 | Handlyng Synne |  |
[The Tale of St. Benet's Temptation, and how he freed himself by rolling in Thorns and Nettles.]
As seynt Benet sate yn hys celle,
To tempte hym com a fend of helle
Yn a lykenes of a bryd.
A ‘þrostyl’ ys þe namë kyd;
hyt come fleyng by seynt Benet,
And, mery synggyng, by hym hym set;
Noþeles, he hadde grete ferly
Þat hyt flegh hym so ny.
Seynt Benet wende he myȝt hyt ha take,
For hyt sate by hym so spake.
he blessed hym fyrst, and bedde hys hande
To take þe brydde þat was syttande;
As sone as he hadde made þe croyce,
Þe bryde flegh furþ, and left hys voys.
Þat þrostel sagh he no more;
hyt become, he ne wyst whore.
To tempte hym com a fend of helle
Yn a lykenes of a bryd.
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hyt come fleyng by seynt Benet,
And, mery synggyng, by hym hym set;
Noþeles, he hadde grete ferly
Þat hyt flegh hym so ny.
Seynt Benet wende he myȝt hyt ha take,
For hyt sate by hym so spake.
he blessed hym fyrst, and bedde hys hande
To take þe brydde þat was syttande;
As sone as he hadde made þe croyce,
Þe bryde flegh furþ, and left hys voys.
Þat þrostel sagh he no more;
hyt become, he ne wyst whore.
Þan come on hym so sodenly
So grete temptyng of lecchery,
Þat neuer er, syn he was bore,
So grete temptyng was hym byfore;
Þe fendë þan put yn hys þoght
Þat he hadde, or seye, or wroght.
So grete temptyng of lecchery,
Þat neuer er, syn he was bore,
So grete temptyng was hym byfore;
Þe fendë þan put yn hys þoght
Þat he hadde, or seye, or wroght.
Onës he sagh a feyre womman,
And al day yn hys þoght she ran;
Swych þoght so hadde hym ouercome,
Þat þe þoght of God, hyt had ny fornome;
And foule longyng had hym so take
Þat hys ermytage he hadde nygh forsake;
But Ihesu, þat seeþ al þyng,
he sagh weyl hys grete temptyng;
Þogh he suffred hym weyl be to-blaste,
he suffred hym nat be dowün kaste;
Þe fende may nat but tempte þy wyl,
Þe selfe behoueþ þe dede fulfyl;
And for he stode so stalwrþly,
Þe holy goste was to hym redy.
And al day yn hys þoght she ran;
Swych þoght so hadde hym ouercome,
Þat þe þoght of God, hyt had ny fornome;
And foule longyng had hym so take
Þat hys ermytage he hadde nygh forsake;
But Ihesu, þat seeþ al þyng,
he sagh weyl hys grete temptyng;
Þogh he suffred hym weyl be to-blaste,
he suffred hym nat be dowün kaste;
Þe fende may nat but tempte þy wyl,
Þe selfe behoueþ þe dede fulfyl;
And for he stode so stalwrþly,
Þe holy goste was to hym redy.
with-oute hys cellë, þornës wore,
And netles grewe, þat byten sore;
So haddë grace made hym stedfaste,
Þat al hys cloþys of he kast,
And alle naked hym-self he wrappe
Among þe þornës þat were sharpe,
And among þe netles echone,
Tyl hys temptacyun was al gone.
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So haddë grace made hym stedfaste,
Þat al hys cloþys of he kast,
And alle naked hym-self he wrappe
Among þe þornës þat were sharpe,
And among þe netles echone,
Tyl hys temptacyun was al gone.
Þe þornes prykked, þe netles dyd byte,
Of flesshly temptacyun þey made hym quyte,
So clene, þat neuer aftyrward
was he tempted more so hard
Of hys flessh, þat was hys fo,
he dyde hyt þere so mochë wo.
Seþþen, loued he Ihesu cryst wel more
Þan he dede, euer byfore,
And hadde to hym more loue longyng
Þan byfore hys hard temptyng.
Of flesshly temptacyun þey made hym quyte,
So clene, þat neuer aftyrward
was he tempted more so hard
Of hys flessh, þat was hys fo,
he dyde hyt þere so mochë wo.
Seþþen, loued he Ihesu cryst wel more
Þan he dede, euer byfore,
And hadde to hym more loue longyng
Þan byfore hys hard temptyng.
Þys tale y tolde for þat enchesun,
To stand aȝens temptacyun;
For who-so wyl hys soulë saue,
Many a fyȝt behoueþ hym haue
Aȝens þe spyces of lecchery,
Ar he wynne of hym þe maystry.
To stand aȝens temptacyun;
For who-so wyl hys soulë saue,
Many a fyȝt behoueþ hym haue
Aȝens þe spyces of lecchery,
Ar he wynne of hym þe maystry.
Seynt Poule techyþ vs for þat batayle
A sykyr fyght þat wyl nat fayle;
He seyþ, “y forbede ȝow echoun,
with womman for to go alone.”
For who-so douþ hyt, sone and lyȝtly
He consentyþ to lecchery;
Þou alone, alone with hyre,
þy þoght, by herte, cumþ sone on fyre;
Be þou neuer so chaste ne straunge,
Be ȝe alone, þyn herte wyl chaunge;
And God commaundeþ boþe þe and me,
Oure herte to stable yn chastyte.
He seyþ nat, to whom he wyl kalle,
But spekeþ comunly to vs alle;
And þogh he calle alle comunly,
Sum are called more specyally;
For specyaly þat comandeþ he
To men þat are of hygh degre,
As to bysshopes, and persones,
To prestys, and ouþer relygyons;
To þese ys specyal comaundement;
Þurgh þese to ouþer hyt shal be sent.
Þarefore he byddeþ, with wurdës smarte,
Þat þey be allë chaste of herte.
A sykyr fyght þat wyl nat fayle;
He seyþ, “y forbede ȝow echoun,
with womman for to go alone.”
For who-so douþ hyt, sone and lyȝtly
He consentyþ to lecchery;
Þou alone, alone with hyre,
þy þoght, by herte, cumþ sone on fyre;
Be þou neuer so chaste ne straunge,
Be ȝe alone, þyn herte wyl chaunge;
And God commaundeþ boþe þe and me,
Oure herte to stable yn chastyte.
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But spekeþ comunly to vs alle;
And þogh he calle alle comunly,
Sum are called more specyally;
For specyaly þat comandeþ he
To men þat are of hygh degre,
As to bysshopes, and persones,
To prestys, and ouþer relygyons;
To þese ys specyal comaundement;
Þurgh þese to ouþer hyt shal be sent.
Þarefore he byddeþ, with wurdës smarte,
Þat þey be allë chaste of herte.
what ys hyt wurþ to be, with-outen, clene,
whan fylþë ys withynne þe sene?
For many one, whan þey to bedde are broȝt,
Delyten hem yn fylþys of þoght.
Swych þoghtës are synnës greue,
Ȝyf þey þè pay, or be þè leue;
And ȝyf hyt pay þè so, swych foule þoȝt,
Þat þe dede were do, ȝyf þou moght,
Certes hyt ys nat to drede
Þat þy wyl ne shal answere for þe dede.
For ȝyf þou myȝtyst, þou wuldest, do,
Þy wyl consenteþ weyl þarto;
Þou art a lechoure yn þat kas,
Þyn hertëwyl ys grete trespas.
whan fylþë ys withynne þe sene?
For many one, whan þey to bedde are broȝt,
Delyten hem yn fylþys of þoght.
Swych þoghtës are synnës greue,
Ȝyf þey þè pay, or be þè leue;
And ȝyf hyt pay þè so, swych foule þoȝt,
Þat þe dede were do, ȝyf þou moght,
Certes hyt ys nat to drede
Þat þy wyl ne shal answere for þe dede.
For ȝyf þou myȝtyst, þou wuldest, do,
Þy wyl consenteþ weyl þarto;
Þou art a lechoure yn þat kas,
Þyn hertëwyl ys grete trespas.
Anoþer spyce, more synne hyt ys,
whan þou sekest þy wyl of flesshe,
To þe lust of lecchery,
Yn handlyng, or dremyng of foly,
Þurgh þoghtes or syghtës þat þou sees,
And yn alle ouþer pryuytes;
God hym-self forbedeþ alle þys;
Þey gete no parte of heuene blys:
Yn shryfte forgetë noght of þyse;
How ofte þou dedyst, and on what wyse.
whan þou sekest þy wyl of flesshe,
To þe lust of lecchery,
Yn handlyng, or dremyng of foly,
Þurgh þoghtes or syghtës þat þou sees,
And yn alle ouþer pryuytes;
God hym-self forbedeþ alle þys;
Þey gete no parte of heuene blys:
Yn shryfte forgetë noght of þyse;
How ofte þou dedyst, and on what wyse.
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Ȝyt þyr ys a-noþer spyce
Þat cumþ of þe fendes malyce,
Þat he douþ vs alle falle ynne,
yn dreme slepyng þat we are ynne.
And þat yche temptacyun
May be twey maner of enchesun;
Þe fyrste ys syghte, þe touþer ys þoght,
with-outë þese, dremest þou noght;
For swyche þyng þou mayst se with ye,
Þat hyt turneþ to þoght of felonye.
Þat cumþ of þe fendes malyce,
Þat he douþ vs alle falle ynne,
yn dreme slepyng þat we are ynne.
And þat yche temptacyun
May be twey maner of enchesun;
Þe fyrste ys syghte, þe touþer ys þoght,
with-outë þese, dremest þou noght;
For swyche þyng þou mayst se with ye,
Þat hyt turneþ to þoght of felonye.
Ȝyf þou þenkest ofte of þat syght,
Þat wey of þoght gadreþ myȝt,
And knyttyþ harde ryȝt as a seme,
And sheweþ on þe nyȝt yn dreme.
Yn þat dreme, ȝyf þou do lecherye,
hyt makeþ þe þoght of vylayné;
Ȝyf any do hyt ones þurgh chaunce,
Þan ys þerfore but lyȝt penaunce;
Ȝyf hyt be donë þurgh custome,
Þan falleþ þarfore harder dome;
For euery tyme, at alþer leste,
Behoueþ þe shewe to þe preste:
Hyt ys a wysdom to shewe hyt alle;
Hyt may be moche, þat þe þenkeþ smalle.
Þe prestë, he can euene charge,
For whyche he shal ȝyue penaunce large.
Þat wey of þoght gadreþ myȝt,
And knyttyþ harde ryȝt as a seme,
And sheweþ on þe nyȝt yn dreme.
Yn þat dreme, ȝyf þou do lecherye,
hyt makeþ þe þoght of vylayné;
Ȝyf any do hyt ones þurgh chaunce,
Þan ys þerfore but lyȝt penaunce;
Ȝyf hyt be donë þurgh custome,
Þan falleþ þarfore harder dome;
For euery tyme, at alþer leste,
Behoueþ þe shewe to þe preste:
Hyt ys a wysdom to shewe hyt alle;
Hyt may be moche, þat þe þenkeþ smalle.
Þe prestë, he can euene charge,
For whyche he shal ȝyue penaunce large.
lecchery ys also grete ȝernyng
To be desyred þurgh feyre cloþyng,
what wymmen hem tyfe with ownë wyl,
To foly loue, ouþer men to tylle.
Ȝyf men, þurgh here feyre atyre,
wyþ hem to do foly, haue desyre,
Þey shul answere for here synne,
For þey are rote, and fyrst bygynne;
Noþeles, þe cónsentour
Shal be holde for a lechour;
Euene peynë shul þey bere,
Þe toon þe touþer shal answere.
To be desyred þurgh feyre cloþyng,
what wymmen hem tyfe with ownë wyl,
To foly loue, ouþer men to tylle.
Ȝyf men, þurgh here feyre atyre,
wyþ hem to do foly, haue desyre,
Þey shul answere for here synne,
For þey are rote, and fyrst bygynne;
Noþeles, þe cónsentour
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Euene peynë shul þey bere,
Þe toon þe touþer shal answere.
Ȝyt sey men yn þe oldë lawe,
Þat, of a þefe and hys felawe,
O dome shul þey boþë haue,
Þe toon ne toþer shul men nat saue;
And ȝyt men sey, as men gos,
As foule ys he þat halt, as he þat fos.
Þat, of a þefe and hys felawe,
O dome shul þey boþë haue,
Þe toon ne toþer shul men nat saue;
And ȝyt men sey, as men gos,
As foule ys he þat halt, as he þat fos.
Anoþer spyce eke he forbedeþ,
Þat many one ful lytyl dredeþ:
To suffre a lechour or lechours
To hauntë foly yn here hous.
Þe prophete spekeþ ful euyl of þo;
Þey shul haue part of peyne and wo;
And þus seyþ þe prophete Osee,
As moche defouled as hordam shal be.
Þat many one ful lytyl dredeþ:
To suffre a lechour or lechours
To hauntë foly yn here hous.
Þe prophete spekeþ ful euyl of þo;
Þey shul haue part of peyne and wo;
And þus seyþ þe prophete Osee,
As moche defouled as hordam shal be.
A-noþer spyce, þat mochë dereþ,
hauntë þey þat erandes bereþ
To do a lechour for to spede,
Or ȝyuen conseyl to do þe dede,
Or susteyne one with maystry:
Swych men are castel of lechery.
Þus seyþ þe prophete seynt Danyel;
And holy wryt wytnesseþ hyt wel.
hauntë þey þat erandes bereþ
To do a lechour for to spede,
Or ȝyuen conseyl to do þe dede,
Or susteyne one with maystry:
Swych men are castel of lechery.
Þus seyþ þe prophete seynt Danyel;
And holy wryt wytnesseþ hyt wel.
what sey ȝe of þese lordynges
Þat a-vowe here men to do swych þyngys?
Þat men dur nat hem chastyse
with holy cherche, ne oþer wyse.
Swych men areysen baner
Aȝens holy cherches power,
And hem self are castel and toure
For to manteynë þe lechoure.
who so a-voweþ a man to do euyl,
he ys no sybber þan þe deuyl;
For þe fende wulde þat al shulde be
Dampned, as weyl as ys he.
Þat a-vowe here men to do swych þyngys?
Þat men dur nat hem chastyse
with holy cherche, ne oþer wyse.
Swych men areysen baner
Aȝens holy cherches power,
And hem self are castel and toure
For to manteynë þe lechoure.
who so a-voweþ a man to do euyl,
he ys no sybber þan þe deuyl;
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Dampned, as weyl as ys he.
Ȝyt of ȝouþe men shulde haue drede,
Of þat men donë yn chyldhede;
Þat may be turned to lechery,
For chyldryn ofte to-gedyr ly.
Of þat men donë yn chyldhede;
Þat may be turned to lechery,
For chyldryn ofte to-gedyr ly.
Ȝyf þou oght dedyst and hopest, hyt ys
Yn þy wyt, synne of foule flessh:
Y cunseyl þe to telle þe prest,
For peryl may fallë, weyl þou seest;
Þyn ynwyt telleþ þe þat skyl
Of what þou dest þat ys peryl,
For comunly, þat men done yn ȝenkþe,
Yn agë haunte þey hyt on lenkþe;
And mowe nat leue þat foule vsage
Þat þey toke yn ȝouþe yn rage.
yn a prouerbe of olde Englys
Tellë men, and soþe hyt ys,
“Þat ȝougþë wones, yn agë mones;”
Þat þou dedyst ones, þou dedyst eftsones.
Þarefore loke what þy ȝouþë was,
And yn þy age amende þy trespas.
Yn þy wyt, synne of foule flessh:
Y cunseyl þe to telle þe prest,
For peryl may fallë, weyl þou seest;
Þyn ynwyt telleþ þe þat skyl
Of what þou dest þat ys peryl,
For comunly, þat men done yn ȝenkþe,
Yn agë haunte þey hyt on lenkþe;
And mowe nat leue þat foule vsage
Þat þey toke yn ȝouþe yn rage.
yn a prouerbe of olde Englys
Tellë men, and soþe hyt ys,
“Þat ȝougþë wones, yn agë mones;”
Þat þou dedyst ones, þou dedyst eftsones.
Þarefore loke what þy ȝouþë was,
And yn þy age amende þy trespas.
A-noþer spyce, ware þe fro þys
Foly, a womman for to kys;
For seldë kys[eth] any frende,
Þat lechery ne ys þoght or neuende.
kyssyng ys, for loue to wynne,
And ys erand for flesshly synne;
Man or womman, loke for-þy,
wharefore þou kyssest, whom, & why.
Foly, a womman for to kys;
For seldë kys[eth] any frende,
Þat lechery ne ys þoght or neuende.
kyssyng ys, for loue to wynne,
And ys erand for flesshly synne;
Man or womman, loke for-þy,
wharefore þou kyssest, whom, & why.
Ȝyt ys þer a spyce to mene
For hem þat shuld be chaste and clene,
As þo men þat are of hygh degree,
Of holy cherches owne meyne;
Þesë men shuld for no þyng
Come yn wymmens handëlyng;
Ne womman, þat godë couþe,
Shuld kyssë any prestys mouþe;
For þere may nat but synne aryse;
hys mouþ ys halewed to Goddys seruyse.
For hem þat shuld be chaste and clene,
As þo men þat are of hygh degree,
Of holy cherches owne meyne;
Þesë men shuld for no þyng
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Ne womman, þat godë couþe,
Shuld kyssë any prestys mouþe;
For þere may nat but synne aryse;
hys mouþ ys halewed to Goddys seruyse.
Ne prest oghte no woman touche,
For, of foule touchyng, synne men souche.
Seynt Ierom seyþ ‘he shuld noȝt
haue any woman yn hys þoght;’
For swych þoght, shal neuer weyl werche,
with man þat ys of holy cherche.
lestene now what Ierom seyde
To hys suster þat hym preyde;
She besoghte hym on alle maners
Þat he wulde haue here yn hys preyers;
Seynt Ierom spake aȝen to hyre,
Haluyndele as hyt were yn Ire,
“Y prey God, þat mynde of þe,
Yn my þoghtë, neuer be.”
For, of foule touchyng, synne men souche.
Seynt Ierom seyþ ‘he shuld noȝt
haue any woman yn hys þoght;’
For swych þoght, shal neuer weyl werche,
with man þat ys of holy cherche.
lestene now what Ierom seyde
To hys suster þat hym preyde;
She besoghte hym on alle maners
Þat he wulde haue here yn hys preyers;
Seynt Ierom spake aȝen to hyre,
Haluyndele as hyt were yn Ire,
“Y prey God, þat mynde of þe,
Yn my þoghtë, neuer be.”
wenest þou nat he dred hym nede,
whan he to hys suster þus seyde?
he dredde hym of sum wykked wrenche
whan he ne durstë on here þenche.
For soþe þan shulde þey mochë drede
Þat are alday with hem yn dede.
whan he to hys suster þus seyde?
he dredde hym of sum wykked wrenche
whan he ne durstë on here þenche.
For soþe þan shulde þey mochë drede
Þat are alday with hem yn dede.
Þe fende whan he may any tyce—
Þat ys, yn handlyng of sum vyce—
Þat ychë cumþ hym wel to pay,
Þan þynkeþ he, he haþ wonne a pray;
And namely of þese holy men,
Þat were hym leuer þan ouþer ten,
And a holy man were hym leuer tylle
To flesshly lust or wykked wylle
Þan an hundred ouþer mo
Þat rekkë neuer whedyr þey go.
Þat ys, yn handlyng of sum vyce—
Þat ychë cumþ hym wel to pay,
Þan þynkeþ he, he haþ wonne a pray;
And namely of þese holy men,
Þat were hym leuer þan ouþer ten,
And a holy man were hym leuer tylle
To flesshly lust or wykked wylle
Þan an hundred ouþer mo
Þat rekkë neuer whedyr þey go.
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