_Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 10,036, lf. 62._
++IN honorance of ih{es}u cryst
Sitteþ stille {and} haueþ lyst;
And ȝif ȝe wille to me here,
Off oure ladi ȝe mai lere, 4
Floure of heuene, ladi {and} quene,
As sche auȝt wel to bene,
To wham au{n}geles dou{n} here myȝt
To serue hure boþe day {and} nyȝt. 8
P{ar} auent{ur}e ȝe haue noȝt iherde
How oure ladi went out of þ{i}s werde:
Sitteþ stille {and} herkeneþ to me;
Now ih{es}u cryst oure helpe be! 12
¶ Whan ih{es}u c{ri}st was don on rode,
{And} þolede deþ for vre gode, 12
He clepede to hym sei{n}t Iohan
Þ{a}t was his oȝe qenes man,
{And} his oȝene moder also;
Ne clepede he hym fere{n} no mo. 16
¶ Whan ih{es}u c{ri}st was dou{n} on þe rode
And þolede deþ for oure goode,
He callide to hym seynt Iohan,
That was his fleschli kynnes man. 16
His moder swete he dide also;
He callid no men mo him to.
And sede, “wif, lo her þi child,
Þ{a}t on þe rode is ispild.
[_No gap in MS._]
Nu ihc am ho{n}ged on þis tre,
Wel sore ihc wot hit reweþ þe. 20
Mine fet {and} honden of blod [buþ red];
Biþute gult ih[c] þolie þis ded.
And seide, “wo{m}man, lo here þi sone,
And, man, take hure to mod{er} i{n} good wone. 20
And þenkeþ on my sorwe nowe
How I hange here abowe,
How I hange apon{e} a tre,
Ful sore, I wote, hit reweþ þee. 24
[Sidenote: [leaf 62, back]]
Myn feet, myn hondes, of blode ben rede;
With owte gilt I þole dede.
Mine men þ{a}t aȝte me to loue,
For whan ihc co{m} fram heuene abuue, 24
Me haueþ idon þis ilke schame,
Ihc naue no gult; hi buþ to blame.
To mi fader ihc bidde mi bone
Þ{a}t he forȝiue hit hem welsone.” 28
But þei haue wille to louen me
For wham I hange on þis tree. 28
The Iewis me deden mychel schame;
Ther of hadde I neu{er} blame.”
[Headnote: _Jesus entrusts Mary to John._]
¶ Marie stod {and} sore weop;
Þe t{er}res feolle to hire fet.
No wu{n}der nas þeȝ heo wepe sore;
Of soreȝe ne miȝte heo wite nomore, 32
Whe{n}ne he þ{a}t of hire nam blod {and} fless,
Also his suete wille was,
He{n}g Inayled on þe treo.
++MArie his moder sore dide wepe;
The teeres fellen at hure fete. 32
Nas no wondre þouȝ sche wepe sore;
Of sorwe wist sche neu{er} more.
When he þat of hure flesche nam,
For his holi swete nam, 36
Honge þ{er} nailed to a tre,
“Alas, my sone,” seide heo, 36
“Hu may ihc liue? hu may þis beo?
Hu mai ihc al þis soreȝe iseo?
Ne cuþe ihc neure of soreȝe noȝt;
Mi leue sone, wat hastu þoȝt? 40
Hou schal ihc lyue biþute þe?
Leue sone, what seistu me?”
“Alas, my sone,” þo saide sche,
“How mai I lyue? how mai I bene?
How mai I þis sorwe ysene? 40
Neu{er} ere wist I of sorwe nouȝt;
Leue sone, what hauest þou þouȝt?
How schal I leue w{i}t{h} oute þee?
Leue sone, what saist þou to me?” 44
¶ Þo spac ih{es}u wordes gode,
Þ{er} he heng vpon þe rode, 44
{And} sede to his moder dere,
“Ihc schal þe teche a trewe ifere,
Þ{a}t trewliche schal loky þe,
Þe while þ{a}t þu in erþe be.” 48
Ih{es}u spak þo wordes goode,
As he henge on þe rode,
And seide to his moder dere,
“I schal þee take a trewe fere, 48
[Sidenote: [leaf 63]]
That trewly schal kepen þee,
While in erþe þou schalt be.”
¶ Þo seide vre lord to sei{n}t Iohan,
“For my loue qep me þis wymman.
Ȝem hire wel wiþ al þi miȝte
Þ{a}t noman do hure non vnriȝte.” 52
Than seide Ih{es}u to seynt Iohan,
“For my loue kepe wel þis wo{m}man. 52
Kepe hure wel w{i}t{h} al þi myȝt,
That no man do hure vnryȝt.”
¶ Þan nam þe apostel, seynt Iohan,
On his kepynge þis wo{m}man. 56
He kept hure wel w{i}t{h} al his myȝt,
That no man do hure none vnryȝt.[A-1]
[Footnote A-1: MS. viryȝt]
In to þe te{m}ple mid hire he nam,
{And} also sone so he þar cam,
Amo{n}g þe lefdis in þe stede,
God to s{er}ui he hire dude. 56
To þe temple he hure nam,
And also sone as he þer cam, 60
God to serue he hure dede,
Amonge þe nu{n}nes in þat stede.
Þ{er} bilefte heo al hure lif;
Ne louede he noþ{er} fiȝt ne st{ri}f,
Þeo þ{a}t in þe temple were,
Ne miȝte noȝt hire forbere. 60
Wiþ al hure miȝte þe while heo was þore,
Heo s{er}uede boþe lasse {and} more;
Poure {and} sike he dude god,
{And} seruede he{m} to hond {and} fot. 64
Ther sche bileft al hure lyfe,
Ne loued sche noþ{er} fiȝt ne stryf. 64
¶ The ladies þat þ{er} Inne weren,
Ful wel þei ne myȝt hure forberen,
For eu{er} þe while sche was þore,
Sche wolde serue las {and} more. 68
Seke {and} hole sche dide gode
And seruede hem to hande {and} fote.
Poure {and} hu{n}grie wel faire he fedde,
{And} sike heo broȝte in here bedde.
Nas þ{er} non so hol ne fer,
Þ{a}t to hire nadde mester. 68
Hi louede hure alle wiþ here miȝte,
For heo seruede he{m} wel riȝte.
Naked {and} hungry sche cloþed {and} fedde;
Colde {and} seke sche brouȝt to bedde. 72
[Sidenote: [leaf 63, back]]
Ne was þ{er} noþ{er} seke ne fere,
That þei nadde to hure mystere.
Thei louede hure wel w{i}t{h} al here myȝt;
Sche it serued {and} þat was ryȝt. 76
He wakede more þane slep;
Hire sone to s{er}ui was al hire kep. 72
To him heo clupede wiþ Murie steuene,
{And} hire he sente an au{n}gel fram heu{e}ne,
Te gladie hire him self he cam,
Crist þ{a}t fless of hire nam. 76
Sche woke more þan sche slepe;
Hure sone to serue was al hure kepe,
To hym sche callid w{i}t{h} rewful steuene,
And he hure sent an angel fro heuene, 80
To glade hure, hym self he cam,
That of hure bodi flesche nam.
[Headnote: _Christ sends to Mary an angel messenger._]
¶ Sei{n}t Ion hire kepte {and} was hire dere;
He was hire eure a trewe fere.
Nolde he neure fram hire gon;
Al þ{a}t heo wolde he dude anon. 80
Þe whiles hi were in þ{a}t stede,
Al þ{a}t heo wolde he hit dede.
Whane heo hadde beo þ{er} longe,
Ten wynt{er}e he{m} amonge, 84
Hire sone wolde heo come hym to,
Whane he hit wolde, hit was ido.
Seynt Io{ha}n hure kep{er} was hure dere,
And to hure was a trewe fere. 84
Ne wolde he neu{er} fro hure gone;
Al þat sche wolde he wolde done.
While sche was in þat stede,
Al þat sche wolde he hure dede. 88
When sche hadde þ{er} longe ben,
That faire ladi, heuene quen,
Than wolde hure sone sche com hi{m} to.
When he wolde, hit was do. 92
¶ He sente hire on Au{n}gel of heuene,
{And} grette hire wiþ murie steuene. 88
In þe temple he bad hire bede;
Þ{er} liȝte þe au{n}gel i{n} þ{a}t stede,
{And} sede, “lefdi ful of grace,
He sent to hure an angel of heuene,
That gret hure w{i}t{h} myry steuene,
Ther sche was {and} bad hure bede,
Lyȝth an angel in þat stede, 96
[Sidenote: [leaf 64]]
And seide, “ladi, ful of g{ra}ce,
[Headnote: _The angel announces that Mary will be summoned to heaven._]
“Wel þe beo in eche place. 92
Ne beo noȝt of drad þeȝ ihc beo her;
Ihc am þi sones Messager.
Fram hym to þe ihc am icome
Þe grette wel þi dere sone. 96
Flur of erþe, of heuene quen,
Iblessed mote þu eure ben.
“Blessed be þou in eche place.
Be nouȝt adrad þouȝ I be here;
I am þi sones messagere. 100
Fro hym I am to þee come;
He gret þee wel, þi dere sone.
Floure of erþe, heuene quene,
Blessed mote þ{o}u euer bene. 104
Wel beo þe time þ{a}t þu were ibore,
For al þis wordle were forlore; 100
Ef þu nere {and} þ{a}t frut of þe,
Marie lefdi, wel þe be.
Lefdi, best of alle þinge,
Wel bliþe bode ihc þe bringe, 104
Nym þis palm wiþ þi riȝt honde;
Hit is þi dere sones sonde.
Wel be þat tyme þat þ{o}u was born,
For al þis worlde hit was forlorn,
Ȝif þou ne were {and} þe fruyt of þee;
Marie, ladi, wel þee be. 108
Ladi, best of al þinge,
Bliþe tiþynges I þee brynge,
Thou take þis palme þ{a}t I brynge þee;
Thi dere sone haþ sent it þee. 112
He þinkeþ lo{n}g hym to se;
Ne schaltu her no leng{er} beo. 108
He wile senden aft{er} þe,
Fram heuene adun of his meigne,
{And} fecche þe in to his blisse,
Þ{a}t eure schal leste wiþute misse. 112
Þer he is kyng þu schalt beo quen;
Al heuene for þe schal bliþe beon.”
The þynkeþ longe hi{m} to see;
Ther fore most I no lengere be,
He schal sende after þee
Of heuene ferde moche plente, 116
And brynge þee in to his blisse,
That euer was {and} now is.
Þer he is kyng, þou schalt be quene;
Al heuen ryche bliþe schal bene. 120
[Sidenote: [leaf 64, back]]
And alle him þenkeþ swiþe longe
Til þou comest hem amonge.”
¶ Þa{n}ne ansuaredi vre lefdi,
To þe au{n}gel þat stod hire by, 116
“Artu Mi sones Messager,
Þ{a}t bringest me þis greting her?
Haþ he set me any day
Aȝenes þ{a}t ihc me greþi may, 120
{And} nyme lyue of mine kenesmen,
{And} myne frend þ{a}t wiþ me beon,
{And} of him þ{a}t haþ me cloþed {and} fed,
{And} don also my sone hym bed?” 124
Than answerede oure ladi,
And seide to þe angel, “belamy, 124
Art þou my sones massagere,
That bryngest me þis bodes here?
Haueþ he me sette any day,
Aȝens when I me greithe may, 128
W{i}t{h} my frendes {and} my kynnes men,
And w{i}t{h} hem þat I in erþe haue ben,
And hem þ{a}t I haue fedde {and} clad,
And don al þat my sone hem bad?” 132
¶ Þo sede þe aungel, “ihc telle þe;
Þu ne schalt beo her bute daȝes þre.
Þe þridde day we schulle come,
Au{n}gles f{ra}m heuene aboue, 128
“And fette þe wiþ m{ur}ye song;
For aft{er} þe us þinket long.”
Tho seide þe angel, “I sei þee;
Thou schalt be here but daies þre.
The þridde dai we schal come,
Alle ix. ordres fram heuen a boue, 136
“And fecche þee with myry songe;
For after þee vs þinketh longe.”
¶ Þanne ansuarede vre lefdy,
“What is þi name, belamy?” 132
He sede, “my name ne telle ihc þe noȝt;
Bute nym þis palm þ{a}t ihc habbe þe broȝt
{And} kep hit wel ihc bidde þe;
Ne let hit neure f{ra}m þe be. 136
To þat aungel seide oure ladi,
“What is þi name, þat standeþ me bi?” 140
“My name seie I þee nouȝt;
But take þis palme þ{a}t I haue brouȝt.
Kepe it wel, I bidde þee,
Ne lete it neu{er} be fro þee. 144
I ne dar no le{n}g dwelle her,
For ihc was sent as Messager.
To þe apostles ihc schal gon,
{And} bidde he{m} alle, eurech on, 140
Þ{a}t hi beon her þe þridde day;
No leng abiden I ne may.”
[Sidenote: [leaf 65]]
Ne mai I no lengere abide here,
For I am sent a massagere.
I schal to þe apostles sone anone,
And seie to hem sundry, on {and} one, 148
That þei ben here þe þridde dai;
No leng{er}e abide I ne mai.”
[Headnote: _Mary attires herself, then prays to her Son._]
¶ Þo he hadde ydon, to heuene he steȝ;
Marie abod {and} was wel sleȝ, 144
{And} na{m} þ{a}t palm þ{a}t hire was broȝt,
{And} of þ{a}t bode heo hadde gret þoȝt,
In to hire Chau{m}bre stille he nam;
{And} so sone so heo þar cam, 148
He dude of al hire hat{er}e,
{And} wessch hire body wyþ clene wat{er}e,
Þo heo hauede so idon,
Al y newe schrud heo dude hire on. 152
When he had iseide, to heuene he steie;
And marie þ{er} bi-left he. 152
[_No gap in MS._]
Vn-til hure chambre sone sche nam;
And also sone as sche þider cam,
Sche dide of hure cloþes alle,
And wasche hure w{i}t{h} wat{er} of wille. 156
So sone as sche hadde dou{n},
Newe cloþes sche dide hure apou{n}.
Þo heo was schurd {and} faire iclad,
To ih{es}u c{ri}st abone heo bad,
{And} sede, “sone, ihc þonky þe
Þ{a}t þu hauest iþoȝt of me. 156
Sone, þu ert of heuene kyng,
Ihc bidde þe þi blessing;
Sone, for þin holy name,
Schild me fram pine {and} fram schame, 160
Þ{a}t þe deuel ne habbe no myȝt;
When sche was faire schred {and} clad,
To ih{es}u cryst aboue sche bad, 160
And seide, “sone, I þanke þee,
That þou hast yþouȝt on me,
My sone, þat is heuene kynge,
I p{ra}ie þee of þi blessing. 164
Sone, for þyn hye name,
Schelde my bodi fro payne {and} schame,
That þe deuel haue no myȝt;
To derie me hit were vnriȝt.
Sone, help me nu ihc haue ned,
Þat ine haue of þe feond no dred, 164
For wiþ þe giles þ{a}t he can,
He bit{ra}ieþ many man.
To reyue þee hit were no ryȝt. 168
[Sidenote: [leaf 65, back]]
Kepe me, sone; now is nede
That I ne haue of þe deuel no drede.
For with þe wiles þat he can,
He bigileþ many a man. 172
[Headnote: _She announces her departure to her friends._]
“Leue sone, ne ȝef him noȝt,
Þ{a}t þu hauest so dere iboȝt. 168
Sune, þu art ful of pite;
For senful manne bid ihc þe,
Þ{a}t þu for þin holy g{ra}ce,
ȝef he{m} boþe wille {and} space, 172
“Leue sone, ȝeue hym nouȝt
Man kynde þat þou hast bouȝt.
Mi sone, þat art ful of pite,
For man kynne I p{ra}ie þee, 176
That þou, for þi holi g{ra}ce,
Ȝeue hem boþe myȝt {and} space,
Hem to am{en}dy er hy beo ded,
Þ{a}t þe deuel he{m} do no qued.
Þenk, sone, þ{a}t þu hast hem wroȝt,
{And} þ{a}t þu hauest hem dere iboȝt. 176
For he{m} þu þoledest pine {and} wo;
Wite he{m} wel f{ra}m here fo.”
Hem to amende or þei ben dede,
That þei haue of þe deuel no drede. 180
Thynke, leue sone, þ{o}u hast he{m} wrouȝt,
And dere þat þou hast hem bouȝt.”
¶ Þo heo hadde bisoȝt so,
Hire frend he clupede hire to, 180
Boþe sibbe {and} fremde Men,
Wiþ reuful speche heo spak wiþ he{m},
And sede, “leue frend, my sone
Nele no leng þ{a}t ihc her wone; 184
He wile ihc wende {and} mid him be.
When sche hadde p{ra}ied so,
Hure frendes sche callid hure to, 184
[_No gap in MS._]
Hure sibbe {and} hure kynnes men.
W{i}t{h} reuful steuene sche spak to he{m},
An seide, “leue frendes, my sone
Wol no leng{er} þat I here wone. 188
He wol þat I with hi{m} be;
And bidde ihc ȝou p{ar} charite,
Ȝef ihc habbe eny þing mis wroȝt,
Telleȝ hit me, ne heleþ hit noȝt. 188
Ihc wulle ame{n}de, {and} þ{a}t is riȝt
Þ{a}t my saule ne beo idriȝt.
Where fore I p{ra}ie ȝow p{ar} charite,
Ȝif I any þinge haue mys wrouȝt,
Seieþ me now; for-hele ȝe nouȝt. 192
[Sidenote: [leaf 66]]
I it wole amende with my myȝt,
That my soule haue no vnplyȝt,
Þat god ȝe habbeþ me ydon,
Mi sone þ{a}t was in rode ydon, 192
Man to bigge fram þe ded,
Ȝelde hit ȝou at ower ned,
{And} bringe ȝou in to þat blis
Þ{a}t eure ilest þar my sone is.” 196
The good þat ȝe haue dou{n} me,
My sone þat was doun on þe tree, 196
Man to bigge fro þe quede,
He ȝelde it ȝow at ȝoure nede,
And brynge ȝow in to his blis,
Ther I schal be {and} my sone is.” 200
¶ Alle þ{a}t stoden hire by,
Of þ{a}t tiþinge were sory,
{And} sede, “lefdi, hu mai hit be?
Hu schulle we liue wiþ oute{n} þe? 200
[_No gap in MS._]
Lefdi dere, what hastu þoȝt?
Reu of vs; ne wend þou noȝt.
“In soreȝe {and} in Muche wo
Schulle we lyue beo þu vs fro.” 204
++Alle þat weren hure bi,
Off suche tiþinges weren sori,
And saide, “lady, how mai þis be?
