Comoedia A worke in Ryme contayning an Enter-lude of Myndes, witnessing the Mans Fall from God and Christ. Set forth by HN, and by him newly porused and amended. Translated out of Base-almaynes into English [by Christopher Vitell?] |
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 | I. |
| I. |
Pavsa I.
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| II. |
| III. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| A. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
| XIII. |
| XIIII. |
| IIII. |
| XVII. |
 | Comoedia |  |
11
Pavsa I.
II. The Second Chapter.
A
Ioye.Sweetnes and Ioye, is my Exercise always:
Which God ; in my Motions; worketh, to his Prayse.
Godly sweete Plasures, are my Conditions likewyse.
Wheare I am, men are ioyfull, in All they exercyse/
Ther is in Gods Kingdom, no euell Act, nor Lamenting.
I liue ioyfully with God, in his Daye, to my Contenting.
To the Welfare of Playne-and-iust, I do my best indeuer.
Loue.
In the exercising of Loue, my Ioyes do still perseuer/
Which God worketh ; in Mee; without Tediousnes or Payne.
I Loue, am Long suffering/as men may see ful-playne:
Also freendly, in all my Beeing, Nature, and Kynde.
Through Mee, the liueing God, is declared, he do fynde:
For God, to the Loue, compared is ful-right.
I Loue, haue neuer, reiected any Wight.
I wil-not deceaue, nor enuy Any-man:
And to exalt myself, I neuer did nor can.
I am pacient in Suffering/for God is my Stabilitee.
All this ; to Playne-and-iust; doth chance for his Comoditee.
Which God worketh ; in Mee; without Tediousnes or Payne.
I Loue, am Long suffering/as men may see ful-playne:
Also freendly, in all my Beeing, Nature, and Kynde.
Through Mee, the liueing God, is declared, he do fynde:
For God, to the Loue, compared is ful-right.
I Loue, haue neuer, reiected any Wight.
I wil-not deceaue, nor enuy Any-man:
And to exalt myself, I neuer did nor can.
I am pacient in Suffering/for God is my Stabilitee.
All this ; to Playne-and-iust; doth chance for his Comoditee.
I am likewyse ; in my Mynde; both peaceable and mylde.
All this is Gods owne Worke: for Hee the same doth bylde.
Wheare I dwell, is Gods Howse/and theare ; in vpright vce;
God is most truly serued, without any Abuce:
For God hath ; in his Kingdom; Mee therto ordayned/
That I should ; Playne-and-iust; reioyce with Ioye vnfayned.
All this is Gods owne Worke: for Hee the same doth bylde.
Wheare I dwell, is Gods Howse/and theare ; in vpright vce;
God is most truly serued, without any Abuce:
For God hath ; in his Kingdom; Mee therto ordayned/
That I should ; Playne-and-iust; reioyce with Ioye vnfayned.
B
Reasonablenes.I Reasonablnes, am vpright in Nature.
Which God doth work in Mee, that am his own Figure:
Because I shoulde vse Measure, in all I take-in-hande.
For in all my Walkings, reasonable I stande:
In all my Meate and Drink, I am reasonable too.
Reasonable, in all my Works, that I diuise and doo.
12
I laude my God alwayes, with Playing and with Singing.
For I am the true Compas, and the right Path also:
Wherby it may alwayes, with Playne-and-iust, wel go.
Obedience.
To be obedient vnto God, thatt is my Manifestacion:
Which God doth work in Mee, to his Prayse and Gloryfycation.
I seeke not also, myne owne Honour to procure:
But I am obedient, vnto Gods Doctrine pure.
I neuer shrinke from Hym, through any bad Intencion.
I seeke neither Suttletee, nor any New-inuencion.
I cannot any-way, Gods holy Lawe transgresse.
Therfore liues Playne-and-iust, with Mee in Quyetnesse.
C
Trueth.
I Trueth, am High-priest, in Gods Kingdom, alway/
In Mee, theternall Lyfe, is firme, without decaye.
That doth my true Father, work in Mee aright.
For in his mighty Kingdom, I am the perfect Light:
Also my Fathers Waye, like as tis written ryfe:
The right Uyne-stock, and the eternall Lyfe.
For without the Trueth, God cannot pleased bee.
Therfore the High-priests-office, hath Hee resignd to Mee.
In Mee, theternall Lyfe, is firme, without decaye.
That doth my true Father, work in Mee aright.
