Passus 18
Wolleward and weetshoed wente I forth after
18.001
As a recchelees renk that [reccheth of no wo],
18.002
And yede forth lik a lorel al my lif tyme,
18.003
Til I weex wery of the world and wilned eft to slepe,
18.004
And lened me to a Lenten--and longe tyme I slepte;
18.005
Reste me there and rutte faste til ramis palmarum.
18.006
Of gerlis and of Gloria, laus gretly me dremed
18.007
And how osanna by organye olde folk songen, Page 220
18.008
And of Cristes passion and penaunce, the peple that ofraughte.
18.009
Oon semblable to the Samaritan, and somdeel to Piers the Plowman,
18.010
Barefoot on an asse bak bootles cam prikye,
18.011
Withouten spores other spere; spakliche he loked,
18.012
As is the kynde of a knyght that cometh to be dubbed,
18.013
To geten hym gilte spores on galoches ycouped.
18.014
Thanne was Feith in a fenestre, and cryde "At Fili David!'
18.015
As dooth an heraud of armes whan aventrous cometh to iustes.
18.016
Olde Jewes of Jerusalem for joye thei songen,
18.017
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
18.017
Thanne I frayned at Feith what al that fare bymente,
18.018
And who sholde juste in Jerusalem. "jesus,' he seide,
18.019
"And fecche that the fend claymeth--Piers fruyt the Plowman.'
18.020
"Is Piers in this place?' quod I, and he preynte on me.
18.021
"This Jesus of his gentries wol juste in Piers armes,
18.022
In his helm and in his haubergeon--humana natura.
18.023
That Crist be noght biknowe here for consummatus Deus,
18.024
In Piers paltok the Plowman this prikiere shal ryde;
18.025
For no dynt shal hym dere as in deitate Patris.'
18.026
"Who shal juste with Jesus?' quod I, "Jewes or scrybes?'
18.027
"Nay,' quod Feith, "but the fend and fals doom to deye.
18.028
Deeth seith he shal fordo and adoun brynge
18.029
Al that lyveth or loketh in londe or in watre.
18.030
Lif seith that he lieth, and leieth his lif to wedde
18.031
That, for al that Deeth kan do, withinne thre daies to walke
18.032
And fecche fro the fend Piers fruyt the Plowman,
18.033
And legge it ther hym liketh, and Lucifer bynde, Page 221
18.034
And forbete and adoun brynge bale-deeth for evere:
18.035
O Mors ero mors tua!'
18.035
Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple, sedens pro tribunali,
18.036
To se how doghtiliche Deeth sholde do, and deme hir botheres right.
18.037
The Jewes and the justieeayeins Jesu thei weere,
18.038
And al the court on hym cryde " Crucifige!' sharpe.
18.039
Tho putte hym forth a p[e]lour bifore Pilat and seide,
18.040
"This Jesus of oure Jewes temple japed and despised,
18.041
To fordoon it on o day, and in thre dayes after
18.042
Edifie it eft newe--here he stant that seide it--
18.043
And yit maken it as muche in alle manere poyntes
18.044
Bothe as long and as large a lofte and by grounde.'
18.045
" Crucifige!' quod a cachepol, " I warante hym a wicche!'
18.046
" Tolle, tolle!' quod another, and took of kene thornes,
18.047
And bigan of [gr]ene thorn a garland to make,
18.048
And sette it sore on his heed and seide in envye,
18.049
"A ve, rabyt' quod that ribaud--and threw reedes at hym,
18.050
Nailed hym with thre nailes naked on the roode,
18.051
And poison on a poole thei putte up to hise lippes,
18.052
And beden hym drynken his deeth-yvel--hise dayes were ydone--
18.053
And [seiden], " If that thow sotil be, help now thiselve;
18.054
If thow be Crist and kynges sone, com down of the roode;
18.055
Thanne shul we leve that lif thee loveth and wol noght lete thee deye!'
18.056
" Consummatum est,' quod Crist, and comsede for to swoune,
18.057
Pitousliche and pale as a prison that deieth;
18.058
The lord of lif and of light tho leide hise eighen togideres.
18.059
The day for drede withdrough and derk bicam the sonne.
18.060
The wal waggede and cleef, and al the world quaved.
18.061
Dede men for that dene come out of depe graves,
18.062
And tolde why that tempeste so longe tyme durede.
18.063
"For a bitter bataille,' the dede body seide;
18.064
"Lif and Deeth in this derknesse, hir oon fordeoth hir oother.
18.065
Shal no wight wite witterly who shal have the maistrie
18.066
Er Sonday aboute sonne risyng'--and sank with that til erthe. Page 222
18.067
Some seide that he was Goddes sone, that so faire deyde:
18.068
Vere filius Dei erat iste.
18.068
And some seide he was a wicche--"Good is that we assaye
18.069
Wher he be deed or noght deed, doun er he be taken.'
18.070
Two theves also tholed deeth that tyme
18.071
Upon a croos bisides Crist--so was the comune lawe.
18.072
A cachepol cam forth and craked bothe hir legges,
18.073
And hir armes after of either of tho theves.
18.074
Ac was no boy so boold Goddes body to touche;
18.075
For he was knyght and kynges sone, Kynde foryaf that throwe
18.076
That noon harlot were so hardy to leyen hond upon hym.
18.077
Ac ther cam forth a knyght with a kene spere ygrounde,
18.078
Highte Longeus, as the lettre telleth, and longe hadde lore his sight.
18.079
Bifore Pilat and oother peple in the place he hoved.
18.080
Maugree his manye teeth he was maad that tyme
18.081
To [justen with Jesus, this blynde Jew Longeus].
18.082
For alle thei were unhardy, that hoved on horse or stode,
18.083
To touchen hym or to tasten hym or taken hym doun of roode,
18.084
But this blynde bacheler, that baar hym thorugh the herte.
18.085
The blood sprong doun by the spere and unspered the knyghtes eighen.
18.086
Thanne fil the knyght upon knees and cryde Jesu mercy:
18.087
"Ayein my wille it was, Lord, to wownde yow so soore!"
18.088
He sighed and seide, " Soore it me athynketh!
18.089
For the dede that I have doon I do me in youre grace.
18.090
Have on me ruthe, rightful Jesu!'--and right with that he wepte.
18.091
Thanne gan Feith felly the false Jewes despise--
18.092
Callede hem caytyves acorsed for evere:
18.093
" For this foule vileynye vengeaunce to yow falle!
18.094
To do the blynde bete hym ybounde, it was a boyes counseille.
18.095
Cursede caytyves! Knyghthood was it nevere Page 223
18.096
To mysdo a deed body by daye or by nyghte.
18.097
The gree yit hath he geten, for al his grete wounde.
18.098
" For youre champion chivaler, chief knyght of yow alle,
18.099
Yilt hym recreaunt rennyng, right at Jesus wilk.
18.100
For be this derknesse ydo, Deeth worth yvenquisshed;
18.101
And ye, lurdaynes, han ylost--for Lif shal have the maistrye.
18.102
And youre fraunchyse, that fre was, fallen is in thraldom,
18.103
And ye, cherles, and youre children, cheve shulle ye nevere,
18.104
Ne have lordshipe in londe, ne no lond tilye,
18.105
But al barayne be and usurie usen,
18.106
Which is lif that Oure Lord in alle lawes acurseth.
18.107
Now youre goode dayes arn doon, as Daniel prophecied:
18.108
Whan Crist cam hir kyngdom the crowne sholde lese--
18.109
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit unxio vestra.'
18.109
What for feere of this ferly and of the false Jewes,
18.110
I drow me in that derknesse to descendit ad inferna,
18.111
And there I saugh soothly, secundum scripturas,
18.112
Out of the west coste, a wenche, as me thoughte,
18.113
Cam walkynge in the wey; to helleward she loked.
18.114
Mercy highte that mayde, a meke thyng with alle,
18.115
A ful benigne burde, and buxom of speche.
18.116
Hir suster, as it semed, cam softely walkynge
18.117
Evene out of the est, and westward she lokede--
18.118
A ful comely creature [and a clene], Truthe she highte;
18.119
For the vertue that hire folwede, afered was she nevere.
18.120
Whan thise maydenes mette, Mercy and Truthe,
18.121
Either asked oother of this grete wonder--
18.122
Of the dyn and of the derknesse, and how the day rowed,
18.123
And which a light and a leme lay bifore helle.
18.124
"Ich have ferly of this fare, in feith,' seide Truthe,
18.125
"And am wendynge to wite what this wonder meneth.'
18.126
"Have no merveille', quod Mercy, "murhte it bitokneth. Page 224
18.127
A maiden that highte Marie, and moder withouten felyng
18.128
Of any kynde creature, conceyved thorugh speche
18.129
And grace of the Holy Goost; weex greet with childe;
18.130
Withouten wem into this world she broghte hym;
18.131
And that my tale be trewe, I take God to witnesse.
18.132
"Sith this barn was ybore ben thritti wynter passed,
18.133
Which deide and deeth tholed this day aboute mydday--
18.134
And that is cause of this clips that closeth now the sonne,
18.135
In menynge that man shal fro merknesse be drawe
18.136
The while this light and this leme shal Lucifer ablende.
18.137
For patriarkes and prophetes han preched herof often--
18.138
That man shal man save thorugh a maydenes helpe,
18.139
And that was tynt thorugh tree, tree shal it wynne,
18.140
And that Deeth down broughte, deeth shal releve.'
18.141
"That thow tellest; quod Truthe, "is but a tale of waltrot!
18.142
For Adam and Eve and Abraham with othere
18.143
Patriarkes and prophetes that in peyne liggen,
18.144
Leve thow nevere that yon light hem alofte brynge,
18.145
Ne have hem out of helle--hold thi tonge, Mercy!
18.146
It is but trufle that thow tellest--I, Truthe, woot the sothe.
18.147
For that is ones in helle, out cometh it nevere;
18.148
Job the prophete patriark repreveth thi sawes:
18.149
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.'
18.149
Thanne Mercy ful myldely mouthed thise wordes:
18.150
"Thorugh experience,' quod he[o], " I hope thei shul be saved.
18.151
For venym fordooth venym--and that I preve by reson.
18.152
For of alle venymes foulest is the scorpion;
18.153
May no medicyne [am]e[nd]e the place ther he styngeth,
18.154
Til he be deed and do therto--the yvel he destruyeth,
18.155
The firste venymouste, thorugh vertu of hymselve.
18.156
So shal this deeth fordo--I dar my lif legge--
18.157
Al that deeth dide first thorugh the develes entisyng;
18.158
And right as thorugh [gilours] gil;e [bigiled was man],
18.159
So shal grace that al bigan make a good ende Page 225
18.160
[And bigile the gilour--and that is good] sleighte:
18.161
Ars ut artem falleret.'
18.161
"Now suffre we!' seide Truthe, " I se, as me thynketh,
18.162
Out of the nyppe of the north, noght ful fer hennes,
18.163
Rightwisnesse corne rennynge; reste we the while,
18.164
For he[o] woot moore than we--he[o] was er we bothe.'
18.165
"That is sooth,' seide Mercy, "and I se here by sowthe
18.166
Where cometh Pees pleyinge, in pacience yclothed.
18.167
Love hath coveited hire longe--leve I noon oother
18.168
But [Love] sente hire som lettre, what this light bymeneth
18.169
That overhoveth helle thus; she us shal telle.'
18.170
Whan Pees in pacience yclothed approched ner hem tweyne,
18.171
Rightwisnesse hire reverenced for hir riche clothyng,
18.172
And preide Pees to telle hire to whit place she wolde
18.173
And in hire gaye garnements whom she grete thoughte?
18.174
"My wil is to wende,' quod she, "and welcome hem alle
18.175
That many day myghte I noght se for merknesse of synne--
18.176
Adam and Eve and othere mo in helle,
18.177
Moyses and many mo; Mercy shul [synge],
18.178
And I shal daunce therto--do thow so, suster!
18.179
For Jesus justede wel, joye bigynneth dawe:
18.180
Ah vesperum demorabitur fletus, et ad matutinum leticia.
18.180
" Love, that is my lemman, swiche lettres me sente
18.181
That Mercy, my suster, and I mankynde sholde save,
18.182
And that God hath forgyven and graunted me, Pees, and Mercy
18.183
To be mannes meynpernour for everemoore after.
18.184
Lo, here the patente!' quod Pees, "ln pace in idipsum,
18.185
And that this dede shal dure, dormiam et requiescam.'
18.186
"What, ravestow?' quod Rightwisnesse; "or thow art righty dronke! Page 226
18.187
Levestow that yond light unlouke myghte helle
18.188
And save mannes soule? Suster, wene it nevere!
18.189
At the bigynnyng God gaf the doom hymselve--
18.190
That Adam and Eve and alle that hem suwede
18.191
Sholden deye downrighte, and dwelle in peyne after
18.192
If that thei touchede a tree and of the fruyt eten.
18.193
Adam afterward, ayeins his defence,
18.194
Freet of that fruyt, and forsook, as it were,
18.195
The love of Oure Lord and his loore bothe
18.196
And folwede that the fend taughte and his felawes wille
18.197
Ayeins reson--I, Rightwisnesse, recorde thus with Truthe
18.198
That hir peyne be perpetuel and no preiere hem helpe.
18.199
Forthi lat hem chewe as thei chosen, and chide we noght, sustres,
18.200
For it is botelees bale, the byte that thei eten.'
18.201
"And I shal preie,' quod Pees, "hir peyne moot have ende,
18.202
And wo into wele mowe wenden at the laste.
18.203
For hadde thei wist of no wo, wele hadde thei noght knowen;
18.204
For no wight woot what wele is, that nevere wo suffrede,
18.205
Ne what is hoot hunger, that hadde nevere defaute.
18.206
If no nyght ne weere, no man, as I leve,
18.207
Sholde wite witterly what day is to meene.
18.208
Sholde nevere right riche man that lyveth in reste and ese
18.209
Wite what wo is, ne were the deeth of kynde.
18.210
So God that bigan al of his goode wille
18.211
Bicam man of a mayde mankynde to save,
18.212
And suffrede to be sold, to se the sorwe of deying,
18.213
The which unknytteth alle care, and comsynge is of reste.
18.214
For til modicum mete with us, I may it wel avowe,
18.215
Woot no wight, as I wene, what is ynogh to mene.
18.216
" Forthi God, of his goodnesse, the firste gome Adam,
18.217
Sette hym in solace and in sovereyn murthe;
18.218
And siththe he suffred hym synne, sorwe to feele--
18.219
To wite what wele was, kyndeliche to knowe it.
18.220
And after, God auntrede hymself and took Adames kynde
18.221
To wite what he hath suffred in thre sondry places, Page 227
18.222
Bothe in hevene and in erthe--and now til helle he thenketh,
18.223
To wite what alle wo is, that woot of alle joye.
18.224
"So it shal fare by this folk: hir folie and hir synne
18.225
Shal lere hem what langour is, and lisse withouten ende.
18.226
Woot no wight what werre is ther that pees regneth,
18.227
Ne what is witterly wele til ""weylawey'' hym teche.'
18.228
Thanne was ther a wight with two brode eighen;
18.229
Book highte that beaupeere, a bold man of speche.
18.230
"By Goddes body!' quod this Book, "I wol bere witnesse
18.231
That tho this barn was ybore, ther blased a sterre
18.232
That alle the wise of this world in o wit acordeden--
18.233
That swich a barn was ybore in Bethleem the citee
18.234
That mannes soule sholde save and synne destroye.
18.235
"And alle the elements,' quod the Book, "herof beren witnesse.
18.236
That he was God that al wroghte the wolkne first shewed:
18.237
Tho that weren in hevene token stella comata
18.238
And tendeden hire as a torche to reverencen his burthe;
18.239
The light folwede the Lord into the lowe erthe.
18.240
The water witnesseth that he was God, for he wente on it;
18.241
Peter the Apostel parceyved his gate,
18.242
And as he wente on the water wel hym knew, and seide,
18.243
""tube me venire ad te super aquas.''
18.244
And lo! how the sonne gan louke hire light in hirselve
18.245
Whan she seigh hym suffre, that sonne and see made.
18.246
The erthe for hevynesse that he wolde suffre
18.247
Quaked as quyk thyng and al biquasshed the roche.
18.248
"Lo! helle myghte nat holde, but opnede tho God tholede,
18.249
And leet out Symondes sones to seen hym hange on roode.
