 | [Poems from the Vernon MS] |  |
[XXXIII.] þe visions of seynt poul wan he was rapt in to paradys.
Lustneþ, lordynges, leof and dere,
Ȝe þat wolen of þe sonday here!
Þe sonday a day hit is
Þat angeles and archaungeles Ioyen, I-wis,
More in þat ilke day
Þen eny oþur, as I þe say.
Þen wol we her ate dwelle
Ho preyed furst rest for soules in helle.
Þat is to witen, I sei þe so,
Poul and Michel Archaungel bo.
ffor god of his grete miht
Þe peynes of helle put in heore siht.
Poul sayh bi-foren helle ȝates
Brennynge tres þat neuer slakes;
Mony on for heore synne þonne
Weore I-pyned and honged þer-onne:
Summe bi hondes and bi feet þere,
Summe bi þe her, summe bi þe ere,
Summe bi þe Armes þat weore longe,
And summe þer hengen bi þe tonge.
Ȝe þat wolen of þe sonday here!
Þe sonday a day hit is
Þat angeles and archaungeles Ioyen, I-wis,
More in þat ilke day
Þen eny oþur, as I þe say.
Þen wol we her ate dwelle
Ho preyed furst rest for soules in helle.
Þat is to witen, I sei þe so,
Poul and Michel Archaungel bo.
ffor god of his grete miht
Þe peynes of helle put in heore siht.
Poul sayh bi-foren helle ȝates
Brennynge tres þat neuer slakes;
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Weore I-pyned and honged þer-onne:
Summe bi hondes and bi feet þere,
Summe bi þe her, summe bi þe ere,
Summe bi þe Armes þat weore longe,
And summe þer hengen bi þe tonge.
He sauȝ a caudren brennynge at enes
Of diuerse colours wiþ seue lemes,
And þer weore þei for heore synne
Diuersliche I-pynet þer-Inne;
And seuen peynes weoren þer also
Þat duden þe soules muche wo:
Of diuerse colours wiþ seue lemes,
And þer weore þei for heore synne
Diuersliche I-pynet þer-Inne;
And seuen peynes weoren þer also
Þat duden þe soules muche wo:
Þe furste of snouȝ, þe secunde of ys,
Þe þridde fuir in alle wys,
Þe ffeorþe blod, as I þe say,
Þe ffyfþe Eddres of foul aray,
Þe sixte leyt, as mon may þink,
Þe seueþe peyne hit was of stynk.
At þat penaunces were þei in cast,
Synful soules, and al for-þrast,
Þe wȝuche þat nolden in no chaunce
ffor heore synnes do no penaunce;
Þer weore þei turmented in þo ledes,
And vche reseyued aftur his deedes.
Summe wepten and ȝelled þenne,
Summe gouleden, and summe dude brenne;
Þei disireden euere to dye—
Hit miht not beo, wiþ-outen lyȝe,
ffor þe soule, wher-so hit go,
Schal neuer dyen, for weole nor wo.
Þerfore sore hit is to drede
Þe places of helle for wikkedhede!
In þe wȝuche þer is a whel brennynge,
Wiþ muche serwe euer-lastynge;
Vndur þat wheol is þer þore
A þousund grisly peynes sore,
ffyue tyme vche day, to telle,
Beo turmented wiþ þe Angel of helle,
In vche of þo fyue tymes
Ben a þousund soules turmented in pynes.
Þe þridde fuir in alle wys,
Þe ffeorþe blod, as I þe say,
Þe ffyfþe Eddres of foul aray,
Þe sixte leyt, as mon may þink,
Þe seueþe peyne hit was of stynk.
At þat penaunces were þei in cast,
Synful soules, and al for-þrast,
Þe wȝuche þat nolden in no chaunce
ffor heore synnes do no penaunce;
Þer weore þei turmented in þo ledes,
And vche reseyued aftur his deedes.
