 | Mankind |  |
SCENE II
MYSCHEFF.
Alas, alasse, þat euer I was wrought!
Alasse þe whyll, I wers þen nought!
Sythyn I was here, by hym þat me bought,
I am wtterly ondon!
I, Myscheff, was here at þe begynnynge of þe game
Ande arguyde wyth Mercy, Gode gyff hym schame!
He hath taught Mankynde, wyll I haue be vane,
To fyght manly ageyn hys fon.
Alasse þe whyll, I wers þen nought!
Sythyn I was here, by hym þat me bought,
I am wtterly ondon!
I, Myscheff, was here at þe begynnynge of þe game
Ande arguyde wyth Mercy, Gode gyff hym schame!
He hath taught Mankynde, wyll I haue be vane,
To fyght manly ageyn hys fon.
For wyth hys spade, þat was hys wepyn,
Neu Gyse, Nowadays, Nought hath all to-beton.
I haue grett pyte to se þem wepyn.
Wyll ȝe lyst? I here þem crye.
ClamantNeu Gyse, Nowadays, Nought hath all to-beton.
I haue grett pyte to se þem wepyn.
Wyll ȝe lyst? I here þem crye.
Alasse, alasse! cum hether, I xall be yowr borow.
Alac, alac! ven, ven! cum hethere wyth sorowe!
Pesse, fayer babys, ȝe xall haue a nappyll to-morow!
Why grete ȝe so, why?
Alac, alac! ven, ven! cum hethere wyth sorowe!
Pesse, fayer babys, ȝe xall haue a nappyll to-morow!
Why grete ȝe so, why?
168
Alasse, master, alasse, my privyte!
MYSCHEFF.
A, wher? alake! fayer babe, ba me!
Abyde! to son I xall yt se.
NOWADAYS.
Here, here, se my hede, goode master!
MYSCHEFF.
Lady, helpe! sely darlynge, ven, ven!
I xall helpe þe of þi peyn;
I xall smytt of þi hede and sett yt on agayn.
NOUGHT.
By owr Lady, ser, a fayer playster!
Wyll ȝe of wyth hys hede! Yt ys a schreude charme!
As for me, I haue non harme.
I were loth to forbere myn arme.
Ȝe pley in nomine patris, choppe!
As for me, I haue non harme.
I were loth to forbere myn arme.
Ȝe pley in nomine patris, choppe!
NEU GYSE.
Ȝe xall not choppe my jewellys, and I may.
NOWADAYS.
Ȝe, Cristys crose, wyll ȝe smyght my hede awey?
Ther wer on and on! Oute! Ȝe xall not assay.
I myght well be callyde a foppe.
MYSCHEFF.
I kan choppe yt of and make yt agayn.
NEW GYSE.
I hade a schreude recumbentibus but I fele no peyn.
NOWADAYS.
Ande my hede ys all saue and holl agayn.
Now towchynge þe mater of Mankynde,
Lett ws haue an interleccyon, sythen ȝe be cum hethere.
Yt were goode to haue an ende.
MYSCHEFF.
How, how, a mynstrell! Know ȝe ony out?
NOUGHT.
I kan pype in a Walsyngham wystyll, I, Nought, Nought.
MYSCHEFF.
Blow apase, and þou xall bryng hym in wyth a flewte.
TYTIVILLUS.
I com wyth my leggys wnder me.
MYSCHEFF.
How, Neu Gyse, Nowadays, herke or I goo!
When owr hedys wer togethere I spake of si dedero.
NEU GYSE.
Ȝe, go þi wey! We xall gaþer mony onto,
Ellys þer xall no man hym se.
Ellys þer xall no man hym se.
Now gostly to owr purpos, worschypfull souerence,
We intende to gather mony, yf yt plesse yowr neclygence,
For a man wyth a hede þat ys of grett omnipotens.
We intende to gather mony, yf yt plesse yowr neclygence,
For a man wyth a hede þat ys of grett omnipotens.
169
Kepe yowr tayll, in goodness I prey yow, goode broþer!
He ys a worschyppull man, sers, sauyng yowr reuerens.
He louyth no grotys, nor pens of to pens.
Gyf ws rede reyallys yf ȝe wyll se hys abhomynabull presens.
NEW GYSE.
Not so! Ȝe þat mow not pay þe ton, pay þe toþer.
At þe goodeman of þis house fyrst we wyll assay.
Gode blysse yow, master! Ȝe say as yll, ȝet ȝe wyll not sey nay.
Lett ws go by and by and do þem pay.
Ȝe pay all alyke; well mut ȝe fare!
Gode blysse yow, master! Ȝe say as yll, ȝet ȝe wyll not sey nay.
Lett ws go by and by and do þem pay.
Ȝe pay all alyke; well mut ȝe fare!
NOUGHT.
I sey, New Gyse, Nowadays: ‘Estis vos pecuniatus?’
I haue cryede a fayer wyll, I beschrew yowr patus!
NOWADAYS.
Ita vere, magister. Cumme forth now yowr gatus!
He ys a goodly man, sers; make space and be ware!
TITIVILLUS.
Ego sum dominancium dominus and my name ys Titivillus.
Ȝe þat haue goode hors, to yow I sey caueatis!
Here ys an abyll felyschyppe to tryse hem out at yowr gatys.
Loquitur ad NEW GYSE:
Ego probo sic: ser New Gys, lende me a peny!
NEW GYSE.
I haue a grett purse, ser, but I haue no monay.
By þe masse, I fayll to farthyngys of an halpeny;
Ȝyt hade I ten pound þis nyght þat was.
TITYUILLUS
loquitur ad NOWADAYS.
What ys in þi purse? þou art a stout felow.
NOWADAYS.
Þe Deull haue the qwytt! I am a clen jentyllman.
I prey Gode I be neuer wers storyde þen I am.
Yt xall be otherwyse, I hope, or þis nyght passe.
TYTIVILLUS
loquitur ad NOUGHT.
Herke now! I say þou hast many a peny.
NOUGHT.
Non nobis, domine, non nobis, by Sent Deny!
Þe Deull may daunce in my purse for ony peny;
Yt ys as clen as a byrdys ars.
170
Now I say ȝet ageyn, caueatis!
Her ys an abyll felyschyppe to tryse hem out of yowr gatys.
Her ys an abyll felyschyppe to tryse hem out of yowr gatys.
Now I sey, New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought,
Go and serche þe contre, anon yt be sowȝte,
Summe here, summe þer; what yf ȝe may cache owȝte?
Go and serche þe contre, anon yt be sowȝte,
Summe here, summe þer; what yf ȝe may cache owȝte?
Yf ȝe fayll of hors, take what ȝe may ellys.
NEW GYSE.
Then speke to Mankynde for þe recumbentibus of my jewellys.
NOWADAYS.
Remember my brokyn hede in þe worschyppe of þe fyve vowellys.
NOUGHT.
Ȝe, goode ser, and þe sytyca in my arme.
TITYUILLUS.
I know full well what Mankynde dyde to yow.
Myschyff hat informyde of all þe matere thorow.
I xall venge yowr quarell, I make Gode avow.
Forth, and espye were ȝe may do harme.
Take William Fyde, yf ȝe wyll haue ony mo.
I sey, New Gyse, wethere art þou avysyde to go?
NEW GYSE.
Fyrst I xall begyn at Master Huntyngton of Sauston,
Fro thens I xall go to Wylliam Thurlay of Hauston,
Ande so forth to Pycharde of Trumpyngton.
I wyll kepe me to þes thre.
NOWADAYS.
I xall goo to Wyllyham Baker of Waltom,
To Rycherde Bollman of Gayton;
I xall spare Master Woode of Fullburn,
He ys a noli me tangere.
NOUGHT.
I xall goo to Wyllyam Patryke of Massyngham,
I xall spare Master Alyngton of Botysam
Ande Hamonde of Soffeham,
For drede of in manus tuas qweke.
Felous, cum forth, and go we hens togethyr.
171
Syth we xall go, lett ws be well ware wethere.
If we may be take, we com no more hethyr.
Lett ws con well owr neke-verse, þat we haue not a cheke.
TITYVILLUS.
Goo yowr wey, a deull wey, go yowr wey all!
I blysse yow wyth my lyfte honde: foull yow befall!
Com agayn, I werne, as son as I yow call,
And brynge yowr avantage into þis place.
To speke wyth Mankynde I wyll tary here þis tyde
Ande assay hys goode purpose for to sett asyde.
Þe goode man Mercy xall no lenger be hys gyde.
I xall make hym to dawnce anoþer trace.
I blysse yow wyth my lyfte honde: foull yow befall!
Com agayn, I werne, as son as I yow call,
And brynge yowr avantage into þis place.
To speke wyth Mankynde I wyll tary here þis tyde
Ande assay hys goode purpose for to sett asyde.
Þe goode man Mercy xall no lenger be hys gyde.
I xall make hym to dawnce anoþer trace.
Euer I go invysybull, yt ys my jett,
Ande befor hys ey þus I wyll hange my nett
To blench hys syght; I hope to haue hys fote-mett.
To yrke hym of hys labur I xall make a frame.
Thys borde xall be hyde wnder þe erth preuely;
Hys spade xall enter, I hope, onredyly;
Be þen he hath assayde, he xall be very angry
Ande lose hys pacyens, peyn of schame.
I xall menge hys corne wyth drawke and wyth durnell;
Yt xall not be lyke to sow nor to sell.
Yondyr he commyth; I prey of cownsell.
He xall wene grace were wane.
Ande befor hys ey þus I wyll hange my nett
To blench hys syght; I hope to haue hys fote-mett.
To yrke hym of hys labur I xall make a frame.
Thys borde xall be hyde wnder þe erth preuely;
Hys spade xall enter, I hope, onredyly;
Be þen he hath assayde, he xall be very angry
Ande lose hys pacyens, peyn of schame.
I xall menge hys corne wyth drawke and wyth durnell;
Yt xall not be lyke to sow nor to sell.
Yondyr he commyth; I prey of cownsell.
He xall wene grace were wane.
MANKYND.
Now Gode of hys mercy sende ws of hys sonde!
I haue brought sede here to sow wyth my londe.
Qwyll I ouerdylew yt, here yt xall stonde.
In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti now I wyll begyn.
Thys londe ys so harde yt makyth wnlusty and yrke.
I xall sow my corn at wynter and lett Gode werke.
Alasse, my corn ys lost! here ys a foull werke!
I se well by tyllynge lytyll xall I wyn.
172
Here TITIVILLUS goth out wyth þe spade
To occupye my body I wyll not put me in deuer.
I wyll here my ewynsonge here or I dysseuer.
Thys place I assyng as for my kyrke.
Here in my kerke I knell on my kneys.
Pater noster qui es in celis.
TYTYVILLUS.
I promes yow I haue no lede on my helys.
I am here ageyn to make þis felow yrke.
I am here ageyn to make þis felow yrke.
Qwyst! pesse! I xall go to hys ere and tytyll þerin.
A schorte preyere thyrlyth hewyn; of þi preyere blyn.
Þou art holyer þen euer was ony of þi kyn.
Aryse and avent þe! nature compellys.
A schorte preyere thyrlyth hewyn; of þi preyere blyn.
Þou art holyer þen euer was ony of þi kyn.
Aryse and avent þe! nature compellys.
MANKYND.
I wyll into þi ȝerde, souerens, and cum ageyn son.
For drede of þe colyke and eke of þe ston
I wyll go do þat nedys must be don.
My bedys xall be here for whosummeuer wyll ellys.
Exiat
TITYUILLUS.
Mankynde was besy in hys prayere, ȝet I dyde hym aryse.
He ys conveyde, be Cryst, from hys dyvyn seruyce.
Wethere ys he, trow ȝe? Iwysse I am wonder wyse;
I haue sent hym forth to schyte lesynges.
Yff ȝe haue ony syluer, in happe pure brasse,
Take a lytyll powder of Parysch and cast ouer hys face,
Ande ewyn in þe howll-flyght let hym passe.
Titivillus kan lerne yow many praty thyngys.
He ys conveyde, be Cryst, from hys dyvyn seruyce.
Wethere ys he, trow ȝe? Iwysse I am wonder wyse;
I haue sent hym forth to schyte lesynges.
Yff ȝe haue ony syluer, in happe pure brasse,
Take a lytyll powder of Parysch and cast ouer hys face,
Ande ewyn in þe howll-flyght let hym passe.
Titivillus kan lerne yow many praty thyngys.
I trow Mankynde wyll cum ageyn son,
Or ellys I fere me ewynsonge wyll be don.
Hys bedys xall be trysyde asyde, and þat anon.
Ȝe xall a goode sport yf ȝe wyll abyde.
Mankynde cummyth ageyn, well fare he!
I xall answere hym ad omnia quare.
Ther xall be sett abroche a clerycall mater.
I hope of hys purpose to sett hym asyde.
Or ellys I fere me ewynsonge wyll be don.
Hys bedys xall be trysyde asyde, and þat anon.
Ȝe xall a goode sport yf ȝe wyll abyde.
Mankynde cummyth ageyn, well fare he!
I xall answere hym ad omnia quare.
Ther xall be sett abroche a clerycall mater.
I hope of hys purpose to sett hym asyde.
173
Ewynsong hath be in þe saynge, I trow, a fayer wyll.
I am yrke of yt; yt ys to longe be on myle.
Do wey! I wyll no more so oft ouer þe chyrche-style.
Be as be may, I xall do anoþer.
Of labure and preyer, I am nere yrke of both;
I wyll no more of yt, thow Mercy be wroth.
My hede ys very heuy, I tell yow forsoth.
I xall slepe full my bely and he wore my broþer.
TITYVILLUS.
Ande euer ȝe dyde, for me kepe now yowr sylence.
Not a worde, I charge yow, peyn of forty pens.
A praty game xall be scheude yow or ȝe go hens.
Ȝe may here hym snore; he ys sade aslepe.
Qwyst! pesse! þe Deull ys dede! I xall goo ronde in hys ere.
Alasse, Mankynde, alasse! Mercy stown a mere!
He ys runn away fro hys master, þer wot no man where;
Moreouer, he stale both a hors and a nete.
Not a worde, I charge yow, peyn of forty pens.
A praty game xall be scheude yow or ȝe go hens.
Ȝe may here hym snore; he ys sade aslepe.
Qwyst! pesse! þe Deull ys dede! I xall goo ronde in hys ere.
Alasse, Mankynde, alasse! Mercy stown a mere!
He ys runn away fro hys master, þer wot no man where;
Moreouer, he stale both a hors and a nete.
But ȝet I herde sey he brake hys neke as he rode in Fraunce;
But I thynke he rydyth on þe galouse, to lern for to daunce,
Bycause of hys theft, þat ys hys gouernance.
Trust no more on hym, he ys a marryde man.
Mekyll sorow wyth þi spade beforn þou hast wrought.
Aryse and aske mercy of Neu Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought.
Þei cun avyse þe for þe best; lett þer goode wyll be sought.
Ande þi own wyff brethell, and take þe a lemman.
But I thynke he rydyth on þe galouse, to lern for to daunce,
Bycause of hys theft, þat ys hys gouernance.
Trust no more on hym, he ys a marryde man.
Mekyll sorow wyth þi spade beforn þou hast wrought.
Aryse and aske mercy of Neu Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought.
Þei cun avyse þe for þe best; lett þer goode wyll be sought.
Ande þi own wyff brethell, and take þe a lemman.
Farwell, euerychon! for I haue don my game,
For I haue brought Mankynde to myscheff and to schame.
For I haue brought Mankynde to myscheff and to schame.
MANKYND.
Whope who! Mercy hath brokyn hys neke-kycher, avows,
Or he hangyth by þe neke hye wppon þe gallouse.
Adew, fayer masters! I wyll hast me to þe ale-house
Ande speke wyth New Gyse, Nowadays and Nought
174
NEW GYSE.
Make space, for cokkys body sakyrde, make space!
A ha! well ouerron! Gode gyff hym ewyll grace!
We were nere Sent Patrykes wey, by hym þat me bought.
A ha! well ouerron! Gode gyff hym ewyll grace!
We were nere Sent Patrykes wey, by hym þat me bought.
I was twychyde by þe neke; þe game was begunne.
A grace was, þe halter brast asonder: ecce signum!
The halff ys abowte my neke; we hade a nere rune!
‘Beware,’ quod þe goodewyff when sche smot of here husbondys hede, ‘beware!’
Myscheff ys a convicte, for he coude hys neke-verse.
My body gaff a swynge when I hynge wppon þe casse.
Alasse, he wyll hange such a lyghly man, and a fers,
For stelynge of an horse, I prey Gode gyf hym care!
A grace was, þe halter brast asonder: ecce signum!
The halff ys abowte my neke; we hade a nere rune!
‘Beware,’ quod þe goodewyff when sche smot of here husbondys hede, ‘beware!’
Myscheff ys a convicte, for he coude hys neke-verse.
My body gaff a swynge when I hynge wppon þe casse.
Alasse, he wyll hange such a lyghly man, and a fers,
For stelynge of an horse, I prey Gode gyf hym care!
Do wey þis halter! What deull doth Mankynde here, wyth sorow!
Alasse, how my neke ys sore, I make avowe!
Alasse, how my neke ys sore, I make avowe!
MANKYND.
Ȝe be welcom, Neu Gyse! Ser, what chere wyth yow?
NEW GYSE.
Well ser, I haue no cause to morn.
MANKYND.
What was þat abowte yowr neke, so Gode yow amende?
NEU GYSE.
In feyth, Sent Audrys holy bende.
I haue a lytyll dyshes, as yt plesse Gode to sende,
Wyth a runnynge ryngeworme.
NOWADAYS.
Stonde arom, I prey þe, broþer myn!
I haue laburryde all þis nyght; wen xall we go dyn?
A chyrche her besyde xall pay for ale, brede, and wyn.
Lo, here ys stoff wyll serue.
NEU GYSE.
Now by þe holy Mary, þou art better marchande þen I!
NOUGHT.
Avante, knawys, lett me go by!
I kan not geet and I xulde sterue.
MYSCHEFF.
Here cummyth a man of armys! Why stonde ȝe so styll?
Of murder and manslawter I haue my bely-fyll.
NOWADAYS.
What, Myscheff, haue ȝe ben in presun? And yt be yowr wyll,
Me semyth ȝe haue scoryde a peyr of fetters.
175
I was chenyde by þe armys: lo, I haue þem here.
The chenys I brast asundyr and kyllyde þe jaylere,
Ȝe, ande hys fayer wyff halsyde in a cornere;
A, how swetly I kyssyde þe swete mowth of hers!
The chenys I brast asundyr and kyllyde þe jaylere,
Ȝe, ande hys fayer wyff halsyde in a cornere;
A, how swetly I kyssyde þe swete mowth of hers!
When I hade do, I was myn owȝn bottler;
I brought awey wyth me both dysch and dublere.
Here ys anow for me; be of goode chere!
Ȝet well fare þe new chesance!
I brought awey wyth me both dysch and dublere.
Here ys anow for me; be of goode chere!
Ȝet well fare þe new chesance!
MANKYNDE.
I aske mercy of New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought.
Onys wyth my spade I remember þat I faught.
I wyll make yow amendys yf I hurt yow ought
Or dyde ony grevaunce.
NEW GYSE.
What a deull lykyth þe to be of þis dysposycyon?
MANKYNDE.
I drempt Mercy was hange, þis was my vysyon,
Ande þat to yow thre I xulde haue recors and remocyon.
Now I prey yow hertyly of yowr goode wyll.
I crye yow mercy of all þat I dyde amysse.
NOWADAYS.
I sey, New Gys, Nought, Tytivillus made all þis:
As sekyr as Gode ys in hewyn, so yt ys.
NOUGHT.
Stonde wppe on yowr feet! why stonde ȝe so styll?
NEU GYSE.
Master Myscheff, we wyll yow exort
Mankyndys name in yowr bok for to report.
MYSCHEFF.
I wyll not so; I wyll sett a corte.
Nowadays, mak proclamacyon,
And do yt sub forma jurys, dasarde!
NOWADAYS.
Oyyt! Oyȝyt! Oyet! All manere of men and comun women
To þe cort of Myschyff othere cum or sen!
Mankynde xall retorn; he ys on of owr men.
MYSCHEFF.
Nought, cum forth, þou xall be stewerde.
NEW GYSE.
Master Myscheff, hys syde gown may be tolde.
He may haue a jakett þerof, and mony tolde.
176
I wyll do for þe best, so I haue no colde.
Holde, I prey yow, and take yt wyth yow.
Ande let me haue yt ageyn in ony wyse.
NEW GYSE.
I promytt yow a fresch jakett after þe new gyse.
MANKYNDE.
Go and do þat longyth to yowr offyce,
And spare þat ȝe mow!
NOUGHT.
Holde, master Myscheff, and rede þis.
MYSCHEFF.
Here ys blottybus in blottis,
Blottorum blottibus istis.
I beschrew yowr erys, a fayer hande!
NOWADAYS.
Ȝe, yt ys a goode rennynge fyst.
Such an hande may not be myst.
NOUGHT.
I xulde haue don better, hade I wyst.
MYSCHEFF.
Take hede, sers, yt stoude you on hande.
Carici tenta generalis
In a place þer goode ale ys
Anno regni regitalis
Edwardi nullateni
On ȝestern day in Feuerere—þe ȝere passyth fully,
As Nought hath wrytyn; here ys owr Tulli,
Anno regni regis nulli!
In a place þer goode ale ys
Anno regni regitalis
Edwardi nullateni
On ȝestern day in Feuerere—þe ȝere passyth fully,
As Nought hath wrytyn; here ys owr Tulli,
Anno regni regis nulli!
NOWADAYS.
What how, Neu Gyse! Þou makyst moche taryynge.
Þat jakett xall not be worth a ferthynge.
NEW GYSE.
Out of my wey, sers, for drede of fyghtynge!
Lo, here ys a feet tayll, lyght to leppe abowte!
NOUGHT.
Yt ys not schapyn worth a morsell of brede;
Ther ys to moche cloth, yt weys as ony lede.
I xall goo and mende yt, ellys I wyll lose my hede.
Make space, sers, lett me go owte.
MYSCHEFF.
Mankynde, cum hethere! God sende yow þe gowte!
Ȝe xall goo to all þe goode felouse in þe cuntre aboute;
177
‘I wyll,’ say ȝe.
MANKYNDE.
I wyll, ser.
NEW GYSE.
There arn but sex dedly synnys, lechery ys non,
As yt may be verefyede be ws brethellys euerychon.
Ȝe xall goo robbe, stell, and kyll, as fast as ye may gon.
‘I wyll,’ sey ȝe.
MANKYNDE.
I wyll, ser.
NOWADAYS.
On Sundays on þe morow erly betyme
Ȝe xall wyth to þe all-house erly to go dyn
And forbere masse and matens, owres and prime.
‘I wyll,’ sey ȝe.
MANKYNDE.
I wyll, ser.
MYSCHEFF.
Ȝe must haue be yowr syde a longe da pacem,
As trew men ryde be þe wey for to onbrace þem,
Take þer monay, kytt þer throtys, thus ouerface þem.
‘I wyll,’ sey ȝe.
MANKYNDE.
I wyll, ser.
NOUGHT.
Here ys a joly jakett! How sey ȝe?
NEW GYSE.
Yt ys a goode jake of fence for a mannys body.
Hay, doog, hay! whoppe whoo! Go yowr wey lyghtly!
Ȝe are well made for to ren.
MYSCHEFF.
Tydyngys, tydyngys! I haue aspyede on!
Hens wyth yowr stuff, fast we were gon!
I beschrew þe last xall com to hys hom.
Dicant OMNES. Amen!
MERCY.
What how, Mankynde! Fle þat felyschyppe, I yow prey!
MANKYNDE.
I xall speke wyth þe anoþer tyme, to-morn, or þe next day.
We xall goo forth together to kepe my faders ȝer-day.
A tapster, a tapster! Stow, statt, stow!
MYSCHEFF.
A myscheff go wyth! here I haue a foull fall.
Hens, awey fro me, or I xall beschyte yow all.
NEW GYSE.
What how, ostlere, hostlere! Lende ws a football!
Whoppe whow! Anow, anow, anow, anow!
| Mankind | |