ou
suffredest
euermore,
And took it nou?
And took it nou?
Adam Davy's Five Dreams about Edward II - 1389
at ?
ai euere ysowe 915
Any Man ? at so holy were
As ? e Aungel tolde of ere,
Of his meignee to knowe. 918
Alexius wardeyn com ? an,
And seide, 'sir, it is ? oure bede|man,
? at lij? ded by ? e wowe; 921
He ? at ? ou hast so longe yfed,
wi? mete & drynk, cloo? &. bed,
He bare hym euer lowe. 924
(78)
? 'I trowe wel it may so be,
whom so ? ee seche, ? at it is he,
ffor he was good of lijf; 927
His bedes he bad as a frere,
Ne wolde he nou? th, while he was here,
Louen fi? th ne strijf; 930
A book in his honde he halt
Swi? e fast, & narewe yfalt,
who ? at it cou? e descryue; 933
I ne woot what he ? ereinne wrou? th;
? e parchemyn I hym bou? th,
Gon fourty dayes & fyue. '
Page 62
936
(79)
? ? oo ? at ? is herden ? e Emperoures
And o? ere lordes of honoures,
? ai ? ankeden god almi? th. 939
He led hem ? ere lay ? at body,
Clene & fair, & sumdel rody,
fface feir & bri? th. 942
? e on Emperoure his honde vp took,
And wolde haue taken out ? e book
? at was fair of si? th; 945
Alexius ? e book helde ? oo;
? an was ? e Emperour swi? e woo,
And in his herte afli? th.
Page 63
948
(80)
? ? e Emperour ? oo speke bigan,
And seide vnto ? e body ? an,
? ere it lay in ? e herne; 951
'? ou? we ben Men of synful lijf,
Emperours we ben wi? outen strijf,
Rome forto gouerne; 954
we defenden holy chirche
A? eins hem ? at wolden wirche
Dedes stoute & sterne; 957
? erfore delyuer vs ? i book,
? at ? e poeple ? ere-on mowe look,
wisdom forto lerne. '
Page 64
960
(81)
? whan ? ai hadden so yseide,
Alexius, ? ere he was yleide,
Opened vp his honde; 963
To ? e pope wolde he nou? th forsake,
Bot lete hym ? oo ? e book vptake,
To rede ? at he fonde. 966
? oo ? apostoile had his book, [folio 26a]
His chaunceler he it bitook
To rede, I vnderstonde; 969
Othoo was his name,
A Man yholde of gode fame
Ouer al Rome londe. 972
(82)
? ? e book he red wi? gode wille,
? e folk herkned & helde hem stille
wi? outen any boost 975
Til ? e book was red & seide.
Alexius was bifore hem leide,
ffulfild of ? e holy gost. 978
? e chaunceler wel loude grad
whan he ? e book of Alexius rad
Among ? e cristen ost; 981
hou he fro frendes gan wende,
And hou his fader fer & hende
Sou? th hym by euery cost;
Page 65
984
(83)
? And hou he was to ? e Emperoure
ysent, to be Man of valoure
And lernen chiualrie, 987
Of huntyng, & of Ryuere,
Of chesse pleieyng & of tablere:
Al nas wor? a flye; 990
Leuer hym was to conne good,
And seruen god wi? mylde mood,
and his moder Marie: 993
And hou he ? ede seuentene ? er
In pilerinage fer & ner
wi? mychel maladye; 996
(84)
? And o? er ? eres seuentene
wi? his fader he had ybene,
his bedeman by ? e wowe, 999
? at fader ne moder ne his wijf
wisten of his holy lijf,
Ne ? at he was hire owe; 1002
And hou his fader sergeauntz alle,
veyn glorie gonne hym calle,
And gorre on hym gonne ? rowe; 1005
And hou he ? e book ywriten hadde:
Of al his lijf, ? ere he it radde
To ? e poeple hei? e & lowe.
Page 66
1008
(85)
? ? oo Eufeniens ? ise wordes herd,
Of his son hou it ferd,
Gret was his sorou? eyng; 1011
His face he*. [[MS. his]] rent, & his her.
