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95. Behold Jesus on the Cross

[_]

MS. Douce 126 (Sum. Catal. No. 21700)

Godys sone þat was so fre
In-to þis world he cam,
And let hym naylyn vp-on a tre,
Al for þe loue of man.
His fayre blod, þat was so fre,
Out of his body it ran—
A dwelful syȝte it was to se.
His body heng blak & wan.
Wiþ an o & an I His coroune was mad of þorn,
And prikkede in-to his panne Boþe byhynde & a-forn.
To a piler y-bowndyn,
Ihū was swiþe sore,
And suffrede many a wownde
þat scharp & betere wore.
He hadde vs euere in mynde
In al his harde þrowe;

141

And we ben so vnkynde
We nelyn hym nat yknowe.
Wiþ an O & an I But ȝif we loue hym trewe,
Houre peynys ben in helle Ȝarkyd euere newe.
Who-so wele loue trewe,
Byhold ihū on þe croys,
How he heng pale of hewe,
And cryde wiþ mylde voys—
‘Me þristiþ’ he gan to kalle—
þe iewis herdyn þys;
Eysel meynt wiþ galle,
þey bedyn hym y-wys.
Wiþ an O & an I His þrist was to seyȝe,
ffor loue of manys soule Hym longede for to deyȝe.
Who-so be proud in herte,
þynk on god al-myȝt
And on his wowndys smerte,
How rewly he was a-dyȝt.
Godys sone in trone,
þat heyȝest is of myȝt,
Tok batayle a-lone
ffor oure loue to fyȝt.
Wiþ an O & an I þe batayle was so stronge,
At many a betyr wownde þe ryche blod out spronge.
Trewe turtyl, corounyd on hylle,
þat heyȝest art of kynde,
þy loue chaungyþ my wille,
Whan þu comyst in my mynde.
þe fend I forsake anon
ffor on lady so hende—

142

To seruyn þe lady þan wil I gon,
ffor ȝhe is of my kende.
Wiþ an O and an I Ich am on of þo,
þat þy sone bouȝte dere He schal me nat for-go.
A—M—E—N