By Gman4326
These vernacular drama's began to pop up in the 1200's. The 3 types of cycle plays are Moral, Mystery and Miracle. Creation drama is a form of mystery cycle play. From catholic culture website. MYSTERY [miss-ter-ri] noun: A divinely revealed truth whose very possibility cannot be rationally conceived before it is revealed and, after revelation, whose inner essence cannot be fully understood by the finite mind. The incomprehensibility of revealed mysteries derives from the fact that they are manifestations of God, who is infinite and therefore beyond the complete grasp of a created intellect. Nevertheless, though incomprehensible, mysteries are intelligible. One of the primary duties of a believer is, through prayer, study, and experience, to grow in faith, i.e., to develop an understanding of what God has revealed. '(Etym. Greek mysterion, something closed, a secret.)'
Mystery is a revealed truth given by God. However we don't know the full process in which God and the three had done it. During a time in which the bible was considered a form of allegory.
Medieval English town cycle pageant plays
N-town cycle
Play one creation of heaven; fall of Lucifer
DEUS Ego sum alpha et oo, principium et finis.
My name is knowyn, God and kynge.
My werk for to make, now wyl I wende.
In myself restyth my reynenge:
It hath no gynnying ne non ende.
And all that evyr shal have beynge,
It is closyd in my mende.
Whan it is made at my lykynge,
I may it save; I may it shende
After my plesawns.
So gret of myth is my pousté,
All thyng shal be wrowth be me.
I am oo God, in personys thre
Knyt in oo substawns.
I am the trewe Trenyté
Here walkying in this wone.
Thre Personys, myself I se
Lokyn in me, God alone.
I am the Fadyr of Powsté;
My Sone with me gynnyth gon;
My Gost is grace in magesté.
Weldyth welthe up in Hevyn tron
O God in thre I calle:
I am Fadyr of Myth;
My Sone kepyth ryth;
My Gost hath lyth
And grace withalle.
Myself begynnyng nevyr dyd take,
And endeles I am thorw myn owyn myth.
Now wole I begynne my werke to make:
Fyrst, I make hevyn with sterrys of lyth.
In myrth and joy evermore to wake.
In hevyn I bylde angell ful bryth,
My servauntys to be, and for my sake
With merth and melody worchepe my myth.
I belde them in my blysse,
Aungell in hevyn evyrmore shal be.
In lyth ful clere, bryth as ble,
With myrth and song to worchip me,
Of joye thei may not mys.
[Hic cantent angeli in celo: “Tibi omnes angeli tibi celi et universe potestates. Tibi cherubyn et seraphyn incessabili voce proclamant: ‘Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.’]
LUCIFERE To whos wurchipe synge ye this songe?
To wurchip God or reverens me?
But ye me wurchipe ye do me wronge,
For I am the wurthyest that evyr may be!
ANGELI BONI We wurchipe God of myth most stronge
Whiche hath formyd bothe us and thee!
We may nevyr wurchyp hym to longe,
For he is most worthy of magesté!
On knes to God we falle,
Oure Lorde God wurchyp we,
And in no wyse honowre we thee!
A gretter lord may nevyr non be
Than he that made us alle!
LUCIFERE A wurthyer lorde forsothe am I
And worthyer than he evyr wyl I be!
In evydens that I am more worthy,
I wyl go syttyn in Goddys se
Above sunne and mone and sterrys on sky.
I am now set as ye may se!
Now wurchyp me for most mythty,
And for youre lord honowre now me,
Syttyng in my sete.
ANGELI MALI Goddys myth we forsake,
And for more wurthy we thee take.
Thee to wurchep honowre we make
And falle down at thi fete.
DEUS Thu, Lucyfere, for thi mekyl pryde —
I bydde thee falle from hefne to helle.
And all tho that holdyn on thi side,
In my blysse nevyrmore to dwelle.
At my comawndement anoon down thu slyde
With merth and joye nevyrmore to melle!
In myschyf and manas evyr shalt thu abyde
In byttyr brennyng and fyer so felle,
In peyn evyr to be pyht.
LUCIFERE At thy byddyng, thy wyl I werke
And pas fro joy to peyne smerte.
Now I am a devyl ful derke
That was an aungell bryht.
Now to helle the way I take,
In endeles peyn ther to be pyht.
For fere of fyre a fart I crake
In helle donjoon, myn dene is dyth!
Play two
DEUS Now hevyn is made for aungell sake.
The fyrst day and the fyrst nyth;
The secunde day watyr I make,
The walkyn also ful fayr and bryth;
The thryd day, I parte watyr from erthe,
Tre and every growyng thing,
Bothe erbe and floure of suete smellyng;
The thryd day is made be my werkyng.
Now make I the day that shal be the ferthe.
Sunne and mone and sterrys also,
The forthe day I make in-same.
The fifte day: werme and fysch that swymme and go,
Byrdys and bestys, bothe wylde and tame.
The sexte day, my werk I do
And make the man, Adam be name.
In erthelech paradys withowtyn wo
I graunt thee bydyng lasse thu do blame.
Flesch of thi flesch, and bon of thi bon:
Adam, here is thi wyf and make.
Both fysche and foulys that swymmyn and gon
To everych of hem a name thu take.
Bothe tre and frute and bestys echon,
Red and qwtye, bothe blew and blake —
Thu geve hem name be thiself alon,
Erbys and gresse both beetys and brake.
Thi wyff thu geve name also.
Loke that ye not ses
Yowre frute to encres —
That ther may be pres
Me worchipe for to do.
Now come forth, Adam, to paradys!
Ther shalt thu have all maner thynge:
Bothe flesch and fysch and frute of prys,
All shal be buxum at thi byddyng.
Here is pepyr, pyan, and swete lycorys —
Take hem all at thi lykyng —
Both appel and pere and gentyl rys.
But towche nowth this tre that is of cunnyng.
Allthynge, saff this, for thee is wrought.
Here is allthinge that thee shulde plese.
All redy made onto thin ese.
Ete not this frute ne me dysplese,
For than thu deyst thu skapyst nowth.
Now have I made allthynge of nowth,
Hevyn and erth, foull and best.
To allthynge that myn hand hath wrowth,
I graunt myn blyssyng that evyr shal lest.
My wey to hefne is redy sowth:
Of werkyng I wole the sefnt day rest.
And all my creaturys that be abowth,
My blyssyng ye have both est and west,
Of werkyng the sefnt day, ye sees.
And all tho that sees of laboryng here
The sefnt day, withoutyn dwere,
And wurchyp me in good manere —
Thei shal in hefne have endles pes.
Adam, go forth and be prynce in place,
For to hefne I sped my way.
Thi wyttys wel loke thu chase,
And gostly governe thee as I say.
ADAM Holy Fadyr, blyssyd thu be,
For I may walke in welthe anow.
I fynde datys gret plenté,
And many fele frutys ful every bow.
All this wele is govyn to me
And to my wyf that on me lowh.
I have no nede to towche yon tre
Agens my Lordys wyl to werke now —
I am a good gardenere.
Every frute of ryche name
I may gaderyn with gle and game.
To breke that bond I were to blame
That my Lord bad me kepyn here.
EVA We may both be blythe and glad,
Oure Lordys comaundement to fulfyll
With fele frutys be we fayr fad,
Woundyr dowcet and nevyr on ill.
Every tre with frute is sprad
Of them to take as plesyth us tyll.
Oure witte were rakyl and ovyrdon bad
To forfete ageyns oure Lordys wyll
In ony wyse.
In this gardeyn I wyl go se
All the flourys of fayr bewté
And tastyn the frutys of gret plenté
That be in paradyse.
SERPENS Heyl, fayr wyff and comely dame!
This frute to ete I thee cownselle.
Take this appyl and ete this same!
This frute is best as I thee telle.
EVA That appyl to ete I were to blame,
From joy oure Lorde wold us expelle!
We shuld dye and be put out with schame
In joye of paradyse nevyrmore to duelle
God hymself thys sayde!
What day of that frute we ete.
With these wurdys, God dyd us threte
That we shuld dye, our lyff to lete.
Therffore, I am affrayde.
SERPENS Of this appyl — yf ye wyl byte —
Evyn as God is, so shal ye be!
Wys of connyng — as I yow plyte —
Lyke onto God in al degré!
Sunne and mone and sterrys bryth,
Fysch and foule, bothe sond and se,
At your byddyng bothe day and nyth:
Allthynge shal be in yowre powsté.
Ye shal be Goddys pere!
Take this appyl in thin hond,
And to byte therof, thu fond.
Take another to thin husbond;
Therof have thu no dwere.
EVA So wys as God is in his gret mayn
And felaw in kunnyng fayn wold I be.
SERPENS Ete this appyl, and in certeyn,
That I am trewe sone shalt thu se!
EVA To myn husbond with herte ful fayn,
This appyl I bere as thu byddyst me.
This frute to ete, I shal asayn.
So wys as God is — yf we may be —
And Goddys pere of myth.
To myn husbond I walke my way
And of this appyl I shal asay
To make hym to ete — yf that I may —
And of this frewte to byth.
My semely spowse and good husbond,
Lysteneth to me, sere, I yow pray:
Take this fayr appyl all in your hond,
Therof a mursel byte and asay.
To ete this appyl, loke that ye fonde:
Goddys felaw to be alway.
All his wysdam to undyrstonde,
And Goddys pere to be for ay,
Allthyng for to make,
Both fysch and foule, se and sond,
Byrd and best, watyr and lond.
This appyl thu take out of myn hond —
A bete therof thu take.
ADAM I dare not towch thin hand for dred
Of oure Lord God omnypotent!
If I shuld werke after thi reed,
Of God, oure Makere, I shuld be shent!
If that we do this synful dede,
We shal be ded by Goddys jugement!
Out of thin hand, with hasty spede,
Cast out that appyl anon present
For fer of Goddys threte!
EVA Of this appyl, yf thu wylt byte,
Goddys pere thu shalt be pyht.
So wys of kunnyng — I thee plyht —
This frute yf thu wylt ete.
ADAM If we it ete, oureself we kylle!
As God us told, we shuld be ded
To ete that frute and my lyf to spylle.
I dar not do aftyr thi reed!
EVA A fayr aungell thus seyd me tylle:
“To ete that appyl, take nevyr no dred.
So kunnyng as God in hevyn hille,
Thu shalt sone be withinne a sted;
Therfore, this frute thu ete.”
ADAM Of Goddys wysdam for to lere,
And in kunnyng to be his pere,
Of thyn hand I take it here
And shal sone tast this mete.
Alas! Alas, for this fals dede!
My flesly frend, my fo I fynde.
Schameful synne doth us unhede:
I se us nakyd before and behynde —
Oure Lordys wurd wold we not drede.
Therfore, we be now caytyvys unkynde!
Oure pore prevytes for to hede —
Summe fygge levys fayn wolde I fynde,
For to hyde oure schame.
Womman, ley this leff on thi pryvyté!
And with this leff I shal hyde me.
Gret schame it is, us nakyd to se
Oure Lord God thus to grame!
EVA Alas, that evyr that speche was spokyn
That the fals aungel seyd onto me.
Alas, oure Makers byddyng is brokyn,
For I have towchyd his owyn dere tre.
Oure flescly eyn byn al unlokyn,
Nakyd for synne, ouresylf we se.
That sory appyl that we han sokyn
To deth hath brouth my spouse and me.
Ryth grevous is oure synne
Of mekyl shame now do we knowe!
Alas, that evyr this appyl was growe
To dredful deth, now be we throwe
In peyne us evyr to pynne.
DEUS Adam, that with myn handys I made,
Where art thu now? What hast thu wrought?
ADAM A, Lord, for synne oure flourys do fade!
I here thi voys, but I se thee nought.
DEUS Adam, why hast thu synnyd so sone,
Thus hastyly to breke my bone?
And I made thee mayster undyr mone,
Trewly of every tre.
O tre, I kept for my owe:
Lyff and deth therin I knowe.
Thi synne fro lyf now thee hath throwe,
From deth thu mayst not fle.
ADAM Lord, I have wrought agens thi wyll!
I sparyd nat mysylf to spylle.
The woman that thu toke me tylle —
Sche brougth me therto.
It was her counsell and her reed:
Sche bad me do the same deed.
I walke as werm withoutyn wede,
Awey is schrowde and sho.
DEUS Womman, that arte this mannys wyffe,
Why hast thu steryd youre bothers stryffe?
Now ye be from youre fayr lyffe
And are demyd for to deye.
Unwys womman, sey me why
That thu hast don this fowle foly?
And I made thee a gret lady
In paradys for to pleye.
EVA Lord, whan thu wentyst from this place,
A werm with an aungelys face —
He hyth us to be ful of grace,
The frute yf that we ete.
I dyd his byddyng, alas, alas!
Now be we bowndyn in dethis las.
I suppose it was Sathanas
To peyne he gan us pete.
DEUS Thou werm — with thi wylys wyk —
Thi fals fables, thei be ful thyk.
Why hast thu put dethis pryk
In Adam and his wyff?
Thow thei bothyn my byddyng have brokyn,
Out of whoo yet art not wrokyn.
In helle logge thu shalt be lokyn
And nevyr mo lacche lyff.
DIABOLUS I shal thee sey wherefore and why
I dede hem all this velony,
For I am ful of gret envy
Of wreth and wyckyd hate
That man shulde leve above the sky,
Whereas sumtyme dwellyd I.
And now I am cast to helle sty
Streyte out at hevyn gate.
DEUS Adam, for thu that appyl boot
Agens my byddyng well I woot,
Go teyl thi mete: with swynk and swoot
Into thi lyvys ende;
Goo nakyd, ungry, and barefoot;
Ete both erbys, gres, and root.
Thy bale hath non other boot,
As wrecch in werlde thu wende.
Womman, thu sowtyst this synnyng
And bad hym breke myn byddyng.
Therfore, thu shalt ben undyrlyng
To mannys byddyng bend.
What he byddyth thee, do thu that thynge,
And bere thi chyldere with gret gronynge,
In daungere and in deth dredynge
Into thi lyvys ende.
Thou wyckyd worm, ful of pryde,
Fowle envye syt be thi side.
Upon thi gutt thu shalt glyde,
As werm wyckyd in kende.
Tyl a maydon in medyl-erth be born —
Thu fende, I warn thee beforn —
Thorwe her thi hed shal be totorn.
On wombe awey thu wende.
DIABOLUS At thi byddyng, fowle I falle.
I krepe hom to my stynkyng stalle.
Helle pyt and hevyn halle
Shul do thi byddyng bone.
I falle down here a fowle freke.
For this falle I gynne to qweke —
With a fart my brech I breke —
My sorwe comyth ful sone.
DEUS For youre synne that ye have do,
Out of this blysse sone shal ye go.
In erthly labour to levyn in wo
And sorwe thee shal atast.
For youre synne and mysdoyng,
An angell, with a swerd brennyng,
Out of this joye he shal yow dyng.
Youre welth awey is past.
SERAPHIM Ye wrecchis unkend and ryht unwyse:
Out of this joye hygh yow in hast,
With flammyng swerd from paradyse
To peyn I bete yow, of care to tast.
Youre myrth is turnyd to carfull syse;
Youre welth with synne awey is wast.
For youre false dede of synful gyse,
This blysse I spere from yow ryth fast.
Herein come ye no more
Tyl a chylde of a mayd be born
And upon the rode rent and torn
To save all that ye have forlorn,
Youre welth for to restore.
EVA Alas, alas, and wele away,
That evyr towchyd I the tre!
I wende as wrecch in welsom way
In blake busshys my boure shal be.
In paradys is plenté of pleye:
Fayr frutys ryth gret plenté —
The gatys be schet with Godys keye.
My husbond is lost because of me.
Leve spowse, now thu fonde.
Now stomble we on stalk and ston,
My wyt awey is fro me gon!
Wrythe onto my necke bon
With hardnesse of thin honde!
ADAM Wyff, thi wytt is not wurth a rosch!
Leve woman, turne thi thought.
I wyl not sle flescly of my flesch.
For of my flesch, thi flesch was wrought.
Oure hap was hard; oure wytt was nesch
To paradys whan we were brought.
My wepyng shal be longe fresch:
Schort lykyng shal be longe bought.
No more telle thu that tale:
For yf I shulde sle my wyff,
I sclow myself withowtyn knyff
In helle logge to lede my lyff
With woo in wepyng dale.
But lete us walke forth into the londe:
With ryth gret labour oure fode to fynde,
With delvyng and dyggyng with myn hond;
Oure blysse to bale and care to pynde.
And wyff, to spynne now must thu fonde,
Oure nakyd bodyes in cloth to wynde
Tyll sum comforth of Godys sonde
With grace releve oure careful mynde.
Now come, go we hens, wyff.
EVA Alas, that ever we wrought this synne
Oure bodely sustenauns for to wynne.
Ye must delve, and I shal spynne
In care to ledyn oure lyff.
Play 3 Cain and Able
ABEL I wolde fayn knowe how I shuld do
To serve my Lord God to his plesyng.
Therfore Caym, brother, lete us now go
Unto oure fadyr withowte lettyng,
Suenge hym in vertu and in norture
To com to the hyghe joy celestyall,
Remembryng to be clene and pure.
For in mysrewle, we myth lythly fall
Agens Hevyn Kynge.
Lete us now don oure dyligens
To come to oure faderys presens.
Good brother, passe we hens
To knowe for oure levynge.
CAYM As to my fadyr, lete us now tee
To knowe what shal be his talkyng,
And yet I holde it but vanyté
To go to hym for any spekyng —
To lere of his lawe.
For if I have good anow plenté,
I kan be mery, so mot y the.
Thow my fadyr I nevyr se,
I gyf not therof an hawe!
ABEL Ryth sovereyn fadyr, semely, sad, and sure:
Ever we thank yow in hert, body, and thowth
And alwey shull whyll oure lyf may indure,
As inwardly in hert it kan be sought,
Bothe my brother and I.
Fadyr, I falle onto youre kne
To knowe how we shul rewlyd be,
For godys that fallyth bothe hym and me
I wolde fayn wete trewly.
ADAM Sonys, ye arn — to spekyn naturaly —
The fyrst frute of kendely engendrure,
Befforn whom — saff youre modyr and I —
Were nevyr non of mannys nature.
And yit were we al of another portature
As ye have me oftyn herd seyd sothly.
Wherfore, sonys, yf ye wyl lyff sad and sure:
Fyrst, I yow counseyll most syngulerly,
God for to love and drede.
And suche good as God hath yow sent,
The fyrst frute offyr to hym in sacryfice brent,
Hym evyr besechyng with meke entent
In all youre werkys to save and spede.
ABEL Gramercy, fadyr, for youre good doctrine.
For as ye us techyn, so shal we do.
And as for me, thorwe Goddys grace dyvyne,
I wyl forthwith applye me therto.
CAYM And thow me be loth, I wyl now also
Onto youre counsell, fadyr, me inclyne.
And yitt I say now to yow both too,
I had levyr gon hom well for to dyne!
ADAM Now, God graunt good sacryfice to yow both too.
He vowchesaff to acceptyn yow and all myne
And geve yow now grace to plesyn hym soo
That ye may come to that blysse that hymself is inne
With gostly grace:
That all youre here levyng
May be to his plesyng,
And at youre hens partyng
To com to good place.
ABEL Almyhtty God and God ful of myth,
Be whom allthing is made of nowth,
To thee myn hert is redy dyht;
For upon thee is all my thought.
O, Sovereyn Lord, reygnyng in eternyté:
With all the mekenesse that I kan or may,
This lombe shal I offre it up to thee.
Accept it, blyssyd Lord, I thee pray.
My gyft is but sympyl — this is no nay —
But my wyl is good and evyr shal be
Thee to servyn and worchepyn both nyht and day.
And ther to thi grace grawnt thu me
Throwh thi gret mercy
Which in a lombys lyknes
Thu shalt for mannys wyckydnes
Onys ben offeryd in peynfulnes
And deyn ful dolfoly.
For trewly, Lord, thu art most worthy
The best to have in eche degré —
Both best and werst ful certeynly —
All is had thorwe grace of thee.
The best schep full hertyly —
Amongys my flok that I kan se —
I tythe it to God of gret mercy.
And bettyr wold if bettyr myht be,
Evyn here is myn offryng.
I tythe to thee with ryht good wylle
Of the best thu sentyst me tylle.
Now, gracyous God on hevyn hille,
Accept now my tythyng.
CAYM Amongys all folys that gon on grownd
I holde that thu be on of the most:
To tythe the best — that is not sownd —
And kepe the werst — that is nere lost!
But I more wysly shal werke this stownde:
To tythe the werst and make no bost.
Of all my cornys that may be fownde
In all my feldys — both crofte and cost —
I shal lokyn on every syde.
Here I tythe this unthende sheff.
Lete God take it or ellys lef.
Thow it be to me gret repreff
I geve no fors this tyde.
ABEL Now Caym, brother, thu dost ful ill,
For God thee sent both best and werst;
Therfore, thu shewe to hym good wyll
And tythe to God evyr of the best!
CAYM In feyth thu shewyst now a febyll skyll.
It wolde me hyndyr and do me greff
What were God the bettyr thu sey me tyll?
To gevyn hym awey my best sheff
And kepe myself the wers?
He wyll neyther ete nor drynke,
For he doth neyther swete nor swynke.
Thu shewest a febyl reson, methynke.
What, thu fonnyst as a best, I gesse!
ABEL Yit me thynkyth my wyt is good:
To God evermore sum love to shewe,
Of whom we have oure dayly food,
And ellys we had but lytyl drewe.
CAYM Yitt methynkeht thi wytt is wood,
For of thi lore I fynde but fewe.
I wyll neverthemore chawnge my mood,
For no wordys that thu dost shewe —
I sey I wyll tythe the werst!
ABEL Now, God that syt in hefne above,
On whom is sett all myn hool love
This wyckyd wyll from thee he showe
As it plesyth hym best.
CAYM Herke, Abel, brother, what aray is this?
Thy tythyng brennyth as fyre ful bryght!
It is to me gret wondyr, iwys!
I trow this is now a straunge syght.
ABEL Goddys wyll, forsothe, it is
That my tythyng with fyre is lyth.
For of the best were my tythis
And of the werst thu dedyst hym dyght.
Bad thyng thu hym bede!
Of the best was my tythyng,
And of the werst was thin offryng.
Therfor, God Almyghty, Hevyn Kyng
Alowyht ryht nowth thi dede.
CAYM What, thu stynkyng losel, and is it so?
Doth God thee love and hatyht me?
Thu shalt be ded! I shal thee slo!
Thi Lord, thi God, thu shalt nevyr se!
Tythyng more shalt thu nevyr do.
With this chavyl bon I shal sle thee!
Thi deth is dyht — thi days be go.
Out of myn handys, shalt thu not fle!
With this strok, I thee kylle!
Now, this boy is slayn and dede.
Of hym I shal nevyr more han drede.
He shal hereafter nevyr ete brede.
With this gresse I shal hym hylle.
DEUS Caym! Come forth and answere me!
Asoyle my qwestyon anon ryght.
Thy brother, Abel, wher is now he?
Ha don, and answere me as tyght!
CAYM My brothers kepere ho made me?
Syn whan was I his kepyng knyght?
I kannot telle where that he be.
To kepe hym was I nevyr dyght.
I know not wher he is.
DEUS A! Cursyd Caym, thu art untrewe,
And for thi dede, thu shalt sore rewe.
Thi brothers blood that thu slewe
Askyht vengeauns of thi mys.
Thu shalt be cursyd on the grounde,
Unprophitable whereso thu wende,
Both veyn and nowthty and nothyng sounde.
With what thing thu medele, thu shalt it shende.
CAYM Alas, in whoo now am I wounde,
Acursyd of God as man unkende!
Of any man yf I be founde,
He shal me slo — I have no frende!
Alas, and weleaway!
DEUS Of what man that thu be sclayn,
He shal have sefne-folde more payn.
Hym were bettyr nevyr to be sayn
On lyve be nyth, ne day.
CAYM Alas, alas, whedyr may I go?
I dare nevyr se man in the vesage.
I am woundyn as a wrecch in wo
And cursyd of God for my falsage.
Unprofytabyl and vayn also
In felde and town, in strete and stage —
I may nevyr make merthis mo.
I wot nevyr whedyr to take passage.
I dare not here abyde.
Now wyl I go, wende my way —
With sore syeng and welaway —
To loke where that I best may
From mannys syht me hyde.
http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/sugano-n-town-plays-play-1
https://chestermysteryplays.com/history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_play
Chester cycle
Play two The Creation, Adam, Eve, Cain, and Able
God: Ego to alpha kai omega, ho, protos ho eschatos.
I, God, Sovereign one, in whom beginning none may bee; unless also, moste of postee, I am and have ever been.
Now heaven and earth is made through me.
The earth is void only I seen; therfore light for more lee through my might I will liever.
At my byddynge made be light.
Light is good, I see in sight.
Twynned shalbe through my might the light from the stearnes.
Light 'day' I wilbe called aye, and thestearnes 'night', as I say.
This morning and evening, the first day, is made full and expresse.
Now will I make the firmament in myddeste the water to bee lent, for to bee a divident to twynne the waters aye; above the welkyn, beneath alsoe, and 'heaven' hit shalbe called thoo.
This commen is morne and even also of the seoconde daye.
Now will I waters everychone that under heaven bine great one, that the gather into one, and drynesse sone them shewe.
029 That dryenesse 'yearth' men shall call.
030 The gatheringe of the waters all,
031 'seeyes' to [name] have the shall;
032 therby men shall them knowe.
033 I will one yearth yerbes springe,
034 ichon in kinde seede-gevinge;
035 trees diverse fruite forth bringe
036 after ther kynde eachone;
037 the seede of which aye shalbe
038 within the fruite of each tree.
039 This morne and even of dayes three
040 is both commen and gonne.
041 Now will I make through my might
042 lightninges in the welkyn bright,
043 to twyne the daye from the night
044 and lighten the earth with lee.
