 | The Pewtereres and Foundours |  |
[Scene, Joseph wandering in the wilderness; his house
at one side.]
i Puella.
Welcome, by Goddis dere myght!
Jos.
Whare is þat ȝonge virgine,
Marie, my berde so bright?
Certis, Joseph, ȝe sall vndirstande,
Þat sho is not fulle farre you fra,
Sho sittis at hir boke full faste prayand
For ȝou and us, and for all þa
Þat oght has nede.
But for to tell hir will I ga
Of youre comyng, withouten drede.
[Goes to Mary.
Haue done! and rise vppe, dame,
And to me take gud hede,
Joseph, he is comen hame.
Maria.
Welcome! als God me spede.
Joseph my spouse, welcome er yhe!
Jos.
Gramercy, Marie, saie what chere,
Telle me þe soth, how es't with þe?
Wha has ben there?
Thy wombe is waxen grete, thynke me,
Þou arte with barne, allas! for care!
A! maidens, wa worthe ȝou!
Þat lete hir lere swilke lare.
ii Puella.
Joseph, ȝe sall noȝt trowe,
In hir no febill fare.
Trowe it noght arme! lefe wenche, do way!
Hir sidis shewes she is with childe.
Whose is't Marie?
Mar.
Sir, Goddis and youres.
Jos.
Nay, nay, now wate I wele I am begiled.
And resonne why
With me flesshely was þou neuere fylid,
And I forsake it here for-thy.
Say, maidens, how es þis?
Tels me þe soþe, rede I,
And but ȝe do, i-wisse,
Þe bargayne sall ȝe aby.
If ȝe threte als faste as yhe can,
Þare is noght to saie þere till,
For trulye her come neuer noman,
To waite her body with non ill,
Of this swete wight.
For we haue dwelt ay with her still,
And was neuere fro hir day nor nyght.
Hir kepars haue we bene
and sho ay in oure sight,
Come here no man bytwene
to touche þat berde so bright.
Na, here come noman in þere wanes,
And þat euere witnesse will we,
Saue an Aungell ilke a day anes,
With bodily foode hir fedde has he,
Othir come nane.
Wharfore we ne wate how it shulde be,
But thurgh þe haly gaste allone.
For trewly we trowe þis,
is grace with hir is gone,
For sho wroght neuere no mys,
we witnesse euere ilkane.
To my witnesse grete God I call,
Þat in mynde wroght neuere no mysse.
Jos.
Whose is þe childe þou arte with-all?
Mar.
Youres sir, and þe kyngis of blisse.
Jos.
Mar.
Sir, it is youres and Goddis will.
Jos.
Mar.
None but youre selfe.
Jos.
Mar.
But God and yhow, I knowe right none.
Jos.
Mar.
Nowe grete God of his myght,
Þat all may dresse and dight,
Mekely to þe I bowe!
Rewe on þis wery wight,
Þat in his herte might light
Þe soth to ken and trowe.
Who had thy maydenhede Marie? has þou oght mynde.
Mar.
For suth, I am a mayden clene.
Jos.
Nay þou spekis now agayne kynde;
Slike þing myght neuere naman of mene.
A maiden to be with childe,
Þase werkis fra þe ar wilde,
Sho is not borne I wene.
Mar.
Joseph, yhe ar begiled,
With synne was I neuer filid,
Goddis sande is on me sene.
Goddis sande! yha Marie! God helpe,
Bot certis! þat childe was neuere oures two.
But woman kynde gif þat list yhelpe,
Yhitt walde þei naman wiste þer wo.
Mar.
Sertis, it is Goddis sande,
Þat sall I neuer ga fra.
Jos.
Mar.
Now, grete God! be you wisse,
And mende you of your mysse,
Of me, what so betyde.
Als he is kyng of blysse,
Sende yhou som seand of þis,
In truth þat ye might bide.
[Joseph goes out again.
Nowe, lord God! þat all þing may
At thine owne will bothe do and dresse,
Wisse me now som redy way
To walk here in þis wildirnesse.
Bot or I passe þis hill,
Do with me what God will,
Owther more or lesse,
Here bus me bide full stille
Till I haue slepid my fille.
Myn hert so heuy it is.
[Sleeps.
[Enter the angel Gabriel.]
Waken, Joseph! and take bettir kepe
To Marie, þat is þi felawe fest.
Jos.
A! I am full werie, lefe late me slepe,
For-wandered and walked in þis forest.
Ang.
Rise vppe! and slepe na mare,
Þou makist her herte full sare.
Þat loues þe alther best.
Jos.
Ang.
And is this soth, aungell, þou saise?
Ang.
Yha! and þis to taken right,
Wende forthe to Marie thy wiffe alwayse,
Brynge hir to Bedlem þis ilke nyght.
Ther sall a childe borne be,
Goddis sone of heuen is hee,
And man ay mast of myght.
Jos.
Mar.
Þe bettir sir, for yhou.
Why stande yhe þare? come nere.
Jos.
My bakke fayne wolde I bowe,
And aske fo[r]gifnesse nowe,
Wiste I þou wolde me here.
Forgiffnesse sir! late be! for shame,
Slike wordis suld all gud women lakke.
Jos.
Yha, Marie, I am to blame,
For wordis lang are I to þe spak.
But gadir same now all oure gere;
Slike poure wede as we were,
And prike þam in a pak.
Till Bedlem bus me it bere,
For litill thyng will women dere.
Helpe vp nowe on my bak!
1.
Jos.
Of grete mornyng may I me mene,
And walk full werily be þis way,
For nowe þan wende I best hase bene
Att ease and reste by reasonne ay.
For I am of grete elde,
Wayke and al vnwelde,
Als ilke man se it maye;
I may nowder buske ne belde,
But owther in frith or felde;
For shame what sall I saie
And walk full werily be þis way,
For nowe þan wende I best hase bene
Att ease and reste by reasonne ay.
For I am of grete elde,
Wayke and al vnwelde,
Als ilke man se it maye;
I may nowder buske ne belde,
But owther in frith or felde;
For shame what sall I saie
2.
That þus-gates nowe on myne alde dase
Has wedded a yonge wenche to my wiff,
And may noȝt wele tryne over two strase!
Nowe lorde! how langes all I lede þis liff,
My banes er heuy als lede,
And may noȝt stande in stede,
Als kende it is full ryfe.
Now lorde! þou me wisse and rede,
Or sone me dryue to dede,
Þou may best stynte þis striffe.
Has wedded a yonge wenche to my wiff,
103
Nowe lorde! how langes all I lede þis liff,
My banes er heuy als lede,
And may noȝt stande in stede,
Als kende it is full ryfe.
Now lorde! þou me wisse and rede,
Or sone me dryue to dede,
Þou may best stynte þis striffe.
3.
For bittirly þan may I banne
The way I in þe temple wente,
Itt was to me a bad barganne,
For reuthe I may it ay repente.
For þare-in was ordande
Vn-wedded men sulde stande,
Al 'sembled at asent;
And ilke ane a drye wande
On heght helde in his hand,
And I ne wist what it ment.
The way I in þe temple wente,
Itt was to me a bad barganne,
For reuthe I may it ay repente.
For þare-in was ordande
Vn-wedded men sulde stande,
Al 'sembled at asent;
And ilke ane a drye wande
On heght helde in his hand,
And I ne wist what it ment.
4.
In-mange al othir ane bare I,
Itt florisshed faire, and floures on sprede,
And they saide to me for-thy
Þat with a wiffe I sulde be wedde.
Þe bargayne I made þare,
Þat rewes me nowe full sare,
So am I straytely sted.
Now castes itt me in care,
For wele I myght euere mare
Anlepy life haue led.
Itt florisshed faire, and floures on sprede,
And they saide to me for-thy
Þat with a wiffe I sulde be wedde.
Þe bargayne I made þare,
Þat rewes me nowe full sare,
So am I straytely sted.
Now castes itt me in care,
For wele I myght euere mare
Anlepy life haue led.
5.
Hir werkis me wyrkis my wonges to wete,
I am begiled; how, wate I noȝt.
My ȝonge wiffe is with childe full grete,
Þat makes me nowe sorowe vnsoght.
Þat reproffe nere has slayne me!
For-thy giff any man frayne me
How þis þing may be wroght,
To gabbe yf I wolde payne me,
Þe lawe standis harde agayne me,
To dede I mon be broght.
I am begiled; how, wate I noȝt.
My ȝonge wiffe is with childe full grete,
Þat makes me nowe sorowe vnsoght.
Þat reproffe nere has slayne me!
104
How þis þing may be wroght,
To gabbe yf I wolde payne me,
Þe lawe standis harde agayne me,
To dede I mon be broght.
6.
And lathe me thinkeþ, on þe todir syde,
My wiff with any man to defame,
And whethir of there twa þat I bide
I mon noȝt scape withouten schame.
Þe childe certis is noght myne,
Þat reproffe dose me pyne,
And gars me fle fra hame.
My liff gif I shuld tyne,
Sho is a clene virgine
For me, withouten blame.
My wiff with any man to defame,
And whethir of there twa þat I bide
I mon noȝt scape withouten schame.
Þe childe certis is noght myne,
Þat reproffe dose me pyne,
And gars me fle fra hame.
My liff gif I shuld tyne,
Sho is a clene virgine
For me, withouten blame.
7.
But wele I wate thurgh prophicie,
A maiden clene suld bere a childe,
But it is nought sho, sekirly,
For-thy I wate I am begiled.
And why ne walde som yonge man ta her,
For certis I thynke ouer-ga hir
Into som wodes wilde,
Thus thynke I to stele fra hir,
God childe ther wilde bestes sla hir,
She is so meke and mylde.
A maiden clene suld bere a childe,
But it is nought sho, sekirly,
For-thy I wate I am begiled.
And why ne walde som yonge man ta her,
For certis I thynke ouer-ga hir
Into som wodes wilde,
Thus thynke I to stele fra hir,
God childe ther wilde bestes sla hir,
She is so meke and mylde.
8.
Of my wendyng wil I none warne,
Neuere þe lees it is myne entente
To aske hir who gate hir þat barne,
ȝitt wolde I witte fayne or I wente.
[Enters his house.
Neuere þe lees it is myne entente
To aske hir who gate hir þat barne,
ȝitt wolde I witte fayne or I wente.
All hayle! God be here-inne!
i Puella.
Welcome, by Goddis dere myght!
105
Whare is þat ȝonge virgine,
Marie, my berde so bright?
9.
i Puella.Certis, Joseph, ȝe sall vndirstande,
Þat sho is not fulle farre you fra,
Sho sittis at hir boke full faste prayand
For ȝou and us, and for all þa
Þat oght has nede.
But for to tell hir will I ga
Of youre comyng, withouten drede.
[Goes to Mary.
Haue done! and rise vppe, dame,
And to me take gud hede,
Joseph, he is comen hame.
Maria.
Welcome! als God me spede.
10.
Dredles to me he is full dere,
Joseph my spouse, welcome er yhe!
Jos.
Gramercy, Marie, saie what chere,
Telle me þe soth, how es't with þe?
Wha has ben there?
Thy wombe is waxen grete, thynke me,
Þou arte with barne, allas! for care!
A! maidens, wa worthe ȝou!
Þat lete hir lere swilke lare.
ii Puella.
Joseph, ȝe sall noȝt trowe,
In hir no febill fare.
11.
Jos.Trowe it noght arme! lefe wenche, do way!
Hir sidis shewes she is with childe.
Whose is't Marie?
Mar.
Sir, Goddis and youres.
Jos.
Nay, nay, now wate I wele I am begiled.
And resonne why
With me flesshely was þou neuere fylid,
And I forsake it here for-thy.
Say, maidens, how es þis?
Tels me þe soþe, rede I,
106
Þe bargayne sall ȝe aby.
12.
ii Puella.If ȝe threte als faste as yhe can,
Þare is noght to saie þere till,
For trulye her come neuer noman,
To waite her body with non ill,
Of this swete wight.
For we haue dwelt ay with her still,
And was neuere fro hir day nor nyght.
Hir kepars haue we bene
and sho ay in oure sight,
Come here no man bytwene
to touche þat berde so bright.
13.
i Puella.Na, here come noman in þere wanes,
And þat euere witnesse will we,
Saue an Aungell ilke a day anes,
With bodily foode hir fedde has he,
Othir come nane.
Wharfore we ne wate how it shulde be,
But thurgh þe haly gaste allone.
For trewly we trowe þis,
is grace with hir is gone,
For sho wroght neuere no mys,
we witnesse euere ilkane.
14.
Jos.
Þanne se I wele youre menyng is,
Þe Aungell has made hir with childe.
Nay, som man in aungellis liknesse
With somkyn gawde has hir begiled;
And þat trow I.
For-thy nedes noght swilke wordis wilde
At carpe to me dissayuandly.
We! why gab ye me swa
and feynes swilk fantassy,
Allas! me is full wa!
for dule why ne myght I dy.
Þe Aungell has made hir with childe.
Nay, som man in aungellis liknesse
With somkyn gawde has hir begiled;
And þat trow I.
For-thy nedes noght swilke wordis wilde
At carpe to me dissayuandly.
We! why gab ye me swa
and feynes swilk fantassy,
107
for dule why ne myght I dy.
15.
To me þis is a carefull cas,
Rekkeles I raffe, reste is my rede,
I dare loke no man in þe face,
Derfely for dole why ne were I dede.
Me lathis my liff!
In temple and in othir stede
Ilke man till hethyng will me dryff.
Was neuer wight sa wa,
for ruthe I all to ryff,
Allas! why wrought þou swa,
Marie! my weddid wiffe?
Rekkeles I raffe, reste is my rede,
I dare loke no man in þe face,
Derfely for dole why ne were I dede.
Me lathis my liff!
In temple and in othir stede
Ilke man till hethyng will me dryff.
Was neuer wight sa wa,
for ruthe I all to ryff,
Allas! why wrought þou swa,
Marie! my weddid wiffe?
16.
Mar.To my witnesse grete God I call,
Þat in mynde wroght neuere no mysse.
Jos.
Whose is þe childe þou arte with-all?
Mar.
Youres sir, and þe kyngis of blisse.
Jos.
Ye, and hoo þan?
Na, selcouthe tythandis than is þis,
Excuse þam wele there women can.
But Marie, all þat sese þe
may witte þi werkis ere wan,
Thy wombe all way it wreyes þe,
þat þou has mette with man.
Na, selcouthe tythandis than is þis,
Excuse þam wele there women can.
But Marie, all þat sese þe
may witte þi werkis ere wan,
Thy wombe all way it wreyes þe,
þat þou has mette with man.
17.
Whose is it? als faire mot ye be-fall.
Mar.
Sir, it is youres and Goddis will.
Jos.
Nay, I ne haue noght a-do with-all.
Neme it na more to me, be still!
Þou wate als wele as I,
Þat we two same flesshly
Wroght neuer swilk werkis with ill.
Loke þou dide no folye
Be-fore me preuely
Thy faire maydenhede to spill.
Neme it na more to me, be still!
Þou wate als wele as I,
Þat we two same flesshly
Wroght neuer swilk werkis with ill.
Loke þou dide no folye
Be-fore me preuely
Thy faire maydenhede to spill.
108
18.
But who is þe fader? telle me his name,
Mar.
None but youre selfe.
Jos.
Late be, for shame.
I did it neuere, þou dotist dame, by bukes and belles,
Full sakles shulde I bere þis blame aftir þou telles.
For I wroght neuere in worde nor dede,
Thyng þat shulde marre thy maydenhede,
To touche me till.
For of slyk note war litill nede,
Yhitt for myn awne I wolde it fede,
Might all be still.
I did it neuere, þou dotist dame, by bukes and belles,
Full sakles shulde I bere þis blame aftir þou telles.
For I wroght neuere in worde nor dede,
Thyng þat shulde marre thy maydenhede,
To touche me till.
For of slyk note war litill nede,
Yhitt for myn awne I wolde it fede,
Might all be still.
19.
Þarfore þe fadir tell me, Marie.
Mar.
But God and yhow, I knowe right none.
Jos.
A! slike sawes mase me full sarye,
With grete mornyng to make my mone.
Therfore be noȝt so balde
Þat no slike tales be talde,
But halde þe stille als stane.
Þou art yonge and I am alde,
Slike werkis yf I do walde,
Þase games fra me are gane.
With grete mornyng to make my mone.
Therfore be noȝt so balde
Þat no slike tales be talde,
But halde þe stille als stane.
Þou art yonge and I am alde,
Slike werkis yf I do walde,
Þase games fra me are gane.
20.
Therfore, telle me in priuite
whos is þe childe þou is with nowe?
Sertis, þer sall non witte but we,
I drede þe law als wele as þou.
whos is þe childe þou is with nowe?
Sertis, þer sall non witte but we,
I drede þe law als wele as þou.
Mar.
Nowe grete God of his myght,
Þat all may dresse and dight,
Mekely to þe I bowe!
Rewe on þis wery wight,
Þat in his herte might light
Þe soth to ken and trowe.
21.
Jos.Who had thy maydenhede Marie? has þou oght mynde.
109
For suth, I am a mayden clene.
Jos.
Nay þou spekis now agayne kynde;
Slike þing myght neuere naman of mene.
A maiden to be with childe,
Þase werkis fra þe ar wilde,
Sho is not borne I wene.
Mar.
Joseph, yhe ar begiled,
With synne was I neuer filid,
Goddis sande is on me sene.
22.
Jos.Goddis sande! yha Marie! God helpe,
Bot certis! þat childe was neuere oures two.
But woman kynde gif þat list yhelpe,
Yhitt walde þei naman wiste þer wo.
Mar.
Sertis, it is Goddis sande,
Þat sall I neuer ga fra.
Jos.
Yha! Marie, drawe thyn hande,
For forther ȝitt will I frande,
I trowe not it be swa.
For forther ȝitt will I frande,
I trowe not it be swa.
23.
Þe soth fra me gif þat þou layne
Þe childe bering may þou noȝt hyde,
But sitte stille here tille I come agayne,
Me bus an erand here beside.
Þe childe bering may þou noȝt hyde,
But sitte stille here tille I come agayne,
Me bus an erand here beside.
Mar.
Now, grete God! be you wisse,
And mende you of your mysse,
Of me, what so betyde.
Als he is kyng of blysse,
Sende yhou som seand of þis,
In truth þat ye might bide.
[Joseph goes out again.
24.
Jos.Nowe, lord God! þat all þing may
At thine owne will bothe do and dresse,
Wisse me now som redy way
To walk here in þis wildirnesse.
110
Do with me what God will,
Owther more or lesse,
Here bus me bide full stille
Till I haue slepid my fille.
Myn hert so heuy it is.
[Sleeps.
[Enter the angel Gabriel.]
25.
Ang.Waken, Joseph! and take bettir kepe
To Marie, þat is þi felawe fest.
Jos.
A! I am full werie, lefe late me slepe,
For-wandered and walked in þis forest.
Ang.
Rise vppe! and slepe na mare,
Þou makist her herte full sare.
Þat loues þe alther best.
Jos.
We! now es þis a farly fare,
For to be cached bathe here and þare,
And nowhere may haue rest.
For to be cached bathe here and þare,
And nowhere may haue rest.
26.
Say, what arte þou? telle me this thyng.
Ang.
I Gabriell, Goddis aungell full euen,
Þat has tane Marie to my kepyng,
And sente es þe to say with steuen,
In lele wedlak þou lede þe,
Leffe hir noȝt, I forbid þe,
Na syn of hir þou neuen.
But till hir fast þou spede þe,
And of hir noght þou drede þe,
It is Goddis sande of heuen.
Þat has tane Marie to my kepyng,
And sente es þe to say with steuen,
In lele wedlak þou lede þe,
Leffe hir noȝt, I forbid þe,
Na syn of hir þou neuen.
But till hir fast þou spede þe,
And of hir noght þou drede þe,
It is Goddis sande of heuen.
27.
The childe þat sall be borne of her,
Itt is consayued of þe haly gast.
Alle joie and blisse þan sall be aftir,
And to al mankynde nowe althir mast.
Jesus his name þou calle,
For slike happe sall hym fall
Als þou sall se in haste.
His pepull saff he sall
Of euyllis and angris all,
Þat þei ar nowe enbraste.
Itt is consayued of þe haly gast.
Alle joie and blisse þan sall be aftir,
And to al mankynde nowe althir mast.
Jesus his name þou calle,
For slike happe sall hym fall
Als þou sall se in haste.
111
Of euyllis and angris all,
Þat þei ar nowe enbraste.
28.
Jos.And is this soth, aungell, þou saise?
Ang.
Yha! and þis to taken right,
Wende forthe to Marie thy wiffe alwayse,
Brynge hir to Bedlem þis ilke nyght.
Ther sall a childe borne be,
Goddis sone of heuen is hee,
And man ay mast of myght.
Jos.
Nowe lorde god! full wele is me,
That euyr þat I þis sight suld see,
I was neuer ar so light.
That euyr þat I þis sight suld see,
I was neuer ar so light.
29.
For for I walde hir þus refused,
And sakles blame þat ay was clere,
Me bus pray hir halde me excused,
Als som men dose with full gud chere.
[He re-enters his house.
And sakles blame þat ay was clere,
Me bus pray hir halde me excused,
Als som men dose with full gud chere.
Saie, Marie wiffe, how fares þou?
Mar.
Þe bettir sir, for yhou.
Why stande yhe þare? come nere.
Jos.
My bakke fayne wolde I bowe,
And aske fo[r]gifnesse nowe,
Wiste I þou wolde me here.
30.
Mar.Forgiffnesse sir! late be! for shame,
Slike wordis suld all gud women lakke.
Jos.
Yha, Marie, I am to blame,
For wordis lang are I to þe spak.
But gadir same now all oure gere;
Slike poure wede as we were,
And prike þam in a pak.
Till Bedlem bus me it bere,
For litill thyng will women dere.
Helpe vp nowe on my bak!
| The Pewtereres and Foundours | |