Anonymous
c. 1400
The Vernon Manuscript
001 ¶ Als ich lay · in winteres niht,
002 In a droupnyngen1n1uneasy slumber · to-fore þe day,
003 Me þhouȝte I · seih a selly siht:
004 A bodi, þer hit on beere lay,
005 Þat hedde iben a comeli kniht,
006 And luitel iserued god to pay;n2n2and had done little to please God
007 Loren he hedde · þis lyues liht,
008 Þe gost was oute · and wolde away.
009 ¶ And whon þe gost · him scholde go,
010 Hit turned aȝeyn, · and ȝit wiþstod,
011 Beheold þe flesch · þer hit com fro,
012 So serwefuliche, · mid dreri mood,
013 And seide, "Allas, · and weilawo!
014 Þou fikele flesch, · þou false bold;n3n3house
015 Whi lyst þou now, · stynkynde so,
016 Þat whilen weore · so wylde & wod?
017 Þou þat weore · iwont to ryde
018 So hiȝe an horse, · in and out;
019 So queynten4 a kniht · and kudn5so wyden4gracious, courteous
020 As a lyoun, · fers and proud,
021 Where is now · al þi muchele priden5spoken of, proclaimed
022 And þi leeten6n6a type of local court with the power to investigate, try lesser offenses, levy fines, and sometimes legislate for its district; a retinue. · þat was so loud?
023 Whi lyst þou þere · so bare þi syde,
024 Prikked in so pore a schroud?
025 Where ben now · alle þine worþili wedes,
026 Þi somers · mid þi bourliche beddes;
027 Þi palfreis, · and þi noble stedes,
028 Þat þou aboute · on destre leddes;
029 Þi faucouns · þat were wont to greden7,n7to make clamor
030 And þi grehoundes · þat þou feddes?
031 Me þinkeþ þi good · is þe ful gneden8,n8stingy
032 Now al þi frendes · ben from þe fledde.
033 Where ben þyne castels, & þi toures,
034 Þi chaumbres, · and þin heiȝe halle
035 Þat peynted weoren · with feire floures;
036 And þyne riche robes alle?
037 Þi quyltes, · and þi couertoures
038 Þat sendeln9, n9rich stuff · and þat pourpre palle?
039 Lo! wrecche, · wher is nou þi bouren10;n10grave
040 Tomorwe schaltou · þerinne falle?
041 Where be nou · alle þyne cokes snellen11,n11busy cooks
042 Þat scholde go greiþen12n12prepare þyne mete
043 Mid riche spiceries · for to smelle,
044 Þat þou were gredi · for to freten13,n13eat, devour
045 To don þi foule flesch · to swelle,
046 Þat now wole foule wormes ete?
047 And me þe put · and pyne of helle
048 Mid þi glotenye · hast þou gete.
049 Wher be þeose gleomen · þe to glewen;
050 Harpe, & fiþele, · and tabour bete,
051 Þis pipers · þat þis bagges blewen,
052 And þat þou ȝaf · þe ȝiftes grete;
053 Þe riche robes, · olde and newe,
054 To ȝelpen of þe, · þer þei seete?
055 Suche truiloursn14n14deceivers, beguilers · þat neuer nere trewe,
056 Of þe hedden · gret biȝete.n15n15from you had many great gifts, rewards
057 For to bere þi word so wyde,
058 And maken of þe · rym and rafn16,n16rhyme and alliteration
059 Suche gylours, · for pompe and pride,
060 Largeliche · of þin þou ȝaf.
061 Ac, þe pore eoden, · al be syde,
062 For euer hem · þou ouerhafn17;n17passed them by
063 And ȝif þei comen · in eny vnryden18,n18in any great number, thickly
064 Sone heo weore striken, · myd a staf.
065 Of suche pore, · þou hit nom,
066 Þat mony a gloten · eet and dronk;
067 ¶ "Neuer ne rouȝtestn19n19assembled þow, · of whom
068 Ne hon20 n20stopped þerfore · sarrest swonkn21n21toiling closely together (sarrest perhaps a derivative of "savory" – early SWM says the MED – meaning tasty and fine (as in fine wine));
069 Þe riche was welcome · whon he com,
070 Þe pore was beten · þat he stonk.
