nere and see, þis es þe place þare þai hym layde. Ga byd hys appostels blithe be, [ 810] he sal be sene, als he þaime sayde, þis day in Galile." þise Jewes grette wonder thoghte, "lyues Ihesu?" gun þai say; "traytours, we trow yhow noghte, [ 815] he es deede for euer and ay."

þhire knyghtes gaf answare als∣swythe tille alle þe company: "what wondir warkes gun he kythe, whils he was here yhow by, [ 820] and mustred miracles many sithe tille alle þe Jewery! how suld yhe trowe or tille vs lithe þat left hym lightly? Ihesu was layd in graue, [ 825] we kepyd hym, als yhe wate;

scortly lost hym we haue, he es noght þare nane-gate.

And als wele wate we, yhistirday how Joseph prisounde was, [ 830] and how yhe kepyd hym vndir kay ffor he ne sulde fra yow pas: we ne wate how, he es wonden (!) oway. Botte a thynge we yhow as: latte þaime brynge Joseph, if þai may, [ 835] þat hym in kepynge has: and we salle brynge Ihesus." And here-on gun þai threpe: "and we graunt: brynge hym tille vs, and we wille brynge Joseph." [ 840]

þise knyghtes sayde: "warand wille we byfore alle þe Jewery, Joseph es in his Cete at hame, in Aramathy, and Ihesu es in Galile, [ 845] þis wate we witterly." When þe Jewes herd it þus sulde be, þai dredde þaime grettly. Ilkan tille othir gun say: "Botte if þire wordes falle, [ 850] þis folke sal leue oure lay and trow on Ihesu alle."

þe Jewes had grette tresoure tane, [853 I. has.] to the kynghtes forto pay, and examynd þe knyghtes ane be ane [ 855] and bad þaime algate say how, when þai ware to slepe gane and in þaire beddes lay, his apostels putte oway þe stane and stale þe body oway. [ 860] Of þe mone ware þai fayne and toke it ilke a dele, and a-quytte þaime be þis trayne. And alle men trowed þaime wele.—

To Jerusalem come on a day [ 865] thre prestes of þe Jewery, tille þe temple held þai streke þe way and saluede þe clergy, þai sayde: "Ihesu, schorly (!) to say, þat yhe split wra(n)gwisly, [ 870] [870 l. spilt.] on þe mounte Olyuete satte þis day, and his appostels hym by; we saghe alle in a route þat he was wonte to teche, þai satte alle hym aboute, [ 875] and þere wordes gun he preche: [876 Ms. þai st. he.]

""Alle thurgh þis werd so wide yhe wende, my message forto make, ande baptiȝe men with yhoure hende þat trowely trouthe wille take; [ 880] wha-so trowes and es for cristen kend, saued I sal hym make; and alle bes dampned with-outen end þat þe trouthe sal forsake."" Als he stode þaime omang, [ 885] he steye til heuen vpryght, and we loked aftir lang tille þe cloudes reft vs þe sight."

Here-of þe Jewes forwonderd ware, þai sayde: "þis sall noght blynne, [ 890] if it be þus, alle sall yhe swere." þe haly buke broght þai inne. And þai sayde: "þat may vs noght dere, gladly wille we be-gynne; If we ne wald here-of wittenes bere, [ 895] suthely, we had greete synne." Handes on þat buke þai layde and sware alle withe a voyce: "alle es sothe þat we sayde of Ihesu þat dyed on croyce." [ 900]

þe Jewes a buke in handes hent, And gert þaime swere eft þat day: "þat yhe haue sayde in oure present, yhe sal layne euer and ay." And fra þe cite þai had þam sent, [ 905] ffor þai þe suthe suld say, [906 þe st. no.] and other men withe þaime was went fforto lede þaime oway. In dred þire Jewes gun duelle and sayde: "what may þis mene? [ 910] In þe land of Israelle slyk selcouthe signes er sene!"

þan spak Annas and Cayphas: "we sall noght trow, þai sayde, þe knyghtes þat hym keped has [ 915] when he in graue was layde; How he vp rase, þe worde was, and made þaime all a-frayde; botte how sone gunde þat worde ouer-pas ffra yhe þaime siluer payde. [ 920] His disciples als may be his body oway gun stele, and þire knyghtes gree, als we did, forto hele."