Men sorou? ed for hym fer & ner,
He fel in swowenyng. 1014
On his owen son ? at was,
His cry was euere, 'allas! allas!
de? ! why nyltou me stynge? 1017
Allas! sorou? ! what is ? i red?
? ou hast me brou? th vnto my ded;
Myne herte wil to-sprynge.
Page 67
1020
(86)
? 'Now I may no ioye haue;
No confort ne may me saue;
My blis is al forlorne! 1023
ffor my son ? at lij? here ded,
In elde he shulde haue ben my red.
Allas! ? at I was borne! 1026
O son, whi woldestou suffren smert,
And dye wi? me here in pouert,
A begger as ? ou worne? 1029
To ? i comyng was al my speire,
To haue ymade of ? ee myne eire,
Of londe, Castel & corne. '
Page 68
1032
(87)
? His moder herd ? at tydynge;
ffor hir son she gan flynge
In Rage as a lyonesse; 1035
Sorou? -fullich her pleynt she made;
Noman mi? th hire herte glade,
Of al ? e grete presse. 1038
His fader had ylore ? e speche;
To his moder was no leche
? at mi? th her cry acesse. 1041
Letted she nou? th for al ? e ? rong,
? at she ne ran ? e poeple among,
Hire son to clyppe & kysse.
Page 69
1044
(88)
? "O son, ? at soke of myne pappes,
? ou hast ysent me sory happes,
? us sone art went me fro. 1047
I wende haue yhad of ? ee solas;
Myne hope is tynt, allas! allas!
And wel? e is went to woo. 1050
Son, ? ou doest vs stronge tourment!
Oure ioye is al away went!
ffor sorou? we shullen vs sle; 1053
ffor often ? ou sei? ? i fader & me
Erlich & late wepe for ? ee,
And ek ? i wijf also.
Page 70
1056
(89)
? '? o ? at ? ee shulden haue serued trewe,
ffele tymes on ? ee ? ai ? rewe
ffil? e & foule vryne, 1059
And beten ? ee ofte swi? e sore;
And ?
ou suffredest euermore,
And took it nou? th to pyne.
Page 71
1062
Why woldestou cast ? ee in care,
Of hem to suffre swiche bysmare,
? at weren ? ine owen hyne? 1065
Of alle ? ise seuentene ? ere
Ne woldestou noman tellen here
? ou come of body myne. "
Page 72
1068
(90)
? ffor? com ? oo his trewe wijf
wi? sorou? , & care & drery lijf,
And nei? for doel ded. 1071
'Allas! she seide, my ioye cast,
Kare & sorou? ben in me fast,
As widewe wi? oute red. 1074
Al my wel? e is fro me went,
No womman is in swiche tourment
In leng? e ne in brede. [folio 26b] 1077
Al ? is werlde, & it myne were,
I wolde ? iue it fer and nere,
To seen his fairehede.
Page 73
1080
(91)
? 'It is no wonder of my doloure;
Yshadewed is al my myroure*. [[MS. myrou? e]],
And lorne is my bri? thnesse; 1083
Myne herte may nou? th lange dure.
Cursed wor? e ? ou, dame auenture,
? at doost me destresse!
After fair weder falle? reyn,
After wynnyng wep ageyn,
And care is after kysse, 1089
Erly to day by ? e morowe,
I ne wist of care ne of sorowe:
To bale is tourned my blisse. '
Page 74
1092
(92)
? ? apostoile & ? e clergie,
? emperoures & her chiualerie,
Token ? at confessoure, 1095
And leiden on a bere ri? th;
ffair & wel hij habbe? hym di? th,
wi? menske & honoure; 1098
To ? e chirche of seint Bonefas,
wi? ? e corps ? ai token ? e pas
wi? outen any soioure; 1101
? e belles alle a? ein hem rungen,
Preostes & clerkes merily sungen
wi? ? at swete floure.
Page 75
1104
(93)
? Noman may telle wi? tunge
? e miracles ? at of hym sprunge
As ? ai ? at body bere; 1107
Deef & doumbe, halte & blynde,
Alle mi? tten bote fynde,
In maladie ? at were; 1110
Men ? at weren in palesye,
Lunatik, oi? er in frenesie,
Bote hadden ? ere. 1113
Swiche presse was ? e poeple among,
? emperoures mi? tten nou? th for ? rong
Beren for? ? e bere.
