XXIX. HER BIGINNES ÞE WOHUNGE OF URE LAUERD.*. [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18.]
Ihesu swete ihesu. mi druð. mi derling. mi drihtin. mi healend. mi huniter. mi haliwei. Swetter is munegunge of þe þen mildeu o muðe. Hwa ne mei luue þi luueli leor? Hwat herte is swa hard þat ne mei to-melte i þe munegunge of þe? Ah hwa ne mei luue þe luueliche ihesu? for inwið þe ane arn alle þe þinges igedered þat eauer muhen maken ani mon luuewurði to oðer. feirnesse and lufsum neb. flesch hwit under schrud makes moni mon beo luued te raðer. and te mare. Summe gold and Gersum and ahte of þis worlde makes luued and heried. Sume; fredom and largesce þat leuer is menskli to ȝiuen þen cwedli to wið halde. Summe; wit and wisdom and ȝapschipe of werlde. Summe; maht and strengðe to beo kid and kene ifiht his riht for to halde. Summe; noblesce. and hehnesse of burðe. Summe; þeaw. and hendeleic and lastelese [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 127b] lates. Summe; menske and mildeschipe and debonairte of herte and dede. And ȝette ouer al þis; kinde makes sibbe frend euchan to luuen oðer. Nu mi derewurðe druð. mi luue. mi lif. mi leof. mi luueleuest, mi heorte haliwei. mi sawle swetnesse. Þu art lufsum on leor. þu art al schene. al engles lif is ti neb to bihalden. for þi leor is swa unimete lufsum and lusti on to loken; þat ȝif þe forwariede þat wallen in helle mihten hit echeliche seon; al þat pinende pik. ne walde ham þunche bote a softe bekinde bað. for ȝif hit swa mihte beon; leuere ham were eauer mare in wa for to welle and o þat welefule wlite eauer mar to loken; þen in alle blisse beon and forgan þi sihðe. Þu art swa schene and swa hwit; þat te sunne were dosk ȝif hit to þi blisfule bleo mihte beo euenet. Þa ȝif þat iwile animon for feirnesse luue; luue iwile þe mi leue lif, moder sune feirest. A ihesu mi swete Page 271 ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote nu iwile for ahte lefmon chese for aihwer wið chatel mon mai luue cheape. Ah is ani ricchere þen þu mi leof þat rixles in heuene. þu art kid keiser þat al þis werld wrahtes. for as te hali prophete dauid cwiddes. drihtines is te eorðe. and al þat hit fulles werld and al þat trin wuneð. Heuene wið þe murhðes and ta unimete blisses. Al is tin mi sweting. and al þu wilt ȝiue me ȝif i þe riht luuie. Ne mai i na man ȝiue mi luue to swettere biȝete. Halde iwile þa to þe mi leof for þe self luue þe seluen. and for þi luue leten alle oðre þinges þat min herte fram þi luue mihte drahe and turnen. A Ihesu swete ihesu leoue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 128a] hwat is ahte and weorldes wele wurð wið|uten fredom? And hwa is frerre þen þu? For first þu mades al þis werld and dides hit under mine fet. and makedes me lauedi ouer alle þine schaftes þat tu schop on eorðe. Bote Ich hit rewli fordide þurh-hut mine sunnes. Ah lest ine al forlesede þu ȝef þe seluen for me to lese me fra pine Þenne ȝif i ani wile for largesce luue; luue iwile þe ihesu crist largest ouer oðre. For oðre largemen ȝiuen þise uttre þinges. bute þu swete ihesu for me ȝef þe seluen. þat tin ahne heorte blod ne cuðes tu wið-halde. Derre druri ne ȝef neauer na lefmon to oðer. And tu þat erst me ȝef al þe seluen; þu hafdes me heht mi lefmon to þe ȝiue al me seluen. to rixlen o þi rihthond crunet wið þe seluen. Hwa is ta largere þen þu. Hwa for largesce is betere wurð to beo luued þen þu mi luue lif. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote largesce is lutel wurð þer wisdom wontes. And ȝif þat iwile animon luue for wisdom; nis nan wisere þen þu þat art wisedom cald of þi fader in heuene. For he þurh þe þat wisdom art al þis world wrahte and dihteð hit and dealeð as hit best semeð. Inwið þe mi leue lif is hord of alle wisedom hid as te bok witnesses. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote moni man þurh his strengðe and hardischipe ek makes him luued and ȝerned. And is ani swa hardi swa artu? Nai. for þu þe ane dreddes nawt wið þin anre deore bodi to fihte aȝaines alle þe ahefulle deueles of helle. þat hwuch of ham swa is lest laðeliche. and grureful. Page 273 mihte he swuch as he is to monkin him scheawe; al þe world were offeard him ane to bihalde for ne mihte na mon him seo and in his wit wunie. bute ȝif þe grace [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 128b] and te strengðe of crist baldede his heorte. þu art ȝette her wið swa unimete mihti þat wið þi deorewurðe hond nailet on rode; þu band ta helle dogges. and reftes ham hare praie þat tai hefden grediliche gripen and helden hit faste for adames sunne. þu kene kidde kempe robbedes helle hus. lesedes tine prisuns and riddes ham ut of cwalm hus and leddes ham wið þe self to þi ȝimmede bur. bold of eche blisse. forþi of þe mi lefmon was soðliche quiddet. Drihti[n] is mahti strong and kene ifihte. And for þi ȝif me likes stalewurðe lefmon; luue iwile þe ihesu strongest ouer alle. þat þi maht felle mine starke sawle fan. and te strengðe of þe helpe mi muchele wacnesse. and hardischipe of þe balde min herte. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Ah noble men and gentile and of heh burðe ofte winnen luue lihtliche cheape. for ofte moni wummon letes hire mensket þurh þe luue of wepmon þat is of heh burðe. þenne swete ihesu up o hwat herre mon mai i mi luue sette. hwer mai i gentiller mon chese þen þe þat art te kinges sune þat tis world wealdes. and king and euene wið þi fader. king ouer kinges lauerd ouer lauerdes And ȝette onont ti monhad born þu wes of marie meiden mildest o mod. kine bearn of burðe. of dauiðes kin þe king. of Abrahames streone. Hehere burðe þen þis nis nan under sunne. Luue iwile þe þa swete ihesu as te gentileste lif þat eauer liuede on eorðe. alswa for in al þi lif neauer na leaste nes ifunden. mi deore lefmon lasteles. and tat com þe of burðe. and of foster alswa. þu þat eauer wunedest i þe hurd of heouene. [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 129] A mi deorewurðe druð swa gentile and swa hende. ne þole me neauer mi luue nohwer to sette o karlische þinges. ne eorðli þing ne fleschli aȝaines te ȝerne ne luue aȝain þi wille. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Meknesse and mildschipe makes mon eihwer luued. and tu mi leue ihesu for þi mikle meknesse to lamb was euenet. For aȝaines al þe woh and te schome þat tu þoledest. and aȝaines al þe wa and te pinfule wundes; neauer ne opnedes ti muð Page 275 to grucchen aȝaines. and ȝette þe schome and te woh þat te sunefule of þe world euch dai don þe; mildeliche þu þolest hit. ne wrekes tu þe nawt sone after ure Gultes Bote longe abides bote þurh ut ti milce. Þenne þi deboneirschipe mai make þe eihwer luued. and for þi is riht þat i luue þe. and leaue alle oðre for þe. for muchel þu haues ti milce toward me scheawed. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge. Bote for þi þat sibbe frend kindeliche euchan luues oðer; þu schruddes te wið ure flesch. nam of hire flesch mon born of wummon þi flesch nam of hire flesch wið uten meane of wepmon. nam wið þat ilke flesch fulliche monnes cunde to þolen al þat mon mai þole. Don al þat mon deð wið uten sunne ane. for sunne and unwitschipe ne hafdes tu nowðer. Þenne aȝaines kinde Gað hwa þat swuche kinsemon ne luueð and leueð. And for þi þat trewere luue ah beo imong breðre þu monnes broðer bicom of an fader wið alle þoa þat cleneliche singen. Pater noster. Bute þu þurhut kinde. and we þurhut grace. and mon of þat ilke flesch þat we beren on eorðe. A. hwam mai he luue treweliche hwa ne luues his broðer. Þenne hwa se þe ne luues; he is mon unwreastest Nu mi swete ihesu. leaued haue i for þi luue flesches sibnesse [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 129b] and ȝette borne breðre hauen me forwurpen. bote ne recches me na þing hwils þat i þe halde. for i þe ane mai ich alle frend finden. þu art me mare þen fader. mare þen moder. Broðer suster. oðre frend narn nawiht aȝaines te to tellen. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te. &c. Þenne þu wið þi fairnesse. þu wið richesce. þu wið largesce. þu wið wit and wisdom. þu wið maht and strengðe. þu wið no|blesce and hendeleic. þu wið meknesse and mildeschipe and mikel debonairte. þu wið sibnesse. þu wið alle þe þinges þat man mai luue wið bugge; haues mi luue chepet. Ah ouer alle oðre þinges makes te luuewurði to me þa harde atele hurtes. þa schomeliche wohes þat tu þoledes for me. þi bittre pine and passiun. þi derue deað o rode telles riht in al mi luue. calenges al mi heorte. Ihesu mi liues luue. min herte swetnesse. þre fan fihten aȝaines me. and ȝet mai ich sare for hare duntes drede. and bihoues þurh þi grace ȝapliche to wite me. þe werld mi flesch. þe deouel. Page 277 Þe world to make me þewe. Mi fles; to make me hore. Þe deuel þurh ut þise twa to drahe me to helle. Arh ich was meself and wah and neh dune fallen. and mine fan derue. swa bucchede and swa kene þat hwen þai sehen me swa wak and swa forhuhande and buhande toward ham. þei swiðre sohten uppo me. and wenden of me wrecche haue maked al hare ahen and hefden forsoðe maked. nere helpe nere þe nerre. Þai grennede for gladschipe euchan toward oðer as wode wulues þat fainen of hare praie. Bote þer þurh under|stonde i þat tu wult haue me to lefmon and to spuse. þat tu ne þoledes ham noht fulli fainen of me. and alle gate haue wurpen me in schome and in sinne. and ter after in to pine. Bote þer þe bale was alre meast. swa was te bote nehest. Þu biheld al þis and tu allegate seh þat ine mihte stonde aȝain hare [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 130] wilfulle crokes þurh wit oðer strengðe þat wes in me seluen. Bot neh hefde i fulliche buhed til alle mine þre fan. þu com me to helpe. feng to fihte for me. and riddes me fram deaðes hus sorhe and pine of helle. Þu biddes me bihalde hu þu faht for me. þat i pouerte of worlde ne schome of wicke monnes muð for uten mine Gulte. ne secnesse of mi bodi. ne flesches pine drede. hwen þat i bihalde hu þu was poure for me. hu þu was schent and schomet for me; and atte laste wið pineful deað henged orode. Ihesu mi liues luue riche ar tu as lauerd in heuene and in eorðe. and tah poure þu*. [MS. þi.] bicom for me. westi and wrecched Poure þu born was of þe meiden þi moder. for þenne iþi burð tid in al þe burh of belleem ne fant tu hus lewe þer þine nesche childes limes inne mihte reste. Bot in a waheles hus imiddes þe strete. Poure þu wunden was irattes and i clutes and caldeliche dennet in a beastes cribbe. Bote swa þu eldere wex; swa þu pourere was. For i þi childhad hafdes tu þe pappe to þi fode. and ti moder readi hwen þu pappe ȝerndes. Bote hwen þu eldere was. þu þat fuhel ofluht. fisch iflod folc on eorðe fedes; þoledes for wone of mete moni hat hungre as clerkes witerliche in god|spel reden. and tu þat heuene and eorðe and al þis werld wrahtes. nauedes in al þis werld hwer þu o þin ahen þi heaued Page 279 mihtes reste. Bote baðe ȝung and eldre alle Gate þu hafdes hwer þu mihtes wrihe þine banes. Ah atte laste of þi lif hwen þu for me swa rewliche hengedes on rode. ne hafdes in al þis world hwer wið þat blisfule blodi bodi þu mihtes hule and huide. and swa mi swete lefmon poure þu þe self was. and te poure*. [MS. þoure.] þu raðeste cheas. pouerte þu luuedes. pouerte þu tahtes. and ȝiuen þu haues echeliche þin endelese blisse. til alle þat clenli for þi luue mesaise and pouerte wilfulliche þolien. A hu schulde i beo riche. and tu mi leof swa poure; for þi swete [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 130b] ihesu crist wile i beo poure for þe; as tu was for þe luue of me. for to beo riche wið þe i þin eche blisse. for wið pouerte and wið wa schal mon wele buggen. A ihesu swete ihesu leue þat te &c. Bote po|uerte wið menske is eað for to þolien. Ah þu mi lef for mi luue wið al þi pouerte was schomeliche heaned. for hu mon þe ofte seide schomeliche wordes and haðfule hokeres. long weren hit al to tellen. Bote muche schome þu þoledes. hwen þu þat neauer sunne dides; was taken as untreowe. Broht biforen sinfule men þa heaðene hundes of ham to beo demet. þat demere art of werlde. Þer þu bote of mon kin schomeliche was demed. and te monquellere fra deðes dom was lesed. For as i þe godspel is writen. alle þai crieden o wode wulues wise Heng heng þat treitur ihesus on rode. Heng him o rode. and lese us Baraban. was tat barabas a þeof þat wið tresun i þe burh hafde a mon cwelled. bote mare schome þu þoledes hwen þat te sunefule men i þi neb spitted. A ihesu hwa mihte mare þolen cristen oðer heaðen; þen mon him for schendlac i þe beard spitted. And tu i þi welefulle wlite. i þat lufsume leor swuche schome þoledes. And al þe menske þuhte for þe luue of me. þat tu mihtes wið þat spatel þat swa biclarted *. [MS. biclar|ied.] ti leor wasche mi sawle. and make hit hwit and schene and semlike i þi sihte. and for þi þu biddes me her up on þenche. Scito, quoniam propter te sus|tinui oprobrium operuit confusio faciem meam. Vnderstond þu seist and herteliche þenke þat i for þe luue of þe þolede schome and bismere. and schomeliche spateling of unwurði ribauz þa heaðene hundes hilede mi neb for þe. As tah he seide. ne dred tu nawt Page 281 for þe of me to þole schome of worlde wið ute þine Gulte. Bote schome ouer schomes [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 131] þoledes tu hwen þu wes henged bituhhe twa þeofes. As hwa se seie. He þis is mare þen þeof. And for þi as hare meister he henges ham bituhhen. A ihesu mi liues luue hwat herte ne mai to breke hwen ha herof þenches hu þu þat menske art of al mon kin. of alle bales bote. mon for to menske swuch schome þoledes. Mon spekes ofte of wundres and of selcuðes þat misliche and monifald hauen bifallen. bote þis was te measte wunder þat eauer bifel on eorðe. ȝa wunder ouer wundres þat tat kidde keiser cruned in heuene. schuppere of alle schaftes. for to mensken hise fan. walde henge bituhhe twa þeoues. A ihesu swete ihesu þat tu wes schent for mi luue leue þat te luue of þe &c. Inoh were pouerte and schome wið uten oðre pines bote ne þuhte þe neauer mi liues luue. þat tu mihtes fulliche mi frendschipe buggen hwils*. [MS. hwilf.] þe lif þe lasted A. deore cheap hefdes tu on me. ne was neauer unwurði þing chepet swa deore. Al þi lif on eorðe wes iswink for me swa lengre swa mare Ah bifore þin ending swa unimeteliche þu swanc and swa sare þat reade blod þu swattes for as. seint luk seið i þe godspel. þu was i swa strang a swing þat te swat as blodes dropes eorn dune to þe eorðe. Bute hwat tunge mai hit telle. hwat heorte mai hit þenche for sorhe and for reowðe of alle þa buffetes and ta bali duntes þat tu þoledest i þin earst niminge hwen þat iudas scharioth brohte þa helle bearnes þe to taken and bringen biforen hare princes. hu ha þe bunden swa [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 131b] hetelifaste þat te blod wrang ut at tine finger neiles as halhes bileuen and bunden ledden rewli and dintede unrideli o rug and o schuldres. and bifore þe princes buffeted and beten. Siðen bifore pilat hu þu was naket bunden faste to þe piler. þat tu ne mihtes nowhwider wrenche fra þa duntes. þer þu wes for mi luue wið cnotti swepes swungen swa þat ti luueliche lich mihte beo to torn and to rent. and al þi blisfule bodi streamed on a Girre blod. Siðen o þin heaued wes set te crune of scharpe þornes. þat wið eauriche þorn wrang ut te reade blod of þin heali heaued. Siðen ȝette buffetet and to dunet i þe heaued wið þe red ȝerde þat te was ear in honde ȝiuen þe on hoker|ringe. Page 283 A hwat schal i nu don? Nu min herte mai to breke. min ehne flowen al o water. A nu is mi lefmon demd for to deien. A nu mon ledes him forð to munte caluarie to þe cwalm stowe. A lo he beres his rode up on his bare schuldres. and lef þa duntes drepen me þat tai þe dunchen and þrasten þe forðward swiðe toward ti dom. A lefmon hu mon folhes te. þine frend sariliche wið reming and sorhe. þine fend hokerliche to schome and wundren up o þe. A nu haue þai broht him þider. A nu raise þai up þe rode. Setis up þe warh treo. A nu nacnes mon mi lef A. nu driuen ha him up wið swepes and wið schurges. A hu liue i for reowðe þat seo mi*. [? nu.] mi lefmon up o rode. and swa to drahen hise limes þat i mai in his bodi euch ban tellen. A hu þat ha nu driuen irnene neiles þurh þine feire hondes in to hard rode þurh þine freoliche fet. A nu of þa honden and of þa fet swa luueli. streames te blod swa rewli. A nu beden ha mi leof þat seið þat him þristes; aisille surest alre drinch menged wið galle þat is þing bittrest. Twa*. [MS. Ewa.] Bale drinch i blodleting swa sur and swa bittre. bote ne drinkes he hit noht. A nu swete ihesu. ȝet up on al þi wa ha eken schome and bismer. lahhen þe to hokere þer þu o rode hengest. þu mi luueliche lef þer þu wið strahte [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 132] earmes henges o rode; was reowðe to rihtwise. lahter to þe luðere. And tu þat al þe world fore mihte drede and diuere; was unwreste folk of world to hoker lahter. A þat luuelike bodi þat henges swa rewli swa blodi and swa kalde. A hu schal i nu liue for nu deies mi lef for me up o þe deore rode? Henges dun his heaued and sendes his sawle. Bote ne þinche ham nawt ȝet þat he is ful pinet. ne þat rewfule deade bodi nulen ha nawt friðie. Bringen forð longis wið þat brade scharpe spere. He þurles his side cleues tat herte. and cumes flowinde ut of þat wide wunde. þe blod þat bohte. þe water þat te world wesch of sake and of sunne. A swete ihesu þu oppnes me þin herte for to cnawe witerliche and in to reden trewe luue lettres. for þer i mai openlich seo hu muchel þu me luuedes. Wið wrange schuldi þe min heorte wearnen siðen þat tu bohtes herte for herte. Lauedi moder and meiden þu stod here ful neh and seh al þis sorhe vpo þi deore|wurðe Page 285 sune. was wiðinne martird iþi moderliche herte. þat seh to cleue his heorte wið þe speres ord. Bote lafdi for þe Ioie þat tu hefdes of his ariste þe þridde dai þer after; leue me vnderstonde þi dol and herteli to felen sum hwat of þe sorhe þat tu þa hefdes and helpe þe to wepe. þat i wið him and wið þe muhe i min ariste o domes dai gladien and wið ȝu beon i blisse þat he me swa bitterliche wið his blod bohte. Ihesu swete ihesu þus tu faht for me aȝaines mine sawle fan. þu me derennedes wið like. and makedes of me wrecche þi leofmon and spuse. Broht tu haues me fra þe world to bur of þi burðe. steked me i chaumbre. I mai þer þe swa sweteli kissen and cluppen. and of þi luue haue gastli likinge. A swete ihesu mi liues luue wið þi blod þu haues me boht. and fram þe world þu haues me broht. Bote nu mai i seggen wið þe salmewrihte. Quid retribuam domino pro omnibus que retribuit michi. Lauerd hwat mai i ȝelde þe for al þat tu haues ȝiuen me. Hwat mai þole for þe for al þat tu þoledes for me? Ah me [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 132b] bihoueð þat tu beo eað to paie. a wrecche bodi and a wac bere ich ouer eorðe. and tat swuch as hit is haue ȝiuen and ȝiue wile to þi seruise. Mi bodi henge wið þi bodi neiled o rode. sperred querfaste wið inne fowr wahes and henge i wile wið þe and neauer mare of mi rode cume til þat i deie. For þenne schal i lepen fra rode in to reste. fra wa to wele and to eche blisse A. ihesu swa swet hit is wið þe to henge. for hwen þat i seo o þe þat henges me biside; þe muchele swetnesse of þe; reaues me fele of pine. Bote swete ihesu hwat mai mi bodi aȝaines tin for ȝif ich mihte a þusand fald ȝiue þe me seluen nere hit nowt onont te þat ȝef þe seluen for me. And ȝet ich haue an heorte unwrest and unwurði and westi and poure of alle gode þeawes and tat swuch as hit is; tac hit to þe nu leue lif wið treowe luuenesse. and ne þole me neauer nan oðer þing aȝain þi wille luuie for ne mai ich nowhwer mi luue bettre sette þen o þe ihesu crist þat bohtes hit swa dere. nis nan swa wurði to beo luued as tu swete ihesu þat in þe haues alle þing hwer fore mon ah beo luuewurði to oðer. þu art best wurð mi luue þat for mi luue deidest. ȝette ȝif þat i mi luue bede for to selle. and sette Page 287 feor þer upon swa hehe swa ich eauer wile; ȝette þu wult hit habbe and teken al þat tu haues ȝiuen; wil tu eke mare. and ȝif i þe riht luuie. wilt me crune in heuene wið þe self to rixlen werld in to werlde A ihesu swete ihesu mi luue. mi lef. mi lif. mi luue leuest þat swa muchel luuedes me þat tu deides for luue of me and fra þe world haues broht [MS. Cotton Titus D. 18. folio 133] me. and ti spuse haues maked me. and al þi blisse haues heht me; leue þat te luue of þe beo al mi likinge.
Prei for me mi leue suster. þis haue i writen þe for þi þat wordes ofte quemen þe heorte to þenken on ure lauerd And for þi hwen þu art on eise carpe toward ihesu and seie þise wordes. and þenc as tah he heng biside þe blodi up o rode. And he þurh his grace opn[e] þin heorte to his luue and to reowðe of his pine.