 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
222
144. Jesu, Mercy for My Misdeeds
Incipit oracio deuota ad dominum Ihesum Orō.
Ihū, Ihū, mercy I cry!
myn huge synnes þou me forgyf!
þe werld, my flesch, þe fend, felly
þei me be-sette boþe strong & styf;
I haue ful ofte to hem consent,
And so to do, it is gret drede:
I aske mercy wiþ good entent;
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
myn huge synnes þou me forgyf!
þe werld, my flesch, þe fend, felly
þei me be-sette boþe strong & styf;
I haue ful ofte to hem consent,
And so to do, it is gret drede:
I aske mercy wiþ good entent;
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Þe werld þurgh his fals coueytis,
Þe fend wiþ pryde, wiþ Ire, enuye,—
I haue, Ihū, ben fyled oft-sythis—
Mi flesch, wiþ slauthe & leccherye,
And oþer manye ful grete synnes:
Wiþ repentaunce, Ihū, me fede,
ffor euere þe tyme vpon me rynnes;
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Þe fend wiþ pryde, wiþ Ire, enuye,—
I haue, Ihū, ben fyled oft-sythis—
Mi flesch, wiþ slauthe & leccherye,
And oþer manye ful grete synnes:
Wiþ repentaunce, Ihū, me fede,
ffor euere þe tyme vpon me rynnes;
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Turne nouȝt þi face, Ihū, fro me,
þowh I be werst in my leuynge;
I aske mekely mercy of þee,
ffor þi mercy passeth alle þinge.
In þi fyue woundes þou sette myn hert,
Þat for mankynde on crosse wolde blede.
And, for þi ded vgly and smert,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
þowh I be werst in my leuynge;
I aske mekely mercy of þee,
ffor þi mercy passeth alle þinge.
In þi fyue woundes þou sette myn hert,
Þat for mankynde on crosse wolde blede.
And, for þi ded vgly and smert,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
To þi lykenes þou hast me made;
þee for to loue, þou ȝeue me grace!
þou art þe loue þat neuere schal fade;
Mercy, I aske, to haue tyde & space.
I trost Ihū of forgyfnesse
Of alle myn synnes—þat is my crede;
I me bytake to þi goodnesse,
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
þee for to loue, þou ȝeue me grace!
þou art þe loue þat neuere schal fade;
Mercy, I aske, to haue tyde & space.
223
Of alle myn synnes—þat is my crede;
I me bytake to þi goodnesse,
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
As touching grace, but aske & haue—
þus hast þou hyght in þi beheste.
Þerfore some grace of þe I craue;
Wiþ-outen grace I am but a beste
And, were þan beste, defyled wiþ synne;
þou graunte þat grace may in me brede,
Þat I þi loue, Ihū, myȝt wynne:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
þus hast þou hyght in þi beheste.
Þerfore some grace of þe I craue;
Wiþ-outen grace I am but a beste
And, were þan beste, defyled wiþ synne;
þou graunte þat grace may in me brede,
Þat I þi loue, Ihū, myȝt wynne:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Al werldly loue is but vanyte,
But loue of þe passeth alle þinge;
þer is no loue wiþ-outen þee,
[& þe to lufe I aske syghynge.
Ihū, me graunt lufe þee for-thy,]
And in þi lawe, Ihū, me lede.
þat I myslouede, I aske mercy:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
But loue of þe passeth alle þinge;
þer is no loue wiþ-outen þee,
[& þe to lufe I aske syghynge.
Ihū, me graunt lufe þee for-thy,]
And in þi lawe, Ihū, me lede.
þat I myslouede, I aske mercy:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
It is of þee for to forgyue
Al kynnes trespas, boþe more & mynne;
It is of me, whiles I here lyue,
Or more or lesse ylke day to synne;
It is of þee fende to dwelle þer-Inne.
þou ȝeue me grace to take good hede
þat I þi loue, Ihū, myght wynne:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Al kynnes trespas, boþe more & mynne;
It is of me, whiles I here lyue,
Or more or lesse ylke day to synne;
It is of þee fende to dwelle þer-Inne.