Page 76
1116
(94)
? ? ai bi? ou? tten hem in ? is wyse,
? at folk was ful of Coueitise,
And tresore onon of sende, 1119
And casten aboute siluer & golde,
Take it vp who ? at wolde,
Largely to spende. 1122
Nou? th for ? an in euery strete
? e presse was swi? e grete,
? ai mi? tten hem nou? th defende; 1125
? ai leten lygge ? at tresoure,
And foloweden ? at confessoure
? at day to ? e ende.
Page 77
1128
(95)
? Ri? th at seint Bonefas chirche,
To seint Alexi ? ai gonne wirche
A riche monument: 1131
Seuene dayes his frendes duelleden ? ere
ffor his body ? at lay on bere,
And si? ens hom ? ai went. 1134
His fader / his moder / & his wijf,
Lyueden after in holy lijf
Trewely wi? gode entent. 1137
And whan ? ai dyeden alle ? re,
? ai wenten wi? solempnite
To god omnipotent.
Page 78
1140
(96)
? ? us ende & orde ? ee han yherd,
Of seint Alexi hou it ferd,
wi? outen any lesyng. 1143
In ? e worschip of god in glorie,
Out of latyn is drawen ? is storie,
? orou? mi? th of heuene kyng. 1146
alle ? at habben yherd his vye,
Page 79
God brynge hem to ? e compaignye
? ere Aungels ben wonyynge; 1149
And sende vs, lorde, ? i mylde mood;
ffor ? orou? ? ee sprynge? al good
wi? outen any endynge. 1152
Amen, Amen, Amen.
Page 20
[MS. Cotton, Titus, A xxvi, lf 145. ]
THE LYFE OF ST. ALEXES.
[A]lle ? at wolle a whyle here dwell,
herkynnythe, and I woll yowe tell
A tale Sone of grete pyte:
Att rome, by-ffell in ? at Cyte,
Page 21
4
There somtyme wonnyd a man,
hys name was callyd eufemyan;
he was ryche in all thyng,
And euery day seruyd as a kyng; 8
he had I-now? e of worlldys well,
And seruantes with hym many and fele,
Thre thowesant to hym were atend|aund,
That weryd gold on here pendaunt.
Page 22
In hys owne hous euery daye, 13
A custyume was that I schall saye:
there boredes that were fayre spred,
There pormen schulde be fede; 16
Of all pormen of ylk a gate,
there was none ? at werned ? e yate.
A wyfe he had, she hyght a gales,
An holey woman withowten lees; 20
She louyd god with all her myght,
And seruyd hym bothe daye and nyght;
She was of gode wyll, and hart Free
To all ? e dedes of charite.
Page 23
24
there she wollde clothe and fede,
and helpe men at here nede.
By twene theym chyllde had ? ey none,
there fore they made mykell mon. 28
theye were allwaye blythe and hende,
In hope that god shollde hem sende
[folio 145b] Some maydyn chyllde, or some man,
That theyre herytages myght hane;
So long theye prayed with good entent, 33
that a man chyllde god hem sent;
Page 24
whan they wyst ? at hit was so,
Chanse theye leuyd bothe twoo, 36
Sythyn ? ey wollde for no need
Com to gedur in Flesschely ded.
Whan thys man chyllde was borne,
Fayne were here frendys therforne;
Theye bare the chylde to chirche A none, 41
And crystenyd hyt in the Font stone.
Page 25
there theye callyd ? e chylde Alexe;
Sone hit throofe, and wele hit wex.
Whan hit was vij yere olde and more,
hys freendys sett hym wnto lore; 46
he was sone Full goode of wytt,
And wnderstode the holy wryte;
he loued god in all his thought, 49
And of thys worllde gaffe he nought;
he sawe thys worllde was butt gylle,
for hit showld laste but a whyle;
Page 26
52
neuerthe les whan he was elde,
lone and felde For to wellde,
hys fader puruyde hym a wyffe, 55
Wit whome he soulde led hys lyffe;
A mayden there was fayre and Fre,
Com of ? e rycheste of that cette. [folio 146a]
In holy chyrche vppon a daye 59
They were spousyde in goddys laue;
Atte here spousyng I wott there stode
Beshoppys felle and prestes goode;
Sythen theye made a mangery
With all the beste of here aleye;
Page 27
64
All that comyn thyder ? at daye
theye were seruyd welle to paye,
Com ? ey erley, com the late,
theye wer neuer wernyd ? e yate; 68
there was nowder man nor knaue,
Byt mete and drynke he myght haue.
