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§31 Heir followis the houris of oure ladyis dollouris. Quhat dollour persit our ladyis hert Quhan scho hard hir sone was tane and bund, Syne led to Annas that of syn had na part, Quhair fals witnes agane him sone wer fund. 1 At prime At prime scho followit him to Pilotis place With sobing, siching, lik to fall in swone; Thair the Jowis spittit in his face And fals witnes spak fast to put him doun. At terce At terce, "Crucify him!" the Jowis can cry; The quhit coit and purpour claith gaif him for scorne. 2 Thai scurgit him, and our lady that stude by Saw him beir the croce and crownt with thorne. At sext At sext thai him nakit nalit on a tre; For drink thai gaif him bitter gall. The blud droppit doun on his moder Mary, The erd trimblit, and cragis begouth to fall. At none At none he commendit his moder to Sanct Johnne, Syne with gret dolour scho saw him decese. The sone tynt licht fra the sext till none. 3 His passioun betuix God and ws maid peace. At ewinsang Oure lady saw his syd oppinnit with a speir At ewinsang; syne his body thai tuk doun, And laid him with mony salt tere In our ladyis bowum, of glore the crowne. At compling Our lady saw thame to graif his body beir, And clois him thairin with a gret stane; To keip him the Jowis put men of weir, And the faith of Crist remanit in our lady allane. O Mary, moder of mercy and of grace, This houris to thi honour I refer, To be my advocat in every cais And stand with me at the bar. Grant me of thi sonne to have compassioun And ay be ane servand to thee, And for my synnis do satisfactioun, Syne be tane to the blis of hevin finalie. §32 Jesu Cristes milde moder Stud, biheld hire sone o rode That he was ipined on. The sone heng, the moder stud And biheld hire childes blud, Wu it of hise wundes ran. Tho he starf that king is of lif, Dreriere nas neverre no wif Than thu were, levedi, tho. The brithe day went into nith; Tho Jhesu Crist, thin herte lith, Was iqueint with pine and wo. Thi life drei ful harde stundes Tho thu seye hise bludi wundes And his bodi o rode don. Hise wundes sore and smerte Stungen thureu and thurw thi herte As te bihichte Simeon. Nu his heved with blud bisprunken, Nu his side with spere istungen Thu bihelde, levedi fre. Nu his hondes sprad o rode, Nu hise fet washen wit blode An inaillet to the tre. Nu his bodi with scurges beten, And his blud so wide hutleten Maden the thin herte sor; Warso thu castest thin eyen Pine strong thu soie im dreien; Ne mithte noman tholie mor. Nu is time that thu yielde Kende that thu im witheld. Tho thi child was of thee born; Nu he hoschet wit goulinge That thu im in thi chiltinge Al withelde thar biforn. Nu thu fondest, moder milde, Wat wyman drith with hir childe, Thei thu clene maiden be. Nu thes thiolden arde and dere The pine werof thu were Ine ti chilthing quite and fre. Sone after the nith of sorwen Sprong the lith of edi morwen; Ine thin herte, suete may, Thi sorwen wende al to blisse, Tho thi sone al mid iwisse Aros hupon the tridde day. Welle wat thu were blithe Tho aros fram deth to live, Thur the hole ston he glod. Al so he was of the boren; Bothen after and biforen, Hol bilof thi maidenhod. Neue blisse he us broute That mankin so dere boute And for us gaf is dere lif. Glade and blithe thu us make, For thi suete sones sake, Edi maiden, blisful wif. Quen of evene, for thi blisse Lithe al hure soriness And went hur yvel al in to gud. Bring hus, moder, to thi sone, Mak hus evre with im wone That hus boute wit his blud. Amen. §33 "Stond wel, Moder, under rode, Bihold thi child wyth glade mode; Blythe, Moder, mittu ben." "Sune, quu may blithe stonden? Hi se thin feet, hi se thin honden Nayled to the harde tre." "Moder, do wey thi wepinge: Hi thole this ded for mannes thinge; For owen gilte tholi non." "Sune, hi fele the dede stunde; The swerd is at min herte grunde, That me byhytte Symeon." "Moder, reu upon thi bern: Thu wasse awey tho blodi teren, It don me werse than mi ded." "Sune, hu mitti teres wernen? Hy se tho blodi flodes hernen Huth of thin herte to min fet." "Moder, ny y may thee seyn, Bettere is that ic one deye Than al mankyn to helle go." "Sune, y se thi bodi swngen, Thi brest, thin hond, thi fot thur-stungen No selli thou me be wo." "Moder, if y dar thee tellen, Yif y ne deye, thu gost to helle; Hi thole this ded for thine sake." "Sune, thu best me so minde. With me nout; it is mi kinde That y for thee sorye make." "Moder, merci, let me deyen, For Adam ut of helle beyn And al mankin that is forloren." "Sune, wat sal me to rede? Thi pine pined me to dede; Let me deyn thee biforen." "Moder, mitarst thi mith leren Wat pine tholen that childre beren, Wat sorwe haven that child forgon." "Sune, y wot y kan thee tellen, Bute it be the pine of helle, More sorwe ne woth y non." "Moder, reu of moder kare, Nu thu wost of moder fare, Thou thu be clene mayden man." "Sune, help alle at nede, Alle tho that to me greden — Mayden, wyf, and fol wyman." "Moder, y may no lenger duellen; The time is cumen y fare to helle, The thridde day y rise upon." "Sune, y wyle withe funden. Y deye ywis of thine wnden; So reuful ded was nevere non." When he ros than fel thi sorwe: The blisse sprong the thridde morewe Wen blithe, Moder, wer thu tho. Moder, for that ilke blisse Bisech ure God, ure sinnes lesse, Thu be hure chel ayen hure fo. Blisced be thu, quen of hevene, Bring us ut of helle levene Thurth thi dere sunes mith. Moder, for that hithe blode That he sadde upon the rode Led us into hevene lith. Amen. §34 Suete sone, reu on me, and brest out of thi bondis: For nou me thinket that I se thoru bothen thin hondes Nailes dreven into the tre; so reufuliche thu honges. Nu is betre that I fle and lete alle these londis. Suete sone, thi faire face droppet al on blode, And thi bodi dounward is bounden to the rode; Hou may thi modris herte tholen so suete a fode, That blissed was of alle born, and best of alle gode? Suete sone, reu on me, and bring me out of this live, For me thinket that I se thi deth, it neyhit suithe. Thi fete ben nailed to the tre; nou may I no more thrive, For al this werld withouten thee ne sal me maken blithe. §35 The angell sayde to thee that the fruyt off thi body sulde be blyssyde; Ande now, in the dome of the Jewys, Crist es a-cursede. At hys burth thu harde angels syngynge; Ande now thow seys hys frendis wepynge. At hys burthe kyngis and schiperdys dyd hym omage and wyrschyppe; And now al maner of men don hym despyte and schendschyppe. At hys burth thow wantyd womanes wo; Bot, as thow wel fellys, now it ys noght so. Some tyme thou hadest cause for to synge Alullay," Bot now thi songh ys all off wylaway. Somtym thou fed hym wyth thi sweet mylk to hys esse; Ande now the Jewys fedyng hyme wyt bitter gall to his dysesse. Som tyme thou founde hym in the mydyl off the doctors in the temple; Ande now thou fyndyst hyme hangynge in the mydyl of the Jewes on the krosse. §36 "A Son! tak hede to me whas sone thou was, And set me uppe wyt thee on i crosse. Me her to leve, and thee thus hense go, Yt is to me gret kare and wo. Stynt now, Son, to be harde to thi moder, Thou that ever was god to all other." "Stynt now, Moder, and wepe no more; Thi sorow and thi dyssesse grevysse me fule sore. Thou knowyse that in the I tok mannys kynde, In hyt for mannys syne to be the pynde. Be now glade, Moder, and have in thoghte That mannes hel is fondyn forwake, that I have soght. Thow salt noght now kare what thow salt done; Lo! Jone, thi kosyne, sall be thi sone." §37 "Womman, Jon I take to thee Instede of me thi sone to be." Allas, wo sal myn herte slaken? To Jon I am towarde taken; Mi blisful sone me hat forwaken, And I have no mo. Wel may I mone and murning maken, And wepen til myn eyne aken. For wane of wele my wo is waken, Was nevere wif so wo. §38 Nou goth sonne under wod; Me reweth, Marie, thi faire rode. Nou goth sonne under tre; Me reweth, Marie, thi sone and thee. §39 Sodenly afraide, half waking, half slepyng, And gretly dismayde, a wooman sate weepyng — With favoure in hir face ferr passyng my reason, And of hir sore weepyng this was the enchesone: Hir soon in hir lap lay, she seid, slayne by treason. Yif wepyng myght ripe bee, it seemyd than in season. "Jhesu," so she sobbid, So hir soon was bobbid And of his lif robbid, Saying thies wordis as I say thee: "Who cannot wepe come lerne at me." I said I cowd not wepe, I was so harde-hartid. Shee answerd me with wordys shortly that smarted: "Lo, nature shall move thee, thou must be converted; Thyne owne Fader this nyght is deed," lo thus she thwarted. "So my soon is bobbid And of his lif robbid." Forsooth than I sobbid, Veryfying the wordis she seid to me. "Who cannot wepe may lerne at thee." "Now breke, hert, I thee pray; this cors lith so rulye, So betyn, so wowndid, entreted so Jewlye. What wight may me behold and wepe nat? Noon truly, To see my deed dere soone lygh bleedyng, lo, this newlye." Ever stil she sobbid, So hire soon was bobbid And of his lif robbid, Newyng the wordis as I say thee: "Who cannot wepe com lerne at me." On me she caste hire ey, said, "See, mane, thy brothir." She kissid hym and said, "Swete, am I not thy moder?" In sownyng she fill there, it wolde be non othir; I not which more deedly, the toone or the tothir. Yit she revived and sobbid, So hire soon was bobbid And of his lif robbid; "Who cannot wepe," this was the laye. And with that word she vanysht away. §40 Thou synfull man of resoun that walkest here up and downe, Cast thy respeccyoun one my mortall countenaunce. Se my blody terys fro my herte roote rebowne, My dysmayd body chased from all plesaunce, Perysshed wyth the swerd moste dedly of vengaunce. Loke one my sorofull chere and have therof pytee, Bewailynge my woo and payne, and lerne to wepe wyth me. Yf thu can not wepe for my perplexed hevynesse, Yet wepe for my dere sone, which one my lap lieth ded Wyth woundis innumerable, for thy wyckednesse, Made redempcyoun wyth hys blood, spared not hys manhed. Then the love of hym and mornynge of my maydenhed Schuld chaunge thyne herte, and thu lyst behold and see Hys deth and my sorow, and lerne to wepe wyth me. Thyne herte so indurat is that thu cane not wepe For my sonnes deth, ne for my lamentacyoun? Than wepe for thy synnes, when thu wakest of thy slepe And remembre hys kyndnes, hys payne, hys passioun, And fere not to call to me for supportacyoun. I am thy frend unfeyned and ever have be; Love my sone, kepe well hys lawes, and come dwell wyth me. §41 Why have ye no reuthe on my child? Have reuthe on me, ful of murning, Taket doun on rode my derworthi child, Or prek me on rode with my derling. More pine ne may me ben don Than laten me liven in sorwe and schame; Als love me bindet to my sone, So lat us deyyen bothen i-same. §42 Of alle women that ever were borne That berys childur, abyde and se How my son liggus me beforne Upon my kne, takyn fro tre. Your childur ye dawnse upon your kne With laghyng, kyssyng, and mery chere: Behold my childe, beholde now me, For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. O woman, woman, wel is thee, Thy childis cap thu dose upon; Thu pykys his here, beholdys his ble; Thu wost not wele when thu hast done. But ever alas I make my mone To se my sonnys hed as hit is here: I pyke owt thornys be on and on For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. O woman, a chaplet choysyn thu has Thy childe to were, hit dose thee gret likyng Thu pynnes hit on with gret solas; And I sitte with my son sore wepyng. His chaplet is thornys sore prickyng; His mouth I kys with a carfull chere. I sitte wepyng, and thu syngyng, For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. O woman, loke to me agayne That playes and kisses your childur pappys To se my son I have gret payne, In his brest so gret gap is, And on his body so mony swappys. With blody lippys I kis hym here; Alas, full hard me thynk me happys, For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. O woman, thu takis thi childe be the hand And seis, "My son, gif me a stroke!" My sonnys handis ar sore bledand, To loke on hym me list not layke. His handis he suffyrd for thi sake Thus to be boryd with nayle and speyre; When thu makes myrth, gret sorow I make, For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. Beholde, women, when that ye play And hase your childur on knees daunsand: Ye fele ther fete, so fete are thay, And to your sight ful wel likand. But the most fyngur of any hande Thorow my sonnys fete I may put here And pulle hit out sore bledand, For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. Therfor, women, be town and strete, Your childur handis when ye beholde, Theyr brest, theire body and theire fete Then gode hit were on my son thynk ye wolde, 4 How care has made my hert full colde, To se my son, with nayle and speyre, With scourge and thornys manyfolde, Woundit and ded, my dere son, dere. Thu hase thi son full holl and sounde, And myn is ded upon my kne; Thy childe is lawse, and myn is bonde, Thy childe is an life and myn ded is he; Whi was this oght but for thee? For my childe trespast never here. Me thynk ye be holdyne to wepe with me For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. Wepe with me, both man and wyfe: My childe is youres and lovys yow wele. If your childe had lost his life, Ye wolde wepe at every mele, But for my sone wepe ye never a del. If ye luf youres, myne has no pere; He sendis youris both hap and hele, And for yow dyed my dere son, dere. Now alle wymmen that has your wytte And sees my childe on my knees ded, Wepe not for yours, but wepe for hit, And ye shall have ful mycull mede. He wolde ageyne for your luf blede Rather or that ye damned were. I pray yow alle, to hym take hede, For now liggus ded my dere son, dere. Fare wel, woman, I may no more For drede of deth reherse his payne. Ye may lagh when ye list, and I wepe sore, That may ye se and ye loke to me agayne. To luf my son and ye be fayne, I wille luff yours with hert entere, And he shall brynge your childur and yow sertayne To blisse wher is my dere son, dere. Explicit fabula. §43 O litel whyle lesteneth to me Ententyfly, so have ye blys. Gode ensaumple here schul ye, Of noble mater wrought it is, How Mary spak to the Rode tre Whan her sone was in anguys. The Cros answeryd that lady fre Ful myldely, seiye clerkys wys, That this tale have made couthe; Thei have expouned it by sight, A good ensaumple and a bryght. But apocrifum thei holde it right, For tre spak nevere with mouthe. Oure lady fre To the Rode tre Sche made her mone And seyde, "On thee Is fruyt of me Full wo-bygone; With blody ble My fruyt I gan see Among hys fone. Of sorewe I see Hys veynes fle Fro blody bone. Tre, thou dost no treuthe On pilory my fruyt to pynne; He hath no spot of Adam synne. Flessche and veynes fle atwynne, Wherfore I rede of reuthe. "Cros, thi bondes schul be blamed: My gode fruyt thou hast bigyled, The fruytes moder was never famed, My wombe is faire, founde unfyled. Child, why art thou noght aschamed On pilory to be ipyled, As grete thevys that were gramed, That dyeden thorough her werkis wylde? Blode from hede is hayled; All to-fowled is my faire fruyte, That never dyd treget ne truyte With thevys that love ryot unrighte. Why schal my sone be nayled? "Thee grete thevys galowes were greyd, That evere to robbe ronnen ryfe; Why schal my sone theron be leyde? He noyyed never man ne wyfe. A drynk of deep, sothely seyde, Cros, thou gevys the Lord of lyfe; Hys veynes breke with thi breyde, My fruyte stont in stroke and stryfe. The faire fruyte of my flessche, My leve childe, withoute lak, For Adam Goddis biddyng brak, The blood ran on my briddes bak, Droppynge as dewe on ryssche. "The jugement have thei joyned To bere fooles full of synne; Yet scholde my sone fro thee be soyned And never hys blood on thee rynne. But now is truthe with tresoun twyned, With a theef to henge fer in fenne. With fele nayles hys feet be pyned. A careful modir men may me kenne; In balys I am bounde. The brid that was of a mayde borne On this tree is all fortorne: A broche torow hys breest was borne; Hys hert now hath a wounde. "Tre, thou art loked by lawe That a theefe and a traytour on thee schal deye: Now is truthe with tresoun drawe, Vertu is falle by vicys weye. Love and truthe and sothefast sawe On a tre traytours do teye; Now is vertue with vyces slawe. Of all vertues Cryst is keye; Vertue is swetter than spyces. In foote and honde he bereth blody prykke, The heed is full of thornes thikke, The goode hangeth among the wikke: Vertue thus deieth with vyces. "Cros, unkynde thou schalt be kyd; My sonys stepmoder I thee calle. My bridde was borne with beeste on bedde, And by my fleissche my fruyt gan falle, And with my breestys my brid I fedde. Cros, thou gyvest hym eysell and galle. My white rose rede is spred, That floryssched was in fodders stalle. Feet and faire handes That now be croysed, I kissed hem ofte, I lulled hem and leyde hem softe; And thou, Cros, haldes hym highe alofte, Bounde in blody bandes. "My love I lulled uppe in hys leir, With cradel bande I gan hym bynde; Cros, he stiketh uppon thi steir, Naked in the wylde wynde. Fowles formen her nest in the eyr, Foxes in den rest thei fynde, But Goddys Sone and hevenys eir, Hys hede holdeth on thornes tynde; Of moornyng I may mynne. My sones hed hath reste none, But leneth on the schuldre bone. The thornes thorow the panne is gone: Thys woo I wyte synne. "Cros, to sle hym is thi sleithe; My blody brid thou berest for blysse. Cros, thou holdest hym highe on heithe; Hys faire feet I may not kysse. My mouthe I putte, my swere I strecche, Hys feet to kys: The Jewes fro the Cros me kecche, And on me make her mowe amys, Her game and her gawdes; The Jewes wrought on me wo. Cros, I fynde thou art my fo; My brid thou berist beten blo Among thes folys frawdys." Crystys Cros than gaf answere, "Lady, to thee I owe honour. Thi bryght palme now I bere; My schynyng scheweth of thi flour, Thy trye fruyt I to-tere. Thi fruyt me florysschith in blood colour The worlde to wynne, as thou mayst here: This blossom blomed in thi bour Not all for thee alone, But forto wynne all this werd, That waltereth under the develes swerd. Thorowe foote and honde God lete hym gerd To amende mannys mone. "Adam dyd full grete harmes; He bote a fruyt under a bowe. Therfore thi fruit spred hys armes On tre that is tighed with tyndes towe. Hys body is smyte ny the tharmes, He swelt with a swemely swow, Hys breest is bored with deethis armes, And with hys deeth fro deeth us drowe, And all hys goode freendys. As Isayas spak in prophecye, He seyde this sone, Seynt Marye, Hys dethe slowe dethe in Calvarye And leveth withoute endys. "Lady, love dothe thee alegge Fruite prikkyd with sperys orde. I Cros, withoute knyves egge, I kerve fruit beest of horde. All is rede, ribbe and rigge, The bak bledeth agens the borde; I am a pyler and bere a brigge. God is the weye, witnesse one worde: God seith he is sothefast weye. Many folk slode to hell slider; To hevene noman cowde thider, Til God deighed and taught whider Men drawe whan thei deye. "And Moyses fourmed hys figour, A whyte lambe, and noon other beest; He sacred so oure savyour To be mete of myghtes meest. And chosen cheef in honour, I bare fleissche to folkys feest, Jesu Cryst oure creatour; Hys flessche fedeth leste and mest, Rosted agens the sonne. On me lay the lambe of love; I was plater, hys body above, Whan flessche and veynes all toclove, With blood I was bironne. "Yit Moyses this resoun rad, 'Ete youre lambe with soure vergeous'; Sowre saws make the sowle glad, Sorowe for synnes oures. That vergeous maketh the fende adrad, And fer fleth fro Goddis spous. And bere a staaf and stonde sadde Whan flessche thee fedith in Goddis hows. This staf is Crystis crouche: Stonde thou styf by this stake Whan the fonge yowre fleissche in take; Than may the devyll no maystryes make Youre sowles to touche. "Whan pardoun is schewed with a scryne, With boke on bord with nayles smyte, With rede lettres wryten blyne. Blewe and blak among me pyte, My Lorde I likne to that signe: The body was bored and on borde bete, In bright blode oure boke gan schyne. How woo he was no wight may wyte, Ne rede in hys rode Youre pardoun boke fro top to too. Wryten it was full wonder woo, Rede woundes and strokes bloo: Your boke was bounde in blode. "In holy write this tale I herde, How riche giftis God us gaf; God seith hymself a good scheperde, And every herde byhoveth a staf. The Cros I kalle the heerdys yerde; Therwith the devyl a dent he gaf. With that yerd the wolfe he werid, With dyntes drofe hym all to draf." The Cros this tale tolde, How he was the staf in herdis hande, Whan scheep borsten oute of bande; The wolfe he wered oute of lande, That devouride Crystis folde. Oure ladye seyde, "Cros, of thi werk Wonder naght, thei I be wrothe. Thus seyde Poule, Crystes clerk, To the fikell Jewes, withoute othe, Jewes stone-hard, with synnes merke, Thei bete a lambe withoute lothe, Softer than water under serk, Milk or mede melled bothe: The Jewes were the hard stonys. Softer than water or mylk lycour Or dew that lithe on lily flour Was Cristes body in blode colour — The Jewes brisseden hys bonys. "Sithe mannys sone was so nedy To be lad as a lamb so mylde, Why were gylours so gredy To fowle so my faire chylde? And Cros, why were thou so redy My fruite to foule fer in felde?" The Cros seyde, "To make the devyll dredy, God schope me schelde, schame to schelde. 5 Sithe lombe of love dyede And on me yelde hys goost with voys Men chose me a relyk choys, The signe of Jesu Crystis Croys. Ther dar no devyl abyde. "Many folk I defende fro her foos," Cristes Cros this sawe he syde, "Hevene gate was keithed clos Til lambe of love now he deyede. It is write in tixt and glos, For Cristis deeth prophetes preyde, Till lambe of love deyed and roos. In hell pyne many folk was teyde; In the houre of highest noone The lambe of love seide his thought: 'All is fulfilled that well was wrought; Man is oute of bondys brought, And hevene dorys undone.' "And I was Cros, and kepte that gifte That geve was of Fadres graunt; I was loked I schulde uplifte Goddis Sone and maydenes faunt. Noman had schelde of scrifte: The devyll stode as lyoun raumpaunt, Many folk he keighte to hell clifte, Till the dyntes of the Cros gan hym adaunte. My dede is founde and boked, All the werke that I have wroughte, It was in the Fadres forthoughte. Lovely lady, lak me noughte, I dyd as I was loked. "In water and blood cristenyng was wrought, Holy writ witnessith it well; And in the well of worthi thought, Man is cristened to soule hele. The blood that all the world hath bought, A digne cristenyng he gan me dele. Cryst in cristenynge forgat me nought, Hys fressche blood whan I gan fele, Mayde, modir, and wyve: Crystis blood gaf me bapteme; Bystreke I was with rede streme Whan Jesu bled upon a beme Of cipresse and olyve. "Jesu seyde to Nichodemus, But a barn be twies born, Whan domesday schal blowe his bemys, He schulde lye as man lorn: First bore of wombe where rewthe remys, Sith with font synne is schorn. And I was Cros to mannys quemys; I baar the fruyt thou bere aforn For thi beryng alone; But I had born hym efte, Fro riche rest man had be refte, And in a lore logge lefte, Ay, to grucche and grone. "Thou were crowned hevene queen For the birthen that thou bere; Thi garlond is of gracious greene, Of hell emperesse and hevene empere. I am the relyk that schyneth schene; Men wolde wyte where I were. At the pleyn parlement I schal been, At domesday prestly to pere Whan God schal seye right there, 'Trewly on thee, Rode tre, Man, I dyed for love of thee; Man, what hast thou do for me To be my frendly fere?' "At parlement I wil put pleynyng, How maydenes sone on me gan sterve, Spere and spounge and hard naylyng, The hard hede the helme gan kerve; And I schal crye, 'Rightful kyng! Ilk man have as thee serve.' The right schul ryse to ryche reynynge; Truyt and treget to helle schal terve. Mayde meke and mylde, God took in thee hys flessch trewe; I bare thi fruyt lele and newe. It is right the Rode to Eve helpe schewe, Man, woman, and chylde." The queen, thus acorded with the Cros, Agens hym spak nomore speche. The lady gef the Cros a cosse; The lady of love, love gan seche, Theigh hire fruit on him were dight to dros, Whon rendyng ropus gan him reche. Cristes Cros hath kept us from lose, Maries preyers and God ur leche. The queen and the Cros acord: The queen bare first, the Cros aftirward, To fecche folk fro hellward, On holy styres to styghe upward And reigne with oure Lord. A clerk fourmed this figour Of Maries sorwe to seighe summe, As he had see in scharp schour How Cristes armes were rent and rune. The Cros is a colde creatour, And ever yet was deef and dum; This tale florissched with a faire flour, This poynt I prove apocrifum. Witnesse was never founden That evere Crystis Cros spak, Ne oiure lady leyde hym no lak; But for to dryve the devyll abak, Men speke of Cristes wounden. A clerk fourmed this fantasye On Crists stervyng stok to stere, That bare the body all blody, Whan dethes dent gan hym dere. This apocrifum is no foly; In swich a lay dar thee naght dere, That dothe man to seke mercy, Wikked werkes awey to were, In tixte ful well is write. A lombe hath larged all this glose, Plenté speche therin to prose, The counseill of the Cros to unclose, Of Maryes woo to wite. In flesshly wede God gan hym hede, Of mylde may Was born to blede, As Cristes crede, Sothely to say. On stokky stede He roode, men rede, In rede aray. Fro develis drede That Duk us lede At domesday, Whan pepil schal parte and passe To holy hevene and hell the wode. Now Cristes crosse and Crystes blode And Maries praier mylde and goode Graunte us the lyfe of grace. Amen. §44 Upon my ryght syde y me leye; Blessid lady, to thee y pray: For the teres that ye lete Upon yowre swete sonnys feete, Sende me grace for to slepe, And good dremys for to mete, Slepyng, wakyng till morowe daye bee. Owre Lorde is the frwte, oure lady is the tree, Blessed be the blossome that sprange, Lady, of thee. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus sancti. 6 Amen. §45 M and A and R and I, syngyn I wil a newe song. It wern fowre letterys of purposy: M and A, R and I. Tho wern letteris of Mary Of hom al our joye sprong. On the mownt of Calvory, With M and A, R and I, There he betyn his bryte body With schorges that wern bothe scharp and long. Our swete lady stod hym by, With M and A and R and I, Che wept water with here ey, And alwey the blod folwyd among. God, that sit above the sky, With M and A, R and I, Save now al this cumpany, And sende us joye and blysse among! §46 Mary myelde made grete mone For her dere sonne alone. When fals Judas her son had solde To the Jewes wikked and bolde, As he before to hir had tolde, She was wofull alone. When he came to Cayphas and An To be juged for synfull man, In her hert she was woofull than For hir dere son alone. When that she sawe his flessh to-torn, And on his hede a crowne of thorn, And how the Jewes hym did shorn, She was wofull alone. When hir dere son, Jhesus so goode, Was nayled fast uppon the roode, She sobbed and wept watre and bloode For hir dere son alone. Whenne hir dere son on the thirde day With hir dide mete and thus did say, "Hayle, holy moder, wyfe, and may," She was joyfull alone. §47 I syke when y singe, For sorewe that y se, When y with wypinge Biholde upon the tre Ant se Jesu the suete, Is herte blod forlete, For the love of me Ys woundes waxen wete; Thei wepen stille ant mete. Marie, reweth thee. Heghe upon a doune, Ther al folk hit se may, A mile from uch toune, Aboute the midday, The Rode is up arered; His frendes aren afered, Ant clyngeth so the clay. The Rode stond in stone, Marie stont hire one Ant seith "Weylaway!" When y thee biholde, With eyghen bryhte bo, Ant thi bodi colde, Thi ble waxeth blo, Thou hengest al of blode So heghe upon the Rode Bituene theves tuo; Who may syke more? Marie wepeth sore Ant siht al this wo; The naylles beth to stronge, The smythes are to sleye, Thou bledest al to longe, The tre is al to heyghe, The stones beoth al wete. Alas, Jesu the suete, For nou frend hast thou non Bote Seint Johan, mournynde, Ant Marie, wepynde, For pyne that thee ys on. Ofte when y sikesigh Ant makie my mon, Wel ille thah me like, Wonder is hit non, When y se honge heghe Ant bittre pynes dreghe Jesu my lemmon, His wondes sore smerte, The spere al to is herte, Ant thourh is sydes gon. Ofte when y syke With care y am thourhsoht. When y wake y wyke; Of serewe is al my thoht. Alas men beth wode That suereth by the Rode Ant selleth him for noht That bohte us out of synne: He bring us to wynne That hath us duere boht. §48 Jhesus: Maiden and moder, cum and se, Thi child is nailed to a tre. Hand and fot he may nouth go, His bodi is wonden al in wo. Al abouten he is to-toren, His heved is wrethen with a thorn, His sides bothen on blode be, With blod hes blent, he may nouth se. Maria: Mi suete sone that art me dere, Wat has thu don, qui art thu here? This suete bodi that in me rest, That loveli mouth that I have kist, Nou is on rode mad thi nest. Mi dere child, quat is me best? Jhesus: Jon, this womman for my sake, Womman, to Jon, I thee betake. Alone I am withoten make, On rode I hange for mannis sake This gamen alone me must pleyye For mannis soule this det to deyye. Mi blod is sched, my fles is falle Me thristet sore, for drink I calle Thei geven me eysil medlid with galle. For mannis senne in wo I walle Yef thei weren kende to loven me outh, Of al my peine me ne routh. Fader, my soule I thee betake! My bodi deyghet for mannis sake. Senful soules in helle lake, To hem I go, awey to take. Mannis soule, thou art my make; Love me wel, I thee nouth forsake, And my moder herteliche, For sche helpet thee stedfasliche An thou salt comen that blisse to Ther my Fader is for evermo. |
(see note) hours; sadness; (see note) What dolor pierced; (see note) When she heard; taken; bound Then; [he] who; no; (see note) (see note) 6 a.m. she; Pilate's; (see note) sobbing, sighing; swoon There; Jews spit witnesses spoke did; (see note) (see note) They scourged; stood; (see note) bear; cross; crowned [him] naked nailed; tree; (see note) gave; (see note) dropped earth trembled; rocks began; (see note) commended; Saint John; (see note) Then; she; die (see note) between; us made; (see note) evensong side opened; spear; (see note) evensong; then many; tears bosom; glory compline them; grave; bear; (see note) close; therein; great stone keep; Jews; war (soldiers) remained; alone; (see note) (see note) These hours case in court [at Judgment Day] from your son also be a servant sins; penance Then be taken; heaven finally; (see note) Christ's Stood, beheld her son on cross tortured son hung; stood her; blood How it from his wounds When; died who; life More sorrowful; woman; (see note) you were, lady, then bright; night; (see note) Then; your heart's light; (see note) quenched; pain; woe Your life endured; difficult hours When you saw his bloody wounds on the cross mounted wounds; smarting Stung through and through [to] you promised; (see note) head; blood besprinkled spear pierced; (see note) hands spread on cross washed with blood And nailed; tree (cross) scourges beaten blood; let out Made your heart sore; (see note) Wherever you cast your eyes Pain; you saw him suffer Nor might anyone endure more Now; (see note) Child; [from] them withheld Then Now they demand with shouting He whom you in your child-care; (see note) withheld from them before Now; find What; suffer; their children Though you are a pure virgin you have suffered hard; dearly; (see note) pain you suffered In giving birth, free and clear Soon; night of sorrow; (see note) Sprang; light of blessed morning (Easter) In your; sweet maiden sorrows turned; (see note) When; with complete certainty Arose upon; third Indeed you were joyful When [he] arose from death; (see note) Through; whole [tomb]stone ; glided; (see note) Just as; of you born Both Whole remained your virginity New bliss Who mankind so dearly bought gave his dear life Glad; joyful Blessed; woman Queen; heaven Lighten all our sorrow turn our evil into good; (see note) us Make us ever; him dwell; (see note) us bought with; blood; (see note) (see note) Stand; cross glad spirit; (see note) Happy; might you be; (see note) Son, who; (see note) I see your feet, I see your hands; (see note) tree (cross) cease your weeping; (see note) I suffer death; mankind's sake; (see note) my own guilt suffer I none; (see note) I sense; time of death my heart ground promised have pity on your child; (see note) wash; those bloody tears; (see note) pains me worse; my death how may I stop my tears I see these bloody streams run; (see note) Out; feet; (see note) now I say to you I alone die hanging (swung); (see note) breast; hand; foot pierced; (see note) wonder I am woeful; (see note) dare tell you; (see note) If I do not die, you go to hell; (see note) I suffer this death; (see note) Son, you are for me such a concern; (see note) Blame; not; my nature; (see note) I make sorrow for you; (see note) die; (see note) To redeem Adam from hell all mankind; lost what will prepare me; (see note) Your suffering pains me to death; (see note) die before you first you might learn; (see note) What suffering they endure who bear children; (see note) sorrow they have; lose; (see note) I know I can tell you; (see note) Unless it be; (see note) More sorrow know I none pity of motherly sorrow; (see note) Now you know; mother's experience; (see note) Though you are a virgin; (see note) all in need they who to me cry out unchaste woman longer dwell The time has come [that] I go to hell; (see note) third; (see note) I want to go with you; (see note) I die, I know, of your wounds; (see note) sorrowful [a] death; (see note) ended your sorrow; (see note) sprang; third day; (see note) When joyful, Mother, were you then; (see note) same bliss; (see note) Beseech our God, our sins forgive; (see note) our shield against; foe (see note) out of hell's flame; (see note) Through; dear son's might; (see note) comforting(?) blood; (see note) shed; cross heaven's light (see note) Sweet son, have pity; burst see through; hands driven; ruefully you hang; (see note) better; flee; leave; lands drips; blood bound; cross heart suffer; child; (see note) [most] blessed; good life approaches swiftly; (see note) feet world; never shall; happy (see note) (see note) court; is cursed heard see; friends weeping homage injury; harm; (see note) lacked woman's woe; (see note) you well feel; is not; (see note) song; "wellaway" (a cry of lament) his ease; (see note) with; discomfort; (see note) midst of; (see note) (see note) Ah; take heed; whose with you upon the; (see note) Me here to leave; hence; (see note) It; (see note) Cease; harsh good; (see note) Stop; weep discomfort grieves took human nature the afflicted [one]; (see note) thought; (see note) mankind's salvation is found shall not worry about John; kinsman, shall; (see note) (see note) John; give to you; (see note) who; heart relieve exhausted by vigilance; (see note) more moan; mourning eyes ache waning of happiness; woe; awakened woman; woeful (see note) sun; wood; (see note) I have pity; [upon] your; face; (see note) tree son (see note) (see note) dismayed; sat beauty; far reason son be; then sobbed As; son; beaten/mocked robbed these words learn from; (see note) could; hard-hearted (see note) (see note) dead; argued son; cheated/derided; (see note) Truly; sobbed; (see note) (see note) (see note) break, heart; corpse; pitifully beaten; wounded, treated by Jews; (see note) person; weep not? None; (see note) dead dear son lie; (see note) (see note) (see note) Renewing; (see note) eye; man; (see note) swooning; fell; no other; (see note) know not; deathlike; one; other (see note) song; (see note) (see note) (see note) attention on See; tears; heart's root spring pleasure; (see note) sword; (see note) Look on; countenance; pity woe who on; lies dead; (see note) wounds manhood (life) mourning change; you desire to hard; can nor Then fear; support unfeigned; been (see note) (see note) pity mourning; (see note) Take down from the cross; precious crucify; cross; beloved More pain may not be inflicted on me [to] let me live; sorrow; shame As; binds me let; alike (see note) Who bear children, stay and see lies before me knee; from [the] cross; (see note) children; dandle; knee cheer lies dead; dear well are you child's; you put on; (see note) You comb his hair; appearance; (see note) You do not know (appreciate) lament see; son's head; it pick out thorns one by one you have chosen a garland wear, it pleases you greatly; (see note) great satisfaction; (see note) thorns sorely pricking kiss; careful (woeful) face look; again Who; child's breast hole (wound); (see note) slashes lips my circumstances you take; by give me a pat; (see note) I do not like; (see note) hands; suffered (permitted) pierced; nail and spear; (see note) bounce your children on your knees touch; feet; comely; (see note) pleasing largest finger; (see note) Through; feet it; sorely bleeding (i.e., the feet) by town and way; (see note) When you behold your children's hands breast; feet sorrow; heart see; nail and spear scourge; many thorns Wounded and dead You have your son whole and sound dead; knee free; bound alive; mine is dead Why did this happen but for you sinned are obligated; weep; (see note) yours; loves you well occasion not a bit you love yours, mine has no equal sends yours; fortune; salvation you died wit (mind) it (my child, i.e., Jesus) great reward bleed for love of you Rather than letting you be damned think of him (see note) fear of dying; suffering laugh when you please may you see if you look to me If you desire to love my son I will love yours with my whole heart you certainly End of story (see note) A; listen; (see note) Attentively; bliss Good example hear you shall matter spoke; Rood tree (Cross) son; anguish noble say wise clerks well-known interpreted; (see note) example; moral [one]; (see note) fiction; rightly tree spoke; mouth noble; (see note) Rood tree (Cross) lament fruit woebegone appearance; (see note) fruit (child) I saw foes In sorrow veins flayed; (see note) From do nothing true; (see note) pin Adam's Flesh and veins flayed both in two urge pity your bonds shall beguiled; (see note) defamed undefiled; (see note) ashamed; (see note) fastened thieves; punished; (see note) died for their works wild drawn befouled; (see note) trickery nor wrong thieves; unjust riot [For] you great thieves' gallows; built run in great numbers injured; nor deep drink, truly said; (see note) you give break; assault; (see note) stands; buffetting; strife; (see note) beloved; fault; (see note) Because Adam broke God's command bird's back; (see note) dew; rushes; (see note) imposed (enjoined upon you); (see note) bear criminals excused run on you truth; treason intertwined; (see note) thief; far out; fen; (see note) many; pinned; (see note) sorrowful; know suffering bird; (see note) torn apart; (see note) spear through; breast (see note) ordained traitor on you shall die drawn fallen; vicious means truthful speech tie traitors to a tree virtues; vices slain key sweeter bears; wounds wicked; (see note) dies you shall be known; (see note) son's beasts; (see note) flesh; was born; (see note) breasts; bird; fed vinegar; (see note) red [with blood]; (see note) bloomed; barn; (see note) crucified; them often sang lullabies to; folded them softly holds him bed; (see note) did bind him is nailed; frame wild wind Birds make their nests; aerie; (see note) dens find rest; (see note) God's Son; heaven's heir Holds his head; sharp (tined); (see note) For mourning; be remembered head has no rest[ing place]; (see note) leans; your shoulder through; brain; (see note) know [to be] sin; (see note) kill; trick with joy height (see note) neck I stretch; (see note) (see note) from; drive at; their taunts wicked Their jests; devices woe foe bear; blue fools dishonest Christ's; gave; (see note) (see note) beauty shows off (manifests); (see note) true (precious); rend; (see note) adorns me may hear; (see note) bloomed; bower (womb) Not all for you alone to redeem; world welters; devil's sword; (see note) Through; hand; be pinned To amend; lament did; harm bit; branch your fruit (Jesus); (see note) tree; tied; two spikes; (see note) smitten near the intestines; (see note) sweats (bleeds); swaying swoon; (see note) pierced; deadly weapons; (see note) death from death us drew friends; (see note) Isaiah; (see note) son, Saint death slew death cleanses; (see note) causes you [to] allege; (see note) Spear's point knife's edge cut; best of the lot; (see note) red; rib and back (i.e., completely) back bleeds against; board; (see note) pillar; bear a bridge way; (see note) says; true way slid; slipperily no one could go died; where go when Moses; figure; (see note) no; beast venerated as; (see note) food; most (see note) flesh (meat, food); mankind's feast (see note) feeds least and most; (see note) Roasted (scorched/tortured); sun lamb platter When; severed; (see note) covered Yet; counsel gave; (see note) Eat; bitter herbs (paschal lamb); (see note) Sour sauces; soul; (see note) Sorrow for our sins herb; fiend dread(see note) far flees from God's spouse bear; staff; solemnly you eat flesh; God's house cross Stand; stiffly When you receive the host; (see note) power have; (see note) souls betokened by a shrine; (see note) sign; board; driven written by line; (see note) Blue; upon me written (depicted); (see note) liken; (see note) pierced; board beaten book did shine woeful; person; know read; face; (see note) book from; toe; (see note) Written; [with] wondrous woe Red/Read wounds; blows blue book; bound; (see note) writings; heard gifts; gave calls; (see note) shepherd needs; staff call; shepherd's staff he gave the devil a blow defended against blows drove; chaff; (see note) shepherd's burst; flock; (see note) drove Christ's [sheep]fold your work Doubt not, though; angry St. Paul; (see note) fickle; oath; (see note) sin's mark beat; fault shirt mead blended stones liquid; (see note) lies; flower bloody hue bruised; bones; (see note) Since; compelled led jailors; greedy defile far off in a field fearful; (see note) [the] lamb; died; (see note) yielded his spirit with his voice; (see note) choice relic; (see note) Christ's Cross from their foes saying; spoke Heaven's gate; locked closed written; text; gloss death prophets prayed died and rose pain; tied high noon (see note) bondage brought doors opened (see note) given; Father's consent ordained maiden's babe; (see note) No one; shield; confession; (see note) lion rampant; (see note) took; chasm blows; did him daunt judged and recorded doubt me not did; ordained baptism writing (the Bible) for soul's healing noble; did me give did feel; (see note) woman baptized me Bestreaked; red stream beam cypress; olive (see note) Unless a man is born twice Judgment Day; trumpets lie; lost born; sorrow cries out Then; [baptismal] font [where]; shorn for mankind's benefit bore; bore before bearing Unless; after From; deprived lost home moan and groan child; bore garland empress; heaven's empire shines bright will know where I was final judgment; shall be eagerly; appear (see note) Truly done companion make complaint did die sponge skull; helmet (crown of thorns) did cut Each; as [he] serves you rise; rich reigning Sin; trickery; fall; (see note) his; true; (see note) bare; faithful; (see note) Cross; show; (see note) reconciled Against; spoke no more speech gave; kiss sought to love [the Cross] Though; condemned to death; (see note) tearing ropes; grab loss prayers; our healer agree fetch; from stairs; rise reign composed; story tell some; (see note) seen; sharp suffering/pain; (see note) torn; slandered; (see note) inanimate creature deaf; dumb flower (message); (see note) fiction Christ's Cross spoke Nor [that] Our Lady accused him of fault back (see note) Toward; dying cross; direct Death's blows; injure fiction; folly In such a poem lurks [for] you no harm; (see note) causes; seek Wicked; scorn text; written lamb ; elaborated [on]; commentary; (see note) Rich; compose disclose woe; know garment (i.e., human form) did conceal himself creed stocklike steed rode; teach; (see note) red array From fear of the devil Duke (Christ) people shall divide and go void (see note) I; lay; (see note) tears; you cried son's feet sleep dreams to dream until morning comes fruit; (see note) from you (see note) (see note) were; purpose; (see note) They were; (see note) From whom; sprang; (see note) mount; Calvary they beat; untarnished; (see note) scourges stood by him She; her eye; (see note) always; blood flowed; (see note) (see note) (see note) lament (see note) woeful Annas; (see note) as a head scorn cross water; (see note) meet (see note) (see note) sigh; (see note) sorrow; see weeping tree And see; (see note) His; pouring forth His gently; fittingly; (see note) have pity; (see note) High; hill Where all folks may see it each town; (see note) Cross; raised; (see note) are afraid; (see note) shrink [in fear] like [dry] clay nearby; (see note) And says; (see note) I you; (see note) eyes; both; (see note) color turns blue bloody high Between two thieves sigh And sees are too strong; (see note) too long too high are all wet sweet now; none But; mourning; (see note) And; weeping suffering; upon you sigh; (see note) lament though hung high enduring bitter pains beloved hurt sorely; (see note) spear pierces his goes through his sides pierced through lie awake I grow weak sorrow; thought are insane swear nothing Who bought (redeemed) bliss dearly purchased (see note) (see note) tree (cross) foot; not wounded; woe head; wreathed he is blinded; not dear to me why kissed what is best for me John entrust cross; man's debt; die shed; fallen; (see note) thirst painfully vinegar mixed sin; wail If; taught; properly I do not care give to you dies; man's Sinful; hell's lake them Man's; mate do not forsake you heartily she helps you steadfastly And you shall come to that bliss Where; evermore |