I.

Das alte Geisslerlied

NACH MASSMANN’S AUSGABE VON HERRN PROFESSOR LACHMANN MIT DER HANDSCHRIFT VERGLICHEN.

Sve siner sele wille pleghen De sal gelden unde weder geuen So wert siner sele raed Des help uns leue herre goed Nu tredet here we botsen wille 5 Vle wi io de hetsen helle Lucifer is en bose geselle Sven her hauet Mit peke he en lauet Datz vle wi ef wir hauen sin 10 Des help uns maria koninghin Das wir dines kindes hulde win Jesus crist de wart ge vanghen An en cruce wart he ge hanghen Dat cruce wart des blodes rod 15 Wer klaghen sin marter unde sin dod Sunder war mide wilt tu mi lonen Dre negele unde en dornet crone Das cruce vrone en sper en stich Sunder datz leyd ich dor dich 20 Was wltu nu liden dor mich So rope wir herre mit luden done Unsen denst den nem to lone Be hode uns vor der helle nod Des bidde wi dich dor dinen dod 25 Dor god vor gete wi unse blot Dat is uns tho den suden guot Maria muoter koninginghe Dor dines leuen kindes minne Al unse nod si dir ghe klaghet 30 Des help uns moter maghet reyne. De erde beuet och kleuen de steyne Lebe hertze du salt weyne Wir wenen trene mit den oghen Unde hebben des so guden louen 35 Mit unsen sinnen unde mit hertzen Dor uns leyd crist vil manighen smertzen Nu slaed w sere Dor cristus ere. Dor god nu latet de sunde mere 40 Dor god nu latet de sunde varen Se wil sich god ouer uns en barmen Maria stund in grotzen noden Do se ire leue kint sa doden En svert dor ire sele snet 45 Sunder dat la di wesen led In korter vrist God tornich ist Jesus wart gelauet mid gallen Des sole wi an en cruce vallen 50 Er heuet uch mit uwen armen Dat sic god ouer uns en barme Jesus dorch dine namen dry Nu make uns hir van sunde vry Jesus dor dine wnden rod 55 Be hod uns vor den gehen dod Dat he sende sinen geist Und uns dat kortelike leist De vrowe unde man ir e tobreken Dat wil god selven an en wreken 60 Sveuel pik und och de galle Dat gutet de duuel in se alle Vor war sint se des duuels spot Dor vor behode uns herre god De e de ist en reyne leuen 65 De had uns god selven gheuen Ich rade uch vrowen unde mannen Dor god gy solen houard annen Des biddet uch de arme sele Dorch god nu latet houard mere 70 Dor god nu latet houard varen So wil sich god ouer uns en barmen Cristus rep in hemelrike Sinen engelen al gelike De cristenheit wil mi ent wichen 75 Des wil lan och se vor gaen Marie bat ire kint so sere Leue kint la se di boten Dat wil ich sceppen dat se moten Bekeren sich. 80 Des bidde ich dich Gi logenere Gy meynen ed sverer Gi bichten reyne und lan de sunde uch ruwen So wil sich god in uch vor nuwen 85 Owe du arme wokerere Du bringest en lod up en punt Dat senket din an der helle grunt Ir morder und ir straten rouere Ir sint dem leuen gode un mere 90 Ir ne wilt uch ouer nemende barmen Des sin gy eweliken vor loren Were dusse bote nicht ge worden De cristenheit wer gar vorsunden De leyde duuel had se ge bunden 95 Maria had lost unsen bant Sunder ich saghe di leue mere Sunte peter is portenere Wende dich an en he letset dich in He bringhet dich vor de koninghin 100 Leue herre sunte Michahel Du bist en plegher aller sel Be hode uns vor der helle nod Dat do dor dines sceppers dod.

The Ancient Song of the Flagellants.

ACCORDING TO MASSMANN’S EDITION COMPARED WITH THE MS. BY PROFESSOR LACHMANN.

(_Translation._)

Whoe’er to save his soul is fain, Must pay and render back again. His safety so shall he consult: Help us, good Lord, to this result. Ye that repent your crimes, draw nigh. 5 From the burning hell we fly, From Satan’s wicked company. Whom he leads With pitch he feeds. If we be wise we this shall flee. 10 Maria! Queen! we trust in thee, To move thy Son to sympathy. Jesus Christ was captive led, And to the cross was riveted. The cross was reddened with his gore 15 And we his martyrdom deplore. “Sinner, canst thou to me atone. Three pointed nails, a thorny crown, The holy cross, a spear, a wound, These are the cruel pangs I found. 20 What wilt thou, sinner, bear for me?” Lord, with loud voice we answer thee, Accept our service in return, And save us lest in hell we burn. We, through thy death, to thee have sued. 25 For God in heaven we shed our blood: This for our sins will work to good. Blessed Maria! Mother! Queen! Through thy loved Son’s redeeming mean Be all our wants to thee portrayed. 30 Aid us, Mother! spotless maid! Trembles the earth, the rocks are rent[200], Fond heart of mine, thou must relent. Tears from our sorrowing eyes we weep; Therefore so firm our faith we keep 35 With all our hearts—with all our senses. Christ bore his pangs for our offences. Ply well the scourge for Jesus’ sake, And God through Christ your sins shall take. For love of God abandon sin, 40 To mend your vicious lives begin, So shall we his mercy win. Direful was Maria’s pain When she beheld her dear One slain. Pierced was her soul as with a dart: 45 Sinner, let this affect thy heart. The time draws near When God in anger shall appear. Jesus was refreshed with gall: Prostrate crosswise let us fall, 50 Then with uplifted arms arise, That God with us may sympathize. Jesus, by thy titles three[201], From our bondage set us free. Jesus, by thy precious blood, 55 Save us from the fiery flood. Lord, our helplessness defend, And to our aid thy Spirit send. If man and wife their vows should break God will on such his vengeance wreak. 60 Brimstone and pitch, and mingled gall, Satan pours on such sinners all. Truly, the devil’s scorn are they: Therefore, O Lord, thine aid we pray. Wedlock’s an honourable tie 65 Which God himself doth sanctify. By this warning, man, abide, God shall surely punish pride. Let your precious soul entreat you, Lay down pride lest vengeance meet you. 70 I do beseech ye, pride forsake, So God on us shall pity take. Christ in heaven, where he commands, Thus addressed his angel bands:— “Christendom dishonours me, 75 Therefore her ruin I decree.” Then Mary thus implored her Son:— “Penance to thee, loved Child, be done; That she repent be mine the care; Stay then thy wrath, and hear my prayer.” 80 Ye liars! Ye that break your sacrament, Shrive ye throughly and repent. Your heinous sins sincerely rue, So shall the Lord your hearts renew. 85 Woe! usurer, though thy wealth abound, For every ounce thou mak’st a pound Shall sink thee to the hell profound. Ye murd’rers, and ye robbers all, The wrath of God on you shall fall, 90 Mercy ye ne’er to others shew, None shall ye find; but endless woe. Had it not been for our contrition, All Christendom had met perdition. Satan had bound her in his chain; 95 Mary hath loosed her bonds again. Glad news I bring thee, sinful mortal, In heaven Saint Peter keeps the portal, Apply to him with suppliant mien, He bringeth thee before thy Queen. 100 Benignant Michael, blessed saint, Guardian of souls, receive our plaint. Through thy Almighty Maker’s death, Preserve us from the hell beneath.