Die legenden von Celestin und Susanna / [ed. C. Horstmann].

LEGENDE VOM PAPST CELESTIN

(aus Ms. Laud, L 70, fol. 118b. [Die häkchen (') an d, t, g, k, die striche über h sind, auf wunsch der redaktion, durch e wiedergegeben, & ist in and aufgelöst, Jhu in Jesu.] )

Al of a storie I wile ȝou rede hou euery man aughte synne drede, If þat he thenke wel to spede, ffor godes myghte, Amysse whan he wille him take: day or nyghte. [ 5.]

ffader and sone, we preye to þe, þat is on gode and persones threo, almyghty gode in trinite, als it is right, þe to serue þou ȝeue vs strengthe: wiþ al oure myghte. [ 10.]

þou ȝeue vs ensaumple of gret lowenesse, whan þou come fro heuene blisse, To reste in hire þat mayde isse wiþ outen man; ffor alle þat dieden þer biforen: to helle he nam. [ 15.]

¶ In eorþe he was boren vs alle amonge, to make ryghte þat er was wronge and bringe hem of helle þat þouhte longe [18. þat þouhte long vgl. Evang. Nic. 1414 lang here has vs thoght.] ffor pyne. ffor soþe holy chirche was founded: of þat tyme. [ 20.] [20. Der doppelpunkt steht im ms. in der mitte des verses (nach chirche), wie an vielen anderen stellen (25. 30. 105. 120. 185. 230. 280. 310. 330. 365. 375. 430. 470. 475. 505. 600 u. a.). Nicht selten fehlt er (125. 230. 265. 355).]

hadde a man neuere so myche mys wroughte, To godes mercy wanhope he nought, Turne ageyn and chaunge his þouht and blynne: Crist wille him loue and forȝeue: him his synne. [ 25.]

¶ Peter gan thries crist forsaken, Theophele to þe fend was taken and seinte Marie his pes gan maken wel sone: God it him forȝat and grauntede: him his bone. [ 30.]

þauhe man for sinne haue god forsaken, and turne aȝein his pees to maken wiþ shrifte of mouthe and penaunce, taken wiþ sorwe, him thar haue no drede,: for god wile him borwe. [ 35.]

¶ þus may man Cristes loue wynne, whan he fleoth fro dedly sinne and shriue him, whan he falleþ þer inne, wiþ gode wille; God shal werne him no bone,: if he aske skille. [ 40.]

þis I sey be a pope of Rome, hou he þe deoueles man become and sithen ȝaf his oune dome wiþ outen faile, and ouercom a thousand deoueles: in pleyn batayle: [ 45.]

¶ Celestyn he hiȝte, as ȝe mowe here. whiles he was ȝonge, he myght not lere. his maister made a reuly chere and mychel mone, wel ofte he seyde 'weilawey,: þat þou to me come!' [ 50.]

Nyne wyntur he wonede þere, his maister peynede þe child to lere: so fayn he wolde wys þat he were þoruhe resoun, whan he come þer clerkes were: at desputysoun. [ 55.]

¶ his maister say it halp nought, [f. 118] he ne may no wit bringe in his thoughte: he wolde fayn he were fro him broughte wiþ som gyn, [59. ms. son st. som.] If his fader wolde in any manere: sende after him. [ 60.]

þe tyme com þat he sholde hom̄: þe clerke goþ be him self alon̄ wiþ deolful chiere and made his mone and gret weopinge, his ryght songe was welawey: wiþ oute lesinge. [ 65.]

As he in sorwe gan weope, so cam a deouel and gan him grete. 'al þi sorwe I can wel bete wiþ oute delay, ffor whi þat þou wile becom my man,:boþe ng yhte and day.' [ 70.] [70. for whi, auch v. 235, = unter der be∣dingung dass; v. 72 dafür: wiþ þat.]

¶ Celestyn seyde: 'I wile becom þi knaue, wiþ þat I mykel wisdom haue, To answere at euery sawe wiþ righte resoun; To meodes I wile bicom̄ þi man: at þi somoun.' [ 75.]

Celestyn kidde he coude no goed, and forsok Jesu, þat diede on Rode, and plyght his treuthe þere he stoed anon ryght, To serue þe deouel, þat foule fode,: boþe day and nyght. [ 80.]

'I wot þi wit shal beo wel rad. [81. ms. I wot þi wot þi wit.] Go now hom̄,' þe deouel him bad, 'and make þe boþe bliþe and glad wel sone anon̄: þe messager is comen for þe: to wenden hom̄.' [ 85.]

¶ Nou haþ his fader after him sent. his maister and he forþ arn̄ wente. Men senten hem wel fair presente, whan he hom cam, alle þe godemen of þe toun: ageyn him nam. [ 90.]

And sone afterward in a stounde his fader hastely sent his sonde

after alle þe maistres of þe londe, fulle fiftene. 'If he ought can nou,: sone it shal beo sene.' [ 95.]

¶ A Maister kest a cause of lawe. 'Answere herto, þou proude felawe!' sone hadde he concluded þat sawe More and lesse. alle þe maistres þat þere were: bere witnesse. [ 100.]

A maister of art him vndernam, wiþ his resoun forþ he cam, ffor he was holden a wys man Of lore. he sette at nought al þat þei: speke þore. [ 105.]

¶ A Maister spak of deuinite: 'My suete sone, answere þou me threo poyntes of þe trinite þoruhe cler resoun.' he answered þe maistres echone: of þat toun. [ 110.]

þis clerk begynneþ forto speken— his wisdam haþ he not forȝeten— he spak to hem alle þer þei seten In here chayere: 'I rede ȝe gon agein to skole: forto lere.' [ 115.]

¶ he spak vnto þe maistres threo: 'what speke ȝee of deuinite? he þat hit saw tolde it me, þer inne he was'— Nou hadden þei alle merueille: of þat cas.— [ 120.]

'To þe fader is ȝeuen strengthe and myght, wisdom to þe sone, as it is ryght, To þe holy gost mercy aplight, wiþ outen lesyng: holy chirche bereth wittenesse: of þat þing. [ 125.]

¶ þe ryght beleoue þoruhe resoun þat is þe incarnacioun: God sent his sone adoun and becom man: þat Adam oure forme fader lees,: he it wan: [ 130.]

Of a mayden he was boren, an angel broughte bodeword beforen,— we were elles alle forloren þoruhe dedly synne. ffor vs he dyede on þe treo,: oure ioye to wynne.' [ 135.]

¶ þe maistres seide, as hem bethought: 'wherto were we hider besought?

ffor wee conne answere him nought at no sawes, ffor he is a noble clerk: of alle lawes.' [ 140.]

Nou ben þese clerkes alle gon. he goth be him self alon. [142. ms. þe st. he, oder clerk fehlt nach þe, vgl. 62.] þe deouel com to him anon and gan him freyne: 'If þou wilt ought wiþ me: wite me to seyne.' [ 145.]

¶ 'Ȝis, maister, for soþe I telle þe a more maister wolde I beo: Erchedekne of þis Cite wit outen delay.' þe deouel seide 'it shal beo do: er þe seueþe day.' [ 150.]

þe erchedekne chosen was he, and maister of deuinite, wisere myght non beo— what sholde I lye? þe oþere clerkes of þat lond: hadde enuye. [ 155.]

¶ his fader was a riche knyght, [156. was st. wax?] his moder a leuedy aplyght, his kyn he auauncede wiþ al his myght ffor pompe and pride; ynow he hadde of worldes goed: in ilka side. [ 160.]

þanne com̄ þe deouel aȝein him to and asked what he wolde haue do. 'þinkeþ þe wel to beo so Of dignite?' 'I am to pore for god, he seyde,: so þinkeþ me. [ 165.]

¶ þe erchebisshop̄ of seint Fagoun My chirche haþ in his donysoun, and þat me thinkeþ is no resoun: he is not wys, he can no answere a poynt: at my deuys. [170. no ältere form für not (auch in Greg. ms. Auchinl.).]

þo answered þat foule þing: 'wel, wel I wot þin askyng. [172. wel wel auch 202. 232.] þou shalt beo bisshop wiþ oute lesyng þis ilke ȝere; Com̄ now hider and kisse myn hond: and beo me deore!' [ 175.]

¶ þe erchebissop̄ sone gan dye. [f. 120.] þese clerkes alle gonne to seye: 'þe erchebisshopriche nou we leye

Euerychone þat Celestyn kepe þe crouche,: ring, and stone.' [ 180.]

After him þanne haue þei sente. þe messager þanne is wente, To bere him bode of þat presente so bolde: þe erchebisshopriche to hauen: and to holde. [ 185.]

Nou is he sacred and set in see, Erchebisshop̄ of gret pouste. þer inne he dwellede ȝeres threo wiþ mykel honour. Of alle þe clerkes of þat lond: he bar þe flour. [ 190.]

¶ Priuely com̄ þe deouel him tille and axede him if he hadde his wille; 'If þe wanteþ ought, I shal fulfille, so wel I may'— Al he þoughte to ȝelden him: atte laste day. [ 195.]

'þese Cardinals wiþ þe rede cope, aldernext conseileþ þe pope, On me þei loke wiþ haþely loke al wiþ wouȝ.' þe deuel þer of liked wel: and faste he louȝ. [ 200.]

þe deouel answered, forȝat he noughte— wel, wel he wist what was his þoughte— 'To Cardinal shaltou beo broughte at þin askynge. Loke þin herte beo ȝeue to me:in alle þinge.' [ 205.]

¶ þanne atte thridde dayes ende after Celestyn þe pope gan sende— 'wher þat he beo fer or hende,' þe pope bad. Celestyn lykede þat tiþinge wel: and wex al glad. [ 210.]

whan he was to þe pope come, his oune neodes he gan mone. alle þat þer were gan him loue, Grete and smale. þe pope þer made Celestyn: a Cardinale. [ 215.]

¶ he nas Cardinal bot half a ȝer; þe folk he held in his daunger, [217. in his daunger = in his power, afrz. danger = power, dominion.] þe pope him louede and held him dere, and þat was sene: fful leof him was euere to serue him: to queme. [ 220.]

As he was in his chaumbre a nyghte him self alone wiþ outen lyght, To him com̄ þat foule wight wiþ lodly chere. 'Mi clerk, beo þou nought adrad,: for I am here' [ 225.]

þe deouel seide to þat Cardinal: 'What so þou wilte, haue þou shal.' him þoughte to brewen him a bale wel ille: his body and his soule he þoughte: forto spille. [ 230.]

¶ 'Maister, þo I becom̄ þi man, wel, wel þou hettest me be þan To haue al þat I aske can fful ȝare, ffor whi þat I louede þe: for euere mare.' [ 235.]

¶ 'Clerk, whan warned I þe oughte [ b] Of þinge þat in werld is wrought? were it neuere so deore boughte wiþ gold and fee, aske what þou euere wilt,: I grante it þe.' [ 240.]

'Maister, grante me a bone: þat I myghte beo pope in Rome, Ouer clerkes to ȝeuen dome þoruhe ryghte skille: And euere more I shal þe loue: wiþ gode wille.' [ 245.]

'Wel loþ me is to werne þi wille— If þat I dede, it were no skille— þin asking I shal fulfille ffor grete drede; Bot loke þat þou faille me nought: for no neode!' [ 250.]

¶ þe pope dyede in a stounde— Deth him hadde driuen to grounde. þe wisest elerke þat myght beo founde was Celestyn: þanne was he chosen pope: þoruhe þe feondes engyn. [ 255.] [255. orig. wohl gyn st. engyn, wie 59.]

þei lifte him vp wiþ merie songe, Te deum laudamus þei songe amonge, and bad him do holy chirche no wronge ffor no neode, 'and loke þat þou be merciable: in ilk a dede!' [ 260.]

¶ þe fifteneþe day after he was pope, In his chaumbre he lay to slope: [262. ms. le st. he.]

þe deouel spak to him wiþ proud lote, [263. lote = bow, inclinatio corporis.] þat foule sergaunt: 'Sire, nou I wile þe preye: þat þou me graunt: [ 265.]

Ageyn þe feihte þou shalt preche, [266. feiht st. feith, wie broht st. broth Alex. in dems. ms. 329.] alle þi clerkes forto teche, ffor þou art wisman of speche; loke it so beo! Gold and siluer shaltou haue: gret plente.' [ 270.]

