Cain's Murder of Abel
Abeel
I wolde fayn knowe how I xuld do1
To serve my Lord God to his plesyng.
þerfore, Caym, brother, lete us now go
Vnto oure fadyr withowte lettyng,
I wolde fayn knowe how I xuld do1
To serve my Lord God to his plesyng.
þerfore, Caym, brother, lete us now go
Vnto oure fadyr withowte lettyng,
Suenge hym in vertu and in norture5
To com to be hy3e joy celestyall;
Remembryng to be clene and pure,
For in mysrewle we myth lythly fall
A3ens Hevyn Kynge.
Lete us now don oure dyligens
To come to oure faderys presens.11
Good brother, passe we hens
To knowe for oure levynge.
To com to be hy3e joy celestyall;
Remembryng to be clene and pure,
For in mysrewle we myth lythly fall
A3ens Hevyn Kynge.
Lete us now don oure dyligens
To come to oure faderys presens.11
Good brother, passe we hens
To knowe for oure levynge.
Caym
As to my fadyr lete us now tee14
To knowe what xal 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 haue good anow plenté,
I kan be mery, so moty the.20
Thow my fadyr I nevyr se,
I 3yf not þerof an hawe!
As to my fadyr lete us now tee14
To knowe what xal 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 haue good anow plenté,
I kan be mery, so moty the.20
Thow my fadyr I nevyr se,
I 3yf not þerof an hawe!
Abel
Ryth sovereyn fadyr, semely, sad and sure,23
Euyr we thank 3ow 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 3oure kne
To knowe how we xul rewlyd be29
For godys þat fallyth bothe hym and me;
I wolde fayn wete trewly.
Ryth sovereyn fadyr, semely, sad and sure,23
Euyr we thank 3ow 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 3oure kne
To knowe how we xul rewlyd be29
For godys þat fallyth bothe hym and me;
I wolde fayn wete trewly.
Adam
Sonys, 3e arn, to spekyn naturaly,32
The fyrst frute of kendely engendrure,
Befforn whom, saff 3oure modyr and I,
Were nevyr non of mannys nature.
And 3it were we al of another portature,
As 3e haue me oftyn herd seyd sothly.
Wherfore, sonys, yf 3e wyl lyff sad and sure,38
Fyrst I 3ow counseyll most syngulerly
God for to loue and drede.
And suche good as God hath 3ow sent,
The fyrst frute offyr to hym in sacryfice brent,
Hym evyr besechyng with meke entent
In all 3oure werkys to save and spede.44
Sonys, 3e arn, to spekyn naturaly,32
The fyrst frute of kendely engendrure,
Befforn whom, saff 3oure modyr and I,
Were nevyr non of mannys nature.
And 3it were we al of another portature,
As 3e haue me oftyn herd seyd sothly.
Wherfore, sonys, yf 3e wyl lyff sad and sure,38
Fyrst I 3ow counseyll most syngulerly
God for to loue and drede.
And suche good as God hath 3ow sent,
The fyrst frute offyr to hym in sacryfice brent,
Hym evyr besechyng with meke entent
In all 3oure werkys to save and spede.44
Abeell
Gramercy, fadyr, for 3oure good doctrine;45
For as 3e vs techyn, so xal we do.
And as for me, borwe Goddys grace dyvyne,
I wyl forthwith applye me þerto.
Gramercy, fadyr, for 3oure good doctrine;45
For as 3e vs techyn, so xal we do.
And as for me, borwe Goddys grace dyvyne,
I wyl forthwith applye me þerto.
Cayme
And þow me be loth, I wyl now also49
Onto 3oure counsell, fadyr, me inclyne.
And 3itt I say now to 3ow both too,
I had levyr gon hom, well for to dyne!
And þow me be loth, I wyl now also49
Onto 3oure counsell, fadyr, me inclyne.
And 3itt I say now to 3ow both too,
I had levyr gon hom, well for to dyne!
Adam
Now God graunt good sacryfice to 3ow both too.53
He vowchesaff to acceptyn 3ow and all myne,
And 3eve 3ow now grace to plesyn hym soo
þat 3e may come to þat blysse þat hymself is inne
With gostly grace;
þat all 3oure here-levyng
May be to his plesyng,59
And at 3oure hens-partyng
To com to good place.
Now God graunt good sacryfice to 3ow both too.53
He vowchesaff to acceptyn 3ow and all myne,
And 3eve 3ow now grace to plesyn hym soo
þat 3e may come to þat blysse þat hymself is inne
With gostly grace;
þat all 3oure here-levyng
May be to his plesyng,59
And at 3oure hens-partyng
To com to good place.
Abell dicit:
Almyhtty God and God ful of myth62
Be whom allþing is made of nowth,
To þe myn hert is redy dyht,
For upon þe is all my thought.
Be whom allþing is made of nowth,
To þe myn hert is redy dyht,
For upon þe is all my thought.
O souereyn Lord reygnyng in eternnyté,66
With all þe mekenesse þat I kan or may,
This lombe xal I offre it up to the;
Accept it, blyssyd Lord, I þe pray.
My 3yft is but sympyl, þis is no nay,
But my wyl is good, and evyr xal be;
þe to servyn and worchepyn both nyht and day.
And þerto þi grace, Lord, grawnt þu me
Throwh þi gret mercy;
Which, in a lombys lyknes,
þu xalt for mannys wyckydnes
Onys ben offeryd in peynfulnes
And deyn ful dolfoly.78
With all þe mekenesse þat I kan or may,
This lombe xal I offre it up to the;
Accept it, blyssyd Lord, I þe pray.
My 3yft is but sympyl, þis is no nay,
But my wyl is good, and evyr xal be;
þe to servyn and worchepyn both nyht and day.
And þerto þi grace, Lord, grawnt þu me
Throwh þi gret mercy;
Which, in a lombys lyknes,
þu xalt for mannys wyckydnes
Onys ben offeryd in peynfulnes
And deyn ful dolfoly.78
For trewly, Lord, þu art most worthy79
þe best to haue in eche degre.
Both beste and werst, ful certeynly,
All is had þorwe grace of þe.
The best schep, full hertyly,
Amongys my flok þat I kan se,
I tythe it to God of gret mercy,85
And bettyr wolde if bettyr myht be.
Evyn here is myn offryng.
I tythe to be with ryht good wylle
Of be best þu sentyst me tylle.
Now, gracyous God on hevyn hille,
Accept now my tythyng.91
þe best to haue in eche degre.
Both beste and werst, ful certeynly,
All is had þorwe grace of þe.
The best schep, full hertyly,
Amongys my flok þat I kan se,
I tythe it to God of gret mercy,85
And bettyr wolde if bettyr myht be.
Evyn here is myn offryng.
I tythe to be with ryht good wylle
Of be best þu sentyst me tylle.
Now, gracyous God on hevyn hille,
Accept now my tythyng.91
Caym
Amongys all folys þat gon on grownd92
I holde þat þu be on of þe most,
To tythe þe best þat is most sownd,
And kepe þe werst, þat is nere lost.
But I more wysly xal werke þis stownde
To tythe þe werst — and make no bost —
Off all my cornys þat may be fownde98
In all my feldys, both crofte and cost;
I xal lokyn on every syde.
Here I tythe þis vnthende sheff;
Lete God take it or ellys lef.
þow it be to me gret repreff,
I 3eve no fors þis tyde.104
Amongys all folys þat gon on grownd92
I holde þat þu be on of þe most,
To tythe þe best þat is most sownd,
And kepe þe werst, þat is nere lost.
But I more wysly xal werke þis stownde
To tythe þe werst — and make no bost —
Off all my cornys þat may be fownde98
In all my feldys, both crofte and cost;
I xal lokyn on every syde.
Here I tythe þis vnthende sheff;
Lete God take it or ellys lef.
þow it be to me gret repreff,
I 3eve no fors þis tyde.104
Abell
Now, Caym, brother, þu dost ful ill,105
For God be sent both best and werst.
þerfore þu shewe to hym good wyll
And tythe to God evyr of the best.
Now, Caym, brother, þu dost ful ill,105
For God be sent both best and werst.
þerfore þu shewe to hym good wyll
And tythe to God evyr of the best.
Caym
In feyth, þu shewyst now a febyll skyll,109
It wolde me hyndyr and do me greff.
What were God be bettyr, þu sey me tyll,
To 3evyn hym awey my best sheff
And kepe myself þe wers?
He wyll neyther ete nor drynke,
For he doth neyther swete nor swynke.115
þu shewyst a febyl reson, methynke.
What! þu fonnyst as a best, I gesse.
In feyth, þu shewyst now a febyll skyll,109
It wolde me hyndyr and do me greff.
What were God be bettyr, þu sey me tyll,
To 3evyn hym awey my best sheff
And kepe myself þe wers?
He wyll neyther ete nor drynke,
For he doth neyther swete nor swynke.115
þu shewyst a febyl reson, methynke.
What! þu fonnyst as a best, I gesse.
Abell
3it methynkyth my wyt is good118
To God euyrmore sum loue to shewe,
Off whom we haue oure dayly food;
And ellys we had but lytyl drewe.
3it methynkyth my wyt is good118
To God euyrmore sum loue to shewe,
Off whom we haue oure dayly food;
And ellys we had but lytyl drewe.
Caym
3itt methynkeht þi wytt is wood,122
For of þi lore I fynde but fewe.
I wyll neuyr þe more chawnge my mood
For no wordys þat þu dost shewe.
I sey I wyll tythe þe werst.
3itt methynkeht þi wytt is wood,122
For of þi lore I fynde but fewe.
I wyll neuyr þe more chawnge my mood
For no wordys þat þu dost shewe.
I sey I wyll tythe þe werst.
Abell
Now God þat syt in hefne aboue,127
On whom is sett all myn hool loue,
þis wyckyd wyll from þe he showe,
As it plesyth hym best.
Now God þat syt in hefne aboue,127
On whom is sett all myn hool loue,
þis wyckyd wyll from þe he showe,
As it plesyth hym best.
Hic ardent decimum Abel, et Caym quo facto dicit:
Caym
Herke, Abel, brother, what aray is þis?131
Thy tythyng brennyth as fyre ful bryght!
It is to me gret wondyr, iwys!
I trow þis is now a straunge syght.
Herke, Abel, brother, what aray is þis?131
Thy tythyng brennyth as fyre ful bryght!
It is to me gret wondyr, iwys!
I trow þis is now a straunge syght.
Abell
Goddys wyll, forsothe, it is135
þat my tythyng with fyre is lyth;
For of þe best were my tythis,
And of be werst þu dedyst hym dyght —
Bad thyng þu hym bede.
Of þe best was my tythyng,
And of þe werst was þin offryng.141
þerfor God Almyghty, Hevyn Kyng,
Alowyht ryht nowth þi dede.
Goddys wyll, forsothe, it is135
þat my tythyng with fyre is lyth;
For of þe best were my tythis,
And of be werst þu dedyst hym dyght —
Bad thyng þu hym bede.
Of þe best was my tythyng,
And of þe werst was þin offryng.141
þerfor God Almyghty, Hevyn Kyng,
Alowyht ryht nowth þi dede.
Caym
What! þu stynkyng losel, and is it so?144
Doth God þe love and hatyht me?
þu xalt be ded, I xal be slo!
þi Lord, þi God, þu xalt nevyr se!
Tythyng more xalt þu nevyr do.
With þis chavyl bon I xal sle þe!
þi deth is dyht, þi days be go.150
Out of myn handys xalt þu not fle —
With þis strok I þe kylle!
Now þis boy is slayn and dede,
Of hym I xal nevyrmore han drede;
He xal hereafter nevyr ete brede.
With þis gresse I xal hym hylle.156
What! þu stynkyng losel, and is it so?144
Doth God þe love and hatyht me?
þu xalt be ded, I xal be slo!
þi Lord, þi God, þu xalt nevyr se!
Tythyng more xalt þu nevyr do.
With þis chavyl bon I xal sle þe!
þi deth is dyht, þi days be go.150
Out of myn handys xalt þu not fle —
With þis strok I þe kylle!
Now þis boy is slayn and dede,
Of hym I xal nevyrmore han drede;
He xal hereafter nevyr ete brede.
With þis gresse I xal hym hylle.156
Deus
Caym, come forth and answere me!157
Asoyle my qwestyon anon-ryght!
Thy brother Abel, wher is now he?
Ha don and answere me as tyght!
Caym, come forth and answere me!157
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?161
Syn whan was I his kepyng-knyght?
I kannot telle wher þat he be;
To kepe hym was I nevyr dyght.
I knowe not wher he is.
My brothers kepere ho made me?161
Syn whan was I his kepyng-knyght?
I kannot telle wher þat he be;
To kepe hym was I nevyr dyght.
I knowe not wher he is.
Deus
A, cursyd Caym, þu art vntrewe,166
And for þi dede þu xalt sore rewe.
þi brothers blood, þat þu slewe,
Askyht vengeauns of þi mys.
A, cursyd Caym, þu art vntrewe,166
And for þi dede þu xalt sore rewe.
þi brothers blood, þat þu slewe,
Askyht vengeauns of þi mys.
Thu xalt be cursyd on þe grounde,170
Vnprophitable whereso þu wende,
Both veyn, and nowthty, and nothyng sounde;
With what ring þu medele, þu xalt it shende!
Vnprophitable whereso þu wende,
Both veyn, and nowthty, and nothyng sounde;
With what ring þu medele, þu xalt it shende!
Caym
Alas, in whoo now am I wounde,174
Acursyd of God as man vnkende!
Of any man yf I be founde,
He xal me slo; I haue no frende!
Alas and weleaway!
Alas, in whoo now am I wounde,174
Acursyd of God as man vnkende!
Of any man yf I be founde,
He xal me slo; I haue no frende!
Alas and weleaway!
Deus
Of what man þat þu be sclayn,179
He xal haue vij-folde more payn;
Hym were bettyr [nevyr] to be sayn
On lyve be nyth ne day.
Of what man þat þu be sclayn,179
He xal haue vij-folde more payn;
Hym were bettyr [nevyr] to be sayn
On lyve be nyth ne day.
Caym
Alas! Alas! Whedyr may I go?183
I dare nevyr se man in þe vesage.
I am woundyn as a wrecch in wo
And cursyd of God for my falsage.
Vnprofytabyl and vayn also,
In felde and town, in strete and stage,
I may nevyr make merthis mo.189
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 þat I best may
From mannys ssyht me hyde.195
Alas! Alas! Whedyr may I go?183
I dare nevyr se man in þe vesage.
I am woundyn as a wrecch in wo
And cursyd of God for my falsage.
Vnprofytabyl and vayn also,
In felde and town, in strete and stage,
I may nevyr make merthis mo.189
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 þat I best may
From mannys ssyht me hyde.195
2024 Mar 19 14:56:36