 | Handlyng Synne |  |
[The Tale of St. Justyne, and how the Sign of the Cross protected her from Devils.]
Yn Antyoche, þat noble cyte,
wonede þys mayden of grete bounte;
here name men callë seynt Iustyne,
For Ihesu Cryst she suffred pyne.
whan she had takë crystendam
Euery day to scole she nam,
To þe scolë, for to lere
Þe loue of God, and haue hyt dere.
wonede þys mayden of grete bounte;
here name men callë seynt Iustyne,
For Ihesu Cryst she suffred pyne.
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Euery day to scole she nam,
To þe scolë, for to lere
Þe loue of God, and haue hyt dere.
And as she went to þe scole hous,
A lorde þat hyghte ‘Agladyus’—
A gretë mayster and a syre—
was a-namourd so on hyre
Þat he ne wyst what do he myȝt,
She was so semëly by syȝt.
He comë vn-to Cypryene,
Þys clerk, þys nygromancyene,
And tolde hym al þe enchesun
Of hys grete temptacyun.
A lorde þat hyghte ‘Agladyus’—
A gretë mayster and a syre—
was a-namourd so on hyre
Þat he ne wyst what do he myȝt,
She was so semëly by syȝt.
He comë vn-to Cypryene,
Þys clerk, þys nygromancyene,
And tolde hym al þe enchesun
Of hys grete temptacyun.
Fast he preyde, and hette hym mede
Ȝyf þat he coudë do sum dede,
were hyt godë, were hyt ylle,
Þat he myȝt haue of here hys wylle.
“Iustyne,” he seyd þan, “hattë she
Þe feyre mayden þat marreþ me.”
And Cypryene hette hym for of hys
Þat þe mayden shulde be hys.
Ȝyf þat he coudë do sum dede,
were hyt godë, were hyt ylle,
Þat he myȝt haue of here hys wylle.
“Iustyne,” he seyd þan, “hattë she
Þe feyre mayden þat marreþ me.”
And Cypryene hette hym for of hys
Þat þe mayden shulde be hys.
Cypryene made þan hys queyntyse,
And ded þe fendys many one vpryse,
And comaunded þat Iustyne were lede
Vn-to syre Agladyous bed.
Þe forme of here fadyr and modyr þey nam,
And yn here lykenes to Iustyne cam,
And badde, here wyl shuldë be went
To Agladyous comaundement.
And ded þe fendys many one vpryse,
And comaunded þat Iustyne were lede
Vn-to syre Agladyous bed.
Þe forme of here fadyr and modyr þey nam,
And yn here lykenes to Iustyne cam,
And badde, here wyl shuldë be went
To Agladyous comaundement.
Iustyne hadde grete wundyr of þys,
And wyþ þe croys she gan here blys,
Þan þey vanysshed aweye asswyþe;
She þanked God and was ful blyþe.
Þryys þey come, on þre manere,
Beforë Iustyne to apere;
And here cunseyl was euer þus
“we rede ȝow take Agladyus.”
At euery tyme þat þus þey here besoght,
Þe croys was euer yn here þoght,
And made hyt euer hem betwene,
And alle here cunseyl was no more sene;
hadde none of hem lenger powere
with here to speke, or come here nere.
Þryys ouercomë hadde þey bene,
And þus þey tolde to Cypryene.
And wyþ þe croys she gan here blys,
Þan þey vanysshed aweye asswyþe;
She þanked God and was ful blyþe.
Þryys þey come, on þre manere,
Beforë Iustyne to apere;
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“we rede ȝow take Agladyus.”
At euery tyme þat þus þey here besoght,
Þe croys was euer yn here þoght,
And made hyt euer hem betwene,
And alle here cunseyl was no more sene;
hadde none of hem lenger powere
with here to speke, or come here nere.
Þryys ouercomë hadde þey bene,
And þus þey tolde to Cypryene.
Cypryene haddë grete ferly,
And asked ‘for whom hyt was, and why
Þat þey ne myȝtë of here spede,
But euer ouercome awey þey ȝede.’
Þan spak to hym a fende of helle,
“Syker me here with me to dwelle,
And þat þou ne shalt, for loue ne eye,
Beleue on þat y shal þe seye.”
And asked ‘for whom hyt was, and why
Þat þey ne myȝtë of here spede,
But euer ouercome awey þey ȝede.’
