The Coopers' Play: The Fall of Man
Satan
For woo my witte es in a were1
That moffes me mykill in my mynde;
The Godhede that I sawe so cleere,
And parsayued that he shuld take kynde
Of a degree
That he had wrought, and I dedyned
That aungell kynde shuld it noyot be;7
And we wer faire and bright,
Therfore me thoght that he
The kynde of vs tane myght,
And therat dedeyned me.
The kynde of man he thoght to take
And theratt hadde I grete envye,13
But he has made to hym a make,
And harde to her I wol me hye
That redy way,
That purpose proue to putte it by,
And fande to pike fro hym that pray.
My trauayle were wele sette19
Myght Y hym so betraye,
His likyng for to lette,
And sone I schalle assaye.
In a worme liknes wille Y wende,
And founde to feyne a lowde lesynge.
Eue, Eue.25
For woo my witte es in a were1
That moffes me mykill in my mynde;
The Godhede that I sawe so cleere,
And parsayued that he shuld take kynde
Of a degree
That he had wrought, and I dedyned
That aungell kynde shuld it noyot be;7
And we wer faire and bright,
Therfore me thoght that he
The kynde of vs tane myght,
And therat dedeyned me.
The kynde of man he thoght to take
And theratt hadde I grete envye,13
But he has made to hym a make,
And harde to her I wol me hye
That redy way,
That purpose proue to putte it by,
And fande to pike fro hym that pray.
My trauayle were wele sette19
Myght Y hym so betraye,
His likyng for to lette,
And sone I schalle assaye.
In a worme liknes wille Y wende,
And founde to feyne a lowde lesynge.
Eue, Eue.25
Eue
What es thare?25
What es thare?25
Satan
I, a frende.25
And for thy gude es the comynge
I hydir sought.
Of all the fruyt that ye se hynge
In paradise, why ete yoe noght?
I, a frende.25
And for thy gude es the comynge
I hydir sought.
Of all the fruyt that ye se hynge
In paradise, why ete yoe noght?
Eue
We may of tham ilkane30
Take al that vs goode thought,
Save a tree outt is tane,
Wolde do harme to neyghe it ought.
We may of tham ilkane30
Take al that vs goode thought,
Save a tree outt is tane,
Wolde do harme to neyghe it ought.
Satan
And why that tree, that wolde I witte,34
Any more than all othir by?
And why that tree, that wolde I witte,34
Any more than all othir by?
Eue
For oure lord God forbeedis vs itt,36
The frute therof, Adam nor I
To neghe it nere;
And yf we dide we both shuld dye,
He saide, and sese our solace sere.
For oure lord God forbeedis vs itt,36
The frute therof, Adam nor I
To neghe it nere;
And yf we dide we both shuld dye,
He saide, and sese our solace sere.
Satan
Yha, Eue, to me take tente;41
Take hede and thou shalte here
What that the matere mente
He moved on that manere.
To ete therof he you defende
I knawe it wele, this was his skylle:
Bycause he wolde non othir kende47
Thes grete vertues that longes thertill.
For will thou see,
Who etis the frute of goode and ille
Shalle haue knowyng as wele as hee.
Yha, Eue, to me take tente;41
Take hede and thou shalte here
What that the matere mente
He moved on that manere.
To ete therof he you defende
I knawe it wele, this was his skylle:
Bycause he wolde non othir kende47
Thes grete vertues that longes thertill.
For will thou see,
Who etis the frute of goode and ille
Shalle haue knowyng as wele as hee.
Eue
Why, what-kynne thyng art thou52
That telles this tale to me?
Why, what-kynne thyng art thou52
That telles this tale to me?
Satan
A worme, that wotith wele how54
That yhe may wirshipped be.
A worme, that wotith wele how54
That yhe may wirshipped be.
Eue
What wirshippe shulde we wynne therby?56
To ete therof vs nedith it nought,
We have lordshippe to make maistrie
Of alle thynge that in erthe is wrought.
What wirshippe shulde we wynne therby?56
To ete therof vs nedith it nought,
We have lordshippe to make maistrie
Of alle thynge that in erthe is wrought.
Satan
Woman, do way!60
To gretter state ye may be broughte
And ye will do as I schall saye.
Woman, do way!60
To gretter state ye may be broughte
And ye will do as I schall saye.
