Die jüngere Englische fassung der Theophilussage mit einer einleitung zum ersten male herausgegeben / [ed. E. Kölbing].

H.

DE TYOPHILO CLERICO NARRATIO.

A bisschop wond biȝond þe se, and Cicile hight [þe same cete [þonne þe cuntre T. Schon im blick auf die lesart von V erscheint cuntre als die lesart des originals.] . He had a clerk þat Tiophill hight, þat serued him trewly and right; he was so worthi and so wise, al men him lufed for his seruise. Þe bisschop put in his pouste both lond and rent [and add. T.] , gold and fe. To all his gudes he toke entent, and was resaiuore of his rent; [ 10] and he was chefe-officiale, and maister both by doune and dale; he bare him faire and curtaisly and was wele lufed in his baily. Gude he was in all degre and led his life in charite; he was so curtais and so hende, ilk man him lufed and was his frende; none was halden so wise in werk, as Tiophill, þe bisschop clerk. [ 20]

All pouer folk [foll H; folk richtig T.] , þat had nede, lufed him for his almusdede: if þai war nakid, he þam cled, if þai war hungri, he þam fed. He was so ful ay of gudenes, al men he [him T = V.] lufed [bothe add. T.] more and les. And efterward so auenture fell, þe bisschop died, als I þow tell; and hastily, when he was ded, lered and laud all toke to rede, [ 30] fforto luke what man was wisest [wiest H.] and worth to be þaire bisschop best; and all þai gaf þaire voice haly, þat Tyophill was best worthi, fforto haue þe bisschoprike, ffor of wit was none halden slike; of all [al T.] bountese þe best was he: þai chese him bisschop forto be. Þan þe fende for grete enuy in him kithed his maistri; [ 40] he made his hert ful hard and stithe, þat he suld noght þaire wordes lithe, þat he suld noght grante þaire asking, fforto be bisschop for no thing. Þus þe fende so had him lered, [þat, when he [. . . . . at he T; hier scheint also when þat gestanden zu haben.] was of þam enquerd, he said: "I am noght worth to be man of so grete dignite; [ffor þi chese ȝow a noþer man [. . ese ȝow þarfore . . . . . . . . Weiter ist auf der zeile nichts mehr vorh., doch deutet der rest die urspr. wortstellung an, vgl. V v. 45.] þat wiselier ȝow counsaill can; [ 50] ffor suthly say I ȝow ilkane, þat bisschop of me get ȝe nane!" Þan þe folk was euil paid, and unto him halely þai praide, þat he wald be þaire prelate, bot he ne wald grante þam by no gate; and all þai said, þat he did ill, and pat it was noght goddes will. Þarfore leue so ne wald þai noght, maugre his þai haue him broght [ 60] byfore pe pape, and praied sone, þat he suld grante [grate H.] to þam þaire bone. Þan Tiophill ful sare gan grete,

and fell bifor þe papes fete, and bisoght him for goddes sake, þat he suld him no bisschop make. "I am", he said, "a sinfull man, and ful litill gude [gud T.] I can, fforto haue swilk a dignite; and þarfore, lord, þar charite! [ 70] in þis tyme þat ȝe me spare, and mak anoþer bisschop þare. Þe pape þan gaf him daies thre, better to avised be, and bad him cum on þe þrid day, and þan his will he suld him say. Bot his hert was euer in a state, þat he wald be no prelate. On þe thrid day he come ogaine, and euer he said þe same, sertaine; [ 80] and when þe pape persayued his will; na more þan wald he speke him till. Anoþer bisschop made þai sone, and sacred him, to sit in trone. Þat new-made bisschop, whare he dweld, Tiophill ay with him he held, next him self ay forto be, in grete wirschip and dignite. [Vor diesem verse steht die rothe überschrift: De temptacione diaboli.] Þe deuil ȝit bi his quaintise bigiled him, þat was so wise; [ 90] ffor als he with þe bisschop dweld, fful haly man þe folk him held, and halden he was in full high state, bot þe fende made it to abate; of wikkednes he gert him wrighe, and sum to his lord on him lighe: þai made him gilty with leseing of sere wranges, þat he wist no þing. Þe fende þe bisschop hert puruaid, so þat he [he zweiml geschr. in T.] trowed all þat þai said, [ 100] and for þe faus, þat he herd say, Tiophill he put oway; and þarof [þareoff T.] him grete wonder thoght, ffor he wist noght, whi it was wroght; put he was fro his baily, and wist of none enchesoun, whi. Bot unto his hows gan he gang, and honest life he led ful lang

in his wanes with his menȝe, and gladly gaf he charite. [ 110] Bot Sathanas, his fa, þe whiles ogaines him gederd many wiles, and spedely he gert him spend, and couayt widewhare to be kend; and when his gudes war nere gane, þan he wex ful will of wane: þe fende made him to think in hy, how he had bene in grete baily, and þan, how pouer þat he was; oftsithes he sighed and said: "Allas! [ 120] þat euer was I halden wise and had sere men in my seruise, þai þat war wont by day and night, to honore me with all þaire might: now I se, þai gif no tale, wheþer so I be seke or hale. "Ffor suth," he said, "now se I wele, þat [me add. T.] es schapin mekill unsele! Lord will no man now me call, ne honore me in boure ne hall, [ 130]

bot all my, lordschip now es lorn. "Allas", he said, "þat I was born!" So mekill sorow he toke in hert, als þe fende of hell him gert, þat wele [leuer T.] had him dede haue bene, þan so to lif in trey and tene; he wald haue had penance ful grete, his office ogaine [ogain T.] forto gete, and neuer roght he, what to do, els þat he might cum þarto. [ 140] Þe fende made him so think in haste, þat he moght thurgh þe wikked gaste get his office sone ogaine, and þar obout he did his payne.

In þat cete wonde a [wonde a zweimal geschr. in T.] Jew, þat grete despite did till Jhesu;

fful fele sawls he reft him fra, and gert þam to pine of hell ga; he was fully þe fendes man, als all his werkes witnest þan: [ 150] he led his life [lif T.] in foule foly, in witchecraft and [in add. T.] sorcery. Tyophill of þis þing had thoght, and to þat Jew ful sone he soght; unto þe Jew by night he went, als þe fende put in his entent.