045 Great lightes I will too--
046 the sonne and eke the moone also--
047 the sonne for day to serve for oo,
048 the moone for night to bee.
049 Stares also through myne entente
050 I will make one the firmamente,
051 the yearth to lighten there the be lent;
052 and knowne may be therby
053 courses of planets, nothinge amisse.
054 Now see I this worke good iwisse.
055 This morninge and evon both made is,
056 the fourthe day fullye.
057 Now will I in waters fishe forth bringe,
058 fowles in the firmament flyinge,
059 great whalles in the sea swiminge;
060 all make I with a thoughte--
061 beastes, fowles, fruit, stone, and tree.
062 These workes are good, well I see.
063 Therfore to blesse all well liketh me,
064 this worke that I have wrought.
065 All beastes, I byd you multyplye
066 in yearth and water by and by,
067 and fowles in the ayre to flye,
068 the yearth to fulfill.
069 This morne and evon through my might
070 of the fiveth day and the night
071 is made and ended well aright,
072 all at my owne will.
073 Now will I one earth bringe forth anon
074 all helpely beastes, everychone
075 that crepon, flyen, or gone,
076 eachon in his kynde.
077 Now is this donne at my byddinge :
078 beastes goinge, flyinge, and crepinge;
079 and all my worke at my likinge
080 fully now I fynde.
Then goinge from the place where he was,
commeth to the place where he createth Adam.
081 Now heaven and earth is made expresse,
082 make wee man to our likenesse.
083 Fishe, fowle, beast--more and lesse--
084 to mayster he shall have might.
085 To our shape now make I thee;
086 man and woman I will there bee.
087 Growe and multyplye shall yee,
088 and fulfill the earth on hight.
089 To helpe thee thou shalt have here
090 herbes, trees, fruit, seede in fere.
091 All shalbe put in thy power,
092 and beastes eke alsoe;
093 all that in yearth bine livinge,
094 fowles in the ayre flyinge,
095 and all that gost hath and likinge,
096 to sustayne you from woe.
097 Now this is donne, I see aright,
098 and all thinge made through my might.
099 The sixt day heare in my sight
100 ys made all of the best.
101 Heaven and earth ys wrought all within
102 and all that needes to be them.
103 Tomorrowe, the seaventh day, I will blinne
104 and of workes take my rest.
105 But this man that I have made,
106 with goste of lief I will him gladde.
Adam rysinge.
107 DEUS. Rise up, Adam, rise up, ryse,
108 a man full of sowle and liefe,
109 and come with mee to paradice,
110 a place of deyntee and delite.
111 But it is good that thou be wise;
112 bringe not thyselfe in striefe.
Then the creatour bringeth Adam into paradice,
before the tree of knowledge, and saith (minstrelles playe):
113 DEUS. Here, Adam, I give thee this place,
114 thee to comforte and solace,
115 to keepe it well while thou hit hasse,
116 and donne as I thee bydd.
117 Of all trees that bine herein
118 thou shalt eate and nothinge sinne;
119 but of this tree, for weale nor wynne,
120 thou eate by noe way.
121 What tyme thou eates of this tree,
122 death thee behoves, leave thow mee.
123 Therfore this fruit I will thee flee,
124 and be thou not too bould.
125 Beastes and fowles that thou may see
126 to thee obedyent shall they bee.
127 What name they bee given by thee,
128 that name they shall hould.
Then God taketh Adam by the hande and causeth him to lye downe,
and taketh a ribbe out of his syde and saith:
129 DEUS. Hit is not good man only to bee;
130 helpe to him now make wee.
131 But excice sleepe behoves mee
132 anon in this man heare.
133 One sleepe thou arte, well I see.
134 Heare a bone I take of thee,
135 and fleshe alsoe with harte free
136 to make thee a feere.
Then God doth make the woman of the ribbe of Adam, wakinge and sayth to God:
137 ADAM. A, lorde, where have I longe bine?
138 For sythence I slepte much have I seene--
139 wonder that withouten weene
140 hereafter shalbe wiste.
141 DEUS. Ryse, Adam, and awake.
142 Heare have I formed the a make;
143 him to thee thou shalt take,
144 and name him as thee liste.
Adam, rysinge up, saith:
145 ADAM. I see well, lord, through thy grace
146 bonne of my bones thou him mase;
147 and fleshe of my fleshe shee base,
148 and my shape through thy sawe.
149 Therfore shee shalbe called, iwisse,
150 'viragoo', nothinge amisse;
151 for out of man taken shee is,
152 and to man shee shall drawe.
153 Of earth thou madest first mee,
154 both bone and fleshe; now I see
155 thou hast her given through thy postee
156 of that I in me had.
157 Therfore man kyndely shall forsake
158 father and mother, and to wife take;
159 too in one fleshe, as thou can make,
160 eyther other for to glad.
Then Adam and Eve shall stand naked and shall not bee ashamed.
Then the serpente shall come up out of a hole, and the dyvell walkinge shall say:
161 DEMON. Owt, owt, what sorrowe is this,
162 that I have loste soe much blysse?
163 For onste I thought to doe amysse,
164 out of heaven I fell.
165 The bryghtest angell I was or this,
166 that ever was or yet is;
167 but pryde cast me downe,
168 iwisse, from heaven right into hell.
169 Gostlye paradice I was in,
170 but thence I fell through sinne.
171 Of yeartly pamadice now, as I weene,
172 a man is given masterye.
173 By Belsabubb, I will never blynne
174 till I may make him by some gynne
175 from that place for to twyne
176 and trespasse as did I.
177 Should such a caytiffe made of claye
178 have such blisse? Nay, by my laye!
179 For I shall teach his wife a playe
180 and I may have a whyle.
181 For hem to disceave I hoppe I may,
182 and through her brynge them both awaye;
183 for shee will doe as I her saye,
184 hir hoppe I will begyle.
185 That woman is forbydden to doe
186 for anythinge the will therto.
187 Therfore that tree shee shall come to
188 and assaye which it is.
189 Dight me I will anone tyte
190 and profer her of that ylke fruite;
191 soe shall they both for her delyte
192 bee banyshed from that blysse.
193 A maner of an edder is in this place
194 that wynges like a bryde shee hase--
195 feete as an edder, a maydens face--
196 hir kynde I will take.
197 And of the tree of paradice
198 shee shall eate through my contyse;
199 for wemen they be full licourouse,
200 that will shee not forsake.
201 And eate shee of hyt, full witterlye
202 they shall fare both as dyd I:
203 be banyshed both of that valley
204 and him osprynge for aye.
205 Therfore, as brooke I my panne,
206 the edders coate I will take one;
207 and into paradice I will gonne
208 as faste as ever I maye.
Supremus volucris, penna serpens, pede forma, forma puella.
209 SERPENS. Woman, why was God soe nyce
210 to byd you leave for your deice
211 and of each tree in paradice
212 to forsake the meate?
213 EVA. Nay, of the fruite of yche tree
214 for to eate good leave have wee,
215 save the fruite of one wee muste flee;
216 of hyt wee may not eate.
217 This tree heare that in the middest is,
218 eate wee of hit wee doe amysse.
219 God sayde we should dye iwys
220 and if we touch that tree.
221 SERPENS. Woman, I saye leave not this;
222 for hyt shall yee not loose the blysse
223 nor noe joy that is his,
224 but be as wyse as hee.
225 God is subtyle and wisse of witte
226 and wotteth well when ye eate it
227 that your eyne shalbe unknyt.
228 Like godes yee shalbe
229 and knowe both good and evill alsoe.
230 Therfore bee warned you therfroe.
231 Yee may well wotte bee was your foe;
232 therfore doe after mee.
233 Take of this fruite and assaye;
234 yt is good meate, I dare laye.
235 And but thou finde yt to thy paye,
236 say that I am false.
237 And yee shall knowe bothe welle and woe
238 and bee like godes both too,
239 thou and thy husband alsoe.
240 Take thou one apple and noe moo.
241 EVA. A, lord, this tree is fayre and bryght,
242 greene and seemely to my sight,
243 the fmuite sweete and much of myght,
244 that godes it may us make.
245 One apple of yt I will eate
246 to assaye which is the meate;
247 and my husbande I will gett
248 one morsell for to take.
Then Eve shall take of the fruite of the serpente,
and shall eate therof and say to Adam:
249 EVA. Adam, husbande life and deare,
250 eate some of this apple here.
251 Yt is fayre, my leeffe feare;
252 hit may thou not forsake.
253 ADAM. That is soothe, Eve, withouten were;
254 the fruit is sweete and passinge feare.
255 Therfore I will doe thy prayer--
256 one morsell I will take.
Then Adam shall take the fruite and eate therof,
and in weepinge manner shall saye:
257 ADAM. Out, alas, what ayleth mee?
258 I am naked, well I see.
259 Woman, cursed mote thou bee,
260 for wee bothe nowe shente.
261 I wotte not for shame whyther to flee,
262 for this fruite was forbydden mee.
263 Now have I brooken, through meade of thee,
264 my lordes commandemente.
265 EVA. Alas, this edder hathe done mee nye!
266 Alas, hir reade why did I?
267 Naked wee bine bothe forthy,
268 and of our shappe ashamed.
269 ADAM. Yea, sooth sayde I in prophecye
270 when thou was taken of my bodye--
271 mans woe thou would bee witterlye;
272 therfore thou was soe named.
273 EVA. Adam, husbande, I reade we take
274 this figge-leaves for shames sake,
275 and to our members an hillinge make
276 of them for thee and mee.
277 ADAM. And therwith my members I will hide,
278 and under this tree I will abyde;
279 for surely come God us besyde,
280 owt of this place shall wee.
Then Adam and Eve shall cover them members with leaves,
hydinge themselves under the trees. Then God shall speake (minstrelles playe).
281 DEUS. Adam, Adam, where arte thou?
282 [ADAM]. A, lorde, I harde thy voyce nowe.
283 For I naked am, I make avowe,
284 therfore now I hyd mee.
285 DEUS. Whoe tould thee, Adam, thou naked was
286 save only thy trespasse,
287 that of the tree thou eaten hasse
288 that I fombydd thee?
289 ADAM. Lord, this woman that is here--
290 that thou gave to my feare--
291 gave mee parte at him prayer,
292 and of hyt I did eate.
293 DEUS. - Woman, why hast thou donne soo?
294 EVA. This edder, lorde, shee was my foe
295 and sothly mee disceaved alsoe,
296 and made mee to eate that meate.
297 DEUS. Edder, for that thou haste donne this anye,
298 amongste all beasts on earth thee by
299 cursed thou shalt bee forthy,
300 for this womans sake.
301 Upon thy brest thou shalt goo,
302 and eate the yeamth to and froo;
303 and emnytie betweene you too
304 I insure thee I shall make.
305 Betweene thy seede and hirs alsoe
306 I shall excyte thy sorrowe and woe;
307 to breake thy head and be thy foe,
308 shee shall have masterye aye.
309 Noe beast one earth, I thee behett,
310 that man soe little shall of seett;
311 and troden bee full under foote
312 for thy mysdeede todaye.
313 DEUS (ad Evam). And, woman, I warne thee witterlye,
314 thy much payne I shall multyplye--
315 with paynes, sorrowe, and great anye
316 thy children thou shall beare.
317 And for that thou haste done soe todaye,
318 man shall master thee alwaye;
319 and under his power thou shalte bee aye,
320 thee for to dryve and deare.
321 DEUS (ad Adam). And, man, alsoe I saye to thee--
322 for thou haste not donne after mee,
323 thy wyves counsell for to flee,
324 but donne soe him byddinge
325 to eate the fruite of thys tree,
326 in thy worke warryed the earthe shalbe;
327 and with greate travell behoves [thee]
328 one earth to gett thy livinge.
329 When thou one earth traveled hasse,
330 fruite shall not growe in that place;
331 but thornes, brears for thy trespasse
332 to thee one earth shall springe.
333 Herbes, rootes thou shalte eate
334 and for thy sustenance sore sweate
335 with great mischeyfe to wynne thy meate,
336 nothinge to thy likinge.
337 Thus shall thou live, soothe to sayen,
338 for thou haste byne to mee unbayen,
339 ever tyll the tyme thou turne agayne
340 to yeamth there thou came from.
341 For earth thou arte, as well is seene;
342 and after this worke, woe and teene,
343 to earth there thou shalt, withouten weene,
344 and all thy kynde alsoe.
Adam shall speake mourninglye.
345 ADAM. Alas, now in longer I am ilente!
346 Alas, nowe shamely am I shente!
347 For I was unobedyente,
348 of weale now am I wayved.
349 Nowe all my kynde by mee ys kente
350 to flee womens intycemente.
351 Whoe tmusteth them in any intente,
352 truely bee is disceaved.
353 My licourouse wyfe hath bynne my foe;
354 the devylls envye shente mee alsoe.
355 These too together well may goe,
356 the suster and the brother.
357 His wrathe hathe donne me muche woe;
358 him glotonye greved mee alsoe.
359 God left never man trust you too,
360 the one more then the other.
361 DEUS. Nowe wee shall parte from this lee.
362 Hilled behoveth you to to bee.
363 Dead beaste skynes, as thinketh mee,
364 ys best you one you beare.
