University of Virginia Library

XVIII.—EGIPCIANE.

It ware spedfule, quha-sa cuthe,
to put in wryt, ore tel be movthe,
It þat mycht men gere lef syne,
& with god sa sauchtnyn wyne,
as be ensampile is of It,
þat mene fyndis in haly wryt,
of þame þat lange sinful has ben,
& to god syne ware ful queme,
as was þe magdelane & davy,
þat eftyrwart var ful worthy,
plesand to god, & ful dere.
for-þi of þame þire samplis sere
I set, þat na man suld for syne
be dysparyt grace to wyne.
þe doctoure gregore sais þare-by,
nothire stekis fra goddis mercy
of þe syne þe quantyte,
na ȝet of It þe Inormyte,
na þe latnes of þe houre,
sa þat to þe saweoure
be knawyne þe changinge of vil;
as set ma be ensampil till
of a tale, I sal here tele,
ferlyful, how it befell.
of palistinis in ane abbay
þar duelte a monke, forsit hym ay
In althinge god to enplese;
for sa ennornyt þat man was
in monklyke vorke, vord, & dede,
fra þe tyme of his ȝouthede,
þat he to god al gevine vas,
& til his name had ȝoȝamas.
his flesche sa dayntyt he had,
þat to þe saule subiet he It mad.
þane sere men for Informacione
þare come of his conuersacione,
þat Ithandly had his thocht
one haly wryt, & ellis nocht.
for he had sic infusione
of godis illustracione,
þat he saw godis priwete.
& we sal trew þat at mycht be;
fore god hyme-selfe in haly vryt
sais, & suthfaste thinge Is It,
þat þai at are of [h]art clene
sal ofte se god forowte vene.
sone eftyre hym come to thocht,
þat parfytar he na be mocht;
for he trewyt na man vare,
quham-of hyme nedyt til have lare.
als he trewyt na man was
In abay, na in vildirnes,
þat mocht do mare þane he had done.
& sa a voice sad hyme sone:
“ȝoȝima, þu has wele strewine,
& stalawrtly þi cource o[u]r-dryvine,
as to þe possibile ma be;
bot sa parfyt is nane, þat na he
suld ay be dowtand for to fal,
sene thinge to cum we myskene al.
bot gyf þou ȝarnis to vyt þus,
how mony ways of hele þare Is,
pase fra þi kithe owte of þe land,
ane abay til þu fynd nere hand
þe flume Iordane.” & he syne sone
passit one, for-owtine hone,
þe sad abay til he fande,
& at it stil cuthe he stande.
thane þe abot come fut-hate,
& fand ȝoȝimas at þe ȝete.
& for he religiouse sa apperyte,
he blyssit hyme fyrste, & syne speryt
quhene he come, & quhat thinge
þe cause was of his cummynge.
þane sad he þat he come þare
for informacione & layre:
“for it is prechyt rycht fare ryfe
gret ferlys of ȝoure haly lyfe.
for-þi til hafe instruccione
I come of ȝoure conuersacione,
sa [þat] myn sawle mycht coplyt be
ȝouris in-to al cheryte.”
þane sad þe abbot: “bruthyr dere,
god, þat seke mays hale & fere,
gyf ws grace sa to do,
þat ay we may emplese hym to,
sene but his grace we ma nocht
ane helpe vthyre in ded na thocht.
þu sal be welcum to þis place,
& god of his habundand grace
grant þe [þat] þu be parfyte
In his seruice, & hafe delyte;
& we sal for þe pray.” & þene
ȝoȝimas kneland sad, “amen.”
þane in þat abbay stil dwelt he,
quhare he saw mene schynand be,
& bot reprofe to god seruand,
of dedis gud & spyryt schaldand.
þare wes na vourd of Idilnes,
of gold, na siluire, na ȝet riches,
na of ony thinge temporale,
bot to þe varld ded vare [þai] hayle,
& straytly þe lyfe cane leyde
anerly in vatyre & brede.
& [quhene] þis saw ȝoȝimas,
ful gretly he steryt vas
mare perfeccione fore to do,
fyndand þat god he[l]pyt þare-to.
þe custume ves of þat abbay
þat þe ȝettis ware stekyt ay;
but ony monke ore herymyte
percase vald cum to þame to wit;
fore It was ȝete sa vnknawyne,
þat few come þare bot þayire awne.
sa wes custome of lange tyme;
fore-þi god yddir send ȝoȝyme.
and [quhene] sum days ourdriwyne ware
eftyre he had conuersyt þare,
þe tyme come of þe lentrine,
quhene gudmen suld to faste begyne,
of syne to clenge þare entent,
& clene resawe þe sacrament.
of þat fastinge þe fyrste sonday
Ilke monk but mare delay,
eftyre þat he had sad his mese
& fed hyme, syne, as oyse was,
þai entryt in þare oratore,
þare abbotis sete mekly before,
& kneland, maad þare oracione;
syne askyt his benysone,
þat þai mycht, thru his helpe, fulfil
þe trawele þat þai set þame til
of god in-to þe honoure,
& for þare sawlys þe succoure.
&, quhene It was þis wyse done,
þe ȝettis hopnyt þai alsone,
& passyt, singand, with reherse
of þe todyr nocturne þe fyrst verse
with al þat syne folowys efte.
& in þare house na man þai lefte
bot quhylis twa, & quhylis ane,
sa þat þe abbay it alane
suld nocht be lewyt, bot þat ne was
fore ȝemsale of þare riches,
bot forowte mes it suld nocht be
of fastynge in þe solempnite.
& ilkane tuk with hyme sic fude
as þai beste leste, quhen þai ȝude;
sume tuk daittis, sum fygis dry,
sume vattir potage al-anerly;
sume tuke a clathe to hele his corce,
& sume of lyfinge mad na forse.
þis passyt þai, til þai ilkane
vare cumyne to þe flume Iordane;
& fra þai passit þat vatyr had,
ilkane of þame but abad
passit furth in vildirnes
be hyme ane, to pyne his flesche;
& for þe maste part fosteryt var
vith Ioys, gres, & vatere clere;
na ane of þame [of] vthir viste,
bot ilkane lufyt as hym lyste,
but sperynge ane of ony vthyre,
al-sat he vare his awne bruþir.
& gyf It hapnyt, in þat tyme,
ane saw vthire, he vald declyne,
& fle a-vay, as he hyme dred.
sic was þe lyfe þai þare led,
to god in gud vark lyfand,
bot as to flesche ay deand.
þis haly fastinge þus our-drafe þai,
til it come to þe palme sonday,
& þat day befor þe nowne
al come þai hame but ony hone,
hafand his consciens vytnes
how he in þat tyme liffand vas,
for vthyre witnes nedit nane
bot god & hyme-selfe al-ane,
na of his trawale, na of his ded,
na of þe lyfe þat he cane led.
for quha for manis thank dois ocht
& nocht for god dred hyme nocht,
he purchacis hyme-self skathe
as to þe saule, & mekil vathe.
bot lat [we] nov þire gud men be,
& of ȝoȝimas spek will we.
[o]f lentryne syne þe fyrst sonday,
quhene vthire passit, he tuk his vay
vith þame al to þe flume Iordane.
& þare-oure quhen at he vane,
In-to þat vyld & hole foreste,
he passyt ay furth [but] areste,
richt as a man sum think þat socht,
þe quhilk to fynd he rycht nocht rocht;
for he trewyt, þat vyldirnes
but haly men be na vay was,
of quham ensampil he acht hafe
of halynes a-beoufe þe lafe,
for al halely vas his delyte
In goddis lare to be parfyte.
for-þi fra dawynge of þe day
he passit furthe ay one his way,
bot þat he sewine syse mad arest,
to pray to god in-to þe este;
& one þe ȝerd, bare & cauld,
euire-ilke nycht reste he wald.
& quhene [he] þus but delay
had travalyt, one þe twenty day
at þe sexte oure he mad areste.
makand prayere to þe este,
as he was vont to do, kneland,
he schaw a schedaw one his rycht hand,
In forme of mane semand to be.
for-þi in extasy fel he,
venand It a spyrit had bene,
þat he sa soudanly had sene;
for-þi he sanyt hyme ful faste,
as man at gretly var agaste.
bot eftyre his abasitnes
one his left hand, in suthfastnes,
as a woman he saw þare,
þat na clathis had, bot ves al bare;
brynt with þe sone, blak scho vas;
bot one hyre hed nocht-þe-les
hayre scho had, quhyt & streke,
rekand na forthire na hir neke.
& quhene ȝoȝimas had hyr sene,
he vas Ioyful þane but vene,
& sped hyme vith al his mycht,
to þe place quhare he saw þat sycht.
for creatoure saw he nane
þe ane & twenty dais he had gane,
nothyre fule, man, na beste,
fra he come in þat foreste;
for-þi þe mare ȝarnyt he
þat body grathly for to se.
bot fra scho ȝoȝimam had sene,
scho fled richtfaste forout vene
In vildirnes. bot ȝoȝimas,
þocht he auld & very vas,
ȝarnand for to se þ[at] sycht,
he folouyt fast vith al his mycht.
[h]e folowyt, & [scho] fled ful faste;
bot he cane ryne, til at þe laste
he ves cumyne hyre sa nere,
þat scho mycht his vord wele here.
þane gret ȝoȝimas, he criyand:
“me abyd, þu godis servande!
suppos at I mane synful be,
a-byde a lytil & spek with me,
I coniure þe in godis name,
for quham þis penans þou has tane,
& fore þe hope of þe reward,
þat þu is to haf e[f]tirwarte;
&, sene þat refusis nane,
abyd & blyse me, ore þu gane!”
þus þo ȝoȝimas cryit ay,
scho withdrev hyr our a vale,
& one þe todyr syd scho bad.
bot to ga forthir, mycht he na had.
þane sychit he sar gretand,
& teris to teris dow[b]land.
þat laydy þan sic speche can mak:
“ȝoȝoma, spar for godis sak,
for I ma nocht me turne to þe,
for schame þat þou me voman se.
bot, sene þu fayne vald vith me spek,
sum of þi clathis þou me rek!”
þane red ves dene ȝoȝamas,
& gret dowt in his hart he tais,
& ful gret ferly als had tane,
quhene he [hyr] hard nemmyne his name;
rycht þane, as vyse & sle,
he bethoucht hyme a lytil we,
þat scho mycht neuir his nam kene,
sene scho saw hyme neuir to þan
bot of grace of þe haly gaste,
þat schenys quhare hym lest, bot vast.
þar-for sone, as scho hyme bad,
of þe twa haikis þat he had,
he tuk þe tane & bakvart kest;
& scho tuk it or scho reste,
& hyr coueryt. syne to ȝoȝima
scho sad: “fadyr, quhat has sa
to þis wildirnes brocht þe,
a synful woman for to se?”
þane to þe erde he fel sone done,
& askyt hyr hyr benysone.
& scho to erd fel als þat tyd,
&, lyand say one athyr syd,
Ilkane askyt vthyr benysonis
ful mekly, & þar oracionis;
sa ves nocht ellis hard
bot “blyse me, blyse me”—sa þai ferd.
[e]ftyr lange þai þus lay,
to ȝoȝomas cane scho say:
“for þu arte preste & has bene lange
at godis altar als servand,
& his seyre priueteis socht,
& sacryt [þat] al mad of nocht,
fadyr, fyrst It afferis þe
to blyse & for to pray for me.”
& quhene ȝoȝimas herd þis thinge,
for rednes tuk hyme sic abaysinge,
þat þe swet til his fete rane.
nocht-for-þi he sad hyr þane:
“spirituale modyr, quhat-sa þu be,
for godis sak schau þe to me!
for sa parfyt to god Is þu,
at to þis varld þu art ded now;
for me, þat þu neuir has sene,
þu callis myn name; &, as I wene,
grace is nocht knawynge thru dignite,
a sympil preste þo I now be,
bot it is dingnite verray,
þat has set þe to sik assay;
for-þi blyse me for godis sake,
& als for me [þu] prayer make,
& grant syne to myn Indigens
þi proteccione & defens!”
scho hafand þane of hyme pitte,
sad: “lowyt mot our lorde be
þat purchesis þus saule-hele!”
“amen,” ȝoȝimas can þane mele.
fra þe erde þane rayse þai bath,
& to þat auld þane sad scho rathe:
“man, quhare-to com þu to me
a synful womane for to se?
neuir-þe-lese, sene to þis vaste
þe has broucht þe haly gaste,
sa þat þu mycht do sume service
to me wreche in sum wyse,
sa me fyrste, how þat crist[i]ndome
is led, & how þe pape of rome,
& þe emprioure al-sa.”
þane ȝoȝomas can answer ma:
“dere modyre, thru god prayere
þai far al wele ȝe eftyre sper.
neuir-þe-les for godis sake
for al þe varld ȝe prayere mak
& for me synful sene, namely
þat þis trawel þat her mad I,
be nocht to me in vane, na tynt!”
þan sad scho: “of sic prayere stynt!
for to þe, fadir ȝoȝima,
afferis sic prayere to ma;
for þu has honoure of presthed;
for-þi to god for me þu bede!
It þu bydis als, vith gud wil,
þocht it affer nocht, I sal fulfil.”
& say[a]nd þis, scho turnyt ewyn,
haldand hyr ene vpe to þe hevyn,
but lippis stering mad prayere,
or word, þat ony man mycht here.
þane stud þe monk ful dredand,
but word, to þe erde lukand.
eftyr to witnes god drew he,
þat, as he blenkyt vpe with ee,
he saw hyr raysit a cowte & mare
fra erde in ayre, & dwelt syn þare.
& quhen he saw how þis befel
for rednes to þe erde he fel.
In abaysitnes þane sad he
ofte, “miserere domine;”
& lyand one þe erde, he thocht
gyf euir it a spyrit be mocht,
þat sa yt fenȝet for to pray.
þane scho, turnand til hym, can sa:
“fadir, quhat thinge assaileis þe
þat þou in t[h]ocht sa sclanderis me,
þat I spyrit mycht be, wenand,
to pray in þi sicht me fenȝeand?
It is nocht sa, bot ma þu trew,
þocht I be synful, I ame now
cristine womane, but fantasy;
na trew nane vthyr spryt ame I.”
þir wordis quhene scho had sad,
þe takine of þe croice scho lad
one hyr body ouralquhare,
& syne sad to ȝoȝomas þare:
“fadir, god of our wethyrwyne
grant til ws þe our-cummyne,
& of his fals purches alsa,
for he cane fele buschment ma.”
þe alde þis hard, & in grete
fel done til erde at hyr fete,
& sad: “dere modyr, I þe pray,
for cristis sak, god verray,
& for quham þis þou nakit gais,
& þi flesche þis vastit has,
þat þu hele na thinge fra me,
þi serwand, þat I sal ask þe:
quhat, quhyne, & of quhat state,
& for quhat cause—þu me late—
þu has bene sa lange tym here,
with al þir circumstance sere,
quhare-of I sal mak þe franynge,
þu lat me wyt but ony fenȝeynge,
& tel me þe suthfastnes
of al þi lyfe, mare & les.
for god has send me, as I trew,
with quham þat þu conuersis now,
In-to þis foreste wild & depe,
þi lyfe, þi stat, al hal to vet.
for-þi na thing þu lef fra me!
for to god, gyf it de-plesand be
þat I suld wit all hale þe lyf,
quhou þu in payne has dreyt þis lyf,
he na had tholyt þe of me be sene,
na of na vthyr—þat is but wene—
na had comfort me perfay,
to lef myn cel & tak þis way,
for I ame auld & febil bathe.”
scho raysit hyme þan, & sad rath:
“fadir, me schamys suthfastly
to tel þe al; bot nocht-for-þi
I sal sa quhow myn saule vithine
is fylyt vith a vlatsum syne.
na for halynes is it nocht
þat I consele fra þe suld ocht,
bot I for myn syne, allace!
sa lange has herbrite sathanas.
for-þi, gyf I now begyne
to tel þe forthyr of myn syne,
þu sal fle sone avay, allace!
as quha dois befor þe face
of ane edir þat wald hym stang,
na þine eris to her it sa lange
ma nocht thole, bot þa mone Irk
to here þe syne þat I cane vyrk.
bot nocht-þane with mekil syte
I sal [þe] tel myn ful delyte,
prayand þe for goddis sake,
þat þu for me wil prayer mak,
þat I ma til his mercy wyne,
& get forgyfnes of myn syne.”
þan þat ald gret for pytte,
as quha þat dunynge suld be.
þane beguth scho for to tel
of al hyr lyf how it befel.
“Fader, in egipe vas I borne,
& myn elderis me beforne.
In þe twel ȝer of my ȝuthed
fra kyne & cunctre bath I ȝed
til alysandir, or euir I stynt.
myn madynned quhow I fyrst tynt
þar, & how þane to lychory,
vith al þe luste, folouandly
I vndirlad me, þat I haf schame
In-to myn hart to think alane;
& it var lange to tel how I
had brynnand luste of lychory,
þat me na thocht at I mycht fillit be;
þat vylte þane sa lykyt me.
bot for gyftis I neuir sawld
to man, othyr ȝung na auld,
bot gaf It frely til al þai
þat with me wald sik mastri ma,
& ofte entysit ser þare-till,
to syne with me. sic was my wil;
& fuly led myn lyfe þare
wele sewinten ȝer owt & mare;
myn met of[te] thygand, [sa] þat I
frely mycht serwe to lychery,
& seldyne spane for my fud;
to fil myn flesche sa ȝed I wod;
ay valouand me in þat syne,
as sow a medynge dois vithine.
for þat wes maste þan myn mynd,
quhare-in I mysded maste to kynd.
In sic ful sowne [I was] lyffand ay,
til I percase a-pone a day
saw men of luby & egipe
hast þame to sey, for to schype.
þane sad me ane of þa mene,
þat þai var bone to Ierusalem,
‘to se þe solempnyte
of cristis croice, þat sal sone be.’
‘&, bruthyr, hopis þu þai wil me
vith þame tak to pase þe se?’
sad he: ‘ȝa, gyf þou has macht
to pay þame þi schip fraucht.’
‘frawcht haf I nane, bruthyr der;
bot I wil to þe schipe but ver;
& for I haf nane vthyr gud
to pay for fraucht or for fud,
myn body I wil gyfe þame til,
til demayne þat þar wil.’—
fader, spare me! na cause had I
for to mak sik trawel, trewly,
bot þat I mycht ful mony wyne
ay lustfully with me to syne.
fadir, þar-for for godis are
lewe no[v] & sper at me nomare!
for schame & dout lattis me
to tel mare of myn syne to þe.
for of myn syne It is vnfayre
quhene I spek; it fylis þe ayre.”
ȝoȝomas þane gretand faste,
answeryt, & sad at þe laste:
“tel furth þi tayle, modyr dere,
& al þe suth þu lat me here,
& fra me þu heile na thinge,
for his luf, of hewyne is kinge!”
qvhene scho was coniuryt sa,
sik spek furth cane scho ma:
“ȝone ȝonge man, þe tale me tald
þat þai to þe se pass wald,
at myn fule speke smylit in hy.
bot þe rok þat in hand had I,
I kyste away, & faste sped me
with þame at passit to þe se.
quhene I com þare, sone I fand
of ȝongmen tenne in a place stanand,
þat semyt wele to do þat syne,
þat myn luste was sa brynnand In,
& mony vthyre, at bowne ware
to þe se & to schipfare.
& I ful besyly with-al
thrange in amange þam all,
sayand: ‘brethyr, takis me vith ȝou,
& I ful besyly sal serfe ȝou;’
recordand myn vnhoneste,
I gert al laucht, þat me cuth se.
& for myn vilte alsone þai
tuk me in hand, saylit þar vay.
quhat tunge mycht tel or eris ere
þe vlatsum warkis, þat þar vere
be me wrocht in þat schipe þare?
& gyf þat sum war in þat fare,
þat with me wald nocht gladly syn,
til entyse hyme I cuth nocht blyn;
for of syk syne al kindis clere,
þat þai mysknew, I cuth þam lere.
þar-for, fadyr, be content now
of þis foule story þat herd [h]as þu!
for þe mowth, it spekis, It filis nocht
anerly, bot als þe thocht.
þar-for me wonderis hou þe se
bar vpe þe schipe at herbrite me,
or þat þe erd gapand wyd,
me swelyt nocht vthyre tyd;
for I wes gyrne but ony mak
þat sawlis put to lestand vrak.
bot now I trew þat Ihesu cryste,
þat na man wald haf peryst,
bot at mysdoaris lefe þe syne,
& throw repentans cum to hyme,
þus lang in me has pennans socht,
or ellis schawit I had bene nocht.
and to þe land, quhen we cummyn had
to Ierusalem, but mar a-bad
we passit, & bad in þe citte,
til þe feste of þe croice suld be
schawit til al þat to mycht wyne.
bot I lefit nocht þane myn syne,
bot me demaynyt as I dyd are,
& in þat case nane wald spare.
& ȝet all anerly nocht þai
of þe schipe cane me to ga,
bot al vthyr als, þat I
mycht enduce to þat foly,
sa þat al þat mentyme
I fylyt sawlis als fer as myne.
bot syne, in þe solempnite,
quhene þat þe relyk suld schauyt be,
I presit, al before rynnand,
þe ȝunge men to syne tysand.
& quhene þe day beguth to daw,
to þe tempil men cane draw;
& of It til in þe ȝarde
I wes cummyne, I ne spard.
& quhene tyme of day was cumyne,
þat þe relyk owt suld be wonnynge,
I thrange ful ȝarne amange al þa,
þat in þe tempil fyrste can ga,
rycht to þe dure with trawal gret
til I come, & In gret swet.
& quhen we come to þe thryswald,
al had entre þat euir wald,
bot I, vnhappy, thrustyne sare,
a fut mycht nocht get forthyr-mare.
& þat godis willis was,
þat me for my wikytnes
wald nocht his tempil I com In,
þat sa sowit was in syne.
& quhene I was sa put bakwart,
I ȝed alane in þe kyrk-ȝard,
& þar considerit I nocht me,
þat for myn synnis It mycht be.
amange mony ȝet fast I thrange
vith mekil payne, & furth can gange
to þe treswald; & þar but falȝe,
as I dyd fyrste, tynt myn trawel;
for in þe tempil enterit ilkane
but ony late bot I alane.
& in þe ȝard a-gane I ȝud,
& þar ythandly I stud,
regratand myn vnhapynes,
þat I alane vnworthi was
of al þat come til haf entre.
nocht-þane ȝet pressit I me
twyse eftyr, þat I wald sa fane
entre haf; bot al in vayne.
& at þe laste for werynes,
of ned me worth[it] be in pes.
I wes sa thrungyne & mad sare,
þat, þo I wald, I mycht nomare;
bot of þe ȝard in til a nuke
I restyt me, & myn aynd tuke.
vith sar sobyne, doule, & syt
myn hard fortone can I wyt,
bannand þe tyme þat I was borne,
as I ded ofte þat day beforne;
for let wes mad to nan but me,
þat Ioyful relyk for to se.
bot quhy þis was, quhen at I thocht,
athyre enchesone fand I nocht,
bot for þe vilte of myn syne
þat god wald nocht I come In
his tempil, [for] to se þat tre,
for oure sawete one quhi[l]k vas he
put, & his blud schede,
& for ws put nane vthir wed.
of þis woman, quhen I haf thocht
þat þis fra bale to blyse Is brocht,
þocht scho was lange sowit in syne,
& syne at god cane mercy vyne
throw our lady, mary þe fre,
suld nane for syne dysparit be,
þat for helpe wil pray hyr til;
for scho his prayer wil fulfil,
& pece hyr sowne vith sinful man,
quhene na wthyr ma, na kane.
for laydy of þe warld we hir cal,
& als emprice of hele with-all.
of al laydis þu art lady,
of wemen worschipe anerly.
þu art bewte of angelis al,
& Ioy of halouys we þe cal,
& modir als of haly kyrk,
to safe synful þat wil nocht Irk,
modyr of pite & indulgens,
to mysterful, souerane defens,
godis house & hewine-ȝate,
be quham synful entre sal get,
confowrt of wrech, waster of syn;
þe haly gast herbreis þe In.
þu art fayrer þan sone or mone;
þu sittis with god in til his trowne,
þat na requeste wil þe warne.
lowit be thu þat bar þat barne!
& set þu his modir be,
þat mad þis warld, ȝeit, parde,
art þu douchtyr til adame
& ewe, þat ws brocht in blame;
& we alswa of þi kyne,
set þu was neuir fylit with syne,
bot euir was virgine kepit clene.
ȝet godis sone of þe, but wene
virgine, was borne, for oure savete,
& nocht for þi vyrgynyte.
þar-for, lady, we pray þe,
to þe sonnis of ewe frend þu be,
& purches ws þe grace ve crafe,
for þe gladschepe þu can haf,
quhen gabriel to þe send vas,
sayand: “hale mary, ful of grace;”
& sayd he, “god is vith þe,
a-beoufe al wemen blist þou be.”
for þa Ioys we þe pray,
sene þu cane best, & best may
do, sa oure erand be sped
at hyme þu one þi brest fed
til he was ȝonge be kind of flesch;
& als for þe sorowfulnes,
þat þu had set in þi mynd,
quhene þu saw hyme for mankynd
thole ded to ransone þame of wa,
he grant ws grace heyr to lif sa,
þat we wyne ma til his blyse.
&, der laydy, I pray þe þis,
þat I til hyme thankful lif led,
& sawit be fra dowble ded
& de but dett & deydly syne.
quhene þe lyf & sawle sal twyne,
fra sathanas þu kepe me,
þat fra hyme I pase al fre
one þat day quhen al beis done,
with god in blyse & Ioy to wyne.
now of þis woman [furth] spek we,
þat, as ȝe hard, tuk pennys thre,
& sad: “quhen I tuk þis payment,
furth in þe towne ful sone I went,
& bocht þre lawis to my fud,
to haf with me quhare I ȝud.
& at hyme þat þe bred me sald,
I speryt gyf he cuth or wald
kene me þe gat, þat mycht me led
to þe flume Iordane in mast sped.
‘ȝa,’ sayd he; & sone þane
þe vay to þe ȝet can me kene,
quhare þai þar passage mad,
þat to þat vatir erand had.
þe bred I tuk, & held me way,
rycht as þe man to me can say.
& of day þe thred our þane
ves cumyne, quhen I þe ȝat wane
þe preciuse croice one to se,
as befor ȝe hard tel me.
þe remaynynge þane of þat day
I sped me faste one myn way,
gretand sar for myn trespace.
& quhene þe sone nere done was,
wele ner þe flum I fand a kyrk.
þar ȝed I in, for I wes Irke,
& halowit þar was þat bywiste
In honour of sancte Iohnne þe baptist.
kneland my prayer þar I mad
to god, þat ydyr send me had.
& quhene I had knelyt a stond,
& mad myn prayer, I cane fond
to þat flume þat haly was,
& wesche In yt bath handis & face;
syne come agane, & with schryfte
& contryt hart mad me tyfte.
þe sacrament of al-queknand
I tuk þar of prestis hand,
of Ihesu cristis flesche & blud,
In-to þat kyrk or I furth ȝud.
þane of þe laf a-pon þe bank
I ȝet, & of þe vatire drank,
& al þat nycht restyt me þare,
one þe ȝerd lyand al bare.
& quhene þe day be-guth to daw,
I passit þe watyr in a thraw,
& prayt myn borcht þat scho wald me
conwoy, & led in sawete
quhare at to enples hyr It mycht maste.
with helpe of þe haly gaste,
In þis wastrone fra þine haf I
dwelt euir cotynualy,
sene I come of þe sad cite.”
þane sad ȝoȝimas to þat fre:
“gud modyr, quhat met can þou fynd,
sa lange to sustene þi kynd?”
“twa lafis & ane half but mare,
þe quhilk þat I with me bare,
þe flume Iordane quhen I past,
þat wyderit war eftyr sa faste,
þane þay war lykare to be
stanys þan bred, trew to me!
& sum quhile of þame perfay
myn lyfe I lede, as þu heris say,
& passit sa sa lange tyme.”
quod he: “but othyr dule or pyne?”
þane sad scho: “for þu askis me
a thinge of gret diffyculte,
þe quhilk to sa I haf gret dred;
fore gyf I now to memor lede
of syndry thoctis þe parele,
þat has dystrublit me vmquhile,
I dout, eftsonnis þat þai sal
In-to distrow[b]lyng ger me fal.”
sayd he þane: “modir, þu lef nocht
vnsad to me þu has in thocht!
for þare-to god let me þe se,
þat þu suld hele na thinge fra me.”
“fadir,” sad scho, “trew but were
þat our passit war sewinten ȝere,
haf I had ofte ful gret batale
of ȝarnige, þat ofte cuth me assale,
vnleleful & oneresonabile,
fillit of filthe & vnstabil.
for quhile quhen me tuk apetyt
til ete, þan wald me cum delyt
til hafe flesche & to ete It
& fesche, as I dyd in egipe.
delyt alsa & ȝarnynge
I had quhile to drinke gud wine
In-to þe warld til I was;
bot þar-of haffand dystras,
In-to þis wildirnes vasty,
for sic defawt oft wantonly
I brynt as fyre in myn entent,
& In myn hart had gret torment.
[OMITTED]
þat brocht quhilis in my thinkine
sangis ȝa of lychery
vile & als dewylry,
þat I was wount in warld to synge,
has me stroublyt in mekil thinge.
bot quhene sic synful thocht was gane,
þane wald I gret & mak myn mayne,
& dyngand one myn breste with-all,
oft ‘synful wreche’ I wald me call.
bot þane nane vthyr hope I had
bot one hyr think þat I bourcht mad.
þane wald I ryne—quhethir, I ne rocht—
& prynte þat ymage in my thocht;
befor hyr rycht as I suld stand,
with mony teris hyr prayand
þa thochtis for to put me fra,
my soroful corce þat stroblyt sa.
þan, quhen I had lange tyme gret,
& al myn face with teris wete,
& myn brest with nefis dovnynge bath,
til þe lyf me was lathe,
commonly þane vald I se
a gret lycht al enwyrone me,
& leste gud quhyle vald þat clernes,
to comfourt me þat soroful was.
& thocht, vmquhyle þat strenȝe me vald
to lychery, ma nocht be tald—
spar me, fader, sic thocht of syne!
Myn wrechit corse brynt oft with-In.
& quhene sick thocht can me schald,
falland to erd sal gret I wald,
thinkand suthly scho stud by me,
þat was myn borch of myn sawete,
makand me maunance þan, me thocht,
fellyly for I kepyt nocht
þe borowgane I drew hyr In,
quhene I hecht hyr to lef myn syn;
þan thocht I þat scho wald be
sa noyus & sa wrath with me,
as scho suld bryne me in a fyr,
or stryk with hyr swerd of yre
for myn trespas. bot nocht-for-þi,
vpe fra þe erde, quhare þan la I,
I wald nocht ryse, til hyr pite
of hyr gret grace illumynyt me,
befor as ȝe [haf] hard me sa,
& sic ful thocht chasyt awa.
for one hyr þat myn borch had bene,
I dresyt ay my hartly ene,
& In þat wastyrn, prayand hir to
þat I mycht heilful pennance do.
with fawndinge þus I haf oft striwyn
þis sewinten ȝere & þaim ourdryvyn.
& fra þine furth ay Ithandly
of oure swet laydy helpe had I,
godis modyr & maydene clene,
þat dressis al myn ded bedene.”
thane ȝoȝimas at hyr can spere:
“ete þu na met, sene þou come here?
& quhat manere of clethinge
had þou for to cleth þe sene syne?”
þan answert scho, & sad: “but were
[It is], þat in þe fyrst aucht ȝere
þe twa lafis & half ete I;
& syne furth gres anerly,
sik as I fand, has bene myn fud
In þus waste quhare I ȝud.
bot vthyr clathis had I nane
þane I brocht oure flume Iordane;
bot in few ȝeris clene war þai.
for gret elde wastit a-way.
gret cald þare-for of ser snaw
I haf tholyt, ȝou byrd wel knaw,
sa þat I vmquhyle wald be
hard frosyne as ony tre;
vthyr tyme þe sone brynt me,
til I worth blak as ȝe ma se;
& quhyl for het, & syne for cauld
one þe ȝerd done fal I wald,
but spret or steringe hand þare,
a ded body as I þane ware.
þis haf I drywyn þe sewynten ȝere
In ned & mony fandinge sere.
& fra þat tyme one to þis day
þe grace of god me kepyt ay
in sawle, & hayle in body,
helpand myn borcht. þis lyf led I
with met þat ma nocht wastyt be,
In habundance & gret pleynte.
þis wes I cled, & fed alsa
thru godis word, þat al can ma;
for wrytine is ‘nocht al anerly
man liffis of bred, bot sykyrly
In al gud word þat procedis
of godis mowth,’ as men redis;
&: ‘þai þat þame dyspolȝeis of syne
& consciens clene has þame In,
suppos þat þai haf clething nane,
he cane ger þame be cled with stane.’”
& fra ȝoȝimas persawit It,
þat scho alleygit haly wryt, [OMITTED]
& psalmis, ore lettres wthyre.
þane smyland sad scho: “gud bruthyre,
na, for to þis day saw I nane,
sene I come oure þe flume Iordane,
of vylde, na tame, na kind beste,
sene at I come in þis foreste;
na letyre neuir saw perfay,
na psalme hard [one]-to þis day,
na ȝet herd man red haly wryt
be-fore. þou wele wat It,
þat godis word is ay mychty
to doctrine manis wit in hy.
þus is þe hend of al but were,
þat þu ȝarnis of me to spere.
be cristis byrth I Requere þe,
þu wald pray to god for me.”
qwhene þis was sad, ȝoȝimas ran
to kes hyre fete but abad þane,
& sad to hyre with gretand stewyn:
“blissit ay be oure lord of hewyn,
þat ferlys wyrkis hyme ane,
quhare-of nowmer ma be nane!
& alsa, lord, blissit þu be,
þat has deygnit to schaw me
quhat reward, & quhat-kine med
þu gyfis to þame þat vil þe dred;
for, quha-sa-euir sekis þe,
but helpe þu wil nocht lat þam be.”
to ȝoȝimas þane can scho fond,
& let hyme nocht knele to þe grond,
& sad: “fadir, I coniure þe,
þat it, þat þu has hard of me,
be god oure fadir, cryst Ihesu,
verray god, in quham we trew,
þat þu tel nothyre to man na vyf,
til god haf tane me of þis lyf.
be now in pece & fare þi gat;
fore I haf sad þe þat I wat.
bot eftsonys to þe but were
þis samyn tyme of þe next ȝere
I sal apere & se þi face,
of haly gaste me helpand grace.
fore-þi þe trawale one þe tak,
þat I þe byd, for godis sake;
& quhene þis ȝere is al oure-paste,
& tyme cummyne of þe haly faste,
þu covme to Iordane þan alsone.
bot pas It nocht, as men war wone,
þat dwelt at hame in ȝoure abbay,
þat he wend nan knew bot þai.”
as mane abasit þane cryit he:
“lowynge to god euirmare be,
þat gyfis mare to his luferis
þane þai cane ask.” þan scho answeris,
sayand: “fadyr, in þine abbay
hald þe, til þe forsad day;
fore, and þu wald þe contrare profe,
þu sal na mycht haf to remofe,
til þat day þat Ihesu had
with his printese his super mad.
þan godis blud & his body
put in to weschale, þare-to worthy,
& þat ilke tyme of day,
þat ȝe ar wont of þat abbay
to cum to þe flume Iordane,
with þat relyk come þe alane,
þat I þare-with ma commond be,
& als þat preciuse thing to se.
fayre fadyr! my bowne grant me,
& bryng þat I haf askyt þe,
rycht to sancte Iohnis oratoure.
þare I was commond last before
with þat same, þat Ihesu had
with his sad printese his super mad,
þat I be mad syne partenere
with þame of þat haly supare.
& quhen þu cummys hame, þu may
to ȝour abbot, dene Iohne, say:
‘to þe & to þi folk tak hede,
for of mendynge ȝe haf gret ned!’
bot now þis say þu nocht hyme til,
bot quhat tyme god byd þe It wil.”
þane eftyre scho prayt þat ald,
þat he fore hyre mak prayere wald,
scho sped hyre syne in-to na haste
one to þe gret hol of þat waste.
þane ȝoȝomas with soroful mude
kyssyt þe erde quhare scho stud,
of kneis thankand god oft-syse,
þat s[ch]awit hyme þat sicht in þat vise;
& faste hame syne ȝed
til his abbay richt gud-spede,
ewyne throu þe wastrine þat ilke day,
þat he come fra þat abbay,
& come but let þe sammyn þare,
þar þai ware wont þat dwel[i]t þare;
& al þe ȝere þare stil can dwel,
bot þis tale wald he na man tel;
& in his hart ay prayere mad,
þat þe swet sicht, þat he sene had,
god suld hyme grant a-gane to se;
fore-þi þat ȝere to lange thocht he.
eftyre, þe next lentryn, quhen be-gonnyn
was þe fastine, þe ȝere our-[r]unnyne,
& cummyne was þe fyrst sonday,
þat þai ware wont of þare abbay
to pas, as þai [in] custum had,
with þare abbottis leif, but bad,
þan ȝoȝomas mad hyme ȝare,
as vthyre dyd, furth to fare.
þe feuire hyme tuk, & he dwelt stil,
þocht It ware agane his will.
bot quhen þat he hym vmthocht,
hou scho [had] sad þat he suld nocht
pas of his abbay, tholmoudly
he leite þat haly tyme ga by,
til þat feris thur[s]day come nere;
þane wox he sone hale & fere.
quhen his bruthire hame cumyn ware
fra wildirnes, as þai dyd ere,
þane þat day, in gret honoure,
þe sacrament of oure saweoure,
In clene weschel he tuk in hy,
as hym scho bad, reuerently.
fygis & daytis with hyme he had,
& potage als in watir mad,
& to þe kirk he come but let,
quhare scho to hyme triste set;
syne ȝed to þe vatir-syde,
& sat done, hyre come to byd.
bot, sekirly, he slepyt nocht;
for he had ay mekil thocht
one hyre, to se hyr cumyne ay.
bot quhen [he] saw scho mad delay,
cane nane þe teynd tel of disces
In til his hart þat þane was,
sayand: “allace! I wyrk in wane,
scho has bene here & gane agane.”
gowand to hewine fast, prayt he
to god, to thole hyme þar to be
nocht but sycht of þat haly face,
þat he to se before had grace.
“allace!” he sad, “sal I gange hame,
berand myn synnis fore þis blame?”
& fel eftir-wart in his thocht,
“suppos scho come, scho mycht nocht,
for fawt of bat, [pas] oure þe flume
na to me wrechit synful cume.
allace! now quhat sal word of me,
now alienit, gyf I sall be,
of þat swet sicht. it ware me wa!”
& thinkand [þis], he lukit hym fra,
& saw þat haly woman nere-hand,
ewine to þe watir gangand.
& quhene one þe ferrare bank
he saw hyre stand, god can he thank;
thinkand, þane, in his thocht
quhethyre scho mycht oure-pas ore nocht.
& sone eftyre he lukit hym fra,
& saw hyre one þe vatir ma
þe takine of þe croice verray.
þane nycht was cumyne & gane day;
bot þe mone sa clerly kyde,
þat he al þat euir scho dyd,
saw. & fra þe croice was mad
a-pone þe flume, þat was sa brad,
one þe watyre scho ȝed, but wene,
but dred, as It [one] erd had bene.
þane ȝoȝomas, þat saw þat wele,
as man abaisit beguth to knele;
bot scho wald nocht thole hyme sa do;
fore, ore scho come þe land to,
scho cryit one hyme & sad: “þu wat,
þat þu of presthed has þe state,
& beris godis priuete.”
þane to þat word obeysit he.
& fra scho come a-pone þe dry,
to ȝoȝomas scho cane cry:
“blyse me, fadir! fore god, blyse me!”
In gret hast þan answert he:
“blyse me!” fore gret abaysinge hym tuk,
one þat ferly quhen he cane luk,
þat scho suld one þe vatir ga;
& til hyme-selfe he sad alsa:
“for suth, god leyt nocht þat he
hycht, þat þai suld lyk hym be,
þat þame-self ofe syne wil scoure.
fore-þi to cryste be honoure,
þat be þis woman has me schavit,
In als mykil as I ame lawit
with gud consideracione,
with mesoure of perfeccione.”
now mary swet of egipt,
of quham here I haf translat
þe story, þocht it be nocht cunnandly
In all—for royde man am I—
In ynglis townge, þat lawit men
In þare langage ma It kene,
to gere þame haf hyre in lowinge,
& to knaw quhou hewynnis kinge
Is redy ay to succure all,
þat one his modir dere wil cal,
& implese hyre with hartly wil,
& lef þare syne & serwe hyre til,
quhow late sa-euir it (be) begonnynge.
þare-fore wyne hyre, & hald hir wonnyn.
for-þi, dere lady, I þe pray,
þat wyk & sinful has bene ay,
þocht at I lat turne me to þe,
dere laydy, ȝet þu succure me,
& sauchtine me & þi sowne,
þat I ma cum with hym, to wyne
& bruk his blys with þis mary,
of quham þis tale tal[d] haf I.
& at It sa ma be,
say we Amen, parcheryte.