The Barkers' Play: The Fall of the Angels
God
Ego sum Alpha et nouissimus.1
I am gracyus and grete, God withoutyn begynnyng,1
I am maker vnmade, all mighte es in me;
I am lyfe and way vnto welth-wynnyng,
I am formaste and fyrste, als I byd sall it be.
My blyssyng o ble sall be blendyng,
And heldand, fro harme to be hydande,
My body in blys ay abydande,7
Vnendande, withoutyn any endyng.
Sen I am maker vnmade and most es of mighte,
And ay sall be endeles and noghte es but I,
Vnto my dygnyté dere sall diewly be dyghte
A place full of plenté to my plesyng at ply;
And therewith als wyll I haue wroght13
Many dyuers doynges bedene,
Whilke warke sall mekely contene,
And all sall be made euen of noghte.
But onely the worthely warke of my wyll
In my sprete sall enspyre the mighte of me;
And in the fyrste, faythely, my thoghte to fullfyll,
Baynely in my blyssyng I byd at here be
A blys al-beledande abowte me,
In the whilke blys I byde at be here
Nyen ordres of aungels full clere,
In louyng ay-lastande at lowte me.
Here vndernethe me nowe a nexile I neuen,25
Whilke ile sall be erthe. Now all be at ones
Erthe haly, and helle, this hegheste be heuen,
And that welth sall welde sall won in this wones.
This graunte I yoowe, mynysters myne,
To-whils yohe ar stabill in thoghte-
And also to thaime that ar noghte31
Be put to my presone at pyne.
Of all the mightes I haue made, moste nexte after me
I make the als master and merour of my mighte;
I beelde the here baynely in blys for to be,
I name the for Lucifer, als berar of lyghte.
Nothyng here sall the be derand;37
In this blis sall be yohour beeldyng,
And haue all welth in yooure weledyng,
Ay-whils yohe ar buxumly berande.
Ego sum Alpha et nouissimus.1
I am gracyus and grete, God withoutyn begynnyng,1
I am maker vnmade, all mighte es in me;
I am lyfe and way vnto welth-wynnyng,
I am formaste and fyrste, als I byd sall it be.
My blyssyng o ble sall be blendyng,
And heldand, fro harme to be hydande,
My body in blys ay abydande,7
Vnendande, withoutyn any endyng.
Sen I am maker vnmade and most es of mighte,
And ay sall be endeles and noghte es but I,
Vnto my dygnyté dere sall diewly be dyghte
A place full of plenté to my plesyng at ply;
And therewith als wyll I haue wroght13
Many dyuers doynges bedene,
Whilke warke sall mekely contene,
And all sall be made euen of noghte.
But onely the worthely warke of my wyll
In my sprete sall enspyre the mighte of me;
And in the fyrste, faythely, my thoghte to fullfyll,
Baynely in my blyssyng I byd at here be
A blys al-beledande abowte me,
In the whilke blys I byde at be here
Nyen ordres of aungels full clere,
In louyng ay-lastande at lowte me.
Here vndernethe me nowe a nexile I neuen,25
Whilke ile sall be erthe. Now all be at ones
Erthe haly, and helle, this hegheste be heuen,
And that welth sall welde sall won in this wones.
This graunte I yoowe, mynysters myne,
To-whils yohe ar stabill in thoghte-
And also to thaime that ar noghte31
Be put to my presone at pyne.
Of all the mightes I haue made, moste nexte after me
I make the als master and merour of my mighte;
I beelde the here baynely in blys for to be,
I name the for Lucifer, als berar of lyghte.
Nothyng here sall the be derand;37
In this blis sall be yohour beeldyng,
And haue all welth in yooure weledyng,
Ay-whils yohe ar buxumly berande.
Angel 1
A, mercyfull maker, full mekill es thi mighte,41
That all this warke at a worde worthely has wroghte.
Ay loued be that lufly lorde of his lighte,
That vs thus mighty has made that nowe was righte noghte,
In blys for to byde in his blyssyng.
