A Stanzaic Life of Christ Compiled from Higden's Polychronicon and the Legenda Aurea |
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De quinquagesima & eius institucione.
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 | A Stanzaic Life of Christ |  |
De quinquagesima & eius institucione.
Qvinquagesme is enduryng
from þat ilk Sononday
that we thys office conun syng
that her wreton is verray:
from þat ilk Sononday
that we thys office conun syng
that her wreton is verray:
Esto michi in deum protectorem
And be trw of-cowntyng
hit endes opon Ester day.
whi hyt was ordenyt and what thyng,
now expressele wol I say.
hit endes opon Ester day.
whi hyt was ordenyt and what thyng,
now expressele wol I say.
Instituta est quinquagesima propter supplecionem, significacionem & representacionem.
Ordenyt hyt was in fulfyllyng
on Sonundayes when we mounot faste,
And also in bytocunny[n]g
of for-ȝyfnys at the last,
on Sonundayes when we mounot faste,
And also in bytocunny[n]g
of for-ȝyfnys at the last,
The thrid in representyng
of serten thyngws don by-fore,
as I wol sone to our lykyng
de-clar the mater las and mor.
of serten thyngws don by-fore,
as I wol sone to our lykyng
de-clar the mater las and mor.
Primo propter supplecionem.
The first cause wher-for and whi
quinquagesme ordynet was,
for forty dayes contynwely
Crist fast, as gospel mynd mas,
quinquagesme ordynet was,
for forty dayes contynwely
Crist fast, as gospel mynd mas,
139
Whiche fastyng fullily
we schulde fulfyl whit hert fre,
and teche our fles so truly
on vrthe wonnyng as dyd he.
we schulde fulfyl whit hert fre,
and teche our fles so truly
on vrthe wonnyng as dyd he.
And in al lentun securly
but syx and threfte dayes ben
for-to fast [o]n conablee,
exceptyng Sonundayes, wel ȝe senne.
but syx and threfte dayes ben
for-to fast [o]n conablee,
exceptyng Sonundayes, wel ȝe senne.
ffor of Sonundayes fast not we
ffor dyuerse cause, ȝe whyt moun.
on ys for reuerens, leue ȝe me,
of Cristes resurection,
ffor dyuerse cause, ȝe whyt moun.
on ys for reuerens, leue ȝe me,
of Cristes resurection,
And sethyn twyes Crist ete that day,
as wyttenes the ewangyly,—
ones when he come in fay,
the ȝates stoken wel and styfley,
as wyttenes the ewangyly,—
ones when he come in fay,
the ȝates stoken wel and styfley,
To hys desypulles, sothe to say,
when thay profreden hert-ly
rostyt fysche in gode aray,
and oney, also as rede I,
when thay profreden hert-ly
rostyt fysche in gode aray,
and oney, also as rede I,
The secund tyme that day ete he
toward Emaus as he went,—
ther-fore on Sonunday fast not we
ensawmpul of Crist thas so ws kent.
toward Emaus as he went,—
ther-fore on Sonunday fast not we
ensawmpul of Crist thas so ws kent.
Ther-fore to fulfylle by reson
fawrty dayes of fastyng,
fawr dayes byfore clene lenton
we fastun in dayes fullefullyng,
fawrty dayes of fastyng,
fawr dayes byfore clene lenton
we fastun in dayes fullefullyng,
And in recompensacion
of Sonundayes in that tyme comyng,
In the whiche we eten moun
twye lefully whyt-out synnyng.
of Sonundayes in that tyme comyng,
In the whiche we eten moun
twye lefully whyt-out synnyng.
140
But ȝet men of religion
two dayes by-for askewedenysday
by gode consyderacion
fastun in maner I schal say,
two dayes by-for askewedenysday
by gode consyderacion
fastun in maner I schal say,
For sythyn hor ordir and degre
passes the popul in on maner,
hor perfeccioun, leue ȝe me,
most be schwes more cler.
passes the popul in on maner,
hor perfeccioun, leue ȝe me,
most be schwes more cler.
thws one weke by-for lenton
Of fastyng fully ordenyt is,
and quinquagesme by gode reson
cald hyt is nothyng amys.
Of fastyng fully ordenyt is,
and quinquagesme by gode reson
cald hyt is nothyng amys.
Secundo institucia est quinquagesna propter significacionem.
On anothyr cause I myn
whi quinquagesme ordenyt was,
in tokenyng of our synne
was playn remission and grace,
whi quinquagesme ordenyt was,
in tokenyng of our synne
was playn remission and grace,
ffor al-way the fyfty ȝere
has ben ȝer of iubile,
that al men bounden in daunger
weren releschet and maad fre,
has ben ȝer of iubile,
that al men bounden in daunger
weren releschet and maad fre,
Also who-ser in dette wer
for-ȝiuen thenne was he,
or taken as for prisoner
deliueret wel in vch degre,
for-ȝiuen thenne was he,
or taken as for prisoner
deliueret wel in vch degre,
So that of synne if we be cler
thurgh schrift and in ful charite,
from the deuel and his power
thys tyme forboght that we schun be.
thurgh schrift and in ful charite,
from the deuel and his power
thys tyme forboght that we schun be.
