 | The South English Legendary |  |
Sancti Egidii confessoris et abbatis
Sein Gilis þe holyman ne louede noþing sunne
At Attenes he was ibore he com of kinges kunne
As he wende to Holy Churche inis ȝonghede a day
A sik man þat bad of is god amidde þe strete lay
Sein Gile strupte of is cu[r]tel and dude on þis sik man þer
And holmon he bicome anon as he was euer er
At Attenes he was ibore he com of kinges kunne
As he wende to Holy Churche inis ȝonghede a day
A sik man þat bad of is god amidde þe strete lay
Sein Gile strupte of is cu[r]tel and dude on þis sik man þer
And holmon he bicome anon as he was euer er
Sein Giles was is fader eir of gret eritage & god
Anon after is fader deþe þis godeman him vnderstod
Oure Louerd he ȝef is eritage as is wille was to done
Al he delde it pouere men & hadde ido wel sone
He vnderstod wel þat me nemiȝte twei louerdes serui noȝt
Oure Louerd and þis wrecche world bote he turnde fram þe on is þoȝt
Anon after is fader deþe þis godeman him vnderstod
Oure Louerd he ȝef is eritage as is wille was to done
Al he delde it pouere men & hadde ido wel sone
He vnderstod wel þat me nemiȝte twei louerdes serui noȝt
Oure Louerd and þis wrecche world bote he turnde fram þe on is þoȝt
As he was in churche a day is beden to bidde þer inne
A gidi man þer was ibonde þat þe deuel was wiþinne
He cride and made so gret noise þat þere nemiȝte non
For him ariȝt is beden bidde ac out hi wende echon
A gidi man þer was ibonde þat þe deuel was wiþinne
He cride and made so gret noise þat þere nemiȝte non
For him ariȝt is beden bidde ac out hi wende echon
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Þo sein Gile þis isei he bad hom ȝute abide
To þe gidiman he ȝeode as he lay þat so loude cride
Þane deuel he drof out of him þat in siknesse him broȝte
And he hadde is wit god inou of dede & ek of þoȝte
Bi þe se as he wende a day a ssip þer inne he sey
Þoru weder and strong tempest þat he adreinte wel ney
Reulich hi cride [on sein Gile ] þat þere inne were
Sein Giles bad oure Louerd for hom þat hi adreint nere
Anon so he sede is orison þe tempest wiþdrou
And þe ssip was al sauf in pes and þat weder murie inou
Þis men þonkede sein Gile þat to liue hom hadde ibroȝt
Serui and siwi him hi wolde ac hi nemoste for him noȝt
To þe gidiman he ȝeode as he lay þat so loude cride
Þane deuel he drof out of him þat in siknesse him broȝte
And he hadde is wit god inou of dede & ek of þoȝte
Bi þe se as he wende a day a ssip þer inne he sey
Þoru weder and strong tempest þat he adreinte wel ney
Reulich hi cride [on sein Gile ] þat þere inne were
Sein Giles bad oure Louerd for hom þat hi adreint nere
Anon so he sede is orison þe tempest wiþdrou
And þe ssip was al sauf in pes and þat weder murie inou
Þis men þonkede sein Gile þat to liue hom hadde ibroȝt
Serui and siwi him hi wolde ac hi nemoste for him noȝt
Sein Gilis isei þane world so luþer þat he nadde þerto no wille
And into a wildernesse a dai he wende wel stille
In an hongri lond he com hard lif forto lede
Al þe contreie liuede hore lif in honger and in wrechede
Gret reuþe hadde þe godeman ȝif he miȝte þer of rede
He het al þe lond aboute to porueie hom of sede
And tilie hore lond & sowe it wel so þat þe lond ber
Þat beste corn of al þat lond þoru is bede ech ȝer
And þe contreie bicom riche & god and of gret plente mid alle
And þonkede of alle god sein Gile þat hom was biualle
And into a wildernesse a dai he wende wel stille
In an hongri lond he com hard lif forto lede
Al þe contreie liuede hore lif in honger and in wrechede
Gret reuþe hadde þe godeman ȝif he miȝte þer of rede
He het al þe lond aboute to porueie hom of sede
And tilie hore lond & sowe it wel so þat þe lond ber
Þat beste corn of al þat lond þoru is bede ech ȝer
And þe contreie bicom riche & god and of gret plente mid alle
