 | The Tille Thekers |  |
[Scene I]
Bethlehem, a cattle shed.
1.
Jos.
All weldand God in Trinite,
I praye þe, lord, for thy grete myght,
Vnto thy symple seruand see,
Here in þis place wher we are pight,
oure self allone;
Lord, graunte vs gode herberow þis nyght
within þis wone.
I praye þe, lord, for thy grete myght,
Vnto thy symple seruand see,
Here in þis place wher we are pight,
oure self allone;
Lord, graunte vs gode herberow þis nyght
within þis wone.
2.
For we haue sought both vppe and doune,
Thurgh diuerse stretis in þis cite,
So mekill pepull is comen to towne,
Þat we can nowhare herbered be,
þer is slike prees;
For suthe I can no socoure see,
but belde vs with þere bestes.
Thurgh diuerse stretis in þis cite,
So mekill pepull is comen to towne,
Þat we can nowhare herbered be,
þer is slike prees;
For suthe I can no socoure see,
but belde vs with þere bestes.
3.
And yf we here all nyght abide,
We shall be stormed in þis steede;
Þe walles are doune on ilke a side,
Þe ruffe is rayned aboven oure hede,
als haue I roo,
Say, Marie doughtir, what is thy rede?
How sall we doo?
We shall be stormed in þis steede;
Þe walles are doune on ilke a side,
Þe ruffe is rayned aboven oure hede,
als haue I roo,
Say, Marie doughtir, what is thy rede?
How sall we doo?
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4.
For in grete nede nowe are we stedde,
As þou thy selffe the soth may see,
For here is nowthir cloth ne bedde,
And we are weyke and all werie,
and fayne wolde rest.
Now, gracious god, for thy mercie!
wisse vs þe best.
As þou thy selffe the soth may see,
For here is nowthir cloth ne bedde,
And we are weyke and all werie,
and fayne wolde rest.
Now, gracious god, for thy mercie!
wisse vs þe best.
5.
Mar.God will vs wisse, full wele witt ȝe,
Þer-fore, Joseph, be of gud chere,
For in þis place borne will he be
Þat sall vs saue fro sorowes sere,
boþe even and morne.
Sir, witte ȝe wele þe tyme is nere,
hee will be borne.
6.
Jos.Þan behoves vs bide here stille,
Here in þis same place all þis nyght.
Mar.
Ȝa, sir, forsuth it is Goddis will.
Jos.
Þan wolde I fayne we had sum light,
what so befall.
It waxis right myrke vnto my sight,
and colde withall.
what so befall.
It waxis right myrke vnto my sight,
and colde withall.
7.
I will go gete vs light for-thy,
And fewell fande with me to bryng.
And fewell fande with me to bryng.
[Goes out.
Mar.
All weldand God yow gouerne and gy,
As he is sufferayne of all thyng
fo[r] his grete myght,
And lende me grace to his louyng
Þat I me dight.
As he is sufferayne of all thyng
fo[r] his grete myght,
And lende me grace to his louyng
Þat I me dight.
8.
Nowe in my sawle grete ioie haue I,
I am all cladde in comforte clere,
Now will be borne of my body
Both God and man to-gedir in feere.
Blist mott he be!
Jesu! my son þat is so dere,
nowe borne is he.
[Mary worships the child.
I am all cladde in comforte clere,
Now will be borne of my body
Both God and man to-gedir in feere.
Blist mott he be!
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nowe borne is he.
9.
Hayle my lord God! hayle prince of pees!
Hayle my fadir, and hayle my sone!
Hayle souereyne sege all synnes to sesse!
Hayle God and man in erth to wonne!
Hayle! thurgh whos myht
All þis worlde was first be-gonne,
merknes and light.
Hayle my fadir, and hayle my sone!
Hayle souereyne sege all synnes to sesse!
Hayle God and man in erth to wonne!
Hayle! thurgh whos myht
All þis worlde was first be-gonne,
merknes and light.
10.
Sone, as I am sympill sugett of thyne,
Vowchesaffe, swete sone I pray þe,
That I myght þe take in þe[r] armys of myne,
And in þis poure wede to arraie þe;
Graunte me þi blisse!
As I am thy modir chosen to be
in sothfastnesse.
Vowchesaffe, swete sone I pray þe,
That I myght þe take in þe[r] armys of myne,
And in þis poure wede to arraie þe;
Graunte me þi blisse!
As I am thy modir chosen to be
in sothfastnesse.
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