Eue
To do is vs full lothe63
That shuld oure God myspaye.
To do is vs full lothe63
That shuld oure God myspaye.
Satan
Nay, certis it is no wathe,65
Ete it saffely ye maye.
For perille ryght ther none in lyes,
Bot worshippe and a grete wynnynge,
For right als God yhe shalle be wyse
And pere to hym in all-kyn thynge.
Ay, goddis shalle ye be,71
Of ille and gode to haue knawyng,
For to be als wise as he.
Nay, certis it is no wathe,65
Ete it saffely ye maye.
For perille ryght ther none in lyes,
Bot worshippe and a grete wynnynge,
For right als God yhe shalle be wyse
And pere to hym in all-kyn thynge.
Ay, goddis shalle ye be,71
Of ille and gode to haue knawyng,
For to be als wise as he.
Eue
Is this soth that thou sais?74
Is this soth that thou sais?74
Satan
Yhe, why trowes thou noyot me?75
I wolde be no-kynnes wayes
Telle noyot but trouthe to the.
Yhe, why trowes thou noyot me?75
I wolde be no-kynnes wayes
Telle noyot but trouthe to the.
Eue
Than wille I to thy techyng traste78
And fange this frute vnto oure foode.
Than wille I to thy techyng traste78
And fange this frute vnto oure foode.
Satan
Byte on boldly, be nought abasshed,80
And bere Adam to amende his mode
And eke his blisse.
Byte on boldly, be nought abasshed,80
And bere Adam to amende his mode
And eke his blisse.
Eue
Adam, have here of frute full goode.83
Adam, have here of frute full goode.83
Adam
Alas woman, why toke thou this?84
Owre lorde comaunded vs bothe
To tente the tree of his.
Thy werke wille make hym wrothe-
Allas, thou hast don amys.
Alas woman, why toke thou this?84
Owre lorde comaunded vs bothe
To tente the tree of his.
Thy werke wille make hym wrothe-
Allas, thou hast don amys.
Eue
Nay Adam, greve the nought at it,89
And I shal saie the reasonne why.
A worme has done me for to witte
We shalle be as goddis, thou and I,
Yf that we ete
Here of this tree; Adam, forthy
Lette noght that worshippe for to gete.95
For we shalle be als wise
Als God that is so grete,
And als mekill of prise;
Forthy ete of this mete.
Nay Adam, greve the nought at it,89
And I shal saie the reasonne why.
A worme has done me for to witte
We shalle be as goddis, thou and I,
Yf that we ete
Here of this tree; Adam, forthy
Lette noght that worshippe for to gete.95
For we shalle be als wise
Als God that is so grete,
And als mekill of prise;
Forthy ete of this mete.
Adam
To ete it wolde Y nought eschewe100
Myght I me sure in thy saying.
To ete it wolde Y nought eschewe100
Myght I me sure in thy saying.
Eue
Byte on boldely, for it is trewe,102
We shalle be goddis and knawe al thyng.
Byte on boldely, for it is trewe,102
We shalle be goddis and knawe al thyng.
Adam
To wynne that name104
I schalle it taste at thy techyng.
Allas, what haue I done, for shame!
Ille counsaille, woo worthe the!
A, Eue, thou art to blame,
To this entysed thou me-
Me shames with my lyghame,110
For I am naked as methynke.
To wynne that name104
I schalle it taste at thy techyng.
Allas, what haue I done, for shame!
Ille counsaille, woo worthe the!
A, Eue, thou art to blame,
To this entysed thou me-
Me shames with my lyghame,110
For I am naked as methynke.
Eue
Allas Adam, right so am I.112
Allas Adam, right so am I.112
Adam
And for sorowe sere why ne myght we synke,113
For we haue greved God almyghty
That made me man-
Brokyn his bidyng bittirly.
Allas that euer we it began.
This werke, Eue, hast thou wrought,
And made this bad bargayne.119
And for sorowe sere why ne myght we synke,113
For we haue greved God almyghty
That made me man-
Brokyn his bidyng bittirly.
Allas that euer we it began.
This werke, Eue, hast thou wrought,
And made this bad bargayne.119
Eue
Nay Adam, wite me nought.120
Nay Adam, wite me nought.120
Adam
Do wey, lefe Eue, whame than?121
Do wey, lefe Eue, whame than?121
Eue
The worme to wite wele worthy were,122
With tales vntrewe he me betrayed.
