The Legend of the Holy Grail its Sources, Character and Development, by Dorothy Kempe. The introduction to, and Part V of, Herry Lovelich's verse "History of the Holy Grail," |
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| XLIX. | CHAPTER XLIX. OF JOSEPH'S ADVENTURES, AND HOW HE BRINGS A DEAD MAN BACK TO LIFE. |
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 | CHAPTER XLIX. OF JOSEPH'S ADVENTURES, AND HOW HE BRINGS A DEAD MAN BACK TO LIFE. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XLIX. OF JOSEPH'S ADVENTURES, AND HOW HE BRINGS A DEAD MAN BACK TO LIFE.
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Whiles they spoken Of this Mattere,
Iosephe to his sone Iosephes seide there,
“Swich a talent Is comen to Me
that I moste gon Into Anothir Contre,
thedyr As God me wele lede,
and there I hope ful wel to spede;
and to ȝow schal I Retornen ageyn
as hastely as I may, In Certayn.”
Iosephe to his sone Iosephes seide there,
“Swich a talent Is comen to Me
that I moste gon Into Anothir Contre,
thedyr As God me wele lede,
and there I hope ful wel to spede;
and to ȝow schal I Retornen ageyn
as hastely as I may, In Certayn.”
Thanne Iosephe from hem departed Anon,
and his weye forth gan he to gon,
as it happede vppon A fryday
To the forest Of Brooklond he took þe way.
and as he walkede In that forest
he say A sarrazin that was ful prest;
vppon An hy hors he gan ryde,
And Salwed Iosephe that ylke tyde.
and his weye forth gan he to gon,
as it happede vppon A fryday
To the forest Of Brooklond he took þe way.
and as he walkede In that forest
he say A sarrazin that was ful prest;
vppon An hy hors he gan ryde,
And Salwed Iosephe that ylke tyde.
& a while to-gederis they hadden gon,
thanne Axede the Sarrazin Of Iosephe Anon
‘Of what Contre that he was,
and where he was born, and what plas.’
“Sire, I Am Of Armathie, In Certein,
and thus I walk In Many A pleyn.”
“how Come þou here,” quod þe Sarrazin thanne.
“Sire, be hym that mochel good kanne,
that ladde the Children of Israel
thorw þe Rede se bothe drye & wel:
he Into this Contre hath me browht,
whiche þat knoweth Eche Mannes thouht.”
“What Maner Of Mester Man Art thou?”
“Sire, I am A leche, I telle ȝow now.”
“A leche,” quod the Sarrazin tho,
“Canst þou Ony leche-craft do?”
“ȝe, sire, quod Iosephe In Certein;
I can helen Alle woundes pleyn.”
“thanne with me schalt þou gon this tyde
vnto my Castel here besyde;
there haue I A brothir bothe sik & sore,
that sore I-wondid lith he thore,
and al this ȝer there hath Sik I-be
Of A wounde In his hed sekerle.
ȝit Cowde I neuere fynde leche Non
That him Ony Recur Cowde don.”
“In the Name of god, quod Iosephe tho,
and he aftir me wil do,
and beleven that I wyl say,
he schal ben holpen with-Inne schort day:
Onlych thorwh my goddis Myht
I schal hym keueren Anon Ryht.”
“Of wheche god? quod the Sarrazine;
we han foure Goddis, bothe goode & fyne,
Mahownd and TErmagaunt, goddis so fin;
Anothir hihte Iubiter and Appolyn,
and non Of these him helpe Conne do;
How Cowdest þou thanne helpen him so,
and be wheche God Of Alle these fowre
Cowdest þou my brothir don socowre.”
“be non Of these fowre, quod Iosephe tho,
Cowde I neuere thy brothir Socowr do;
for here myht may nowht availle
him to helpen with-Owten faille;
and þerfore disceyved art þou wel Clene
ȝif Ony socour In hem thou wene.”
“That am I not, quod the Sarrazin, certeinly,
For they ben Goddis Endelesly.”
thanne Axede the Sarrazin Of Iosephe Anon
‘Of what Contre that he was,
and where he was born, and what plas.’
“Sire, I Am Of Armathie, In Certein,
and thus I walk In Many A pleyn.”
229
“Sire, be hym that mochel good kanne,
that ladde the Children of Israel
thorw þe Rede se bothe drye & wel:
he Into this Contre hath me browht,
whiche þat knoweth Eche Mannes thouht.”