How schulle we lyuen w{i}t{h} oute þee? 204
Ladi, þou hast vs serued so;
Alas, how schulle we p{ar}te a two?
Swete ladi, what is þi þouȝt?
Rewe on vs; departe vs nouȝt. 208
“In moche sorwe {and} in myche wo
Schulle we lyue, be þou a go.”
[Headnote: _John comes and inquires the cause of her grief._]
¶ Þanne spak vre lefdy
To hem þ{a}t were hire by,
“Leteȝ beon; ower wepinge ne helpeþ noȝt;
Habbeþ ioye in ower þoȝt. 208
Þe while ihc am her, wakeþ wiþ me;
Hit doþ me god þ{a}t ihc ȝou se.
Þan answerede oure ladi
To þat folke þat stode hure bi, 212
“Lateþ be ȝo{ur} greding~ hit helpeþ noȝt;
And haueþ blis in ȝoure þouȝt.
Whiles I am here, wakeþ w{i}t{h} me;
Hit doþ me good þat I ȝow se. 216
Nabbeþ no drede ac witeþ hit wel;
Of pine ne schal ihc þole no del. 212
Ne schal no soreȝ come me to,
For my sone hit wule so,
Mi body ne schal no pine þole,
For he was þ{er} of ibore, 216
He þolede pine him self for me,
Þo he deide vpon þe tre.
[Sidenote: [leaf 66, back]]
Haueþ no drede in wel;
Of peyne schal I þole no del.
[_No gap in MS._]
Mi bodi mai no peyne þolen,
For he was þ{er} of y-boren. 220
He þoled deþ him self for me;
He honged nailed on þe tree.
He þ{a}t is almiȝtful kyng,
Schal me sende of his geng. 220
Ioh{a}n {and} þe apostles, whei hy be,
Alle hi schulle come to me.”
Mi sone þat is kyng~ of heuene,
Schal me sende worde wel euene; 224
Ioh{a}n {and} þe apostles, where so þei bene,
Schulle alle come for to sene.”
Þe while he spac þus to þis men,
Of al þ{a}t þing nuste noȝt Ion. 224
He com to speke wiþ vre lefdi,
{And} hym þuste heo was sori,
As sche so spak to þe mon,
Off al þat wist nouȝt seynt Ion. 228
He come to speke w{i}t{h} oure ladi;
Ferli him þouȝt þat sche was sory,
And sede, “lefdy, what is þe?
For my s{er}uise tel hit me. 228
Lefdi, what is þe ised?
Me were leffre to beo ded,
Þane iseo þe make such chere.
What is þe, my lefdi dere? 232
[_No gap in MS._]
Ne schal ihc neure habbe blis,
Fort þ{a}t ihc wite what þe is.”
And seide, “ladi, what is þee?
What is þis folk þat I here se? 232
Seie me, ladi, what is þee?” he sede;
“For me were leu{er} þat I were dede,
Than I þee se suche semblau{n}t make,
“For schal I neu{er} suche a ladi take. 236
Hastou ouȝt herde þat I ne can,
Off me or of any oþ{er} man?
Schal I neu{er} haue blis
Til I wite, ladi, what þee is.” 240
[Headnote: _Mary consoles John._]
Vre lefdi wep {and} Ioh{a}n also;
Trewe loue was bituex he{m} tuo. 236
“Lefdi,” he sede, “what is þe?
For my loue, tel hit me.”
Marie ansuerde wiþ Milde steu[ene],
“A sonde Me ca{m} while er fram h[euene], 240
_The MS. ends here. Continued from Harl. MS. 2382._
[Sidenote: [leaf 67]]
Oure ladi wept and Ioh{a}n also,
For trewe loue was bitwene he{m} two.
Ioh{a}n seide, “ladi, what is þee?
For þi sones loue, seie þou me.” 244
Marie answerde w{i}t{h} rewful steuene,
And seide, “me cam bode fram heuene,
_Harl. MS. 2382, lf. 78, bk._
fro my sone a messynger;
he wołł no leng{er} that y be here.
but y wote that rueth me,
that y shałł dep{ar}te fro the; 244
for thi loue and thi s{er}uice
that thu me dost in al wise.
thu hast made me ofte glad;
thu has don{e} as my sone bad. 248
my sone shal it yelde to the;
y wol hym p{ra}y when y hym se.”
Fro my sone a massagere;
He wol no lengere þat I be here, 248
Wite þou wel hit rewiþ me
That I schal, Ioh{a}n, p{ar}te fram þee.
For þi loue {and} þi seruyce
That þou hast dou{n} on eche wise, 252
Thou hast me boþe fed {and} clad,
And doun also my sone þee bad.
My sone schal it wel ȝelde þee;
I schal him telle when I him se.” 256
[Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es]
Tho answerd to her{e} seynt Ioh{a}n,
and was a fułł sory man~, 252
“A, lady Marie, what shal y be
when y shałł the no leng{er} se?
my ioye thu art eu{er}y dełł;
no leng{er} in erthe worth y wełł, 256
now we shul dep{ar}te a two.”
Than answerde seynt Iohan,
That was a ful sori man,
And seide, “ladi, how mai þis be
That I schal þee no more se? 260
Mi ioie, my blis, is do{u}n eche del;
Ne schal me neu{er} worþen wel,
Sithen we ben p{ar}ted atwo.”
[Sidenote: Maria]
Then seid Marie, “whi seist þ{o}u so?
for sothe, thogh y go be-fore,
yet shal thu not be for-lore. 260
y shall p{ra}y my lef sone,
that thu may vnto vs come.
And o thyng, Ioh{an}, y bidde the,
[Sidenote: [leaf 79]]
for the loue thu hast to me, 264
Þo seide our ladi, “why saistou so? 264
[Sidenote: [leaf 67, back]]
Wite þou wel, I go be-forn;
Thi seruyse schal noȝt be forlorn;
I schal to my sone seie of þee
That þou with hym {and} me schal be. 268
But herestou now, my frende Io{ha}n,
When þou sest þat I am gon,
[Sidenote: no{t}a hic v{er}b{is} Marie]
loke anon{e} when y am nome,
that the fals Iewys ne come
my body for to don{e} shame,
for thei haten moche my name. 268
thei wole feyn shame me,
that honged my sone on þ{e} rode tre.
y wote wełł thei loue me noght;
ther-for thei ben{e} mysthought. 272
Kepe my bodi þat I ne be binomen,
When þe fellon Iewes comen, 272
Mi bodi forto doun no schame,
For þei hate no þing~ more þan my name.
Mi sone þei hongen on a tre;
Wel I wote so wolde þei me. 276
I wote wel þei louen me nouȝt;
But þ{er} of be þi most þouȝt.
when y am be-nome fro the,
to my body they do no foly.
Ih{es}u Crist our{e} aller{e} dright,
gef ham neu{er} that ilke myght.” 276
When I am p{ar}ted, Ioh{a}n, fram þee,
That þei do my bodi none euelte. 280
My sone, þat woneþ i{n} heuene liȝt,
Lete hem neu{er} þ{er} to haue myȝt.”
[Headnote: _The apostles arrive from distant regions._]
[Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es]
seynt Ioh{an} answerd tho,
“sey me, lady, if it is so,
that we shall dep{ar}te atwo.
“swete lady, how shałł y do? 280
sey me þe tyme when it shal be,
that thu shalt to heuene te.”
“Ladi, sithen hit is so,
That we schal dep{ar}te a two, 284
Seie me how long hit is to þan.”
[Sidenote: Maria]
she seid, “Ioh{a}n, that þ{o}u shałł se;
ne bide y here but dayes thre.” 284
Then was Ioh{an} ful hertely sory.
“For soþe,” marie seide to Iohan,
“Bi þis {and} þe þridde day,
No leng{er} abide I ne may.” 288
[Sidenote: [leaf 68]]
When he it herde, he was sory;
[Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es]
wepand he seyd, “dame, m{er}cy!
how shal y leue? how shal y fare?
now cometh al my sorow {and} care. 288
my lord was hard y-broght to detħ,
thurgh fals Iewis that couthe no metħ.
now shal our{e} lady me fro;
now cometh to me al my woo. 292
wold god that y wer{e} ded,
for right now can y no red.”
He wept, {and} seide, “ladi, mercy.
How schal I lyue? how schal I fare?
How schal I blis or ioie haue? 292
Furst my lord was brouȝt to dede,
Thorw þe felun iewes rede,
And now my ladi wil me fro,
Swete lord, now me is wo. 296
Wolde my lord I wolde be dede,
For I ne can no bett{er} rede.”
[Sidenote: [leaf 79, back]]
[Sidenote: Maria]
“Nay,” she seid, “whi seist thu so?
angelis the shałł come to, 296
and loke to the wher{e} thu be,
erlich and late to comfort the.”
“Ioh{a}n,” sche seide, “whi seistou so?
Th[e] aungeles schal þee come to, 300
To kepe þee where so þou be,
Erliche {and} late to gladen þee.”
[Sidenote: no{t}a de ap{osto}lis om{n}ib{us} mirac{u}lose.]
when she spake to seynt Ioh{a}n,
thapostellis cam yn eu{er}ychon~, 300
and none of hem wiste be-forn~,
how thei wer{e} thed{er} y com,
Whiles he spak so to seynt Ion,
Come þe apostles eu{er}ychon, 304
To gidre; but þei wist nouȝt
How þei weren to gidre brouȝt;
and seid, “lady, ne drede þ{o}u noght,
thi sone hath vs hider broght, 304
to knowe the for our{e} lady,
while that we ben{e} the by.”
Off oþ{er}es come ne wist none;
But of hure come bliþe was Ion. 308
He cust hem alle, so fayn he was,
And seide, “deo gracias;
Blessed, ih{es}u, be þi myȝt,
For it is faire and hit is ryȝt 312
[Sidenote: [leaf 68, back]]
That þi moder come to þee,
That sche faire welcom be
Of þine apostles þ{a}t most þee louen,
I ne wote how þei ben hidre ycomen.” 316
Than seide Petyr to seynt Ion,
“Whi art þou so sory A mon?
[Headnote: _John bids them go and greet Mary._]
(_Not in Harl. 2382_)
“Whi wepistou, {and} what is þee?
For felaschip telle þou me. 320
I schal þee seie, seynt Ion,
Whi I am so sory a mon,
But seie me furst, for godes loue,
Whi ȝe arn hider icome, 324
And weryn so wide isprad:
Seieþ what haþ ȝou hidre ilad.”
Tho seide Petyr a ferli þinge:
“I was fer hens atte my p{re}chinge. 328
I was so henne i{n} anoþer londe
And helde my boke in my honde,
And tauȝt men of my sermo{u}n,
I ne wote how I cam to þis toun.” 332
So seide alle þat weren þere,
Suche wondre sawe I neu{er} ere.
None of hem ne wist þorw wham,
[Sidenote: [leaf 69]]
Ne what wai þei þidre cam, 336
Than seide seynt Io{ha}n, “for soþe, I wys,
I schal ȝow telle what it is.
Comeþ wiþ me in to þis hous;
Oure ladi þer abideþ vs. 340
Sche ordeyneþ hure to fare vs fro,
For hure sone hit wolle so.
Hure sone haþ sent his messagere;
He wol no lengere þat sche be here. 344
And hider he haþ ȝow alle ysent
To kepe hure bodi when sche is went.
Bi fore hure knele ȝe alle bi-dene
And seieþ, ‘ladi, heuene quene, 348
Off alle wy{m}men, best þee be;
Thi sone vs haueþ sent to þee,
To kepe þee {and} do þi wille:
Vs þenkeþ wel þat it is skille, 352
That heuene {and} erþe bowe þee to,
For þi sone hit wol so,
Thi sone, þat is heuene kynge,
And alle þing haþ in his kepinge.’” 356
Than comen þe apostles alle,
And bi hure bigan to falle.
Vp ros oure swete ladi
And kist þe apostles bi {and} bi. 360
[Sidenote: [leaf 69, back]]
Off here come sche was glad;
Alle þei dide þat sche bad.
Sche asked hem how þei come þere,
That sprad so sundry were. 364
The seide in ful good þouȝt,
“Thi sone vs haþ hidre ybrouȝt
To kepe þee, {and} by þee by;
Ther fore we comen to þe, lady.” 368
[Headnote: _Mary bids them keep her body from the Jews._]
[Sidenote: Maria]
“Blessid,” she seid, “be my sone.”
glad was she was of her{e} come. 308
“y am his mod{er},” so seid he,
“glad ther for may y be.
now when it is my sones wille
to hym y come, {and} that is skyle, 312
to my body ye loke al so,
that my foos ne come ther to.
Ful bliþe sche was of here come;
“Blessed,” sche seide, “be my sone!
[_No gap in MS._]
When it is my sones wille
That I come him to, hit is skille. 372
Mi bodi ȝe schal kepe so
That þ{er}-to come nouȝt my fo.
Kepeþ faire my body,
That none do me no vilany. 376
The Iewis ben ful of felony;
My sone þei slow þorw enuye.
moche hateth they my name;
ther for wold thei do me shame. 316
y you bidde p{ur} charite,
for the loue ye haue to me,
when y fare to heuene blisse,
waketh ther my body ys. 320
The haten no þing more þan my name,
God late hem neu{er} do me schame. 380
Ther fore I p{ra}ie ȝow, p{ur} charyte,
And for þe loue þat ȝe haþ to me,
When I am faren to heuen blis,
Wakeþ alle þ{er} my body is. 384
loketh bothe nyght {and} day,
that þ{e} Iewis bere it not away.
thay wold it brenne or do shame.
Ih{es}u, for thi holy name, 324
gef ham neu{er} strengthe to haue
my bodi in erthe for to laue.”
[Sidenote: [leaf 70]]
Kepiþ it boþe nyȝt and dai,
That no Iewe stele it awai.
Thei wolde it brenne or do it schame;
But ih{es}u, for þi holi name, 388
Late hem neu{er} þ{er}-to haue myȝt,
For sikirli hit were vnryȝt.”
[Sidenote: [leaf 80]]
Thei answerd, “for sothe, y-wys,
it shal be as thi wille ys.” 328
The whiles Marie badde her{e} bone
to the apostellis eu{er}ychone,
Thei seiden, alle soþe, I wys,
“Hit schal be, ladi, as þi wille is.” 392
Whiles oure ladi spak~ so
To þe apostles þat come hure to,
[Sidenote: Angelus]
an Angel a-light on that stede,
and seid, “Marie, god herd þ{i} bede, 332
and all they that ben{e} w{i}t{h} the;
“loke that thu arayed be.
thu shalt to heuene {and} be quene;
ful blithe may thi hert bene. 336
thu shalt in hast be in heuene.”
Come an aungel {and} stode hure bi,
And seide, “wel þee be, ladi, 396
And so be alle þat ben þee bi;
“Loke þou be ful redi.
Þou schalt to heuene {and} be made quene;
Ful bliþe mai þine hert bene. 400
Alle schal þee s{er}ue, þe company of heuene.”
when o{ur} lady herd this steuene
the angel seid her{e} then to,
ful of blisse was she tho. 340
to her{e} bed she went to aray,
a-boute þ{e} tyme of hy mydday.
Ioh{a}n the apostell sate her{e} by,
to kepe her{e} body sikerly. 344
As soone oure ladi herd þat steuene
That þe aungel seide hure to,
Wel ful of Ioie was sche þo; 404
Sche ȝede to hure bedde {and} lai,
A bowte þe tyme of myddai;
Ioh{a}n {and} þe apostles weren hure bi,
To kepen hure as oure ladi. 408
[Sidenote: [leaf 70, back]]
Sche badde Io{ha}n {and} þe apostles alle,
To kepen hure what so bi falle.
[Headnote: _Jesus tells the angels about His life on earth._]
++Sitteþ now stille, boþe more {and} lesse,
And herkeneþ of þe moche blesse 412
Off Ih{es}u, þ{er} he come so lyȝt:
He dide his mod{er} ful moche riȝt,
As a sone auȝt his moder to done,
He callid þe aungeles eu{er}ychone, 416
And alle þe mayne þat was i{n} heuene,
And seide to hem with mury steuene:
“Co{m}meþ with me to my le{m}man!
Sche is my moder; hure sone I am; 420
Off hure I toke flesche {and} blode.
And sithen I hange on þe rode,
I þ{a}t eu{er} was {and} ay schal ben,
In al þis blisse þat ȝe here sen, 424
I hadde reuþe on al mankyne,
That alle went to helle pyne.
I made man to serue me,
And þorw þe appel of a tre, 428
That adam toke {and} ete it Inne,
To helle he went, {and} al his kynne.
[Sidenote: odor suauissim{us} de p{a}radiso venit]
emonge them alle sone ywys,
a swete smełł cam fro p{ar}adys,
swete it was, and ferly,
that alle þ{a}t wer{e} tho her{e} by, 348
bothe yong {and} olde {and} eu{er}ychon{e},
thei fełł a-slepe, {and} þ{a}t anon{e}.
alle the slepte, saue our{e} lady.
“Hit rewid me, and for-þouȝt sore,
And I it wolde þole no more. 432
[Sidenote: [leaf 71]]
I lyȝt doun, {and} man bi-cam,
And of þat maide flesche nam.
[Headnote: _He announces that He will bring Mary to heaven._]
[Sidenote: no{t}a de t{ra}nsitu s{an}c{t}e Marie]
herkeneth now, y tełł yow why. 352
and als sone thei wer{e} a-slepe,
it gan to thondr{e} al vnmete,
and the erthe so swithe gan quake,
as al the world shuld to-shake. 356
Marie awaked then seynt Ioh{a}n
and the apostels eu{er}ychon,
thre maydens þ{a}t wer{e} the[re]-ynne,
and no man els of hir{e} kynne. 360
“waketh now, and slepe ye nought!
Sone y worth to heuene be broght;
now is tyme y wer{e} a fare,
Shałł y neu{er} more suffre care.” 364
“Bi fore alle oþ{er} I hure ches,
And I was born of hure flesches. 436
Thritti wynt{er} {and} so{m}me del more,
Men to wissen, I was þore.
Men dide me moche euelte;
Myn owyn þat ouȝt for to be, 440
Thei token me {and} bette me sore,
And atte þe last þei dide wel more,
With oute gult þei me swongen,
And to a piler þei me bounden. 444
Nailes þei smyten in my fette;
Off blode myne handes weren rede.
Myn hert þei stongen w{i}t{h} a spere;
That sawe alle þat weren þere. 448
Ther I hange nailed on þe tree,
My modre was wel wo for me,
And also was hure cosin Ion.
I callid hure to me soone anon, 452
And seide, ‘Io{ha}n, for my loue,
Kepe wel þis wyf; I am hure sone.’
Boþe þei wenten þo fro me;
Al one I hanged on þe tree, 456
[Sidenote: [leaf 71, back]]
Mi soule fram my bodi I nam,
In to þe pyne of helle sone I came.
Alle my frendes þat I þer fonde,
I toke hem oute w{i}t{h} my ryȝt honde, 460
Adam {and} Eue {and} many mo,
I dide hem oute of helle go.
When I hadde harwed helle,
And don as I ȝow telle, 464
And fet adam fro þe quede,
The þridde dai I ros fro dede.
Fram erþe to heuene I cam;
God {and} man, bothe I am, 468
In heuene {and} in erþe is my myȝt;
“Now I wol forþe in ryȝt,
That my modre be me bi;
This tyme I wol for þi, 472
Comeþ with me with mury songe,
And do we hure come vs amonge.”
[Headnote: _Conversation between Jesus and Mary._]
[Sidenote: Ih{es}us]
Tho cam Iesus from heuene,
w{i}t{h} angelis {and} archangelis seuene,
yn to hir{e} bour{e} w{i}t{h} mery song;
moche merthe was them among. 368
no wond{er} thogh ther be blisse
in eche place ther Ih{esus} ys.
Than cam ih{es}u w{i}t{h} his mayne,
Aungeles, archaungeles, moche plente, 476
In to þe chambre þ{er} sche was Inne,
with ful many of hure kynne.
That chambere was ful of moche blis,
As eu{er} is þer ih{es}u is. 480
none of them that wer{e} there
a soche blisse saw they ner{e}. 372
amonge al blisses of the trone
Mary knew her{e} leue sone.
[Sidenote: Maria]
when she hym saw, she was ful glad,
he herd the bone that she bad. 376
[Sidenote: [leaf 72]]
Tho seide alle þat were þere,
Suche a blis sawe þei neu{er} ere.
Amonge þat Ioie {and} þat glewe,
Oure ladi, hure sone knewe. 484
When sche hi{m} sawe, sche was glad;
Listeneþ þe bede þat sche bad:
“y-blessed mote that tyme be
that thu wer{e} born{e} of me.
hit is sene, y am thi moder
when thu comest þi self hider. 380
Furst þ{o}u sendest thyn apostelis to me;
now thu comest w{i}t{h} thi meyne,
to fette me vnto that blisse
that eu{er} lasteth w{i}t{h} ałł gladnesse. 384
Sone thu art hider y-come
w{i}t{h} thyn angelis from a-bone.
do þ{o}u now what thi wille ys;
me hath longed to the, y-wys.” 388
“Sone, blessid mote þou be,
That þou bicome man of me; 488
Hit is wel sene, I am þee dere,
Now þi self art comen here.
Thine apostles þou sendist furst to me,
And now þou art come w{i}t{h} þi meyne, 492
To fecchyn me in to þi myȝt:
Was neu{er} modre sone so bryȝt.
Mi leue sone, now art þou come
With þi meyne, here a bone. 496
Do, my sone, þat þi wille is;
To þee me þinkeþ longe I wis.”
[Sidenote: Ih{es}us]
Then Iesus to Marie sede,
[Sidenote: [leaf 81]]
“Moder, w{i}t{h} ioye y wołł the lede.
of all wy{m}men the worth best,
in heuene blisse that shal lest. 392
ther y am kyng; thu shalt be quene;
in grete ioye thu shałł bene.”
[_No gap in MS._]
“Modre,” he seide, “come with me;
Of alle wymen best þee be. 500
[_No gap in MS._]
Thou schalt to heuen {and} be made quene;
Wel bliþe may þine hert bene.”
[Sidenote: Maria]
“leue sone, y be-seche the
o thyng that thu telle me. 396
shall y any deuyłł se,
or any w{i}t{h} the shałł be?
“for y loue them neu{er} on{e},
thei ben{e} noght, so mote y gon{e}.” 400
“Sone,” sche seide, “I be-seke þee
O þing þat þou graunt me, 504
[Sidenote: [leaf 72, back]]
That I noȝt þe deuel se,
Ne none þat eu{er} w{i}t{h} him be.
“I loue hem nouȝt; þei arn my fone;
Ne wolde I neuer sene hem none.” 508
[Headnote: _Jesus promises mercy to man for Mary’s sake._]
[Sidenote: Iesus]
“Moder, y sey, drede thu noght;
ne stode it neu{er} on my thoght,
for thu shalt no deuyłł se,
y wołł go be-fore the; 404
ne þ{o}u shalt no deuyłł heren{e},
but only me {and} my feren{e}.
Maiden {and} mod{er}, eu{er} thu be wełł;
thu shalt of sorwe wete no dełł. 408
alle the spirettes that meten w{i}t{h} the,
buxom to the shałł they be.
Moder, one thyng y gef to the;
thu shalt be in heuene w{i}t{h} me. 412
“Moder,” he seide, “ne drede þee nouȝt;
Ne come it neu{er} in my þouȝt;
Ne wille I neu{er} more þole
That any of hem come þee bi fore; 512
Ne schal þou neu{er} se-ne here
But me {and} aungeles, þine fere.
Moder, a ȝift I schal þee ȝyue,
Thou schalt with me in heuene lyue, 516
And more schal I ȝeue þee;
Al heuene companye schal s{er}ue þee.
“mod{er}, for the loue of the,
y wołł haue m{er}cy and pite
of al man kynde thurgh þ{i} p{ra}y{e}re,
yf þ{o}u ne were, they wer{e} for-lore. 416
“Modre, for þe loue of þee
I schal haue m{er}cy {and} pite 520
Off al man kynne for þi p{ra}iere,
That were forlorn ȝif þou ne were.
[Sidenote: no{t}a bene de seruientib{us} s{an}c{t}e Marie deuote]
“and of them namelich
that the serueth trulich,
and that to the don{e} m{er}cy crye
and sey, ‘help vs, dere ladye,’ 420
In what synne that thei be,
[Sidenote: [leaf 81, back]]
mod{er}, for the loue of the,
“Alle þat dou{n} þee worschipe,
And seruen þee wel, {and} treuliche 524
Bi seke to þee, {and} m{er}cy will crie,
And seyn, ‘help, seynt marie,’
In what peyne so he be,
Moder, for þe loue of þee, 528
[Sidenote: [leaf 73]]
I schal hem reles sone anon;
For þi loue I schal þus done.
“thogh a man had lad his lyf
in onde, in synne, {and} in strif, 424
yf he on his last dawe
wepe {and} crye, {and} to the be-knawe,
and telle it oute vnto the preste,
“Ȝif any haue ben al his lyue
In hede synne, maide or wyue, 532
And he wille, on his last þrowe,
Schryue him {and} ben y-knowe,
And telle it, ȝif he haue þe p{re}st,
[Sidenote: no{t}a bene de co{n}fessione]
“or in case, vnto his nexte, 428
yf that he may do no more,
but that he aruwe it sore,
in what synne that he be,
moder, for the loue of the, 432
I wołł of hym haue mercy.
and sitthe he shałł come me by,
“Or a noþer man þat is him nest, 536
And ȝif he ne mai do no more,
But þat him forþinkeþ sore,
In what synne so he be,
Moder, for þe loue of þee, 540
I schal on him haue m{er}cy,
And sithen þei schulle wone þee bi.
[Headnote: _Mary is borne to Heaven._]
“thogh a man had fully wroght
all the synne that he had thought, 436
and he on his laste day
in none other wise may,
yf he wepe and telle to the,
in what synne that he be, 440
“Ȝif a man hadde al one wrouȝt
Alle þe synnes þat myȝt be þouȝt, 544
And he on his last dai,
Ȝif he none ere ne mai,
Repent him, {and} calle to þee,
In what synne so he be, 548
full wełł y shałł his bone here,
for thi loue, my moder dere.
I schal here his p{ra}iere,
For þi loue, modre dere,
Al þat þou wolt bi seke fore,
Be it lasse, be it more, 552
[Sidenote: [leaf 73, back]]
Hit schal ben aftur þi wille,
For I it wille, {and} þat is skille,
Þat no þing with seie þee,
Off þat þou wolt biseke me.” 556
Alle tho that thu wolt bidde fore
and blesse the tyme þ{a}t thu wer{e} bore. 444
of all{e} thyng y-blessid thu be,
for that y bidde, thu g{ra}untes me.”
++Oure ladi knelid him bi forn,
And seide, “þe tyme þ{a}t þ{o}u were born,
Ou{er} alle oþ{er} blessed þou be,
For alle þat I wol, þou g{ra}untest me.” 560
Then Ih{esus} his hand vp heue,
and to his mod{er} his blessyng yeue, 448
and called to hym seynt Mighełł,
and seid, “kep thu my mod{er} wełł,
that she fele no man{er} fere;
ther is no thyng to me so dere.” 452
¶ “So I auȝt, moder, {and} so I wille;”
He left vp his hond {and} blessed hure stille;
His blessing sche þouȝt good,
And he hure soule vndrestode. 564
He callid to him seynt myȝhel,
“Thou kepe me þis soule wel,
Thou and alle þine fere;
Is no þinge me so dere.” 568
[Sidenote: Ih{esus} assu{m}psit a{n}i{m}am matris]
and when he had the soule hent,
and she was fro the body went,
Then all the verdoun{e} of heuene
[Sidenote: [leaf 82]]
fett that soule full aboue; 456
w{i}t{h} the verdoun{e} to heuene thei come,
w{i}t{h} gret ioye she was yn nome.
she was made quene of heuene
and blessid hir{e} sone w{i}t{h} mylde steuene. 460
Alle þat mayne þat cam fro heuene,
Thei syngen w{i}t{h} a myry steuene;
Men myȝt wite bi here songe
That moche ioie was hem amonge. 572
With alle þat mayne to heue{n} he hure nam;
And as soone as he þer cam,
He made hure quene of heuen liȝt;
Blessid be hure sones myȝt! amen! 576
[Headnote: _The apostles in procession bear the body through
Jerusalem._]
[Sidenote: no{t}a modum assumpc{i}onis anime Marie p{er} ih{es}um]
++Now shałł ye here how she was nome,
wher she was, {and} whed{er} be-come.
when þe soule fro þe body was nome,
god bede seynt Petr{e} to hym come: 464
“for the loue y owe to the
my mod{er}-is body thu kep to me.
[Sidenote: [leaf 74]]
++Now schal we here of þe bodi,
Where it bi cam, {and} where it li.
When þe soule was þ{er}e fro hure nomen,
Than bad god Pet{er} to him comen, 580
And seide, “Pet{er}, I comaunde þee,
Mi moder bodi kepe þou me.
Ioh{a}n {and} alle þine fere,
Nis no þinge me so dere; 584
when y first to erthe came,
of this body flesħ y name. 468
y was of this body bore,
ther-for, Petr{e}, go thu be-fore,
and thi bretheren forth w{i}t{h} the
vnto Iosaphatħ that vale, 472
and leueth it ther{e} sone anon{e};
When I furst in þis worlde cam,
Off hure bodi flesche I nam;
Off hure bodi, I was born,
Petyr, go forþe þou be forn, 588
Thou {and} alle þine feres w{i}t{h} þee,
To Iosephat, to þat vale,
And leiþ þe bodi in a stone;
and drede ye nothyng of yo{ur} foon{e},
To Ierusalem thurgh that toun{e}
goth feire w{i}t{h} your{e} p{ro}cession{e}. 476
Haueþ no drede of ȝoure fone; 592
Goth with faire processioun
To ier{usa}l{e}m þorwe þe toun.
Doþ þe belles alle to ryngen,
And loke þat ȝe mury syngen. 596
Loke þat ȝe haue candele,
Torches boþe faire {and} fele.
foure of them shul bere þ{e} bere,
for one shal kepe my mod{er} dere.
and for no thyng dredeth ye,
for y my self wol w{i}t{h} yow be.” 480
when Ih{esus} had thus y-seyd,
and the body in bere was leyd,
he yeaue them alle his blessyng,
and styed to heuene, þ{er} he was kyng. 484
which blessyng he geue tiłł vs,
our{e} blessid lord, swete Iesus.
Foure of þe apostles schal bere þe beere;
Ther-on schal ligge me modre deere. 600
[Sidenote: [leaf 74, back]]
Haueþ no drede of no Iew,
For I my self schal be w{i}t{h} ȝow.”
When ih{es}u hadde him so seide,
And þe bodi was on bere leide, 604
He ȝaf hem alle his blessinge
And stye to heuen, þ{er} he is kynge.
Tho to them seyd seynt Ioh{a}n,
“go we thed{er} right anon{e}, 488
and g{ra}y we tħis p{ro}cessioun{e},
[Sidenote: [leaf 82, back]]
And go we syngand thurgh þ{e} toun{e}.”
¶ To hym þo seide seynt Ion,
“Felawes, go we soone anon, 608
And t{ur}ne we þis p{ro}cessioun,
And synge we faire þorw þis toun.”
four{e} of the apostelis that ther wer{e},
that holy body fourth dud ber{e}. 492
ful mery thei song, {and} that was right;
many tapers ther-w{i}t{h} thei light.
The Iewis that wer{e} Cristes foon{e},
this thei herd sone anon{e}. 496
[_See the parallel lines to these, below, on page 130, col. 2._]
[[a491-516 = h689-704]]
[Headnote: _The Jews attack the procession, but are rendered
motionless._]
thei asked what was the crye.
we seid it was seynt Marie,
that seynt Petr{e} and his fere
bare Marye apon{e} a bere. 500
[Sidenote: no{t}a cont{r}a iudeos]
“Allas,” q{uo}d the Iewis, “for shame,
yf thei scape, we ben{e} to blame.
arme we vs swithe anon{e}
and let vs take them eu{er}ychon{e}. 504
that body also, take we it,
and cast it in-to a foule pytt.
Cast we it in a foule sloo,
and moche shame we it do.” 508
Tho cam thei lepe thedeward;
that be-fełł them swithe hard.
two of the Iewis that ther{e} wer{e},
wer{e} honged ouer the bere. 512
[Sidenote: no{t}a mirac{u}l{u}m]
Ih{esus} Crist wold se no shame,
by his mod{er} swetely came.
ful sone had thei godd{es} g{ra}me;
he them made bothe holt {and} lame. 516
[Headnote: _A Jew repents and receives his strength again._]
of alle þ{e} Iewes ther was none
that eu{er} myghte further gone.
one of them that ther{e} wer{e},
had knowed Petr{e} be-fore. 520
Ther was a Iew hem amonge,
Off þe apostles harde þe songe. 612
To þe beere he cam lepand,
And as he wolde lai on his hande;
[Sidenote: Iudeus]
the Iewe gon clepe to Petr{e} sone,
and seid to hym w{i}t{h} wepand bone:
and seid then, “knowest þ{o}u noght,
[Sidenote: [leaf 83]]
when Crist was to deth broght, 524
how thu hym folwest, and y þe knew,
now, y the p{ra}y, on me th{o}u ruwe,
and pray to Crist, if it may be,
that he now haue m{er}cy on me.” 528
To þe bere he cleued fast,
And to Petir he criede atte þe last, 616
And seide, “Petir, þenkest þou nouȝt,
When þi lord was to vs brouȝt,
Thou him forsoke, {and} I þe knewe?
P{ra}ie for me,” seide þe Iewe, 620
“P{ra}ie þi lord, ȝif I mai so be,
That he haue m{er}cy on me.
[_No gap in MS._]
Thenke,” q{uo}d þe Iewe, “what I þee dede.
When þou was w{i}t{h} vs in þat stede, 624
[Sidenote: [leaf 75]]
When þi lord was ytakyn,
And þou haddest him forsakyn,
Oure mayne þee knewe þat ilke nyȝt
Bothe bi speche {and} by syȝt, 628
And seiden alle, for I stode þee bi,
[_No gap in MS._]
That þou was of Ih{es}us companye.
Thou seidest w{i}t{h} wordes {and} w{i}t{h} þouȝt,
‘For soþe þat þou knewe hi{m} nouȝt.’ 632
P{ra}ie þi lord of moche myȝt,
And his moder þat art so bryȝt,
That he me help at þis stounde,
For I was neu{er} so harde ybounde. 636
As I þee helped atte þi nede,
Ȝelde me, Petir, now my mede.”
[Sidenote: Petrus]
Seynt Petr{e} answerid tho
to the Iewe that was so woo,
“yf thu wolt on hym be-leve,
whom thy kynne broght to dethe, 532
and that he is goddis sone,
and sithens man for vs be come,
and that Marie hy{m} bare hir{e} be best,
a clene Maide {and} right honest, 536
and clene vnwe{m}med w{i}t{h} outen man,
Seynt Petir answerde þo
To þe Iewe þat was so wo, 640
“Ȝif þou woldest leue on him,
That on þe rode dide þi kyn,
That he is soþefast godes sone,
God {and} man for him bi come, 644
That marie bare in hure lyf,
Clene maide {and} clene wyf,
Clene widewe w{i}t{h} oute wem,
we shal alle bidde for þ{e} than,
to Ih{es}u Crist that is a-boue,
for his owne moder loue, 540
he gef the myght for to go,
and brynge the oute of this woo.”
For þee I wol p{ra}ie þen, 648
[Sidenote: [leaf 75, back]]
Ih{es}u cryst vs liȝteþ aboue,
That he, for his moder loue,
So ȝeue þee myȝt for to go,
And bringe þee oute of þi wo.” 652
[Sidenote: no{t}a {con}u{er}sione{m} Iudei]
The Iewe that honged apon{e} the bere,
answerd then as ye may here, 544
and seid, “y be-leue, vnd{er} that fourme,
on Ih{es}u Crist, Maries sone,
that Iewis peyned on the rode,
w{i}t{h}-outen gilt, for our{e} gode, 548
and for vs he lost his lyf,
that Marie bare, maide {and} wif.
y be-seche that he me brynge
of this peyne, thurgh yo{ur} biddynge.” 552
The Iewe þat henge apou{n} þe bere,
Answerde anone as ȝe mai here,
“I leue wel, {and} bett{er} I schal done,
On ih{es}u crist, godes sone, 656
That Iewes diden on þe rode,
And for vs he schedde his swete blode,
That marie bare in hure lyf,
Clene maiden {and} clene wyf; 660
He brynge me, I p{ra}ie it him,
Oute of þe wo þat I am Inne.”
[Headnote: _Peter christens the Jew and ordains him priest._]
Crist vnd{er}stode the Iewis bone.
he was holpe, and that anone;
on feet {and} hand he yeaue hy{m} myght,
[Sidenote: [leaf 83, back]]
and alle his lymes for to right. 556
he gan to stonde vp anon{e}
before the Iewis eu{er}ychon{e}.
he that was bothe halt {and} lame
be gan to p{re}che in Cristes name, 560
and seid, “worship we eu{er}ychon{e}
that soche a miracle hath don{e}.”
As soone as he hadde seide þis bede,
He was al hole in þat stede: 664
Off fote, of honde, he hadde myȝt;
Alle his lymes bi come ful ryȝt.
He stode vp swiþe anone
Bi-fore þe Iewes eu{er}echone, 668
That suche a myracle haþ done,
Ih{es}u crist, godes sons,
Of a wilde hou{n}de haþ made a lomb,
To p{re}che his worde in eche a lond. 672
Tho seynt Petr{e}, that holi man{e},
that Iewe Crystened aft{er} anon{e}; 564
he taught hym his by-leue;
he knew he was to god y-yeue;
he ordeyned hym to prest anon{e},
and bade hym that he shuld gon{e}, 568
and p{re}che ou{er}ałł, of goddis sone,
in eu{er}y lond where he be-come.
[Sidenote: [leaf 76]]
Seynt Petir, þat holi man,
The Iew he crystened anone,
He tauȝt him al his bi leue;
He wist he was to godes biheue; 676
He ordeyned him to p{re}st anone,
And bad him soone for to gone
And p{re}chen al of godes sone,
In eche a lond where he come. 680
The palme þ{a}t Petr{e} had in hond,
he toke it hym, thurgħ godd{es} sond, 572
and bade hym godd{es} word to telle
to the Iewis that wer{e} so felle.
That palm þat Petir helde in his honde,
He toke it him þorw godes sonde,
And bad him godes wordes telle
Among þe Iewes þat were so felle. 684
[Sidenote: Iudeus conu{er}sus p{re}dicabat i{ta} {christu}m]
Tho he spake the fourthe day,
he t{ur}ned into goddes fay 576
xx thousant, {and} somdel mo,
thurgh the word þ{a}t he spake tho.
all the apostolis that þ{er} were,
that holy body fourth thei bere 580
So he spak þe furst day,
That he t{ur}ned to godes lay
Twenty þousand {and} so{m}medel mo,
Thorw wordes þat he spak þo. 688
[_See the parallel lines to these, on p. 127, col. 1, at foot,
and p. 128, col. 1, at top._]
[[a495-516 = h689-704]]
Foure of þe apostles þat were þere,
That swete bodi forþe þei bere,
The Iewes þat were godes fone,
Thei herde þe cri sone anone, 692
And þei asked what was þat crie,
And men seiden it was mari,
That seynt Petir {and} his fere
Bare þare apou{n} a beere. 696
[Sidenote: [leaf 76, back]]
“Alas,” seide þei, “for schame,
Ascape þei vs, we schulle haue blame.
Arme we vs alle sone anone,
And take we hem alle þ{er} þei gone. 700
That bodi þ{a}t þei bere, nyme we it,
And cast we it in a foule pit,
Or brenne we it, {and} do it so{m}me where,
Or cast we it in a foule sere.” 704
[_Not in it_]
Thei comen lepand þiderwarde,
And þat hem fel swiþe harde.
Ih{es}u wolde nouȝt þ{a}t schame;
He made hem boþe blynde {and} lame. 708
Off hem alle, was þ{er} none
That myȝt a fote on erþe gone.
Here mouþes were to here nek went;
Thei þouȝt alle þat þei were schent. 712
Boþe here feet {and} here handes
Where bounde w{i}t{h} stronge bandes:
Ful sore bounden þei were,
For þei ne myȝt go ne here. 716
Than comen here frendes hem to,
And seide, “alas, whi leie ȝe so,
In ȝoure armo{ur} so fast ycliȝt,
That beþ so faire {and} so bryȝt? 720
[Sidenote: [leaf 77]]
Ȝoure speres, ȝo{ur} schildes, helpeþ ȝow nouȝt;
Telleþ vs what ȝe haue þouȝt.”
Thei answerd nouȝt þat leyen þere,
For þei ne myȝt hem noȝt here, 724
But so{m}me of hem þat myȝt speke
Seide, “alas! who schal vs wreke?”
And eu{er} þei cryede many a stounde,
“Alas, how harde we lie here ybounde!” 728
Off fyue þousand was þer none
That myȝt of þat stede gone.
Than seide some þat stode hem bi,
That hadde ysene þat ferli, 732
That ‘seynt Petir {and} his fere
Bare oure ladi on a beere,
“Thise men wolde hure haue nomen,”
And þus þei ben ou{er} comen. 736
The ladi þei wolde haue dou{n} schame;
Ther fore þei hauen godes grame.’
The folke hem bad m{er}cy to crie
To ih{es}u cryst of here folie, 740
And leue þat he is godes sone,
And siþen crysten men bi come.
[Headnote: _The Virgin Mary’s body is laid in the tomb._]
“We hope þ{a}t ih{es}u schal sone tyme
Delyuere ȝow of ȝoure pyne.” 744
[Sidenote: [leaf 77, back]]
Thei criede “m{er}cy” with good wille,
So{m}me lowde {and} so{m}me stille,
And ih{es}u, þorw his mochil myȝt,
Here feet {and} handes gan to ryȝt. 748
Thorw myracle þat þer was doun,
Bi-come cristene many on,
And leuede on cryst and criede m{er}cy,
That none oþ{er} god was so myȝty. 752
to the vale of Iosephas
to ley her{e}, ther{e} her{e} wille was,
[_No gap in MS._]
and leid the body in a ston{e},
The apostles went forþe on here way,
To Iosephat, to þat Valay.
When þe apostles comen were,
Wel softe þei setten doun þe beere. 756
With gret deuocioun, eu{er}ychone,
Thei leide þe bodi in a stone,
[Sidenote: Sepultu{r}a s{an}c{t}e M{ar}ie]
ther-in was body neu{er} non{e}. 584
frendes and sibbe that þ{er} were,
for her{e} wepte many a tere.
[Sidenote: [leaf 84]]
when she was in the ston don{e},
ayen{e} thei turned eu{er}ychon{e}. 588
all the apostelis then wer{e} sory
for the deth of our{e} lady;
and ther a voice cam them among,
that ne lasted not full long, 592
and bade them alle for to gon{e}
wher{e} thei had for to don{e}.
The apostelis went hem ayen{e}
in-to the Burgħ of Ierusalem; 596
and as thei sate atte mete,
of many thynges thei gon speke.
als thei wer{e} out of that place,
[Sidenote: resussitac{i}o corp{or}is M{ari}e]
Iesus, w{i}t{h} his holy grace, 600
he gon to take vp anon{e}
his moder body of the ston{e}.
he hym self dud þ{er}ynne,
that neu{er} had y-don{e} synne. 604
he wolde not in no manere
that the body lafte there.
in that body he dud a leme,
bright{er} then the sonne beme, 608
and made her{e} quene of heuene blisse;
in that place she was and ys.
And bileft alle in þat stede,
As oure ladi hadde hem bede, 760
And woke þ{er} al þat nyȝt
With many torches {and} candle lyȝt.
On þe morwe when it was dai,
Thei loked where þat bodi lai. 764
Thei ou{er}t{ur}ned þ{a}t ilke stone;
Bodi þei founde þ{er} none;
But þei sawe in þat stede þana
Liand as it were a mana. 768
[Sidenote: [leaf 78]]
That ma{n}na bitokned hure clene lyf,
That sche was modre, maide, {and} wyf.
Tho wist þe apostles, I wis,
The bodi was in to p{ar}adis, 772
Also godes wille was.
Thei seide, “Deo gracias.”
[Headnote: _Mary lets fall her girdle to Thomas._]
[Sidenote: Thomas yndie]
Seynt Thom{a}s of ynde thed{er}ward com,
also swithe as he myght gon{e}, 612
and wold haue ben{e} at her{e} berying,
yf he myght haue come be tyme.
as he loked hym be syde,
[Sidenote: [leaf 84, back]]
he saw then a bright thyng glide 616
in that stede as he come,
ther our{e} lady to heuene was nome.
Seynt Thom{a}s of ynde þiderward cam
Also blyue as he myȝt gan, 776
And wolde haue ben at hure fyne,
Ȝif he myȝt haue come bi tyme.
As he loked him bi side,
He sawe a briȝtnesse bi hi{m} glide; 780
Bi þat stede þer he come,
Oure ladi to heuene was nome.
he kneled adoun{e} {and} seid, “lady,
now on me thu haue mercy. 620
lady, quene of heuene bright,
for thi mochel holy myght,
send me a token this ilke day,
soche thyng þ{a}t y bryng may 624
to my felawes, ther y ham fynde,
that y was toward þ{i} berynge:
thei wol not leue þ{a}t y was there;
now g{ra}unte me, lady, my p{ra}yere.” 628
He knelede do{u}n {and} seide, “ladi,
Off me, I p{ra}ie ȝow, haue m{er}cy. 784
Ladi, quene of heuene lyȝt,
For þine swete mychel myȝt,
Sende me token þis ilke day,
What þing þat I say may 788
To myn felawis, þ{er} I hem fynde,
That I was toward þi buriynge.
Thei wil nouȝt leue þat I were;
Now g{ra}unt me, ladi, my p{ra}iere.” 792
[Sidenote: no{t}a de zona s{an}c{t}e Marie]
a-boute her{e} gurdel a mydełł sought,
that she hir{e} self had y-wroght,
of siluer {and} gold wonde in palle;
a-doun{e} to hym she lete it falle. 632
he toke that gurdełł in his hond,
and thanked her{e} of her{e} sond.
