The Hoseers
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405	REX PHARAO   O pees, I bidde that no man passe But kepe the cours that I comaunde And takes gud heede to hym that hasse Youre liff all haly in his hande. Kyng Pharo my fadir was, And led the lordshippe of this lande; I am his hayre as elde will asse, Evere in his steede to styrre and stande. All Egippe is myne awne To lede aftir my lawe; I will my myght be knawen And honnoured als it awe. Therfore als kyng I commaunde pees To all the pepill of this empire, That no man putte hym fourthe in prees But that will do als we desire. And of youre sawes I rede you sees, And sesse to me, youre sufferayne sire, That most youre comforte may encrese, And at my liste lose liffe and lyre. I CONSOLATOR   My lorde, yf any were That walde not wirke youre will, And we wist whilke thay were, Ful sone we sall thaym spill. REX   Thurghoute my kyngdome wolde I kenn And konne tham thanke that couthe me telle If any wer so weryd then That wolde aught fande owre forse to fell. II CONSOLATOR   My Lorde, thar ar a maner of men That mustirs grete maistris tham emell, The Jewes that wonnes here in Jessen And er named the childir of Israell. They multyplye so faste That suthly we suppose Thay are like, and they laste, Yowre lordshippe for to lose. REX   Why, devill, what gawdes have they begonne, Er thai of myght to make afrayse? I CONSOLATOR   Tho felons folke, sir, first was fonn In kyng Pharo youre fadyr dayse. Thay come of Joseph, Jacob sonn, That was a prince worthy to prayse, And sithen in ryste furthe are they run; Now ar they like to lose our layse. Thay sall confounde us clene Bot if thai sonner sese. REX   What devill ever may it mene That they so fast encrese? II CONSOLATOR   Howe they encrese, full wele we kenn, Als oure elders before us fande; Thay were talde but sexty and ten Whan thei enterd into this lande. Sithen have they sojonerd here in Jessen Foure houndereth yere, this we warande, Now are they noumbered of myghty men Wele more than thre hundereth thowsande, Withowten wiffe and childe And herdes that kepes ther fee. REX   So myght we be bygillid, Bot certis that sall noght be, For with qwantise we sall tham qwelle That thei sall no farrar sprede. I CONSOLATOR   Lorde, we have herde oure fadres telle Howe clerkis, that ful wele couthe rede, Saide a man shulde wax tham emell That suld fordo us and owre dede. REX   Fy on tham — to the devell of helle! Swilke destanye sall we noght drede. We sall make mydwayes to spille tham, Whenne oure Ebrewes are borne, All that are mankynde to kille tham; So sall they sone by lorne. For of the other have I non awe, Swilke bondage sall we to tham bede To dyke and delfe, beere and drawe, And do all swilke unhonest dede. Thus sall the laddis beholden lawe, Als losellis ever thaire lyff to leede. II CONSOLATOR   Certis, lorde, this is a sotell sawe, So sall the folke no farrar sprede. REX   Yaa, helpes to halde tham doune That we no fantynse fynde. I CONSOLATOR   Lorde, we sall ever be bowne In bondage tham to bynde. MOYSES   Grete God that all this grounde began And governes evere in gud degree, That made me Moyses unto man And saved me sythen out of the see. Kyng Pharo he comaunded than So that no sonnes shulde saved be, Agayns his wille away I wan, Thus has God shewed his myght in me. Nowe am I here to kepe, Sett undir Synay syde, The bisshoppe Jetro schepe, So bettir bute to bide. A, mercy, God, mekill is thy myght, What man may of thy mervayles mene! I se yondyr a ful selcouth syght Wherof befor no synge was seene. A busk I se yondir brennand bright, And the leves last ay inlike grene; If it be werke of worldly wight I will go witte withowten wene. DEUS   Moyses, come noght to nere Bot stille in that stede dwelle, And take hede to me here And tente what I thee telle. I am thy Lorde, withoutyn lak, To lengh thi liffe even as me list, And the same God that somtyme spak Unto thyne elders als thei wiste. But Abraham and Ysaac And Jacob, saide I, suld be bliste And multyplye and tham to mak So that ther seede shulde noght be myste. And nowe kyng Pharo Fuls thare childir ful faste. If I suffir hym soo Thare seede shulde sone be past. To make thee message have I mende To hym that tham so harmed hase, To warne hym with wordes hende So that he lette my pepull passe That they to wildirnesse may wende And wirshippe me als whilom was. And yf he lenger gar them lende, His sange ful sone sall be “allas.” MOYSES   A, Lord, syth, with thy leve, That lynage loves me noght, Gladly they walde me greve, And I slyke boodword brought. Therfore, Lord, late sum othir fraste That hase more forse tham for to feere. DEUS   Moyses, be noght abaste My bidding baldely to bere. If thai with wrang ought walde thee wrayste, Owte of all wothis I sall thee were. MOYSES   We, Lord, thai wil noght to me trayste For al the othes that I may swere. To neven slyke note of newe To folke of wykkyd will, Withouten taken trewe, They will noght take tente thertill. DEUS   And if they will noght undirstande Ne take heede how I have thee sente, Before the kyng cast downe thy wande And it sall seme as a serpent. Sithen take the tayle in thy hande And hardely uppe thou itt hente In the firste state als thou it fande: So sall it turne be myn entent. Hyde thy hande in thy barme, And as a lepre it sall be like, Sithen hale withouten harme. Thi syngnes sall be slyke. And if he wil not suffre than My pepull for to passe in pees, I sall send vengeaunce nine or ten To sewe hym sararre or I sesse. Bot the Jewes that wonnes in Jessen Sall noght be merked with that messe. Als lange als thai my lawes will kenne Ther comfort sal I evere encresse. MOYSES   A, Lorde, lovyd be thy wille That makes thy folke so free. I sall tell tham untill Als thou telles unto me. But to the kyng, Lorde, whan I come And he ask me what is thy name And I stande stille than, defe and dum, How sal I be withouten blame? DEUS   I saie thus, Ego sum qui sum, I am he that I am the same; And if thou myght not meve ne mum, I sall thee saffe fro synne and shame. MOYSES   I undirstande this thyng With all the myght in me. DEUS   Be bolde in my blissyng, Thy belde ay sall I be. MOYSES   A, Lorde of lyffe, lere me my layre That I there tales may trewly tell; Unto my frendis nowe will I fayre, The chosen childre of Israell, To telle tham comforte of ther care And of there daunger that thei in dwell. God mayntayne you and me evermare, And mekill myrthe be you emell. I PUER   A Moyses, maistir dere, Oure myrthe is al mornyng; We are harde halden here Als carls under the kynge. II PUER   Moyses, we may mourne and myne, Ther is no man us myrthes mase, And sen we come al of a kynne Ken us som comforte in this case. MOYSES   Beith of youre mornyng blyne, God wil defende you of your fays. Oute of this woo he will you wynne To plese hym in more plener place. I sall carpe to the kyng And fande to make you free. III PUER   God sende us gud tythyngis, And allway with you be. MOYSES   Kyng Pharo, to me take tent. REX   Why, what tydyngis can thou tell? MOYSES   Fro God of heven thus am I sente To fecche his folke of Israll; To wildirnesse he walde thei wente. REX   Yaa, wende thou to the devell of hell! I make no force howe thou has mente, For in my daunger sall thei dwelle. And faytour, for thy sake, Thei sall be putte to pyne. MOYSES   Thanne will God vengeaunce take On thee and on al thyne. REX   Fy on thee, ladde, oute of my lande. Wenes thou with wiles to lose oure laye? Where is this warlowe with his wande That wolde thus wynne oure folke away? II CONSOLATOR   It is Moyses, we wele warrand, Agayne al Egipte is he ay. Youre fadir grete faute in hym fande, Nowe will he marre you if he may. REX   Nay, nay, that daunce is done: That lordan leryd overe late. MOYSES   God biddis thee graunte my bone, And late me go my gate. REX   Biddis God me? Fals lurdayne, thou lyes. What takyn talde he, toke thou tent? MOYSES   Yaa, sir, he saide thou suld despise Botht me and all his comaundement. In thy presence kast on this wise My wande he bad by his assent, And that thou shulde thee wele avise Howe it shulde turne to a serpent. And in his haly name Here sal I ley it downe — Loo, ser, se her the same. REX   A, dogg, the devyll thee drowne! MOYSES   He saide that I shulde take the tayle So for to prove his poure playne, And sone he saide it shuld not fayle For to turne a wande agayne. Loo, sir, behalde. REX                    Hopp, illa hayle, Now certis this is a sotill swayne. But this boyes sall byde here in oure bayle, For all thair gaudis sall noght tham gayne. Bot warse, both morne and none Sall thei fare for thy sake. MOYSES   God sende sum vengeaunce sone, And on thi werke take wrake. I EGIPTIUS   Allas, allas, this lande is lorne, On lif we may no lenger lende. II EGIPTIUS   So grete myscheffe is made sen morne, Ther may no medycyne us amende. I CONSOLATOR   Sir kyng, we banne that we wer borne; Oure blisse is all with bales blende. REX   Why crys you swa, laddis, liste you scorne? I EGIPTIUS   Sir kyng, slyk care was nevere kende. Oure watir that was ordand To men and beestis fudde; Thurghoute al Egipte lande Is turned to rede blude. Full ugly and ful ill is it That was ful faire and fresshe before. REX   This is grete wondir for to witt Of all the werkis that ever