Merceres
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	DEUS INCIPIT Firste when I this worlde hadde wroght, Woode and wynde and wateris wan And allkynne thyng that nowe is oght, Fulle wele methoght that I did thanne. Whenne thei were made, goode me thame thoght. Sethen to my liknes made I man, And man to greve me gaffe he noght; Therfore me rewis that I the worlde began. Whanne I had made man at my will, I gaffe hym wittis hymselve to wisse, And paradise I putte hym till And bad hym halde it all as his. But of the tree of goode and ill I saide, “What tyme thou etis of this, Manne, thou spedes thiselve to spill; Thou arte broght oute of all blisse.” Belyve brak manne my bidding, He wende have bene a god therby; He wende have wittyne of allkynne thyng, In worlde to have bene als wise as I. He ete the appill I badde schulde hyng; Thus was he begilid thurgh glotony. Sithen both hym and his ospring To pyne I putte thame all forthy. To lange and late methoghte it goode To catche thois caitiffis oute of care, I sente my Sone with full blithe moode Till erthe, to salve thame of thare sare. For rewthe of thame he reste on roode And boughte thame with his body bare. For thame he shedde his harte bloode, What kyndinesse myght I do thame mare? Sethen aftirwarde he heryed hell And toke oute thois wrecchis that ware thareinne. Ther faughte that free with feendis feele For thame that ware sounkyn for synne. Sethen in erthe than gonne he dwelle, Ensaumpill he gave thame hevene to wynne, In Tempill hymselffe to teche and tell To by thame blisse that nevere may blynne. Sethen have thei founde me full of mercye, Full of grace and forgiffenesse, And thei als wrecchis wittirly Has ledde ther liffe in lithirnesse. Ofte have thei greved me grevously, Thus have thei quitte me my kyndinesse; Therfore no lenger, sekirlye, Thole will I thare wikkidnesse. Men seis the worlde but vanité, Yitt will no manne beware therby. Ilke a day ther mirroure may thei se, Yitt thynke thei noght that thei schall dye. All that evere I saide schulde be Is nowe fulfillid thurgh prophicie; Therfore nowe is it tyme to me To make endyng of mannes folie. I have tholed mankynde many a yere In luste and likyng for to lende, And unethis fynde I ferre or nere A man that will his misse amende. In erthe I see butte synnes seere; Therfore myne aungellis will I sende To blawe ther bemys, that all may here The tyme is comen I will make ende. Aungellis, blawes youre bemys belyve Ilke a creatoure for to call; Leerid and lewde, both man and wiffe Ressayve ther dome this day thei schall. Ilke a leede that evere hadde liffe, Bese none forgetyn, grete ne small. Ther schall thei see the woundes fyve That my Sone suffered for them all. And sounderes thame before my sight, All same in blisse schall thei not be. Mi blissid childre, as I have hight, On my right hande I schall thame see. Sethen schall ilke a weried wight On my lifte side for ferdnesse flee. This day ther domys thus have I dight To ilke a man as he hath served me. I ANGELUS   Loved be thou, Lorde of myghtis moste, That aungell made to messengere, Thy will schall be fulfillid in haste That hevene and erthe and helle schalle here. Goode and ill, every ilke a gaste, Rise and fecche youre flessh that was youre feere, For all this worlde is broght to waste, Drawes to youre dome, it neghes nere. II ANGELUS   Ilke a creature, bothe olde and yhing, Belyve I bidde you that ye ryse. Body and sawle with you ye bring And comes before the high justise, For I am sente fro hevene kyng To calle you to this grette assise; Therfore rise uppe and geve rekenyng How ye hym served uppon sere wise. I ANIMA BONA   Loved be thou, Lorde, that is so schene That on this manere made us to rise, Body and sawle togedir clene To come before the high justise. Of oure ill dedis, Lorde, thou not mene That we have wroght uppon sere wise, But graunte us for thy grace bedene That we may wonne in paradise. II ANIMA BONA   A, loved be thou, Lorde of all, That hevene and erthe and all has wroght, That with thyne aungellis wolde us call Oute of oure graves hidir to be broght. Ofte have we greved thee, grette and small, Theraftir, Lorde, thou deme us noght, Ne suffir us nevere to fendis to be thrall That ofte in erthe with synne us soght. I ANIMA MALA   Allas, allas, that we were borne, So may we synfull kaytiffis say. I here wele be this hydous horne; Itt