University of Virginia Library

SCENE XIII

Heyl, set in þyn selle!
Heyl, dynge Deuyl in þi delle!
Heyl, lowe in helle!
I cum to þe talys to telle.

BELYAL.
Bakbyter, boy,
Alwey be holtys and hothe,
Sey now, I sey,
What tydyngys? Telle me þe sothe.

DETRACCIO.
Teneful talys I may þe sey,
To þe no good, as I gesse:
Mankynd is gon now awey
Into þe Castel of Goodnesse.
Þer he wyl boþe lyuyn and deye
In dale of dros tyl deth hym dresse;
Hathe þe forsakyn, forsoþe I sey,
And all þi werkys more and lesse;
To ȝone castel he gan to crepe.
Ȝone modyr Meknes, sothe to sayn,
And all ȝene maydnys on ȝone playn
For to fytyn þei be ful fayn
Mankynd for to kepe.

Tunc vocabit SUPERBIAM, INUIDIAM, et IRAM
SUPERBIA.
Syr kynge, what wytte?
We be redy þrotys to kytte.

BELYAL.
Sey, gadelyngys—haue ȝe harde grace
And euyl deth mote ȝe deye!—
Why lete ȝe Mankynd fro ȝou pase
Into ȝene castel fro us aweye?
Wyth tene I schal ȝou tey.
Harlotys, at onys
Fro þis wonys!
Be Belyals bonys,
Ȝe schul abeye.

Et verberabit eos super terram
DETRACCIO.
Ȝa, for God, þis was wel goo,
Þus to werke wyth bakbytynge.
I werke boþe wrake and woo
And make iche man oþyr to dynge.
I schal goo abowte and makyn moo
Rappys for to route and rynge.
Ȝe bakbyterys, loke þat ȝe do so.
Make debate abowtyn to sprynge
Betwene systyr and broþyr.
If any bakbyter here be lafte,
He may lere of me hys crafte.
Of Goddys grace he schal be rafte
And euery man to kyllyn oþyr.