 | Processus Noe cum Filiis |  |
(1)
Noe.
Myghtfull god veray Maker of all that is,
Thre persons withoutten nay oone god in endles blis,
Thou maide both nyght & day beest, fowle, & fysh,
All creatures that lif may wroght thou at thi wish,
As thou wel myght;
The son, the moyne, verament,
Thou maide; the firmament,
The sternes also full feruent,
To shyne thou maide ful bright.
Thre persons withoutten nay oone god in endles blis,
Thou maide both nyght & day beest, fowle, & fysh,
All creatures that lif may wroght thou at thi wish,
As thou wel myght;
The son, the moyne, verament,
Thou maide; the firmament,
The sternes also full feruent,
To shyne thou maide ful bright.
(2)
Angels thou maide ful euen all orders that is,
To haue the blis in heuen this did thou more & les,
ffull mervelus to neuen yit was ther vnkyndnes,
More bi foldis seuen then I can well expres;
ffor whi?
Of all angels in brightnes
God gaf lucifer most lightnes,
Yit prowdly he flyt his des,
And set hym euen hym by.
To haue the blis in heuen this did thou more & les,
ffull mervelus to neuen yit was ther vnkyndnes,
More bi foldis seuen then I can well expres;
ffor whi?
Of all angels in brightnes
God gaf lucifer most lightnes,
Yit prowdly he flyt his des,
And set hym euen hym by.
(3)
He thoght hymself as worthi as hym that hym made,
In brightnes, in bewty therfor he hym degrade;
put hym in a low degre soyn after, in a brade,
hym and all his menye wher he may be vnglad
ffor euer.
shall thay neuer wyn away
hence vnto domysday,
Bot burne in bayle for ay,
shall thay neuer dysseuer.
In brightnes, in bewty therfor he hym degrade;
put hym in a low degre soyn after, in a brade,
hym and all his menye wher he may be vnglad
ffor euer.
shall thay neuer wyn away
hence vnto domysday,
Bot burne in bayle for ay,
shall thay neuer dysseuer.
24
(4)
Soyne after that gracyous lord to his liknes maide man,
That place to be restord euen as he began,
Of the trinite bi accord Adam & eue that woman,
To multiplie without discord In paradise put he thaym,
And sithen to both
Gaf in commaundement,
On the tre of life to lay no hend;
Bot yit the fals feynd
Made hym with man wroth,
That place to be restord euen as he began,
Of the trinite bi accord Adam & eue that woman,
To multiplie without discord In paradise put he thaym,
And sithen to both
Gaf in commaundement,
On the tre of life to lay no hend;
Bot yit the fals feynd
Made hym with man wroth,
(5)
Entysyd man to glotony styrd him to syn in pride;
Bot in paradise securly myght no syn abide,
And therfor man full hastely was put out, in that tyde,
In wo & wandreth for to be In paynes full vnrid
To knawe,
ffyrst in erth, in sythen in hell
with feyndis for to dwell,
Bot he his mercy mell
To those that will hym trawe.
Bot in paradise securly myght no syn abide,
And therfor man full hastely was put out, in that tyde,
In wo & wandreth for to be In paynes full vnrid
To knawe,
ffyrst in erth, in sythen in hell
with feyndis for to dwell,
Bot he his mercy mell
To those that will hym trawe.
(6)
Oyle of mercy he Hus hight As I haue Hard red,
To euery lifyng wight that wold luf hym and dred;
Bot now before his sight euery liffyng leyde,
Most party day and nyght syn in word and dede
ffull bold;
Som in pride, Ire, and enuy,
Som in Couet[yse] & glotyny,
Som in sloth and lechery,
And other wise many fold.
To euery lifyng wight that wold luf hym and dred;
Bot now before his sight euery liffyng leyde,
Most party day and nyght syn in word and dede
ffull bold;
Som in pride, Ire, and enuy,
Som in Couet[yse] & glotyny,
Som in sloth and lechery,
And other wise many fold.
(7)
Therfor I drede lest god on vs will take veniance,
ffor syn is now alod without any repentance;
Sex hundreth yeris & od haue I, without distance,
In erth, as any sod liffyd with grete grevance
All way;
And now I wax old,
seke, sory, and cold,
As muk apon mold
I widder away;
ffor syn is now alod without any repentance;
Sex hundreth yeris & od haue I, without distance,
In erth, as any sod liffyd with grete grevance
All way;
25
seke, sory, and cold,
As muk apon mold
I widder away;
(8)
Bot yit will I cry for mercy and call;
Noe thi seruant, am I lord ouer all!
Therfor me and my fry shal with me fall;
saue from velany and bryng to thi hall
In heuen;
And kepe me from syn,
This warld within;
Comly kyng of mankyn,
I pray the here my stevyn!
Noe thi seruant, am I lord ouer all!
Therfor me and my fry shal with me fall;
saue from velany and bryng to thi hall
In heuen;
And kepe me from syn,
This warld within;
Comly kyng of mankyn,
I pray the here my stevyn!
[God appears above.]
(9)
Deus.
Syn I haue maide all thyng that is liffand,
Duke, emperour, and kyng with myne awne hand,
ffor to haue thare likyng bi see & bi sand,
Euery man to my bydyng shuld be bowand
fful feruent;
That maide man sich a creatoure,
ffarest of favoure,
Man must luf me paramoure,
by reson, and repent.
Duke, emperour, and kyng with myne awne hand,
ffor to haue thare likyng bi see & bi sand,
Euery man to my bydyng shuld be bowand
fful feruent;
That maide man sich a creatoure,
ffarest of favoure,
Man must luf me paramoure,
by reson, and repent.
(10)
Me thoght I shewed man luf when I made hym to be
All angels abuf like to the trynyte;
And now in grete reprufe full low ligis he,
In erth hymself to stuf with syn that displeasse me
Most of all;
Veniance will I take,
In erth for syn sake,
My grame thus will I wake,
both of grete and small.
All angels abuf like to the trynyte;
And now in grete reprufe full low ligis he,
In erth hymself to stuf with syn that displeasse me
Most of all;
Veniance will I take,
In erth for syn sake,
My grame thus will I wake,
both of grete and small.
(11)
I repente full sore that euer maide I man,
Bi me he settis no store and I am his soferan;
I will distroy therfor Both beest, man, and woman,
All shall perish les and more that bargan may thay ban,
That ill has done.
In erth I se right noght
Bot syn that is vnsoght;
Of those that well has wroght
ffynd I bot a fone.
Bi me he settis no store and I am his soferan;
I will distroy therfor Both beest, man, and woman,
All shall perish les and more that bargan may thay ban,
26
In erth I se right noght
Bot syn that is vnsoght;
Of those that well has wroght
ffynd I bot a fone.
(12)
Therfor shall I fordo All this medill-erd
with floodis that shall flo & ryn with hidous rerd;
I haue good cause therto ffor me no man is ferd,
As I say shal I do of veniance draw my swerd,
And make end
of all that beris life,
Sayf noe and his wife,
ffor thay wold neuer stryfe
With me [ne] me offend.
with floodis that shall flo & ryn with hidous rerd;
I haue good cause therto ffor me no man is ferd,
As I say shal I do of veniance draw my swerd,
And make end
of all that beris life,
Sayf noe and his wife,
ffor thay wold neuer stryfe
With me [ne] me offend.
(13)
hym to mekill wyn hastly will I go,
To noe my seruand, or I blyn to warn hym of his wo.
In erth I se bot syn reynand to and fro,
Emang both more & myn ichon other fo;
With all thare entent;
All shall I fordo
with floodis that shall floo,
wirk shall I thaym wo,
That will not repent.
[God descends & comes to Noah.]
To noe my seruand, or I blyn to warn hym of his wo.
In erth I se bot syn reynand to and fro,
Emang both more & myn ichon other fo;
With all thare entent;
All shall I fordo
with floodis that shall floo,
wirk shall I thaym wo,
That will not repent.
(14)
Noe, my freend, I thee commaund from cares the to keyle,
A ship that thou ordand of nayle and bord ful wele.
Thou was alway well wirkand to me trew as stele,
To my bydyng obediand frendship shal thou fele
To mede;
of lennthe thi ship be
Thre hundreth cubettis, warn I the,
Of heght euen thrirte,
of fyfty als in brede.
A ship that thou ordand of nayle and bord ful wele.
Thou was alway well wirkand to me trew as stele,
To my bydyng obediand frendship shal thou fele
To mede;
of lennthe thi ship be
Thre hundreth cubettis, warn I the,
Of heght euen thrirte,
of fyfty als in brede.
(15)
Anoynt thi ship with pik and tar without & als within,
The water out to spar this is a noble gyn;
look no man the mar thre chese chambres begyn,
Thou must spend many a spar this wark or thou wyn
To end fully.
Make in thi ship also,
parloures oone or two,
And houses of offyce mo,
ffor beestis that ther must be.
The water out to spar this is a noble gyn;
27
Thou must spend many a spar this wark or thou wyn
To end fully.
Make in thi ship also,
parloures oone or two,
And houses of offyce mo,
ffor beestis that ther must be.
(16)
Oone cubite on hight A wyndo shal thou make;
on the syde a doore with slyght be-neyth shal thou take;
With the shal no man fyght nor do the no kyn wrake.
When all is doyne thus right thi wife, that is thi make,
Take in to the;
Thi sonnes of good fame,
Sem, Iaphet, and Came,
Take in also hame,
Thare wifis also thre.
on the syde a doore with slyght be-neyth shal thou take;
With the shal no man fyght nor do the no kyn wrake.
When all is doyne thus right thi wife, that is thi make,
Take in to the;
Thi sonnes of good fame,
Sem, Iaphet, and Came,
Take in also hame,
Thare wifis also thre.
(17)
ffor all shal be fordone that lif in land bot ye,
with floodis that from abone shal fall, & that plente;
It shall begyn full sone to rayn vncessantle,
After dayes seuen be done and induyr dayes fourty,
withoutten fayll.
Take to thi ship also
of ich kynd beestis two,
Mayll & femayll, bot no mo,
Or thou pull vp thi sayll.
with floodis that from abone shal fall, & that plente;
It shall begyn full sone to rayn vncessantle,
After dayes seuen be done and induyr dayes fourty,
withoutten fayll.
Take to thi ship also
of ich kynd beestis two,
Mayll & femayll, bot no mo,
Or thou pull vp thi sayll.
(18)
ffor thay may the avayll when al this thyng is wroght;
Stuf thi ship with vitayll, ffor hungre that ye perish noght;
Of beestis, foull, and catayll ffor thaym haue thou in thoght,
ffor thaym is my counsayll that som socour be soght,
In hast;
Thay must haue corn and hay,
And oder mete alway;
Do now as I the say,
In the name of the holy gast.
Stuf thi ship with vitayll, ffor hungre that ye perish noght;
Of beestis, foull, and catayll ffor thaym haue thou in thoght,
ffor thaym is my counsayll that som socour be soght,
In hast;
Thay must haue corn and hay,
And oder mete alway;
Do now as I the say,
In the name of the holy gast.
28
(19)
Noe.
A! benedicite! what art thou that thus
Tellys afore that shall be? thou art full mervelus!
Tell me, for charite thi name so gracius.
Deus.
My name is of dignyte and also full glorius
To knawe.
I am god most myghty,
Oone god in trynyty,
Made the and ich man to be;
To luf me well thou awe.
(20)
Noe.
I thank the, lord, so dere that wold vowch sayf
Thus low to appere to a symple knafe;
Blis vs, lord, here for charite I hit crafe,
The better may we stere the ship that we shall hafe,
Certayn.
Deus.
Noe, to the and to thi fry
My blyssyng graunt I;
Ye shall wax and multiply,
And fill the erth agane,
My blyssyng graunt I;
Ye shall wax and multiply,
And fill the erth agane,
(21)
When all thise floodis ar past and fully gone away.
Noe.
lord, homward will I hast as fast as that I may;
My [wife] will I frast what she will say,
[Exit Deus.]
My [wife] will I frast what she will say,
And I am agast that we get som fray
Betwixt vs both;
ffor she is full tethee,
ffor litill oft angre,
If any thyng wrang be,
Soyne is she wroth.
Tunc perget ad vxorem.
Betwixt vs both;
ffor she is full tethee,
ffor litill oft angre,
If any thyng wrang be,
Soyne is she wroth.
(22)
God spede, dere wife how fayre ye?
Vxor.
Now, as euer myght I thryfe the wars I thee see;
Do tell me belife where has thou thus long be?
To dede may we dryfe or lif for the,
ffor want.
29
thou dos what thou thynk,
Yit of mete and of drynk
haue we veray skant.
(23)
Noe.
Wife, we ar hard sted with tythyngis new.
Vxor.
Bot thou were worthi be cled In stafford blew;
ffor thou art alway adred be it fals or trew;
Bot god knowes I am led and that may I rew,
ffull ill;
ffor I dar be thi borow,
ffrom euen vnto morow,
Thou spekis euer of sorow;
God send the onys thi fill!
ffor thou art alway adred be it fals or trew;
Bot god knowes I am led and that may I rew,
ffull ill;
ffor I dar be thi borow,
ffrom euen vnto morow,
Thou spekis euer of sorow;
God send the onys thi fill!
(24)
We women may wary all ill husbandis;
I haue oone, bi mary! that lowsyd me of my bandis;
If he teyn I must tary how so euer it standis,
With seymland full sory, wryngand both my handis
ffor drede.
Bot yit other while,
What with gam & with gyle,
I shall smyte and smyle,
And qwite hym his mede.
I haue oone, bi mary! that lowsyd me of my bandis;
If he teyn I must tary how so euer it standis,
With seymland full sory, wryngand both my handis
ffor drede.
Bot yit other while,
What with gam & with gyle,
I shall smyte and smyle,
And qwite hym his mede.
(25)
Noe.
We! hold thi tong, ram-skyt or I shall the still.
Vxor.
By my thryft, if thou smyte I shal turne the vntill.
Noe.
We shall assay as tyte haue at the, gill!
Apon the bone shal it byte.
Vxor.
A, so, mary! thou smytis ill!
Bot I suppose
I shal not in thi det,
fflyt of this flett!
Take the ther a langett
To tye vp thi hose!
(26)
Noe.
A! wilt thou so? mary, that is myne.
Vxor.
Thou shal thre for two I swere bi godis pyne.
30
And I shall qwyte the tho In fayth or syne.
Vxor.
Out apon the, ho!
Noe.
Thou can both byte and whyne,
with a rerd;
ffor all if she stryke,
yit fast will she skryke,
In fayth I hold none slyke
In all medill-erd;
with a rerd;
ffor all if she stryke,
yit fast will she skryke,
In fayth I hold none slyke
In all medill-erd;
(27)
Bot I will kepe charyte ffor I haue at do.
Vxor.
Here shal no man tary the I pray the go to!
ffull well may we mys the as euer haue I ro;
To spyn will I dres me.
Noe.
We! fare well, lo;
Bot wife,
Pray for me besele,
To eft I com vnto the.
Vxor.
Euen as thou prays for me,
As euer myght I thrife.
[Exit Vxor.]
(28)
Noe.
I tary full Lang Fro my warke, I traw;
Now my gere will I fang and thederward draw;
I may full ill gang the soth for to knaw,
Bot if god help amang I may sit downe daw
To ken;
Now assay will I
how I can of wrightry,
In nomine patris, & filii,
Et spiritus sancti, Amen.
Now my gere will I fang and thederward draw;
I may full ill gang the soth for to knaw,
Bot if god help amang I may sit downe daw
To ken;
Now assay will I
how I can of wrightry,
In nomine patris, & filii,
Et spiritus sancti, Amen.
(29)
To begyn of this tree my bonys will I bend,
I traw from the trynyte socoure will be send;
It fayres full fayre, thynk me this wark to my hend;
Now blissid be he that this can amend.
lo, here the lenght,
Thre hundreth cubettis euenly,
of breed lo is it fyfty,
The heght is euen thyrty
Cubettis full strenght.
I traw from the trynyte socoure will be send;
It fayres full fayre, thynk me this wark to my hend;
Now blissid be he that this can amend.
lo, here the lenght,
Thre hundreth cubettis euenly,
of breed lo is it fyfty,
The heght is euen thyrty
Cubettis full strenght.
31
(30)
Now my gowne will I cast and wyrk in my cote,
Make will I the mast or I flyt oone foote,
A! my bak, I traw, will brast! this is a sory note!
hit is wonder that I last sich an old dote
All dold,
To begyn sich a wark!
My bonys ar so stark,
No wonder if thay wark,
ffor I am full old.
Make will I the mast or I flyt oone foote,
A! my bak, I traw, will brast! this is a sory note!
hit is wonder that I last sich an old dote
All dold,
To begyn sich a wark!
My bonys ar so stark,
No wonder if thay wark,
ffor I am full old.
(31)
The top and the sayll both will I make,
The helme and the castell also will I take,
To drife ich a nayll will I not forsake,
This gere may neuer fayll that dar I vndertake
Onone.
This is a nobull gyn,
Thise nayles so thay ryn,
Thoro more and myn,
Thise bordis ichon;
The helme and the castell also will I take,
To drife ich a nayll will I not forsake,
This gere may neuer fayll that dar I vndertake
Onone.
This is a nobull gyn,
Thise nayles so thay ryn,
Thoro more and myn,
Thise bordis ichon;
(32)
wyndow and doore euen as he saide,
Thre ches chambre thay ar well maide,
Pyk & tar full sure ther apon laide,
This will euer endure therof am I paide;
ffor why?
It is better wroght
Then I coude haif thoght;
hym that maide all of noght
I thank oonly.
Thre ches chambre thay ar well maide,
Pyk & tar full sure ther apon laide,
This will euer endure therof am I paide;
ffor why?
It is better wroght
Then I coude haif thoght;
hym that maide all of noght
I thank oonly.
(33)
Now will I hy me and no thyng be leder,
My wife and my meneye to bryng euen heder.
Tent hedir tydely wife, and consider,
hens must vs fle All sam togeder
In hast.
My wife and my meneye to bryng euen heder.
Tent hedir tydely wife, and consider,
hens must vs fle All sam togeder
In hast.
Vxor.
Whi, syr, what alis you?
Who is that asalis you?
To fle it avalis you,
And ye be agast.
32
(34)
Noe.
Ther is garn̄ on the reyll other, my dame.
Vxor.
Tell me that ich a deyll els get ye blame.
Noe.
He that cares may keill blissid be his name!
he has for oure seyll to sheld vs fro shame,
And sayd,
All this warld aboute
With floodis so stoute,
That shall ryn on a route,
Shall be ouerlaide.
he has for oure seyll to sheld vs fro shame,
And sayd,
All this warld aboute
With floodis so stoute,
That shall ryn on a route,
Shall be ouerlaide.
(35)
he saide all shall be slayn bot oonely we,
Oure barnes that ar bayn and thare wifis thre;
A ship he bad me ordayn to safe vs & oure fee,
Therfor with all oure mayn thank we that fre
Beytter of bayll;
hy vs fast, go we thedir.
Oure barnes that ar bayn and thare wifis thre;
A ship he bad me ordayn to safe vs & oure fee,
Therfor with all oure mayn thank we that fre
Beytter of bayll;
hy vs fast, go we thedir.
Vxor.
I wote neuer whedir,
I dase and I dedir
ffor ferd of that tayll.
(36)
Noe.
Be not aferd, haue done trus sam oure gere,
That we be ther or none without more dere.
primus filius.
It shall be done full sone brether, help to bere.
Secundus filius.
ffull long shall I not hoyne to do my devere,
Brether sam.
Tercius filius.
without any yelp,
At my myght shall I help.
Vxor.
Yit for drede of a skelp
help well thi dam.
(37)
Noe.
Now ar we there as we shuld be;
Do get in oure gere oure catall and fe,
In to this vessell here my chylder fre.
Vxor.
I was neuer bard ere As euer myght I the,
In sich an oostre as this.
33
which is before, which is behynd;
Bot shall we here be pynd,
Noe, as haue thou blis?
(38)
Noe.
Dame, as it is skill here must vs abide grace;
Therfor, wife, with good will com into this place.
Vxor.
Sir, for Iak nor for gill will I turne my face
Till I haue on this hill spon a space
on my rok;
Well were he, myght get me,
Now will I downe set me,
Yit reede I no man let me,
ffor drede of a knok.
(39)
Noe.
Behold to the heuen the cateractes all,
That are open full euen grete and small,
And the planettis seuen left has thare stall,
Thise thoners and levyn downe gar fall
ffull stout,
Both halles and bowers,
Castels and towres;
ffull sharp ar thise showers,
that renys aboute;
That are open full euen grete and small,
And the planettis seuen left has thare stall,
Thise thoners and levyn downe gar fall
ffull stout,
Both halles and bowers,
Castels and towres;
ffull sharp ar thise showers,
that renys aboute;
(40)
Therfor, wife, haue done com into ship fast.
Vxor.
Yei, noe, go cloute thi shone the better will thai last.
prima mulier.
Good moder, com in sone ffor all is ouer cast,
Both the son and the mone.
Secunda mulier.
and many wynd blast
ffull sharp;
Thise floodis so thay ryn,
Therfor moder come in.
Vxor.
In fayth yit will I spyn;
All in vayn ye carp.
(41)
Tercia Mulier.
If ye like ye may spyn Moder, in the ship.
34
Now is this twyys com in dame, on my frenship.
Vxor.
Wheder I lose or I wyn In fayth, thi felowship,
set I not at a pyn this spyndill will I slip
Apon this hill,
Or I styr oone fote.
Noe.
Peter! I traw we dote;
without any more note
Come in if ye will.
(42)
Vxor.
Yei, water nyghys so nere that I sit not dry,
Into ship with a byr therfor will I hy
ffor drede that I drone here.
Noe.
dame, securly,
It bees boght full dere ye abode so long by
out of ship.
Vxor.
I will not, for thi bydyng,
go from doore to mydyng.
Noe.
In fayth, and for youre long taryyng
Ye shal lik on the whyp.
(43)
Vxor.
Spare me not, I pray the bot euen as thou thynk,
Thise grete wordis shall not flay me.
Noe.
Abide, dame, and drynk,
ffor betyn shall thou be with this staf to thou stynk;
Ar strokis good? say me.
Vxor.
what say ye, wat wynk?
Noe.
speke!
Cry me mercy, I say!
Vxor.
Therto say I nay.
Noe.
Bot thou do, bi this day,
Thi hede shall I breke.
(44)
Vxor.
Lord, I were at ese and hertely full hoylle,
Might I onys haue a measse of wedows coyll;
ffor thi saull, without lese shuld I dele penny doyll,
so wold mo, no frese that I se on this sole
of wifis that ar here,
35
Wold thare husbandis were dede,
ffor, as euer ete I brede,
So wold I oure syre were.
(45)
Noe.
Yee men that has wifis whyls they ar yong,
If ye luf youre lifis chastice thare tong:
Me thynk my hert ryfis both levyr and long,
To se sich stryfis wedmen emong;
Bot I,
As haue I blys,
shall chastyse this.
Vxor.
Yit may ye mys,
Nicholl nedy!
(46)
Noe.
I shall make þe still as stone begynnar of blunder!
I shall bete the bak and bone and breke all in sonder.
[They fight.]
Vxor.
Out, alas, I am gone! oute apon the, mans wonder!
Noe.
Se how she can grone and I lig vnder;
Bot, wife,
In this hast let vs ho,
ffor my bak is nere in two.
Vxor.
And I am bet so blo
That I may not thryfe.
[They enter the Ark.]
(47)
Primus filius.
A! whi fare ye thus? ffader and moder both!
Secundus filius.
Ye shuld not be so spitus standyng in sich a woth.
Tercius filius.
Thise ar so hidus with many a cold coth.
Noe.
we will do as ye bid vs we will no more be wroth,
Dere barnes!
Now to the helme will I hent,
And to my ship tent.
Vxor.
I se on the firmament,
Me thynk, the seven starnes.
36
(48)
Noe.
This is a grete flood wife, take hede.
Vxor.
So me thoght, as I stode we ar in grete drede;
Thise wawghes ar so wode.
Noe.
help, god, in this nede!
As thou art stere-man good and best, as I rede,
Of all;
Thou rewle vs in this rase,
As thou me behete hase.
Vxor.
This is a perlous case:
help, god, when we call!
(49)
Noe.
Wife, tent the stere-tre and I shall asay
The depnes of the see that we bere, if I may.
Vxor.
That shall I do ful wysely now go thi way,
ffor apon this flood haue we flett many day,
with pyne.
Noe.
Now the water will I sownd:
A! it is far to the grownd;
This trauell I expownd
had I to tyne.
A! it is far to the grownd;
This trauell I expownd
had I to tyne.
(50)
Aboue all hillys bedeyn the water is rysen late
Cubettis fyfteyn, bot in a highter state
It may not be, I weyn for this well I wate,
This forty dayes has rayn beyn It will therfor abate
Full lele.
This water in hast,
eft will I tast;
Now am I agast,
It is wanyd a grete dele.
Cubettis fyfteyn, bot in a highter state
It may not be, I weyn for this well I wate,
This forty dayes has rayn beyn It will therfor abate
Full lele.
This water in hast,
eft will I tast;
Now am I agast,
It is wanyd a grete dele.
(51)
Now are the weders cest and cateractes knyt,
Both the most and the leest.
Both the most and the leest.
Vxor.
Me thynk, bi my wit,
The son shynes in the eest lo, is not yond it?
we shuld haue a good feest were thise floodis flyt
So spytus.
37
we haue been here, all we,
thre hundreth dayes and fyfty.
Vxor.
Yei, now wanys the see;
lord, well is vs!
(52)
Noe.
The thryd tyme will I prufe what depnes we bere.
Vxor.
Now long shall thou hufe lay in thy lyne there.
Noe.
I may towch with my lufe the grownd evyn here.
Vxor.
Then begynnys to grufe to vs mery chere;
Bot, husband,
What grownd may this be?
Noe.
The hyllys of armonye.
Vxor.
Now blissid be he
That thus for vs can ordand!
(53)
Noe.
I see toppys of hyllys he many at a syght,
No thyng to let me the wedir is so bright.
Vxor.
Thise ar of mercy tokyns full right.
Noe.
Dame thi counsell me what fowll best myght,
And Cowth,
with flight of wyng
bryng, without taryying,
Of mercy som tokynyng
Ayther bi north or southe?
And Cowth,
with flight of wyng
bryng, without taryying,
Of mercy som tokynyng
Ayther bi north or southe?
(54)
ffor this is the fyrst day of the tent moyne.
Vxor.
The ravyn, durst I lay will com agane sone;
As fast as thou may cast hym furth, haue done,
He may happyn to day com agane or none
With grath.
Noe.
I will cast out also
Dowfys oone or two:
Go youre way, go,
God send you som wathe!
Dowfys oone or two:
Go youre way, go,
God send you som wathe!
(55)
Now ar thise fowles flone Into seyr countre;
Pray we fast ichon kneland on our kne,
To hym that is alone worthiest of degre,
That he wold send anone oure fowles som fee
To glad vs.
Pray we fast ichon kneland on our kne,
38
That he wold send anone oure fowles som fee
To glad vs.
Vxor.
Thai may not fayll of land,
The water is so wanand.
Noe.
Thank we god all weldand,
That lord that made vs.
(56)
It is a wonder thyng me thynk sothle,
Thai ar so long taryyng the fowles that we
Cast out in the mornyng.
Vxor.
Syr, it may be
Thai tary to thay bryng.
Noe.
The ravyn is a hungrye
All way;
He is without any reson,
And he fynd any caryon,
As peraventure may befon,
he will not away;
All way;
He is without any reson,
And he fynd any caryon,
As peraventure may befon,
he will not away;
(57)
The dowfe is more gentill her trust I vntew,
like vnto the turtill for she is ay trew.
like vnto the turtill for she is ay trew.
Vxor.
hence bot a litill she commys, lew, lew!
she bryngys in her bill som novels new;
Behald!
It is of an olif tre
A branch, thynkys me.
Noe.
It is soth, perde,
right so is it cald.
right so is it cald.
(58)
Doufe, byrd full blist ffayre myght the befall!
Thou art trew for to trist as ston in the wall;
Full well I it wist thou wold com to thi hall,
Thou art trew for to trist as ston in the wall;
Full well I it wist thou wold com to thi hall,
Vxor.
A trew tokyn ist we shall be sauyd all:
ffor whi?
The water, syn she com,
Of depnes plom,
Is fallen a fathom,
And more hardely.
39
(59)
Primus filius.
Thise floodis ar gone fader, behold.
Secundus filius.
Ther is left right none and that be ye bold.
Tercius filius.
As still as a stone oure ship is stold.
Noe.
Apon land here anone that we were, fayn I wold;
My childer dere,
Sem, Japhet and Cam,
with gle and with gam,
Com go we all sam,
we will no longer abide here.
(60)
Vxor.
here haue we beyn noy long enogh,
with tray and with teyn and dreed mekill wogh.
Noe.
behald on this greyn nowder cart ne plogh
Is left, as I weyn nowder tre then bogh,
Ne other thyng,
Bot all is away;
Many castels, I say,
Grete townes of aray,
fflitt has this flowyng.
(61)
Vxor.
Thise floodis not afright all this warld so wide
has mevid with myght on se and bi side.
Noe.
To dede ar thai dyght prowdist of pryde,
Euer-ich a wyght that euer was spyde,
With syn,
All ar thai slayn,
And put vnto payn.
Vxor.
ffrom thens agayn
May thai neuer wyn?
(62)
Noe.
wyn? no, I-wis bot he that myght hase
Wold myn of thare mys & admytte thaym to grace;
As he in bayll is blis I pray hym in this space,
In heven hye with his to purvaye vs a place,
That we,
40
And his angels bright,
May com to his light:
Amen, for charite.
Explicit processus Noe, sequitur Abraham.
| Processus Noe cum Filiis | |