For in his mighty Kingdom, I am the perfect Light:
Also my Fathers Waye, like as tis written ryfe:
The right Uyne-stock, and the eternall Lyfe.
For without the Trueth, God cannot pleased bee.
Therfore the High-priests-office, hath Hee resignd to Mee.
I am the Tree
of Lyfe, out of Loue bloweing.
If Playne-and-iust do still, in Mee; remayne growing,
Then with him at all tymes, shall it go right-well.
All Nations shall serue him, that vnder Heauen do dwell:
For him hath God loued, and likewyse elected:
But if he fall from Mee, he is lost and quyt reiected:
For I am the Foundation, the right Grounde-stone.
Ther is not any other, but I myself alone,
Wheron all Understanding, must euermore be grounded.
Although ther be many Testimonyes, florishingly forth-sounded/
Yet do I counsaile Playne and-iust, with Mee to tary still.
Which if he doo, noman then, can him destroye or kill.
If Playne-and-iust do still, in Mee; remayne growing,
Then with him at all tymes, shall it go right-well.
All Nations shall serue him, that vnder Heauen do dwell:
For him hath God loued, and likewyse elected:
But if he fall from Mee, he is lost and quyt reiected:
For I am the Foundation, the right Grounde-stone.
Ther is not any other, but I myself alone,
Wheron all Understanding, must euermore be grounded.
Although ther be many Testimonyes, florishingly forth-sounded/
Yet do I counsaile Playne and-iust, with Mee to tary still.
Which if he doo, noman then, can him destroye or kill.
D
Knowledg.
I Knowledg, to beholde, am pleasant and delectable.
God worketh through Mee, his Prophecie vnfaylable.
Through Mee, God reuealeth his high holy Name.
I am very meete, to set-foorth his Honour and Fame:
For who can in Knowledg, God exceede or-yet com-ny?
Whoso vseth Mee, must needes exalt himself on-hy.
Therfore also hath God ; with Mee; his Work alone.
For with the mighty Knowledg, He excelleth eueryone,
In Knowledg, is Hee, extolled aboue All.
In Knowledg, can noman, with God becom equall.
In Knowledg of the Trueth, his Work it is miraculous:
But without Knowledg of ye Trueth, I work ye Death pernitious.
Whosoeuer toucheth Me, my Bewty for to inherit/
Hee must ; through my Fruits; dye from the Lyfe in Spirit.
God worketh through Mee, his Prophecie vnfaylable.
Through Mee, God reuealeth his high holy Name.
12
For who can in Knowledg, God exceede or-yet com-ny?
Whoso vseth Mee, must needes exalt himself on-hy.
Therfore also hath God ; with Mee; his Work alone.
For with the mighty Knowledg, He excelleth eueryone,
In Knowledg, is Hee, extolled aboue All.
In Knowledg, can noman, with God becom equall.
In Knowledg of the Trueth, his Work it is miraculous:
But without Knowledg of ye Trueth, I work ye Death pernitious.
Whosoeuer toucheth Me, my Bewty for to inherit/
Hee must ; through my Fruits; dye from the Lyfe in Spirit.
Therfore must Playne-and-iust, from mee auoyde and fly.
If he take-on my Fruit, into Wo he coms therby:
For I am only, for Gods owne Speculacion.
Whoso tyes himself to Mee, coms into Tribulacion:
And is from all Ioye, very farr excluded.
But God can want nothing, nor-yet be deluded:
For the Lyfe of the Trueth, in Him is firmly sett:
Therfore do all those, much Ueracion gett/
Which, without the Trueths Lyfe; Mee do touch or handle.
If he take-on my Fruit, into Wo he coms therby:
For I am only, for Gods owne Speculacion.
Whoso tyes himself to Mee, coms into Tribulacion:
And is from all Ioye, very farr excluded.
But God can want nothing, nor-yet be deluded:
For the Lyfe of the Trueth, in Him is firmly sett:
Therfore do all those, much Ueracion gett/
Which, without the Trueths Lyfe; Mee do touch or handle.
E
Searcher.I Searcher, am very hardy, and do not feare nor tremble/
And subtiller, then all created Beasts, am I,
God doth both Heart and Neynes ; through Mee; fearth-out and cry:
For I, with nimble Powers; do search both high and lowe.
God doth the Mans Thoughts ; by Mee; fynde-out and knowe.
I am searching, in subtle Fore-cast or wyly Inuencion.
