 | The South English Legendary |  |
[De inuencione Sancte Creucis]
A noble emperor þer com suþþe þat het Constantin
In bataille he was so muche þat þer nas of no fin
Suþþe come is fon & wonne muchedel of is londe
He ȝarkede a day is ost aȝen hom forto stonde
As he touward bataile wende he bihuld up anhey
Hym þoȝte þat a uair crois up in heuene he sey
Lettres he sei þeron iwrite he is bigan to rede
Wiþ þeos signe þou sselt maister be[o] þulke lettres sede
In bataille he was so muche þat þer nas of no fin
Suþþe come is fon & wonne muchedel of is londe
He ȝarkede a day is ost aȝen hom forto stonde
As he touward bataile wende he bihuld up anhey
Hym þoȝte þat a uair crois up in heuene he sey
Lettres he sei þeron iwrite he is bigan to rede
Wiþ þeos signe þou sselt maister be[o] þulke lettres sede
Þe emperor þis vnderstod þei he heþene were
A crois he let make sone þat is men touore him bere
In stude of is baner to bataille he wende anon
And þoru uertu of þe holy crois he ouercom is fon
And þe maistrie wan of al is lond in a lite stonde þere
Muche afterward he þoȝte suþþe wat þulke signe were
Þe wisoste men of al is lond biuore him he let bringe
And enquerede of þe crois wat were þe toknynge
Hi sede þat at Ierusalem God was ido on rode
And þat þe Giwes hudde þulke crois as hi vnderstode
A crois he let make sone þat is men touore him bere
In stude of is baner to bataille he wende anon
And þoru uertu of þe holy crois he ouercom is fon
And þe maistrie wan of al is lond in a lite stonde þere
Muche afterward he þoȝte suþþe wat þulke signe were
Þe wisoste men of al is lond biuore him he let bringe
And enquerede of þe crois wat were þe toknynge
Hi sede þat at Ierusalem God was ido on rode
And þat þe Giwes hudde þulke crois as hi vnderstode
Wanne ich habbe þer þoru quaþ þe emperor my fon ibroȝt to gronde
Ne worþ ich neuere bliþe of herte ar þe holy crois be[o] fonde
Elyne þat is moder was to Ierusalem he sende
To seche after þe holi crois & he[o] gladliche forþ wende
Þo he[o] com þuder heo let crie as heo hadde hure red inome
Þat alle þe Giwes of þe cite biuore hure ssolde come
Þo þe Giwes ysomned were hy hadde ssortliche gret fere
Gret conseil hy nome þerof wat þe encheson were
Ne worþ ich neuere bliþe of herte ar þe holy crois be[o] fonde
Elyne þat is moder was to Ierusalem he sende
To seche after þe holi crois & he[o] gladliche forþ wende
175
Þat alle þe Giwes of þe cite biuore hure ssolde come
Þo þe Giwes ysomned were hy hadde ssortliche gret fere
Gret conseil hy nome þerof wat þe encheson were
Þo sede on þat het Iudas ich wene þat ich wot
Wat þis somonce amonte ssal ȝif þat ich telle mot
Ich wene þe quene enqueri wolle as he[o] haþ iþoȝt
After þe rode þat Iesu Crist to deþe was on ybroȝt
Þat non of ȝou ne be[o] so wod þat þerof iknowe be[o]
Ichelle ȝou telle in conseil þat my fader tolde me
Þo my vader Symeon inis deþ vuel lay
In conseil he was to me iknewe þo he þane deþ isay
Iudas he sede leue sone ȝif it bitideþ so
Þat me enqueri after þe rode þat Iesus was on ido
Loke þat þou be[o] iknewe þerof raþer þanne me þe quelle
Þat Zache my fader tolde me in conseil ichelle þe telle
He sede me a lite biuore is deþ þat he was atte dede
To burie in Caluari hul þe rode þoru comun rede
Wat þis somonce amonte ssal ȝif þat ich telle mot
Ich wene þe quene enqueri wolle as he[o] haþ iþoȝt
After þe rode þat Iesu Crist to deþe was on ybroȝt
Þat non of ȝou ne be[o] so wod þat þerof iknowe be[o]
Ichelle ȝou telle in conseil þat my fader tolde me
Þo my vader Symeon inis deþ vuel lay
In conseil he was to me iknewe þo he þane deþ isay
Iudas he sede leue sone ȝif it bitideþ so
Þat me enqueri after þe rode þat Iesus was on ido
Loke þat þou be[o] iknewe þerof raþer þanne me þe quelle
Þat Zache my fader tolde me in conseil ichelle þe telle
He sede me a lite biuore is deþ þat he was atte dede
To burie in Caluari hul þe rode þoru comun rede
Leue fader [ich] sede þo wat eileþ ȝou alas
Wy wolde ȝe him to deþe do wanne þat he God was
Wy wolde ȝe him to deþe do wanne þat he God was
He sede þoru me nas it noȝt ac for þat he wiþsede
Mine felawes of hore lawe hi him broȝte to dede
Suþþe hy broȝte him in sepulcre ac he aros to lyue
Fram deþe þe þridde day mid is wonden viue
Þane fortiþe day þer afterward to heuene he wende anhey
In þe lond of Galile as al þat folk ysey
Twelfmonþe it was þer afterward & half ȝer & more
Þat Steuene þat was my broþer prechede of is lore
Þe Giwes him ladde wiþoute toun & hende him wiþ stones
And to stronge deþe him broȝte inou & debrusede al is bones
Þe morwe after Midwinter day to deþe hi him broȝte
And nou he is in þe ioie of heuene þat he þo aboȝte
Mine felawes of hore lawe hi him broȝte to dede
Suþþe hy broȝte him in sepulcre ac he aros to lyue
Fram deþe þe þridde day mid is wonden viue
Þane fortiþe day þer afterward to heuene he wende anhey
In þe lond of Galile as al þat folk ysey
Twelfmonþe it was þer afterward & half ȝer & more
Þat Steuene þat was my broþer prechede of is lore
Þe Giwes him ladde wiþoute toun & hende him wiþ stones
And to stronge deþe him broȝte inou & debrusede al is bones
Þe morwe after Midwinter day to deþe hi him broȝte
176
Þo Iudas hadde þis tale itold þe Giwes sede as hi stode
Telle ne hurde we neuere er þus muche of þe rode
Þo þe tyme was icome tofore þe quene hy come
Cheoseþ anon quaþ þe quene on of þeos tweie dome
Lyf and deþ ȝou is biuore cheseþ weþer ȝe wolle
Bote ȝe me vinde þe swete rode brenne echon ȝe ssolle
Greot fur he[o] let make touore hore alre eiȝe
Þe Giwes bigonne to crie loude þo hi þat fur yseye
Ȝyf enymon wot þer of hi sede þanne wot Iudas
For Zache is fader of gret poer was
Telle ne hurde we neuere er þus muche of þe rode
Þo þe tyme was icome tofore þe quene hy come
Cheoseþ anon quaþ þe quene on of þeos tweie dome
Lyf and deþ ȝou is biuore cheseþ weþer ȝe wolle
Bote ȝe me vinde þe swete rode brenne echon ȝe ssolle
Greot fur he[o] let make touore hore alre eiȝe
Þe Giwes bigonne to crie loude þo hi þat fur yseye
Ȝyf enymon wot þer of hi sede þanne wot Iudas
For Zache is fader of gret poer was
Þulke tyme þat Iesus was on þe rode ydo
Þe quene let nyme þo Iudas & alle þe oþer let go
And bad him be[o] knewe anon he nolde for none þinge
Þe quene him let wel faste bynde and in strang prison bringe
Þere wiþoute mete & drinke seuedawes he lay
For honger he gan crie loude þe seueþe day
And sede bringeþ me of þis wo & ichelle ȝou lede
Þere ich wene þe rode be[o] as my fader me sede
Þo he out of prison com mid muche volk he wende
To þe place as þe rode was as is fader him kende
Þe quene let nyme þo Iudas & alle þe oþer let go
And bad him be[o] knewe anon he nolde for none þinge
Þe quene him let wel faste bynde and in strang prison bringe
Þere wiþoute mete & drinke seuedawes he lay
For honger he gan crie loude þe seueþe day
And sede bringeþ me of þis wo & ichelle ȝou lede
Þere ich wene þe rode be[o] as my fader me sede
Þo he out of prison com mid muche volk he wende
To þe place as þe rode was as is fader him kende
Þo he to þe place com he sat adoun akne[o]
Louerd he sede ȝif it is soþ þat þou man & God be[o]
And þat þou of Marie were ibore send us her þi grace
And toknynge þat we mote finde þe rode in þis place
Anon so Iudas hadde þis bone to oure Louerd ibede
Þe hul bigan to quake and out of one stude
Þer sprong out a smoke & wende anhei & muche place fulde
Swettore þing nemiȝte be[o] þanne þe smoke smulde
Louerd he sede ȝif it is soþ þat þou man & God be[o]
And þat þou of Marie were ibore send us her þi grace
And toknynge þat we mote finde þe rode in þis place
Anon so Iudas hadde þis bone to oure Louerd ibede
Þe hul bigan to quake and out of one stude
Þer sprong out a smoke & wende anhei & muche place fulde
Swettore þing nemiȝte be[o] þanne þe smoke smulde
Þo Iudas þis isay loude he gan to crie
Iesus is sone [of] almiȝti God ibore of maide Marie
Wod is þat biluueþ oþer as ich habbe many o day
Take ichelle to Cristendom and forsake þe Giwes lay
He let him ssriue hasteliche & þo he issriue was
He let him nemne Quiriac þat er het Iudas
Iesus is sone [of] almiȝti God ibore of maide Marie
Wod is þat biluueþ oþer as ich habbe many o day
Take ichelle to Cristendom and forsake þe Giwes lay
177
He let him nemne Quiriac þat er het Iudas
Þo nome hi spade & ssouele & ner þe place wende
Deope hy gonne to delue þer as þe smoke out wende
So þat hy fonde roden þre[o] þo hi hadde idolue longe
Oure Louerdes rode & oþer to þat þe þeues were on anhonge
Biside oure Louerd him to ssende þo nuste hi of þe þre[o]
Þe holi crois þat hi soȝte wuch it miȝte be[o]
And naþeles hy nome alle þre[o] & toward toune bere
To Eleyne þe gode quene wiþ wel glade chere
Bi þe wey atte heie non he gan aȝen hom bringe
A ded ȝonge man up a bere toward buringe
Curiac nom is owe rode and ef sone is oþer
And leide up þis dede man ac he ne aros for noþer
Hi leide þe þridde him upon and he aros wel blyue
And bigan to þonke Godes sone þat broȝte him fram deþe to lyue
Deope hy gonne to delue þer as þe smoke out wende
So þat hy fonde roden þre[o] þo hi hadde idolue longe
Oure Louerdes rode & oþer to þat þe þeues were on anhonge
Biside oure Louerd him to ssende þo nuste hi of þe þre[o]
Þe holi crois þat hi soȝte wuch it miȝte be[o]
And naþeles hy nome alle þre[o] & toward toune bere
To Eleyne þe gode quene wiþ wel glade chere
Bi þe wey atte heie non he gan aȝen hom bringe
A ded ȝonge man up a bere toward buringe
Curiac nom is owe rode and ef sone is oþer
And leide up þis dede man ac he ne aros for noþer
Hi leide þe þridde him upon and he aros wel blyue
And bigan to þonke Godes sone þat broȝte him fram deþe to lyue
Þo com þe deuel ȝollinge forþ loude he gan grede
Alas nou is mi miȝte ido euere mo he sede
Iesus Iesus wat þencstou al folk to þe lede
Þou hast here man in ward iȝiue þing þat ich mest ofdrede
Þoru wan ich was ferst ouercome & nou ich am al at gronde
Alas þulke sori wille þat he euere was ifonde
For inabbe poer non so gret an eorþe amang manne
Ȝif hi makeþ þe forme of þe crois þat i nemot anon þanne
Þer uore ichot þat echmon wole þat soþe ise[o]
Þat þe crois me haþ ouercome and al bileue me
Alas nou is mi miȝte ido euere mo he sede
Iesus Iesus wat þencstou al folk to þe lede
Þou hast here man in ward iȝiue þing þat ich mest ofdrede
Þoru wan ich was ferst ouercome & nou ich am al at gronde
Alas þulke sori wille þat he euere was ifonde
For inabbe poer non so gret an eorþe amang manne
Ȝif hi makeþ þe forme of þe crois þat i nemot anon þanne
Þer uore ichot þat echmon wole þat soþe ise[o]
Þat þe crois me haþ ouercome and al bileue me
178
Alas alas þis tyme nou ich worþ al forsake
Iudas Iudas wat was þe wi wostou þus ontake
Þoru on þat Iudas was ihote Iesus to deþe i[ch] broȝte
And þoru Iudas ich am ouercome & ibroȝt to noȝte
Me ne tit neuere eft strengþe non bote enyman wole wiþ wille
Serui me to paie is fleiss is soule forto spille
Wanne my stre[n]gþe me is bynome fondy ich mot mid gynne
And wiþ traison ȝif ich may enyman to me wynne
I ne may here no leng bileue for þis me þencheþ longe
For þe crois þat me is so ney in pine ich am wel stronge
Iudas Iudas wat was þe wi wostou þus ontake
Þoru on þat Iudas was ihote Iesus to deþe i[ch] broȝte
And þoru Iudas ich am ouercome & ibroȝt to noȝte
Me ne tit neuere eft strengþe non bote enyman wole wiþ wille
Serui me to paie is fleiss is soule forto spille
Wanne my stre[n]gþe me is bynome fondy ich mot mid gynne
And wiþ traison ȝif ich may enyman to me wynne
I ne may here no leng bileue for þis me þencheþ longe
For þe crois þat me is so ney in pine ich am wel stronge
Go hanne anon quaþ Iudas ne com her neuere eft more
Ifonde he is þe it late be[o] þat ouercomþ al þi lore
He þat here þis dede man fram deþe broȝte to lyue
Pulte þe wiþ is poer in to helle gronde blyue
Muche was þe ioie of þe crois þat men made þo þere
Wiþ gret song & procession [to] þe quene hi is bere
Iudas nom þo Cristendom & þo he ibaptized was
He let him nemne Curiac þat er her het Iudas
Ifonde he is þe it late be[o] þat ouercomþ al þi lore
He þat here þis dede man fram deþe broȝte to lyue
Pulte þe wiþ is poer in to helle gronde blyue
Muche was þe ioie of þe crois þat men made þo þere
Wiþ gret song & procession [to] þe quene hi is bere
Iudas nom þo Cristendom & þo he ibaptized was
He let him nemne Curiac þat er her het Iudas
Þe quene of seluer & of gold a riche ssrine wroȝte
And of ȝymmes precious & þe rode þer on broȝte
Vpe þe hul of Caluari þere hi þe rode fonde
A noble churche he let rere ihered be[o] þulke stonde
And of ȝymmes precious & þe rode þer on broȝte
Vpe þe hul of Caluari þere hi þe rode fonde
A noble churche he let rere ihered be[o] þulke stonde
Þo desirede þe quene muche after þe nailes þre[o]
Ware wiþ oure Louerd was ynailed to þe tre[o]
Quiriac þat het er Iudas wende to þe place
As þe crois ifonde was and bad oure Louerdes grace
Þat he ȝif is wille were þe þre[o] nailes him sende
Þe nailes wiþ gret liȝtinge out of þe eorþe wende
Quiriac þonkede oure Louerd Crist wiþ gret ioie he is nom
And tok is Eleine þe gode quene þo he to hure com
Ware wiþ oure Louerd was ynailed to þe tre[o]
Quiriac þat het er Iudas wende to þe place
As þe crois ifonde was and bad oure Louerdes grace
Þat he ȝif is wille were þe þre[o] nailes him sende
Þe nailes wiþ gret liȝtinge out of þe eorþe wende
Quiriac þonkede oure Louerd Crist wiþ gret ioie he is nom
And tok is Eleine þe gode quene þo he to hure com
| The South English Legendary | |