 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
185
THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH.
118. Three Things Against Nature
A carolle
By resone of ij and powur of one,
This tyme god [&] mane were sett at one.
By resone of ij and powur of one,
This tyme god [&] mane were sett at one.
God a-geynst nature iij thyngys hath wrought:
ffirst of the vyle erth made mane with-out mane,
Then womane with-out woman of man made of nought,
And man without mane In woman than.
Thus god and man to-gether be-gane
As ij, to yoyne to-gethyre in one;
As one, this tyme to be sett at one,
This god be-gane
This world to forme, to encresse mane.
ffirst of the vyle erth made mane with-out mane,
Then womane with-out woman of man made of nought,
And man without mane In woman than.
Thus god and man to-gether be-gane
As ij, to yoyne to-gethyre in one;
As one, this tyme to be sett at one,
This god be-gane
This world to forme, to encresse mane.
Angellis in hevyn for offence was dampned,
And also man for beynge variabyll;
Whether these shulde be savyd, it was examyned,
Man or angell; then gode was greabyll
To answer for man (for man was not abyll)
And seid, ‘man hade mocyon & angell hade none;
Wherfore god and man shulde be sett at one.’
Thanke we hyme thane,
That thus lefte angell and sauyde mane.
And also man for beynge variabyll;
Whether these shulde be savyd, it was examyned,
Man or angell; then gode was greabyll
To answer for man (for man was not abyll)
186
Wherfore god and man shulde be sett at one.’
Thanke we hyme thane,
That thus lefte angell and sauyde mane.
119. Faith is Above Reason
Hoc mens ipsa stupet quod non sua ratio cernet
Quo modo virgo pia genetrix sit sancta Maria
Ac Deus almus homo sed credat ratio miro
Namque fides superest cum perfida ratio subsit.
Quo modo virgo pia genetrix sit sancta Maria
Ac Deus almus homo sed credat ratio miro
Namque fides superest cum perfida ratio subsit.
Pecok
Witte hath wondir that resoun ne telle kan,
How maidene is modir, and God is man.
Leve thy resoun and bileve in the wondir,
For feith is aboven and reson is undir.
How maidene is modir, and God is man.
Leve thy resoun and bileve in the wondir,
For feith is aboven and reson is undir.
Wytte hath wondyr þat Reson tell ne can,
Houh a mayde bare a chylde both god & man;
Therfore leve wytte & take to the wundyr—
ffeyth goth a-bove, & Reson goth vndyr.
Houh a mayde bare a chylde both god & man;
Therfore leve wytte & take to the wundyr—
ffeyth goth a-bove, & Reson goth vndyr.
Wytte hath wonder how reson telle can
That mayd is mother and God is man,
Oure noble sacrament, yn thre thinges on.
In this leeve reson, beleve thou the wondre—
There feith is lord, reson gothe undre!
That mayd is mother and God is man,
Oure noble sacrament, yn thre thinges on.
In this leeve reson, beleve thou the wondre—
There feith is lord, reson gothe undre!
187
120. The Divine Paradox
A God and yet a man?
A mayde and yet a mother?
Witt wonders what witt Can
Conceave this or the other.
A mayde and yet a mother?
Witt wonders what witt Can
Conceave this or the other.
A god, and Can he die?
A dead man, can he live?
What witt can well replie?
What reason reason give?
A dead man, can he live?
What witt can well replie?
What reason reason give?
God, truth itselfe, doth teach it;
Mans witt senckis too farr vnder
By reasons power to reach it.
Beleeve and leave to wonder!
Mans witt senckis too farr vnder
By reasons power to reach it.
Beleeve and leave to wonder!
121. God Bids Us Use Reason and Evidence
Why, why, what ys þis? why, hit ys
Non nodyre sekurely but weritus were-by domini.
Non nodyre sekurely but weritus were-by domini.
Whane no-þing whas but god alone—
The fadyre, þe holly gost & þe sone—
Whone ys iij and iij ys whone.
The fadyre, þe holly gost & þe sone—
Whone ys iij and iij ys whone.
Heyuyn & erthe furst he wroȝt,
And odyre creaturs he made of noȝt,
All þing dyspossid lyk as he þowȝt.
And odyre creaturs he made of noȝt,
All þing dyspossid lyk as he þowȝt.
Mane for an appull of lyttyll prys,
He lost þe blys of parradys,
ffor he dessyryd for to be wys.
He lost þe blys of parradys,
ffor he dessyryd for to be wys.
188
Tell me þis ressoun, yeve þat þu cane,
how goddys sone be-came a mane
be lynnag of dawyt and nassone?
how goddys sone be-came a mane
be lynnag of dawyt and nassone?
Marwell I have þat pure wyrgyne
Myȝt consayfe sappyens dewyne;
I trow hit passyt all wyttus þine.
Myȝt consayfe sappyens dewyne;
I trow hit passyt all wyttus þine.
The grettust lord of sofferantte
ys god him-selfe in his humannyte,
ffor man-kynd he dyid wppon a tre.
ys god him-selfe in his humannyte,
ffor man-kynd he dyid wppon a tre.
Man, þu art but corrypptybull,
Tell me how hit may be possibull
That he schall lyue euer, as sayth þe bybull?
Tell me how hit may be possibull
That he schall lyue euer, as sayth þe bybull?
Man, þu art but in faynyt
To comprehend nor to indyte
All þis matters se in sennyt.
To comprehend nor to indyte
All þis matters se in sennyt.
God hym-selfe byddyt vs by his senttens
To so vse owre resoun and owre efydens,
And to his wordys yef wholl credens.
To so vse owre resoun and owre efydens,
And to his wordys yef wholl credens.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |