Twenty-six political and other poems (including 'Petty Job') from the Oxford mss. Digby 102 and Douce 322. Ed., with introduction and glossarial index, by D. J. Kail ...

Twenty-Six Political and other Poems
(Including 'Petty Job')
FROM THE OXFORD MSS. DIGBY 102 AND DOUCE 322.

EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX,
BY DR.

J. KAIL.

PART I.

LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LIMITED,
DRYDEN HOUSE, 43, GERRARD STREET, SOHO, W.
1904

I. Loue god, and drede.

[A.D. 1400]

[Digby 102, leaf 98.]

[21 stanzas of 8, abab bcbc.]

(1)

Eche man be war, that bereth a state, Of counseil of double entendement, Of tyrauntrye, and preuey hate, And synguler profit by fals assent, Line 4 And ȝong to ȝyue Iugement. In Euenhede, Lawe ȝe lede. Worche be good auisement. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 8

(2)

¶ Drede god, and knowe thy selue, That ouer puple hast gouernaunce. Noght for the loue of ten or twelue, Brynge not a Comone in greuaunce. Line 12 Make vnyte ther was distaunce. Weye o lawe in euenhede, Bytwen ffauour and vengeaunce. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 16

(3)

¶ Eche mannys gouernours Of hous or lordshipe or cite, The puple is godes, and not ȝoures, Thow they be soget to ȝoure degre. Line 20 Gouerne the puple in vnyte, In the comaundements that god bede, And ȝe wole lyue in charite. Knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 24

Line 24

(4)

¶ Eche man wot, that hath wyt, These worldes goodes beth not his. Alle is godes; he oweth hit, And land and see, and pyne and blis. Line 28 God wole haue rekenyng, ywys, Of men and cloth, the leste shrede, Thy getyng, thy holding, thy spendyng mys. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 32

(5)

¶ Man of his owen hath no thyng; Man is goddis, and al god sent. God wole haue rekenyng Of ryht and wrong, how it is went. Line 36 Man, not nys thyn, alle god lent, And borwed thyng mot home ful nede; And ȝut thy soule is goddis rent: Quyte that wele in loue and drede. Line 40

(6)

¶ Serue god for helle drede, ffle fro synne and al vys. And ȝe loue god for heuen mede, Ȝyue hym thyn hert fro fleschly delys. Line 44 ffor worldly wys is gostly nys, And fooles erande may not spede. In begynnyng to be wys Knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 48

(7)

¶ And ȝe wole wyte, thus mowe ȝe lere: What man pursueth his soule to saue, Ȝif hym be lef of god to here, He ableth hym self mercy to haue. Line 52 Richesse [folio 98b] and hele maketh wylde men raue, That to vertues take non hede. Er thy soule be fendes knaue, Knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 56

Line 56

(8)

¶ That man that wole be gouerned by wyt, ffle fro foly, and worldis delys; Loke his charge how it is knyt, And take counseil that is wys; Line 60 ffolwe mesure in euene syse; Lete no falshed blome ne sede. And lawe be kept, no folk nyl ryse. Than seruest god in loue and drede. Line 64

(9)

¶ Whanne a fool stereth a barge, Hym self and al the folke is shent. There as conscience is large, By wrath or mede the doom is went. Line 68 The bowe of goddis wrath is bent On hem that deth not that god bede. War wordes of dowble entendement, Knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 72

(10)

¶ Gif a kyngdom falle a chaunce That al the rewme myght greue, Aȝen that make an ordinaunce, To kepe ȝow euere fro suche myscheue; Line 76 And chastise hem that matere meue: Make othere take ensaumple treuth to hede. Who so is wys, his werkys preue. Loue god, and ȝe thar not drede. Line 80

(11)

¶ Goddis bowe of wratthe on vs was bent; There we thenke al to lyte. His ȝerde of loue on summe is lent, With swerd of vengeaunce he summe doth smyte. Line 84 The brydell with teeth thay byte That of god taken non hede. Or fendys alle ȝoure werkys wryte, Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 88

Line 88

(12)

¶ Why pore men don riche reuerence, Two skylles y fynde therfore: To tyrauntes don hem greuaunce, To rewe and aȝen restore. Line 92 Goode men for loue they worshipe more, That don hem good, and help at nede; ffor god seeth thurgh euery bore. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 96

(13)

¶ Eche man wot, that bereth estate, Why they hit resceyue, and to what wyse. Worship for drede is preue hate; Suche worship of frendes men schold refuyse. Line 100 In loue and drede worshipe the wyse. Be suget to resoun in lengthe [folio 99a] and brede, ffor god seeth thurgh eche mysse. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 104

(14)

¶ As long as man doth wrong, He maketh god his ful foo; The more he dwelleth theryn long, To his soule he encreseth woo. Line 108 Er he fele het, y rede say hoo, Er his soule glowe as glede. Haue heuene, or helle: chese of two. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 112

(15)

¶ The man withoute charitee May neuere wynne heuen blisse. As thou wolde men dede for the, Do thou so liche eche man haue hisse; Line 116 ffor all that euere is goten mysse, Mot be rekened, a drope ȝe shede. Thes worldis good and thou mon kysse. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 120

Line 120

(16)

¶ ffalse men bye helle ful dere. That taken with wrong, are goddis theues; They han here heuene in this world here; After in helle, huge myscheues. Line 124 What they byleue, here werkys preues Arn heretikes, and out of the Crede. Why god doth loue, why god doth greues, Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 128

(17)

¶ Man, synne not in ouerhope; Thou wynnest not goddis mercie with fight; Hit wolde brynge the in wanhope, To wene no mercy thou hauen myght. Line 132 Alle thyng is nombred in goddis sight, The leste tryp that euere ȝe trede. His mercy is medled with his right. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 136

(18)

¶ Mannes conscience wil hym telle, Riche and pore, fool and wyse, Whether he be worthi heuene or helle To resceyue, after his seruyce. Line 140 Eche man auyse hym, that is wys, Pore, and prynce styf on stede, Or vyces ouer vertues rys. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 144

(19)

¶ Who that takeþ fro pore to eke with his, ffor that wrong is worthy wo; A-nother, richer than he is, Of the same shal serue hym so. Line 148 That ȝeueth to that liȝe or go, Mete or drynke, herborwe or wede, God sendes y-now to tho That louen god, and hym wolen drede. Line 152

Line 152

(20)

¶ He is a fool, that doth answere To a man er tale be told; But after the dede deme there; Lete not lawe be fauoured ne sold. Line 156 Suche maken fals men be bold, [folio 99b] And false men myghte stroye a thede. Er charitee in hert wexe cold, Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 160

(21)

¶ Ȝif a man do a-nother mys, Neighbores shuld hem auyse, The trespasour amende and kys, Do bothe parties euene assise. Line 164 Old horded hate maketh wratthe to rise, And ofte gilteles blod to blede. ffle fro fooles, and folwe wise. Man, knowe thy self, loue god, and drede. Line 168

II. Mede and muche thank.

[Digby 102, leaf 99, back.]

[11 stanzas of 8, abab bcbc.]

(1)

IN blossemed buske I bode boote, In ryche array, with ryches rank, ffaire floures vnder foote, Sauour to myn herte sank. Line 4 I sawe two buyrnes on a bank. To here talkyng I tok hede. That on preysede moche thank, That other held al with mede. Line 8

(2)

¶ That on, a trauaylyng man had ben, He was but in mene array; That other clothed in gawdy gren, Blasande briȝt, embrowdid gay. Line 12

Line 12 "Loo, felow, chese y may To ryde on palfray or on stede. Shewe forth moche thonk, y the pray; Loo, here y shewe sumwhat of mede." Line 16

(3)

¶ 'Syre, y see thou hast richesse; How thou hit get, whiche is thy fame, In corage and prowesse, After thy dede resceyue thy name, Line 20 Other in worshipe, or in shame. Men wol the deme after thy dede, Thy fer trauayle, or cochour at hame. How serued thou to haue that mede?' Line 24

(4)

¶ "I plese my lord at bed and bord, Þouȝ y do but strype a stre, And florische fayre my lordis word, And fede hem forth with nay and ȝee. Line 28 Whan trauaylyng men fare euele on see, In fight, in preson, in storme and drede, With moche thonk than mery ȝe be, And y wole make me mery with mede." Line 32

(5)

¶ 'fflateryng is the fendis scoles. Ȝoure awen werkys preueth ȝow nys. Ȝe skorne lordes, and make hem ȝoure foles, To playe and lawhe at ȝoure delys. Line 36 Do for a lord; and he be wys, Trewe trauayle shal not lese his dede. To vertuous lord al worship lys. The trewe seruant is worthy hys mede.' Line 40

(6)

¶ "Say, felowe, what doth the greue My glosyng, flateryng, play, and daunce? Shulde my souerayn aske the leue, Whom hym list to auaunce? Line 44

Line 44 Thou getest the thonke with spere and launce, Ther-with [folio 100a] thou might the clothe and fede; I gloser wil stonde to my chaunce, And mayntene my men al with mede. Line 48

(7)

¶ "My flateryng, glosyng, not me harmes. I gete loue, and moche richesse, When wel-faryng men of armes In fight, in presoun, and distresse. Line 52 When thou art old and feble, y gesse, Who wole the fynde fode or wede? Lete moche thonk than thy mete dresse, And y wole make me mery with mede." Line 56

(8)

¶ 'I likne a gloser, in eche weder To folwe the wynd, as doth the fane. Ȝe begeten hony togedere; To stroyȝe that cometh the drane. Line 60 Me thenkeþ þere wit is wane To stroiȝe the hony, and foule hit shede; Gloser hath brought faytour lane To halle and chambre, to lordes, for mede. Line 64

(9)

¶ 'Thy wikked speche come fro ferre. Euel thou spekest, worse dost mene. Thou woldest euere more were werre, (ffor profyt and pilage thou myght glene,) Line 68 Cristen blod destroyed clene, And townes brent on a glede. Thy conscience is ful lene; Thou noldest not come ther but for mede. Line 72

(10)

¶ 'In wikked lyuer no good counsayle, Is coward of kynde nyȝt and day. Good lyuere dar fende and assayle, And hardy in dede brouȝt to bay. Line 76

Line 76 I wolue thou were brouȝt to assay At nede a wys counseil to rede. Were thou as hardy as thou art gay, Ȝe were wel worthy to haue good mede. Line 80

(11)

¶ 'Thenketh the not it doth the good, Whan thou out of thy bed dost swerue? Ȝe clothe ȝow, and do on ȝoure hod, At tyme of day thy mete dost kerue. Line 84 Why dost thou thy seluen serue? I trowe thou do it for gret nede; ffor hunger and cold elles myghtest thou sterue. This preueth thou seruest al for mede.' Line 88

III. Treuth, reste, and pes.

[Early in 1401]

[Digby 102, leaf 100.]

[21 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

FOr drede ofte my lippes y steke, ffor false reportours, that trouhte mys-famed. Ȝut Charitee chargeth me to speke. Þouȝ trouþe be dred, he nys not ashamed. Line 4 Trouþe secheþ non hernes ther los is lamed; Trouþe is worschiped at euery des. In that kyngdom ther trouþe is blamed, God sendes vengeaunce to make trouþe haue pes. Line 8

(2)

¶ Trouþe is messager to ryȝt, And ryȝt is counseille to Iustice; Iustice in goddis stede is dyȝt. Do euene lawe [folio 100b] to fooll and wyse. Line 12 Set mesure in euene assise, The riȝte weye as lawe ges. And lawe be kept, folk nyl not ryse. That kyngdom shal haue reste and pes. Line 16

Line 16

(3)

¶ Ȝif suche a tale-tellere were, To a kyng apayre a mannys name, The kyng shulde boþe partyes here, And punysche þe fals for defame. Line 20 Þan fals men wolde ases for blame; ffor falshed, body and soule it sles. ffalshed endes ay in shame; And trouþe, in worschipe and in pes. Line 24

(4)

¶ Whanne lawe is put fro riȝt assise, And domes man made by mede, ffor fawte of lawe ȝif comouns rise, Þan is a kyngdom most in drede. Line 28 ffor whanne vengeaunce a comouns lede, Þei do gret harm er þey asses. There no man oþer doþ mysbede, That kyngdom shal haue reste and pes. Line 32

(5)

¶ Whan craft riseþ aȝens craft, In burgh, toun, or citee, Þey go to lordes whan lawe is laft, Whoche party may strengere be. Line 36 But wyse men þe sonere se By witles wille þey gedre pres, Or lordis medle in foly degre, Let lawe haue cours in reste and pes. Line 40

(6)

¶ Ȝit þere is þe þridde distaunce Bryngeþ a kyngdom in moche noyȝe: Ofte chaunge of gouernaunce Of all degre, lowe and hyȝe. Line 44 A kyng may not al aspie. Summe telle hym soþ, summe telle hym les. Þe whete fro þe chaf ȝe tryȝe, So mowe ȝe leue in reste and pes. Line 48

Line 48

(7)

¶ I speke not in specyale Of oo kyngdom the lawe to telle; I speke hool in generale In eche kyngdom the lawe to telle. Line 52 Also is writen in þe gospelle A word þat god hym-seluen ches: Raþere þan fiȝte, a man go selle On of his cloþes, and biȝe hym pes. Line 56

(8)

¶ A worþi knyȝt wol worchip wynne; He wil not ȝelde hym þouȝ me þret, But raþere as Malice doþ begynne, Quenche hit at þe firste het. Line 60 ffor, and ȝe lete it growe gret, Hit brenneþ breme as fyre in gres. Laweles nouellerye loke ȝe lete, So mowe ȝe lyue in reste and pes. Line 64

(9)

¶ Old speche is spoken ȝore: What is a kyngdom tresory? Bestayle, corn stuffed in store, Riche comouns, and wyse clergy; Line 68 Marchaundes, squyers, chiualry That wol be redy at a res, And cheualrous kyng in wittes hyȝe, To lede in were, and gouerne in pes. Line 72

(10)

¶ Among philosofres wyse, In here bokes, men writen fynde Þat synne is cause of cowardyse; [folio 101a] Wel lyuyng man, hardy of kynde; Line 76 Wikked lyuere, graceles blynde; He dredeþ deþ, þe laste mes. Þe good lyuere haþ god in mynde; Þat mannys counseil makeþ pes. Line 80

Line 80

(11)

¶ What kyng that wol haue good name, He wol be lad by wys counsayle Þat loue worschip, and dreden shame, And boldely dar fende and assayle. Line 84 Þere wit is, corage may not fayle, ffor wysdom neuere worschip les. Corage in querell doþ batayle, And ende of batayle bygynneþ pes. Line 88

(12)

¶ Defaute of wit makeþ long counsayle; ffor witteles wordes in ydel spoken, Þe more cost, þe lesse auayle; ffor fawte of wyt, purpos broken. Line 92 In euyl soule no grace is stoken, ffor wikked soule is graceles. [[nota]] In good lyuere goddis wille is loken, Þat mannys counsell makeþ pes. Line 96

(13)

¶ To wete ȝif parlement be wys, Þe comoun profit wel it preues. A kyngdom in comouns lys, Alle profytes, and alle myscheues. Line 100 Lordis wet neuere what comouns greues Til here rentis bigynne to ses. Þere lordis ere, pore comons releues, And mayntene hem in werre and pes. Line 104

(14)

¶ Make god ȝoure ful frend; Do þe comaundement þat he bede. Þouȝ all þe world aȝen ȝow wend, Be god ȝoure frend, ȝe thar not drede: Line 108 ffor þere as god his frendis lede, He saueþ hem boþe on lond and sees. Who so fiȝteþ, god doþ þe dede, ffor god is victorie and pes. Line 112

Line 112

(15)

¶ What kyngdom werreþ hym-self wiþ-ynne, Distroyeþ hym-self, and no mo. Wiþ-oute here enemys bygynne On eche a syde assayle hem so. Line 116 Þe comouns, þey wil robbe and slo, Make fyere, and kyndel stres. Whan ryches and manhode is wastede and go, Þan drede dryueþ to trete pes. Line 120

(16)

¶ The world is like a fals lemman, ffayre semblaunt, and moche gyle. Wiþouten heire dyeþ no man: God is chief lord of toun and pyle. Line 124 God makeþ mony heire in a whyle, ffor god ressayueþ eche reles; God kan breke hegge and style, And make an hey wey to pes. Line 128

(17)

¶ God made lordis gouernoures To gouerne puple in vnyte. Þe puple, ne ryches, nys not ȝoures: Al is goddis, and so be ȝe. Line 132 Eche day ȝe may ȝoure myrrour se. Eche man after oþer deses; Ȝoure auncetres arn gon, after shal ȝe, To endeles werre, or endeless pes. Line 136

(18)

¶ Eche kyng is sworn to gouernaunce To gouerne goddis puple in riȝt. Eche kyng bereþ swerd [folio 101b] of goddis vengeaunce To felle goddis foon in fiȝt. Line 140 And so doþ euerons honest knyȝt That bereþ þe ordre as it wes; The plough, þe chirche, to mayntene ryȝt, Are goddis champyons, to kepe þe pes. Line 144

Line 144

(19)

¶ The world is like a chery fayre, Ofte chaungeþ all his þynges. Riche, pore, foul, and fayre, Popes, prelates and lordynges, Line 148 Alle are dedly, and so ben kynges; Or deþ lede ȝow in his les, Arraye by tyme ȝoure rekenynges, And trete wiþ god to gete ȝow pes. Line 152

(20)

¶ What bryngeþ a kyngdom al aboue? Wys counseil, and good gouernaunce; Eche lord wil other loue, And rule wel labourrers sustynaunce. Line 156 God makeþ for his frendis no destaunce, ffor god kan skatre þe grete pres. God for his frendis maþ ordynaunce, And gouerneþ hem in werre and pes. Line 160

(21)

¶ Good lyf is cause of good name; Good name is worthi to haue reueraunce. . . . . . Synne is cause of greuaunce. Line 164 Eche kyngdom hongeþ in goddis balaunce; Wiþ hym þat holdeþ, wiþ hym þat fles. Ȝe haue fre wille; chese ȝoure chaunce, To haue wiþ god, werre or pes. Line 168

IV. Lerne say wele, say litel, or say noȝt.

[Digby 102, leaf 101, back.]

[31 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

As þe see doþ ebbe and flowe, So fareþ þe world hyder and þedere. Aȝen þe wynd they sayle and rowe To gadre worldys gooddis to-gedere. Line 4

Line 4 At þe last it goþ, y wot not whyder, As ende of web out of slay. And hem-self stoden so slydere, How it is wiþ hym, y kan not say. Line 8

(2)

¶ Sum man dar not be þef for drede; His trouþe is vice, and no vertue. In heuene he nys not worþi mede, Þat cloþes trouþe in falsed hewe. Line 12 Maugre his teeþ he is trewe; Stoken in presoun as best fro stray, Here wikked wille groweþ newe; Þey thenke more þan þey say. Line 16

(3)

¶ Men may not staunche a comoun noys, Noþer for loue ne for awe. After men lyue is comoun voys, In wrongwys dede, or ryȝt lawe. Line 20 Who doþ hem pyne, who doþ hem pawe, Eche on telle oþer, child and may. Tho that to vertues drawe, Hem thar not recche what [men] say. Line 24

(4)

¶ Tak fro þi foo, and ȝeue þi frende; Tak not fro thy frend, to ȝeue þi foo: Þy frend wole holde þe vnhende; Þow haddest on enemy, þan hast þou [MS. þ^u. As the MS. has "thou," 4/116, 8/46, above, I print þ^u 'þou.' In my first-edited text of some Saints' Lives (Philolog. Soc. 1862) I printed i^c as the Northern 'ic' instead of the Southern 'ich' as I ought to have done. Dr. R. Morris told me of the mistake.—F. J. F.] two. Line 28 Man, be war er þou do so; To greue the he wol assay; [folio 102a] When þyn enemys wexen mo, Litil worchipe of þe say. Line 32

(5)

¶ Oo prouerbe loke ȝe preue, Ȝe þat wole to resoun bende: Look what neyȝebore most may greue; By al way make hym þi frende. Line 36

Line 36 Þan wole þyn enemys fro þe wende, Here owen þouȝt wol hem afflay. Be out of daunger of the fende, And recche neuere what men say. Line 40

(6)

¶ To synge or preche generale, Werkys of vices for to blame, Summe tak to hem speciale, And say, "felow, þou dost vs blame." Line 44 Þere he accuseþ his owen name; All þat hym se, knowe it may, He can not hele his owen shame; And so, all folk wole say. Line 48

(7)

¶ Ȝif men speke of goddis wille, To preyse werkys of vertue, A good man wole holde hym stille, And lete as he hem neuere knewe, Line 52 And noþer chaunge hyde ne hewe; ffor vaynglory wolde hem betray. Who is fals, and who is trewe, After þey lyue, all folk wole say. Line 56

(8)

¶ Thouȝ a man holynes preche, He sheteþ noȝt, but bent his bowe; But he lyue as he teche, He nys not trusty for to trowe; Line 60 ffor suche seed he doþ sowe In stones, in thornes, and in clay, The same he schal repe and mowe; So he is worthy, folk wole say. Line 64

(9)

¶ A lord of hym-self haþ no wyt, He knoweþ wele, but no wo; Of pore men he mot haue hit, Knowelechyng of frend and fo. Line 68

Line 68 He is wys, that can do so, And wel twynnen hem o tway. In sykernes may he go, And recche neuere what men say. Line 72

(10)

¶ Gloseres maken mony lesynges— Al to sone men hem leue [MS. leues] — Boþe to lordys and to kynges, Þat boþe partye ofte greue. [MS. greues] Line 76 Wolde lordis seche repreue, Glosers shuld not go so gay, Ne not so hardy for to meue Suche wordes as they say. Line 80

(11)

¶ Thouȝ prestes prechyng hem avyse, Or mynstrallis synge in song now, A glosere wole a lord askuse: Sire, þey synge or preche of gow. Line 84 Þe lord vnderstondes not how Þe fals[e] glosere hym bitray; Wolde he make þo wordis avowe, He wolde auyse hym eft to say. Line 88

(12)

¶ Many can stomble at a stre; Þey nyl not snapere at a style, And graunte purpos nay and ȝee, Þouȝ his þouȝt be þens a myle. Line 92 Whan falsed lawheþ, he forgeþ gyle; Half in malice is his play. Wiþ wysdom who so voydeþ that wyle, He is [folio 102b] wys, all folk wole say. Line 96

(13)

¶ Thouȝ men in erþe trouþe hyde, On halle roof he wole be sayn. In botme of see he nyl not byde, But shewe in market, on the playn. Line 100

Line 100 And þouȝ trouþe a while be slayn, And doluen depe vnder clay, Ȝut he wole ryse to lyue agayn, And al the sothe he wole say. Line 104

(14)

¶ Many callen conscience fleschly willis, And nelen non oþere counseil craue. But soule of reson is gostly skillis, Þat conscience shal hem deme, or saue. Line 108 ffleschely wille is fendes knaue, Out of reson, out of stray. As they disserue, þey shal haue, ffor so doþ þe gospel say. Line 112

(15)

¶ ffalshed wolde trouþes tunge teyȝe ffor trewe wordis þat he haþ spoken; God biddeþ vengeaunce hiȝe, And helpe trouþe be wel wroken. Line 116 ffor trouþe lippes ar faste stoken, And false mede haþ þe kay. Whan vengeaunce haþ look broken, Þan trouþe shal al þe soþ say. Line 120

(16)

¶ Sumtyme men halwed the holyday; Now holiday is turned to glotonye. Sumtyme men vsed honest play; And now it is turned to vilonye; Line 124 And paramour is turned to lecherye,— Sumtyme was loue of good fay,— And shameles haunted so comounly, Vnneþe þey recche what men say. Line 128

(17)

¶ Summe men sowe here seed in skornes, Ofte on oþere mennys londes; Summe on stones, summe on thornes, Summe on hiȝe way, summe on sondes. Line 132

Line 132 He þat wel vnderstondes, Amende while he mende may, Make hym clene, and wasche his hondes, And recche neuere what men say. Line 136

(18)

¶ Thouȝ holy chirche shulde fawtes mende, Summe put hem of for mede; And summe wiþ maystriȝe hem defende, That holy chirche stant of hem drede. Line 140 Þo þat recchelesly sowe here sede, Here lond of vertues ligge ful lay. Þe holy chirche þe corn shuld wede; ffor cowardis, þey dar not say. Line 144

(19)

¶ Gloseres that wiþ lordis bene, Þey thryue faste þouȝ þey come late, ffor þey wole a lord to wene Þat he is byloued ther men hym hate, Line 148 And wiþ his frendis make debate, Of pore puple pyke here pray. Of all degre, of eche astate, After þey lyue, all folk wole say. Line 152

(20)

¶ ffro goddis syȝt, who may stele Word or werk, þe lest þouȝt? Þe comoun voys nyl not hele, But loue, or hate, as werk is wrouȝt; [folio 103a] Line 156 ffor soþnes neuere hernes souȝt. Who secheþ wel, he may assay. The good[e] lyuere neuere rouȝt Of his werkis what men say. Line 160

(21)

¶ Of all degre, of eche astate, After desert þe name haþ prys. Þat lord his owen worship doþ hate, Þat ȝeueþ anoþer his offys— Line 164

Line 164 ffor in astate grace lys— And wilfully wast it a-way. Who is fool, who is wys, After þey lyue, alle folk wole say. Line 168

(22)

¶ A glosere is gredy ay to craue. Ȝeue hym no thyng, þouȝ he bede. A lord þat wole his worschip saue, Lerne not at a glosere to don his dede. Line 172 Ȝeue to vertuous men þat haue nede, Þat to god wole for þe pray: Þe pore mannys erande, god doþ spede. God wil not here what glosere wole say. Line 176

(23)

¶ Alle þe þouȝtes ben but wast [Nota.] Wiþoute contemplacioun. ffro heritage of heuene is born o hast Shrifte wiþoute contricioun. Line 180 And werkys wiþoute discrecioun, Þat ȝifte pleseþ not god to pay, Ne preyer wiþoute deuocioun: God nyl not here what þey say. Line 184

(24)

¶ Sum-tyme, and a worschip felle To a lord, in batayle, by goddis grace, Ȝif a glosere wolde telle Among folk, byfore his face, Line 188 Þe lord wolde bidde hym voyde þe place. Þou corayest ffauel, and stelest his hay. Of alle degre, of eche astate, After þey lyue, alle folk wole say. Line 192

(25)

¶ A cheuenteyn may fyȝte o day, Þe victorye wiþ hym stande; ffor synne god mon tak it away, And put his swerd in enemys hande. Line 196

Line 196 Vertues make free, vices make bonde. To-day is quyk, to-morwe is fay. Þat knew hym-self, he wolde wonde Any good of him self wolde say. Line 200

(26)

¶ What a glosere here or see, Þouȝ it shulde to shame falle, He knoweþ in chambre preuytee, Telleþ his felow in þe halle; Line 204 And felow to felow, tyl þey knowe alle, ffro toun to toun, in all contray. The glosere þe comoun voyce hit calle, ffor non shulde knowe who first dede say. Line 208

(27)

¶ A good man doþ a lord gret ese, Þat is a trewe officere, Þat wel can serue a lord to plese, Passe not þe boundes of his powere. Line 212 In preuyte vnwetand he may come nere. Be handles, and stele no þyng away; Be blynd of eyȝe, and deef of here; Be dombe of mouth, and no þyng say. Line 216

(28)

¶ I wolde suche a statute were, And þer-vpon set a payne, What soget [folio 103b] wolde make his souereyn swere Þat he tolde in counseil layne. Line 220 Oft glosere makeþ lordis fayne, Passe þe boundes of here play. Al þat trouþe haþ herd and sayne, All tymes nys not soþ to say. Line 224

(29)

¶ When al þe world is þurgh souȝt, In his best tyme is worst to trest. Þis world is a fayre nouȝt, A fals lemman, þat chaunge lest; Line 228

Line 228 His last ende is had-y-wist, When deþ haþ þy lyues kay. "Litel while he mon be myst," So þe executours wol say. Line 232

(30)

¶ They rekene his richesse what it amountes, Ete and drynke, synge 'hay ȝol hayl,' Þe while þe fendis his synnes countes, And bryng to hym þe countertayl; Line 236 Wiþ hard paynes hym assaile. Wiþ berkande fendis brouȝt to bay, What helpeþ his riches or wys counsaile? Hym self his owen tale shal say. Line 240

(31)

¶ God made oo lawe for eche astate, Riche and pore in al degre: Do no wrong ne [no] debate, But as þou wolde men dede by þe. Line 244 ffor god hym self, þis wrot he, Betok to Moyses in his lay. Be goddis childre in charyte, As god doþ in the gospell say. Line 248

V. Wyt & Wille.

[Digby 102, leaf 103, back.] [9 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

Man, be war of wikkid counsaile, He wol the lede in wayes slidre; In day of batayle he wol þe faile, And make þi goode men to shidre. Line 4 Riȝt as hay, þey mon widre; As blades of gres, his seed doþ spille. Gostly blynd goþ, and not neuere whidre, Þat leueþ wit, and worchiþ by wille. Line 8

Line 8

(2)

¶ Who so wist, what tresoure He haþ þat worcheþ by wit; Þe fader of heuene is gouernoure, Þe holigost, þe sone wiþ hit. Line 12 In oo godhede alle þre are knyt, Non departe fro oþer nylle; In eche mannys herte, alle þre þey syt, Þat makeþ wit lord aboue his wille. Line 16

(3)

¶ Who so wyste what wille harmes, Þat willefully fro wyt wendes; ffro þe fader of heuene his soule he charmes, ffro grace of þe holygost hym blendes, Line 20 ffro angels pere, soget to fendes, Þat nyl not mende, but ay don ylle. Gostely and bodily hym self he shendes, Þat leueþ wyt, and worcheþ by wille. Line 24

(4)

¶ In kyngdom, what makeþ debate, Riche and pore both anoyȝed? Ȝong counseil, and preuey hate, And syngulere profit ys aspiȝed, Line 28 Hiȝe and lowe men abyȝed; Echon wayte oþer for to kille. Þat kyngdom mot nede be striȝed, That leueþ wit, and worcheþ by wille. Line 32

(5)

¶ That leueþ trouþe, and falshed vse, And [folio 104a] lyue not after goddis sawe, Suche folk god doþ despuse, Rebell and ryse aȝen his lawe. Line 36 Þo puple that stondes of god non awe, But robbe and reue, coffres to fylle: Þe swerd of vengeaunce on hem is drawe, Þat leueþ wit, and worcheþ by wille. Line 40

Line 40

(6)

¶ That ouer puple han gouernaunce, Loke how goddis lawe ȝe vse; Whom ȝe refuse, and whiche auaunce, ffor goddis loue, or ȝoure owen seruyce, Line 44 Whiche is þe charge ȝow auyse. Let eche man serue his charge in skylle, And ȝoure werkis preue ȝow wyse. Let wit be lord aboue thy wylle. Line 48

(7)

¶ Be not to crowele in þy wele, Þou nost how sone þou myȝt haue lesse. Be not to sykere of þyne hele, Þou not how sone falle in sykenesse. Line 52 Deþ claymeþ eche man for hesse, And sodeyn, deþ no dayes selle. Siþ no man is in sykernesse, Be redy euere at goddis wille. Line 56

(8)

¶ And on þy strengþe be not to bold, Ne skorne no pore, ne feble of elde. ffor lyue longe ȝe mon be old, In feblenes to hoke and helde, Line 60 In cowardys ȝoure corage kelde. But ȝe had help, ȝe shuld spille. Ȝe þat heuene blisse wole welde, Let wit be lord aboue ȝoure wille. Line 64

(9)

¶ God haþ lent ȝow discrecioun Boþe of wele and of woo, Werkis of deuocioun, Vyces, vertues, frend, and foo. Line 68 Siþ ȝe can part hem wel o two, Let vyces on ȝow brynge no bille. Þe weye of grace, and ȝe wol go, Let wyt be lord aboue ȝoure wille. Line 72

VI. To lyf [read 'lyue,' vb.] bodyly, is perylous.

[Digby 102, leaf 104.] [9 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

Lerne bodyly to lyue. Þy seruaunt, non hyre þou pay. Pore ne riche, no ȝiftes ȝeue, But take and gedre al þat þou may; Line 4 Þouȝ it come wiþ wrong, say not nay, But falsely loke þou swere and liȝe. Þe pore man is the riches pray. Lerne þus to lyue bodilye. Line 8

(2)

¶ There market beteres gadere in þrong, Loke þat company þou lede. Stalworþly mayntene wrong; So may þou wynne moche mede. Line 12 To reue fro pore take non hede. Do as þou þouȝt neuere to dye. Say noþer pater noster ne crede. Lyue þou in ese bodyly. Line 16

(3)

¶ Rechelesly þe gouerne, Day and nyȝt; walke late At cokes hostry and tauerne. Þouȝ þat no man oþere hate, Line 20 Go not er þou make debate. To lewed, lettred, and clergye, Do no reuerence to non astate: Þan men wole drede þe bodylye. Line 24

(4)

¶ Thé þat þe good wolde teche, Rebuke hem, and foule despise; Byd hem go to þe chirche and preche. ffolwe [folio 104b] fooles, and fle fro wyse. Line 28

Line 28 Ȝeue no doom in riȝt assyse. ffle fro trouþe and þou hym spye. Loke þou be proudest in alle gyse: Þan men wole preyse þe bodylye. Line 32

(5)

¶ Loke þou haue sorwe sad Whan þou seest folk haue welfare; Loke þou be mery and glad Whan þou wost folk haue sorwe and care. Line 36 ffede non hungry, ne cloþe no bare; Lete herberweles þerout ly; Visite no syke, and prisoners spare. Loue þy seluen þus bodyly. Line 40

(6)

¶ Ȝif þy man be a good seruaunt Þat þe were loþ to for-go, Stele þyn owen good fro his hand, Bere on hym he stal it so. Line 44 Bryng hym in presoun tho, Longe there for to lye, Til he be fayn, for sorwe and wo, To swere to serue þe bodylye. Line 48

(7)

¶ And ȝif þou haue a damysele Þat serueþ þe wel, of trewe lynage, ffonde to make here wombe to swelle, Make no fors of no maryage. Line 52 And ȝif she grucche wiþ þe to rage, And alway fro the wole wrye, Bete here, and ȝeue here non oþer wage, And lyue in lustes bodylye. Line 56

(8)

¶ Thus make þe byknowe. After þy dede, resceyue thy name. So shal þyn horn oft[e] blowe, And hunte after his owen shame. Line 60

Line 60 Ȝe, þouȝ þou be of feble fame, Bere good visage, þy nouȝt aspye, Make þerof but iape and game In fleschly lustis bodylye. Line 64

(9)

¶ At masse, at matyns, rule ȝow so: Leue dewe deuocioun ȝow byhynde. Speke no good of frend ne foo, Lete non skorneles fro ȝow wende; Line 68 Loke no man be thy frende; Lete no man thryue, but do hem nye; Kepe hem pore, and to þe bende: Þen wole þey drede þe bodylye. Line 72

VII. Man, know thy self, and lerne to dye.

[Digby 102, leaf 104, back.] [15 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

Mannys soule is sotyl and queynt, Shal neuere ende þouȝ he dede gynne. The flesch is fals[e], frele, and feynt, Þe world alone wolde wynne; Line 4 Is wormes mete, and sek of synne; He nys neuere filt of glotonye; His cloþyng is a dedly skynne. Man, knowe þy self, and lerne to dye! Line 8

(2)

¶ Lerne to dye, and go to skole, Siþ þou fro deþ may not fle. Lete not þy werkys preue þe fool. Whan deþ wole assaile þe, Line 12 Sende warnestor to þy soule to be; Þy vices fro þy vertues triȝe. Ȝe sette ȝoure soule in kynges gre, Þat lerneþ wisely for to diȝe. Line 16

Line 16

(3)

¶ Eche man in certayn is to dye, At domesday stonde in drede. Þere al þe worldis tresorye May not bye [folio 105a] thy lyf for mede, Line 20 No wys counseil þat dede þe lede, Ne glosere wiþ his flaterye; Non may helpe oþer at nede: ffor thy, man, wysely lerne to dye. Line 24

(4)

¶ What may thy richesse þe auayle [[nota]] Whan þou art to deþe dryue? Thy wynd is layd, þou mayst not sayle, Þouȝ þou lete out bonet and ryue. Line 28 Loke to vertues þou þe ȝyue Er tombe be held to þe liȝe; ffor he þat gostly wel doþ lyue, He lerneþ wysely for to diȝe. Line 32

(5)

¶ Two skilles y wole telle Why eche man shuld repreue oþeres synne: And he wyst hym self shuld go to helle, Counseyle no mo to come þer-ynne: Line 36 Þe mo brondes, þe hattere brynne, Incresyng of his maladye; Here nys no charite, ȝut shal he wynne To lasse his pyne after he dye. Line 40

(6)

¶ And ȝif he wiste to heuene to go, His soule be saued in sikirnes, He shulde counseile all folk do so, Saue here soules, and do not mys; Line 44 Nouȝt for here profyt, but al for his, His owen ioye for to hyȝe; Þe mo soules, þe more blis. Þenk here-on, and lerne to dyȝe. Line 48

Line 48

(7)

¶ Thy wikked werkis in þy ȝowthe, Seke hem wel tyll þou hem fynde, And al þy tyme riȝt til nowþe; Loke þat fardel þou vnbynde, Line 52 And shewe it wel wiþ shrift wynde; No fende spot vppon the spyȝe; And haue repentaunce in mynde. On þis manere lerne to dyȝe. Line 56

(8)

¶ While man doþ synne in werkis wylde, Al þat tyme he nys but ded; He nys not counted as fool ne childe, But as a man can good and qued. Line 60 ffor his soule he telyeþ no bred; Here landis of vertue laye don lyȝe. Do comaundementis þat god bed, Þan lernest þou wysely to dyȝe. Line 64

(9)

¶ Pore, nedy, and gredy, þat not ne haue, In goddis name ȝeue þat asken ouȝt. Pore, nedy, and not gredy, þat noȝt ne craue, Ȝeue hem þouȝ þey ne aske nouȝt. Line 68 And nedeles gredy þyn almes souȝt, Ȝeue hem no þyng þouȝ þey crye: Þere nys no nede, ȝifte haþ no mede. Suche almesdede mon neuere dye. Line 72

(10)

¶ What argument may beter preue Why men ben bent to don o mys? Not but defaute of byleue. I trowe þey wene no god þer nys, Line 76 Ne helle pyne ne heuene blys, Paradis ne purgatorie, Or elles, a-noþer heresy þere is, As a best wiþoute soule to die. Line 80

Line 80

(11)

¶ Man, of his owen, nouȝten haue; Al is goddis, and he it lent. Þerof god wole rekenyng craue, How þou it wan, held, and spent; Line 84 Þy leste þouȝt, and what it ment; Trouþe, [folio 105b] and lesyng þou dede liȝe; And ȝet þy soule is goddis rent: So quyte þat wel, lerne to diȝe. Line 88

(12)

¶ Whanne þou dest þyn almesdede, Crie god mercie it is so lite. To counte þy richesse þou myȝt haue drede, In partye of payment so litel quyte. Line 92 Þouȝ þou do mys, god nyl not flyte Ne þrete þe ones ne twyȝe; Body and soule he can smyte. Man, drede god, so lerne to dyȝe. Line 96

(13)

¶ Man, synne not in ouerhope, Þou wynnest not goddis mercy wiþ fiȝt; Hit wolde brynge þe in-to wanhope, To wene no mercy þou haue ne myȝt. Line 100 Goddis mercy is medled wiþ his ryȝt, And fro ryȝt, god nyl not plyȝe; After þe dede, þe doom is dyȝt. Man, knowe þis wile er þou dyȝe. Line 104

(14)

¶ Eche dedly synne is a dedly knyf. Why loue men þanne so ofte to synne? Eche vertue is a plastre of lyf. He haþ fre wille; lese, or wynne. Line 108 To salue ȝoure sores now begynne; Þe holigost ȝoure grace gyȝe. Siþ body and soule mon parte o twynne, To saue þy soule, lerne to dyȝe. Line 112

Line 112

(15)

¶ Truste not al to oþere men, In almes dede ne preyere; ffor state of soule can no man kenne, ffor þey ben alle in goddis daungere, Line 116 In helle pyne, or blisse clere. Repentaunce mot mercy byȝe. While þy dede is in þy powere, Be þyn awen frend er þou dyȝe. Line 120

VIII. A good makynge of iour delaye.

[Against the Clergy. A.D. 1408-9] [Digby 102, leaf 105, back.] [13 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

Man, haue hit in þy þouȝt Of what matere þou maked is. God made the of nouȝt; Al þat þou hast, þou wost, is his. Line 4 Wheþer hast þou serued pyne or blisse, Seche þy werkis, and assaye; Þy getyng, þy holdyng, þy spendyng mysse, ffro blisse wolde make Iour delaye. Line 8

(2)

¶ To þy bed whan þou shalt go, Þenk what þou hast don sen morn; Wheþer serued blisse or wo, Or goddis name in ydel sworn, Line 12 Or ellys fals[e] witnesse born, Letted pore men of here pray, In þy defaut here goodis lorn: Þou shalt answere here iour delay. Line 16

(3)

¶ Who takeþ cure, he bereþ charge By goddis lawe, þe folk to preche Þey make conscience large, [nota] Take tyþe, and nyl not teche. Line 20

Line 20 Crist his postles tauȝt in speche [[nota]] ffro worldis worschip to wende a-way, Gostly and bodyly þe soules to leche, And bad hem make no iour delay. Line 24

(4)

¶ Worldis good nes not holichirche; Richesse and worschep y ȝow forbede. Þe folkis cherche, in hem ȝe worche; Here noo oþer to don þy dede. Line 28 Þat doþ þe dede, is worþy mede. Þou mayst not serue two lordis to pay; Þat on he serueþ in loue and drede, Þat oþere he serueþ wiþ iour delay. Line 32

(5)

¶ Who ressayueþ benefys for richesse and ese To haue his lyuyng in sykernes Raþere þan serue god to plese, He ressayueþ hit o mys. Line 36 ffor riȝt [folio 106a] as Iudas dede kys Ihesus, and after, hym betray, So þey gyle þe soules fro blisse, Of goddis seruyce make iour delay. Line 40

(6)

¶ Many seyn, "god is so wys, Endeles ful of all mercy; God nyl not, þouȝ y be nys, Lese me þurgh myn owen foly; Line 44 So dere god mankynde dede bye; What greueþ god, þouȝ y go gay?" Þat synnen in ouerhope, in helle mon lyȝe; Þere-of mon be non iour delay. Line 48

(7)

¶ Many wole say, þat leue vneuene, "And it were soþ þat clerkis telle, ffewe folkes shulde come in heuene, So fele as shulde renne hedlyng to helle, Line 52

Line 52 Hit were hard þere to dwelle, Wiþ helle houndis stonde to bay." Synne mon be punsched, as saiþ þe gospelle; þerof mon be no iour delay. Line 56

(8)

¶ That ouere puple haue astate, Colege or eny oþer degre, Mayntene no debate ffor synguler profyt of temperalte. Line 60 Ȝoure rule is groundid in charyte, As liȝt of lanterne to lede þe way. To gouerne þe puple in vnyte, God bad hem make no iour delay. Line 64

(9)

¶ Beter is litel ryȝtwys wonne, Þere-of among þe pore to dele, Þan ouer moche geten wiþ synne, Wiþouten desert take pore mennys wele, Line 68 And helpe not þe soule to hele, But crye in pyne wey-laway. Þe soules þe curatours wole apele To answere of here iour delay. Line 72

(10)

¶ Why ressayue ȝe worschipe þat ȝe haue? ffor ȝoure vertues, or for ȝoure vys? And ȝe ful worschip saue, In word and werk ȝe mot be wys. Line 76 Þis worldly wysdom is gostly nys, Whan werk acordeþ not wiþ wordis ȝe say. Heuene blys, and þis worldis delys, Þat on wil make iour delay. Line 80

(11)

¶ Thow may not knowe a cristen man Þouȝ þou here hym say his crede. Þe ten comaundementis tan, And speke, and do not þe dede, Line 84

Line 84 Ne serue god in loue and drede, Is heretyk out of fay. After ȝoure werkis, ressayue þy mede; Þerof mon be no iour delay. Line 88

(12)

¶ Thouȝ worldis richesse on þe falle, And wolde gon bytwen god and þe, Suffre not þy soule be þralle; þenk, god bouȝt it to make þe fre. Line 92 Þouȝ þy mayster a tyraunt be, ffro goddis lawe wolde say nay, Do as [thapostle] Poule bad þe: Abyde, and suffre wiþ iour delay. Line 96

(13)

¶ Man, þou wost wel þou shalt dyȝe; What deþ, ne where, þou nost whenne. And synnes wolde þy soule nyȝe, Ay more and more rerage we renne, Line 100 And sodeyn deþ nyl no man kenne. I rede we drede domesday; Be euene wiþ world er ȝe gon henne, ffor þere schal be no iour delay. Line 104

IX. With god of loue & pes, ȝe trete.

[Easter, 1410.] [Digby 102, leaf 106, back.] [24 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

This holy tyme make ȝow clene, Burnysche bryȝt ȝoure soules blake. ffro ȝow to god, let þe prest be mene. To do penaunce, and synnes forsake, Line 4 Wiþ almes dede amendes make, And repentaunce may grace gete. In goode werkis wysely wake, And wiþ god of pes, y rede ȝe trete. Line 8

Line 8

(2)

¶ Wiþ soulis briȝt in god ȝe glade As shynyng angels out of synne, In worschip of hym þat ȝow made, To knowe ȝoure seluen now bygynne. Line 12 To stryue wiþ god we may not wynne; Boþe body and soule he can bete. Ihesus is broþer of oure kynne; ffor-þy wiþ god of [pes] ȝe trete. Line 16

(3)

¶ Ofte han we treted wiþ god o trewe, And sayde no more synne we wolde; And euery ȝeere we breke it newe, Thre dayes no trewes wiþ hym nele holde; Line 20 Synne to bay many a folde On soules helle houndes slete. Er ȝe come þere, ȝonge and olde, Wiþ god of pes y rede ȝe trete. Line 24

(4)

¶ Trete while ȝe haue ȝoure hele, ffor sodeyn deþ stomblen as blynde. Þe grettere lordschipe of worldis wele, Þe more in þraldom hit doþ hem bynde. Line 28 Man, þenke þy lyf is but a wynde; When þat is blowen, þou art forȝete; Holde couenaunt to god, and be kynde. ffor-þy, wiþ god of pes ȝe trete. Line 32

(5)

¶ Ȝe mot hit shewe, wiþ herte sorwe, To a prest, and weel ȝow shryue; Noȝt turne aȝen þerto to-morwe, But þenke be good al thy lyue. Line 36 Wiþ goddis sonde looke ȝe not stryue, Ne derne mornyng counterfete. Rekne wysely all þy wittes fyue, Wiþ god of pes when ȝe do trete. Line 40

Line 40

(6)

¶ The synnes þat wolde þy soule apayre, To a prest shewe þe cas. Loke þat þou not paynte hit fayre, But shewe it forþ riȝt ful as it was. Line 44 Þat shame is mede for þy trespas; ffor synne þat wolde þy soule þrete, Aske mercy, and seche gras, Wiþ god of pes when ȝe trete. Line 48

(7)

¶ That clippen money, þey haue þe curs ffoure tymes in þe ȝere; Here waȝtes, þat þey waye þe wors, Ȝerde or elne, fer or nere; Line 52 Wheþer þey selle good chep or dere: But þey þe full mesure mete, Hit semeþ in skornyng þat it were, Wiþ god of pes whan ȝe trete. Line 56

(8)

¶ Auyse ȝow þat leden lawe, ffor drede of lordschipe or for mede Holde no pore men in awe To storble here ryȝt or lette here nede. Line 60 Hit bryngeþ þe soule in gret drede, Aȝens goddis lawe to plete. Þe rolles ariȝt y red ȝe rede, Wiþ god of pes when ȝe trete. [folio 107a] Line 64

(9)

¶ That haldeþ questes or assise, Þat takeþ or ȝeueþ fee or hire, Lette not lawe fro riȝt gyse, Ne mayntene wrongis as master and sire. Line 68 Þey may be ferd for helle fire, To ete here neyȝebores at here mete. Þat lyf shal not euere more dure; ffor-þy, wiþ god of pes ȝe trete. Line 72

Line 72

(10)

¶ Ȝe þat comeþ to goddis berd, Resceyueþ hym in clene lyf; Holde non old synnes in hord, ffor þanne begynneþ a newe stryf; Line 76 ffor he to god haþ drawen his knyf, Þat þenkeþ in skorne þere wolde hym ete. Here be war, man and wyf, Horde no synne when ȝe trete! Line 80

(11)

¶ Man, ȝif þou haue tan a fal, Ryse vp, and no more slyde; O prest, þy shrifte schewe it al, But hyde no synne in hord by syde. Line 84 In venyale synne longe to byde, Makeþ dedly synnes to growe grete. Wiþ ȝoure werkis ȝe mot chyde, Wiþ god of pes when ȝe trete. Line 88

(12)

¶ Seuene syþes on þe day, Men seyn, the riȝtwis man doþ falle. Þanne he þat falleþ in synnes alway, How shulde he rekene þo synnes alle? Line 92 But he wrot hem, grette and smalle, Summe at shrifte he schulde forȝete, He shulde þe prest þe oftere calle, Wiþ god of pes when ȝe trete. Line 96

(13)

¶ ffoure acountes þou shalt ȝelde: [nota] God made þe lyk to his ymage; How þou it wan, how þou it helde, How þou it spendid in wast outrage. Line 100 fforfete not heuene, þyn heritage; Among seyntes þy soule sete. Rekene ere þou renne in rerage, And wiþ god of pes ȝe trete. Line 104

Line 104

(14)

¶ Holy writ biddeþ god sende vengeaunce To kyngdom þat nele not holde his lawe, Wraþþe and stryf and alle greuaunce Among prynces and pore men þrawe, Line 108 Þat nele not leue goddis sawe Ne counte his gynnyng at o clete. To werkis of wysdom, by tyme ȝe drawe, And wiþ god of pes ȝe trete. Line 112

(15)

¶ Who so leued þat god were trewe, Þan wolde þey do þat god hem bede. Þat mende no mysse, but synne ay newe, Hem lakkeþ all þe poyntes of þe crede. Line 116 Serue god for helle drede Lest þy soule falle in chete; And loue god for heuene mede; Wiþ loue and drede wiþ god ȝe trete. Line 120

(16)

¶ Þouȝ þou take ordre or religeoun, Wiþ-oute charite þou seruest no mede. [folio 107b] Ȝeue drynke to þursty, þat han and mown, Cloþe þe naked, and hungry fede, Line 124 Vysite þe pore and syk þat nede, And giltles presoneres, loos ȝe lete, And burye þe dede, is charite dede; Wiþ þes werkis, wiþ god ȝe trete. Line 128

(17)

¶ Þere þou hast borwed, quyte þy dette, And to þy seruaunt þat reson is. Loke what degre god haþ þe sette; Quyte hym þy dette, þy soule is his, Line 132 And resceyue þy dette, heuene blis; Þere thar þe noþer swynke ne swete; And ordeyne þe wele, and amende þy mys. Þus wiþ god of pes ȝe trete. Line 136

Line 136

(18)

¶ Caste þe not to couetys, Ȝe þat ryȝtwys werryours be, But loke where riȝt querel lys; Chastise þe rebell in charite. Line 140 Þere god is frend, his foomen fle; Ȝe thar not counte hem at o pete. God doþ batayle, and not ȝe; fforthy, with god of pes ȝe trete. Line 144

(19)

¶ And ȝe in batayle haue maystrie, And fortune serue, and god ȝow spede, Thank god þe victorie, And holde it not ȝoure owen dede. Line 148 Serue god in loue and drede, And be not proud of ȝoure byȝete. After ȝoure werkis, wayte aftur ȝoure mede, And so wiþ god of pes ȝe trete. Line 152

(20)

¶ Ȝif a clerk haue þurgh hap Cure of soules or bischopriche, He hat not bischop, he hat a byshap; Make oþere after his werkis like. Line 156 To kepe his shep fro helle tike, In folde go, amonge hem blete; Saf and sounde brynge hem y-lyk, Bytwen god and hem to trete. Line 160

(21)

¶ Benefice of holychirche first was graunted, For prestis, holy lyf to lede; Dryue out synne, suffre non be haunted; Here non oþer to do his dede. Line 164 Þe werkman is worþy his mede In felde, in toun, and in strete. Teche vnwys, helpe hem þat nede, Byfore god for hem to trete. Line 168

Line 168

(22)

¶ In wordis þey sayn þey wil do wel, Take cure of soules as worthi clerkis, And resceyue þe charge euery del To wasche synful soules serkis. Line 172 Þey preue hemself fooles in werkis; Wiþ holy water nele no parischen wete. Caste away Antecrist merkis, Goþ wiþ god of pes to trete. Line 176

(23)

¶ Now sumwhat y haue ȝow sayd What is salue to ȝoure sore. [[MS. store]] To sauȝten wiþ god, holde ȝow payed, And arraye ȝow wel þerfore Line 180 To resceyue god, ȝoure soules store, His body in forme of bred o whete, And kepe hym: so ȝe nede no more Eft of pes wiþ hym to trete. Line 184

(24)

¶ Whan þou hast told al þy greuaunce, Þan do as þe prest þe tauȝte; Holde wel þy penaunce; Repentaunce, [folio 108a] forȝete þat nouȝt. Line 188 Whan ȝe wiþ loue god han lauȝt, Neuere fro ȝow hym ȝe lete. God brynge ȝow to his angels sauȝt, Þere neuere nys nede o pes to trete. Line 192

X. A good steryng to heuenward.

[Digby 102, leaf 108.] [15 stanzas of 14, abab, abab, cc, ddd, c.]

(1)

Many man is loþ to here Repref of vices and werkis ylle; For pride hem þenkeþ goddis pere, Þat welde þis worldis wele at wylle; Line 4 At a sarmon wil bid a frere Make it short, or ellys be stylle.

Hym þat is loþ, good to lere, He shal, wheþer he wole or nylle. Line 8 We fareþ as knaue þat takeþ his hyre byfore, Serue his mayster wel þe worse þerfore. Richesse and hele makeþ men vnkynde, Þat goddis seruyce is out of mynde; Line 12 For graceles and gostly blynde Þe flesch distroyeþ soules store.

(2)

¶ God seiþ, "Man, y made þe of nouȝt, And put the into paradys, Line 16 Of erþely þynges þat y wrouȝt, To neme þat neded to þyn eys. I lent þe fre wil and þouȝt, Warnyng of foly to be wys; Line 20 At þe tre of wysdom, foly þou souȝt, And ȝaf for an appyl þe most of prys. Þe same mouþ þat þe appyl gnewe, In þat mouþ þe holy croys grewe, Line 24 Wheron y dyed for ȝoure gylt; Þurgh þe herte and þurgh þe mylt I hadde þe poynt, and ȝe þe hylt; Ȝoure heritage y bouȝt ȝow newe. Line 28

(3)

¶ Ȝe þouȝte ȝe had not ynow Euere lastyng lyf and euere more rest; Ȝe braken my byddyng, ȝe benden a bow, Ȝe boten an appyl þat þirled my brest. Line 32 Wiþ water, for synne þe world y slow, Saue seuene, and noe þat was my gest. My loue to man it was so tow, Hit lasted forþ and nolde not brest. Line 36 For mannys loue I come fro blisse to pyne. Man was so pore, he had not to fyne. Ȝoure gyltes greued god so sare, Ȝoure gyltes on my bak y bare, Line 40 Þat god my fader nolde me not spare Tyl he had ȝeuen my lyf for þyne.

(4)

¶ My puple, where greued y ȝow or pyne? But ladde ȝow þurgh þe see so rede Line 44 With Aaron and moyses, myn owen hyne, And alle ȝoure enemys y drowned to dede, For ȝe shuld kepe lawe myne. In wildernes y made ȝoure stede, Line 48 To ȝow y planted myn owen vyne, And fourty ȝeer fed ȝow wiþ angels brede. Wiþ loue I dede ȝow my lawe to teche, Bycom a man to be ȝoure soule leche. Line 52 Wiþ a spere ȝe shed myn herte blood. Þe pore ȝe harme, and do no good. Ȝeue I chastyse, ȝe calle me wood; And but ȝe mende, y wol take wreche. Line 56

(5)

¶ Man, hast þou ouȝt in mynde, Þe pyne y suffred wiþ þe iewes felle? Ȝoure soules of derkenes to vnbynde, [folio 108b] I suffred deþ, and heryed helle. Line 60 Answere me, man! was y kynde? Miȝt y do more, canst þou me telle? A beter frend, and þou can fynde, Leue me, and go wiþ hym dwelle. Line 64 I do þe wele, why dost me woo? I am þy frend, þou art my foo. Þere y ȝeue pes, þou makest debate. Þere y loue, þou dost hate, Line 68 And stekest me wiþoute þe ȝate. My worldys goodis þou holdest me fro.

(6)

¶ Man, þou dost as a thef Þat hat holycherche gre, Line 72 Whan men wold take hem wiþ repref, Þat to chirche he wole fle. So doþ man þat is in gref Or in syknes; þan calleþ he me. Line 76

Line 76 And ȝut, man, þou art me so lef, Wiþ mercy and ruþe y bowe to þe. Ȝif y byd þe my lawe to fulfille, Þou hauntest þy synne, and wonest þeryn stille. Line 80 Þou hatest all þat loue my name. Þou wost þou seruest so gret blame: How darst þou byd me, for shame, To bowe to þe or worche þy wille? Line 84

(7)

¶ Man, þou to my lawe art knyt; Why ho[l]ddest þou werre agaynes me, My worldis goodis in hord to pyt Fro pore þat þy breþeren be? Line 88 Art þou not warned by holy writ? I made, and bouȝte hem as dere as þe. Hit is wanhope goþ byfore ȝoure wit. Þat ȝe hyde, ful bryȝt y se. Line 92 ffor þe pyne y dede for ȝow dryȝe, Ȝeue þyn herte, wiþ teres of þyn eyȝe. Repente sore for þy trespas! So lyȝtly myȝt þou come to gras, Line 96 To heuene, to þat worþy plas, To byȝe to þe, on rode gan dyȝe.

(8)

¶ Man, how darst þou my lawe preche, And telle þe articles of þe fay? Line 100 My wit word, wiþ þy mouþ teche, And in þy werkis þou seyst hit nay? Wiþ theues and wiþ spouse breche Þou delest and rennest nyȝt and day. Line 104 In pyne þou sechest þyn owen wreche. Thow temptest me to be wraþþeful ay. I mad þe wys and fayre, angels pere, Þou makest þe fool, and foul fendis fere. Line 108 Þy lyȝtnes þou spendest in harlotrye; Þy strengþe, in wraþþe and tyrauntrye; Þy fayrenesse, in pryde and lecherye. Þou settest at nouȝt, y bouȝt so dere. Line 112

Line 112

(9)

¶ To greue me, men þenke it game To breke þe lawe þat y þe bed; In despyt, forswere name, By woundis y had in handis and hed. Line 116 I do þe worschipe, þou dost me shame; I ȝaf þe lyf, þou ȝaf me ded, Mirre and galle to drynke wiþ grame. I ȝeue þe my body in fourme of bred. Line 120 Ȝe fare wiþ me, as gest his yn doþ borwe, Resceyue to-day, and put me out to [folio 109a] morwe. Agayn to synne whan ȝe go, Shamely ȝe put me ȝow fro. Line 124 And ȝe desyre I be ȝoure foo, Ȝe gete but wreche and dowble sorwe.

(10)

¶ And ȝe defoule my holy place, Þat turneþ þe chirche out of his gyse. Line 128 Holy chirche is spirytuall grace; Þe duwe dette, deuyne seruyse. Þey calle me as he þat no god was. Þat cure of soules don despise, Line 132 ffro hem y wole turne my face, And calle hem as fooles out-casten fro wyse. Þat sellen soules for temperal getyng, Þey maken skourges to here owe betyng; Line 136 Here good dayes ben wastyng, And þey, to helle hastyng To be wiþ fendis chastyng, fulfille on hem my thretyng. Line 140

(11)

¶ My swerd is fyre þat brynneþ bryȝt, Shal shede þe riȝt fro þe wrong. I brenne sheldis and swerdis in fyȝt; As whirlewynd y skatre þe fals þrong. Line 144 No kyng shal be saued by his myȝt, Ne þe geaunt, be he neuere so strong.

Þat y am god, ȝe shal knowe ryȝt; Nes non bot I, endeles long. Line 148 Ȝe may not serue two lordis to plese, ffede fatte shep in greceles lese. Þat plesen me, ȝe holde hem nys; Þat gyleþ þe world, ȝe holde hem wys. Line 152 Ȝe may not wynne, wiþ ȝoure delys, Here and in heuene boþe, ȝoure ese.

(12)

¶ In this world, to folk ful fele Goddis wordis þis myȝt be: Line 156 Man, þou serued me not in þi wele; Why shulde y knowe þi pouerte? Þou loued me not in þi hele; In syknes why shulde y rewe þe? Line 160 Fro my comaundement þou dede stele: Of hem þou serued, fong þy fee! Ȝet, o god, þe fader of blysse, Þe holy gost salueþ soule syknesse. Line 164 Þouȝ we agylte þe godhed, Mercy moueþ þe manhed, ffor loue of his breþered, Ȝeue mercy to mekenesse! Line 168

(13)

¶ Ȝif man ligge long in synne, And wilfully fleeþ fro grace, To sharpe my wreche y wole bygynne, Take vengeaunce for his trespas. Line 172 His enemys, I wole leten hem ynne, As bestes in forestes, ȝow to chas. For drede ȝe shal nowhere wynne, But fynde my wraþþe byfore here face. Line 176 I saued moyses in þe rede see, Ionas in whales wombe dayes þre; Þre children in þe fyre so rede. Dauyd slow golyas to dede. Line 180 Do ȝe þe lawe þat y hem bede, And ȝe shal haue þe same degre.

(14)

¶ Man, I can do þe erþe to shake, [folio 109b] Wiþ flood and drowtes distroye ȝoure wele. Line 184 I chastise erþe; ȝe sample take: I may sle, ȝeue lyf and hele, ffyre and thonder fro heuene make; Nes non fro my strokes may stele. Line 188 At domesday do ȝow alle quake Whan ȝoure owen werkis wole ȝow apele; Þanne knaue, beggere, pore broþelyng, May apere wiþ pape and wiþ kyng. Line 192 Þere shal non reuerence haue, Ne mercy, þouȝ þey wolde craue. Here dedis shal hem deme, or saue. Þan alle to me shal ȝelde rekenyng. Line 196

(15)

¶ Man, þe worldis good is myn; How þou it spende tak good hede. Hit is myn, and not þyn, No more þan þou hast of nede; Line 200 Not to fostre þe as a swyn, Þy foule flesche in fylþe to fede, And leue þe pore in hunger and pyn, And fynde hem noþer foode ne wede. Line 204 And pore folk on þy defaute dyȝe, Wiþ diues in pyne þou shalt lyȝe; ffor þou shuld ȝeue, god dede þe sende. Tak kep how þou it spende; Line 208 ffor þat leueþ þe byhende, Þow mon rekene, or þe abyȝe.

XI. God & man ben made atte on. [[Easter, 1412]]

[Digby 102, leaf 109, back.] (15 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.)

(1)

Glade in god, þis solempne fest, Now Alleluya is vnloken. Þenkeþ how god, lest and mest, On oure enemys haþ vs wroken, Line 4

Line 4 Þat hadde vs in cheynes stoken, Wrappid in synnes many on. Þe fendis are flowen, þe cheynes are broken, And god and man are wel at on. Line 8

(2)

¶ ffirst whan god wiþ man was wroþ, Þat Adam forfeted for his vys, Man to angels was so loþ, Þey dreuen hym out of paradys. Line 12 To amende here foly, god so wys, Wiþ fals iewes let hym slon; Here raunsom was his blod o prys; So was god and man at on. Line 16

(3)

¶ And ȝit a ferly more byfelle, Þat god dede þurgh his grete myȝt: Þe soules he loued, he fet fro helle To paradys among his angels bryȝt. Line 20 Hem þouȝte þat was a wonder syȝt, Among here frendes, brynge here foon. Al on wrong, god made riȝt: So made god angels and man at on. Line 24

(4)

¶ The þridde sawȝtenyng mowe ȝe proue. When posteles stryuen for hiȝe degre, God spak to hem a word of loue, And seyde, "pes wiþ ȝow be! Line 28 Elles ȝe may not folwe me, But ȝe will in my gates gon." So god bond man in charite, Byddis man and man be wel at on. Line 32

(5)

¶ The ferþe sawȝtenyng, god vs tauȝte, Þat best may kepe eche in state. Let body and soule to-gydre be sauȝte, Kepe god [folio 110a] wiþ-yn ȝoure ynnere ȝate. Line 36

Line 36 For who so loueþ þere god doþ hate, Is bersell to his owen flon. We ben vnkynde, wiþ god debate, ffor euere he profreþ to ben at on. Line 40

(6)

¶ The fyfte sawȝtnyng, synne refuse. Let eche man haue þat shulde ben his. On mannys syde, repentaunce doþ rise, And on goddis syde, mercy is; Line 44 Þay treteþ of pynes and of blis. Repentaunce makeþ wepyng mon. When repentaunce and mercy kys, Þan is god and man at on. Line 48

(7)

¶ Thow made not þy self; god dede þe make, Put soule of resoun in flesche so frele. God can leue, god can take, Richesse, strengþ, fayrnesse, and hele. Line 52 He is victorye in batayles fele, Can sle soule, blod, and bon. Nes non fro his strokes may stele. Glade in god, ȝe ben at on. Line 56

(8)

¶ God ȝaf erþe to mankynde, And heuene to hem þat wole be wys, Þat holden his lawe, haue hym in mynde; And helle to hem þat wole be nys. Line 60 In oure fre wille, þe choys it lys, Heuene, or helle, to haue that on. In heuene, and ȝe wole haue delys, Let body and soule be wel at on. Line 64

(9)

¶ God may say, fern ȝere, folk were fayn To resceyue me ymydde here brest; On morwe þey put me out aȝayn; In my palays þey made þe fendis nest. Line 68

Line 68 To lityl whyle y was here gest. My loue y loste, y make my mon. Let god now lengere wiþ ȝow rest, Now god and man is wel at on. Line 72

(10)

¶ Folk þat were fendis fere, Sulpid in synne derk as nyȝt, Now are þey fayre angels pere, As shynyng sune in goddis syȝt. Line 76 Ȝe haue resceyued ȝoure god of myȝt, Ayþer in oþer, ȝoure wille is on. Ȝoure hertys were heuy, þey may be liȝt; Glade in god, ȝe ben at on. Line 80

(11)

¶ Man, and ȝe holde my lawe, All þyn enemys shal þe drede; And þou stonde of me non awe, Þyn enemys outeray þe in dede. Line 84 For þere as I my frendis lede, Þey shul not sporne at stok ne ston. In all here werkis þey shal wel spede, Ȝif god and man be wel at on. Line 88

(12)

¶ Myn enemys, y shal reue here syȝt, Ȝeue syknes and drede, pouert and wo; My frendis, y ȝeue syȝt and myȝt, Richesse, strengþe ouer here foo; Line 92 Hem thar not drede, where þey go, Here wele and worschip, in euery won. Siþ ȝe be syker, kepe ȝow so. Now god and ȝe are [folio 110b] wel at on. Line 96

(13)

¶ Man, y aske no þyng of þyn. For loue, my loued in helle y souȝt. Ȝeue me þy loue, þy soule is myn; Or ȝeue it hym þat it [[MS. haþ it]] derrere bouȝt. Line 100

Line 100 Suffre pyne for þe, me nedid nouȝt, In hed, in hand, in foot, ne ton. Ȝoure gyltis y bare in herte and þouȝt, I made my fadir and ȝow at on. Line 104

(14)

¶ Sum of my kyndenes, ȝe myȝte me quyte. Do þre wordis of my comandement: My name, my pyle take not in despite; Rule wel þy selue in good atent. Line 108 Thow nost how sone be after sent, To ȝelde rekenyng of goddis lon. The rolles of rerage þe fendis han brent, ffor god and man is wel at on. Line 112

(15)

¶ And þou me loued, þou wolde me leue, And do my lawe, and holde it trewe. How myȝtest þou me more repreue Þan leue my lawe, and tak[e] newe? Line 116 Þy vyces wole make þy soule to rewe: In derkenes neuere sonne shon; Vertues shyne bryȝt of hewe. Holde goddis lawe, ȝe ben at on. Line 120

XII. God saue the kyng, and kepe the croun.

[Easter, 1413.] [Digby 102, leaf 110, back.] [19 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

Glade in god, call hom ȝoure herte, In ioye and blisse ȝoure merþe encres, And kepe goddis lawe in querte; Þes holy tyme, lete sorwe ases. Line 4 Among oure self, god sende vs pes! Þerto eche man be boun: To letten fooles of here res, Stonde wiþ þe kyng, mayntene þe croun. Line 8

Line 8

(2)

¶ What doþ a kynges crowne signyfye, Whan stones and floures on sercle is bent? Lordis, comouns, and clergye To ben all at [at is added by another hand.] on assent. Line 12 To kepe þat crowne, take good tent, In wode, in feld, in dale, and downe. Þe leste lyge-man, wiþ body and rent, He is a parcel of þe crowne. Line 16

(3)

¶ What signyfyeþ þe stones aboute? Richesse, strengþe, and gret bounte; Oure townes and castels, þe reme wiþ-oute, Þey are oure stones of gret pouste. Line 20 In pes þey kepe all þis contre, Holynes, contemplacioun. God, let hem neuer skaterid be, And saue þe kyng, and kepe þe crowne! Line 24

(4)

¶ By-ȝonde þe see, and we had nouȝt, But all oure enemys so neyȝe vs were, Þouȝ all here gold were hider brouȝt, I wolde set hit at lytel store. Line 28 Oure enemys wolde coke þerfore Wiþ ordynaunce and habergeoun, Wynne þat, and wel more: Oure landes, oure lyues, þe reme, þe crowne. Line 32

(5)

¶ Ȝif we among oure self debate, Þan endeþ floure of chyualrie. Alle oþere londis þat doþ vs hate, Oure feblenes wole aspye; Line 36 On euery syde þey [folio 111a] wole in hye, Þe stalworþe cast þe feble adoun. Ȝif þey wiþ myȝt haue maystrye, ffro þe riȝt heire wolde take þe crowne. Line 40

Line 40

(6)

¶ Ȝif sercle, and floures, and riche stones, Were eche a pece fro oþer flet; Were þe crowne broken ones, Hit were ful hard aȝen to knet. Line 44 Auyse ȝow er ȝe suffre þat fit; Amende, ȝe þat mende mown! Ȝe þat ben wysest, cast ȝoure wyt; Stonde wiþ þe kyng to kepe þe crowne. Line 48

(7)

¶ To kepe þe crowne, god graunte ȝow grace, And let it neuere be to-broken; For word of wynd lityl trespase; Non harm nys don, þouȝ word be spoken. Line 52 Let wysdom be vnloken, Apert and preuyly to rowne. For non euyll wille no man be wroken, But stonde wiþ riȝt, mayntene þe crowne. Line 56

(8)

¶ A man myȝte be forborn Fer fro a kynges place, Wolde make a kyng to be forsworn To lette þe lawe, it most not passe, Line 60 And make hym wene þat he grace, And holy in condicioun, And mayntene hym in his trespace, While he pykeþ þe stones out of þe crowne. Line 64

(9)

¶ A kyngdom must be gouerned by riȝt, To chastyse false þat ar aspyed. Falsed and trouþe to-gydre wole fiȝt, Til oon þat oþer haþ distroyd; Line 68 Til trouþe be fro treson tryed, Shal neuere be pes in regyon. In all kyngdomes þat man haþ gyed, To þe place of vertues, god geueþ þe crowne. Line 72

Line 72

(10)

¶ Thouȝ falsed trouþe defame, [veritas] Trouþe secheþ non hernes to shewe his speche; Trouþe, of his craft þenkeþ no shame; He is bold, alle folk his craft to teche; Line 76 And euere by trouþe stondes wreche, For wreche is goddis champioun. Or wreche smyte, god be leche, And saue þe kyng, and kepe þe crowne. Line 80

(11)

¶ Loke of þyng þat ȝe bygynne, Caste before how it wole ende, Gostly, bodyly, what mowe ȝe wynne. Eche man destroyȝe his best frend: Line 84 So dede Flaundres; how dede it wende? Of noblay þey han lore þe sown; Pray we god his bowe of wraþþe vnbende, And saue þe kyng, and kepe þe crowne. Line 88

(12)

¶ God ȝeueþ his doom to alle kynges þat be; As a god, in erþe a kyng haþ myȝt. Holy writ byd, blissed be he In alle tymes þat demeþ ryȝt. Line 92 Men do in derk, god seeþ in lyȝt. Synne, morþere, derne tresoun, Not may be hyd fro goddis syȝt. To ryȝtwys Iuge, god ȝeueþ þe crowne. Line 96

(13)

¶ That [folio 111b] lord loueþ lityl hym selue, Þat ȝeueþ his blisse for sorwe and woo, For þe loue of ten or twelue, Make alle folk his foo, Line 100 And lese þe loue of god also, For fawte of perfeccyone. Þouȝ he had no vauntage but of þo, He myȝte were a symple crowne. Line 104

Line 104

(14)

¶ Eche a kyng haþ goddis power, Of lyf and leme to saue and spille. He muste make god his partener, And do not his owen wille. Line 108 For god resceyueþ eche pore mannys bille, And of here playnt, god hereþ þe sowne. Sette ȝoure in euene skille, Counseile þe kyng to kepe þe crowne. Line 112

(15)

¶ The fadir, þe wanton child wole kenne, Chastyse wiþ ȝerde, and bete hit sore. So after, þe fadyr þe ȝerde wole brenne, When child is wys, and takeþ to lore. Line 116 We han ben goddis ȝerde ȝore, Chastysed kyngdom, castell, and towne. Twyggis of oure ȝerde we haue forlore. God saue þe kyng, and kepe þe crowne! Line 120

(16)

¶ Englische men dede maystryȝes make; Þurgh all þe world, here word it sprong. Cristen and heþen þey mad to quake, Tok and slowen kynges strong. Line 124 God let neuere werre be vs among, To lese þat blo of gret renowne, Ne neuere oure riȝt be turned to wrong. God saue þe kyng, and kepe þe crowne! Line 128

(17)

¶ Among oure self, ȝif fiȝt be raysed, Þan stroye we oure awen nest. Þat haþ victor, wole be euel payed, So many good men ben lest. Line 132 Ȝit is beter bowe þan brest. [[MS. berst]] Eche man is bounden to resoun. Ȝe þat ben wysest, take þe best; Conseile þe kyng, mayntene þe crowne! Line 136

Line 136

(18)

¶ A comons myȝt sone be shent, Wiþ-outen kyng or gouernour, And a kyng wiþoute rent Myȝt liȝtly trussen his tresour, Line 140 For comons mayntene lordis honour, Holy chirche, and religyoun, For comouns is þe fayrest flour Þat euere god sette on erþely crown. Line 144

(19)

¶ God, lete þis kyngdom neuere be lorn Among oure self, in no distance! Oþer kyngdomes lauȝhe vs not to skorn, And sey, for synne god send vengeance. Line 148 God, ȝeue vs space of repe[n]tance, Good lyf, and deuocioun; And god, kepe in þy gouernance Oure comely kyng, and saue þe crowne! Line 152

XIII. Dede is worchyng.

[A.D. 1414. In 2 Parts.] [Digby 102, leaf 111, back.] [21 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(Part I. 1)

Whanne alle a kyngdom gadrid ysse In goddis lawe, by on assent, For to amende þat was mysse, Þerfore is ordayned a parlement. [folio 112a] Line 4 Trouþe wiþ glad chere þeder went, And falsed stondis ay in drede For ferd of ryȝtwis iugement, ffor to be demed after his dede. Line 8

(2)

¶ In doom of parlement ofte is fauour, Þat afterward it harmeþ grete; Make oþere bold take þerof sauour To mayntene falsed for beȝete. Line 12

Line 12 Slouþe vn-tyme eft mon swete When it is hot, and gloweþ as glede. Stonde wiþ trouþe, and smyte an hete, Þat god þonke ȝow for ȝoure dede. Line 16

(3)

¶ Lawe ȝeueþ kyng lyf and leme; To hasty slauȝt, and sodeyn fed, Lawe ȝeueþ no grace to heme; Morþere, ne treson, ne forcast ded, Line 20 To ȝeue þere mercy, god forbed; Þat fauour myȝt destroye a þede. God in his lawe ȝaf moyses red, Wiþ-oute he dampneþ þe dede. Line 24

(4)

¶ In alle kyngdomes, here lawe is wryten; For mede ne drede, þey chaunge it nouȝt. In Engeland, as all men wyten, Lawe, as best, is solde and bouȝt. Line 28 Eche ȝeer newe lawe is wrouȝt, And cloþe falsed in trouþe wede. Fern ȝer was lawe; now nes it nouȝt. We ben newe fangyl, vnstable in dede. Line 32

(5)

¶ To stonde wiþ comons in here ryȝt, Is hyȝest poynt of charite. To quyte þat dede, no man myȝt, Saue onely god in trynyte. Line 36 Þouȝ þe comons vnkonnyng be, God ȝeueþ ȝow neuere þe lasse mede. Þat mede askeþ so heyȝ degre, Nes non bot god may quyte þat dede. Line 40

(6)

¶ Ȝet o wysdom mot ȝe lere, Most profyt, and heyest honour; Ȝoure tenauntes playntes ȝe mot here, ffor þey kepen all ȝoure tresour. Line 44

Line 44 Ȝe are holden to ben here socour. Non wiþ wrong oþer mysbede: For-þy god made ȝow gouernour, In goddis ryȝt to deme þe dede. Line 48

(7)

