Hastily he took his catél

And gave it to poor men each deal.

Piers called to him his clerk,

That was his notary and bade him hark,

"I shall thee show a privity,

A thing that thou shalt do to me,

I will that thou no man it tell.
My body I take thee here to sell

To some man as in bondage,
To live in povert and in serváge.

But thou do this, I will be wroth,
And thou and thine shall be me loth.3

If thou do it, I shall thee give
Ten pound of gold, well with to live.

Those ten pound I take thee here,

And me to sell in bond manere.

I ne recké unto whom,

But only he have the Christendom.
The ransom thou shalt for me take,
Therefore thou shalt sickerness make
For to give it blithely and well
To pooré men every deal,
And withhold thereof no thing
The mountenance of a farthing."
His clerk was woe to do that deed,
But only for menace and for dread,
For dread Piers made him it do,
And did him plight his troth thereto.
When his clerk had made his oath

Piers did on him a foul cloth,

Unto a churché both they yede"

For to fulfil his will indeed.

When that they to the churché come,

"Lord," thoughté the clerk, "now whom Might I find this eaché sele

To whom I might sell Piers well."

The clerk looked everywhere

And at the lasté he knew where.

A rich man that ere had be

Special knowledge ever betwe,

But through mischance at a cas
All his good y-loré was,
"Yole," thus that man hight,

He wex 17 so mild and so meek
A milder man thurt 18 no man seek,
For he meeked himself o'er skill 19
Pots and dishes for to swill;
To great penánce he gan him take,
And muché for to fast and wake;
And much he loved tholmodness 20
To rich, to poor, to more, to less.
Of allé men he would have dout, 21
And to their bidding meekly lout;
Would they bid him sit or stand
Ever he wouldé be bowánd,

227

260

And knew the clerk well by sight.

They spake of old acquaintance And Yole told him of his chance.

Yole, his lord, well understood

That all his grace and all his good

Befel that serjeaunts and squiers

That were wont to servé Piers
Went in pilgrimage, as in case,3
To that country where Piers was.
Yole full fair gan them call

And prayed them home to his hall;
Piers was there, that eaché sele,*
And, every one, he knew them wele.
All he served them as a knave,
That was wont their service to have,
But Piers not yet they knew,
For penance changed was his hue.
Not forthé they beheld him fast 5

And often to him their eyes they cast,
And saidé," He that standeth here

Is like to Piers tollere."

He hid his visage all that he might
Out of knowledge of their sight;
Natheless they beheld him more

And knew him well, all that were thore,

And said, "Yolë, is yon thy page?

A rich man is in thy serváge!
The Emperor, both far and near,
Hath do him seek that we find here."

Piers listened and heard them speaking And that they had of him knowing; And privily away he name 7

Till he to the porter came.

The porter had his speeché lore,8

And hearing also, since he was bore;
But through the grace of sweet Jesu
Was shewed for Piers fair virtú.
Piers said, "Let me forth go!"
The porter spake, and saidé, " Yo." 9
He that was deaf and dumb also
Spake, when Piers spake him to.
Piers out at the gate went

And thither yede where God him sent.

Blessed be God and Piers to-day."
The lord and the guestés all,
One and other that were in hall,
Had merveil that it was so,

310

320

330

Name, took himself. First-English "niman," to take. (See line

243.)

To rest withouten end to lede,

For his meekness and his good deed.