365 For deadly nowe both bine yee
366 and death noe way may you flee.
367 Such clothes are best for your degree
368 and such shall yee weare.
Then God, puttynge garmentes of skynnes upon them:
369 DEUS. Adam, nowe hast thou thy wyllynge,
370 for thou desyred above all thinge
371 of good and evell to have knowinge;
372 nowe wrought is all thy will.
373 Thou wouldeste knowe both weelle and woe;
374 nowe is it fallen to thee soc.
375 Themfore hence thou muste goo,
376 and thy desyme fullfilled.
377 Now lest thou [covett]este more
378 and doe as thou haste donne before--
379 eate of this fruite--to live evermore
380 heare may thou not bee.
381 To yearth thyder thou muste gonne;
382 with travell leade thy liefe therone.
383 For syccere there is noe other worme.
384 Goe forthe; take Eve with thee.
Then God shall dryve Adam and Eve out of paradice,
and sayth to the Angell (minstrelles playe):
385 DEUS. Nowe will I that there lenge within
386 the angelles order Cherubynn,
387 to keepe this place of weale and wynne
388 that Adam lost thus hathe,
389 with sharpe swordes one everye syde
390 and flame of fyer here to abyde,
391 that never a yearthly man in glyde;
392 forgiven the bynne that grace.
393 PRIMUS ANGELUS. Lorde, that order that is righte
394 is readye seett heare in thy syghte,
395 with flame of fyer readye to fyghte
396 agaynst mankynde, thy foe,
397 to whom noe grace is claymed by righte.
398 Shall none of them byde in thy sighte
399 tyll Wysdome, Right, Mercye, and Mighte
400 shall buy them and other moe.
401 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. I, Cherubyn, muste here bee chyce
402 to keepe this place of great pryce.
403 Sythenn man was soe unwyse,
404 this wyninge I muste weare--
405 that bee by crafte or countyce
406 shall not come in that was hise,
407 but deprived bee of paradyce,
408 noe more for to come there.
409 TERCIUS ANGELUS. And in this herytage I wilbe,
410 still for to ever see
411 that noe man come in this cyttye
412 as God hath me beheight.
413 Swordes of fyer have all wee
414 to make mann from this place to flee,
415 from this dwellinge of greate dayntee
416 that to him first was dighte.
417 QUARTUS ANGELUS. And of this order I am made one,
418 from mankynde to weare this wone
419 that through his gilte hath forgone
420 this wonninge full of grace.
421 Therfore departe the must eycheone.
422 Our swordes of fyer shall bee there bonne
423 and myselfe there verye fonne,
424 to flame them in the face.
Minstrelles playe.
425 ADAM. Hight God and highest kynge,
426 that of nought made all thinge--
427 beast, fowle, and grasse growinge--
428 and me of yearth made,
429 thou gave me grace to doe thy wyllinge.
430 For after great sorrowe and sikinge
431 thou hast mee lent greate likinge,
432 too sonnes my hearte to glade:
433 Cayne and Abell, my childrenn deare,
434 whome I gate within xxx yeare
435 after the tyme wee depryved weare
436 of paradyce for our pryde.
437 Therfore nowe them will I lere,
438 to make them knowe in good manere
439 what I sawe when Eve, my feere,
440 was taken of my syde.
441 Whyle that I slepte in that place
442 my gost to heaven banished was;
443 for to see I them had grace
444 thinges that shall befall.
445 To make you ware of comberouse case
446 and lett your doinge from trespasse,
447 sonne, I will tell before your face--
448 but I will not tell all.
449 I wott by things that I there see
450 that God will come from heaven on hie,
451 to overcome the devill soe slee
452 and light into my kynde;
453 and my blood that bee will wyne
454 that I soe lost for my synne;
455 a new lawe ther shall begine
456 and soe men shall them sure.
457 Water or fyer also witterlye
458 all this world shall distroye,
459 for men shall synne soe horryblye
460 and doe full much amysse.
461 Therfore that yee may escape that nye,
462 doe well and be ware me bye.
463 I tell you heare in prophecye
464 that this will fall ywisse.
465 Alsoe I see, as I shall saye,
466 that God will come the laste daye
467 to deeme mankynde in fleshe verey,
468 and flame of fyer burninge,
469 the good to heaven, the evell to hell.
470 Your childrenn this tale yee may tell.
471 This sight saw I in paradyce or I fell,
472 as laye there sleepinge.
473 Nowe will I tell howe yee shall doe
474 Godes love to underfoo.
475 Cayne, husbandes crafte thou must goe
476 to; and Abell, a shepharde bee.
477 Therfore of comes fayre and cleane
478 that growes one ridges out of reane,
479 Cayne, thou shalt offer, as I meane,
480 to God in majestee.
481 And Abel, while thy lief shall laste
482 thou shalt offer--and doe my heste--
483 to God the first-borne beaste;
484 therto thou make thee bowne.
485 Thus shall yee please God almight
486 if yee doe this well and righte,
487 with good harte in his sight
488 and full devotyon.
489 Nowe for to gett you sustenance
490 I will you teach withou distance.
491 For sythen I feele that myschaunce
492 of that fruite for to eate,
493 my leefe children fayre and free,
494 with this spade that yee may see
495 I have dolven. Learne yee this at mee,
496 howe yee shall wynne your meate.
497 EVA. My sweete children, darlinges deare,
498 yee shall see how I live heare
499 because enbuxone so wee weare
500 and did as God would not wee shoulde.
501 This payne, theras had bine no neede,
502 I suffer on yearth for my misdeede;
503 and of this wooli I will spyn threede by threede,
504 to hill mee from the could.
505 Another sorrowe I suffer alsoe:
506 my childrenn must I beare with woo,
507 as I have donne both you too;
508 and soe shall wemen all.
509 This was the divell, our bytter foe,
510 that made us out of joy to goe.
511 To please, therfome, sonnes bee throwe,
512 in sinne that yee ne fall.
513 CAYNE. Mother, for sooth I tell yt thee,
514 a tyllman I am and soe wilbe.
515 As my father hath taught yt me,
516 I will fulfill his lore.
Hear he bringe in the plough.
517 CAYNE. Of come I have great plentee;
518 sacrifice to God sonne shall yee see.
519 I will make too looke if bee
520 will sende mee any more.
521 ABELL. And I will with devotyon
522 to my sacrafice make mee bowne.
523 The comelyest beaste, by my crowne,
524 to the lorde I will choyse
525 and offer yt before thee here,
526 meeklye in good manere.
527 Noe beast to thee may bee deare
528 that may I not leese.
Heare Adam and Eve goe out tyll Cayne have slayne Abell.
529 CAYNE. I am the elder of us too;
530 therfore firste I will goe.
531 Such as the fruite is fallen froo
532 is good inough for him.
533 This come standinge, as mote I thee,
534 was eaten with beastes, men may see.
535 God, thou gettest noe other of mee,
536 be thou never soe gryme.
537 Hit weare pittye, by my panne,
538 those fayre cares for to brenne.
539 Therefore the devill honge mee then
540 and thou of hit gett ought.
541 This caries come grewe nexte the waye;
542 of these offer I will todaye.
543 For cleane come, by my faye,
544 of mee gettest thou nought.
545 Loe, lord, here may thou see
546 such come as grew to mee.
547 Parte of hit I bringe to thee,
548 anone withouten lett.
549 I hope thou wilte white mee this
550 and sende mee more of worldly blisse;
551 ells forsooth thou doest amisse
552 and thou bee in my debt.
553 ABELL. Now my brother, as I see,
554 hathe done sacrafice to thee.
555 Offer I will, as falleth for mee,
556 suche as thou haste mee sente.
557 The beste beaste, as mote I thee,
558 of all my flocke with harte free
559 to thee offered it shalbe.
560 Receave, lorde, my presente.
Then a flame of fyer shall descende upon thee sacrafice of Abell.
561 ABELL. Ah, high God and kinge of blisse,
562 nowe sothly knowe I well by this
563 my sacrafice accepted is
564 before the lorde todaye.
565 A flame of fyer thou sende hase
566 from heaven one high into this place.
567 I thanke thee, lorde, of thy grace
568 and soe I shall doe aye.
569 CAYNE. Owt, owt! How have I spend my good?
570 To see this sight I am neare wood.
571 A flame of fyer from heaven stood
572 one my brothers offeringe.
573 His sacrafice I see God takes,
574 and my refuses and forsakes.
575 My semblant for shame shakes
576 for envy of this thinge.
577 DEUS (ad Cayne). Cayne, why arte thou wroth? Why?
578 Thy semblant changes wonderously.
579 If thou doe well and truely,
580 thou may have meede of mee.
581 Wottys thou not well that for thy deede
582 yf thou doe well thou may have meede;
583 if thou doe fowle, fowle for to speede
584 and syccere therafter to bee?
585 But, Cayne, thou shalt have all thy will,
586 thy talent yf thou wilt fulfill.
587 Synne of hit will thee spill
588 and make thee evell to speede.
589 Thy brother buxone aye shalbe
590 and fully under thy postee;
591 the luste therof pertaynes to thee.
592 Advyse thee of thy deede.
593 CAYNE. A, well, well, ys yt soe?
594 Come forth with mee. Thow must goe
595 into the fyeld a little froo;
596 I have and errande to saye.
597 ABELL. Brother, to the I am ready
598 to goe with thee full meekly.
599 For thou arte elder then am I,
600 thy will I will doe aye.
601 CAYNE. Say, thou caytiffe, thou congeon,
602 weneste thou to passe mee of renowne?
603 Thou shalt fayle, by my crowne,
604 of masterye yf I may.
605 God hath challenged mee nowe heare
606 for thee, and that in fowle manere;
607 and that shalt thou abye full deare
608 or that thou wende away.
609 Thy offeringe God accept hase,
610 I see by fyer that one yt was.
611 Shalt thou never efte have such grace,
612 for dye thou shalt this night.
613 Though God stoode in this place
614 for to helpe thee in this case,
615 thou should dye before his face.
616 Have this, and gett thee right!
Then Cayne kylleth his brother Abell,
and God comminge sayth (minstrelles playe):
617 DEUS. Cayne, where is thy brother Abel?
618 CAYNE. I wote nere; I cannot tell
619 of my brother. Wottys thou not well
620 that I of him bad noe keep inge?
621 DEUS. What hast thou done, thou wicked man?
622 Thy brothers blood askes thee upon
623 vengeance as fast as it can,
624 from ycarth to me cmyinge.
625 Cayne, cursed one earth thou shalt bee aye.
626 For thy deede thou haste donne todaye,
627 yearth warryed shalbe in thy worke aye
628 that wickedly haste wrought.
629 And for that thow haste donne this mischeyfe,
630 to all men thou shalt bye unleeffe,
631 idell and wandminge as an theyfe
632 and overall sett at nought.
Cayne speaketh mornefullye.
633 CAYNE. Out, alas! Where may I bee?
634 Sorrowe one cache syde I see.
635 For yf I out of the lande flee
636 from mens companye,
637 beastes I wott will werrye mee.
638 And yf I lenge, by my lewtye,
639 I muste bee bonde and nothinge free--
640 and all for my follye.
641 For my shine soe horryble is
642 and I have donne soe muche amysse,
643 that unworthy I am iwysse
644 forgevenes to attayne.
645 Well I wott where-ever I goe
646 whoesoe meetes me will mee slowe,
647 and yche man wilbe my foe.
648 Noe grace to mee may gayne.
649 DEUS. Naye, Cayne, thou shalte not dye soone,
650 horrybly if thou have aye donne.
651 That is not thy brothers boone,
652 thy blood for to sheede.
653 But, forsoth, whosoever slayeth thee
654 sevenfolde punished bee shalbee.
655 And great payne maye thou not flee
656 for thy wicked deede.
657 But for thou to thys deede was bowne,
658 thou and thy children trust mon--
659 into the seaventh generation--
660 punishment for the whole.
661 For thou todaye hase donne soe,
662 thy seede for thee shall suffer woe;
663 and whyle thou one yearth may goe,
664 of vengeance have the dole.
665 CAYNE. Owt, owt, alas, alas!
666 I am dampned without grace.
667 Therfore I will from place to place
668 and looke where is the best.
669 Well I wott and witterly,
670 into what place that come I,
671 iche man will loath my companye;
672 soe shall I never have rest.
673 Fowle hape is mee befall:
674 whether I bee in house or hall,
675 'cursed Cayne' menn will me call.
676 Of sorrowes may non nowe cease.
677 But yett will I, or I goe,
678 speake with my dam and syre alsoe.
679 And there maleson both too
680 I wott well I must have.
681 Dam and syre, rest you well,
682 for one fowle tale I can you tell.
683 I have slayne my brother Abell
684 as we fell in a stryffe.
685 ADAM. Alas, alas, is Abel! deade?
686 Alas, rufull is my reade!
687 Noe more joye to me is leade,
688 save only Eve my wyfe.
689 EVA. Alas, nowe is my sonne slayne!
690 Alas, marred is all my mayne!
691 Alas, musts I never be fayne,
692 but in woe and morninge?
693 Well I wott and knowe iwysse
694 that verye vengeance it is.
695 For I to God soe did amysse,
696 mone I never have lykinge.
697 CAYNE. Yea, dam and syre, farewell yee;
698 for owt of land I will flee.
699 A losell aye I muste bee,
700 for scapit I am of thryfte.
701 For soe God hath toulde mee,
702 that I shall never thryve flee [thee].
703 And now I flee, all yee may see.
704 I grant you all the same gifte.
705 Finis
Medieval English town cycle pageant plays
N-town cycle
Play one creation of heaven; fall of Lucifer
DEUS Ego sum alpha et oo, principium et finis.
My name is knowyn, God and kynge.
My werk for to make, now wyl I wende.
In myself restyth my reynenge:
It hath no gynnying ne non ende.
And all that evyr shal have beynge,
It is closyd in my mende.
Whan it is made at my lykynge,
I may it save; I may it shende
After my plesawns.
So gret of myth is my pousté,
All thyng shal be wrowth be me.
I am oo God, in personys thre
Knyt in oo substawns.
I am the trewe Trenyté
Here walkying in this wone.
Thre Personys, myself I se
Lokyn in me, God alone.
I am the Fadyr of Powsté;
My Sone with me gynnyth gon;
My Gost is grace in magesté.
Weldyth welthe up in Hevyn tron
O God in thre I calle:
I am Fadyr of Myth;
My Sone kepyth ryth;
My Gost hath lyth
And grace withalle.
Myself begynnyng nevyr dyd take,
And endeles I am thorw myn owyn myth.
Now wole I begynne my werke to make:
Fyrst, I make hevyn with sterrys of lyth.
In myrth and joy evermore to wake.
In hevyn I bylde angell ful bryth,
My servauntys to be, and for my sake
With merth and melody worchepe my myth.
I belde them in my blysse,
Aungell in hevyn evyrmore shal be.
In lyth ful clere, bryth as ble,
With myrth and song to worchip me,
Of joye thei may not mys.
[Hic cantent angeli in celo: “Tibi omnes angeli tibi celi et universe potestates. Tibi cherubyn et seraphyn incessabili voce proclamant: ‘Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.’]
LUCIFERE To whos wurchipe synge ye this songe?
To wurchip God or reverens me?
But ye me wurchipe ye do me wronge,
For I am the wurthyest that evyr may be!
ANGELI BONI We wurchipe God of myth most stronge
Whiche hath formyd bothe us and thee!
We may nevyr wurchyp hym to longe,
For he is most worthy of magesté!
On knes to God we falle,
Oure Lorde God wurchyp we,
And in no wyse honowre we thee!
A gretter lord may nevyr non be
Than he that made us alle!
LUCIFERE A wurthyer lorde forsothe am I
And worthyer than he evyr wyl I be!
In evydens that I am more worthy,
I wyl go syttyn in Goddys se
Above sunne and mone and sterrys on sky.
I am now set as ye may se!
Now wurchyp me for most mythty,
And for youre lord honowre now me,
Syttyng in my sete.
ANGELI MALI Goddys myth we forsake,
And for more wurthy we thee take.
Thee to wurchep honowre we make
And falle down at thi fete.
DEUS Thu, Lucyfere, for thi mekyl pryde —
I bydde thee falle from hefne to helle.
And all tho that holdyn on thi side,
In my blysse nevyrmore to dwelle.
At my comawndement anoon down thu slyde
With merth and joye nevyrmore to melle!
In myschyf and manas evyr shalt thu abyde
In byttyr brennyng and fyer so felle,
In peyn evyr to be pyht.
LUCIFERE At thy byddyng, thy wyl I werke
And pas fro joy to peyne smerte.
Now I am a devyl ful derke
That was an aungell bryht.
Now to helle the way I take,
In endeles peyn ther to be pyht.
For fere of fyre a fart I crake
In helle donjoon, myn dene is dyth!
Play two
DEUS Now hevyn is made for aungell sake.
The fyrst day and the fyrst nyth;
The secunde day watyr I make,
The walkyn also ful fayr and bryth;
The thryd day, I parte watyr from erthe,
Tre and every growyng thing,
Bothe erbe and floure of suete smellyng;
The thryd day is made be my werkyng.
Now make I the day that shal be the ferthe.
Sunne and mone and sterrys also,
The forthe day I make in-same.
The fifte day: werme and fysch that swymme and go,
Byrdys and bestys, bothe wylde and tame.
The sexte day, my werk I do
And make the man, Adam be name.
In erthelech paradys withowtyn wo
I graunt thee bydyng lasse thu do blame.
Flesch of thi flesch, and bon of thi bon:
Adam, here is thi wyf and make.
Both fysche and foulys that swymmyn and gon
To everych of hem a name thu take.
Bothe tre and frute and bestys echon,
Red and qwtye, bothe blew and blake —
Thu geve hem name be thiself alon,
Erbys and gresse both beetys and brake.
Thi wyff thu geve name also.
Loke that ye not ses
Yowre frute to encres —
That ther may be pres
Me worchipe for to do.
Now come forth, Adam, to paradys!
Ther shalt thu have all maner thynge:
Bothe flesch and fysch and frute of prys,
All shal be buxum at thi byddyng.
Here is pepyr, pyan, and swete lycorys —
Take hem all at thi lykyng —
Both appel and pere and gentyl rys.
But towche nowth this tre that is of cunnyng.
Allthynge, saff this, for thee is wrought.
Here is allthinge that thee shulde plese.
All redy made onto thin ese.
Ete not this frute ne me dysplese,
For than thu deyst thu skapyst nowth.
Now have I made allthynge of nowth,
Hevyn and erth, foull and best.
To allthynge that myn hand hath wrowth,
I graunt myn blyssyng that evyr shal lest.
My wey to hefne is redy sowth:
Of werkyng I wole the sefnt day rest.
And all my creaturys that be abowth,
My blyssyng ye have both est and west,
Of werkyng the sefnt day, ye sees.
And all tho that sees of laboryng here
The sefnt day, withoutyn dwere,
And wurchyp me in good manere —
Thei shal in hefne have endles pes.
Adam, go forth and be prynce in place,
For to hefne I sped my way.
Thi wyttys wel loke thu chase,
And gostly governe thee as I say.
ADAM Holy Fadyr, blyssyd thu be,
For I may walke in welthe anow.
I fynde datys gret plenté,
And many fele frutys ful every bow.
All this wele is govyn to me
And to my wyf that on me lowh.
I have no nede to towche yon tre
Agens my Lordys wyl to werke now —
I am a good gardenere.
Every frute of ryche name
I may gaderyn with gle and game.
To breke that bond I were to blame
That my Lord bad me kepyn here.
EVA We may both be blythe and glad,
Oure Lordys comaundement to fulfyll
With fele frutys be we fayr fad,
Woundyr dowcet and nevyr on ill.
Every tre with frute is sprad
Of them to take as plesyth us tyll.
Oure witte were rakyl and ovyrdon bad
To forfete ageyns oure Lordys wyll
In ony wyse.
In this gardeyn I wyl go se
All the flourys of fayr bewté
And tastyn the frutys of gret plenté
That be in paradyse.
SERPENS Heyl, fayr wyff and comely dame!
This frute to ete I thee cownselle.
Take this appyl and ete this same!
This frute is best as I thee telle.
EVA That appyl to ete I were to blame,
From joy oure Lorde wold us expelle!
We shuld dye and be put out with schame
In joye of paradyse nevyrmore to duelle
God hymself thys sayde!
What day of that frute we ete.
With these wurdys, God dyd us threte
That we shuld dye, our lyff to lete.
Therffore, I am affrayde.
SERPENS Of this appyl — yf ye wyl byte —
Evyn as God is, so shal ye be!
Wys of connyng — as I yow plyte —
Lyke onto God in al degré!
Sunne and mone and sterrys bryth,
Fysch and foule, bothe sond and se,
At your byddyng bothe day and nyth:
Allthynge shal be in yowre powsté.
Ye shal be Goddys pere!
Take this appyl in thin hond,
And to byte therof, thu fond.
Take another to thin husbond;
Therof have thu no dwere.
EVA So wys as God is in his gret mayn
And felaw in kunnyng fayn wold I be.
SERPENS Ete this appyl, and in certeyn,
That I am trewe sone shalt thu se!
EVA To myn husbond with herte ful fayn,
This appyl I bere as thu byddyst me.
This frute to ete, I shal asayn.
So wys as God is — yf we may be —
And Goddys pere of myth.
To myn husbond I walke my way
And of this appyl I shal asay
To make hym to ete — yf that I may —
And of this frewte to byth.
My semely spowse and good husbond,
Lysteneth to me, sere, I yow pray:
Take this fayr appyl all in your hond,
Therof a mursel byte and asay.
To ete this appyl, loke that ye fonde:
Goddys felaw to be alway.
All his wysdam to undyrstonde,
And Goddys pere to be for ay,
Allthyng for to make,
Both fysch and foule, se and sond,
Byrd and best, watyr and lond.
This appyl thu take out of myn hond —
A bete therof thu take.
ADAM I dare not towch thin hand for dred
Of oure Lord God omnypotent!
If I shuld werke after thi reed,
Of God, oure Makere, I shuld be shent!
If that we do this synful dede,
We shal be ded by Goddys jugement!
Out of thin hand, with hasty spede,
Cast out that appyl anon present
For fer of Goddys threte!
EVA Of this appyl, yf thu wylt byte,
Goddys pere thu shalt be pyht.
So wys of kunnyng — I thee plyht —
This frute yf thu wylt ete.
ADAM If we it ete, oureself we kylle!
As God us told, we shuld be ded
To ete that frute and my lyf to spylle.
I dar not do aftyr thi reed!
EVA A fayr aungell thus seyd me tylle:
“To ete that appyl, take nevyr no dred.
So kunnyng as God in hevyn hille,
Thu shalt sone be withinne a sted;
Therfore, this frute thu ete.”
ADAM Of Goddys wysdam for to lere,
And in kunnyng to be his pere,
Of thyn hand I take it here
And shal sone tast this mete.
Alas! Alas, for this fals dede!
My flesly frend, my fo I fynde.
Schameful synne doth us unhede:
I se us nakyd before and behynde —
Oure Lordys wurd wold we not drede.
Therfore, we be now caytyvys unkynde!
Oure pore prevytes for to hede —
Summe fygge levys fayn wolde I fynde,
For to hyde oure schame.
Womman, ley this leff on thi pryvyté!
And with this leff I shal hyde me.
Gret schame it is, us nakyd to se
Oure Lord God thus to grame!
EVA Alas, that evyr that speche was spokyn
That the fals aungel seyd onto me.
Alas, oure Makers byddyng is brokyn,
For I have towchyd his owyn dere tre.
Oure flescly eyn byn al unlokyn,
Nakyd for synne, ouresylf we se.
That sory appyl that we han sokyn
To deth hath brouth my spouse and me.
Ryth grevous is oure synne
Of mekyl shame now do we knowe!
Alas, that evyr this appyl was growe
To dredful deth, now be we throwe
In peyne us evyr to pynne.
DEUS Adam, that with myn handys I made,
Where art thu now? What hast thu wrought?
ADAM A, Lord, for synne oure flourys do fade!
I here thi voys, but I se thee nought.
DEUS Adam, why hast thu synnyd so sone,
Thus hastyly to breke my bone?
And I made thee mayster undyr mone,
Trewly of every tre.
O tre, I kept for my owe:
Lyff and deth therin I knowe.
Thi synne fro lyf now thee hath throwe,
From deth thu mayst not fle.
ADAM Lord, I have wrought agens thi wyll!
I sparyd nat mysylf to spylle.
The woman that thu toke me tylle —
Sche brougth me therto.
It was her counsell and her reed:
Sche bad me do the same deed.
I walke as werm withoutyn wede,
Awey is schrowde and sho.
DEUS Womman, that arte this mannys wyffe,
Why hast thu steryd youre bothers stryffe?
Now ye be from youre fayr lyffe
And are demyd for to deye.
Unwys womman, sey me why
That thu hast don this fowle foly?
And I made thee a gret lady
In paradys for to pleye.
EVA Lord, whan thu wentyst from this place,
A werm with an aungelys face —
He hyth us to be ful of grace,
The frute yf that we ete.
I dyd his byddyng, alas, alas!
Now be we bowndyn in dethis las.
I suppose it was Sathanas
To peyne he gan us pete.
DEUS Thou werm — with thi wylys wyk —
Thi fals fables, thei be ful thyk.
Why hast thu put dethis pryk
In Adam and his wyff?
Thow thei bothyn my byddyng have brokyn,
Out of whoo yet art not wrokyn.
In helle logge thu shalt be lokyn
And nevyr mo lacche lyff.
DIABOLUS I shal thee sey wherefore and why
I dede hem all this velony,
For I am ful of gret envy
Of wreth and wyckyd hate
That man shulde leve above the sky,
Whereas sumtyme dwellyd I.
And now I am cast to helle sty
Streyte out at hevyn gate.
DEUS Adam, for thu that appyl boot
Agens my byddyng well I woot,
Go teyl thi mete: with swynk and swoot
Into thi lyvys ende;
Goo nakyd, ungry, and barefoot;
Ete both erbys, gres, and root.
