N-Town Cycle, Play 18

[Herod and the Magi, and the Adoration of the Magi]

  1  HERODE[S REX] As a lord in ryalté, in non regyon so ryche,
  2  And rulere of all remys, I ryde in ryal aray!
  3  Ther is no lord of lond in lordchep to me lyche,
  4  Non lofflyere, non lofsummere, evyrlestyng is my lay!

  5  Of bewté and of boldnes I bere evermore ŝe belle.
  6  Of mayn and of myght I mastyr every man!
  7  I dynge with my dowtynes ŝe devyl down to helle,
  8  For bothe of hevyn and of herth I am kynge, sertayn!

  9  I am ŝe comelyeste kynge clad in gleterynge golde,
 10  3a, and ŝe semelyeste syre ŝat may bestryde a stede!
 11  I welde att my wyll all wyghtys upon molde,
 12  3a, and wurthely I am wrappyd in a wurthy wede.

 13  3e knyghtys so comely, bothe curteys and kene,
 14  To my paleys wyl I passe full prest, I 3ow plyth.
 15  3e dukys so dowty, folwe me bedene.
 16  Onto my ryal paleys ŝe wey lyth ful ryght.

 17  Wyghtly fro my stede I skyppe down in hast,
 18  To myn hey3 hallys I haste me in my way.
 19  3e mynstrell, of myrth blowe up a good blast
 20  Whyll I go to chamere and chaunge myn array.

 21  PRIMUS REX Heyl be 3e, kyngys tweyne,
 22  Ferre rydyng out of 3oure regne!
 23  Methynkyth be 3oure presentys seyne
 24  3e sekyn oure Sauyour.
 25  Fro Saba haue I folwyd ferre
 26  The glemynge of 3on gay sterre.
 27  A chyldys blood xal bye vs dere
 28  ŝat ŝer is born in bestys boure.

 29  My name is Kynge Baltazare.
 30  Of prophetys speche I am ware.
 31  Therfore a ferre wey I fare,
 32  A maydenys childe to seche.
 33  For he made man of ŝe moolde,
 34  And is kynge of hevyn holde.
 35  I wyl hym offere ŝe rede golde,
 36  As reson wyl me teche.

 37  SECUNDUS REX Melchizar, ŝat my name is kydde.
 38  In hote loue myn herte is hydde
 39  To ŝe blosme upon his bedde,
 40  Born by bestys bynne.
 41  In Tarys I am kynge with crowne
 42  By bankys and brymmys browne.
 43  I haue trauaylid by many a towne
 44  My lordys love to wynne.

 45  I seke hym with ensens sote.
 46  Of all prestys he xal be rote.
 47  His bryght blood xal be oure bote,
 48  To brynge us out of bende.
 49  The childe xal be chosyn a preste,
 50  In all vertuys fownden meste.
 51  Beforn his faderys fayr breste
 52  Ensens he xal up sende.

 53  TERCIUS REX In Ypotan and Archage
 54  I am kynge knowyn in kage.
 55  To seke a childe of semlant sage
 56  I haue faryn ryght ferre.
 57  Jasper is my name knowyn
 58  In many countrés ŝat are myn owyn.
 59  Thorwe byttyr blastys ŝat gyn blowyn
 60  I stryke aftere ŝe sterre.

 61  I brynge myrre to my present,
 62  A byttyr lycour verament.
 63  For he xal tholyn byttyr dent
 64  In a maydonys flesch is clad.
 65  On byttyr tre he xal be bent,
 66  Man and God omnypotent;
 67  With byttyr betynge his flesch be rent
 68  Tyl all his blood be bledde.

 69  HER[ODES REX] Now I regne [as ŝi] kynge arayd ful rych,
 70  Rollyd in rynggys and robys of array.
 71  Dukys with dentys I dryve into ŝe dych,
 72  My dedys be ful dowty demyd be day!
 73  I xall marryn ŝo men ŝat r__yn on myche,
 74  And ŝerinne sette here sacrementys sottys ___ say!

 75  ŝer is no lorde in ŝis werde ŝat lokygh me lyche.
 76  For to lame l___ of ŝe lesse lay
 77  I am jolyere than ŝe jay,
 78  Stronge thevys to steke,
 79  ŝat wele oure lawys breke.
 80  On ŝo wrecchis I wyll be wreke,
 81  And hont hem vndyr ha[y].

 82  In kyrtyl of cammaka kynge am I cladde,
 83  Cruel and curryd in myn crowne knowe!
 84  I sytr in ondyr Sesar in my se___e sadde.
 85  Sorwyn to sottys, such seed wyll I sowe!
 86  Boys now blaberyn, bostynge of a baron bad,
 87  In bed[de] is born be bestys, suche bost is blowe.
 88  I xal prune ŝat pap-hawk and preuyn hym as a pad
 89  Scheldys and shaftys sh__h__ sowe!
 90  My knyghtys xaln rydyn on rowe,
 91  Knave chylderyn for to qwelle!
 92  Be Mahound, dyngne duke of helle,
 93  Sowre deth his lyff xall selle
 94  Such thrett wolde me throwe!

 95  Styward bolde,
 96  Walke ŝu on wolde
 97  And wysely beholde
 98  All abowte.
 99  Iff anythynge
100  Shuld greve ŝe kynge,
101  Brynge me tydynge
102  If ŝer be ony dowte.

103  SENESCALLUS Lord kynge in crowne,
104  I go fro towne.
105  By bankys browne
106  I wyll abyde,
107  And with erys lyste
108  Est and west
109  Iff any geste
110  On grownde gynnyth glyde.

Tunc ibit Senescallus et obuiabit tribus regibus, et dicit eis:

111  Kyngys iij
112  Vndyr ŝis tre,
113  In ŝis countré
114  Why wyll 3e abyde?
115  Herowde is kynge
116  Of ŝis wonynge.
117  Onto his dwellynge
118  Now xul 3e glyde.

119  PRIMUS REX Now lede us alle
120  To ŝe kyngys halle.
121  How it befalle,
122  We pray to the,
123  Wyttys to wete
124  He may us pete
125  In flesshe be glete
126  Godys frute fre.

127  SENESCALLUS Folwyth in stownde
128  Vpon ŝis grownde.
129  To ŝe castel rownde
130  I xal 3ow tech,
131  Where kynge gynny[th] wyde
132  Vp in ŝis tyde
133  In pompe and pryde
134  His myght gynnyth reche.

135  Sere kyng in trone,
136  Here comyth anone
137  By strete and stone
138  Kyngys thre.
139  They bere present.
140  What thei haue ment,
141  Ne whedyr they arn bent
142  I cannot Se.

143  HERODES REX I xal hem craue
144  What they haue.
145  Iff they raue
146  Or waxyn wood,
147  I xal hem reve,
148  Here wyttys deve,
149  Here hedys cleve,
150  And schedyn here blood!

151  PRIMUS REX Heyl be ŝu, kynge in kage ful hye!
152  Heyl, we nyghe ŝin halle ryght nye.
153  Knowyst ŝu ought ŝat chylde slye?
154  He is born hereabowth.
155  He is born of a mayd 3ynge,
156  He xal be kynge ouyr every kynge.
157  We go to seke ŝat louely thynge,
158  To hym fayn wolde I lowth.

159  SECUNDUS REX Babaam spak in prophecye
160  A sterre xulde ful louelye
161  Lythtyn upon mayd Marye,
162  Comyn of Jacobys kynne.
163  ŝe childe is born and lyth hereby,
164  Blomyd in a maidenys body.
165  A sterre hath strekyn upon ŝe sky
166  And ledde us fayr be fenne.

167  TERCIUS REX The sterre hath ledde us out of ŝe est
168  To seke a baron born best.
169  He xal be kynge of myghtys mest,
170  As prophecy gynnyth spelle.
171  We be kyngys in wey wery.
172  Syr kynge, for ŝi curtesy,
173  Telle us to ŝat childe so louely;
174  In what town gynnyth he dwelle?

175  HERODES REX 3e thre kyngys rekenyd be rowe,
176  Ley now downe 3oure wurdys lowe.
177  Such a carpynge is vnknowe,
178  Onrekenyd in my regne!
179  I am a kynge of hy3 degré,
180  ŝer xal non ben above me!
181  I haue florens and fryhthis fre,
182  Parkys and powndys pleyne.

183  But goth to fynde ŝat 3e sech;
184  And yf 3e knowe such a lech
185  And 3e hym fynde, I 3ow besech,
186  Comyth a3en be me.
187  And I xal be both blyth and bowne
188  ŝat all worchep to hym be done;
189  With reuerens I xal seke hym sone
190  And honour hym on kne.

191  And ŝerfore, kyngys, I 3ow pray,
192  Whan 3e haue don 3oure jurnay,
193  Come a3en ŝis same way,
194  ŝe trewth to me to telle.

195  Come and telle me as 3e spede,
196  And I xal qwyte ryght wel 3oure mede,
197  With gold, and tresour, and rych wede,
198  With furrys rych and wurth pelle.

199  PRIMUS REX Kynge, haue good day!
200  I go my way
201  To seche
202  Lord of Myght;
203  He xal be ryght
204  Oure leche.

205  SECUNDUS Kynge ful sterne,
206  REX Be felde and ferne
207  I goo
208  To sekyn a kynge,
209  He takyth wonynge
210  In woo.

211  TERCIUS REX If we hym fynde
212  Oure kynge ful kynde
213  Be a may,
214  From kynge and qwen
215  We comyn a3en
216  ŝis day.

217  HERODES REX A, fy, fy on talys ŝat I haue ben tolde
218  Here beforn my cruel kne!
219  How xulde a barn wax so bolde
220  Be bestys yf he born be?
221  He is yong and I am old,
222  An hardy kyng of hye degré.
223  This daye tho kynggys xal be kold
224  If ŝey cum ageyne be me!
225  My goddys I xall vp reyse!
226  A derke devyll with falsnese, I saye,
227  Shall cast a myst in ŝe kynggys eye;
228  Be bankys and be dalys drey,
229  ŝat be derk ŝei xall cum this weyys.

230  PRIMUS [REX] Go we to sek owr Lord and our lech,
231  Yon stere will us tech ŝe weyis full sone.
232  To saue vs from myschyff God I here besech,
233  Onto his joyis ŝat we may rech;
234  I pray hem of this bone.

Tunc ibunt reges cum muneribus ad Jesum, et Primus Rex dicit:

235  Heyle be ŝou, kyng cold clade!
236  Heyll, with maydynnys mylk fade!
237  Heyll, I cum to ŝe with gold glade.
238  As wese wrytyng bere it record,
239  Gold is ŝe rycheste metall,
240  And to weryng most ryall.
241  Gold I gyffe in this hall
242  And know fre for my Lorde.

243  SECUNDUS R[EX]Lorde, I knele vpon my kne,
244  Sote encence I offere to the.
245  Thow xalte be ŝe fyrst of hy3 degré,
246  Non so mekell of myght!
247  In Goddys howse, as men xall se,
248  Thow xalt honour ŝe Trynité;
249  Iij personys in oon Gode free,
250  And all oo Lord of Myght.
251  TERCIUS R[EX] Lord, I knele downe be thy bede,
252  In maydyns fleshe ŝou arte hede.
253  Thy name xal be wyde rede,
254  And kyng ouyr all kynggys.
255  Byttyr myre to ŝe I brynge,
256  For byttyr dentys on ŝe ŝei xall dyng;
257  And byttyr deth xall be ŝy endyng,
258  And ferfor I make mornyng.

259  Kynggys kynde,
260  Frome ŝe fende
261  God yow defende.
262  Homwarde 3e wende,
263  And to your placys 3e lende
264  ŝat 3e xulde tende.

265  PRIMUS REX Now haue we ŝe place fownde,
266  To Herode go we this stownde.
267  With owr wordys we were bownde
268  That we xulde cum ageyne.
269  Go we apace and sey owr spech,
270  For we haue fownde oure Lord and lech.
271  All ŝe truth we wyll hem tech,
272  How ŝe kyng is borne of a quene.

273  SECUNDUS REX Myn hede is hevy as lympe of leede,
274  But yf I slepe I am adrede
275  My witt xall fare ŝe warse.
276  I wax hevy in lyme and fla[n]ke,
277  Downe I ley me vpon this banke,
278  Vnder this bryght sterre, iwys.

279  TERCIUS REX Broŝer, I must lye ŝe bye,
280  I will go neuyr ouyr ŝis stye
281  Tyll I haue a slepe.
282  The yong kyng and his moŝyr Mary
283  Save vs all frome euery velany.
284  Now Cryst vs save and kepe.

285  PRIMUS REX Such hevynese haue vs cawght,
286  I must drynk with yow a drawght,
287  To slepe a lytyll whyle.
288  I am hevy heed and footte,
289  I xulde stumbyll at resch and root
290  And I xuld goo a myle.

Hic dormiunt reges, et venit angelus et dicit eis:

291  ANGE[LUS] 3e kynggys on this hill,
292  Werk 3e not aftyr Herodys wyll.
293  For yf 3e do he wyll yow kyll
294  ŝis day or nyght.
295  My Lorde yow sent this tydyng
296  To rest yow, kynggys in rych clothyng.
297  And whan 3e rysyn and goo to your dwellyng,
298  Tak home ŝe wey full ryght.

299  Whether ŝat 3e be wakyn or slepe,
300  My Lorde God xall yow keppe.
301  In goode tyme 3e dede down drepe
302  To take yowr rest.
303  Herowdys, to Je devyl he tryste
304  To marre 3ow in a myrke myste.
305  My Lord God is ful of lyste
306  To glathe 3ow for his geste.

307  And ŝerfore, kyngys, whan 3e ryse,
308  Wendyth forth be weys wyse
309  ŝer 3oure hall be sett in syse
310  In dyverse londe.
311  Fadyr of God in allthynge
312  Hath 3ow grawntyd his swete blyssynge.
313  He xal 3ow saue from all shendynge
314  With his ryght honde.

Tunc surgant reges, et dicat Primus Rex:

315  [PRIMUS REX] A bryght sterre ledde us into Bedleem;
316  A bryghtere thynge I saw in drem,
317  Bryghtere than ŝe sunnebeem;
318  An aungell I saw ryght here.
319  ŝe fayre floure ŝat here gan falle,
320  From Herowdys Kynge he gan vs kalle.
321  He taught us hom tyll oure halle
322  A wey by another mere.

323  SECUNDUS REX I sawghe a syght,
324  Myn hert is lyght
325  To wendyn home.
326  God, ful of myght,
327  Hath us dyght
328  Fro develys dome.

329  TERCIUS REX Oure God I blysse.
330  He sent us, iwys,
331  His aungel bryght.
332  Now we wake
333  ŝe wey to take
334  Home full ryght.