Robert of Brunnne, in one part of his poem, reproduced objections to the miracle plays, except when acted in church by the clergy at Easter and Christmas. But the taste for them was spreading, and in the fourteenth century they attained to a development in this country, strongly illustrative of the national desire to bring the Bible story and what were held to be the essentials of its teaching home to all. We have seen the early form of such plays in the " Raising of Lazarus.” That was a single play, not one of a reries, and was acted by the persons employed usually in the services of the Church. An early sequence of three plays from the Bible story, in a MS. of the twelfth century, was found in the Library of Tours. The first play set forth the Fall of Adam and Eve; after which, said the stage directions, "devils shall take them, and put them into hell, and they shall make a great smoke to rise in it, and cry aloud." The second play was of the death of Abel, after which, "devils coming, Cain is led to hell, being often struck, but they shall take Abel more mildly; then the Prophets shall be ready each in a convenient place of concealment." The third play consisted in their coming forward to prophesy of Christ, and when each had prophesied, devils took him also into hell. This sequence was evidently meant as a short summary from the Old Testament, showing man's need of Christ through the Fall, and the looking of the old world to his coming. The hell in such plays was always represented by the type of the whale's open jaws. A hell-mouth of painted

This muses mickle in my thought.
From Adam unto Eve assent,'
Eat of that apple spared he nought,
For all the wisdom that he ment 2
Full dear that bargain has he bought
From paradise that bade him gang;
He went mourning with simple cheer,
And after lived he here full lang,
More than three hundred year,
In sorrow and in travail strang;
And every day he was in were,3
His children angered him among.
Cain slew Abel was him full dear.
Sithen Noe, that was true and good,
He and his children three,

Was saved when all was flood;
That was a wonder thing to see.
And Lot from Sodom when he yede,
Three cities brent yet escaped he,

Thus, for they menged my Lord's mede,
He vengéd sin through his pausté.*

When I think of our elders all,
And of the marvels that has been,

No gladness in my heart may fall,

My comfort goes away full clean.

Lord, when shall dede 5 make me his thrall?

An hundred years, certes,6 have I seen:

Ma fay! soon-I hope he shall,

For it were right high time, I ween.

Yet Adam is to hellé gone,

And there has ligen many a day;

And all our elders everychon,
They are gone the samé way;
Unto God will hear their moan.
Now help, Lord, Adonay!
For, certes, I can no better wone,s
And there is none that better may.

Abraham. To hear thy will ready I am, And to fulfil whate'er it be.

Deus. Of mercy have I heard thy cry,
Thy devout prayers have me bun.16
If thou me love, look that thou hie
Unto the land of Vision;

And the third day be there bid I
And take with thee Isaac, thy son,
As a beast to sacrify:

To slay him look thou not shun,

And bren 17 him there to thine offerand.

Abraham. Ah, lovéd be thou, Lord in throne! Hold o'er me, Lord, thy holy hand;

For certes thy bidding shall be done,
Blessed be that Lord in every land
Would visit his servant thus so soyn.18
Fain would I this thing ordand,

For it perfects nought to hoyne 19;
This commandment 20 must I needs fulfil

If that my heart wax heavy as lead,
Should I offend my Lordés will?

Nay, yet were I liever my child were dead!
Whatso he bids me, good or ill,
That shall be done in every stede;
Both wife and child, if he bid spill,21

I will not do against his rede.
Wist Isaac, wheréso he were,
He would be abashéd now,
How that he is in dangere.

Isaac, son, where art thou?

Isaac. All ready, father; lo me here;

Now was I coming unto you.

I love you mickle, father dear.

Abraham. And does thou so? I would wit how

Loves thou me, son, as thou has said.

Isaac. Yea, father, with all mine heart;

More than all that ever was made.

God hold me long your life in quart! 23

Abraham. Now, who would not be glad that had

A child so loving as thou art?

Thy lovely cheer makes my heart glad,
And many a time so has it gart.24

Go home, son, come soon again,
And tell thy mother I come full fast;

[Hic transiet Isaac à patre." So now, God thee save and sayne! 26

Now well is me that he is past. Alone, right here in this plain, Might I speak to mine heart brast.27 I would that all were well, full fain, But it must needs be done at last.

16 Bun, made ready. 17 Bren, burn. 18 Soyn, soon. 19 Hoyne, think anxiously, lament. First-English "hogian." 20 Commandment, pronounced "c'mmandment," in two syllables. The y in "heavy" unites, in the next line, with the a of "as."