Summe wepten and ȝelled þenne,
Summe gouleden, and summe dude brenne;
Þei disireden euere to dye—
Hit miht not beo, wiþ-outen lyȝe,
ffor þe soule, wher-so hit go,
Schal neuer dyen, for weole nor wo.
Þerfore sore hit is to drede
Þe places of helle for wikkedhede!
In þe wȝuche þer is a whel brennynge,
Wiþ muche serwe euer-lastynge;
Vndur þat wheol is þer þore
A þousund grisly peynes sore,
ffyue tyme vche day, to telle,
Beo turmented wiþ þe Angel of helle,
In vche of þo fyue tymes
Ben a þousund soules turmented in pynes.
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Aftur þat sayh he, þer he stod,
A wondur orible grisly flod,
And in þat flod say he þere
Mony deueles bestes were:
As ffissches þei were in þat flod þo,
Todus, Neddres, Snakes, mony mo,
And þe synful soules in hiȝ
Eten and gnowen wiþ-outen merci—
Of hem tok I no more kep
But as a Lyun doþ of a schep.
Ouer þat watur he sayȝ ligge
A wondur long and an heiȝ brugge,
And ouer þat brugge saf goon þen
Þe soules of good rihtful men
Wiþ-outen harm of word or dede,
And also wiþ-outen eny drede.
A wondur orible grisly flod,
And in þat flod say he þere
Mony deueles bestes were:
As ffissches þei were in þat flod þo,
Todus, Neddres, Snakes, mony mo,
And þe synful soules in hiȝ
Eten and gnowen wiþ-outen merci—
Of hem tok I no more kep
But as a Lyun doþ of a schep.
Ouer þat watur he sayȝ ligge
A wondur long and an heiȝ brugge,
And ouer þat brugge saf goon þen
Þe soules of good rihtful men
Wiþ-outen harm of word or dede,
And also wiþ-outen eny drede.
Þe soules of synne[r]s, as I þe telle,
ffallen doun þer, in pyne to dwelle,
Þer to take and resseyue so
As þei on eorþe deserueden to.
Be war of þis, I sei, beo-fore,
As God seide in þe gospel þore:
ffallen doun þer, in pyne to dwelle,
Þer to take and resseyue so
As þei on eorþe deserueden to.
Be war of þis, I sei, beo-fore,
As God seide in þe gospel þore:
Ligate per fasciculos ad comburendum:
Byndeþ hem in knucchenus forþi,
To brenne, lyk to licchi,
Spous-brekers wiþ lechours,
Rauisschers wiþ rauisschours,
Wikked wiþ wikked also,
ffor so schul þei to-gedere go.
ffor eueri creature go schal
Bi þat brugge sum or al,
And lasse or more schal he be deruet,
Er aftur he haþ heer deseruet.
To brenne, lyk to licchi,
Spous-brekers wiþ lechours,
Rauisschers wiþ rauisschours,
Wikked wiþ wikked also,
ffor so schul þei to-gedere go.
ffor eueri creature go schal
Bi þat brugge sum or al,
And lasse or more schal he be deruet,
Er aftur he haþ heer deseruet.
Þer sauh þe goode mon poule
In þat pyne moni diuerse soule:
Summe to þe kne, and summe to þe hipes,
Summe to þe nauel, summe to þe lippes,
And summe he sauȝ bi-suyled as souwes
In þat pyne vp to þe brouwes;
And þei weore turmented euerlastyngly,
Þei wept and gouled and weore sory.
In þat pyne moni diuerse soule:
Summe to þe kne, and summe to þe hipes,
Summe to þe nauel, summe to þe lippes,
And summe he sauȝ bi-suyled as souwes
In þat pyne vp to þe brouwes;
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Þei wept and gouled and weore sory.
And Poules herte was so sor
Þat for serwe he wepte þor.
And of þat Angel asked he
Whi summe were þer in to þe kne.
Þat for serwe he wepte þor.
And of þat Angel asked he
Whi summe were þer in to þe kne.
Þe Angel seide to him þen:
“Heo ben Bacbyters of men,
Þat in word and dede, as I þe say,
Hyndren heor euencristen þat þei may.
“Heo ben Bacbyters of men,
Þat in word and dede, as I þe say,
Hyndren heor euencristen þat þei may.
And þo þat to þe nauel þou se,
Spousbrekers and lechours þei be,
Þat aftur heore dedes, to vndurstonde,
Nolde no penaunce take on honde.
Spousbrekers and lechours þei be,
Þat aftur heore dedes, to vndurstonde,
Nolde no penaunce take on honde.
And þo þat weren up to þe lippes blake,
Stryf and Iangelyng in chirche dude make,
Vche to oþur Iangled wiþ scorn—
To heere godus wordus þei han forborn.
Stryf and Iangelyng in chirche dude make,
Vche to oþur Iangled wiþ scorn—
To heere godus wordus þei han forborn.
And þo þat weren vp to þe briȝes
In þat flod aboue þe eiȝes,
Þulke weore glade of þe mischeef
Of heore neihȝebors and of heore greef.”
In þat flod aboue þe eiȝes,
Þulke weore glade of þe mischeef
Of heore neihȝebors and of heore greef.”
And Poul wepte and seide þo:
“Muche wo is hem I-come to
Þat so mony peynes grymme
Ben ordeynt to for heore synne!”
“Muche wo is hem I-come to
Þat so mony peynes grymme
Ben ordeynt to for heore synne!”
Seynt Poul þo bi-tornd his face
And sayȝ anoþur derk place,
Moni Men and wymmen þer amongus
Þat for-freten heore owne tonges.
And sayȝ anoþur derk place,
Moni Men and wymmen þer amongus
Þat for-freten heore owne tonges.
And Poul asked of him þere
What-maner men þat þei were.
Þe Aungel seide to him ful sleih:
“Þei vsuden Ocur and vsuri;
Merciable weore þei nouht,
Þerfore hit schal be dere abouht.”
And Poul sauȝ þenne a-noþur plas,
What-maner men þat þei were.
Þe Aungel seide to him ful sleih:
“Þei vsuden Ocur and vsuri;
Merciable weore þei nouht,
Þerfore hit schal be dere abouht.”
Þat moni peynes þer-in was;
Þer he sauh dispitous þing:
As Blake Maydens in Blac cloþing,
255
In wellyng pich and Brumston;
Brennyng dragouns and serpentes ifere
Hongynge aboute heor nekkes were,
Gnawyng hem, to don hem schom,
To-tere þe fflesch from þe bon.
And þer weore foure Angeles to telle
Þat weoren of þe hous of helle,
Brennynge hornes hedde þei on hed;
Þei hem turmented and dude hem qued,
ffaste þei wente þis pepul a-boute
Wiþ moni turmentes grete and stoute,
Seying to hem, as was heore wone:
“Knoweþ ȝe,” þei seide, “godus sone,
Þe wȝuche þat muche on ȝou þouȝt,
Al þe world whon he bouȝt?
ffor ȝe nolde neuer knowen him
Ȝe schullen han here þeos pynes grym.”
Poul þis asked feire and wel.
And þenne onswered þe Aungel:
“Þeos serued not chastite
Til tyme of heor weddynge schulde be,
But lyuede in heore lecherie,
And heled heore children and dude hem dye
And ȝaf hem to swyn or to houndes
Or drouned hem In flodes groundes,
And schewed hem to þe worldus degre
As þei maydens hedden i-be;
And in þis lyf þei lyueden ȝore
And duden no penaunce þerfore.”
And þenne onswered þe Aungel:
“Þeos serued not chastite
Til tyme of heor weddynge schulde be,
But lyuede in heore lecherie,
And heled heore children and dude hem dye
And ȝaf hem to swyn or to houndes
Or drouned hem In flodes groundes,
And schewed hem to þe worldus degre
As þei maydens hedden i-be;
And in þis lyf þei lyueden ȝore
And duden no penaunce þerfore.”
