 | The Castell of Perseverance |  |
33
SCENE XI
Tunc ibunt SUPERBIA, IRA, INVIDIA, GULA, LUXURIA, et ACCIDIA ad AUARICIAM et dicet SUPERBIA:SUPERBIA.
What is þi wyll, Syr Coveytyse?
Why hast þou afftyr vs sent?
Whanne þou creydyst we ganne agryse
And come to þe now par asent.
Oure loue is on þe lent.
I, Pryde, Wrath, and Envye,
Gloton, Slawth, and Lecherye,
We arn cum all sex for þi crye
To be at þi commaundement.
AUARICIA.
Welcum be ȝe, breþeryn all,
And my systyr, swete Lecherye!
Wytte ȝe why I gan to call?
For ȝe must me helpe and þat in hy.
Mankynde is now com to myn hall
Wyth me to dwell, be downys dry.
Þerfore ȝe must, whatso befall,
Feffyn hym wyth ȝoure foly,
And ell ȝe don hym wronge.
For whanne Mankynd is kendly koueytous
He is provd, wrathful, and envyous;
Glotons, slaw, and lecherous
Þei arn oþyrwhyle amonge.
And my systyr, swete Lecherye!
Wytte ȝe why I gan to call?
For ȝe must me helpe and þat in hy.
Mankynde is now com to myn hall
Wyth me to dwell, be downys dry.
Þerfore ȝe must, whatso befall,
Feffyn hym wyth ȝoure foly,
And ell ȝe don hym wronge.
For whanne Mankynd is kendly koueytous
He is provd, wrathful, and envyous;
Glotons, slaw, and lecherous
Þei arn oþyrwhyle amonge.
Þus euery synne tyllyth in oþyr
And makyth Mankynde to ben a foole.
We seuene fallyn on a fodyr
Mankynd to chase to pynyngys stole.
Þerfore, Pryde, good broþyr,
And breþyryn all, take ȝe ȝour tol.
Late iche of vs take at othyr
And set Mankynd on a stomlynge stol
Whyl he is here on lyve.
Lete vs lullyn hym in oure lust
Tyl he be dreuyn to dampnynge dust.
Colde care schal ben hys crust
To deth whanne he schal dryve.
And makyth Mankynde to ben a foole.
We seuene fallyn on a fodyr
Mankynd to chase to pynyngys stole.
Þerfore, Pryde, good broþyr,
And breþyryn all, take ȝe ȝour tol.
Late iche of vs take at othyr
And set Mankynd on a stomlynge stol
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Lete vs lullyn hym in oure lust
Tyl he be dreuyn to dampnynge dust.
Colde care schal ben hys crust
To deth whanne he schal dryve.
SUPERBIA.
In gle and game I growe glad.
Mankynd, take good hed
And do as Coveytyse þe bad,
Take me in þyn hert, precyous Pride.
Loke þou be not ouyrlad,
Late no bacheler þe mysbede,
Do þe to be dowtyd and drad,
Bete boyes tyl þey blede,
Kast hem in careful kettys.
Frende, fadyr and modyr dere,
Bowe hem not in non manere,
And hold no maner man þi pere,
And vse þese new jettys.
Mankynd, take good hed
And do as Coveytyse þe bad,
Take me in þyn hert, precyous Pride.
Loke þou be not ouyrlad,
Late no bacheler þe mysbede,
Do þe to be dowtyd and drad,
Bete boyes tyl þey blede,
Kast hem in careful kettys.
Frende, fadyr and modyr dere,
Bowe hem not in non manere,
And hold no maner man þi pere,
And vse þese new jettys.
Loke þou blowe mekyl bost
Wyth longe crakows on þi schos.
Jagge þi clothis in euery cost,
And ell men schul lete þe but a goos.
It is þus, man, wel þou wost,
Þerfore do as no man dos
And euery man sette at a thost
And of þiself make gret ros.
Now se þiself on euery syde.
Euery man þou schalt schende and schelfe
And holde no man betyr þanne þiselfe.
Tyl dethys dynt þi body delfe
Put holy þyn hert in Pride.
Wyth longe crakows on þi schos.
Jagge þi clothis in euery cost,
And ell men schul lete þe but a goos.
It is þus, man, wel þou wost,
Þerfore do as no man dos
And euery man sette at a thost
And of þiself make gret ros.
Now se þiself on euery syde.
Euery man þou schalt schende and schelfe
And holde no man betyr þanne þiselfe.
Tyl dethys dynt þi body delfe
Put holy þyn hert in Pride.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Pryde, be Jhesu, þou seyst wel.
Whoso suffyr is ouyrled al day.
Whyl I reste on my rennynge whel
I schal not suffre, if þat I may.
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I loue ryth wel, and ryche aray.
Trewly I þynke, in euery sel,
On grounde to be graythyd gay
And of myselfe to take good gard.
Mykyl myrthe þou wylt me make,
Lordlyche to leue, be londe and lake.
Myn hert holy to þe I take
Into þyne owyn award.
SUPERBIA.
I þi bowre to abyde
I com to dwelle be þi syde.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Mankynde and Pride
Schal dwell togedyr euery tyde.
IRA.
Be also wroth as þou were wode.
Make þe be dred, be dalys derne.
Whoso þe wrethe, be fen or flode,
Loke þou be avengyd ȝerne.
Be redy to spylle mans blod.
Loke þou hem fere, be feldys ferne.
Alway, man, be ful of mod.
My lothly lawys loke þou lerne,
I rede, for any þynge.
Anon take venjaunce, man, I rede,
And þanne schal no man þe ouyrlede,
But of þe þey schul haue drede
And bowe to þi byddynge.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Wrethe, for þi councel hende,
Haue þou Goddys blyssynge and myn.
What caytyf of al my kende
Wyl not bowe, he schal abyn.
Wyth myn venjaunce I schal hym schende
And wrekyn me, be Goddys yne.
Raþyr or I schulde bowe or bende
I schuld be stekyd as a swyne
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Be it erly or late,
Whoso make wyth me debate
I schal hym hyttyn on þe pate
And takyn anon venjaunce.
IRA.
Wyth my rewly rothyr
I com to þe, Mankynde, my broþyr.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Wrethe, þi fayr foþyr
Makyth iche man to be vengyd on oþyr.
INVIDIA.
Envye wyth Wrathe muste dryve
To haunte Mankynde also.
Whanne any of þy neyborys wyl þryve
Loke þou haue Envye þerto.
On þe hey name I charge þe belyue
Bakbyte hym, whowso þou do.
Kyll hym anon wythowtyn knyve
And speke hym sum schame were þou go,
Be dale or downys drye.
Speke þi neybour mekyl schame,
Pot on hem sum fals fame,
Loke þou vndo hys nobyl name
Wyth me, þat am Envye.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Envye, þou art boþe good and hende
And schalt be of my counsel chefe.
Þi counsel is knowyn þorwe mankynde,
For ilke man callyth oþyr hore and thefe.
Envye, þou arte rote and rynde,
Þorwe þis werld, of mykyl myschefe.
In byttyr balys I schal hem bynde
Þat to þe puttyth any reprefe.
Cum vp to me above.
For more envye þanne is now reynynge
Was neuere syth Cryst was kynge.
Cum vp, Envye, my dere derlynge.
Þou hast Mankyndys love.
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I clymbe fro þis crofte
Wyth Mankynde to syttyn on lofte.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Cum, syt here softe,
For in abbeys þou dwellyst ful ofte.
GULA.
In gay Glotony a game þou begynne,
Ordeyn þe mete and drynkys goode.
Loke þat no tresour þou part atwynne
But þe feffe and fede wyth al kynnys fode.
