A Stanzaic Life of Christ Compiled from Higden's Polychronicon and the Legenda Aurea |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Primo vnde ascendit.
|
|
|
|
 | A Stanzaic Life of Christ |  |
Primo vnde ascendit.
Seuen causes bien for to hede
Cristes ascensioun touching,
as I wol reken and her rede
in Latyn, ȝif ȝe hauen likyng.
Cristes ascensioun touching,
as I wol reken and her rede
in Latyn, ȝif ȝe hauen likyng.
292
as to the furst I ȝow behe[t]e,
God stegh from erthe to heuen in hye
from the mounte of Oliuete
on that side that is Betany,
God stegh from erthe to heuen in hye
from the mounte of Oliuete
on that side that is Betany,
The whiche mounten callet was
mounte of th[r]e lighteȝ skilfully,
and whi that mounte that nome has
I schal declar apertely.
mounte of th[r]e lighteȝ skilfully,
and whi that mounte that nome has
I schal declar apertely.
For in night toward the west
fuyr in the temple made hit light,
that brend of the best
and most communely be night;
fuyr in the temple made hit light,
that brend of the best
and most communely be night;
and in the morn toward the est
the sunne-bemes wer ful bright,
and ȝiuen light to most and lest
er the cite hauedet any sight;
the sunne-bemes wer ful bright,
and ȝiuen light to most and lest
er the cite hauedet any sight;
Also that hulle hade grete plente
of oyl that norisshes light be kynd,
so mounte hit is of lightes thre,
bi these skilles as I fynde.
of oyl that norisshes light be kynd,
so mounte hit is of lightes thre,
bi these skilles as I fynde.
and to this hulle i-wis
God bade his disciples go
that selue day that he did this
and went [to] weele from wordle woo.
God bade his disciples go
that selue day that he did this
and went [to] weele from wordle woo.
that day of his ascensioun
twies I finde apperet he
to his disciples praing boun,
elleuen that wer in one meyne;
twies I finde apperet he
to his disciples praing boun,
elleuen that wer in one meyne;
as thay eten in a place
the whiche thai wer wonet to,
that day at home twye he was
to teche hom what thai schuld do.
the whiche thai wer wonet to,
that day at home twye he was
to teche hom what thai schuld do.
293
for the aposteles euer-ichone
and his trwe disciples also
and wemen that leueten him opon
about that place wer duelling tho,
and his trwe disciples also
and wemen that leueten him opon
about that place wer duelling tho,
that is to wete in mounte Syon
ther keng Dauid hade his palays,
and ther a soupyng-place was one
ther God mande as boke mynde mas:
ther keng Dauid hade his palays,
and ther a soupyng-place was one
ther God mande as boke mynde mas:
Erat Cenaculum grande Stratum in quo Dominus precepit pascha parari.
and in that ilk, large halle
that God made in his maunde,
woneden the apostels alle
alle that tyme, as reden we,
that God made in his maunde,
woneden the apostels alle
alle that tyme, as reden we,
Other disciples and wymmen
in diuerse vones alle aboute,
for sadde beleue hade neuer one then
but alle this while wer in grete doute.
in diuerse vones alle aboute,
for sadde beleue hade neuer one then
but alle this while wer in grete doute.
thenne as thai eten in that halle,
Crist to hom conne appar
and repreuet ther hom alle
of fainte bileue, as ȝe moun ler
Crist to hom conne appar
and repreuet ther hom alle
of fainte bileue, as ȝe moun ler
by Markes gospel that he mas
and vche redis as this daye,
for [til] the Holi Gost sent was,
imperfite wer alle thai.
and vche redis as this daye,
for [til] the Holi Gost sent was,
imperfite wer alle thai.
thenne when Crist whit hom ete
he bade hom thai schuld tak the way
to the mounte of Oliuete,
ther eft he shewde him, soth to say.
he bade hom thai schuld tak the way
to the mounte of Oliuete,
ther eft he shewde him, soth to say.
and ther to summe onsuaret he
that frayneden indiscretely,
thing that ȝe moun sothle see
in that gospel that er saide I:
that frayneden indiscretely,
thing that ȝe moun sothle see
in that gospel that er saide I:
294
Recumbentibus &c. Domine si in tempore hoc restitues &c. Non est vestrum nosse &c.
thenne hef he huppe his honndeȝ two
and blesset hom all whit mild steuen,
and befor hom alle tho
Stegh vppe in-to the blisse of heuen.
and blesset hom all whit mild steuen,
and befor hom alle tho
Stegh vppe in-to the blisse of heuen.
& in the place that he in stode,
A glose sais in the euangely
A chirche was made of werk ful gode
that ȝette is sene apertely.
A glose sais in the euangely
A chirche was made of werk ful gode
that ȝette is sene apertely.
but sithen that tyme might neuer mon
make a pament in that place
that Ihesu Crist stode opon
when he to heuen stegh thurgh his grace,
make a pament in that place
that Ihesu Crist stode opon
when he to heuen stegh thurgh his grace,
But ay sithen has bien sene
in the hard marbul stone,
right as a mon in sond had bene
or ellus opon s[now]e han gone.
in the hard marbul stone,
right as a mon in sond had bene
or ellus opon s[now]e han gone.
| A Stanzaic Life of Christ | |