Þan spak to hym a fende of helle,
“Syker me here with me to dwelle,
And þat þou ne shalt, for loue ne eye,
Beleue on þat y shal þe seye.”
whan he hadde seyde hym hys certeynte,
“Now,” seyd þe fende, “y shal telle þe:
She beleueþ on one men calle Ihesus,
He þat confoundeþ euermore vs;
She ouercomeþ vs with a croys;
when we se hyt, we haue no voys;
Þe sygne þerof euer we fle,
And drede we haue when we hyt se;
Oure myȝt ys noght, no neuer shal,
Ouer any þat blesseþ hym with-al.
Iustyne þerwyþ defendeþ here so
Þat we ne may haue with here to do;
And, for here lyfe ys gode and clene,
Oure maystry may ryȝt noȝt be sene;
For ȝyf she lyued yn wykkednes,
Þan myȝte we do to here sum stres.”
“Now,” seyd þe fende, “y shal telle þe:
She beleueþ on one men calle Ihesus,
He þat confoundeþ euermore vs;
She ouercomeþ vs with a croys;
when we se hyt, we haue no voys;
Þe sygne þerof euer we fle,
And drede we haue when we hyt se;
Oure myȝt ys noght, no neuer shal,
Ouer any þat blesseþ hym with-al.
Iustyne þerwyþ defendeþ here so
Þat we ne may haue with here to do;
And, for here lyfe ys gode and clene,
Oure maystry may ryȝt noȝt be sene;
For ȝyf she lyued yn wykkednes,
Þan myȝte we do to here sum stres.”
Cypryen seyd vnto þat fende,
“Ihesus ys nat þan ȝoure frende,
Hyt may weyl be hym-self haþ myȝt
Syn ȝe drede hys croys be syght;
And ys nat ȝyt þe samë tre,
Haþ þat tokene more myȝt þan ȝe?”
“Ȝee,” seyde the fendë, “certaynly,
Ouer vs alle he haþ maystry;
And euermore so shal be doun
For hyt was hys owne passyoun;
No þyng þat man may of hym sey,
Doþe oure powere so moche a-weye
As nemne þat passyun and þat rode
Þat he shedde on, hys swetë blode;
Heuene and helle þat passyun douten,
And creatures allë þarto louten,
And specyaly ‘Ihesus,’ þat name
Ys our shenshyp and oure shame.”
“Ihesus ys nat þan ȝoure frende,
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Syn ȝe drede hys croys be syght;
And ys nat ȝyt þe samë tre,
Haþ þat tokene more myȝt þan ȝe?”
“Ȝee,” seyde the fendë, “certaynly,
Ouer vs alle he haþ maystry;
And euermore so shal be doun
For hyt was hys owne passyoun;
No þyng þat man may of hym sey,
Doþe oure powere so moche a-weye
As nemne þat passyun and þat rode
Þat he shedde on, hys swetë blode;
Heuene and helle þat passyun douten,
And creatures allë þarto louten,
And specyaly ‘Ihesus,’ þat name
Ys our shenshyp and oure shame.”
when Cypryen þys vndyrstode,
He forsoke hem, and bycom gode,
And alle þe crafte þat he hadde haunted,
And Crystendome to take he graunted;
He dyd breke his maumetrye,
And dyd hyt brenne byfore hys ye;
Seþþen at þe bysshope of þe cyte
He dyd hym crysten man to be,
Seþþen he was so stedfast
Yn þe beleue, þurgh þe holy gast,
Þat he was ordeyned dekene hye,
And seþþen bysshope he was wurþy;
Seþen made he Iustyne, abbas
Of alle þe ladyes, as wurþy was.
He forsoke hem, and bycom gode,
And alle þe crafte þat he hadde haunted,
And Crystendome to take he graunted;
He dyd breke his maumetrye,
And dyd hyt brenne byfore hys ye;
Seþþen at þe bysshope of þe cyte
He dyd hym crysten man to be,
Seþþen he was so stedfast
Yn þe beleue, þurgh þe holy gast,
Þat he was ordeyned dekene hye,
And seþþen bysshope he was wurþy;
Seþen made he Iustyne, abbas
Of alle þe ladyes, as wurþy was.
Swyche grace fel seþþen on hom,
Þat boþe þey suffred martyrdom;
And now ys Cypryen with God so herd
Þat he ys wurschypde yn alle þe werlde;
And she ys callede Seynt Iustyne,
A martyr and an holy vyrgyne.
Þat boþe þey suffred martyrdom;
And now ys Cypryen with God so herd
Þat he ys wurschypde yn alle þe werlde;
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A martyr and an holy vyrgyne.
Þys tale y tolde to ȝow aboute,
Þat ȝe ne dur no wycchecrafte doute,
Ȝyf þou be—þat ys to mene—
Yn beleuë gode, and lyfë clene.
who-so þurgh wycchëcrafte haþ tene,
Prey to God and seynt Cypryene
And to þe mayden Seynt Iustyne,
Þat þey delyuer hem fro þat pyne.
Þat ȝe ne dur no wycchecrafte doute,
Ȝyf þou be—þat ys to mene—
Yn beleuë gode, and lyfë clene.
who-so þurgh wycchëcrafte haþ tene,
Prey to God and seynt Cypryene
And to þe mayden Seynt Iustyne,
Þat þey delyuer hem fro þat pyne.
Þarefore, þou man and þou wyfe,
Ȝyf þou be of clenë lyfe,
Þar þe noght drede no wycchëcrafte
Noþer temptyng of þe deuylys shafte;
And ȝyf þou be yn dedly synne,
To hys temptyng he may þe wynne.
Ȝyf þou be of clenë lyfe,
Þar þe noght drede no wycchëcrafte
Noþer temptyng of þe deuylys shafte;
And ȝyf þou be yn dedly synne,
To hys temptyng he may þe wynne.
Ȝyt þer ys spekyng of vylaynye
Þat longeþ vnto lecherye,
And oftë tyme of foulë speche
Falleþ þarfor hard[ë] wreche;
Of foulë herte cumþ foulë þoȝt;
Of foulë þoȝt, foule wurdys are broȝt.
Þe foulë wurde, þe speker dereþ,
And þat hyt hereþ and furþ bereþ;
Y hauë toldë of þys lak
Yn þe fyfþe comaundement, þer y spak,
whan y of a nunnë tolde,
Þat coudë nat here tungë holde.
Þat longeþ vnto lecherye,
And oftë tyme of foulë speche
Falleþ þarfor hard[ë] wreche;
Of foulë herte cumþ foulë þoȝt;
Of foulë þoȝt, foule wurdys are broȝt.
Þe foulë wurde, þe speker dereþ,
And þat hyt hereþ and furþ bereþ;
Y hauë toldë of þys lak
Yn þe fyfþe comaundement, þer y spak,
whan y of a nunnë tolde,
Þat coudë nat here tungë holde.
Ȝyt ys þyr a spyce of leccherye,
Auauntëment of olde folye:
A kaynard and an oldë folte,
Þat þryfte haþ loste, and boghte a bolte,
he shal become[n] a dyssour,
And telleþ how he was a lecchour;
Ioye he haþ, hym-self to dyffame
Of alle hys synnes þat he kan name,
And auante hym alle an hye,
And make men lagh at hys foly;
And þat ys nat þe synnë leste,
Auaunte þy synne to hym þat þou sest.
Auauntëment of olde folye:
A kaynard and an oldë folte,
Þat þryfte haþ loste, and boghte a bolte,
he shal become[n] a dyssour,
And telleþ how he was a lecchour;
Ioye he haþ, hym-self to dyffame
Of alle hys synnes þat he kan name,
And auante hym alle an hye,
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And þat ys nat þe synnë leste,
Auaunte þy synne to hym þat þou sest.
Sodom sank, and Gomore,
For þey kryed here synne aywhore;
Þese twey cytees, boþe þey sank,
For þey hadde ioye at synne þat stank.
Feyrer hyt were, oure synne forhele,
Þan make auauntement þer-of to fele;
Þe apostle seyþ þys autoryte,
“Ȝyf þou be nat chaste, be þou pryue;”
Telle hyt þy prest, and to no mo;
For oþer tellyng, ys boþe synne and wo.
For þey kryed here synne aywhore;
Þese twey cytees, boþe þey sank,
For þey hadde ioye at synne þat stank.
Feyrer hyt were, oure synne forhele,
Þan make auauntement þer-of to fele;
Þe apostle seyþ þys autoryte,
“Ȝyf þou be nat chaste, be þou pryue;”
Telle hyt þy prest, and to no mo;
For oþer tellyng, ys boþe synne and wo.
Ȝyt ys þyr a specyal spece
Þat doþ leccherye klymbe by a grece:
who so wyllë ȝyftës ȝyue,
On lecheryë he may cleue;
For synne, no ȝyftys þou receyue;
For doute of gyle þou shalt hem weyue;
For whan a lechour haþ ȝyue hys mede,
Þan hopeþ he weyl þat he shal spede.
Y rede, ȝe wommen, ȝyueþ gode entent,
For medë ȝe wyl sone consent;
Many one for mede doþ ful euyl,
Men sey ofte ‘mede ys þe deuyl.’
Þat doþ leccherye klymbe by a grece:
who so wyllë ȝyftës ȝyue,
On lecheryë he may cleue;
For synne, no ȝyftys þou receyue;
For doute of gyle þou shalt hem weyue;
For whan a lechour haþ ȝyue hys mede,
Þan hopeþ he weyl þat he shal spede.