Euery man had there plente
Of claret wyne and pymente; 72
There was many a riche wyne,
In sylluer and in golde fyne;
Many a coppe and many a pece,
with wyne wernage & eke of grece;
Page 28
And many A noder ryche vessell
with wyne of gascoyne and of rochell.
whan euyne com ? at elke a gest
was gone to bed to take hys rest, 80
Eufemyan callyd hys sone Anone,
And bad hym ? at he shoulde gone
In to hys chaumbur to hys fere,
And cowmfort her in hys manere.
Page 29
84
Alex was to hym obedyent, [folio 146b]
and ded his faders comawndement;
In to a chaumbur he com full ryght,
And redy there he founde hys bryght,
And toke here in his armys twoo,
And downe they layde bothe twoo;
'dame,' he sayde, 'nou it ys soo,
Of Flessche ar wee allso.
Page 30
92
Noue may we be gladde of ? is lyffe,
For thowe art bothe moder and wyffe;
For allwaye rede ? at hit so be, 95
For nowe muste me wende frome the.
Whylys I was yong I made a vowe,
That I wyll Fullfell hyt nowe,
For to wende a pylgremage,
Noue woll I doo ? at vyage,
Page 31
100
And ? ou schalt lewe here at home,
agayne as goddys wyll I come. '
he yaffe her a gyrdell and a ryng,
all for a tokyng at ? eyre departyng;
And Forthe he went that elke nyght.
To ? e sse he come full ryght;
The shipe was redy, and ouer went,
wynde att wyll god hym sent.
Page 32
108
whan he come Into a Fer contre,
he come into a ryche cytte,
Page 33
110
[folio 147a] Knowyn he wollde in no wyse be
Of no man ? at shoullde hym see.
Page 34
112
In that cyte was an Image,
That was lyke goddes wysage, 114
Many a pylgryme had hit sought,
For hit was neuer with honde wrought.
Alex herd ther of than t[e]lle,
Than thought he there to duell.
A none he yaffe Frome hym awaye
to powre men all hys monaye; 120
And bought hym pore man ys wede,
Page 35
That none of theyme shoullde thak hede,
And axed his met eorly and late,
With poremen att the mynster yate.
All the mete ? at he myght gete,
Bot euery day a melys mete 126
To pore men gaffe A noone ryght,
he lefft hym sylffe none ouer nyght.
there dwellyd he xvij yere, 129
And lede his lyffe in thys manere;
Page 36
his Fader and hys modyr bothe,
Than he was to theyme Fvll lothe;
his fadyr made gret dole and sorowe,
Bothe on euen and on morowe. 134
'Alas! ' he sayde, and wrong his honde,
'Why is my sonne went owte of lond?
I wende haue hade of hym a knyght,
with me to stonde In all my ryght;
nowe ys he wente ? at was my blysse,
Page 37
I west hym neuer do man a mys.
Nowe haue I none of my lynage [folio 147a]
That maye welde myn herytage. '
Than sayde his moder, and wepte full sore, 143
'Noue shall I see my sonne no more;
I was full glade whan he was borne,
nowe ys all my Ioye forlorne.
Page 38
146
I haue hade robbys maney and fayre,
Nowe woll I next me were the ayre,
Tyll I maye some tydynges here
of my sone that was so dere. ' 150
than spake his wyffe, and wepte among.
'My leffe,' she sayde, 'was done wrong,
Page 39
he toke me in my fadyrs bowre,
And brought me hydder with grete honouer. 154
And he has me nowe for-sakyng,
To Iesu cryst I wyll me takyne;
Page 40
156
Sorowe and morenyng may I well make,
As the turtell dothe withowten his make.
Ioyefull schall I neuer bee,
Tyll I maye my leman see.
Any Man ? at so holy were
As ? e Aungel tolde of ere,
Of his meignee to knowe. 918
Alexius wardeyn com ? an,
And seide, 'sir, it is ? oure bede|man,
? at lij? ded by ? e wowe; 921
He ? at ? ou hast so longe yfed,
wi? mete & drynk, cloo? &. bed,
He bare hym euer lowe. 924
(78)
? 'I trowe wel it may so be,
whom so ? ee seche, ? at it is he,
ffor he was good of lijf; 927
His bedes he bad as a frere,
Ne wolde he nou? th, while he was here,
Louen fi? th ne strijf; 930
A book in his honde he halt
Swi? e fast, & narewe yfalt,
who ? at it cou? e descryue; 933
I ne woot what he ? ereinne wrou? th;
? e parchemyn I hym bou? th,
Gon fourty dayes & fyue. '
Page 62
936
(79)
? ? oo ? at ? is herden ? e Emperoures
And o? ere lordes of honoures,
? ai ? ankeden god almi? th. 939
He led hem ? ere lay ? at body,
Clene & fair, & sumdel rody,
fface feir & bri? th. 942
? e on Emperoure his honde vp took,
And wolde haue taken out ? e book
? at was fair of si? th; 945
Alexius ? e book helde ? oo;
? an was ? e Emperour swi? e woo,
And in his herte afli? th.
Page 63
948
(80)
? ? e Emperour ? oo speke bigan,
And seide vnto ? e body ? an,
? ere it lay in ? e herne; 951
'? ou? we ben Men of synful lijf,
Emperours we ben wi? outen strijf,
Rome forto gouerne; 954
we defenden holy chirche
A? eins hem ? at wolden wirche
Dedes stoute & sterne; 957
? erfore delyuer vs ? i book,
? at ? e poeple ? ere-on mowe look,
wisdom forto lerne. '
Page 64
960
(81)
? whan ? ai hadden so yseide,
Alexius, ? ere he was yleide,
Opened vp his honde; 963
To ? e pope wolde he nou? th forsake,
Bot lete hym ? oo ? e book vptake,
To rede ? at he fonde. 966
? oo ? apostoile had his book, [folio 26a]
His chaunceler he it bitook
To rede, I vnderstonde; 969
Othoo was his name,
A Man yholde of gode fame
Ouer al Rome londe. 972
(82)
? ? e book he red wi? gode wille,
? e folk herkned & helde hem stille
wi? outen any boost 975
Til ? e book was red & seide.
Alexius was bifore hem leide,
ffulfild of ? e holy gost. 978
? e chaunceler wel loude grad
whan he ? e book of Alexius rad
Among ? e cristen ost; 981
hou he fro frendes gan wende,
And hou his fader fer & hende
Sou? th hym by euery cost;
Page 65
984
(83)
? And hou he was to ? e Emperoure
ysent, to be Man of valoure
And lernen chiualrie, 987
Of huntyng, & of Ryuere,
Of chesse pleieyng & of tablere:
Al nas wor? a flye; 990
Leuer hym was to conne good,
And seruen god wi? mylde mood,
and his moder Marie: 993
And hou he ? ede seuentene ? er
In pilerinage fer & ner
wi? mychel maladye; 996
(84)
? And o? er ? eres seuentene
wi? his fader he had ybene,
his bedeman by ? e wowe, 999
? at fader ne moder ne his wijf
wisten of his holy lijf,
Ne ? at he was hire owe; 1002
And hou his fader sergeauntz alle,
veyn glorie gonne hym calle,
And gorre on hym gonne ? rowe; 1005
And hou he ? e book ywriten hadde:
Of al his lijf, ? ere he it radde
To ? e poeple hei? e & lowe.
Page 66
1008
(85)
? ? oo Eufeniens ? ise wordes herd,
Of his son hou it ferd,
Gret was his sorou? eyng; 1011
His face he*. [[MS. his]] rent, & his her.
Men sorou? ed for hym fer & ner,
He fel in swowenyng. 1014
On his owen son ? at was,
His cry was euere, 'allas! allas!
de? ! why nyltou me stynge? 1017
Allas! sorou? ! what is ? i red?
? ou hast me brou? th vnto my ded;
Myne herte wil to-sprynge.
Page 67
1020
(86)
? 'Now I may no ioye haue;
No confort ne may me saue;
My blis is al forlorne! 1023
ffor my son ? at lij? here ded,
In elde he shulde haue ben my red.
Allas! ? at I was borne! 1026
O son, whi woldestou suffren smert,
And dye wi? me here in pouert,
A begger as ? ou worne? 1029
To ? i comyng was al my speire,
To haue ymade of ? ee myne eire,
Of londe, Castel & corne. '
Page 68
1032
(87)
? His moder herd ? at tydynge;
ffor hir son she gan flynge
In Rage as a lyonesse; 1035
Sorou? -fullich her pleynt she made;
Noman mi? th hire herte glade,
Of al ? e grete presse. 1038
His fader had ylore ? e speche;
To his moder was no leche
? at mi? th her cry acesse. 1041
Letted she nou? th for al ? e ? rong,
? at she ne ran ? e poeple among,
Hire son to clyppe & kysse.
Page 69
1044
(88)
? "O son, ? at soke of myne pappes,
? ou hast ysent me sory happes,
? us sone art went me fro. 1047
I wende haue yhad of ? ee solas;
Myne hope is tynt, allas! allas!
And wel? e is went to woo. 1050
Son, ? ou doest vs stronge tourment!
Oure ioye is al away went!
ffor sorou? we shullen vs sle; 1053
ffor often ? ou sei? ? i fader & me
Erlich & late wepe for ? ee,
And ek ? i wijf also.
Page 70
1056
(89)
? '? o ? at ? ee shulden haue serued trewe,
ffele tymes on ? ee ? ai ? rewe
ffil? e & foule vryne, 1059
And beten ? ee ofte swi? e sore;
And ?
ou suffredest euermore,
And took it nou? th to pyne.
Page 71
1062
Why woldestou cast ? ee in care,
Of hem to suffre swiche bysmare,
? at weren ? ine owen hyne? 1065
Of alle ? ise seuentene ? ere
Ne woldestou noman tellen here
? ou come of body myne. "
Page 72
1068
(90)
? ffor? com ? oo his trewe wijf
wi? sorou? , & care & drery lijf,
And nei? for doel ded. 1071
'Allas! she seide, my ioye cast,
Kare & sorou? ben in me fast,
As widewe wi? oute red. 1074
Al my wel? e is fro me went,
No womman is in swiche tourment
In leng? e ne in brede. [folio 26b] 1077
Al ? is werlde, & it myne were,
I wolde ? iue it fer and nere,
To seen his fairehede.
Page 73
1080
(91)
? 'It is no wonder of my doloure;
Yshadewed is al my myroure*. [[MS. myrou? e]],
And lorne is my bri? thnesse; 1083
Myne herte may nou? th lange dure.
Cursed wor? e ? ou, dame auenture,
? at doost me destresse!
After fair weder falle? reyn,
After wynnyng wep ageyn,
And care is after kysse, 1089
Erly to day by ? e morowe,
I ne wist of care ne of sorowe:
To bale is tourned my blisse. '
Page 74
1092
(92)
? ? apostoile & ? e clergie,
? emperoures & her chiualerie,
Token ? at confessoure, 1095
And leiden on a bere ri? th;
ffair & wel hij habbe? hym di? th,
wi? menske & honoure; 1098
To ? e chirche of seint Bonefas,
wi? ? e corps ? ai token ? e pas
wi? outen any soioure; 1101
? e belles alle a? ein hem rungen,
Preostes & clerkes merily sungen
wi? ? at swete floure.
Page 75
1104
(93)
? Noman may telle wi? tunge
? e miracles ? at of hym sprunge
As ? ai ? at body bere; 1107
Deef & doumbe, halte & blynde,
Alle mi? tten bote fynde,
In maladie ? at were; 1110
Men ? at weren in palesye,
Lunatik, oi? er in frenesie,
Bote hadden ? ere. 1113
Swiche presse was ? e poeple among,
? emperoures mi? tten nou? th for ? rong
Beren for? ? e bere.
Page 76
1116
(94)
? ? ai bi? ou? tten hem in ? is wyse,
? at folk was ful of Coueitise,
And tresore onon of sende, 1119
And casten aboute siluer & golde,
Take it vp who ? at wolde,
Largely to spende. 1122
Nou? th for ? an in euery strete
? e presse was swi? e grete,
? ai mi? tten hem nou? th defende; 1125
? ai leten lygge ? at tresoure,
And foloweden ? at confessoure
? at day to ? e ende.
Page 77
1128
(95)
? Ri? th at seint Bonefas chirche,
To seint Alexi ? ai gonne wirche
A riche monument: 1131
Seuene dayes his frendes duelleden ? ere
ffor his body ? at lay on bere,
And si? ens hom ? ai went. 1134
His fader / his moder / & his wijf,
Lyueden after in holy lijf
Trewely wi? gode entent. 1137
And whan ? ai dyeden alle ? re,
? ai wenten wi? solempnite
To god omnipotent.
Page 78
1140
(96)
? ? us ende & orde ? ee han yherd,
Of seint Alexi hou it ferd,
wi? outen any lesyng. 1143
In ? e worschip of god in glorie,
Out of latyn is drawen ? is storie,
? orou? mi? th of heuene kyng. 1146
alle ? at habben yherd his vye,
Page 79
God brynge hem to ? e compaignye
? ere Aungels ben wonyynge; 1149
And sende vs, lorde, ? i mylde mood;
ffor ? orou? ? ee sprynge? al good
wi? outen any endynge. 1152
Amen, Amen, Amen.
Page 20
[MS. Cotton, Titus, A xxvi, lf 145. ]
THE LYFE OF ST. ALEXES.
[A]lle ? at wolle a whyle here dwell,
herkynnythe, and I woll yowe tell
A tale Sone of grete pyte:
Att rome, by-ffell in ? at Cyte,
Page 21
4
There somtyme wonnyd a man,
hys name was callyd eufemyan;
he was ryche in all thyng,
And euery day seruyd as a kyng; 8
he had I-now? e of worlldys well,
And seruantes with hym many and fele,
Thre thowesant to hym were atend|aund,
That weryd gold on here pendaunt.
Page 22
In hys owne hous euery daye, 13
A custyume was that I schall saye:
there boredes that were fayre spred,
There pormen schulde be fede; 16
Of all pormen of ylk a gate,
there was none ? at werned ? e yate.
A wyfe he had, she hyght a gales,
An holey woman withowten lees; 20
She louyd god with all her myght,
And seruyd hym bothe daye and nyght;
She was of gode wyll, and hart Free
To all ? e dedes of charite.
Page 23
24
there she wollde clothe and fede,
and helpe men at here nede.
By twene theym chyllde had ? ey none,
there fore they made mykell mon. 28
theye were allwaye blythe and hende,
In hope that god shollde hem sende
[folio 145b] Some maydyn chyllde, or some man,
That theyre herytages myght hane;
So long theye prayed with good entent, 33
that a man chyllde god hem sent;
Page 24
whan they wyst ? at hit was so,
Chanse theye leuyd bothe twoo, 36
Sythyn ? ey wollde for no need
Com to gedur in Flesschely ded.
Whan thys man chyllde was borne,
Fayne were here frendys therforne;
Theye bare the chylde to chirche A none, 41
And crystenyd hyt in the Font stone.
Page 25
there theye callyd ? e chylde Alexe;
Sone hit throofe, and wele hit wex.
Whan hit was vij yere olde and more,
hys freendys sett hym wnto lore; 46
he was sone Full goode of wytt,
And wnderstode the holy wryte;
he loued god in all his thought, 49
And of thys worllde gaffe he nought;
he sawe thys worllde was butt gylle,
for hit showld laste but a whyle;
Page 26
52
neuerthe les whan he was elde,
lone and felde For to wellde,
hys fader puruyde hym a wyffe, 55
Wit whome he soulde led hys lyffe;
A mayden there was fayre and Fre,
Com of ? e rycheste of that cette. [folio 146a]
In holy chyrche vppon a daye 59
They were spousyde in goddys laue;
Atte here spousyng I wott there stode
Beshoppys felle and prestes goode;
Sythen theye made a mangery
With all the beste of here aleye;
Page 27
64
All that comyn thyder ? at daye
theye were seruyd welle to paye,
Com ? ey erley, com the late,
theye wer neuer wernyd ? e yate; 68
there was nowder man nor knaue,
Byt mete and drynke he myght haue.
Euery man had there plente
Of claret wyne and pymente; 72
There was many a riche wyne,
In sylluer and in golde fyne;
Many a coppe and many a pece,
with wyne wernage & eke of grece;
Page 28
And many A noder ryche vessell
with wyne of gascoyne and of rochell.
whan euyne com ? at elke a gest
was gone to bed to take hys rest, 80
Eufemyan callyd hys sone Anone,
And bad hym ? at he shoulde gone
In to hys chaumbur to hys fere,
And cowmfort her in hys manere.
Page 29
84
Alex was to hym obedyent, [folio 146b]
and ded his faders comawndement;
In to a chaumbur he com full ryght,
And redy there he founde hys bryght,
And toke here in his armys twoo,
And downe they layde bothe twoo;
'dame,' he sayde, 'nou it ys soo,
Of Flessche ar wee allso.
Page 30
92
Noue may we be gladde of ? is lyffe,
For thowe art bothe moder and wyffe;
For allwaye rede ? at hit so be, 95
For nowe muste me wende frome the.
Whylys I was yong I made a vowe,
That I wyll Fullfell hyt nowe,
For to wende a pylgremage,
Noue woll I doo ? at vyage,
Page 31
100
And ? ou schalt lewe here at home,
agayne as goddys wyll I come. '
he yaffe her a gyrdell and a ryng,
all for a tokyng at ? eyre departyng;
And Forthe he went that elke nyght.
To ? e sse he come full ryght;
The shipe was redy, and ouer went,
wynde att wyll god hym sent.
Page 32
108
whan he come Into a Fer contre,
he come into a ryche cytte,
Page 33
110
[folio 147a] Knowyn he wollde in no wyse be
Of no man ? at shoullde hym see.
Page 34
112
In that cyte was an Image,
That was lyke goddes wysage, 114
Many a pylgryme had hit sought,
For hit was neuer with honde wrought.
Alex herd ther of than t[e]lle,
Than thought he there to duell.
A none he yaffe Frome hym awaye
to powre men all hys monaye; 120
And bought hym pore man ys wede,
Page 35
That none of theyme shoullde thak hede,
And axed his met eorly and late,
With poremen att the mynster yate.
All the mete ? at he myght gete,
Bot euery day a melys mete 126
To pore men gaffe A noone ryght,
he lefft hym sylffe none ouer nyght.
there dwellyd he xvij yere, 129
And lede his lyffe in thys manere;
Page 36
his Fader and hys modyr bothe,
Than he was to theyme Fvll lothe;
his fadyr made gret dole and sorowe,
Bothe on euen and on morowe. 134
'Alas! ' he sayde, and wrong his honde,
'Why is my sonne went owte of lond?
I wende haue hade of hym a knyght,
with me to stonde In all my ryght;
nowe ys he wente ? at was my blysse,
Page 37
I west hym neuer do man a mys.
Nowe haue I none of my lynage [folio 147a]
That maye welde myn herytage. '
Than sayde his moder, and wepte full sore, 143
'Noue shall I see my sonne no more;
I was full glade whan he was borne,
nowe ys all my Ioye forlorne.
Page 38
146
I haue hade robbys maney and fayre,
Nowe woll I next me were the ayre,
Tyll I maye some tydynges here
of my sone that was so dere. ' 150
than spake his wyffe, and wepte among.
'My leffe,' she sayde, 'was done wrong,
Page 39
he toke me in my fadyrs bowre,
And brought me hydder with grete honouer. 154
And he has me nowe for-sakyng,
To Iesu cryst I wyll me takyne;
Page 40
156
Sorowe and morenyng may I well make,
As the turtell dothe withowten his make.
Ioyefull schall I neuer bee,
Tyll I maye my leman see.
