The poems of John Audelay Edited with introduction, notes and glossary [by Ella Keats Whiting] |
 |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. | 16 |
| 17. |
| 18. |
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
| 25. |
| 26. |
| 27. |
| 28. |
| 29. |
| 30. |
| 31. |
| 32. |
| 33. |
| 34. |
| 35. |
| 36. |
| 37. |
| 38. |
| 39. |
| 40. |
| 41. |
| 42. |
| 43. |
| 44. |
| 45. |
| 46. |
| 47. |
| 48. |
| 49. |
| 50. |
| 51. |
| 52. |
| 53. |
| 54. |
| 55. |
 | The poems of John Audelay |  |
16
Incipit narracio quo Michel duxit Paulum ad infernum. Interogandum est quis primus rogauit vt anime haberent requiem in infernum, i.e. Paulus apostolus et Michael archangelus. Dies dominicus est dies electus.
Þe Sononday is Godis oun chosyn day
Þe wyche angelis in heuen þai worchipyn þore.
Gret sorow and dole here ȝe may,
Hou Mychael and Poule þay went in-fere
To se what payns in hel were þer,
And þer þay se a sorouful syȝt;
Herkyns to me now moy ȝe here
What payns to synful mon be dyȝt.
Because men nel not beleue,
Þer-fore hit was Godis oune wyl
Þat Mekel schuld led Poule to hel
To se þe payns, þe gret parel;
Þe soþ himselue he myȝt hit preue.
Þe wyche angelis in heuen þai worchipyn þore.
Gret sorow and dole here ȝe may,
Hou Mychael and Poule þay went in-fere
To se what payns in hel were þer,
And þer þay se a sorouful syȝt;
Herkyns to me now moy ȝe here
What payns to synful mon be dyȝt.
112
Þer-fore hit was Godis oune wyl
Þat Mekel schuld led Poule to hel
To se þe payns, þe gret parel;
Þe soþ himselue he myȝt hit preue.
To-fore hel-ȝatis furst þai se þen
Mone an orebil brenyng tre
Hengyng ful of women and men,
Þat was a sorouful syȝt to se;
Sum be þe hed, sum be þe tungus treuly,
Sum be þe fyt, sum be þe hond,
Sum be þe membirs of here body,
Þat þai han sunnyd within herthe leuand.
Þe angel to Poule he sayd þen,
‘Þese greuyn God ful greuously
With al þe lymys of here body,
In lechory, slouþ, and glotone,
And dyed in det and dedle syn.’
Mone an orebil brenyng tre
Hengyng ful of women and men,
Þat was a sorouful syȝt to se;
Sum be þe hed, sum be þe tungus treuly,
Sum be þe fyt, sum be þe hond,
Sum be þe membirs of here body,
Þat þai han sunnyd within herthe leuand.
Þe angel to Poule he sayd þen,
‘Þese greuyn God ful greuously
With al þe lymys of here body,
In lechory, slouþ, and glotone,
And dyed in det and dedle syn.’
Withyn þe ȝatis wen þay were passid
A meruelis fournes þer þai se,
Mone a synful soule were þer-in cast;
Iiij flamys o foyre stod on alye,
Of dyuers colours wonderfully;
About þat fournes vij sorous þer were,
Gret snow, gret yse, gret cold gresle,
Gret eddyrs, gret stenche, gret leyte, gret foyre.
Þen þe angel sayd to Poule treuly,
‘Þese were proud men, raueners echon,
Extorcioners, monslers, robbid mone one;
Satisfaccion in erþ þai wold do non,
And deseredyn treu ayrs vnryȝtfully.
A meruelis fournes þer þai se,
Mone a synful soule were þer-in cast;
Iiij flamys o foyre stod on alye,
Of dyuers colours wonderfully;
About þat fournes vij sorous þer were,
Gret snow, gret yse, gret cold gresle,
Gret eddyrs, gret stenche, gret leyte, gret foyre.
Þen þe angel sayd to Poule treuly,
‘Þese were proud men, raueners echon,
Extorcioners, monslers, robbid mone one;
Satisfaccion in erþ þai wold do non,
And deseredyn treu ayrs vnryȝtfully.
113
‘Here þai schal haue here payns þer-fore
Fore al þe synns þai han don cursidly;
Sum wepin, sum waylin, sum gron ful sore,
Sum broudun, sum brennen, dissyryn to dye.
Hou dredful is hel here may ȝe se,
In þe wyche is heuenes without gladnes,
In þe wyche is sorou of hert contenualy,
In þe wych of wepyng is gret plenteuesnes,
In þe wyche þer is a brenyng wel
A þosand tymys an our about doþ ren,
Vche day an angel fore-smytis him þen,
A þousand soulis þer-in þai bren.’
‘Alas!’ sayd Poule, ‘here is gret deel.’
Fore al þe synns þai han don cursidly;
Sum wepin, sum waylin, sum gron ful sore,
Sum broudun, sum brennen, dissyryn to dye.
Hou dredful is hel here may ȝe se,
In þe wyche is heuenes without gladnes,
In þe wyche is sorou of hert contenualy,
In þe wych of wepyng is gret plenteuesnes,
In þe wyche þer is a brenyng wel
A þosand tymys an our about doþ ren,
Vche day an angel fore-smytis him þen,
A þousand soulis þer-in þai bren.’
‘Alas!’ sayd Poule, ‘here is gret deel.’
Affter Poule se an orebbil flood
In þe wyche mone deuelis bestis were in fuyre;
As feschis in þe se about þai ȝod
Deuowreng soulis as hit chep were;
A brygge was ouer þat gret water,
Þat soulis passud ouer after here meryt.
Mone an euyl moncion was ordent þer
As Crist in þe gospel reherse het:
Lygate faceculus ad comburandum similis cum similibus,
Bynd bundels to-geder to be i-brent;
Bynd spouse-brekers with awouters,
And ranegates with raueners,
And cursid leuers with here cumpers,
And cast ham in þe fuyre without end.
In þe wyche mone deuelis bestis were in fuyre;
As feschis in þe se about þai ȝod
Deuowreng soulis as hit chep were;
A brygge was ouer þat gret water,
Þat soulis passud ouer after here meryt.
Mone an euyl moncion was ordent þer
As Crist in þe gospel reherse het:
Lygate faceculus ad comburandum similis cum similibus,
Bynd bundels to-geder to be i-brent;
Bynd spouse-brekers with awouters,
And ranegates with raueners,
And cursid leuers with here cumpers,
And cast ham in þe fuyre without end.
Þer Poule mone soulis he se
Þat were dround in þat watere;
Sum stod vp to þe kne,
And sum to þe armes a lytil laȝghere,
And sum to þe lippis moche deppere,
And sum to þe brouys oche day were paynd.
Þen Poule sykud and wept with gret doloure
And at þe angel anon he fraynd,
‘What soulis ben þese bene drownyd here?’
‘Þo þat stodyn vp to þe kne
Bakbidit here neȝtbore fore enuy,
And sklaundird hem in erþ ful falseley,
Þat loston here goodis, hir lyuus y-fere.
Þat were dround in þat watere;
Sum stod vp to þe kne,
And sum to þe armes a lytil laȝghere,
114
And sum to þe brouys oche day were paynd.
Þen Poule sykud and wept with gret doloure
And at þe angel anon he fraynd,
‘What soulis ben þese bene drownyd here?’
‘Þo þat stodyn vp to þe kne
Bakbidit here neȝtbore fore enuy,
And sklaundird hem in erþ ful falseley,
Þat loston here goodis, hir lyuus y-fere.
