6. Cristine,
von Willam Paris [So nennt sich der Dichter v. 515, Dienstmann des Sir Thomas Brawchaump, dem er mit rüh|render Treue in den Kerker gefolgt ist, wo er diese Legende dichtet, vgl. V. 497 ff.] .
von Willam Paris [So nennt sich der Dichter v. 515, Dienstmann des Sir Thomas Brawchaump, dem er mit rüh|render Treue in den Kerker gefolgt ist, wo er diese Legende dichtet, vgl. V. 497 ff.] .
aus Ms. Arundel 168 fol. 2 [Dass. Ms. enthält ausser Cristine: Dorothe, Capgrave's Catharine (bereits edirt) u. Lydgate's Marienleben.] (15. Jhdt.).
Seynte Cristyne was a maide bryghte,
As clerkis in bokes hathe rede & seene,
Sche seruede gode bothe daye ande nyghte,
As martyr shulde ande virgyne clene.
In Itayle she was borne, y wene,
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Ande come of kynne, were grete of myghte;
Bute she forsoke theme alle bedene
And holle hire herte to Criste she highte.
She was so faire, thate maidene mylde,
That euery wighte that ones hire see,
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If it were mane, womane or childe,
She wane theire lofe with hire beaute.
Suche grace of gode forsothe hade shee
To flee alle vice and werkes wilde,
Ande fully purposede hire to be
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Goddes owne seruaunte & maide vnfylde.
Vrbane highte hire fadere ywisse,
A wykkede tyrande & a wode —
It was of hyme as of moo is:
A sherew may gete a childe righte goode;
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Ande so dide Vrbane, be the rode:
If he were mane that dide amysse,
Yit gate he Cristyne mylde of mode
That is with Criste in heuene blysse.
Many mene desirede that may
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Ande wolde hafe weddede hire, if þei myghte —
Whan thei mighte se hire one a daie,
Thei ferde þe better a fulle seuennyghte;
Hir chere was suche in alle mens sighte:
It made ylke mane to other saye:
"Truly, this is þe gentileste wighte
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That euer we see — this is no naye".
Hir kynne wolde gife hire to righte none,
For she shulde lyfe in mawmentrye;
But in a toure ofe lyme & stone
Hyre fader ordeyne hire to lye,
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Ande twelfe maydens to be hire bye,
Of whiche she myghte triste neuer one:
For theie were ordeyne for to aspie
How that she lyuede & made hyr mone.
Goddes of golde & siluer brighte
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That may hade with hire in hire toure,
That she shulde wurchipe daie & nyghte,
Ande whene hire liste to do theme hon|oure.
But sodenly ther come socoure
Fro gode, that is moste of myghte:
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He made that maye to haue sauoure
To brynge hire soule to heuene lyghte.
The holy goste in Cristyne is,
And he hathe tawghte hire to forsake
Hire fals goddes ilkone, ywisse,
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That are but stonys & stokkes blake:
