The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, Secundum Wit et Resoun, by William Langland (About 1362-1380 A.D.): Edited from numerous manuscripts, with prefaces, notes, and a glossary, by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat ... In four parts |
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| XVIII. | PASSUS XVIII (DO-BET III).
Passus xviijus, et tercius de dobet. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
 | The Vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman |  |
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PASSUS XVIII (DO-BET III). Passus xviijus, et tercius de dobet.
Wolleward and wete-shoed went I forth after,
As a reccheles renke þat of no wo reccheth,
And ȝede forth lyke a lorel al my lyf tyme,
Tyl I wex wery of þe worlde and wylned eft to slepe,
And lened me to a lenten and longe tyme I slepte;
And of crystes passioun and penaunce þe peple þat of-rauȝte,
[Reste] me þere, and rutte faste tyl ramis palmarum;
Of gerlis & of gloria laus gretly me dremed,
And how osanna by orgonye olde folke songen.
As a reccheles renke þat of no wo reccheth,
And ȝede forth lyke a lorel al my lyf tyme,
Tyl I wex wery of þe worlde and wylned eft to slepe,
And lened me to a lenten and longe tyme I slepte;
And of crystes passioun and penaunce þe peple þat of-rauȝte,
[Reste] me þere, and rutte faste tyl ramis palmarum;
Of gerlis & of gloria laus gretly me dremed,
And how osanna by orgonye olde folke songen.
One semblable to þe samaritan & some del to Piers þe plowman,
Barfote on an asse bakke botelees cam pryk[y]e,
Wyth-oute spores other spere spakliche he loked,
As is þe kynde of a knyȝte þat cometh to be dubbed,
To geten hem gylte spores or galoches ycouped.
Þanne was faith in a fenestre and cryde “a! fili dauid!”
Barfote on an asse bakke botelees cam pryk[y]e,
Wyth-oute spores other spere spakliche he loked,
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To geten hem gylte spores or galoches ycouped.
As doth an Heraude of armes whan [auntrous] cometh to iustes.
Olde iuwes of ierusalem for ioye þei songen,
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini.
Þanne I frayned at faith what al þat fare be-ment[e],
And who sholde iouste in Iherusalem “Ihesus,” he seyde,
“And fecche þat þe fende claymeth Piers fruit þe plowman.”
“Is Piers in þis place?” quod I & he preynte on me,
“Þis ihesus of his gentrice wole iuste in piers armes,
In his helme & in his haberioun humana natura.
Þat cryst be nouȝt biknowe here for consu[m]matus deus,
In Piers paltok þe plowman þis priker shal ryde;
For no dynte shal hym dere as in deitate patris.”
“Who shal iuste with ihesus?” quod I “iuwes or scribes?”
“Nay,” quod he, “þe foule fende and fals dome & deth.
And who sholde iouste in Iherusalem “Ihesus,” he seyde,
“And fecche þat þe fende claymeth Piers fruit þe plowman.”
“Is Piers in þis place?” quod I & he preynte on me,
“Þis ihesus of his gentrice wole iuste in piers armes,
In his helme & in his haberioun humana natura.
Þat cryst be nouȝt biknowe here for consu[m]matus deus,
In Piers paltok þe plowman þis priker shal ryde;
For no dynte shal hym dere as in deitate patris.”
“Who shal iuste with ihesus?” quod I “iuwes or scribes?”
Deth seith he shal fordo and adown brynge
Al þat lyueth or loketh in londe or in watere.
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Þat for al þat deth can do with-in þre dayes,
To walke and fecche fro þe fende piers fruite þe plowman,
And legge it þere hym lyketh and lucifer bynde,
And forbete and adown brynge bale [&] deth for euere:
O mors, ero mors tua!
Þanne cam pilatus with moche peple sedens pro tribunali,
To se how doughtilich deth sholde do & deme her botheres riȝte.
Þe iuwes and þe iustice aȝeine ihesu þei were,
And al her courte on hym cryde crucifige sharpe.
Tho put hym forth a piloure bifor pilat, & seyde,
“This ihesus of owre iewes temple iaped & dispised,
To fordone it on o day and in thre dayes after
Edefye it eft newe (here he stant þat seyde it)
And ȝit maken it as moche in al manere poyntes,
Bothe as longe and as large bi loft & by grounde.”
To se how doughtilich deth sholde do & deme her botheres riȝte.
Þe iuwes and þe iustice aȝeine ihesu þei were,
And al her courte on hym cryde crucifige sharpe.