‘And þo þat stodin vp to þe armus
Weron spouse-brekers and leuyd in lechory;
And þo þat stod vp to þe leppis
Be þe seruys of God þai set noȝt by
And did no reuerens to Cristis body,
In hole cherche were euer changilyng,
And sayd here prayers vndeuoutly
And let oþer men of mas hereng,
Here-fore þai haue passyng payn;
And þo þat stod vp to þe elbow
At here neȝtbors harmes þay low,
Ȝif þai ferd wel her hertis hit slow
And of here losse were glad and fayne.’
Weron spouse-brekers and leuyd in lechory;
And þo þat stod vp to þe leppis
Be þe seruys of God þai set noȝt by
And did no reuerens to Cristis body,
In hole cherche were euer changilyng,
And sayd here prayers vndeuoutly
And let oþer men of mas hereng,
Here-fore þai haue passyng payn;
And þo þat stod vp to þe elbow
At here neȝtbors harmes þay low,
Ȝif þai ferd wel her hertis hit slow
And of here losse were glad and fayne.’
Hole cherche is a house of prayere,
Þe ȝat of heuen Crist doþ hit calle,
To worchip þer-in our Saueour;
What-euer þou askis þer haue þou schal,
Ȝif þat ȝe bene in charete alle
And serue ȝour God in loue and dred,
No myschif on þe hit schal falle;
In al ȝour werkis wel schul ȝe spede.
A! synful mon, here-of haue mynd
In hole cherche noþyng þou say,
Bot with hole prayers to God ȝe pray;
He grawnt ȝoue grace boþ nyȝt and day
Him to serue þat al ȝou send.
Þe ȝat of heuen Crist doþ hit calle,
To worchip þer-in our Saueour;
What-euer þou askis þer haue þou schal,
Ȝif þat ȝe bene in charete alle
And serue ȝour God in loue and dred,
No myschif on þe hit schal falle;
In al ȝour werkis wel schul ȝe spede.
115
In hole cherche noþyng þou say,
Bot with hole prayers to God ȝe pray;
He grawnt ȝoue grace boþ nyȝt and day
Him to serue þat al ȝou send.
Þen Poule wept and sayd in good soþnes,
‘Wo is him to þese payns ben ordent!’
Þen he se a plase of gret darknes
In þe wyche men and wemen wern in gret turment,
Þat etyn here tongis here to-rent.
Þen þe angel sayd to Poule treuly,
‘Þese were makers of mone with cursid entent,
With wrong mokerers, false mesurs, and vsere;
Þer, fore wo þai etin here tung
Fore þai foreswere ham wettanly,
On Cristis passion haue no pete
To part with þe pore þat were nede,
Bot holdun hit fast þai geten with wrong.’
‘Wo is him to þese payns ben ordent!’
Þen he se a plase of gret darknes
In þe wyche men and wemen wern in gret turment,
Þat etyn here tongis here to-rent.
Þen þe angel sayd to Poule treuly,
‘Þese were makers of mone with cursid entent,
With wrong mokerers, false mesurs, and vsere;
Þer, fore wo þai etin here tung
Fore þai foreswere ham wettanly,
On Cristis passion haue no pete
To part with þe pore þat were nede,
Bot holdun hit fast þai geten with wrong.’
Þen after Poule a plase he se
In þe wyche were mone damselse blake,
I-cloþid in blak al cresly,
In pych and brymston, fuyre and smoke;
Aboute here nekis were nedirs and snake,
Fore wickid angelus repreuyd hem þer,
With horns of fyre here heedus to schake,
And went about hom with hedus bere,
And saydon to hom with carful cry,
‘Cnow ȝe now þe Sun of God
Þat aȝayn boȝt þe word,
Þat ȝe han greuyd in dede and word
And slayn His creatours, ȝour childer distrye.’
In þe wyche were mone damselse blake,
I-cloþid in blak al cresly,
In pych and brymston, fuyre and smoke;
Aboute here nekis were nedirs and snake,
Fore wickid angelus repreuyd hem þer,
With horns of fyre here heedus to schake,
And went about hom with hedus bere,
And saydon to hom with carful cry,
‘Cnow ȝe now þe Sun of God
Þat aȝayn boȝt þe word,
Þat ȝe han greuyd in dede and word
And slayn His creatours, ȝour childer distrye.’
116
Þen Poule he askid, ‘What ben þese?’
Þe angel onswerd without tareyng,
‘Hyle God þese con displese,
And kept hem not chast to here wedyng,
And slowyn here childer in burþ-beryng,
And cast ham to houndis in preue place,
In watirs, in pittis, about drounyng,
And neuer wold shryue hem of þat trespase
Fore dred of sklawnder and penans doyng;
So þe fynd he con hem blynd
With disperacion hem schame and schend,
Lest here mysdedis þai wold amend,
And broȝt hem ta euyl endyng.’
Þe angel onswerd without tareyng,
‘Hyle God þese con displese,
And kept hem not chast to here wedyng,
And slowyn here childer in burþ-beryng,
And cast ham to houndis in preue place,
In watirs, in pittis, about drounyng,
And neuer wold shryue hem of þat trespase
Fore dred of sklawnder and penans doyng;
So þe fynd he con hem blynd
With disperacion hem schame and schend,
Lest here mysdedis þai wold amend,
And broȝt hem ta euyl endyng.’
Þen after Poule he se moche more
Men and wemen on kamels rydyng;
Moch froyt þer was here face before,
To ete þer-of was here lykyng;
Þai myȝt not hit touche fore no þyng.
Þen þe angel to Poule con say,
‘Þese brekyn þe tymys of here fastyng
And wold not fast þe Good Fryday
Þat Crist sofyrd deþ apon,
Bot wastin here goodis in glotone
Fore fleschele lust of here body;
Fore þai wold not parte with þe pore nedy,
Þai schil haue hongir and þ[ur]st were-euer þai gon.’
Men and wemen on kamels rydyng;
Moch froyt þer was here face before,
To ete þer-of was here lykyng;
Þai myȝt not hit touche fore no þyng.
Þen þe angel to Poule con say,
‘Þese brekyn þe tymys of here fastyng
And wold not fast þe Good Fryday
Þat Crist sofyrd deþ apon,
Bot wastin here goodis in glotone
Fore fleschele lust of here body;
Fore þai wold not parte with þe pore nedy,
Þai schil haue hongir and þ[ur]st were-euer þai gon.’
Þen after Poule in plase he se
A sorouful syȝt, a hore hold mon
Betwene iiij fyndis in turmentre,
And gryd and wept with ful gret mon.
Þen Poule he askid þe angel anon
What maner of mon hit myȝt be.
Þe angel answerd him ful sone,
‘A neclygent mon foresoþ was he
And kept not obedyans he was bound to,
Ne leuyd not chast in his bode,
In word, in dede, in þoȝt treuly,
Bot couetis, prude, euer out of charyte;
To al payne ent domysday he schal go.’
A sorouful syȝt, a hore hold mon
Betwene iiij fyndis in turmentre,
And gryd and wept with ful gret mon.
Þen Poule he askid þe angel anon
117
Þe angel answerd him ful sone,
‘A neclygent mon foresoþ was he
And kept not obedyans he was bound to,
Ne leuyd not chast in his bode,
In word, in dede, in þoȝt treuly,
Bot couetis, prude, euer out of charyte;
To al payne ent domysday he schal go.’
Þen Poule he weppid with heue chere.
Þe angel sayd, ‘Why wepis þou soo?
Þou sest not þe gret payn þat beþ here,
Come on, with me now þou schal goo.’
He lad him to þe blak pit þo,
With vij selys was selid treuly;
Þer-in was care, sorow, and wo,
Stenche and al maner turmentry.
‘Stonde vttir, Poule,’ quoþ þe angel þen.
Anon he vnselid þe pit þore,
With a stynche gurd out a rore,
Al þe payns hit passid before;
Hit wold haue slayn al Crystin men.
Þe angel sayd, ‘Why wepis þou soo?
Þou sest not þe gret payn þat beþ here,
Come on, with me now þou schal goo.’
He lad him to þe blak pit þo,
With vij selys was selid treuly;
Þer-in was care, sorow, and wo,
Stenche and al maner turmentry.
‘Stonde vttir, Poule,’ quoþ þe angel þen.
Anon he vnselid þe pit þore,
With a stynche gurd out a rore,
Al þe payns hit passid before;
Hit wold haue slayn al Crystin men.
Þen Poule he askid þe angel in hye,
‘What pepul in þis pit ben don?’
‘Þese beleuid not in vergyn Mary,
Ne treuly in Cristis carnacione;
Þai beþ vncristynd euerechon,
And neuer resayuyd Cristis body;
Al þo into þat pet þay gon
Of hem schal neuer be memory
On him in heuen to-fore Godis Son,
Fore hit is Godis wil specialy;
Of eretekis schal be no memore,
Ne false Cristin men, renegatis þat dyed curstly,
Of hom is no redempcion.
‘What pepul in þis pit ben don?’
‘Þese beleuid not in vergyn Mary,
Ne treuly in Cristis carnacione;
Þai beþ vncristynd euerechon,
And neuer resayuyd Cristis body;
Al þo into þat pet þay gon
Of hem schal neuer be memory
118
Fore hit is Godis wil specialy;
Of eretekis schal be no memore,
Ne false Cristin men, renegatis þat dyed curstly,
Of hom is no redempcion.
Þen after Poule forsoþ he se
In a wonderful depe plase,
As fro þe erþ to heuen on hy,
Vche soule on oþer couchid þer was,
For fader and moder þai had dispisid, alas!
Orebil wormys devouryd hem þere.
Þen Poul he herd a dolful noyse
As layte or þonder þat hit were;
Þen was he ware of a soule anon,
Betwen iiij fendes borne he was,
He rored and cryd, ‘Alas! alas!’
Þat euer his bode con forth passe
Without schrift, housil, contricion!
In a wonderful depe plase,
As fro þe erþ to heuen on hy,
Vche soule on oþer couchid þer was,
For fader and moder þai had dispisid, alas!
Orebil wormys devouryd hem þere.
Þen Poul he herd a dolful noyse
As layte or þonder þat hit were;
Þen was he ware of a soule anon,
Betwen iiij fendes borne he was,
He rored and cryd, ‘Alas! alas!’
Þat euer his bode con forth passe
Without schrift, housil, contricion!
Þe angelis of God aȝayns him criud,
‘Alas! wrechid soule what hast þou done?’
In erþ, þe fyndis þem verefyd,
Dispisid Godis laus euerechon;
To-fore him þai red his dedis anon,
And cast him into derkens deppist of alle.
Quoþ angel to Poule, ‘Beleue vche mon,
As ȝe do in erthe so haue ȝe schal;
He haþ fre choys to do good or elle,
Fore vche good dede rewardid schal be
In erþ or ellis on euen on hei,
And vche cursid dede ponyschid truly
In erþ, in purgatore, or ellis in hel,
‘Alas! wrechid soule what hast þou done?’
In erþ, þe fyndis þem verefyd,
Dispisid Godis laus euerechon;
To-fore him þai red his dedis anon,
And cast him into derkens deppist of alle.
Quoþ angel to Poule, ‘Beleue vche mon,
As ȝe do in erthe so haue ȝe schal;
He haþ fre choys to do good or elle,
Fore vche good dede rewardid schal be
In erþ or ellis on euen on hei,
And vche cursid dede ponyschid truly
In erþ, in purgatore, or ellis in hel,
119
‘For þis schal be here ponyschyng.
Pride, couetyse, wrat, enuy,
Þese be þe brondis in hel brenyng;
Lechore, slouþ, and glotery,
Þen disperacion of Godis mercy;
Of al þe payns in hel hit is most,
Fore þai soȝt no grace ne no mercy
Bot synnud aȝayns þe Hole Gost;
Þat sin schal neuer foreȝeuen be,
To God hit is most hye trespace
To mystrost His mercy and grace;
So ded þat traytur false Iudas
And dampned himself perpetualy.’
