Joseph's Doubt About Mary
Joseph
How, dame, how! Vndo 3oure dore, vndo!1
Are 3e at hom? Why speke 3e notht?
How, dame, how! Vndo 3oure dore, vndo!1
Are 3e at hom? Why speke 3e notht?
Susanna
Who is ther? Why cry 3e so?3
Telle us 3oure herand; wyl 3e ought?
Who is ther? Why cry 3e so?3
Telle us 3oure herand; wyl 3e ought?
Joseph
Vndo 3oure dore, I sey 3ow to.5
For to com in is all my thought.
Vndo 3oure dore, I sey 3ow to.5
For to com in is all my thought.
Maria
It is my spowse þat spekyth us to.7
Ondo þe dore, his wyl were wrought.
It is my spowse þat spekyth us to.7
Ondo þe dore, his wyl were wrought.
Wellcome hom, myn husbond dere.9
How haue 3e ferd in fer countré?
How haue 3e ferd in fer countré?
Joseph
To gete oure levynge, withowtyn dwere,11
I haue sore laboryd for þe and me.
To gete oure levynge, withowtyn dwere,11
I haue sore laboryd for þe and me.
Maria
Husbond, ryght gracyously now come be 3e.13
It solacyth me sore sothly to se 3ow in syth.
Husbond, ryght gracyously now come be 3e.13
It solacyth me sore sothly to se 3ow in syth.
Joseph
Me merveylyth, wyff, surely! 3oure face I cannot se,
But as þe sonne with his bemys quan he is most bryth.
Me merveylyth, wyff, surely! 3oure face I cannot se,
But as þe sonne with his bemys quan he is most bryth.
Maria
Husbond, it is as it plesyth oure Lord, þat grace of hym grew.
Who þat evyr beholdyth me, veryly,
They xal be grettly steryd to vertu.
For þis 3yfte and many moo, good Lord, gramercy.
Husbond, it is as it plesyth oure Lord, þat grace of hym grew.
Who þat evyr beholdyth me, veryly,
They xal be grettly steryd to vertu.
For þis 3yfte and many moo, good Lord, gramercy.
Joseph
How hast þu ferde, jentyl mayde,21
Whyl I haue be out of londe?
How hast þu ferde, jentyl mayde,21
Whyl I haue be out of londe?
Maria
Sekyr, sere, beth nowth dysmayde,23
Ryth aftyr þe wyl of Goddys sonde.
Sekyr, sere, beth nowth dysmayde,23
Ryth aftyr þe wyl of Goddys sonde.
Joseph
That semyth evyl, I am afrayd.25
þi wombe to hy3e doth stonde!
I drede me sore I am betrayd,
Sum other man þe had in honde
Hens sythe þat I went!
Thy wombe is gret, it gynnyth to ryse.
Than hast þu begownne a synfull gyse.31
Telle me now in what wyse
Thyself þu ast þus schent.
That semyth evyl, I am afrayd.25
þi wombe to hy3e doth stonde!
I drede me sore I am betrayd,
Sum other man þe had in honde
Hens sythe þat I went!
Thy wombe is gret, it gynnyth to ryse.
Than hast þu begownne a synfull gyse.31
Telle me now in what wyse
Thyself þu ast þus schent.
Ow, dame, what þinge menyth this?34
With childe þu gynnyst ryth gret to gon.
Sey me, Mary, þis childys fadyr ho is?
I pray þe telle me, and þat anon.
With childe þu gynnyst ryth gret to gon.
Sey me, Mary, þis childys fadyr ho is?
I pray þe telle me, and þat anon.
Maria
The Fadyr of Hevyn and 3e it is —38
Other fadyr hath he non.
I dede nevyr forfete with man, iwys.
Wherfore I pray 3ow, amende 3oure mon.
This childe is Goddys and 3oure.
The Fadyr of Hevyn and 3e it is —38
Other fadyr hath he non.
I dede nevyr forfete with man, iwys.
Wherfore I pray 3ow, amende 3oure mon.
This childe is Goddys and 3oure.
Joseph
Goddys childe! þu lyist, in fay!43
God dede nevyr jape so with may!
And I cam nevyr ther, I dare wel say,
3itt so nyh þi boure.
Goddys childe! þu lyist, in fay!43
God dede nevyr jape so with may!
And I cam nevyr ther, I dare wel say,
3itt so nyh þi boure.