Tho put hym forth a piloure bifor pilat, & seyde,
“This ihesus of owre iewes temple iaped & dispised,
To fordone it on o day and in thre dayes after
Edefye it eft newe (here he stant þat seyde it)
And ȝit maken it as moche in al manere poyntes,
Bothe as longe and as large bi loft & by grounde.”
“Cru[ci]fige,” quod a cacchepolle “I warante hym a wicche!”
“Tolle, tolle!” quod an other and toke o[f] kene þornes,
And bigan of kene thorne a gerelande to make,
And sette it sore on his hed and seyde in envye,
“Aue rabby!” quod þat Ribaude and þrew redes at hym,
Nailled hym with þre nailles naked on þe Rode,
And poysoun on a pole þei put vp to his lippes,
And bede hym drynke his deth-yuel his dayes were ydone.
“And ȝif þat þow sotil be help now þi-seluen,
If þow be cryst, & kynges sone come downe of þe Rode;
Þanne shul we leue þat lyf þe loueth and wil nouȝt lete þe deye!”
“Consummatum est,” quod cryst & comsed forto swowe,
“Tolle, tolle!” quod an other and toke o[f] kene þornes,
And bigan of kene thorne a gerelande to make,
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“Aue rabby!” quod þat Ribaude and þrew redes at hym,
Nailled hym with þre nailles naked on þe Rode,
And poysoun on a pole þei put vp to his lippes,
And bede hym drynke his deth-yuel his dayes were ydone.
“And ȝif þat þow sotil be help now þi-seluen,
If þow be cryst, & kynges sone come downe of þe Rode;
Þanne shul we leue þat lyf þe loueth and wil nouȝt lete þe deye!”
Pitousliche and pale as a prisoun þat deyeth;
Þe lorde of lyf & of liȝte þo leyed his eyen togideres.
Þe daye for drede with-drowe and derke bicam þe sonne,
Þe wal wagged and clef and al þe worlde quaued.
Ded men for that dyne come out of depe graues,
And tolde whi þat tempest so longe tyme dured.
“For a bitter bataille” þe ded bodye sayde;
“Lyf and deth in þis derknesse her one fordoth her other;
Shal no wiȝte wite witterly who shal haue þe maystrye,
Er sondey aboute sonne rysynge” & sank with þat til erthe.
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Vere filius dei erat iste, &c.
And somme saide he was a wicche “good is þat we assaye,Where he be ded or nouȝte ded doun er he be taken.”
Two theues also tholed deth þat tyme,
Vppon a crosse bisydes cryst so was þe comune lawe.
A cacchepole cam forth and craked bothe her legges,
And her armes after of eyther of þo theues.
Ac was no boy so bolde goddes body to touche;
For he was knyȝte & kynges sone kynde forȝaf þat tyme,
Þat non harlot were so hardy to leyne hande vppon hym.
Vppon a crosse bisydes cryst so was þe comune lawe.
A cacchepole cam forth and craked bothe her legges,
And her armes after of eyther of þo theues.
Ac was no boy so bolde goddes body to touche;
For he was knyȝte & kynges sone kynde forȝaf þat tyme,
Þat non harlot were so hardy to leyne hande vppon hym.
Ac þere cam forth a knyȝte with a kene spere ygrounde,
Hiȝte longeus, as þe lettre telleth and longe had lore his siȝte.
Bifor pilat & other peple in þe place he houed;
Maugre his many tethe he was made þat tyme
To take þe spere in his honde & iusten with ihesus;
For alle þei were vnhardy þat houed on hors or stode,
To touche hym or to taste hym or take hym down of Rode.
But þis blynde bacheler þanne bar hym þorugh þe herte;
Þe blode spronge down by þe spere & vnspered þe kniȝtes eyen.
Þanne fel þe knyȝte vpon knees and cryed hym mercy—
“Aȝeyne my wille it was, lorde to wownde ȝow so sore!”
He seighed & sayde “sore it me athynketh;
For þe dede þat I haue done I do me in ȝowre grace;
Haue on me reuth, riȝtful ihesu!” & riȝt with þat he wept.
Hiȝte longeus, as þe lettre telleth and longe had lore his siȝte.
Bifor pilat & other peple in þe place he houed;
Maugre his many tethe he was made þat tyme
To take þe spere in his honde & iusten with ihesus;
For alle þei were vnhardy þat houed on hors or stode,
To touche hym or to taste hym or take hym down of Rode.
But þis blynde bacheler þanne bar hym þorugh þe herte;
Þe blode spronge down by þe spere & vnspered þe kniȝtes eyen.
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“Aȝeyne my wille it was, lorde to wownde ȝow so sore!”
He seighed & sayde “sore it me athynketh;
For þe dede þat I haue done I do me in ȝowre grace;
Haue on me reuth, riȝtful ihesu!” & riȝt with þat he wept.
