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

Nachträge zu den Legenden.

1. Seint margarete þe holy virgine. [Von der uralten, in Hickes' Thes. I, p. 224 nach einem, seitdem auf un∣erklärliche Weise verloren gegangenen Ms. abgedruckten Legende von Meidan Mergrete gelang es mir vor kurzem, die unten abgedruckte jüngere Hs. zu finden, die schon als handschriftliche Bestätigung des alten Gedichts von Wichtig∣keit ist. Das Gedicht findet sich hier mitten in der südl. Legendensammlung. Hickes' Text ist wiederabgedruckt in Altengl, Legenden, Neue Folge, p. 489 ff.; ebenda, p. 225-235, die aus dem älteren Texte umgestaltete jüngere Version des Ms. Auchinlek.]

Aus Ms. Bodl. 779 (vgl. Altengl. Leg., Neue Folge 1881, p. 489-498).

Olde & ȝonge, ich rede ȝou: ȝoure folyis for to lete, & leueþ on crist þat haþ ȝou bouȝt,: ȝoure sunus to bete! & i^c ȝow wille telle: wordis mylde & swete, [3 & und for oft unrichtig zugesetzt.] þe lyf of one mayde,: seint margarete.

here fadir was a patriarch,: as i^c ȝou telle may, [ 5] In antioche, wif he ches: of þe false lay; wel feble was his herte, . vnstable was his fay, for def þingus & doumbe: he seruid nyȝt & day.

theodorus was his ryȝte name.: on crist ne leuid he nouȝte, he leued on þe false godus: þat werin wit hondin I-wrouȝte. . . . [f. 205.] & þat ȝhe cholde ben I-cristenyd,: it com In his þouȝte: [11 his korr. aus here.] & he here heet sone anon: to þe deþ ben brouȝte.

here modir was an heþen wif: þat here to woman bare. [13 Ms. modis.] & þo þat mayde Ibore was,: ȝhe wolden (!) here forfare; [14 H. nolde ho.] þey sentin here fer in to aȝye: wit messagerus wel ȝare, [ 15] [15 H. ho sende.] to anorise, þat here fedde: & sente here to lore þare.

here norise þat here fedde,: hadde wel mochil to winne; & alle þe louedin here wel: in hous þer ȝhe was inne; for euer ȝhe drouȝ to wisdom: & hated moche sinne, to Jhesu crist he here be-tok: & hated moche here kinne. [ 20]

Þe norise þat here fedde,: childrin ȝhe hadde seuin— þe eyȝthe was margarete,: cristus mayde of heuin. talis ȝhe herde tellin,: mo þan i^c can neuen, how þey þolid martirdom,: seint laurens & seint steuen.

ȝhe ȝaf here maydinhode: to Jhesu crist to ȝeme, [ 25] to þe king of heuene: þat al þe world chal deme; ȝhe louid him euer in herte,: for þat was wel Isene; & he I-hurd here steuin,: her loue him was wel queme.

Þo ȝhe was I-woxin: of xv winter elde, here owe norse here tauȝte: to kepe chep on þe felde. [ 30] & alle þe oþer herdis: wel ȝerne here be-helde hou ofte ȝhe made here preyere: to Jhesu, þat al may welde.

Olibrius was þo lord,: so ich ȝou may telle, & ondir his hondin: al antioche to felle (!); & euer he seruid nyȝt & day: þe fendus alle of helle, [ 35] & alle þat leuedin on Jhesu crist: he gan hem a-quelle.

be-twene aȝye & antyoche: beþ mylus ten & fyue. to stroyin cristinfolke: þey hyedin hem wel blyue. he sey mergerete: on feld here chep driue: & anon he þouȝte: to habben here to his wiue. [ 40]

he seyde to his sergauns:: "ȝinde amayde i^c se, fayr & bryȝt of heue;: goþ, bringeþ here to me! & be my lyf, ȝif ȝhe ben: Ibore of kin fre, [43 Im Ms. erscheint n (en) häufig als Endung des Sing. Konj. und selbst des Ind.] Of alle wimmen þat ich knouȝ: best here chal be.

& ȝit for here fayrhede,: þo ȝhe ben I-come of þral, [ 45] ȝhe ne chal here maydinhode: for nouȝt I-lese al: for i^c here wile cloþy: wit syclatoun & pal, for ȝhe chal ben my lemman,: & i^c ȝeue here gold wit-al."

Þe sergauns sone hy wente: wit þat mayde to mete, & þey fondin here sitte: & kepin here chepe; [ 50] & moche þing þey here be-hete: & more þey gon here bede. ac here treuherte: ȝhe nolde nouȝt forlete. [52 Ms. mouȝt.]

Þe knyȝtus toldin here erande,: nolde hy noþing swike: "Damesele, we seggeþ: we nolleþ þe by-strike: Olibrius oure lord: of antioche is ryche, [ 55] he desireþ þe to wyue;: ful wel may hit þe like."

Þe mayde margarete,: þat was so bryȝt & chene, þe knyȝtus ȝhe answerde,: þat hit was god to queme: "Ich habbe I-take my maydinhode: to Jhesu crist to ȝeme, & he me kepe to-day & euere: fram þese houndus kene. [ 60]

Jhesu crist my lord,: þat deydist for vs alle, to þe, king of heuene,: nouþe i^c clepye & calle: þou holde stable myn herte: þe to louiin ouer alle, & kepe me fram sinne,: þat in þat I ne falle!

Jhesu crist my lord,: to þe now ich me ȝilde, [ 65] þy blis is wit-oute by-ginning: & ek wit-outen ende; & ȝif hit ben þy wille,: an aungel to me þou sende, & ȝeue me trace & myȝte: þis saraȝinus to chende! [68 l. space?]

Alle my kin ich habbe forsake,: Jhesu, for loue of þe, & to þe, almyȝty king,: i^c habben I-take me; [ 70] þe houndus habbeþ m(e b)y-set,: ne may i^c nowher fle, [71 Ms. my set.] for þy loue, Jhesu crist,: I-martrid ich wole be."

Þe knyȝtus wendeþ hem aȝein: & telleþ here sawe: "of alle þat þou here myȝte don,: ne ȝifþ ȝhe worþ an hawe, for ȝhe beleueþ on Jhesu crist,: & to him ȝhe wol here drawe, [ 75] & alle þat ȝe here mowe doon: hit torneþ here to plawe."

Þan him spak olibrius—: acorsse him sonne & mone!—: "of alle myne sergauns: gode nabbe ich nouþe none. for bringeþ here by-fore me,: i^c chil torne here mood wel sone, [79 tilge for.] I^c wole here makin leue on my lay: er þe tid of none." [ 80]

Þe knyȝtus wentin hem aȝein: & here hy gon̄ne mete, & leyden honde here vppon,: noldin þey here nouȝt lete, þey brouȝten here by-fore olibrius.: & fayr he gan here grete; he axid what was here name.: ȝhe seyde: margarete.

"Mayde margarete, my lemmon þou chalt be: [ 85] & i^c wole þe habbe to vyue,: ȝif þou art come of fre, & ȝif þou art of þral I-bore,: i^c ȝeue þe gold & fee, & þou chalt ben my lemman: so longe so hit may be."

Þe mayde him answerid,: so þe aungel here kende: "Jhesu deyde vppon þe tre: cristinfolk to amende, [ 90] & suþþe in to helle: þe holigost he sende, to deliuery þe presonys: þat þerin sore brende:

his lemmon i^c wole ben,: to-day & euermore. Jhesu crist, al-myȝty king,: I^c bidde þe nouþe þin ore. & al-clene i^c forsake ȝowȝ: & ek al ȝoure lore, [ 95] for soþe i^c ȝou segge: ne kep ich of ȝou namore."

"Do & be my lemman,: mayde, ich þe rede; alle aȝyȝe & antioche: þou chalt haue to mede, ciclatun & purpure: for chal ben þin wede, [99 l. fur?] & wit þe beste metus of my lond: i^c þe wolle fede." [ 100]

"Now alle þin wikkid redis: i^c do now out of my þouȝte, I^c take me to Jhesu crist: þat alþing made of nouȝte, & i^c forsake þe myddillerd,: þat is of nouȝt I-wrouȝt, & ȝild me to oure lord Jhesu: þat dere me haueþ I-bouȝt."

Þan him spake olibrius: a-corsed mot he be!—: [ 105] "þou mayde, let ben þy Jhesu crist,: nouþe i^c rede þe, & torn aȝen to myn rede!: & þou chalt habben myrþe & gle, & alle myn kingdome: to mede chalt haue of me."

Þe mayde him answered: wel quikliche anon: "I^c am cristus woman,: I-follid in fonston, [ 110] I-blessed ben my lord: þat i^c I-leue vppon. nel i^c letin his loue: for non oþer mon."

"I-leuistou on Jhesu crist: þat was I-don on þe rode? ȝif þou him on I-leuist,: I^c holdin þe for wode: for of heuid & of syde: him orn water & blode; [ 115] þe croune hit was of þornus: þat on his heued stode."

"Now alle þese wordus: wel soþe hy beþ, I-wisse, & al þat he for vs þolid,: þe king of heuin-blisse, to bringin vs out of helle: þat ere so dedin amysse, þat beþ I-boundin in senne: & cristin beþ, I-wisse." [ 120]

Þo I-seyȝ olibrius: þat þer nas non oþer bote [121 tilge oþer.] to stryuin wit þat mayde,: þat is god so sote. [f. 206.] he het his men here binde: boþe hond & fote & castin here in to preson depe,: fort ȝhe chaungid here mode.

Þat mayde margarete: al nyȝt in preson lay. [ 125] ȝhe com byfore olibrius: anon þat oþer day. "mayde, be my lemmon: & leue vppon my lay, & Jesu þat þou on leuist: þou lete him al a-way!

Þou leue on me & be my wif,: & wel hit chal þe like, & lete þe loue of Jhesu: clene fram þe strike, [ 130] & i^c wole þe ȝeuin,: nel i^c þe be-swike, al aȝie & antioche,: þat beþ swyþe ryche."

"Now alle þin be-hestis: clene i^c wille forsake, & to Jhesu crist in heuen: now i^c me by-take; he bouȝt me myd his flesch & blode,: he chal ben my make; [ 135] for alle þe good of þe world: i^c nolde him forsake."

Þo be-spake olibrius:: "sone hit chal ben sene vppon wham þat þou leuist so: þat þou art so kene. now hangeþ here vp by þe feet,: here lord forto tene, & beteþ here wit scourgus,: þat he here ded wene!" [ 140]

Þo þey gonne anon: wit þat mayd to stryue, & wit here courgus: þey beten here wel blyue, þat þe blod orn out of here lich: of woundis swyþe riue, fort þey alle wenden: þat he were of lyue.

Þan be-spak olibrius,: byfore here þer he stode: [ 145] "mayde mergrete,: þinkeþ þis pinus þe gode? þou haue mercy on þy flesch,: men spilliþ þy blode; trow in oure godus & me: & torn to me þin mode!"

"I-blessid be my lord: þat bore was in bethelem, So glade is þis pinus on me: so is þe sonne-bem. [ 150] [150 pinus in pinys korr.] Þou dost so þe techiþ: satanas, þin em; me þinkeþ þese pinus so swete: so child doþ melkus strem."

Þanne seyde olibrius:: "ne stondeþ here non eye, of alle þat ȝe here deþ: neþincheþ here but pleye. ac, be my lord appolin,: seye what ȝe seye, [ 155] but ȝe torne here þouȝt,: ȝe chol myd pine deye.

wit ȝoure charpe naylus: here flesch ȝe of drawe, & techeþ here I-here: to mahoundus lawe; & ȝif ȝhe nele I-leue on him,: to-draueþ here wit ȝoure pawe here flessche fram here bonus,: so houndis hit haued I-gnawe!" [ 160]

Þe sergauntus dede so he bade,: to here hy gonnyn go & leyden hond here vppon,: & wend to don here wo; þey drowin fram here whyte boon (!): as þey hy woldin here sle; [163 hy aus hir korr.] [163 l. flo.] þe blood þat on here was I-bleuid: orn adoun to here to. [164 Ms. brood.]

Somme þat þer stode: swyþe wel sory were [ 165] & hadde del of here & pyte,: & seyde to here þere: "mayde mergerete,: þis pinus vs þincheþ sore; now kepe þe fram pyne: & leue on mahoundus lore!"

"A weye, wikkid conseyleris,: why seyde ȝe nowȝ so? Wit alle ȝoure myȝte: ȝe ne mow me nouȝt do. [ 170] Jhesu cristus aungelus: comeþ me to & fro. for al hit is my ioye,: ne don ȝe me so wo.

Jhesu crist my lord,: ȝif hit þy wille wore, haue mercy of þis men: þat doþ me pyne & sore! & ȝeue me þin blessinge!: ne ȝeue i^c for al here fare. [ 175] þey i^c soffry þis for þe,: for me þou þoledist mare." [176 mare aus more korr.]

Þan him spak olibrius: a corsid man was he—: "by-leue, mayde, vppon my godus,: for ȝut ich rede þe. Mayde mergerete,: ne myȝtouȝ nouȝt I-se? bote þou leue vppon my lay,: aslawe þou chalt be." [ 180]

"Þe godus þat þou leuest vppon,: ded beþ so þe stoon; ac of my lordus ioye: tellen ne may nowiȝt non. þey þou haue pouer of my flesch: & ek of my bon, to pyne my soule I-wis: pouer nastou non."

"Þou chalt in to preson: þat is so wikkid & ille, [ 185] amyd iren bendis me chal: þin body aspille." "To Jhesu crist in heuene: i^c wole me clepy wel stille, & he me may deliuery: whan hit is his wille."

Þe mayde meregrete: in preson ȝhe was I-do. þe holigost of heuene: wel sone here com to, [ 190] & to þat blisful mayde: þese wordus he seyde þo: "by-leue vppon þis rode: þat crist was on I-do!"

ȝhe here set on here knes: & fayr ȝhe gan him grete. "Jhesus, I-blessed ben þou euermo: myd wordus mylde & swete, þat i^c myn dedus her onerþe: may & her hem bete, [ 195] [195 mend fehlt?] þat i^c mowe to heuene come: whan ich my lyf lete."

"Mayde meregrete,: so bryȝt so eny leme, þe i^c blessy to-day: wit myn ouen steme. þis croys he haþ fram heuene I-sent,: for þou hast him I-queme & holdin euer by-fore þe;: þe bet þe may ben seme. [ 200] [200 l. be-seme.]

Mayde meregrete,: ne dred þe of no wiȝte! þin sete is mad in heuene: by-fore crist so bryȝte; þer nis no tonge on erþe: þat half tellin myȝte þe blis & ek þe ioye: þat þer is to þe I-dyȝte."

"Fadir & sone & holigost,: þat þis me hedir sende [ 205] by þis holy aungel: þat to me hedir he wende, I-blessed mot he euer be: þat alle he wole amende. ne lete þou neuere olibrius: myn herte to chende!

Fayn i^c wolde his lord: myd myn eyen I-se, ȝif hit were þin wille: & so hit myȝte be. [ 210] þou kepe myn herte stedefast,: þat ich bidde þe, & ek fram alle leþer wiȝtus: myn warant þou be!"

Þat mayde margarete: ȝhe loked here be-syde: ȝhe say a greseliche deuil: in þe erþe glyde; [214 Ms. grese∣liche; doch soll die Abbrev. hier wohl i bezeichnen.] he brende so doþ fure;: on here he ȝenyd wide; [ 215] & he was grene so þe gras: in þe somerus tyde.

Þe fur barst out of his mouþ: so doþ brimston. þe mayde was aferd so: þat ȝhe schok euery bon; & ȝhe nom þe holy croys: in here hond anon & be-þouȝt on Jhesu crist: þat bouȝt vs euery-chon. [ 220]

Þe dragon tok here in his mouþ: & swolwid here anon. ac þorwȝ verteu of þe croys: he to-barst atoon. wel blyþe was þis mayde!: & stood here vp þo, & þonkid Jhesu cristus face: : þat ȝhe ascaped so.

Mayde mergrete: vppon þe dragon stode, [ 225] wel blyþe was here herte,: wel ioyful was here mode. "I-blessid be oure lord Jhesu crist,: his name is wel gode, aslaue is þe dragon: þorwȝ verteu of þe rode."

Þe mayde mergerete: fram þe dragon gan goon: & seyȝ here be-syde aloþliche deuil: goinge to here com, [ 230] he hadde pikis on feet & knen,: It was a grisliche fo, It was þe gr(i)slokeste best: þat myȝt on erþe go.

ȝhe wente to þe foule þing: wit here croys an honde, ȝhe sette here foot on his rigge: & to þe grounde him þronge, [234 Ms. here rigge.] ȝhe nom here wimpil: & him aboute wonde [ 235] & þorw þe verteu of þe croys: wel faste ȝhe him bonde.

"Now sey me what þou art,: so loþliche aþinge, & on what þou be-leuist: & who is ȝoure lordinge, & who þe hedir sente: & who is ȝoure kinge, & why þou hedire come: to don me storbinge?" [ 240]

"leuedy, for þy lordus loue: þat þou leuist on, alyȝte alyte þy foot: þat stondiþ me vppon! by water & by londe: so wide ich haue I-gon, for neuer ȝit ich nesoffrid: so harde bendus non.

Belsabuk is now my name,: ich nole þe nouȝt lyȝe; [ 245] myne wey nys nouȝt In londe,: ac by þe lift to flyȝe. ac ich ne may nouȝt dure: þe pine þat i^c þolyȝe. [247 Ms. þe pyne: þe pine.] þin mood for to torne: for hedir i^c gan hyȝe.

of alle myn seruyse: nouþe ich tellen þe: for wher ich wist a woman: in chilbed for to be, [ 250] for þedirwardis i^c wolde: wondirliche swyþe te, & ȝif ȝhe nere I-blessid,: I-chent ȝhe chold be.

& ȝif it were onblessid: mayde oþer barne, queinteliche Ich þenche: for to don hem harme; oþer þe selue woman: i^c wole here forfarne; [ 255] hem i^c wole a-croky: þe foot oþer þe arme.

dolfin het my broþir,: leuedy, þat þou slouȝ: for whil he was alyf: wondris he dede Inouȝ, [244, 248, 250, 251, 258 u. ö. tilge for.] he made many aman aday: þat þey neuer ne þowe, In helle he ȝaf hem mede,: so we tellin mowe. [ 260]

In dragonus forme i^c sente him to þe to spillin þy memorye;: þou madist him to fle, I-broke he is to pesis,: I-bounde hauistou me; a mayde vs haþ ouercome,: wel lite is oure poste.

Salomon þe wise king,: whil he was alyue, [ 265] he dede vs in a brasfat: & hidde vs in a clyue. & þo he was of lyf I-drawe,: me leten vs out dryue, & men of babyloyne: þat fat gonne to ryue.

Þey wende for to findin gold: & leten os out go. somme flowin as þe wind,: as quik as eny ro, [ 270] & þeyȝ þer were in an herde: sixty þousend & mo; & alle þat leuedin on Jhesu crist: men dede hem ful wo." [272 men st. þey.]

"Now haue þy pes, þou foule wiȝt,: & sinke in to helle! þat þou noman ne derye: in flessche noþer in felle, ne be þou neuere so hardy: cristinme(n) to quelle! [ 275] & wend þou in to helle pit,: noleng þou here ne dwelle!" . . . .

Þo him spake olibrius: crist him was ful wroþ—: "mayde meregrete,: hastou I-tornd þin oþ? woltou ben my lemmon: & werin ryche cloþ & by-leue on myne godus: & ne be him noþing loþ?" [ 280] [280 l. hem.]

"a-corsid be þin god: þat þou I-leuist inne, [281 l. godes.] for þey beþ alle a-corsid,: wit sorwe & wit sinne, for þey beþ I-come of helle: of satanas his kinne; & whan þou leuist in best lyf,: to deþe þey wolleþ þe a-winne,

but ȝif þou do swiþe wel: & lete þe makye a mon, [ 285] for fadir & sone & holigost: alle hy beþ on, & to ben I-follid to-day: al one in þe fonston, also Jhesu crist was: in þe flom iordon."

Þan seyde olibrius,: þer he set on his sete: "oure godis beþ swiþe gode,: & fayre we wolliþ hem grete. [ 290] & for þat þou be-leuest so: on Jhesu, þe false prophete, In oyle þou chalt ben I-boylid: & þer-in þy lif lete."

he het oyle fillin on here heued: & doun to here fote & caldin here to deþe,: bot ȝhe chaungen here mode, [294 caldin = scaldin.] & seyde: "mergrete,: beþ þis paynus gode? [ 295] ffor bot þou torne to me þy lay,: ich holdin þe for wode."

Þe sergauns, so he haþ I-hote,: in oyle hy gonne here felle. [297 Ms. sengauns.] þe water orn adoun fram here: so strem deþ fram welle. þe holigost here kepid,: for soþ Ich ȝou telle, þat þey wit þilke pyne: ne myȝt here aquelle. [ 300]

Þan seyde þe mayde: to olibrius anon: "þy godus beþ deue: & doumbe so þe ston, of myne lordus ioye: telle ne may nomon; for of my body þou hast myȝt: & of my soule non."

vppon here heued oyle: þey gonnen on wende. [ 305] & seyde: "margerete,: to me þy þouȝt þou trende & by-leue on my godus,: & þy pinus cholleþ amende." & þo ȝhe seyde sone:: "Jhesu crist me defende."

Now alle acorse olibrius: þat mowe ete or drinke! to bringe here to deþe: wel faste he gan him þinke: [ 310] In a fat ful of water: he bed me chold here schinke, & but ȝhe tornyd here mode: me chold here adrenche.

Þe sergauns deden son: as olibrius hem het & to here lordus heste: þey weren euer wel sket. [314 Ms. weren een euer.] "mayde mergerete,: woltou þy þouȝt torne ȝit, [ 315] & of þy pyne þou chalt ben: tolyuerid wel sket."

"lord, ȝif þy wille be,: þis water þat ich I-se, for i^c wole ben I-follid: in þe name of þe." þe fat be-gan to berste: & þe folk to fle; þe aungelus here vp hente,: þat alle men myȝt I-se. [ 320]

Þey þat seyȝ þis verteu: tornyd here mood blyue & byleued on Jhesu crist,: ten þousend & fyue, wit-oute smale childrin: & wit-oute wyue. & alle þat leuedin on Jhesu crist: me dedin hem of lyue.

Þo olibrius þis I-seyȝ: þat men ne myȝte here nouȝt dere, [ 325] he let clepye ma(l)cus,: þat was his chef man-quellere. [326 Ms. macus.] "& lediþ here out of toune: oþer þat ȝe here bere, & bringeþ here of lyue: wit swerd oþer wit spere!"

Þis sergauntis deden as he hem heet,: & ladde here out of toune; & euer as men here ladde: ȝhe bade here orisoūne: [ 330] "now Jhesu crist of heuene,: þat for me þoledist passioun, þou haue mercy of þis men!: for hy nyte what hy don."

Þo me come wit-oute þe toun,: þer me cholde here sle, alle folwedin here to deþe: þat myȝt myd here go. þe erþe be-gan to quakiȝe,: þe sonne to wexen blo; [ 335] þe folke fillin to grounde,: hy nyste of wele ne wo.

Mayde mergerete: set here akne: "now Jhesu crist of heuene,: þou haue mercy on me! & on hem þat heriþ my passioun,: a bone ich seche þe, þou hem I-here wel sone: pur seint charite. [ 340]

& eny wimman myd childe ben: oþer in eny langor, þou þenche vp hem sone: & sende hem socour! þou cheld hem fram þe fendus myȝt: in halle & ek in bour, þat þey nabbe pouer non: to don hem no trechour."

Wit (þat) ilke worde: þer com an aungel goinge; [ 345] [345 þat fehlt.] "mayde mergerete,: þe greteþ oure heuene-kinge, & granteþ þe alle þin bone: þorwȝ þy besechinge, & in heuene a riche place,: I-mad is þy wonyinge."

"I-blessind be my lord: for his namus seuyn, [349 l. blessid.] þat þus me haueþ I-solasid: myd an aungel fram heuen! [ 350] for i^c desire namore: here on erþe to bleuen; body & soule i^c þe by-take: in to þin ouen steuin.

"wher beþ ȝe nouȝ, sergauns?: doþ ȝoure lordus heste! ȝe bringin me of þis lyue: in to an oþer feste, & saue ȝow fro wraþþe: & fro ȝoure lordus cheste, [ 355] & bringe me to þe ioye: þat euermore chal leste."

Þey smeten of here heued: wel sone in a stounde. aungelus þer com fram heuen: & here soule I-founde, & tok here body fram hem: vp fro þe grounde & ber here in to an oþer stede,: þat body al I-sounde. [ 360]

& þus deyde þis virgine,: seint margerete, & for oure lordis loue: pynes ȝhe þolid grete. Now bidde we here bere oure erande: myd wordus mylde & swete, þat we mote to heuene come: whan we oure lif doþ lete.

Amen.

2. Strafe des Ehebruchs. [Vgl. Altengl. Leg., Neue Folge p. 368. Ms. Rawl. ist etwas besser als die dort abgedruckte Hs.]

Aus Ms. Rawlinson 118. [Dasselbe Ms. enthielt Capgrave's S. Katharina von derselben Hand.]

Man, of þi myschefe þou þe amende And to my termys þou take goode hede! ffro synnes seuyn þou þe defende, þe lest of all it is to drede.

Of þe leste schal I now speke, [ 5] ffor sowle-helth I wyll ȝow teche. Be ware, man! god wyll be wreke Of hym þat is cause of spowse-breche.

The secund sacrament þat euer cryst made, It was wedlak, in good fay. [ 10] leue ȝe it well, with-outyne drede: lest it schall tyll domes-day;

ffor þat bonde we may not breke, If we hys owyne worde wole holde, Tyll deth come, þat all schall wreke [ 15] And lappe vs done in clay full colde.

The grettest kyng of all þis werde Be sume cause hys crown he may forgone, I take wytenes of kyng rycharde, Of kyng Sabere & of kyng Absolon; [ 20]

Kyng Dauid þat made þe sawtere-boke, ffor synnes he dede with bersabele Cryst fro hym hys crowne he toke, And all was for synne euery-dele.

Þe grettest clerke þat euer þou seste, [ 25] To seke hym vndyre heuyn cope, he may neuer take þe ordere of preste But he haue lycens of þe byshope; [28 byshope aus pope korr.]

