• Patience

  • 1  Pacience is a poynt, þaȝ hit displese ofte,
  • 2 When heuy herttes ben hurt wyth heþyng oþer elles,
  • 3 Suffraunce may aswagen hem & þe swelme leþe,
  • 4 For ho quelles vche a qued, & quenches malyce;
  • 5 For quo-so suffer cowþe syt, sele wolde folȝe,
  • 6 & quo for þro may noȝt þole, þe þikker he sufferes;
  • 7 Þen is better to abyde þe bur vmbe-stoundes,
  • 8 Þen ay þrow forth my þro, þaȝ me þynk ylle.
  • 9 I herde on a halyday at a hyȝe masse,
  • 10 How mathew melede, þat his mayster his meyny con teche,
  • 11 Aȝt happes he hem hyȝt & vche on a mede,
  • 12 Sunderlupes for hit dissert vpon a ser wyse:
  • 13 Thay arn happen þat han in hert pouerté,
  • 14 For hores is þe heuen-ryche to holde for euer;
  • 15 Þay ar happen also þat haunte mekenesse,
  • 16 For þay schal welde þis worlde & alle her wylle haue;
  • 17 Thay ar happen also þat for her harme wepes,
  • 18 For þay schal comfort encroche in kythes ful mony;
  • 19 Þay ar happen also þat hungeres after ryȝt,
  • 20 For þay schal frely be refete ful of alle gode;
  • 21 Thay ar happen also þat han in hert rauþe,
  • 22 For mercy in alle maneres her mede schal worþe;
  • 23 Þay ar happen also þat arn of hert clene,
  • 24 For þay her sauyour in sete schal se with her yȝen;
  • 25 Thay ar happen also þat halden her pese,
  • 26 For þay þe gracious godes sunes schal godly be called;
  • 27 Þay ar happen also þat con her hert stere,
  • 28 For hores is þe heuen-ryche, as I er sayde.
  • 29 These arn þe happes alle aȝt þat vus bihyȝt weren,
  • 30 If we þyse ladyes wolde lof in lyknyng of þewes;
  • 31 Dame pouert, Dame pitee, Dame penaunce þe þrydde,
  • 32 Dame Mekenesse, Dame mercy & Miry clannesse,
  • 33 & þenne Dame pes & pacyence put in þer-after.
  • 34 He were happen þat hade one, alle were þe better,
  • 35 Bot syn I am put to a poynt þat pouerte hatte,
  • 36 I schal me poruay pacyence, & play me with boþe;
  • 37 For in þe tyxte, þere þyse two arn in teme layde,
  • 38 Hit arn fettled in on forme, þe forme & þe laste,
  • 39 & by quest of her quoyntyse enquylen on mede,
  • 40 & als in myn vpynyoun hit arn of on kynde;
  • 41 For þer as pouert hir proferes ho nyl be put vtter,
  • 42 Bot lenge where-so-euer hir lyst, lyke oþer greme,
  • 43 & þere as pouert enpresses, þaȝ mon pyne þynk,
  • 44 Much maugre his mun, he mot nede suffer,
  • 45 Thus pouerte & pacyence arn nedes play-feres.
  • 46 Syþen I am sette with hem samen, suffer me by-houes,
  • 47 Þenne is me lyȝtloker hit lyke & her lotes prayse,
  • 48 Þenne wyþer wyth & be wroth & þe wers haue.
  • 49 Ȝif me be dyȝt a destyné due to haue,
  • 50 What dowes me þe dedayn, oþer dispit make?
  • 51 Oþer ȝif my lege lorde lyst on lyue me to bidde,
  • 52 Oþer to ryde, oþer to renne, to rome in his ernde,
  • 53 What grayþed me þe grychchyng bot grame more seche?
  • 54 Much ȝif he me ne made, maugref my chekes,
  • 55 & þenne þrat moste I þole, & vnþonk to mede,
  • 56 Þe[t] had bowed to his bode, bongre my hyure.
  • 57 Did not Ionas in Iude suche Iape sum-whyle,
  • 58 To sette hym to sewrte, vnsounde he hym feches?
  • 59 Wyl ȝe tary a lyttel tyme & tent me a whyle,
  • 60 I schal wysse yow þer-wyth as holy wryt telles.
  • 61 Hit bi-tydde sum-tyme in þe termes of Iude,
  • 62 Ionas ioyned watȝ þer-inne ientyle prophete;
  • 63 Goddes glam to hym glod, þat hym vnglad made,
  • 64 With a roghlych rurd rowned in his ere;
  • 65 “Rys radly,” he says, “& rayke forth euen,
  • 66 Nym þe way to nynyue, wyth-outen oþer speche,
  • 67 & in þat cete my saȝes soghe alle aboute,
  • 68 Þat, in þat place at þe poynt, I put in þi hert;
  • 69 For Iwysse hit arn so wykke þat in þat won dowelleȝ,
  • 70 & her malys is so much I may not abide,
  • 71 Bot venge me on her vilanye & venym bilyue;
  • 72 Now sweȝe me þider swyftly & say me þis arende.”