Thy bale hath non other boot,
As wrecch in werlde thu wende.
Womman, thu sowtyst this synnyng
And bad hym breke myn byddyng.
Therfore, thu shalt ben undyrlyng
To mannys byddyng bend.
What he byddyth thee, do thu that thynge,
And bere thi chyldere with gret gronynge,
In daungere and in deth dredynge
Into thi lyvys ende.
Thou wyckyd worm, ful of pryde,
Fowle envye syt be thi side.
Upon thi gutt thu shalt glyde,
As werm wyckyd in kende.
Tyl a maydon in medyl-erth be born —
Thu fende, I warn thee beforn —
Thorwe her thi hed shal be totorn.
On wombe awey thu wende.
DIABOLUS At thi byddyng, fowle I falle.
I krepe hom to my stynkyng stalle.
Helle pyt and hevyn halle
Shul do thi byddyng bone.
I falle down here a fowle freke.
For this falle I gynne to qweke —
With a fart my brech I breke —
My sorwe comyth ful sone.
DEUS For youre synne that ye have do,
Out of this blysse sone shal ye go.
In erthly labour to levyn in wo
And sorwe thee shal atast.
For youre synne and mysdoyng,
An angell, with a swerd brennyng,
Out of this joye he shal yow dyng.
Youre welth awey is past.
SERAPHIM Ye wrecchis unkend and ryht unwyse:
Out of this joye hygh yow in hast,
With flammyng swerd from paradyse
To peyn I bete yow, of care to tast.
Youre myrth is turnyd to carfull syse;
Youre welth with synne awey is wast.
For youre false dede of synful gyse,
This blysse I spere from yow ryth fast.
Herein come ye no more
Tyl a chylde of a mayd be born
And upon the rode rent and torn
To save all that ye have forlorn,
Youre welth for to restore.
EVA Alas, alas, and wele away,
That evyr towchyd I the tre!
I wende as wrecch in welsom way
In blake busshys my boure shal be.
In paradys is plenté of pleye:
Fayr frutys ryth gret plenté —
The gatys be schet with Godys keye.
My husbond is lost because of me.
Leve spowse, now thu fonde.
Now stomble we on stalk and ston,
My wyt awey is fro me gon!
Wrythe onto my necke bon
With hardnesse of thin honde!
ADAM Wyff, thi wytt is not wurth a rosch!
Leve woman, turne thi thought.
I wyl not sle flescly of my flesch.
For of my flesch, thi flesch was wrought.
Oure hap was hard; oure wytt was nesch
To paradys whan we were brought.
My wepyng shal be longe fresch:
Schort lykyng shal be longe bought.
No more telle thu that tale:
For yf I shulde sle my wyff,
I sclow myself withowtyn knyff
In helle logge to lede my lyff
With woo in wepyng dale.
But lete us walke forth into the londe:
With ryth gret labour oure fode to fynde,
With delvyng and dyggyng with myn hond;
Oure blysse to bale and care to pynde.
And wyff, to spynne now must thu fonde,
Oure nakyd bodyes in cloth to wynde
Tyll sum comforth of Godys sonde
With grace releve oure careful mynde.
Now come, go we hens, wyff.
EVA Alas, that ever we wrought this synne
Oure bodely sustenauns for to wynne.
Ye must delve, and I shal spynne
In care to ledyn oure lyff.
Play 3 Cain and Able
ABEL I wolde fayn knowe how I shuld do
To serve my Lord God to his plesyng.
Therfore Caym, brother, lete us now go
Unto oure fadyr withowte lettyng,
Suenge hym in vertu and in norture
To com to the hyghe joy celestyall,
Remembryng to be clene and pure.
For in mysrewle, we myth lythly fall
Agens Hevyn Kynge.
Lete us now don oure dyligens
To come to oure faderys presens.
Good brother, passe we hens
To knowe for oure levynge.
CAYM As to my fadyr, lete us now tee
To knowe what shal be his talkyng,
And yet I holde it but vanyté
To go to hym for any spekyng —
To lere of his lawe.
For if I have good anow plenté,
I kan be mery, so mot y the.
Thow my fadyr I nevyr se,
I gyf not therof an hawe!
ABEL Ryth sovereyn fadyr, semely, sad, and sure:
Ever we thank yow in hert, body, and thowth
And alwey shull whyll oure lyf may indure,
As inwardly in hert it kan be sought,
Bothe my brother and I.
Fadyr, I falle onto youre kne
To knowe how we shul rewlyd be,
For godys that fallyth bothe hym and me
I wolde fayn wete trewly.
ADAM Sonys, ye arn — to spekyn naturaly —
The fyrst frute of kendely engendrure,
Befforn whom — saff youre modyr and I —
Were nevyr non of mannys nature.
And yit were we al of another portature
As ye have me oftyn herd seyd sothly.
Wherfore, sonys, yf ye wyl lyff sad and sure:
Fyrst, I yow counseyll most syngulerly,
God for to love and drede.
And suche good as God hath yow sent,
The fyrst frute offyr to hym in sacryfice brent,
Hym evyr besechyng with meke entent
In all youre werkys to save and spede.
ABEL Gramercy, fadyr, for youre good doctrine.
For as ye us techyn, so shal we do.
And as for me, thorwe Goddys grace dyvyne,
I wyl forthwith applye me therto.
CAYM And thow me be loth, I wyl now also
Onto youre counsell, fadyr, me inclyne.
And yitt I say now to yow both too,
I had levyr gon hom well for to dyne!
ADAM Now, God graunt good sacryfice to yow both too.
He vowchesaff to acceptyn yow and all myne
And geve yow now grace to plesyn hym soo
That ye may come to that blysse that hymself is inne
With gostly grace:
That all youre here levyng
May be to his plesyng,
And at youre hens partyng
To com to good place.
ABEL Almyhtty God and God ful of myth,
Be whom allthing is made of nowth,
To thee myn hert is redy dyht;
For upon thee is all my thought.
O, Sovereyn Lord, reygnyng in eternyté:
With all the mekenesse that I kan or may,
This lombe shal I offre it up to thee.
Accept it, blyssyd Lord, I thee pray.
My gyft is but sympyl — this is no nay —
But my wyl is good and evyr shal be
Thee to servyn and worchepyn both nyht and day.
And ther to thi grace grawnt thu me
Throwh thi gret mercy
Which in a lombys lyknes
Thu shalt for mannys wyckydnes
Onys ben offeryd in peynfulnes
And deyn ful dolfoly.
For trewly, Lord, thu art most worthy
The best to have in eche degré —
Both best and werst ful certeynly —
All is had thorwe grace of thee.
The best schep full hertyly —
Amongys my flok that I kan se —
I tythe it to God of gret mercy.
And bettyr wold if bettyr myht be,
Evyn here is myn offryng.
I tythe to thee with ryht good wylle
Of the best thu sentyst me tylle.
Now, gracyous God on hevyn hille,
Accept now my tythyng.
CAYM Amongys all folys that gon on grownd
I holde that thu be on of the most:
To tythe the best — that is not sownd —
And kepe the werst — that is nere lost!
But I more wysly shal werke this stownde:
To tythe the werst and make no bost.
Of all my cornys that may be fownde
In all my feldys — both crofte and cost —
I shal lokyn on every syde.
Here I tythe this unthende sheff.
Lete God take it or ellys lef.
Thow it be to me gret repreff
I geve no fors this tyde.
ABEL Now Caym, brother, thu dost ful ill,
For God thee sent both best and werst;
Therfore, thu shewe to hym good wyll
And tythe to God evyr of the best!
CAYM In feyth thu shewyst now a febyll skyll.
It wolde me hyndyr and do me greff
What were God the bettyr thu sey me tyll?
To gevyn hym awey my best sheff
And kepe myself the wers?
He wyll neyther ete nor drynke,
For he doth neyther swete nor swynke.
Thu shewest a febyl reson, methynke.
What, thu fonnyst as a best, I gesse!
ABEL Yit me thynkyth my wyt is good:
To God evermore sum love to shewe,
Of whom we have oure dayly food,
And ellys we had but lytyl drewe.
CAYM Yitt methynkeht thi wytt is wood,
For of thi lore I fynde but fewe.
I wyll neverthemore chawnge my mood,
For no wordys that thu dost shewe —
I sey I wyll tythe the werst!
ABEL Now, God that syt in hefne above,
On whom is sett all myn hool love
This wyckyd wyll from thee he showe
As it plesyth hym best.
CAYM Herke, Abel, brother, what aray is this?
Thy tythyng brennyth as fyre ful bryght!
It is to me gret wondyr, iwys!
I trow this is now a straunge syght.
ABEL Goddys wyll, forsothe, it is
That my tythyng with fyre is lyth.
For of the best were my tythis
And of the werst thu dedyst hym dyght.
Bad thyng thu hym bede!
Of the best was my tythyng,
And of the werst was thin offryng.
Therfor, God Almyghty, Hevyn Kyng
Alowyht ryht nowth thi dede.
CAYM What, thu stynkyng losel, and is it so?
Doth God thee love and hatyht me?
Thu shalt be ded! I shal thee slo!
Thi Lord, thi God, thu shalt nevyr se!
Tythyng more shalt thu nevyr do.
With this chavyl bon I shal sle thee!
Thi deth is dyht — thi days be go.
Out of myn handys, shalt thu not fle!
With this strok, I thee kylle!
Now, this boy is slayn and dede.
Of hym I shal nevyr more han drede.
He shal hereafter nevyr ete brede.
With this gresse I shal hym hylle.
DEUS Caym! Come forth and answere me!
Asoyle my qwestyon anon ryght.
Thy brother, Abel, wher is now he?
Ha don, and answere me as tyght!
CAYM My brothers kepere ho made me?
Syn whan was I his kepyng knyght?
I kannot telle where that he be.
To kepe hym was I nevyr dyght.
I know not wher he is.
DEUS A! Cursyd Caym, thu art untrewe,
And for thi dede, thu shalt sore rewe.
Thi brothers blood that thu slewe
Askyht vengeauns of thi mys.
Thu shalt be cursyd on the grounde,
Unprophitable whereso thu wende,
Both veyn and nowthty and nothyng sounde.
With what thing thu medele, thu shalt it shende.
CAYM Alas, in whoo now am I wounde,
Acursyd of God as man unkende!
Of any man yf I be founde,
He shal me slo — I have no frende!
Alas, and weleaway!
DEUS Of what man that thu be sclayn,
He shal have sefne-folde more payn.
Hym were bettyr nevyr to be sayn
On lyve be nyth, ne day.
CAYM Alas, alas, whedyr may I go?
I dare nevyr se man in the vesage.
I am woundyn as a wrecch in wo
And cursyd of God for my falsage.
Unprofytabyl and vayn also
In felde and town, in strete and stage —
I may nevyr make merthis mo.
I wot nevyr whedyr to take passage.
I dare not here abyde.
Now wyl I go, wende my way —
With sore syeng and welaway —
To loke where that I best may
From mannys syht me hyde.
http://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/text/sugano-n-town-plays-play-1
https://chestermysteryplays.com/history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_play
Chester cycle
Play two The Creation, Adam, Eve, Cain, and Able
God: Ego to alpha kai omega, ho, protos ho eschatos.
I, God, Sovereign one, in whom beginning none may bee; unless also, moste of postee, I am and have ever been.
Now heaven and earth is made through me.
The earth is void only I seen; therfore light for more lee through my might I will liever.
At my byddynge made be light.
Light is good, I see in sight.
Twynned shalbe through my might the light from the stearnes.
Light 'day' I wilbe called aye, and thestearnes 'night', as I say.
This morning and evening, the first day, is made full and expresse.
Now will I make the firmament in myddeste the water to bee lent, for to bee a divident to twynne the waters aye; above the welkyn, beneath alsoe, and 'heaven' hit shalbe called thoo.
This commen is morne and even also of the seoconde daye.
Now will I waters everychone that under heaven bine great one, that the gather into one, and drynesse sone them shewe.
029 That dryenesse 'yearth' men shall call.
030 The gatheringe of the waters all,
031 'seeyes' to [name] have the shall;
032 therby men shall them knowe.
033 I will one yearth yerbes springe,
034 ichon in kinde seede-gevinge;
035 trees diverse fruite forth bringe
036 after ther kynde eachone;
037 the seede of which aye shalbe
038 within the fruite of each tree.
039 This morne and even of dayes three
040 is both commen and gonne.
041 Now will I make through my might
042 lightninges in the welkyn bright,
043 to twyne the daye from the night
044 and lighten the earth with lee.
045 Great lightes I will too--
046 the sonne and eke the moone also--
047 the sonne for day to serve for oo,
048 the moone for night to bee.
049 Stares also through myne entente
050 I will make one the firmamente,
051 the yearth to lighten there the be lent;
052 and knowne may be therby
053 courses of planets, nothinge amisse.
054 Now see I this worke good iwisse.
055 This morninge and evon both made is,
056 the fourthe day fullye.
