From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama

Wisdom

Or, Mind Will, and Understanding

Fyrst enteryde WYSDOME in a ryche purpull clothe of golde wyth a mantyll of the same ermynnyde wythin, hawynge abowt hys neke a ryall hood furred wyth ermyn, wpon hys hede a cheweler wyth browys, a berde of golde of sypres curlyed, a ryche imperyall crown þerwpon sett wyth precyus stonys and perlys, in hys leyfte honde a balle of golde wyth a cros þerwppon and in hys ryght honde a regall schepter, thus seyenge:

001 WYSDOM. Yff 3e wyll wet þe propyrte
002 Ande þe resun of my nayme imperyall,
003 I am clepyde of hem þat in erthe be
004 Euerlastynge Wysdom, to my nobley egalle;
005 Wyche name acordyt best in especyall
006 And most to me ys convenyent,
007 Allthow eche persone of þe Trinyte be wysdom eternall
008 And all thre on euerlastynge wysdome togedyr present.
009 Neuerþeles, forasmoche as wysdom ys propyrly
010 Applyede to þe Sune by resune,
011 And also yt fallyt to hym specyally
012 Bycause of hys hye generacyon,
013 Therfor þe belowyde Sone hathe þis sygnyficacyon
014 Custummaly Wysdom, now Gode, now man,
015 Spows of þe chyrche and wery patrone,
016 Wyffe of eche chose sowle. Thus Wysdom begane.

016a Here entrethe ANIMA as a mayde, in a wyght clothe of golde
016b gysely purfyled wyth menyver, a mantyll of blake þerwppeon, a
016c cheueler lyke to WYSDOM, wyth a ryche chappelet lasyde behynde
016d hangynge down wyth to knottys of golde and syde tasselys,
016e knelynge down to WYSDOM, thus seyng:

017 ANIMA. Hanc amaui et exquisiui:
018 Fro my yougthe thys haue I sowte
019 To haue to my spowse most specyally,
020 For a louer of yowr schappe am I wrowte.
021 Aboue all hele and bewty þat euer was sowght
022 I haue louyde Wysdom as for my lyght,
023 For all goodnes wyth hym ys broughte.
024 In wysdom I was made all bewty bryghte.
025 Off yowr name þe hye felycyte
026 No creature knowyt full exposycyon.

027 WYSDAM. Sapiencia specialior est sole.
028 I am foundon lyghte wythowt comparyson,
029 Off sterrys aboue all þe dysposicyon,
030 Forsothe of lyght þe very bryghtnes,
031 Merowre of þe dyvyne domynacyon,
032 And þe image of hys goodnes.
033 Wysdom ys better þan all worldly precyosnes,
034 And all þat may dysyrde be
035 Ys not in comparyschon to my lyknes.
036 The lengthe of þe yerys in my ryght syde be
037 Ande in my lefte syde ryches, joy, and prosperyte.
038 Lo, þis ys þe worthynes of my name.

039 ANIMA. A, soueren Wysdom, yff yowur benygnyte
040 Wolde speke of loue, þat wer a game.
041 WYSDOM. Off my loue to speke, it ys myrable.
042 Beholde now, Sowll, wyth joyfull mynde,
043 How louely I am, how amyable,
044 To be halsyde and kyssyde of mankynde.
045 To all clene sowlys I am full hende
046 And euer present wer þat þey be;
047 I loue my lovers wythoutyn ende
048 That þer loue haue stedfast in me.
049 The prerogatyff of my loue ys so grett
050 þat wo tastyt þerof þe lest droppe sure
051 All lustys and lykyngys worldly xall lett;
052 They xall seme to hym fylthe and ordure.
053 They þat of þe hewy burthen of synne hathe cure
054 My loue dyschargethe and puryfyethe clene,
055 It strengtheth þe mynde, þe sowll makyt pure,
056 And yewyt wysdom to hem þat perfyghte bene.
057 Wo takyt me to spowse may veryly wene,
058 Yff aboue all thynge 3e loue me specyall,
059 That rest and tranqwykkyte he xall sene
060 And dey in sekyrnes of joy perpetuall.
061 The hye worthynes of my loue
062 Angell nor man can tell playnly.
063 Yt may be felt in experyens from aboue
064 But not spoke ne tolde as yt ys veryly.
065 The godly loue no creature can specyfye.
066 What wrech is that louyth not his love
067 þat louyt hys louers euer so tendyrly
068 That hys syght from them neuer can remowe?

069 ANIMA. O worthy spowse and soueren fayer,
070 O swete amyke, owr joy, owr blys!
071 To yowr loue wo doth repeyer,
072 All felycyte yn þat creature ys.
073 Wat may I yeue yow ageyn for þis,
074 O Creator, louer of yowr creature?
075 Though be owr freelte we do amys,
076 Yowr grett mercy euer sparyth reddure.
077 A, soueren Wysdom, sanctus sanctorum,
078 Wat may I yeue to yowr most plesaunce?

079 WYSDOM. Fili, prebe michi cor tuum.
080 I aske not ellys of all þi substance.
081 Thy clene hert, þi meke obeysance,
082 Yeue me þat and I am contente.

083 ANIMA. A, soueren joy, my hertys affyance,
084 The fervowre of my loue to yow I present.
085 That mekyt my herte, yowr loue so ferwent.
086 Teche me þe scolys of yowr dyvynyte.

087 WYSDOM. Dysyer not to sauour in cunnynge to excellent
088 But drede and conforme yowr wyll to me.
089 For yt ys þe heelfull dyscyplyne þat in Wysdam may be,
090 The drede of God, þat ys begynnynge.
091 The wedys of synne yt makyt to flee,
092 And swete wertuus herbys in þe sowll sprynge.

093 ANIMA. O endles Wysdom, how may I haue knowynge
094 Off þi Godhede incomprehensyble?

095 WYSDOM. By knowynge of yowrsylff 3e may haue felynge
096 Wat Gode ys in yowr sowle sensyble.
097 The more knowynge of yowr selff passyble,
098 þe more veryly 3e xall God knowe.

099 ANIMA. O soueren Auctoure most credyble,
100 Yowr lessun I attende, as I owe,
101 I þat represent here þe sowll of man.
102 Wat ys a sowll, wyll 3e declare?

103 WYSDOM. Yt ys þe ymage of Gode þat all began;
104 And not only ymage, but hys lyknes 3e are.
105 Off all creaturys þe fayrest 3e ware
106 Into þe tyme of Adamys offence.

107 ANIMA. Lorde, sythe we thy sowlys yet nowt wer þer,
108 Wy of þe fyrst man bye we þe vyolence?

109 WYSDOM. For euery creature þat hath ben or xall
110 Was in natur of þe fyrst man, Adame,
111 Off hym takynge þe fylthe of synne orygynall,
112 For of hym all greaturys cam.
113 Than by hym of reson 3e haue blame
114 And be made of brondys of helle.
115 Wen 3e be bore fyrst of yowr dame,
116 3e may in no wyse in hewyn dwell,
117 For 3e be dysvyguryde be hys synne,
118 Ande dammyde to derknes from Godys syghte.

119 ANIMA. How dothe grace þan ageyn begynne?
120 Wat reformythe þe sowll to hys fyrst lyght?

121 WYSDOM. Wysdam, þat was Gode and man ryght,
122 Made a full sethe to þe Fadyr of hewyn
123 By þe dredfull dethe of hym was dyght,
124 Off whyche dethe spronge þe sacramentys sevyn,
125 Wyche sacramentys all synne wasche awey:
126 Fyrst, baptem clensythe synne orygynall
127 And reformyt þe sowll in feythe verray
128 To þe gloryus lyknes of Gode eternall
129 Ande makyt yt as fayer and as celestyall
130 As yt neuer dyffowlyde had be,
131 Ande ys Crystys own specyall,
132 Hys restynge place, hs plesant see.

133 ANIMA. In a sowll watt thyngys be
134 By wyche he hathe hys very knowynge?

135 WYSDOM. Tweyn partyes: þe on, sensualyte,
136 Wyche ys clepyde þe flechly felynge.
137 The fyve owtewarde wyttys to hym be serwynge.
138 Wan þey be not rewlyde ordynatly
139 The sensualyte þan, wythowte lesynge,
140 Ys made þe ymage of synne then of hys foly.
141 The other parte, þat ys clepyde resone,
142 Ande þat ys þe ymage of God propyrly,
143 For by þat þe sowll of Gode hathe cognycyon
144 And be þat hym serwyt and louevyt duly.
145 Be þe neyther parte of reson he knowyt dyscretly
146 All erthely thynges how þey xall be vsyde,
147 Wat suffysyth to hys myghtys bodely,
148 Ande wat nedyt not to be refusyde.
149 Thes tweyn do sygnyfye
150 Yowr dysgysynge and yowr aray,
151 Blake and wyght, fowll and fayer vereyly,
152 Euery sowll here, þis ys no nay,
153 Blake by sterynge of synne þat cummyth all-day,
154 Wyche felynge cummythe of sensualyte,
155 Ande wyght by knowenge of reson veray
156 Off þe blyssyde infenyt Deyte.
157 Thus a sowle ys bothe fowlle and fayer:
158 Fowll as a best be felynge of synne,
159 Fayer as a angell, of hewyn þe ayer,
160 By knowynge of Gode by hys reson wythin.

161 ANIMA. Than may I sey thus and begynne
162 Wyth fyve prudent vyrgyns of my reme--
163 Thow be þe fyve wyttys of my sowll wythinne--:
164 "Nigra sum sed formosa, filia Jerusalem."

164a Her enteryd fyve vyrgynes in white kertyllys and mantelys,
164b wyth cheuelers and chappelettys, and synge "Nigra sum sed for-
164c mosa, filia Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula cedar et sicut pelles Sala-
164d monis."

165 ANIMA. The doughters of Jerusalem me not lake
166 For þis dyrke schadow I bere of humanyte,
167 That as þe tabernacull of cedar wythowt yt ys blake
168 Ande wythine as þe skyn of Salamone full of bewty.
169 "Quod fusca sum, nolite considerare me,
170 Quia decolorauit me sol Jouis."

171 WYSDOM. Thus all þe sowlys þat in þis lyff be
172 Stondynge in grace be lyke to thys.
173 A, quinque prudentes, yowr wyttys fyve
174 Kepe yow clene and 3e xall neuer deface,
175 Ye Godys ymage neuer xall ryve,
176 For þe clene sowll ys Godys restynge place.
177 Thre myghtys euery Cresten sowll has,
178 Wyche bethe applyede to þe Trinyte.

179 MYNDE. All thre here, lo, byfor yowr face!
179a Mynde.

179b WYLL. Wyll.

180 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ande Vndyrstondynge, we thre.

181 WYSDAM. 3e thre, declare þan thys,
182 Yowr syngnyfycacyon and yowr propyrte.

183 MENDE. I am Mynde, þat in þe sowle ys
184 The veray fygure of þe Deyte.
185 Wen in myselff I haue mynde and se
186 The benefyttys of Gode and hys worthynes,
187 How holl I was mayde, how fayere, how fre,
188 How gloryus, how jentyll to hys lyknes,
189 Thys insyght bryngyt to my mynde
190 Wat grates I ough to God ageyn
191 þat thus hathe ordenyde wythowt ende
192 Me in hys blys euer for to regne.
193 Than myn insuffycyens ys to me peyn
194 That I haue not werof to yelde my dett,
195 Thynkynge myselff creature most veyn;
196 Than for sorow my bren I knett.
197 Wen in my mynde I brynge togedyr
198 þe yerys and dayes of my synfullnes,
199 The vnstabullnes of my mynde hedyr and thedyr,
200 My oreble fallynge and freellnes,
201 Myselff ryght nought than I confes,
202 For by myselff I may not ryse
203 Wythowt specyall grace of Godys goodnes.
204 Thus mynde makyt me myselff to dyspyse.
205 I seke and fynde nowere comforte
206 But only in Gode, my Creator.
207 Than onto hym I do resorte
208 Ande say, "Haue mynde of me, my Sauowr!"
209 Thus mynde to mynde bryngyth þat fawowre;
210 Thus, by mynde of me, Gode I kan know.
211 Goode mynde of Gode yt ys þe fygure;
212 Ande thys mynde to haue all Crysten ow.

213 WYLL. And I of þe soull am þe Wyll,
214 Off þe Godhede lyknes and fygure.
215 Wyth goode wyll no man may spyll
216 Nor wythowt goode wyll of blys be sure.
217 Wat soule wyll gret mede recure,
218 He must grett wyll haue, in thought or dede,
219 Wertuusly sett wyth consyens pure,
220 For in wyll stondyt only mannys dede.
221 Wyll for dede oft ys take;
222 Therfor þe wyll must weell be dysposyde.
223 Than þer begynnyt all grace to wake,
224 Yff wyth synne yt be not anosyde.
225 Therfor þe wyll must be wele apposyde
226 Or þat yt to þe mevynge yewe consent:
227 The lybrary of reson must be wnclosyde
228 Ande aftyr hys domys to take entent.
229 Owr wyll in Gode must be only sett
230 And for Gode to do wylfully.
231 Wan gode wyll resythe, Gode ys in ws knett,
232 Ande he performyt þe dede veryly.
233 Off hym cummyth all wyll sett perfyghtly,
234 For of owrselff we haue ryght nought
235 But syne, wrechydnes, and foly.
236 He ys begynner and gronde of wyll and thought.
237 Than þis goode wyll seyde before
238 Ys behoueable to yche creature
239 Iff he cast hym to restore
240 The soule þat he hath take of cure,
241 Wyche of God ys þe fygure,
242 As longe as þe fygure ys kept fayer,
243 Ande ordenyde euer for to endure
244 In blys, of wyche ys he þe veray hayer.

245 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. The thyrde parte of the soule ys Wndyrstondynge,
246 For by wndyrsyondyng I beholde wat Gode ys,
247 In hymselff begynnyng wythowt begynnynge
248 Ande ende wythout ende þat xall neuer mys.
249 In comprehensyble in hymself he ys;
250 Hys werkys in me I kan not comprehende.
251 How xuld I holly hym þan þat wrought all þis?
252 Thus by knowynge of me to knowynge of Gode I assende.
253 I know in angelys he ys desyderable,
254 For hym to beholde þei dysyer souerenly;
255 In hys seyntys most dylectable,
256 For in hymm þei joy assyduly;
257 In creaturys hys werkys ben most wondyrly,
258 For all ys made by hys myght,
259 By hys wysdom gouernyde most souerenly,
260 And hys benygnyte inspyryt all soullys wyth lyght.
261 Off all creaturys he ys lowyde souereyn,
262 For he ys Gode of yche creature,
263 And þey be his peple þat euer xall reynge,
264 In wom he dwellyt as hys tempull sure.
265 Wan I of thys knowynge make reporture
266 Ande se þe loue he hathe for me wrought,
267 Yt bryngyt me to loue þat Prynce most pure,
268 For, for loue, þat Lorde made a man of nought.
269 Thys ys þat loue wyche ys clepyde charyte,
270 For Gode ys charyte, as awtors tellys,
271 Ande woo ys charyte, in Gode dwellyt he,
272 Ande Gode, þat ys charyte, in hym dwellys.
273 Thus wndyrstondynge of Gode compellys
274 To cum to charyte; than haue hys lyknes, lo!
275 Blyssyde ys þat sowll þat þis speche spellys:
276 "Et qui creauit me requieuit in tabernaculo meo."

277 WYSDOM. Lo, thes thre myghtys in on Soule be:
278 Mynde, Wyll, and Wndyrstondynge.
279 By Mynde of Gode þe Fadyr knowyng haue ye;
280 By Wndyrstondynge of Gode þe Sone ye haue knowynge;
281 By Wyll, wyche turnyt into loue brennynge,
282 Gode þe Holy Gost, þat clepyde ys lowe:
283 Not thre Godys but on Gode in beynge.
284 Thus eche clene soule ys symylytude of Gode abowe.
285 By Mynde feythe in þe Father haue we,
286 Hoppe in owr Lorde Jhesu by Wndyrstondynge,
287 Ande be Wyll in þe Holy Gost charyte:
288 Lo, thes thre pryncypall wertus of yow thre sprynge.
289 Thys þe clene soule stondyth as a kynge;
290 Ande abowe all þis 3e haue free wyll;
291 Off þat be ware befor all thynge,
292 For yff þat perverte, all þis dothe spyll.
293 Ye haue thre enmyes; of hem be ware:
294 The Worlde, þe Flesche, and þe Fende.
295 Yowr fywe wyttys from hem 3e spare,
296 That þe sensualyte þey brynge not yow byhynde.
297 Nothynge xulde offende Gode in no kynde;
298 Ande yff þer do, se þat þe nether parte of resone
299 In no wys þerto lende;
300 Than þe ouer parte xall haue fre domynacyon.
301 Wan suggestyon to þe Mynde dothe apere,
302 Wndyrstondynge, delyght not 3e þerin;
303 Consent not, Wyll, yll lessons to lere,
304 Ande than suche steryngys be no syn.
305 Thei do but purge þe soule wer ys suche contrauersye.
306 Thus in me, Wysdom, yowr werkys begynne.
307 Fyght and 3e xall haue þe crown of glory,
308 That ys euerlastynge joy, to be parteners þerinne.

309 ANIMA. Soueren Lorde, I am bownde to the!
310 Wan I was nought þou made me thus gloryus;
311 Wan I perysschede thorow synne þou sauyde me;
312 Wen I was in grett perell þou kept me, Cristus;
313 Wen I erryde þou reducyde me, Jhesus,
314 Wen I was ignorant þou tawt me truthe;
315 Wen I synnyde þou corecte me thus;
316 Wen I was hewy þou comfortede me by ruthe;
317 Wan I stonde in grace þou holdyste me þat tyde;
318 Wen I fall þou reysyst me myghtyly;
319 Wen I go wyll þou art my gyde;
320 Wen I cum þou reseywyste me most louynly.
321 Thou hast anoyntyde me with þe oyll of mercy;
322 Thy benefyttys, Lorde, be innumerable;
323 Werfor lawde endeles to þe I crye,
324 Recomendynge me to þin endles powre durable.

324a Here in þe goynge owt þe FYVE WYTTYS synge "Tota pulcra es"
324b et cetera, they goyng befor, ANIMA next, and her folowynge
324c WYSDOM, and aftyr hym MYNDE, WYLL, and WNDYRSYON-
324d DYNGE, all thre in wyght cloth of golde, checeleryde and crestyde
324e in sute.
324f And aftyr þe songe entreth LUCYFER in a dewyllys aray wythowt
324g and wythin as a prowde galonte, seynge thus on thys wyse:

325 LUCYFER. Owt, harowe, I rore,
326 For envy I lore
327 My place; to restore
328 God hath mad a man.
329 All cum þey not thore,
330 Woode and þey wore,
331 I xall tempte hem so sorre,
332 For I am he þat syn begane.
333 I was a angell of lyghte;
334 Lucyfeer I hyght,
335 Presumynge in Godys syght,
336 Werfor I am lowest in hell.
337 In reformynge of my place ys dyght
338 Man, whom I haue in most despyght,
339 Euer castynge me wyth hem to fyght;
340 In þat hewynly place he xulde not dwell.
341 I am as wyly now as than;
342 þe knowynge þat I hade, yet I can;
343 I know all compleccyons of a man
344 Werto he ys most dysposyde;
345 Ande þerin I tempte ay-whan;
346 I marre hys myndys to þer wan,
347 That whoo ys hym þat God hym began;
348 Many a holy man wyth me ys mosyde.
349 Of Gode man ys þe fygure,
350 Hys symylytude, hys pyctowre,
351 Gloryosest of ony creature
352 þat euer was wrought;
353 Whych I wyll dysvygure
354 Be my fals conjecture;
355 Yff he tende my reporture
356 I xall brynge hym to nought.
357 In þe soule ben thre partyes iwys:
358 Myde, Wyll, Wndyrstondynge of blys,
359 Fygure of þe Godhede, I know well thys;
360 And þe flesche of man þat ys so changeable
361 That wyll I tempte, as I gees;
362 Thow þat I perwert, synne non ys
363 But yff þe Soule consent to mys,
364 For in þe Wyll of þe Soule the dedys ben damnable.
365 To þe Mynde of þe Soule I xall mak suggestyun,
366 Ande brynge hys Wndyrstondynge to dylectacyon,
367 So þat hys Wyll make confyrmacyon;
368 Than am I sekyr inowe
369 That dethe xall sew of damnacyon;
370 Than of þe Sowll þe Dewll hath dominacyon.
371 I wyll go make hys examynacyon,
372 To all þe dewylls of helle I make a vow.
373 For, for to tempte man in my lyknes,
374 Yt wolds brynge hym to grett feerfullnes,
375 I wyll change me into brygthnes,
376 And so hym to begyle,
377 Sen I xall schew hym perfyghtnes
378 And wertu prove yt wykkydnes;
379 Thus wndyr colors all thynge perverse;
380 I xall neuer rest tyll þe Soule I defyle.

380a Her LUCYFER dewoydyth and cummyth in ageyn as a goodly
380b galont.

381 MYNDE. My mynde ys euer on Jhesu
382 That enduyde ws wyth wertu
383 Hys doctrine to sue
384 Euer I purpos.

385 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. My wndyrstondynge ys in trew
386 That wyth feyth ws dyd renew.
387 Hys laws to pursew
388 Ys swetter to me þan sawowre of þe rose.

389 WYLL. And my wyll ys hys wyll veraly
390 That made ws hys creaturys so specyally,
391 Yeldynge onto hym laude and glory
392 for hys goodnes.

393 LUCYFER. Ye fonnyde fathers, founders of foly,
394 Vt quid hic statis tota die ociosi?
395 3e wyll perysche or 3e yt aspye.
396 The Dewyll hath acumberyde yow expres.
397 Mynde, Mynde, ser, haue in mynde thys!

398 MYNDE. He ys not ydyll þat wyth Gode ys.

399 LUCYFER. No, ser! I prowe well yis.
400 Thys ys my suggestyun.
401 All thynge hat dew tymes
402 Prayer, fastynge, labour, all thes.
403 Wan tyme ys not kept, þat dede ys amys,
404 þe more pleynerly to yowr informacyon.
405 Here ys a man þat lywyt worldly,
406 Hathe wyffe, chylderne, and serwantys besy,
407 And other chargys þat I not specyfye.
408 Ys yt leeffull to þis man
409 To lewe hys labour wsyde truly,
410 Hys chargys perysche þat Gode gaff duly,
411 Ande yewe hym to preyer and es of body?
412 Woso do thus wyth God ys not than.
413 Mertha plesyde Gode grettly thore.

414 MYNDE. Ye, but Maria plesyde hymm moche more.

415 LUCYFER. Yet þe lest hade blys for euermore.
416 Ys not þis anow?

417 MYNDE. Contemplatyff lyff ys sett befor.

418 LUCYFER. I may not belewe þat in my lore,
419 For God hymselff, wan he was man borre,
420 Wat lyff lede he? Answer þou now.
421 Was he euer in contemplacyon?

422 MYNDE. I suppos not, by my relacyon.

423 LUCYFER. And all hys lyff was informacyon
424 Ande example to man.
425 Sumtyme wyth synners he had conversacyon;
426 Sumtyme wyth holy also communycacyon;
427 Sumtyme he laboryde, preyde; sumtyme trybulacyon;
428 Thys was vita mixta þat Gode here began;
429 And þat lyff xulde ye here sewe.

430 MYNDE. I kan not belewe thys ys trew.

431 LUCYFER. Contemplytyff lyff for to sewe
432 Yt ys grett drede, and se cause why:
433 They must fast, wake, and prey, euer new,
434 Wse harde lywynge and goynge wyth dyscyplyne dew,
435 Kepe sylence, wepe, and surphettys eschewe,
436 Ande yff þey fayll of thys þey offende Gode hyghly.
437 Wan þey haue wastyde by feyntnes,
438 Than febyll þer wyttys and fallyn to fondnes,
439 Sum into dyspeyer and sum into madnes.
440 Wet yt well, God ys not plesyde wyth thys.
441 Lewe, lewe, suche syngler besynes.
442 Be in þe worlde, vse thyngys nesesse.
443 The comyn ys best expres.
444 Who clymyt hye, hys fall gret ys.

445 MYNDE. Truly, me seme 3e haue reson.

446 LUCYFER. Aplye yow then to þis conclusyon.

447 MYNDE. I kan make no replicacyon;
448 Your resons be grete;
449 I kan not forgett þis informacyon.

450 LUCYFER. Thynke þerwppon, yt ys yowr saluacyon.
451 Now and Wndyrstondynge wolde haue delectacyon,
452 All syngler deuocyons he wolde lett.
453 Yowr fyve wyttys abrode lett sprede.
454 Se how comly to man ys precyus wede;
455 Wat worschype yt ys to be manfull in dede;
456 þat bryngyt in dominacyon.
457 Off þe symple what profyght yt to tak hede?
458 Beholde how ryches dystroyt nede;
459 It makyt man fayer, hym wele for to fede;
460 And of lust and lykynge commyth generacyon.
461 Wndyrstondynge, tender ye þis informacyon.

462 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. In thys I fele in manere of dylectacyon.

463 LUCYFER. A, ha, ser! Then þer make a pawsacyon.
464 Se and beholde þe worlde abowte.
465 Lytyll thynge suffysyt to saluacyon;
466 All maner synnys dystroyt contryscyon;
467 They þat dyspeyer mercy haue grett compunccyon;
468 Gode plesyde best wyth goode wyll, no dowte.
469 Therfor, Wyll, I rede yow inclyne;
470 Lewe yowr stodyes, þow ben dywyn;
471 Yowr prayers, yowr penance, of ipocryttys þe syne,
472 Ande lede a comun lyff.
473 What synne ys in met, in ale, in wyn?
474 Wat synne ys in ryches, in clothynge fyne?
475 All thynge Gode ordenyde to man to inclyne.
476 Lewe yowr nyse chastyte and take a wyff.
477 Better ys fayer frut þan fowll pollucyon.
478 What seyth sensualite to þis conclusyon?

479 WYLL. As þe fyue wyttys gyff informacyon,
480 Yt semyth yowr resons be goode.

481 LUCYFERE. The Wyll of þe Soule hathe fre dominacyon;
482 Dyspute not to moche in þis wyth reson;
483 Yet þe nethyr parte to þis taketh sum instruccyon,
484 And so xulde þe ouer parte but he were woode.

485 WYLL. Me seme, as 3e sey, in body and soule,
486 Man may be in þe worlde and be ryght goode.
487 LUCYFERE. Ya, ser, by Sent Powle!
488 But trust not þes prechors, for þey be not goode,
489 For þey flatter and lye as þey wore woode;
490 Ther ys a wolffe in a lombys skyn.

491 WYLL. Ya, I woll no more row ageyn þe floode.
492 I woll sette my soule on a mery pynne.

493 LUCYFER. Be my trowthe, than do ye wyslye.
494 Gode lowyt a clene sowll and a mery.
495 Acorde yow thre togedyr by
496 And ye may not mysfare.

497 MYNDE. To þis suggestyon agre we.

498 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Delyght þerin I haue truly.

499 WYLL. And I consent þerto frelye.

500 LUCYFER. A, ser, all mery þan! Awey, care!
501 Go in þe worlde, se þat abowte;
502 Geet goode frely, cast no dowte;
503 To þe ryche ys se men lowly lought.
504 Yeue to yowr body þat ys nede,
505 Ande euer be mery; let reuell rowte!

506 MYNDE. Ya, ellys I beschrew my snowte!

507 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. And yff I care, cache I þe gowte!

508 WYLL. And yff I spare, þe Dewyll me spede!

509 LUCYFER. Go yowr wey than and do wysly.
510 Change þat syde aray.

510a MYNDE. I yt dyfye.

511 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. We woll be fresche, hanip la plu joly!
512 Farwell penance!

513 MYNDE. To worschyppys I wyll my mynde aplye.

514 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. My wndyrstandynge in worschyppys and glory.

515 WYLL. And I in lustys of lechery,
516 As was sumtyme gyse of Frawnce.
517 Wyth wy wyppe,
518 Farwell, quod I, þe Dewyll ys wppe!

519 LUCYFER. Off my dysyere now haue I summe
520 Wer onys brought into custume,
521 Then farwell conscyens, he wer clumme,
522 I xulde haue all my wyll.
523 Resone I haue made both deff and dumme;
524 Grace ys owt and put arome;
525 Wethyr I wyll haue, he xall cum.
526 So at þe last I xall hym spyll.
527 I xall now stere hys mynde
528 To þat syne made me a fende,
529 Pryde, wyche ys ageyn kynde
530 And of synnys hede.
531 So to couetyse he xall wende,
532 For þat enduryth to þe last ende,
533 And onto lechery, and I may hymm rende;
534 Than am I seker þe Soule ys dede.
535 That Soule Gode made incomparable,
536 To hys lyknes most amyable,
537 I xall make yt most reprouable,
538 Ewyn lyke to a fende of hell.
539 At hys deth I xall apere informable,
540 Schewynge hym all hys synnys abhomynable,
541 Prewynge hys Soule damnable,
542 So wyth dyspeyer I xall hym qwell.
543 Wyll clennes ys mankyn,
544 Verely, þe soule God ys wythin;
545 Ande wen yt ys in dedly synne,
546 Yt ys werely þe Deuelys place.
547 Thus by colours and false gynne
548 Many a soule to hell I wyn.
549 Wyde to go I may not blyne
550 Wyth þis fals boy, God gyff hym euell grace!

550a Her he takyt a schrewde boy wyth hym and goth hys wey
550b cryenge.

551 MYNDE. Lo, me here in a new aray!
552 Wyppe, wyrre, care awey!
553 Farwell perfeccyon!
554 Me semyt myselff most lyghly ay.
555 It ys but honest, no pryde, no nay.
556 I wyll be freshest, by my fay,
557 For þat accordyt wyth my complexyon.

558 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ande haue here one as fresche as yow!
559 All mery, mery, and glade now.
560 I haue get goode, God wott how.
561 For joy I sprynge, I sckyppe.
562 Goode makyt on mery, to Gode a vowe.
563 Farewell, consyens, I know not yow!
564 I am at eas, hade I inow.
565 Truthe on syde I lett hym slyppe.

566 WYLL. Lo, here on as jolye as 3e!
567 I am so lykynge, me seme I fle.
568 I haue atastyde lust: farwell chastyte!
569 My hert ys euermore lyght.
570 I am full of felycyte.
571 My delyght ys all in bewte.
572 þer ys no joy but þat in me.
573 A woman me semyth a hewynly syght.

574 MYNDE. Ande thes ben my syngler solace:
575 Kynde, fortune, and grace.
576 Kynde nobley of kynrede me yewyn hase,
577 And þat makyt me soleyn.
578 Fortune in worldys worschyppe me doth lace.
579 Grace yewyt curryus eloquens, and þat mase
580 That all oncunnynge I dysdeyn.

581 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. And my joy ys especyall
582 To hurde wppe ryches, for fer to fall,
583 To se yt, to handyll yt, to tell yt all,
584 And streight to spare.
585 To be holde ryche and reyall
586 I bost, I avawnt wer I xall.
587 Ryches makyt a man equall
588 To hem sumtyme hys souereyngys wer.

589 WYLL. To me ys joy most laudable
590 Fresche dysgysynge to seme amyable,
591 Spekynge wordys delectable
592 Perteynynge onto loue.
593 It ys joy of joys inestymable
594 To halse, to kys þe affyble.
595 A louer ys son perceyvable
596 Be þe smylynge on me, wan yt doth remove.

597 MYNDE. To avaunte thus me semyth no schame,
598 For galontys now be in most fame.
599 Curtely personys men hem proclame.
600 Moche we be sett bye.

601 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. The ryche covetouse wo dare blame,
602 Off govell and symony thow he bere þe name?
603 To be fals, men report yt game;
604 Yt ys clepyde wysdom; "Ware þat!" quod Ser Wyly.

605 WYLL. And of lechory to make avawnte
606 Men fors yt no more þan drynke atawnt.
607 Thes thyngys be now so conversant,
608 We seme yt no schame.

609 MYNDE. Curyous aray I wyll euer hante.

610 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ande I falsnes, to be passante.

611 WYLL. And I in lust my flesche to daunte.
612 No man dyspyes thes; þey be but game.

613 MYNDE. I rejoys of thes; now let ws synge!

614 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. And yff I spar, ewell joy me wrynge!

615 WYLL. Haue at, quod I, lo, howe I sprynge!
616 Lust makyth me wondyr wylde.

617 MYNDE. A tenowr to yow bothe I brynge.

618 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. And I a mene for ony kynge.

619 WYLL. And but a trebull I owtwrynge,
620 The Deuell hym spede þat myrthe exyled!

620a Et cantent

621 MYNDE. How be þis? Trow ye nowe?

622 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. At þe best, to God a vowe.

623 WYLL. As mery as þe byrde on bow,
624 I take no thought.

625 MYNDE. The welfare of þis worlde ys in ws, I ma vowe.

626 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Lett eche man tell hys condycyons howe.

627 WYLL. Begynne ye, ande haue at yow,
628 For I am aschamyde of ryght nought.

629 MYNDE. Thys ys a cause of my worschyppe:
630 I serue myghty lordeschyppe
631 Ande am in grett tenderschyppe;
632 Therfor moche folke me dredys.
633 Men sew to my frendeschyppe
634 For meyntnance of her schendeschyppe.
635 I support hem by lordeschyppe.
636 For to get goode þis a grett spede ys.

637 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. And I vse jorowry,
638 Enbrace questys of perjury,
639 Choppe and chonge wyth symonye,
640 And take large yeftys.
641 Be þe cause neuer so try,
642 I preue yt fals, I swere, I lye,
643 Wyth a quest of myn affye.
644 The redy wey þis now to thryfte ys.

645 WYLL. And wat trow 3e be me?
646 More þan I take spende I threys thre
647 Sumtyme I yeff, sumtyme þey me,
648 Ande am euer fresche and gay.
649 Few placys now þer be
650 But onclennes we xall þer see;
651 It ys holde but a nysyte
652 Lust ys now comun as þe way.

653 MYNDE. Law procedyth not for meyntnance.

654 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Trowthe recuryth not for habundance.

655 WYLL. And lust ys in so grett vsance,
656 We fors yt nought.

657 MYNDE. In vs þe worlde hathe most affyance.

658 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Non thre be in so grett aqweynttance.

659 WYLL. Few þer be outhe of owr allyance.
660 Wyll þe worlde ys thus, take we no thought!

661 MYNDE. Thought! nay, þerageyn stryve I.

662 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. We haue þat nedyt vs, so thryve I.

663 WYLL. And yff þat I care, neuer wyue I.
664 Let them care þat hathe for to sewe!

665 MYNDE. Wo lordschyppe xall sew must yt bye.

666 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Wo wyll haue law must haue monye.

667 WYLL. Ther pouert ys þe malewrye,
668 Thow ryght be, he xall neuer renewe.

669 MYNDE. Wronge ys born wpe boldly,
670 Thow all þe worlde know yt opynly,
671 Mayntnance ys now so myghty,
672 Ande all for mede.

673 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. The law ys so coloryde falsly
674 By sleyttys and by perjury,
675 Brybys be so gredy,
676 þat to þe pore trowth ys take ryght nought a hede.

677 WYLL. Wo gett or loose, ye be ay wynnande.
678 Mayntnance and perjury now stande.
679 Thei wer neuer so moche reynande
680 Seth Gode was bore.

681 MYNDE. Ande lechery was neuer more vsande
682 Off lernyde and lewyde in þys lande.

683 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. So we thre be now in hande.

684 WYLL. Ya, and most vsyde euerywere!

685 MYNDE. Now wyll we thre do make a dance
686 Off thow þat longe to owr retenance,
687 Cummynge in by contenance.
688 þis were a dysporte.

689 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Therto I geve acordance
690 Off thow þat ben of myn affyance.

691 WYLL. Let se betyme þe meyntnance.
692 Clepe in fyrst yowr resorte.

692a Here entur six dysgysyde in þe sute of MYNDE, wyth rede
692b berdys, and lyouns rampaunt on here crestys, and yche a warder
692c in hys honde; her mynstrallys, trumpes. Eche answere for hys
692d name.

693 MYNDE. Let se; cum in, Indignacyon and Sturdynes,
694 Males also and Hastynes,
695 Wreche and Dyscorde expres,
696 And þe sevente am I, Mayntenance.
697 Seven ys a numbyr of dyscorde and imperfyghtnes.
698 Lo, here ys a yomandrye wyth loweday to dres!
699 And þe Deule hade swore yt, þey wolde ber wp falsnes
700 Ande maynten yt at þe best. þis ys þe Deullys dance.
701 Ande here menstreyllys be convenyent,
702 For trumpys xulde blow to þe jugement;
703 Off batell also yt ys on instrumente,
704 Yevynge comfort to fyght.
705 Therfor þey be expedyente
706 To þes meny of meyntement.
707 Blow! lett see Madam Regent,
708 Ande daunce, ye laddys! Yowr hertys be lyght!
709 Lo, þat other spare, thes meny wyll spende.

710 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ya, wo ys hym xall hem offende!

711 WYLL. Wo wyll not to hem condescende,
712 He xall haue threttys.

713 MYNDE. They spyll þat law wolde amende.

714 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Yit mayntnance no man dare reprehende.

715 WYLL. Thes meny thre synnys comprehende:
716 Pryde, Invy, and Wrathe in hys hettys.

717 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Now wyll I than begyn my traces.
718 Jorowrs in on hoode beer to facys.
719 Fayer speche and falsehede in on space ys.
720 Is it not ruthe?
721 The quest of Holborn cum into þis placys.
722 Ageyn þe ryght euer þey rechases.
723 Off wom þey holde not, harde hys grace ys.
724 Many a tyme haue dammyde truthe.

724a Here entrethe six jurours in a sute, gownyde, wyth hodys abowt
724b her nekys, hattys of meyntenance þervpon, vyseryde dyuersly;
724c here mynstrell, a bagpype.

725 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Let se; fyrst, Wronge and Sleyght;
726 Dobullnes and Falsnes, schew yowr myght;
727 Now Raveyn and Dyscheyit;
728 Now holde yow here togydyr.
729 Thys menys consyens ys so streytt
730 That þey report as mede yewyt beyght.
731 Here ys þe quest of Holborn, an euyll entyrecte.
732 They daunce all þe londe hydyr and thedyr,
733 And I, Perjury, yowr fownder.
734 Now dance on, ws all! The worlde doth on ws wondyr.
735 Lo, here ys a menye loue wellfare.

736 MYNDE. Ye, þey spende þat tru men spare.
737 WYll. Haue þey a brybe, haue þey no care
738 Wo hath wronge or ryght.

739 MYNDE. They fors not to swere and starre.

740 WYLL. Though all be false, les and mare.

741 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Wyche wey to þe woode wyll þe hare
742 They knewe, and þey at rest sett als tyghte.
743 Some seme hem wyse
744 For þe fadyr of vs, Covetyse.

745 WYLL. Now Meyntnance and Perjury
746 Hathe schewyde þe trace of her cumpeny,
747 Ye xall se a sprynge of Lechery,
748 þat to me attende.
749 Here forme ys of þe stewys clene rebaldry.
750 They wene sey sothe wen þat þey lye.
751 Off þe comyn þey synge eche wyke by and by.
752 They may sey wyth tenker, I trow, "Lat amende."
752a Here entreth six women in sut, thre dysgysyde as galontys and
752b thre as matrones, wyth wondyrfull vysurs congruent; here myn-
752c strell, a hornepype.

753 WYLL. Cum slepers, Rekleshede and Idyllnes,
754 All in all, Surfet and Gredynes,
755 For þe flesche, Spousebreche and Mastres,
756 Wyth jentyll Fornycacyon.
757 Yowr mynstrell a hornepype mete
758 þat fowll ys in hymselff but to þe erys swete.
759 Thre fortherers of loue; "Hem schrew I!" quod Bete.
760 Thys dance of þis damesellys ys thorow þis regyn.

761 MYNDE. Ye may not endure wythowt my meyntenance.

762 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. That ys bought wyth a brybe of owr substance.

763 WYLL. Whow, breydest þou vs of þin aqueyntance?
764 I sett þe at nought!

765 MYNDE. On þat worde I woll tak vengeaunce.
766 Wer vycys be gederyde, euer ys sum myschance.
767 Hurle hens thes harlottys! Here gyse ys of France.
768 þey xall abey bytterly, by hym þat all wrought!

769 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ill spede þe ande þou spare!
770 þi longe body bare
771 To bett I not spare.
772 Haue the ageyn!

773 WYLL. Holde me not! Let me go! Ware!
774 I dynge, I dasche! þer, go ther!
775 Dompe deuys, can ye not dare?
776 I tell yow, outwarde, on and tweyn!

776a Exient

777 MYNDE. Now I schrew yow thus dansaunde!

778 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ye, and ewyll be þou thryvande!

779 WYLL. No more let vs be stryvande.
780 Now all at on!

781 MYNDE. Here was a meny onthryvande.

782 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. To þe Deull þey drywande.

783 WYLL. He þat ys yll wywande,
784 Wo hys hym, by þe bon!

785 MYNDE. Leue then þis dalyance
786 Ande set we ordenance
787 Off better chevesaunce
788 How we may thryve.

789 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. At Westmyster, wythowt varyance,
790 þe nex terme xall me sore avawnce,
791 For retornys, for enbraces, for recordaunce.
792 Lyghtlyer to get goode kan no man on lyue.

793 MYNDE. Ande at þe parvyse I wyll be
794 A Powlys betwyn to ande thre,
795 Wyth a menye folowynge me,
796 Entret, juge-partynge, and to-supporte.

797 WYLL. Ande euer þe latter, þe leuer me.
798 Wen I com lat to þe cyte
799 I walke all lanys and weys to myn affynyte;
800 And I spede not þer, to þe stews I resort.

801 MYNDE. Ther gettys þou nouhte, but spendys.

802 WYLL. Yis, sumtyme I take amendys
803 Off hem þat nought offendys,
804 I engrose vpe here purs.

805 MYNDE. And I arest þer no drede ys,
806 Preve forfett þer no mede ys,
807 And take to me þat nede ys,
808 I reke not thow þey curs.

809 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Thow þey curs, never þe wers I fare.
810 Thys day I endyght them I herde of neuer are;
811 To-morow I wyll aqwyt them, yff nede were.
812 Thys lede I my lyff.

813 WYLL. Ye, but of vs thre I haue lest care.
814 Met and drynke and ease, I aske no mare,
815 Ande a praty wenche, to se here bare;
816 I reke but lytyll be sche mayde or wyffe.

817 MYNDE. Thys on a soper
818 I wyll be seen rycher,
819 Set a noble wyth goode chere
820 Redyly to spende.

821 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. And I tweyn, be þis feer,
822 To moque at a goode dyner.
823 I hoope of a goode yer,
824 For euer I trost Gode wyll send.

825 WYLL. And best we haue wyne,
826 And a cosyn of myn
827 Wyth ws for to dyne.
828 Thre nobles wyll I spend frely.

829 MYNDE. We xall acorde well and fyne.

830 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Nay, I wyll not passe schylyngys nyne.

831 WYLL. No, þou was neuer but a swyn.
832 I woll be holdyn jentyll, by Sent Audre of Ely.
833 Ande now in my mynde I haue
834 My cosyn Jenet N., so Gode me save;
835 Sche mornyth wyth a chorle, a very knaue,
836 And neuer kan be mery.
837 I pley me þer wen I lyst rawe;
838 Than þe chorle wyll here dysprawe.
839 Who myght make hym thys to lawe,
840 I wolde onys haue hym in þe wyrry.

841 MYNDE. For thys I kan a remedye:
842 I xall rebuk hym thus so dyspytuusly
843 þat of hys lyff he xall wery
844 And qwak for very fere.
845 Ande yff he wyll not leve þerby,
846 On hys bodye he xall abye
847 Tyll he leue þat jelousy.
848 Nay, suche chorlys I kan lere.

849 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Nay, I kan better hym qwytte:
850 Arest hym fyrst to pes for fyght,
851 Than in another schere hym endyght,
852 He ne xall wete by wom ne howe.
853 Haue hym in þe Marschalsi seyn aryght,
854 Than to þe Amralte, for þey wyll byght,
855 A preuenire facias than haue as tyght,
856 And þou xalt hurle hym so þat he xall haue inow.

857 WYLL. Wat and þes wrongys be espyede?

858 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Wyth þe crose and þe pyll I xall wrye yt
859 That þer xall neuer man dyscrey yt
860 þat may me appeyere.

861 MYNDE. Ther ys no craft but we may trye yt.

862 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Mede stoppyt, be yt neuer so allyede.

863 WYLL. Wyth yow tweyn wo ys replyede,
864 He may sey he hathe a schrewde seyer.

865 MYNDE. Thow woldyst haue wondyr of sleyghtys þat be.

866 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Thys make sume ryche and summe neuer the.

867 WYLL. þey must nedys grett goodys gett þe.
868 Now go we to þe wyne!

869 MYNDE. In trewþe I grante; haue at wyth þe!

870 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Ande for a peny or to, I wyll not fle.

871 WYSDOM. Mery, mery, all mery þan be we!
872 Who þat ws tarythe, curs haue he amd myn!

873 WYSDOM. O thou Mynde, remembyr the!
874 Turne þi weys, þou gost amyse.
875 Se what þi ende ys, þou myght not fle:
876 Dethe to euery creature certen ys.
877 They þat lyue well, þey xall haue blys;
878 Thay þat endyn yll, þey goo to hell.
879 I am Wysdom, sent to tell yow thys:
880 Se in what stat þou doyst indwell.

881 MYNDE. To my mynde yt cummyth from farre
882 That dowtles man xall dey.
883 Ande thes weys we go, we erre.
884 Wndyrstondynge, wat do ye sey?

885 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. I sey, man, holde forthe þi wey!
886 The lyff we lede ys sekyr ynowe.
887 I wyll no wndyrstandynge xall lett my pley.
888 Wyll, frende, how seyst thowe?

889 WYLL. I wyll not thynke þeron, to Gode a vowe!
890 We be yit but tender of age.
891 Schulde we leve þis lyue? Ya, whowe?
892 We may amende wen we be sage.

893 WYSDOM. Thus many on vnabylythe hym to grace.
894 They wyll not loke, but slumber and wynke.
895 þey take not drede before þer face,
896 Howe horryble þer synnys stynke.
897 Wen they be on þe pyttys brynke,
898 Than xall þey trymbull and qwake for drede.
899 Yit Mynde, I sey, yow bethynke
900 In what perell ye be now! Take hede!
901 Se howe ye haue dysvyguryde yowr soule!
902 Beholde yowrselff; loke veryly in mynde!

902a Here ANIMA apperythe in þe most horrybull wyse, fowlere þan
902b a fende.

903 MYNDE. Out! I tremble for drede, by Sent Powle!
904 Thys ys fowler þan ony fende.

905 WYSDOM. Wy art þou creature so onkynde,
906 Thus to defoule Godys own place,
907 þat was made so gloryus wythowt ende?
908 Thou hast made þe Deullys rechace.
909 As many dedly synnys as ye haue vsyde,
910 So many deullys in yowr soule be.
911 Beholde wat ys þerin reclusyde!
912 Alas, man, of þi Soule haue pyte!

912a Here rennyt owt from wndyr þe horrybyll mantyll of þe SOULL
912b seven small boys in þe lyknes of dewyllys and so retorne ageyn.

913 WYSDAM. What haue I do? Why lowyste þou not me?
914 Why cherysyste þi enmye? Why hatyst þou þi frende?
915 Myght I haue don ony more for þe?
916 But loue may brynge drede to mynde.
917 þou hast made the a bronde of hell
918 Whom I made þe ymage og lyght.
919 Yff þe Deull myght, he wolde þe qwell,
920 But þat mercy expellyt hys myght.
921 Wy doyst þou, Soule, me all dyspyght?
922 Why yewyst þou myn enmy þat I haue wrought?
923 Why werkyst þou hys consell? by myn settys lyght?
924 Why hatyst þou vertu? why louyst þat ys nought?

925 MYNDE. A, lorde! Now I brynge to mynde
926 My horryble synnys and myn offens,
927 I se how I haue defowlyde þe noble kynde
928 þat was lyke to þe by intellygens.
929 Wndyrstondynge, I schew to your presens
930 Owr lyff wyche þat ys most synfull.
931 Sek yow remedye, do yowr dylygens
932 To clense þe Soull wyche ys þis fowll.

933 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Be yow, Mynde, I haue very knowenge
934 That grettly Gode we haue offendyde,
935 Endles peyn worthyi be owr dysyrvynge,
936 Wyche be owrselff neuer may be amendyde
937 Wythowt Gode, in whom all ys comprehendyde.
938 Therfor to hym let vs resort.
939 He lefte vp them þat be descendyde.
940 He ys resurreccyon and lywe; to hem, Wyll, resort.

941 WYLL. My wyll was full yowe to syne,
942 By wyche þe Soule ys so abhomynable.
943 I wyll retorne to Gode and new begynne
944 Ande in hym gronde my wyll stable,
945 þat of hys mercy he wyll me able
946 To haue þe yiffte of hys specyall grace,
947 How hys seke Soule may be recurable
948 At þe jugment before hys face.

949 ANIMA. Than wyth yow thre þe Soule dothe crye,
950 "Mercy, Gode!" Why change I nowte,
951 I þat thus horryble in synne lye,
952 Sythe Mynde, Wyll, and Wndyrstondynge be brought
953 To haue knowynge þey ill wrought?
954 What ys þat xall make me clene?
955 Put yt, Lorde, into my thowte!
956 Thi olde mercy let me remene.

957 WYSDOM. Thow þe Soule mynde take
958 And wndyrstandynge of hys synnys allwey,
959 Beynge in wyll, yt forsake,
960 Yit thes do not only synnys awey,
961 But very contrycyon, who þat haue may,
962 þat ys purger and clenser of synne.
963 A tere of þe ey, wyth sorow veray,
964 þat rubbyt and waschyt þe Soule wythin.
965 All þe penance þat may be wrought,
966 Ne all þe preyer þat seyde be kan,
967 Wythowt sorowe of hert relesyt nought;
968 That in especyall reformyth man
969 Ande makyt hym as clene as when he begane.
970 Go seke þis medsyne, Soull! þat beseke
971 Wyth veray feythe, and be ye sekyr than
972 The vengeaunce of Gode ys made full meke.
973 By wndyrstandynge haue very contrycyon,
974 Wyth mynde of your synne confessyon make,
975 Wyth wyll yeldynge du satysfaccyon;
976 þan yowr soule be clene, I wndyrtake.

977 ANIMA. I wepe for sorow, Lorde! I begyn awake,
978 I that þis longe hath slumberyde in syne.

978a Hic recedunt demones.

979 WYSDOM. Lo, how contrycyon avoydyth þe deullys blake!
980 Dedly synne ys non yow wythin.
981 For Gode ye haue offendyde hyghly
982 Ande yowr modyr, Holy Chyrche so mylde,
983 þerfor Gode ye must aske mercy,
984 By Holy Chyrch to be reconsylyde,
985 Trustynge verely ye xall neuer be revylyde
986 Yff ye haue yowr charter of pardon by confessyon.
987 Now haue ye foryeffnes þat were fylyde.
988 Go prey yowr modyr Chyrche of her proteccyon.

989 ANIMA. O Fadyr of mercy ande of comfort,
990 Wyth wepynge ey and hert contryte
991 To owr modyr, Holy Chyrche, I wyll resort,
992 My lyff pleyn schewenge to here syght.
993 Wyth Mynde, Vndyrstondynge, and Wyll ryght,
994 Wyche of my Sowll þe partyes be,
995 To þe domys of þe Chyrche we xall vs dyght,
996 Wyth veray contricyon thus compleynnyng we.

996a Here þey go owt, and in þe goynge þe SOULE syngeth in þe
996b most lamentabull wyse, wyth drawte notys as yt ys songyn in
996c þe passyon wyke:
996d ANIMA. Magna velud mare contricio, contricio tua: quis consoletur
996e tui? Plorans plorauit in nocte, et lacrime ejus in maxillis ejus.

997 WYSDOM. Thus seth Gode mankynde tyll
998 The nyne poyntys ples hym all other before.
999 "Gyff a peny in thy lyve wyth goode wyll
1000 To þe pore, and þat plesythe Gode more
1001 þan mowyntenys into golde tramposyde wore
1002 And aftyr thy dethe for the dysposyde."
1003 Ande all þe goodys þou hast in store
1004 Xulde not profyght so moche wan þi body ys closyde.
1005 The secunde poynt, Gode sethe thus:
1006 "Wepe on tere for my loue hertyly,
1007 Or for þe passyon of me, Jhesus,
1008 Ande þat plesyt me more specyally
1009 Than yff þou wepte for þi frendys or goodys worldly
1010 As moche water as þe se conteynys."
1011 Lo, contrycyon ys a soueren remedy.
1012 That dystroythe synnys, þat relessyt peynys.
1013 The thyrde, Gode sethe: "Suffyr pacyenly for my loue
1014 Off þi neybure a worde of repreve,
1015 Ande þat to mercy mor dothe me move
1016 Than þou dyscyplynyde þi body wyth peynys grewe
1017 Wyth as many roddys as myght grow or þrywe
1018 In þe space of a days jornye."
1019 Lo, who suffyryth most for Godes ys most lewe,
1020 Slandyr, repreve, ony aduersyte.
1021 The fourte, Gode sethe: "Wake on owyr for þe loue of me,
1022 And þat to me ys more plesaunce
1023 Than yff þou sent twelve kyngys free
1024 To my sepulkyr wyth grett puysschaunce
1025 For my dethe to take vengeaunce."
1026 Lo, wakynge ys a holy thynge.
1027 þer yt ys hade wyth good vsance,
1028 Many gracys of yt doth sprynge.
1029 The fyfte, Gode sethe: "Haue pyte and compassyon
1030 Off þi neybur wyche ys seke and nedy,
1031 And þat to me ys more dylectacyon
1032 Than þou fastyde forty yer by and by,
1033 Thre days in þe weke, as streytly
1034 As þou cowdys in water and brede."
1035 Lo, pyte Gode plesyth grettly,
1036 Ande yt ys a vertu soueren, as clerkys rede.
1037 The sixte, Gode seth on þis wyse:
1038 "Refreyn thy speche for my reuerens,
1039 Lett not thy tonge thy evyn-Crysten dyspyse,
1040 Ande þan plesyst þou more myn excellens
1041 Than yff þou laberyde wyth grett dylygens
1042 Wpon thy nakyde feet and bare
1043 Tyll þe blode folwude for peyn and vyolens
1044 Ande aftyr eche stepe yt sene were."
1045 The sevente, Cryste seth in þis maner:
1046 "Thy neybur to ewyll ne sterre not thou,
1047 But all thynge torne into wertu chere,
1048 And than more plesyst þou me now
1049 Then yf a thowsende tymys þou renne thorow
1050 A busche of thornys þat sharpe were
1051 Tyll þi nakyde body were all rough
1052 And eevyn rent to þe bonys bare."
1053 The eyghte, God sethe þis man tyll:
1054 "Oftyn pray and aske of me,
1055 Ande þat plesythe me more onto my wyll
1056 Than yf my modyr and all sentys preyde for þe."
1057 The nynte, Gode sethe: "Lowe me souerenly,
1058 Ande þat to me more plesant ys
1059 Than yf þou went wpon a pyler of tre
1060 þat wer sett full of scharpe prykkys
1061 So þat þou cut þi flesche into þe smale partys."
1062 Lo, Gode ys plesyde more wyth þe dedys of charyte
1063 Than all þe peynys man may suffer iwys.
1064 Remembyr thes poyntys, man, in þi felycite!

1064a Here entrethe ANIMA, wyth þe Fyve Wyttys goynge before,
1064b MYNDE on þe on syde and WNDYRSTONDYNGE on þe other syde
1064c and WYLL folowyng, all in here fyrst clothynge, her chapplettys
1064d and crestys, and all hauyng on crownys, syngynge in here
1064e commynge in: "Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus que retribuit
1064f mihi? Calicem salutaris accipiam at nomen Domini inuocabo."

1065 ANIMA. O meke Jhesu, to þe I crye!
1066 O swet Juesu, my delectacyon!
1067 O Jhesu, þe sune of Vyrgyne Marye,
1068 Full of mercy and compassyon!
1069 My soule ys waschede be thy passyon
1070 Fro þe synnys cummynge be sensualyte.
1071 A, be the I haue a new resurreccyon.
1072 The lyght of grace I fele in me.
1073 In tweyn myghtys of my soule I the offendyde:
1074 The on by my inwarde wyttys, thow ben gostly;
1075 þe other by my outwarde wyttys comprehendyde,
1076 Tho be þe fyve wyttys bodyly;
1077 Wyth þe wyche tweyn myghtys mercy I crye.
1078 My modyr, Holy Chyrche, hath yowe me grace,
1079 Whom ye fyrst toke to yowr mercy,
1080 Yet of myselff I may not satysfye my trespas.
1081 Magna est misericordia tua!
1082 Wyth full feyth of foryewenes to þe, Lorde, I come.

1083 WYSDOM. Vulnerasti cor meum, soror mea, sponsa,
1084 In vno ictu oculorum tuorum.
1085 Ye haue wondyde my hert, syster, spowse dere,
1086 In þe tweyn syghtys of yowr ey:
1087 By þe recognycyon ye haue clere,
1088 Ande by þe hye lowe ye haue godly.
1089 It perrysschyt my hert to here yow crye,
1090 Now ye haue forsake synne and be contryte.
1091 Ye were neuer so leve to me verelye.
1092 Now be ye reformyde to yowr bewtys bryght.
1093 Ande ther yowr fyve wyttys offendyde has,
1094 Ande to mak asythe be impotent,
1095 My fyve wyttys, þat neuer dyde trespas,
1096 Hathe made asythe to þe Father suffycyent.
1097 Wyth my syght I se þe people vyolent,
1098 I herde hem vengeaunce onto me call,
1099 I smelte þe stenche of caren here present,
1000 I tastyde þe drynke mengylde wyth gall,
1101 By towchynge I felte peyns smerte.
1102 My handys sprede abrode to halse þi swyre;
1103 My fete naylyde to abyde wyth þe, swet herte;
1104 My hert clowyn for þi loue most dere;
1105 Myn hede bowhede down to kys þe here;
1106 My body full of holys, as a dovehows.
1107 In thys ye be reformyde, Soule, my plesere,
1108 Ande now ye be þe very temple of Jhesus.
1109 Fyrst ye were reformyde by baptyme of ygnorans
1110 And clensyde from þe synnys orygynall,
1111 Ande now ye be reformyde by þe sakyrment of penance
1112 Ande clensyde from þe synnys actuall.
1113 Now ye be fayrest, Crystys own specyall;
1114 Dysfygure yow neuer to þe lyknes of þe fende.
1115 Now ye haue receyuyde þe crownnys victoryall
1116 To regne in blys wythowtyn ende.

1117 MYNDE. Haue mynde, Soule, wat Gode hath do,
1118 Reformyde yow in feyth veryly.
1119 Nolite conformari huic seculo
1120 Sed reformamini in nouitate spiritus sensus vestri:
1121 Conforme yow not to þis pompyus glory
1122 But reforme in gostly felynge.
1123 Ye þat were damnyde by synn endelesly,
1124 Mercy hathe reformyde yow ande crownyde as a kynge.

1125 WNDYRSTONDYNGE. Take vndyrstondynge, Soule, now ye
1126 Wyth contynuall hope in Godys behest.
1127 Renouamini spiritu mentis vestre
1128 Et induite nouum hominem, qui secundum Deum creatus est:
1129 Ye be reformyde in felynge, not only as a best,
1130 But also in þe ouer parte of yowr resun,
1131 Be wyche ye haue lyknes of Gode mest
1132 Ande of þat mercyfull very congnycyon.

1133 WYSDOM. Now þe Soule yn charyte reformyde ys,
1134 Wyche charyte ys Gode verely.
1135 Exspoliantem veterem hominem cum actibus suis:
1136 Spoyll yow of yowr olde synnys and foly
1137 Ande be renuyde in Godys knowynge agegn,
1138 That enduyde wyth grace so specyally,
1139 Conseruynge in peyn, euer in blys for to reyn.

1140 ANIMA. Then wyth yow thre I may sey this
1141 Of Owr Lorde, soueren person, Jhesus:
1142 Suavis est Dominus vniuersis,
1143 Et miseraciones ejus super omnia opera ejus.
1144 O thou hye soueren Wysdam, my joy, Cristus,
1145 Hewyn, erthe, and eche creature
1146 Yelde yow reuerens, for grace pleyntuus
1147 Ye yeff to man, euer to induyr.
1148 Now wyth Sent Powle we may sey thus
1149 þat be reformyde thorow feythe in Jhesum:
1150 We haue peas and acorde betwyx Gode and ws,
1151 Justificati ex fide pacem habemus ad Deum.
1152 Now to Salamonys conclusyon I com:
1153 Timor Domini inicium sapiencie.
1154 Vobis qui timetis Deum
1155 Orietur sol justicie:
1156 The tru son of ryghtusnes,
1157 Wyche þat ys Owr Lorde Jhesu,
1158 Xall sprynge in hem þat drede hys meknes.
1159 Nowe ye mut euery soule renewe
1160 In grace, and vycys to eschew,
1161 Ande so to ende wyth perfeccyon.
1162 That þe doctryne of Wysdom we may sew,
1163 Sapiencia Patris, grawnt þat for hys passyon!

1164 AMEN!

1164a Wysdom.
1164b Anima, Fyue Wyttys.
1164c Mynde.
1164d Wndyrstondynge.
1164e Lucyfer.

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Proper Citation: Wisdom. AtFrom Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.

October 22, 2007