 | Oblacio Magorum |  |
(1)
herodes.
Peasse, I byd, both far and nere,
I warne you leyf youre sawes sere;
who that makys noyse whyls I am here,
I say, shall dy.
Of all this warld, sooth, far & nere,
The lord am I.
I warne you leyf youre sawes sere;
who that makys noyse whyls I am here,
I say, shall dy.
Of all this warld, sooth, far & nere,
The lord am I.
141
(2)
Lord am I of euery land,
Of towre and towne, of se and sand;
Agans me dar noman stand,
That berys lyfe;
All erthly thyng bowes to my hand,
Both man and wyfe.
Of towre and towne, of se and sand;
Agans me dar noman stand,
That berys lyfe;
All erthly thyng bowes to my hand,
Both man and wyfe.
(3)
Man and wyfe, that warne I you,
That in this warld is lyfand now,
To mahowne & me all shall bow,
Both old and ying;
On hym wyll I ich man trow,
ffor any thyng.
That in this warld is lyfand now,
To mahowne & me all shall bow,
Both old and ying;
On hym wyll I ich man trow,
ffor any thyng.
(4)
ffor any thyng it shall be so;
lord ouer all where I go,
who so says agane, I shall hym slo,
where so he dwell;
The feynd, if he were my fo,
I shuld hym fell.
lord ouer all where I go,
who so says agane, I shall hym slo,
where so he dwell;
The feynd, if he were my fo,
I shuld hym fell.
(5)
To fell those fatures I am bowne,
And dystroy those dogys in feyld and towne
That will not trow on sant Mahowne,
Oure god so swete;
Those fals faturs I shall fell downe
Vnder my feete.
And dystroy those dogys in feyld and towne
That will not trow on sant Mahowne,
Oure god so swete;
Those fals faturs I shall fell downe
Vnder my feete.
(6)
Vnder my feete I shall thaym fare,
Those ladys that will [not] lere my lare,
ffor I am myghty man ay whare,
Of ilk a pak;
Clenly shapen, hyde and hare,
withoutten lak.
Those ladys that will [not] lere my lare,
ffor I am myghty man ay whare,
Of ilk a pak;
Clenly shapen, hyde and hare,
withoutten lak.
(7)
The myght of me may no man mene,
ffor all [that] dos me any teyn,
I shall dyng thaym downe bydeyn,
And wyrk thaym wo;
And on assay it shall be seyn,
Or I go.
ffor all [that] dos me any teyn,
142
And wyrk thaym wo;
And on assay it shall be seyn,
Or I go.
(8)
And therfor will I send and se
In all this land, full hastely,
To looke if any dwelland be
In towre or towne,
That wyll not hold holly on me,
And on mahowne.
In all this land, full hastely,
To looke if any dwelland be
In towre or towne,
That wyll not hold holly on me,
And on mahowne.
(9)
If ther be fonden any of tho,
with bytter payn I shall theym slo;
[To the messenger.]
with bytter payn I shall theym slo;
My messynger, swyth looke thou go
Thrugh ilk countre,
In all this land, both to and fro,
I commaunde the;
Thrugh ilk countre,
In all this land, both to and fro,
I commaunde the;
(10)
And truly looke thou spyr and spy,—
In euery stede ther thou commys by,—
who trowes not on mahowne most myghty,
Oure god so fre;
And looke thou bryng theym hastely
heder vnto me.
In euery stede ther thou commys by,—
who trowes not on mahowne most myghty,
Oure god so fre;
And looke thou bryng theym hastely
heder vnto me.
(11)
And I shall fownd thaym for to flay,
Those laddys that will not lede oure lay;
Therfor, boy, now I the pray
That thou go tytt.
Those laddys that will not lede oure lay;
Therfor, boy, now I the pray
That thou go tytt.
Nuncius.
It shal be done, lord, if I may,
withoutten lett:
withoutten lett:
(12)
And certys, if I may any fynde,
I shall not leyfe oone of them behynde.
I shall not leyfe oone of them behynde.
herodes.
No, bot boldly thou thaym bynde
And with the leyde:
Mahowne, that weldys water and wynde,
The wish and spede!
143
(13)
Nuncius.
All peasse, lordyngys, and hold you styll,
To I haue sayde what I will;
Take goode hede Vnto my skyll,
Both old and ying;
In message what is commen you tyll
ffrom herode, the kyng.
To I haue sayde what I will;
Take goode hede Vnto my skyll,
Both old and ying;
In message what is commen you tyll
ffrom herode, the kyng.
(14)
he commaundys you, euerilkon,
To hold no kyng bot hym alon,
And othere god ye worship none
Bot mahowne so fre;
And if ye do, ye mon be slone;
Thus told he me.
To hold no kyng bot hym alon,
And othere god ye worship none
Bot mahowne so fre;
And if ye do, ye mon be slone;
Thus told he me.
Tunc venit primus rex equitans; & respiciens stellam dicit,
(15)
primus rex.
Lord, of whom this light is lent,
And vnto me this sight has sent,
I pray to the, with good intent,
ffrom shame me shelde;
So that I no harmes hent
By way[e]s wylde.
And vnto me this sight has sent,
I pray to the, with good intent,
ffrom shame me shelde;
So that I no harmes hent
By way[e]s wylde.
(16)
Also I pray the specyally,
Thou graunt me grace of company,
That I may haue som beyldyng by,
In my trauayll:
And, certys, for to lyf or dy
I shall not fayll,
Thou graunt me grace of company,
That I may haue som beyldyng by,
In my trauayll:
And, certys, for to lyf or dy
I shall not fayll,
(17)
To that I in som land haue bene,
To wyt what this starne may mene,
That has me led, with bemys shene,
ffro my cuntre;
Now weynd I will, withoutten weyn,
The sothe to se.
To wyt what this starne may mene,
That has me led, with bemys shene,
ffro my cuntre;
Now weynd I will, withoutten weyn,
The sothe to se.
(18)
Secundus rex.
A! lord, that is withoutten ende!
whens euer this selcouth light dyscende,
That thus kyndly has me kende
Oute of my land,
And shewyd to me ther I can leynd,
thus bright shynand?
whens euer this selcouth light dyscende,
144
Oute of my land,
And shewyd to me ther I can leynd,
thus bright shynand?
(19)
Certys, I sagh neuer none so bright;
I shall neuer ryst by day nor nyght,
To I wyt whens may com this lyght,
And from what place;
he that it send vnto my sight
leyne me that grace!
I shall neuer ryst by day nor nyght,
To I wyt whens may com this lyght,
And from what place;
he that it send vnto my sight
leyne me that grace!
(20)
primus rex.
A, sir, wheder ar ye away?
Tell me, good sir, I you pray.
Secundus rex.
Certys, I trow, the sothe to say,
None wote bot I;
I haue folowed yond starne, veray,
ffrom araby;
None wote bot I;
I haue folowed yond starne, veray,
ffrom araby;
(21)
ffor I am kyng of that cuntre,
And melchor ther call men me.
And melchor ther call men me.
primus rex.
And kyng, sir, was I wont to be,
In tars, at hame,
Both of towne and cyte;
Iaspar is my name;
In tars, at hame,
Both of towne and cyte;
Iaspar is my name;
(22)
The light of yond starne sagh I thedyr.
Secundus rex.
That lord be louyd that send me hedyr!
ffor it will grathly ken vs whedyr,
that we shall weynd;
we owe to loue hym both togedyr,
That it to vs wold send.
(23)
Tercius rex.
A, lord! in land what may this mene?
So selcouth sight was neuer sene,
Sich a starne, shynand so shene,
Sagh I neuer none;
It gyffys lyght ouer all, bedene,
By hym alone.
So selcouth sight was neuer sene,
Sich a starne, shynand so shene,
Sagh I neuer none;
It gyffys lyght ouer all, bedene,
By hym alone.
145
(24)
What it may mene, that know I noght;
Bot yonder ar two, me thynk, in thoght,
I thank hym that thaym heder has broght
Thus vnto me;
I shall assay if thay wote oght
what it may be.
Bot yonder ar two, me thynk, in thoght,
I thank hym that thaym heder has broght
Thus vnto me;
I shall assay if thay wote oght
what it may be.
(25)
[Turns to the Magi.]
lordyngys, that ar leyf and dere,
I pray you tell me with good chere
wheder ye weynd, on this manere,
And where that ye haue bene;
And of this starne, that shynys thus clere,
what it may mene.
I pray you tell me with good chere
wheder ye weynd, on this manere,
And where that ye haue bene;
And of this starne, that shynys thus clere,
what it may mene.
(26)
primus rex.
Syr, I say you certanly,
ffrom tars for yond starne soght haue I.
ijus rex.
To seke yond light from araby,
sir, haue I went.
iijus rex.
Now hertely I thank hym for-thy,
That it has sent.
(27)
primus rex.
Good sir, what cuntre cam ye fra?
iijus rex.
This light has led me fro saba;
And balthesar, my name to say,
The sothe to tell.
ijus rex.
And kyngis, sir, are we twa,
Ther as we dwell.
(28)
iijus rex.
Now, syrs, syn we ar semled here,
I rede we ryde togeder, in fere,
vnto we wytt, on all manere,
ffor good or yll,
what it may mene, this sterne so clere
Shynand vs tyll.
(29)
primus rex.
A, lordyngys! behold the lyght
Of yond starne, with bemys bright!
ffor sothe I sagh neuer sich a sight
In no-kyns land;
A starne thus, aboute mydnyght,
so bright shynand.
Of yond starne, with bemys bright!
146
In no-kyns land;
A starne thus, aboute mydnyght,
so bright shynand.
(30)
It gyfys more light it self alone
Then any son that euer shone,
Or mone, when he of son has ton
his light so cleyn;
Sich selcouth sight haue I sene none,
what so euer it meyn.
Then any son that euer shone,
Or mone, when he of son has ton
his light so cleyn;
Sich selcouth sight haue I sene none,
what so euer it meyn.
(31)
Secundus rex.
Behold, lordyngys, vnto his pase,
And se how nygh the erth hit gase;
It is a tokyn that it mase
Of nouelry;
A meruell it is, good tent who tase,
Now here in hy.
And se how nygh the erth hit gase;
It is a tokyn that it mase
Of nouelry;
A meruell it is, good tent who tase,
Now here in hy.
(32)
ffor sich a starne was neuer ere seyn,
As wyde in warld as we haue beyn,
ffor blasyng bemys, shynand full sheyn,
ffrom hit ar sent;
Meruell I haue what it may meyn
In myn intent.
As wyde in warld as we haue beyn,
ffor blasyng bemys, shynand full sheyn,
ffrom hit ar sent;
Meruell I haue what it may meyn
In myn intent.
(33)
Tercius rex.
Certys, syrs, the sothe to say,
I shall dyscry now, if I may,
what it may meyn, yond starne veray,
Shynand tyll vs;
It has bene sayde syn many a day
It shuld be thus.
I shall dyscry now, if I may,
what it may meyn, yond starne veray,
Shynand tyll vs;
It has bene sayde syn many a day
It shuld be thus.
(34)
yond starne betokyns, well wote I,
The byrth of a prynce, syrs, securly,
That shewys well the prophecy
That it so be;
Or els the rewlys of astronomy
Dyssauys me.
The byrth of a prynce, syrs, securly,
That shewys well the prophecy
That it so be;
Or els the rewlys of astronomy
Dyssauys me.
147
(35)
primus rex.
Certan, balaam spekys of this thyng,
That of Iacob a starne shall spryng
That shall ouercom kasar and kyng,
Withoutten stryfe;
All folk shalbe to hym obeyng
That berys the lyfe.
That of Iacob a starne shall spryng
That shall ouercom kasar and kyng,
Withoutten stryfe;
All folk shalbe to hym obeyng
That berys the lyfe.
(36)
Now wote I well this is the same,
In euery place he shall haue hame,
All shall hym bowe that berys name,
In ilk cuntre;
who trowys it not, thay ar to blame,
what so thay be.
In euery place he shall haue hame,
All shall hym bowe that berys name,
In ilk cuntre;
who trowys it not, thay ar to blame,
what so thay be.
(37)
ijus rex.
Certys, lordyngys, full well wote I,
ffulfyllyd is now the prophecy;
That prynce that shall ouer com in hy
kasar and kyng,
This starne berith witnes, wytterly,
Of his beryng.
(38)
iijus rex.
Now is fulfyllyd here in this land
That balaam sayd, I vnderstand;
Now is he borne that se and sand
Shall weyld at wyll:
That shewys this starne, so bright shynand,
vs thre vntyll.
(39)
primus rex.
Lordyngys, I rede we weynd all thre
ffor to wyrship that chyld so fre,
In tokyn that he kyng shalbe
Of alkyn thyng;
This gold now wyll I bere with me,
To myn offeryng.
(40)
ijus rex.
Go we fast, syrs, I you pray,
To worship hym if that we may;
148
here in myn hende,
In tokyn that he [is] god veray,
Withoutten ende.
(41)
iijus rex.
Syrs, as ye say right so I red;
hast we tytt vnto that sted
To wirship hym, as for oure hed,
with oure offeryng;
In tokyn that he shalbe ded,
This Myrr I bryng.
(42)
primus rex.
where is that kyng of Iues land,
That shalbe lord of se and sand,
And folk shall bow vnto his hand
Both more and myn?
To wyrship hym with oure offerand
we wyll not blyn.
(43)
ijus rex.
we shall not rest, euen nor morne,
vnto we com ther he is borne.
iijus rex.
ffolowe this light, els be we lorne,
ffor sothe, I trowe,
That frely to we com beforne;
Syrs, go we now.
[The kings retire. Herod and his messenger advance.]
(44)
Nuncius.
Mahowne, that is of greatt pausty,
My lord, sir herode, the saue and se!
herodes.
where has þou bene so long fro me,
Vyle stynkand lad?
Nuncius.
Lord, gone youre herand in this cuntre,
As ye me bad.
(45)
Herod.
Thou lyys, lurdan, the dewill the hang!
why has thou dwelt away so lang?
Nuncius.
lord ye wyte me all with wrang.
Herodes.
what tythyngys? say!
Nuncius.
Som good, som yll, mengyd emang.
herod.
how? I the pray.
149
(46)
Do tell me fast how thou has farne;
Thy waryson shall thou not tharne.
Thy waryson shall thou not tharne.
Nuncius.
As I cam walkand, I you warne,
Lord, by the way,
I met thre kyngis sekeand a barne,
Thus can thay say.
(47)
Herodes.
To seke a barne! for what thyng?
Told thay any new tythyng?
Nuncius.
yey, lord! thay sayd he shuld be kyng
Of towne and towre;
ffor thy thay went, with thare offeryng,
hym to honoure.
(48)
herod.
Kyng! the dewill! bot of what empyre?
Of what land shuld that lad be syre?
Nay, I shall with that trature tyre;
Sore shall he rewe!
Nuncius.
lord, by a starne as bright as fyre
This kyng thay knew;
This kyng thay knew;
(49)
It led thaym outt of thare cuntre.
Herod.
we, fy! fy! dewyls on thame all thre!
he shall neuer haue myght to me,
That new borne lad;
when thare wytt in a starne shuld be,
I hold thaym mad.
he shall neuer haue myght to me,
That new borne lad;
when thare wytt in a starne shuld be,
I hold thaym mad.
(50)
Those lurdans wote not what thay say;
Thay ryfe my hede, that dar I lay;
Ther dyd no tythyngis many a day,
Sich harme me to;
ffor wo my wytt is all away;
what shall I do?
Thay ryfe my hede, that dar I lay;
Ther dyd no tythyngis many a day,
Sich harme me to;
ffor wo my wytt is all away;
what shall I do?
150
(51)
why, what the dewyll is in thare harnes?
Is thare wytt all in the starnes?
These tythyngis mar my mode in ernes;
And of this thyng
To wytt the sothe, full sore me yarnes,
Of this new kyng.
Is thare wytt all in the starnes?
These tythyngis mar my mode in ernes;
And of this thyng
To wytt the sothe, full sore me yarnes,
Of this new kyng.
(52)
Kyng? what the dewyll, other then I!
we, fy on dewyls! fy, fy!
Certys, that boy shall dere aby!
his ded is dight!
Shall he be kyng thus hastely?
who the dewill made hym knyght?
we, fy on dewyls! fy, fy!
Certys, that boy shall dere aby!
his ded is dight!
Shall he be kyng thus hastely?
who the dewill made hym knyght?
(53)
Alas, for shame! this is a skorne!
Thay fynde no reson thaym beforne;
Shuld that brodell, that late is borne,
Be most of mayn?
Nay, if the dewyll of hell had sworne,
he shall agane.
Thay fynde no reson thaym beforne;
Shuld that brodell, that late is borne,
Be most of mayn?
Nay, if the dewyll of hell had sworne,
he shall agane.
(54)
Alas, alas! for doyll and care!
So mekyll sorow had I neuer are;
If it be sothe, for euer mare
I am vndoyn;
At good clerkys and wyse of lare
I wyll wyt soyn.
So mekyll sorow had I neuer are;
If it be sothe, for euer mare
I am vndoyn;
At good clerkys and wyse of lare
I wyll wyt soyn.
(55)
Bot fyrst yit will I send and se
The answere of those lurdans thre.
[Calls to messenger.]
The answere of those lurdans thre.
Messyngere, tytt hy thou the,
And make the yare;
Go, byd those kyngys com speke with me,
That told thou of are.
And make the yare;
Go, byd those kyngys com speke with me,
That told thou of are.
(56)
Say I haue greatt herand thaym tyll.
Nuncius.
It shalbe done, lord, at youre wyll,
151
In ilk cuntre.
Herod.
Mahowne the shelde from all kyns yll,
ffor his pauste.
[The messenger goes to where the kings stand.]
(57)
Nuncius.
Mahowne you saue, sir kyngys thre,
I haue message to you preuè,
ffrom herode, kyng of this cuntre,
That is oure chefe;
And lo, syrs, if ye trow not me,
ye rede this brefe.
(58)
primus rex.
welcom be thou, belamy!
what is his wyll? tell vs in hy.
Nuncius.
Certys, sir, that wote not I,
Bot thus he sayde to me,
That ye shuld com full hastely
To hym all thre,
Bot thus he sayde to me,
That ye shuld com full hastely
To hym all thre,
(59)
ffor nede herand, he sayd me so.
Secundus rex.
Messynger, before thou go,
And tell thi lord we ar all thro
his wyll to do;
Both I and my felose two
Shall com hym to.
[The messenger returns to Herod.]
(60)
Nuncius.
Mahowne you looke, my lord so dere.
herod.
welcom be thou, messyngere!
how has thou farne syn thou was here?
Thou tell me tytt.
Nuncius.
lord, I haue traueld far and nere
withoutten lett,
withoutten lett,
(61)
And done youre herand, sir, sothely;
Thre kyngis with me broght haue I,
ffro saba, tars, and araby,
Then haue thay soght.
Thre kyngis with me broght haue I,
ffro saba, tars, and araby,
Then haue thay soght.
herodes.
Thi waryson shall thou haue for thy,
By hym me boght;
By hym me boght;
152
(62)
And, certanly, that is good skyll,
And syrs, ye ar welcom me tyll.
And syrs, ye ar welcom me tyll.
iijus rex.
Lord, thi bydyng to fulfyll
[The three kings come to Herod.]
Are we full thro.
herodes.
A, mekyll thank of youre good wyll
That ye wyll so.
That ye wyll so.
(63)
ffor, certys, I haue couett greattly
To speke with you, and here now why:
Tell me, I pray you specyally,
ffor any thyng,
what tokynyng saw ye on the sky
Of this new kyng?
To speke with you, and here now why:
Tell me, I pray you specyally,
ffor any thyng,
what tokynyng saw ye on the sky
Of this new kyng?