But 3it I sey, Mary, whoos childe is this?47
Maria
Goddys and 3oure, I sey, iwys.48
Goddys and 3oure, I sey, iwys.48
Joseph
3a, 3a, all olde men to me take tent,49
And weddyth no wyff in no kynnys wyse
þat is a 3onge wench, by myn asent,
For doute and drede and swych servyse.
Alas, alas, my name is shent!
All men may me now dyspyse
And seyn, "Olde cokwold, þi bowe is bent55
Newly now aftyr þe Frensche gyse."
Alas and welaway!
Alas, dame, why dedyst þu so?
For þis synne þat þu hast do
I the forsake and from þe go
For onys, evyr, and ay.61
3a, 3a, all olde men to me take tent,49
And weddyth no wyff in no kynnys wyse
þat is a 3onge wench, by myn asent,
For doute and drede and swych servyse.
Alas, alas, my name is shent!
All men may me now dyspyse
And seyn, "Olde cokwold, þi bowe is bent55
Newly now aftyr þe Frensche gyse."
Alas and welaway!
Alas, dame, why dedyst þu so?
For þis synne þat þu hast do
I the forsake and from þe go
For onys, evyr, and ay.61
Maria
Alas, gode spowse, why sey 3e thus?62
Alas, dere hosbund, amende 3oure mod.
It is no man but swete Jesus.
He wyll be clad in flesch and blood
And of 3oure wyf be born.
Alas, gode spowse, why sey 3e thus?62
Alas, dere hosbund, amende 3oure mod.
It is no man but swete Jesus.
He wyll be clad in flesch and blood
And of 3oure wyf be born.
Sephor
Forsothe, þe aungel, þus seyd he,67
þat Goddys sone in Trynité
For mannys sake a man wolde be
To save þat is forlorn.
Forsothe, þe aungel, þus seyd he,67
þat Goddys sone in Trynité
For mannys sake a man wolde be
To save þat is forlorn.
Joseph
An aungel! Allas, alas! Fy, for schame!71
3e syn now in þat 3e to say,
To puttyn an aungel in so gret blame!
Alas, alas! Let be! Do way!
It was sum boy began þis game
þat clothyd was clene and gay.
And 3e 3eve hym now an aungel name.77
Alas, alas, and welaway
þat evyr this game betydde.
A, dame, what thought haddyst þu?
Here may all men þis proverbe trow,
þat many a man doth bete þe bow,
Another man hath þe brydde.83
An aungel! Allas, alas! Fy, for schame!71
3e syn now in þat 3e to say,
To puttyn an aungel in so gret blame!
Alas, alas! Let be! Do way!
It was sum boy began þis game
þat clothyd was clene and gay.
And 3e 3eve hym now an aungel name.77
Alas, alas, and welaway
þat evyr this game betydde.
A, dame, what thought haddyst þu?
Here may all men þis proverbe trow,
þat many a man doth bete þe bow,
Another man hath þe brydde.83
Maria
A, gracyous God in hefne trone,84
Comforte my spowse in þis hard cas.
Mercyful God, amend his mone,
As I dede nevyr so gret trespas.
A, gracyous God in hefne trone,84
Comforte my spowse in þis hard cas.
Mercyful God, amend his mone,
As I dede nevyr so gret trespas.
Joseph
Lo, lo, serys, what told I 3ow,88
þat it was not for my prow
A wyff to take me to —
An þat is wel s[e]ne now!
For Mary, I make God avow,
Is grett with childe, lo.
Alas, why is it so?94
To þe busshop I wole it telle
þat he þe lawe may here do,
With stonys here to qwelle.
Lo, lo, serys, what told I 3ow,88
þat it was not for my prow
A wyff to take me to —
An þat is wel s[e]ne now!
For Mary, I make God avow,
Is grett with childe, lo.
Alas, why is it so?94
To þe busshop I wole it telle
þat he þe lawe may here do,
With stonys here to qwelle.
Nay, nay, 3et God forbede98
þat I xuld do þat ve[n]geabyl dede
But if I wyst wel qwy.
I knew nevyr with here, so God me spede,
Tokyn of thynge in word nor dede
þat towchyd velany.
Ncvyrþeles, what forthy,104
þow she be meke and mylde,
Withowth mannys company
She myght not be with childe!
þat I xuld do þat ve[n]geabyl dede
But if I wyst wel qwy.
I knew nevyr with here, so God me spede,
Tokyn of thynge in word nor dede
þat towchyd velany.
Ncvyrþeles, what forthy,104
þow she be meke and mylde,
Withowth mannys company
She myght not be with childe!
