þan he wolde ech day make his mangeryze
& pus he chastid his body: fram sinne & folyze.
po he com to four & twenty (!) zer,
he sent after his felawe: þat heet efficis,
Inke & parchemyne he bade he chold wit him bringe.
wondir hadde effecis of pis ilk pinge,
þedir he went & brouzt: parchemyn, wel ic wot.
per-on his owe testament: illarion him-self wrot:
he be-quap efesis his certil : & his mantel
& his pilche & his bok, : & seyde, „wite me wel!
for in pis ilke lyue: dwellen no leng I ne may,
for hennus ic chal fare here-after pe pridde day.
& lok wel, whan my soule: Is fram þe body agon,
pat my body be I-beried sone & pat anon;
burie me anon-ryzt, for loue ic bidde pis,
& let erpe to erp: al-so his kende is!"
his lemus gonne a-steuie po pis was I-do,
& al manliche hete: fram him gan þo go;
wit his tonge he heried god : & loked wit his eye,
be oper wittus weren a-gon er he myste deye.
to his soule he seyde, „soule, what eylep pe?
wherof art pou a-dradde: to lete pis wikkid contre?
go forp out of be body: & ne dred nouzt, I-wis,
for wel ic wot, a meri stede: þe is I-mad, I-wis.
fourty & .xv. (!) zer: crist þoù I-serued haste:
perfore wend out hardeliche: & ne be nouzt a-gaste!“
wit bis ilke word his soule gan out wende
to be blis of heuene, pat last wit-outen ende.
Moche folk pedir com pis buriinge for to don,
& buried pis holy body: so hy auzten anon.
nyze morwenyngus per he lay & alytel more.
þat he lay so longe per efecis of-pouzte sore;
ffram þilke stede pe holy body, Ic wot, he remuyd, I-wis,
& buried him in a toun: þat rome (!) I-cleped is,
& let him pere berie wit wel gret honour;
& mony mon of euil per ap I-haued socour.
now bidde we god for pe loue of seint illarion,
þat he vs graunty þat blis: þat ending naueþ non. amen.
Seint crissaunt and darize. 1
Polimus was a nob(l)e man, : in Alisaundre I-bore,
knyat he was & gret lord,
so ic may telle zou fore,
non ne myzte be.
pe emperour of rome:
for he was heued & syre of alle pat contre;
worse man to cristene men
Numerian me cleped po
he hadde mony a cristene man: I-let slen wit dome.
polimius seyde his frendus: þat he wolde wende
& dwelle a whyle wit pe emperour: þat was fre & hende.
crisaunt, þat was his songe sone, wit him po he tok,
for he chold at rome
swybe glad was be
to his preue consayl:
lerny vppon þe book. emperour: po he was I-come; polimyus he hap I-nome,
117 1. four score (Er wurde 80 Jahr alt). 118 lat. Hesychius. mantel st. pilche. 128 Ms. ne be. 139 1. f. & twis xv (= 70)? 148 l. Majuma. Die Acta, griech. u. lat., s. in A. SS. Boll. p. 469 ff.; der engl. Text ruht jedoch auf ganz anderen Quellen. 4 Ms. non worse ne m. b. 7 Ms. polinnius.
he him made his iustise: & af him dingnete,
& bed him next his syde: þat he cholde be,
& by-gan to werche: mochil after his rede,
for he was in here lawe of swype noble dede.
Crissaunt, þat was polimius sone, to cole gan to go.
nas þer non in al pe cole pat gan to lerny so,
ffor so kene was his wit: þat al he hauep I-cauzt
þat eny mayster in boke per-in him hauep I-tauzt.
So wel he ondirstode al: þat me spek wit steuene,
þat in alyte whyle he was mayster of þe artes seuene.
ac, I-wis, of deuenyte ne coupe he ryzt nauzt,
ffor he ne seyz neuer bok þer-of, no hit nas him I-tauzt.
Polimie loued wel crissaunt for his gode lore,
& bouzt him bokus I-nowe for to lerny more.
so bat crillaunt vppon a day 3ide in chepinge:
a bok of oure gospelus to sellen me gan bringe,
of Jhesu cristus wordus : & oure leuedy also
Moche me hadde per-on I-write : & in pe bok I-do.
Crisaunt po he I-sey þe booke : & tok him in his honde,
of soche clergye ne sey he neuer er in þilke londe.
perfore he stood in pouzt: & gan to syke, I-wis,
a, mahounde," seyde he, : „what clergi is al pis?"
be ryste tix it was to sope of al deuinyte,
of pistlis & of gospelus so pe bok tellep me.
Anon he bouзt pis boke : & wit him hom it bar.
to noman he ne cheued hit: þat he fond þar,
& him-self he stodiid wel: & was in gret pouzt;
& for he nadde no teching, al hit was for nouzt.
& þey he seyde to him-selue: „bokus so derk as myste (!)", a steuen he herde to him speke: myd wel gret myzte:
Crisaunt, pou hast I-haued zore a bok of gret lore & gode:
to by-holdin ofte per-on pin soule it chal don fode;
perfore ich rede pe, on pilke book wel ofte bat bou rede,
for to knowleching of sopnes forsope hit wole pe lede.
for if pou hast lore of pestirnesse er þis ondirfonge,
for to habbe lore of lyst þe auzte penche wel longe."
& to habbe a mayster: he nyste to wite whare;
nyzt & day he pouzte & was in swybe gret care.
a velawe crisaunt hadde pat cristin he was I-hudde,
his cristindom for drede: wel selde hit was I-cudde,
for be emperour was so cruel þat if he eny I-founde,
to depe he cholde ben I-brouzt In a wel litil stounde;
constantin het þis cristinman, & pouzt nyzt & day
of be mornyng of crisaunt to wite be ryzte way.
On a day he com him to : & pus he seyde po:
seye me, mayster crisaunt, why mornystou so?
Is it for pin lemmon: oper for eny oper ping?
y-wis, me greuep sore: þat ic pe se mornyng.“
be stille, leue coftauntin," : crisaunt seyde anon,
wite hit wel for sope to lemmon wil nabbe Ic non.
a bok ich fond þis endirday: & Ich hit so bouzt;
for ic nabbe per-on non ondirstonding perfore ich am In
& zut alle be worse me is, for sope ich segge þe,
þat ich knowe no mayster: þat can hit teche to me."
17 cole scole. 30 Ms. he st. me. 35 tix text. 38 Ms. for st. to.
41 þey st. po? 1. þe bok is. myste st. nyzte?
Archiv f. n. Sprachen. LXXXII.
let me I-se," quap costauntin, so þat we mowe I-fere oper red ne can ic non; wel pou wost oure ayper
þat ilke bok anon,
loke per-vppon;
I-wis, my leue broper,
may speke be bet for oper."
po costauntin I-sey; þe boke, an honde he hit nom
& radde per-on & seyde, : „pis is of cristindom."
Cristindom, what is pat?" : crisaunt seyde po, Ich not neuer what pou seyst, how knowistou it so? hastou I-lerned ouzt per-of, for loue sey me her, for ich ne herde of cristindom speke neuer er.“
Costauntin gan wepe & seyde to him pis: „Ic ne can vppon pis boke: noþing þe teche, I-wis, & zut, bey ich coupe, vnworby ic were per-to;
hit moste ben a cristen prest: þat coupe soche dedus do.“ „Certus, quap crisaunt po, „pan canstou telle more
In woche wise ic myzt best comen to pis lore."
costauntin answerid, & zif pou wolt don by me,
to Jhesu crist of heuene: pou most abouen þe,
& alle-maner oper godus: clene pou most forsake
& pin body & pin soule to Jhesu crist by-take;
wel ic woot to sope: pis is pe by-ginnyng
how man chal best I-knowe: be sope of soch teching."
Now hap crisaunt to Jhesu crist him by-take, I-wis.
pan seyde costauntin, : „an holi prest þer is
In þe hulle of nerui, wit care faste I-bounde,
& so wel he is I-hudde: þat he is selde I-founde
for drede of be emperour he is I-hud so,
lest he were for cristindom: anon to depe I-do. bidde zerne to Jhesu crist by day & by nyzt
þat he to carporye be prest: be weye be sende aryzt."
Now is crissaunt in gret pouzt: & biddep nyzt & day,
& to be hil of nerui: himself he tok be way.
vp & doun he zede himself, & po þat he com þere,
he wep & wrong his hondin : & made reuly bere,
loude he cride to Jhesu crist & bed wit-outen mysse
to carporye be holy prest: þat he him cholde wisse.
carporye set in his selle: & I-hurde al pis,
blybe he was, & ek a-gast in his herte, 1-wis,
why me him cleped pere;
ne dorste gon for fere.
for he nyste be encheson
vnnepe out of his selle: he
Napeles to bis zongeman out he went wel stille,
& axed him wel myldeliche: what were po his wille.
I-wis," quap crissaunt, „to Jhesu crist: myn herte is al I-nome, perfore to speke wit carporye be prest: hedir ic am I-come, 110 & ich be bidde, leue syre, pur seint charite,
zif pou wost wher he is: þat þou him teche me."
Carpore nom po crissaunt : & nolde no lenger dwelle,
& ladde him wel myldeliche: wit him to his selle,
& nome, po he pedir com, his bok & gan him ondo,
& be lawe of cristindom to crissaunt he tauzt po.
cr(i)flaunt so wel him ondirstood his teching aplyst,
þat he was I-cristened sone after be seuebe nyat.
& suppe he dwellid wit carpore monbus folle pre,
& lernyd of cristus manhede & of be trinyte;
so þat þorwz be clergye: þat he hadde er,
& porw be gret lore: þat he I-fond þer,
he bout in be cristindom: þat he ne dradde nouzt:
perfore for to wenden hom: crisaunt him hap I-pouzt.
vayre he nom his leue & gan him hom to wende,
for him þout of cristindom he ondirstood pan ende.
lytil wiste his frendus: whodir he was ago,
for þey wende to sope at scole bat he were po;
perfore per nas non pat axed wher he hadde I-be,
ac wende pat hy myst to-fore him eche day I-se.
also þey seten afterward in his compenye
& speke of many pingus : & of þe maumetrie,
crissaunt hem seyde, to sope: here lawe nas noping nauzt,
& þat þer nas no god but on: þat al þing hap I-wroust,
& pilke god was Jhesu crist þat deyde vppon be rode.
fful wrop hy weren alle: þat he þis ondirstode,
& monye him wit-seyde: in disputicioun;
& pilke weren wit clergye: anon I-brouzt adoun.
a man þat louid wel his fadir: anyst was at sopere
wit him, & of manye þingus bere hy speken I-fere,
of here lawe & here godus hy speken wordus bolde,
& ech mon In his wise toldin what hy wolde.
Crisaunt seyde, to sobe ic may seggen þis
pat in al þe world: no god but on þer nys,
& pat (is) Jhesu crist al-one: þat makid alle þing,
by-ginnyng nad he neuere ne chal habbe ending;
al pat is in heuene & erpe, : Ic woot forsope, he wrouzte,
& man po he was forlore swybe dere he hem bouzte:
be-twene mankin & pe fend to alegge be strif,
vppon þe rode he deyde : & af perfore his lif;
& aros to lyue per-after pe pridde day,
& þat he was almy3ty god: perby me wite may.
& in pat ilke forme: þat he aros po,
by-fore al his defiplis to heuen he gan go.
be tenpe day per-after so mayster good & hende
he gan to his desiplis pe holy gost hem sende,
& hem tauzt al ping: al þat hy cholden do,
& ek al-maner speche: he hem tauzt also.
I ne herd neuere of god non: þat was so hend & fre,
& perfore me pinkep to sobe per nys no god but he."
bis man sete swybe stille: & pouzt po he herde bis,
& pouzt him in his mode al-one: þat he seyde amys;
amorwe he wente to polimye: & gan to telle him fore
how crisaunt seyde him an eue, & pat he was for-lore,
& seyde, ic wene his wit makeþ him al sauage,
for he by-ginnep to oure goddus speken gret outrage,
& I not what wondir: he hauep I-pouzt nouz,
he seyp pat per nys no god but on: þat is I-cleped Jhesu;
& gif pis titlyng come al to be emperour,
noman ne may don him non help ne nomaner socour;
for wel pou wost, pou & we for euere cholden be chent,
zif by sone were of-take, : & deye in gret torment.“
let me al per-myd I-worpe," be fadir seyde po,
Ic wole fonde pat ilke poust to maky him forgo.
& leuer me were for his dede: þat he deyde al-one,
pan ic lefe my kende londe : & we ben I-chent echone."
perfore po pis hepene man fram him was I-went,
after crisaunt, his sone, anon he hap I-sent,
136 tilge he. 143 Ms. for ic. 178 Ms. & after.
& to him he seyde po he was pedire I-come:
leue sone cresaunt, :hou hauistou on I-nome?
Ic not to what god me seyp: þat þou art to I-take,
& oure godus dost despise & hast hem al forsake."
wite hit, fadir, quap cresaunt, pou settist me to clergye
& porw pin help of pe seue ars: Ic habbe pe maystrie:
& if þat ilke art nere: þat I lerned laste,
to be pine of helle for sope ic were I-caste;
al bat ich euer lerned her, who-so hit ondirstode,
wolde wel at þe laste ende bring me of weyus gode.
for al hi seggep þat erþelich encheson
of hem-silue is:
ac on is of alle pinge: be encheson, to sobe I-wis,
for he was euer zit by-fore, & chal ben euermo.
sey me, leue swete fadir, zif zoure goddus fareþ so;
zif pou myst eny soche of 3oure godus finde,
al my lore is I-cast a-wey : & myne bokus bep blinde."
„Strippep be pef," quap pe fadir, : „& betep him wel faste, 195
so pat of pat ilke wordus: for euer him a-gaste.“
tormentourus him nome: & forp him habbep I-brouzt,
& to don his fadris heste: þey ne sparid ryzt nouzt;
& euer be faster: þat þey him gonnen smyte,
he bede smyte harder : & seyde hy smyte to lyte.
be tormentourus answered,: „ne greuep hit pe nouzt sore?“ "no, Iwis," quap crifaunt, „ic auzt polye more, for pilke tyme pat my god on erpe was I-do
wel ic wot for myne loue: he was I-beten so,
þer nas no lyme on his body: þat nadden mony a wounde, 205
& zit may vppon my body many an hol stede be founde."
be tormentourus went to his fadir po,
& axed him of crisaunt: what hy cholden do,
ffor he nolde in none wise to chaungen his mode.
y-wis, I wene," quap be fadir, þat þe þef ben wode;
& perfore ic zou hote: in preson þat ze him caste,
& ech day fort eue: þat he pere faste;
& dop him, if ze conne, so mochil of vilte,
of ech day þat he is per: þat him penche pre."
swybe foul was be preson of þe waffing I-pult,
& worse he was I-seruid pan þeuus pat haddin gilt;
he ne seyde wel ne wo, ac soffrid al 'here wille.
banne seyde a tormentour, letep him ben stille
eche day wit-oute mete fort þat it ben eue,
pan chal he for hongur: alle his foly by-leue."
„wel, wel," quap crillaunt, se spekep aboute nouzte;
for my lord Jhesu crist so dere me hauep abouzte,
for me he fast fourty dayis : & ne eet ryzt nouzte,
& ic finde þat ech day me worp mete I-brouzte.
to zeue me so moche mete, I-wis, hit were wouz,
for onus mete in pre dayis: I-wis hit were I-nouz."
Alle þat þis I-hurde her-of hy hadden drede,
& wenten & tolde pollime what crisaunt, his sone, sede.
lord mahound," quap pollime, pou wost pat me is wo,
for ic not alyue: what ich chal wit him do!
ac if her were enymon pat coupe me wisse & rede,
bope gold & seluor: he chold habbe to mede."
181 Ms. good. 189 Ms. his st. hi.
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