 | Mankind |  |
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SCENE I
MERCY.
The very fownder and begynner of owr fyrst creacyon
Amonge ws synfull wrechys he oweth to be magnyfyede,
Þat for owr dysobedyenc he hade non indygnacyon
To sende hys own son to be torn and crucyfyede.
Owr obsequyouse seruyce to hym xulde be aplyede,
Where he was lorde of all and made all thynge of nought,
For þe synnfull synnere to hade hym revyuyde
And for hys redempcyon sett hys own son at nought.
Amonge ws synfull wrechys he oweth to be magnyfyede,
Þat for owr dysobedyenc he hade non indygnacyon
To sende hys own son to be torn and crucyfyede.
Owr obsequyouse seruyce to hym xulde be aplyede,
Where he was lorde of all and made all thynge of nought,
For þe synnfull synnere to hade hym revyuyde
And for hys redempcyon sett hys own son at nought.
Yt may be seyde and veryfyede, mankynde was dere bought.
By þe pytuose deth of Jhesu he hade hys remedye.
He was purgyde of hys defawte þat wrechydly hade wrought
By hys gloryus passyon, þat blyssyde lauatorye.
O souerence, I beseche yow yowr condycyons to rectyfye
Ande wyth humylite and reuerence to haue a remocyon
To þis blyssyde prynce þat owr nature doth gloryfye,
Þat ȝe may be partycypable of hys retribucyon.
By þe pytuose deth of Jhesu he hade hys remedye.
He was purgyde of hys defawte þat wrechydly hade wrought
By hys gloryus passyon, þat blyssyde lauatorye.
O souerence, I beseche yow yowr condycyons to rectyfye
Ande wyth humylite and reuerence to haue a remocyon
To þis blyssyde prynce þat owr nature doth gloryfye,
Þat ȝe may be partycypable of hys retribucyon.
I haue be þe very mene for yowr restytucyon.
Mercy ys my name, þat mornyth for yowr offence.
Dyverte not yowrsylffe in tyme of temtacyon,
Þat ȝe may be acceptable to Gode at yowr goyng hence.
Þe grett mercy of Gode, þat ys of most preemmynence,
Be medyacyon of Owr Lady þat ys euer habundante
To þe synfull creature þat wyll repent hys neclygence.
I prey Gode at yowr most nede þat mercy be yowr defendawnte.
Mercy ys my name, þat mornyth for yowr offence.
Dyverte not yowrsylffe in tyme of temtacyon,
Þat ȝe may be acceptable to Gode at yowr goyng hence.
Þe grett mercy of Gode, þat ys of most preemmynence,
Be medyacyon of Owr Lady þat ys euer habundante
To þe synfull creature þat wyll repent hys neclygence.
I prey Gode at yowr most nede þat mercy be yowr defendawnte.
In goode werkys I awyse yow, souerence, to be perseuerante
To puryfye yowr sowlys, þat þei be not corupte;
For yowr gostly enmy wyll make hys avaunte,
Yowr goode condycyons yf he may interrupte.
To puryfye yowr sowlys, þat þei be not corupte;
For yowr gostly enmy wyll make hys avaunte,
Yowr goode condycyons yf he may interrupte.
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O ȝe souerens þat sytt and ȝe brothern þat stonde ryght wppe,
Pryke not yowr felycytes in thyngys transytorye.
Beholde not þe erth, but lyfte yowr ey wppe.
Se how þe hede þe members dayly do magnyfye.
Who ys þe hede forsoth I xall yow certyfye:
I mene Owr Sauyowr, þat was lykynnyde to a lambe;
Ande hys sayntys be þe members þat dayly he doth satysfye
Wyth þe precyose reuer þat runnyth from hys wombe.
Pryke not yowr felycytes in thyngys transytorye.
Beholde not þe erth, but lyfte yowr ey wppe.
Se how þe hede þe members dayly do magnyfye.
Who ys þe hede forsoth I xall yow certyfye:
I mene Owr Sauyowr, þat was lykynnyde to a lambe;
Ande hys sayntys be þe members þat dayly he doth satysfye
Wyth þe precyose reuer þat runnyth from hys wombe.
