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

1. Kindheit Jesu, aus Ms. Addit. 31,042; (nördl. Dialekt).

Here Bigynnys the Romance of the childhode of Jhesu Criste þat clerkes callys Ipokrephum. [ 163c]

Allemyghty god in Trynytee, þat boughte mane on þe Rode so dere, Lene þame grace wele for to thee þat lystenys me with mylde chere, And for þe lufe of Marie free [ 5] þat saues alle with hire prayere! And ȝe will herkene a stownde to me, A grete solaunce now may ȝe here: Of hym that moste es of vertu A litille tale I wille ȝowe telle, [ 10] Of a childe that highte Jhesu, And ȝee wille herkene and duelle.

When Jhesu was of Marie borne— Thare Blyssede myghte that birthe be— Thre kynges come knelande hym by-forne [ 163d] [ 15] And made hyme homage alle three. Kyng Herode thoghte and þer-to (had) sworne Jhesu dede that he wolde see. Marie wolde noghte hir sōne ware lorne: Owte of contre thane gane scho flie. [ 20] ffro hir fomene scho flede that daye Owte of hir kythe thare mene hire knewe, And bad a mane that he scholde saye Scho went thare forthe whene thaie sewe. And whene the Jewes thare forthe come, [ 25] Corne alle newe þay fande to schere— ffor full faste thay gane seke anone, To looke if þat thay tayme myghte oughte dere.—

fforthir-mare thane es Joseph gane In the wildirnes by a bryme. [ 30] Marye sawe lebardes full many ane And other bestis full grete and gryme. Thane saide Marie: "we be alle slayne, Allas, thies wayes waxes alle dyme!" Bot Jhesu Blissede those bestis ilkane: [ 35] And lesse and mare thay lowttede hyme. Thane Marie blyssede hir sone bothe blode & bone, ffor foules songe scho herde that daye, And sayde: "my drede es alle gone ffor the myrthe of Birdes in this waye." [ 40]

Thane fforthir-mare scho wente þat daye, By a cowntre, was bothe waste and wilde. A thefe, highte Barabas, wonnede in þat waye: And that owtelawe tuke hire to his tilde,

And sayde: "womane, nowe be thy laye, [ 45] Whate berys thou thare?" scho saide: "a childe." And Jhesu loughe one thayme, thare he laye. And thane saide the sone to þe ffadir: "aa, sir, bese mylde." "So mylde, sone myne, now wille I be, Wiete thou wele with-owttene naye, [ 50] That I wille robbe alle three Certaynely this ilke daye."

Thane tooke he Josephe with velany, And lachede Marie by the lappe. And thane gane Dismas, hys sone, to crye [ 55] And prayed hys fadir to late thayme skape; [ 164a] "Now certis, ffadir, me had leuere to dye þane þay tooke here amanges vs any vn-happe." The owtelawe forbare thayme thane sekirly; His sone for Joye his handis gane clappe. [ 60] Thane sayde (our) lady milde Marye: "Nowe, lefe dere sone, aqwitte hyme this!" And he sayde: "modire, on my righte syde salle he dye And come with me in-tille my blysse."

And fforthir-mare thane oure lady wente. [ 65] The sone that tyme thare schane fulle hate: And hire to riste scho hade talente, And seyde for hete scho wexe alle mate. Joseph hir in armes hente, ffor he vndir-stode hir state, [ 70] And tuke hire downne with gude en∣tent Of the asse, righte there scho satte. Vndire a tree, that was fulle hye, With faire flores he made hir sette. Thane saide Marye, he ware fulle slye [ 75] That any of this froyte myghte gette.

Whene Mary thus hade made hir mane, hire sone wiste whate was hir wille; Of that froyte fulle gude wane he gaffe hire ynoghe, and that was skille: [ 80] Jhesu thane spake to the tree anone: "Lowte downe, he sayde, my modir vn-tille, Tille scho and Joseph bathe hafe tane Of thy froyte alle that thay wille." The tree lawe to thaire fete gane folde, [ 85] Tille thay hade tane alle þat þay hade tithte. And whene thay hade tane alle þat þay wolde, Als Jhesu it bade it stode agayne vppe-righte.

Than vn-to Josephe sayde Marie: "Nowe, certis, me thrystes ferly sore." [ 90] And "certis, sayde Joseph, and thriste hafe I; Bot ȝitt owre asse wele the more. Allas, this lande es alle to drye, ffor fawte of watire es alle my sare." Thane Jhesu Bad the tree one hye [ 95] The rutes solde wysse thayme watir thare. Thane owte of the rutes fulle swythe gane sprynge Wellys fulle fele and watire at wille, [ 164b] And wyne also righte thare gane sprynge; And thare-of þay dranke euene alle þaire fille. [ 100]

Thane Marye blyssed hir sōne both blode & bane And thanked hym that was so free. And vn-to the tree he saide onane: "In paradyse nowe salle thou bee." And thare come angelles full gud wane, [ 105] With grete lighte that mene myghte see, And bare the braunches awaye ilkane— Thay lefte thare na-thynge of that tree. Tille paradyse thane es it broghte To Ennoke and Ely, is thare yfere. [ 110] Jhesu, þat alle this werlde hase wroghte, þane was hys tyme bot a ȝere.

And thare with ane olde Jewe gane þay mete, And of that waye thay askede hym sone. And he sayde: "tille Egipte haue ȝe ȝitte [ 115] Thirtty Journeyes of grete mewe∣sone (!)."