Þe Jew saw sone by his chere, þat he [he om. H.] wald of his lawes lere; he askid him, what was his will, and for what thing he come him till. [ 160] Þan Tyophill talde him al þe tale, how he had bene officiale and was done out of his baily, so þat men sett no thing him by. "And, sir, if þou might me socoure, and gett ogaine to þat honoure, so þat my might ogaine may rise, wele wald I quite þe þi seruise, ffor leuer war me dede [ded T.] to be, þan þus to lif in law degre; [ 170]

and þarfore [þarfor T.] , sir, I wald þe pray, þat þou wald help me, if þou may!" Þe Jew bad him murn nomare: he suld be comfort of his care, and bad him cum a sertaine [sertain T.] tyme on þe morn, to speke with him. When Tyophill herd þir wordes, iwis, his hert was ful of ioy and blis, and sone he hied him hame ogaine, ffor of his fare he was ful faine. [ 180] He come opon þat oþer night ogaine to him, als he had hight. Þan said þe Jew: "Do mak [m. k H; der dazwischen liegende buchstabe ist unlesbar.] þe boune,

wend we will withouten toune." He led him furth untill a hill, and on þis wise he said him till: þat he suld no thing be afferd, ffor no thing, þat he saw ne herde; he said: "If þou will haue þi will, be noght abaist, bot hald þe still, [ 190] and luke, þat þou make noght on þe no takin of þe trinite, ne ȝit no takin of þe croyce, ne neuyn þam noght in þi voyce; think nowþer on Christ ne on Mary, bot cum furth with me hardily: I sall þe lede unto my king, þat sall þe grant [grante T.] all þine asking."

Þan answerd Tyophill him unto: "Sir, als þou biddes me, sall I do." When Thyophill come [como H.] unto þat hill, whare he hopid to haue his will, mekill folk þan fand he þare, fful faire attyred and richely fare; and in þe middes of þat gedering saw he sitt a riall king. Þe Jew him led into [unto T.] þat place, whare þis folk all gederd [gaderd T.] was; doune [doun T.] on þaire knese þai þam sett, and þe king ful faire þai grett. [ 210] And þan þe deuil þat sat on dese, bad, all men suld be in pese, and to þe Jew all þus said he: "Whi hastou broght þat man to me? Oure counsaile falles him noght to knaw!" Þan answerd he and said þis saw: "Sir, þis man þat þou sese here, has bene a man of grete powere: he was þe bisschop officiale, and now þus es he broght in bale; [ 220] losed has he his baily, and he wate none encheson, whi. He has no might, als he had are, and þarfore, sir, his hert [herte T.] es sare; he cums to pray ȝow of ȝowre grace, þat ȝe wald help him in þis case. To do ȝowre will he will noght spare,

and be ȝowre man for euer mare." Þe deuil answerd and said þan unto þat ilk unsely man: [ 230] "If he will my seruand be, and lele and trew be unto me, to gretter welth I sall him win, þan euer he bifore was in; he sall haue more of werldes wele, þan euer he had by þe half dele, and mekill better sall he fare, [þan euer he in þe werld fore are. [An stelle dieser zeile glaube ich in T zu lesen: whan would fall fl . . e til, was ich nicht verstehe; doch sind diese zeilen überhaupt fast unlesbar in T.] Bot if he sall my seruand be, omage bus him mak to me, [ 240] and or I him unto me take, Jhesu will I þat [þat om. T.] he forsake, and Mari his moder bath, ffor þai do me ful mekill scath: fful oft times bitwene þam twa tak þai my seruandes me fra. Þarfore, if he will þam forsake, and seþin omage unto me make, þan will I tak him to my knight and socoure him with all my might: [ 250] þat sall him think to morn wele sett: with swilk a maister neuer he mett, ffor or to morn þat it be none, sal he be in his seruis done." When Tyophill herd, þat he so said, in his [his zweimal geschr. in H.] hert he was wele paid, he fell on · knese bifor his fete, and thanked him of his faire [fare H.] hete; he said: "I will bicum þi man in all þat euer I do can; [ 260] both Crist and Mari here I forsake, and þe unto my lord I take!" With þat word [worde T.] lost he goddes grace and in him entred Sathanas. Þan said þe fende unto him tyte: "Conferme þi couenant with a scrite, so þat we both may hald us paid, and þat oure wordes be noght gaine [gain T.] said!" Þan Tyophill on þe erth gan sit and with his hand he wrate a writ, [ 270]

he selid it with his awin ring, and seþin bitoke it to þe king. He toke his leue þan at þe fende, and to þe cete gan he wende, intill þe hows, þare he wonde biforn, makand ioy, ogaine þe morn. Þe bisschop on þat ilk night thought, þat he had done unright, when he put out of his seruise Tyophill, þat was so wise; [ 280] ogaine, [Þanne uns. P.] he thoght, he wald him take, als þe fende gan forward make, and þarfore sone opon þe morn Tyophill cald he him biforn, and said: "Tyophill, I vowche saue, þat þou ogaine þi seruise [seruis T.] haue; and, sir, I pray þe, be noght wrath, ffor it sall turn þe to [till T.] no scath! Wele I wate, þat þi counsaile may unto me ful mekill availe: [ 290] þine office grant [grante T.] I þe ogaine." Þan was Tyophill wonder-faine, and on þis wise he said him till: "Lord, gladly wald I wirk þi will!"

His office ogaine toke he þan; was he neuer so mery man. [H und T haben die rothe überschrift: Tiophilus peruersus est diabolo.] Tiophill has now his baily and ouer all oþer grete maistri; ald and ȝong in all þe land, all þai bowed untill his hand, [ 300] and menskid him with al þaire maine, and of þat fare was he ful faine. He was halden so wise and quaint, he had þe dome of ilka plaint, and in him self grete pride had he, ffor he was in so grete degre. Þe Jew, þat had so helpid him, come, him to tent, ful many time, and said to him oftsithes sere, þat he suld think on al manere, [ 310] thurgh wham þat he had his baily,

and wirschip ay his king for þi: "Ffor sertes", he said, "þou aw full right, to honore him with all þi might, and lele unto þat lord to be, þat all þis welth has gifen þe; and hald him hertly for þi king, and luf him ouer al oþer thing!" Tiophill tentid to his counsaile [counsaill T.] and thankid him mekill of his trauaile. [trauail T.] [ 320] He said: "I thank þi king and þe, ffor hertly haue ȝe helpid me!" Þe Jew said: "Luke þou, noght pray thing, þat oure maister oght greue mai, þi pater noster ne þi crede, neuin þam noght, I þe forbede! ne of Mari no minde þou ma, bot in þi hert despise þam twa! ffor lang or þai had helpid þe, fforto get to swilk degre: [ 330] and luke, þou do none [nout T.] almusdede, bot pray oure king, þat he þe spede!" Tiophill unto him assent, fforto do al his cumandment, and lang time so lifid he in mekill pride and iolite, and serued euer with all his might þe fende, als he bifore had hight; till god, þat made cirnell and corn, and wald, no sinful war forlorn, [ 340] of his grace to him wald send, and gif [him add. T.] might, his mis to mend, so þat he suld noght tine his mede of praiers and of almusdede, þat he bifore þat time had done; þarfore he sent him socore sone, and of him so he had pete, þat in a visioune he lete him se, what he had done and how he was latched [katched T? k uns.] in þe fendes lace, [ 350] and how þe fendes had made in hell his setill, þat he suld in dwell, and tak his seruis of þe fende, to won in wa withowten ende; þare saw he wele his dedes ilkane,