Ther ys non such foode, be water nor by londe,
So precyouse, so gloryouse, so nedefull to owr entent,
For yt hath dyssoluyde mankynde from þe bytter bonde
Of þe mortall enmye, þat vemynousse serpente,
From þe wyche Gode preserue yow all at þe last jugement!
For sekyrly þer xall be a streyt examynacyon,
The corn xall be sauyde, þe chaffe xall be brente.
I besech yow hertyly, haue þis premedytacyon.
So precyouse, so gloryouse, so nedefull to owr entent,
For yt hath dyssoluyde mankynde from þe bytter bonde
Of þe mortall enmye, þat vemynousse serpente,
From þe wyche Gode preserue yow all at þe last jugement!
For sekyrly þer xall be a streyt examynacyon,
The corn xall be sauyde, þe chaffe xall be brente.
I besech yow hertyly, haue þis premedytacyon.
MYSCHEFFE.
I beseche yow hertyly, leue yowr calcacyon.
Leue yowr chaffe, leue yowr corn, leue yowr dalyacyon.
Yowr wytt ys lytyll, yowr hede ys mekyll, ȝe are full of predycacyon.
But, ser, I prey þis questyon to claryfye:
Mysse-masche, dryff-draff,
Sume was corn and sume was chaffe,
My dame seyde my name was Raffe;
Onschett yowr lokke and take an halpenye.
MERCY.
Why com ȝe hethyr, broþer? Ȝe were not dysyryde.
MYSCHEFF.
For a wynter corn-threscher, ser, I haue hyryde,
Ande ȝe sayde þe corn xulde be sauyde and þe chaff xulde be feryde,
Ande he prouyth nay, as yt schewth be þis werse:
‘Corn seruit bredibus, chaffe horsibus, straw fyrybusque.’
Thys ys as moche to say, to yowr leude wndyrstondynge,
As þe corn xall serue to brede at þe nexte bakynge.
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The chaff to horse xall be goode provente,
When a man ys forcolde þe straw may be brent,
And so forth, et cetera.
MERCY.
Avoyde, goode broþer! Ȝe ben culpable
To interrupte thus my talkyng delectable.
MYSCHEFF.
Ser, I haue noþer horse nor sadyll,
Therfor I may not ryde.
MERCY.
Hye yow forth on fote, brother, in Godys name!
MYSCHEFF.
I say, ser, I am cumme hedyr to make yow game.
Ȝet bade ȝe me not go out in þe Deullys name
Ande I wyll abyde.
[OMITTED]
NEW GYSE.
Ande how, mynstrellys, pley þe comyn trace!
Ley on wyth þi ballys tyll hys bely breste!
NOUGHT.
I putt case I breke my neke: how than?
NEW GYSE.
I gyff no force, by Sent Tanne!
NOWADAYS.
Leppe about lyuely! þou art a wyght man.
Lett ws be mery wyll we be here!
NOUGHT.
Xall I breke my neke to schew yow sporte?
NOWADAYS.
Therfor euer be ware of þi reporte.
NOUGHT.
I beschrew ye all! Her ys a schrewde sorte.
Haue þeratt þen wyth a mery chere!
Her þei daunce. MERCY seyth:
Do wey, do wey þis reull, sers! do wey!
NOWADAYS.
Do wey, goode Adam? do wey?
Thys ys no parte of þi pley.
NOUGHT.
Ȝys, mary, I prey yow, for I loue not þis rewelynge.
Cum forth, goode fader, I yow prey!
Be a lytyll ȝe may assay.
Anon of wyth yowr clothes, yf ȝe wyll play.
Go to! for I haue hade a praty scottlynge.
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Nay, brother, I wyll not daunce.
NEW GYSE.
Yf ȝe wyll, ser, my brother wyll make yow to prawnce.
NOWADAYS.
Wyth all my herte, ser, yf I may yow avaunce.
Ȝe may assay be a lytyll trace.
NOUGHT.
Ȝe, ser, wyll ȝe do well,
Trace not wyth þem, be my cownsell,
For I haue tracyed sumwhat to fell;
I tell yt ys a narow space.
Trace not wyth þem, be my cownsell,
For I haue tracyed sumwhat to fell;
I tell yt ys a narow space.
