 | Wisdom |  |
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SCENE I
Fyrst enteryde WYSDOME in a ryche purpull clothe of golde wyth a mantyll of the same ermynnyde wythin, hawynge abowt hys neke a ryall hood furred wyth ermyn, wpon hys hede a cheweler wyth browys, a berde of golde of sypres curlyed, a ryche imperyall crown þerwpon sett wyth precyus stonys and perlys, in hys leyfte honde a balle of golde wyth a cros þerwppon and in hys ryght honde a regall schepter, thus seyenge:WYSDOM.
Yff ȝe wyll wet þe propyrte
Ande þe resun of my nayme imperyall,
I am clepyde of hem þat in erthe be
Euerlastynge Wysdom, to my nobley egalle;
Wyche name acordyt best in especyall
And most to me ys convenyent,
Allthow eche persone of þe Trinyte be wysdom eternall
And all thre on euerlastynge wysdome togedyr present.
Ande þe resun of my nayme imperyall,
I am clepyde of hem þat in erthe be
Euerlastynge Wysdom, to my nobley egalle;
Wyche name acordyt best in especyall
And most to me ys convenyent,
Allthow eche persone of þe Trinyte be wysdom eternall
And all thre on euerlastynge wysdome togedyr present.
Neuerþeles, forasmoche as wysdom ys propyrly
Applyede to þe Sune by resune,
And also yt fallyt to hym specyally
Bycause of hys hye generacyon,
Therfor þe belowyde Sone hathe þis sygnyficacyon
Custummaly Wysdom, now Gode, now man,
Spows of þe chyrche and wery patrone,
Wyffe of eche chose sowle. Thus Wysdom begane.
Applyede to þe Sune by resune,
And also yt fallyt to hym specyally
Bycause of hys hye generacyon,
Therfor þe belowyde Sone hathe þis sygnyficacyon
Custummaly Wysdom, now Gode, now man,
Spows of þe chyrche and wery patrone,
Wyffe of eche chose sowle. Thus Wysdom begane.
Here entrethe ANIMA as a mayde, in a wyght clothe of golde gysely purfyled wyth menyver, a mantyll of blake þerwppeon, a cheueler lyke to WYSDOM, wyth a ryche chappelet lasyde behynde
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ANIMA.
Hanc amaui et exquisiui:
Fro my yougthe thys haue I sowte
To haue to my spowse most specyally,
For a louer of yowr schappe am I wrowte.
Aboue all hele and bewty þat euer was sowght
I haue louyde Wysdom as for my lyght,
For all goodnes wyth hym ys broughte.
In wysdom I was made all bewty bryghte.
Fro my yougthe thys haue I sowte
To haue to my spowse most specyally,
For a louer of yowr schappe am I wrowte.
Aboue all hele and bewty þat euer was sowght
I haue louyde Wysdom as for my lyght,
For all goodnes wyth hym ys broughte.
In wysdom I was made all bewty bryghte.
Off yowr name þe hye felycyte
No creature knowyt full exposycyon.
No creature knowyt full exposycyon.
WYSDAM.
Sapiencia specialior est sole.
I am foundon lyghte wythowt comparyson,
Off sterrys aboue all þe dysposicyon,
Forsothe of lyght þe very bryghtnes,
Merowre of þe dyvyne domynacyon,
And þe image of hys goodnes.
I am foundon lyghte wythowt comparyson,
Off sterrys aboue all þe dysposicyon,
Forsothe of lyght þe very bryghtnes,
Merowre of þe dyvyne domynacyon,
And þe image of hys goodnes.
Wysdom ys better þan all worldly precyosnes,
And all þat may dysyryde be
Ys not in comparyschon to my lyknes.
The lengthe of þe yerys in my ryght syde be
Ande in my lefte syde ryches, joy, and prosperyte.
Lo, þis ys þe worthynes of my name.
And all þat may dysyryde be
Ys not in comparyschon to my lyknes.
The lengthe of þe yerys in my ryght syde be
Ande in my lefte syde ryches, joy, and prosperyte.
Lo, þis ys þe worthynes of my name.
