The poems of John Audelay Edited with introduction, notes and glossary [by Ella Keats Whiting] |
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 | The poems of John Audelay |  |
1
[OMITTED]
In hel ne purgatore non oþer plase,
Þes synnes wold make ȝou schamyd and schent,
And lese ȝour worchyp in erþ and grace.
Al day with ene sene þou has
Hou men bene slayne fore dedle synne,
And han vengans fore here trespace;
Boþ lyue and goodes þay lesyn þen
Bi londys law.
Ȝif þai had kept Cristis comanndment,
Þai schuld neuer be schamyd ne chent,
Ne lost here lyfe, ne lond, ne rent,
Nouþer hongud ne draw.
In hel ne purgatore non oþer plase,
Þes synnes wold make ȝou schamyd and schent,
And lese ȝour worchyp in erþ and grace.
Al day with ene sene þou has
Hou men bene slayne fore dedle synne,
And han vengans fore here trespace;
Boþ lyue and goodes þay lesyn þen
Bi londys law.
Ȝif þai had kept Cristis comanndment,
Þai schuld neuer be schamyd ne chent,
Ne lost here lyfe, ne lond, ne rent,
Nouþer hongud ne draw.
Hel is not ordent fore ryȝtwyse me[n],
Bot fore hom þat here seruen þe fynd;
No more ys a preson of lyme and ston
Bot to hom þat þe lauys þai done offend,
Fore wyckyd dedys makys þeuys i-schent,
Hye on galouys fore to heng.
Þe ryȝtwyse men þai han god end,
Fore þay bene treue in here leuyng,
Trust wel þer-to.
He þat leuys here ryȝtwysly,
On what deþ þat euer he dy,
His soul neuer schal ponyschyd be,
Ne neuer wyt of wo.
Bot fore hom þat here seruen þe fynd;
No more ys a preson of lyme and ston
Bot to hom þat þe lauys þai done offend,
Fore wyckyd dedys makys þeuys i-schent,
Hye on galouys fore to heng.
Þe ryȝtwyse men þai han god end,
Fore þay bene treue in here leuyng,
Trust wel þer-to.
He þat leuys here ryȝtwysly,
On what deþ þat euer he dy,
His soul neuer schal ponyschyd be,
Ne neuer wyt of wo.
2
Þe syn of sodom into heuen,
Hit crys euer on God almyȝt,
And monslaȝt with a rewful steuen,
Hit askys vengans day and nyȝt;
Extorcyons aȝayns þe ryȝt,
And huyrus þat with wrong holdon be,
Damnacion to ham hit is y-dyȝt
Þat vsyn þese, and avowtere,
Euerychon.
Þese synnys a mon þai done blynde,
Fore þai be don aȝayns kynde,
And bene þe werkys of þe fynde
Of damnacion.
Hit crys euer on God almyȝt,
And monslaȝt with a rewful steuen,
Hit askys vengans day and nyȝt;
Extorcyons aȝayns þe ryȝt,
And huyrus þat with wrong holdon be,
Damnacion to ham hit is y-dyȝt
Þat vsyn þese, and avowtere,
Euerychon.
Þese synnys a mon þai done blynde,
Fore þai be don aȝayns kynde,
And bene þe werkys of þe fynde
Of damnacion.
Þre synns princypaly a man doþ mare,
Murþyr, þeuft, and avoutre;
Þai wyl ȝou schend ore ȝe be ware,
Be þai done neuer so preuely;
Þe fynd wyl schew ham hopunly,
Þat al þe word schal haue wyttyng,
Fore þai bene cursyd in heuen on hye.
Ale þat vsus þat cursid doyng,
Þai wyl be schent.
Fore morþer, Cayme cursud of God was he,
And fore þeft, þeuys al day hongud þay be;
Fore avoutre, vengans had kyng Daue,
Fore brekyng of þe sacrement.
Murþyr, þeuft, and avoutre;
Þai wyl ȝou schend ore ȝe be ware,
Be þai done neuer so preuely;
Þe fynd wyl schew ham hopunly,
Þat al þe word schal haue wyttyng,
Fore þai bene cursyd in heuen on hye.