þan alle þe Jewes þat þare ware [ 925] answarde ogayn þus:

"whethir wille oure knyghtes halde mare with his men or with vs?" þan spak a Jewe, was wise of lare, þat hight Nicodemus: [ 930] "wele sayde: þai saghe þaime neuer are . . . . . . . . . . . . . and þa thre men þat sware þai saghe Ihesu lyfande and steye tille heuen right þare, [ 935] with wrange er flemed of lande.

We rede: when þe prophete Elyas vntil heuen vp was tane, Helysyus, þat his disciple was, was askede whare he was gane; [ 940] he sayde: tille heuen I saght hym pas. Men for hym made grette mane and sayde: sum spirite hym rauyst has vnto þe mountayns alane. þai gertte seke northe and southe [ 945] þe mountayns of Iraelle, þai fand naman þat couthe na tale of Ely telle.

Now, Iraelle childer, listens me, þat haues þis saule (!) slane: [ 950] In cas þat Ihesu rauest be by spirit tille some mountayne, chese we vs men grette plente, and seke with al þaire mayne; [954 and st. to.] he sal for-gif and haue pete, [ 955] when he es funden ogayne." þe Jewes with ane assent, als Nichodeme gun telle, at seke men haue þai sent þe mountes of Israelle. [ 960]

Thurgh alle Israell haue þai soght mountayns bathes farre and nere, [962 Ms. bathes st. bathe.] and come hame and fande hym noght (!) ne noure myght of hym here. [964 noure = nowhere.] "Of Joseph bodeworde haue we broght [ 965] þat yhe prisonde to yhere: In Armathy es his wonynge wroght als lord of grette powere." When alle þe Jewery wist Joseph was in qwerte, [ 970] þai thanked god forþi ande ware Joyfull in harte.

And þan þai made a greete ga∣derynge, and counsayled þaime by-twene how þai myght Joseph to þaime brynge, [ 975] als he byfore had bene. A letter þai did to writynge, þat sayd þus-gate, I wene: "Pees, frendschepe, and goddes gret∣ynge on þe, sire, mot be sene. [ 980] Sire, we knawe bathe and wate oure trespas and oure gilte in god onence þi state, þat we þe wilde haue spilte.

þare-fore wouche-saue come (vs) vntille, [ 985] sire Joseph, we þe pray, and largely make amendes we wille, what-so þi-self wille say. Oft-sythes we muse alle of þat skylle how þat þou wan oway, [ 990] bot god wald þat þou had nane ille, his dedes ware to þi pay. [992 his st. þi, þi st. his.] Pees haue with worschipynge, Joseph of Armathy." þan þai it closed and gun hynge [ 995] þaire aller seles þare-by.

Of Joseph frendes seuen (!) had þai tane, þe message for to make. fforth on þe message ware þai gane, þai wald it noght forsake. [ 1000] Tille Armathy þai come onane, Joyfulle for Joseph sake. Mekely þai halyst hym onane, þe letter þai gun hym take. When Joseph had it redde, [ 1005] he thanked god of heuen, he kyssed þam and sythen þam ledde vntille hys house alle seuen.

Arely on morne, when it was day, Joseph was dyght fulle tite [ 1010] and with þe messagers went forthe hys way— tuke he na langer respite. Of hys come when þe Jewes hard say, na langer wald þai lette, with alle worschepe þan wen(t) þai [ 1015] [1015 Ms. wen.] ogayne hys come als-tite. þai sayde at hys comynge: "Joseph, to þe be pees and grethe!" And he sayde: "goddes blyssynge be alle þis pople withe." [ 1020]

Nichodeme, þat we are of spake, at hys house gart hym ly,

and made greete festynge for hys sake tille alle þe Jewery. On þe morne greette gederynge gun þai make [ 1025] in þe temple openly; a buke Joseph þai gun take in hande, and he swore þare-by þat he þe suthe sulde say— ffulle deply þai gun hym charge, [ 1030] how þat he wan oway ffra prisoun tille his large.

He (said): "on gude friday at nyght when I tille prisoun yhode, tille þe settirday obout myd-nyght [ 1035] in my prayers I. stode: in þe ayer þe prison was hyngede on highte, þat merred mykel my mode; I lukede: þan saghe I by sighte Ihesu þat dyed on rode. [ 1040] Tille hym gude tente I. tuke, his wisage schane so bright, I. moght no langar luke. bott for drede felle doun right.

Vp he me raysede smertly, [ 1045] and toke me be þe hande, My mouthe he kissede curtoysly, and dredefulle gun I. stande; and I sayde: ""my lorde Hely, whethir þou be here lyfande?"" [ 1050] And he sayd: ""nay, but it am I, Ihesu, be noght dredande! of me na drede þou haue, Joseph, I am þat ilke þat þou layde in þi graue [ 1055] wonden in sendelle and silke.""

And I sayde: ""sire, if þou be he, of a thynge I þe pray: þe monument þou lat me see þare þi body in lay."" [ 1060] Oute of þe prison bathe went we, botte how, kan I noght say; þe sepulcre schewede he me, botte þe body was oway. þan trowed I stedfastly, [ 1065] when I had sene þat sighte, and cryed hym oft mercy and thanked hym at my myght.

In Armathie he sette me sithen, and þare sawe I hym laste; [ 1070] he bad, nagates I suld ga þethen, tylle fourty days ware past; he sayde þat yhe suld yhow noght feyne to pursu þe cristen fast. other-gates was I noght had hethen, suthely, ryght þus-gates wast." þire Jewes sayd haly: "þis es a wonder fayre; In alle þe Jewery swylk selcouthe felle neuer are." [ 1080]

þay sayde: "saynt Hely, wele we wate, alle qwyk tille heuen yhede, and Enoke yhede þe same gate— of hys deed noure we rede; Ihesu was done to deed now late, [ 1085] dampned for hys mysdede, he may noght leue ogayne na-gate, and þare-of es na drede." Quod Joseph þan: "meruayle yhe þat he ras fra deed tille lyue? [ 1090] Othire ras thurgh hys pouste, þis aght yhe meruayle swylk fyue.

Of saynt Symeon alle may yhow mene, þat kepyd oure lawes fulle ryght; his twa sones alle haue yhe sene, [ 1095] þat Caryn and Lenten hyght. Alle wate we þai ware deed by-dene [1097 Ms. þare st. þai.] and grauen in oure aller syght: þare bodyse er noght þare, I wene: þai ras thurgh goddes myght; [ 1100] in my cite þai ere lyfand, in Armathy, kneland euer in prayer, þai speke na worde leely.

Botte wende we to þaime, if yhe rede, [ 1105] and pray þaime, if þai wille, schewe vs how þai ware dreuen fra dede and eft putte lyfe vntille. Perchaunce þai sal schewe yhow in þis steede some resonabel skille, [ 1110] if þai war raysed thurgh his gode∣hede, and qwat thynge to fulfille." Vnto þe graues yhede þai, þare þe bodys was layde, and fand þaime bathe oway, [ 1115] als Joseph had þaime sayd.

Joseph, Annas, and Cayphas, and Necodeme als-swa, halely þaire counsayle taken has tille Aramathy to ga, [ 1120]

þat fra þaime sexti myle was, and nouthir myn na ma. Sone on þe morne forthe gun þai pas, þaire Journe forto ta. When þai come tille þe toun, [ 1125] þai fande þaime at þe laste, on þe erthe bathe knelande doun, prayande to godde fulle faste.

þai kissede þaime als men þat þai kende, and of þaime was fulle fayne; [ 1130] to Jerusalem þai gert þaime wende with þaime smertly ogayne. [1132 Ms. smerltly.] In þe temple domini þai lende; at þam þus bygan þai frayne, and putted þaime a buke in hende, [ 1135] and swere þe sothe to sayne: [1136 and st. to.] "By god of Irael and by god of (!) Adonay, [1138 tilge of. Nach] þe suthe þat yhe vs telle þat we aske, if yhe may. [ 1140]