“What Maner Of Mester Man Art thou?”
“Sire, I am A leche, I telle ȝow now.”
“A leche,” quod the Sarrazin tho,
“Canst þou Ony leche-craft do?”
“ȝe, sire, quod Iosephe In Certein;
I can helen Alle woundes pleyn.”
“thanne with me schalt þou gon this tyde
vnto my Castel here besyde;
there haue I A brothir bothe sik & sore,
that sore I-wondid lith he thore,
and al this ȝer there hath Sik I-be
Of A wounde In his hed sekerle.
ȝit Cowde I neuere fynde leche Non
That him Ony Recur Cowde don.”
“In the Name of god, quod Iosephe tho,
and he aftir me wil do,
and beleven that I wyl say,
he schal ben holpen with-Inne schort day:
Onlych thorwh my goddis Myht
I schal hym keueren Anon Ryht.”
“Of wheche god? quod the Sarrazine;
we han foure Goddis, bothe goode & fyne,
Mahownd and TErmagaunt, goddis so fin;
Anothir hihte Iubiter and Appolyn,
and non Of these him helpe Conne do;
How Cowdest þou thanne helpen him so,
and be wheche God Of Alle these fowre
Cowdest þou my brothir don socowre.”
“be non Of these fowre, quod Iosephe tho,
Cowde I neuere thy brothir Socowr do;
230
him to helpen with-Owten faille;
and þerfore disceyved art þou wel Clene
ȝif Ony socour In hem thou wene.”
“That am I not, quod the Sarrazin, certeinly,
For they ben Goddis Endelesly.”
Whanne Iosephe herde the Sarrazine so speke,
Anon to hym thanne he gan Reke,
and seide “wheche goddis ben now tho
that sweche Maistries Connen do?
thi Goddis ben Mad with Mannes hand,
I do the wel to vndirstand:
Non more power hauen they Ouer the
thanne thow Ouer hem, ful sekerle.”
“ȝis, quod þe Sarrazin, In Certein
My goddis ben Of power ful pleyn,
Not Only be here Owne fegure,
but after hem þat ben Mad, I the Enswre;
For I wot wel the ymages Mown not do,
but they wheche aftir they ben Mad so
Mown helpe and Socouren Every Man,
Sikerly, Sere, I telle the Can,
So Every God aftyr his ymage
Socoureth the peple that ben Of Age.”
Anon to hym thanne he gan Reke,
and seide “wheche goddis ben now tho
that sweche Maistries Connen do?
thi Goddis ben Mad with Mannes hand,
I do the wel to vndirstand:
Non more power hauen they Ouer the
thanne thow Ouer hem, ful sekerle.”
“ȝis, quod þe Sarrazin, In Certein
My goddis ben Of power ful pleyn,
Not Only be here Owne fegure,
but after hem þat ben Mad, I the Enswre;
For I wot wel the ymages Mown not do,
but they wheche aftir they ben Mad so
Mown helpe and Socouren Every Man,
Sikerly, Sere, I telle the Can,
So Every God aftyr his ymage
Socoureth the peple that ben Of Age.”
“In the Name of God, quod Iosephe tho,
and with the to thy Castel do me go,
I schal the schewen al and som
that Alle they han power non,
Nethir to Meven neþer to Go,
Ne thy broþer to helpe neuer the mo;
and therfore deseyved ful Clene Art thou
that so in hem belevest now.”
“Wel Anon, quod the Sarrazyn thanne,
be myn hed, As I am A trewe Manne,
and thou hast mad me Ony lyenge,
thou schalt be ded with-Owten taryeng.”
and with the to thy Castel do me go,
I schal the schewen al and som
that Alle they han power non,
Nethir to Meven neþer to Go,
Ne thy broþer to helpe neuer the mo;
and therfore deseyved ful Clene Art thou
that so in hem belevest now.”
“Wel Anon, quod the Sarrazyn thanne,
be myn hed, As I am A trewe Manne,
and thou hast mad me Ony lyenge,
thou schalt be ded with-Owten taryeng.”
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Thus to-gederis forth they wente
al that Morwenyng veramente
til It were the Owr Of þe Midday.
Atte the laste that Castel he say;
ful hye vppon A Mownteyn
that Castel þere stood In Certeyn;
‘the Castel Of Roch’ I-Called it was,
ful wel walled In Every plas,
and therto þe diches depe Inowh,
deppere Abowtes A Castel neuere man ne sawh.
al that Morwenyng veramente
til It were the Owr Of þe Midday.