21 Spill, destroy. First-English "spillan," to spoil, destroy, kill. 22 Wist Isaac, if Isaac knew.

23 In quart, in safe keeping. First-English "cweart-ern," a place for safe keeping, guard-house, prison.

24 Gart, made.

And it is good that I be ware;
To be avised full good it were.
The land of Vision is full far,
The third day end must I be there.
Mine ass shall with us, if it thar,'
To bear our harness less and more,
For my son may be slain no nar,2
A sword must with us yet therefore.
And I shall found to make me yare.1
This night will I begin my way.
Though Isaac be ne'er so fair,
And mine own son, the sooth to say,
And though he be mine righte heir,
And all should wield after my day,

Goddes bidding shall I not spare;

Should I that gainstand? We!5 nay, my fay! Isaac! Isaac. Sir!

Abraham. Look thou be boun;"

For certain, son, thyself and I,

6

We two must now wend forth of town,
In far country to sacrify,

For certain skillis7 and encheson; 8
Take wood and fire with thee, in hy,9
By hills and dales, both up and down,
Son, thou shall ride and I will go by.

Look thou miss nought that thou should need,
Do make thee ready, my darling!

Isaac. I am ready to do this deed,

And ever to fulfil your bidding.

Abraham. My dear son, look thou have no drede, We shall come home with great loving;

Both to and fro I shall us lead,
Come now, son, in my blessing.

Ye two here with this ass abide,

For Isaac and I will to yond hill,

It is so high we may not ride,

Therefore ye two shall abide here still.

Primus Puer.10 Sir, ye owe not to be denied ;

We are ready your bidding to fulfil.

Secundus Puer. Whatsoever to us betide

To do your bidding ay we will.

Abraham. God's blessing have you both in fere; 11

I shall not tarry long you fro.12

Primus Puer. Sir, we shall abide you here.

Out of this stede 13 shall we not go.

Abraham. Childre, ye are ay to me full dear,

I pray God keep ever fro woe.

Secundus Puer. We will do, sir, as ye us lere.14

" In hy, in haste. First-English "higan," to hie or make haste. 10 The journey just proposed is supposed to have been taken when Abraham and Isaac leave with their attendants the "First Boy" and "Second Boy," the ass upon which Isaac rode, while Abraham walked beside his darling.

"In fere, together.

12 Fro, from.

13 Stede, place. 14 Lere, teach. There is a touch of pathos here, drawn not only from the love of Abraham towards the son whom his faith causes him to sacrifice, but from his tenderness towards the boys not his whom he prays that God may ever keep from woe. When Shakespeare's Brutus, with his soul wrung by the death of Portia and a great duty before him, is made grand throughout the latter part of the play of "Julius Cæsar," with indication of suppressed emotion, one of its

Abraham. Isaac, now are we but we two, We must go a full good pace,

For it is farther than I wend; 15

We shall make mirth and great solace,

By this thing be brought to end.

Lo, my son, here is the place.

Isaac. Wood and fire are in my hend;

Tell me now, ye have space,

Where is the beast that should be brend?

Abraham. Now, son, I may no longer layn,16

Such will is into mine heart went;

Thou was ever to me full bayn 17

Ever to fulfil mine intent.

But certainly thou must be slain,

And it may be as I have ment.

Isaac. I am heavy and nothing fain, Thus hastily that shall be shent. Abraham. Isaac!

Isaac. Sir ?

Abraham. Come hither bid I; Thou shall be dead whatsoever betide.

Isaac. Ah, father, mercý! mercý! Abraham. That I say, may not be denied; Take thy dede 18 therefore meekly. Isaac. Ah, good sir, abide; Father!

Abraham. What, son?

Isaac. To do your will I am ready,
Wheresoever ye go or ride,

If I may ought overtake your will,
Syn I have trespassed I would be bet.19
Abraham. Isaac!

Isaac. What, sir?

