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A Stanzaic Life of Christ

Compiled from Higden's Polychronicon and the Legenda Aurea

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Secundo quot modis missus est.

Now to the secund goo wee,
and telle in how mony manere
the Holy Gost, as ȝe schun see,
May send be, tokenes hit here.
In too maners, leue ȝe me,
one is in syȝt of sum mater,
As ȝif in fir or cloude come he;
þat oþer vsen men in hert cler
quen he comes & is not sene,
þen slydes he in-to mennes mynde
þat chast & in clene lyfe bene,
in oþer plas schall non hym fynde.

326

Iohannis tercio: Spiritus, vbi vult, spirat & vocem eius Audis, set nescis, a quo venit aut quo vadat, &c.

Þerfor saynt Iohn says, ‘Goddes gost
springes & lenges quer hym lyst;
his gost þou heres bout bost,
bot quethen hit comes, is vnwyst.’
þen Bernarde says, ‘no meruayle is,
ffor be þo eghen he entres noght,
ffor colour has he none I-wis,
quen he comes in monnes thoȝt,
‘Ne Eres faren nothyng amys
be sownyng, quen he so is soȝt,
ne be þo nase, leue wele this,
bot in holy hert þat wele is wroȝt.’
& monnes Avne skylfull dome
shall tell quen he comes in,
ffor Bernarde says þat quen he come,
vices flogh euer with-oute dyn,
& vertues entreden Anone;
þen meruaylled he in þis maner,
‘how vertues comen & vices gon,
wunderly by his wisdome wer!’
ffor quen he amendet of his lyfe,
he persayued Goddes myȝt,
þat wykked gost þat did hym stryfe
was wayued in refourmyng ryȝt,
Þen segh he Goddes swetnes ther,
And tho wykket wos went oway,
þen hertly alway he con hym heer,
As I in Latyn thenke to say:

Ex motu cordis intellexi presenciam eius, ex fuga vicorum Aduerti potenciam virtutis eius & ex quacumque emendacione morum meorum expertus sum bonitatem mansuetudinis Et ex reformacione & renouacione


327

spiritus mentis mee prospexi, vt-cumque speciem decoris eius & ex motu horum omnium expaui multitudinem magnifitudinis eius, &c. Hec dicit Bernardus.

quen þo Holy Gost has ben sent

De emissione visebili.


In any mater þat mon may see,
be fyue maners, as I am kent,
he has ben sent, as rede we.
ffyrst in A dove lykenes,

Primo in columbe specie.


Crist quen þat he folwed was,
As Saynt Luke beres wytnes
& in gospell mynde mas:

Descendit spiritus sanctus corporali specie. Luce iijo.

Tho secunde tyme in cloude bryȝt

Secundo in nube specie.


At Cristes transfiguracioun,
quen he to his men kuyt his myȝt,
In gospell As ȝe rede moun.

Ad-huc eo loquente ecce nubes lucida obumbrauit eos, &c.

Tho thrid tyme wos be a blast

Ter io in inflacione.


he sent tho Holy Gost to hyse,
þat hor hertes shulden last,
ffor in þat werke he made hom wise.
& quen he blwe he sayd this,
‘haues her þo Holy Gost in ȝow,
þat ȝe for-ȝeiten not þis
my faithe fully for to knaw.’

Iohannis xxmo: Inflauit & dixit: Accipite spiritum sanctum, &c.

The furthe tyme in fir, in fay,

Quarto in igne.


The fyfte in tong & strange speche,

quinto in lingua.


In þes too he come as þis day
ffor to be our lyfes leche.

328

Þer-for shwed in syght was he
In þes fyfe lykenes, as I say,
þat vnderstonde fully shyn we
hor propurtees, all to our pay,
Of queche þat he schwed hym þen,
to knaw þat he wurches al-way
In mennes hertes, as I myn,
with þos maters to mende hom ay,
& bryng mon owt of dedly syn,
Also to do poyntes to his pay.
Now at þo dowue I will begyn
his kynde to moraluse, As I may.
Tho verray kynde of dowue is this,
in stede of song to be mournyng,
In hyr wontes galle I-wis,
In holes off ston is hyr wonnyng.
Ryȝt so þo Holy Gost in this
mas men to sorowe for hor synnyng,
& quen þai mendet haue þis mys,
then has he way & full entryng.
þer her-to Acordes Issay,
In Laten clerkes for to rede,
& says, ‘we mournen as dowfe ay,
& as beeres romeon’, as I rede.

Issay libro iiijto: Rugiemus quasi vrsi & quasi columbe meditantes gememus. Item Ad Romanos viijo: Ipse spiritus postulat pro nobis gemitibus inenarrabilibus, id est, nos postulantes gementes facit, &c.

The secund kynde þe dowfe has,
ho has no bytternes of galle,
ne bitternes none in þat plaas
þer-as þo Holy Gost will fall.

329

Sapiens dicit: O quam bonus & suauis est, domine, spiritus tuus, &c.

Þerfor þo wise mon wonderyng mas
of þat souerayne swetnes
þat þo Holy Gost full of gras
has ay, as ȝe schyn her expres.
ffor swete, blessed, & eke kynde
þo wise mon called hit weterly,
ffor al thre as I will fynde
hit mas vs quen we han mercy.
Swete in worde, for wunderly
þo Apostels speken þis day
quen hit wos lyȝt in hom in hy,
iche langayge in hor tung lay,
& blessyd wos all þat company
In mynde, as ȝe leue wele may,
quen þat heuenly tresory
in hom wos sett fast, soþe to say.
Kynde Also in werke þai wer,
quen þat gost in hom had wroȝt,
ffor hit made God to hom so der,
dethe for hym dredde þai noȝt.

Sapiencie viio: Spiritus sanctus est suauis, benignus, humilis ex eo, quod suaues, benignos, humiles nos faciat: suaues in sermone, benignos in corde & humiles in opere, &c.