Atte the laste that Castel he say;
ful hye vppon A Mownteyn
that Castel þere stood In Certeyn;
‘the Castel Of Roch’ I-Called it was,
ful wel walled In Every plas,
and therto þe diches depe Inowh,
deppere Abowtes A Castel neuere man ne sawh.
whanne Iosephe and the Sarrazin Entred were,
Anon A wylde lyown Metten they there,
and to that Sarrazin he went Anone,
and Of his hors pulde him thus sone,
and there him strangeleden with-Owten dowte
For Alle his Meyne that stood Abowte.
and whanne they Syen here lord so ded,
Mochel sorwe they Maden in that sted.
Anon A wylde lyown Metten they there,
and to that Sarrazin he went Anone,
and Of his hors pulde him thus sone,
and there him strangeleden with-Owten dowte
For Alle his Meyne that stood Abowte.
and whanne they Syen here lord so ded,
Mochel sorwe they Maden in that sted.
thanne tooken they Iosephe there Anon,
and to preson ladden hym thus son,
and þerto his handes Ibownden him behynde:
thus diden the Sarrazines so fals & vnkynde.
and Anon the false Stewarde
with his swerd smot Iosephe ful harde
Into the thygh a ful gret wownde,
that his swerd to-brak In that stownde;
So that half þe swerd lefte In his thygh,
the wheche to-broken was þere trewly.
Thus with Iosephe ferden they there
wel falsly In here Manere.
and to preson ladden hym thus son,
and þerto his handes Ibownden him behynde:
thus diden the Sarrazines so fals & vnkynde.
and Anon the false Stewarde
with his swerd smot Iosephe ful harde
Into the thygh a ful gret wownde,
that his swerd to-brak In that stownde;
So that half þe swerd lefte In his thygh,
the wheche to-broken was þere trewly.
Thus with Iosephe ferden they there
wel falsly In here Manere.
thanne seide Iosephe to hem tho,
“Sires, why faren ȝe with me so?”
“For we ne haven non Other Encheson,”
thus they seiden to him Echon.
“and whedir thinken ȝe me to lede?”
“Into A place þere thou shalt be dede.”
“Sires, why faren ȝe with me so?”
“For we ne haven non Other Encheson,”
thus they seiden to him Echon.
“and whedir thinken ȝe me to lede?”
“Into A place þere thou shalt be dede.”
232
“Ha, Sires, quod Iosephe tho,
whanne In presown ȝe han me do,
Alle the sike Of the Castel bringeth to Me,
And I schal hem helen ful sekerle.”
“what Artow thanne, quod they, A leche?”
“ȝe, Sire, he seide with schort speche,
I schal hem helen full Certeynle
ȝif that they welen beleven On Me.”
thanne browhten they þere lordis broþer In þat sted,
that sore was wownded In the hed,
that non leche to-foren helen Myhte.
and whanne that he Cam In Iosepis (sic) Syhte,
thanne Axede him Iosephe riht anon,
how fern his hurt was Agon.
he seide ‘more thanne An hol ȝer;’
thus gan he tellen to Iosephe ther;
“and ȝif that ȝe to me Conne do socowr,
I schal ȝow Maken A man Of gret honour.”
whanne In presown ȝe han me do,
Alle the sike Of the Castel bringeth to Me,
And I schal hem helen ful sekerle.”
“what Artow thanne, quod they, A leche?”
“ȝe, Sire, he seide with schort speche,
I schal hem helen full Certeynle
ȝif that they welen beleven On Me.”
thanne browhten they þere lordis broþer In þat sted,
that sore was wownded In the hed,
that non leche to-foren helen Myhte.
and whanne that he Cam In Iosepis (sic) Syhte,
thanne Axede him Iosephe riht anon,
how fern his hurt was Agon.
he seide ‘more thanne An hol ȝer;’
thus gan he tellen to Iosephe ther;
“and ȝif that ȝe to me Conne do socowr,
I schal ȝow Maken A man Of gret honour.”
thanne Iosephe gan to lawhen Anon
Afore the sarrazines Everichon,
“how myhtest þou A Riche man Maken Me?
thou Nart but pore In alle degre.”
“ȝis, that I haue, quod the sarrazin Agein,
plente Of gold & Sulver In Certeyn;
and therto Manye stones ful precious,
and manye Riche Clothes, and delicious.”