Aftur þis he sayȝ at ene
Men and wymmen moni and lene,
Lene þei weore, wiþ-outen flesche;
Þei soffred harde and noþing nessche:
Muche lay bi-foren hem of Mete
Þat hem deynet not of to ete.
Þo weore þeose þat weore not trewe
And nolde not faste þat hem was duwe,
And hedden of mony metes dedeyn,
But hit weore likerous, be certeyn.
Men and wymmen moni and lene,
Lene þei weore, wiþ-outen flesche;
Þei soffred harde and noþing nessche:
Muche lay bi-foren hem of Mete
Þat hem deynet not of to ete.
Þo weore þeose þat weore not trewe
And nolde not faste þat hem was duwe,
And hedden of mony metes dedeyn,
But hit weore likerous, be certeyn.
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Þen sauȝ poul a serwȝful siht—
And he loked þer forþ riht:
An Old mon sat þer wepynge
Bi-twene four deueles foul ȝellynge.
And he loked þer forþ riht:
An Old mon sat þer wepynge
Bi-twene four deueles foul ȝellynge.
Poul asked what he was.
And þe Angel seide in plas:
“He was Neclygent aȝeynes forbod
And kepte not þe lawes of God,
He nas not chast of bodi i-souȝt
Ne of herte ne of his þouȝt,
But euer he was Couetous,
Proud of herte and contrarius;
Þerof nolde he him not schriue
Ne do no penaunce bi his lyue,
Þerfore he schal beo pyned ay
Wiþ-outen Noumbre til domus-day.”
And þe Angel seide in plas:
“He was Neclygent aȝeynes forbod
And kepte not þe lawes of God,
He nas not chast of bodi i-souȝt
Ne of herte ne of his þouȝt,
But euer he was Couetous,
Proud of herte and contrarius;
Þerof nolde he him not schriue
Ne do no penaunce bi his lyue,
Þerfore he schal beo pyned ay
Wiþ-outen Noumbre til domus-day.”
Poul wepte and bigon to goule.
Þe Angel seide: “whi wepustou, poule?
Ȝit sayȝ þou not, as I þe telle,
Þe strengest peyne þat is in helle.”
Þe Angel seide: “whi wepustou, poule?
Ȝit sayȝ þou not, as I þe telle,
Þe strengest peyne þat is in helle.”
Þe Angel him schewed wiþ-outen weoles
A put a-seled wiþ seuen seles.
He bad him stonde bac, for þat þing,
Þat he mihte sustene þat stynk.
He opened þe Mouþ of þat put:
Hit stonk foule wȝon hit was vnschut;
Þe stynk þat com out of þat plas
Passed al þe peynes and stinkes þer was.
A put a-seled wiþ seuen seles.
He bad him stonde bac, for þat þing,
Þat he mihte sustene þat stynk.
He opened þe Mouþ of þat put:
Hit stonk foule wȝon hit was vnschut;
Þe stynk þat com out of þat plas
Passed al þe peynes and stinkes þer was.
Þen seide þat Angel, to biginne:
“Hose comeþ þis put wiþ-Inne,
Bi-fore God and vre ladi
Schal neuer of him beo no merci.”
Poul askede: “wȝuche ben þo
“Hose comeþ þis put wiþ-Inne,
Bi-fore God and vre ladi
Schal neuer of him beo no merci.”
Þat schulen to þis peyne go?”
He seide: “hose leeueþ not in wone
Þat Iesu crist, Godus sone,
Tok fflesch and blod of þe virgine Marie
And seþþe was boren of hire bodye;
And also þulke, I telle hit þe,
Þat neuer wollen Baptiȝed be,
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Þe flesch and blod of godus bodi.”
Poul loked forþur þen
And sauȝ ful mony men and wymmen;
Wormes and serpentes on hem seeten,
Euer as houndes þei on hem freeten.
So mony soules þer weore in hold,
Vehon on oþur, as schep in fold.
Hit was also dep to nemene
As from þe eorþe vp to heuene.
Of heore serwyng was muche wondur,
Þei made a noyse as hit weore þundur.
And þenne poul loked touward heuene,
And out of eorþe he herde a steuene;
A synful soule he sauȝ comynge
Among seue deueles waymentynge;
Þe wȝuche þat same day forþi
Was itaken from þe bodi.
And out of eorþe he herde a steuene;
A synful soule he sauȝ comynge
Among seue deueles waymentynge;
Þe wȝuche þat same day forþi
Was itaken from þe bodi.
Þe Angeles of God, þat ben vr frendes,
Criȝeden faste to þe ffendes,
Seyȝinge allas, makynge heore mon:
“What haþ þat wrecched soule i-don?”
Criȝeden faste to þe ffendes,
Seyȝinge allas, makynge heore mon:
“What haþ þat wrecched soule i-don?”
Þe ffendes seiden: “verreyment,
He haþ seȝen his Iuggement;
He haþ ben muche mys-auyset,
Godus Comaundemens he haþ dispyset,
In eorþe he lyued in foly
And þer dude he no remedi.
His owne cha[r]tre haþ he rad
Þat his synnes were Inne I-sprad,
And so forþ, we telle þe,
His owne self þen Iugged he.”
He haþ seȝen his Iuggement;
He haþ ben muche mys-auyset,
Godus Comaundemens he haþ dispyset,
In eorþe he lyued in foly
And þer dude he no remedi.
His owne cha[r]tre haþ he rad
Þat his synnes were Inne I-sprad,
And so forþ, we telle þe,
His owne self þen Iugged he.”
Þen tok þe deueles and him bounde,
And caste hym in to þe derkeste grounde,
Þer as was wepyng wiþ muche vnseeþe,
Goulyng and grisbatyng of teþe.
And caste hym in to þe derkeste grounde,
Þer as was wepyng wiþ muche vnseeþe,
Goulyng and grisbatyng of teþe.
Þen seide to poul þat Aungel:
“Leeue þou hit and knowe hit wel:
So as Mon doþ in his lyuing
So schal he haue aftur his endyng.”
Aftur þat þis was forþ so sent,
In-wiþ þe space of a moment,
“Leeue þou hit and knowe hit wel:
So as Mon doþ in his lyuing
So schal he haue aftur his endyng.”
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In-wiþ þe space of a moment,
Aungeles of heuene saiȝ he come þon,
Brouhten þe soule of a Rihtful mon.
Þer was Ioye wiþ loud steuene,
ffor so þei beeren hit in to heuene;
Of a þousund Angeles he herde þe vois,
Ioynge wiþ a semely noys,
And seiden: “murie soule, blesset þou be,
ffor euer murþe schal beo wiþ þe!
Þou art i-blesset of God in trone:
Þe wille of Ihesu hastou done.”
Þen seide þe Angeles in heore seiȝing:
Brouhten þe soule of a Rihtful mon.
Þer was Ioye wiþ loud steuene,
ffor so þei beeren hit in to heuene;
Of a þousund Angeles he herde þe vois,
Ioynge wiþ a semely noys,
And seiden: “murie soule, blesset þou be,
ffor euer murþe schal beo wiþ þe!
Þou art i-blesset of God in trone:
Þe wille of Ihesu hastou done.”
“Ledeþ hym vp to-foren vr kyng!
Glad may he ben of alle clerkes
Þat schal him-self rede his goode werkes.”
Aftur þat Mihel lede him in hiȝ
To paradys to oþur holi.
A Ioyful noyse was hem among
Of Angeles and Archangeles wiþ song.
Þei þat in peyne bi-neþen lyȝe,
Herden þis and al hit seiȝe;
Þei ȝelleden wiþ lodly cry:
“Poul, Michael, on vs ha merci!
Prei for vs wiþ good a-cord
To vre god and to vre lord!”
Þen seide þe Angel to hem þo:
“Weputh! poul and I wolen also,
Þat Almihti God, þat may best,
Send ȝow sum refuit and sum rest.”
“Weputh! poul and I wolen also,
Þat Almihti God, þat may best,
Send ȝow sum refuit and sum rest.”
And þeose þat in peyne weore
Cried on God wiþ delful beere;
Michael and poul also,
And a Legioun of Aungelus mo.
Þe soun of hem was herd ful euene
Vp in to þe ffeorþe heuene,
Seiȝinge “haue merci on hem,
Þe Sone of God and eke of mon.”
And þenne þei þe heuene seih
Cried on God wiþ delful beere;
Michael and poul also,
And a Legioun of Aungelus mo.
Þe soun of hem was herd ful euene
Vp in to þe ffeorþe heuene,
Seiȝinge “haue merci on hem,
Þe Sone of God and eke of mon.”
Open a-non ful sodeynly,
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And herde hem preye, mony on mo,
Þei preieden alle ful tenderli
“Haue merci on vs, sone of Daui!”
Þe vois þenne of vre heuene kyng
Ouer al þe peynes was herd seying:
“What good ha ȝe don herbifore
Þat ȝe aske reste so sore?
I was don on cros for ȝou wiþ dere
And smiten wiþ a ful scharp spere,
I-nayled also wiþ nayles þree,
Eysel and Galle to drynke bode me;
I ȝaf my-self for ȝou to be,
ffor ȝe schulde ouer come wiþ me.
Bote ȝe weore þeues, coueytous,
Proude and wroþe and envyous,
Good neuer nolde ȝe do non
Ne to schrift nolde ȝe not gon,
Ne do penaunce for no þing
Wiþ Almusdedes ne wiþ fastyng,
But ȝe weore lyȝers al ȝor lyf
And liueden euere in serwe and strif.”
Þen kneled Poul and Mihel
And a Milioun Angeles wel
Bi-fore þe sone of God, to pray
Þei moste ha reste þe sonenday.
Þo weore þeos, as I ow telle
Þat weoren in þe pynen of helle.
Þen seide vr lord to hem in spelle:
“ffor Poul and also Michaelle
And myn oþure Angeles on hiȝe,
Þat ben in heuene so goode and triȝe,
And also of my grete goodnesse,
Hem to ese of heore distresse,
Þis rest I ȝiue ȝow ful soon
ffrom þe seter-day at Non
Til þe secunde hour beo cum
On þe Monenday, al and sum.”
A non þe soules hedden þer rest—
He ȝaf hit hem þat mihte best.
Þe soules criȝed euerichon:
“Blesset beo þou, lord, sone of mon,
Lord and God of Dauid kuynde!
Þis rest bi þe haue we in Muynde.”—
He ȝaf hit hem þat mihte best.
260
“Blesset beo þou, lord, sone of mon,
Lord and God of Dauid kuynde!
Þis rest bi þe haue we in Muynde.”—
Þerfore, whos halweþ wel þe sonenday,
He schal ha part of þe reste ay
Þat þe Angeles in heuene
Han þere wiþ mylde steuene.
He schal ha part of þe reste ay
Þat þe Angeles in heuene
Han þere wiþ mylde steuene.
Beo war of þe serwe and drede
And of þe peynes þat we her rede,
And torne we in alle wyse
Vr lord to serue, þat hiȝe Iustise;
Bi wȝuche seruyse we may come
To vre lord god and wiþ him wone.
And of þe peynes þat we her rede,
And torne we in alle wyse
Vr lord to serue, þat hiȝe Iustise;
Bi wȝuche seruyse we may come
To vre lord god and wiþ him wone.
| [Poems from the Vernon MS] | |