 | I. |
 | II. |
|
|
 | The South English Legendary |  |
Þe holy rode þe swete tre[o] riȝt is to habbe in munde
Þat haþ fram strange deþ ibroȝt to lyue al mankunde
Þoru þulke tre[o] we were forlore & ferst ibroȝt to gronde
And þoru [a treo] suþþe to lyue ibroȝt yherd be[o] þulke stonde
Al it com of one more þat us to deþe broȝte
And þat us broȝte to lyue aȝen þoru Iesus þat us boȝte
Of þe appel tre[o] þat oure vader þe luþer appel of nom
In þe manere þat ich wol nou telle þe swete rode com
Þat haþ fram strange deþ ibroȝt to lyue al mankunde
Þoru þulke tre[o] we were forlore & ferst ibroȝt to gronde
And þoru [a treo] suþþe to lyue ibroȝt yherd be[o] þulke stonde
Al it com of one more þat us to deþe broȝte
And þat us broȝte to lyue aȝen þoru Iesus þat us boȝte
Of þe appel tre[o] þat oure vader þe luþer appel of nom
In þe manere þat ich wol nou telle þe swete rode com
Þo Adam oure verste uader þe sunne hadde ydo
Idriue was out of parais and Eue is wif also
After milce ȝeorne he cride þei it to late were
And biheste hadde of oure Louerd þo me drof him out þere
Þat wanne þe time were uolueold oure Louerd him wolde biþenche
And mid oile of milce smurie him & is sunne quenche
Gret hope hadde he to þis biheste Adam euere mo
In þe valeie of Ebron he liuede in teone and wo
Idriue was out of parais and Eue is wif also
After milce ȝeorne he cride þei it to late were
And biheste hadde of oure Louerd þo me drof him out þere
Þat wanne þe time were uolueold oure Louerd him wolde biþenche
And mid oile of milce smurie him & is sunne quenche
Gret hope hadde he to þis biheste Adam euere mo
In þe valeie of Ebron he liuede in teone and wo
Tweie sones he hadde suþþe Caim and Abel
Þe on slou þe oþer for envie as ȝe witeþ wel
Þo Caim hadde is broþer aslawe iflemd he was þeruore
Þo Adam isei þat he hadde boþe is sones forlore
He wep and made deol inou Louerd he sede þin ore
Ney womman ich habbe to muche ibe[o] inel come hure nei more
Þre[o] harmes ich habbe þoru hure iheued mi sulf ferst forlore
And nou my sones boþe alas & of al womman is more
Nolde þo Adam come nei is wif to hondred ȝer & more
For wo þat he hadde for hure & euere he liuede in sore
Suþþe he hadde toknyng of oure Louerd þat he ssolde to is wif wende
Ne derste he noȝt be[o] þer aȝen an sone he hadde atte nende
Suþþe he het is name nemne and suþþe he hadde mo
Al is lif þe selyman liuede in teone and wo
Þo he was of vif hondred ȝer & to & þritti old
Þe strengþe him failede of is lymes is bodi bicom al cold
He ne miȝte noȝt swinke aboute þe eorþe þe weodes up to drawe
Of is lif he was anuyd he wilnede be[o] of dawe
He sat and carede of is lyf he clupede is sone Seþ
Sone he sede ich am weri yliued ich wilny muche mi deþ
Þo ich was idriue of parays oure Louerd byhet me þere
To smure me wiþ þe oil of milce wanne it tyme were
So lange ich habbe abide þer after þat i nemay libbe namore
To [parais] þou most þer after go & bidde him milce & ore
Þe on slou þe oþer for envie as ȝe witeþ wel
Þo Caim hadde is broþer aslawe iflemd he was þeruore
Þo Adam isei þat he hadde boþe is sones forlore
He wep and made deol inou Louerd he sede þin ore
Ney womman ich habbe to muche ibe[o] inel come hure nei more
168
And nou my sones boþe alas & of al womman is more
Nolde þo Adam come nei is wif to hondred ȝer & more
For wo þat he hadde for hure & euere he liuede in sore