¶ XII. moneþes he hem prechede in þis manere, þe misbeleoue hem forto lere. þe clerkes alle awondred were and held hem shent, and seiden alle at ones: þat he sholde beo brent. [ 275.]

Vpon a day he wex aferd: alone as he ȝeode in a ȝerd, he þouht on ded þat smyteþ wiþ swerd so sore. wiþ þat foule deouel he wolde: speke more. [ 280.]

¶ þe deouel knelede him beforn̄. 'Nou myhtou blesse þat þou were born̄! I say þi wit was ney forlorn̄, þou proude sire! Loke þat þe wante nought: of þi desire.' [ 285.]

'Maister, of deth I drede me sore, he ne spareth lesse ne more, Be he neuere so wys of lore him helpeþ nought. Loke þanne, gode maister,: what is þi þought?' [ 290.]

¶ 'I shal beo (be þe) boþe erliche and late: [291. boþe ms. st. bi þe, be þe, oder be þe ist durch versehen des schreibers vor boþe ausgelassen.] so þat seknesse shal þe not take; ffro deth þou shalt right wel askape More and lesse, Til þou in þe chapel of Jerusalem: haue songen a messe.' [ 295.]

¶ he seide: 'þat shal neuere betyde, In to þat lond wile I neuere ride, Ne ferþere seke in no side, If þat I may.' 'þanne shaltou liuen, þe deouel seide,: til domesday.' [ 300.]

þe ferreþe day before þe trinite a processioun in Rome sholde beo: þe Cardinals þider wente heo

Euerichone. þe pope þei preyede in alle manere: wiþ hem to gon̄. [ 305.]

þe folke folewede þe processioun. þe belles rongen oueral þe toun To here þe popes sermoun Come more and lesse: so leof hem was alle to here: þe popes messe. [ 310.]

¶ þe pope Alexeries in his tyme Made a chapel of ston and lyme, þat euery pope sholde singen yn þat serteyn day, and ȝaue it name Jerusalem: on his play. [ 315.]

Clothes of gold þere were sprade. þe Cardinals þider þei ȝeode, þe pope wiþ hem gonne þei lede, Messe to singe.— Many for sorwes þat ilke day: here (her) gonne wrynge. [ 320.] [320. Hinter here fehlt her oder honde.]

¶ þe pope beheld þat chapele, Of lym and ston maed ful wel, he axed what it highte also snel, apertely. 'It is þe chapel of Jerusalem: witerly.' [ 325.]

he seide: 'allas þat I was born̄! Body and soule I am forlorn̄! Bot godes help is ay beforn̄ To spede.' and seyde 'help me, Jesu, gode lord,: at þis neode!' [ 330.]

As he stoed in sorwynge, A thousand deoueles þer com̄ thringe wiþ lodly cry and grete roringe. þat men myghte sene, ffaste þei criede 'Jesu Criste,: what may bene?' [ 335.] [335. Vor bene fehlt þis im ms.]

¶ So thikke þe deoueles com fro helle, þat no tonge ne myghte hem telle. ffyr and bremston̄ fro hem felle wiþ stinke of myghte: þe brighte sonne wiþdrouhe: and ȝaf no lyght. [ 340] [340. Hinter wiþ drouh fehlt wol hire lem.]

Thonder and leuene þei keste also, [341. leuene blitz.] þat noman dorste sture ne go.

alle þei criede 'help' þo To godes sone: 'saue vs fro þe foule fendes: þat here beoþ come!' [ 345.]

fformest come deoueles seuene, þe foulest of alle, be god in heuen̄. alle þei gradde wiþ on steuene: 'þe pope is oure.'— Bot þei faileden alle þilke day: of here auenture.— [ 350.]

¶ þei wente alle to þe chapel dore. bot listeneþ alle hou it fore! þe pope seide: 'liþes, lesse and more, alle of my care!' his synnes wel sone he tolde: hem þare. [ 355.]

¶ 'Whan I was ȝonge, to skole I ȝeode: Of wisdom ȝaf I non heode, Ne hadde no grace forto spede To no wisdam. To beon auaunced be þe deouel,: his man I becam. [ 360.]

he ȝaf me wisdom gret plente, And Erchedekne made he me, sithen erchebisshop̄, to sitten in see, Be dene: þus haue I serued þe foule deouel: to queme. [ 365.]

wel more I ȝou telle shal: sithen he made me a cardinal and gold and siluer ȝaf me wiþal, wel gret plente, and sithen he made me pope in Rome,: as ȝe mowe seo. [ 370.]