[Sidenote: [leaf 78, back]]
A-bowte hure myddel a seynt sche souȝt,
That sche hure self hadde wrouȝt,
Off silk {and} gold wounden in pal;
Doun to thomas sche lete it fal. 796
He toke þ{er} þe gurdel in his honde,
And þanked hure of hure sonde.
fourth he went of that stede;
toward the toun{e} he hym yede. 636
his felaus then he dud seche
yf he myght hem ou{er} mete.
atte temple of dominus
he them founde alle in ane ho{us}. 640
ther ful feire he them grette;
and ayenward thei hym chidde.
Forþe he went of þat stede;
Toward þe toune he him dede, 800
His felawis for to seke on his fete,
Ȝif he hem ouȝt myȝt mete.
Atte þe temple dominus
He fonde hem alle in an hous. 804
When he hem sawe, he gret hem,
And þei answerde alle hym,
And seiden, “thom{a}s of ynde,
Eu{er} art þou bi-hynde. 808
[Headnote: _The apostles find the tomb empty._]
“wher{e} has thu so long y-ben{e}?
we haue beried o{ur} heuene quen{e}. 644
“thu lakkest eu{er} at euery nede;
thu helpest neu{er} at gode dede.”
“sore me thenketh þ{a}t y nas here;
[Sidenote: [leaf 85]]
but y ne myght come no nere. 648
I-blessid be the quene of blys,
in the place ther{e} she ys,
for wełł y wote in my thought,
there ye her{e} layde is she nought.” 652
“Whare hast þou so longe bene?
We haue buried heuene quene.
Thou helpest noȝt at no good dede;
Thou failest eu{er} at most nede.” 812
“Sore me forþinkeþ þat I ne was here,
But I ne myȝt come no nere.
Blessed be sche, quene of blis,
In þat stede þ{er} now sche is! 816
[Sidenote: [leaf 79]]
For wel I wote bi my þouȝt,
Ther ȝe hure left, is sche nouȝt.”
Thei seid to hym swithe anon{e},
bothe Petr{e} and seynt Ioh{a}n,
“thow woldest not be-leue, Thom{a}s,
that our{e} lord y-nayled was. 656
eu{er} thu leuys amysse in mynde,
and tales y-now thu dos fynde.
thu bi-leuest in god right noght;
soche tales ne kepe we noght.” 660
Than seide to him sone anone,
Bothe Petir {and} seynt Ione, 820
“Thou ne woldest, leue thomas,
That oure lord fram deth ras.
Come, þou art mys bileuyd,
And tales ynow þou canst fynde, 824
Thou leuest nouȝt on godes craft;
Swylk felawis wille we nauȝt.”
[Sidenote: no{t}a de v{er}bis s{an}c{t}i Thome ap{osto}li.]
“be stille,” he seid, “brother Ioh{a}n,
why chide ye me so, one {and} on{e}?
me thenketh ye can litel good,
for y her{e} saw bothe flesħ {and} blood, 664
how our{e} lady to heuene wend;
her{e} is the token that she me send.”
“Be stille,” he saide, “broþ{er} Io{ha}n.
Whi chyde ȝe me eu{er}ychone? 828
I am ful wery man for-gone;
Me ne list answeri neu{er} one.
But I thanke oure lord god,
I sawe hure w{i}t{h} flesche {and} blood, 832
Ther oure ladi to heuene went:
Here is þe token þat sche me sent.”
Then seid seynt Petr{e}, “that is soth;
this ilke webbe her{e} self woof. 668
w{i}t{h} her{e} y dud it on the bere;
wond{er} me the thenketh þ{a}t it is here.
go we swithe in-to the vale,
to knowe the sothe of this tale 672
that he hath vs now y-sayde,
for it was in the tombe y-laide.”
Quath seynt Petir, “þat is sothe.
This seynt sche hure self wof. 836
We dide it on hure in þe beere;
Wonder me þinkeþ þat it is here.
Go we swiþe in to þe vale,
To wite þe sothe of þis tale 840
[Sidenote: [leaf 79, back]]
That he haþ vs here yseide,
For it was in þe tumbe ylaide.”
[Headnote: _Jesus appears to the apostles and blesses them._]
[Sidenote: no{t}a de sepulc{r}o Marie vacuo.]
owte of þ{a}t that place then they yede,
and the tumba they vndede. 676
nothyng ther-on ther{e} thei founde
[Sidenote: [leaf 85, back]]
but a flour{e} atte grounde.
Oute of þe place swiþe þei ȝede,
And þe tumbe þei vndede; 844
No þing þ{er} Inne þei ne fou{n}de,
But a manere floure at þe grounde.
[Sidenote: Manna]
That flo{ur} manna was cleped
that in the tumba was steked. 680
they went ałł a-boute þe tumbe
and kneled on the bare g{ro}unde,
and seid, “Ih{es}u, goddis sone,
ałł that thu sendes, it is wel-come. 684
Mightefułł is the heuene kyng;
and that we know bi thi sayng.
no man may know his p{ri}uyte,
nother his swete dignite.” 688
That floure was ‘manna’ yclepid;
Hit was in þe tumbe ystekyd. 848
Thei ȝeden alle abowte þe tumbe
And knelede on þe bare grounde,
And seiden, “ih{es}u, godes sone,
Al þi sonde be welcome. 852
Myȝtful art þou, heuene kynge;
That mai we wite bi þis tokenynge;
For no man mai wite ne se
What is þi derne p{ri}uete.” 856
Amonge þe apostolis alle a light,
the kyng that is in heuene bright,
and blessid ham alle in fere
emonge the angelis þ{a}t ther{e} were, 692
and seid, “my pees be w{i}t{h} yow nowthe,
blessid ye be of goddis mowthe.”
Cryst of heuene, þat is so bryȝt,
Amonge þe apostles sone he lyȝt,
And gret hem alle yfere,
W{i}t{h} aungeles fele þ{a}t w{i}t{h} hi{m} were, 860
And seide, “now pees be w{i}t{h} vs!
Blessed be ȝe,” seide Ih{es}us.
[Sidenote: no{t}a miracul{u}m ap{osto}lor{um}.]
A mysty cloude cam aft{er} than{e},
and ou{er}sprad them eu{er}ychon{e}, 696
and bare them alle þ{er} they wer{e},
in-to the stede that they wer{e} er{e}.
A lyȝt cloude come aft{er} þan,
And ou{er} sprad hem eu{er}y man, 864
[Sidenote: [leaf 80]]
And bar hem alle þat ben þere,
In to here stedes þ{er} þei p{re}ched ere;
And fonden alle þat folke ȝete,
Sittand stille atte here fete. 868
And þei bigo{n}ne for to p{re}che,
And þe folke for to teche.
moche wond{er} then hem thought
how thei wer{e} thed{er} y-brought, 700
for thei ne wiste whi ne whan{e};
and thei seid euerychon{e}
that rightfull is heuene kyng,
Ih{es}us lord ou{er} ałł thyng. 704
Moche wondre hem þo þouȝt
How þei weren þidre brouȝt. 872
Miȝtful art þou, heuene kynge,
Ih{es}u Crist, in alle þinge!
The apostles kneled in þat stede;
To ih{es}u þei bede a bede. 876
Ih{es}u herde here p{ra}iere,
For þei were hi{m} leue {and} dere.
[Headnote: _Conclusion and invocation._]
¶ This tale y haue tolde w{i}t{h} mouthe,
w{i}t{h} wordes that ben{e} ful couthe.
it is cleped the Assumpciou{n};
Iesus gef vs his benesou{n}. 708
Iesu crist, for his myght,
[Sidenote: [leaf 86]]
we p{ra}y to hym w{i}t{h} herte light,
and w{i}t{h} his holy grace,
gef vs bothe myght {and} space, 712
soche workes for to worche,
thurgh the lore of holy churche,
that we may to heue[ne] wende,
that is w{i}t{h} oute begy{n}nyng {and} ende. 716
Amen!
Explicit Sextus liber s{an}c{t}e Marie.
++WE biseche þee for alle þ{a}t hereþ þ{i}s vie
Off oure ladi seynt marie, 880
That Ih{es}u schelde hem fram g{ra}me,
Fro dedly synne {and} fro schame.
Ne mys auent{ur}e schal bi falle þ{a}t man
That þis a vie here can. 884
Ne no wo{m}man þat ilke dai
That of oure ladi hereþ þis lai,
Dien ne schal of hure childe,
For oure ladi hure schal be mylde. 888
[Sidenote: [leaf 80, back]]
Ne none mys auenture schal be-falle
In felde, in strete, ne in halle,
In stede þ{er} þis vie is rad,
For oure ladi hure sone it bad. 892
And þe archibisshop seynt Edmou{n}d
Haþ g{ra}unted xl. daies to p{ar}dou{n}
To alle þat þis vie wol here
Or with good wille wol lere. 896
Ih{es}u, for þi modre loue,
That woneþ in heuene vs aboue,
Graunt vs, ȝif þi wille is,
The mochil Ioye of p{ar}adis! 900
A p{ra}ier þer-to seie alle we,
A Pater n{oste}r p{ur} charite,
And an Aue marie þer-to,
That Ih{es}us vs graunt so. Amen! 904
¶ Celi regina sit sc{ri}ptori medicina.