N-Town Cycle, Play 25

[The Raising of Lazarus]

Hic incipit de suscitacione Lazari:

  1  LAZARUS God, ŝat allthynge dede make of nowth
  2  And puttyst eche creature to his fenaunce,
  3  Saue thyn handwerke ŝat ŝu hast wrought,
  4  As ŝu art Lord of hy3 substauns.
  5  O gracyous God, at ŝi plesauns,
  6  Of my dysese now comforte me,
  7  Which ŝurowe syknes hath such penawnce
  8  Onethys for heedache may I now se.

  9  Systyr Martha, and Mawdelyn eke,
 10  With hast helpe me in bedde to dresse.
 11  For trewly I am so woundyrly seke
 12  I may nevyr schape his grett seknes—
 13  My deth is com now, I gesse.
 14  Help into chawmere ŝat I be led.
 15  My grett desesse I hope xal lesse
 16  If I were leyd upon a bed.

 17  MARTHA Lazarus, brother, be of good cher;
 18  I hope 3oure syknes ryght wel xal slake.
 19  Vpon ŝis bed rest 3ow rygh her,
 20  And a good slep assay to take.
 21  MAGDALYN Now, jentyl brothyr, for Goddys sake,
 22  Lyfte up 3owre herte and be not feynt.
 23  An hevy housholde with vs 3e make
 24  If dedly syknes haue 3ow ateynt.

 25  LAZARUS Forsothe, dere systeryn, I may not slepe;
 26  My syknes so sore doth evyr encrese.
 27  Of me I pray 3ow, take ryght good kepe
 28  Tyll ŝat my peyne begynne relese.
 29  MARTHA God graunt grace ŝat it may sese.
 30  Of syknes God make 3ow sownde,
 31  Or ellys oure joy wyll sone dyscres,
 32  In so grett peynes if 3e ly bownde.

 33  MAGDALYN A, brothir, brothir, lyfte up 3oure herte!
 34  3oure hevy cher doth us grevaunce.
 35  If deth from us 3ow xulde departe,
 36  Than were we brought in comberaunce.
 37  3e be oure brothyr, syb of alyaunce;
 38  If 3e wore deed ŝan had we none.
 39  3e do us brynge in distemperaunce
 40  Whan 3e us telle 3e xal hens gone.

 41  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR Dame Martha and Magdalyne,
 42  How faryth 3oure brothire? Lete us hym se.
 43  MARTHA He is ryght seke and hath grett pyne—
 44  I am aferde deed he xal be.
 45  MAGDALYN A man may haue ryght grett pete,
 46  The fervent hete of hym to fele.
 47  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR Take 3e no thought in no degré;
 48  I hope ŝat he xal fare ful wele.

 49  MARTHA He may nat leve, his colowre doth chaunge.
 50  Com to his bed, 3e xal hym se.
 51  MAGDALYN Iff he longe leve it wyl be straunge,
 52  But as God wole, so mut it be.
 53  Chere hym, gode frendys, for charyté.
 54  Comforte of hym we kan non gete.
 55  Alas, alas! What eylight me?
 56  Myne herte for wo is wundyr grete!

 57  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Al heyl, Syr Lazarus! How do 3e fare?
 58  How do 3e fele 3ow in 3oure herte?
 59  LAZARUS I am with syknes all woundyn in care
 60  And loke whan deth me xulde departe.
 61  QUARTUS CONSOLATOR ET NUNCIUS 3e xal haue hele and leve in qwart
 62  If 3e wol take to 3ow good chere.
 63  LAZARUS Whan deth on me hath shet his dart,
 64  I xal haue hele and ly on bere.

 65  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR Be of good comforte and thynke not so,
 66  Put out of herte ŝat idyl thought.
 67  3oure owyn mysdemynge may werke 3ow wo
 68  And cause 3ow sonere to deth be brought.
 69  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR With gret syknes ŝow 3e be sought,
 70  Vpon 3ouresylf haue no mystruste.
 71  If ŝat 3e haue, I wundyr ryght nought
 72  ŝow 3e be deed and cast in duste.

