 | The South English Legendary |  |
390
De exultatione sancte crucis
Þe holy rode þat was ifonde as ȝe witeþ in May
Anhansed he was in Septembre þe Holi Rode day
Mani a ȝer þer was bitwene riȝt is þat me telle
Of eiþer feste as it falleþ noþer bileue inelle
A king þere was in Perce Cosdroe was is name
Cristene men alle þat he fond he broȝte to ssame
Anhansed he was in Septembre þe Holi Rode day
Mani a ȝer þer was bitwene riȝt is þat me telle
Of eiþer feste as it falleþ noþer bileue inelle
A king þere was in Perce Cosdroe was is name
Cristene men alle þat he fond he broȝte to ssame
Wiþ is poer he wan also al þe londes þere aboute
Þo he com to Ierusalem of þe sepulcre he was in doute
Þare oure Louerd was on ileid anon so he is isei
For al is poer þat was so luþer he ne dorste come þer ney
Ac a partie of þe swete crois þat seint Eline þuder broȝte
He tok wiþ him & wende aȝen namore þuder he ne þoȝte
Þo he com to Ierusalem of þe sepulcre he was in doute
Þare oure Louerd was on ileid anon so he is isei
For al is poer þat was so luþer he ne dorste come þer ney
Ac a partie of þe swete crois þat seint Eline þuder broȝte
He tok wiþ him & wende aȝen namore þuder he ne þoȝte
Of þulke treo he was wel prout þei he luþer him sulf were
A swuþe hei tour of gold & seluer he let him sone rere
Ȝymmes & stones precious þere aboute he let do
Þe forme of sonne & of mone and of sterren also
Ssynde as it hom sulue were & turnde al aboute faste
And a þondringe he made eke ofte þat muche folk agaste
Þoru smale holes wiþ queintise þat water ofte þere
He made ualle adoun to gronde riȝt as it rein were
As ueruorþ as couþe enymon make þoru eny queintise
Þe fourme as it an heuene were he made in alle wise
Wende aboute mid queintise and as rein ofte rine
Ac me sucþ wel selde luþer prute come to gode fine
A swuþe hei tour of gold & seluer he let him sone rere
Ȝymmes & stones precious þere aboute he let do
Þe forme of sonne & of mone and of sterren also
Ssynde as it hom sulue were & turnde al aboute faste
And a þondringe he made eke ofte þat muche folk agaste
Þoru smale holes wiþ queintise þat water ofte þere
He made ualle adoun to gronde riȝt as it rein were
As ueruorþ as couþe enymon make þoru eny queintise
Þe fourme as it an heuene were he made in alle wise
Wende aboute mid queintise and as rein ofte rine
Ac me sucþ wel selde luþer prute come to gode fine
Anouwarde þis tour amidde al þis is sege he let rere
To sitte him sulf on as a god in heuene as þei it were
Inis riȝt half he made a sege is o sone he sette þere
As it were in stude of Godes Sone þat no defaute nere
Inis lift half he made anoþer a uair cok to him me vette
As in stude of þe Holy Gost inis lift half bi him he sette
And sat him sulf al amidde þe Uader as þei it were
And Sone & Holi Gost biside gret prute was þere
Nou was þis a maister hine and a wonder god also
Ac euere me þingþ he was a bastard and also him com two
To sitte him sulf on as a god in heuene as þei it were
Inis riȝt half he made a sege is o sone he sette þere
As it were in stude of Godes Sone þat no defaute nere
Inis lift half he made anoþer a uair cok to him me vette
As in stude of þe Holy Gost inis lift half bi him he sette
And sat him sulf al amidde þe Uader as þei it were
And Sone & Holi Gost biside gret prute was þere
391
Ac euere me þingþ he was a bastard and also him com two
Eraclyus þe emperor þat Cristene was at Rome
Of is misfaringe prute he hurde telle ilome
Wiþ is ost he wende into is lond & werrede on him faste
Inis heuene he sat as a god as him noþing ne gaste
So þat is eoldoste sone he het wende attelaste