And by grette god we yow athe: [1141 fehlen 2 Verse.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Certayne ye vs make, how yhe ware raisede, schewe vs rathe, þat we þe trouthe may take." And for þa wordes þai wex alle wrathe, bathe gun tremble and qwake; tille heuen vp gun þai stare, sythen þe taken of þe croyce [ 1150] on þaire tunges made þai þare, and spak with simple voyce:

þai saide: "lordyngs, with-outen lyte, graunte vs prachemen and penne, þat we þire pryuetes may writte [ 1155] þat we for suthefast ken." And þai þaime gaf with-outhen respite þare omange alle þa men, and þus-gate þai by-gan als-tite: "In þe name of god amen. [ 1160] Lorde Ihesu, we þe pray, rayser to lyfe fra deede, latte vs writte ryght þis day þe myght of þi godhede.

For we er coniurde forto telle [ 1165] thurgh þi mykel myghte þe selcouthes þat of þe byfelle, sithen þou tille deede was dighte. Alle Adams kyn we ware in helle, many a wafulle wighte, [ 1170] tille on a tyme þat it byfelle of þe son we had a sight: a lightynge schewede þare als it ware a sons beme, when we in mirknes ware, [ 1175] a light gun on vs leme.

Oure forme fadir, þat was in wa, Adam, ande Eue his wife, patriarkes and prophetes many ma, spake alle at-anes by-lyue: [ 1180] ""þis light es comen oure sorow to slaa, oure dirknes doun to dryue, God hym-self schewed to vs swa . . . . . . . . . . . . ."" ""þis light, sayde Isay, [ 1185] es þe son of þe fader of heue(n), lyfande yhow þus sayde I in my bokes fulle euen.

I prophetede: Neptalym lande and Ȝabulon with-alle— [ 1190] þat es als mykill at vndirstande als fre be-come thralle— men of þaire folke in myrke walkande tille þaime light schyne sal. þat I. sayd, wils I. was lyfande; [ 1195] I see it now by-falle. Right now fulfilde it es in vs, þat prophecy: lyghte schynes in oure myrknes oure thraldome forto by."" [ 1200]

And we made alle grette myrite [1201 l. myrthe.] of þat light schewynge. Oure fadir Symeon þan come he, broght vs in a newe tithynge, he sayd: ""makes al gamen and gle, [ 1205] gude tythandes I yhow brynge: he es comen þat sal oure byer be ffra þis laythe wonynge; in þe temple I hym tuke, a barne borne, in my handes, [ 1210] my eghen gun on hym luke þate sal vs brynge of bandes;

þus gert þe haly gaste me say: Leue now þi seruaunt leele in pees to reste, lord, I þe pray, [ 1215] ffor myn eghen saghe þi hele, þat þou ordaynde for euer and ay omange man-kynde to dele, lighte to schewynge of folke to-day and Joye tille Israell."" [ 1220] þe sayntes, þat war in handes, made greete solempnite

ffor Joy of þire tithandes, ilkane in hys degree.

Ane come þare þan þat semede by liknes [ 1225] ane heremete pure of state; what he was, spirede we mare ande les, and he answarde þus-gate: ""I voice criande in wildirnes, [1229 Ms. I st. a.] ande Johan Baptist I hate, [ 1230] of synnes I. prechede forgifnes thurgh baptyme gyuen now late.

nun fehlt ein Blatt (68 V.), wovon nur noch ein dünnes Läppchen erhalten, worauf die Anfänge einiger Verse:

I. saghe h þat vs fr þis es g þat dus And I hi In þe þe haly In a d þe fad And þa

þis es lithes In wh þus a at sch Bes Whe of þ he T

he has me tenede and trauerste ay [ 1301] alle werkes þat I haue wroghte, saules fra vs haues he had oway þat I haue tille vs broghte."" he asked whethir þat be he [ 1305] þat calde Laȝar vs fra, þat was in oure pouste. and satanas (!) sayde hym yha.

