The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man Englisht by John Lydgate, A.D. 1426, from the French of Guillaume De Deguileville, A.D. 1330, 1355. The Text Edited by F. J. Furnivall ... With Introduction, Notes, Glossary and Indexes by Katharine B. Locock |
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 | The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man |  |
The seydë yer (ho lyst take kep)
I was avysed in my slep,
Excyted eke, and that a-noon,
To Ierusalem for to goon.
Gretly meved in my corage
ffor to do my pylgrymage,
And ther-to steryd inwardly.
And to tell the causë why,
Was, ffor me thouht I hadde a syht
With-Inne a merour large & bryht,
Off that hevenly ffayr cyte,
Wych representede vn-to me
Ther of holy the manere,
With Inne the glas ful bryht & cler.
And werrayly, as thouhtë me
yt excellyde off bewte
Al other in comparyson;
ffor God hym selff was the masown,
wych mad yt ffayr, at ys devys.
ffor werkman was ther noon so wys,
yt to conceyve in hys entent;
ffor al the weyës & paament
Wer ypavyd all off gold.
And in the sawter yt ys told,
How the ffyrst ffundacyon,
On hyllys off devocyon;
The masounry wrought ful clene,
Off quykë stonys bryht & schene,
Wyth a closour rovnd a-bowte
Off enmyes, ther was no dowte.
ffor Awngelles the wach y-kepte,
The wych, day nor nyht ne slepte,
Kepyng so strongly the entre,
That no wyht kam in that cyte,
But pylgrymes, day nor nyht.
That thyder wentyn evene ryht.
I was avysed in my slep,
Excyted eke, and that a-noon,
To Ierusalem for to goon.
Gretly meved in my corage
ffor to do my pylgrymage,
And ther-to steryd inwardly.
And to tell the causë why,
Was, ffor me thouht I hadde a syht
With-Inne a merour large & bryht,
Off that hevenly ffayr cyte,
Wych representede vn-to me
Ther of holy the manere,
With Inne the glas ful bryht & cler.
And werrayly, as thouhtë me
yt excellyde off bewte
Al other in comparyson;
ffor God hym selff was the masown,
wych mad yt ffayr, at ys devys.
ffor werkman was ther noon so wys,
yt to conceyve in hys entent;
ffor al the weyës & paament
Wer ypavyd all off gold.
And in the sawter yt ys told,
How the ffyrst ffundacyon,
On hyllys off devocyon;
The masounry wrought ful clene,
Off quykë stonys bryht & schene,
Wyth a closour rovnd a-bowte
10
ffor Awngelles the wach y-kepte,
The wych, day nor nyht ne slepte,
Kepyng so strongly the entre,
That no wyht kam in that cyte,
But pylgrymes, day nor nyht.
That thyder wentyn evene ryht.
And ther were meny mansyovns,
Placys, and habytacyovns;
And ther was also al gladnesse,
Ioye with-ovten hewynesse.
And pleynly, who that haddë grace
ffor to entren in that place,
ffond, onto hys plesavnce,
Off Ioye al maner suffysavnce,
That eny hertë kan devyse.
And yet the entre on swych wyse
Was strongly kepte ffor komyng In;
ffor the Awngel cherubin,
Off the gate was cheff porter,
Havyng a swerd, fflawmyng as cler
As any ffyr, evene at the gate;
And who that wold, erly or late,
Passen the wal, he was yslawe.
Ther ne was noon other lawe,
Ne bet helpe, ne bet refut;
The vengaunc ay was execut.
Placys, and habytacyovns;
And ther was also al gladnesse,
Ioye with-ovten hewynesse.
And pleynly, who that haddë grace
ffor to entren in that place,
ffond, onto hys plesavnce,
Off Ioye al maner suffysavnce,
That eny hertë kan devyse.
And yet the entre on swych wyse
Was strongly kepte ffor komyng In;
ffor the Awngel cherubin,
Off the gate was cheff porter,
Havyng a swerd, fflawmyng as cler
As any ffyr, evene at the gate;
And who that wold, erly or late,
Passen the wal, he was yslawe.
