5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
165
170
175
180
185
190
195
200
205
210
215
220
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
260
265
270
275
280
285
290
295
300
305
310
315
320
325
330
335
340
345
350
355
360
365
370
375
380
385
390
395
400
405
410
415
420
425
430
435
440
445
450
455
460
465
470
475
480
485
490
495
500
505
510
515
520
525
530
535
540
545
550
555
560
565
570
575
580
585
590
595
600
605
610
615
620
625
630
635
640
645
650
655
660
665
670
675
680
685
690
695
700
705
710
715
720
725
730
735
740
745
750
755
760
765
770
775
780
785
790
795
800
805
810
815
820
825
830
835
840
845
850
855
860
865
870
875
880
885
890
895
900
905
910
915
920
925
930
935
940
945
950
955
960
965
970
975
980
985
990
995
1000
1005
1010
1015
1020
1025
1030
1035
1040
1045
1050
1055
1060
1065
1070
1075
1080
1085
1090
1095
1100
1105
1110
1115
1120
1125
1130
1135
1140
1145
1150
1155
1160
1165
1170
1175
1180
1185
|
1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And lived in dedeli sinne.
Seyn Patrike hadde rewthe
Of hir misbileve and untrewthe,
That thai weren inne.
2
Oft he proved sarmoun to make,
That thai schuld to God take
And do after his rede.
Thai were fulfild of felonie;
Thai no held it bot ribaudie
Of nothing that he sede.
3
And al thai seyd commounliche,
That non of hem wold sikerliche
Do bi his techeing,
Bot yif he dede that sum man
Into Helle went than,
To bring hem tiding
4
Of the pain and of the wo
The soulen suffri evermo,
Thai that ben therinne;
And elles thai seyd, that nolden hye
Of her misdede nought repenti,
No her folies blinne.
5
When Sein Patrike herd this,
Michel he card forsothe, ywis,
And sore he gan desmay.
Oft he was in afliccioun,
In fasting and in orisoun,
Jhesu Crist to pray,
6
That He him schuld grace sende,
Hou he might rathest wende
Out of the fendes bond,
And do hem com to amendement
And leve on God omnipotent,
The folk of Yrlond.
7
And als he was in holy chirche,
Godes werkes for to wirche,
And made his praier,
And bad for that ich thing,
Sone he fel on slepeing
Toforn his auter.
8
In his chapel he slepe wel swete.
Of fele thinges him gan mete
That was in Heven blis.
As he slepe, forsothe him thought
That Jhesu, that ous dere bought,
To him com, ywis,
9
And gaf him a bok that nas nought lite:
Ther nis no clerk that swiche can write,
No never no schal be;
It speketh of al maner godspelle,
Of Heven and erthe and of Helle,
Of Godes priveté.
10
More him thought, that God him gaf
In his hond a wel feir staf,
In slepe ther he lay;
And Godes Staf, ich understond,
Men clepeth that staf in Yrlond
Yete to this ich day.
11
When God him this gif hadde,
Him thought that He him ladde
Thennes be the way ful right
Into an gret desert;
Ther was an hole michel apert,
That griseliche was of sight.
12
Rounde it was about and blak;
In alle the warld no was his mack,
So griselich entring.
When that Patrike yseye that sight,
Swithe sore he was aflight
In his slepeing.
13
Tho God almighten him schewed and seyd,
Who that hadde don sinful dede
Ogaines Godes lawe,
And wold him therof repenti,
And take penaunce hastily,
And his foliis withdrawe,
14
So schuld in this ich hole
A parti of penaunce thole
For his misdede;
A night and a day be herinne,
And al him schuld be forgive his sinne,
And the better spede.
15
And yif he ben of gode creaunce,
Gode and poure withouten dotaunce,
And stedfast of bileve,
He no schuld nought be therin ful long,
That he ne schal se the paines strong
Ac non no schal him greve
16
In wiche the soules ben ydo,
That have deserved to com therto,
In this world ywis;
And also than sen he may
That ich joie that lasteth ay,
That is in Paradis.
17
When Jhesu had yseyd al out,
And yschewed al about
With wel milde chere,
God, that bought ous dere in Heven,
Fram Him he went with milde steven,
And Patrike bileft there.
18
When Seyn Patrike o slepe he woke,
Gode token he fond and up hem toke
Of his swevening.
Bok and staf ther he fond,
And tok hem up in his hond,
And thonked Heven king.
19
He kneld and held up his hond,
And thonked Jhesu Cristes sond
That He him hadde ysent,
Wharthurth he might understond
To turn that folk of Yrlond
To com to amendement.
20
In that stede withouten lett
A fair abbay he lete sett
Withouten ani dueling,
In the name of Godes glorie,
Seyn Peter and Our Levedy,
For to rede and sing.
21
Seyn Patrike maked the abbay:
That wite wele men of the cuntray,
That non is that yliche.
Regles is that abbay name;
Ther is solas, gle, and game
With pover and eke with riche.
22
White chanounes he sett therate
To serve God, arliche and late,
And holy men to be.
That ich boke and that staf,
That God Seyn Patrike gaf,
Yete ther man may se.
23
In the est ende of the abbay
Ther is that hole, forsothe to say,
That griseliche is of sight,
With gode ston wal al abouten,
With locke and keye the gate to louken,
Patrike lete it dighte.
24
That ich stede, siker ye be,
Is ycleped the right entré
Of Patrikes Purgatorie:
For in that time that this bifelle,
Mani a man went into Helle,
As it seyt in the storie,
25
And suffred pein for her trespas,
And com ogain thurth Godes gras,
And seyd alle and some,
That thai hadde sen sikerliche
The paines of Helle apertliche,
When thai were out ycome.
26
And also thai seyd with heye,
Apertliche the joies thai seye
Of angels singing
To God almighti and to His:
That is the joie of Paradys;
Jhesu ous thider bring!
27
When alle the folk of Yrlond
The joies gan understond,
That Seyn Patrike hem sede,
To him thai com everichon,
And were ycristned in fonston,
And leten her misdede.
28
And thus thai bicom, lasse and more,
Cristen men thurth Godes lore,
Thurth Patrikes preier.
Now herknes to mi talking:
Ichil thou tel of other thing,
Yif ye it wil yhere.
29
Bi Stevenes day, the king ful right,
That Inglond stabled and dight
Wel wiselich in his time,
In Northumberland was a knight,
A douhti man and swithe wight,
As it seyt in this rime.
30
Oweyn he hight, withouten les,
In cuntré ther he born wes,
As ye may yhere.
Wel michel he couthe of batayle,
And swithe sinful he was saunfayle
Ogain his Creatour.
31
On a day he him bithought
Of the sinne he hadde ywrought,
And sore him gan adrede,
And thought he wold thurth Godes grace
Ben yschrive of his trispas,
And leten his misdede.
32
And when he hadde thus gode creaunce,
He com, as it bifel a chaunce,
To the bischop of Yrlond,
Ther he lay in that abbay,
Ther was that hole, forsothe to say,
Penaunce to take an hond.
33
To the bischop he biknewe his sinne,
And prayd him, for Godes winne,
That he him schuld schrive,
And legge on him penaunce sore.
He wold sinne, he seyd, no more,
Never eft in his live.
34
The bischop therof was ful blithe,
And for his sinne blamed him swithe,
That he him hadde ytold,
And seyd he most penaunce take,
Yif he wald his sinne forsake,
Hard and manifold.
35
Than answerd the knight Owayn,
"Don ichil," he seyd, "ful feyn,
What God me wil sende.
Thei thou me wost comandy
Into Patrikes Purgatori,
Thider ichil wende."
36
The bischop seyd, "Nay, Owain, frende!
That ich way schaltow nought wende,"
And told him of the pine,
And bede him lete be that mischaunce,
And "Take," he seyd, "sum other penaunce,
To amende thee of sinnes thine."
37
For nought the bischop couthe say,
The knight nold nought leten his way,
His soule to amende.
Than ladde he him into holy chirche,
Godes werkes for to wirche,
And the right lawe him kende.
38
Fiften days in afliccioun,
In fasting and in orisoun
He was, withouten lesing.
Than the priour with processioun,
With croice and with gonfanoun,
To the hole he gan him bring.
39
The priour seyd, "Knight Oweyn,
Her is thi gate to go ful gain,
Wende right even forth;
And when thou a while ygon hast,
Light of day thou al forlast,
Ac hold thee even north.
40
"Thus thou schalt under erthe gon;
Than thou schalt finde sone anon
A wel gret feld aplight,
And therin an halle of ston,
Swiche in world no wot Y non;
Sumdele ther is of light.
41
"Namore lightnesse nis ther yfounde
Than the sonne goth to grounde
In winter sikerly.
Into the halle thou schalt go,
And duelle ther tille ther com mo,
That schul thee solaci.
42
"Thritten men ther schul come,
Godes seriaunce alle and some,
As it seyt in the stori;
And hye thee schul conseily
Hou thou schalt thee conteyni
The way thurth Purgatori."
43
Than the priour and his covent
Bitaught him God, and forth hy went;
The gate thai schet anon.
The knight his way hath sone ynome,
That into the feld he was ycome
Ther was the halle of ston.
44
The halle was ful selly dight,
Swiche can make no ertheliche wight;
The pilers stode wide.
The knight wonderd that he fond
Swiche an halle in that lond,
And open in ich side.
45
And when he hadde long stond therout,
And devised al about,
In he went thare.
Thritten men ther come,
Wisemen thai war of dome,
And white abite thai bere,
46
And al her crounes wer newe schorn;
Her most maister yede biforn
And salud the knight.
Adoun he sat, so seyt the boke,
And knight Owain to him he toke,
And told him resoun right.
47
"Ichil thee conseyl, leve brother,
As ichave don mani another
That han ywent this way,
That thou ben of gode creaunce,
Certeyn and poure withouten dotaunce
To God thi trewe fay;
48
"For thou schalt se, when we ben ago,
A thousend fendes and wele mo,
To bring thee into pine.
Ac loke wele, bise thee so,
And thou anithing bi hem do,
Thi soule thou schalt tine.
49
"Have God in thine hert,
And thenk opon His woundes smert,
That He suffred thee fore.
And bot thou do as Y thee telle,
Bodi and soule thou gos to Helle,
And evermore forlore.
50
"Nempne Godes heighe name,
And thai may do thee no schame,
For nought that may bifalle,"
And when thai hadde conseyld the knight,
No lenge bileve he no might,
Bot went out of the halle.
51
He and alle his fellawered
Bitaught him God, and forth thai yede
With ful mild chere.
Owein bileft ther in drede,
To God he gan to clepi and grede,
And maked his preier.
52
And sone therafter sikerly
He gan to here a reweful cri;
He was aferd ful sore:
Thei alle the warld falle schold,
Fram the firmament to the mold,
No might have ben no more.
53
And when of the cri was passed the drede,
Ther com in a grete ferrede
Of fendes fifti score
About the knight into the halle.
Lothly thinges thai weren alle,
Behinde and eke bifore.
54
And the knight thai yeden abouten,
And grenned on him her foule touten,
And drof him to hetheing,
And seyd he was comen with flesche and fel
To fechen him the joie of Helle
Withouten ani ending.
55
The most maister fende of alle
Adoun on knes he gan to falle,
And seyd, "Welcome, Owein!
Thou art ycomen to suffri pine
To amende thee of sinnes tine,
Ac alle gett thee no gain,
56
"For thou schalt have pine anough,
Hard, strong, and ful tough,
For thi dedli sinne.
No haddestow never more meschaunce
Than thou schal have in our daunce,
When we schul play biginne."
57
"Ac no for than," the fendes sede,
"Yif thou wilt do bi our rede,
For thou art ous leve and dere,
We schul thee bring with fine amour
Ther thou com in fram the priour,
With our felawes yfere;
58
"And elles we schul thee teche here,
That thou has served ous mani yer
In pride and lecherie;
For we thee have so long yknawe,
To thee we schul our hokes thrawe,
Alle our compeynie."
59
He seyd he nold withouten feyle:
"Ac Y forsake your conseyle;
Mi penaunce ichil take."