“Nay, quod Iosephe, this Richesse is nowht,
and that schalt þou wel knowen In thy thowht;
For I wolde weten now Of the,
thowh thou haue Richesse so gret plente,
and ley it to-forn the both tope an taille,
& let se what it can the Avaylle.”
“Certes, quod the Sarrazin ful snelle,
þer-Offen soth thou dost me telle.”
“thar myhtest þou se, quod Iosephe thanne,
that thou Nart but A pore Manne,
For In this world Is tresour non swich
that Maketh A man half so Riche
As doth helthe, I telle it the;
how thinketh þe, sire, telle þou Me?
for Sethen that be Richesse hele might þou not have,
therfore aftir helthe that thou do Crave.”
“that wolde I fayn, quod the Sarrazin tho,
and I wyste how Evere to do.”
“In the Name Of God, quod Iosephe thanne,
I wele the techen now as [I] Canne.”
“Telle me how, quod the Sarrazin,
and I wele it don wel and fyn.”
“ȝif thou wilt On god beleve,
To Alle helthe thanne schalt þou preve.”
“In God, quod the Sarrazin Agein,
I beleve ful wel In Certeyn,
and Not Only Oppon On lord,
but On Alle my Goddis with On Acord.”
“In fowre goddis, quod Iosephe ful hastile;
whiche foure ben tho, telle thou me?”
“that schal I do, quod the Sarrazin Agein,
Mahownd and Iubiter Certein,
Appolyn And Ek Termagawnt,
these fowre Goddis holiche ich hawnt.”
Afore the sarrazines Everichon,
“how myhtest þou A Riche man Maken Me?
thou Nart but pore In alle degre.”
“ȝis, that I haue, quod the sarrazin Agein,
plente Of gold & Sulver In Certeyn;
and therto Manye stones ful precious,
and manye Riche Clothes, and delicious.”
“Nay, quod Iosephe, this Richesse is nowht,
and that schalt þou wel knowen In thy thowht;
For I wolde weten now Of the,
thowh thou haue Richesse so gret plente,
and ley it to-forn the both tope an taille,
& let se what it can the Avaylle.”
“Certes, quod the Sarrazin ful snelle,
þer-Offen soth thou dost me telle.”
“thar myhtest þou se, quod Iosephe thanne,
that thou Nart but A pore Manne,
233
that Maketh A man half so Riche
As doth helthe, I telle it the;
how thinketh þe, sire, telle þou Me?
for Sethen that be Richesse hele might þou not have,
therfore aftir helthe that thou do Crave.”
“that wolde I fayn, quod the Sarrazin tho,
and I wyste how Evere to do.”
“In the Name Of God, quod Iosephe thanne,
I wele the techen now as [I] Canne.”
“Telle me how, quod the Sarrazin,
and I wele it don wel and fyn.”
“ȝif thou wilt On god beleve,
To Alle helthe thanne schalt þou preve.”
“In God, quod the Sarrazin Agein,
I beleve ful wel In Certeyn,
and Not Only Oppon On lord,
but On Alle my Goddis with On Acord.”
“In fowre goddis, quod Iosephe ful hastile;
whiche foure ben tho, telle thou me?”
“that schal I do, quod the Sarrazin Agein,
Mahownd and Iubiter Certein,
Appolyn And Ek Termagawnt,
these fowre Goddis holiche ich hawnt.”
Anon Iosephe to him spak thanne,
and seid, “thou art the more Folisch Manne;
For these goddis that þou belevest vppon,
Nether helthe ne bote mown don the non,
Neþer to non Oþer Creature,
ful sekerly I the Ensure,
And that schal I proven the here Anon.”
“let se,” quod þe Sarrazin, that it were don.”
“Take ȝe that dede body Anon,
and tofore ȝoure Goddis ȝe him don;
and ȝif that to lyve he rere him Ageyn
thanne ben they myhty In Certein;
and ȝif that they Mown not don so,
Elles ben they false for Evere mo,
and thou to blame for thy beleve.
haveth do; let se Anon this ȝe preve.”
“Trewly, quod þe Sarrazin thanne,
that herde I neuere speken Of non Manne;
that Ony God myhte do,
from deth to lyve a man bringen so;
ȝit Neuertheles Asayen scholen we
to fulfillen thy wil ful Sekerle.”
and seid, “thou art the more Folisch Manne;
For these goddis that þou belevest vppon,
Nether helthe ne bote mown don the non,
Neþer to non Oþer Creature,
ful sekerly I the Ensure,
And that schal I proven the here Anon.”
