 | The South English Legendary |  |
De sancto Dionisio
Sein Denis was in þe olde lawe payn as oþer were
In þe cite of Attenis þare non oþer nere
Þe beste clerkes of þe world þulke tyme were þere
And sein Denis was þulke tyme ȝare maister ȝam to lere
He was maister of þe seue ars and of al þe oþer also
Bote it were of diuinite for he ne com noȝt ȝute þerto
In þe cite of Attenis þare non oþer nere
Þe beste clerkes of þe world þulke tyme were þere
And sein Denis was þulke tyme ȝare maister ȝam to lere
He was maister of þe seue ars and of al þe oþer also
Bote it were of diuinite for he ne com noȝt ȝute þerto
He nuste noþing of Iesu Crist and þo he deide on rode
In Attenes were to gadere ibroȝt al þe clerkes gode
Hi seie þe derke tenebres in þe worlde wel wide
Fram þat he clupeþ non of þe day forte þe niþe tide
Þat was forte nei mid ouer non þe stronge eclips also
Aȝen kunde of þe sonne hi seie forte þulke time was ido
In Attenes were to gadere ibroȝt al þe clerkes gode
Hi seie þe derke tenebres in þe worlde wel wide
Fram þat he clupeþ non of þe day forte þe niþe tide
Þat was forte nei mid ouer non þe stronge eclips also
Aȝen kunde of þe sonne hi seie forte þulke time was ido
Aȝen kunde it was inou for þe mone heiuol was
Þreo tides ilast also such neuere iseie nas
Of þe sonne þe stronge eclips ne so long ne in suche tyme
For it nemay noȝt bi kunde be[o] bote a lite biuore þe prime
And þat was atte heyuol and þe clerkes wiþ ȝare eiȝe
Fram est to þe west þe mone eorne biuore þe sonne hi seie
Þreo tides ilast also such neuere iseie nas
Of þe sonne þe stronge eclips ne so long ne in suche tyme
435
And þat was atte heyuol and þe clerkes wiþ ȝare eiȝe
Fram est to þe west þe mone eorne biuore þe sonne hi seie
And þo þe eclips was suþþe ido hi seie hure aȝen wende
Þer of hadde eche filosof gret wonder inis ende
Þat so muche of sterren couþe and ech sede is auis
And þer ne com in þe riȝte weie non bote sein Denis
Þis word he sede bi pur clergie þis world is nou ido
Oþer God þoleþ an eorþe deþ as man is kunde is two
Þer of hadde eche filosof gret wonder inis ende
Þat so muche of sterren couþe and ech sede is auis
And þer ne com in þe riȝte weie non bote sein Denis
Þis word he sede bi pur clergie þis world is nou ido
Oþer God þoleþ an eorþe deþ as man is kunde is two
Þere after he & is felawes þoȝte muche on þis cas
Hi conquerede bi pur clergie þat som god þer was
Þat he of alle godes maister was & he þoru wondes sore
Þolede þo an eorþe deþ hi nuste of him þo namore
Hi conquerede bi pur clergie þat som god þer was
Þat he of alle godes maister was & he þoru wondes sore
Þolede þo an eorþe deþ hi nuste of him þo namore
Þeruore among ȝare oþer weuedes an auter as hi couþe
Queinte hi made and þer on write þat ichelle þe segge nouþe
Þis is þe auter of þe god þat is vniknowe
Þat auter hi hete honure boþe þe heie & þe lowe
And hete men ham onure þer & þat hi ofte þuder ȝeode
For þe louerd of þulke auter to non oþer nadde neode
Suþþe al in heþenesse sein Denis bicas com
Þere as oure swete Louerd þane wei to heuene nom
Þerefore & for oþer þinge his lawe ne þoȝte him noȝt
And longe him þoȝte ar he were into betere ibroȝt
Queinte hi made and þer on write þat ichelle þe segge nouþe
Þis is þe auter of þe god þat is vniknowe
Þat auter hi hete honure boþe þe heie & þe lowe
And hete men ham onure þer & þat hi ofte þuder ȝeode
For þe louerd of þulke auter to non oþer nadde neode
Suþþe al in heþenesse sein Denis bicas com
Þere as oure swete Louerd þane wei to heuene nom
Þerefore & for oþer þinge his lawe ne þoȝte him noȝt
And longe him þoȝte ar he were into betere ibroȝt
Sein Poul com to Attenus as he prechede alonde wide
Þe rank of auters he sei a stonde he gan abide
Þe auter of god vniknowe he bihelt it wel uaste