Aȝen þe emperor wiþ is ost and of þe lond him caste
For him ne deinede noȝt for him of is heuene ene aliȝte
Namore þanne it were a god wiþ an eorþlich man to fiȝte
Of is misfaringe prute he hurde telle ilome
Wiþ is ost he wende into is lond & werrede on him faste
Inis heuene he sat as a god as him noþing ne gaste
So þat is eoldoste sone he het wende attelaste
Aȝen þe emperor wiþ is ost and of þe lond him caste
For him ne deinede noȝt for him of is heuene ene aliȝte
Namore þanne it were a god wiþ an eorþlich man to fiȝte
Is sone aȝen þis emperor wiþ is ost forþ wende
Þo hi touward bataile come hore eiþer to oþer sende
Þat hi bitwene hom sulue to þe bataille ssolde do
And al hore ost stonde & biholde and non come þerto
And weþer of hom aboue were habbe ssolde þe miȝte
Of þe oþer is men & al is lond as is wille diȝte
Þo hi touward bataile come hore eiþer to oþer sende
Þat hi bitwene hom sulue to þe bataille ssolde do
And al hore ost stonde & biholde and non come þerto
And weþer of hom aboue were habbe ssolde þe miȝte
Of þe oþer is men & al is lond as is wille diȝte
Þo þis uorewarde was ymad togadere hi smite to gronde
And foȝte as it was hore riȝt and made harde wonde
And attelaste þis emperor þane oþer ouercom
And as forwarde was al is folk inis baundone nom
And let hom cristny euerichon and siwi him to is wille
And þis luþer king sat euere atom inis heuene wel stille
As a god & nuste noȝt þat he was bineþe ibroȝt
And so uuel is men him louede þat hy ne tolde him noȝt
And foȝte as it was hore riȝt and made harde wonde
And attelaste þis emperor þane oþer ouercom
And as forwarde was al is folk inis baundone nom
And let hom cristny euerichon and siwi him to is wille
And þis luþer king sat euere atom inis heuene wel stille
As a god & nuste noȝt þat he was bineþe ibroȝt
And so uuel is men him louede þat hy ne tolde him noȝt
Þe emperor him wende forþ in to is heuene anhei
He fond him sitte as a god is sone him sat wel nei
Hail be[o] þou he sede false god in þi fals heuene ifonde
Nim þi sone and þin holi gost ȝe beoþ nei aswonde
Bi him þat þou makedest after þat þolede for us wonde
Bote þou wolle on him biluue þou sselt here in a stonde
Of min honden þolie deþ and þi prute ibroȝt to gronde
For al þin heuene inelle bileue ne for marke ne for pounde
He fond him sitte as a god is sone him sat wel nei
Hail be[o] þou he sede false god in þi fals heuene ifonde
Nim þi sone and þin holi gost ȝe beoþ nei aswonde
Bi him þat þou makedest after þat þolede for us wonde
Bote þou wolle on him biluue þou sselt here in a stonde
Of min honden þolie deþ and þi prute ibroȝt to gronde
For al þin heuene inelle bileue ne for marke ne for pounde
Nai certes quaþ þis oþer þou ne sselt me noȝt so lere
Þat ichelle abowe to enyman bote he herre þanne ich were
Þe emperor drou out is swerd and smot of is heued riȝt þere
His ȝonge sone þat sat him bi þat was inis teþe ȝere
He let cristni and make kyng of al is fader lond
His men he ȝaf al þat seluer clanliche þat he þere uond
Mid þe gold & mid þe seluer þat he fond also þere
Þe churchen þat þe oþer hadde destrud þerwiþ he let rere
And made a lond þere wel biluued and in Godes lawe
Alle þat nolde turne to God he broȝte sone of dawe
392
Þe emperor drou out is swerd and smot of is heued riȝt þere
His ȝonge sone þat sat him bi þat was inis teþe ȝere
He let cristni and make kyng of al is fader lond
His men he ȝaf al þat seluer clanliche þat he þere uond
Mid þe gold & mid þe seluer þat he fond also þere
Þe churchen þat þe oþer hadde destrud þerwiþ he let rere
And made a lond þere wel biluued and in Godes lawe
Alle þat nolde turne to God he broȝte sone of dawe