Thanne gan faith felly þe fals iuwes dispise,
Called hem caytyues acursed for euere,
For þis foule vyleynye “veniaunce to ȝow alle,
To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde it was a boyes conseille.
Cursed caytyue! kniȝthod was it neuere
To mysdo a ded body by day or by nyȝte.
Þe gree ȝit hath he geten for al his grete wounde.
For ȝowre champioun chiualer chief knyȝt of ȝow alle,
Called hem caytyues acursed for euere,
For þis foule vyleynye “veniaunce to ȝow alle,
To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde it was a boyes conseille.
Cursed caytyue! kniȝthod was it neuere
To mysdo a ded body by day or by nyȝte.
Þe gree ȝit hath he geten for al his grete wounde.
Ȝelt hym recreaunt rennyng riȝt at ihesus wille.
For be þis derkenesse ydo his deth worth avenged,
And ȝe, lordeynes, han ylost for lyf shal haue þe maistrye,
And ȝowre Fraunchise, þat fre was fallen is in thraldome,
And ȝe, cherles, & ȝowre children chieue shal ȝe neure,
Ne haue lordship in londe ne no londe tylye,
But al bareyne be & vsurye vsen,
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Now ȝowre good dayes ar done as Danyel prophecyed,
Whan cryst cam, [of] her kyngdom þe croune shulde [cesse];
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessabit vnxio vestra.”
What for fere of þis ferly & of þe fals iuwes,
I drowe me in þat derkenesse to decendit ad inferna.
And þere I sawe sothely secundum scripturas,
Out of þe west coste a wenche, as me thouȝte,
Cam walkynge in þe wey to-helle-ward she loked.
Mercy hiȝt þat mayde a meke þynge with-alle,
A ful benygne buirde and boxome of speche.
I drowe me in þat derkenesse to decendit ad inferna.
And þere I sawe sothely secundum scripturas,
Out of þe west coste a wenche, as me thouȝte,
Cam walkynge in þe wey to-helle-ward she loked.
Mercy hiȝt þat mayde a meke þynge with-alle,
A ful benygne buirde and boxome of speche.
Her suster, as it semed cam softly walkynge,
Euene out of þe est and westward she loked.
A ful comely creature treuth she hiȝte,
For þe vertue þat hir folwed aferd was she neuere.
Euene out of þe est and westward she loked.
A ful comely creature treuth she hiȝte,
For þe vertue þat hir folwed aferd was she neuere.
Whan þis maydenes mette mercy and treuth,
Eyther axed other of þis grete wonder,
Of þe dyne & of þe derknesse and how þe daye rowed,
And which a liȝte and a leme lay befor helle.
“Ich haue ferly of þis fare in feith,” seyde treuth,
“And am wendyng to wyte what þis wonder meneth.”
Eyther axed other of þis grete wonder,
Of þe dyne & of þe derknesse and how þe daye rowed,
And which a liȝte and a leme lay befor helle.
“Ich haue ferly of þis fare in feith,” seyde treuth,
“And am wendyng to wyte what þis wonder meneth.”
“Haue no merueille,” quod mercy “myrthe it bytokneth.
A mayden þat hatte marye and moder with-out felyng
Of any kynnes creature conceyued þorw speche
And grace of þe holygoste; wex grete with childe;
With-outen wem in-to þis worlde she brouȝt hym;
And þat my tale be trewe I take god to witnesse.
Sith þis barn was bore ben xxxti wynter passed;
Which deyde & deth þoled þis day aboute mydday.
And þat is cause of þis clips þat closeth now þe sonne,
In menynge þat man shal fro merkenesse be drawe,
Þe while þis liȝte & þis leme shal Lucyfer ablende.
For patriarkes & prophetes han preched her-of often,
Þat man shal man saue þorw a maydenes helpe,
And þat was tynt þorw tre tree shal it wynne,
And þat deth doun brouȝte deth shal releue.”
“Þat þow tellest,” quod treuth “is but a tale of waltrot;
A mayden þat hatte marye and moder with-out felyng
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And grace of þe holygoste; wex grete with childe;
With-outen wem in-to þis worlde she brouȝt hym;
And þat my tale be trewe I take god to witnesse.
Sith þis barn was bore ben xxxti wynter passed;
Which deyde & deth þoled þis day aboute mydday.
And þat is cause of þis clips þat closeth now þe sonne,
In menynge þat man shal fro merkenesse be drawe,
Þe while þis liȝte & þis leme shal Lucyfer ablende.
For patriarkes & prophetes han preched her-of often,
Þat man shal man saue þorw a maydenes helpe,
And þat was tynt þorw tre tree shal it wynne,
And þat deth doun brouȝte deth shal releue.”
For Adam & Eue & abraham with other
Patriarkes & prophetes þat in peyne liggen,
Leue þow neuere þat ȝone liȝte hem alofte brynge,
Ne haue hem out of helle holde þi tonge, mercy!
It is but a trufle þat þow tellest I, treuth, wote þe sothe.
For þat is ones in helle out cometh it neuere;
Iob þe prophete, patriarke reproueth þi sawes,
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.”
Þanne mercy ful myldly mouthed þise wordes,330
For venym for-doth venym & þat I proue by resoun.
For of alle venymes foulest is þe scorpioun,
May no medcyne helpe þe place þere he styngeth,
Tyl he be ded & do þer-to þe yuel he destroyeth,
Þe fyrst venymouste þorw venym of hym-self.
So shal þis deth for-do I dar my lyf legge,
Al þat deth [for]dyd furste þorw þe deuelles entysynge;
And riȝt as þorw gyle man was bigyled,
So shal grace þat bigan make a good sleighte;
Ars vt artem falleret.”
“Now suffre we,” seyde treuth “I se, as me þinketh,
Out of þe nippe of þe north nouȝt ful fer hennes,
Riȝtwisnesse come rennynge reste we þe while;
For he wote more þan we he was er we bothe.”
Out of þe nippe of þe north nouȝt ful fer hennes,
Riȝtwisnesse come rennynge reste we þe while;
For he wote more þan we he was er we bothe.”
“That is soth,” seyde mercy “And I se here bi southe,
Where pees cometh playinge in pacience yclothed;
Loue hath coueyted hir longe leue I none other
But he sent hir some lettre what þis liȝte bymeneth,
Þat ouer-houeth helle þus; she vs shal telle.”
Where pees cometh playinge in pacience yclothed;
Loue hath coueyted hir longe leue I none other
But he sent hir some lettre what þis liȝte bymeneth,
Þat ouer-houeth helle þus; she vs shal telle.”
Whan pees, in pacience yclothed approched nere hem tweyne,
Riȝtwisnesse hir reuerenced for her riche clothyng,
And preyed pees to telle hir to what place she wolde,
And in her gay garnementz whom she grete þouȝte.
“My wille is to wende,” quod she “and welcome hem alle,
Riȝtwisnesse hir reuerenced for her riche clothyng,
And preyed pees to telle hir to what place she wolde,
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Þat many day myȝte I nouȝte se for merkenesse of synne,
Adam & Eue & other moo in helle.
Moyses & many mo mercy shal haue,
And I shal daunce þer-to do þow so, sustre!
For ihesus iusted wel ioye bygynneth dawe;
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, & ad matutinum leticia.
Loue, þat is my lemman suche lettres me sente,That mercy, my sustre, & I mankynde shulde saue,
And þat god hath forgyuen & graunted me pees & mercy,
To be mannes meynpernoure for euere-more after.
Lo! here þe patent!” quod pees “in pace in idipsum—
And þat þis dede shal dure— dormiam & requiescam.”
“What, rauestow?” quod riȝtwisnesse “or þow art riȝt dronke!
Leuestow þat ȝonde liȝte vnlouke myȝte helle,
And saue mannes soule? sustre, wene it neure!
At þe bygynnynge, god gaf þe dome hym-selue,
Þat Adam & Eue and alle þat hem suwed,
Shulde deye doune riȝte and dwelle in pyne after,
If þat þei touched a tre and þe fruite eten.
Adam afterward aȝeines his defence,
Frette of þat fruit & forsoke, as it were,
Þe loue of owre lorde and his lore bothe,
And folwed þat þe fende tauȝte & his felawes wille,
Aȝeines resoun, I, riȝtwisnesse recorde þus with treuth,
Þat her peyne be perpetuel & no preyere hem helpe.
For-þi late hem chewe as þei chose & chyde we nouȝt, sustres,
For it is botelees bale þe bite þat þei eten.”
Leuestow þat ȝonde liȝte vnlouke myȝte helle,
And saue mannes soule? sustre, wene it neure!
At þe bygynnynge, god gaf þe dome hym-selue,
Þat Adam & Eue and alle þat hem suwed,
Shulde deye doune riȝte and dwelle in pyne after,
If þat þei touched a tre and þe fruite eten.
Adam afterward aȝeines his defence,
Frette of þat fruit & forsoke, as it were,
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And folwed þat þe fende tauȝte & his felawes wille,
Aȝeines resoun, I, riȝtwisnesse recorde þus with treuth,
Þat her peyne be perpetuel & no preyere hem helpe.
For-þi late hem chewe as þei chose & chyde we nouȝt, sustres,
For it is botelees bale þe bite þat þei eten.”
“And [I] shal preue,” quod pees “her peyne mote haue ende,
And wo in-to wel mowe wende atte laste;
For had þei wist of no wo wel had þei nouȝte knowen.
For no wiȝte wote what wel is þat neuere wo suffred,
Ne what is hote hunger þat had neuere defaute.
If no nyȝte ne were no man, as I leue,
Shulde wite witterly what day is to mene;
Shulde neuere riȝte riche man þat lyueth in reste & ese
Wyte what wo is ne were þe deth of kynde.
So god þat bygan al of his good wille
Bycam man of a mayde mankynde to saue,
And suffred to be solde to see þe sorwe of deyinge,
The which vnknitteth al kare & comsynge is of reste.
For til modicum mete with vs I may it wel avowe,
Wote no wiȝte, as I wene what is ynough to mene.
And wo in-to wel mowe wende atte laste;
For had þei wist of no wo wel had þei nouȝte knowen.
For no wiȝte wote what wel is þat neuere wo suffred,
Ne what is hote hunger þat had neuere defaute.
If no nyȝte ne were no man, as I leue,
Shulde wite witterly what day is to mene;
Shulde neuere riȝte riche man þat lyueth in reste & ese
Wyte what wo is ne were þe deth of kynde.
So god þat bygan al of his good wille
Bycam man of a mayde mankynde to saue,
And suffred to be solde to see þe sorwe of deyinge,
The which vnknitteth al kare & comsynge is of reste.
For til modicum mete with vs I may it wel avowe,
Wote no wiȝte, as I wene what is ynough to mene.
For-þi god of his goodnesse þe fyrste gome Adam,
Sette hym in solace & in souereigne myrthe;
And sith he suffred hym synne sorwe to fele,
To wite what wel was kyndelich to knowe it.
And after god auntred hym-self and toke Adames kynde,
To wyte what he hath suffred in þre sondri places,
Bothe in heuene, & in erthe & now til helle he þynketh,
To wite what al wo is þat wote of al ioye.
Sette hym in solace & in souereigne myrthe;
And sith he suffred hym synne sorwe to fele,
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And after god auntred hym-self and toke Adames kynde,
To wyte what he hath suffred in þre sondri places,
Bothe in heuene, & in erthe & now til helle he þynketh,
To wite what al wo is þat wote of al ioye.
So it shal fare bi þis folke; her foly & her synne
Shall lere hem what langour is & lisse with-outen ende.
Wote no wighte what werre is þere þat pees regneth,
Ne what is witterly wel til weyllowey hym teche.”
Thanne was þere a wiȝte with two brode eyen,
Shall lere hem what langour is & lisse with-outen ende.
Wote no wighte what werre is þere þat pees regneth,
Ne what is witterly wel til weyllowey hym teche.”
Boke hiȝte þat beupere a bolde man of speche.
“By godes body,” quod þis boke “I wil bere witnesse,
Þat þo þis barne was ybore þere blased a sterre,
That alle þe wyse of þis worlde in o witte acordeden,
That such a barne was borne in bethleem Citee,
Þat mannes soule sholde saue & synne destroye.
And alle þe elementz,” quod þe boke “her-of bereth witnesse.
Þat he was god þat al wrouȝte þe walkene firste shewed;
Þo þat weren in heuene token stella comata,
And tendeden hir as a torche to reuerence his birthe;
Þe lyȝte folwed þe lorde in-to þe lowe erthe.
[Þe] water witnessed þat he was god for he went on it;
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And as he went on þe water wel hym knewe, & seyde,
Iube me venire ad te super aquas.
And lo! how þe sonne gan louke her liȝte in her-self,Whan she seye hym suffre þat sonne & se made.
The erthe for heuynesse that he wolde suffre,
Quaked as quykke þinge and al biquasht[e] þe roche.
Lo! helle miȝte nouȝte holde but opened þo god þoled,
And lete oute symondes sones to seen hym hange on Rode.
And now shal lucifer leue it thowgh hym loth þinke;
For gygas þe geaunt with a gynne engyned
To breke & to bete doune þat ben aȝeines ihesus.
“And I, boke, wil be brent but ihesus rise to lyue,
In alle myȝtes of man & his moder gladye,
And conforte al his kynne & out of care brynge,
And al þe iuwen ioye vnioignen & vnlouken;
And but þei reuerencen his Rode & his resurexioun,
And bileue on a newe lawe be lost lyf & soule.”
“Suffre we,” seide treuth “I here & se bothe,
How a spirit speketh to helle & bit vnspere þe ȝatis,
Attollite portas, &c.”
A voice loude in þat liȝte to lucifer cryeth,“Prynces of þis place vnpynneth & vnlouketh!
For here cometh with croune þat kynge is of glorie.”
Thanne syked sathan & seyde to hem alle,
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Care & combraunce is comen to vs alle.
If þis kynge come in mankynde wil he fecche,
And lede it þer hym lyketh & lyȝtlych me bynde.
Patriarkes & prophetes han parled her-of longe,
Þat such a lorde & a lyȝte shulde lede hem alle hennes.”
“Lysteneth,” quod Lucifer “for I þis lorde knowe,
Bothe þis lorde & þis liȝte; is longe ago I knewe hym.
May no deth hym dere ne no deueles queyntise,
And where he wil, is his waye ac war hym of þe periles;
If he reue me my riȝte he robbeth me by maistrye.
For by riȝt & bi resoun þo renkes þat ben here,
Bodye & soule ben myne bothe gode & ille.
For hym-self seyde þat sire is of heuene,
Ȝif Adam ete þe apple alle shulde deye,
And dwelle with vs deueles þis þretynge he made;
And he þat sothenesse is seyde þise wordes;
And sitthen I seised seuene hundreth wyntre,
I leue þat lawe nil nauȝte lete hym þe leest.”
Bothe þis lorde & þis liȝte; is longe ago I knewe hym.
May no deth hym dere ne no deueles queyntise,
And where he wil, is his waye ac war hym of þe periles;
If he reue me my riȝte he robbeth me by maistrye.
For by riȝt & bi resoun þo renkes þat ben here,
Bodye & soule ben myne bothe gode & ille.
For hym-self seyde þat sire is of heuene,
Ȝif Adam ete þe apple alle shulde deye,
And dwelle with vs deueles þis þretynge he made;
And he þat sothenesse is seyde þise wordes;
And sitthen I seised seuene hundreth wyntre,
I leue þat lawe nil nauȝte lete hym þe leest.”
“That is sothe,” seyde Sathan “but I me sore drede,
For þow gete hem with gyle & his gardyne breke,
And in semblaunce of a serpent sat on þe appeltre,
And eggedest hem to ete Eue by hir-selue,
And toldest hir a tale of tresoun were þe wordes;
And so þow haddest hem oute & hider atte laste.
It is nouȝte graythely geten þere gyle is þe Rote.”
“For god wil nouȝt be bigiled” quod Gobelyn, “ne bi-iaped;
We haue no trewe title to hem for þorwgh tresoun were þei dampned.”
“Certes, I drede me,” quod þe deuel “leste treuth wil hem fecche.
Þis þretty wynter, as I wene hath he gone & preched;
For þow gete hem with gyle & his gardyne breke,
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And eggedest hem to ete Eue by hir-selue,
And toldest hir a tale of tresoun were þe wordes;
And so þow haddest hem oute & hider atte laste.
It is nouȝte graythely geten þere gyle is þe Rote.”
“For god wil nouȝt be bigiled” quod Gobelyn, “ne bi-iaped;
We haue no trewe title to hem for þorwgh tresoun were þei dampned.”
“Certes, I drede me,” quod þe deuel “leste treuth wil hem fecche.
I haue assailled hym with synne & some tyme yasked
Where he were god or goddes sone? he gaf me shorte answere.
And þus hath he trolled forth þis two & thretty wynter,
And whan I seighe it was so slepyng, I went,
To warne pilates wyf what dones man was ihesus;
For iuwes hateden hym and han done hym to deth.
I wolde haue lengthed his lyf for I leued, ȝif he deyede,
That his soule wolde suffre no synne in his syȝte.
For þe body, whil it on bones ȝede aboute was euere,
To saue men fram synne ȝif hem-self wolde.
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With glorie & with grete liȝte god it is, I wote wel.
I rede we flee,” quod he “faste alle hennes.
For vs were better nouȝte be þan biden his syȝte.
For þi lesynges, Lucifer loste is al owre praye.
Firste þorw þe we fellen fro heuene so heighe;
For we leued þi lesynges [we loupen oute alle with þe;
And now for thi last lesynge ] ylore we haue Adam,
And al owre lordeship, I leue a londe & a water;
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras.”
Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke & Lucifer answered,
“What lorde artow?” quod lucifer “quis est iste?”
“Rex glorie” þe liȝte sone seide,
“And lorde of myȝte & of mayne & al manere vertues; dominus virtutum;
Dukes of þis dym place anon vndo þis ȝates,
That cryst may come in þe kynges sone of heuene.”
And with þat breth helle brake with Beliales barres;
For any wye or warde wide opene þe ȝatis.
“What lorde artow?” quod lucifer “quis est iste?”
“Rex glorie” þe liȝte sone seide,
“And lorde of myȝte & of mayne & al manere vertues; dominus virtutum;
Dukes of þis dym place anon vndo þis ȝates,
That cryst may come in þe kynges sone of heuene.”
And with þat breth helle brake with Beliales barres;
For any wye or warde wide opene þe ȝatis.
Patriarkes & prophetes populus in tenebris,
Songen seynt Iohanes songe ecce agnus dei.
Lucyfer loke ne myȝte so lyȝte hym ableynte.
And þo þat owre [lorde] loued in-to his liȝte he lauȝte,
And seyde to Sathan, “lo! here my soule to amendes
For alle synneful soules to saue þo þat ben worthy.
Myne þei be & of me I may þe bette hem clayme.
Al-þough resoun recorde & riȝt of my-self,
That if þei ete þe apple alle shulde deye,
I bihyȝte hem nouȝt here helle for euere.
For þe dede þat þei dede þi deceyte it made;
With gyle þow hem gete agayne al resoun.
For in my paleys, paradys in persone of an addre,
Falseliche þow fettest þere þynge þat I loued.
Thus ylyke a lusarde with a lady visage,
Songen seynt Iohanes songe ecce agnus dei.
Lucyfer loke ne myȝte so lyȝte hym ableynte.
And þo þat owre [lorde] loued in-to his liȝte he lauȝte,
And seyde to Sathan, “lo! here my soule to amendes
For alle synneful soules to saue þo þat ben worthy.
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Al-þough resoun recorde & riȝt of my-self,
That if þei ete þe apple alle shulde deye,
I bihyȝte hem nouȝt here helle for euere.
For þe dede þat þei dede þi deceyte it made;
With gyle þow hem gete agayne al resoun.
For in my paleys, paradys in persone of an addre,
Falseliche þow fettest þere þynge þat I loued.
Theuelich þow me robbedest; þe olde lawe graunteth,
Þat gylours be bigiled & þat is gode resoun;
Dentem pro dente, & oculum pro oculo.
Ergo, soule shal soule quyte & synne to synne wende,And al þat man hath mysdo I, man, wyl amende.
Membre for membre bi þe olde lawe was amendes,
And lyf for lyf also & by þat lawe I clayme it,
Adam & al his issue at my wille her-after.
And þat deth in hem fordid my deth shal releue,
And bothe quykke & quyte þat queynte was þorw synne;
And þat grace gyle destruye good feith it asketh.
So leue it nouȝte, lucifer aȝeine þe lawe I fecche hem,
But bi riȝt & by resoun raunceoun here my lyges:
Non veni soluere legem, sed adimplere.
Þow fettest myne in my place aȝeines al resoun,339
To recoure hem thorw raunceoun & bi no resoun elles,
So þat with gyle þow gete þorw grace it is ywone.
Þow, Lucyfer, in lyknesse of a luther addere,
Getest by gyle þo that god loued;
And I, in lyknesse of a leode þat lorde am of heuene,
Graciousliche þi gyle haue quytte go gyle aȝeine gyle!
And as Adam & alle þorw a tre deyden,
Adam & alle þorwe a tree shal torne aȝeine to lyue;
And gyle is bigyled & in his gyle fallen:
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit.
Now bygynneth þi gyle ageyne þe to tourne,And my grace to growe ay gretter & wyder.
Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe brouke it þi-seluen,
Þat art doctour of deth drynke þat þow madest!
For I, þat am lorde of lyf loue is my drynke,
And for þat drynke to-day I deyde vpon erthe.
I fauȝte so, me þrestes ȝet for mannes soule sake;
May no drynke me moiste ne my thruste slake,
Tyl þe vendage falle in þe vale of iosephath,
Þat I drynke riȝte ripe must resureccio mortuorum,
And þanne shal I come as a kynge crouned with angeles,
And han out of helle alle mennes soules.
Fendes and fendekynes bifor me shulle stande,
And for þat drynke to-day I deyde vpon erthe.
I fauȝte so, me þrestes ȝet for mannes soule sake;
May no drynke me moiste ne my thruste slake,
Tyl þe vendage falle in þe vale of iosephath,
Þat I drynke riȝte ripe must resureccio mortuorum,
And þanne shal I come as a kynge crouned with angeles,
And han out of helle alle mennes soules.
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And to be merciable to man þanne my kynde it asketh,
For we beth bretheren of blode but nouȝte in baptesme alle.