18.250
And now shal Lucifer leve it, though hyrn looth thynke.
18.251
For Gigas the geaunt with a gyn engyned
18.252
To breke and to bete adoun that ben ayeins Jesus.
18.253
And I, Book, wole be brent, but Jesus rise to lyve
18.254
In alle myghtes of man, and his moder gladie, Page 228
18.255
And conforte al his kyn and out of care brynge,
18.256
And al the Jewene joye unjoynen and unlouken;
18.257
And but thei reverencen his roode and his resurexion,
18.258
And bileve on a newe lawe, be lost, lif and soule!'
18.259
"Suffre we!' seide Truthe, "1 here and see bothe
18.260
A spirit speketh to helle and biddeth unspere the yates:
18.261
""Attolite portas.''
18.261
A vois loude in that light to Lucifer crieth,
18.262
""Prynees of this place, unpynneth and unlouketh!
18.263
For here cometh with crowne that kyng is of glorie.'"
18.264
Thanne sikede Sathan, and seide to helle,
18.265
"Swich a light, ayeins oure leve, Lazar it fette;
18.266
Care and combraunce is comen to us alle!
18.267
If this kyng come in, mankynde wole he fecche,
18.268
And lede it ther Lazar is, and lightliche me bynde.
18.269
Patriarkes and prophetes han parled herof longe--
18.270
That swich a lord and a light shal lede hem alle hennes.'
18.271
"Listneth!' quod Lucifer, "for I this lord knowe;
18.272
Bothe this lord and this light, is longe ago I knew hym.
18.273
May no deeth this lord dere, ne no develes queyntise,
18.274
And where he wole, is his wey--ac ware hym of the perils!
18.275
If he reve me of my right, he robbeth me by maistrie;
18.276
For by right and by reson the renkes that ben here
18.277
Body and soule beth myne, bothe goode and ille.
18.278
For hymself seide, that sire is of hevene,
18.279
That if Adam ete the appul, alle sholde deye,
18.280
And dwelle [in deol] with us develes--this thretynge he made.
18.281
And [sithen] he that Soothnesse is seide thise wordes,
18.282
And I sithen iseised sevene [thousand] wynter,
18.283
I leeve that lawe nyl noght lete hym the leeste.' Page 229
18.284
"That is sooth,' seide Satan, "but I me soore drede;
18.285
For thow gete hem with gile, and his gardyn breke,
18.286
And in semblaunce of a serpent sete on the appultre,
18.287
And eggedest hem to ete, Eve by hirselve,
18.288
And toldest hire a tale--of treson were the wordes;
18.289
And so thou haddest hem out and hider at the laste.
18.290
It is noght graithly geten, ther gile is the roote!'
18.291
" For God wol noght be bigiled,' quod Gobelyn, " ne byjaped.
18.292
We have no trewe title to hem, for thorugh treson were thei dampned.'
18.293
" Certes, I drede me,' quod the Devel, "lest Truthe wol hem fecche.
18.294
Thise thritty wynter, as I wene, he wente aboute and preched.
18.295
I have assailled hym with synne, and som tyme I asked
18.296
Wheither he were God or Goddes sone--he gaf me short answere;
18.297
And thus hath he trolled forth thise two and thritty wynter.
18.298
And whan I seigh it was so, slepynge I wente
18.299
To warne Pilates wif what done man was Jesus;
18.300
For Jewes hateden hym and han doon hym to dethe.
18.301
I wolde have lengthed his lif--for I leved, if he deide,
18.302
That his soule wolde suffre no synne in his sighte;
18.303
For the body, while it on bones yede, aboute was evere
18.304
To save men from synne if hemself wolde.
18.305
And now I se wher a soule cometh [silynge hiderward]
18.306
With glorie and with gret light--God it is, I woot wel!
18.307
I rede we fle,' quod he, "faste alle hennes--
18.308
For us were bettre noght be than biden his sighte.
18.309
For thi lesynges, Lucifer, lost is al oure praye.
18.310
First thorugh the we fellen fro hevene so heighe;
18.311
For we leved thi lesynges, we lopen out alle with thee;
18.312
And now for thi laste lesynge, ylorn we have Adam,
18.313
And al oure lordshipe, I leve, a londe and a watre:
18.314
Nunc Princeps huius mundi eicietur foras.'Page 230
18.314
Eft the light bad unlouke, and Lucifer answerde,
18.315
" Quis est iste ?
18.316
What lord artow?' quod Lucifer. The light soone seide,
18.317
Rex glorie,
18.318
The lord of myght and of mayn and alle manere vertues--
18.319
Dominus virtutum.
18.319
Dukes of this dymme place, anoon undo thise yates,
18.320
That Crist may come in, the Kynges sone of Hevene!'
18.321
And with that breeth helle brak, with Belialles barres--
18.322
For any wye or warde, wide open the yates.
18.323
Patriarkes and prophetes, populus in tenebris,
18.324
Songen Seint Johanes song, " Ecce Agnus Dei.'
18.325
Lucifer loke ne myghte, so light hym ablente.
18.326
And tho that Oure Lord lovede, into his light he laughte,
18.327
And seide to Sathan, "Lo! here my soule to amendes
18.328
For alle synfulle soules, to save tho that ben worthi.
18.329
Myne thei ben and of me--I may the bet hem cleyme.
18.330
Although reson recorde, and right of myselve,
18.331
That if thei ete the appul, alle sholde deye,
18.332
I bihighte hem noght here helle for evere.
18.333
For the dede that thei dide, thi deceite it made;
18.334
With gile thow hem gete, ageyn alle reson.
18.335
For in my paleis, Paradis, in persone of an addre,
18.336
Falsliche thow fettest there thyng that I lovede.
18.337
"Thus ylik a lusard with a lady visage,
18.338
Thefliche thow me robbedest; the Olde Lawe graunteth
18.339
That gilours be bigiled--and that is good reson:
18.340
Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo.Page 231
18.341
Ergo soule shal soule quyte and synne to synne wende,
18.341
And al that man hath mysdo, I, man, wole amende it.
18.342
Membre for membre [was amendes by the Olde Lawe],
18.343
And lif for lif also--and by that lawe I clayme
18.344
Adam and al his issue at my wille herafter.
18.345
And that deeth in hem fordide, my deeth shal releve,
18.346
And bothe quyke and quyte that queynt was thorugh synne;
18.347
And that grace gile destruye, good feith it asketh.
18.348
So leve it noght, Lucifer, ayein the lawe I fecche hem,
18.349
But by right and by reson raunsone here my liges:
18.350
Non veni solvere legem set adimplere.
18.350
"Thow fettest myne in my place ayeins alle reson--
18.351
Falsliche and felonliche; good feith me it taughte,
18.352
To recovere hem thorugh raunsoun, and by no reson ellis,
18.353
So that with gile thow gete, thorugh grace it is ywonne.
18.354
Thow, Lucifer, in liknesse of a luther addere
18.355
Getest bi gile tho that God lovede;
18.356
And I, in liknesse of a leode, that Lord am of hevene,
18.357
Graciousliche thi gile have quyt--go gile ayein gile!
18.358
And as Adam and alle thorugh a tree deyden,
18.359
Adam and alle thorugh a tree shal turne to lyve;
18.360
And gile is bigiled, and in his gile fallen:
18.361
Et cecidit in foveam quam fecit.
18.361
Now bigynneth thi gile ageyn thee to turne
18.362
And my grace to growe ay gretter and widder.
18.363
The bitternesse that thow hast browe, now brouke it thiselve;
18.364
That art doctour of deeth, drynk that thow madest!
18.365
"For I that am lord of lif, love is my drynke,
18.366
And for that drynke today, I deide upon erthe.
18.367
I faught so, me thursteth yet, for mannes soule sake;
18.368
May no drynke me moiste, ne my thurst stake, Page 232
18.369
Til the vendage falle in the vale of Josaphat,
18.370
That I drynke right ripe must, resureccio mortuorum.
18.371
And thanne shal I come as a kyng, crouned, with aungeles,
18.372
And have out of helle alle mennes soules.
18.373
" Fendes and fendekynes bifore me shul stande
18.374
And be at my biddyng wheresoevere [be] me liketh.
18.375
Ac to be merciable to man thanne, my kynde it asketh,
18.376
For we beth bretheren of blood, but noght in baptisme alle.