141
Qualiter annus iubeleus primo fuerat introductus. Petrus in Historiis Scolasticis.
Now er that I fur go
I wyl tel what ys iubile,
as Ierom and Petre both two
witnessen, as rede we.
I wyl tel what ys iubile,
as Ierom and Petre both two
witnessen, as rede we.
when Abraham, as I sayd bifore,
hade slayne faur kenges graciousely
And deliueret las and more
Loth and al hys company,
hade slayne faur kenges graciousely
And deliueret las and more
Loth and al hys company,
By-cause of that deliueraunce
Iubile toke a bygynyng,
whein Habraham felle that happy chaunce
his brother out of bale to bryng.
Iubile toke a bygynyng,
whein Habraham felle that happy chaunce
his brother out of bale to bryng.
Iobel enim dicatur remissio vel inicium.
Iubile is as miche to say
as remissioun or bygynnyng,
for grete remission felle that day
as Lothes so aȝayn comyng.
as remissioun or bygynnyng,
for grete remission felle that day
as Lothes so aȝayn comyng.
Alia causa quare annus iubileus fuerat introductus.
And als Loth that taken wasand broght aȝayn in this maner
was thenne, as boke mynde mas,
of elde fully fyfte ȝer.
Alia causa.
Or elles one cause wel migh be
for fyfty ȝer ful passes wer
after that God spake, leue ȝe me,
whit Habraham hys derlyng der,
for fyfty ȝer ful passes wer
after that God spake, leue ȝe me,
whit Habraham hys derlyng der,
And bad hym go out of hys contre
to a lond he couth hy[m] lere,
in whiche reches he had gret plente,
and also childer both in fer.
to a lond he couth hy[m] lere,
in whiche reches he had gret plente,
and also childer both in fer.
142
Vnde habetur Genesis xijo: Egredere de terra tua, & de cognacione tua, & veni in terram, quam monstrabo tibi.
And other cause assingnes is
Whi thay worschypet iubile,
By-cause Abraham couthe wys
of sterres cource grete sotilte,
Whi thay worschypet iubile,
By-cause Abraham couthe wys
of sterres cource grete sotilte,
And by-cause that he segh this,
that elamentes so distempre
in fyfty ȝer nothyng amys
to esy cource schuld turnet be,
that elamentes so distempre
in fyfty ȝer nothyng amys
to esy cource schuld turnet be,
Ther-fore in the fyfty ȝer
he wold schulde be a ȝer of grace,
and euer sythynne whyt-outen wer
contynuely mon vset has.
he wold schulde be a ȝer of grace,
and euer sythynne whyt-outen wer
contynuely mon vset has.
Tercia racio est quare quinquagesima est instituta propter representacionem.
The thryde cause by myn entent
whi quinquagesme ordeynet was
as wel was forto represent
thyng done byfore as tyme of grace.
whi quinquagesme ordeynet was
as wel was forto represent
thyng done byfore as tyme of grace.
for as I sayd right now byfore,
bonde-men in the fyfty ȝer
wer made fre, as was vset ȝore,
And that tyme put out of daunger.
bonde-men in the fyfty ȝer
wer made fre, as was vset ȝore,
And that tyme put out of daunger.
Also in the fyfty day
after the lombe sacret was,
the lawe to Moyses, leue ȝe may,
was ȝiuen thenne thurght Goddes grace.
after the lombe sacret was,
the lawe to Moyses, leue ȝe may,
was ȝiuen thenne thurght Goddes grace.
But more expresse this story
of the lombes offering
the thryde book rede he, rede I,
And ther shal he fynde thys thyng,
of the lombes offering
the thryde book rede he, rede I,
And ther shal he fynde thys thyng,
143
Wo-ser wol fynde fullily
hys purpos to gode ligkyng,
[loke wele & certaynly
And in þat boke he shal fynde þat þynge.]
hys purpos to gode ligkyng,
[loke wele & certaynly
And in þat boke he shal fynde þat þynge.]
Al-so the fyfty day i-wys
from Cristes resurection,
the Holy Gost from heuen blysse
to erthe for mon was sent doun,
from Cristes resurection,
the Holy Gost from heuen blysse
to erthe for mon was sent doun,
Therfore thys noumbur of fyfty
blesset dedes may represent,
As I bifore con specify
And thaght ow her be myn entent.
blesset dedes may represent,
As I bifore con specify
And thaght ow her be myn entent.
Nota quod tria sunt necessaria que proponuntur in epistola & in euangilio huius diei.
Thre nedeful thyngus, takes in mynde,
that in the epistel bene to-day
and in the gospel, as I fynde,
that preuen penaunce nedeful ay.
that in the epistel bene to-day
and in the gospel, as I fynde,
that preuen penaunce nedeful ay.
The furst of hom is charite,
that in the epistel expresset is,
and thus bygynnes, ȝe moun se,
as her is written wel i-wys.
that in the epistel expresset is,
and thus bygynnes, ȝe moun se,
as her is written wel i-wys.
Si linguis hominum loquar, & angilorum, caritatem autem non habeam, factus sum velut es &c.
Paule says thagh he had that grace
to speke as aungel and as mon,
and charite failet in that caas,
vertu fynd he ne con,
to speke as aungel and as mon,
and charite failet in that caas,
vertu fynd he ne con,
Saue as metal that wer sounyng
that turnet no more p[ro]fyt to,
or as a chymbe began to tyng,
no more gode ther-whit might he do;
that turnet no more p[ro]fyt to,
or as a chymbe began to tyng,
no more gode ther-whit might he do;
144
And þat he had grace of prophecy,
and couth al maner wordly wyt,
and bileuet stidfastly
that he mighe make hulles to flytte,
and couth al maner wordly wyt,
and bileuet stidfastly
that he mighe make hulles to flytte,
And failet that vertu of charite,
he says that no-thin[g] worth he wer,
and mo suche poyntes puttes he
in his epistel, as ȝe moun ler.
he says that no-thin[g] worth he wer,
and mo suche poyntes puttes he
in his epistel, as ȝe moun ler.
Secundum est memoria passionis, ut in principio euangelii huius diei.
In the gospel eke al-so
hit mynnes on Cristes passioun
to excite monnes wille tho
to penaunce and contricion,
hit mynnes on Cristes passioun
to excite monnes wille tho
to penaunce and contricion,
And ys sette at bigyn[n]yng
in the selue ewangely,
as I in Latyn schal ou myng,
how Ihesu spake in prophecy:—
in the selue ewangely,
as I in Latyn schal ou myng,
how Ihesu spake in prophecy:—
Ecce ascendimus Ierosolima &c.
Criste sayde to Ierusalem goynng,
‘lo now we gone to that cite,
fulfyllet sal be althing
of prophetes spoken bifor of me.’
‘lo now we gone to that cite,
fulfyllet sal be althing
of prophetes spoken bifor of me.’
Whit folk he sayd he schuld be hent,
scornet, scourget, sputte opon,
and when he wer schamely schent,
after slayne bothe God and mon;
scornet, scourget, sputte opon,
and when he wer schamely schent,
after slayne bothe God and mon;
But rise he wolde the thrydde day,
as he tolde hym-selfe byfore,
so by thys gospel, I may say,
mynde of hys passion meues more
as he tolde hym-selfe byfore,
so by thys gospel, I may say,
mynde of hys passion meues more
145
A mon to penaunce and to pray
for-ȝiuenesse that he s[ynn]et sore
and after by contrite verray,
thenne any leson other lore.
for-ȝiuenesse that he s[ynn]et sore
and after by contrite verray,
thenne any leson other lore.
Tercium est fydes que intelligitur per illuminacionem ceci, vt in euangelio huius diei.
The thridde thing that nedeful ys
to make our penaunce acceptable
ys werrai faithe forsothe i-wisse,
for boute hit moun we noght be able.
to make our penaunce acceptable
ys werrai faithe forsothe i-wisse,
for boute hit moun we noght be able.
And that may vnderstonden be
by the gospel of this day,
and that blind mon þat God maad se,
for sad faithe he hade and werray,
by the gospel of this day,
and that blind mon þat God maad se,
for sad faithe he hade and werray,
And that witnesse God almight
by his awne worde i-wisse,
that Crist sayde when he gaf him sight,
as her in Latyn wreten his:
by his awne worde i-wisse,
that Crist sayde when he gaf him sight,
as her in Latyn wreten his:
Respice, fides tua saluum te fecit.
‘Se,’ quod Crist, and thenne segh he,
that long tyme was blind before,
‘thi beleue has sauet the
Of penaunce thow has tholet tho.’
that long tyme was blind before,
‘thi beleue has sauet the
Of penaunce thow has tholet tho.’
So may I preue tho werkes thre
that in epistel and gospel ys,
faithe, mynd and ful charite
bien ful nedeful all i-wis.
that in epistel and gospel ys,
faithe, mynd and ful charite
bien ful nedeful all i-wis.
for sad faithe maad our werkes be
acceptable to God almight,
For imposseble, leue ȝe me,
boute faithe to plese God oright.
acceptable to God almight,
For imposseble, leue ȝe me,
boute faithe to plese God oright.