¶ Lordis þat han castels and toures, Alle folk stonden of ȝow awe. Þe puple is goddis, and noȝt ȝoures. Þey paye ȝoure rente, to gouerne lawe. Line 52 Let no man here ryȝt wiþdrawe, Body ne catell hem mysbede. Who doþ so, god sayþ in sawe, He shal haue heuene for þat dede. Line 56

(8)

¶ Þe lord þat wole haue good loos, Stonde fast in trouþe, waxe not faynt. Let trouþe gon out of cloos, Þat alle folk may here his playnt. Line 60 Let treson be shamely ataynt, Graunte hem no mercy, ne take no mede; For mede wiþ poyson sotyly is maynt; Mercy myȝt cherische hem in here dede. Line 64

(9)

¶ Ȝif a man wolde þe ouertylt, Caste þy deþ for to kille, Let not a-noþer byȝe his gylt, Þat [folio 112b] neuere in dede dede þe ylle. Line 68 Dampne no man for non euyl wille To do þe gylteles blod to blede. Sette ȝoure domes in euene skille; In drede of god, ȝe deme ȝoure dede. Line 72

(10)

¶ Who skorneþ hem þat telleþ hem wit, Is rebell to god, þat repreueþ reson; Þat loueþ hym most, þat hateþ hit, Aȝenst goddis counseill cast a-cheson; Line 76

Line 76 To worschipe hym þere wit is geson; For fawte of grace, vertue ben gyde. To chastyse fooles is ay in seson, To worschip or shame, after þe dede. Line 80

(11)

¶ Syngulerte is sotyle þefte. Þey calle hit custom, trouþe to blende. Whan trouþe wole reherce þat efte, Þan god wil vengeance wiþ trouþe sende, Line 84 Shamely falsed to shende, Drede and stryf among hem shede. To preue who is goddis frend, Comons be witnesse of here dede. Line 88

(12)

¶ Putte fro court, þat chericheþ vys, Þat place of vertues wolde shende. Nedeles delys, and nedeles gys, Þe wastours out of worschip spende. Line 92 Wiþ wit and vysement all amende. Lete werk be witnes ȝe can ȝoure Crede. Wiþ corage and hardynes ȝoure reme defende, In goddis querell ȝe do ȝoure dede. Line 96

(13)

¶ A trewe man reccheþ neuere a dell Þouȝ all þe world his werkis aspyȝed; And falsed, for he doþ not well, He wolde trouþes tonge were tyȝed, Line 100 For he shulde not telle who hym nyȝed. Þerfore þe fals þe false fede, Til trouþe in preson be faste alyȝede, And dampne trouþe for falsed dede. Line 104

(Part II. 14)

¶ Whanne ȝe han made pes wiþ-ynne, All ȝoure reme in vnyte, Vttere-more ȝe mot bygynne; Strengþe ȝoure marche, and kepe þe see. Line 108

Line 108 Ofte haue ȝe made ȝoure fomen fle, Here hatest blod o brod to sprede. God doþ batayle, and not ȝe; Þouȝ ȝe fauȝt, god doþ þe dede. Line 112

(Part II. 15)

¶ To ffraunce, kyng Edward had queryle, Hit was his kynde heritage; And ȝe han þe same style, Wiþ armes of þe selue parage; Line 116 And ȝit ȝoure querell dede neuere aswage; Þat god haþ shewed in ȝoure manhede: On see, on land, in eche vyage, In dent of swerd, god demed ȝoure dede. Line 120

(Part II. 16)

¶ Stuffe ȝoure castels in eche coost, Warnestor and folk þeder sende; So mow ȝe abate ȝoure enemys bost, But not in trete, in wast to spende. Line 124 Wheþer ȝe assayle or defende, On see or land, god ȝow spede! Wiþ word of wynd, mad neuere [folio 113a] werre ende, But dent of swerd endid þe dede. Line 128

(Part II. 17)

¶ And ȝe þenke werre to holde, Do after hem [þat] is most wys. Corage of ȝong, and wit of olde, Can telle where þe vauntage lys, Line 132 In dede of armes wonnen prys. Whan gloser and flaterer on tapetis trede, For wynnyng þey counseled to cowardys. Man wan neuere worschip by here dede. Line 136

(Part II. 18)

¶ Als ofte as ȝe trete, Ȝoure enemys, ordynaunce þey diȝt. While ȝe trete, ay þey gete. Ȝe trete ȝoure self out of ȝoure riȝt; Line 140 Þere lakkeþ conscience of knyȝt. Lete falsed growe tyl he sede.

Ordre of knyȝt was mad to fyȝt, [nota Milicia &c.] In goddis riȝt, to ende þe dede. Line 144

(Part II. 19)

¶ Ordre of knyȝt hardest is On see, on lond, on sholde, and depe; He passeþ relegous ywis, Þouȝ þey preye and faste wepe. Line 148 Ofte wiþ ful wombe relegous slepe, Whan knyȝtes han hunger, and moche in drede. Þe beter in clene lyf þey auȝt hem kepe, As goddis knyȝt to don here dede. Line 152

(Part II. 20)

¶ On of two, ȝe mot chese: On lond or see or shippes bord, Wiþ fiȝt ȝe wynne, wiþ trete ȝe lese. Ȝoure enemys han þat eure in hord, Line 156 Þat þey wynne wiþ word Ȝoure townes and castels in lengþe and brede; And þat ȝe wynne, ȝe wynne wiþ sword. Þerfore wiþ swerd do ȝoure dede. Line 160

(Part II. 21)

¶ God ȝeue ȝow grace þis reme to ȝeme, To cherische þe goode, and chastyse þe nys. And also serue god to queme, Þat ȝoure werkis preue ȝow wys. Line 164 And in ȝow þe helpe it lys, Þe puple in goddis lawe to hede. Do so now, ȝe wynne ȝow prys And heuene blisse for ȝoure dede. Amen! [Amen is struck through in red ink; but whether it is meant to be erased or not, is doubtful.] Line 168

XIV. Man, be warre er the be woo. [[Early in 1418.]]

[Digby 102, leaf 113.] [14 stanzas of 8, abab, bcbc.]

(1)

The herrere degre, þe more wys; Þe gretter worschip, þe noblere fame;

Þe herrere degre, þe more nys; Þe gretter foly, þe more blame. Line 4 After foly, folweþ þe shame; Repreued of frendis, and scorned of fo, After þy dede, ressayue þy name. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 8

(2)

¶ Ȝif þou be kyngis chaunceller, Kepe þe crowne hool in stat; Ȝif þou be kyngis counselere, Loke no stones þerof abate. Line 12 Ȝif oþer wolde make þe kyng þe hate, Or falsed ouer trouþe go, Tak þy leue, and kisse þe ȝate. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 16

(3)

¶ On a mowntayne, a sete may not be hyd, Ne lordis werkis in no degre. A lordis werkis, wiþ comouns is kyd, Þat he doþ most in preuete. Line 20 Gouernour of kyngdom or Cyte, After þey lyue, men deme so. For eche a werk, god [folio 113b] ȝeueþ a fe. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 24

(4)

¶ A symple prest wole synge his masse While his lyuyng is but smal. As summe encrese, serue god þe lasse, Wiþ benefices, ten myȝte lyue wiþ-al, Line 28 And fynde þere noþer houshold ne halle, Ne serue þe parische, but take hem fro. Er god suche rekenyng calle, Be tyme be war, er þey be wo. Line 32

(5)

¶ Man, do resoun þouȝ þou be riche, Ouer cite or town hast gouernaunce. Loue al crafty folk yliche, Mayntene no party in distaunce. Line 36

Line 36 Sette mendis for trespas in euene balaunce; For a penyworth of harm, tak not two. Rule wel mesure and sustenaunce. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 40

(6)

¶ Þe wyseman his sone forbed [nota] Masouncraft and all clymbyng, And shipman craft, for perile of dede, And preuey in counseil be neyȝ no kyng. Line 44 For his mys-rulyng þou myȝt hyng, Þat shep myȝte grese vnder þy to. To fliȝe to hyȝe, treste not þy wyng. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 48

(7)

¶ Þouȝ þy kyng be fre to ȝyue, Be þou not gredy to craue, Make oþere folk þe worse to lyue, For synguler profyt þou wolde haue. Line 52 Er drede and répref þy berd shaue, Asese of Couetys, and say hoo. The man þat wole his worship saue, Be tyme be war, er him be woo. Line 56

(8)

¶ For to amende þat was mys, Þerfore is ordeyned eche Iustice. Lat eche man haue þat shulde ben his, And turne not lawe for couetyse. Line 60 Ne contryue tresons þere trouþ lys, In tyrauntrie to robbe and slo. Er ȝoure werkis preue ȝow nys, Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 64

(9)

¶ Ȝif ȝe wole haue pes of ȝong and old, Let eche man haue þat is ryȝt. Let comon lawe his cours hold, Euene mesure, mett, and wyȝt. Line 68

Line 68 Man, þouȝ þou be moche of myȝt, Mende fawtes er þou make mo. For þat ȝe hid, god seeþ in syȝt. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 72

(10)

¶ Eche lord knoweþ his astate, Lyue on þat god hym lent. Þat borweþ moche, he geteþ hate. Spende waste, passyng his rent, Line 76 For suche a kyngdom haþ ben shent. Stryf wiþ comons, threp, and thro, To brynge þat in amendement, Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 80

(11)

¶ Whanne holichirche suffreþ symonye, And is [folio 114a] wiþ hym enchaunted, And lawe of land suffreþ vsurye, Vnkyndely synne, and shameles haunted, Line 84 And vicious folk auaunsed and dawnted, And vertues flemed fro eche a wro: In þat kyngdom, god haþ vengeaunce graunted. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 88

(12)

¶ In a kyngdom, what makeþ stryf, No man standes of oþer awe? Vnkyndely synne, and tyrauntes lyf; Vsurye, symonye, and letter of lawe, Line 92 And holy chirche rebell to goddis sawe. To kepe his comaundement, þey say no. Fro þat kyngdom, god his loue wil drawe. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 96

(13)

¶ Ȝif eny folk forgeþ gyles, Wiþ falsed þy deþ to cast, Pulle vp þe stakes, and breke þe styles; Lete hem no more styke so faste. Line 100

Line 100 And whan ȝe be þe perile paste, Kepe ȝow wel fro deþes flo, Fro costage, and be no more agaste. Eche man be war, er hym be wo. Line 104

(14)

¶ Þe flesch haþ many frele frendis, Richesse, strengþe, fayrenesse, and hele; Whan it is mysvsed, þe soule it schendis. Richesse, rauenere of worldis wele, Line 108 Take fro þe nedy, to þe nedeles dele, And wylde recheles as a roo. Er ȝoure synnes ȝoure soules apele, Eche man be war, er hym be woo. Line 112

XV. The descryuyng of mannes membres.

[Digby 102, leaf 114.] [19 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

Where-of is mad al mankynde? Of seuene þynges, and it be souȝt: Erþe and water, fyre and wynde, Þerof is þe body wrouȝt; Line 4 Þe soule of þre, þat haþ þe mynde, Of lyf, felyng, and of þouȝt. Þe soule fro þe body vnbende, Whan on of þese lakkeþ ouȝt. Line 8

(2)

¶ The heued, y likne to a kyng, For he is lord souereyn of al, Haþ foure to his gouernyng: Mouþ and nose, and eyen wiþ-al, Line 12 Eryn fayre to his heryng, To serue þe brayn is pryncypal Chef of counseil ymagenyng, To caste before, er after fal. Line 16

Line 16

(3)

¶ I lykne þe nekke, moche of myȝt, Þat body and heued to-gydre knyt, To a Iustice þat demeþ ryȝt; For, þurgh it, comeþ all wordis of wyt. Line 20 ȝif a man take ordre of knyȝt, Þe coler in þe nekke het; And feloun forfete in þefte or fyȝt, Þe iugement in þe nekke set. Line 24

(4)

¶ Now I lykne mannys brest, To presthod in good degre, Most in perile, lest in rest For besynesse in spiritualte; Line 28 In penaunce and in preyer prest; Meke of spirit in pouerte Holde hospytal to goddis gest, [folio 114b] And fede þe pore in charyte. Line 32

(5)

¶ Þe shuldres and þe bakebon, I likne to lordis of þe lond; Þe armes, to knyȝtes, to fende fro fon; Þe squyers, I likne to þe hondes; Line 36 Þe fyngres, to ȝemen þat byfore gon Wiþ bent bowes and bryȝt brondes. While all þys lymes arn wel at on, Þe body, in good plyt it stondes. Line 40

(6)

¶ Mannys rybbes, y likne now— Flesch and skyn in body hydes,— To men of lawe is to alow, Þat kepes in loue boþe sydes. Line 44 Rybbes, to resoun þouȝ þey bow, So lawe doþ: ofte in fauour bydes, Tyl ground be souȝt þere lawe doþ grow, Ende in charite, þat no man chydes. Line 48

Line 48

(7)

¶ I likne þe thies, flesch and bon, Þat beren þe body quantite, To marchaundes, in perile ride and gon, Bryngen wynnyng, gold, and fee, Line 52 Make hiȝe houses of lym and ston, Mayntene burgh, toun, and cyte, Welþe and worschip in here won, And good houshold of gret plente. Line 56

(8)

¶ Mannys leggis, likne y may To all craftes þat worche wiþ handes, For al þe body beren þay, As a tre þat bereþ wandes. Line 60 Þe feet, to lykne, y wole assay, To alle trewe tylyers of landes, Þe plough, and all þat dygge in clay; Alle þe world on hem standes. Line 64

(9)

¶ The toes of þe mennys feet, Þo y likne to trewe hyne Þat trauayle boþe in drye and weet, In þurst, in hungere, and in pyne, Line 68 In het, in cold, in snow and slet, Many hiȝe none, er þey dyne, And wiþ good mete selde met; But after howsel þey drynke no wyn. Line 72

(10)

¶ Toes helpeþ man fro fal to ryse. He may not stonde, þat haþ no toon, Lepe ne renne, ne ryde in syse, Wrastle ne fyȝte, ne put þe ston. Line 76 Ȝif seruant þe maystere refuse, Þe seruant lyuyng sone were gon. And maystres, þouȝ þey ben wyse, Wiþ-out seruant lyue not alon. Line 80

Line 80

(11)

¶ I likne þe wombe, and þat wiþ-ynne, To botemeles purs, þat moche doþ take; To couetous, no wyket pynne; To glotoun, þe garner wyd open make. Line 84 Þe wombe preyed þe mouþ to blynne: "Þou etest and drynkest, þat y ake." "To slepe," quod þe eyȝe, "we may not wynne Þe wrecched wombe so doþ vs wake." Line 88

(12)

¶ "We dulle of heryng," quod þe ere. "We dase for dronken," quod þe eyȝe: "I wende but o mone þere were, And me þouȝte two y seyȝe." Line 92 Quod þe handis, "fro mouþ may we not vs were." Quod [folio 115a] þe mouþ, "y drank while y myȝte drye." "Allas," quod þe feet, "all we bere, And ȝoure bargayn dere abye." Line 96

(13)

¶ The handes and feet, þe mouþ gan preye, "Let vs thre dayes reste, Wiþ alle þyn oþere lymes pleye, Wiþ felaschip, frend, and geste." Line 100 Þe mouþ, in anger he dede saye, "Þes þre dayes do ȝour best. Al þat tyme, nyȝt ne daye, No mete ne drynk come in my brest." Line 104

(14)

¶ Thre dayes the mouþ dede faste, Tyl wombe calde þe mouþ vnkynde. "Vnkynde [[?for Vnbynde]] thyn handes, are þey faste? Stere, and lete þe mylle grynde." Line 108 Quod þe eren, "oure heryng is at þe laste." Quod eyen, "we dase, and waxe blynd." Quod handes and feet, "oure strengþe is paste," Quod brayn and herte, "vs wantes mynde." Line 112

Line 112

(15)

¶ Quod þe mouþe, "ȝe playne whyle y ete; And while y faste, ȝe make gret doel." Quod hondes and feet, "also we gete Þat þou spendest eche a deel. Line 116 We may play, swynke, and swete, While mouþe in mesure makeþ his mele. For mesure kepeþ kynde hete, And al þat tyme we fare wele." Line 120

(16)

¶ I likne a kyngdom in good astate, [Nota bene] To stalworþe man, myȝty in hele. While non of his lymes oþer hate, He is myȝty, wiþ a-noþer to dele. Line 124 Ȝif eche of his lymes wiþ oþer debate, He waxeþ syk, for flesch is frele. His enemys wayte erly and late, In his feblenesse, on hym to stele. Line 128

(17)

¶ And hed were fro þe body stad, Noþer partye were set at nouȝt, And body wiþoute armes sprad. Were armes wiþ-oute handis ouȝt? Line 132 Ne handis, but þey fyngres had? Wiþoute fingere, what were wrouȝt? Þes lymes makeþ hed ful glad, And al þe body, and it be souȝt. Line 136

(18)

¶ Ȝif a man hurte þy fynger or too, But þou make deffens o ferre, Leg or arm may take þe fro; To body or hed, auntre hym herre. Line 140 Ensample to kyngdom, y set this so: And oure frendis be distroyed by werre, Þan kepe þe wisely fro þy foo; For wiþ all his myȝt he wole come nerre. Line 144

Line 144

(19)

¶ God saue þis man is so deuysed, Hed and body, all lymes in kynde. But þere as vertues ben despysed, To preye to god, þey waste here wynde. Line 148 God leue þat synne may be refused, And of dedly synnes vs vnbynde, And eche stat in his kynde be vsed. God, of his mercy, haue vs in mynde! Amen! Line 152

XVI. A remembraunce of LIJ folyes. [I printed this, from my copy of the MS., in Englisch Studien 1897, in forgetfulness of Dr. Kail.—F. J. F.] [[A.D. 1419]]

[Digby 102, leaf 115.] [9 stanzas of 14, abab, abab, cc ddd c.]

(1)

Loke how Flaundres doþ fare wiþ his folyhede! Durste no man dygge after trouþe wiþ no manere toles. To wynne [folio 115b] wrongly wele, wod þey gan wede, But werkis of wys men were cast vnder stoles. Line 4 Glosers counseled lordis for to take mede, To maken hem riche, and here lordis pore foles. Whan þe souereyns were set, here sogettis to drede, Þe glosers skulked away, for shame of here sooles. Line 8 Falsed shal neuere ben ateynt Til Iuge here eche mannys pleynt. Redresse, and make an ende, Or ellys to mercy bende; Line 12 Make hem kyssen and be frende, Þat were fon feynt.

(2)

¶ Fyfty folyes ben, and two; Alle þo y wole mynne among. Line 16 To triste in trete to his fo Þat haþ begyled hem ofte and long, And hate hem þat telle hym so, And wilfully wolle suffre wrong: Line 20

Line 20 It is worthy he smerte and be wo, Þat of his owen skyn wole kerue a thong. Þat chepen moche, and not han to paye, And wiþ his lord to homly wole playe, Line 24 Swere moche, and not be trowed; Boste moche, and not allowed; Threte alle men, and neuere on bowed: All are folyes, þat y say. Line 28

(3)

¶ He is a fool, þat werre wole wake, Þat may not maynten it wiþ mede, And so moche vndertake, Þat wot wel he may not spede, Line 32 And of his neyȝebour his enemy make For a straunge mannys dede; And he þat mesure wole forsake, And nedles put hym-self in drede; Line 36 Of mannys deþ haue no rouþe, But hate hem þat tellen hym trouþe, Loue hym þat cherische hym in synne, And suche games bygynne Line 40 Where þat he wot he may not wynne, But besyen hym in slouþe.

(4)

¶ He is a fool, þat no good can, Ne non wole lere, but slow in dede. Line 44 A gret fool, y holde þat man Þat of his enemys haþ no drede. Þurgh suche foly, Flaundres be-gan; Of after perile þey tok non hede. Line 48 Hit is worthy, he ete bred of bran, Þat wiþ floure his foo wil fede. And truste al in gloser charmes, In hyndryng in worschip of armes, Line 52 And lette lawe it mot not syt, And conscience away flyt, May brynge a lord, er þat he wyt, Emyddis grete harmes. Line 56

Line 56

(5)

¶ Flaundres was þe richest land, and meriest to mynne; Now is it wrappid in wo, and moche welþe raft. For defaute of Iustice, and singulere to wynne, Þey were rebell, to ryse craft aȝen craft. Line 60 Here lord had part of þe foly þey were wounden ynne; For-thy he les his lordshipe, and here fraunchise raft. Here enemys lawhen hem to skorne, and seyn, 'for synne, Of here banere of grace, god broken haþ þe shaft.' Line 64 When prelat is forbode to preche, [folio 116a] No trewe man trouþe dar teche, Encresyng of temperalte Suspende spiritualte: Line 68 What land is gouerned in þat degre, May wayte after wreche.

(6)

¶ I holde hym a fool, þouȝ he be wys, Þat spekeþ among men of name Line 72 Þat at his wysdom set no prys, But skorne hym, and don blame; And he þat telleþ where peryle lys, And gete no þonk, but harm and shame; Line 76 And he þat pleyneþ, y holde hym nys, Þat get no mendys, but dowble grame. By þese poyntes fflaundres was lest; Now is it out of rule and of rest. Line 80 Drede is here chef gayte. So eche man on hem bayte, Þat ȝet þey honge in awayte Of a newe conquest. Line 84

(7)

¶ He þat myȝt thryue, and nel not thee, Ne his owen harmes knawe, Apert ne in preuytee Serue god for loue ne awe, Line 88 Ne gouerne wel his owen degre, Ne rule hymself in ryȝtwys lawe: Whan wyse men fro hym fle, Þen god his grace wole fro hem drawe. Line 92

Line 92 Þat moche wynneþ, and no thyng wole haue, But ȝeue it awey, to nedeles þat craue, Aȝens conscience despit Borwe moche, and neuere quyt: Line 96 When god for þat gylt smyt, What glosere can þat wounde saue?

(8)

¶ Þat freek may wel be holden a fool, Þat wayueþ wit, and worcheþ by wille, Line 100 And skippe into sclaundre scol, And scorne hym þat telleþ hym skylle; And lyue in Lenton as in ȝool, His flesch in foly to fulfille. Line 104 Þouȝ þe dotard deye in dool, Þe ryȝtwys nel not rewe his ylle. Who so wil not knowe his awen astat, Ne deliuere chekkys, er þat he be mat, Line 108 He shal haue worldis wondryng, And his soule hyndryng, And ay in paynes pondryng; To mende þanne, is to late. Line 112

(9)

¶ Of all folk vppon fold, y fynde but foure trewe, Þat don here deuere dewely, and take no mede: Syknes is oon, and sorw doþ sewe, Þe thridde hat 'deþ,' and þe fierþe 'drede.' Line 116 Þey clayme vs by custom, for þey oure kyn knewe, [Nota] And endid wiþ oure aunsetres tyl þey to erþe ȝede. Þey spare prynce ne pore, old ne newe, For þey crepe in-to his cors, and cloþe hem in his wede. Drede bryngeþ man to buxomnes; Line 121 Sorwe of herte makeþ synnes les; Syknes, breþe stekenyng, And bowe to a bekenyng, Line 124 And bryngeþ hem to rekenyng, Tyl deþ all redresse.