18.377
Ac alle that beth myne hole bretheren, in blood and in baptisme,
18.378
Shul noght be dampned to the deeth that is withouten ende:
18.379
Tibi soli peccavi &c.
18.379
"It is noght used on erthe to hangen a feloun
18.380
Ofter than ones, though he were a tretour.
18.381
And if the kyng of that kyngdom corne in that tyme
18.382
There the feloun thole sholde deeth oother juwise,
18.383
Lawe wolde he yeve hym lif, and he loked on hym.
18.384
And I that am kyng of kynges shal come swich a tyme
18.385
There doom to the deeth dampneth alle wikked;
18.386
And if lawe wole I loke on hem, it lith in my grace
18.387
Wheither thei deye or deye noght for that thei diden ille.
18.388
Be it any thyng abought, the boldnesse of hir synnes,
18.389
I may do mercy thorugh rightwisnesse, and alle my wordes trewe.
18.390
And though Holy Writ wole that I be wroke of hem that diden ille--
18.391
Nullum malum impunitum &c--
18.391
Thei shul be clensed clerliche and [clene] wasshen of hir synnes
18.392
In my prisone Purgatorie, til parce it hote.
18.393
And my mercy shal be shewed to manye of my bretheren; Page 233
18.394
For blood may suffre blood bothe hungry and acale,
18.395
Ac blood may noght se blood blede, but hym rewe.'
18.396
Auaivi archana verba que non iicet homini loqui.
18.396
"Ac my rightwisnesse and right shal rulen al helle,
18.397
And mercy al mankynde bifore me in hevene.
18.398
For I were an unkynde kyng but I my kyn helpe---
18.399
And nameliche at swich a nede ther nedes help bihoveth:
18.400
Non intres in iudicium cum servo tuo.
18.400
"Thus by lawe,' quod Oure Lord, "lede I wole fro hennes
18.401
Tho [leodes] that I lov[e] and leved in my comynge.
18.402
And for thi lesynge, Lucifer, that thow leighe til Eve,
18.403
Thow shalt abyen it bittre!"--and bond hym with cheynes.
18.404
As troth and al the route hidden hem in hernes;
18.405
They dorste noght loke on Oure Lord, the [lothli]este of hem alle,
18.406
But leten hym lede forth what hym liked and lete what hym liste.
18.407
Manye hundred of aungeles harpeden and songen,
18.408
" Culpat caro, purgat caro, regnat Deus Dei caro.'
18.409
Thanne pipede Pees of poesie a note:
18.410
" Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus;
18.410
Post inimicicias clarior est et amor.
18.410
" After sharpest shoures,' quod Pees, " moost shene is the sonne;
18.411
Is no weder warmer than after watry cloudes;
18.412
Ne no love levere; ne lever frendes
18.413
Than after werre and wo, whan love and pees ben maistres.
18.414
Was nevere werre in this world, ne wikkednesse so kene,
18.415
"That Love, and hym liste, to laughyng ne broughte,
18.416
And Pees, thorugh pacience, alle perils stoppede.' Page 234
18.417
" Trewes!' quod Truthe; " thow tellest us sooth, by Jesus!
18.418
Clippe we in covenaunt, and ech of us kisse oother.'
18.419
"And lete no peple,' quod Pees, "parceyve that we chidde;
18.420
For inpossible is no thyng to Hym that is almyghty.'
18.421
"Thow seist sooth,' seide Rightwisnesse, and reverentliche hire kiste,
18.422
Pees, and Pees h[i]re, per secula seculorum.
18.423
Misericordia et Veritas obviaverunt sibi, justicia et Pax osculate sunt.
18.423
Truthe trumpede tho and song Te Deum laudamus,
18.424
And thanne lutede Love in a loud note,
18.425
" Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum &c.'
18.425
Til the day dawed thise damyseles carolden,
18.426
That men rongen to the resurexion--and right with that I wakede,
18.427
And called Kytte my wif and Calote my doghter:
18.428
"Ariseth and reverenceth Goddes resurexion,
18.430
And crepeth to the cros on knees, and kisseth it for a juwel!
18.431
For Goddes blik body it bar for eure body,
18.432
And it afereth the fend--for swich is the myghte,
18.433
May no grisly goost glide there it shadweth!'
18.434
