The pricke of conscience (stimulus conscientiæ): a Northumbrian poem / by Richard Rolle de Hampole ; ed. Richard Morris.372 600dpi TIFF G4 page imagesUniversity of Michigan LibraryAnn Arbor, Michigan2006BAU1376.0001.001See URL for access

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials in furtherance of its educational and research mission. This work has been identified as being in the public domain, free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. You may copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact Digital Content and Collections (mec-info@umich.edu). If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact Library Information Technology (LibraryIT-info@umich.edu).

The pricke of conscience (stimulus conscientiæ): a Northumbrian poem / by Richard Rolle de Hampole ; ed. Richard Morris.Morris, Richard, 1833-1894.Rolle, Richard, of Hampole, 1290?-1349.Berlin :Published for the Philological Society by A. Asher,1863.Title from email of 2000-01-18 ; description based on email note.Includes indexes.Corpus of Middle English.Text in Middle English ; notes in Modern English.

Header created with script mrcb2teiutf.xsl on 2006-02-22.

This electronic text file was created by Optical Character Recognition (OCR). No corrections have been made to the OCR-ed text and no editing has been done to the content of the original document. Encoding has been done using the recommendations for Level 1 of the TEI in Libraries Guidelines. Digital page images are linked to the text file.

 eng

THE PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE (STIMULUS CONSCIENTIÆ) A NORTHUMBRIAN POEM BY RICHARD ROLLE DE HAMPOLE.

COPIED AND EDITED FROM MANUSCRIPTS IN THE LIBRARY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX BY RICHARD MORRIS, AUTHOR OF "THE ETYMOLOGY OF LOCAL NAMES", EDITOR OF "LIBER CURE COCORUM", MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

PUBLISHED FOR THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY BY A. ASHER & CO., BERLIN. 1863.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. (From Mr. Yates' Southern MS. of the xivth century.) Page 11- 26 26- 46 46- 73 73-108 108-173 173-203 203-256 1 1 1 2 3 5 7 7 11 11 16 21 23 24 27 27 29 30 30 34 34 34 35 35 35 35 35 35 39 39 42 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 56 58 62 63 71 74 75 78 79 92 93 93 96 97 103 109 110 113 114 115 116 121 122 123 125 126 127 127 129 130 131 131 132 133 135 140 141 142 143 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 163 166 168 169 170 171 174 175 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 185 186 189 190 191 192 193 195 197 203 204 205 206 211 208 236 238 239 238 212 213 214 215 216 217 219 220 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 252 233 234 235 238 249 252 THE PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE. Þe myght of þe Fader almyghty, Þe witte of þe Son alwytty, And þe gudnes of þe Haligast, A Godde and Lorde of myght mast, Be wyth us and us help and spede, Now and ever, in al our nede; And specialy at this bygynnyng, And bryng us alle til gude endyng. Amen. Before ar any thyng was wroght, And ar any bygynnyng was of oght, And befor al tymes, als we sal trow, Þe sam God ay was þat es now, Þat woned ever in his godhede, And in thre persons and anhede. For God wald ay with þe Fader and þe Son And wyth þe Haligast in anhede won, Als God in a substance and beyng With-outen any bygynnyng; Bygynnyng of hym, myght never nan be, He was ay God in trinité, Þat was ay als wys and ful of wytte, And als myghty als he es yhitte, W[h]aswhose. myght and wytte of him-selve was tan, For never na God was bot he alan. Þe sam God sythyn was þe bygynnyng, And þe first maker of alle thyng; And als he is bygynnyng of alle, Wyth-outen bygynnyng swa we him call, Ende of al wyth-outen ende, Þus es in haly bokes contende; For als he was ay God in trinité Swa he es, and ay God sal be; And als he first bygan alle thing, Swa sal he, at þe last, mak endyng Of alle þing bot of heven and helle, And of man, and fende, and aungelle, Þat aftir þis lyfe sal lyf ay, And na qwik creature bot þai, Als men may se in þis boke contende, Þat wille it se or here to þe ende. And God that mad man sal ay be þan, Als he is now, God and man. Alle thyng thurgh his myght made he, For with-outen hym myght nathing be. Alle thyng þat he bygan and wroght Was byfor þe bygynnyng noght. Alle thing he ordaynd aftir is wille In sere kyndes, for certayn skylle; Whar-for þe creatours þat er dom, And na witt ne skille has, er bughsom To lof hym, als þe boke beres wytnesse, On þair maner als þair kynd esse. For ilk a thyng þat God has wroght, Þat folowes þe kynd and passes it noght, Loves his maker and hym worshepes, In þat at he þe kynd right kepes; Sen þe creatures þat skill has nane, Hym loves in þe kynde þat þai haf tane; Þan aght man þat has skille and mynde Hys creatur worshepe in his kynde, And noght to be of wers condicion Þan þe creatours with-outen reson. Mans kynd es to folow Goddes wille And alle hys comandmentes to fulfille; For of alle þat God made, mare and les, Man mast principal creature es, And alle þat he made was for man done, Als yhe sal here aftirward sone. God to mans kynd had grete lufe When he ordaynd, for mans byhufe, Heven and herth and þe werld brade, And al other thyng, and man last made Til hys lyknes and semely stature; And made hym mast digne creature Of al other creaturs of kynde; And gaf hym wytte, skille and mynde, For to knaw gude and ille; And þare-with he gaf hym a fre wille For to chese, and for to halde Gude or ille, wethir he walde; And alswa he ordaynd man to dwelle And to lyf in erthe, in flesshe and felle, To knaw his werkes and him worshepe, And his comandmentes to kepe; And if he be til God bousom, Til endeles blis at þe last to com; And, if he fraward be, to wende Til pyne of helle, þat has nan ende. Ilk man þat here lyves, mare and lesse, God made til his awen lyknesse; Til wham he has gyven witte and skille For to knaw bothe gude and ille, And fre wille to chese, als he vouches save, Gude or ille whether he wil have; Bot he þat his wille til God wil sette, Grete mede þarfor mon he gette; And he þat til ille settes his wille Grete payne sal have for þat ille; Whar-for þat man may be halden wode, Þat cheses þe ille and leves þe gude. Sen God made man of maste dignité Of alle creatures, and mast fre, And made him til his awen liknes, In fair stature, als befor sayde es, And maste has gyven him, and yhit gyves Þan til any other creature þat lyves, And has hight him yit þar to Þe blise of heven, if he uele do; And yhit when he had done mys, And thurgh syn was prived of blys, God tok mans kynd for his sake And for his love þe dede wald take, And with his blode boght him agayne Til þat blisse fra endeles payne; Þus grete lufe God til man kydde, And many benyfices he him dydde; Whar-for ilk man, bathe lered and lewed, Suld thynk on þat love þat he man shewed, And alle þierþir (Harl. MS. 4196). benefice hald in mynde, Þat he þus dyd til mans kynde, And love hym and thank him als he can, And elles es he an unkynd man, And serve him, bathe day and nyght, And þat he has gyven him, use it ryght And his wittes despende in his service, Elles es he a fole and noght wise; And knaw kyndly what God es And what man self es þat es les; How wake man es in saul and body, And how stalworth God es, and how myghty; How man God greves þat dose noght wele, And what man es worthi þar-for to fele, How mercyful and gracyouse God es, And how ful he es of gudenes; How rightwes God es and how sothefast, And what he has done and sal do at þe last, And ilk day dos to man-kynde; Þis suld ilk man knaw and haf in mynde. For þe right way þat lyggus til blys, And þat ledys a man theder, es þys; Þe way of mekenes principaly, And of drede, and luf of God almyghty, Þat may be cald þe way of wysdom; In-tyl whilk way na man may com Wyth-outen knawyng of God here, And of his myght, and his werkes sere, Bot here he may til þat knawyng wynne. Hym byhoves knaw him-self with-inne, Elles may he haf na knawing to come In-til þe forsayde way of wysdome. Bot som men has wytte to understand, And yhit þai er ful unkunand, And of som thyng has na knawing Þat myght styrre þam to gude lyfyng; Swylk men had nede to lere ilk day Of other men, þat can mare þan þay; To knaw þat, myght þam stir and lede Til mekenes, and til lufe, and drede; Þe whilk es way, als befor sayde es, Til þe blis of heven þat es endeles. In grete perille of saul es þat man Þat has witt and mynde and na gude can, And wil noght lere for to knaw Þe werkes of God and gode law, Ne what hym-self es þat es lest; Bot lyves als an unskylwys best, Þat nother has skil, witt, ne mynde; Þat man lyfes agayn his kynde. For a man excuses noght his unkunnyng, Þat his wittes uses noght in leryng, Namly, of þat at hym fel to knaw Þat myght meke his hert and make it law, Bot he þat can noght, suld haf wille To lere to knaw bathe gude and ille; And he þat can oght, suld lere mare To knaw alle þat hym nedeful ware; For an unkunnand man, thurgh leryng, May be broght til undirstandyng Of many thynges, to knaw and se Þat has bene, and es, and yhit sal be, Þat til mekenes myght stir his wille, And til lufe, and drede, and to fle alle ille. Many has lykyng trofels to here, And vanités wille blethly lere, And er bysy in wille and thoght To lere þat þe saul helpes noght; Bot þat ne[de]ful war to kun and knaw, To listen and lere þai er ful slaw; For-þi þai can noght knaw ne se Þe peryls þat þai suld drede and fle, And whilk way þai suld chese and take, And whilk way þai suld lef and forsake. Bot na wonder es, yf þai ga wrang For in myrknes of unknawyng þai gang, With-outen lyght of understandyng Of þat, þat falles til ryght knawyng. Þar-for ilk cristen man and weman Þat has witte and mynd, and skille can, Þat knaws noght þe ryght way to chese, Ne þe perils þat ilk wise man flese, Suld be bughsom ay, and bysy To here and lere of þam, namely, Þat understands and knawes by skille, Wilk es gude way and wilk es ille. He þat right ordir of lyfyng wil luke Suld bygyn þus, als says þe boke; To knaw first what hym-self es, Swa may he tyttest come to mekenes, Þat es grund of al vertus to last, On whilk al vertus may be sette fast; For he þat knawes wele, and can se What him-self was, and es, and sal be, A wyser man may he be talde, Wether he be yhung man or alde, Þan he þat can alle other thyng, And of him-self has na knawyng. For he may noght right God knaw ne fele, Bot he can first him-self wele: Þar-for a man suld first lere To knaw him-self propely here; For if he hym-self knew kyndely, He suld haf knawyng of God almyghty, And of his endyng thynk suld he And of þe day þat last sal be. He suld knaw what þis worlde es, Þat es ful of pompe and lythernes, And lere to knaw and thynk wyth-alle What sal after þis lyf falle. For, knawyng of all þis shuld hym lede And mynd with-alle, til mekenes and drede, And swa may he com to gude lyvyng, And atte þe last til a gode endyng; And when he sal out of þis world wende, Be broght til þe lyfe, þat has na ende. Þe bygynnyng of alle þis proces Ryght knawyng of a man self es. Bot som men has mykel lettyng, Þat lettes þam to haf right knawyng Of þam-selfe, þat þai first suld knaw, Þat þam til mekenes first suld draw. And of þat, four thynges I find Þat mase a mans wytt ofte blynd, And knawyng of hym-self lettes, Thurgh wilk four, he hym-self forgettes. Of þis Saynt Bernard witnes bers And er þa four wryten in þis vers. Forma, favor populi, fervor juvenilis, opesque Surripuere tibi noscere quid sit homo. Þat es "favor of þe folk and fayrnes, And fervor of thoghtyhouthe. and riches, Reves a man sight, skylle and mynde, To knaw hym-self, what he es of kynde." Þus þer four lettes his insight Þat he knaws noght him-selfe right, And mas his hert ful hawtayne And ful fraward til his soverayne. Þir four norisches ofte pompe and pride, And other vices þat men can noght hyde. For in him, in wham ane of þer four es, Es selden sen any mekenes; Alswa þai lette a man þat he noght sese Þe perils of þe werld, ne vanitese, Ne of þe tyme of þe dede þat es to come; Thynkes noght ne of þe day of dom, Ne he can noght undirstand ne se Þe paynes, þat after þis lyfe sal be To synful men þat here lofes foly, Ne þe blise þat gude men er worthy; Bot in his delytis settes his hert fast, And fares als þis lyfe suld ay last, And gyffes him noght bot to vanité, And to al þat lykyng to hym myght be. Swylk men er noght led with skylle, Bot þai folow, ay, þair awen wille And of noght elles thynkes, ne tas hede. What wonder es yf þai haf na drede; For what þai suld drede, þai knaw noght, Þarfor þai can haf na drede in thoght, Of þat þat myght þam to drede bryng, And þat es thurgh defaut of knawyng. Yhit som men wille noght understande Þat þat mught mak þam dredande, For þai wald noght here, bot þat þam pays, Þarfor þe prophet in psauter says: Noluit intelligere ut bene ageret. He says "he has no wille to fele, Ne to understand for to do wele". Þis wordes by þam may be sayd here, Þat wil noght understand ne lere To drede God and to do his wille, Bot folowes þair likyng and lyves ille. Som understandes als þai here telle, Bot na drede in þair hertes may dwelle, And thurgh defaut of trouthe þat may be; For þai trow nathyng bot þat þai se, But groches when þai dredful thyng here; Þarfor þe prophet says on þis manere: Non crediderunt et murmuraverunt. Þe prophet sayd "þai trowed noght, And groched" and was angred, in thoght; Þus er many þat trowes na thyng Þat men þam says ogayn þair likyng, Bot groches gretly and waxes fraward, When men says oght, þat þam thynk hard. Som can se in buk swilk thyng and rede, Bot lightnes of hert reves þam drede, Swa þat it may noght with þam dwelle And þarfor says God þus in þe gospelle: Quia ad tempus credunt, et in tempore temptacionis recedunt. "Til a tyme", he says, "some trowes a thyng And passes þar-fra in þe tyme of fandyng." Alswa þos says þe prophet David, In a psalme þat cordes þar-wyth: Et crediderunt in verbis eius. et lau| daverunt laudem eius, cito, fecerunt et obliti sunt opera eius. He says, "in his wordes, trowed þai And loved his lovyng als þai couth say, But tyte þai had don, and forgat His werkes, and thoght na mar of þat;" Swilk men er ay swa unstedfast, Þat na drede may with þam last, For þai er swa wilde, when þai haf quert, Þat na drede þai can hald in hert; Bot wha-swa can noght drede may lere, Þat þis tretice wil rede or here; Yf þai rede or here, til þe hende, Þe maters þat er þar-in contende, And undirstand þam al and trow, Parchaunce þair hertes þan sal bow, Thurgh drede þat þai sal consayve þar by, To wirk gude werkes and fle foli. Þarfor þis buke es on Ynglese drawen, Of sere maters, þat er unknawen Til laude men þat er unkunnand, Þat can na latyn understand, To make þam þam-self first knaw And fra syn and vanytese þam draw, And for to stir þam til right drede, When þai þis tretisce here or rede, Þat sal prikke þair conscience with-yn, And of þat drede may a lofe bygyn Thurgh comfort of ioyes of heven sere, Þat men may aftirwar[d] rede and here. Þis buk, als it-self bers wittenes, In seven partes divised es. Þe first party, to knaw and hafe in mynde, Es of þe wrechednes of mans kynde. Þe secunde es of þe condicions sere And of þe unstabelnes of þis werld here. Þe thred parte es in þis buke to rede Of þe dede and whi it es to drede. Þe ferthe part es of purgatory, Whar saules er clensed of alle foly. Þe fift es of þe day of dome, And of taknes þat befor sal come. Þe sext es of þe payns of helle Þar þe dampned sal ever-mare dwelle. Þe sevend es of þe ioys of heven. Þer er þe partes of þis buk seven, And of ilka parte fynd men may Sere maters in þis buk to say. Ga we now til þat parte þat first es, Þat spekes of mans wrechednes; For alle þat byfor es wryten to luk, Es bot als an entré of þis buk. Here bygynnes þe first part þat es of mans wrechednes. First whan God made al thyng of noght, Of the foulest matere man he wroght Þat was of erthe; for twa skyls to halde; Þe tane es forthy þat God walde Of foul matere, mak man in despite

MS. Addit. 11305 reads:

"Of so foule matere man make, as in despite Of the foule fende, him therwith to edwyte." Of Lucifer þat fel als tyte Til helle, als he had synned thurgh pride, And of alle þat with him fel þat tyde; For þai suld have þan þe mare shenshepe, And þe mare sorow when þai tuk kepe, Þat men of swa foul matere suld duelle In þat place fra whilk þai felle. Þe tother skille es þis to se; For man suld here þe meker be Ay, when he sese and thynkes in thoght, Of how foul mater he is wroght; For God, thurgh his gudnes and his myght, Wald, þat sen þat place in heven bright Was made voyde thurgh þe syn of pride, It war filled ogayne on ilka syde Thurgh þe vertu of mekenes, Þat even contrary til pryde es; Þan may na man þider come Bot he þat meke es, and boghsome; Þat proves þe gospelle þat says us, How God sayd til his disciples þus: Nisi efficiamini sicut parvulus, non intrabitis in regnum celorum. "Bot yhe", he sayde, "be als a childe, Þat es to say, bathe meke and mylde, Yhe sal noght entre, be na way Hevenryke þat sal last ay." Þan byhoves a man ay here seke, Þat may tittest make him meke; Bot nathyng here may meke him mare Þan to thynk in hert, als I sayde are, How he was made of a foul matere, And es noght elles, bot herthe here. For-þi says a clerk, als I now say, 'What es man bot herth and clay, And poudre þat with þe wynd brekes?' And þarfor Iob þus to God spekes: Memento, queso, quod sicut lutum feceris me, et in pulverem reduces me. He says, "thynk, Laverd, þat als þow made me Foul erthe and clay here to be, Right swa þou sal turne me agayne Til erthe and poudre"; þis es certayn. Þan says our Laverd God almyghty Agayne til man, þus shortly: Memento, homo, quod cinis es, et in cinerem reverteris. "Thynk man", he says, "askes er-tow now, And in to askes agayn turn sal-tow." Þan es a man noght elles to say Bot askes and pouder, erthe and clay; Of þis suld ilk man here haf mynde And knawe þe wrechednes of mans kynde, Þat may be sene, als I shewe can, In al þe partys of þe lyfe of man. Alle mans lyfe casten may be, Principaly, in þis partes thre, Þat er þir to our understandyng; Bygynnyng, midward, and endyng. Þer þre partes er þre spaces talde Of þe lyf of ilk man, yhung and alde. Bygynnyng of mans lyf, þat first es, Contenes mykel wrechednes; Þarfor I wille, ar [I] forthir pas, Shew yhou what a man first was; Some tyme was when a man was noght, Befor þat he was geten and forth-broght. He was geten aftir, als es knawen, Of vile sede of man with syn sawen; He was consayved synfully With-in his awen moder body, Whar his herber with-in was dight, Als David says in þe psauter right: Ecce in iniquitatibus conceptus sum, et in peccatis concepit me mater mea. "Lo", he says, "als man-kynd es I am consayved in wykkednes, And my moder has consayved me In syn and in caytefté." Þar duellid man in a myrk dungeon, And in a foul sted of corupcion, Whar he had na other fode Bot wlatsom glet, and loper blode,'Bot lothsom glette and filthede of blode.' MS. Addit. 11305. And stynk and filthe, als I sayde ar, With þer he was first norisshed þar. Aftir-warde, when he out came From þat dungeon, his moder wame, And was born til þis werldys light, He ne had nouther strenthe ne myght, Nouther to ga ne yhit to stand, Ne to crepe with fote, ne with hand. Þan has a man les myght þan a beste When he es born, and es sene leste: For a best when it es born, may ga Als tite aftir, and ryn to and fra; Bot a man has na myght þar-to, When he es born, swa to do; For þan may he noght stande ne crepe Bot ligge and sprawel, and cry and wepe. For unnethes es a child born fully Þat it ne bygynnes to goule and cry; And by þat cry men knaw þan Whether it be man or weman, For when it es born it cryes swa:MSS. Addit 22283, 11305 read 'wa'. If it be man it says "a. a", Þat þe first letter es of þe nam Of our forme-fader Adam. And if þe child a woman be, When it es born it says "e. e." E. es þe first letter and þe hede Of þe name of Eve þat bygan our dede. Þarfor a clerk made on þis manere Þis vers of metre þat es wreten here: Dicentes E. vel A. quot-quot nascuntur ab Eva. "Alle þas", he says, "þat comes of Eve, Þat es al men þat here byhoves leve, When þai er born what-swa þai be, Þai say outher a. a, or e. e." Þus es here þe bygynnyng Of our lyfe sorow and gretyng, Til whilk our wrechednes stirres us; And þarfor Innocent says þus: Omnes nascimur eiulantes, ut nature nostre miseriam exprimamus. He says, "al er we born gretand, He saith: "we ben ybore everichone Making sorwe and reuly mone." MS. Addit 11305 And makand a sorowful sembland, For to shew þe grete wrechednes Of our kynd þat in us es." Þus when þe tyme come of our birthe, Al made sorow and na mirthe; Naked we come hider, and bare And pure, swa sal we hethen fare; Of þis twa tymes we suld thynk þan, For þus says Iob, þe rightwes man: Nudus egressus sum de utero matris mee, et nudus revertar illuc. "Naked", he says, "first I cam Hyder, out of my moder wam, And naked I sal turne away." Swa sal we al at our last day. Þus a man es, at þe first comyng, Naked, and bringes with him nathyng; Bot a rymMS. Lansd. 348 reads 'slow'. MS. Addit 22283 reads 'slouh'. MS. Ad|dit 11305 reads 'reme'. þat es ful wlatsome, Es his garment when he forth sal com, Þat es noght bot a blody skyn Þat he byfor was lapped in, Whils he in his moder wam lay, Þe whilk es a foul thyng to say, And fouler to here, als says þe buke, And aldir-foulesaldir foulest (MS. Harl. 4196.) on to loke; Þus es a man, als we may se, In wrechednes borne and caytefté, And for to life here a fon dayse, Þar-for Iob þus openly sayse; Homo, natus de muliere, brevi vivens tempore, repletur multis miseriis. He says, "Man þat born es of woman He saith: "after that a man is bor of a woman He lyveth but short tyme, and sone bicometh wan." MS. Addit 11305. Lyfand short time toto is superfluous? ful-fild es þan Of many maners of wrechednes." Þus says Iob, and swa it es, Alswa man es borne til noght elles Bot to travayle, als Iob yhit telles: Homo nascitur ad laborem, sicut avis ad volatum. He says, "man es born to travaile right Als a foul es to þe flight." For littel rest in þis lyf es, Bot gret travayle and bysynes; Yhit a man es, when he es born, Þe fendes son, and fra God es lorn Ay, til he thurgh grace may com Til baptem and til cristendom; Þus may a man his bygynnyng se Ful of wrechednes and of caytifté. Þe tother part of þe lyf, men calles Þe mydward, aftir þat it falles, Þe wilk reches fra þe bygynnyng Of mans lyfe un-til þe endyng. Þe bygynnyng of man, als I talde, Es vile and wreched to behalde; Bot how foule es man aftir-warde Tels þus, openly, saynt Bernarde: Homo nihil aliud est, quam sperma fetidum, saccus stercorum et esca vermium. Saynt Bernard says als þe buke telles, Þat "man here es nathyng elles Bot a foule slyme, wlatsome til men, And a sekful of stynkand fen, And wormes fode" þat þai wald have, When he es dede and layde in grave. Bot som men and women fayre semes To þe syght with-outen, als men demes, And þat shewes noght elles bot a skyn; Bot wha-swa moght se þam with-in, Fouler carion moght never be Þan he suld þan of þam se. Þarfor he þat had als sharp syght, And cler eghen and als bright Als has a best þat men Lynx calles, 'As hath a beste that men lynx calles, That may se thurgh nyne stoon walles. MS. Addit 11305. Þat may se thurgh thik stane walles, Littel lykyng suld a man haf þan For to behald a faire woman, For þan mught he se, with-outen doute, Als wele with-in als with-oute, And if he with-in saw hir right, Sho war ful wlatsom til his sight; Þus foul with-in ilk man es, Als þe buk says and bers witnes. Þan may we se on þis manere, How foul þe kynd of man es here; Whar-for I hald a man noght witty Þat here es over-prowde and ioly, When he may ilk day here and se What he es, and was, and sal be. Bot proud man of þis tas na hede For hym wantes skille, þat hym suld lede, When he es yhung and luffes laykyng, Or has ese, and welth, and his lykyng; Or if he be at grete worshepe, What hym-self es þan, he tas na kepe; Whar-for him-self þan knawes he leste And fares als an unresonabel beste, Þat his awen wille folowes, and noght elles, And þar-for þe prophet in þe psauter telles: Homo, cum in honore esset, non intellexit, comparatus estiumentis insipientibus, et similis factus est illis. "Man when he is til worshepe broght Right understandyng has he noght: He may be likend and he es lyke þan Til bestes, þat na skylle ne witte can;" Þarfor ilk man þat has witte and mynde, Suld thynk of þe wrechednes of his kynde, Þat es foul, and vile, and wlatsom; For he may se fra his body com, Bathe fra aboven and fra bynethe, Alkyn filthe with stynkand brethe; For mar filthe es nane, hard ne nesshe, Þan es þat comes fra a mans flesshe; And þat may a man bathe se and fele, Þat wil byhald him-self wele, How foul he es to mans syght, And þarfor says Saynt Bernard right: Si diligenter consideres quid per os, quid per nares, ceterosque meatus corporis egreditur, vilius sterquilinium nunquam vidisti. "If þow wille", he says, "ententyfly se, And by-hald what comes fra þe What thurgh mouthe, what thurgh nese, commonly, 'And other issues of the body: A fouler dongehull sawe thou never none.' MS. Addit 11305:And thurgh other overtes of hisþe (MS. Harl. 4196). body, A fouler myddyng saw þow never nane," Þan a man es, with flesche and bane. Al þe tyme þat a man here lyves, His kynd na other fruyt gyfes, Whether he lyf lang or short while, Bot thyng that es wlatsome and vile, Als filth and stynk and nathynge elles, Als Innocent þus in a boke telles: Herbas et arbores, inquit, investiga: Ille de se producunt flores, frondes et fructus; et tu de te lendes, pediculos et lumbricos. Ille diffundunt oleum, vinum, et balsamum; et tu de te sputum, urinam, et stercus: Ille de se spirant suavitatem odoris; et tu de te reddis abhominationem fetoris. Qualis est arbor, talis est fructus. Þis gret clerk telles þus in a buke: "Behalde", he says, "graythely and loke, Herbes and trese þat þou sees spryng, And take gude kepe what þai forth bryng; Herbes forth bringes floures and sede, And tres fair fruyt and braunches to spede,Sprede (MS. Harl. 4196). And þou forth bringes of þi-self here Nites, lyse, and other vermyn sere. Of herbes and tres, springes baum ful gude, And oyle and wyne for mans fude; And of þe comes mykel foul thyng, Als fen, and uryn and spyttyng; Of herbes and tres comes swete savour, And of þe comes wlatsome stynk, and sour; Swilk als þe tre es with bowes, Swilk es þe fruyt þat on it growes." An ille tre may na gude fruyt bere, And þat knawes ilk gude gardynere. A man es a tre, þat standes noght harde, Of whilk þe crop es turned donward, And þe rote to-ward þe firmament, Als says þe grete clerk Innocent: Quid est homo, secundum formam, nisi quedam arbor eversa, cujus radices sunt crines; truncus est caput cum collo; stipis estpectus cum alvo, rami sunt ulne cum tibiis; frondes sunt digiti cum articulis; hoc est folium quod a ven| to rapitur, et stipula a sole siccatur. He says, "what es man in shap bot a tre Turned up þat es doun, als men may se, Of whilk þe rotes þat of it springes, Er þe hares þat on þe heved hynges; Þe stok nest þe rot growand Es þe heved with nek folowand; Þe body of þat tre þar-by Es þe brest with þe bely; Þe bughes er þe armes with þe handes And þe legges with þe fete þat standes: Þe braunches men may by skille call Þe tas and þe fyngers alle; Þis es þe leef þat hanges noght faste, Þat es blawen away thurgh a wynd blaste, And þe body alswa of þe tre, Þat thurgh þe son may dried be." A man þat es yhung and light, Be he never swa stalworth and wyght, And comly of shap, lufly and fayre, Angers and yvels may hym appayre, And his beuté and his streng[th] abate, And mak hym in ful wayk state, And chaunge alle fayre colour, Þat son fayles and fades, als dos þe flour. For a flour þat semes fayre and bright, Thurgh stormes fades, and tynes þe myght. Many yvels, angers, and mescheefes Oft comes til man þat here lyves, Als fevyr, dropsy, and Iaunys, Tysyk, goute, and other maladys, Þat hym mas streng[th] and fayrnes tyne, Als grete stormes dose a flour to dwyne; Þarfor a man may likend be Til a flour, þat es fayre to se, Þan son aftir þat it es forth broght, Welkes and dwynes til it be noght; Þis aught to be ensample til us; For-whi Iob, in a boke, says þus: Homo, quasi flos, egreditur et conteritur, et fugit ve| lud umbra et nunquam in eodem statu permanet. "Man", he says, "als a flour bright, First forth comes here til þis light, And es sone broken and passes away, Als a shadu on þe somers day; And never mare in þe same state duelles," Bot ay passand, als Iob telles; Of þis þe prophet witnes beres, In a psalme of þe psauter, thurgh þis vers Mane, sicut herba, transeat, mane floreat et transeat; vespere decidat, induratindurescat? et arescat. The prophet says þus, als writen es, "Arely a man passes als þe gres, Arely at þe bygynnyng of þe day, He floresshe and passes away; At even late he is doun broght, And fayles, and dries, and dwynes to noght. In þe first bygynnyng of þe kynd of man Neghen hundreth wynter man lyfed þan, Als clerkes in bukes bers witnes; Bot sythen bycom mans lyf les And swa wald God at it suld be; For-whi he sayd þus til Noe: Non permanebit spiritus meus in homine in eternum, quia caro est, erunt dies illius centum viginti annorum. "My gast," he says, "sal noght ay dwelle In man, for he is flesshe and felle; Hys days sal be for to life here An hundreth and twenti yhere." Bot swa grete elde may nane now bere, For sythen mans lyfe bycom shortere. For-whi þe complection of ilk man Was sythen febler þan it was þan; Now es it alther-feblest to se, Þarfor mans life short byhoves be; For ay þe langer þat man may lyfe, Þe mare his lyfe sal hym now griefe, And þe les him sal thynk his lyf swete, Als in a psalme, says þe prophete: Si autem in potentatibus octogynta an| ni, et amplius eorum labor et dolor. "If in myghtfulnes four scor yhere falle, Mare es þair swynk and sorow with-alle." For seldom a man þat has þat held,held = 'eld'. Hele has, and him-self may weld; Bot now falles yhit shorter mans dayes, Als Iob, þe haly man, þus says: Nunc paucitas dierum meorum finietur brevi. "Now," he says, "my fon days sere Sal enden with a short tyme here." Fone men may now fourty yhere pas, And foner fifty als in somtym was; Bot als tyte als a man waxes alde, Þan waxes his kynde wayke and calde, Þan chaunges his complexcion And his maners and his condicion; Than waxes his hert hard and hevy, And his heved feble and dysy; Þan waxes his gaste seke and sare, And his face rouncles, ay mare and mare; His mynde es short when he oght thynkes, His nese ofte droppes, his handi. e. and = breath. stynkes, His sight wax dym þat he has, His bak waxes croked, stoupand he gas Fyngers and taes, fote and hande, Alle his touchesMS. Lansd. 348 reads 'lymmes'. er tremblande: His werkes for-worthes þat he bygynnes,'His werkes forweren that he bygynneth'. MS. Addit 11305. His haire moutes, his eghen rynnes; His eres waxes deef, and hard to here, His tung fayles, his speche is noght clere. His mouthe slavers, his tethe rotes, His wyttes fayles, and he ofte dotes; He is lyghtly wrath, and waxes fraward, Bot to turne hym fra wrethe it es hard; He souches and trowes sone a thyng, Bot ful late he turnes fra þat trowyng; He es covatous and hard haldand, His chere es drery and his sembland; He es swyft to spek on his manere And latsom and slaw for to here; He prayses ald men and haldes þam wyse, And yhung men list him oft despyse; He loves men þat in ald tyme has bene, He lakes þa men þat now are sene; He is ofte seke and ay granand, And ofte angerd, and ay pleynand; Alle þir, thurgh kynd, to an ald man falles, Þat clerkes propertés of eld calles. Yhit er þar ma þan I haf talde, Þat falles to a man þat es alde. Þus may men se, wha-so can, What þe condicions er of an ald man. Þe last ende of mans lyfe es hard, Þat es, when he drawes to ded-ward. For when he is seke, and bedreden lys, And swa feble þat he may noght rys, Þan er men in dout and noght certayn, Wethir he sal ever cover agayn. Bot yhit can som men, þat er sleghe, Witte if he sal of þat yvel deghe By certayne takens, als yhe sal here, Þat byfalles when þe ded es nere; Þan bygynnes his frount dounward falle, And his browes heldes doun wyth-alle; Þe lefte eghe of hym þan semes les, And narower þan þe right eghe es; Hys nese, at þe poynt, es sharp and smalle, Þan bygynnes his chyn to falle; His pouce es stille, with-outen styringes, His fete waxes calde, his bely clynges. And if nere þe dede be a yhung man, He ay wakes, and may noght slepe þan; And an aldeman to dede drawand May noght wake, bot es ay slepand; Men says, al þir takens sere Er of a man þat þe dede es nere. Whiles a man lyves he is lyke a man; When he es dede what es he lyke þan? Þan may men his liknes se Chaunged, als it had never bene he; And when his lyf es broght to þe ende, Þan sal he on þe same wys hethen wende, Pure and naked, right als he cam Þe first day fra his moder wam. For he broght with him nathyng þat day, And noght sal he bere with him away, Bot it be a wyndyng clathe anely, Þat sal be lapped obout his body; Þus wrechedly endes þe lyf of man. And if we behalde what he es þan, When þe lyfe of hym passes oway, Þan es he noght bot erthe and clay Þat turnes til mare corrupcion, Þan ever had stynkand carion. For þe corrupcion of his body, Yf it suld lang oboven erthe ly, It myght þe ayr swa corrumpud mak, Þat men þarof þe dede suld take, Swa vile it es and violent; Þarfor þe gret clerk says, Innocent: Quid enim fetidius humano cadavere, quid horibilius homine mortuo. He says, "What-kyn thyng may fouler be Þan a mans carion es to se: And what es mar horibel in stede Þan a man es when he es dede?" Alswa [I] say, nathyng es swa ugly, Als here es a mans dede body; And when it es in erth layd lawe, 'And whan it es in erthe bywounde, Wormes wol him gnawe on every stounde'. MS. Addit 11305. Wormes þan sal it al to-gnaw, Til þe flesshe be gnawen oway and byten; For-why we fynde þos in buk writen: Cum autem morietur homo, heredita| bit vermes et serpentes. Þe buk says þus, "þat when a man Sal dighe he sal enherite þan Wormes and nedders," ugly in sight, Til wham falles mans flessh, thurgh right, Þarfor in erthe man sal slepe, Oman[g] wormes, þat on hym sal crepe, And gnaw on þat stynkand carcays, Als es wryten in a bok þat says: Omnes in pulvere dormient, et vermes operient eos. Þat es "in pouder sal slepe ilk man, And wormes sal cover hym þan;" For in þis world es nane swa witty, Swa fair, swa strang, ne swa myghty, Emperour, kyng, duke, ne caysere, Ne other þat bers grete state here, Ne riche, ne pure, bond ne fre, Lered or lawed, what-swa he be, Þat he ne sal turne at þe last oway, Til poudre and erthe and vyle clay; And wormes sal ryve hym in sondre; And þarfor haf I mykel wondere Þat unnethes any man wille se What he was, and what he sal be. Bot wha-so wald in hert cast What he was, and sal be at þe last, And what he es, whyles he lyves here, He suld fynd ful litel matere To mak ioy whilles he here duelles, Als a versifiour in metre þus telles: Si quis sentiret, quo tendit, et unde veniret, Nunquam gauderet, sed in omne tempore fleret. He says, "wha-so wille fele and se, Wethen he com and whider sal he, Suld never be blythe bot ioy forsake, And alle tyme grete and sorow make." Whar-to þan es man here swa myry, And swa tendre of his vile body, Þat sal rote and with wormes be gnawen, And swa ugly to syght may be knawen? Loverd wha-so of him þan had syght, Aftir þat wormes him swa had dight, And gnawen his flesshe un to þe bane, Swa grysly a sight saw he never nane, Als he myght se of þat vile carcays: For Saynt Bernard þos in metre says: Post hominem vermis, post vermem, fetor et horror, Et sic, in non hominem vertitur omnis homo. "Aftir man", he says, "vermyn es, And aftir vermyn stynkand uglynes; And swa sal ilk man turned be þan Fra a man intil na man." Þos may ilk man in þis parte se, What he was, and what he sal be, And what he es ay whils he here lyfes, And whatkyn fruyt his kynd here gyves. Here may men se, als writen es, Mikel of mans wrechednes, And mykel mare yhit may men telle, Bot here-on wille I na langer duelle. Ga we now forther-mar and luke, To þe secund part of þis buke, In whilk men may haf understandyng Of þe world, and of worldysshe lyfyng. Here bygynnes þe secunde part þat es of þe world. Alle þe world so wyde and brade, Our Lord speciali for man made, And al other thynge, als clerkes can profe, He made anly to mans by-hove. Sen he al þe world and alle thynge wroght Til mans by-hove, þan man aght noght Lufe nowther worldisshe thyng ne bodily, Mare þan our Lord God almyghty, Ne als mykel as God, þogh þat war les; And wha-so dos, unkynd he es; For God war worthy mare to be lufed Þan any creature, and swa byhufed, Syn he es maker of althynge, And of alle creatures þe bygynnynge. Þis say [I] by men þat gyves þam mykel Til þis world, þat es fals and fikel, And lufes alle thynge þat til it falles; Swilk men worldisshe men, men calles Þat þair luf mast on þe world settes, And þat luf, þe luf of God lettes. Þarfor gude it es þat a man him kepe, Fra worldisshe luf and vany worshepe. For thurgh luf of þis world and vanité, A man at þe last forbard may be, Of þe blisful world þar al ioy es, Whar þe lyfe of man sal be endles, Þat dos to God here þat hym falles, Þat world þer clerkes 'world of world' calles. WhiFor-whi? alle þe world þat God walde make For man, of whilk I byfor spake, Þat swa generaly here is tane, May be undirstanden ma worldes þan ane; For a grete clerk says, þat hight Berthelmewe, Þat twa worldes er principaly to shewe, Þat þe elementes and al þe hevens Contenes, als he þam in boke nevens, And alle þe creatures þat God wroght, Swa þat withouten þa worldes es noght. Þe tan es gastly, invisile and clene, Þe tother es bodyly and may be sene. Þe gastly world, þat na man may se, Es heven, whar God syttes in trinité, And þe neghen ordres of angels, And haly spirytes in þat world duelles, And þider sal we com and þar lyf ay, If we þederward hald þe right way. Þat world was made for mans wonnyng Omang angels in ioy and lykyng, Evermare þar-in for to duelle, As men may here þer clerkes telle. Now heir-on wille I na langer stand, For after-ward commes þis matere til hand. Þe tother world þat men may se, In twa partes divised may be, Þe whilk alle bodily thyng may hald, And ayther part may a world be cald, And bathe men may se and knawe; Bot þe tan es heghe, and þe tother lawe; Þe hegher reches fra þe mon even Til þe heghest of þe sterned heven; Þat werld is ful bright and fayre, For þar es na corrupcion, bot cler ayre, And þe planettes and sternes shynand, And sere signes and noght elles þar wonand. Þe lawer werld, þat lawest may falle, Contenes haly þe elementes alle, Þat on þe erthe and about þe erthe standes, Whar sere manere of men wonnes in sere landes. In þis werld es bothe wele and wa, Þat es ofte chaunged to and fra, Þat til som es softe and til sum harde, Als yhe may here or se aftirwarde. Þir worldes byfor als was Goddes wille, For man was made for certayn skille; Þe heghest world, þat passes alle thyng, Was made for mans endles wonnyng; For ilk man sal hafe þar a place To wone ay in ioy, þat here has grace. Þat world was made to our most avantage, For þar falles to be our right heritage. Þe tother world, þat is lawer, Whare þe sternes and planets er, God ord[a]ynd anly for our byhufe, By þis skille, als I can prufe. Þe ayre fra þeþen, and þe heat of þe son Sustayns þe erthe here, þar we won, And nurisshes alle thyng þat fruyt gyves, And confortes best, and man, and alle þat lyves; And tempers our kynde and our complexioun, And settes þe tymes of yhere in seson, And gyfes us light here, whar we duelle, Elles war þis world myrk als helle; Yhit þe bodys of þe world in þair kynde, Shewes us for bisens to haf in mynde, How we suld serve God in our kynde here, Als þai do þar, on þair manere. Þe lawest world was alswa made for man, For þis skylle, als clerkes shew can; For þat man suld be þar-in wonnand, Goddes werkes to se and undirstand, And his commandmentes and his wille To knawe, and kepe, and to fulfille, And to be proved here in gastly batayls, Of gastly enmys þat man oft assayls; Swa þat þurgh gastly strenth and victori, He may be made in þis world worthy To haf þe coroun of blisse endeles In þe blisful world þat heghest es. Twa worldes here to-gyder may falle Þat men may erthely worldes calle. An es þis dale, whar we er wonnand, Another es man þar-in lyfand; Þis dale whar we won thurgh, clerkes caldes Þe mare world, and þe man þe les. Of þe les world wil I noght speke yhit, For aftirward I sal speke of it; Bot of þe mare world yhit wil I mare say, Ar I pas fra þis matir away; Þan wil I after shew, als falles, Skille why men a man world calles. Þe mare world God wald law on erth sett, For it suld be til man suggette, For to serve man, and man noght it; And þus ordand God, for mans profit. Bot now þis world þat man lyfes in, Waxes swa lither and ful of syn, And of welthes þat are bot wayn, Þat many mas þe world þair soverayn, And gyves þam þar-to al þat þai may, And serves it bysily, nyght and day, And mas þam-selfe þe worldes tharlles. Þas men worldesshe men men calles, For about worldisshe thynges þai here travaile Ful bysily, þat at þe last sal fayle; Bot wald þai do half swilk bysines About goddesgudes (MS. Harl. 4196). of heven, þar al gude es, Þai suld haf alle þat gude es þare, Þat never sal faille, bot last ever mare. Þe world þat es here, es noght elles, Bot þe maners of men þat þar-in dwelles; For þis world men may noght ken, Bot by þe condicions of þe worldis men. For what mught men by þe world understand If na worldishmen war þar-in dwelland? Alle þas men þat þe world mast dauntes, Mast bisily þe world here hauntes; And þas þat þe world serves and loves, Serves þe devel, as þe buk proves; For þe world here, es þe devels servand, Þat brynges his servauntes til his hand; Þarfor God him prince of þe world calles, Þat es of worldismen þat to him falles; For-þi þis world es perillius to lufe, By many skilles, as clerkes prove. Þis worlde es fikel and desayvable, And fals and unsiker and unstabel. Many men þe world here fraistes, Bot he is noght wise þat þar-in traystes: For þe world laghes on man and smyles, Bot at þe last it him bygyles; Þarfor I hald þat man noght witty Þat about þe world is over bysy; For a man may noght Goddes servand be, Bot he þe maners of þe world fle, Ne lofe God, bot [he] þe world despise, For þe godspel says on þis wyse: Nemo potest duobus dominis ser| vire, quia aut enim unum odio ha| bebit et alterum diliget, aut unum sustinebit et alterum contempnet. He says "na man may serve rightly Twa lordes to-gedir, þat er contrary, For outher he sal þe tane hate And þe tother luf aftir his state, Or he sal þe tane of þam mayntene, And þe tother despyse", þus es ofte sene. Þe world es Goddes enmy by skille, Þat contrarius es to Goddes wille; And swa er al þat þe world lufes, Als þe apostel says þus and profes: Qui vnlt esse amicus hujus mundi, inimicus dei constituitur. He says, "wha-so þe werldes frend wil be, Goddes enemy þan es he;" Þan suld we noght assent þar-to, Ne nathyng þat lykes til þe world do; For worldisshe men here God mysprays, Þarfor þe apostel yhit, þus says: Nolite diligere mundum, nec ea que sunt in mundo. "Lufes noght þe world here", says he, "Ne þat, þat yhe in world may se;" For al þat in world men tel can, Es outher yhernyng of þe flesshe of man, Or yhernyng of eghe, þat may luke, Or pride of lyfe, als says þe buke: Omne quod est in mundo, aut est concupiscencia carnis, aut concupiscencia oculorum, aut superbia vite. "Yhernyng of flesshe es a thyng Þat falles til lust and flesshe lykyng; Yhernyng of eghe, als I can gese Falles to worldes rychese; Pride of lyf þat some in hert kepes, Falles to honours and worshepes; Lust and lykyng, þat es flesshely, Engendres þe syn of lychery; Worldes riches of grete pryse Engendres the syn of covatyse; Honours nuryshes, als men may se, Vayn glory, vauntyng and vanité. De Eremita qui quidem sequebaturThis quotation is absent from most of the MSS. mundum a se fugientem, et postea fugiebat mundum tunc se sequentem; munde vale! tibi ve! fugiens me, dum sequerer te, Tu sequeris modo me, iam respuo despiciens te. Sen God made þe world, als says haly writ, To serve man, and noght man to serve it, Whar-to serves man þe world þan, And mas hym þe worldes bondman, When he may serve God and be fre, And oute of servage of þe world be? Bot wald a man ryght knaw and fele What þe world es, and byhald it wele, Hym suld noght lyst, als I understand, Make þe world na glade sembland, For lo! what says Barthelmew Þat spekes of þe world, als I wil shew: He says, "þe world es na thyng elles Bot an hard exil, in qwilk men duelles," And alswa a dym dulful dale, Þat es ful of sorow and bale, And a sted of mykel wrechednes, Of travail and angers, þat here ay es, Of payne, of syn and of foly, Of shens[h]epe and of velany, Of lettyng and of tarying, Of frawardnes and of strivyng, Of filthe and of corrupcion, Of violence and of oppression, Of gilry and of falshede, Of treson, discorde and of drede; In þe world, he says, noght elles we se Bot wrechednes and vanité, Pride and pompe and covatyse, And vayn sleghtes, and qwayntyse; Þe world, he says, tyl hym drawes 'Thus þe world draweth in to his route, All men that to him wol allowte, And many greveth and fewe availeth For his lovyers he deceyveth and failith.' MS. Addit. 