 | The Pearl; Cleanness; Patience |  |
VIII.
“Blysful,” quod I, “may þys be trwe,
Dyspleseȝ not if I speke errour;
Art þou þe quene of heueneȝ blwe,
Þat al þys worlds schal do honour?
We leuen on marye þat grace of grewe,
Þat ber a barne of vyrgyn flour,
Þe croune fro hyr quo moȝt remwe,
Bot ho hir passed in sum fauour?
Now for synglerty o hyr dousour,
We calle hyr fenyx of arraby,
Þat freles fleȝe of hyr fasor,
Lyk to þe quen of cortaysye.”
Dyspleseȝ not if I speke errour;
Art þou þe quene of heueneȝ blwe,
Þat al þys worlds schal do honour?
We leuen on marye þat grace of grewe,
Þat ber a barne of vyrgyn flour,
Þe croune fro hyr quo moȝt remwe,
Bot ho hir passed in sum fauour?
Now for synglerty o hyr dousour,
We calle hyr fenyx of arraby,
Þat freles fleȝe of hyr fasor,
Lyk to þe quen of cortaysye.”
“Cortayse quen” þenne s[a]yde þat gaye,
Knelande to grounde, folde vp hyr face,
“Makeleȝ moder & myryest may,
Blessed bygynner of vch a grace!”
Þenne ros ho vp & con restay,
& speke me towarde in þat space:
“Sir fele here porchaseȝ & fongeȝ pray
Bot supplantoreȝ none with-inne þys place;
Þat emperise al heuenȝ hatȝ,
& vrþe & helle in her bayly;
Of erytage ȝet non wyl ho chace,
For ho is quen of cortaysye.
Knelande to grounde, folde vp hyr face,
“Makeleȝ moder & myryest may,
Blessed bygynner of vch a grace!”
Þenne ros ho vp & con restay,
14
“Sir fele here porchaseȝ & fongeȝ pray
Bot supplantoreȝ none with-inne þys place;
Þat emperise al heuenȝ hatȝ,
& vrþe & helle in her bayly;
Of erytage ȝet non wyl ho chace,
For ho is quen of cortaysye.
The court of þe kyndom of god alyne,
Hatȝ a property in hyt self beyng;
Alle þat may þer-inne aryue
Of alle þe reme is quen oþer kyng,
& neuer oþer ȝet schal sepryue,
Bot vchon fayn of oþereȝ hafyng,
& wolde her corouneȝ wern worþe þo fyue,
If possyble were her mendyng.
Bot my lady of quom Iesu con spryng,
Ho haldeȝ þe empyre ouer vus ful hyȝe,
& þat dyspleseȝ non of oure gyng,
For ho is quene of cortaysye.
Hatȝ a property in hyt self beyng;
Alle þat may þer-inne aryue
Of alle þe reme is quen oþer kyng,
& neuer oþer ȝet schal sepryue,
Bot vchon fayn of oþereȝ hafyng,
& wolde her corouneȝ wern worþe þo fyue,
If possyble were her mendyng.
Bot my lady of quom Iesu con spryng,
Ho haldeȝ þe empyre ouer vus ful hyȝe,
& þat dyspleseȝ non of oure gyng,
For ho is quene of cortaysye.
Of courtaysye, as saytȝ saynt poule,
Al arn we membreȝ of ihesu kryst,
As heued & arme & legg & naule,
Temen to hys body ful trwe & t[r]yste;
Ryȝt so is vch a krysten sawle,
A longande lym to þe mayster of myste;
Þenne loke what hate oþer any gawle,
Is tached oþer tyȝed þy lymmeȝ by-twyste,
Þy heued hatȝ nauþer greme ne gryste,
On arme oþer fynger, þaȝ þou ber byȝe;
So fare we alle wyth luf & lyste,
To kyng & quene by cortaysye.”
Al arn we membreȝ of ihesu kryst,
As heued & arme & legg & naule,
Temen to hys body ful trwe & t[r]yste;
Ryȝt so is vch a krysten sawle,
A longande lym to þe mayster of myste;
Þenne loke what hate oþer any gawle,
Is tached oþer tyȝed þy lymmeȝ by-twyste,
Þy heued hatȝ nauþer greme ne gryste,
On arme oþer fynger, þaȝ þou ber byȝe;
So fare we alle wyth luf & lyste,
To kyng & quene by cortaysye.”
“Cortayse,” quod I, “I leue
& charyte grete be yow among,
Bot my speche þat yow ne greue,
[OMITTED]
Þy self in heuen ouer hyȝ þou heue,
To make þe quen þat watȝ so ȝonge,
What more-hond moȝte he acheue
Þat hade endured in worlde stronge,
& lyued in penaunce hys lyueȝ longe,
With bodyly bale hym blysse to byye?
What more worschyp moȝt ho fonge,
Þen corounde be kyng by cortayse?
& charyte grete be yow among,
Bot my speche þat yow ne greue,
[OMITTED]
Þy self in heuen ouer hyȝ þou heue,
15
What more-hond moȝte he acheue
Þat hade endured in worlde stronge,
& lyued in penaunce hys lyueȝ longe,
With bodyly bale hym blysse to byye?
What more worschyp moȝt ho fonge,
Þen corounde be kyng by cortayse?
| The Pearl; Cleanness; Patience | |