Þe holi crois þat he fond þere þat God was on ido
Adoun he nom wiþ gret honour & ladde wiþ him also
To þe boru of Ierusalem and þo he com þere biside
Ope þe hul of Oliuete a stonde he gan abide
Al þat folk aboute him com wiþ gret honur wiþ alle
And þonkede God of þat cas þat hom was þere biualle
Þat þe swete holi crois aȝen moste come
Þat þe luþer king Cosdroe hom hadde er bynome
Adoun he nom wiþ gret honour & ladde wiþ him also
To þe boru of Ierusalem and þo he com þere biside
Ope þe hul of Oliuete a stonde he gan abide
Al þat folk aboute him com wiþ gret honur wiþ alle
And þonkede God of þat cas þat hom was þere biualle
Þat þe swete holi crois aȝen moste come
Þat þe luþer king Cosdroe hom hadde er bynome
Þe emperor wende adoun þe hul wiþ fair procession
Þe wei þat oure Louerd wende toward þe passion
Þo he com al to þe boru and wolde in atte ȝate
A uair miracle oure Louerd sende þat he ne com in þerate
For þe stones þat þere were aboue adoun anon aliȝte
And bi þe oþer wal stod emuorþ þat noman in nemiȝte
Þe wei þat oure Louerd wende toward þe passion
Þo he com al to þe boru and wolde in atte ȝate
A uair miracle oure Louerd sende þat he ne com in þerate
For þe stones þat þere were aboue adoun anon aliȝte
And bi þe oþer wal stod emuorþ þat noman in nemiȝte
Sori was þis emperor and al is folk also
And dradde þat hi vnworþe were such holy þing to do
Þer was wop and crie inou on God þat he hom sende
Som grace ȝif is wille were þat hi saufliche in wende
And dradde þat hi vnworþe were such holy þing to do
Þer was wop and crie inou on God þat he hom sende
Som grace ȝif is wille were þat hi saufliche in wende
Þo stod þer an angel aboue þe ȝet a crois he huld anhonde
Sire emperor he sede þulke tyme þat oure Louerd was here alonde
Þo he com in at þisse ȝate to be[o] to deþe ido
Op a seli asse he rod in feble cloþes also
He ne com wiþ no gret nobleie so as þou dest nou
Wiþ riche cloþes ne oþer prute þei he were as hei as þou
Sire emperor he sede þulke tyme þat oure Louerd was here alonde
Þo he com in at þisse ȝate to be[o] to deþe ido
393
He ne com wiþ no gret nobleie so as þou dest nou
Wiþ riche cloþes ne oþer prute þei he were as hei as þou
Mid þis word he wende aȝen þis emperor anon
Aliȝte adoun & al is cloþes caste of euerichon
Anon to is sserte & to is brech sore wepinge wiþ alle
Þe stones arise up aȝen þat were er adoun ifalle
And leie euerich inis riȝt stude as hi hadde er ido
And þat ȝet ope as it was er þe wei clene also
Aliȝte adoun & al is cloþes caste of euerichon
Anon to is sserte & to is brech sore wepinge wiþ alle
Þe stones arise up aȝen þat were er adoun ifalle
And leie euerich inis riȝt stude as hi hadde er ido
And þat ȝet ope as it was er þe wei clene also
Þe emperor nom þe swete rode and al auote in ber
Þat folk siwede him wiþ gret prece gret ioie & blisse was þer
Anon þer com so swote smul so it fram heuene were
Þat al þe contreie aboute fulde and al þat stode þere
Þe emperor bar þe crois into þe temple anhey
He gan singe þis niwe song touore al þat were þer ney
Þat folk siwede him wiþ gret prece gret ioie & blisse was þer
Anon þer com so swote smul so it fram heuene were
Þat al þe contreie aboute fulde and al þat stode þere
Þe emperor bar þe crois into þe temple anhey
He gan singe þis niwe song touore al þat were þer ney
Þou crois briȝtore to þis world þanne al þe sterren be[o]
Þou ert to honure to þis men & a wel to louie tre[o]
Holior þanne alle þing þou one worþe were
Þat þou þe tresour of þe world al one upe þe bere
Þou swete tre[o] þat bere on þe þe swete nailes also
And þe swete berþene of Godes sone þat on þe was ido