Thane by-gane Marye to wepe, And for werynesse sche sett hir downne. "Modere, he sayd, be mery & wele ȝowe lete! loo here the walles of Egipte townne! [ 120] here es of Egipte a Riche Cite." Soo schorte thane he made to hir þat lange waye. And Mary sayd: "dere sone, blyssed mot þou bee, Als lorde that alkyns myghtis maye."

Thane whene Jhesu and his Modir free [ 125] Bothe were in-tille Egipte broghte, Froudeus was lorde of that contree. And alle his goddes of golde were wroghte; And pilgrymes þer come thirtty & three And to his mawmettes for goddes hase soughte. [ 130] Bot whene Jhesus come to that Cite, Alle his godde thay felle to noghte. Froudeus was wrothe thane & nere∣hande wode, And smate hym-selfe thane appone þe heuede, þat nesse and mouthe braste alle one blode— [ 135] Vnnethes was hym his lyfe be-leffede.

Bot noghte-for-thi he herde wele saye þat Jhesu solde be lorde of allee, Als prophetes had tolde righte in þer laye, And þat he myghte gare his goddes downne falle. [ 140] He was for-drede of Jhesu that daye: [ 164c] And mercy tille hym thane gane he calle. And Jhesu with-saide hym noghte with naye, Ne with his mene, neþer grete ne smalle. Jhesu rescheyuede thayme, euer∣ilkane [ 145] þat woldene come tille his mercy; And thase þat wolde noghte, þay were slayne Or done in presone, thare to dye.

With thaire childre þer Jhesu gane wōnne, Appone a sabot by-fore the nōne, [ 150] By a watire thane solde þay ryn̄ne, To plaie thaym thare, als þay ware wonne. þe streme of rynnynge Jhesu bad blyne And twa demmynges he made there sone. And one Judas putte his staffe þer-in [ 155] And swythe vndide þat he had done. he saide to Judas: "þou salle habye þat þou agayne me hase thus tane." And Judas by-houed þane nedis to dye, he myȝthe a fote na ferrere gane. [ 160]

þane alle þe childire faste to þe towne þai ranne, ffor ferdnesse of thaire felawe sake, Vn-to sir Keuxe, thaire aldire-manne, And playnte of Jhesu gane þay make, how Judas was done to dede thane [ 165] ffor þat he played hym by the lake. Thane alle þe Jewes Jhesu gane banne And saide, one hym þay walde take wrake. And thane thay tuke þame alle to rede To whatkyns dede þay wolde hym deme, [ 170] þay saide, þay walde stane hym to dede And his fadir & his modere fleme.

Marye & Joseph thane were fulle woo ffor thaire sone, þat was thaym dere, And alle for þe Jewes wald hym so slaa— [ 175] No celly þof þai chaunged chere. Bot vn-to Jhesu Marie gane gaa And said: "lefe sone, whate dose þou here?" "Modir, I make thies demmynges twa, To ditte this watire, nowe I lere." [ 180] "lefe sone, scho said, me liste not playe, In þe townne herd I swilke a crye: Bot Judas ryse and goo his waye, Alle we three thane mone we sone dye."

"Modire, he said, for to wirke thi wille [ 164d] [ 185] To þe townne salle he with the fare." . . . . . he sayd: "Judas, why lies þou stylle? My modir walde þou hade resyne are. "Now trewely, modir, als I salle ȝow telle, This traytour es fulle of felonye, [ 190] Vn-to the Jewes he salle me selle Ymanges my faamene for to dye."

Sir Levy and þe maistirs alle And sir Kayface, þat es his fere, Marye & Josephe gane þay calle [ 195] And said to thaym sawes fulle sere. "Vs aughte to hewe ȝow alle fulle smalle ffor ȝoure sone, þat es ȝow dere. Whene he es olde, fulle mone hym falle, þat in his ȝouthe na gude wille lere. [ 200] Wolde he lere, ȝit myghte he thee, And he wolde any chastyment knowe, Ane oþer daye ȝite myghte he bee A Bischoppe, for to kepe oure lawe."

Thane Marie and Josephe Jhesu gane rede [ 205] ffor to lere, es noghte to layne; Vn-to þe schole þay did hym lede. Sir Kayface come thane hym agayne. And a booke to Jhesu thare he bedde, And bade hym lere with alle his mayne. [ 210] And he askede þe maister righte in þat stede: "What es my ȝouthe, kane ȝe me sayne? Of thi langage þou kane me telle, Bot þou ne wate what es my thoghte. Mare Maistrye it ware to spelle [ 215] þane of ȝone lettirs þat þou has wroghte."

Kayface ansuerde & said: "naye; By hym þat alle this werlde has wroghte, I wiste neuer by nyghte ne daye What thou thynkes in thi thoghte." [ 220] "Sir Kayface and sir Ȝakarie, Wha þane hafes ȝour lawes wroghte?" And þay said: "Aarōne, Ennoke & Ely And Samowel it to vs forthe soughte, Ysayas, Jocob and Dauy, [ 225] And ȝit Moyses it vs broghte Owte of the Mownte of Synaye. [ 165a] Thane Abraham bygane to spelle And saide ane hundrethe wynttire it es gane (!). Was neuer no mane oure lawe myghte felle, [ 230] And ȝitte for-dide thayme neuer nane."