But I ensure, myn was it nevyr!108
Thow þat she hath not don here devyr,
Rather than I xuld pleynyn opynly,
Serteynly 3itt had I levyr
Forsake þe countré forevyr
And nevyr come in here company.
For and men knew þis velany,114
In repreiff ci wolde me holde.
And 3ett many bettyr than I,
3a, hath ben made cokolde!
Thow þat she hath not don here devyr,
Rather than I xuld pleynyn opynly,
Serteynly 3itt had I levyr
Forsake þe countré forevyr
And nevyr come in here company.
For and men knew þis velany,114
In repreiff ci wolde me holde.
And 3ett many bettyr than I,
3a, hath ben made cokolde!
Now, alas, whedyr xal I gone?118
I wot nevyr whedyr nor to what place,
For oftyntyme sorwe comyth sone,
And longe it is or it pace.
No comforte may I haue here.
Iwys, wyff þu dedyst me wronge!
Alas, I taryed from þe to longe!124
All men haue pety [on me] amonge,
For to my sorwe is no chere.
I wot nevyr whedyr nor to what place,
For oftyntyme sorwe comyth sone,
And longe it is or it pace.
No comforte may I haue here.
Iwys, wyff þu dedyst me wronge!
Alas, I taryed from þe to longe!124
All men haue pety [on me] amonge,
For to my sorwe is no chere.
Maria
God, þat in my body art sesyd,127
þu knowist myn husbond is dysplesyd
To se me in þis plight.
For vnknowlage he is desesyd,
And þerfore, help þat he were esyd,
þat he myght knowe þe ful perfyght.
For I haue levyr abyde [d]espyt133
To kepe þi sone in privité
Grauntyd by þe Holy Spyryt,
þan þat it xulde be opynd by me.
God, þat in my body art sesyd,127
þu knowist myn husbond is dysplesyd
To se me in þis plight.
For vnknowlage he is desesyd,
And þerfore, help þat he were esyd,
þat he myght knowe þe ful perfyght.
For I haue levyr abyde [d]espyt133
To kepe þi sone in privité
Grauntyd by þe Holy Spyryt,
þan þat it xulde be opynd by me.
Deus
Descende, I sey, myn aungelle,137
Onto Joseph for to telle
Such as my wyl is.
Byd hym with Mary abyde and dwelle,
For it is my sone ful snelle
þat she is with, iwys.
Descende, I sey, myn aungelle,137
Onto Joseph for to telle
Such as my wyl is.
Byd hym with Mary abyde and dwelle,
For it is my sone ful snelle
þat she is with, iwys.
Angelus
Almyghty God of Blys,143
I am redy for to wende
Wedyr as þi wyl is,
To go bothe fer and hynde.
Almyghty God of Blys,143
I am redy for to wende
Wedyr as þi wyl is,
To go bothe fer and hynde.
Joseph, Joseph, þu wepyst shyrle.147
Fro þi wyff why comyst þu owte?
Fro þi wyff why comyst þu owte?
Joseph
Good sere, lete me wepe my fylle;149
Go forthe þi wey and lett me nowght.
Good sere, lete me wepe my fylle;149
Go forthe þi wey and lett me nowght.
Angelus
In þi wepynge þu dost ryght ylle —
A3ens God þu hast myswrought!
Go chere þi wyff with herty wylle,
And chawnge þi chere, amende þi thought.
Sche is a ful clene may.
I telle þe, God wyl of here be born,
And sche clene mayd as she was beforn,157
To saue mankynd, þat is forlorn.
Go chere hyre, þerfore, I say.
In þi wepynge þu dost ryght ylle —
A3ens God þu hast myswrought!
Go chere þi wyff with herty wylle,
And chawnge þi chere, amende þi thought.
Sche is a ful clene may.
I telle þe, God wyl of here be born,
And sche clene mayd as she was beforn,157
To saue mankynd, þat is forlorn.
Go chere hyre, þerfore, I say.
Joseph
A, Lord God, benedicité.160
Of þi gret comforte I thank the
þat þu sent me þis space.
I myght wel a wyst, pardé,
So good a creature as she
Wold nevyr a don trespace,
For sche is ful of grace.166
I know wel I haue myswrought.
I walk to my pore place
And aske forgyfnes, I haue mysthought.
A, Lord God, benedicité.160
Of þi gret comforte I thank the
þat þu sent me þis space.