For fram on to on he ȝeode aboute & þat was þe laste
At þis clerkes he esste anon at heie & eke at lowe
Wat he were þulke god icluped vniknowe
Þe rank of auters he sei a stonde he gan abide
Þe auter of god vniknowe he bihelt it wel uaste
For fram on to on he ȝeode aboute & þat was þe laste
At þis clerkes he esste anon at heie & eke at lowe
Wat he were þulke god icluped vniknowe
Sein Denis þis grete clerk touore al oþere spak & sede
He is ȝute among us [vn]iknowe for we nute noȝt of is dede
Ac is comynge al in heuene is & among us here wel lite
Ac in þat [he] is to comynge is poer he wolde forþ pute
He is ȝute among us [vn]iknowe for we nute noȝt of is dede
436
Ac in þat [he] is to comynge is poer he wolde forþ pute
Þulke God sein Poul sede ich prechi nouþe iwis
Þat ȝe clupeþ vniknowe and ichelle ȝou segge wat he is
Heuene & eorþe & helle he made for we were al forlore
For þe sunne of oure ferstefader us he aboȝte þeruore
And for God nemiȝte þolie deþ bote he were er ibore
Þeruore he nom fleiss & blod & bicom man wiþoute hore
Suþþe Giwes him slowe in þe rode fram deþe he arose to lyue
Wiþ mannes forme suþþe he stei to heuene wiþ wondes fiue
Þat ȝe clupeþ vniknowe and ichelle ȝou segge wat he is
Heuene & eorþe & helle he made for we were al forlore
For þe sunne of oure ferstefader us he aboȝte þeruore
And for God nemiȝte þolie deþ bote he were er ibore
Þeruore he nom fleiss & blod & bicom man wiþoute hore
Suþþe Giwes him slowe in þe rode fram deþe he arose to lyue
Wiþ mannes forme suþþe he stei to heuene wiþ wondes fiue
A[s] sein Poul þer of spak þer com go biuore
A mon þat hadde blind ibe[o] suþþe he was ibore
A mon þat hadde blind ibe[o] suþþe he was ibore
Sein Denis sede ȝif þou miȝt þis mannes siȝt bringe
Inis name þat þou of spekest wiþoute eny wicchinge
In þi god ichelle biluue and in þi bileue be[o]
Certes quaþ sein Poul þo þat soþe þou sselt ise[o]
Inis name þat þou of spekest wiþoute eny wicchinge
In þi god ichelle biluue and in þi bileue be[o]
Certes quaþ sein Poul þo þat soþe þou sselt ise[o]
Sei þi sulf þus after me as ich þe wissi can
In þe name of Iesu Crist þat ibore was of womman
On rode deide & suþþe aros to liue þoru is miȝte
Ich hote man þat ert blind þat þou habbe þi siȝte
In þe name of Iesu Crist þat ibore was of womman
On rode deide & suþþe aros to liue þoru is miȝte
Ich hote man þat ert blind þat þou habbe þi siȝte
Þo sein Denis hadde þus ised as sein Poul sede þer
Þis blinde hadde is siȝt anon þat ne sei neuer er
Þis blinde hadde is siȝt anon þat ne sei neuer er
Þo cride sein Denis on God and he þat to is siȝte com
And bede forȝiuenesse of ȝare sunnes & wilnede Cristendom
Is wif þat het Damari sein Denis anon nom
Is children & al is meyne mon and eke grom
And let ȝam cristni alle anon fram þe deuel to bringe
Wiþ sein Poul he was þreo ȝer to leorni is prechinge
Sein Poul him teiȝte þe manere al of Cristene lawe
And þe manere of prechinge men to oure Louerd to drawe
And of oure Louerdes priuetes al þat he sei
So þat he was up inome to þe þridde heuene anhei
And bede forȝiuenesse of ȝare sunnes & wilnede Cristendom
Is wif þat het Damari sein Denis anon nom
Is children & al is meyne mon and eke grom
And let ȝam cristni alle anon fram þe deuel to bringe
Wiþ sein Poul he was þreo ȝer to leorni is prechinge
Sein Poul him teiȝte þe manere al of Cristene lawe
And þe manere of prechinge men to oure Louerd to drawe
437
So þat he was up inome to þe þridde heuene anhei
He made him bissop of Attenes inis stude to preche
And him sulf to Rome wende & þat folk het to teche
So wel prechede sein Denis þat he turnde to Godes honde
Al Attenes to Godes lawe & muchedel of þe londe
And him sulf to Rome wende & þat folk het to teche