Ale þat vsus þat cursid doyng,
Þai wyl be schent.
Fore morþer, Cayme cursud of God was he,
And fore þeft, þeuys al day hongud þay be;
Fore avoutre, vengans had kyng Daue,
Fore brekyng of þe sacrement.
Avowtre ne lechory men set not by,
To breke þe bond of þe sacreme[n]t;
Þay schul aby ful sekyrly,
Bot þai haue spase ham to repent.
Here-fore, ȝe curatis, ȝe wyl be schent
And prestis þat bene lewyd in here leuyng,
Fore to þis syn ȝe done asent
With euyl ensampyl to oþer ȝeueng;
And wretyn hit ys
Ȝe were choson to chastyte,
To kepe ȝour holy order and ȝour degre
In parfyt loue and charite,
And mend ale oþer þat done amys.
To breke þe bond of þe sacreme[n]t;
Þay schul aby ful sekyrly,
Bot þai haue spase ham to repent.
3
And prestis þat bene lewyd in here leuyng,
Fore to þis syn ȝe done asent
With euyl ensampyl to oþer ȝeueng;
And wretyn hit ys
Ȝe were choson to chastyte,
To kepe ȝour holy order and ȝour degre
In parfyt loue and charite,
And mend ale oþer þat done amys.
Kepe ȝoure wedloke, ȝe weddid men;
In paradyse God furst hit mad
Betwene Adam and Eue with trew loue þen,
Boþ mon and womon þer-with to glad;
Þer-with He is boþ plesud and payd
Ȝif hit be kept laufully.
Hymselfe was borne of a mayde
To fulfyl þat sacrement princypaly;
Into herþ he come
To make þer eyrus of heuen blys,
Þat Lucefyr lost and al hys;
Monkynd schal hit aȝayne encrese
Or þe day of dome.
In paradyse God furst hit mad
Betwene Adam and Eue with trew loue þen,
Boþ mon and womon þer-with to glad;
Þer-with He is boþ plesud and payd
Ȝif hit be kept laufully.
Hymselfe was borne of a mayde
To fulfyl þat sacrement princypaly;
Into herþ he come
To make þer eyrus of heuen blys,
Þat Lucefyr lost and al hys;
Monkynd schal hit aȝayne encrese
Or þe day of dome.
Nou ȝif a woman maryd schal be,
Anoon sche schal be boȝt and sold;
Hit is fore no loue of hert treuly
Bot fore couetyse of lond or gold.
Þis is Goddis wyle and His lau wolde,
Euan of blood, euan good, euan of age,
Fore loue to-geder þus cum þai schalde,
Fore þes makus metely maryage
Here in al-wyse.
Þai schal haue ayrs ham betwene
Þat schal haue grace to þryue and þene;
Þer oþer schul haue turment and tene
Fore couetyse.
Anoon sche schal be boȝt and sold;
Hit is fore no loue of hert treuly
Bot fore couetyse of lond or gold.
4
Euan of blood, euan good, euan of age,
Fore loue to-geder þus cum þai schalde,
Fore þes makus metely maryage
Here in al-wyse.
Þai schal haue ayrs ham betwene
Þat schal haue grace to þryue and þene;
Þer oþer schul haue turment and tene
Fore couetyse.
Þer is no cryatour, as wreton Y fynde,
Saue only mon þat doþ outrage;
Þai chesun here makus of here houne kynd,
With treu loue makun here mareage.
Nou a lade wyl take a page
Fore no loue bot fore fl[e]schely lust,
And al here blood dysparage;
Þes lordys and lordchips þay ben i-lost
In mone a place.
Lordys and lorchypus þay wastyn away,
Þat makys false ayris, hit is no nay,
And wele and worchyp fore euer and ay,
Onour and grace.
Saue only mon þat doþ outrage;
Þai chesun here makus of here houne kynd,
With treu loue makun here mareage.
Nou a lade wyl take a page
Fore no loue bot fore fl[e]schely lust,
And al here blood dysparage;
Þes lordys and lordchips þay ben i-lost
In mone a place.