146
Sine fide impossibile est placere deo.
Mind, as in Cristes passioun,
makes our penaunce more light,
as Gregori witnesse by resoun,
and I to telle now haue i-tight:
makes our penaunce more light,
as Gregori witnesse by resoun,
and I to telle now haue i-tight:
Gregorius: Si passio Christi ad memoriam reducitur, nichil est, quod non equo animo toleretur.
‘Ȝif Cristes passioun be in mynde,
no pyne for him we thole may
that [n]is light, ȝif we be kynd,
and better suffer hit we mone aye.’
no pyne for him we thole may
that [n]is light, ȝif we be kynd,
and better suffer hit we mone aye.’
The thridde vertu of charite
mas tho other studfast aye,
for ther-as thing may louet be,
mon nys not werry be no waye,
mas tho other studfast aye,
for ther-as thing may louet be,
mon nys not werry be no waye,
And witnesse saynt Gregore,
As I to specify am in-tent,
that loue is noght wurth witerlye,
Ther loue in dede ys negligent.
As I to specify am in-tent,
that loue is noght wurth witerlye,
Ther loue in dede ys negligent.
Gregorius: Amor dei non potest esse ociosus, operatur enim magna, si est, si autem operari necgligitur, amor non est.
Also be good skil preue I may
that the office of the masse
these thre weeks vche Sonunday
grouing to grace all-waye was.
that the office of the masse
these thre weeks vche Sonunday
grouing to grace all-waye was.
for atte furst begynnyng,
Circumdederunt singun we,
As holi chirch wer mysleuyng
þat any grace of syn shuld be;
Circumdederunt singun we,
As holi chirch wer mysleuyng
þat any grace of syn shuld be;
147
but the next Sonnenday comming
comfortet more sum-what wer we,
and i[n] hope of grace prayng
wit this office, Exurge,
comfortet more sum-what wer we,
and i[n] hope of grace prayng
wit this office, Exurge,
In whice we prayn to God, rise
and noght for-sake vs in grete nede,
and we als waxen more wyse
that misbileueden in our dede;
and noght for-sake vs in grete nede,
and we als waxen more wyse
that misbileueden in our dede;
but now this thridde Sonnodaye
as men that comfortet ben oright
[For he ys our governour ever & ay
As hit ys in þe office dyght.]
as men that comfortet ben oright
[For he ys our governour ever & ay
As hit ys in þe office dyght.]
Officium misse: Esse michi domine in deum protectorem.
In whice office, sothe to say,
holy chirche to God almight
four thinges special con pray,
as I to telle now haue i-tight.
holy chirche to God almight
four thinges special con pray,
as I to telle now haue i-tight.
Protectioun and confermyng,
of four thes arn the furst two,
helpe also and good ledyng,
We prayen aftere eke also.
of four thes arn the furst two,
helpe also and good ledyng,
We prayen aftere eke also.
for alle men in erthe leuyng,
outher þai bien wele other wo,
grace or gult, wit-oute lesing,
one of the faur gos no mon fro.
outher þai bien wele other wo,
grace or gult, wit-oute lesing,
one of the faur gos no mon fro.
Thenne for suche as ben in grace
he praes of confirmacioun
for to kepe hym fro trespas
and falling by temptacioun.
he praes of confirmacioun
for to kepe hym fro trespas
and falling by temptacioun.
148
Officio misse huius diei: Quoniam firmamentum.
to hom that bien in gult of synne
he prayes of helpe to rise in hye
and of the deueles bond to twinne,
as this office con specifye.
he prayes of helpe to rise in hye
and of the deueles bond to twinne,
as this office con specifye.
Vt patet in officio: Et in locum ref[u]gii vt saluum me facias.
To hom that tholen aduersite
he prayes afture protectioun,
that God bring hom into prosperite
oute of hor persecucioun.
he prayes afture protectioun,
that God bring hom into prosperite
oute of hor persecucioun.
Vnde in officio: Esto michi in deum protectorem.
ffor mony men so wel [þa]y bien
that hom-self ne know thai noght,
ny that ioy conen tha[i] not sen
ho[w] godely God for hom has wroght;
that hom-self ne know thai noght,
ny that ioy conen tha[i] not sen
ho[w] godely God for hom has wroght;
Therfore to pray aftur ledyng
to hom that bene in suche blysse,
I holde hit a ful nedeful thing,
lest thai gout of the waye amysse.
to hom that bene in suche blysse,
I holde hit a ful nedeful thing,
lest thai gout of the waye amysse.
then quinquagesme, as I [s]a[i]de her,
endes opoun Aster-daye,
for then we risen clene and cler
thurgh penaunce done befor in faye.
endes opoun Aster-daye,
for then we risen clene and cler
thurgh penaunce done befor in faye.
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