11305. And tilles, and lufes þam, þat him knawes; And many he nuyes and fon avayles. His lufers he desayves and fayles; His despisers he waytes ay, Als shadow to tak to his pray; Bot þa þat wille him folow, he ledes And þam scornes and taries in his nedes; Þe whilk a while he here socours, And þam heghes with ryches and honours. Bot he waytes to bygille þam at þe laste, And in to povert agayn þam cast; Whar-for worldes worshepe may be cald Noght elles but vanité, and swa I it hald. And worlisshe riches, how-swa þai come, I hald noght elles bot filth and fantome. Þe world has many with vanité filed, And with pride and pompe þam ofte bygyled, Þarfor an haly man, als yhe may here, Spekes to þe world on þis manere: O munde immmunde, utinam esses ita immundus, ut me non tangeres, aut ita mundus, ut me non coinquinares! Þis es on Inglishe þus to bymene: "O þou world", he says, "unclene, Whyn mught þou swa unclen be,'Whyne moght þou swa unclene be.' MS. Harl. 4196. Þat suld never mare neghe me, Or be swa clene and noght vile, Þat þou suld never mare me file." Þe world here who-so wille Un-to four thinges may liken by skille.'Unto four thinges may lykend be, bi skyll.' MS. Harl. 4196. First þe world may lykend be, Mast properly, unto þe se; For þe se, aftir þe tydes certayn, Ebbes and flowes, and falles agayn, And waxes ful ken, thurgh stormes þat blawes, And castes up and doun many gret wawes; Swa castes þe world, thurgh favour, A man to riches and honour. And fra þat agayn he castes hym doun Til povert and to tribulacioun. And þa er þe grete stormes kene And þe wawes, þat in þe world er sene. Yhit may þe world here þat wyde es, Be likend to a wildernes, Þat ful of wild bestes es sene, 'The whilk is ful of bestes unmylde, The whilke wol a man strangly and destrye.' MS. Addit 11305. Als lyons, libardes and wolwes kene, Þat wald worow men bylyve, And rogg þam in sonder and ryve; Swa þe world es ful of mysdoers And of tyrauntes þat men ofte ders, Þe whilk er bisy, nyght and day, To nuye men in alle þat þai may. Þe world alswa may lykend be Til a forest, in a wilde cuntré, Þat es ful of thefs and outlawes, Þat, commonly, til forestes drawes, Þat hald pases, and robbes and reves Men of þat þai have, and noght þam leves; Swa es þe world here þar we duelle, Ful of thefs, þat er devels of helle; Þat ay us waytes, and er bysy To robbe us of our gudes gastly. Þe world may yhit, als yhe sal here, Be lykend, on þe fierth manere, To a feld ful of batailles Of enemys, þat ilk day men assayles. For-why here we er on many wyse Alle umset with sere enmys, And, speciali, with enmys thre, Agaynes wham us byhoves armed be: Þa er þe world, þe fende, our flesshe, Þat, to assayle us here, er ay freshe; And þar-for byhoves us, day and nyght, Whilles we lif here, agayn þam fight. Þe world, als clerkes understandes, Agayn us fightes with twa handes, With þe right hand and þe left; þere twa May be taken, bathe wele and wa; Þe right hand es welthe, als I halde, And þe lefte hand es angre calde; For þe worlde assayles sum men awhile, With þe right hand þam to bygile; Þat es welth, als I sayde before, Of worldly riches and tresore; And assayles men, nyght and day, With þe left hand þam to flay; Þat es with angre and tribulacion, And povert, and persecucion, Þe whilk þer clerkes þe left hand calles Of þe world, þat ofte sythes falles. Bot with þe world comes dam fortone, Þat ayther hand may chaung sone; For sho turnes about ay hir whele, Up and doune, als many may fele; When sho hir whele lates obout ga, Sho turnes sum doune fra wele to wa, And, eft agaynward, fra wa to wele; 'And efte sone from wo in-to much blisse So þat hir whele hath never lysse. MS. Addit 11305. Þus turnes sho obout oft hir whele, Þe whilk þir clerkes noght elles calles, Bot happe or chaunce, þat sodanli falles, And þat men haldes here noght elles, Bot welthe and angre in whilk men dwelles. Þarfor worldly happe es ay in dout, Whilles dam fortune turnes hir whele about. Angre men dredes and walde it fle, And in welthe men wald ay be; Bot parfit men, þat þair lif right ledes, Welthe of þe worlde ay flese and dredes; For welthe drawes a man fra þe right way Þat ledes til þe blisse þat lastes ay, Us aght to drede worldly welthe þan For Saynt Ierom says, þe haly man: Quanto in virtutibus crescimus, tanto amplius timere debea| mus, ne de sublimiori corruamus. "Þe mare", he says, "þat we wax upright In welthe, and in worldly myght, Þe mare we suld have drede in thoght, Þat we fra þe hegher fal noght;" Tyl þis acordes þe wordes of Senek, Þat says þus, als yhe here me spek: Tunc tibi salubria consilia advoca, cum tibi alludit prosperitas mundi. Senek on þis maner says: "When welthe of þe worlde with þe plays, Sek þan gude consayl wyth-alle." For welthe mas men in perils falle, Þan es worldes welthe to drede þarfor, Als says þe grete clerk, Saynt Gregor: Si omnis fortuna timenda est, ma| gis tamen prospera quam adversa. Saint Gregor says on þis manere: "If ilka chaunce be to drede here, Yhit es happe of welthe to drede mare Þan chaunce of angre," þat smertes sare. For angres mans lyf clenses, and proves, And welthes his lif trobles and droves, And þe saul of man may lightly spille; For welthes, þat men has here at wille, Semes tokenyng of endeles pyn. For lo! what says here Saynt Austyn: Sanitas continua et rerum habundan| cia, sunt eterne dampnacionis indicia. He says, "continuel hele here And plenté of worldly gudes sere, Er taknes, als in boke writen es, Of þe dampnacion þat es endles." And to þisÞes. MS. Harl. 4196. wordes, þat sum men myspays, Acordes Saynt Gregor, þat þus says: Continuus successus temporalium, fu| ture dampnacionis est indicium. He says, "continuel happy commyng Of worldly gudes, es a takenyng Of þe dampnacion þat sal be," At þe last day, with-outen pité. Bot þe world prayses nan, bot þa anly Þat til alle worldes welthes er happy, And on worldly thynges settes þair hert, And flese ay þe state of povert; Swilk men purchaces and gaders fast, And fares als þis lyfe suld ay last; Til þam þe world es favorabel In alle þat þam thynk profitabel. Þe world þam lofes, and þai luf it, And for þai folow þe worldes wit, And mykel can of worldes qwayntys, Þe world þam haldes gude men and wys, Til þam commes gudes here many-falde To þair dampnacion, als I talde. For-why til heven may na man come, Þat folowes þe worlde and worldes wysdome, Þe quilk, als says wyse men and witty, Onence God es bot foly. Sapiencia huius mundi est stultitia apud Deum. Many men þe world here fraystes, Bot he es noght wyse þat þar-in traistes; For it ledes a man with wrenkes and wyles, And at the last it hym bygyles; Bot he may be called witty and wyse, Þat þe world can fle and dispise, And hates þe maners þat it loffes, And thynkes ay whyder hym byhoves; And on þis lyfe here traystes noght, Bot on þe tother settes his thoght. For na syker duellyng fynde we here, Als þe apostel says on þis manere: Non habemus manentem civitatem, sed futurum inquirimus. "Na syker wonnyng-sted here haf we, Bot we seke ane, þat sal ay be." For als gestes we here soiourne Awhile, til we sal hethen tourne; Þat may fal soner þan som wenes, For we duelle here als aliens, To travail, here in þe way, our lyms, Til our countré-warde, als pilgryms. Þarfor þe prophet says til God thus, Als þis vers in þe psauter shewes us: Ne sileas, quoniam advena ego sum apud te et peregrinus, sicut omnes patres mei. "Be noght stille Loverd" says he, "For I am a commelyng towarde þe, And pilgrym, als alle my faders was." Þus may al say þat in þis world sal pas, Þat es to say, be noght swa stille, Þat þow ne make me here knaw þi wille; And swilk comfort to my saul shew swythe, Þat mught make it in þe glade and blythe: And say thos to it: "I am thy hele, For þou ert my pilgrim lele." Þis world es þe way and passage, Þurgh whilk lyes our pilgrimage; By þis way byhoves us al gang, Bot be we war we ga noght wrang. For in þis world liggis twa ways, Als men may fynd þat þam assays; Þe tane es way of the dede calde, Þe tother es way of lyfe to halde, Þe way of dede semes large and eesy, And þat may lede us over-lightly, Until þe grysly land of mirknes, Þar sorow and pyn ever-mare es. Þe way of lyfe semes narow and harde Þat ledes us til our contré-warde Þat es þe kyngdom of heven bright, Whare we sal won ay in Goddes sight And Goddes awen sons þan be calde, If we þe way of lyfe here halde. Þe life of þis world es ful unstable, And ful variand and chaungeable Als es sene in contrarius manere, By the tymes and vedirs and sesons here. For þe world and worldis life to-gider, Chaunges and turnes ofte híder and þider, And in a state duelles ful short while, Unnethes, þe space of a myle. And for-þi þat þe worlde is swa unstable, Alle þat men sese þar-in es chaungeable; For God ordayns here, als es his wille, Sere variaunce, for certayn skille, Of þe tyms and wedirs and sesons, In taken of þe worldes condicions, Þat swa unstable er and variande, Þat ful short while may in a state stande. For God wille men se, thurgh swilk takens sere, How unstable þis world es here, Swa þat men suld mare drede and be abayste, Over mykel in þe world here to trayste. Ofte chaunges þe tymes here, als men wele wate, Als thus, now es arly, now es late, Now es day, now es nyght, Now es myrk, now es light, And þe wedirs chaunges and þe sesons, Þus aftir þe worldes condicions; For now es cald, now es hete, Now es dry, and now es wete. For now es snaw, hail or rayn, And now es fair wedir agayn; Now es þe wedir bright and shynand, And now waxes it alle douiland;

MS. Harl. 4196 reads domland.—MS. Lands. 348 has the following reading:

'Now is wedir bryght and schinonde Now is dym droubelonde.' Now se we þe lyfte clere and faire, Now gadirs mystes and cloudes in þe ayre. Alle þer variance to understande May be takens of þis world swa variande; And yhit er þar other ma takens sere Of þe unstablenes of þis life here. For now es mirthe, now es murnyng, Now es laghter and now es gretyng; Now er men wele, now er men wa, Now es a man frende, now es he faa; Now es a man light, now es [he] hevy, Now es he blithe, now es he drery; Now haf we ioy, now haf we pyn, Now we wyn, now we tyn; Now er we ryche, now er we pur, Now haf we or litel, now pas we mesur; Now er we bigg, now er we bare,'Now es he riche and now es he bare.' MS. Addit 11305. Now er we hale, now seke and sare; Now haf we rest and now travail, Now we fande our force, now we fail; Now er we smert, now er we slawe, Now er we heghe, now er we lawe; Now haf we ynogh, now haf we noght, Now er we aboven, and now doun broght; Now haf we pees, now haf we were, Now eese us a thyng, now fele we it dere; Now lofe we, now hate, now saghtel, now strife. Þer er þe maners here of þis lyfe, Þe whilk er takens of [þe] unstabelnes Of þis worldis lyfe, þat chaungeable es. Bot als þis lyfe es ay passand, Swa es þe worlde, ilk day, apayrand; For þe world til þe endewarde fast drawes, Als clerkes by many takens knawes. Þarfor þe world, þat clerkes sees þus helde, Es als mykel to say als þe wer elde. 'Þis world þat we seo þus helde Is not but þis worldes elde.' MS. Addit 11305. Twa erthely worldes til þis life falles, Als es sayd by-for, þat clerkes calles Þe mare world of erthe, and þe les; Ful chaungeable ayther world es. Þe mare world es þis world brade, And þe les es man, for wham it es made, And als the mare world es round sette, Swa es þe les world man round for to mette, For in þe brede of man es contende, Als lang space fra þe lang fynger ende Ofþe right hande, with armes out spredande, Til þe same fynger ende of þe left hande, Als fra þe haterel oboven þe croun, Es sene tyl þe sole of þe fot doun. Þan if a man [h]is armes out sprede Na mar es þe lengthe, þan þe brede; Swa may men mette a man with-oute, And so may a man be yemed without. Right as a compas is. rownd aboute. MS. Addit 11305. Als a compas round aboute. Þos has þe les world þat man es, Shap of þe mare world and liknes; Bathe þer worldes, I dar wele say, Sal fail atte þe last and passe away; For ay þe mare elde þat þai bere, Þe mare þai appair and er feblere, Als men sees þat til þam tas tent, And þarfor says þus Innocent: Senuit iam mundus, uterque macrocosmus [et] major mundus, et microcosmus et minor mun| dus, et quanto prolixius utriusque senectus producitur, tanto dexterius utriusque natura turbatur He says þus, als in Latyn es talde, "Ayther worlde now waxes alde, And þe langer þat þair tym es soght, And þe elde of ayther of þam forth broght, Þe mare in malys and febelnes Þe kynd of ayther trobled es." Of bathe þer worldes gret outrage we se In pompe and pride and vanité, In selcouthe maners and sere degyse Þat now es used of many wyse, In worldis havyng and beryng, In vayn apparail and in weryng, Þas tas over mykel vayn costage, And tornes al until outrage. For swilk degises and suilk maners, Als yhong men now hauntes and lers And ilk day es comonly sen, Byfor þis tyme ne has noght ben; For þat somtyme men held velany Now yhung men haldes curtasy; And þat som tyme was curtasy cald, Now wille yhong men velany hald. Now many men se ofte chaungyng Of sere maners of gys of clethyng; For now wers men short and now syde, Now uses men narow and now wyde; Som has þair clethyng hyngand als stoles, Som gas tatird als tatird foles; Some gase wrynchand to and fra, And some gas hypand als a ka; Þus uses yhong men all new gett, And þe world þai all awkeward sett, Thurgh swylk uncomly pomp and pryde, Þat þai schew wheþer þai gang or ryde; Swa mykell pryde, als now es, I wene, Was never bifore þis tyme sene, Of swilk comes þir gyses þat we se. Bot I dred þat þai may takens be Of gret hasty myscheves to understand Þat tyll þe world er nere command. Þarfore in þair gyses þai sall fall, Ffor þare-wyth þai wreth God þat sese all; And his wreth at þe last sall with þam mete, Wharfore þus says David þe prophete: Et irritaverunt eum in advencionibus suis, et multiplicata est in eis ruina, "And þai styrd God tyll wreth", sais he, In þair new fyndynges of vanité, And in þam is fallyng many-fald," And þat es thurgh pryde þat I of tald; Þis may be said, als þe boke proves Be þam þat new gyses controves. Ffor þai do swa þe worlde to plese, Ffor pryde mare þan for þair eese. And þa, þat with swylk gyses God greves, Sall fall in many grevos myscheves; And for þai will noght be led with skyll, God lates þam awhile have þair will; Bot at þe last on þam will sende Veng[e]aunce, bot if þai þam here amende: Þan most þai bifore schew som taken, Þat God has þam left and forsaken; And þat may be knawen bi sere gyse. Þarfor says David in þis wyse: Et dimisi eos secundum desideria cordis eorum, ibunt in advencionibus suis. Þe prophet David here spekes þus, In Godes name, als þes verses shewes us. "I left þam", he says, "out of covert, After þe yhernynges of þair hert, In þair fyndynges sall þai ga." Þis may be said be all þa Þat God suffers folow vanytese, After þair lykyng þat þai chese; Þe whilk tyll þe world mase þam gay, And turnes þam al fra God oway, Þai sall at þe last fro hethen wende In þair syn, tyll pyne with-outen ende, Bot þai swylk vanytese forsake And amendes here be tyme make; Yhit has þe world, als men sese and heres, Ma other contrarius maneres; For now es vertow turned to vyce, And play and bourd untyll malice; Now es devocyon, on som syde, Turned tyll pomp and to pryde; Now es wysdom halden foly And turned intyll trechery. And foly is halden [now] wysdome, With proud men and unbowsome. Now es luff turned tyll lychery, And ryghtwisnes tyll tyrauntry; Þus es þis world turned up þat es doune, Tyll many mans dampnacyoune, Þe wilk folowes þe worlde swa fraward; And þarfore þai mon fele payne ful hard, After þis lyfe þat þai here lede, And þat aght þam gretly to drede. Bot it semes þat swilk men er wode, For þai hald gud thing evell and evell gude; Wa sall þam be, als we here clerkes tell, Fforwhi Crist says in þe gosspell: Ve vobis qui dicitis malum bonum, et bonum malum! He says: "wa till yhow þat says with will Þat ille es gud and gud es ill;" Þat es to say þam sall be wa Þat here mysturnes þair lyfe swa. Þus es þe world, and þe lyfe þare-in, Fful of vanyté and of syn. Bot som men lufes þis lyfe swa mykell And þe world þat is swa fykell, Þat þai wald never part þar-fra, Bot lyfe here ay, if it moght be swa; For þai luf swa þis worldes vanyté Þat þai wald never other lyfe suld be. Þai will noght knaw þe peryls all Of þis lyfe, ne what after sall fall; Bot for þai life here in delices sere Þai think no hevene es bot here, Bot at þe last, when þair lyfe sall stynt, Þan sall all ioy be fra þam tynt. Bot wald a man understand wele What þis world es and what he sall fele, When he sall wend fra þis world oway, Him suld noght lyst, nouther nyght ne day, Myrthe here ne blythe chere make, Bot all þe welthes of þis world forsake, And lyf in penaunce and in povert, Ffor þe dred þat he suld hafe in hert, If he wald knaw and trow how hard Him bihoved suffer afterward; Bot ogayne þat dred yhit moght he, Thurgh hope of hert, conforted be, If he think wele of heven bryght, Whare he sall won if he here lyf ryght, Þus may ilk man do and thynk, In whase hert grace of God may synk. And he þat will noght thynk of this And yhernes to have nane other blys, Bot þis wreched lyfe þat him thynk gude, He es outher clomsed,For clomsed. Harl. MS. 6923 reads: glomsede. MSS. Lands. 348, Ad|dit 22283 read cursed for clomsede. or wode; Or it es a signe of suspecyon Þat he es in way of dampnacyon. Here have I shewed on sere manere Þe condicyons of þis world here, And of þe worldes unstabilnes, And of þe maners þat in þe world es; And now will I pass, forther-mare To þe thred part and se what es þare; Ffor þat part now will I begyn To shew yhow maters þat er within, Þat specialy spekes, as I sall rede Of þe ded, and whi it es to drede. Here bigynnes þe thred part þat es of þe ded. Ded es þe mast dred thing þat es In all þis world, als þe boke witnes; Ffor here es na qwyk creature lyfand Þat it ne es for þe ded dredand And flese þe ded ay whils it may Bot at þe last he most be þe dedes pray. Ded, of all þat it comes to, abates And chaunges all myghtes and states, No man may wele ogayn it stand; Whare þat it comes in any land, Þat es to say, bodily ded, Ogayns þe whilk no man may help ne red, Ffor all þat lyf has bihoves it fele, Þat aght ilk man to knaw wele. Bot bi þe name of ded may be tane, And understanden ma dedes þan ane, Ffor als þir clerkes fyndes writen and redes, Thre maners of dedes er þat men dredes. Ane es bodily ded, þat thurgh kynd es, Ane other gastely, þe thred endeles. Bodily ded, þat is kyndely, Es twynyng betwene þe saule and þe body; And þat ded es full bytter and hard, Of whilk I sall schew yhow afterward. Gastely ded es twynyng thurgh synne, Bitwene God and man saule within; Ffor als þe saule es lyf of þe body, Swa þe lyfe of þe saule es God allmyghty; And als þe body, with-outen dout, Es ded when þe saule es passed out, Þe saule of man es ded ryght swa, When God es departed þarefra; For whare syn es, es þe devell of hell, And þare whare þai er, will God noght dwell. For dedely syn and þe devell and he In a stede may noght to-gyder be; Þarfor when þe saule es wounded with syn, God passes out, and þe fende gase in; Þan es þe saule onence God ded, Ay whils syn and þe devell dwelles in þat stede; And als þe body may be slayne Thurgh wapen þat men may ordayne, Swa es þe saule slane thurgh syn; Wharfor God and it bihoves twyn. Þan es gastly ded to dred wele mare, Þan bodily ded þat nane will spare, In-als-mykell as þe saule namely Es better and mare worthy þan þe body; Ffor all-if þe saule thurgh syn be dede Fra God allmyghty þat es the hede, Yhit may it ay lyf and be pyned, Bot þe body es dedly here thurgh kynde. Of bodily ded es no gayn-turnyng, Ffor of erthly lyf it es endyng, And ryght entré and way it es Till ioy or payn þat es endeles. Yhit if þe saule thurgh syn be slayne. It may thurgh grace qwyken ogayne, And þe gastly woundes of syn Thurgh penaunce may be heled within; Ffor all-if God be ryghtwyse and myghty He es full of gudenes and of mercy, And to turne him tyll man mare redy es he Þan any man till him will be; For all-if he þe dede of body that greves Ordaynd til alle þat here lyfes, Þe dede of saul wild noght he Of na man þogh he synful be; For þe life of þe saule mare him pays Þan þe dede, for þus him-self says: Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut magis convertatur et vivat. "I wille noght þe ded of synful man, Bot þat he may be turned and lyf þan;" Þan may þe synful þat his saul has slayn Be turned þurgh grace, and lyf ogayn. Endles dede es þe dede of helle That es mast bitter and mast felle. Helle es halden a full hidos stede, Þe whilk es full of endeles dede, And of paynes and sorow þat never sal blyn, And yhit may nan dighe þat es þar-in; Bot if þai mught dighe, als body here may, Of alle sorow þan delyverd war þay; Þai sal fele þar many a ded brayde, Bot þai sal ay lyf þar-with, als I sayde; For þe ded of helle es a lif ay dyand, And a ded þat es ay lifand. Dede of helle es noght elles to say, Bot payns and sorow þat sal last ay, Þe whilk saules sal fele with-outen ende, Þat tille þat grisely sted sal wende. Of þis ded may men rede and luke Ynoghe, in þe sexte part of þis buke, Þat spekes of þe payns of helle; Þarfor here-on I wille na langer duelle, Bot of bodily dede I wille spek mare Þat es entré and way, als I sayd are. Til lyf or ded þat has nan hende, Als es aftirward in þis part contende. Bodily dede here dredes ful many, For twa skilles principaly; Ane es for þe payne þat a man has, When þe dede hym assayls, and slas. Þe tother es, for when his lif sal here ende, He what never whider he sal wende; For in dout he es and uncertayn Whether he sal til ioy or payn; Bot how-swa he sal aftir fare, Þe payn of dede here es bitter and sare; Þarfor ilk man þat of dede has mynde Dredes gretely þe dede here thurgh kynde; And swa it semed, als says þe boke Þat Crist did in manhede þat he toke, For he byfor, ar he deyghed on þe rode, For drede of dede he swet blode; For he wyst, ar he til þe dede suld passe, What þe payn of þe dede wasse, Þan may we þarby trow right wele Þat þe payn of þe dede es hard to fele. Of þe dede here men may thynk wonder. For alle thyng it brestes in sonder, Als it sculkesstalkes (Lands. MS. 348). by diverse ways; Þarfor þe haly man in boke þus says: Mors omnia Solvit. "Þe dede", he says, "louses alle thyng And of ilk mans lif mas endyng." Þe dede es swa sutil and pryvé, Þat na man may it properly se; And for-þy þat na man may se it, Þarfor may na man knaw ne witt, Ne ymagyn thurgh witte what it es, Ne what shappe it has and lyknes. Bot what dede es properly to say, Wha-swa wille, shortly wite he may. Dede es noght elles to telle shortly, Dethe is nothing elles to telle sothly, Bot a departyng of the soule and the body. (MS. Addit 11305.) Bot a partyng of þe saul and body, Als I byfor aparty sayde. Þis may be calde þe dedis brayde, And a privacion of þe life, When it partes fra þe body in strife. And als yhe may se and wate wele, Þat myrknes kyndly es noght to fele, Bot overalle whar na light es Þar es properly myrknes; Right swa þe dede es noght elles Bot a pryvyng of lyf, als clerkes telles; For whar-swa-ever þe lyf fayles Þar es þe dede þat þan assayles. Þus þe dede þat men dredes mast, When þe lyf fayles men byhoves tast. Four skilles I fynd writen in som stede, Why men suld specialy drede þe dede: An es for þe dede stoure swa felle Þat es mare payne þan man can telle, Þe whilk ilk man sal fele with-in, When þe body and þe saule salle twyn. Another es for þe sight þat he sal se Of devels, þat about hym þan sal be. Þe thred es for þe acount þat he sal yheld Of alle his lyf, of yhouthe and elde. Þe ferth es, for he es uncertayne Whether he sal wend til ioy or payne; Wha-swa wil of þer four take hede, Hym aght gretely here þe dede to drede. Of twa of þere four, byfore I spake, Now wil I other twa til þam take; For of twa I spak first generaly, Now I wille with other twa þam specify. First aght men drede þe ded in hert, For þe payn of þe dede þat es swa smert, Þat es þe hard stour at þe last ende, When þe saule sal fra þe body wende; A doleful partyng es þat to telle, For þai luf ay togyder to duelle; Nouther of þam wald other forga Swa mykel lof es bytwen þam twa; And þe mare þat twa togyder lufes, Als a man and his wyfe oft pruves, Þe mare sorow and murnyng Byhoves be at þair departyng. Bot þe body and þe saul with þe lyfe Lufes mare samen þan man and hys wyfe, Whether þai be in gude way or ille, And þat es for many sere skylle. A skylle es, als yhe sal now se, Why þai wald ay togyder be; For-þy þat God, als says haly writ, First body and saul togyder knyt; Another for the tane may noght do Bot if þe tother help þar-to; Þe thred for þai bathe togider sal come Byfor God at þe day of dome; Þe ferthe, for when þai er comen theder, Þai sal ay after duel togider. Þarfor þair payne and sorow es mare When þe tane sal fra þe tother fare. Þis twynnyng may be cald þe dede, Þat fleyghes about fra sted til stede Thurgh alle landes, fer and nere, And spares nan of wham he has powere, For prayer ne gyfte þat men may gyfe. Whare he comes he lattes nane lyfe, Ne for luf ne awe er nane sparde; For þe dede til na man tas rewarde, Ne riche ne pover he spars, hegh ne law, Þat he ne þe lyf wil fra þam draw, Þe dede has mercy of na wight, Als Saynt Bernard þus shewes right: Non miseretur mors inopie, non reveretur diviciis, non sa| piencie, non moribus, non etati. He says "þe dede of povert na mercy has, Ne to ryches neNo (MS. Harl. 4196). reward tas, Ne til wysdom þat wyse men schewes, Ne til elde of man ne til gude thewes." Dede wil na frendshepe do ne favour, Ne reverence til kyng ne til emperour, Ne til pape, ne til bisshope, ne na prelate, Ne til nan other man of heghe estate, Ne til na religiouse, ne til na seculere, For dede over al men has powere. And thurgh þe dede hand al sal pas, Als Salamon says, þat wyse was: Communionem mortis scito. "Knaw þow," he says, þat þe dede es Comon to al men, bathe mare and les." Þus sal dede visite ilk man, And yhit na man discryve it can, For here lyves nan, under hevenryke, Þat can telle til what þe ded es lyke. Bot þe payn of dede þat al sal fele A philosopher þus discrived wele; For he lykend mans lyf til a tre Þat war growand, if it swa mught be, Thurgh a mans hert and swa shuld sprynge, Þat obout war lapped with þe hert strynge, And þe croppe out at his mouth mughtThe MS. reads: 'And þe croppe out at his mught mught shote'. shote, And to ilka ioynt war fested a rote; And ilka vayne of þe mans body Had a rote festend fast þarby, And in ilka taa and fynger of hand War a rote fra þat tre growand; And ilka lym on ilka syde With rotes of þat tre war occupyde; Yf þat tre war tite pulled oute At a titte with al þe rotes oboute, Þe rotes suld þan rayse þar-with Ilka vayn and ilka synoghe and lith. A mare payne couthe na man in hert cast Þan þis war, als lang als it suld last. And yhit halde I þe payne of dede mare And mare strang and hard, þan þis payn ware; Þos a philosopher when he lyfed, Þe payn of þe dede here discrived. Þarfor ilk man, als I byfor sayde, Aght to drede þe bitter dedes brayde, For bathe gode and ille sal it taste; Bot ille men aght drede it maste, For dred of ded mast pyns wythin A man þat here es ful of syn, Þarfor þe prophet says in a stede, And spekes þus un-til þe dede: O mors quam amara memoria tua homini iniusto. "O þou grysely dede," says he, "Ful bitter es þe mynde of þe, Until þe synful man" namly, Þat for his syn es paynworthy; Þarfor me thynk he es unsleghe Þat mas hym noght here redy to deghe; For þe dede es privy and sodayne, And þe tyme of his commyng uncertayne. A man for certayne sal dighe at þe last, For his lyf is noght bot als a wynd blast, Bot he wayte never what tyme ne whan; For swa certayne es here na man Þat can þe tyme of þe dede forluke, Forþi says Saynt Bernard in a boke: Quid in rebus humanis cercius est morte; quid incercius hora mortis invenitur. He says: "What es til man mare certayn Þan þe dede es þat es swa sodayn; And what es mare uncertayn thyng, Þan es þe tyme of the dede commyng", Alswa say nathyng þat may beAls wha say na thyng that may be. (MS. Harl. 6923.); Þan may na man here þe dede fle. Þarfor a man hym suld redy make, Byfor ar þe dede com hym to take, And put hym byfor and ded byhynde, Swa þat ded may hym redy fynde; Þarfor Saynt Austyn þe haly man Says þus, als I shew yhow can: Nescis qua hora veniat mors, semper vigila, ut, quod nescis quando veniat, paratum te inveniat cum venerit, et adhoc forte nescis quando veniat, ut semper sis paratus. "Man þan knawes noght," says he, "What tyme þe dedes comyng sal be; Wake ay als þou had na knawyng Of þe tyme of dedys commyng, Þat þe dede may fynd þe, when it sal com, Ay redy til God and bugh[so]m; And to þat perchaunce knaw þou ne may Þe commyng, for þou shuld be redy ay." Þan byhoved us our lyf swa cast Als ilk day of our lif war þe last; And ilk day be redy and lif wele, Als we suld ilk day þe ded fele, And byde noght til þe dede us vyset, Þarfor þos says Saynt Austyn yhet: Latet ultimus dies, ut observentur omnes dies, sero parantur reme| dia cum mortis imminent pericula. "Þe last day of man is hyd", he says, "For he shuld kepe wele al þe other dayes, For over late men ordayns remedy, When perels of dede comes sodanly." For if a man þat unredy es, Be tane with dede in his wykednes, Turne agayne þan may he noght For to amend þat he has myswroght; In þat state, þat he es in tane, He sal be demed when he es gane; Wharfor a man for drede of lettyng Shuld noght abyde þe dedes commyng, Bot make hym redy, ar he fel harde, And kepe hym ay wele aftirwarde, For when þe dede es at þe yhate, Þan es he warned over late. Þe dede fra a man his mynd reves And na kyndely witte with hym leves, For þan sal he fele swilk payn and drede, Þat he ne may thynk of na mysdede, Bot of his payn and of noght elles, Als þis grete clerk Saynt Austyn telles: Tymor mortis totam animam sibi vendicat, ut nec de peccatis tunc libeat cogitare. Þe drede of þe ded when it flayes a man, Chalanges al þe saul tyl it þan; Swa þat hym liste þan haf na thoght Of his synnes þat he here has wroght. Þan folowes þat man na wys rede Þat abydes þe commyng of þe dede, And hastes hym noght to clense hym sone Of al his syns þat [he] has done; For when þe dede comes til a man It es over late to bygyn þan; Bot I rede a man he amend hym here, Or þe dede come, or his messangere;The MS. reads mensangere. For if he wille swa byfor be war. Þe dede þan wele les drede hym þar; His messangere may be called sekenes, Þat comes byfor als ofte felled es; For sekenes ofte a man swa pynes Þat thurgh þat payn hys mynd he tynes, For he may þan thynk on noght elles Bot of þe payn þat with hym duelles. Bot when þe ded comes aftirward And hym byhoves fele mare hard, Þan sal he be in swylk drede sette, Þat he sal God and hymself forget, And þat es skylle for he wil noght, Whyles he has hele, haf God in thoght, Þarfor he sal þan his mynde tyne And þarfor þus says Saynt Austyne: Hac animaversione percutitur peccator, ut moriens obliviscatur sui, qui dum viveret oblitus est Dei. "Þe synful", he says, als es writen, "With pyne of þe dede es smyten, Þat he thurgh payn þat him byhoves drighe, Hym-self forgetis when he sal dighe, Þat whylles he mught lif here bodyly, Forgatte his God þat es almyghty." Many synful has here na grace To haf tyme of repentance, ne space; For whiles þai lyf þai have na mynde Of God, bot forgettes hym, als ay unkynde. Me thyn[k] þan þat it es skille and right Þat thurgh dede God reve þam mynd and myght; Þus sal þai dyghe and heven blis tyne And be putted til endeles pyne, Þat til God here er swa uncurtays, Þarfor David in þe psauter says: Vos sicut homines moriemini, et sicut unus de principibus cadetis. He says: "Als men yhe sal digh alle, And als ane of þe princes yhe sal falle." Þat es yhe sal dighe of þe same manere, Als men dighes in þis world here, And als þe spyrites þat fra heven felle, Be casten don intille helle. Þarfor til a man it war wysdome To repente hym or þe dede come, And haf God in mynde whyles he lyfes here, Als þe prophet biddes on þis manere: Memento creatoris tui antequam ve| niat tempus visitacionis sue. "Thynk," he says, "and haf in þi thoght Of hym þat made þe first of noght, Whilles þou lyffes, ar þe tyme sal be, When he with þe dede sal viset þe." For when dede here assayles a man He may noght thynk wele on God þan, For þe dede his mynde away þan brekes, And þarfor David þos til God spekes: Quoniam non est in morte qui memor sit tui. "Lord", he says, "þat man es noght In dede, þat of þe here has thoght." Bot men may understand hereby Dede of saule thurgh syn namly; For he þat has ay God in thoght, In dede of saul semes he noght; And he þat of God es myndles It semes þat he in saul dede es. God visites us in ilka stede Whare we may fele takens of dede, And if we couthe understand wele, Ilk day we may takens of dede fele; Þarfor me thynk alle this lif here semes Mar dede þan lyf, þus wysmen demes; For þe boke says, als it beres wyttenes, Þat a man, when he first borne es, Bygynnes towarde þe dede to drawe And feles here many a dede thraw, Als sere yvels and angers when þai byfalle, Þat men may þe dede thrawes calle, And other perils and quathes many, Þat commes to men ofte sodanly. Þan es our birthe here bygynnyng Of þe dede þat es our endyng; For ay þe mare þat we wax alde Þe mare our lif may be ded talde. Þarfor whylles we er here lyffand Ilk day er we þos dighand; Þan semes our lyf nathyng elles Bot als a dede, als þe bok telles, And til other lyf wyn we noght, Til þe dede þis life til ende haf broght; Bot when þe dede has made ende, Þan wate we never whyder we sal wende; Wether we sal til wele or wa, Bot til þe tane byhoves us ga. For-why til gude men þe dede es way Til þe blisse of heven þat lastes ay, And til ille men yhate and entree Til þe pyn of helle þat ay sal be; Þarfor David, þat was swa haly, Spekes þus til God almyghty: Qui exaltas me de portis mortis, ut an| nunciem omnes laudaciones tuas, in portis filie Syon. "Loverd", says David, "þou ert he Þat fra þe yhates of dede liftes me, Þat I may shew over alle thynges Specialy alle þi lovynges, In þe yhates of doghter Syon." Þat, als clerkes says þat can þar-on, Es haly kyrk þat God first ches, Thurgh whilk men commes to þe sight of pes. By þe yhates of dede, als men may se, Þe dede of helle may understanden be Fra wilk God liftes us day and nyght, To shewe his lovynges with alle our myght, And to serve hym and his werkes to wyrk In stedfast trouthe of haly kyrk, Swa þat we may afterwarde wende Til þe sight of pees þat has nan ende. Heghe in heven es þat fair sight, Þat alle sal se þat here lyves ryght; Bot alle þat sal com til þat stede Byhoves passe hethen thurgh bodily dede; For þat dede to þam es noght ille Þat lyffes here after Goddes wille, And in þat lif stedfastly duelles; And þarfor Saynt Austyn þus telles: Mala mors putanda non est quam bona vita precessit, neque enim facit malam mortem, nisi quod sequitur ipsam mortem. He says: "na man ille dede shuld wene Þar, whar gude lyf byfor has bene; For nathyng mas ille dede to tast, Bot þat þat folows þe dede mast", Þat es dedely dedes þat sum wille do, And yhit says Sayn[t] Austyn þos þarto: Non potest male mori qui bene vixit, Et vix bene moritur qui male vixit. He says: "he may noght ille dede fele Þat in Goddes laghe has lyfed wele; And unnethes may men se by skille, Þat he dyghes wele þat hafes lyfed ille." Bot he þat hates þis lyfes lykyng Thar noght drede þe dedes commyng; For aftir his dede na payn hym ders, Þarfor says Caton þus in a vers: Non metuit mortem, qui sit contempnere vitam. He says: "he þat þis lif despyse Thar dred þe dede here on na wyse;" Swa did martirs þat þe dede soght,The MS. reads soghot. For by þis lyf sette þai right noght; And other halymen yherned to dyghe For to be with God in heven hyghe, Als þe boke of þair lyfes shewes us, And swa did Saynt Paul þat says þus: Cupio dissolvi et esse cum Cristo. "I yhern", he says. "be loused away Fra þis life and be with Crist ay." Haly men thogh[t] þis lyf bot wast, Þarfor þair yhernyng til God was mast; And for-þi þat þam thoght alle þis lyfe Noght bot travail, angre, and strife, Þai yherned þe ende of þair lyf days, And þarfor þe haly man þos says: Melius est dies mortis quam dies nativitatis. He says: "better es þe day of dede Þan þe day of burthe", and mare standes in stede. For-why a gude man dighes to wend to rest, Whare his lyf sal be alther-best When þe saul fra þe body swippes, Als Saynt Johan says in þe Appocalippes: Beati mortui qui in domino moriuntur. "Blessed be alle þas þat in body Dighes here in God alle-myghty." For þas þat men sese in gude lyfe ende Dighes in God, and þai sal wende Til þe blisse of heven þat es swa hyghe, Wele es hym þan þat swa may dighe. Bot alle-yf haly men may digh wele, Yhit þe payn of dede byhoves þam fele, Þat es mare þan man can ymagyn When þe body and þe saule sal twyn; Þe wilk þam aght dred aparty, Thurgh manskynd or elles war ferly: For sen Crist, als I sayd befor, had dred Of the ded, thurgh kynd of his manhed, Þan aght ilkman, bathe mare and les, Drede þe dede here þat swa bitter es. Þe secund skil, als byfor es redde, Why þe dede es swa gretely drede, Es for þe grisly syght of fendes Þat a man sal se when his lyf endes. For when þe lyf sal pas fra a man Devels sal gadir obout hym þan, To ravissche þe saul with þam away Tyl pyne of helle, if þai may. Als wode lyons þai sal þan fare And raumpe on hym, and skoul, and stare, And grymly gryn on hym and blere, And hydus braydes mak hym to fere; Þai sal fande at his last endyng Hym in-to wanhope for to bring, Thurgh thretynges þat þai sal mak, And thurgh þe ferdnes þat he sal tak. Ful hydus sightes þai sal shew hym Þat his chere sal make grisly and grym. Þat sight he sal se with gastly eghe With payn of dede þat he most dreghe. Here-of þe prophet Ieremy Spekes þus in his prophecy: Omnes inimici eius apprehenderunt eum inter angustias. He says: "omang his grete anguys Hym þai sal tak al hys enmys." Na vonder es if þe devels com þan In þe ende obout a synful man, For to flay hym and tempte and pyn, When þe devel com to Saynt Martyn In þe tyme of dede at his last day Hym for to tempte and for to flay: And in þe life of Saynt Bernard We rede þat when he drogh til dedeward, Þat þe devel þat es grisely and grym, Til hym come and asked hym, By what skille he wald, and biThe MS. reads be. what ryght; Chalange þe kyngdom of heven bright, Þan answerd Bernard þus mekely, And sayd: "I knaw þat I am unworthy, Thurgh myn-awen desert, to haf it When I sal out of þis world flit. Bot my Lorde Ihesu Crist ful of myght, Þat it has and weldes thurgh doble ryght, Thurgh right of his faders heritage, And alswa for our grete avauntage, Thurgh right of hys hard passion, Þat he tholed for our raunson, Þe ta right frely he graunted me, And þe tother til hym-self held he; Of was gyfte I chala[n]ge it by skille, Als þe lagh of his mercy wille." And when þe devel herd hym þus say, Alle skomfit he vanyst oway; And þe halyman when þis was done Torned ogayne til hym-self sone, And he yhelded þe gast to God and dyghed, And swa þe saul til heven flyghed. And yhit es mare wonder to telle Þat God wald suffer þe devel of helle, Apere til hymself þat es of myght mast, When he suld dygh and yheld þe gast, Als docturs says of haly writ, In bukes thurgh whilk men may knaw it. Þan semes it wele þat God wil þus Suffer þe devel apere til us In tyme of dede, at our last ende, When we sal out of þis world wende, Sen haly men þat here liffed right Mught noght dygh with-outen þat sight, Ne godys moder þat he loffed mare, Wald noght fra þat syght spare, Bot þat he graunted at hir askyng Þat in þe tyme of hir passyng Þai suld na power haf hir to dere, Ne þat þe syght of þam shuld hir fere; And yhit sen God hymself spard noght, For at his dede þe devel til hym soght In his manhede for swa þan he walde, Als men says þat er gret clerkes calde. Þan er we certayn, with-outen were Þat at our last ende þai sal apere. Bot a gret payne þan til us sal þis be Þe sight of þam when we þam se; For þai er swa grisely, als says þe buke, And swa blak and foule on to loke, Þat al þe men here of mydlerd Of þat sight mught be aferd; For al þe men here of þis lyfe Swa grysely a sight couth noght descryfe, Ne thurgh wyt ymagyn ne deme, Als þai sal in tyme of dede seme, Ne swa sleygh payntur never nan was, Þogh his sleght mught alle other pas, Þat couthe ymagyn of þair gryslynes Or paynt a poynt aftir þair liknes; For in þis lif here may na man Se þam in þe fourme þat þai haf þan, For if þai had swa large powere, In swilk forme to shew þam here, Out of witte þan þai shuld men flay, Swa orrible and swa foul er þai; For-why swa hardy man here es nane Ne þat ever was liffand in flesshe and bane, Þat saghe a devel in his fygur right, Þat he ne for ferdnes of þat sight Shuld dighe, or at þe leste tyn his witt, Als son after als he had sene it; Bot in swilk fourme, als I undirstand, Þai shew þam til na man liffand, Bot til þam til wham þe dede es nere; For God has restreyned þai[r] powere Þat þai may na man tempte ne greve, Ferrer forthe, þan þai hafe leve. Bot when þe ded assaylles a man, In þe foulest figure þai apere þan; Þarfor aght ilk man dredand be Agayne þe tyme when he sal þam se. Bot I wille shew yhow aparty Why þai er swa foul and grisly, For sum tyme þai war bright angels, Als þa er þat now in heven duels, Fra þat blisful place thurgh syn þai felle, And bycome þan foule devels of helle, And horribely defygurd, thurgh syn Þat þai war wyth-fild and hardened þarin. For warne syn war þai had ay bene Bright aungels, als þai war first sene; And now er þai made foule and ugly Thurgh fylyng of þair syn anly, Þan es syn mar foule and wlatsome, Þan any devel þat out of helle may come; For a thyng es fouler þat may file, Þan þe thyng þat it fyles, and mare vile, Þarfor says clerkes of grete cunnyng, Þat syn es swa foule and swa grisly thyng, Þat if a man mught properly se his syn In þe kynd lyknes þat it falles be in, He shuld for ferdnes titter it fle Þan any devel þat he mught se; Here may men se and undirstande How foul es syn and how fylande. Bot men sese noght ne knawes what it es, Þarfor men dredes it wele þe les. Bot if a synful myght se with-oute How foul þe syn es, þat he bers oboute, He suld never make ioy ne haf lykyng, Until he war delyverd of þat foul thyng. SenThe MS. reads Syn. þe devel þus has tane his uglines Of þe filth of syn, þat swa filand es, Þan aght þe saul of synful with-in Be ful foule þat es alle slotered in syn; Þarfor a man aght, war-so he wendes, Mare drede syn þan þe syght of fendes, Þat sal aper til hym at his dede day. Bot his syn he sal se fouler þan þay, Of whilk he wald noght hym right shrife. Ne repent hym here in his lyfe. Þe thred skill til our undirstandyng Why us aght drede þe dede commyng, Es for þe acont ful strayt and harde, Of alle our lif þat has bene frawarde, Þat us byhoves yheld in God sight Als wele of wrang als of right, Of alle thyng þat ever we wroght, In werk, in worde, in wille, in thoght, And of alle þe tymes þat passes oway Fra our bygynnyng to our last day, Alle sal þan be shewed and sene, Bathe gude and ille, foul and clene, And be reherced als þe buke telles, Bytwene grysely fendes and bright angels; Þai sal dispute þan of our life With grete discorde and grete strife. Þe aungels sal reherce þe gude, And þe devels þe yvel, with grete mude.'eger mode' (MS. Harl. 6923). Alle þe werkes þat we here haf wroght, Bytwene þam þan sal be out soght, And ilka thoght and ilka wille, Als wele þe gude als þe ille; And ilka worde þat spoken haf we Gude or ille whether þai be, Alle sal be reherced, als I sayde are. Bytwen þam þan þai sal nan spare, Bot anly syn þat es wele clensed here, And gude dede þat es don on right manere. Þan sal we bathe here and se Al þe privetese þat ever did we, Þarfor says God in þe godspelle, On þis manere, als I wille yow telle: Nichil est opertum quod non reveletur, nec occultum quod non sciatur. Nathyng here swa covered and hydde, Þat sal noght þan be shewed and kydde, Ne swa privé es nathyng þat touches man, Þat sal noght be knawen þan. Þan most us abyde, we may noght fle, Until al our lyf examynd be, And alle our dedys, bathe gude and ille, Be discussed, after Goddes wille; Þan sal we se alle our syn halely And what we er for our syn worthy. And alle our dedys þat gud here semed Þan sal be discussed haly and demed, Swa þat we may se and knaw by sight, Whether we þam dide wrang or ryght; And wilk was don on wrang manere, And wilk we dyd parfitely here; Þarfor Seynt Anselme, als þe buke shewes us, Spekes tyl þe saul and says þus: "Wreched saul," he says, "what may thou say When þou partes fra þe body away, Þan þe byhoves acounte yhelde Of alle þi lyf of youthe and elde, How þow has here led þi lyfe, And how þow has spendyd þi wittes fife, Fra þe first day þat [þou] had witte Unto þe last day þow shuld hethen flite. Þan sal walaway be þi sang, For þou here dispended þi tym wrang, Bathe in werk and word, in thogh[t] and wille, And yhit when þou mught helpe, þou held the stille. Þou has done many synful dede, To greve God þou had na drede; Bot when you sese alle þi trespas Þan sal þou say 'allas! allas!' When alle þi life sal be thurgh soght Unto þe lest thyng, þat ever þou wroght, Whether þou be lered or þou be lewed; Þi syns sal þan be many shewed, Þat þow has done here in þe life Of whilk þou couthe þe never shrife; And þa sal be shewed byfor þe Ful foule and ugly syns to se, Of whilk þou sal haf mare drede and awe, Þan of þa þat þou mught here knawe. Yhit som dedys þat þe thoght here don wele Þou sal þan se foul syns and fele, Þan byhoves þe resayve sone Efter þi werkes þat þou has done; Þat es to say outher ioy or payne, Þou may on nawyse be þar agayne." Þos sal ilk man, at his endyng, Be putted til an hard rekenyng, And be aresoned, als right es Of alle his mysdedys, mare and les. Na syn þan unrekend sal be, Þogh it war never swa privé. Alle þe gud dedys þat we haf done Onence our syns sal þan sem fone; And yhit we er unsyker in thoght Wether þai sal be alowed or noght; For I fynd wryten thre skills why Þat na man may trayste sikerly In hys gude dedys, þat he dus here. Þir thre skils er gude to lere, Ane es forthy þat alle thynges Þat gude er, anly of God springes, Þan er al gude dedys þat er wroght Goddes awen dedys and ours noght; Bot alle our syns þat may be knawen, Commes of our-selven þa er our-awen, For-why, with-outen God we syn sone, Bot na gude with-outen God es done. Another skille es alswa forþi, Þat we er comonly mare redy An hondreth sythes here for to syn, Þan anes a gude dede for to bygyn; Swa may we ay rekken and rede An hondreth syns agayne a gude dede. Þe thred skille es þis to shew omang, For our gude dedys er ofte done wrang, Noght of right maner als þai suld be Or parchaunce done oute of charité. Alle our syns er here certayne And by right and skille er worthy payne: Bot for our gude dedys certanly We wate noght what we er worthy; Wharfor our gude dedys we shuld noght prayse And þarfor þus Saynt Austyn sayse: Mala nostra sunt pura mala, sed bona nostra non sunt pura bona. He says "our ille dedys er pur ille wroght, Bot our gud dedis pur gud er noght." Here to acordes, als þe buk telles us, Ysidre þe grete clerk, þat says þus: Omnes iusticie nostre quasi pannus menstruale. He says "alle our ryghtwysnes er sene Als a clathe, filed of thyng unclene;" Wharfor certanly here wate nane How he sal fare, when he es hethen gane. Bot comfort of gud hope may he fele, Þat here lyves wele, to fare wele; For we awe to trow, with-outen were, Þat God sal hym yhelde þat dose wele here. Bot yhit es he noght syker in þir days, For-why, þe haly man þos says, Nescit homo utrum dignus sit odio vel amore. For certayn, he says, "a man what noght," Þogh he had never swa mykel gude wroght, "Whether he war worthy after his dede To hafe luf of God or hatrede." And Isidre, als a buke shewes us, Acordes þar-to, þat says þus: Servus dei dum bonum agit, utrum sit ei ad bonum incertus est. He says, "he þat es God servand, When he gude dus, outher with tung or hand, He es noght certayne yhit in thoght, Wether it be gude til hym or noght." Wharfor our lyfyng here es harde, Als þe haly man says, Saynt Bernarde: Quis, sine trepidacione et timore, hanc vitam ducere potest? "Wha," he says, "may þis lyfe here lede With-outen tremblyng and drede?" Alswa'Als wha' (MS. Harl. 6923). say here, may lyf na man With-outen drede, þat witte can; For al-if a man here afforce him ay For to do alle þe gude þat he may, Yhit may his gude dedis be swa wroght, Þat parchaunce God allowes þam noght; And þarfor Saint Bernard pleyned him here Of his lyf, þat says þus on þis manere. Terret me tota vita mea, qua diligenter discussa, apparet mihi aut peccatum aut sterilitas; Et si quis in ea fructus videtur, sic est aut simulatum, aut imperfectum, aut alio modo corruptum, ut possit aut non placere deo aut displicere. Þer er Bernard wordes þat says: "Al my lyfe here me flays, For if it ententyfly discussed be, It semes noght elles here until me Bot owther syn, þat þe saul mast deres, Or barran thyng, þat na fruyt beres; And if any fruyt þar-in seme, It may be þus be'bi' (Harl. MS. 4196). skil to deme, Outher feyned thyng to shew in syght, Or thyng, þat es noght alle done ryght, Or, on other wyse, corrumped with-in, Þat es to say, filed with syn; Swa þat outher þan may it noght Pay God almyghty, þat es swa wroght, Or paraunter it hym myspays;" Þos þe haly man, Saynt Barnard, says. What may a synful man say þan, When he, þat was swa haly a man, Couth na fruyt here in his life se? Þan aght þe synful dredand be Of [th]is life here, þat es unclene, In whilk na fruyt may be sene. Þe ferth skille and þe last to telle, Why man dredis þe dede swa felle, Es for he wate noght whether he sal wende Tylle ioy or payne aftir his lyfes ende. For swa wyse and witty man es nane, Þat wate, when þe dede him has tane, For certayn, whederward he sal ga, Whether he sal wend til wele or wa. Þan aght ilk man, bathe yong and alde, Haf drede for þis skille þat I talde. For when þe devels and þe angels Has desputed our lif, als þe buk telles, And discucion made, als fals to be, Þan sal we certanly here and se Our certayne dome, þat we sal have; Wether we sal be dampned or save, And outher þan wend to ioy or pyne; Þarfor þe haly man says, Saynt Austyne: Bene unusquisque de die novissimo formidare debet, quia unum quemque in quo invenerit suus novissimus dies, cum de hoc seculo egreditur, talis in die novissimo indicatur. "Ilk man" he says, "þat sal pas away Shuld haf drede of hys last day; For in what state swa he be þan, Swilk als his last day fyndes a man, When he sal out of þis werld wende, Swilk mon he be demed at þe ende." Þarfor our last day þat sal falle, Our day of dome we may calle. Bot at þe general day of dome With our bodys we sal come, Byfor Ihesu Cryst allemyghty kyng, Þat sal þat day deme alle thyng. Þan sal he deme ilka nacyon, And mak a fynal declaracyon Of alle þe domes byfor shewed, In tyme of dede, to lered and lewed. For þe bodys sal wend to þe same stede Til whilk þe saul es demed aftir þe dede; And outher þan h ave ful ioy togyder, Or ful sorow when þai com thyder, And ever-mare aftir togyder duelle, Whethir þai wend to heven or helle. Bot in erthe sal duelle þe bodis alle, Until þat dredful day sal falle, When þe dome sal be mast strayt and harde, Als þis buke shewes aftirwarde. Bot first, als sone als þe saul namly, Thurgh þe dede es passed fra þe body, It sal be demed, aftir his werkes, Til ioy or payne, als says þer clerkes. Þe synful saul þan gas strik to helle, In pyne withouten ende to duelle; Þe clene saul þan gas up even, With-outen lettyng, til þe blis of hevene. Bot many saules, þat er save, Ar þai com to blis, payne byhoves have In purgatori, and duelle þar-in Until þai be clensid of al syn, Þat er schrywen and noght clensed here, And þar be fyned als gold þat shynes clere. For in heven may na saul be sene, Unto it be fyned and clensed clene, Outher here thurgh penaunce, als clerkes wate Or in purgatori thurgh fire hate. Wharfor þe saul þat es clensed wele Of al dedely syn and of veniele, Thurgh penaunce here and almusdede, Þe angels als tit þan sal lede, When it es passed fra þe body away Til þe blis of heven þat sal last ay; Þarfor whaswa wille folow wysdome, He suld before, ar he saw þe dede come, Mak him redy and clense hym clene Of al spottes of syn þat mught be sene, Thurgh shryfte of mouthe and repentance, And thurgh almusdede and penaunce; Swa þat dede fynd hym clene of syn, When þe body and þe saul sal twyn. And whyles he lyffes til he hethen wende, Thynk he suld ay of his lyfes hende, Swa may he hym kepe fra alle folys, And þarfor says þus Salamon þe wys: In omnibus operibus tuis, memorare novissima tua, et non peccabis ineternum. Þat es on Inglis þos to say; He says "Thynk on þi endyng day, Ay when þou sal any werk bygyn And þan sal þou never mare syn." And þarfor þou manmon? in þi werk be slyghe, And thynk ay wele þat þou sal dighe; Thynk þou sal dyghe, þou wate never whan, Ne in what state þou sal be þan, Ne þou whate never in what stede Þou sal dyghe, ne of what dede. Þarfor at morne, when þou sese lyght, Thynk als þou sal dygh ar nyght; When þou gas to slep, if þou be wyse, Thynk als þou suld noght with þeþi? lyf ryse, For Saynt Austyn says þus in a buke, "Let ay þi hert on þi last day luke." Wha-swa wille thynk ay on þis manere, And be war, and make hym redy here, And of alle hys syn clense hym wele, Ar þe dede com þat hym byhoves fele, Þan may he eschape and passe lightly Þe bitter payn of purgatory, And com til þe blisse of heven bright; Þar ay es day, and never nyght. Here es þe thred parte of þis buke spedde Þat spekes of þe dede, als I haf redde. On þis part I wille na langer stand, Bot passe to another neghest folowand; Þat es þe ferthe part for to specify, Þe whilk spekes of purgatory, Whar many saules feles ful harde, Als yhe sal here sone aftirwarde. Here bygynnes þe ferth part þat es of purgatory. Many spekes, and in buke redes Of purgatory, but fon it dredes; For many wate noght what it es, Þarfor þai drede it wele þe les. Bot if þai knew wele what it ware, Or trowed, þai walde drede it þe mare. And forthy þat sum has na knawyng Of purgatory ne undirstandyng, Þarfor I wille now speke aparty, In þis buke of purgatory. And first shew yhow what it es, And whare it es, als þe buke wittenes; And whatkyn payns er þar-in, And whilk saules gas þeder, and for what syn; And alswa what thyng es mast certayn, Þat þam mught help and slake þair payn. Of þir sex poyntes I wil spek and rede, And swa I sal þis ferth part spede. Purgatory es nathyng elles Bot a clensyng sted þar saules duelles, Þat has synned, and had contricyon, And er in þe way of salvacion, And er noght parfytly clensed here Of al veniel syns sere. Bot þar byhoves þam payne fele, Til þai be clensed parfytely and wele Of alkyn syn þat þai ever wroght, In worde, in dede, in wille or thoght. For swa pured and fyned never gold was, Als þai sal be, ar þai þethen pas. Wharfor þe payn þat þe saul þar hentes Er mare bitter þan alle þe tourmentes Þat alle þe marters in erthe tholed, Sen God was for us boght and sold. For þe lest payn of þe payns þar sere Es mare þan es þe mast payn here, Als says a grete clerk þus shortly, In a buke of þe payns of purgatory: Minima pena purgatorii est major maxima pena mundi. He says, "þe lest payn þat es þare In purgatori, es wele mare Þan þe mast payn þat may be In al þis werld, to fele or se." For þe payne þar, es mare bitter and felle Þan hert may thynk, or tung telle, Als þe buke says, trow wha swa wille. For sum clerkes says, and pruves by skille Þat bytwen þe payne of helle namly And þe payn of purgatory Es na difference bot at þe tane Has ende, and þe tother has nane. Þe payns of helle sal never sees, Ne þe saules þar-in never haf relees; Bot in purgatori saules dueles stille Until þai be clensed of alle ille, And mare payn fele, als I understande, Þan ever feled man here lyfande; For þai sal haf a day þare Als mykel bitter payn or mare, Als a man mnght thole here of penaunce A yhere and fele als mykel grevaunce; And als mykel drighe þar fourty days, Als fourty yhere here; þus clerkes says; Swa es þe payn þar a day to se Als mykel als here a yhere may be. Bot ever a day of penaunce here May stand in-stede þar for a yhere, Als God says openly and wele, Thurgh þe prophet Ezechyele: Diem pro anno dedi tibi. Þat es on Inglys þus to say, "For a yhere I gyf þe day." Þe payn þar þe saules avayles noght When þai til purgatori er broght, Bot for to clense þe saul of syn, And for na mede in heven to wyn; Þogh þai a thousand yhere war þare, Þair mede in heven shuld never be þe mare. Þan serves þat payne þar, of noght elles Bot to clense þam of syn, þat þare-in duelles. Bot penaunce to thole here with gude wille, Serves here til twa thynges by skille. Ane es to clense here þe saule wele Of dedly syn and of veniele; Another to haf in heven mare mede; Til þer twa may penaunce us lede. For þe saul for ilka penaunce here, Sal haf specyel ioy in heven swa clere, Þat with-outen ende sal laste, If þai thole payne here with hert stedfast. Here may men se, als þe buke wittenes, And understand what purgatori es. Now wil I shew yow shortly Whar, als clerkes says, es purgatory. Þe stede, þat purgatory es calde, Under þe erthe es, als I halde, Aboven þe stede, als som clerkes telles, Þar crysomuncristen (MS. Harl. 6923). dede childer duells, Þat fra þe sight of Goddes face Er putted for ever, with-outen grace. Þat place es neghest aboven hel pitte, Bytwen purgatory and itte. Þus standes þe stede of purgatory, Oboven þam bathe in þat party. Alle þat er þar payn byhoves hafe, Bot þai haf grace and er save. Bot fra þe other stedes, til þe day of dome, Sal never mare saule out come; For þan sal þai come til þe last iugement, And with þe bodys agayn til helle be hent. Bot fra purgatory saules may wynne Til blisse when þai er clensed of synne. Aboven þat yhit es þe ferthe stede, Þat Crist visited when he was dede; And þa þat þar war with hym out tuke And left nane þaryn, als says þe buke. Ne fra þat tyme als we here clerkes telle Com never nan yhit þeder to duelle, Ne never nan forthward sal com; And þat stede clerkes calles lymbus patrum Þe whilk a fre preson on Inglys es, Whare þe haly faders duelled in myrknes. Alle þir four stedes men may helle calle, For þai er closed with-in þe erthe alle; And for helle þai may alle be tane, Of whilk four purgatory es ane. Þarfor haly kyrk þat for saules prays, Calles purgatory helle, þat þus says: Domine Ihesu Criste libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum, de manu inferni! "Loverd deliver out of helles hande Alle crysten saules þat þar er duellande;" Þat es to say, out [of] purgatory Þar þe saules er clensed parfytely. Bot fra þe lawest helle, with-outen dout, Na saul may be delyverd out; For of mercy þar es na hope; Þarfor þus says þe haly man Iobe. Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio. "In helle", he says, "es na raunceon." For na helpe may be in þat dungeon, Þat es to say, in þe lawest helle, Whar þe dampned saules sal ay duelle, Whar messe ne prayer helpes noght, Til þam þat er þeder broght. For na thyng may abate þair pyne, And þarfor þus says Saynt Austyne, Si scirem patrem meum aut matrem in inferno, pro eis non orarem. He says, "if my fader or moder ware In helle, and I wist þam þare, I wald nouther nyght ne day, For þam byd bede here, ne pray." For-why, almusdede, ne messe, ne prayers Helpes na saul þar, bot parchaunce ders, Þe twa lawest stedes, þat I nevend ar, Er þe helles þat sal last ever mar. Bot purgatory sal noght last ay; It lastes na langer þan to domesday, For aftir þat day, als clerkes can se, Na stede of purgatory sal be, Bot helle, ful of devels with in, Sal ay last, for vengeaunce of syn. Now som has wonder, and may ask why God has swa ordayned purgatory, And helle ymyddes þe erthe swa law; Þe skylle why may be þis to knaw; Þe syn þat es in erthe wroght Fra erthe unpunyst passes noght. Þan nedly byhoves be punyst syn, Outher opon erthe or with-in, Þat es outher here þar we duelle, Or in purgatory or in helle; For syn es swa hevy and swa harde, Þat it drawes þe saul ay dunwarde; Until payn and penaunce haf wasted þat syn Þe saul may never tylle heven wyn; Yhit says þir grete clerkes namly, Þat twa stedes er of purgatory; Þe tane es comon, als yhe herd me telle, Þat with-in erthe es, oboven helle; And þe tother es speciele, thurgh grace, Þat es oboven erthe, in sere place. For in þe comon stede som er noght ay, Bot er here punyst, outher nyght or day, In sere stedes specialy in gast, Whar þai haf synned in body mast. And þat may be thurgh helpe and spede Of prayer of frendes and almusdede, Til wham þai ofte in gast apere, Thurgh speciel grace, in sere stedes here, For to hast þair deliverance Out of þair payn and þair penaunce, Þat, als I ar sayde, gretely greves, And for warnyng of frendes þat lyefes. Here may men properly by skille se What purgatory falles to be. Now wille I rede forthermare, And shew yhow of sum paynes þat er þare. In purgatory, als þe buke wittenes, Es diverse payns, som mar, som les, And many mare þan I can neven; Bot I fynd wryten payns seven, Þat may be called payns of purgatory; And þa seven I wille here specefy, Of whilk men sal som fele and se, Als tite als þe ded-comyng sal be, Þe first payn es of þa seven, Als yhe herd me byfor neven, Þe grete drede þat þe saul es in When þe body atAnd it (MS. Harl. 6923). it sal twyn; For þe saul sese þan about it stande Grysly devels agayn it raumpande, Als wode lyons to wayt þair pray, And to ravisshe it with þam away. And þat syght es a payn ful grevous; For þe devels er swa foul and ydous, Þat swa hardy man was never nane Lyfand here in flesshe and bane, Þat saw þe syght þat þe saul þan sese, Þat ne he for ferdelayk is witte shuld lese, Thogh he war never of hert swa balde, Als in þe thred parte of þis boke was talde. A grete payn aght þis syght to be Til þe saule þan, þat it sal se. Þe secunde payn neghest folowande Es þe grete drede, to understande, Þat þe saul sal hafe wyth dole and care, Until þe dome be gyfen, how he sal fare. For þe angels sal þare redy be And þe devels swa grisly to se, Þat sal disput of alle his lyfe Bytwen þam þar, with grete stryfe. His syns sal þan be shewed ful many, Als I tald byfor in þe thred part namly. Þe saul þan sal bytwene þam stande, And þe angels on his ryght hande, And devels on þe lefte syde. Þan mot þe saul in grete dred abyde, Until þat stryfe be broght to ende, And til it witte whyder it sal wende, And whether it sal be dampned or save; Þan sal þe saul a grete drede have, Als a man þat es in myddes þe se In grete perille, and may noght fle, When tempestes falles and stormes smert, Þan has þat man grete drede in hert; He mas þan vowes, and cryes on Crist, For, he es afered þat he sal be peryst; And þat drede til hym es a grete payn; For of his lyf he es uncertayn; And als a man has drede bodily, When he es acouped of felony Byfor kynges iustice, and þe cuntré, Þat charged es if he gilty be, He wate noght whether he sal be spilt, Or be delyvered of þat gilt. Until þai have gyven þair verdite, And outher þar-of made hym qwyte Als þe laghe walde, or made hym gilty. If he þan haf drede, it es na ferly, For in grete dout of lyfe es þat man. Bot yhit has the saul mare drede þan, Til þe dome beThe MS. reads by. gyven and it may se Whether it sal dampned or saufe be. For if it dome of damp[na]cion here, It gas til helle with-outen recoverere; And þe saul þat es dampned til þat place Thar never hope to haf mercy ne grace. What wonder es þan if þe saule drede have Þat doutes whethir he sal be dampned or save. Of þes twa maners of payns of drede Yhe herd me aparty byfor rede, Þe whilk es declared in a stede, In þe thred part þat spekes of þe dede. Alle þis matere men may se þare, Þarfor here I wil spek þar-of na mare. Þe thred payn es a maner of exil When þe saules here agayn þair wil Er exild fra þis lyf til payn, With-outen any turnyng agayn; For þan sal þai haf grete murnyng, When þai er flemed fra þair lykyng, Fra alle þair frendes lefe and dere, And fra alle þe delyces þat þai had here. Þe murnyng þat þai haf on þis wyse, Til þam sal be grete payn and anguyse. Þe fereth payn es sere malady, Þat þe sauls sal haf in purgatory. For þai sal haf þar yvels sere, For sere syns, þat er unclensed here; Som for pride þat þai haf here-in bene, Sal haf þar als a fever cotidiene, Þat þe saule sal pyn mar bitterly Þan ever fyver pyned here mans body. Som sal haf þar, for covatyse, Als þe dropsy to grege'eche' (Lands. MS. 348). agrege (Harl. 6923). þair angwyse. Som sal haf in alle þair lymmes obout, For sleuthe, als þe potagre and þe gout. Som, for envy, sal haf in þair lyms, Als kylles and felouns and apostyms. Som for ire sal have als þe parlesy, Þat yvel þe saul sal grefe gretely. Som for glotoni sal haf þare, Als þe swynacy, þat greves ful sare. And som, for þe syn of lechery, Sal haf als þe yvel of meselry. Þus sal þe saules, als God vouches save, For sere syns, sere maledys have, Þat here has hadde repentance And has noght ful-filed here þair penaunce. Þir maladies þar þe saul mar greves, Þan it dos any body þat here lyves. Thynk we what payn has þe body, Þat has here bot a malady In þis lif, lastand alle a yhere, Or noght bot thre days, or four here. Þat malady greves þe body sare, Bot yhit it greves þe saul vele mare In purgatory, þar es it pynde, For þe saul es of mare tender kynde; For als a lytel thyndthyng (Harl. MS. 6923). þin eghe lokand May greve mare þan it may þi hand, Swa feles þe saule mare penaunce Þan þe body, when it has grevaunce. Bot now may som say here agayne, And aske how þe saul may fele payne, Þat es noght elles bot a spirit, Þat may noght be feled, swylk es it; For it es swa sutil, þat aftir þe dede, It may occupy na stede. Til þis, þus men answer may, Als men may here grete clerkes say. Þe saule þe lyfe of þe body es Of ilk man here, bathe mare and les. And with-outen þe lyfe is na felyng, For felyng may be in na dede thyng. Þan es alle þe felyng halely In þe saul, and noght in þe body; For when þe saul es passed away, Þe body es noght bot erthe and clay, Þat es a dede thyng, als a stane; Þe whilk may fele na thyng beby? it ane. Alswa yhit may som þos aske mare, How may þe saule þat duelles þare, Be pyned with sere maledy Þat falles til sere lymes of þe body, Sen it has nouther body ne hede, Ne lym þat may occupy stede. Til þis, men may answer þus shortly: Þe saul, al-if it haf na body, It sal be pyned als in lyms sere, Thurgh whilk it has mast synned here. Swa sal þe saul, fele payn and wa, And til other saules it sal seme swa. For ilkan til other sal seme þan, Als þai had shap of body of man; Þus sal ilka saul other se, For nan of þam may feled be. Na mar þan here a man ande may, When it passes fra his mouthe away. And þis may be pruved beby? þe godspelle. Thurgh þe ensampel of þe ryche man in helle, And of Lazar þat he wardAnd of þe lazar þat he warned mete. (MSS. Lands. 348, Addit 22283.) mete Þat in Abraham bosom had his sete. Abraham bosom es nathyng elles, Bot heven þar haly spyrites duelles. When þe ryche man, þat in helle sat lawe, Lazar in Abraham bosom sawe, He cryed til Abraham and prayed with-alle Þat a drope of calde water mught falle Til his tung, fra Lazar fynger ende, Als es in þe godspel contende. Bot al-if he þus spak to hym, Yhit had he na tung neThe MS. reads no. other lym, Ne Lazar, als yhe sal understande, Had nouther fynger, ne fote, ne hande, For þai bathe war spirites anly, Þat nouther had lymmes ne body. Þe tane was in blis soverayne, Þe tother was in endles payne. Bot þe ryche man saule feled in helle Payne, als he had bene in flesshe and felle; And Lazar saule til him semed þan Als he had body and lymes of man. Yhit has men herd som clerkes maynte[ne] Swilk an opinion, als I wene, Þat a saule, þat es in purgatory Or in helle, has of þe ayre a body For to thole payne, in lyms sere, After þat he has synned here. Bot whether þe saul haf body or noght, He sal fele payne, after he has wroght. Þe fifte payne es þe fire hate, Þat na maner of thing may abate, Bot almusdede and messe and prayere, Þat frendes dus for þe saul here. To abate þat fire, þa thre er best, For þa thre may bring þe saul to rest. Þat fire is hatter and mare kene, Þan al þe fire þat here es sene; For als þe fire of erthe, þar we won, Es hatter þan þe beme of þe son, Ryght swa þat fire on þe same manere, Es hatter þan þe fire es here. Alle þe waters, þat men may rekken, A spark þar-of may noght sleken. We se þe fire þat here es, greves sare Þe body, þat standes þar-in bare; Bot mare greves þe fire of purgatory Þe saul, þan þis fire dus þe body. For þe fire here, of strenthe es les Þan þe fire of purgatory es; And þe body with flesshe and bane, Es harder þan þe saul by it ane; And þe saul mare tender and nesshe Þan es þe body with þe flesshe. Sen þat fire es mare hate þare Þan þe fire es here, als I sayd are, And þe saul es swa tender of kynde, Þan semes it þat it es mare pynde Thurgh þat fire, þan þe body mught be With alle þe fire of Cristianté; For a spark of þat fire es mare hate Þan al þe fire of erthe, als clerkes wate. Many saules duells in þat fire strang. Bot sum duelles short wyle, and sum lang, Aftir þair syn es mare or les, And aftir þair penaunce fulfild es, Bot na saul may þethen pas, Until it be als clene als it first was, When he was hoven at funtstane And his crestendome þar had tane. Som clerkes, þat spekes of purgatory, Says þat þe fire þare is bodily, And noght gastly als þe saule es; For þe saule, als þe boke bers wytnes, May be pyned with fire bodily, Als it may be with þeþy? awen body. Bot þat fire wirkes noght thurgh kynde In þe saule, þat þar-with es pynde, Als dos þe fire þat brinnes here, Bot it wirkes on wonderful manere, Als God has ordaynd, forwhy, it es An instrument of Goddes ryghtwysnes, Thurgh wilk þe saule most clensed be In purgatory, ar it may God se. Alle þe fire þat es þar-in, Es bot a maner of fyre to wast syn, And noght divers fires, les and mare, Bot a maner of fire, als I sayd are, Þat alle veniel syns þan sal waste, Þat es unclensed here, lest and maste. For als fyre þat caffe son may bryn, Gold may melt þat es lang þar-in, Ryght swa þe fyre þar thurgh lang hete Þat wastes smale syns, may wast grete, And als þe hete of þe son þat comon es, Som men greves mare, and som men les, Right swa þe fyre þat es þare, Som sawles pyns les, and som mare; For þe sawles byhoves duelle þar-in, Aftir þe charge es of þair syn. Bot som sawles þar sal be delyver[d] sone, Þat large penaunce here has done; Som sal duel þar many a yhere, Þat litel penaunce has don here. And lang lygyn in þair syn; And þarfor says þus Saynt Austyn: Necesse est quod tantum urat dolor, quantum erat amor; tanto enim quisquis torquetur diucius, quanto affectus eius venialibus ahherebat forcius. Saynt Austyn says "nedeful it es, Þat sorow war als mykel and na les For ilka syn and ilka trespas, Als luf and delyte in syn was." And alswa he says on þis manere, Þat ay þe styther þat ilk man here Gyves his lykyng and wille Til veniel syns, outher loud or stille, Þe langer sal he pyned be In purgatory;" þus says he. Þis fire, als byfore wryten es, Som saules pynes mare, and sum les, Aftir þat þai þat commes þar-in, Brynges ought with þam þat may bryn. For byfor ar þai may God se Byhoves als thre thynges brinned be, Þat es at say, als wodde, and hay, And stubble, þat may sone wast away; Þa er veniel synnes þat may falle, Bathe grete and smale, and men with-alle, Þe mast veniel syns sal þar bryn langly, Als wodde brinnes, þat es sadde and hevy, Þe lest veniel syns sal brin sone, Als stobble, þat son brinnes and son es done. Botswa son brinnes noght þe mene synnes; Þai brin mar slawly als hay brynnes. Þus sal be brynned and wasted þare, Als veniel syns, bathe les and mare; And al dedly syns of wilk men er shryven, And þe gilt God has forgyven, For whilk þe penaunce es noght fulfilled here, Sal þare be wasted on þe sam manere And þe saules in þat fire be pyned Unto þai be als clene als gold fyned. And when þai er fyned and made bright Þai sal be broght befor Goddes sight, Til hey Paraydise, þat blisful place Whar ay es rest, ioy and solace. Þe sext payne es þis to telle; Þat þe saules unclensed, þat sal duelle In purgatory, sal be bunden faste With bandes of syn, whilles þai may laste, Als men þat er bonden in pryson, Þat na man may for gyf[t] ne raunson, Out of þat hard payn þam wyn, Until þe fire haf wasted þair bandes of syn. Þus er þai bunden by hend and fete, Alle bydonenAlbedene (MS. Harl. 6923)., in þat brinnand hete. Me thynk þat na payne may be mare Þan þa saules has, whyles þai er þare. Grete dole þay mak, somtyme, and sarowe; For þai may nathyng begg ne borowe, To help þam, þat þai war out broght, Ne þair awen prayer help þam noght; For þar es nouther stede ne space, Helpe ne frenshepe to purchace; Bot þe gude þat þai did here, þai sal þar fele; Or if þair frendes, þat luffes þam wele, For þam here pray or do almus de[de]; Alle þat may help þam in þair nede. Ful hard payn þar þai fele, Bot at þai er save þai wate wele; Bot sum tyme swa mykel pay[n] þai hafe, Þat þai tak na kepe þat þai er save; Wharfor we shuld thynk, þat lyves here, What payn it es, on þis manere, To be swa pyned, and fele swa sare Fourty wynter, outher les or mare, Omang devels, þat þan has leve Som tyme to turment þe saules and greve, Ay whiles þai haf any spot of syn; For are, may þai noght out of payn wyn, Til þai be clensed and made right clene Of alle spottes of syn þat may be sene. And when þai er þus clensed wele Þan sal þai namare payn fele, Bot als tite þar-efter þai sal wende Tille þe blis þat es with-outen ende. Þe sevend payn of purgatory es Þat þe saules er als in wildernes, Þar defaut es of alkyn thyng Of wilk man mught haf lykyng; Þair payn es turned manyfalde. Now er þai in hete, and now in calde; For sumtyme þai sal be pyned lang With hete, and som tyme with cald omang. Þai sal haf þare bathe hunger and threst, And travayl grete, with-outen rest. Þai er dungen þare, to eke þaire payn, With smert stormes als of wynd and rayn, And with stormes of hayle, sharpe and kene, Swylk stormes was never here sene, Als þe sauls sal þar here and se. Þus sal þai on sere-wyse pyned be, Sum many wynter for þair syn, Ar þai til þe sight of God may wyn. Swilk maner of payns þai sal have þare, With other ma, þat sal greve sare. Bot a grete payn yhit þis sal be, Þe grete yhernyng þat þai haf to se Þe face of God, þat es swa bright, And þe lang tariyng fra þat syght. Bot til þat sight þai may never wyn, Until þai be clensed þar of al syn. Here haf I talde yhow aparty, Of sum payns of purgatory. Now I wille shew, als þe boke telles, Whilk sauls in purgatory duelles. Þe saules þat to purgatory most wend Aftir þe dede, when þis life has end, Nedly byhoves dwelle þar-in, Unto þai be clensed of al syn, Thurgh bitter paynes þat er þare. Bot sum sal fele les, and sum mare, Aftir þair syn es mare or les, Als in þis part byfor wryten es, Or aftir þair syns er many or fone, And aftir þai haf here penaunce done. Bot alle saules sal noght duelle in þat stede, For sum here þat als tite aftir þair dede, Sal wend strykly til heven blis, Als Innocentes þat never dyd mys, And other saules of men parfite, Þat in nathyng here has delyte, Bot anly in God þat boght þam dere, InAnd (MS. Harl. 6923). lyffed ay in penaunce here. Som þat þe dede here sodanly tas. In dedely syn strik til helle gas; And þat me thynk es na ferly, Forwhy dedely syn es swa hevy Þat it may with-in a litel stonde A saul draw doun til helle grounde. Bot þe saul þat of dedly syn es shryven, Swa þat þe gilt be here forgyven, If þe penaunce þat es here aioynt Be noght fulfilled at þe dedes poynt, And þe saul þat es noght clensed welc Of smale syns þat er veniele; Þis twa maners of saules er save, Bot in purgatory þam byhoves have Ful bitter payn, and duel stil þare Unto þai be clen, als I sayd are, Als þai war first when þai had tane Haly baptem at þe font stane. Yhit says som clerkes on þis manere, Þat swa clen of syn es naman here, Ne swa parfite in þe law of Crist, Ne yhit a childe, þat es new baptist, Þat til heven sal wend aftir þe dede, Þat he ne sal pas forth by þat stede, And se þe payns þar ilkan. Bot yhong Innocentes sal fele nan, For þai couthe never na syn wirk, And passespassede (MS. Harl. 6923). in þe trouthe of haly kyrk. Þarfor þai swippe þurgh purgatory Als a foul þat flyes smertly, With-outen payn þat may dere, Or any sight þat may þam fere, Bot unnethes any other may Passe qwyte thurgh purgatory away, Þat þe fire ne sal noght fynd in þam to bryn, Ar þai passe thurgh som veniel syn, Swa strayt þai sal be examynd þan; For it es nan swa parfite man Þat he ne thynkes, some tyme, som vayn thoght Þat he lattes pas and charges it noght; Of swilk hym byhoves clensed be Orar? he may þe bright face of God se; For als gold, þat shynes clere and bright, Semes fyned clene ynoghe til mans sight, Whar it put in fire to fyn mare Yhit suld it leve sum dros þare; Right swa þe saules, on þe same manere, Of parfit men, þat semes clene here Of al syn, and es to God redy, Yhit when þai sal pas thurgh purgatory, Þe fire þar, þat es with in, Sal fynd in þam sum dros of syn, Als light speche, or thoght in vayn, For whilk þam byhoves fele sum payn, For swa fyned never na gold here was Thurgh fire, als þai sal be ar þai pas. Here haf I shewed swilkwilk. saules sal be In purgatory, als clerkes can se. Now wille I som syns here specify For whilk þai duelle in purgatory. Many maners of syns, þat greves, Regnes omang men þat leves; Of wilk sum er dedly to fele And sum er noght bot veniele, Þa syns þat er cald dedly Sal noght be purged in purgatory, Bot þai sal be punyst ay in helle; And whilk þas er I wil yow telle. Þir er þa hede syns þat er dedely; Pride, hatreden, and envy; Glotony and sleuthe in Goddes servise, And lychery and covatyse, Sacrilege, and fals wyttenessyng, And slaghter and forsweryng, Thefte alswa and ravyn, Ilkan of þir es a dedly syn. And wreth es dedly syn omang, If it be halden in hert lang; And yhit drunkenes es dedly to fele, If it be over continuele; Wha-swa feles hym here gylty In any of þir syns dedly, Bot-if he hym amende, ar he hethen wende, He sal noght aftir his lyfes ende Wend strek til purgatory, Bot even til helle with-outen mercy. Bot if he wille hym repent and shrife Of alle swilk syns here in his lyfe, Fra helle pyne þan es he save; Bot payn and penaunce hym byhoves have In purgatory, als I wene, Until he be made of alle syn clene; Forwhy penaunce for syn, als I sayd are, Most be fulfilled outher here or þare. Syns þat er veniele may dere, Bot þai er noght swa hevy to bere, Als er dedly, for þai may be here Fordon on light manere. For als men heres þer clerkes say, Ilk man here lyghtly may Swilk remedys thurgh grace wyn, Þat may fordo al veniel syn; Þat es to say, if he clene be Of dedly syn, and wil it fle; For I fynd writen ten thynges sere, Þat veniel syns fordus here. Þas ten er þir þat I now rede; Haly water and almusdede, Fastyng, and housil of Goddes body, Prayer of þe Pater Noster namly, General shrifte, þat ilk day may be, Benyssoun of bisshope of his dignité; And benyssoun of prest, þat gyyen es Namly, in þe end of þe mes; Knokyng ofOn (MS. Harl. 6923). þe brest of man þat es meke, Last enoyntyng gyven to þe seke. Þer ten puttes veniel syns away, Als men may here þer clerkes say. Bot swa many veniel syns sere May be gadyrd atans togyder here, Þat þai may weghe on þe saul als hevy Als a syn dus þat es dedly, Þat slas þe saul and God myspays; And þarfor þe poet on þis wyse says: De minimis granis fit maxima summa caballo. "Als of many smale cornes es made Til a hors bak a mykel lade," Right swa may veniel syns many Mak a mykel syn dedly. For þai gadir on þe saul ful thyk, And cleves togyder als dos pyk, Bot if þai swythe be done oway, Ay als þai com, with-outen delay; For swa parfitely may nane lyf here, With-outen veniel syns sere. For a man syns alday þat here duels Als þe boke says þat þus tels. Septies in die cadit iustus "Seven sythes at þe lest o[f] þe day Þe ryghtwys falles," þat es to say, In sere syns þat er veniel, Bot som er mare, and som les to fel. In swa many veniel syns we falle, Þat na man can reken þam alle; Bot sum of þam reherce I can, Als Saynt Austyn telles, þe haly men. For in a boke he reherces som, Þat mast es used of custom, And to telle þatþas? syns he þus bygyns, And says þat þer er veniel syns. First when a man etes or drinkes mare Anytime, þan myster ware; When þou may vaile thurgh wytte and skille And wille noght help bot haldes þe stylle; When þou spekes sharppely til þe pure, Þat sum gode askes at þi dore; When þou erte hale and may wele last And etes when tym es to fast; When þe lyst slepe and wil noght ryse, And comes overlate tyl Goddes servise; Or when þou ert in gude state And says þi praers ever late; Or when þou says praier or orison With over litel devocion; When a man list dele in bed With his wyfe þat he has wed, Hys lust anly for to fulfille, And to gette a child es noght in wille; When þou visites men overlate Þat sek er and in febel state, Or men þat lyes in prison, Or in any tribulacion, Or men þat er synful and sary, Or saules þat er in purgatory; For to visite þam it war grete nede, Thurgh praier and thurgh almusdede; When þou paynes þe noght aftir þi state To accorde þam þat er at debate; When þou spekes over bitterly Til any man with noyse or cry; When þou prayses any man mare Thurgh flateryng, þan mister ware; When þou in kirk makes ianglyng, Or thynkes in vayn anythyng; Be it with-outen, be it with-in, Yhit it es a veniel syn; When þou ert over lyghtly wrathe, Or sweres and may noght hald þin athe; When þou bannes any man, In wham þou fyndes na gilt to ban; When þou supposes any wykkednes, Thurgh suspecion þar na es. Þir smale syns Saynt Austyn telles, Thurgh whilk many saules duelles In purgatory, in payne and wa. Bot yhit þar er ful many ma Of veniel syns, beby? many a score, Over þas þat I haf tald byfore. Bot swa witty es nane erthely man, Þat alle veniel syns reken can; For ofte sythes of þe day men falles In syns, þat clerkes veniel calles, Thurgh werk, or worde, or thoght in vayn, And ilka syn es worthy payn, Þe whilk most be fordone clenly, Outher here or in purgatory. Þarfor I rede ilk man, whyles he lyffes here, Þat he use þa ten thinges sere Þat fordus, als I sayde are, Alle veniel syns, bathe les and mare. And if any fal in dedly syn Ryse he up, and ligg noght lang þar-in, And ga to þe prest hym to shrife, And tak his penaunce in his life, And haf he forthynkyng ay in thoght, For þas syns þat he has wroght, And do he penance with al his myght, And be in prayers, bathe day and night, And fast and ga wolwarde, and wake, And thole hardeshardnes (Harl. 6923). for Goddes sake; For na man may to heven ga, Bot-if he thole here anger and wa. And when God sendes a man angwise He suld thole it with-outen fayntise, Be it sekenes, or oght elles þat greves, Losse of catelle, or of fre[n]des þat lyves, Or unkyndnes, fals[h]ed, or treson, Or any other tribulacion, Thole he it mekely and thynk in thoght Þat with-outen cause commes it noght. Bot God wate wele þe cause why, Parchaunce it es for his foly, To chasty hym on swilk manere, For his syns þat he dyd here, Or it may be hym here to pruve, Or to make hym mar drede God and lufe. Þarfor sen God ofte vouches save Þat a man here swilk angers have, Outher for his syn or hym to fande; Love he him þan of alle his sande, And take mekely þat God him sendes, And fle alle thyng þat he defendes. For thurgh nuyes and angers sere, He makes a man, als his preson here, Payn to drighe for hys foly, In þis lif als he es worthy. And, if he it thole noght grotchand, In-stede of penance it sal hym stand, And yhit wille God him mare do, He wil gif him mede þar-to, Þat his ioy in heven sal heke, If he thole angwyse with hert meke. Als þe gude son tholes mekely Þe fader, when he wille hym chasty, Swa suld ilk man thole and love God ay, And do alle þe gude þat he may, And specialy almusdede, Þe naked to clathe, and hungry to fede, And other werkes of mercy wirke, Als theches and preches haly kirke; And kepe him clene, to his lyfes ende, Fra syn, þan sal his saul wende Til blis, and lyghtly pas alle payne Of purgatori; þis es certayne. Here haf I shewed yhow, on Inglys, Som syns þat Saynt Austyn specifys. Now wil I shew what help es certayne For þam þat in purgatory has payne, And what may mak þair payn cees And þam of þair payn to haf relees. Þe saules, þat til purgatory wendes, May be helped thurgh help of frendes, Þat almus for þam dus, and prays, For þe haly man, Saynt Austyn says: Non est negandum spiritus defunctorum, pietate suorum viventium, posse relevari. He says "men shuld not denye on na manere, Þat þe saules of þam þat er dede here, Of payn may relesed be Thurgh frendes lyfand þat has pyté." For als þas þat passed, als I sayd are, Til purgatory er pyned þare For weniel syns, mare and lesse, Aparty, thurgh Goddes rightwisnesse, Right swa thurgh help þai may aparty, Be relesed þar, thurgh Goddes mercy. Alle þat men dus here, bathe les and mare, For þe saules þat duelles þare Avayles þam noght als to heven mede, Bot for þair deliverance fra payn to spede. Four maners of helpes er general, Þat in purgatory availes þam al, Þat es to say, prayer and fastyng, And almus dede and messyng. On twa maners, als clerkes can se, Þe saule fra payn deliverd may be; Þe tane by way of grace es, And þe tother by way of rightwisnes, By way of grace on twyn manere Als es writen in þis boke here. First thurgh prayer of Crist þat es hede, When he es offerd in fourme of brede, Thurgh prestes hande here at þe mes, When þe sacrament swa made es. Alswa thurgh prayer of his lyms, Þat es, of gude men þat toward heven clyms. Þan may þe saules in purgatory, By way of grace specialy, Be delivered of pyn þat ders, Thurgh messes and rightwis men prayers. By way of rightwysnes help may be On twyn maners, als yhe may se. First, through byhyng of paynes þat greves, With almus, þat men to the pure gyves. Another es here thurgh assethe makyng, Als thurgh penance of fre[n]des and fastyng. Þus may saules, als þe buke beres wytnes, By helpyd by way of rightwysnes, Þat es to say, þai may in þat nede Be boght fra payn thurgh almusdede; And thurgh penance for þam here don, Þe dette of payn may be qwitte son, Right als a man, þat duelles in prison Til he haf payed a certayn raunson, May be delyverd and broght away Thurgh a frende, þat wille it for hym pay. On þis wyse may þe saules þat wendes Til purgatory, be helped thurgh fre[n]des. Bot sum frende may help, and som noght, Þe saules þat til purgatory er broght. Thurgh þas frendes may þai helped be Þat here lyves thurgh ryght charité. Bot þe help of þam, þat charité failles Til þe saules þat er þar noght availles, For alle er als lymes of a body, Þat here er, and in purgatory; And als we may se properly here A body hafe many lymmes sere, And ilkan of þam, bathe les and mare, May help other þat feles sare; Bot if a lym dighe, and þe myght faile, Þat lym may noght til þe others availe. Right swa it fars on þe same wyse, By þam [þat] in purgatory lyese, And þat er here; for men may þam calle Als lyms of a body alle. Wha-swa in dedly syn es broght And charité in his hert has noght, He es als dede in saul with-in; Ay, whiles he es in dedly syn, His help vailles noght, bot es in vayne Als to þe saules þat er in payne. His help thurgh hym-selfe standes in na stede, For he es als a lym þat es dede; Bot never-þe-latter, alle-if he swa be In syn and out of charité, Yhit may he helpe þe saales þus, If he til pure men gyf almus, Þat þai for þe saules pray specialy And helpes þe saules in purgatory. Yhit may þe help and þe travaile Of sum synful men þe saules avayle, If it thurgh biddyng done be Of a frende þat es in charité; Or ofThe MS. has 'if'. þe dede self þat has mast nede Of help of prayer and almusdede; Þat help may avayle þe saules son For his sake, þat biddes it be don, Þat charity in hert has knytt And noght for his sake þat dos it, For-why God wille noght do for his sake Þat charité wílle noght in hert take. Þis case ofte falles, als I understande, Bytwen a loverd and his servande, Whare þe loverd es gude and rightwys, And þe servand ille and uses folys. If þe servand do anythyng Þat es gude at his loverdys bydyng, Yhit may it availle to a gude use, Alle-if he be ille þat it duse; And þat by reson of þe gudenes Of hym of wham þe bygynnyng es. For alle be it onence þe doer dedeAnence the doer if it be dede. (MS. Harl. 6923.), Onence þe bidder it standes in stede; Bot if þai bathe in charité ware Þe helpe til þe dede war wele þe mare. Alswa a prest alle-if he be Synful and out of charité, He es Goddes minister and haly kirkes, Þat þe sacrament of þe auter wirkes; Þe wilk es never-þe-les of myght, Alle-if þe prest here lyf noght right. For if a prest þat synges mes Be never swa ful of wykednes, Þe sacrament, þat es swa haly, May noght apayred be thurgh his foly. Þan may mes saules fra payn bring, Alle-if a synful prest it syng. For in Goddes name he synges þe mes, Under wham in order he es. Bot speciel prayers with gude entente, Þat es made besyde þe sacramente, Of a gude prest er wele better Þan of an ille, and to God swetter; Bot þe offeryng of Goddis body Helpes þe saules principaly; Wharfor it semes þat mes syngyng May titest þe saul out of payn bryng, Þat passes hethen in charité, And in purgatory clensed suld be. Bot til þam þat er dampned for ay Na gude dede avayle ne help may, Nouther almus dede, prayer, ne messe, For þai er, als þe buke bers witnesse, Departed halely fra þe body of Criste, And þe saules for ever er periste, For als lymmes, þat er dede, er þai Þat er hewed fra þe body oway. And als nathyng may help kyndely Þe lymes þat er cutted fra þe body, Right swa alle helpes þat men can telle, Availles þam noght þat er in helle. Yhit help of frendes here on sum wyse, Availles þam þat er in paradise, And alswa þam þat in helle duelles, Als a grete clerk in boke telles. Þan availles almus, messe, and bedes, To þe saules þat er in alle þre stedes; Þai availe þe saules in purgatory To spede þam out mare hastily. Þai vaile þam þat in heven er; For þai multiplie þar þe titter, And þe ma þat gaders to þat place, Þe mare þair ioy es, and solace. Þai avail til þam þat er in helle, For þe foner shuld com þider to duelle, And þe foner þat þider commes for syn, Þe les payn þai have þat duelles þar-in; And ay þe ma saules þat þider wendes, Þe mare þair payne es, þat never endes. Þus may help here and availe be skille Til þe saules þat duelles ay in helle stille; And til þe saules þat er in heven namly, And til þam þat er in purgatory. Bot help may na saules out of payn spede, Bot þam þat has charité and nede. For in helle es na charité, And in heven na ned may be. Bot bathe þa twa þe saules has Þat fra hethen til purgatory gas. And als a man may here with his hande, Make asethe for another lyfande, Þe whilk es noght of power þar-to, Right swa may a man for þe ded do. Þe saules þat til paradise er gane Nede of help here haf þai nane; Bot if for þam war don any gude dede, It may availe þam, þat of help has nede. Þe help þat es don here specialy Availles til þe saules in purgatory, Bot to som mare and til som les, Aftir þai er of worthynes; And aftir þe charité es clere Of þam þat er lyffand here, Þat mast er bysy, and dus mare For sum þan for other þat er þare. Bot when a man fra þis world sal flitte Na man for certayn here may wytte Whether he sal þan til purgatory wende, Or to blisse or to payn with-outen ende. For som semes gude here and parfite, Þat, after þe dede, er dampned als-tite; For parchaunce þai er ille with-in, And passes away in dedely syn. Some semes synful, als þai lyfed mys, Þat er save and er in þe way til blisse, For parchaunce byfor þair endyng, Þai er amended of þair myslyvyng. Of þis may na man certayn be, For it es Goddes pryveté. Bot we shuld trow, and suppose ay Þat alle er save and in gude way, Þat we se here gude werkes wirk, And has þe sacramentes of halikyrk. Bot whether it be or noght þus, We suld do þat es in us; We suld pray, bathe loud and stille, For al cristen saules; þus charité wille. Now sum may aske why synges men mes For a yhong child when it dede es, Þat of prayer, ne mes has na nede, For it couth never do synful dede. Þis may be þe right skille why, For þe lovyng of God principaly And for usage of haly kyrk, And for þe dedes use þat office to wirk. And yhit may þe mes in sum case Help þam in purgatory þat ned hase. Here haf yhe herde, als þe buke bers witnes, How almus, penance, praier and mes, Þat er done thurgh fre[n]des certayne, May help þe saules þatThe MS. reads 'þar'. er in payne. Now wille I shew yhow yhit mare þarto, What pardon may to þe saules do, Þe whilk þai purchaced, on right manere In clene lif whilles þai liffed here. Pardon helpes þam, als clerkes says, Þat it has purchased in þair lif days; For pardon of papes and bisschopes, Þat es granted here als men hopes, May availe þair saules in purgatory, Þat has purchaced it here worthyly, If þai of þair syn had contricion And war shrifen byfor þat pardon, Þan may pardon after þair dede In purgatory þam stand in stede. For pardon here, þat es certayn, May þam relese of þe dededette (MS. Harl. 6923). of payn, Als fer-forthe als pardon may reche, Þus haf I herd grete clerkes preche. Pardon properly noght elles es Bot of payne, þat es dette, forgyfnes. Pardon may nane hafe bot he wil wirke, For it es of þe tresur of haly kirke, Þat es gadirde for nede of pardon, Of þe vertu of Crestes passion, And of þe worthines of þe dedys Of his halowes and of þair medys; And [it] es gaderd on many maners; First als of marterdom of martires; Of penance and travail of confessours, And of þe thechyng of docturs; And of chastité of virgyns clene, Þat chast and haly ay has bene; Of þe fruyt of haly kirk werkes, And of þe prayers of gude prestes and clerkes; Of alle þis, als I shewed byfor, Es gadird haly kirkes tresor, Of wilk þe pape þe kays bers, Whar-with he bathe opens and spers. Þat falles hym of office to halde, For he es in erthe, Godes vicar calde. Þa cays er noght elles to se Bot playn power of his dignité, Thurgh whilk he may, be law and skille, Louse and bynde at his wille. For þe sam power hym falles to have, Þat Crist til Peter in erthe gave. For Crist gave to Peter playn powere, And says to hym on þis manere. Quodcunque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum et in celis, Et quodcunque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in celis. "Alle þat þou byndes in erthe," says he, "Sal in heven bunden be And alle þat þou lowses in erthe right Sal be loused in heven bright." Þis power til alle papes gaf he, Þat aftir Petre in erthe shuld be, Als shewes an exposicion Of þe haly godspelle in a lesson. Þan semes it wele by þis skille here, Þat þe pape has swa large powere To assoyle a man, and hym forgyfe, Alle þe dette of payn þat may greve, Swa þat he, þat þe pape assoyles, fulfille Þat, þat þe laghe of þe gospelle wille, Yf he þat es assoilede fulfylle Als þe lawe and þe godespelle wille. (Harl. 6923.) And yheld agayn, if he be myghty, Alle þat he tas wrangwysly; For when þe pape, þat grace wil do, He byndes hym and alle haly kirk þarto For hym til wham þat grace avayles To fulfille alle þat in hym failles, Bot bischopes here of lagher state, And has les power, als clerkes wate, For-why þair dignité here es les And þarfor þair powere restreyned es; Bot if it be noght swa suffishaunt Als þe papes es, yhit may þai graunt Of þair power pardon aparty Til þair hawen underloutesunderlynges (MS. Y). anly; And yhit most þat, als I sayd befor, Be gyfen of haly kirkes tresor. Bot na man may here pardon wyn, Bot he be out of dedly syn; For he, þat kepyng of þat fair tresour has, May noght it dele til haly kyrk fas; And swilk er þai and nan elles Þat here in dedly syn duelles; For out of haly kirk er þai, Þarfor na pardon whyn þai may. Bot þe frendes of haly kirk may wyn Pardon, for þai er with-in; And swilk er þas þat here er fre Of dedly syns and er in charité; Til wham pardon sal noght fail, Bot in purgatory it sal þam avail, To allege þair saules of payne, Als fer als it reches of certayne, Þe whilk, als sum says, falles to be sett For þe [r]emenand of payns, þat es, dett Þat parchaunce es lefte undon here; And þat may falle on sere manere. Aparty for penance þat es [en]ioynt, Þat es noght done at þe dedes poynt; Aparty for veniel syns sere; Aparty for syns þat er forgeten here; Aparty for over litelle penance, And for over littelle repentance; Aparty, for penance enioint, and done Parchaunce over reklesly and over sone; Aparty, for penance þat enioynt es, And es forgeten thurgh reklesnes. Alle þis may be cald þe remenand, Of þe dette of payn, als I understand Þe whilk felle to be fulfylled haly, Outher here or in purgatory, Bot alle þis dett may þar be qwytt Thurgh large pardon, wha-swa has itt, In forgyvenes of alle penance soght, Whethir it be here enioynt or noght. For swa mykel pardoun may a man Purches here, þat he may þan In purgatory qwyte alle þe dett, Þat hym fra blis may tary or lett; For swa large es haly kirkes tresor, Þat it es ynogh to pay þarfor, And for alle þe paynes þat dett may be Of alle þe men of cristanté. Þus pardon in purgatory availles, Als I tald; bot som clerkes counsailles Þat we it spare and reserve halely, Until we com til purgatory, And do here penance whilles we lyf may, For a man sal thynk þare a day Lenger þan hever thogh[t] him here, Þe space of alle ane hale yhere; Þan es a day of pardon to gesce Mare worthy þan alle þis worldis riches, For þe saule had lever, þat in payn dueles, A day of pardon þan anythyng elles; For alle þe werld, [if] it his ware, He wald gyf for rest a day þare. Of þis maters, þat þus mas mencion Of help of frendes and of pardon Þat vailles þam þat er in purgatory, Als I shewed byfor openly, Spekes Innocent and Austyn In bukes, whar þairþir? maters er sen; And Raymu[n]d spekes of þe same In a boke, þat es called his name; And Thomas Alqwyn spekes alswa Of þis mater, and of other ma In a boke, þe whilk made he, Þat'And' (Harl. 6923). hat Veritas Theologie. Here I have many maters redde, And þe ferthe parte of þis boke spede, In þe qwilk yhe hafe herd me specify Þe condicions of purgatory. First what it es to fele and se, And whar God has ordaynd it to be; And what paynes falles þar-to, les and mare, And whilk saules byhoves be pyned þare; And alswa for what manere of syn, And what may þam help þat er þar-in. Of al þis haf I spoken til þe ende, And now wille I til þe fifte part wende, Þat spekes of þe day of dome, And of takens þat byfor sal come. Here bygyns þe fifte part þat es of þe day of dome and of takens þat sal cum byfor. In þis part men may of ten þinges rede, Þat touches þe grete day of drede, Of whilk sum byfor þat day sal be, And at þe day, als men sal se. Þe first es of the wonderful takens sere, Þat byfor þat day sal be shewed here. Þe secunde es of þe fire þat sal bryn Þe world and al þat es þar-in. Þe thred es of þe rysyng generale Of alle men, bathe grete and smale. Þe ferthe es of crystes commyng don Til þe dome, in proper parson. Þe fifthe es þe certayn stede Whar Crist sal deme bathe qwik and dede. Þe sexte es of þe fourme of man, In whilk Crist sal shew hym þan. Þe sevend, of þe accusers many, Þat þe synful saul sal accuse þar openly. Þe aghtynd, of þe acunt and þe rekennyng, Þat þai sal yheld of alle þair lyfyng. Þe neghend, of al men aftir þai haf wroght, Of wilk som sal be demed, and som noght, Þe tend es of þe grete dome final, Þat Crist sal gyf and mak ende of al. Of þir sal som falle, als yhe herd me say, Byfor þat day and sum at þe day. Byfor þe day sere takens sal com, Of whilk men may here fynd wreten some, Als of ancrist'Antecrist' (Harl. 6923). commyng, and his pousté, And of other ma þat byfor þat day sal be, Þe whilk takens men sal thynk ful harde, Als yhe may se and here afterwarde. And wha-swa wille avise hym wele, He may ilk day here, se, and fele Takens, war-thurgh he may understande, Þat þe day of dome es fast comande. For wonders þat shuld falle, als I trow, Agayn þe worldes hende er sene now, Thurgh whilk wondres grete clerkes knawes Þat þe worlde fast to þe endeward drawes. Wharfor we shuld make us redy here, Als þe day of dome war command nere. Crist disciples, þat yherned haf knawyng, Of sum takens agayns his last commyng, Spak to Crist, als yhe may here, In þe godspelle on þis manere: Dic nobis signum adventus tui et consummacionem seculi; Et respondens, Ihesus Christus dixit eis, Videte ne quis vos sedu| cat; multi enim venient in nomine meo dicentes, Ego sum Cristus, et multos seducent &c. Consurget enim gens contra gentem et regnum in regnum, et erunt pestulencie et fames, et terre motus per loca. Hec autem omnia inicia sunt dolorum, et habundabit iniquitas, et refrigescet caritas multorum. '·Says us", cryed þai, "of þi commyng Som taken and of þe world endyng. Crist als tite answerd þam þan, And sayd lukes þat yhow desayve na man, For many sal com in my name, Þat sal say þus, 'Crist I am,' And many a man þai sal bygile Bot þai sal regne here bot a while; Andrewme ogayne rewme, on þe same wyse Men ogayne men, thurgh strength, sal ryse; Pestilences and hungers sal be, And erthedyns in many contré. And al þis sal be bygynnyng hard Of þe sorows þat sal com aftirward; Wykkednesse sal wax many falde, And charité of many sal wax calde." Þir takens til his disciples tald he Þat ogayn þe worldes ende shuld be. Bot sum of þir takens has bene, And sum of þam sal yhit be sene. And of takens þat yhit sal com, If yhe wille, I sal tel yhow som. And first of ancrist wille I say Þat sal com befor domesday, Aftir þe destruccion sal be Of þe empyre of Rome, þat es yhit fre. Som tyme al landes of þe world obout Was sugette til Rome and underlout, Þat at certayn teremestermes (Harl. 4196). gaf it trowage, Als þe custom þan was and þe usage; Þat custom alle landes þan byhoved do, Bot Saynt Paule says þus þarto: Quoniam nisi venerit dissencio primum etc., id est, nisi prius dissenserint omnia regna a Romano Imperio, que prius erant sub| dita, non antea veniet antichristus. He says "bot if dissencion come, Þat es, bot-if alle landes hald agayn Rome, Swa þat it be put til destruccion Thurgh þam þat first was in subieccion, Anticrist ar þat tyme sal noght com Þat sal com byfor þe day of dom. Þat destrucion, als says haly writt, Sal be, bot þat tyme com noght yhitt. Fra þat tyme sal na land ne contré In subieccion of Rome langer be; Ne fra þan sal na man be bughsome, Ne obedient to þe kirk of Rome. Men sese þat þe empire, þat was swa myghty, Es now destruyed a grete party; Bot at þe last, als I sayd are, It sal be destruyed wele mare, Bot þe dignité þat til it sal falle, Sal noght in þat tyme perysshe alle. It sal stand and duelle with-outen dout In alle his regyons obout. Þos sal þe first taken bygyn at Rome; For it es heved of al cristendome; For when it es put til destrucion Alle haly kyrk sal be put don. Some clerkes says þat an sal come Þat sal hald þe empire of Rome Alle halely and his croun bere Wele, and in pees with-outen were. He sal be last emparour þat þare sal be, And mast of alle kynges of pousté; Þe whilk sal wele maynten his state And þe empire, with-outen debate, And it governe thurgh laghe and witte, Als lang als he sal hald itte. Bot afterwarde at þe last ende Until Ierusalem he sal wende; And on þe mount of Olyvette He sal þe septre of Rome sette, And his coron he sal lay don alswa, And lef þam þar and fra þam ga. Þus sal ende þe dignité of Rome; And als sone aftir sal anticrist come, Als clerkes says, þat has understandyng Of Daniel and of Saynt Paul saying; Þan sal anticrist þat tyme bygyn, Þat Saynt Paul calles þe man of syn. For alle-if he be man, never-þe-les, He sal be welle of alle wykkednes. Þe devels son he sal be cald; Bot thurgh kynd men shuld him noght swa hald, Bot thurgh his turnyng fra gode til ille; For he sal þe devels wille fulfille. Alle þe power of þe devel of helle And alle his witte in hym sal duelle; In wham al þe tresor of malice Sal be hidde with alle maner of vice. He sal til Criste contrarius be And til alle his lyms þat he sal se; And heghen hym thurgh pride, þat he sal halde, Aboven al þat er paens goddes calde, Þat es to say, Iubiter and Mercury, And Appolyn and Herculy; And noght anly oboven þa goddes alle, Þat þe paens þair goddes sal calle, Bot he sal heghe himself to be Aboven þe haly trinité; And alle þe creatours, bath mare and les, Shuld honoure over alle thyng þat es, Ful synful sal be his bygynnyng, And wonderful sal be his lyvyng. And his endyng sal be sodayn; For thurgh myght of God he[sal] be slayn, In his tyme sal be swylk tribulacion And swa mykel parsecucion, Þat unnethes any sal dur graunt Þat he es cristen, and God servant. For mare parsecucion sal be þan, Þan ever was sythen þe world bygan. Anticrist es, þos mykel at say, Als he þat es ogayn Crist ay. Þan may ilk man be cald by skille Anticrist þat dos ogayn Goddes wille. Þan may alle þas anticristes be calde, Þat ogaynes Goddes laghe will halde. Bot ma[n]y swilk men may wele knawe Þat mykel dus ogayns Goddes lawe. Be many skill we may some knawe Þat mekille dose agayne Goddes lawe. (MS. Harl. 6923.) Bot anticrist, als says haly writ, Sal com at þe last, þat com noght yhitt, Als mast tyraunt with-outen pyté, Þat ever was or ever sal be. Wharfor I hald þir gret mysdoers Als anticrist lyms and his forgangers. Now wha-swa wille a whyle duelle Aparty here I wille hym telle Of þe maner of anticrist bygynnyng, And of his lif and of hys endyng. He sal be geten, als clerkes shew can, Bytwen a synful man and a woman, And aftir þat he consayved sal be Þe fende sal entre, thurgh his pousté, With-in his moder wambe sone; Þus, sais a grete clerke, sal be done Thurgh was myght he sal be forth-broght; And wonders thurgh hym sal be wroght. He sal be cald þe child þat es lorn; And in Corozaym he sal be born Of a woman of þe kynred of SanDane (MS. Harl. 6923) = of the tribe of Dan.; Bot cristendome sal he have nan. He sal be maliciouse and ful of envy, Als of hym þus spekes þe prophecy: Fiat Dan coluber in via, cerastes in semita, mordens ungulas equi, ut cadat ascensor eius retro, Hoc est [Anticristus] sicut serpens, in via sedebit, et in semita erit, ut eos, qui per semitam iusticie ambu| lant, feriat et veneno sue malicie occidat. "Þe Dan" he says "sal þe nedder be Sitand in þe way als men sal se; And sal byte þe hors by þe hufe harde, And mak þe upstegher fal bakwarde: And þat es þus mykel at say, AlsÞat (Harl. 4196). anticrist, als nedder, sal sit in þe way, And smyte þam alle, bathe mare and les, Þat walkes in þe way of rightwysnes, And sla þam thurgh þe venym Of þe malice þat sal cum of hym." Yhit sal he be circumcid And thurgh þat his malice a whyle sal hid. Alswa til hym sal assygned be A gude angelle, þat he sal noght se, Aftir his birthe in his bygynnyng, Þat of him sal haf þe kepyng, Bot for he agayn þe trouthe þat es, Sal be hardend in wikkednes His gude angelle sal fra hym wende, And leve hym in þe kepyng of þe fende. He sal be lered, als I understand, And nurist and mast conversand In þe cité of Bethsayda; In Capharnaum he sal regne alswa Þe whilk Bethsayda, and Capharnaum, And Corozaym God weried whilom; For God spak til þas thre cites þos, Als þe godspelle here shewes us: Ve tibi Corozayin! Ve tibi Bethsayda! Ve tibi Capharnaum! He says, "wa til þe Corozaym mot cum And til þe Bethsayda and Capharnaum." For þus in þe first he sal be born and bredde, And in þe secunde be nuryst, and regne in þe thredde. He sal gader fast til hym þan Alle þat of þe devels crafte can, Als negremanciens and tregettours, Wiches and false enchauntours, Þat þe devels crafte sal hym ken Whar-thurgh he sal decayve þe men. Afterwarde thurgh ledyng of þe fende He sal even to Ierusalem wende; And þar sal he duelle in þat cité And in myddes þe temple make his se, And say til alle þat þar sal won, Þat he es Crist, Goddes son, And mak þe folk hym to honour; And sal say þat he es þair saveour. He sal say þat na right cristen man Was never byfor his tym bygan, Bot fals anticristes he sal þam calle; And say þai lyved in fals trowthe alle Þat has bene fra þe worldes bygynnyng Until þe tyme of his commyng. He sal be lusty and lycherous, And desayvabel and trecherous; He sal hym feyn first als haly, And shew þan appert ypocr[is]y, To desayve cristen men and lele Als says þe prophet Danielle: In aperto tum per ypocrisym simulabit sanctitatem, ut facilius decipere possit. "First" he says "he sal apertely Feyn halynes thurgh ypocrisy, Þat he mught lightlyer men bygile." Bot þat time sal last bot a while, He sal al kynges and princes til hym drawe And turne þam alle til his lawe; And thurgh þam þe poples sal turned be Of ilka land and ilka cuntré. In alle stedes he sal walk and pas, Þar Crist welk when he in erthe was. In swylk a presumpcion he sal falle Þat he sal thynk hym loverd of alle. Thurgh pride he sal ogayn God ryse And hym sclaunder and his law dispise, And afforce hym and be bysy, His laghe to chaunge and fordo haly; He sal turne al poples to his lawe, And til him on four maners þam drawe. A manere sal be, thurgh fals prechyng Another thurgh fals miracles shewyng, Þe thred thurgh large gyftes to gyfe, And þe ferthe thurgh drede of turmentis griefe. Thurgh fals prechyng in ilk cuntré Many til hym sal turned be. For he sal send thurgh alle þe world wyde His prechours to preche on ilka side, Þe qwilk sal preche undir fals colour, And say Cristes lawe es not bot errour; And anticristes lawe þai sal comend And agayn suthfastnes it defend, And forbede ilk man þat þai noght halde Þe new lawe, þat es Cristes lawe calde, And his ministres sal swa lette yhit Þat na man sal expound haly writ, Þat es to say, to right undirstandyng. For þai sal say it es bot lesyng, And make þe pople to trow haly Þat þai sal noght be saved þarby. Þus sal þai bring þe folk in errour Thurgh þair prechyng with false colour, Swa his lawes sal pas and his powere Fra þe est syde til þe west, thurgh þe world here; And fra þe southe til þe north, alswa His lawes and his power sal ga. He sal turne men on another manere Thurgh fals miracles and wonders sere; For he sal þan shew wonders many Thurgh enchauntementes and nygroma[n]cy. Swa gretely, þat þe pople sal se, And þat thurgh myght of þe devel sal be, Of whilk wondirs I sal tel yhou sum, He sal do fire fra þe heven don com, And þat sal be noght bot an ille spirit, Þat out of þe ayre sal com doun tite, And omang his disciples don light, And with sere tunges til þam spek ryght, Als dyd til þe apostels þe haly gast And þat sal be in mens sight mast, For þa þat his disciples sal be cald Sal þam avant, and þam self hald Better of lif and to God mare dere, Þan ever war Cristes appostels here. Alswa thurgh þe devels crafte and myght, He sal feyn him ded til mens syght, And on þe thred day thurgh þe devels rede He sal feyn hym to ryse fra dede, And devels aftir sal bere hym up even In-til þe ayre als he suld stey to heven; And als he byfor sal be sene, Als he fra dede rase, men sal wene Þat he es til heven ravyst, And trow þan þat he es verray crist. Þus sal anticrist þan countrefette Þe wondirs of God in erthe swa grete; Ma wondirs yhit wirk sal he Þat þe pople sal openly se. He sal do trese growe and florisshe fayre And chace þe wyndes about and þe ayre. Fra heven he sal do falle rayne-shours And mak waters to ryn ogayn þair cours. He sal trobel þe se when he wille, And pees it and make it be stille. He sal chaung on wonder manere Divers kyndes in figures sere. He sal do dede ymages and dome Speke of thynges þat er to come. He sal alswa dede men uprays, Þat sal gang obout, als þe boke says, And þat sal be thurgh þe devels quayntis, For devels sal entre in-til þe dede bodys And bere þa dede bodys obout, Swa þat parfit men sal be in dout Whether he es verray crist or noght, And þus sal men be in errour broght. On þe thred maner he sal bygille Many thurgh gyftes within short whyle, And turne þam til a fals belyefe Thurgh large gyftes þat he þam sal gyfe. For he sal fynde alle þe tresour Þat es, or was ever hidde byfor Under erthe, or ourwar elles Þat may noght be gesced; for sum telles Þat mar tresor under erthe es hidde Þan oboven es knawen or kydde; Of whilk he sal þam alle ryche make, Þat þe lawe of Criste here wille forsake. Þos sal he shew men welth worldly For to desayve þam þan þarby. Of þe ferthe maner aftir þan He sal turne til hym many a man; And do þam haly folowe his trace Thu[r]gh grete tourmentes and manace, And thurgh drede of dede þat mast may grefe, For elles he sal noght thole þam lyefe. Ful grete tribulacions he sal þam shewe, Als Godin þe godspelle sayis thurgh Mathewe: Tanta erit tribulacio, ut in errorem inducantur, si fieri potest, eciam electi. He says "mikel tribulacion Sal be þan til ilka nacion," Thurgh out þe world, ferre and nere, "Þat þas þat God has chosen here Suld be broght in error sone If God wild suffre þat it warre done." Bot in þe appocalipse apparty Es sayd þus ful mistyly, Pedes eius sunt simules auricalco, sicut in camino ardente. He says "his fete er like latoun bright Als in a chymné brynnand light." And þis was þat Iohan saw in a vision Of hym þat semed þe virgyn son. By his fete þat als latoun was semand Crist last lyms men may undirstand, Þe whilk sal be parfite men in charité Þat agayne þe worldes ende martird sal be, Þat es to say, in tym of Anticrist, Thurgh wham many saules sal be perist. Þe chimné, brinand with þe het, Bytakens þe tribulacion gret. Þat sal be when anticrist sal come, Thurgh wham many sal thole grete marterdome. Anticrist sal be þe mast tyraunt Þat ever was; for he sal haunt Alle þe maners of turmentes kene In whilk any martirs byfor has bene; For on sere maners he sal þam turment Þat wille noght til his law assent; And put alle þa to þe dede at þe last Þat ay duels in þe trouthe stedfast. Bot alle cristen men in þat cuntré Þar Crist welk, mast tourmented sal be. And Haymo says, þat a grete clerk was, Hys tyrauntry thurgh þe world sal pas. Þe devels þat er now bunden swa, Þat þai may noght about flegh ne ga, Ne nuye als mykel als þai walde, Sal þan be louse and nathyng þam halde. Þat tyme sal preche na cresten man, For þai sal be halden als cursed þan; Ne nan sal bye with þam ne selle, Ne felaghshepe hald with þam ne duelle, Bot with þas þat had Criste forsaken And þe merk of anticrist had taken, Þat men mught knawe and understand Þat þai til anticrist war assentand. For al þas men sal bere his merk, Þat sal forsake to wirk Cristes werk, And sal folowe anticristes lawe, By his merk men sal þam knawe, Þe whilk þai sal ber, als I understande, Outher in þe frount or in þe ryght hande. Bot other þat wille noght do his rede Sal be done to vilans dede. On þis four maners, als I haf shewed, He sal drawe til hym bathe lered and lewed, And crysten law sal be doun layde, Þarfor þus in appocalips es sayde: Cauda eius tertiam partem stellarum celi trahebat, et misit eas in terra. He says, "with his tayle he droghe don even Þe thred part of þe sternes of heven, And into þe erthe sent þam ryght," Þar þai mught noght shyne ne gyf lyght. Þis was þe taille of þe dragon Þat Saynt Johan saw in a vision. Þe dragon es understanden þe fende And his taille anticrist þat folowed at þe ende And þe thred part of þe sternes bright Er cristen men undirstanden right, Þe whilk he sal fra right trowthe draw, And do þam in erthe to hald his law. Þe men of þe worlde þat er covaytous He sal turne thurgh gyftes precious, For he sal gyf þam, þat turned wil be, Of gold and silver grete plenté. Alswa men of symple connyng He sal turne thurgh miracles and prechyng. Gude men, þat haldes Goddes commandmentes, He sal turne thurgh manace and turmentes. Many þat semes gude and rightwyse Saltrow in hym, and Crystes trouth despyse. First sal anticrist com in myldnes And prech ogayn þe right trouth þat es, And myracles sal thurgh hym be done; Þan sal þe Iewes resayve hym sone And be turned til hym al haly. And þat tyme sal com Ennoc and Ely Ogayn anticrist to preche ful harde, Als yhe may se and here afterwarde. Þan sal anticrist bygyn felly To pursue men thurgh tyrauntry, Gret parsecucion þan sal he wyrk Agayn cristen men and haly kirk, Þan sal he destroye cristen lawe, And Gog and Magog til hym drawe, Þe whilk er halden, als men telles, Þe werst folk þat in þe world duels. Som says þat þai er closed haly By-yhonde þe mountes of Caspy; Bot þai er noght swa closed obout Þat þai ne mught lightly com out, Yif a qwene ne war, þat haldes þam in, Thurgh stre[n]gthe, þat þai may noght out wyn, Þat es cald þe qwene of Amazons, Under whas powere þat folk wons, Bot at þe last þai sal breke out And destroy many landes obout. For þe Iewes has swylk a prophecy And says þus omang þam commonly, Þat þis folk ogayne þe worldes ende Sal com out, and til Ierusalem wende With þair crist, þat wonders sal wirke, And þan sal þai distroie haly kyrke. Some clerkes says, als þe glose telles, Þat Gog and Magog es noght elles Bot þe host of onticrist [þat] sal come Sodanly ogayn þe day of dome, And ogayne haly kyrk werray For to distroye it if þai may. Þe glose of þe buke says alswa Þat by Gog er understanden alle þa Thurgh whilk þe devel, our mast enemy, Sal cristen men pursue prively. By Magog may þas understanden be Thurgh wham openly pursue sal he, Or þas er understanden þar-by, Þat in anticrist tyme first pryvely And aftirward openly, sal wyrk Wykkedness ogayne haly kyrk. Gog es als mykel at say, als covert, And Magog es noght elles bot als apert. Þir twa prophetes, als says som, Ennok and Hely byfor sal com, Bytwene þe tyme of þe commyng privé Of anticrist, when he sal born be, And þe tyme of his oppen commyng, Þat sal be thurgh open prechyng And thurgh open parsecucion, Þat he sal do til diverse nacion. Bytwen þa tymes þa prophetes twa On sere partes sal preche swa, Þat thurgh þair prechyng þai sal drawe And convert þe Iewes til cristen lawe, For þus spekes þe prophete Malachy, In a boke of þe prophecy: Convertent corda patrum in filios. He says "þai sal turne thurgh Goddes myght Þe fadirs hertes intil þe sons right." Þat es, þai sal turne þe Iewery Until right cristendom halely. Þan sal Iewes þe sam lawe halde, Þat þai haf, þat er cristen men calde And als cristen men dus swa sal þai do, Als þe glose says þat acordes þar-to: Percipient fidem quam ipsi habuerunt. "Þe Iewes sal tak þan with hert glade Þe trouth þat cristen men byfor hadde." Wharfor þe Iewes and cristen men, Als þa twa prophetes sal þam ken, Sal þan thurgh even entencion Assent in Crist als a religion. Þai sal preche als þe appocalips says, A thousand and twa hundreth days And sexti, als men sal se and here. And als þe glose says; þat es, thre yhere, Als Crist him-self did þat voched safe To preche þe sam law þat we hafe. Þai sal be als þe appocalips spekes, In harde hayres clendeCled (MS. Harl. 4196). and in sekkes; Þat es þai sal þan penance preche And thurgh ensaumple of penance teche, Bot als tite als anticrist sal knawe Þat þai turne Iewes til cristen lawe Thurgh ensaumple þat þai shew, and sarmonThurgh þair ensample and þair sermone (MS. Harl. 6923)., Þan sal he shew grete parsecucion And grevusly þam tourment, Þat til his law wille noght assent, And do þam to hard dede at þe last, Yf þai in þe trouthe be stedfast. Anticrist sal be þan ful wrathe, He sal do tak þa prophetes bathe And in Ierusalem, thurgh þe devels rede, Hastyly do þam bathe to dede. Þan sal þair bodys, als þe buke says, In þe stretes ligg stille thre days And an half, oboven erthe namly, For na man sal þam dur biry, For drede þat þai sal haf þan Of anticrist, þat wikked man. Þair enemys when þai er slayn Of þair dede þai sal be fayn. When þai haf liggen dede on þis wyse Thre days and an half, þai sal ryse, And þan þair enmys a voce sal here Until þam spek, on þis manere: 'Ely and Ennok steyes up bathe, For yhe er passed al maner of wathe.' And als tyte, when þai haf herd þis steven, In a cloude þai sal stey up til heven, Þat alle þe pople þan sal se. A grete wondre tyl þam þat sal be. Aftir þair dede, als þe buke says, Anticrist sal regne, yhit fiften days, Þan sal he turne alle til hym haly Þat war turned til Ennok and Hely; And alle, þat til hym wille noght trow þan, Sal þan be don til þe dede, ilk man. Anticrist, in his grete tyrantry, Sal regne thre yhere and an half fully; Þan sal God abrege his days, Als Mathew in þe Godspel says: Nisi breviati finissent dies, non erit salva omnis caro. "Bot his days war abreged," says he, "Fone men fra þan sal save be." Bot his tyme God abrege sal þan. Til þis, says Saynt Gregore þe haly man Quia nos infirmos aspicit deus, dies malos quos singulariter intulit, misericorditer breviabit. He says "for-þi, þat God sese right Þat we er freyle and feble of myght, Þe days þat er ille and hevy, Þat er putted til sere men singulerly,singulary (MS. Harl. 4196). Yhit, at þe last, abrege sal he, Thurgh his gudenes and his pyté." Anticrist sal be with-outen pere, And he sal lyf twa and thretty yhere And an half, als som clerkes says þai se; Of swa many yhere his eld sal be Fra þe tyme of his first bygynnyng, Until þe tyme of his last endyng. For sum says he sal lyf als many yhere Als Crist lifed, in manskynd here, And when he has þus lang lyfed, Þan sal na ma thurgh him bybe? greved. He sal þan son fele Goddes vengeance And with-outen any repentance, He sal be slayn, ful sodanly, Thurgh þe myght of God almyghty, Opon þe mounte of Olyvett, In þe stede whar Crist his fete sett, When he stey up til heven bright, And swa sal he ende thurgh Goddes might. Som clerkes yhit says alswa, Þat Saynt Michael sal hym sla, Thurgh Goddes byddyng in þe same stede, In þe whilk he sal be funden dede. And þe boke says, alswa, þat he, Thurgh þe gast of Goddes mouthe slayn sal be. Bot how swa it be þis es certayn, Thurgh Goddes myght þar sal he be slayn. Anticrist mynisters, when he es dede, Sal mak ioy þan in ilka stede, And haf þair delices nyght and day, And wedden wyfes, and þus say: 'Alle-if our prince be dede þus We haf pees and welthe plenteuus,' And right als þai sal say þus alle Sodanly ded þai sal doun falle, Thurgh þe myght of God almyghty, Þus sal þai enden sodanly. Bot yhit when þai alle er þus fordone, Þe grete dome sal noght be aftir alsone. For þe glose of Danyel þus says: "God sal graunt fyve and fourty days Til alle þas þat desayved sal be, Thurgh anticrist and his meyné," Þat þai may amende þam of þair syn, And do penance, ar þe dome bygyn." Þe Iewes sal þan al turned be Til þat right trouthe, þe whilk haf we Þan sal God fulfille in þe last days, Þis worde þat he in þe godspel says, Et fiet unum ovile et unus pastor. He sais "alle folkes to fald sal falle, And a hirde sal be to kepe þam alle." Þat folk Iewes and cristen men sal be talde Under a trouthe in haly kirkes falde; Fra þat tyme forthe sal hali kirke be In pees and rest with-outen adversité. For þan sal faile alle power of þe fende, Fra þat tyme unto þe worldes ende, Swa þat he sal nother tempte ne gryefe Haly kirk, ne man þat þan sal lyefe. Bot how mikel space sal be fra þan Til þe day of dome, wate na man; For of al þe prophetes, þat men may neven, And alle þe halghes, and angels in heven, Mught never nane witt þat privité, What tyme þe day of dome sal be; For God wille þat nane it byfor wytte, Bot him-self þat has ordaynt itte; Þarfor Crist til his disciples sayde þus, Als þe boke of apostels werkes shewes us: Non est vestrum nosse tempora vel momenta que pater possuit in sua potestate. "It falles noght yhow knaw þe time privé Þat þe fadir has sette in his awen pousté," Þarfor na man suld aske, ne say How mykel we hafe til domes day; Ne we suld noght yherne it to lere, Ne witte wether it be ferre or nere. Bot we suld mak us redy alle, Als þe day of dome to morn suld falle, And thynk ay on þat drede-ful dome, Als þe haly man dyd, Saynt Ierome. Þat ay þar-on thoght, bathe nyght and days, And þarfor þus in a boke he says: Sine comedam, sine bibam, sine aliquid aliud faciam, semper michi videtur illa tuba resonare in auribus meis, 'sur| gite mortui, venite ad iudicium.' He says "whether I ette or I drynk, Or oght elles do, ay me thynk Þat þe beme þat blaw sal on domsday, Sounes in myn eres, þat þus says ay: 'Ryse yhe þat er dede, and come Un-to þe grete dredful dome'." Now haf yhe herd of þe bygynnyng Of anticrist, and of his lif and his endyng, Þat men may a werrayverray. taken calle, Þat agayne þe day of dome sal falle. Many ma takens yhit men sal se, Byfor ar þat dreful day sal be, Bathe in erthe and yhit in heven, Als we here Crist in þe gospelle neven, Whare he spekes of takens sere Þat sal falle, And says on þis manere: Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis; et in terris pressura gencium pre confusi| ione sonitus maris et fluctuum, arescen| tibus hominibus pre timore et expectacione, que supervenient universo orbi. Nam virtutes celorum movebuntur, Et tunc videbunt filium hominis venientem in nubibus, cum potestate magna et maiestate &c. Þir er þe wordes of þe gospelle, Þat Crist til his disciples gun telle. He says þus als he ordaynd be done: "Takens sal be in þe son and in þe mone, And in þe sternes þat in heven men may ken, And in erthe sal be grete thrang of men, For þe mengyng of þe noys of þe se Of þe flodes, þat þan sal be; And men sal wax dry in þat dyn For drede and for lang bydyng þar-in, Þat til al þe world sal com" says he, For þe myghtes of heven sal þan styrd be, And þai sal se þe son of man Comand doun in cloudes þan, With his grete myght and magesté," And þat tyme sal þe grete dome be. Þir takens er tald aftir þe lettre here, Bot þe exposicion may be on othir manere. Alswa God, þat alle thynges knawes wele, He says þus thurgh þe prophete Ioele: Et dabo prodigia in celo sursum, et signa in terra deorsum, sanguinem et ignem et vaporem fumi; sol convertetur in tenebras et lu| na in sanguinem, antequam veniat dies domini magnus et manifestus. He says "I sal gyfe wonders sere Up in heven, als men sal here; And takens doun in erthe ere-on to luke, Þat es blode and fire and brethe of smoke; Þe son sal be turned in-til mirknes, And þe mone in-til blode, and be lyghtles, Byfor or þe day of our lord sal falle, Þat sal be grete and openly shewed til alle. Þat grete day is þe grete day of dome, Agayn whilk alle þir takens sal come; Þan may men by swilk takens wytte Þat it es þe mast day þat ever was yhitte, And þe straytest and þe mast harde, Als men may se and here aftirwarde. Yhit spekes þe haly man Saynt Ierome Of fiften takens þat sal come Byfor Cristes commyng, als he says, Þe whilk sal falle in XV days; Bot whether any other days sal falle Bytwen þa days, or þai sal alle Continuely falle, day aftir day, Saynt Ierom says, he can noght say; And yhit for certayn approves noght he Þat þa fiften days of takens sal be, Bot he reherces þa takens fiftene Als he þam fand, and writen had sene In som bokes of þe Ebriens, Þat þa XV days contens. Bot Saynt Ierome shewes noght ne telles, Þat he þam fand writen ourwhar elles, Bot in þe Hebriens bokes he þam fande And reherces þam, als he saw þam stande, Ilka day aftir other even, Als yhe may here me now neven. Þe first day of þas fiften days, Þe se sal ryse, als þe bukes says, Abowen þe heght of ilka mountayne, Fully fourty cubyttes certayne, And in his stede even upstande, Als an heghe hille dus on þe lande. Þe secunde day, þe se sal be swa law Þat unnethes men sal it knaw. Þe thred day, þe se sal seme playn And stand even in his cours agay[n], Als it stode first at þe bygynnyng, With-outen mare rysyng or fallyng. Þe fierth day, sal swilk a wonder be, Þe mast wondreful fisshes of þe se Sal com to-gyder and mak swilk romyngroryng (MS Lands. 348). Þat it sal be hydus til mans heryng. Bot what þat romiyngroryng (MS Lands. 348). sal signify, Na man may whit, bot God almyghty. Þe fift day, þe se sal brynne And alle watters als þai sal rynne; And þat sal last fra þe son rysyng Til þe tyme of þe son doun gangyng. Þe sext day, sal spryng a blody dewe On grisse and tres, als it sal shewe. Þe sevend day byggyns doun sal falle And grete castels, and tours with-alle. Þe eght day, hard roches and stanes Sal strik togyder, alle attanes. An ilkan of þam sal other doun cast, And ilkan agayn other hortel fast, Swa þat ilka stan, on divers wyse, Sal sonder other in thre partyse. Þe neghend day, gret erthedyn sal be, Generaly in ilka contré; And swa gret erthdyn als sal be þan Was never hard, sythen þe world bygan. Þe tend day þar-aftir to neven, Þe erthe sal be made playn and even, For hilles and valeis sal turned be In-til playn, and made even to se. Þe ellevend day men sal com out Of caves, and holes and wend about, Als wode men, þat na witt can; And nane sal spek til other þan. Þe twelfte day aftir, þe sternes alle And þe signes fra þe heven sal falle. Þe thredend day sal dede men banes Be sett to-gyder, and ryse al attanes, And aboven on þair graves stand; Þis sal byfalle in ilka land. Þe fourtend day, al þat lyves þan Sal dighe, childe, man and woman For þai shalle with þam rys ogayn Þat byfor war dede, outher til ioy or payn. Þe fiftend day, þos sal betyde, Alle þe world sal bryn on ilk syde, And þe erthe whar we now duelle, Until þe utter end of alle helle. Þus tels Ierom þer takens fiftene, Als he in þe bokes of Ebriens had sene. Bot for alle þa takens þat men sal se, Yhit sal na man certayn be What tyme Crist sal come til þe dome, Swa sodanly he sal doun come; For als byfel in Noe and Loth days, Swa sal he com, for Luke in þe godspel says: Et sicut factum est in diebus Noe, ita erit adventus filii hominis: edebant et bibebant, uxores ducebant et dabantur ad nupcias, usque ad diem, qua intravit Noe in archam; et venit diluvium et perdidit omnes: Si| militer factum est in diebus Loth, ede| bant et bibebant, emebant et vendebant, plantabant et edificabant, qua die autem exiit Loth a Sodomis, et subilo pluit ignem et sulphur de celo, et perdidit omnes; secundum autem hoc erit qua die filius hominis revelabitur. Þir er þe wordes of þe godspelle, Þat es on Inglissche þus to telle: "Als was done in þe days of Noé, Right swa mans son sal com" says he, "Men ete and drank þan and war glade, And wedded wyfes, and bridalles made Until þe day, namly, þat Noe Went in-to þe shippe þat made he, And sodanly come þe flode þat tyde And fordid alle þe world swa wyde. Alswa in þe days of Loth byfelle, Men ete and drank, shortly to telle, Ilkan with other, and salde and boght, And planted, and bygged, and houses wroght, And þat day, þat Loth yhed out of Sodome, Sodanly Goddes vengeance come; It rayned fire fra heven and brunstane, And tynt al þat þare was, and spard nane, Right þus sal falle, als men sal se, Þe day man son sal shewed be." In þe ende of þe world, byfor þe dome, An hydus fire sal sodanly come, Þat alle þe world sal haly bryn, And nathyng spare þat es þar-in, For alle þe erthe sal bryn with-oute And þe Elementes, and alle þe ayre oboute, And alle þat God in þe world has wroght, Sal þan be brynned and wasted to noght. Þis fire þat thurgh þe world sal ryse, Sal com þan fra sere partyse; For alle þe fire þat es in þe spere, And under erthe, and aboven erthe here, Sal mete togyder attans þan, And bryn alle þat lyves, best and man, And alle þat growes in erthe and ayre, Tille alle be clensed, and made fayre Of alle þe corrupcions þat men may se, Þe whilk in þe ayre or in þe erthe may be; Þis fire, als þe buk says alsAnd leres (Harl. 4196). lers, Sal brin and wirk on four maneres. It sal wirk als þe fir of helle To punyssche þe synful þat þar sal duelle It sal wirk als fire of pnrgatory To clense men of veniel syn fully. It sal wirk als fire of herth here, Þat over alle sal bryn far and nere, To wast alle þat on erthe springes Als gresse, and tres, and alle other thynges, And alswa þe bodys of ilk man To brin haly in-to askes þan; It sal wirk als þe fire of þe spere, To make þe elementes clene and clere And alle þe ayre bright of hew, And þe hevens, for to serve als new. Thurgh þis fire þat þus sal rayke obout, Þe face of þe erth sal brin with-out, And þe shappe of þe world sal for-done be Als it was first thurgh þe flode of Noe; And als þat flode passed cubites fiften Over þe heyghest mount, þat ever was sen, Right swa þe fire als heyghe sal pas To fordo þe world als it þan was; And als God byfor his first commyng Wald here fordo, with-outen lettyng, Alle þe world thurgh water anly Agayn þe fire of lychery, Right swa, byfor his last commyng, He sal of þe world mak endyng, Thurgh fire þat sal swa brinnand be, Agayn þe dasednescoldnes (MS. Lands. 348). of charité. Þe wirkyng of þe fire swa brinnand Sal contendcontene? þir thre short tymes passand, Þat es bygynnyng, mydward, and ende, Als in þis bok es here contende. First þe fire, at þe bygynnyng, Sal cum byfor Cristes commyng, Þat þe gude men sal þan clensen and fine, And þe wikked men hard punnys and pyne, Þat here luffed syn and thoght it swete, And þarfor says þus David þe prophete: Ignis ante ipsum precedet, et inflammabit incircuitu inimicos eius. "Þe fir byfor hym, on sere partys, Sal ga and about brine his enemys;" Þat fire mens bodys to askes sal brin, And þe world and alle þat es þar-ine; Þus sal þe fire first byfor come, Ar Crist com doun til þe dome. And when þe fire has wasted, als I talde, Þan sal al men ryse, bathe yhong and alde, Out of þair graves with saul and body, And come til þe dome þan alle halely And our Loverd Crist sal com doun þan, And sit in dome, als domes man, And deme þan, bathe gude and ille, Als yhe may aftir-ward here, if yhe wille; And yhit þe fire alle þat tyde Sal brin obout hym, on ilka syde, Als þe prophete David bers wytnes In þe Psauter, þar þus writen es: "Ignis, in conspectu eius, exardescet, et incircuitu eius tempestas valida." "Þe fyre sal brin in his sight," says he, And obout hym grete tempest sal be." And als lang als þat dome sal last Þe fire sal brin, on ilk syde fast; And when þe dome es broght til ende, Þa þat sal be dampned sal wende, With alle þe fire þat swa sal brin, Til helle pytt, and duelle ay þar-in. Þan sal alle þe fire be sweped doune In-til helle, with alkyn corrupcioune, And alle þe filth of þe world, neshe and hard, Als in þis bok es writen aftirward. Þus thurgh alle þe world þe fire4sal brin, And clense it of al manere of syn, And of alle corrupcions, bath hegh and, law Þat men may now se, here, and knaw; And when þe fire has wasted al erdly thyng, Þan sal þe hevens sees of movyng. Our Lord yhit þan, or he com doun, For to sytte in dome in proper parsoun, Sal send byfor, als þe buke tels, In four partys his angels, With þair bemes þat þai sal blaw, Þat alle þe world sal here and knaw; Alle men þai sal þan upcalle And byd þam cum til þe dome alle. Alle men sal ryse þan þat ever had life, Man and woman, mayden and wyfe, Gude and ille, with fleshe and felle, In body and saul, als clerkes can telle; And þat in als short whyle als hert may thynk, Or mans eghe may open or wynk, Fra þe tyme þat þai þe son sal here, For þe apostel says on þis manere: "Omnes resurgent in momento, in ictu oculi, in novissima tuba." He says "alle sal ryse in a tym movyng, Als in þe space of an eghe twynklyng, When þai here þe dredeful blast Of þe beme, þat þan sal blaw last." Alle men sal þan tite up-ryse In þe same stature and þe same bodyse, Þat þai had here in þair lifedays, And in non other, als þe buk says. Þan sal alle ryse in þe same eld þan, Þat God had fully here als man, Namly, when he uprayse thurgh myght Fra dede, als says Saynt Austyn ryght; Þan was he of threty yhere elde and twa, And of thre monethes þar-with alswa; In þat elde alle sal ryse at þe last, When þai here þe grete bemes blast, With þair awen bodys alle hale And with alle þair lymes, grete and smale. For alle-if þe bodys of ilk man Shulde alle be brynned til askes þan, And yhit þogh alle þe askes of þair bodys War strew[d] and skaterd in sere partys, Thurgh ilka land and ilka cuntré, Þai sal þan togyder alle gader[d] be. And ilka body sal rise þan halely, With alle þe lyms, þat falles til þe body, And with alle þe hare of body and hede Swa þat na hare sal want in na stede; For þare sal na hare be peryste, Als Saynt Luk says þe Evaungeli[s]tte: Capillus de capite, vestro non peribit. "Na hare sal perishe, ne faile", says he, "Þat falles on þe heved for to be." And if any lyms be here unsemely, Thurgh outragiousté of kynd namely, God sal abate þat outrage, thurgh myght, And make þa lyms semely to sight; And if any lym wanted, þat shuld falle Til þe body, or any war over smalle, Thurgh þe defaut here of kynd God þan wille Alle þe defautes of þe lyms fulfille, And þus sal he do namly, to al þa Þat sal be save and til blis ga. For þair bodys sal be semely and bright With avenand lymes til alle mens sight. Bot God sal amend on nane wise Defautes of þe lyms of synful bodys, For þair bodys sal alle unsemely be, And foul, and uglyThe MS. has 'ungly'., opon to se. Alle þat er gude þan and rightwyse, Þat sal be save, sal first upryse, And up in-to þe ayre be ravyste, Againe þe comyng of Ihesu Criste, To kepe him when he doun sal come, Als domesman for to sitte in dome. Þe mast parfite men sal Criste first kepe And alle cum with hym in his felawshepe, And with him ay be in body and saule, Als þe apostel says, Saynt Paule: Quoniam Christus Dominus in iussa et voce arcangeli, et in tuba dei, descendet de celo, et mortui qui in Christo mortui sunt resurgent primi. Deinde nos qui vivimus, qui relinquimur, simul rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Christo in aere, sic semper cum Domino erimus. He says "our Lord sal come doun fra heven, In Goddis byddyng, and archaungel steven, And in þe son of Goddes awen beme, Alle þe world þan for to deme. And þai þat er dede in Crist þan, Sal first uprise, ilka man; And sythen we, on þe sam manere, Þat now lyves and er left here, Sal þan with þam in cloudes be ravyste Up in-to þe ayre for to mete Criste, And swa with our Lorde ay sal be, Fra þat tyme forward," þus says he. Bot we synful þat sal rise þat tyde Bynethe on þe erthe sal Crist abyde In drede and sorow charged with synne, For þai may nour-whare away wynne. Þam war lever be depe in helle þan, Þan com byfor þat domesman. Þai wald fayne fle, if þai myght, Or hide þam fra þat domesman sight Under erthe, or ourwhar elles, Als Saynt Johan, in þe apocalips, telles: Reges terre et principes, et tribuni, et divites et fortes, et omnis servus et liber, absconderunt se in speluncis et in petris moncium, et dicent montibus et petris, 'Cadite super nos', et collibus 'abscondite nos, a facie sedentis super tronum et ab ira agni.' He says "kynges of þe lande and princes sere, And cheftayns þat er under þam here, And riche men of divers cuntré, And strenthy men, and bond and fre, In caves þai wald þan hyde ilkan And in cragges, and in roche of stan; And sal say til montayns and roches þus, 'Fal opon us now and hyde us, Fra þe face of hym þat syttes in throne And fra þe wrethe of þe lamb', þus tels Saynt Iohan. Many maner of men sal haf dred þan, To com byfor þat dreful domesman, Namely, synful men with-outen hope, And yhit says þus þe haly man, IopeJob (MS. Harl. 4196).: Domine quando veneris iudicare terram, ubi me abscondam a vultu ire tue, quia peccavi nimis [in vita mea]? "Loverd", he says, "when þou sal come To deme þe erthe and sytte in dome, Whar sal I fra þi wreth hyd me For-why I haf synd ogaynes þe Ful gretely in my life here?" And yhit says Iob on þis manere: Quis michi hoc tribuat ut in inferno protegas me, et abscondas me donec pertranseat furor tuus? "Loverd, wha may gyf to me", says he, "Þat þou in helle may hyd me And cover me at þe dredful day, Unto þi wrethe be passed oway," Þan es it na wondre, als I sayde are, If þe synful men haf drede and care, Þat sal dampned be and peryst For to cum in þe syght of Ihesu Crist, Þat til þam swa wrethful sal seme þan, When Job þus says þe halyman. Our Lord Crist, thurgh his grete myght, Sal þan com doun fra heven bright, Als domesman to sit in dome, And with him grete multitude sal come Of angels, and of archangels, And of al other halghes, als þe buk teles: Ecce Dominus veniet et omnes sancti eius cum eo. "Lo! our Lord sal com til þe dome And alle his halghes sal with him come." And sodanly he sal hym þan shewe, Als says þe godspeller Saynt Mathewe: "Sicut fulgur exiit ab oriente, et paret in occidente, ita erit adventus filii hominis, subitus, choruschans, et terribilis." "Als þe levenyng out gas in short tyde Fra þe est, and shewes it in þe west syde, Right swa þe commyng of man son sal be, Sodayne and bright and dreful to se. He sal com doun, nathyng sal him lett, Even onenceageyns (MS. Y.). þe mount of Olyvet, Whar he, in manhed, steystied (MS. Y.). up even Fra his disciples, til þe fader in heven; And in swilk fourme als he stey up þan, He sal com doun to deme ilk man, Gude and ille, bathe yong and alde, Als þe angels til his disciples talde: Hic Ihesus qui assumptus est a nobis in celum, sic veniet et quemadmodum vidistis eum euntem in celum. Þai sayd "Ihesu Crist þat here es uptane Fra yhow, til heven, with flessch and bane, Swa sal he com at þe world ende, Als yhe saw hym up in-til heven wende; In þat fourme of man he sal cum þan, And sitte in dome als domesman. When Criste es common doun to deme, In fourme of man, als he sal seme, In a place he sal his dome halde, Þat þe vale of Iosaphat es calde, Whare alle men sal to-gyder mete, Als Crist says, thurgh Ioel þe prophete: Congregabo omnes gentes, et adducam eas in valle Iosaphat. He says "alle men I sal to-gyder calle, And in vale of Iosaphat lede þam alle," And yhit mare to þat he says þus, Als he thurgh þe prophete shewes us: Consurgent et ascendent omnes gentes in valle Iosephat, quia ibi sedebo ut iudicem omnes gentes. He says "al men sal ryse to þe dome, And in þe vale of Iosaphat come;" "For þar," he says, "I sal sitte namly, To deme alle men als þai er worthy." Þat vale, þe vale of þe erthe men calles, For imyd þe erthe, with-outen, it falles; Iosaphat es þus mykel at say, Als stede of dome, at þe last day. Crist sal noght fully þan doun come On þe erthe for to sitte in dome, Bot up in þe ayre he sal sitte, On a whyte cloude, als says haly wrytte: Ecce apparebit dominus super nubem candidam! "Lo! our Lorde sal shew hym þan On a whyte cloude, and sitte als domesman." Even aboven þat vale namly, Whare al men sal se his body. Bot þe skilles why he sal þare sitte Men may fynde here þat wille þam witte; For þe vale of Iosaphat es sette Bytwene þe mount of Olyvet And Ierusalem, on þe other syde, Þat standes imyddes þe world so wyde; And þar es þe mount of calvery, And þe sepulcre of Crist fast þarby. And in þat cuntré standes Bethleem, Noght ful ferre fra Ierusalem; Þar-for Crist sal sytte þar þat day, Onence þe myddes of erth þus for to say. "Lo! here als yhe may alle now se Þe vale of Iosaphat under me Whare byred was my moder Mary Of wham flesshe and blode for yhow tok I." He may say "lo! here, als yhe se now, Bethleem whare I was born for yhow, And in clotes lapped and layd was In a cribbe, bytwen an ox and an asse." He may say "lo here yhe may se stande Ierusalem, þat es nere hande Whare I had for yhow many buffet, And with sharp skourges sare was bette, And fra whethen þe crosse for yhow I bare, Þat on my shulder was layd þare." He may say also "lo! here þarby, Als yhe may se, þe mount of calvery Whar I was hanged upon þe rode, Bytwen twa thefes for yhour gode; Whare my payn for yhow was mast And whare I swelt and yhelded þe gast." He may say yhit þus alswa; "Lo! here þe sepulcre a lytil þar-fra, Whar I was layde for yhow als dede, When I was beryd in þat stede." He may say alswa, als here es sett, "Lo! here þe mount of Olivett, Whar aungels appered in mens lykenes, When I stey til [h]even þar blis ay es, And tald yhow how my commyng shuld be Tyl þe dome, als yhe may now se." Now haf yhe herd þe skylles why, He sal sit oboven þat vale namly, Þat men þe vale of Iosaphat calles Þe whilk imyndesin myddes (MS. Harl. 4196). þe world falles. Alswa another skille may þis be Why he sal doun com in þat countré For þar was his first commyng doun, Anly for mans salvacioun, When he first flessch and blod tok Of þe mayden Mari, als says [þe] bok. Þus sal he com doun at sitte þare, To deme al þe world, als I saide are, Crist ful awsterne þan sal be Agayn synful me[n] þat him sal se; And dredful and hydus, als says þe boke, He sal be to þam, when þai on hym loke, And ful delitable unto þe sight Of ryghtwyse men þat lyffed here ryght. Bot alle þe parsons of þe Trinité And þe godhed sal noght þan shewed be To ille and gude, þat sal appere þan, Bot Crist allane in fourme of man, Goddes son þat þan sal deme us And þarfor Saynt Johan says þus: "Omne iudicium dedit filio, ut honorifi| cent filium, sicut honorificant patrem." "God has gyfen til his son," says he, "Alle þe dome þat gyven sal be, Þat men honour þe son ryght, Als þai honour þe fadir ful of myght." Þe gude men sal se hym in manhed þan, With þe godhed, als God and man, Þe whilk he sal noght fra þam hyde; For þai sal se hym þan glorifide, And þat sal be a blisful syght, Swa fair he sal seme til þam, and bright. Þe ille men in manhed sal hym se. Anly als he henged on þe rode tre, Alle bla and blody als he þan was, When he deyhed for mans trespas. Þat sight til þam sal be payne and drede, For þai sal noght se of his godhede; And for þe godhede es ful of blisse, Þarfor þe sight of it þai sal misse. Bot in his manhed anly, als I say, He sal shew hym til þam þat day, For in fourme of man he sal þan seme And in his manhede he sal þam deme. He sal þan at his doun commyng, Þe taken of þe croys wyth hym bring, On whilk he boght us fra elle pynHell pyne (MS. Harl. 4196).; For he wald noght man saul tyn; Þat taken of þe crose alle men sal se, Bot ful dilitable it sal be Til rightwys men, and seme fule bright; And dredful til synful mans syght. Þis taken of þe cros sal be shewed þan, Als þe buk says, and be hyd fra na man: Hoc signum crucis erit in celo, cum dominus ad iudicandum venerit. "Þis taken of þe cros in heven sal seme When our loverd sal com to deme." Þat es at say aboven in þe ayre, Þat til gude men sal sem bright and fayre. Þis taken, als I trowe, sal noght be Þe sam cros, ne þe sam tre, On whilk God was nayled fot and hande. Bot a taken of þat cros semande. Yhit som trowes, and swa may wel be, Þat þe taken of þe spere men sal þan se Þat stayngedstanged (MS. Harl. 4196). Crist until þe hert rote, And of þe nayles þat hym thurgh hand and fote Til þe hard rode tre fast fested; And of þe croun of thornes þat was thrested On his heved fast, þat þe blode out rane, When þe thornes hym prikked til þe harnpane And of þe scourges alswa þat brast his hydeAlso the skourges that his flesshe to-tere (MS. Addit 11305)., Þat þe blode ran doun, on ilk syde. Alle þer takens sal þan be shewed Byfor alle men, bathe lerd and lewed; Bot þe synful, þat dampned sal be, To þair shenshepe þan sal þam se. Crist sal shew þan his woundes wyde, In heved, and fote and in his syde, Þat fressche sal sem and alle bledand Til þe synful, þat bifor hym sal stand. He sal shew, to þair confusioun, Alle þe signes of his passioun, And þe enchesoun and þe manere Of his ded þat he tholed here, And alle þis sal he do þos openly, To reprove þe synful men þar-by And þat sal be þair shenschip þan, For Saynt Austyn says þus, þe halyman: Fortasse, in corpore suo, dominus cicatrices serva| vit ut in iudico hostibus exprobaret, ut convincens eos dicat: Ecce homo quem crucifixistis; Ecce Deus et homo quem credere noluistis: Videte vulnera que infixistis; agnoscite latus quod pupigistis propter vos apertum est et intrare noluistis. He says, "our Lord Goddes son almyghty Parantere has keped, in his body, Þe erresÞe sore of his woundes swiþe clere (MS. Y.). of his wondes sere, Þat he tholed for mans syn here, For to shew þam til his enmys, Whan he sal sytte in dome als iustys To reprove þam at þe last day, And to atteyn þam, and þos say; "Lo! here, þe man in flesshe and blode Þe whilk yhe hynged on þe rode; Lo! her God and man, þat man wroght, In wham trow wald yhe noght; Byhalde þe wondes þat yhe styked, Sese here þe syd þat yhe priked, Þe whilk for yhow was open ay, And yhe wald entre bebi (MS. Harl. 4196). ne way." A how mikel shenshep sal be To þe synful þat alle þis sal here and se! Þe whilk til hym dos here na gude agayne, Þat for þam tholed swa mykel payne; And yhit noght þas þat dus na gud anly, But other þat er swa ful of felony, Þat ay dos yvel ogayn gude, And ofte dos Godes son on rode In þat, þat in þam es thurgh syn, Of whilk þai wille never here blyn. What may þai answer þan and say, How may þai þam excuse þat day? In nathyng may þai be excused þan, Swa rightwys sal be þe domesman; For þat day, als þe buke wythenes,witnes (MS. Harl. 4196). Sal noght be shewed but ryghtwysnes, Wyth gret reddour til synful namly, Þat sal be demed, als þa her worthy. Þai may defende þam be na ways For Johan, wyth þe gilden mouth, þos says: Non erit tunc locus defensionis, ubi videbunt Christum exhibentem, testimonia insigniaque sue passionis. He sais "na sted of defens þar sal be War þai sal Crist þan openly se Gyfhand wytnes, and takens certayn, Of his passioun and of his payn. Alle sal haf gret drede þat day, Bath gude and ille, als we here clerks say. Þar sal be nouther aungel nane, man Þat þai ne sal tremble for drede þan; Alle-if þai wat þat þai sal be safe, Yhit sal þai þat day dredred, hafe Noght for þam-self, for þai er giltles, Bot for þe gret reddure of ryghtwisnes, And for þe gret austerité, Þat Crist sal shew þat day to se, Agayn þe synful men namly, Þat sal be dampned, wyth-outen mercy. When rightwys men þat sal be saf, And aungels swa mykel dred haf What dred and dole aght synful haf þan? Þarfor þos says þe halyman: Si columpne celi contremiscent et pavent adventum Christi, et angeli pacis amare flebunt, peccatores autem quid facient! He says "if þe pylers of heven bright, Þat er haly men þat has liffed right, Sal dred Cristes commyng and manhede, And þe aungels alswa sal þan haf drede, And yhit gret ful bitterly þar-to, What sal þe synful men þan do, Þat sal be dampned, als I sayd are?" And says þe haly man þus mare: Si iustus vix salvabitur, impius et peccator ubi parebunt? "If þe rightwys man" yhit says he, "Sal unnethes þan saved be, Þe synful and þe wykked man Whyderward sal þai wend þan?" Ryghtwysmen, als þe buk telles, Sal be saf þan and nan elles. Our Loverd in manhed sal þan sitt ObouneOboven (MS. Harl. 4196). þe synful, als says haly writ, Austerne and wrahtewrathe (MS. Harl. 4196). wyth a fel chere, Wyth þam to threp þat has lyfed ille here. Helle bynethen þat es wyde and depe, Sal þan be open þam to kepe, Þe erthe þat þai sal on stand sal scake, Thurgh þair syn, and tremble and whakeqwake (MS. Harl. 4196)., Swa þat unnethes it sal þam bere, Swa mykel þair syn þe erth sal dere. Þe world obout þam sal be brinnande, Þe devels on ilk syde þam sal stande, Gret sorow sal be omang þam þar; Þe heven oboven sal strike þam sar, With thundirs dyntes and levenyngs togyder; Þai wald þan fle and wate never whider; Þai sal be umset swa on ilka side, Þat þai may nouthir fle ne þam hide. Many accusers þar sal be þan, To accuse þam byfor þat domesman; For I fynd written, als yhe sal here, Fiften maneres of accusours sere, Þat sal accuse in þat dredeful day Þe synful men, þat es to say, Conscience þat es called Ynwitt, And þair awen syns, and hali writt, Gods creatures þat we ken, Devels and aungels and haythen men, And martirs þat has feled tourments sere, And othir þat wranges has tholed here. Mens sons and doghters unchastyede, Pover men þat þair nede myght noght hyde, Suggettes, and benefices receyved here. Þe tourmentes of Cristes passioun sere; And God hym-self and alle þe trinité, Alle þere ogayne þe synful sal be. First sal þair awen conscience, Accuse þam þan in Cristes presence, Openly and noght in priveté; For na thyng þan sal hidde be, Alle thyng sal be shewed þar oppenly; For Danyel says þus in his prophecy: "Sedit iudicium et libri aperti sunt." "Þedome sattand þe bokes er oppen wyde"; And þus sal be sene þat tyde. Þe bokes er conscience and noght elles, Als þe glose þar-on þus telles: Consciencie omnibus revelabuntur. "Conscience", it says, "of ilka thyng Sal be shewed til alle mens knawyng." Þair syns alswa, bathe mare and les, Sal þam accuse, als þe boke bers wittnes. For þair syns sal ay witth þam last, Als þai war bunden obout þair nekes fast, Þe whilk þam sal accuse þat day; Agayn wham þai sal noght kun say; And als stolne thyng wreghes a thefe funden, When it es obout his neke fast bounden, Right swa þair syns sal wreghe þam þar, Als þai bunden obout þair nekes war, And þan sal þair syns say þus; Til ilka synful man "þou wroght us, And we er þin with-outen dout, And þou has lang borne us obout." Alswa accuse sal haly writt, Namly þas men þat knawes it, Or þe poyntes has herde þat falls þar-to, And wald noght aftir haly writt do. Yhit sal Godes creatures sere, Accuse þam on diverse manere, Als þe son and þe mone and þe sterns, And þe elementes þa[t] us governs; And alle þe werld sal be þan redy, To accuse þe synful men oppenly; For alle creatoures hate þam sal, When he es wrathe þat es maker of alle. Alswa devels sal accuse þam þar Of alle þair syns, bathe les and mar. And of þa syns þat þai sal out-say, Til whilk þai egged þam, bathe nyght and day, And of þas þai sal þam þar accuse, Als a thefe his felaghe of theft duse, Þat hym accuses of þe same thyng Þat he with hym did thurgh his eggyng; Þe devels at þe dome sal be redy, Þat to tempte men here ay er bysy; And þai write alle syns, bathe les and mar, Of whylk þai may accuse þam þar, And alle syns þai sal reherce þan, And þar-for þus says Iob, þe halyman: Scribis Domine contra me amaritudines, id est, permittis scribi contra me peccata amara. "Loverd, þou suffers here", says he, "Be writen bitter syns ogaynes me." Aungeles alswa, als we here clerkes say, Sal accuse þe synful men at þat day, For God þat til þam þair sauls touke, For to kepe here als says þe buke, Sal aske of þam, at his comyng, Acount to yhelde of þair kepyng; Þan sal þe aungels answere þar-to, And say þus, "our rede þai wald noght do Bot agayne our wille foly þai wald use", Þus sal aungels þe synful accuse. Alswa haythen men, als says þe buke, Þat never baptem ne right trouthe tuke, Als Iewes and Sarzyns and Paens, Þat wate noght what Criestes law bymens, Sal þan accuse als men sal se, Þe fals cristen þat dampned sal be, For þe haythen men at þat grete assys Sal þan be halden als men rightwys, To regard of þe fals cristen men Þat wald noght kepe þe comandmentes ten. Bot spendes þair fyve wittes in vayne, Þarfor þai sal have mykel mare payne, In þe pitte of helle þat þam sal mar griefe Þan þe haithen men of mysbylyefe. Þe halghes alswa sal accuse alle þa, Þat sal be dampned and to helle ga; And namly martirs, Godes awen knyghtes, Þai sal accuse þe synful wyghtes, Als þe tirauntes þat þam pyned and sloghe, And othir þat þam til tourmentes droghe, Of wham vengeance til God þai cry, Als þe appocalips þus shewes þar-by: Usquequo Domine sanctus et verus, non vindicas sanguinem nostrum de hiis qui habitant in terra. Þat es "haly Loverd, sothefast and gude, How lange sal be ar þow venge our blude Of our enemys þat in erthe duelles." On þis manere þe appocalips telles; Sen þai to God ay vengance cry, Of þam þat of þair blude er gilty, Howe suld þai þan in þe tyme of wreke Be stille and noght ogayne þam speke? Alswa alle þas þat has tholed here Fals[h]edes and wrangs on sere manere, Sal þat day accuse þam sone, Þat þam has here gret wranges done. Yhit sons and doghters þat unchastyd war Sal accuse þa[i]r fadirs and modirs þar, For-þi þat þai war rekles and slawe To chasty þam and hald þam in awe, And to teche þam gude thewes, And þarfor þe wys man þus in buke shewes De patre impio conquerentur filii, quoniam propter ipsum sunt in opprobrium. "Þe sons sal pleyne þam þan", says he, "Of þe ille fader and agayn hym be, For thurgh defaute of hym er þai In grete reprove", þat es to say, In defaut of his disciplyne, Parchaunce, be dampned til helle pyne, And þe fader alswa be with þam spilte, For he es þe cause of þair gilte. Yhit þe pover sal þam ple[y]ne thurgh right, Of þe riche men in Godes syght, And accuse þam þan ful grevosly, For þai had of þam na mercy, For to helpe þam here in þair nede, Nouthir to clathe þam ne to fede, Bot lete silver and gold on þam rust, Þe whilk þai had in hurde uptrust; And þar-of til pure wald noght gyve, When þai sawe þam at meschyve, Þar-for þe ruste of þat moweld moné Agayne þam þan sal wittnes be. And wormes and moghes on þe same manere, Þat in þair clathes has bred here, Þe whilk þai had here over mesur, And of þam wald noght parte til þe pur, Sal þat day be in wittenes broght, For þe pure þat þai helped noght. Alswa þa þat sugettes war til man, Sal accuse þair soveraynes þan, AndÞat? þam has greved thurgh maystré and myght And of other wald do þam na right. Þe benefices þat God did þam here, Sal þam accuse on sere manere, For agayne þam sal Crist allege sone, And shewe þam what he had þam done, And reherce his benefices, mare and les, To reprove þam of þair unkyndenes. Yhit þe tourmentes of Cristes passioun, Þat he tholed for mans salvacioun, Sal þam accuse at þat gret dome, For-why þus says Saynt Ierome: Crux contra te perorabit, Christus per vulnera sua, contra te allegabit, cicatrices contra te loquentur, clavi de te conquerentur. He says "þe croyce on whilk he dieghed for man Sal stratly pray ogayne þe þan, And Crist, thurgh his wondes wide, Ogayne þe sal allege þat tyde; Þe erres of his wondes sal speke Og[a]yne þe and of þe aske wreke; Þe nayles þat in his hend and fete stak, On þe sal pleyne and gret playnt mak." At þe last, God hym-self, mast of myght, And þe trinité sal accuse þam right, For þai wrethed God in þair legge pousté, And alle þe parsons of þe trinité, Bathe þe fadir and þe son and þe haly gast. Þar-for þat accusyng sal be mast, Bot þe secunde parson þan alle sale deme, Þat es Crist Godes son, þat þan man sal seme. Alle þat sal com byfor Crist þat day, Sal strayt acounte yhelde, ar þai passe away, Of alle þair lif howe þai here lyved, Þan sal be sene what þai God gryeved And byfor alle þe werld shewed sal be, Oppenly and noght in privité; And byfor halghes and aungels bright, And byfor devels horribel til mans sight, And byfor alle wykked men alswa, Þat sal be dampned til endles wa. For alle sal be þan þare, gude and ille, To deme and be demed als rightwysnes wille; For Crist, þat rightwyse domesman, Sal calle alle men byfor hym þan, Als þe prophet David bers witnes, In psauter whare þus writen es: Advocavit celum desursum et terram, discernere populum suum. He says "he sal bifor hym calle Þe heven fra aboven and þe erthe alle, For to deme right his folk þat day." And þis vers es þus mykel at say, He sal calle þan heven byfor hym tit, Þat es to say, haly men and parfit, Þat with hym in dome þan sal sitt, And wyth hym deme, als says haly writt; Bot þe erthe es noght elles to telle, Bot wykked men and devels of helle, Þe whilk he sal calle at his wille, For to chedechese (MS. Harl. 4196). out þe gude fra þe ille. Þan sal ilka man þarof þair lyfyng Be sette until andane (MS. Harl. 4196). hard rekkenyng, For men sal þan strayte acount yhelde Of alle þair tyme of yhouthe and elde; Noght anly of ane or twa yhere, Bot alle þe tyme þat þai lyfed here, And specyaly of ilka moment, Of alle þe tyme þat God þam lent. A moment of tyme es nan othir thyng, Bot a short space als of a eghe twynklyng. Na moment sal be unrekend þan, Als Saynt Bernard says, þe halyman: Sicut non peribit capillus de capite, ita non erit momentum de toto tempore de quo sane non conqueratur. He says "als nan hare of alle þe hed Sal perisse þat tyme in na sted, Right swa sal be na moment, Of alle þe tyme þat God hadhas (MS. Harl. 4196). sent, Of whilk sal be made na pleynyng." In þe tyme of þat last rekkenyng, Alswa þai sal yhelde acount certayne, Of ilk idel worde, spoken in vayne, Þat es to say, þat war fruytles, Als haly writt bers wittnes: De omni verbo ociosi in die iudicii reddenda est racio. Þe buke says shortly on þis manere: "Of ilkan idel word and vayne here, Reson sal be yholden right At þe day of dome, in Goddes sight;" And noght anely of idel wordes sayd, Bot of ilk idel thoght þat God noght payd, For excuse þam may þai noght Nouther of idel worde ne of thoght, Þat þai spak or thoght aftir þai had witt, Of whilk þai war never here qwitt; Wharfor our Loverd God alle-myghty, Spekes þus thurgh þe prophet Ysay: Ego cogitaciones eorum venio ut congregem cum gentibus ad iudicandum sicut iudico gentes. He says "I com to gadir with men Þe thoghtes of þam þat I ken, For to deme þam alle, mar and les, Als I sal men deme, thurgh rightwysnes." Many aght be dredand þar-for, And yhit sais þus Saynt Gregor: Ergo sic Deus vias cuiuscunque considerat ut nec minutissime cogitaciones, que apud vos usu valuerunt, in iudicio indiscusse remaneant. He says "God", þat alle wysdom kan, "Swa byhaldes þe wayes of ilk man Þat þe lest thoghtes þat thurgh use had yhe In þe dome sal noght undiscussed be." And noght anely of idel word and thoght, Bot of alle idel werk þai ever men wroght; Þai sal alswa yhit acount yhelde Noght anly of gret dedes of elde, Bot of smale dedes of þair yhouthe, Fra þe tyme þat þai any witt couthe, Þat þai had wroght, bathe nyghtes and days, And þarfor Salamon þus says: Letare iuvenis in adolescencia tua, et in bono sit cor tuum in diebus iuventutis tue, et ambula in viis cordis tui et in tuitu oculorum tuorum; Et scito quod pro omnibus hiis te adducet dominus in iudicium. He says "þou yhung man be glad and blithe, In þi yhouthede þat passes swithe, And þat þi hert in gude be stedfast, Whilles þe days of þi youthe sal last And in þe ways of þe herht ga And in þe syght of þin eghen twa; And wytt þou for alle þis of yhouthede, Our Loverd sal þe into þe dome lede;" Whar resons sal be yholden sere; And þarfor says Iob on þis manere: Et consumere ne vis peccatis adolescencie mee. "Loverd wil þou waste me to noght Thurgh þe syns þat I haf wroght," Alswa men sal þan yhelde acount sone, Noght anly of þat þat þai wrang had done Witandly thurgh þair knawyng, Bot alswa of þat þat þai did thurgh erryng, Of whilk þai sal noght be excused þan, Als in buk þus says þe wyse man: Pro omni errato, sine bonum sine malum sit, adducetur homo in iudicio. He says "for ilka thyng þat erred es Be it gude or ille, mar or les, Man, at þe last day, sal be ledde To þe dome þat es mast dredde;" And þarfor David, als þe psauter shewes us, Was ful dredand, þat says þus: Et ignorancias meas me memineris. "Loverd" he says, "ne mene þou noght Of my freyle unknawynges of thoght." Yhit sal þai yhelde acunt withdrede, Noght anly of ilk apert ille dede, Bot alswa of ilkan ille dede privé, Þat semed by syght þat gude suld be; For some dede þat ille es, sems gud here, For Saynt Gregor says on þis manere: Interdum sordet in oculis iudicis quod fulget in oculis auditoris. He says "some tyme es foule in þe domes man sight Þat in eghe of þe herer shynes bright." Bot at þe dome sal þat discused be, Als in þe psalme men may written se: Cum accipero tempus. Ego iusticias iudicabo. God says þis wordes thurgh þe prophet David And many othir þat accordes þar-with, He says "when I haf tyme receyved right I sal deme rightwysnes, thurgh myght." Alswa yhit men byhoves nedly þan, Yhelde acount byfor þe domes man, Noght anely of werkes þat þai had wroght, Bot alswa of dedes þat þai did noght, And of werkes of mercy and of almus Þat þai noght did, for þe godspelle shewes þus: Esurivi et non dedistis michi manducare, sitivi et non dedidistis michi bibere. Þis es, als yhe sal aftirward here, How God sal say on þis manere: "I hungerd, and yhe me noght fedde, I thrested, and yhe me na drynk bedde." For þis þai sal be aresoned straytly, And for other werkes noght done of mercy. And noght anely for þa werkes noght don, Bot for þe gude þat þar-of myght haf commen son. Men byhoves alswa acount yhelde Of þair saules, þat þam byhoved welde, And haf in kepyng whille þai myght lif, Of whilk þai sal þan answer gyf. Now if a kyng of a riche kyngryke Þat had a doghter, þat war hym like Of bewté and of face and body, Þe whilk he luved specialy And eghtild to mak hir qwene of worshepe, And bytaght hir til his ryfe to kepe, If he þar aftir keped hir mys, Me thynk it war na dout of þis Þat ne þe kyng wald haf rekkenyng, And acount and answer of þat kepyng. For it semes þat þe kyng had grete encheson To sette hym for þat kepyng to reson, And þe mare rekkeslyreklesly (MS. Harl. 4196). þat he hir yhemed Þe mare grevosly hym aght be demed. What suld þe kyng of heven do þan, Of a man or of a woman, Til wham he has bytaght to kepe here, His doghtir þat es hym leve and dere, Þat es man saul his awen liknes, Whilles it fra dedly syn keped es, Þe whilk he eghteld to coroun qwene In heven þar ioy sal ay be sene? Whaswa es rekles and kepes it ille, He sal be aresoned, and þat es skille, Of þe kepyng of it þat he tuke; Þarfor þe wyse man says þus in his buke: Custodi solicite animam tuam. Þat es on Ynglis in þis manere, He says "kepe þi saul bysily here". Bot he es sely þat may sikerly say In þe tyme of þe dede at his last day 'I yhelde my saul in þis dede stour Til þe Loverd þat es my saveour.' Men sal yhit yhelde acount stray[t]ly Noght of þair saules with-in anely Bot alswa of þair bodys with-oute Þat þai had to kepe, and bare aboute Of whilk þai sal yhelde rekkenyng, Sen þai had þar-of þe kepyng. Ilka mans body may be cald, Als a castelle here for to hald, Þat til man es gyfen of God to kepe For his profit and Goddes worshepe. Þe enemys ofte assales it hard And þarfor says Saynt Bernard: Bonum castrum custodit qui corpus suum custodit. "A gude castelle" he says, "kepes he "Þat his body kepes in honesté." Man sal yhelde acount alswa, At þe dome, ar þai þeþen ga, Þat stratly of þam sal be tane; Noght anely of þe saules by þam ane, Ne anely of þair bodys þar-by, Bot of bathe togidir ioyntly, Þat es to say, ilkan sal þan Yhelde acount of alle hale a man, For a man properly may noght be cald, Bot-if þe body and saul togidir hald Þe saule be itself man es nane, Ne þe body with-out saule by it ane. Bot man may be called on twyn manere, Whilles þai bathe er knyt togyder here. For þes clerkes þat gret clergy can Calles man bathe Inner man and utter man. Inner man onence þe saule anely And utter man onence þe body. Bot þe body and saule bytwene þam twa, Makes bot a man and na ma, Þarfor men sal yhelde acount ioyntly Of bathe togyder, þe saule and þe body; And forþi þat God, aftir his stature, Made man mast digne and noble creature Þarfor if man be til God frawarde And unkynde and of hym tak na rewarde, Þat ilk dignité of man namely, Sal, at þe dome, yhelde hym gylty. Yhit sal men yhelde acount [noght] anely Of þair self, bot of other many, Þat es to say, of ilka neghebur, Þat men fals to help and to socur. For God til ilk man commandes right To helpe his neghebur after his myght. And þas, þat may helpe and wille noght, Sal þan til ful strayt acount be broght. Alswa fadirs and modirs, at þat day, Sal yhelde acount, þat es to say, Of sons and doghtirs þat þai forthe broght, Þe whilk þai here chastied noght. And loverds alswa of þair meigné Þe whilk þai lete uniustifyed be And maysters of þair disciples alswa, Þat þai lete be unthewed, and untaght ga, And chastid þam noght, ne þam wald lere, Forþi says Salamon on þis manere: Virga discipline fugabit stulticiam in corde pueri colligatam. "Þe wande", he says, "of disciplyne smert, Sal chace foly out of þe childes hert." Þarfor maysters som tyme uses þe wand Þat has childer to lere undir þair hand. Prelats of ordir and of dignyté Sal acount yhelde in sere degré Of þair suggets undir þair powere, How þai þam reweld in þis lyf here, And answer of þam þat lyfed noght wele, For þus says þe prophet Ezechiele: Ecce! ego requiram gregem meam de manu pastoris. God says þus thurgh þe prophete: "Lo! I sal aske my flok of shepe Of þe hird þat had þam undir his hand;" Of þis word aght prelates be dredand. Men sal alswa yhelde rekkenynges sere Of al gudes pat God has gefen þam here, Als of gudes of kynde and gudes of graces, And gudes of hap þat men purchases. Þe gudes of kynd er bodily strenthe, And semely shappe of brede and lenthe And delyvernes and bewté of body; Swilk gudes of kynd here has many. Gudes of grace may þir be, Mynde, and witte, and sutilté, And fair shewyng of speche sutille, And knawyng bathe of gude and ille, Vertus of grete devocioun And luf of lyf of contemplacioun. Gudes of hap er þir to gesce, Als honours, power, and ryche[s]. Of alle þir gudes men byhoves Yhelde acounte, als þe buke pruves, And answer straytly of þam alle. I drede many in arriragererage (MS. Harl. 4196). mon falle, And til perpetuele prison gang, For þai despended þa gudes wrang, For-whi God has gyfen here nathyng, Of whilk he wille noght haf rekkennyng. Som sal yhit, als I sayd ar, Yhelde acount ful straytly þar Of þe gudes þat þai wald noght bede Til other þat of þam had nede, For alle er we als a body here, For þe apostel says on þis manere: Omnes enim unum corpus sumus. He says "we er alle als a body", Þat has diverse lyms many. And als a lym of a body here Es redy, aftir it has powere, To serve alle þe other, mar and les, Of þat office þat gyven it es, Right swa ilk man þat here lyfes, Of alle þat God thurgh grace him gyfes, Suld other serve, þat þar-of has nede, Als he wille answere at þe day of drede. Ful many men lyfes here of þa Þat er halden for to do swa, Als he þat gret and myghty es, Es halden to defende þam þat er les; And þe ryche þat mykel rychesces has, To gyf þam þat here in povert gas; And men of laghe alswa to travayle And to counsaile þam þat askes counsayle; And leches alswa, if þai wyse ware, To hele þam þat er seke and sare; And maysters of þair science to ken, Namly, þam þat er unlered men; And precheours Goddes worde to preche, And þe way of lyf other to teche. Þus es ilk man halden with gude entent, To help other of þat God has þam lent Frely for Goddes luf, and for noght elles, Wharfor Saynt Petre þe apostel þus telles: Unusquisque, sicut accipit graciam, in alte| rutrum illam administrare debet. He says "ilk man þat grace has here Als he resayves grace, on þe same manere Suld he it ministre and frely bede Til ilkan other þat þaiÞar? of has nede" And þus es ilk man halden to do, For in þe godspelle yhitsays God mar þarto: Quod gratis accepistis, gratis date. He says "þat þat yhe haf of grace fre And frely resayved, frely gyf yhe." Þus sal men þan yhelde resons sere Of alle þair lyf, als writen es here, Þat es of alle tymes spended in vayne, And of ilka moment of tyme certayne; And of ilkan Idel word and thoght, And of ilkan ydel dede þat þai wroght, Outher in elde or in þair yhouthe, Aftir þe tyme þat þai witt first couthe, And of dedes þat þai thurgh erryng did; And noght anely of open werkes bot of hid, And noght anely of werkes wroght, bot unwroght Als of werkes of mercy þat done war noght; And of þair awen saules þai sal reken þar, And of þair bodys þat þam obout bar; And noght anly of ayther by þam-self þan, Bot of bathe togyder als of a man; And yhit noght anely of þam-self alle, Bot of þair neghburs answer þai salle; And fadirs and modirs sal rekken þat tyde, Of þair sons and þair doghtirs unchastide; And loverdes alswa of þair men namly, Þe whilk þai wald noght iustify; And maysters of þair disciples alswa, Þe whilk þai lete untaght in folis ga; And prelates and prestes of ilka suggette, Þat þai wald noght in right rewel sette; And alle other þat wrang and in ille entent Þe gudes spended þat God had þam lent, And of alle wrang haldyngs of gudes sere, Of whilk þai parted noght til other here Þat of þam had nede, als þai myght se; Of alle þir thynges men sal aresoned be. At þe day of dome, als God has ordaynd, Whar nathyng sal be hid ne laynd, Of alle þir, men sal yhelde acount strayt, Sal nathyng þan be þar to layt. Ful sely es þat man or womman, Þat a gude rekkenyng may yhelde þan, Swa þat he may pas qwyte and fre Of alle thyng, þat may rekend be. And swa sely may be alle þas, Þat fra hethen in charité gas; For he þat has here gude endyng, Sal pas wele þar, with light rekkenyng. At þe day of dome, als byfor es talde, Alle men sal be bathe yhung and alde, And gude and ille, alle sal com þider. Swa mykel folk com never togyder, Ne never was sene sythen þe werld bygan, Als sal be sene byfor Crist þan, Þat sal be demed aftir þai haf wroght. Bot som sal deme and sum noght, For som sal deme with þe domes-man, Þat thurgh dome sal noght be demed þan. Som sal be demed þan ryghtwysly, Þat sal deme on na party; Bot many other þar sal seme, Þat sal nouther be demed ne deme. Þat þat sal deme and noght demed be, Sal be parfit men with God privé. Of þa þat demed sal be and dem sal noght, Sal some til blisse be demed and broght; And sum sal be demed to helle to wende, Whar pyn sal be with-outen ende. Bot alle þat trowed noght als trow we, Sal nouther deme ne demed be; Bot for þai wald noght til our trouthe come, Þa sal wende til helle with-outen dome. First þas þat with Crist sal deme þat day And noght be demed, er namly þai Þat here forsuke þe werldes solace, And folowed rightly Cristes trace, Als his apostels and other ma, Þat for his luf tholed angre and wa; Þa sal deme with Crist and nan elles, For-whi in þe godspelle þus he telles: Vos, qui secuti estis me, sedebitis super sedes duodecim, iudicantes duodecim tribus Israel. He says "yhe þat folowes me here lyfand, Sal sitt opon twelf setes demand Þe twelf nacions of Israel," Þat es, þas þat God sese here als lele. Som sal noght deme, bot demed be Til blis, als men of grete charité Þat blethely wirk wald þe werkes of mercy, And keped þam here fra syn dedly. Som sal noght deme, bot be demed Til helle, and fra God be flemed, Als þas þat er fals cristen men, Þat keped noght þe comandmentes ten, And wald noght here forsake þair syn, Bot whils þai lyfyed ay dwelle þar-in. Som sal noght be demed þat day Þat sal wende to helle and dwelle þar ay, Als paens and sarazyns þat had na law, And Iewes þat never wald Crist knaw, Þarfor þai sal ga til payne endeles, With-outen dome, for þus writen es: Qui sine lege peccant, absque lege peribunt. "Þas þat with-outen lawe uses syn With-outen law sal perysshe þar-in." And þar-for at þe day of dome namly, Ilk man sal haf as he es worthy. A ful hard day men sal þat day se, When alle thyng sal þus discussed be. Þat day, sal na man be excused Of nathyng þat he wrang here used, Þat sounes in ille on any manere, Of whilk he was never delyverd here.Þe whiche sowneþ to ille in eny manere dede. Of þe whiche he hade in thouȝt no manere drede (MS. Y.). Þe synful sal þare na mercy have, For nathyng may þam þan save; For-why þai sal þan na help gett Of sergeaunt, ne auturne, ne avoket, Ne of nan other for þam to plede, Ne þam to counsayle ne to rede, Ne na halghe sal for þam pray. Þis may be cald a ful harde day, Forwhi þan, als þe buke bers witnes, Sal noght be shewed bot rightwysnes, And grete reddure, with-outen mercy, Until alle synful men namely. Þa þat of þair syn here wald noght stynt; Þai sal þat day for ever be tynt Fra God, with-outen any recoverere, And delyverd be until þe devels powere. Ful wa sal synful men be þat day, And til helle pyne be put for ay, And þarfor men may calle þat day, Þe grete day of delyveraunce, Þe day of wreke and of vengeaunce, Þe day of wrethe and of wrechednes, Þe day of bale and of bitternes, Þe day of pleynyng and accusyng, Þe day of answer and of strait rekkenyng, Þe day of iugements and of Iuwys, Þe day of angre and of angwys, Þe day of drede and of tremblyng, Þe day of gretyng and goulyng, Þe day of crying and of duleful dyn, Þe day of sorow þat never sal blyn, Þe day of flaying and of af[r]ay, Þe day of departyng fra God away, Þe day of merryng and of myrk[n]es, Þe day þat es last and þat mast es, Þe dai when Crist sal make ende of alle; Þus may man discryve þat day and calle. Our loverd þat alle thyng can se and witt At þe dredeful day of dome sal sitt, Als kyng and rightwyse domesman, In dome to deme alle þe werld þan, Opon þe setil of his magesté. Þat day sal alle men byfor hym be, Bathe gude and ille, mare and les; Þan sal noght be done bot rightwysnes. He sal deme al men of ilka degré, Til ioy or payne þat demed sal be, AndAls? rightwyse domes-man and suthefast And gyf a fynal dome at þe last. Bot how he sal deme I sal shewe, Als telles þe godspelle of Mathewe; Hys angels þan, aftir his wille, Sal first departe þe gude fra þe ille, Als þe hird þe shepe dus fra þe gayte, Þat falles to be putt til pastur strayt. By þe shepe understand we may Þe gude men þat sal be saved þat day. By þe gayte understand we may Þe ille men, þat þan dampned sal be. Þe gude sal be sette on his right hand, And þe ille on his lefte syde sal stand; Þan sal our loverd say þus þat tyde Til þam þat standes on his right syde: Venite, benedicti patris mei, possidete paratum nobis regnum a constitucione mundi. He sal say þan, "commes now til me, My fadir blissed childer fre, And weldes þe kyngdom þat til yhow es dight Fra first þat þe werld was ordaynd right." For I hungerd and yhe me fedde, I thrested and at drynk yhe me bedde; Of herber grete nede I had, Yhe herberd me with hert glad, Naked I was, als yhe myght se, Yhe gaf me clathes and clad me; Seke I was and in ful wayke state, Yhe wisit me, bathe arly and late; In prisoun when I was halden stille, Til me yhe come with ful gude wille. Þan sal þe rightwys men þat day, Til our loverd answer þus and say; 'Loverd when saw we þe hungry, And to gyf þe mete war we redy; And when myght we þe thresty se, And gaf þe drynk with hert fre; When saw we þe nede of herber have, And to herber þe vouched save; When saw we þe naked and we þe cled, And when saw we þe seke and in prison sted, And visited þe with gude wille, And comforted þe, als was skille?' Our loverd sal þan þam answer þus, And say, als þe godspelle shewes us: 'Suthly I say yhou, swa yhe wroght, Þat ilka tyme when yhe did oght Until ane of þe lest þat yhe myght se Of my brether, yhe did til me.' Þan sal our loverd til alle þas say, Þat þan on his lefte syde sal stand þat day, And spek til þam with an austerne chere, Þir wordes þat er hydus to here: Discedite a me maledicti, in ignem eternum, qui preparatus est diabolo et angelis eius. "Yhe weryed wyghtes wende fra my sight, Until þe endeles fire þat es dight Til þe devel and til his aungels." And þan sal he say þus, als þe buke tels, 'I hungred and had defaute of mete, And yhe wald noght gyfe me at ete; I thrested, and of drynk had nede, And yhe wald na drynk me bede; I wanted herber, þat I oft soght, And alle þat tyme yhe herberd me noght; Naked with-outen clathes I was, And with-outen clathes yhe let me pas; Seke I was, and bedred lay, And yhe visite me nouther nyght ne day; In prison I was, als wele wyst yhe, And yhe wald na tyme com til me.' Þan sal þai answere, als men sal here, Til our loverd, and say on þis manere: 'Loverd when saw we þe haf hunger or thrist Or of any herber haf grete brist; Or naked, or seke, or in prison be, And we na thyng did ne mynystred to þe?' Þan sal our loverd answer ogayne And say til þam þir wordes certayne: 'Suthly I say yhou, als falles þar-to, Alle tyme þat yhe wald noght do Til ane of lest þat myne er kydde, Als lang til me yhe noght didde.' Þus sal our loverd reherce openly Til rightwys men, þe werkes of mercy, For to make þam openly kyd, Til grete worshepe of þam þat þam dyd; And shew til þe synful, als falles þar-to, Þair unkyndenes, þat wyld noght do Þe werkes of mercy for his luf, Til þair grete shenshepe and repruve. When he has þus sayde and made ende, Þe synful with þe devels sal wende Until helle fire, þat never sal slake. A ful hidus cry þan sal þai make, And say 'allas! þat we ever war wroght. In manskynd; whyne war we noght! Whyne had God made us swa, Þat us thurt never haf feled wele ne wa! Now sal we bryn in þe fire of helle, And with-outen ende þar-in duelle.' Helle þan þam sal swelghe als-tite With-outen any lenger respyte; And alle þe fire þat þan sal be sene, And alle þe corrupcions þat ever has bene, And þe filthe and alle þe stynk Of alle þe werld þan sal synk Doun with þam in-til þe pitte of helle, To eke þair sorow þat þar sal duelle. Bot þe ryghtwys men, als pe buke bers wytnes Sal wende til blisse, whar lyfe es endeles, With our loverd and hys aungels ilkane Shynand brighter þan ever son shane. Now have yhe herd, als es contende In þis fift part, how þe werld sal ende, And how Crist, at his last commyng, Sal in dome sitte and discusse alle thyng. Here may a man read þat has tome, A large proces of þe day of dome, Þat a lang tyme aftir I haf redde Suld contene by skille, ar alle war spedde; Bot ye sal understand and witte, Als men may se in haly writte, Þat thurgh þe wysedom and þe vertu, And þe myght of our Lord Ihesu, Alle þe processe þat sal be þat day, Of whilk any clerk can speke or say, Sal þan swa shortely be sped and sone, Þat alle sal be in a moment done. A moment es als of a tyme bygynnyng, Als short als an eghe twynkelyng. A grete wondir may þis be kyd, Omang alle wondirs þat ever God dyd, Þat in swa short tyme at his commyng, He mught deme and discusse al thyng; Bot of þis suld nane muse, lered ne lewed, For als grete wordirswondirs (MS. Harl. 1964). has God shewed; Als grete a wonder es when he wroght, With a short worde, alle þe world of noght, And of þis þe prophete bers wittnes, Þat says þus, als it wryten es: Quia ipse dixit et facta sunt, ipse mandavit et creata sunt. "God sayde," says he, "and alle was done He bad and alle was made sone." Þus in a short tyme alle thyng made he, Mare wondir þan þis mught never be, Þan may he als shortly make endyng Of alle thyng, als he made bygynnyng. For swa witty and myghty es he Þat na-thyng til hym impossibel may be. Þe processe of þat day þat I haf talde, Al þe men of þe world, bathe yhung and alde, Sal se and undirstand it alle, In als short tyme als it sal falle. Now haf yhe herd me speke and rede Of þe wondir þat þan sal be and drede. Bot alle þogh yhe haf herd me rede and say Of þe reddure, þat sal be done þat day Untille alle synful men namely, Þat sal be dampned with-outen mercy, Als men may in þis part wryten se, Na man þarfor suld in dispayre be; For alle þat has mercy here sal be save, And alle þat here askes mercy sal it have, Yf þai it sekes whilles þai lyf bodily, And trewely trayste in Goddys mercy, And amende þam and þair syn forsake, Byfor þe tyme ar þe dede þam take And do mercy here and charité, Þan gette þai mercy and saved sal be. Bot if þe dede byfor haf þam tane, Ar þai haf mercy, þan gette þai nane, Bot reddure of rightwysnes anely, For þan sal be shewed na mercy. Here may ilk man, if he wille, Haf mercy þat dus þat falles þar-tille; Þoghe he had done never swa mykel syn, If he amended hym, he myght it wyn; For þe mercy of God es swa mykel here, And reches over alle, bathe fer and nere, Þat alle þe syn þat a man may do, It myght sleken, and mare þar-to, And þar-for says Saynt Austyn þus, A gude worde þat may comfort us: Sicut scintilla ignis in medio maris, ita omnis impietas viri ad miseriam dei. "Als a litel spark of fire," says he, "In mydward þe mykel se, Right swa alle a mans wykkednes Un-to þe mercy of God es." Here may men se how mykel es mercy, To fordo alle syn and foly. For-why if a man had done here Als mykel and als many syns sere, Als al þe men of þe werld has done, Alle myght his mercy fordo sone; And if possibel whare, als es noght, Þat ilk man als mykel syn had wroght, Als alle þe men þat in þe werld ever was, Yhit mught his mercy alle þair syn pas. Þan semes it wele, als men may se, Þat of his mercy here [t]he[re]is grete plenté, For his mercy spredes on ilka syde Thurgh alle þe werld, þat es brade and wyde, And sheues it be many ways, And þarfor þe prophete David says: Misericordia Domini plena est terra. "Þe erthe", he says, "es ful of mercy." Þan may men it fynde here plenteuously; And he þat has mercy, ar he hethen wende, At þe grete dome sal fynde Criste his frende, Whar rightwysnes anely sal be haunted, And na mercy þan be graunted. After þe grete dome alle þe werld brade Sal seme þan als it war new made. Þe erthe sal be þan even and hale, And smethe and clere als cristale; Þe ayre obout sal shyne ful bright, Þan sal ay be day and never nyght, For þe elementes alle sal þan clene be Of alle corrumpciouns þat we here se; Þan sal alle þe werld, in alle partys, Seme als it war a paradys, Þe planetes and þe sternes ilkane, Sal shyne brighter þan ever þai shane. Þe son sal be, als som clerkes demes, Seven sythesythes (MS. Harl. 4196). brighter þan it now semes; For it sal be als bright als it first was, Byfor ar Adam did trespas. Þe mone sal be als bright and clere, Als þe son es now þat shynes here; Þe son sal þan in þe este stande, With-outen removyng, ay shynande, And þe mone ogayne it in þe weste, And na mare sal travayle bot ay reste, Als þai war sette at þe bigynnyng, When God made þam and alle thyng; Þai war þan, als men may trow, Mykel brighter þan þai er now. Þe movand heve[n]s with-outen dout, Sal þan ceese o turnyng obout, And na mare obout in course wende, For of alle thyng þan sal be made ende. Þe movand hevens now obout gas, And þe son and þe mone þair course mas; And þe othir planetes ilkane, Moves als þai þair course haf tane; And alle þe elementes kyndely duse Þat þat es nedeful til man use. Þus ordaynd God þam to serve man, Bot of alle swylk servise þai sal ceese þan. For alle men aftir domesday Sal be war þai sal duelle for ay, Þe gude in blis, in rest and peese, Þe ille in payne þat never sal ceese. What nede war þat þa creatures þan, Shewed swilk servyse mare for man. Na qwik creature sal þan be lyfand, Thurgh out þe werld in na land, Ne nathyng sal growe þan, gresse ne tre, Ne cragges ne roches sal nan þan be, Ne dale, ne hille, ne mountayne; Bot alle erthe sal be þan even and playne, And be made als clere and fayre and clene, Als any cristal þat here es sene; For it sal be purged and fyned with-oute, Als alle other elementes sal be oboute, And na mare be travayled oon na side, Ne with na charge mare occupide. Now haf yhe herd me byfor rede Of þe day of dome þat many may drede, And of þe wondirful takens many, Þat salle falle byfor þat day namly, And how þe werld þat we now se, Aftir þe dome als new made sal be, Als here es contened, wha-swa wille luke, In þe fifte part of þis buke; Here on now wille I na langer stande, Bot ga til þe sext part neghest folowande, Þat specialy spekes, als writen es, Of þe paynes of helle þat er endeles, ÞatBot (MS. Harl. 4196). alle men, þat here lyfe byhoves lede, Aght specialy mast to drede; For þa paynes er swa fel and hard, Als yhe sal here be red aftirward, Þatilk man may ugge, bathe yhunge and alde, Þat heres þam be reherced and talde. Her begynnes þe sext party of þis boke þat spekes of þe paynes of Helle.This heading is absent from MSS. Galba E IX, Harl. 4196). Many men here spekes of helle, Bot of þe paynes þar fune can telle, Bot wha-swa here mught wit and k[n]aw wele What paynes þe synful þar sal fele, Þai suld in grete ferdlayk be broght, Ay when þai on þa paynes thoght; For þe mynde of þam myght men feer, Swa bitter and swa horribel þai er; Bot forþi þat many knawes noght right, Whatkyn paynes in helle er dight, With-outen ende for synful men, Þarfor I sal shewe yhow, als I can, Aparty of þa paynes sere, Als yhe may sone aftirward here. Bot first I wille shew whare es helle, Als I haf herd som grete clerkes telle, And sythen wille I shew yhow mare, And speke of þe paynes þat er þare. Som clerkes says, als þe buke bers witnes, Þat helle even in myddes þe erthe es; For alle erthe by skille may likend be Til a rounde appel of a tre, Þat even in myddes has a colke, And swa it may be tille an egge yholke; For als a dalk es even Imydward Þe yholke of þe egge, when it es hard, Ryght swa es helle pitte, als clerkes telles, Ymyddes þe erthe and nourwhar elles. And als þe yholk ymyddes þe egge lys, And þe white obout on þe same wys, Right swa es þe erthe, with-outen dout. Ymyddes þe hevens þat gas obout. Þus may men se by an egge hard dight, How heven and erthe and helle standes right. Ful hydus and myrke helle es kyd, For-why it es with-in þe erthe hyd, Þider þe synful sal be dryven, Als tyte als þe last dome es gyven. With alle þe devels ay þar to duelle, Þat now er in þe ayre and in helle, Þar sal þai alle be stoped togider; Wa sal þam be þat sal wende þider, For þar es swa mykel sorow and bale, And swa many paynes with-outen tale, Þat alle þe clerkes þat ever had wytt, Þat ever was, or þat lyfes yhitt, Couth noght telle ne shew thurgh lare, How mykel sorow and payne er þare. And if it thurgh kynd myght be swa, Þat an hundreth thousand men or ma, Had an hundreth thousand tunges of stele, And ilk tung mught speke wysely and wele And ilka tung of ilka man, Had bygunnen when þe werld bygan, To spek of helle, and swa suld speke ay Whils þe werld suld last til domes day, Yhit mught þai noght þe sorow telle, Þat to synful es ordaynd in helle; For-why na witt of man may ymagyn What paynes þar er ordaynd for syn. Bot men may fynd, wha-swa wil loke, Som maner of paynes wryten in boke, Omang all other paynes þat er in helle, Als men has herd wyse clerkes telle; Bot what man es swa wyse and wytty Þat couthe telle þa paynes proprely, Bot it war he þat had bene þare, And sene þa paynes bath les and mare? Bot he þat þar commes for certayne, May noght lightly turne agayne; He most duelle þar and never oway com, For pe buke says þus of wysdom: Non est agnitus, qui reversus est ab inferis. Þat es on Ynglisse "men knawes nane, Þat turned fra helle þat þider was gane." For alle þat er þar most duelle for ay, Þai may never be broght oway, Bot-if war thurgh miracle anely, And thurgh specyal grace of God almyghty, Thurgh whilk som, þat in helle has bene, And horrible paynes þar has sene Has bene broght oway fra alle þat stryf, And bene turned ogayne fra ded til lyf; Als Lazar was Mary brother Maudalayne, Þat saw and herd þare many a payne, Þat tyme namely when he was ded, For his saul þan was at þat sted, Four dayes, als God vouched save, And swa lang his body lay here in grave; And at þe last God raysed hym ryght Fra ded til lyf thurgh his myght; Bot þat þat he saw he noght forgatt, And sone þare-after als he satt With Crist at þe meete in Martha hows, He talde a party of þa paynes hydus; Bot yhit durst he noght al telle, For drede of Crist, þat he saw in helle, Yhit lyfed he after fyften yhere, Bot he lugheloghe (MS. Harl. 4196). never, ne made blythe chere, For drede of dede þat he most efte dreghe, And of þe paynes þat he saw with eghe. For how bitter þe dede es nan may witt, Bot he anely þat has feled itt, And what paynes in helle er, nane wil wene Bot he anely þat has þam sene. Alswa twa of Symeon sons ryght, Þe whilk Caryn and Lentyn hight, When þa first war dede and hethen went, Þai saw in helle many a tourment, And sithen when Crist dighed on þe rode, Þai rase fra ded and obout yhode, And tald how Crist, byfor þat he ras, Til helle come and tuke out þat his was, And mykel couthe þai þan telle Of þe paynes þat þai saw in helle. Bot þai had no leve als I wene To telle alle þat þai þar had sene; Wharfor þai lyfed here ay in penaunce, And never aftir made blithe countinance, Of wham es writen in a pistel þus, Þat Pilat sent til Tyberius, Þat þan emparour of Rome was, For to certifie hym of þis cas. And yhit many other þat war dede, Has bene sumtyme at þat stede, And sene þar many hydus payne, And thurgh miracle turned til lyf agayne; Bot omang alle þat þar has bene sene, I fynde wryten paynes fourtene, Thurgh whilk þe synful sal be pyned ay, In body and saul aftir domesday; Þe whilk er als general paynes of helle, And whilk þas er I sal yhow telle. Þe first es fire swa hate to reken, Þat na maner of thyng may it sleken. Þe secunde es calde als says som, Þat na hete of fire may overcom. Þe thred alswa es filthe and stynk Þat es stranger þan any hert may thynk. Þe ferthe es hunger sharpe and strang. Þe fift es brynnand threst omang. Þe sext es swa mykel myrknes, Þat it may be graped, swa thik it es. Þe seve[n]d es þe horribel sight Of þe devels þat þar er hydusly dight. Þe eghtend payne es vermyn grete, Þat þe synful men sal gnaw and frete. Þe neghend es dyngyng of devels hand, With melles of yren hate glowand. Þe tend payne es gnawyng with-in Of conscience þat bites als vermyn. Þe ellevend es hate teres of gretyng, Þat þe synful sal scalden in þe dounfallyng. Þe twelfte es shame and shenshepe of syn Þat þai sal haf þat never sal blyn. Þe threttend es bandes of fire brinnand, Þat þai sal be bunden with fote and hand. Þe fourtend payne despayre es cald, Þat þe synful sal ay in hert hald. Alle þir er generale paynes in helle; Bot þar er other ma þan tung may telle, Or hert may thynk or eer may here, Of special paynes þat er sere, Þe whilk many, aftir þai er worthy, Sal thole ever-mare in saule and body; Bot of alle þa paynes can I noght say, For na man þam reken ne specyfy may, Bot yhit wille I speke som-what mare Of þe general paynes þat I shewed are, And with som autorities þam bynd, Als men may in sere bukes writen fynd. Þe first als I tald es þe fire hate, Þat na thyng may sleken ne abate; Whare þe synful men sal bryn thurgh hete Of whilk God spekes þus thurgh þe prophete: Ignis succensus est in furore meo, et ardebit usque ad in| ferni novissima, id est, usque in eternum. "Fyre es kyndeld in my wreth", says he, "And sal bryn until ende of helle sal be, Þat es ever-mare, als God vouches save, For helle sal never-mare ende have." Þat fire es swa hate, and ay brynnes, Þat if alle þe waters þat standes or rynnes On erthe, and alle þe sese with-oute, Þat encloses alle þe erthe oboute, Suld ryn in-til þat fire swa hate, Yhit myght it noght it sleken ne abate, Na mare þan a drope of water shire If alle Rome brend, mught sleken þat fire. For þe fire of helle þat es endeles, Es hatter þan fire here es, Right als þe fire þat es brinnand here, Es hatter and of mare powere, Þan a purtrayd fire on a waghe, Þat es paynted outher heghe or laghe, With a rede coloure til mens sight, Þat nouther brynnes ne gyfes light, Ne on othir manere avales ne ders. Of þir twa fires I fynde writen twa vers. Quam focus est mundi picto fervencior igne, Tam focus inferni superat fervenicia mundi. "Als þe fire of þe werld hatter es Þan a fire paynted, be it mare or les, Rightswa þe fire of helle passes thurgh hete, Alle þe fires of þe werld, smale and grete, And for-þi þat þe synful brynned ay here, In þe fire of fole yhernyngs sere, It es right þat þai brynne þare In þat hate fire for ever-mare. "Est locus indignis ubi non extinguitur ignis, Non qui torquetur, nec qui torquet, morietur." Þe secunde payne es grete calde, Þat þe synful sal fele, als I ar talde; Þat cald sal be swa strang and kene, Þat if þe mast roche þat man has sene, Of þe mast mountayne in any land, War al attanes in fire brynnand, And even Imyddes þat cald war, It suld frese and turne al in-til yse þar; And for-þi þat þai, omang other vice, Brynned ay here in þe calde of malice, And ay was dased in charité, Þarfor it es right þat þai be In þat strang calde ever-mare lastand, Whar þai sal frese, bathe fote and hand. Þe devels sal tak þam fra þat fire, And cast þam, with ful grete ire, In-til þat cald to eke þair payne, And efte þam cast in þe fire ogayne; Þus sal þai cast þam to and fra, And ever-mare þai sal fare swa. Of þis þe haly man bers wittenes Iob þat says þus, als writen es: Ab aquis nivium transibunt ad calorem nimium. "Fra waters of snawes þe synful sal wende Til þe over mykel hete þat has nan ende." And Saynt Austyn says on þis manere, In a buke, als es writen here. Dicuntur namque, mali candere exterius calore ut ferum in for| nace, et interius frigore ut glacies in yeme. "Þe wikked sal outwith be glowand Thurgh hete, als men in fire brynnand, And with-in thurgh calde sharpe and kene, Als yse þat es in wynter sene," Þus sal þai ay be in calde and hete; Þis tourment es ful strang and grete. Þe thred payne es, als men heres clerkes telle, Þe grete stynk and filthe þat es in helle; Of þis Saynt Ierom, þe haly man, Says þus, als I here shewe yhow can: Ibi est ignis inextinguibilis, et fetor intollerabilis. "Þe fire es þar of swa grete pousté, Þat it may never mar slekend be, And swylk filthe and stynk es in þat ugly hole, Þat nan erthely man mught it thole;" For na man in erthe may ymagyn Swa mykel filthe, als sal be þar-in, Whar-for þar sal be mare stynk Þan tung may telle or hert thynk. Þe whilk stynk, with filthe and fen, Sal be strang payne til synful men, And yhit þe fire þat bryn þam sal, Sal gyfe a st[r]ang stynk with-alle, For it sal be fulle of brunstane and pyk, And of other thyng þat es wyk; And for þe synful delyted þam here namly, In þe filthe and stynk of lechery, It es right þat þai be ay omang Þe stynk and filthe in helle swa strang. Þe ferthe payne es, als I haf herd say, Þe strang hunger þat þar sal last ay, Þe whi[l]k þe synful in helle sal fele, Ever-mare als þir clerkes knawes wele. Þe strenthe of hungre sal þam swa chace Þat þair awen flesshe þai sal of-race; And for hungre þai sal yherne it ete, For þai sal gett nan other meete; For hungre þai sal be als brayne-wode, Bot þe dede þar sal be þair fode, Als says þe prophet in a stede: 'Þai sal be fedde with þe dede:' Mors depascet eos. Þis es on Inglys þus to rede: "Þe dede þam sal dolefuly fede." For als he þat has here hungre grete, Thurgh kynde langes mast aftir mete, Right swa þe synful þat sal duelle þare, Yhit sal lange aftir þe ded wel mare Þat þai mast hated and drede here, Bot dighe may þai noght on na manere, Of þis Saynt Ion bers wittnes, Als in þe apocalipse writen es: Disiderabunt mori, et mors fugiet ab eis. "Yherne þai sal to dighe fra þair wa, And þe ded sal ay fle þam fra;" And forþy þat þai wald gyf na mete Til þe poer, þat here hunger had grete, Ne of þam had nouther reuthe ne mercy, Bot used ay outrage and glotony, It es right þat þai haf þis payne Grete hungre in helle ay þar ogayne. Þe fifte payne es, als sal befalle, Grete threst þat þai sal haf with-alle, Swa mykel in helle sal be þair threst, Þat þair hertes sal nere cleweclefe (MS. Harl. 4196). and brest; Bot þe flaume of fire þai sal drynk, Menged with brunstan þat foul sal stynk, And with smoke of fyre and wyndes blast, And with other stormes þat ay sal last, Þat alle togider þan sal mete; And þarfor says David þe prophete: Ignis et sulphur et spiritus Procellarum pars calicis eorum. He says þus, als we writen fynde, "Fire and brunstan and stormes with wynde, A part sal be þar of þair drynk," And þat sal be menged with smoke and stynk; Yhit sal þai drynk, ogayne þair wille, Another manere of drynk þat es ille, Þat sal be bitter and venemus, And be cald þair wyne, for þe prophet says þus: Fel draconum vinum eorum, et venenum aspidum insanabile. "Galle of draguns þair wyne sal be, And wenym of snakes þar-with," says he, "Þat may noght be heled wele," Swa violent it es to fele. Þir wordes, aftir þe lettre, er hard to here, Bot men may þam take on othir manere. Þai sal swa brynnand threst thole, Þat þair hertes sal bryn with-in als a cole, For na licour sal þai fynd to fele, Þat þair threst mught sleke and þair hertes kele; Þai sal for threst þe hevedes souke Of þe nedders þat on þam sal rouke, Als a childe þat sittes in þe moder lappe, And when it list, soukes hir pappe; For I fynd þis word in haly writt, Als Iob says þat witnesses it: Caput aspidum sugent. "Þe heved of nedders þat on þam sal fest" He says, "þai sal souke þan for threst." Strang payne of threst þan haf þai When þai sal souke for therstthrest (MS. Harl. 4196). swilk venym ay. And for-þi þat þai wald never blethely Gyf til poer at drynk þat war thresty, To sleken þair threst, ne on þam thynk, Ne nouther gyf þam mete ne drynk, And on þair-selven na drynk wald spare Na day, til þai drunken ware, It es þan right þat þat þai in helle fele Brynnand threst þat never sal kele; Þat sal þai haf when þai com þider, And sharp hungre alswa bath to-gydre, Þat never sal cesse, als I sayde ar; For þir twa paynes with othir er endel[e]s þar, Of þis Saynt Ierom bers wittnes, Þat says þus, als writen es: In inferno erit fames infinita, et sitis infinita. "In helle sal be whar never es rest Endel[e]s hungre and endeles threst." Inferni pene sunt hec, vermes, tenebreque flamma, chorus demonum, fetor, frigusque fa|mes, sitis, horror. Þe sext payne es over mykel myrknes, Þat in helle sal be ay endeles; Þat swa thik es þat men mught it grape, Fra whilk þe synful sal never eschape. For na hert may thynk ne tung telle, Swa mykel mirkenes als es in helle, Of whilk Iob spekes, als þe buk shewes wele, And says, þe synful sal grape and fele Myrkenes, als mykel at mydday Als at mydnyght, þat sal last ay: Palpabunt tenebras in meridie, sicut in media nocte. "In helle es never day bot ever nyght; Þar brynnes ay fire, bot it gyf[es] na light." Bot yhit þe synful sal ay se Alle þe sorowe þat þar sal be, And ilka payne and ilka tourment, Thurgh sparkes of fire þat obout sal sprent. Bot þat sight sal be til þam þare, Na confort, bot sorowe and kare. Þus to eke þair paynes, þai sal haf sight, With-outen any comfort þar of light; And for-þi þat helle es ay lightles, It es cald þe land of myrkenes, Þat es depe and myrke and hydus, Þarfor says Iob, þe haly man, þus: Ut non revertar ad terram tenebrosam. He says; "Loverd þat I noght turne away Til þe myrke land", whare sorow es ay, Whare wonyng es ay hydus and ille, Als Iob says þat þus spekes mar þar-tille: Ubi nullus ordo, sed sempiternus horror inhabitans. "Þar nan ordre wonand es," says he, "Bot uglynes þat ever mare sal be." And forþi þat þe synful in þair lyf here, Lufed ay myrknes of syns sere, And wald noght turne þam when þai myght, Fra þat myrknes til Goddes light, It es right þat þai duelle þare, In þat hidus myrknes ever-mare, And never-mare aftir light se; A strang payne til þam þat sal be. Þe sevend payne es of þe fourtene Þe sight of devels þat sal be sene Omang þe synful þat sal be in helle, In whas company þai sal ay duelle. Þat sight sal be swa hidus to se, Þat alle þe men of cristianté Couthe noght, thurgh witt, ymagyn right, Ne descryve swa hydus a sight, Als þai þan sal se in helle ever-mare, Of ugly devels þat sal be þare, For þan sal be ma devels in helle, Þan any tung can reken or telle; And ilkan sal mare grysely seme Þan any man can ymagyn and deme: For swa hardy es na man, ne swa balde In þis werld, nouther yhung ne alde, If he myght right consayve in mynde, How grysely a devel es in his kynde, Þat durst for alle gude of mydlerde A devel se here, swa suld he be aferde; For þe hardyest man in flesshe and bane Þat here lyfes, yf he sawe ane Of þa devels in þair awen lyknes, Suld wax wode for ferde and be wittles. For-why na witt of man may endure To se a devel in his propre figure. How sal þai fare þan þat ay sal þam se, And ay in company with pam be? Þe synful sal ever-mare on þam luke For þus we fynde wryten in boke: In inferno videbunt eos, facie ad faciem, quorum opera in terris dilexerunt. "In helle þai sal þam se, face to face, Whas werkes þai lufed and folowed þe trace, Whilles þai war here in erthe lyfand;" And with þat syght, als I understand, Þai sal duleful crying and sorow here, For Saynt Austyn says on þis manere: Demones igne scintillante videbunt, et miserabilem clamorem flencium et la| mentancium audient. "Þai sal se þar devels with eghe, Thurgh sparkes þat of þe fire sal fleghe, And here þar-with on ilka party, Þe wreched synful grete and cry." And þe sorow and dule þat þai sal make, Sal never-mar þar cees ne slake; And forþi þat þat here hated to se, And to here þat þat gude suld be, And þarfor it es reson and ryght, Þat þai ay se þat grysely syght, And þat þatþai? heryng haf of duleful dyn, To eke þair payn for þair sin. Þe aghtend payne, als þe buke says us, Es þe horribel vermyn venemus. Þe whilk sal on þe synful rouke, And ever-mare þam gnaw and souke, Als ugly draguns, and nedders kene; And tades swa hydus was never here sene And othir vermyn ful of venym, And wode bestes grysely and grym, Þat with tethe sal with þam ay gnaw and byte, On alle þair lyms, whar þai had delite Synful werkes here for to wirk, Agayne þe law of God and of haly kyrk. Þus for þai did ay ogayns Goddes lawe, Vermyn and wode bestes sal þam ay gnawe, For þair syn þat þam thoght here swete, Þarfor God says þus thurgh þe prophete: Dentes bestiarum immittam in eos, cum furo| re trahencium in terra atque serpencium. "I sal send in þe synful", says he, "Þe tethe of bestes þat felle sal be With wodenes of þam in-til crthe drawand, And of nedders þam fast gnawand." Þus sal wode bestes and vermyn gnaw þam ay And never-mare pas fra þam oway; And þat payne þe synful byhoves ay dreghe, For-why þair vermyn sal never dieghe, Bot ever-mare lyfand with þam duelle, Þarfor God says þus in þe godspelle: Vermis eorum non morietur, et ignis eorum non extinguetur. "Þair vermyn salle never deghe," says he, "Ne þair fyre salle never slekend be;" And to þat says þus Saynt Austyne, Þat spekes here of þat vermyne: Vermes infernales sunt immortales qui, ut pis| ces in aqua, ita vivunt in flamma. He says, "vermyn of helle salle ay lyfe, And never deghe þe synfulle to gryefe, The whilk salle lyfe in þe flawme of fyre, Als fyssches lyfes in water schyre." Þat vermyn on þam salle ay crepe, In þam fest þair clokes full depe;And in þaim feste þair clowes ful depe (MS. Harl. 6923). Þai salle umlapp þam alle oboute, And gnaw on ilka lym and souke; With vermyn þai salle alle coverd be, Swa þat na lym of þam salle be fre, And swa þai salle be ay gnawand On þair lyms, whether þai lyg or stand; Vermyn in helle salle be þair clethyng And vermyn salle þare be þair beddyng. Na clathes þai salle have to gang in, Ne na beddes to lyg in bot vermyn, Wharfor I fynd wryten þare I have red, How þe prophete discryved swilk a bed To þe kyng Nabogodonosor, And sayd þus to mak him ferd þarfor: Subter te sternetur tinea, et operimentum tuum vermes. He says "of wormes þi bed salle be Þat salle be strewed thyk under þe, And þi covertoure on þe sene Salle be vermyn fulle felle and kene." Swilk beddes er ordaynd in helle Ffor synfulle men þat þar salle dwelle. Þus salle þai be pyned for þair syn, Ever-mare with fyre and vermyn, And with many other payns ma; Ffor God vouches safe þat it be swa, Ffor þus fynd we wryten in haly wrytt, In a boke of þe Bibelle þat hate Iudyth: Dabit dominus ignem et vermes in carnes eorum, ut urantur et senciant, usque in sem| piternum. It says "fyre and vermyn þat ay salle lyfe, Our lord tylle þe flesch of synfulle salle gyfe, Swa þat þai salle bryn ever-mare, And ay fele of vermyn bytyng sare." Þis payne es mare to fele and se, Þan alle þe paynes þat may be In þis werld here, mare and les, Als þe boke openly bers witnes, Þus salle vermyn in helle be gret payne, Bot yhit may men say here ogayne, Ffor men may in som boke wryten se Þat after þe gret dome þat last salle be, Na quyk creature salle lyf þan, Bot anely aungelle, develle and man, 'How suld in helle þan or ourwhare elles, Any vermyn lyf als men telles, Or any other best þat moght dere?' To þis may men gyf answere On þis manere, wha-swa kan; Þe vermyn þat salle be þan, Als I understand, noght elles es Bot devels in vermyn lyknes, Þat salle byte and gnaw þe synfulle þare, To eke þair payne and mak it mare. Þus salle þe devels gnaw þam with-out, In lyknes of vermyn alle obout. And þair conscience als vermyn, Salle gnaw þam over-alle with-in, And þat gnawyng salle be fulle hard, Of whilk I salle speke sone afterward. Þat vermyn in helle salle be mare grysely Þan vermyn here es, and mare myghty. By vermyn here þan þat greves sare, Men aght to drede þe vermyn þare; And forþi þat þe synfulle was here namely, Ay fulle of hateredyn and of envy, And wald noght amend þam of þat syn, Bot lete it gnaw þam ay with-in, It es ryght and skylle thurgh Godes lawe, Þat þe vermyn in helle ay þam gnawe. Þe neghend payne es to understand, Dyngyng of devels with hamers glowand; Ffor þe devels þe synfulle salle ay bete With glowand hamers huge and grete And als smyths strykes on þe yren fast, Swa þat it brekes and brestes at þe last, Right swa þe devels salle ay dyng On þe synfulle, with-outen styntyng; And with hamers gyf swa gret dyntes, Þatalle to powdre moght stryke hard flyntes; Ffor harder dyntes gaf never engyne, Þan þai salle gyf, als says Saint Austyne: Sicut machina bellita percutit muros opidi, ita demones ym| mo asperius et crudelius, corpora malorum et animas flagellabunt, post iudicium. He says "als men may se ane engyne cast, And at þe walles of a castelle stryke fast With a stane þat es huge and hevy, Swa salle devels stryke þaseþuse? mare felly Þe ille bodyse and saules þat salle dwelle, After þe last gret dome in helle." Þus salle þai dyng on þam ever-mare, With gret glowand hamers, and nane spare. And þis payne tylle þam salle be endles, Als þe bok here-of bers witnes; Ffor þai salle have power ay and leve, Þe synfull men to dyng and greve, Als in a boke es schewed tylle us, Þat Saynt Austyne made, þare he says þus: Parata iudicia blasphemtoribus, et percu| cientibus malleis stultorum corpora. "Þe domes salle þan be redy Tille þe sklaunderers of God alle myghty, And tylle þase þat salle be ay smytand Þe bodyse of synfulle with melles in hand." And forþi þat þai wald noght take Haly disciplyne here, for Godes sake, Þarfor þe devels salle stryk þam þare, With hevy melles ay, and nane spare. Þe tend payne es þe gnawyng with-in Of þair conscience þat never salle blyn; Ffor with-in þam salle þe worme of conscience frete Als with-outen salle do vermyn grete, And swa salle þai ever-mare, with-outen dout, Be gnawen and byten with-in and with-out. Ffulle mykelle sorow salle þan be in helle Omang þe synfulle þat þare salle dwelle; Ffor þai salle ever þus cry and say, 'Allas! Allas! and walaway! Whi ne wald we never are trow, What payne and sorow here es now.' Þan salle þai pleyne þam of þair wickednes, And say þus, als in boke wryten es: Quid nobis profuit superbia, quid divicia| rum iactancia, omnia transierunt velud um| bra, et tanquam nuncius percurrens, et tanquam na vis procedens in fluctuantem aquam, et tan| quam avis transvolans in aere, cuius itineris non est invenire vestigium. "What avayld us pryde", þai salle say, "What rosyng of ryches or of ryche aray? Alle þat pomp als we se now, Es passed oway als a schadow, And als messanger bifore rynand, And als schypp þat gase in water flowand, And als foghel fleghand in þe ayre als wynd, Of whase gate men may na trace fynd." Þus salle alle þair pomp oway pas, And be als thyng þat never was, Þan salle þam thynk when alle es oway, Alle þair lyfe here bot als ane howr of a day, Þof þai never so lang had lyfed here, Þai may say on þis manere: 'Right now born we war in þe world to be, Ryght now in alle our delytes lyfed we, Ryght now we deghed and passed oway Now er we in helle and swa salle be ay,' Þan salle þai knaw how ille þai haf lyfed, When þe worme of conscience þam has greved, Þat with-in salle þam ay gnaw and byte Ffor þai in vanyté had here delyte, And for-þi þat conscience styrd þam noght, To forsake þair folyes þat þai wroght, Bot folowed ay here þair flesschly wille; Þarfor it es gud, ryght, and skylle, Þat þe worme of conscience with-in, Ever-mare in helle þam gnaw for þair syn. Þe ellevend payne es teres of gretyng Of þe synfulle þat, with-outen styntyng, Sal grete ever-mare, als says þe boke; Ffor-whi what for sorow, and what thurgh smoke And what thurgh cald, and what thurgh hete Þat þai salle thole, þai salle ay grete, And þus teres fra þair eghen salle ryn Ever-mare and never salle blyn. Swa mykelle water als salle falle þan, Ffra a mans eghe may gesce na man; Ffor-whi þai salle ay be gretand, And þair teres salle be ay flowand, And fra þair eghen ryn swa fast, And þair gretyng swa lang salle last, Þat in alle þe world here, als I wene, Es noght swa mykelle water sene, Als fra þair eghen salle falle þare; Ffor þai salle be gretand ever-mare. Wharfor Saint Austyn says þus, Whase wordes er auctentyke tylle us: In inferno plures effundentur lacrime quam sunt in mari gutte. "In helle," he says, "out-yhetted salle be, Ma teres þan dropes er in þe se," Þe synfulle salle þare þus ever-mare grete, And þair [teres] salle be of swa gret hete, Þat þe water þat þan salle doun-ryn, Ffra þair eghen, salle þam schald and bryn, Ffor it salle be hatter þan ever was Molten led or welland bras, Als I have herd gret clerkes telle, Þat has descryved þe payns of helle; And for-þi þat þai had here ay lykyng In þair syn and never forthynkyng, Ne sorow þarfore, for þam thoght it swete, Þarfor þai salle in helle ay grete, And with þair teres be schalded sare, To eke þair paynes, als I sayd are. Þe twelfte payne es schame and schenshepe, Þat þe synfulle salle have in helle swa depe, Of ilka syn þat ever þai dyd; Ffor-whi þare salle be knawen and kyd Alle þair syns of thoght, or word and werk, Als says Saint Austyne þe gret clerk: Omnia in omnibus patebunt, et se ab| scondere non valebunt. "Alle þair syns in þam salle shewed be And þai may nouther þan þam hyde ne fle." Þai salle have mare schame of þair syn þare, And þair schendschepe salle be mare, Þan ever had any man here in thoght Ffor any velany þat ever he wroght, And þat schame with þam salle last ay, And never salle pas fra þam oway; Þai may say þus þat þare þan dwelles, Als þe prophete in þe psauter telles; Tota die verecundia mea contra me est, et confusio faciei mee cooperuit me. Þat es, "my schamefulnes," says he, Alle day es ogayns me, And þe schenschepe of my face Salle cover me, in ilka place." Þai salle swa schame ay of þair syn, Þat þam salle thynk als þai suld bryn, Ffor þe gret schame þat þai salle have þare, Þat never salle cese, bot last ever-mare; Wharfor if na payne war in helle, Bot þat schame anely, þat I of telle, It suld be tylle þam þare mare payne, Þan any man couth here ordayne; And forþi þat þai here in þair lyfe, Durst never for schame of syn þam schryve, Bot with-outen schame to syn was bald, It es ryght þat þai have, als I tald, Schame in helle for þair syn, Of whilk þai wald here never blyn. Þe threttende payne es, als clerkes wate, Þe bandes of fyre brynand fulle hate, With whilk þe synfulle salle be bonden, Als in som boke wryten es fonden; And þa bandes of fyre salle never slake. Ffor þai wald never þair syn forsake, Þai salle be with þa bandes brynand, In helle hard bonden, both fote and hand, And straytely streyned ilka lym, Thurgh þe devels þat er ugly and grym. Þair wonyng in helle salle be endeles, Omang stynk and fylth in gret myrknes, Whare ever es nyght and never day, Als men may here gret clerkes say. Þan salle þai fele, when þai þare come, Godes vengeance thurgh ryghtwise dome, Ffor þair syn þat him here myspays, Wharfor God þus in þe gosspelle says: Ligatis manibus et pedibus, mittite in tenebras exteriores. "Lat bynd þair hend and þair fete fast, And in-to þe utter myrknes þam cast," Þat es in þe deppest pytt of helle, Whare mare sorow es þan tong may telle. Þare salle þair hevedes be turned dounward, And þair fete upward bonden hard, And þair bodyse be streyned bi fete and hed, With brynand bandes glowand red; Þai salle be pyned on þis manere, With other paynes many and sere, Als a gret clerk says openly, In a boke þat he made thurgh study, Of sere questyons of divinité, Þat es cald 'Flos Sciencie' Þat es on Ynglys 'þe flour of konyng' Whare wryten es many privé thyng; In þat boke þus he telles, How þai salle hyng þat þar þan dwelles: Capita, inquit, eorum erunt ad-invicem deorsum versa, pedes sursum erecti, et undique penis distenti. He says "in þe grond of helle dongeoune "Þe hevedes of synfulle salle be turned doune, And þe fete upward fast knytted And in strang payns be streyned and tytted." And for-þi, þat þai war here ay redy To syn, with sere lyms of þair body, Þarfor þai salle be bonden þare Be divers lyms, als I sayd are, With brynand bandes hate glowand, Þat ever mare salle be lastand; And for-þi þat þai wald noght God knaw, Na kepe þe ordre here of his law, Bot turned þam ay fro God-ward, And on þe world þair hertes sett hard, And swa mysturned here þair lyfyng In-tylle vanyté and flesschly lykyng, Þarfor it es ryght and resoune, Þat þai be turned up-swa-doune, And streyned in helle and bonden fast, With bandes of fire þat ay salle last. Þe fourtende payne es despayre to telle, In whilk þe synfulle salle ay dwelle, With-outen hope of mercy þan, Ffor Salamon says þus, þe wise man: Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad infernum non rever| tentur, nec apprehendent semitas vite. He says "alle þase þat tylle helle wendes, And in despayre salle be omang fendes, Salle never after turne ogayne, Ne tak þe ways of lyfe certayne." For when þai er dampned thurgh iugement, And with body and saule tille helle er sent, Þai salle never after, with-outen dout, Have hope, ne thynk to com out, Bot ever-mare dwelle with-outen hope, Ffor þus says þe haly man Job: Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio. "Ffor in hell", he says, "es na redempcyoune" Thurgh na help of frende; for na devocyone Of prayer, ne almusdede, ne messe, May þam help, ne þair payn mak les. A strang payn salle þis be in helle, Ever-mare þus in despayre to dwelle, With-outen hope of recouverere. Þis passes alle þe payns of þis lyfe here, Ffor here has na man payn swa strang, Þat he ne has som tyme hope omang, Outher of remedy þat men may kast, Or þat it salle end and noght ay last; Elles suld þe hert, thurgh sorow and care, Over-tyte fayle, warn som hope ware; Ffor in sorow here hope comfortes best. And men says, warn hope ware it suld brest. Bot in helle na hope may falle in thoght, And þair hertes brest may noght; Ffor þai er ordaynd to lyf ay þare, Swa þat þai may be pyned ever-mare. Bot þe lyfe of þam in þat stede Es wers and bytterer þan þe dede. Bot better it war to be fully slayne, Þan over-lang lyfe in strang payne; Bot þe synfulle salle ay þare in payne be, And na ded may þam sla bot ay þam fle, Als þe boke openly schewes us, Whare we may fynd wryten þus: Mors fugiet ab eis. "Þe ded", þat here es strang and hard "Salle ay þan fle fra þam-ward," Þe payns of þe ded þai salle ay dreghe, Bot þai salle never-mare fully deghe; Þai salle ay lyf in sorow and stryfe, Bot þair lyf salle seme mare ded þan lyfe; Þair lyfe in mydward þe ded salle stand, Ffor þai salle lyfe ever-mare deghand, And deghe ever-mare lyfand with-alle, Als men dose þat we se in swowne falle; And for-þi, þat þai here mykelle lufed syn, And thurgh over-mykelle hope ay lyfed þar-in, And to leve þair syn had never wille, Þarfor it es gud, ryght and skylle, Þat þai be ay for þair foly, In helle with-outen hope of mercy. Now have I schewed yhow, als I couth telle, Þe fourtene generalle payns in helle; Bot yhit es over þase a payne generalle, Þat of alle other es mast principalle, Þat es tharnyng for ever of the syght namly, Of our Lord God alle-myghty. Ffor whilk syght þat þai for ever have tynt, Þai salle have sorow þat never salle stynt; And þe sorow þat þarfor salle falle Salle be mast payne to þam of alle, For als þe syght of God in heven, es Mast ioy of alle other, mare and les, Right swa þe tharnyng for ever of þat syght, Es þe mast payne in helle dyght; Ffor alle þe payns þat in helle may be, Suld noght þam dere if þai moght him se. Yhit salle þare be sere payns many ma Als þe boke says, and mare sorow and wa Þan alle þe men of erth, ald and yhong, Moght thynk with hert or telle with tong, Þat þe synful men þat salle wende Tille helle salle have with-outen ende, Þe whilk payns and sorow salle never cees; Ffor þare salle never be rest ne pees, Bot travail and stryfe with sorow and care, Fulle wa salle þam be þat salle dwelle þare; Þai sall thynk on nathyng elles, Bot on þair payns, als som clerkes telles, And on þair syn þat þai here wroght, Swa salle payns and sorow troble þair thoght; Ffor þare salle be þan herd and sene, Alkyn sorow and trey and tene. Þare salle be wantyng of alkyn thyng, In whilk moght be any lykyng, And defaut of alle thyng þat gud moght be, And of alle þat ille es gret plenté. In helle salle be þan fulle dolefulle dyn, Omang þe synfulle þat salle dwelle þar-in, Þat ever-mare salle þus cry and say: "Allas, allas and walaway! Þat ever we war of wemmen borne, Ffor we er fra God for ever lorne?" Þan salle þai grete and goule and with teth gnayste Ffor of help ne mercy þar þam noght trayste.Þai salle gret and with teth gnayste, For mercy þar þaim nane traiste (MS. Harl. 6923). Þe devels obout þam þan in helle, On þam salle ever-mare rare and yhelle; Swa hydus noyse þai salle þan make, Þat alle þe world it moght do qwake, And alle þe men lyfand þat herd it, To ga wode for ferd and tyne þair witt. Þe devils ay omang on þam salle stryke, And þe synfulle þare-with ay cry and skryke; Þare salle be þan mare noyse and dyn, Þan alle þe men of erth couth ymagyn, Ffor þare salle be swilk rareyng and ruschyng And raumpyng of devels and dyngyng and dusching And skrykyng of synfulle, als I said are, Þat þe noyse salle be swa hydus þare, Omang devels and þase þat salle com þider, Ryght als heven and erth strake togyder. Ane hydus thing es it to telle Of þe noyse þat salle þan be in helle; Þe devels, þat ay salle be fulle of ire, Salle stopp þe synfulle ay in þe fyre, Swa þat þai salle glowe ay als fyre brandes And ay when þai may weld þair hands,MS. Harl. 6923 reads styr for weld. Ffor sorow þai salle þam hard wryng; And walaway þai salle ay syng. In helle salle be þan swa gret thrang, Þat nane may remow for other ne gang. On na syde, backward ne forward Ffor þai salle be pressed togyder swaharde, Als þai war stopped togyder in ane oven, Ffulle of fyre bineth and oboven; Bot never-þe-les helle yhit es swa depe, And swa wyde and large, þat it moght kepe Alle þe creatures, les and mare, Of alle þe world if myster ware. Ilka synfulle salle þare on other prese, And nane of þam salle other eese, Bot ever fyght togyder and stryfe, Als þai war wode men of þis lyfe, And ilk ane scratte other in þe face, And þair awen flessch of-ryve and race, Swa þat ilk ane wald him self fayn sla, If he moght, swa salle him be wa, Bot þare-to salle þai haf na myght, Ffor þe ded salle never mar on þam lyght. Ffulle fayn þai wald þan ded be, Bot þe ded salle ay fra þam fle; After þe ded þai salle yherne ilk ane, Als in þe apocalypse schewes Saint Iohan: Desiderabunt mori, et mors fugit ab eis. "Þai sall yherne", he says, "to deghe ay, And þe ded salle fle fra þam oway;" Omang þam salle ay be debate, Ilk ane of þam salle other hate. Þai salle be fulle of hateredyn þan; Ilk ane salle other wery and ban, And say "cursed kaytif and wa worth þe, And weryed mot þou ever be, And weryed mot þai be ever-mare, Þat þe gat and þat þe bare, And þe tyme þat þou was born alswa, Ffor þi payne es tylle me sorow and wa; It pynes me and greves me sare, Als mykelle als myne awen payn or mare, Ffor my payne it ekes, and mase mare grevus." Ilk ane tylle other þan salle say þus. Þus ilk mans payne salle other dere, And nane of þam salle other forbere; Nouther son, ne doghter, ne syster, ne brother Ffader ne moder, ne yhit nane other; Ffor ilk ane salle other hate dedly, And ilk ane gryn on other and cry. Ilk ane salle gnaw þair awen tonges in sonder, And ilk ane salle þare on other wonder. Þus in helle salle þai far ay, And þar-with sklaundre God and say: "Whar-to made God us tylle his lyknes, And lates us now dwell þare sorow ay es; Bot it semes þat God made us in vayne, When we er þus putted tille endles payne, Or he us made for noght els to dwelle In erth, bot to be fyre brandes in helle." Þai salle wery þe tyme þat þai war wroght, And say "allas whine war we noght." Þus salle þai sklaundre God omang, Swa hard þair payns salle be, and swa strang; Þai salle ilk ane on other stare and gryn, Als wode men dose here, and makes gret dyn; An hydus thing to here it ware, Wha-swa couth telle þe payns þare, Als properly als þai salle þare be. Bot þat couth noght alle þe men of cristianté. Ne alle þe clerkes þat ever had witt, Sen þe world bigan, ne þat lyfes yhit Couth never telle, bi clergy, ne arte Of þa payns of helle þe thowsand parte. Ffor þe noumbre of payns þat þare griefes Passes þe mens witt þat here liefes, Or þat ever lyfed in any degré, And þat may men bi skylle þus se; Ffor ilka syn þat þe synfulle has wroght, Whar it never swa lytelle venyalle thoght, Þai salle have certayne payne þare, After þat þe syn es les or mare. Wha couth þan telle, war he never swa wyse, Alle þe syns and alle þe folyse, Both dedly and alswa venyale, And leve nane untald, gret ne smale, Þe whilk a man has here fallen in, Ffra þe tyme þat he first bigan to syn, Both in thoght, in word and dede? Alswa say nane es þat tyme couth rede.Als wha say na man couth thaim rede (MS. Harl. 6923). And for ilka thing done here in vayne, In helle es ordaynd certayne payne Tille synfulle men þat salle dwelle þare. Þan bihoves þam, als I sayd are, Ffor ilka syn þat þai dyd here, Have certayne payne singulere; And for ilka manere of syn and foly, Be pyned in helle specyaly. And als oft-sythe als þai here newed þair syn Als oft-syth þair payn salle new þare bigyn; Þarfor swamany payns tylle þam salle falle, Þat na witt may comprehende þam alle; Ffor na syn þat þai ever here dyd, Dedly ne veniele, salle be hyd, Bot alle openly sene and nan be laynd, Ffor whilk salle be þare sere payns ordaynd; Wha moght þan alle þe payns telle, Þat þe synfulle men salle have in helle? Ffor-whi if a man fra hethen pass oway In a dedly syn, at his last day, Ffor ilka venyel syn, þat ever dyd he, He salle þan diversly pyned be; And als oft renoueldrenewed? salle be ilk payne, Als he turned new tylle ilk syn ogayne. And þe lest payne þare es mare to se, Þan alle þe payns of þis world may be, Ffor alle þe payns of þis world here, Þat ever was sene fer or nere, Als to þe lest payne þare moght noght be tald, Bot als a bathe of water, nouther hate ne caldAls a leuke bath nouther hate ne calde (MS. Harl. 6923). Ffor alle þe sorow of þis world, ilka dele, War noght bot als solace and ioy to fele, Als to regard of þe lest payne, Þat es in helle; þis es certayne, Ilk synfulle salle haf syght þare Of alle þe payns, both les and mare, Þat alle þe synfulle men salle dreghe. Þan salle ilk ane se þare with eghe Men and wymmen, many a thousand, On ilk syde obout, in sere payns dwelland; And þat syght, þat ilk ane salle þare se Of ilka payne, tylle þam payne salle be; Ffor alle þe payns þat salle falle tylle ilk man Salle be sorow tylle alle þat sese þam þan. Þus salle ilk ane dreghe mare payn in helle, Þan hert moght ever think or tong telle; What of payns þat to þam-self salle be dyght, And what of payns þat þai salle have of syght. Ffor alle þe payns, þat þare salle be knawen, Salle greve ilk man als mykelle als his awen; Swilk payns to here, als men may here rede, Aght to mak ilk man of helle have drede; For I trow þat here es no man lyfand, Swa hard-herted, þat wald understand And trow what payns in helle er wroght, Þat he ne suld have gret dred in thoght, Þe whilk suld mak him hate alle foly, Wharfor he war swylk payns worthy. Bot alle þase þat wille þair syn forsake, Whils þai lyfe here, ar þe ded þam take, And of alle thing have forthynkyng Þat þai have done ogayns Godes bydyng, And turn þam tylle God fra þair syn, And ask his mercy and trayst þar-in, And be lufand un-tylle him and bowsom, In þa payns of helle salle never com, Bot tylle þe blys of heven mon þai wende, And have þare þair lykyng with-outen ende. Here have I spoken of þe payns of helle, Als yhe have herd me openly telle, And of þe sext part of þis boke made ende. Now wille I tylle þe sevend part wende, Þat es þe last part of alle; Þe whilk spekes als I shew yhow salle, Specialy of þe ioyes in heven, Þat er mare þan any tong may neven. Bot fyrst I wille schew yhow whare heven es, Als clerkes says and þe boke bers witnes; And efter þat I salle schew yhow mare, And telle yhow of sere ioyes þat er þare. Here bygyns þe sevend part of þis boke Þat es of þe ioyes of heven. Many þe blys of heven covaytes, Bot fone þe ryght way þider laytes; And som thurgh syn er made so blynd, Þat þe right way þider þai kan noght fynd, Som wald be þare, with-outen dout, Bot þai wille noght travaille þare obout; Bot whasa wille tak þe way þider-ward, Behoves in gud werkes travaille hard; Ffor tylle þe kyngdom of heven may no man com Bot he ga bi þe way of wisdom; Þe way of wysdom es mekenes And other virtuse, mare and les. And þat way es cald a gastly way, Bi whilk men suld here travaille ay, Þat es þe way þat ledes men even Untylle þe hegh kyngdom of heven. Bi other way may nane, bot he fleghe, Pass up tylle heven it es swa heghe; Ffor it es þe heghest place þat God wroght, And þe first, when he made alle thing of noght. Na man may gesce swa lang space, Als es fro hethen untylle þat hegh place; Ffor bitwene us and þat heghe heven Es alle þe firmament to neven, ÞeÞat? clerkes bi skylle hevens calles, Þe whilk er ay moveand als falles. Þus er oboven us hevens sere, Bot alle er þa noght olyke clere; Ffor þe heghest heven es wele bryghter Þan þe other hevens þat er lagher; Ffor þe heghest has swa mykelle bryghtnes, And swa fayre and swa delytable es, Þat alle þe men of erth couth noght Swa mykelle ymagyn, ne think in thoght. Sere hevens God ordaynd for sere thyng, Bot þe heghest God made for our wonyng. Þese hevens er oboven us heghe, Als clerkes says, þat er wise and sleghe; Ane es, þat we þe sterned heven calle, Þare þe planetes and þe sternes er alle, Þat men may se here, on nyght, schyne; Ane other es, þat clerkes calles cristallyne, Þat next oboven þe sterned heven es, And es mare þan þat of wydenes; Som clerkes it calles on þis manere; Þe water heven, þat es als clere Als cristalle, þat hoves oboven þare, Ryght als water þat frosen ware; Þus telles Berthelemewe in þe boke Of propertes of sere thinges to loke: Þir twa hevens ay obout-rynnes, Both day and nyght, and never blynnes; Þe erth, þat þa hevens obout-gase, Es bot als a poynt Imyddes a compase; Swa lytelle it es semand with-out To regard of þa hevens obout; And Imyddes þe erth es ordaynd helle, Þare þe synfulle, þat salle be dampned salle dwelle Als men may before rede and se, And lawer þan helle may na place be; Þus both þe hevens obout-gase ay And never salle ceese untylle domesday; Ffor clerkes says þat knawes and sese, Of þir twa hevens þe propertese, Þat if þai moved noght, alle suld peryssch, Both man and beste, foghel and fyssch And alle þat under þam may be, Þat lyves and growes, both gresse and tre, All suld be smoredAl schulde be spilt wyth-outen doute (MS. 22283). with-outen dout, Warne þa hevens ay moved obout; Ffor if þai stode never swa schort while stylle, Alle þat on erth es suld perysch and spylle; Þus telles gret clerkes of clergy, Þat has bene lered in astronemy And knawes þe constellacyouns And þe heven þat þe erth envirouns. Of þair moveyng þan have yhe no wonder, Ffor it noryssch[es] alle þat es þare-under, In wate and drye, in hate and cald, Ay whils þai move, als I bifore tald, Þir hevens obout-gase alle erthly thynges And þam norysches and forth-brynges, Ffor als clerkes says þat to þam tentes Þai tempre þe streng[t]he of alle þe elementes Ay als þai move whils þai obout-ga. Bot þe thred heven es oboven þa twa, Swa wonderly heghe and swa ferre Þat nathyng may be heghere; Yhit som clerkes ma hevens nevens, And says þat þare er other seven hevens, Þat semes lawer, als men may se, Þan þe twa hevens falles to be, Ffor-whi þe clerkes þe planetes alle Bi certayne skylle hevens þai calle. And seven planetes er oboven us; Ffyrst þe Mone and Mercury and Venus, Sythen þe Son and þan Mars and Iubiter, And Saturnus oboven þan þat es hegher. Ilk ane þair course obout ay mase In þair cercles, als God ordaynd hase; Þai styk noght fast, als smale sternes dose, Ilk ane his course mase thurgh use; Ilka planete falles for to be Hegher þan other in ordre and degré; Þe Mone, þe fyrst and lawest, es sene, And Saturnus þe heghest es, als I wene; Oboven us er alle þe planetes seven, And þe cercle of ilk ane es called ane heven Þat er wonderly bryght and fayre; Yhit ane other heven es called þe ayre Þat es lagher, þar þe foghles has flyght, And þat heven es mast nere our syght Bot it es noght swa clere ne clene Als þe other hevens oboven er sene: Alle þe cercles of þe planetes alle Þat we here clerkes þus hevens calle, Er bryght and clere, als þe bokes schewes us And ilk planete es ferrer þan other fra us; Ffra þe erth untylle þe cercle of þe mone, es Þe way of fyve hundreth wynter, and na les, Þat es als mykelle space at say, Als a man moght ga, in playne way, In fyve hundreth yhere fully, If he moght lyfe swa lang in body, Als a gret philosiphir þat hyght Rabby Moyses telles ryght Þat thurgh witt mykelle couth se; And over þat alle, swa says he, Þat ilka cercle þat es sene Of ilka planete, may contene, Als men may fynd wryten here, Þe way of fyve hundreth yhere Als es gesced in brede and thyknes, Swa mykelle and thyk ilk ane es, Þat es at say, als mykelle space here Als a man moght ga in fyve hundreth yhere. Þof þat travaille him suld noght gryfe If he here swa lang moght lyfe; And fra þe poynt of þe erthe tille Saturnus Þe heghest planete may be gesced þus, Þe way of seven thowsand yhere And thre hundreth, als es wryten here, Þat es at say, als es here contende, Als mykelle space als a man moght wende In seven thowsand yhere, andin? playn way gang And th[r]e hundreth, if he suld lyf swalang; Swa þat ilk yhere be acounted halely Of thre hundreth days and fourty, And þat þe way of ilka day Be fully of fourty myle of way, And þat ilka myle fully contene A thowsand pases or cubites sene. Raby Moyses says alle þis, Þat er noght alle my wordes bot his; Bot whether alle þis be soth or noght, God wate, þat alle thyng has wroght, Ffor he made alle thyng thurgh myght and sleght In certain noumbre and mesure and weght; Bot swa sutelle and wise may na man be, Þat þat mesuryng knawes swa wele als he; Ffor na thyng þat may be, mare or les, Or þat ever was, tylle him unknawen es; Himself fra erth, upward met þat way, When he stey tylle heven on halghe Thursday, Þat wate he best thurgh wytt and sleght, What space þat way contened of heght. Bi alle þe hevens had he gane, And passed alle þe sternes ilk ane, And up tylle þe heghest heven he went, And alle þis way he passed in a moment, In þe heghest part of þe sterned heven. Oboven alle þe planetes seven, Standes swa many sternes smale, Þat na man may þam telle bi tale, Þat standes fast þare, als þe buke pruves, And er led obout with þe heven þat moves, Als nayles er in a whele with-out, Þat with þe whele er turned obout; Bot þe planetes er noght led swa, Ffor in þair cercles obout þai ga. Þe sternes semes smale, als we deme, Bot swa smale er þai noght als þai seme, Ffor þai er schewed fra us swa fer, Þat we may noght se how mykelle þai er; Bot þe lest sterne þare þat we on-luke. Es mare þan erth, als says þe boke; Ffor clerkes says, if alle erth in fyre ware, And possibel war þat a man war þare, Him suld thynk, þof it bryned bryght, Les þan þe lest sterne þat schynes on nyght, Þan aght þat heven gret space contene, Þare swa many sternes may be sene. Alle þir hevens here sene may be, Bot þe alther-heghest heven may na man se. Tille þat heven couth na clerk thurgh arte, Þe space gesce bi ane hundreth thowsand part Ffor it es swa heghe, als Sydrak says, Þat if a stane þat war of pays, Of ane hundreth mens lyftyng, Might falle fro þeþen, it suld be in fallyng A thowsand yhere and na les, Ar it come at þe erth, swa heghe it es; Bot aungels þat fro heven er sent, May com doune tylle erth in a moment, And up ogayne tylle heven may flegh, In þe space of a twynkellyng of ane eghe. And swa may a saule þat es clene and lyght, Com þider fro hethen in als schort a flyght, Thurgh þe myght of God and thurgh noght elles And swa has done many þat þare dwelles; Þis may be halden a gret ferly, Omang alle þe wonders of God alle-myghty, Þat ane aungelle may pass swa many myle, Ffra heven tylle hyder, in swa schort awhyle. And a saule thurgh Godes myght and grace, May fro hethen com þider in swa short space. This heven es þe alther-heghest place of alle, Hegher es na thyng þat may bifalle, Þe whilk alle thyng contenes of dignyté, And in nathyng contende may be, It contenes over-alle, on ilk party, Bath bodily thyng and gastly, And als helle es lawest place þat may falle, Swa es þis heven alther-heghest place of alle; And als sorow es ay in þe lawest place, Swa es ay in þe heghest, ioy and solace. And als tylle þe lawest place, drawes us syn, Swa tylle þe heghest may vertues us wyn. Þis heven es cald heven empiry Þat es at say heven þat es fyry, Ffor it semes alle als fyre of gret myght, Þat brynnes noght bot schynes bryght. Þis heven falles noght obout to ga, Ne moves noght als dose þe other twa, Bot standes ay stylle, for it es þe best, And þe most worthi place of pees and rest Þat God has ordaynd for þair wonyng, Þat gyfes þam here tylle ryghtwise lyfyng. Þis heven es cald Godes awen se, Ffor þar syttes þe haly trinité, And alle þe orders of aungels, And alle þe blyssfulle spirites þat in heven dwels, And þe saules of gud men and clene, Þat in þis world ryghtwyse has bene. And at þe dredfulle day of dome, When alle men salle bifor God come, Þan salle alle the ryghtwyse men wend þider, In body and saule both togyder, Þe whilk anely þan salle be save, And fulle blys in body and saule have. Þan salle mare ioy be in heven, Þan hert may thynk or tong kan neven, Or ere may here or any eghe se, Þe whilk þai salle have, þat save salle be; Þan passes þat ioy alle mens witt, Als es fonden wryten in haly wrytt. Quod oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, nec in cor ho| minis ascendit, quod preparavit Deus diligentibus se. "Eghe moght never se, ne ere here, Ne in-tylle mans hert com þe ioyes sere Þat God has ordaynd þare and dyght, Tylle alle þat here lufes him ryght." Ffor swa mykelle ioy þare salle be, Þat alle þe men of Cristianté, If ilk ane war parfyte in clergy In divinité and in astronomy, In gemettry and gramer, and arte, Couth noght gese bi þe thowsand parte, Ne think in hert ne with tong neven, Þe ioyes þat þan salle be in heven. Ffor swa wyse here was never man yhit, Ne swa sleghe, ne swa sotelle of wytt, Had he never swa mykelle understandyng, Bot God anely þat knawes alle thyng, Þat couth telle a poynt or ymagyn Of þe ioyes in heven þat never salle blyn, Als proprely als þai er þare to say, Bot als þe boke þam schewes, swa we may. Alle manere of ioyes er in þat stede. Þare es ay lyfe with-outen dede; Þare es yhowthe ay with-outen elde, Þare es alkyn welth ay to welde. Þare es rest ay, with-outen travayle; Þare es alle gudes þat never sal fayle; Þare es pese ay, with-outen stryfe; Þare es alle manere of lykyng of lyfe; Þare es, with-outen myrknes, lyght; Þare es ay day and never nyght; Þare es ay somer fulle bryght to se, And never mare wynter in þat contré: Þare es alkyn druryes and rychesce, And mare nobillay þan any man may gesce; Þare es mare worsche[pe] and honoure, Þan ever had kyng here or emparoure; Þare es alkyn power and myght And endeles wonyng sykerly dyght; Þare es alkyn delyces and cese, And syker peysilbilnespeysibilnes? and pese; Þare es peysebelle ioy ay lastand, And ioyfulle selynes ay lykand; Þare es sely endeles beyng, And endeles blysfulhede in alle thyng; Þare es ay blysfulle certaynté, And certayne dwellyng ay fre; Þare es laykyng and myrthes sere; Þare es laghyng and lufly chere; Þare es melody and aungels sang; And lovyng and thankyng ay omang; Þare es alle frendschepe þat may be, And parfyte luf and charyté; Þare es acorde ay and anehede, And yheldyng of mede for ilk gud dede; Þare es lowtyng and reverence, And boghsomnes and obedience; Þare es alle vertuse with-outen vyce, Þare es plenté of dayntes and delice; Þare es alle þat lykes and may avayle, And nathyng þat greves or may fayle; Þare es alle þat gud es at wille, And na thyng þat may be ille. Þare es alle wisdom with-outen foly, And honesté with-outen vilany; Þare es bryghtnes and bewté Of alle thing þat men salle þare se. Alle þir ioyes er þare generalle, Bot þe mast soverayne ioy of alle Es þe syght of Godes bryght face, Þat passes alle other ioyes and solace; Ffor swa mykelle may na ioy be, Als es þe syght of þe trinité, Þat es þe Fader, and Son, and Haly gaste. Þe syght of whilk salle be ioy maste; Ffor-whi swa mykelle ioy and blys Na ioy may be als es þis.Forwhi þar may be ioy ne blis, Swa mekyl to fele als is þis. (MS. Harl. 2394.) Ffor alle þat þan salle se him ryght, May knaw alle thing thurgh þat syght, Þat ever was, and es, and salle be, Als men may afterward rede and se. Here have I shewed on a general manere Þe ioyes of heven, many and sere. Bot now will I specialy shew yhow mare Of seven maners of blysses þare, And of seven schenschepes in helle alle-swa, Þat er even contrary tylle þa, And whilk blysses falles specyaly Tylle þe saule, and whilk tylle þe body, Of þas þat God in heven salle se; And whilk schendschepes salle appropried be Tylle þe bodyse of þase, þat salle ga Tylle helle, and whilk tille þe saules alle-swa. I spak bifore of sere ioyes generaly, Bot now will I here sere blysses specify, And þair contraryes þat er hard, Als yhe salle here be red afterward. Saint Anselme says, þe haly man, Als I here schew yhow kan, Þat omang alle þe ioyes of heven, Salle be sene specialle blysses seven, Þat þe bodyse salle have þat salle be save, And other seven þat þe saules salle have In þe kyngdome of heven alle to-gyder, After þe dome, when þai com þider; Bot tylle þe synfulle bodyse þare ogayne Þat salle be dampned tylle helle payne, Seven specialle schendschepes salle falle And other seven tylle þe saules with-alle In helle to-gyder lastand ever-mare, Wa es þam þat salle dwelle þare. Heres now, ar I pass ferrer, Whilk þa specyalle blysses er, Þat er appropried tylle þa bodyse And tylle þe saules of men ryghtwyse, And þair contraryes, þat I schendschepes calle Þat tylle þe synfulle bodyse and saules salle falle. Þe fyrst blys es bryghtnes cald Þat þe saved bodyse salle ay hald; Ffor be þair bodyse never swa dym here, In heven þai salle be fayre and clere And mare schyneand and mare bryght, Þan ever þe son was tylle mans syght; Swa fayre a syght bifore was never sene, Als salle be þan, ne swa clene, When ilka body þat salle be save, Swa mykelle bryghtnes þare salle have; Ffor if a man had eghen swa bryght, And if swa moght be, swa mykelle syght, Als had alle þe creatures lyfand, Yhit moght he noght, als I understand, Ogayne swa mykelle bryghtnes loke, Als a body salle have, þus says þe boke. Bot þe dampned bodyse þare ogayne Salle be foule and stynkand als carayne; And fulle myrk and dym salle þai be And fulle hydus and wlatsom to se; Ffor swa foul a syght saw never man Als þe dampned bodyse salle be þan, Þat with þe saules salle dwelle in helledepe, Þis salle to þam be payne and schendschepe. Þe secunde blys after es swyftnes, Þat ilk body salle have þat ryghtwise es; Ffor in les while þan a man may wynke, Þai salle mow fleghe whider þai wille thynke With body and saule togyder thurgh flyght, Ffra heven tylle erth and ogayne ryght, And fra þe ta syde of þe world wyde, If þai wyld, tylle þe tother syde; And whider-swa þai þair thoght wille sett Nathyng þam salle ogayne-stand ne lett. Þis may þai do with-outen travayle, And þis swyftnes salle never fayle; Ffor als þe lyght of þe son, thurgh strenthe, May fleghe fra þe est tylle þe west on lenthe, Ryght swa þai may whyder þai wille, fleghe In a schort twynkellyng of ane eghe. Ffor þai salle be als swift þan Als any thoght es here of man. Bot þe synfulle bodyse salle ever-mare On a contrary manere fare; Þai salle be swa hevy charged with syn, Both with-outen and with-in, Þat þai salle have no myght to stand, Ne unnethes to styr fote ne hand, Ne yhit nane other lym of body, Þair syn salle weghe on þam swa hevy. Þe thred blys es strenthe and myght Þat þe ryghtwise bodyse salle have thurgh ryght, Ffor thof þai feble here and wayke ware, Swa mykelle myght þai salle have þare, And swa mykelle strenthe ay lastand, Þat na thyng salle mow ogayne þam stand; Swa þat þai salle mow remowe at þair wille, Ilka mountayne and ilka hille, Þat ever was in þe world sene; And if þai wild, alle þe erth bidene, With-outen any ogayne-standyng, Or any lettyng of any-thyng; And in þat dede have no mare swynk, Þan a man has here to loke or wynk. Bot þe synfulle bodyse, þat dampned salle be, Salle be swa wayke and swa feble to se, Þat þai salle unnethes mow stand, Ne myght have anes to lyft þair hand To wype þe teres fra þair eghen oway, And þat waykenes salle last with þam ay. Þe ferth blys alle-swa es fredome Þat þe saved bodyse salle have þat salle come Tylle heven, whare alkyn ioyes er, To do what þai wille with-outen daunger; Ffor-whi þai salle never fele na thyng Bot þat at salle be at þair lykyng; And na thing salle þam warn ne lett, To do þair wille whare-swa it es sett; Ffor alle thing tylle þam salle be boghand, And na thing salle ogayne þam stand, Ne ogayns þam na thing be sett, Þair wille ne þair purpose to lett, Nowther men, ne stele, ne stane, ne tre, Ne noght elles, swa fre salle þai be; Þai salle mow passe ay whare þai wille And alle þair lykyng þan ful-fylle. Þis fredom and þis fraunches Salle be appropried tylle þe saved bodyse With þe saules of þam þat God salle chese, And þis fredom þai salle never lese. Bot on contrary manere ogayne þat blys, Þe dampned bodyse salle fredom mys; Ffor þai salle be stresced in helle als thralle, And alle þat may greve thole with-alle; Þai salle be chaced ogayne þair wille Tylle alle manere of thing þat es ille; Þus salle þai in helle in thraldom be, Ffra whilk þai may never mare fle. Þe fyft blys, als clerkes wate wele, Es hele þat þe saved bodyse salle fele, With-outen seknes or grevaunce, Or angre, or payne, or penaunce; Ffor Ivel ne payne salle never þam greve, Bot in hele and lykyng þai salle ay leve, In heven with ioy on ilka syde, Ffor þare salle þai be glorifyde. Bot þe dampned bodyse, on other-wyse, Salle have strang yvels and angwyse, Als saules has þat in purgatory dwels Ffor certayne tyme, als þe boke tels. Bot swa lang lastes no sekenes þare. Als in helle, for þat lastes ever-mare; Ffor purgatory, als wryten es, Has ende, and helle es endeles. Þe sext blys es þe gret delyte, Þat þe saved bodyse salle have swa parfyte Þat no man lyfand kan ne may, Swa mykelle yhern here, nyght ne day; Ffor here moght never man far swa wele, With swa mykelle delyte als þai salle fele In alle þair wittes, ne swa mykelle ioy have, Als God on þam salle þan vouche save. Þai salle have swa mykelle ioy þare, Þat nane of þam salle desyre mare; Ffor als þe iren þat es glowand, Thurgh strenthe and hete brynand, Semes better to be fyre-bryght, Þan iren, als tylle any mans syght, Right swa þa þat in heven salle won Salle seme bryghter þan fyre, and schyne als son And be fulle-fyld ay in þat place Of þe luf of God and of his grace, And of alle delyces and ioy and blys, Þe whilk þai salle never-mare mys; And als men here oft has sene Þat a vesselle dypped alle bidene In water, or in other lycour thyn, Be þe vesselle never swa wyde wyth-in, Has water bath with-in and with-out, Binethen, oboven, and alle about, And na mare water with-in may hald, Ne nane other thing þat lycoure es cald, Right swa þe ryghtwise salle have ioy, mare Þan þai may think or yhern þare; Bot þe dampned bodyse ogayn-ward Salle in helle fele payns strang and hard; Ffor þai salle bryn in fyre, ilk ane, Þat salle be menged with bronstane Ffulle hate brynand, and with pyk, And with other thing þat es wyk, Omang vermyn þat salle þam byte, And devels þat ay salle þam smyte, With other payns strang and felle, Ma þan hert may thynk or tong telle. Þe sevend blys es endeles lyfe, Þat þe saved salle have, with-outen stryfe, Ever-mare in heven swa heghe; Ffor þai salle ay lyf and never deghe, And with God alle-myghty þare ay won, Þat es sothfast Fader, and sothfast Son, And þe Haly Gast in Trinité; And in þat lyfe his face þai salle ay se. Now if a man moght lyf here, In þis world a thowsand yhere, Yhit suld his lyfe be broght tylle ende, And fra þis world bihoved him wende. Yhit suld him thynk, and he toke kepe, His lyfe noght bot als a dreme in slepe, Þan suld þe lenthe of alle his lyfedays, Seme bot als a day, als þe prophet says: Quoniam mille anni ante oculos tuos, tanquum dies hesterna que preteriit. He says þus: "Lord! a thowsand yhere Bi-for þine eghen, þat alle thyng sese here, At þe last, es noght bot als yhister-day, Þat was awhile and es passed oway." Þus when þis lyfe tylle ende es broght, Alle þe tyme of it semes als noght; Þan es a day mare in heven swa clere, Þan here er many thowsand yhere; And many thowsand yheres here es les, Þan þare a day, als þe boke bers witnes. Þan salle þe lyf be als lang þare, Als þat day lastes, and þat es ever-mare; Ffor þare es ay day and never nyght, Þarfor þe prophet says þus ryght: Melior est dies una in atriis tuis super milia. He says: "Loverd! better es a day lastand In þi halles þan a thowsand;" Þat es, better es in heven a day, Þan a thowsand here þat passes oway; Ffor alle þe days þat here may falle, Passes oway, and þis lyf with-alle, And in a day in heven salle be contende Þe tyme þat never salle have ende; Þan salle þat day, als þe boke us leres, Pass many hundreth thowsand yheres. And als in helle salle be nyght, Als day salle be in heven bryght; Ffor als men in heven salle ay day se, Ryght swa salle nyght ay in helle be. Þus salle day in heven be contende, And nyght in helle, with-outen ende; Bot se we noght how schort a day es here To regard of a hundreth yhere? Yhit es a hundreth yhere les To regard of þe tyme þat es endeles; Ffor Saint Austyn telles in a sarmon, Þat a day here may be a porcyon, Of ane hundreth yhere, als men may se, Alle-if þat porcyon fulle lytylle be, Bot þe space of ane hundreth yhere es Na porcyon of endelesnes; Ffor if a thowsand yhere þat es mare Of endlesnes a porcyon ware, After a thowsand thowsand yheres to kast, Endlesnes suld sese þan at þe last, And þat wille noght þe reson of endelesnes Suffer þat it be schorter þan it es; Ffor if endlesnes any end moght hald, Þan war it endlesnes unproperly cald. Bot in þat endlesnes es contende Alle þe tyme þat may have nane ende; And lyfe in heven salle als lang be Als men salle tyme þare with-outen ende se, Þan semes it wele, als I sayd are, Þat lyfe salle be þare ever-mare Wharfor ilk man with hert stedfast, Suld seke þat lyfe þat ay salle last, Þe whilk ilk man may lyghtly wyn, Þat here lyfes wele and wille fle syn, And leve noght þat lyf þat lastes ay Ffor þis lyfe here þat passes oway; Ffor þat lyfe es syker, and swa es noght þis. Þat lyfe es swa fulle of ioy and blys Þat a man salle thynk þare a hundreth yhere, In þat lyfe, schorter þan a day here. Tylle þat ioyfulle lyf may alle men com Þat meke of hert er here, and bowsom. Þus salle endles lyfe appropryed be, Tylle þe saved bodyse þat ay God salle se. Bot þe dampned þat tylle helle salle wende, Salle have ded þare with-outen ende, And þat ded salle ay new þam gryefe. In þat ded þai salle ay lyefe, And swa be pyned, in þair wyttes fyve, Þat þair lyfe salle seme mare ded þan lyve. Þai salle seme, whether þai lyg or stand, Als men in transyng, ay deghand; Þai salle ay deghand lyf, and lyfand dyghe, And ever-mare payns of ded þus dryghe, And þare-with be tourmented, ay omang, With other bytter payns and strang; Þar-for þe lyfe in helle may be cald Þe secund ded, and swa may we it hald. Þan may þai say, þat salle lyf þare, Allas! þat ever moder þam bare. Here have I tald, als yhe moght here, Of seven manere of blysses sere, Þat þe saved bodyse salle have thurgh ryght With þe saules in heven bryght, And of þe seven schendschepes alle-swa Þat es even contrary tylle þa, Þe whilk þe bodyse in helle salle have ay, Þat salle be dampned at domesday. Bot I wille schew yhow yhit with-alle, Seven manere of blysses, þat salle falle Tylle þe saules namely with þe bodyse, Of alle þe men þat er gude and ryghtwise, Þat salle be saved at þat tyde, And in heven be gloryfyde; And yhit seven schendschepes wille Ineven, Þat er even contrary tylle þa seven, Þe whilk salle falle, with-outen ende, Tylle þa saules of þe synfulle þat salle wende, With þe bodyse, untylle helle pytt, Als es fonden in haly wrytt. Þe fyrst blys þat þe saules salle have Of ryghtwise men, þat salle be save Es wisdom; for þai salle knaw and se Alle þat was, and es, and yhit salle be. Þai salle have knawyng of God fully, And of þe myght of þe Fader alle-myghty, Þai salle knaw þe wytt of þe son and taste, And þe gudenes of þe Haly-gaste: Þus salle þair knawyng parfyte be, In alle þe haly trinité. Þai salle knaw alle thing and wytt, Þat God has done and salle do yhit, In heven, in helle and in erth aywhare, Þus wise þai salle be ever-mare. Ffor þai salle have swa mykelle grace, When þai se God, face to face, Þat nathyng, þat God ever dyd, Salle be layned fra þam ne hyd, Þat es to say, of þat God vouches save, Þat any creature knawyng may have; Ffor Saint Austyn þat mykelle couth of clergy, Says in a sarmon þat he made openly, Þat, in þe syght of God þat þai salle se, Thre manere of knawyng tylle þam salle be. Ffor þai salle se him þare both God and man, And þam-self þai salle se in him þan, And alle men and alle thing, les and mare. Þai salle se, and knaw in þat syght þare, Als we may thre thynges se here In a myroure of glas, þat es clere; Ane es þe myrour þat byfor us es, Ane other es our awene face and lyknes, And þe thred we may þar-in se yhit, Þat es alle thyng þat es onence it; Right swa men salle se God als he es, In þe myroure of his bryghtnes, Als properly als possible may be, Tylle any creature him to se. Þai salle se þam-self in him so bryght, And alle men to-gyder, at a syght, And alle other thyng þai salle knawe, And se over-alle, both hegh and lawe. Alle men þan salle se þat þare salle dwelle, Alle þe creatures in heven and helle. Þare salle be schewed þan tylle þam, apertly, Sere privetese of God alle-myghty, Þat na man here moght knaw ne wytt Thurgh clergy, ne thurgh haly-wrytt; Þat es, how God invysible es, And unchaungeable, and endles; And how he was bifor alle thing, And with-outen any bygynnyng; And how, and whi, he salle be With-outen ende, þai salle þan se; Alle thyng þat now es fra þam hyd, Salle þan tylle þam be knawen and kyd. Þai salle þan se þare, openly, Of alle thynges þe skylle and þe cause whi; Als whi ane es chosen here and taken, And ane other left and forsaken; Whi ane es uptane tylle a kyngdom, And ane other es putted in-tylle thraldom; And whi som childer er ded and lorn In þair moder wambe, ar þai be born; Þai salle knaw, with-outen drede, Skylle whi som deghes in þair barnhede, And som after when þai mast strenthe weld; And whi som lyfes tylle þair mast eld; Þai salle yhit sertaine skylle se þan Whi som er born in fayre schap of man, And som in uncomly stature, And whi som er ryche here, and som pore, And whi som childer geten in hordom, Er baptized, and has cristendom, And som þat er in lele wedlayk born, Ar þai be cristened, er ded and lorn; And whi som bi[g]ynnes to be stedfast To lyfe wele, and endes ille at þe last; And whi som has here ille bigynnyng, And, at þe last, mase a gud endyng. Of þir thynges, and of other many, Þe skylles salle be knawen þan openly, In þe boke of lyfe þat open salle be, Þe whilk es þe syght of þe trinité. Þus salle alle men, þat in heven þan dwelles, Knaw and witt, als Saint Austyn telles, And in þe bryghtnes of God openly se Alle thing þat ever was, or yhit salle be, And alle þe soth of ilk thyng, and skylle, Als fer-forth als God vouches safe, and wille. Þare salle ilk man als wele knaw other, Als a man here knawes hys syster or brother, And wyt of what contré þai ware, And wha þam gatt, and wha þam bare. Ilk ane salle knaw þan other thoght And alle þe dedes þat þai ever wroght; Þus wyse salle þai be þat salle come Tylle þe kyngdom of heven, after þe dome. Þai salle be Godes sons, and tille him lyke, And be made his heyres of hevenryke, And be alle als Godes of gret myght, Als þe prophet, in þe psauter, says ryght: Ego dixi: 'Dii estis et filii excelsi omnes.' He says: "I sayd, 'yhe er Godes alle And Godes sons men salle yhow calle'." Wharfor it semes, þat when þai com Tylle heven, þai salle be fulle of wysdom And fulle of myght, lastand ever-mare, When þai salle alle be als Godes þare. Bot now may þou ask me and lere A questyon, and say on þis manere: 'Salle þai oght think þat salle be safe, On þe syns of whilk þai þam schrafe Here in þair lyfe, and made þam clene, And of þam assoyled has bene?' Saint Anselme answers to þis, And says þat þou þat salle have heven blys, Salle love God and thank him þare Of alle gudes, both les and mare, Þat he has done tylle þe here, And tylle alle other, on þe same manere, Þe whilk, at þe day of dome, salle be safe, And with þe endles blys salle have. Gret gud he dose þe, whils þou lyfes, When he þi syns þe here forgyves; How moght þou þan, with hert fre, Thank God of þat þat he has forgyven þe, Alle þe syns þat þou has wroght, If þou moght thynk on nane in thoght? Bot þou salle þis understand wele, Þat na mare grevance salle þou fele, Ne na mare payne have, ne myslykyng, When þou has of þi syns meneyng, Þan he has, þat som tyme had in stryfe A sare wound, with swerd or knyfe, Þat parfytely es haled and wele, Of whilk he may na mare sareThe MS. has 'sale'. fele; And als þou now has na schame of þe dede Þat þou dyd in þi barnhede, Or þat þou dyd in þi dronkennes, Of whilk tylle þe now na schame es. Na mare schame salle þou þan have in thoght, Of þe syns þat þou here has wroght, Of whilk þou ert here schryven parfytely, And þat God has forgyfen here, thurgh mercy And na mare þan Petre now has schame Of þat, þat he forsoke our Lord bi name; Or Mary Maudelayne now has of hir syn Þat scho som tyme delyted hir in. Na mare schame salle men þan have Of þair syn here done, þat salle be save. Bot for-þi þat God þat boght us fre, Wyld thurgh his mercy and his peté, And couth, thurgh his awen wytt clere, And myght wele, thurgh his awen powere, Swa gret syns þam frely forgyve And þe woundes haleThe MS. has 'have'., þat war gryfe, Whare-thurgh þai had deserved wele Þe pyne of helle ever-mare to fele, Þarfor þai salle luf him þe mare, And þe mare him love and thank þare, And als wele for other mens trispas And other mens syn þat he heled has, Als for þair awen þat þai wroght here, Þarfor says David, on þis manere: Misericordias Domini ineternum cantabo. He says: "I salle þe mercyes syng Of our Loverd, ay with-outen cesyng." And swa salle alle syng, with-outen ende, Þat tylle þe blys of heven salle wende; And swa moght þai on nane wise syng, Warn þai had of þair syns meneyng, Þat þai had done here bodily And God forgaf thurgh his mercy; Þus salle þe saule be fulle of wysdom þare, And alle thing knaw and se, als I sayd are. Bot þe saules þat with þe bodyse salle synk In-tylle helle, salle on na gud thynk, Ne have witt, ne knaw, ne fele Na dede þat ever was done wele, Bot on þair payns salle be alle þair thoght And on þair syns þat þai had wroght; Ffor þai salle on nathyng have meneyng, Bot anely on þair awen wicked lyfyng, And on þair sorow, with-outen ende, And on þair wrechednes þat salle þam schende Þe whilk þai salle, ay, bifor þam se, And þat syght tylle þam schendschepe sallebe. Þe secund blys þat þe saule salle fele, With þe bodyse, als þir clerkes wate wele, Salle be frendschepe and parfyte love, Þat es mare þan ever man moght here prove; Ffor ilk ane salle mare luf other þan, Þan ever lufed here any man, And als parfytely and als lang Als he salle luf him-self omang. And þat luf salle be fested swa fast, Þat it salle never fayle, bot ay last; Ffor als ilka lym of a body Lufes alle þe other lyms kyndely, And yhernes, ay, gretly þair hele, Swa parfyte þat luf salle be and lele; Ffor þai salle alle be of ane assent And of a wille and of ane entent; Ffor þai salle be þan alle als a body In sere lyms, and als a saule anely; And God þair heved salle be þare, Þat salle þam luf als mykelle or mare, Als dose þe heved of þe body þat loves Þe lyms kyndely þat on it moves. Þat clere luf and þat alliance Salle never-mare fayle, thurgh na distance, Ne thurgh stryfe, þat man may make; Þat band of luff salle never slake. Bot even þe contrary salle men se, Omang þe saules þat dampned salle be; Ffor þai salle be fulle of felony, Of hatred, of wreth and of envy; Swa þat ilk ane wald with other fyght, And strangelle other, if þai myght. Þus salle þai hate and stryfe ilk ane, Ffor peese salle be omang þam nane, Ne rest, ne eese, ne worschepe, Bot travayle, and pyne, and schendschepe. Bot God alle-myghty, and alle-swa alle his Þat with him salle dwelle in heven blis, Salle þam in sorow and pyne se And of þam þai salle have na peté, Bot hate þam als Godes enmyse. And þat hatredyn salle þan be ryghtwyse; Ffor þe fader, þat þan salle be save, Na peté of þe son þare salle have, Þat salle be dampned tylle helle payne; Ne þe son, þat salle be saved þare ogayne, Salle have na reuthe, ne na pyté, Of þe fader þat dampned salle be; Ne þe moder, on þe same manere, Of þe doghter þat scho lufed here; Ne þe doghter of þe moder na mare; Ne þe brother of þe syster þare; Ne þe syster of þe brother. Nane of þam salle have reuthe of other; Ne nane other, þat salle be saved þan, Salle have reuthe ne peté of dampned man. Bot when þe ryghtwyse þe synfulle salle se Pyned in helle, glad þai salle be, Ffor twa skyls, and ioyfulle and fayne; Ane es, for-þi þat þai er skaped þat payne, Ane other es for-þi þat Godes vengeance Es ryghtwise, and his ordinance. Þis proves þe prophete, als þe boke schewes us, Þare he says in þe psauter þus: Letabitur iustus, cum viderit vindictam. He says þat "ilka ryghtwyse man Fulle glad and blyth salle be þan, When þai Godes vengeance se On þe synfulle, þat þan dampned salle be. Þe thred blys, als men may in boke rede, Es veray acord and anehede, Þat þe saules salle have in heven to-gyder, With þe bodyse, when þai com þider; Ffor ilk ane salle folow others wille, And ilk ane othe[r]s lykyng fullfylle; And als þine ane eghe folows ryght. Þe tother, þare it settes þe syght, And nouther may turne, hyder ne þider, Bot þai both ay turne to-gyder, Right swa salle God acord with alle his, And ilk ane with other in that blys; And to what thyng þe saule has talent, To þat þe body salle, ay, assent; And what-swa God þan wille be done To þat þai salle assent alle-sone; And what thyng swa þai þan wille, Þat salle God als-tyte fulle-fylle. Þis acorde and anehede sall never ceese, Bot ever-mare last with rest and peese. Alle salle þai be alle ane in company, And als a saule and a body. Bot þe dampned þare ogayne salle stryve, Ilkane with other, for þair wicked lyve; Ffor ilk ane salle hate other þan, And ilk ane salle wery other and ban; Ilk ane salle yherne with other to fyght, And ilk ane wald sla other if þai myght; Þe body salle hate þe saule bi skylle, Ffor þe saule here thoght ay þe ille; Þe saule salle ay hate þe body, Ffor þe body wroght þe foly; And for-þi þat þe saule fyrst syn thoght And þe body it afterward wroght, And wyld noght leve, ne stand þare ogayne, Untylle þe ded þe body had slayne. Þar-fore bath to-gyder salle dwelle, With-outen ende, in þe pyne of helle. Þe ferth blys, omang þe tother alle, Þat to þe saules, with þe bodyse, salle falle, Þe whilk salle be saved, es powere; Ffor þai salle þare have both fer and nere, Swa mykelle power and maistry And lordschip, and be swa myghty Þat alle thyng þan salle be done At þair wille, hastily and sone; And what-swa þai wille think in thoght, Alle salle be at þair wille þare wroght; Ffor alle thing salle be tylle [þam] boghand, And nathyng salle ogayne þam stand; Ffor God salle fulle-fylle alle þair lykyng, And folow þair wille in alle thing. Þus salle þai haf þare gret powere, And heghnes, for þair awen gret lawnes here, Þat þai had in þair lyfe days, And þarfor God, in þe gosspelle says: Qui se humiliat exaltabitur. He says: "Wha-swa here lawes him ryght He salle be heghed, in heven bryght." Bot þe dampned þare ogayne halely, Salle want alkyn power and maistry, And þare-with þai salle tharne alle thing, Of whilk men moght have lykyng. Þai salle ay be in gret dred and awe, And under fote ay be halden lawe. Þai salle have nathyng at þair wille, Bot alle thing þat salle lyke þam ille. Mykelle sorow þam salle þan bityde, Ffor þair heghenes here, and þair pryde, Als þe bok says þat beres wytnes, And als in þe same gosspelle wryten es: Qui se exaltat hu| miliabitur. Þat es, "wha-swa heghe here wille him bere He salle be lawed" and putted in daungere, Þat es in gret daunger of fendes, In pyne of helle, þat never endes. Þe fyft blys þat salle falle alswa, To þe saules, þat with þe bodyse salle ga Tylleheven-ryke, es honoure and worschepe, Of whilk God him-self salle tak kepe; Ffor þai salle have þare sere honours, And be corouned, als kynges and emparours. And sytt in setyls schynand bryght, With alkyn nobelay, rychely dyght; With bryghtnes of lyght þai salle be cled, And gret reverence þam salle be bed, And be honourd als Godes frendes dere, Ffor þe worschepe þat þai dyd him here, In gud werkes, þat tylle him war swete, Þarfor þus says David, þe prophete: Omnis honorati sunt amici tui Deus. "Þi frendes, Loverd, þat honourd þe Es mykelle honourd, and swa ay salle be." Bot þe dampned, þat with syn er fyled, Þare ogayne salle be revyled, And despysed, and ay schent with-alle, And stresced ogayne þair wille als thralle, And pyned with gretter paynes sere, Þan ever was sene in þis world here; Þai salle[thole] alle thyng þat schendschepe es With payn and sorow þat es endles, Omang hete and cald, vermyn and stynk, And alkyn fylth þat hert may think; And alle þe sorow þai þat salle fele, Salle be endles, als þai salle knaw wele. Þe sext blys þat to the saules of ryghtwise Salle be appropryed þan with þe bodyse, In þe kyngdom of heven, es sykernes, To dwelle ay þare whare alkyn ioy es, Ffor þai salle be þare syker and certayne To have endeles ioy, and never-mare payne, And to won ay þare, with-outen dout, And with-outen lettyng, and putting out, And with-outen alle manere of drede; Ffor of nathyng þare þai salle have nede, Þai salle noght far, als men fares here Þat lyfes ay in dred and were; Ffor here, both kyng and emparoure Has dred to tyne þair honoure; And ilka ryche man has dred alle-swa His gudes and ryches to for-ga; And ilk man, þat here fares wele, Has ay dred angers to fele. Bot þai þat salle com tylle heven blys, Salle never have dred þat ioy to mys; Ffor þai salle be syker Inoghe þare, Þat þair ioy salle last ever-mare. Bot þe dampned men þare ogayne, Salle ay be dredand in þair payne, Þat þair payns suld eked be, And be made mare grevous to se, Ffor þe devels sal, ay, on þam gang To and fra, over-thewrt and endlang; And omang þam ay ymagyne, How þai may eke þair sorow and pyne; And þe mare payne þat þai tille synfulle salle seke Þe mare þai þair awen payne salle eke. And, if þai do swa, it es na ferly, Ffor þai er ay fulle of Ire and envy. Þe devels salle ay opon þam gang, And ay on þam stamp with þair feth omang And threst þam doune, in fyre and smoke, And þarfor says Iob þus in a boke: Vadent et venient super eos demones horribiles. He says, "grysely devels salle gang and com On þe synfulle þat tylle God war unbowsom." Þus dredand salle þai ay be þare, Þat þair payne suld be ay mare and mare; Ffor þai salle be certayne þare þai dwelle, Þat þai salle never com out of helle. Þe sevend blys es ioy parfyte, Þat þe saules salle have, with gret delyte, With þe bodyse þat saved salle be, And won in heven, whare þai salle ay God se Ffor-whi ilk ane þare salle þat tyde, In body and saule be gloryfyde, And fulle ioy and blys have with-alle, With alle manere of delyces þat may falle. Ilk ane with other salle be knawen, And fele other mens ioy als þair awen; And mare ioy and blys moght never be, Þan ilk ane salle þare-on other se. Þai salle se, in heven-ryke swa wyde, Many sere ioyes, on ilka syde; Ffor þare salle be mare sere ioyes þan, Þan ever couth noumbre erthly man; Of whilk syght þai salle mare ioy have, Þan any man moght yhern or crave. Ilk ane salle be payed swa wele Of his part of ioy þat he salle fele, Þe whilk he salle parfytely have þare, Þat he salle willen yhern no mare; Þare salle ilk ane many thowsandes se In sere ioyes, als him-self salle be. And þe syght of ilka ioy þan, Salle be swa delytable tille ilka man, Þat þe ioy of a syght þare salle pas Alle þe ioyes þat ever in erth was; And alle þat tylle heven salle be tane Salle þare þan se þa ioyes ilk ane. And þe syght of ilka ioy þare, salle be Ioy tylle ilka man þat it salle se, Þan salle ilk man have ma ioyes in heven, Þan hert may thynk, or tong kan neven; Þai salle have ioy, with-in and with-out, Oboven, benethe, and alle obout. Oboven þam, þai salle have ioyfully Of þe syght of God alle-myghty, Binethe þam, of þe sternes and planetes sere, And þe world þat þan salle be bryght and clere; Oboven þam, of heven þat þai bryght salle se, And of other creatures þat fair salle be, With-in þam, of þe glorifying of man, Of þe body and saule to-gyder þan; With-outen þam, of þe blysfulle companyse Of aungels, and of men ryghtwise. Þai salle have ioy in alle þair wittes, In heven with God þare he syttes; Ffirst þai salle se with þair eghen bryght Many a fayre blyssfulle syght; Þai salle þair God apertly se, And alle þe thre parsons in trinité, Þe Fader, and Son, and Haly-gaste, Þat sight salle be þair ioy maste. Ffor als he es, þai salle him se þan, Sothfast God, and sothfast man; Thurgh whilk syght þai salle knaw, And se alle thing both heghe and law And se alle þe werkes þat ever God wroght; And ilk mans dede, and ilk mans thoght, And alle þat salle in helle be þan, Ilka develle and ilka man, And alle payns þat salle be þare, Þai salle se, both les and mare; And alle erth, and þe hevens obout, And alle þat es, with-in and with-out; Alle salle þai se, thurgh myght and grace, In þe bryghtnes of Godes face, Of whilk þai salle ever-mare have syght, Þat þe mast ioy es in heven bryght. And for þai salle ay þus God bihald, Þai salle knaw alle thyng, þat þai knaw wald. In þis lyfe here men sese him noght, Bot anely thurgh ryght trowth in thoght, Als thurgh a myroure be lyknes, Bot þare salle men se him als he es. Here men him sese gastly, thurgh grace, Bot þare salle men se him, face tylle face. And þat syght þare salle alle men have, With-outen ende, þat salle be save. Þai salle alle-swa se þare, apertly, His blysfulle Moder Saint Mary Þat next syttes God in heven bryght, Oboven alle aungels, als es ryght; Ffor he chese hir tylle his moder dere, And of hir toke flessch and blode here, And vouched safe to souke hir brest, Þarfor it es ryght scho sytt him nest. Scho es swa fayre þare scho syttes, Þat hir fayrnes passes all mens wittes; A gret ioy þat may be cald, Hir fairnes anely to behald. Þai salle se þare, als þe boke telles, Alle þe neghen orders of aungels, Þat er swa fayre on to loke, And swa bryght, als says þe boke, Þat alle fayrnes of þis lyfe here, Þat ever was sene, fer or nere, Þat any man myght ordayne defautles, War noght a poynt to þat fairnes, Þat þai salle se þar of þat syght Of þe ordres of þe aungels bryght. Þai salle se þam fulle pleysand þan, And servisabylle tylle God and man; And ilk ane ordre, in þair degré Salle do þat þat mast lykand salle be, Bath tylle God and tylle man ryght; A gret ioy salle be þare of þat syght, Ffor ilk ane aungelle bi him-ane Salle clerer schyne þan ever son schane; Þat syght men may a gret ioy calle, To se þe aungels swa bryght alle, Þat in heven salle be sene to-gyder; Þat syght salle alle se þat salle com þider. Swa fayre a syght, als þat salle seme, Couth never na wytt here ymagyn ne deme. Þai salle se in heven alle-swa Patriarches, and prophetes and other ma, And apostels and evangelistes, Þat folowd nane other lyf bot cristes. Þai salle se Innocentes many ane, Of whilk som was, in Goddes name slane, And other martyrs and confessours, And haly heremytes and doctours, Þat haly wryt wald teche and ken; And many other haly men, Lered and lewed, þat lyfed wele here, Both religiouse and seculere. Þai salle se haly virgyns þare Þat here lufed God, ay mare and mare, And keped þam chast, for Godes sake, Of whilk som wald þe ded for his luf take. Þai salle se þare in ioy and blys, Other þat God salle chese for his, Als wedded men þat lyfed wele here, And other many of states sere. A fayr syght salle be þan to se, Of alle þe fayr folk þat þare salle be, Þat bryghter salle schyne þan ever schane son, Þis syght salle alle se þat þare salle won. Þai salle alle-swa apertly se Ilk ane be worscheped in his degré, With gret nobelay, and have sere honours, And alle be als kynges and emparours, Coround with ryche corouns of blys, A fulle delytabelle syght salle be þis. Þai salle se þare þe gret medes, Þat men salle have þare, for þair gud dedes, After ilk ane of þam has lyfed here; And þas er swamykelle, and many, and sere, Þat never ende salle þai have bot last ay, Þat na man, thurgh wytt, mesure may, Ne þam reken, ne telle þam kan, Swa many medes þai salle have þan. Þair medes salle be swa precyouse, And swa delitable, and plenteuouse, Þat na man lyfand, als þe boke says, Couth ne myght þam gesce ne prays. Bot þa medes salle lyke þam als wele, Þat þam seese, als þam þat salle þam fele. Þai salle se heven fulle large and wyde, And round and even, on ilka syde, And bryghter schynand þan ever schane son; Wele salle þam be þat þare salle won. A delitable syght þat salle be Tylle þam þat salle dwelle in þat contré. Þat contré swa fayre es on to loke, And swa bryght and brade, als says þe boke, Þat alle þis world, þare we won yhit War noght bot als a myddyng-pytt To regard of þat contré swa brade, Þat God swa mykelle and fayr has made. Þat contré es halden swa large a land, Þat with-in þe space of þat myght stand Many a thowsand of werldes sere, Þof ilk world war als large als þis here; And þat land es cald soveraynly Þe kyngdom of God alle-myghty, Þe whilk es made als a ceté, Whare men salle many wonynge-stedes se, Þare alle þe haly men salle dwelle, Þarfor says Crist þus in þe gospelle: Multi mansiones sunt, in domo patris mei. He says "wonyng-stedes er many In þe hows of my fader God alle-myghty." Our Loverd, his fader hous calles His kyngdom, þat tille alle his falles, Þe whilk es as a cité bryght, With alkyn ryches dubbed and dyght, Als says Saint Iohan, Godes derlyng dere, In þe apocalyps, on þis manere: Vidi sanctam civitatem Ierusalem novam descendentem de celo, paratam sicut sponsam viro suo ornatam. "I saw," he says, "þe haly ceté Of Ierusalem, alle new to se, Comand doun fra heven bryght, Of God alle-myghty rychely dyght, Als bryde, made fayre tylle hir brydegome;" Þus says Saint Iohan he saw come. Þis ceté es for to understand, Haly kyrk þat here es fyghtand Ogayne þe develle and his myght, Þat it assayles, both day and nyght; Bot þat fyght salle noght last ay, It salle last no langer þan tylle domesday. Þan salle haly kyrk, of fyghtyng cees, And be with God, in rest and pees; Ffor it es bryde, and God es brydegome; Þan salle þai both to-gyder come, And in heven won ay to-gyder; And alle þair childer salle þan com þider. Þat to þam has bene bowsom and trewe; And þat bi-takens þe ceté newe; Ffor þan salle haly kyrk þat tyde, In heven be new gloryfyde, And won ay þare with God alle-myghty, In ioy, and myrthe, and melody. Bot yhit haly kyrk, þat es Godes bryde, Bihoves be fyghtand, yhit here to abyde Þe comyng of Crist þat es hir brydegome, Þat ay es myghty for to over-come, Ffor haly kyrk fyghtes for Godes ryght; And God overcomes thurgh his myght. On twa-wise may haly kyrk be tane, And, at þe last, salle bath be in ane; On a manere es cald haly kyrk fyghtand, On ane other es haly kyrk over-comand. Þir clerkes says als þe boke beres witnes, Þat haly kyrk, þat here fyghtand es, Es noght els, bot a gaderyng Of alle cristen men of lele lyfyng. Haly kyrk over-comand es alle-swa God with alle þe company of þa Þat dwelles with him, in his blys, Þe whilk he has hyght tylle alle his. Under haly kyrk, þat here fyghtand es, Er alle gud cristen men, mare and les. Under haly kyrk þat es over-comand, Er alle haly men in heven wonand. Bot haly kyrk þat here fyghtes fast, After þe day of dome at þe last, In þe bryght ceté in heven salle won Ever-mare, with hir spowse Godes Son; Ffor þan salle þe noumbre fulle-fyld be Of alle haly men in þat ceté, Thurgh haly kyrk þat es Godes spowse; And þat ceté Crist calles his Faders howse, Ffor þare salle alle men þat er ryghtwise and haly, Ever-mare dwelle in aungels company; And ilk ane salle have a blysfulle wonyng, And ioy parfyte, with-outen endyng. Þis ceté of heven þat es wyde and brade, Na man wate properly how it es made, Ne can, thurgh wrytt, ymagyn in thoght, Of whatkyn matere it es wroght, It es noght made of lyme ne stane, Ne of tre; for of swilk matere has it nane, Als þir erthly cetese er made of here, Þat er made of corruptybelle matere; Ffor na thyng falles to be in þat ceté, Þat corruptybelle or fayland may be. Bot þe matere þare-of, als I trow, Es of alle thing þat es of gret vertow. Þis ceté was never made with hand, Bot thurgh þe myght and witt of God alle-weldand Þis ceté contenes alle heven-ryke Bot nane wate properly to what it es lyke; We fynd wryten, þat it es fayre and bryght, Bot na man kan descryve it ryght; Ffor swa wyse clerk was never of lyve, Þat þe fairnes of it couth properly descryve, Bot alle-if I kan noght descryve þat stede, Yhit wille I ymagyn, on myne awen hede, Ffor to gyf it a descripcion; Ffor I have þare-to, gret affeccyon; And gret comforth and solace it es to me To thynk and spek of þat fayr ceté; Þat travaille may greve me nathyng, Ffor þare-in have I gret lykyng. Ogayne ryght trowth nathing I do, If I lyken þe ceté þat me langes to, Þe whilk men may lyken on som party, Bath to bodily thing and gastly. And for-þi þat alle thing þat es clere and bryght Es mast lykand here tylle bodily syght, Þarfor I wille it lyken tille bodily thing. Þat es fayre to syght with gastly understandyng. Þe bryght ceté of heven es large and brade, Of whilk may na comparyson be made Tille na ceté þat on erth may stand, Ffor it was never made with mans hand. Bot yhit, als I ymagyn in my thoght, I lyken it tylle a ceté þat war wroght Of gold, of precyouse stanes sere, Opon a moteMS. Lands. 348 reads 'mount'., sett of berylle clere, With walles, and wardes, and turrettes, And entré, and yhates, and garettes; And alle þe walles war made, of þat ceté, Of preceyouse stanes and ryche perré; And alle þe turrettes, of cristalle schene, And þe wardes enamyld, and overgylt clene, And þe yhates of charbucles suld falle, And þe garettes aboven of rubys and curalle; And at þat ceté had lanes and stretes wyde, And fayr bygyngs on ilka syde, Alle schynand als gold bryght burnyst And with alkyn ryches replenyst; And þat alle þe stretes of þe ceté and þe lanes War even paved with precyouse stanes; And þat þe brede and lenthe of þat ceté War mare þan here es of any cuntré; And þat alle manere of melody Of musyk and of mynstralsy, Þat moght be schewed with mowthe or hand, War continuely þare-in sownand, And þat ilk day, on sere manere suld falle, Swa þat na man moght irk with-alle. And þat ilka lane and ilka strete, Of þis ceté war fulle of savours swete, Of spycery and of alle other thyng, Of whilk any swete savoure moght spryng; And þat þar war plenté of mete and drynk, And of alle other delyces þat man may thynk; And þat ilka citesayne þat wonned þare, Had als mykelle bewté or mare, Als Absolon, þat swa fayre was, Whase bewté moght bi skylle pas Þe bewté of alle manere of men erthly, Swa clene he was in lym and body; And þare-with als mykelle strenthe had omang Als Sampson had, þat was so strang, Þat a thowsand men armed clene He over-come and felled doune alle bi-dene; And þat ilkane war als swyft to pas And to ryn, als Assahelle of fote was, And swa swyft was to ryn and ga, Þat thurgh rase wald turne bath buk and ra; And þat ilkane had þare-with als mykelle lykyng And als mykelle þair wille in alle thing, Als Salamon had, þat als God vowched save Þat had alle thyng þat he wald have: And þat ilkane þar-with, had als mykelle fredome Als August had þat was emparour of Rome, Tylle whame alle landes of þe world obout Served, and tille him war underlout; And þat ilkane had with-alle als continuele hele Als Moyses had þat was swa lele, Þat God wald never with yvelle dere him, Bot anely þat he made his eghen dym; And þat þare-with, if possible ware, Ilkane moght als lang be lyfand þare, Als Matussale namely dyd here, Þat lyfed nere a thowsand yhere; And þat ilk ane moght als mykelle wisdom weld, Als Salamon had, þat men swa wise held, Þat thurgh his wisdom had knawyng Of alle thing and understanding; And þat ilk ane þare-with lufed als wele or mare, And als gud frende ay tylle other ware, Als David tylle Ionathas was kyd, Wham he lufed als he his awen saule dyd; And þat ilk ane with þat honourd ware Of alle þe other þat wond þare, Als Ioseph was of þe Egypciens ryght, Wham þai lowted als loverd of gret myght; And þare-with þat ilk ane war in alle thing Als mykelle als was Alexander the gret kyng Þat conquerd Affryk, Europe and Asy, Þat contened alle þe world halely; And þat ilkane acorded with other in anehede, Als Lisyas with Sampson dyd in dede, Of whilk nouther wald nathing do, Bot als ayther of þam assented þare-to; And with alle þis, þat ilkane als syker ware Of þair dwellyng, to won lang þare, Als Ennoc and Hely, on þe same wyse, Þat er syker of þair dwellyng in paradyse, Ffra þe tyme þat þai war þider ravyst, And salle be untylle þe comyng of Anticrist; And over alle þis, þat ilkane als mykelle joy had Als he suld have þat war lad Tylle þe galows, and sodainly in þe gate War tane and putted tille a kynges state; And, þare-with, þanþat? tylle ilk ane suld falle Alle þe ioyes þai moght have alle. He þat alle þes had, als bifore wryten es, Suld pass alle þe world in worthines: What man, thurgh witt, couth telle ioy mare In þis world to weld, þan alle þis ware? Ffor wha-swa had alle þese, withouten dout, Had here ioyinoghe, both with-in and without With alkyn delyces þat he moght have here, Specialy in alle his wittes sere, Þat es to say, in syght and hereyng, And in smellyng, tastyng and feleyng; Bot yhit alle þir blysses þat yhe herd me neven War als noght, als to regard to þe blys of heven; Ffor als mykelle difference, or mare, suld be Bitwene heven and swilk a ceté, Als es bitwene a kynges palays And a swynsty þat es lytelle to prays, And na mare comparyson may be made Bitwene þe cité of heven, wyde and brade, And swilk a ceté made of gold and perré, Þan bitwene alle þe world and a faulde may be; Alle-swa alle ryches þat may here be sene War noght bot als muk þat es unclene, To regard of þe precyouse rychesce Of þe ceté of heven þat na man may gesce. And alle þe melodyse of þe world sere, War noght bot als sorow to here, To regard of þe blyssfulle melody Þat in þe ceté of heven es ay redy. And alle swete savours þat men may fele, Of alkyn thing þat here savours wele, War noght bot als stynk to regard of þat flayre Þat es in þe ceté of heven swa fayre; And alle þe worschepe þat here may be, War noght bot als schendschepe to se, To regard of þe gret worschepe Of whilk men salle in heven tak kepe. Alle þe fairnes þat Absolon had in syght, War noght bot laythedeMS. Lansd. 348 reads 'filþe'. in heven bryght. Alle þe strenthe of Sampson þat was pereles, War noght tald þare bot wayknes. Alle þe delyces þat had Salomon þe kyng, War noght in heven bot myslykyng. Alle þe swyftnes of Assahel þat had he, War noght þare bot slawnes to se. Alle þe fredom þat August had whilom, War noght tald þare bot thraldom. Alle þe hele þat here had Moyses War noght tald þare bot als seknes. Alle þe eld þat Matussale had here, War les þare þan þe lest day of þe yhere. Alle þe wisdom þat Salomon had redy War noght tald þare bot als foly. Alle þe luf þat David Ionathas lufed, War noght þare bot als hatereden proved. Alle þe honoure þat þe Egypciens Ioseph dyd, War noght in heven bot schendschip kyd. Alle þe myght þat Alexander had aywhare, War noght tald bot wayknes þare. Alle þe acord þat Lisyas had in his lyfe With Sampson, war þar bot als strife. Alle þe sykernes þat had Ennoc and Ely Of þair dwellyng in paradyse, namly, War noght bot als unsykernes Of wonyng in heven þat es endles. Þus may I lyken, als I ymagyn, Þe ceté of heven and þe blys þare-in, Tylle a ceté of gold and of precyouse stanes sere Bot þe ceté of heven es mare bryght and clere, And es sett on swa heghe a hylle, Þat na synfulle man may wyn þar-tylle; Þe whilk hylle I lyken tylle berylle clene, Þat es clerer þan any þat here es sene; Þat hille es noght els bi understandyng, Bot haly thoght and brynand yhernyng, Þat haly men had here to þat stede, Whils þai lyfed, bi-for þair dede; Ffor God wille þat þai als heghe up-pas, Als þair thoght and yhernyng upward was. Yhit I lyken, als I ymagyn in thoght, Þe walles of heven tylle walles þat war wroght Of alle manere of precyouse stanes sere, Cymented with gold fulle bryght and clere; And swa bryght gold ne swa clene, Was never nane in þis world sene, Ne swa ryche stanes, ne swa precyouse, Als obout heven er, ne swa vertuouse. Þe precyouse stanes, gastly may be Gud werkes, and þe gold charyté, Þat obout þase in heven salle schine clere, Þat dose gud werkes in charyté here. Þe turrettes of heven, gret and smalle, I lyken tylle turrettes of clere crystalle; Bot þe turrettes of heven er mare clere shynand Þan ever was cristalle in any land. Þa turrettes, gastly, sere honours may be, Þat gud men, in heven, salle fele and se. Þe wardes of þe ceté of heven bryght I lyken tylle wardes þat war stal worthly dyght And clenly wroght and craftily tayled Of clene sylver and gold and enamayld. Bot þa wardes of þe ceté of heven, Er mare crafty and strang þam any kan neven, Bot gastly to speke, þa wardes swa dyght, May be tald strenthe, and power, and myght, Þat þas salle have þat in heven salle dwelle, Als yhe moght here me bifore telle. Þe yhates I lyken of heven swa brade, Tylle yhates þat war of charbukelle stanes made Bot swa clere charbukelle was never sene, Als þa yhates of heven er ne swa clene; Bot þa yhates, gastly to speke, er mekenes And fredom of ryght fayth and bowsomnes, Þat gyfes way and entré tylle men boghsom, Intylle þe ceté of heven for to com. Þe garettes oboven þe yhates bryght Of þe ceté of heven, I lyken þus ryght, Tylle þe garettes of a ceté of gold, Þat wroght war, als I before told, Of fyne curalle and rych rubys, And of other stanes of gret prys, With fyne gold wyre alle obout frett, And bryght besandes burnyst omang sett. Þe garettes of heven, gastly, may be Heghe state, and lordschip, and dignité; Ffor alle þat salle won in þat ceté þare, Salle bere heghe state þare-in ever-mare. Þe lanes alle-swa and þe stretes alle, Þat in þe ceté of heven may falle, And þe wonyng-stedes þat er þar-in, I lyken here, after I ymagyn, Tylle þe lanes and stretes, less and mare, Of þe ceté of gold þat I spak of are, With þe bygynges on ilk syde standand, Þat of fyne gold war made, bryght schynand; Bot in na ceté þat men may neven, Er stedes and lanes swa bryght als in heven; Ne swa bryght wonyng-stedes als er þar-in, Can na man, thurgh wytt, ymagyn, Þe whilk salle schyne, with-in and with-out, And on ilka syde alle obout, Whare alle ryghtwyse men salle won at ees, In ioyfulle quyete, and rest, and pese; And þarfor haly kyrk, þat oft prays Ffor þe saules in purgatory, þus says: Tuam Deus deposcimus pietatem, ut eis tribue| re digneris lucidas et quietas mansiones. "Loverd God, we ask þi peté, Þat þou vouche safe, als we pray þe, To gyf þam wonyng stedes bryght And restfulle", þat nede has of rest and lyght. Na bodily eghe moght never here se A poynt of swilk bryghtnes, als in heven salle be. Ilka lane in heven and ilka strete Most schyne bryght, bi skylle, for þar salle mete Aungels and men bryghter schynand, Þan ever schane þe son in any land; Ffor þe body ofilk man salle schyne so bryght Þat tylle alle a contré, ane moghtgyf lyght; And ilka hare þare, on þair hede, And on þair body, on ilka stede, Salle be als bryght als es þe son, Þat we may se here whare we won, Fulle bryght schynand oboven us, And þarfor says þe boke þus: Fulgebunt iusti sicut sol. "Þe ryghtwis men salle schyne als þe son," In heven whare þai salle ever-mare won. Now sen a ryghtwis man salle schyne als bright Als þe son dose, þan mon he gyf lyght Als fer als þe son dose and ferrer, Fforwhi he salle þan be wele bryghter. And yhit salle alle þat gret bryghtnes, Þat ryghtwis men salle have þare be les Þan þe bryghtnes of God alle-myghty, Als salle be knawen þare openly, Ryght als þe sternes here, whare we won, Semes als to þe bryghtnes of þe son; Ffor we salle be þare als sternes in bryghtnes, And God bryghtest als son of ryghtwisnes. Ilka lane and strete þat in heven may be, Es lenger þan here es any contré, Ffor þe roume and þe space þat es contende In þe ceté of heven has nane ende. Þa stretes and lanes, gastly to telle, Er alle haly men þat þare salle dwelle; And þair wonyngstedes may be þe medes, Þat þai salle have for þair gud dedes. In þat ceté salle be mare rychesce Þan alle þe men of þe world may gesce; Bot þase ryches gastly to understand, Er sere blysses and delyces ay lastand, Þe whilk alle þas, þat tylle heven salle wende, Salle fele and se þare with-outen ende. Þe pament of heven may lykened be, Tille a pament of precyouse stanes and perré; Bot þe pament of heven salle schyne mar clere Þan ever schane gold or precyouse stanes here; And þat pament es sett swa fast, Þat it salle never fayle bot ay last, In whilk may na crevyce be sene, It es swa hale, and even, and clene. Þis pament of heven als of perré, Gastly to understand may be Parfyte luf and lyfe endeles, With pese, and rest and sykernes, Þat alle salle have þat salle won þare, And þis pament salle last ever-mare. Þus may a man þat kan and wille, Alle þe ceté of heven lyken bi skylle, Tylle bodily thing þat es fayre and bryght, And mast delytabelle here to syght, And to precyouse stanes of vertow, And to sylver and gold and thing of valow, Þat men may here bodily se, Bot swilk thinges may nane in heven be. Of verray ryches, gret plenté es þare, Þat er a hundreth thowsand-fald mare Þan alle þe ryches of þe world here, Þat ever was sene, fer or nere, Þat fayles and passes oway; Bot þe rychesce of heven salle last ay, Þat er alle thing, als God vouches save, Þat men in heven yhernes to have. Oboven þe ceté of heven salle noght be sene, Bot bright bemes anly, als I wene, Þat sal schyne fra Goddes awen face, And sprede obout and over þat place. His bright face sal alle þas se, Þat sal duelle in þat blisful cité; And þat syght es þe mast ioy of heven, Als men mught here me byfor neven. And alle-if þat cité be large and wyde, Men salle hym se, until þe ferrest syde, And als wele þas þat sal be fra hym fer, Als þas þat sal þar til hym be nerrer; For als men of fer landes may haf sight Of þe son, þat we se here schyne bright, And als þe same son þat shynes byyhond þe se Shewes it here, and in ilka cuntré Alle þe day, aftir þe ryght course es, Bot when cloudes fra us hydes hirMS. Harl. 4196 reads 'his'. brightnes; Right swa þe face of God alle-myghty, Sal be shewed in heven appertely, Tille alle þe men þat þider sal wende, Þogh som suld duelle at þe ferrest ende. Bot ilk man, als he lufes God here, Sal won þar, som fer and som nere, For som lufes God here mar þan sum, And som lufes hym les þat til heven sal com Alle þas þat God here lufes best, When þai com þar sal be hym nerrest, And þe nerrer þat þai sal hym be, Þe verreylyer þai sal hym se; And þe mare verraly þai se his face, Þe mare sal be þair ioy and solace. Bot þa þat here lufs hym les, Þai sal won þar, aftir þair luf es; Bot ilk man sal se hym in his degré, In what syde of heven swa he sal be. Here haf yhe herd of many fayre sight, Þat ay salle be sene in heven bright; Ful glade and ioyful alle þas may be, Þat swilk fayre sightes, ay, þar sal se, And of mykel ioy may þai ay telle Þat in þat cité of heven sal ay duelle. Alswa ilkan sal haf in þair heryng, Grete ioy in heven and grete lykyng, For þai sal here þar aungel sang, And þe haly men sal ay syng omang, With delitabel voyces and clere; And, with þat, þai sal ay here Alle other manere of melody, Of þe delytable noys of mynstralsy, And of alkyn swet tones of musyke, Þat til any mans hert mught like; And of alkyn noyse þat swete mught be, Ilkan sal here in þat cité, With-outen instrumentes ryngand, And with-outen movyng of mouth or hand, And with-outen any travayle, And þat sal never mar cese ne fayle. Swilk melody, als þar sal be þan, In þis werld herd never nan erthely man, For swa swete sal be þat noyse and shille And swa delitabel and swa sutille, Þat alle þe melody of þis werld here, Þat ever has bene herd, fer and nere, War noght bot als sorowe and care Als to þe lest poynt of melody þare. Omang þam alswa sal be swete savour, Swa swete com never of herbe ne flour, When þai war in seson mast, Or war mast of vertu for to tast; Ne of spicery mught never spryng, Ne yhit of nan othir thyng, Þat thurgh vertu of kynde suld savour wele Swa swete savour als þai sal fele; For na hert may thynk, ne tung telle, How swete sal ilkan til other smelle; Þat savour sal be ful plenteuouse, And swa swete and swa delicious, Þat alkyn spicery þat men may fele, And of alle othir thyng þat here savours wele, War noght bot als thyng þat stynked sour, Als to regarde of þat delycious savour. Þan sal þat savour þat es swa swete, Be ioy til þam, ay when þai samen mete, Alswa ilkan þat sal won þar, Sal syng with angels, als I sayd ar, In swilk tones þat sal be swete to here, With ful delitabel voyces and clere; Bot þai sal love God ay in þair sang, And thank hym of his mercy ay omang; And ilkan of þat blisful company Sal speke with othir þar ful swetely, With laghyng and with lufly sembland, And say "weles us þat here er wonnand", And thank God omang þat þam gun wysse Til mekenes, þat þam led til þat blysse With anger þat þai had in þair lyf days, Þan may þai say þus als David says: Letati sumus pro diebus quibus nos humiliasti, annis quibus vidimus mala. "Loverd ful glad for þe days er we, In whilk þou made us lawe to be, In þe yheres in whilk we saw illes." Þus may þai syng and say for sere skilles. Þan sal þair sang and þair spekyng, Be til þam gret ioy and lykyng; Alswa þai sal fele worshepes grete, For ilkan sal be sette in a ryche sete, And, als kynges and qwenes corouned be With corouns dight with ryche perré, And with stanes of vertu, precyouse to prays, Als David til God thus spekes and says: Posuisti Domine super caput eius coronam de lapide precioso. "Loverd on hys heved þou sette ryght, A coroune of preciouse stanes dight;" Bot swa fayre coroune was never sene In þis world, on kynges heved ne qwene. Þis coroune es þe coroune of blys, And þe stane es ioy þat þai sal never mys. Þis worshepe þat þai sal fele, sal pas Alle þe worshepes þat ever here was, Of whilk þai sal þar mar ioy have, Þan any man can yherne or crave. Þus sal þai have in þair wittes fyfe Parfite ioy with endeles lyfe, In þe heghe blisful cité of heven, Whar sere ioyes er ma þan tung can neven; For þai sal many hundreth thowsand se Of men and wemen in þat cité, Þat many sere ioyes þar sal haf, Als þai er worthy and God vouches saf. And alle þe ioyes þat þai alle sal se, Sal be ioyes til ilka man þat þar sal be, With-outen his awen ioyes, les and mare, Þat til hym-self sal be appropried þare; For þe sight of ilk ioy þat þai sal se þan, Sal be ioy þar til ilka man; For other mens ioyes tham sal like als wele, Als þai sal þair awen þat þai sal fele; Þan sal a man haf ma ioyes in heven Þan any tung couthe telle or neven; For ilk man sal haf special ioy and mede, For ilk gude thoght and ilk gude dede, Þat he ever thoght or wroght open or privé. Þan may never þair ioys noumbred be, Þat ilk man in heven when þai com þider Sal in body and saule haf alle togider, And never mare of na ioy fele irkyng, For þai sal ay be new als at þe bigynning, Of whilk þe leste ioy þar to fele and se, Sal be mar þan alle þe ioyes of the werld may be Þai sal be fed þar and cled wele, With ioy of sight þat þai sal fele, Þai sal wirk þar nan othir thyng, Bot love ay God with-outen irkyng, Als a versifiour says in a verse þarby, Þe whilk es made in metre þus schortly: Visio sit victus, opus est laus, lumen amictus. "With þe sight of God þai sal be fed, And with brightnes of light þai sal be cled, And þair werk sal be ay lovyng," In whilk þai sal haf gret likyng. Bot þair mast ioy in heven sal be Þe blisful sight of þe trinité, Þe whilk þai sal se ever-mar; And þat ioy sal pas alle othir þar, For ay whilles þai þat sight sal se, Of alle ioyes þai sal fulfilled be; And if þai suld þat syght mysse, Þai myght noght þan haf parfite blis. For if a man war pyned in helle, With ma payns þan tung may telle, And he of Goddes face mught se oght, Alle his payns suld þan gryefe hym noght. Now haf I redde here how men sal hafe Parfite ioy in heven þat sal be safe; Bot þe dampned men þar ogayne Sal haf ful sorowe and parfite payne, With-outen ende for þair wikked lyfe, For þai sal in alle þair wittes fyve, Be turmented on sere manere, With grysely payns, many and sere, Þat es to say, in syght and heryng, In smellyng, tastyng, and felyng. First þai sal in helle about þam se Mare sorow þan ever in þis werld mught be, And þe sorow þat þai sal se þar, Sal be strang payne til þam ever-mare. Þair wonyng in helle, als says þe buke, Þai sal se ful of fire and of smoke, And ful grysely, and myrk, and dym, And about þam devels ful grym, Þat with sere payns sal payne þam ay, Als men mught here me byfor say: And alle-þogh þai in helle want light, Yhit sal pai of alle payns haf sight, Thurgh þe sparkes of fyr þar, als says Saynt Austyn Noght til þair comfort bot til þair pyne; Yhit mare sorow þam sal bytyde, Þai sal here in helle, on ilka syde, Ful hydus noyse and duleful dyn Of devels and of synful men þar-yn: Þai sal here devels þar, rare ful hydusly, And þe synful men goule and cry; Þai sal þar, in smellyng, fele mare stynk, Þan hert may here ymagyn or thynk, Of brynnand brunstan and of pyk, And of alkyn othir thyng þat es wyk. Þat stynk, als yhe sal understand wele, Sal be strang payne til þam to fele; Al-swa þai sal ilkan other wery, And myssay and sclaundre God allemyghty, Þai sal ay stryfe and be at debate, And ilkan other sal despice and hate. Omang þam sal never be pees, Bot hatreden and stryfe þat never sal cees. Þair throtes sal ay be filled omang, Of alle thyng þat es bitter and strang, Of lowe and reke with stormes melled, Of pyk and brunstane togyder welled, Of molten bras and lede with-alle, And of other welland metalle: Þis sal be strang payne til þam to last, Omang alle othir paynes, lest and mast, With stryf þat sal be omang þam þan, When ilkan sal other wery and ban; Al-swa þai sal fele, als I byfor talde, Outrageus hete and outrageouse calde, For now þai sal frese in yse, and now in fire bryn And be gnawen with-outen and with-in; Within, als yhe sal understand, With wormes of conscience ay bytand; With-outen, with dragons felle and kene, Swa hidus was never here nane sene, With neddirs and tades and othir vermyn, And with many hydus bestes of ravyn, Als wode wolfes, lyons and beres felle, Þat sal noght be elles, bot devels of helle, In liknes of hydus bestes and vermyne, Þat sal þam gnaw without, to eke þair pyne, Als in þe sext part of þis boke es wryten. Þus sal þe synful be gnawen and byten With outen, thurgh hydus bestes and vermyn, And thurgh þe worme of conscience with-in. Þe devels alswa sal stryke þam felly, With glowand hamers, ful huge and hevy, Þat sal seme of iren and stele; Þir payns þai sal with alle other fele. Þus sal þai ever-mare be pyned þar, In alle þair fife wittes, als I said ar, With sere payns als es gode skille, For þai here used þair wittes ille. Alle þir payns þat yhe herd me telle, And many ma þat salle be in helle, Þai sal thole ay þar þat sal wende þider, In body and saule alle to-gider. Þus sal þai ever mar contynuely Haf parfite payne þar, with-outen mercy, Fra whilk payne and sorow God us shilde, Thurgh prayer of hys moder mylde, And þe right way of lyf us wysse, Whar-thurgh we may com til heven blysse. Amen. Now es þe last part of þis buke sped, And alle þe maters þar-in haf I red, Þat contenes, als yhe mught here, Bathe general and special ioyes sere, Þat alle þas þat til heven sal come, Sal haf aftir þe day of dome; And sere schendshepes of helle alswa, Þat er even contrary til þa, Þe whilk, þas þat sal til helle wende, Sal haf þar, with-outen ende. Whar-for wha-swa of þis wil take hede, May be stird til luf and drede; Til drede, thurgh mynde of þe hydusnes Of payne and sorow þat in helle es; Til luf, thurgh mynd of ioyes and blisse sere Þat God hetes til alle þat lufes hym here. Bot þe drede es noght medeful to prufe, Þat accordes noght halely with þat lufe; For if drede stand by itself anely, Na mede of God it es worthy, Þarfor drede suld be lufes brother, And ayther of þam stand with other, For wha-swa lufes God on ryght manere He has grete drede to wrethe hym here; Þan lufes he his bydynges to fulfille, And dredes to do oght ogayne his wille, Delites to be with God ay, And dredes to be put fra hym oway. For men suld noght drede God anly for payne Bot men suld drede to tyn þe ioy soverayne, Þat es, þe syght of God of heven, Þe whilk yhe herd me byfor neven; ÞatÞan (MS. Harl. 4196.) es pat luf ay with þat drede, And þat dred of God es worthy mede, For þogh we suld never helle se, Ne [for] syn suld never punyst be, In purgatory ne in helle, Ne in þis werld whar we duelle, Yhit suld we luf God for hym-self ryght, And drede to tyne hys luf and of him þe syght, For, sikerly I dar wele say þis, Þat wha-swa wyst what ioy and blys Of þe syght of God in heven war, And als proprely had sene it als es þar, He had lever thole here þis payne, Ilk day anes, alle qwikThe MS. reads 'qwilk'. to be flayne, Ar he þe syght of his face suld tyne, Þat in heven so bright sal shyne. Many sere ioys ma þar sal falle, Bot þat sight es mast principalle ioy of alle; For þat ioyful sight sal contene Alle other ioyes þat sal þar be sene, Of whilk ioys, þe lest sal pas Alle þe ioy þat ever here was. For ioy here es noght bot passand vanité, Bot þe ioyes þat er þar ever-mar sal be, Til whilk ioyes þat has nan ende, God us bring when we hethen wende. Amen. Now haf I here als I first undir-toke, Fulfilled þe seven partes of þis boke, Þat er titeld byfor to have in mynde. Þe first es of þe wrechednes of mans kynde; Þe secunde es of þe werldes condicions sere, And of þe unstabelnes of þe werld here; Þe thred es of þe ded þat es bodily; Þe ferthe alswa es of purgatory; Þe fift es of domesday, þe last day of alle, And of þe takens þat byfor sal falle; Þe sext es of þe paynes of helle to neven; And þe sevend part es of þe ioyes of heven. In þir seven er sere materes drawen Of sere bukes, of whilk som er unknawen, Namly til lewed men of England, Þat can noght bot Inglise undirstand; Þarfor þis tretice drawe I wald In Inglise tung þat may be cald Prik of Conscience als men may fele, For if a man it rede and understande wele, And þe materes þar-in til hert wil take, It may his conscience tendre make, And til right way of rewel bryng it bilyfe, And his hert til drede and mekenes dryfe, And til luf and yhernyng of heven blis, And to amende alle þat he has done mys. For þe undirstandyng of þir maters seven, Þat men may in þis buke se and neven, May make a man knawe and halde in mynde, What he es here of his awen kynde, And what he sal be, if he avyse hym wele, And whar he es, for to knaw and fele. Yhit may he se when he it redes What he es worthy for his dedes, Whether he es worthy ioy or payne Þis tretice may make hym be certayne, For þar-in may he many thynges se, Þat has bene, and es, and þat sal be; Þus may þis tretice, with þe sentence, Pryk and stirre a mans conscience, And til mekenes and luf and drede it dryfe, For to bring hym til ryght way of lyfe. Of alle þeis I haf sere maters soght, And in seven partes I haf þam broght, Als es contende in þis tretice here, Þat I haf drawen out of bukes sere, Aftir I had in þam understandyng, Alle-if I be of symple kunnyng. Bot I pray yhou alle, par charité, Þat þis tretice wil here or se Yhe haf me excused at þis tyme, If yhe fynde defaut in þe ryme, For I rek noght, þogh þe ryme be rude, If þe maters þar-of be gude. And if any man þat es clerk, Can fynde any errour in þis werk, I pray hym he do me þat favour, Þat he wille amende þat errour; For if men may here any errour se, Or if any defaut in þis tretice be, I make here a protestacion, Þat I wil stand til þe correccion Of ilka rightwyse lered man, Þat my defaut here correcte can. Þis tretice specialy drawen es For to stirre lewed men til mekenes, And to make þam luf God and drede; Ffor wha-swa wil it here or rede, I hope he sal be stirred þar-by. Yf he trow þat God es alle-myghty, And he sal it here or se, And may noght þar-by stirred be, It semes þat he es wittles, Or over mykel hardend in wikkednes. Bot alle þas þat redes it, loud or stille, Or heres it be red with gode wille, God graunt þam grace þat þai may Be stird þar-by til ryghtwyse way, Þat es, tille þe way of gude lyfyng, And at þe last be broght til gude endyng. And yhe þat has herd þis tretice red Þat now es broght til ende and sped, For þe luf of our Loverd Ihesu, Pray for hym specialy þat it dru, Þat if he lyf, God safe hym harmles, And mayntene hys lyf in alle gudenes, And if he be ded, als falles kyndely, God of his saule haf mercy, And bryng it til þat blisful place Whar endeles ioy es and solace, Til whilk place he us alle bryng, Þat for us vouched safe on rode to hyng. Amen.Explicit tractus qui dicitur, Stimulus Consciencie. Here endes þe tretice þat es called Pryk of Conscience.