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[The Tale of Dives and Lazarus.]
A ryche man was sum tyme of prys
Þat wered boþe purpure and bys,
And euery day nobly was led,
And with delycyus metys fed;
And þer was þo a porë man,
Lazare, þat þe wurd of ran,
He lay at þe ryche mannys ȝate,
Ful of bylës, yn þe gate;
He ȝerned moche to ete hys fylle
Of þe crummes þat þe ryche man ded spyl,
But no man ȝaue hym on to byte,
Þogh þat asked he so lyte:
But þe rychë mannës houndes
Come and lykked Laȝares woundes.
Sone aftyrward deydë Laȝare
Before þe mannes ȝatë þare;
Goddës aungeles þe soulë nam,
And bare hyt yn-to þe bosum of Abraham.
Þat wered boþe purpure and bys,
And euery day nobly was led,
And with delycyus metys fed;
And þer was þo a porë man,
Lazare, þat þe wurd of ran,
He lay at þe ryche mannys ȝate,
Ful of bylës, yn þe gate;
He ȝerned moche to ete hys fylle
Of þe crummes þat þe ryche man ded spyl,
But no man ȝaue hym on to byte,
Þogh þat asked he so lyte:
But þe rychë mannës houndes
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Sone aftyrward deydë Laȝare
Before þe mannes ȝatë þare;
Goddës aungeles þe soulë nam,
And bare hyt yn-to þe bosum of Abraham.
Abrahams bosum ys a dwellyng
Þat holy men haue yn restyng,
Þat to Ihesu, Goddys sone, cam,
Þat flesshe and blode yn Mary nam.
Abrahams bosum ys a stede, men telle,
Betwyxë paradys and helle.
Þat holy men haue yn restyng,
Þat to Ihesu, Goddys sone, cam,
Þat flesshe and blode yn Mary nam.
Abrahams bosum ys a stede, men telle,
Betwyxë paradys and helle.
Fyl auenture, as y er seyde,
Þys rychë man sone aftyr deyde.
Hys soule was bore to Lucyfere,
with-outyn ende to dwellë þere;
And, as he was þere yn pyne,
He loked vpwarde with hys yne,
And sagh Laȝare, þe porë man,
yn þe bosum of Abraham;
And as he myȝt, he ȝaue a cry,
And seyd, “Abraham, mercy, mercy!
Late Laȝare hys o fynger wete,
And, droppe on my tunge for hete;
For y am yn endles peyne,
yn fyre and yn leye certeyne.”
Þys rychë man sone aftyr deyde.
Hys soule was bore to Lucyfere,
with-outyn ende to dwellë þere;
And, as he was þere yn pyne,
He loked vpwarde with hys yne,
And sagh Laȝare, þe porë man,
yn þe bosum of Abraham;
And as he myȝt, he ȝaue a cry,
And seyd, “Abraham, mercy, mercy!
Late Laȝare hys o fynger wete,
And, droppe on my tunge for hete;
For y am yn endles peyne,
yn fyre and yn leye certeyne.”
And Abraham spak as yn vpbreyde,
“Sone! menest þou nat what y er seyd?
Þou receyuedyst þe wurldys blys,
And Laȝare, pouert and peyne ywys.
Þou ete and drunke, and were ful blyþe;
And Laȝare hungred, & ful wo syþe;
And now shal he, for hys deserte,
Haue welþe y-nogh for hys pouert;
And þou, for welþe, to pyne shal go,
And for þy ryches þou shalt haue wo.
Now ys Laȝare euer yn solace,
And þou yn sorow with-outë grace;
Þe endles ende may no man telle
Betwyxe vs here, & ȝow yn helle;
Betwyxe oure ioye, and ȝourë peyne,
ys endles tyme, and vncerteyne.
Swych sykernes ys betwyx ȝow two,
Þat noun of vs to ȝow may go.
None of vs to ȝow may come,
But echone haue hys ownë dome.”
“Sone! menest þou nat what y er seyd?
Þou receyuedyst þe wurldys blys,
And Laȝare, pouert and peyne ywys.
