A Stanzaic Life of Christ Compiled from Higden's Polychronicon and the Legenda Aurea |
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De sexagesima & eius institucione.
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 | A Stanzaic Life of Christ |  |
De sexagesima & eius institucione.
Sexagesme is bygynyng
opon þat selue Sononday
that we this offys con syng,
Exurge domine, in gode fay,
opon þat selue Sononday
that we this offys con syng,
Exurge domine, in gode fay,
next after septuagesme suyng,
And in pasch weke endes ay
on Wednesday, by acountyng,
As I shal ful sone say.
And in pasch weke endes ay
on Wednesday, by acountyng,
As I shal ful sone say.
Instituta est sexagesima propter recompensacionem, significacionem & representacionem, vt patet inferius.
Sexagesme wel ordeynt was
first in recompensacioun
of fastyng þat popes conen whace
by gode deliberacioun,
first in recompensacioun
of fastyng þat popes conen whace
by gode deliberacioun,
And also as boke mynd mas
In representacioun
of our forbying to þat plas
that we so lost aȝeyn resoun.
In representacioun
of our forbying to þat plas
that we so lost aȝeyn resoun.
The thrid cause was in tokenyng,
As I shal ful sone telle,
of wydowhode, with-out lesyng,
that holi chirch in con dwelle.
As I shal ful sone telle,
of wydowhode, with-out lesyng,
that holi chirch in con dwelle.
Holi chirche wydohode
I may calle, as thinkes me,
time that apostles bode
the holi gost with hert fre
I may calle, as thinkes me,
time that apostles bode
the holi gost with hert fre
132
After Cristes ascencioun
quyl thay wer in hor praier,
that widohode we calle moun
of holi chirch, as ȝe shyn her.
quyl thay wer in hor praier,
that widohode we calle moun
of holi chirch, as ȝe shyn her.
But ȝet by sum opinioun
holi chirch widohode
Mich larger may be tane
then that time that þai so abode,
holi chirch widohode
Mich larger may be tane
then that time that þai so abode,
That is from þe ascencioun
euen into þe worldes ende,
qven Crist shal deme vs by resoun
And all þat gode ben with hym wende.
euen into þe worldes ende,
qven Crist shal deme vs by resoun
And all þat gode ben with hym wende.
Then Crist & holy chirch also
shyn be feghet both in fer,
As I shal er þat I go
sone declar owe more cler.
shyn be feghet both in fer,
As I shal er þat I go
sone declar owe more cler.
Quod instituta est propter recompensacionem.
As to þe first cause i-wys,
that is recompensacioun,
hit was ordeynt not amys,
As I shal preue by gode resoun.
that is recompensacioun,
hit was ordeynt not amys,
As I shal preue by gode resoun.
Two popes godely ordeynt þis,
Melchisedech, Siluestre also,
sithen Seterday after Friday ys
next day suyng onon tho,
Melchisedech, Siluestre also,
sithen Seterday after Friday ys
next day suyng onon tho,
And on Friday skilfully
In penaunce ich mon most be
of fastyng, prayer specialy,
for God þen deghet on rode tre,
In penaunce ich mon most be
of fastyng, prayer specialy,
for God þen deghet on rode tre,
Therfore thay ordeynt Seterday
iche mon forto ete twye,
that to gret fastyng in gode fay
hor kynde to mych shuld not destruy.
iche mon forto ete twye,
that to gret fastyng in gode fay
hor kynde to mych shuld not destruy.
133
Then in recompensacioun
of þis fastyng laide doun so,
one weke bifore þe lentoun
thai ordeynt time of fastyng tho,
of þis fastyng laide doun so,
one weke bifore þe lentoun
thai ordeynt time of fastyng tho,
And sexagesme calden hitt,
this weke þat so ordeynt was,
And this nome thus by my witt
of se[x]agesme com first on plas.
this weke þat so ordeynt was,
And this nome thus by my witt
of se[x]agesme com first on plas.
ijo propter [signific]acionem.
Anoþer cause I may showe
qvi se[x]agesme was ordeynt so,
In tokenyng fully ȝe shul knowe
of widohode, as I saide tho.
qvi se[x]agesme was ordeynt so,
In tokenyng fully ȝe shul knowe
of widohode, as I saide tho.
Qven Crist to heuen blis went,
Apostles destitute þen wer,
And that was widohode verrayment
of holi chirch, as I say her.
Apostles destitute þen wer,
And that was widohode verrayment
of holi chirch, as I say her.
And sexagesme may signifie
wydohode wel leue ȝe me,
As bifore declaret I
the time, as ȝe moun sothly se.
wydohode wel leue ȝe me,
As bifore declaret I
the time, as ȝe moun sothly se.
But in fulle reconselyng
of holy kirk þat widow was
to Ihesu Crist our heuen kyng
that so stegh to heuen plas,
of holy kirk þat widow was
to Ihesu Crist our heuen kyng
that so stegh to heuen plas,
therfore to chirch in his absence
was left two wynges witerly
to fliȝe with to his presence
And come to Crist hir spouse þerby.
was left two wynges witerly
to fliȝe with to his presence
And come to Crist hir spouse þerby.
134
Due ale sunt sex opera misericordie & decem precepta decalogi.
That one wyng I may wel call
the sex wercus of mercy,
that oþer wyng, as wel wyl falle,
the ten comaundementes don duly.
the sex wercus of mercy,
that oþer wyng, as wel wyl falle,
the ten comaundementes don duly.
therfore sexagesme i-wis
on Englisch is as mich to say,
As sex sith ten nothing amys,
or ten sith six, preue hit I may.
on Englisch is as mich to say,
As sex sith ten nothing amys,
or ten sith six, preue hit I may.
By sex I may wel vnderstonde
the sex wercus of mercy,
by ten lagh ȝyuen of Goddus honde,
the ten comaundementes truly.
the sex wercus of mercy,
by ten lagh ȝyuen of Goddus honde,
the ten comaundementes truly.
And the two wynges so laft he
In erth that we with hom shuld flie
to blis, ȝif we about be
to fulfulle hom fullylie.
In erth that we with hom shuld flie
to blis, ȝif we about be
to fulfulle hom fullylie.
iija ratio propter representacionem.
The thrid cause, ȝe mot be kent,
why sexagesme ordeynt was,
myȝt be wel to represent
that God forboȝt vs thurgh his gras.
why sexagesme ordeynt was,
myȝt be wel to represent
that God forboȝt vs thurgh his gras.
To fulfulle, as was resoun,
bi long processe þat ilk plas
þat Lucifer, quen he fel doun,
thurȝe pride so foule lost has.
bi long processe þat ilk plas
þat Lucifer, quen he fel doun,
thurȝe pride so foule lost has.
By ten I vnderstonde her
mon þat was made to ful aȝayn
An order lost by Lucifer
of angels that to hym wer bayn.
mon þat was made to ful aȝayn
An order lost by Lucifer
of angels that to hym wer bayn.
135
Then to fulfille þat tent plas
mon was made, as clercus sayn,
that Lucifer for his trespas
thurȝe pride lost, nys not to layn.
mon was made, as clercus sayn,
that Lucifer for his trespas
thurȝe pride lost, nys not to layn.
But quen that plas fulfillet is
that so was lorn for Lucifer,
then shal be domus-day i-wys
And general risyng, bout wer.
that so was lorn for Lucifer,
then shal be domus-day i-wys
And general risyng, bout wer.
ffor þat plas, leue wel þis,
may wel be-token, as I say her,
the tent order þat diden omys
of angels þat wer most cler.
may wel be-token, as I say her,
the tent order þat diden omys
of angels þat wer most cler.
Also bi six I vnderstonde
the sex dedis of charite,
þat forto bryng vs out of bonde
God shewide sone, as ȝe shyn se.
the sex dedis of charite,
þat forto bryng vs out of bonde
God shewide sone, as ȝe shyn se.
Quich dedis I wil not wonde
to reherce, riȝt as did he
that with his frelie flesch wold fonde
of thraldom forto make vs fre.
to reherce, riȝt as did he
that with his frelie flesch wold fonde
of thraldom forto make vs fre.
The first was þe incarnacioun,
the secunde his natiuite,
the thrid his gret passioun,
the furth quen to helle went he,
the secunde his natiuite,
the thrid his gret passioun,
the furth quen to helle went he,
The fift his resurreccioun,
the sext time worshipt wer we
qven our kynde atte Asscencioun
Abuf alle heuens havcet he.
the sext time worshipt wer we
qven our kynde atte Asscencioun
Abuf alle heuens havcet he.
