|
XXXVII
THE SADLERS’ PLAY
ADAM
My brethren, hearken to me here,
Such hope of help we never had.
Four thousand and six hundred year
Have we been here in prison sad,
Now see I sign of solace clear,
A glorious gleam to make us glad;
Wherefore I hope our help is near.
And soon shall cease our sorrows sad.
EVA
Adam, my husband kind.
This means solace certain;
For such light did we find
In Paradise full plain.
ISAIAH
Adam, ye shall well understand,
I, Isaias, whom God hath taught,
I preached in Nephtalim, that land,
And in Zabulon so I wrought.
I spake of folk that darkling walked,
And said a light should on them shine;
So living have I taught and talked
And now see done by power divine.
This light comes all of Christ,
That son to save us now.
Thus is my point proved right,
But, Symeon, what sayest thou?
SYMEON
Yea; my tale may of wonders show;
For in the Temple I was found.
And had delight this child to know,
And lift him in my arms around.
I said, Now lettest thou, O Lord,
Thy servant true in peace to go,
According to thy holy word,
For thy salvation see I so.
This light thou hast purveyed
To folks that live in need;
The same as then I said
I see fulfilled in deed.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
The ways of Christ as well I know.
I did baptize him with my hand,
Even in River Jordan's flow.
The Holy Ghost did there descend
As a white dove down on him then;
The Father's voice, my mirth to mend,
Was heard by me of mortal men.
This is my Son, he said,
In whom I am well pleased.
His light is on us laid;
He comes our cares to ease.
MOYSES
Of that same light learning have I.
To me, Moyses, be showed his might,
And to another, to Hely,
When we were on a hill-top height.
White as the snow was his body
And his face like the sun in sight.
No man on earth could have such might,
Rightly to look against that light.
That same light see I now.
Shining on us certain.
Wherefore truly I trow,
We shall soon pass from pain.
Such harrow was never heard in hell.
Help, Belzabub, to bind these boys.
2 DEVIL
Why roar'st so, ribald, with rude voice?
What may betide? Can’st thou ought tell?
I DEVIL
What! hear'st thou not this ugly noise?
These lurdains that in Limbo dwell
Talk loud and long of many joys.
And muster great mirth here to tell.
2 DEVIL
Mirth?
Nay, nay; that point is past;
Freedom they'll never have.
I DEVIL
They cry on Christ full fast,
And say he shall them save.
BELZABUB
Yea; if he save them not, we shall,
For they are spared in special space.
While I am prince and principal,
They shall not pass out from this place.
Call up Astrot and Azaral,
To give their counsel in this case;
Baal and Berit and Belial,
To mar their mastery in disgrace.
Summon Satan our sire,
And bid them bring also
Lucifer lovely of face.
I DEVIL
All ready, lord, I go.
JESUS
Attolite port as principes!
Open up, ye infernal potentates,
Et elevamini eternales,
Lift up, ye everlasting gates.
SATAN
What page is this that presses here,
And calls himself king of us all?
I DEVIL
Hark, Belzabub! I have great fear,
For hideously his voice did call.
BELIAL
Hey! Spar our gates! Ill might thou speed,
And set forth watches on the wall.
And if he cry or call
To make us more debate,
Lay on him hardily,
And make him go his gate.
SATAN
Tell me, what boy dares be so bold,
With dread to make us disarray?
I DEVIL
It is the Jew that Judas sold
For to be slain the other day.
SATAN
Oho I this tale in time is told
This traitor crosses us alway.
He shall be here full hard to hold;
Look that he pass not in, I pray.
2 DEVIL
Nay, nay; he will not go
Away, for ought I know,
He shapes to level low
All Hell ere he go far.
SATAN
Nay ; that varlet shall not prevail;
For all his force I him defy.
I know his tricks from top to tail,
And for them all I care not, I.
Be not abashed, I say,
But each prepare you well;
Your tools of trust array,
And down that foeman fell.
JESUS
Principes, portas tollite.
Undo your gates, ye princes of pride.
Et introibit Rex glorie,
The king of bliss comes in this tide.
SATAN
Out, harrow! What harlot is he
That claims his kingdom shall have place?
