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Homily 2, Second Sunday in Advent

Dominica ii. Adventus Domini secundum Lucam1

Dixit Jhesu Crist discipulis suis, Erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terris, pressura gentium pre confusione sonitus maris et fluctuum. Arescentibus hominibus pre timore et expectacione que supervenient universo orbi et cetera.2

Incipit explanatio eiusdem evangelii ad latinam
3
 




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   Today Sain Louk telles us
In our Godspel, that Jesus
Spac of thing that es to com,
And namlic of the Day of Dom.
“Takning,” he said “sal be don
Bathe in the son, and in the mon,
And in the sternes al biden;
And folc sal thol wandreth and ten,
For folc sal duin for din of se,
And for baret that than sal be.
Over al this werd bes rednes,
Wandreth and uglines.
For mihti gastes of the hevin
Sal be afrayed of that stevin.
Than sal Crist cum that men may se,
In maistri and in gret pousté.
Quen this bigines for to be,
Lokes up and ye may se
That your biing and your pris
Ful ner cumen tilward you is.”
Himself our byinge he calld,
For he boht us quen he was salde.
Quen Criste havid said this grimli sau,
An ensaumpel gan he schau,
And said, “Quen ye se lefes spring,
And thir tres froit forthe bring,
Than wat we wel that somer es ner.
Als may ye wit on that maner
Quen ye se thir takeninges in land,
That Crist es ful ner cumand.
For hevin and erthe sal pas thar,
Bot my word passes nevermar;
Als qua sai, thing that I you telle,
Ne mai na miht fordo ne felle.
Quen this werld that I mad of noht
Sal be gane and til end broht,
Than sal mi word be sothefast,
For mi kinric sal ever last.”
This es the strenthe of our Godspel,
Als man wit Inglis tung may tel.

   The maister on this Godspel preches,
And sais that Crist tharin us teches
For to forsak this werdes winne,
Ful of wrechedhed and sinne,
For Crist sais us hou it sal end
And warnes us ful fair als frend.
He telles us takeninges snelle
Thar he biginnes his Godspelle,
And sais kinric sal rohly rise
Igain kinric, and ger men grise;
For bal sal ger thir bernes blede,
And mak in land hunger and nede.
This bale sal bald baret breu,
And fel mikel of this werdes gleu.
Slic wordes said Crist of thir wers
That folc in werd ful derf deres;
For quatkin wer sal fal in land,
Til pouer folk es it sarest schouand.
That felis wel nou Hali Kirk,
That bers of baret be ful irk;
For it and pouer men havis bathe
Of wer and wandreht al the schathe,
This baret prinnes pouer pride
Als thai wel wat that walkes wide,
Bot werdes haht and hey tures
Getes thir cité men fra stures;
For the riche men havis ay, iwis,
Inohe of met and drinc and blis,
Bot pouer tholes the baret,
That havis defaut of clathe and met.
And forthi warnes Jesus bathe
Riche and pouer of thair schathe,
Thar he schaues in our Godspelle
Takeninges that bird our pride felle.
He sais takeninges sal be don
Bathe in the sone and in the mon:
The sun sal turn intil mirknes,
Als sais Joel, that bers witnes
Of Crist, that thir takeninges us schaues
In our Godspelle wit grisli sawes.
For mon, he sais, sal turned be
Intil blod, that folk sal se,
Quen sun and mon sal thusgat turn,
Than sal the sinful sar scurn,
For than may thai wit witerly,
That Crist sal com to dem in hi.
Bot god men sal nathing dred,
For than sal thai be seker of med
In that blisful land that thay
Sal ever lif in gamen and play;
And Crist in our Godspel forthy
Confortes us ful mildeli,
And bides us lok til grouand tres:
For quen men leves on thaim sees,
Men wat that ful ner es somer comand,
And riht sua mai we understand
Quen we se thir takenis cume,
That nerhand es the Dai of Dom.

   Bot for Crist spekes of takeninge
That tithand of this Dom sal bringe,
Forthi es god that I you telle
Sumthing of thir takeninges snelle:
Sain Jerom telles that fiften
Ferli takeninges sal be sen
Bifor the Day of Dom, and sal
Ilkan of thaim on ser dai fal.
The first dai sal al the se
Boln and ris and heyer be
Than ani fel of al the land,
And als a felle up sal it stand;
The heyt tharof sal passe the felles
Bi sexti fot, als Jerom telles,
And als mikel the tother day
Sal it sattel and wit away,
And be lauer than it nou esse,
For water sal it haf wel lesse.
The thride dai mersuine and qualle
And other gret fises alle
Sal yel, and mak sa reuful ber
That soru sal it be to her.
The ferthe day freis water and se
Sal bren als fir and glouand be.
The fift day sal greses and tres
Suet blodi deu that grisli bes.
The sexte day sal doun falle
Werdes werks, bathe tours and halle.
The sevend day sal stanes gret
Togider smit and bremly bete.
And al the erthe the ahtande day
Sal stir and quac and al folc slay.
The neynd day the felles alle
Be mad al evin wit erthe salle.
The tend dai sal folc up crep,
Als wod men of pittes dep.
The elleft day sal banes rise
And stand on graves thar men nou lies.
The tuelft day sal sternes falle.
The thretend day sal quek men dey alle,
Wit other ded men to rise,
And com wit thaim to gret asise.
The faurtend day, at a schift
Sal bathe brin bathe erthe and lift.
The fifetende day thai bathe
Sal be mad newe and fair ful rathe,
And al ded men sal rise,
And cum bifor Crist our Justise.

Unde Versus de eiusdem Signis

Signis ter quinis se prodet ad ultima finis
Mundani motus Domino soli modo notus.
In signo primo surget mare stans quasi murus
Erigat in proprios post pauca sinus rediturus,
Etque quater denis cubitis transcendere montes
Cernetur, paucique fluent in flumina fontes.
Oculet in signo sic se maris unda secundo,
Ut vix aspectum capiat: diversa profundo
Monstra super fluctus post hec ubi nata patebunt,
Rugitusque sui celos horrore movebunt.
Quarto cum fluviis ardebunt equoris unde,
Fontibus ut latices effundant non erit unde.
Rorem sanguineum quinto deducet ab herbis
Horror et arboribus lacrimis perfusus acerbis.
Hinc turres et tecta cadent, quia dirvet edes
Sexta dies, omnis que solo ruet ardua sedes.
Augebit lapidum conflictus in orbe timorem,
Terribilemque dabit collisio seva fragorem.
Concuciet terram post hec motus generalis,
Omnia conturbans, horrendus, et exitialis.
Omnibus equatis in plano terra jacebit,
Strata superficies nichil asperitatis habebit.
Hinc velud amentes exibunt ante latentes
In latebris homines et fari nulla valentes.
Sicca super tumbis post hec surgencia stabunt.
Ossa iterumque suis se carnibus associabunt
Casus stellarum signans discrimine finem
Nesciet ulterius clarum deducere finem.
Corpore viventes simul absque mora morientur,
Ut pariter clangente tuba cuncti reperentur.
Optimus inde status celum terramque novabit,
Luce sub eterna, quem nulla dies variabit,
Convocet ut cunctos cum buccina protinus urgens
Judicis ante pedes veniet plebs tota resurgens.4
(see note)


Judgment Day
Signs; shall be given
Both; sun; moon
stars; at once
suffer; sorrow; harm; (see note)
waste away because of the sea’s noise; (t-note)
trouble; (see note)
world will be; fear
terror
spirits
Shall; frightened; noise

superiority; power
When this begins

redemption; purchase
Very near to you has come
He called himself our redemption; (t-note)
sold; (t-note)
these grim words
example; show
leaves
the trees bring forth fruit
know
Similarly; know in that way
the signs; (t-note)
coming
pass away

As if to say
No power may destroy or subvert
from nothing

enduring
kingdom



master

world’s pleasure
wretchedness


fierce signs
Where
kingdom; violently
make men terrified
misery; children bleed; (see note)
create
This trouble will stir up reckless strife
destroy much; world’s joy
Such; wars
strongly injure; (see note)
whatever kind of war; (t-note)
poor; most grievously manifest; (t-note)
feels; Holy Church
Which ought to be very angry with that strife; (see note); (t-note)

war; sorrow; harm
This strife pierces poor pride; (see note); (t-note)
know who
worldly possessions; high towers
Protect; strife; (see note)
always; certainly
Enough; food
poor people suffer
lack of clothing and food

destruction
Where
ought to destroy our pride


darkness
who bears witness; (see note)
(t-note)
sayings
the moon

in this manner
sorely tremble
know certainly
to judge on high

certain; reward

joy


growing trees
leaves
coming; (t-note)
just so
come; (t-note)
close at hand; Judgment Day

(t-note)
news

fierce; (t-note)
(see note)
Marvelous
judgment
Each one; different days fall
sea
Swell; higher
hill

height; surpass

much; next
settle; wither; (t-note)
lower

dolphin and whale
fishes
Will yell; grievous noise

fresh
burn; fire; glowing
grasses
Sweat; dew; is

Worldly works; towers
huge stones
strike; fiercely resound
eighth
quake

level

mad men out of deep caves
eleventh; bones
where
stars
living; die

judgment
On the fourteenth day, with one common fate; (see note)
Earth and air will both burn


quickly


Whence verses about the signs of the same













(t-note)

(t-note)










(t-note)








 

Isti versus omittantur a lectore quando legit Anglicum coram laycis.5; (see note)
 




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   Than sal Crist dem als king ful wis,
And ger the sinful sare grise.
Sa grisly sal he to thaim be,
That thaim war lever that thai moht fle
Fra that dom that he sal dem
Than al this werd, sa bes he brem
Tille thaim that sinful cumes thar.
And forthi sal thai gret sar,
And say, “Allas that we war born,
Schamlic haf we usself forlorn.”
Than salle thair wike dedes alle,
Stand and igaines thaim kalle,
And with ther takeninge ber wittnes
Of thair sin and thair wiknes.
Of mikel soru sal thai telle,
For Satenas wit fers felle,
To bind thaim sal be ful snelle,
And bremli draw thaim till helle,
Thar thai sal evermare duelle,
And wafullic in pines welle,
And endeles of soru telle.

   This bes thair dom that her in sin
Ligges, and wil thair sin noht blin;
Bot wald thai thinc on Domes Dai
Thaim bird lef thair plihtful play.
Allas, allas, quat sal thai say
Bifor him that miht ful may,
Quen al the men that was and esse
Sal se thair sines mare and lesse,
And al the angeles of the hevin,
And ma fendes than man mai nefen.
Igain sawe may thar nan be,
Of thing that alle men may se.6
Of this openlic schauing
Havis Godd schawed many taking.
Of a taking that I haf herd telle,
That falles wel til our Gosspelle.7

   A blak munk of an abbaye
Was enfermer of all, I herd say.
He was halden an hali man
Imange his felaus everilkan;
An cloyster monk loved him ful wel,
And was til him ful speciel,
For rivelic togider drawes
Faithe, lufreden, god felawes.8
Fel auntour that this enfermer
Was sek, and he that was him der
Com to mak him glad and blithe,
And his lufredene til him to kithe.
He asked him hou he him felid,
And he his stat alle til him telld,
And said, “Ful hard fel I me —
To dede I drawe als ye mai se.”
His felau was for him sary,
And praied him ful gern forthie,
That yef Godd did of him his wille,
That he suld scheu his stat him tille.
This seke monk hiht to com him to,
Yef he moht get lef tharto:
“I sal,” he said, “yef I may,
Com to thee my stat to say.”
Quen this was sayd, he deyed son,
And his felau asked his bon,
And prayed Godd for his mercye,
That he suld schew him openly,
Other wakand or slapand,
Of his felaw state sum tithand.
And als he lay apon a niht,
His felaw com wit lemes liht,
And tald him bathe of hevin and helle;
And he prayed he suld him telle
His state; and he said, “Wel far I
Thoru the help of our Lefdi.
War scho ne hafd ben, I havid gan
To won in helle wit Satan.”
His felau thoht herof ferly,
And asked him quarfor and qui,
And sayd, “We wend alle wel that thou
Haved ben an hali man til nou:
Hou sal it far of us kaytefes,
That in sin and foli lyes,
Quen thou that led sa hali life,
Was demed tille hell for to drife?”
Quen this was said, the ded ansuerd
And tald his felaw hou he ferd,
And said, “Son quen I gaf the gaste,
Tille my dom was I led in haste,
And als I stod mi dom to her
Bifor Jesus, wit dreri cher,
Of fendes herd ic mani upbrayd,
And a boc was bifor me layd,
That was the Reuel of Sain Benet,
That ic hiht to hald and get.
This Reul thai gert me rapli rede.
And als I red, sar gan I drede,
For overlop moht I mac nan,
Bot of the clauses everilkan
Yald ic acount, hou I thaim held,
And my conciens gan me meld.
It schawed thar ful openlye
That I led mi lif wrangwislie,
For in the Reul es mani pas,
That than igain me casten was,
Quarthoru almast haved I thare
Be demid til helle for to fare.
Bot for I lufed wel our Lefdye
Quil I lifd, ic hafd forthie
Ful god help thar thoru hir mercy;
For scho bisoht Crist inwardlie
That I moht in purgatorie
Clens mi sin and mi folye.
Forthi hop I to far ful welle,
For mi soru sal son kele;
Forthi, my frend, I prai thee,
That thou ger felaues prai for me.”
Quen this was said, awai he went,
And his felawe ful mikel hem ment,
And efter this siht mani a dai
Gert he for his sawell prai.

   This tal haf I tald you,
To schew on quat maner and hou
We sal be demed, and yeld acount
Quat our sinnes mai amount.
For al sal com to rounge, iwis,
Thar, that her mistakin isse
Bi the lest idel thoht;
For thar forgifnes bes riht noht.9
Than sal we bye the sines dere
Of quilke we er noht schriven here;
Yef we be her of sines schriven,
Thar havis Godd us thaim forgiven,
Forthi birdd us our sin her bete,
Wit schrift of mouthe and wonges wete.
For schrift of mouthe es medecine
That schildes man fra helle pin;
For if we schrif us clen of sinne
Wit penanz, ded we sal haf winne,
And mai be siker on Domes Dai,
To wind intil that blisful plai,
Thar Crist sal evermar be King;
For his merci he thider us bring.
judge
make; greatly fear
dreadful
That they would rather; might
judgment; judge
world; so fierce is he

weep

ourselves lost
wicked
against; call out
(t-note)
wickedness

companions evil
quick; (t-note)


woefully burn in pain; (t-note)
(t-note)


Lie; cease
But if they would think
They ought to abandon their sinful play

is all powerful



more; name


open revelation
(t-note)



(see note)
custodian of the infirmary; (see note)
considered
Among; every one
cloistered



It happened by chance
(t-note)

friendship; show
how he felt
condition
I feel very ill
death

eagerly
if
condition
promised
might; permission



made his request; (t-note)
in his mercy

(t-note)
tidings

bright rays of light
(t-note)

I am doing well
(see note)
Were it not for her
dwell
amazing
wherefore and why
thought

fare with us wretches

(t-note)
Were judged [worthy] to be driven to hell
dead man
what he experienced
As soon as I gave up the ghost

judgment
mournful expression
complain

Benedictine Rule; (see note)
promised; keep
made; quickly

omission might I make none

I yielded an account
betray; (t-note)


section
was laid against me; (t-note)
Whereby
go
because; loved
While

entreated; earnestly
(see note)

hope
grow cold

make my fellow monks

kept him in mind
sight
Did


(t-note)


(t-note)



pay for; dearly; (see note)
which; are not confessed


we ought; amend
oral confession; wet cheeks
(see note)
shields; pain

we will have joy after we are dead
certain
proceed; pleasure

In; [may] he