 | [Poems from the Vernon MS] |  |
443
[XXXIX. Of þre messagers of deeth.]
Her biginneþ a tretis
Of þreo Messagers of deþ, I-wis.
Of þreo Messagers of deþ, I-wis.
Þe Mon þat is of wommon I-bore,
His lyf nis heere but a þrowe—
So seiþ Iob vs heer-bi-fore
Al in a Bok þat I wel knowe.
His lyf nis heere but a þrowe—
So seiþ Iob vs heer-bi-fore
Al in a Bok þat I wel knowe.
He hedde is Muynde al of his deþ,
Wel sore he con grone and grunte,
And seide his lyf nas bote a Breþ,
Heer mou we none stounde stunte.
Wel sore he con grone and grunte,
And seide his lyf nas bote a Breþ,
Heer mou we none stounde stunte.
ffrom deþ may no mon be fre,
ffor his riȝte wol he not lete.
Now beoþ þer Messagers þre
A-Mong Monkuynde for to meete:
ffor his riȝte wol he not lete.
Now beoþ þer Messagers þre
A-Mong Monkuynde for to meete:
Auentures, Seeknesse, and Elde—
Þeos beoþ Messagers of deþ;
To hem we moten vs alle ȝelde
And louten þer vr Maystres geþ.
Þeos beoþ Messagers of deþ;
To hem we moten vs alle ȝelde
And louten þer vr Maystres geþ.
Whon Deth comeþ þat is so derk,
Þer May no Mon him wiþ-stonde;
I take witnesse on a noble Clerk
Þat wrot þeos vers wiþ his honde:
Þer May no Mon him wiþ-stonde;
I take witnesse on a noble Clerk
Þat wrot þeos vers wiþ his honde:
Mors necat athletas,
Ego mortis nescio metas,
I[n]ter Res letas,
Caueat sibi quelibet etas—
Ego mortis nescio metas,
I[n]ter Res letas,
Caueat sibi quelibet etas—
“Deþ, he sleth þis kempes kene,
And kynges in heore worþly won,
Riche & pore alle bi-dene,
Ȝong ne Old spareþ he non.”
And kynges in heore worþly won,
Riche & pore alle bi-dene,
Ȝong ne Old spareþ he non.”
444
Þer is on of þis Messagers
Þat of no mon wol take mede;
He is so hardi and so fers
Þat alle Men of him haue drede:
Þat of no mon wol take mede;
He is so hardi and so fers
Þat alle Men of him haue drede:
Þe Messager hette Auentours;
Aȝeynes him may beo no strif;
Whon he comeþ to a Monnes hous,
He takeþ boþe hosebonde & þe wyf.
Aȝeynes him may beo no strif;
Whon he comeþ to a Monnes hous,
He takeþ boþe hosebonde & þe wyf.
He takeþ þe child In his Cradel,
Þeih he beo bot o niht old;
Þe kniht and horse in his sadel
I-a[r]med, beo he neuer so bold.
Þeih he beo bot o niht old;
Þe kniht and horse in his sadel
I-a[r]med, beo he neuer so bold.
Of him beo vche Mon I-war
And mak him clene, ar he beo hent;
ffor þer nis no ȝeyn-char,
Whon Auentures comeþ to turnement.
And mak him clene, ar he beo hent;
ffor þer nis no ȝeyn-char,
Whon Auentures comeþ to turnement.
Mony mon lihþ in dedly synne
And weneþ þat he beo not veyȝe,
And Auentures comeþ wiþ his ginne
And hontuþ til he haue his preye.
And weneþ þat he beo not veyȝe,
And Auentures comeþ wiþ his ginne
And hontuþ til he haue his preye.
In dedly sunne ho is I-founde
Wiþ-outen schrift and repentaunce,
He geþ in to helle-grounde,
Þer to suffre his penaunce.
Wiþ-outen schrift and repentaunce,
He geþ in to helle-grounde,
Þer to suffre his penaunce.
Seint Poul bit we schulden awake—
Þis Clerkes witen as wel as I—
Þat we schulden vs clene make
And of vr sinnes ben sori;
Þis Clerkes witen as wel as I—
Þat we schulden vs clene make
And of vr sinnes ben sori;
And bote we ben, we schulen abugge;
Þer schal no pledur plede þat;
Þer God vs fynt, he wol vs Iugge—
Nou vche Mon be war bi þat.
Þer schal no pledur plede þat;
Þer God vs fynt, he wol vs Iugge—
Nou vche Mon be war bi þat.
ffor Auentures wol come as a þef
Be nihte, whon men ben aslepe,
And taken awey þat him is leef—
Nou awakeþ, þat ȝe mowe him kepe.
Be nihte, whon men ben aslepe,
And taken awey þat him is leef—
Nou awakeþ, þat ȝe mowe him kepe.
Anoþer Messager þer is
Of Deþ, whon crist wol him sende:
Seknesse, Ichaue I-herd ar þis,
Þe Messager is swiþe hende.
Of Deþ, whon crist wol him sende:
Seknesse, Ichaue I-herd ar þis,
Þe Messager is swiþe hende.
445
Whon seeknesse comeþ to a mon,
He may be war ȝif he is sleih,
And greiþen his In, ȝif þat he con,
And þenken þat deþ is swiþe neih.
He may be war ȝif he is sleih,
And greiþen his In, ȝif þat he con,
And þenken þat deþ is swiþe neih.
ffor seknesse comeþ apertely,
He ne dareþ not in his den;
Hit is vre lordes Cortesy
Wiþ seknesse for to warne men.
He ne dareþ not in his den;
Hit is vre lordes Cortesy
Wiþ seknesse for to warne men.
Mony Men, whon þat heo beoþ seke,
To Ihesu Crist a clepen and criȝe
And to his Mylde Mooder eke
And sigge: “now þou help, Marie!
To Ihesu Crist a clepen and criȝe
And to his Mylde Mooder eke
And sigge: “now þou help, Marie!
Ȝif þat we mowe be sound and saue
And keuere, þat we mowen habben vr hele,
Al þe good þat we haue
ffor Godes loue we wolen hit dele.”
And keuere, þat we mowen habben vr hele,
Al þe good þat we haue
ffor Godes loue we wolen hit dele.”
We loue wel God in al vr þouȝt
While we beo seeke & sore smerte;
Whon we beoþ hol, we louen him nouȝt,
He nis no lengor in vre herte—
While we beo seeke & sore smerte;
Whon we beoþ hol, we louen him nouȝt,
He nis no lengor in vre herte—
Cum fero langorem,
ffero Religionis amorem;
Expers langoris
Non sum memor huius amoris.
ffero Religionis amorem;
Expers langoris
Non sum memor huius amoris.
Of crist ne takeþ he non hede,
He naþ no more wiþ him to donne;
To þonken him for his goode dede,
He þenkeþ no more þer-vpponne.
He naþ no more wiþ him to donne;
To þonken him for his goode dede,
He þenkeþ no more þer-vpponne.
Suche men ben ofte al-one I-let
To pleye as þe foul in þe lift,
Til Auentures haue wiþ hem met,
Be-Reueþ hem boþe hosel and schrift.
To pleye as þe foul in þe lift,
Til Auentures haue wiþ hem met,
Be-Reueþ hem boþe hosel and schrift.
Men ouȝten holden vp boþe heore honden
To God, while heo ben hol and feere,
To sende, whon he wol hem fonden,
Seeknesse to ben heore Messagere.
To God, while heo ben hol and feere,
To sende, whon he wol hem fonden,
Seeknesse to ben heore Messagere.
Seynt poul seiþ, vre lordes kniht,
In a pistel þat he wrot,
Þat he was strengest & most of miht
Whon god him wiþ seknesse smot.
In a pistel þat he wrot,
Þat he was strengest & most of miht
Whon god him wiþ seknesse smot.
446
Now ichulle siggen ou of Elde,
Of Messagers he is þe þridde.
Whon Monnes hed biginneþ to elde,
He may not do but beodes bidde.
Of Messagers he is þe þridde.
Whon Monnes hed biginneþ to elde,
He may not do but beodes bidde.
And he leoneþ vppon his Crucche,
Whon deþ him bekneþ, comen he mot;
Hit helpeþ nouȝt þauh he grucche,
He schal wiþ-stonde neuer a fot.
Whon deþ him bekneþ, comen he mot;
Hit helpeþ nouȝt þauh he grucche,
He schal wiþ-stonde neuer a fot.
Also fareþ Elde as doþ a sweyn
Þat stondeþ at his lordes ȝate
And mot not wenden in aȝeyn,
ffor þe po[r]ter þat is þer-ate;
Þat stondeþ at his lordes ȝate
And mot not wenden in aȝeyn,
ffor þe po[r]ter þat is þer-ate;
ffor no ȝiftes þat he may ȝiuen,
Ne feire wordes þat he mai speken;
He worþ out atte ȝate I-driuen,
Anon þe ȝate for him is steken.
Ne feire wordes þat he mai speken;
He worþ out atte ȝate I-driuen,
Anon þe ȝate for him is steken.
Ȝif a Mon may libben heer
And ben of pouwer for to go
Þe Elde of ffoure-score ȝer,
Þat oþer del is serwe and wo.
And ben of pouwer for to go
Þe Elde of ffoure-score ȝer,
Þat oþer del is serwe and wo.
ffor hose wole his lyf be-holde
ffrom biginnynge to þe ende,
Wel ofte may his herte colde
Þat not what wey he schal wende;
ffrom biginnynge to þe ende,
Wel ofte may his herte colde
Þat not what wey he schal wende;
Wel we witen we schule be ded,
Vr dwellyng her nis bote a while—
Ihesu crist vs wisse and rede,
Þat neuer þe ffend ne do vs gyle.—
Vr dwellyng her nis bote a while—
Ihesu crist vs wisse and rede,
Þat neuer þe ffend ne do vs gyle.—
Nou is deþ a wonder þing
And grislich for to þenken on;
He ne spareþ Emperour ne kyng,
Ne Pope for al þe good þat he con.
And grislich for to þenken on;
He ne spareþ Emperour ne kyng,
Ne Pope for al þe good þat he con.
Wher ben heo þat biforen vs weoren,
Þat weore so mihti in heore deden,
Houndes ladden and haukes beeren
An hontyng heiȝe vppon heore steeden?
Þat weore so mihti in heore deden,
Houndes ladden and haukes beeren
An hontyng heiȝe vppon heore steeden?
Deþ hit haþ hem al by-raft,
Wiþ hem þer nis no more pley.
And al þat bereþ monnes schaft,
Schal go þat ilke selue wey.
Wiþ hem þer nis no more pley.
And al þat bereþ monnes schaft,
Schal go þat ilke selue wey.
447
Vche Mon may be sore aferd
Þat haþ a soule for to saue,
Whon he geþ bi a Chirche-ȝerd
And seoþ wher dede men beþ I-graue.
Þat haþ a soule for to saue,
Whon he geþ bi a Chirche-ȝerd
And seoþ wher dede men beþ I-graue.
Riche men habbeþ riche stones,
Þat alle men mouwe biholde:
Þer-vnder liggeþ foule bones,
I-beddet al in Cloþ of colde.
Þat alle men mouwe biholde:
Þer-vnder liggeþ foule bones,
I-beddet al in Cloþ of colde.
Wel pore halle þer is I-maked,
Wiþ-outen eny worldes winne;
Saue a Clout, men beoþ al naked,
Whon deþ is comen I-cast þer-Inne.
Wiþ-outen eny worldes winne;
Saue a Clout, men beoþ al naked,
Whon deþ is comen I-cast þer-Inne.
Þe halle-Roof is cast ful lowe,
Þer beoþ none Chaumbres wyde;
Me may reche þe helewowe
And þe wal on vche a syde.
Þer beoþ none Chaumbres wyde;
Me may reche þe helewowe
And þe wal on vche a syde.
Heore bodies þat weoren so softe I-baþen
And I-brouȝt forþ wiþ Mete and drynk,
Þer hit schal crepe ful of Maþen—
In al þis world nis foulore stynk.
And I-brouȝt forþ wiþ Mete and drynk,
Þer hit schal crepe ful of Maþen—
In al þis world nis foulore stynk.
A Mon þat such a bodi seȝe
Whon wormes hit haþ þorw-souht,
He ouȝte wepe wiþ his eȝe
And euere haue him in his þouht.
Whon wormes hit haþ þorw-souht,
He ouȝte wepe wiþ his eȝe
And euere haue him in his þouht.
Þer nis non so luyte ne so muche
Þat is of fflesch, blod and bon,
Þat we ne schule ben alle suche,
Whon we ben huled vnder a ston.
Þat is of fflesch, blod and bon,
Þat we ne schule ben alle suche,
Whon we ben huled vnder a ston.
Hou may eny mon be proud
ffor eny þing þat he may gete,
Whon he is huled vnder a schroud,
Þat þing þat is wormes mete?
ffor eny þing þat he may gete,
Whon he is huled vnder a schroud,
Þat þing þat is wormes mete?
Þat þing þat is vr moste fo,
Þerfore we don a gret folye
To loue þat þing þat doþ vs wo,
And eke vr dedliche enemye.
Þerfore we don a gret folye
To loue þat þing þat doþ vs wo,
And eke vr dedliche enemye.
Ȝif a Mon may libben heer
As longe as dude Matussale—
Niȝene hundred & nyne & sixti ȝer
So longe on eorþe liuede he—
As longe as dude Matussale—
Niȝene hundred & nyne & sixti ȝer
So longe on eorþe liuede he—
448
Þat nis not also muche tyme
Aȝeynes þe tyme þat comeþ afterward
As fro þe sonne-rysing to prime—
To sunfol men þat is ful hard.
Aȝeynes þe tyme þat comeþ afterward
As fro þe sonne-rysing to prime—
To sunfol men þat is ful hard.
Þat I schal seye nou takeþ kepe,
I drawe to witnesse seynt Austyn:
Þat a Mon schal more wepe
Þat dampned is to helle-pyn,
I drawe to witnesse seynt Austyn:
Þat a Mon schal more wepe
Þat dampned is to helle-pyn,
Þen is water vnder þe sonne,
And he wepe vche day a ter.
Auiseþ ow now, ȝif þat ȝe cunne,
And doþ þat ȝe ne come not þer!
And he wepe vche day a ter.
Auiseþ ow now, ȝif þat ȝe cunne,
And doþ þat ȝe ne come not þer!
A Mon þat dampned is to helle,
His peyne may not ben for-bouȝt,
Ac endeles he schal þer dwelle;
Almes-dede helpeþ him nouht.
His peyne may not ben for-bouȝt,
Ac endeles he schal þer dwelle;
Almes-dede helpeþ him nouht.
Þei alle men þat libbeþ nouþe
Weore prestes Masses to synge,
And duden al þat þei euer couþe,
Ne scholden him of pyne bringe.
Weore prestes Masses to synge,
And duden al þat þei euer couþe,
Ne scholden him of pyne bringe.
Þat ilke soule þat is dryuen
Wiþ fendes in atte helle-ȝate,
And his Iuggement be him ȝiuen,
To bidde Merci hit is to late.
Wiþ fendes in atte helle-ȝate,
And his Iuggement be him ȝiuen,
To bidde Merci hit is to late.
Heuene hit is vre heritage,
To vre bihoue hit is diht,
[Ȝif] we han do feute and homage
To vre lord, as hit is riht.
To vre bihoue hit is diht,
[Ȝif] we han do feute and homage
To vre lord, as hit is riht.
Synful mon, ȝif þat he falleþ,
A-Rys vp and mak þi pees,
And cum to crist, whon þat he calleþ
To Ioye þat is endeles.
A-Rys vp and mak þi pees,
And cum to crist, whon þat he calleþ
To Ioye þat is endeles.
He þat is al-mihti kyng,
Þat heiȝe sitteþ In Trinite,
Graunt vs alle his blessyng,
AMEN AMEN par charite.
Þat heiȝe sitteþ In Trinite,
Graunt vs alle his blessyng,
AMEN AMEN par charite.
| [Poems from the Vernon MS] | |