“let se,” quod þe Sarrazin, that it were don.”
“Take ȝe that dede body Anon,
and tofore ȝoure Goddis ȝe him don;
and ȝif that to lyve he rere him Ageyn
thanne ben they myhty In Certein;
234
Elles ben they false for Evere mo,
and thou to blame for thy beleve.
haveth do; let se Anon this ȝe preve.”
“Trewly, quod þe Sarrazin thanne,
that herde I neuere speken Of non Manne;
that Ony God myhte do,
from deth to lyve a man bringen so;
ȝit Neuertheles Asayen scholen we
to fulfillen thy wil ful Sekerle.”
Thanne let this Sarrazin Iosephe vnbynde
his hondis that bownden weren behinde,
but Of his hurt non thing he ne wyste
that þe steward him hadde so thryste
Into the hype with his swerd,
where-Offen he was non thing Aferd.
and whanne the Sarrazines thus hadden I-do,
here lord to-forn here goddis [they] browht tho;
Everichon they knelede A down,
and preiden to Iubiter And Mahown.
his hondis that bownden weren behinde,
but Of his hurt non thing he ne wyste
that þe steward him hadde so thryste
Into the hype with his swerd,
where-Offen he was non thing Aferd.
and whanne the Sarrazines thus hadden I-do,
here lord to-forn here goddis [they] browht tho;
Everichon they knelede A down,
and preiden to Iubiter And Mahown.
whanne thus longe hadden they preid there
and Of his lif weren neuere the Nere,
thanne Iosephe Gan hem Ascrien Anon,
“ha! ȝe Cursed peple Everychon!
why worschepen ȝe so this Mawmetrye
that nowht ne may Availlen Sekerlye?
weten ȝe not wel they mown not Go,
Ne speken ne Meven Neuere the Mo;
behold how fairre this ded Man here
Riseth ther vpe for Alle ȝoure preyere!”
and Of his lif weren neuere the Nere,
thanne Iosephe Gan hem Ascrien Anon,
“ha! ȝe Cursed peple Everychon!
why worschepen ȝe so this Mawmetrye
that nowht ne may Availlen Sekerlye?
weten ȝe not wel they mown not Go,
Ne speken ne Meven Neuere the Mo;
behold how fairre this ded Man here
Riseth ther vpe for Alle ȝoure preyere!”
Thanne Iosephe knelid þere down Anone,
And there to God he Made his bone,
“A thou Iesus God, ful myhty lord,
that hider me sentest be thin Owne Acord
thin holy Name forto declare
In Eche Contre and Every whare
Now, lord, herteliche I the preie
Openly forto declaren thy feye,
That thou Woldest here, lord, sche Wen thy Myht
Openly here In these paynemes siht,
this Caytevous peple that deceyved ben
thorwgh mysbeleve, lord, As ȝe wel sen.”
Thanne Anon Iosephe the Erthe gan kysse,
and vpwardis he dide hem dresse,
and seide, “lordinges, beholde ȝe here
Of ȝowre Goddis here the powere,
and here strenkthes Anon Ryht,
For they ben nethyr of power ne Myht.”
And there to God he Made his bone,
“A thou Iesus God, ful myhty lord,
that hider me sentest be thin Owne Acord
thin holy Name forto declare
In Eche Contre and Every whare
235
Openly forto declaren thy feye,
That thou Woldest here, lord, sche Wen thy Myht
Openly here In these paynemes siht,
this Caytevous peple that deceyved ben
thorwgh mysbeleve, lord, As ȝe wel sen.”
Thanne Anon Iosephe the Erthe gan kysse,
and vpwardis he dide hem dresse,
and seide, “lordinges, beholde ȝe here
Of ȝowre Goddis here the powere,
and here strenkthes Anon Ryht,
For they ben nethyr of power ne Myht.”
thus sone with-Inne A lytel spas
Iesus Crist þere schewede his gras;
for þere the hevene Openede Anon,
and As sparkelis Of fyr þere Owt gonne gon,
and þe Erthe be-gan to qwake,
and Al the firmament to wexen blake;
So that the Sarrazines Everichon
wenden to han deid there Anon.
thanne Cam there thondir & lyhteneng A-down,
and brenden Alle tho ymages In virown;
and ek hem On smale peces to-brak,
& so they stonken with-owten lak,
that alle they thowhten ded they were
For þe grete stench they felten there;
Except Iosephe there Only,
Alle ouercomen they weren Sekerly.
And whanne they were comen to memorie Ageyn,
Thanne Iosephe In this Maner gan seyn,
“Now the sothe here mown ȝe se,
what myhtes ȝoure goddis han sekerle,
For there Nis non may helpen Othir,
Nethir non Of Al this fothyr;
and lik As brend here they be,
So scholen ȝe Alle ful sekerle;
but ȝif ȝe tornen ȝowre CreAunce,
Elles to ȝow schal Comen Mischaunce.”
Iesus Crist þere schewede his gras;
for þere the hevene Openede Anon,
and As sparkelis Of fyr þere Owt gonne gon,
and þe Erthe be-gan to qwake,
and Al the firmament to wexen blake;
So that the Sarrazines Everichon
wenden to han deid there Anon.
thanne Cam there thondir & lyhteneng A-down,
and brenden Alle tho ymages In virown;
and ek hem On smale peces to-brak,
& so they stonken with-owten lak,
that alle they thowhten ded they were
For þe grete stench they felten there;
Except Iosephe there Only,
Alle ouercomen they weren Sekerly.
And whanne they were comen to memorie Ageyn,
Thanne Iosephe In this Maner gan seyn,
“Now the sothe here mown ȝe se,
what myhtes ȝoure goddis han sekerle,
For there Nis non may helpen Othir,
Nethir non Of Al this fothyr;
and lik As brend here they be,
So scholen ȝe Alle ful sekerle;
236
Elles to ȝow schal Comen Mischaunce.”
Thanne seide he that hurt was,
to Iosephe, there in that plas,
“Sire, he seide, how hyhtest thou?”
“Sire, quod he, Iosephe am I clepid now.”
“what, art þou not a sarrazin thanne?”
“No, quod Iosephe, I am A Cristene manne,
and beleve On fadir, sone, and holy gost,
wheche is but On god of mytes most.”
“thanne, quod this Mathegrans þe sarrazin, tho,
In thre Goddis thou belevest Also?”
“Nay, quod Iosephe, that may not be,
For but On god they ben Alle thre;
And þerto so myhty and so ful of powste
that the dede to lyve Areren welen he,
and ek, Alle tho that false be,
Trewe he kan maken hem sekerle;
and there Nis sinnere non so gret
that he ne wile hem Clensen As sket,
and As myhty god he wile him preve,
To Alle tho that On him beleve;
for wel mown ȝe sen be ȝoure goddis here,
that he is lord Of so gret powere.”
“Sertes, quod Mathegrans thanne,
Sire, I hold the for a trewe Manne,
and ȝif he my brothir to lif wele bringe,
I sey ȝou, Iosephe, with-owten lesinge,
I schal neuere On Oþer god beleve,
but Only On him, and þou this preve.”
to Iosephe, there in that plas,
“Sire, he seide, how hyhtest thou?”
“Sire, quod he, Iosephe am I clepid now.”
“what, art þou not a sarrazin thanne?”
“No, quod Iosephe, I am A Cristene manne,
and beleve On fadir, sone, and holy gost,
wheche is but On god of mytes most.”
“thanne, quod this Mathegrans þe sarrazin, tho,
In thre Goddis thou belevest Also?”
“Nay, quod Iosephe, that may not be,
For but On god they ben Alle thre;
And þerto so myhty and so ful of powste
that the dede to lyve Areren welen he,
and ek, Alle tho that false be,
Trewe he kan maken hem sekerle;
and there Nis sinnere non so gret
that he ne wile hem Clensen As sket,
and As myhty god he wile him preve,
To Alle tho that On him beleve;
for wel mown ȝe sen be ȝoure goddis here,
that he is lord Of so gret powere.”
“Sertes, quod Mathegrans thanne,
Sire, I hold the for a trewe Manne,
and ȝif he my brothir to lif wele bringe,
I sey ȝou, Iosephe, with-owten lesinge,
I schal neuere On Oþer god beleve,
but Only On him, and þou this preve.”