Saue al þis companie þat igadered is
And here today togadere ibroȝt in þin heriinge iwis
Þou ert to honure to þis men & a wel to louie tre[o]
Holior þanne alle þing þou one worþe were
Þat þou þe tresour of þe world al one upe þe bere
Þou swete tre[o] þat bere on þe þe swete nailes also
And þe swete berþene of Godes sone þat on þe was ido
Saue al þis companie þat igadered is
And here today togadere ibroȝt in þin heriinge iwis
Þis sang song þe emperor þat wel is ȝute vnderstonde
For ȝute me it singþ in Holy Churche wanne me berþ þe crois ahonde
Þe folk honurede ek þe crois as hi miȝte come to
Wiþ offringe & murie song and oþer melodie also
For ȝute me it singþ in Holy Churche wanne me berþ þe crois ahonde
Þe folk honurede ek þe crois as hi miȝte come to
Wiþ offringe & murie song and oþer melodie also
Þis was þe Holy Rode day þat in Septembre is
Þeruore me halt ȝute þane day in Holi Churche iwis
Þoru uertue of þe swete rode anon in þe place
Mani miracle was aday þoru oure Louerdes grace
A ded man aros fram deþe to liue & ten museles þat þer were
And four men in strong palsie helde anon þere
And fiftene blindemen and manie oþere also
Helde þoru þe swete grace þat on þe rode was ido
Þeruore me halt ȝute þane day in Holi Churche iwis
Þoru uertue of þe swete rode anon in þe place
Mani miracle was aday þoru oure Louerdes grace
A ded man aros fram deþe to liue & ten museles þat þer were
394
And fiftene blindemen and manie oþere also
Helde þoru þe swete grace þat on þe rode was ido
Moni miracles þer habbeþ ibeo woso is telle couþe
Of þe swete rode an eorþe suþþe telle me somme nouþe
Of þe swete rode an eorþe suþþe telle me somme nouþe
In þe lond of Constantinnoble a Giu som tyme was
In a chirche him sulf al one as it fel bicas
He stod and biheld þe rode and oure Louerd forto ssende
He þoȝte do þe rode ssame ar enyman come þere hende
In þe þrote wiþ a swerd he smot þe swete rode
Þat blod sprong on him al abrod þat al he was ablode
Þo dradde þe ssrewe of Cristenmen þat eny come attelaste
Þe rode he bar anon awei and in a deop putte is caste
And orn awei anon him sulf a Cristen man he mette
Þat biheld hou he was ibled on him faste he sette
Ssrewe he sede ware hastou be[o] wam hastou broȝt of dawe
Þou sselt abide here wiþ me and be[o] anhonge oþer todrawe
In a chirche him sulf al one as it fel bicas
He stod and biheld þe rode and oure Louerd forto ssende
He þoȝte do þe rode ssame ar enyman come þere hende
In þe þrote wiþ a swerd he smot þe swete rode
Þat blod sprong on him al abrod þat al he was ablode
Þo dradde þe ssrewe of Cristenmen þat eny come attelaste
Þe rode he bar anon awei and in a deop putte is caste
And orn awei anon him sulf a Cristen man he mette
Þat biheld hou he was ibled on him faste he sette
Ssrewe he sede ware hastou be[o] wam hastou broȝt of dawe
Þou sselt abide here wiþ me and be[o] anhonge oþer todrawe
Inabbe ido certes quaþ þis oþer noman bote god
Þou luxst þerof quaþ þis oþer and isene is on þis blod
Þou luxst þerof quaþ þis oþer and isene is on þis blod
Louerd merci quaþ þis Gyu to soþe ich yse[o]
Þat Cristen mannes God is muche non herre nemay be[o]
Doþ mid me nou wat ȝe wolleþ for gulti ich am iwis
For a rode ich smot a deop wonde & he bledde on me þis
Ich it caste in þulke deope put for me ne ssolde come þerto
And ich ȝou bidde Cristendom ar ich beo to deþe ido
Þat Cristen mannes God is muche non herre nemay be[o]
Doþ mid me nou wat ȝe wolleþ for gulti ich am iwis
For a rode ich smot a deop wonde & he bledde on me þis
Ich it caste in þulke deope put for me ne ssolde come þerto
And ich ȝou bidde Cristendom ar ich beo to deþe ido
Cristen men þat þis ihurde her of were wel bold
Hi wende forþ & nome þe rode as he hom hadde itold
Hy wosse hure clene & sette aȝen as heo was er ido
In þe þrote þe wonde is ȝut isene & euere mo worþ so
Þe Gyu þat hadde hine so ismite icristned was sone
And god lif ladde as it fel Cristen men to done
Hi wende forþ & nome þe rode as he hom hadde itold
Hy wosse hure clene & sette aȝen as heo was er ido
395
Þe Gyu þat hadde hine so ismite icristned was sone
And god lif ladde as it fel Cristen men to done
A cristene man þer was wile in þe lond of Siuþie
A crois he hadde inis hous þer on ofte to crie
Suþþe at is terme day he wende to anoþer inne
A Giu com suþþe & wonede þer & fond þe crois wiþinne
Þo þe rode was ifonde þe Giwes al is nome
And ladde is to hore sinagoge as hi ladde oure Louerd to dome
As hi bete oure Louerd er hi bete þe rode uaste
And spatte on hure and boffeted ek and fillich adoun hure caste
A crois he hadde inis hous þer on ofte to crie
Suþþe at is terme day he wende to anoþer inne
A Giu com suþþe & wonede þer & fond þe crois wiþinne
Þo þe rode was ifonde þe Giwes al is nome
And ladde is to hore sinagoge as hi ladde oure Louerd to dome
As hi bete oure Louerd er hi bete þe rode uaste
And spatte on hure and boffeted ek and fillich adoun hure caste
At þe riȝt side hi smite a sper deop in attelaste
Wiþ gret strem þat blod sprong out þo were þe ssrewen agaste
For hi nolde blede þe sinagoge a gret vat hi fette
To hente þe strem of þe blod and vnder þe rode sette
So þat he bledde þe uat bretfol of blod ar hi stunte
Þo ne dorste hi do namore ssame þe rode as hi munte
Ac hi þoȝte proui wiþ þe blod ȝif oure Louerd were soþ God
Euerich sik Giu þat hi weste hi smurede wiþ þe blod
And hi hadde hore hele anon þe ssrewene þo vnderstode
Þat hore lawe nas riȝt noȝt þat ne biluuede on þe rode
Wiþ gret strem þat blod sprong out þo were þe ssrewen agaste
For hi nolde blede þe sinagoge a gret vat hi fette
To hente þe strem of þe blod and vnder þe rode sette
So þat he bledde þe uat bretfol of blod ar hi stunte
Þo ne dorste hi do namore ssame þe rode as hi munte
Ac hi þoȝte proui wiþ þe blod ȝif oure Louerd were soþ God
Euerich sik Giu þat hi weste hi smurede wiþ þe blod
And hi hadde hore hele anon þe ssrewene þo vnderstode
Þat hore lawe nas riȝt noȝt þat ne biluuede on þe rode
To þe bissop hi wende anon and let hom cristni alle
And tolde al hore luþer dede and hou it was biualle
Þe bissop wuste þis holi blod and relikes riche & gode
Gret miracle þer com aday of þulke swete blode
So þat it was in many studes iuet wide and side
And is iholde for relike in moni lond wel wide
Me seiþ it is in mani studes of oure Louerd is owe blode
As it may be[o] in euerich stude among oþer relikes gode
And tolde al hore luþer dede and hou it was biualle
Þe bissop wuste þis holi blod and relikes riche & gode
Gret miracle þer com aday of þulke swete blode
So þat it was in many studes iuet wide and side
And is iholde for relike in moni lond wel wide
Me seiþ it is in mani studes of oure Louerd is owe blode
As it may be[o] in euerich stude among oþer relikes gode
396
A giu þer com to Rome wile þat nemiȝte him non in wynne
In an old hous he lai adoun fer fram eche inne
For he was so in a wild stude of þe deuel he dradde sore
He þoȝte hou Cristen men hom weste fram þe deueles lore
In an old hous he lai adoun fer fram eche inne
For he was so in a wild stude of þe deuel he dradde sore
He þoȝte hou Cristen men hom weste fram þe deueles lore
Þe signe of þe crois he made aboute him an anter wat him bitidde
Þei he nebiluuede noȝt þer on and lai him adoun amidde