Abraham. Good son, be still.
Isaac. Father!

Abraham. What, son?
Isaac. Think on thy get;20
What have I done?

Abraham. Truly, none ill.
Isaac. And shall be slain?
Abraham. So have I het.21
Isaac. Sir, what may help?
Abraham. Certes, no skill.
Isaac. I ask mercy.

Abraham. That may not let.

Isaac. When I am dead, and closed in clay, Who shall then be your son?

Abraham. Ah, Lord, that I should abide this day! Isaac. Sir, who shall do that I was won ?22 Abraham. Speak no such words, son, I thee pray.

signs is his womanly tenderness towards the boy who waits upon him in his tent. Abraham's tender words to the two lads whom he leaves with the ass while, with heroic faith in the word of God, however hard it may be to him, he is prepared to offer his beloved son as sacrifice, have a touch in them of the finest human truth.

15 Wend, thought, weened. First-English "wæ'nan," to suppose. 16 Layn, deceive. First-English "leogan." Icelandic "beini," help.

17 Bayn, helpful. 18 Dede, death.

Compare Dunbar's "Lament for the Makars," line 89, page 112 of "Shorter Poems:"

"Good Master Walter Kennedy
In point of deid lies verily."

19 Bet, beaten.
20 Thy get, thy child, thy begotten.

21 Het, promised. First-English "hatan," to command, ordain, promise.

22 Won, wont. First-English "wuna," a custom; "wunian," to dwell, to be accustomed.

Isaac. Shall ye me slo? 1

Abraham. I trow I mon :

Lie still, I smite.

Isaac. Sir, let me say.

Abraham. Now, my dear child, thou may not

shon.

Isaac. The shining of your bright blade It gars me quake for ferd to dee.2

Abraham. Therefore groflynges3 thou shall be laid,

Then when I strike thou shall not see.

Isaac. What have I done, father? what have I said?

Abraham. Truly, nokyns ill to me.

Isaac. And thus guiltless shall be arayde.
Abraham. Now, good son, let such words be.

Isaac. I love you ay.
Abraham. So do I thee.

Isaac. Father!

Abraham. What, son?

Isaac. Let now be seyn 5

For my mother love.

Abraham. Let be, let be!

It will not help that thou would meyn;

But lie still till I come to thee,

I miss a little thing I ween.

He speaks so ruefully to me

That water shoots in both mine een,
I were liever than all worldly win,
That I had fon him once unkind,
But no default I found him in;
I would be dead for him or pined,7
To slo him thus I think great sin,
So rueful words I with him find;
I am full wo that we should twyn,s
For he will never out of my mind.
What shall I to his mother say?
For where he is, tyte will she spyr;9
If I tell her, "Run away,"

6

Angelus. Gladly, Lord, I am ready, Thy bidding shall be magnified; I shall me speed full hastily, Thee to obey at every tide; 14 Thy will, Thy name, to glorify, Over all this world so wide, And to Thy servant now in hy, Good, true, Abraham, will I glide.

Abraham. But might I yet of weeping cease,
Till I had done this sacrifice!

It must needs be, withouten lesse, 15
Though all I carp on thiskyn wise,
The more my sorrow it will increase;
When I look to him I gryse; 16

I will run on a res,17

And slo him here, right as he lies.
Angelus. Abraham! Abraham!
Abraham. Who is there now?
Ware, let thee gc.

Angelus. Stand up, now, stand;
Thy good will come I to allow,
Therefore I bid thee hold thy hand.

Abraham. Say, who bade so? any but thou:

Angelus. Yea, God; and sends this beast to thine

While in this way the English people, forbidden to hear the whole Bible read to them in their native tongue, were bringing it home as closely as they

14 Tide, time.

15 Withouten lesse, without lease, or lie. 16 Gryse, feel horror and dread.

17 Res (First-English "ræs"), rush. 18 Frely, beautiful, causing delight. 19 And kisses him.