From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 46 - Appearance of Our Lady to Thomas
Wefferes
001 Thomas. In waylyng and weping, in woo am I wapped,
002 In site and in sorowe, in sighing full sadde.
003 Mi lorde and my luffe, loo, full lowe is he lapped,
004 þat makes me to mourne nowe full mate and full madde.
005 What harling and what hurlyng that hedesman he hadde,
006 What breking of braunches ware brosten aboute hym,
007 What bolnyng with betyng of brothellis full badde;
008 Itt leres me full lely to loue hym and lowte hym,
009 That comely to kenne.
010 Goddis sone Jesus
011 He died for vs,
012 þat makes me thus
013 To mourne amange many men.
014 Emange men may I mourne for the malice thei mente
015 To Jesus the gentillest of Jewes generacioun.
016 Of wisdome and witte were the waies that he wente
017 þat drewe all tho domesmen derffe indignacioun,
018 For douteles full dere was his diewe dominacioun.
019 Vnkyndely thei kidde them ther kyng for to kenne
020 With carefull comforth and colde recreacioun,
021 For he mustered his miracles amonge many men
022 And to the pepull he preched.
023 But the Pharases fers
024 All his resouns revers,
025 And to ther hedesmen rehers
026 þat vntrewe were the tales that he teched.
027 He teched full trewe, but the tirauntes were tened.
028 For he reproued ther pride thai purposed thame preste
029 To mischeue hym, with malis in there mynde haue thei menyd,
030 And to accuse hym of cursednesse the caistiffis has caste.
031 Ther rancoure was raised, no renke might it reste,
032 þai toke hym with treasoune, that turtill of treuthe,
033 þei fedde hym with flappes, with fersnesse hym feste,
034 To rugge hym, to riffe hym; ther reyned no rewthe.
035 Vndewly thei demed hym:
036 þei dusshed hym, thei dasshed hym,
037 þei lusshed hym, thei lasshed hym,
038 þei pusshed hym, thei passhed hym,
039 All sorowe thei saide that it semed hym.
040 Itt semed hym all sorowe, thei saide in ther seggyng.
041 þei skippid and scourged hym-he skapid not-with scornes;
042 þat he was leder and lorde in there lawe lay no leggyng,
043 But thrange on and thristed a croune of thik thornes.
044 Ilk tag of that turtill so tatterid and torne es
045 That that blissid body blo is and bolned for betyng,
046 3itt the hedesmen to hynge hym with huge hydous hornes
047 As brothellis or bribours were belyng and bletyng:
048 'Crucifie hym' thei cried.
049 Sone Pilate in parlement
050 Of Jesus gaffe jugement,
051 To hynge hym the harlottis hym hente;
052 þer was no deide of that domesman denyed.
053 Denyed not that domesman to deme hym to dede,
054 þat frendly faire foode that neuere offended.
055 þei hied thame in haste than to hynge vppe there heede,
056 What woo that thei wroghte hym no wiyot wolde haue wende it.
057 His true titill thei toke thame no tome for to attende it,
058 But as a traitour atteynted thei toled hym and tuggid hym,
059 þei schonte for no schoutis his schappe for to schende it,
060 þei rasid hym on rode als full rasely thei rugged hym.
061 þei persed hym with a spere,
062 þat the blode riall
063 To the erthe gun fall,
064 In redempcion of all
065 þat his lele lawes likis to lere.