ANIMA.
A, soueren Wysdom, yff yowur benygnyte
Wolde speke of loue, þat wer a game.
WYSDOM.
Off, my loue to speke, yt ys myrable.
Beholde now, Sowll, wyth joyfull mynde,
How louely I am, how amyable,
To be halsyde and kyssyde of mankynde.
To all clene sowlys I am full hende
And euer present wer þat þey be;
I loue my lovers wythowtyn ende
That þer loue haue stedfast in me.
Beholde now, Sowll, wyth joyfull mynde,
How louely I am, how amyable,
To be halsyde and kyssyde of mankynde.
To all clene sowlys I am full hende
And euer present wer þat þey be;
I loue my lovers wythowtyn ende
That þer loue haue stedfast in me.
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The prerogatyff of my loue ys so grett
Þat wo tastyt þerof þe lest droppe sure
All lustys and lykyngys worldly xall lett;
They xall seme to hym fylthe and ordure.
They þat of þe hewy burthen of synne hathe cure
My loue dyschargethe and puryfyethe clene,
It strengtheth þe mynde, þe sowll makyt pure,
And yewyt wysdom to hem þat perfyghte bene.
Wo takyt me to spowse may veryly wene,
Yff aboue all thynge ȝe loue me specyall,
That rest and tranqwyllyte he xall sene
And dey in sekyrnes of joy perpetuall.
Þat wo tastyt þerof þe lest droppe sure
All lustys and lykyngys worldly xall lett;
They xall seme to hym fylthe and ordure.
They þat of þe hewy burthen of synne hathe cure
My loue dyschargethe and puryfyethe clene,
It strengtheth þe mynde, þe sowll makyt pure,
And yewyt wysdom to hem þat perfyghte bene.
Wo takyt me to spowse may veryly wene,
Yff aboue all thynge ȝe loue me specyall,
That rest and tranqwyllyte he xall sene
And dey in sekyrnes of joy perpetuall.
The hye worthynes of my loue
Angell nor man can tell playnly.
Yt may be felt in experyens from aboue
But not spoke ne tolde as yt ys veryly.
The godly loue no creature can specyfye.
What wrech is that louyth not this love
Þat louyt hys louers euer so tendyrly
That hys syght from them neuer can remowe?
Angell nor man can tell playnly.
Yt may be felt in experyens from aboue
But not spoke ne tolde as yt ys veryly.
The godly loue no creature can specyfye.
What wrech is that louyth not this love
Þat louyt hys louers euer so tendyrly
That hys syght from them neuer can remowe?
ANIMA.
O worthy spowse and soueren fayer,
O swet amyke, owr joy, owr blys!
To yowr loue wo dothe repeyer,
All felycyte yn þat creature ys.
Wat may I yeue yow ageyn for þis,
O Creator, louer of yowr creature?
Though be owr freelte we do amys,
Yowr grett mercy euer sparyth reddure.
O swet amyke, owr joy, owr blys!
To yowr loue wo dothe repeyer,
All felycyte yn þat creature ys.
Wat may I yeue yow ageyn for þis,
O Creator, louer of yowr creature?
Though be owr freelte we do amys,
Yowr grett mercy euer sparyth reddure.
A, soueren Wysdom, sanctus sanctorum,
Wat may I yeue to yowr most plesaunce?
Wat may I yeue to yowr most plesaunce?
WYSDOM.
Fili, prebe michi cor tuum.
I aske not ellys of all þi substance.
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Yeue me þat and I am contente.
ANIMA.
A, soueren joy, my hertys affyance,
The fervowre of my loue to yow I present.
The fervowre of my loue to yow I present.
That mekyt my herte, yowr loue so ferwent.
Teche me þe scolys of yowr dyvynyte.
Teche me þe scolys of yowr dyvynyte.
WYSDOM.
Dysyer not to sauour in cunnynge to excellent
But drede and conforme yowr wyll to me.
For yt ys þe heelfull dyscyplyne þat in Wysdam may be,
The drede of God, þat ys begynnynge.
The wedys of synne yt makyt to flee,
And swete wertuus herbys in þe sowll sprynge.
