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page 58


1

III THE CARDMAKERS


2
3

THE CREATION OF ADAM AND EVE


4

5Deus

6In heuyn and erthe duly bedene
7Of v days werke, euyn onto ende,
8I haue complete by curssis clene;
9Methynke þe space of þame well spende.
10

11In heuyn er angels fayre and brighte,
12Sternes and planetis þer curssis to ga,
13Þe mone seruis onto þe nyght
14The son to lyghte þe day alswa.
15

16In erthe is treys and gres to springe,
17Bestis and foulys, bothe gret and smalle,

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18Fyschis in flode, all othyr thyng
19Thryffe and haue my blyssyng all.
20

21Thys werke is wroght now at my will,
22But ȝet can I here no best see
23Þat acordys be kynde and skyll,
24And for my werke myght worschippe me.
25

26For perfytt werke ne ware it nane
27But ought ware made þat myght it ȝeme,
28For loue mad I þis warlde alane,
29Þerfor my loffe sall in it seme.
30

31To kepe þis warlde, bothe mare and lesse,
32A skylfull best þane will I make
33Eftyr my schape and my lyknes,
34The wilke sall worschipe to me take.
35

36Off þe symplest part of erthe þat is here
37I sall make man, and for þis skylle:
38For to abate hys hauttande chere,
39Bothe his gret pride and oþer ille;
40

41And also for to haue in mynde
42How simpyll he is at hys makyng,
43For als febyll I sall hym fynde
44Qwen he is dede at his endyng.
45

46For þis reson and skyll alane
47I sall make man lyke onto me.
48Ryse vp, þou erthe, in blode and bane,
49In schape of man, I commaunde þe.
50

51A female sall þou haue to fere,
52Her sall I make of þi lyft rybe,
53Alane so sall þou nough be here
54Withoutyn faythefull frende and sybe.
55

56Takys now here þe gast of lyffe
57And ressayue both ȝoure saules of me;

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58Þis femall take þou to þi wyffe,
59Adam and Eue ȝour names sall be.
60

61Adam

62A, lorde, full mekyll is þi mighte
63And þat is sene in ilke a syde,
64For now his here a ioyful syght
65To se þis worlde so lange and wyde.
66

67Mony diueris thyngis now here es,
68Off bestis and foulis bathe wylde and tame;
69Ȝet is nan made to þi liknes
70But we alone - A, louyd by þi name.
71

72Eue

73To swylke a lorde in all degre
74Be euirmore lastande louynge,
75Þat tyll vs swylke a dyngnite
76Has gyffyne before all othyr thynge;
77

78And selcouth thyngis may we se here
79Of þis ilke warld so lange and brade,
80With bestis and fowlis so many and sere;
81Blessid be he þat hase us made.

82Adam

83A, blyssid lorde, now at þi wille
84Syne we er wroght, wochesaff to telle
85And also say vs two vntyll
86Qwate we sall do and whare to dewell?
87

88Deus

89For þis skyl made I ȝow þis day,
90My name to worschip ay-whare;
91Louys me, forþi, and louys me ay
92For my makyng, I axke no mare.
93

94Bothe wys and witty sall þou be,
95Als man þat I haue made of noght;
96Lordschipe in erthe þan graunt I þe,
97All thynge to serue þe þat I haue wroght.

98

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99In paradyse sall ȝe same wone,
100Of erthely thyng get ȝe no nede,
101Ille and gude both sall ȝe kone,
102I sall ȝou lerne ȝoure lyue to lede.
103

104Adam

105A, lorde, sene we sall do no thyng
106But louffe þe for þi gret gudnesse,
107We sall ay bay to þi biddyng
108And fulfyll it, both more and less.
109

110Eue

111His syng sene he has on vs sett
112Beforne all othir thyng certayne,
113Hym for to loue we sall noght lett
114And worschip hym with myght and and mayne.
115

116Deus

117At heuyne and erth first I begane
118And vj days wroght or I walde ryst;
119My warke is endyde now at mane,
120All lykes me will, but þis is best.
121

122My blyssyng haue þai euer and ay.
123The seueynt day sall my restyng be,
124Þus wille I sese, sothely to say,
125Of my doying in þis degre.
126

127To blys I sall ȝow bryng,
128Comys forth, ȝe tow, with me;
129Ȝe sall lyffe in lykyng -
130My blyssyng with ȝow be. Amen.