I myght wel a wyst, pardé,
So good a creature as she
Wold nevyr a don trespace,
For sche is ful of grace.166
I know wel I haue myswrought.
I walk to my pore place
And aske forgyfnes, I haue mysthought.
Now is þe tyme sen at eye170
þat þe childe is now to veryfye,
Which xal saue mankende,
As it was spoke be prophesye.
I thank þe, God, þat syttys on hye,
With hert, wyl, and mende,
þat evyr þu woldyst me bynde176
To wedde Mary to my wyff,
þi blysful sone so nere to fynde,
In his presens to lede my lyff.
þat þe childe is now to veryfye,
Which xal saue mankende,
As it was spoke be prophesye.
I thank þe, God, þat syttys on hye,
With hert, wyl, and mende,
þat evyr þu woldyst me bynde176
To wedde Mary to my wyff,
þi blysful sone so nere to fynde,
In his presens to lede my lyff.
Alas, for joy I qwedyr and qwake.180
Alas, what hap now was this?
A mercy, mercy, my jentyl make,
Mercy, I haue seyd al amys!
All þat I haue seyd, here I forsake.
3oure swete fete now lete me kys.
Alas, what hap now was this?
A mercy, mercy, my jentyl make,
Mercy, I haue seyd al amys!
All þat I haue seyd, here I forsake.
3oure swete fete now lete me kys.
Mary
Nay, lett be my fete, not þo 3e take;186
My mowthe 3e may kys, iwys,
And welcom onto me.
Nay, lett be my fete, not þo 3e take;186
My mowthe 3e may kys, iwys,
And welcom onto me.
Joseph
Gramercy, myn owyn swete wyff,189
Gramercy, myn hert, my love, my lyff.
Xal I nevyrmore make suche stryff
Betwyx me and þe.
Gramercy, myn owyn swete wyff,189
Gramercy, myn hert, my love, my lyff.
Xal I nevyrmore make suche stryff
Betwyx me and þe.
A, Mary, Mary, wel þu be,193
And blyssyd be þe frewte in the,
Goddys Sone of Myght.
Now, good wyff, ful of pyté,
As be not evyl payd with me
þow þat þu haue good ryght.
As for my wronge in syght199
To wyte þe with ony synne,
Had þu not be a vertuous wythe,
God wold not a be þe withinne.
And blyssyd be þe frewte in the,
Goddys Sone of Myght.
Now, good wyff, ful of pyté,
As be not evyl payd with me
þow þat þu haue good ryght.
As for my wronge in syght199
To wyte þe with ony synne,
Had þu not be a vertuous wythe,
God wold not a be þe withinne.
I knowlage I haue don amys.203
I was nevyr wurthy, iwys,
For to be þin husbonde.
I xal amende aftere thys,
Ryght as þin owyn wyl is,
To serve þe at foot and honde,
And þi chylde bothe to vndyrstonde,209
To wurchep hym with good affeccyon.
And þerfore telle me, and nothynge whonde,
The holy matere of 3oure concepcyon.
I was nevyr wurthy, iwys,
For to be þin husbonde.
I xal amende aftere thys,
Ryght as þin owyn wyl is,
To serve þe at foot and honde,
And þi chylde bothe to vndyrstonde,209
To wurchep hym with good affeccyon.
And þerfore telle me, and nothynge whonde,
The holy matere of 3oure concepcyon.
Maria
At 3owre owyn wyll as 3e bydde me:213
Ther cam an aunge[l] hyght Gabryell,
And gret me fayr, and seyd, "Aue!"
And ferthermore to me gan tell
God xulde be borne of my bodé,
þe fendys powsté for to felle.
þorwe þe Holy Gost, as I wel se,219
þus God in me wyl byde and dwelle.
At 3owre owyn wyll as 3e bydde me:213
Ther cam an aunge[l] hyght Gabryell,
And gret me fayr, and seyd, "Aue!"
And ferthermore to me gan tell
God xulde be borne of my bodé,
þe fendys powsté for to felle.
þorwe þe Holy Gost, as I wel se,219
þus God in me wyl byde and dwelle.
Joseph
Now I thank God with spech and spelle221
þat euyr, Mary, I was weddyd to the.
Now I thank God with spech and spelle221
þat euyr, Mary, I was weddyd to the.
Mary
It was þe werk of God, as I 3ow telle.223
Now blyssyd be þat Lord so purveyd for me.
It was þe werk of God, as I 3ow telle.223
Now blyssyd be þat Lord so purveyd for me.
2024 Mar 19 14:56:36