He sayd: ""Satan, I þe for-bede on alle thynghes þat I may, [ 1310] brynge hym tille vs for nakyn nede, botte haue hym forthe oway; ffor, come he here, I haue greete drede we sal say waloway, alle þat here er, hethen sal he lede [ 1315] ande we be prynede (!) for ay; [1316 l. pyned.] he es a myghty swayne whe(n) we twa myght noght halde a caytif saule ogayne, when he did noght bote calde. [ 1320]

Sithen he was swilke, þat was bote man, þou, Satanas, I say, with myghte wenes þou to mayster þan bathe god and man verray? wenes þou þat lorde enclose þou kan [ 1325] þat he ne sal wyn oway, sithen his poure seruaunt he fra þe wan þat was dampned for ay?"" And þan sayde Satanas: ""Of hym haue þou na drede, [ 1330] I knawe wele what he was and what lyfe he gun lede:

His fourty days whe(n) he gun faste, I tempte hym, sykerly; I procurde alle þe Jewes fulle faste þat þai sulde ger hym dye; when Pilate walde þat he had paste, I egede ay egerly, tille he ware hynged at þe laste on a rode rewefully. [ 1340] And þare-fore I þe say: ordayne fore hym a stede! he comes tille vs þis day, by þis I halde hym dede.""

And whils þe fendes straue þus∣gate, [ 1345] a voice spake loude and clere: ""I bid yow, prynces, vndo yhoure yhates, endles yhates remous here! ffor þe kynge of glorie, þat al ille abats, comes."" and þan spake Lucifere: [ 1350] ""Ryse, Satan, ger hym gange his gats, als þou ert me leeue and dere."" þire prynces þa yhates sperde at þe laste, and alle his feres he callede: ""ffende þire yhates and bare þam fast, or we for euer be thrallede.""

And þan sayd Dauid, þare he lay, vntille þire sayntes alle: ""In erthe lyfande þus gun I say— I see it now be-falle: [ 1360] þat god has made, þis es þe day, make myrthe and Joye we salle: ffor brasen yhates god brake for ay and iren barres with-alle; ffra wayes of wilsomnes, [ 1365] I sayd, he haues þaime taken. I see now, sothe it es, he haues vs noght forsaken.""

And þan sayd saynt Isay: ""þus whils I lyfed in lande, [ 1370] right on þis wise prophetede I, wha-so couthe vndirstande: Deede men, þat in þaire graues ly, salle ryse vppe and be lifande, alle salle make Joye and melody [ 1375] þat erthe haues in hys hande. Eft-sones I sayd als-swa tille deede: whare es þi myghte,

deede sen he fotchede vs fra tille life—sayde I noght ryghte?"" [ 1380]

A voice spak þan ful hydusly, als it ware a thunner blaste: ""vndo yhoure yhates, it sayd, smertly, þai may na langer laste: Kynge of glori by-houes cum in þare-by."" [ 1385] And helle a voyce þan gan vp caste: ""what es he, þat kynge of glory? he sal be sette fulle faste."" Dauyde sayde: ""whethir þou ne wate, als I prophetede righte: [ 1390] a lorde of ful greete state, in batel mykel of fighte,

he es kynge of glory, þat I telle, þat at þe yhates standes, and he be-helde fra heuen tille helle þe sorow of his seruaundes. Vndo þarefore, þou fende felle, þe yhates withe þi handes: for kyng of glory comes fulle snelle, to bryng vs oute of bandes."" [ 1400] Thurgh myght of hys godhede Ihesu þan strak so fast þat þe yhates in-sonder yhede and þe iryn barres alto-brast.

He mustered he was mekel of myght: [ 1405] þe fendes pouste he fellyd, alle lemed þat lathely lak of lyght, þat was with myrknes melled. when alle þe sayntes saghe þat syght, þat in þat dongeoun duelled, [ 1410] nane durst aworde speke heghe on hight, bot ilkan softly telled: ""welcom, lorde, vnto vs, fful lang þan has vs thoght; blyssed be þou, swete Ihesus, [ 1415] fful dere þou haues vs boght!""

And he vndyd þaire bandes alle þat þai with bunden had bene, and made þaime fre þat are was thralle, and of care clensed þaime clene. [ 1420] þe fendes þat sawe swilk light byfalle þare nan byfor was sene, sayde: ""we er ouer-comen, greete and smalle, with yhon warloghe, we wene."" Ane spyrres, and mekyl he dredes: [ 1425] ""what art þou þat schewes swilk myght, þat es swa mykel in þi dedes, and schewes swa littel to sighte?