Ac alle þat beth myne hole bretheren in blode & in baptesme,
Shal nouȝte be dampned to þe deth þat is with-outen ende;
Tibi soli peccaui, &c.
It is nouȝt vsed in erthe to hangen a felounOfter þan ones þough he were a tretour.
And ȝif þe Kynge of þat kyngedome come in þat tyme,
There þe feloun thole sholde deth or otherwyse,
Lawe wolde, he ȝeue hym lyf if he loked on hym.
And I, þat am kynge of kynges shal come suche a tyme,
There dome to þe deth dampneth al wikked;
And ȝif lawe wil I loke on hem it lithe in my grace,
Whether þei deye or deye nouȝte for þat þei deden ille.
Be it any þinge abouȝte þe boldenesse of her synnes,
I may do mercy þorw riȝtwisnesse & alle my wordes trewe.
And þough holiwrit wil þat I be wroke of hem þat deden ille,
Nullum malum inpunitum, &c.,
Thei shul be clensed clereliche & wasshen of her synnes341
And my mercy shal be shewed to manye of my bretheren.
For blode may suffre blode bothe hungry & akale,
Ac blode may nouȝt se blode blede, but hym rewe.”—
Audiui archana verba, que non licet homini loqui.—
“Ac my riȝtwisnesse & riȝt shal reulen al helle,And mercy al mankynde bifor me in heuene.
For I were an vnkynde Kynge but I my kynde holpe,
And namelich at such a nede þer nedes helpe bihoueth;
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo, [domine.]
Þus bi lawe,” quod owre lorde “lede I wil fro hennesÞo þat me loued & leued in my comynge.
And for þi lesynge, lucifer þat þow lowe til Eue,
Thow shalt abye it bittre”— & bonde hym with cheynes.
Astaroth and al þe route hidden hem in hernes,
They dorste nouȝte loke on owre lorde þe boldest of hem alle,
But leten hym lede forth what hym lyked and lete what hym liste.
Many hundreth of angeles harpeden & songen,
Culpat caro, purgat caro; regnat deus dei caro.
Thanne piped pees of poysye a note,
“Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus,
Post inimicitias [clarior est et amor].
After sharpe shoures,” quod pees “moste shene is þe sonne;
Is no weder warmer þan after watery cloudes.
Ne no loue leuere ne leuer frendes,
Þan after werre & wo whan loue & pees be maistres.
Was neuere werre in þis worlde ne wykkednesse so kene,
Þat ne loue, & hym luste to laughynge ne brouȝte,
And pees þorw pacience alle perilles stopped.”
“Trewes,” quod treuth “þow tellest vs soth, bi ihesus!
Clippe we in couenaunt & vch of vs cusse other.”
“And lete no peple,” quod pees “perceyue þat we chydde,
For inpossible is no þyng to hym þat is almyȝty.”
“Thow seist soth,” seyde ryȝtwisnesse & reuerentlich hir kyste,
“Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus,
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After sharpe shoures,” quod pees “moste shene is þe sonne;
Is no weder warmer þan after watery cloudes.
Ne no loue leuere ne leuer frendes,
Þan after werre & wo whan loue & pees be maistres.
Was neuere werre in þis worlde ne wykkednesse so kene,
Þat ne loue, & hym luste to laughynge ne brouȝte,
And pees þorw pacience alle perilles stopped.”
“Trewes,” quod treuth “þow tellest vs soth, bi ihesus!
Clippe we in couenaunt & vch of vs cusse other.”
“And lete no peple,” quod pees “perceyue þat we chydde,
For inpossible is no þyng to hym þat is almyȝty.”
“Pees & pees here! per secula seculorum.”
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi, iusticia & pax osculate sunt.
Treuth tromped þo, & songe te deum laudamus;And þanne luted loue in a loude note,
Ecce quam bonum, & quam iocundum, &c.
Tyl þe daye dawed þis damaiseles daunced,
That men rongen to þe resurexioun & riȝt with þat I waked,
And called kitte my wyf and kalote my douȝter—
“Ariseth & reuerenceth goddes resurrexioun,
And crepeth to þe crosse on knees & kisseth it for a iuwel!
For goddes blissed body it bar for owre bote,
And it afereth þe fende for suche is þe myȝte,
May no grysly gost glyde þere it shadweth!”
That men rongen to þe resurexioun & riȝt with þat I waked,
And called kitte my wyf and kalote my douȝter—
“Ariseth & reuerenceth goddes resurrexioun,
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For goddes blissed body it bar for owre bote,
And it afereth þe fende for suche is þe myȝte,
May no grysly gost glyde þere it shadweth!”
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