¶ On þe feondes halue I gan ȝou preche: It was al fals I gan ȝou teche, I was acorsed for my speche— þat is now sene: It is wel worþi þat I haue shame,: sorwe, and tene! [ 375.] [375. Das zeichen des halbverses steht im ms. hinter haue.]

Ȝe helden me a clerk of pris— I was a fool and nothing wys: ffor soþe nou sene it is amonge vs alle. To him þat diede on þe treo: mercy I calle! [ 380.]

Alle my synnes þat I haue woroughte, [381. ms. worought st. wrought.] In word, in dede, and in thoughte, God leue þat I forȝete nought,

lesse ne more, wiþ penaunce I wile abye: swiþe sore. [ 385.]

¶ Of me takeþ ensaumple alle: Bicom̄ noman þe deoueles thralle, þei he ȝeue him gold at walle, whan him best likeþ, [389. walle = choice, optio.] he shal beo aboute nyghte and day: him to beswike.' [ 390.]

þe pope knelede doun on þe ston̄— þe blode barste þoruhe flehse and bon̄— wringand his hondes he made his mone and wep̄ wel sore, And preyede þat Jesu sholde him saue,: if his wille wore. [ 395.]

'Whiles I may here in chirche speke, þoruhe shrifte of mouthe my synnes forȝete, þe deouel ne shal me neuere gete ffor al his myghte; I may beo saued þoruh penaunce,: and þat is ryghte.' [ 400.]

¶ þe maister deouel bigan to ȝelle: 'artou wode? what wiltou spelle? Becom̄ þou noughte oure broþer in helle wiþ worde and thoughte? Al þe noyse þat þou can make: it is for noughte.' [ 405.]

'Lat beo þi bost, þou foule þinge! Jesu, þat is heuene kynge, he made ȝou deoueles in ȝoure wonynge. al haþ he wrought: Loth him is to lese þe soule: þat he haþ boughte.' [ 410.]

Pride spake formest of alle: 'I ȝaf þe riche robes of palle, Maister in lond I dide þe calle, In feld and toun: Body and soule þou art oure: wiþ right resoun.' [ 415.]

¶ 'al þat þou me ȝaf in londe [f. 122.] It was made þoruhe godes sonde: Com̄ neuere þinge of þi sonde Bot synne and pyne; It was of oþere mennes goed,: and noughte of þine. [ 420.]

It is kynde in ȝouþe proude to beo. þe fiue inwittes com̄ noughte of þeo. at my testament þi part shaltou seo

and þine dele; whan þou shalt receiue þi lot,: þe shal not like wele.' [ 425.]

Glotonye putte forþ his wombe— Out of his mouþ fley þe bronde, so mykel stynke com̄ of his onde: Men wende to berste. Snakes and foule naddres out: of his mouþ he keste. [ 430.]

¶ 'wenestou, pope, I hadde þe forȝeten, whan I þe fedde wiþ riche mete and spicerye, wher so it was geten, pyment and wyn? þou gost fro me in no manere,: þi soule is myn! [ 435.]

Afterward I ȝaf þe reste, To slepe, whil þat þe leste, In alle manere þou ferdest beste Of any man; Ageines þis in al þis werlde: nought þou can.' [ 440.] [440. im ms. fehlt wol seye.]

'Of glotonye wiþseye I noughte. wiþ fastinge it may beo boughte And holy preyere, seide and thoughte Nyght and day; And he beo wiþ sorwe shriue,: saue him hit may.' [ 445.]

¶ Lecherye stoed forþ on rowe. 'Ne wenestou, pope, þat I þe knowe? þou hast synned wiþ heye and lowe, wiþ many womman; alle þe tymes þat þou þere were: telle I can. [ 450.]

whan þou were in þi bede ybroughte, Maydenes and wiues failede þe noughte, Mikel shame hastou wroughte wiþ body and bon̄: wiþ me þou moste in alle manere: to helle gon.' [ 455.]