þou þat was man, on what manere was godhede in þe hidde? [ 1430] was þou noghte deede, what dus þou here? was neuer swylke maystrys kydde. We fendes alle ware we fayne in-fere, when þe Jewes tille deede þe didde; how ert þou putte to swilk powere, [ 1435] and slike tene vs be-tydde? was neuer na saule vs sente þat he ne wiste of oure play, þou haues vs schamely schente and pryued vs oure pray."" [ 1440]

þan Ihesu Criste toke Satanas, þat are was lorde and sire, and hym in thraldom bunden has, at brynne in endles fire. þan spake þa fendes þat with hym was, [ 1445] þat ware fulle of angre and ire: ""Traytoure, what haues þou done? allas, þou dide noght oure desire: we bad þe latte hym ga, latte hym noght come here in; [ 1450] alle haues he fochede vs fra, oure court waxes fulle thyn.

þou duke of deede, leder fra lyue, heghynge of goddes aungels, ogayns þat strange how durst þou stryue [ 1455] þat vs þus frekely felles? þou hyghte brynge vs a pray by-lyue, it es noghte als þou telles; ffor euer tille deede he wille þe dryue and alle þat with þe duelles. [ 1460] Whan þou þe Jewes gun stir þat þai sulde ger hym dye, þou sulde þan haue done spire ffirst if he ware worthy,

and if in hym ware funden na ille, þou sulde haue gerte þaime blyn. Traytoure, whi has þou broght vs tille in wham es funden na syn? alle has þou losed by þis skylle þe wightes þat ware he(r) in, [ 1470] ande þou þaire paynes sal fulfille in wa neuer oute to wyn. þat we wan thurgh þe tree when Eue þe fruyte hade eeten, ilke a dele es now, als we see, [ 1475] with þe rode-tree fra vs geten.""

þan spake Ihesu with voice clere tille þe sayntes mare and les: ""Come to me, my childir dere, þat er made my lyknes! [ 1480] yhe þat for syn er prisounde here, yhe sal haue forgifnes!"" And alle þa sayntes þai droghte hym nere and thanked hym of hys godenes. Hand on Adam he layde; [ 1485] ande he on knes gun falle; ""Pees be to þe, he sayde, and to þi childir alle.""

Adam sayde, and for ioy he greete: ""Lorde, I sal worchippe þe: [ 1490] ffor fra my faas þou haue me fette þat here ware greete plente; I cryed when I. (in) sorow was sette, and þou haues now heled me; my saule þou ledde with-outen lette [ 1495] ffra helle thurgh þi pite. þou kepes (vs) þat we ne falle tille þe pitte of myrknes. Make ioye, yhe sayntes alle, [1499 Ms. alles.] ande thanke his halynes!"" [ 1500]

þan patriarks and prophete, [1501 Ms. prophetes.] alle other sayntes alle ffelle doun on knes byfore his fete ilkane, bathe grette and smalle, and sayde: ""þou erte comen oure bales to bete, [ 1505] euer-mare looue þe we sal. þat þou in prophecy gun hete we see it now be-falle: deede thurgh deede es destroede; lorde, louynge be to þe! [ 1510] nane has nede þat was noyede, thraldom es made free.""

By þe ryghte hande he gun Adam take and blissed hym righte þare, and ledde hym fra þe laythly lake, [ 1515] and alle þat with hym ware. And Dauyd ful baldly spake, als þai fra helle gun fare: ""a nowe sange tille oure lorde yhe make als I. haue propheted are, [ 1520] ffor he haue bene wirkande meruayles til vs here; he has sauede his righte hande tille hym and his powere;

Mekely he haues musterde his myghte [ 1525] vntille alle cristen men, he haues schewede a warldes wyghte his rightwisnes to ken."" And alle þa sayntes thankede hym righte þat swilke grace wald þaime len, [ 1530] and sayde: ""blyssed be he þat comes als he hight, in þe name of god amen!"" Ilke a prophete þan gun telle, in hys aghen prophecy how he sulde heright helle, [ 1535] how he by-houede for þaime dy.