And whanne Iosephe herde him so say,
a ful glad Man he was that day;
Anon to the Erthe he knelyde Adown,
and there he made his Orysown:
“O thou God that Alle things wrowhte,
And Al this world thou Madest Of Nowhte,
The sonne, the Mone, and the fowre Elemens,
and Of A virgine to be born with-Owten Offens,
and Sethen On Croys I-don thow were,
and there-vppon I-stongen with a spere,
that so suffredist þou tormentes Manye & felle,
thy peple to beggen Owt Of helle;
and thanne from deth to lyve þou Ryse Ageyn
Of thin Owne Myht, Lord, In Certeyn:
So worththily, goode lorde, schewe Miracle here,
thorwgh thy myht this dede man to Arere,
that Al this peple here, lord, May se
thy werkyng and thin dignete.”
a ful glad Man he was that day;
Anon to the Erthe he knelyde Adown,
and there he made his Orysown:
“O thou God that Alle things wrowhte,
And Al this world thou Madest Of Nowhte,
237
and Of A virgine to be born with-Owten Offens,
and Sethen On Croys I-don thow were,
and there-vppon I-stongen with a spere,
that so suffredist þou tormentes Manye & felle,
thy peple to beggen Owt Of helle;
and thanne from deth to lyve þou Ryse Ageyn
Of thin Owne Myht, Lord, In Certeyn:
So worththily, goode lorde, schewe Miracle here,
thorwgh thy myht this dede man to Arere,
that Al this peple here, lord, May se
thy werkyng and thin dignete.”
Thanne Iosephe gan him vpe forto dresse,
and not longe After, with-Owten les,
the dede Aȝen to lyve he Ros,
and After to Iosephe Anon he gos,
and knelid A-down and kyste his feet
Aforn hem Alle, and not ne leet,
and seide to hym Aftyr his Owne lyst,
“welcome, seriawnt Of Iesu Crist,
that God Of the Croys thou took A-down,”
(thus he seide with A gret Sown,)
“that God Amonges vs the hath sent
vs for to Cristene verament,
to bryngen vs Owt of Endeles peyne,
therfore Art thou Comen In Certeyne.”
and not longe After, with-Owten les,
the dede Aȝen to lyve he Ros,
and After to Iosephe Anon he gos,
and knelid A-down and kyste his feet
Aforn hem Alle, and not ne leet,
and seide to hym Aftyr his Owne lyst,
“welcome, seriawnt Of Iesu Crist,
that God Of the Croys thou took A-down,”
(thus he seide with A gret Sown,)
“that God Amonges vs the hath sent
vs for to Cristene verament,
to bryngen vs Owt of Endeles peyne,
therfore Art thou Comen In Certeyne.”
whanne Iosephe sawh hym so Aryse,
he Made to God A worthy sacryfise,
and wepe for Ioye and for pyte,
that Alle the peple there myhte it se;
And seide to hem that Abowtes him were,
“Now mow ȝe wel knowen and sen here
that he is God Evere pereles,
and Of Alle bowntes he doth not ses.”
“Now forsothe, quod Mathegrans tho,
It Is ful trewe thou seist me to,
for Neuere hens forward I ne schal Certeyn
On non oþer God to beleven ful pleyn;
For now knowe I wel that my brothir Argon
from deth to lyve here he is I-gon
Onleche thorwh thy goddis powere;
For now knowe I God with-Owten pere.”
he Made to God A worthy sacryfise,
and wepe for Ioye and for pyte,
that Alle the peple there myhte it se;
And seide to hem that Abowtes him were,
“Now mow ȝe wel knowen and sen here
that he is God Evere pereles,
and Of Alle bowntes he doth not ses.”
“Now forsothe, quod Mathegrans tho,
It Is ful trewe thou seist me to,
238
On non oþer God to beleven ful pleyn;
For now knowe I wel that my brothir Argon
from deth to lyve here he is I-gon
Onleche thorwh thy goddis powere;
For now knowe I God with-Owten pere.”
Thanne Alle the Meyne that In þe Castel were,
anon to Iosephe On knes fillen there,
And with lowd voys Alle gonnen they Crye,
“lord Iosephe, On vs thou haue Mercye!
Of Oure Misbeleve And Miscreaunce,
Goode lord, On vs þou take non veniaunce,
and Neuere forward from this day
we scholen werken Aȝens thyn lay;
þerfore, good Iosephe, so wisse vs here,
and we it scholen fulfille In Alle Manere.”
Thus they of the Castel Everichon
weren there Christened forsothe Anon.
anon to Iosephe On knes fillen there,
And with lowd voys Alle gonnen they Crye,
“lord Iosephe, On vs thou haue Mercye!