¶ Nou spekeþ þe pope to lecherye: 'wiþ almes dede men may it bye, and oþere penance of more maistrie, þoruhe shrifte of mouþe— Lecherye, techeþ hem: þat nought ne couþe!— [ 460.]

whan man is shriuen of alle his sinne, and him wiþdraweþ, forto blynne, and þenkeþ namore to falle þer inne Be day ne nyght.' To þat worde coude þei noughte answere: wiþ no ryghte. [ 465.]

Enuye stod forþ wiþ mody mayn— þoruh him haþ many man beo slayn,— Of þe pope he was wel fayn, wiþ him to lede: In helle he þoughte to ȝelden him: his meode. [ 470.] [Nach 470 fehlen eine oder zwei strophen, die rede der Enuye.]

¶ þe pope answerede wiþ meknesse: 'þou com̄ oute of heuene blisse; ffor Jhesu Crist, þat al shal wisse and rede, Go now þi wey, for here: shaltou not spede!' [ 475.]

¶ Ȝet spak þe pope to enuye and to þe foule companye: 'Loke þat ȝe ȝou hethen heye þat ȝe were wente; Com̄ ryghtwisnesse and fynde ȝou here,: ȝee beoþ shente.' [ 480.]

Wratthe stont forþ, þat lodly gome— Ouer alle thinge he hateþ loue, To him may no grace come ffor felonye: Of al þe shrewednesse of þis werld: he haþ partye.— [ 485.]

'wenes þou beo borwed, þou false wrecche? amonges vs shalto drecche: so longe hastou ben oure mecche, Day and ȝere. Com̄ and speke wiþ oure maister,: sire Lucifere!' [ 490.]

¶ 'ffro Lucifer god me defende! þi suete sonde, lord, þou me sende and space, in eorþe me to amende, þoruhe þi pouste, and deliuere me fro þe foule deoueles: þat I here seo! [ 495.]

Wrecche, of þe ne drede I noughte, Ne of þine þat þou hast broughte. Lord, saue me þat al haþ wroughte To wynne! ffor his loue I shal departe: my body a twynne.' [ 500.]

¶ Couetyse com, þat was vnryde, and his felawes be his side. 'ffro me ne woldestou þe neuere hyde, In hayl ne reyn, Com nou out and speke wiþ me: and go ageyn.' [ 505.]

þe pope stode stille and answered noughte: al an oþer was in his þought, he criede to him þat hadde him bought

wiþ flehs and blode. ffor drede of þe foule fendes: he was ney wod. [ 510.]

¶ ȝet spake coueityse for hem alle: 'I ȝaf þe castels wiþ boure and halle, Clothes of gold wiþ riche palle, al at þi wille: Me ne myhtou noughte forsake: wiþ no skille. [ 515.]

I ȝaf þe heye hors, onne to ryde, and haukes, þat were of mykel pride, and grehoundes to renne be þi side wiþ glad chere: and alle þou toke wiþ gode wille,: and forsoke non þere. [ 520.]

I ȝaf þe wit—þou coudeste non̄, ffor drede þou dorsteste not gon hom̄, Ne þi maister wiþ þe gon̄ ffor care: On kneos þou becom̄ my man: ryghte þare.' [ 525.]

¶ Celestyn seide þere he stode: 'whan I þat dide, þan was I wode. I shal amende wiþ flehs and blode Eueri dele, al þat euere hastou me geuen,: brouke it wele.' [ 530.]

þanne spake sleuthe in godes seruise: 'answere to me at my deuise! I shal þe sette in suilke assise, so wel I can. sithen þou coudest any goede,: þou hast ben my man. [ 535.]

¶ þou leye longe in þi bede o morwe, [f. 123.] þi flesshes lust forto folewe: þerfore may þe noþinge borwe wiþ no skille. ȝeue me nou answere wys, clerke,: wiþ gode wille!' [ 540.] [540. Ms. wiþ gode gode wille.]

'In his mercy þan do I me þat boren was of a mayden freo and ȝou haþ made in helle to be wiþ outen ende; his moder shal beo my messager,: ȝou alle to shende. [ 545.]

help me, lady ful of grace, þis sinful wreche in þis place, þat I myghte fro þese fende pase þoruhe ȝoure myghte, And bere myn erande to ȝoure sone: in heuene lighte!' [ 550.]

