A Stanzaic Life of Christ Compiled from Higden's Polychronicon and the Legenda Aurea |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instituta est quinquagesima propter supplecionem, significacionem & representacionem.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | A Stanzaic Life of Christ |  |
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.
| A Stanzaic Life of Christ | |