 | The South English Legendary |  |
De vndecim milia virginum
Eflleue þousond uirgines þat fair companie was
Imartred were for Godes loue ichelle ȝou telle þat cas
A king þer was in Bruteine Maur was is name
A douȝter he hadde þat het Ou[r]se maide of noble fame
Cristine he[o] was and al hure kun swuþe noble & queinte
So fair womman me nuste non ne so god in eche pointe
Of hure fairhede & godnesse me tolde in eche side
Þat þe word com into Engelonde and elles woder wide
Imartred were for Godes loue ichelle ȝou telle þat cas
A king þer was in Bruteine Maur was is name
A douȝter he hadde þat het Ou[r]se maide of noble fame
Cristine he[o] was and al hure kun swuþe noble & queinte
So fair womman me nuste non ne so god in eche pointe
Of hure fairhede & godnesse me tolde in eche side
Þat þe word com into Engelonde and elles woder wide
A king þer was in Engelonde mon of gret poer
Of þis maide he hurde telle gret nobleie ver & ner
To spousi hure & is sone togadere hi hadde iþoȝt
Ac þer nas ȝute in Engelond no Cristendom ibroȝt
To þe king of Brutaine he sende for is doȝter so uaire
Þat he lete hure marie to is sone þat was is eir
Ȝif he were þere aȝen þat þe dede nere ido
Destruie he wolde al is lond & him sulf also
Of þis maide he hurde telle gret nobleie ver & ner
To spousi hure & is sone togadere hi hadde iþoȝt
Ac þer nas ȝute in Engelond no Cristendom ibroȝt
To þe king of Brutaine he sende for is doȝter so uaire
Þat he lete hure marie to is sone þat was is eir
Ȝif he were þere aȝen þat þe dede nere ido
Destruie he wolde al is lond & him sulf also
Þo þis message was to þis king ised
Sori and dreori he was he ne couþe þer of no red
For þe king of Engelonde was heþene and al his
And he weste wel is doȝter nolde iwedded beon iwis
Sori and dreori he was he ne couþe þer of no red
For þe king of Engelonde was heþene and al his
And he weste wel is doȝter nolde iwedded beon iwis
And for þe king of Engelond was mon of gret miȝte
And þat he nadde poer non aȝen him worri ne fiȝte
And naþeles triwes of answere aȝen þe messagers he nom
Deol and sor and lite ioie inis heorte þer com
And þat he nadde poer non aȝen him worri ne fiȝte
And naþeles triwes of answere aȝen þe messagers he nom
Deol and sor and lite ioie inis heorte þer com
He ne tolde noȝt is doȝter uore of þis reufol cas
And naþeles heo it oftriwede for he so sori was
Ȝeorne he[o] bad God niȝt & day þat he hure ssolde rede
An angel com to hure a niȝt and þeos wordes sede
And naþeles heo it oftriwede for he so sori was
Ȝeorne he[o] bad God niȝt & day þat he hure ssolde rede
An angel com to hure a niȝt and þeos wordes sede
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Ne be[o] þou noȝt aȝen þis sonde as þi fader forto paie
Grante iwedded forto be[o] at a certein daye
Wiþinne þre[o] ȝer þou mowe þi maidenot onure
And þat hi þe wynne clene maidens wiþinne þi boure
Grante iwedded forto be[o] at a certein daye
Wiþinne þre[o] ȝer þou mowe þi maidenot onure
And þat hi þe wynne clene maidens wiþinne þi boure
Þat þe king & is sone & þi fader be[o] at one rede
To cheose þe ten clene maidens wiþoute ech wikked hede
Wanne ȝe eleuene togadere beoþ þat hi fynde ȝou eke þerto
A þousond maidens to ech of ȝou to serue ȝou alle so
Þat wanne ȝe alle togadere beoþ þat ech mowe inis side
Honure hure maidenot & þin þat it be[o] couþ wide