wore. II EGIPTIUS   Nay, lorde, ther is anothir yitt That sodenly sewes us ful sore, For tadys and frosshis we may not flitte, Thare venym loses lesse and more. I EGIPTIUS   Lorde, grete myses bothe morn and none Bytis us full bittirlye, And we hope al by done By Moyses, oure enemye. I CONSOLATOR   Lorde, whills we with this menyhe meve Mon never myrthe be us emange. REX   Go, saie we sall no lenger greve, But thai sall nevere the tytar gange. II EGIPTIUS   Moyses, my lord has grauntyd leve At lede thy folk to likyng lande So that we mende of oure myscheve. MOYSES   I wate ful wele thar wordes er wrange, That sall ful sone be sene, For hardely I hym heete And he of malice mene, Mo mervaylles mon he mett. I EGIPTIUS   Lorde, allas, for dule we dye; We dar not loke oute at no dore. REX   What devyll ayles yow so to crye? II EGIPTIUS   We fare nowe werre than evere we fare. Grete loppis overe all this lande thei flye That with bytyng makis mekill blure. I EGIPTIUS   Lorde, oure beestis lyes dede and dry Als wele on myddyng als on more. Both oxe, horse, and asse Fallis dede doune sodanly. REX   Therof no man harme has Halfe so mekill as I. II CONSOLATOR   Yis, lorde, poure men has mekill woo To see ther catell be out cast. The Jewes in Jessen faren noght soo; They have al likyng in to last. REX   Go, saie we giffe tham leve to goo To tyme there parellis be overpast, But or thay flitte overfarre us froo We sall garre feste tham foure so fast. II EGIPTIUS   Moyses, my lord giffis leve Thy men for to remewe. MOYSES   He mon have more mischeff But if his tales be trewe. I EGIPTIUS   We, lorde, we may not lede this liffe. REX   Why, is ther grevaunce growen agayne? II EGIPTIUS   Swilke poudre, lord, apon us dryffe, That whare it bettis it makis a blayne. I EGIPTIUS   Like mesellis makis it man and wyffe. Sythen ar they hurte with hayle and rayne Oure wynes in mountaynes may noght thryve, So ar they threst and thondour-slayne. REX    How do thay in Jessen, The Jewes, can ye aught say? II EGIPTIUS   This care nothyng they ken, Thay fele no such affray. REX   No, devill, and sitte they so in pees And we ilke day in doute and drede? I EGIPTIUS   My lorde, this care will evere encrese Tille Moyses have leve tham to lede. I CONSOLATOR   Lorde, war they wente, than walde it sese, So shuld we save us and oure seede; Ellis be we lorne, this is no lese. REX   Late hym do fourth, the devill hym spede! For his folke sall no ferre Yf he go welland woode. II CONSOLATOR   Than will itt sone be warre, Yit war bettir thai yoode. II EGIPTIUS   We, lorde, new harme is comon to hande. REX   No, devill, will itt no bettir be? I EGIPTIUS   Wilde wormes is laide overe all this lande; Thai leve no frute ne floure on tree; Agayne that storme may nothyng stande. II EGIPTIUS   Lord, ther is more myscheff, thynk me, And thre daies hase itt bene durand So myrke that non myght othir see. I EGIPTIUS   My lorde, grete pestelence Is like ful lange to last. REX   Owe, come that in oure presence, Than is oure pride al past. II EGIPTIUS   My lorde, this vengeaunce lastis lange, And mon till Moyses have his bone. I CONSOLATOR   Lorde, late tham wende, else wirke we wrang; It may not helpe to hover na hone. REX   Go, saie we graunte tham leve to gange, In the devill way, sen itt bus be done, For so may fall we sall tham fang And marre tham or tomorne at none. I EGIPTIUS   Moyses, my lorde has saide Thou sall have passage playne. MOYSES   And to passe am I paied, My frendes, bees nowe fayne; For at oure will now sall we wende In lande of lykyng for to lende. I PUER   Kyng Pharo, that felowns fende, Will have grete care fro this be kende, Than will he schappe hym us to shende, And sone his ooste aftir us sende. MOYSES   Beis noght aferde, God is youre frende, Fro alle oure fooes he will us fende. Tharfore comes furthe with me, Haves done, and drede yow noght. II PUER   My Lorde, loved mott thou bee, That us fro bale has brought. III PUER   Swilke frenshippe never before we fande, But in this faire defautys may fall. The Rede See is ryght nere at hande; Ther bus us bide to we be thrall. MOYSES   I sall make us way with my wande, For God hase sayde he save us sall. On aythir syde the see sall stande Tille we be wente, right as a wall. Therfore have ye no drede But faynde ay God to plese. I PUER   That Lorde to lande us lede, Now wende we all at esse. I EGIPTIUS   Kyng Pharro, ther folke er gane. REX   Howe nowe, es ther any noyes of newe? II EGIPTIUS   The Ebrowes er wente ilkone. REX   How sais thou that? I EGIPTIUS                     Ther talis er trewe. REX   Horse harneys tyte, that thei be tane; This ryott radly sall tham rewe. We sall not sese or they be slone, For to the se we sall tham sew. Do charge oure charyottis swithe And frekly folowes me. II EGIPTIUS   My lorde, we are full blithe At youre biddyng to be. II CONSOLATOR   Lorde, to youre biddyng we er boune, Owre bodies baldely for to bede; We sall noght byde but dyng tham doune Tylle all be dede, withouten drede. REX   Hefe uppe youre hartis ay to Mahownde, He will be nere us in oure nede. Owte, ay herrowe, devill, I drowne! I EGIPTIUS   Allas, we dye, for alle our dede. I PUER   Now ar we wonne fra waa And saved oute of the see. Cantemus domino, To God a sange synge wee.	peace; (t-note) (t-note) has wholly heir; as seniority will have it; (see note) place; go about; remain own lead known ought [to be] (i.e., contradict [me]) sayings; advise; stop allot; [as] your sovereign wish; body (see note); (t-note) would; do what you wish know which soon; destroy (kill) would I know give; could wrongheaded try; power to bring down displays great deeds; among live; Goshen (Vulgate: Gessen) are; (t-note) truly likely, if they continue tricks Be; attack Those; found [in Egypt] father’s days (see note); (t-note) unchecked (increasing) destroy; laws (customs) Unless; sooner cease know discovered counted sojourned Aside from herdsmen; livestock beguiled trickery; put down; (t-note) further increase heard advise (prophesy) grow up; among destroy midwives; kill Hebrews boy children be destroyed no fear bid dig; delve, bear (carry); pull degrading deeds (tasks) obey the law wretches subtle saying further deception compelled thereafter; sea slipped away (see note) [Mount] Sinai’s slope Jethro’s sheep boot (fortune) to wait for marvels reveal spectacular sign bush; burning without change earthly man find out; doubt too; (see note) place stay attend to lengthen; desire spake learned blessed missed (lost) Suppresses allow; [to do] so messenger; meant gracious wander in the past cause; to remain soon (royal) line would If I such message let some; attempt power to make them afraid afraid boldly wrong would try to; deceive dangers; protect trust oaths To announce such a matter anew token (sign) pay attention Nor (see note) appear boldly; take found be changed by bosom leper; (see note); (t-note) Then whole (healed) signs; such then (i.e., plagues); (t-note) pursue him more sorrily before I cease marked (visited) with; suffering praised to them then, deaf and dumb I am who I am; (see note) move; speak (whisper); (t-note) save support teach; lore these matters fare (go); (t-note) of comfort for among mourning held slaves and ponder makes people (tribe) Show Be; mourning done; (t-note) foes save open talk try pay attention Israel wished that they; (see note) consider irrelvant what subjection liar suffering Think; destroy; law (i.e., Who); warlock (wizard); (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Against fault; found injure rascal (fool) request let; way worthless fellow sign told (revealed); notice should cast bade consider lay (t-note) power behold (i.e., Ill luck befall [you]) tricky fellow (trickster) captivity tricks worse; noon (see note) vengeance destroyed no longer be (t-note) curse; (t-note) sorrow mixed up do you ridicule known ordained; (see note) food blood horrible; foul know yet afflicts toads; frogs; move (escape); (see note) venom destroys gnats; (see note) assume all is done company move Shall; joy; among oppress [them] sooner go leave To lead; promised land (t-note) boldly; promise If will he encounter dole; (t-note) any door (t-note) worse; fared fleas; (see note) lamenting dried up; (see note) manure pile; moor (t-note) poor destroyed (i.e., they continue in felicity) give Until their perils ere have them bound four times as fast leave Unless powder (ash); drives (blows); (see note); (t-note) boil a skin disease (leprosy); (see note) vines beaten down; (see note) suffering; show feel; ill-fortune lead [away] if they; cease descendants lie; (t-note) Allow further raving mad worse went locusts; (see note) fruit; flower Against (t-note) enduring; (see note) dark (see note); (t-note) likely Alas shall; wish go away; (t-note) hesitate or delay go must be it may happen; capture before noon tomorrow rewarded glad as we will live (stay) anger; known intend; destroy host (soldiers) defend praised (t-note) matter disasters must we wait until; captured strive lead ease gone news are gone everyone tales quickly; taken disturbance soon; be sorry slain pursue quickly speedily are bound boldly; offer abide; strike Heave; Mohammed (cry of distress) deeds (actions) have we escaped from woe; (see note) the [Red] sea Let us sing to the Lord; (see note)