From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama
The York Cycle, Play 30 - Dream of Pilate's Wife; Christ before Pilate
Tapiterers and Couchers
001 Pilate. Yhe cursed creatures that cruelly are cryand,
002 Restreyne you for stryuyng for strengh of my strakis;
003 Youre pleyntes in my presence vse plately applyand,
004 Or ellis this brande in youre braynes sone brestis and brekis.
005 þis brande in his bones brekis,
006 What brawle that with brawlyng me brewis,
007 That wrecche may not wrye fro my wrekis,
008 Nor his sleyghtis noyot slely hym slakis;
009 Latte that traytour noyot triste in my trewys.
010 For sir Sesar was my sier and I sothely his sonne,
011 That exelent emperoure exaltid in hight
012 Whylk all this wilde worlde with wytes had wone,
013 And my modir hight Pila that proude was o plight;
014 O Pila that prowde, Atus hir fadir he hight.
015 This 'Pila' was hadde into 'Atus'-
016 Nowe renkis, rede yhe it right?
017 For thus schortely I haue schewid you in sight
018 Howe I am prowdely preued 'Pilatus'.
019 Loo, Pilate I am, proued a prince of grete pride.
020 I was putte into Pounce the pepill to presse,
021 And sithen Sesar hymselffe with exynatores be his side
022 Remytte me to ther remys the renkes to redresse.
023 And yitte am Y graunted on grounde as I gesse
024 To justifie and juge all the Jewes.
025 A, luffe, here lady? No lesse?
026 Lo sirs, my worthely wiffe, that sche is,
027 So semely, loo, certayne scho schewys.
028 Uxor. Was nevir juge in this Jurie of so jocounde generacion,
029 Nor of so joifull genologie to gentrys enioyned
030 As yhe, my duke doughty, demar of dampnacion
031 To princes and prelatis that youre preceptis perloyned.
032 Who that youre preceptis pertely perloyned,
033 With drede into dede schall ye dryffe hym;
034 By my trouthe, he vntrewly is troned
035 þat agaynste youre behestis hase honed;