And when the fendes yherd this,
Amidward the halle ywis
A grete fer thai gun make.
60
Fet and hond thai bounde him hard,
And casten him amidward.
He cleped to our Dright;
Anon the fer oway was weved,
Cole no spark ther nas bileved,
Thurth grace of God almight.
61
And when the knight yseighe this,
Michel the balder he was ywis
And wele gan understond,
And thought wele in his memorie,
It was the fendes trecherie,
His hert forto fond.
62
The fendes went out of the halle,
The knight thai ladde with hem alle
Intil an uncouthe lond.
Ther no was no maner wele,
Bot hunger, thrust, and chele;
No tre no seighe he stond,
63
Bot a cold winde that blewe there,
That unnethe ani man might yhere,
And perced thurth his side.
The fendes han the knight ynome
So long that thai ben ycome
Into a valay wide.
64
Tho wende the knight he hadde yfounde
The deppest pit in Helle grounde.
When he com neighe the stede,
He loked up sone anon;
Strong it was forther to gon,
He herd schriche and grede.
65
He seighe ther ligge ful a feld
Of men and wimen that wern aqueld,
Naked with mani a wounde.
Toward the erthe thai lay develing,
"Allas! Allas!" was her brocking,
With iren bendes ybounde;
66
And gun to scriche and to wayly,
And crid, "Allas! Merci, merci!
Merci, God almight!"
Merci nas ther non, forsothe,
Bot sorwe of hert and grinding of tothe:
That was a griseli sight.
67
That ich sorwe and that reuthe
Is for the foule sinne of slewthe,
As it seyt in the stori.
Who that is slowe in Godes servise
Of that pain hem may agrise,
To legge in Purgatori.
68
This was the first pain aplight
That thai dede Owain the knight:
Thai greved him swithe sore.
Alle that pain he hath overschaken;
Until another thai han him taken,
Ther he seighe sorwe more
69
Of men and wimen that ther lay,
That crid, "Allas!" and "Waileway!"
For her wicked lore.
Thilche soules lay upward,
As the other hadde ly donward,
That Y told of bifore,
70
And were thurth fet and hond and heved
With iren nailes gloweand red
To the erthe ynayled that tide.
Owain seighe sitt on hem there
Lothli dragouns alle o fer,
In herd is nought to hide.
71
On sum sete todes blake,
Euetes, neddren, and the snake,
That frete hem bac and side.
This is the pain of glotoni:
For Godes love, bewar therbi!
It rinneth al to wide.
72
Yete him thought a pain strong
Of a cold winde blewe hem among,
That com out of the sky;
So bitter and so cold it blewe,
That alle the soules it overthrewe
That lay in Purgatori.
73
The fendes lopen on hem thare,
And with her hokes hem al totere,
And loude thai gun to crie.
Who that is licchoure in this liif,
Be it man other be it wiif,
That schal ben his bayli.
74
The fendes seyd to the knight,
"Thou hast ben strong lichoure aplight,
And strong glotoun also:
Into this pain thou schalt be dight,
Bot thou take the way ful right
Ogain ther thou com fro."
75
Owain seyd, "Nay, Satan!
Yete forthermar ichil gan,
Thurth grace of God almight."
The fendes wald him have hent:
He cleped to God omnipotent,
And thai lorn al her might.
76
Thai ladde him forther into a stede
Ther men never gode no dede,
Bot schame and vilanie.
Herkneth now, and ben in pes!
In the ferth feld it wes,
Al ful of turmentrie.
77
Sum bi the fet wer honging,
With iren hokes al brening,
And sum bi the swere,
And sum bi wombe and sum bi rigge,
Al otherwise than Y can sigge,
In divers manere.
78
And sum in forneise wern ydon,
With molten ledde and quic brunston
Boiland above the fer,
And sum bi the tong hing,
"Allas!" was ever her brocking,
And no nother preiere.
79
And sum on grediris layen there,
Al glowand ogains the fer,
That Owain wele yknewe,
That whilom were of his queyntaunce,
That suffred ther her penaunce:
Tho chaunged al his hewe!
80
A wilde fer hem thurthout went,
Alle that it oftok it brent,
Ten thousend soules and mo.
Tho that henge bi fet and swere,
That were theves and theves fere,
And wrought man wel wo.
81
And tho that henge bi the tong,
That "Allas!" ever song,
And so loude crid,
That wer bacbiters in her live:
Bewar therbi, man and wive,
That lef beth for to chide.
82
Alle the stedes the knight com bi
Were the paines of Purgatori
For her werkes wrong.
Whoso is lef on the halidom swere,
Or ani fals witnes bere,
Ther ben her peynes strong.
83
Owain anon him biwent
And seighe where a whele trent,
That griseliche were of sight;
Michel it was, about it wond,
And brend right as it were a brond;
With hokes it was ydight.
84
An hundred thousand soules and mo
Opon the whele were honging tho,
The fendes thertil ourn.
The stori seyt of Owain the knight,
That no soule knowe he no might,
So fast thai gun it tourn.
85
Out of the erthe com a lighting
Of a blo fer al brening,
That stank foule withalle,
And about the whele it went,
And the soules it forbrent
To poudre swithe smal.
86
That whele, that renneth in this wise,
Is for the sinne of covaitise,
That regnes now overal.
The coveytous man hath never anough
Of gold, of silver, no of plough,
Til deth him do doun falle.
87
The fendes seyd to the knight,
"Thou hast ben covaitise aplight,
To win lond and lede;
Opon this whele thou schalt be dight,
Bot yif thou take the way ful right
Intil thin owhen thede."
88
Her conseyl he hath forsaken.
The fendes han the knight forth taken,
And bounde him swithe hard
Opon the whele that arn about,
And so lothly gan to rout,
And cast him amidward.
89
Tho the hokes him torent,
And the wild fer him tobrent.
On Jhesu Crist he thought,
Fram that whele an angel him bare,
And al the fendes that were thare
No might him do right nought.
90
Thai ladde him forther with gret pain,
Til thai com to a mounteyn
That was as rede as blod,
And men and wimen theron stode;
Him thought, it nas for non gode,
For thai cride as thai were wode.