ANIMA.
O endles Wysdom, how may I haue knowynge
Off þi Godhede incomprehensyble?
WYSDOM.
By knowynge of yowrsylff ȝe may haue felynge
Wat Gode ys in yowr sowle sensyble.
The more knowynge of yowr selff passyble,
Þe more veryly ȝe xall God knowe.
ANIMA.
O soueren Auctoure most credyble,
Yowr lessun I attende, as I owe,
Yowr lessun I attende, as I owe,
I þat represent here þe sowll of man.
Wat ys a sowll, wyll ȝe declare?
Wat ys a sowll, wyll ȝe declare?
WYSDOM.
Yt ys þe ymage of Gode þat all began;
And not only ymage, but hys lyknes ȝe are.
Off all creaturys þe fayrest ȝe ware
Into þe tyme of Adamys offence.
ANIMA.
Lorde, sythe we thy sowlys yet nowt wer þer,
Wy of þe fyrst man bye we þe vyolence?
WYSDOM.
For euery creature þat hath ben or xall
Was in natur of þe fyrst man, Adame,
Off hym takynge þe fylthe of synne orygynall,
For of hym all creaturys cam.
Than by hym of reson ȝe haue blame
And be made þe brondys of helle.
Wen ȝe be bore fyrst of yowr dame,
Ȝe may in no wyse in hewyn dwell,
Was in natur of þe fyrst man, Adame,
Off hym takynge þe fylthe of synne orygynall,
For of hym all creaturys cam.
Than by hym of reson ȝe haue blame
And be made þe brondys of helle.
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Ȝe may in no wyse in hewyn dwell,
For ȝe be dysvyguryde be hys synne,
Ande dammyde to derknes from Godys syghte.
Ande dammyde to derknes from Godys syghte.
ANIMA.
How dothe grace þan ageyn begynne?
Wat reformythe þe sowll to hys fyrste lyght?
WYSDOM.
Wysdam, þat was Gode and man ryght,
Made a full sethe to þe Fadyr of hewyn
By þe dredfull dethe to hym was dyght,
Off wyche dethe spronge þe sacramentys sevyn,
Made a full sethe to þe Fadyr of hewyn
By þe dredfull dethe to hym was dyght,
Off wyche dethe spronge þe sacramentys sevyn,
Wyche sacramentys all synne wasche awey:
Fyrst, baptem clensythe synne orygynall
And reformyt þe sowll in feythe verray
To þe gloryus lyknes of Gode eternall
Ande makyt yt as fayer and as celestyall
As yt neuer dyffowlyde had be,
Ande ys Crystys own specyall,
Hys restynge place, hys plesant see.
Fyrst, baptem clensythe synne orygynall
And reformyt þe sowll in feythe verray
To þe gloryus lyknes of Gode eternall
Ande makyt yt as fayer and as celestyall
As yt neuer dyffowlyde had be,
Ande ys Crystys own specyall,
Hys restynge place, hys plesant see.
ANIMA.
In a sowle watt thyngys be
By wyche he hathe hys very knowynge?
WYSDOM.
Tweyn partyes: þe on, sensualyte,
Wyche ys clepyde þe flechly felynge.
The fyve owtewarde wyttys to hym be serwynge.
Wan þey be not rewlyde ordynatly
The sensualyte þan, wythowte lesynge,
Ys made þe ymage of synne then of hys foly.
Wyche ys clepyde þe flechly felynge.
The fyve owtewarde wyttys to hym be serwynge.
Wan þey be not rewlyde ordynatly
The sensualyte þan, wythowte lesynge,
Ys made þe ymage of synne then of hys foly.
The other parte, þat ys clepyde resone,
Ande þat ys þe ymage of Gode propyrly,
For by þat þe sowll of Gode hathe cognycyon
And be þat hym serwyt and louevyt duly.
Be þe neyther parte of reson he knowyt dyscretly
All erthely thyngys how þey xall be vsyde,
Wat suffysyth to hys myghtys bodely,
Ande wat nedyt not to be refusyde.