And þonkede of alle god sein Gile þat hom was biualle
Sein Gile wende into a wode uer in wildernesse
To lede is lif out of þe world al one in clannesse
Þat abit he nom of blak monk & wende to a þicke place
In a deop ualeie he astunte & liuede þoru Godes grace
Ar he hadde longe þer inne ibeo an hinde þer com gon
Wilde and swuþe milch wiþ alle to sein Giles he[o] com anon
And bad him hure odren mildeliche to nyme þerof is mete
He milkede þis wilde best þat milk he gan to ete
Þo sein Giles hadde iȝete þat best gan to him loute
And wende to is mete aȝen in þe wode aboute
To lede is lif out of þe world al one in clannesse
Þat abit he nom of blak monk & wende to a þicke place
In a deop ualeie he astunte & liuede þoru Godes grace
Ar he hadde longe þer inne ibeo an hinde þer com gon
Wilde and swuþe milch wiþ alle to sein Giles he[o] com anon
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He milkede þis wilde best þat milk he gan to ete
Þo sein Giles hadde iȝete þat best gan to him loute
And wende to is mete aȝen in þe wode aboute
Amorwe he[o] com eft þulke tyme & þis godeman outsoȝte
And euerich dai at one tyme milk inou he[o] him broȝte
Wanne þe godman hadde iȝete inou to hire mete heo wende also
Þere ne bileuede noȝt o day þat þis best nolde þus do
So þat þis godeman þere liuede al bi þis beste
And þere non oþer mete ne et & hadde hure to is heste
And euerich dai at one tyme milk inou he[o] him broȝte
Wanne þe godman hadde iȝete inou to hire mete heo wende also
Þere ne bileuede noȝt o day þat þis best nolde þus do
So þat þis godeman þere liuede al bi þis beste
And þere non oþer mete ne et & hadde hure to is heste
Þe kinges hontes wende a day anhonteþ þere aboute
So þat hi fonde þis seli hinde among oþer in þe route
Þe hondes þat ssolde þe bestes cacche bileuede þe oþer echone
And orne after þis seli hinde to cacche hure al one
Þis best flei þe wile heo miȝte weri he[o] was wiþ alle
To sein Giles hure louerd heo com and at is fet gan ualle
So þat hi fonde þis seli hinde among oþer in þe route
Þe hondes þat ssolde þe bestes cacche bileuede þe oþer echone
And orne after þis seli hinde to cacche hure al one
Þis best flei þe wile heo miȝte weri he[o] was wiþ alle
To sein Giles hure louerd heo com and at is fet gan ualle
Þis holyman isei is norise wery and eþi so faste
He wolcomede hure & hadde wonder wat þing hure so agaste
Ac non hond bi a stones þreu nedorste come him ney
Þis godeman biheld aboute and þeos hondes isey
Louerd he sede þat wille hast þat ich serui here þe
Mi norise þat þou me hast ilend ich bidde saue me
Wanne þou hure senst to uede me ich bidde þi swete wille
Þat non of þis hondes poer nabbe myn norise to spille
He wolcomede hure & hadde wonder wat þing hure so agaste
Ac non hond bi a stones þreu nedorste come him ney
Þis godeman biheld aboute and þeos hondes isey
Louerd he sede þat wille hast þat ich serui here þe
Mi norise þat þou me hast ilend ich bidde saue me
Wanne þou hure senst to uede me ich bidde þi swete wille
Þat non of þis hondes poer nabbe myn norise to spille
Þis hondes alle mid þisse worde gonne to ȝolle anon
And ȝollinge turnde aȝen to hore louerd echon
Gret wonder þoȝte þe honten alle ac hi nolde noleng bileue
To ofseche wat þe hondes deode for it was al at eue
And ȝollinge turnde aȝen to hore louerd echon
Gret wonder þoȝte þe honten alle ac hi nolde noleng bileue
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Amorwe he greiþede hom efsone to hore honting also
Þis seli hinde hi fonde efsone as hi hadde er ido
Þis hondes hure siwede faste anon þis hinde gan eft fleo
To sein Giles hure leoue louerd þat he ssolde hure warant be[o]
Þis seli hinde hi fonde efsone as hi hadde er ido
Þis hondes hure siwede faste anon þis hinde gan eft fleo
To sein Giles hure leoue louerd þat he ssolde hure warant be[o]
Þe hondes orne anon aȝen ȝollinde as hi dude er
Þe honten com hom wiþoute preie for noþing necaȝte hi þer
Þe king esste war hi hadde ibe[o] so longe out for noȝt
And ware hi leie þat hi nadde noþing hom ibroȝt
Þe honten com hom wiþoute preie for noþing necaȝte hi þer
Þe king esste war hi hadde ibe[o] so longe out for noȝt
And ware hi leie þat hi nadde noþing hom ibroȝt
Hi tolde him þei hi necaȝte noȝt wuch game hi miȝte finde
And hou hi boþe þe dawes were bigiled of an hinde
Gret wonder þoȝte þe king þerof he swor he wolde iwite
Hou it of þulke beste were ȝif he miȝte out vnderȝite
Þe bissop he nom wiþ him amorwe to wode hi wende beie
To seche after þis seli best wiþ hondes forto pleie
Þis seli best was sone ifonde þe hondes after anon
Ac anon þo it com to sein Gilis þe hondes astunte echon
Reulich aȝen ȝollinge hi orne ac an honte þer was ney
Lenie to sein Giles barme þis seli best he sei
An arwe he nom þis hinde to ssete ac þe arwe gan misfle[o]
And hutte þis selyman sein Giles almest þoru þe kne[o]
And hou hi boþe þe dawes were bigiled of an hinde
Gret wonder þoȝte þe king þerof he swor he wolde iwite
Hou it of þulke beste were ȝif he miȝte out vnderȝite
Þe bissop he nom wiþ him amorwe to wode hi wende beie
To seche after þis seli best wiþ hondes forto pleie
Þis seli best was sone ifonde þe hondes after anon
Ac anon þo it com to sein Gilis þe hondes astunte echon
Reulich aȝen ȝollinge hi orne ac an honte þer was ney
Lenie to sein Giles barme þis seli best he sei
An arwe he nom þis hinde to ssete ac þe arwe gan misfle[o]
And hutte þis selyman sein Giles almest þoru þe kne[o]
Þis godeman was wel uuel ihurt ac þerof lite him þoȝte
Þe honten come þicke aboute & after þis wonder soȝte
So þat hi seie þis holyman sitte biside a tre[o]
Old and hor in monkes cloþes þe hinde lenie to is kne[o]
Hi wende anon & tolde uore þe bissop & eke þe kynge
Al one hi wende boþe auote to wite here of tidynge
Þe king esste at þis holyman þo he him hadde out ifonde
Wi he were in such wildernesse & wo him ȝeue þulke wonde
Þe honten come þicke aboute & after þis wonder soȝte
So þat hi seie þis holyman sitte biside a tre[o]
Old and hor in monkes cloþes þe hinde lenie to is kne[o]
Hi wende anon & tolde uore þe bissop & eke þe kynge
Al one hi wende boþe auote to wite here of tidynge
Þe king esste at þis holyman þo he him hadde out ifonde
388
Here ich habbe quaþ þis godeman in Godes seruise ibe[o]
Inabbe no confort bote of þis best as ȝe mowe here ise[o]
And here aboute ȝe habbeþ ibe[o] to binyme it me
And þo it nuste non oþer red hider it gan forto fle[o]
And þe on honte it wolde ssete & hutte me on þe kne[o]
For God wot þat me is leuere þanne he hadde islawe be[o]
Inabbe no confort bote of þis best as ȝe mowe here ise[o]
And here aboute ȝe habbeþ ibe[o] to binyme it me
And þo it nuste non oþer red hider it gan forto fle[o]
And þe on honte it wolde ssete & hutte me on þe kne[o]
For God wot þat me is leuere þanne he hadde islawe be[o]
Þe honte sat akneo & bad forȝifnesse of þe wonde
Þe king bihet him leches gode to hele him in a stonde
Nai certes quaþ þis godeman þat nis bote dwele
Ichot þat Godes grace is more in siknesse þan i[n] wele
Þeruore ich bidde mi swete Louerd for is wonden viue
Þat [he] ne ȝiue me þerof neuere hele þe wile ich am aliue
So wole euerich of ȝou bidde þat iwonded were so sore
Ac for Gode ich wene ich liȝe þere fore i nesegge namore
Þe king bihet him leches gode to hele him in a stonde
Nai certes quaþ þis godeman þat nis bote dwele
Ichot þat Godes grace is more in siknesse þan i[n] wele
Þeruore ich bidde mi swete Louerd for is wonden viue
Þat [he] ne ȝiue me þerof neuere hele þe wile ich am aliue
So wole euerich of ȝou bidde þat iwonded were so sore
Ac for Gode ich wene ich liȝe þere fore i nesegge namore
Ac þou broþer þat ssote me þus al be[o] it þe for ȝiue
And grante me þis best in pes þat vint me biliue
Þe king fel adoun akne[o] and gret tresor him gan beode
Nai certes quaþ þis godeman inabbe þerto no neode
Ac nim al þat & rere þerwiþ an abbei here biside
And God wole þi wile ȝulde wel & þe bet þe ssel bitide
And grante me þis best in pes þat vint me biliue
Þe king fel adoun akne[o] and gret tresor him gan beode
Nai certes quaþ þis godeman inabbe þerto no neode
Ac nim al þat & rere þerwiþ an abbei here biside
And God wole þi wile ȝulde wel & þe bet þe ssel bitide
Þe king dude as he him bad an abbei he let rere
And so he bad þis holyman þat þe ferste abbot he was þere
His couent he weste swuþe wel of him me spak wide
For is miracles suþþe me com wel þicke go and ride
And so he bad þis holyman þat þe ferste abbot he was þere
His couent he weste swuþe wel of him me spak wide
For is miracles suþþe me com wel þicke go and ride
Þe king of France þat was þo Charles was is name
In a sunne he was þat he nemiȝte noman telle for ssame
Of sein Gilis he hurde telle þat he godman was
He wende to him & bad him ȝeorne to helpe him of þat cas
Ich habbe he sede a sunne ido þat i nemai for ssame telle
Þe ne non oþer man þei ich euere be[o] in helle
Bidde oure Louerd por charite þat he is me forȝiue
Þoru þi bone for i nemay for ssame þer of be[o] issriue
In a sunne he was þat he nemiȝte noman telle for ssame
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He wende to him & bad him ȝeorne to helpe him of þat cas
Ich habbe he sede a sunne ido þat i nemai for ssame telle
Þe ne non oþer man þei ich euere be[o] in helle
Bidde oure Louerd por charite þat he is me forȝiue
Þoru þi bone for i nemay for ssame þer of be[o] issriue
Þe Sonedai þere after as sein Gile masse song
Þe kinges sunne he hadde in munde & þereuore bad among
An angel þer com wiþ a writ as oure Louerd þuder sende
Þat writ he leide upe þe weued & aȝen to heuene wende
Sein Gile radde þat writ anon þer on he fonde iwrite
Þe kinges sunne þat was so luþer þat noman ne ssolde iwite
Þat writ sede ek þat þulke sunne þoru is bone was forȝiue
Ȝif þe king it bileuede & repentant were & þat is issriue
Þe kinges sunne he hadde in munde & þereuore bad among
An angel þer com wiþ a writ as oure Louerd þuder sende
Þat writ he leide upe þe weued & aȝen to heuene wende
Sein Gile radde þat writ anon þer on he fonde iwrite
Þe kinges sunne þat was so luþer þat noman ne ssolde iwite
Þat writ sede ek þat þulke sunne þoru is bone was forȝiue
Ȝif þe king it bileuede & repentant were & þat is issriue
And alle men þat sein Gilis for eni sunne bede
Oure Louerd wolde hore bone ihure ȝif hi bileuede hore misdede
Swete a sonde was þis on þat oure Louerd sein Gile sende
Hopie mai ech man þerto þat is lif wilneþ amende
Sein Gilis nom þis holi writ and king Charles gan bitake
Þo þe king isei is sunne iwrite he nemiȝte noȝt forsake
Ac sore wepinge he þer of ssrof and þonkede God also
And þe holi abbot sein Gilis þat it broȝte þerto
Sein Gilis ladde holy lif al to is liues ende
Oure Louerd him warnede longe biuore þat he wolde after him sende
He deide seue hondred ȝer after þat God was ibore
And wende to þe ioie of heuene þat he seruede biuore
Oure Louerd wolde hore bone ihure ȝif hi bileuede hore misdede
Swete a sonde was þis on þat oure Louerd sein Gile sende
Hopie mai ech man þerto þat is lif wilneþ amende
Sein Gilis nom þis holi writ and king Charles gan bitake
Þo þe king isei is sunne iwrite he nemiȝte noȝt forsake
Ac sore wepinge he þer of ssrof and þonkede God also
And þe holi abbot sein Gilis þat it broȝte þerto
Sein Gilis ladde holy lif al to is liues ende
Oure Louerd him warnede longe biuore þat he wolde after him sende
He deide seue hondred ȝer after þat God was ibore
And wende to þe ioie of heuene þat he seruede biuore
| The South English Legendary | |