Suþþe he hadde toknyng of oure Louerd þat he ssolde to is wif wende
Ne derste he noȝt be[o] þer aȝen an sone he hadde atte nende
Suþþe he het is name nemne and suþþe he hadde mo
Al is lif þe selyman liuede in teone and wo
Þo he was of vif hondred ȝer & to & þritti old
Þe strengþe him failede of is lymes is bodi bicom al cold
He ne miȝte noȝt swinke aboute þe eorþe þe weodes up to drawe
Of is lif he was anuyd he wilnede be[o] of dawe
He sat and carede of is lyf he clupede is sone Seþ
Sone he sede ich am weri yliued ich wilny muche mi deþ
Þo ich was idriue of parays oure Louerd byhet me þere
To smure me wiþ þe oil of milce wanne it tyme were
So lange ich habbe abide þer after þat i nemay libbe namore
To [parais] þou most þer after go & bidde him milce & ore
Þe angel þou þare finde þat drof me out atte ȝete
Sey ich abide þulke biheste me þincþ it comþ wel late
And þat elde me haþ ouercome þat i nemay noȝt libbe longe
Bidde him þat ich deie mote and þe oil of milce auonge
Sey ich abide þulke biheste me þincþ it comþ wel late
And þat elde me haþ ouercome þat i nemay noȝt libbe longe
Bidde him þat ich deie mote and þe oil of milce auonge
I ne can nanne wei quaþ þis sone þuderward ich wene
Leue sone quaþ Adam þe wei is wel ysene
Wanne þou comst to þe ende of þis valeie a grene wey þou sselt wende
Þat riȝt euene estward geþ to parais last þe on ende
Þerbi wende þi moder & ich þo ich parais forlet
Euerich stude þat we on stepte forbarnde vnder oure vet
Ne miȝte þer neuere eft gras on growe & al þe oþer wei is grene
For þe voule sunne þat we dude oure stappes beoþ euere sene
Þer by wiþoute defaute to parais euene gon
Seþ nom is fader blessinge & wende him forþ anon
Leue sone quaþ Adam þe wei is wel ysene
Wanne þou comst to þe ende of þis valeie a grene wey þou sselt wende
Þat riȝt euene estward geþ to parais last þe on ende
Þerbi wende þi moder & ich þo ich parais forlet
Euerich stude þat we on stepte forbarnde vnder oure vet
169
For þe voule sunne þat we dude oure stappes beoþ euere sene
Þer by wiþoute defaute to parais euene gon
Seþ nom is fader blessinge & wende him forþ anon
Þe stappes he uond forwelwed as is fader him sede
Þo he to þe ȝete com he ne derste go ner for drede
An angel com to þe ȝate and esste wat he soȝte
He sede þat to him an erande fram is fader he broȝte
Þat he was old & weri ilyued & þat him longede sore
After þe swete oil of milce for he nemiȝte libbe namore
Þo he to þe ȝete com he ne derste go ner for drede
An angel com to þe ȝate and esste wat he soȝte
He sede þat to him an erande fram is fader he broȝte
Þat he was old & weri ilyued & þat him longede sore
After þe swete oil of milce for he nemiȝte libbe namore
Ȝe quaþ þe angel is he so he ne ssel þer of noȝt doute
Put in þi heued atte ȝate and stond þi sulf wiþoute
He putte in is heued as he bad and bihuld al aboute
So murie ne þoȝte him neuere in stude þei he stode him sulf wiþoute
So gret delit he hadde & ioie [of] þe foules murie song
Of þe swote mede also and of þe floures þer among
Of ech maner frut þat he sey þat smulde al so swote
Þat of eche maner vuel as him þoȝte a man miȝte habbe þerof bote
Him þoȝte ȝif he moste þere biholde in eny stonde
Euere mo he miȝte in ioie be[o] his limes hol and sonde
Amidde þe place þat was so fair he sei a uair welle
Of wan al þe wateres comþ an eorþe as þe boc us deþ telle