Ther ne was noon other lawe,
Ne bet helpe, ne bet refut;
The vengaunc ay was execut.
In the passage thyder-ward,
The weyë was so streiht & hard,
ffor tyravntys, with ther felonye
And with ther mortel tormentrye,
Devyseden on ther entent
fful many wonderful torment,
Lyggyng awayt fro day to day,
To slen pylgrymes in ther way,
Makyng ful grete occysion
Off pylgrymes of grete Renovn,
Off men & wommen both yfere,
Whos martyrdom (as ye schal here,)
Was ful grevous to endure.
ffor somme of hem (I yow ensure,)
Wern out of here Skynnes flawe;
And sommë, by ful mortal lawe,
Wer hew (as bokys kan Remembre,)
Asonder, partyd euery membre,
Crucefyed, of blood al Red;
And many other lost hys hed.
Of somme, the bowelys wer out Rent,
And somme on hotë colys brent,
ffretyng salt cast in among,
ffor to make ther peynys strong
Myd the ffyry flawmys reed.
Somme boylyd in oylle and led,
And sorë bet, that yt was wonder;
Somme, sawyd evene assonder;
Somme, with wyldë hors ydrawe,
In dyffence of crystys lawe,
Thorgh-out the ffeld, her & yonder,
Tyl ther Ioyntës wente a-sonder:
Nerff and bon assonder Rent,
And ther Entraylles aforn hem brent.
The ffelouns wern on hem so felle,
That yt ys pyte for to telle;
And ther ys no man now a lyve
That kan the peynys halff descryve;
Nor a sermon ther-off make,
What they suffrede ffor the sake
Off Cryst Ihesu vn-to the deth,
ffor love, tyl they yald vp the breth,
Myd ther mortal peynys smerte.
ffor ther ys noon so hard on hert,
So despytous, nor so ffelon,
That he [ne] wolde ha compassyon,
Ben agrysed off pytee;
And specyally ffor to se
That they suffrede for no synne,
But only off entent to wynne
The love off Cryst; & ffor hys sake,
All they han vp-on hem take,
Seyng how, ffull long aforn,
Cryst to suffre was yborn,
And fforbar nat to be ded.
And sythen he that was her hed
Suffrede peynys, deth, & woo,
The membrys wolde endure also,
And ffolwe ther hed on al thyng,
As Seyn Gregoir in hys wretyng
Recordeth pleynly (who taketh hed)
Off allë chose, Cryst ys hed;
ffor wych, the membrys, as was due,
Affter ther hed lyst to sue,
Wych by example wente a-fore,
To whom thentre was not fforbore.
ffor swych as deydë ffor hys love,
By wyketys entrede in above,
Vp the gatë, hih aloffte,
Thogh ther passage was not soffte;
The porter lyst hem nat to lette.
And ther pencellys vp they sette
On cornerys, wher them thouhtë good,
Al steyned with ther ovnë blood.
The weyë was so streiht & hard,
ffor tyravntys, with ther felonye
And with ther mortel tormentrye,
Devyseden on ther entent
fful many wonderful torment,
Lyggyng awayt fro day to day,
To slen pylgrymes in ther way,
Makyng ful grete occysion
11
Off men & wommen both yfere,
Whos martyrdom (as ye schal here,)
Was ful grevous to endure.
ffor somme of hem (I yow ensure,)
Wern out of here Skynnes flawe;
And sommë, by ful mortal lawe,
Wer hew (as bokys kan Remembre,)
Asonder, partyd euery membre,
Crucefyed, of blood al Red;
And many other lost hys hed.
Of somme, the bowelys wer out Rent,
And somme on hotë colys brent,
ffretyng salt cast in among,
ffor to make ther peynys strong
Myd the ffyry flawmys reed.
