 | The Tailoures |  |
[Scene, The Mount of Olives, near Bethany: the disciples with
Mary are assembled.]
O mightfull god, how standis it nowe,
In worlde þus will was I neuere are,—
Butte he apperes,—bot I ne wote howe
He fro vs twynnes whanne he will fare.
And ȝitt may falle þat for oure prowe,
And alle his wirkyng lesse and mare,
A! kyng of comforte! gudde arte þou,
And lele and likand is thy lare.
The missing of my maistir trewe,
That lenghis not with vs lastandly,
Makis me to morne ilke a day newe,
For tharnyng of his company.
His peere of gudnes neuere I knewe,
Of myght ne wisdome it anly.
Petrus.
Þou Petir, whanne my sone was slayne,
And laide in graue, ȝe wer in were
Whedir he schulde rise, al moste ilkane,
But nowe ȝe wotte thurgh knowyng clere.
Come þat he saide schulde is gane,
And some to come, but ilkane sere,
Whedir it be to come or none,
Vs awe to knowe it all in fere.
[Jesus appears.]
[Jesus ascends.
Joh.
Maria.
Joh.
Þat grace, dere lady, wolde I craue.
Maria.
Mi sone sawes will I neuere for-sake.
Itt were not semand þat we straue
Ne contraried noȝt þat he spake.
But John, tille I be broght in graue,
Schall þou never see my sorowe slake.
Owre worthy lorde, sen he is wente
For vs, lady, als is his will,
We thanke hym þat vs þe hath lente
With vs on lyue to lenge her stille.
I saie for me with full concente,
Þi likyng all will I fulfille.
Andreas.
So wille we all with grete talent,
For-thy, lady, giffe þe noght ill.
[Enter Angels.
Ȝe men of þe lande of Galile,
What wondir ȝe to heuene lokand?
Þis Jesus whome ȝe fro youe see
Vppe-tane, ȝe schall well vndirstande,
Right so agayne come doune schall he,
When he so comes with woundes bledand,
Who wele has wrought full gladde may be,
Who ill has leved full sore dredand.
Ȝe þat has bene his seruauntis trewe,
And with hym lengand, nyght and day,
Slike wirkyng als ȝe with hym knew,
Loke þat ȝe preche it fourthe alway.
Youre mede in heuene beis ilke day newe,
And all þat seruis hym wele to paye,
Who trowes you noght, it schall þame rewe,
Þei mon haue peyne encresand ay.
Loued be þou lorde ay, moste of myght,
Þat þus, in all oure grete disease,
Vs comfortist with thyne aungellis bright;
Nowe might þer Jewes þare malise meese,
Þat sawe þame-selue þis wondir sight,
Þus nere þame wroght vndir þer nese.
And we haue mater day and nyght,
Oure god more for to preyse and plese.
Nowe may þer Jewes be all confused
If þai on-thinke þame inwardly,
Howe falsely þei haue hym accused,
And sakles schente thurgh þer envy.
Þer falsed, þat þei longe haue vsed,
Nowe is it proued here opynly,
And they were of þis mater mused,
Itt schulde þame stirre to aske mercy.
Þat wille þei noȝt, Andrewe, late be!
For þei are full of pompe and pride,
Itt may noȝt availe to þe ne me,
Ne none of vs with þame to chide.
Prophite to dwelle can I none see,
For-thy late us no lenger bide,
But wende we vnto seere contre,
To preche thurgh all þis worlde so wide.
Jacob.
Mi lady dere, þat schall ȝe fele
In oght þat euere vs may availe,
Oure comforte, youre care to kele,
Whill we may leue we schall not faile.
Maria.
Mi brethir dere, I traste itt wele,
Mi sone schall quyte ȝou youre trauaile.
To Jerusalem go we agayne,
And loke what fayre so aftir fall,
Oure lorde and maistir moste of mayne,
He wisse youe, and be with youe all.
1.
Petrus.O mightfull god, how standis it nowe,
In worlde þus will was I neuere are,—
Butte he apperes,—bot I ne wote howe
He fro vs twynnes whanne he will fare.
And ȝitt may falle þat for oure prowe,
And alle his wirkyng lesse and mare,
A! kyng of comforte! gudde arte þou,
And lele and likand is thy lare.
2.
Johannes.The missing of my maistir trewe,
That lenghis not with vs lastandly,
Makis me to morne ilke a day newe,
For tharnyng of his company.