and to what lord he had him tane, and how þat he had god forsakin, and to þe fende fully him takin, and how he had tint al þe blis, þat unto gude men graithed is. [ 360] When Tiophill þus had sene þis sight, and grace of god in him was light, in his hert he him bithoght, how wikkedly þat he had wroght [wrogh H.);] and sare bigan he forto grate: "Allas!" he said. "now wele I wate, þat I haue my self forlorn; allas þat while, þat I was born! Unto wham may I ask mercy, sen I forsoke Crist and Mary, [ 370] and toke me to [till T.] þe fende, my fo? allas þe while, whi did I so! "Allas!" he said, "lord Jhesu fre! ffalsly I haue forsakin þe;

it es no ferly, if þou will, for my sin suffer me to spill. Bot, lord Jhesu! noght for þi, Dauid sais, þat þi mercy passes obouen all þi werkes, and þarto acordes all þir clerkes. [ 380] [H und T haben die überschrift: Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius.] And sen þe werkes, þat þou has made, er in þam self so lang and brade, and þi mercy passes þam all, þat comfortes me, on þe to call. And Mari! mayden meke and milde, þat with sin was neuer filde, as þou ert euer of mercy fre, be mediature to him for me, þat of þi body [bid H.] wald be born, to saue mankind, þat was forlorn, [ 390] ffor þe milk, þou gaff him [me H.] swete, and for þe teres, þou for him lete!" Þir wordes and [oþer many [oþer ma ma H; many oþer ma T.] ma tald he þare unto þam twa,

and fully gan he him affy in þe help of oure lady, and euer he thoght, how scho was won, ffor sinful men to pray hir sun. þare was a kirk, haloud to hald, þat oure lady kirk was cald, [ 400] and unto þat ilk kirk he ran, als it war a wode man, and kneled bifor hir auter doune [doun T.] ) with care and grete contricioune, [contrioune H; contricioun T.] ) and fast he praied unto Mari: "Of me caityf þou haue mercy! Leuedy, pray þi sun for me, so þat I noght dampned be! Leuedy, lat him me noght tine, sen he for me has sufferd pine! [ 410]

Leuedy, lat þi might be sene, sen þou of heuin es ordand quene, and lady of all erthly er tou, þarfore of me haue mercy now! And sen þou es [es om. H.] emperis of hell, þe fendes force now fande to fell! Sen þat my self am unworthi, with [witht H.] mouth to ask þi sun mercy, bot I haue now þe help of þe, in hell ay mun I dampned be; [ 420] þarfore to þe I call and craue, to socore me, þat I be saue, so þat all cristenmen may se þi might and þi mercy in me!"

So lang was Tiophill in þis care, and for his sins [sines T.] wepeand ful sare, þat at þe last oure dere lady had of him pete and mercy; ffor in his hert halely he hight,

to mak amendes with all his might, [ 430] and neuer to do ill fro þat tyme: þarfore oure lady helppid [helpid T.] him; ffor, if men on mold misdo, euer in nede helpand es scho till all þat to hir will [will om. T.] call or cry: loued mot be swilk a lady! When fourty daies war fully gan, [gane T.] bifell so, þat þis sinful man ffell on slepe right in þe kirk, when he was in will, wele to wirk. [ 440] Oure lady come and on him cald, and asked him, what thing he wald;

scho said: "I haue herd þi praiere, bot I wate noght, on what manere þat I might þray my sun for þe, sen þou forsoke bath him and me; how might I cum untill his trone, ffor þe to ask him any bone, sen þou has us both forsakin and till oure fa, þe fende, þe takin, [ 450] and till him hastou made homage, þat es till us a grete outrage! Bot sen þou has þi trispas kend and hertly hetes it to amend, in all þat es onence me, þe greuance here forgif I þe. Bot what man so euer trispasses here ogains my sun, þat es me dere, al if he be full of mercy, and luf mankind als wele als I, [ 460] noght for þi his rightwisnes so rightwis in it seluen es, þat him bihoues al gate do right, and deme ilk man efter his plight, and grant unto no mercy, bot als his werkes er worthi; þarfore I haue meruaile [meruayl T.] of þe, þat þou dar ask mercy of me, and wate, þou has so euil done both unto me and to my sun!" [ 470] When Tiophill þir wordes herd,

with grete ferdnes in hert he ferd; bot he saw, þat him bud nede, answer for his awin dede; he made his mane unto Mari and said: "My lady, wele wate I, I am unworthi and untrew, to pray unto my lord Jhesu, ffor with þe fende [fend T.] of hell I spak, [ 480] þe band of baptime so I brak; bot þat he will my praier [praiere T.] here, think [thnnk H.] me by ensaumples sere; ffor wele J wate, þat king Dauy was wele wiser man þan I, and neuer þe lese he fell in sin, his knightes wife wrang forto win; he slogh þe nobill knight Urri, ffor he wald haue his lady. So for manslaghter [manslaghtet H.] and spowsebreke [ 490] serued he of god grete wreke; and leue dere lady, noght for þi god had of him ful gude mercy. Ane oþer thing ȝit mase me faine, when I think on þe Maudelaine, þat led hir life in licchery, ane foloud euer hir fless foly; and ȝit, lady, þi sun so fre, þat sufferd ded for hir and me, and for all sinful men bidene, [ 500] made hir of hir sines clene: and þarfore, lady, hope I wele, þat þi sun sall my sorow kele, All if I haue unwisely wroght, omang all sinfull he me boght; and lady, if it war þi will, þat I might tell þis tale þe till: if þat Adam and all his kin had kepid þam euer out of sin, þan had þou noght bene heuinquene, [ 510] ne goddes moder had þou noght bene; fforþi me think wele, þat I may procure þe, for me to pray unto þi sun for my misdede, þat of þe toke for me manhede!"

When þis was said, oure lady dere

answerd and said on þis manere, scho said: "Me think wele by þi saws, me and my sun sum dele þou knaws; and all mankind I luf so wele, þat fande I will, þi care to kele; [ 520] and to my sun now will I wende, to fraist, if he will be þi frende. But or I wende to pray for þe, I will, þat þou grant unto me, þat þou sal wele þi self [lif T.] amend and forward fra þe fende þe fend; and for þou has bene his seruant, with þi mowth I will, þou grant, þat he es a wretche unworthy, and my sun god allmighty, [ 530] þat of me toke fless and blude, and for mankind was done on rode, and fro þe fende þan toke his pray, and rase fro dede [ded T.] on þe þrid day, and stegh to heuin als mighty king, and wones þare withouten [with owen T.] ending, þat all sall deme both gude and ill, and all þe prophecy fullfill: if þou all þis wele understand, þan will I wende on þine erand!" [ 540] Þan Tyophill was wonderfaine, and said to oure lady ogayne: "Lady, I trow and wate ful [fuf H.] wele, þat þis be suth euer ilkadele; I grante with all opinly all þat þou has said, lady!" At þis word scho went him fro, and he waknid fro slepe right so; up he rase with ioyful mode, and kneled þare þe ymage stode; [ 550] to hir he made his orisoune with ful grete deuocioune, þare he knelid dayes thre, ne nowþer ett ne drink wald he. Oure lady on þe thrid night come to him with mekill light, and said, þat scho had getin grant, þat he suld be hir sun seruant. "Mi sun", scho said, "has granted me, þat þi sin es forgifen þe, [ 560] so þat þou forward lif right