And he be gotyn in awoutrye Oþir ellys barayn bastard borne, [ 30] þis cause I tell wele to þe þe ordere of presthode he hath for∣lorne. And if þou a bastard borne be, Man, thow þou were þe emperourys sone, þis cause I tell wele to þe, [ 35] To þe ordyre of prest þou may not come.

and þerfore, & þou wyst qwat it were To take an oþire þan þi wyffe, þou schuldyst raþere suffyre here To be slayn whyke with a knyffe. [ 40] [40 = quyke.]

But wrecchys þenkyn in here hert þat fele hem gylty in þat case, with schryfte of mowth & penauns smert þei wene here penauns forto vnbrase;

But & þei dey in soden deth [ 45] with-outen shryfte & repentauns, To hell þei goo withouten lett, þei con noght chese no bettyr chauns.

A fayre example I schall ȝow telle, If ȝe to my tale wyll take good hede; [ 50] In Salmowthe þis case be-felle, Thretty wyntere syþene þat dede.

Þere dwellyd two brethyrne in a towne, [53 Hinter diesem Verse ist As storyes vs tolde be forne | Þe eldest brothere ausgestr.] Of on fadyre & on modyre gotyn & borne, Two sqwyers of grete renowne, [ 55] As storyes vs told beforne.

Þe eldhest brothyre had a wyffe, þe fayrest woman of all þat londe, And ȝet he vsyd a cursyd lyffe And browte hys sowle in byttyre bonde .... [ 60]

Þese two brethyre happyd to dey, with enmys slayne vpon a nyghte. þe eldere brothere to hell toke þe wey, þe ȝongere to paradyse full ryght.

ffor þis was [Ms. is.)] knowyne in sothenes, [ 65] lystenyth, lordyngys, I wyll ȝow say! ffor goddys loue boþe more & lesse, Loke ȝe bere þis tale a-way!

Þe eldere brothere had a sone to a clerke, Well of fyftene wyntyre of age; [ 70] he was holy & wyse in werke, To hym shuld fall hys faderys herytage.

ffor hys fadyre he made grete mone, As comyth a good chylde of kynde; Euery nyght to hys fadres graue wolde he gone, [ 75] To haue hys sowle in specyall mynde.

Þe chylde þat was so noble & wyse Stode at hys fadres graue late at eue: þere cam on in a whyght surplyse And preuely toke hym be þe sleue. [ 80]

"Come on, chylde, & goo with me, Godd hath herd þi prayere: þi ffadyre, chyld, þou schalt se where he brennyth in hell-fyere."

he ledd hym to an hogely hylle: [ 85] þe erthe openyd, & in þei ȝede. Smoþer & smoke þer come owte wylde, And many a gost glowend in glede.

Þere he saw many sory tornament, how sowles were put to here peyn∣yng. [ 90] he sawe hys fadyre how he brent, And be hys membrys how he hyng;

ffendys bolde with crokys kene Rent hys body lyth fro lyth. "Chyld, þou couetyst þi fadyre to seene: [ 95] loke vp now & speke hym wyth!"

"Alas, fadyre, how stand þis case, þat ȝe be in peynys strong?" "Sone", he seyd, "I may sey alas, þat euyr I dyd þi modyre wrong! [ 100]

ffor sche was boþe fayre & goode And also bothe trost & trewe. Alas, I was wel werse þan wode, þere þis bale byttyr dyd I brewe."

"ffadyre, is þer no seynt in heuyne [ 105] þat ȝe were wont to haue in mynde, þat myght lyft ȝow oute of þis peyne, Oure lady mary or sume good frende?"

"Sone, all þe seyntys þat be in heuyne, Nore all þe aungellys vndyre þe try∣nyte, [ 110] On here-brede oute of þis peyne þei haue no powere to lyftyne me.

Sone, þow euery gress-spyre were a preste þat growyth up-on goddys grounde, Owte of þese peyns þei cowd not me relese, [ 115] Cowde þei neuyre make me vnbounde.

Þou schalt be a preste, I wote ryght wele, Onys or þis day seuyn ȝere: At mess, at matens, at mete, at mele þou take me neuer in þi prayere. [ 120]

Loke, son, þou do as I þe say, þerof I warn þe wel beforne; Euer þe lengere þat þou pray, My peyn̄ys þei schalbe more & more.

ffare wele", he seyd, "my swetesone, [ 125] þe fadyre of heuyn I þe beteche. Loke þou warne euery man where þat þou come, þat he be ware of spowse-breche!"

Þe aungell gan þe chyld forthe lede Sone owt of þat wrecchyd wone, [ 130] In to a forest, was long & brede; þe sunne was up & bryght it schone.

he ledd hym in to a fayre herbere, I-closyd, round as a balle— Swech on had he neuer se here; [ 135] þe ȝatys were of clere crystalle.

It semyd gold burnyschd bryth, with turretys & with towrys strong. þei herd upon þe ȝatys on hyght Mynstrelys lay & aungellys song. [ 140]

Þe ȝatys opyned hem a-geyne, þe aungell gan þe chyld forth lede. Qwan he was with-Inne vp-on þe pleyne, he þowte it a thowsand myle on brede.

Aleys þer were full derely dyght, [ 145] ffayre & grene, large & long. þei herd up-on þe trees on hyght Many dyuerse fowlys song,

Þe pellycan & þe popyniay, þe tenure of þe turtyll trewe, [ 150] A hundryd thowsand vpon an hay, þe nyghtyngale with notes newe.

Þe trees were floryschyd with frute & flour, þe leues þeron were bryght & schene; Euery þing had so swete odoure, [ 155] It were gret ioye þer-Inne to bene.

On a grene hyll he sawe a tre, An huge tre, stark & stoure; Pale it was & bleyk of ble, lost it had boþe frute & floure. [ 160]

A dolefull syght þe chyld gan se— Of þat syght he had grete drede: Out of a braunche of þe tre þe rede blode downe gan blede.

"Alas", seyd þe chyld, "how may þis be? [ 165] þe blode here-of bledyth so rede." "Chyld", seyd þe aungell, "ȝondyre is þe tre þat godd Adam þe frute forbedde.

Þere as þou seest it blede, Grew þe appyll þat Adam bote, [ 170] And all was thorow Euys rede And thorow þe deuyll, wel I wote.

Whan any synfull man cometh here-Inne, As þou dost, child, here with me, ffor wykkedenes all of þat synne [ 175] þe blode wol rede rennyth out of þe tre."

he lokyth forthe þene to þe pleyne: he was I-ware of a pauelyone pyght: Sweche on had he neuyr seyne, Of clothe of golde burnisshd bryght. [ 180]

Þere-vndyre sate a creature, Also bryght as any sonne-bem. þe aungel dyd hym gret honoure. "lo, chyld", seyd þe aungelle, "ȝon∣dyre is þin heem,

Þi fadyrs brothere, þou may hym se [ 185] In ioy & blys with-outen ende— And so myght þi fadyre ha be, If he to wedlak had be kende.

Þerfore he hath ernde hym helle, Endeles, þat depe dongone, [ 190] Euermore þere-in to dwelle, ffore þere neuyr is redempcyoune!"

Now, man, of þi myschefe þou þe amende, whyll þou lyuyst bothe sounde & sawte; ffro dedely synne þou þe defende, [ 195] Or deth drawyth hys dredfull drawte.

ffor dey þou schalt, þou wotyst ryght wele, It cometh to þe be course of kynde; ffor deth is as trew as any stele, he hath þe merkyd in hys mynde. [ 200]

Jhesu cryst, þat neuyr wrowte ille, þou saue vs oute of þe fendys wreche, And graunt vs grace aftyr þi wylle To be well ware of spowsbreche.

3. (A Tale of an incestuous daughter. [Vgl. Altengl. Leg., Neue Folge p. 334.] )

Aus Ms. Rawlinson 118.

Jhesu, þat heuyn & erthe begane And aftyr hys forme made man, As it was hys wylle, he ȝeue vs grace, or we hens wende, Of oure synnes vs to amende, [ 5] hys hestys to fulfylle.

Synfull man, if þou it knowyth, with goodwyll þou it owyth be day & eke be nyght hym to honoure & to loue, [ 10] Jhesu þat syttyth vs all a-boue, Most of alle myght.

I wille ȝou telle of an auenture, ffor to amend synnes ȝoure, lystyne & I wille ȝou telle; [ 15] And ȝe þat wylyne with good wille here, Grete good ȝe mone here & lere— lystynythe to my spelle.

In þe byshopriche of gyane [19 l. Vyan.] A mane þer was of myche mayne [ 20] [20 Ms. mythe.] And riche of lond & lede. A wyfe he had gent & fre, þe fayrest womane þat myth be, And fulle of almes-dede.

A dowter þei had hem be-twene, [ 25] þe fayrest woman þat mythe bene, Makyd of fleshe & bloode. But on hard chaunce hire was lent, Or she out of þis world went; But alle it turnyd to good. [ 30]

Sweche a dede she had I-wrought, In dedly synne she was I-brought with-outen any oþer bote; And swech a grace god hire lent þat she come wele to amendment— [ 35] God leue þat we so mote.

Þe fend of helle ageyne skylle put in to hire sweche wille here faderes loue to wynne; Also temptyd was þis mane [ 40] his owne dowter for to tane, To do dedly synne.

What helpithe lenger to say? þei come bothe to-geder on a day OfIn to a priuy stede; [ 45] A loue he besouth his douter ȝarne, And she nold not hyme warne, þorow þe fendys rede.

ffor he ne mythe hire noth for-goo, Of loue he be-south his douter soo [ 50] his wille as for to haue. In holy scripture as mene it fynd, vp-on his douter ageyne kynd he gate a wol fayre knaue. [e?]

þe tyme come thorow goddis grace [ 55] þat þe child I-bore was: hire hert was fulle sore; For she nold þat man wist it none, Sche brake þe childys necke-bone— hire synnes were þe more! [ 60]

Ȝete she [l. þei.] coud neuer blynne, But leuyd euer forthe in dedly synne, In boke as we haue hard. þe boke wittnessithe apertly, iij knaue-childerin she had hym by, [ 65] And alle she heme forfard.

So preuyly to-geder þei wrought þat mane on lyue ne wyst it nought where-abouthe þei ȝede. vp-one a day hire moder came [ 70] And to-gedyr she heme name And fownd heme with dede.

"Allas" 'she sayd'" þat ȝe weryne borne! lyue & soule ȝe hane forlorne, Day with-outene ende. [ 75] Ȝe ben I-tauthe to þe fend of helle; with ȝoue wille I no lenger dwelle, ffro ȝoue wille I now wend."

Þe good mane be-gane to say: "I-wis, she wille us be-tray [ 80] & brynge us in mekille wrake." "Sertis", quod hire douter þore, "Sche ne shalle sey no more, & I may hire ouertake."

And þorow þe fendys entysment, [ 85] After hire moder she is Iwent Anone into þe halle, And with a knyfe to hire she stirte And smote hire modyr to þe herte, To dethe she gane falle. [ 90]

And whane þis dede was Idone, Sche toke þe body swythe sone & leyd it in a chist, And beryed it þorow here boþers rede, As she had I-be fayre dede, [ 95] þat no man it newyst.

Ȝete she coud neuer blynne But leuyd euer forthe in dedly synne, Be day & eke be nythe.— þe good mane with good entent [ 100] To holy chyrche he is I-went þorow grace of god almythe.

On knes he felle beforne þe rode And thought wele & vnderstode, his synne he wold forsake; [ 105] If he mythe haue forȝeuenans (!) And for his synnes do penauns, Shrift he wold take.

Quan alle þe folke was out of chirche goone, A prest to hyme he called anone, Stille withoutene stryue, he told alle to-geder end & orde how he had done, iche a worde, And alle to-geder his lyue.

Þe prest sayd: "hast þou good wille [ 115] Of þi dedis þou hast done ille Shrift for to take, þat þou ne shalt with þi douter dele, At bed, at bord, at mete ne at mele, hire þou most forsake. [ 120]

If þou wolt penauns fonde, Take þi wey into holylond, þer god was qwicke & dede." "ȝis [Ms. ȝif] forsothe, sere", seyd he, "While my lyue lest me, [ 125] I wille done after þi rede."

Þe prest soylyd hyme of his synnys; þe good mane went home to his Innis, þer his douter was. his douter had here mete I-made, [ 130] She bad hyme sytte & make hym glade, And mad hym fayre solas.

"Do way, douter, swech þing, I kepe no more of þi pleyng, My shrift I haue take, [ 135] þat Ine shalle with the nomore dele, At mete, at bord, at bed ne at mele; My synne I haue forsake."

"A", she seyd, "wickyd mane, hast þou here-aboute I-gane? [ 140] wele euyl it shalle þe lyke. þou hast made me my moder to sle, And my fayre sones alle thre, And now þou wilt me swike!"

She seyd: "sythin it is soo, [ 145] On anoder way it shal goo Or to-morowyne prime. þou hast me brought in alle þis gyle, wele, I wille qwite þe þi qwile, whane I may se my tyme." [ 150]

And whan þe nythe was comyn anon, þe good man was to his bedde I-goone, his rest forto take; ffor erly he wold with þe day In pylgrymage wend his way, [ 155] ffor his synnes sake.

And þorow þe fendys entysynge his douter þouthe anoþer þinge, wele wers for to doo: And whane hire fader on slepe was, [ 160] She went here þeder a wole gode pas And cutte his þrote a-too.

She toke with hire tresoure þere, As myche as she mythe bere, And hire felawes thre, [ 165] And went out of þat towne Into a borow of grete renowne, And wonyd in þat cyte.

Of þat tresoure she spent fast, Alle þe qwile þat it wold last, [ 170] with grete dauncynge & pride, with gentylle men of þat cuntre, hem to play with hire be too & thre, fast be iche a syde.

Alle þe wommen þat wold folies, [ 175] ȝorne þei come to hir scoles ffulle fast, many & fele. She ne forsoke preste ne clerke, Ne none þat weryd breche ne serke, þat with hire wold dele. [ 180]

She was ful fayre of body, She ȝaue hire al to lechery, And to þat dedly synne; ffor she ne wend neuer more ffor synne þat she hadde do be-fore [ 185] heuyne-blys to wynne.

Vpon a fryday þorow goddis sond Sent Austyne prechid in þat lond And in þat cyte; Alle þe mene of þat towne [ 190] went to his predicacione, hyme for to here & se.

But þis synfull woman, And hyre felawes euery oon, be-left at here Inne. [ 195] woo was hem þat ylke day, þer come no men with hem to play, ne no syluyre myght þei wyne. ...

To chyrch þei be I-went In þe name of godd omnipotent [ 200] And hys modyre marye. þe holy byschop, þer he stode, prechyd wordys þat were goode: On hyre he cast hy(s) eye.

ffoure fendys þat were false [ 205] he sey abowte hyr halse, And be foure cheȳnys hyre ledde, And be eyþur arm ledd hyr on; þe holy man sey hem euerychone, gret wondyre þerof he hadde. ... [ 210]

Thorow þe grace of godd allmyght A worde in to hyre gan lyght þat þe byschop þer spake; A tere fell oute of hyre eye And be hyre it gan done flye, [ 215] And hyre coloure brake ....

Sche sett hyre downe on hyre kne, To godd sche besowght in trynyte & mercy began to craue, And seyd: "syre byschoppe, I am sche, All day þou hast prec(h)yd of me, & here þou mayst me haue.

I haue do all þe dedely synne þat any woman myght be-gynne a-geyne goddys lawe: [ 225] Be my fadyre I haue do folye, Thre chyldre I had hym bye, & all I haue hem slawe;

My modyr I stekyd with a knyfe, My fadyre I be-reft hys lyfe, [ 230] Sere byschopp, I þe seye. Now in þis stede pur charyte Scryfte I aske of þe, ffor sorow or I deye."

Þe byschop seyd anon hyr tylle: [ 235] "Woman, a lytyll whyle be stylle Tyll my sermon be do." Sche was so full of sorow & care, Sche fell in swownyng be-forne hym þare, hyr hert brast a-too. [ 240]

Whan þe byschop had seyd hys wylle, he bad all þe pupyll sytt stylle, A-none to hyre he lepte: he fond hyre dede among hem alle. On hyre he gan boþe clepe & calle [ 245] & sore fore hyre he wepte ....

Þe byschop seyd an orysone. An aungell [(l. voice.)] cam fro heuyn a-done, þat he myght it here, And seyd: "þe sowle of þis synfull wyght Is now in heuyn lyght Before Jhesu cryst so dere.

Sere byschop", he seyd, "þou art wyse, Asoyle þe body þat here lyse & ley it in a graue. [ 255] ffor if any man do folye, And he wyll of Jhesu aske mercye, Mercy he schall haue."

Þe kyng þat is of myghtys most, ffadyre, sone & holygost, [ 260] ȝeue vs myght & space, Whan we haue do here oure ende, In to ioye for to wende, Amen, lord, for þi grace.

4. Testamentum Christi. [So der Titel im Ms. Harl.; besser The Charter of Christ. Das vortreff∣liche Gedicht ist vielleicht vom Dichter des Ipotis und Robert of Sicily.]

a) Ms. Vernon, Fol. 317b.

"Jhesu, kyng of heuene and helle, [1 l. I, Jhesu.] Mon and wommon, I wol þe telle What loue I haue I-don to þe; Loke what þou hast don to me.— Of alle Joye þou weore out pult [ 5] Wiþ resoun and wiþ þin oune gult; Pore þou weore I-dryuen a-way, As a best þat goþ on-stray.

ffrom my kindome I com doun, Te seche þe from toun to toun, [ 10] Min heritage, þat is so fre, In þi mischef to ȝiue hit þe. And whon þat ȝifte I ȝiuen þe scholde, I dude as þe lawe wolde: To a Mayden I meked me, [ 15] ffor no chalange schulde be; wel dernely I kepte þe and me Til I my tyme wolde se, ffourti wokes and fourti dawes, To folfulle þe olde lawes; [ 20] þe Mayden was trewe, mylde & fre, heo receyued me for þe. þorw my monhede and my grace þus com sesyng furst on place. And whon þe sesyng was do so, [ 25] fful gret envye hedde þenne þi fo; þenne Belsebub and Sathanas hedde gret wonder whi hit was: þei fondede me wiþ felony, wiþ pride, couetyse and gloteny, [ 30] And wel þei wuste I was a mon; But synne in me founde þei non. harde þei þreted me in her þouȝt, þat ilke sesyng schulde be deore abouȝt; þei sende heore sergeauns wiþ may∣strie, [ 35] wiþ wo and serwe me to distruye, And wel þei founde hem geyned nouȝt. Anoþur help was in my þouȝt: More siker þe to make Aȝeyn þi foos, ful of wrake, [ 40] heuene and eorþe in present To make a chartre of feffement; In such amaner þen moste hit be þat I moste ȝiue my lyf for þe: ffor þou art ded, and I am lyf, [ 45] And I moste dye to ȝiue þe lyf.

Mony a wei haue I go In hongur and þurst, colde and wo þritti winter and more þen two, Or my dede weore al I-do. [ 50] Ne mihte I fynde no parchemyn ffor to laste wiþ-outen fyn; Bote, as good loue bad me do, Min oune skin I tok þer-to. To gete me frendes, I ȝaf good mede— [ 55] So doþ þe pore þat haþ gret nede: On a þoresday a soper I made, Boþe frend and fo to maken glade, wiþ mete and drynk to soulus fode, wiþ holi word my flesch and blode: [ 60] And þis I made for Monkynde, Mi loue-dedes to haue in muynde—

hoc facite in meam commemoracionem.

Or I fro þe bord a-ras, Of my frend bi-trayed I was; he fond me goande in þe way, [ 65] As þe Leoun goþ to his pray—

Susceperunt me sicut leo paratus ad predam.

A curtul I hedde and cloþus mo, And sone I hedde hem alle for-go—

So hedde I þis chartre writen, þo was I naked, wel may ȝe witen; [ 70] þei casten lot as wolde bi-falle, wheþer on schulde haue hem or parten alle. ffrend and fo þat wiþ me metten, In my neode alle me for-letten; And to a piler I was I-piht, [ 75] Togget and tauwed al þe niht And wasschen in myn owne blode, And strayte I-streynet on þe Rode, Streyned to druye on Rode-tre, As parchemyn oweþ for to be. [ 80] Here now and ȝe schul witen hou þis chartre was I-writen. vppon myn neb was mad þe ynke wiþ þe Jewes spittyng on me to stynke. þe penne þat þe lettre was wiþ writen, [ 85] weore scourges þat I was wiþ smiten. how mony lettres þeron beon, Red and þou miht wite and seon: ffif þousend foure hundred fyfti and ten woundus on me, boþe blak and wen. [ 90] To schewen ou alle my loue-dede, Mi-self I wole þis chartre rede. Ȝe Men þat gon bi þis weye, A-bydeþ a luytel, I ow preye, And redeþ alle on þis parchemyn, [ 95] ȝif eny serwe beo lyk to myn—

O uos omnes qui transitis per uiam;

Stondeþ and hereþ þis chartre red, whi I am woundet and al for-bled.

'Sciant presentes et futuri,

wite ȝe þat are and schal be-tyde, þat Jhesu crist wiþ blodi syde, [ 100] þat was boren in Bedleem And offred in to Jerusalem,

þe kynges sone of heuene aboue, wiþ mi ffadres wille and loue Made a sesyng whon I was born, [ 105] To þe, Monkynde, þat was forlorn. wiþ my cha(r)tre here present I make nou a confirmament: þat I haue graunted and ȝiuen To þe, Monkynde, wiþ me to liuen [ 110] In my Rewme of heuene-blis, To haue and to holden wiþ-outen mis, In a condicion, ȝif þou be kynde And my loue-dedes haue in Mynde, ffre to haue and fre to holde, [ 115] wiþ al þe purtynaunce to wolde, Myn heritage þat is so fre. ffor homage ne for feute No more wol I aske of þe, But a foure-leued gras ȝeld þou me: [ 120] O lef is soþfast schrifte, þe toþur is for synne herte-smerte, þe þridde is "I wol no more do so", þe feorþe is "drede god euermo"; whon þeose four leues to-geder ben set, A "trewe loue" men clepen hit. Of þis Rente beo nouȝt be-hynde, ffor þorw þe ȝer þou may hit fynde; Elles mai þou not fynde hit in my wounde, ffor þer mai "trewe loue" wel be founde. [ 130] And þif þou falle and gretly mis-take, Mi dede I wole neuer forsake; And þif þou amende þe and Merci craue, þin heritage ȝut schalt þou haue.' Þe seles þat hit was seled wiþ, [ 135] þei were grauen vp-on a stiþ; Of gold nor seluer weore þei nouȝt, Of stel and Iren were þei wrouȝt: wiþ þe spere of stel myn herte þei stongen þorw myn herte and þorw my longen; Iren nayles þurleden me þorw feet and hondes to þe tre. Þe selyng-wax was deore abouȝt, Ate myn herte rote hit was souȝt, And tempred al wiþ vermilioun [ 145] Of my rede blod þat ran doun—

Factum est cor meum tanquam cera liquescens. in medio ventris mei.

ffyue seles weore I-set þeron: ffader and sone, god and mon, þe fyfþe is for to leeue most, þat i-comen of þe holygost. [ 150] [150 l. i com?] In pleyn pouwer þi stat to make, A croune on myn hed (I gon) to take [152 I gon (con?) fehlt.] Of þornus, in toknyng þat I am kyng And freoly may ȝiue þe þi þing— þis witnesseþ þis Jewes alle, [ 155] On kneos þei gonne to me falle And seiden loude on heore scornyng "heil be þou, lord and Jewes kyng." Bi-twene two men þis (chartre) was seeled, þei boþe weore seke, þat on I heled, [ 160] Bi-twene two þeues on hih I-piht, In toknyng þat I am mon of miht, þat Norþ and West on heiȝ hille þat I may deme boþe gode and ille—

Quia neque ab oriente neque ab occi∣dente.

A-þhurst I was ful sore I-swonken, þe beuerege moste nede be dronken: A loue-drynke I asked of þe, Eysel and galle þou ȝaf to me— þis witnesseþ Matheu and Jon, Luk and Mark and monyon, [ 170] And nomeliche my moder swete: ffor heo lafte neuere teres to lete; Ar þis chartre writen was, fful ofte heo seide allas allas! So bare I was of worldes gode, [ 175]

whon I schulde dye on þe Rode, þat I hedde nouȝt wher-of to take, Mi testament wher-of to make, But of my leoue moder dere— heo stod bi me wiþ serwful chere; [ 180] And whon I my cosyn hire bitoke, heo caste me mony a serwful loke. In knowleching I made a cri "Pater pater, lamaȝabatani." Bi-hold þou, mon, wiþ herte and eȝe, [ 185] ffor þi loue hou I schal dye:

Consummatum est, þis chartre is doon. Mon, þou hast ouercome þi foon! To helle I wente þis chartre to schewe Bi-fore þi fo, Sathanas þe schrewe; [ 190] þo he was schent and brouht to grounde, wiþ nayles bored and speres wounde, [191 u. 192 umzustellen.] A strayt couenaunt I-mad þer was Bi-twene me and Sathanas: Al my catel to haue away [ 195] þat he me refte wiþ false pray. Aȝein I com and made a feste AMong þe leste and þe meste— A parti þo gunne knowe me, þat I was mon of gret pouste. [ 200] þe feeste laste fourti dawes, To do men knowe my newe lawes; þat feeste was al of ioye and blis, þat Esterday ȝit cleped is. On endenture I lafte wiþ þe, [ 205] þat euer þou schuldest siker be: In preostes hondes my flesch and blode, þat for þe dyede on þe Rode. A by-keye I tok þe also: þe token þat I was on I-do, [ 210] To bere wiþ þe wher þat þou go; þenne þar þe not drede of þi fo. To my fader I moste gon, ffor al his wille haue I don. A cote-armour I bar wiþ me, [ 215] ffor þat I tok of þy liuere; þe cloþ was riche and ful fyn, þe chaumpe hit was of red camelyn.

A ful feir mayden to me hit wrouȝt, Oute of hire boure I hit brouȝt; [ 220] Poudret wiþ fyue roses rede, ffyf woundes þat I þoled dede. whon I come eft aȝeyn to þe, þer-bi þou maiȝt knowe me. Þeose þat beoþ of rente be-hynde [ 225] And þeose dedes haue not in mynde, fful sore may þei ben a-dred whon þis cha(r)tre schal be red: Alle þeose schul go to helle-pyne; And wiþ me to blisse schul go alle myne. [ 230] Pay þi rente, keep þe from gylt, Cum and cleyme whon þat þou wilt, þe blisse þat loste oure frende." to þe whuche blisce crist vs bringe wiþouten ende.