þou ȝeue me grace to take good hede
þat I þi loue, Ihū, myght wynne:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
224
Dispyse me nouȝt, swete lord Ihū,
þat am þee werk of þin hande hende;
þowh I haue be to þe vntrew,
Ihū, þou canst me sone amende;
þou hast me made to þi lyknesse,
þurgh synne I haue lost heuenly mede;
Now, lord, I aske of þi goodnesse,
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
þat am þee werk of þin hande hende;
þowh I haue be to þe vntrew,
Ihū, þou canst me sone amende;
þou hast me made to þi lyknesse,
þurgh synne I haue lost heuenly mede;
Now, lord, I aske of þi goodnesse,
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
Þou woldest ben born for synful man,
And suffir ded vp-on a tre;
I preye þee, for þat kyndenesse þan,
ffor synne þou take no wreche of me;
Me counforte be þi passyoun,
Ihū, þer-of haue I gret nede;
ffor synne graunt me contricyoun,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
And suffir ded vp-on a tre;
I preye þee, for þat kyndenesse þan,
ffor synne þou take no wreche of me;
Me counforte be þi passyoun,
Ihū, þer-of haue I gret nede;
ffor synne graunt me contricyoun,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
After my dedys þou deme nouȝt,
After mercy þou do to me;
If þou me deme as I haue wrouȝt,
In bytter peynes I drede to be.
My lyf to mende þou haue mercy,
My lord ihū, þou be my spede,
Loue þee and drede, þat syttes on hy:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
After mercy þou do to me;
If þou me deme as I haue wrouȝt,
In bytter peynes I drede to be.
My lyf to mende þou haue mercy,
My lord ihū, þou be my spede,
Loue þee and drede, þat syttes on hy:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
If I haue done yche cursed wark,
And alle manere synnes were wrouȝt in me,
þou may hem slake, as is a spark
Whan it is putte in myddis of þee see;
Þer may no man, lord, slake my mysse
But þou, Ihū, of þi godhede;
Whom þou wolte sauen, þou sone forgeuysse:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
And alle manere synnes were wrouȝt in me,
þou may hem slake, as is a spark
Whan it is putte in myddis of þee see;
Þer may no man, lord, slake my mysse
But þou, Ihū, of þi godhede;
Whom þou wolte sauen, þou sone forgeuysse:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
225
Who schal þe loue in fynal blysse
But mankynde & aungel so fre?
Myn herytage for sothe þat isse.
Þurgh good lyuynge & grace of þe,
þou me restore vn-to þat blysse;
Beholde þe frelte of myn manhede
Þat me maketh ofte to don amysse:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
But mankynde & aungel so fre?
Myn herytage for sothe þat isse.
Þurgh good lyuynge & grace of þe,
þou me restore vn-to þat blysse;
Beholde þe frelte of myn manhede
Þat me maketh ofte to don amysse:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Þou wylt nouȝt þe ded of synful man—
þus seyst þou, lord, in holy wrytt.
fful wel wote I þou coueytis þane,
He torne his lyf and sone mende It.
þou ȝeue meg race my lyf to mende,
Besoyled in synne as wicked wede;
Graunte me þi loue wiþ-outen ende:
Iesu, mercy for my mysdede!
þus seyst þou, lord, in holy wrytt.
fful wel wote I þou coueytis þane,
He torne his lyf and sone mende It.
þou ȝeue meg race my lyf to mende,
Besoyled in synne as wicked wede;
Graunte me þi loue wiþ-outen ende:
Iesu, mercy for my mysdede!
Þou art my god, I þe honoure,
þou art þe sone of mayden & moder;
In my dysese þou me socoure,
þou art my lord, þou art my broþer;
þou schalt me deme, my creatoure,
Whan vp schal ryse euereylke a leede:
Mercy, Ihū, my sauyoure,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
þou art þe sone of mayden & moder;
In my dysese þou me socoure,
þou art my lord, þou art my broþer;
þou schalt me deme, my creatoure,
Whan vp schal ryse euereylke a leede:
Mercy, Ihū, my sauyoure,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
þou helpe me, lord, in my dysese,
Þat woldest Susanne help in hire tyme;
fful gret clamour þan gunne þou pese
Whan sche accused was of cryme.
þou sette myn soule, myn herte, in ese,
þe fend to fle his falshede,
And souereynly þe forto plese:
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
Þat woldest Susanne help in hire tyme;
fful gret clamour þan gunne þou pese
Whan sche accused was of cryme.
þou sette myn soule, myn herte, in ese,
þe fend to fle his falshede,
And souereynly þe forto plese:
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
226
In my baptem I made beheste
þe for to serue lellely and wele;
Of þi seruyse ofte haue I seste,
Wiþ synnes þousandes seruyd vnsele;
Bot þi mercy nedis moste be sene
þer most synne is & wicked dede;
þe moste synful man am I, i wene:
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
þe for to serue lellely and wele;
Of þi seruyse ofte haue I seste,
Wiþ synnes þousandes seruyd vnsele;
Bot þi mercy nedis moste be sene
þer most synne is & wicked dede;
þe moste synful man am I, i wene:
Ihū, mercy of my mysdede!
ffor synful man wolde þou be born,
ffor ryghtwys nouȝt, þou wil recorde;
Whanne man hadde synned he was for-lorn,
þanne hym kyndely þou restorede;
þou suffred peynes, crouned wiþ þorne,
Naked, wiþoute cloth or schrede,
Wiþ mykel scorne þi body to-torne:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
ffor ryghtwys nouȝt, þou wil recorde;
Whanne man hadde synned he was for-lorn,
þanne hym kyndely þou restorede;
þou suffred peynes, crouned wiþ þorne,
Naked, wiþoute cloth or schrede,
Wiþ mykel scorne þi body to-torne:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Þou art myn hope, my way ful sure,
Ay lestyng hele, trewthe and pesse;
þou art pyte þat schal endure,
þou art goodnes þat neuere schal cesse;
þou art clennes, boþe mylde & mure,
Me þee dysplese, Ihū, forbede:
As þou were borne of virgyne pure,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Ay lestyng hele, trewthe and pesse;
þou art pyte þat schal endure,
þou art goodnes þat neuere schal cesse;
þou art clennes, boþe mylde & mure,
Me þee dysplese, Ihū, forbede:
As þou were borne of virgyne pure,
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Þou byddis yche man ȝelde good for ille,
Nouȝt ylle for ylle to ȝelde ageyne;
þanne I beseke þee þat þou wille
Graunte me mercy for peyne!
þou me forȝeue and mercy graunte,
And in my soule þou sowe þi sede,
þat I may, lorde, make myn a-vaunte:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Nouȝt ylle for ylle to ȝelde ageyne;
þanne I beseke þee þat þou wille
Graunte me mercy for peyne!
þou me forȝeue and mercy graunte,
And in my soule þou sowe þi sede,
þat I may, lorde, make myn a-vaunte:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
227
Bot, worþi lord, to þee I cry,
And in my synne stande obstynate;
þerfore þou hers nouȝt me, for-þi
þou wilt nouȝt here me in þat state;
þou ȝeue me grace to leue my foly,
And feruently þee loue and drede,
þanne, weel wote I, .I. get mercy:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
And in my synne stande obstynate;
þerfore þou hers nouȝt me, for-þi
þou wilt nouȝt here me in þat state;
þou ȝeue me grace to leue my foly,
And feruently þee loue and drede,
þanne, weel wote I, .I. get mercy:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Nouȝt euery man þat calleþ þe lorde
Or mercy aske, schal haue þi blysse,
His conscience but he remorde,
And werke þi wille & mende his mysse.
To blysse schal I be restorede
If I my soule þus-gates wil fede;
Of þi mercy late me recorde:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Or mercy aske, schal haue þi blysse,
His conscience but he remorde,
And werke þi wille & mende his mysse.
To blysse schal I be restorede
If I my soule þus-gates wil fede;
Of þi mercy late me recorde:
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
I me betake to þi mercy
þat mercy ȝeuest to synful men;
Þou kepe me, lord, I schal dy,
And wote neuere wher, whou, ne when.
In þin hote loue me graunte to bren,
And þat lessoun trewely to rede;
Mercy, þou graunte! amen, amen!
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
þat mercy ȝeuest to synful men;
Þou kepe me, lord, I schal dy,
And wote neuere wher, whou, ne when.
In þin hote loue me graunte to bren,
And þat lessoun trewely to rede;
Mercy, þou graunte! amen, amen!
Ihū, mercy for my mysdede!
Ihc, Amen, Maria, AmeN.
Alia Oracio Deuota
Ihū, þi name honoured mot be
Wiþ alle þat ony lyf is Inne.
Swete Ihū, as þou made me,
Þou kepe me ay fro dedly synne!
Ihū, þe sone of Marye fre,
Þe ioye of heuene þou graunte me wynne!
Mi soule, Ihū, take to þee
Whanne my body & it schal twynne.
Wiþ alle þat ony lyf is Inne.
Swete Ihū, as þou made me,
Þou kepe me ay fro dedly synne!
228
Þe ioye of heuene þou graunte me wynne!
Mi soule, Ihū, take to þee
Whanne my body & it schal twynne.
Ihū, þi name in me besette,
As þou art kyng & lord of lyght;
And graunte me grace ay bet & bette
Mi lyf to mende and lyue aryght.
Ihū, þi sydis wiþ blode were wet,
And dolfully for me were dyght;
Þou kepe me out of synne & det,
Swete Ihū, ay most of myght!
As þou art kyng & lord of lyght;
And graunte me grace ay bet & bette
Mi lyf to mende and lyue aryght.
Ihū, þi sydis wiþ blode were wet,
And dolfully for me were dyght;
Þou kepe me out of synne & det,
Swete Ihū, ay most of myght!
Ihū, þi name is heygh to neuien,
And ȝet I, caytif, crye & calle:
Þou forȝeue me þee synnes seuen,
ffor I am gylti of hem alle.
Ihū, me helpe, & brynge me to heuen
Wiþ þe to wone, my synful saule.
Myghti Ihū, þou here my steuen,
As þou me bought whan I was þralle.
And ȝet I, caytif, crye & calle:
Þou forȝeue me þee synnes seuen,
ffor I am gylti of hem alle.
Ihū, me helpe, & brynge me to heuen
Wiþ þe to wone, my synful saule.
Myghti Ihū, þou here my steuen,
As þou me bought whan I was þralle.
Ihū, my loue, my lykyng,
Euere more blyssed mot þou be.
Mi louely lord, my dere derlyng,
Weel were me I myght see þee.
Ihū, my counfort, þou me synge,
A loue-likyng is come to me;
My swete swetnesse of alle þinge,
Myn hope & troste is al in þee.
Euere more blyssed mot þou be.
Mi louely lord, my dere derlyng,
Weel were me I myght see þee.
Ihū, my counfort, þou me synge,
A loue-likyng is come to me;
My swete swetnesse of alle þinge,
Myn hope & troste is al in þee.
Ihū, helpe euere-more at nede,
ffro þe fende þou me defende;
Set my soule to loue and drede,
And my mysse þat I may mende.
Ihū, for þi blode þat þou wolde blede,
ffro þis lyf or þat I wende
Wasche awey al my mysdede,
And graunte me blysse wiþ-outen ende.
ffro þe fende þou me defende;
Set my soule to loue and drede,
And my mysse þat I may mende.
229
ffro þis lyf or þat I wende
Wasche awey al my mysdede,
And graunte me blysse wiþ-outen ende.
AmeN.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |