A Stanzaic Life of Christ Compiled from Higden's Polychronicon and the Legenda Aurea |
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Ecce dominus ascendit super nubem leuem, & ingredietur
Egiptum, & mouebuntur simulacra Egipti a facie domini exercituum.
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 | A Stanzaic Life of Christ |  |
Ecce dominus ascendit super nubem leuem, & ingredietur Egiptum, & mouebuntur simulacra Egipti a facie domini exercituum.
Cassioder beres witnesse
that in Ermopel þat cite
was a tre of grete suetnysse,
persidis callet was, leue ȝe me,
that in Ermopel þat cite
was a tre of grete suetnysse,
persidis callet was, leue ȝe me,
The whiche tre suche vertu hade,
mony men thurgh hit helet were
and of meschef releuet radde
wit fruyt, lef, bark, þat hit bere.
mony men thurgh hit helet were
and of meschef releuet radde
wit fruyt, lef, bark, þat hit bere.
Whenne Crist to Egipt come anone
taward that tre of grete vertu,
hit bowet doun to the erthe opon
for to honur oure lord Ihesu,
taward that tre of grete vertu,
hit bowet doun to the erthe opon
for to honur oure lord Ihesu,
And roos huppe afture, as wold a mon
that men by sight fully knewe,
and merueilden þerof vchone,
for þat sight was o the nwe.
that men by sight fully knewe,
and merueilden þerof vchone,
for þat sight was o the nwe.
Hec Cassiodorus, item Petrus Comestor vt inferius.
Whil Heroud was so conietting
the childer deth bi his entent,
sodaynly felle letting,
for to Rome he was afture sent
the childer deth bi his entent,
sodaynly felle letting,
for to Rome he was afture sent
113
By letturs fro the emperoure
at sewte of his sones two.
so steret he was in þat stowr,
that alle his thoght was on hit tho,
at sewte of his sones two.
so steret he was in þat stowr,
that alle his thoght was on hit tho,
And tariet to sle the innocenteȝ
til þat processe hade an ende.
so for ferde of more offense
to Rome radle he con winde,
til þat processe hade an ende.
so for ferde of more offense
to Rome radle he con winde,
And as he toward Rome went
be Tharse lond was his goyng,
all the chippes of Tharse he brent
in despite of Tharse keng,
be Tharse lond was his goyng,
all the chippes of Tharse he brent
in despite of Tharse keng,
And for the chippes, as he herd saye,
haden broght hom the kenges thre,
alle he brend hom in his waye,
his foule wille so fullet he.
haden broght hom the kenges thre,
alle he brend hom in his waye,
his foule wille so fullet he.
Then was endet that prophecy
that Dauid sais in his sauter:
‘with wode spirit he con destry
the shippes of Tarse in foule maner.’
that Dauid sais in his sauter:
‘with wode spirit he con destry
the shippes of Tarse in foule maner.’
In spiritu vehementi conteres naues Tharsis.
Qven Heravde come to Rome tho,
grete altercacioun & debate
bitwene hym & his sones two
raiset was for his astate.
grete altercacioun & debate
bitwene hym & his sones two
raiset was for his astate.
ffor outhir of hom his air wold be
bi-cause hor moder a Iewes was,
therfore hom thught þat in Iude
to regne best skil hir child has.
bi-cause hor moder a Iewes was,
therfore hom thught þat in Iude
to regne best skil hir child has.
Also fro lettrure þai wer kent,
thai thoȝt hom-self þe more worthy,
ffor Alexandir was ful excellent
And wondir conyng in clergy.
thai thoȝt hom-self þe more worthy,
ffor Alexandir was ful excellent
And wondir conyng in clergy.
114
But after grete altercacioun
bitwene Heroud and hom two
bifore lordes of grete renoun,
this moot thus was endit tho,
bitwene Heroud and hom two
bifore lordes of grete renoun,
this moot thus was endit tho,
That Heroud schuld haue ful power
bi the emperoure decre,
whiche sone so his wille wer
to make his heyr as wilnet he,
bi the emperoure decre,
whiche sone so his wille wer
to make his heyr as wilnet he,
And that hys sones in al thing
to hym schulden be obedient,
thus lordly at al his liking
to his londe aȝayn he went.
to hym schulden be obedient,
thus lordly at al his liking
to his londe aȝayn he went.
When he was comen home a-ȝayne
more harde thenne he was bifore,
he kest the childer schulden be slayn
for Cristes burthe that greuet hym sore,
more harde thenne he was bifore,
he kest the childer schulden be slayn
for Cristes burthe that greuet hym sore,
And anoon his men he sent
and slogh knaue childer of tow ȝer
that werne about Bedlem lent,
and als withinne that eld that wer.
and slogh knaue childer of tow ȝer
that werne about Bedlem lent,
and als withinne that eld that wer.
Exponitur a bymatu, vt in Historiis Scolasticis.
In-as-miche as the ewangely
spekes of tow ȝer and withinne
of childer eldes to destruy,
one trew story I wol ou mynne,
spekes of tow ȝer and withinne
of childer eldes to destruy,
one trew story I wol ou mynne,
As by the trewest opinioun
from childer that weren of one night
to tow ȝer ful, ȝe leue moun,
Heroud maad sle vche wight,
from childer that weren of one night
to tow ȝer ful, ȝe leue moun,
Heroud maad sle vche wight,
ffor by the kenges lernet he
that Crist was born that ilk, day
that thay the sterre furst con se,
as the aungel to hym con say,
that Crist was born that ilk, day
that thay the sterre furst con se,
as the aungel to hym con say,
115
And for a ȝer was gone fulle
wil that he to Rome went,
he kest tyme of burthe ther-by,
as he was by the kenges kent,
wil that he to Rome went,
he kest tyme of burthe ther-by,
as he was by the kenges kent,
One ȝer forto haue by-fore,
an other after-ward comyng,
that skilfully he most be bore
withinne that tyme for anythyng.
an other after-ward comyng,
that skilfully he most be bore
withinne that tyme for anythyng.
And als in hert Heroud kest this
syn sterres serueden hy[m] o-right,
that transforme hym wel i-wys
to more elde other lasse he might
syn sterres serueden hy[m] o-right,
that transforme hym wel i-wys
to more elde other lasse he might
As in semyng, sothe to say,
ther-fore Heroud wold seker be,
and of two ȝer fully in fay
to one night borne thenne slogh he.
ther-fore Heroud wold seker be,
and of two ȝer fully in fay
to one night borne thenne slogh he.
Alia opinio super hoc verbum a bimatu. Iohannes Crisostomus sic exponit vt infra.
Iohan with the guylden mouthe iwys
expounes hit in other maner,
and says by his opinion this,—
bitwene two ȝere & fyue þai wer,
expounes hit in other maner,
and says by his opinion this,—
bitwene two ȝere & fyue þai wer,
But inwith two ȝer slayn was non,
for bifore fully a ȝer
Er Crist was born, as sais this Ion,
the sterre to kynges con apere.
for bifore fully a ȝer
Er Crist was born, as sais this Ion,
the sterre to kynges con apere.
Therfore knaue childer two ȝer olde
he sl[o]gh, but noght ȝunger then thay,
bitwene to and fyue, as I tolde,
of elde thay wer, as Iohan con say.
he sl[o]gh, but noght ȝunger then thay,
bitwene to and fyue, as I tolde,
of elde thay wer, as Iohan con say.
116
As by this euidence, as says he,
hyt semes wel for to be so,
ffor bones of hom that men moun se
Arm longer thenne childer of ȝeres two.
hyt semes wel for to be so,
ffor bones of hom that men moun se
Arm longer thenne childer of ȝeres two.
But ther-aȝayn mon vnsuar may
that tyme men and childer were
wel more thenne thay ben this day
and in vch eld more of power,
that tyme men and childer were
wel more thenne thay ben this day
and in vch eld more of power,
So that the first opinion
clerkes hoden most verray,
that in-with tow ȝe[r] be reson
the childer slayne wer, in gode fay.
clerkes hoden most verray,
that in-with tow ȝe[r] be reson
the childer slayne wer, in gode fay.
Macrobius in Saturnalibus: qualiter Herodes iuste fuerat punitus.