"Dose waye, quod Jhesu, ȝe are alle madde, Ȝee knawe ȝow bot smalle in clergy. Of my ffadir Moyses it hadde In the Mownte of Synayye, [ 235] Abrahame prechede als he hym badde, And sayde one for the folkes solde dy." And thare for his resōns þay wexe alle radde, And alle one hym thay keste a crye: "Thoū gabbis, þay sayde alle by∣dene, [ 240] That ne myghte neuer-mare sothe bene, ffor thou ȝitte neuer seuene wyntter hase sene, how solde thou thane olde Abrahame haf sene?

"Wha es thy ffadir, so myghte thou theene?" he sayd: "he þat schope kirnelle and corne; [ 245] ffor als Abraham sayde, so sall it be: Of a maydene was I borne. My ffadire sittes ande lokes one me, And whare he es, I ame be-forne." Bot thane by-gane thay alle to flyee, [ 250] ffor alle þaire resōnes ware for-lorne. Cayface thane tuke vppe a ȝerde And smate Jhesu appone the heuede. Bot wiste þai neuer how it ferde, Bot Kayface thare his lyfe he leuede. [ 255]

Thane sayde Marye: "at my herte rote Nowe hafe I hente full mekille care! Nowe, sw(e)te dere sōne, be Kayface bote!" And Jhesu badde hym thane ryse vp full ȝare. "Modire, one mee he salle halde mote [ 260] And do bete my body alle bare, So þat a flye sall nott mowe sette hir fote Neuer nowrewhare one my body for sare." And for thase wordes hir liste noghte synge, Swilke sorowe one hir dere sone to see. [ 265] "The thare not, scho said, late hym so lange lyffynge, My dere sone, ȝif thi wille it bee."

Bot thane twelue sparowes Jhesu made hym of ane, And badde thaym flye, whene þat thaym thoghte.

Bot thane þe childre to þe towne rane hame [ 270] And said that Jhesu one thaire sabot wroghte. Bot alle þe Jewes thane Jhesu gane banne ffor that daye he heyled noghte; [ 165b] And thane thay dide somonde hym by name, And by-fore thaire prynces was he broghte. [ 275] "What, arte thou, þay sayd, so grete a sire, þat arte abowte to stroye oure laye?" Jhesu þame ansuerde & said: "I tooke na hire, I dide no thynge bot my playe."

Bot sone the(r)-aftire appone ano∣thire daye [ 280] Thaire childre ware gadirde appone ane hepe. þai saide to Jhesu: "wille we goo playe, Vppe-one ȝone hille leryne vs to lepe." Jhesu lepe ouere, fallene are thay, Amange those hillys þat ware grete. [ 285] Osepe walde lepe, Jhesu said nay, He wald for no thyng þat dede sold hym drepe. "Why wenys þou, Osepe, þay felle so sare? ffor þay wende alle to be my pere." To the townne þay wente þane þe gates ȝare, [ 290] Nane bot thay twaa, with-owttene fere.

þe Jewes swythe thane at thayme gane frayne: "Whedire ere oure childre gane?" And Osep sayde: "es noghte to layne, ffor to lepe we made oure māne; [ 295] Bot with Jhesu þay had nothire myghte ne mayne, And for-thi thay are alle fallene and slayne." Quod thay: "how skaped thou away thanne?" "ffor I wiste, quod he, I had tille hym no mayne; And for þay wende to be his make, [ 300] Alle to dede thane are thay dighte." ffulle grete sorowe þane þay alle gane make, And grete mournynge bathe daye & nyghte.

And euerilke mane in that Cite Wepe sore for thaire childere sake. [ 305] Thay sayde to Marye & Joseph: "whare are ȝee? Bot ȝe vs one this Jhesu awrake, ffor sothe, we salle ȝow slaa alle three." Thane Marie tille hir sone Jhesu playnte gane make, þat he of hir solde hafe pytee [ 310] "And of Joseph, that es my make." "Osepe, he sayde, thou arte my frende; And for my modere salle me noghte blame, Gaa vn-to the townnes ende And calle thaym alle hame by thaire name!" [ 315]

Thane this Osepe þame callede als þay highte, And to the townne þay come thane alle by-dene. The Jewes were Joyfulle of that sighte. And sone whene thay thaire childre seene, [ 165c] Als-tite þay askede þame fulle righte: [ 320] "Now, swete childre, whare hafe ȝe bene?" "ffor to leppe, þay sayde, thane hade we tighte With Jhesu; bot vs bi-tide the tene." "Ware ȝe dede?" thay sayde thayme: "ȝis; Bot his mercy was the mare. [ 325] With hym to leppe we tyne oure blys, We wille hym loue and trowe his lare."

Thane ilke a childe till other gane telle, Aftire watere als thay ware sent With-owttene þe townne vn-to a welle; [ 330] And Jhesu with thayme he es wente. Bot thane thay lukede who solde be firste; Bot Jhesu firste his watire hente. And ane of his felawes was felle, his pechere he brake, his watire he schente. [ 335] "Akere, said Jhesu, þou arte to blame My watire that thou garres me tyne. Bot be nowe sōne þat we come hame, Alle the skathe it salle be thyne."

And Jhesu gadirde þe skarthes, wānte hym not ane, [ 340] And blyssede thayme: thane ware þay faste. Jhesu sayde: "it es noghte nōne,

I rede that we playe vs and riste And hynge oure pechers one the sōne Or one þe beme, that holde I beste." [ 345] And als Jhesu dide, wende þay to dōne: Bot thaires are fallyne & alle to∣breste. And þane by-gane Akere to crye ffor his pechere and sore he wepte. And Jhesu sayde to hym in hye: [ 350] "Thus wille a thanke and othere kepe."

