2. Deo Gracias I.
(11 stanzas of 8, abab bcbc.)
(1)
IN a Chirche, þer .I. con knel
Þis ender day in on Morwenynge,
Me lyked þe seruise wonder wel;
ffor-þi þe lengore con .I. lynge.
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.I. seiȝ a Clerk a book forþ bringe,
Þat prikked was in mony a plas;
ffaste he souȝte what he scholde synge:
And al was Deo Gracias.
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(2)
¶ Alle þe queristres in þat qwer,
On þat word fast gon þei cri.
Þe noyse was good, & .I. drouȝ neer
And called a prest ful priueli,
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And seide: "sire, for ȝor curtesi
Tel me, ȝif ȝe habbeþ spas,
What hit meneþ, and for whi
Ȝe singe Deo Gracias?"
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(3)
¶ In selk þat comeli clerk was clad,
And ouer a lettorne leoned he;
And wiþ his word he maade me glad,
And seide: "sone, I schal telle þe:
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ffader and Sone In Trinite,
Þe holy gost, ground of vr graas,
Also oftesiþe þonke we
As we sei Deo Gracias.
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(4)
¶ "To þonke & blesse him we ben bounde
With al þe murþes þat mon mai Minne:
ffor al þe world in wo was wounde
Til þat he crepte in to vr kinne:
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A louesum buirde he liȝte with-Inne,
Þe worþiest þat euer was,
And schedde his blod for vre sinne:
And þerfore Deo Gracias."
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