And als þai ware tille blis wendande, þere sayntes, þat ware in wa, a sange of blys þai yhede syngande þat hat alleluya. [ 1540] Ihesu, Adam be þe hande, with Michael gert þam ga. and alle þe sayntes yhede folowande tille paradys fulle thra. Michael receyuede þam sone, [ 1545] alle þat ware hym by-kende, in blis he haues þam done, þat lastes with-outen ende.

In endles blys, þat haues na pere, when alle þire sayntes ware sette, [ 1550] twa gray-hared men of faytheful chere in paradys þai mette. and alle þe sayntes asked what þai ware, ffra helle how ware þai fette? ""bathe body and saule what do yhe here? [ 1555] ffande yhe nane wild yhow lette?"" And þai ogayne answerd: ""we er Ennok and Ely, we er broght fra myddelerd als wittenes witterly; [ 1560]

We dyed noght yhite, we er left on lyue with Anticrist for to fight, in Jerusalem sal we stryue, bot we sal tille deede be dight, thre days, we sal be-lyue [ 1565] ryse vp thurgh goddes myght, stande als wittenes, when þe dome sal dryue wha haues wrang or ryght."" A pure man come þare, als þai stude spekand best, [ 1570] a cros on hys bak he bare, a thefe hym semed lykest.

""Leue frende, what ert þou? quod þai alle, a thef semes þou like.""

He sayde: ""þe suthe say if I salle: alle my lyfe was I slyke; bot Ihesu mercy gun I calle, and he sayde sykerlyke: withe me þis ilk day be þou sall with me in heuen-ryke. [ 1580] þis croyce bytuke he me and sette me in þe way, he sayde: and Michael þe see, he says noght withe þe nay.

Another worde of hym I hadde: [ 1585] he sayde: I þe rede, if þat þe aungel be noght glade þou sall come to þat steede, say: Ihesu Criste goddes son bade, þat now was done to deede, [ 1590] þat þou sulde in þat stede be stade tille he come in godhede. Tille þe aungel sayd I þus; and he opend fulle yhare."" Ande alle þai thanke Ihesus [ 1595] here-of, bathe les and mare.

þai sayd: ""of gudenes grettes, of grace, blissed be þou euer ande ay, þat gyues ly(fe) in (s)wa littel space tille synfulle saules, þai say; [ 1600] ffolke þat wele folow trewely þi trace and amend þam, whils þai may, in leele lykynge þou wille þam lace, witte (!) þai in na wilsom way. þou þat haue broght vs alle [ 1605] ffra payne in light to lende, euer-mare looue (we) þe sal in blys with-outen ende."""

þai sayd: "þis es goddes priuete þat at þis tyme by-felle. [ 1610] Caryn and Lentyn, þis sawe we, þat (woned) with sayntes in helle; [1612 Nach þat ist wist auspunktiert.] and mykel mare þan gun we see þat we may naman telle: whe ware beden layned it sulde be [ 1615] of Michel goddes aungel; he bade vs telle na thynge bote þat here writen es. We rase of hys risynge þus forto bere wittenes. [ 1620]

And with vs many ane er rysen þat deede lay; þai er by-yhonde þe flome Jordane in paradys nyght and day. Botte when þire thre days er gane, [ 1625] na lenger lyue we may, with þaime tille blis we sal be tane þat lastes euer and ay. þus er we tille yhow sente at schewe yhow in þis steede [ 1630] þat ye may yhow repente þat haues hym done to deede."—

þat Caryn wrate, he it by-tuke tille Necodeme and Annas, and Lentyn alswa gafe his buke [ 1635] tille Joseph and Cayphas. To-gydirly þam þai gun luke þat sonderly wryten was: þe tane wrate noghte a lettre nuke bot als þe tother has. [ 1640] When þai þe Jewes had by-tane þa rolles þat writen ware, þai wanyst oway on-ane; of þaime had þai namare.

When þai hade redde þa rolles, alsone [ 1645] þire Jewes haly gun say: "Of greete god þat syttes in trone þis werke es wroght þis day, bot ilke adele þe here es done [1649 Ms. þe st. þat.] alleges ogaynne oure lay. [ 1650] þa(t) Ihesu Criste es goddes sone, fful sare drede vs we may." Goddes forbot þat þai fende þat euer it suld be swa. And þus þaire wayes þai went, [ 1655] and ilkane parted other fra.