¶ 'Of hire mercy speke þou noughte: þou ne haste noþinge for hire wroughte Ne pilgrimage for hire soughte In no side; Of hire þe may in no manere: no help betide. [ 555.]

Comeþ on, felawes, for oure frame! he shal knowe of oure game, wiþ vs in helle wel mykel shame him shal betide. Do him bringe a noble hors,: wiþ vs to ride!' [ 560.]

A wanshape best forþ þei broughte, [561. wanshape deformis.] wiþ wenges, forto fleon on lofte. 'here on shaltou ryde wel softe To hellewarde.' þe pope grauntede in no manere: to þat forwarde. [ 565.]

¶ 'In þis chapel I shal me hide, and wiþ ȝoure hors ȝe shal abide: Oþer grace me shal betide, Er ȝe gon̄: Ȝet I hope ȝou ouercom̄e,: wrecches, euerichone. [ 570.]

Quene of heuene, I preye wiþ chere To ȝoure sone make for me ȝoure preyere: as he boughte vs wel deore vpon þe crois, If þat it were his wille,: to here my vois! [ 575.]

¶ ȝet I make an oþer preyere To Jesu and to his moder deore and to ȝou alle þat hem leof were: God in mageste, ffader, and sone, and holy gost,: haue mercy on me!' [ 580.]

þe thridde preyere he gan maken þat god sholde him nought forsaken Ne after his dede his soule taken [583. ne st. and.] Into his blis, wiþ him to dwelle wiþ outen ende,: if his wille is. [ 585.]

þe deoueles ȝeoden þe chapel aboute and beden he sholde come wiþ oute, 'ffor we wille lerne þe to spoute wiþ oute delay, ffor here may þou no lenger dwelle: þanne þis day.' [ 590.]

¶ þe deoueles euere aboute him wente. þe pope made his testament—

alle þei helde hem foule shent þere be dene, whan eche of hem hadde his parte: of þe pope Celestiene. [ 595.]

¶ þe chapel dore he sette wyde open. [ b.] þe fendes alle þider in lopen, Of his soule wel þei hopen Be here skille— Bot oure lady preiede hire sone for him: wiþ gode wille. [ 600.]

þe pope turnede of his cope wide, Bordurede wiþ golde on euery side, and alle his clothes he keste to pride: 'Take þese to þe! If þe may any more befalle,: þin shal it beo.' [ 605.]

þe pope calde forþ þe manquellere. 'Myn feete, myn honden I wile forbere, ffor on þis maner I wile me were ffro þese feondes, ffor as mykel as we were som tyme: gode freondes. [ 610.]

¶ wratthe and enuie, haue þis to meode: þe feete, þat me aboute gonne lede, and þe hondes, þat my mouþ gonne feode wiþ gode mete: I hope wel þat þou ne shalt here: namore gete. [ 615.]

Lecherye, here ȝeue I þe Boþe my shankes be þe kneo, and myn menbres—þat beoþ threo, To þi ȝeresȝiue; and loke þou kepe hem wel euere: whiles þou liue. [ 620.]

¶ Glotonye wiþ þi wyde throte, Mine thies mowe do þe note, and my wombe euery grote, Got and mawe; Loke þou haue wel þi parte: bi skile and lawe. [ 625.]

Coueitise me taughte, fals it was, þou madeste me an houue of glas: haue þou myne armes in þis plas To þin huire; ffor soþe me thinkeþ þou art: a lodly sire. [ 630.] [630. nach thinkeþ fehlt wol þat im ms.]

And for I to þi skole ȝeode, ȝet shaltou more haue to þi meode: Myn heued wiþ þe to helle þou lede To Termagaunt; Emesse whan he get more: suiche a presaunte! [ 635.]

¶ Sleuthe of gode, þou foule pouke, [636. pouke puck, devel. stroupe gutter. weysaunt jetzt weasand wesand = the wind-pipe, trachea.] þou shalt haue my lodly bouke, Boþe my weysaunt and my stroupe, Into þi throte; If þou mowe bere it awey,: it wile do þe note.' [ 640.]