066 To lere he that likis of his lawe that is lele
067 Mai fynde in oure frende here full faithfull feste,
068 þat wolde hynge thus on hight to enhaunce vs in hele
069 And by vs fro bondage by his bloode that is beste.
070 þan the comforte of oure companye in kares were keste,
071 But that lorde so allone wolde not leffe vs full longe.
072 On the thirde day he rose riyot with his renkis to reste,
073 Both flessh and fell fersly that figour gon fange
074 And to my brethir gonne appere.
075 þai tolde me of this
076 Bot I leued amys,
077 To rise flesshly iwis
078 Methought that it paste mans poure.
079 But the poure of that prince was presiously previd
080 Whan that souerayne schewed hymselffe to my siyot.
081 To mene of his manhode my mynde was all meued,
082 But that reuerent redused me be resoune and be riyot.
083 þe woundes full wide of that worthy wight
084 He frayned me to fele thame my faith for to feste,
085 And so I did douteless, and doune I me diyot-
086 I bende my bak for to bowe and obeyed hym for beste.
087 So sone he assendid
088 Mi felaus in feere
089 Ware sondered sere,
090 If thai were here
091 Mi myrthe were mekill amended
092 Amendid were my mirthe with that meynéto mete.
093 Mi felaus in fere for to fynde woll I fonde,
094 I schall nott stedde in no stede but in stall and in strete
095 Grath me be gydis to gette thame on grounde.
096 O souerayne, how sone am I sette here so sounde!
097 þis is the Vale of Josophat in Jury so gente.
098 I will steme of my steuene and sted here a stounde,
099 For I am wery for walkyng the waies that I wente
100 Full wilsome and wide.
101 þerfore I kaste
102 Here for to reste,
103 I halde it beste
104 To buske on this banke for to bide.
Surge Proxima
Surge, proxima mea,
columba mea, tabernaculum glorie,
vasculum vite, templum celeste.
105 Angel 1. Rise Marie, thou maiden and modir so milde.
106 Angel 2. Rise, lilly full lusty, thi luffe is full likand.
107 Angel 3. Rise, chefteyne of chastité in chering thi childe.
108 Angel 4. Rise, rose ripe redolent, in reste to be reynand.
109 Angel 5. Rise, douffe of that domesman all dedis is demand.
110 Angel 6. Rise turtour, tabernacle, and tempull full trewe.
111 Angel 7. Rise, semely in sight, of thi sone to be semande.
112 Angel 8. Rise, grathed full goodely in grace for to grewe.
113 Angel 9. Rise vppe this stounde.
114 Angel 10. Come chosen childe.
115 Angel 11. Come Marie milde.
116 Angel 12. Come floure vnfiled.
117 Angel 8. Come vppe to the kyng to be crouned.
Veni de Libano.
Veni de Libano sponsa,
veni, corona beris.
118 Thomas. O glorious God what glemes are glydand,
119 I meve in my mynde what may this bemene?
120 I see a berde borne in blisse to be bidand
121 With aungelus companye, comely and clene.
122 Many selcouth sitis in sertis haue I sene,
123 But this mirthe and this melody mengis my mode.
124 Mary. Thomas, do way all thi doutes bedene,
125 For I ame foundynge fourthe to my faire fode
126 I telle the this tyde.
127 Thomas. Who, my souerayne lady?
128 Mary. 3a, sertis I saie the.
129 Thomas. Whedir wendes thou I praye the?
130 Mary. To blisse with my barne for to bide.
131 Thomas. To bide with thy barne in blisse to be beldand?
132 Hayle jentilest of Jesse in Jewes generacioun,
133 Haile welthe of this worlde all welthis is weldand,
134 Haile hendest, enhaunsed to high habitacioun,
135 Haile, derworth and dere is thi diewe dominacioun,
136 Haile floure fressh florisshed, thi frewte is full felesome,
137 Haile sete of oure saveour and sege of saluacioun,
138 Haile happy to helde to, thi helpe is full helesome.
139 Haile pereles in plesaunce,
140 Haile precious and pure,
141 Haile salue that is sure,
142 Haile lettir of langure,
143 Haile bote of oure bale in obeyesaunce.
144 Mary. Go to thi brethir that in bale are abiding,
145 And of what wise to welthe I ame wendande
146 Withoute tarying thou telle thame this tithynge,
147 þer mirthe so besse mekill amendande.
148 For Thomas, to me were thei tendande
149 Whanne I drewe to the dede, all but thou.
150 Thomas. Bot I lady? Whillis in lande I ame lendande
151 Obeye the full baynly my bones will I bowe.
152 Bot I, allas!
153 Whare was I thanne
154 When that barette beganne?
155 An vnhappy manne
156 Both nowe and euere I was.
157 Vnhappy, vnhende am I holden at home;
158 What drerye destonye me drewe fro that dede?
159 Mary. Thomas, sesse of thy sorowe for I am sothly the same.
160 Thomas. þat wote I wele, the worthiest that wrapped is in wede.
161 Mary. þanne spare nott a space nowe my speche for to spede,
162 Go saie them sothely thou sawe me assendinge.
163 Thomas. Now douteles, derworthy, I dare not for drede,
164 For to my tales that I telle thei are not attendinge,
165 For no spelle that is spoken.
166 Mary. I schall the schewe
167 A token trewe
168 Full fresshe of hewe,
169 My girdill, loo, take thame this tokyn.
170 Thomas. I thanke the as reuerent rote of oure reste,
171 I thanke the as stedfast stokke for to stande,
172 I thanke the as tristy tre for to treste,
173 I thanke the as buxsom bough to the bande,
174 I thanke the as leeffe the lustiest in lande,
175 I thanke the as bewteuous braunche for to bere,
176 I thanke the as floure that neuere is fadande,
177 I thanke the as frewte that has fedde vs in fere,
178 I thanke the for euere.
179 If thay repreue me
180 Now schall thei leue me.
181 þi blissinge giffe me
182 And douteles I schall do my deuere.
183 Mary. Thomas, to do thanne thy deuere be dressand,
184 He bid the his blissinge that beldis aboven.
185 And in siyotte of my sone ther is sittand
186 Shall I knele to that comely with croune,
187 þat who in dispaire be dale or be doune
188 With pitevous playnte in perellis will pray me,
189 If he swynke or swete in swelte or in swoune,
190 I schall sewe to my souerayne sone for to say me
191 He schall graunte thame ther grace.
192 Be it manne in his mournyng
193 Or womanne in childinge,
194 All thes to be helpinge
195 þat prince schall I praye in that place.
196 Thomas. Gramercy the goodliest grounded in grace,
197 Gramercy the lufliest lady of lire,
198 Gramercy the fairest in figure and face,
199 Gramercy the derrest to do oure desire.
200 Mary. Farewele, nowe I passe to the pereles empire.
201 Farewele Thomas, I tarie no tyde here.
202 Thomas. Farewele thou schynyng schappe that schyniste so schire,
203 Farewele the belle of all bewtes to bide here,
204 Farewele thou faire foode.
205 Farewele the keye of counsaile,
206 Farewele all this worldes wele,
207 Farewele oure hope and oure hele,
208 Farewele nowe, both gracious and goode.
Veni Electa
Veni, electa mea et ponam in te thronum meum,
quia concupivit rex speciem tuam.
209 Thomas. That I mette with this may here my mirthe is amend.
210 I will hy me in haste and holde that I haue hight,
211 To bere my brethir this boodeword my bak schall I bende
212 And saie thame in certayne the soth of this sight.
213 Be dale and be doune schall I dresse me to diyot
214 To I fynde of this felawschippe faithfull in fere,
215 I schall renne and reste not to ransake full right.
216 Lo, the menyoe I mente of I mete thame even here
217 At hande.
218 God saffe yoou in feere,
219 Say brethir, what chere?
220 Peter. What dois thou here?
221 þou may nowe of thi gatis be gangand.
222 Thomas. Why dere brethir, what bale is begune?
223 Peter. Thomas, I telle the that tene is betidde vs.
224 Thomas. Me forthinkith for my frendis that faithfull are foune.
225 Jacobus. 3a, but in care litill kyndnes thou kid vs.
226 Andrew. His bragge and his boste is he besie to bid vs,
227 But and ther come any cares he kepis not to kenne.
228 We may renne till we raue or any ruth rid vs
229 For the frenschippe he fecched vs, be frith or be fenne.
230 Thomas. Sirs, me meruailes, I saie yowe,
231 What mevis in youre mynde.
232 John. We can wele fynde
233 þou arte vnkynde.
234 Thomas. Nowe pees thanne, and preue it I pray yowe.
235 Peter. þat thou come not to courte here vnkyndynes thou kid vs,
236 Oure treuth has of-turned vs to tene and to traye.
237 þis yere haste thou rakid, thi reuth wolde not ridde vs,
238 For witte thou wele that worthy is wente on hir waye.
239 In a depe denne dede is scho doluen this daye,
240 Marie that maiden and modir so milde.
241 Thomas. I wate wele iwis.
242 Jacobus. Thomas, do way.
243 Andrew. Itt forse noyot to frayne hym, he will not be filde.
244 Thomas. Sirs, with hir haue I spoken
245 Lattar thanne yee.
246 John. þat may not bee.
247 Thomas. Yis, knelyng on kne.
248 Peter. þanne tite can thou telle vs some token?
249 Thomas. Lo this token full tristy scho toke me to take youe.
250 Jacobus. A, Thomas, whare gate thou that girdill so gode?
251 Thomas. Sirs, my message is meuand some mirthe for to make youe,
252 For founding flesshly I fande hir till hir faire foode,
253 And when I mette with that maiden it mendid my mode.
254 Hir sande has scho sente youe, so semely to see.
255 Andrew. Ya, Thomas, vnstedfaste full staring thou stode-
256 þat makis thi mynde nowe full madde for to be.
257 But herken and here nowe;
258 Late vs loke where we laid hir,
259 If any folke haue affraied hir.
260 John. Go we groppe wher we graued hir,
261 If we fynde ouyote that faire one, in fere nowe.
262 Peter. Behalde nowe hidir youre hedis in haste,
263 þis glorious and goodely is gone fro this graue.
264 Thomas. Loo, to my talking ye toke youe no tente for to traste.
265 Jacobus. A, Thomas, vntrewly nowe trespassed we haue.
266 Mercy full kyndely we crie and we craue.
267 Andrew. Mercye, for foule haue we fautid in faye.
268 John. Mercye we praye the, we will not depraue.
269 Peter. Mercye for dedis we did the this daye.
270 Thomas. Oure saueour so swete
271 Forgiffe you all,
272 And so I schall.
273 þis tokyn tall
274 Haue I brought yowe youre bales to beete.
275 Peter. Itt is welcome iwis fro that worthy wight,
276 For it was wonte for to wappe that worthy virgine.
277 Jacobus. Itt is welcome iwis fro that lady so light,
278 For hir wombe wolde scho wrappe with it and were it with wynne.
279 Andrew. Itt is welcome iwis fro that saluer of synne,
280 For scho bende it aboute hir with blossome so bright.
281 John. Itt is welcome iwis fro the keye of oure kynne,
282 For aboute that reuerent it rechid full right.
283 Peter. Nowe knele we ilkone
284 Vpponne oure kne.
285 Jacobus. To that lady free.
286 Andrew. Blissid motte sche be,
287 3a, for scho is lady lufsome allone.
288 Thomas. Nowe brethir, bese besie and buske to be bownand.
289 To Ynde will I torne me and trauell to teche.
290 Peter. And to Romans so royall tho renkis to be rownand
291 Will I passe fro this place my pepull to preche.
292 Jacobus. And I schall Samaritanus so sadly enserche,
293 To were tham be wisdome thei wirke not in waste.
294 Andrew. And I to Achaia full lely that lede for to leche
295 Will hy me to helpe thame and hele thame in haste.
296 John. þis comenaunt accordis;
297 Sirs, sen yoe will soo
298 Me muste nedis parte youe froo,
299 To Assia will I goo.
300 He lede yoou, that lorde of all lordis.
301 Thomas. The lorde of all lordis in lande schall he lede youe
302 Whillis yoe trauell in trouble the trewthe for to teche.
303 With frewte of oure feithe in firthe schall we fede youe
304 For that laboure is lufsome ilke lede for to leche.
305 Nowe I passe fro youre presence the pepull to preche,
306 To lede thame and lere thame the lawe of oure lorde.
307 As I saide, vs muste asoundre and sadly enserche
308 Ilke contréto kepe clene and knytte in o corde
309 Off oure faithe.
310 þat frelye foode
311 þat died on rode
312 With mayne and moode
313 He grath yowe be gydis full grath.
Surge Propera Mea
Surge propera mea,
columba mea, tabernaculum glorie,
vasculum vite, templum celeste.
Veni de Libano
Veni de libano sponsa,
veni corona beris.
Veni Electa
Veni electa mea
et ponam thronum meum
quia concupivit speciem tuam.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 46 - Appearance of Our Lady to thomas. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.