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125
SCENE II
And aftyr þe songe entreth LUCYFER in a dewyllys aray wythowt and wythin as a prowde galonte, seynge thus on thys wyse:LUCYFER.
Owt harow I rore,
For envy I lore.
My place to restore
God hath mad a man.
All cum þey not thore,
Woode and þey wore,
I xall tempte hem so sorre,
For I am he þat syn begane.
For envy I lore.
My place to restore
God hath mad a man.
All cum þey not thore,
Woode and þey wore,
I xall tempte hem so sorre,
For I am he þat syn begane.
I was a angell of lyghte;
Lucyfeer I hyght,
Presumynge in Godys syght,
Werfor I am lowest in hell.
In reformynge of my place ys dyght
Man, whom I haue in most dyspyght,
Euer castynge me wyth hem to fyght
In þat hewynly place he xulde not dwell.
Lucyfeer I hyght,
Presumynge in Godys syght,
Werfor I am lowest in hell.
In reformynge of my place ys dyght
Man, whom I haue in most dyspyght,
Euer castynge me wyth hem to fyght
In þat hewynly place he xulde not dwell.
I am as wyly now as than;
Þe knowynge þat I hade, yet I can;
I know all compleccyons of a man
Werto he ys most dysposyde;
Ande þerin I tempte ay-whan;
I marre hys myndys to þer wan,
That whoo ys hym þat God hym began;
Many a holy man wyth me ys mosyde.
Þe knowynge þat I hade, yet I can;
I know all compleccyons of a man
Werto he ys most dysposyde;
Ande þerin I tempte ay-whan;
I marre hys myndys to þer wan,
That whoo ys hym þat God hym began;
Many a holy man wyth me ys mosyde.
Of Gode man ys þe fygure,
Hys symylytude, hys pyctowre,
Gloryosest of ony creature
Þat euer was wrought;
Wyche I wyll dysvygure
Be my fals conjecture;
Yff he tende my reporture
I xall brynge hym to nought.
Hys symylytude, hys pyctowre,
Gloryosest of ony creature
Þat euer was wrought;
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Be my fals conjecture;
Yff he tende my reporture
I xall brynge hym to nought.
In þe soule ben thre partyes iwys:
Mynde, Wyll, Wndyrstondynge of blys,
Fygure of þe Godhede, I know well thys;
And þe flesche of man þat ys so changeable
That wyll I tempte, as I gees;
Thow þat I perwert, synne non ys
But yff þe Soule consent to mys,
For in þe Wyll of þe Soule the dedys ben damnable.
Mynde, Wyll, Wndyrstondynge of blys,
Fygure of þe Godhede, I know well thys;
And þe flesche of man þat ys so changeable
That wyll I tempte, as I gees;
Thow þat I perwert, synne non ys
But yff þe Soule consent to mys,
For in þe Wyll of þe Soule the dedys ben damnable.
To þe Mynde of þe Soule I xall mak suggestyun,
Ande brynge hys Wndyrstondynge to dylectacyon,
So þat hys Wyll make confyrmacyon;
Than am I sekyr inowe
That dethe xall sew of damnacyon;
Than of þe Sowll þe Dewll hath dominacyon.
I wyll go make hys examynacyon,
To all þe dewllys of helle I make awow.
Ande brynge hys Wndyrstondynge to dylectacyon,
So þat hys Wyll make confyrmacyon;
Than am I sekyr inowe
That dethe xall sew of damnacyon;
Than of þe Sowll þe Dewll hath dominacyon.
I wyll go make hys examynacyon,
To all þe dewllys of helle I make awow.
For, for to tempte man in my lyknes,
Yt wolde brynge hym to grett feerfullnes,
I wyll change me into bryghtnes,
And so hym to-begyle,
Sen I xall schew hym perfyghtnes,
And wertu prove yt wykkydnes;
Thus wndyr colors all thynge perverse;
I xall neuer rest tyll þe Soule I defyle.
Yt wolde brynge hym to grett feerfullnes,
I wyll change me into bryghtnes,
And so hym to-begyle,
Sen I xall schew hym perfyghtnes,
And wertu prove yt wykkydnes;
Thus wndyr colors all thynge perverse;
I xall neuer rest tyll þe Soule I defyle.
Her LUCYFER dewoydyth and cummyth in ageyn as a goodly galont.
MYNDE.
My mynde ys euer on Jhesu
That enduyde ws wyth wertu.
Hys doctrine to sue
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WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
My wndyrstondynge ys in trew
That wyth feyth ws dyd renew.
Hys laws to pursew
Ys swetter to me þan sawowre of þe rose.
WYLL.
And my wyll ys hys wyll veraly
That made ws hys creaturys so specyally,
Yeldynge onto hym laude and glory
For hys goodnes.
LUCYFER.
Ye fonnyde fathers, founders of foly,
Vt quid hic statis tota die ociosi?
Ȝe wyll perysche or ȝe yt aspye.
The Dewyll hath acumberyde yow expres.
Vt quid hic statis tota die ociosi?
Ȝe wyll perysche or ȝe yt aspye.
The Dewyll hath acumberyde yow expres.
Mynde, Mynde, ser, haue in mynde thys!
MYNDE.
He ys not ydyll þat wyth Gode ys.
LUCYFER.
No, ser! I prowe well yis.
Thys ys my suggestyun.
All thynge hat dew tymes
Prayer, fastynge, labour, all thes.
Wan tyme ys not kept, þat dede ys amys,
Þe more pleynerly to yowr informacyon.
Thys ys my suggestyun.
All thynge hat dew tymes
Prayer, fastynge, labour, all thes.
Wan tyme ys not kept, þat dede ys amys,
Þe more pleynerly to yowr informacyon.
Here ys a man þat lywyt wordly,
Hathe wyffe, chylderne, and serwantys besy,
And other chargys þat I not specyfye.
Ys yt leeffull to þis man
To lewe hys labour wsyde truly,
Hys chargys perysche þat Gode gaff duly,
Ande yewe hym to preyer and es of body?
Woso do thus wyth God ys not than.
Hathe wyffe, chylderne, and serwantys besy,
And other chargys þat I not specyfye.
Ys yt leeffull to þis man
To lewe hys labour wsyde truly,
Hys chargys perysche þat Gode gaff duly,
Ande yewe hym to preyer and es of body?
Woso do thus wyth God ys not than.
Mertha plesyde Gode grettly thore.
MYNDE.
Ye, but Maria plesyde hymm moche more.
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Yet þe lest hade blys for euermore.
Ys not þis anow?
MYNDE.
Contemplatyff lyff ys sett befor.
LUCYFER.
I may not belewe þat in my lore,
For God hymselff, wan he was man borre,
Wat lyff lede he? answer þou now.
For God hymselff, wan he was man borre,
Wat lyff lede he? answer þou now.
Was he euer in contemplacyon?
MYNDE.
I suppos not, by my relacyon.
LUCYFER.
And all hys lyff was informacyon
Ande example to man.
Sumtyme wyth synners he had conversacyon;
Sumtyme wyth holy also comunycacyon;
Sumtyme he laboryde, preyde; sumtyme tribulacyon;
Thys was vita mixta þat Gode here began;
Ande example to man.
Sumtyme wyth synners he had conversacyon;
Sumtyme wyth holy also comunycacyon;
Sumtyme he laboryde, preyde; sumtyme tribulacyon;
Thys was vita mixta þat Gode here began;
Ande þat lyff xulde ye here sewe.
MYNDE.
I kan not belewe thys ys trew.
LUCYFER.
Contemplatyff lyff for to sewe
Yt ys grett drede, and se cause why:
They must fast, wake, and prey, euer new,
Wse harde lywynge and goynge wyth dyscyplyne dew,
Kepe sylence, wepe, and surphettys eschewe,
Ande yff þey fayll of thys þey offende Gode hyghly.
Yt ys grett drede, and se cause why:
They must fast, wake, and prey, euer new,
Wse harde lywynge and goynge wyth dyscyplyne dew,
Kepe sylence, wepe, and surphettys eschewe,
Ande yff þey fayll of thys þey offende Gode hyghly.
Wan þey haue wastyde by feyntnes,
Than febyll þer wyttys and fallyn to fondnes,
Sum into dyspeyer and sum into madnes.
Wet yt well, God ys not plesyde wyth thys.
Lewe, lewe, suche syngler besynes.
Be in þe worlde, vse thyngys nesesse.
The comyn ys best expres.
Who clymyt hye, hys fall gret ys.
Than febyll þer wyttys and fallyn to fondnes,
Sum into dyspeyer and sum into madnes.
Wet yt well, God ys not plesyde wyth thys.
Lewe, lewe, suche syngler besynes.
Be in þe worlde, vse thyngys nesesse.
The comyn ys best expres.
Who clymyt hye, hys fall gret ys.
MYNDE.
Truly, me seme ȝe haue reson.
LUCYFER.
Aplye yow then to þis conclusyun.
MYNDE.
I kan make no replicacyon.
Your resons be grete.
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LUCYFER.
Thynke þerwppon, yt ys yowr saluacyon.
Now and Wndyrstondynge wolde haue delectacyon,
All syngler deuocyons he wolde lett.
Now and Wndyrstondynge wolde haue delectacyon,
All syngler deuocyons he wolde lett.
Yowr fyve wyttys abrode lett sprede.
Se how comly to man ys precyus wede;
Wat worschype yt ys to be manfull in dede;
Þat bryngyt in dominacyon.
Off þe symple what profyght yt to tak hede?
Beholde how ryches dystroyt nede;
It makyt man fayer, hym wele for to fede;
And of lust and lykynge commyth generacyon.
Se how comly to man ys precyus wede;
Wat worschype yt ys to be manfull in dede;
Þat bryngyt in dominacyon.
Off þe symple what profyght yt to tak hede?
Beholde how ryches dystroyt nede;
It makyt man fayer, hym wele for to fede;
And of lust and lykynge commyth generacyon.
Wndyrstondynge, tender ye þis informacyon.
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
In thys I fele in manere of dylectacyon.
LUCYFER.
A, ha, ser, then þer make a pawsacyon.
Se and beholde þe worlde abowte.
Lytyll thynge suffysyt to saluacyon;
All maner synnys dystroyt contryscyon;
They þat dyspeyer mercy haue grett compunccyon;
Gode plesyde best wyth goode wyll, no dowte.
Se and beholde þe worlde abowte.
Lytyll thynge suffysyt to saluacyon;
All maner synnys dystroyt contryscyon;
They þat dyspeyer mercy haue grett compunccyon;
Gode plesyde best wyth goode wyll, no dowte.
Therfor, Wyll, I rede yow inclyne;
Lewe yowr stodyes, þow ben dywyn;
Yowr prayers, yowr penance, of ipocryttys þe syne,
Ande lede a comun lyff.
What synne ys in met, in ale, in wyn?
Wat synne ys in ryches, in clothynge fyne?
All thynge Gode ordenyde to man to inclyne.
Lewe yowr nyse chastyte and take a wyff.
Lewe yowr stodyes, þow ben dywyn;
Yowr prayers, yowr penance, of ipocryttys þe syne,
Ande lede a comun lyff.
What synne ys in met, in ale, in wyn?
Wat synne ys in ryches, in clothynge fyne?
All thynge Gode ordenyde to man to inclyne.
Lewe yowr nyse chastyte and take a wyff.
Better ys fayer frut þan fowll pollucyon.
What seyth sensualite to þis conclusyon?
What seyth sensualite to þis conclusyon?
WYLL.
As þe fyue wyttys gyff informacyon,
Yt semyth yowr resons be goode.
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The Wyll of þe Soule hathe fre dominacyon;
Dyspute not to moche in þis wyth reson;
Yet þe nethyr parte to þis taketh sum instruccyon,
And so xulde þe ouer parte but he were woode.
WYLL.
Me seme, as ȝe sey, in body and soule,
Man may be in þe worlde and be ryght goode.
LUCYFER.
Ya, ser, by Sent Powle!
But trust not þes prechors, for þey be not goode,
For þey flatter and lye as þey wore woode;
Ther ys a wollfe in a lombys skyn.
WYLL.
Ya, I woll no more row ageyn þe floode.
I woll sett my soule on a mery pynne.
LUCYFER.
Be my trowthe, than do ye wyslye.
Gode lowyt a clene sowll and a mery.
Acorde yow thre togedyr by
And ye may not mysfare.
MYNDE.
To þis suggestyon agre we.
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
Delyght þerin I haue truly.
WYLL.
And I consent þerto frelye.
LUCYFER.
A, ser, all mery þan! awey care!
Go in þe worlde, se þat abowte;
Geet goode frely, cast no dowte;
To þe ryche ye se men lowly lought.
Yeue to yowr body þat ys nede,
Ande euer be mery; let reuell rowte!
Geet goode frely, cast no dowte;
To þe ryche ye se men lowly lought.
Yeue to yowr body þat ys nede,
Ande euer be mery; let reuell rowte!
MYNDE.
Ya, ellys I beschrew my snowte!
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
And yff I care, cache I þe gowte!
WYLL.
And yff I spare, þe Dewyll me spede!
LUCYFER.
Go yowr wey than and do wysly.
Change þat syde aray.
MYNDE.
I yt dyfye.
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
We woll be fresche, hanip la plu joly!
Farwell penance!
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To worschyppys I wyll my mynde aplye.
WNDYRSTONDYNGE.
My wndyrstondynge in worschyppys and glory.
WYLL.
And I in lustys of lechery,
As was sumtyme gyse of Frawnce.
Wyth wy wyppe,
Farwell, quod I, þe Dewyll ys wppe!
Exient
LUCYFER.
Off my dysyere now haue I summe
Wer onys brought into custume,
Then farwell consyens, he wer clumme,
I xulde haue all my wyll.
Resone I haue made both deff and dumme;
Grace ys owt and put arome;
Wethyr I wyll haue, he xall cum.
So at þe last I xall hym spyll.
Wer onys brought into custume,
Then farwell consyens, he wer clumme,
I xulde haue all my wyll.
Resone I haue made both deff and dumme;
Grace ys owt and put arome;
Wethyr I wyll haue, he xall cum.
So at þe last I xall hym spyll.
I xall now stere hys mynde
To þat syne made me a fende,
Pryde, wyche ys ageyn kynde
And of synnys hede.
So to couetyse he xall wende,
For þat enduryth to þe last ende,
And onto lechery, and I may hymm rende,
Than am I seker þe Soule ys dede.
To þat syne made me a fende,
Pryde, wyche ys ageyn kynde
And of synnys hede.
So to couetyse he xall wende,
For þat enduryth to þe last ende,
And onto lechery, and I may hymm rende,
Than am I seker þe Soule ys dede.
That Soule Gode made incomparable,
To hys lyknes most amyable,
I xall make yt most reprouable,
Ewyn lyke to a fende of hell.
At hys deth I xall apere informable,
Schewynge hym all hys synnys abhomynable,
Prewynge hys Soule damnable,
So wyth dyspeyer I xall hym qwell.
To hys lyknes most amyable,
I xall make yt most reprouable,
Ewyn lyke to a fende of hell.
At hys deth I xall apere informable,
Schewynge hym all hys synnys abhomynable,
Prewynge hys Soule damnable,
So wyth dyspeyer I xall hym qwell.
Wyll clennes ys mankyn,
Verely, þe soule God ys wythin;
Ande wen yt ys in dedly synne,
Yt ys werely þe Deuelys place.
Thus by colours and false gynne
Many a soule to hell I wyn.
Wyde to go I may not blyne
Wyth þis fals boy, God gyff hym euell grace!
Verely, þe soule God ys wythin;
Ande wen yt ys in dedly synne,
Yt ys werely þe Deuelys place.
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Many a soule to hell I wyn.
Wyde to go I may not blyne
Wyth þis fals boy, God gyff hym euell grace!
Her he takyt a schrewde boy wyth hym and goth hys wey cryenge.
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