Abraham's Sacrifice of Isaac
Introitus Abrahe et cetera.
[Abraham]
Most myghty makere of sunne and of mone,1
Kyng of Kyngys and Lord ouyr all,
Allmyghty God in hevyn trone,
I þe honowre and evyrmore xal.
My Lord, my God, to þe I kall;
With herty wyll, Lord, I þe pray,
In synfull lyff lete me nevyr fall,7
But lete me leve evyr to þi pay.
Most myghty makere of sunne and of mone,1
Kyng of Kyngys and Lord ouyr all,
Allmyghty God in hevyn trone,
I þe honowre and evyrmore xal.
My Lord, my God, to þe I kall;
With herty wyll, Lord, I þe pray,
In synfull lyff lete me nevyr fall,7
But lete me leve evyr to þi pay.
Abraham my name is kydde,9
And patryarke of age ful olde.
And 3it be þe grace of God is bredde
In myn olde age a chylde full bolde.
Ysaac, lo, here his name is tolde,
My swete sone þat stondyth me by.
Amongys all chylderyn þat walkyn on wolde15
A louelyer chylde is non, trewly.
And patryarke of age ful olde.
And 3it be þe grace of God is bredde
In myn olde age a chylde full bolde.
Ysaac, lo, here his name is tolde,
My swete sone þat stondyth me by.
Amongys all chylderyn þat walkyn on wolde15
A louelyer chylde is non, trewly.
I thanke God with hert well mylde17
Of his gret mercy and of his hey grace,
And pryncepaly for my suete chylde,
þat xal to me do gret solace.
Now, suete sone, fayre fare þi face;
Ful hertyly do I love the.
For trewe herty love now in þis place,23
My swcte childe, com kysse now me.
Of his gret mercy and of his hey grace,
And pryncepaly for my suete chylde,
þat xal to me do gret solace.
Now, suete sone, fayre fare þi face;
Ful hertyly do I love the.
For trewe herty love now in þis place,23
My swcte childe, com kysse now me.
Ysaac
At 3oure byddynge 3oure mouthe I kys.25
With lowly hert I 3ow pray,
3oure fadyrly love lete me nevyr mysse,
But blysse me, 3oure chylde, both nyght and day.
At 3oure byddynge 3oure mouthe I kys.25
With lowly hert I 3ow pray,
3oure fadyrly love lete me nevyr mysse,
But blysse me, 3oure chylde, both nyght and day.
Abraham
Almyghty God þat best may,29
His dere blyssyng he graunt þe.
And my blyssyng þu haue allway
In what place þat evyr þu be.
Almyghty God þat best may,29
His dere blyssyng he graunt þe.
And my blyssyng þu haue allway
In what place þat evyr þu be.
Now, Isaac, my sone so suete,33
Almyghty God loke þu honoure,
Wich þat made both drye and wete,
Shynyng sunne and scharpe schoure.
Thu art my suete childe and paramoure;
Ful wele in herte do I þe loue.
Loke þat þin herte in hevyn toure39
Be sett, to serve oure Lord God above.
Almyghty God loke þu honoure,
Wich þat made both drye and wete,
Shynyng sunne and scharpe schoure.
Thu art my suete childe and paramoure;
Ful wele in herte do I þe loue.
Loke þat þin herte in hevyn toure39
Be sett, to serve oure Lord God above.
In þi 3onge lerne God to plese,41
And God xal quyte þe weyl þi mede.
Now, suete sone, of wordys these
With all þin hert þu take good hede.
Now fareweyl, sone, God be þin spede,
Evyn here at hom þu me abyde.
I must go walkyn, for I haue nede;47
I come a3en withinne a tyde.
And God xal quyte þe weyl þi mede.
Now, suete sone, of wordys these
With all þin hert þu take good hede.
Now fareweyl, sone, God be þin spede,
Evyn here at hom þu me abyde.
I must go walkyn, for I haue nede;47
I come a3en withinne a tyde.
Ysaac
I pray to God, Fadyr of Myght,49
þat he 3ow spede in all 3oure waye.
From shame and shenshipp day and nyht
God mote 3ow kepe in 3oure jornay.
I pray to God, Fadyr of Myght,49
þat he 3ow spede in all 3oure waye.
From shame and shenshipp day and nyht
God mote 3ow kepe in 3oure jornay.
Abraham
Now fareweyll, sone. I þe pray,53
Evyr in þin hert loke God þu wynde.
Hym to serue bothe nyght and day
I pray to God send þe good mynde.
Now fareweyll, sone. I þe pray,53
Evyr in þin hert loke God þu wynde.
Hym to serue bothe nyght and day
I pray to God send þe good mynde.
Ther may no man love bettyr his childe57
þan Isaac is lovyd of me.
Almyghty God, mercyful and mylde,
For my swete son I wurchyp þe.
I thank þe, Lord, with hert ful fre
For þis fayr frute þu hast me sent.
Now, gracyous God, wherso he be,63
To saue my sone evyrmore be bent.
þan Isaac is lovyd of me.
Almyghty God, mercyful and mylde,
For my swete son I wurchyp þe.
I thank þe, Lord, with hert ful fre
For þis fayr frute þu hast me sent.
Now, gracyous God, wherso he be,63
To saue my sone evyrmore be bent.
Dere Lord, I pray to þe also,65
Me to saue for þi seruuaunte,
And sende me grace nevyr for to do
Thyng þat xulde be to þ[e] displesaunte.
Bothe for me and for myn infaunte
I pray þe, Lord God, vs to help.
Thy gracyous goodnes þu us grawnt,71
And saue þi serwaunt from helle qwelp.
Me to saue for þi seruuaunte,
And sende me grace nevyr for to do
Thyng þat xulde be to þ[e] displesaunte.
Bothe for me and for myn infaunte
I pray þe, Lord God, vs to help.
Thy gracyous goodnes þu us grawnt,71
And saue þi serwaunt from helle qwelp.
Angelus
Abraham! How, Abraham!73
Lyst and herke weyll onto me.
Abraham! How, Abraham!73
Lyst and herke weyll onto me.
Abraham
Al redy, sere, here I am.75
Tell me 3oure wyll, what þat it be.
Al redy, sere, here I am.75
Tell me 3oure wyll, what þat it be.
Angelus
Almyghty God þus doth bydde þe:77
Ysaac þi sone anon þu take,
And loke hym þu slee anoon, lete se;
And sacrafice to God hym make!
Almyghty God þus doth bydde þe:77
Ysaac þi sone anon þu take,
And loke hym þu slee anoon, lete se;
And sacrafice to God hym make!
Thy wel-belouyd childe þu must now kylle.81
To God þu offyr hym, as I say,
Evyn vpon 3on hey hylle
þat I þe shewe here in þe way.
Tarye not be nyght nor day,
But smertly þi gate þu goo.
Vpon 3on hille þu knele and pray87
To God, and kylle þe childe þer and scloo.
To God þu offyr hym, as I say,
Evyn vpon 3on hey hylle
þat I þe shewe here in þe way.
Tarye not be nyght nor day,
But smertly þi gate þu goo.
Vpon 3on hille þu knele and pray87
To God, and kylle þe childe þer and scloo.
Abraham
Now Goddys comaundement must nedys be done —89
All his wyl is wourthy to be wrought.
But 3itt þe fadyr to scle þe sone,
Grett care it causyth in my thought!
In byttyr bale now am I brought,
My swete childe with knyf to kyile.
But 3it my sorwe avaylith ryght nowth,95
For nedys I must werke Goddys wylle.
Now Goddys comaundement must nedys be done —89
All his wyl is wourthy to be wrought.
But 3itt þe fadyr to scle þe sone,
Grett care it causyth in my thought!
In byttyr bale now am I brought,
My swete childe with knyf to kyile.
But 3it my sorwe avaylith ryght nowth,95
For nedys I must werke Goddys wylle.
With evy hert I walke and wende,97
My childys deth now for to be.
Now must þe fadyr his suete sone schende.
Alas, for ruthe, it is peté!
My swete sone, come hedyr to me.
How, Isaac, my sone dere!
Com to þi fadyr, my childe so fre,103
For we must wende togedyr in fere.
My childys deth now for to be.
Now must þe fadyr his suete sone schende.
Alas, for ruthe, it is peté!
My swete sone, come hedyr to me.
How, Isaac, my sone dere!
Com to þi fadyr, my childe so fre,103
For we must wende togedyr in fere.
Isaac
All redy, fadyr, evyn at 3oure wyll,105
And at 3oure byddyng I am 3ow by.
With 3ow to walk ovyr dale and hill
At 3oure callyng I am redy.
To þe fadyr evyr most comly
It ovyth þe childe evyr buxom to be.
I wyl obey ful hertyly111
To allthyng þat 3e bydde me.
All redy, fadyr, evyn at 3oure wyll,105
And at 3oure byddyng I am 3ow by.
With 3ow to walk ovyr dale and hill
At 3oure callyng I am redy.
To þe fadyr evyr most comly
It ovyth þe childe evyr buxom to be.
I wyl obey ful hertyly111
To allthyng þat 3e bydde me.
Abraham
Now, son, in þi necke þis fagot þu take,
And þis fyre bere in þinne honde.
For we must now sacrefyse go make,
Evyn aftyr þe wyll of Goddys sonde.
Take þis brennyng bronde,
My swete childe, and lete us go.
Ther may no man þat levyth in londe119
Haue more sorwe than I haue wo.
Now, son, in þi necke þis fagot þu take,
And þis fyre bere in þinne honde.
For we must now sacrefyse go make,
Evyn aftyr þe wyll of Goddys sonde.
Take þis brennyng bronde,
My swete childe, and lete us go.
Ther may no man þat levyth in londe119
Haue more sorwe than I haue wo.
Ysaac
Fayre fadyr, 3e go ryght stylle.121
I pray 3ow, fadyr, speke onto me.
Fayre fadyr, 3e go ryght stylle.121
I pray 3ow, fadyr, speke onto me.
Abraham
Mi gode childe, what is þi wylle?123
Telle me thyn hert, I pray to the.
Mi gode childe, what is þi wylle?123
Telle me thyn hert, I pray to the.
Ysaac
Fadyr, fyre and wood here is plenté,125
But I kan se no sacryfice.
What 3e xulde offre fayn wold I se,
þat it were don at þe best avyse.
Fadyr, fyre and wood here is plenté,125
But I kan se no sacryfice.
What 3e xulde offre fayn wold I se,
þat it were don at þe best avyse.
Abraham
God xal þat ordeyn, þat sytt in hevynne,
My swete sone, for þis offryng.
A derere sacryfice may no man nempne
þan þis xal be, my dere derlyng.
God xal þat ordeyn, þat sytt in hevynne,
My swete sone, for þis offryng.
A derere sacryfice may no man nempne
þan þis xal be, my dere derlyng.
Ysaac
Lat be, good fadyr, 3oure sad wepynge;133
3oure hevy cher agrevyth me sore.
Tell me, fadyr, 3oure grett mornyng,
And I xal seke sum help þerfore.
Lat be, good fadyr, 3oure sad wepynge;133
3oure hevy cher agrevyth me sore.
Tell me, fadyr, 3oure grett mornyng,
And I xal seke sum help þerfore.
Abraham
Alas, dere sone, for nedys must me137
Evyn here be kylle, as God hath sent!
Thyn owyn fadyr þi deth must be —
Alas, þat evyr þis bowe was bent!
With þis fyre bryght þu must be brent,
An aungelle seyd to me ryght so.
Alas, my chylde, þu xalt be shent;143
þi careful fadyr must be þi fo.
Alas, dere sone, for nedys must me137
Evyn here be kylle, as God hath sent!
Thyn owyn fadyr þi deth must be —
Alas, þat evyr þis bowe was bent!
With þis fyre bryght þu must be brent,
An aungelle seyd to me ryght so.
Alas, my chylde, þu xalt be shent;143
þi careful fadyr must be þi fo.
Ysaac
Almyghty God of his grett mercye,145
Fulhertyly I thanke þe, sertayne.
At Goddys byddyng here for to dye
I obeye me here for to be sclayne.
I pray 3ow, fadyr, be glad and fayne
Trewly to werke Goddys wyll.
Take good comforte to 3ow agayn,151
And haue no dowte 3oure childe to kyll.
Almyghty God of his grett mercye,145
Fulhertyly I thanke þe, sertayne.
At Goddys byddyng here for to dye
I obeye me here for to be sclayne.
I pray 3ow, fadyr, be glad and fayne
Trewly to werke Goddys wyll.
Take good comforte to 3ow agayn,151
And haue no dowte 3oure childe to kyll.
For Godys byddyng, forsothe, it is153
þat I of 3ow my deth schulde take.
A3ens God 3e don amys
His byddyng yf 3e xuld forsake.
3owre owyn dampnacyon xulde 3e bake
If 3e me kepe from þis r[o]d.
With 3oure swerd my deth 3e make,159
And werk evyrmore þe wyll of God.
þat I of 3ow my deth schulde take.
A3ens God 3e don amys
His byddyng yf 3e xuld forsake.
3owre owyn dampnacyon xulde 3e bake
If 3e me kepe from þis r[o]d.
With 3oure swerd my deth 3e make,159
And werk evyrmore þe wyll of God.
Abraham
The wyll of God must nedys be done —161
To werke his wyll I seyd nevyr nay.
But 3it þe fadyr to sle þe sone
My hert doth clynge and cleue as clay!
The wyll of God must nedys be done —161
To werke his wyll I seyd nevyr nay.
But 3it þe fadyr to sle þe sone
My hert doth clynge and cleue as clay!
Ysaac
3itt werk Goddys wyll, fadyr, I 3ow pray,165
And sle me here anoon forthryght.
And turne fro me 3oure face away,
Myne heed whan þat 3e xul of smyght.
3itt werk Goddys wyll, fadyr, I 3ow pray,165
And sle me here anoon forthryght.
And turne fro me 3oure face away,
Myne heed whan þat 3e xul of smyght.
Abraham
Alas, dere childe, I may not chese:169
I must nedys my swete sone kylle.
My dere derlyng now must me lese —
Myn owyn sybb blood now xal I spylle!
3itt þis dede or I fulfylle,
My swete sone, þi mouth I kys.
Alas, dere childe, I may not chese:169
I must nedys my swete sone kylle.
My dere derlyng now must me lese —
Myn owyn sybb blood now xal I spylle!
3itt þis dede or I fulfylle,
My swete sone, þi mouth I kys.
Ysaac
Al redy, fadyr, evyn at 3oure wyll.175
I do 3oure byddyng as reson is.
Al redy, fadyr, evyn at 3oure wyll.175
I do 3oure byddyng as reson is.
Abraham
Alas, dere sone, here is no grace,177
But nedis ded now must þu be.
With þis kerchere I kure þi face;
In þe tyme þat I sle the
Thy lovely vesage wold I not se,
Not for all þis werdlys good.
With þis swerd þat sore grevyht me183
My childe I sle and spylle his blood.
Alas, dere sone, here is no grace,177
But nedis ded now must þu be.
With þis kerchere I kure þi face;
In þe tyme þat I sle the
Thy lovely vesage wold I not se,
Not for all þis werdlys good.
With þis swerd þat sore grevyht me183
My childe I sle and spylle his blood.
Angelus
Abraham, Abraham, þu fadyr fre!185
Abraham, Abraham, þu fadyr fre!185
Abraham
I am here redy. What is 3oure wylle?186
I am here redy. What is 3oure wylle?186
Angelus
Extende þin hand in no degré —187
I bydde þu hym not kylle!
Here do I se by ryght good skylle
Allmyghty God þat þu dost drede.
For þu sparyst nat þi sone to spylle,
God wyll aqwhyte þe well þi mede.
Extende þin hand in no degré —187
I bydde þu hym not kylle!
Here do I se by ryght good skylle
Allmyghty God þat þu dost drede.
For þu sparyst nat þi sone to spylle,
God wyll aqwhyte þe well þi mede.
Abraham
I thank my God in hevyn above193
And hym honowre for þis grett grace.
And þat my Lord me þus doth prove,
I wyll hym wurchep in every place.
My childys lyff is my solace,
I thank myn God evyr for his lyff.
In sacrifice here or I hens pace,199
I sle þis shepe with þis same knyff.
I thank my God in hevyn above193
And hym honowre for þis grett grace.
And þat my Lord me þus doth prove,
I wyll hym wurchep in every place.
My childys lyff is my solace,
I thank myn God evyr for his lyff.
In sacrifice here or I hens pace,199
I sle þis shepe with þis same knyff.
Now þis shepe is deed and slayn,201
With þis fyre it xal be brent.
Of Isaac my sone I am ful fayn
þat my swete childe xal not be shent!
This place I name with good entent
þe Hill of Godys Vesytacyon,
For hedyr God hath to us sent207
His comforte aftyr grett trybulacyon.
With þis fyre it xal be brent.
Of Isaac my sone I am ful fayn
þat my swete childe xal not be shent!
This place I name with good entent
þe Hill of Godys Vesytacyon,
For hedyr God hath to us sent207
His comforte aftyr grett trybulacyon.
Angelus
Herke, Abraham, and take good heyd.209
By hymself God hath þus sworn:
For þat þu woldyst a done þis dede,
He wyll þe blysse both evyn and morn.
For þi dere childe þu woldyst haue lorn
At Goddys byddyng, as I the telle,
God hath sent þe word beforn,215
þi seed xal multyplye wherso þu duelle.
Herke, Abraham, and take good heyd.209
By hymself God hath þus sworn:
For þat þu woldyst a done þis dede,
He wyll þe blysse both evyn and morn.