Somme boylyd in oylle and led,
And sorë bet, that yt was wonder;
Somme, sawyd evene assonder;
Somme, with wyldë hors ydrawe,
In dyffence of crystys lawe,
Thorgh-out the ffeld, her & yonder,
Tyl ther Ioyntës wente a-sonder:
Nerff and bon assonder Rent,
And ther Entraylles aforn hem brent.
The ffelouns wern on hem so felle,
That yt ys pyte for to telle;
And ther ys no man now a lyve
That kan the peynys halff descryve;
Nor a sermon ther-off make,
What they suffrede ffor the sake
Off Cryst Ihesu vn-to the deth,
ffor love, tyl they yald vp the breth,
Myd ther mortal peynys smerte.
ffor ther ys noon so hard on hert,
So despytous, nor so ffelon,
That he [ne] wolde ha compassyon,
Ben agrysed off pytee;
And specyally ffor to se
That they suffrede for no synne,
12
The love off Cryst; & ffor hys sake,
All they han vp-on hem take,
Seyng how, ffull long aforn,
Cryst to suffre was yborn,
And fforbar nat to be ded.
And sythen he that was her hed
Suffrede peynys, deth, & woo,
The membrys wolde endure also,
And ffolwe ther hed on al thyng,
As Seyn Gregoir in hys wretyng
Recordeth pleynly (who taketh hed)
Off allë chose, Cryst ys hed;
ffor wych, the membrys, as was due,
Affter ther hed lyst to sue,
Wych by example wente a-fore,
To whom thentre was not fforbore.
ffor swych as deydë ffor hys love,
By wyketys entrede in above,
Vp the gatë, hih aloffte,
Thogh ther passage was not soffte;
The porter lyst hem nat to lette.
And ther pencellys vp they sette
On cornerys, wher them thouhtë good,
Al steyned with ther ovnë blood.
And whan that I parceyved yt,
I conceyvede yn my wyt,
That who scholdë ther-with-Inne
Entre by fforce, he most yt wynne
By manhood only, and by vertu.
ffor, by record off Seyn Mathew,
The hevene (as by hys sentence,)
Wonnen ys by vyolence.
Crysostom Recordeth ek also,—
Who lyst taken hed ther-to,—
That gret vyolence & myght
yt ys, who that loke a-ryht,
A man be born in erth her downe,
And Ravisshe, lyk a champyon,
The noble hihe hevenly place,
By vertu only & by grace.
ffor vertu doth to a man assure
Thyng denyed by nature.
I conceyvede yn my wyt,
That who scholdë ther-with-Inne
Entre by fforce, he most yt wynne
By manhood only, and by vertu.
ffor, by record off Seyn Mathew,
The hevene (as by hys sentence,)
Wonnen ys by vyolence.
Crysostom Recordeth ek also,—
Who lyst taken hed ther-to,—
That gret vyolence & myght
yt ys, who that loke a-ryht,
A man be born in erth her downe,
13
The noble hihe hevenly place,
By vertu only & by grace.
ffor vertu doth to a man assure
Thyng denyed by nature.
Thys to seyne, who lyst lere,
That vertu makyth a man conquere
The hih hevene in many wyse,
To wych kynde may not suffyse
To cleymë ther pocession,
But she be guyded by Reson,
Wych to vertu ys maystresse,
To lede hyr also, and to dresse
In hyr pylgrymage Ryght
Above the sterrys cler & bryht.
That vertu makyth a man conquere
The hih hevene in many wyse,
To wych kynde may not suffyse
To cleymë ther pocession,
But she be guyded by Reson,
Wych to vertu ys maystresse,
To lede hyr also, and to dresse
In hyr pylgrymage Ryght
Above the sterrys cler & bryht.
ffor other weye koude I not se,
To entre by in that cyte;
ffor cherubyn, erly and late,
Ay awaytynge at the gate,
Was redy euer, and ther stood,
Whos swerd was bloudyd with the blood
Off Crystys holy passyon
Whan he made our Redempcion,
Mankynde to restore a-gayn.
The wych wey, whan I hadde seyn,
I was a-stonyd in my syht.