A. M. E. N. Amen.

b) Ms. Harl. 2382.

Wo-so wil ouer-rede this boke and with gostly eyen ther-on loke, to other scole dare he not wende, to saue his soule fro þe fende, Then for to do as this boke tellith; [ 5] for holi wryt for-sothe it spellith. ther-for y pray yow for charite that this boke shal rede or se, that your herte & al your mynde kep derworthly that ye here fynde; [ 10] and ful-filleth it in dede that ye shal in this boke rede.— Now ye shal here anon-righte your sauyour speke to yow as-tyte wordes of a chartour þat he hath wroght, [ 15] that ye may knowe in al your thoght. and who this boke can vnderstonde, teche it forth thurghe al the londe vntil other þat this hath not sene, to saue here soules right as here owne; els ye shal not with-outen strif fro this world passe to þe lond of lyf. Now y wil be-gynne to rede þeron, his pes he yeue vs euery-chone.— "Jhesu, lord of heuene and helle, [ 25] man & womman, y wol yow telle, loke what loue y do to the, and loke what thu has do to me. ffro paradise thu were out pilt, with care & sorwe þ^u were out spilt, [ 30] forth thu were drawe a-way, [31 l. driue.] as a beste that goth astray.

ffro my right y cam a-doune, to seke the fro toune to toune, to helpe the in thy myschef— [ 35] Derworth soule þ^u art me lef— myn heritage, that is so fre, in thi myschef to yef it the. And when this sesyng y yeue shulde, y dud as the Jewys wolde: [ 40] Til a mayde y be-toke me, when þat y conceuyd shuld be; the mayde was trewe, mylde & fre, she me receuyd for þe loue of the. nyne mo(n)thes with here y was, [ 45] to make a-mendys for thi trespas, er y in to this world was borne to saue man-kynde þat was forlorne. thurgh my vertu & my grace thus cam the sesyng first in place. [ 50] Virgyn Marie, mayden mylde, with me went thus gret with childe. and when this sesyng was al ydo, fful grete envy had thy foo, that cursed fende Sathanas, [ 55] had gret wonder whi it was, whi y loued so moche the, that so vnkynde has ben to me; wroth he was—it helped hym noght, the to helpe was al my thoght. [ 60] he tempted me in so gret foly, pride, couetise and glotony, and welle he wist y was a man; but synne in me found he nan. for-sothe, right hard he thretid me [ 65] that y shold dere abye for the, to destroye me thurgh his myght and put the for euer out of my sight. Now, derworth soule, herken to me and a new ioye shal y telle the: [ 70] to make a charter of feffement, heuene & erthe shal be present; but in soche a maner it most be þat y shal yelde my lyf for the— and when y am ded, man, be þ^u kynde, [ 75] and haue this charter in þⁱ mynde. for an enmy that hath the soght; but yet shal y the lese noght, [78 l. lefe.] for y wol dye for thy foly and bryng þe in to my company. [ 80] I am a-lyue and thu art ded, y wol yeue my lyf ayenst þe qued, for to helpe the y am redy, to saue the euer fro thyn enmy.

for many a way haue y go, [ 85] in hunger, thurste, colde & wo, xxx^ti wynter and thre þerto, or my disese were al y-do. [88 Ms. welle st. were.] parchement to fynde wyst y none, to make a charter ayenst þⁱ fone [ 90] that wil leste with-oute ende. herken now to my word hende! But, as trewe loue bade me do, myn owne skynne y toke þerto. and when y had so y-do, [ 95] wel fewe frendus had y tho; to gete me frendis y yeaf gret mede, as doth þe pore þat hath gret nede. but to yeue the y had no more, for þⁱ soule that was for-lore, [ 100] then my soule to yeue for the, that for the dyed apon a tre. apon a thursday a soper y made, to frend & foo, to make hem glade, of bred & wyne the sacrament, [ 105] for euer to be my Testament, which is my fleshe & my blode, to tho that lyuen in mylde mode, and to þ^o that dyen out of charite their dampnacion euer to be. [ 110] here wol y foure wordes yow teche— and to þe peple loke ye hem preche:

hoc facite in meam commemoracionem;

that they haue hem euer in mynde; here mede in heuene shal they fynde. thes wordes twocheth þe sacrament [ 115] that men receueth, verrament. It semeth many & is but one, it semeth bred & it is none, it is quyk & semeth ded: it is my body in fourme of bred. [ 120] This made y only for mankynde, my wonderful dedis to haue in mynde— who-so receueth it in clennes, saued shal be & com to blys— and to haue in mynde my passion, [ 125] that shal be thi saluacion.— Or y fro the borde aros, of my disciple be-trayed y was. when y had soped, he ros anone, to grete maistris he gan gone [ 130] and broght them with hym in þe way, as a lyon þat goth a-boute his pray—

Susceperunt (me) sicut leo paratus ad predam.

Anone they be-gunne to spoile me, and seid y shuld dye on a tre. my mantylle and other clothes mo [ 135] alle y had them sone for-go,

they cast lot emonges them alle wheþer one shuld haue them or parte hem alle. but alle my clothes fro me thei token; and alle my frendis sone me for-sokene; naked y stod emong my fone— for other socoure had y none; redy they were me to despise, but none þer were me for to plese. They made scourges hard & grete, [ 145] ther-with my body shuld be bete; and thogh y wold haue pleyned me, ther shuld to me no socur haue be. ful sore a-ferd for-sothe y was, when they led me so gret a pas! [ 150] To a piler y was bound al þe nyght, togged & betyn til day-light, and wasshen with myn owne blode, that al the erthe aboute cold stode. and so y stod bounden al the nyght [ 155] til on the morwe þat it was bright they strayned me hard apon a tre, as parchement auȝhte to be.— [158 Ms. auxhte.] hereth now & ye shal wetyne how this charter was y-writene. [ 160] ouer al my face felle the enke, thornes in my hed gan to synke. the pennys that þe lettris writene, were scourges þat y was with smytene. how many lettris that ther-on bene, [ 165] rede and thu may wete & sene: v thousant v.cl & x then [167 a. R. nota de vulneribus.] wondes on my body, boþe red & wan. ffor to shewe the of my loue-dede, my-self y wol here þe charter rede. [ 170]

O vos omnes qui transitis per viam, attendite & videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus—

Ye men that goth forth bi þe way, be-holde & se bothe nyght & day and redith apon this parchemyn, yf any sorowe be as gret as myn. [Carta xpi.] Stondeth & herkeneth þe charter red, why y am wonded & al for-bled.

'Sciant presentes & futuri,

Wetyn þ^o here & tho þat be to come that Jhesus of naȝareth, god is sone, vnderstondeth wel & þ^o þat wol abide that Jesus hath a blody syde, [ 180] that born was in Bethelem and ouer-more offred in to Jerusalem,

the kyngis sone of heuene aboue, a mercyful fader that wel y loue. I made a seisyng when y was borne, [ 185] to saue man-kynde that was forlorne. But with my charter here in present y make to mannys soule a feffement: that y haue y-graunted & yeue to mankynde, with me to lyue [ 190] In my kyngdom of heuene-blys, to haue & holde with-outen mys, with this condicion þat thu be kynde and my workes to haue in mynde, frely to haue and frely holde, [ 195] with al the purtenaunce to be-holde, and in my blisse euer to dwelle for the rente þat y shal the telle, [[1146]] Myn heritage that is so fre. for homage or els for fewte [ 200] no more wol y aske of the, but a iiij-levid gras yeld þ^u me: that one lef is verry shrifte, þat other is for þⁱ synne þe smerte, the thirde is wille no more do so, [ 205] the fourthe þⁱ penance mekely do; when thes levis to-geder ben set, a "trew-loue" men callen hit. Of this rent be not be-hynde: the way to heuene then may þ^u fynde; yf þ^u this rente truly pay me, my gret mercy I shal shewe to the. for if thu falle in gret mystake, my charter wol I þe not forsake; yf thu amende and mercy craue, [ 215] thyn heritage then shalt þ^u haue.'— Thes selys that it is selyd with, they were made alle at a smyth; of golde ne siluer were thei noght, of stile and yren were they wroght: [ 220] with a spere of stile myn hert was stonge thurf my syde & thurf my lunge, apon my side they made a wonde, myn herte-blode ran doune to grounde; with yren nayles they smyten me [ 225] thurghe fete & handes on þe rode-tre. The selyng-wax was dere y-boght, at myn herte rote it was sought, al tempred with fyne vermylon of my red blode that ran adoune—

Factum est cor meum tanquam cera in liquessens. in medio ventris mei.

My sealis bene y-set ther-one: fader & sone, god and man, the firste, that is be-leve most, [233 l. fifte.] that y cam of the holy gost. ther-for here may thu now se [ 235] þat y am a kyng of gret poste; in playn power thi state to make, a crowne of thornes on my hed y take: This croune be-tokeneth y am a kyng and frely may yeue thyn owne thyng— [ 240] this wittenesseth wel þe Jewys alle, on kneys they gonne be-fore me falle and lowde seyd in here scornyng "al haylle thu lord, of Jewys kyng." Be-twene ij thevis þe charter was selyd, [ 245] bothe were syke, þat one was helyd, be-twene ij thevis high y-pight, [247 Ms. plight.] in token that I was lord of myght; this be-tokeneth bothe good & ille, atte day of dome to saue or spille. [ 250] fful dry y was & thursted sore; but of soche drynke y myght no more: for aysel & galle they yeaf to me. but one drynke aske y of the: that þ^u be louyng to-ward þⁱ foone— other drynke of þe aske y none; yf thu me loue, haue this in mynde: to þⁱ enmyes thu be right kynde. ensample þ^u mayst take here of me: for loue of the y hong on a tre, [ 260] But (seid) "my fader, y pray now the, [261 seid fehlt.] apon myn enmyes thu haue pite"— And as y do, do thu to thyne, and saued shalt þ^u be fro helle-pyne. here (of) be wittenesse mo then on: [ 265] Mark, Mathew, Luke and John̄, and namely my moder swete, that for me blody terys gan lete. for there she stode vnder the rode, she sawe my body al on blode, [ 270] that fro my fete vnto my hede y was not els but al blode-rede; No word to me þer myght she speke, it semed ny here herte wold breke; no wonder was thogh she were woo [ 275] when she sawe me on þe crosse y-do. ffor sorwe of here y made a cry and seid ful lowde "heli lamaȝaba∣thany."

anone she felle doune in sownyng, [279 l. swounyng.] right be-fore me at myn endyng. [ 280] the peynes that y suffred were fulsore, but for my moder they were the more. when y layd my hed here & there, my moder chaunged al here chere; ful fayn she wold haue holpe me, [ 285] but for the Jewys it myght not be. my peynes were tho fulle smerte, the swerd of sorwe perced here herte; when to seynt John̄ y here be-toke, she cast on me a drewry loke, [ 290] as y had here alle forsake and to a nother sone y had here take; and or this charter writen was, ful ofte she sayd alas alas. Apon my shulder y leyd my hed [ 295] when y drow fast to my ded: for so bare was y of worly good, when y shold (dye) apon the rood, that y ne had where-of to take, rest of my hed where-of to make. [ 300] pore & riche, haue euer in mynde, when ye in this world no rest may fynde, what rest y had only for the, when y hong nayled apon a tre! wel may þ^u knowe þat y had none, [ 305] for þer y stode amonge my foone. when thu amonge thi foen art broght, be redy to suffre with alle thi thoght. to stande at barre it is wel harde, as ye be worthy to haue rewarde: [ 310] thu (þat) for me suffrest wrong, þ^u shal be sothely on my right hond; thu þat vengest the apon thi brother, thou standest not þer, but on þat other; and yf thu wilt the sothe knowe: [ 315] right as þ^u sowest so shalt þ^u mowe. I fele me now so ful of woo, that out of this world y most go; with peynes of deth hard am y bounde, my soule shal passe here in þis stounde. [ 320] be-hold now, man, with herte & eye, for thi loue how y shal dye. y hong on crosse for loue of the: forsake thi synne for loue of me, mercy aske and amende þe sone [ 325] and y foryeue þe that is mysdone; for ful of mercy y am, truly, to alle tho that cryen mercy. what shal it greue to repente the and in endeles ioye to dwelle with me? [ 330]

ffor tho that wil no mercy crye, they shal to helle when they dye. now when y haue one word spoke, myn eyen to-geder most y loke— thu synful man, haue pite on me, [ 335] for thyn owne sowle for charite! Thes wordes y most nedis speke, and then my herte shal to-breke: Consum(m)atum est, this charter is done. man, þ^u hast now ouer-come al þⁱ foone. [ 340] Anone y went to helle þat charter to shewe. be-fore Sathanas, þat olde shrewe; there y hym shent & broght to grounde thurgh my nayles pitous wounde. and after a cownant made þer was [ 345] be-twene me and Sathanas: alle my catelle to haue away that he be-rafte me with his pray. The thirde day y made a fest to the moste and to the lest: [ 350] the fest was of ioye & blys, that Ester-day called ys. one indente y left to the, where-of þ^u shalt euer syker be: In prestys handes my fleshe & blode, that for the was hanged on þe rode. who-so-euer be-leveth ther-on, endeles payn shal he fynde non; al-thogh y dyed, yet dyeth not he, for he shal rise & lyue with me. [ 360] A wel faire thyng y tok þe also: a token of the crosse y was on do, to bere with the so where thu go, to kepe the euer fro thy foo. to my fader y most gone, [ 365] for al his wille haue y done: I take my lef, ye haue me seyne; atte day of dome y come ageyne, man to deme after his wirke— this is the wille of al-holi kyrke— [ 370] and euer after in ioye to dwelle, saue to be fro the peyn of helle. A cote-armur I bere here with me, the which y toke of thy lyuere; this cote is riche & wel fyne, [ 375] the cherupe is now of red satyne;

a wel faire mayde me it be-tought and out of here boure I it broght; poudred it is with v. roses red, wondes y-suffred with peynes of ded. And when y come ageyn to the, bi this clothyng thu may know me. tho þat ben of this rent be-hynde and my wondes wilnot haue in mynde, wel sore shal they bene a-dred [ 385] when this charter shal be red; of the hy Justice be they ful ware, for-sothe thene shal he none spare, for alle þe synnes þat thu has wroght fram þⁱ youthe, shalle be soght. [ 390] for power of my fader y haue to saue alle thoo þat mercy craue, Now pay thi rent, while þ^u has space, yf thu wilt of me haue grace; and yf thu dye ful sodenly, [ 395] apon þⁱ soule y shal haue mercy. A cownant is made betwene vs two: as I haue done, so most thu do. loke what þⁱ pater noster seith to the: "right as y foryeue, foryef þ^u me", [ 400] and do ther-after, yf thu wilt, so that thi soule be not spilt. Apon al-holi writ y may put me where y be curteyse or no to the; be thu lerid or be thu lewde, [ 405] the way to heuene y haue þe shewde by the texte of holy writ, in what place þ^u wilt seke it. therfor y byd the pay thy rent, that with the fend þ^u be not shent; [ 410] with me to blisse then shalt þ^u come, and in my blisse þ^u shalt wone. To that blisse y may the bryng that of myght made al thyng."

Explicit Testamentum xpi. [Dann folgt The child of Brystow, Te∣stamentum Lydgate, Prophecia Merlonis.]

5. (The messengers of Death)

aus Ms. Vern., f. CCXCVII.

her biginneþ a tretis Of þreo Messagers of deþ I-wis.

ÞE Mon þat is of wommon I-bore, his lyf nis heere but a þrowe— So seiþ Job vs heer bi-fore Al in a Bok þat I wel knowe. he hedde is Muynde al of his deþ, [ 5] wel sore he con grone and grunte, And seide his lyf nas bote a Breþ, heer mou we none stounde stunte. ffrom deþ may no mon be fre, ffor his riȝte wol he not lete. [ 10] Now beoþ þer Messagers þre A-Mong Monkuynde for to meete: Auentures, Seeknesse, and Elde— Þeos beoþ Messagers of deþ; To hem we moten vs alle ȝelde [ 15] And louten þer vr Maystres geþ.

Whon Deþ comeþ þat is so derk, þer May no Mon him wiþ-stonde— I take witnesse on a noble Clerk þat wrot þeos vers wiþ his honde: [ 20] Mors necat athletas, [21 Ms. vetat ath letas.] Ego mortis nescio metas, I(n)ter Res letas, [23 Ms. Iter.] Caueat sibi quelibet etas— Deþ he sleth þis kempes kene, [ 25] And kynges in heore worþly won, Riche & pore alle bi-dene, ȝong ne Old spareþ he non. þer is on of þis Messagers þat of no mon wol take mede; [ 30] he is so hardi and so fers þat alle Men of him haue drede:

ÞE Messager hette Auentours, Aȝeynes him may beo no strif; whon he comeþ to a Monnes hous, [ 35] he takeþ boþe hosebonde & þe wyf. he takeþ þe child In his Cradel, þeih he beo bot o niht old; þe kniht and horse in his sadel I-a(r)med, beo he neuer so bold. [ 40] [40 Ms. amed.] Of him beo vche Mon I-war And mak him clene, ar he beo hent; ffor þer nis no ȝeyn-char, whon Auentures comeþ to turnement. Mony mon lihþ in dedly synne [ 45] And weneþ þat he beo not veyȝe, And Auentures comeþ wiþ his ginne And hontuþ til he haue his preye. In dedly sunne ho is I-founde [49 Ms. he st. ho.] wiþ-outen schrift and repentaunce, [ 50] he geþ in to helle-grounde, þer to suffre his penaunce. Seint Poul bit we schulden awake— þis Clerkes witen as wel as I— þat we schulden vs clene make [ 55] And of vr sinnes ben sori; And bote we ben, we schulen abugge; þer schal no pledur plede þat; þer God vs fynt, he wol vs Jugge— Nou vche Mon be war bi þat. [ 60] ffor Auentures wol come as a þef Be nihte, whon men ben aslepe, And taken awey þat him is leef— Nou awakeþ, þat ȝe mowe him kepe.

A Noþer Messager þer is [ 65] Of Deþ, whon crist wol him sende: Seknesse, Ichaue I-herd ar þis, þe Messager is swiþe hende. Whon Seeknesse comeþ to amon, he may be war ȝif he is sleih, [ 70] And greiþen his In, ȝif þat he con, And þenken þat deþ is swiþe neih. ffor seknesse comeþ apertely, he ne dareþ not in his den; hit is vre lordes Cortesy [ 75] wiþ Seknesse for to warne men. Mony Men, whon þat heo beoþ seke, To Jhesu Crist a clepen and criȝe And to his Mylde Mooder eke And sigge: "now þou help, Marie! [ 80] ȝif þat we mowe be sound and saue And keuere, þat we mowen habben vr hele, Al þe good þat we haue ffor Godes loue we wolen hit dele." We loue wel God in al vr þouȝt, [ 85] while we beo seeke & sore smerte; whon we beoþ hol, we louen him nouȝt, he nis no lengor in vre herte— Cum fero langorem, ffero Religionis amorem; [ 90] Expers langoris non sum memor huius amoris. Of crist ne takeþ he non hede, he naþ no more wiþ him to donne; To þonken him for his goode dede, [ 95] he þenkeþ no more þer-vpponne. Suche men ben ofte al-one I-let To pleye as þe foul in þe lift, Til Auentures haue wiþ hem met, Be-Reueþ hem boþe hosel and schrift. [ 100] Men ouȝten holden vp boþe heore honden To God, while heo ben hol and feere, To sende, whon he wol hem fonden, Seeknesse to ben heore Messagere. Seint poul seiþ, vre lordes kniht, [ 105] In a pistel þat he wrot, þat he was strengest & most of miht whon god him wiþ seknesse smot.

NOw ichulle siggen ou of Elde, Of Messagers he is þe þridde. [ 110] whon Monnes hed biginneþ to elde, he may not do but beodes bidde. And he leoneþ vppon his Crucche, whon deþ him bekneþ, comen he mot; hit helpeþ nouȝt þauh he grucche, [ 115] he schal wiþ-stonde neuer a fot. Also fareþ Elde as doþ a sweyn þat stondeþ at his lordes ȝate And mot not wenden in aȝeyn, ffor þe po(r)ter þat is þer-ate; [ 120]

ffor no ȝiftes þat he may ȝiuen, Ne feire wordes þat he mai speken; he worþ out atte ȝate I-driuen, Anon þe ȝate for him is steken. Ȝif a Mon may libben heer [ 125] And ben of pouwer for to go þe Elde of ffoure-score ȝer, þat oþer del is serwe and wo. ffor hose wole his lyf be-holde ffrom biginnynge to þe ende, [ 130] wel ofte may his herte colde þat not what wey he schal wende. Wel we witen we schule be ded, vr dwellyng her nis bote a while— Jhesu crist vs wisse and rede, [ 135] þat neuer þe ffend ne do vs gyle. Nou is deþ a wonder þing And grislich for to þenken on; he ne spareþ Emperour ne kyng, Ne Pope for al þe good þat he con. [ 140] Wher ben heo þat biforen vs weoren, þat weore so mihti in heore deden, houndes ladden and haukes beeren An hontyng heiȝe vppon heore steeden? Deþ hit haþ hem al by-raft, [ 145] wiþ hem þer nis no more pley. And al þat beres monnes schaft, Schal go þat ilke selue wey. vche Mon may be sore aferd þat haþ a soule for to saue, [ 150] whon he geþ bi a Chirche-ȝerd And seoþ wher dede men beþ I-graue. Riche men habbeþ riche stones, þat alle men mouwe biholde: þer-vnder liggeþ foule bones, [ 155] I-beddet al in Cloþ of colde. Wel pore halle þer is I-maked, wiþ-outen eny worldes winne; Saue a Clout, men beoþ al naked, whon deþ is comen I-cast þer-Inne. [ 160] Þe halle-Roof is cast ful lowe, þer beoþ none Chaumbres wyde; Me may reche þe helewowe And þe wal on vche a syde. heore bodies þat weoren so softe I-baþen [ 165] And I-brouȝt forþ wiþ Mete and drynk, þer hit schal crepe ful of Maþen— In al þis world nis foulore stynk. A Mon þat such a bodi seȝe whon wormes hit haþ þorw-souht, [ 170] he ouȝte wepe wiþ his eȝe And euere haue him in his þouht. Þer nis non so luyte ne so muche þat is of fflesch, blod and bon, þat we ne schule ben alle suche, [ 175] whon we ben huled vnder a ston. hou may eny mon be proud ffor eny þing þat he may gete, whon he is huled vnder a schroud þat þing þat is wormes mete? [ 180] Þat þing þat is vr moste fo, þerfore we don a gret folye To loue þat þing þat doþ vs wo, And eke vr dedliche enemye. ȝif a Mon may libben heer [ 185] As longe as dude Matussale— Niȝene hundred & nyne & sixti ȝer So longe on eorþe liuede he— Þat nis not also muche tyme Aȝeynes þe tyme þat comeþ after∣ward [ 190] As fro þe sonne-rysing to prime— To sunfol men þat is ful hard. Þat I schal seye nou takeþ kepe, I drawe to witnesse seynt Austyn: þat a Mon schal more wepe [ 195] þat dampned is to helle-pyn, Þen is water vnder þe sonne, And he wepe vche day a ter. Auiseþ ow now, ȝif þat ȝe cunne, And doþ þat ȝe ne come not þer! [ 200] A Mon þat dampned is to helle, his peyne may not ben for-bouȝt, Ac endeles he schal þer dwelle; Almes-dede helpeþ him nouht. Þei alle men þat libbeþ nouþe [ 205] weore prestes Masses to synge, And duden al þat þei euer couþe, Ne scholden him of pyne bringe. Þat ilke soule þat is dryuen wiþ fendes in atte helle-ȝate, [ 210] And his Juggement be him ȝiuen, To bidde Merci hit is to late. heuene hit is vre heritage, To vre bihoue hit is diht, (if) we han do feute and homage [ 215] [215 if fehlt.] To vre lord, as hit is riht. Synful mon, ȝif þat he falleþ, A-Rys vp and mak þi pees, And cum to crist, whon þat he calleþ, To Joye þat is endeles. [ 220] he þat is al-mihti kyng, þat heiȝe sitteþ In Trinite, Graunt vs alle his blessyng, AMEN AMEN par charite.

6. Festum omnium sanctorum (et omnium animarum). [Der Text ist vielfach unheilbar verderbt.]

aus Ms. Ashmol. 61, fol. 73.

Jhesu Cryst of myȝhtis most, fader & sone & holy gost, Be at our begynnenge And saue mans kynd fro spyllyng, And gyfe vs, grace after to fynde, [ 5] holy chyrch to haue in mynde And do þer-after & to wyrche As teches vs haly chyrch!— Feyre it is on to se Off holy seyntis þat haue be, [ 10] And haue þer festis in þe ȝere, As is wrytene in kalendere. Some be halowyd & are souȝht, And sum also be halowyd nouȝt; Many thousandis, as I fynd, [ 15] In kalender haue no mynd Ne (be) wryten hye ne low There holy deys forto know; Oute-take one þei knaw all, [19 Ms. þⁱ Abbr. für þei (doch ist þⁱ ausserdem = þi).] All-halow-dey þat mene call, [ 20] A dubull fest & euer schall be Thorow-oute all xpyante. wele auȝt we halow þis fest-deye Off all seyntis þat lastys aye: In heuen þei be before Jhesus [ 25] And as we do, þei pray fore vs. lystins now fore godis grace how þis feste come in-to place, how it is fond, on what manere, And dubull-holy amonge vs here! [ 30] In Rome, þat holy cyte, some-tymes was a temple of saryȝens, Off pagaynus & saryȝens stoute & sterne, And all þat were of mysse-beleuyne To þat temple þei gan draw, [ 35] To wyrschyp þer godis in þer law. That temple was callyd panteone— In all þis werlde was not sych one. Panteone is to sey in greke: 'Of all godis & deuellus eke'; [ 40] Thus was ordeynd þis temple-hous Off all deuyllus, to haue þer cours. In þe syte of Rome þat tyme was The holy pope Bonyf(as)e; he was þe fort pope, sothly, [ 45] [45 fort aus fyrst korr.] after seynt Gregory. Of þis errour he had enuy; Forto destrew þat mawmentry That was ageyne þe ryȝht beleue And holy chyrch be-gane to greue, [ 50] That temple sone in þat cyte he thouȝt it schuld amendyd be. he come before þe emperour And prayd fore hys grete honour Grante hym þis temple with-outene more, In þe syte þat was þore, To do þer-with what he wold, That no man lete hym schuld, Crystindome to encres sone And þat fals errour to fore-done. [ 60] Than þe emperour & kynge Grantyd þe pope hys askynge, Forto haue euer fre To holy chyrch & xpiante. Pope Bonyfas sone anone [ 65] To þat place he gane gone, And toke hys clergy & hys powere, [f. 74] Fore to make þat temple clere, And pute oute all þat tyrandry and sette þerin hys clergy. [ 70] he wessche þe temple with-in & owte and halowyd þe cherch all-aboute. Thys holy chyrch he made holy In þe worschyp of seynt Mary, Angellus, Patriarkys, prophetis mo, [ 75] apostellus & martyres also, Confessorys, vergynes, þat holy were: all-hallow chyrch was made þere ... As crystene mese dey holy in þe ȝere, T(he) fy(r)st dey of nouembyre, [ 80] And dowbull fest, forto last ay, [81 And st. a.] And was callyd hall-hallow-dey. The pope & hys clergy wyse Ordeyned fore þat dey seruys, als holy chyrch berys wytnes; [ 85] The pope sang þer þe fyrst mes Of all hallowys, & gafe pardon. Thorow þe grete cyte of Rome Thys fals errour gane to sese, And crystendom forto encres. [ 90] Thruȝhe þe werlyd in euery lond [91 = werld.] Pope Bonyfas sente his sond: he commandyd to kepe hys heste: All-hallow-dey a dowbulle feste

Fore any seculere werkis told [ 95] [95 l. fro.] with-outene ende forto be hold. Fore grete skyll ordend it was, Fore them þat hade done trespas, Ageyne þe commandmentys of holy chyrche That on þe holy dey dyde wyrche, [ 100] Slauth in godis seruys & in fastynge, In byddynge þer bedys & in lettynge: Thys all-hallow-dey be skylle he may amend hym, if he wyll To come to holy chyrch in clenesse [ 105] [105 tilge to.] At euensonge, matyns, ourys & messe. All trespas before þan is fore-gyffene, And he be in gode lyffe & clene schryfene. Alle gode seyntis forto sey To Jhesu Cryst schall fore hym pray [ 110] To come to þe Joy abouene, That þei be in with Cryst alone. The Joy & blys within þat place God grante vs fore his holy grace!

Crystyn mane, fore godis ore [ 115] herkens now & here more, [116 Ms. how st. now.] The solempnyte of þis feste how hye it is thorow godis heste. As I fynd in boke & rede, God was payd with þat dede, [ 120] And þat it schuld euer be do Off his grace he grantyd þer-to; To saue mans saule fro pyne & sorow, All-saule-dey vppone þe morow was ordenyd, as ȝe may here, [ 125] To be a fest, on þis manere. In Rome þat tyme, as I ȝow telle, A holy man þer dyd duelle In a hous of relygeone, A munke of grete deuocyone; [ 130] he louyd god & kepyd hym clene, And god louyd hym, & þat was sene. Off all-hallow euyne in honour, As he ley in hys dortour with hys breþer in slepynge, [ 135] There come an angell fro heuen∣kynge And toke þe saule of hys bodye And bere it in-to heuyne on hye Before god in mageste, And bade hym loke aboute & se. [ 140] he saw þer a blyscfull thynge: [141 Ms. blystful.] In mageste a worthy kynge. Forthere-more he dyd sene Before þe kynge þer come a quene, vpone hyr hede a crowne off golde, [ 145] [145 Ms. hys st. hyr.] And with hyre meydens many-folde. when sche was come before þe kynge, Sche salute hym in thankynge with grete honour in þat tyde, And stude by þe kyngis syde; [ 150] Sethyn þe meydens dyd þem schew And worschyped þe kynge on a rew; Joy & blys amonge þem was; They stude vp & toke þer place. Semly men (dyd) cum sone xij [ 155] And worschyped þe kynge be theme∣selue, And, fore þei wold be nyȝe at hond, Be-syde þe kynge þei gane stond. There-after sone-ryghtis Come a compeny of knyȝhtis [ 160] And stode to-geþer in a rowte and worschyped þe kynge aboute. Anone after þe saule gane se Off clerkis a grete compene, In whyte was all þer clothynge; [ 165] They knelyd done before þe kynge And worschyped hym & dyd hym grete, And after stude vpone þerfete. The angell stud þe saule besyde And seyd to hym in þat tyde [ 170] And bad he schuld not adrede be, Fore þe Joy of gode he schuld se. The prinsypall of þe twelue þane Matyns of þe dey begane; Than was þe fest of theme all, [ 175] To worschype god in hys halle; A Joyfull seruys was seyd there Off all þe seyntes þat there were, with Joy & myrth in þat nyght— The saule had a Joyfull syght. [ 180] Ȝit he wold wyte more; The saule seyd to þe angell þore: "What may all thys meruellus be O þis peple þat I se?" The angell seyd to hym anone: [ 185] "Thys kynge þat thow seys in trone, Is Jhesu Cryst, owre sauyour, That all þe peple doys honour. The quene þat stondis hym bye, Is hys modor, seynte Marye; [ 190] [190 Ms. modo mit Abbr. für ur; dieselbe Abbr. dient in þerfo, mo, o für re, r.] Fore all man-kynd sche do(ys) praye [191 Ms. do.] That worschype hyre þis ilke deye. Thes meydens þat with hyre geyth, Be holy vergyns þat sofferd deth And kepyd them clene in chastyte: [ 195] In heuen þerfore þei euer schall be.

Some in erth hath no mynd Ne fest-dey amonge mane-kynd Bot þis dey, þat is holy: There-fore þei make þis melody, [ 200] And pray fore them in all wys That worschype þis dey seruys. Thes twelue þat stond so neyȝe abone, Be apostellus with god alone, The holy gost is with them, sothe; [ 205] They pray fore them þat worschype doyt. The feyre knyȝhtis þat thow (hast) sene, holy martrys þei bene And sofferd in erth mekyll angwys: [209 And st. þat.] There-fore þei be here in blys. [ 210] Clerkis in clothynge whyte as floures, Be holy byschopys & confessoures That kepyd theme euer in clenes And pute þer bodys in grete destres, In wakynge, fastynge & in prayere: [ 215] There-fore þei be in Joys here, And pray fore them to our lord Jhesus That worschype þem in erth thus. More now ȝit I schall tell the Of many seyntis þat here be [ 220] And hase no fest-dey in mynde Bot þis fest-dey, as I fyn(d)e, [222 Ms. fyne.] Amonge all crystynd þat þer is: There-fore þei make þis Joy & blys And pray to god souerandly [ 225] Off all crystend to haue mersy, In worschype of þem þat hallow aye In clene lyfe all-hallow-deye. he þat begynnes matyns of þe xij, Is seynte Peter all hym-selue— [ 230] All crystend be in hys powere, And all chyrches, ferre & nere. Now pray I god of hys grace Restore þe, saule, in-to hys place, [234 hys st. thy.] To þe body, þat it was Ine, [ 235] To haue þe strenght of mane-kynne; And tell þe pepull to & fro what þou hast herd & sene also! Bot ȝit, or þou departe fro me, Mo meruellus þou schall se." [ 240] To a place of meruellynge The angell dyde þe saule brynge, Als he wold at hys wylle, And brouȝht hym to a hye hylle. Aboute þe hylle he gane ryne, [ 245] [245 gane st. saw?] water & fyre to-geþer gane bryne; It myȝht be no wey be slakyd. Many mene þer were in nakyd, Ouer-all thyke euery dele As in þe se is grauelle. [ 250] In þe water some were Ine Depe pute vnto þer chyne, Turment so, þei had no reste; And sum stond vp to þe breste, Some vnto þe fete were schoue, [ 255] And some vnto þe kneys abouen. Thus he merueld of þat syght, The angell led hym forth ryght, To anoþer hylle wente he, Mo merueyles forto se. [ 260] There was Joy Inowȝe to sene: A suete medow feyre & grene, It was closyd fore þe nōnys All-aboute with presyous stones. In þis medew was to behold [ 265] Sytes schyneng all of gold, Beddys of gold many þer were, That were ordeynd to be there, Bryȝht & suete of sauour More thane any lycour. [ 270] The sall merueyled of þis aray. [271 sall = saule.] As he stud þus, more he sey: Off feyre ȝonge mene grete compeny Com in-to þis medew sothanly, All of an age, forto abyde; [ 275] Thyke þei come in euery syde, Also thyke semyd they as þe sterres in þe sky; They pleyd & songe amonge, Off Joy & myrth was all þer songe. [ 280] To sytte in þe setys some caste, [f. 76.] And sum in þe beddys forto reste. Joy & blys ouer-all was In þat medew in euery plas. As þei were glad in þer setys, [ 285] There were ordeynd dyuerse metes, Full suete metis delysyous Come before them in euery course— There couth no man telle aryght The kynd of þat mete how it was dyght. [ 290] As þei sate & ete there, Sothanly come þem before, when þei were most in þer gladynge, Mekyll peple come on begynge; So many þei were in (euery) dele, [ 295] That no mane myȝht telle þem wele. They stude with-oute þe medew clos, Forto bege was þer pourpos, They begyd fast & cryed herd. No mane toke of them werd, [ 300] Bot lete þem stond þer alone; Fore þem made no mane mone.

Than seyd þe saule with grysly chere: "lord god, what do I here? So many meruellus be schewyd me to, [ 305] I know not how it is do." Than spake þe angelle to hym anone: "I schall þe schew euery-chone: Thys medew þat is so grene þis tyde, Is paradys, with grete delyte, [ 310] There Adam, þe fyrst fader, was, he was pute oute fore hys trespas. Thys men þat thou seys in water here, Be saulys to make hem clere; water & fyre þat thow hast sene, [ 315] Off pourgatory it is þe peyne. holy wryte þerof hath mynde In þe sauter, as we fynde: Dauid þe prophete neuer þe late Seys he passyd fyre & water— [ 320] lord, & þi wyll be, Thy mersy þou grante me! Euery man, when he schall dyȝe, hys saule fro þe body schall flye; And if he be in gode speranse [ 325] And (has) vnder-fonge gode penans, That his body had (noȝt) full-fylled, [327 noȝt fehlt.] The saule he schall haue þe gylte: In þis fyre he schall be so, To his penans be all do. [ 330] When it is done all entere And þe saule be made clere, he schall come to þe wele, In-to paradys of hele, The medew þat thow se before, [ 335] That all þis mene in were. They be saules þat clene be, In paradys þat is so fre. Thes setys & beddys of ryches They be sales of bodys (!). [ 340] There schall þe saules be hente To þe dey of Jugemente. When þis dey is come so neȝe Of Jugement (of) owre lord so fre, Than schall þei all, god wote whyder, [ 345] Body & saule cum to-geder; All-maner men þat euer were Or euer schall be, lesse or more, That dey þei schall cum thus Body & saule before Jhesus. [ 350] all þat haue seruyd on þis wyse, Go into þe Joy of paradys, They schall haue onour of hys In hys blys before hys face, Aye-lastynge lyfe & god þer frend, [ 355] Joy and blys with-outene ende. All þat dyde not on þis wyse, In purgatory & in paradys Deseruyd neuer forto come, Oþer wey þei schall be nome, [ 360] [360 Ms. dey st. wey.] departyd fro god þat ilke dey To þe peyne of hell þat lastis aye." The angell seyd þe saule vn-tylle: "In þe fyre þou saw are-whyle ... Thow saw in fyre vp to þe breste [ 365] And oþer penans, þei had no reste: In erth þei haue frendis trew That thynke of them & of þem rew, In almus-dede and offerynge, In praynge & messe-synginge, [ 370] and oþer god dedis þat they fynde Off þer frendis þat be kynd; That makys þer saules soner slake And to paradys þe wey take: There þei be as I sey how [ 375] In merth & in Joy I-now.

Thes men þat stond & fast callys with-oute paradys wallys, That be nedfull of beggynge And no mane bed þem no-thinge: [ 380] The be þe saules of þis men In erth hem-selue wold not kene Ne to þer neyȝborus wold be kynd; Thefore no man haue of hem mynd. [384 Ms. The fore; dieselbe Form in diesem Ms. häufig, doch ist dieselbe wohl nur verschrieben st. thre- for, und the nicht als Instrum. zu fassen.] God send þem catell grete plente [ 385] To do with and þei wold not se, Neþer to gyff neuer to lene, [387 Ms. neuer st. ner.] To helpe þer neyȝborys þat were pore mene, Neþer gyffe þer tythes to holy chyrche— They louyd þat not forto wyrch, [ 390] Fore godis loue þei myght not spede That were pore men, þat had nede; Riches & catell was all þer thouȝt, And fore seke men & pore þei had nouȝt— Thys was þer lyfe to þe ende: [ 395] There-fore here haue þei no frende; The bodys be dede, þe catell a-go, There saules be in care & wo; In defaute of helpe & prayere They stond & bege in myscheffhere [ 400]

with-outen paradys ȝate— To bege here it is to late!" Than seyd þe angell þe saule tylle: "I haue þe schewyd all þi wylle. Now pray I god, most of myȝht, [ 405] In-to thy body þi saule myȝht lyght; And go & tell þe holy pope what þou hast sene with gode hope; As he hath ordeyned all-hallow-dey To be wyrschyped euer & aye, [ 410] So on̄e þe morne amonge man-kynd All crysten saules to haue þer mynd, There dey to be halowyd so, And namely, to seruys be do. It is godis wyll & hys beheste [ 415] Crysten saules to haue þer feste; So þat they (þat) no frendis haue Thys is helpe with-outene craue, Off þer peynes to haue pardone, To come to saluasyone." [ 420] Anon þe Angell, as he thouȝt, To þe body þe saule he brouȝt And lefte them þer alyfe to-gythere, And toke hys wey, god wote whyder. Off þis monke, þe holy mane, [ 425] When (fro) þe body þe saule was tane, In tyme of all-hallow nyȝht, The monkes to þe chyrch hem dyȝht, [428 Ms. monke mit übschr. s. hym st. hem.] Als þei were wonte þer bokys brynge, To sey þer matyns & to synge. [ 430] Or þei be-gane þer seruys thane, They myssed þer broþer, þat holy mane— For euery nyȝht þat vsyd he: The fyrst at matens he wold be. Fore wyrschype of hym and honour [ 435] They souȝt hym in þer dortour. When þei come to hys cabane, There þei fond þis holy man Feyre colouryd, whyte & rede, And ley as he hade bene dede. [ 440] The body was dede, it was non oþer. They made grete sorow fore þer broþer. And as þei wepe & handis wronge, They toke þer consell þem amonge Where þei wold þis body berye [ 445] That was so holy & so merye. In serteyn place þeitoke þer wytte, And dyged þer & made a pytte. When þis pytte was redy þere, They feste þe body on a bere [ 450] And sete it done þe pytte be-syde, And seyd þer seruys in þat tyde with solempne deuosyone, as is þe maner off relygeone. They stode all aboute þe bere [ 455] And made full grete dole there. When þei had þer seruys seyd, The body schuld in graue be layd: his saule in-to þe body lyȝht, And stude vp quyke anon-ryȝht. [ 460] Thes monkis were adred sore and wold haue go þer wey þerfore. he seyd vnto þem louelyke And seyd: "breder, I ame now quyke. Be no(t) a-ferd þat I ame þus: [ 465] It is þe grace of oure lord Jhesus. I praye ȝou all, or þat we gone, Brynge me to þe pope anone! Where I haue bene, in what manere, I schall ȝou tell all in-fere." [ 470] The abot anon & hys couent With there broþer forth þei wente, To þe popys palys wente he With full grete solempnyte. When þei come be-fore hys face, [ 475] The holy pope Bonyfas, The munke knelyd sone a-don̄e; The pope gaffe hym hys benysone. Anone þe abote in knelynge Told þe pope of þer comynge; [ 480] "Reuerand fader", seyd he, "Thys monke, our broder, þat ȝe se, On þis holy all-hallow nyght, When we were to our matyns dyȝht, We myssed hym at þat stond: [ 485] Dede in our dortour we hym fonde. We couth non oþer, our state to saue, Bot seyd hys dyregy & mad his graue. When we schuld into þe graue hym do, he rose vp quyke & spak vs to: [ 490] [490 Ms. spap.] A(nd) comforth vs with a gode chere [491 Ms. A.] And bad vs brynge hym to ȝou here. We meruellyd gretly in þis case What he wold & why it was. he has louyd god euer in clenesse, [ 495] At euynsonge, matyns, oures & messe Fyrst at þe cherch he wold be, Oft-tyme be hym-selue we myȝt (hym) se [498 hym fehlt.] In his bedys & hys prayers. Wyte ȝe hys wyll, no(u) he is here!" [ 500] Thys holy pope Bonyface Was a-meruylled of þat case how þis munke schuld be blyue When he was dede to cum to lyue.

he schewyd to hym with grete wyte [f. 78.] [ 505] and spake to hym of holy wryte, Namly fore hys saule euyne, ȝiff he were in gode beleuyne, An-anter if any wyked sprete had brouȝt hym in mysse-delyte. [ 510] The munke ansuerd & seyd þis thynge: "I beleue in god all-weldynge, Fader & sone & holy goste, I beleue þat god is moste, he made þis werld all of nouȝht. [ 515] Message fro heuyn I haue brouȝht. holy fader, I tell þe ryȝht, As I ley þis all-hallow nyȝht In oure dortour in sclepynge, There come an angell fro heuen∣kynge, [ 520] The saule he toke fro my body And lede it in-to heuyn on̄e hye Before god in hys mageste. and all seyntis þer I se, Grete Joy þei made of þat feste [ 525] That is ordand at thy beheste." Thus þe munke all hys wey To þe pope he gane sey, Off Joy & peynes all in-fere, all to-geþer, as ȝe may here; [ 530] [530 may st. dyd.] And as þe angell dyde hym charge, To þe pope he seyd large: "holy fader", seyd he, "The angell bade me sey to the: As þou hast ordeynd all-hallow-deye [ 535] To be wyrschyped & halowyd aye, So on þe morne amonge man-kynd All crystynd saules to haue in mynd, And þer dey be ordend faste— [539 Ms. he st. be.] Thys word he send at þe laste. [ 540] After he made me with hym gone And toke my body þe saule anone And made vs þer to-geder quyke, And wente hys wey preuylyke. hys message now I do full-fylle. [ 545] God gyff vs grace to do hys wylle!" [546 Ms. hyll st. hys.] Thys holy pope Bonyface Off þis tydingis glad he was; he knelyd don̄e on hys kne And thankyde god in trinyte [ 550] That he wold haue rememorans Off þat grasyos ordynans. he souȝht after, ferre & ney, after all his grete clergy, To all þe bysschopys þat were wyse, [ 555] Thys dey to orden þe seruyse. when þei were come to-geder clene, The pope there he held hys fene [558 sene synodus.] And told þem of þis enchesone Of þer congregasyone. [ 560] The were glad of þis tydinge And thankyd god, heuen-kynge, That seyntes þer schuld haue þer mynd And all saules amonge man-kynd; Ryght as þe pope wold do, [ 565] All þei assentyd þer-to. The pope anone be all asente Ordeynd be hys comandmente, Thorow-oute all crystyante all-halow-dey to halowyd be, [ 570] Double fest to be euer-more, The fyrst dey of nouembere, Men forto hallow fro all werkis, To here seruys of prestys & clerkis; all-salle-dey be on̄e þe morow, [ 575] Fro peynes of purgatory them (to) borow, And euer-more amonge man-kynde To praye fore them & haue in mynde; As all seyntys be halowyd ryȝht To pray fore vs to god all-myȝht, [ 580] So all saules in þer manere Be relesyd throw preyers here And come to Joy of paradis clere, There to lyue euer in-fere, To þat it be domes-dey, [ 585] And than to be in oþer aray: The saule with body throuȝt godis heste, And cum before hym at þer feste, In heuen abouen þer he is, That is full of Joy & blysse. [ 590] There is no tonge þat may telle The Joy & blys þer is to duelle. God grante vs all here (so) to do That we may cum þat Joy vn-to, In-to þat Joyfull place [ 595] That he hath ordend with his grace, Fore lufe to saue all man-kynne, with-outene ende to duell þer-Ine. Wyth gode hert, þat it so be, Sey we amen, fore charyte! [ 600]

7. Romanze von Christi Auferstehung [Das folgende alte Gedicht ist, wie es scheint, nur in Ms. Ashm. 61, welches so manche alte Stücke gerettet, erhalten, leider in einem sehr verworrenen, über∣arbeiteten und lückenhaften Texte; ganze Partien sind aus der Ordnung geraten, andere an anderer Stelle wiederholt, manches scheint spätere Zudichtung zu sein. Interessant sind die Namen der vier Grabeswächter.]

aus Ms. Ashmol. 61, fol. 138.

When Jhesu was in graue leyd, The bysschop vnto an-oþer seyd:

"The best rede þat we cane done, To sir Pylate we wyll gone, To aske hym conseyll; [ 5] With-outen hym we may not do The thingis þat touch þe croune vnto, with-outyne any feyle."

The Jues þei toke þer gate, To þei come to sir Pylate, [ 10] To hym þei gan to sey: "That Jhesus seyd in hys lyue Thynge þat made vs to stryue, [f. 139.]

And a-ryse vp þe thyrd dey And brynge þe Jewys in blame." [ 15] Than seyd sir Pylate sone anone: "So ne schall it not gone; It were to vs grete schame."

Syre Pylat was so gryme, Cayfas he callyd to hym, [ 20] To aske hym counseylle; "Cayfas", he seyd, "I þe beseche, What to do þou me teche With-outene any faylle.

The prophetis", he seyd, "þat were wyse, [ 25] Seyd þat Jhesus schuld aryse vpone þe thyrd dey And brynge mans saule oute of helle." "That is a lesynge, I þe telle", Cayfas gane to sey; [ 30]

Pylate, do as I þe kend: Foure knyȝhtis þou theþer send, Bold men & wyse, And do þem forto wake þe stone, Tyll þe thyrd nyȝht be gone, [ 35] That Jhesus not vp ryse!

And Joseph of Aramathy all-so In-to preson late hym go, Fore doute of hys tresone; Fore, yff Jhesus be stolne awey, [ 40] My hede to wede I wyll ley, It is thourght hys enchesone."

And þan sir Pylate sone on hyȝe Send in-to Aramathy Joseph forto take, [ 45] And dyde hym in a depe presone, Depe in a stronge dongeone, Fore Jhesus Crystis sake.

He made a stone-walle before þe dore, And grete othys Pylate suere [ 50] He schuld þer lye & dye. A hole was in þe walle wrouȝt, There hys mete was to hym brouȝht That he had to hys lyuerey.

Pylat callyd to hym knyȝhtis [ 55] Olde men þat were wyse: Syre Cosdram & sir Emoraunte, Syre Arfax & sir Gemorante, And told hem hys avyse:

"Com forth, sir Amorant, [ 60] Syre Arfax & sir Gemorante, And Cosdram þe prowde, Go & loke wele to þat stone, Tyll þe thyrd dey be a-gone, That no man come þer-aboute!" [ 65]

Syre Emerand seyd than: "Thoff þer come a thousand men, There-of I ne reche; Bot I sle þem in a stoūnd And make them falle to þe ground, [ 70] Hew me all to slyches!"

Syre Gemorant seyd þo: "There iff þei come syche two, [73 1. Thoff þer.] Stond I þer-of no doutes; Bot iff I do hem sle, [ 75] Saffly hew þou me All to smale cloutis!"

Syre Cosdram (seyd): "so mote I the, Thoff þer come sych thre, I ȝiff not þer-of an haw; [ 80] That ilke dey þat he vp ryste That is callyd Jhesu Cryst, I wyll be all to-draw."

Syre Arfax seyd: "I dred no dele, We wyll kepe þe sepulkere wele [ 85] Aȝen þe thyrd nyȝht; Thoff all þei be twenty this many & some [87 Ms. rome.] To þe sepu(l)kere were I-come, Thei schall dyȝe anone-ryȝht."

When þe knyȝhtis had þus seyd, [ 90] [90 Ms. whem.] Syre Pylate was ryȝt wele apayd And ȝaue hem hys blyssynge, And bad hem be as trew as stele, Fore to kepe þe sepulkyre wele, With-outen any slepynge. [ 95]

Syre Amorant seyd: "lysten to me! Vs behouyth slyȝe to be: One behouyth at hys hede to wake, Anoþer at hys (fet) hede take, [99 fet om.] That he go not a-wey. [ 100]

Kepe we wele both sydis, What aventour so betydys, That Jhesus not owte come! Iff any come to hym here, Smyte of hys hed in-fere, [ 105] [105 hys st. our?] Bot he be sone I-nome!"

Thus ganne þe knyȝtis to manas, And drew þer suerdys in þat place, The knyȝhtis euery-chone. And a grete slepe þei gane take, [ 110] [110 l. þem?] That þei had no powere to wake, When Jhesus wold forth gone.

Syre Amorante seyd: "alas, alas! Fore neuer so slepy I was [114 Ms. he st. I.] Fore all my lyffys dey. [ 115] Me behouyth to rest me a stoūnd, [f. 140.] Thoff I wyst to be boūnd And with a wyld horse drawe."

Syre Gemorant seyd so than: "So sore on̄e slepe now I ame, [ 120] I ne may no lenger wake. Me behouyth my hede doūne lye, What so Pylate or Cayphas sey Or what noys so þei make."

Syre Cosdram seyd: "what ayles me? [ 125] I ne may with myne eyȝen se, I may not wake longe. Me behoueth to rest me a thraw, To þe cokys haue thrys crow, Thoff I schuld be heyȝe honge." [ 130]

Thus gane þe knyȝtis to slepe— They had no powere forto wake, When Jhesus wold vp ryse. And Jhesus, as it was hys wylle, Oute off þe sepulcour he rose full stylle, [ 135] And seyd on þis wyse:

"Fadere", he seyd, "þat arte in heuen, With word, with myȝt, & with steuen Now I thanke þe, That þou wold late me be borne [ 140] To saue man-kynd þat was fore-lorne; Mych hast þou done fore me.

I fast in erth fourty deys, To full-fyll þe olde lawys That here was sete in lond. [ 145] Fader, now I haue fulle-fyllyd That man-kynd had mysse-gylte, So as I vnder-stond.

Now is full-fyllyd þe profecy That was seyd of Jeromy [ 150] And of oþer mo: That a chyld schuld be borne To saue man-kynd þat was fore-lorne Out of peyn & wo.

Now it is all comply [ 155] And full-fylled þe prophesy That seyd Danyell: That a lombe schuld come beforne And by þe folke þat were fore-lorne, Man-kynd to saue wele. [ 160]

The-fore I haue my blod spylde, And now þe prophesy full-fylde Of þat ilke lombe. Herkyns, fadere, if þou wylte, [163-164 im Ms. umgest.] Wheþer I haue bouȝht mans gylte [ 165] With hede, fote & honde.

I was nayled thourht hond & fete [167 Ms. fote.] And fore man saule my lyue I lete And many peynes gane to fonde. Man, if þat thow were kynde, [ 170] Thys dey þou awe to haue in mynde, If þou it wold vnderstonde."

He callyd vp with myld steuyne Vn-to hys fader in heuyne, And ryȝht as it was hys wylle: [ 175] "Fadere, þat arte full of myȝht, Send doūne an angelle bryȝht, To comforth hym wele stylle!" [178 hym st. me? Nach 208 ist 179 bis 208 nochmals wiederholt, Anf.: Come with me he seyd gabryele And leue þou here raphaelle, To Jhesu aȝen on hyȝht etc.]

There come angelle Gabryelle, With hys felow Raphaelle, [ 180] To Jhesu aȝen on̄e hyȝht: "Jhesu, blyssed mote þou be, Fader & god in trinyte! Now is alle complyȝt."

They seyd: "þou þat arte so gode, [ 185] That wold honge vpone þe rode To saue all man-kynd, Blyssed mote þe tyme be That we may þe here se, Jhesu, þat arte so hende! [ 190]

Lord Jhesu, heuyne-kynge, Thow grante vs all þi blyssinge, Iff it þi wylle be! Fore all þis werld auȝht to be blythe That þou arte rysene fro deth to lyue. [ 195] Suete is þe loue off þe."

Jhesu seyd: "my blyssinge haue ȝe, And all þat beleue on me, To-dey & euer-more. Mannys saule þat was becauȝht, [ 200] With my blod I haue hym bouȝht Out off peynes sore.

Here I kepe to duell nouȝht, In oþer stedys is my thouȝht, To fette oute one of myne [ 205] That hade me in graue brouȝht; My loue he hath dere bouȝht With sorow (&) stronge pyne."

"Come with me", he seyd, "Gabryell! And leue þou here, Raphaelle, [ 210] To kepe þe iij Marys! The one in Mary Jacobye, Mary Mawdeleyne, & Salome. Thou schall gyffe them ansuere,

And sey þat I ame rysen & gone [ 215] Oute of my graue-stone— Make þem glad & blythe! Sey I ame gone to Galyle With ffull grete dygnite And rysene fro deth to lyue." [ 220]

"Lord", seyd þe angell, "þi wyll be do, Both in heuyne & erth also, As þou arte heuyne-kynge. I schall kepe þe Marys thre And wele ansuerd schall þei be [ 225] Thorow all thinge."

Thus seyd þe apostyll seynte Johne That Jhesus in hys wey was gone To Jherusalem, þat syte. To þe prisone he went on̄e hyȝe, [ 230] To Joseph of Aramathe, There hym deliuerd to be.—

Herkyns all þat be hend: I schall you telle word & ende [234 l. ord.] Of þe Marys thre: [ 235] How þei souȝht suete Jhesu With o(i)ntementis of grete vertu, Hys wondis to alyȝe.

Full wo were þei þat he was dede, Bot þei couth none oþer rede [ 240] Bot wepyd with þer eyȝene. Lystens now ou he seyd, how sche gane hyre feleys rede, The Maudeleyne Mary. [244 Ms. and Mary.]

He seyd to Mary Jacobe [ 245] [245 he = hoe.] And to Mary Salome: "What is ȝour best rede? Now my lord is slaw And with Jues all to-draw— Synfull is þat dede. [ 250]

Fore he mysse-gylt neuer man That any tonge tell canne, Ne neuer (did) no trespas: Sych a deth, I vnderstonde, Was neuer done in no londe, [ 255] Ne none so synfull was. [256 l. senful = schendfull.]

Alas", scheseyd, "my herte wyll breke When þat I here of Jhesu speke! He was so myld of mode! Neuer ȝit was none so myld, [ 260] Not þe modure to þe chyld Neþer halue so gode.

Alas", sche seyd, "þat I ame wo, Fore þat I may not come hym to, Hys body forto se! [ 265] Thyder to go it were grete doute, Fore þe iiij knyȝhtis stoute, As it thinkys me. It were grete doute þedure to gone [268-9 sind Zusatz.] Thes synglē wemene thre. [ 270]

Go þou, Mary Jacobe, And byde me þer alone, No noys þou ne make, And of that iiij knyȝhtis Wete anone-ryȝhtis [ 275] Wheþer þei sle(pe) or wake.

Iff þat þei slepe, anone late se, Hastely come anone to me And tell me how it is: And we schall wend to suete Jhesu [ 280] With oyntmentis of grete vertu, And se hym þer he is."

Mary wente forth in þat sted, As Mawdeleyne hyre had bede, By hyre-selue alone: [ 285] And sey an angelle feyre & bryȝht, [286 Ms. seyd st. sey.] Was come fro heuyne lyȝht, Dyde rest hym on þat stone. [286-8 scheinen verderbt.]

"Gode men", sche seyd, "what do ȝe? Iff þat ȝe wake, now speke with me, [ 290] As ȝe be knyȝhtis hend!" The knyȝhtis lay styll & slepyd fast. Sche lete hem lye & haue þer reste, Aȝen sche gane to wende.

When þat sche come to them aȝene, [ 295] Sche seyd to Mary Maudeleyne: "Go we in Crystis name! Fore þe knyȝhtis slepe euerychone, Sauely we may þeder gone With-outyne any blame." [ 300]

The thre Marys forth þei wente, And come to þat moniment, As it was Crystis wylle. When þe angell gane hem sene, He spake to Mary Maudeleyne, [ 305] He seyd to hyre full stylle. [301-6. Die Strophe ist überflüssig.]

Thre Marys þat be to Jhesu dere, To þe sepulkyre come in-fere And lokyd in þe stone: There fond þei ryȝht nouȝt [ 310] Bot ryche clothes wele wrouȝt, And Jhesu was forth gone.

When þat Maudeleyne was ware That Jhesu hyre lord was not there, Sche suonyd & fell to þe grond. [ 315] The two Marys, þat stode hyre by, Fore hyre þei were full sory In þat ilke stonde.

Anone Maudeleyne gane to sey: "Wer is my lord, þat here ley [ 320] In þis monyment?" The angell ansuerd here aȝene: "In Galalye þou may hym sene, Theþer he is wente."

Anone þe Maudeleyne Mary [ 325] To Galaly gane hyre hyȝe, With Jhesu forto mete. And in þe garthyne feyre & styll, As it was oure lordis wylle, To hym sche gane to speke (!)... [ 330]

Anone þe Maudeleyne Mary Fell on hyre kneys & begane to cry And seyd: "Jhesu, thyn ore! Late me do, lord, as Intente, To hele þe with þis oyntmente [ 335] Thy wondis þat are sore."

Jhesu seyd: "woman, come not hend! In-to oþer stedys I must wende, My nedis to full-fylle. Go to my moder & seynt Jhone [ 340] And to þe apostolys euer-Ichone And sey to hem full stylle:

Sey, I ame resyn fro deth to lyue. Thorow vertu of my wondis fyue The fend I haue ouer-come." [ 345] The Maudeleyne forth wente, To do Jhesus commandment: To Jerusalem sche is gone,

To oure lady Mary; When sche fond hem all in-fere, [ 350] Sche grete hem with glad chere That feyre compeny,

And bade them all be glad & blyth, Sche seyd: "Jhesus is rysen fro deth to lyue, As I ȝou telle may. [ 355] Fore soþe, as ȝe may here of me, I spake with hym in Galale Thys ilke same dey."— [Im Ms. folgt hierauf zunächst v. 408 bis 460, vor 359-407, obwohl deutlich Forts. der letzteren Partie.]

Two palmers in þat tyde The castell of Damas come besyde, [ 360] [360 l. Emaus.] And Jhesu Cryst þer þei mette; In palmers wede Jhesu wente also. And when þei spake to-geþer tho, Jhesu them feyre grete,

And askyd what mene þei were, [ 365] And what thinge þat they souȝt þere, And why þei were sory. They ansuerd & seyd: "wotis þou nouȝt How Jhesu was to deth brouȝht On þe mounte of Caluery? [ 370]

Among vs whyll þat he ȝede He told vs of þat Ilke dede What schall after þe iij dey þat syth, The thyrd dey after, he dyde sey, He schuld ryse fro deth to lyue þat dey [ 375] And schew hym with hys wondis V, Amonge hys dyscipulus alle. And now is þe thyrd dey gone And word of hym hade we none, Therefore we be agreuyd alle." [ 380] [371-380. Die Verse sind verderbt.]

Jhesu ansuerd them aȝene: "Now me thinke ȝe agreuyd bene A party myss-beleuyd! Haue not ȝe herd in prophesy Off Moyses & of Isay, [ 385] And wryten in story, That Jhesu schuld on þe thrid dey Aryse vp as god veray And sty to his glory?"

Glad were þei of þat he seyd, [ 390] And wente in hys felow-rede Tyll aȝen þe nyȝht; There In þei toke all in-fere And sett þem done at þer sopere With Jhesu in þat plyȝht. [ 395]

They had spred both bord & cloth, And Jhesu Cryst betwen hem both At þe soper he sate. The bred he toke vpone þe borde And blyssed it with holy worde [ 400] And brake it after þat.

By þe brekynge þei hym knew, Boþe be hyde & by hew, And seyd it was Jhesu. And as he sate betwene hem I sey, [ 405] He vanysched sone fro hem awey Thorow hys holy vertu.

Than þei gone to make grete mone Fore Jhesus Cryst was fro them gone, And þei wepyd with þer eyȝe. [ 410] Cleophas seyd: "fore soth it is: Jhesu Cryst arysen is. Both we (haue) hym sene."

Than seyd þe palmere Lucas: "Alon here with vs he was, [ 415] we couth hym not knowyne; The prophesy he vs vndyde And sate with vs in þat stede— The blame is all oure awne."

To Jerusalem swyth he ȝede [ 420] And told all hys feloys-rede That were in grete longynge, And seyd: "feloys, fore I-wys, Jhesu Cryst arysen is, Thys is no lesynge."— [ 425]

That ilke deys what so befall The apostylls toke þer Cene all At on paleys of stone. Dores & wyndos þei sperd faste, Off þe Jues þei were agast; [ 430] And Thomas was oute gone.

As as þei were in grete longynge Off Jhesu to haue sone tydinge, Amonge heme gane he stond. [434 Ms to st. he.] All þei were in full grete care; [ 435] [435 l. awe.] A gost þei weyned þat it ware. [436 l. þat þei sawe.] He schewyd them fote & hond.

Jhesu seyd: "pes amonge ȝou be! And drede ȝe not me, Thoff I be come so late! [ 440] I ame god & man Jhesu, I ame come In thorow my vertu, They schyte beth dore & ȝate." [443 Ms. both st. beth.]

When Jhesu had þus I-seyd, He was gone sone in a breyd. [ 445] And in þer come Thomas. The apostyll(s) seyd: "I-wys, Jhesu Cryste rysen is, Ryȝt now here he was."

Thomas ansuerd & began to stryue: [f. 143.] [ 450] "There may no man ryse fro deth to lyue That sofyrd wondis syche." Peter ansuerd aȝene: "Off Jhesu þou schall haue a syght Ryȝht sone priuelyche." [ 455]

When he come besyde þe stone, Off Jhesu he had a syȝht anone Besyde þe monyment. Bot Thomas wold it leue nouȝt That þer was sych a meracle wrouȝt That Jhesus forth was wente. [ 460]

When his dyssiplus þis word herde, With mych Joy forth þei ferde Fore loue of þat tydinge. Saue one discypull þat þer was, [ 465] Of Ynde his name was Thomas, he seyd it was a lesynge.

"How myȝht a man ryse fro deth to lyue That sufyrd sych wondis fyue? Man, þat myȝt neuer be. [ 470] Fore no thynge þat any man may sey, Neuer leue þat I ne may, Bot if þat I it se."

Mary, Peter & seynte Johne And þe apostyllus euery-chone [ 475] They spoke to Thomas of Ynde: "Prophetis þat were wyse Seyd þat Jhesus schuld aryse To saue all man-kynde.

Thomas of Ynde", þei seyd all, [ 480] "Thou arte in wanhope falle And in mysbyleue. Cry hym mersy, we þe rede, Or body & saule þou arte bot dede With-outyne any endynge." [ 485]

Thomas gane to wepe sore, He durst not speke a word more To Jhesu ne to Mary. Forth in hys wey he gane to gone Tyll he vnto Galale come, [ 490] Jhesu mersy to cry.

Euery wey as he ȝede Mersy off Jhesu he bede. In þat ilke stounde Jhesu Cryst aȝen hym come [ 495] And be þe ryȝht hond he hym nome And put it in hys wonde.

"Thomas", he seyd, "leuyst þou not ȝit That I was nalyd thorow hondis & fete vpon þe rode-tre [ 500] And now I-ryse fro deth to lyue? There-aȝene may no man stryue, The soth þou may se."

"Lord", Thomas begane to sey, "Now beleue it I wele may [ 505] In þis ilke stond. Mannys soule, þat was cauȝt, With þi blode þou hast it bouȝt Out of hell-gronde."

Jhesu seyd: "blyssed mot ȝe be [ 510] That beleue & not it se [511 l. i-se.] And on my vp-rysinge. [512 tilge And.] And who so þat beleue it nouȝt In-to helle he schall be brouȝt With-outyne any endynge." [ 515]

When Jhesus had seyd þus, As yt hys wyll was, [517 Ms. yt it.] To Thomas of Ynde, Thomas lokyd after hym anone Wheþer-ward Jhesus wold gone; [ 520] He couth hym no-where fynde. [450-521. Die ganze Stelle ist sinnlos verderbt.]

Late we now Jhesus & Thomas be, And of þe iiij knyȝtys speke we That kepyd þe moniment, What noys þei gane make [ 525] When þei were fro slepe awake And Jhesus was forth wente.

Syre Amorant styrte vp anone, "Alas, ho hath done awey þe stone [529 Ms. he st. ho.] That on þe tombe ley? [ 530] It was an heuy stone with-all, I wote not how it is befall, It is remeuyd awey."

Syre Gamorant seyd tho: "Is Jhesu Cryst frome vs go [ 535] Oute of þe monyment? What schall we sey to sir Pylate Now he is rysen & gone hys gate? Sertys, we be schente."

Syre Cosdrameseyd: "alas þis dey! [ 540] Is Jhesu scapyd awey, Oute of þis lond we muste fle. Fore iff we come Pylat beforne, With wyld hors we schall be torne, Full sykere may we be." [ 545]

Syre Arfax seyd: "be now stylle! Thys is do by godis wylle, [547 Ms. Arsax.] As ȝe may at me here. Come þer no man Jhesu to stelen, Noþer hys body awey to beryn, [ 550] There-of I make ȝou sykere.

I slepyd no slepe þis nyȝht, Fro heuen I saw come a lyȝht, Syche one saw I neuer none; Syxty thousand angellus bryȝht [ 555] Come aȝen hym þis same nyȝht, When Jhesu wold forth gone.

There come with them syche a smelle As it hade be bame euery-dele And oþer spysery. [ 560] With hem Jhesu gane forth glyde, He bad an angelle þer abyde To kepe þe Marys thre.

We wyll sey as we haffe se, Out off þis lond we wyll not fle [ 565] Fore no-kyns thinge; We wyll take þe ryȝht gate To we come to sir Pylate, And telle hym þis tydynge."

The knyȝhtis þer wey nome [ 570] To þei to sir Pylat come, And feyre þei gon hym grete; "Pylat", þei seyd, "wylt þou here, Off vs may þou aw(n)tres lere Off þis vary prophete. [ 575]

Here we wakyd þis nyȝht: He is a man of mekyll myȝht And of a grete poste, Hym-selue hath lyft vp þe stone; Wheþer þat he wold, he is gone, [ 580] In-to Galale."

Than seyd Pylat: "sey not so, Iff þat ȝe wene wele to do, Noþer be dey ne nyȝht; Bot sey, hys dyssiples cōme [ 585] And hys body fro ȝou nome With gret stryff & myȝht:

And ȝe schule gode mede haue, [588 Ms. schuld,] Also mych as ȝe wole craue, [589 wold.] Of syluere & off gold." [ 590] Than were þe knyȝhtis ryȝht feyne— They(had) wend þei schuld besleyne— And seyd as Pylat wold,

And suere be þer god Mahund: "We wyll it not telle in feld ne towne Ne off none oþer thynge Bot þat Jhesu dyssipullus come And hys body fro vs nome With full grete fyȝhtynge."—

This is (as) trew þat I ȝou telle [ 600] As is þe trew gospell, With-outyne lesynge. They þat þis talkynge herd sey, God send hem grace to take þe wey To þe blysse with-out endynge. [ 605]

Amen. quod Rate. [Dies ist nicht der Name des Dich∣ters, sondern des Schreibers, der sich auch bei anderen Gedichten des Ms. unterzeichnet.]

8. De matre et VII pueris

aus dem Ms. des Marquis of Bath. [Das Ms. des Marquis of Bath enthält in einer Reihe von Gedichten im nördl. Dialekt einen grossen Teil der alttestamentlichen Geschichte in ein und derselben Strophenform (der des nördl. Evangelium Nicodemi). Ich habe das Ms., welches im Jahre 1879 nach Cambridge geschickt war, zuerst angezeigt in den "Altengl. Leg., Neue Folge" 1881, woselbst auch zwei Strophen aus den Machabäern als Probe abgedruckt sind. Ich benutze hier die Abschrift eines Freundes. Hoffent∣lich jedoch wird es mir bald vergönnt sein, die ganze Sammlung selbst einzusehen und zu veröffentlichen.]

Of farly faire who-so wolle finde, Bot cristen folk shuld speke by kinde And goode ma(r)ters to have in mynde— how that thei were pursved and pinde Because they Criste wold knaw, And sum for Moyses law

in forme fadres is faire to rede; of Cristes law, as kens oure crede, for such maters may make vs mede— and doone to deid by diuers dede; were many sakles slayne, [ 5] were deid with diuerse payne.

And sone we shal sum ma(r)ters neven Of aght then is it ordand even how that the modre and the sonnes seven All for they stoode with stably steven he bad for hard or nesh Shuld forbere swynes flesh,

This woman with hir children ying To kepe and breke noght his bidding, Antiochus, a cursed king, To bar he bad men shuld them bring, For he was paynym provde, Goddes law both still and lovde

And all Ebrews that aftire it wroght. That the wyfe with hire sonnes seven were soght So unto bar sone were they broght Bot of that noyce nothing they roght, The modre by manfulle steven Comforted hire sonnes seven

"For the law of god both to life and dy, I shal yow say encheson why: how ye were bred in my body, God norisshed yov there, and not I, And, sonnes, he shal you save, And alle that ye here have

I gave you nawthre lif ne lym God gave you light, when ye were dym, Thogh erthly paynes be grete & grym, Bot think that ye shal have with hym Sonnes, thogh ye suffre sore, And ye shal have therfore

Thus comforth she that company, The king spake full dispitusly, he said: "of youre hests herd have I, The flesh that lely men shuld life by Ye say, the flesh of swyne Ye shal be put to pyne,

They answerd ich-oon as a man, The law, oure fourme fadres-began, The tirant toke the eldest than And thinkes, if he ouercome him can, With fairnes first he fared, The eldest euer answered

that wroght with Moises wille all-way: [7 Ms. maters.] in holy kirk to sing and say: were doone to deid all on oon day, in mayntenance of Moises law— [ 10] [10 l. lay.] his folke, grete and smallé, for oght that might befalle.

wayted full werly where they went, [13 Ms. his st. hir.] therfore to be in bales bent. when he herd tell of theire entent, [ 15] and said they shuld shamely be shent. with mavmentȝ sare vmsett, was his liking to let,

therfore he charged men of might and sembled sone before his sight. [ 20] with bedels and with brandes bright. theire hertes were hoale to heven on hight. both with hert and hand ande bad them stably stand.

sonnes, in my blissing loke bowne ye be! [ 25] noone may yov helpe bot oonly he. that was noo-thing be the might of me, and broght you furth in fourme fre. if ye right spend youre space; is gyven at his goode grace. [ 30] [30 l. crave?]

ne boones ne flesh to fest you fast; and youre sawles in your cors he kast. loves now god, & be noght agast, the ioy of life that evre shal last! that sory space shal sone be spend, [ 35] the heale that has noon end."

bot(h) old and ying euer as they yede. to make them have more dovte & drede; who made you bold forto forbede [39 l. heste?] and ordand is the folke to fede. [ 40] shuld men forsake, certayne: to ye ete it full fayne."

and said: "that sight shal neuer be sene. euer to mayntene shal we mene." and trend him theim twoo betwene, [ 45] then ar the othre ouer-comen clene. and sith with noyes ay new. with stedfast trewth and trew.

His hert ay to heven had he, "what sech thou, ser, of vs to se? All goddes folk ow to be fre his law we wolle noght leyve for the, To die, vs is wele leuer, That oure fadres vsed euer

Then was that fende fullfilled of ire he sais: "thou shal have thy desire, Se(rvandes) he made goo make a fire And burn him vp both boone & lire; That othre so may be ware when they se him so faire,

The fire was made at his bidding A lede of bras then did he bring, And when it was at welling, And as a foyle, as for hething, All this was doone in dede. his brethre saw him blede

And (said) he shuld noght chaunge his chere, "For god is of so grete powere The modre said: "sonne, we ar here, For he wolle fetch vs all in-fere When the tirant herd tell he was more fers and fell,

There might noo mirth to him be mete, he said: "we shal sone make theim grete! And cut his tooes of both his fete And haves him then into yond hete And if he langer last, And make(s) fire vndre fast,

When alle this doyle was doone & dight, And his sex brethren saw this sight And hevid theire handes to heven on hight And said that he shuld se to right "he wolle abayte all bandes And solace his seruandes,

Thus when the first had doone his det The second sonne was sesed & set, The king asked him if he wold et Or be mesured with the same met He answerd sone and said: Then was the king evill paid

and thus he said unto the king: what wolle thou lere of oure lifing? [ 50] and honoure han ouer alkins thing. ne for no bale that thou may bring. than in that law forfet and sith to vs is set."

and manaced him with all his mayne; [ 55] with sorowes sere thou shal be slayne." in the middis place of a playne, "bot first he shal fele fellere payne, and make him theire merroure, to forsake that erroure." [ 60] [60 l. fare.]

of boghes and best birnand gere; with pik fullfilled, him forto fere; his tong he bad they shuld oute shere, [63 Ms. bod.] shave of his hevid both hide and here. and woundre was to lithe: [ 65] and bad he shuld be blithe,

bot with trew hert this turmentȝ take, of all mis may he mede make." redy to suffre for goddes sake, with him to wonne and winly wake." [ 70] noo tene might make theim tame. and soght to shape them shame.

when he saw theire sad semblandes; tite takes this harlot that here standes, and his fyngers of both his handes, [ 75] & betes him with the birnand brandes; liggys him then in the leid to boille, to he be deid."

his (modre) that was most him nere how he suffred the sorow & sere: [ 80] & loved theire god with grete chere, and reward all as worthy were; and bete ich bitter brayd as Moises sum-time said."

& suffred the ded with diuers payne, [ 85] to se what he shuld say, certayne. such flessh as his folk of were fayne, like to his brothre, & so be slayne. "I am noght ferd therfore." and sone he marred him more. [ 90]

Of his heid made he scrape the skyn, "Wolle thou yit of thy erroure blyn and lere the law that we life in, That othre bad blyve begyn, The lawes, oure fadres fand, and then the king command

"and set the fire on ich a side, And if he may this bale abide, Thus was (he) turment in that tide. Unto the king full lowd he cride By thi strenght thou distroys Bot nedely thou the noys—

God, that is king of creatures his seruandes sadly he succurs, If we thus stand so strang in stoures He shal us rayse up with honoures And so he gave the goste The king was made allmoste

The third full throly then they thrett: Bot he belyve wolle drink and ete. The childes hert to heven was sett, Or he was aythre boune or bett, His handes so gun he shew and his fete, for to hew,

"Of God of heven I had all thes, For his law now I theym dispise For wele I wot that I shal rise All new membres and more of prise. For his sake that them sent If they take now turment,

The king then spake wordes kene Both he and they were combird clene They say: "such sight was neuer sene wolle nomore of his manhede mene, he roght noght of theire reid, So was he doone to deid.

The fourt was fett furth theim before, And said: but if he wisere were, They manaced him both less & more. He had noo list to lere theire lore, And to the king he said: The payne thou has purvaid,

For God, my maister, most of mayne, with his seruandes that here ar slayne That they shall rise and lyve agayne Bot of that faire be thou noght fayne: Thes harmes, we have by the, Thy body and saul shal be

and then to him thus gan he say: and amend thy mischefe, whilst thou may, or lose thy lymes and lyve for ay?" "for certes I drede noothing thy dray. to hold hertly I hete." [ 95] to ket him hand & fete,

sith he wolle bid no better bede; boill hym then, to he be deid." and ar they stound him in that steid, and said: "thou wretch with wiked reid, [ 100] oure erthly lyfe in land, oure life shal be ay-lastand.

and demere both of dedes and sawes, that to his dome theire dedes drawes; and leyve this life here for his lawes, [ 105] to endles life, that thou noght knawes." to god, by cours of kynde. and moved all oute of mynde.

that he shuld be more straitly sted, for that dray was he noght dred: [ 110] such foode as his folk with were fed. his tong full boldly furth he bed, to bid that bitter brayd, and on this wise he sayd:

purtred thurgh his powere playne, [ 115] and profers theym to be put in payne. and that god shal gyve me agayne therfore to full thes, am I fayne, and made theim mete to me; make them full hoale may he." [ 120] [120 Ms. heale.]

and to his counsell fast he cried— of tales that were told that tide, that a yong man in his most pride bot be bowne bitter bale to abide." ne of all the blis in erth. [ 125] and furth they fett the fourt.

and full fouly with him they ferde, [127 Ms. farde.] his spech shuld sone be fro him sperd; & when he all theire hething herd, bot hard(i)ly thus he answerd [ 130] "thi-self the soth shal se: shal make merth unto me.

wolle meng his mercy euer omell by tyrantȝ that ar fers & fell, and at his list in liking dwell. [ 135] thou shal neuer rise, but rest in hell. [136 faire = fare.] with merth shal be amend; in woo withouten end."

Then thoght the king he lived to lang. And putt him sith to paynes strang, The modre melled hire euer amang, And said that God shuld make them gang "Who-so sholle abide his boyne, Thus was the fourt fordoone,

The fyft full felly gun they fere, The king by all his goddes gun swere: His fingers fast he made of shere, And then to boilling fast him bere. Unto the king he beheld, And thus his tales he teld

"That thou art king in erth to ken, Thou proues thi might in erthly men What-so the list, and where and when, Bot thou shuld wele avise the then allthogh we thus be taken God has us noght forsaken

Bot suffre and thi-self shal se How God shal by his grete pauste And how sere vengeance sent shal be Doo furth thy maistry now with me, And so he leved his lyve, Thus ar they deid all fyve,

The sext was set and sesed sone, He wold abide no better bone, When they had dight and to him doone He lift his heved up anoone "Theu cursed comaundere, cese yit of thyn erroure!

Thes paynes that thou has put us in we suffre them all for oure syn To have his grace forto begyn, And so we shal to welthes wyn For, be thou never so loth Mon shal noght scape fro scath

And so he died be dyvers dede, Theire modre was wurth mich mede, when that she saw hire sex sonnes blede, Bot of the yongest had she drede, She said ever: they shuld rise That here theime-self dispise

This cursed king Antiochus His knightes said: "sir, tent to us, Sith thes traiturs has tened the thus Now with the yongest say the must For men uses childre ying and foyles with faire heting,

his lymes the kytt of infere, [139 the st. they.] to he was deid withoute fayle. [ 140] [140 fayle st. fere.] with mournyng made she mery chere, fro sorous sore to solace sere; theire bale full wele bes bet." and the fift furth was fet.

and ich-oon thret him in theire thraw. [ 145] "thes lurdans shal be layd full law." both tong and teth he bad oute draw, the childe answerd with-outen aw— in thes stoures as he stoode, with sembland sad & goode: [ 150]

that shews thou by thi wark alway: with all the malice that thou may; that must be doone euerych a day. to rewl thi dedes in right array. and in thy pauste pynde, [ 155] ne noon of oure kynde.

in litle space full mich spede, gyve unto ich man his mede [158 Ms. to suffre.] both on thy-self and on thy sede. for of thi dome have I noo drede!" [ 160] or he his law wold let. and furth the sext was set.

to suffre deid with sorow sore. but as his fellays fayred before. such martirdome and mich more, [ 165] and to the king thus said he there: that us has sakles slayne, [167 l. comaundoure.] thou travels all invayne.

after thi will and wiked thoght, that we agayns oure god has wroght, [ 170] with sorowing thus oure synnes be soght: when all (thi) wark shal wurth to noght. to lose this erthly lyfe, that agayns god wolle strife."

he had no lenger wordes to welde. [ 175] she said ever: god shuld be their belde. the same soer in hire-self she felde. that he shuld turn, for tendir elde. with right-wis men by raw for goddes luf and his law. [ 180]

for woo in wit he was nere woode. (we) can the ken consell full goode. & no turment may turn theire moode, with fairnes forto save that foode. [184 Ms. say (= assay)?] with faire wordes to tile, [ 185] forto wirk what men wile."

The king was of this purpos payde, "Save now thy-self, my sonne", he sayd, And for I wold noght thou were flayd, Full richly shal thou be arrayd Thou shal have toure and towne, and all bowand and bowne

and tresoure all withouten tale and next my-self, sonne, sit thou shale Then in thy heale thou shal be hoale So is better than to be in bale, Sonne, if thou wolle acord Thou shal life as a lord,

When the child herd all how he ment, and said that he shuld never assent Then thoght the king him shamely shent, Bot to the woman yit he went, Sith othre sex were slayne, he wened she wold be fayne

He spake to hire full curtasly "wooman", he said, "woundre have I To suffre thus thy sonnes dy, To take thy yongest to mercy, He is a propre page Now in his tendre age

To lere the law, that ever shal last Bestes of gold I shal doo kast The woman made hire forward fast And thinkes, when she is fro him past, To hide hire hert entent, So unto hire sonne she went

"My sonne, see to thi modre here! Think, sonne, thou lay my hert ful nere And, sonne, I suffred sorowes sere, I fed the of my flesh thre yere, Fro barnhed I the broght, Dere sonne, forsake me noght,

Behald, sonne, to heven on hight To bestees and fishes and fowle(s flight) And how god made all with h(is might) And men he made of reson (right) He askes noght elles there But that men shal ever m(ore)

Thy brethren in litle spa(ce) With hevenly foode nou Therfore, dere sonne, be noght a-dred Bot lede thi life, as theirs is led, Of blis covet I no more Sone when I shal come there,

and curtasly then spake he: "for, certes, there shal noon wit bot we, there shal noon mell of my menye. and have my helpe, that hete I the, [ 190] with forestes faire and fre, at thi bidding to be.

shal thou have, in thi hurd to hide, with solace sere on ich a side. and have maistry and mich pride— [ 195] as thi brethre has bene this tide. with oure foodes to be fed, and be oure lawes be led."

he answerd even with-outen aw to doo agayns his fadres law. [ 200] when the child set noght by his saw. with whiles hire to his will draw. [202 st. wiles.] that wold no mercy crave, hire yongest sonne to save.

and undre trayne all thus he told: [ 205] how that thi hert may be so bold and has no moo upon this mold. that were my will yit, and thou wold. and may prove to a man; were tyme that he began [ 210]

and in mister most amend him may. to be his goddes full goode and gay." that she shuld so hire sonne assay— an othre poynt forto purvay. she lovted unto him law, and said to him this saw:

bot thou be wise, I am full woo. neyn monethes & nightes moo, or-tyme we were twynned in-twoo; or thou couth speke or graithly (go); [ 220] to the tyme that we come hidre: let us all gang to-gedre!

and—————————— ————————— ———————— [ 225] ——————————— ————————————— ————————————

————————————— ————————————— [ 230] of yond fals domesman, for oght that he may, that we may wende all oone way. bot that the barnes, I boght so dere, to fynd theym faire in-fere."

He assented to his modre saw; "Men", spake he unto them all onraw "Of youre highnes have I noon aw. I offre me here to my law, They thoght them then begyld, To be so sted with a chyld

Unto his turmenturs full wild "Kitt of the lyms of this litle child And the modre, that has made theim mad, To goo therto was she full glad. And under oon domesman, For they so wise were than,

All mirthes in this world they mist, For the lufe of god it was theire list And in theire bloode they were baptist And holy chirch has them canonist, God graunt us grace to trow And to his biddingis bow,

Antiochus, that hathen king, And, in his bondom theim to bring, If any Ebrew, olde or ying, In prison sone men shuld them thring, Bot if they wold forgete and also bot they wold ete

And as they went, so were they war An olde Ebrew, Eliaȝar, Sone was he boune and broght to bar, That he shuld with Philistiens fare He said: that shuld he never, To dye were him wele lever

So was he deid with doyle and woo. and sone they wist of women twoo Or they couth aythre speke or goo, Bot full tite were they taken theim froo. And so th . . .————— ——————————

——————————d —————————— —————————— —————————— —————————— ——————————

With all such maistries gun he mell, Jerusalem, where the Jewes gun dwell, For in the temple, herd he tell, To fetch it, and the folke to fell, Bot god, theire governoure, He sent theim sone socoure

full wisely, althogh he were ying, [ 235] that sat in consell with the king, why tarry ye thus of this thing? bot noght unto the kinges bidding." [Nach 238 fehlt wohl eine Strophe.] the king was welnere woode, and might noght turne his moode. [ 240]

he bad all paynes to purvay, and lere him so to lak oure law! punysh hire therfore all that ye may!" so were they deid all on oon day, the modre and hire sonnes seven. [ 245] they have theire home in heven.

the lawes of Moses to mayntene, to leyve all erthly comforth clene; as Innocentis was sith sene: as martirs euermore to mene. [ 250] in him and in all his that we may abide in blis.

unto the Jewes had ever enuy, in all his cuntre made he cry: that wold noght honour his mavmentry, [ 255] [255 tilge that.] with divers doyles to make theim dy, the life that Moyses led, such flessh as he forbed.

a prince, that was of powere grete, that noo forboden flessh wold ete. [ 260] and full throly they gun him threte, and use of theire maner of mete. nauthre for even ne od; than breke the law of god.

and furth the soght on ych a side, [ 265] that theire twoo sonnes had circumcide, and so they hoped them for to hide. and over the walles thei mad theym gl(ide). that of God had noon aw that lived by Moyses law. [ 270]

that he might conquere ich cuntre . . t if he wold say to the see —wold bid so shuld it be. —such high pride in hert had he. —(b)uxum and bayne [ 275] ——him agayne.

like unto him he ne leues one. [277 leues one unsichere Lesart.] wolle he distroy euer-ich a stoone: gold and silvere was full grete woone; his purpos has he taken anoone. [ 280] wold noght theire linage lose: and lettyd his will purpos.

He gedred sone grete company Of chariots and of chyvalry, Him-self was set full sekirly Bot thurgh grace of god almighty For all his men omell, Oute of his chare he fell

Such sekenes sone to him was sent He was so birsed upon that bent: And quyk oute of his wombe they went. That noone to him wold take entent, When grete party were goone Falsly he made his moone

"Now in myself the suth se I, all erthly men, that ar deidly, To honoure a God almighty Paynyms life wolle I leyve forthy Thus with gabbing he gloses, Bot for he so supposes

For allways was he in dispayre He felyd his force fulfast gun payre, unto the Jews, and prayd them fayre Antiochus, his sonne and heire, He hetes: and he may lyfe, The double agayne to gyfe

And to be rewled aftre theire reid. He might noght then be stird fro steid, So lay he bolne and bloo as leid, with divers doyles so was he deid— Pray we to God forthy That we may be worthy

of alblasters and of othre gere, that wisest were to wende in werre. up in a chare, goddes folke to fere. [ 285] his spede was spilt with-outen spere: and most in his high pride, and birsed both bak and side.

that in a littere was he led. wilde bestes in his bowels bred, [ 290] and in such stink then was he sted, his next frendes fast fro him fled. and he alloone was layd, and sorowand thus he sayd:

and care me catches kindely to knaw: [ 295] of dew det evermore theim aw and serve him ever, in dede and saw. and lere to life by Ebrews law." noght for he his syn sore rews, to have frenschip of Jews. [ 300]

of any help fro heven on hight. and lettres made he gayly be dight forto be frendly day and night, forto releve in his right; all that he hade of theirs [ 305] fro him and fro his heirs,

his wark was waist with-outen were. ne for stink noman negh him nere. withouten belde of bed or bere. we trow he by his demyng dere. [ 310] with the modre and hire sonnes seven to wonne with theim in heven.

9. (Lamentacion of oure lady.)

Aus Ms. Bodl. 596.

here bygynneth þe lamentacion of oure lady seynt marye, And al þe wordes þat were spoke betwexe hir sone ihesus and here in the tyme of his passioun.

"Whan that I, mary, ihesus moder, sat in Jerusalem In the holy feest of estern a-lone In my hous, for the moche multitude of peple þat cam to the Cete I closed my dores and sat a-lone as I was wonede to doo, and thought priuely on my swete sone ihesu, where he were and what þat he dede: ffor on him was al my loue and al my desyre yset, willyng him [ 5] for to se and hopyng þat the eue be-fore ester he wolde come to me; and bysily I sat prayinge my prayers, and bode him. And þanne sodeyn∣liche after þe sunne goyng to rest I herde a grete noyse of peple In þe cete cryinge as wode peple. And whan I, mary, ihesus moder, sittyng myself a-lone knew not þe cause of þe grete crying and of þe rennyng [ 10] of the peple to-geders, þanne sayde I thise wordes to my-self: 'wold god I were with my sone ihesu! A, who shal telle me any tydyngis of my

swete sone ihesu? for I drede me sore þat any thyng of hardnesse be fallyn to him: for I haue herd a fewe dayes here-be-fore þat þe Jewes han cast amongys hem his deth.' And whan I, mary, sory & ful sore aferde in þis maner sat and lokyd ȝif any of his apostelys wolde bryng to me any tydyngis of my swete sone ihesu, I herde anone [Ms. I herde anone tydingis of my swete sone. I herde anone.] sodeynly on [ 5] smyte at my dore; and I ros anone and ranne to þe fenestre of my chaumbre and loked oute. And þanne I sawe mary mawgdelene I-cloþede in blak and al by-wept and hir here a-doun al-aboute hir eyne, & sayde to me þise wordes: 'Come to me doun, moste deuoute of alle women, mayde þat liest þere yhidde & moder byraueschyde of þi sone!' And [ 10] þanne I, mary, ysmete with þe swerde of sorow, went doun and dyde vp my dore. And anone þe deuoute mawdelene cryed to me and sayde: 'A, reuerende moder and moste reuerende of alle women, know ȝe any tydyngis of ihesu, ȝour swete sone & my reuerende mayster?' And þanne I, mary, moder of ihesu, ful of sorow sayde to hir: 'Knowist þou any ty∣dyngis, [ 15] mawdeleyne, of my swete sone ihesu?' And þanne mawdeleyne al be-wept cryed to me and sayde þise wordes: 'Ihesus, ȝoure sone & ȝour loue & my mayster, is now take and with cordes now ybounde and wikkedly & cruelly of þe iewes betyn & drawyne.' And when I, mary, herde þis, I was a-none ysmyten with þe swerde of sorow [Ms. thorow.] through þe hert, and I [ 20] fel doun a-none on þe erthe as a dede woman. And whan þise tydyngis was brought to me, it was In þe bygynny(n)g of þe nyght, & þe derknesse come aboute me, þat I weste neuer whedir I went; and mannys help had I none, but as I lay al þat nyght vpone þe erthe wepyng and crying, þat heuen myght be fyllyd þer-with, and al my hous I wette with weping [ 25] of myn eyen. And þanne I sayde: 'A, holy fader, where be þi trewe behestis? why woldist þou ordeyn me to be a moder and make me ryche with a childe, & now am be-reued [Ms. be reueued.] of my childe and am lefte a-lone most vnworthiest of alle wymmen? A, aungel gabriel, where is now þat ilk blisse þat þou behete me? where is now þat fulsumnesse of grace þat [ 30] þou behete me? A, gabriel, why woldist þou scorne me, moste vnworthiest of alle moders? Beholde now, gabriel: for þe Joye þat þou behete me, now haue I payne, and for þe gladnesse now haue I sorow, and (for) þe moder∣hede I am bereuede of my childe, and for þe grace I haue schame, and for þe lyf I haue deth, and for the blissyng þat þou behete me now is come curs [ 35] vpone me'. And þanne I sayde to my-self: 'A' vnblissid moder and sorful moder, why woldist þou coueit a childe and bere a child and norsche a child, and thus sodeynly and wikkedly art bereued of thy childe?' With þise wordes and wepyngis and sorous and lamentaciouns and gretyngys of terys I spende þat nyght. Whan-tyme þe day began to sprynge and [ 40] þe derknesse departede away, þanne spronge a derk fro [Ms. for.] me; and þanne I ros vp fro the erthe as I had ben al-most dede and faillyng alle mannys help. And þanne come to me holy wymmen of galyle, þat deuoutely had ben in þe temple þat nyght In her prayers and whan þei herd þat my sone was take and cruelly bounde with þe seruauntys of þe byschope, [ 45] to me vnblissed moder þe holy wymmen come with hast me to comfort. And þanne I sayde to mary mawdelene and to my susters and to þe holy wymmen of galyle: 'Go we now a-none þat we mowe se my sone ihesu, þat is only þe [l. þe only.] comfort of my lyf'. And þanne myght I not goo for febilnesse of my body, so sore I had bete it on þat nyght before [ 50] of my swete sone ihesu, but as þe holy wymmen and my susteres susteynede me vp in her armes. And þanne as I went, I met with summe of my sonys disciplys sore wepyng, and to hem I sayde þise wordes: 'Saugh ȝe

not my swete sone ihesu? I pray ȝow telle me where (ye) lefte [Ms. lete in lefe korr.] him'. And þei sore wepyng sayde to me þise wordes: 'We saugh him bounde with cordes and betyn with scourgis, and his face defoulyd with spittyng, & led forth with wykked seruauntes of Cayphas to be demyd vndir pylate; and his lokyng was paal & his chere was gostful [= gastful.] & al his body chaunged, [ 5] þat vnnethe we myght knowe him'. And þanne I, mary, ihesus moder, most soryest of alle moders & fulfilled with sorowe, sayde þise wordes: 'A, ihesu my swete sone, what here I of þe? what bittir and harde tydynges be tolde of þe to me?' And þanne sayde I to some of his disciplys: 'May I se my swete sone ihesu in any maner, þat I myght haue him [ 10] oute of here hondys?' And þei þat sauh me make þis sorow, sayde to me: 'Gothe, lady, and tary not, ȝif ȝe wil speke with ȝoure sone alyue, for now he is lad with armede knyghtes in to pylatys palays, for þe Jewes þenke to dampne him to þe most dispytous deth.' And whan I, mary, herde þise wordes, I was smyten euen thourgh þe hert with sorow, & as [ 15] a dede woman I went forth, and was borne vp with my sustres, & vnneþe myȝth I come to pylatys palays for feynte. And whan I come & wolde a gone in to þe palays, I myght not come ny þe ȝates for þe multitude of peple; but as ny as I myght, I put me, & þere I stode as a stone stykede in þe grounde. And þanne I vp myn eyne cast to þe fenestre [ 20] of þe palays, ȝif I myght a seyn oute my swete sone ihesu. And þan at þe fenestre of þe palays come Pylatus & sayde to alle þe peple: I fynde no cause on ihesu why þat he schuld be do to deth. Wheþer wil ȝe þat ihesu go oþer baraban þat is mansleer?' And whan I, mary, herde þis, I lift vp my hert as though I had be arerede fro deth to lyue, & hopyd [ 25] þat baraban þe mansleer schuld haue be put to deth and my swete sone ihesu lete go aliue. But þanne I herde an horrybyl voyce of alle þe peple criyng and sayde 'Dothe ihesu on þe cros! dothe ihesu on þe cros!' And whanne I herde þis crying of þe peple, I was smete with þe swerde of sorowe and as a dede woman I fel vpone þe erthe, semyng to þe peple [ 30] as I had be dede. & so I lay longe til my susters gaderyd me vp and comforted me. And so I stode longe þere & abode ȝif þat I myght haue sey my swete sone ihesu or þat I myght haue spoken to pylate þat he wolde haue delyueryd to me my swete sone ihesu, þat lotheles lambe. And þe wikked iewes, whanne þei herde me crye and saw me wepe sore, [ 35] þei blamed me sore and sayde: 'holde þi pes, thow theuys moder and norse of þis traytour! for þi sone is worthi to be dede, for he deseyueth þe peple; and þerfore þou schalt see him sone don on þe cros be-fore þin eyne.' And þanne a-none I fel doun as a woman in despeyre, þus dispysed of alle þe peple. And anone I herde a voyce of þe peple crying [ 40] as þei had be wode and sainge 'Brynge oute to vs ihesu of naȝareth, þat he were done on þe croys!' 'And anone Pylatys assentyd to hem: & firste þei bete him with scourgys & þanne cloþede him in purpure, & afterward toke him to þe Jewes to spille on þe croys. And þan þei brought oute be-fore þe eyne of þe wrecchyd moder ihesu, my swete sone, [ 45] corounede with a coroune of þornes vpone his hed, & his eyne al paal & his face al rede of blode & þe her of his hed hangyng ouer his eyne al be-bled, and beryng a croys vpone his bak þat he schuld on dye, and a corde abowte his nek, as a comun thef put be-twene to theuys. And whan I say þis cruel syght, þanne faylyd I al my strenkþe; and þanne [ 50] waxid my sorow newe whan I say him & for moche pepyl I myght not come ny him, I cryed to him & he myght not here me for þe pepyl þat folowed him. And þanne sayde my sustere to me: 'Go we, mary, be þis way, for þis is þe nere way, and þanne we schul mete with

ȝoure sone and speke with him or he dey'. And þanne I ros vp anone as a woman strenthede with a newe spyryte, & went swythe on þat by-wey: & sodeynly I met with my sone ihesu, in þe hye∣wey beryng þe croys vpon his bak. And þanne sayde I þise wordes to my swete sone Ihesu: 'A, my swete sone ihesu, whider goost þou [ 5] þus swythe so heuyly chargyd with þat croys? what thenkyst þou to do with þi moder to lete me þus alone & in dispeyre? thenkyst þou forsake me þus? A, my swete sone ihesu, take to me, þi moder, þat croys, and I shal bere it vp-on myn owne bake. And, sone, dey þou not with-oute þi moder ne go þou not fro þi moder, but, my swete sone, lete [ 10] vs lyue to-gedrys and dey to-gedrys.' And þanne my swete sone ihesu, hauyng more rewþe on his owyn moder þan on his owyn payne þat he suffred, anone for my sorow he fel doun vndir his croys þat he bare. And anone for sorow of my swete sone ihesus I fel doun as a woman þat had ȝeuyn vp hir last spiryte. & þere were we bothe al to-troden of [ 15] þe pepyl, and my sone ihesus constreynede to aryse and goo forth with his croys, and þe wikked iewes and cruel me [Im Ms. ist to vor me vorgeschrieben.] , þe moder of ihesu, vyolently departed me fer fro my sone; and euer lay my sone vnder þe croys. And þe wikked iewes constreyned a man, we called him Symeon, to bere þe [Ms. a.] croys to a place was clepid Caluarye. & þan þe cruel iewes [ 20] smyte my sone ihesus with heer fete & bete him with scourgis, & made him-self bere þat croys vpon his bak vp at þe mounte of Caluarye: and þus hyed þe wykked iewes to offre vp þat lotheles lambe—and with-oute alle othe, þat was my swete sone ihesus. And þanne I, mary, most soroufulest of alle moders, pursuyd after my swete sone ihesu as fast as [ 25] I myght, to se what deth þat lombe schuld suffre þat was my solas and my ioye. And vnneþe myght I come to þe mownte of caluarye, but as I was susteynede by my susters—so wery & ful woo was my body. And by þe tyme þat I come to þe mownte of caluarye, þe wykked iewes had do my sone vpon þe cros, & arered vp þe cros & put it in þe erthe. And [ 30] þanne lokyd I vpon my swete sone ihesu with my wepyng eyne bitterly wepyng & crying, and sayde to him þise wordes: 'A, my swete sone ihesu, A my most loue ihesu, why lokyst þou not vpon þy soreful moder? why spekyst þou not to þi soreful moder? why wolt þou leue me þus alone? whedir schal I go, my swete sone ihesu? In what hous schal I [ 35] rest me, my swete sone ihesu? A, my swete sone, though þou haue no rewþe on þiselfe, haue rewþe on þi soreful moder!' And whanne my swete sone ihesus herde me þus crye & wepe, he cast his eyne vp-on me and vnneþe he sayde to me þise wordes: 'Woman, be of good comforte, for herfore I come in to þis worlde and herefore I toke þis body of þe [ 40] þat here hangyth on þe croys, to day [l. dey.] for helpe of mannys soule & to byy þe soules oute of peyne þat were lost for synne; and þerfore I suffre þis cruel & harde passion þat þou seeste. & þerfore, moder, rest now of þi wepyng & of þi crying: for þis is my fadres wille; and alsoo, moder, lat it be þi wille: for in my deyinge I shal sle deth & with þe victorie [ 45] of my passioun I schal aryse þe thrid day. And þerfore, moder, þat ilk meyn-tyme take here Jon, my dyscyple þat I loue weel: lat him be þi sone, & be þou his moder; and to him I take þe to warde, for now I schal deye on þe croys'. And whanne my sone ihesu had seyde þise wordes, he cast vp his eyne in to heuene and bytoke his fader his soule, [ 50] and so with a gret crye he ȝalde vp his spyryte. And þan I, mary, felle doun vp-on þe erthe, & alle þe pepyl wende I had be dede. And aboute þe houre of none þer come cruel knyȝtys & stode before my sone, & one of hem with a spere openyd his syde and clefe his hert on-two, & þat

sorowe cleft myn hert on-two. And whan my sonys syde was þus openyd & his hert clowyn a-two, þan went þe knyȝtys her way. And þanne come Joseph of Aramathie, a nobyl man and ryȝtful, and wolde a takyn doun my swete sone ihesus of þe croys. And whan I say him, I wax qwyk aȝeyne on my spyryte & toke strengthe to me and sayde: 'A, my [ 5] swete Joseph, wolt þou take doun þe body of my swete sone ihesu? now I pray þe, swete Joseph, take him doun & delyuir him to his wrecchyd moder, þat dede body of my sone'. And þan Joseph sayde ful curteysly to me: 'A, mary & moder of ihesu, goddys sone of heuene! A, holy lady, & abowyn alle blyssyd, & euer holy! A, moder & mayde & moder with-oute (wemme) [ 10] abyde alytil whyle and lete be þi wepyng & þi sorowe: ffor I vndirstonde þou be blissed amonge alle wymmen, and I beleue þat þi sone wil aryse fro deth to lyue in a schorte tyme. & þerfore, worthy lady, lete vs now in þe meyne-tyme worthyly bery þis holy body! for to-morow is halyday & we mowe not worche.' & whan Joseph had sayde þise wordes to me, I was sum∣what [ 15] comfortyd þer-with, & helpyd to wasch my sonys body þat was defoulyd with spittyng, betyngis & bledyng. & whan we had waschid it, we wypyd it & anoyntyd it. And so at þe laste I was smete with a newe sorowe, & þanne I sayde þise wordes to my swete sone þer he lay dede: 'A, clene flesch & vnwemmyd þat lyest þer, þat were of my flesch, why woldist [ 20] þou þus deye on þe croys & be offeryd for synne? for þou art holy flesch & clene fro alle-maner synne; and thow hast sore bouȝte þe synne of alle men.' And whan I had sayde þise wordes, I fel doun vp-on þe body of my swete sone ihesu wepyng bitterly & crying sore. & þan I kyste þe woundys of his hede, & þan of his handys, & þanne of his fete, & þanne þe [ 25] wounde on his syde, & þanne I cleppyd al þe body in myn armes & kyssyd it & sayde þise wordes: 'A, my swete sone ihesu! I, þi wrecchid moder, wende neuer to haue seyn þis of þe, noþer þise sorowes haue suffrede for þe, but I wende for to haue had many ioyes & neuer a departyd fro þe'. And while I seyde þise wordes, Joseph & his felawes hyede hem swythe [ 30] to wynde & bynde my sone in a clothe. And whanne þei had bounde þat o party of his body & wolde haue bounde þat oþer, I fel doun to þe woundys þat were bounde, & vnbounde hem aȝeyn, & efte aȝeyn; and þan was I smete with a newe sorow, þat I myght not suffre hem to bynde him, of a longe tyme; & for my sorow & for þe lamentacioun þat I made vnneþe [ 35] myȝth þei alle þat þer stode take þe dede body fro me. And so at þe last þei wolde bere him to þe sepulcre: I folowyd hem wepyng & crying won∣dyrly sore. & whanne þe come to his sepulcre, þei wolde haue byryed him anone. And I myȝth not suffre þat in no wyse, but mekely I prayed hem in þis maner & sayde: 'A, ye nobyl men & ȝe holy wymmen, byry [ 40] not ȝet my swete sone ihesu, but suffre me to haue my sone a lytil while in myn armys, þat I may kisse hym'. And whan þei say þe grete sorow þat I was In, þey mad gret lamentacioun and abode a lytyl while. So at þe last þei wolde nedys byry him. Þan cryed I & sayde: 'byry me with him, for I may not lyue with-oute him'. And þanne Joseph & his fela∣wys [ 45] worschipfully departed me fro þe sepulcre, & honestly & worschip∣fully byryed my sone ihesu. & whan he was byryed, I stode with-oute þe toumbe wepyng & crying, & fulfyllyd al with sorow seyde þise wordes: 'A, aungel gabryel, þou saydeste to me "hayle mary ful of grace": and byholde! I am now ful of sorow. Þou saydest to me "oure lord is with [ 50] þe", & byholde, now my lord & my loue is put awey fro me, þat I may not him se. Also þou saydest to me "Blyssyd be þou amonge alle wymmen", & byholde, now of alle wymmen I am tormentyd and cursyd. And at þe laste þou saydest to me "Blyssyd be þe fruyte of þi wombe", & byholde, now my sone, þat is þe fruyte of my wombe, is here wykkedly [ 55] I-sleyn & now lythe here in toumbe fulle of woundys.' And whan I had sayde þise wordes, I fel doun for sorowe vp-on þe erthe. & þanne Jon,

þat was chargyd of my sone on þe croys to be my sone, saugh me þus sorowe: he toke me vp in his armes. & for febylnesse of my body I myght not stonde, but as Jon & oþer wymmen lad me in to ierusalem. And as I went, I turnede my hede ofte aȝeyne for sorow þat I was departede fro þe sepulcre of my swete sone ihesu; & alle þat saugh me [ 5] in þe wey were temptyd to wepe ffor þe sorow & lamentacioun þat I made. And þanne Jon lad me home in to my chaumbre & sayde to me þise wordes: 'Now rest here, þe moder of my lorde, vpone (triste) of arysynge of þi swete sone ihesu & my lord, & cese of þi sorowe! And, lady, I am ȝouyn to be þi sone, þat am not worthy to be þi seruaunte, ffor Jon [ 10] may not be lyknyde to ihesu, þe sone of ȝebede to þe sone of god, ne þe seruaunt to his lord, ne þe dyscyple to his mayster, ne no creature may be lyknyde to him þat made him. But neuer-þe-lasse, my reuerende lady, I schal worschippe ȝow in al þat I can, & with al my strenkþe serue ȝow'. With þise wordes, & many oþer wordes, Jon confortyd me [ 15] ofte-tymes, and euer was redy me to plese, vnto þe resurreccioun of my swete sone ihesu. And whanne we saugh him aryse fro deth to lyue, þanne were we fulfyllyd with more ioye þanne we were raþer with sorowe, I-blyssyd my swete sone ihesu." And þus endyth oure ladyys lamentacioun with gret ioye of goddys resurreccioun. He graunt vs his benysoun. [ 20]

Amen Amen Amen Amen

(Folgt Parce michi domine. Diese Hs. enthält früher The lyfe of Adam, und später, nach vielen wertvollen lat. chronistischen und ge∣schichtlichen Notizen, noch Lydgates Marienleben.)

10. Vita prothoplausti Ade. [Vgl. Wilh. Meyer, Vita Adae et Evae, München 1879 (Abh. der bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. I, Bd. XIV, p. 186-250), der die Entstehung und Verzweigung des ursprünglich wohl noch vor Christus von einem Juden hebräisch verfassten, dann ins Griech. und (im 5. Jahrh.) ins Lat. übertragenen Adamsbuches aufdeckt und einen kritischen Text aus den verschiedenen Hss. zu geben versucht. Der sehr verstümmelt und umgestaltet erhaltene griech. Text ist ed. in Tischendorf, Apoc. apocr. 1866; Ceriani Monumenta sacra, Mailand 1868; Roensch, Buch der Jubiläen, Leipzig 1874. Der griech. und lat. Text enthalten nur Stücke des Ur∣textes, und zwar zur Hälfte verschiedene. Dillmann, "Das christl. Adambuch des Morgenlandes" (in Ewald, Jahrb. V) gab einen (aus dem Arab. übersetzten) äthio∣pischen Text in deutscher Übersetzung, Trumpp, "Das arab.-äthiop. Adambuch" (Abh. der bayer. Akad. Bd. XV, 1881) diesen Text selbst heraus.—Eine deutsche Bearbeitung, Lutwins Adam und Eva, wurde ed. von K. Hofmann und W. Meyer (Stuttg. Litt. Ver. 1881).—Da es für die engl. Bearbeitungen von Wichtigkeit ist, die in England verbreitete Gestalt der lat. Vita zu kennen, so gebe ich hier den (freilich arg entstellten) Text des Ms. Queen's Coll., der sich an Ms. 17 151 der Codd. lat. Mon. anschliesst.]

Ms. Queens Coll. Oxford 213, f. 1. (15. Jahrhundert.)

Cum expulsi essent Adam et Eua de paradisi delicijs, fecerunt sibi tabernacula & fecerunt dies luctus & lamentacionis & in magna tristitia. post autem dies septem ceperunt esurire et querebant sibi escas vt man∣ducarent, & non inuenerunt. et dixit Eua ad Adam: "homo meus, esurio; vade, quere nobis escas vt manducemus, vsquequo videamus si forsitan miserebitur nostri & recipiat nos dominus deus et reuocet nos in locum quo eramus". Et surrexit Adam et ambulauit dies septem per omnem

patriam illam, & non inueniebat (escam) qualem habebant in paradiso. Et dixit Eua ad Adam: "Domine mi, putas ne moriamur fame? vtinam ego [2 Ms putas mi putas.] moriar! forsitan introducet te dominus iterum in paradisum, quia propter me iratus est tibi deus. vis interficere me & forte introducet te deus in paradisum; mei enim causa expulsus es inde." "Noli", respondit Adam, [ 5] "talia dicere, eua! ne forte iterum aliquam malediccionem introducat super nos dominus deus; non enim fieri potest vt mittam manum meam in carne mea. Sed surge & queramus vt manducemus & non deficiamus." Et ambu∣lantes septem diebus nichil inuenerunt sicut habebant in paradiso, Sed hoc tantum inueniebant sicut animalia edebant. Et Adam ad Euam: [ 10] [10 hec fehlt.] "(hec) tribuit deus animalibus vt edant; nobis autem erat esca angelica; quapropter iuste & digne plangimus ante conspectum domini dei nostri qui fecit nos. sed eamus & peniteamus magna penitencia: forsitan miserebitur nostri deus dominus & disponet nobis vnde vescamur & viuamus." Et dixit Eua ad Adam: "Domine mi, dic michi quid est penitencia, & qua∣liter [ 15] penitebimus; ne forte laborem in nobis ponamus quem sustinere non possumus, & non exaudiantur preces nostre & conuertat dominus deus faciem suam a nobis, quia inique egimus. Quantum, domine mi, indica michi debeam penitere, quia ego induxi laborem et tribulacionem". Et dixit Adam: "non potes tot dies penitere vt ego. Sed quod ego precipio fac, [ 20] vt salueris. Ego enim quadraginta dies laboro(se) debeo ieiunare; tu autem [21 Ms. laboro (al. om.).] vade ad tigris flumen & tolle lapidem & sta super ipsum vsque ad collum in altitudine fluminis, et non egredietur sermo de ore tuo, quia indigni sumus rogare dominum nostrum, quoniam labia nostra polluta sunt de ligno contradicto et illicito; et esto in aqua fluminis xxxiij diebus. Ego [ 25] autem stabo in aqua Jordanis xl diebus, & forsitan miserebitur nobis dominus deus." Et ambulauit Eua ad Tigris flumen & fecit sicut dixit ei Adam. Similiter perrexit Adam ad iordanem & stetit vsque ad collum super lapidem in aqua. Et dixit Adam: "vobis dico, o aque Jordanis, condolete michi & segregamini & circumdate me! Lugete pariter mecum, [ 30] [30 al. seg. omnia natantia.] non vos sed me, quia non vos peccastis sed ego." Statim omnia ani∣mancia venerunt & circumdederunt illum, Et aqua Jordanis stetit ab illa hora non habens cursum suum. Et transierunt dies decem & octo: Tunc iratus est Sathanas & transfigurauit se in claritatem angeli & abijt ad flumen Tigris ad Euam, et inuenit eam flentem: & quasi condolens [ 35] incepit flere & dixit ei: "Egredere de flumine & noli plorare! Jam cessa de tristicia & de gemitu tuo quo solicita es, & Adam vir tuus! Audiuit [37 al. quid st. quo.] enim dominus deus gemitum vestrum & suscepit penitenciam vestram, & nos omnes angeli rogauimus pro vobis deprecantes dominum, & misit me vt educerem vos de aqua & darem vobis alimenta que habuistis in [ 40] paradiso, eo quod ita penitueritis. Nunc ergo egredere, & perducam vos in locum vbi paratus est vobis victus." Hec audiens Eua credidit et [42 Ms. victum.] exiuit de aqua fluminis: et caro eius virida erat quasi herba, pre frigore. Et cum egressa esset de aqua, cecidit in terram: et erexit eam angelus diaboli de terra & perduxit eam ad Adam. Adam autem cum vidisset [ 45] eam & Sathanam antecedentem illam, exclamauit cum fletu dicens: "Quo∣modo iterum seducta es ab aduersario nostro, per quem alieni facti sumus de habitacionibus paradisi & leticia eius?" Hec cum vidisset Eua & [48 al. audisset.] cognouisset quod diabolus fecisset eam egredi de flumine, & cecidit super [49 al. cognovit (& om.).] faciem suam in terra, & duplicatus est dolor & gemitus eorum. Adam [ 50] autem exclamauit dicens: "ve tibi, diabolica invidia, quod expugnas nos. Quid tibi contra nos? aut quid nobis malicia tua? Nunquid nos abstuli∣mus gloriam tuam? aut quid fecimus tibi? quid fecimus quod persequeris?

Inimice impie invidiose ingemiscens, vade responde." Et diabolus dixit: [1 ingem. nach Et zu vers.] "O adam, tota inimicia, invidia & dolus meus a te est, quoniam propter te est, quoniam propter te expulsus sum de gloria mea, & alienatus de [3 te—te tilge.] claritate quam habebam in celis in medio angelorum propter te eiectus sum in terra." Respondit adam & dixit ei: "Que est culpa mea, cum [ 5] non sis lesus a me? aut quid nos persequeris?" Respondit diabolus & dixit ad adam: "Tu qui dicis nichil fecimus tibi, Tui causa eiectus sum. Quando enim tu plasmatus es, ego a facie dei proiectus sum & foras a societate angelorum missus. Quando insufflauit deus spiritum vite in te Et factus est vultus tuus & similitudo tua ad imaginem dei, & adduxit [ 10] te Michael & fecit (te ad)orare in conspectu dei; Et dominus deus: "Ecce Adam ad imaginem & similitudinem nostram creatus est, adorate eum!' Et egressus Michael vocauit omnes angelos dicens: 'Adorate imaginem dei sicut precepit dominus deus', Et ipse Michael primus adorauit, & vocauit me & dixit michi: 'Adorate imaginem dei'. Et ego respondi: 'Ego nolo adorare Adam'. [ 15] [15 l. adora.] Et cum compelleret me adorare Michael, dixi ad eum: "Quid me compellis? Non adorabo deteriorem me & posteriorem omnis creature. Antequam fieret, ego sum, & ille me debet adorare'. Hec audientes ceteri angeli qui sub me erant, noluerunt adorare. Et ait Michael: 'Adorate imaginem domini dei. Si non adoraueritis, irascetur vobis deus.' Et ego dixi: 'Si irascatur [ 20] michi deus, ponam sedem meam supra sidera & ero similis altissimo'. Et iratus est michi dominus deus & iussit me expelli & foras mitti de gloria mea: Et tui causa exul factus sum de habitacionibus meis & proiectus sum in terra, Et statim factus sum in dolore de tanta gloria mea. Et quod te vidi in leticia deliciarum mearum, tolerare non potui: Et ideo [ 25] dolo circumueni mulierem & feci te expelli de delicijs leticie tue, [26 Ms. dolore. Ms. deliciis tuis &.] sicut ego expulsus sum de gloria mea." Hec audiens Adam (a) dia∣bolo, exclamauit cum magno fletu & dixit: "Domine deus meus, in manibus tuis vita mea: fac vt iste aduersarius meus longe sit a me qui querit animam meam perdere, & da michi gloriam quam per ipsum per∣didi." [ 30] Et statim euanuit diabolus. Adam vero perseuerauit quadra∣ginta [31 al. ipse perdidit. Ms. perseuerauerit.] diebus in penitencia, stans in aqua Jordanis. Et dixit Eua ad Adam: "Viue domine tu, domine meus! tibi concessum est viuere, quo∣niam nec primo nec secundo preuaricatus es nec seductus. Sed ego seducta sum & preuaricata, quoniam non custodiui mandatum domini [ 35] dei, & nunc de flumine(!). Sed vadam ad occasum solis et ero ibi vsque [36 al. & nunc separa me a lumine vitae istius.] moriar." Et cepit ambulare ad partes occidentis, Et cepit lugere & amare flere. Et fecit sibi habitaculum, habens in vtero Cayn. Et cum appro∣pinquasset tempus partus eius, cepit doloribus conturbari: Et exclamauit ad dominum deum dicens: "Miserere domine, adiuua me!" nec exaudieba∣tur; [ 40] nec erat ei requies vlla. Ex dixit intra se: "quis nunciabit domino meo Adam? Deprecor vos, o luminaria celi, dum ve(r)timini ad orientem, nunciate dolores meos domino meo Ade!" Et dixit Adam intra se: "planctus venit: ne forte iterum serpens pungnet cum Eua?" Et ambulans inuenit eam in luctu & gemitu magno. Et dixit Eua: "ex quo eua vidi [ 45] te, domine mi, refrigerauit anima mea in dolore meo. Nunc autem de∣precare dominum pro me, vt exaudiat te & liberet me de doloribus meis [47 Ms. deprecor.] pessimis." Et deprecatus est Adam dominum pro Eua. Et venerunt duo angeli & due virtutes de celis, stantes a dextris & a sinistris eciam: et [49 eciam st. Eve.] Michael stans a dextris tetigit a facie eius vsque ad pectus & dixit: [ 50] "vere tu liberata es, Eua, propter (Adam), quoniam oraciones eius magne [51 Ms. propter quem.] sunt ante dominum. Et missus sum ad te vt accipiat adiutorium vestrum. [52 al. accipias a. nostrum.]

Et surge & parare ad partum!" Et peperit (filium) et erat lucidus. Et con∣tinuo [1 al. para te.] surrexit infans & cucurrit animalibus suis tollere herbam. Et nomen [2 Ms. instans. al. et manibus suis tulit h. et dedit matri.] eius vocatus est Cayn. Et tulit adam puerum & Euam & perduxit eos ad orientem. Et misit dominus deus ad Adam angelum Michaelem cum seminibus diuersis & dedit illi: Post hec ostendit ei laborare & colere terram, ut haberet fructum & viueret, ipse & omnes generaciones post ipsos. Concepit iterum filium Eua, filium nomine Abel. Et manebat Cayn cum Abel in vno loco. Et dixit Eua ad Adam: "Domine mi, dor∣miebam & vidi quasi sanguinem filij nostri Abel ingredi in ore fratris sui Caym et deglutiuit eum." Et dixit Adam: "Ve, ne forte interficiat [ 10] Caym Abel, fratrem suum! Sed separemus eos ab inuicem & faciamus eis singulis mansiones." Et fecerunt Caym agricolam, Abel vero pasto∣rem ouium, Et separauerunt eos ab inuicem. Post hec interfecit Caym Abel. Erat autem annorum Cxxx. Et post hec cognouit Adam vxorem suam et genuit filium & vocauit nomen eius Seth: Et dixit Adam ad [ 15] Euam: "Ecce genui filium pro Abel quem occidit Caym." Et postquam genuit Adam Seth, vixit annos ccc, & genuit filios xxx & totidem filias. Sic genuit filios & multiplicati sunt super terram in nacionibus suis. Et dixit Adam ad Seth: "Audi, fili mi Seth, & referam tibi quid vidi & [19 Ms. Vidi st. audi.] audiui. postquam eiecti fuimus de paradiso ego & mater tua Eua, cum [ 20] [20 Ms. mea tua.] essemus in oracione, venit ad nos Michael archangelus, domini nun∣cius: Et vidi currus tamquam nutus & rote eius erant ignee, & raptus [22 al. currum t. ventum.] sum in paradiso iustitie. Et vidi dominum sanctum, & in conspectu eius [23 al. seden∣tem.] erat ignis incedens intolerabilis; & multa millia angelorum antecedebant currum dei Et alia multa millia angelorum erant a dextris & a sinistris [ 25] currus dei ... Et dixi: 'conuerte, domine, animam meam in requiem tuam, [26 Ms. conuertere.] quia morior Et spiritus meus exibit de corpore meo. Ne proicias me [27 Ms. exiuit.] a facie tua quem de limo plasmasti, domine! Ne despicias quem nutri∣uisti gracia tua! Et ecce verbum (tuum) incendit me'. Et dixit ad me dominus deus: 'quoniam figuracio cordis & corporis mei factus es, diligens scien∣ciam, [ 30] propter hoc non tolletur semen tuum vsque in secula ad ministran∣dum michi.' Et cum hec verba audissem, prosterni me in terra & ado∣raui [32 l. prostraui.] dominum dicens: 'Tu es deus eternus & summus, Et omnes creature dent tibi honorem & laudem. Tu es super omne lumen effulgens lux incomprehensibilis, virtus viuens: tibi dicam laudem & honorem spiri∣tualem. [ 35] viuentem me facies & omne genus humanum multitudine miseri∣cordie tue'. Et postquam adoraui dominum, statim Michael Archangelus dei apprehendit manum meam & eiecit me de paradiso visitacionis dei. & tenens in manu sua virgam tetigit aquas que erant ..... in hoc seculo in tempore quo missurus (est) filium suum in terris generi humano saluando. [ 40] Tunc apparebit in flamma deus & ex ore maiestatis sue dabit omni∣bus mandata & precepta, & sanctificabit illum in domum habitacionis [42 al. sanctificabunt eum in domo.] maiestatis sue. Et edificabunt ibi domum domino suo qui apparuit illis. Et preteribunt preceptum eius, & incendetur sanctuarium eius et terre eorum deserentur & ipsi dispergentur, propterea (quod) exacuerunt [ 45] deum. & die tercio saluos faciet illos de desperacione illorum: & iterum [46 al. dispersione.] edificabunt domum dei, et exaltabitur nouissime domus dei magis quam [47 al. maior.] prius. Et iterum exsuperabit iniquitas equitatem. Et post hec habitabit deus cum hominibus in terris: Et tunc incipiet equitas fulgere & domus dei seculorum honorabitur & non poterunt amplius nocere hominibus qui [ 50] sunt in deo credentes. Et suscitabit dominus plebi sue saluatorem in [51 Ms. suscitabitur. al. plebem fidelem quam salvabit.]

secula seculorum Amen: Et impij punientur qui noluerint amare legem ipsius; celum & terra noctes & dies & omnes creature obedient ei & non preteribunt preceptum eius nec mutabunt opera sua. Sed & hi omnes mutabuntur qui derelinquent mandata dei. In die illa repellet deus a iustis impios & illi permanebunt sicut sol in conspectu dei. Et tempore [ 5] illo felix erit homo qui correxit animam suam, quando erit iudicium magnum dei in omnes mortales et inquirentur facta eorum a deo justo judice." Et postquam factus est Adam annorum nongentorum triginta, sciens quoniam dies vite sue finirentur, dixit: "Congregentur ad me vni∣uersi filij mei, & benedicam eis antequam moriar, & loquar cum eis." Et [ 10] [10 & st. ut.] congregati sunt in tres partes in conspectu patris eorum ante oratorium vbi adorabat Adam dominum. Et cum congregati fuissent, omnes vna voce dixerunt: "Quid tibi, vt quid congregasti nos? Aut quare iaces in lecto?" Respondit Adam & dixit: "ffilij mei, male michi est, doloribus [14 Ms. doloribor.] afficior." Et dixerunt ei omnes filij: "Quid est, pater, male habere?" [ 15] [15 paradisu.] Tunc filius eius Seth dixit: "Pater, ne forte desideres de fructu paradisi vnde edebas, & contristaris desiderio? Indica ergo michi, pater, si ita est, & vadam prope paradisum & mittam puluerem in caput meum & prosternam me in terra ante portas paradisi & plangam in lamentacione maxima deprecans dominum deum, & forsitan exaudiet me & mittet [ 20] angelum suum, & afferet michi de fructo quod desideras, vt manduces & obliuiscaris." Respondit Adam: "Non, fili, non desidero, sed dolores pacior." Respondit Seth & dixit: "Quid est dolor, pater? noli nobis ab∣scondere, sed dic nobis!" Et respondens Adam dixit: "Audite, filij mei! quando fecit nos deus, me & matrem vestram, & posuit nos in paradiso [ 25] & dedit nobis fructum omnis arboris ad edendum, & dixit nobis vt de arbore sciencie boni & mali que est in medio paradisi non comederemus; & ipse dominus partem paradisi dedit michi & matri vestre, scilicet [28 Ms. Eburien st. boree.] partem orientis & boree que est contra aquilonem (dedit michi), & matri vestre dedit partem austri & partem occidentis. & dedit nobis dominus [ 30] deus angelos duos ad custodiendum nos. Et vt venit hora, ascenderunt angeli in conspectu domini adorare. Statim habuit locum aduersarius diabolus absentibus angelis dei et seduxit matrem vestram vt manducaret de arbore illicita & contradicta. Et manducauit et dedit michi. Et sta∣tim iratus est nobis deus & dixit michi: 'Quoniam dereliquisti mandatum [ 35] meum quod statui tibi, ecce inducam in corpore tuo lxx plagas doloris, ab inicio capitis vsque ad vngulas pedum per singula membra torquens.' Et deputauit inflacionem doloris vna cum ardoribus. hec autem misit dominus ad me & ad omne genus humanum." Hec dicens Adam ad omnes filios suos, comprehendit(ur) magnis doloribus, et clamans magnis [ 40] doloribus constrictus dicebat: "Quid faciam infelix, positus in tantis doloribus?" Et cum vidisset Eua eum flentem, cepit & ipsa flere dicens: "Domine deus, in me transfer dolores eius, quia ego peccaui & non ipse." Et dixit ad Adam: "Domine mi, da michi partem dolorum tuorum, quo∣niam hec mea culpa accidunt tibi." Et dixit ad eam Adam: "Exurge & [ 45] vade cum filio tuo Seth & vade prope portas paradisi & mitt(it)e puluerem in capite vestro & prosternite vos in terra & plangite ante conspectum domini dei: forsitan miseribitur & mittet angelum ad arborem miseri∣cordie de qua currit oleum vite, & dabit vobis vt vngatis me ex eo, vt quiescam ab his doloribus quibus consumor." Et abierunt Seth & mater eius [ 50] in partes paradisi. Et dum ambulabant, ecce subito (venit) serpens bestia & impetum faciens morsit Seth. Et cum vidisset Eua, fleuit dicens: "heu michi! maledicta sum, quia non custodiui precepta dei." Et dixit ad ser∣pentem bestiam: "heu maledicte, quare non timuisti mittere te in imaginem dei, aut quare preualue(runt) dentes tui?" Respondens bestia dixit voce [ 55]

humana: "O Eua, nunquid ad vos est malicia nostra? Nunquid contra vos est dolor furoris nostri? Dic michi, Eua, quomodo apertum est os tuum vt [2 Ms. Sic.] manducares fructum quo precepit dominus ne comederes. nunc autem non potes portare si tibi incepero pungnare!" Tunc Seth dixit: "Increpet te deus! Stupe & obmutescito, maledicte inimice confuse perdite, recede [ 5] ab imagine dei vsque in diem quando deus te iusserit producere in pro∣bacionem." Et dixit bestia ad Seth: "Ecce recedo sicut dixisti, a facie [7 Ms. recede.] imaginis dei," Statimque recessit bestia, sed plagato eo dentibus. Seth autem & mater eius ambulauerunt in partes paradisi. Tuleruntque pul∣uerem terre et posuerunt super capita sua, & prosternauerunt se in ter∣ram [ 10] super faciem suam & planxerunt cum gemitu magno, deprecantes dominum deum vt misereretur Ade in doloribus suis & mitteret angelum [12 Ms. misereatur.] suum vt daret eis oleum de arbore misericordie. Orantibus autem eis & deprecantibus horis multis, ecce angelus Michael apparens dixit: "Ego missus sum a domino constitutus super corpus humanum. Tibi dico, [ 15] Seth: Noli lacrimare orando & deprecando oleum de ligno misericordie vt pervngas patrem tuum Adam propter dolores; dico enim tibi quod nunc nullo modo ex eo poteris accipere. sed nouissimis diebus quando con∣summati fuerint quinque Millia & quingenti anni: Tunc veniet super terram amantissimus dei filius xpus Ihesus resuscitare corpora mortuorum. Et ipse [ 20] dei filius viuens baptiȝabitur in flumine Jordanis: Et cum egressus fuerit de [21 al. veniens.] aqua Jordanis, tunc de oleo misericordie sue omnes creature credentes in se accipient & (erit) oleum misericordie in generacionem & generacionem his qui renascentur ex aqua & spiritu sancto in vita eterna. Tunc descendet in terris amantissimus dei filius & introducet patrem suum Adam ad arbo∣rem [ 25] [25 al. tuum.] misericordie sue. Tu autem, Seth, vade ad patrem tuum, quoniam completum est tempus vite eius: Adhuc sex dies et exiet anima de cor∣pore eius & videbis mirabilia in celo & in terra & in luminaribus celi." Hec dicens Michael statim recessit a Seth. Et reuersi sunt Seth et Eua. Attulerunt autem secum odoromenta, idest nardum & crocum, calamum [ 30] & cynamonium. Et cum peruenissent ad Adam, dixerunt quod serpens bestia morserat Seth. Et dixit Adam ad Euam: "Ecce quod fecisti nobis! Induxisti nobis plagam magnam, delictum & peccatum in omnem gene∣racionem istam. Et hoc quod fecisti post mortem meam referes filijs [34 istam st. nostram.] tuis! Quoniam sibi exsurgent ex nobis laborantes non deficient, sed [ 35] [35 sibi st. qui. al. lab. non sufficient sed def. et m.] maledicent nos, dicentes 'he(c) mala intulerunt nobis parentes nostri qui fuerunt ab inicio'." Hec audiens Eua cepit lacrimari & ingemiscere. Post sex vero dies venit mors ad Adam. Qui cum cognouisset quia venit hora mortis sue, dixit ad omnes filios suos: "Ecce sum annorum nongentorum [39 Ms. sunt.] & triginta. Et cum mortuus fuero, sepelite me contra dominum in agris [ 40] [40 al. contra ortum dei.] habitacionis illius." Et factum est, cum cessasset loqui, tradidit spiritum. Tenebratus est sol & luna & stelle per dies septem. Et ecce Seth am∣plexatus est corpus patris sui lugens desuper. Et Eua cum esset respi∣ciens intextas manus habens super caput & super genua, et omnes filij [44 al. resp. in terram.] flentes amarissime, Ecce Michael apparuit stans ad caput eius, & dixit [ 45] ad Seth: "Exurge desuper corpus patris tui & veni ad me & vide quid disposuerit de patre tuo dominus deus qui misertus est ei." Et ecce omnes angeli cantantes tubis dixerunt: "Benedictus es, domine, qui mi∣sertus es prothoplausto tuo Adam." Et cum vidisset manum extensam [49 al. Tunc vidit Seth. . et.] domini tenentem Adam, tradidit eum Michaeli Archangelo dicens: "Sit in [ 50] custodia (tua) vsque in diem separacionis in supplicijs vsque in annis nouissi∣mis, quibus conuertam luctum eius in gaudium: Tunc sedebit in tronum illius qui eum supplantauit." Et dixit ad Michaelem & Oraelem angelos:

