[Poems from the Vernon MS] | ||
Þe wikked fend of helle þerof hedde onde
And hastiliche sende to him his sonde.
His Messager redi was forte don his wille,
Him to bi-swyke, queynteliche & stille.
In þe wei he hym mette
And feire þenne he hym grette—
Was he no fend i-lyche,
But as a mon feir and riche;
And hastiliche sende to him his sonde.
His Messager redi was forte don his wille,
Him to bi-swyke, queynteliche & stille.
In þe wei he hym mette
And feire þenne he hym grette—
330
But as a mon feir and riche;
Þe gode Mon was not war
Of þe deuel, þat com þar.
Of þe deuel, þat com þar.
Quaþ þe wikked Counseyler:
“ffelawe, wel I-met her!
Sei me, as nou mote þou þe,
Wher hast þow now I-be?”
“ffelawe, wel I-met her!
Sei me, as nou mote þou þe,
Wher hast þow now I-be?”
“I com from þe chirche, what woldestou þer-bi?
What þou art & whi þou askest, tel me nou, belamy!”
“I am a ferren mon and a wey-feryng,
Spek wiþ me feire, wiþ-outen grucchyng!
Hastou atte churche I-herd eny sarmoun,
Vndoynge of þe gospel or of lessoun?
I preyȝe þe, gode felawe, ȝif þi wille be,
Al þat þou herdest, tel hit nou to me!
ffor I con my-self, beo my lewete,
Of alle-maner lore gret plente.
I con wel I-knowe, I sei þe, for-þi,
Wher hit were wisdam þat he spac, or elles foli.
Wys þow schalt fynde me and hende;
ffor, ȝif he out fals haþ seid, I schal hit amende.
Þauh þow to me haue no trist,
I con more þen þe prest,
And better I wot, forsoþe I-wys,
How men schulen come to blis,
And also more I con telle
Wherfore Men schule go to helle.”
What þou art & whi þou askest, tel me nou, belamy!”
“I am a ferren mon and a wey-feryng,
Spek wiþ me feire, wiþ-outen grucchyng!
Hastou atte churche I-herd eny sarmoun,
Vndoynge of þe gospel or of lessoun?
I preyȝe þe, gode felawe, ȝif þi wille be,
Al þat þou herdest, tel hit nou to me!
ffor I con my-self, beo my lewete,
Of alle-maner lore gret plente.
I con wel I-knowe, I sei þe, for-þi,
Wher hit were wisdam þat he spac, or elles foli.
Wys þow schalt fynde me and hende;
ffor, ȝif he out fals haþ seid, I schal hit amende.
Þauh þow to me haue no trist,
I con more þen þe prest,
And better I wot, forsoþe I-wys,
How men schulen come to blis,
And also more I con telle
Wherfore Men schule go to helle.”
[Poems from the Vernon MS] | ||