036 All to ragges schall ye rente hym and ryue hym.
037 I am dame precious Percula, of prynces the prise,
038 Wiffe to ser Pilate here, prince withouten pere.
039 All welle of all womanhede I am, wittie and wise,
040 Consayue nowe my countenaunce so comly and clere.
041 The coloure of my corse is full clere
042 And in richesse of robis I am rayed,
043 Ther is no lorde in this londe as I lere,
044 In faith, that hath a frendlyar feere
045 Than yhe my lorde, myselffe thof I saye itt.
046 Pilate. Nowe saye itt may ye saffely, for I will certefie the same.
047 Uxor. Gracious lorde, gramercye, youre gode worde is gayne.
048 Pilate. Yhitt for to comforte my corse me muste kisse you madame.
049 Uxor. To fulfille youre forward my fayre lorde I am fayne.
050 Pilate. Howe, howe, felawys! Nowe in faith I am fayne
051 Of theis lippis so loffely are lappid
052 In bedde is full buxhome and bayne.
053 Domina. Yha sir, it nedith not to layne,
054 All ladise we coveyte than bothe to be kyssid and clappid.
055 Bedellus. My liberall lorde, o leder of lawis,
056 O schynyng schawe that all schames escheues,
057 I beseke you my souerayne, assente to my sawes,
058 As ye are gentill juger and justice of Jewes.
059 Domina. Do herke howe yon, javell, jangill of Jewes.
060 Why, go bette horosonne boy, when I bidde the.
061 Bedellus. Madame, I do but that diewe is.
062 Domina. But yf thou reste of thy resoune thou rewis,
063 For all is acursed, carle-hase in, kydde the!
064 Pilate. Do mende you madame, and youre mode be amendand,
065 For me semys it wer sittand to se what he sais.
066 Domina. Mi lorde, he tolde nevir tale that to me was tendand,
067 But with wrynkis and with wiles to wend me my weys.
068 Bedellus. Gwisse, of youre wayes to be wendand itt langis to oure lawes.
069 Domina. Loo lorde, this ladde with his lawes!
070 Howe, thynke ye it prophitis wele his prechyng to prayse?
071 Pilate. Yha luffe, he knawis all oure custome,
072 I knawe wele...
073 Bedellus. My seniour, will ye see nowe the sonne in youre sight,
074 For his stately strengh he stemmys in his stremys?
075 Behalde ovir youre hede how he heldis fro hight
076 And glydis to the grounde with his glitterand glemys.
077 To the grounde he gois with his bemys
078 And the nyght is neghand anone.
079 Yhe may deme aftir no dremys,
080 But late my lady here with all hir light lemys
081 Wightely go wende till hir wone;
082 For ye muste sitte sir this same nyght, of lyfe and of lyme.
083 Itt is noyot leeffull for my lady by the lawe of this lande
084 In dome for to dwelle for the day waxe ought dymme,
085 For scho may stakir in the strete but scho stalworthely stande.
[.... ...]
086 Late hir take hir leve whill that light is.
087 Pilate. Nowe wiffe, than ye blythely be buskand.
088 Domina. I am here sir, hendely att hande.
089 Pilate. Loo, this renke has vs redde als right is.
090 Domina. Youre comaundement to kepe to kare forthe Y caste me.
091 My lorde, with youre leue, no lenger Y lette yowe.
092 Pilate. Itt were a repreue to my persone that preuely yoe paste me,
093 Or ye wente fro this wones or with wynne yoe had wette yowe.
094 Ye schall wende forthe with wynne whenne that yoe haue wette yowe.
095 Gete drinke! What dose thou? Haue done!
096 Come semely, beside me, and sette yowe.
097 Loke, nowe it is even here that I are behete you,
098 Ya, saie it nowe sadly and sone.
099 Domina. Itt wolde glad me my lorde if yoe gudly begynne.
100 Pilate. Nowe I assente to youre counsaille so comely and clere.
101 Nowe drynke madame-to deth all this dynne.
102 Domina. Iff it like yowe, myne awne lorde, I am not to lere-
103 This lare I am not to lere.
104 Pilate. Yitt efte to youre damysell madame.
105 Domina. In thy hande, holde nowe and haue here.
106 Ancilla. Gramarcy, my lady so dere.
107 Pilate. Nowe fares-wele, and walke on youre way.
[... ...]
108 Domina. Now farewele the frendlyest, youre fomen to fende.
109 Pilate. Nowe farewele the fayrest figure that euere did fode fede,
110 And farewele ye damysell, indede.
111 Ancilla. My lorde, I comande me to youre ryalté
112 Pilate. Fayre lady, here is schall you lede.
113 Sir, go with this worthy in wede,
114 And what scho biddis you doo loke that buxsome you be.
115 Filius. I am prowde and preste to passe on apasse,
116 To go with this gracious hir gudly to gyde.
117 Pilate. Take tente to my tale thou turne on no trayse,
118 Come tyte and telle me yf any tythyngis betyde.
119 Filius. Yf any tythyngis my lady betyde,
120 I schall full sone sir witte you to say.
121 This semely schall I schewe by hir side
122 Belyffe sir, no lenger we byde.
123 Pilate. Nowe fares-wele, and walkes on youre way.
124 Nowe wente is my wiffe, yf it wer not hir will,
125 And scho rakis tille hir reste as of nothyng scho rought.
126 Tyme is, I telle the, thou tente me vntill;
127 And buske the belyue, belamy, to bedde that Y wer broght
[... ...]
128 And loke I be rychely arrayed.
129 Bedellus. Als youre seruaunte I haue sadly it sought,
130 And this nyght, sir, newe schall ye noght,
131 I dare laye, fro ye luffely be layde.
132 Pilate. I comaunde the to come nere, for I will kare to my couche.
133 Haue in thy handes hendely and heue me fro hyne,
134 But loke that thou tene me not with thi tastyng, but tendirly me touche.
135 Bedellus. A, sir, yhe whe wele.
136 Pilate. Yha, I haue wette me with wyne
[... ...]