(64)
primus rex.
we sagh his starne ryse in the eest,
That shall be kyng of man and best,
ffor thy, lord, we haue not cest,
Syn that we wyst,
with oure gyftys, riche and honest,
To bere that blyst.
(65)
ijus rex.
lord, when that starne rose vs beforne,
Ther by we knew that chyld was borne.
herodes.
Out, alas, I am forlorne
ffor euer mare!
I wold be rent and al to-torne
ffor doyll and care!
ffor euer mare!
I wold be rent and al to-torne
ffor doyll and care!
(66)
Alas, alas, I am full wo!
Syr kyngys, syt downe, & rest you so.
By scrypture, syrs, what say ye two?
[To the doctors.]
Syr kyngys, syt downe, & rest you so.
By scrypture, syrs, what say ye two?
withoutten lytt;
what ye can say ther to
let se now tytt.
what ye can say ther to
let se now tytt.
(67)
These kyngys do me to vnderstand,
That borne is newly, in this land,
A kyng that shall weld se and sand;
Thay tell me so;
And therfor, syrs, I you commaunde
youre bookys go to,
That borne is newly, in this land,
153
Thay tell me so;
And therfor, syrs, I you commaunde
youre bookys go to,
(68)
And looke grathly, for any thyng,
If ye fynd oght of sich a kyng.
If ye fynd oght of sich a kyng.
primus consultus & doctor.
It shall be done at youre bydyng,
By hym me boght,
And soyn we shall you tythyngys bryng
If we fynd oght.
(69)
ijus consultus & doctor.
Soyn shall we wyt, lord, if I may,
If oght be wretyn in oure lay.
herod.
Now, masters, therof I you pray
On all manere.
primus consultus.
Com furth, let vs assay
Oure bookys both in fere.
(70)
ijus consultus.
Certys, sir, lo, here fynd I
well wretyn in a prophecy,
how that profett Isay,
That neuer begyld,
Tellys that a madyn of hir body
Shall bere a chyld.
(71)
primus consultus.
And also, sir, to you I tell
The meruellest thyng that euer fell,
Hyr madynhede with hir shall dwell,
As dyd beforne;
That child shall hight ‘emanuell’
when he is borne.
(72)
ijus consultus.
lord, this is sothe, securely,
wytnes the profett Isay.
herod.
Outt, alas! for doyll I dy,
long or my day!
Shall he haue more pauste then I?
A, waloway!
long or my day!
Shall he haue more pauste then I?
A, waloway!
154
(73)
Alas, alas, I am forlorne!
I wold be rent and all to torne;
Bot looke yit, as ye dyd beforne,
ffor luf of me;
And tell me where that boy is borne;
Onone lett se.
I wold be rent and all to torne;
Bot looke yit, as ye dyd beforne,
ffor luf of me;
And tell me where that boy is borne;
Onone lett se.
(74)
primus consultus.
All redy, lord, with mayn & mode.
herod.
haue done belyf, or I go wode;
And, certys, that gadlyng wer as good
haue greuyd me noght;
I shall se that brodell bloode,
By hym that me has boght!
(75)
ijus consultus.
Micheas the prophett, withoutten nay,
how that he tellys I shall you say;
In bedlem, land of Iuda,
As I say you,
Out of it a duke shall spra;
Thus fynd we now.
(76)
primus consultus.
Syr, thus we fynd in prophecy:
Therfor we say you, securely,
In bedlem, we say you truly,
Borne is that kyng.
herod.
The dewill hang you high to dry,
ffor this tythyng!
ffor this tythyng!
(77)
And certys ye ly! it may not be!
ijus consultus.
lord, we wytnes it truly;
here the sothe youre self may se,
If ye can rede.
herod.
A, waloway! full wo is me!
The dewill you spede!
(78)
primus consultus.
lord, it is sothe, all that we say,
We fynde it wretyn in oure lay.
155
Go hens, harlottys, in twenty dewill way,
ffast and belyfe!
Mighty mahowne, as he well may,
lett you neuer thryfe!
ffast and belyfe!
Mighty mahowne, as he well may,
lett you neuer thryfe!
(79)
Alas, wherto were I a crowne?
Or is cald of greatt renowne?
