88. Balthazer, Melchior and Jasper
Out of þe blosme sprang a þorn,
quan god hymself wold be born—
he let vs neuere be forlorn,
þat born was of marie.
þer sprong a welle al at here fot,
þat al þis word it turnyd to good—
quan Ihū cryst took fleych & blod
of his moder marie.
Out of þe welle sprang a strem,
fro patriarck to jerusalem—
til cryst hymself a-ȝen it nem
of his moder, etc.
In wynter quan þe frost hym fres,
a powre beddyng our lord hym ches;
betwyin an ox & an as
godes sone born he was
of his, etc.
It was vp-on þe twelwe day
þer come þre kynges in ryche aray,
to seke cryst þer he lay
& his, etc.
þre kynges out of dyuers londe
swyþe comyn wiþ herte stronge,
þe chyld to sekyn & vnder-fonge
þat born was of marie.
þe sterre led hem a ryte way
to þe chyld þer he lay—
he help vs boþe nyȝt & day
þat born was of marie!
Baltyzar was þe ferste kyng,
he browte gold to his offeryng,
ffor to presente þat ryche kyng
& his moder marie.
Melchiar was þe secunde kyng,
he browte incens to his offering,
for to presente þat ryche kyng
& his, etc.
Jasper was þe þred kyng,
he browte myrre to his offeryng,
ffor to presente þat ryche kyng
& his, etc.
þer þey offerid here presens,
wiþ gold & myrre & francincens,
& clerkes redyn in here seqwens,
ephifanye.
Knel we down hym be-forn,
& prey we to hym þat now is born:
‘& let us neuer be for-lorn,
þat born was of marie!’