A gret deuel þer com at midniȝt as it a maister were
And oþer deuelen suþþe inowe & a chaere wiþ hom bere
Þer uppe hi sette þis grete maister and he hom esste anon
Ech after oþer of hore dede & ware aboute hi hadde igon
Þei he nebiluuede noȝt þer on and lai him adoun amidde
A gret deuel þer com at midniȝt as it a maister were
And oþer deuelen suþþe inowe & a chaere wiþ hom bere
Þer uppe hi sette þis grete maister and he hom esste anon
Ech after oþer of hore dede & ware aboute hi hadde igon
Þo euerich hadde iȝoulde acontes of ssrewehede þat hi hadde ido
Þe maister lokede him biside þe Giu he sei also
Wat is he sede þulke maister þat ich ȝend ise[o]
Wo made him so hardi & so wod at oure acontes to be[o]
Forþ up anon & feccheþ him hider he ssel wiþ us telle
So sore dradde þe Giu þat he sset nei out of is felle
Þe maister lokede him biside þe Giu he sei also
Wat is he sede þulke maister þat ich ȝend ise[o]
Wo made him so hardi & so wod at oure acontes to be[o]
Forþ up anon & feccheþ him hider he ssel wiþ us telle
So sore dradde þe Giu þat he sset nei out of is felle
Þo þe deuelen come toward him hi ne miȝte come him nei
Ac euerich was nei out of witte wanne hi þe croise isei
Wat nou quaþ þis bolde maister wi nabbe ȝe him ibroȝt
Sire merci þis oþer sede certes we ne mowe noȝt
A uetles it is al amti and wiþoute iarmed uaste
Þo flowe þe deuelen for þe crois so sore hi were agaste
Þe Giu biluuede anon in God þat on þe rode was ido
And let him cristni also sone as he miȝte come þerto
Ac euerich was nei out of witte wanne hi þe croise isei
Wat nou quaþ þis bolde maister wi nabbe ȝe him ibroȝt
Sire merci þis oþer sede certes we ne mowe noȝt
A uetles it is al amti and wiþoute iarmed uaste
Þo flowe þe deuelen for þe crois so sore hi were agaste
Þe Giu biluuede anon in God þat on þe rode was ido
And let him cristni also sone as he miȝte come þerto
Anonne þer was in an abbey þat a dai ȝeode pleie
An erbe þat me clupeþ letuse heo fond bi þe weie
Þer of heo nom and et a lef and ne blessede it noȝt er
Anon he[o] bicom out of witte and fel adoun riȝt þer
Gret deol made þat folk for hure and echman þat hure say
An holyman þat þer of hurde þuderward wende a day
Anon so he com touward hure þe deuel gradde for fere
A weilawei wat dude ich here bote sat up an erbe þere
And he[o] nom me & swolwe me in and bot me wel sore
Þou miȝt me wite wat þou wolt ac inabbe gult namore
An erbe þat me clupeþ letuse heo fond bi þe weie
Þer of heo nom and et a lef and ne blessede it noȝt er
Anon he[o] bicom out of witte and fel adoun riȝt þer
397
An holyman þat þer of hurde þuderward wende a day
Anon so he com touward hure þe deuel gradde for fere
A weilawei wat dude ich here bote sat up an erbe þere
And he[o] nom me & swolwe me in and bot me wel sore
Þou miȝt me wite wat þou wolt ac inabbe gult namore
Þou sselt quaþ [þis] holyman anoþer in habbe to ȝere
For he[o] forȝet to blesse hure wel iredi þou were
Þoru signe of þe holi crois þe deuel he drof out þere
Ȝollinge he flei awei wiþ wel grislich bere
Þerefore ich rede ech mon be[o] war þat wilneþ wel to do
Blessi is mete ar he it ete þat he ne beo serued so
Nou God for þe rode loue þat þou were on ido
Bring us to þe heie ioie þat þou us boȝtest to
For he[o] forȝet to blesse hure wel iredi þou were
Þoru signe of þe holi crois þe deuel he drof out þere
Ȝollinge he flei awei wiþ wel grislich bere
Þerefore ich rede ech mon be[o] war þat wilneþ wel to do
Blessi is mete ar he it ete þat he ne beo serued so
Nou God for þe rode loue þat þou were on ido
Bring us to þe heie ioie þat þou us boȝtest to
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