Then sexagesme as I con say
endures, qvo-so wel wil seke,
riȝt into þe Wedenesday
þat is in þe Aster weke,
endures, qvo-so wel wil seke,
riȝt into þe Wedenesday
þat is in þe Aster weke,
136
On qvich Wedenesday songen is
At þe bygynnyng of þe mas
this ilke selue offys
that I shal specifie er I pas:
At þe bygynnyng of þe mas
this ilke selue offys
that I shal specifie er I pas:
Venite benedicti patris mei &c, expositio in lingua materna.
‘My fadir blesside, comus to me,
takes þe ioy that ordeynt is
to owe, er made was stone or tre,
In heuen þer-as is endles blis,’
takes þe ioy that ordeynt is
to owe, er made was stone or tre,
In heuen þer-as is endles blis,’
So that, ‘wel done,’ þis shul þai her
And vsen þes wercus of mercy,
‘welcum to my fadir dere,’
As in Latyn now saide I.
And vsen þes wercus of mercy,
‘welcum to my fadir dere,’
As in Latyn now saide I.
Then heuen ȝates shul openyd be
that spouse to spouse may com þat way,
holi chirche, as er saide we,
to Crist as hit was wilnet ay.
that spouse to spouse may com þat way,
holi chirche, as er saide we,
to Crist as hit was wilnet ay.
Therfore we reden ȝe moun se
In þe epistle of þis Sonday,
in tribulacioun stif to be
And suffre as Paule did, soth to say:
In þe epistle of þis Sonday,
in tribulacioun stif to be
And suffre as Paule did, soth to say:
Ad Corinthios Paulus: Libenter suffertis insipientes &c.
And in the gospel eke also
to gode dedis we counseiled bene,
worthy to God that we be tho
And make þis saide, as may be sene:
to gode dedis we counseiled bene,
worthy to God that we be tho
And make þis saide, as may be sene:
venite benedicti patris mei.
then holi chirche þat saide bifore
the first Sonday at mas
this offys, dredyng wonder sore
As ho in tribulacioun was:
the first Sonday at mas
this offys, dredyng wonder sore
As ho in tribulacioun was:
137
Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis.
this secunde Sonday comfortid is,
And praies to Crist in this manere,
that he wil rise þat kyng of blis
weret fro wo þen þat þai wer:
And praies to Crist in this manere,
that he wil rise þat kyng of blis
weret fro wo þen þat þai wer:
Officium: Exurge, quare obdormis domine.
But in thre maners, as I fynde,
And for thre thinges, in gode fay,
holy chirch vs to vnbynde
by this offys wel moun pray:
And for thre thinges, in gode fay,
holy chirch vs to vnbynde
by this offys wel moun pray:
ffor sum in holi chirch þer bene
that han gret tribulacioun
And neuer ouer-comen, as wel is sene,
ffor no maner temptacioun.
that han gret tribulacioun
And neuer ouer-comen, as wel is sene,
ffor no maner temptacioun.
And for alle sich as moun do so
this offys songen is oright
to comfort hom in sich wo
And make hor langour more liȝt.
this offys songen is oright
to comfort hom in sich wo
And make hor langour more liȝt.
Other ther ben als, in gode fay,
that gret tribulacioun han,
but suffre hit moun þai by no way,
but in hit caȝt & sone tan.
that gret tribulacioun han,
but suffre hit moun þai by no way,
but in hit caȝt & sone tan.
And for alle sich it nedis i-wys
to syng þis offys exurge,
to make hom rise þat don omys
In fondyng sone so faynt to be.
to syng þis offys exurge,
to make hom rise þat don omys
In fondyng sone so faynt to be.
The thrid þer ben, as rede I,
that ben not fondet with no wo,
ne ffallen not in no maner ny
but perseueraunt ay ben so.
that ben not fondet with no wo,
ne ffallen not in no maner ny
but perseueraunt ay ben so.
138
And for alle sich þis ilke offys
Exurge songen is oright,
to haue perseueraunce, as best is,
In gode purpos þat þai ben piȝt.
Exurge songen is oright,
to haue perseueraunce, as best is,
In gode purpos þat þai ben piȝt.
And to þes degres thre
Acordes þe gospel of þis day,
that Crist expovnes, ȝe moun se,
hym-self expresly, soth to say.
Acordes þe gospel of þis day,
that Crist expovnes, ȝe moun se,
hym-self expresly, soth to say.
| A Stanzaic Life of Christ | |