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XXVIII
THE CORDWAINERS’ PLAY
JESUS
Behold, my disciples so faithful and dear,
My flesh dreads and trembles for doubt of my deed.
Mine enemies now will come nigh and draw near,
With all might they may, to mar my manhood.
But since ye are weary—forwandered for fear,
See, soon lay ye down and rest, is my rede,
Be not heavy in heart, but hold you e'en here;
Wait for me a while in this place at my need.
Be wise now, that doubting appal not,
So that ye be wakeful alway;
And look that ye presently pray
To my Father, that tempted ye fall not.
PETER
Yea, Lord, at thy bidding here close shall we bide;
Thou art cure of our care, and right good thy commands.
JOHN
Lord, our courage and cover—I mean not, to hide—
In thee, like our faith and our fortune, all stands.
JAMES
What way has he wandered, in this world wide?
Whither has he walked, to East or to West?
PETER
Why, sirs, let me tell you; sit down on each side,
And let us now shortly here take us to rest.
My limbs are as heavy as lead.
JOHN
And I must soon sleep, and down must I lie.
JAMES
In faith, fellows, even so fare I.
I can no longer hold up my head.
JESUS
How dreadful my fear and my dread!
For all the day's work of my manhood,
I sweat now both water and blood.
These Jews in their mind so full of malice
Intend me to take without any trespass.
But, Father, as thou knowest, I meant never amiss;
In word nor in work never worthy I was.
Thou healer of harm and builder of bliss,
Thou help of the helpless, now help me in this.
Give strength to my manhood, lest I do amiss.
If it possible be, let this pain overpass.
But Father, if thou seest it may not,
Then let it be worthily wrought;
Even after thine own will
Evermore mildly and still,
With worship all way be all wrought.
Unto my disciples will I go again,
Kindly to comfort them caught in their care.
What! Are ye fallen asleep now every one,
And the passion of me in mind have no more?
Will ye leave me thus lightly and let me alone,
In sorrow and sighing to struggle full sore?
To whom may I move me and make now my moan?
Do, Peter, sit up: now let see.
In this struggle thou'rt strongly beset.
For an hour's space might ye not yet
Have watched and have wakened with me ?
Be watchful, and pray, one and all,
To my Father, lest tempted ye fall,
For at hand evil spirits draw near.
To the mount will I go now again
Awhile where before I did stay;
But look that ye fall in no pain,
For truly not long I am away.
O Father, who formed all in fashion and fee,
I feel by my fearing my flesh would full fain
Be turned from this torment and taken to thee.
Amazed is my manhood in mood and in main.
But, Father, if truly thou will that thy Son
Without burden of sin thus blameless be slain,
Then after thy will be it -worthily done,
For obedient I to thy bidding remain,
Now rise I; again will I bend,
Unto my disciples to call
What! Sleep ye so fast, one and all?
I fear ye are failing your friend,
But yet I will leave you and let you alone.
And so where I was again will I wend.
Unto my Father of might now make I my moan,
As thou art salver of all sores some succour to send,
The passion they purpose to put me upon,
My flesh now full fears it, and fain would defend.
At thy will be it wrought and worthily won.
Have mind of my manhood, my mood for to mend.
Some comfort bestow in this case.
Yet, Father, though death I must face,
I will not defend.
Yet, if thy will may be,
Spare me a space.
Enter ANGEL
JESUS
Now if my flesh feareth, O Father, I am fain
That near be an end to my anguish and pain.
Unto my disciples will I go again,
And give some kind comfort
To them mazed in mind,
Ye sleep on now safely, but I shall you say,
Waken up swiftly, and let us go hence.
Soon must I, betrayed by treason, be taken.
And when I am taken,
Then shall I by all be forsaken;
Yell say ye ne'er knew me by sight.
PETER
Nay, truly; I never my sovereign forsake.
If here for the deed I should cruelly die.
JOHN
Such traitors of us shall never man make
We would die first.
JAMES
Faith, fellows, so should I
PETER
Nay, truly, while I may avail thee,
I shall watch thee and wake thee.
And if all men other forsake thee
I never for faintness of spirit shall fail thee.
JESUS
Ah, Peter,
Of such boasting I warn thee let be.
For all thy bold talking full keenly I know,
For fear of my foes thou shalt soon deny me,
Thrice in sad earnest before the cock crow.
MALCHUS
Aha! I should get a reward
Right welcome, as well worthy were,
For lo! I bear light for my Lord.
And Judas, go lead thou before
And warily show us the way,
For soothly full soon we assay
To make this man mar us no more.
JESUS
Now will the hour be drawing full nigh
That shall certify all the truth that I said.
JUDAS
All hail, Master, 'faith, and fellows all, say I.
I would ask that a kiss you give me,
For my love and my liking is all on you laid.
JESUS
Take it, Judas, and full heartily.
With this kissing is Man's Son betrayed.
I SOLDIER
Ho!
Stand, traitor! I count thee for ta'en.
CAIAPHAS
On, on, knights! Come, fall on before.
2 SOLDIER
Aye, aye, master; move us no more,
But lightly now let us alone.
(A light shines)
3 SOLDIER
Alas! we are lost, for gleam of this flame.
JESUS
Say ye here, whom seek ye? Now tell me, I pray.
I JEW
One Jesus of Nazareth I trow is his name.
JESUS
Look hitherward, all. I am here, lo, I say.
I SOLDIER
Stand, dastard! So sharply thy death we shall frame.
No more I'll abashed be, stare thou as thou may.
I JEW
Out, ho! I'm mazed almost in main and in might.
2 JEW
And I am afraid, 'faith, and fain would I flee,
For such a sight have I not seen.
3 JEW
This gleam, it gleamed forth so light,
I saw never such a strange sight;
I marvel much what it may mean.
JESUS
Come!
Whom seek ye all now, yet I say?
I JEW
One Jesus of Nazareth, him would we take now.
JESUS
Then am I he truly, and that I avow.
MALCHUS
Then shalt thou die, dastard, since it shall be thou-
PETER
And I'll try, by my faith, thy fell for to flay,
Here, with a slash, lurdan, I shall thee allow.
MALCHUS
Oh, out! All my doings are done!
PETER
Nay, Traitor, but truly I'll trap thee, I trow.
JESUS
Peace, Peter, I bid thee.
Now meddle nor move thee no more.
For, know thou well, if I thought right,
I might have great power in plenty
Of angels full many to muster my might.
So put up thy sword securely again.
For he that takes vengeance reward shall have right,
For vengeance find vengeance and pain for his pain.
Thou man that is thus hurt and dolefully dight,
Come here to me safely, and I shall thee heal.
In the name of my Father in heaven's highest height,
Of thy hurts be thou whole and clean every deal.
MALCHUS
Ha!
Ill hail! I hope that I be whole
Now beshrew him this tide that tells tale
To touch thee for this, and ill be his dole.
I JEW
Come fellows! in faith let's hang on one and all,
For I have on this hind a grip good and true.
2 SOLDIER
And I've a lock on him now. Hey, fellows, draw near.
3 SOLDIER
By the bones that him bore, this jest shall he rue.
JESUS
Like any thief heinously hurl ye me here?
I taught in your Temple; why take me not then?
Now has evil on earth its strong hour.
I JEW
Come, lay your hands quick on this lurdan.
3 JEW
We have hold of this hawk in our hands.
MALCHUS
Why, yes, fellows. By my faith, he is fast.
4 JEW
Unto Sir Caiaphas I would that he passed.
Farewell; I advise you, begone. |
York Mystery Plays