 | Yorkshire writers |  |
363
Poems of Ms. Thornton.
I.
[Lorde Ihesu Cryste, godd almyghty]
Lorde Ihesu Cryste, godd almyghty,I thanke þe with all my herte hally
That me man schope and mad of noghte,
And of vile matere me furthe broghte,
And my body, swa made of vile matere,
Thow knyttide to-gedire in Ioyntes sere,
And my sawle made thurghe thyne Inspayre,
& gaffe me lymmes semly & faire.
Fra a myrke downgeone þou broghte me righte,
Þat es my modirs wambe, to þis lighte;
And Efte gate me as þi barne neweborne
Thurghe baptyme, þat was þe fendes childe lorne.
And fyve wittes of body þou has gyffene me,
And skyll ware-with þey sulde rewlyde bee.
And all-if I hafe done agayns þi lawe,
Thi gudes þou will noghte fra me drawe,
That a false traytoure aganes þe es ay
And trespas agayne the here ilke daye.
Thow sendes me here thurghe þi purueance
Ilke daye my nedefull sustenance,
That es to saye, met & clathe fre,
And all þat nedfull es to me.
Thow has tholede me & venged þe noghte
Of my syne þat I hafe agayne þe wroghte,
And ȝitt suffers, & gyffes me space
To turne me to þe & take þi grace.
And ay whene I hafe fallyne in the fendis bawndone,
þou has sauede me fra fynall dampnacyone
That I ware for my wikkidnes worthy;
Bot þou has couerde me with þi mercy,
And ay has sparede me, & ȝitt spares,
And kepes me fra þe deuyllis snares,
And agayne his darttes has bene my schelde.
And has sauede me bathe in ȝouthe & elde
Fra many perells in many sere stedis,
And fra myschance & sudayne dedes.
For all thes þat I hafe rehersede here,
And for all oþer gudes & benfettes sere
That thow till me synfull caytife
Hase gracyousely done in þis lyfe,
I thanke þe, lorde, with all louynge;
And prayes þe þou take me in thi kepynge,
And saue me forthewarde as þou has done,
And graunte me þi grace, whills I here wonne,
To mende my lyfe & lyfe in clennes,
þat I may wonne with þe in blisse Endlesse.
Amen.
II.
[Almyghty god in trinite]
Almyghty god in trinite,Inewardly I thanke þe
For thy gud ded, þat þou me wroghte,
And with þi precyous blude me boghte,
And of all gud þat þou lennes me,
Lorde, blyssede mott þou be;
Honour, Ioye, & louyng
Be til þi name with-owttyne endyng.
Amen.
364
[III.]
[Lorde god alweldande]
Lorde god alweldande,I be-teche to-daye in to þi hande
My saule & my body,
And all my ffrendes specyally,
Bathe þe quik and þe dede:
Graunt them parte of my bede.
Kepe vs all in erthe here,
Fore þe prayere of thi modyr dere
And all thy haloghes þat are in heuene,
Fra þe dedly synnes seuene,
And fra fandyng of þe euyll wyghte,
And ffra sodayne dede bathe daye & nyghte.
Schelde vs fra þe paynes of hell,
þat bitter are to thole & ffell,
And with thi grace fulfill vs all,
þat redy we may be to þi call;
And late vs neuer parte fra þe.
Alls thow for vs died one a tree,
Graunte vs lorde þat [it swa bee,
Amen, Amen, pur charite.
IV.
[Ihesu, that diede one the rude for þe lufe of me]
Ihesu, that diede one the rude for þe lufe of me,
And boghte me with thi precious blode: thow hafe mercy of me;
Whatt me lettes of any thyng for to luffe the,
Be it me lefe be it me lathe, do it awaye fra me.
And boghte me with thi precious blode: thow hafe mercy of me;
Whatt me lettes of any thyng for to luffe the,
Be it me lefe be it me lathe, do it awaye fra me.
Ihesu, of whayme all trewe luffe sprynges,
That for my lufe tholede payne,
Till lusty lufe of erthely thynges
Thow thole me neuer turne agayne.
That for my lufe tholede payne,
Till lusty lufe of erthely thynges
Thow thole me neuer turne agayne.
Amen Amen Amen Amen pur charite.
V.
[Ihesu Criste, saynte Marye sonne]
Ihesu Criste, saynte Marye sonne,
Thurgh whayme þis werlde was worthily wroghte,
I pray þe come and in me wonne
And of all filthes clense my thoghte.
Thurgh whayme þis werlde was worthily wroghte,
I pray þe come and in me wonne
And of all filthes clense my thoghte.
Ihesu Criste, my godde verray,
þat of oure dere lady was borne,
þou helpe now and euer and aye,
And lat me neuer for syne be lorne.
þat of oure dere lady was borne,
þou helpe now and euer and aye,
And lat me neuer for syne be lorne.
Ihesu Criste, goddes sone of heuene,
þat for me dyede one þe rude,
I pray þe here my symple steuene,
Thurghe þe vertue of thi haly blude.
þat for me dyede one þe rude,
I pray þe here my symple steuene,
Thurghe þe vertue of thi haly blude.
Ihesu Crist, þat one þe thirde daye
Fra dede to lyffe rase thurgh thi myghte,
þou gyffe me grace the serue to paye
And þe to wirchipe day and nyghte.
Fra dede to lyffe rase thurgh thi myghte,
þou gyffe me grace the serue to paye
And þe to wirchipe day and nyghte.
Ihesu, of whayme all gudnes sprynges,
Whaym all mene awe to lufe by righte,
Thou make me to ȝeme thi biddynges
And thaym fullfill with all my myghte.
Whaym all mene awe to lufe by righte,
Thou make me to ȝeme thi biddynges
And thaym fullfill with all my myghte.
Ihesu Crist, þat tholede for me
Paynes & angers bitter & felle,
Late me neuer be partede fra þe
Ne thole þe bitter paynes of helle.
Paynes & angers bitter & felle,
Late me neuer be partede fra þe
Ne thole þe bitter paynes of helle.
365
Ihesu Criste, welle of mercy,
Of pete and of all gudnes,
Of all þe synnes þat euer did I
I pray þe gyffe me forgyffnes.
Of pete and of all gudnes,
Of all þe synnes þat euer did I
I pray þe gyffe me forgyffnes.
Ihesu, to þe I make my mane,
Ihesu, to þe I calle and crye,
Late neuer my saule with syne be slane,
For þe mekillnes of þi mercy.
Ihesu, to þe I calle and crye,
Late neuer my saule with syne be slane,
For þe mekillnes of þi mercy.
Ihesu, þat es my saueoure,
þou be my Ioy and my solace,
My helpe, my hele, my comfortoure,
And my socoure in ilke a place.
þou be my Ioy and my solace,
My helpe, my hele, my comfortoure,
And my socoure in ilke a place.
Ihesu, þat with thi blude me boghte,
Ihesu þou make me clene of syne,
And with þi lufe þou wounde my thoghte,
And late me neuer-mare fra þe twynne.
Ihesu þou make me clene of syne,
And with þi lufe þou wounde my thoghte,
And late me neuer-mare fra þe twynne.
Ihesu, I couayte to lufe the,
And þat es hally my ȝernynge;
þare-fore to lufe þe þou lere me,
And I thi lufe sall synge.
And þat es hally my ȝernynge;
þare-fore to lufe þe þou lere me,
And I thi lufe sall synge.
Ihesu, thi lufe in to me sende,
And with thi lufe þou me ffede;
Ihesu, þi lufe ay in me lende,
Thi lufe euer be my saule mede.
And with thi lufe þou me ffede;
Ihesu, þi lufe ay in me lende,
Thi lufe euer be my saule mede.
Ihesu, my herte with lufe þou lyghte,
Thi lufe me make euer to forsake
All werldly Ioy, bathe day & nyghte,
And Ioy in þe anely to make.
Thi lufe me make euer to forsake
All werldly Ioy, bathe day & nyghte,
And Ioy in þe anely to make.
Ihesu, þi lufe me chaufe with-in,
So þat na thynge bot the I seke;
In thi lufe make my saule to brynne,
Thi lufe me make bathe mylde & meke.
So þat na thynge bot the I seke;
In thi lufe make my saule to brynne,
Thi lufe me make bathe mylde & meke.
Ihesu my Ioy and my louynge,
Ihesu my comforthe clere,
Ihesu my godde, Ihesu my kynge,
Ihesu with-owttene pere;
Ihesu my comforthe clere,
Ihesu my godde, Ihesu my kynge,
Ihesu with-owttene pere;
Ihesu þat all hase made of noghte,
Ihesu þat boghte me dere:
Ihesu, Ioyne þi lufe in my thoghte,
Swa þat þay neuer be sere.
Ihesu þat boghte me dere:
Ihesu, Ioyne þi lufe in my thoghte,
Swa þat þay neuer be sere.
Ihesu my dere & my drewrye,
Delyte þou arte to synge;
Ihesu my myrthe and my melodye:
In to thi lufe me brynge.
Delyte þou arte to synge;
Ihesu my myrthe and my melodye:
In to thi lufe me brynge.
Ihesu Ihesu, my hony swete,
My herte, my comforthynge:
Ihesu, all my bales þou bete,
And to þi blysse me brynge.
My herte, my comforthynge:
Ihesu, all my bales þou bete,
And to þi blysse me brynge.
Ihesu, in thi lufe wounde my thoghte,
And lyfte my herte to the;
Ihesu, my saule þat þou dere boghte,
Thi lufere mak it to bee.
And lyfte my herte to the;
Ihesu, my saule þat þou dere boghte,
Thi lufere mak it to bee.
Now Ihesu lorde, þou gyffe me grace,
If it be thi will,
That I may come vn-to þi place,
And wonne ay with the stylle.
If it be thi will,
That I may come vn-to þi place,
And wonne ay with the stylle.
Explicit Tractatus. Explicit, Amen.
Thornton Amen.
VI.
[Fadir and sone and haly gaste]
Fadir and sone and haly gaste,
Lorde, to þe I make my mone,
Stedfaste kyng of myghtes maste,
Alle-weldand gode sittand in trone:
I praye þe, lorde, þat þou þe haste
To forgyffe þat I hafe mysdone.
Lorde, to þe I make my mone,
Stedfaste kyng of myghtes maste,
Alle-weldand gode sittand in trone:
I praye þe, lorde, þat þou þe haste
To forgyffe þat I hafe mysdone.
Lorde, hafe mercy of my syne
And brynge me owte of all my care;
Euylle to doo I couthe neuer blyne,
I hafe ay wroghte agaynes þi lare;
þou rewe one me, bathe owte and In,
And hele me of my woundes sare.
And brynge me owte of all my care;
Euylle to doo I couthe neuer blyne,
I hafe ay wroghte agaynes þi lare;
þou rewe one me, bathe owte and In,
And hele me of my woundes sare.
Fadir of heuene, þat all may,
I pray þe, lorde, þat þou me lede
In stabyll trouthe þe ryghte way;
At myne Endynge, whene I sall drede,
Thi grace I aske bathe nyghte & day;
Hafe mercy now of my mysdede.
Of myne askynge say me noghte nay,
Bot helpe me, lorde, att all my nede.
I pray þe, lorde, þat þou me lede
In stabyll trouthe þe ryghte way;
At myne Endynge, whene I sall drede,
Thi grace I aske bathe nyghte & day;
Hafe mercy now of my mysdede.
Of myne askynge say me noghte nay,
Bot helpe me, lorde, att all my nede.
366
Swete Ihesu, þat for me was borne,
þou here my prayere loude and stille.
For paynes þat me ere laide be-forne,
Full ofte I syghe & wepis my fylle;
Full ofte haf I bene for-swourne,
When I hafe wroghte agaynes þi wille:
Thou late me neuer be forlorne,
Lorde, for my dedis ille.
þou here my prayere loude and stille.
For paynes þat me ere laide be-forne,
Full ofte I syghe & wepis my fylle;
Full ofte haf I bene for-swourne,
When I hafe wroghte agaynes þi wille:
Thou late me neuer be forlorne,
Lorde, for my dedis ille.
Haly gaste, I pray to the
Nyghte and day with gud entente:
In all my sorowe þou comforthe me,
Thi haly grace be to me sente,
And late me neuer bowndene bee
In dedly syne, þat I be schente;
For Marie lufe þat maydene free,
In whaym þou lyghte verraymente.
Nyghte and day with gud entente:
In all my sorowe þou comforthe me,
Thi haly grace be to me sente,
And late me neuer bowndene bee
In dedly syne, þat I be schente;
For Marie lufe þat maydene free,
In whaym þou lyghte verraymente.
I pray þe, lady meke and mylde,
þat þou pray for my mysdede,
For þe luffe of þat ilke childe
þat þou saghe one þe rude blede.
Ewire & ay haf I bene wylde,
My synfull saule es euer in drede:
Mercy, lady meke and mylde,
þou helpe me euer at all my nede.
þat þou pray for my mysdede,
For þe luffe of þat ilke childe
þat þou saghe one þe rude blede.
Ewire & ay haf I bene wylde,
My synfull saule es euer in drede:
Mercy, lady meke and mylde,
þou helpe me euer at all my nede.
Mercy, Mary maydene clene,
þou late me neuer in syne duelle;
Pray for me þat it be sene,
And schelde me fra þe fyre of helle.
Certis, lady, wele I wene
þat all my faamene may þou felle;
For-þi my sorowe to þe I mene,
With drery mode my tale I telle.
þou late me neuer in syne duelle;
Pray for me þat it be sene,
And schelde me fra þe fyre of helle.
Certis, lady, wele I wene
þat all my faamene may þou felle;
For-þi my sorowe to þe I mene,
With drery mode my tale I telle.
Be-thynke þe, lady, euer and ay
þat of womene þou beris þe flour;
For synfull mene, als I þe say,
Oure lorde hase done þe gret honour:
Helpe me, lady, so wele þou may,
þe behouse be my consailloure:
Of consaile, lady, I þe praye,
And also of helpe & of socoure.
þat of womene þou beris þe flour;
For synfull mene, als I þe say,
Oure lorde hase done þe gret honour:
Helpe me, lady, so wele þou may,
þe behouse be my consailloure:
Of consaile, lady, I þe praye,
And also of helpe & of socoure.
Nyghte and day, in wele & wa,
In all my sorowe þou comforthe me,
And be my schelde agayne my faa,
And kepe me, gyffe þi willes bee,
Fra dedly syne þat will me slaa.
Mercy, lady faire and ffree!
þou take þat þe es fallene fraa,
For thi mercy and þi pete.
In all my sorowe þou comforthe me,
And be my schelde agayne my faa,
And kepe me, gyffe þi willes bee,
Fra dedly syne þat will me slaa.
Mercy, lady faire and ffree!
þou take þat þe es fallene fraa,
For thi mercy and þi pete.
At myn Endynge þou stand by me,
Heyne when I sall founde and ffare,
Whene I sall qwake and dredfull be
And all my synnes so[r]we full sare:
Als ay my hope hase bene in the,
I pray þe, lady, helpe me þare,
For þe luffe of þe swotte tree
þat Ihesu sprede one his body bare.
Heyne when I sall founde and ffare,
Whene I sall qwake and dredfull be
And all my synnes so[r]we full sare:
Als ay my hope hase bene in the,
I pray þe, lady, helpe me þare,
For þe luffe of þe swotte tree
þat Ihesu sprede one his body bare.
Ihesu, for þat ilke harde stounde
þat þou walde one þe rude-tre blede,
At myne Endynge whene I sall founde
Hafe mercy, lorde, of my mysdede,
And helpe me þare of þe dedes wounde,
And kepe me þare at all my nede,
When dede me takes & brynges to grounde,
Lorde, þare I sall thi domes drede.
þat þou walde one þe rude-tre blede,
At myne Endynge whene I sall founde
Hafe mercy, lorde, of my mysdede,
And helpe me þare of þe dedes wounde,
And kepe me þare at all my nede,
When dede me takes & brynges to grounde,
Lorde, þare I sall thi domes drede.
For my synnes to do penance
Before my dede, lorde, graunt þou me,
And space of verray repentance,
Inwardly I beseke the.
In thi mercy es my fyaunce:
Of my foly þou hafe pete,
And of me take þou na vengeance,
Lorde, for þi debonerte.
Before my dede, lorde, graunt þou me,
And space of verray repentance,
Inwardly I beseke the.
In thi mercy es my fyaunce:
Of my foly þou hafe pete,
And of me take þou na vengeance,
Lorde, for þi debonerte.
Lorde, als þou erte full of myghte,
Whase lufe es swetteste for to taste:
My lyfe amende, my dedis þou ryghte,
For Marie lufe þe maydene chaste;
And brynge me to þat ilke syghte,
One þe to see þare Ioy es maste,
One þe to see þat Ioyfull syghte,
Fadir and Sonne and þe Haly gaste.
Whase lufe es swetteste for to taste:
My lyfe amende, my dedis þou ryghte,
For Marie lufe þe maydene chaste;
And brynge me to þat ilke syghte,
One þe to see þare Ioy es maste,
One þe to see þat Ioyfull syghte,
Fadir and Sonne and þe Haly gaste.
Amen.
Explicit.
367
368
IX.
[Ihesu, thi swetnes wha moghte it se]
Ihesu, thi swetnes wha moghte it se
And þare-of hafe a clere knaweynge,
All erthely lufe sulde bitter bee
Bot thyne allane, with-owttene lesynge.
I pray þe, lorde, þat lare lere mee
Aftir þi lufe to hafe langynge,
And sadly sett my herte one þe,
In þi lufe to hafe lykynge.
And þare-of hafe a clere knaweynge,
All erthely lufe sulde bitter bee
Bot thyne allane, with-owttene lesynge.
I pray þe, lorde, þat lare lere mee
Aftir þi lufe to hafe langynge,
And sadly sett my herte one þe,
In þi lufe to hafe lykynge.
So lykand lufe in erthe nane es
In saule, wha sa couthe hertly se;
To lufe hym wele ware mekill blysse:
For kyng of lufe callede es he.
With trewe lufe I walde, I-wysse,
So harde to hym bowndene be
Þat my herte ware hally hys,
And oþer lufe lykede noghte me.
In saule, wha sa couthe hertly se;
To lufe hym wele ware mekill blysse:
For kyng of lufe callede es he.
With trewe lufe I walde, I-wysse,
So harde to hym bowndene be
Þat my herte ware hally hys,
And oþer lufe lykede noghte me.
If I for kyndnes suld luf my kyne,
Ay me thynke þus in my thoghte
By kyndly skyll I sulde be-gyne
At hym, þat me gune make of noghte.
Hys semblant he sette my saule with-In,
And this werlde for me he wroghte,
As fadir of fude, my lufe to wyne,
For herytage in heuene he me boghte.
Ay me thynke þus in my thoghte
By kyndly skyll I sulde be-gyne
At hym, þat me gune make of noghte.
Hys semblant he sette my saule with-In,
And this werlde for me he wroghte,
As fadir of fude, my lufe to wyne,
For herytage in heuene he me boghte.
369
As modir, of hyme I may make mynde,
Þat are my byrthe to me tuke hede,
And seyne with baptyme weschede þat strynde
With synne was fylede with Adames dede;
With nobill mete he nureschede my kynde,
For with his flesche he walde me fede—
A better fude may na mane fynde,
For to lastande lyfe it will vs lede.
Þat are my byrthe to me tuke hede,
And seyne with baptyme weschede þat strynde
With synne was fylede with Adames dede;
With nobill mete he nureschede my kynde,
For with his flesche he walde me fede—
A better fude may na mane fynde,
For to lastande lyfe it will vs lede.
My broþer and syster he es by skyll,
For he saide & lerede þat lare
Þat wha sa dide his fadyr will,
Systers and breþer till hym þay ware;
My kynde also he tuke þare-till.
Full trewly I tryste þare-fore
Þat he will neuer lat me spyll,
Bot with his mercy sal[u]e my sore.
For he saide & lerede þat lare
Þat wha sa dide his fadyr will,
Systers and breþer till hym þay ware;
My kynde also he tuke þare-till.
Full trewly I tryste þare-fore
Þat he will neuer lat me spyll,
Bot with his mercy sal[u]e my sore.
Eftyr his lufe me bude lange
For he has myne full dere boghte:
When I was went fra hym with wrange,
Fra heuene to erthe he me soghte,
My wrechede kynde for me he fange
And all his noblay sette at noghte,
Pouerte he suffirde & penance strange,
To blysse agayne are he me broghte.
For he has myne full dere boghte:
When I was went fra hym with wrange,
Fra heuene to erthe he me soghte,
My wrechede kynde for me he fange
And all his noblay sette at noghte,
Pouerte he suffirde & penance strange,
To blysse agayne are he me broghte.
Whene I was thralle, to make me fre
Mi lufe fra heuene till erthe hym ledde.
My lufe allane hafe walde he,
(And þat my saule sulde sauede bee:)
Þare-fore he laide his lyfe in wedde;
With my faa he faughte for mee,
Woundide he was & bitterly bledde,
His precyous blude full of plentee
Full petevosely for me was schede.
Mi lufe fra heuene till erthe hym ledde.
My lufe allane hafe walde he,
(And þat my saule sulde sauede bee:)
Þare-fore he laide his lyfe in wedde;
With my faa he faughte for mee,
Woundide he was & bitterly bledde,
His precyous blude full of plentee
Full petevosely for me was schede.
His sydes full bla and bludy ware,
That sum-tyme ware full brighte of blee;
His herte was perchede with a spere;
His bludy woundes was reuthe to see.
My raunsone, I-wys, he payede þare
And gaffe his lyfe for gylte of me.
His dulefull dede burde do me dere
And perche myne herte for pure petee.
That sum-tyme ware full brighte of blee;
His herte was perchede with a spere;
His bludy woundes was reuthe to see.
My raunsone, I-wys, he payede þare
And gaffe his lyfe for gylte of me.
His dulefull dede burde do me dere
And perche myne herte for pure petee.
For pete myne herte burde breke in-two,
To his kyndenes if I tuke hede:
Enchesone I was of all his wo,
He sufferde full harde for my mysdede;
To lastand lyfe for I sulde goo,
The dede he tholede in his manhede.
When his will was, to lyfe also
He rasse agayne thurghe his godhede.
To his kyndenes if I tuke hede:
Enchesone I was of all his wo,
He sufferde full harde for my mysdede;
To lastand lyfe for I sulde goo,
The dede he tholede in his manhede.
When his will was, to lyfe also
He rasse agayne thurghe his godhede.
Till heuene he wente with mekill blysse,
Whene he hade venqwyste his bataile.
His banere full brade displayede es,
When so my faa will me assaile.
Wele aghte myne herte þane to be his,
For he es þat frende þat neuer will faile;
And na thynge he will [hafe], I-wys,
Bot trewe lufe for his trauaile.
Whene he hade venqwyste his bataile.
His banere full brade displayede es,
When so my faa will me assaile.
Wele aghte myne herte þane to be his,
For he es þat frende þat neuer will faile;
And na thynge he will [hafe], I-wys,
Bot trewe lufe for his trauaile.
Thus walde my spouse for me fyghte,
And woundide for me he was full sare,
For my lufe his dede was dyghte:
What kyndnes myghte he do me mare?
To ȝelde hym his lufe hafe I na myghte,
Bot lufe hym lelly I sulde þare-fore,
And wyrke his will with werkes ryghte,
That he me leryde with lufely lore.
And woundide for me he was full sare,
For my lufe his dede was dyghte:
What kyndnes myghte he do me mare?
To ȝelde hym his lufe hafe I na myghte,
Bot lufe hym lelly I sulde þare-fore,
And wyrke his will with werkes ryghte,
That he me leryde with lufely lore.
His lufly lare with werkes fulfill
Wele aghte me wreche, if I ware kynde;
Nyghte and daye to wirke his will,
And euermare hafe hym in mynde.
Bot gastely Enemyse greues me ill,
And my frele flesche makes me blynde;
Thare-fore his mercy I take me till,
For bettire bute I kane nane fynde.
Wele aghte me wreche, if I ware kynde;
Nyghte and daye to wirke his will,
And euermare hafe hym in mynde.
Bot gastely Enemyse greues me ill,
And my frele flesche makes me blynde;
Thare-fore his mercy I take me till,
For bettire bute I kane nane fynde.
Bettire bute es nane to me
Bot till his mercy trewly me take,
That with his blude made me fre
And me, a wreche, his sune walde make.
I praye þat lorde for his pete,
For my synne noghte me forsake,
Bot gyffe me grace syne for to flee,
And in his lufe lat me neuer slake.
Bot till his mercy trewly me take,
That with his blude made me fre
And me, a wreche, his sune walde make.
I praye þat lorde for his pete,
For my synne noghte me forsake,
Bot gyffe me grace syne for to flee,
And in his lufe lat me neuer slake.
370
A Ihesu, for þe swetnes þat in the es,
Hafe mynde of me when I sall wende;
With stedfaste trouthe my wittes wysse,
And defende me fra þe fende;
For þi mercy forgyffe me my mysse,
That wikkede werkes my saule ne schende;
Bot brynge me, lorde, vn-to þi blysse,
With þe to wonne with-owttene Ende.
Hafe mynde of me when I sall wende;
With stedfaste trouthe my wittes wysse,
And defende me fra þe fende;
For þi mercy forgyffe me my mysse,
That wikkede werkes my saule ne schende;
Bot brynge me, lorde, vn-to þi blysse,
With þe to wonne with-owttene Ende.
Amen.
Explicit.
372
XI.
[The begynnyng es of thre]
The begynnyng es of thre,
Full mekill þerin men may see,
And for-thi I will, or I passe,
Schewe whate man firste was.
Whilom, when a man was noghte,
Bothe vnfourme and vnforthe-broghte,
He was getyne, als it was knawene,
Thurgh sedis man and sedis sawene;
His modir consayued hym synfully,
And bare hym sythene in hir body
With mekill bale bothe nyghtes & dayes,
Als Dauid in the psaltyre sayse:
Full mekill þerin men may see,
And for-thi I will, or I passe,
Schewe whate man firste was.
Whilom, when a man was noghte,
Bothe vnfourme and vnforthe-broghte,
He was getyne, als it was knawene,
Thurgh sedis man and sedis sawene;
His modir consayued hym synfully,
And bare hym sythene in hir body
With mekill bale bothe nyghtes & dayes,
Als Dauid in the psaltyre sayse:
Ecce enim [in] iniquitatibus conceptus sum, & in peccatis concepit me mater mea,
“Loo, he sayse, whate manes kynd es:
I am consayued in wykkydnes,
And my modir consayued me
In mekill syne and caytefete”.
Than duelled mane in a dongeowne,
In care and grete corupcione;
Thare he fande none oþer fode
Bot wlatesome glete & lopird blode
& stynke & fylthe, als I sayd are,
With the[r] he was fyrste noresched þare.
And þer-after, whene he borne sold bee,
Bathe hade bale his modir and he.
To þe werlde he com a wrechid wyghte,
Bathe withowttene strenghe & myghte;
Nowþer myghte he go ne stande,
Ne helpe hym-selfe with fote ne hande.
Man es mare wrechide, borne in bedde,
Þan bestes þat in forestes are bredde:
For ylke a beste one grownde will ga
Als-tyte efter þe byrthe, to or fraa,
And man may noþer ga ne crepe,
Bot lygge welterand with wa & wepe.
The kynde es so combyrde with kare,
It kane noghte do bot cry and rare;
And by þe cryinge knawe þay þane
Wheþer it be mane or womane.
And it [es] tane by lettirs twa:
If it be man, þan sayse it A:
Þat letter es firste of his name
Þat was oure forme-fadir Adame;
And if þe childe a woman bee,
When it es borne þan sayse it E:
And þat letter es firste alswa
Of one þat wroghte vs all oure waa.
There-fore a clerkke on þis manere
Made this verse of metir here:
I am consayued in wykkydnes,
And my modir consayued me
In mekill syne and caytefete”.
Than duelled mane in a dongeowne,
In care and grete corupcione;
Thare he fande none oþer fode
Bot wlatesome glete & lopird blode
& stynke & fylthe, als I sayd are,
With the[r] he was fyrste noresched þare.
And þer-after, whene he borne sold bee,
Bathe hade bale his modir and he.
To þe werlde he com a wrechid wyghte,
Bathe withowttene strenghe & myghte;
Nowþer myghte he go ne stande,
Ne helpe hym-selfe with fote ne hande.
Man es mare wrechide, borne in bedde,
Þan bestes þat in forestes are bredde:
For ylke a beste one grownde will ga
Als-tyte efter þe byrthe, to or fraa,
And man may noþer ga ne crepe,
Bot lygge welterand with wa & wepe.
The kynde es so combyrde with kare,
It kane noghte do bot cry and rare;
And by þe cryinge knawe þay þane
Wheþer it be mane or womane.
And it [es] tane by lettirs twa:
If it be man, þan sayse it A:
Þat letter es firste of his name
Þat was oure forme-fadir Adame;
And if þe childe a woman bee,
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And þat letter es firste alswa
Of one þat wroghte vs all oure waa.
There-fore a clerkke on þis manere
Made this verse of metir here:
Dicentes E vel A, quotquot nascuntur ab Eua,
He sayse: “all tha þat sall be borne
Of Eue, als I hafe said be-forne,
At þaire berynge whate-some þay bee,
Thay sall saye owþer A or E.”
And þus es all owre begynynge
With greuosnes & gret gretynge,
And cares þat kyndly comes to vs;
And for-thi Innocent sayse thus:
Of Eue, als I hafe said be-forne,
At þaire berynge whate-some þay bee,
Thay sall saye owþer A or E.”
And þus es all owre begynynge
With greuosnes & gret gretynge,
And cares þat kyndly comes to vs;
And for-thi Innocent sayse thus:
Omnes nascimur eiulantes, vt nature nostre miseriam exprimamus,
He sayse: “alle are [we] borne gretande
And makand sorowfull semblande,
For to schewe þere oure wrechidnes”.
And for oure kynd comyne til vs es,
thus when tyme commes of our byrthe,
Alle make we murnyng & no myrthe.
When man es borne, þan es he bare
And febyll; so sall he hythene fare;
One þis thynge sold we thynke þane,
For thus sayse Iob þat haly mane:
And makand sorowfull semblande,
For to schewe þere oure wrechidnes”.
And for oure kynd comyne til vs es,
thus when tyme commes of our byrthe,
Alle make we murnyng & no myrthe.
When man es borne, þan es he bare
And febyll; so sall he hythene fare;
One þis thynge sold we thynke þane,
For thus sayse Iob þat haly mane:
Nudus egressus sum de vtero matris mee, et nudus reuertar illuc,
“Nakid, he sayse, I am comene fra
Mi modirs wambe with mekill wa,
And nakide sall I wende away,
With-owttene drede, at my laste day”.
Thus es a man at þe firste comynge
Nakid, & brynges with hym no thynge,
Bot in a rymme þat es wlatesome
Es he clede whene he sall come,
Þat es noghte bot a blody skynne,
Þat he was lathely lappede Ine
In þe wambe thare he fyrste laye,
that schamefull thynge es for to saye,
And foulle[r] to here, als sayse þe buke,
And alþer-foulleste one to luke.
Thus es ylk mane, als we may see,
Borne in care and kayteftee;
And for to dre with dole his dayes,
Als Iob sothely hym-selfe sayse:
Mi modirs wambe with mekill wa,
And nakide sall I wende away,
With-owttene drede, at my laste day”.
Thus es a man at þe firste comynge
Nakid, & brynges with hym no thynge,
Bot in a rymme þat es wlatesome
Es he clede whene he sall come,
Þat es noghte bot a blody skynne,
Þat he was lathely lappede Ine
In þe wambe thare he fyrste laye,
that schamefull thynge es for to saye,
And foulle[r] to here, als sayse þe buke,
And alþer-foulleste one to luke.
Thus es ylk mane, als we may see,
Borne in care and kayteftee;
And for to dre with dole his dayes,
Als Iob sothely hym-selfe sayse:
Homo natus de Muliere, breui viuens tempore repletur multis miseriis,
“Mane borne of womane es noghte ells
Bot lyfe[and] schorte tyme, als he telles,
And euer fulfilled of sorowes sere
Alle þe tyme þat he duellis here”.
Alswa, to be a man borne es
Euer in trauayle, as Iob witnes:
Bot lyfe[and] schorte tyme, als he telles,
And euer fulfilled of sorowes sere
Alle þe tyme þat he duellis here”.
Alswa, to be a man borne es
Euer in trauayle, as Iob witnes:
Homo nascitur ad laborem, sicut auis ad volatum,
“A man es borne trauayle to drye,
Als a fowle es for to flye”.
For in this lyfe no rystynge es,
Bot grete trauayle & besynes.
Als-swa es man, when he es borne,
the fende sone & fra god lorne,
Till he thurgh goddis grace may come
To baptyme & to crystyndome.
Thus may a mane see his lyfe ay-whare
Full of caytefte and of care.
Als a fowle es for to flye”.
For in this lyfe no rystynge es,
Bot grete trauayle & besynes.
Als-swa es man, when he es borne,
the fende sone & fra god lorne,
Till he thurgh goddis grace may come
To baptyme & to crystyndome.
Thus may a mane see his lyfe ay-whare
Full of caytefte and of care.
XII.
[Memento Homo Quod Cinis Es]
Memento Homo Quod Cinis Es,Et in cenerem Reuerteris.
Limus
Erthe owte of erthe: es wondirly wroghte,
Erthe hase getyn one erthe: a dignyte of noghte,
Erthe hase getyn one erthe: a dignyte of noghte,
Homo
Erthe appone erthe: hase sett alle his thoghte,
primus
How þat erthe appone erthe: may be heghe broghte.
374
Erthe appone erthe: wolde be a kynge;
Sordens;
Bot howe þat erthe to erthe sall: thynkis he no-thynge.
Whene erthe bredis erthe: and his rentis home brynge,
Mutare
Thane schalle erthe of erthe: hafe full harde partynge.
Nequimus;
Erthe appone erthe: wynnys castells and towrrys,
Thane saise erthe vn-to erthe: “this es alle owrris”;
Thane saise erthe vn-to erthe: “this es alle owrris”;
Vnde
Whene erthe appone erthe: hase bigged vp his bowrris,
Thane schalle erthe for erthe: suffire scharpe scowrrys.
Thane schalle erthe for erthe: suffire scharpe scowrrys.
Erthe gose appone erthe: as golde appone golde:
Superbimus?
He that gose appone erthe: gleterande as golde,
Lyke als erthe neuer-more: goo to erthe scholde,
Terram
And ȝitte schall erthe vn-to erthe: ȝa rathere þane he wolde.
Terra
Now why þat erthe luffis erthe: wondire me thynke,
Or why þat erthe for erthe: scholde oþer swete or swynke;
Or why þat erthe for erthe: scholde oþer swete or swynke;
Redimus.
For whene þat erthe appone erthe: es broghte with-in brynke,
Thane schalle erthe of erthe: hafe a foulle stynke.
Mors Soluit Omnia.
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