From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 48 - The Judgement Day
Merceres
001 God. Firste when I this worlde hadde wroght-
002 Woode and wynde and wateris wan,
003 And all-kynne thyng that nowe is oght-
004 Fulle wele methoght that I did thanne.
005 Whenne thei were made, goode me thame thoght;
006 Sethen to my liknes made I man
007 And man to greue me gaffe he noght,
008 þerfore me rewis that I the worlde began.
009 Whanne I had made man at my will,
010 I gaffe hym wittis hymselue to wisse,
011 And paradise I putte hym till
012 And bad hym halde it all as his.
013 But of the tree of goode and ill
014 I saide, 'What tyme thou etis of this,
015 Manne, thou spedes thiselue to spill-
016 þou arte broght oute of all blisse.'
017 Belyue brak manne my bidding.
018 He wende haue bene a god therby;
019 He wende haue wittyne of all-kynne thyng,
020 In worlde to haue bene als wise as I.
021 He ete the appill I badde schulde hyng,
022 þus was he begilid thurgh glotony;
023 Sithen both hym and his ospring
024 To pyne I putte thame all forthy.
025 To lange and late methoghte it goode
026 To catche thois caitiffis oute of care.
027 I sente my sone with full blithe moode
028 Till erthe, to salue thame of thare sare.
029 For rewthe of thame he reste on roode
030 And boughte thame with his body bare;
031 For thame he shedde his harte-bloode-
032 What kyndinesse myght I do thame mare?
033 Sethen aftirwarde he heryed hell
034 And toke oute thois wrecchis that ware thareinne;
035 þer faughte that free with feendis feele
036 For thame that ware sounkyn for synne.
037 Sethen in erthe than gonne he dwelle,
038 Ensaumpill he gaue thame heuene to wynne,
039 In tempill hymselffe to teche and tell,
040 To by thame blisse that neuere may blynne.
041 Sethen haue thei founde me full of mercye,
042 Full of grace and forgiffenesse,
043 And thei als wrecchis, wittirly,
044 Has ledde ther liffe in lithirnesse.
045 Ofte haue thei greued me greuously,
046 þus haue thei quitte me my kyndinesse;
047 þerfore no lenger, sekirlye,
048 Thole will I thare wikkidnesse.
049 Men seis the worlde but vanité
050 3itt will no manne beware therby;
051 Ilke a day ther mirroure may thei se,
052 3itt thynke thei noyot that thei schall dye.
053 All that euere I saide schulde be
054 Is nowe fulfillid thurgh prophicie,
055 Therfore nowe is it tyme to me
056 To make endyng of mannes folie.
057 I haue tholed mankynde many a yoere
058 In luste and likyng for to lende,
059 And vnethis fynde I ferre or nere
060 A man that will his misse amende.
061 In erthe I see butte synnes seere,
062 Therfore myne aungellis will I sende
063 To blawe ther bemys, that all may here
064 The tyme is comen I will make ende.
065 Aungellis, blawes youre bemys belyue,
066 Ilke a creatoure for to call,
067 Leerid and lewde, both man and wiffe,
068 Ressayue ther dome this day thei schall,
069 Ilke a leede that euere hadde liffe-
070 Bese none forgetyn, grete ne small.
071 Ther schall thei see the woundes fyve
072 þat my sone suffered for them all.
073 And sounderes thame before my sight,
074 All same in blisse schall thei not be.
075 Mi blissid childre, as I haue hight,
076 On my right hande I schall thame see;
077 Sethen schall ilke a weried wight
078 On my lifte side for ferdnesse flee.
079 þis day ther domys thus haue I dight
080 To ilke a man as he hath serued me.
081 Angel 1. Loued be thou, lorde of myghtis moste,
082 þat aungell made to messengere.
083 Thy will schall be fulfillid in haste,
084 þat heuene and erthe and helle schalle here.
085 Goode and ill, euery-ilke a gaste,
086 Rise and fecche youre flessh that was youre feere,
087 For all this worlde is broght to waste.
088 Drawes to youre dome, it neghes nere.
089 Angel 2. Ilke a creature, bothe olde and yhing,
090 Belyue I bidde yoou that yoe ryse;
091 Body and sawle with yoou yoe bring,
092 And comes before the high justise.
093 For I am sente fro heuene kyng
094 To calle yoou to this grette assise,
095 þerfore rise vppe and geue rekenyng
096 How yoe hym serued vppon sere wise.
097 Good Soul 1. Loued be thou lorde, that is so schene,
098 þat on this manere made vs to rise,
099 Body and sawle togedir, clene,
100 To come before the high justise.
101 Of oure ill dedis, lorde, thou not mene,
102 That we haue wroght vppon sere wise,
103 But graunte vs for thy grace bedene
104 þat we may wonne in paradise.