But Heroud in hys wykkedenesse
was pinischet resonabuly,
as Macrobius beres wutenysse,
one wengeance to him felle þer-bi,
was pinischet resonabuly,
as Macrobius beres wutenysse,
one wengeance to him felle þer-bi,
For one sone of his there was slayn
that was ȝiuen to keping,
of whiche was Heroud no-thing fayn,
but in gre[t] sorow and misliking,
that was ȝiuen to keping,
of whiche was Heroud no-thing fayn,
but in gre[t] sorow and misliking,
So þat God lord of rightwisnesse
nold not vnuenget þat hit wer,
his wrongful dedes of wickettenesse,
but punischet bothe in heuen and her,
nold not vnuenget þat hit wer,
his wrongful dedes of wickettenesse,
but punischet bothe in heuen and her,
God wold that he lost his lykyng
and chastiset wer in that maner,
that maade so mony mon syking
and moderes for hor childer dere.
and chastiset wer in that maner,
that maade so mony mon syking
and moderes for hor childer dere.
117
thenne was fulfillet the prophecy
that I in Latyn thenke to say,
for lettert men that sitten by
to conferme this in gode faye:
that I in Latyn thenke to say,
for lettert men that sitten by
to conferme this in gode faye:
Vox ploratus & vlulatus audita est in Rama, id est excelsis.
But ȝette God wold not leue hym so,
but more meschef send him opon,
for alder sones other two
he sloght, as ȝe schun her anone.
but more meschef send him opon,
for alder sones other two
he sloght, as ȝe schun her anone.
Alisaunder, Aristoble tho,
that striuen whit him a littul before,
he hade suspect of gyltes moo,
the greuet him vyle sore.
that striuen whit him a littul before,
he hade suspect of gyltes moo,
the greuet him vyle sore.
For one þat was wit hom priue,
the whiche thai tristes in al thing,
had disc[reue]t, leue ȝe me,
hor covnseil holle to the keng,
the whiche thai tristes in al thing,
had disc[reue]t, leue ȝe me,
hor covnseil holle to the keng,
And told how thai haden hym bihight
grete ȝiftes and eke richesse
to poysoun Heroud, ȝif he myght,
and þis to hym was told expresse.
grete ȝiftes and eke richesse
to poysoun Heroud, ȝif he myght,
and þis to hym was told expresse.
His barbour confesset eke al-so
that him was heght a grete wynning
of tho sones bothe two
to kutte his throte in berd shauyng,
that him was heght a grete wynning
of tho sones bothe two
to kutte his throte in berd shauyng,
For Alisaunder to hym con say
that in a nold mon was no tryst
thagh he kempt day for day
his hore lokkes, when þat him lust,
that in a nold mon was no tryst
thagh he kempt day for day
his hore lokkes, when þat him lust,
118
For to make him seme ȝungly,
ther-fore he sayde þat hit was gode
for to deliuer him hastely,
that al his lif hade ben so wode.
ther-fore he sayde þat hit was gode
for to deliuer him hastely,
that al his lif hade ben so wode.
Qven that Heravde herd this thing,
greuet he was gretly tho
And onon bout tarying
made to sle hom both two,
greuet he was gretly tho
And onon bout tarying
made to sle hom both two,
And made his aldest son his air,
Antipater that callide was,
but he cast Heraude to appair
sone after, as boke mynde mas.
Antipater that callide was,
but he cast Heraude to appair
sone after, as boke mynde mas.
ffor Heraude pleside in alle thing
his sones childir that he hade slayn,
Antipater hade no likyng
ne of þat dede was he not fayn,
his sones childir that he hade slayn,
Antipater hade no likyng
ne of þat dede was he not fayn,
And lest he hade chaunget his wille
And deseride hym any way,
with venym he cast hym to spille,
that was told Heraude soth to say.
And deseride hym any way,
with venym he cast hym to spille,
that was told Heraude soth to say.
Quen þat Heraude herd of þis thyng,
Anon he put hym in prisoun,
til he myȝt for his trespassyng
punysch hym as was resoun.
Anon he put hym in prisoun,
til he myȝt for his trespassyng
punysch hym as was resoun.
Quen þe emperour herde say
that kyng Heraude has thus done,
he saide hym hade leuer, in gode fay
be Heraudes swyn þen Heraude sone,
that kyng Heraude has thus done,
he saide hym hade leuer, in gode fay
be Heraudes swyn þen Heraude sone,
ffor sithen that he conuertet was
to Iewes faith & hor lyuyng,
to sle swyne he sparet has
And slayn his sones olde & ȝyng.
to Iewes faith & hor lyuyng,
to sle swyne he sparet has
And slayn his sones olde & ȝyng.