So wel prechede sein Denis þat he turnde to Godes honde
Al Attenes to Godes lawe & muchedel of þe londe
Suþþe as he wende aboute þat folk forto lere
Me tolde him þat Peter & Poul at Rome inome were
He wende anon toward hom to conforti ȝam þere
He nemiȝte so sone þuder come þat hi þere imartred nere
Me tolde him þat Peter & Poul at Rome inome were
He wende anon toward hom to conforti ȝam þere
He nemiȝte so sone þuder come þat hi þere imartred nere
Gret deol he made inis heorte þat he com so late
Sein Clement was þo pope of Rome as oure Louerd ȝaf þe [w]ate
Wiþ him he bileuede longe so þat me tolde
Þat in France were alle luþer men & Sarazins wel bolde
Sein Clement was þo pope of Rome as oure Louerd ȝaf þe [w]ate
Wiþ him he bileuede longe so þat me tolde
Þat in France were alle luþer men & Sarazins wel bolde
Sein Clement sende sein Denis þuder for Cristendom
Sein Rustik and Eleucher þis godemon wiþ him nom
To Paris hi wende ferst þe chef toun of þe londe
Þere hy turnde muche folk to oure Louerdes honde
Sein Rustik and Eleucher þis godemon wiþ him nom
To Paris hi wende ferst þe chef toun of þe londe
Þere hy turnde muche folk to oure Louerdes honde
Þe maistres þat were of þe lond þo hi herde her of telle
Ofte hi sende tormentors þis godeman to quelle
Ac euere wanne hi ham iseie hy nemiȝte to ȝam gon
Oþer hi bude al to ham oþer hi flowe anon
Ofte hi sende tormentors þis godeman to quelle
Ac euere wanne hi ham iseie hy nemiȝte to ȝam gon
Oþer hi bude al to ham oþer hi flowe anon
To þe emperor þe deuel wende to þe luþer Domician
And tolde him al in metynge as þe ssrewe wel can
Of sein Denis & his felawes þat hi at Paris were
Sore of þoȝte þe emperor þat hi aslawe nere
He het ware me miȝte finde mon of Cristene lawe
To tormenti him sore inou & suþþe him bringe of dawe
And tolde him al in metynge as þe ssrewe wel can
Of sein Denis & his felawes þat hi at Paris were
Sore of þoȝte þe emperor þat hi aslawe nere
He het ware me miȝte finde mon of Cristene lawe
To tormenti him sore inou & suþþe him bringe of dawe
Þe luþer Iustice Festemium & Sysimium to Paris sone come
Sein Denis and is felawes sone faste hy nome
Villiche hi pulte & spatte on hom & harlede & caste
Hi strupte hom naked & bonde hom to pilers wel uaste
And twelf kniȝtes mid harde scorgen bet ȝam swuþe sore
Þat hare bodi was al torent and þo hi nemiȝte namore
In strong prison and derk & deop sone hi were ibroȝt
Suþþe hi uette up sein Denis forto turne is þoȝt
438
Villiche hi pulte & spatte on hom & harlede & caste
Hi strupte hom naked & bonde hom to pilers wel uaste
And twelf kniȝtes mid harde scorgen bet ȝam swuþe sore
Þat hare bodi was al torent and þo hi nemiȝte namore
In strong prison and derk & deop sone hi were ibroȝt
Suþþe hi uette up sein Denis forto turne is þoȝt
Þo hi ne spedde noȝt þerof a gret fur hi made & strong
And upe a gridil rostede him and euere þis godemon song
As me him rostede he song þis vers of þe sauter
Al furi Louerd is þi word and þi sergant it loueþ her
And upe a gridil rostede him and euere þis godemon song
As me him rostede he song þis vers of þe sauter
Al furi Louerd is þi word and þi sergant it loueþ her
Þo he nas þer wiþ ouercome to wilde bestes hi him caste
Bere and lions for hi ssolde todrawe him wel uaste
Signe of þe crois he made sone þe wilde bestes anon
Þat so hongri were mildeliche gonne to him gon
To him hi lotte & lickede him as hi miȝte to him come
Þo þe luþer men it vnderȝete sone he was þenne inome
Bere and lions for hi ssolde todrawe him wel uaste
Signe of þe crois he made sone þe wilde bestes anon
Þat so hongri were mildeliche gonne to him gon
To him hi lotte & lickede him as hi miȝte to him come
Þo þe luþer men it vnderȝete sone he was þenne inome
An ouene hi hatte swiþe hot and pulte him þere inne