 73  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Many on hath had ryght grett syknesse
 74  And aftyr hath had his hele agayn.
 75  And many a man, ŝis is no lesse,
 76  With his wantruste hymsylf hath slayn.
 77  3e be a man of ryght sad brayn.
 78  ŝow ŝat 3oure syknes greve 3ow ryght ill,
 79  Pluk up 3oure herte with myght and mayn,
 80  And chere 3ouresylf with all 3oure wyll!

 81  LAZARUS Ageyn my syknes her is non ese
 82  But Jesu Cryst, my maystyr dere.
 83  If ŝat he wyst of my dyssese,
 84  Ryght sone, I trust, he wolde ben here.
 85  QUARTUS CONSOLATOR I xal go to hym, withoutyn dwere,
 86  And of 3oure syknes telle hym, serteyn.
 87  Loke ŝat 3e be of ryght good chere
 88  Whyll ŝat I go and com ageyn.

 89  MARTHA Now, jentyl frend, telle hym ryght thus:
 90  He ŝat he lovyth hath grett syknes.
 91  Hedyr to come and comforte us,
 92  Say ŝat we prayd hym of his goodnes.
 93  MAGDALYN Recomende us onto his hy3nes,
 94  And telle hym all oure hertys wo.
 95  But he comforte oure hevynes,
 96  Oure werdly joy awey wyl go.

 97  QUARTUS CONSOLATOR ET NUNCIUS The trewth, forsoth, all every dele
 98  As 3e haue told, so xal I say.
 99  Go to 3oure brothyr and cheryse hym wele,
100  For I walke forth streyte in my way.
101  MARTHA What chere, good brothyr? Telle me I pray,
102  What wele 3e ete? What wele 3e drynk?
103  Loke what is plesynge to 3oure pay;
104  3e xal haue what 3e wole thynke.

105  LAZARUS My wynde is stoppyd! Gon is my breth,
106  And deth is come to make myn ende.
107  To God in hevyn my sowle I qweth.
108  Farwell, systeryn, for hens I wende.
Hic Lazarus moritur, et cetera..
109  MAGDALYN Alas, for wo myn here I rende!
110  Myn owyn dere brothyr lyth here now ded!
111  Now haue we lost a trusty frende,
112  ŝe sybbest blood of oure kynreed.

113  MARTHA Alas, alas, and weleway!
114  Now be we tweyn bothe brotherles.
115  For who my hert is colde as clay!
116  A, hoo xal comforte oure carefulnes?
117  Ther had nevyr woman more doolfulnes.
118  A, systyr Magdalyn, what is 3oure reed?
119  What whith may helpe oure hevynes
120  Now ŝat oure brother is gon and deed?

121  MAGDALYN Alas, dere systyr, I cannot telle.
122  ŝe best comforte ŝat I can sey,
123  But sum man do us sle and qwelle,
124  Lete us ly down by hym and dey.
125  Alas, why went he alone awey?
126  If we had deyd with hym also,
127  Than had oure care all turnyd to pley
128  Ther now all joye is turnyd to woo.

129  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR Be of good comforte and thank God of al,
130  For deth is dew to every man.
131  What tyme ŝat deth on us xal fal
132  Non erthely wyght ŝe oure telle can.
133  MARTHA We all xul dye, ŝat is sertan.
134  But 3it be blood of kynde nature,
135  Whan deth be brothyr awey hath tan,
136  Must nedys murne ŝat sepulture.

137  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR Good frendys, I pray 3ow, holde 3oure pes.
138  All 3oure wepynge may not amende itt.
139  Of 3oure sorwynge, ŝerfore, now ses,
140  And helpe he were buryed in a cley pitt.
141  MAGDALYN Alas, ŝat wurde myn herte doth slytt,
142  ŝat he must now in cley be graue.
143  I wolde sum man my throte wulde kytt
144  ŝat I with hym myght lyne in caue.

145  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Bothe heed and foot now he is wounde
146  In a chete bothe fayr and clene.
147  Lete us bere hym streyte to ŝat grounde
148  Where ŝat 3e thynke his graue xal bene.
149  MARTHA We be full lothe ŝat pytt to sen.
150  But stondynge it may no bettyr be,
151  The coors take up 3ow thre betwen.
152  With carefull herte 3ow folwe xal we.

Hic portauit corpus ad sepelliendum.

153  MAGDALEYN Alas, comforte, I se non othyr,
154  But all of sorwe, and care, and woo!
155  We dulfull women must hurry oure brothir—
156  Alas, ŝat deth me wyl not slo!
157  If I to pitt with hym myght go,
158  ŝerin evyrmore with hym to abyde,
159  Than were my care all went me fro,
160  ŝer now grett sorwe doth wounde me wyde.

161  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR This coors we burry here in his pytte;
162  Allmyghty God ŝe sowle mut haue.
163  And with his ston his graue we shytte,
164  Fro ravenous bestys ŝe body to saue.
165  MAGDALYN He is now brought into his cave.
166  Myn hert for wo his syght doth kylle!
167  Lete us sytt down here by ŝe grave,
168  Or we go hens wepe all oure fylle.

169  MARTHA Vs for to wepe no man may left,
170  Beforn oure face to se his syght.
171  Alas, qwy doth deth us not fett,
172  Vs for to brynge to his same plyght?
173  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR Arys! For shame, 3e do not ryght!
174  Streyth from his grave 3e xul go hens.
175  ŝus for to grugge ageyns Godys myght,
176  A3ens hy3 God 3e do offens.

177  MAGDALEN Syth I must nedys with 3ow hens gon,
178  My brotherys graue lete me fyrst kys.
179  Alas, no whith may helpe my mon.
180  Farewel, my brothyr. Farewel, my blys.
181  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Hom to 3oure place we xal 3ow wysse.
182  For Goddys loue, be of good chere.
183  Indede, 3e do ryght sore amys,
184  So sore to wepe as 3e do here.

185  MARTHA Lete us go hom than to oure place.
186  We pray 3ow all with us to abyde,
187  Vs to comforte with sum solace
188  Tyl ŝat oure sorwe doth slake and sclyde.
189  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR 3ow for to comforte at every tyde
190  We xall dwelle here bothe nyght and day.
191  And God, ŝat made his werd so wyde,
192  Be 3owre comforte, ŝat best may.

Hic iiijus Consolator et Nuncius loquitur Jesu, dicens:

193  QUARTUS CONSOLATOR Heyl, holy prophete, Jesu be name!
194  Martha and Mawdelyn, ŝo systeryn too,
195  Recomende hem to 3oure hy3 fame,
196  And bad me sey to 3ow ŝus, loo:
197  How ŝat Lazare, qwhich ŝat 3e lovyd so,
198  With grett syknes is sore dyssesyd.
199  To hym they prayd 3ow ŝat 3e wolde goo,
200  If ŝat 3oure hy3nes ŝerwith were plesyd.

201  JESUS Dedly syknes Lazare hath non,
202  But for to shewe Goddys grete glorye,
203  For ŝat syknes is ordeynyd alon
204  ŝe Sone of God to gloryfie.
205  NUNCIUS They be in dowte ŝat he xal deye—
206  Grett syknes hym sore doth holde.
207  For veruent hete his blood doth dreye;
208  His colore chaungyth, as they me tolde.

209  JESUS Goo hom ageyn and telle hem thus:
210  I xal come to hem whan ŝat I may.
211  NUNC[IU]S At 3oure comaundement, O prophete Jesus,
212  I xal hem telle as 3e do say.
213  JESUS Come forth, bretheryn, walke we oure way,
214  Into Jurye go we anon.
215  I cam not there ful many a day;
216  ŝerfore thedyr now wyl I gon.

217  OMNES DISCIPULI The Jewys ageyn the were grym and grylle.
218  Whan ŝu wore there they wolde be a slayn!
219  With stonys they sowte ŝe for to kyll,
220  And wylt ŝu now go thedyr ageyn?
221  JESUS Xij owrys ŝe day hath, in certeyn,
222  In them to walke bothe clere and bryght.
223  He xal not stomble ageyn hyll nor pleyn
224  ŝat goth be wey whyl it is daylyght.

225  But if men walke whan it is nyght,
226  Sone they offende in ŝat dyrknes.
227  Becawse they may haue no cler syght,
228  They hurte there fete ofte in such myrkenes.
229  But as for this, 3itt nevyrŝelesse,
230  The cawse ŝerfore I thedyr wyl wende
231  Is for to reyse from hedde expresse
232  Lazare, ŝat slepyth, oure althere frende.