and menske [mensk T.] my sun with mayn and might, and forward fra all folis blin, and fand to fle all fillth of sin, despise þe fende and his powste, and honor euer my sun and me!" Thiophill þan [þat T.] till hir gan say, so in his praiers als he lay: "Leuedy mine, ful wele [well T.] es me, blisced mot þou euer be! [ 570] ffor unto all þou es redy, þat unto þe will call or cri; if þaire trispas be neuer so grete, þi grace ful gedely [gudely T.] may þay gete. And, lady, seu þou þus has done, Ȝit I beseke þe of a bone: help þat I had þe fendes fra þe charter, þat I gan him ma, and þat þe fendes gert me write, ffor els fro þam I am noght quite, [ 580] ne fro þam may I noght be fre, or þat ilk charter broken be, þat I made forward with þe fende, to serue him and with him wende. And, lady, sen þou has me tane, to serue þi sun and þe allane, help me, lady, on all wise, to mak me clene of his seruise! [H und T haben die rothe überschrift: Tyophilus conuersus est ad dominum.] Oure lady þan went fro him eft, and in þe kirk ay still he left, [ 590] bifor hir auter he him held, in grete deuocioune þare he dweld; ffor fasting so him failed might, and fell on slepe [ssepe H.] opon þe night; and milde Mari, oure faithful frende had trauaild for him to þe fende, with angels sere, als sais þe boke, þe charter [charte H.] fro þe fende scho [sche, T; ebenso v. 605.] toke, and wit ȝe wele, him was ful wa, when þe charter was tane him fra, [ 600] and more striuyng was þam omell, þan I haue tyme now forto tell. Oure lady broght it in hir hand to Tyophill, als he lay slepeand,

opon his briste scho gan it lay, and left him so and went oway. Sone efter, when he was wakeand, þe boke opon his brest he fand, and þan in hert he hopid wele, he was deliuerd ilka dele. [ 610] Tell with tong here may no man þe mekill ioy, þat he had þan; he loued god with will and thoght, þat him had out of thralldom broght, and mild Mari, his moder dere, þat saued him so fra sorows sere. Þan on þe morn was sononday, to kirk men went on riche array, ilkone in þaire best manere, goddes seruise so forto here. [ 620] Þe bisschop come to þat same kirk, goddes werkes þare forto wirk;

and efter þe ofring of þe mes þe bisschop, als þe custum es, ffra þe auter went he doune untill þe folk, to mak sarmoune. Tyophill come þan him to mete, and doune he fell untill his fete,

and tald unto him al þe case, þe fendes seruand how he was, [ 630] and how a Jew with sorcery had gert him fall in grete foly; and als, how Mari meke and milde gat him forgifnes of hir childe, and made him haue of him mercy, and broght him fro þe fendes baily. When [by H; das entspr. wort weggerissen in T.] Tyophill his tale had talde [tolde T.] , þe bisschop hert for care was calde [colde T.] , so mekill [meruaile was in [meruailed was T.] his thoght, þat in lang tyme speke might he noght; [ 640] and all þe folk, þat herd þis tale, war gretely meruaild, grete and smale; ffor he tald it on swilk manere, þat all þe folk obout might here, and forto conferm al his saw,

þe charter to þam gan he schaw. and þan þe bisschop gart it rede, how þat all was done in dede, and for all folk suld wit, in his sarmon said he it, [ 650] and bad þe folk ensaumpill take, to do penance and sin forsake; "ffor herby," said he, "may ȝe lere, how schrift, penance and praiere may fordo a mans sin, ffall he neuer so fer þar in; þat may men se fulfild in werk of Tyophill, þat nobill clerk, thurgh penance how he gat mercy and prayer of oure dere lady. [ 660] Wele es him, þat here has might, to serue hir by day or night; in wanhope here thar no man fall, bot mercy haue, þat hir will call, if þat he will forsake his sin, and namore forto fall þar in: Tiophill, als men may here, synned on so grete manere, þat all folk may haue ferly, how he might euer get mercy; [ 670] bot for him self so euil had done, he was worthi, to ask na bone; þarfore wittily he wroght, untill oure lady when he soght, fforto be his mediatoure bitwix him and his sauioure, so forto get him forgifnes of his misdedes more and les. Lady! blith aw man to be, þat has in heuyn swilk atturne [attune H.] , [ 680] þat failes neuer a man in nede, al do he neuer so sinful dede; wele us aw both day and night, to honore hir with all oure [our T.] might!" Þe bisschop þan withouten mare in fire did brin þe charter þare, þat Tyophill had made of couenant, when he bycome þe fendes seruant, and all þe folk, þat saw þis sight, made grete ioy with all þaire might, [ 690] and loued god and oure lady,

þat unto man gifes swilk mercy. Þus when þe sarmon was said, and all Þe puple ful wele paid, þe bisschop to þe auter ȝode, and sang his mes with ioyful mode; and when þe mes was said till ende, Tyophill asked with wordes hende, and praied, þat he might in þat oure resaiue þe cors of his creatoure. [ 700] Þe bisschop granted with gude will, and godes body he broght him till, and he resaiued it worthily, þat was wele sene and sese now whi: hastily, when he howseld [howseled T.] was, als bright þan schane his face, als [as T.] dose þe sun in someres tyde; all þe folk þan on ilka side unto þe erth þai fell doune right, ffor none might luke ogains þat light; [ 710] bot for no ferdnes doune þai fell, ffor mekill mirth was þam omell; and when þe light oway was, al þe folk loued god ful fast, and grete ioy made þai albidene of þis sight, þat þai had sene. And when þe seruis was al done, Tyophill toke his way [leue T.] ful sone, and up he gaf all his baily, his office and his grete maistri: [ 720] "J will namore þarof", he said; þan was þe bisschop euil [ouil T.] paid, ffor ful wele he wist by þan, þat he was a haly man. Tyophill said: "I will me gife [gif T.] till oper life ay whils I life [lif T.] , and þarfore, gude [gud T.] sir, ȝow noght greue!" and on þis wise he toke his leue; untill his hows furth went he þus, and gaf his gudes all in almus, [ 730] all his rent and al his store, all his landes and his tresore, all he gaf to pouer in hy, ffor Jhesu luf and for Mary; to god halely he turned his thoght, and by him self no thing he roght.