Thane sayde Osepe: "if thi wille bee, Me thynke, of wittes we bene to slawe; Ilke daye thi miracle thus we see And wele vs aughte the for to knawe. [ 355] Thou arte kynge of alle pouste, Whene þou tille vs thus wille thaym schawe. My pechere þat es thus brokene in three Ware hale, & þou þer-one wolde blowe." Jhesu saide: "Osepe, for thi sake [ 360] hale salle it be anōne." Grete Joye thane gane þe childre alle make And to þe townne þay went þane syngande hame.

The Jewes in the townne þane tales tolde [ 165d] Of Jhesus miracles many and maa. [ 365] "If he oure childre hade in walde, We trowe he walde thaym alle slaa. We sall thaym fande to fange in folde, In-tille ane owenne do thaym to gaa, And latte a wighte mane, þat es bolde, [ 370] Kepe þe owenne, þat none gange hym fra." Jhesu askede, als he come hym by: "Whate kepis thou?" he sayd hym: "swyne." "And swyne, said Jhesu, salle þay be in hye, ffor thi worde salle thou noghte tyne." [ 375]

Thane at þe tyme of none, whene þay solde ete, Vn-to the owenne þane gane þay gaa: And thare-Ine herde þay gronntynge grete. "It are no childre, þay saide, þat fares swaa. "Whare was thou þat solde þame gete?" [ 380] "Come I neuer, he sayde, a fote þame fraa, Bot euer sythene stode I still in this stede." "Come any body here by?" he sayde þame: "ȝaa, Jhesu askede what was here-Ine; Myne answare was redy & sayde: swyne; [ 385] And he ȝode awaye alle with wynn̄e And sayd: my worde solde I nott tyne."

Thane sattilde sorowe ymanges þame alle, Whene þay so many swyne myghte see; "Adonaye, gane þay faste calle, [ 390] Mighty god, whatte may this bee? Was neuer sene swilke sorowe in∣with this walle! Marye and Josephe, whare are nowe ȝee?" And to Jhesu fete faste gune þay falle And askede hym helpe par charyte. [ 395] And Jhesu calde thaym forthe ilkane And blyssede þame with his hande: And whene þay hade his blyssynge tane, Als þay ware firste, þay gane vp stande.

"For Osepe, my sone, sake," [ 400] Sir Jokere saide, þat was thare Emperour, "In þe felde I salle do make Of lyme and stane a fulle stronge towre, And my sone I salle do take ffor to sperre hym in that boure." [ 405] he sayde: "no(w) mone my solance slake, Now mone Jhesu do me no more sokoure." Bot Jhesu ȝode the towre abowte: "hedire, he said, Osepe, I come the fore" And with his fyngere he plukede hym owte [ 166a] [ 410] Att a fulle littille wymbilles bore.

The Jewes made þane a grete gader∣ynge And agaynes Jhesu resounes thay soughte, þay said: "thou saies þi fadir es heuens kynge." "And so he es, quod Jhesu, ne wate ȝe noghte? [ 415] Alle þe saules þat to helle þe fende gane brynge

With my blode salle owte be boughte." Bot thane thay loughe hym to hethynge, And sayde, with wichecrafte þat he wroghte; Bot thane sayde þay alle: that myghte neuer bee, [ 420] Godde hade neuer sone righte nane þat any erthely mane myghte see, þat euer was made of flesche & bane."

þay saide to Josephe alle an hye: "Art thou his ffadire?" and he sayd: "naye." [ 425] And sythene thay sayde vn-to Marye: "Arte thou his modire?" and scho saide: "ȝaa." "Whate mane was he that laye the by, þat gatte this childe? gat he na maa?" Scho said: "wiste neuer mane ȝit þat synned l, [ 430] Ne neuer my maydenhede was me fra." And Jhesu to thayme ansuerde righte thenne: "Als sonne that schynes thorowe the glasse, With-Ine my modire with-owttene weme, And scho a maydene neuer-the∣lesse (!)." [ 435]

And ȝitte ne myghte he thayme noghte torne, Bot alle to hym thane gane thay say: "To be a wiche fulle wele the semes, Thou arte abowte to stroye oure laye." And thus thane gane thay Jhesu deme; [ 440] If ane sayde wele, anothire sayde naye; And alle thay sware thay scholde hym fleme With-owte hornnes that same daye. To Naȝarethe thane gane þay wende By the gates thane þat ware þame gayne; [ 445] Thare-In hade Josephe many a frende, þat of his come were fulle fayne.

And Jhesu was thaire childre fere, And to þe skole with thayme he went. Mayster Rabyne saide: "wille thou lere [ 450] Thyne a b c with gude entent?" And Jhesu askede, that he moughte here, a b c what by-ment. And for he ne couthe saye hym, he changide chere [ 166b] And for schame he was nere schent. [ 455] Bot Jhesu vndide thayme with-owttene dowte A b c what was to saye. And thane the maister gane hym lowte, And some for schame fledde awaye.

Bot maister Rabyne his reson̄s felde, [ 460] Said: "Dauid þe prophete fonde in his lare þat intill a maydene meke and milde The haly gaste fra heuene solde fare, And aftirwarde scho solde bere a childe, Clene maydene, als scho was are. [ 465] If it ne ware thi werkes wilde, I monde wene that thou it ware." he ansuerde: "als Habraham said by-forne, Wiete thou wele that it es I. Thurghe Adame synne þat ware for∣lorne, [ 470] With my blode I salle thaym by."

Thane appone ane other daye Jhesu with thaire childire mett, And some walde leppe, & some saide naye. Jhesu appone the sone-beme hym sette. [ 475] And als he dide, to do wende þay. Bot þay are fallene & neuer the bette. Jhesu loughe and made hym playe, Thase þat leuede fulle sare þay grette; Some brake þe haulse & some þe thee, [ 480] Some þe schanke & some þe arme, Some þe bakke & some the knee: þare skapede nane with-owttene harme.

A wyffe come walkande by the strete And sawe þe childire ly thare ilkane: [ 485] And faste to þe townne for ferde scho ranne. And with sir Melchi gane scho mete. "Thi sone es dede, sire, leue for certayne; I sawe Jhesu one the sonnebeme sitte; Thare alle the Jewes may hym banne, [ 490] And thare ligges slayne vndire his fete Maa childre thane I neuene kane."

Thane dide thay rynge thaire comone belle, And alle þay sware þay solde hym slaa; Some with stanes þay walde hym felle. [ 495] To thrette hym faste þai ware fulle thraa.

Thritty thare stode appone a rawe [ 166c] And ane hundreth thare satte and wele moo, And many one ma, mote mene rekkene þat throwe, And alle thay sware þay wolde hym slaa, [ 500] Bot he thaire childre lyfe wolde schewe— Thare myghte nane a fote gaa. And hame thaire childire gune þay drawe— Thay hade bathe grete sorwe & waa. Marye lykede it fulle ille, [ 505] And sayde: "dere sone, this foly late þou cesse! I pray the, if it be thi wille, Thou late vs somewhare lyfe in peese.

Thou sees thies Jewes wille vs spille: Swete sone, nowe for my prayere [ 510] Late thayme ryse, if it be thi wille!" And thane he blyssede thayme þat þer were. Whene þay hade his blyssynge tane, Alle þay rase thane hale and fere— Trewely, wanttede there noghte ane; [ 515] þay hoppede and sange & made gude chere. And Ine þat townne þay herde ilkone how þay were dede & Jhesu þame bad vppe rise And gaffe thaym lyfe forthe for to gone. "We aughte to lufe hym, if we ware wysse." [ 520]

The childire þane gadirde þame alle by-dene, In-tille a lofte þane are þay gane. And Jhesu thaire fare alle hase he sene; Bot he stode stille als any stane. Thare thay wristille alle by-dene. [ 525] Salomone the beste childe es tane, And thay pute ane ouere a grece for tene: his nekke he brake, thare lyes he slayne: And alle by-dene thane fledde þay hame. "Wha hase done that dede, þay say, salle dy." [ 530] And Salomone for-sothe þay blame; "Some saide it was Jhesu, & some noghte.

And Jhesu to slo full littille þay roughte; Alle þay sware þay solde hyme hynge. And Marye it fulle sare for-thoghte [ 535] And bathe hir handes faste gane scho wrynge. "Do waye, modire, said Jhesu, ne wrethe ȝow noghte! I may vn-do and do alle thynge, Tille dede to saye whaa þat hym broghte (!). Modire, of me þay make lesynge; [ 166d] [ 540] That þat day saye of me thay hafe it wroghte: Of the body thay salle it here. "Ryse vppe, he saide, saye wha the sloughe." he sayde: "Salomone, þat was my fere."

When he had sayde, he laye doune stille [ 545] Starke-dede als he was are. And thane the Jewes lyked fulle ille þat Salomone þay salle for-fare. Bot þane þay droghe þame tille ane hille, þay wende hafe sauede hym thurgh thaire lare; [ 550] Bot þay ne couthe by no skille. Bot thane thay criede Marie, thyne are! "Lefe sone, lyfe late thou hym haue, I praye the, if thi wille it bee! Obet, þat was so faire a knaue, [ 555] If he ware thus dede, it ware pite."

To his modire þane Jhesu gaffe ansuere: "Modir, for ȝour sake he sall lyfe als-so skete. And ȝete þe childire þat are here Salle stande by-fore me one thaire fete, [ 560] Agaynes me false witnesse for to bere, By-fore the Jewes thare thay salle sitte,

And gyffe me boffettes, þat salle me dere, And nakyne me and one me spitte, And some with thornnes salle croune my hede [ 565] And helpe at hange me one the Rode, And ȝour face salle be with blode by-wefede. Was neuer no womane so sory in mode." Whene scho that herde, hir liste no sange, That þay hir dere sone so solde spille. [ 570] "The thare noghte late þame lefe so lange, My dere sone, if it be thi wille."

Marie saide one þe toþer morne: "Nowe, lefe sone, one ȝone folkes þou rewe, ffor þay are nere for hungere dede, [ 575] Of Osepe kyne that thou wele knewe." And Jhesu toke a barly corne, In middis the felde he it sewe, And bade the pyndere blawe his horn̄e, ffor ilke mane þan solde make har∣ueste newe. [ 580] þay schare and bande schaues fulle grete, And of that corne þay ware fulle fayne. "Nowe he þat sente vs alle this mete, Vs aughte to loue hym, sothely to sayne."

Sir Sadoke was a mane of grete powere [ 585] And Emperour of that countre. [ 167a] He sayd: "Sydrake, my doghtire dere, The fayreste may of this contree, Jhesu, wille thou, hafe hir here, And with hire salle thou weddede bee, [ 590] Of alle my landes to be my pere; And if þou wille, now may thou thee." Sir Melchy sayde: "thou faire knaue, My doughtire es fayrere thane swilke fyve. If it be swaa þou wille hir haue, [ 595] Gud gyftes I wille the gyffe.

I salle the gyffe bothe carte and ploughe, Marre and mosse, bothe feldes and fene, And alle my woddes euer-ilke a boughe, With alle the wilde dere in thaire dene." . . . . . [ 600] "Thare-fore, quod Jhesu, salle ȝe hafe na mede, ffor alle ȝour giftes wille me noghte gayne. Whare-to swilke thynges wille ȝe me bede, Whene alle this werlde it es myne awenne?"

Thane euer-ilkane Jhesu thay rede [ 605] To take that þat þay gane hym bede, Or thurgh the townne he solde be ledde "And ymanges vs alle be stanede to dede. Whethire of thayme the lufes to wedde?" Bot he ne wolde noghte lette at þaire rede, [ 610] Bot fra thaym swythe þane es he fledde, And thare fande þay nathynge in his stede. To Jerycho Jhesu gane wende, Ne fande þay na-thynge þare he stode; þane wiste þay neuer whare he es lende, [ 615] And for-thy thay mōrne in alle thaire mode.

In to Jerycho whene Jhesu come, A litstere in his dore ther stode; And he sawe Jhesu come one nōne, So brighte a barne of bane and blode. [ 620] And fulle gladly to Jhesu he ȝode, So fayne walde he with hym mete; He sayde: "welcome be thou, faire fode; Whare was thou borne & whaa þe gatte?" "In þe burgh, sayd Jhesu, of Bed∣leme [ 625] Of a Maydene was I borne; I hafe awnntes and nane Eme; My ffadire standis me by-forne."

"Nowe, leue sōne, cane þou me saye A littille thynge þar charyte: [ 630] Of a sterne that rase or daye, That many mene myghte it see? Ouere Bedleme mene sayde it laye, [ 167b] And sythene twa ȝeres outhere three." "It ledde thre kynges the waye, [ 635] þay come to seke my modire and me. My ffadire sente thayme that lighte, ffor that thay solde noghte gaa wille,

Ne that Herawde solde hafe no myghte, Als he hade tighte to do thaym ille." [ 640]

With armes one Jhesu he gane falle, And sayde: "kanes þou oughte of oure mystere?" And Jhesu sayde: "I kane craftes alle, Es me na mystire for to lere." "Come hame with me vn-tille oure haulle! [ 645] þou may so serue thou beese vs dere." This litstere spake to his wyfe there And sayde: "Jonane, þis childe sall serue vs alle; Looke þou make hym reghte gude chere— Ȝite may he be oure dyere— [ 650] And looke that thou be with hym mylde!" Scho ansuerde hym agayne fulle faire: "Welcome be thou now, þou faire childe!"

"Sir Abiakare salle weddede bee, That es Bischoppe of oure lawe: [ 655] Thies clathis sente he hedire to mee ffor to litte thayme, als I the schawe. Doo thayme in ȝone lomys three, Ilkane sere, þat ȝe kane thaym knawe, And make gude fire, par charytee!" [ 660] And Jhesu faste thare-atte gane blawe. "Doo nowe wele, my swete sōne!" "Gaa forthe, maystere, hafe þou na drede! for also swythe it salle be dōne, Als I thare-fore salle (hafe) my mede." [ 665]

The childire sone Jhesu gane calle, Thare thay playede in the strete; And he toke the clathes grete & smalle, Thare thay laye doune at his fete, And Ine-tille a lome he dide þame alle, [ 670] Thare thay solde hafe bene in sere stede; And went to playe hym at the balle With his felawes, walde he noghte lette. Thane Jonane sayde to sir Awye: "I wene, we hafe a lethire hyne. [ 675] Bot we vs hame faste nowe hye, Alle oure litte thane mone we tyne."

Thane hame þay rane, als þay ware wode, [ 167c] Vn-to thaire haulle þay come fulle sone. Bot als þay ware made, bathe thay stode, [ 680] And sayde he scholde habye or nōne. "Doo calle Ine that lythire ladde!" "Whare hase thou, þay saide, oure clothis dōne?" "In ȝone stede, sayd Jhesu, are þay stadde, Ȝitte may thay boylle, it es noghte nōne." [ 685] At Jhesu he keste a fire-brande, he wende hafe hurte hym þer-with fulle sare. Bot in the flore it gane vp stande And floreste fayre and floures bare.

And thaire clathes vppe thayme-selfe þay drewe, [ 690] Grene & blewe, & some were rede, And othere clathes gude ynoghe— Come neuer nane bettire in þat stede. Jhesu stode and faste he loughe, And sayd: "maystir, hafe þou na drede, [ 695] I dide als me thoghte beste nowe; To make harrowe hase þou na nede." Bot than thay askede hym mercy. And to thayme sayde he noghte naye, Bot he forgasse thayme alle in hye, [ 700] And sone he wente hym þane to playe.

Thare was a childe þat highte Arnalde, his ffadre men ware broghte to reste (!), And Jhesu by his name he calde And sayde: "wille we gaa to ȝone foreste! [ 705] Ilkane with othere faste salle halde, ffor berys þat bene thare in thaire neste." Jhesu sayde, with thayme he walde, "Goo we, late thayme doo thaire beste." Arnalde saide: "thase that wille flye [ 710] Or ȝite for any beste be drede!" Bot for the firste that he gane see ffra Jhesu for ferde fulle faste he fledde

Vn-to a watire that was depe, And thare-ouere stode a tree one croke; [ 715] And thedire þay fled alle one ane hepe, And some in to that watire tooke. Thaire sorowe was many-falde ful grete, ffor thay dorste nane one othere looke.