And when þis note was tald Pilate, he hym dredde fulle sare; als dome halely alle he it wrate ffor to last euer-mare. [ 1660] Tille þe temple he yhede on a gate, and gert send aftir þare bisshops, prestes, and other of greete state þat ware oght lere on þaire lare. þe yhates þan sperd he, [ 1665] [1665 bible fehlt.] and sayde tille alle at anes: "yhoure (bible) yhe lat me see þat es with-in þire wanes."

Foure prestes has forthe þat bible broght, a buke of greete bounte. [ 1670] Annas and Cayphas sone ware soght, Pilate sayde: "now lat see, and þat es writen here wate yhe, noght?" þai sayde: "sire, yhis, parde!" Quod Pilat: "a thyng es in my thoght [ 1675]

þat I wille clered be." By þat boke bathe swore þai: þai suld leue for na drede þat þai ne þe sothe suld say, ne yhete for luf na mede. [ 1680]

He sayde: "by þe faythe þat yhe til godde aghe, here-of yhe yhow auyse: fynd yhe oure wryten in yhoure laghe, omang yhour prophecyse, or may yhe any wittnes draghe [ 1685] by castynge ofe clergy, þat Ihesu was, als was his saghe, Goddes son on any wise? here-of oghte if ye ken, alswa telle vs yhe sall [ 1690] in what yheres and when his comynge suld by-falle."

When þay ware charged on þis manere, þai sayd to sire Pilate: "we wille nanegates þat alle men here [ 1695] of þis thyngh þat we wate." Pilate gert haue oute þat þare were, and to þaime spered þe yhate. þai sayd: "we er charged ful nere, and we answere þus-gate: [ 1700] we wate with-outen wene now goddes son was he righte. we wen(d) wichecraft had bene alle þat he did by myghte;

Sithen haue we witten of sere witt∣nes [ 1705] here of oure aghen kynrede, þat he ogayne eft lyfande es, sithen he was done tille deede; twa þat he raysed thurge halynes has tald vs in þis steede, [ 1710] þat we wele wate bathe mare ande les, þat was done thurghte goddehede. Ilke yhere atyme we brynge þis haly buke in hande, [1714 Ms. hadde st. hande.] at luke of his comynge, [ 1715] and þis of hym we fande:

In þe first buke of sexty and ten, þat er contende here, Tille thridde of Adam sons when (!) was spoken in þis manere: [ 1720] Goddes son þi fadir and alle men salle putte to þaire power after fyue thousande yheres, we ken, alswa fyue hundrethe yhere. We reken þus vs oure-self: [ 1725] twa thousande sulde be and twa hundrethe and twelfe and fourty fra Adam tille Noe,

ffra Noe flode tille Abram es Neghen hundrethe and (XII) yhere, [1730 Die Zahlen sind ausgestr.; statt neghen hondred ist a thousand übschr. v. a. H., über dem ausrad. XII (?) ist LVIII übschr.] ffra Abraham tille Moyses [1731 l. till god.] ffoure hundrethe and thretty were, [1732 Vor thretty ist syx v. a. H. geschr.] ffra Moysen god Dauid chees tille kynge of grete powere ffyue hundrethe and ten with-outen lees, [1735 Hinter hundrethe ist sixti v. a. H. geschr.] þus telle oure bible here; tille þe transmygracyon ffyue hundrethe yhere fra þethen, tille þe incarnacion of Criste [1739 Nach crist ist foure score v. a. H. geschr.] f(our) hundrethe sithen. [ 1740] [1740 four ist in fyue verändert und nach sithen noch & ten zugesetzt.]

In oure lawe leely þus if we luke, we say on þis manere þat Ihesu flesshe and blude tuke of Mary his modir dere ffyue thousand yhere, aftir buke, [ 1745] afftir fyue hundrethe yhere." [Nach 1746 fehlt eine Strophe.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "þan es it he þat we fore-suke," quod Pilate tille alle in fere. þus beres þaire bukes witnes [ 1750] of þaime þe suthe wille ken. [1751 of st. to.] and þus oure endyng es, God graunte vs grace amen.

C. Horstmann.