I am the fowlest borne downe
That euer was man;
And namely with a fowll swalchon,
That no good can.
Or is cald of greatt renowne?
I am the fowlest borne downe
That euer was man;
And namely with a fowll swalchon,
That no good can.
(80)
Alas, that euer I shuld be knyght,
Or holdyn man of mekyll myght,
If a lad shuld reyfe me my right
All thus me fro;
Myn dede ere shuld I dyght,
Or it were so.
Or holdyn man of mekyll myght,
If a lad shuld reyfe me my right
All thus me fro;
Myn dede ere shuld I dyght,
Or it were so.
(81)
[Turns to the kings.]
ye nobyll kyngys, harkyns as heynd!
ye shall haue saue condyth to weynd;
Bot com agane with me to leynd,
Syrs, I you pray;
ye shall me fynd a faythfull freynd,
If ye do swa.
ye shall haue saue condyth to weynd;
Bot com agane with me to leynd,
Syrs, I you pray;
ye shall me fynd a faythfull freynd,
If ye do swa.
(82)
If it be sothe, this new tythyng,
Som worship wold I do that kyng,
Therfor I pray you that ye bryng
Me tythyngys soyn.
Som worship wold I do that kyng,
Therfor I pray you that ye bryng
Me tythyngys soyn.
primus rex.
All redy, lord, at youre bydyng
It shalbe doyn.
[The kings mount their horses.]
(83)
ijus rex.
Alas, in warld how haue we sped!
where is the lyght that vs has led?
Som clowde, for sothe, that starne has cled
ffrom vs away;
In strong stowre now ar we sted;
what may we say?
156
(84)
iijus rex.
wo worth herode, that cursyd wyght!
wo worth that tyrant day and nyght!
ffor thrugh hym haue we lost that sight,
And for his gyle,
That shoyn to vs with bemys bright
within a whyle.
here lyghtys the kyngys of thare horses.
(85)
primus rex.
lordyngys, I red we pray all thre
To that lord, whose natyuyte
The starne betokyned that we can se,
All with his wyll;
pray we specyally that he
wold show it vs vntyll
here knele all thre kyngys downe.
(86)
ijus rex.
Thou chyld, whose myght no tong may tell,
As thou art lord of heuen and hell,
Thy nobyll starne, emanuell,
Thou send vs yare;
That we may wytt by fyrth and fell
how we shall fare.
(87)
iijus rex.
A, to that chyld be euer honoure,
That in this tyd has stynt oure stoure,
And lent vs lyght to oure socoure,
On this manere;
we loue the, lord of towne and towre,
holly in fere.
here ryse thay all vp.
That in this tyd has stynt oure stoure,
And lent vs lyght to oure socoure,
On this manere;
we loue the, lord of towne and towre,
holly in fere.
(88)
we owe to loue hym ouer all thyng,
That thus has send vs oure askyng;
Behold, yond starne has made stynyng,
Syrs, securly;
Of this chyld shall we haue knowyng,
I hope, in hy.
That thus has send vs oure askyng;
Behold, yond starne has made stynyng,
Syrs, securly;
Of this chyld shall we haue knowyng,
I hope, in hy.
157
(89)
ijus rex.
lordyngys dere, drede thar vs noght,
Oure greatt trauell tyll end is broght;
yond is the place that we haue soght
ffrom far cuntre;
yond is the chyld that all has wroght,
Behold and se!
(90)
iijus rex.
I red we make offeryng, all thre,
vnto this chyld of greatt pauste,
And worship hym with gyftys fre
That we haue broght;
Oure boytt of bayll ay wyll he be,
well haue we soght.
(91)
[They enter the house.]
primus rex.
hayll be thou, maker of all kyn thyng!
That boytt of all oure bayll may bryng!
In tokyn that thou art oure kyng,
And shalbe ay,
Resayf this gold to myn offeryng,
prynce, I the pray.
(92)
ijus rex.
hayll, ouercomer of kyng and of knyght!
That fourmed fysh, and fowyll in flyght!
ffor thou art godis son most of myght,
And all weldand,
I bryng the rekyls, as is right,
To myn offerand.
(93)
iijus rex.
hayll, kyng in kyth, cowrand on kne!
hayll, oone-fold god in persons thre!
In tokyn that thou dede shalbe,
By kyndly skyll,
To thy grauyng this myr of me
Resaue the tyll.
(94)
Maria.
Syr kyngys, make comforth you betweyn,
And meruell not what it may mene;
This chyld, that on me borne has bene,
All bayll may blyn;
I am his moder, and madyn clene
withoutten syn.
And meruell not what it may mene;
158
All bayll may blyn;
I am his moder, and madyn clene
withoutten syn.
(95)
Therfor, lordyngys, where so ye fare,
Boldly looke ye tell ay whare
how I this blyst of bosom bare,
That best shalbe;
And madyn cleyn, as I was are,
Thrugh his pauste.
Boldly looke ye tell ay whare
how I this blyst of bosom bare,
That best shalbe;
And madyn cleyn, as I was are,
Thrugh his pauste.
(96)
And truly, syrs, looke that ye trow
That othere lord is none at-lowe;
Both man and beest to hym shall bowe,
In towne and feyld;
My blyssyng, syrs, be now with you
where so ye beyld.
That othere lord is none at-lowe;
Both man and beest to hym shall bowe,
In towne and feyld;
My blyssyng, syrs, be now with you
where so ye beyld.
(97)
primus rex.
A, lordyngys dere! the sothe to say,
we haue made a good Iornay;
we loue this lord, that shall last ay
with outten ende;
he is oure beyld, both nyght and day,
where so we weynd.
(98)
ijus rex.
lordyngys, we haue traueld lang,
And restyd haue we lytyll emang,
ffor-thi I red now, or we gang,
with all oure mayn
et vs fownde a slepe to fang;
Then were I fayn;
And restyd haue we lytyll emang,
ffor-thi I red now, or we gang,
with all oure mayn
et vs fownde a slepe to fang;
Then were I fayn;
(99)
ffor in greatt stowres we haue ben sted.
lo, here a lytter redy cled.
lo, here a lytter redy cled.
iijus rex.
I loue my lord! we haue well sped,
To rest with wyn;
lordyngys, syn we shall go to bed,
ye shall begyn.
[They sleep: an angel appears above.]
159
(100)
Angelus.
Syr curtes kyngys, to me take tent,
And turne by tyme or ye be tenyd;
ffrom god his self thus am I sent
To warne you, as youre faythfull freynd,
how herode kyng has malyce ment,
And shapys with shame you for to sheynd;
And so that ye no harmes hent,
By othere ways god wyll ye weynd
Into youre awne cuntre;
And if ye ask hym boyn,
ffor this dede that ye haue done,
youre beyld ay wyll he be.
[Exit.]
(101)
primus rex.
wakyns, wakyns, lordyngys dere!
Oure dwellyng is no longer here;
An angell spake tyll vs in fere;
Bad vs, as heynd,
That we ne shuld, on no manere,
home by herode weynd.
(102)
ijus rex.
All myghty god in trynyte,
with hart enterely thank I the,
That thyn angell send tyll vs thre,
And kend vs so,
Oure fals fo man for to fle,
That wold vs slo.
(103)
iijus rex.
We aght to loue hym more and myn,
That comly kyng of all man-kyn;
I rew full sore that we shall twyn
On this manere;
ffor commen we haue, with mekyll wyn,
By wayes sere.
(104)
primus rex.
Twyn must vs nedys, syrs, permafay,
And ilk on weynd by dyuers way;
160
To my cuntre;
ffor-thy, lordyngys, now haue good day!
God with you be!
(105)
ijus rex.
Certys, I must pas by se and sand;
This is the gate, I vnderstand,
That wyll me lede vnto my land
The right way;
To god of heuen I you commaunde,
And haue good day!
(106)
iijus rex.
This is the way that I must weynd;
Now god till vs his socoure send,
And he, that is withoutten end
And ay shalbe,
Saue vs from fowndyng of the feynd,
ffor his pauste.
Explicit oblacio trium Magorum.
| Oblacio Magorum | |