XVII. Loue that god loueth.

[Digby 102, leaf 116.] [25 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

That ilke man wole lerne wel To loue god wiþ al his myȝt, Þat loue in his herte fele. Þere god doþ loue, loue þou ryȝt; Line 4 There god doþ hate euerydele, Hate it boþe day and nyȝt, Ȝeue hym [folio 116b] noþer mete ne mele, But flyt hym fere out of ȝoure syȝt. Line 8

(2)

¶ Many gret[e] causes is, To loue god, why men ouȝte. He shop vs lyk ymage his, And wiþ his deþ, fro pyne vs bouȝt, Line 12 And ȝut, þouȝ we don ofte amys, For eche a gylt he beteþ vs nouȝt; And we þenke to amende, he profreþ to kys. Man, of loue he haþ besouȝt. Line 16

(3)

¶ Ȝif a lord ȝeue fee or rent For to do a gret office, To serue hym wel is þyn atent, For thy profyt, but not for his, Line 20 For he fyndeþ þe þy vaunsement; Þy loue vppon þe profyt lys. Suche worldly louers are gostly blent; Suche loue to god is cold as yse. Line 24

(4)

¶ Ȝif þou serue god for helle drede, Or loue god for his blisse, Þat loue is worth no parfyt mede: Þou [sechest] thy profyt, and not hisse. Line 28

Line 28 To pyne ne blis, take non hede, But loue god, for good he is. Suche loue to god, his erande doþ spede, [Nota de amore dei &c.] And pleseþ best to god y-wys. Line 32

(5)

¶ Fleschly man may do wele Þe seuene werkes of mercy þat god bed: Ȝeue pore folk mete and mele, Herberwe, drynk, cloþe, and fed, Line 36 For syngulere profyt, eche a dele, For drede of pyne, and couetys of mede. Loue god ouer all, for good he is; To pyne ne blisse, take non hede. Line 40

(6)

¶ Ȝif þou sette loue in þat degre, To loue god, for he þe wrouȝt, Þan make þou hym as he dede þe, Þan loue for loue, euene is brouȝt. Line 44 ȝif þou loue god, for he made þe fre, Þat dyȝed for the, to blisse þe bouȝt, Þan dyȝe þou for hym, as he dyȝed for þe; Ȝut heuene blisse, þou quytest hym nouȝt. Line 48

(7)

¶ Ȝit o thyng þere is byhende, Man, þat god askeþ of the: "Alle worldys delys, fro þyn herte wende, Wiþ alle þyn herte, loue þou me. Line 52 Þy swete þouȝtes [þou] me sende; For worldis goodis, myn are he. Loue me gostly, þat am þy frende, Þanne al euyl shal fro þe fle. Line 56

(8)

¶ Þat loue me gostly, y can assay, For gostly loue in herte y souȝt. Do worldly thyng fro þyn herte away, And haue me principal in þy þouȝt. Line 60

Line 60 Be lord, and haue richesse, þou may; Worldis richesse, for man was wrouȝt. Gostly loue, þat is my pray; [nota] But worldly goodis, in heuene comeþ nouȝt. Line 64

(9)

¶ For gold and syluer, and precyous stones, Swetnes of floures, erþely bewte, Þe shrynes wiþ all seyntes bones, In heuene were foul felþe to se. Line 68 Tyl body and soule aȝen arn ones Mad parfyt in claryte, Saue god hym self, in heuene wones, Þe principal, mankynde shal be." Line 72

(10)

¶ 'God! how may y, man, bygynne Wiþ myn herte to loue þe?' "Repente, and wylne no more synne, So mowe we [MS. ȝe] [folio 117a] frendis be, Line 76 Good soule, sybbe to my kynne; For y made it lik to me. Mankynde y tok, a mayden wiþ-ynne, So, gostly and bodyly, breþeren be we. [MS. wet] Line 80

(11)

¶ Who loueþ god, he wil bygynne For to folwe goddis lore; Loke where he dede wrongly wynne, Make amendis, aȝen restore. Line 84 Ȝoure loue, fro me ȝe parten o twynne For worldis worship, ryches in store, Heuene ȝates ȝe steken and pynne; Þat ye shulde saue, ȝe haue forlore. Line 88

(12)

¶ To gete loue þus bygynne: Wiþ clene herte, and swete þouȝt, Wiþ trewe tong, not falsely wynne, Ne stele, ne flatre, ne lyȝe nouȝt. Line 92

Line 92 Do ryȝtwys dede, out and ynne, Loke þy werkys be euene wrouȝt; Do almes and penaunce, and leue þy synne: Wiþ þese þre loue is bouȝt." Line 96

(13)

¶ God spekeþ to man, and lerneþ lore, Þe comaundementis and þe Crede. "Ȝeue me þy loue, y aske no more, Wiþ al þy herte, in loue and drede. Line 100 And þou nylt ȝeue it me, warne me byfore; Sette pris to selle it; loue and bede, I wole ȝeue the myself þerfore. Where myȝtest þou haue a beter mede? Line 104

(14)

¶ And þou nelt ȝeue ne selle it me, Aȝens me þou wilt debate, Þan wil y gon away fro þe, And ȝelde to þe hate for hate. Line 108 My face wiþ loue shalt þou not se, But steke þe wiþoute heuene ȝate, Fro alle vertues and charyte, Wiþ helle houndes, in endeles date. Line 112

(15)

¶ Haue y þy loue, so may þou quyte I mad þe lik ymage to me; And ȝif þe þenke þat was to lyte, Þanne þenk, y dyed on rode tre. Line 116 Þouȝ þou trespas, y do not smyte, But byd ȝif þou wilt mendid be. And þou be lost, whom wiltow wyte? Is it long on me or þe? Line 120

(16)

¶ Discrecioun of ȝong and old Of alle þynge nouȝt ouȝte. Of alle þat may be bouȝt and sold, Loue for loue is euenest bouȝte. Line 124

Line 124 Whan worldis loue doþ fayle and folde, Goddis loue fayleþ nouȝt. Trewe loue makeþ men be bolde; Wiþ loue, felawship to-gydre is brouȝt. Line 128

(17)

¶ ffor loue, god com fro heuene toure, In mayden Mary tok mankynde. ffor oure swete, he drank ful soure. Where myȝt we trewere loue fynde? Line 132 His loue passeþ worldis tresoure, Ȝaf syȝt in helle to gostly blynde. And we wole knytte his loue to oure, ffor soþe, þat knot shal neuere vnbynde. Line 136

(18)

¶ "Haue y þy loue, so may þou gete Þat loue wole þy soule saue, Among myn angels haue a sete, In ioye of heuene, as seyntes haue. Line 140 Ȝif þou nelt [folio 117b] y wol þe þrete, In helle pyne be fendis knaue. Wiþ þy conscience þou trete, Wheþer is þe leuere for to haue. Line 144

(19)

¶ And þou madde in þy mood, To werne me þe loue þou has, I wole caste on þe myn herte blod, To bere witnesse þou forfetest gras, Line 148 And my vengeance, þat is so wood, Wiþ helle houndis in fyre þe chas. Þou hast fre wille, knowest euyll and good: Chese where wyltow take þy plas. Line 152

(20)

¶ And þou of þy loue daungere make, What may thy loue profyte me? And þouȝ þou woldest me forsake, Out of my lordschipe þou myȝt not fle. Line 156

Line 156 Angels bryȝt, and deueles blake, In helle and heuene, my lordschipes be. Þere be no mo wayes to take; Is loue or hate more profyt to þe? Line 160

(21)

¶ Ȝif þy loue to þy flesch doþ bende, To greue me þou dost bygynne. Ȝif þou loue þe world þat wole make ende, Of hym þou shalt more lese þan wynne. Line 164 Ȝif þou be suget, and loue þe fende, He wole þe hate, and ȝeue pyne for synne. Loue me! y am god, þy frende, And oure loues shal neuere twynne. Line 168

(22)

¶ Wheþer trewe loue go or sende, Hym thar not tary in his dede. When mede haþ leue to stande byhynde, Þanne trewe loue, his erande may spede. Line 172 Þouȝ trewe loue haue lityl to spende, Euere he fyndeþ a frend at nede, Þat fro his foon wole hym fende. Who so is loued, hym thar not drede." Line 176

(23)

¶ God sayþ, "y haue mercyes to dele, Þat wole amende, no more do mys. My mercyes, þousandes mo ken fele Þan þousandis worldis wikkidnes." Line 180 His herte blod wrot oure hele, And Ihesus body, þe parchemyn is; Wiþ trewe loue he prented oure sele, Þat is heritage of oure blis. Line 184

(24)

¶ Þere is an herbe þat hatteþ 'trewe loue,' And by name it haþ no pere, Is lykned to Ihesus, y may proue: His handes and feet, þe leves were; Line 188

Line 188 His herte was wiþ a spere þurgh-shoue, Mannys loue was hym so dere. What soule is syk, lay þat herbe aboue, Hit makeþ hool al y-fere. Line 192

(25)

¶ God biddiþ vs do no þynges but two: In loue and drede to hym bende; Lede þy soule, lustes fro, World and flesch, and fro þe fende. Line 196 Ihesus herte was cleued so, To lete out trewe loue to his frende. In that blisse, god, graunte vs go, Þere trewe loue woneþ wiþouten ende! Line 200

XVIII. The declaryng of religioun. [[A.D. 1421]]

[Digby 102, leaf 117, back.] [24 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

Who þat wole knowe condicion Of parfyt lyf in alle degre: God is foundour of religion, Obedyent to charyte. Line 4 Swete þouȝt in deuocion, Is weddid [folio 118a] to chastite, In brennyng contemplacion, Þe hiȝest lyf of spiritualte. Line 8

(2)

¶ The goode lyueres in spiritualte, Þe worldly lyueres hem doþ hate, Wiþ occupacioun of temperalte Dryueþ relegeon out at þe ȝate Line 12 For besynesse of vanyte, Vaynglory, and hyȝe astate. Þat þus chaungen here degre, Þey come to heuene, neuere or late. Line 16

Line 16

(3)

¶ What is religion in mynde? In clene herte is soule o prys; Out of þraldom doþ vnbynde; A louer of vertues, a hatere of vys. Line 20 Eche soule is parfyt clerk of kynde In hyȝe discrecion, and wys. Of soules, men may no fooles fynde But assente to þe flesch, and make hym nys. Line 24

(4)

¶ Religeon is champion in batayle, Discomfites hys enemy; Ȝif temptacions hym assayle, Þere he hath þe victory. Line 28 Religeon is trewe trauayle, In goddis seruyce neuere werye. Haue mede wiþ martyres, he may not fayle, Þat euere is redy for to dyȝe. Line 32

(5)

¶ Werkys wiþ-oute discrecion, Vaynglory in staat is brouȝt; And shrift wiþ-oute contricion, In skorne þe sacrament þey souȝt; Line 36 And preyere wiþ-oute deuocion, Þouȝ þey preye, god hereþ hem nouȝt: Þe lippes turne preyers vp so doun, Þat spekeþ oþer þan herte þouȝt. Line 40

(6)

¶ Cherische no vices in ȝoure warde To serue god in good atent, And non wiþ other be to harde, Þat ben professed in ȝoure couent; Line 44 Þey myȝte for-þenke it afterward Þey tok þe abyte, and wolde repente; Þey lese of god a gret reward Whan wille fro religeon is wente. Line 48

Line 48

(7)

¶ A questyon of ȝow y craue,— Resoun assoyleþ it by skille,— Who may here soules saue, To were an abyte, wole or nelle? Line 52 Þenk on þy berþe, þenk on þy graue, Þy fleschely lustes not fulfille; For, helle ne heuene shal no man haue, Mawgre his teeþ, aȝeyns his wille. Line 56

(8)

¶ Thouȝ þou be of gentyl blod, Þenk all com of Adam and Eue. Gadre not in propre, worldis good; Þat nes no religeous, but worldis reue. Line 60 Þe herre degre, þe mekere of mood. Tak no vengeance, þouȝ folk þe a-reue. Lat comon lawe stonde as hit stood, Loke no proude herte þy charyte meue. Line 64

(9)

¶ Haue non enuye, [folio 118b] day ne nyȝt, To goode lyuers bet þan ȝe, But auyȝe faste wiþ all þy myȝt To lyue beter þan doþ he: Line 68 Þan countrefetest þou goddis knyȝt; Þat is enuye in charite. Alle þouȝtes in goddis doom are diȝt, And dedes, after þat þey be. Line 72

(10)

¶ Tho þat lyuen in fleschly delys, Fro þat companye remewe; Loue here bodyes, but not here vys, And cherische hem to good vertue; Line 76 And þo þat wil al-gate be nys, Loke þou noȝt here maneres sewe. Go to company þat is wys, Lete fooles drynke þat þey dede brewe. Line 80

Line 80

(11)

¶ Religeous, be war, wiþ whom ȝe stonde, Wiþ gentyles or folk þat worldly is, Þat ȝe grype not hand in honde. When ȝe take leue, loke not ȝe kys. Line 84 Man to man hem thar not wonde, Ne woman to woman no peryle ne is; But man to woman myȝte breke þe bonde; In towche is susspescioun of mys. Line 88

(12)

¶ Suche towches not ȝe byde, Wolde buffete þe soule, and wounde wiþ-ynne, Ȝeue oþere cause, þat stonde bysyde, To wene it were a bargayn of synne. Line 92 Towches, in custom, þouȝtis hide; Þan sclaundre and shame nyll not twynne. With conscience, sclaundre and shame doþ chide; To shewe opert he wol be-gynne. [Nota de religione, &c.] Line 96

(13)

¶ With mekenesse ȝe may heuene gete. Dispyse non in low degre. Resceyue no worschip, ne hyȝe sete, Þat pryde go bytwen god and þe, Line 100 Wolde make to hem self forȝete, For worldis ryches and vanyte. War for dronkenesse of drynkes grete, Fro glotry of metes of gret daynte. Line 104

(14)

¶ To religeon mekely bende, To serue god in loue and drede. To herkene tydynges, not ȝe wende, Ne bokes of vanyte, not ȝe rede. Line 108 Resceyue no lettere, ne non out sende, But hit be for ȝoure hous nede, Oþer to kyn or certeyn frende, In goodnes ȝoure erande for to spede. Line 112

Line 112

(15)

¶ Kepe ȝoure wacche and seruyce dewe, And rule of habyte clenely ȝeme; And fille ȝoure hertes wiþ good vertue, And wikked vyces fro ȝow ȝe fleme; Line 116 But loke deuocion growe ay newe. Be suche wiþ-ynne, as ȝe outward seme. Good aungel and wikked boþe ȝow sewe, And wryten ȝoure dedes, þat shal ȝow deme. Line 120

(16)

¶ Wacche not outrage in wast despence, Fro hard to nyce, þy fflesch to fede. Wiþ bischop or shryfte ȝe mowe despence, Fro hard to hardere ȝoure lyf to lede. Line 124 Withstonde temptacions, make defence; Þe moo ȝe withstonde, þe more mede. And ȝe wiþ seyntes will haue reuerence, Þan moste ȝe countrefete here dede. Line 128

(17)

¶ Kepe [folio 119a] sylence, whyder ȝe byde or go, Fro wordis of vanyte, ȝoure lippes steke. Speke faire to frend and fo, For fayre speche doþ wraþþe breke. Line 132 Þat doþ wrong, deme so. Lete not vengeance, þy wraþþe wreke. Vengeance is goddis, he demeþ þo In werk and word, all þat men speke. Line 136

(18)

¶ In rule of religeon is ordeyned ȝore: Byȝe no thyng to selle and wynne. Marchaunt and religeous, on mot be forbore; Þey may not wone, on herte wiþynne. Line 140 Ne kepe no iewels ne propre in store; Þat nes no religeous, but dedly synne In fleschly delices, and loue it more To parte þy loue and god atwynne. Line 144

Line 144

(19)

¶ That þenkeþ good þouȝt in sylence, Þey speken to god in specyale. How mow ȝe lette hem, for conscience, Calle hem to werkis generall? Line 148 Summe bidden, in vertue of obedience, Contemplatyf in spirituale; To religeon they don a gret defence, Þat bryngen hem to werkis temperale. Line 152

(20)

¶ Hyȝe astate, ne gentyl blod, Bryngeþ no man to heuene blisse. Gret hors ne iewel, ne browded hood, Nes no cause of holynesse, Line 156 But pore of spirit and meke of mood. Ȝeue god þy soule, and eche man hisse. Gret lordschipe, ne myche good, Nes no cause of sykernesse. Line 160

(21)

¶ Tonsure, abyte, ne no wede, Nes no cause of religeon, Ne wakyng, ne fastyng, ne almesdede, Ne preyere ne oreson, Line 164 But þe herte þerto take hede, Wiþ werkys of discrecion. Deuocion makeþ soules to spede Wiþ werkis of contemplacion. Line 168

(22)

¶ Religeon is most meke In abyte, of alle vertues floures. Richesse, ne worldis worschipe, seke, But offre to god alle honoures. Line 172 Richesse and worschipe make soules syke In vaynglory and sharp[e] shoures. Make vertues þe wax, deuocioun þe wyke, To brenne briȝt in heuene boures. Line 176

Line 176

(23)

¶ Iustice is religeon in sete, Þat demeþ riȝt in all degre. And queste is religeon, trouþe to trete; Ȝeueþ eche man, þat his shulde be. Line 180 A child may wiþ his fader plete, And ȝut kepe his charyte, And of his kyng blameles gete Lawe is so gentyll and so fre. Line 184

(24)

¶ Þouȝ summe of thy breþeren don a trespas, He wole amende and do no moo. Parauenture þou art in þe same cas, Or after, myȝt ben in suche two. Line 188 Loke not þat þou hym chace, Ne sclaundre hym not to haue shame and wo. Pray god forȝeue hym of his grace, And kepe þe wel þou do not so. Line 192

XIX. [God's Appeal to Man.]

[Digby 102, leaf 119, back.] [14 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

In my conscience I fynde, And in my soule I here and see, To repreue man þat is vnkynde, Goddis wordis þis may be: Line 4 "Man of resoun, haue in mynde, I made þe lyk ymage to me; For loue y hadde to mankynde, I toke manhed, lyk to þe. Line 8

(2)

¶ Mannys loue y ȝerned ȝore; Þat loue was in myn herte souȝt. Mannys loue sat me so sore, Nas neuere bargayn derrere bouȝt. Line 12

Line 12 Man! is þe laft no loue in store? What is þe cause þou louest me nouȝt? Telle me ȝif y myȝte don more. What is byhynd, þat lakkeþ þe ouȝt? Line 16

(3)

¶ For þy loue y meked me lowe, And dyȝed on þe rode tre. Answere, man, and be aknowe: Shewe what þou suffred for me; Line 20 For suche seed as þou dost sowe, Þerof shal þyn heruest be, In heuene or helle to repe and mowe. As þou deserued, fong þy fee. Line 24

(4)

¶ Man, to þe y make my mone: I bouȝt þe fro pyne to blisse; Melte þyn herte, as hard as stone; Þouȝ it be late, amende þy mysse. Line 28 In wraþþe, þouȝ þou be fro me gon, Turne aȝayn, y wol þe kysse. To make me frendis of my fon, Þerfore y ȝaf my lyf for hysse. Line 32

(5)

¶ Be war, and loue not worldis good To gete wiþ wrong, and calle it thyn. Man, haue it in þy mood, Þou shalt rekene; for alle is myn. Line 36 Why bouȝte y þe on the rood? For þou shulde serue, and be myn hyne. Make not myn argumentis wood, To caste þe fro blisse to pyne. Line 40

(6)

¶ Man, why turmentest þou me so? Euere þy synnes don encresce, And þy vices waxen moo, And þy vertues wanen lesse. Line 44

Line 44 Thenke good y be, thy foo. Whanne wylt þou of þy synne ses, Haue mercy on þy soule woo, Or haue mynde on me, and ȝeue me pes? Line 48

(7)

¶ To suffre deþ, y meked me, Fro pyne to blisse, þy soule to wynne. To me so shuldest þou meke þe, Leue and forbere þy synne. Line 52 Fro my lordschipe myȝt þou not fle, Heuene ne helle, ne see wiþ-ynne, But where and whenne my wille be, Þy body and soule to parte o twynne. Line 56

(8)

¶ Thouȝ y haue graunted þe grace To knowe boþe good and ylle, Wyte þy self in eche a place, Wheþer þou wylt þy self spille. Line 60 Þouȝ flesch and world and fend [þe] chas, Temptacion profre þe tille, Þou myȝt forbere and nouȝt trespas; I lente þe knoweleche and fre wille. Line 64

(9)

¶ In syknesse and pouerte, Glade þerynne, and þanke me all. Þe more þou hast þerof plente, Þe nerre þe, be y shall. Line 68 Þan say, 'Lord, kepe me neyȝ þe! [folio 110a] At nede, here me when y call! Take fro me hele and prosperite Raþere þan lete me fro þe fall!' Line 72

(10)

¶ Man, rewe on my paynes sore, Repente þy synne, and mercy craue. By my woundes, swere no more. Dysmembre no lymes þat y haue. Line 76

Line 76 Þy wrong wynnyng, aȝen restore. Ȝif þou wilt þy soule saue, Lete soule be lord, and go byfore, And make þy body þy soule knaue. Line 80

(11)

¶ Man, and þou wist how, So liȝtly my gre to make, Þou noldest, for alle þe worldis prow, For fleschly lustes me forsake. Line 84 In þy lyue, besye þe now; In goode werkis wysely wake; In loue, drede, to me bow, And fle to me fro synnes blake. Line 88

(12)

¶ Seuene werkis of mercy, kepe hem well, Þe comaundementis and þe Crede, All þy lyue, as y þe telle; Ȝeue me þyn herte in loue and drede. Line 92 Whyle body and soule togydre dwelle, Þou myȝt serue pyne and mede. When soule is out of flesch and felle, Shal neuere do synne ne almesdede. Line 96

(13)

¶ Mayntene not wrong, to calle it ryȝt. Vengeaunce and mercy, neyȝebores ben þo. As messageres þey ben dyȝt, Mercy to frend, vengeaunce to foo. Line 100 Ȝoure dede in derk, y se in syȝt; Þere nys nó þouȝt hid me fro. After þy dede, þe doom is dyȝt. Vengeaunce and mercy departeþ hem so. Line 104

(14)

¶ For my doom is riȝtwisnesse; Riȝtwys longeþ to þe godhede; And my sones dom is wys, For mercy longeþ to þe manhede. Line 108

Line 108 Þe holy gost grace lys, He ȝeueþ lyf, he ȝeueþ no dede. Ouercome my wraþþe, and fle fro vys, And do þe comaundementis þat y bede." Line 112

XX. [How Man's flesh complained to God against Christ.]

[Digby 102, leaf 120.] [27 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

The tixt of holy writ, men sayn, Hit sleeþ, but glose be among. The spirit of vnderstandyng quykeneþ agayn, And makeþ the lyue endeles long. Line 4 A fantasie y herde sayn, There-of me lust to make a song, 'How mannys flesch to god dede playn On Ihesu Crist, had don hym wrong.' Line 8

(2)

¶ The flesch, his playnt þus doþ bygynne To god fader, in heuene on hyȝt: "Ihesu, brother of oure kynne, Haþ bygyled me wiþ his sleyȝt. Line 12 He haþ parted my soule and me o twynne, And raft [it] fro me by his myȝt. Now, ryȝtwys god, let mercy blynne! On Ihesu, þy sone, do me ryȝt! Line 16

(3)

¶ Body and soule, þou dede me make, In vnyte to-gydre so. Now haþ Ihesu my soule take, And þus parted oure loue o two. Line 20 My soule haþ me [now] forsake; Sumtyme was frend, now is fo; Byd me go wolward, faste, and wake, Alle here ioye is of my woo. Line 24

Line 24

(4)

¶ Fro me, to þy sone, my soule is flet; Ful ofte þy sone in me here souȝte; Now here loue to hym so fast is knete, Away fro hym wol sche nouȝt. Line 28 She semes dronken, or out of wit; [folio 120b] Of myn euelfare she has no þouȝt. Þat sorwe is so in myn herte hit, I trowe to deþe y mon be brouȝt. Line 32

(5)

¶ Sum-tyme my soule was mylde To my biddyng, in hoot and colde, Synge, or playe, or chambres bylde, Chef seruaunt of myn housholde. Line 36 Now Ihesu haþ made here made and wylde; ffro hym, departe neuere she nolde. She setteþ on hym riȝt as a childe; Aȝens me she bereþ here bolde. Line 40

(6)

¶ Whan I of here counseil craue, Of fleschly lustes to haue my wille, She calleþ me wod, and seyþ y raue; She will neuere graunte þertille. Line 44 She biddeþ me haue mynde of my graue, Rule me in resoun and skille. I was mayster, now am y knaue; In that stat, brynge me she wille. Line 48

(7)

¶ Wolde y be proud, she biddeþ be meke; Wolde y be gloton, she biddeþ me faste; Þere y wolde take, she biddes me eke; Wolde y be lyther, she biddis be chaste; Line 52 Ȝif y fyȝte, she biddes ley forþ my cheke; Þere y am slow, she biddis be haste; Here answere is not to seke; To speke to here, my wynde y waste. Line 56

Line 56

(8)

¶ Ihesu com fro heuene blisse, And tok flesch in a mayden fre, Lowely, and most [of] mekenesse, Hyd vnder flesch [[MS. flesch fleschly]] oure fraternite; Line 60 Now wold [he] take my soule to his, ffor he suffred pyne and pouerte. Ȝit sumwhat y myȝte acorde to þis; But why shulde my soule hate me? Line 64

(9)

¶ Whan Ihesu and my soule be met, Sone my werkis þey aspiȝe; Here wit on me fast þey whet: 'In shame, and skorne, and vylenye, Line 68 To folwe þy fleschly lustes let, Or ellis boþe ȝe shal dyȝe.' Þus am y vnder and ouer set. She spettes on me, and doþ me fyȝe. Line 72

(10)

¶ Wiþ me, my soule he doþ þrete, And makeþ my soule me to hate. Wiþ plesande wordis, he hoteþ here gete In heuene blisse, a quenes astate. Line 76 Þan comeþ she hom in wraþþe-ful hete, Bedeþ here lette, boþe erly and late, Casteþ me doun, and doþ me bete, And tredeþ on me, and makeþ debate. Line 80

(11)

¶ Thanne renneþ she aȝen as she were wood; To Ihesu, þy sone, she doþ flyȝe. He fedeþ here wiþ his flesch and blood, But þanne here þouȝtes mownten hyȝe. Line 84 She biddiþ me water and bred to food; As mortkyn forsaken, she let me liȝe. She holdeþ me euyll, and no þyng good, But a stynkyng carayne in here eyȝe. Line 88

Line 88

(12)

¶ Þus my soule, my body slees Wiþ gret anguysche and turment. She telles, Ihesu dyȝed for pes; But fro his skole she is went; Line 92 Bytwen vs werre doþ encres. Here swerd is drawen, here bow is bent. She sayþ but, 'fleschly lustes, sees! We mon be dede, and boþe be shent.' Line 96

(13)

¶ She acordid wiþ Ihesu, and me dede flyte, And sayde y shulde be [folio 121a] maked tame, And sayde my werkys me adyte, And bryngen me in wikked fame. Line 100 Ȝif worldly men me don smyte, And don me boþe wrong and grame, She loueþ that don me despyte, And preyeþ for all þat don me shame. Line 104

(14)

¶ Hyȝe fader, god of riȝtwisnes, Haue mynde of my sorwe sore! And it be founden Ihesu loued mysse, To me my soule aȝen restore— Line 108 A litil playnt nes noȝt þisse, And alle þat y haue sayd ȝore— Þat y and my soule be frendis and kisse, And loue, as we dede here byfore. Line 112

(15)

¶ For my soule, Ihesu suffred wo, Bounden and beten wiþ skourges ynowe, Crowned wiþ thorn, nayled also On croos, tyl deþ dede hym bowe. Line 116 Wiþ a spere, his herte let cleue a two, Wyde open his loue myȝte out flowe, So loþ hym was his loue forgo; He is worþy be loued, þat so dede wowe. Line 120

Line 120

(16)

¶ My soule, y holde, holy es it, [[MS. it es]] For she loueþ Ihesu, þat loueþ here wel. But loue were tendere to loue vsed, Were harder þan ston, and styffere þan stel. Line 124 On Ihesu she is amerous and ful auysed. What worldly þyng she seeþ or fele, Al worldly ioye she haþ refused, And me she loueþ neuere a dele. Line 128

(17)

¶ I wante my wille, and euel fare y, Fro worldly merþe put o syde. Fro worldis worschip she doþ me tary. I may no þouȝt fro here hyde. Line 132 Þere y blisse, she doþ wary; Þere y speke fayre, she doþ chyde. She is newe waxen al contrary. Þere y dwelle, she nyl not byde. Line 136

(18)

¶ She repreueþ my dagged cloþes, And longe pyked crakowed shon; Vpbreyde[þ] me my grete oþes, And sayþ y breke goddis bone. Line 140 Þat me is lef, all she loþes. I seye 'oþere men so don.' She seyþ, þey go to helle woþes, Wole to wende, wiþ hem to wone. Line 144

(19)