Ande þat ys þe ymage of Gode propyrly,
For by þat þe sowll of Gode hathe cognycyon
And be þat hym serwyt and louevyt duly.
Be þe neyther parte of reson he knowyt dyscretly
All erthely thyngys how þey xall be vsyde,
Wat suffysyth to hys myghtys bodely,
Ande wat nedyt not to be refusyde.
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Thes tweyn do sygnyfye
Yowr dysgysynge and yowr aray,
Blake and wyght, fowll and fayer vereyly,
Euery sowll here, þis ys no nay,
Blake by sterynge of synne þat cummyth all-day,
Wyche felynge cummythe of sensualyte,
Ande wyght by knowenge of reson veray
Off þe blyssyde infenyt Deyte.
Yowr dysgysynge and yowr aray,
Blake and wyght, fowll and fayer vereyly,
Euery sowll here, þis ys no nay,
Blake by sterynge of synne þat cummyth all-day,
Wyche felynge cummythe of sensualyte,
Ande wyght by knowenge of reson veray
Off þe blyssyde infenyt Deyte.
Thus a sowle ys bothe fowlle and fayer:
Fowll as a best be felynge of synne,
Fayer as a angell, of hewyn þe ayer,
By knowynge of Gode by hys reson wythin.
Fowll as a best be felynge of synne,
Fayer as a angell, of hewyn þe ayer,
By knowynge of Gode by hys reson wythin.
ANIMA.
Than may I sey thus and begynne
Wyth fyve prudent vyrgyns of my reme—
Thow be þe fyve wyttys of my sowll wythinne—:
‘Nigra sum sed formosa, filia Jerusalem.’
Her enteryd fyve vyrgynes in white kertyllys and mantelys, wyth cheuelers and chappelettys, and synge ‘Nigra sum sed formosa, filia Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula cedar et sicut pelles Salamonis’.
ANIMA.
The doughters of Jerusalem me not lake
For þis dyrke schadow I bere of humanyte,
That as þe tabernacull of cedar wythowt yt ys blake
Ande wythine as þe skyn of Salamone full of bewty.
‘Quod fusca sum, nolite considerare me,
Quia decolorauit me sol Jouis.’
WYSDOM.
Thus all þe sowlys þat in þis lyff be
Stondynge in grace be lyke to thys.
Stondynge in grace be lyke to thys.
A, quinque prudentes, yowr wyttys fyve
Kepe yow clene and ȝe xall neuer deface,
Ye Godys ymage neuer xall ryve,
For þe clene sowll ys Godys restynge place.
Thre myghtys euery Cresten sowll has,
Wyche bethe applyede to þe Trinyte.
Kepe yow clene and ȝe xall neuer deface,
Ye Godys ymage neuer xall ryve,
For þe clene sowll ys Godys restynge place.
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Wyche bethe applyede to þe Trinyte.
MYNDE.
All thre here, lo, byfor yowr face!
Mynde.
WYLL.
Wyll.
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
Ande Vndyrstondynge, we thre.
WYSDAM.
Ȝe thre, declare þan thys,
Yowr syngnyfycacyon and yowr propyrte.
MENDE.
I am Mynde, þat in þe sowle ys
The veray fygure of þe Deyte.
Wen in myselff I haue mynde and se
The benefyttys of Gode and hys worthynes,
How holl I was mayde, how fayere, how fre,
How gloryus, how jentyll to hys lyknes,
The veray fygure of þe Deyte.
Wen in myselff I haue mynde and se
The benefyttys of Gode and hys worthynes,
How holl I was mayde, how fayere, how fre,
How gloryus, how jentyll to hys lyknes,
Thys insyght bryngyt to my mynde
Wat grates I ough to God ageyn
Þat thus hathe ordenyde wythowt ende
Me in hys blys euer for to regne.
Than myn insuffycyens ys to me peyn
That I haue not werof to yelde my dett,
Thynkynge myselff creature most veyn;
Than for sorow my bren I knett.
Wat grates I ough to God ageyn
Þat thus hathe ordenyde wythowt ende
Me in hys blys euer for to regne.
Than myn insuffycyens ys to me peyn
That I haue not werof to yelde my dett,
Thynkynge myselff creature most veyn;
Than for sorow my bren I knett.
Wen in my mynde I brynge togedyr
Þe yerys and dayes of my synfullnes,
The vnstabullnes of my mynde hedyr and thedyr,
My oreble fallynge and freellnes,
Myselff ryght nought than I confes,
For by myselff I may not ryse
Wythowt specyall grace of Godys goodnes.
Thus mynde makyt me myselff to dyspyse.
Þe yerys and dayes of my synfullnes,
The vnstabullnes of my mynde hedyr and thedyr,
My oreble fallynge and freellnes,
Myselff ryght nought than I confes,
For by myselff I may not ryse
Wythowt specyall grace of Godys goodnes.
Thus mynde makyt me myselff to dyspyse.
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I seke and fynde nowere comforte
But only in Gode, my Creator.
Than onto hym I do resorte
Ande say, ‘Haue mynde of me, my Sauowr!’
Thus mynde to mynde bryngyth þat fawowre;
Thus, by mynde of me, Gode I kan know.
Goode mynde of Gode yt ys þe fygure;
Ande thys mynde to haue all Crysten ow.
But only in Gode, my Creator.
Than onto hym I do resorte
Ande say, ‘Haue mynde of me, my Sauowr!’
Thus mynde to mynde bryngyth þat fawowre;
Thus, by mynde of me, Gode I kan know.
Goode mynde of Gode yt ys þe fygure;
Ande thys mynde to haue all Crysten ow.
WYLL.
And I of þe soull am þe Wyll,
Off þe Godhede lyknes and fygure.
Wyth goode wyll no man may spyll
Nor wythowt goode wyll of blys be sure.
Wat soule wyll gret mede recure,
He must grett wyll haue, in thought or dede,
Wertuusly sett wyth consyens pure,
For in wyll stondyt only mannys dede.
Off þe Godhede lyknes and fygure.
Wyth goode wyll no man may spyll
Nor wythowt goode wyll of blys be sure.
Wat soule wyll gret mede recure,
He must grett wyll haue, in thought or dede,
Wertuusly sett wyth consyens pure,
For in wyll stondyt only mannys dede.
Wyll for dede oft ys take;
Therfor þe wyll must weell be dysposyde.
Than þer begynnyt all grace to wake,
Yff wyth synne yt be not anosyde.
Therfor þe wyll must be wele apposyde
Or þat yt to þe mevynge yewe consent:
The lybrary of reson must be wnclosyde
Ande aftyr hys domys to take entent.
Therfor þe wyll must weell be dysposyde.
Than þer begynnyt all grace to wake,
Yff wyth synne yt be not anosyde.
Therfor þe wyll must be wele apposyde
Or þat yt to þe mevynge yewe consent:
The lybrary of reson must be wnclosyde
Ande aftyr hys domys to take entent.
Owr wyll in Gode must be only sett
And for Gode to do wylfully.
Wan gode wyll resythe, Gode ys in ws knett,
Ande he performyt þe dede veryly.
Off hym cummyth all wyll sett perfyghtly,
For of owrselff we haue ryght nought
But syne, wrechydnes, and foly.
He ys begynner and gronde of wyll and thought.
And for Gode to do wylfully.
Wan gode wyll resythe, Gode ys in ws knett,
Ande he performyt þe dede veryly.
Off hym cummyth all wyll sett perfyghtly,
For of owrselff we haue ryght nought
But syne, wrechydnes, and foly.
He ys begynner and gronde of wyll and thought.
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Than þis goode wyll seyde before
Ys behoueable to yche creature
Iff he cast hym to restore
The soule þat he hath take of cure,
Wyche of God ys þe fygure,
As longe as þe fygure ys kept fayer,
Ande ordenyde euer for to endure
In blys, of wyche ys he þe veray hayer.
Ys behoueable to yche creature
Iff he cast hym to restore
The soule þat he hath take of cure,
Wyche of God ys þe fygure,
As longe as þe fygure ys kept fayer,
Ande ordenyde euer for to endure
In blys, of wyche ys he þe veray hayer.
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
The thyrde parte of þe soule ys Wndyrstondynge,
For by wndyrstondyng I beholde wat Gode ys,
In hymselff begynnyng wythowt begynnynge
Ande ende wythowt ende þat xall neuer mys.
Incomprehensyble in hymselff he ys;
Hys werkys in me I kan not comprehende.
How xulde I holly hym þan þat wrought all þis?
Thus by knowynge of me to knowynge of Gode I assende.
For by wndyrstondyng I beholde wat Gode ys,
In hymselff begynnyng wythowt begynnynge
Ande ende wythowt ende þat xall neuer mys.
Incomprehensyble in hymselff he ys;
Hys werkys in me I kan not comprehende.
How xulde I holly hym þan þat wrought all þis?
Thus by knowynge of me to knowynge of Gode I assende.
I know in angelys he ys desyderable,
For hym to beholde þei dysyer souerenly;
In hys seyntys most dylectable,
For in hymm þei joy assyduly;
In creaturys hys werkys ben most wondyrly,
For all ys made by hys myght,
By hys wysdom gouernyde most souerenly,
And hys benygnyte inspyryt all soullys wyth lyght.
For hym to beholde þei dysyer souerenly;
In hys seyntys most dylectable,
For in hymm þei joy assyduly;
In creaturys hys werkys ben most wondyrly,
For all ys made by hys myght,
By hys wysdom gouernyde most souerenly,
And hys benygnyte inspyryt all soullys wyth lyght.
Off all creaturys he ys lowyde souereyn,
For he ys Gode of yche creature,
And þey be his peple þat euer xall reynge,
In wom he dwellyt as hys tempull sure.
Wan I of thys knowynge make reporture
Ande se þe loue he hathe for me wrought,
Yt bryngyt me to loue þat Prynce most pure,
For, for loue, þat Lorde made a man of nought.
For he ys Gode of yche creature,
And þey be his peple þat euer xall reynge,
In wom he dwellyt as hys tempull sure.
Wan I of thys knowynge make reporture
Ande se þe loue he hathe for me wrought,
Yt bryngyt me to loue þat Prynce most pure,
For, for loue, þat Lorde made a man of nought.
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Thys ys þat loue wyche ys clepyde charyte,
For Gode ys charyte, as awtors tellys,
Ande woo ys in charyte, in Gode dwellyt he,
Ande Gode, þat ys charyte, in hym dwellys.
Thus wndyrstondynge of Gode compellys
To cum to charyte; than haue hys lyknes, lo!
Blyssyde ys þat sowll þat þis speche spellys:
‘Et qui creauit me requieuit in tabernaculo meo.’
For Gode ys charyte, as awtors tellys,
Ande woo ys in charyte, in Gode dwellyt he,
Ande Gode, þat ys charyte, in hym dwellys.
Thus wndyrstondynge of Gode compellys
To cum to charyte; than haue hys lyknes, lo!
Blyssyde ys þat sowll þat þis speche spellys:
‘Et qui creauit me requieuit in tabernaculo meo.’
WYSDOM.
Lo, thes thre myghtys in on Soule be:
Mynde, Wyll, and Wndyrstondynge.
By Mynde of Gode þe Fadyr knowyng haue ye;
By Wndyrstondynge of Gode þe Sone ye haue knowynge;
By Wyll, wyche turnyt into loue brennynge,
Gode þe Holy Gost, þat clepyde ys lowe:
Not thre Godys but on Gode in beynge.
Thus eche clene soule ys symylytude of Gode abowe.
Mynde, Wyll, and Wndyrstondynge.
By Mynde of Gode þe Fadyr knowyng haue ye;
By Wndyrstondynge of Gode þe Sone ye haue knowynge;
By Wyll, wyche turnyt into loue brennynge,
Gode þe Holy Gost, þat clepyde ys lowe:
Not thre Godys but on Gode in beynge.
Thus eche clene soule ys symylytude of Gode abowe.
By Mynde feythe in þe Father haue we,
Hoppe in owr Lorde Jhesu by Wndyrstondynge,
Ande be Wyll in þe Holy Gost charyte:
Lo, thes thre pryncypall wertus of yow thre sprynge.
Thys þe clene soule stondyth as a kynge;
Ande abowe all þis ȝe haue free wyll;
Off þat be ware befor all thynge,
For yff þat perverte, all þis dothe spyll.
Hoppe in owr Lorde Jhesu by Wndyrstondynge,
Ande be Wyll in þe Holy Gost charyte:
Lo, thes thre pryncypall wertus of yow thre sprynge.
Thys þe clene soule stondyth as a kynge;
Ande abowe all þis ȝe haue free wyll;
Off þat be ware befor all thynge,
For yff þat perverte, all þis dothe spyll.
Ye haue thre enmyes; of hem be ware:
The Worlde, þe Flesche, and þe Fende.
Yowr fywe wyttys from hem ȝe spare,
That þe sensualyte þey brynge not yow byhynde.
Nothynge xulde offende Gode in no kynde;
Ande yff þer do, se þat þe nether parte of resone
In no wys þerto lende;
Than þe ouer parte xall haue fre domynacyon.
The Worlde, þe Flesche, and þe Fende.
Yowr fywe wyttys from hem ȝe spare,
That þe sensualyte þey brynge not yow byhynde.
Nothynge xulde offende Gode in no kynde;
Ande yff þer do, se þat þe nether parte of resone
In no wys þerto lende;
Than þe ouer parte xall haue fre domynacyon.
Wan suggestyon to þe Mynde doth apere,
Wndyrstondynge, delyght not ȝe þerin;
Consent not, Wyll, yll lessons to lere,
Ande than suche steryngys be no syn.
Thei do but purge þe soule wer ys suche contrauersye.
Thus in me, Wysdom, yowr werkys begynne.
Fyght and ȝe xall haue þe crown of glory,
That ys euerlastynge joy, to be parteners þerinne.
Wndyrstondynge, delyght not ȝe þerin;
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Ande than suche steryngys be no syn.
Thei do but purge þe soule wer ys suche contrauersye.
Thus in me, Wysdom, yowr werkys begynne.
Fyght and ȝe xall haue þe crown of glory,
That ys euerlastynge joy, to be parteners þerinne.
ANIMA.
Soueren Lorde, I am bownde to the!
Wan I was nought þou made me thus gloryus;
Wan I perysschede thorow synne þou sauyde me;
Wen I was in grett perell þou kept me, Cristus;
Wen I erryde þou reducyde me, Jhesus;
Wen I was ignorant þou tawt me truthe;
Wen I synnyde þou corecte me thus;
Wen I was hewy þou comfortede me by ruthe;
Wan I was nought þou made me thus gloryus;
Wan I perysschede thorow synne þou sauyde me;
Wen I was in grett perell þou kept me, Cristus;
Wen I erryde þou reducyde me, Jhesus;
Wen I was ignorant þou tawt me truthe;
Wen I synnyde þou corecte me thus;
Wen I was hewy þou comfortede me by ruthe;
Wan I stonde in grace þou holdyste me þat tyde;
Wen I fall þou reysyst me myghtyly;
Wen I go wyll þou art my gyde;
Wen I cum þou reseywyste me most louynly.
Thou hast anoyntyde me with þe oyll of mercy;
Thy benefyttys, Lorde, be innumerable;
Werfor lawde endeles to þe I crye,
Recomendynge me to þin endles powre durable.
Wen I fall þou reysyst me myghtyly;
Wen I go wyll þou art my gyde;
Wen I cum þou reseywyste me most louynly.
Thou hast anoyntyde me with þe oyll of mercy;
Thy benefyttys, Lorde, be innumerable;
Werfor lawde endeles to þe I crye,
Recomendynge me to þin endles powre durable.
Here in þe goynge owt þe FYVE WYTTYS synge ‘Tota pulcra es’ et cetera, they goyng befor, ANIMA next, and her folowynge WYSDOM, and aftyr hym MYNDE, WYLL, and WNDYRSTONDYNGE, all thre in wyght cloth of golde, cheveleryde and crestyde in sute.
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