Ouer þe welle þer stod a tre[o] wiþ bowes brode and lere
Ac it ne bar noþer lef ne rinde as it forolded were
An addre it hadde biclupt aboute al naked wiþoute skynne
Þat was þe tre[o] & þe addre þat made Adam ferst do sunne
Put in þi heued atte ȝate and stond þi sulf wiþoute
He putte in is heued as he bad and bihuld al aboute
So murie ne þoȝte him neuere in stude þei he stode him sulf wiþoute
So gret delit he hadde & ioie [of] þe foules murie song
Of þe swote mede also and of þe floures þer among
Of ech maner frut þat he sey þat smulde al so swote
Þat of eche maner vuel as him þoȝte a man miȝte habbe þerof bote
Him þoȝte ȝif he moste þere biholde in eny stonde
Euere mo he miȝte in ioie be[o] his limes hol and sonde
Amidde þe place þat was so fair he sei a uair welle
Of wan al þe wateres comþ an eorþe as þe boc us deþ telle
Ouer þe welle þer stod a tre[o] wiþ bowes brode and lere
Ac it ne bar noþer lef ne rinde as it forolded were
An addre it hadde biclupt aboute al naked wiþoute skynne
Þat was þe tre[o] & þe addre þat made Adam ferst do sunne
Efsone he biheld in atte ȝete þat tre[o] him þoȝte he sey
Fair ileued and ywoxe up to heuene anhey
A ȝong child he sey upe þe tre[o] in smale cloþes iwonde
Þe more of þe tre[o] him þoȝte tilde þoru out helle gronde
His broþer soule Abel ek him þoȝte in helle he sey
Þe angel him drof þo fram þe ȝet þat he nas namore þer ney
Fair ileued and ywoxe up to heuene anhey
A ȝong child he sey upe þe tre[o] in smale cloþes iwonde
170
His broþer soule Abel ek him þoȝte in helle he sey
Þe angel him drof þo fram þe ȝet þat he nas namore þer ney
Þe child he sede þat þou iseie anouwarde þe tre[o]
Godes sone it was þat wol an eorþe for þi uader sunne be[o]
And þe oil of milce wiþ him bringe wanne þe time in eld is
And smurie þer wiþ & bringe of pine þi uader & alle his
Þe angel wende to þulke tre[o] an appel þer of he nom
And tok Seþ þerof þre[o] curnels þo he to him com
And bad him þulke curnels legge vnder is faderes tonge
And burie him wanne he were ded & loke wat þerof spronge
Godes sone it was þat wol an eorþe for þi uader sunne be[o]
And þe oil of milce wiþ him bringe wanne þe time in eld is
And smurie þer wiþ & bringe of pine þi uader & alle his
Þe angel wende to þulke tre[o] an appel þer of he nom
And tok Seþ þerof þre[o] curnels þo he to him com
And bad him þulke curnels legge vnder is faderes tonge
And burie him wanne he were ded & loke wat þerof spronge
Seth wende aȝe as he com for þe wey was wel isene
For þe stappes were al forbarnd & þe oþer wey grene
Þo he was hom aȝen icome is fader he uond ded
Þe curnels he dude vnder is tonge as þe angel hadde ised
And suþþe he burede him as riȝt was in þe ualeie of Ebron
And ofswonk is mete he nuste no betere ywon
For þe stappes were al forbarnd & þe oþer wey grene
Þo he was hom aȝen icome is fader he uond ded
Þe curnels he dude vnder is tonge as þe angel hadde ised
And suþþe he burede him as riȝt was in þe ualeie of Ebron
And ofswonk is mete he nuste no betere ywon
Wiþinne an vewe ȝer þer after þis curnels gonne to springe
Þre[o] faire ȝeorden þere woxe of vaire þoru alle þinge
Þo hy were ywoxe to þe lengþe of an elne ich wene
In þulke stat hy stode longe and eueremore grene
Forte Moyses þe prophete aboute ȝeode in þe londe
To lede þat fok of Irrael and he þe ȝerden sei stonde
Lo her he sede gret toknynge of þe Holy Trinite