131

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132

IV THE FULLERS


133
134

ADAM AND EVE IN EDEN


135
136

137Deus

138Adam and Eve, this is the place
139That I haue graunte you of my grace
140To haue your wonnyng in.
141Erbes, spyce, frute on tree,
142Beastes, fewles, all that ye see
143Shall bowe to you, more and myn.
144This place hight paradyce,
145Here shall your joys begynne;
146And yf that ye be wyse,
147Frome thys tharr ye never twyn.
148

149All your wyll here shall ye haue,
150Lykyng for to eate or sayff
151Fyshe, fewle or fee;
152And for to take at your owen wyll
153All other creatours also theretyll,
154Your suggettes shall they bee.
155Adam, of more and lesse,
156Lordeship in erthe here graunte I the;
157Thys place that worthy is,
158Kepe it in honestye.
159

160Looke that ye ȝem ytt wetterly;
161All other creatours shall multeply,
162Ylke one in tender hower.
163Looke that ye bothe saue and sett
164Erbes and treys; for nothyng lett,
165So that ye may endower
166To susteyn beast and man,
167And fewll of ylke stature.
168Dwell here yf that ye cann,
169This shall be your endowre.
170

171Adam

172O lorde, lovyd be thy name,
173For nowe is this a joyfull hame
174That thowe hais brought vs to,
175Full of myrthe and solys faughe,
176Erbes and trees, frute on haugh,

177

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178Wyth spysys many one hoo.
179Loo, Eve, nowe ar we brought
180Bothe vnto rest and rowe,
181We neyd to tayke no thought,
182But loke ay well to doo.
183

184Eve

185Lovyng be ay to suche a lord,
186To vs hais geven so great reward
187To governe bothe great and small,
188And mayd vs after his owen read,
189LINE MISSING; NO GAP IN MS
190Emonges these myrthes all.
191Here is a joyfull sight
192Where that wee wonn in shall;
193We love the, mooste of myght,
194Great God, that we on call.
195

196Deus

197Love my name with good entent
198And harken to my comaundement,
199And do my byddyng buxomly:
200Of all the frute in parradyce,
201Tayke ye thereof of your best wyse
202And mayke you right merry.
203The tree of good and yll,
204What tyme you eates of thys
205Thowe speydes thyself to spyll,
206And we brought owte of blysse.
207

208All thynges is mayd, man, for thy prowe,
209All creatours shall to the bowe
210That here is mayd erthly;
211In erthe I mayke the lord of all,
212And beast vnto the shall be thrall,
213Thy kynd shall multeply.
214Therefore this tree alone,
215Adam, this owte-take I;
216The frute of it negh none,
217For an ye do, then shall ye dye.
218

219Adam

220Alas lorde, that we shuld do so yll,
221Thy blyssed byddyng we shall fulfyll
222Bothe in thought and deyd;
223We shall no negh thys tre nor the bugh,
224Nor yit the fruyte that thereon groweth
225Therewith oure fleshe to feyd.

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226Eve

227We shall do thy byddyng,
228We haue none other neyd;
229Thys frute full styll shall hyng,
230Lorde, that thowe hays forbyd.
231

232Deus

233Looke that ye doe as ye haue sayd,
234Of all that there is hold you apayd,
235For here is welthe at wyll.
236Thys tre that beres the fruyte of lyfe,
237Luke nother thowe nor Eve thy wyf
238Lay ye no handes theretyll.
239For-why it is knowyng
240Bothe of good and yll,
241This frute but ye lett hyng
242Ye speyd yourself to spyll.
243

244Forthy this tree that I owt-tayke,
245Nowe kepe it grathly for my sayke,
246That nothyng negh it neyre;
247All other at your wyll shall be,
248I owte-take nothyng but this tree,
249To feyd you with in feare.
250Here shall ye leyd your lyffe
251With dayntys that is deare;
252Adam, and Eve thy wyfe,
253My blyssyng haue ye here.

254
255
256

V THE COOPERS


257

THE FALL OF MAN


258
259Satanas incipit dicens:
260

261For woo my witte es in a were
262That moffes me mykill in my mynde;
263The Godhede þat I sawe so cleere,

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264And parsayued þat he shuld take kynde
265Of a degree
266That he had wrought, and I dedyned
267Þat aungell kynde shuld it noȝt be;
268And we wer faire and bright,
269Þerfore me thoght þat he
270The kynde of vs tane myght,
271And þerat dedeyned me.
272

273The kynde of man he thoght to take
274And theratt hadde I grete envye,
275But he has made to hym a make,
276And harde to her I wol me hye
277That redy way,
278That purpose proue to putte it by,
279And fande to pike fro hym þat pray.
280My trauayle were wele sette
281Myght Y hym so betraye,
282His likyng for to lette,
283And sone I schalle assaye.
284

285In a worme liknes wille Y wende,
286And founde to feyne a lowde lesynge.
287Eue, Eue.

288Eue

289Wha es þare?

290Satanas

291I, a frende.
292And for thy gude es þe comynge
293I hydir sought.
294Of all þe fruyt that ye se hynge
295In paradise, why ete ye noght?

296Eua

297We may of tham ilkane
298Take al þat vs goode þought,
299Save a tree outt is tane,
300Wolde do harme to neyghe it ought.
301

302Satanas

303And why þat tree, þat wold I witte,
304Any more þan all othir by?

305Eua

306For oure lord God forbeedis vs itt,
307The frute þerof, Adam nor I
308To neghe it nere;
309And yf we dide we both shuld dye,
310He saide, and sese our solace sere.

311Satanas

312Yha, Eue, to me take tente;
313Take hede and þou shalte here

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314What þat the matere mente
315He moved on þat manere.
316

317To ete þerof he you defende
318I knawe it wele, þis was his skylle;
319Bycause he wolde non othir kende
320Thes grete vertues þat longes þertill.
321For will þou see,
322Who etis the frute of good and ille
323Shalle haue knowyng as wele as hee.

324Eua

325Why, what-kynne thyng art þou
326Þat telles þis tale to me?

327Satanas

328A worme, þat wotith wele how
329Þat yhe may wirshipped be.
330

331Eue

332What wirshippe shulde we wynne therby?
333To ete þerof vs nedith it nought,
334We have lordshippe to make maistrie
335Of alle þynge þat in erthe is wrought.

336Satanas

337Woman, do way!
338To gretter state ye may be broughte
339And ye will do as I schall saye.

340Eue

341To do is vs full lothe
342Þat shuld oure God myspaye.

343Satanas

344Nay, certis it is no wathe,
345ete it saffley ye maye.
346

347For perille ryght þer none in lyes,
348Bot worshippe and a grete wynnynge,
349For right als God yhe shalle be wyse
350And pere to hym in all-kyn thynge.
351Ay, goddis shalle ye be,
352Of ille and gode to haue knawyng,
353For to be als wise as he.

354Eue

355Is þis soth þat þou sais?

356Satanas

357Yhe, why trowes þou noȝt me?
358I wolde be no-kynnes wayes
359Telle noȝt but trouthe to þe.
360

361Eua

362Than wille I to thy techyng traste
363And fange þis frute vnto oure foode.
364

365Et tunc debet accipere pomum.
366

367Satanas

368Byte on bodly, be nought abasshed,
369And bere Adam to amende his mode
370And eke his blisse.
371

372Tunc Satanas recedet.
373

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374Eua

375Adam, have here of frute full goode.

376Adam

377Alas woman, why toke þou þis?
378Owre lorde comaunded vs bothe
379To tente þe tree of his.
380Thy werke wille make hym wrothe -
381Allas, þou hast done amys.
382

383Eue

384Nay Adam, greve þe nought at it,
385And I shal saie þe reasonne why.
386A worme has done me for to witte
387We shalle be as goddis, þou and I,
388Yf þat we ete
389Here of this tree; Adam, forthy
390Lette noght þat worshippe for to gete.
391For we shalle be als wise
392Als God þat is so grete,
393And als mekill of prise;
394Forthy ete of þis mete.
395

396Adam

397To ete it wolde Y nought eschewe
398Myght I me sure in thy saying.

399Eue

400Byte on boldely, for it is trewe,
401We shalle be goddis and knawe al thyng.

402Adam

403To wynne þat name
404I schalle it taste at thy techyng.
405

406Et accipit et comedit.
407

408Allas, what haue I done, for shame!
409Ille counsaille, woo worthe the!
410A, Eue, þou art to blame,
411To þis entysed þou me -
412Me shames with my lyghame,
413

414For I am naked as methynke.

415Eue

416Allas Adam, right so am I.

417Adam

418And for sorowe sere why ne myght we synke,
419For we haue greved God almyghty
420Þat made me man -
421Brokyn his bidyng bittirly.
422Allas þat euer we it began.
423Þis werke, Eue, hast þou wrought,
424And made þis bad bargayne.

425Eue

426Nay Adam, wite me nought.

427Adam

428Do wey, lefe Eue, whame þan?
429

430Eue

431The worme to wite wele worthy were,
432With tales vntrewe he me betrayed.

433Adam

434Allas, þat I lete at thy lare
435Or trowed þe trufuls þat þou me saide.

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436So may I byde,
437For I may banne þat bittir brayde
438And drery dede, þat I it dyde.
439Oure shappe for doole me defes,
440Wherewith þay shalle be hydde.

441Eue

442Late vs take there fygge-leves,
443Sythen it is þus betydde.
444

445Adam

446Ryght as þou sais so shalle it bee,
447For we are naked and all bare;
448Full wondyr fayne I wolde hyde me
449Fro my lordis sight, and I wiste whare,
450Where I ne roght.

451Dominus

452Adam, Adam.

453Adam

454Lorde.

455Dominus

456Where art thou, yhare?

457Adam

458I here þe lorde and seys the noȝt.

459Dominus

460Say, whereon is it longe,
461Þis werke why has þou wrought?

462Adam

463Lorde, Eue garte me do wronge
464And to þat bryg me brought.
465

466Dominus

467Say, Eue, why hast þou garte thy make
468Ete frute I bad þe shuld hynge stille,
469And comaunded none of it to take?

470Eua

471A worme, lord, entysed me thertill;
472So welaway,
473That euer I did þat dede so dill.

474Dominus

475A, wikkid worme, woo worthe þe ay
476For þou on þis maner
477Hast made þam swilke affraye;
478My malysoune haue þou here
479With all þe myght Y may.
480

481And on thy wombe þan shall þou glyde,
482And be ay full of enmyte
483To al mankynde on ilke a side,
484And erthe it shalle thy sustynaunce be
485To ete and drynke.
486Adam and Eue alsoo, yhe
487In erthe þan shalle ye swete and swynke,
488And trauayle for youre foode.

489Adam

490Allas, whanne myght we synke,
491We that haues alle worldis goode
492Ful derfly may vs thynke.
493

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494Dominus

495Now Cherubyn, myn aungell bryght,
496To middilerth tyte go dryve these twoo.

497Angelus

498Alle redy lorde, as it is right,
499Syn thy wille is þat it be soo,
500And thy lykyng.
501Adam and Eue, do you to goo,
502For here may ȝe make no dwellyng;
503Goo yhe forthe faste to fare,
504Of sorowe may yhe synge.

505Adam

506Allas, for sorowe and care
507Oure handis may we wryng.
508

509
510

VI THE ARMOURERS


511
512

THE EXPULSION


513

514Angelus

515Alle creatures to me take tent,
516Fro God of heuen now am I sent
517Vnto þe wrecchis þat wronge has went
518Thaymself to woo;
519Þe joie of heuen þat thaym was lent
520Is lost thaym froo.
521

522Fro thaym is loste boþe game and glee;
523He badde þat þei schuld maistirs be
524Ouer alle-kynne thyng, oute-tane a tree
525He taught þem tille;
526And þerto wente bothe she and he,
527Agayne his wille.
528

529Agaynst his wille þus haue they wrought,
530To greeffe grete God gaffe they right noght,
531Þat wele wytt ye;
532And therfore syte is to þaym sought,
533As ye shalle see.
534

535The fooles þat faithe is fallen fra
536Take tente to me nowe, or ye ga;

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537Fro God of heuen vnto yow twa
538Sente am I nowe,
539For to warne you what-kynne wa
540Is wrought for you.
541

542Adam

543For vs is wrought, so welaway,
544Doole endurand nyghte and day;
545The welthe we wende haue wonnyd in ay
546Is loste vs fra.
547For this myscheffe full wele we may
548Euer mornyng ma.
549

550Angelus

551Adam, thyselffe made al þis syte,
552For to the tree þou wente full tyte
553And boldely on the frute gan byte
554My lord forbed.

555Adam

556Yaa, allas, my wiffe þat may I wite,
557For scho me red.
558

559Angelus

560Adam, for þou trowyd hir tale,
561He sendis þe worde and sais þou shale
562Lyffe ay in sorowe,
563Abide and be in bittir bale
564Tille he þe borowe.
565

566Adam

567Allas, wrecchis, what haue we wrought?
568To byggly blys we bothe wer brought;
569Whillis we wer þare
570We hadde inowe, nowe haue we noghte -
571Allas, for care.
572

573Eua

574Oure cares ar comen bothe kyne and colde,
575With fele fandyngis manyfolde;
576Allas, þat tyraunte to me tolde,
577Thurghoute his gyle,
578That we shulde haue alle welthis in walde,
579Wa worthe þe whyle.
580

581Angelus

582That while yee wrought vnwittely,
583Soo for to greue God almyghty,
584And þat mon ye full dere abye
585Or þat ye go;
586And to lyffe, as is worthy,
587In were and wo.
588

589Adam, haue þis, luke howe ye thynke,
590And tille withalle þi meete and drynke
591For euermore.

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592Adam

593Allas, for syte why ne myght Y synke,
594So shames me sore.
595

596Eue

597Soore may we shame with sorowes seere,
598And felly fare we bothe in feere;
599Allas, þat euyr we neghed it nere,
600Þat tree vntill.
601With dole now mon we bye full dere
602Oure dedis ille.
603

604Angelus

605Giffe for þou beswyked hym swa,
606Trauell herto shalle þou ta,
607Thy barnes to bere with mekill wa -
608Þis warne I þe.
609Buxom shalle þou and othir ma
610To man ay be.
611

612Eue

613Allas for doole, what shall Y doo,
614Now mon I neuer haue rest ne roo.

615Adam

616Nay, lo, swilke a tale is taken me too
617To trauaylle tyte;
618Nowe is shente both I and shoo,
619Allas, for syte.
620

621Allas, for syte and sorowe sadde,
622Mournynge makis me mased and madde,
623To thynke in herte what helpe Y hadde
624And nowe has none.
625On grounde mon I neuyr goo gladde,
626My gamys ere gane.
627

628Gone ar my games withowten glee;
629Allas, in blisse kouthe we noȝt bee,
630For putte we were to grete plente
631At prime of þe day;
632Be tyme of none alle lost had wee,
633Sa welawaye.
634

635Sa welaway, for harde peyne,
636Alle bestis were to my biddyng bayne,
637Fisshe and fowle, they were fulle fayne
638With me to founde.
639And nowe is alle thynge me agayne
640Þat gois on grounde.
641

642On grounde ongaynely may Y gange,
643To suffre syte and peynes strange,

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644Alle is for dede I haue done wrange
645Thurgh wykkid wyle.
646On lyve methynkith I lyffe to lange,
647Allas þe whille.
648

649A, lord, I thynke what thynge is þis
650That me is ordayned for my mysse;
651Gyffe I wirke wronge, who shulde me wys
652Be any waye?
653How beste will be, so haue Y blisse,
654I shalle assaye.
655

656Allas, for bale, what may þis bee?
657In worlde vnwisely wrought haue wee,
658This erthe it trembelys for this tree
659And dyns ilke dele!
660Alle þis worlde is wrothe with mee,
661Þis wote I wele.
662

663Full wele Y wote my welthe is gone,
664Erthe, elementis, euerilkane
665For my synne has sorowe tane,
666Þis wele I see.
667Was neuere wrecchis so wylle of wane
668As nowe ar wee.
669

670Eue

671We are fulle wele worthy iwis
672To haue þis myscheffe for oure mys,
673For broght we were to byggely blys,
674Euer in to be.
675Now my sadde sorowe certis is þis
676Mysilfe to see.
677

678Adam

679To see it is a sytful syghte,
680We bothe þat were in blis so brighte,
681We mon go nakid euery ilke a nyghte
682And dayes bydene.
683Allas, what womans witte was light!
684Þat was wele sene.
685

686Eue

687Sethyn it was so me knyth it sore,
688Bot sethyn that woman witteles ware
689Mans maistrie shulde haue bene more
690Agayns þe gilte.

691Adam

692Nay, at my speche wolde þou never spare,
693Þat has vs spilte.

694

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695Eue

696Iff I hadde spoken youe oughte to spill
697Ye shulde haue taken gode tent þeretyll,
698And turnyd my þought.

699Adam

700Do way, woman, and neme it noght,
701

702For at my biddyng wolde þou not be
703And therfore my woo wyte Y thee;
704thurgh ille counsaille þus casten ar we
705In bittir bale.
706Nowe God late never man aftir me
707Triste woman tale.
708

709For certis me rewes fulle sare
710That euere I shulde lerne at þi lare,
711Thy counsaille has casten me in care,
712Þat þou me kende.

713Eue

714Be stille Adam, and nemen it na mare,
715It may not mende.
716

717For wele I wate I haue done wrange,
718And therfore euere I morne emange,
719Allas the whille I leue so lange,
720Dede wolde I be.

721Adam

722On grounde mon I never gladde gange,
723Withowten glee.
724

725Withowten glee I ga,
726This sorowe wille me sla,
727This tree vnto me wille I ta
728Þat me is sende.
729He þat vs wrought wisse vs fro wa,
730Whare-som we wende.

731

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732

XIII THE PEWTERERS AND FOUNDERS


733
734

JOSEPH'S TROUBLE ABOUT MARY


735

736Joseph

737Of grete mornyng may I me mene
738And walke full werily be þis way,
739For nowe þan wende I best hafe bene
740Att ease and reste by reasoune ay.
741For I am of grete elde,
742Wayke and al vnwelde,
743Als ilke man se it maye;
744I may nowder buske ne belde
745But owther in frith or felde;
746For shame what sall I saie,
747

748That þus-gates nowe on myne alde dase
749Has wedded a yonge wenche to my wiff,
750And may noȝt wele tryne over two strase?
751Nowe lorde, how lange sall I lede þis liff?
752My banes er heuy als lede
753And may noȝt stande in stede,
754Als kende it is full ryfe.
755Now lorde, þou me wisse and rede
756Or sone me dryue to dede,
757Þou may best stynte þis striffe.
758

759For bittirly þan may I banne
760The way I in þe temple wente,

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761Itt was to me a bad barganne,
762For reuthe I may it ay repente.
763For þarein was ordande
764Vnwedded men sulde stande,
765Al sembled at asent,
766And ilke ane a drye wande
767On heght helde in his hand,
768And I ne wist what it ment.
769

770In-mange al othir ane bare I;
771Itt florisshed faire, and floures on sprede,
772And thay saide to me forthy
773Þat with a wiffe I sulde be wedde.
774Þe bargayne I made þare,
775Þat rewes me nowe full sare,
776So am I straytely sted.
777Now castes itt me in care,
778For wele I myght eueremare
779Anlepy life haue led.
780

781Hir werkis me wyrkis my wonges to wete;
782I am begiled - how, wate I noȝt.
783My ȝonge wiffe is with childe full grete,
784Þat makes me nowe sorowe vnsoght.
785Þat reproffe nere has slayne me,
786Forthy giff any man frayne me
787How þis þing miȝt be wroght,
788To gabbe yf I wolde payne me,
789Þe lawe standis harde agayne me;
790To dede I mon be broght.
791

792And lathe methinkeþ, on þe todir syde,
793My wiff with any man to defame,
794And whethir of there twa þat I bide
795I mon noȝt scape withouten schame.
796Þe childe certis is noght myne;
797Þat reproffe dose me pyne
798And gars me fle fra hame.
799My liff gif I shuld tyne,
800Sho is a clene virgine
801For me, withouten blame.
802

803But wele I wate thurgh prophicie
804A maiden clene suld bere a childe,
805But it is nought sho, sekirly,
806Forthy I wate I am begiled.

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807And why ne walde som yonge man ta her?
808For certis I thynke ouer-ga hir
809Into som wodes wilde,
810Thus thynke I to stele fra hir.
811God childe ther wilde bestes sla hir,
812She is so meke and mylde.
813

814Of my wendyng wil I non warne,
815Neuere þe lees it is myne entente
816To aske hir who gate hir þat barne,
817Ȝitt wolde I witte fayne or I wente.
818

819All hayle, God be hereinne.

820I Puella

821Welcome, by Goddis dere myght.

822Joseph

823Whare is þat ȝonge virgine
824Marie, my berde so bright?
825

826I Puella

827Certis Joseph, ȝe sall vndirstande
828Þat sho is not full farre you fra,
829Sho sittis at hir boke full faste prayand
830For ȝou and vs, and for all þa
831Þat oght has nede.
832But for to telle hir will I ga
833Of youre comyng, withouten drede.
834Haue done and rise vppe, dame,
835And to me take gud hede -
836Joseph, he is comen hame.

837Maria

838Welcome, als God me spede.
839

840Dredles to me he is full dere;
841Joseph my spouse, welcome er yhe.

842Joseph

843Gramercy Marie, saie what chere,
844Telle me þe soth, how est with þe?
845Wha has ben there?
846Thy wombe is waxen grete, thynke me,
847Þou arte with barne, allas for care.
848A, maidens, wa worthe ȝou,
849Þat lete hir lere swilke lare.

850II Puella

851Joseph, ȝe sall noȝt trowe
852In hir no febill fare.
853

854Joseph

855Trowe it noght arme? Lefe wenche, do way!
856Hir sidis shewes she is with childe.
857Whose ist Marie?

858Maria

859Sir, Goddis and youres.

860Joseph

861Nay, nay.

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862Now wate I wele I am begiled,
863And reasoune why?
864With me flesshely was þou neuere fylid,
865And I forsake it here forthy.
866Say maidens, how es þis?
867Tels me þe soþe, rede I;
868And but ȝe do, iwisse,
869Þe bargayne sall ȝe aby.
870

871II Puella

872If ȝe threte als faste as yhe can
873Þare is noght to saie þeretill,
874For trulye her come neuer no man
875To waite þe body with non ill
876Of this swete wight,
877For we haue dwelt ay with hir still
878And was neuere fro hir day nor nyght.
879Hir kepars haue we bene
880And sho ay in oure sight,
881Come here no man bytwene
882To touche þat berde so bright.
883

884I Puella

885Na, here come no man in þere wanes
886And þat euere witnesse will we,
887Saue an aungell ilke a day anes
888With bodily foode hir fedde has he,
889Othir come nane.
890Wharfore we ne wate how it shulde be
891But thurgh þe haly gaste allane.
892For trewly we trowe þis,
893Is grace with hir is gane,
894For sho wroght neuere no mys,
895We witnesse euere ilkane.
896

897Joseph

898Þanne se I wele youre menyng is
899Þe aungell has made hir with childe.
900Nay, som man in aungellis liknesse
901With somkyn gawde has hir begiled,
902And þat trow I.
903Forthy nedes noght swilke wordis wilde
904At carpe to me dissayuandly.
905We, why gab ye me swa
906And feynes swilk fantassy?
907Allas, me is full wa,
908For dule why ne myght I dy.

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909To me þis is a carefull cas;
910Rekkeles I raffe, refte is my rede.
911I dare loke no man in þe face,
912Derfely for dole why ne were I dede;
913Me lathis my liff.
914In temple and in othir stede
915Ilke man till hethyng will me dryff.
916Was neuer wight sa wa,
917For ruthe I all to-ryff;
918Allas, why wroght þou swa
919Marie, my weddid wiffe?
920

921Maria

922To my witnesse grete God I call,
923Þat in mynde wroght neuere na mysse.

924Joseph

925Whose is þe childe þou arte withall?

926Maria

927Youres sir, and þe kyngis of blisse.

928Joseph

929Ye, and hoo þan?
930Na, selcouthe tythandis than is þis,
931Excuse þam wele there women can.
932But Marie, all þat sese þe
933May witte þi werkis ere wan,
934Thy wombe allway it wreyes þe
935Þat þou has mette with man.
936

937Whose is it, als faire mot þe befall?

938Maria

939Sir, it is youres and Goddis will.

940Joseph

941Nay, I ne haue noght ado withall -
942Neme it na more to me, be still!
943Þou wate als wele as I,
944Þat we two same flesshly
945Wroght neuer swilk werkis with ill.
946Loke þou dide no folye
947Before me preuely
948Thy faire maydenhede to spill.
949

950But who is þe fader? Telle me his name.

951Maria

952None but youreselfe.

953Joseph

954Late be, for shame.
955I did it neuere; þou dotist dame, by bukes and belles!
956Full sakles shulde I bere þis blame aftir þou telles,
957For I wroght neuere in worde nor dede
958Thyng þat shulde marre thy maydenhede,
959To touche me till.
960For of slyk note war litill nede,
961Yhitt for myn awne I wolde it fede,
962Might all be still;
963

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964Þarfore þe fadir tell me, Marie.

965Maria

966But God and yhow, I knawe right nane.

967Joseph

968A, slike sawes mase me full sarye,
969With grete mornyng to make my mane.
970Therfore be noȝt so balde,
971Þat no slike tales be talde,
972But halde þe stille als stane.
973Þou art yonge and I am alde,
974Slike werkis yf I do walde,
975Þase games fra me are gane.
976

977Therfore, telle me in priuite,
978Whos is þe childe þou is with nowe?
979Sertis, þer sall non witte but we,
980I drede þe law als wele as þou.

981Maria

982Nowe grete God of hys myght
983Þat all may dresse and dight,
984Mekely to þe I bowe.
985Rewe on þis wery wight,
986Þat in his herte myght light
987Þe soth to ken and trowe.
988

989Joseph

990Who had thy maydenhede Marie? Has þou oght mynde?

991Maria

992Forsuth, I am a mayden clene.

993Joseph

994Nay, þou spekis now agayne kynde,
995Slike þing myght neuere na man of mene.
996A maiden to be with childe?
997Þase werkis fra þe ar wilde,
998Sho is not borne I wene.

999Maria

1000Joseph, yhe ar begiled,
1001With synne was I neuer filid,
1002Goddis sande is on me sene.
1003

1004Joseph

1005Goddis sande? Yha Marie, God helpe!
1006Bot certis þat childe was neuere oures twa.
1007But woman-kynde gif þam list yhelpe,
1008Yhitt walde þei na man wiste þer wa.

1009Maria

1010Sertis it is Goddis sande
1011LINE MISSING.
1012Þat sall I neuer ga fra.

1013Joseph

1014Yha, marie, drawe thyn hande,
1015For forther ȝitt will I fande,
1016I trowe not it be swa.
1017

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1018Þe soth fra me gif þat þou layne,
1019Þe childe-bering may þou noȝt hyde;
1020But sitte stille here tille I come agayne,
1021Me bus an erand here beside.

1022Maria

1023Now grete God he you wisse,
1024And mende you of your mysse
1025Of me, what so betyde.
1026Als he is kyng of blisse,
1027Sende yhou som seand of þis,
1028In truth þat ye might bide.
1029

1030Joseph

1031Nowe lord God þat all þing may
1032At thyne awne will bothe do and dresse,
1033Wisse me now som redy way
1034To walke here in þis wildirnesse.
1035Bot or I passe þis hill,
1036Do with me what God will,
1037Owther more or lesse,
1038Here bus me bide full stille
1039Till I haue slepid my fille,
1040Myn hert so heuy it is.
1041

1042Angelus

1043Waken, Joseph, and take bettir kepe
1044To marie, þat is þi felawe fest.

1045Joseph

1046A, I am full werie, lefe, late me slepe,
1047Forwandered and walked in þis forest.

1048Angelus

1049Rise vppe, and slepe na mare,
1050Þou makist her herte full sare
1051Þat loues þe alther best.

1052Joseph

1053We, now es þis a farly fare
1054For to be cached bathe here and þare,
1055And nowhere may haue rest.
1056

1057Say, what arte þou? Telle me this thyng.

1058Angelus

1059I, Gabriell, Goddis aungell full euen
1060Þat has tane Marie to my kepyng,
1061And sente es þe to say with steuen
1062In lele wedlak þou lede þe.
1063Leffe hir noȝt, I forbid þe,
1064Na syn of hir þou neuen,
1065But tille hir fast þou spede þe
1066And of hir noght þou drede þe,
1067It is Goddis sande of heuen.
1068

1069The childe þat sall be borne of her,
1070Itt is consayued of þe haly gast.

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1071Alle joie and blisse þan sall be aftir,
1072And to al mankynde nowe althir mast.
1073Jesus his name þou calle,
1074For slike happe sall hym fall
1075Als þou sall se in haste.
1076His pepull saffe he sall
1077Of euyllis and angris all,
1078Þat tei ar nowe enbraste.
1079

1080Joseph

1081And is this soth, aungell, þou saise?

1082Angelus

1083Yha, and þis to taken right:
1084Wende forthe to Marie thy wiffe alwayse,
1085Brynge hir to Bedlem þis ilke nyght.
1086Ther sall a childe borne be,
1087Goddis sone of heuen is hee
1088And man ay mast of myght.

1089Joseph

1090Nowe lorde God full wele is me
1091That euyr þat I þis sight suld see,
1092I was neuer ar so light.
1093

1094For for I walde haue hir þus refused,
1095And sakles blame þat ay was clere,
1096Me bus pray hir halde me excused,
1097Als som men dose with full gud chere.
1098Saie marie, wiffe, how fares þou?

1099Maria

1100Þe bettir sir, for yhou.
1101Why stande yhe þare? Come nere.

1102Joseph

1103My bakke fayne wolde I bowe
1104And aske forgifnesse nowe,
1105Wiste I þou wolde me here.
1106

1107Maria

1108Forgiffnesse sir? Late be, for shame,
1109Slike wordis suld all gud women lakke.

1110Joseph

1111Yha, marie, I am to blame
1112For wordis lang-are I to þe spak.
1113But gadir same nowe all oure gere,
1114Slike poure wede as we were,
1115And prike þam in a pak.
1116Till Bedlem bus me it bere,
1117For litill thyng will women dere;
1118Helpe vp nowe on my bak.