Lordys and lorchypus þay wastyn away,
Þat makys false ayris, hit is no nay,
And wele and worchyp fore euer and ay,
Onour and grace.
Now ȝif þat a man he wed a wyfe
And hym þynke sche plese hym noȝt,
Anon þer rysis care and stryfe;
He wold here selle þat he had boȝt,
And schenchypus here þat he haþ soȝt,
And takys to hym a lotoby.
Þese bargeyn wyle be dere a-boȝt;
Here ore henns he schal aby;
He is foresworne.
When he as chosyn hyr to his make,
And plyȝt here trowþ to here y-take,
Hy schuld neuer here foresake,
Euen ne morne.
And hym þynke sche plese hym noȝt,
Anon þer rysis care and stryfe;
He wold here selle þat he had boȝt,
And schenchypus here þat he haþ soȝt,
And takys to hym a lotoby.
5
Here ore henns he schal aby;
He is foresworne.
When he as chosyn hyr to his make,
And plyȝt here trowþ to here y-take,
Hy schuld neuer here foresake,
Euen ne morne.
Aȝayns ale þis remedy I fynde:
Foresake ȝoure syn, Y ȝou pray;
To God and mon loke ȝe be kynde,
To heuen þer is [no] noþer way,
And make amendis wyle þat ȝe may.
Ȝif ȝe wyl haue remyssyon,
God ȝe most boþ plese and pay,
Or ellus haue damnacion.
Wyle ȝe han space,
Þus gracyously says þe Kyng of blys,
Ȝeff ȝe wyl mend þat ȝe do mysse,
Nolo mortem peccatoris,
Ȝe schul haue grace.
Foresake ȝoure syn, Y ȝou pray;
To God and mon loke ȝe be kynde,
To heuen þer is [no] noþer way,
And make amendis wyle þat ȝe may.
Ȝif ȝe wyl haue remyssyon,
God ȝe most boþ plese and pay,
Or ellus haue damnacion.
Wyle ȝe han space,
Þus gracyously says þe Kyng of blys,
Ȝeff ȝe wyl mend þat ȝe do mysse,
Nolo mortem peccatoris,
Ȝe schul haue grace.
In what order or what degre
Hole cherche haþ bound þe to,
Kepe hit wel, I counsel þe;
Dyssyre þou neuer to go þer-fro,
Fore þou art boundon go were þou goo.
When þou hast ressayu[e]d þe sacrement
Þer is no mon may hit vndoo,
Bot he be cursid verament.
In þe gospel þou sist,
Þat God be law byndus y-fyre,
Þer is no mon þat haþ pouere
Hit to vndo in no manere,
Bot he be curst.
Hole cherche haþ bound þe to,
Kepe hit wel, I counsel þe;
Dyssyre þou neuer to go þer-fro,
Fore þou art boundon go were þou goo.
When þou hast ressayu[e]d þe sacrement
Þer is no mon may hit vndoo,
Bot he be cursid verament.
6
Þat God be law byndus y-fyre,
Þer is no mon þat haþ pouere
Hit to vndo in no manere,
Bot he be curst.
Loue ȝour God ouer al þyng,
Ȝoure neȝbore as ȝourselfe, as I ȝou saye;
Let be ȝoure oþis, ȝoure false sweryng;
In clannes kepe ȝoure haleday;
Ȝoure fader, ȝoure moder worchip ay;
Sle no mon fore wordle þyng;
Bakbyte no mon nyȝt ne day,
Ne say no word to hym sklaunderyng;
False wytnes loke þou non bere;
Dysseyte ne þeft loke þou do non,
And lechory þou most foreswere;
Here beþ þe comaundmentis euerychon;
Loke ȝe kepe hem wele.
I rede ȝe seruen heuen Kyng,
Fore ane loust or lykyng,
Haue mynd apon ȝoure endyng,
Of þe payns of helle.
Ȝoure neȝbore as ȝourselfe, as I ȝou saye;
Let be ȝoure oþis, ȝoure false sweryng;
In clannes kepe ȝoure haleday;
Ȝoure fader, ȝoure moder worchip ay;
Sle no mon fore wordle þyng;
Bakbyte no mon nyȝt ne day,
Ne say no word to hym sklaunderyng;
False wytnes loke þou non bere;
Dysseyte ne þeft loke þou do non,
And lechory þou most foreswere;
Here beþ þe comaundmentis euerychon;
Loke ȝe kepe hem wele.