Fader and Sone & Holy Gost of þis ȝeorden þre[o]
Þre[o] faire ȝeorden þere woxe of vaire þoru alle þinge
Þo hy were ywoxe to þe lengþe of an elne ich wene
In þulke stat hy stode longe and eueremore grene
Forte Moyses þe prophete aboute ȝeode in þe londe
To lede þat fok of Irrael and he þe ȝerden sei stonde
Lo her he sede gret toknynge of þe Holy Trinite
Fader and Sone & Holy Gost of þis ȝeorden þre[o]
Op he is nom wiþ gret honur & in a uair cloþ is wonde
A swote smul þer com out of þat smulde into al þe londe
To confermy þe bet is lawe he bar hom vorþ inis hond
Ech sik man þat þerto hopede his hele anon he vond
To teche þe volk þe riȝte lawe þe ȝerden aboute he ber
And eke to hele sikemen to and fourti ȝer
Suþþe þo he deie ssolde þe ȝerden he sette er
Vnder þe hul of Tabour and deide him sulf þer
A swote smul þer com out of þat smulde into al þe londe
To confermy þe bet is lawe he bar hom vorþ inis hond
Ech sik man þat þerto hopede his hele anon he vond
171
And eke to hele sikemen to and fourti ȝer
Suþþe þo he deie ssolde þe ȝerden he sette er
Vnder þe hul of Tabour and deide him sulf þer
Þere stode þis ȝeorden grene mo þanne a þousond ȝer
For[te] sein Dauit þe kyng þat was of so gret poer
So þat he was þoru þe Holy Gost yhote forto hie
To þe hul of Tabor in þe lond of Arabie
Þat þulke ȝerden þre[o] vette and wiþ him nome
Nie dawes he was þuderward ar he þuder come
Wiþ gret honur he nom is up þo he þe ȝerden uonde
Þe swotnesse þat þerof com velde al þe londe
Wiþ gret melodie of is harpe sein Daui þe ȝerden nom
And to Ierusalem ladde is hom þe niþe day hom he com
In a deorne stude he is sette for it was in þe euenynge
Forte amorwe þat he iseie woder he miȝte is bringe
For[te] sein Dauit þe kyng þat was of so gret poer
So þat he was þoru þe Holy Gost yhote forto hie
To þe hul of Tabor in þe lond of Arabie
Þat þulke ȝerden þre[o] vette and wiþ him nome
Nie dawes he was þuderward ar he þuder come
Wiþ gret honur he nom is up þo he þe ȝerden uonde
Þe swotnesse þat þerof com velde al þe londe
Wiþ gret melodie of is harpe sein Daui þe ȝerden nom
And to Ierusalem ladde is hom þe niþe day hom he com
In a deorne stude he is sette for it was in þe euenynge
Forte amorwe þat he iseie woder he miȝte is bringe
Amorwe þo he com þerto to one hy were alle ycome
And ymored so uaste also þat hy nemiȝte awey [beo] bynome
Þat alle þre[o] bicome to on wat bitokneþ þis
Bote Vader and Sone & Holy Gost al o God it is
Sein Dauit aboute þis holy ȝeorde a strong wal let rere
And nome gode ȝeme ho longe hy woxe fram ȝere to ȝere
Wiþ a cercle of seluer he bond ech ȝer is stude þere
Þat he miȝte attelaste iwite hou hold þat tre[o] were
So þat wiþinne þritti ȝer þis tre[o] wax wel heie
Ac it ne wax nanmore þer afterward as hi weste bi þe selueren beye
Ac euere mo þere afterward vaire it stod
Sein Dauit it honurede wel for he weste it was god
And ymored so uaste also þat hy nemiȝte awey [beo] bynome
Þat alle þre[o] bicome to on wat bitokneþ þis
Bote Vader and Sone & Holy Gost al o God it is
Sein Dauit aboute þis holy ȝeorde a strong wal let rere
And nome gode ȝeme ho longe hy woxe fram ȝere to ȝere
Wiþ a cercle of seluer he bond ech ȝer is stude þere
Þat he miȝte attelaste iwite hou hold þat tre[o] were
So þat wiþinne þritti ȝer þis tre[o] wax wel heie
Ac it ne wax nanmore þer afterward as hi weste bi þe selueren beye
Ac euere mo þere afterward vaire it stod
Sein Dauit it honurede wel for he weste it was god
Þo sein Dauit hadde ido þe sunne of lecherie
And manslaȝt þo he let sle for is owe wif Vrie
And oure Louerd nom þerof wreche gret swuþe sori he bicom
His penance he dude vnder þis tre[o] þat he þereuore nom
Þere he makede ek þane sauter is sunne forto bete
Þe watloker it him was forȝiue for þe holy tre[o] so swete
Þo bigan he ek for is sunne þe holy temple to rere
Swuþe noble in Ierusalem ac he deide in þe vourteþe ȝere
172
And oure Louerd nom þerof wreche gret swuþe sori he bicom
His penance he dude vnder þis tre[o] þat he þereuore nom
Þere he makede ek þane sauter is sunne forto bete
Þe watloker it him was forȝiue for þe holy tre[o] so swete
Þo bigan he ek for is sunne þe holy temple to rere
Swuþe noble in Ierusalem ac he deide in þe vourteþe ȝere
Þe king Salamon is sone þat king was suþþe þere
After him þe temple bulde þat he ȝare were
To and þritti ȝer he was þere aboute & is fader fortene also
So þat it was sixe and fourti ȝer ar þat work were ido
Þo þe work was almest ido hom faillede a uair tre[o]
Þat holy tre[o] was fairost þo þat hi miȝte awer ise[o]
After him þe temple bulde þat he ȝare were
To and þritti ȝer he was þere aboute & is fader fortene also
So þat it was sixe and fourti ȝer ar þat work were ido
Þo þe work was almest ido hom faillede a uair tre[o]
Þat holy tre[o] was fairost þo þat hi miȝte awer ise[o]
Salamon he let fulle & hewe as queinteliche as he miȝte
And let it mete & make more bi a uot þanne is riȝte
And broȝte it to is riȝte stude and lasi wolde it þer
Þo was [it] by a uot to ssort as euene as hy mete it er
Þe carpenters it lete adoun in strong wraþþe & grete
To noþing þat hi it broȝte to hi ne miȝte it make ymete
And let it mete & make more bi a uot þanne is riȝte
And broȝte it to is riȝte stude and lasi wolde it þer
Þo was [it] by a uot to ssort as euene as hy mete it er
Þe carpenters it lete adoun in strong wraþþe & grete
To noþing þat hi it broȝte to hi ne miȝte it make ymete
A brugge ouer an olde dich hy made it attelaste
Þo hy ne miȝte in þe temple to non oþer werk it caste
Þere ouer ȝeode many a man þe wile it þere lay
Nuste noȝt al wat it was þat defoulede it aday
Þo hy ne miȝte in þe temple to non oþer werk it caste
Þere ouer ȝeode many a man þe wile it þere lay
Nuste noȝt al wat it was þat defoulede it aday
Þe quene of Saba com þer uorþ & anon so he[o] it isey
Honourede it faire & sat akne[o] he[o] nolde come þer ney
By anoþer wey he[o] wende uorþ to Salamon he[o] com
And he[o] him hadde wide ysoȝt to leorny of him wisdom
Þoru grace þat oure Louerd hure ȝaf to Salamon he[o] sede
Þat þe tre[o] ne ssolde noȝt ligge þer ȝif he dude by hure rede
For þere ssolde ȝute a man deie on þulke tre[o]
Þoru wan al þe lawe of Giwes destrud ssolde be[o]
Honourede it faire & sat akne[o] he[o] nolde come þer ney
By anoþer wey he[o] wende uorþ to Salamon he[o] com
And he[o] him hadde wide ysoȝt to leorny of him wisdom
Þoru grace þat oure Louerd hure ȝaf to Salamon he[o] sede
Þat þe tre[o] ne ssolde noȝt ligge þer ȝif he dude by hure rede
173
Þoru wan al þe lawe of Giwes destrud ssolde be[o]
Salamon it let nyme sone and vnder eorþe it caste
Wel deope uer fram alle men and burede it swuþe uaste
So longe so it þer after were a uair welle þere sprong
And a uair water suþþe wiþ gret fiss boþe deop & long
Somme sike men þat þere come [] and hore vet wesse þere
Oþer honden oþer baþede al pur hol anon were
Þat water hi honurede muche and wolde þer inne wade
Ac hy nuste noþing of þe tre[o] þat al þe vertue made
Wel deope uer fram alle men and burede it swuþe uaste
So longe so it þer after were a uair welle þere sprong
And a uair water suþþe wiþ gret fiss boþe deop & long
Somme sike men þat þere come [] and hore vet wesse þere
Oþer honden oþer baþede al pur hol anon were
Þat water hi honurede muche and wolde þer inne wade
Ac hy nuste noþing of þe tre[o] þat al þe vertue made
Suþþe it was þer afterward longe þat oure Louerd an eorþe com
And þat folk byspeke is deþ and hore red þer of nom
Þat treo bigan to vleote anon as it oure Louerd is wille was
Þe Giwes come & fonde þis tre[o] vleotinge þere bicas
Hy nome it up for it was foul and ileye hadde þer longe
And made þer of þe holy rode oure Louerd on to honge
For þat treo was vil and old & to uyly oure Louerd also
And ȝute ham þoȝte þe tre[o] to uair þat he were þeron ido
And þat folk byspeke is deþ and hore red þer of nom
Þat treo bigan to vleote anon as it oure Louerd is wille was
Þe Giwes come & fonde þis tre[o] vleotinge þere bicas
Hy nome it up for it was foul and ileye hadde þer longe
And made þer of þe holy rode oure Louerd on to honge
For þat treo was vil and old & to uyly oure Louerd also
And ȝute ham þoȝte þe tre[o] to uair þat he were þeron ido
Þe crois after oure Louerdes deþ vnder eorþe hy caste
Þere as hi him to deþe dude and burede it þere vaste
And boþe crois eke þere wiþ þat þe þeues honge on er
Þere hy leie as hi were ifonde more þanne to hondred ȝer
Þo Titus and Vaspasian Ierusalem nome
And destrude al þe Giwes þat neuer eft þer hi ne come
Al þat lond was ibroȝt in þe emperor is hond of Rome
And mid is men al biset to nyme þerto gome
Þere as hi him to deþe dude and burede it þere vaste
And boþe crois eke þere wiþ þat þe þeues honge on er
Þere hy leie as hi were ifonde more þanne to hondred ȝer
Þo Titus and Vaspasian Ierusalem nome
And destrude al þe Giwes þat neuer eft þer hi ne come
Al þat lond was ibroȝt in þe emperor is hond of Rome
And mid is men al biset to nyme þerto gome
Suþþe þer com an emperor þat het Adrian
Swuþe heþene & luþer ek and worrede ech Cristene man
He weste ware þe rode lay þat God was on ido
And þat Christenemen þen stude honurede wanne hi miȝte come þerto
He let a temple of maumetis [] in þulke stude arere
Þat me ne vond noþing to loute to bote maumetis þere
Wanne Cristene men miȝte þuder stele hy ne durste for doute
And eke aȝen hore heorte it was to eny maumet aloute
Hy bileuede also þulke stude & muchedel for fere
So þat wiþinne a uewe ȝer no Cristen man ne com þere
So þat þulke stude was forlete many a day
Þat no Cristene man ne pain nuste war þe rode lay
Swuþe heþene & luþer ek and worrede ech Cristene man
174
And þat Christenemen þen stude honurede wanne hi miȝte come þerto
He let a temple of maumetis [] in þulke stude arere
Þat me ne vond noþing to loute to bote maumetis þere
Wanne Cristene men miȝte þuder stele hy ne durste for doute
And eke aȝen hore heorte it was to eny maumet aloute
Hy bileuede also þulke stude & muchedel for fere
So þat wiþinne a uewe ȝer no Cristen man ne com þere
So þat þulke stude was forlete many a day
Þat no Cristene man ne pain nuste war þe rode lay
| The South English Legendary | |