Part 10

He bore, without complaining, Much pain on his dear body, For the people of the world _Mary, Mother of James._ I cannot see the form Of him on any side; Alas! woe is me! I would like to speak with him, If it were his will, Very seriously.

_Mary Salome._ There is to me sharp longing In my heart always, And sorrow; Alas! my Lord Jesus, For thou art full of virtue, All mighty.

[_The Dirge._]

_Alas! mourning I sing, mourning I call, Our Lord is dead that bought us all._

_Mary Magdalene._ Jesus Christ, Lord of Heaven, O hear now our voice; Who believes not in thee, miserable he! He will not be saved. When I think of his Passion, There is not any joy in my heart; Alas! that I cannot at once Speak to thee.

_Mary, Mother of James._ Gone he is to another land, And with him many angels; Alas! now for grief I am sorrowful. I pray thee, Lord of grace, To send a messenger to us, That something we may be knowing How it is to thee.

_Mary Salome._ O Jesus, full of mercy, Do think of us; To thy kingdom when we come, Hear our voice. For desire I become very sick, I cannot stand on my standing, Alas! now what shall I do? O Lord of heaven!

[_The Dirge._]

_Alas! mourning I sing, mourning I call, Our Lord is dead, that bought us all._

_1st Angel._ I know whom ye seek: Jesus is not here, For he is risen To life in very earnest, As I tell you, Like as he is worthy.

_Mary Magdalene._ O angel, now tell me, The body (none, equal to him), To what place is it gone? Like as his grace is great, Joy to me, with my eyes To see him yet.

_2nd Angel._ O Mary, go forthwith, Say to his disciples And to Peter, Like as he promised to them He will go to Galilee, Very truly without doubt.

_Mary, Mother of James._ Now he is risen again indeed, Jesus our Saviour, Gone from the tomb. Worship to him always; He is Lord of heaven and earth, Head of sovereignty.

_Mary Salome._ Hence go we to the city, And let us say in every place As we have seen: That Jesus is risen, And from the tomb forth gone, To heaven really.

_Mary Magdalene._ Never to the city shall I go, If I do find not my Lord, Who was on the cross tree. O Jesus, King of grace, Joy to me once to see thee, Amen, amen.

_Mary, Mother of James._ Mary, be with thee All the blessings of women, And the blessing of Jesus Son of grace; Of full heart I pray him, Joy and grace always good to do To us now, from God the Father.

_Mary Magdalene._ My blessing on ye also, From Christ, as he is gone to the tomb, Joy to ye to do well to-day. Lord, give me the grace Once to see thy face, If it be thy will with thee.

_Mary Salome._ Amen, amen, let us seek Christ, who redeemed us in pain, With his flesh and with his blood; Much pain he suffered, For love of the people of the world, As he is the King of power.

[_Here Mary, the mother of James, and Salome retire from the tomb, and sit down a little way from it._

_Mary Magdalene._ He who made heaven, · as he is gone to the tomb, After him · great is my desire. Christ, hear my voice, · I pray also That thou be with me · at my end.

Lord Jesus, · give me the grace, As I may be worthy · to find a meeting, With thee to-day, · in some sure place, That I may have a view · and sight of thy face.

As thou art Creator · of heaven and earth, And a Redeemer · to us always, Christ my Saviour, · hear, if it regards thee Disclose to me, · what I so much desire.

Through great longing · I am quite weary, And my body also, · bones and back. Where is there to-night · any man who knows Where I may yet find · Christ full of sorrow.

[_She goes to the garden._

[_Enter the Gardener._

_Gardener_ (_Jesus_). O woeful woman, · where goest thou? For grief thou prayest, · cry out thou dost. Weep not nor shriek, · he whom thou seekest Thou didst dry his feet · with thy two plaits.

_Mary Magdalene._ Good lord, · if thou hast chanced to see Christ my Saviour, · where is he truly? To see him · I give thee my land; Jesus, Son of grace, · hear my desire.

_Gardener._ O Mary, · as I know thee to be Within this world, · one of his blood, If thou shouldst see him · before thee, Couldst thou · know him?

_Mary Magdalene._ Well I do, · know the form Of the son of Mary, · named Jesus; Since I see him not · in any place, I feel sorrow; · else I would not sing "alas!"

[_And then Jesus shall shew his side to Mary Magdalene, and say:_

_Gardener._ Mary, see · my five wounds, Believe me truly · to be risen; To thee I give thanks · for thy desire, Joy in the land · there shall be truly.

_Mary Magdalene._ O dear Lord, · who wast on the cross tree, To me it becomes not · to kiss thy head. I would pray thee · let me dare Now to kiss · once thy feet.

[_Woman, touch me not!_]

_Gardener._ O woeful woman, · touch me not near, No, it will not serve, · nor be for gain; The time is not come; Until I go · to heaven to my Father, And I will return · again to my country,-- To speak with thee.

_Mary Magdalene._ Christ, hear my voice, · say the hour That thou comest from heaven · again to earth To speak with us. Thy disciples · are very sad, And the Jews · with violence always Are round about them.

_Gardener._ O Mary, · tell them, Truly I go · to Galilee, As I said; And besides that, · bear in memory to speak Good comfort · to Peter by me; Much he is loved.

THE CORNISH MYSTERY-PLAY OF MARY MAGDALENE

AND HOW SHE BROUGHT THE NEWS OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE APOSTLES

CHARACTERS

Jesus Mary Magdalene Thomas Peter Andrew John James the Greater James the Less Matthew Philip Simon Judah

THE MYSTERY OF MARY MAGDALENE AND THE APOSTLES

[_Now Mary comes to the apostles, and says to them in Galilee:_

_Mary Magdalene._ Now, O apostles, I will tell you news: Jesus is risen from the tomb; I saw him lately, I spoke to him also, I looked on his wounds, Pitiful it was to see them; To the world they bring healing.

_Thomas._ Silence, woman, with thy tales, And speak truth, as I pray thee; Christ who was cruelly slain, To be alive I will not believe; Waste no more words, For lies I do not love; Our Lord is dead; Alas! I tell the truth.

_Mary Magdalene._ I speak true, Thomas, And I, though poor, will prove it. Lately I saw him,-- The Lord (none equal to him), And by me he sent, I swear to ye, as ye may know, Like as he promised; He named to me none but Peter.

_Thomas._ Silence, and speak not, woman! I pray thee, mockery with us Now do not make; Stout though Castle Maudlen be, If thou mock, I will break thy head About thee from above.

_Mary Magdalene._ I will not be silent from fear I will prove it true what I say Before _we_ separate. Like as he is King of heaven, He is with God the Father, On his right side.

_Peter._ Ah! Jesus Christ, happy am I To hear that he is risen Out of the tomb; For I know very well That he is son to Mary, And God likewise.

_Thomas._ Peter, peace, and leave thy mockery, For idle it is to say That he is risen. Never can, for the world, Any man be raised After dying.

_James the Greater._ Thomas, very well it may be; The Son of God will rise When he will; For Jesus, Son of Mary, He made heaven, and this world, And every thing that was not.

_Thomas._ O James, it is no use for thee; A man who is dead certainly Does not live again. Foolish idleness, not to leave it, But to go to assert A thing of no benefit.

_John._ O Thomas, thou art a fool; That is the belief of all: Jesus Christ after dying, To be put into the ground; After that to rise again At the end of three days, and to stand up.

_Thomas._ O John, be not absurd, For my wonder,--it is great, That thou shouldst speak folly. Christ through sufferings was Indeed put to death on the cross tree; My curse on him that did it!

_Bartholomew._ Thomas, believe me, though I am gray; Man could not have power To put him to death. For us he would die, And go into the tomb, and rise, To carry all Christians to heaven.

_Thomas._ O Bartte, thou art mad And fond beyond all men Who are fools. God, without dying, might have Caused all men to be saved, Over all the world.

_Matthew._ That is true, he could Destroy every thing again, That it be no more. But nevertheless for us, Christ wished to go into the ground, And to live again.

_Thomas._ And thou art a fool, Matthew; If thou art wise thou wilt be silent, And withdraw. He lives not, through all thy words, When I saw him, he was dead On the cross tree.

_Philip._ Alas! to be so foolish! Crooked, wilt thou not believe The Head of sovereignty; And he saying to us That after dying he would rise Out of the tomb?

_Thomas._ Sit silent, wilt thou, Philip, For in faith thou swearest wrongly About him. Christ's limbs were bruised, And on his body a thousand wounds; Alas! he is not risen.

_James the Greater._ O do not say so, That Jesus the best Lord Cannot rise, For very truly he is risen; To be his servant thou art not worthy, It appears well.

_Thomas._ O thou James, if he were alive His servant I would be Very joyfully. But he is not alive, leave off thy noise; The thorn even into his brain, Went to his head.

_Simon._ Though the thorn went into his head, And through his heart and side The spear was seen, Nevertheless need is to believe Jesus Christ will rise again, As he is true God.

_Thomas._ O Simon, do not speak a word; Never, never, unhappily, He has not risen again. But if it were so, Together we should all be Exceedingly at ease.

_Judah._ Sir Thomas, it is so, He has risen again to-day Out of the tomb. For if he should not rise again, Never with us would there be Joy without end.

_Thomas._ O Judah, Judah, leave thy belief; His heart torn in pieces I saw. Notwithstanding what any man may say, That same body will remain; It has not risen.

_Andrew._ Peace, Thomas, and say not a word; Very truly our dear Lord Is risen again. Surely too much thou hast disbelieved, For Mary has spoken With him to-day.

_Thomas._ Thou art a fool, Andrew; The girl has told a lie, Do not think otherwise. That he ever rose again I will not believe it. As long as I am alive.

_Mary Magdalene._ I have not said an untrue word; For to me all his wounds He shewed. And to that I will Bear witness at all times, That the tale is true.

[_Here let Thomas and Mary Magdalene go down._

_Thomas._ Notwithstanding vain words, I do not believe thee; thou failest To make me believe. Though thou dost chatter so much, Any thing from thee regards me not, Though thou be busy.

_Mary Magdalene._ I tell thee the truth; The angel said to us, Surely at the tomb, That he was risen up, And was gone to the bright heaven, With many angels.

_Thomas._ Peace, chattering woman, say no more; I will not believe thee, _That_ is gone to heaven. The body, which I saw dead,-- Great are my anxieties After it.

_Mary Magdalene._ Surely Mary, mother of James, And Mary Salome, Will witness to me; Like as I saw, So I tell the tale to thee; Do believe it.

_Thomas._ Never can it go into my heart, That the body dead before us Should rise again; When I think on his passion, Grief takes me immediately For him, woe is me!

_Mary Magdalene._ There is to me wonder of thee, That thy heart is so hard, Thou believest it not. If thou doest not believe it, Never shalt thou come to the joy Surely which is in heaven.

_Thomas._ Silence thou, now, for shame; With Jesus thou hast no secrets: Surely not! I believe Thou art a sinner, without a mistake; The greatest that was in the country By every body thou wast called.

_Mary Magdalene._ I have been a sinner; I have sinned wondrous much; On Jesus I cried, That he would forgive me my trespass; And he said to me, Thy sin is forgiven to thee, Through thy faith thou art saved: Now no more, do not sin. Thomas, thou art very stupid, Because thou wilt not believe The Lord to have risen Easter-day morning. Who believes not shall not be saved, Nor with God shall he dwell, And for that, I pray thee, Believe in time.

* * * * *

_Thomas._ Hold thy prate, nor be busy, For I will not believe thee; The body was seen by me Fastened on the cross with nails; With a sharp spear they pierced him, So that it passed through the heart; To the earth the blood fell, And made him soon dead. That body cannot live, Nor rise up again, Surely, thou woman. There is not any man of this world Who shall make me now Believe otherwise.

_Mary Magdalene._ Thomas, thou art mad, And in madness lost; Evil it is with me now. I advise thee believe, And if thou dost not, seriously, Thou shalt have sharp repentance.

_Thomas._ With you since there is no peace, From you I will go My ways in the country. Are ye not now fools? So God help me, I love not lies.

[_Then Jesus comes to the apostles, and says (in Galilee, the doors being closed, he kisses them_):

_Jesus._ The peace of God, O apostles! I, Christ, to rise from the tomb, Believe well; For certainly as many as believe it, And are faithfully baptized, Shall be saved.

_Peter._ O dear Lord, happy is my lot To see thee risen again, Jesus, though I denied thee. Abundant mercy, I pray, As the Jews are always Here laying snares for us. Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth, And Saviour to us also, Pardon me my trespass, For great are my sorrows. For sharp repentance falls on me For denying thee: now Mercy I pray at all times, Certainly, with full heart.

_Jesus._ Peter, pardon thou shalt get, For thy repentance is perfect, Through the Holy Ghost. Like as I redeemed thee dearly, Strengthen also thy brethren In full belief.

_John._ O Lord, I am glad That thou wouldst come with us Hither, for our joy; That I will say likewise, We are, through great longing, After thee pining.

_Jesus._ From you I go to my country; At the right side of God the Father, I shall sit. To strengthen you in belief, To you the comfort of the Holy Ghost I shall send.

_James the Greater._ Lord, it is wonderful; When thou comest, Jesus powerful, To look at us, And to speak peace to us, Though they were fast, thou didst open Our doors.

[_Here Jesus goes away from the apostles._

He is the Lord of power, And he has purchased with his blood The people of the world; That Jesus Christ is risen again,-- A day is coming that shall tell All them that do believe it not!

THE WAKEFIELD PAGEANT OF THE HARROWING OF HELL

OR

EXTRACTION OF SOULS FROM HELL

CHARACTERS

Jesus Adam Eve Simeon John the Baptist Moses Esaias David Ribald Beelzebub Sathanas

THE HARROWING OF HELL

EXTRACTIO ANIMARUM

AB INFERNO

[_The Extraction of Souls from Hell._]

_Jesus._ My fader[414] me from blys has send Till's erthe for mankynde sake, Adam mys[415] for to amend, My deth nede must I take:

I dwellyd ther thyrty yeres and two, And som dele more, the sothe to say,[416] In anger, pyne, and mekylle wo, I dyde on cros this day.

Therefor tille helle now wille I go, To chalange[417] that is myne, Adam, Eve, and othere mo, Thay shalle no longer dwelle in pyne;

The feynde[418] theym wan withe trayn,[419] Thrughe fraude of earthly fode,[420] I have theym boght agan With shedyng of my blode.

And now I wille that stede[421] restore, Whiche the feynde felle from for syn, Som tokyn wille I send before, Withe myrthe to gar[422] thare gammes begyn.

A light I wille thay have, To know I wille com sone; My body shalle abyde in grave Tille alle this dede be done.

_Adam._ My brether, herkyn unto me here, More hope of helth never we had, Four thousand and six hundred yere Have we bene in darknes stad;[423]

Now se I tokyns of solace sere,[424] A gloryous gleme to make us glad, Wherthrughe I hope that help is nere, That sone shalle slake[425] oure sorrowes sad.

_Eve._ Adam, my husband heynd,[426] This menys solace certan, Siche lighte can on us leynd[427] In paradyse fulle playn.

_Isaias._ Adam, thrugh thi syn Here were we put to dwelle, This wykyd place within, The name of it is helle;

Here paynes shalle never blyn[428] That wykyd ar and felle, Love, that lord, withe wyn His lyfe for us wold selle.

[_Et cantent omnes "Salvator mundi" primum versum._[429]

Adam, thou welle understand, I am Isaias, so Crist me kende,[430] I spake of folk in darknes walkand,[431] I saide a light shuld on them lende;

This light is alle from Crist commande, That he tille us has hethir sende, Thus is my poynt proved in hand, As I before to fold[432] it kende.

_Simeon._ So may I telle of farlys feylle,[433] For in the tempylle his freyndes me fande, Me thoght dayntethe[434] with hym to deylle, I halsyd[435] hym homely with my hand,

I saide, Lord, let thi servandes leylle[436] Pas in peasse to lyf lastande,[437] Now that myn eeyn has sene thyn hele[438] No longer lyst[439] I lyf in lande.

This light thou has purvayde For theym that lyf in lede,[440] That I before of the have saide I se it is fulfillyd in dede.

_Johannes Baptista._ As a voice cryand I kend[441] The wayes of Crist, as I welle can, I baptisid hym with bothe myn hende In the water of flume[442] Jordan;

The Holy Gost from heven discende As a white dowfe downe on me than, The Fader voyce, oure myrthes to amende, Was made to me lyke as a man;[443]

"Yond is my son," he saide, "And whiche pleasses me fulle welle," His light is on us layde, And commys oure karys to kele.[444]

_Moyses._ Now this same nyght lernyng have I, To me, Moyses, he shewid his myght, And also to another one, Hely,[445] Where we stud on a hille on hyght,

As whyte as snaw was his body, His face was like the son for bright, No man on mold[446] was so mighty Grathly[447] durst loke agans[448] that light, And that same lighte here se I now Shynyng on us, certayn, Wherethrughe truly I trow That we shalle sone pas fro this payn.

_Rybald._ Sen fyrst that helle was mayde and I was put therin Siche sorow never ere I had, nor hard I siche a dyn,[449] My hart begynnys to brade,[450] my wytt waxys thyn,[451] I drede we can not be glad, thise saules mon fro us twyn;[452]

How, Belsabub! bynde thise boys, siche "Harow"[453] was never hard in helle.

_Belzabub._ Out, Rybald! thou rorest what is betyd? can thou oght telle?

_Rybald._ Whi, herys[454] thou not this ugly noyse? Thise lurdans[455] that in lymbo dwelle, They make menyng[456] of many joyse, And muster myrthes theym emelle.[457]

_Belzabub._ Myrth? nay, nay! that poynt is past, More hope of helthe shalle they never have.

_Rybald._ They cry on Crist fulle fast, And says he shalle thaym save.

_Belzabub._ Yee, though he do not, I shalle, For thay ar sparyd[458] in specyalle space, Whils I am prynce and pryncypalle, Thay shalle never pas out of this place;

Calle up Astarot[459] and Anaballe, To gyf us counselle in this case; Belle, Berith and Bellyalle[460] To mar theym that siche mastry mase;[461]

Say to sir Satan oure syre, And byd hym bryng also Sir Lucyfer lufly of lyre.[462]

_Rybald._ Alle redy, lord, I go.

_Jesus._ _Attolite portas, principes vestras, et elevamini portœ æternales, et introibit rex gloriæ._[463]

_Rybald._ Out, harro,[464] out!--what deville is he That callys hym kyng over us alle? Hark Belzabub, com ne,[465] For hedusly[466] I hard hym calle.

_Belzabub._ Go spar the yates,[467] ylle mot thou the![468] And set the waches[469] on the walle, If that brodelle[470] come ne With us ay won[471] he shalle:

And if he more calle or cry, To make us more debate, Lay on hym hardlly, And make hym go his gate.[472]

_David._ Nay, withe hym may ye not fyght, For he is king and conqueroure, And of so mekille myght, And styf in every stoure;[473]

Of hym commys alle this light That shynys in this bowre; He is fulle fers in fight, Worthi to wyn honoure.

_Belzabub._ Honoure! harsto,[474] harlot, for what dede Alle erthly men to me ar thralle,[475] That lad that thou callys lord in lede[476] He had never harbor, house, ne halle;

How, sir Sathanas, com nar And hark this cursid rowte!

_Sathanas._ The dewille you alle to har![477] What ales the so to showte?[478] And see, if I com nar, Thy brayn bot I bryst owte.[479]

_Belzabub._ Thou must com help to spar,[480] We ar beseged abowte.

_Sathanas._ Besegyd aboute! whi, who durst be so bold For drede to make on us a fray?

_Belzabub._ It is the Jew that Judas sold For to be dede this othere day.

_Sathanas._ How, in tyme that tale was told, That trature travesses[481] us alle way; He shalle be here fulle hard in hold, Bot loke he pas not I the pray.

_Belzabub._ Pas! nay, nay, he wille not weynde[482] From hens or it be war,[483] He shapys hym for to sheynd[484] Alle helle e'er he go far.

_Sathanas._ Fy, faturs,[485] therof shalle he faylle, For alle his fare[486] I hym defy; I know his trantes[487] fro top to taylle,[488] He lyffes by gawdes[489] and glory.

Therby he broght furthe of oure baylle[490] The lathe[491] Lazare of Betany, Bot to the Jues I gaf counsaylle That thay shuld cause hym dy:

I entered there into Judas That forward[492] to fulfylle, Therfor his hyere[493] he has Alle wayes to won here stylle.[494]

_Rybald._ Sir Sathan, sen we here the say[495] Thou and the Jues were at assent, And wote,[496] he wan the Lazare away That unto us was taken to tent,[497] Hopys thou that thou mar hym may To muster[498] the malyce that he has ment? For and he refe[499] us now oure pray We wille ye witt e'er he is went.