But, ser, I trow of ws thre I herde yow speke.
NEW GYSE.
Crystys curse hade þerfor, for I was in slepe.
NOWADAYS.
And I hade þe cuppe in my honde, redy to goo to met.
Therfor, ser, curtly, grett yow well.
MERCY.
Few wordys, few and well sett!
NEW GYSE.
Ser, yt ys þe new gyse and þe new jett.
Many wordys and schortely sett,
Thys ys þe new gyse, euery-dele.
MERCY.
Lady, helpe! how wrechys delyte in þer synfull weys!
NOWADAYS.
Say not ageyn þe new gyse nowadays!
Þou xall fynde ws schrewys at all assays.
Be ware! ȝe may son lyke a bofett.
MERCY.
He was well occupyede þat browte yow brethern.
NOUGHT.
I harde yow call ‘New Gyse, Nowadays, Nought,’ all þes thre togethere.
Yf ȝe sey þat I lye, I xall make yow to slyther.
Lo, take yow here a trepett!
MERCY.
Say me yowr namys, I know yow not.
NEW GYSE.
New Gyse, I.
NOWADAYS.
I, Nowadays.
NOUGHT.
I, Nought.
MERCY.
Be Jhesu Cryst þat me dere bowte
Ȝe betray many men.
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Betray! nay, nay, ser, nay, nay!
We make them both fresch and gay.
But of yowr name, ser, I yow prey,
That we may yow ken.
MERCY.
Mercy ys my name by denomynacyon.
I conseyue ȝe haue but a lytyll fauour in my communycacyon.
NEW GYSE.
Ey, ey! yowr body ys full of Englysch Laten.
I am aferde yt wyll brest.
‘Prauo te’, quod þe bocher onto me
When I stale a leg a motun.
Ȝe are a stronge cunnyng clerke.
NOWADAYS.
I prey yow hertyly, worschyppull clerke,
To haue þis Englysch mad in Laten:
To haue þis Englysch mad in Laten:
‘I haue etun a dyschfull of curdys,
Ande I haue schetun yowr mowth full of turdys.’
Now opyn yowr sachell wyth Laten wordys
Ande sey me þis in clerycall manere!
Also I haue a wyf, her name ys Rachell;
Betuyx her and me was a gret batell;
Ande fayn of yow I wolde here tell
Who was þe most master.
Ande I haue schetun yowr mowth full of turdys.’
Now opyn yowr sachell wyth Laten wordys
Ande sey me þis in clerycall manere!
Also I haue a wyf, her name ys Rachell;
Betuyx her and me was a gret batell;
Ande fayn of yow I wolde here tell
Who was þe most master.
NOUGHT.
Thy wyf Rachell, I dare ley twenti lyse.
NOWADAYS.
Who spake to þe, foll? þou art not wyse!
Go and do þat longyth to þin offyce:
Osculare fundamentum!
NOUGHT.
Lo, master, lo, here ys a pardon bely-mett.
Yt ys grawntyde of Pope Pokett,
Yf ȝe wyll putt yowr nose in hys wyffys sokett,
Ȝe xall haue forty days of pardon.
MERCY.
Thys ydyll language ȝe xall repent.
Out of þis place I wolde ȝe went.
NEW GYSE.
Goo we hens all thre wyth on assent.
My fadyr ys yrke of owr eloquence.
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Gode brynge yow, master, and blyssyde Mary
To þe number of þe demonycall frayry!
NOWADAYS.
Cum wynde, cum reyn,
Thow I cumme neuer ageyn!
Þe Deull put out both yowr eyn!
Felouse, go we hens tyght.
NOUGHT.
Go we hens, a deull wey!
Here ys þe dore, her ys þe wey.
Farwell, jentyll Jaffrey,
I prey Gode gyf yow goode nyght!
Exiant simul. Cantent
MERCY.
Thankyde be Gode, we haue a fayer dylyuerance
Of þes thre onthryfty gestys.
They know full lytyll what ys þer ordynance.
I preue by reson þei be wers þen bestys:
Of þes thre onthryfty gestys.
They know full lytyll what ys þer ordynance.
