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Seyn Frances, the Frere Menour, good mon was inough; In his yonghede marchaunt he was and to trewenesse drough:1 His marchaundise he made al day in the cité of Assise, Ac in allmesdede and in povere men he spende his marchaundise. Vor no love of catel, iwis, he nolde bileve, Wen eny povere mon him bede good, bote he him somwat geve.2 As he com a day by the wei he mette bi cas A knyght that hadde riche ibé, and apovered was and wel uvele iclothed ek, and bed him som good. Seyn Frances hadde reuthe of him and a wule astod. He strupte of his clothes of his rug and gaf this povere knyght. Therafter as he lay aslepe in his bedde anyght, Him thoghte that a paleis swythe noble he sei. He escte was that paleis were that so noble was and hei. Me sede that it was his and his knyghtes also. Tho this holi mon awok somwat he thoghte do: Him thoghte he sei ek in the paleis knyghtes armes there, And myd a vair crois thoru out isigned alle were.3 Thoghte he, "Our Lord it wole that ich knyght be, And wel feble icham therto bote ich me bet bisé."4 An erl ther was in Apulé that corteis was and hende; He thoghte be imad knyght of him,5 thuderward he gan wende. Ac as wel he myghte habbe ibé atom, thulke travail was vor noght.6 Other armes he schulde take wen it were al vorth ibroght. And as he wende toward this erl vorte ben imad knyght, Our Lord in avision to him com anyght. "Sei," he sede, "of the lord and of the hine also, And of the riche and of the povere, wuch mai the mest good do?"7 "Bote the loverd," quath the other, "and he that is riche." "Thou haddest almest," quath this other, "ichose uniliche. Vor trust of the hyne, the lord thou vorsoke; Thou nome uvele thin avision: thou most thee bet biloke.8 The armure and the paleis that thou noble iseie Thou schalt fynde ellesware; thou ne comest noght yut so heie. Thou schalt habbe knyghtes under thee, thulke armes to lede.9 Thervore wend hom agen and bithenche bet thin dede." This holi mon, tho he awok, agen wende to Assise And thoghte al on Jhesu Crist and bilevede his marchaundise. He bad our Lord nyght and day that He scholde him rede, And His grace him sende and toknynge hou he scholde his lif lede. Wat were this noble knyghtes that he sei in meting Bote Freres Menours and hor ordre that he schulde vorth bringe?10 The noble paleis that he isei, that armure was inne, That was the joie of Hevene that this knyghte scholde wynne. A day this holi mon withthoute Assise drou. He mette a lolich mesel that grisliche was inough. He bad him som god vor Godes love; Seyn Franceis alighte11 And biclupte and custe this mesel as vaire as he mighte. Of his selver he him tok and bad him habbe good day. Tho nuste he war he was bicome ne in no stude him ne say.12 Tho thoghte he wel ho it was, and after thulke dede He wep and cride on Jhesu Crist that He somwat scholde him rede.13 And ofte he wolde bi custume to meseles vare And seche hem at hor hous, bote he founde hem elleware, And cusse hor honden and hor vet and hor mouth also, And geve hem largeliche of his good: bi costume he wolde it do.14 So aghte, me thencth, ech man and nameliche the riche, Vor our Lord hath so ofte be iseie in hor liche, Vor in non other fourme of monne me ne may Him so ofte isé.15 Therwith He dude hem gret honor, that He wolde hor brother be. Bi an chirche of Seyn Damyan Seyn Franceis com gon, That up the poynte was to valle. In he wende anon And knelede adoun byvore the Crois, as he dude wel ofte. A vois ther spek in the Crois wel mildeliche and softe: "Franceis," he sede, "Go nou vorth and arer up myn hous an hei That thou sucst falle al to gronde and is al to struid nei." Seyn Franceis, tho the chirche was dounward so ibroght, Wende that our Lord sede therbi: ac therbi nas it noght,16 Ac was bi al holi chirche and bi al cristedom, That his freres scholde upholde wen the ordre vorth com. Wel aughte thulke ordre be good, and uvele ibroght to gronde, Vor with vair toknynge and fale it was verst ifounde.17 Seyn Franceis wende and solde his clothes and al his other thinge, And the panes therof nom and to the chirche he gan bringe. The prest of the chirche he vond, the panes he wolde him take To rere up the holi chirche, ac he gan hem vorsake. He ne dorste noght, vor his fader ne vor his other frend, he sede, So much tresour nyme of him, bote it were bi hor rede.18 Seyn Franceis nom that tresour, tho the other it vorsok, And in a fenestre it leide and in our Lordes warde it tok. Tho the tidynge com to his fader that he hadde iscold his good, Toward him he wende anon and vor wraththe was nei wod. Seyn Franceis was iwar of him, he ne levede noght byhynde,19 And wende and hudde him in a diche that he ne mighte him noght fynde In the diche wel longe he lay in honger and in wrechede, And evere cride on Jhesu Crist that He him sculde rede. So longe he was in meseise there that he vorverde nei, That unnethe him couthe iknowe eny that him isei.20 Ate laste in gret meseise he wende to Assise. That folc, tho hi seie him come, sore hem gan agrise And sede, "Her cometh a wod mon!" and harlede him wel vaste, And smyte and pulte her and ther, and with dynge him caste. Seyn Franceis eode vorth evere as him nothing nere.21 His fader com also bi cas and imette him there; He nom and ladde him hom to his hous and bet him sore inou, And bad him bringe hom that good that he awei drough. Tho he ne mighte habbe non other good, he bond him swythe stronge,22 So that this holi mon in prison was wel longe. Ate laste, the wule his fader out of toune gan wende, His moder hadde reuthe of him and broghte him out of bende. Tho he was out of bende ibroght he ne levede no leng ther; He wende to the diche agen from wan he com er. Tho this godemon com hom, he ne found him noght there. He bet his wif sore inough and escte wer he were. To Seyn Damianes chirche thanene he wende so And founde that tresour al ihol as he it hadde ido, And seththe he wende to the diche and founde his sone there. He escte him vor wat thing that tresour awei he bere. Ac tho he sei al then ende that he lute therof roughte,23 He nom and ladde him vorth with him and bivore the biscep him broghte And bad him, yif he alles wolde this worldes good vorsake, That he byvore the biscep therright up it take. Seyn Franceis myd thulke word glad and joivol stod; He gef up ther bivore God al erthliche good And strupte his clothes of his rug al to his bare liche, And byvore the biscep tok his fader and bad him be riche. He sede, "Ichabbe icluped thee 'fader' evere to this daye, Ac nou it is so ver icome that nan more I ne may.24 Segge ich mot my Pater Noster henne vorthward iwis, And to my Fader holde me that in Hevene is." Naked he wende from his fader byvore hem echon; After thulke tyme worldliche good nadde he never non. A seli uplondisc mon, that naked isei him go, Gret deol hadde in his horete of his chele and wo. He gef him an old mantel his bones vorte hele. This holi mon it underveng to wite him from chele. His licham he helede therwith and in meseise inou, Agen as he was ibore, to Assise he drough. As he hadde ibé er so riche and so wel iknowe, A beggare bicom and bad his mete, therafter in a throwe.25 From dore to dore he bad his mete and wonede him therto; Some were wrothe vor his dede and no good nolde him do. Of the Ordre of Frere Menors he ne made nothing yute. He bigon the ordre in poverte inou and in wel lute prute. Men of the contreie were aboute vorte mende The chirche of Seyn Damian that al adonward wende, Ther as Seyn Franceis hadde ibé and tresor bilevede there. Tho he non other mighte do the chirche vorte rere, He wende thuder and sore swonc and ber morter therto And seththe he eode and bad is mete wen he hadde ido. An chirche seththe of Seyn Peter me rerde ellesware. This holi mon in his meseise wel sone was thare, And drou morter and ston therto and sore swonc also, And seththe eode and bad his mete, tho he hadde al ido. Wen he hurde of eny churche that owar was to rere, Him thoghte evere longe inough ar he were there.26 To Seyn Marie in Desert ate laste he wende stille And cride on God nyght and day that He dude bi him his wille, And that He geve him grace, in wuch manere he mighte, His chirche that donward was best rere up and dighte,27 So that God gef him grace that he there bigan The holi Ordre of Frere Menors that saveth mony a man. In the bygynyng of this ordre, as our Lord gef that cas, A mass he hurde a day that of the apostles was. As me rat yut among ous in the Godspel it sede tho That our Lord het His diciples that hi scholde aboute go, That hi ne bere with hem gold ne selver wen hi eode over lond, Ne bagge, ne twei curtles nother, ne staf in hor hond, Ne that hi werrede nathemo on hem none schon.28 In this manere our Lord het the apostles aboute gon. Tho Seyn Franceis hurde this, he dude of his scon anon And porveide that Frere Menors barvot schulde gon Withthoute bagge and withthoute staf, withthoute ech thing to spene. And hose deth eny of this, he halt noght his ordre, ich wene.29 In stude of his gurdel ek with a corde he him bond. In this manere Freres Menors schulde go overlond. Ther bigan Seyn Franceis to don this holi dede And made the Ordre of Frere Menors al as the Godspel sede. Bernard, that was good scoler, verst to him com And the Ordre of Frere Menors of his honden nom. He escte at him hou he scholde best the worlde clanliche vorsake. Hi wende to Seyn Nicholas chirche; an massebok hi gonne take; The boc was iclosed vaste; Seyn Franceis him bad undo. He undude the bok al unmundeliche and the verste that he com to,30 That was a Godspel that seith "Yif thou wolt perfit be, Sul al thi good and gef povere men and com and siwe me." Al unmundeliche he com efsone to a Godspel that sede That me ne scholde nothing by the wei nother bere ne lede. The thridde tyme al unmundeliche the massebok he wende, Tho he com up this Godspel as our Lord him sende: "Hose wole come after me he schal himsulve vorsake And his owe rode bere, and then wei so after me take."31 "Thou sucst," quath Seyn Franceis, "her, hou our Lord in a stounde Send ous grace up wuch thinge we schulle this ordre founde.32 Up this thre Godspelles, thou sucst, that we habbeth thar verst ifounde, We schulle founde oure ordre and up an stronge grounde." Up this thre Godspell he made his ordre and his reule vorsoth, And Frere Menour breketh his ordre that out theragen doth. Noble an ordre it aghte be that so nobliche ifounde was, Verst thoru toknynge of Jhesu Crist and seththe thoru such cas. Frere Gilis was tho the verste, that good scoler hadde ibe, That after Frere Bernard that abit nom, and seththe other thre. So that under hem alle were six freres vorth ibroght. And thei this ordre were imad, iconfermed nas it noght. Seyn Franceis, this holi mon, tho God then tyme sende33 To confermy his ordre aright, to Rome he wende. Ac wel sore he was adrad leste the pope were Contrerious agen his ordre, that he iconfermed nere.34 Ac vorth he wende to fonde; he nolde noght be byhynde. Ac evere he bad Jhesu Crist that he moste som grace ifynde. Tho thoghte him, in a vision, that he sei a gret tre, So hei that he was adrad toward the toppe to se. And natheles an aunter him dude and nom therof a bough,35 Above in the hexte stude, and toward him drough. Hit binde al adoun to him, after his wille inough, Vor al that he dradde verst that it was hei and tough. Tho this holi mon awok on his swevene he thoghte longe, And therthoru he thoghte of the pope som grace avonge:36 Vor that tre, that was so hei, lightliche to gronde he drou: Also he hopede the heie pope to his wille bringe inou. To the hei Pope Innocent, tho he to Rome com, He bad his religion granti, to amende Cristendom, And he wolde his ordre prevy, and his reule also, Thoru the Godspel of Godes word, and therafter do.37 Tho the pope his reule isei that heo was clene and good, And ifounded up the Godspel, al as he wel understod. In his heorte he granted it, ac noght with mouthe anon, Vor he moste his cardinals consely everichon. So that among this cardinals consell ther was inome: Somme hulde theragen, and vaste therwith some.38 Tho was ther a cardinal, that biscep was also, Maister Jon of Seyn Poul that vaste huld therto. "Yif we," he sede, "distourbeth him, agen the Godspel we beth, Wen he speketh al up Godes word,39 as we wel iseth." In avision to the pope also anyght it com That he grantede him his reule to amendi Cristendom.40 So that the pope grantede him al his reule to do,41 And confermede thoru all the court and gef him more therto. Tho wende vorth this holi mon and his freres with him nom, And prechede aboute then Godspel42 to amendi Cristendom. Tho the contrei isei him verst, gret spech ther was there:43 Somme sede that Anticrist other his disciples it were, So that in vele studes wel lute good hem me sende,44 And hi were ofte afyngred sore as hi aboute wende. Tho that hi come in a stude, and afyngred were sore, That some of the freres nadde ithoght in the ordre ibé nanmore,45 Tho com ther a wel vair man and broghte hem mete inough. Tho nuste hi war he bicom ne wudeward he drough,46 Tho sei this freres wel that an angel it was. The studevastore hi were in hor ordre vor this holi cas, And bihete God that nevere vor meseise ne vor wo In the ordre hi nolde bi hor mighte poverte vorgo. So that hi wende in a stude that was al vorlete, Biside the toun of Assise in an olde strete. In meseise hi were ther inough and ofte hi wepe sore Vor defaute of sustinaunce and vor defaute of bokes more. Vor hi nadde nanne boc waron hi mighte loke. In the Crois hi bihulde al day, in stude of hor boke, And bede God, yif it were his wille, som good hem teche, Vor hi nadde non other boc, ne hi nuste warwith areche.47 To Seyn Marie in Desert thenne hi gonne wende, As hi bigonne verst hor ordre, to bringe ther to ende.48 Seyn Franceis wende bi the lond and prechede aboute there. Men wende, tho hi seie him verst that of another world he were, Vor he caped evere upard toward Hevene an hei, That me wondred and speke therof, ech mon that him isei. Mony him huld a truaunt, of the Develes lore, And harled him her and ther and ofte him bete sore. This gode mon nom never yeme ac cride our Lordes ore And war me dude him mest scame,49 thuder he drou the more. Idel nolde he never be, he ne lovede nothing so lute, Ne hatede so much, as ese and idelnesse and prute. "Frere Asse" he clupede his owe flesc, vor thou wost wel an asse, Nabbe heo never so lute mete his travail nys no the lasse,50 Vor heo is iharled her and ther and to vile worke ido, Ipricked and iscourged ek, and sackes bereth also. Of wrecchede thing heo is ived, wen heo cometh therto, And wel selde icoureied ek: heo nath nother nail ne sco. And servede so his owe flesc and clupede it "Frere Asse,"51 And gef him mete lute inou and to clothinge lasse, And prikede him and scourged ek, and thorughout the contreie Harlede him and depe wod barvot in depe weie.52 Wen he sei eny idel man, that lovede glotenye And ne travailde noght vor his mete, he clupede hem "Frere Flye," Vor the fleye doth non other good bote fleth ver and ner And awaiteth wen men goth to mete other to soper, And as sone as the dich is iset adoun heo wole be ate brerde. Of travail ne kepth heo noght, bote that heo wel verde.53 Wen a man hath al day iswonke, thei he hadde iswore, He ne schal so sone come to his dich that heo nele be byvore.54 So vareth mony idel man that no good nele do, Bote wen men beth toward the mete al prest he is therto;55 Ate disc hi wolleth as sone be as hi that habbeth iswonke. And thenne is al hor werk ido, habbe hi iyete and idrounke.56 Then liggeth hi and slepeth other goth doth som folie. Thervore Seyn Franceis clepeth a such man "Frere Fleie." Of nothing nas this holi mon so glad as of edwit. Wen me reprevede his poverte, he was in gret delit; Wen me clupede him beggar, other churl, other churles sone, He wolde thonke and be glad: that was ever his wone. "Leve brother," he wolde segge, "certes thou seist soth. Iblessed be thou vor thulke word and alle that so doth! Peres sone Bernard it bicometh bi righte lawe. To here telle of is righte. Ic aughte be glad and vawe."57 And wen me preisede of his kunde, him ne thoghte no delit. Thervore hose him wolde paie,58 segge him som edwit. And bivore al that folc abrod in his prechinge he sede His meseise and his defaute and ofte his wrechede. Wel this prute pigasours wer hi vare so yute, Hi wricketh and streccheth hem an hei, hi nute hou go vor prute! Hem thencth hi nelleth noght go, ac fle herre then the kute! Wat, nou wuder thencheth hi? Al it worth wel lute. In Puylé Seyn Franceis eode some tyme overe lond,59 So that a pors vol of panes bi the wei he vond. He ne tok no more gome then to so muche ven. His felawe bad him nyme it up and dele it povere men. "I nele noght," quath Seyn Franceis, "of other monnes dele."60 "Me thencth," quath this frere tho, "that thou art unvele, That thou ne lovest noght povere men wen thou nelt hem do good." This holi mon hurde this and an wule in thoghte stod. "Thou schalt," he sede, "sone isé wat the panes beth echon." He wende and nom up then pors and openede him anon. Tho crep therout an eddre, the grislokes that mighte gon,61 And the pors al empti was and noght a peny theron. That was the Devel of Helle that in fourme of panes lay, Vorte bitraie this holi mon wanne he the panes isay. Ac natheles ich wene, thei the Devel were al to panes bicome, Yut ich wene this chepmen hem wolde avonge somme.62 This holi mon Seyn Franceis among ech maner best Mest he lovede yonge lombron, and honoured hem mest, Vor our Lord evenede Him to a lomb thoru Seyn Jon the Baptist, And vor lomb is withthoute felonye and mylde as Jhesu Crist. And ofte wen men hem wolde quelle fram dethe he hem broghte; With biddyng and faire word ofte he hem boghte. In the abbei of Seyn Verecunde a yong lomb he vonde: A souwe astrangelid it a dai and fret in a stounde. Seyn Franceis stod and bihuld: "Among alle bestes," he sede, "Acorsed be thou, luther sowe, that dest such luther dede, That thi lif be schort and strong and thi deth strong also, That nothing ete of thi flesc, wen thou art of lyve ido." Tho bigon this sowe, anon as he this word sede, To be vol of scabbes and of other wrechede, That heo orn out al quiture, as al that folc isay. In wrechede and sorwe inou heo deide then thridde day, And rotede and stonc foule inou. No best that it isei, Ne revon ne other foul, nolde ene come ther nei.63 Vor Seyn Franceis lovede lomb, as al that folc isai, On of his frend vor Godes love gef him a lomb a day. This lomb wolde, yong and old, al day nei him be, And make with him joie inough wen he him mighte isé. Seyn Franceis het this scep a day wenne it hurde the freres singe To churche gon at eche tyde and byleve vor nothinge. This scep after thulke tyme selde wolde abide, Wenne it hurde the freres in the quer, that it nas at eche tide.64 Blete it wolde agen hem vor it ne couthe non other song; Wen it seie the freres sitte akné, kneli it wolde among, And wen the prest sacred ek kneli it wolde therto, And inwardliche biholde thuder as it sei the freres do. Wel aghte we honouri Godes flesc wen a such best wolde: A wonder bedmon it was on, icome to Godes folde.65 As Seyn Franceis, this holi mon, over lond vaste drough, Wilde foweles smale and grete honoured him inough. Vor as he wende in a tyme to prechi over lond, An hep of foweles gret inough in a stude he vond. Hi songe and made noise inou, everich in his wise. The yut Seyn Franceis to hem com, hi nolde enes arise.66 "Beu frere," quath this holi mon, "our sostren that beth here Honoureth God that hem made ech in his manere. Right is that we do also, ar we fram hem gon." Hi bigonne segge hor tyden among this foweles echon;67 Tho made this foweles gret noise that hi ne mighte noght ihere: "Sostren," quath this holi mon, "changeth youre manere! Beth nou stille and leteth me segge my tyden and my frere, And seththe ye mowe after ous, everich with his ivere."68 This foweles anon to his heste stille were also, And sete and herkenede hor tyden vorte hi hadde ido. "Nou sostren," quath this holi mon, "nou we habbeth ised oure tyden, Bigynneth youre wen ye wolleth; ye ne dorre no leng abiden."69 This foweles gonne synge anon, the leste and the meste: Gret poer he hadde of God to habbe foweles ate his heste. This holi mon him wende vorth to prechi over lond; A gret hep efsone of foweles in a stude he vond. He wende vorth among hem: this foweles gonne echon Aloute to him mildeliche and honoure him anon. This holi mon atstod an wule and thoghte hem som god teche, And as to men of witte this foweles he gan preche.70 "Leve sostren," he sede, "vor Godes love honoureth youre creaturr, Vor among alle creatours ye aughte don Him honur, Vor he gef you nobleie inough,71 wyngen vorte fle, And fetheren to bere you an hei, wide vorte te, And mete war ye wolleth alighte, withthoute ech manere swenche. He gefth you gret prute and ese as enymon may thenche. Ye ne dorre nother delve ne dike, as mony mon mot do, And yut ye mowe habbe mete inough, other mowe noght so." This foweles herkened wel stille, the wule his prechinge ilaste,72 And fram wodes and other studes thuderward drowe vaste. Tho this holi mon hadde ido, he wende vorth anon, And strokede hem with his longe sleve: hi nolde arise noght on, Ar he hete hem wende vorth war hi hadde to done.73 So sone so the foweles that ihurde hi wende vorth wel sone. Seyn Franceis among al other thing, right at his heorte gronde, Ofte thoghte deope inough in our Lordes wounde. So studevastlich in his thoght non other thing he nom.74 So that the Holi Rode tid, that agen Mielmasse com,75 Upe the hul of Averne, as it was our Lordes wille, Alone in his orisouns ther he lay wel stille. He thoghte on our Lordes wounden so depe that nas non ende.76 An angel he sei an hei, right fram Hevene wende. Six wyngen, him thoghte, he hadde, that scynde brighte and wide;77 Twei stode up above his heved and twei bi his side, And right over the wombe acroys twei ther were also, As me such ofte in chirch ipeynt, hose come therto.78 The armes were along isprad as hi were on the rode, And the vet istreight along, al urnynde of blode.79 Thoru the right side he was ismyte and thoru vet and honde: It was, in fourme of an angel, our Lord, ich undurstonde. So gret joie hadde this holi mon of this noble sighte That he was as in another world and thonkede Godes mighte. He nuste wat vor joie do the wule he this fourme isei. Ate laste it flei agen into Hevene an hei. Seyn Franceis was in joie inough vor the noble sighte, And nameliche of our Lordes wounden that he wilnede day and nyghte.80 He bihuld his owe honden and his vet also: Tho were hi thoru out ismyte and the nailes theron ido,81 And his right side wounded ek, ac wel sore nere hi noght; The wounden himsulf he hadde tho that so much were in his thoght. The nailes were blake inough, the heveden rounde and grete, The poyntes were evelong, as hi were agen ibete.82 Aboute the nailes the flesc stod up, as it were al toswolle, As it al aboute were vor anguisse al tobolle.83 In this manere we mowe wene that our Lordes wounden were, Vor bote ensample of his wounden in Seyn Franceis nere.84 So that this holi mon hadde our Lordes wounden vyve And bilevede on him afterward the wule he was alyve. The Holi Rode tyd in Septembre he gan verst this sight isé And up thulke hul he hadde er aboute an month ibé. Aboute a fourtene nyght he bilevede after there, So that evene under al fourti dawes ther were. As Moyses up Sinay was bi olde dawe, Fourti dawes in priveté to se the Olde Lawe, Also was this holi mon fourti dawes right Up the hul of Averne to se this holi sight. So that aboute Myelmasse verst he wende to gronde Ac he hudde vaste vet and honde that me ne seie his wounde.85 To yer he livede with the wounden and prechede aboute wide, And the wounden ourne ofte ablode, nameliche of the side,86 And bibledde his curtel ofte and his brech also. Thenne carede he hou he mighte stilliche awei it do.87 Seththe com in the lond ther a gret qualm of orve, That scep and other bestes al day lye and storve. A good mon that hadde muche orf bed our Loverd vaste, That he ne bynome noght al his good, ac that som moste ilaste. Slepynde in a vision him com thoru Godes sonde That he nom of the water that Seyn Franceis wech his honde88 Other his vet, and therwith among his bestes sprenge,89 And yif ther were to lute, among other water it menge. This gode mon herafterward awaited his poynt ofte, And nom of this water stilliche, in priveté wel softe,90 And sprend among his owe orf and among other mony on, And overal war it was bispreng hi were hol anon. Seyn Franceis was Frere Menor in the ordre twenti yer And two yer and almest thre wuke our Lordes woundes he ber. So that he drough toward the deth and feblede wel vaste. Him nas unnethe bote vel and bon bileved ate laste. In torment he was strong inough, and wen he was in worste stounde91 His lene bones he wolde drawe agen the harde gronde, Vorte make the more his pyne, and the erthe he custe also,92 And thonkede God of alle gode that he him hadde ido. He lay sik and seththe deide, Seyn Franceis this holi mon, In our Levedi chirche ther he the ordre bigon. Tho he was the dethe ney, naked he let him do And to the harde erthe al bar naked he lay therto. He het hem that aboute him were that, after his dethes stounde,93 Hi lete him longe ligge so, naked to the gronde, That erthe mighte on erthe deie, vor that were his righte. He bigon to preche his bretheren, up his feble mighte. Ate laste, tho he sei then Deth and felde him wel strong,94 Voce mea he bigan, an saume of evesong. Al out the saume he sede and huld up his honden heie, And myd the laste word of the saume he bigan to deie. He deide twelf hondred yer and six and twenti right After that God an erthe alighte, in a Setterday at nyght. Then Soneday he was ibured: he ne verde noght as the riche That vor bobauns of the world liggeth longe aliche.95 Tho this holi mon was ded, thei it were by nyghte, A gret hep of loverkes up the chirch alighte And murie songe allonge nyght96 aboute this bodi there, Tho the soule to Hevene wende, agé kunde thei it were.97 Vor the larke is a fowel that much loveth light And hereth the day myd hore songe and ne singeth noght anyght. Agen kunde hi songe there as thei hi hadde in munde Hou muche he was honoured er with foweles, agen kunde. Frere Austyn, that was mynystre under him ido, Tho this holi mon lay ded at the dethe lay also, In the lond of Labour that ver was therbiside. Wel longe he lay specheles, then deth vorte abide, And right as Seyn Franceis deide ver in another londe, This frere spac wel mildeliche and huld up his honde: "Abid, brother, an wule! Ich come with thee anon!" The freres escte wat it were, vor hem wondred echon. "Bote Seyn Franceis,"98 he sede, "our fader, hath ibroght his lif to ende And is toward Hevene nom and ichulle with him wende." With this word he gan to deie and his soule al in pes Wende to the joie of Hevene with his maister Seyn Franceis, And beth ther bothe two in joie withthoute ende. Nou God vor love of hem ous late thuder wende. |
(see note) (t-note) transacted every day one day on the road; by chance been; impoverished evilly/wretchedly clothed stopped for a while off his back It seemed to him; very; (t-note) asked whose Someone said; (t-note) knights' suits of armor wills it (wishes) Apulia; agreeable; (see note) (see note) dream (vision) The lord, of course the opposite (see note) (see note) (see note) think of something better to do (see note) gave up prayed; advise these; dream; (see note) was riding loathsome leper; terrifying; (see note) embraced and kissed gave him some of his silver Then he realized who it was; (see note) go visit lepers; (see note) find them in their house it seems to me; (see note) in their (the lepers') likeness (see note) was on the point of falling down seest; nearly all destroyed; (see note) since came into being evil (see note) cloths pennies/money; took give rebuild; refused them (coins) (see note) window; keeping; entrusted sold off his property nearly insane hid himself; (see note); (t-note) misery; nearly died (t-note) when; were very afraid (see note); (t-note) (see note) by chance severely enough property; had made off with (see note) freed him stayed no longer; (t-note) whence; came before gentleman/man of the house; (see note) beat; asked thence all intact; just as he (Francis) left it reason (see note) (t-note) give it up (renounce it) at once; (see note) (t-note) body (skin); (see note) handed [them] to I have called you "Father"; (see note) I must say; henceforth cling to (see note); (t-note) pious peasant; (t-note) sorrow; heart; cold to cover accepted; protect; (see note) body; (t-note) Back to where he was born (t-note) accustomed himself very little pride; (t-note) region; starting to repair There where Since; build; (see note) labored hard afterwards; went; finished was being built was being built anywhere (see note) [with a result] that; (see note) brought it to pass; (t-note) one day; (see note) as is read still; (see note) commanded; travel about; (see note) in such way that nor two coats either took off his shoes; (see note) ordained; barefoot (t-note) (see note) [leather] belt; rope; tied; (t-note) (see note) received at his hands utterly; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (see note) Sell; give [to]; follow in turn; (see note) on a journey turned came upon must deny himself; (see note) see; moment; (see note) Upon these; (t-note) upon a aught (anything); (see note) A noble order such [an] event Giles; (see note) (see note) all in all; created (inducted) approve (authorize); (see note) (see note) try; delay could then it seemed to him; saw high (see note) highest place; pulled [it] bent; just as he wished (t-note) dream; (see note) easily In the same way it; (see note) upon consult with; (see note) hinder/obstruct (see note) (see note); (t-note) (see note) or terribly hungry (see note) When more steadfast promised; (see note) deliberately forsake poverty And so they went; abandoned; (t-note) on an old road whereon instead (see note) (t-note) vagabond dragged heed; mercy pride called (named); (see note) (see note) made to do fed with wretched stuff gave himself; for clothing (see note) did not work (t-note) many [an] lie down; or go [and] do such a man abuse (reproaches) reproved/rebuked; (t-note) (t-note) custom (t-note) (see note) nature (character); (t-note) spoke about distress; moral failings (see note) (see note) purse full of coins by the roadside heed; than; dung; (see note) pick; dole it out to wrong a while soon see it (t-note) therein saw all kinds of animals; (see note) lambs likened Himself; (see note) slaughter; saved pleading; redeemed one day; devoured in a moment wicked; [did] do; (see note) [So] that; severe; foul (rank) deprived she was oozing with pus all over [on] the third one day (see note) in response to them; knew along with them consecrated [the Host]; (see note) fervently (see note) (see note) diligently traveled in one place each in his own way (see note) (see note) do likewise, before (see note) (see note) (see note) power; command (see note) once again bow down to go far and wide; (t-note) quickly drew near there finished; (t-note) bottom of his heart; (see note) meditated on; wounds (see note) upon; (see note) coming straight from Heaven; (see note) crossed right over the torso (see note) fully extended; as [if] (see note) (t-note) back again (see note) own; (t-note) (t-note) swollen up (see note) Thus [it was] that; five they remained on that hill altogether in ancient times; (see note) likewise; exactly (see note) Two years stained his habit with blood; trousers epidemic sickness among livestock; (see note) every day lay down and died cattle prayed; earnestly (t-note) too little, with; mix it chance (t-note) sprinkled [it]; own everywhere (see note) weeks (t-note) (see note) fling against for all the good things our Lady's (i.e., Virgin Mary's); (see note) near; had himself undressed They should let him lie; (see note); (t-note) his due; (see note) with his failing powers; (see note) (see note) All the way through (see note) (see note) flock of larks on the church [roof] celebrates as though; mind had been honored by birds provincial minister; (see note) close to death far from thereabouts waiting for death spoke very cheerfully each of them was amazed; (see note) (see note) being taken; I shall let us go there |