Therfore do they all likewyse, avowe into great Contencion,
Which (without Knowledg of ye Trueth) do fondly Mee beleeue.
But so long as Playne-and-iust, no care to Mee doth geeue/
And that his Thoughts/to ye Searching, do not bende their Lust/
Then it shall at al-tymes, go-well with Playne-and-iust.
Playne-and-iust.
I Playne-and-iust, liue quyetly, in my Degree.
Playne-and-iust, hath God almighty, created Mee.
My Customable-dealing, is for Plant and Till.
In God may I tryumph, in ioyful-maner still/
With my Thougts: which are to helpe me ; in my Power; alwaye.
13
Therfore also am I to her ; with my gentil Loue; inclyned:
For God hath gott her out of Mee, and her to me assyned:
To the intent that wee ; as his louely Company;
Shoulde keepe his godly Plantings, that they mought growe and multiply.
Cogitacions.
I Cogitacions ; in Gods Kingdom; am doutles very Meeke.
I do not fayle or decaye, in Ioyful-solace sweete.
Playne-and-iust is appoynted, the Headd of my Dealing.
With Playne-and-iust therfore, is my Course-of-walking.
For God hath ioyned me to him, together for to dwell.
And Playne-and iust likewyse, contenteth mee right well.
We keepe ourselues together, as one-anothers Mate.
What God doth ioyne together, shall noman seperate.
I do not fayle or decaye, in Ioyful-solace sweete.
Playne-and-iust is appoynted, the Headd of my Dealing.
With Playne-and-iust therfore, is my Course-of-walking.
For God hath ioyned me to him, together for to dwell.
And Playne-and iust likewyse, contenteth mee right well.
We keepe ourselues together, as one-anothers Mate.
What God doth ioyne together, shall noman seperate.
Thus liue we heere at libertee/in Peace exceeding greate,
But of the Tree of Knowledg, we may in no wyse eate:
Because that wee in al things, may haue good Succession.
But of the Tree of Knowledg, we may in no wyse eate:
Because that wee in al things, may haue good Succession.
III. The Third Chapter.
A
Searcher.O Noble Cogitacions, think thou on no Suppression.
But Search thou after Knowledg, and consider of it duly:
For Through Knowledg, shall ye be like God in Knowledg, truly.
Hadst thou once Knowledg, God were not then aboue thee.
And if thou byde simple, Who shall commende or loue thee?
But if thou haue Knowledg ; like God of worthy prayse;
Of Good and Euell/then mayst thou, compare with Him alwayes.
Therfore lay holde of the Fruit, to thy Commodyous gayne/
And so ; both Good and Euell; learne thou to know more playne.
Wherfore shouldst thou not, search out euery thing?
13
Because I feare it woulde, Gods Cursse vppon vs bring
For althings great and small, we vse them eury one/
Gaue the gorgious Knowledg, excepted heere alone:
For God hath forbodd vs, to touch the same Tree.
Searcher.
Yea, but had ye Knowledg/ as Gods then were yee,
What shoulde ther be then, that mought you hurt or Le[illeg.]?
Noman coulde then, himself agaynst you sett.
Were ye not as then, like God in Power-strong?
Cogitacions.
I begin; through Searching; after it to long.
For vnto the Knowledg, my Lusts are all prest.
Searcher.
Take-holde of it hardly, and then liue thou in Rest.
For if thou hadst Knowledg, then wert-thou set-at liberty.
Use then thy Ioye, and set-asyde all Phantasy:
For althings; to you; then, wil chance in right-good-state.
Therfore take the same vnto you, deferr it not to late/
Then ; according to my Aduice; ther can noman ouer you raigne.
B
Cogitacions.
Thear fynde I ; through Searching; a good Instruction, certayne.
I wil surerly not esteeme it ; as a Tryfle; in-any-case.
Notwithstanding, we are heere, permitted in this place,
To vse all-finde of things, whatsever heere we fynde.
But the Knowledg man we not, open or vnbunde.
With thatt we must not deale, God hath forbodd it specially.
But all the other Fruits, are to our Comodity.
We may use of them, at al-tymes when we will.
I wil surerly not esteeme it ; as a Tryfle; in-any-case.
Notwithstanding, we are heere, permitted in this place,
To vse all-finde of things, whatsever heere we fynde.
14
With thatt we must not deale, God hath forbodd it specially.
But all the other Fruits, are to our Comodity.
We may use of them, at al-tymes when we will.
Beholde: theternall Ioye, is heere in presence still:
Wherin our Heart, man reioyce and take delyte.
Heere is also Love, that can satisfy vs ryte:
Wherthrough we liue continually, in peaceable Gyse.
Moreouer, heere is Reasonablenes, manifest likewyse:
Wherin our Nature keepeth, Measure, Night and Daye.
For Reasonablnes doth keepe, the very-right Highwaye.
His Testimony is, all requisite Conuenience.
And heere is likewyse, Gods dutifull Obedience/
Which teacheth vs to bow, vnder God Omnipotent.
From God and from his Loue, to receaue our Norishment:
As also Gods Honour (and not our selues) to seeke.
Wherin our Heart, man reioyce and take delyte.
Heere is also Love, that can satisfy vs ryte:
Wherthrough we liue continually, in peaceable Gyse.
Moreouer, heere is Reasonablenes, manifest likewyse:
Wherin our Nature keepeth, Measure, Night and Daye.
For Reasonablnes doth keepe, the very-right Highwaye.
His Testimony is, all requisite Conuenience.
And heere is likewyse, Gods dutifull Obedience/
Which teacheth vs to bow, vnder God Omnipotent.
From God and from his Loue, to receaue our Norishment:
As also Gods Honour (and not our selues) to seeke.
Searcher.
Yea, wil ye bewrapp yourselues in such Obedience meeke?
That is Gods Pleasure, and his Will indeede:
But so can ye neuer, to the Knowledg proceede.
For whoso the Commandement, doth not search and scann,
He remayneth alwayes, a simple foolish Man:
And to be leadd heere and theare, is very-well-content.
Not once knowing rightly (thissame is euident)
Whither thatt which is tolde him, be either good or yll.
But through Knowledg one becows ; like God; full of Skill.
Through Searching, you shall fynde it, very-so to bee.
For Obedience, doth but [illeg.]ynde, and restrayne you ye see/
And teacheth you to go, without your owne Will:
Whatsoeuer you think-good, ye must let it stand-still:
Yea, all what ; to be good for you; ye can deuyse and make.
14
C
Cogitacions.Now Uerely I do yeelde me, to that which thou dost speake.
For in Searching I do fynde, that very-so it is
Also, touching Gods Commaundement, I am not sure of this/
Whether I must be so obedient, ther vnto, or no.
I likewyse comprehende it not: this makes me full of woe
But Knowledg, is exceeding delytfull before Mee,
For shee is honorable in Actions/and bewtyfull to see.
Therfore wil I not ; Obedience; so much regard:
But all my Thoughts I wil, inclyne hitherward,
Namely, to the Searching, with all wyly Suttlety:
To thend that I may knew, Good and Euell, perfectly/
And towards the Knowledg, my Course I wil direct/
Her Fruits ; into mee; to receaue, to that effect:
For I wil in no case, thy good Cousaile dispyse.
Searcher.
Search after it hardly, be counsayld in this wyse/
So mayst thou inherit the Knowledg, of all the things that are.
Whatsoeuer thou then th[illeg.]tst good, than do not thou forbare:
And what thou thinkest euill, let thatt be quyt reiected/
Then shalt thou, in Citee & Towne; liue free and wel protected:
And noman also then, to deceaue thee can preuayle.
Tell me Cogitacions, what shoulde thee then fayle?
Wert thou not then ; in all Lands; the most comly Dame?
But if thou byde simple, then comst thou into shame:
Wheare is then thyne Honour? haue that in thy Remembrance.
D
Cogitacions.That is very-true: Who then mought work vs Hinderance?
For Knowledg doth reueale perfect Doctrine vnto Men:
When I knowe Good and Euell/who may be my Lorde then?
Are wee not then like God, by obtayning this our Lust?
Searcher.
O yeas: but otherwyse, Gods Captiues byde ye must.
B[illeg.]ake of the Fruit hardly (for that is myne Aduice)
If the Knowledg of Good and Euell, which is so great of price.
And [illeg.] of the right Seasen, of Pleasures manyfolde.
15
IV. The Fowerth Chapter.
A
Cogitacions.Lo , I wil venture it, with cheerfull Heart and bolde:
And take to me the Fruit/ for tis rery sweete of Kynde.
Searcher.
How tasteth it I pray you? tell me as ye fynde.
Cogitacions.
Uery-well no-doubt/for it is an High-mynde/
Which giues me to vnderstande, that I am a noble Figure.
Wheare is-ther now I saye, one such another Creature?
As I do new ; inwardly; conceaue myself to bee.
Who is-ther I beseech you, that now excelleth Mee?
Beeing so witty as I am now, in this Place voyde of Care.
Holde ther, Playne-and-iust/take thou with me a Share.
For fauourable to thee ; in my Purchase; am I.
Searcher.
How doth it like thee?
Playne-and-iust.
Altogether deadly: for I shall therof dye.
It is a deadly Bitt to mee/thus geuen or parted-a sunder:
For I Playne-and-iust, must now henceforth, go-vnder:
Because ye Deceauer with Falshod, coms now to beare ye swaye.
B
Searcher.Do now but beholde, how his Neck doth stande, I praye.
I haue brought it to-pas, that the Man is becom deceaued:
For sure he had it not, within his Power contayned:
Still in the Trueth ; like God; firme to stande.
Planne-and-iust.
O Cogitacions, what hast thou tooke-in-hande?
Doest thou think heerin, that thou hast Wisdom founde?
O No: for the Knowledg, is to mee vnbounde/
Wherby I do perceaue, we are Uessells poore and beare.
15
O No: for the Knowledg, is to mee vnbounde/
Wherby I do perceaue, we are Uessells poore and beare.
Th'I must lament, this Act, euery-wheare:
Thou wilt suerly bring me vnder, that appeereth certenly,
Through Knowledg, without Understanding of the Uerety,
Oh! How am I thus, com into Greefe and Mysery?
I wanted nothing/but liud in althings ioyfully.
Whither I were in High-estate, or in lowe Degree/
Yet was I wel contented, in all that fell to Mee.
Thou wilt suerly bring me vnder, that appeereth certenly,
Through Knowledg, without Understanding of the Uerety,
Oh! How am I thus, com into Greefe and Mysery?
I wanted nothing/but liud in althings ioyfully.
Whither I were in High-estate, or in lowe Degree/
Yet was I wel contented, in all that fell to Mee.
O Cogitacions, what Euell & Mischeefe hast thou wrought.
By aduancing thyself in Pryde, the Death on me hast brought
It is very yll diuisd, in this Uale of Delectacion.
By aduancing thyself in Pryde, the Death on me hast brought
It is very yll diuisd, in this Uale of Delectacion.
Cogitacions.
This Fault is not all myne, as I wil make Probation:
For before our Fall, through all corners did we pas,
Till that I did com, to the Searcher, wheare he was:
Hee with crafty woords vnto me did showe/
That all and eury Thing ; like God; I did not knowe.
This hath deceaued vs, as now we see the same.
C
Trueth.Therfore shall all those, that such Works do frame/
Fynde nothing els but Discord, and Uaryance, therby:
For wheare the Cogitacions, themselues do apply,
Gods Commander[illeg.] with Knowledg; to examin or search-out
Theare becoms the Concord, cleane worne-awaye, no-dout:
For eueryone theare, doth seeke his owne Liberty.
But through Mee [Trueth] shalbe troden downe vtterly,
The Head of the Searcher, with his Deedes most vnfitt.
But if the Cogitacions, wil not herself submytt,
To the same Grace, with all her Might and Power/
So shal-ther then be founde, in the Thoughts eury Hower.
Such Fruits as Good-thinking, doth yeeld and still Deuyse.
Playne-and-iuste shall bewayle it, in most lamenting wyse.
For he shalbe distressed and ouer lorded quyt:
And shalle ; by the Thoughts; be turned from the Right/
As also ; mi[illeg.]h Wofulnes; lye wrooting in Self will.
All Contrarynes likewyse, shall meete with him still/
Till that he com agayne, vnto such a pas,
16
Now therfore get ye hence, with all your trembling cheere/
Ye may in no wyse liue, in any High-mynde heere:
For God only is high, yea, the Highest of Exaltacion.
Also heere may not be, any Wayling nor Lamentacion.
Therfore ye must abrode, into the Uale of Teares and Wo:
And Theare shall you fynde, in euery Path ye go/
Your Adherents and Companyons, to you agreeing best.
The Place is from you shutt, of Ioye and quyet Rest/
With diuers-kinde of Snarings, and Perplexitee of Hart/
With Feare, and much Anguish, full of greeuous-smart/
With also the Accusation, of your Disobedience:
All which ; for your Inconstancie; is the iust Recompence.
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