þe pope to his frendes gan crauen Tweie wilde hors now wolde hauen, 'Mi sinful body forto drawen al wiþ skille, and let hem go wiþ oute ledyng: at here freo wille! [ 645.]

¶ Com forþ, quellere, it is no bote aȝein þese deoueles forto mote. [647. mote debate.] Me thinkeþ þese peynes arn̄ wel sote ffor my synnynge. I ȝeue myn heued to coueityse: for my lernynge, [ 650.]

wiþ mouþ þat I on him low, and þe tonge þat me to him drow, and wiþ eres þat herde him wel ynow, þat foule shrewe! and make myn heued to þi sopere: al in a sewe!' [ 655.]

¶ Als he sholde smyte of his heuede, [f. 124.] an angel bad it sholde beo leuede. þe queller was þer of adreuede [658. a dreued von dreven trouble, disturb.] al in þat stounde, ffor þe light þat he seye þere: he fel to grounde. [ 660.]

þan com̄ þe quen̄ of heuene, þat was so bright, And wiþ hire angels of mykel myghte. þe sonne shon and ȝaf hire lyghte, þat er was merke. Euery deouel on oþer drow: frowarde þat clerk. [ 665]

An angel bet hem alle wel sore. 'what haue ȝe wonnen for ȝoure lore? Loke þat ȝe come namore at þis chapel! ffor my lady, queen of heuene,: loueþ it wel.' [ 670.]

¶ Oure lady seide: 'for þe sorwe þat þou art inne, Clerk, forȝiuen is þi synne. þe blisse of heuene þou shalte wynne, To dwelle in ay, ffor seint Peter him selue shal berie þe: þis ilke day.' [ 675.]

Oure lady þanne to heuene gan go. þe pope clepede þe quellere þo and seide: 'smyt ȝerne my nekke a two, ffor neode, Do draw my body, as I þe tolde,: I assoille þe of þat dede.' [ 680.]

ȝet spake coueityse of helle: 'his heued is myn wiþ flehs and felle, he bequath hit me him selue ffor my lore: ffor I seo wel I gete now: namore.' [ 685.]

¶ he smot of his heued also skeet and threu it to þe deoueles feete. þe deuel it hente, þe chekes eet Righte þare, and seide: 'nou shaltou betraye me: nomare!' [ 690.]

þe wilde hors broughte þei hauen, þat blody body forto drawen. allas! þei seyde þat it sawen, ffor sorwe and wo. Ropes þei knytten faste: and bad hem go. [ 695.]

¶ þe angels comen fro heuen̄riche, þo wylde hors þei made ful briche, And forþ þei drowe þat reuly liche Ouer stoke and ston̄. To þe chirche of seint Peter: þei went echon̄. [ 700.]

Men folewede to þat buryinge. þere men seye a blisful þinge: hou seint Peter com fro heuen̄ king, and seinte Poule þo. an hondred angels come wiþ hem: wiþ outen mo. [ 705.]

þe deueles of helle begonne to crie, Of thonder and leuene þei made partye, And wylde fyr þei lette þere flye, Men to quelle. Eche of hem on oþer drow: towarde helle. [ 710.]

¶ seint Peter seide to Celestyn: 'þi sete is maede in heuene be myn. Ne shaltou neuere wite of pyne Ne of sorwe: þoruhe þe care þou hast beon inne: þi soule is borwed. [ 715.]

I forsoke god thries on a nyght: [ b.] aȝeyn I turned, and þat was ryghte, I hadde mercy þoruhe his myghte,

Oure saueour. In heuene shole we boþe wone: wiþ mykel honour.' [ 720.]

þei beried him vnder a marbelston̄, and þanne to heuen̄ gonne þei gon. and al þe people wente hom, heye and lawe, Of þat miracle þei thanked Jesu: þat þei þere sawe. [ 725.] [725. bonche, bunchen to strike.]

¶ þerfore I warne euery man of threo þinges: Of misbeleoue, and wanhopeynge, þat he shriue him wiþ oute peyntyng vnto a preost and take penaunce wiþ gode wille: and bonche on breost. [ 730.]

þis is þe storie of Celestyn. God saue oure soules fro helle pyn, þat non of vs ne falle þer yn, Be nyghte ne day. and bring vs, lord, to þi blisse: þat lasteþ ay. amen. [ 735.]