I preue by reson þei be wers þen bestys:
A best doth after hys naturall instytucyon;
Ȝe may conseyue by there dysporte and behauour,
Þer joy ande delyte ys in derysyon
Of her owyn Cryste to hys dyshonur.
Ȝe may conseyue by there dysporte and behauour,
Þer joy ande delyte ys in derysyon
Of her owyn Cryste to hys dyshonur.
Thys condycyon of leuyng, yt ys prejudycyall;
Be ware þerof, yt ys wers þan ony felony or treson.
How may yt be excusyde befor þe Justyce of all
When for euery ydyll worde we must ȝelde a reson?
Be ware þerof, yt ys wers þan ony felony or treson.
How may yt be excusyde befor þe Justyce of all
When for euery ydyll worde we must ȝelde a reson?
They haue grett ease, þerfor þei wyll take no thought.
But how þen when þe angell of hewyn xall blow þe trumpe
Ande sey to þe transgressors þat wykkydly hath wrought,
‘Cum forth onto yowr Juge and ȝelde yowr acownte’?
But how þen when þe angell of hewyn xall blow þe trumpe
Ande sey to þe transgressors þat wykkydly hath wrought,
‘Cum forth onto yowr Juge and ȝelde yowr acownte’?
Then xall I, Mercy, begyn sore to wepe;
Noþer comfort nor cownsell þer xall non be hade;
But such as þei haue sowyn, such xall þei repe.
Þei be wanton now, but þen xall þei be sade.
Noþer comfort nor cownsell þer xall non be hade;
But such as þei haue sowyn, such xall þei repe.
Þei be wanton now, but þen xall þei be sade.
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The goode new gyse nowadays I wyll not dysalow.
I dyscomende þe vycyouse gyse; I prey haue me excusyde,
I nede not to speke of yt, yowr reson wyll tell it yow.
Take þat ys to be takyn and leue þat ys to be refusyde.
I dyscomende þe vycyouse gyse; I prey haue me excusyde,
I nede not to speke of yt, yowr reson wyll tell it yow.
Take þat ys to be takyn and leue þat ys to be refusyde.
MANKYNDE.
Of þe erth and of þe cley we haue owr propagacyon.
By þe prouydens of Gode þus be we deryvatt,
To whos mercy I recomende þis holl congrygacyon:
I hope onto hys blysse ye be all predestynatt.
By þe prouydens of Gode þus be we deryvatt,
To whos mercy I recomende þis holl congrygacyon:
I hope onto hys blysse ye be all predestynatt.
Euery man for hys degre I trust xall be partycypatt,
Yf we wyll mortyfye owr carnall condycyon
Ande owr voluntarye dysyres, þat euer be pervercyonatt,
To renunce þem and yelde ws wnder Godys provycyon.
Yf we wyll mortyfye owr carnall condycyon
Ande owr voluntarye dysyres, þat euer be pervercyonatt,
To renunce þem and yelde ws wnder Godys provycyon.
My name ys Mankynde. I haue my composycyon
Of a body and of a soull, of condycyon contrarye.
Betwyx þem tweyn ys a grett dyvisyon;
He þat xulde be subjecte, now he hath þe victory.
Of a body and of a soull, of condycyon contrarye.
Betwyx þem tweyn ys a grett dyvisyon;
He þat xulde be subjecte, now he hath þe victory.
Thys ys to me a lamentable story
To se my flesch of my soull to haue gouernance.
Wher þe goodewyff ys master, þe goodeman may be sory.
I may both syth and sobbe, þis ys a pytuose remembrance.
To se my flesch of my soull to haue gouernance.
Wher þe goodewyff ys master, þe goodeman may be sory.
I may both syth and sobbe, þis ys a pytuose remembrance.
O thou my soull, so sotyll in thy substance,
Alasse, what was þi fortune and þi chaunce
To be assocyat wyth my flesch, þat stynkyng dungehyll?
Alasse, what was þi fortune and þi chaunce
To be assocyat wyth my flesch, þat stynkyng dungehyll?
Lady, helpe! Souerens, yt doth my soull myche yll
To se þe flesch prosperouse and þe soull trodyn wnder fote.
I xall go to yondyr man and asay hym I wyll.
I trust of gostly solace he wyll be my bote.