137 Yhit helde doune and lappe me even here,
138 For I will slelye slepe vnto synne.
139 Loke that no man nor no myron of myne
140 With no noyse be neghand me nere.
141 Bedellus. Sir, what warlowe yow wakens with wordis full wilde,
142 þat boy for his brawlyng were bettir be vnborne.
143 Pilate. Yha, who chatteres, hym chastise, be he churle or childe,
144 For and he skape skatheles itt were to vs a grete skorne-
145 Yf skatheles he skape it wer a skorne.
146 What rebalde that redely will rore,
147 I schall mete with that myron tomorne
148 And for his ledir lewdenes hym lerne to be lorne.
149 Bedellus. Whe! So sir, slepe ye, and saies no more.
150 Domina. Nowe are we at home. Do helpe yf ye may,
151 For I will make me redye and rayke to my reste.
152 Ancilla. Yhe are werie madame, for-wente of youre way,
153 Do boune you to bedde, for that holde I beste.
154 Filius. Here is a bedde arayed of the beste.
155 Domina. Do happe me, and faste hense ye hye.
156 Ancilla. Madame, anone all dewly is dressid.
157 Filius. With no stalkyng nor no striffe be ye stressed.
158 Domina. Nowe be yhe in pese, both youre carpyng and crye.
159 Diabolus. Owte! Owte! Harrowe!
160 Into bale am I brought, this bargayne may I banne,
161 But yf Y wirke some wile in wo mon I wonne.
162 This gentilman, Jesu, of cursednesse he can,
163 Be any syngne that I see this same is Goddis sonne.
164 And he be slone oure solace will sese,
165 He will saue man saule fro oure sonde
166 And refe vs the remys that are rounde.
167 I will on stiffely in this stounde
168 Vnto ser Pilate wiffe pertely and putte me in prese.
169 O woman, be wise and ware, and wonne in thi witte
170 Ther schall a gentilman, Jesu, vnjustely be juged
171 Byfore thy husband in haste, and with harlottis be hytte.
172 And that doughty today to deth thus be dyghted,
173 Sir Pilate, for his prechyng, and thou,
174 With nede schalle ye namely be noyed.
175 Youre striffe and youre strenghe schal be stroyed,
176 Youre richesse schal be refte you that is rude,
177 With vengeaunce, and that dare I auowe.
178 Domina. A, I am drecchid with a dreme full dredfully to dowte.
179 Say childe, rise vppe radly and reste for no roo,
180 Thow muste launce to my lorde and lowly hym lowte,
181 Comaunde me to his reuerence, as right weill Y doo.
182 Filius. O, what, schall I trauayle thus tymely this tyde?
183 Madame, for the drecchyng of heuen,
184 Slyke note is newsome to neven
185 And it neghes vnto mydnyght full even.
186 Domina. Go bette boy, I bidde no lenger thou byde,
187 And saie to my souereyne this same is soth that I send hym:
188 All naked this nyght as I napped
189 With tene and with trayne was I trapped,
190 With a sweuene that swiftely me swapped
191 Of one Jesu, the juste man the Jewes will vndoo.
192 She prayes tente to that trewe man, with tyne be noyot trapped,
193 But als a domesman dewly to be dressand,
194 And lelye delyuere that lede.
195 Filius. Madame, I am dressid to that dede-
196 But firste will I nappe in this nede,
197 For he hase mystir of a morne-slepe that mydnyght is myssand.
198 Anna. Sir Cayphas, ye kenne wele this caytiffe we haue cached
199 That ofte-tymes in oure tempill hase teched vntrewly.
200 Oure meynéwith myght at mydnyght hym mached
201 And hase drevyn hym till his demyng for his dedis vndewly;
202 Wherfore I counsaile that kyndely we care
203 Vnto ser Pilate oure prince, and pray hym
204 That he for oure right will arraye hym-
205 This faitour-for his falsed to flay hym;
206 For fro we saie hym the soth he schall sitte hym full sore.
207 Caiphas. Sir Anna, this sporte haue ye spedely aspied,
208 As I am pontificall prince of all prestis.
209 We will prese to ser Pilate, and presente hym with pride
210 With this harlott that has hewed oure hartis fro oure brestis
211 Thurgh talkyng of tales vntrewe.
212 And therfor ser knyghtis-
213 Milites. Lorde.
214 Caiphas. Sir knyghtis that are curtayse and kynde,
215 We charge you that chorle be wele chyned.
216 Do buske you and grathely hym bynde
217 And rugge hym in ropes his rase till he rewe.
218 Miles 1. Sir, youre sawes schall be serued schortely and sone.
219 Yha, do felawe, be thy feith; late vs feste this faitour full fast.
220 Miles 2. I am douty to this dede, delyuer, haue done;
221 Latte vs pulle on with pride till his poure be paste.
222 Miles 1. Do haue faste and halde at his handes.
223 Miles 2. For this same is he that lightly avaunted,
224 And God sone he grathely hym graunted.
225 Miles 1. He bese hurled for the highnes he haunted-
226 Loo, he stonyes for vs, he stares where he standis.
227 Miles 2. Nowe is the brothell boune for all the boste that he blawe,
228 And the laste day he lete no lordynges myyot lawe hym.
229 Anna. Ya, he wende this worlde had bene haly his awne.
230 Als ye are dowtiest today tille his demyng ye drawe hym,
231 And than schall we kenne how that he canne excuse hym.
232 Miles 1. Here, ye gomes, gose a-rome, giffe vs gate,
233 We muste steppe to yone sterne of astate.
234 Miles 2. We muste yappely wende in at this yate,
235 For he that comes to courte, to curtesye muste vse hym.
236 Miles 1. Do rappe on the renkis that we may rayse with oure rolyng.
237 Come forthe sir coward, why cowre ye behynde?
238 Bedellus. O, what javellis are ye that jappis with gollyng?
239 Miles 1. A, goode sir, be noyot wroth, for wordis are as the wynde.
240 Bedellus. I saye, gedlynges, gose bakke with youre gawdes.
241 Miles 2. Be sufferand I beseke you,
242 And more of this matere yhe meke yowe.
243 Bedellus. Why, vnconand knaves, an I cleke yowe,
244 I schall felle yowe, be my faith, for all youre false frawdes.
245 Pilate. Say childe, ill cheffe you! What churlles are so claterand?
246 Bedellus. My lorde, vnconand knaves thei crye and thei call.
247 Pilate. Gose baldely beliffe and thos brethellis be batterand,
248 And putte tham in prisoune vppon peyne that may fall.
249 Yha, spedely spir tham yf any sporte can thei spell-
250 Yha, and loke what lordingis thei be.
251 Bedellus. My lorde that luffull in lee,
252 I am boxsom and blithe to your blee.
253 Pilate. And if they talke any tythyngis come tyte and me tell.
254 Bedellus. Can ye talke any tythandis, by youre faith, my felawes?
255 Miles 1. Yha sir, sir Cayphas and Anna ar come both togedir
256 To sir Pilate o Pounce and prince of oure lawes;
257 And thei haue laughte a lorell that is lawles and liddir.
258 Bedellus. My lorde, my lorde!
259 Pilate. Howe?
260 Bedellus. My lorde, vnlappe yow belyve where ye lye.
261 Sir Cayphas to youre courte is caried,
262 And sir Anna, but a traytour hem taried.
263 Many wight of that warlowe has waried,
264 They haue brought hym in a bande his balis to bye.
265 Pilate. But are thes sawes certayne in soth that thou saies?
266 Bedellus. Yha lorde, the states yondir standis, for striffe are they stonde.
267 Pilate. Now than am I light as a roo, and ethe for to rayse.
268 Go bidde tham come in both, and the boye they haue ne.
269 Bedellus. Siris, my lorde geues leue inne for to come.
270 Caiphas. Hayle prince that is pereles in price,
271 Ye are leder of lawes in this lande,
272 Youre helpe is full hendely at hande.
273 Anna. Hayle, stronge in youre state for to stande,
274 Alle this dome muste be dressed at youre dulye deuyse.
275 Pilate. Who is there, my prelates?
276 Caiphas. Yha lorde.
277 Pilate. Nowe be yoe welcome iwisse.
278 Caiphas. Gramercy my souerayne. But we beseke you all same
279 Bycause of wakand you vnwarly be noght wroth with this,
280 For we haue brought here a lorell-he lokis like a lambe.
281 Pilate. Come byn, you bothe, and to the benke brayde yowe.
282 Caiphas. Nay gud sir, laugher is leffull for vs.
283 Pilate. A, sir Cayphas, be curtayse yhe bus.
284 Anna. Nay goode lorde, it may not be thus.
285 Pilate. Sais no more, but come sitte you beside me in sorowe as I saide youe.
286 Filius. Hayle, the semelieste seeg vndir sonne sought,
287 Hayle, the derrest duke and doughtiest in dede.
288 Pilate. Now bene-veneuew beuscher, what boodworde haste thou brought?
289 Hase any langour my lady newe laught in this leede?
290 Filius. Sir, that comely comaundes hir youe too,
291 And sais, al nakid this nyght as sche napped
292 With tene and with traye was sche trapped,
293 With a sweuene that swiftely hir swapped
294 Of one Jesu, the juste man the Jewes will vndo.
295 She beseches you as hir souerayne that symple to saue,
296 Deme hym noght to deth for drede of vengeaunce.
297 Pilate. What, I hope this be he that hyder harlid yoe haue.
298 Caiphas. Ya sir, the same and the selffe-but this is but a skaunce,
299 He with wicchecrafte this wile has he wrought.
300 Some feende of his sand has he sente
301 And warned youre wiffe or he wente.
302 Pilate. Yowe! þat schalke shuld not shamely be shente,
303 þis is sikir in certayne, and soth schulde be sought.