Þou ete and drunke, and were ful blyþe;
And Laȝare hungred, & ful wo syþe;
And now shal he, for hys deserte,
Haue welþe y-nogh for hys pouert;
And þou, for welþe, to pyne shal go,
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Now ys Laȝare euer yn solace,
And þou yn sorow with-outë grace;
Þe endles ende may no man telle
Betwyxe vs here, & ȝow yn helle;
Betwyxe oure ioye, and ȝourë peyne,
ys endles tyme, and vncerteyne.
Swych sykernes ys betwyx ȝow two,
Þat noun of vs to ȝow may go.
None of vs to ȝow may come,
But echone haue hys ownë dome.”
Þan preyde þe ryche man, Abraham,
þat he wlde sende Lazare, or sum oþer wham,
To hys breþryn allë fyue,
Þat þey loke hem so, yn here lyue,
Fro auaryce and fro glotonye
And ȝyue to porë men bleþlye,
“Þat þey neuer hedyr be sent,
with me, yn þys hete, to be brent.”
þat he wlde sende Lazare, or sum oþer wham,
To hys breþryn allë fyue,
Þat þey loke hem so, yn here lyue,
Fro auaryce and fro glotonye
And ȝyue to porë men bleþlye,
“Þat þey neuer hedyr be sent,
with me, yn þys hete, to be brent.”
Abraham ne graunted hym noght
Þat þe ryche man hym besoght,
“Þey haue,” he seyd, “alle þe prophete dedys,
And holy wryt, þat men on redys,
To teche hem boþë ryȝt and skyle,
Do þeraftyr, ȝyf þey wyle.”
Þat þe ryche man hym besoght,
“Þey haue,” he seyd, “alle þe prophete dedys,
And holy wryt, þat men on redys,
To teche hem boþë ryȝt and skyle,
Do þeraftyr, ȝyf þey wyle.”
Þan spake þe rychë man,
“Nay, fadyr Abraham, nay, þey ne kan;
But wuldest þou do aftyr my rede,
To reyse a man þat haþ be dede,
þat myȝt hem þe peynës telle
Þat þey shul suffre and yn dwelle,
Þan shulde þey do ryȝt penaunce
For to askapë þys myschaunce.”
“Nay, fadyr Abraham, nay, þey ne kan;
But wuldest þou do aftyr my rede,
To reyse a man þat haþ be dede,
þat myȝt hem þe peynës telle
Þat þey shul suffre and yn dwelle,
Þan shulde þey do ryȝt penaunce
For to askapë þys myschaunce.”
Abraham wulde nat graunte
Þe ryche man þat cunnaunt,
A dedë man vp for to reyse,
“Syn Moyses sawes þey wyl nat preyse,
How wulde þey at a dede man lere,
whan holy wryt þey wyl nat here?”
Þe ryche man þat cunnaunt,
A dedë man vp for to reyse,
“Syn Moyses sawes þey wyl nat preyse,
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whan holy wryt þey wyl nat here?”
Þys tale tellyþ oure lorde Ihesu
To rychë men for herë prew,
Þat þey ne be no nythyng
Of here mete, ne of here þyng.
To porë men, namëly,
Þat þou ȝyuest hem, ȝyue hyt bleþly,
with no betyng, ne with noun awe;
Almës ys noȝt wyþ any myssawe.
To rychë men for herë prew,
Þat þey ne be no nythyng
Of here mete, ne of here þyng.
To porë men, namëly,
Þat þou ȝyuest hem, ȝyue hyt bleþly,
with no betyng, ne with noun awe;
Almës ys noȝt wyþ any myssawe.
why tellyþ he þe wykkednes of þys man alle,—
And he ne robbed, ne he ne stalle,—
But for he bare hym ouer hye,
And ledde hys lyfe yn glotonye,
And to þe pore dyd euyl yn dede,
No halp hym noȝt yn hys nede:
Ne Laȝare asked nat greuuslyke,
But a fewe crummës for to pyke;
And for he ȝaue hym noun on to byte,
Hym was werned as lyte:
As lytyl as he hym wernede,
As lytyl þyng he ȝernede;
he preydë Laȝare hym to sende
A dropë of hys fynger ende.
And he ne robbed, ne he ne stalle,—
But for he bare hym ouer hye,
And ledde hys lyfe yn glotonye,
And to þe pore dyd euyl yn dede,
No halp hym noȝt yn hys nede:
Ne Laȝare asked nat greuuslyke,
But a fewe crummës for to pyke;
And for he ȝaue hym noun on to byte,
Hym was werned as lyte:
As lytyl as he hym wernede,
As lytyl þyng he ȝernede;
he preydë Laȝare hym to sende
A dropë of hys fynger ende.
Loke how euene Iugement,
Þe tone aȝens þe toþer, was sent:
hyt ys but a lytyl synne,
Of a drope and of a crumme;
þan wyl hyt be ful harde a-counte
Of þyng þat wylle to moche a-mounte.
Þarfor, ȝe lordyngys, beþ ful ware,
Þenkeþ on Dyues and on Laȝare,
And þe porë naȝt forgete
whan ȝe syttë at ȝoure mete.
Þe tone aȝens þe toþer, was sent:
hyt ys but a lytyl synne,
Of a drope and of a crumme;
þan wyl hyt be ful harde a-counte
Of þyng þat wylle to moche a-mounte.
Þarfor, ȝe lordyngys, beþ ful ware,
Þenkeþ on Dyues and on Laȝare,
And þe porë naȝt forgete
whan ȝe syttë at ȝoure mete.
And þou þat fedyst þe so rychely,
Ouer mesure yn glotonye,
Þenk þat þou shalt stynk and rote,
And wurmës shul fyl þy þrote,
And þe fouler shal þy body stynke,
For thy ryche metë, and þy drynke.
Ouer mesure yn glotonye,
Þenk þat þou shalt stynk and rote,
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And þe fouler shal þy body stynke,
For thy ryche metë, and þy drynke.
Euery man ȝyue tente to þys,
And se how vyle hys body ys.
Twey dayys or þre mow hyt loke
Mete, ar man hyt ete or toke;
But as sone as hyt ys yn þe ȝoten,
Yn half a day þan ys hyt roten;
Ryȝt vyle, and alþer meste,
Þan hyt ys of any ouþer beste.
Se weyl þys! þan mayst þou fynde,
how vyle þan ys þyn ownë kynde.
And se how vyle hys body ys.
Twey dayys or þre mow hyt loke
Mete, ar man hyt ete or toke;
But as sone as hyt ys yn þe ȝoten,
Yn half a day þan ys hyt roten;
Ryȝt vyle, and alþer meste,
Þan hyt ys of any ouþer beste.
Se weyl þys! þan mayst þou fynde,
how vyle þan ys þyn ownë kynde.
Þys rychë man that y of telle,
Wente nat oonly þarfor to helle,
But, for þat he wuldë noght
Ȝyue to Laȝare þat he besoght,
Ne noȝt only for glotonye,
Ne auaryce, ne for beryng hye,
Noȝt for-þy, þe leste of þys,
Myȝt brynge a man to Iuwys.
Wente nat oonly þarfor to helle,
But, for þat he wuldë noght
Ȝyue to Laȝare þat he besoght,
Ne noȝt only for glotonye,
Ne auaryce, ne for beryng hye,
Noȝt for-þy, þe leste of þys,
Myȝt brynge a man to Iuwys.
why was God moste wyþ hym wroth?
For he dyd þe pore man loth,
And for he dyd hys houndes oute late
To byte þe Laȝare at þe ȝate;
And, for he dyde hym þat dyspyte,
God wrathede hym astyte,
And deyneþ nat to nemne hys name,
For he dede þe pore man shame,
But calleþ hym yn þe gospel, ryche,
As vnkyndë and vnbryche.
For ful comunly shalt þou fynde
Oftë rychë men vnkynde.
For he dyd þe pore man loth,
And for he dyd hys houndes oute late
To byte þe Laȝare at þe ȝate;
And, for he dyde hym þat dyspyte,
God wrathede hym astyte,
And deyneþ nat to nemne hys name,
For he dede þe pore man shame,
But calleþ hym yn þe gospel, ryche,
As vnkyndë and vnbryche.
For ful comunly shalt þou fynde
Oftë rychë men vnkynde.
Lorde! how shul þese robbers fare,
Þat þe pore pepyl pelyn ful bare,—
Erlës, kynȝtës, and barouns,
And ouþer lordyngës of tounnes;
Iustyses, shryues, and baylyuys,
Þat þe lawës alle to-ryues,
And þe pore men alle to-pyle;
To ryche men do þey but as þey wylle.
Þat þe pore pepyl pelyn ful bare,—
Erlës, kynȝtës, and barouns,
And ouþer lordyngës of tounnes;
Iustyses, shryues, and baylyuys,
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And þe pore men alle to-pyle;
To ryche men do þey but as þey wylle.
Þys ryche man, as þe gospel seys,
was but to .o. man vncurteys,
And hadde so mochë pyne þarfore;
On hem wyl fallë mochë more
Þat many pore men pyle and bete,
For God no synne wyl þey nat lete.
Swych ryche men þat are aȝens Goddys pes,
Þenkeþ on Laȝare and on Dyues;
And beþ nat pynede wyþ Satanas
For porë men, as Dyues was,
And ys, and euer shal be;
Ȝyt robbed he neuer golde ne fee.
By þys skylle, þan mow ȝe se,
Þat ȝe are wers þan was he.
He dyde but lete an hounde hym to;
Ȝe rychë men, weyl wers ȝe do!
Ȝe wyl noun houndës to hem lete,
But, ȝe self, hem sle and bete.
He ne dyd but werned hym of hys mete;
And ȝe, robbe al þat ȝe mow gete;
Ȝe are as Dyues, þat wyl naght ȝyue;
And wers, for ȝe robbe þat þey shulde by lyue.
Of mochë peyne ȝe mow ȝow drede,
For ȝe do weyl wers þan Dyues dede.
was but to .o. man vncurteys,
And hadde so mochë pyne þarfore;
On hem wyl fallë mochë more
Þat many pore men pyle and bete,
For God no synne wyl þey nat lete.
Swych ryche men þat are aȝens Goddys pes,
Þenkeþ on Laȝare and on Dyues;
And beþ nat pynede wyþ Satanas
For porë men, as Dyues was,
And ys, and euer shal be;
Ȝyt robbed he neuer golde ne fee.
By þys skylle, þan mow ȝe se,
Þat ȝe are wers þan was he.
He dyde but lete an hounde hym to;
Ȝe rychë men, weyl wers ȝe do!
Ȝe wyl noun houndës to hem lete,
But, ȝe self, hem sle and bete.
He ne dyd but werned hym of hys mete;
And ȝe, robbe al þat ȝe mow gete;
Ȝe are as Dyues, þat wyl naght ȝyue;
And wers, for ȝe robbe þat þey shulde by lyue.
Of mochë peyne ȝe mow ȝow drede,
For ȝe do weyl wers þan Dyues dede.
Ȝe rychë men, God wyl ȝow charge
Þat ȝe ȝyue ȝoure almës large;
Nat ouer powere, neuer a deyl,
But ȝyue þat, þat ȝe mow ful weyl;
And nat allonely largëly,
But with loue, þat ys, curtesy;
Ȝyueþ curteysly, and nat to bete,
Ȝow were bettyr ȝoure almës lete.
Þat ȝe ȝyue ȝoure almës large;
Nat ouer powere, neuer a deyl,
But ȝyue þat, þat ȝe mow ful weyl;
And nat allonely largëly,
But with loue, þat ys, curtesy;
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Ȝow were bettyr ȝoure almës lete.
Ȝyf a pore man take ons or twyys,
Mysdo hym nat, ȝyf þou be wys,
Ne seye hym noun oþer vyleynye;
Þan doust þou larges and curteysye.
More þank þou getest for swych ȝyuyng
Þan seuene so moche with chydyng.
Herefore Seynt Ihon þe aumenere seys,
And techyþ men to be curteys.
Mysdo hym nat, ȝyf þou be wys,
Ne seye hym noun oþer vyleynye;
Þan doust þou larges and curteysye.
More þank þou getest for swych ȝyuyng
Þan seuene so moche with chydyng.
Herefore Seynt Ihon þe aumenere seys,
And techyþ men to be curteys.
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