91
The fendes seyd to the knight than,
"Thou hast wonder of thilche man
That make so dreri mode:
For thai deserved Godes wreche,
Hem schal sone com a bevereche
That schal nought thenche hem gode."
92
No hadde he no rather that word yseyd,
As it is in the stori leyd,
Ther com a windes blast,
That fende and soule and knight up went
Almest into the firmament,
And sethen adon him cast
93
Into a stinkand river,
That under the mounteyn ran o fer,
As quarel of alblast,
And cold it was as ani ise
The pain may no man devise,
That him was wrought in hast.
94
Seyn Owain in the water was dreynt,
And wex therin so mad and feynt,
That neighe he was forlore;
Sone so he on God might thenchen ought,
Out of the water he was ybrought,
And to the lond ybore.
95
That ich pain, ich understond,
Is for bothe nithe and ond,
That was so wick liif;
Ond was the windes blast
That into the stinking water him cast:
Ich man bewar therbi!
96
Forth thai ladde him swithe withalle,
Til thai com to an halle,
He no seighe never er non swiche.
Out of the halle com an hete,
That the knight bigan to swete,
He seighe so foule a smiche.
97
Tho stint he forther for to gon.
The fendes it aperceived anon,
And were therof ful fawe.
"Turn ogain," thai gun to crie,
"Or thou schalt wel sone dye,
Bot thou be withdrawe."
98
And when he com to the halle dore,
He no hadde never sen bifore
Halvendel the care.
The halle was ful of turmentri:
Tho that were in that bayly
Of blis thai were ful bare,
99
For al was the halle grounde
Ful of pittes that were rounde,
And were ful yfilt
To the brerdes, gret and smal,
Of bras and coper and other metal,
And quic bronston ymelt;
100
And men and wimen theron stode,
And schrist and crid, as thai wer wode,
For her dedeli sinne;
Sum to the navel wode,
And sum to the brestes yode,
And sum to the chin.
101
Ich man after his misgilt
In that pein was ypilt,
To have that strong hete;
And sum bere bagges about her swere
Of pens gloweand al of fer,
And swiche mete ther thai ete:
102
That were gavelers in her liif.
Bewar therbi, bothe man and wiif,
Swiche sinne that ye lete.
And mani soules ther yede uprightes,
With fals misours and fals wightes,
That fendes opon sete.
103
The fendes to the knight sede,
"Thou most bathi in this lede
Ar than thou hennes go;
For thine okering and for thi sinne
A parti thou most be wasche herinne,
O cours or to."
104
Owain drad that turment,
And cleped to God omnipotent,
And His moder Marie.
Yborn he was out of the halle,
Fram the paines and the fendes alle,
Tho he so loude gan crie.
105
Anon the knight was war ther,
Whare sprang out a flaumme o fer,
That was stark and store;
Out the erthe the fer aros.
Tho the knight wel sore agros,
As cole and piche it fore.
106
Of seven maner colours the fer out went,
The soules therin it forbrent;
Sum was yalu and grene,
Sum was blac and sum was blo;
Tho that were therin hem was ful wo,
And sum as nadder on to sene.
107
The fende hath the knight ynome,
And to the pit thai weren ycome,
And seyd thus in her spelle,
"Now, Owain, thou might solas make,
For thou schalt with our felawes schake
Into the pit of Helle.
108
"This ben our foules in our caghe,
And this is our courtelage
And our castel tour;
Tho that ben herin ybrought,
Sir knight, hou trowestow ought,
That hem is anithing sour?
109
"Now turn ogain or to late,
Ar we thee put in at Helle gate;
Out no schaltow never winne,
For no noise no for no crie,
No for no clepeing to Marie,
No for no maner ginne."
110
Her conseil the knight forsoke.
The fendes him nom, so seith the boke,
And bounde him swithe fast.
Into that ich wicke prisoun,
Stinckand and derk, fer adoun,
Amidward thai him cast.
111
Ever the nether that thai him cast
The hatter the fer on him last;
Tho him gan sore smert.
He cleped to God omnipotent,
To help him out of that turment,
With gode wille and stedefast hert.
112
Out of the pit he was yborn,
And elles he hadde ben forlorn
To his ending day.
That is the pine, that ich of rede,
Is for the foule sinne of prede,
That schal lasten ay.
113
Biside the pit he seighe and herd
Hou God almighten him had ywerd;
His clothes wer al torent.
Forther couthe he no way,
Ther him thought a divers cuntray;
His bodi was al forbrent.
114
Tho chaunged Owain rode and hewe;
Fendes he seighe, ac non he no knewe,
In that divers lond;
Sum sexti eighen bere,
That lotheliche and griseliche were,
And sum hadde sexti hond.
115
Thai seyd, "Thou schalt nought ben alon,
Thou schalt haven ous to mon,
To teche thee newe lawes,
As thou hast ylernd ere,
In the stede ther thou were
Amonges our felawes."
116
The fendes han the knight ynome;
To a stinkand water thai ben ycome.
He no seighe never er non swiche.
It stank fouler than ani hounde,
And mani mile it was to the grounde,
And was as swart as piche.
117
And Owain seighe therover ligge
A swithe strong, naru brigge.
The fendes seyd tho,
"Lo, sir knight, sestow this?
This is the brigge of Paradis,
Here over thou most go;
118
"And we thee schul with stones throwe,
And the winde thee schal over blowe,
And wirche thee ful wo.
Thou no schalt, for al this midnerd,
Bot yif thou falle amidwerd
To our felawes mo.
119
"And when thou art adoun yfalle,
Than schal com our felawes alle,
And with her hokes thee hede.
We schul thee teche a newe play
Thou hast served ous mani a day
And into Helle thee lede."
120
Owain biheld the brigge smert,
The water therunder, blac and swert,
And sore him gan to drede.
For of o thing he tok yeme:
Never mot in sonne beme
Thicker than the fendes yede.
121
The brigge was as heighe as a tour,
And as scharpe as a rasour,
And naru it was also;
And the water that ther ran under
Brend o lighting and of thonder,
That thought him michel wo.
122
Ther nis no clerk may write with ynke,
No no man no may bithinke,
No no maister devine,
That is ymade, forsothe ywis,
Under the brigge of Paradis,
Halvendel the pine.
123
So the dominical ous telle,
There is the pure entré of Helle:
Sein Poule berth witnesse.
Whoso falleth of the brigge adoun,
Of him nis no redempcioun,
Noither more no lesse.
124
The fendes seyd to the knight tho,
"Over this brigge might thou nought go,
For noneskines nede.
Fle periil, sorwe, and wo,
And to that stede, ther thou com fro
Wel fair we schul thee lede."
125
Owain anon him gan bithenche
Fram hou mani of the fendes wrenche
God him saved hadde.
He sett his fot opon the brigge,
No feld he no scharp egge,
No nothing him no drad.
126
When the fendes yseighe tho,
That he was more than half ygo,
Loude thai gun to crie,
"Allas, allas, that he was born!
This ich knight we have forlorn
Out of our baylie."
127
When he was of the brigge ywent,
He thonked God omnipotent,
And His moder Marie,
That him hadde swiche grace ysent,
He was deliverd fro her turment,
Intil a better baylie.
128
A cloth of gold him was ybrought,
In what maner he nist nought,
Tho God him hadde ysent.
That cloth he dede on him there,
And alle woundes hole were,
That er then was forbrent.
129
He thonked God in Trinité,
And loked forther and gan yse
As it were a ston wal.
He biheld about, fer and neighe,
Non ende theron he no seighe,
O red gold it schon al.
130
Forthermore he gan yse
A gate, non fairer might be
In this world ywrought;
Tre no stel nas theron non,
Bot rede gold and precious ston,
And al God made of nought:
131
Jaspers, topes, and cristal,
Margarites and coral,
And riche saferstones,
Ribes and salidoines,
Onicles and causteloines,
And diamaunce for the nones.
132
In tabernacles thai wer ywrought,
Richer might it be nought,
With pilers gent and small;
Arches ybent with charbukelston,
Knottes of rede gold theropon,
And pinacles of cristal.
133
Bi as miche as our Saveour
Is queinter than goldsmithe other paintour,
That woneth in ani lond,
So fare the gates of Paradis
Er richer ywrought, forsothe ywis,
As ye may understond.
134
The gates bi hemselve undede.
Swiche a smal com out of that stede
As it al baume were;
And of that ich swetenisse
The knight tok so gret strengthe ywis,
As ye may fortheward here,
135
That him thought he might wel,
More bi a thousand del,
Suffri pain and wo,
And turn ogain siker aplight,
And ogain alle fendes fight,
Ther he er com fro.
136
The knight yode the gate ner,
And seighe ther com with milde chere
Wel mani processioun,
With tapers and chaundelers of gold;
Non fairer no might ben on mold,
And croices and goinfainoun.
137
Popes with gret dignité,
And cardinals gret plenté,
Kinges and quenes ther were,
Knightes, abbotes, and priours,
Monkes, chanouns, and Frere Prechours,
And bischopes that croices bere;
138
Frere Menours and Jacobins,
Frere Carmes and Frere Austines,
And nonnes white and blake;
Al maner religioun
Ther yede in that processioun,
That order hadde ytake.
139
The order of wedlake com also,
Men and wimen mani mo,
And thonked Godes grace
That hath the knight swiche grace ysent,
He was deliverd from the fendes turment,
Quic man into that plas.
140
And when thai hadde made this melody,
Tuay com out of her compeynie,
Palmes of gold thai bere.
To the knight thai ben ycome
Bituix hem tuay thai han him nome,
And erchebischopes it were.
141
Up and doun thai ladde the knight,
And schewed him joies of more might,
And miche melodye.
Mirie were her carols there,
Non foles among hem nere,
Bot joie and menstracie.
142
Thai yede on carol al bi line,
Her joie may no man devine,
Of God thai speke and song;
And angels yeden hem to gy,
With harpe and fithel and sautry,
And belles miri rong
143
No may ther no man caroly inne,
Bot that he be clene of sinne,
And leten alle foly.
Now God, for Thine woundes alle,
Graunt ous caroly in that halle,
And His moder Marie!
144
This ich joie, as ye may se,
Is for love and charité
Ogain God and mankinne.
Who that lat erthely love be,
And loveth God in Trinité,
He may caroly therinne.
145
Other joies he seighe anough:
Heighe tres with mani a bough,
Theron sat foules of heven,
And breke her notes with miri gle,
Burdoun and mene gret plenté,
And hautain with heighe steven.
146
Him thought wele with that foules song
He might wele live theramong
Til the worldes ende.
Ther he seighe that tre of liif
Wharthurth that Adam and his wiif
To Helle gun wende.
147
Fair were her erbers with floures,
Rose and lili, divers colours,
Primrol and paruink,
Mint, fetherfoy, and eglentere,
Colombin and mo ther were
Than ani man mai bithenke.
148
It beth erbes of other maner
Than ani in erthe groweth here,
Tho that is lest of priis.
Evermore thai grene springeth,
For winter no somer it no clingeth,
And swetter than licorice.
149
Ther beth the welles in that stede,
The water is swetter than ani mede,
Ac on ther is of priis,
Swiche that Seynt Owain seighe tho,
That foure stremes urn fro
Out of Paradis.
150
Pison men clepeth that o strem,
That is of swithe bright lem,
Gold is therin yfounde.
Gihon men clepeth that other ywis,
That is of miche more priis
Of stones in the grounde.
151
The thridde strem is Eufrates,
Forsothe to telle, withouten les,
That rinneth swithe right.
The ferth strem is Tigris;
In the world is make nis
Of stones swithe bright.
152
Who loveth to live in clenesse,
He schal have that ich blisse,
And se that semly sight.
And more he ther yseighe
Under Godes glorie an heighe:
Yblisced be His might!
153
Sum soule he seyghe woni bi selve,
And sum bi ten and bi tuelve,
And everich com til other;
And when thai com togiders ywis,
Alle thai made miche blis
As soster doth with the brother.