Y rede, ȝe wommen, ȝyueþ gode entent,
For medë ȝe wyl sone consent;
Many one for mede doþ ful euyl,
Men sey ofte ‘mede ys þe deuyl.’
Ȝyt spekeþ he of a more tresun
Þat for lechery ys doun;
Ȝyf men or womman be so wylde
To fordo a getyng of a chylde
wyþ wurde or dede, syn hyt ys gete,
with mete or drynk þat þey do ȝete,
Or oþer strenkþë, þat hyt dye,
Þan þey doun ful grete folye;
with slaghter hast þou þere hyd,
Þat þy lecherye ys nat kyd;
Gretly yn euyl þou art coupáble
Yn twey synnës, and dampnáble.
Þat for lechery ys doun;
Ȝyf men or womman be so wylde
To fordo a getyng of a chylde
wyþ wurde or dede, syn hyt ys gete,
with mete or drynk þat þey do ȝete,
Or oþer strenkþë, þat hyt dye,
Þan þey doun ful grete folye;
with slaghter hast þou þere hyd,
Þat þy lecherye ys nat kyd;
Gretly yn euyl þou art coupáble
Yn twey synnës, and dampnáble.
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A-noþer vyleynye þyr ys,
To do a womman synne þurgh stres:
Ȝyf a womman mete paráuenture
Yn pryuë stedë, a lechour,
Ȝyf he wyl do with here synne,
And she ne may a-weyë wynne
But she swerë oþys grym
A-noþer tyme to come to hym,
Or he makeþ here trouth-plyght
Anoþer tymë when she myȝt,
For þat trouþë, y answere
Þat no perel shal she bere;
She nat synneþ nat dedly,
Hyt ys nó wyl, but maystry;
Better ys to skape with an oþe,
Þan synne dedly, and God be wrothe.
Here-of myȝt men mochë speke,
Of trouþë þat men alle day breke,
For, fals trouþës, and fykyl,
For lechery, are ȝyue mechyl.
To do a womman synne þurgh stres:
Ȝyf a womman mete paráuenture
Yn pryuë stedë, a lechour,
Ȝyf he wyl do with here synne,
And she ne may a-weyë wynne
But she swerë oþys grym
A-noþer tyme to come to hym,
Or he makeþ here trouth-plyght
Anoþer tymë when she myȝt,
For þat trouþë, y answere
Þat no perel shal she bere;
She nat synneþ nat dedly,
Hyt ys nó wyl, but maystry;
Better ys to skape with an oþe,
Þan synne dedly, and God be wrothe.
Here-of myȝt men mochë speke,
Of trouþë þat men alle day breke,
For, fals trouþës, and fykyl,
For lechery, are ȝyue mechyl.
Ȝyf þou a womman trouþë plyght
Out of holy cherchës syȝt;
Men oght nat so for to do
Þogh þat frendes consente þarto;
For holy cherche oght fyrst for to wyte
Of here gederyng, ȝyf hyt may sytte
Out of holy cherchës syȝt;
Men oght nat so for to do
Þogh þat frendes consente þarto;
For holy cherche oght fyrst for to wyte
Of here gederyng, ȝyf hyt may sytte
Of allë folës are þey fyles,
Þat gentyl wymmen begylys
with a trouþë of tresun
To reuë here, here warysun,
But she do by here ordynaunce
Of hem þat shuldë here auaunce.
Þat gentyl wymmen begylys
with a trouþë of tresun
To reuë here, here warysun,
But she do by here ordynaunce
Of hem þat shuldë here auaunce.
And a womman loueþ ofte yn pryuyte
Þat for here falleþ nat weyl to be;
Ȝyf she to þat ȝeueþ here treuþe,
Þat ys here ful mochë reuþe;
Þat trewþe dar she nat be a-knowe,
For drede þat she haþ loued so lowe.
Þurgh cunseyl of here frendys wylle,
She ys þan ȝyue a-noþer vntyl;
Y dar sey hyt hardyly,
‘Þat womman leueþ yn lechery;
And þat ychë man also
To whom she ȝaf fyrst trouþë to,
Ȝyf he any ouþer wedde,
Or with any go to bedde,
Ȝyf þey boþe wulde haue do þat
Þat here mouþes to-gedyr spak,
And haue fulfylled, at here myȝt,
Here pryue trouþë þat þey plyȝt.’
Þat for here falleþ nat weyl to be;
Ȝyf she to þat ȝeueþ here treuþe,
Þat ys here ful mochë reuþe;
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For drede þat she haþ loued so lowe.