105 Good Soul 2. A, loued be thou, lorde of all,
106 þat heuene and erthe and all has wroght,
107 þat with thyne aungellis wolde vs call
108 Oute of oure graues hidir to be broght.
109 Ofte haue we greued the, grette and small,
110 þeraftir lorde thou deme vs noght,
111 Ne suffir vs neuere to fendis to be thrall,
112 þat ofte in erthe with synne vs soght.
113 Bad Soul 1. Allas, allas, that we were borne,
114 So may we synfull kaytiffis say;
115 I here wele be this hydous horne
116 Itt drawes full nere to domesday.
117 Allas, we wrecchis that are forlorne,
118 þat never yoitt serued God to paye,
119 But ofte we haue his flessh forsworne-
120 Allas, allas, and welaway.
121 What schall we wrecchis do for drede,
122 Or whedir for ferdnes may we flee,
123 When we may bringe forthe no goode dede
124 Before hym that oure juge schall be?
125 To aske mercy vs is no nede,
126 For wele I wotte dampned be we,
127 Allas, that we swilke liffe schulde lede
128 þat dighte vs has this destonye.
129 Oure wikkid werkis thei will vs wreye,
130 þat we wende never schuld haue bene weten,
131 þat we did ofte full pryuely,
132 Appertely may we se them wreten.
133 Allas, wrecchis, dere mon we by-
134 Full smerte with helle fyre be we smetyn.
135 Nowe mon neuere saule ne body dye,
136 But with wikkid peynes euermore be betyne.
137 Allas, for drede sore may we quake,
138 Oure dedis beis oure dampnacioune.
139 For oure mys menyng mon we make,
140 Helpe may none excusacioune.
141 We mon be sette for oure synnes sake
142 Foreuere fro oure saluacioune,
143 In helle to dwelle with feendes blake,
144 Wher neuer schall be redempcioune.
145 Bad Soul 2. Als carefull caitiffis may we ryse,
146 Sore may we wringe oure handis and wepe;
147 For cursidnesse and for covetise
148 Dampned be we to helle full depe.
149 Rought we neuere of Goddis seruise,
150 His comaundementis wolde we noyot kepe,
151 But ofte than made we sacrafise
152 To Satanas when othir slepe.
153 Allas, now wakens all oure were,
154 Oure wikkid werkis may we not hide,
155 But on oure bakkis vs muste them bere-
156 Thei wille vs wreye on ilke a side.
157 I see foule feendis that wille vs feere,
158 And all for pompe of wikkid pride.
159 Wepe we may with many a teere,
160 Allas, that we this day schulde bide.
161 Before vs playnly bese fourth brought
162 þe dedis that vs schall dame bedene;
163 þat eres has herde, or harte has thoght,
164 Sen any tyme that we may mene,
165 þat fote has gone or hande has wroght,
166 That mouthe hath spoken or ey has sene-
167 þis day full dere thanne bese it boght;
168 Allas, vnborne and we hadde bene.
169 Angel 3. Standis noght togedir, parte you in two!
170 All sam schall yoe noght be in blisse;
171 Oure fadir of heuene woll it be soo,
172 For many of yowe has wroght amys.
173 þe goode on his right hande yoe goe,
174 þe way till heuene he will you wisse;
175 3e weryed wightis, yoe flee hym froo
176 On his lefte hande as none of his.
177 God. þis woffull worlde is brought till ende,
178 Mi fadir of heuene he woll it be;
179 þerfore till erthe nowe will I wende
180 Miselue to sitte in magesté
181 To deme my domes I woll descende;
182 þis body will I bere with me-
183 Howe it was dight, mannes mys to mende,
184 All mankynde there schall it see.
185 Mi postelis and my darlyngis dere,
186 þe dredfull dome this day is dight.
187 Both heuen and erthe and hell schall here
188 Howe I schall holde that I haue hight:
189 That yoe schall sitte on seetis sere
190 Beside myselffe to se that sight,
191 And for to deme folke ferre and nere
192 Aftir ther werkyng, wronge or right.
193 I saide also whan I you sente
194 To suffre sorowe for my sake,
195 All tho that wolde thame right repente
196 Shulde with you wende and wynly wake;
197 And to youre tales who toke no tente
198 Shulde fare to fyre with fendis blake.
199 Of mercy nowe may noyot be mente,
200 Butt, aftir wirkyng, welth or wrake.
201 My hetyng haly schall I fullfille,
202 Therfore comes furth and sittis me by
203 To here the dome of goode and ill.
204 1Apostle 1. I loue the, lord God allmyghty;
205 Late and herely, lowde and still,
206 To do thy bidding bayne am I.
207 I obblissh me to do thi will
208 With all my myght, als is worthy.
209 2Apostle 2. A, myghtfull God, here is it sene
210 þou will fulfille thi forward right,
211 And all thi sawes thou will maynteyne.
212 I loue the, lorde, with all my myght,
213 þat for vs that has erthely bene
214 Swilke dingnitees has dressed and dight.
215 God. Comes fourthe, I schall sitte yoou betwene,
216 And all fullfille that I haue hight.
217 1Diabolus 1. Felas, arraye vs for to fight,
218 And go we faste oure fee to fange.
219 þe dredefull dome this day is dight-
220 I drede me that we dwelle full longe.
221 2Diabolus 2. We schall be sene euere in ther sight
222 And warly waite, ellis wirke we wrange,
223 For if the domisman do vs right,
224 Full grete partie with vs schall gang.
225 3Diabolus 3. He schall do right to foo and frende,
226 For nowe schall all the soth be sought.
227 All weried wightis with vs schall wende,
228 To payne endles thei schall be broght.
[... ...]
229 God. Ilke a creature, takes entent
230 What bodworde I to you bringe:
231 þis wofull worlde away is wente,
232 And I am come as crouned kynge.
233 Mi fadir of heuene, he has me sente
234 To deme youre dedis and make ending.
235 Comen is the day of jugement;
236 Of sorowe may ilke a synfull synge.
237 The day is comen of kaydyfnes,
238 All tham to care that are vnclene,
239 þe day of bale and bittirnes-
240 Full longe abedyn has it bene;
241 þe day of drede to more and lesse,
242 Of ire, of trymbelyng, and of tene,
243 þat ilke a wight that weried is
244 May say, 'Allas, this daye is sené
245 Here may yoe see my woundes wide,
246 þe whilke I tholed for youre mysdede.
247 Thurgh harte and heed, foote, hande and hide,
248 Nought for my gilte, butt for youre nede.
249 Beholdis both body, bak and side,
250 How dere I bought youre brotherhede.
251 þes bittir peynes I wolde abide-
252 To bye you blisse thus wolde I bleede.
253 Mi body was scourged withouten skill,
254 As theffe full thraly was I thrette;
255 On crosse thei hanged me, on a hill,
256 Blody and bloo, as I was bette,
257 With croune of thorne throsten full ill.
258 þis spere vnto my side was sette-
259 Myne harte-bloode spared noght thei for to spill;
260 Manne, for thy loue wolde I not lette.
261 þe Jewes spitte on me spitously,
262 þei spared me no more than a theffe.
263 Whan thei me strake I stode full stilly,
264 Agaynste tham did I nothyng greue.
265 Behalde, mankynde, this ilke is I,
266 þus was I dight for thy folye-
267 Man, loke, thy liffe was to me full leffe.
268 þus was I dight thi sorowe to slake;
269 Manne, thus behoued the to borowed be.
270 In all my woo toke I no wrake,
271 Mi will itt was for the loue of the.
272 Man, sore aught the for to quake,
273 þis dredfull day this sight to see.
274 All this I suffered for thi sake-
275 Say, man, what suffered thou for me?
276 My blissid childre on my right hande,
277 Youre dome this day yoe thar not drede,
278 For all youre comforte is command,
279 Youre liffe in likyng schall yoe lede.
280 Commes to the kyngdome ay-lastand
281 þat yoou is dight for youre goode dede,
282 Full blithe may yoe be where yoe stande,
283 For mekill in heuene schall be youre mede.
284 Whenne I was hungery yoe me fedde,
285 To slake my thirste youre harte was free;
286 Whanne I was clothles yoe me cledde,
287 3e wolde no sorowe vppon me see.
288 In harde presse whan I was stedde,
289 Of my payns yoe hadde pitee;
290 Full seke whan I was brought in bedde,
291 Kyndely yoe come to coumforte me.
292 Whanne I was wille and werieste
293 3e herbered me full hartefully;
294 Full gladde thanne were yoe of youre geste,
295 And pleyned my pouertépiteuously.
296 Belyue yoe brought me of the beste
297 And made my bedde full esyly,
298 þerfore in heuene schall be youre reste,
299 In joie and blisse to be me by.
300 Good Soul 1. Whanne hadde we, lorde that all has wroght,
301 Meete and drinke the with to feede,
302 Sen we in erthe hadde neuere noght
303 But thurgh the grace of thy Godhede?
304 Good Soul 2. Whanne waste that we the clothes brought,
305 Or visite the in any nede,
306 Or in thi sikenes we the sought?
307 Lorde, when did we the this dede?
308 God. Mi blissid childir, I schall yoou saye
309 What tyme this dede was to me done:
310 When any that nede hadde, nyght or day,
311 Askid yoou helpe and hadde it sone.
312 Youre fre hartis saide them neuere nay,
313 Erely ne late, mydday ne none,
314 But als ofte-sithis as thei wolde praye,
315 þame thurte but bide and haue ther bone.
316 3e cursid caytiffis of Kaymes kynne,
317 þat neuere me comforte in my care,
318 I and yoe foreuer will twynne,
319 In dole to dwelle for euermare.
320 Youre bittir bales schall neuere blynne
321 þat yoe schall haue when yoe come thare;
322 þus haue yoe serued for youre synne,
323 For derffe dedis yoe haue done are.
324 Whanne I had mistir of mete and drynke,
325 Caytiffis, yoe cacched me fro youre yoate.
326 Whanne yoe wer sette as sirs on benke,
327 I stode theroute, werie and wette;
328 Was none of yowe wolde on me thynke,
329 Pytéto haue of my poure state,
330 þerfore till hell I schall you synke-
331 Weele are yoe worthy to go that gate.
332 Whanne I was seke and soriest
333 3e visitte me noght, for I was poure;
334 In prisoune faste whan I was feste
335 Was none of you loked howe I fore.
336 Whenne I wiste neuere where for to reste,
337 With dyntes yoe draffe me fro your dore,
338 Butte euer to pride thanne were yoe preste,
339 Mi flessh, my bloode, ofte yoe forswore.
340 Clothles whanne I was ofte, and colde,
341 At nede of you, yoede I full naked;
342 House ne herborow, helpe ne holde
343 Hadde I none of you, thof I quaked.
344 Mi mischeffe sawe ye manyfolde,
345 Was none of you my sorowe slaked,
346 Butt euere forsoke me, yonge and alde,
347 þerfore schall yoe nowe be forsaked.
348 Bad Soul 1. Whan had thou, lorde that all thing has,
349 Hungir or thirste, sen thou God is?
350 Whan was that thou in prisoune was?
351 Whan was thou naked or herberles?
352 Bad Soul 2. Whan was it we sawe the seke, allas?
353 Whan kid we the this vnkyndinesse?
354 Werie or wette to late the passe,
355 When did we the this wikkidnesse?
356 God. Caistiffis, als ofte als it betidde
357 þat nedfull aught askid in my name,
358 3e herde them noght, youre eris yoe hidde,
359 Youre helpe to thame was noyot at hame.
360 To me was that vnkyndines kyd,
361 þerfore ye bere this bittir blame;
362 To leste or moste whan yoe it did,
363 To me yoe did the selue and the same.
364 Mi chosen childir, comes vnto me,
365 With me to wonne nowe schall yoe wende
366 þere joie and blisse schall euer be,
367 3oure liffe in lyking schall yoe lende.
368 3e cursed kaitiffis, fro me yoe flee,
369 In helle to dwelle withouten ende,
370 þer yoe schall neuere butt sorowe see
371 And sitte be Satanas the fende.
372 Nowe is fulfillid all my forthoght,
373 For endid is all erthely thyng.
374 All worldly wightis that I haue wroght,
375 Aftir ther werkis haue nowe wonnyng.
376 Thei that wolde synne and sessid noght,
377 Of sorowes sere now schall thei syng,
378 And thei that mendid thame whils thei moght
379 Shall belde and bide in my blissing.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 48 - The Judgement Day. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.