Ay-lastande in luf lat vs lowte hym,
At beelde vs thus baynely abowete hym,47
Of myrthe neuermore to haue myssyng.
A, mercyfull maker, full mekill es thi mighte,41
That all this warke at a worde worthely has wroghte.
Ay loued be that lufly lorde of his lighte,
That vs thus mighty has made that nowe was righte noghte,
In blys for to byde in his blyssyng.
Ay-lastande in luf lat vs lowte hym,
At beelde vs thus baynely abowete hym,47
Of myrthe neuermore to haue myssyng.
Lucifer
All the myrth that es made es markide in me!49
The bemes of my brighthode ar byrnande so bryghte,
And I so semely in syghte myselfe now I se,
For lyke a lorde am I lefte to lende in this lighte.
More fayrear be far than my feres,
In me is no poynte that may payre;
I fele me fetys and fayre,55
My powar es passande my peres.
All the myrth that es made es markide in me!49
The bemes of my brighthode ar byrnande so bryghte,
And I so semely in syghte myselfe now I se,
For lyke a lorde am I lefte to lende in this lighte.
More fayrear be far than my feres,
In me is no poynte that may payre;
I fele me fetys and fayre,55
My powar es passande my peres.
Cherabyn
Lorde, wyth a lastande luf we loue the allone,57
Thou mightefull maker that markid vs and made vs,
And wroghte us thus worthely to wone in this wone,
Ther neuer felyng of fylth may full vs nor fade vs.
All blys es here beeldande aboute vs;
To-whyls we are stabyll in thoughte
In the worschipp of hym that us wroght,63
Of dere neuer thar vs more dowte vs.
Lorde, wyth a lastande luf we loue the allone,57
Thou mightefull maker that markid vs and made vs,
And wroghte us thus worthely to wone in this wone,
Ther neuer felyng of fylth may full vs nor fade vs.
All blys es here beeldande aboute vs;
To-whyls we are stabyll in thoughte
In the worschipp of hym that us wroght,63
Of dere neuer thar vs more dowte vs.
Angel 2
O, what I am fetys and fayre and fygured full fytt!
The forme of all fayrehede apon me es feste,
All welth in my weelde es, I wote be my wytte;
The bemes of my brighthede are bygged with the beste.
My schewyng es schemerande and schynande,
So bygly to blys am I broghte;
Me nedes for to noy me righte noghte,71
Here sall neuer payne me be pynande.
O, what I am fetys and fayre and fygured full fytt!
The forme of all fayrehede apon me es feste,
All welth in my weelde es, I wote be my wytte;
The bemes of my brighthede are bygged with the beste.
My schewyng es schemerande and schynande,
So bygly to blys am I broghte;
Me nedes for to noy me righte noghte,71
Here sall neuer payne me be pynande.
Angel 1
With all the wytt at we welde we woyrschip thi wyll,
Thou gloryus God that es grunde of all grace;
Ay with stedefaste steuen lat vs stande styll,
Lorde, to be fede with the fode of thi fayre face.
In lyfe that es lely ay-lastande,
Thi dale, lorde, es ay daynetethly delande,
And whoso that fode may be felande-79
To se thi fayre face-es noght fastande.
With all the wytt at we welde we woyrschip thi wyll,
Thou gloryus God that es grunde of all grace;
Ay with stedefaste steuen lat vs stande styll,
Lorde, to be fede with the fode of thi fayre face.
In lyfe that es lely ay-lastande,
Thi dale, lorde, es ay daynetethly delande,
And whoso that fode may be felande-79
To se thi fayre face-es noght fastande.
Lucifer
Owe, certes, what I am worthely wroghte with wyrschip, iwys!
For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes;
I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys-
Ay sall I byde in this blys thorowe brightnes of bemes.
Me nedes noghte of noy for to neuen,
All welth in my welde haue I weledande;
Abowne yohit sall I be beeldand,87
On heghte in the hyeste of hewuen.