For þi dere childe þu woldyst haue lorn
At Goddys byddyng, as I the telle,
God hath sent þe word beforn,215
þi seed xal multyplye wherso þu duelle.
As sterrys in hevyn byn many and fele,217
So xal þi seed encrese and growe.
þu xalt ovyrcome in welth and wele
All þi fomen reknyd be rowe.
As sond in þe se doth ebbe and flowe,
Hath cheselys many vnnumerabyll,
So xal þi sede, þu mayst me trowe,223
Encres and be evyr prophytabyll.
So xal þi seed encrese and growe.
þu xalt ovyrcome in welth and wele
All þi fomen reknyd be rowe.
As sond in þe se doth ebbe and flowe,
Hath cheselys many vnnumerabyll,
So xal þi sede, þu mayst me trowe,223
Encres and be evyr prophytabyll.
For to my spech þu dedyst obeye,225
Thyn enmyes portys þu shalt possede.
And all men on erthe, as I þe seye,
Thei xal be blyssed in þi sede.
Almyghty God þus þe wyll mede
For þat good wyll þat þu ast done.
þerfore thank God in word and dede,231
Both þu þiself and Ysaac þi sone.
Thyn enmyes portys þu shalt possede.
And all men on erthe, as I þe seye,
Thei xal be blyssed in þi sede.
Almyghty God þus þe wyll mede
For þat good wyll þat þu ast done.
þerfore thank God in word and dede,231
Both þu þiself and Ysaac þi sone.
Abraham
A, my Lord God to wurchep on kne now I fall.233
I thank be, Lord, of þi mercy.
Now, my swete childe, to God þu kall,
And thank we þat Lord now hertyly.
A, my Lord God to wurchep on kne now I fall.233
I thank be, Lord, of þi mercy.
Now, my swete childe, to God þu kall,
And thank we þat Lord now hertyly.
Isaac
With lowly hert to God I crye.237
I am his seruuant both day and nyght.
I thank þe, Lord in hevyn so hy3e,
With hert, with thought, with mayn, with myght.
With lowly hert to God I crye.237
I am his seruuant both day and nyght.
I thank þe, Lord in hevyn so hy3e,
With hert, with thought, with mayn, with myght.
Abraham
Gramercy, Lord and Kyng of Grace!241
Gramercy, Lord ouyr lordys all!
Now my joye returnyth his trace.
I thank þe, Lorde in hevyn, þin halle.
Gramercy, Lord and Kyng of Grace!241
Gramercy, Lord ouyr lordys all!
Now my joye returnyth his trace.
I thank þe, Lorde in hevyn, þin halle.
Isaac
Ovyr all kyngys crownyd kyng I þe kalle.245
At þi byddyng to dye with knyff
I was ful buxvm evyn as þi thralle.
Lord, now I thank the, þu grauntyst me lyff.
Ovyr all kyngys crownyd kyng I þe kalle.245
At þi byddyng to dye with knyff
I was ful buxvm evyn as þi thralle.
Lord, now I thank the, þu grauntyst me lyff.
Abraham
Now we haue wurchepyd oure blyssyd Lorde249
On grounde knelyng upon oure kne.
Now lete us tweyn, sone, ben of on acorde,
And goo walke hom into oure countré.
Now we haue wurchepyd oure blyssyd Lorde249
On grounde knelyng upon oure kne.
Now lete us tweyn, sone, ben of on acorde,
And goo walke hom into oure countré.
Ysaac
Fadyr, as 3e wyll, so xal it be;253
I am redy with 3ow to gon.
I xal 3ow folwe with hert full fre.
And þat 3e bydde me sone xal be don.
Fadyr, as 3e wyll, so xal it be;253
I am redy with 3ow to gon.
I xal 3ow folwe with hert full fre.
And þat 3e bydde me sone xal be don.
Abraham
Now God, allthyng of nowth þat made,257
Evyr wurcheppyd he be on watyr and londe.
His grett honowre may nevyrmore fade
In felde nor town, se nor on sonde.
As althyng, Lord, þu hast in honde,
So saue us all wherso we be.
Whethyr we syttyn, walk, or stonde,263
Evyr on þin handwerke þu haue pyté.
Now God, allthyng of nowth þat made,257
Evyr wurcheppyd he be on watyr and londe.
His grett honowre may nevyrmore fade
In felde nor town, se nor on sonde.
As althyng, Lord, þu hast in honde,
So saue us all wherso we be.
Whethyr we syttyn, walk, or stonde,263
Evyr on þin handwerke þu haue pyté.
Explicit
2024 Mar 19 14:56:36