Part 20

Than seide Ih{es}u to seynt Iohan, “For my loue kepe wel þis wo{m}man. 52 Kepe hure wel w{i}t{h} al þi myȝt, That no man do hure vnryȝt.” ¶ Þan nam þe apostel, seynt Iohan, On his kepynge þis wo{m}man. 56 He kept hure wel w{i}t{h} al his myȝt, That no man do hure none vnryȝt.[A-1]

[Footnote A-1: MS. viryȝt]

In to þe te{m}ple mid hire he nam, {And} also sone so he þar cam, Amo{n}g þe lefdis in þe stede, God to s{er}ui he hire dude. 56

To þe temple he hure nam, And also sone as he þer cam, 60 God to serue he hure dede, Amonge þe nu{n}nes in þat stede.

Þ{er} bilefte heo al hure lif; Ne louede he noþ{er} fiȝt ne st{ri}f, Þeo þ{a}t in þe temple were, Ne miȝte noȝt hire forbere. 60 Wiþ al hure miȝte þe while heo was þore, Heo s{er}uede boþe lasse {and} more; Poure {and} sike he dude god, {And} seruede he{m} to hond {and} fot. 64

Ther sche bileft al hure lyfe, Ne loued sche noþ{er} fiȝt ne stryf. 64 ¶ The ladies þat þ{er} Inne weren, Ful wel þei ne myȝt hure forberen, For eu{er} þe while sche was þore, Sche wolde serue las {and} more. 68 Seke {and} hole sche dide gode And seruede hem to hande {and} fote.

Poure {and} hu{n}grie wel faire he fedde, {And} sike heo broȝte in here bedde. Nas þ{er} non so hol ne fer, Þ{a}t to hire nadde mester. 68 Hi louede hure alle wiþ here miȝte, For heo seruede he{m} wel riȝte.

Naked {and} hungry sche cloþed {and} fedde; Colde {and} seke sche brouȝt to bedde. 72 [Sidenote: [leaf 63, back]] Ne was þ{er} noþ{er} seke ne fere, That þei nadde to hure mystere. Thei louede hure wel w{i}t{h} al here myȝt; Sche it serued {and} þat was ryȝt. 76

He wakede more þane slep; Hire sone to s{er}ui was al hire kep. 72 To him heo clupede wiþ Murie steuene, {And} hire he sente an au{n}gel fram heu{e}ne, Te gladie hire him self he cam, Crist þ{a}t fless of hire nam. 76

Sche woke more þan sche slepe; Hure sone to serue was al hure kepe, To hym sche callid w{i}t{h} rewful steuene, And he hure sent an angel fro heuene, 80 To glade hure, hym self he cam, That of hure bodi flesche nam.

[Headnote: _Christ sends to Mary an angel messenger._]

¶ Sei{n}t Ion hire kepte {and} was hire dere; He was hire eure a trewe fere. Nolde he neure fram hire gon; Al þ{a}t heo wolde he dude anon. 80 Þe whiles hi were in þ{a}t stede, Al þ{a}t heo wolde he hit dede. Whane heo hadde beo þ{er} longe, Ten wynt{er}e he{m} amonge, 84 Hire sone wolde heo come hym to, Whane he hit wolde, hit was ido.

Seynt Io{ha}n hure kep{er} was hure dere, And to hure was a trewe fere. 84 Ne wolde he neu{er} fro hure gone; Al þat sche wolde he wolde done. While sche was in þat stede, Al þat sche wolde he hure dede. 88 When sche hadde þ{er} longe ben, That faire ladi, heuene quen, Than wolde hure sone sche com hi{m} to. When he wolde, hit was do. 92

¶ He sente hire on Au{n}gel of heuene, {And} grette hire wiþ murie steuene. 88 In þe temple he bad hire bede; Þ{er} liȝte þe au{n}gel i{n} þ{a}t stede, {And} sede, “lefdi ful of grace,

He sent to hure an angel of heuene, That gret hure w{i}t{h} myry steuene, Ther sche was {and} bad hure bede, Lyȝth an angel in þat stede, 96 [Sidenote: [leaf 64]] And seide, “ladi, ful of g{ra}ce,

[Headnote: _The angel announces that Mary will be summoned to heaven._]

“Wel þe beo in eche place. 92 Ne beo noȝt of drad þeȝ ihc beo her; Ihc am þi sones Messager. Fram hym to þe ihc am icome Þe grette wel þi dere sone. 96 Flur of erþe, of heuene quen, Iblessed mote þu eure ben.

“Blessed be þou in eche place. Be nouȝt adrad þouȝ I be here; I am þi sones messagere. 100 Fro hym I am to þee come; He gret þee wel, þi dere sone. Floure of erþe, heuene quene, Blessed mote þ{o}u euer bene. 104

Wel beo þe time þ{a}t þu were ibore, For al þis wordle were forlore; 100 Ef þu nere {and} þ{a}t frut of þe, Marie lefdi, wel þe be. Lefdi, best of alle þinge, Wel bliþe bode ihc þe bringe, 104 Nym þis palm wiþ þi riȝt honde; Hit is þi dere sones sonde.

Wel be þat tyme þat þ{o}u was born, For al þis worlde hit was forlorn, Ȝif þou ne were {and} þe fruyt of þee; Marie, ladi, wel þee be. 108 Ladi, best of al þinge, Bliþe tiþynges I þee brynge, Thou take þis palme þ{a}t I brynge þee; Thi dere sone haþ sent it þee. 112

He þinkeþ lo{n}g hym to se; Ne schaltu her no leng{er} beo. 108 He wile senden aft{er} þe, Fram heuene adun of his meigne, {And} fecche þe in to his blisse, Þ{a}t eure schal leste wiþute misse. 112 Þer he is kyng þu schalt beo quen; Al heuene for þe schal bliþe beon.”

The þynkeþ longe hi{m} to see; Ther fore most I no lengere be, He schal sende after þee Of heuene ferde moche plente, 116 And brynge þee in to his blisse, That euer was {and} now is. Þer he is kyng, þou schalt be quene; Al heuen ryche bliþe schal bene. 120 [Sidenote: [leaf 64, back]] And alle him þenkeþ swiþe longe Til þou comest hem amonge.”

¶ Þa{n}ne ansuaredi vre lefdi, To þe au{n}gel þat stod hire by, 116 “Artu Mi sones Messager, Þ{a}t bringest me þis greting her? Haþ he set me any day Aȝenes þ{a}t ihc me greþi may, 120 {And} nyme lyue of mine kenesmen, {And} myne frend þ{a}t wiþ me beon, {And} of him þ{a}t haþ me cloþed {and} fed, {And} don also my sone hym bed?” 124

Than answerede oure ladi, And seide to þe angel, “belamy, 124 Art þou my sones massagere, That bryngest me þis bodes here? Haueþ he me sette any day, Aȝens when I me greithe may, 128 W{i}t{h} my frendes {and} my kynnes men, And w{i}t{h} hem þat I in erþe haue ben, And hem þ{a}t I haue fedde {and} clad, And don al þat my sone hem bad?” 132

¶ Þo sede þe aungel, “ihc telle þe; Þu ne schalt beo her bute daȝes þre. Þe þridde day we schulle come, Au{n}gles f{ra}m heuene aboue, 128 “And fette þe wiþ m{ur}ye song; For aft{er} þe us þinket long.”

Tho seide þe angel, “I sei þee; Thou schalt be here but daies þre. The þridde dai we schal come, Alle ix. ordres fram heuen a boue, 136 “And fecche þee with myry songe; For after þee vs þinketh longe.”

¶ Þanne ansuarede vre lefdy, “What is þi name, belamy?” 132 He sede, “my name ne telle ihc þe noȝt; Bute nym þis palm þ{a}t ihc habbe þe broȝt {And} kep hit wel ihc bidde þe; Ne let hit neure f{ra}m þe be. 136

To þat aungel seide oure ladi, “What is þi name, þat standeþ me bi?” 140 “My name seie I þee nouȝt; But take þis palme þ{a}t I haue brouȝt. Kepe it wel, I bidde þee, Ne lete it neu{er} be fro þee. 144

I ne dar no le{n}g dwelle her, For ihc was sent as Messager. To þe apostles ihc schal gon, {And} bidde he{m} alle, eurech on, 140 Þ{a}t hi beon her þe þridde day; No leng abiden I ne may.”

[Sidenote: [leaf 65]] Ne mai I no lengere abide here, For I am sent a massagere. I schal to þe apostles sone anone, And seie to hem sundry, on {and} one, 148 That þei ben here þe þridde dai; No leng{er}e abide I ne mai.”

[Headnote: _Mary attires herself, then prays to her Son._]

¶ Þo he hadde ydon, to heuene he steȝ; Marie abod {and} was wel sleȝ, 144 {And} na{m} þ{a}t palm þ{a}t hire was broȝt, {And} of þ{a}t bode heo hadde gret þoȝt, In to hire Chau{m}bre stille he nam; {And} so sone so heo þar cam, 148 He dude of al hire hat{er}e, {And} wessch hire body wyþ clene wat{er}e, Þo heo hauede so idon, Al y newe schrud heo dude hire on. 152

When he had iseide, to heuene he steie; And marie þ{er} bi-left he. 152 [_No gap in MS._] Vn-til hure chambre sone sche nam; And also sone as sche þider cam, Sche dide of hure cloþes alle, And wasche hure w{i}t{h} wat{er} of wille. 156 So sone as sche hadde dou{n}, Newe cloþes sche dide hure apou{n}.

Þo heo was schurd {and} faire iclad, To ih{es}u c{ri}st abone heo bad, {And} sede, “sone, ihc þonky þe Þ{a}t þu hauest iþoȝt of me. 156 Sone, þu ert of heuene kyng, Ihc bidde þe þi blessing; Sone, for þin holy name, Schild me fram pine {and} fram schame, 160 Þ{a}t þe deuel ne habbe no myȝt;

When sche was faire schred {and} clad, To ih{es}u cryst aboue sche bad, 160 And seide, “sone, I þanke þee, That þou hast yþouȝt on me, My sone, þat is heuene kynge, I p{ra}ie þee of þi blessing. 164 Sone, for þyn hye name, Schelde my bodi fro payne {and} schame, That þe deuel haue no myȝt;

To derie me hit were vnriȝt. Sone, help me nu ihc haue ned, Þat ine haue of þe feond no dred, 164 For wiþ þe giles þ{a}t he can, He bit{ra}ieþ many man.

To reyue þee hit were no ryȝt. 168 [Sidenote: [leaf 65, back]] Kepe me, sone; now is nede That I ne haue of þe deuel no drede. For with þe wiles þat he can, He bigileþ many a man. 172

[Headnote: _She announces her departure to her friends._]

“Leue sone, ne ȝef him noȝt, Þ{a}t þu hauest so dere iboȝt. 168 Sune, þu art ful of pite; For senful manne bid ihc þe, Þ{a}t þu for þin holy g{ra}ce, ȝef he{m} boþe wille {and} space, 172

“Leue sone, ȝeue hym nouȝt Man kynde þat þou hast bouȝt. Mi sone, þat art ful of pite, For man kynne I p{ra}ie þee, 176 That þou, for þi holi g{ra}ce, Ȝeue hem boþe myȝt {and} space,

Hem to am{en}dy er hy beo ded, Þ{a}t þe deuel he{m} do no qued. Þenk, sone, þ{a}t þu hast hem wroȝt, {And} þ{a}t þu hauest hem dere iboȝt. 176 For he{m} þu þoledest pine {and} wo; Wite he{m} wel f{ra}m here fo.”

Hem to amende or þei ben dede, That þei haue of þe deuel no drede. 180 Thynke, leue sone, þ{o}u hast he{m} wrouȝt, And dere þat þou hast hem bouȝt.”

¶ Þo heo hadde bisoȝt so, Hire frend he clupede hire to, 180 Boþe sibbe {and} fremde Men, Wiþ reuful speche heo spak wiþ he{m}, And sede, “leue frend, my sone Nele no leng þ{a}t ihc her wone; 184 He wile ihc wende {and} mid him be.

When sche hadde p{ra}ied so, Hure frendes sche callid hure to, 184 [_No gap in MS._] Hure sibbe {and} hure kynnes men. W{i}t{h} reuful steuene sche spak to he{m}, An seide, “leue frendes, my sone Wol no leng{er} þat I here wone. 188 He wol þat I with hi{m} be;

And bidde ihc ȝou p{ar} charite, Ȝef ihc habbe eny þing mis wroȝt, Telleȝ hit me, ne heleþ hit noȝt. 188 Ihc wulle ame{n}de, {and} þ{a}t is riȝt Þ{a}t my saule ne beo idriȝt.

Where fore I p{ra}ie ȝow p{ar} charite, Ȝif I any þinge haue mys wrouȝt, Seieþ me now; for-hele ȝe nouȝt. 192 [Sidenote: [leaf 66]] I it wole amende with my myȝt, That my soule haue no vnplyȝt,

Þat god ȝe habbeþ me ydon, Mi sone þ{a}t was in rode ydon, 192 Man to bigge fram þe ded, Ȝelde hit ȝou at ower ned, {And} bringe ȝou in to þat blis Þ{a}t eure ilest þar my sone is.” 196

The good þat ȝe haue dou{n} me, My sone þat was doun on þe tree, 196 Man to bigge fro þe quede, He ȝelde it ȝow at ȝoure nede, And brynge ȝow in to his blis, Ther I schal be {and} my sone is.” 200

¶ Alle þ{a}t stoden hire by, Of þ{a}t tiþinge were sory, {And} sede, “lefdi, hu mai hit be? Hu schulle we liue wiþ oute{n} þe? 200 [_No gap in MS._] Lefdi dere, what hastu þoȝt? Reu of vs; ne wend þou noȝt. “In soreȝe {and} in Muche wo Schulle we lyue beo þu vs fro.” 204

++Alle þat weren hure bi, Off suche tiþinges weren sori, And saide, “lady, how mai þis be? How schulle we lyuen w{i}t{h} oute þee? 204 Ladi, þou hast vs serued so; Alas, how schulle we p{ar}te a two? Swete ladi, what is þi þouȝt? Rewe on vs; departe vs nouȝt. 208 “In moche sorwe {and} in myche wo Schulle we lyue, be þou a go.”

[Headnote: _John comes and inquires the cause of her grief._]

¶ Þanne spak vre lefdy To hem þ{a}t were hire by, “Leteȝ beon; ower wepinge ne helpeþ noȝt; Habbeþ ioye in ower þoȝt. 208 Þe while ihc am her, wakeþ wiþ me; Hit doþ me god þ{a}t ihc ȝou se.

Þan answerede oure ladi To þat folke þat stode hure bi, 212 “Lateþ be ȝo{ur} greding~ hit helpeþ noȝt; And haueþ blis in ȝoure þouȝt. Whiles I am here, wakeþ w{i}t{h} me; Hit doþ me good þat I ȝow se. 216

Nabbeþ no drede ac witeþ hit wel; Of pine ne schal ihc þole no del. 212 Ne schal no soreȝ come me to, For my sone hit wule so, Mi body ne schal no pine þole, For he was þ{er} of ibore, 216 He þolede pine him self for me, Þo he deide vpon þe tre.

[Sidenote: [leaf 66, back]] Haueþ no drede in wel; Of peyne schal I þole no del. [_No gap in MS._] Mi bodi mai no peyne þolen, For he was þ{er} of y-boren. 220 He þoled deþ him self for me; He honged nailed on þe tree.

He þ{a}t is almiȝtful kyng, Schal me sende of his geng. 220 Ioh{a}n {and} þe apostles, whei hy be, Alle hi schulle come to me.”

Mi sone þat is kyng~ of heuene, Schal me sende worde wel euene; 224 Ioh{a}n {and} þe apostles, where so þei bene, Schulle alle come for to sene.”

Þe while he spac þus to þis men, Of al þ{a}t þing nuste noȝt Ion. 224 He com to speke wiþ vre lefdi, {And} hym þuste heo was sori,

As sche so spak to þe mon, Off al þat wist nouȝt seynt Ion. 228 He come to speke w{i}t{h} oure ladi; Ferli him þouȝt þat sche was sory,

And sede, “lefdy, what is þe? For my s{er}uise tel hit me. 228 Lefdi, what is þe ised? Me were leffre to beo ded, Þane iseo þe make such chere. What is þe, my lefdi dere? 232 [_No gap in MS._] Ne schal ihc neure habbe blis, Fort þ{a}t ihc wite what þe is.”

And seide, “ladi, what is þee? What is þis folk þat I here se? 232 Seie me, ladi, what is þee?” he sede; “For me were leu{er} þat I were dede, Than I þee se suche semblau{n}t make, “For schal I neu{er} suche a ladi take. 236 Hastou ouȝt herde þat I ne can, Off me or of any oþ{er} man? Schal I neu{er} haue blis Til I wite, ladi, what þee is.” 240

[Headnote: _Mary consoles John._]

Vre lefdi wep {and} Ioh{a}n also; Trewe loue was bituex he{m} tuo. 236 “Lefdi,” he sede, “what is þe? For my loue, tel hit me.” Marie ansuerde wiþ Milde steu[ene], “A sonde Me ca{m} while er fram h[euene], 240

_The MS. ends here. Continued from Harl. MS. 2382._

[Sidenote: [leaf 67]] Oure ladi wept and Ioh{a}n also, For trewe loue was bitwene he{m} two. Ioh{a}n seide, “ladi, what is þee? For þi sones loue, seie þou me.” 244 Marie answerde w{i}t{h} rewful steuene, And seide, “me cam bode fram heuene,

_Harl. MS. 2382, lf. 78, bk._

fro my sone a messynger; he wołł no leng{er} that y be here. but y wote that rueth me, that y shałł dep{ar}te fro the; 244 for thi loue and thi s{er}uice that thu me dost in al wise. thu hast made me ofte glad; thu has don{e} as my sone bad. 248 my sone shal it yelde to the; y wol hym p{ra}y when y hym se.”

Fro my sone a massagere; He wol no lengere þat I be here, 248 Wite þou wel hit rewiþ me That I schal, Ioh{a}n, p{ar}te fram þee. For þi loue {and} þi seruyce That þou hast dou{n} on eche wise, 252 Thou hast me boþe fed {and} clad, And doun also my sone þee bad. My sone schal it wel ȝelde þee; I schal him telle when I him se.” 256

[Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es] Tho answerd to her{e} seynt Ioh{a}n, and was a fułł sory man~, 252 “A, lady Marie, what shal y be when y shałł the no leng{er} se? my ioye thu art eu{er}y dełł; no leng{er} in erthe worth y wełł, 256 now we shul dep{ar}te a two.”

Than answerde seynt Iohan, That was a ful sori man, And seide, “ladi, how mai þis be That I schal þee no more se? 260 Mi ioie, my blis, is do{u}n eche del; Ne schal me neu{er} worþen wel, Sithen we ben p{ar}ted atwo.”

[Sidenote: Maria] Then seid Marie, “whi seist þ{o}u so? for sothe, thogh y go be-fore, yet shal thu not be for-lore. 260 y shall p{ra}y my lef sone, that thu may vnto vs come. And o thyng, Ioh{an}, y bidde the, [Sidenote: [leaf 79]] for the loue thu hast to me, 264

Þo seide our ladi, “why saistou so? 264 [Sidenote: [leaf 67, back]] Wite þou wel, I go be-forn; Thi seruyse schal noȝt be forlorn; I schal to my sone seie of þee That þou with hym {and} me schal be. 268 But herestou now, my frende Io{ha}n, When þou sest þat I am gon,

[Sidenote: no{t}a hic v{er}b{is} Marie] loke anon{e} when y am nome, that the fals Iewys ne come my body for to don{e} shame, for thei haten moche my name. 268 thei wole feyn shame me, that honged my sone on þ{e} rode tre. y wote wełł thei loue me noght; ther-for thei ben{e} mysthought. 272

Kepe my bodi þat I ne be binomen, When þe fellon Iewes comen, 272 Mi bodi forto doun no schame, For þei hate no þing~ more þan my name. Mi sone þei hongen on a tre; Wel I wote so wolde þei me. 276 I wote wel þei louen me nouȝt; But þ{er} of be þi most þouȝt.

when y am be-nome fro the, to my body they do no foly. Ih{es}u Crist our{e} aller{e} dright, gef ham neu{er} that ilke myght.” 276

When I am p{ar}ted, Ioh{a}n, fram þee, That þei do my bodi none euelte. 280 My sone, þat woneþ i{n} heuene liȝt, Lete hem neu{er} þ{er} to haue myȝt.”

[Headnote: _The apostles arrive from distant regions._]

[Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es] seynt Ioh{an} answerd tho, “sey me, lady, if it is so, that we shall dep{ar}te atwo. “swete lady, how shałł y do? 280 sey me þe tyme when it shal be, that thu shalt to heuene te.”

“Ladi, sithen hit is so, That we schal dep{ar}te a two, 284 Seie me how long hit is to þan.”

[Sidenote: Maria] she seid, “Ioh{a}n, that þ{o}u shałł se; ne bide y here but dayes thre.” 284 Then was Ioh{an} ful hertely sory.

“For soþe,” marie seide to Iohan, “Bi þis {and} þe þridde day, No leng{er} abide I ne may.” 288 [Sidenote: [leaf 68]] When he it herde, he was sory;

[Sidenote: Ioh{ann}es] wepand he seyd, “dame, m{er}cy! how shal y leue? how shal y fare? now cometh al my sorow {and} care. 288 my lord was hard y-broght to detħ, thurgh fals Iewis that couthe no metħ. now shal our{e} lady me fro; now cometh to me al my woo. 292 wold god that y wer{e} ded, for right now can y no red.”

He wept, {and} seide, “ladi, mercy. How schal I lyue? how schal I fare? How schal I blis or ioie haue? 292 Furst my lord was brouȝt to dede, Thorw þe felun iewes rede, And now my ladi wil me fro, Swete lord, now me is wo. 296 Wolde my lord I wolde be dede, For I ne can no bett{er} rede.”

[Sidenote: [leaf 79, back]]

[Sidenote: Maria] “Nay,” she seid, “whi seist thu so? angelis the shałł come to, 296 and loke to the wher{e} thu be, erlich and late to comfort the.”

“Ioh{a}n,” sche seide, “whi seistou so? Th[e] aungeles schal þee come to, 300 To kepe þee where so þou be, Erliche {and} late to gladen þee.”

[Sidenote: no{t}a de ap{osto}lis om{n}ib{us} mirac{u}lose.] when she spake to seynt Ioh{a}n, thapostellis cam yn eu{er}ychon~, 300 and none of hem wiste be-forn~, how thei wer{e} thed{er} y com,

Whiles he spak so to seynt Ion, Come þe apostles eu{er}ychon, 304 To gidre; but þei wist nouȝt How þei weren to gidre brouȝt;

and seid, “lady, ne drede þ{o}u noght, thi sone hath vs hider broght, 304 to knowe the for our{e} lady, while that we ben{e} the by.”

Off oþ{er}es come ne wist none; But of hure come bliþe was Ion. 308 He cust hem alle, so fayn he was, And seide, “deo gracias; Blessed, ih{es}u, be þi myȝt, For it is faire and hit is ryȝt 312 [Sidenote: [leaf 68, back]] That þi moder come to þee, That sche faire welcom be Of þine apostles þ{a}t most þee louen, I ne wote how þei ben hidre ycomen.” 316 Than seide Petyr to seynt Ion, “Whi art þou so sory A mon?

[Headnote: _John bids them go and greet Mary._]

(_Not in Harl. 2382_)

“Whi wepistou, {and} what is þee? For felaschip telle þou me. 320 I schal þee seie, seynt Ion, Whi I am so sory a mon, But seie me furst, for godes loue, Whi ȝe arn hider icome, 324 And weryn so wide isprad: Seieþ what haþ ȝou hidre ilad.”

Tho seide Petyr a ferli þinge: “I was fer hens atte my p{re}chinge. 328 I was so henne i{n} anoþer londe And helde my boke in my honde, And tauȝt men of my sermo{u}n, I ne wote how I cam to þis toun.” 332 So seide alle þat weren þere, Suche wondre sawe I neu{er} ere.