N-Town Cycle, Play 4

[Noah and the Flood]

  1  NOE God of his goodnesse and of grace grounde,
  2  By whoys gloryous power allthyng is wrought,
  3  In whom all vertu plentevously is founde,
  4  Withowtyn whos wyl may be ryth nought,
  5  Thy seruauntys saue, Lord, fro synful sownde
  6  In wyl, in werk, in dede, and in thouht.
  7  Oure welth in woo lete nevyr be fownde;
  8  Vs help, Lord, from synne ŝat we be in brought,
  9  Lord God ful of myght.
 10  Noe, serys, my name is knowe,
 11  My wyff and my chyldere here on rowe;
 12  To God we pray with hert ful lowe
 13  To plese hym in his syght.

 14  In me, Noe, ŝe Secunde Age
 15  Indede begynnyth, as I 3ow say:
 16  Afftyr Adam, withoutyn langage,
 17  The Secunde Fadyr am I, in fay.
 18  But men of levyng be so owtrage,
 19  Bothe be nyght and eke be day,
 20  ŝat lesse ŝan synne be soner swage,
 21  God wyl be vengyd on vs sum way,
 22  Indede.
 23  Ther may no man go ŝerowte,
 24  But synne regnyth in every rowte;
 25  In every place rownde abowte
 26  Cursydnes doth sprynge and sprede.

 27  VXOR NOE Allmyghty God of his gret grace
 28  Enspyre men with hertely wyll
 29  For to sese of here trespace,
 30  For synfull levyng oure sowle xal spyll.
 31  Synne offendyth God in his face
 32  And agrevyth oure Lorde full ylle.
 33  It causyth to man ryght grett manace
 34  And scrapyth hym out of lyvys bylle,
 35  ŝat blyssyd book.
 36  What man in synne doth allwey sclepp,
 37  He xal gon to helle ful depp.
 38  Than xal he nevyr aftyr crepp
 39  Out of ŝat brennyng brook.

 40  I am 3oure wyff, 3oure childcryn ŝese be.
 41  Onto us tweyn it doth longe
 42  Hem to teche in all degré
 43  Synne to forsakyn, and werkys wronge.
 44  Therffore, fere, for loue of me,
 45  Enforme hem wele evyr amonge
 46  Synne to forsake, and vanyté,
 47  And vertu to folwe ŝat ŝei fonge,
 48  Oure Lord God to plese.
 49  NOE I warne 3ow, childeryn, on and all,
 50  Drede oure Lord God in hevy[n] hall,
 51  And in no forfete ŝat we ne fall,
 52  Oure Lord for to dysplese.

 53  SHEM A, dere fadyr, God forbede
 54  ŝat we xulde do in ony wyse
 55  Ony werke of synful dede
 56  Oure Lord God ŝat xulde agryse.
 57  My name is Shem, 3oure son of prise;
 58  I xal werke aftere 3oure rede.
 59  And also, wyff, be weyll awyse
 60  Wykkyd werkys ŝat ŝu non brede,
 61  Nevyr in no degré.
 62  VXOR SEEM Forsothe, sere, be Goddys grace,
 63  I xal me kepe from all trespace
 64  ŝat xulde offende Goddys face
 65  Be help of ŝe Trynyté.

 66  CHAM I am Cham, 3oure secunde son,
 67  And purpose me, be Goddys myght,
 68  Nevyr suche a dede for to don
 69  ŝat xuld agreve God in syght.
 70  VXOR CHAM I pray to God, me grawnt ŝis bone:
 71  That he me kepe in such a plyght,
 72  Mornynge, hevenynge, mydday, and none,
 73  I to affendyn hym day nor nyght.
 74  Lord God, I ŝe pray,
 75  Bothe wakynge and eke in slepe,
 76  Gracyous God, ŝu me keppe
 77  ŝat I nevyr in daunger crepe
 78  On dredfull Domysday.

 79  JAPHET Japhet, ŝi jjjde sone, is my name.
 80  I pray to God wherso we be
 81  ŝat he vs borwe fro synfull shame,
 82  And in vertuous levynge evyrmore kepe me.
 83  UXOR JAPHET I am 3oure wyff and pray ŝe same,
 84  ŝat God vs saue on sonde and se;
 85  With no grevauns ŝat we hym grame,
 86  He grawnt vs grace synne to fle.
 87  Lord God, now here oure bone.
 88  NOE Gracyous God, ŝat best may,
 89  With herty wyl to the we pray
 90  ŝu save us sekyr bothe nyght and day,
 91  Synne ŝat we noon done.

 92  DEUS. Ow! What menyht this myslevyng man
 93  Whiche myn hand made and byldyd in blysse?
 94  Synne so sore grevyht me, 3a, in certayn,
 95  I wol be vengyd of ŝis grett mysse!
 96  Myn aungel dere, ŝu xalt gan
 97  To Noe, ŝat my servaunt is.
 98  A shypp to make on hond to tan
 99  ŝu byd hym swyth for hym and his,
100  From drynchyng hem to save.
101  For, as I am God of myght,
102  I xal dystroye ŝis werd downryght.
103  Here synne so sore grevyht me in syght,
104  ŝei xal no mercy haue.

105  Fecisse hominem nunc penitet me:
106  ŝat I made man sore doth me rewe.
107  Myn handwerk to sle sore grevyth me,
108  But ŝat here synne here deth doth brewe.
109  Go sey to Noe as I bydde ŝe:
110  Hymself, his wyf, his chylderyn trewe,
111  Tho viij sowlys in shyp to be,
112  Thei xul not drede be flodys flowe;
113  ŝe flod xal harme them nowht.
114  Of all fowlys and bestys thei take a peyre,
115  In shypp to saue bothe foule and fayere
116  From all dowtys and gret dyspeyre,
117  This vengeauns, or it be wrought.

Angelus ad Noe:

118  Noe, Noe, a shypp loke ŝu make,
119  And many a chaumbyr ŝu xalt haue ŝerinne.
120  Of euery kyndys best a cowpyl ŝu take
121  Within ŝe shyppbord, here lyvys to wynne.
122  For God is sore grevyd with man for his synne,
123  ŝat all ŝis wyde werd xal be dreynt with flood;
124  Saff ŝu and ŝi wyff xal be kept from ŝis gynne,
125  And also ŝi chylderyn with here vertuys good.

126  NOE How xuld I haue wytt a shypp for to make?
127  I am of ryght grett age: VC 3ere olde!
128  It is not for me ŝis werk to vndyrtake;
129  For feynnesse of age my leggys gyn folde!
130  ANGELUS This dede for to do be bothe blythe and bolde.
131  God xal enforme ŝe and rewle ŝe ful ryght.
132  Of byrd and of beste take, as I ŝe tolde,
133  A peyr into ŝe shypp and God xal ŝe qwyght.

134  NOE I am ful redy, as God doth me bydde,
135  A shypp for to make be myght of his grace.
136  Alas, ŝat for synne it xal so be betydde
137  ŝat vengeauns of flood xal werke ŝis manase.
138  God is sore grevyd with oure grett tresspas,
139  ŝat with wylde watyr ŝe werd xal be dreynt.
140  A shypp for to make now lete us hens pas,
141  ŝat God a3ens us of synne haue no compleynt.

Hic transit Noe cum familia sua pro naui, quo exeunte locum interludii sub intret statim Lameth conductus ab adolescente; et di [cit]:

142  LAMETH Gret mornyng I make and gret cause I haue!
143  Alas, now I se not: for age I am blynde.
144  Blyndenes doth make me of wytt for to rave;
145  Whantynge of eyesyght in peyn doth me bynde!
146  Whyl I had syht ŝer myht nevyr man fynde
147  My pere of archerye in all ŝis werd aboute.
148  For 3itt schet I nevyr at hert, are, nere hynde
149  But yf ŝat he deyd, of ŝis no man haue doute.

150  Lameth ŝe good archere my name was ovyrall;
151  For ŝe best archere myn name dede evyr sprede.
152  Record of my boy here, wytnes ŝis he xal:
153  What merk ŝat were set me, to deth it xuld blede.
154  ADOLESCENS It is trewe, maystyr, ŝat 3e seyn, indede.
155  For ŝat tyme 3e had 3oure bowe bent in honde,
156  If ŝat 3oure prycke had be half a myle in brede,
157  3e wolde ŝe pryk han hitte if 3e ny had stonde.

158  LAMETH I xuld nevyr a faylid what marke ŝat evyr were sett
159  Whyl ŝat I myght loke and had my clere syght.
160  And 3itt, as methynkyht, no man xuld shete bett
161  Than I xuld do now, if myn hand were sett aryght.
162  Aspye som marke, boy, my bowe xal I bende wyght;
163  And sett myn hand euyn to shete at som best.
164  And I dar Icy a wagour his deth for to dyght.
165  ŝe marke xal I hitt, my lyff do I best.

166  ADOLESCENS Vndyr 3on grett busche, maystyr, a best do I se.
167  Take me ŝin hand swyth and holde it ful stylle.
168  Now is ŝin hand evyn as euyr it may be.
169  Drawe up ŝin takyll 3on best for to kylle.
170  LAMETH My bowe xal I drawe ryght with herty wylle;
171  This brod arwe I shete, ŝat best for to sayll.
172  Now haue at ŝat busch 3on best for to spylle.
173  A sharppe schote I shote; ŝerof I xal not fayll.

174  CAYM Out, out and alas! Myn hert is onsondyr!
175  With a brod arwe I am ded and sclayn!
176  I dye here on grounde, myn hert is all to tundyr;
177  With ŝis brod arwe it is clovyn on twayn!
178  LAMETH Herke, boy, cum telle me ŝe trewth in certeyn,
179  What man is he ŝat ŝis cry doth ŝus make?
180  ADOLESCENS Caym ŝu hast kyllyd, I telle ŝe ful pleyn;
181  With ŝi sharp shetyng his deth hath he take.

182  LAMETH Haue I slayn Cayme? Alas, what haue I done?
183  ŝu stynkynge lurdeyn, what hast ŝu wrought?
184  ŝu art ŝe why I scle hym so sone;
185  ŝerfore xal I kyll ŝe here—ŝu skapyst nowght!

Hic Lameth cum arcu suo verberat adolescentem ad mortem, dicente adolescente:

186  ADOLESCENS Out, out, I deye here! My deth is now sought!
187  ŝis theffe with his bowe hath broke my brayn!
188  ŝer may non helpe be, my dethe is me brought.
189  Ded here I synke down as man ŝat is sclayn.

190  LAMETH Alas, what xal I do, wrecch wykkyd on woolde?
191  God wyl be vengyd ful sadly on me:
192  For deth of Caym I xal haue vij-folde
193  More peyn ŝan he had ŝat Abell dede sle!
194  These to mennys deth ful sore bought xal be:
195  Vpon all my blood God wyll venge ŝis dede.
196  Wherefore, sore wepyng, hens wyl I fle,
197  And loke where I may best my hede sone heyde.

Hic recedat Lameth et statim intrat Noe cum naui cantantes.

198  NOE With doolful hert, syenge sad and sore,
199  Grett mornyng I make for this dredful flood!
200  Of man and of best is dreynte many a skore;
201  All ŝis werd to spyll ŝese flodys be ful wood.
202  And all is for synne of mannys wylde mood
203  ŝat God hath ordeyned ŝis dredfull yengeaunce.
204  In ŝis flood spylt is many a mannys blood.
205  For synfull levynge of man we haue gret grevauns!

206  All ŝis hundryd 3ere ryght here haue I wrought
207  This schypp for to make as God dede byd me.
208  Of all maner bestys a copyll is in brought,
209  Within my shyppborde on lyve for to be.
210  Ryght longe God hath soferyd amendyng to se;
211  All ŝis hundryd 3ere God hath shewyd grace.
212  Alas, fro gret syn man wyl not fle;
213  God doth ŝis vengeauns for oure gret trespase.

214  VXOR NOE Alas, for gret ruthe of ŝis gret vengeaunce!
215  Gret doyl it is to se ŝis watyr so wyde.
216  But 3it thankyd be God of ŝis ordenaunce,
217  ŝat we be now savyd, on lyve to abyde.
218  SEEM For grett synne of lechory all ŝis doth betyde.
219  Alas, ŝat evyr such synne xulde be wrought!
220  ŝis flood is so gret on every a syde
221  ŝat all ŝis wyde werd to care is now brought.

222  VXOR SEEM Becawse [ŝe] chylderyn of God, ŝat weryn good,
223  Dede forfete ryght sore what tyme ŝat ŝei were
224  Synfully compellyd to Caymys blood,
225  Therfore be we now cast in ryght grett care.
226  CHAM For synful levynge ŝis werde doth forfare;
227  So grevous vengeauns myght nevyr man se.
228  Ouyr all ŝis werd wyde fer is no plot bare;
229  With watyr and with flood God vengyd wyll be.

230  VXOR CHAM Rustynes of synne is cawse of ŝese wawys.
231  Alas, in ŝis flood ŝis werd xal be lorn!
232  For offens to God, brekyng his lawys,
233  On rokkys ryght sharp is many a man torn.
234  JAPHET So grevous flodys were nevyr 3ett beforn.
235  Alas, ŝat lechory ŝis vengeauns doth gynne!
236  It were well bettyr euyr to be vnborn
237  Than for to forfetyn evyrmore in ŝat synne.

238  VXOR JAPHET Oure Lord God I thanke of his gret grace,
239  ŝat he doth us saue from ŝis dredful payn.
240  Hym for to wurchipe in euery stede and place
241  We beth gretly bownde with myght and with mayn.
242  NOE XIti days and nyghtys hath lasted ŝis rayn,
243  And xlti days ŝis grett flood begynnyth to slake.
244  This crowe xal I sende out to seke sum playn;
245  Good tydyngys to brynge ŝis massage I make.

Hic emittat coruum et, parum expectans, iterum dicat:

246  This crowe on sum careyn is fall for to ete;
247  ŝerfore a newe masangere I wyll forth now sende.
248  Fly forth, ŝu fayr dove, ovyr fcse watyrys wete
249  And aspye afftere sum drye lond oure mornyng to amend.

Hic euolet columba, qua rede[u]nte cum ramo viridi oliue:

250  Joye now may we make of myrth ŝat yet were frende.
251  A grett olyve bush ŝis dowe doth us brynge.
252  For joye of ŝis tokyn ryght hertyly we tende
253  Oure Lord God to worchep: a songe lete vs synge.

Hic decantent has versus: Mare vidit et fugit, Jordanis conuersus est retrorsum. Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. Et sic recedant cum naui.