  • 73 When þat steuen watȝ stynt, þat stowned his mynde,
  • 74 Al he wrathed in his wyt & wyþerly he þoȝt,
  • 75 If I bowe to his bode & bryng hem þis tale,
  • 76 & I be Nummen in Nuniue, my nyes begynes;
  • 77 He telles me þose traytoures arn typped schrewes,
  • 78 I com wyth þose tyþynges, þay ta me bylyue,
  • 79 Pyneȝ me in a prysoun, put me in stokkes,
  • 80 Wryþe me in a warlok, wrast out myn yȝen.
  • 81 Þis is a meruayl message a man for to preche,
  • 82 Amonge enmyes so mony & mansed fendes;
  • 83 Bot if my gaynlych god such gref to me wolde,
  • 84 For desert of sum sake þat I slayn were,
  • 85 At alle peryles, quod þe prophete, I aproche hit no nerre,
  • 86 I wyl me sum oþer waye, þat he ne wayte after;
  • 87 I schal tee in-to tarce, & tary þere a whyle,
  • 88 & lyȝtly, when I am lest, he letes me alone.
  • 89 Þenne he ryses radly, & raykes bilyue
  • 90 Ionas toward port Iaph, ay Ianglande for tene,
  • 91 Þat he nolde þole, for no-þyng, non of þose pynes,
  • 92 Þaȝ þe fader þat hym formed were fale of his hele.
  • 93 “Oure syre syttes,” he says, “on sege so hyȝe
  • 94 In his g[l]wande glorye, & gloumbes ful lyttel,
  • 95 Þaȝ I be nummen in nuniue & naked dispoyled,
  • 96 On rode rwly to-rent, with rybaudes mony.”
  • 97 Þus he passes to þat port, his passage to seche,
  • 98 Fyndes he a fayr schyp to þe fare redy;
  • 99 Maches hym with þe maryneres, makes her paye,
  • 100 For to towe hym in-to tarce, as tyd as þay myȝt.
  • 101 Then he tron on þo tres & þay her tramme ruchen,
  • 102 Cachen vp þe crossayl, cables þay fasten,
  • 103 Wiȝt at þe wyndlas weȝen her ankres,
  • 104 Sprude spak to þe sprete þe spare bawe-lyne,
  • 105 Gederen to þe gyde ropes, þe grete cloþ falles;
  • 106 Þay layden in on ladde-borde & þe lofe wynnes.
  • 107 Þe blyþe breþe at her bak þe bosum he fyndes,
  • 108 He swenges me þys swete schip swefte fro þe hauen.
  • 109 Watȝ neuer so Ioyful a Iue, as Ionas watȝ þenne,
  • 110 Þat þe daunger of dryȝtyn so derfly ascaped;
  • 111 He wende wel þat þat wyȝ þat al þe world planted,
  • 112 Hade no maȝt in þat mere no man forto greue.
  • 113 Lo! þe wytles wrechche, for he wolde noȝt suffer,
  • 114 Now hatȝ he put hym in plyt of peril wel more;
  • 115 Hit watȝ a wenyng vn-war þat welt in his mynde,
  • 116 Þaȝ he were soȝt fro samarye þat god seȝ no fyrre,
  • 117 Ȝise he blusched ful brode, þat burde hym by sure,
  • 118 Þat ofte kyd hym þe carpe þat kyng sayde,
  • 119 Dyngne dauid on des, þat demed þis speche,
  • 120 In a psalme þat he set þe sauter with-inne;
  • 121 O Foleȝ in folk feleȝ oþer whyle,
  • 122 & vnderstondes vmbe-stounde, þaȝ he be stape fole,
  • 123 Hope ȝe þat he heres not þat eres alle made?
  • 124 Hit may not be þat he is blynde þat bigged vche yȝe.
  • 125 Bot he dredes no dynt þat dotes for elde,
  • 126 For he watȝ fer in þe flod foundande to tarce;
  • 127 Bot, I trow, ful tyd, ouer-tan þat he were,
  • 128 So þat schomely to schort he schote of his ame.
  • 129 For þe welder of wyt, þat wot alle þynges,
  • 130 Þat ay wakes & waytes, at wylle hatȝ he slyȝtes;
  • 131 He calde on þat ilk crafte he carf with his hondes,
  • 132 Þay wakened wel þe wroþeloker, for wroþely he cleped:
  • 133 “Ewrus & aquiloun, þat on est sittes,
  • 134 Blowes boþe at my bode vpon blo watteres.”
  • 135 Þenne watȝ no tom þer bytwene his tale & her dede,
  • 136 So bayn wer þay boþe two, his bone for to wyrk.
  • 137 An-on out of þe norþ est þe noys bigynes,
  • 138 When boþe breþes con blowe vpon blo watteres;
  • 139 Roȝ rakkes þer ros with rudnyng an-vnder,
  • 140 Þe see souȝed ful sore, gret selly to here;
  • 141 Þe wyndes on þe wonne water so wrastel to-geder,
  • 142 Þat þe wawes ful wode waltered so hiȝe,
  • 143 & efte busched to þe abyme þat breed fysches;
  • 144 Durst nowhere for roȝ arest at þe bothem.
  • 145 When þe breth & þe brok & þe bote metten,
  • 146 Hit watȝ a ioyles gyn þat Ionas watȝ inne,
  • 147 For hit reled on roun[d] vpon þe roȝe yþes..
  • 148 Þe bur ber to hit baft þat braste alle her gere,
  • 149 Þen hurled on a hepe þe helme & þe sterne,
  • 150 Furst to murte mony rop & þe mast after.
  • 151 Þe sayl sweyed on þe see, þenne suppe bihoued
  • 152 Þe coge of þe colde water, & þenne þe cry ryses;
  • 153 Ȝet coruen þay þe cordes & kest al þer-oute.
  • 154 Mony ladde þer forth-lep to laue & to kest,
  • 155 Scopen out þe scaþel water, þat fayn scape wolde;
  • 156 For be monnes lode neuer so luþer, þe lyf is ay swete.
  • 157 Þer watȝ busy ouer-borde bale to kest
  • 158 Her bagges, & her feþer beddes, & her bryȝt wedes,
  • 159 Her kysttes, & her coferes, her caraldes alle,
  • 160 & al to lyȝten þat lome, ȝif leþe wolde schape;
  • 161 Bot euer watȝ ilyche loud þe lot of þe wyndes,
  • 162 & euer wroþer þe water, & wodder þe stremes.
  • 163 Þen þo wery for-wroȝt wyst no bote,
  • 164 Bot vchon glewed on his god þat gayned hym beste;
  • 165 Summe to vernagu þer vouched a-vowes solemne,
  • 166 Summe to diana deuout, & derf nepturne,
  • 167 To mahoun & to mergot, þe mone & þe sunne,
  • 168 & vche lede as he loued & layde had his hert.
  • 169 Þenne bispeke þe spakest dispayred wel nere:
  • 170 I leue here be sum losynger, sum lawles wrech,
  • 171 Þat hatȝ greued his god & gotȝ here amonge vus;
  • 172 Lo al synkes in his synne & for his sake marres!
  • 173 I lovne þat we lay lotes on ledes vchone,
  • 174 & who-so lympes þe losse, lay hym þer-oute;
  • 175 & quen þe gulty is gon what may gome trawe,
  • 176 Bot he þat rules þe rak may rwe on þose oþer?
  • 177 Þis watȝ sette in asent, & sembled þay were,
  • 178 Herȝed out of vche hyrne to hent þat falles.
  • 179 A lodes-mon lyȝtly lep vnder hachches,
  • 180 For to layte mo ledes & hem to lote bryng,
  • 181 Bot hym fayled no freke þat he fynde myȝt,
  • 182 Saf Ionas þe Iwe þat Iowked in derne.
  • 183 He watȝ flowen for ferde of þe flode lotes
  • 184 In-to þe boþem of þe bot, & on a brede lyggede,
  • 185 On helde by þe hurrok, for þe heuen wrache,
  • 186 Slypped vpon a sloumbe, selepe, & sloberande he routes.
  • 187 Þe freke hym frunt with his fot & bede hym ferk vp,
  • 188 Þer ragnel in his rakentes hym rere of his dremes;
  • 189 Bi þe haspede he hentes hym þenne,
  • 190 & broȝt hym vp by þe brest & vpon borde sette,
  • 191 Arayned hym ful runyschly what raysoun he hade
  • 192 In such slaȝtes of sorȝe to slepe so faste;
  • 193 Sone haf þay her sortes sette & serelych deled,
  • 194 & ay þe lote, vpon laste, lymped on Ionas.
  • 195 Þenne ascryed þay hym sckete, & asked ful loude,
  • 196 “What þe deuel hatȝ þou don, doted wrech?
  • 197 What seches þou on see, synful schrewe,
  • 198 With þy lastes so luþer to lose vus vchone?
  • 199 Hatȝ þou, gome, no gouernour ne god on to calle,
  • 200 Þat þou þus slydes on slepe when þou slayn worþes?
  • 201 Of what londe art þou lent, what laytes þou here
  • 202 Whyder in worlde þat þou wylt, & what is þyn arnde?
  • 203 Lo þy dom is þe dyȝt, for þy dedes ille!
  • 204 Do gyf glory to þy godde, er þou glyde hens.”
  • 205 “I am an Ebru,” quod he, “of Israyl borne;
  • 206 Þat wyȝe I worchyp, Iwysse, þat wroȝt alle þynges,
  • 207 Alle þe worlde with þe welkyn, þe wynde & þe sternes,
  • 208 & alle þat woneȝ þer with-inne, at a worde one.
  • 209 Alle þis meschef for me is made at þys tyme,
  • 210 For I haf greued my god & gulty am founden;
  • 211 For-þy bereȝ me to þe borde, & baþeþes me þer-oute,
  • 212 Er gete ȝe no happe, I hope forsoþe.”
  • 213 He ossed hym by vnnynges þat þay vnder-nomen,
  • 214 Þat he watȝ flawen fro þe face of frelych dryȝtyn;
  • 215 Þenne such a ferde on hem fel & flayed hem with-inne,
  • 216 Þat þay ruyt hym to rowwe & letten þe rynk one.
  • 217 Haþeles hyȝed in haste with ores ful longe,
  • 218 Syn her sayl watȝ hem aslypped on sydeȝ to rowe;
  • 219 Hef & hale vpon hyȝt to helpen hym seluen,
  • 220 Bot al watȝ nedles note, þat nolde not bityde:
  • 221 In bluber of þe blo flod bursten her ores,
  • 222 Þenne hade þay noȝt in her honde þat hem help myȝt;
  • 223 Þenne nas no coumfort to keuer, ne counsel non oþer,
  • 224 Bot ionas in-to his Iuis Iugge bylyue.
  • 225 Fyrst þay prayen to þe prynce þat prophetes seruen,
  • 226 Þat he gef hem þe grace to greuen hym neuer,
  • 227 Þat þay in baleleȝ blod þer blenden her handeȝ,
  • 228 Þaȝ þat haþel wer his, þat þay here quelled.
  • 229 Tyd by top & bi to þay token hym synne,
  • 230 In-to þat lodlych loȝe þay luche hym sone;
  • 231 He watȝ no tytter out-tulde þat tempest ne sessed,
  • 232 Þe se saȝtled þer-with, as sone as ho moȝt.
  • 233 Þenne þaȝ her takel were torne, þat totered on yþeȝ,
  • 234 Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle,
  • 235 Þat drof hem dryȝlych adoun þe depe to serue,
  • 236 Tyl a swetter ful swyþe hem sweȝed to bonk.
  • 237 Þer watȝ louyng on lofte, when þay þe londe wonnen,
  • 238 To oure mercyable god, on moyses wyse,
  • 239 With sacrafyse vp-set, & solempne vowes,
  • 240 & graunted hym vn-to be god & graythly non oþer;
  • 241 Þaȝ þay be Iolef for Ioye, Ionas ȝet dredes,
  • 242 Þaȝ he nolde suffer no sore, his seele is on anter;
  • 243 For what-so worþed of þat wyȝe, fro he in water dipped,
  • 244 Hit were a wonder to wene, ȝif holy wryt nere.
  • 245 Now is ionas þe Iwe Iugged to drowne;
  • 246 Of þat schended schyp men schowued hym sone.
  • 247 A wylde walterande whal, as wyrde þen schaped,
  • 248 Þat watȝ beten fro þe abyme, bi þat bot flotte,
  • 249 & watȝ war of þat wyȝe þat þe water soȝte,
  • 250 & swyftely swenged hym to swepe & his swolȝ opened;
  • 251 Þe folk ȝet haldande his fete þe fysch hym tyd hentes,
  • 252 With-outen towche of any tothe he tult in his þrote.
  • 253 Thenne he swengeȝ & swayues to þe se boþem,
  • 254 Bi mony rokkeȝ ful roȝe & rydelande strondes,
  • 255 Wyth þe mon in his mawe, malskred in drede.
  • 256 As lyttel wonder hit watȝ ȝif he wo dreȝed,
  • 257 For nade þe hyȝe heuen kyng, þurȝ his honde myȝt,
  • 258 Warded þis wrech man in warlowes gutteȝ,
  • 259 What lede moȝt lyue bi lawe of any kynde,
  • 260 Þat any lyf myȝt be lent so longe hym with-inne?
  • 261 Bot he watȝ sokored by þat syre þat syttes so hiȝe,
  • 262 Þaȝ were wauleȝ of wele, in wombe of þat fissche,
  • 263 & also dryuen þurȝ þe depe, & in derk waltereȝ.
  • 264 Lorde! colde watȝ his cumfort & his care huge,
  • 265 For he knew vche a cace & kark þat hym lymped;
  • 266 How fro þe bot in-to þe blober watȝ with a best lachched,
  • 267 & þrwe in at hit þrote, with-outen þret more,
  • 268 As mote in at a munster dor, so mukel wern his chawleȝ,
  • 269 He glydes in by þe giles, þurȝ glaymande glette,
  • 270 Relande in by a rop, a rode þat hym þoȝt,
  • 271 Ay hele ouer hed, hourlande aboute,
  • 272 Til he blunt in a blok as brod as a halle;
  • 273 & þer he festnes þe fete & fathmeȝ aboute,
  • 274 & stod vp in his stomak, þat stank as þe deuel;
  • 275 Þer in saym & in sorȝe þat sauoured as helle,
  • 276 Þer watȝ bylded his bour, þat wyl no bale suffer;
  • 277 & þenne he lurkkes & laytes where watȝ le best,
  • 278 In vche a nok of his nauel, bot nowhere he fyndeȝ
  • 279 No rest ne recouerer, bot ramelande myre,
  • 280 In wych gut so euer he gotȝ; bot euer is god swete;
  • 281 & þer he lenged at þe last & to þe lede called.
  • 282 “Now prynce, of þy prophete pité þou haue!
  • 283 Þaȝ I be fol, & fykel, & falce of my hert,
  • 284 De-woyde now þy vengaunce, þurȝ vertu of rauthe;
  • 285 Thaȝ I be gulty of gyle as gaule of prophetes,
  • 286 Þou art god, & alle gowdeȝ ar grayþely þyn owen;
  • 287 Haf now mercy of þy man & his mys-dedes,
  • 288 & preue þe lyȝtly a lorde, in londe & in water.”
  • 289 With þat he hitte to a hyrne & helde hym þer-inne,
  • 290 Þer no de-foule of no fylþe watȝ fest hym abute;
  • 291 Þer he sete also sounde, saf for merk one,
  • 292 As in þe bulk of þe bote, þer he by-fore sleped.
  • 293 So in a bouel of þat best he bideȝ on lyue,
  • 294 Þre dayes & þ[r]e nyȝt ay þenkande on dryȝtyn,
  • 295 His myȝt & his merci, his mesure þenne;
  • 296 Now he knaweȝ hym in care þat couþe not in sele.
  • 297 Ande euer walteres þis whal bi wyldren depe,
  • 298 Þurȝ mony a regioun ful roȝe, þurȝ ronk of his wylle,
  • 299 For þat mote in his mawe mad hym, I trowe,
  • 300 Þaȝ hit lyttel were, hym wyth to wamel at his hert,
  • 301 Ande assayled þe segge; ay sykerly he herde
  • 302 Þe bygge borne on his bak & bete on his sydes;
  • 303 Þen a prayer ful prest þe prophete þer maked
  • 304 On þis wyse, as I wene, his wordeȝ were mony:
  • 305 “Lorde to þe haf I cleped, in careȝ ful stronge,
  • 306 Out of þe hole þou me herde, of hellen wombe
  • 307 I calde, & þou knew myn vncler steuen;
  • 308 Þou dipteȝ me of þe depe se, in-to þe dymme hert,
  • 309 Þe grete flem of þy flod folded me vmbe;
  • 310 Alle þe goteȝ of þy guferes, & groundeleȝ powleȝ,
  • 311 & þy stryuande stremeȝ of stryndeȝ so mony,
  • 312 In on daschande dam, dryueȝ me ouer;
  • 313 & ȝet I say, as I seet in þe se boþem,
  • 314 ‘Care-ful am I kest out fro þy cler yȝen
  • 315 & deseuered fro þy syȝt; ȝet surely I hope,
  • 316 Efte to trede on þy temple & teme to þy seluen.’
  • 317 I am wrapped in water to my wo stoundeȝ,
  • 318 Þe abyme byndes þe body þat I byde inne;
  • 319 Þe pure poplande hourle playes on my heued,
  • 320 To laste mere of vche a mount man am I fallen;
  • 321 Þe barreȝ of vche a bonk ful bigly me haldes,
  • 322 Þat I may lachche no lont & þou my lyf weldes;
  • 323 Þou schal releue me renk, whil þy ryȝt slepeȝ,
  • 324 Þurȝ myȝt of þy mercy þat mukel is to tryste.
  • 325 For when þacces of anguych watȝ hid in my sawle,
  • 326 Þenne I remembred me ryȝt of my rych lorde,
  • 327 Prayande him for peté his prophete to here,
  • 328 Þat in-to his holy hous myn orisoun moȝt entre.
  • 329 I haf meled with þy maystres mony longe day,
  • 330 Bot now I wot wyterly, þat þose vnwyse ledes
  • 331 Þat affyen hym in vanyté & in vayne þynges,
  • 332 For þink þat mountes to noȝt, her mercy forsaken;
  • 333 Bot I dewoutly awowe þat verray betȝ halden,
  • 334 Soberly to do þe sacrafyse when I schal saue worþe,
  • 335 & offer þe for my hele a ful hol gyfte,
  • 336 & halde goud þat þou me hetes; haf here my trauthe.”
  • 337 Thenne oure fader to þe fysch ferslych biddeȝ,
  • 338 Þat he hym sput spakly vpon spare drye;
  • 339 Þe whal wendeȝ at his wylle & a warþe fyndeȝ,
  • 340 & þer he brakeȝ vp þe buyrne, as bede hym oure lorde.
  • 341 Þenne he swepe to þe sonde in sluchched cloþes,
  • 342 Hit may wel be þat mester were his mantyle to wasche;
  • 343 Þe bonk þat he blosched to & bode hym bisyde,
  • 344 Wern of þe regiounes ryȝt þat he renayed hade;
  • 345 Þenne a wynde of goddeȝ worde efte þe wyȝe bruxleȝ,
  • 346 “Nylt þou neuer to nuniue bi no-kynneȝ wayeȝ?”
  • 347 “Ȝisse lorde,” quod þe lede, “lene me þy grace
  • 348 For to go at þi gre, me gayneȝ non oþer.”
  • 349 “Ris, aproche þen to prech, lo þe place here!
  • 350 Lo! my lore is in þe loke, lance hit þer-inne.”
  • 351 Þenne þe renk radly ros as he myȝt,
  • 352 & to niniue þat naȝt he neȝed ful euen;
  • 353 Hit watȝ a ceté ful syde & selly of brede,
  • 354 On to þrenge þer-þurȝe watȝ þre dayes dede.
  • 355 Þat on Iournay ful Ioynt Ionas hym ȝede,
  • 356 Er euer he warpped any worde to wyȝe þat he mette,
  • 357 & þenne he cryed so cler, þat kenne myȝt alle;
  • 358 Þe trwe tenor of his teme he tolde on þis wyse:
  • 359 “Ȝet schal forty dayeȝ fully fare to an ende,
  • 360 & þenne schal Niniue be nomen & to noȝt worþe;
  • 361 Truly þis ilk toun schal tylte to grounde,
  • 362 Vp-so-doun schal ȝe dumpe depe to þe abyme,
  • 363 To be swolȝed swyftly wyth þe swart erþe,
  • 364 & alle þat lyuyes here-inne lose þe swete.”
  • 365 Þis speche sprang in þat space & spradde alle aboute,
  • 366 To borges & to bacheleres, þat in þat burȝ lenged;
  • 367 Such a hidor hem bent & a hatel drede,
  • 368 Þat al chaunged her chere & chylled at þe hert.
  • 369 Þe segge sesed not ȝet, bot sayde euer ilyche
  • 370 “Þe verray vengaunce of god schal voyde þis place.”
  • 371 Þenne þe peple pitosly pleyned ful stylle,
  • 372 & for þe drede of dryȝtyn doured in hert;
  • 373 Heter hayreȝ þay hent þat asperly bited,
  • 374 & þose þay bounden to her bak & to her bare sydeȝ,
  • 375 Dropped dust on her hede & dymly bisoȝten,
  • 376 Þat þat penaunce plesed him þat playneȝ on her wronge.
  • 377 & ay he cryes in þat kyth tyl þe kyng herde;
  • 378 & he radly vp-ros & ran fro his chayer,
  • 379 His ryche robe he to-rof of his rigge naked,
  • 380 & of a hep of askes he hitte in þe myddeȝ;
  • 381 He askeȝ heterly a hayre & hasped hym vmbe,
  • 382 Sewed a sekke þer abof, & syked ful colde;
  • 383 Þer he dased in þat duste, with droppande teres,
  • 384 Wepande ful wonderly alle his wrange dedes.
  • 385 Þenne sayde he to his seriauntes, “samnes yow bilyue,
  • 386 Do dryue out a decre demed of my seluen,
  • 387 Þat alle þe bodyes þat ben with-inne þis borȝ quyk,
  • 388 Boþe burnes & bestes, burdeȝ & childer,
  • 389 Vch prynce, vche prest & prelates alle,
  • 390 Alle faste frely for her falce werkes;
  • 391 Seseȝ childer of her sok, soghe hem so neuer,
  • 392 Ne best bite on no brom, ne no bent nauþer,
  • 393 Passe to no pasture, ne pike non erbes,
  • 394 Ne non oxe to no hay, ne no horse to water;
  • 395 Al schal crye for-clemmed, with alle oure clere strenþe,
  • 396 Þe rurd schal ryse to hym þat rawþe schal haue;
  • 397 What wote oþer wyte may ȝif þe wyȝe lykes,
  • 398 Þat is hende in þe hyȝt of his gentryse?
  • 399 I wot his myȝt is so much, þaȝ he be mysse-payed,
  • 400 Þat in his mylde amesyng he mercy may fynde;
  • 401 & if we leuen þe layk of oure layth synnes,
  • 402 & stylle steppen in þe styȝe he styȝtleȝ hym seluen,
  • 403 He wyl wende of his wodschip, & his wrath leue,
  • 404 & for-gif vus þis gult ȝif we hym god leuen.”
  • 405 Þenne al leued on his lawe & laften her synnes,
  • 406 Par-formed alle þe penaunce þat þe prynce radde;
  • 407 & god þurȝ his godnesse forgef as he sayde,
  • 408 Þaȝ he oþer bihyȝt, [&] with-helde his vengaunce.
  • 409 Muche sorȝe þenne satteled vpon segge Ionas,
  • 410 He wex as wroth as þe wynde towarde oure lorde,
  • 411 So hatȝ anger onhit his hert; he calleȝ
  • 412 A prayer to þe hyȝe prynce, for pyne, on þys wyse:
  • 413 “I biseche þe syre now þou self iugge,
  • 414 Watȝ not þis ilk my worde þat worþen is nouþe,
  • 415 Þat I kest in my cuntre, when þou þy carp sendeȝ,
  • 416 Þat I schulde tee to þys toun, þi talent to preche?
  • 417 Wel knew I þi cortaysye, þy quoynt soffraunce.
  • 418 Þy bounté of debonerté & þy bene grace,
  • 419 Þy longe abydyng wyth lur, þy late vengaunce,
  • 420 & ay þy mercy is mete, be mysse neuer so huge.
  • 421 I wyst wel when I hade worded quatsoeuer I cowþe,
  • 422 To manace alle þise mody men þat in þis mote dowelleȝ,
  • 423 Wyth a prayer & a pyne þay myȝt her pese gete,
  • 424 & þer-fore I wolde haf flowen fer in-to tarce.
  • 425 Now lorde lach out my lyf, hit lastes to longe,
  • 426 Bed me bilyue my bale stour, & bryng me on ende,
  • 427 For me were swetter to swelt, as swyþe as me þynk,
  • 428 Þen lede lenger þi lore, þat þus me les makeȝ.”
  • 429 Þe soun of oure souerayn þen swey in his ere,
  • 430 Þat vpbraydes þis burne vpon a breme wyse:
  • 431 “Herk renk! is þis ryȝt so ronkly to wrath,
  • 432 For any dede þat I haf don oþer demed þe ȝet?”
  • 433 Ionas al Ioyles & Ianglande vp-ryses
  • 434 & haldeȝ out on est half of þe hyȝe place,
  • 435 & farandely on a felde he fetteleȝ hym to bide,
  • 436 For to wayte on þat won what schulde worþe after.
  • 437 Þer he busked hym a bour, þe best þat he myȝt,
  • 438 Of hay & of euer-ferne & erbeȝ a fewe,
  • 439 For hit watȝ playn in þat place for plyande greueȝ,
  • 440 For to schylde fro þe schene, oþer any schade keste.
  • 441 He bowed vnder his lyttel boþe, his bak to þe sunne,
  • 442 & þer he swowed & slept sadly al nyȝt,
  • 443 Þe whyle god of his grace ded growe of þat soyle,
  • 444 Þe fayrest bynde hym abof þat euer burne wyste.
  • 445 When þe dawande day dryȝtyn con sende,
  • 446 Þenne wakened þe wyȝ vnder wodbynde,
  • 447 Loked alofte on þe lef þat lylled grene;
  • 448 Such a lefsel of lof neuer lede hade,
  • 449 For hit watȝ brod at þe boþem, boȝted onlofte,
  • 450 Happed vpon ayþer half a hous as hit were,
  • 451 A nos on þe norþ syde & nowhere non elleȝ,
  • 452 Bot al schet in a schaȝe þat schaded ful cole.
  • 453 Þe gome glyȝt on þe grene graciouse leues,
  • 454 Þat euer wayued a wynde so wyþe & so cole;
  • 455 Þe schyre sunne hit vmbe-schon, þaȝ no schafte myȝt
  • 456 Þe mountaunce of a lyttel mote, vpon þat man schyne,
  • 457 Þenne watȝ þe gome so glad of his gay logge,
  • 458 Lys loltrande þer-inne, lokande to toune,
  • 459 So blyþe of his wodbynde he balteres þer vnde[r],
  • 460 Þat of no diete þat day þe deuel haf, he roȝt;
  • 461 & euer he laȝed as he loked þe loge alle aboute,
  • 462 & wysched hit were in his kyth, þer he wony schulde,
  • 463 On heȝe vpon Effraym oþer ermonnes hilleȝ,
  • 464 “I-wysse a worþloker won to welde I neuer keped.”
  • 465 & quen hit neȝed to naȝt nappe hym bihoued;
  • 466 He slydeȝ on a sloumbe, slep sloghe vnder leues,
  • 467 Whil god wayned a worme þat wrot vpe þe rote,
  • 468 & wyddered watȝ þe wodbynde bi þat þe wyȝe wakned;
  • 469 & syþen he warneȝ þe west to waken ful softe,
  • 470 & sayeȝ vnte ȝeferus þat he syfle warme,
  • 471 Þat þer quikken no cloude bi-fore þe cler sunne,
  • 472 & ho schal busch vp ful brode & brenne as a candel.
  • 473 Þen wakened þe wyȝe of his wyl dremes,
  • 474 & blusched to his wodbynde þat broþely watȝ marred,
  • 475 Al welwed & wasted þo worþelych leues;
  • 476 Þe schyre sunne hade hem schent, er euer þe schalk wyst,
  • 477 & þen hef vp þe hete & heterly brenned;
  • 478 Þe warm wynde of þe weste wertes he swyþeȝ.
  • 479 Þe man marred on þe molde þat moȝt hym not hyde,
  • 480 His wodbynde watȝ away, he weped for sorȝe,
  • 481 “With hatel anger & hot, heterly he calleȝ:
  • 482 A! þou maker of man, what maystery þe þynkeȝ
  • 483 Þus þy freke to forfare forbi alle oþer,
  • 484 With alle meschef þat þou may, neuer þou me spareȝ?
  • 485 I keuered me a cumfort þat now is caȝt fro me,
  • 486 My wod-bynde so wlonk þat wered my heued,
  • 487 Bot now I se þou art sette my solace to reue;
  • 488 Why ne dyȝtteȝ þou me to diȝe; I dure to longe?”
  • 489 Ȝet oure lorde to þe lede lansed a speche:
  • 490 “Is þis ryȝt-wys þou renk, alle þy ronk noyse,
  • 491 So wroth for a wodbynde to wax so sone,
  • 492 Why art þou so waymot wyȝe for so lyttel?”
  • 493 “Hit is not lyttel,” quod þe lede, “bot lykker to ryȝt,
  • 494 I wolde I were of þis worlde wrapped in moldeȝ.”
  • 495 “Þenne byþenk þe mon, if þe for-þynk sore,
  • 496 If I wolde help my honde werk, haf þou no wonder;
  • 497 Þou art waxen so wroth for þy wod-bynde,
  • 498 & trauayledeȝ neuer to tent hit þe tyme of an howre,
  • 499 Bot at a wap hit here wax & away at an oþer,
  • 500 & ȝet lykeȝ þe so luþer, þi lyf woldeȝ þou tyne;
  • 501 Þenne wyte not me for þe werk þat I hit wolde help,
  • 502 & rwe on þo redles þat remen for synne.
  • 503 Fyrst I made hem myself of materes myn one,
  • 504 & syþen I loked hem ful longe & hem on lode hade;
  • 505 & if I my trauayl schulde tyne of termes so longe,
  • 506 & type doun ȝonder toun when hit turned were,
  • 507 Þe sor of such a swete place burde synk to my hert,
  • 508 So mony malicious mon as mourneȝ þer-inne;
  • 509 & of þat soumme ȝet arn summe such sotteȝ for madde,
  • 510 As lyttel barneȝ on barme þat neuer bale wroȝt,
  • 511 & wymmen vnwytté þat wale ne couþe
  • 512 Þat on hande fro þat oþer for alle þis hyȝe worlde,
  • 513 Bitwene þe stele & þe stayre disserne noȝt cunen,
  • 514 What rule renes in roun bitwene þe ryȝt hande
  • 515 & his lyfte, þaȝ his lyf schulde lost be þer-for;
  • 516 & als þer ben doumbe besteȝ in þe burȝ mony,
  • 517 Þat may not synne in no syt hem seluen to greue,
  • 518 Why schulde I wrath wyth hem, syþen wyȝeȝ wyl torne,
  • 519 & cum & cnawe me for kyng, & my carpe leue?
  • 520 Wer I as hastif a[s] þou, heere were harme lumpen,
  • 521 Couþe I not þole bot as þou þer þryued ful fewe;
  • 522 I may not be so mal[i]cious & mylde be halden,
  • 523 For malyse is noȝ[t] to mayntyne boute mercy withinne;
  • 524 Be noȝt so gryndel god man, bot go forth þy wayes.”
  • 525 Be preue & be pacient, in payne & in Ioye,
  • 526 For he þat is to rakel to renden his cloþeȝ,
  • 527 Mot efte sitte with more vn-sounde to sewe hem togeder.
  • 528 For-þy when pouerté me enpreceȝ & payneȝ in-noȝe,
  • 529 Ful softly with suffraunce saȝttel me bihoueȝ,
  • 530 For þe penaunce & payne to preue hit in syȝt,
  • 531 Þat pacience is a nobel poynt, þaȝ hit displese ofte. Amen.
18 ar
10 ay
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2 bur
1 dam
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3 til
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