Wyth fastynge schal man neuere heuene wynne,
Þese grete fasterys I holde hem wode.
Þou þou ete and drynke, it is no synne.
Fast no day, I rede, be þe rode,
Þou chyde þese fastyng cherlys.
Loke þou haue spycys of goode odoure
To feffe and fede þy fleschly floure
And þanne mayst þou bultyn in þi boure
And serdyn gay gerlys.
HUMANUM GENUS.
A, Glotony, wel I þe grete!
Soth and sad it is, þy sawe.
I am no day wel, be sty nor strete,
Tyl I haue wel fyllyd my mawe.
Fastynge is fellyd vndyr fete,
Þou I neuere faste, I ne rekke an hawe,
He seruyth of nowth, be þe rode, I lete,
But to do a mans guttys to gnawe.
To faste I wyl not fonde.
I schal not spare, so haue I reste,
To haue a mossel of þe beste.
Þe lenger schal my lyfe mow leste
Wyth gret lykynge in londe.
GULA.
Be bankys on brede,
Oþyrwhyle to spew þe spede!
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Whyl I lyf lede
Wyth fayre fode my flesche schal I fede.
LUXURIA.
Ȝa, whanne þi flesche is fayre fed,
Þanne schal I, louely Lecherye,
Be bobbyd wyth þe in bed;
Hereof serue mete and drynkys trye.
In loue þi lyf schal be led;
Be a lechour tyl þou dye.
Þi nedys schal be þe better sped
If þou ȝyf þe to fleschly folye
Tyl deth þe down drepe.
Lechery syn þe werld began
Hath avauncyd many a man.
Þerfore, Mankynd, my leue lemman,
I my cunte þou schalt crepe.
HUMANUM GENUS.
A, Lechery, wel þe be.
Mans sed in þe is sowe.
Fewe men wyl forsake þe
In any cuntre þat I knowe.
Spousebreche is a frend ryth fre,
Men vse þat mo þanne inowe.
Lechery, cum syt be me.
Þi banys be ful wyd iknowe,
Lykynge is in þi lende.
On nor oþyr, I se no wythte
Þat wyl forsake þe day ner nyth.
Þerfore cum vp, my berd bryth,
And reste þe wyth Mankynde.
LUXURIA.
I may soth synge
‘Mankynde is kawt in my slynge’.
HUMANUM GENUS.
For ony erthyly þynge,
To bedde þou muste me brynge.
ACCIDIA.
Ȝa, whanne ȝe be in bedde boþe,
Wappyd wel in worthy wede,
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But to brothelys I may brede.
Whanne þe messe-belle goth
Lye stylle, man, and take non hede.
Lappe þyne hed þanne in a cloth
And take a swet, I þe rede,
Chyrche-goynge þou forsake.
Losengerys in londe I lyfte
And dyth men to mekyl vnthryfte.
Penaunce enjoynyd men in schryfte
Is vndone, and þat I make.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Owe, Slawthe, þou seyst me skylle.
Men vse þe mekyl, God it wot.
Men lofe wel now to lye stylle
In bedde to take a morowe swot.
To chyrcheward is not here wylle;
Here beddys þei þynkyn goode and hot.
Herry, Jofferey, Jone, and Gylle
Arn leyd and logyd in a lot
Wyth þyne vnþende charmys.
Al mankynde, be þe holy rode,
Are now slawe in werkys goode.
Com nere þerfore, myn fayre foode,
And lulle me in þyne armys.
ACCIDIA.
I make men, I trowe,
In Goddys seruyse to be ryth slowe.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Com up þis þrowe.
Swyche men þou schalt fynden inowe.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Mankynde I am callyd be kynde,
Wyth curssydnesse in costys knet.
In sowre swettenesse my syth I sende,
Wyth seuene synnys sadde beset.
Mekyl myrþe I moue in mynde,
Wyth melody at my mowþis met.
My prowd pouer schal I not pende
Tyl I be putte in peynys pyt,
To helle hent fro hens.
In dale of dole tyl we are downe
We schul be clad in a gay gowne.
I se no man but þey vse somme
Of þese seuene dedly synnys.
Wyth curssydnesse in costys knet.
In sowre swettenesse my syth I sende,
Wyth seuene synnys sadde beset.
Mekyl myrþe I moue in mynde,
Wyth melody at my mowþis met.
My prowd pouer schal I not pende
Tyl I be putte in peynys pyt,
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In dale of dole tyl we are downe
We schul be clad in a gay gowne.
I se no man but þey vse somme
Of þese seuene dedly synnys.
For comounly it is seldom seyne,
Whoso now be lecherows
But of oþyr men he schal haue dysdeyne
And ben prowde or covetous.
In synne iche man is founde.
Þer is pore nor ryche, be londe ne lake,
Þat alle þese seuene wyl forsake,
But wyth on or oþyr he schal be take
And in here byttyr bondys bownde.
Whoso now be lecherows
But of oþyr men he schal haue dysdeyne
And ben prowde or covetous.
In synne iche man is founde.
Þer is pore nor ryche, be londe ne lake,
Þat alle þese seuene wyl forsake,
But wyth on or oþyr he schal be take
And in here byttyr bondys bownde.
BONUS ANGELUS.
So mekyl þe werse, weleawoo,
Þat euere good aungyl was ordeynyd þe.
Þou art rewlyd aftyr þe fende þat is þi foo
And noþynge certys aftyr me.
Weleaway, wedyr may I goo?
Man doth me bleykyn blody ble.
Hys swete sowle he wyl now slo.
He schal wepe al hys game and gle
At on dayes tyme.
Ȝe se wel all sothly in syth
I am abowte boþe day and nyth
To brynge hys sowle into blis bryth,
And hymself wyl it brynge to pyne.
MALUS ANGELUS.
No, Good Aungyl, þou art not in sesun,
Fewe men in þe feyth þey fynde.
For þou hast schewyd a ballyd resun,
Goode syre, cum blowe myn hol behynde.
Trewly man hathe non chesun
On þi God to grede and grynde,
For þat schuld cunne Cristis lessoun
In penaunce hys body he muste bynde
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Men arn loth on þe to crye
Or don penaunce for here folye.
Þerfore haue I now maystrye
Welny ouyr al mankynde.
BONUS ANGELUS.
Alas, Mankynde
Is bobbyd and blent as þe blynde.
In feyth, I fynde,
To Crist he can nowt be kynde.
Alas, Mankynne
Is soylyd and saggyd in synne.
He wyl not blynne
Tyl body and sowle parte atwynne.
Alas, he is blendyd,
Amys mans lyf is ispendyd,
Wyth fendys fendyd.
Mercy, God, þat man were amendyd!
CONFESSIO.
What, mans Aungel, good and trewe,
Why syest þou and sobbyst sore?
Sertys sore it schal me rewe
If I se þe make mornynge more.
May any bote þi bale brewe
Or any þynge þi stat astore?
For all felechepys olde and newe
Why makyst þou grochynge vndyr gore
Wyth pynynge poyntys pale?
Why was al þis gretynge gunne
Wyth sore syinge vndyr sunne?
Tell me and I schal, if I cunne,
Brewe þe bote of bale.
BONUS ANGELUS.
Of byttyr balys þou mayste me bete,
Swete Schryfte, if þat þou wylt.
For Mankynde it is þat I grete;
He is in poynt to be spylt.
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And wyl certys tyl he be kylt.
Wyth me he þynkyth neueremore to mete,
He hath me forsake, and I haue no gylt.
No man wyl hym amende.
Þerfore, Schryfte, so God me spede,
But if þou helpe at þis nede
Mankynde getyth neuere oþyr mede
But peyne wythowtyn ende.
CONFESCIO.
What, Aungel, be of counfort stronge,
For þi lordys loue þat deyed on tre.
On me, Schryfte, it schal not be longe
And þat þou schalt þe sothe se.
If he wyl be aknowe hys wronge
And noþynge hele, but telle it me,
And don penaunce sone amonge,
I schal hym stere to gamyn and gle
In joye þat euere schal last.
Whoso schryue hym of hys synnys alle
I behete hym heuene halle.
Þerfor go we hens, whatso befalle,
To Mankynde fast.
Tunc ibunt ad HUMANUM GENUS et dicet
CONFESSIO.
What, Mankynde, whou goth þis?
What dost þou wyth þese deuelys seuene?
Alas, alas, man, al amys!
Blysse in þe name of God in heuene,
I rede, so haue I rest.
Þese lotly lordeynys awey þou lyfte
And cum doun and speke wyth Schryfte
And drawe þe ȝerne to sum thryfte.
Trewly it is þe best.
HUMANUM GENUS.
A, Schryfte, þou art wel be note
Here to Slawthe þat syttyth here-inne.
He seyth þou mytyst a com to mannys cote
On Palme Sunday al betyme.
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Þerfore, Schryfte, be þi fay,
Goo forthe tyl on Good Fryday.
Tente to þe þanne wel I may;
I haue now ellys to done.
CONFESCIO.
Ow, þat harlot is now bold!
In bale he byndyth Mankynd belyue.
Sey Slawthe I preyd hym þat he wold
Fynd a charter of þi lyue.
Man, þou mayst ben vndyr mold
Longe or þat tyme, kyllyd wyth a knyue,
Wyth podys and froskys manyfold.
Þerfore schape þe now to schryue
If þou wylt com to blys.
Þou synnyste, or sorwe þe ensense.
Behold þynne hert, þi preue spense,
And þynne owyn consyense,
Or sertys þou dost amys.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Ȝa, Petyr, so do mo!
We haue etyn garlek euerychone.
Þou I schulde to helle go,
I wot wel I schal not gon alone,
Trewly I tell þe.
I dyd neuere so ewyl trewly
But oþyr han don as ewyl as I.
Þerfore, syre, lete be þy cry
And go hens fro me.
PENITENCIA.
Wyth poynt of penaunce I schal hym prene
Mans pride for to felle.
Wyth þis launce I schal hym lene
Iwys a drope of mercy welle.
Sorwe of hert is þat I mene;
Trewly þer may no tunge telle
What waschyth sowlys more clene
Fro þe foul fend of helle
Þanne swete sorwe of hert.
God, þat syttyth in heuene on hye,
Askyth no more or þat þou dye
But sorwe of hert wyth wepynge eye
For all þi synnys smert.
Mans pride for to felle.
Wyth þis launce I schal hym lene
Iwys a drope of mercy welle.
Sorwe of hert is þat I mene;
Trewly þer may no tunge telle
What waschyth sowlys more clene
Fro þe foul fend of helle
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God, þat syttyth in heuene on hye,
Askyth no more or þat þou dye
But sorwe of hert wyth wepynge eye
For all þi synnys smert.
Þei þat syh in synnynge,
In sadde sorwe for here synne,
Whanne þei schal make here endynge,
Al here joye is to begynne.
Þanne medelyth no mornynge
But joye is joynyd wyth jentyl gynne.
Þerfore, Mankynde, in þis tokenynge,
Wyth spete of spere to þe I spynne,
Goddys lawys to þe I lerne.
Wyth my spud of sorwe swote
I reche to þyne hert rote.
Al þi bale schal torne þe to bote.
Mankynde, go schryue þe ȝerne.
In sadde sorwe for here synne,
Whanne þei schal make here endynge,
Al here joye is to begynne.
Þanne medelyth no mornynge
But joye is joynyd wyth jentyl gynne.
Þerfore, Mankynde, in þis tokenynge,
Wyth spete of spere to þe I spynne,
Goddys lawys to þe I lerne.
Wyth my spud of sorwe swote
I reche to þyne hert rote.
Al þi bale schal torne þe to bote.
Mankynde, go schryue þe ȝerne.
HUMANUM GENUS.
A sete of sorwe in me is set;
Sertys for synne I syhe sore.
Mone of mercy in me is met;
For werldys myrþe I morne more.
In wepynge wo my wele is wet.
Mercy, þou muste myn stat astore.
Fro oure lordys lyth þou hast me let,
Sory synne, þou grysly gore,
Owte on þe, dedly synne!
Synne, þou haste Mankynde schent.
In dedly synne my lyfe is spent.
Mercy, God omnipotent!
In ȝoure grace I begynne.
Sertys for synne I syhe sore.
Mone of mercy in me is met;
For werldys myrþe I morne more.
In wepynge wo my wele is wet.
Mercy, þou muste myn stat astore.
Fro oure lordys lyth þou hast me let,
Sory synne, þou grysly gore,
Owte on þe, dedly synne!
Synne, þou haste Mankynde schent.
In dedly synne my lyfe is spent.
Mercy, God omnipotent!
In ȝoure grace I begynne.
For þou Mankynde haue don amys,
And he wyl falle in repentaunce,
Crist schal hym bryngyn to bowre of blys
If sorwe of hert lache hym wyth launce.
Lordyngys, ȝe se wel alle þys,
Mankynde hathe ben in gret bobaunce.
I now forsake my synne iwys
And take me holy to Penaunce.
On Crist I crye and calle.
A, mercy, Schryfte! I wyl no more.
For dedly synne myn herte is sore.
Stuffe Mankynde wyth þyne store
And haue hym to þyne halle.
And he wyl falle in repentaunce,
Crist schal hym bryngyn to bowre of blys
If sorwe of hert lache hym wyth launce.
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Mankynde hathe ben in gret bobaunce.
I now forsake my synne iwys
And take me holy to Penaunce.
On Crist I crye and calle.
A, mercy, Schryfte! I wyl no more.
For dedly synne myn herte is sore.
Stuffe Mankynde wyth þyne store
And haue hym to þyne halle.
CONFESCIO.
Schryffte may no man forsake.
Whanne Mankynde cryeth I am redy.
Whanne sorwe of hert þe hathe take
Schryfte profytyth veryly.
Whoso for synne wyl sorwe make
Crist hym heryth whanne he wyl criye.
Now, man, lete sorwe þyn synne slake
And torne not ageyn to þi folye,
For þat makyth dystaunce.
And if it happe þe turne ageyn to synne,
For Goddys loue lye not longe þerinne.
He þat dothe alwey ewyl and wyl not blynne,
Þat askyth gret venjaunce.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Nay sertys þat schal I not do,
Schryfte, þou schalte þe sothe se;
For þow Mankynde be wonte þerto
I wyl now al amende me.
Tunc descendit ad CONFESSIONEM
I com to þe, Schryfte, alholy, lo!
I forsake ȝou, synnys, and fro ȝou fle.
Ȝe schapyn to man a sory scho;
Whanne he is begylyd in þis degre
Ȝe bleykyn al hys ble.
Synne, þou art a sory store.
Þou makyst Mankynd to synke sore.
Þerfore of ȝou wyl I no more.
I aske schryfte for charyte.
46
If þou wylt be aknowe here
Only al þi trespas,
I schal þe schelde fro helle fere
And putte þe fro peyne vnto precyouse place.
If þou wylt not make þynne sowle clere
But kepe hem in þyne hert cas,
Anoþyr day þey schul be rawe and rere
And synke þi sowle to Satanas
In gastful glowynge glede.
Þerfore, man, in mody monys,
If þou wylt wende to worþi wonys,
Schryue þe now, al at onys,
Holy of þi mysdede.
HUMANUM GENUS.
A, ȝys, Schryfte, trewly I trowe,
I schal not spare, for odde nor even,
Þat I schal rekne al on a rowe
To lache me up to lyuys leuene.
To my Lord God I am aknowe
Þat syttyth abouen in hey heuene
Þat I haue synnyd many a þrowe
In þe dedly synnys seuene,
Boþe in home and halle.
Pride, Wrathe, and Envye,
Coueytyse and Lecherye,
Slawth and also Glotonye,
I haue hem vsyd alle.
I schal not spare, for odde nor even,
Þat I schal rekne al on a rowe
To lache me up to lyuys leuene.
To my Lord God I am aknowe
Þat syttyth abouen in hey heuene
Þat I haue synnyd many a þrowe
In þe dedly synnys seuene,
Boþe in home and halle.
Pride, Wrathe, and Envye,
Coueytyse and Lecherye,
Slawth and also Glotonye,
I haue hem vsyd alle.
Þe ten comaundementys brokyn I haue
And my fyue wyttys spent hem amys.
I was þanne wood and gan to raue.
Mercy, God, forgeue me þys!
Whanne any pore man gan to me craue
I gafe hym nowt, and þat forþynkyth me iwys.
Now, Seynt Saueour, ȝe me saue
And brynge me to ȝour boure of blys!
I can not alle say.
But to þe erthe I knele adown,
Boþe wyth bede and orisoun,
And aske myn absolucioun,
Syr Schryfte, I ȝou pray.
And my fyue wyttys spent hem amys.
I was þanne wood and gan to raue.
Mercy, God, forgeue me þys!
Whanne any pore man gan to me craue
I gafe hym nowt, and þat forþynkyth me iwys.
Now, Seynt Saueour, ȝe me saue
And brynge me to ȝour boure of blys!
I can not alle say.
But to þe erthe I knele adown,
47
And aske myn absolucioun,
Syr Schryfte, I ȝou pray.
CONFESCIO.
Now Jhesu Cryste, God holy,
And all þe seyntys of heuene hende,
Petyr and Powle, apostoly,
To whom God ȝafe powere to lese and bynde,
He forȝeue þe þi foly
Þat þou hast synnyd wyth hert and mynde.
And I up my powere þe asoly
Þat þou hast ben to God vnkynde,
Quantum peccasti.
In Pride, Ire, and Envye,
Slawthe, Glotony, and Lecherye,
And Coveytyse continuandelye
Vitam male continuasti.
And all þe seyntys of heuene hende,
Petyr and Powle, apostoly,
To whom God ȝafe powere to lese and bynde,
He forȝeue þe þi foly
Þat þou hast synnyd wyth hert and mynde.
And I up my powere þe asoly
Þat þou hast ben to God vnkynde,
Quantum peccasti.
In Pride, Ire, and Envye,
Slawthe, Glotony, and Lecherye,
And Coveytyse continuandelye
Vitam male continuasti.
I þe asoyle wyth goode entent
Of alle þe synnys þat þou hast wrowth
In brekynge of Goddys commaundement
In worde, werke, wyl, and þowth.
I restore to þe sacrament
Of penauns weche þou neuere rowt;
Þi fyue wyttys mysdyspent
In synne þe weche þou schuldyst nowt,
Quicquid gesisti,
Wyth eyne sen, herys herynge,
Nose smellyd, mowthe spekynge,
And al þi bodys bad werkynge,
Vicium quodcumque fecisti.
Of alle þe synnys þat þou hast wrowth
In brekynge of Goddys commaundement
In worde, werke, wyl, and þowth.
I restore to þe sacrament
Of penauns weche þou neuere rowt;
Þi fyue wyttys mysdyspent
In synne þe weche þou schuldyst nowt,
Quicquid gesisti,
Wyth eyne sen, herys herynge,
Nose smellyd, mowthe spekynge,
And al þi bodys bad werkynge,
Vicium quodcumque fecisti.
I þe asoyle wyth mylde mod
Of al þat þou hast ben ful madde
In forsakynge of þyn aungyl good,
And þi fowle Flesche þat þou hast fadde,
Þe Werld, þe Deuyl þat is so woode,
And folwyd þyne aungyl þat is so badde.
To Jhesu Crist þat deyed on rode
I restore þe ageyn ful sadde.
Noli peccare.
And all þe goode dedys þat þou haste don
And all þi tribulacyon
Stonde þe in remyssion.
Posius noli viciare.
Of al þat þou hast ben ful madde
In forsakynge of þyn aungyl good,
And þi fowle Flesche þat þou hast fadde,
Þe Werld, þe Deuyl þat is so woode,
And folwyd þyne aungyl þat is so badde.
48
I restore þe ageyn ful sadde.
Noli peccare.
And all þe goode dedys þat þou haste don
And all þi tribulacyon
Stonde þe in remyssion.
Posius noli viciare.
HUMANUM GENUS.
Now, Syr Schryfte, where may I dwelle
To kepe me fro synne and woo?
A comly counseyl ȝe me spelle
To fende me now fro my foo.
If þese seuene synnys here telle
Þat I am þus fro hem goo,
Þe Werld, þe Flesche, and þe Deuyl of hell
Schul sekyn my soule for to sloo
Into balys bowre.
Þerfore I pray ȝou putte me
Into sum place of surete
Þat þei may not harmyn me
Wyth no synnys sowre.
CONFESCIO.
To swyche a place I schal þe kenne
Þer þou mayst dwelle wythoutyn dystaunsce
And alwey kepe þe fro synne,
Into þe Castel of Perseueraunce.
If þou wylt to heuene wynne
And kepe þe fro werldyly dystaunce,
Goo to ȝone castel and kepe þe þerinne,
For it is strenger þanne any in Fraunce.
To ȝone castel I þe seende.
Þat castel is a precyous place,
Ful of vertu and of grace;
Whoso leuyth þere hys lyuys space
No synne schal hym schende.
HUMANUM GENUS.
A, Schryfte, blessyd mote þou be!
Þis castel is here but at honde.
Þedyr rapely wyl I tee,
Sekyr ouyr þis sad sonde.
49
Whyle I leue here in þis londe.
Fro fowle fylthe now I fle,
Forthe to faryn now I fonde
To ȝone precyous port.
Lord, what man is in mery lyue
Whanne he is of hys synnys schreue!
Al my dol adoun is dreue.
Criste is myn counfort.
MALUS ANGELUS.
Ey, what deuyl, man, wedyr schat?
Woldyst drawe now to holynesse?
Goo, felaw, þi goode gate,
Þou art forty wyntyr olde, as I gesse.
Goo ageyn, þe deuelys mat,
And pleye þe a whyle wyth Sare and Sysse.
Sche wolde not ellys, ȝone olde trat,
But putte þe to penaunce and to stresse,
Ȝone foule feterel fyle.
Late men þat arn on þe pyttys brynke
Forberyn boþe mete and drynke
And do penaunce as hem good þynke,
And cum and pley þe a whyle.
BONUS ANGELUS.
Ȝa, Mankynde, wende forthe þi way
And do noþynge aftyr hys red.
He wolde þe lede ouyr londys lay
In dale of dros tyl þou were ded.
Of cursydnesse he kepyth þe key
To bakyn þe a byttyr bred.
In dale of dol tyl þou schudyst dey
He wolde drawe þe to cursydhed,
In synne to haue myschaunce.
Þerfor spede now þy pace
Pertly to ȝone precyouse place
Þat is al growyn ful of grace,
Þe Castel of Perseueraunce.
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Goode Aungyl, I wyl do as þou wylt,
In londe whyl my lyfe may leste,
For I fynde wel in holy wryt
Þou counseylyste euere for þe beste.
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