But I was coumfortyd a-noon Ryht,
Whan I sawh the swerd mad blont
Off cherubin, the wych was wont
To brenne as any flawmbe bryht.
But now, the sharpnesse & the lyht
Was queynte, to do no more vengaunce,
By vertu off crystys gret suffravnce,
Wych schal no more for man be whet.
To entre by in that cyte;
ffor cherubyn, erly and late,
Ay awaytynge at the gate,
Was redy euer, and ther stood,
Whos swerd was bloudyd with the blood
Off Crystys holy passyon
Whan he made our Redempcion,
Mankynde to restore a-gayn.
The wych wey, whan I hadde seyn,
I was a-stonyd in my syht.
But I was coumfortyd a-noon Ryht,
Whan I sawh the swerd mad blont
Off cherubin, the wych was wont
To brenne as any flawmbe bryht.
But now, the sharpnesse & the lyht
Was queynte, to do no more vengaunce,
By vertu off crystys gret suffravnce,
Wych schal no more for man be whet.
And ther I sawh a smal wyket
Ioynynge evene vp-on the gate;
And ther stood on, erly & late,
Lenynge, as I kovde espye,
Wych power hadde, & maystrye
ffor to opne & to shette,
To Receyven and to lette,
Pylgrymes that kam on ther weye;
And in hys hond he held a keye,—
Seyn Peter, me thouht by hys cher,—
That had off God pleyn power
To lete in ffolk wych he knew hable.
But ffyrst they most (thys no ffable,)
Dyspoyllen hem, & nakyd be;
ffor noman entrede that cyte
That clothyd was, nor myhte passe,
Wher he mor, or wer he lasse,
Or gret compact in any membre.
And than A-noon I gan Remembre
How Cryst sayde, in a certeyn place,
That yt was as hard to passe
In-to the hevene A reche man,—
Lych as he rehersë kan
By record off hys gospel,—
As yt was to a kamel
To passe throgh a nedlys Eye;
Wych ys a thyng (ho kan espye,)
As yt were an Inpossible,
And verrayly Incredyble.
Ioynynge evene vp-on the gate;
And ther stood on, erly & late,
Lenynge, as I kovde espye,
Wych power hadde, & maystrye
14
To Receyven and to lette,
Pylgrymes that kam on ther weye;
And in hys hond he held a keye,—
Seyn Peter, me thouht by hys cher,—
That had off God pleyn power
To lete in ffolk wych he knew hable.
But ffyrst they most (thys no ffable,)
Dyspoyllen hem, & nakyd be;
ffor noman entrede that cyte
That clothyd was, nor myhte passe,
Wher he mor, or wer he lasse,
Or gret compact in any membre.
And than A-noon I gan Remembre
How Cryst sayde, in a certeyn place,
That yt was as hard to passe
In-to the hevene A reche man,—
Lych as he rehersë kan
By record off hys gospel,—
As yt was to a kamel
To passe throgh a nedlys Eye;
Wych ys a thyng (ho kan espye,)
As yt were an Inpossible,
And verrayly Incredyble.
Affter-ward (yt ys no ffayll)
Me thouhte I sawh a gret mervayle:
Vp-on Tours, dyuers estatys
Off doctours and off prelatys,
Showyng, as by contenavnce,
By speche, and by dallyavnce,
Techyng pylgrymës to knowe,
That wer yn the valë lowe,
How, with travayllë & peyne,
And how also they sholde atteyne
To make hem wyngës ffor to fle
Hih a-loffte to that cyte,
By wynges of exaumple good,
Yiff they ther lernyng vnderstood,
Wych they tauhte hem in ther lyff
By doctryne contemplatyff,
Outward schewyng, as by cher,
Ther love was to hem ful enter,
ffovndyd vp-on charyte.
Me thouhte I sawh a gret mervayle:
Vp-on Tours, dyuers estatys
Off doctours and off prelatys,
Showyng, as by contenavnce,
By speche, and by dallyavnce,
Techyng pylgrymës to knowe,
That wer yn the valë lowe,
How, with travayllë & peyne,
And how also they sholde atteyne
To make hem wyngës ffor to fle
Hih a-loffte to that cyte,
By wynges of exaumple good,
Yiff they ther lernyng vnderstood,
Wych they tauhte hem in ther lyff
15
Outward schewyng, as by cher,
Ther love was to hem ful enter,
ffovndyd vp-on charyte.
Amongys wych I dedë se
Grete noumbre of thys Iacobins,
Off chanovns, & of Awstynys,
ffolkys ful diuers of maner,
Both temporal & seculer,
Off clerkys & relygyous,
And other ordrys vertuous.
Mendyvauntys ful nedy,
That day & nyht wer ryth besy
To gedre ffetherys, bryht & shene,
And make hem wynges ffor to fflen.
And gan A-noon, with al ther myght,
To soren vp, & take her fflyht
Hih in-to that ffayr cyte.
And hiher vp they dydë ffle,
Bove cherubin, that Avngel cler;
ffor they wer out of hys davnger,
By the techyng, and the doctrine,
And by exaumples ek dyvyne,
Wych ther maystres hadde hem tauht,
Wher-by they han the hevene kauht,
And ffounde ther-in gret avauntage
To fforthre hem in ther pylgrymage,
And how hem sylff they sholdë guyde.
Grete noumbre of thys Iacobins,
Off chanovns, & of Awstynys,
ffolkys ful diuers of maner,
Both temporal & seculer,
Off clerkys & relygyous,
And other ordrys vertuous.
Mendyvauntys ful nedy,
That day & nyht wer ryth besy
To gedre ffetherys, bryht & shene,
And make hem wynges ffor to fflen.
And gan A-noon, with al ther myght,
To soren vp, & take her fflyht
Hih in-to that ffayr cyte.
And hiher vp they dydë ffle,
Bove cherubin, that Avngel cler;
ffor they wer out of hys davnger,
By the techyng, and the doctrine,
And by exaumples ek dyvyne,
Wych ther maystres hadde hem tauht,
Wher-by they han the hevene kauht,
And ffounde ther-in gret avauntage
To fforthre hem in ther pylgrymage,
And how hem sylff they sholdë guyde.
And vp-on the tother syde,
Vnder the wal of the cyte,
I sawh, off gret auctorite,
ffolkys, wych dyde entende
To helpe her ffrendys to ascende,
By ful gret subtylyte,
To make hem entre the cyte;
And ther-to dyde her bysy cure,
By scalys throgh the strong closure;
And as me thouhte, A-mong echon,
That Seyn Benet in soth was on.
Wych, as I rehersë shal,
ffor to scale that hihe wal,
That was so myhty & so strong,
With hym brouht a ladder long,
In the wych men myhtë se
xij. greës off humylyte,
By wych, thor[o]gh deuocyon,
ffolk off hys relygyon
Ascendyd vp, gre by gre,
With-ovtë lette to that cyte,
And the ryht[ë] weye han take.
Monkys greyë, whyte, & blake,
Ascendyng vp with-outë ffeer.
And Seyn Fravnceys I sawh ek ther,
fful dyllygent, and ek bysy,
And (as me thouht) ful ffrendly
To ffolk of hys profession.
Vnder the wal of the cyte,
I sawh, off gret auctorite,
ffolkys, wych dyde entende
To helpe her ffrendys to ascende,
By ful gret subtylyte,
To make hem entre the cyte;
And ther-to dyde her bysy cure,
By scalys throgh the strong closure;
And as me thouhte, A-mong echon,
That Seyn Benet in soth was on.
16
ffor to scale that hihe wal,
That was so myhty & so strong,
With hym brouht a ladder long,
In the wych men myhtë se
xij. greës off humylyte,
By wych, thor[o]gh deuocyon,
ffolk off hys relygyon
Ascendyd vp, gre by gre,
With-ovtë lette to that cyte,
And the ryht[ë] weye han take.