To cheose þe ten clene maidens wiþoute ech wikked hede
Wanne ȝe eleuene togadere beoþ þat hi fynde ȝou eke þerto
A þousond maidens to ech of ȝou to serue ȝou alle so
Þat wanne ȝe alle togadere beoþ þat ech mowe inis side
Honure hure maidenot & þin þat it be[o] couþ wide
So þat me nute maide non alosed aȝen þe
And þat he wole Cristene bicome þi louerd þat ssel be
In þis forwarde grante him after þe þridde ȝere
Iwedded to be[o] in Godes lawe naue þou þerof no fere
And þat he wole Cristene bicome þi louerd þat ssel be
In þis forwarde grante him after þe þridde ȝere
Iwedded to be[o] in Godes lawe naue þou þerof no fere
Þo þis maide hurde þis he[o] was glad of þis lore
Þat he[o] weste warewiþ hure fader bringe of sore
To hure fader he[o] wende & bad þat he hure telle ssolde
Wy he mornynge ȝeode so & he swor he nolde
Þat he[o] weste warewiþ hure fader bringe of sore
To hure fader he[o] wende & bad þat he hure telle ssolde
Wy he mornynge ȝeode so & he swor he nolde
Ichot wel þi þoȝt quaþ þis maide þei þou it holde stille
Of þi message naue þou no doute ichelle do al þi wille
Þo gan he[o] telle in wuch manere as þe angel hadde ised
He[o] wolde habbe þis heie mon ȝif it were is red
Of þi message naue þou no doute ichelle do al þi wille
Þo gan he[o] telle in wuch manere as þe angel hadde ised
He[o] wolde habbe þis heie mon ȝif it were is red
Wel was þe king glad þo he hurde þis
Þe messager he ȝaf answere wiþ gode herte iwis
Þo þe tidinge to þe kinges sone com wel he him paide
Sone he let him cristni for loue of þis maide
Þe messager he ȝaf answere wiþ gode herte iwis
Þo þe tidinge to þe kinges sone com wel he him paide
Sone he let him cristni for loue of þis maide
And þoru is fader red and þoru þe oþer kinge
Enleue þousond clene maidens þis maide hi gonne bringe
Were me miȝte nou as sone finde as me miȝte þo
I ne wene noȝt me ssolde in al þis toun finde ten mo
Enleue þousond clene maidens þis maide hi gonne bringe
Were me miȝte nou as sone finde as me miȝte þo
I ne wene noȝt me ssolde in al þis toun finde ten mo
Þis maide was of þe companie glad þat to hure com
Sone he[o] gan in priuete ham telle of Cristendom
Þer fore hure loue & hure prechinge alle Cristine hi were
Louerd wuch a companie of clene maidens was þere
So glad was þe king of is doȝter and of hure fairhede
Þat he let ham makie a ssip of gret lengþe & brede
Þat hi ssolde aboute in þe se pleie wanne hi wolde
Þat echmon alonde and awatere hare maidenot presi ssolde
Sone he[o] gan in priuete ham telle of Cristendom
Þer fore hure loue & hure prechinge alle Cristine hi were
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So glad was þe king of is doȝter and of hure fairhede
Þat he let ham makie a ssip of gret lengþe & brede
Þat hi ssolde aboute in þe se pleie wanne hi wolde
Þat echmon alonde and awatere hare maidenot presi ssolde
Hi songe ofte awater & alonde & tresches gonne lede
And oþere manere vaire pleies & al of clene dede
Mete and drinke stilleliche to þe ssip hi lete bringe
To þre[o] ȝeres sustenance wiþoute leue of þe kynge
And oþere manere vaire pleies & al of clene dede
Mete and drinke stilleliche to þe ssip hi lete bringe
To þre[o] ȝeres sustenance wiþoute leue of þe kynge
A dai hi uerde into þe se & pleide up and doun
For ioie þere hi hulde ham men of moni a toun
As hi were in mest plei oure Louerd a wind sende
Þat drof ȝam fer into þe se me nuste woder hi wende
Wel glad were hi þo þe wind ham drof wel bliue
Atte cite of Coloine hy gonne ferst ariue
For ioie þere hi hulde ham men of moni a toun
As hi were in mest plei oure Louerd a wind sende
Þat drof ȝam fer into þe se me nuste woder hi wende
Wel glad were hi þo þe wind ham drof wel bliue
Atte cite of Coloine hy gonne ferst ariue
To dameisele Ourse ȝare maistresse an angel þer com þere
And made hure maidens lede wel forte hi imartred were
And sede hi ssolde forþer fare and aȝen wende
And in þulke toun ymartred be[o] for Godes loue attenende
And made hure maidens lede wel forte hi imartred were
And sede hi ssolde forþer fare and aȝen wende
And in þulke toun ymartred be[o] for Godes loue attenende
Glad was þis maide for þis word forþ hi wende anon
Atte cite of Basili hi ariuede þo echon
Fram þulke cite euerichon auote hi wende to Rome
Þe pope ȝam made ioie inou þo hi þuder come
For mony of ȝam him was isib and for he was of Brutaine
Kiriac is name was [] hi were wiþ him wel faine
Atte cite of Basili hi ariuede þo echon
Fram þulke cite euerichon auote hi wende to Rome
Þe pope ȝam made ioie inou þo hi þuder come
For mony of ȝam him was isib and for he was of Brutaine
Kiriac is name was [] hi were wiþ him wel faine
To þe pope an angel com a niȝt and sede þat he ssolde
Wiþ þe maidens imartred be[o] for oure Louerd it wolde
After þis time þe holiman onourede hom þe more
And prechede ham of clannesse & of oure Louerdes lore
Wiþ þe maidens imartred be[o] for oure Louerd it wolde
After þis time þe holiman onourede hom þe more
And prechede ham of clannesse & of oure Louerdes lore
446
Twelf monþe & eleue wike alle þis maidens were
At Rome wiþ þis holi pope þat ham dude wel lere
Ac þe pope þo sein Curiac is conseil clupie bigan
Is clerkes and is cardinals and moni anoþer man
To uore ȝam alle is dignete he tok up a[t] þan ende
And sede he wolde into oþer lond wiþ is maidens wende
At Rome wiþ þis holi pope þat ham dude wel lere
Ac þe pope þo sein Curiac is conseil clupie bigan
Is clerkes and is cardinals and moni anoþer man
To uore ȝam alle is dignete he tok up a[t] þan ende
And sede he wolde into oþer lond wiþ is maidens wende
Þe cardinals were þere aȝen and sede he gan reue
Wiþ fole wenclen forto go and is dignete to bileue
Naþeles he wende forþ wiþ ham al aȝen ȝare rede
Is cardinals and is clerkes gret ssame him þeruore sede
Wiþ fole wenclen forto go and is dignete to bileue
Naþeles he wende forþ wiþ ham al aȝen ȝare rede
Is cardinals and is clerkes gret ssame him þeruore sede
Tweie luþer princes Maximin and Affrican
Þoȝte þat þis maidens wolde turne moni a man
To ȝare mei prince of Coloine hi sende for þe none
Þat he wanne hi þuder come ham martrede echone
Þoȝte þat þis maidens wolde turne moni a man
To ȝare mei prince of Coloine hi sende for þe none
Þat he wanne hi þuder come ham martrede echone
Þat child þat ssolde þis maide wedde as he hadde ised
King was imad of Engelonde þo is fader was ded
Þat ladde swyþe chaste lif and longede swuþe sore
Wiþ þat clene maide to speke þoru strengþe of Godes lore
King was imad of Engelonde þo is fader was ded
Þat ladde swyþe chaste lif and longede swuþe sore
Wiþ þat clene maide to speke þoru strengþe of Godes lore
An angel com to him sone and bad him in alle wise
Þat is moder & is ȝonge suster he lette sone baptise
And þat he wiþ ham to Coloine wende mid al is main
Aȝen is truwe spouse Ource of Brutain
Þat he bonde him to hure faste in worde and in dede
And endede togadere hore lif as he ȝam wolde rede
Þat is moder & is ȝonge suster he lette sone baptise
And þat he wiþ ham to Coloine wende mid al is main
Aȝen is truwe spouse Ource of Brutain
Þat he bonde him to hure faste in worde and in dede
And endede togadere hore lif as he ȝam wolde rede
Þis ȝonge king vawe dude as þe angel him gan lere
He nom is moder & is soster þo hi ibaptized were
And þe bissop Clement ek þat ham ibaptized hadde
Toward Coloine forþ wiþ him aȝen þis maidens he ladde
Welle glad was þis ȝonge king þo he to is lemman com
As glad was þe maide þo he[o] sai him in Cristendom
Gladdost he[o] was for is soster þat het Florentine
Þat he[o] ssolde so clene & so ȝong soffri deþes pine
He nom is moder & is soster þo hi ibaptized were
And þe bissop Clement ek þat ham ibaptized hadde
Toward Coloine forþ wiþ him aȝen þis maidens he ladde
Welle glad was þis ȝonge king þo he to is lemman com
As glad was þe maide þo he[o] sai him in Cristendom
Gladdost he[o] was for is soster þat het Florentine
Þat he[o] ssolde so clene & so ȝong soffri deþes pine
Our[s]e of Brutaine þe ȝonge king of gret ioie gan him lere
Þat he huld him faste to hure & ne flecchede neuere for fere
Þat hi miȝte in triwe loue togadere imartred be[o]
And in heuene be[o] wiþ Iesu Crist þat hom boȝte on þe tre[o]
447
Þat hi miȝte in triwe loue togadere imartred be[o]
And in heuene be[o] wiþ Iesu Crist þat hom boȝte on þe tre[o]
Þis ȝonge king grantede al þis his lemman noȝt he ne wernde
Is ferste þoȝt into triwe loue of clannesse he turnde
Þe heþene prince ȝare was þo hi to Coloine come
And luþer men monion & þis companie al nome
Hi houede & cride ȝam assame to gronde hi ham slowe
Also fale wolues among lomb ȝare clene fleiss todrawe
Is ferste þoȝt into triwe loue of clannesse he turnde
Þe heþene prince ȝare was þo hi to Coloine come
And luþer men monion & þis companie al nome
Hi houede & cride ȝam assame to gronde hi ham slowe
Also fale wolues among lomb ȝare clene fleiss todrawe
Þo hi come to þis clene þing Ourse of Brutaine
Þo hi fonde a such creature so fair hi were wel faine
Þe prince hure nom & hure bihet to lete hure gon aliue
And for hure noble gentrise habbe hure to wiue
Þo hi fonde a such creature so fair hi were wel faine
Þe prince hure nom & hure bihet to lete hure gon aliue
And for hure noble gentrise habbe hure to wiue
Þis maide sede þat he[o] nolde non eorþlich spouse take
Þe prince was þo wroþ inou þo he was forsake
Archers he let hure ssete anon to deþe attenende
And þus he[o] & hure companie to þe blisse of heuene gan wende
Þe prince was þo wroþ inou þo he was forsake
Archers he let hure ssete anon to deþe attenende
And þus he[o] & hure companie to þe blisse of heuene gan wende
And þe ȝonge king of Engelond and is moder also
And is ȝonge [soster] Florentine to deþe was ido
And þe pope Ciriak and bissops monion
Þat for hope of martirdom wiþ þe maidens dude gon
And is ȝonge [soster] Florentine to deþe was ido
And þe pope Ciriak and bissops monion
Þat for hope of martirdom wiþ þe maidens dude gon
Ou Louerd þe grete ioie of þe swete uerhede
Þat martirdom for þine loue auonge wiþoute drede
In þe two hondred ȝer and eiȝte and þrittiþe ȝere
After þat God an eorþe com þis maidens imartred were
Þis enleue þousond maidens and al þe companie
Ibured were suþþe in Coloine in a nonnerie
Þat martirdom for þine loue auonge wiþoute drede
In þe two hondred ȝer and eiȝte and þrittiþe ȝere
After þat God an eorþe com þis maidens imartred were
Þis enleue þousond maidens and al þe companie
Ibured were suþþe in Coloine in a nonnerie
An abbot þer was biside þat heorde of þis cas
And þat ofte of þis clene maidens gret miracle was
He bad þe abesse of Coloine þat he[o] him granti ssolde
A body of þis clene maidens and he it wolde do in golde
And þat ofte of þis clene maidens gret miracle was
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A body of þis clene maidens and he it wolde do in golde
Þo þis bodi him was bitake twelf monþe he let it be[o]
Wiþoute seluer oþer gold in a cheste of tre[o]
Þo þe twel[f]monþe was ido as þe monkes echone
At matins [were] a niȝt þis holi bodi aros hure up al one
And enclinede hure to þe heie weued & wende mildeliche
Out þoru out al þe couent fair and stilleliche
Wiþoute seluer oþer gold in a cheste of tre[o]
Þo þe twel[f]monþe was ido as þe monkes echone
At matins [were] a niȝt þis holi bodi aros hure up al one
And enclinede hure to þe heie weued & wende mildeliche
Out þoru out al þe couent fair and stilleliche
Þe monkes þo hi þis iseie adrad and sori were
To þe tombe hi wende þer he[o] was & nefonde hure noȝt þere
Þis quaþ þe abbot is oure wreche for we hure nadde ido
In gold as riȝt hadde ibe[o] for we bihete hure so
To þe tombe hi wende þer he[o] was & nefonde hure noȝt þere
Þis quaþ þe abbot is oure wreche for we hure nadde ido
In gold as riȝt hadde ibe[o] for we bihete hure so
To þe abbesse of Coloine þe abbot wende anon
And tolde þe cas al hou it was of þe maide agon
Hi wende forþ to þulke stude as he[o] was ileid er
And houede upe þe lid of þe þrou and fonde hure ligge þer
Vair and euene as heo dude er so lite lime þer nas
Þat nelay as he[o] uerst deode vair miracle þer was
Þe abbesse was þo glad inou and þe nonnes echon
And for þe miracle songe heie and þonkede God anon
And tolde þe cas al hou it was of þe maide agon
Hi wende forþ to þulke stude as he[o] was ileid er
And houede upe þe lid of þe þrou and fonde hure ligge þer
Vair and euene as heo dude er so lite lime þer nas
Þat nelay as he[o] uerst deode vair miracle þer was
Þe abbesse was þo glad inou and þe nonnes echon
And for þe miracle songe heie and þonkede God anon
Þe abbot bad þat he moste habbe þe holy bodi efsone
And he it wolde honure vawe as riȝt was to done
Ac þe abbesse nolde it grante noȝt ne þe couent noþer
Þat he it ssolde eft lede awei þei he were ȝare broþer
And he it wolde honure vawe as riȝt was to done
Ac þe abbesse nolde it grante noȝt ne þe couent noþer
Þat he it ssolde eft lede awei þei he were ȝare broþer
For hi seie it was Godes wille þat it ssolde bileue þere
Þis abbot wende hom aȝen wiþ wel dreri chere
Nou God us granti for is grace þat we mote iwynne
Þe heie ioie of heuene þat þeos maidens beoþ inne
Þis abbot wende hom aȝen wiþ wel dreri chere
Nou God us granti for is grace þat we mote iwynne
Þe heie ioie of heuene þat þeos maidens beoþ inne
| The South English Legendary | |