Beris and wolfes thare-one crepe [ 720] And thies childre downe thay schouke. Whene þay were fallyne fra the tree, Drownede are þay euer-ilkane. [ 167d] Jhesu sayde: "vengede salle þay bee," And Beres and woulfes alle hase he slayne. [ 725]

Be thane Marie was commene to þat countre And one hire sone was alle (hir) thoghte; Ilkane þat scho mette in thate Cite Scho askede þame if þay saughe hym oughte. A pyndere saide" "What es he to thee?" [ 730] "It es my sōne, scho sayd, þat I hafe soughte." "he es dede, he sayde, so mote I thee. fulle fey (!) fete hym to þe foreste broghte; Wilde woulfes saughe I three One Arnalde and his feres alle, [ 735] lyouns and lebardes grete plentee; It may noghte be þat he lyfe salle."

The Emperoure thane grete tene hase hent ffor his sone þat es thus slayne; And to the fforeste þane es he went, [ 740] And othere folkes fulle gud wane. And many are to the wodde sent, Some with staffe & some with stane. And Jhesu hase twa lyouns hent, By-twixe thayme twa þay sawe hym gane; [ 745] The forthirmare fete ware one his hende, And one þaire hyndir fete þay ȝede hym by. Come none to hym thare thay houede, Bot for þat sighte þay ware sarye.

And Jhesu said: "why houe ȝe soo? why are ȝe radde? [ 750] If ȝe wille oughte do nowe, commes nere, And telle me why ȝee are so madde!" "ffor we ne watte, þay sayde, ware oure childire ere." And Jhesu sayde: "Arnalde vs hedire ledde, þat solde hafe bene oure baldeste fere; [ 755] Bot þay fled fro me vn-tille ȝone stede And allane lefte þay me here. Ouere ȝone watir standis a tree one croke And thare-vn-tille I sawe þame gane; Beres and woulfes doune þame schoke, [ 760] And drownede ere thay euer-ilkane.

And I thus vengede haue thaire dede." Bot than the Emperoure sir Leefede (!) And alle with hym wente to that stede, And Jhesu sone thane with þame ȝede: [ 765] And alle thaire childre thare sawe þay dede And wilde bestis thare saue blede. þay saughe thare was no nothire rede, Bot tooke waynes & hame thaym ledde. In the waynes thay thayme keste, [ 168a] [ 770] And to the townewardes þay gane schake. Bot thane by-houede thaym nedlynges to reste, ffor alle thay slepede þat thayme solde wake.

And Jhesu badde: "ryse vpe, mare and myne, Alle ȝe that ligges here in thies waynes!" [ 775] And he layde the dede bestis thayme Ine, And sone he couerde thayme faire agaynes. The mene of slepynge ne myghte noghte blyne, Ne for to wake had thay no mayne. And Jhesu faste to the wodde gane rynne, [ 780] And theis childre folowede hym fulle fayne. Whene that thies mene of slepyng come owtte, Sone þay by-gane thane for to wake; Vn-to the middes of that Cite With thaire waynes þane gane þay schake. [ 785]

And In that Cite was sorowe ynoghe, Whene ilke a mane drewe owte his bere; Berys and woulfes forthe thay drewe. "Whare are oure childire, þay sayd, þat solde be here?" Marye stode and faste scho loughe. [ 790]

And thay had selcouthe scho made slike chere; Thay sayde: "womane, whate, arte þou wode? Oure childire, we se, were the neuer dere." Scho sayde: "it es noghte lange sythene gane Sen I myghte alle ȝoure childire see [ 795] In ȝone heghe holtes euer-ilkane Gadirande nottes vndire-nethe a tree."

The Emperoure thane sighede fulle sare ffor his sōne, that was hym dere, And sayde: "if he one lyfe ware, [ 800] Me ware it leuere thane golde clere. "ffaire womane, ȝif thi wille it waree, Wisse me nowe, if þat þou wolde, And ane hundreth pounde I salle giffe þe thare, If he be leueande mane one molde." [ 805] Of thi tresoure, sir, scho said, kepe (I) nane. Bot come nowe forthe & I salle ȝow wysse." þay sawe thaire childre playe ilkane; Bot ther myghte nane speke for Joye & blysse.

To Nawfrike now hafe thay tighte: [ 810] Thare to duelle þane hafe þay thoghte. Josephe was a sley wrighte, And alle his lomes he with hym broghte. Scharches highte þe prynce full righte; [ 168b] he sayde: "swilke a mane hafe I soughte. [ 815] "A leddire, he sayde, þou salle me dighte, Of ȝone twa Cedres it salle be wroghte. Do nowe wele, als I the saye, And looke thy lewte be to þame leued; Outher I swere the be my laye [ 820] I salle smyte of thy heuede.

The mane es fledde þat thayme hase wroghte, ffor that he cuttyde thayme omys. The tane es schorttere, ne wate þou noghte, Be fyve fote, so hafe I blys." [ 825] Joseph to þe wodde hym broghte, ffor he ne durste noghte byde þaire mote. And Jhesu stode vndere a boughe And sayde: "Josephe, I salle be thi bote. halde ȝowe thare, als I salle here!" [ 830] By-twixe thaym twa þay drewe it owte. "Gaa forthe nowe, Josephe, thus sall þou lere, And of the Jewes hafe þou no dowte!"