Ac þe fur queinte anon þo he com þer wiþinne
Þo were þe ssrewen wroþ & nuste wat ham was to done
Hi honge him up a gibet for he ssolde deie sone
And ȝute to don him more schame þe ssrewen vnder stode
And wiþ harde scorgen leide him on þat al he orn ablode
Ac þe fur queinte anon þo he com þer wiþinne
Þo were þe ssrewen wroþ & nuste wat ham was to done
Hi honge him up a gibet for he ssolde deie sone
And ȝute to don him more schame þe ssrewen vnder stode
And wiþ harde scorgen leide him on þat al he orn ablode
Þis godeman euere as he heng prechede Godes lawe
Þo hi seie þat hi nemiȝte so bringe him of lif dawe
Hy nome him adoun & bonde him & in strong prison him caste
Euere þolede þis holymon as him noþing neroȝte ne agaste
Þo hi seie þat hi nemiȝte so bringe him of lif dawe
Hy nome him adoun & bonde him & in strong prison him caste
Euere þolede þis holymon as him noþing neroȝte ne agaste
Þer com oure Louerd him sulf to him in prison at midniȝt
Wiþ fair companie of angles & wiþ swuþe cler liȝt
Is owe fleiss & blod [he toc] sein Denis wiþ is owe honde
Haue þis he sede mi leoue frend of me þou vnderstonde
Mi nowe fleiss & blod þou sselt ise[o ] ar þou henne wende
Do sta[l]wordeliche & com to me to ioie wiþoute ende
Þo oure Louerd hadde þis holyman þis holi dede ido
To þe ioie of heuene he wende forþ & is angles also
Wiþ fair companie of angles & wiþ swuþe cler liȝt
439
Haue þis he sede mi leoue frend of me þou vnderstonde
Mi nowe fleiss & blod þou sselt ise[o ] ar þou henne wende
Do sta[l]wordeliche & com to me to ioie wiþoute ende
Þo oure Louerd hadde þis holyman þis holi dede ido
To þe ioie of heuene he wende forþ & is angles also
Sein Denis was suþþe ibroȝt and is felawes beie
Touore þe Iustice to turne is þoȝt for þreting ne for eiȝe
So þat noman ȝam nemiȝte bringe of þe riȝte weie
He het biheuedi sein Denis and is felawes beie
Touore þe Iustice to turne is þoȝt for þreting ne for eiȝe
So þat noman ȝam nemiȝte bringe of þe riȝte weie
He het biheuedi sein Denis and is felawes beie
Hi were imartred at Monmartre a lite biside Paris
Þer dude oure Louerd fair miracle for loue of sein Denis
For þo þe heued was of ismite þat bodi sone aros
And bar uorþ þat heued inis hond war þoru mani agros
Þe montance of two Frensse mile euere he bar is heued
Forte he com to þulke stude as it is ȝute bileued
Þer dude oure Louerd fair miracle for loue of sein Denis
For þo þe heued was of ismite þat bodi sone aros
And bar uorþ þat heued inis hond war þoru mani agros
Þe montance of two Frensse mile euere he bar is heued
Forte he com to þulke stude as it is ȝute bileued
Þere he lay wel softe adoun & deide þoru Godes grace
Cristene men preste were and burede him in þe place
Þer me rerrede in his onur þe abbei of sein Denis
Of blake monkes þat beoþ ȝut a lite biside Paris
Cristene men preste were and burede him in þe place
Þer me rerrede in his onur þe abbei of sein Denis
Of blake monkes þat beoþ ȝut a lite biside Paris
Þe Iustice het nyme þe bodies of is felawes beie
And bere to þe water of Seine & caste þer inne þe tweie
And bere to þe water of Seine & caste þer inne þe tweie
A god leuedi þer was biside þat wel ȝam iloued hadde
Þe þeoues he[o] made wiþ hure ete & þe bodies ladde
Þe bodies he[o] nom þe wile and burede ham swuþe uaste
Stilleliche bi sein Denis he[o] burede ham attelaste
Þere hi beoþ ȝute alle þre[o] as manymen iseoþ
God ȝiue us part of þulke ioie þat hi inne beoþ
Þe þeoues he[o] made wiþ hure ete & þe bodies ladde
Þe bodies he[o] nom þe wile and burede ham swuþe uaste
Stilleliche bi sein Denis he[o] burede ham attelaste
Þere hi beoþ ȝute alle þre[o] as manymen iseoþ
God ȝiue us part of þulke ioie þat hi inne beoþ
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