154
Sum he seighe gon in rede scarlet,
And sum in pourper wele ysett,
And sum in sikelatoun;
As the prest ate Masse wereth,
Tonicles and aubes on hem thai bereth,
And sum gold bete al doun.
155
The knight wele in alle thing
Knewe bi her clotheing
In what state that thai were,
And what dedes thai hadde ydo,
Tho that were yclothed so,
While thai were mannes fere.
156
Ichil you tel a fair semblaunce,
That is a gode acordaunce
Bi the sterres clere:
Sum ster is brighter on to se
Than is bisides other thre,
And of more pouwere.
157
In this maner ydelt it is,
Bi the joies of Paradis:
Thai no have nought al yliche;
The soule that hath joie lest,
Him thenketh he hath aldermest,
And holt him also riche.
158
The bischopes ogain to him come,
Bituen hem tuay thai him nome,
And ladde him up and doun,
And seyd, "Brother, God, herd He be!
Fulfild is thi volenté,
Now herken our resoun.
159
"Thou hast yse with eighen thine
Bothe the joies and the pine:
Yherd be Godes grace!
We wil thee tel bi our comun dome,
What way it was that thou bicome,
Er thou hennes pas.
160
"That lond that is so ful of sorwe,
Bothe an aven and a morwe,
That thou thus com bi
(Thou suffredes pain and wo,
And other soules mani mo)
Men clepeth it Purgatori.
161
"And this lond that is so wide,
And so michel and so side,
And is ful of blis,
That thou hast now in ybe,
And mani joies here yse,
Paradis is cleped ywis.
162
"Ther mai no man comen here
Til that he be spourged there,
And ymade al clene.
Than cometh thai hider." The bischop sede,
"Into the joie we schul hem lede,
Sumwhile bi tuelve and tene.
163
"And sum ben so hard ybounde,
Thai nite never hou long stounde
Thai schul suffri that hete;
Bot yif her frendes do godenisse,
Yif mete, or do sing Messe,
That thai han in erthe ylete,
164
"Other ani other almosdede,
Alle the better hem may spede
Out of her missays,
And com into this Paradis,
Ther joie and blis ever is,
And libbe here al in pays.
165
"As hye cometh out of Purgatori,
So passe we up to Godes glori,
That is the heighe riche,
That is Paradis celestien;
Therin com bot Cristen men:
No joie nis that yliche.
166
"When we comen out of the fer
Of Purgatori, ar we com her,
We no may nought anon right.
Til we han her long ybe,
We may nought Godes face yse,
No in that stede alight.
167
"The child that was yborn tonight,
Er the soule be hider ydight,
The pain schal overflé.
Strong and hevi is it than,
Here to com the old man,
That long in sinne hath be."
168
Forth thai went til thai seighe
A mounteyn that was swithe heighe,
Ther was al gamen and gle.
So long thai hadde the way ynome,
That to the cop thai weren ycome,
The joies forto se.
169
Ther was al maner foulen song,
Michel joie was hem among,
And evermore schal be;
Ther is more joie in a foules mouthe,
Than here in harp, fithel, or crouthe,
Bi lond other bi se.
170
That lond, that is so honestly,
Is ycleped Paradis terestri,
That is in erthe here;
That other is Paradis, Godes riche:
Thilke joie hath non yliche,
And is above the aire.
171
In that, that is in erthe here,
Was Owain, that Y spac of here,
Swiche that les Adam;
For, hadde Adam yhold him stille,
And wrought after Godes wille
As he ogain him nam,
172
He no his ofspring nevermo
Out of that joie no schuld have go;
Bot for he brac it so sone,
With pike and spade in diche to delve,
To help his wiif and himselve,
God made him miche to done.
173
God was with him so wroth,
That he no left him no cloth,
Bot a lef of a tre,
And al naked yede and stode.
Loke man, yif hye ner wode,
At swiche a conseil to be.
174
Tho com an angel with a swerd o fer,
And with a stern loke and chere,
And made hem sore aferd;
In erthe to ben in sorwe and wo,
Therwhile thai lived evermo,
He drof hem to midnerd.
175
And when he dyed to Helle he nam,
And al that ever of him cam,
Til Godes Sone was born,
And suffred pain and Passioun,
And brought him out of that prisoun,
And elles were al forlorn.
176
Hereof speketh David in the Sauter,
Of a thing that toucheth here,
Of God in Trinité,
Opon men, that ben in gret honour,
And honoureth nought her Creatour
Of so heighe dignité.
177
Alle that ben of Adames kinne,
Th[at here in erthe have don sinne,]
S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
H . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
178
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
179
Th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the paine of Purgatori;
And bot he have the better chaunce,
At Domesday he is in balaunce
Ogaines God in glorie.
180
The bischopes the knight hete
To tellen hem, that he no lete,
Whether Heven were white or biis,
Blewe or rede, yalu or grene.
The knight seyd, "Withouten wene,
Y schal say min aviis.
181
"Me thenketh it is a thousandfold
Brighter than ever was ani gold,
Bi sight opon to se."
"Ya," seyd the bischop to the knight
"That ich stede, that is so bright,
Nis bot the entré.
182
"And ich day ate gate o sithe
Ous cometh a mele to make ous blithe,
That is to our biheve:
A swete smal of al gode,
It is our soule fode.
Abide, thou schalt ous leve."
183
Anon the knight was war there,
Whare sprong out a flaumbe of fer,
Fram Heven gate it fel.
The knight thought, al fer and neighe,
Ther over al Paradis it fleighe,
And gaf so swete a smal.
184
The Holy Gost in fourme o fer
Opon the knight light ther,
In that ich place;
Thurth vertu of that ich light
He les ther al his erthelich might,
And thonked Godes grace.
185
Thus the bischop to him sede,
"God fet ous ich day with His brede,
Ac we no have noure neighe
So grete likeing of His grace,
No swiche a sight opon His face,
As tho that ben on heighe.
186
The soules that beth at Godes fest,
Thilche joie schal ever lest
Withouten ani ende.
Now thou most bi our comoun dome,
That ich way that thou bicome,
Ogain thou most wende.