Tho thrid kynd I sayd befor
þat þo dowfe has, as ȝe schyn her,
In holes of ston euer mor
ho byldes & lenges bothe in fer,
Quyche holes of ston I vnderstonde
Cristes woundes vs to wone in,
& wikkednes alway to wovnde,
on his passioun ȝif we myn.

330

ffor As ho dwelles in holes of ston
þat to his wondes likened bene,
so dwellon þes holy men yche on
in Cristes woundes, with-outen wene.
ffor quyll þai þenken hom opon,
hor hertes bene sett, as wele is sene,
In mournyng & in makyng moone,
As don þes dowfes all be-dene.
þer-for þo Holy Goste to-day
In dowfe lykenes wele wos sent,
ffor men þat lyfen, As þai done ay,
thurgh þo Holy Gost ben kent.
Þer-for says Salomon in his song,
‘ryse vp my luf, my dowfe der,
& norische my bryddes Ay Among,
In holes of ston & helpe hom her.’

Canticorum secundo: Surge Amica mea, columba mea, fouens mihi pullos in foraminibus petrinis.

Þat dowfe þo Holy Gost yt is,
þo briddes goode men full of hit,
þo holes Cristes woundes I-wis
þat þai on þenken thurgh hor wytt.

Secundo in specie nube.

Þo secunde poynt is of our speche
þat God his gost schewed has
In clowdes lykenes, As lyues leche,
& be gode skyll þat werke don has.
for A cloude ȝe mone wele see
þat from þo erthe is houen heghe,
Refresshes, in heyte ȝif þat hit be,
And rayne engendres to be neghe.

331

So dos þo Holy Gost I-wis
qwo-so he filles of his godenes,
he mas hom to for-sake worldly blis
And heues hor hertes to hom expres.

Ezechielis viijo: Eleuauit me spiritus inter celum & terram. Item Gregorius: Gustato spiritu de[si]pit omnis caro, &c.

Also hit dose grete refresshyng
oȝayne heyte brennyng of vice,
And þer-as he will be lengyng
nothyng þat is lodely lys.
Therfor quen Gabriell Mary grett,
he sayd þo Holy Gost shuld lyȝt
In hyr & chadowe oboute hyr sett
þurgh vertu of God most of myȝt.

Spiritus sanctus superueniet in te & virtus altissimi, &c.

Þat is as meche to vnderstonde
þat chadowe hyr he wolde so with blis,
And to slekke all vices so he wold fonde
þat he shuld no way do mys,
With water, to tell I will nout wonde,
Of þo Holy Goost i-wis,
ffor slekkyng water þurgh Goddes sonde
þo Holy Gost skekket wele is.

Iohannis septimo: fflumina de ventre eius fluent Aque viue. Hoc autem dixit de spiritu sancto, quem erant Accepturi credentes in eum, &c.

ffor God calles his gost so,
As saynt Iohan wytnes her,
þer-for in clowde of water thoo
hyt semed wele he shuld aper.
Tho thrid godenes of Goddes gost
þat he engendres in comyng,
rayne of teres & wayues boost
In monnes herte with sorwe remyng,

332

Ryȝt As þo clowde engendres rayne,
Ryȝt so teres engendres he,
þer-for to schwe hym he wos bayne
In cloude lykenes, As rede we.

Psalmus: Flauit spiritus eius & fluent aque, videlicet lacrimarum, &c.

Tercio in flatu.

Tho thyrd maner he con hym shawe
wos in blawyng at þo mowthe,
And monnes blast, kyndly to knawe,
Is light & hote, is none vncouthe.
Gost-wynd nedefull is to recouer
monnes gost þat greued is,
ffor shawing of no thyng mon is leuer
þen softe blast quen he fares mys.
So is þo Holy Gost full lyȝt
As wynde to entre in monnes thoȝt,
þat flees syn & drawes to ryȝt,
he mas his seyte þer all vnsoght.
þer-for says þo glose wele her
þat Goddes gost con not be latte
ffrom plas þat he will to Aper,
ffor sone As he comes And all vnfotte.

Glosa super [illud]: Factus est repente, nescit tarda molumina spiritus sancti gracia. Item spiritus sanctus calidus est ad inflandum, &c.

Also þo Holy Gost is hote
ffor to enflaume as fir dos ay,
Goddes worde, As I wele woote,
Acordis to þis, As I shall say,
‘I come’, he says, ‘to erthe her
ffor to put fire þer-in,
And I will þat hit brenne cler
In mennes Eres & noȝt blynne.’

333

Luce xiio: ignem mittere in terram & quid volo, nisi vt ardet, &c.

Tho fir is called þo Holy Gost,
þo flaume of hit þat ese blast
þat Crist blew of myȝtes most
quen hit to his dysciples past.
þer-for þat wynde likened is
þat brennes mennes hertes so,
To þo sotheron wynde I-wis,
þat moystes & brennes bothe too.
ffor hyt moystes, no-thyng Amys,
men te be meke bothe one & moo,
And brennes hom Alls, leues wele þis,
To God bothe in weyle & wo.

Canticorum iiijto: Surge, Aquilo, veni, Auster, & perfla, &c. Item spiritus sanctus lenis est Ad flatus demulcendum, &c.

Also þo blast þat Crist so blwe
quen his gost opon hom lyȝt
wos softe to make men hym to swe,
As oynement þat is mad ryȝt.
Of quiche spekes [Saynt] Iohn,
þat says þat Cristes enoyntyng
teches vs so-qwer we gon
to haue knawlage of all thyng.

Iohannis Tercio: Vnctio enim eius docet de omnibus, &c.

Also to dewe þat likened is,
ffor hit is softe in doun fallyng,
As in chirche is songen now þis,
In Latyn as I shall ȝow mynge:

334

Et sui roris intima Asperacione fecundet, &c.

Also hit lykened is to Ayr
þat softe is, As ȝe schyn see,
fforto Amende & noȝt enpair
he comes, for verray God is he.

Regum xxo: Et post ignem cibulus Aure tenus, & ibi dominus. Item necessarius est ad respirandum, &c.

An-other profet I may preue
Is with mouth of wynde comyng,
ffor hit is nedefull for to reve
swike þat mon has in schwyng,
& restor þo gost oȝayn
þat in þat tempest troublet is,
ffor in þat swyke he myȝt be slayn
And in wynde or blast tareyng is.
So fares hit by tho Holy Gost
þat in softe wynde so geuen was,
put hit oway þat helpes most,
to rekeuer mon þat fayles gras.

Aufers spiritum eorum & deficient. Item emitte spiritum tuum & creabuntur. Item Iohannis viijo: Spiritus est qui viuificat, &c.

Also þo Salme says wele her,
‘Send þi gost, lord, to þi men,
& made so in A new maner
thurgh þi vertu þai schyn be þen.’

De tercio quo tempore missus est.

Now hit is profet for to knaw
quat tyme þo Holy Gost wos sent,
& querfor As I shall schawe,
As doctours sayn now takes entent.

335

In þo fyfty day he come I-wis
After his resurrectioun,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
to knawe thre [þ]ynges þat in hym is,
ffyrst hor lawes perfectioun,
þat oþer hor endles mede for þis,
þe thrid of synnes remissioun.
þat in þo olde lawe, as rede I,
this thyng wos done þat I shall say,
Þat lawe wos made perfyte þer-by,
be gode resoun preue I may.

Primo spiritus sanctus est legis perfectio. In quinquagesimo die missus est spiritus sanctus, vt detur intelligi quoniam A spiritu est legis perfectio, eterna remuneracio & peccatorum remissio, &c.

A lombe wos offered reuerently,
& after þo fyfty day
The lawe wos gefen [on] Synay
in fir to Moyses, in gode fay.
So in þo nwe testament
þo Holy Gost, As leuen we,
In fir þo fyfty day wos sent
After þat Crist rose, leue ȝe me.
& þus who-so will take entent,
ffor fyrst þo lombe may likened be
To Crist þat secund lombe wos sent
& sacrified, as ȝer wos he.
þen ryȝt As Moyses law come
þo fyfty day next After þoo,
So Cristes gost in fir doun come
To conferme þes lawes too.

336

þus sent wos lawe in Synay,
þe Holy Gost in Mount Syon,
þo laghe on heghe hille, as rede I,
þat oþer in howse lyȝt hom opon.
So hit schewes wele be this
þat perfection of tho lawe
wos thurgh þo Holy Gost I-wis,
& þen fulfilled, be clerkes sawe.

Spiritus plenitudo est mentis, perfectio muneris.

Be tho Holy Gost also
ffull reward euermor lastyng,
As in tho glose Among moo
Is wretyn þis worde wele Acordyng.
That ryȝt As Crist on erthe her
After his resurrexioun
ffaurty dayes wos in fer
with his disciples, wete ȝe moun,
And steghe to heuen þo faurty day,
þat holy chirche may signefy
þat now endures to Goddes pay
to wyn euerlastyng blis þer-by,
So may þo fyfty day I-wis
signefy rewarde be resoun,
In quiche day kyng of blis
Sende his gost to vs Adoun.

Item A spiritu sancto venit remissio.

Also by þo Holy Gost þis day
ffelle remyssioun of our syn,
And be gode skyll preue I may,
As I thenke now er þat I twyn.

337

ffor in þo fyfty ȝer Alway
Sum tyme wos playne remissioun
of Cristen thynges, As I shall say,
þat I may after be resoun
Put þo spirituall ȝer of grase
to þo temperall dede befor,
ffor this remissioun vsed was
ffrom Habrahames tyme euermor.
Dettes, ȝif ony oghyng wer,
wer for-gefen weterly,
Men that wer exilled comen ner
And wer restored thurgh mercy;
Ȝif eny heretage wer lorne,
þat ȝer hit wos geuen oȝayne;
& suche as in bondayge wer borne,
wer made fre & þer-of fayne;
Also such As wer þo deth worthi,
wer delyuerd of presoun,
now put we yche grase in hy
to gostly playne remissioun.
ffyrst þurgh þo Holy Gost þis day,
ryȝt as dette forgeuen was,
so wer synnes, sothe to say,
hydde ouer-all þer he toke plaas.
Als in this fyfty day I-wis
synne[r]s wele repelled wer
to mercy, þof þai diden amys,
her-to Acordes þo Sauter:

Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam.

Also for heretage þat wos lost,
þat is erthely paradyse,
Crist his blode & flesshe for vs cost,
& for þat heretage put in prise

338

Heuenly paradyse vs to wyn,
And þis day sende his gost doun
to conferme þat he con wyn,
ffor quyche he tholed his passioun.

Ad Romanos viijo: Ipse spiritus testimonium reddidit spiritui nostro, vt sumus filii dei. Sin autem filii, & heredes, &c.

Therfor Saynt Paule says expres
þat Goddis gost full of myȝt
to our gost beres wytnes
þat Goddes sonnes we ben be ryȝt.
& ȝif we ben his sonnes all,
his Ayres we ben of full ayge,
& heuenly paradyse vs will fall
ffor to clayme for heretayge.
Also ryȝt As bonde-men wer
þat ȝer delyuerd All vnboȝt,
So out of synne we ben her
delyuered with þat God has wroȝt.
ffor quer-so Goddes gost shall go,
þer is ffrensship þat will not faile,
Saynt Paule witnes þat hit is so,
þer Sathan may vs noȝt Assayle.

Ad Chorentheos tercio: Vbi spiritus domini, ibi libertas, &c.

De iiijto quociens missus est, videlicet apostolis.

Now hit is to knaw ryȝt
how ofte þo Holy Gost wos sent
to his dysciples, as he lyȝt
thries I fynde, now takes entent.
Befor þo passioun one tyme was,
And after þo resurrexioun,
Tho thrid tyme as this day thurgh gras
x. dayes after tho Ascensioun.

339

Þo fyrst for miracles, leue ȝe may,
The secound to relesshe syn,
þo thrid to comforde vs in tho fay
þat sumtyme befor wer louse þer in.

Primo missus est Ad faciendum miracula, secundo relaxandum peccata, tercio ad confirmandum corda.

ffyrst he sende hit hom to preche,
& ouer deuels to haue power,
to keuer All þat þai myȝt ouer-reyche,
þo quyche in ony langour wer,
And þos miracles myȝt þai not do
Saue only by þo Holy Gost,
þerfor he graunted þat grase hom to
to heele þer-by bothe leest & moost.

Mathei septimo: Si Autem in spiritu dei eicio demonia, &c.

Neuer-tho-les hit schwes noȝt
yche mon þat has gost in hym,
bot wundres schyn be by hym wroȝt
to leene mon lyfe, er heyle, or lym.

Gregorius: Miracula hominem sanctum non faciunt, set ostendu[n]t.

ffor Saynt Gregory says this,
þat miracles maken not A mon holy,
Bot schwen þat he holy is
& godde wurches wonderly,
Ne all men þat miracles don
haue not in hom þo Holy Gost,
ffor summe men sayn þat þai mone sone
do myracles, & þer-of maken boost.

340

Domine, Domine non probavimus in nomine tuo, &c.

Bot God full of Autorite
dose miracles, takes þis in mynde,
Aungels be mater, leue ȝe me,
haue Abulte of hit as I fynde;
Deuelles be vertues kyndely
þat diuers thynges haue hom with-in,
of preciouse stones & herbery
& oþer mater I con not myn;
Nigramaunsirs done meruayllousely
be preue consaylyng And wytte
of deuels þat wolden men dystry,
quat þai don deuels techen hit;
Goode Cristen men don wondres als,
Al be knawen ryȝtwisnes,
Euell Cristen men be signes fals
Semyng gode, full of falsenes.
Tho seconde tyme his gost geue he
to his disciples all in pees
quen he blwe & sayd, ‘haue ȝe
þo Holy Gost, syn to relese.’

Accipite spiritum sanctum, quorum remiseritis, &c.

Bot ȝet no mon relese may
Preuee gylt in hert hydde,
or gilt þat bounden is ony way
In helle for to take stydde.
And ȝif mon to God do trespas
As sennyng in tho Holy Gost,
her most contricion come in plaas
& mercy of hym þat is moost,
Or hit may not forgeuen be
As to tho payne hit is worthi,
bot þurgh penauns pert or preue
& contricioun inwardely.

341

Bot ȝet will A confessour
Assoyle quen A mon schryuen is,
supposyng he tolde his errour
of all þat he had done Amys,
ffor þo prest may do no mor
þen he þer may segh in syght
& þat he schawes hym befor,
Assoylled he is be way of ryȝt;
Bot of preue thoȝt with-in
may no mon deme bot onely he
þat shryues hym so of his syn,
ȝif he worche be sotelte,
þerfor his saule for to saue
he geues hym penauns for to do her,
þat he in purgatory shuld haue
gyf þat his syn punysshed wer,
& sum penaunce temperall
he relesshes as for þo best,
bot ȝet contricioun most come with-all
other all his trauayle clene is lest.
Tho thrid tyme wos as this day

Psalmus: spiritu oris eius omnis virtus eorum.


þat God þo Holy Gost doun sent
to sadden hom fully in þo fay
to drede no dethe ne tourment.
Saynt Austyn spekes of þis mater
& says, ‘þo Holy Gostes gras
is so mury in his maner,
þof he fynde tristes in þat plas,
‘He vnbyndes hit boute ber
& turnes sorwe in-to solas,
& ȝif wylnyng waxen wer
he wayues as thyng þat neuer was,

342

‘& drede he puttes clene oway,
on Cristes dysciples as wos sene,
ffor fro þat þis gifte wos geuen þis day
Miȝt neuer mon turne hom for no tene.’

Augustinus: Talis est gracia spiritus sancti, quod, si tristiciam invenerit, dissolui, Si desiderium iniustum, consumit, si tremorem, abiecit, &c.

De quinto qualiter missus est.

Now how þo Holy Gost send was
hit is to wete & knaw I-wis,
with sowene & dyn þer in þat plaas
& tonges of fir, leue wele þis,
And þos tonges forthe-schawyng
syttyng, þat iche mon myȝt see
his felawes on fir flaumyng,
As semed þer to þat meyne.

Sonus fuit repentinus, celestis, vehemens & replens, vt inferius declarabitur, &c.

That sowene wos sodayne, sothe to say,
heuenly, heuyng vp & ouer,
& fulfillyng, in gode fay,
As I shall declar þes four.

Spiritus sanctus nescit tarda molumina.

Sodayn hit wos securly,
ffor þo Holy Gostes gras
is radde & con not come slawly
þer-as he will take his plaas.
Heuenly also wos þat sowene,
ffor qwo-so hit is to sent
is made heuenly be resoun
of heuenly thyng, als fully kent.

343

Vnde vehemens, quasi vehat mens.

Heuen[g] vp hit wos also
ffor erthely luf engendret hit
& wayued als euer-lastyng woo,
And wroȝt full wele in monnes witte.
Also hit wos fulfillyng,
ffor þo Holy Gost Al-way
fulfilles hom þat he is In lengyng,
As by this clause knaw mon may:

Repleti sunt omnes spiritu sancto.

Thre maner fulnes, wele I fynde,
& tokenes of plente also
wos in þo Apostelles mynde
quen Goddes gost wos in hom þoo.
Þe fyrst songe made no sowene
After þo fyrst sowene doun comyng,
As schawes boþe in tour & tone
A full tvnne will sowen no thyng.

Iob septimo: Numquid mugiet bos, cum Autem presepe plenum fuerit, &c.

ffor an ox, as Iob says her,
will not lowe quen cracche is fulle,
no mor dos mon in no maner
quen he has al thyng þat he will
& crache of his hert full of hay,—
queche hay I call þo Holy Gost
þat makes althyng to his pay,—
hit nedes not to crie ne boost
Ne noȝt to sowene, as I say,
ffor þurgh þat lorde of myȝtes moost
impaciens is put oway,
He dredes for no kynges hoost.

344

Þis token haden truly
Þo Apostels euerychon,
ffor in Angre & grete ny
Cry ne boost made neuer one,
Bot wentyn glad & murely
to mon makyng hor moone,
þo Holy Gost so graciousely
in all godenes has hom begone.

Ibant gaudentes in conspectu consilii, quoniam digni habeti sunt, &c.

Þo secunde signe of fulnes was
þat in þo dysciples con aper,
of þo Holy Gostes gras
No fuller myȝt þai be þen þai wer.
Goode ensample þer-by take mon may
be A vessell þat full is
of one lycour, in gode fay,
An-oþer will not in Iwis;
Also þo Apostels all
þat full wer of þo Holy Gost,
of wordly fulte myȝt þai noȝt fall
ne blyndet be wit deuels boost,
& for þai haden so full sadde tast
of heuen swyetnes hom with-in,
worldly wele wos waxen wast,
þo deuell no wille had hom to wyn.

Yssay: Plenus sum & ideo holocausta, &c.

And þat schwed wele be one thyng
þat þo Apostels vseden her
After þo Holy Gost comyng
quyll þat þai to-geder wer,

345

ffor nothyng propre haden þai,
of all þat euer hom geuen was
In comune dalt was day for day,
none calles his of þat he has.

Nullus suum Aliquid esse dicebat set erant illis omnia communia, &c.

Tho thrid thyng of fulnes was,
ȝif A vessell so full be
þat hit go ouer, ȝe sene wele this,
þer semes shulde be full plente;
So þo Apostels holy lor
ouer schedde, & þer-of oþer token,
ffor mony one þat leueden not befor
folweden hom & filthe for-soken,
ffor Petre preched þat ilke day
& conuerted, leue ȝe me,
thre thowsand & moo to þo fay,
In holy writte as rede we.
Þerfor þo Holy Gost wele may
to A water likened be
þat out of paradise rennes ay,
Fisoun one of faur is he,
þen that water has þis kynde
certayne tymes of þo ȝer,
iche londe befor & behynde
to ouer-flete hom all in fer,
& with þat flode, as I fynde,
ffrutes springen fer & ner,
So don þo frutes in monnes mynd
be Goddes gost in gode maner.

Ecclesiastice xxiijjto: Qui impletus est Phisyn sapiencie. [&] s[i]c[ut].


346

Secundo in [l]inguis [ig]neis.

þo secunde maner send he was
In tongues of fir, as rede we,
of quiche sendyng for our solas
takes now hede to poyntes thre.
ffyrst is for to wete her
In tonges of fir quy he was sent,
Tho secunde quy in þat mater
mor þen oþer elyment,
Þo thrid quy þat in tonge come he
mor þen in membres oþer moo
declar I will, as ȝe schyn see,
bot fyrst to brennyng tonges go.
ffor thre causes he con Aper
in brennyng tonges vs to teche,
þo fyrst þat suche as brennyng wer,
brennyng wordes shulden preche.
Tho second, for þai shulden also
preche of brennyng lawe of londe,
Saynt Bernarde spekes of þes too
ffrom bale to put hor hertes of bonde.

Bernardus: Venit spiritus sanctus in linguis igneis, vt linguis omnium gencium verba ignea loquerentur, & legem igneam lingue ignee predicarent, &c.

He sayd, ‘þo Holy Gost come doun
with tonges of fir, þat with þo speche
of all maner nacioun
he myȝt be our lyues leche.
‘And with þos langayges ay be boun
& tonges of fir synneles to [pr]eche
be preued predicacioun,
And langayge schuld not be to seche.’

347

Þus with all tonges preched was
wordes of fir all fully,
queche fir of þo Holy Gostes gras
sadde luf & tru may signefy.
ffor no thyng may lykened be
so wele to fir as sadde luff may,
ffor þer-as sadly rotes he,
As fir hit brennes in gode fay.
Tho thrid cause quy he come so
In tonges of fir may wele be this,
þat þai shulde bothe one & moo
to preche þo faithe nothyng Amys,
Be þo Holy Gost wele þoo
þat verray faithe bothe wos & is,
& noȝt to drede þo deuell our foo
to faile in hit be no fayntise,
& þat þai shuld suppose no way
be hom-selffe þat vertu was,
bot Goddis gost in hom verray
wroȝt all hor crafte in hor caas,
& also þat all men shulden knawe
þat Goddes gost wos in hom pitte,
ffor boute seche sleght for to schawe
to meene wos any monnes wytte.

Quare pocius in igne quam in alio elemento propter tres causas &c.

Now shyn ȝe knaw quy he wos sent
In lykenes of fyr as this day
mor þen in oþer element,
mony resons schwe I may.
to þo fyrst now takes entent,
þat lykened is in gode fay
To fir kynt, As I am kent,
be seuen skylles full verray.

348

ffor þing þat hegh is meke he mas,
So dos fir be way of kynde,
be gyfte of drede þat mon has
in quych he entres, as I fynde.
Harde thyng also softe he mas
be gyfte of mercy, takes in mynde,
& geues lyȝt also to thester plas
þurgh wytt puttyng derknys behynde.
thyng þat ouer-fletes be foly
be gode consayle restraynes he,
Softe þing he saddens securly
be strengthe of kynd, leue ȝe me.
& ryȝt as fir mas metal cler
& all þo ruste puttes oway,
So dos he with-oute weer
be gyfte of vnderstondyng Ay.
He strengthes vpward fer & ner
be gyf of wysdome mon to pay,
As I in Latyn rede will her,
& after in Englisshe mor verray:

Spiritus ad modum ignis Alta humiliat per donum timoris & mollet dura per donum pietatis, illuminat obscura per donum sciencie, restringit fflueda per donum consilii, sollidat mollia per donum fortitudinis, clareficat metalla per donum intellectus, sursum tendit per donum sapiencie, vt expressius declarabitur in lingua materna.

Primo Alta humiliat per donum timoris.

ffyrst he says þo Holy Gost
mas thyng meke þat is heghe,
As fir abates alway boost
of all thynges þat hit comes neghe.

349

þen calles þo clerke þis gyfte of drede
þo proude mon dredes noght befor,
drede of God he most haue nede
thurgh þo Holy Gostes lor.
So þat ryȝt As oþer fir her
Mas drede qwer-so he entres in
And mekes mon, in þo selfe maner
gostly fir ay feres syn.

Secundo Item mollidat dura per donum pietatis.

The secund kynde þat þo fir has
he mas harde thyng softe to be,
þo Holy Gost so þurgh his gras
harde hertes mas softe, ȝe schyn see.
As of Saynt Paule þat wykked was
gode ensample take mone we,
ffor heuenly fir stroke in his face,
he preched þo faythe with hert fre;
Þer-for call I may in this case
suche A gyfte of pite,
þat one harde hert softened has,
ffo[r] harder hert had none þen he.

Tercio illuminat obscura per donum sciencie.

Also fyr lyȝttenes thesternes,
As we mon bodely se in syȝt,
þo Holy Gost þurȝe his godenes
in our saulis mas gostly lyȝt;
Be gyft of connyng þat most be
þat þurgh þo Holy Gost wos sent,
ffor thurgh his gras connyng ben we
ffro þat he be lyȝt in our entent;
ffor þen al sleȝtes we moun see
þurgh quich Sathan may be schent,
And connyng foly to flee
And in tho faythe to ben feruent.

350

Quarto restringit flueda per donum concilii.

Also tho kynde of fir is this,
to maystre oþer elymentes,
Saue only Ayr or wynde I-wys,
All þai enpayren be his presence.
So ȝif A mon oght to proude be
ffro þat Goddis gost be in hym lyȝt,
be gode consayle shwes he
& rebelnes turnes into ryȝt.
And thyng þat be foly is ouer-flette
Restrayned is be gode resoun,
And be sadde sothenes in hert sette
be counsayl from Crist comen doun.

Quinto solidat mollia per donum fortitudinis.

Also fir mas softe thyng harde
be strengthe þat he has in his kynde,
So heuenly fir thyng all frowarde
In faythe he saddes, as I fynde,
Be full strength þat he in hym has,
As be ensample mon may see;
ffor er þo Holy Gost send was
ffaynt & freyle wos þat meyne,
& in þo byleue wos sadde none
Tyll þis fir wos from heuen sent,
bot þen sadde þai wer yche one,
þat chaunge myȝt no thyng hor entent.

Sexto clarificat metalla tollendo rubiginem per donum intellectus.

Also fyr mas metall cler
And puttes þo rust all clene oway,
So Goddes gost with-oute weer
clanses ruste of synne in fay

351

Be gyfte of gode vnderstondyng
sende be Goddes gost Adoun,
þof our flesshe haue foule fondyng
þo fendes affray has no faysoun,
ffor thurgh þo Holy Gostes grase
we persayuen Apertly
& vnderstonden h[i]s manas,
he dresses hym vs for to dystry,
& we feghten ogayn hym in þis cas
ffleyng fer fro þat foly
þat he proferes in þat plaas
to enpayr vs Apertly.

Nota de septimo per donum sapiencie.

Also fyr be way of kynde
A steme has allway vp-steghyng,
So fares þo Holy Gost I fynde
And heuenly fir in hert feghtyng,
for quyll he brennes in monnes mynde
Tho hert is towarde heuen hyghyng,
þo deuell may not þat bonde vnbynde
quyll þat fyr is vp-steghyng.
Þerfor þis fir may called be
Tho gyfte of wysdome And of wytte,
ffor full wysdome engendret he
In monnes saule þurgh strengeth of hit.

Secunda causa quare apparuit in specie ignis pocius quam in Alio elemento sumitur penes sue deitatis excellenciam, &c.

The secunde cause quy he don went
In fir lykenes to mon-kynde
helder þen in oþer element,
I shall declare now as I fynde.

352

ffor fir is mor excellent
in thre maners, take þis in mynde,
þen ony other elyment,
And mor curiouse in his kynde,
In schappe, in ordre & vertue eke.
& in schappe I shall say quy,
ffor fayren þen fir no mon may seke
þer leghtnes none so louelely;
Be ordre also preue I may
hit passes other mony moo,
ffor herr þen oþer fir is Ay
In settyng & doyng eke also;
& vertu hit has als weterly
mor þen þes other thre,
& strengthe þer he comes by
to maystre hom all, leue ȝe me.
So fares hit of þo Holy Gost
of fayrenes he passes all,
& in rewle & ordre als is moost
ffor of All gostes he is wall,
And of vertue weterly
So excellent þer may none be,
As in Latyn preue will I
ffor clerkes be Autorite:

Sapiencie Septimo: Primo dicitur spiritus sanctus non quoinquinatus, pro secundo capit omnes spiritus intelligibiles, pro tercio habens omnem virtutem, &c.

Tercio sumitur penes multiplicem proprius efficaciam.

Tho thrid cause wele taken is
ffor kyndely profet þat fir has,
And faur kyndes he has I-wis,
Reherse I will now in this plaas.

353

Ignis iiijor habet naturas, videlicet vrit, purgat, calefacit, illuminat, &c.

ffir purges, lyghtes, hetes, & brennes,
All þes faur kyndes has he,
So heuenly fyr brennes synnes
Tho selfe maner, as ȝe schyn see.
ffor heuenly fir brennes synne
her-to Acordes prophecy,
on quiche in Latyn I shall myn
þat speke þo prophet Zacary:

Zacarias: Per ignem vram inter eos, sicut vritur Argentum. Item vre renes meos & cor meum, &c.

Also þis heuenly fir in fay
purges hertes þat hit comes in,
As tho prophete prays ay,
ffrom temptacion for to twyn,
ffor this fir will come no way,
þer baret is, till bale blyn
& þat plas purget al to his pay,
er he take sesoun þer er wos syn.

Issay iiijto: Si sanguinem Ierusalem lauerit de medio eius in spiritu Iudicii et Ardoris.

Also þo Holy Gost wele heytes
þo saules in queche he tas seyson,
ffor gostly fir all godenes getes
In mon Amendet, triste ȝe mone.

Ad Romanos xiio: spiritu eruentes.

Here-to Acordes Gregory
And says, ‘þo Holy Gost come doun
In fir to put Away in hye
All coolde & foule corrupcion,
‘And God forthires ay þat fyr
Thurgh his endles mercy
Ay mor & mor to gode desir,
& mon to leue deuoutely.’

354

Gregorius: In igne Apparuit spiritus sanctus, quia ab omni corde quod replet, torporem frigoris excutit & hoc in desiderio sue eternitatis accendit, &c.

Item spiritus sanctus illustrat ignorancias.

Also, As I shall now schew,
þe Holy Gost dose maystry,
leghtnes hertes for to knaw
vnknawen thyng All fully;
Ryȝt As fir is to vs lyght
And in thesternes mas wele to se,
þo heuenly fir mas hertes bryȝt,
Of thyng vnknawen wise to be.

Sapiencie ixo: Sensum Autem tuum quis sciet, nisi tu crederis sapienciam & miseris spiritum sanctum tuum de altissimis.

Therefor Salomon here in sight
As wytty & wyse As was he,
he Askes heuenly God almyght
To knaw his wytte, what way schyn we,
Bot only ȝif he send vs doun
ffrom heuen his gost þurgh his grace
To teche ws þat we knaw moun,
sadde wytt oȝayns Sathanas.

Ad Corentheos Secundo: Nobis autem reuelauit dominus per spiritum sanctum, &c.

[Quart]a causa quare pocius Apparuit in specie ignibus quam in alio elemento sumitur Amoris ipsius naturam &c.

Tho [furthe] cause quy he Apered
helder in fourme of fir this day
þen in other element, As I am lered,
As clerkes techen sothe to say.

355

ffor this skylle taken is truly
two maner kynde of his grete luf,
ffor luff fyr may signefy,
And luff is A gost Abuff.
Be thre skylles fynde I may,
quy luff to fyr lykened is;
Tho fyrst for fir is steryng Ay,
So dose tho Holy Gost Iwis,
ffor qwo-so he fulfilles in fay,
he mas hym to meeue not Amys,
In gode wurchyng to be alway,
ffor Gregory wele preues this:

Gregorius: Numquam est Amor dei ociosus. Operatur enim magna si est. Si autem operari neclegit, Amor non est, &c.

‘ffor Goddes luf’, says Gregory,
‘Is neuer-mor ydell, leue ȝe me,
Bot worches All-way wonderly
In iche plase þer-as is he.
‘And ȝif þat luff be neclegent
ffor to wurche wyt gode wille,
hit is no luff verament
ffor luff con not holde hym stille.’
Tho secunde skyll schaw I may
Quy luff And fir ben sette in fere,
ffor of All elementes in fay
worthiest hit is & moost der,
And most in syght sothe to say,
And leest hit is As of matere,
So fares tho Holy Gost Alway
Tho selfe maner, As ȝe schyn here.
ffor what mon so full-fylled ys
Of tho Holy Gostes luff,
To erthely thyng no hert has he
Bot wilnes heuenly blis Abuff,

356

And litell wille to þo worlde he has
Bot meche to thyng that gostly is,
Suche is tho Holy Gostes gras
And lykened wele to fir I-wis.
The thryd skylle now takes hede,
ffor thre thynges, As I fynde,
That fire has, As I schall rede
Qwyll this mater is in mynde.
ffyrst fir makes hegh thynges to encline,
And vpward also draghes he,
ouer-fletyng with-owten pyne
he geders to-geder, leue ȝe me.
By þes iii vnderstonde I may
iij maner of strengthes þat luf has
lyke to þes iij, sothe to say,
As Denys clerke mynde mas:

Ignis habet alta inclinare, sursum tendere, fluida adunare & congregare. Dionisius in libro de diuinis nominibus: Amor habet triplicem vim videlicet inclinatiuam eleuatiuam, & concordatiuam.

ffor luf has strenght to draghe down
thyng þat is hegh myȝtily,
ffor to haue neuer so grete renown
luf may thow hym bonerly,
Hel[d]er þen batayl to be bown,
to encline all curtesly
to all thyng, þat is resoun
ther othr waye fayles fullely.

Amor habet vim eleuatiuam.

Also luf makes loghe thyng hegh,
be mony wayes mon may se,
As men þat ben grete lordis negh,
who-so is lufd, on heght gos he.

357

Item habet vim concordatiuam

The thrid vertue þat luf has
Euen & euen he brennes in fer,
thogh wrath be & manas,
luf maystres hom in meke maner.

Inclinatiuam, quia inclinat superiora inferioribus, Eleuatiuam, quia eleuat inferiores superioribus, concordatiuam, quia concordat equalia equalibus. Dionisius.

Thes thre maners of strenght luf has
In seche men as the Holy Gost
fulfilles þrugh his grace,
ffyrst he abates all hor bost.
To wynne hom to grete mekenes
& forsakyng of hor wille,
Noȝt takyng honour ne heghnes
bot Goddes plesaunce to fulfille.
Also þe Holy Gost is Aye
vp-hevyng as fir is in kynd,
& also, as I con say
A litell befor as ȝe mone fynd,
ffor þe Holy Gost vp-heues
Mennes hertes forto dys[yr]e
heuenly blis, þer-by hit preues
þat verray luf is heuenly fir.
All men þat entres with-inne,
ichon to oþer he mas der,
trew to be & neuer mor twynne,
As by ensaumple men may ler
Of maters þat men movn mynne,
þat all tourment with hert enter
Sufferd, er þai wolden synne,
ffull stydfastly in this world her,
And þat suffrauns most nede be
by vertue of þe Holy Gost,
þat with so stabull charite
In myschef to luf hym most.

358

Quare spiritus sanctus pocius apparuit in lingua quam in alio membro iijx est ratio, vnde patet vt supra.

de iijo.
Now whi þe Holy Gost to-day
Appert in tonges helder her
þen in oþer membres, I shall say
thre causes conable & cler.
The fyrst, for monnus tong is ay
As helle fir cruell & fere,
fflaumyng for to make Afray,
non othre membre in þat maner,
fful hard for to rule oryȝt
þer monnes hert wer oght vnstable,
& hit maystret is thurgh myȝt
A membre wonder prophetabull.

Iacobus: Lingua nostra est ignis vniuerse iniquitatis.

Therfor syn tong is flawmyng so
with brennyng fyr of grete foly,
Goddis gost þo in con go
hell-fir for to dystry.
Sythen þat hit among membres mo
wos wroght to rule resonably,
heuenly fyr most bren þat fo
As dyd this day feruently.
Saynt Iames spekes wele of this
in A pistell þat he mas
& sayes, ‘all bestes & foles I-wis
to be maystred now wille has
Thurgh mon to hym grauntyd was,
bot to tempre tong no bote is
Bot þrugh the Holy Gostes gras.’
þerfor hit nedis soueraignys

359

The Holy Gost for to reule hit
helder þen oþer, As sayd I
Acordyng to þe Apostels wyt:
[OMITTED]

Omnis [n]atura bestiarum, volucrum, serpencium & ceterorum animalium doma[n]tur & domita sunt [a] natura humane; lingu[am] hominum nullius domare potest; inquietum malum, plenum mortifere veneno, &c. Iacobus iijo.

In tong also Apperet he
to betoken þat hit wos nede
Prechoures wele tonget for to be,
ffor to hom mon most takes hede
That helle-fyr thenkes for to fle
& wille to do gode riȝt As God bede,
In iiij maners As ȝe schyn see,
As I shall Apertly rede:

Predicantibus necessarium est lingua spiritu sancto repleta, quia facit eos loqui feruenter, confidenter, multipliciter & vtiliter, &c.

ffyrst þe Holy Gost hem made
To preche brennandly aboute,
ffor thrugh þe vertue of hit þat þay hade
luff & will no mon to doute,
Slauthe wos clene put Away
ffor hertes in luff wer so brennyng,
herto Acordes, As I shall say,
Saynt Bernard of his dovn-comyng:

Venit spiritus sanctus super discipulos in linguis igneis vt verba ignea lingue ignee predicarent. Bernardus.

‘The Holy Gost,’ he says, ‘come dovn
opon þe Apostils all in fer
In tonges of fyr, to make hom bown
brennyng wordes men to her.

360

‘And þos tonges of fyr brennyng
shulden preche þe lagh of fyr in fay,
As who-so say with carefull hert lengyng,
ffor fyr ay lenges whill he may.’

Et facit eos loqui confidenter & Absque pusillanimitate.

Also þe Holy Gostes myȝt
mad all þe ioyfull cumpany
with-owten faynt hert day & nyȝt
ffor to speke tristely.
Her-to Acordes holy writte,
& thai speken with grete tryst
ffor thai weren fyllet full of hyt,
thai myghten say what-ser hom lyst.

Quarto: repleti sunt omnes spiritu sancto et ceperunt loqui cum fiducia.

Actuum apostolorum.
Also the Holy Gost comyng
mad hom to speke in mony maner,
ffor in all languages þai wer connyng,
men of all nacions for to ler.
Holy wrytte is A-cordyng
to this, as ȝe sone schyn [her]e,
þat Goddis gost mad hom spekyng
with diuerse tonges all enter.

Actuum apostolorum secundo: Ceperunt loqui variis linguis.

Also he shewid prophitably
ffor monnes edificacioun,
ffor all men wexen bygge þer-by
to suffre bale fully bown.

Ysaie lxxxijo: Spiritus domini super quod vincerit me.

The thrid maner Apperit he
whill þe Apostils wer syttyng,
in tokenyng At þat fraternite
shuld be iustis & hegh kyng,

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ffor quen-so-euer A Iustice oght shall deme
he syttes al-way as men movn se,
þerfor to sette h[yt] wold by-seme
in takyng þat Autorite.
ffor faur Autorites þat day
he graunted hom quen he send his gost,
the fyrst to forgyf synne Away
to all þurgh God of myghtes most:

Iohannes vijo: Accipite spiritum sanctum, quorum remiseritis peccata, dimittuntur eis, &c.

Secunda prerogatiua data apostolis per spiritum sanctum videlicet Sapiencia.

The secund prerogatyf þat his gost sent
wos wysdom to deme mon & wyfe,
ffully þerfor þai wer kent
to teche þe pepill to lede gode lyfe:

Isay xiijo: Ponam spiritum meum, iudicium gentilibus, &c.

Tercia prerogatiua videlicet humilitas.

The thryd wos mekenes in tholyng,
of which þe gost gaf hom grase
to suffre wrong in all thyng,
And chonge hor purpose in no case,

Numeri qo: Dabo eis de spiritu sancto, qui in te est, vt supportent omnis populi.

Quarta prerogatiua videlicet humilitas & pulcra, &c.

So weren þai Also sad & meke
þrugh vertue of þe Holy Gost.
þe furthe vertu þai haden eke
ffair speche þrogh hym þat is most.

Iob xxvo: Spiritus domini ornauit celos rectos.

Thes faur wyn wele beseme
in All domes-men for to be,
Autorite full for to deme,
wysdam & mekenes, leue ȝe me,

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And esy speche Also to haue,
Noo hastynes ne cruelte,
not to knaw queche he will saue.
To þe sext poynt now go we.