Ther sall I set myselfe full semely to seyghte,
To ressayue my reuerence thorowe righte o renowne;
I sall be lyke vnto hym that es hyeste on heghte.
Owe, what I am derworth and defte-Owe! Dewes! All goes downe!
My mighte and my mayne es all marrande-93
Helpe, felawes! In faythe I am fallande.
Owe, certes, what I am worthely wroghte with wyrschip, iwys!
For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes;
I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys-
Ay sall I byde in this blys thorowe brightnes of bemes.
Me nedes noghte of noy for to neuen,
All welth in my welde haue I weledande;
Abowne yohit sall I be beeldand,87
On heghte in the hyeste of hewuen.
Ther sall I set myselfe full semely to seyghte,
To ressayue my reuerence thorowe righte o renowne;
I sall be lyke vnto hym that es hyeste on heghte.
Owe, what I am derworth and defte-Owe! Dewes! All goes downe!
My mighte and my mayne es all marrande-93
Helpe, felawes! In faythe I am fallande.
Angel 2
Fra heuen are we heledande on all hande,95
To wo are we weendande, I warande.
Fra heuen are we heledande on all hande,95
To wo are we weendande, I warande.
Lucifer
Owte! Owte! Harrowe! Helples, slyke hote at es here;
This es a dongon of dole that I am to dyghte.
Whare es my kynde become, so cumly and clere?
Nowe am I laytheste, allas, that are was lighte.
My bryghtnes es blakkeste and blo nowe,
My bale es ay betande and brynande-
That gares ane go gowlande and gyrnande.103
Owte! Ay walaway! I well euen in wo nowe.
Owte! Owte! Harrowe! Helples, slyke hote at es here;
This es a dongon of dole that I am to dyghte.
Whare es my kynde become, so cumly and clere?
Nowe am I laytheste, allas, that are was lighte.
My bryghtnes es blakkeste and blo nowe,
My bale es ay betande and brynande-
That gares ane go gowlande and gyrnande.103
Owte! Ay walaway! I well euen in wo nowe.
Diabolus
Owte! Owte! I go wode for wo, my wytte es all wente nowe,
All oure fode es but filth we fynde vs beforn.
We that ware beelded in blys, in bale are we brent nowe-
Owte on the Lucifer, lurdan, oure lyghte has thou lorne.
Thi dedes to this dole nowe has dyghte us,
To spill vs thou was oure spedar,
For thow was oure lyghte and oure ledar,111
The hegheste of heuen hade thou hyght vs.
Owte! Owte! I go wode for wo, my wytte es all wente nowe,
All oure fode es but filth we fynde vs beforn.
We that ware beelded in blys, in bale are we brent nowe-
Owte on the Lucifer, lurdan, oure lyghte has thou lorne.
Thi dedes to this dole nowe has dyghte us,
To spill vs thou was oure spedar,
For thow was oure lyghte and oure ledar,111
The hegheste of heuen hade thou hyght vs.
Lucifer
Walaway! Wa es me now, nowe es it war thane it was.
Vnthryuandely threpe yohe-I sayde but a thoghte.
Walaway! Wa es me now, nowe es it war thane it was.
Vnthryuandely threpe yohe-I sayde but a thoghte.
Diabolus
We, lurdane, thou lost vs.115
We, lurdane, thou lost vs.115
Lucifer
Yhe ly! Owte, allas!115
I wyste noghte this wo sculde be wroghte.
Owte on yohow, lurdans, yohe smore me in smoke.
Yhe ly! Owte, allas!115
I wyste noghte this wo sculde be wroghte.
Owte on yohow, lurdans, yohe smore me in smoke.
Diabolus
This wo has thou wroghte vs.118
This wo has thou wroghte vs.118
Lucifer
Yhe ly, yohe ly!118
Yhe ly, yohe ly!118
Diabolus
Thou lyes, and that sall thou by:119
We, lurdane, haue at yoowe, lat loke!
Thou lyes, and that sall thou by:119
We, lurdane, haue at yoowe, lat loke!
Cherabyn
A, lorde, louid be thi name that vs this lyghte lente,
Sen Lucifer oure ledar es lighted so lawe,
For hys vnbuxumnes in bale to be brente-
Thi rightewysnes to rewarde on rowe
Ilke warke eftyr is wroghte-
Thorowe grace of thi mercyfull myghte
The cause I se itt in syghte,127
Wharefore to bale he es broghte.
A, lorde, louid be thi name that vs this lyghte lente,
Sen Lucifer oure ledar es lighted so lawe,
For hys vnbuxumnes in bale to be brente-
Thi rightewysnes to rewarde on rowe
Ilke warke eftyr is wroghte-
Thorowe grace of thi mercyfull myghte
The cause I se itt in syghte,127
Wharefore to bale he es broghte.
God
Those foles for thaire fayrehede in fantasyes fell,
And hade mayne of mi mighte that marked tham and made tham.
Forthi efter thaire warkes were, in wo sall thai well,
For sum ar fallen into fylthe that euermore sall fade tham,
And neuer sall haue grace for to gyrth tham.
So passande of power tham thoght tham,
Thai wolde noght me worschip that wroghte tham;135
Forthi sall my wreth euer go with tham.
Ande all that me wyrschippe sall wone here, iwys;
Forthi more forthe of my warke, wyrke nowe I will.
Syn than ther mighte es for-marryde that mente all omys,
Euen to myne awne fygure this blys to fulfyll,
Mankynde of moulde will I make.141
But fyrste wille I fourme hym before
All thyng that sall hym restore,
To whilke that his talente will take.
Ande in my fyrste makyng, to mustyr my mighte,
Sen erthe es vayne and voyde and myrknes emel,
I byd in my blyssyng yohe aungels gyf lyghte147
To the erthe, for it faded when the fendes fell.
In hell sall neuer myrknes be myssande,
The myrknes thus name I for nighte;
The day, that call I this lyghte-
My after-warkes sall thai be wyssande.
Ande nowe in my blyssyng I twyne tham in two,153
The nighte euen fro the day, so that thai mete neuer,
But ather in a kynde courese thaire gates for to go.
Bothe the nighte and the day, does dewly yohour deyuer,
To all I sall wirke be yohe wysshyng.
This day warke es done ilke a dele,
And all this warke lykes me ryght wele,159
And baynely I gyf it my blyssyng.
Those foles for thaire fayrehede in fantasyes fell,
And hade mayne of mi mighte that marked tham and made tham.
Forthi efter thaire warkes were, in wo sall thai well,
For sum ar fallen into fylthe that euermore sall fade tham,
And neuer sall haue grace for to gyrth tham.
So passande of power tham thoght tham,
Thai wolde noght me worschip that wroghte tham;135
Forthi sall my wreth euer go with tham.
Ande all that me wyrschippe sall wone here, iwys;
Forthi more forthe of my warke, wyrke nowe I will.
Syn than ther mighte es for-marryde that mente all omys,
Euen to myne awne fygure this blys to fulfyll,
Mankynde of moulde will I make.141
But fyrste wille I fourme hym before
All thyng that sall hym restore,
To whilke that his talente will take.
Ande in my fyrste makyng, to mustyr my mighte,
Sen erthe es vayne and voyde and myrknes emel,
I byd in my blyssyng yohe aungels gyf lyghte147
To the erthe, for it faded when the fendes fell.
In hell sall neuer myrknes be myssande,
The myrknes thus name I for nighte;
The day, that call I this lyghte-
My after-warkes sall thai be wyssande.
Ande nowe in my blyssyng I twyne tham in two,153
The nighte euen fro the day, so that thai mete neuer,
But ather in a kynde courese thaire gates for to go.
Bothe the nighte and the day, does dewly yohour deyuer,
To all I sall wirke be yohe wysshyng.
This day warke es done ilke a dele,
And all this warke lykes me ryght wele,159
And baynely I gyf it my blyssyng.
2018 Nov 25 22:07:40