057 Now will I in waters fishe forth bringe,
058 fowles in the firmament flyinge,
059 great whalles in the sea swiminge;
060 all make I with a thoughte--
061 beastes, fowles, fruit, stone, and tree.
062 These workes are good, well I see.
063 Therfore to blesse all well liketh me,
064 this worke that I have wrought.
065 All beastes, I byd you multyplye
066 in yearth and water by and by,
067 and fowles in the ayre to flye,
068 the yearth to fulfill.
069 This morne and evon through my might
070 of the fiveth day and the night
071 is made and ended well aright,
072 all at my owne will.
073 Now will I one earth bringe forth anon
074 all helpely beastes, everychone
075 that crepon, flyen, or gone,
076 eachon in his kynde.
077 Now is this donne at my byddinge :
078 beastes goinge, flyinge, and crepinge;
079 and all my worke at my likinge
080 fully now I fynde.
Then goinge from the place where he was,
commeth to the place where he createth Adam.
081 Now heaven and earth is made expresse,
082 make wee man to our likenesse.
083 Fishe, fowle, beast--more and lesse--
084 to mayster he shall have might.
085 To our shape now make I thee;
086 man and woman I will there bee.
087 Growe and multyplye shall yee,
088 and fulfill the earth on hight.
089 To helpe thee thou shalt have here
090 herbes, trees, fruit, seede in fere.
091 All shalbe put in thy power,
092 and beastes eke alsoe;
093 all that in yearth bine livinge,
094 fowles in the ayre flyinge,
095 and all that gost hath and likinge,
096 to sustayne you from woe.
097 Now this is donne, I see aright,
098 and all thinge made through my might.
099 The sixt day heare in my sight
100 ys made all of the best.
101 Heaven and earth ys wrought all within
102 and all that needes to be them.
103 Tomorrowe, the seaventh day, I will blinne
104 and of workes take my rest.
105 But this man that I have made,
106 with goste of lief I will him gladde.
Adam rysinge.
107 DEUS. Rise up, Adam, rise up, ryse,
108 a man full of sowle and liefe,
109 and come with mee to paradice,
110 a place of deyntee and delite.
111 But it is good that thou be wise;
112 bringe not thyselfe in striefe.
Then the creatour bringeth Adam into paradice,
before the tree of knowledge, and saith (minstrelles playe):
113 DEUS. Here, Adam, I give thee this place,
114 thee to comforte and solace,
115 to keepe it well while thou hit hasse,
116 and donne as I thee bydd.
117 Of all trees that bine herein
118 thou shalt eate and nothinge sinne;
119 but of this tree, for weale nor wynne,
120 thou eate by noe way.
121 What tyme thou eates of this tree,
122 death thee behoves, leave thow mee.
123 Therfore this fruit I will thee flee,
124 and be thou not too bould.
125 Beastes and fowles that thou may see
126 to thee obedyent shall they bee.
127 What name they bee given by thee,
128 that name they shall hould.
Then God taketh Adam by the hande and causeth him to lye downe,
and taketh a ribbe out of his syde and saith:
129 DEUS. Hit is not good man only to bee;
130 helpe to him now make wee.
131 But excice sleepe behoves mee
132 anon in this man heare.
133 One sleepe thou arte, well I see.
134 Heare a bone I take of thee,
135 and fleshe alsoe with harte free
136 to make thee a feere.
Then God doth make the woman of the ribbe of Adam, wakinge and sayth to God:
137 ADAM. A, lorde, where have I longe bine?
138 For sythence I slepte much have I seene--
139 wonder that withouten weene
140 hereafter shalbe wiste.
141 DEUS. Ryse, Adam, and awake.
142 Heare have I formed the a make;
143 him to thee thou shalt take,
144 and name him as thee liste.
Adam, rysinge up, saith:
145 ADAM. I see well, lord, through thy grace
146 bonne of my bones thou him mase;
147 and fleshe of my fleshe shee base,
148 and my shape through thy sawe.
149 Therfore shee shalbe called, iwisse,
150 'viragoo', nothinge amisse;
151 for out of man taken shee is,
152 and to man shee shall drawe.
153 Of earth thou madest first mee,
154 both bone and fleshe; now I see
155 thou hast her given through thy postee
156 of that I in me had.
157 Therfore man kyndely shall forsake
158 father and mother, and to wife take;
159 too in one fleshe, as thou can make,
160 eyther other for to glad.
Then Adam and Eve shall stand naked and shall not bee ashamed.
Then the serpente shall come up out of a hole, and the dyvell walkinge shall say:
161 DEMON. Owt, owt, what sorrowe is this,
162 that I have loste soe much blysse?
163 For onste I thought to doe amysse,
164 out of heaven I fell.
165 The bryghtest angell I was or this,
166 that ever was or yet is;
167 but pryde cast me downe,
168 iwisse, from heaven right into hell.
169 Gostlye paradice I was in,
170 but thence I fell through sinne.
171 Of yeartly pamadice now, as I weene,
172 a man is given masterye.
173 By Belsabubb, I will never blynne
174 till I may make him by some gynne
175 from that place for to twyne
176 and trespasse as did I.
177 Should such a caytiffe made of claye
178 have such blisse? Nay, by my laye!
179 For I shall teach his wife a playe
180 and I may have a whyle.
181 For hem to disceave I hoppe I may,
182 and through her brynge them both awaye;
183 for shee will doe as I her saye,
184 hir hoppe I will begyle.
185 That woman is forbydden to doe
186 for anythinge the will therto.
187 Therfore that tree shee shall come to
188 and assaye which it is.
189 Dight me I will anone tyte
190 and profer her of that ylke fruite;
191 soe shall they both for her delyte
192 bee banyshed from that blysse.
193 A maner of an edder is in this place
194 that wynges like a bryde shee hase--
195 feete as an edder, a maydens face--
196 hir kynde I will take.
197 And of the tree of paradice
198 shee shall eate through my contyse;
199 for wemen they be full licourouse,
200 that will shee not forsake.
201 And eate shee of hyt, full witterlye
202 they shall fare both as dyd I:
203 be banyshed both of that valley
204 and him osprynge for aye.
205 Therfore, as brooke I my panne,
206 the edders coate I will take one;
207 and into paradice I will gonne
208 as faste as ever I maye.
Supremus volucris, penna serpens, pede forma, forma puella.
209 SERPENS. Woman, why was God soe nyce
210 to byd you leave for your deice
211 and of each tree in paradice
212 to forsake the meate?
213 EVA. Nay, of the fruite of yche tree
214 for to eate good leave have wee,
215 save the fruite of one wee muste flee;
216 of hyt wee may not eate.
217 This tree heare that in the middest is,
218 eate wee of hit wee doe amysse.
219 God sayde we should dye iwys
220 and if we touch that tree.
221 SERPENS. Woman, I saye leave not this;
222 for hyt shall yee not loose the blysse
223 nor noe joy that is his,
224 but be as wyse as hee.
225 God is subtyle and wisse of witte
226 and wotteth well when ye eate it
227 that your eyne shalbe unknyt.
228 Like godes yee shalbe
229 and knowe both good and evill alsoe.
230 Therfore bee warned you therfroe.
231 Yee may well wotte bee was your foe;
232 therfore doe after mee.
233 Take of this fruite and assaye;
234 yt is good meate, I dare laye.
235 And but thou finde yt to thy paye,
236 say that I am false.
237 And yee shall knowe bothe welle and woe
238 and bee like godes both too,
239 thou and thy husband alsoe.
240 Take thou one apple and noe moo.
241 EVA. A, lord, this tree is fayre and bryght,
242 greene and seemely to my sight,
243 the fmuite sweete and much of myght,
244 that godes it may us make.
245 One apple of yt I will eate
246 to assaye which is the meate;
247 and my husbande I will gett
248 one morsell for to take.
Then Eve shall take of the fruite of the serpente,
and shall eate therof and say to Adam:
249 EVA. Adam, husbande life and deare,
250 eate some of this apple here.
251 Yt is fayre, my leeffe feare;
252 hit may thou not forsake.
253 ADAM. That is soothe, Eve, withouten were;
254 the fruit is sweete and passinge feare.
255 Therfore I will doe thy prayer--
256 one morsell I will take.
Then Adam shall take the fruite and eate therof,
and in weepinge manner shall saye:
257 ADAM. Out, alas, what ayleth mee?
258 I am naked, well I see.
259 Woman, cursed mote thou bee,
260 for wee bothe nowe shente.
261 I wotte not for shame whyther to flee,
262 for this fruite was forbydden mee.
263 Now have I brooken, through meade of thee,
264 my lordes commandemente.
265 EVA. Alas, this edder hathe done mee nye!
266 Alas, hir reade why did I?
267 Naked wee bine bothe forthy,
268 and of our shappe ashamed.
269 ADAM. Yea, sooth sayde I in prophecye
270 when thou was taken of my bodye--
271 mans woe thou would bee witterlye;
272 therfore thou was soe named.
273 EVA. Adam, husbande, I reade we take
274 this figge-leaves for shames sake,
275 and to our members an hillinge make
276 of them for thee and mee.
277 ADAM. And therwith my members I will hide,
278 and under this tree I will abyde;
279 for surely come God us besyde,
280 owt of this place shall wee.
Then Adam and Eve shall cover them members with leaves,
hydinge themselves under the trees. Then God shall speake (minstrelles playe).
281 DEUS. Adam, Adam, where arte thou?
282 [ADAM]. A, lorde, I harde thy voyce nowe.
283 For I naked am, I make avowe,
284 therfore now I hyd mee.
285 DEUS. Whoe tould thee, Adam, thou naked was
286 save only thy trespasse,
287 that of the tree thou eaten hasse
288 that I fombydd thee?
289 ADAM. Lord, this woman that is here--
290 that thou gave to my feare--
291 gave mee parte at him prayer,
292 and of hyt I did eate.
293 DEUS. - Woman, why hast thou donne soo?
294 EVA. This edder, lorde, shee was my foe
295 and sothly mee disceaved alsoe,
296 and made mee to eate that meate.
297 DEUS. Edder, for that thou haste donne this anye,
298 amongste all beasts on earth thee by
299 cursed thou shalt bee forthy,
300 for this womans sake.
301 Upon thy brest thou shalt goo,
302 and eate the yeamth to and froo;
303 and emnytie betweene you too
304 I insure thee I shall make.
305 Betweene thy seede and hirs alsoe
306 I shall excyte thy sorrowe and woe;
307 to breake thy head and be thy foe,
308 shee shall have masterye aye.
309 Noe beast one earth, I thee behett,
310 that man soe little shall of seett;
311 and troden bee full under foote
312 for thy mysdeede todaye.
313 DEUS (ad Evam). And, woman, I warne thee witterlye,
314 thy much payne I shall multyplye--
315 with paynes, sorrowe, and great anye
316 thy children thou shall beare.
317 And for that thou haste done soe todaye,
318 man shall master thee alwaye;
319 and under his power thou shalte bee aye,
320 thee for to dryve and deare.
321 DEUS (ad Adam). And, man, alsoe I saye to thee--
322 for thou haste not donne after mee,
323 thy wyves counsell for to flee,
324 but donne soe him byddinge
325 to eate the fruite of thys tree,
326 in thy worke warryed the earthe shalbe;
327 and with greate travell behoves [thee]
328 one earth to gett thy livinge.
329 When thou one earth traveled hasse,
330 fruite shall not growe in that place;
331 but thornes, brears for thy trespasse
332 to thee one earth shall springe.
333 Herbes, rootes thou shalte eate
334 and for thy sustenance sore sweate
335 with great mischeyfe to wynne thy meate,
336 nothinge to thy likinge.
337 Thus shall thou live, soothe to sayen,
338 for thou haste byne to mee unbayen,
339 ever tyll the tyme thou turne agayne
340 to yeamth there thou came from.
341 For earth thou arte, as well is seene;
342 and after this worke, woe and teene,
343 to earth there thou shalt, withouten weene,
344 and all thy kynde alsoe.
Adam shall speake mourninglye.
345 ADAM. Alas, now in longer I am ilente!
346 Alas, nowe shamely am I shente!
347 For I was unobedyente,
348 of weale now am I wayved.
349 Nowe all my kynde by mee ys kente
350 to flee womens intycemente.
351 Whoe tmusteth them in any intente,
352 truely bee is disceaved.
353 My licourouse wyfe hath bynne my foe;
354 the devylls envye shente mee alsoe.
355 These too together well may goe,
356 the suster and the brother.
357 His wrathe hathe donne me muche woe;
358 him glotonye greved mee alsoe.
359 God left never man trust you too,
360 the one more then the other.
361 DEUS. Nowe wee shall parte from this lee.
362 Hilled behoveth you to to bee.
363 Dead beaste skynes, as thinketh mee,
364 ys best you one you beare.
365 For deadly nowe both bine yee
366 and death noe way may you flee.
367 Such clothes are best for your degree
368 and such shall yee weare.
Then God, puttynge garmentes of skynnes upon them:
369 DEUS. Adam, nowe hast thou thy wyllynge,
370 for thou desyred above all thinge
371 of good and evell to have knowinge;
372 nowe wrought is all thy will.
373 Thou wouldeste knowe both weelle and woe;
374 nowe is it fallen to thee soc.
