N-Town Cycle, Play 26

[The First Passion Play: The Prologues of the Lucifer and John the Baptist, Judas and the Conspiracy Against Christ, and Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem]

  1  DEMON I am 3oure lord, Lucifer, ŝat out of helle cam,
  2  Prince of his Werd and gret Duke of Helle!
  3  Wherefore my name is clepyd Sere Satan,
  4  Whech aperyth among 3ow a matere to spelle.

  5  I am norsshere of synne to ŝe confusyon of man,
  6  To bryng hym to my dongeon, ŝer in fyre to dwelle.
  7  Hosoevyr serve me, so reward hym I kan
  8  ŝat he xal syng “wellaway” evyr in peynes felle.

  9  Lo, ŝus bountevous a lord ŝan now am I
 10  To reward so synners, as my kend is:
 11  Whoso wole folwe my lore and serve me dayly,
 12  Of sorwe and peyne anow he xal nevyr mys.

 13  For I began in hefne synne for to sowe
 14  Among all ŝe angellys ŝat weryn ŝere so bryth;
 15  And ŝerfore was I cast out into helle ful lowe,
 16  Notwithstandyng I was ŝe fayrest and berere of lyth.

 17  3et I drowe in my tayle of ŝo angelys bryth
 18  With me into helle—takyth good hed what I say—
 19  I lefte but tweyn a3ens on to abyde here in lyth;
 20  But be iijde part come with me, ŝis may not be seyd nay.

 21  Takyth hed to 3oure prince, ŝan, my pepyl euerychon,
 22  And seyth what maystryes in hefne I gan ŝer do play.
 23  To gete a thowsand sowlys in an houre, methynkyth it but skorn
 24  Syth I wan Adam and Eve on ŝe fyrst day.

 25  But now mervelous mendys rennyn in myn rememberawns
 26  Of on Cryst, wiche is clepyd Joseph and Maryes sone.
 27  Thryes I tempte hym be ryth sotylle instawnce,
 28  Aftyr he fast fourty days ageyns sensual myth or reson,
 29  For of ŝe stonys to a mad bred; but sone I had conclusyon;
 30  ŝan upon a pynnacle, but angelys were to hym assystent—
 31  His answerys were mervelous, I knew not his intencyon;
 32  And at ŝe last to veynglory, but nevyr I had myn intent.

 33  And now hath ŝe xij dysypulys to his attendauns.
 34  To eche town and cety he sendyth hem as bedellys,
 35  In dyverce place to make for hym puruyauns.
 36  The pepyl of hese werkys ful grettly merveyllys:
 37  To ŝe crokyd, blynd and dowm, his werkys provaylys;
 38  Lazare, ŝat foure days lay ded, his lyff recuryd;
 39  And where I purpose me to tempt, anon he me asaylys;
 40  Mawdelyn playn remyssyon also he hath ensuryd.

 41  Goddys son he pretendyth, and to be born of a mayde,
 42  And seyth he xal dey for mannys saluacyon.
 43  ŝan xal ŝe trewth be tryed, and no ferdere be delayd,
 44  Whan ŝe soule fro ŝe body xal make separacyon.
 45  And as for hem ŝat be vndre my grett domynacyon,
 46  He xal fayle of hese intent and purpose also,
 47  Be ŝis tyxt of holde remembryd to myn intencyon:
 48  Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio.

 49  But whan ŝe tyme xal neyth of his persecucyon,
 50  I xal arere new engynes of malycyous conspiracy!
 51  Plenté of reprevys I xal provide to his confusyon.
 52  ŝus xal I false ŝe wordys ŝat his pepyl doth testefy.
 53  His discipulis xal forsake hym and here maystyr denye;
 54  Innovmberabyl xal hese woundys be, of woful grevauns;
 55  A tretowre xal countyrfe his deth to fortyfye.
 56  ŝe rebukys ŝat he gyf me xal turne to his displesauns.

 57  Some of hese dyscypulys xal be chef of his ordenawns.
 58  ŝat xal fortefye his term, ŝat “in trost is treson.”
 59  ŝus xal I venge be sotylté at my malycyous grevauns,
 60  For nothyng may excede my prudens and dyscrecyon.

 61  Gyff me 3oure love, grawnt me myn affeccyon,
 62  And I wyl vnclose ŝe tresour of lovys alyawns,
 63  And gyff 3ow 3oure desyrys afftere 3oure intencyon;
 64  No poverté xal aproche 3ow fro plentevous abundauns.

 65  Byholde ŝe dyvercyté of my dysgysyd varyauns,
 66  Eche thyng sett of dewe naterall dysposycyon,
 67  And eche parte acordynge to his resemblauns,
 68  Fro ŝe sool of ŝe foot to be hyest asencyon:

 69  Off fyne cordewan a goodly peyre of long-pekyd schon;
 70  Hosyn enclosyd of ŝe most costyous cloth of crenseyn
 71  (ŝus a bey to a jentylman to make comparycyon),
 72  With two doseyn poyntys of cheverelle, ŝe aglottys of syluer feyn;

 73  A shert of feyn Holond (but care not for ŝe payment!),
 74  A stomachere of clere Reynes, ŝe best may be bowth
 75  (ŝow poverté be chef, lete pride her be present,
 76  And all ŝo ŝat repreff pride, ŝu sette hem at nowth);

 77  Cadace, wolle, or flokkys, where it may be sowth,
 78  To stuffe withal ŝi dobbelet and make ŝe of proporcyon
 79  Two smale legges and a gret body (ŝow it ryme nowth,
 80  3et loke ŝat ŝu desyre to an ŝe newe faccyon);

 81  A gowne of thre 3erdys (loke ŝu make comparison
 82  Vnto all degrees dayly ŝat passe ŝin astat);
 83  A purse withoutyn mony, a daggere for devoscyon
 84  (And here repref is of synne, loke ŝu make debat);

 85  With syde lokkys I schrewe ŝin here, to ŝi colere hangyng down,
 86  To herborwe qweke bestys ŝat tekele men onyth;
 87  An hey smal bonet for curying of ŝe crowne.
 88  And all beggerys and pore pepyll, haue hem in dyspyte.
 89  Onto ŝe grete othys and lycherye gyf ŝi delyte.
 90  To maynteyn ŝin astate lete brybory be present.
 91  And yf be lawe repreve ŝe, say ŝu wylt fyth
 92  And gadere ŝe a felachep after ŝin entent.

 93  Loke ŝu sett not be precept nor be comawndement:
 94  Both sevyle and canoun sett ŝu at nowth.
 95  Lette no membre of God but with othys be rent—
 96  Lo, ŝus his werd at his tyme to myn intent is browth.
 97  I, Sathan, with my felawus ŝis werd hath sowth,
 98  And now we han it at houre plesawns.
 99  For synne is not shamfast, but boldnes hath bowth
100  ŝat xal cause hem in helle to han inerytawns.

101  A beggerys dowtere to make gret purvyauns
102  To cownterfete a jentylwoman, dysgeysyd as she can.
103  And yf mony lakke, ŝis is ŝe newe chevesauns:
104  With here prevy plesawns to gett it of sum man;
105  Here colere splayed and furryd with ermyn, Calabere, or satan,
106  A seyn to selle lechory to hem ŝat wyl bey;
107  And ŝei ŝat wyl not by it, yet mow xal ŝei han,
108  And telle hem it is for love—she may it not deney.

109  I haue browth 3ow newe namys, and wyl 3e se why?
110  For synne is so plesaunt to ech mannys intent.
111  3e xal kalle pride “onesté,” and “naterall kend” lechory,
112  And covetyse “wysdam” there tresure is present;

113  Wreth, “manhod,” and envye callyd “chastement”
114  (Seyse nere sessyon, lete perjory be chef);
115  Glotenye, “rest” (let abstynawnce beyn absent).
116  And he ŝat wole exorte ŝe to vertu, put hem to repreff!

