Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

[ XCIII. ]
(OF AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE VIRGIN AND THE DEVIL.)Addit. MS. 9066.

[leaf 85 (cont'd)]

It̘ was shewed̛ to an holy persone by reuelacion̛, that a seynte spake to god̛, and̛ saide, "whi is this soule of̘ this woman̛, that thou bought with thy blode, so defouled̛ of̘ the deuyƚƚ?" Anone the deuyƚƚ seide, "for right she is myn̛." Then seide god̛, "with what right is she thyn̛?" to whome the deuyƚƚ answerid̛, "there are ij. wayes, oon̛ that lenyth to heuenly thinges, another that ledith to helle. and̛ when she behelde bothe the wayes, in hire concience resoun̛ seide to here, þat she shuld̛ rather take my waye; and̛ for she had̛ a fre wiƚƚ to torne to what way she wolde, she thought it was more profitable to here to torne hire wille to synne, and̛ than she be-gan to go my way. Afterward̛ I dissayued̛ here with thre synnes, tho are gloteny, Couetise of̘ money, and̛ lechery; Therfore now I am in here bely, and̛ in here nature, and̛ I holde here with v. hondes. with oon̛ honde I holde here Eyen̛, that they se no spirituaƚƚ thinges; with the seconde hande I holde here handes, that they shuƚƚ not do no good̛ werkes; with the thrid̛ hande I holde here fete, that she go not to no good̛ thinges; with the fourte I holde here vndirstondyng̘, that she hathe no shame for to synne; and̛ with the fifte hande I holde here herte, that she go not away by contricion̛." Then̛ the blessid̛ virgine marie seide to here sone, "sone, compelle hym̛ to say the trouthe of that thing̘ that I wil aske hym̛." The sone seide, "thou arte my modre; thou arte queen̛ of heuyn̛; thou arte modre of mercy; thou arte comforte of hem that are in purgatorie; thou arte gladnesse of hem̛ that gone an pilgremage to heuyn warde in the worlde; thou arte lady of aungeƚƚ; thou arte with god̛ moste excelente; thou arte also princesse Aboue the deuyƚƚ. Therfore, modre, commaunde the deuyƚƚ to say what̘ [leaf 85, back] thou wilte, and̛ he shaƚƚ obey to the." Then the blessid̛ virgine marie asked̛ of the deuyƚƚ, sayeng̘, "say, deuyƚƚ, what Entencion̛ had̛ this woman be-fore she Entred̛ the kyrke!" To whame the Deuyƚƚ answerid̛, "she had̛ a wil of abstenyng̘ from̛ synne." The blessid̛ virgine marie saide to hym̛, "syne the wil that she had̛

be-fore strecheth to helle, say now, whethere this wil streches that she hathe now, of̘ abstenyng̘ from̛ synne?" To whome the Deuyƚƚ answerid̛, a-gayne his wille, "This wille of abstenyng̘ from̛ synne ledithe here to heuyn̛." Then seide the virgine marie, "of̘ rightwisnesse thou haste taken̛ to lede here from̛ the way of holy kyrke. now, deuyƚƚ, I aske the firthermore, for here fyrste wille now rightwisnesse will, that she be brought a-gayne to holy kyrke; and̛ now, Deuyƚƚ, I aske of̘ the firthermore, say thou, what will she hathe now in this poynte, the which is now in here concience?" The Deuyƚƚ answerid̛, "she hathe now contricion̛ in here mynde for the synnes that she hathe done, and̛ grete wepyng̘, and̛ purpose neuer to do so more such synnes, but wil amende here, alse mych as she may." Then the blessid̛ virgine asked̛ of̘ the deuyƚƚ, "say me, whethere þes iij. .synnes, lechery, Couetese, and̛ gloteny, mow be to-gedre in oon̛ herte with these goodes, contricion̛, wepyng̘, and̛ purpose of̘ amendyng̘?" to whome the deuyƚƚ answerid̛, and̛ saide, "nay." And̛ then̛ the blessid̛ virgine seide, "say me therfore, which of̘ thes owen̛ to go and̛ fle a-waye, whether of̘ thes vertues, or thes iij. vices, sythen thou sayest thay mow not dwelle to-gedre in oon̛ place?" The Deuyƚƚ saide, "I say, that the synnes moste flee." Then the blessid̛ virgine answerid̛, and̛ seide, "therfore the way to helle is shitte to hire, and̛ the way to heuyn̛ is opyn̛ to hire." Then askid̛ firþermore the blessid̛ virgine of the deuyƚƚ, "Telle me, if̘ a theffe lye before the dore of the wife, and̛ wolde defoule here, what shaƚƚ than here housbond̛ do?" The deuyƚƚ answerid̛, "if̘ the housbond̛ be myghty and̛ good̛, he oweth to deffende here, and̛ putt his life for here life." Then seide the blessid̛ virgine, "thou, deuyƚƚ, arte a theffe moste wicked̛; the soule [that] is the spouse of my sone, the moste myghtiest̘ housbond̛, that bought here with his owne blode, thou hast corupte and̛ violently take away; Therfore my sone is housbond̛ of the soule, and̛ is lorde a-boue the; therfore it longeth to the to flee before hym̛."