Of Oure Misbeleve And Miscreaunce,
Goode lord, On vs þou take non veniaunce,
and Neuere forward from this day
we scholen werken Aȝens thyn lay;
þerfore, good Iosephe, so wisse vs here,
and we it scholen fulfille In Alle Manere.”
Thus they of the Castel Everichon
weren there Christened forsothe Anon.
whanne þe steward beheld Al this there,
that so hadde hurt Iosephe In swich Manere,
Openliche there he it be-knewe,
And ful sore þere-Offen gan he rewe,
And how the swerd In him broken was,
And the halfendel lefte In that plas,
& þe Remenaunt scholen ȝe þere fynde
In his hype with-Owten lesynge.
Thanne this Mathegrans Dyde serchen Anon,
and in his hype they it fownden thus son,
“A, Sire, quod Mathegrans, telle thou Me
how of this hort helid scholen ȝe be.”
“wel, quod Iosephe, be goddis help Certeinle;
but ferst of ȝoure wounde hely[d] Scholen ȝe be.”
that so hadde hurt Iosephe In swich Manere,
Openliche there he it be-knewe,
And ful sore þere-Offen gan he rewe,
And how the swerd In him broken was,
And the halfendel lefte In that plas,
& þe Remenaunt scholen ȝe þere fynde
In his hype with-Owten lesynge.
Thanne this Mathegrans Dyde serchen Anon,
and in his hype they it fownden thus son,
“A, Sire, quod Mathegrans, telle thou Me
how of this hort helid scholen ȝe be.”
“wel, quod Iosephe, be goddis help Certeinle;
but ferst of ȝoure wounde hely[d] Scholen ȝe be.”
thanne the Remenaunt of þe swerd he let bringen Anon,
and to Mathagrans wounde leide it thus son;
thanne thussone I-helid he was
Aforn that peple thoruh goddis Gras.
thanne leidde he þat swerd to his Owne wonde;
the poynt thus sone Owt Cam In A stownde,
More whittere, more fair, and More Cler
An hundred part thanne it was Er;
Not A drope Of Blood ne was there On,
and that they Syen Every-chon,
as thowh neuere In the flesch it hadde be,
where-offen the Merveilleden ful sekerle.
and to Mathagrans wounde leide it thus son;
thanne thussone I-helid he was
Aforn that peple thoruh goddis Gras.
239
the poynt thus sone Owt Cam In A stownde,
More whittere, more fair, and More Cler
An hundred part thanne it was Er;
Not A drope Of Blood ne was there On,
and that they Syen Every-chon,
as thowh neuere In the flesch it hadde be,
where-offen the Merveilleden ful sekerle.
Of this, gret wondir gonne they Make;
thanne Iosephe the swerd On honde gan take;
“ha! swerd, neuere Ioyned to-gederis schalt þou be,
tyl Into his hondis thou Come ful sekerle,
that the Aventures of the seint Graal
To An Ende schal bringen hem Al;
and As sone as he þe taketh on honde
to-gederis schalt þou Ioyne thoruh goddis sonde;
for this Ende that In My flesch was,
Tyl that tyme schal neuere Comen In plas.”
thanne Iosephe the swerd On honde gan take;
“ha! swerd, neuere Ioyned to-gederis schalt þou be,
tyl Into his hondis thou Come ful sekerle,
that the Aventures of the seint Graal
To An Ende schal bringen hem Al;
and As sone as he þe taketh on honde
to-gederis schalt þou Ioyne thoruh goddis sonde;
for this Ende that In My flesch was,
Tyl that tyme schal neuere Comen In plas.”
Thus Iosephe with the swerd there wrowhte;
and ful faste to him thanne they sowhte,
so that Cristened the weren Everichon
Al so faste renneng As they myhten gon.
And Agrons, viij dayes aftyr levede he
Among that peple ful Certeinle.
thanne whanne Iosephe scholde go,
the swerd he betook hem tho,
and they it kepte In Cherte,
and gret worschepe it dide that Meyne.
and ful faste to him thanne they sowhte,
so that Cristened the weren Everichon
Al so faste renneng As they myhten gon.
And Agrons, viij dayes aftyr levede he
Among that peple ful Certeinle.
thanne whanne Iosephe scholde go,
the swerd he betook hem tho,
and they it kepte In Cherte,
and gret worschepe it dide that Meyne.
| CHAPTER XLIX. OF JOSEPH'S ADVENTURES, AND HOW HE BRINGS A DEAD MAN BACK TO LIFE. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |