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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| XV. | CHAPTER XV. |
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 | CHAPTER XV. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XV.
173
Now let vs beleven Of kyng Eualach,
And Firthere Into this Mater now let vs walk,
And Of these Cristene Speke we bedene
That In Sarras ben, Sixty & Fyftene,
Lik As vs tellith the Storye
Of Eualachs wif here Sekerlye,
That A wondir fair womman sche was,
And ful worschepful In Every plas,
And ‘Sarracynte’ was that qwenes Name,
A worschepful lady, and Of Noble Fame.
And whanne that Eualach with his Ost forth wente,
So moche Mone sche Made, sche was Ny Schente,
For Eualach, that was Most In hire Mynde
Of al Erthly thing, and that was kynde.
Therfore sche sente For Iosephe Anon,
To weten how that the Cause scholde gon,
In As Mochel As that Er he seide
‘That hire lord scholde han Abreide,
And þerto thre dayes & thre Nyhtes to be
Vndir his Enemyes powste,
And that to the Prikke of deth thorwgh Tholome
He scholde ben browht,’—thus seyde he—
‘And ȝif it scholde Ony lengere laste
Thān̄ne thre dayes & thre Nyhtes weren paste.’
And this was the Cawse Certeinle
That sche for Iosephe sente, I telle it the.
And Firthere Into this Mater now let vs walk,
And Of these Cristene Speke we bedene
That In Sarras ben, Sixty & Fyftene,
Lik As vs tellith the Storye
Of Eualachs wif here Sekerlye,
That A wondir fair womman sche was,
And ful worschepful In Every plas,
And ‘Sarracynte’ was that qwenes Name,
A worschepful lady, and Of Noble Fame.
And whanne that Eualach with his Ost forth wente,
So moche Mone sche Made, sche was Ny Schente,
For Eualach, that was Most In hire Mynde
Of al Erthly thing, and that was kynde.
Therfore sche sente For Iosephe Anon,
To weten how that the Cause scholde gon,
In As Mochel As that Er he seide
‘That hire lord scholde han Abreide,
And þerto thre dayes & thre Nyhtes to be
Vndir his Enemyes powste,
174
He scholde ben browht,’—thus seyde he—
‘And ȝif it scholde Ony lengere laste
Thān̄ne thre dayes & thre Nyhtes weren paste.’
And this was the Cawse Certeinle
That sche for Iosephe sente, I telle it the.
Thanne Iosephe to-Fore hire Gan gon,
And with him his sone Ryht Anon;
Thanne sche him Axed there In haste,
“Whether the Iorne with hire lord were paste;
And how he spedde In the bataille,”
Hire forto telle sche preyde not Faille.
Thanne to Sarracinte spak Iosephe Certeinle
“Thus sente the to seine the kyng Of Cristene (be Me,)
That Of Alle thing knoweth the begynneng,
And demen schal Atte laste Endyng,
And Of Al this world Saviour Is he
Sekerly, As I telle it the.
And For As Mochel as these Erthly kynges
Ne welen non knowen In here werkynges,
Nethir Resceyven My Creaunce,
I schal hem sende ful hard chaunse;
For Into bataille I wele hem do,
And there here Enemyes scholen hem slo;
And here londis ȝeven wile I
In-to the hondes of strawngeris sothfastly.
For I wele that they knowen Me
As fore here Souereyn lord god In Al d[eg]re,
Nethir Of non Othir kyng to holde,
But Only Of Me, In Manye Folde;
For bothe to prowde and Ek to Felowns,
I schal hem sende Manie distrucciouns;
Thus be my Spyrit I schal hem sende,
And In this degre I wele hem schende;
And therfore the Grete I wyle down take;
And þe Feble & powre, lordis wil I Make;
More-Over, kynges flesch ȝoven schal be
To Fowles Of Raveyne, that Abowten fle
Forto Finden Sum Careyne:
Thus schal it ben In Certeine.
And the bodyes that Of pore Men scolen be
Worthily I-byried In Eche degre;
For the Ryhte weyes alle they knowe,
And my Comandementis they welen bowe
Wit good herte And good Entenciowne,
This welen they Resceyven with good devociown.”
And with him his sone Ryht Anon;
Thanne sche him Axed there In haste,
“Whether the Iorne with hire lord were paste;
And how he spedde In the bataille,”
Hire forto telle sche preyde not Faille.
Thanne to Sarracinte spak Iosephe Certeinle
“Thus sente the to seine the kyng Of Cristene (be Me,)
That Of Alle thing knoweth the begynneng,
And demen schal Atte laste Endyng,
And Of Al this world Saviour Is he
Sekerly, As I telle it the.
And For As Mochel as these Erthly kynges
Ne welen non knowen In here werkynges,
Nethir Resceyven My Creaunce,
I schal hem sende ful hard chaunse;
For Into bataille I wele hem do,
And there here Enemyes scholen hem slo;
And here londis ȝeven wile I
In-to the hondes of strawngeris sothfastly.
For I wele that they knowen Me
As fore here Souereyn lord god In Al d[eg]re,
Nethir Of non Othir kyng to holde,
But Only Of Me, In Manye Folde;
For bothe to prowde and Ek to Felowns,
I schal hem sende Manie distrucciouns;
Thus be my Spyrit I schal hem sende,
And In this degre I wele hem schende;
175
And þe Feble & powre, lordis wil I Make;
More-Over, kynges flesch ȝoven schal be
To Fowles Of Raveyne, that Abowten fle
Forto Finden Sum Careyne:
Thus schal it ben In Certeine.
And the bodyes that Of pore Men scolen be
Worthily I-byried In Eche degre;
For the Ryhte weyes alle they knowe,
And my Comandementis they welen bowe
Wit good herte And good Entenciowne,
This welen they Resceyven with good devociown.”
And whanne Iosephe this tale hadde told,
Sarracinte gan to wepen Mani-fold,
And preyde bothe Iosephe & his sone,
For Eualach to here god to bydden som bone,
‘That Eualach with worschepe Myhte retornen Aȝen,
That sche with hire Eyen it Myhte Ones Sen,
And forto be turned to the Ryhtful Creaunce,
That the god Of Crystene wolde senden him swich chaunse.’
“And I hope thanne Tornen wold he,
Aftir, A good Man for Euere to be.”
Sarracinte gan to wepen Mani-fold,
And preyde bothe Iosephe & his sone,
For Eualach to here god to bydden som bone,
‘That Eualach with worschepe Myhte retornen Aȝen,
That sche with hire Eyen it Myhte Ones Sen,
And forto be turned to the Ryhtful Creaunce,
That the god Of Crystene wolde senden him swich chaunse.’
“And I hope thanne Tornen wold he,
Aftir, A good Man for Euere to be.”
Thanne Iosephes Ganne hire Answere,
‘How there-Offen the Certeyn knew sche there;’
And sche Answerid Iosephes Agein:
“Of that Surawn̄ce Am I, In Certein.”
“How there-offen, dame, Sure Mihtest thow be,
Whanne thou beleves on ymages of ston & tre;
For they mowen nethir meven ne stonde,
Ne hem to helpen haven thei nethir leg ne honde,
And In Iesu Crist he wil not beleve,—
How Myhtest thow thanne this preve—
That is lord Of Alle Cristiente,
As I schal here-After declaren to the.”
‘How there-Offen the Certeyn knew sche there;’
And sche Answerid Iosephes Agein:
“Of that Surawn̄ce Am I, In Certein.”
“How there-offen, dame, Sure Mihtest thow be,
Whanne thou beleves on ymages of ston & tre;
For they mowen nethir meven ne stonde,
Ne hem to helpen haven thei nethir leg ne honde,
And In Iesu Crist he wil not beleve,—
How Myhtest thow thanne this preve—
That is lord Of Alle Cristiente,
As I schal here-After declaren to the.”
176
Thanne Axede sche him Ryht Anon
The pointes Of Cristendom forto Ondon.
Thanne Iosephes began Anon forto telle
The Creavnse of þe Trenite, and þereof gan spelle;
And the qweene behel[de] him faste,
And Axede ‘what he hyhte’ Atte laste.
Thanne Answerid he ‘that he Cristened was
And I-Clepid “Iosephes” In that plas;
And there-Offen Is there non Man
That Me that Name bereven kan.’
The pointes Of Cristendom forto Ondon.
Thanne Iosephes began Anon forto telle
The Creavnse of þe Trenite, and þereof gan spelle;
And the qweene behel[de] him faste,
And Axede ‘what he hyhte’ Atte laste.
Thanne Answerid he ‘that he Cristened was
And I-Clepid “Iosephes” In that plas;
And there-Offen Is there non Man
That Me that Name bereven kan.’
Thanne Comanded the qweene Anon
Alle hire Owne Meyne from hire to gon.
And Anon Alle the poyntes Of the Trenite
To Iosephes sche gan to declaren Certeinle,
So that there was non Clerk levynge
That there-Inne scholde han schewed more konnenge;
So ferforth that Iosephes Merveillen began
That so moche wit myht ben In womman,
And where sche hadde this konnenge Cawht,
Oþer what Maner Of Man that it here tawht.
Alle hire Owne Meyne from hire to gon.
And Anon Alle the poyntes Of the Trenite
To Iosephes sche gan to declaren Certeinle,
So that there was non Clerk levynge
That there-Inne scholde han schewed more konnenge;
So ferforth that Iosephes Merveillen began
That so moche wit myht ben In womman,
And where sche hadde this konnenge Cawht,
Oþer what Maner Of Man that it here tawht.
Thanne Answered this Qweene Agein,
“Ful ten ȝer My Modir In Certein
Fulliche & hol was In this Creaunce,—
As I the telle Iosephes—with-Owten variaunce,
And ȝit My Fadir there-offen Neuere wiste,
Ne non Of his lyne, thow Mihtest wel Tryste,
Saufe Onliche Mine Owne Modir and I;
I Sey the Iosephes ful Certeinly,
My Modir, duchesse Of Orbery was,
As In thike tyme happed be Cas,
Whiche that good womman was, & trewe,
And therto worschepful & Of good thewe;
My Fadyr was Crwel and dispetows,
And therto Angry & Riht Malicious;
And So it behappede with-Owten Mo,
That Ouer hens Sevene & twenti winter Ago,
That In Owre Contre An holy man there was
In An Ermytage, As god ȝaf him gras,
That Moche dide for goddis Sake,
And God for him Manie Merveilles gan Make,
And his Name ‘Salustine’ Gonne they Calle;
In him Manie vertwes gonne there falle.
So thanne My Modir hadde An Infirmite—
Certeinly Iosephes as I telle the—
That theke tyme xix Monthes hadde holde,
Sche was In sorwe and wo Manie-Folde,
That hire Colowr and blood was Al ago,
So Ful sche was Of peyne and wo,
And Alle hire Membres weren wasted Eke,
And þerto sche was ful feble & syke.
“Ful ten ȝer My Modir In Certein
Fulliche & hol was In this Creaunce,—
As I the telle Iosephes—with-Owten variaunce,
And ȝit My Fadir there-offen Neuere wiste,
Ne non Of his lyne, thow Mihtest wel Tryste,
Saufe Onliche Mine Owne Modir and I;
I Sey the Iosephes ful Certeinly,
My Modir, duchesse Of Orbery was,
As In thike tyme happed be Cas,
Whiche that good womman was, & trewe,
And therto worschepful & Of good thewe;
My Fadyr was Crwel and dispetows,
And therto Angry & Riht Malicious;
And So it behappede with-Owten Mo,
That Ouer hens Sevene & twenti winter Ago,
177
In An Ermytage, As god ȝaf him gras,
That Moche dide for goddis Sake,
And God for him Manie Merveilles gan Make,
And his Name ‘Salustine’ Gonne they Calle;
In him Manie vertwes gonne there falle.
So thanne My Modir hadde An Infirmite—
Certeinly Iosephes as I telle the—
That theke tyme xix Monthes hadde holde,
Sche was In sorwe and wo Manie-Folde,
That hire Colowr and blood was Al ago,
So Ful sche was Of peyne and wo,
And Alle hire Membres weren wasted Eke,
And þerto sche was ful feble & syke.
So herde sche tellen Of this good Man,
What Merveilles that God wrowht In him than,
And thowhte with him sche wolde Gon speke,
And somwhat Of hire herte to him breke,
To tellen him Of hire Infirmite,
Ȝif Ony Socour there-offen Mihte be;
For sonnere sche hopede to ben ded
Thanne to live to tornen In that sted.
What Merveilles that God wrowht In him than,
And thowhte with him sche wolde Gon speke,
And somwhat Of hire herte to him breke,
To tellen him Of hire Infirmite,
Ȝif Ony Socour there-offen Mihte be;
For sonnere sche hopede to ben ded
Thanne to live to tornen In that sted.
Whanne þat tofore this good man sche gan to gon,
Down On hire knees sche Fyl Anon,
And there down sche fil to his feet,
And preide him Of Socour Also skeet.
Tho this good Man On here there loked faste,
And Seide, “O womman, womman, Atte laste
Wherto Of helpe Axest thow Me,
That hast Swich An Infirmyte?
Certes thou Art,” quod this good Man,
“Dedlich, and þerto Sinful womman;
And I dedlich Am Also,
And therto Sinful with-Owten Mo;
For seker I non power ne have,
Nethir Man ne womman forto save,
But Onliche it is Crist & god Above
That hem doth Save that him welen love.”
Down On hire knees sche Fyl Anon,
And there down sche fil to his feet,
And preide him Of Socour Also skeet.
Tho this good Man On here there loked faste,
And Seide, “O womman, womman, Atte laste
Wherto Of helpe Axest thow Me,
That hast Swich An Infirmyte?
Certes thou Art,” quod this good Man,
“Dedlich, and þerto Sinful womman;
And I dedlich Am Also,
And therto Sinful with-Owten Mo;
178
Nethir Man ne womman forto save,
But Onliche it is Crist & god Above
That hem doth Save that him welen love.”
Thanne Answerid my modir “Certeinle,
Good sire, so preye thy lord for me
That he wolde taken Me to his grace,
And helthe to sende me In this place.”
Thus thanne scheide sche in alle thing
To this goode man ful sore weping,
“For I hope thi God ne wile not werne þe
Ony thing that thow Axest Certeinle.”
“Dame, til to Morwe this May not be,
Certeinli I telle it the.”
“Sire, thanne schal I Comen Agein,
And tresowr I-nowh to bringen Certein,
ȝif that he me now helpen wolde,
Tresowr I-nowh Of Siluer & Golde.”
Thanne answerid this good man tho:
“Of thin Tresowr wile he non, Lo,
But Only Of trewe herte Repentance,
And stedfast beleve & ful Creaunce.”
Good sire, so preye thy lord for me
That he wolde taken Me to his grace,
And helthe to sende me In this place.”
Thus thanne scheide sche in alle thing
To this goode man ful sore weping,
“For I hope thi God ne wile not werne þe
Ony thing that thow Axest Certeinle.”
“Dame, til to Morwe this May not be,
Certeinli I telle it the.”
“Sire, thanne schal I Comen Agein,
And tresowr I-nowh to bringen Certein,
ȝif that he me now helpen wolde,
Tresowr I-nowh Of Siluer & Golde.”
Thanne answerid this good man tho:
“Of thin Tresowr wile he non, Lo,
But Only Of trewe herte Repentance,
And stedfast beleve & ful Creaunce.”
And tho spak sche with good semblawnt
To him that was goddis seriawnt,
“What thing On Erthe thow bidde me do,
I schal it fulfille for peyne Other wo,
And he wele me helpen Of thys Maledye
That doth me now so gret Anoye.”
Thanne Answerid this goodman agein,
“And thow wilt fulliche beleven Certein
In Iesu Crist, that verray lord,
I schal behoten the hele at On word;
Er that thow Owt of this plase wende,
Thow schalt ben helid with-Owten Ende.”
To him that was goddis seriawnt,
“What thing On Erthe thow bidde me do,
I schal it fulfille for peyne Other wo,
And he wele me helpen Of thys Maledye
That doth me now so gret Anoye.”
Thanne Answerid this goodman agein,
“And thow wilt fulliche beleven Certein
In Iesu Crist, that verray lord,
I schal behoten the hele at On word;
Er that thow Owt of this plase wende,
Thow schalt ben helid with-Owten Ende.”
Thanne to his Feet sche knelid A-down,
And hem kiste with good devociown,
“Sire! ȝif that hele he wel me sende,
On him wile I beleven with-Owten Ende.”
Thanne seide to hire this good Man,
“ȝif stedfastli wilt þou beleve,” quod he þan,
“Anon Riht helyd schalt thow be
Of thin Maladie Certeinle;
For hele Is there non so sone
As In god beleve, hos wil it done.”
Thanne seide my modir Anon Ageyn,
“Sire! I beleve it fully In Certein,
That Onliche verray God Is he
That me schal helpen Of myn Infirmite.”
179
“Sire! ȝif that hele he wel me sende,
On him wile I beleven with-Owten Ende.”
Thanne seide to hire this good Man,
“ȝif stedfastli wilt þou beleve,” quod he þan,
“Anon Riht helyd schalt thow be
Of thin Maladie Certeinle;
For hele Is there non so sone
As In god beleve, hos wil it done.”
Thanne seide my modir Anon Ageyn,
“Sire! I beleve it fully In Certein,
That Onliche verray God Is he
That me schal helpen Of myn Infirmite.”
And Anon this Goode Man took
In his hond Anon A litel book,
And there-vppon ful faste gan Rede
[Al so faste as he cowde spede,]
In A Corner al be him Selve;
There preide he God and thapostelis twelve,
‘That God wolde sende his Mercy & Grase
To that Synful womman In that plase,
And to keveren here Of that Maladye
That xviij ȝer Contenwelye
Here hadde holden In that degre,
Goode lord, þat koverid myhte sche now be.’
In his hond Anon A litel book,
And there-vppon ful faste gan Rede
[Al so faste as he cowde spede,]
In A Corner al be him Selve;
There preide he God and thapostelis twelve,
‘That God wolde sende his Mercy & Grase
To that Synful womman In that plase,
And to keveren here Of that Maladye
That xviij ȝer Contenwelye
Here hadde holden In that degre,
Goode lord, þat koverid myhte sche now be.’
And whanne his preyere thus hadde he do,
Anon to My Modir he Cam sone tho,
Thus Seyenge to hire, “Aryse vp here
Also hol As Evere thow Er were,
In the Name of the Fadir, Sone, & holigost,
Wiche that Is Of Myhtes Evere Most!”
Thanne felte My Moder there Anon,
That As hol sche was In flesch and bon
As Evere Ony tyme sche was before,
Sethen sche was Of hire Modir I-bore;
And the strengthe Of hire Membres Anon
Sche hadde Aȝen there tho Everichon.
Anon to My Modir he Cam sone tho,
Thus Seyenge to hire, “Aryse vp here
Also hol As Evere thow Er were,
In the Name of the Fadir, Sone, & holigost,
Wiche that Is Of Myhtes Evere Most!”
Thanne felte My Moder there Anon,
That As hol sche was In flesch and bon
As Evere Ony tyme sche was before,
Sethen sche was Of hire Modir I-bore;
180
Sche hadde Aȝen there tho Everichon.
Anon whanne sche felte this riht tho,
That helthe Aȝen was Comen hire to,
“Now May I sen,” sche seide, “verrailly,
That thi lord Is Strong & ful Myhti
That me hath helyd of My gret Maladye.
For it hath me Cost Certeinlye
More thanne xv thowsend besaunz,
This Maladie wit-Owten variaunz,
& ȝit neuere be non Of hem hele myhte I have;
But þou, blessed lord, now dost me Save.”
That helthe Aȝen was Comen hire to,
“Now May I sen,” sche seide, “verrailly,
That thi lord Is Strong & ful Myhti
That me hath helyd of My gret Maladye.
For it hath me Cost Certeinlye
More thanne xv thowsend besaunz,
This Maladie wit-Owten variaunz,
& ȝit neuere be non Of hem hele myhte I have;
But þou, blessed lord, now dost me Save.”
Thanne seide to hire this Good man Anon,
“Baptesme to Resceiuen er ȝe hens now gon.”
And thanne sche Axede him ful sone,
‘What that baptesme Mihte done.’
And [he] hire Answered Sone Agein,
“It Is thyn hol Savacioun In Certein.”
Thanne Answerid sche with good wille,
“I wile it Resceyven bothe Mekly & stille.”
Thanne the Goode Man hire Cristened Anon there
In his Name that was Of Most powere,
Whiche Is Fadir, and sone, And holy gost,
On God and thre persones, Of myhtes Most;
And thus My Modyr there he Cristened Anon.
“Baptesme to Resceiuen er ȝe hens now gon.”
And thanne sche Axede him ful sone,
‘What that baptesme Mihte done.’
And [he] hire Answered Sone Agein,
“It Is thyn hol Savacioun In Certein.”
Thanne Answerid sche with good wille,
“I wile it Resceyven bothe Mekly & stille.”
Thanne the Goode Man hire Cristened Anon there
In his Name that was Of Most powere,
Whiche Is Fadir, and sone, And holy gost,
On God and thre persones, Of myhtes Most;
And thus My Modyr there he Cristened Anon.
Thanne Owt Of the Chambre sche come gon
There As I Abod with-Owten the dore,
And Al Owre Meyne In the Flore;
So my Modir took me be the hond,
And with hire to gon I myhte not withstond,
And thus me to-forn the good man browhte,
That I ne wiste what I seyn Mowhte;
“My swete dowghter, Com now hider to Me,
Now koverid I am Of Myn Infirmite;
Þerfore, swete dowhter, I wolde that þou wost don
As I schal the here Comaunden Anon.”
Thanne Answerid I with herte qwakynge,
“Modir, I wele don Alle ȝowre biddinge;”
So that I hadde gret wondir tho
What my Modir wolde with me do.
“Faire swete dowghter, I wolde that ȝe
Wolde worschepen him that myn Infirmite
Me hol hath Mad, and taken clene Away;
So, swete dowghter, so worschepe þat man þis day.”
And I wende sche hadde ment that Old Man,
And therfore I ne dorste not Sekerly than;
And My Modir Axede me “wherfore?”
“For Certein he hath A long berd, & An hore;
And Euere whanne I lokede vppon his berd,
Sekir, Modir, I scholde ben Aferd.”
There As I Abod with-Owten the dore,
And Al Owre Meyne In the Flore;
So my Modir took me be the hond,
And with hire to gon I myhte not withstond,
And thus me to-forn the good man browhte,
That I ne wiste what I seyn Mowhte;
“My swete dowghter, Com now hider to Me,
Now koverid I am Of Myn Infirmite;
Þerfore, swete dowhter, I wolde that þou wost don
As I schal the here Comaunden Anon.”
181
“Modir, I wele don Alle ȝowre biddinge;”
So that I hadde gret wondir tho
What my Modir wolde with me do.
“Faire swete dowghter, I wolde that ȝe
Wolde worschepen him that myn Infirmite
Me hol hath Mad, and taken clene Away;
So, swete dowghter, so worschepe þat man þis day.”
And I wende sche hadde ment that Old Man,
And therfore I ne dorste not Sekerly than;
And My Modir Axede me “wherfore?”
“For Certein he hath A long berd, & An hore;
And Euere whanne I lokede vppon his berd,
Sekir, Modir, I scholde ben Aferd.”
Thanne Anon lowgh this good Old Man
For that I Seyde Of him than,
“Nay, faire dowghter, it Nam not I
That thi Modir Speketh Of trewely;
But Anoþer it Is, that is ful Of Bewte
And Of Alle goodnesse In Eche degre.”
And I axed him, “where that he was,
ȝif I myht Owht sen him In this plas;
And, ȝif he fairere thanne my broþer be,
Him I wele loven In Alle degre;
For my brothir, so fair he Is,
That of bewte hath he non pere I-wis.”
For that I Seyde Of him than,
“Nay, faire dowghter, it Nam not I
That thi Modir Speketh Of trewely;
But Anoþer it Is, that is ful Of Bewte
And Of Alle goodnesse In Eche degre.”
And I axed him, “where that he was,
ȝif I myht Owht sen him In this plas;
And, ȝif he fairere thanne my broþer be,
Him I wele loven In Alle degre;
For my brothir, so fair he Is,
That of bewte hath he non pere I-wis.”
And whanne to him thus hadde I told,
To speken to Me he was ful bold:
“With-Inne A litel while here schalt þou Se
Him Of whom þat I speke to the,
Whiche is Fairere thanne thi brothir Is
In Alle degres, and In More blis
Oþer thanne thy brothir Evere thow sye,
Owther Euere thow schalt with thin Eye.”
And Anon As this word hadde he Seid,
A wondir Clerte toforn me was leyd
Sodeynly there In that Chapel;
Many wondirful swetnesse Aforn me fyl,
And the hows So ful there-Offen was,
And therto swich delicasie In that plas.
To speken to Me he was ful bold:
“With-Inne A litel while here schalt þou Se
Him Of whom þat I speke to the,
Whiche is Fairere thanne thi brothir Is
In Alle degres, and In More blis
Oþer thanne thy brothir Evere thow sye,
Owther Euere thow schalt with thin Eye.”