119
Qven Heraude of gret elde wes,
sixti ȝer & therto ten,
for veniaunce of his wrecchidnes
he swal & stank both feet & knen,
sixti ȝer & therto ten,
for veniaunce of his wrecchidnes
he swal & stank both feet & knen,
And a strong feuer eke hade he
And al his body in sich swellyng
that for gret stench, leue ȝe me,
negh hym miȝt no mon be dwellyng.
And al his body in sich swellyng
that for gret stench, leue ȝe me,
negh hym miȝt no mon be dwellyng.
Qven Iewes herden þat he ferd so,
liȝt & likyng þen þai wer
that þai shuld be delyueret þo
of þat tiraunt in sich maner.
liȝt & likyng þen þai wer
that þai shuld be delyueret þo
of þat tiraunt in sich maner.
Qven this was told Heraude onon
that Iewes enioiet of his wo,
gret lordes sonus euerichone
he putt in prisoun sone tho,
that Iewes enioiet of his wo,
gret lordes sonus euerichone
he putt in prisoun sone tho,
And praiet his suster Salome
that ho shuld, quen þat he wer dede,
sle hom all & lett non fle,
And ho grauntide to do his rede,
that ho shuld, quen þat he wer dede,
sle hom all & lett non fle,
And ho grauntide to do his rede,
ffor he wilnet soueraynly
that men shuld reme & sorewe make
quen he wer dede, þo men for-thy
gyltlesly he made to take,
that men shuld reme & sorewe make
quen he wer dede, þo men for-thy
gyltlesly he made to take,
That ȝif Iewes nold not þen
reme for hym qven he wer gone,
thay myȝt reme for þes oþer men
that he bad so sle euerichone,
reme for hym qven he wer gone,
thay myȝt reme for þes oþer men
that he bad so sle euerichone,
ffor he desyrit at his deȝyng
that ich mon shuld make dele,
And for his deth ne his partyng
wold no mon reme he wist wele.
that ich mon shuld make dele,
And for his deth ne his partyng
wold no mon reme he wist wele.
120
Then [h]ad Heraude þis maner
quen he hade eten & wold wende
to par an appul, ȝif any wer,
And ete þat atte last ende.
quen he hade eten & wold wende
to par an appul, ȝif any wer,
And ete þat atte last ende.
So toke he a knyf in hy
As thagh he thoȝt nothing amys,
And waitet þer was no mon by
for styke hym-self he wold i-wys.
As thagh he thoȝt nothing amys,
And waitet þer was no mon by
for styke hym-self he wold i-wys.
But on frend þer was negh stondyng
And toke þe knyf out of his honde,
And for this dede was told tithing
that Heraude was dede al þe londe.
And toke þe knyf out of his honde,
And for this dede was told tithing
that Heraude was dede al þe londe.
When Antipater herd of this,
his sone that so in prisoun wasse,
muche myrthe forsothe iwisse
for his fader deth he maas.
his sone that so in prisoun wasse,
muche myrthe forsothe iwisse
for his fader deth he maas.
When Heroud herd þat he did so,
anone he made gurd of his hede,
and Archelaus him leuyng tho
he maad his heir when he wer dede.
anone he made gurd of his hede,
and Archelaus him leuyng tho
he maad his heir when he wer dede.
Thenne after-ward the fift daye
deghet Heroud wrecchetly,
and his suster, soth to saye,
deliueret the prisones in hye,
deghet Heroud wrecchetly,
and his suster, soth to saye,
deliueret the prisones in hye,
The whiche Heroud hade beden before
schulden be slayn, when he wer deed,
ho thoght ho schulde see hym no mor
and took hir to a better rede.
schulden be slayn, when he wer deed,
ho thoght ho schulde see hym no mor
and took hir to a better rede.
Thus endet Heroud, as rede we,
but what tyme and also ȝer,
her-after anone ȝe schun see
datat the tyme fulle enter.
but what tyme and also ȝer,
her-after anone ȝe schun see
datat the tyme fulle enter.
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