When he had gifen all his catell, and left him seluen neuer a dele, þan to þe kirk ogaine [ogain T.] he ȝode, þare þe ymage of oure lady stode, [ 740] and þare he made his wonig stede and dwelled þare till he war ded;

fful hard payne þare gan he drighe ogayne þe tyme, þat he suld dye, ffor he had prayed god specially, fforto haue here his purgatori; he wist him self right wele inogh, when tyme of ded nere to him drogh; he toke his leue at frendes all, his eghen-liddis [liddes T.] þan lete he fall, [ 750] and so his saul to heuyn ȝede, ffor his trauaile to tak his mede.— þis tale in bokes we wretin [written T.] finde, to mak men forto haue in minde, þat two thinges helis man of syn, þat wownded es in saul within: goddes mercy þat es þe tane, þat merked es to sinful man, whar thurgh grace es to him send and will, his misdedes to amend; [ 760] it mase man think, what he has done, and to forsake his sins sone. Þat oþer thing es hard penance, þat folows efter repentance: Of þir two thinges here we tell with crist him self in oure godspell, by þe oyle and by þe wine [wyn T.] , þat war untill þat man medcyne, þat by þe way was wounded sare, als men might here tell of are. [ 770] Tyophill, þat I of talde, had wikked woundes manifalde [fald T.] als theues, þat er fendes of hell, had wounded him sare þam omell, and for ded allane left þai him; þat may men mene by þat ilk time,

when he gan þe charter make, þat he suld neuer þe fende forsake; þat he war ded, þan wele þai wende. to won in hell withouten ende: [ 780] bot Crist, þat es verray medcyne, helled in his woundes oyle and wine, þat es: he had of him mercy thurgh þe prayer of oure lady [leuedy T.] Beseke [biseke T.] we þan in stede and stall untill þat lady, flowre of all, þat scho vowche safe, to pray for us untill hir sun, oure lord Jhesus Christus, þat he us medcin more and myn, and clense us clene of all oure syn, [ 790] and len us force, þat we noght fall in fandinges, forto mak us thral, bot so lely oure liues to lede, and so him forto luf and drede, in þat life þat we may lende, þat lastes euer with outen ende: and mildely, þat it may so be, sais all: Amen, par charite! [ 798]

V.

ÞE STORY OFF THEOFLE.

A busschop woned in a cuntre þat hihte Cisyli biȝonde þe see. He hedde a clerk þat Theophil hiht and served hym trewly and riht; so qweynte he was and so wys, þat alle hym louede for his seruis. Þe bisschop hym ȝaf in his pouste lond and leode, gold and fee. To alle his goodes took he tent and spendet wisly al his rent. [ 10] Theofle, of whom I telle þis tale, was þis bisschopes officiale, and bar hym feire and corteysly, and gat him frend in his bayly. Chast he was of his bodi, ffor he louede no lecheri; he was boþe corteis and hende, and alle goode men weren his frende; was non holde so wys in werk, as Teophele, þe bisschopes clerk. [ 20]

þe pore folk þat hedde neode, louede him for his almusdede: þo þat weore naked, he hem cled, þo þat weore hungri, heo hem fed. Alle him louede for his godnes, olde and ȝonge, more and les. Ffel aunter, þat þe bisschop dyed ffor muchel seknesse, þat he dried. Sone so þe bisschop was ded, lered and lewed toke to red, [ 30] what mon þat was wysest, þat mihte ben heore bisschop best. Lered folk and leued baþe to bisschop ches Teophele raþe; on Theophele was al her hope, þerfore þei ches him to bisschope.

But þe fend þorwh onde and nyþe bigon on him his maistrie kiþe, and his herte made hard and stiþe, þat wolde he not þe folk liþe [ 40] ne graunten hem heore askyng, ne be bisschop for no þyng.

"I am not worþi forte be mon of so gret a dignite. Geteþ ow þerfore a nother mon, þat ow beter lere con. Sikerly dar ȝe not hope þat I wol beo ȝoure bisschope." Þe folk was ful vuel payed, and Theophele ful ȝerne prayed, [ 50] þat he schulde ben heore prelate, bot he nolde graunte hem no gate; and þei seide, he dude ille, þat stod aȝeyn godus wille. But herwiþ wolde þei leue nouht, aȝein his wille þe folk him brouht bifore þe erchebisschop sone, to make him graunte hem heore bone. Whon he com þer, sore dude he grete,

and fel to þe bisschopes feete, [ 60] and preyed him for godes sake, þat he schulde not him bisschop make. "I am, quaþ he, a synful mon, and to luytel good I con, ffor to haue such dignite, þerfore, sir bisschop, I preye þe, at þis time þou me spare, and mak anoþur bisschop ȝare. Þe bisschop ȝaf him dayes þre, to loke hou hit mihte best be, [ 70] and bad him come þe þridde day to him, his wille forte say. But euere his herte was in o state, ffor wolde he not be prelate.

Whon þe bisschop sauh his wille, wolde he no lengore speke him tille, but made a noþur bisschop sone, and set him deorely in trone. Þat oþur bisschop Teophele heold in his seruise wiþ muchel beld. [ 80]

Now schul ȝe here what queyntise þe fend gilede Teophele þe wyse;

he made men sone uppon him lye, and Teophele to his lord beo wrye.

Þe bisschop leuede þat he herde say, and pult him out of his offys away; and Teophele þhouhte gret ferly, ffor he nuste wherfore ne whi, þat he was don from his baily; and þerfore was he ful sori. [ 90] In his owne hous not forþi liuede he feire and corteisli;

he clepte gistes to his hous and fedde þe pore wiþ almus. But Sathanas, his fo, wiþ his wiles gederede aȝeyn him queynte giles

and made him þenke on his maistrie, on his lordhed and his bailye, what he hedde ben and what he was, and sone he seide: "Allas, allas! [ 100] þat euere I was qweinte and wys, and hedde men in my seruis, þat were iwont dai and niht to serue me wiþ al heore miht: now ȝiue men of me no tale, ne recche, wheþer i be sek or hale; nu seo I wel in uche place, me is fallen luitel grace, ffor no mon deþ me honoure, nouþer in halle ne in boure!" [ 110] Now is Teofle, þat lord was, so foule icast in þe plas, þat no mon wolle him lord calle, nouþer in boure ne in halle. "Allas!" quaþ he, þat I was born! schomely is my joye forlorn!" So muchel care fel in his herte, as þe ffend of helle gerte, þat leuere him were to be dede, þen such lyf for to lede; [ 120] ffor him þhouhte, þat he wolde fayn ben in his baylie aȝein, þat neuer þouhte he, what to do, to couenant þat he come þer to. Þe ffend mad him to þenke in hast, þorwh miht of þe holi gost, hou he mihte geten his bayli aȝein, þat he wolde han so fayn. He biþouhte him ful hastely, þat he mihte come to his bayli, [ 130] þorwh wicchecraft and sorcerye, þat clerkes clepen nigramauncie. In þat citee woned a Jewh, þat hedde idon muchel aȝein Jhesu;

soules hedde he raft him fro, and made hem to helle go. He was bicome þe deueles man, and in his seruyse liuede he þan, wiþ wicchecraft and sorcerye to lede his lyf ful priuelye. [ 140] Teophele herte was euere in flouht, and on þis Jew ful wel he þouht. So fer forþ þe Jewh him ladde, and mad him so wood and madde, þat he eode uppon a niht to þe Jewes hous ful riht and knokked faste atte ȝate, and preied ȝerne, him in late, and he nolde his knokkyng blyn, til þe Jew let him come in. [ 150] Þe Jew sauh his druri chere, and what him eiled, wolde he here, and asked him, what was his wille, and for what nedes he com him tille. Teophele tolde þe Jew his tale, hou he hedde ben officiale, and was don out of his baily, but he wuste neuere, wherfore ne whi: "ȝif þou miht me socoure, and bringe me to myn honoure, [ 160] Þi trauayle I wolde þe ȝelde iwis, wiþ ȝiftus and wiþ gret riches, ffor leuere me were, to be dede, þen þus schomeliche my lyf lede, wiþoute welye and orpraunce (?) þat I haue lost wiþ ferli chaunce. þerfore, my frend, I preye þe, þat ȝif þou may, þou helpe me! Þe Jewh bad him leue his care, and seide, þat wel schulde he fare, [ 170] and bad him, come þat ilke tym on þe morwe, to speke wiþ him. Whon þat Theophele herde þis, his herte was ful of joye and blis, and sone he eode hom aȝeyn, ffor he was neuer er so fayn, and com uppon þat oþur niht to þe jewh, as he hedde hiht.

Þe Jewh ladde him on an hulle, þer folk were wont, to pleie heore fulle [ 180] and bad, he schulde not ben aferd ffor noþing, þat he sauh or herd. "ȝif þou," he seide, "wolt haue þy wille, loue þat þou holde þe stille; loke þat þou make not on þe þe tokne of þe rodetre,

ne þenk on Crist ne on Marie, but cum wiþ me ful boldelye. I schal þe lede to my kyng, þat schal folfulle þi longyng." [ 190] Whon þat Teophele herde al þis, he was noþing aferd iwis, but seide: "Lord, fayn wol I do al þat euere þou seist me to." Whon Teophele com to þis hille, he was siker to han his wille; muche folk þen sauh he þare, ffeire atired and riche fare; and amiddes þe gederyng sauh he sitte a modi kyng. [ 200] Pe Jewh him ladde in to þe plas, þer al þe folk igedered was, and on knes boþe hem sette, and þe kyng feire þey grette. Þe prince bigon wroþ to be; and seide: "Jewh, hit is wonder of þe, whi hastou brouht þis mon to me?" "Lord," quaþ he, "I schal telle þe: þis mon þat I haue ibrouht here, haþ beo mon of gret pouwere; [ 210] he was þe bisschopes officiale, but he is brouht now in such bale, þat his bisschop haþ mad him quite of his baily wiþouten wite; and he not, wherfore ne whi he is don out of his baily; þerfore, lord, he is sori, and comeþ to asken ow merci. I prey ow, lord, of ȝor gras, þat ȝe help him in þis cas! [ 220] To do þi wille he is redi,

and bicome þi mon gladly." Þe deuel onswerde and seide þan to þat like uncely man: "ȝif he wol ben of my meyne and be riht trewe and torne to me, grettor lord schal he be, þen euer ȝit in world was he, and more beo þe haluen dele hauen of þis worldes wele, [ 230] þen euer ȝit hedde he aare, and muchel better schal he fare.

But or I him in seruyse take, I wol þat he Jhesu forsake and Marie, his moder, baþe, ffor þei make me ofte wraþe. Aȝeyn me beo þei ful þro, ffor my seruauns þei take me fro. Þerfore ȝif he hem forsake, and aftur omage to me make, [ 240] þen wol I make him mi kniht, and socoure him wiþ al mi miht; and þat schal he to morwe se, and for his lord holde me; ffor to morwe, or hit beo non, he schal ben in his bayli don." Whon þat Teophele herde þis, him þhouhte he hedde muche blis, and þonked þe fend of his bihete, and fel on knes and custe his feete, [ 250] and seide: "I wol bycome þi mon, wiþ al þe wit, þat I now con; ffor Crist and Marie I forsake, and to þe, lord, I me take. At þat word les he godus gras, and into him eode Sathanas. Þe ffend of helle bad hym tyte, comferme þe couenaunt wiþ a scrite.

Teophele on þe eorþe gan sit, [ 260] and wiþ his hond wrot a writ

and selede hit wiþ his ryng, and aftur he tok hit to his kyng, and tok his leue at þe ffende, and to þe cite gon he wende. Teophele eode into his hous, a glad mon and a joyous. Þe bisschop on þat ilke niht þouhte, he hedde don unriht, þo he dude out of seruise Theophele þat was queynte and wise; [ 270]

and þerfore uppon þe morn he made Teophele cum him biforn, and seide: "Teophele, I was unwys, whon I dude þe from my seruys; I haue ido me seluen scaþe, but I þe preye: beo not wraþe! ffor I wot, þat þi counsayle may to me muchel avayle; þerfore, Teophele, now I þe pray, þat þow take þin offys to day!" [ 280] Teophele onswerde and seide him tille, þat gladly wolde he don his wille; but he seide, him þhouhte gret ferly, whi he was don from bis bayly. "And sire!", he seide, "not forþi to do ȝor wille I am redi." Þo tok he his offys aȝeyn: was he neuer er so fayn. Now is Teophele lord and sire, and lered and lewed at his atyre, [ 290] olde and ȝonge of al þat lond, alle þei dude bowen to his hond; dorste no mon don aȝeyn his wille, but alle weore fayn, hit to folfille. In juggement was he queynte, riht he dude in eueri pleynte, and neuer beo þe haluen dele in his bayli was he so wele. Þe Jewh, þat hedde iholpen hym, com to him mony a tym and spac to hym ful priuely, [ 300] and bad him þenke witerly, þorwh whom he com to his bayly,

to þonken his kyng derworþly, and seide: "Me þinkeþ, þou ouhtest riht

to worschipe him wiþ al þi miht, þat al þis wele haþ ȝiue þe, to him þou ouhtest trewe to be, and worschipe him as for þi kyng and loue him ouer alle þing!" [ 310] Teophele herde gladly his counsayle, and þonked muche his trauayle. "Wel worþ þe kyng", he seide, "and þe, ffor treweliche haue ȝe holpen me!"

Teophele hedde longe his pouste, in pruide of herte and jolyfte, and serued þe fend wiþ al his miht, to whom he hedde his seruice hiht. But god, þat alle craftes con, wolde not suffre þat synful mon, [ 320]

to leosen al þat grete mede of þe muchele almusdede, þat he hedde bifore done, but hedde of him merci sone; Jhesu Crist of his pite made him in his herte se, what he hedde idon and hou he was ffallen in þe deueles cas, and how þe fend bitter and felle hedde mad his careful seete in helle, [ 330] þer he schulde be wiþouten ende, and taken þe seruise of þe fende, whos seruaunt he was bicome,

and to what lord he hedde him nome; and hou he hedde his lord forsake, and to þe fend hedde him take. Now hedde he lost þe muchel blis þat to goode men iordeynd is,

and gret deol and serwe leete: and sore bigon he forte wepe, [ 340] "Allas!" quaþ Teophele, "þat I was born, ffor foule I haue my self ilorn! Whom may I now aske merci? I haue forsake Crist and Mari, and itake me to my foule fo: wo is me, go wher I go! A Jhesu! Jhesu! wo is me, wot I neuere, whodur to fle! ffor Marie haue I left and þe, and to þe ffend itake me: ȝif I euere gete merci, [ 350] alle cristene folk may haue ferli. But lord Jhesu! not forþi Seint Dauid seiþ, þat þi merci is aboue alle þi werkes, and þerto graunteþ alle grete clerkes, and siþþe þi werkes þat þou made, ben in hem self so long and brade: and þi merci is more þen alle, ȝit wol I fonde, ou þe to calle! Teophele seide þis and more [ 360] wiþ careful herte and sikyng sore, ffor nou to longe hit ware, to telle þat he seide þare. Of þis tale I leue þe lengþe, and telle not but þe strengþe, hou Teophele gat þe maystri þorwh þe help of ure ladi. Iblesset be þe maide Mari, ffor euere in neode heo is redi, to gete us of hire sone merci, [ 370] and ȝeorne we auhte on hire to cri: ffor do we neuere so synful dede, euere heo helpeþ us in nede.

Wel is him, þat niht nad day mai hire honoure and serue to pay! Teophele in al his wo and care þouhte on Marie, þat Jhesu bare, þe þouhte, þat heo was wel wone, ffor synful mon to preye hire sone. [ 380]

To hire chapele sone he ron. as hit were a wood mon, and kneled bifore hire autere wiþ careful herte and druri chere, and seide: "Modur, ladi Mari! of me caytyf þou haue merci! Ladi, prey þi sone for me, þat for me dyed on þe tre: lady, let him not me tyne, þat þolede for me harde pyne! [ 390] Lauedi, schewe here þi miht and reue þe fend of helle his kniht! Ladi, let hit nou beo sene, þat þou of heuene art mihti qwene. Ladi! fond his wraþþe to slake, þat wolde þe qwene of heuene make!

for I my self am not worþi, to aske wiþ mouþe þi sone merci: but ȝif I haue now help of þe, wiþouten ende in helle I be; [ 400] þerfore haue reuþe of me caytif, and mak Crist graunte me lyme and lyf, þat alle cristene men may se þi miht and þi merci on me!" Suche wordes Teophele seide, þat he in orisun was leyde; ffourti dayes was he þare, in gret trauayle, pyne and care, in gret serwe and wepyng, in muche fastyng and wakyng. [ 410] So longe was Teophele in destaunce, in gret trauayle and penaunce. þat atte laste ure ladi hedde pite of him and merci:

ffor, what synne þat mon may do, euere in neode helpeþ ho to alle þat wole aske hire merci: blessed beo heo, as vre ladi! Whon þe fourti dayes were gon, heo com to þat sely mon, [ 420] þer he was falle on slepe, ffor gret serwe and for wepe. Ure ladi asked him, what he walde, and whi so faste on hire he calde. "Þou hast," quaþ heo, "maad me vnro, and maad me come hider þe to. Undurstond, what þou hast done, ȝif þou beo worþi, han þi bone. I haue wel herd þi preyere, but I not, on what manere [ 430] þat I may preye my sone for þe, ffor þou forsoke mi sone and me. Hou dar I stonde bifore his trone, to make him graunte þe þy bone? ffor þu hast vs boþe forsake, and to vr fo þou hast þe take.

Þat þou hast don aȝeyn me, holliche I forȝiue hit now þe: but whon me doþ my sone wrong, wite þow wel, me þinkeþ strong. [ 440] þeih my sone beo ful of merci, and loueþ monkynde as wel as I: not forþi his rihtwisnis so muchel in him seluen is, þat him bihoueþ euere do riht, and deme þe mon aftur his pliht;

þerfore me þinkeþ gret ferly, þat þow askest of me merci, whon þow hast don so strong outrage, [ 450] þat þou hast don þe fend omage!" Whon þat Teophele þis herde,

in his herte he was aferde, but he sauh, him bihoued nede, to onswere for his owne dede, and sone he spac to vre ladi and seide: "Ladi, wel wot I, þat my mouþ nis not worþi, fforte aske of þe merci, ffor wiþ þe ffend of helle I spake, and my cristendom schomely brake, [ 460]

but, swete ladi, not forþi J wot wel þat kyng Daui was muchel beter mon þen I, and ȝit he fel in gret foly, and made sle þe kniht Urri and to cheues tok his leuedi; wiþ monslauht and spousbruche he deserued greefly wreche. And leoue ladi, not forþi [ 470] of him dude god ful good merci. A noþer þing makeþ me fayn, whon I þenke on þe Maudelayn, þat ladde hire lyf in gret folye, in jolyte and lecherye, and not forþi þi sone Jhesus Christus, þat died on þe rode for us, made hire of synne so clene, þat no synne was on hire sene. þerfore, my ladi, I hope wele [ 480] þat þin help may my serwe kele. Wel I wot, þi sone bouhte me also dere, as he dude þe:

ȝif synne ne were, þu neddest beo quene, ne godes modur in heuene bene; þerfore me þinkeþ, I may wel fonde to preye, þat þou bere myn ernde to þi sone for mi misdede, þat tok for vs in þe monhede!" Whon Teophele hedde þus ispoken, [ 490] þer he was in chirche iloken, vre ladi, moder of merci,

onswerede him ful swetely:

I loue, quaþ heo, monkynde so weel, þat I wol fonde, þi care to kel, and to my sone nou gon wol I, fforte aske for þe merci. But or I do þis grace to þe, I wole, þat þou siker be, þat þou schalt wel þi lyf amende, and from þe fend þe defende; [ 500] and for þou hast ben his seruaunt, I wol, þat þou wiþ mouþ graunt, pat he is wrecche and vnworþi, and my sone is god almihti, þat of me tok flesch and blode, and for monkynde dyed on rode, and binom þe fend of helle his prai, and ros from deþ to liue þe þridde day, and steih to heuene as mihti kyng, And mad of nouht alle þyng, [ 510] and schal deeme boþe goode and ille, and al þe prophecye fulfille. Ȝif þu leeue þis studefastly, to do þin erende fonde wol I." Teophele herde þis and was fayn, and seide to vr ladi aȝeyn: "Ladi, al þis leeue I so wel, þat þerof doute I neuer a del, and graunte wiþ mouþe openly al þat þou hast seid, ladi!" [ 520] At þis word heo wente him fro, and he fel on slepe riht so, and ros vp wiþ joyful mode, and kneled þere vr ladi stode, and made to hire his vrisoun, wiþ ful good deuocioun. Þere he knelede dayes þre, neiþer ete ne drinke wolde he. Ur ladi on þe þridde niht com to hym wiþ leomes liht [ 530] and seide, heo hedde igete him graunt, þat he mihte beo hire sone seruaunt. Mi sone, quaþ heo, haþ graunted me, þat þi synnes forȝiue be: but her aftur kep þe wel,

þat þow falle in non vncel!"