117  To rehers al my servauntys, my matere is to breff,
118  But all ŝese xal eneryth ŝe dyvicyon eternal.
119  ŝow Cryst by his sotylté many materys meef,
120  In evyrlastynge peyne with me dwellyn ŝei xal.

121  Remembre, oure seruauntys whoys sowlys ben mortall,
122  For I must remeffe for more materys to provyde,
123  I am with 3ow at all tymes whan 3e to councel me call;
124  But for a short tyme myself I devoyde.

125  JOHANNES. BAPTIS[TA] I, Johan Baptyst, to 3ow ŝus prophesye:
126  ŝat on xal come aftyr me and not tary longe,
127  In many folde more strengere ŝan I,
128  Of whose shon I am not worthy to lose ŝe thonge.
129  Wherefore I councel ŝe 3e reforme all wronge
130  In 3oure concyens of ŝe mortall dedys sevyn.
131  And for to do penawns loke ŝat 3e fonge;
132  For now xal come be kyngdham of hevyn.

133  ŝe weys of oure Lord cast 3ow to aray,
134  And ŝerin to walk, loke 3e be applyande.
135  And make his pathys as ryth as 3e may,
136  Kepyng ryth forth, and be not declinande
137  Neyther to fele on ryth nor on lefte hande,
138  But in ŝe myddys purpose 3ow to holde.
139  For ŝat in all wyse is most plesande,
140  As 3e xal here whan I have tolde.

141  Of his wey for to make moralysacyon,
142  Be ŝe ryth syde 3e xal vndyrstonde “mercy;”
143  And on ŝe lefte syde lykkenyd :dysperacyon;”
144  And ŝe patthe betwyn bothyn ŝat may not wry
145  Schal be “hope and drede,” to walk in perfectly,
146  Declynyng not to fele for no maner nede.
147  Grete cawsys I xal shove 3ow why
148  ŝat 3e xal sewe ŝe patthe of hope and drede.

149  On ŝe mercy of God to meche 3e xal not holde,
150  As in ŝis wyse, behold what I mene:
151  For to do synne, be ŝu no more bolde
152  In trost ŝat God wole mercyful bene.
153  And yf be sensualyté, as it is ofte sene,
154  Synnyst dedly, ŝu xalt not ŝerfore dyspeyre;
155  But ŝerfore do penawns and confesse ŝe clene,
156  And of hevyn ŝu mayst trost to ben eyre.

157  ŝe pathe ŝat lyth to ŝis blyssyd enherytawns
158  Is hope and drede, copelyd be conjunccyon.
159  Betwyx ŝese tweyn may be no dysseuerawns,
160  For hope withoutyn drede is maner of presumpcyon;
161  And drede withowtyn hope is maner of dysperacyon.
162  So these tweyn must be knyt be on acorde.
163  How 3e xal aray ŝe wey I haue made declar[acyon],
164  Also ŝe ryth patthis a3ens ŝe comyng of oure Lord.

Here xal Annas shewyn hymself in his stage beseyn aftyr a busshop of ŝe hoold lawe in a skarlet gowne, and ouyr ŝat a blew tabbard furryd with whyte, and a mytere on his hed after ŝe hoold lawe; ij doctorys stondyng by hym in furryd hodys, and on beforn hem with his staff of astat, and eche of hem on here hedys a furryd cappe with a gret knop in ŝe crowne; and on stondyng beforn as a Sarazyn, ŝe wich xal be his masangere, Annas ŝus seyng:

165  ANNAS As a prelat am I properyd to provyde pes,
166  And of Jewys jewge, ŝe lawe to fortefye.
167  I, Annas, be my powere xal comawnde, dowteles:
168  ŝe lawys of Moyses no man xal denye!
169  Hoo excede my comawndement, anon 3e certefye;
170  Yf any eretyk here reyn, to me 3e compleyn.
171  For in me lyth ŝe powere all trewthis to trye,
172  And pryncypaly oure lawys—ŝo must I susteyn.

173  3ef I may aspey ŝe contrary, no wheyle xal ŝei reyn,
174  But anon to me be browth and stonde present
175  Before here jewge, wich xal not feyn,
176  But aftere here trespace gef hem jugement.
177  Now, serys, for a prose, heryth myn intent:
178  There is on Jesus of Nazareth ŝat oure lawys doth excede.
179  Yf he procede thus, we xal us all repent,
180  For oure lawys he dystroyt dayly with his dede.

181  Therefore be 3oure cowncel we must take hede
182  What is be[st] to provyde or do in his case.
183  For yf we let hym ŝus go and ferdere prosede,
184  Ageyn Sesare and oure lawe we do trespace.

185  PRIMUS DOCTOR Serys, his is myn avyse ŝat 3e xal do:
186  Send to Cayphas for cowncel, knowe his intent.
187  For yf Jesu proce[de], and ŝus forth go,
188  Oure lawys xal be dystroyd, thes se we present.

189  SECUNDUS DOCTOR Sere, remembre ŝe gret charge ŝat on 3ow is leyd,
190  ŝe lawe to ke[pe], which may not fayle.
191  Yf any defawth prevyd of 3ow be seyd,
192  ŝe Jewys with trewth wyl 3ow asayl.
193  Tak hed whath cownsayl may best provayl.
194  After Rewfyn and Leyon I rede ŝat 3e sende—
195  They arn temperal jewgys ŝat knowyth ŝe perayl—
196  With 3oure cosyn Cayphas ŝis matere to amende.

197  ANNAS Now surely ŝis cowncel revyfe myn herte!
198  3oure cowncel is best, as I can se.
199  Arfexe, in hast loke ŝat ŝu styrte,
200  And pray Cayphas my cosyn come speke with me.

201  To Rewfyn and Leon ŝu go also,
202  And pray hem ŝei speke with me in hast.
203  For a pryncipal matere ŝat haue to do,
204  Wich must be knowe or ŝis day be past.

205  ARFEXE My souereyn, at 3oure intent I xal gon
206  In al ŝe hast hat I kan hy
207  Onto Cayphas, Rewfyn, and Lyon,
208  And charge 3oure intent ŝat ŝei xal ply.

Here goth ŝe masangere forth; and in ŝe menetyme Cayphas shewyth himself in his skafhald arayd lych to Annas, savyng his tabbard xal be red furryd with white; ij doctorys with hym arayd with pellys aftyr ŝe old gyse and furryd cappys on here hedys; Cayphas ŝus seyng:

209  CAYPHAS As a primat most preudent, I present here sensyble
210  Buschopys of ŝe lawe with al ŝe cyrcumstawns.
211  I, Cayphas, am jewge with powerys possyble
212  To distroye all errouris ŝat in oure lawys make varyawns.
213  All thyngys I convey be reson and temperawnce,
214  And all materis possyble to me ben palpable.
215  Of ŝe lawe of Moyses I haue a chef governawns;
216  To seuere ryth and wrong in me is termynable.

217  But ŝer is on Cryst ŝat [in] oure lawys is varyable;
218  He perverte ŝe pepyl with his prechyng ill.
219  We must seke a mene onto hym reprevable
220  For yf he procede, oure lawys he wyl spyll!

221  We must take good cowncel in ŝis case
222  Of ŝe wysest of ŝe lawe ŝat kan ŝe trewthe telle,
223  Of ŝe jewgys of Pharasy and of my cosyn Annas.
224  For yf he procede, be prossesse oure lawys he wyl felle.

225  PRIMUS DOCT[OR] Myn lord, plesyt 3ow to pardon me for to say
226  ŝe blame in 3ow is, as we fynde,
227  To lete Cryst contenue ŝus day be day,
228  With his fals wicheraft ŝe pepyl to blynde.
229  He werkyth fals meraclis ageyns all kende,
230  And makyth oure pepyl to leve hem in.
231  It is 3oure part to take hym and do hym bynde,
232  And gyf hym jugement for his gret syn.

233  SECUNDUS DOCTOR Forsothe, sere, of trewth this is ŝe case:
234  Onto oure lawe 3e don oppressyon
235  ŝat 3e let Cryst from 3ou pace
236  And wyl not don on hym correxion.
237  Let Annas knowe 3oure intencyon,
238  With prestys and jewgys of ŝe lawe;
239  And do Cryst forsake his fals oppynyon—
240  Or into a preson lete hem be thrawe!

241  CAYPHAS Wel, serys, 3e xal se withinne short whyle,
242  I xal correcte hym for his trespas.
243  He xal no lenger oure pepyl begyle;
244  Out of myn dawngere he xal not pas!

Here comyth ŝe masangere to Cayphas; and in ŝe menetyme Rewfyn and Lyon schewyn hem in ŝe place in ray tabardys furryd, and ray hodys abouth here neckys furryd; ŝe masangere seyng:

245  MASANGERE Myn reverent souereyn, and it do 3ow plese,
246  Sere Annas, my lord, hath to 3ou sent.
247  He prayt 3ou ŝat 3e xal not sese
248  Tyl ŝat 3e ben with hym present.

249  CAYPHAS Sere, telle myn cosyn I xal not fayl.
250  It was my purpose hym for to se
251  For serteyn rnaterys ŝat wyl provayle,
252  ŝow he had notwth a sent to me.

253  MASAGER I recomende me to 3oure hey degré.
254  On more massagys I must wende.
255  CAYPHAS Farewel, sere, and wel 3e be.
256  Gret web my cosyn and my fre[n]de.

Here ŝe masager metyth with ŝe jewgys, sayng:

257  MASAGER Heyl, jewgys of Jewry, of reson most prudent!
258  Of my massage to 3ou I make relacyon:
259  My lord, Sere Annas, hath for 3ou sent,
260  To se his presens withowth delacyon.

261  REWFYN Sere, we are redy at his comawndement
262  To se Sere Annas in his place.
263  It was oure purpose and oure intent
264  To a be with hym withinne short space.

265  LEYON We are ful glad his presence to se;
266  Sere, telle hym we xal come in hast:
267  No delacyon ŝerin xal be,
268  But to his presens hye us fast.

269  MASAGER I xal telle my lord, seris, as 3e say,
270  3e wyl fulfylle al his plesawns.
271  REWFYN Sere, telle hym we xal make no delay,
272  But come in hast at his instawns.

Here ŝe masangere comyth to Annas, ŝus seyng:

273  MASAN[GER] My lord, and it plese 3ou to haue intellygens,
274  Ser Cayphas comyth to 3ou in hast.
275  Rewfyn and Lyon wyl se 3oure presens,
276  And se 3ow here or ŝis day be past.

277  ANNAS Sere, I kan ŝe thank of ŝi dyligens.
278  Now ageyn my cosyn I wole walk.
279  Serys, folwyth me onto his presens,
280  For of these materys we must talk.

Here Annas goth down to mete with Cayphas, and in ŝe menetyme ŝus seyng:

281  CAYPHAS Now onto Annas let us wende,
282  Ech of vs to knowe otherys intent.
283  Many materys I haue in mende,
284  ŝe wich to hym I xal present.

285  PRIMUS DOCTOR C[AYPHAS] Sere, of all othere thyng, remembre ŝis case:
286  Loke ŝatJesus be put to schame.
287  SECUNDUS DOCTOR C[AYPHAS] Whan we come present beforn Annas,
288  Whe xal rehers all his gret blame.

Here ŝe buschopys with here clerkys and ŝe Pharaseus mett [at] ŝe mydplace, and ŝer xal be a lytil oratory with stolys and cusshonys, clenly beseyn lych as it were a cownsel hous; Annas ŝus seyng:

289  ANNAS Welcome, Sere Cayphas and 3e jewgys alle!
290  Now xal 3e knowe all myn entent:
291  A wondyr case, serys, here is befalle
292  On wich we must gyf jewgement—
293  Lyst ŝat we aftere ŝe case repent—
294  Of on Cryst, ŝat Goddys sone som doth hym calle.
295  He shewyth meraclys and sythe present
296  ŝat he is prynce of pryncys alle.

297  The pepyl so fast to hym doth falle,
298  Be prevy menys as we aspye,
299  3yf he procede, son sen 3e xalle
300  ŝat oure lawys he wyl dystrye.

301  It is oure part ŝ[i]s to deny.
302  What is 3oure cowncell in ŝis cas?
303  CAYPHAS Be reson ŝe trewth here may we try.
304  I cannot dem hym withouth trespace
305  Because he seyth in every a place
306  ŝat he [is] Kyng of Jewys in every degré.
307  ŝerfore he is fals, knowe wel ŝe case:
308  Sesar is kyng, and non but he!

309  REWFYN He is an eretyk and a tretour bolde
310  To Sesare and to oure lawe, sertayn,
311  Bothe in word. and in werke, and 3e beholde;
312  He is worthy to dey with mekyl peyn!

313  LEON ŝe cawse ŝat we been here present:
314  To fortefye ŝe lawe; and, trewth to say,
315  Jesus ful nere oure lawys hath shent—
316  ŝerfore he is worthy for to day!

317  PRIMIUS DOCTOR AN[NAS] Serys, 3e ŝat ben rewelerys of ŝe lawe,
318  On Jesu 3e must gyf jugement.
319  Let hym fyrst ben hangyn and drawe,
320  And ŝanne his body in fyre be brent.

321  SECUNDUS Now xal 3e here be intent of me:
322  Take Jesu, ŝat werke us all gret schame,
323  Put hym to deth! Let hym not fle,
324  For than ŝe comownys, ŝei wyl 3ow blame.

325  PRIMUS DOCTOR CAYP [HAS] He werke with wechecrafte in eche place,
326  And drawyth ŝe pepyl to hese intent.
327  Bewhare, 3e jewgys, let hym not passe;
328  ŝan, be my trowthe, 3e xal repent.

329  SECUNDUS DOCTOR CAYPHAS Serys, takyth hede onto ŝis case,
330  And in 3oure jewgement be not slawe.
331  ŝer was nevyr man dyd so gret trespace
332  As Jesu hath don ageyn oure lawe.

333  ANNAS Now, bretheryn, ŝan wyl 3e here myn intent?
334  These ix days let us abyde.
335  We may not gyf so hasty jugement,
336  But eche man inqwere on his syde:
337  Send spyes abouth ŝe countré wyde
338  To se, and recorde, and testymonye.
339  And ŝan hese werkys he xal not hyde,
340  Nor haue no power hem to denye.

341  CAYPHAS This cowncell acordyth to my reson.
342  ANNAS And we all to be same.

343  JESUS Frendys, beholde ŝe tyme of mercy,
344  The whiche is come now, withowt dowth.
345  Mannys sowle in blys now xal edyfy,
346  And ŝe Prynce of ŝe Werd is cast owth.

347  Go to 3on castel ŝat standyth 3ow ageyn,
348  Sum of myn dyscyplis—go forth, 3e to.
349  ŝere xul 3e fyndyn bestys tweyn:
350  An asse tyed and here fole also.
351  Vnlosne ŝat asse and brynge it to me pleyn.
352  Iff any ma[n] aske why ŝat 3e do so,
353  Sey ŝat I haue nede to ŝis best, certeyn,
354  And he xal not lett 3ow 3oure weys for to go.
355  ŝat best brynge 3e to me.
356  PRIMUS APOSTOLUS Holy prophete, we gon oure way;
357  We wyl not 3oure wourd delay.
358  Also sone as ŝat we may,
359  We xal it brynge to the.

Here ŝei fecch ŝe asse with ŝe fole, and ŝe burgeys seyth:

360  BURGENSIS Herke, 3e men, who 3aff 3ow leve
361  Thus his best for to take away?

362  But only for pore men to releve
363  This asse is ordayned, as I 3ow say.
364  PHIUPPUS Good sere, take this at no greff.
365  Oure maystyr us sent hedyr ŝis day.
366  He hath grett nede, withowt repreff
367  ŝerfore not lett us, I ŝe pray,
368  ŝis best for to lede.
369  BURGENSIS Sethyn ŝat it is so ŝat he hath 3ow sent,
370  Werkyth his wyll and his intent:
371  Take ŝe beste, as 3e be bent,
372  And evyr wel mote 3e spede.

373  JACOBUS MINOR This best is brought ryght now here, lo,
374  Holy prophete, at ŝin owyn wylle.
375  And with his cloth anon also,
376  his bestys bak we xal sone hylle.
377  PHILIPPUS Now mayst ŝu ryde whedyr ŝu wylt go,
378  Thyn holy purpos to fulfylle.
379  Thy best ful redy is dyth ŝe to;
380  Bothe meke and tame, ŝe best is stylle.
381  And we be redy also,
382  Iff it be plesynge to ŝi ssyght,
383  The to helpe anon forthryght,
384  Vpon his best ŝat ŝu were dyght,
385  ŝi jurney for to do.

Here Cryst rydyth out of ŝe place and he wyl, and Petyr and Johan abydyn stylle; and at ŝe last, whan ŝei haue don ŝer prechyng, ]ei mete with Jesu.

386  PETRUS. O 3e pepyl dyspeyryng, be glad!
387  A grett cawse 3e haue, and 3e kan se:
388  The Lord, ŝat allthynge of nought mad,
389  Is comynge 3oure comfort to be.
390  All 3oure langoris salvyn xal be;
391  3oure helthe is more than 3e kan wete.
392  He xal cawse ŝe blynde ŝat ŝei xal se,
393  ŝe def to here, ŝe dome for to speke.

394  ŝei ŝat be crokyd, he xal cause hem to goo,
395  In ŝe wey ŝat Johan Baptyst of prophecyed.
396  Sweche a leche kam 3ow nevyr non too.
397  Wherfore, what he comawndyth, loke [b]e applyed!
398  ŝat som of 3ow be blynd, it may not be denyid,
399  For hym ŝat is 3oure makere, with 3oure gostly ey 3e xal not knowe.
400  Of his comaundementys in 3ow gret necglygens is aspyed;
401  Wherefore def fro gostly heryng clepe 3ow I howe.

402  And some of 3ow may not go, 3e be so crokyd,
403  For of good werkyng in 3ow is lytyl habundawns.
404  Tweyn fete heuery man xuld haue, and it were lokyd,
405  Wyche xuld bere ŝe body gostly, most of substawns:
406  Fyrst is to love God above all other plesawns;
407  ŝe secunde is to love ŝi neybore as ŝin owyn persone.
408  And yf ŝese tweyn be kepte in perseverawns,
409  Into ŝe celestyal habytacyon 3e arn habyl to gone.

410  Many of 3ow be dome. Why? For 3e wole not redresse
411  Be mowthe 3oure Dedys Mortal, but ŝerin don perdure.
412  Of ŝe wych but 3e haue contrycyon and 3ow confesse,
413  3e may not inheryte hevyn, his I 3ow ensure.
414  And of all ŝese maladyes 3e may haue gostly cure,
415  For be hevynly leche is comyng 3ow for to vicyte.

416  And as for payment, he wole shewe 3ow no red[d]ure,
417  For with ŝe love of 3owre hertys he wole be aqwhyte.

418  JOHANNES APOSTOLUS Onto my brotherys forseyd rehersall
419  ŝat 3e xuld 3eve ŝe more veray confydens,
420  I come with hym as testymonyall,
421  For to conferme and fortefye his sentens.
422  ŝis lord xal come without resystens;
423  Onto ŝe cetyward he is now comyng.
424  Wherefore dresse 3ow with all dew dylygens
425  To honowre hym as 3oure makere and kyng.

426  And to fulfylle ŝe prophetys prophesé,
427  Vpon an asse he wole hedyr ryde,
428  Shewyng 3ow exawmple of humylyté,
429  Devoydyng ŝe abhomynable synne of pryde,
430  Whech hath ny conqweryd all ŝe werd wyde,
431  Grettest cause of all 3oure trybulacyon.
432  Vse it hoso wole, for it is ŝe best gyde
433  ŝat 3e may haue to ŝe place of dampnacyon.

434  Now, brothyr in God, syth we have intellygens
435  ŝat oure Lord is ny come to ŝis ceté,
436  To attend upon his precyous presens
437  It syttyth to us, as semyth me.
438  Wherfore to mete whit hym now go we.
439  I wold fore nothyng we where to late.
440  To ŝe cetéward fast drawyth he;
441  Mesemyth he is ny at be [g]ate.

Here spekyth ŝe iiij ceteseynys, ŝe fyrst ŝus seyng:

442  PRIMUS CIUES DE JERUSALEM Neyborys, gret joye in oure herte we may make
443  ŝat ŝis hefly kyng wole vycyte ŝis cyté!
444  SECUNDUS CIUES Yf oure eerly kyng swech a jorné xuld take,
445  To don hym honour and worchepe besy xuld we be.
446  TERCIUS CIUES Meche more, ŝan, to ŝe hevynly kyng bownd are we
447  For to do ŝat xuld be to his persone reuerens.
448  QUARTUS CI[UES] Late vs ŝan welcome hym with flowrys and brawnchis of ŝe tre,
449  For he wole take ŝat to plesawns becawse of redolens.

Here ŝe iiij ceteseynys makyn hem redy for to mete with oure Lord, goyng barfot and barelegged and in here shyrtys, savyng ŝei xal have here gownys cast abouth them. And qwan ŝei seen oure Lord ŝei xal sprede ŝer clothis beforn hym, and he xal lyth and go ŝerupon. And ŝei xal fall downe upon ŝer knes all atonys, ŝe fyrst ŝus seyng:

450  PRIMUS ClUES Now blyssyd he be ŝat in oure Lordys name
451  To us in any wyse wole resorte.
452  And we beleve veryly ŝat ŝu dost ŝe same,
453  For be ŝi mercy xal spryng mannys comforte.

Here Cryst passyth forth. ŝer metyth with hym a serteyn of chylderyn with flowrys, and cast beforn hym. And they synggyn “Gloria laus,” and beforn on seyt:

454  Thow sone of Davyd, ŝu be oure supporte
455  At oure last day whan we xal dye!
456  Wherefore we alle atonys to ŝe exorte,
457  Cryeng mercy! Mercy! Mercye!

458  JESU. Frendys, beholde ŝe tyme of mercy,
459  ŝe wich is come now withowtyn dowth.
460  Mannys sowle in blysse now xal edyfy,
461  And ŝe Prynce of ŝe Werd is cast owth.
462  As I haue prechyd in placys abowth,
463  And shewyd experyence to man and wyf,
464  Into ŝis werd Goddys sone hath sowth
465  For veray loue man to revyfe.

466  The trewthe of trewthis xal now be tryede,
467  And a perfyth of corde betwyx God and man,
468  Wich trewth xal nevyr be dyvide—
469  Confusyon onto ŝe fynd Sathan.

470  PRIMUS PAUPER HOMO ŝu sone of Davyd, on vs haue mercye,
471  As we must stedfast belevyn in ŝe.
472  ŝi goodnesse, Lord, lete us be nye,
473  Whech lyth blynd here and may not se.

474  SECUNDUS PAUPER HOMO Lord, lete ŝi mercy to us be sewre,
475  And restore to us oure bodyly syth!
476  We know ŝu may us wel recure
477  With ŝe lest poynt of ŝi gret myth.

478  JESU 3owre beleve hath mad 3ou for to se
479  And delyveryd 3ou fro all mortal peyn.
480  Blyssyd be all ŝo ŝat beleve on me
481  And se me not with here bodyly eyn.

Here Cryst blyssyth here eyn and ŝei may se, ŝe fryst seyng:

482  PRIMUS PAUPER HOMO Gromercy, Lord, of ŝi gret grace!
483  I ŝat was blynd now may se.
484  SECUNDUS PAUPER HOMO Here I forsake al my trespace
485  And stedfastly wyl belevyn on ŝe.