His peere of gudnes neuere I knewe,
Of myght ne wisdome it anly.
Petrus.
That we hym tharne, sore may vs rewe,
For he luffed vs full faithfully.
For he luffed vs full faithfully.
457
3.
Bot ȝitt in all my mysselykyng,
A worde þat Criste saide comfortis me,
Oure heuynes and oure mournyng,
He saide to joie turned schuld be.
Þat joie he saide in his hetyng,
To reue vs none schulde haue no poste,
Wherfore abouen all othir thyng
That joie me longis to knowe & see.
A worde þat Criste saide comfortis me,
Oure heuynes and oure mournyng,
He saide to joie turned schuld be.
Þat joie he saide in his hetyng,
To reue vs none schulde haue no poste,
Wherfore abouen all othir thyng
That joie me longis to knowe & see.
4.
Maria.Þou Petir, whanne my sone was slayne,
And laide in graue, ȝe wer in were
Whedir he schulde rise, al moste ilkane,
But nowe ȝe wotte thurgh knowyng clere.
Come þat he saide schulde is gane,
And some to come, but ilkane sere,
Whedir it be to come or none,
Vs awe to knowe it all in fere.
[Jesus appears.]
5.
Jesus.
Almyghty god, my Fadir free,
In erthe þi bidding haue I done,
And clarified þe name of þe,
To thy selffe clarifie þe sone.
Als þou haste geuen me pleyne poste,
Of ilke a flesh graunte me my bone,
Þat þou me gaffe myght lyffand be
In endles liffe and with þe wonne.
In erthe þi bidding haue I done,
And clarified þe name of þe,
To thy selffe clarifie þe sone.
Als þou haste geuen me pleyne poste,
Of ilke a flesh graunte me my bone,
Þat þou me gaffe myght lyffand be
In endles liffe and with þe wonne.
6.
Þat liffe is þis þat hath none ende,
To knawe the Fadir, moste of myght,
And me thy sone, whanne þou gon sende
To dye for man with-outen plight,
Mankynde was thyne whome þu be-kende
And toke me to þi ȝemyng right.
I died for man, mannes misse to mende,
And vnto spitous dede was dight.
To knawe the Fadir, moste of myght,
And me thy sone, whanne þou gon sende
To dye for man with-outen plight,
Mankynde was thyne whome þu be-kende
And toke me to þi ȝemyng right.
I died for man, mannes misse to mende,
And vnto spitous dede was dight.
7.
Thy wille vn-to þem taughte haue I,
Þat wolde vn-to my lare enclyne,
Mi lare haue they tane buxsomly,
Schall none of them þer trauaile tyne.
Þou gaffe þem me but noght for-thy
Ȝitt are they thyne als wele as myne,
Fleme þem not fro oure companye,
Sen thyne are myne and myne er thyne.
Þat wolde vn-to my lare enclyne,
458
Schall none of them þer trauaile tyne.
Þou gaffe þem me but noght for-thy
Ȝitt are they thyne als wele as myne,
Fleme þem not fro oure companye,
Sen thyne are myne and myne er thyne.
8.
Sen they are oures, if þame nede ought
Þou helpe þem, if it be thy will,
And als þou wate þat I þame boght,
For faute of helpe latte þem not spill.
Fro þe worlde to take þem pray I noght,
But þat þou kepe þame ay fro ill.
All þois also þat settis þare þoght
In erthe my techyng to fulfill.
Þou helpe þem, if it be thy will,
And als þou wate þat I þame boght,
For faute of helpe latte þem not spill.
Fro þe worlde to take þem pray I noght,
But þat þou kepe þame ay fro ill.
All þois also þat settis þare þoght
In erthe my techyng to fulfill.
9.
Mi tythandis tane has my menȝe
To teche þe pepull wher they fare;
In erthe schall þei leue aftir me,
And suffir sorowes sadde and sare.
Dispised and hatted schall þei be,
Als I haue bene, with lesse and mare,
And suffer dede in sere degre
For sothfastnesse schall none þem spare.
To teche þe pepull wher they fare;
In erthe schall þei leue aftir me,
And suffir sorowes sadde and sare.
Dispised and hatted schall þei be,
Als I haue bene, with lesse and mare,
And suffer dede in sere degre
For sothfastnesse schall none þem spare.
10.
Þou halowe þame, fadir, for-thy,
In sothfastnes so þat þei may
Be ane as we ar, yowe and I,
In will and werke, both nyght and day,
And knawe þat I ame verilye
Both sothfastnes and liffe alway;
Be the whilke ilke man þat is willy
May wynne þe liffe þat laste schall ay.
In sothfastnes so þat þei may
Be ane as we ar, yowe and I,
In will and werke, both nyght and day,
And knawe þat I ame verilye
Both sothfastnes and liffe alway;
Be the whilke ilke man þat is willy
May wynne þe liffe þat laste schall ay.
11.
Bot ȝe, my postelis all be-dene,
Þat lange has wente a-bowte with me,
In grete wanne-trowing haue ȝe bene,
And wondir harde of hartis ar ȝe,
Worthy to be reproued, I wene,
Ar ȝe forsothe, and ȝe will see,
In als mekill als ȝe haue sene
My wirkyng proued and my poste.
Þat lange has wente a-bowte with me,
In grete wanne-trowing haue ȝe bene,
And wondir harde of hartis ar ȝe,
459
Ar ȝe forsothe, and ȝe will see,
In als mekill als ȝe haue sene
My wirkyng proued and my poste.
12.
Whan I was dede and laide in graue,
Of myne vpryse ȝe were in doute,
And some for myne vprysing straue,
When I was laide als vndir-lowte
So depe in erthe; but sithen I haue
Ben walkand fourty daies aboute,
Eten with ȝou, youre trouthe to saue,
Comand emange ȝou inne and oute.
Of myne vpryse ȝe were in doute,
And some for myne vprysing straue,
When I was laide als vndir-lowte
So depe in erthe; but sithen I haue
Ben walkand fourty daies aboute,
Eten with ȝou, youre trouthe to saue,
Comand emange ȝou inne and oute.
13.
And þerfore beis nomore in were
Of myne vppe-rysing, day nor nyght,
Youre misbeleue leues ilkone seere,
For witte ȝe wele, als man of myght
Over whome no dede may haue poure,
I schall be endles liffe and right.
But for to schewe you figure clere,
Schewe I me þus-gatis to youre sight,
Of myne vppe-rysing, day nor nyght,
Youre misbeleue leues ilkone seere,
For witte ȝe wele, als man of myght
Over whome no dede may haue poure,
I schall be endles liffe and right.
But for to schewe you figure clere,
Schewe I me þus-gatis to youre sight,
14.
Howe man by cours of kynde schall ryse,
All þogh he be roten on-till noȝt,
Oute of his graue in þis same wise
At þe daye of dome schall he be broght
Wher I schall sitte as trewe justise,
And deme man aftir he has wroght;
Þe wikkid to wende with þer enmyse,
Þe gode to blisse þei schall be broght.
All þogh he be roten on-till noȝt,
Oute of his graue in þis same wise
At þe daye of dome schall he be broght
Wher I schall sitte as trewe justise,
And deme man aftir he has wroght;
Þe wikkid to wende with þer enmyse,
Þe gode to blisse þei schall be broght.
15.
A-nodir skill for-soth is þis,
In a tre man was traied thurgh trayne,
I man, for-thy, to mende þat misse
On a tree boght mankynde agayne.
In confusioune of hym and his
Þat falsely to forge þat frawde was fayne,
Mankynde to bringe agayne to blisse
His foo þe fende till endles peyne.
In a tre man was traied thurgh trayne,
I man, for-thy, to mende þat misse
On a tree boght mankynde agayne.
In confusioune of hym and his
Þat falsely to forge þat frawde was fayne,
460
His foo þe fende till endles peyne.
16.
Þe thirde skille is, trewly to telle,
Right als I wende als wele will seme,
So schall I come in flessh and fell
Atte þe day of dome; whan I schal deme
Þe goode in endles blisse to dwell,
Mi fomen fro me for to fleme,
With-outen ende in woo to well.
Ilke leuand man, here to take yeme.
Right als I wende als wele will seme,
So schall I come in flessh and fell
Atte þe day of dome; whan I schal deme
Þe goode in endles blisse to dwell,
Mi fomen fro me for to fleme,
With-outen ende in woo to well.
Ilke leuand man, here to take yeme.
17.
But in-till all þe worlde weldand
Þe Gospell trewly preche schall ȝe,
Tille ilke a creatoure liffand.
Who trowes, if that he baptised be
He schall, als yhe schall vndirstande,
Be saued, and of all thraldome free;
Who trowis it not, as mistrowand
For faute of trouth dampned is he,
Þe Gospell trewly preche schall ȝe,
Tille ilke a creatoure liffand.
Who trowes, if that he baptised be
He schall, als yhe schall vndirstande,
Be saued, and of all thraldome free;
Who trowis it not, as mistrowand
For faute of trouth dampned is he,
18.
But all þer tokenyngis be-dene
Schall folowe þam þat trowis it right,
In my name deuellis crewell and kene,
Schall þei oute-caste of ilk-a wight;
With newe tongis speke; serpentis vnclene
For-do; and if þei day or nyght
Drinke venym wik, with-outen wene,
To noye þame schall it haue no myght.
Schall folowe þam þat trowis it right,
In my name deuellis crewell and kene,
Schall þei oute-caste of ilk-a wight;
With newe tongis speke; serpentis vnclene
For-do; and if þei day or nyght
Drinke venym wik, with-outen wene,
To noye þame schall it haue no myght.
19.
On seke folke schall þei handes lay,
And wele schall þei haue sone at welde;
Þis poure schall þei haue alway,
My menȝhe, bothe in towne and felde.
And witte ȝe wele, so schall þei
Þat wirkis my wille in youthe or elde,
A place for þame I schall purveye
In blisse with me ay in to belde.
And wele schall þei haue sone at welde;
Þis poure schall þei haue alway,
My menȝhe, bothe in towne and felde.
And witte ȝe wele, so schall þei
Þat wirkis my wille in youthe or elde,
A place for þame I schall purveye
In blisse with me ay in to belde.
461
20.
Nowe is my jornay brought till ende,
Mi tyme þat me to lang was lente,
To my Fadir nowe vppe I wende,
And youre Fadir þat me doune sente.
Mi God, youre God, and ilke mannes frende,
That till his techyng will consente,
Till synneres þat no synne þame schende,
Þat mys amendis and will repente.
Mi tyme þat me to lang was lente,
To my Fadir nowe vppe I wende,
And youre Fadir þat me doune sente.
Mi God, youre God, and ilke mannes frende,
That till his techyng will consente,
Till synneres þat no synne þame schende,
Þat mys amendis and will repente.
21.
But for I speke þes wordis nowe
To you, youre hartis hase heuynes,
Full-ffillid all be it for youre prowe,
Þat I hense wende, als nedful is.
And butte I wende, comes noght to yowe
Þe comfortoure of comforteles;
And if I wende, ȝe schall fynde howe
I schall hym sende, of my goodnesse.
To you, youre hartis hase heuynes,
Full-ffillid all be it for youre prowe,
Þat I hense wende, als nedful is.
And butte I wende, comes noght to yowe
Þe comfortoure of comforteles;
And if I wende, ȝe schall fynde howe
I schall hym sende, of my goodnesse.
22.
Mi Fadirs will full-fillid haue I,
Therfore fareswele, ilkone seere,
I goo make youe a stede redye
Endles to wonne with me in feere.
Sende doune a clowde, fadir! for-thy
I come to þe, my fadir deere.
Þe Fadir blissing moste myghty
Giffe I you all þat leffe here.
Therfore fareswele, ilkone seere,
I goo make youe a stede redye
Endles to wonne with me in feere.
Sende doune a clowde, fadir! for-thy
I come to þe, my fadir deere.
Þe Fadir blissing moste myghty
Giffe I you all þat leffe here.
[Jesus ascends.
23.
Maria.
A! myghtfull god, ay moste of myght,
A selcouth sight is þis to see,
Mi sone þus to be ravisshed right
In a clowde wendande vppe fro me.
Bothe is my harte heuy and light,
Heuy for swilke twynnyng schulde be,
And light for he haldis þat he hight,
And þus vppe wendis in grette poste.
A selcouth sight is þis to see,
Mi sone þus to be ravisshed right
In a clowde wendande vppe fro me.
Bothe is my harte heuy and light,
Heuy for swilke twynnyng schulde be,
And light for he haldis þat he hight,
And þus vppe wendis in grette poste.
462
24.
His hetyngis haldis he all be-dene,
Þat comfortis me in all my care,
But vnto whome schall I me mene,
Þus will in worlde was I neuere.
To dwelle amonge þes Jewes kene,
Me to dispise will þei not spare.
Þat comfortis me in all my care,
But vnto whome schall I me mene,
Þus will in worlde was I neuere.
To dwelle amonge þes Jewes kene,
Me to dispise will þei not spare.
Joh.
All be he noght in presens seene,
Ȝitt is he salue of ilk a sare,
Ȝitt is he salue of ilk a sare,
25.
But lady, sen þat he be-toke
Me for to serue you as youre sonne,
Ȝou nedis no-thyng, lady, but loke
What thyng in erthe ȝe will haue done.
I ware to blame if I for-soke
To wirke youre wille, midday or none,
Or any tyme Ȝitt of þe woke.
Me for to serue you as youre sonne,
Ȝou nedis no-thyng, lady, but loke
What thyng in erthe ȝe will haue done.
I ware to blame if I for-soke
To wirke youre wille, midday or none,
Or any tyme Ȝitt of þe woke.
Maria.
I thanke þe, John, with wordis fune,
26.
Mi modirhed, John, schall þou haue,
And for my sone I wolle þe take.
And for my sone I wolle þe take.
Joh.
Þat grace, dere lady, wolde I craue.
Maria.
Mi sone sawes will I neuere for-sake.
Itt were not semand þat we straue
Ne contraried noȝt þat he spake.
But John, tille I be broght in graue,
Schall þou never see my sorowe slake.
27.
Jacob.Owre worthy lorde, sen he is wente
For vs, lady, als is his will,
We thanke hym þat vs þe hath lente
With vs on lyue to lenge her stille.
I saie for me with full concente,
Þi likyng all will I fulfille.
Andreas.
So wille we all with grete talent,
For-thy, lady, giffe þe noght ill.
463
28.
i Angelus.Ȝe men of þe lande of Galile,
What wondir ȝe to heuene lokand?
Þis Jesus whome ȝe fro youe see
Vppe-tane, ȝe schall well vndirstande,
Right so agayne come doune schall he,
When he so comes with woundes bledand,
Who wele has wrought full gladde may be,
Who ill has leved full sore dredand.
29.
ii Angel.Ȝe þat has bene his seruauntis trewe,
And with hym lengand, nyght and day,
Slike wirkyng als ȝe with hym knew,
Loke þat ȝe preche it fourthe alway.
Youre mede in heuene beis ilke day newe,
And all þat seruis hym wele to paye,
Who trowes you noght, it schall þame rewe,
Þei mon haue peyne encresand ay.
30.
Jacobus.Loued be þou lorde ay, moste of myght,
Þat þus, in all oure grete disease,
Vs comfortist with thyne aungellis bright;
Nowe might þer Jewes þare malise meese,
Þat sawe þame-selue þis wondir sight,
Þus nere þame wroght vndir þer nese.
And we haue mater day and nyght,
Oure god more for to preyse and plese.
31.
Andreas.Nowe may þer Jewes be all confused
If þai on-thinke þame inwardly,
Howe falsely þei haue hym accused,
And sakles schente thurgh þer envy.
Þer falsed, þat þei longe haue vsed,
Nowe is it proued here opynly,
And they were of þis mater mused,
Itt schulde þame stirre to aske mercy.
464
32.
Petrus.Þat wille þei noȝt, Andrewe, late be!
For þei are full of pompe and pride,
Itt may noȝt availe to þe ne me,
Ne none of vs with þame to chide.
Prophite to dwelle can I none see,
For-thy late us no lenger bide,
But wende we vnto seere contre,
To preche thurgh all þis worlde so wide.
33.
Joh.
Þat is oure charge, for þat is beste,
Þat we lenge nowe no lenger here,
For here gete we no place of reste,
To lenge so nere þe Jewes poure.
Vs to for-do þei will þame caste,
For-thy come forthe my lady dere,
And wende vs hense, I am full preste
With you to wende with full goode chere.
Þat we lenge nowe no lenger here,
For here gete we no place of reste,
To lenge so nere þe Jewes poure.
Vs to for-do þei will þame caste,
For-thy come forthe my lady dere,
And wende vs hense, I am full preste
With you to wende with full goode chere.
34.
Mi triste is nowe euer ilk a dele
In yowe to wirke aftir youre counsaill.
In yowe to wirke aftir youre counsaill.
Jacob.
Mi lady dere, þat schall ȝe fele
In oght þat euere vs may availe,
Oure comforte, youre care to kele,
Whill we may leue we schall not faile.
Maria.
Mi brethir dere, I traste itt wele,
Mi sone schall quyte ȝou youre trauaile.
35.
Petrus.To Jerusalem go we agayne,
And loke what fayre so aftir fall,
Oure lorde and maistir moste of mayne,
He wisse youe, and be with youe all.
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