304 Anna. Yha, thurgh his fantome and falshed and fendes-craft
305 He has wroght many wondir where he walked full wyde,
306 Wherfore, my lorde, it wer leeffull his liffe were hym rafte.
307 Pilate. Be ye neuere so bryme ye bothe bus abide
308 But if the traytoure be taught for vntrewthe,
309 And therfore sermones you no more.
310 I will sekirly sende hymselffe fore,
311 And se what he sais to the sore.
312 Bedell, go brynge hyme, for of that renke haue I rewthe.
313 Bedellus. This forward to fulfille am I fayne moued in myn herte.
314 Say, Jesu, the juges and the Jewes hase me enioyned
315 To bringe the before tham even bounden as thou arte.
316 Yone lordyngis to lose the full longe haue thei heyned,
317 But firste schall I wirschippe the with witte and with will.
318 This reuerence I do the forthy,
319 For wytes that wer wiser than I,
320 They worshipped the full holy on hy
321 And with solempnitésang Osanna till.
322 Miles 1. My lorde that is leder of lawes in this lande,
323 All bedilis to your biding schulde be boxsome and bayne,
324 And yoitt this boy here before yowe full boldely was bowand
325 To worschippe this warlowe-methynke we wirke all in vayne.
326 Miles 2. Yha, and in youre presence he prayed hym of pees,
327 In knelyng on knes to this knave
328 He besoughte hym his seruaunte to saue.
329 Caiphas. Loo lord, such arrore amange them thei haue
330 It is grete sorowe to see, no seeg may it sese.
331 It is no menske to youre manhed that mekill is of myght
332 To forbere such forfettis that falsely are feyned,
333 Such spites in especiall wolde be eschewed in your sight.
334 Pilate. Sirs, moves you noyot in this matere but bese myldely demeaned,
335 For yone curtasie I kenne had som cause.
336 Anna. In youre sight sir the soth schall I saye,
337 As ye are prince take hede I you praye,
338 Such a lourdayne vnlele, dare I laye,
339 Many lordis of oure landis might lede fro oure lawes.
340 Pilate. Saye losell, who gaue the leve so for to lowte to yone ladde
341 And solace hym in my sight so semely that I sawe?
342 Bedellus. A, gracious lorde, greue you noght for gude case I hadde.
343 Yhe comaunded me to care, als ye kenne wele and knawe,
344 To Jerusalem on a journay, with seele;
345 And than this semely on an asse was sette
346 And many men myldely hym mette,
347 Als a God in that grounde thai hym grette,
348 Wele semand hym in waye with worschippe lele.
349 'Osanna' thei sange, 'the sone of Dauid',
350 Riche men with thare robes thei ranne to his fete,
351 And poure folke fecched floures of the frith
352 And made myrthe and melody this man for to mete.
353 Pilate. Nowe gode sir, be thi feith, what is 'Osanna' to saie?
354 Bedellus. Sir, constrew it we may be langage of this lande as I leue,
355 It is als moche to me for to meue-
356 Youre prelatis in this place can it preue-
357 Als, 'oure sauiour and souerayne thou saue vs we prayé
358 Pilate. Loo senioures, how semes yow? þe sothe I you saide.
359 Caiphas. Yha lorde, this ladde is full liddir, be this light.
360 Yf his sawes wer serchid and sadly assaied,
361 Saue youre reuerence, his resoune thei rekenne noyot with right.
362 This caytiffe thus cursedly can construe vs.
363 Bedellus. Sirs, trulye the trouthe I haue tolde
364 Of this wighte yoe haue wrapped in wolde.
365 Anna. I saie, harlott, thy tonge schulde thou holde,
366 And noght agaynste thi maistirs to meve thus.
367 Pilate. Do sese of youre seggyng, and I schall examyne full sore.
368 Anna. Sir, demes hym to deth or dose hym away.
369 Pilate. Sir, haue ye saide?
370 Anna. Yha lorde.
371 Pilate. Nowe go sette you with sorowe and care,