drawes full nere to domesday. Allas, we wrecchis that are forlorne That never yitt served God to paye, But ofte we have his flesshe forsworne. Allas, allas, and welaway! What schall we wrecchis do for drede, Or whedir for ferdnes may we flee When we may bringe forthe no goode dede Before hym that oure juge schall be? To aske mercy us is no nede, For wele I wotte dampned be we. Allas, that we swilke liffe schulde lede That dighte us has this destonye. Oure wikkid werkis thei will us wreye That we wende never schuld have bene weten; That we did ofte full pryvely, Appertely may we se them wreten. Allas, wrecchis, dere mon we by, Full smerte with helle fyre be we smetyn. Nowe mon nevere saule ne body dye, But with wikkid peynes evermore be betyne. Allas, for drede sore may we quake, Oure dedis beis oure dampnacioune; For oure mys menyng mon we make, Helpe may none excusacioune. We mon be sette for oure synnes sake Forevere fro oure salvacioune In helle to dwelle with feendes blake Wher never schall be redempcioune. II ANIMA MALA   Als carefull caitiffis may we ryse, Sore may we wringe oure handis and wepe. For cursidnesse and for covetise Dampned be we to helle full depe. Rought we nevere of Goddis servise, His comaundementis wolde we noght kepe, But ofte than made we sacrafise To Satanas when othir slepe. Allas, now wakens all oure were. Oure wikkid werkis may we not hide, But on oure bakkis us muste them bere; Thei wille us wreye on ilke a side. I see foule feendis that wille us feere, And all for pompe of wikkid pride. Wepe we may with many a teere. Allas, that we this day schulde bide. Before us playnly bese fourth brought The dedis that us schall dame bedene, That eres has herde or harte has thoght Sen any tyme that we may mene That fote has gone or hande has wroght, That mouthe hath spoken or ey has sene, This day full dere thanne bese it boght. Allas, unborne and we hadde bene. III ANGELUS   Standis noght togedir, parte you in two, All sam schall ye noght be in blisse. Mi Fadir of hevene woll it be soo, For many of yowe has wroght amys. The goode on his right hande ye goe, The way till hevene he will you wisse. Ye weryed wightis, ye flee hym froo, On his lefte hande as none of his. DEUS   This woffull worlde is brought till ende, Mi Fadir of hevene he woll it be; Therfore till erthe nowe will I wende, Miselve to sitte in magesté. To deme my domes I woll descende, This body will I bere with me, Howe it was dight, mannes mys to mende. All mankynde there schall it see. Mi postelis and my darlyngis dere, The dredfull dome this day is dight. Both heven and erthe and hell schall here Howe I schall holde that I have hight: That ye schall sitte on seetis sere Beside myselffe to se that sight, And for to deme folke ferre and nere Aftir ther werkyng, wronge or right. I saide also whan I you sente To suffre sorowe for my sake, All tho that wolde thame right repente Schulde with you wende and wynly wake; And to youre tales who toke no tente Shulde fare to fyre with fendis blake. Of mercy nowe may noght be mente, Butt aftir wirkyng, welth or wrake. My hetyng haly schall I fullfille; Therfore comes furth and sittis me by To here the dome of goode and ill. I APOSTOLUS   I love thee, Lord God allmyghty. Late and herely, lowde and still, To do thy bidding bayne am I; I obblissh me to do thi will With all my myght, als is worthy. II APOSTOLUS   A, myghtfull God, here is it sene Thou will fulfille thi forward right, And all thi sawes thou will maynteyne. I love thee, Lorde, with all my myght; Therfore us that has erthely bene, Swilke dingnitees has dressed and dight. DEUS   Comes fourthe, I schall sitte you betwene, And all fullfille that I have hight. Hic ad sedem judicii cum cantu angelorum.1 I DIABOLUS   Felas, arraye us for to fight, And go we faste oure fee to fange. The dredefull dome this day is dight; I drede me that we dwelle full longe. II DIABOLUS   We schall be sene evere in ther sight And warly waite, ellis wirke we wrange, For if the domisman do us right Full grete partie with us schall gang. III DIABOLUS   He schall do right to foo and frende, For nowe schall all the soth be sought. All weried wightis with us schall wende To payne endles thei schall be broght. . . . DEUS   Ilke a creature, takes entent What bodworde I to you bringe: This wofull worlde away is wente, And I am come as crouned kynge. Mi Fadir of hevene, he has me sente To deme youre dedis and make ending. Comen is the day of jugement, Of sorowe may ilke a synful synge. The day is comen of kaydyfnes, All tham to care that are unclene, The day of bale and bittirnes. Full longe abedyn has it bene, The day of drede to more and lesse, Of ire, of trymbelyng, and of tene, That ilke a wight that weried is May say, “Allas, this daye is sene.” Here may ye see my woundes wide The whilke I tholed for youre mysdede Thurgh harte and heed, foote, hande, and hide Nought for my gilte butt for youre nede. Beholdis both body, bak, and side How dere I bought youre brotherhede. Thes bittir peynes I wolde abide To bye you blisse thus wolde I bleede. Mi body was scourged withouten skill, As theffe full thraly was I thrette, On crosse thei hanged me on a hill, Blody and bloo, as I was bette, With croune of thorne, throsten full ill. This spere unto my side was sette, Myne harte bloode spared noght thei for to spill, Manne, for thy love wolde I not lette. The Jewes spitte on me spitously; Thei spared me no more than a theffe. Whan thei me strake I stode full stilly, Agaynste tham did I nothynge greve. Behalde, mankynde, this ilke is I That for thee suffered swilke mischeve; Thus was I dight for thy folye. Man, loke, thy liffe was to me full leffe. Thus was I dight thi sorowe to slake, Manne, thus behoved thee to borowed be. In all my woo toke I no wrake, Mi will itt was for the love of thee. Man, sore aught thee for to quake, This dredfull day, this sight to see. All this I suffered for thi sake. Say, man, what suffered thou for me? Mi blissid childre on my right hande, Youre dome this day ye thar not drede, For all youre comforte is command, Youre liffe in likyng schall ye lede. Commes to the kyngdome aylastand That you is dight for youre goode dede. Full blithe may ye be where ye stande, For mekill in hevene schall be youre mede. Whenne I was hungery ye me fedde, To slake my thirste youre harte was free, Whanne I was clothles ye me cledde; Ye wolde no sorowe uppon me see. In harde presse whan I was stedde, Of my payns ye hadde pitee, Full seke whan I was brought in bedde Kyndely ye come to coumforte me. Whanne I was wille and werieste Ye herbered me full hartefully, Full gladde thanne were ye of youre geste And pleyned my poverte piteuously. Belyve ye brought me of the beste And made my bedde full esyly. Therfore in hevene schall be youre reste, In joie and blisse to be me by. I ANIMA BONA   Whanne hadde we, Lorde, that all has wroght, Meete and drinke thee with to feede, Sen we in erthe hadde nevere noght But thurgh the grace of thy godhede? II ANIMA BONA   Whanne waste that we thee clothes brought Or visite thee in any nede? Or in thi sikenes we thee sought, Lorde, when did we thee this dede? DEUS   Mi blissid childir, I schall you saye What tyme this dede was to me done: When any that nede hadde, nyght or day, Askid you helpe and hadde it sone. Youre fre hartis saide them nevere nay, Erely ne late, mydday ne none, But als ofte sithis as thei wolde praye, Thame thurte but bide and have ther bone. Ye cursid caytiffis of Kaymes kynne That nevere me comforte in my care, I and ye forever will twynne, In dole to dwelle for evermare. Youre bittir bales schall nevere blynne That ye schall have whan ye come thare. Thus have ye served for youre synne, For derffe dedis ye have done are. Whanne I had mister of mete and drynke, Caytiffis, ye cacched me from youre yate; Whanne ye were sette as sirs on benke I stode theroute, werie and wette; Was none of yowe wolde on me thynke, Pyté to have of my poure state. Therfore till hell I schall you synke, Weele are ye worthy to go that gate. Whanne I was seke and soriest Ye visitte me noght, for I was poure; In prisoune faste whan I was feste Was none of you loked howe I fore. Whenne I wiste nevere where for to reste, With dyntes ye draffe me fro your dore, Butte ever to pride thanne were ye preste; Mi flessh, my bloode ofte ye forswore. Clothles whanne I was ofte and colde, At nede of you, yede I full naked, House ne herborow, helpe ne holde Hadde I none of you, thof I quaked. Mi mischeffe sawe ye manyfolde, Was none of you my sorowe slaked, Butt evere forsoke me, yonge and alde. Therfore schall ye nowe be forsaked. I ANIMA MALA   Whan had thou, Lorde that all thing has, Hungir or thirste sen thou God is? Whan was thou in prisoune was, Whan was thou naked or herberles? II ANIMA MALA   Whan was it we sawe thee seke, allas; Whan kid we thee this unkyndinesse? Werie or wette to late thee passe, When did we thee this wikkidnesse? DEUS   Caistiffis, als ofte als it betidde That nedfull aught askid in my name, Ye herde them noght, youre eris ye hidde: Youre helpe to thame was noght at hame. To me was that unkyndines kyd; Therefore ye bere this bittir blame. To leste or moste whan ye it did, To me ye did the selve and the same. Mi chosen childir, comes unto me, With me to wonne nowe schall ye wende There joie and blisse schall ever be. Youre liffe in lyking schall ye lende. Ye cursed kaitiffis, fro me ye flee In helle to dwelle withouten ende; Ther ye schall nevere butt sorowe see And sitte be Satanas the fende. Nowe is fulfillid all my forthoght, For endid is all erthely thyng; All worldly wightis that I have wroght Aftir ther werkis have now wonnyng. Thei that wolde synne and sessid noght Of sorowes sere now schall thei syng, And thei that mendid thame whils thei moght Shall belde and bide in my blissing. Et sic facit finem cum melodia angelorum transiens a loco ad locum.2	(see note) dark all kinds [of]; extant (t-note) them Then grieve [for] me; had no concern am sorry intelligence; direct bid; (to) hold eat destroy Quickly broke thought [to] knowledge hang [on the tree] Thus; descendants suffering Too long rescue those; from misery heal; sore (misery) pity; cross ransomed (t-note) harrowed those; were; (see note) fought; worthy one; many were sunk in did; (t-note) Example buy; end knowingly wickedness repaid Endure Every; reflection folly endured remain scarcely; far sin (error) (i.e., everywhere) trumpets; hear suddenly; (see note) Every creature (person) Learned; unlettered judgment person separate All together promised accursed person left; fear sentences; ordered Praised to be ghost (spirit) fetch; companion (t-note) judgment; comes near [in time] young Quickly; (see note) (see note) court trial (judgment) give accounting; (see note) in diverse ways bright (t-note) complete speak not; (see note) forthwith dwell hither grieved devils; enslaved pursued caitiffs (reprobates) hear; hideous; (see note) please [him] body (in Eucharist) abjured fright such life prepared for us denounce; (see note); (t-note) thought; revealed Openly; written dearly may we purchase sharply; smitten (see note) beaten are sin moaning must Excuses will not help placed [apart] from black As sorrowing (see note) deep Took heed (Wrought) (see note) misery denounce; (t-note) terrify us is forth; (t-note) deeds; condemn ears; heart mean (speak of) seen dearly; is it purchased if we had not been born (see note); (t-note) together; (t-note) wills amiss direct accursed; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) wills [that] issue my judgments put [to suffering] apostles; (see note) hear promised seats various judge; far works those joyfully attention fire (flames) well-being (bliss); retribution promise wholly hear; (t-note) early; (t-note) willing oblige (t-note) plan rightly sayings Such honors; prepared (see note); (t-note) Fellows, prepare property (lit.: livestock); grasp sneakily; work; wrong judge part (portion); go truth wicked (t-note) [four lines missing, see textual note] Everyone, pay attention; (t-note) message; (t-note) (t-note) each sinful [one] sing wretchedness misery (t-note) awaited (see note) trembling; grief; (t-note) accursed (see note) suffered skin guilt purchase reason violently; threatened; (t-note) livid; beaten thrust prevent [this] thief struck; stood; silently same affliction put [to pain] dear; (t-note) assauage redeemed vengeance ought verdict; need not dread coming lead everlasting prepared; deeds reward (see note) clad difficulties; placed; (t-note) (t-note) sick perplexed; most troubled sheltered guest lamented Quickly When was it; (see note) (t-note) They need but endure; request Cain’s kin; (see note) separate sufferings; stop deserved evil deeds; previously need drove; gate judges on bench outside, weary poor Well; way incarcerated fared knew blows; drove pressed (motivated) body, my blood (of Eucharist) Lacking clothes went shelter old homeless showed Weary; let happened anything ears; covered available shown bear [the] least; (t-note) (see note) dwell bliss; remain beside; (t-note) dwelling [places] ceased various were able; (see note) dwell (see note); (t-note)