182
A wondir Clerte toforn me was leyd
Sodeynly there In that Chapel;
Many wondirful swetnesse Aforn me fyl,
And the hows So ful there-Offen was,
And therto swich delicasie In that plas.
Amyddis þat liht & swetnesse þer gan forth gon
The fairest Creature Of flesch & bon,
The Clerest and the fairest persone
That Evere Ony erthly Eye myhte loken vppone.
This Man gan holden In his Ryht hond
The Signe Of A red Cross, I vndirstond,
And bothe his Eyen Me thowhte ferden there
Also Cleer brennenge As Ony Fere.
And thus A whille Stood he thore;
Where-Offen I was Abasched wel sore,
Of the wondris that I On him gan beholde;
Wherfore myn herte wax wondir Colde,
For On him non More thanne Mihte I loke,
So that for drede myn hertë qwoke,
But to the Erthe I fil plat Adown
As thowh I hadde ben In A swon;
Thanne the Ermyt took me be þe honde,
And Made me vp be him stonde;
Of wheche Sihte hadde I gret Merveilleng;
And sauf my Modir & thermit Saw I non thing.
The fairest Creature Of flesch & bon,
The Clerest and the fairest persone
That Evere Ony erthly Eye myhte loken vppone.
This Man gan holden In his Ryht hond
The Signe Of A red Cross, I vndirstond,
And bothe his Eyen Me thowhte ferden there
Also Cleer brennenge As Ony Fere.
And thus A whille Stood he thore;
Where-Offen I was Abasched wel sore,
Of the wondris that I On him gan beholde;
Wherfore myn herte wax wondir Colde,
For On him non More thanne Mihte I loke,
So that for drede myn hertë qwoke,
But to the Erthe I fil plat Adown
As thowh I hadde ben In A swon;
Thanne the Ermyt took me be þe honde,
And Made me vp be him stonde;
Of wheche Sihte hadde I gret Merveilleng;
And sauf my Modir & thermit Saw I non thing.
Thanne this good man Seide to Me,
“Now, my faire dowhter, how thinketh the?”
And thanne I Answerid so Ageyn,
“This Mannes Creaunce I wele resceyven fayn.”
And Anon there he Cristenede Me
In the holë Name Of the Trenite;
So þat aftir he told vs, but not be-forn,
‘How þat Iesus Crist was Conceyved & born
Of An holy virgine, Modir & Maide,
As be Old tyme the prophetis saide;
And how þat On þe Cros he gan to dye,
Man To beien from endles felonye;
And how þe thridde day he Ros Ageyne,
And deliuered his frendis from Endeles peyne;
Thanne Aftir, with the xlthe day,
Streyht to hevene he wente his way;
And the xj day Aftir, with-Owten fantem,
He sente to his dissiples, Into Ierusalem,
His holy gost, Anon there Ryht,
In liknesse of flawmes of fir so briht;
& told hem Also how that they scholde
His bodi sacren to ȝong and Olde,
As he hem tawhte At his sene,
The[r] Alle his apostelis weren Clene
The Niht to-fore he suffrede passiown;’
And thus tolde vs thermyt, Al & som.
“Now, my faire dowhter, how thinketh the?”
And thanne I Answerid so Ageyn,
“This Mannes Creaunce I wele resceyven fayn.”
And Anon there he Cristenede Me
In the holë Name Of the Trenite;
So þat aftir he told vs, but not be-forn,
‘How þat Iesus Crist was Conceyved & born
183
As be Old tyme the prophetis saide;
And how þat On þe Cros he gan to dye,
Man To beien from endles felonye;
And how þe thridde day he Ros Ageyne,
And deliuered his frendis from Endeles peyne;
Thanne Aftir, with the xlthe day,
Streyht to hevene he wente his way;
And the xj day Aftir, with-Owten fantem,
He sente to his dissiples, Into Ierusalem,
His holy gost, Anon there Ryht,
In liknesse of flawmes of fir so briht;
& told hem Also how that they scholde
His bodi sacren to ȝong and Olde,
As he hem tawhte At his sene,
The[r] Alle his apostelis weren Clene
The Niht to-fore he suffrede passiown;’
And thus tolde vs thermyt, Al & som.
Thanne whanne this to vs hadde he told,
To that Awter he wente ful bold,
And there made he þat holy Sacrament
With hy devocioun and good Entent;
And to my Modir there it tho took,
And sche it Resceyvede, & not forsook.
Thanne After to me he Cam Anon,
And In My Mowth he wold han it don;
Thanne thus to me he gan to seyn:
‘That I scholde beleven Certein,
That theke same body it was
The wheche In the virgine took his plas.’
Where that thanne I taried Anon Ryht,
That to beleven hadde I non Myht;
So thanne thowhte me Anon In My siht,
That it was theke Selve Faire wyht
Wheche In the Chapel I sawgh to-fore,
That I was Offen Abascht ful sore.
Thanne seide I to him Anon there,
“Sire, I beleve As thow seidest Ere.”
So that from him we departed Anon,
Homward In Oure weye forto gon.
Thanne charged he vs In Alle wise,
‘That we scholde don non More S[a]crifise:’
“To þese fals ymages of tre ne ston,
Be no weye Sacrifise Make ȝe non.”
And thanne we Answerid him Ageyn,
‘That On God wolde we beleven Certeyn,
And Comfort and Ioye Of him to have,
And that At Owre Endeng he wele vs save.’
In this Maner Ferst Of Iesu Cristes lawe
Thus lerned we, & there-Offen weren fawe.
To that Awter he wente ful bold,
And there made he þat holy Sacrament
With hy devocioun and good Entent;
And to my Modir there it tho took,
And sche it Resceyvede, & not forsook.
Thanne After to me he Cam Anon,
And In My Mowth he wold han it don;
Thanne thus to me he gan to seyn:
‘That I scholde beleven Certein,
That theke same body it was
The wheche In the virgine took his plas.’
Where that thanne I taried Anon Ryht,
That to beleven hadde I non Myht;
So thanne thowhte me Anon In My siht,
That it was theke Selve Faire wyht
Wheche In the Chapel I sawgh to-fore,
That I was Offen Abascht ful sore.
184
“Sire, I beleve As thow seidest Ere.”
So that from him we departed Anon,
Homward In Oure weye forto gon.
Thanne charged he vs In Alle wise,
‘That we scholde don non More S[a]crifise:’
“To þese fals ymages of tre ne ston,
Be no weye Sacrifise Make ȝe non.”
And thanne we Answerid him Ageyn,
‘That On God wolde we beleven Certeyn,
And Comfort and Ioye Of him to have,
And that At Owre Endeng he wele vs save.’
In this Maner Ferst Of Iesu Cristes lawe
Thus lerned we, & there-Offen weren fawe.
And whanne that we weren comen to Orbery,
Thanne herden we A wondir Noise, & a gret Cry,
Of A savage wilde beste
That was broken Owt of a foreste;
And Al the Contre it gan to chase,
It Forto distroyen In som plase;
For it was so dyvers A beste of kynde,
That þere hadde non Man wit ne Mynde
To tellen what thike beste was
That they Chaced In theke plas;
For that beste was so dispetous,
So feers And so Angwischous,
That he distroiede theke Contre,
An Ete schepe & Children In Eche degre;
Men & hors he gan to distroye,
And to wommen with Childe he dyde gret Anoye.
Thanne herden we A wondir Noise, & a gret Cry,
Of A savage wilde beste
That was broken Owt of a foreste;
And Al the Contre it gan to chase,
It Forto distroyen In som plase;
For it was so dyvers A beste of kynde,
That þere hadde non Man wit ne Mynde
To tellen what thike beste was
That they Chaced In theke plas;
For that beste was so dispetous,
So feers And so Angwischous,
That he distroiede theke Contre,
An Ete schepe & Children In Eche degre;
Men & hors he gan to distroye,
And to wommen with Childe he dyde gret Anoye.
The same tyme þat we from þis good man gonne gon,
Theke tyme fel this Chawnce Anon,
That the peple Gonnen to gaderen faste,
And my brothir In that pres forth paste,—
That so fair and so hardy he was,—
With hem he forth wente In that plas,
And A good hors there he be-strod,
And wel Armed he was, & non lengere Abod,—
As behoved A ȝong knyht Forto were,
For A litel to-fore knyht was he mad þere,—
For there dorste non Man that beste Chase,
But he were Armed In that plase;
For the beste was wondirful In that stede,
For thre hornes hadde [he] In his hede,
That So trenchaunt An scharpe were,
Scharpere than swerd, knyf, Oþer spere,—
For they wolden perschen bothe Irne & steel
Thow it were wrowht neuere so wel,—
Wheche beste mi brother gan to chase
Aforn Alle the men þat weren In that plase,
So that In tweyne plases he it smot
With A scharpe swerd that wel bot;
And fowre hors he Slowgh vndir hym,
The beste, it was so spetous & grym.