375 Themfore hence thou muste goo,
376 and thy desyme fullfilled.
377 Now lest thou [covett]este more
378 and doe as thou haste donne before--
379 eate of this fruite--to live evermore
380 heare may thou not bee.
381 To yearth thyder thou muste gonne;
382 with travell leade thy liefe therone.
383 For syccere there is noe other worme.
384 Goe forthe; take Eve with thee.
Then God shall dryve Adam and Eve out of paradice,
and sayth to the Angell (minstrelles playe):
385 DEUS. Nowe will I that there lenge within
386 the angelles order Cherubynn,
387 to keepe this place of weale and wynne
388 that Adam lost thus hathe,
389 with sharpe swordes one everye syde
390 and flame of fyer here to abyde,
391 that never a yearthly man in glyde;
392 forgiven the bynne that grace.
393 PRIMUS ANGELUS. Lorde, that order that is righte
394 is readye seett heare in thy syghte,
395 with flame of fyer readye to fyghte
396 agaynst mankynde, thy foe,
397 to whom noe grace is claymed by righte.
398 Shall none of them byde in thy sighte
399 tyll Wysdome, Right, Mercye, and Mighte
400 shall buy them and other moe.
401 SECUNDUS ANGELUS. I, Cherubyn, muste here bee chyce
402 to keepe this place of great pryce.
403 Sythenn man was soe unwyse,
404 this wyninge I muste weare--
405 that bee by crafte or countyce
406 shall not come in that was hise,
407 but deprived bee of paradyce,
408 noe more for to come there.
409 TERCIUS ANGELUS. And in this herytage I wilbe,
410 still for to ever see
411 that noe man come in this cyttye
412 as God hath me beheight.
413 Swordes of fyer have all wee
414 to make mann from this place to flee,
415 from this dwellinge of greate dayntee
416 that to him first was dighte.
417 QUARTUS ANGELUS. And of this order I am made one,
418 from mankynde to weare this wone
419 that through his gilte hath forgone
420 this wonninge full of grace.
421 Therfore departe the must eycheone.
422 Our swordes of fyer shall bee there bonne
423 and myselfe there verye fonne,
424 to flame them in the face.
Minstrelles playe.
425 ADAM. Hight God and highest kynge,
426 that of nought made all thinge--
427 beast, fowle, and grasse growinge--
428 and me of yearth made,
429 thou gave me grace to doe thy wyllinge.
430 For after great sorrowe and sikinge
431 thou hast mee lent greate likinge,
432 too sonnes my hearte to glade:
433 Cayne and Abell, my childrenn deare,
434 whome I gate within xxx yeare
435 after the tyme wee depryved weare
436 of paradyce for our pryde.
437 Therfore nowe them will I lere,
438 to make them knowe in good manere
439 what I sawe when Eve, my feere,
440 was taken of my syde.
441 Whyle that I slepte in that place
442 my gost to heaven banished was;
443 for to see I them had grace
444 thinges that shall befall.
445 To make you ware of comberouse case
446 and lett your doinge from trespasse,
447 sonne, I will tell before your face--
448 but I will not tell all.
449 I wott by things that I there see
450 that God will come from heaven on hie,
451 to overcome the devill soe slee
452 and light into my kynde;
453 and my blood that bee will wyne
454 that I soe lost for my synne;
455 a new lawe ther shall begine
456 and soe men shall them sure.
457 Water or fyer also witterlye
458 all this world shall distroye,
459 for men shall synne soe horryblye
460 and doe full much amysse.
461 Therfore that yee may escape that nye,
462 doe well and be ware me bye.
463 I tell you heare in prophecye
464 that this will fall ywisse.
465 Alsoe I see, as I shall saye,
466 that God will come the laste daye
467 to deeme mankynde in fleshe verey,
468 and flame of fyer burninge,
469 the good to heaven, the evell to hell.
470 Your childrenn this tale yee may tell.
471 This sight saw I in paradyce or I fell,
472 as laye there sleepinge.
473 Nowe will I tell howe yee shall doe
474 Godes love to underfoo.
475 Cayne, husbandes crafte thou must goe
476 to; and Abell, a shepharde bee.
477 Therfore of comes fayre and cleane
478 that growes one ridges out of reane,
479 Cayne, thou shalt offer, as I meane,
480 to God in majestee.
481 And Abel, while thy lief shall laste
482 thou shalt offer--and doe my heste--
483 to God the first-borne beaste;
484 therto thou make thee bowne.
485 Thus shall yee please God almight
486 if yee doe this well and righte,
487 with good harte in his sight
488 and full devotyon.
489 Nowe for to gett you sustenance
490 I will you teach withou distance.
491 For sythen I feele that myschaunce
492 of that fruite for to eate,
493 my leefe children fayre and free,
494 with this spade that yee may see
495 I have dolven. Learne yee this at mee,
496 howe yee shall wynne your meate.
497 EVA. My sweete children, darlinges deare,
498 yee shall see how I live heare
499 because enbuxone so wee weare
500 and did as God would not wee shoulde.
501 This payne, theras had bine no neede,
502 I suffer on yearth for my misdeede;
503 and of this wooli I will spyn threede by threede,
504 to hill mee from the could.
505 Another sorrowe I suffer alsoe:
506 my childrenn must I beare with woo,
507 as I have donne both you too;
508 and soe shall wemen all.
509 This was the divell, our bytter foe,
510 that made us out of joy to goe.
511 To please, therfome, sonnes bee throwe,
512 in sinne that yee ne fall.
513 CAYNE. Mother, for sooth I tell yt thee,
514 a tyllman I am and soe wilbe.
515 As my father hath taught yt me,
516 I will fulfill his lore.
Hear he bringe in the plough.
517 CAYNE. Of come I have great plentee;
518 sacrifice to God sonne shall yee see.
519 I will make too looke if bee
520 will sende mee any more.
521 ABELL. And I will with devotyon
522 to my sacrafice make mee bowne.
523 The comelyest beaste, by my crowne,
524 to the lorde I will choyse
525 and offer yt before thee here,
526 meeklye in good manere.
527 Noe beast to thee may bee deare
528 that may I not leese.
Heare Adam and Eve goe out tyll Cayne have slayne Abell.
529 CAYNE. I am the elder of us too;
530 therfore firste I will goe.
531 Such as the fruite is fallen froo
532 is good inough for him.
533 This come standinge, as mote I thee,
534 was eaten with beastes, men may see.
535 God, thou gettest noe other of mee,
536 be thou never soe gryme.
537 Hit weare pittye, by my panne,
538 those fayre cares for to brenne.
539 Therefore the devill honge mee then
540 and thou of hit gett ought.
541 This caries come grewe nexte the waye;
542 of these offer I will todaye.
543 For cleane come, by my faye,
544 of mee gettest thou nought.
545 Loe, lord, here may thou see
546 such come as grew to mee.
547 Parte of hit I bringe to thee,
548 anone withouten lett.
549 I hope thou wilte white mee this
550 and sende mee more of worldly blisse;
551 ells forsooth thou doest amisse
552 and thou bee in my debt.
553 ABELL. Now my brother, as I see,
554 hathe done sacrafice to thee.
555 Offer I will, as falleth for mee,
556 suche as thou haste mee sente.
557 The beste beaste, as mote I thee,
558 of all my flocke with harte free
559 to thee offered it shalbe.
560 Receave, lorde, my presente.
Then a flame of fyer shall descende upon thee sacrafice of Abell.
561 ABELL. Ah, high God and kinge of blisse,
562 nowe sothly knowe I well by this
563 my sacrafice accepted is
564 before the lorde todaye.
565 A flame of fyer thou sende hase
566 from heaven one high into this place.
567 I thanke thee, lorde, of thy grace
568 and soe I shall doe aye.
569 CAYNE. Owt, owt! How have I spend my good?
570 To see this sight I am neare wood.
571 A flame of fyer from heaven stood
572 one my brothers offeringe.
573 His sacrafice I see God takes,
574 and my refuses and forsakes.
575 My semblant for shame shakes
576 for envy of this thinge.
577 DEUS (ad Cayne). Cayne, why arte thou wroth? Why?
578 Thy semblant changes wonderously.
579 If thou doe well and truely,
580 thou may have meede of mee.
581 Wottys thou not well that for thy deede
582 yf thou doe well thou may have meede;
583 if thou doe fowle, fowle for to speede
584 and syccere therafter to bee?
585 But, Cayne, thou shalt have all thy will,
586 thy talent yf thou wilt fulfill.
587 Synne of hit will thee spill
588 and make thee evell to speede.
589 Thy brother buxone aye shalbe
590 and fully under thy postee;
591 the luste therof pertaynes to thee.
592 Advyse thee of thy deede.
593 CAYNE. A, well, well, ys yt soe?
594 Come forth with mee. Thow must goe
595 into the fyeld a little froo;
596 I have and errande to saye.
597 ABELL. Brother, to the I am ready
598 to goe with thee full meekly.
599 For thou arte elder then am I,
600 thy will I will doe aye.
601 CAYNE. Say, thou caytiffe, thou congeon,
602 weneste thou to passe mee of renowne?
603 Thou shalt fayle, by my crowne,
604 of masterye yf I may.
605 God hath challenged mee nowe heare
606 for thee, and that in fowle manere;
607 and that shalt thou abye full deare
608 or that thou wende away.
609 Thy offeringe God accept hase,
610 I see by fyer that one yt was.
611 Shalt thou never efte have such grace,
612 for dye thou shalt this night.
613 Though God stoode in this place
614 for to helpe thee in this case,
615 thou should dye before his face.
616 Have this, and gett thee right!
Then Cayne kylleth his brother Abell,
and God comminge sayth (minstrelles playe):
617 DEUS. Cayne, where is thy brother Abel?
618 CAYNE. I wote nere; I cannot tell
619 of my brother. Wottys thou not well
620 that I of him bad noe keep inge?
621 DEUS. What hast thou done, thou wicked man?
622 Thy brothers blood askes thee upon
623 vengeance as fast as it can,
624 from ycarth to me cmyinge.
625 Cayne, cursed one earth thou shalt bee aye.
626 For thy deede thou haste donne todaye,
627 yearth warryed shalbe in thy worke aye
628 that wickedly haste wrought.
629 And for that thow haste donne this mischeyfe,
630 to all men thou shalt bye unleeffe,
631 idell and wandminge as an theyfe
632 and overall sett at nought.
Cayne speaketh mornefullye.
633 CAYNE. Out, alas! Where may I bee?
634 Sorrowe one cache syde I see.
635 For yf I out of the lande flee
636 from mens companye,
637 beastes I wott will werrye mee.
638 And yf I lenge, by my lewtye,
639 I muste bee bonde and nothinge free--
640 and all for my follye.
641 For my shine soe horryble is
642 and I have donne soe muche amysse,
643 that unworthy I am iwysse
644 forgevenes to attayne.
645 Well I wott where-ever I goe
646 whoesoe meetes me will mee slowe,
647 and yche man wilbe my foe.
648 Noe grace to mee may gayne.
649 DEUS. Naye, Cayne, thou shalte not dye soone,
650 horrybly if thou have aye donne.
651 That is not thy brothers boone,
652 thy blood for to sheede.
653 But, forsoth, whosoever slayeth thee
654 sevenfolde punished bee shalbee.
655 And great payne maye thou not flee
656 for thy wicked deede.
657 But for thou to thys deede was bowne,
658 thou and thy children trust mon--
659 into the seaventh generation--
660 punishment for the whole.
661 For thou todaye hase donne soe,
662 thy seede for thee shall suffer woe;
663 and whyle thou one yearth may goe,
664 of vengeance have the dole.
665 CAYNE. Owt, owt, alas, alas!
666 I am dampned without grace.
667 Therfore I will from place to place
668 and looke where is the best.
669 Well I wott and witterly,
670 into what place that come I,
671 iche man will loath my companye;
672 soe shall I never have rest.
673 Fowle hape is mee befall:
674 whether I bee in house or hall,
675 'cursed Cayne' menn will me call.
676 Of sorrowes may non nowe cease.
677 But yett will I, or I goe,
678 speake with my dam and syre alsoe.
679 And there maleson both too
680 I wott well I must have.
681 Dam and syre, rest you well,
682 for one fowle tale I can you tell.
683 I have slayne my brother Abell
684 as we fell in a stryffe.
685 ADAM. Alas, alas, is Abel! deade?
686 Alas, rufull is my reade!
687 Noe more joye to me is leade,
688 save only Eve my wyfe.
689 EVA. Alas, nowe is my sonne slayne!
690 Alas, marred is all my mayne!
691 Alas, musts I never be fayne,
692 but in woe and morninge?
693 Well I wott and knowe iwysse
694 that verye vengeance it is.
695 For I to God soe did amysse,
696 mone I never have lykinge.
697 CAYNE. Yea, dam and syre, farewell yee;
698 for owt of land I will flee.
699 A losell aye I muste bee,
700 for scapit I am of thryfte.
701 For soe God hath toulde mee,
702 that I shall never thryve flee [thee].
703 And now I flee, all yee may see.
704 I grant you all the same gifte.
705 Finis
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