233  OMNES DISCIPULI Of his syknes he xal be save.
234  If ŝat he slepe, good sygne it is.
235  JESUS Lazare is deed and leyd in grave;
236  Of his slepynge 3e deme amys.
237  I was not there, 3e knew weyl this.
238  To strengthe 3oure feyth I am ful glad.
239  ŝerfore I telle 3ow ŝe trewthe, iwys:
240  Oure frende is deed and vndyr erth clad.

241  THOMAS Than goo we all ryght evyn streyth thedyr,
242  Thereas oure frende Lazare is deed,
243  And lete us deye with hym togedyr,
244  ŝeras he lyth, in be same stede.
245  JESUS The for to deye haue ŝu no drede.
246  The wey streyth thedyr in hast we take.
247  Be ŝe grett myght of myn Godhede,
248  Oute of his slepe he xal awake.

249  NUNCIUS All heyl, Martha and Mawdelyn eke,
250  To Jesu I haue 3oure massage seyd.
251  I tolde hym how ŝat 3oure brothyr was seke
252  And with grett peyn in his bed leyd.
253  He bad 3e xulde not be dysmayde:
254  All his syknes he xal askape.
255  He wyll byn here within a brayde;
256  As he me tolde, he comyth in rape.

257  MAWDELYN That holy prophete doth come to late:
258  Oure brothyr is beryed iij days or this.
259  A grett [ston] stoppyth ŝe pyttys gate
260  Thereas oure brothere beryde is.
261  NUNCIUS Is Lazare deed? Now God his sowle blys.
262  3it loke 3e take non hevynes.
263  So longe to wepe 3e don amys;
264  It may not helpe 3oure sorynes.

265  MARTHA Out of myn herte all care to lete,
266  All sorwe and wo to caste away,
267  I xal go forth in be strete
268  To mete with Jesu if ŝat I may.
269  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR God be 3oure spede bothe evyr and ay,
270  For with 3oure sustyr we wyl abyde.
271  Here to comforte we xal asay,
272  And all here care to caste asyde.

273  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Mary Mawdelyn, be of good herte,
274  And wel bethynke 3ow in 3oure mynde,
275  Eche creature hens must depart:
276  ŝer is no man but hens must wende.
277  Deth to no wyht can be a frende.
278  Allŝinge to erth he wyl down cast.
279  Whan ŝat God wol, allthynge hath ende;
280  Lengere than hym lyst, nothynge may last.

281  MAUDALYN I thanke 3ow, frendys, for 3oure good chere.
282  Myn hed doth ake as it xulde brest.
283  I pray 3ow, therfore, while 3e ben here,
284  A lytil whyle ŝat I may rest.
285  QUARTUS CONSOLATOR NUNC[IUS]ŝat Lord ŝat made bothe est and west
286  Graunt 3ow good grace suche rest to take
287  ŝat onto hym xulde plese most best,
288  As he his worlde of nought dyd make.

289  MARTHA A, gracyous Lord, had 3e ben here,
290  My brother Lazare his tyme had lyved.
291  But iiij days gon upon a bere
292  We dede hym berye whan he was ded.
293  3itt now I knowe, withowtyn drede,
294  What thynge of God ŝat ŝu do craue,
295  ŝu xalt spede of ŝe hy3 Godhede:
296  Whatso ŝu aske, ŝu xalt it haue.

297  JESUS Thy brothyr Lazare a3en xal ryse,
298  A levynge man a3en to be.
299  MARTHA I woot wel ŝat at ŝe grett last syse
300  He xal aryse, and also we.
301  JESUS Resurreccyon ŝu mast me se,
302  And hendeles lyff I am also.
303  What man ŝat deyth and levyth in me,
304  From. deth to lyve he xal ageyn go.

305  Eche man in me ŝat feythful is,
306  And ledyth his lyff aftere my lore,
307  Of hendeles lyff may he nevyr mys:
308  Euere he xal leve, and deye nevyrmore.
309  The body and sowle I xal restore
310  To endeles joye. Dost ŝu trowe this?
311  MARTHA I hope in the, O Cryst, ful sore.
312  ŝu art ŝe Sone of God in blys.

313  Thy fadyr is God, of lyff endeles;
314  ŝiself is sone of lyff and gras.
315  To sese these wordlys wrecchydnes,
316  From hefne to erth ŝu toke ŝe pas.
317  JESUS Of hevynly myght ryght grett solas
318  To all ŝis world me xul sone se.
319  Go calle ŝi systyr into his plas:
320  Byd Mary Mawdelyn come hedyr to me.

321  MARTHA At ŝi byddyng I xal here calle,
322  In hast we were here 3ow beforn.
323  MAWDELYN Alas, my mowth is bytter as galle.
324  Grett sorwyn my herte on tweyn hath scorn!
325  Now ŝat my brothyr from syth is lorn,
326  ŝer may no myrth my care releve.
327  Alas ŝe tyme ŝat I was born!
328  ŝe swerde of sorwe myn hert doth cleve.

329  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR For his dere loue ŝat all hath wrought,
330  Ses sum tyme of 3oure wepynge;
331  And put allthynge out of thought
332  Into ŝis care ŝat 3ow doth brynge.
333  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR 3e do 3oureself ryght grett hyndrynge,
334  And short 3oure lyff or 3e be ware.
335  For Goddys loue, ses of 3oure sorwynge,
336  And with good wysdam refreyn 3oure care.

337  MARTHA Sustyr Magdalen, com out of halle.
338  Oure maystyr is com, as I 3ow say.
339  He sent me hedyr 3ow for to calle.
340  Come forth in hast, as I 3ow pray.
341  MAGDALEN Ha! Where hath he ben many a longe day?
342  Alas, why cam he no sonere hedyr?
343  In hast I folwe 3ow anon ŝe way.
344  Methynkyth longe or I come thedyr.

345  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Herke, gode frendys, I 3ow pray,
346  Aftyr ŝis woman in hast we wende!
347  I am aferde, ryght in good fay,
348  Hereself for sorwe ŝat she wyl shende.
349  NUNCIUS Here brothyr so sore is in hire mende
350  She may not ete, drynke, nor slepe.
351  Streyte to his graue she goth on ende,
352  As a mad woman her for to wepe.

353  MAGDALEN A, souereyn Lord and maystyr dere,
354  Had 3e with us ben in presens,
355  Than had my brother on lyue ben here,
356  Nat ded but qwyk, ŝat now is hens.
357  Ageyn deth is no resystens.
358  Alas, myn hert is woundyrly wo
359  Whan ŝat I thynke of his absens
360  ŝat 3e 3oureself in herte lovyd so.

361  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR Whan we haue mynde of his sore deth,
362  He was to us so jentyl and good,
363  ŝat mend of hym oure hertys sleth.
364  ŝe losse of hym doth marre oure mood.
365  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR Be bettyr neybore nevyr man stood,
366  To euery man he was ryght hende.
367  Vs he dede refresch with drynk and food,
368  Now he is gon, gon is oure frende.

369  JESUS 3owre grett wepynge doth me constreyne
370  For my good frend to wepe also.
371  I cannot me for wo restreyn,
372  But I must wepe lyke as 3e do.

Hic Jesus fingit se lacrimari.

373  TERCIUS CONSOLATOR Beholde his prophete, how he doth wepe, lo!
374  He louyd Lazare ryght woundyrly sore.
375  He wolde not ellys for hym ŝus wepe so,
376  But if ŝat his loue on hym were be more.

377  NUNCIUS A straw for ŝi tale! What nedyth hym to wepe?
378  A man born blynde dede he nat 3eue syght?
379  Myght he nat thanne his frende on lyve kepe
380  Be the uertu of ŝat same hy3 myght?
381  JESUS Where is he put? Telle me anon-ryght.
382  Brynge me ŝe weye streyth to his grave.
383  MARTHA Lord, at 3oure wylle we xal brynge 3ow tyght,
384  Evyn to ŝat place ŝer he doth lyne in caue.

385  MAGDALYN Whan ŝat we had ŝe massangere sent,
386  Or he had fullych half a myle gon,
387  Deyd my brother and up we hym hent;
388  Here in his graue we beryed hym anon.
389  JESUS be myght of ŝe Godhed xal glathe 3ow everychon,
390  Suche syght xal 3e se hens or 3e wende.
391  Sett to 3oure handys, take of ŝe ston.
392  A syght lete me haue of Lazare my frende.

393  MARTHA He stynkygh ryght fowle longe tyme or this.
394  Iiij days gon, forsothe, he was dede.
395  Lete hym ly stylle ryght evyn as he is.
396  ŝe stynke of his careyn myght hurte us, I drede.
397  JESUS As I haue ŝe tolde, syght of ŝe Godhede
398  Thyself xuldyst haue, feythful if ŝu be.
399  Take of ŝe ston, do aftyr my rede.
400  ŝe glorye of ŝe Godhede anon 3exal se.

401  PRIMUS CONSOLATOR 3oure byddynge xal be don anon ful swyfte.
402  Sett to 3oure handys and helpe, echon.
403  I pray 3ow, serys, help me to lyfte;
404  I may not reyse it myself alon.
405  SECUNDUS CONSOLATOR In feyth, it is an hevy ston,
406  Ryth sad of weyth and hevy of peys.
407  TERCIUS Thow it were twyes so evy as on,
408  Vndyr vs foure we xal it reyse.

409  NUNCIUS Now is ŝe ston take from be caue.
410  Here may men se a rewly sygth
411  Of his ded body ŝat lyth here graue,
412  Wrappyd in a petéfful plyght.

Jesus, eleuatis ad celum oculis, dicit:

413  JESUS I thanke ŝe, fadyr, of ŝin hy3 myght,
414  ŝat ŝu hast herd my prayour his day.
415  I know ful wel bothe day and nyght
416  Euyr ŝu dost graunt ŝat I do say,

417  But for his pepyl ŝat stondyth about
418  And beleue not ŝe power of ŝe and me,
419  Them for to brynge clene out of dowt,
420  This day oure myght thei all xul se.

Hic Jesus clamat voce magna dicens:

421  Lazare, Lazare, my frende so fre,
422  From ŝat depe pitt come out anon!
423  Be ŝe grett myght of ŝe hy3 magesté,
424  Alyve ŝu xalt on erth ageyn gon.

425  LAZARUS At 3oure comaundement I ryse up ful ryght.
426  Hevyn, helle, and erth 3oure byddyng must obeye.
427  For 3e be God and man, and Lord of most myght.
428  Of lyff and of deth 3e haue both lok and keye.

Hic resurget Lazarus ligatis manibus et pedibus ad modum sepult[i], et dicit Jesus:

429  JESUS Goo forthe, bretheryn, and Lazare 3e vntey,
430  And all his bondys, losyth hem asundyr.
431  Late hym walke hom with 3ow in ŝe wey.
432  Ageyn Godys myght ŝis meracle is no wundyr.

433  PETRUS. At 3oure byddynge his bondys we vnbynde.
434  Allthynge muste lowte 3oure magesté.
435  Be his grett meracle opynly we fynde
436  Very God and man in trewth ŝat 3e be.
437  JOHANNES. ŝat ŝu art very God, every man may se
438  Be this meracle so grett and so meruayll!
439  Allthynge vndyr hevyn must nedys obeye ŝe.
440  Whan a3ens be ŝowh Deth be, he may not preuayll.

441  OMNES CONSOLATORES We all with o voys for God do ŝe knowe,
442  And for oure Sauyour we do ŝe reverens.
443  All oure hool loue now in ŝe doth growe,
444  O sovereyn Lord of most excellens.
445  Helpe vs of 3oure grace whan ŝat we go hens,
446  For a3ens deth us helpyht not to stryve.
447  But a3en 3oure myght is no resistens:
448  Oure deth 3e may aslake and kepe vs stylle on lyve.

449  JESUS Now I haue shewyd in opyn syght
450  Of my Godhed be gret glorye.
451  Toward my Passyon I wyl me dyght:
452  The tyme is nere ŝat I must deye,
453  For all mankynde his sowle to bye.
454  A crowne of thorn xal perchyn myn brayn,
455  And on ŝe Mont of Caluarye,
456  Vpon a cros I xal be slayn.