And whanne this beste Chased was So sore,
To the Forest he wente Alle hem before,
As it was Sekerely thus Me told,—
For I was not there it to behold,—
And my brothir Aftir him prekede faste,
To the Forest he Entrede atte laste:
And sethen that to theke Forest he wente,
And Folewede the beste there presente,
Sethen was there Neuere Man ne womman
That Of him Ony tydinges tellen kan,
Ne Neuere Sethen In-to this day
We ne herden neuere Of him tydinges In fay.
Theke tyme fel this Chawnce Anon,
That the peple Gonnen to gaderen faste,
And my brothir In that pres forth paste,—
That so fair and so hardy he was,—
With hem he forth wente In that plas,
185
And wel Armed he was, & non lengere Abod,—
As behoved A ȝong knyht Forto were,
For A litel to-fore knyht was he mad þere,—
For there dorste non Man that beste Chase,
But he were Armed In that plase;
For the beste was wondirful In that stede,
For thre hornes hadde [he] In his hede,
That So trenchaunt An scharpe were,
Scharpere than swerd, knyf, Oþer spere,—
For they wolden perschen bothe Irne & steel
Thow it were wrowht neuere so wel,—
Wheche beste mi brother gan to chase
Aforn Alle the men þat weren In that plase,
So that In tweyne plases he it smot
With A scharpe swerd that wel bot;
And fowre hors he Slowgh vndir hym,
The beste, it was so spetous & grym.
And whanne this beste Chased was So sore,
To the Forest he wente Alle hem before,
As it was Sekerely thus Me told,—
For I was not there it to behold,—
And my brothir Aftir him prekede faste,
To the Forest he Entrede atte laste:
And sethen that to theke Forest he wente,
And Folewede the beste there presente,
Sethen was there Neuere Man ne womman
That Of him Ony tydinges tellen kan,
Ne Neuere Sethen In-to this day
We ne herden neuere Of him tydinges In fay.
Thanne seide my Modir Anon to Me,
“Behold, dowhter, here now and se
How that þe Ermyt, this holy Man,
That schal befallen, tellen he Can.”
So that I held him with Crist prevë,
For that he Seide I scholde neuere se
My brothir, as it fil be Cas,
So fair as him as in the Chapel was;
And therfore ful soth seide he,
For aftir that day I mihte him neuere se.
And we so with Cristes passioun enspired were,
That Al his deth forgoten we there,
For the grete Ioye, And Oure Creawnce
That we hadde Resceyved to his plesaunce;
Whiche Creaunce my Modir kepte ful wel,
And Neuere aspied was non del
Into the day and tyme Of hire deth,
That sche scholde dyen, & ȝeven upe the breth.
“Behold, dowhter, here now and se
How that þe Ermyt, this holy Man,
That schal befallen, tellen he Can.”
So that I held him with Crist prevë,
For that he Seide I scholde neuere se
186
So fair as him as in the Chapel was;
And therfore ful soth seide he,
For aftir that day I mihte him neuere se.
And we so with Cristes passioun enspired were,
That Al his deth forgoten we there,
For the grete Ioye, And Oure Creawnce
That we hadde Resceyved to his plesaunce;
Whiche Creaunce my Modir kepte ful wel,
And Neuere aspied was non del
Into the day and tyme Of hire deth,
That sche scholde dyen, & ȝeven upe the breth.
Thanne Comaunded sche there Ryht Anon
That Alle the peple Owt Of þe chambre schold gon,
Sauf Onliche Alone sche and I;
This was hire Comandement trewly.
And whanne they weren al Owte I-gon,
Sche bad me Schette the dore Anon;
And whanne to hire that I was Comen Agein,
Thanne seide sche to me In Certein,
‘That owt Of this world that Nyht scholde sche go,’
Thus sche me tolde with-Owten Mo,
“Now, faire dowhter, go ȝe now Into tho wones
There As lyn Alle myn precious stones,
And Also A whit Booyst and A Ryng,
And that loke ȝe bringen me Ouer alle thynȝ
Whanne that this to hire I hadde I-browht,
Thanne vpe sche hire dressid As sche Mowht,
And On hire knees sche dressid hire down
To-forn hire bed In Orisown,
And there gan sche to wepen ful sore,
In Sighenges, and bunching On brest wel more.
And whanne In this Contenaunce longe hadde sche be,
Aftir the boist Anon sche Axede Of Me;
Thanne Axede sche water to hire hond,
Hem to waschen, As I Cowde vndirstonde.
And whanne hire hondis I-waschen were,
The boist Anon sche Opened there;
Owt of that boist there Isswed Anon
Owre holy Saviour bothe In flesch and bon,
In forme Of bred there In hire Syht,—
For so was the wil Of god Almyht,—
And with Manie teres and sore sighenge
There Resceived sche that holy thinge.
And whanne that thus hadde sche doon,
Thanne seide sche to Me Anon,
“Now that I have Resceived my saviour,
I am sekir From Alle deseises & dolour—
From the devel and Alle My Fon,—
And I am Seker to hevene to gon,
For I have Resceived of Alle Siknesse þe boote,
And helthe of alle Angwicsch, boþe Crop & Roote.
Lo! dowhter, this boist kepen thow schal
In A ful prevë plase with-al,
And that It Come In non Mannes hond
But In thin, I do the to vndirstond.
For this that I have Resceyved here,
Is Oure Saviour here & elles-where;
For On God In thre persones it is,
And thre persones In On God I-wis;
And loke ȝe that this ȝe kepen riht wel,
And loke þat ȝe wraththen þat God neuere A del;
Loke that ȝe taken this holy In Remembraunse,
And thinketh Algate vppon this Chaunse;
Thenke ȝe how he Cam Into this word,
And In Mannes kende here dweld be his owne Acord,
And alle thing suffrede as dyde Man,
Sauf Only Of synne neuere knewe he þan,
Where-offen that he was Evere klene,
& neuere þerwith spottid, with-Owten wene.
Loke that ȝe have Euere this In Mynde,
How good that lord was, & how kynde,
That for vs he suffrede ded,
Mannes sowle to beyen from þe qwed;
And loke that Al this In Memorie ȝe haue
In ȝowre herte, And ȝe wil be save,
And that Every day In ȝowre Compeni he be.
Now, goode swete dowhter, so thinketh On me!
For, sethen that I Crestened was,
Everiday I him worschepid In this plas,
& Euery day in my Compenie mi saviour I hadde,
Therwhilles was I of non man Adradde;
But, swete dowhter, this wot I wel,
That here-Offen knew ȝe nevere A del;
For I it kepte In previte,—
The Cawse why I schal telle þe,—
For ȝif thow haddest deid In this world er I,
Thow schost it han Resceyved trewly;
But sethen I deien schal to-Forn the,
I have it Resceyved, As thow myht se.
And therfore, Anon As I am ded,
To the holy man þou go, Into that sted
Where we resceyved Oure holy Creaunce,
And telleth him Of Al this chavnce,
And preieth that holy blessid Man,
My sowle In Comendacion to haven than,
That Only Goddis Seriawnt Is,
For me to preyen to the kyng [of] blis.
And, swete dowhter, thow to him go,
And for Ony thing that thow this do,
Loke that ȝe taken Of him ȝoure saviour
That ȝow schal saven In Everi stour,
So that Owt Of this world neuere ȝe passe
But ȝe him han to-forn ȝowre fase,
To Resceiuen ȝoure euere-lasting savement;
For I wot wel þat he wele, with good Entent,
ȝow it taken In this degre,
And ȝe it him Axen for Charite.
That Alle the peple Owt Of þe chambre schold gon,
Sauf Onliche Alone sche and I;
This was hire Comandement trewly.
And whanne they weren al Owte I-gon,
Sche bad me Schette the dore Anon;
And whanne to hire that I was Comen Agein,
Thanne seide sche to me In Certein,
‘That owt Of this world that Nyht scholde sche go,’
Thus sche me tolde with-Owten Mo,
“Now, faire dowhter, go ȝe now Into tho wones
There As lyn Alle myn precious stones,
And Also A whit Booyst and A Ryng,
And that loke ȝe bringen me Ouer alle thynȝ
Whanne that this to hire I hadde I-browht,
Thanne vpe sche hire dressid As sche Mowht,
And On hire knees sche dressid hire down
To-forn hire bed In Orisown,
And there gan sche to wepen ful sore,
In Sighenges, and bunching On brest wel more.
And whanne In this Contenaunce longe hadde sche be,
Aftir the boist Anon sche Axede Of Me;
187
Hem to waschen, As I Cowde vndirstonde.
And whanne hire hondis I-waschen were,
The boist Anon sche Opened there;
Owt of that boist there Isswed Anon
Owre holy Saviour bothe In flesch and bon,
In forme Of bred there In hire Syht,—
For so was the wil Of god Almyht,—
And with Manie teres and sore sighenge
There Resceived sche that holy thinge.
And whanne that thus hadde sche doon,
Thanne seide sche to Me Anon,
“Now that I have Resceived my saviour,
I am sekir From Alle deseises & dolour—
From the devel and Alle My Fon,—
And I am Seker to hevene to gon,
For I have Resceived of Alle Siknesse þe boote,
And helthe of alle Angwicsch, boþe Crop & Roote.
Lo! dowhter, this boist kepen thow schal
In A ful prevë plase with-al,
And that It Come In non Mannes hond
But In thin, I do the to vndirstond.
For this that I have Resceyved here,
Is Oure Saviour here & elles-where;
For On God In thre persones it is,
And thre persones In On God I-wis;
And loke ȝe that this ȝe kepen riht wel,
And loke þat ȝe wraththen þat God neuere A del;
Loke that ȝe taken this holy In Remembraunse,
And thinketh Algate vppon this Chaunse;
Thenke ȝe how he Cam Into this word,
And In Mannes kende here dweld be his owne Acord,
And alle thing suffrede as dyde Man,
Sauf Only Of synne neuere knewe he þan,
188
& neuere þerwith spottid, with-Owten wene.
Loke that ȝe have Euere this In Mynde,
How good that lord was, & how kynde,
That for vs he suffrede ded,
Mannes sowle to beyen from þe qwed;
And loke that Al this In Memorie ȝe haue
In ȝowre herte, And ȝe wil be save,
And that Every day In ȝowre Compeni he be.
Now, goode swete dowhter, so thinketh On me!
For, sethen that I Crestened was,
Everiday I him worschepid In this plas,
& Euery day in my Compenie mi saviour I hadde,
Therwhilles was I of non man Adradde;
But, swete dowhter, this wot I wel,
That here-Offen knew ȝe nevere A del;
For I it kepte In previte,—
The Cawse why I schal telle þe,—
For ȝif thow haddest deid In this world er I,
Thow schost it han Resceyved trewly;
But sethen I deien schal to-Forn the,
I have it Resceyved, As thow myht se.
And therfore, Anon As I am ded,
To the holy man þou go, Into that sted
Where we resceyved Oure holy Creaunce,
And telleth him Of Al this chavnce,
And preieth that holy blessid Man,
My sowle In Comendacion to haven than,
That Only Goddis Seriawnt Is,
For me to preyen to the kyng [of] blis.
And, swete dowhter, thow to him go,
And for Ony thing that thow this do,
Loke that ȝe taken Of him ȝoure saviour
That ȝow schal saven In Everi stour,
So that Owt Of this world neuere ȝe passe
But ȝe him han to-forn ȝowre fase,
189
For I wot wel þat he wele, with good Entent,
ȝow it taken In this degre,
And ȝe it him Axen for Charite.
“And whanne that to ȝow he hath it take,
Loke ȝe that An Onest place þerfore ȝe make,
ȝowre Saviour to kepen Inne deyntele,
In A worschepful place & A preve,
So that from Alle leveng Creature
ȝe mown it kepen bothe sauf & sure;
And this white boist take with the,—
For he him self ȝaf it to Me,—
And Into this boist thanne putteth Anon
Swich thing as he wele there-Inne don.
And whanne ȝe haven it In ȝowre keping,
Loketh that Everi day, Ouer Alle thing,
That to this holy Boyst þat ȝe go,
And ȝoure devocions doth therto
With weping & with sore syghenge,
With bonching On brest, and Repentinge
Of alle the sinnes that ȝe hauen I-do,
With high Contricioun, dowhter, Euere-Mo;
And he wolde sende ȝow swich grace & powere,
Neuere Oþer God to worschepen here,
But Only him that Is ȝowre saviour,
Wheche schal ȝow kepen In Every stour.”
Loke ȝe that An Onest place þerfore ȝe make,
ȝowre Saviour to kepen Inne deyntele,
In A worschepful place & A preve,
So that from Alle leveng Creature
ȝe mown it kepen bothe sauf & sure;
And this white boist take with the,—
For he him self ȝaf it to Me,—
And Into this boist thanne putteth Anon
Swich thing as he wele there-Inne don.
And whanne ȝe haven it In ȝowre keping,
Loketh that Everi day, Ouer Alle thing,
That to this holy Boyst þat ȝe go,
And ȝoure devocions doth therto
With weping & with sore syghenge,
With bonching On brest, and Repentinge
Of alle the sinnes that ȝe hauen I-do,
With high Contricioun, dowhter, Euere-Mo;
And he wolde sende ȝow swich grace & powere,
Neuere Oþer God to worschepen here,
But Only him that Is ȝowre saviour,
Wheche schal ȝow kepen In Every stour.”
Lo, Sire, thus My Modir tawhte tho Me
How I scholde me governe in eche degre,
Lik as this storie doth me now telle,
And as ȝe me heren to ȝow now spelle:
Swich thing as to my sowle profitable scholde be,
Alle sweche Manere thinges my Moder told me;
And alle thing þat scholde don me Noysaunce,
Hem scholde I flen for Ony Chawn̄ce.
How I scholde me governe in eche degre,
Lik as this storie doth me now telle,
And as ȝe me heren to ȝow now spelle:
Swich thing as to my sowle profitable scholde be,
Alle sweche Manere thinges my Moder told me;
And alle thing þat scholde don me Noysaunce,
Hem scholde I flen for Ony Chawn̄ce.
And whanne these wordis weren spoken Echon,
Sche bad me Opene the chambre dore Anon;
Thanne Comen In the gentil wommen Alle,
As to A dwchesse gan to befalle;
And thanne Rowned sche In Myn Ere,
And Axed me, “whom I sawgh there,
Abowtes hire bed Ony Man stondynge;”
Where-Offen I Merveylled Ouer alle thinge.
Thanne saw I there the same Man
That to-forn tyme In the Chapel saw I than;
And my Modir he held be the hond,
And to-forn hire bed there gan he stond.
And whanne the same I sawh there
That the Ermyt In þe Chapel schewed me Ere,
Neuere so sore abasched I was
As I was tho In that same plas.
And thanne my Modir Axed me tho,
“What that I sawh to-Forn me go?”
Thanne I hire tolde it was Owre Saviour;
And sche him dide ful gret honour:
More-Ouer sche seide, “blessid mot he be
That Into this Erthe wil discende to me;
Now wot I wel that I schal go
With him to blisse for Euere Mo.
Now, goode swete dowghter, Er that I go,
Kysseth me er that we now departen Atwo,
For to god I schal Comaunden ȝow here;
And therfore, dowhter, loke þat In Alle Manere
That ȝe don lik As I have ȝow tawht,
And pleynly that ȝe forȝeten it nowht;
For this lord with him wile leden Me
Into A plase þat is ful Of prosperite,
And þerto ful of Ioye and delicasie.”
Sche bad me Opene the chambre dore Anon;
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As to A dwchesse gan to befalle;
And thanne Rowned sche In Myn Ere,
And Axed me, “whom I sawgh there,
Abowtes hire bed Ony Man stondynge;”
Where-Offen I Merveylled Ouer alle thinge.
Thanne saw I there the same Man
That to-forn tyme In the Chapel saw I than;
And my Modir he held be the hond,
And to-forn hire bed there gan he stond.
And whanne the same I sawh there
That the Ermyt In þe Chapel schewed me Ere,
Neuere so sore abasched I was
As I was tho In that same plas.
And thanne my Modir Axed me tho,
“What that I sawh to-Forn me go?”
Thanne I hire tolde it was Owre Saviour;
And sche him dide ful gret honour:
More-Ouer sche seide, “blessid mot he be
That Into this Erthe wil discende to me;
Now wot I wel that I schal go
With him to blisse for Euere Mo.
Now, goode swete dowghter, Er that I go,
Kysseth me er that we now departen Atwo,
For to god I schal Comaunden ȝow here;
And therfore, dowhter, loke þat In Alle Manere
That ȝe don lik As I have ȝow tawht,
And pleynly that ȝe forȝeten it nowht;
For this lord with him wile leden Me
Into A plase þat is ful Of prosperite,
And þerto ful of Ioye and delicasie.”
Thus told me my Modir Sekerlye;
And with this word, Sire, Certeinly
Departid the Sperit Owt Of hire body.
& anon I fulfilled hire Comaundement,
And to that holy man I wente with good entent;
There he me tho took My saviour Anon Riht,
My God, my Lord, & þerto man most Of Miht.
And whanne he to me hadde longe I-spoke,
And wel of this world to me his herte I-broke,
Thanne schewed he me þe knoweng of þe trenite,
And how þat In this world I schold Governe Me,
& Comaunded me to Fadir & Sone & holigost,
Whiche that Is lord Of Mihtës Most,
And preide me that I scholde Retournen tho
Into the plase Aȝen that I Cam fro;
For non lengere ne speken to Me he Myhte,
So feble he was tho as to My Syhte.
And with this word, Sire, Certeinly
Departid the Sperit Owt Of hire body.
& anon I fulfilled hire Comaundement,
And to that holy man I wente with good entent;
191
My God, my Lord, & þerto man most Of Miht.
And whanne he to me hadde longe I-spoke,
And wel of this world to me his herte I-broke,
Thanne schewed he me þe knoweng of þe trenite,
And how þat In this world I schold Governe Me,
& Comaunded me to Fadir & Sone & holigost,
Whiche that Is lord Of Mihtës Most,
And preide me that I scholde Retournen tho
Into the plase Aȝen that I Cam fro;
For non lengere ne speken to Me he Myhte,
So feble he was tho as to My Syhte.
And whanne Owt Of his Ermytage I was gon,
A wondirful swete Noise thanne herde I Anon,
And my white boyst I held In Myn hond:
To heren this Noise ful stille gan I stond;
And Me thowghte tho As In My Syht
In that song, thre On that Chapel gonnen A-liht.
And whanne from that Chapel that I was gon
The spase of half A myle, thanne Mette I Anon
A man that was Clothed In a Robe Of blak,
That was bothe Megre and pale with-Owten lak;
Ful whit and long was his berd and her—
Of the man that I tho Mette thanne ther,—
& swich Abit me thowhte he hadde
As the man In Chapel was In Cladde,—
So sone was torned his Clothing
That me Merveilled In Alle thing;—
And so faste and Sore tho gan he to gon
That he was Al On Swot þere Anon.
And Anon As he loked On Me
He wepte ful sore with gret pite,
And thus he seide Anon to Me thore,
“A! Cristene womman, thow hastest Sore;
For þou were neuere so sone past from þat good Man,
That his Sperit Owt Of his body wente than.”
A wondirful swete Noise thanne herde I Anon,
And my white boyst I held In Myn hond:
To heren this Noise ful stille gan I stond;
And Me thowghte tho As In My Syht
In that song, thre On that Chapel gonnen A-liht.
And whanne from that Chapel that I was gon
The spase of half A myle, thanne Mette I Anon
A man that was Clothed In a Robe Of blak,
That was bothe Megre and pale with-Owten lak;
Ful whit and long was his berd and her—
Of the man that I tho Mette thanne ther,—
& swich Abit me thowhte he hadde
As the man In Chapel was In Cladde,—
So sone was torned his Clothing
That me Merveilled In Alle thing;—
And so faste and Sore tho gan he to gon
That he was Al On Swot þere Anon.
And Anon As he loked On Me
He wepte ful sore with gret pite,
And thus he seide Anon to Me thore,
“A! Cristene womman, thow hastest Sore;
For þou were neuere so sone past from þat good Man,
That his Sperit Owt Of his body wente than.”
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And whanne that Cristene he gan me to Calle,
Anon Of my palfrey I gan down falle,
And Mekliche I axede him Anon,
‘Whens he Cam, and whedir he scholde gon.’
Thanne he me Answerid there Anon Ryht:
Quod he, “I Am the Seriawnt Of god Almyht;
For ȝow ful sore I desire now to se,
For bothe to-gederis Aȝen scholen we—
As be the Schewyng Of the holy gost—
Bothe Aȝen to-gederis gon we Most;
For Owt of this world his sowle is past;
Therfore thedyr Go we In hast.”
And I him Answerid, “Sire, For Certein
From him Ryht now Cam I ful pleyn,
And On lyve Sire lefte I him there,
But þat with siknesse he was Charged sore.”
“How may this ben, faire dowhter,” seide he,
“Whanne thow herdest þat Melodie and Aungeles thre,
How In that Chapel they gonnen to A-lihte,
And boren his Sowle to-forn God AlMihte:”
Anon Of my palfrey I gan down falle,
And Mekliche I axede him Anon,
‘Whens he Cam, and whedir he scholde gon.’
Thanne he me Answerid there Anon Ryht:
Quod he, “I Am the Seriawnt Of god Almyht;
For ȝow ful sore I desire now to se,
For bothe to-gederis Aȝen scholen we—
As be the Schewyng Of the holy gost—
Bothe Aȝen to-gederis gon we Most;
For Owt of this world his sowle is past;
Therfore thedyr Go we In hast.”
And I him Answerid, “Sire, For Certein
From him Ryht now Cam I ful pleyn,
And On lyve Sire lefte I him there,
But þat with siknesse he was Charged sore.”
“How may this ben, faire dowhter,” seide he,
“Whanne thow herdest þat Melodie and Aungeles thre,
How In that Chapel they gonnen to A-lihte,
And boren his Sowle to-forn God AlMihte:”
And whanne this he tolde to Me,
Thanne wepte I ful gret plente,
And Cleped I My men to Me Anon,
Wheche þat with me þedir gonne gon,—
For In hem bothe I trosted ful wel,
For Of myn Norture weren they Eueridel,
And therto On Of hem My Cosin was,
And A Clene Maiden, and ful of Gras,—
That so Alle thre we Retorned Agein
Aȝen to thermitage tho In Certein.
And whanne that thedir we Comen Agein,
The good man was to god past In Certein:
And whanne this goode Man saw him þere lye,
Anon he wepte tho ful tendirlie,
And vppon that dede body fil a-down,
And there lay he ful longe In swown.
Thanne wepte I ful gret plente,
And Cleped I My men to Me Anon,
Wheche þat with me þedir gonne gon,—
For In hem bothe I trosted ful wel,
For Of myn Norture weren they Eueridel,
And therto On Of hem My Cosin was,
And A Clene Maiden, and ful of Gras,—
That so Alle thre we Retorned Agein
Aȝen to thermitage tho In Certein.
And whanne that thedir we Comen Agein,
The good man was to god past In Certein:
193
Anon he wepte tho ful tendirlie,
And vppon that dede body fil a-down,
And there lay he ful longe In swown.
Thus whanne there longe hadde he leyn,
Vp he Ros thanne In Certein,
And behinde the Awter gan he gon,
And thens with him browhte he Anon
Sweche maner Of Instrumens, As thowht me,
That A pyt with, Mad scholde be.
Thanne tofore the Awter gan he stonde;
A pit þere forto Maken thanne gan he fonde,
That the ded body there-Inne Moot Reste:
Thus this pyt Made he with the beste.
Whanne this pit thus Ended was,
He lift vp his hand Anon In that plas,
And with the signe of þe Cros þe body blessed he,
Er Into the pit It pvt schold be,
And þat body took be the hed anon,
Into that pit for to have don,
And Me the Feet he bad taken tho,
Into the pyt forto have do;
“A! Sire!” quod I, and to him Seide,
“It were not worthi On him hond þat I leide,
For I am Synful womman,
And On this Craft non thing I ne kan,
Nethir to towchen So holy A body;
Trewly, Sire, I nam not worthy.”
“A! leve soster, whi sey ȝe so here?
A more holy thing with ȝow ȝe bere
Thanne Evere was this holy body;
Therfore taketh the feet ful softly.”
Thanne wiste I wel that he was an holy man,
That So prevy thinges Cowde tellen than.
Thanne took I the body be the Feet,
And he be the hed, and down it leet
Into that pyt there thanne Anon,—
That holy body, bothe flesch and bon;—
And thanne with Erthe he keuered it sone,
And seid there Ouer what was to done.
Vp he Ros thanne In Certein,
And behinde the Awter gan he gon,
And thens with him browhte he Anon
Sweche maner Of Instrumens, As thowht me,
That A pyt with, Mad scholde be.
Thanne tofore the Awter gan he stonde;
A pit þere forto Maken thanne gan he fonde,
That the ded body there-Inne Moot Reste:
Thus this pyt Made he with the beste.
Whanne this pit thus Ended was,
He lift vp his hand Anon In that plas,
And with the signe of þe Cros þe body blessed he,
Er Into the pit It pvt schold be,
And þat body took be the hed anon,
Into that pit for to have don,
And Me the Feet he bad taken tho,
Into the pyt forto have do;
“A! Sire!” quod I, and to him Seide,
“It were not worthi On him hond þat I leide,
For I am Synful womman,
And On this Craft non thing I ne kan,
Nethir to towchen So holy A body;
Trewly, Sire, I nam not worthy.”
“A! leve soster, whi sey ȝe so here?
A more holy thing with ȝow ȝe bere
Thanne Evere was this holy body;
Therfore taketh the feet ful softly.”
Thanne wiste I wel that he was an holy man,
That So prevy thinges Cowde tellen than.
Thanne took I the body be the Feet,
And he be the hed, and down it leet
194
That holy body, bothe flesch and bon;—
And thanne with Erthe he keuered it sone,
And seid there Ouer what was to done.
Thanne of Iesu Crist spak he to Me
In Mani Maners & In dyvers degre,
And Aposed me Of my saviour.
And Of my two seriawntes In þat stour,
Thanne seide [he] to vs ful wondirfully,
[“How dore] ȝe ben so bold, Other So hardy,
Swiche tweyne Seriawntes with ȝow to bringe,
That with-Inne this holy plase Scholden haven non Entringe?
For ȝe Scholden not Entren here with-Inne,
That liven In wrechednesse and In synne,
And worschepen the devel bothe day & Nyht,
And him ȝe Serven, that fowlë wyht.”
In Mani Maners & In dyvers degre,
And Aposed me Of my saviour.
And Of my two seriawntes In þat stour,
Thanne seide [he] to vs ful wondirfully,
[“How dore] ȝe ben so bold, Other So hardy,
Swiche tweyne Seriawntes with ȝow to bringe,
That with-Inne this holy plase Scholden haven non Entringe?
For ȝe Scholden not Entren here with-Inne,
That liven In wrechednesse and In synne,
And worschepen the devel bothe day & Nyht,
And him ȝe Serven, that fowlë wyht.”
There sweche wordis to vs Spak he Anon,
That to his Feet we fillen Echon.
Thanne preyde iche him with riht good wille,
The Ryht Creaunce On hem to fulfille,
And Cristendom that they myhten take
In worschepe Of that Goode lordis sake,
For non lengere that they myhten dwelle
In Servise Of the devel Of helle.
And whanne that he hem herde þere makes so,
Riht Anon water than fette he tho,
And Anon hem Cristeneden with-Owten bost
In the Name Of the fadir & sone & holi gost;
And he hem preide ful tentifly
That Creaunce to kepe ful worthily,
And that ymages so fals Evere to dispise,
That So fals ben In Al Manere wise.
And he me preide hem forto kenne,
That they myhten becomen good Cristene Menne;
And there to God he Comanded vs,
And we him to swete Iesus,
For thens owt of þat plase wolde he Neuere go,
But there wolde dwellen for Evere Mo.
That to his Feet we fillen Echon.
Thanne preyde iche him with riht good wille,
The Ryht Creaunce On hem to fulfille,
And Cristendom that they myhten take
In worschepe Of that Goode lordis sake,
For non lengere that they myhten dwelle
In Servise Of the devel Of helle.
And whanne that he hem herde þere makes so,
Riht Anon water than fette he tho,
And Anon hem Cristeneden with-Owten bost
In the Name Of the fadir & sone & holi gost;
And he hem preide ful tentifly
That Creaunce to kepe ful worthily,
And that ymages so fals Evere to dispise,
That So fals ben In Al Manere wise.
And he me preide hem forto kenne,
That they myhten becomen good Cristene Menne;
195
And we him to swete Iesus,
For thens owt of þat plase wolde he Neuere go,
But there wolde dwellen for Evere Mo.
And God for him wrowhte In that plase
Mani Faire Miracles In litel spase;
But I ne Cowde weten ȝit what was his Name,
Of him that was so good Of fame;
And ȝit God graunted me that faire grase,
That I At his Owne beryeng wase
In the same Maner As I at the tothir was Er,
Riht so [I] beried him bothe Faire & Cler;
And from that day ȝit hider-to
I have belevid In God ȝit Euere Mo.”
Mani Faire Miracles In litel spase;
But I ne Cowde weten ȝit what was his Name,
Of him that was so good Of fame;
And ȝit God graunted me that faire grase,
That I At his Owne beryeng wase
In the same Maner As I at the tothir was Er,
Riht so [I] beried him bothe Faire & Cler;
And from that day ȝit hider-to
I have belevid In God ȝit Euere Mo.”
And Iosephes Abod Alle hire Answere
Evene to the Ende that sche seide þere,
And hire Answerid ful sone tho,
“Sey me, dame, how myhtest þou don so,
A Cristene woman þat thow schost be,
And dost not þere-aftir In non degre,
And that thow him worschepest nowht,
That so dere In this world the bowht?”
“Sertes, sire,” thanne Answerid sche,
“My lord Is so spetows and so Angre,
That Everi day I moste Awaiten Myn Owr
Whanne I May worschepen my saviowr;
For, And Ony thing he Mihte Aspien with me
That him scholde misplese In Ony degre,
Anon he wolde me Confownde,
And distroyen me Into the harde grownde;
But now I hope Oure lord wil to him se,
In the Ryht beleve that he mot be;
And I the preie, that Art Goddis Seriawnt,
Him from bodily deth that he wolde grawnt,
And him hom In worschepe forto bringe,
And [in] his Creawne to Maken his Endenge;
& ȝif this Ones I Mihte knowe,
There nis non Creature, neþer hy ne lowe,
In this world schold me disseise,
So mochel myn herte it scholde plese;
But Evere, Iosephes, I drede me sore
Of þe wordis that ȝe han seide before,
That thre dayes & thre Nyht
His Enemy Of him scholde han Myht.”
“That is ful soth,” quod Iosephes thanne,
“For there nys non Erthly Manne
That his word ne may with-seye,
Ne his Comandement, In non weye.”
“Sire! ȝit ȝe Mown don this for me,
To preien to that God In Maieste,
That he wolde schewen ȝow with-Owten faille
How my lord hath sped In his bataille.”
Evene to the Ende that sche seide þere,
And hire Answerid ful sone tho,
“Sey me, dame, how myhtest þou don so,
A Cristene woman þat thow schost be,
And dost not þere-aftir In non degre,
And that thow him worschepest nowht,
That so dere In this world the bowht?”
“Sertes, sire,” thanne Answerid sche,
“My lord Is so spetows and so Angre,
That Everi day I moste Awaiten Myn Owr
Whanne I May worschepen my saviowr;
For, And Ony thing he Mihte Aspien with me
That him scholde misplese In Ony degre,
Anon he wolde me Confownde,
And distroyen me Into the harde grownde;
But now I hope Oure lord wil to him se,
In the Ryht beleve that he mot be;
And I the preie, that Art Goddis Seriawnt,
Him from bodily deth that he wolde grawnt,
And him hom In worschepe forto bringe,
And [in] his Creawne to Maken his Endenge;
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There nis non Creature, neþer hy ne lowe,
In this world schold me disseise,
So mochel myn herte it scholde plese;
But Evere, Iosephes, I drede me sore
Of þe wordis that ȝe han seide before,
That thre dayes & thre Nyht
His Enemy Of him scholde han Myht.”
“That is ful soth,” quod Iosephes thanne,
“For there nys non Erthly Manne
That his word ne may with-seye,
Ne his Comandement, In non weye.”
“Sire! ȝit ȝe Mown don this for me,
To preien to that God In Maieste,
That he wolde schewen ȝow with-Owten faille
How my lord hath sped In his bataille.”
So longe that lady preide Iosephes tho,
That Everi point he told hire to;
And how he hadde I-sped from day to day,
There Al the sothe he gan here Say.
That Everi point he told hire to;
And how he hadde I-sped from day to day,
There Al the sothe he gan here Say.
| CHAPTER XV. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |