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Penitential Poems

 
 
 
 
 
 
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                    §66
 
Hayl Mari,
Hic am sori;
Haf pité of me and merci.
Mi levedi,
To thee I cri:
For mi sinnis dred ham hi,
Wen hi thenke that hi sal bi,
That hi haf mis hi-don
In worde, in worke, in thoith foli.
Levedi, her mi bon.
 
Mi bon thu her,
Levedi der,
That hic aske wit reuful cher;
Thu len me her
Wil hic am fer.
Do penanz in mi praier;
Ne let me noth ler that thu ber
At min endin day.
The warlais, thai wil be her
Forto take thair pray.
 
To take thar pray,
Alse hi her say,
Thai er redi boyt nite and day.
So strange er thai
That we ne may
Agayneis thaim stond, so waylaway,
But gif thu help us, mitteful may,
Wit thi sunes grace;
Wan thu comes thai flet awai,
Dar thai not se thi face.
 
Thi face to se,
Thu grant hit me,
Lefdi fulfillid of pité,
That hi may be
In joy wit thee
To se thi sone in Trinité,
That sufferid pine and ded for me
And for al mankyn.
His flesse was sprade on rode tre
To leys us al of sine.
 
Of sine and kar
He maked us bar
Wan he thollid pines sar.
To drupe and dar
We athe wel mare,
Alse for the hondis doyt the har,
Wan we thenke hu we sal far
Wan he sal dem us alle;
We sal haf ned thare
Apan Mari to calle.
 
 
                    §67
 
On hire is al mi lif ilong
Of hwam ich wule singe,
And herien hire ther among.
Heo gon us bote bringe
Of helle pine that is strong;
Heo brohte us blisse that is long,
Al thurht hire chilthinge.
Ich bidde hire one mi song,
Heo geove us god endinge
Thah we don wrong.
 
Thu art hele and lif ond liht,
And helpest al monkunne;
Thu us havest ful wel idight,
Thu geve us weole and wunne.
Thu brohtest dai, and Eve night;
Heo broghte woht, thu broghtest right,
Thu almesse and heo sunne.
Bisih to me, lavedi bright,
Hwenne ich schal wende heonne,
So wel thu miht.
 
Al this world schal ago
With seorhe and with sore,
And al this lif we schule forgo,
Ne of thunche hit us so sore:
This world nis butent ure ifo.
Tharfore ich thenche hirne at go
And do bi Godes lore;
This lives blisse nis wurth a slo.
Ich bidde, God, thin ore,
Nu and everemo.
 
To longe ich habbe sot ibeo;
Wel sore ich me adrede;
Iluved ich habbe gomen and gleo
And prude and feire wede.
Al that is dweole, wel i seo;
Tharfore ich thenche sunne fleo
And alle mine sot dede.
Ich bidde hire to me biseo
And helpe me and rede,
That is so freo.
 
Agult ich habbe, weilawei;
Sunful ich am an wrecche.
Awrec thee nu on me, levedi,
Er deth me honne fecche.
Do nim thee wreche — ich am redi —
Other let me liven and amendi,
That no feond me ne drecche.
For mine sunnes ich am sori;
Of this world ich ne recche.
Levedi, merci. Amen.
 
 
                    §68
 
Worsshipful maiden to the world, Marie,
Modir moost lovynge unto al mankynde,
Lady to whom al synful peple crie
In hir distresse, have us in thy mynde!
Thurgh thy benigne pitee, us unbynde
Of our giltes, that in thy sones birthe
To al the world broghtest the joie and mirthe.
 
To whom shal I truste so sikirly,
To axen help in my necessitee
As unto thee, thow modir of mercy?
For to the world mercy cam in by thee:
Thow baar the Lord of mercy, lady free;
Who may so lightly mercy us purchace
Of God thy sone as thow, modir of grace?
 
Lady, right as it is an impossible
That thow sholdest nat have in remembrance
Why thow baar God, so it is incredible
To any wight of catholyk creaunce,
Thee nat to reewe on our synful grevaunce.
Forthy, lady benigne and merciable,
Unto thy sone make us acceptable.
 
O God, that maad art sone unto womman,
For mercy, and thow womman which also
By grace art maade modir to God and man,
Outhir reewe on us wrecches ful of wo,
Thou sparyng and thow preyynge,
Or elles wisse us whidir for to flee
To hem that been mercyfullere than yee.
If it so be as wel I woot it is,
That so grevous is myn iniquitee
And that I have wroght so moche amis,
So smal my feith, so slow my charitee,
And, Lord, so unkonnynge is unto thee
And thy modir my lewde orisoun,
So imparfyt my satisfaccioun,
 
That neithir of my giltes, indulgence,
Ne grace of helthe in no maner wyse
Disserved have I for my greet offense,
Lo, that meene I that is my covetyse,
That whereas my dissert may not souffyse,
The grace and mercy of yow bothe tweye
Ne faille nat: that is it that I preye.
 
Mercyful Lord, have upon me mercy,
And lady, thy sone unto mercy meeve.
With herte contryt preye I thee meekly,
Lady, thy pitee on me, wrecche, preeve;
Bisyly preye, for I fully leeve
For whom thow preyest, God nat list denye
Thyn axynge, blessid maiden Marie!
 
 
                    §69
 
Salve                    Hayl, oure patron and lady of erthe,
Regina                  Qwhene of heven and emprys of helle:
mater                    Moder of al blis thu art, the ferth
misericordie         Of mercy and grace the secunde welle.
vita                       Lyfe come of thee as the sownde of a bell
Dulcedo                Swetnes thu art both moder and mayde,
et spes nostra       Oure hope with thee that we may dwelle
Salve                     Hayl, ful of grace, as Gabriel sayd.
Ad te                     To thee oure socour, our helpe, our trust,
clamamus             We crye, we pray, we make oure complaynt.
Exules                   Exylde to pryson fro gostly lust,
filii                         The childer of Adam that so was ataynte,
Eve                        Of Eve our moder here ar we dreynte.
Ad te                      To thee that byndes the fendes whelpe
suspiramus            We sighe, we grone; we wax al faynte,
gementes               Wepyng for sorow, gode lady, now helpe.
 
Et flentes               Wepyng for syn and for oure payne
In hac                     In this derknes oure tyme we spende;
lacrimarum            Of teres the comforth is a swete rayne,
valle                        In the wayle of grace it will discende.
Eya                         Hafe done, gode lady, grace is thi frende;
Ergo                       Therfore send us sum of thi grace.
advocata                Oure advocate make us afore our ende, 1
nostra                     Oure synnes to wesche whils we hafe space.
 
Illos tuos miseri-
  cordes oculos        Thi mercyful eene and lufly loke
Ad nos converte      Cast opon us for oure disporte,
Et Ihesum                And Jesu, thi babe, that thi flesche toke,
Benedictum             So blyssed a Lord make us supporte,
Fructum                  That fruyt of lyfe may us comfort.
ventris tui                Of thi wome the fruyt may suffyse
nobis                        To us whorby we may resorte
post hoc                   Aftyr this exyle to paradyse.
 
exilium                     Exyle is grevos in this derk werre;
ostende                    Schewe us thi luf, the stronger to fyght.
Benignum                 Benygne lady and our se sterre
O clemens                O buxum lanterne, gyf us thi lyght.
O pia                        O meke, o chaste, o blistfull syght
O dulcis                    O swete, o kynde, o gentyll and fre,
maria                       Mary, with Jesu that joyful knyght,
Salve                        Hayle and fare wele and thinke on me.
                     §                                                   Amen
 
 
                    §70
 
Mayden moder milde,
Oiez cel oreysoun,
From shome thou me shilde
E de ly mal feloun.
For love of thine childe,
Me menez de tresoun:
Ich wes wod ant wilde,
Ore su en prisoun.
 
Thou art feyr ant fre
E plein de doucour;
Of thee sprong the ble,
Ly soverein creatour;
Mayde, byseche y thee,
Vostre seint socour,
Meoke and mylde be with me,
Pur la sue amour.
 
Tho Judas Jesum founde,
Donque ly beysa,
He wes bete ant bounde,
Que nus tous fourma.
Wyde were is wounde
Qe le gyw ly dona;
He tholede hard stounde,
Me poi le greva.
 
On stou ase thou stode,
Pucele, tot pensaunt,
Thou restest thee under rode,
Ton fitz veites pendant;
Thou seghe is sides of blode,
L'alme de ly partaunt.
He ferede uch an fode
En mound que fust vivaunt.
 
Ys siden were sore,
Le sang de ly cora;
That lond wes forlore,
Mes il le rechata.
Uch bern that wes ybore
En enfern descenda;
He tholede deth ther fore,
En ciel puis mounta.
 
Tho Pilat herde the tydynge —
Molt fu joyous baroun
He lette byfore him brynge
Jesu Nazaroun.
He was ycrouned kynge
Pur nostre redempcioun;
Whose wol me synge
Avera grant pardoun.
(see note)
 
 
I am sorry
pity
lady
 
fearful am I
When I think about what I shall be
What I have misdone
foolish thought; (see note)
hear my prayer; (see note)
 
My prayer you hear
Lady dear
What I ask with rueful heart
You support me here; (see note)
While I am far away; (see note)
Cause penance
Deny me not your countenance; (see note)
my final day
devils (warlocks); here
capture their prey; (see note)
 
 
As I hear
They are ready both night
strong are they
may not
Against them stand, alas
Unless you; courageous maiden
With your son's
When you come, they flee away
Dare
 
see
Please grant me
full of pity
I
with you
(see note)
Who; pain and death
mankind
body; stretched; cross
release us all from sin
 
sin; care
made us bare (stripped us)
When he suffered pains sore
droop; remain still; (see note)
ought all the more
As the hare does for the hounds
When we imagine how we should fare
shall judge
shall have need there; (see note)
Upon; (see note)
 
 
(see note)
 
her; life's longing
whom I will sing
praise her; (see note)
She has brought us remedy; (see note)
From hell's suffering; fierce
She brought; endures; (see note)
through her birth-giving
I pray [to] her in my song; (see note)
[That] she give us good ending
Though we do
 
health; life and light; (see note)
mankind
You have; treated
abundance; joy; (see note)
You brought
She brought woe; you brought; (see note)
You charity; she sin
Look after me, lady; (see note)
When I shall go hence; (see note)
As well you might
 
shall go; (see note)
sorrow; pain; (see note)
life; shall give up; (see note)
Nor think sorrowfully of it; (see note)
is nothing but our enemy; (see note)
Therefore I think of her always; (see note)
according to God's teaching; (see note)
life's; is not worth a berry; (see note)
I pray; your mercy; (see note)
Now; evermore
 
Too long I have been a fool
sorely; fear
I have loved games and glee
pride; fine clothing; (see note)
error, well I see; (see note)
I think to flee [from] sin; (see note)
my foolish deeds; (see note)
beg her to look after me; (see note)
counsel; (see note)
Who; noble; (see note)
 
Guilt I have, alas
I am sinful and wretched
Chastise me now, lady; (see note)
Before death takes me hence; (see note)
Take your vengeance — I am ready; (see note)
Or; live and amend
no fiend torment me; (see note)
sins; sorry
I do not value this world; (see note)
Lady, [have] mercy
 
 
(see note)
 
 
Mother most loving
people cry
their; mind
Through; kind pity unbind us
sins, who; son's birth
joy
 
surely
ask
 
came
bore
easily; obtain
you, mother
 
just as; impossibility
should not remember
you bore
person of catholic (universal) belief
not to pity our sinfulness
Therefore; merciful
son
 
who is made son of woman
 
 
Either pity us wretches; woe
You (God) sparing; you (Mary) praying; (see note)
Or else advise us where to flee
To any who be more merciful than you
know
grievous; sinfulness
done so much wrong
inadequate my faith
unpleasing
ignorant prayer
imperfect; satisfaction; (see note)
 
neither for my guilt forgiveness
Nor; salvation in any manner
Deserved; great offense
by which I mean my covetousness
merit; suffice
you both two
Shall not fail
 
 
move
heart contrite pray
prove your pity on me, [a] wretch
Busily; believe
God will not deny
Your request
 
 
(see note)
 
(see note)
Queen; empress; (see note)
bliss; estuary; (see note)
second well; (see note)
comes from; sound
Sweetness
(see note)
 
you our aide
 
spiritual desire
children; tainted
overwhelmed
binds; fiend's offspring
grow faint
good; (see note)
 
(see note)
darkness
tears; rain
Into; valley
 
some
 
wash [away]; have
 
 
eyes; lovely gaze; (see note)
pleasure
took
 
 
womb; suffice
whereby; return
After
 
grievous; dark confusion
show; love; (see note)
Kind; sea
gracious; give
blissful
noble
(see note)
 
 
 
 
(see note)
 
(see note)
Hear this prayer
shame; shield
And from the evil villain
 
Lead me from treachery
I was mad and wayward
Now I am in prison
 
fair and noble
And full of gentleness (sweetness)
person
The sovereign creator; (see note)
I beseech you
Your holy aid
 
For love of him
 
When Judas found Jesus
Then kissed him
beaten and bound
Who made us all
Wide; his wounds
Which the Jews gave him
suffered great pain
But little did he grieve
 
In [the] place where you stood; (see note)
Maiden, lost in melancholy
You pause (rest yourself) under the cross
See your son hanging
You see his bloody sides
The soul parting from him
caused fear in everyone; (see note)
Who lived in the world
 
His sides
The blood ran from them
That land (the world) was lost
But he redeemed it
Every child who was born
Descended to hell
suffered death therefore [for them]
Then rose to heaven
 
When Pilate heard the news
He was a most joyful nobleman
commanded
Jesus of Nazareth
crowned
For our redemption
Whoever sings [with] me
Will receive great pardon