"Afferte tres sindones bissinas & expandite (super) corpus Ade & (aliis) sindo∣nis vestite Abel filium eius." Et processerunt omnes virtutes angelorum ante Adam, vt sacrificarent dormicionem illius. Et sepelierunt eum & Abel in partibus paradisi, videntibus autem Seth & Eua, matre eius, alio nemine. [4 Ms. nomine st. nemine.] Et dixerunt ad eos angeli Michael & Orael: "Sicut vidistis, ita sepelite [ 5] [5 Ms. angelo.] mortuos vestros."—Post sex vero dies quas mortuus est Adam, cognouit Eua mortem suam: Et congregauit omnes filios & filias suas, videlicet Seth cum xxx fratribus & totidem sororibus, Et dixit Eua ad omnes: "Audite me & referam vobis: Postquam ego & pater vester trangressi fuerimus preceptum domini, dixit Michael Archangelus: 'Propter prevari∣caciones [ 10] vestras generi vestro peccatum superinduxistis: dominus iram iudicij sui primum per aquam postea per ignem, In his duobus iudicabit dominus genus humanum. Sed audite, filij mei, ffacite ergo tabulas lapi∣deas, & alias de terra luteas, & scribite omnem vitam patris vestri, [14 Ms. salateas. vestris.] que a nobis audistis & vidistis. Si per aquam iudicabit dominus genus [ 15] vestrum, tabule lutee soluentur ..." Et cum hec omnia dixisset Eua [16 Ms. saluentur.] filijs suis, expandit manus suas in celum orans Et inclinauit genua sua in terris adorans dominum deum graciasque agens tradidit spiritum. Et postquam factus est fletus magnus, sepelierunt Euam omnes filij eius. Et cum essent lugentes diebus iiij, apparuit angelus Seth dicens: "Ne [ 20] amplius lugeatis quam sex dies mortuos vestros, quia septima dies signum resurrectionis est, Et in die septimo requieuit dominus ab omni opere suo quod patrarat." Tunc Seth fecit tabulas lapideas & luteas & scripsit in eis vitam patris sui Ade & vitam matris sue Eue, & posuit eas in medio (domus) patris sui in oratorium vbi orauit Adam dominum. Et adhuc post [ 25] diliuium vise sunt a multis. Salomon namque sapientissimus inventis [26 visi.] eisdem tabulis deprecatus est dominum; & apparuit ei angelus dicens: "Ego sum qui tenui manum Seth vt scriberet de ferro in lapides istos. Et ecce cognosces scripturam, vt scias vbi sunt lapides & vbi oratorium Adam et Eue vbi orabant dominum: Et ibi edificabis domum oracionis [ 30] domino deo." Tunc Salomon suppleuit templum domino deo. Et vocauit illas litteras achilicas, quod est latine lapidicas, id est sine labijs doctrina scriptas digito Seth. Et in his lapidibus inventum est quod prophetauit septimus ab Adam Enoch ante diliuium de aduentu x̄pi: "Ecce ueniet dominus in sanctis suis, faciens iudicium de omnibus, & arguet impios [ 35] de omnibus operibus suis quibus preuaricati sunt super terram. Adam vero, postquam passus est Ihesus, intrabit in paradisum."

Explicit vita Ade &c.

(Die Rückseite des Blattes ist leer, dann folgt:)

De ligno sce crucis [Vgl. W. Meyer "Die Geschichte des Kreuzholzes vor Christus", München 1881 (Abh. der bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. I, Bd. XVI. p. 103-166), wo auch der lat. Text nebst provençalischer Übersetzung abgedruckt ist (p. 131-148). Diese lat. Legende, häufig mit der Vita Adae verbunden, ist ein erst seit dem 12. Jahrh. allmählich entstandenes Produkt der Sage. Vgl. auch Pieper, "Der Baum des Lebens", Berlin 1863; C. Schröder, "Van deme holte des hilligen cruzes", Berlin 1869; Mussafia Sulla legenda del legno della Croce (Sitzungsber. d. Wien. Akad., phil. Kl., 1879); Zöcker, "Das Kreuz Christi", Gütersloh 1875; A. Graf, La leggenda del Paradiso terrestre, Turin 1878. Stücke dieser Leg. sind in die engl. Bearbeitungen der Adamssage eingeschoben. Von der lat. Leg. sind nur wenige Mss. erhalten; ein anderes ist Ms. Laud 471, aus dem Ende des 13. Jahrhunderts (letztere Hs. enthält ausserdem lat., franz. und engl. Homilien in buntem Durch∣einander, nebst Sammlungen von lat Narrationes, die hier noch nicht mit den einzelnen Predigten verbunden sind, sondern ad libitum für dieselben ausgewählt werden konnten. Mehrere dieser Narr. stimmen mit denen der nördl. Homilien∣sammlung).]

POst peccatum Ade, expulso eo de paradiso propter peccatum, dum cla∣maret in misericordia domini indutus periȝomate, ex benignitate suscepit promissum quod in fine seculorum daret ei deus oleum misericordie.

Venit enim in valle Ebron cum Eua, vxore sua, ubique pertulit multos labores in sudore corporis & in contricione cordis. Natique sunt ei duo filij, nomina quorum sunt: Caym & Abel. Cumque ex insti(tu)cione legitima in montibus sacrificarent, respiciebat dominus ad munera Abel, quia iustus erat; ad munera Caym non, quia ex nequicia cordis offerebat. Cumque [ 5] uideret Caym quod ad munera sua non respexit deus, accensus invidia occidit Abel. Cumque videret Adam quod Caym fratrem suum inter∣fecisset, ait: "Ecce tot mala contingunt per mulierem! Viuit dominus non agnosco eam", abstinuitque se ab ea ducentis annis. sed postea per [9 al. cognoscam.] preceptum domini iterum recognouit eam. de qua accepit filium nomine [ 10] Seth. Adultus vero Seth factus est iuuenis obediens patri. Cumque nongentis annis & triginta duobus uixisset in valle hebron Adam, fati∣gatusque extirpacione veprium inclinans super bipennem suam cepit contristari & intimo meditari quia multa mala videbat pululare ex posteri∣tate sua in mundo: Cepit enim tedere uite sue. vocauit ergo Seth, filium [15 enim st. eum.] [ 15] suum, ita dicens ei: "Fili, veni et mittam te in paradisum ad cherubin qui custodit atrium ligni vite cum gladio flammeo atque versatili." Ad quem filius: "Presto sum." Cui pater: "Vade & vice mea precato eum ut certitudinem michi renunciet de oleo misericordie quod michi promisit dominus dum expelleret me de paradiso." Paratus autem Seth in hunc [ 20] modum pergendum, ita premunitus est a patre: "Versus orientem in ca∣pite huius vallis inuenies viridem viam que te ducet ad paradisum. [22 Ms. inveniens.] Sed vt illam cercius agnoscas, inuenies passus marcidos, qui sunt tam vestigia mei quam matris tue, Cum per eandem incederemus expulsi de paradiso. Tanta enim peccata nostra fuerunt quod nunquam postea vbi [ 25] pedes nostri calcauerunt, herba viridis potuit crescere." Taliter enim Seth edoctus a patre perrexit ad paradisum. In itinere uero stupefactus propter splendorem paradisi, credidit enim ardorem ignis; sed premunitus a [28 enim st. esse.] patre, signauit se tetha, & prospero gressu peruenit ad paradisum. Cum∣que [29 Ms. techa st. theta.] videret eum cherubin, sciscitatus est ab eo causam sui itineris. Seth [ 30] ita respondit: "Pater meus senio confectus uite sue tedens misit me ad te: Orat enim te quatinus certitudinem olei a deo promissi ei renunciare digneris." Cui angelus: "Vade ad hostium paradisi, & intromisso solum∣modo capite intuere diligenter que & qualia sunt ea que tibi in paradiso apparuerint." Quod & factum est. Intromissoque capite, tantam intuitus [ 35] est amenitatem quantam nulla lingua hominum possit enodare. Amenitas autem illa erat in diuersis generibus fructuum, florum & cantu ameno. In paradiso enim fontem lucidissimum intuebatur, vnde quatuor flumina manabant, Nomina quorum sunt hec: Phison, Gison, Tigris, Eufrates—hec flumina totum mundum replent aquis. Super fontem autem magna [ 40] arbor stabat valde ramosa, sed cortice & folijs nudata. Meditari ergo cepit Seth quare hec arbor nudata esset: & recolens marcidos passus propter peccata parentum suorum, eadem coniectura cepit meditari in corde arborem illam ita nudatam esse propter peccata parentum suorum. Reuersus ergo ad angelum vniuersa que viderat diligenter narrat, pre∣cepitque [ 45]

ei angelus ut iterum ad hostium rediret & alia videret. Intui∣tusque est serpentem circa arborem nudatam promeantem, & viso illo stupefactus redijt. precepitque ei angelus tercio ut rediret. Ipse vero ad hostium tercio regressus uidit arborem iam dictam usque ad celos ele∣uatam & in summitate arboris ut paruulum iam natum & pannis [ 5] inuolutum. Quo uiso stupefactus cum iam reclinaret super terram, [6 al. recl. lumina.] uidit radices iam dicte arboris terram penetrantes usque ad infer∣num pertingere; vbi cognouit animam fratris sui Abel. sicque regressus tercio ad angelum, que uiderat diligenter narrauit. Cui angelus cepit dicere de pueri uisi benignitate: "puer quem modo uidisti, filius dei est, [ 10] qui deflet iam peccata parentum tuorum, & dabit, cum venerit plenitudo temporis, hic oleum misericordie promissum; qui & faciet parentibus tuis (&) posteritati eorum misericordiam. & hic est uera proprietas dilec∣tionis." [13 al. hec.] Seth ita edoctus ab angelo cum vellet discedere, dedit ei angelus tria grana pomerij de quo manducauerat pater eius, ita dicens ei: "Infra [ 15] triduum cum ad patrem ueneris, expirabit pater. Hec tria grana pomerij infra os eius pones: de quibus surgent tres arborum uirge: vna vero arbor erit cedrus, altera cipressus, tercia pinus. In cedro intelligimus [18 Ms. intelligituus.] patrem, quia ceteris arboribus alcius crescere consueuit. In cipresso filium, quia ceteris arboribus fragrancior dulcedinem nobis insinuat. In [ 20] pinu spiritum sanctum, quia multos generans nucleos dona sancti spiritus predicat." Regressus itaque Seth, prospero cursu venit ad patrem. Cum∣que patri omnia que audierat ab angelo et viderat nunciaret, gauisus pater risit & letatus est semel in tota vita sua. Ita letificatus Adam & certificatus, clamauit dicens: "Sufficit michi, domine, uita mea." Obijt [ 25] autem Adam infra triduum sicut iam dictum est ab angelo. Sepeliuit∣que eum Seth in valle hebron, & grana predicta subtus linguam eius posuit. ex quibus tres virge in breui surrexerunt tempore, vnius vlne longitudinem habentes. In ore autem Ade steterunt uirge ille ab Adam usque ad Noe, & a noe vsque ad Abraham, ab Abraham usque ad [ 30] Moysen, nunquam crescentes nunquam decrescentes, nunquam uiriditatem amittentes. Cumque Moyses propheta populum israeliticum ex egipto & seruitute Pharaonis trans mare rubrum educeret, dimerso Pharaone cum exercitu uenit in Ebron. Cumque castra fixisset Moyses, in vesperas sicco populo apparuerunt tres virge que in ore Ade stabant. arripiens [ 35] [35 al. sanctificato st. sicco.] ergo illas in timore domini, spiritu prophecie clamauit: "Vere, iste tres uirge Trinitatem sanctam demonstrant." Dum autem illas Moyses ex ore Ade extraheret, tanta fragrancia totum repleuerunt exercitum ut se iam crederent in terram promissionis translatos. Tali namque indicio letificatus, Moyses panno mundissimo eas inuoluit & secum pro scanc∣tuario, [ 40] quamdiu in desertum fuit, scil. xl quatuor annorum spacio, tulit: [41 l. deserto.] Cumque aliqui in excercitu percussi a serpentibus siue ex ceteris vermibus venenosis ueniebant ad prophetam, & deosculantur uirgas illas, ac sana∣bantur. [43 al. deosculantes (& u. ac fehlt).] Contigit ad aquam contradictionis, cum filij Israel murmurarent contra dominum & contra Moisen, ( [fol. 10] ) in ira locutus est Moyses ita [ 45] dicens: "Audite rebelles & increduli! Nunquid poterimus eicere aquam de petra hac?" Et percussit bis scilicem: & egresse sunt aque largissime, ita ut biberent populi & iumenta. ffacto hoc miraculo, aperuit Moisi [48 al. apparuit.] dominus dicens: "quia non sanctificasti nomen meum coram filijs Israel, non introduces populum hunc in terram promissionis." Cui Moyses: [ 50] "Quis ergo, domine, introducet eos?" Cui dominus: "Nullus eorum in∣gredietur in terram promissionis preter Caleph & Josue." Intellexit ergo Moyses quod terminus uite eius appropinquauit: & ueniens ad radicem montis Thabor, uirgas iam predictas ad radicem montis plantauit: Juxta

quas foueam sepulcralem parauit, In quam introiens expirauit. Steterunt ergo uirge ille mille annis ibi, usque ad tempus Dauid qui regnauit in Judea. Exactis ergo mille annis post obitum Moisi prophete, amonitus est dauid Rex per spiritum sanctum ut tenderet in Arabiam usque ad montem Tabor, ita ut sumeret uirgas quas Moyses plantauerat, et aspor∣taret [ 5] usque in ierusalem—per illas enim deus prouidebat salutem fieri [6 al. providerat.] humano generi in misterio sancte Crucis. Perrexit dauid in Arabiam & nona die peruenit ad montem Tabor. Inuenit autem ibi dauid uirgas de quibus edoctus erat per angelum. Que secate, mira fragrancia dauid comi∣tatumque eius repleuerunt, ita ut crederent se deificatos.... Regrediente ergo [ 10] [10 Ms. repleuerat.] Dauid, occurrerunt diuersis morborum generibus oppressi: & virtute sancte Crucis sanabantur, uoce prophetica exclamantes: "Quia hodie data est salus per uirtutem sancte Crucis." Intellexit ergo Dauid misterium sancte Crucis per spiritum sanctum, & cum gaudio repedauit ad patriam. Cum∣que dauid nona die in ierusalem rediret, meditatus est quo loco virgas [ 15] plantare posset cum honore. Posuit ergo illas in cisterna que dicitur... [16 al. quadam st. que dicitur.] secus [17 al. om. ita. al. die sequenti l. c.] turrim eius spacio noctis illius ita ut die & loco congruo illas plan∣taret; apositi sunt quidem custodes & luminaria. Quibus relictis abijt [18 al. quidam] pausatum. Virtus vero diuina, que semper prouida est, que nec fallit nec fallitur, erexit uirgas illas & in cisterna radicate sunt, ita ut stantes [ 20] conglutinate sunt. Mane redeunte Rege, stantes inueniebantur. viso hoc miraculo ait Rex: "Paueant dominum vniuerse naciones terre, quia magni∣ficatus [22 al. magnificus.] & mirabilis dominus est in operibus suis." Noluit ergo eas amo∣uere, quia dominus illas magnifice plantauerat; sed fecit murum circa eas. Steteruntque ibi uestite a domino plantate, crescentes usque ad [ 25] [25 al. venuste.] annos xxx. vnoquoque autem anno Rex dauid argenteum circulum circa arborem fecit, ut radicum (!) circuli, quantum arbor sancta cresceret spacio [27 al. per indicium circ.] vnius anni, innotesceret ei. Ita usque ad annos xxx creuerunt, secundum quod creuerant spacio unius anni nouum circulum argenteum unoquoque [29 al. anni et.] anno imponebat. Exactis ergo annis triginta adulta arbore sancta, post [ 30] peccatum grande quod commiserat dauid, cepit sub arbore penitendo flere peccatum, dicens domino: "Miserere mei, deus, secundum magnam miseri∣cordiam tuam &c." Peracto autem psalmo cepit edificare templum do∣mini [33 al. psalterio.] in expiacione peccatorum commissorum. Operatus est dauid spacio duodecim annorum circa templum domini. Sed quia uir sanguinum erat [ 35] dauid, noluit dominus domum suam perfici ab eo, imo dixit ei: "Non edificabis michi domum in eternum, quia vir sanguinum es." Et ait [37 Ms. edificabit.] dauid: "Quis ergo, domine?" ait dominus: "Salomon filius tuus." Intellexit dauid se diutius non posse viuere: Vocauit ergo seniores principes ciui∣tatis, dicens eis: "Audite Salomonem tamquam me, quia eum elegit do∣minus." [ 40] Mortuo ergo dauid & sepulto in orto Regum, Regnauit Salomon in iudea, & perfecit templum domini spacio xxx duorum annorum cum gaudio. In consummacione templi, quia non poterant artifices nec cemen∣tarij trabem in toto libano neque in ceteris nemoribus tocius regni in∣uenire, quasi ex necessitate constricti inciderunt arborem illam; de qua [ 45] facta est trabes in longitudinem habens xxx et vnum cubitum. Hec de sancta arbore consecta uno cubito longior erat per linee mensuram: Cumque eleuaretur & suo ordine poneretur, inuenta est breuior uno cubito que per lineam ceteris erat longior. Tercio quidem deposita & tercio eleuata, stupefacti artifices ad hoc spectaculum uocauerunt Regem. [ 50] Hoc uiso, precepit Salomon ut in templo poneretur & ab introeuntibus honoraretur. Perquisieruntque artifices trabem idoneam & perfecerunt

domum cum gaudio. Modus erat circa illas regiones, terminis constitutis [1 al. mos.] in ierusalem templum domini uisitare & deum adorare. Contigit autem in∣numerabilem plebem trabem illam domini que & in templo iacebat uene∣rari. Aduenit ergo mulier Maximilla nomine, que incaute residebat super lignum sanctum: cuius vestes ut stuppe cremare ceperunt. igne stupefacta [ 5] cepit clamare voce prophetica: "Deus & dominus meus ihesus xpus." Cumque iudei ab illa ihesum xpm nominari audierunt, uocauerunt eam blasphemam; et extrahentes eam, extra ciuitatem lapidabant. Hec prima martir fuit que mortem subijt pro nomine xpi. Extrahentes ergo trabem, extra ciuitatem proiecerunt illam in probaticam piscinam. Ibi enim ablue∣bantur [ 10] corpora mortuorum animalium que in templo offerebantur. Noluit ergo dominus arborem istam sanctam diuina carere illustracione, sed vna∣quaque die inter horam terciam & sextam descendebant angeli in pisci∣nam & tota mouebatur aqua: Quicumque autem descendisset prius post mocionem aque, sanus fiebat a quacunque detinebatur infirmitate. Visis [ 15] ergo miraculis, Judei extraxerunt arborem sanctam ex piscina & fecerunt inde ponticulum quendam trans torrentem siloaticum, ut sanctitas ligni [17 Ms. fiolaticum.] pedibus conculcancium adnichilaretur. Jacuit ibi trabes sancta donec Sibilla Regina uenit in ierusalem audire sapienciam Salomonis. Et per illam viam qua trabes sancta iacuit introiens, uiso ligno incuruauit se & adorauit [ 20] illud & subtractis uestibus nudis pedibus transiuit torrentem illum, & uoce prophetica clamauit dicens: "Judicij signum tellus sudore madescit" &c. Cumque de multis cum Salomone conferret, repedauit ad propria. Jacuit [23 al. Que ... collocuta.] autem ibi trabes sancta usque ad tempus passionis xpi. Cumque adiudi∣catus esset deus, ait quidam iudeorum ore prophetico: "accip(it)e arborem [ 25] regiam que iacet extra ciuitatem, & conficite inde crucem Regi Judeo∣rum!" Pergentes ergo Judei extra ciuitatem, ... fecerunt ex ea crucem dominicam septem cubitos habentem in longitudinem & tres in transuerso. Et fecerunt deferri in locum qui dicitur caluaria: & in ea crucifixerunt [29 Ms. que.] dominum nostrum in salute omnium credencium. cui laus est & honor & [ 30] imperium per omnia secula seculorum Amen.

[Anno milleno .C. quater ter duodeno [32 Ms. An do.]
Bis seno primo: fuit hoc scriptum memorando.
Nomen scriptoris factoris: qui fertur warde Nicholaus.
Pro quo letetur: et semper glorificetur.] [Darauf folgt von derselben Hand: Testamentum Iacob in Genesi, fol 12 b, nebst Incipit exposicio testamentorum duodecim patriarcharum filiorum Iacob, anf. Testam. Ruben de fornicacione, fol. 13 b, bis zum Ende des Ms. (f. 50); im Anf. steht a. R. v. a. H.: Robertum grosthed opinor auctorem esse. Am Schlusse, fol. 50 b, folgt dasselbe Quatrain wie oben (An. do milleno &c.).]

Über Adams Körper und Namen findet sich am Schlusse des Ms. Rawlinson C 499 (15. Jhdt.), fol. 153, folgende Notiz:

Legitur in scripturis sanctorum quod celebracio vnius misse est xij dierum releuacio in penis purgatorij positis. Cum pro C animabus missa vel psalmus canitur, non minus quam si pro vna qualibet dicatur apud deum accipitur. ‖ Corpus Ade de octo partibus factum est: prima pars de limo terre, vnde est corpus eius. Secunda de mari, inde est sanguis [ 5] eius. Tercia de sole, inde sunt oculi eius. Quarta de nubibus, inde sunt cogitaciones bone & peruerse. Quinta de vento, inde est humor eius & flatus. Sexta de lapidibus terre, inde sunt ossa eius. Septima de spiritu sancto, que dicitur anima eius. Octaua de luce mundi, que interpretatur

xps: vnde totum corpus hominis illuminatur. & nos de istis partibus facti sumus. homo de tot partibus factus non potest esse quin trahat aliquam partem vel naturam harum partium. si de limo terre traxit, erit piger & pondorosus. si de mari, erit profusus & sapiens. si de sole, erit pulcer & formosus. si de nubibus, erit leuis & luxuriosus. si de vento, erit validus [ 5] membris et bellicosus. si de lapidibus, | erit durus ad credendum & latro. si de spiritu sancto, erit sapiencia diuinitatis repletus & agnoscens man∣data dei. si de luce mundi, electus erit & preclarus, & omnia bona mundi accident ei. ‖ Cum fecisset dominus Adam & non habebat nomen, vo∣cauit quatuor angelos et dixit: "querite nomen hominis istius". Micael [ 10] abijt in orientem; vidit stellam cui nomen erat Anatalim, & tulit inde A, et adduxit ante dominum. Gabriel abijt in occidentem; vidit stellam cui nomen erat Dolys, & tulit inde D, et adduxit ante dominum. Raphael abijt in aquilonem; vidit stellam cui nomen erat Archon, & tulit inde A, & adduxit ante dominum. Vriel abijt in meridiem; vidit stellam cui [ 15] nomen erat Membreon, & tulit inde M, et adduxit ante dominum. & dixit dominus ad Vriel: "lege litteras". & dixit Vriel: "Adam". & dominus: "Sic vocetur nomen eius". Vnde versus (so weit).

(Nachträglich bemerke ich, dass das unter 4 gedruckte Gedicht Testamentum Christi mit dem Discourse between Christ and Man im Cursor Mundi, Part III, p. 978 ff. [Ed. Morris] nahe verwandt ist und daraus selbständig entwickelt scheint.)

C. Horstmann.