To se þe flesch prosperouse and þe soull trodyn wnder fote.
I xall go to yondyr man and asay hym I wyll.
I trust of gostly solace he wyll be my bote.
All heyll, semely father! Ȝe be welcom to þis house.
Of þe very wysdam ȝe haue partycypacyon.
My body wyth my soull ys euer querulose.
I prey yow, for sent charyte, of yowr supportacyon.
Of þe very wysdam ȝe haue partycypacyon.
My body wyth my soull ys euer querulose.
I prey yow, for sent charyte, of yowr supportacyon.
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I beseche yow hertyly of yowr gostly comforte.
I am onstedfast in lywynge; my name ys Mankynde.
My gostly enmy þe Deull wyll haue a grett dysporte
In synfull gydynge yf he may se me ende.
I am onstedfast in lywynge; my name ys Mankynde.
My gostly enmy þe Deull wyll haue a grett dysporte
In synfull gydynge yf he may se me ende.
MERCY.
Cryst sende yow goode comforte! Ȝe be welcum, my frende.
Stonde wppe on yowr fete, I prey yow aryse.
My name ys Mercy; ȝe be to me full hende.
To eschew vyce I wyll yow avyse.
MANKYNDE.
O Mercy, of all grace and vertu ȝe are þe well,
I haue herde tell of ryght worschyppfull clerkys.
Ȝe be aproxymatt to Gode and nere of hys consell.
He hat instytut you aboue all hys werkys.
I haue herde tell of ryght worschyppfull clerkys.
Ȝe be aproxymatt to Gode and nere of hys consell.
He hat instytut you aboue all hys werkys.
O, yowr louely wordys to my soull are swetere þen hony.
MERCY.
The temptacyon of þe flesch ȝe must resyst lyke a man,
For þer ys euer a batell betwyx þe soull and þe body:
‘Vita hominis est milicia super terram.’
For þer ys euer a batell betwyx þe soull and þe body:
‘Vita hominis est milicia super terram.’
Oppresse yowr gostly enmy and be Crystys own knyght.
Be neuer a cowarde ageyn yowr aduersary.
Yf ȝe wyll be crownyde, ȝe must nedys fyght.
Intende well and Gode wyll be yow adjutory.
Be neuer a cowarde ageyn yowr aduersary.
Yf ȝe wyll be crownyde, ȝe must nedys fyght.
Intende well and Gode wyll be yow adjutory.
Remember, my frende, þe tyme of contynuance.
So helpe me Gode, yt ys but a chery tyme.
Spende yt well; serue Gode wyth hertys affyance.
Dystempure not yowr brayn wyth goode ale nor wyth wyn.
So helpe me Gode, yt ys but a chery tyme.
Spende yt well; serue Gode wyth hertys affyance.
Dystempure not yowr brayn wyth goode ale nor wyth wyn.
Mesure ys tresure. Y forbyde yow not þe vse.
Mesure yowrsylf euer; be ware of excesse.
Þe superfluouse gyse I wyll þat ȝe refuse,
When nature ys suffysyde, anon þat ȝe sese.
Mesure yowrsylf euer; be ware of excesse.
Þe superfluouse gyse I wyll þat ȝe refuse,
When nature ys suffysyde, anon þat ȝe sese.
Yf a man haue an hors and kepe hym not to hye,
He may then reull hym at hys own dysyere.
Yf he be fede ouerwell he wyll dysobey
Ande in happe cast his master in þe myre.
He may then reull hym at hys own dysyere.
Yf he be fede ouerwell he wyll dysobey
Ande in happe cast his master in þe myre.
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Ȝe sey trew, ser, ȝe are no faytour.
I haue fede my wyff so well tyll sche ys my master.
I haue a grett wonde on my hede, lo! and þeron leyth a playster,
Ande anoþer þer I pysse my peson.
Ande my wyf were yowr hors, sche wolde yow all to-banne.
Ȝe fede yowr hors in mesure, ȝe are a wyse man.
I trow, and ȝe were þe kyngys palfreyman,
A goode horse xulde be gesunne.
MANKYNDE.
Wher spekys þis felow? Wyll he not com nere?
MERCY.
All to son, my brother, I fere me, for yow.
He was here ryght now, by hym þat bowte me dere,
Wyth oþer of hys felouse; þei kan moche sorow.
He was here ryght now, by hym þat bowte me dere,
Wyth oþer of hys felouse; þei kan moche sorow.
They wyll be here ryght son, yf I owt departe.
Thynke on my doctryne; yt xall be yowr defence.
Lerne wyll I am here, sett my wordys in herte.
Wythin a schorte space I must nedys hens.
Thynke on my doctryne; yt xall be yowr defence.
Lerne wyll I am here, sett my wordys in herte.
Wythin a schorte space I must nedys hens.
NOWADAYS.
Þe sonner þe leuer, and yt be ewyn anon!
I trow yowr name ys Do Lytyll, ȝe be so long fro hom.
Yf ȝe wolde go hens, we xall cum euerychon,
Mo þen a goode sorte.
Ȝe haue leve, I dare well say.
When ȝe wyll, go forth yowr wey.
Men haue lytyll deynte of yowr pley
Because ȝe make no sporte.
NOUGHT.
Yowr potage xall be forcolde, ser; when wyll ȝe go dyn?
I haue sen a man lost twenti noblys in as lytyll tyme;
Ȝet yt was not I, be Sent Qwyntyn,
For I was neuer worth a pottfull a wortys sythyn I was born.
My name ys Nought. I loue well to make mery.
I haue be sethen wyth þe comyn tapster of Bury
And pleyde so longe þe foll þat I am ewyn wery.
Ȝyt xall I be þer ageyn to-morn.
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I haue moche care for yow, my own frende.
Yowr enmys wyll be here anon, þei make þer avaunte.
Thynke well in yowr hert, yowr name ys Mankynde;
Be not wnkynde to Gode, I prey yow be hys seruante.
Yowr enmys wyll be here anon, þei make þer avaunte.
Thynke well in yowr hert, yowr name ys Mankynde;
Be not wnkynde to Gode, I prey yow be hys seruante.
Be stedefast in condycyon; se ȝe be not varyant.
Lose not thorow foly þat ys bowte so dere.
Gode wyll proue yow son; ande yf þat ȝe be constant,
Of hys blysse perpetuall ȝe xall be partener.
Lose not thorow foly þat ys bowte so dere.
Gode wyll proue yow son; ande yf þat ȝe be constant,
Of hys blysse perpetuall ȝe xall be partener.
Ȝe may not haue yowr intent at yowr fyrst dysyere.
Se þe grett pacyence of Job in tribulacyon;
Lyke as þe smyth trieth ern in þe feere,
So was he triede by Godys vysytacyon.
Se þe grett pacyence of Job in tribulacyon;
Lyke as þe smyth trieth ern in þe feere,
So was he triede by Godys vysytacyon.
He was of yowr nature and of yowr fragylyte;
Folow þe steppys of hym, my own swete son,
Ande sey as he seyde in yowr trobyll and aduersyte:
‘Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit; sicut sibi placuit, ita factum est; nomen Domini benedictum!’
Folow þe steppys of hym, my own swete son,
Ande sey as he seyde in yowr trobyll and aduersyte:
‘Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit; sicut sibi placuit, ita factum est; nomen Domini benedictum!’
Moreouer, in specyall I gyue yow in charge,
Be ware of New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought.
Nyse in þer aray, in language þei be large;
To perverte yowr condycyons all þe menys xall be sowte.
Be ware of New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought.
Nyse in þer aray, in language þei be large;
To perverte yowr condycyons all þe menys xall be sowte.
Gode son, intromytt not yowrsylff in þer cumpeny.
Þei harde not a masse þis twelmonyth, I dare well say.
Gyff them non audyence; þei wyll tell yow many a lye.
Do truly yowr labure and kepe yowr halyday.
Þei harde not a masse þis twelmonyth, I dare well say.
Gyff them non audyence; þei wyll tell yow many a lye.
Do truly yowr labure and kepe yowr halyday.
Be ware of Tytivillus, for he lesyth no wey,
Þat goth invysybull and wyll not be sen.
He wyll ronde in yowr ere and cast a nett befor yowr ey.
He ys worst of þem all; Gode lett hym neuer then!
Þat goth invysybull and wyll not be sen.
He wyll ronde in yowr ere and cast a nett befor yowr ey.
He ys worst of þem all; Gode lett hym neuer then!
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Yf ȝe dysples Gode, aske mercy anon,
Ellys Myscheff wyll be redy to brace yow in hys brydyll.
Kysse me now, my dere darlynge. Gode schelde yow from yowr fon!
Do truly yowr labure and be neuer ydyll.
The blyssynge of Gode be wyth yow and wyth all þes worschyppull men!
Ellys Myscheff wyll be redy to brace yow in hys brydyll.
Kysse me now, my dere darlynge. Gode schelde yow from yowr fon!
Do truly yowr labure and be neuer ydyll.
The blyssynge of Gode be wyth yow and wyth all þes worschyppull men!
MANKYNDE.
Amen, for sent charyte, amen!
Now blyssyde be Jhesu! my soull ys well sacyatt
Wyth þe mellyfluose doctryne of þis worschyppfull man.
The rebellyn of my flesch now yt ys superatt,
Thankynge be Gode of þe commynge þat I kam.
Wyth þe mellyfluose doctryne of þis worschyppfull man.
The rebellyn of my flesch now yt ys superatt,
Thankynge be Gode of þe commynge þat I kam.
Her wyll I sytt and tytyll in þis papyr
The incomparable astat of my promycyon.
Worschypfull souerence, I haue wretyn here
The gloryuse remembrance of my nobyll condycyon.
The incomparable astat of my promycyon.
Worschypfull souerence, I haue wretyn here
The gloryuse remembrance of my nobyll condycyon.
To haue remos and memory of mysylff þus wretyn yt ys,
To defende me from all superstycyus charmys:
‘Memento, homo, quod cinis es et in cinerem reuerteris.’
Lo, I ber on my bryst þe bagge of myn armys.
To defende me from all superstycyus charmys:
‘Memento, homo, quod cinis es et in cinerem reuerteris.’
Lo, I ber on my bryst þe bagge of myn armys.
NEW GYSE.
The wether ys colde, Gode sende ws goode ferys!
‘Cum sancto sanctus eris et cum peruerso peruerteris.’
‘Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum,’ quod þe Deull to þe frerys,
‘Habitare fratres in vnum.’
MANKYNDE.
I her a felow speke; wyth hym I wyll not mell.
Thys erth wyth my spade I xall assay to delffe.
To eschew ydullnes, I do yt myn own selffe.
I prey Gode sende yt hys fusyon!
NOWADAYS.
Make rom, sers, for we haue be longe!
We wyll cum gyf yow a Crystemes songe.
NOUGHT.
Now I prey all þe yemandry þat ys here
To synge wyth ws wyth a mery chere:
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NEW GYSE and NOWADAYS.
Yt ys wretyn wyth a colle, yt ys wretyn wyth a colle,
NOUGHT.
He þat schytyth wyth hys hoyll, he þat schytyth wyth hys hoyll,
NEW GYSE, NOWADAYS.
He þat schytyth wyth hys hoyll, he þat schytyth with his hoyll,
NOUGHT.
But he wyppe hys ars clen, but he wyppe hys ars clen,
NEW GYSE, NOWADAYS.
But he wype hys ars clen, but he wype his ars clen,
NOUGHT.
On hys breche yt xall be sen, on hys breche yt xall be sen.
NEW GYSE, NOWADAYS.
On hys breche yt xall be sen, on hys breche yt xall be sen.
Cantant OMNES.
Hoylyke, holyke, holyke! holyke, holyke, holyke!
NEW GYSE.
Ey, Mankynde, Gode spede yow wyth yowr spade!
I xall tell yow of a maryage:
I wolde yowr mowth and hys ars þat þis made
Wer maryede junctly together.
MANKYNDE.
Hey yow hens, felouse, wyth bredynge.
Leue yowr derysyon and yowr japyng.
I must nedys labure, yt ys my lyvynge.
NOWADAYS.
What, ser, we cam but lat hethyr.
Xall all þis corn grow here
Þat ȝe xall haue þe nexte ȝer?
Yf yt be so, corn hade nede be dere,
Ellys ȝe xall haue a pore lyffe.