¶ Wiþ Ihesu, alway is she, And now she lyþ wiþ hym in cracche, Now into Egipt wiþ hym doþ fle Fro Herowdes, lest he hem cacche. Line 148 In his moder armes, born wol she be, And sowke wiþ hym, as chylde in tacche. She folweþ hym in al degre, And countrefeteþ to ben his macche. Line 152

Line 152

(20)

¶ Wiþ hym doþ drynke and ete, To lerne of his discressioun; Wiþ hym sche is skourged and bete, And crucyfyed in his passioun; Line 156 She is wiþ hym in helle hete, Wiþ hym in his resurexioun, And stye in-to heuene in his fadres se[t]e; Þens nolde she neuere come doun." Line 160

(21)

¶ Now þe playnt is at þe last. God answerd wiþ mylde soun: 'fflesch,' he sayde, 'þou iangelest fast Moche dene, and no resoun. Line 164 Alle þy wordes þou dost waste. Wille wiþoute discressioun, Þyn awen pleynt þe doþ caste; Þou turnest þy self vp so doun. Line 168

(22)

¶ Thou makest maystershepe in al vys, [folio 121b] And here [turnest] fro my way, And makest here þral to fleschely delys, In vanyte to al worldly play. Line 172 She is ashamed, now she is wys; Sche lyued in vowtrye so many a day. She haþ chosen þe loue most o prys, And cast þe fals[e] loue away.' Line 176

(23)

¶ God seiþ: 'man, y made þe of nouȝt, And kyd þat y loued þe dere, And soule of resoun in þe wrouȝt, ffayre and wys, angels pere. Line 180 Þou hast defouled þe ymage þat y wrouȝt, In seruage to fendis and fendis fere. She folwed þy wille in dede and þouȝt, In alle place, fer and nere. Line 184

Line 184

(24)

¶ On Ihesu þou pleynt dost make, Sayde he bigyled þe wiþ sleyȝte, And biddest me lete mercy slake, And on Ihesu do þe ryȝt. Line 188 My sone, for þe, dede deth take, And kydde þe loue most of myȝt. Þouȝ he loue dede forsake, How woldest þou þis doom were dyȝt? Line 192

(25)

¶ Flesch, þy synnes mochil is; Þou art cast in þyn awen caas. Knowleche, repente, and mende þy mys, And be in wille no more trespas. Line 196 I nel deme þe in ryȝtwisnes, But medle þerwiþ mercy and grace, And brynge þy soule to heuene blys, Wiþ loue to se my fayre face. Line 200

(26)

¶ In ouerhope, be not to bold In synne, for to haue mercy. Let not wanhope in þe be old, For my grace is euere redy. Line 204 Fro helle pynes hoot and cold I assoyle þe, and out of purgatory. At þy deth, or body be cold, To Ihesu in heuene þy soule shal fleye. Line 208

(27)

¶ In good werkis wysely wake, Playne not on Ihesu, what he sende. Sykenes, pouerte, mekely take; Richesse and hele wysely spende, Line 212 And helpe all pore for goddis sake. Þan god wole lede ȝow, as his frend, To ioye of heuene þat shal neuere slake.' In-to þat blisse, god graunte vs wende! Amen! Line 216

XXI. A lernyng to good leuynge.

[Digby 102, leaf 121, back.] [20 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

POre of spirit, blessed be: Þouȝ he be lord of richesse fele, He bereþ penaunce and pouerte. That of his good to pore folk dele, Line 4 Of þe kyngdom of heuene a lord is he. Þat counseyleþ wel to soule hele, And lyueþ in werkis of charyte, Suche folk to heuene preuyly stele. Line 8

(2)

¶ Siþ god doþ blisse, and graunteþ blis Þat don his word, and holde it trewe, Þan þat man cursed is, Þat lyueþ contrarious þat vertue. Line 12 Þat filleþ his herte wiþ ryches, Nedeles aueryce gadryng newe, For wikkid counseil, helle is his, Þere neuere nes reste, but euere remewe. Line 16

(3)

¶ Blessid be man þat in herte is mylde, Buxom to lerne, and lef to teche, Shal owe þe [folio 122a] erþe, and þeron bylde, In helpe of mony his rychesse reche, Line 20 Of shrewes, make goddis childe, Of gostly woundes, be soule leche; Make tame to god, þo þat were wylde. Of eche good lyuere, his werkis preche. Line 24

(4)

¶ Þanne cursed be man in herte ruyde, Þat neuere nel lere ne vnderstond. Þouȝ he owe erþe, he shal not byde, Til it be, out of his hond. Line 28

Line 28 When conscience his werkis chyde, Þat man shal neuere reioyse lond. Fro alle vertues þat doþ hym hyde, To alle myscheues he makeþ hym bond. Line 32

(5)

¶ Blessed be he þat morneþ sore His breþere synnes, his awen mysdede, Repente, and wille to do no more, But holde þe hestes þat god bede; Line 36 His wrong wynnyng aȝen restore, And helpe pore þat han nede. He shal be counforted þerfore, In heuene blisse haue his mede. Line 40

(6)

¶ Than cursed be he haþ ioye of synne, And euere encreseþ mo and mo, Boste þerof, delyte þerynne, Ȝeue men ensample to do so. Line 44 Heuene ȝates fro hem they pynne, Of goddis frendis make goddis foo; In helle þey purchas here ynne; His felaschipe, with hym thay go. Line 48

(7)

¶ Blessed euere mote he be, Þat hungren and thursten ryȝtwisnes; He wolde were wel in al degre, Þat god and man echon had his. Line 52 Gostly hunger and thurstes he Þat fayn wolde mende þat is mys. Ful filled he shal wiþ grete deynte At goddis feste in heuene blisse. Line 56

(8)

¶ Than cursed is he þat ful is fylde, Wiþ wrong take pore mennys thrift, Þat makeþ pore men be spilde, [MS.: spiȝed.] For synguler profyt is sotyll theft; Line 60

Line 60 Make gulteles folk presoned and kylde, Of hous and land make wrongwys gyft; Wiþ hunger and þirst his hous is bylde. In helle is shewed euell-sponnen wyft. Line 64

(9)

¶ Blessid be þe mercyable; Mercy and mede, of god he fonges. In goddis doom he stondes stable, Þat wrekeþ not all his owen wronges. Line 68 To pore folk he is profytable, Þat leueþ his good hem amonges. Sorefull and hungry, he fyndeþ hem table, The sorwefull he gladeþ to synge songes. Line 72

(10)

¶ Thanne, how of hem han hertis stoute Þat reweþ non pore þat han penaunce, Han nedeles gold noȝt to lene it oute, But to þe borwere gret greuaunce; Line 76 But he may quyte, is ȝerne aboute To presone hym or make destaunce: But he be cursed, it is in dowte; Þat haþ no mercy, [folio 122b] mote haue vengeaunce. Line 80

(11)

¶ Blessed be he þat loueþ pes, Mekely to goddis byddyng bende. He shal be cleped, at goddis dees, Goddis sone, good and hende. Line 84 He wolde all werre shulde asses, Of goddis foon, make goddis frende; Make soule wiþ ioye to heuene pres, And sorwe and werre to helle wiþ fende. Line 88

(12)

¶ Than, how of hem þat pes doþ hate, Wolde ouerall were werre and woo, Eche man wiþ oþer debate, Þat shulde be frend, make hem foo; Line 92

Line 92 For synguler wynnyng to his astate, Lede his men, oþere to sloo: He shal be blessed neuere or late; His werkis curseþ hym, where he go. Line 96

(13)

¶ The clene of herte, blissed be, Þat lyueþ after goddis lore. God hym self he shal see, Þere as blisse is euere more; Line 100 And gouerneþ wel his owen degre, And doþ þe dede þat he come fore; Fulfylleþ þe werkis of charyte: His vertue gadereth mede in store. Line 104

(14)

¶ The herte þat is fyled in synne, And sulpeþ his soule wiþ spottes of blame, Goddis curs he doþ wynne, Þat spyseþ hym-self and goddis name. Line 108 His astate, he nele not dwelle þerynne; To serue god hym þenkeþ shame. Ȝif god and he departe o twynne, In helle he may be meked tame. Line 112

(15)

¶ That is pursued [[MS. presued]] for riȝtwisnes Is blessid, where he go or ryde; Þe kyngdom of heuene is his, Þat querell to ende, in charite byde. Line 116 God wole brynge hym to heuene blis, And fro his enemys þere wole hym hyde; [Nota] And þo þat pursue hym with mys, To helle þey ben here awen gyde. Line 120

(16)

¶ Thanne are they cursed in here lyf, Þat auaunceþ þe fals, and stroyeþ þe trewe, Mayntene fals querell and stryf, Riȝtwis men wrongly pursue, Line 124

Line 124 Defowle boþe mayden and wyf, Þat shulde be clene in alle vertue. Eche dedly synne is a dedly knyf; For he shal repe þat he sewe. Line 128

(17)

¶ Ȝe shal be blessid, erly and late, By vertue of gospell þat ȝe preche. Ȝe shul be blessid, whan folk ȝow hate, And cursen ȝow for ȝoure speche. Line 132 Ȝoure tonge is kaye of heuene ȝate, Ȝoure word, þe way to heuene hem teche. Folk wiþ ȝow schal debate, ffor me wiþ lesynges ȝow apeche. Line 136

(18)

¶ Glade ȝe wiþ-ynne, and ioye wiþ-oute; Ȝoure mede in heuene moche is. Drede no tyrauntes sterne and stoute May sle þy body, and take as his. Line 140 God, þe fader of heuene, ȝe dowte May brynge þe soule to pyne or blis; He schal deme all þe world aboute, [folio 123a] To heuene for goode, to hell for mys. Line 144

(19)

¶ Of erþe ȝe ben cleped 'salt,' ffor salt of wisdom soule saues; Go vp-riȝt and be not halt, ffor mayster of seruaunt his seruice craues. Line 148 Þyn astate rekene þou shalt, How þou it gat, how þou it saues. Fewe ben chosen, þouȝ mony ben calt, Fro goddis seruyce are worldly knaues. Line 152

(20)

¶ To lanterne ȝe ben likned riȝt, [Nota] In all þe world ȝe shal be kyd. Ȝoure prechyng shal be candel liȝt, Nouȝt vnder worldly buschel hyd, Line 156

Line 156 But on a candel-styke on hiȝt; Nouȝt vnder a chiste, vnder a lyd; In good werkis shyne ȝe bryȝt, And lyue ȝe so, riȝt as ȝe byd. Line 160

XXII. Knowe thy self and thy god.

[Digby 102, leaf 123.] [9 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

(1)

Thenke hertely in þy þouȝt Of what matere þou dede bygynne. Of fylthy seed þou were wrouȝt, And wan in at þe wyket of synne. Line 4 Foulere fylþe knowe y nouȝt Þan þou were fed þy moder wiþ-ynne; In a sake ful of filþe þou was out brouȝt, In wrecchednes horyble, and stynkyng skynne. Line 8

(2)

¶ What þou art, knowe þy self wel. Þou were conceyued in synne, and born wiþ woo. Þy moder and þou, on fortune whel, In perile of deþ, parted a-twoo. Line 12 Of pynes of helle, what soules fele, And þou in mynde keped þoo, Hit wolde make þy corage kele, Whan þou hadde wil, to synne goo. Line 16

(3)

¶ God made þe of nouȝt, haue in mynde, Wiþ soule of resoun; lyk his ymage. In heuene, wiþ angels, aboue þe wynde, He ordeyned þe endeles heritage. Line 20 Wiþ more loue he dede þe bynde: Bycome þy brother in mannys lynage. He, ielous louer and trewest to fynde, Þy soule is spouse to his maryage. Line 24

Line 24

(4)

¶ To god, thy wedlok wiþ loue holde, In brennyng contemplacion, And make nouȝt hym cokewolde, To loue in fornycacion. Line 28 On goddis mercy be not to bolde, To falle in temptacion. Kepe charite hot, let it not colde For quenchyng of deuocion. Line 32

(5)

¶ Loue all folk in charyte, Body and soule in good atent, As þou wolde þey dede þe; Þat is goddis comaundement. Line 36 Who breke þo hestes, cursed is he Til þey come to mendement. Þou preyest euere-more in all degre Til þat þou to synne assent. Line 40

(6)

¶ That þou hast don siþ þou were bore, All þy lyuyng byþenk þe newe. Wheþer hast þou more in store, Or of vices or of vertue; Line 44 And wheþer hast þou folwed more Good aungel or wykked, for boþe þe sewe; Þy countretayle þey wil shewe, þe skore, In helle or in heuene, [folio 123b] wreten trewe. Line 48

(7)

¶ Haue mynde, god sente his sone adoun, Tok mankynde in flesch and felle, And suffred hard passioun, Dyed on croys, and heryed helle. Line 52 Haue mynde of his resurexioun; Byleue all þis trewe gospelle. Haue mynde on his Assencioun; On god his fader riȝt hond, doþ dwelle. Line 56

Line 56

(8)

¶ Þenke þou shalt dye, and nost whenne; Þou art incertayn, þerfore drede. Fro heueue to erþe, god shal come þenne, Deme euel and good, after here dede; Line 60 Þe good, to heuene blisse renne, In endeles lyf to haue here mede; Þe wikked, in helle for to brenne, In endeles pyne, deþ shal hem fede. Line 64

(9)

¶ The ten comaundementis, þou hem kepe; Þe seuen werkis of mercy, wel hem vse; Þe seuene synnes þou be-wepe, Þy fyue wittes þe auyse. Line 68 Do penaunce, and preye whyle þou schuld slepe; Þe fend and fals[e] world despise; No fleschly lustes þe vndercrepe; Fle all foly, and folwe þe wise! Line 72

XXIII. Of the sacrament of the Altere.

[Digby 102, leaf 123, back.] (16 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.)

(1)

I wole be mendid ȝif y say mys. Holychirche nes noþer tre ne stones. Þe hous of preyers, god nempned þys, Boþe goode men and wikked ressayueþ at ones. Line 4 Þere as gadryng of goode men ys, Is holychyrche of flesch and bones. Prestes are lanterne, hem to wysse Þe wise weyes to heuene wones. Line 8

(2)

¶ Holychirche, heryȝe þy saueour, Þynk þy hurd, god on hiȝt, Wiþ song and ympnes, tyde and houre, Reioys in hym day and nyȝt; Line 12

Line 12 For he is more þan any honour, For his honour passeþ oure myȝt, For we ben his, and he is oure; All þouȝtes ben to hym dyȝt. Line 16

(3)

¶ A specyall tyme of heryeng here. Lyueliche quyk bred is put forþ þis day, Whyche in þe table of þe holy sopere, Wiþ-outen doute was ȝouen oure fay Line 20 To þe company of twelfe breþeren þere were. By here ful heryenge, ioyed þay; Wel sowned in here ere, Wiþ ioly herte, fayre song to say. Line 24

(4)

¶ A day is mad of solempnyte, Of þis table first ordynaunce is worschipful tolde. In þis newe kynges table, now knowe we Newe Estren endeþ the olde. Line 28 Newe thyng dryueþ old þyng fro his degre; Out of mynde, þe lasse of tolde. So soþfast sunne, by hys pouste, Dryueþ awey shadewe, and striȝeþ colde. Line 32

(5)

¶ As lyȝt liȝteneþ nyȝt, fro derkenes of kynde, So dede crist at þe holy sopere, Bad pertely do so of hym mynde, By holy ordynaunce tauȝt vs to lere, Line 36 Halwe bred and wyn, by hys word and wynd, To an ost of helþe to cristen men here, ffro shadwe of deþ, to gostly blynd, To liȝt of lyf, to shynen clere. Line 40

(6)

¶ Lore is ȝouen to cristen men, In-to flesch passeþ þe bred; As holychirche doþ vs kenne, [folio 124a] Þe wyn, to blod, þat is so red. Line 44

Line 44 Þou seest not fleschly þou takest þenne; Þy byleue of herte, makeþ þe fast fro ded, Wiþouten ordre of þynges, to renne, By tokene and word þat he bede. Line 48

(7)

¶ Wiþ-outen help of ordre of þyngis, Þe bok of oure byleue is lent, Vnder dyuerce spices only tokenynges, Þouȝ þe spices fro hym be went, Line 52 Not durked ne hyd, but riȝt shynynges, Þouȝ fleschly syȝt fro hym be blent, Þe soule haþ ioye, and mery synges, When good byleue seeþ þe sacrament. Line 56

(8)

¶ Þe blod is drynk, þe flesch is mete, Ys gostly fode, þe soules delys; Neuere-þe-lattere, of crist to trete, He dwelleþ vnder ayþer spys. Line 60 Þe ressayuour counteþ not þat þey ete, Ne brekeþ it not, but hool it lys. Þouȝ a thowsand take at o sete, Alone on takeþ as moche o prys. Line 64

(9)

¶ While obley in yrnes, or boyst ys stoken, Hit nys but bred, and sengyl bake; Whanne þe prest, to hit, goddis wordis hath spoken, Crystys quyk body, vndir bred o cake. Line 68 Þouȝ it a þousand peces seme broken, Nes parted ne wasted, but al holl take. In byleue of holychirche, who wyl hym ȝoken, Aȝen þis, non argument may make. Line 72

(10)

¶ That ressayueþ, children, man, and wyf, Not al yliche deuocioun. Summe taken it in synne and stryf, As bestes wiþ-outen discrecioun. Line 76

Line 76 Þe wikkid resceueþ a dedly knyf, And his endeles dampnacioun; Þe good resceyueþ endeles lyf, To body and soule saluacioun. Line 80

(11)

¶ When þou to chirche gost To resceyue god, wisely go. I suppose þe prest haue but on ost, Breke it, and parte to twenty and mo: Line 84 As moche is þe leste cost As in þe grettest pece of þo; Deme all yliche, lest and most; Quaue not, ne drede not, to sen hit so. Line 88

(12)

¶ Þouȝ þe prest þe sacrament clyue In a þowsand peces and þre, Þe state, ne stature, ne myȝt doþ myue, Ne leseþ ne lasseþ of his pouste. Line 92 Þy fleschly syȝt þou shalt not lyue; But tokene of brekyng makeþ he; For fleschly skyn, no sacrement kan preue, In gostly bylyue shal saued be. Line 96

(13)

¶ In old[e] lawe, ȝe wyten how At estren þey eten a lamb al ded, Is ouer put in newe lawe now; At estre, we eten quyk bred. Line 100 In old[e] lawe, for mannys prow, God þe comaundementis bed; And oure newe lawe we don allow, And kepen boþe by goddis red. Line 104

(14)

¶ Lete þy mercy passe ryȝt, And forȝeue vs oure mysdede! Þy face, wiþ loue to seen in syȝt, In lond of lyf, þou vs lede. Line 108

Line 108 Among þy seyntes in heuene on hyȝt, At þat feste of lif, god, vs fede! [folio 124b] Soþfast bred, god of myȝt, Ihesus herde, þou vs hede! Line 112

(15)

¶ In syȝt and in felyng, þou semest bred, In byleue, flesch, blod, and bon; In syȝt and felyng, þou semest ded, In byleue, lyf, to speke and gon; Line 116 In syȝt and felyng, noþer hond ne hed, In byleue, boþe god and man; In syȝt and felyng, in litil sted, In byleue, grettere þyng nes nan. Line 120

(16)

¶ Whan Abraham of Ysaac his offryng made, ffor a ffygure he lykned is To angels bred, oure fadres hadde, Þat god fed hem in wyldernes. Line 124 Afterward, god hem bade, "A paske lomb rosted, and eteþ þes." In stede of þat, oure soules to glade, We resceyue oure housell, god o blisse. Line 128

XXIV. The Lessouns of the Dirige.

[Digby 102, leaf 124, back.] [52 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]

Lectio prima: Parce mihi, domine.

(1)

Almyȝty god, lord, me spare, ffor soþe, my dayes werkys ben noȝt. My wittes on nyȝtes wrong y ware, Þerof longe ȝeres mon be wroȝt. Line 4 Þenke, man, þou ware born ful bare. In-to þis world what hastou broȝt? Out of þis world whanne þou schalt fare, Þou schalt bere with þe ryȝt noȝt. Line 8

Line 8

(2)

¶ What is man of gret renoun, That of hym self makeþ aldre mest? Why settyst þou þy herte aȝen resoun, And sodeynly repreuest hem mest? Line 12 In þe dawenynge þou souȝtest hem vpsodoun. Contrary to godis hest Þou purchasest þy saule helle prisoun; For fleschely lust, wormes fest. Line 16

(3)

¶ How longe sparest þou me noȝt, To swolwe my spotel, bote it me gryue? Þou keper of men, alle þyng hast wroȝt; What shal y do to þyn byhyue? Line 20 What hastou set me contrarie þy þoȝt, Þy holy lawe to repryue? Lord, whenne my werkis mon be soȝt, Dyspyce me noȝt in my myschyue! Line 24

(4)

¶ Ful heuy to my self y am maad withynne; My werkes, on me heuye isse. Why takest þou noȝt away my synne, And bere from me my wykednesse? Line 28 I slepe in dust, for we ben kynne, For erthe claymeȝ me for hisse. To seche me eerly, ȝif þou begynne, I ne may withstonde þe y-wisse. Line 32

Lectio secunda: Tedet animam meam.

(5)

¶ My soul, of my self anoyed isse. I shal leue my speche aȝens me. To my soul y wole speke in bitternesse, And y shal saye to god so fre: Line 36 Wyl noȝt dampne me fro blisse, Shew me þe cause, þat wolde I se, Why demestou me þoȝ y dede mysse, Lord, whether þe þynke good to þe. Line 40

Line 40

(6)

¶ Ȝif þou chalenge my werk, and bere me doun, Me that am werk of þy hande, And þou in consayl helpe ȝe moun To wykked men here synnes withstande, Line 44 Wiþ repentaunce and sorwful [folio 125a] soun May launce hem from þe deuelys bande: To ȝerde of loue y moste me boun; Lord, me chastice wiþ þat wande. Line 48

(7)

¶ Wheþer þyn eyȝen ben fleschlye, Or þou seest as man shal see? Or þy dayes so sone syȝe, As other mennys dayes be? Line 52 Or þy ȝerys riȝt so hye, As mennys tymes in here degre?— For þou art god shal neuere dyȝe, For sorwe and deþ shal from the fle— Line 56

(8)

¶ That þou seche my wykkednesse, And ransake my synne, And wyte I haue noȝt doun mysse, Bote hert and soule clene withynne. Line 60 Soþes þer no man nesse May skape þyn hond, and from the twynne, Bote repentaunce and mercy kesse. Þat now ben frendis, lord, make hem kynne. Line 64

Lectio tertia: Manus tue feceruntme.

(9)

¶ Thy hand made me man of resoun, [[MS. þe soun]] And shope me al in compas, And sodeynly þou cast me doun, ffor knew y noȝt what þou was. Line 68 Of me men sample take mowen, Be ware lest þay folwe my tras. I hadde lordship in feld and toun, Now on a donghille is my pas. Line 72

Line 72

(10)

¶ Haue mynde on me, lord, and take hede Of fen of erthe þou dede me make. In-to dust aȝen þou shalt me lede, My soule from þe body take. Line 76 My flesch is ful sleper atte nede, And solpeþ my soule wiþ synnes blake. Lord god, þy dome y drede. Whanne þou comest, y mon awake. Line 80

(11)

¶ My hert shulde be stedefast, Þou hast lopred as mylk, and slep in þouȝt, Riȝt as chese þou croddest me fast. I wyte my synnes þat y wrouȝt. Line 84 Lord, alle my synnes away þou cast, Bote wiþ my synnes cast me noȝt. Þou knowest how longe my lyf shulde last; Þou sette my terme, y passe it noȝt. Line 88

(12)

¶ Þou cloþedest me with flesch and skyn, With bones and synewes made me to-gyder; Lyf and mercy ȝaf me withyn; As brotel vessel y stonde slyder. Line 92 Þy sechyng haþ kepyd my gost with wyn. A, lord, whenne þou comest hyder To deme al erþe, þy domes to twyn Þouȝ I wolde fle, I not noȝt whyder. Line 96

(13)

¶ To deme þe erthe whanne þou wendys, Fro face of þy wraþþe whyder shal I go? To hyde me wiþ angels aren goddis frendys? And god me hate, þay ben my fo. Line 100 And I hyde me in helle among fendys, In pyne þay wolen tormente me so. I haue synned [folio 125b] riȝt moche, my synne me schendys. Me thynke þay waxen mo and mo. Line 104

Line 104

(14)

¶ My trespas moche arn blamed. Bote repentaunce be mendement, Byfore þe, y drede, y am aschamed. Whenne þou comest to iugement, Line 108 Þat weren wylde, mon be tamed, Al wopen of wraþþe mon be brent; In bok of lyf þo þat be named, To ioye of heuene mon be sent. Line 112

(15)

¶ Almyȝty god, lord, me ȝeme, In thy mercy þou me lede. Whenne my soule is boden out fleme, Helpe me, lord, atte al my nede. Line 116 Whenne þou al þe world shal deme, Dampne me noȝt after my dede. Whenne þat angels blowen here beme, Þenne alle folk may haue gret drede. Line 120

(16)

¶ From worldis worschipe y am shoue, And broȝt abas from al astat. My skyn is cloþed al on roue, In pouerte and peyne my wyt is mat. Line 124 Lord, chastice me wiþ ȝerd of loue, Þouȝ y haue seruyd þe swerd of hat. Wherto wyltou þy maystry proue, Wiþ suchon as I to make debat? Line 128

Lectio quarta: Quantas habeo.

(17)

¶ Als many wykkednesse and trespas And synnes withoute noumbre mo Shew me; why hydest þy fas fro me, and demest me þy fo? Line 132 Lord, þenkes þe solace This turment, and do me wo? A drope of thy mercie of oyle of grace, Lord, graunte me er y go. Line 136

Line 136

(18)

¶ I am slyme of erthe, haue in mynde, Pore of matere and dedely, As a lef styrede with wynde. On me þou prouest þy maystry. Line 140 Þou prouest þy myȝt, and þat I fynde, O þe stubble, þat is so drye, Þou pursuest me, and wylt me bynde, Wiþ synnes in my ȝouþe þou wylt me stroye. Line 144

(19)

¶ Lord, þou pursuest me fast, for soþe, aȝens me þou doest wryte Bitternesse, bote swete is past. I may noȝt blenche whenne þou wylt smyte. Line 148 I trowe þat þou wolt me wast, With synnes in my ȝouþe do me endite. Lord, on me þy wille þou hast. My grete synne myself y wyte. Line 152

(20)

¶ In synne þou settest my fot and hede, And alle my werkes hastou soȝt, And alle steppys y euere ȝede; Ȝe haue nombred alle my wordes and þoȝt. Line 156 And als þou hast taken hede, Roten y schal be, wasted to noȝt; As clothes þat moþþes on hem fede, So shal my flesch with wormes soȝt. Line 160

(21)

¶ Wo [to] me, so mon y be, For y haue don moche synne. I, wreche, whyder shal y fle ffor wrechyd lyf y lyued ynne? Line 164 My lord, my god, noȝt bote to the! God of mercie, on me mynne! Lord, haue mercie on me, Let noȝt thy loue [folio 126a] fro me twynne! Line 168

Lectio quinta: Homo natus.

(22)

¶ Man, that is of woman born, Lyuynge short tyme he is. Er his nauel be knytte and shorn, ffulfilde with many wrechidnes. Line 172 Er he fro moder be forborn, In peryl of deth, bothe partie es. Ȝif flesch be lord, the soule is lorn; Bote soule be lord, he leseth his blys. Line 176

(23)

¶ Man geth out as don floures, Corage and strengthe, and fayre of hewe; Makeþ moche of hymself, sayþe al is oures, And repeth þat he neuere ne sewe. Line 180 He is defouled be dayes and houres, And fleeþ as shadow, þat neuere grewe; Dwelleþ neuere in þe self stat of ouris, Encresceþ mo vyces þan vertew. Line 184

(24)

¶ And þou holdest worthy to open thyn ey, And come to me, and clayme for rent, To loke on such a wrecche as y, And lede hym with the to iugement, Line 188 Þer al mankynde in company, Atte thy general parlement; Vertues to heuen ther schul ȝe try, The vyces in helle fyre be brent. Line 192

(25)

¶ What man may make hym clene, Þat is conceyued in vnclene sed? Ywhether þou art alone, withoute mene? To felowschipe þou hast non nede. Line 196 Short ar mannys dayes sene, And the nombre of hys monthes in thy dede. Þou hast sette his terme of fat and lene, He passeþ it noȝt for no mede. Line 200

Line 200

(26)

¶ A, go away a lytel hym fro, In mendement that he mow rest Tyl the day he ȝerned so, A, of harde man, come þat is best. Line 204 Lord, haue no mynde to do me wo, fforber my synnes wolde make me lest. Lord, whenne þou comest to deme so Al þe world be fyre, boþe est and west, Line 208 God, in þy syȝt þy way y go Ryȝt ham; in þy fayþ me fest!

(27)

¶ Lord, whenne þou demest alle þyng in riȝt, Wher mercie shal noȝt knawen be; Line 212 Ryȝt leseþ noȝt his myȝt, Þouȝ mercie be in companye. Mercy is euere in þy syȝt, For mercie euere þyn eyȝen se. Line 216 Wher-euere þy dome is dyȝt, Riȝt claymeþ mercie for his fee.

Lectio sexta: Quis mihi hoc tribuat.

(28)

¶ Who ȝeueþ to me, þat y me hyde Tylle þy wraþþe in helle be past? Line 220 Withouten pyne, þy dome to byde, Tyl body and soule aȝen be fast? With arguments noȝt me chyde! Þou knowest how longe my lyf shal last. Line 224 Lord, lat mercie be my gyde, And neuere fro þy face me cast!

(29)

¶ Þou set me a tyme; couenant is tan. Haue mynde on me, what dome is diȝt. Line 228 Trowest þou ouȝt þat y, dede man, Shal haue aȝeyn man of myȝt, And ȝelde rekenyng sen y bygan With alle dayes þat y now fyȝt? Line 232 Now I abyde þat I fro ran, [folio 126b] Tyl my folwyng come to myn insiȝt.

(30)

¶ Lord, þou shalt clepe me, And I shal answere to þe, werk of þyn hande. Line 236 Werk of þy riȝt hand, take to þe; Þou shalt not bynde it in helle bande. Þou hast noumbred my steppes, how mony þay be, How monye y ran, how monye I stande. Line 240 Bot spare þou, lord, to þe synne of me, Ne wilne noȝt deme my werkes ȝe fande.

(31)

¶ Deme me noȝt after my dede, Lord, I byseche þe! Line 244 I haue don in þy siȝt, and tok non hede; Þerfore I praye þy mageste, God, my wikkednesse away þou lede, Myn vnryȝt away wasche ȝe! Line 248 Non more; lord, at my nede, Of alle my synnes clense ȝe me!

Lectio septima: Spiritus [[MS. spc̄]] meus.

(32)

¶ My gost, shalt þou be made newe, My dayes shulle yshorted be; Line 252 My soule fro þe body mon remewe, Alone a graue byleueth to me. I haue non synne, no vices me sewe, Myn eyen in bitternesse dwelle y se. Line 256 Deliuere me, lord, and on me rewe, And sette me bysydes the!

(33)

¶ Whos hande þou wolt aȝeyn me fyȝt, And þou proue þy stronge hande? Line 260 My dayes ben passed to withstonde þy myȝt, I may noȝt bere þy litel wande. My thouȝtes ben wasted, turned in ryȝt, Turmentynge my herte inwith and ande; Line 264 And turnyd day to þe nyȝt. After derkenesse I haue bedded my bed, I fande.

(34)

¶ I sayde to stynke and rotenesse, 'My fader and moder arn ȝe;' Line 268 And to wormes y sayde þysse: 'My systren and my brethern both be ȝe.' And erthe claymeþ me for hysse, Where þen now my bydynge to me. Line 272 My felynge þou art, and my god of blisse. Drede of deth droueth me.

(35)

¶ Eche a day synnyng, And euere newe encres; Line 276 Neuere a day blynnyng, Bote euere vertue wane les. [[MS. waneles]] To repente no bygynnyng, Noȝt bote gadre synne ay in pres. Line 280 In helle is no wynnyng, Ne non aȝeynbyynge to pes.

Lectio octava: Pelli mee.

(36)

¶ My flesches ben wasted, don me refuse, My bones cleuyn vnto þe skyn; Line 284 My lippes arn shronken out of syse, Aboute my teth arn left atwyn. Haue mercye on myn werk vnwyse, Haue mercie on me, let mercie wyn! Line 288 Namly my frendes, me noȝt despyse; Lordis hande hath towched me more and myn.

(37)

¶ Why pursue ȝe me, and on me syte, And arn filled of my flesch and fel? Line 292 Who ȝeueþ to me, þat wolde y wyte, Wordes in boke be ered wel, Or in a plate of led wryten With an yren poyntel, Line 296 Or in a flynt grauen and spyten By craft of werk withoute chysel?

(38)

¶ I byleue [folio 127a] þat soth y say, Myn aȝeynbyere lyuynge isse. Line 300 I shal rysen of þe erthe my laste day, Bylapped in my flesch and skyn ywisse; Byholde with myn eyȝen twey, Se god, my sauyour, in blisse; Line 304 Non other eyȝen bote þes, withouten nay; Þe hope in my bosom yput vp isse.

(39)

¶ The soule is in derkenesse from gostly syȝt. Lord, ȝyue here rest and pees! Line 308 Withouten ende, ȝyue here lyȝt, Euerlastynge lyȝt, þat neuere shal sees! Þou þat rered Lazar on hyȝt Out of þe graue, stynkynge fro wormes pres, Line 312 Þy pauylon of mercy be on hem pyȝt, To reste fro pyne, make hem reles.

Lectio nona: Quare de uulua [[MS. nulla]] eduxisti me qui, &c.

(40)

¶ Out of þe wombe, why hastou me broȝt, Þat wolde y hadde be fordon? Line 316 Þanne hadde I be as noȝt, Noon eyȝe hadde sene me after son; Þan hadde I be as vn wroȝt, Noȝt born from wombe to berelis doun, Line 320 Where my short dayes arn in my þoȝt, Where þay shal noȝt be ended moun.

(41)

¶ A, þerfore, lord, graunte me þes To wepe and wayle, repente my synne, Line 324 Þat y torne noȝt aȝeyn to erthe of derkenes, To stryues of deþ, be curyd þerynne, Lond of wrethes and þesternesse Þer is shadew of deþ, noon oþer wynne; Line 328 Þer woneþ euerlastynge for hem lyued mysse, Euere gryslyhede, þat neuere schal blynne.

Libera me, domine.

(42)

¶ Delyuere me, lord, from endeles deþe In þat grete dredful day, Line 332 Where heuenys schullen be styred from erþe breþe, Whenne þou shalt come to deme for ay. To heuen, or helle, þat on he geþ; Þe word be fyre, and grete afray. Line 336 Þanne, woo to the synful, his soule sleþ, And fendys claymen hym for here pray.

(43)

¶ That day shal be a day of drede, Of wraþþe and myschyf, and wrechidnesse. Line 340 Þere may no man oþere rede, Ne make amendis for his mysse. ffor worldly witnesse of synful ded, Gostly payne in bitternesse. Line 344 Þere helpeþ neþer counseil ne med; Ech man for hymself, to payne, or blysse.

(44)

¶ What shal y say for shame and drede, Or what to do, fool and nys, Line 348 Whanne y shal schewe forþ no good dede Byfore so gret iuge and wys? Al folk on me woln take hede, Wayte after vertue, and fynde vys. Line 352 Say, "God, mercy, þy dome y drede, ffor in þe, al mercy lys."

(45)

¶ Now, crist, of þy mercie we craue, Haue mercie on vs, and leue noȝt, Line 356 We byseche þe, þat come [folio 127b] mankynde to saue. To bye vs, þou from heuene vs soȝt, Oure herytage for vs to haue. Þat wern lorn, þou hast boȝt. Line 360 Wyl noȝt dampne in helle kaue, Thy honde warke þou hast wroȝt.

(46)

¶ Þe brennynge soule in helle hete, Withouten ende wepe thoo. Line 364 Allas, oure synnes don vs bete, Þay say, 'wo, wo, wo! Here is no remedie to gete.' Þay walke in derkenesse to and fro, Line 368 Þe stynk and derkenesse is so grete, Allas, in þysternesse we go.

(47)

¶ God, that art shapere of al, Of slyme of erthe þou me wroȝt. Line 372 Wiþ þy blod principal, Wonderly þou haste vs boȝt. Þouȝ my body now rote smal, My soule to my body shal be broȝt. Line 376 Out of my graue, reyse me þou schal To lyues man, and fayle noȝt,

(48)

¶ Blod and boon, flesche and felle. Here my prayer: in parfitnesse Line 380 At domesday comaunde my soule to dwelle In Abrahamys bosum, in thy blisse, Whenne þou shalt delyuere me fram syȝt of helle. Þou breke þe ȝates of helle, ywisse, Line 384 Þou souȝtest helle in peynes felle, Ȝaf lyȝt to hem in grete bryȝtnesse.

(49)

¶ Alas, y may be schamed sore, At domesday stonde in drede; Line 388 I, to come so gret a Iuge byfore, And shewe forþ no good dede, Bote fardel of synnes gadred in store; Þe fendes redy my rolle to rede, Line 392 Þe countretayle to shewe, þe score, Þe leste steppe þat euere y ȝede.

(50)

¶ The good aungel on his ryȝt syde, Whenne he hem ladde with merye songe, Line 396 And whenne he wolde noȝt folwe hy[m], glyde Out of the waye, he wente wronge; In vertues he nolde abyde; Þe good aungel mourned amonge. Line 400 "With þe soule nel y chyde; Y ȝeue þe vp for endeles longe."

(51)

¶ At domesday no man shal be excusyd, Lord ne lady, mayde ne knaue; Line 404 ffor wykked counsel scholde be refusyd, And after good counsayle craue. After warke þat þay vsed, I shal hem deme, or saue. Line 408 Þe sauyd excusyd, þe dampnyd accusyd, As thay deseruyd echon haue.

(52)

¶ Ech touche and mouynge with hys honde, Þe leste twynkelynge wyþ his eyȝe, Line 412 His wronge worke sitte or stonde, Ryde or go, sitte or lyȝe. Þouȝ he spede noȝt þere he dede fonde, Hys conscience wole hym bewrye; Line 416 Benefice, auauncement, hous or londe, The leste bargayn þat he dede bye.

XXV. (Pety Job, or Parce mihi, Domine!)

[Douce MS. 322, [At the beginning, a coat of arms painted: gules, a chevron azure, between three garbs or, 2 and 1.] leaf 10.] [57 stanzas of 12, abab, abab, and baba or bcbc, with Latin subjects.]

Here begynneth the nyne lessons of the Dirige whych Job made in hys tribulacion, lying on the Donghyll, and ben declared more opynly to lewde

mennes vnderstanding by a solempne, worthy, and dis|crete clerke, Rychard Hampole, and ys cleped pety Job, and ys full profitable to stere synners to compunccion.

(1)

Parce michi, domine, nichil enim sunt dies mei.

Lyef lord, my soule thow spare, The sothe I sey now sykerly, That my dayes nought they are; ffor though I be bryght of ble, Line 4 The fayrest man that ys oughware, Yet shall my fayrenesse fade and fle, And I shalbe wormes ware. . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 8 And when my body ys all bare, And on a bere brought shal be, I nat what I may synge thare But Parce michi, domine. Line 12

(2)

Quid est homo, quia magnificas eum?

What ys a man, wete I wolde, That magnifyeth hymself alway, But a marke, made in molde, Of a clyngyng clot of clay? Line 16 Thow shopest vs for that we shulde Haue ben in blysse for euer and ay; But nowe, allas, bothe yong and olde fforyetyñ hit bothe nyght and day. Line 20 A, good lord, what shall I say, I that stande in thys degre? I wote nothyng that helpe may But Parce michi, domine. Line 24

(3)

Aut quid opponis erga eum cor tuum, visitas eum diliculo, et subito probas illum?

Or why puttist thow thyn hert ayenst man Line 25 That thow hast so dere bought? Thow vysyteste hym, and art full fayne Sodenly to preue yef he be ought. Line 28

Line 28 To longe in synne we haue layne; ffor synne hath so oure soule thorow sought, To helpe oureself haue we no mayne, So moche woo hit hath vs wrought. Line 32 But to the pyt when we be brought, Then men woll wepe for the and me. But certes all that helpeth nought But Parce michi, domine. Line 36

(4)

Vsquequo non parcis michi nec dimittas me vt gluciam saliuam meam? peccaui.

Or why so longe or thow wolt spare Line 37 Me in synne that depe dyue? Thow woldest suffer neuer more Me to swolowe my salyue? Line 40 I haue the gylt, and greuyd sore, ffor synne with me hathe ben to ryue. But, lord, now lere me with thy lore That dedly synne fro me may dryue. Line 44 And Ihesu, for thy woundes fyue, As thow becammest man for me, When I shall passe oute of lyue, Than Parce michi, domine. Line 48

(5)

Quid faciam tibi, o custos hominum? quare posuisti me contrarium tibi, et factus sum michimet ipsi grauis?

What shall I do vn-to the, Line 49 O thow kepar of all mankynde? Of suche a matiere why madest thow me, To the contrarious me for to fynde? Line 52 O fader of heuen, fayre and fre, As thow art bothe good and hende, Yet be kynde as thow hast be, And spare me, lorde, that am vnkynde. Line 56 Thy frenshyp, fader, late me fynde, As thow art god in trinite. Of thy mercy make me haue mynde Wyth Parce michi, domine. Line 60

Line 60

(6)

[folio 10b] Cur non tollis peccatum meum, et quare non aufers iniquitatem meam?

Why takest thow nat my syn away, Line 61 A, thow god of all goodnesse? And why also, as I the say, Dost nat awey my wykednesse? Line 64 Thow madest me of a clot of clay, That breketh ofte thorough brotylnesse. ffull brotyll I am, hit ys no nay; That maketh me ofte to do amysse. Line 68 But good Ihesu, I pray thys ffor thy grete benygnyte: Thy mercy, lorde, late me nat mys, But Parce michi, domine. Line 72

(7)

Ecce, nunc in puluere dormio; et si mane me quesieris, non subsistam.

Loo, in pouder I shall slepe, Line 73 ffor owte of poudere furst I cam, And into poudere must I crepe, ffor of that same kynde I am. Line 76 That I ne am pouder I may not threpe, ffor erthe I am, as was Adam; And nowe my pytte ys doluen depe. Though men me seke, ryght nought I am. Line 80 O thow, fader Abraham, ffor Mary loue, that mayde so fre, In whos blode thy son swamme, So Parce michi, domine. Line 84

(8)

TEdet animam meam vite mee; dimittam aduer|sum me eloquium meum; loquar in amari|tudine amime mee; dicam deo, "noli me condempnare; indica michi cur me ita iudices."

Hyt forthynketh my soule y-wys, Line 85 The lyfe that I haue lad alway; ffor now my speche ayenst me ys, Sothly my lyfe I shall dysplay. Line 88

Line 88 In sorow and in bytternesse Of myn oune soule, thus shall I say: Now, good Ihesu, kynge of blysse, Dampne me nat at domesday. Line 92 And, good Ihesu, to the I pray, Telle how thus thow demest me. Nowe yeue me mercy, and say nat nay, Wyth Parce michi, domine. Line 96

(9)

Nunquid tibi bonum videtur si calumpnieris et oprimas me, opus manuum tuarum, et consilium impiorum adiuues?

Semeth hit good, lorde, vnto the, Line 97 To thryste me doune, and me accuse? I am thy werke, thow madest me: Thyne oune handwerk thow nat refuse. Line 100 Wythyn the close of cheryte, Good god, thow me recluse, And yef I gylte the in any degre, With thy mercy thow me excuse, Line 104 Ne late me neuer of maters muse That fallen vnto dyshoneste. Thys prayer thow nat recuse, But Parce michi, domine. Line 108

(10)

Nunquid oculi carnei tibi sunt aut sicut videt homo et tu vides?

Whether thyne eyen flesshly be, Line 109 Or yef thow seest as seeth a man? Nay, forsooth, but oonly we Of outeward thynges beholdyng han; Line 112 But inward thynges dost thow se, That non other may se ne can; Therfore, lorde, I pray to the, Warne me when I am mystan, Line 116 That I may flee fro foule sathan, That ys aboute to perysshe me. Lese nat thow ones wan, But Parce michi, domine. Line 120

Line 120

(11)

Nunquid sicut dies hominis dies tui et anni tui sicut humana sunt tempora?

Whether thy dayes, lord, be syke Line 121 As mennys dayes, that dwellen here, [folio 11a] Or thy yeres be ought lyke To the tymes of mannes yere? Line 124 That day a man ys fresshe and fryke, And sheweth forth a gladsom chere; But to-morow he wexeth syke, And haply borne forthe on a bere. Line 128 Thus mannes tyme ys in a were; But thy tyme stondeth in oo degre. Therfore, I pray in thys manere: Lorde, Parce michi, domine. Line 132

(12)

Vt queras iniquitatem meam, et peccatum meum scruteris, et scias quia nichil impium fecerim, cum sit nemo qui de manu tua possit eruere.

ffor to seche my wyckednesse, Line 133 And for suche thus all my synne, Me thynketh hit commeth of grete hardnes, With me, lorde, so to begynne. Line 136 Shewe thow forth thy grete goodnes, And thyne hardshyp vp thow pynne. Thynke opon the brytylnesse That alwey worcheth me withynne. Line 140 And sythen I may nat fro the twyn, Ne from thyne hande warysshed be, Though I offende more or mynne, Euer Parce michi, domine. Line 144

(13)

Manus tue fecerunt me, et plasmauerunt me totum in circuitu, et sic repente precipitas me.

Thyne handes, lorde, haue made me, Line 145 And formed me in shape of man, And me thow settest in degre Of grete nobley after than. Line 148

Line 148 But whan I, thorough the sotylte, Deceyued was of foule sathan, Thow puttedyst me fro that dignite, Heldyng doune on my brayn pan. Line 152 Noon other cause alege I can, But that synne hathe depryued me. Now, for the blood that from the ranne, So Parce michi, domine. Line 156

(14)

Memento, queso, quod sicut lutum feceris me, et in puluerem reduces me.

Haue mynde, therfore, I the pray, Line 157 O thow god, almyghty kynge. Thynke thow madest me of clay, And in-to clay thow shalt me brynge. Line 160 Suche ys thy myght, and hath be ay. And sythen thow madest furst all thynge, Who dare sey ayene the nay, To lette thy wyll or thy lykyng? Line 164 There ys man olde ne yonge That stryue dar ayenst the. Therfore, nede maketh me synge, Lorde, Parce michi, domine. Line 168

(15)

Nonne sicut lac mulsisti me, et sicut caseum me coagulasti?

Mylkedest nat me, lorde, as mylke, Line 169 With nesshe blood whan thow me made? And sythen, lord, that ylke, Ryght as the hardnesse of chese ys hade? Line 172 My bloode ys nessher than ys sylke, In reyny weder that sone woll fade, And thus me made do dedys swylke With whyche my goste ys ofte vnglade. Line 176 And thus in sinne full depe I wade, That nygh I droune thorow freelte. Although I can of synne nat sade, Yet Parce michi, domine. Line 180

Line 180

(16)

Pelle et carnibus vestisti me, ossibus et neruis compegisti me.

With flesshe and felle thow hast me cladde, Line 181 With bones and synewes togeder knyt. Lyfe and mercy of the I hadde. To gouerne me thow yaue me wyt. Line 184 To kepe thyne hestes thow me bade, And seydest that I shuld, for hit, In heuen blysse be euer gladde; [folio 11b] And yet I woll nat fro syn flytte, Line 188 But freelte, lord, so me smytte, Vnnethe kepte ys oone for me. Nat for than I pray the yet ffor Parce michi, domine. Line 192

(17)

Vitam et misericordiam tribuisti michi.

Lyfe and mercy thow yaue me ay. Line 193 When I wold thy mercy craue, Thow seydest to me nat ones nay, But glad was when I wold hit haue. Line 196 Thow were redy nyght and day With mercy, lord, me to saue; But I denyed hit alwey, So woodly syn made me to raue. Line 200 I seruyd syn, and was hys knaue. I dyd that was ayenst me. Now, lord, when I am leyde in graue, Than Parce michi, domine. Line 204

(18)

Et visitacio tua custodivit spiritum meum.

Thy vysitacion, lorde, hath kepte Line 205 My spyryte, that ys me withyn. ffor when I wolde to syn haue lepte, Than holy grace made me to blyn. Line 208 And ofte tyme I haue sore wept, The more grace of the to wyn. And thus with wepyng haue I wypt My soule, lord, from dedly synne. Line 212

Line 212 Lord, late me neuer werke begynne That in any wyse may displese the; And, som tyme though I fro the twyn, Yet, lord, Parce michi, domine. Line 216

(19)

Quantas habeo iniquitates et peccata, scelera mea atque delicta ostende michi.

What wykednes all that I haue, Line 217 With my synnes all on an hepe, Shewe me hem, or I go to graue, That I for hem may sore wepe; Line 220 My soule, lord, that I may saue ffrom the pyt of hell so depe, Where synful soules tumble and raue, In endeles woo ataketh good kepe. Line 224 Toodes of hem doth crowde and crepe, In suche peynes the soules be. ffrom that place I may nat kepe Withouten Parce michi, domine. Line 228

(20)

Cur faciem tuam abscondis, et arbitraris me inimi|cum tuum?

Why hydest thow fro me thy face Line 229 That ys so full of all fayrenesse? I mene thys somtyme thy grace, That thow withdrawest and yeuest me lace. Line 232 As thyne enemy thow dost me chace, Demyng me in grete hardnesse. Thy loue fayne wold I purchase Yef thow wolt me hit graunte of thy goodnes. Line 236 Now graunte me, lord, suche stedfastnes, That I may stande in oo degre, And though I fall thorow brotylnes, Lorde, Parce michi, domine. Line 240

(21)

Contra folium quod vento rapitur, ostendis poten|ciam tuam, et stipulam siccam persequeris.

Ayenst a leefe, that lyght ys to blowe, Line 241 To me that am freel of kynde, Thy myght and power dost thow showe, As though I myght beres bynde. Line 244 With wyndes ofte I ouerthrowe, Suche fondyng of the I fynde. I renne forthe fro rowe to rowe, Som-tyme before, somtyme behynde. Line 248 I grope as a man that ys full blynde; But though I stomble, thow folowest me. A, lord, though I to the be vnkynde, Yet Parce michi, domine! Line 252

(22)

Scribis enim contra me amaritudines, et consumere me vis peccatis adolescencie mee.

Thow wrytest, lord, ayenst me [folio 12a] Line 253 Bytternesse, that I shall rede, At domesday, in syght of the, And all the worlde in length and brede. Line 256 That I dyd in pryuyte, There opynly hit owte shall sprede; And thys thow wylt full well y-se, And distroy me for my wyked dede. Line 260 But, lorde, to the I clepe and grede, As thow art lorde of all pyte, That day when I shall drope and drede, Than Parce michi, domine! Line 264

(23)

Posuisti in neruo pedem meum, et obseruasti omnes semitas meas, et vestigia pedum meorum con|siderasti.

In a synew thow hast my feet sette, Line 265 With the whyche that I go shall, And all the pathes thow hast mette That euer I yede in wey or walle. Line 268 There ys nothyng that the may lette To knowe my steppes grete and smalle, Wycked and worse, good and bette, I wote well thow considerest alle. Line 272

Line 272 But, lorde, to the I clepe and calle; When I slyde, supporte thow me; And though somtyme I take a falle, Yet Parce michi, domine! Line 276

(24)

Qui quasi putredo consumendus sum, et quasi vestimentum, quod commeditur a tinea.

The whyche as rotyng shall consume, Line 277 And fare as mowthe eten cloth; And as from the fyre departeth fume, So body and soule asundre goth. Line 280 I am made of a lothly hume; Hit ys a thyng to man most loth. Wherof than shulde I presume To be hygh-herted or lyghtly wroth? Line 284 Though I be he that ofte mys doth, Of mercy art thow large and fre. As I leue that thys ys soth, So Parce michi, domine! Line 288

(25)

HOmo natus de muliere, breui viuens tempore, repletur multis miserijs,

A man that ys of a woman bore, Line 289 But lytell whyle he lyueth here, And euery day more and more Replenysshed ys with synnes sere; Line 292 With hote and colde, and hungor sore, Turmented ys from yere to yere, And ofte hym wanteth goddys lore, That gostly wey, he shuld lere. Line 296 And thus he wandreth in a were, As a man blynde, and may nat se. Therfore I pray the, with louely chere, ffor Parce michi, domine! Line 300

(26)

Qui quasi flos egreditur et conteritur, et fugit velud vmbra, et nunquam in eodem statu permanet.

The whyche spryngeth oute as a floure, Line 301 That groweth fresshe, all men to glade;

But when he with a sharpe shoure Ys smyten, begynneth sone to fade. Line 304 So lese I the fayre coloure That god almyghty furst in me made, And thus I chaunge in euery shoure, And fle away ryght as a shade. Line 308 And herewith I am full lade With synnes of diuerse degre. Of heuen blysse me nought degrade, But Parce michi, domine! Line 312

(27)

Et dignum ducis super huiuscemodi aperire oculos tuos, et adducere eum tecum in iudicium.

And, lord, thow lettest that hit be dygne Line 313 Thyne eyen to opene vppon suche on, And hym thow shewest, by that sygne, That he, with the, to dome shall gone. Line 316 Haue mercy on me, Ihesu benygne! Me thynketh myn hert ys harder than a ston, [folio 12b] And besyed with a spiryte maligne. My flesshe, the worlde, then ben my fone. Line 320 These ben myn enemyes, lord, echone, Euer aboute to perysshe me. Lorde, for the loue of Mary and Iohn Euer Parce michi, domine! Line 324

(28)

Quis potest mundum de immundo conceptum semine? nonne tu, qui solus es?

But, lord, who may clene make Line 325 Conceyued thyng of seede vnclene? Nat thow? A, yes, I vnderstande, Yef the lyste to make hit clene. Line 328 Allas, I walke in a lake Of dedly synne that doth me tene. But, lorde, for the loue of Maryes sake, Amende the harme that I of mene. Line 332 Y-wys I am nat worthe a bene, Of my sylfe, to commendyd be. Yet helpe me, lorde, with thy grace shene, And euer Parce michi, domine! Line 336

Line 336

(29)

Breues dies hominis sunt, numerus mensium eius apud te est.

Mennes dayes ben shorte, beware, Line 337 And therto take good entente; ffor in respyte of tyme euermare They beth nothyng equipolent. Line 340 The nombre of hys monthes are Alwey at the, lorde, verament. Oure lyfe ys nought but sorow and care Tyll we be passed iugement. Line 344 My wyttes, lorde, I haue myspent, That thow me yaue to rewle with me. But that I may ryse vp, and here repent, Lorde, Parce michi, domine! Line 348

(30)

Constituisti terminos eius, qui preteriri non pote|runt.

Hys termes, lord, thow hast ordeyned, Line 349 How longe he shall now lyue here; That may he nat passe, ne be refreyned, But by thyne absolute power. Line 352 Thys sentence may be well susteyned By a story, as we may here, Howe Ezechye to deth-ward peyned, And yet god addyd ouer xv yere. Line 356 Hys kyndly tyme was comen full nere, But for hys synnes tho wepte he. Lorde, yeue me grace, that I may here Haue Parce michi, domine! Line 360

(31)

Recede ergo paululum ab eo, vt quiescat, donec optata veniat, et sicut mercenarij dies eius.

Therfore, lord, a lytell go awey. Line 361 Withdrawe thyn hande, that man may rest Tyll he desyre hys dethe day, And wylne to be shut vp in hys cheste, Line 364 And late hym lyue, yef hym lust ay. Thys holde I, lorde, for the beste.

All disease from hym delay Tyll the careyn in erthe be keste. Line 368 Allas, all thys world now ys myswrest, To carpe thys, lorde, ayenst the. Make me to thy mercy trest, ffor Parce michi, domine! Line 372

(32)

Quis michi hoc tribuat, vt in inferno protegas me, donec pertranseat furor tuus?

Who to me may yeue or graunte, Line 373 ffor loue or any affeccioun, ffro thy wrathe that ys duraunte, I may haue my proteccioun? Line 376 In helle yef I be concurraunte, There am I in subieccioun. In heuen though thow woldest me haunte, Yet there am I at thy correccioun. Line 380 I may nat from thy respeccioun By no way, lorde, hyde now me. Therfore seye I thys lessoun Of Parce michi, domine. Line 384

(33)

Et constituas michi in quo recorderis mei.

And thow woldest a tyme ordeyne [folio 13a] Line 385 In whyche thow woldest of me haue mynde, With som solace me to susteyne, That of thy blysse am so fere behynde. Line 388 My woo from the can I nat leyne, But telle hit the, for thow art kynde. I am fast bounde here with a cheyne Of dedly synne, full wele I fynde. Line 392 But woldest thow, lorde, me vnbynde Thorough the vertew of thy pyte, Than were I glad, and lyght as lynde, To haue Parce michi, domine. Line 396

(34)

Putasne mortuus homo rursum viuat?

Trowest thow nat that man shal ryse Line 397 Ayene to lyfe, that dyed onys? Yes, and that in a wonderful wyse,

With flesshe and felle, bloode and bones. Line 400 Than shal god hys dome deuyse, And to hym take the good att ones; But dampned soules shullen sore gryse, And yeue a shoute with hydous grones. Line 404 Thys make they shull wofull mones; All that shullen dampned be, That I may dwelle withyn the wones Of Parce michi, domine! Line 408

(35)

Cunctis diebus quibus nunc milito, expecto donec veniat immutacio mea.

All the dayes that I lyue here Line 409 In thys wofull wepyng dale, I byde alwey, from yere to yere, Tyll I chaunge, as men do fall. Line 412 Change I shall withouten were, Nat ay be dwellyng in thys vale; But, lorde, whan I am leyde on bere, Hye vp to heuen my soule hale,— Line 416 ffor there commyn neyther grete ne smale But thow drawe hem, lorde, to the,— That my soule be not in bale, But Parce michi, domine! Line 420

(36)

Vocabis me, et ego respondebo tibi; operi manu|um tuarum porriges dexteram.

Thow shalt me call at domesday, Line 421 When thow art set on iugement, And I to the, wythouten delay, Shall yeue my answere verament. Line 424 But, good Ihesu, to the I pray, Thynke alwey with full entent Thow madest me of a clot of clay; Thyne handwerke helpe, as thow furst ment; Line 428 And with my thought I haue myspent, Thorough malyce, here, of frealte: Here, leof lorde, late me repente, But Parce michi, domine! Line 432

Line 432

(37)

Tu quidem gressus meos dinumerasti, sed parce peccatis meis.

fforsothe, my steppys euerychone Line 433 Thow nombred hast, and tolde hem all. But, lorde, to the I make my mone, As thow art lord of heuen and hell. Line 436 Vertues, lorde, though I haue none, Late thy grace in me now welle; ffor woo ys hym that stante alone, And hathe noon helpe yef that he fall. Line 440 My syn ys bytter than eysell or gall, And stynketh, lorde, in syght of the. But nought for than to the I call ffor Parce michi, domine! Line 444

(38)

Spiritus meus attenuabitur, dies mei breuiabun|tur, et solum michi superest sepulcrum.

My spyryt shal be feble and feynt Line 445 When I am fallen in any age, My dayes, make I neuer so queynt, Shullen abrege and somwhat swage, Line 448 And I ful sone shal be atteynt Whan I haue loste myn hote corage; And though I dyed than as doth a seynt, A pyt shal be myne herytage; Line 452 In erthe gete I non other wage [folio 13b] Off all rychesse that man may se. Whan I am closed in that cage, Than Parce michi, domine! Line 456

(39)

Non peccaui, et in amaritudinibus moratur oculus meus.

I haue nat synned wylfully Line 457 Thorow my feynt, feble nature, Ne greued the so greuosly, Wherfore I shulde thys wo endure. Line 460 Thow punysshest me, and I not why, Passing resoun and good mesure.

Hit ys my flessh, lorde, and nat I, That grocheth ayenst thyn hard reddure. Line 464 But, lorde, as I am thy creature, And that ylke god that boughtest me, So my care recouere and cure With Parce michi, domine! Line 468

(40)

Dies mei transierunt, cogitaciones mee dissipate sunt, torquentes cor meum.

My dayes, lorde, passed are, Line 469 And olde I am, I am no faunt. My thoughtes wandre wyde whare, ffor they ben, lorde, full variaunte. Line 472 Myne herte they greuyn wonder sare, ffor euer aboute hym they haunte. Thys maketh me to drowpe and dare That I am lyke a pore penaunte. Line 476 Though I be, lorde, vnsuffisaunte, Any helpe to gete of the, Yet, for I am thy creaunte, Lorde, Parce michi, domine! Line 480

(41)

Noctem verterunt in diem, et rursum post tenebras spero lucem.

The nyght they turned in-to the day, Line 481 ffor they maden me to wake all nyght. I myght nat slepe by no way, Suche thoughtes were in myn hert plyght. Line 484 In derkenesse dymme as I so lay, Yet hoped I after the clere day lyght; But thoughtys me so trobled ay, That I was than a wofull wyght. Line 488 But, lorde, as thow art mekyl of myght, All euyll thoughtes put fro me, And that I of the may haue a syght, Lorde, Parce michi, domine! Line 492

(42)

Si sustinuero, infernus domus mea est; in tenebris straui lectulum meum.

Lorde, yef I shall suffre thys grete disese, Line 493 Hit woll me brynge vnto my graue. And yet ywys I may nat chese, Whether I be kyng, knyght or knaue. Line 496 In derkenesse dymme, all oute of ese, My lytell bed spred I haue; That bed shall I neuer lese, Though I wolde for angor raue, Line 500 Tyll the day of dome, that of my graue I shall aryse, and mo with me. My soule, lorde, I pray, thow saue With Parce michi, domine! Line 504

(43)

Putredini dixi, pater meus es; mater mea et soror mea, vermibus.

To roten erthe, ryght thus sayde I, Line 505 "Thow art my fader of whom I cam," And vnto wormes sekurly, "Thow art my moder, thy son I am; [[MS. am I]] Line 508 My systren all ye bene, for why, None other then ye, forsoth I am." I shall call hem sustres, lo, for thy, ffor I shall roote amonge hem. Line 512 Of the lowest erthe god made Adam, Of whyche my kynde I had, as he. Now, lorde, that art lykened to a lambe, So Parce michi, domine! Line 516

(44)

Vbi est ergo nunc prestolacio [folio 14a] mea et paciencia mea? tu es, domine, deus meus.

Where ys myn abydyng nowe, Line 517 And all my pacience therto? They ben away, I wote neuer howe, ffor sothe me wanteth bothe two Line 520 Yef myn hert be styf and towe, To thanke the in wele and woo, Hit ys nat I, but only thow, Thow art my lord and god also. Line 524

Line 524 O thow grete lord, alpha and oo, Helpe me, for thy grete pyte! I haue y-nowgh, I pray the, hoo, And Parce michi, domine! Line 528

(45)

PElli mee consumptis carnibus adhesit os meum, et derelicta sunt tantummodo labia circa dentes meos.

TO my skyn my mouth ys, lo, Line 529 And cleued fast, as ye se may; And wasted ys my flesshe also, And bothe my lyppes ben away. Line 532 My whyte tethe, they ben full bloo. Ye wolde be agaste, yef ye me say. Myne heryng ys full clene ago, Myne eyen ben dymme, þat weren ful gray; Line 536 And I that was full stoute and gay, ffull horyble am now opon to se. Tyme ys that men now for me pray, ffor Parce michi, domine! Line 540

(46)

Miseremini, miseremini mei, saltem vos, amici mei, quia manus domini tetigit me.

. Reweth on me, reweth on me! Line 541 My frendes namly, now helpeþ at nede! ffor I am there I may nat fle. The hande of god ful sore I drede. Line 544 And frendes, seeth that I am he, Thys other day that on the erth yede. Now helpe, yef that youre wyll be, With prayer, fastyng, and almes-dede. Line 548 ffor these mowen best gete me mede With Placebo And Dirige. Herewith my soule I pray yow fede, With Parce michi, domine! Line 552

(47)

Quare persequimini me sicut deus, et carnibus meis saturamini?

Why, as god, do ye pursewe Line 553 Me that suffre these sharpe shoures?

Ye lat me peyne here in a peynfull pewe, That ys a place of grete doloures. Line 556 Yow I chese for frendes trewe, And made yow myne executoures. But tyme shall come that ye shall rewe That euer ye were to me so false treytoures. Line 560 My good ye spent, as hit were youres, But nat a peny yeuyn ye me. Nowe for all suche faytoures, Lorde, Parce michi, domine! Line 564

(48)

Quis michi tribuat, vt scribantur sermones mei?

Who may graunte me thys boone, Line 565 That my wordes wreten were In ensample of euerychon That hap may to ben in care? Line 568 ffor yef they wolden make moone, Eyther groche with hert sare Ayenst god, that sytteth in troone, Because, yef they wolden spare, Line 572 And make nat so ferly fare, But take ensample wolden of me. Now, lorde, as I am but wormes ware, So Parce michi, domine! Line 576

(49)

Quis michi det vt exarentur in libro stilo ferreo, aut plumbi lamina vel celte sculpantur in silice?

Who shall graunt me, or I be dede, Line 577 To wryte hem by oon and oone, My booke with ynke blak or rede, Made with gumme and vermylone? Line 580 Or ellys yet in plate of lede, Or grauen in harde flynte of stone, [folio 14b] That all men, where euer they yede, Myght otherwhyle loke theropon? Line 584 I wolde my frendys and my foon Ensample take myght by me. As thow art thre, and god aloon, Now Parce michi, domine! Line 588

Line 588

(50)

Scio enim quod redemptor meus viuit, et in nouis|simo die de terra surrecturus sum, et rursum circumdabor pelle mea, et in carne mea videbo deum, saluatorem meum.

I wote ryght well that myn redemptour Line 589 Lyueth yet, and lyue shall aye, And I shall ryse, I not what oure, Oute of the erthe on domysdaye, Line 592 And take to me my furst coloure, In flesshe and felle, clad on clay. And so shall I see my sauyour Deme the worlde in wondre aray. Line 596 The wikked than, withouten delay, As arowes, to helle they shullen fle. Lorde, that I go nat that way, So Parce michi, domine! Line 600

(51)

Quem visurus sum ego ipse, et oculi mei conspec|turi sunt, et non alius.

Whan I mysylfe shall see in syght Line 601 With eyen clere, and hert[e] stable, And knowe hym as god almyght, That was for me man disparitable, Line 604 Shall ther fore me noon other wyght Se my god that ys durable, But I mysylfe, with eyen bryght, Shall hym beholde most honorable. Line 608 O lord, that charyte that ys so amyable, And bryght shynyng in thy mageste, That syght to se, lord, make me able, Thorow Parce michi, domine! Line 612

(52)

Reposita est hec spes mea in sinu meo.

Thys hope ys in myn hert[e] sette, Line 613 That neuer from me shall dysseuere. Thereyn my truste also ys knette, The whyche to haue now ys me leuere. Line 616 I hope to god that I shall gete

Of all diseases yet rekeuere, And se my lorde in hys turete, With whom I hope to dwelle euer. Line 620 Though I be synfull, lorde, take me neuer In any thyng that may displese the. Thy blysse, late me haue for euer, Thorough Parce michi, domine! Line 624

(53)

Quare de vulua eduxisti me, qui vtinam con|sumptus essem, ne oculus me videret?

lord, why leddest thow so me Line 625 A, Oute of the wombe that I was in? Wold god I had consumed be With-in myn oune moders skynne, Line 628 That the eye, with whyche I se, Had nat seyn nomore ne mynne, That I myght in that degre Neuer haue wyste what had be synne, Line 632 ffor syn maketh me from the to twynne, That of nought madest thow me. Thy mercy, lord, make me to wynne With Parce michi, domine! Line 636

(54)

ffuissem quasi non essem, de vtero translatus ad tumulum.

And, wold god, that I be hadde Line 637 As a thyng that neuer was; ffor all with synne I am be-stadde, And euery day I do trespas. Line 640 No wonder though I be vngladde, And though I synge often allas; ffor pure woo I wexed madde, Nere goddys mercy my solas. Line 644 Lo, lorde, lo, I am ryght as A wytles man withouten the; But as thow of plente mercy has, [folio 15a] So Parce michi, domine! Line 648

(55)

Nunquid non paucitas dierum meorum finietur breui?

Whether the fewnes of my dayes Line 649 Shull nat hastyly haue an ende? Sythen I can se by no worldly wayes, But oute of the world sone shal I wende, Line 652 The worldes wyles ryght nat me payes, ffor they ben false and full vn-thende. My flesshly lust my soule affrayes, And I am tempted with the fende. Line 656 Thys maketh me to bowe and bende Alwey to syn, that woo ys me. Lord, that art curteys and hende, So Parce michi, domine! Line 660

(56)

Dimitte ergo me, domine, vt plangam paululum dolorem meum, antequam vadam, et non reuertar ad terram tenebrosam et opertam mortis caligine,

Therfore, lord, suffer thow me Line 661 A lytell what, that, whyl I may, The tyme that euer I greved the In ded or thought, by nyght or day, Line 664 And graunt me, yef thy wyl be, That here in erthe wepe I may, The derke lande that I neuer se, That keuered ys with black alway. Line 668 Now, good Ihesu, to the I pray, As thow art god in trinite, ffrom that londe thow kepe me ay, Thorow Parce michi, domine! Line 672

(57)

Terram miserie et tenebrarum, vbi vmbra mortis et nullus ordo, sed sempiternus horror inhabitans.

The londe of myschyef and of derknes, Line 673 Where as dampned soules dwell, The londe of woo and of wrechednesse, Where ben mo peynes than tonge may telle, Line 676 The londe of dethe and of duresse, In whyche noon order may dwelle, The londe of wepyng and of drerynesse, And stynkyng sorow on to smelle: Line 680

Line 680 Now from that londe that cleped ys helle, Worthy lord, rescue now thow me, So that I maye euer with the dwelle Thorough Parce michi, domine! Line 684 Here endeth the ix lessons of the Dirige, which Yob made in his tribulacion.

XXVI. Here begynneth a tretyse of Parce michi, domine.

[Douce 322, leaf 15.] [19 stanzas of 8, 12 or 16, in alternates.] [A picture comes here of a man lying in a field under a tree. A dejected-looking bird stands near, with a scroll coming from its mouth, on which are the words "Parce michi."—A. F. P.]

(1)

By a forest syde, walkyng as I went, Disporte to take, in o mornyng, A place I fonde shadyd with bowes I-bent, Y-set aboute with floures so swete smellyng. Line 4 I leyde me doune apon that grene, And caste myn eyen me aboute; I fonde there byrdys with feders shene, Many oon sittyng apon a rowte. Line 8 Oon byrde there-by sate on a brere: Here federes were pulled, she myght nat fle. She sate and sange with mornyng chere, "Parce michi, domine! Line 12

(2)

Spare me, lorde, kyng of pyte," Thus seyng thys byrde in pore aray; "My myrthe ys go, and my iolyte, I may nat fle as other may. Line 16 My federes shene bene pulled me fro, My youth, my streyngthe, and my beawte. Wher-thorough I take thys songe me to: [folio 15b] Parce michi, domine!" Line 20

(3)

When I herde thys mornyng song, I drewe to thys byrde nere and nere,

And asked who had don thys wrong, And brought her in so drowpyng chere, Line 24 And who had pulled her feders awey, That shuld her bere from tre to tre, And why she sange in her lay Parce michi, domine! Line 28

(4)

The byrde answered, and seyde me tyll, "Man, be in pese, for crystes sake. Yef I shewe the myn hertys wyll, Peynes me sore woll awake. Line 32 Yef thow wolt take my worde in mynde, There shall no sorow be my lettyng, That I nyll holy myne herte vnbynde, And sothely telle the thyne askyng, Line 36 Whyche were my feders that were so clere, And who hath pulled hem all fro me, And why I syt singyng on brere Parce michi, domine! Line 40

(5)

ffeders iiij I had y-wys, The two were set on euery wynge. They bare me breme to my blys, Where me lust be at my lykyng. Line 44 The furst was 'youth,' the ij^de 'beawte,' 'Streyngth' and 'ryches' the other two. And now they been, as thow mayst se, All iiij federes fallen me fro. Line 48 My principall federe, youthe hit was. He bare me ofte to nysete; Wherefore my songe ys now, allas, Parce michi, domine! Line 52

(6)

In youthe I wrought folyes fele, My hert was set so hygh in pryde, To synne I yaue me euerydele, Spared I neyther tyme ne tyde. Line 56 I was redy to make debate. My lyfe stode ofte in mechyll drede;

And my lykyng, to walke late, And haue my luste of sinfull dede. Line 60 I was now here, I was now there, Vnstable I was in all degre. To hym I crye, that Mary bare, Parce michi, domine! Line 64

(7)

ffor Salamon seyth in his poyse, Thre weyes there beth full harde to knowe: Oon ys a shyp that sayleth in the see, An egle an hygh, a worme in lowe. Line 68 And of the fourth, telle he ne can: Hit ys so wonderfull in hys heryng, The weyes of a yonge man, Whyche that ben here at theyre lykyng. Line 72 And now hathe age y-smete me fro My pryncipall feder of Iolyte. ffor all that euer I haue mys-do, Parce michi, domine! Line 76

(8)

My ij^de feder hyght 'bewte.' I helde my selfe so clere of shappe, That all the peple shuld loke on me, And worshyp me with hood and cappe. Line 80 My rudde was rede, my colour clere, Me thought neuer none so fayre as I, In all a contre, ferre ne nerre, In fetewres and shap so comly. Line 84 My forhede large, my browes bent; My eyen clere, and corage bolde. My shappe ne myght no man amende, Me thought my self so fayre to beholde. Line 88 And yet I was begyled in syght. The myrrour, lorde, disceued me. Wherfore I aske, lorde, of thy myght, Parce michi, domine! Line 92

(9)

Thys feder me bare full ofte to synne, And pryncipally to lechery.

Clyppyng and kyssyng cowde I nat blynne, Me thought hit crafte of curtesy. Line 96 A cusse, hit ys the deuylles gynne; Ofte of hit aryseth woo and wrake. The deuyll with cusse many doth wynne. I counseyle the, thow syn forsake. Line 100 Sampson loste hys streyngth therfore, [folio 16a] Dauid hys grace, for bersabee, Tyll he cryed with wordes sore Parce michi, domine! Line 104

(10)

Salamon, that worthy kyng, ffull fayre he was from top to toe, Wherfore in hys age yong He was amabilis domino; Line 108 That after he felle foule and sore ffor luste of wemen that was hym nygh. They fonned hym in hys age hore, That he forsoke hys god on hygh. Line 112 Nat oonly these, but many mo Bewte hath begyled, ywys. I wote well I am oon of tho; I can the better telle thys. Line 116 Nowe hathe age y-smyte me fro My secund feder, that hyght beawte. ffor all that euer I haue mysdo, Parce michi, domine! Line 120

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My thryd feder, 'streynght' hyght. My name was knowe on euery syde, ffor I was man of mochell myght, And meny oon spake of me full wyde. Line 124 To pryke and praunce I was full prest, My streyngthe to kepe in euery place; And euermore I had the best: Suche was my hap, suche was my grace. Line 128 My streyngth full ofte me drowe amys, And torned me, lorde, clene fro the. Now, kyng crouned in heuen blys, Parce michi, domine! Line 132

Line 132

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Thys feder bare me beyonde the see, To gete me name in vncouth lande. To robbe and slee, had I deynte, Ne spared I neyther for no bande. Line 136 Of holy churche toke I no yeme, Bokes to take, ne vestement. There myght nothyng so moche me queme As robbe, or se an abbey brente. Line 140 With streyngth I gate me grete aray, Precious clothes, golde, and fee. I thought full lytell on that day, Parce michi, domine! Line 144

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When Nabugodonozor, ferse in fyght, Ierusalem had thought to wynne, And so he dyd with mayne and myght, And brent the temples that were theryn, Line 148 And all the golde that he there founde, He toke with hym, and home gan ryde, Hym thought there shuld nothyng withstonde; Hys hert was sette so hygh in pryde, Line 152 Tyll the kyng of myghtes moste Brought hym there that lowest was, And caught hym from hys ryall hoste, And drofe hym to a wyldernesse. Line 156 And there he lyuyd with herbe and rote, Walkyng euer on foot and on honde, Tyll cryste of mercy dede hym bote, And hys pryson oute of bonde. Line 160 Than sayde thys kyng these wordys y-wys: 'All thyng be, lorde, at thy pouste; Mercy I crye, I haue do mys; Parce michi, domine!' Line 164

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Whyle I had my streyngth at wyll, ffull many a man I dyd vnreste. They that wold nat myne heste fulfyll, My knyfe was redy to hys breste. Line 168

Line 168 And nowe I syt here blynde and lame, And croked ben my lymes all. I was full wylde, I am now tame. Thys feder of streyngth ys fro me fall. Line 172 And now hathe age smetyn me fro My thryd feder of iolyte. ffor all that euer I haue mysdo, Parce michi, domine! Line 176

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My fourth feder, 'Ryches' was. To make hit shyne, I trauayled sore. I wente in many a perylous place, Well ofte my lyfe was nygh for-lore. [folio 16b] Line 180 By dale, by doune, by wodes syde, I boode many a bytter shoure; In salt see I sayled well wyde ffor to multiply my tresoure. Line 184 With false sleyghtes I gate my good, In Couetyse I grounded me. Ihesu, for thy precious blood, Parce michi, domine! Line 188

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When I was seker of golde y-nowgh, I gan to ryde abowte well faste. I purchased moche, and god wote howgh. I wende thys lyfe wolde euer haue laste. Line 192 I lete me bylde castelles and toures, Withoute y-warded with stronge dyches, Withyn y-bylde halles and bowres; There was no toure my castell lyche. Line 196 In thys was set all my lykyng, And torned me, lorde, holy from the. To the I crye now, heuen kyng, Parce michi, domine! Line 200

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When I was most in all my flowres, And had aboute me wyfe and chylde, I lost my catell and my toures. Then wexed myn hert in party mylde. Line 204