With-owttene Naufrike thre myle or mare Thay fett watire at a welle; [ 835] A fulle riche mane þane wonnede thare, And vn-to the pore mene he gane it selle. Jhesu went with thaym fulle ȝare. Grete miracle he sawe and fele. þat watire in his skirte awaye he bare [ 840] And in a Mownntayne he gane it hele Reghte in a standande stane, Twa stremys to Naufrike badde he rynne, The tane hight Jor, the tothire highte Dane, That neuer-mare of rase salle blyne. [ 845]

þay askede Jhesu, als he satt: "By whatte name calles mene thee? Whare es thy ffadir þat þe gatt?" "loo hym here, sayd Jhesu, may ȝe noghte see?" "Be Adonaye, weþer þou ne wate [ 850] Kynge of Jewes wha salle bee?" "loo, nowe hafe I done ȝow that Alle for ȝowe and noghte for mee. I hafe ȝow broghte this gud Als I ȝow telle with-ow [ 855] Ȝitt salle ȝe gyffe Are I be dede

To Galile now are thay went: [ 168c] Thare was weddide sir Archidiclyne. So mekille folke there-Ine es lent, [ 860] That in middes the mete thayme wanted þe wyne. The botelere sayd: "I ame schente! Allas, my seruysse mone I tyne!" With swilke rewthe his mane he ment, þat Marye hade pite of that hyne; [ 865] "Gaa to my sōne, quod scho, & aske hym grace, And pray hym, if his wille it bee, To alle þe folkes in this place he sende the wyne grete plentee!"

He knelyde by-fore hir sonnes fete [ 870] And askede hym helpe par cha∣rite; So sare by-fore Jhesu he wepe, þat of that childe Jhesu hade pite. "The sex vesselles forthe þou fett, And luke fulle of watire þat þay bee!" [ 875] To blysse thaym thare wolde he not lett: Was neuer swilke wyne in þat contre. Thase sex vesselles ware fulle of wyne, Some of white and some of rede, Some of Clarre fulle gude and fyne— [ 880] Come neuer nane bettir in that stede.

He fillede a coupe, to þe kynge he bare. he dranke and gaffe þe qwene hym by; And sythene he badde hym feche mare; "Thou hase vs seruede wikkidly! [ 885] Whare was this gude wyne langare?" "Sir, said þe botelere, it was alle gone, sekirly! Warne Jhesu, Marye sone, ne ware, Vs had by-tyde a velany. In middes the mete wyne had we nane [ 890] Of oure awenne store ryghte noghte; Bot the watire in ȝone stane Jhesu gud wyne of it hase wroghte."

Ȝit efte vn-to the botelere he sayde: "þi beste wyne þou brynge to hande! [ 895] ake ilka mane payede. myghte looke þat þou stande." whi it was so gude. ssed it with his hande. "Thus salle be delyd my flesche & blode [ 168d] [ 900] To cristene men in ilke a lande; Bot neuer-the-lesse hale salle it bee In my body euer-mare." Swilke Ensamples gune þay see, And thare-fore some trowed at his lare." [ 905]

In a mownnte wonnede a mane, Mene callede hym John̄ þe Baptiste; Thritty wyntter was he of age thane— Neuer ȝitte ne had he are thane thriste. he prechide als he wele canne [ 910] Of Jhesu dede and his vppe-riste. And at þe flome Jordane to-gedir þay kame: he Baptiste hym & callede hym Criste; ffra heuene þay herde a voyce in haste, þat saide: "this es my sone leue & dere, [ 915] In whayme þat me lykes maste. Crowne we hym þat nowe es here!"

Now es his Barnehede redde & done, Bot his manhede lastes aye. God gyffe vs grace in heuene to wonne. [ 920] Swete lorde, nowe we þe praye, þat we myghte come vn-to ȝoure sone, Als ȝe are lorde & god verraye, With-owttene ende with ȝow to wonne, Thare Joyes are euer & myrthe & playe. [ 925]

Amen.

Notes

• Zwei andere Mss. dieser Version sind abgedruckt in der Sammlung altengl. Leg. 1878, p. 101 u. 111. Abschrift dieses Ms. danke ich meinem Freunde, Herrn Prof. Kölbing.
• V. 14 tilge Thare.
• V. 24 Ms. thare st. thaie.
• 28 Ms. of st. if?
• 152 Ms. plaire. Nach 186 fehlen 4 Verse.
• 199 fulle st. fowle.
• 212 l. þouȝthe. Nach 220 fehlt ein Vers.
• 236 he st. I.
• 265 nach hym ist lyfe ausgestrichen.
• 434 I came fehlt?
• 443 Ms. hornnes st. harnes.
• 460 l. filde.
• 489 Ms. hym Jhesu.
• 490 tilge thare, 491 and.
• 526 es st. has?—
• 527 ane über aus∣gestr. hym. l. And pute hym?
• 530 Ms. wha that hase done dede.—
• 541 tilge day.
• 672 Ms. Jolaye st. playe.
• 684 Ms. stede he.
• 702 in rot.
• 734 in rot.
• 803 Ms. wirse st. wisse.
• (Stück ausgerissen.)
• (Stück ausge∣rissen.)
• (Stück ausgerissen.)