The worme to wite wele worthy were,122
With tales vntrewe he me betrayed.
Adam
Allas, that I lete at thy lare124
Or trowed the trufuls that thou me saide.
So may I byde,
For I may banne that bittir brayde
And drery dede, that I it dyde.
Oure shappe for doole me defes,
Wherewith thay shalle be hydde.130
Allas, that I lete at thy lare124
Or trowed the trufuls that thou me saide.
So may I byde,
For I may banne that bittir brayde
And drery dede, that I it dyde.
Oure shappe for doole me defes,
Wherewith thay shalle be hydde.130
Eue
Late vs take there fygge-leves,131
Sythen it is thus betydde.
Late vs take there fygge-leves,131
Sythen it is thus betydde.
Adam
Ryght as thou sais so shalle it bee,133
For we are naked and all bare;
Full wondyr fayne I wolde hyde me
Fro my lordis sight, and I wiste whare,
Where I ne roght.
Ryght as thou sais so shalle it bee,133
For we are naked and all bare;
Full wondyr fayne I wolde hyde me
Fro my lordis sight, and I wiste whare,
Where I ne roght.
God
Adam, Adam.138
Adam, Adam.138
Adam
Lorde.138
Lorde.138
God
Where art thou, yhare?138
Where art thou, yhare?138
Adam
I here the lorde and seys the noyot.139
I here the lorde and seys the noyot.139
God
Say, wheron is it longe,140
This werke why hast thou wrought?
Say, wheron is it longe,140
This werke why hast thou wrought?
Adam
Lorde, Eue garte me do wronge142
And to that bryg me brought.
Lorde, Eue garte me do wronge142
And to that bryg me brought.
God
Say, Eue, why hast thou garte thy make144
Ete frute I bad the shuld hynge stille,
And comaunded none of it to take?
Say, Eue, why hast thou garte thy make144
Ete frute I bad the shuld hynge stille,
And comaunded none of it to take?
Eue
A worme, lorde, entysed me thertill;147
So welaway,
That euer I did that dede so dill.
A worme, lorde, entysed me thertill;147
So welaway,
That euer I did that dede so dill.
God
A, wikkid worme, woo worthe the ay150
For thou on this maner
Hast made tham swilke affraye;
My malysoune haue thou here
With all the myght Y may.
And on thy wombe than shall thou glyde,
And be ay full of enmyté156
To al mankynde on ilke a side,
And erthe it shalle thy sustynaunce be
To ete and drynke.
Adam and Eue alsoo, yhe
In erthe than shalle ye swete and swynke,
And trauayle for youre foode.162
A, wikkid worme, woo worthe the ay150
For thou on this maner
Hast made tham swilke affraye;
My malysoune haue thou here
With all the myght Y may.
And on thy wombe than shall thou glyde,
And be ay full of enmyté156
To al mankynde on ilke a side,
And erthe it shalle thy sustynaunce be
To ete and drynke.
Adam and Eue alsoo, yhe
In erthe than shalle ye swete and swynke,
And trauayle for youre foode.162
Adam
Allas, whanne myght we synke,163
We that haues alle worldis goode
Ful derfly may vs thynke.
Allas, whanne myght we synke,163
We that haues alle worldis goode
Ful derfly may vs thynke.
God
Now Cherubyn, myn aungell bryght,166
To middilerth tyte go dryve there twoo.
Now Cherubyn, myn aungell bryght,166
To middilerth tyte go dryve there twoo.
Angel
Alle redy lorde, as it is right,168
Syn thy wille is that it be soo,
And thy lykyng.
Adam and Eue, do you to goo,
For here may yoe make no dwellyng;
Goo yhe forthe faste to fare,
Of sorowe may yhe synge.174
Alle redy lorde, as it is right,168
Syn thy wille is that it be soo,
And thy lykyng.
Adam and Eue, do you to goo,
For here may yoe make no dwellyng;
Goo yhe forthe faste to fare,
Of sorowe may yhe synge.174
Adam
Allas, for sorowe and care175
Oure handis may we wryng.
Allas, for sorowe and care175
Oure handis may we wryng.
2018 Nov 25 22:07:40