Þat ȝe xall haue þe nexte ȝer?
Yf yt be so, corn hade nede be dere,
Ellys ȝe xall haue a pore lyffe.
NOUGHT.
Alasse, goode fadere, þis labor fretyth yow to þe bon.
But for yowr croppe I take grett mone.
Ȝe xall neuer spende yt alonne;
I xall assay to geett yow a wyffe.
But for yowr croppe I take grett mone.
Ȝe xall neuer spende yt alonne;
I xall assay to geett yow a wyffe.
How many acres suppose ȝe here by estymacyon?
NEW GYSE.
Ey, how ȝe turne þe erth wppe and down!
I haue be in my days in many goode town
Ȝett saw I neuer such another tyllynge.
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Why stonde ye ydyll? Yt ys pety þat ȝe were born!
NOWADAYS.
We xall bargen wyth yow and noþer moke nor scorne.
Take a goode carte in herwest and lode yt wyth yowr corne,
Ande what xall we gyf yow for þe levynge?
NOUGHT.
He ys a goode starke laburrer, he wolde fayn do well.
He hath mett wyth þe goode man Mercy in a schroude sell.
For all þis he may haue many a hungry mele.
Ȝyt woll ȝe se he ys polytyke.
Here xall be goode corn, he may not mysse yt;
Yf he wyll haue reyn he may ouerpysse yt;
Ande yf he wyll haue compasse he may ouerblysse yt
A lytyll wyth hys ars lyke.
MANKYNDE.
Go and do yowr labur! Gode lett yow neuer the!
Or wyth my spade I xall yow dynge, by þe Holy Trinyte!
Haue ȝe non other man to moke, but euer me?
Ȝe wolde haue me of yowr sett?
Hye yow forth lyuely, for hens I wyll yow dryffe.
NEW GYSE.
Alas, my jewellys! I xall be schent of my wyff!
NOWADAYS.
Alasse! and I am lyke neuer for to thryue,
I haue such a buffett.
MANKYNDE.
Hens I sey, New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nowte!
Yt was seyde beforn, all þe menys xuld be sought
To perverte my condycyons and brynge me to nought.
Hens, thevys! Ȝe haue made many a lesynge.
NOUGHT.
Marryde I was for colde, but now am I warme.
Ȝe are ewyll avysyde, ser, for ȝe haue don harme.
By cokkys body sakyrde, I haue such a peyn in my arme
I may not chonge a man a ferthynge.
MANKYNDE.
Now I thanke Gode, knelynge on my kne.
Blyssyde be hys name! he ys of hye degre.
By þe subsyde of hys grace þat he hath sente me
Thre of myn enmys I haue putt to flyght.
Ȝyt þis instrument, souerens, ys not made to defende.
Dauide seyth, ‘Nec in hasta nec in gladio saluat Dominus.’
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No, mary, I beschrew yow, yt ys in spadibus.
Therfor Crystys curse cum on yowr hedybus
To sende yow lesse myght!
Exiant
MANKYNDE.
I promytt yow þes felouse wyll no more cum here,
For summe of þem, certenly, were summewhat to nere.
My fadyr Mercy avysyde me to be of a goode chere
Ande agayn my enmys manly for to fyght.
For summe of þem, certenly, were summewhat to nere.
My fadyr Mercy avysyde me to be of a goode chere
Ande agayn my enmys manly for to fyght.
I xall convycte þem, I hope, euerychon.
Ȝet I say amysse, I do yt not alon.
Wyth þe helpe of þe grace of Gode I resyst my fon
Ande þer malycyuse herte.
Wyth my spade I wyll departe, my worschyppull souerence,
Ande lyue euer wyth labure to corecte my insolence.
I xall go fett corn for my londe; I prey yow of pacyence;
Ryght son I xall reverte.
Ȝet I say amysse, I do yt not alon.
Wyth þe helpe of þe grace of Gode I resyst my fon
Ande þer malycyuse herte.
Wyth my spade I wyll departe, my worschyppull souerence,
Ande lyue euer wyth labure to corecte my insolence.
I xall go fett corn for my londe; I prey yow of pacyence;
Ryght son I xall reverte.
| Mankind | |