Pride, couetyse, wrat, enuy,
Þese be þe brondis in hel brenyng;
Lechore, slouþ, and glotery,
Þen disperacion of Godis mercy;
Of al þe payns in hel hit is most,
Fore þai soȝt no grace ne no mercy
Bot synnud aȝayns þe Hole Gost;
Þat sin schal neuer foreȝeuen be,
To God hit is most hye trespace
To mystrost His mercy and grace;
So ded þat traytur false Iudas
And dampned himself perpetualy.’
Anon Poule a ioyful syȝt gon se,
A ryȝtful soule angelis beryng,
Þat oure was rauyschid fro his body,
Vp taward heuen þai con him bryng.
Þen Poule herd a voyse, a heuenle þyng,
A þousand anglis to-geder holy
Þat said and song in his heryng,
‘Be glad, blesful soule, perpetualy,
Fore þe wil of þi God þou hast e-don.’
Þai beryn hym vp before oure Lord,
Þen Mychael let him to gret cumford,
In ioy and blis to haue reward;
Laudes Deo þai song vcheon.
A ryȝtful soule angelis beryng,
Þat oure was rauyschid fro his body,
Vp taward heuen þai con him bryng.
Þen Poule herd a voyse, a heuenle þyng,
A þousand anglis to-geder holy
Þat said and song in his heryng,
‘Be glad, blesful soule, perpetualy,
Fore þe wil of þi God þou hast e-don.’
Þai beryn hym vp before oure Lord,
Þen Mychael let him to gret cumford,
In ioy and blis to haue reward;
Laudes Deo þai song vcheon.
Þen sayd Poule with gret gladnes,
‘Wele is ham to euen may go.’
Þe angel answerd in good soþnes,
‘Þai schul haue wele without wo;
No tong con tel, hert þynke þer-to,
Þe lest ioy þat is in paradyse;
In heuen bene a þousand vnderde mo;
Was neuer clerke couþ ham deuyse
Þe lest ioy to mon God haþ ordend,
Fore þo ioys schul neuer sese
Bot euer enduyre and euer encres
And euer leue in rest and pese;
Þat ioy and blis schal neuer haue ende.’
‘Wele is ham to euen may go.’
Þe angel answerd in good soþnes,
‘Þai schul haue wele without wo;
120
Þe lest ioy þat is in paradyse;
In heuen bene a þousand vnderde mo;
Was neuer clerke couþ ham deuyse
Þe lest ioy to mon God haþ ordend,
Fore þo ioys schul neuer sese
Bot euer enduyre and euer encres
And euer leue in rest and pese;
Þat ioy and blis schal neuer haue ende.’
Þen al þe sorouful soulus in hel
Þat were þer in turmentyng,
Þai crydyn, ‘Hole archangel Mechael,
Haue mercy on vs in payne bydyng;
And þou, Poul, belouyd with heuen Kyng,
To þat Lord for vs þou pray.’
Þen sayd þe angel with sore wepyng,
‘Prays with Poule, ȝif þat ȝe may
Gete ȝou grace of one merce.’
When he had sayd þis word, anon
Þay wept and cryd out euerechon,
‘A! þe Sun of Dauid in heuen trone,
Haue merce on vs fore þi gret pete!’
Þat were þer in turmentyng,
Þai crydyn, ‘Hole archangel Mechael,
Haue mercy on vs in payne bydyng;
And þou, Poul, belouyd with heuen Kyng,
To þat Lord for vs þou pray.’
Þen sayd þe angel with sore wepyng,
‘Prays with Poule, ȝif þat ȝe may
Gete ȝou grace of one merce.’
When he had sayd þis word, anon
Þay wept and cryd out euerechon,
‘A! þe Sun of Dauid in heuen trone,
Haue merce on vs fore þi gret pete!’
A voyse fro heuen answerd aȝayn,
‘What good dedes haue ȝe nov done?
Ȝe did me to deþ with passion and payn;
Hwy aske ȝe me now remyssioun?
I was crucifid on cros fore ȝou al-on;
With spere and nayles Y sched my blood;
Of aysel and gal ȝe ȝeuen me drenkyn,
When I was on-þerst hongyng on þe rode;
And I put myself to þe deþ fore ȝow
Þat ȝe schul euer haue leuyd with me,
Bot ȝe were proud, couetyse, ful of enuy,
And wold do no good dede, bot cursid treuly,
And false lyers in ȝour lyue as wel ȝe cnow.’
‘What good dedes haue ȝe nov done?
Ȝe did me to deþ with passion and payn;
Hwy aske ȝe me now remyssioun?
I was crucifid on cros fore ȝou al-on;
With spere and nayles Y sched my blood;
Of aysel and gal ȝe ȝeuen me drenkyn,
When I was on-þerst hongyng on þe rode;
121
Þat ȝe schul euer haue leuyd with me,
Bot ȝe were proud, couetyse, ful of enuy,
And wold do no good dede, bot cursid treuly,
And false lyers in ȝour lyue as wel ȝe cnow.’
Þen sore wepyng Poul knelid adowne
And al þe angelis in heuen þer,
And prayd hyle to Godis oune Sun
Fore þe soulis in hel sum ryst haue þer.
Oure Lorde He made hem þis honswere,
‘Þroȝ þe besechyng of myn angelis alle
And of Poule, myn apostil, leue and dere,
Þis special grace graunt ham I schal,
Fro Setterday at non, Y say treuly,
And al þe fest of þe Sununday
Into þe fyrst our of Monday,
In reuerens þat ȝe here fore ham pray,
Þai schal haue rou and rest perpetualy.’
And al þe angelis in heuen þer,
And prayd hyle to Godis oune Sun
Fore þe soulis in hel sum ryst haue þer.
Oure Lorde He made hem þis honswere,
‘Þroȝ þe besechyng of myn angelis alle
And of Poule, myn apostil, leue and dere,
Þis special grace graunt ham I schal,
Fro Setterday at non, Y say treuly,
And al þe fest of þe Sununday
Into þe fyrst our of Monday,
In reuerens þat ȝe here fore ham pray,
Þai schal haue rou and rest perpetualy.’
Þen al þe soulis in hel with one steuen,
Þai cryd and sayd with gret gladnes,
‘Þe Sun of God on hi in heuen,
We bles þi grace and þi goodnes,
Þat þou woldist of þi worþenes
Graunt vs þi grace and þi mercy
Oure gret payns fore to reles,
Vche Sunday perpetualy;
Here-fore we þonk þe Lord of al.
Wo-so-euer wil halou þis Sununday
Wele and worchipful, as I ȝoue say,
With angelis of God in heuen fore ay,
Ioy and blis þer haue ȝe schal.’
Þai cryd and sayd with gret gladnes,
‘Þe Sun of God on hi in heuen,
We bles þi grace and þi goodnes,
Þat þou woldist of þi worþenes
Graunt vs þi grace and þi mercy
Oure gret payns fore to reles,
Vche Sunday perpetualy;
Here-fore we þonk þe Lord of al.
Wo-so-euer wil halou þis Sununday
Wele and worchipful, as I ȝoue say,
With angelis of God in heuen fore ay,
Ioy and blis þer haue ȝe schal.’
122
Þen Poule askid þe angel anon
Houe mone payns in hel þer be.
Þe angel answerd him ful sone,
‘Iiij. Ml. a C. and fourte;
And hunder[d] men þaȝ þer were truly
Fro þe bekyny[n]g of world ay spekyng,
And vche a C. tungis had, soþly,
Þai myȝt not tel þe payns in hel duryng,
Fore þai may not be noumbyrd treuly.’
Here-fore, dere breder þat beþ present,
Þat heren þese payns, þese gret turment,
Torne ȝou to God omnipotent
Þat we mow reyng with Him in heuen perpetualy.
Houe mone payns in hel þer be.
Þe angel answerd him ful sone,
‘Iiij. Ml. a C. and fourte;
And hunder[d] men þaȝ þer were truly
Fro þe bekyny[n]g of world ay spekyng,
And vche a C. tungis had, soþly,
Þai myȝt not tel þe payns in hel duryng,
Fore þai may not be noumbyrd treuly.’
Here-fore, dere breder þat beþ present,
Þat heren þese payns, þese gret turment,
Torne ȝou to God omnipotent
Þat we mow reyng with Him in heuen perpetualy.
Alas! þat euer one Cristyn mon
Wil not haue þat mater in mynd!
What schame, and chenchip, confucion,
Þai schal haue þat seruen þe fynd,
Þat here mysdedis þai nyl not mend,
And foresake here synnus and be sory,
And sen al day what chamful end
Þat hane þat leuyn here vnryȝtwysly;
To God þis is a he trespas,
Þat neuer on be oþer ware wil be,
And wraþ here God wetyngly,
Þat dyud fore hom on rod tre;
Þai bene a-cursid, syrs, in thys case.
Wil not haue þat mater in mynd!
What schame, and chenchip, confucion,
Þai schal haue þat seruen þe fynd,
Þat here mysdedis þai nyl not mend,
And foresake here synnus and be sory,
And sen al day what chamful end
Þat hane þat leuyn here vnryȝtwysly;
To God þis is a he trespas,
Þat neuer on be oþer ware wil be,
And wraþ here God wetyngly,
Þat dyud fore hom on rod tre;
Þai bene a-cursid, syrs, in thys case.
Fore hel is not ordend fore ryȝtwyse mon
Bot for hom þat seruen þe fynd,
No more þan is a preson of lyme and stone
Bot fore hom þe lawis offend;
Cursid dedis makis men al day e-schend
And þeffys on galous on hye to hyng.
Þer ryȝtwys men þai han good end,
Þat seruyn here God in here leuyng;
Y pray ȝou, seris, trest wele here-to,
Fore he þat leuys here ryȝtwysly,
On what deþ euer he dey,
His soule neuer paynd schal be,
Ne neuer after wit of wo.
Bot for hom þat seruen þe fynd,
No more þan is a preson of lyme and stone
Bot fore hom þe lawis offend;
123
And þeffys on galous on hye to hyng.
Þer ryȝtwys men þai han good end,
Þat seruyn here God in here leuyng;
Y pray ȝou, seris, trest wele here-to,
Fore he þat leuys here ryȝtwysly,
On what deþ euer he dey,
His soule neuer paynd schal be,
Ne neuer after wit of wo.
Meruel ȝe not of þis makyng,
Y me excuse, hit is not I.
Þus Mychael lad Powle be Goddis bedyng
To se in hel þe turmentre;
Fore I couþ neuer bot hy foly,
God haþ me chastyst fore my leuyng;
I þonke my God, my Grace, treuly,
Of His gracious vesityng.
Beware, serys, I ȝou pray,
And ȝour mysdedis loke ȝe amend
Be-tyme, lest ȝe be chamyd and schend,
Fore al is good þat haþ good end,
Þus counsels ȝoue þe blynd Audlay.
Y me excuse, hit is not I.
Þus Mychael lad Powle be Goddis bedyng
To se in hel þe turmentre;
Fore I couþ neuer bot hy foly,
God haþ me chastyst fore my leuyng;
I þonke my God, my Grace, treuly,
Of His gracious vesityng.
Beware, serys, I ȝou pray,
And ȝour mysdedis loke ȝe amend
Be-tyme, lest ȝe be chamyd and schend,
Fore al is good þat haþ good end,
Þus counsels ȝoue þe blynd Audlay.
| The poems of John Audelay | |