187
Now kepe thee wele fram dedli sinne,
That thou never com therinne,
For nonskines nede.
When thou art ded, thou schalt wende
Into the joie that hath non ende;
Angels schul thee lede."
188
Tho wepe Seynt Owain swithe sore,
And prayd hem for Godes ore,
That he most ther duelle;
That he no seighe nevermore,
As he hadde do bifore,
The strong paines of Helle.
189
Of that praier gat he no gain
He nam his leve and went ogain,
Thei him were swithe wo.
Fendes he seighe ten thousand last,
Thay flowe fram him as quarel of alblast,
That he er com fro.
190
No nere than a quarel might flé,
No fende no might him here no se,
For al this warld to winne;
And when that he com to the halle,
The thritten men he fond alle,
Ogaines him therinne.
191
Alle thai held up her hond,
And thonked Jhesu Cristes sond
A thousaned times and mo,
And bad him heighe, that he no wond,
That he wer up in Yrlond,
As swithe as he might go.
192
And as ich finde in this stori,
The priour of the Purgatori
Com tokening that night,
That Owain hadde overcomen his sorwe,
And schuld com up on the morwe,
Thurth grace of God almight.
193
Than the priour with processioun,
Wih croice and with goinfainoun,
To the hole he went ful right,
Ther that knight Owain in wende.
As a bright fere that brende,
Thai seighe a lem of light,
194
And right amiddes that ich light
Com up Owain, Godes knight.
Tho wist thai wele bi than,
That Owain hadde ben in Paradis,
And in Purgatori ywis,
And that he was holy man.
195
Thai ladde him into holi chirche,
Godes werkes forto wirche.
His praiers he gan make,
And at the ende on the fiften day,
The knight anon, forsothe to say,
Scrippe and burdoun gan take.
196
That ich holy stede he sought,
Ther Jhesus Crist ous dere bought
Opon the Rode tre,
And ther He ros fram ded to live
Thurth vertu of his woundes five:
Yblisced mot He be!
197
And Bedlem, ther that God was born
Of Mari His moder, as flour of thorn,
And ther He stighe to Heven;
And sethen into Yrlond he come,
And monkes abite undernome,
And lived there yeres seven.
198
And when he deyd, he went ywis
Into the heighe joie of Paradis,
Thurth help of Godes grace.
Now God, for Seynt Owain's love,
Graunt ous Heven blis above
Bifor His swete face! Amen.
Explicit
|
(see note)
deadly
St. Patrick; pity
their false belief; error; (t-note)
they were in
attempted sermon
should take to God
follow; advice
full of crime
They held it but foolishness; (see note)
Everything he said
they all said commonly; (see note)
none of them would surely
Abide by his teaching
Unless; caused some man; (t-note)
then
them tidings
souls suffer forever; (see note)
They who are therein
Otherwise; would not quickly (i.e., soon); (t-note)
their sins not repent
Nor their follies (i.e., sins) cease
Saint
Greatly he cared truly, indeed
sorely; became dismayed
suffering; (t-note)
prayer
most quickly lead
fiend's control
cause them to
believe
(t-note)
while
work
prayed; very thing
fell asleep
Before; altar
slept quite sweetly (i.e., comfortably); (see note)
many; began to dream
Paradise
slept, truly it seemed to him
us dearly bought (i.e., redeemed); (see note)
came, indeed
gave; book; was not little; (see note)
is no learned man; such
It spoke of all manner [of] gospels
secret knowledge; (see note)
Further he thought; gave
beautiful staff
sleep where
God's Staff; (see note)
call
Yet; very
had given
He thought; led
Thence by
great open space; (see note)
Where; quite open
gruesome
black
world; its match
gruesome to enter
saw
Full sorely; afflicted
sleep
Then; almighty; explained; said
Whoever; deeds
Against
would; repent
sins (follies) withdraw from
very [same] hole
portion; endure
(see note)
(t-note)
fare
if; faith
Good; blameless without uncertainty
steadfast; belief; (t-note)
see
But none shall; trouble
what [to] the souls is done
indeed
then see
very joy; forever
explained
showed
full gracious manner
bought us dearly (i.e., redeemed)
sound
left
of
Good signs he found; them took
dreaming
Book; staff; found
took them; hand
thanked
knelt; hand
Jesus Christ's messenger
him had sent
Through which; (t-note)
[How] to
place without delay
abbey; had built
Without any delay
Saint; Lady; (see note); (t-note)
To chant and sing [praises]; (see note)
made; abbey
knew; country
none; like
abbey's; (see note)
solace, joy; delight
poor; also
canons; established there; (see note)
early
very book; staff
gave
Still; see
east
truth to say
gruesome
good stone walls all around
lock
had it built
same place, sure be you
called; very entrance
occurred
(see note)
says; (see note)
pain; their trespasses
returned again through; grace
said every one of them; (see note)
seen surely
clearly
had come out
said with haste
Clearly; joys; saw; (t-note)
(see note)
joy; Paradise
May Jesus bring us there!; (see note)
began to
them told
they came every one
baptized; baptismal font
forgiven; sins
became, all of them; (see note)
Christian; through; teaching
prayers
listen; (see note)
I will
If; hear
In the time of Stephen; (see note)
stabilized; ordered
wisely
(t-note)
doughty; mighty person
says; poem (rhyme); (t-note)
was named, without lies; (t-note)
country where; was
hear
Very much; understood; battle
quite; without doubt
Against; Creator
One day; thought to himself
sins; done
sorely; began to dread
would through
Be shriven; trespass
leave; misdeeds
good faith
came, as it happened
bishop; (see note)
Where
Where; truth to tell
To undertake Penance; (see note)
revealed
salvation
should shrive
lay; severe
would
again; life
happy
rebuked; at once; (see note)
must
If; would
Serious; many kinds
I will do; quite eagerly
Even if; would command
Thither I will go.
friend; (see note)
shall you not go
pain
bade; avoid; adversity
could
would not give up
Then led
to work
true law; teach
Fifteen; suffering; (t-note)
prayer
lying
Then; prior; (see note)
cross; banner
Go directly forward
have gone
completely lost
But; directly
earth go
soon
field assuredly
a hall of stone
Such; I know of none
A little bit
No more; is not; found
Than when the sun moves low
surely
remain; until; more
Who shall you comfort
Thirteen; shall; (see note)
servants every one
says
quickly [they] shall counsel you
sustain yourself
through
convent; (see note)
Commended him to; he
shut
taken
[So] that; field; come
Where
wondrously constructed
Such; earthly creature
pillars stood far apart
found
Such
on each
stood outside
examined
there; (t-note)
Thirteen men
judgment
habit they wore
crowns [of their heads] were newly shorn; (see note)
Their chief master went in front
greeted
Down; says
reason true; (see note)
I will counsel you, dear brother
I have done
have gone
faith
true; uncertainty
true source of doctrine
are gone
fiends; many more
pain
But look well, ponder you so
If; with them
lose
think; painful
for you
unless; (t-note)
you go; (see note)
And [are] lost forever
Call out; high
disgrace; (t-note)
occur
counseled
No longer remain
company
Entrusted him to God; went
gracious manner
left
call; cry out
prayers
certainly
began to hear; rueful cry
frightened; keenly
Though; world
earth
cry; dread
company
fiends fifty
Loathsome
also
went about
growled; their foul arses
pursued; with abuse
said they; flesh and skin
fetch him [to]
master fiend
knees
suffer pain
damnable; (see note)
But; get you no profit
pain enough
deadly
Never had you; bad experience
But; fiends said
If; by; advice
to us beloved; precious
perfect love; (see note)
Where
fellows gathered together
otherwise; you teach
lust; (see note)
known
Into you; hooks thrust
company
would not; fail
But I; counsel
I will
had heard
In the middle
fire; began to make
Feet and hands
cast; in the midst
called; Lord
At once; fire away; quenched
Coal nor; was not left
Through
had seen
Much more confident; indeed
treachery
tempt
led
Into; uncivilized land
no kind of comfort
Only; thirst; cold
tree; saw; stand
blew
scarcely; hear
pierced through
taken
valley
Then thought; found
deepest
near; place
Hard; further to go
shrieking; lamentation
saw; lay; field; (see note)
women; were destroyed
sprawling
calls of distress
iron bands bound
began to shriek; wail
cried
was not
teeth
gruesome
very sorrow; regret
sloth; (see note)
says
sluggish
they may dread
lie
in fact; (see note)
did to
troubled; very sorely
passed by
To
Where; saw sorrow
women
cried
their; conduct
These
through feet and hands and head
iron nails glowing; (t-note)
nailed at that time
saw sit; them
Loathsome; on fire; (t-note)
In public nothing can be hidden; (see note)
sat toads black
Newts, adders
bit them [in the] back
gluttony
(t-note)
runs all too widely
And then; (t-note)
them
knocked over
leapt; them there; (t-note)
their hooks them tore up
began to cry
lecher; life
wife (i.e., woman)
country (dwelling place)
lecher indeed; (t-note)
glutton
placed
Unless; right away
Back where
Still further I will go
Through
would; seized
called
lost
led; further; place
Where men; did
shame; villainy
Listen; be in peace!
fourth field; was; (t-note)
torment
feet; hanging
iron hooks; burning
neck
belly; back
say
various ways
furnace; placed
lead; caustic brimstone
Boiling; fire
tongue hung
calls of distress
no other prayer
gridirons lay
glowing upon; fire
recognized
at some time; acquaintance
Then; color
fire them throughout
overtook; burned
more
Those; feet; neck
thieves; companions; (see note)
caused; woe
those; hung
sang
cried
backbiters; lives; (see note)
Beware; wife (i.e., woman)
Who are eager to scold (complain)
places
their works
willing to; relics swear
false witness bear
went; (see note)
saw; wheel turned
gruesome
Great; moved
burned; brand
hooks; fitted out
(t-note)
wheel; hanging
thereto arranged
says
recognize
made it turn
came lightning
blue (i.e., livid) fire; burning
burnt up
powder very fine
runs in this way
covetousness
reigns; completely
covetous; enough
land; (see note)
Until death makes him fall down
covetous indeed
land; nation
placed; (t-note)
Unless; immediately
Unto your own country
Their counsel
(t-note)
very
turned
hideously; bellow
in the midst
Then; hooks; tore
fire; burned fiercely
bore
mountain
red; blood
women; stood
He thought; was not
cried; crazy
these men
woeful mood
God's vengeance
[To] them; drink
intend
sooner; said
told (recorded)
Almost
afterwards down; (t-note)
stinking
mountain; of fire
missile of a siege engine
any ice
describe
in haste
drenched
grew; faint
nearly; lost
As soon as; think at all
borne
very
malice; spite
wicked life
Fierce
led; quickly
saw; before; such
heat
sweat
saw; smoke
Then stopped; to go
realized
livid
taken out
door
A half part of; pain
torments
Those; fortress
bare
pits
filled
rims
brass; copper
caustic brimstone molten
shrieked; cried; crazy
deadly
waded
breasts went
Each; sin
pain; thrust
heat
bore bags (i.e., pouches); necks; (see note)
coins glowing all on fire
such meat; ate
usurers
permit
stood upright
sinners; creatures; (see note)
set upon
said
bathe; area
Before; hence
money-lending
period of time; washed
A cycle or two; (see note)
dreaded
called
mother
Borne
Then
aware
flame of fire
strong; fierce
Then; sorely terrified
coal; pitch it spewed
(see note)
burned up
yellow; green
black; blue
Those
as if one saw an adder
fiends; taken
their spiel
solace
fellows hurry; (t-note)
(t-note)
birds; cage; (t-note)
garden
Those
do you believe at all
That they are at all agonized
back before too late
Before
shall you
calling
contrivance
counsel
took
fully
wicked
Stinking; dark, far
Amidst
deeper
hotter
Then; be pained
called
good
carried
otherwise; lost
pain; tell of
pride; (see note)
forever
saw; heard
protected
torn
could
strange country
burned badly
Then; face and complexion
saw, but
strange
sixty eyes bore; (see note)
loathsome; gruesome; |