JESUS
This keep no longer barred shall be;
Open up, and let my people pass.
DEVIL
Out, out! behold, our bailey is broken,
And burst are all our bands of brass.
Tell Lucifer all locks are open.
BELZABUB
What then, is Limbo lost, alas?
Satan, bring help, by that same token.
This work is worse than ever it was.
SATAN
I said he should be bound,
If he made masteries more.
Now knock him to the ground,
And set him sad and sore.
BELZABUB
Yea, set him sore—that is soon said.
But come thyself and serve him so.
We may not bide him undismayed;
He'll ruin all, for all we do.
SATAN
What, fainthearts wherefore are you afeared?
Have you no force to flit him so?
Quick, now! See all my gear prepared;
Myself to that gangrel I'll go.
Now, bel ami, abide,
With all thy pomp and pride,
And tell to me this tide,
What masteries you desire?
JESUS
Inought desire but what is mine;
Them will I save, I tell thee now.
You had no power to make them pine,
But for their profit here below.'
Here have they sojourned, not as thine,
But in thy ward, thou knowest well how.
SATAN
Then what a devil hast done ever since,
That ne'er earnest nigh them until now?
JESUS
Now is the time certain
My Father did ordain,
That they should pass from pain,
And dwell free evermore.
Then since my folk from pain are free,
Now shall they pass to endless peace.
They were here by my will,
And so they forth shall wend.
Thyself thou shalt fulfil
Their woe without an end.
SATAN
This law that thou of late hast laid
I shall teach men not to allow.
If they take it, they be betrayed,
For I shall turn them soon, I trow.
I shall walk East and West,
And make them worse by far.
JESUS
Nay, fiend, thou shalt be fast,
So that thou flit not far.
SATAN
Fast? That were to my shame indeed!
Nay, bel ami, thou must be smit.
JESUS
Michael, my angel! here with speed,
And bind you fiend, that he not flit.
And, devil, I command thee, go down
Into thy cell, Where thou shalt sit.
SATAN
Out, ay! Harow! Now help, Mahoun!
Now wax I wild out of my wit.
BELZABUB
We told thee this before;
Now shalt thou feel thy fit.
SATAN
Alas! for dole full sore
I sink into Hell pit.
ADAM
Ah, Jesu, Lord! Great is thy might,
Yet low and humble art thou made,
That to me and my helpmeet plight
There might be sent thy promised aid.
Here have we lived without light
Four thousand and six hundred year.
Now see I by this solemn sight
How thy mercy has made us clear.
EVA
Ah, Lord! We were worthy
More torments yet to try;
But mend us with mercy,
O Thou of might most high.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
Ah, Lord! I love thee inwardly,
That would make me thy messenger,
Thy coming here on earth to cry
And teach thy faith to all folks here,
And then before thy death to die
And bring thy message to them here,
That they should have thy help on high.
Now see I all these points appear,
As David, prophet true,
Oft times told unto us;
Of this coming he knew,
And said it should be thus.
As I have said, yet say I so.
Ne derelinquas, Domne,
Animam meam inferno.
Leave not my soul. Lord, after thee
In deep hell where the damned shall go,
Nor suffer souls from thee to be.
The sorrow of them that dwell in woe
This will restore from misery.
ADAM
We thank his great goodness,
That fetched us from this place.
Make joy now, more and less.
OMNES
We laud God for his grace.
Te deum laudamus.
JESUS
Adam, and you my friends so dear,
From all your foes come forth with me.
Ye shall be set in solace sure.
Where ye shall no more sorrows see
And, Michael my archangel clear,
Receive these souls all unto thee,
And lead them, as I bid thee here,
To Paradise, in joy to be.
Back to my grave I go,
Ready to rise once more;
And then fulfil I so
The promise made before.
MICHAEL
Lord, as thou sayest will we go;
To solace sure these shall be led;
But lest the fiends should strike a blow,
Lord, be thy blessing on our head.
JESUS
My blessing on you as you go;
I shall be with you where you wend;
And all that truly love my law
Shall have my blessing without end.
ADAM
To thee, Lord, be loving
That has won us from woe.
For solace will we sing
Laus tibi domino.
Gloria in excelsis deo. |
York Mystery Plays