Þurgh cunseyl of here frendys wylle,
She ys þan ȝyue a-noþer vntyl;
Y dar sey hyt hardyly,
‘Þat womman leueþ yn lechery;
And þat ychë man also
To whom she ȝaf fyrst trouþë to,
Ȝyf he any ouþer wedde,
Or with any go to bedde,
Ȝyf þey boþe wulde haue do þat
Þat here mouþes to-gedyr spak,
And haue fulfylled, at here myȝt,
Here pryue trouþë þat þey plyȝt.’
A wers[ë] spycë ȝyt men holdes,
To begyle a womman with wordys;
To ȝyue here trouþë but lyghtly
For no þyng but for lygge here by;
with þat gyle þou makest here asent,
And bryngest ȝow boþe to cumbrement.
To begyle a womman with wordys;
To ȝyue here trouþë but lyghtly
For no þyng but for lygge here by;
with þat gyle þou makest here asent,
And bryngest ȝow boþe to cumbrement.
Þarfore now y warne ȝow alle,
Man and woman, for þyng may falle,
Þat ȝe be neuer so fole-hardy
To ȝyue ȝoure trouþe so pryuyly,
Ne wommans trouþë for to take,
Ne trouþë ȝyue for weddyng sake,
Tyl holy cherche haue demyd ryȝt
wyþ lokyng of frendes syght.
Man and woman, for þyng may falle,
Þat ȝe be neuer so fole-hardy
To ȝyue ȝoure trouþe so pryuyly,
Ne wommans trouþë for to take,
Ne trouþë ȝyue for weddyng sake,
Tyl holy cherche haue demyd ryȝt
wyþ lokyng of frendes syght.
Pryuytes manye falle þer-ynne;
Þyn ynwyt þe telleþ whych ys synne;
Sum pryuytes of lechery
Yn opun speche are vyleynye;
Þarfor wyl y nat hem alle descryue,
But alle behoueþ vs þer-of shryue;
Þyn ynwyt wote what þou hast wroght,
And whych ys synne, and whych ys noȝt;
Alle þese spyces þat y haue tolde,
On dyuers maners are synnës folde.
Þyn ynwyt þe telleþ whych ys synne;
Sum pryuytes of lechery
Yn opun speche are vyleynye;
Þarfor wyl y nat hem alle descryue,
But alle behoueþ vs þer-of shryue;
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And whych ys synne, and whych ys noȝt;
Alle þese spyces þat y haue tolde,
On dyuers maners are synnës folde.
Ȝyf þy flesshë ofte aryse
Yn wyl or dede to many of þyse,
Þat þou mayst nat þy flesshë daunte,
Þat sum algate behoueþ þe haunte,
Be nat þarfor yn wanhope;
Alle may be quenchyde with a drope,
Ȝyf þou mayst for þy synnë grete,
And be yn wyl hyt for to lete.
For many a gode man, olde and ȝonge,
haþ be yn flesshëly temptyng;
So was seynt Poule, þe holy man,
Hys flesshe was temptyde with Satan;
Seynt Benet was so, ȝe herde me telle,
He was yn poynt to leue hys celle;
And ouþer men mo of relygyun
Haue be yn hard temptacyun;
But man behoueþ pryue hys myȝt,
Aȝens hys ownë flesshe to fyȝt;
For ȝyf þou late hyt haue hys wyl,
wyltou, neltou, hyt wyl þe spylle.
Yn wyl or dede to many of þyse,
Þat þou mayst nat þy flesshë daunte,
Þat sum algate behoueþ þe haunte,
Be nat þarfor yn wanhope;
Alle may be quenchyde with a drope,
Ȝyf þou mayst for þy synnë grete,
And be yn wyl hyt for to lete.
For many a gode man, olde and ȝonge,
haþ be yn flesshëly temptyng;
So was seynt Poule, þe holy man,
Hys flesshe was temptyde with Satan;
Seynt Benet was so, ȝe herde me telle,
He was yn poynt to leue hys celle;
And ouþer men mo of relygyun
Haue be yn hard temptacyun;
But man behoueþ pryue hys myȝt,
Aȝens hys ownë flesshe to fyȝt;
For ȝyf þou late hyt haue hys wyl,
wyltou, neltou, hyt wyl þe spylle.
And y shal telle here, ȝyf ȝe wyl,
A talë for þe samë skylle,
Þat a man myshopë noght
Þogh he haue grete temptyng of þoght.
A talë for þe samë skylle,
Þat a man myshopë noght
Þogh he haue grete temptyng of þoght.
| Handlyng Synne | |