Monkys greyë, whyte, & blake,
Ascendyng vp with-outë ffeer.
And Seyn Fravnceys I sawh ek ther,
fful dyllygent, and ek bysy,
And (as me thouht) ful ffrendly
To ffolk of hys profession.
And ek in myn avysyon
I sawh ther cordys rovnd & long,
Al yffret with knottys strong,
Hard to ffele, and nothyng soffte.
And ffro the valey hih a-loffte
Vp-on the wal they dede hem caste,
And by the cordys held ham ffast,
Grypyng hem with gretë peyne,
Off entent they myghte atteyne
To gete vp to that hihe wal,
ffor to kepe hem ffrom a ffal,
Alway by the corde hem held.
I sawh ther cordys rovnd & long,
Al yffret with knottys strong,
Hard to ffele, and nothyng soffte.
And ffro the valey hih a-loffte
Vp-on the wal they dede hem caste,
And by the cordys held ham ffast,
Grypyng hem with gretë peyne,
Off entent they myghte atteyne
To gete vp to that hihe wal,
ffor to kepe hem ffrom a ffal,
Alway by the corde hem held.
And many A-nother I be-held,
Off dyuers ffolkys that vp ran,
Off whom the namys I not kan,
Nor how they dyde hem sylff assure,
Over the wallys to Recure
On echë party Round abovte;
ffor I in soth, that stood with-oute,
Myghte not be-holden al the paas,
But on the party that I was,
Wych was to me gret dysplesavnce.
But I dar seyen, in substaunce,
That ther was noon off no degre
Wych entre myhtë the cyte,
But lefft with-outë, lowë doun,
ffor al, hys sherpë & bordoun.
Off dyuers ffolkys that vp ran,
Off whom the namys I not kan,
Nor how they dyde hem sylff assure,
Over the wallys to Recure
On echë party Round abovte;
ffor I in soth, that stood with-oute,
Myghte not be-holden al the paas,
But on the party that I was,
Wych was to me gret dysplesavnce.
But I dar seyen, in substaunce,
17
Wych entre myhtë the cyte,
But lefft with-outë, lowë doun,
ffor al, hys sherpë & bordoun.
But thentent off hys vyage,
And ffyn ek off hys pylgrymage,
Wer set of hertë fynally
Ther tabyde perpetuelly
With ffeyth, hope, & charyte,
To lyve with rest on that cyte;
ffor other thyng, in hert & thouht,
To her desyre they woldë nouht.
ffor, as the phylisofre seyth,
(To whom men mosten yeven feyth)
That al ffolk, wherso they wende,
What they do, ys for som ende.
And ffyn ek off hys pylgrymage,
Wer set of hertë fynally
Ther tabyde perpetuelly
With ffeyth, hope, & charyte,
To lyve with rest on that cyte;
ffor other thyng, in hert & thouht,
To her desyre they woldë nouht.
ffor, as the phylisofre seyth,
(To whom men mosten yeven feyth)
That al ffolk, wherso they wende,
What they do, ys for som ende.
And for that skylë, more & more,
I was steryd wonder sore
ffor to takë my Iournee,
Lyk a pylgryme, to that cyte.
Off more Ioyë I nat kepte;
And, me thouht ek, as I slepte,
And in my dreem dyde ek mete,
That ellys I myghte ha no quyete.
And thus ful pensyff in my guyse,
A-noon I gan me to a-vyse,
And thouht in myn avysion,
I ffaillede a sherpe & bordon,
Wych al pylgrymes ouhte to have,
In ther wey, hem sylff to save.
And so the pylgrymes hadde echon
In ther vyage, but I allone.
They wer echon by-ffore purveyd,
Bet in ther wey to be conveyed
I was steryd wonder sore
ffor to takë my Iournee,
Lyk a pylgryme, to that cyte.
Off more Ioyë I nat kepte;
And, me thouht ek, as I slepte,
And in my dreem dyde ek mete,
That ellys I myghte ha no quyete.
And thus ful pensyff in my guyse,
A-noon I gan me to a-vyse,
And thouht in myn avysion,
I ffaillede a sherpe & bordon,
Wych al pylgrymes ouhte to have,
In ther wey, hem sylff to save.
And so the pylgrymes hadde echon
In ther vyage, but I allone.
They wer echon by-ffore purveyd,
Bet in ther wey to be conveyed
And I roos vp, and that a-noon,
And ffro myn hous gan out gon
Vp-on my wey, off wych I tolde;
Al be that I was long yholde,
Or I myhte makë my passage
To gynnen vp-on my pylgrymage.
Nyne monethes I was kept cloos,
Tyl at the last I vp Aroos,
Off entent forth to procede.
But than at erst I gan take hede
That, to myn entencioun,
I myghte ffynden a bordoun
And a sherpe, wych of vsage
ffolk han that gon on pylgrymage,
Nedful to me & necessarye.
ffor wych cause I dyde tarye
Or I myghte gynne my Iournee,
To holde my wey to that cyte;
ffor wych I went complaynyng,
Out off my sylff tryst & wepyng,
Cerchyng toforn & ek behynde,
Sherpe & bordoun for to fynde.
And ffro myn hous gan out gon
18
Al be that I was long yholde,
Or I myhte makë my passage
To gynnen vp-on my pylgrymage.
Nyne monethes I was kept cloos,
Tyl at the last I vp Aroos,
Off entent forth to procede.
But than at erst I gan take hede
That, to myn entencioun,
I myghte ffynden a bordoun
And a sherpe, wych of vsage
ffolk han that gon on pylgrymage,
Nedful to me & necessarye.
ffor wych cause I dyde tarye
Or I myghte gynne my Iournee,
To holde my wey to that cyte;
ffor wych I went complaynyng,
Out off my sylff tryst & wepyng,
Cerchyng toforn & ek behynde,
Sherpe & bordoun for to fynde.
And whil I dyde my besynesse,
A lady of ful gret ffayrnesse
And gret noblesse, (soth to say,)
I dyde mete vp-on the way.
ffor God wold, (I yow be-hete,)
Sone that I sholde hyr mete,
Off gracë for myn ownë prowh,
Wher-off I haddë Ioye ynowh,
And in hertë gret gladnesse.
ffor she, as by lyklynesse,
Was douhter of som Emperour,
Somme myghty kyng, or gouernour;
Or off that lord that guyeth al,
Wych ys of power most royal.
A lady of ful gret ffayrnesse
And gret noblesse, (soth to say,)
I dyde mete vp-on the way.
ffor God wold, (I yow be-hete,)
Sone that I sholde hyr mete,
Off gracë for myn ownë prowh,
Wher-off I haddë Ioye ynowh,
And in hertë gret gladnesse.
ffor she, as by lyklynesse,
Was douhter of som Emperour,
Somme myghty kyng, or gouernour;
Or off that lord that guyeth al,
Wych ys of power most royal.
And thys lady gracyous,
Most debonayre, & vertuous,
Was yclad, by gret delyt,
In a surcote al off whyt,
With a Tyssu gyrt off grene.
And Endlong, ful bryht & shene,
She hadde a charbouncle ston,
That Round abowte hyr body shon;
Was noon so reche, as I was war.
And on hyr brest A nouche she bar,
I trowe that nowher was no bet.
And in the Awmaylle ther was sette
Passyngly a rechë sterre,
Wych that cast hys bemys ferre
Round abovten al the place,
Ther was swych haboundaunce off grace.
Out of whos bosoom, mylde ynowh,
Ther kam a dowë whyt as snowh,
With hys wyngës splayng oute,
Plauynge rovnd hyr hond aboute.
Most debonayre, & vertuous,
Was yclad, by gret delyt,
In a surcote al off whyt,
With a Tyssu gyrt off grene.
And Endlong, ful bryht & shene,
19
That Round abowte hyr body shon;
Was noon so reche, as I was war.
And on hyr brest A nouche she bar,
I trowe that nowher was no bet.
And in the Awmaylle ther was sette
Passyngly a rechë sterre,
Wych that cast hys bemys ferre
Round abovten al the place,
Ther was swych haboundaunce off grace.
Out of whos bosoom, mylde ynowh,
Ther kam a dowë whyt as snowh,
With hys wyngës splayng oute,
Plauynge rovnd hyr hond aboute.
Thys lady, of whom I ha told,
Hadde on hyr hed a crowne of gold,
Wrouht of sterrys shene & bryht,
That cast aboute a ful cler lyht.
He was ful myghty, (who taketh hede,)
That sette yt fyrst vp on hyr hed;
And made yt ffyrst by gret Avys
Off gret Richesse and gretë prys.
Hadde on hyr hed a crowne of gold,
Wrouht of sterrys shene & bryht,
That cast aboute a ful cler lyht.
He was ful myghty, (who taketh hede,)
That sette yt fyrst vp on hyr hed;
And made yt ffyrst by gret Avys
Off gret Richesse and gretë prys.
Thys lady, that I spak of here,
Was curteys & of noble chere,
And wonderly of gret vertu.
And fyrst she gan me to salue
In goodly wyse, axynge of me,
Was curteys & of noble chere,
And wonderly of gret vertu.
And fyrst she gan me to salue
In goodly wyse, axynge of me,
What maner thyng yt myghtë be,
Or causë why, I sholde hyr lere,
That I made so hevy chere;
Or why that I was ay wepyng,
ffor lak of eny maner thyng.’
Wher-of, when I gan takë hede,
I ffyll yn-to a maner drede,
ffor vnkonnynge and lewdënesse,
That sche, of so gret noblesse,
Dysdeynede not in hyr degre
To speke to on so pore as me;
But yiff yt were, so as I gesse,
Al only of hyr gentyllesse;
ffor gladly, wher ys most bevte,
Ther ys grettest hvmylyte,
And that ys verrayly the sygne,
Swych ar most goodly & benygne.
An appyl tre, with frut most lade,
To folk that stonden in the shade,
Mor lowly doth hys braunchys loute
Than A nother tre with-oute;
ffor wher haboundeth most goodnesse,
Ther ys ay most of mekënesse.
Noon so gret tokene of beute,
As ys parfyt humylyte.
Who wanteth hyr in hys banere,
Hath not vertu hool & entere.
Or causë why, I sholde hyr lere,
That I made so hevy chere;
Or why that I was ay wepyng,
ffor lak of eny maner thyng.’
Wher-of, when I gan takë hede,
I ffyll yn-to a maner drede,
ffor vnkonnynge and lewdënesse,
That sche, of so gret noblesse,
Dysdeynede not in hyr degre
To speke to on so pore as me;
But yiff yt were, so as I gesse,
20
ffor gladly, wher ys most bevte,
Ther ys grettest hvmylyte,
And that ys verrayly the sygne,
Swych ar most goodly & benygne.
An appyl tre, with frut most lade,
To folk that stonden in the shade,
Mor lowly doth hys braunchys loute
Than A nother tre with-oute;
ffor wher haboundeth most goodnesse,
Ther ys ay most of mekënesse.
Noon so gret tokene of beute,
As ys parfyt humylyte.
Who wanteth hyr in hys banere,
Hath not vertu hool & entere.
And affter thys I gan abrayde,
And to hyrë thus I sayde,
“How to gon, I castë me,
To Ierusaleem the cyte,
ffayllyng (to myn entencion)
Both a sherpe & a bordon,
ffor wych I went, yt ys no doute,
ffor to seke ham Round aboute,
Yiff I myhte any fynde or se.”
And to hyrë thus I sayde,
“How to gon, I castë me,
To Ierusaleem the cyte,
ffayllyng (to myn entencion)
Both a sherpe & a bordon,
ffor wych I went, yt ys no doute,
ffor to seke ham Round aboute,
Yiff I myhte any fynde or se.”
| The Pilgrimage of the Life of Man | |