I rede ȝe seruen heuen Kyng,
Fore ane loust or lykyng,
Haue mynd apon ȝoure endyng,
Of þe payns of helle.
Anoþer remede ȝet þer is;
Gentyl seres, herkens to me,
Þe vij werkys of merce, so haue I blys,
I wyl declare ham oponle;
Þai schul be schewed ful petuysly
At domysday, at Cristis cumyng;
Þer God and mon present schal be,
And al þe world on fuyre brenny[n]g,
A reuful aray.
Þen wele is hym and wele schal be
Þat doþ þese werkys with pete;
He schal haue grace and merce
On domysday.
Gentyl seres, herkens to me,
Þe vij werkys of merce, so haue I blys,
I wyl declare ham oponle;
Þai schul be schewed ful petuysly
At domysday, at Cristis cumyng;
Þer God and mon present schal be,
And al þe world on fuyre brenny[n]g,
A reuful aray.
7
Þat doþ þese werkys with pete;
He schal haue grace and merce
On domysday.
Þe hungre ȝif mete; þe þorste ȝif dryng;
Cleþ þe nakyd, as I þe say;
Vysyte þe seke in preson lying,
And bere þe ded, as I þe pray,
And herbere þe pore þat goþ be þe way,
And teche þe vnwyse of þi cunny[n]g.
Do þese werkys, boþ nyȝt and day,
To Goddis worchip and His plesyng;
Þis is His wylle.
Euer haue þis in þi mynd;
To þe pore loke þou be kynd,
Þen in heuen þou schalt hit fynd,
Þou schalt neuer spyle.
Cleþ þe nakyd, as I þe say;
Vysyte þe seke in preson lying,
And bere þe ded, as I þe pray,
And herbere þe pore þat goþ be þe way,
And teche þe vnwyse of þi cunny[n]g.
Do þese werkys, boþ nyȝt and day,
To Goddis worchip and His plesyng;
Þis is His wylle.
Euer haue þis in þi mynd;
To þe pore loke þou be kynd,
Þen in heuen þou schalt hit fynd,
Þou schalt neuer spyle.
Þi V wyttis þou most know;
Þonke þi God þat land ham þe;
Þi heryng, þi seyng, as I þe schewe,
Þi syȝt, þi smellyng, here be iij;
Þi touchyng, þi tastyng, here V þer be,
To reule þe withyn þi leuyng.
God haþ þe graundid ham graciously
Hym to loue ouer al þyng;
His wyl hit is.
Ȝif þi V wyttis here byn well spend
Þi God þou schalt noȝt afend,
Bot bryng þiselfe to good end,
Into heuen blys.
Þonke þi God þat land ham þe;
Þi heryng, þi seyng, as I þe schewe,
Þi syȝt, þi smellyng, here be iij;
Þi touchyng, þi tastyng, here V þer be,
To reule þe withyn þi leuyng.
God haþ þe graundid ham graciously
Hym to loue ouer al þyng;
His wyl hit is.
Ȝif þi V wyttis here byn well spend
Þi God þou schalt noȝt afend,
Bot bryng þiselfe to good end,
Into heuen blys.
8
Ellys a mon he were vnablle,
As a best ys of kynd,
Bott mon ys made resnabyle,
Good and euyl to haue in his mynd,
And has fre choys, as we fynde,
Weder he wyl do good or ylle,
Owþer y-sauyd or ellys y-schent,
Owþer haue heuen or ellus haue helle,
Þou hast fre choys.
Þen I red foresake þe fynd;
To God and mon loke þou be kynd,
And haue His passyon in þi mynd,
Þat dyed on cros.
As a best ys of kynd,
Bott mon ys made resnabyle,
Good and euyl to haue in his mynd,
And has fre choys, as we fynde,
Weder he wyl do good or ylle,
Owþer y-sauyd or ellys y-schent,
Owþer haue heuen or ellus haue helle,
Þou hast fre choys.
Þen I red foresake þe fynd;
To God and mon loke þou be kynd,
And haue His passyon in þi mynd,
Þat dyed on cros.
Þou most haue fayþ, hope, and charyte,
Þis is þe ground of þi beleue,
Ellys i-sauyd þou maȝt not be;
Þus Poul in his pystyl he doþ preue.
Þen God and mon þou schalt neuer greue;
Þis is þe ground of good leuyng;
Þen charyte he is chif,
Her-fore he louys God ouer al þyng;
Þis wyl I preue.
Lok in þi merour;
Ȝif þou loue þi neȝtboure,
Þen þou louyst þi Sauyoure;
Þou art trew in þi beleue.
Þis is þe ground of þi beleue,
Ellys i-sauyd þou maȝt not be;
Þus Poul in his pystyl he doþ preue.
Þen God and mon þou schalt neuer greue;
Þis is þe ground of good leuyng;
Þen charyte he is chif,
Her-fore he louys God ouer al þyng;
Þis wyl I preue.
Lok in þi merour;
Ȝif þou loue þi neȝtboure,
Þen þou louyst þi Sauyoure;
Þou art trew in þi beleue.
Þi beleue is þe fayþ of hole cherche;
Soule, in hope God haþ ordynd þe,
Euer good werkys þat þou schuld werche
And be rewarded þer-fore in heuen on hye.
Þen charyte chif callid is hee
Fore he counselys vche mon þat is leuyng
To do as þou woldest me dud by þe,
And bryng þi lyf to good endyng
Here and hen.
Do fore ȝoureself ore ȝe gone
Or mede of God get ȝe none,
Bot sone be foreȝetone
Of kyþ and of kyn.
Soule, in hope God haþ ordynd þe,
Euer good werkys þat þou schuld werche
And be rewarded þer-fore in heuen on hye.
9
Fore he counselys vche mon þat is leuyng
To do as þou woldest me dud by þe,
And bryng þi lyf to good endyng
Here and hen.
Do fore ȝoureself ore ȝe gone
Or mede of God get ȝe none,
Bot sone be foreȝetone
Of kyþ and of kyn.
Euer haue pete of þe pore,
Of þe goodus þat God þe sende;
Þou hast non oþer here tresoure
Aȝayns [þ]e day of iugyment;
Or ellys þou schalt be schamyd and chent
When þou art callid to þi rekynyng;
Þer God and mon schal be present,
And al þe world on fuyre brenyng
Þe to afray.
Ȝif þou haue partyd with þe pore,
God wyl þonke þe þer-fore
And in His kyngdom þe restore
Þe lyf þat lastyþ ay.
Of þe goodus þat God þe sende;
Þou hast non oþer here tresoure
Aȝayns [þ]e day of iugyment;
Or ellys þou schalt be schamyd and chent
When þou art callid to þi rekynyng;
Þer God and mon schal be present,
And al þe world on fuyre brenyng
Þe to afray.
Ȝif þou haue partyd with þe pore,
God wyl þonke þe þer-fore
And in His kyngdom þe restore
Þe lyf þat lastyþ ay.
Þe pore schul be made domysmen
Apon þe ryche at domysday;
Let se houe þai cun onswere þen
For al here ryal, reuerent aray;
In hunger, in cold, in þurst, weleaway,
Afftyr here almes ay waytyng,
Þay wold not vysete vs nyȝt ne day;
Þus wyl þai playn ham to heuen Kyng,
Þat is aboue.
Þus we dydon myschyvysly;
Fore hungyr and þurst ful petuysly
Þai nold not on us haue no pete,
Ny for þai loue.
Apon þe ryche at domysday;
Let se houe þai cun onswere þen
For al here ryal, reuerent aray;
In hunger, in cold, in þurst, weleaway,
Afftyr here almes ay waytyng,
Þay wold not vysete vs nyȝt ne day;
Þus wyl þai playn ham to heuen Kyng,
10
Þus we dydon myschyvysly;
Fore hungyr and þurst ful petuysly
Þai nold not on us haue no pete,
Ny for þai loue.
| The poems of John Audelay | |