372 For I will lose no lede that is lele to oure lay.
373 But steppe furth and stonde vppe on hight
374 And buske to my bidding, thou boy,
375 And for the nones that thou neven vs a noy.
376 Bedellus. I am here at youre hande to halow a hoy,
377 Do move of youre maistir for I shall melle it with myyot.
378 Pilate. Cry 'Oyas'.
379 Bedellus. Oyas.
380 Pilate. Yit efte, be thi feithe.
381 Bedellus. Oyas!
382 Pilate. Yit lowdar, that ilke lede may lithe-
383 Crye pece in this prese, vppon payne thervppon,
384 Bidde them swage of ther sweying bothe swiftely and swithe
385 And stynte of ther stryuyng and stande still as a stone.
386 Calle Jesu the gentill of Jacob, the Jewe.
387 Come preste and appere,
388 To the barre drawe the nere,
389 To thi jugement here,
390 To be demed for his dedis vndewe.
391 Miles 1. Whe, harke how this harlott he heldis oute of harre,
392 This lotterelle liste noght my lorde to lowte.
393 Miles 2. Say beggar, why brawlest thou? Go boune the to the barre.
394 Miles 1. Steppe on thy standyng so sterne and so stoute.
395 Miles 2. Steppe on thys standyng so still.
396 Miles 1. Sir cowarde, to courte muste yhe care-
397 Miles 2. A lessoune to lerne of oure lare.
398 Miles 1. Flitte fourthe, foule myght thou fare.
399 Miles 2. Say warlowe, thou wantist of thi will.
400 Filius. O Jesu vngentill, thi joie is in japes,
401 þou can not be curtayse, thou caytiffe I calle the,
402 No ruthe were it to rug the and ryue the in ropes.
403 Why falles thou noyot flatte here, foule falle the,
404 For ferde of my fadir so free?
405 þou wotte noght his wisdome iwys,
406 All thyne helpe in his hande that it is,
407 Howe sone he myght saue the fro this.
408 Obeye hym, brothell, I bidde the.
409 Pilate. Now Jesu, thou art welcome ewys, as I wene,
410 Be noyot abasshed but boldely boune the to the barre;
411 What seyniour will sewe for the sore I haue sene.
412 To wirke on this warlowe, his witte is in warre.
413 Come preste, of a payne, and appere,
414 And sir prelatis, youre pontes bes prevyng.
415 What cause can ye caste of accusyng?
416 þis mater ye marke to be meving,
417 And hendly in haste late vs here.
418 Caiphas. Sir Pilate o Pounce and prince of grete price,
419 We triste ye will trowe oure tales thei be trewe,
420 To deth for to deme hym with dewly device.
421 For cursidnesse yone knave hase in case, if ye knew,
422 In harte wolde ye hate hym in hye.
423 For if it wer so
424 We mente not to misdo;
425 Triste, ser, schall ye therto,
426 We hadde not hym taken to the.
427 Pilate. Sir, youre tales wolde I trowe but thei touche none entente.
428 What cause can ye fynde now this freke for to felle?
429 Anna. Our Sabbotte he saues not, but sadly assente
430 To wirke full vnwisely, this wote I riyot wele,
[... ...]
431 He werkis whane he will, wele I wote,
432 And therfore in herte we hym hate.
433 Itt sittis you to strenghe youre estate
434 Yone losell to louse for his lay.
435 Pilate. Ilke a lede for to louse for his lay is not lele.
436 Youre lawes is leffull, but to youre lawis longis it
437 þis faitoure to feese wele with flappes full fele,
438 And woo may ye wirke hym be lawe, for he wranges it.
439 Therfore takes vnto you full tyte,
440 And like as youre lawes will you lede
441 Ye deme hym to deth for his dede.
442 Caiphas. Nay, nay sir, that dome muste vs drede,
[... ...]
443 It longes noyot till vs no lede for to lose.
444 Pilate. What wolde ye I did thanne? þe deuyll motte you drawe!
445 Full fewe are his frendis but fele are his fooes.
446 His liff for to lose thare longes no lawe,
447 Nor no cause can I kyndely contryue
448 þat why he schulde lose thus his liffe.
449 Anna. A, gude sir, it raykes full ryffe
450 In steedis wher he has stirrid mekill striffe
451 Of ledis that is lele to youre liffe.
452 Caiphas. Sir, hatle men and hurte he helid in haste,
453 The deffe and the dome he delyuered fro doole
454 By wicchecrafte, I warande-his wittis schall waste-
455 For the farles that he farith with loo how thei folowe yone fole,
456 Oure folke so thus he frayes in fere.
457 Anna. The dede he rayses anone-
458 þis Lazare that lowe lay allone
459 He graunte hym his gates for to gone,
460 And pertely thus proued he his poure.
461 Pilate. Now goode siris, I saie, what wolde yhe seme?
462 Caiphas. Sir, to dede for to do hym or dose hym adawe.
463 Pilate. Yha, for he dose wele his deth for to deme?
464 Go layke you sir, lightly; wher lerned ye such lawe?
465 This touches no tresoune I telle you.
466 Yhe prelatis that proued are for price,
467 Yhe schulde be bothe witty and wise
468 And legge oure lawe wher it lyse,
469 Oure materes ye meve thus emel you.
470 Anna. Misplese noyot youre persone, yhe prince withouten pere,
471 It touches to tresoune this tale I schall tell:
472 Yone briboure, full baynly he bed to forbere
473 The tribute to the emperoure, thus wolde he compell
474 Oure pepill thus is poyntis to applye.
475 Caiphas. The pepull he saies he schall saue,
476 And Criste garres he calle hym, yone knave,
477 And sais he will the high kyngdome haue-
478 Loke whethir he deserue to dye.
479 Pilate. To dye he deserues yf he do thus indede,
480 But Y will se myselffe what he sais.
481 Speke Jesu, and spende nowe thi space for to spede.
482 þez lordyngis thei legge the thou liste noyot leve on oure lays,
483 They accuse the cruelly and kene;
484 And therfore as a chiftene Y charge the,
485 Iff thou be Criste that thou telle me,
486 And God sone thou grughe not to graunte the,
487 For this is the matere that Y mene.
488 Jesus. þou saiste so thiselue. I am sothly the same
489 Here wonnyng in worlde to wirke al thi will.
490 My fadir is faithfull to felle all thi fame;
491 Withouten trespas or tene am I taken the till.
492 Pilate. Loo busshoppis, why blame ye this boye?
493 Me semys that it is soth that he saies.
494 Ye meve all the malice ye may
495 With youre wrenchis and wiles to wrythe hym away,
496 Vnjustely to juge hym fro joie.
497 Caiphas. Noght so sir, his seggyng is full sothly soth,
498 It bryngis oure bernes in bale for to bynde.
499 Anna. Sir, douteles we deme als dewe of the deth
500 þis foole that ye fauour-grete fautes can we fynde
501 This daye for to deme hym to dye.
502 Pilate. Saie losell, thou lies be this light!
503 Naie, thou rebalde, thou rekens vnright.
504 Caiphas. Avise you sir, with mayne and with myght,
505 And wreke not youre wrethe nowe forthy.
506 Pilate. Me likes noyot his langage so largely for to lythe.
507 Caiphas. A, mercy lorde, mekely, no malice we mente.
508 Pilate. Noo done is it douteles, balde be and blithe,
509 Talke on that traytoure and telle youre entente.
510 Yone segge is sotell ye saie;
511 Gud sirs, wer lerned he such lare?
512 Caiphas. In faith, we can not fynde whare.
513 Pilate. Yhis, his fadir with som farlis gan fare
514 And has lered this ladde of his laie.
515 Anna. Nay, nay sir, we wiste that he was but a write,
516 No soteltéhe schewed that any segge saw.
517 Pilate. Thanne mene yhe of malice to marre hym of myght,
518 Of cursidnesse convik no cause can yhe knawe.
519 Me meruellis ye malyngne o mys.
520 Caiphas. Sir, for Galely hidir and hoo
521 The gretteste agayne hym ganne goo,
522 Yone warlowe to waken of woo,
523 And of this werke beres witnesse ywis.
524 Pilate. Why, and has he gone in Galely, yone gedlyng ongayne?
525 Anna. Yha lorde, ther was he borne, yone brethelle, and bredde.
526 Pilate. Nowe withouten fagyng, my frendis, in faith I am fayne,
527 For now schall oure striffe full sternely be stede.
528 Sir Herowde is kyng ther ye kenne,
529 His poure is preued full preste
530 To ridde hym or reue hym of rest.
531 And therfore, to go with yone gest
532 Yhe marke vs oute of the manliest men.
533 Caiphas. Als witte and wisdome youre will schal be wroght,
534 Here is kempis full kene to the kyng for to care.
535 Pilate. Nowe seniours, I saie yow sen soth schall be soght,
536 But if he schortely be sente it may sitte vs full sore.
537 And therfore sir knyghtis-
538 Milites. Lorde.
539 Pilate. Sir knyghtis that are cruell and kene,
540 That warlowe ye warrok and wraste,
541 And loke that he brymly be braste
[... ...]
542 Do take on that traytoure you betwene.
543 Tille Herowde in haste with that harlott ye hye,
544 Comaunde me full mekely vnto his moste myght.
545 Saie the dome of this boy, to deme hym to dye,
546 Is done vpponne hym dewly, to dresse or to dight
547 Or liffe for to leue at his liste.
548 Say ought I may do hym indede,
549 His awne am I worthely in wede.
550 Miles 1. My lorde, we schall springe on a-spede.
551 Come thens! To me this traitoure full tryste.
552 Pilate. Bewe sirs, I bidde you ye be not to bolde,
553 But takes tente for oure tribute full trulye to trete.
554 Miles 2. Mi lorde, we schall hye this beheste for to halde
555 And wirke it full wisely in wille and in witte.
556 Pilate. So sirs me semys itt is sittand.
557 Miles 1. Mahounde, sirs, he menske you with myght-
558 Miles 2. And saue you sir, semely in sight.
559 Pilate. Now in the wilde vengeaunce ye walke with that wight,
560 And fresshely ye founde to be flittand.
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Proper Citation: NeCastro, Gerard. The York Cycle, Play 30 - Dream of Pilate's Wife; Christ before Pilate. From Stage to Page - Medieval and Renaissance Drama. http:www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/necastro/drama. Date Visited.