Teophele onswerde hire and seide, þer he in orisun was leyde: "Swete ladi! wel is me, iblessed euere mote þou be! [ 540]

Now þou hast, ladi, wel idone, I preye þe, graunte me my bone! Swete ladi! mak me haue þat vnsely cirograue, þat þe fend made me write, ffor elles of him am I not quyte. May I neuer siker be, til þat scrit beo brouht to me, þat I made wiþ þe fende, to ben his seruaunt and his frende. Ladi, mak me haue þat scryte, ffor þerof is al my wite!" [ 550]

Whon þis was seid, heo wente him fro, but of þat stude nolde he go, but þer in orisun he lay sore wepinge niht and day. On slepe he fel þe þridde niht, ffor gret trauayle lusten him miht;

and as he lay faste slepynge, þulke scrit Marie gon bringe, [ 560]

on Theophele breste heo leyde þe scrite, and wente a wei from him tyte. Whon þat Teophele was wakande, þe scrit on his breste he fonde:

þe joye, þat he made þon, wiþ tonge telle may no mon! þe joye, þat he hedde in herte, made him for joye lepe and sterte.

Upon þe morwe sonday was, to chirche ede þe folk, to here heor mas, [ 570] and forte make heore preyere, godes seruise forte here. Þe bisschop com to þe chirche, godes seruise for to worche. Þider com Teophele faste rennande, and brouhte þe scrit in his hande. Aftur þe offring of þe mes þe bisschop, as þe custom is, ffrom þe auter he com doun, to sigge þe ffolk a sarmoun. [ 580] Theophele gon þe bisschop mete, and sone he fel to his feete, and sore bygon he forte wepe, and spac to him wiþ wordes swete, and tolde al to gedere his cas, whos mon bicomen he was, and hou a Jewh wiþ sorcerye hed mad him falle in gret folye, and how þe blisfol qwen Marie gat him forȝiuenes and mercye. [ 590]

Whon þat Teophele þis tale hedde told, þe bisschopes herte wox ful cold; so muche ferli him þouht, þat wel speke mihte he nouht. Teophele spak on such manere, þat lered and lewed mihte him here, and to comferme al his sawe, þe scrit he made rede and schawe. Whon þe folc herde þis, [ 600]

gret ferli hem þhouhte iwis. þe bisschop mad rede þat scrite, and aftur preche hit in pulpite,

and bad þe folk ensaumple take, to do [de ms.] penaunce for sinne and sake. "Here", quaþ he "may ȝe lere, how schrifte, penaunce and preyere makeþ forȝiue monnes syn, ffalle he neuere so depe þer in: þat may ȝe seo ful witerly in þis clerk, þat gat mercy, [ 610] wiþ preyere and penaunce worþi, and þorw help of vre ladi. Wel is him, þat niht and day may serue, þat mihtful qwen to pay! In wonhope þar no mon falle, þat on þe mylde qwen wol calle, and do riht penaunce for his syn, and aftur no more falle þer in: ffor Teophele, þat ȝe seon here, sunged in so strong manere, [ 620] þat al þe world may þinke ferli, hou euere he mihte gete merci; þerfore he þouhte queynteli, whon he preyede vre ladi,

ffor to ben his atorne, to stonde bifore þe trinite and gete him þere forȝiuenes of his synne more and les. Ladi! bliþe may þei be, þat han in heuene such aturne, [ 630] þat fayleþ neuermore in nede, haue mon do neuere so synful dede. Wel ouhte we boþe day and niht honoure hire wiþ al ur miht!" Whon he hed seid þis and mare, he let brenne þe scrit þare, þat Teophele made of couenaunt, when he bicom þe deueles seruaunt. Whon þe folk hedde herd and sene al þat þe bisschop wolde mene, [ 640] ffor joye þei beogonne to crie,

and þonked god and vre ladie.

þe bisschop to þe auter ȝode, and song his masse wit joyful mode,

and ȝaf Teophele þe fflesch and blode, þat Jhesus Crist schedde on þe roode. And sone, whon he hoseled was, as briht þo schon his fas, as doþ sonne in someres tyde, and al þe folk, þat stod beo syde, [ 650] ffor joye of herte to þe erþe þei flawe, whon þat þei þis miracle sawe: ffor non of hem, þat þer was, miht loke for brihtnes of his fas.

Whon þis miracle was done, Teophele tok his leue sone and ȝeld vp al his bailye, his offys and his grete maistrie,

and ȝeode in to his owne hous, and ȝaf his goodes in almous, [ 660] al his gold and his tresore, al his lond and his store, al he ȝaf and lefte him nouht, ffor his loue, þat on rode him bouht: to him he torned al his þouht, and no þing of him selue rouht.

Whon he hedde ȝiuen al his catel, and left him self neuer a del, into þat stude anon he ȝode, þer ur ladi bifore him stode, [ 670] and riht þere þat he sauh hire stande, in þat stude he was euere dwellande, til þat god him seknes sent, wherfore out of þis wold he went; ffor in þat stude sek he lay euer til þe þridde day. Vre lord dude of him his wille, and clepte him to heuene him tille; Teophele gon harde pyne drie, and wel he wuste, whon he schulde die; [ 680]

he was in gret deuociun, and clepte men of religiun; and whon he hedde icust hem alle, his eȝelides let he falle, and so to heuene blisse he eode, and for his trauayle to take mede. Al þis tale I haue ow told, to make ow in or herte bold: þat twey þinges helpeþ mon of synne, þat woundeþ sore þe soule wiþinne: [ 690] godus merci is þat on, and ȝiueþ grace to synful mon, fforþinkeþ, þat he haþ idone, and rise out of synne sone. Þat oþur is hard penaunce, þat ouhte folwe repentaunce, ffor þeos two þinges, as I wene, wol Crist in vre gospel mene beo þe oyle and beo þe wyn, þat clanseþ his woundes wiþin, [ 700] þat bi þe wey lay iwoundet sore, as I tolde ow lang ore. Teophele of whom I haue told, hedde woundes on him so monifold,

þat he hedde dyed in helle pyne, ȝif Crist ne hedde iȝiuen him medicine. and clansed his woundes wiþin wiþ þis forseyd oyle and wyn. ȝit is þer more in vre gospel, þat ouerlonge hit weore to tel, [ 710] and þerfore I wol leue here, and to ur lord make preyere, þat he schild vs from dedly synne, and let vs neuere falle þer inne, and ȝif we falle þorwh vre foly, he sende vs grace of his merci, to haue riht repentaunce, and after to do worþi penaunce; and þenne take we þe medicyne þat is tokned bi oyle and wyne; [ 720] ffor þeos twey þinges clanseþ us and makeþ vs come to godus hous, þer we schule wiþouten ende liue wiþ Crist as broþur and frende. Vre lord, Jhesu Crist, vs spede, to do penaunce and þider vs lede! [ 725]

Amen.

BRESLAU, JULI 1876.

E. Kölbing.