071 Now is al gon · mid godes gromn22n22God's anger,
072 And þou hast, wrecche, · luyte þonk.
073 ¶ "Of al þat you · togedere drouȝn23n23either: brought together (or) delayed, put off,
074 And were hardore · þen þe flynt,
075 Suche schul make hem · large inouȝ,
076 Þat þow neuere · neddest hit mint;n24n24that you never need to think of it
077 And þou þat madest · hit so touȝ,
078 Al þi bost · is sone astint.
079 Ac, I mai wepen · þat þou be louȝ,
080 For al my blisse · is for þe tynt.
081 ¶ "Þou, wrecche, · þat in al þi siht
082 Neore neuere · of worldes wynne sad,
083 Nou hastou nouþur · lond ne liþn25n25body,
084 But seuen foote, · and vnneþe þat.
085 Nou sixtoun26n26seest thou · and þe soþe hit kiþ,
086 Al is loren · þat þou er gat,
087 And þou ne schalt · neuer eft be blyþ
088 Of þat oþur · wol make hem glad.
089 ¶ "Ac tomorwe, · whon hit is day,
090 Out from kiþ · and al þy kyn,
091 Bare schalt þou wenden away,
092 And leuen al þis worldes winn27n27worldly possessions.
093 In proud paleys, · þeiȝ þou her lay,
094 Wiþ wormes is nou · nomen þyn inn28n28taking you prisoner from within;
095 Þi boure is bult, · so cold in clay,
096 Þe roof to resten · on þi chyn.
097 ¶ "So feolen29n29much tyme · weore þou þratn30,
098 What þow, wrecche, · scholdest haue;
099 And luitel ȝiue · þou of þat,n30threatened (with); as in: threateningly instructed as to
100 Þeiȝ, þou seȝe, · al þi kun igraue.
101 Þou dudest al · as þe world þe bad,
102 And as þi foule flesch · wolde craue.
103 I suffred þe · and dude as mad,
104 To be maister · and ich þi knaue."
105 ¶ Þe bodi grunte · and gon to seye:
106 "Gost, þou hast · þe wrong, I wis,
107 Al þe gult · on me to leye,
108 Þat þou hast þus · iloren þe blis.
109 Wher was ich, · be wode or wexen31n31wood or wax, perhaps describing the hardness or softness of the body or the extremes between aggressive and malleable emotional states.,
110 Sat, or stood, or dude out misn32,
111 Þat I nas euere · vndur þyn eiȝe?
112 Wel þou wost · þat soþ hit is.
113 And þou þat were · so worþliche wrouȝt,n32made a mistake
114 Þou seidest ich made þe my þral?
115 Ac, al þat euer · þe of rouȝt,
116 Þou hit dust · and ich hit hal.
117 Ne misdude · ich neuer nouȝtn33n33refrain from,
118 Ne I ne raste, · ne I ne stal,
119 Þat arstn34n34at first, in the very beginning of þe, · ne com þe þouȝt;
120 A bugge hose · abugge schal.n35n35A sheepskin hose will pay the penalty for an offense (?)
121 "What wuste I · what was wrong or riȝt,
122 What to take, · or what to schone,
123 But as þou puttest · in my siht,
124 Þat al þe wisdam · schuldest haue konen36n36known?
125 Ac, whon I dude · an vntihtn37n37vice; i.e., a misdeed,
126 And eftsones · gon me þerof monen38n38meditate, reflect upon;
127 Þenne leide I · al my miht,
128 Anoþer tyme · to haue þe wone.
129 ¶ "Wel ouȝtestou witen39n39know · wat was my kynde,
130 As vre eldren, · weren ar þon40n40ever [those] who,
131 To be þis wrecched word so mynden41n41attentive to,
132 And euer coueyten, · mo and mo.
133 Allas! whi neddest · þou me bynde,
134 Whon I wolde · to synne haue go?
135 Ac, þer þe blynde · lat þe blynde,
136 In dich þei fallen, · boþe twon42n42into a ditch they fell, both of them. Likely derived from Matt 15:14 (Luke 6:39)..
137 ¶ "I scholde haue ben · but as a schep,
138 Or as an oxe, · or as a swyn,
139 Þat eet and dronk, · lay and sleep,
140 Slayen · and passed al his pyn.
141 Neuer of catel, · nomen no kepn43n43that no man has kept (cared for),
142 Ne chosen þe water · from þe wyn;
143 Ne nou ne scholde · into helle dep,
144 Nere þe wit þat al was þyn."
145 ¶ "Careyne vnkynde, · what hast þou seid?
146 For euere · were þou · luþer and lesn44n44evil and false,
147 For to brewe me · bitter breid,
148 And me to puyten · out of pees.
149 Wiþ limen45n45limb iwrouȝt, · wiþ tonge iseid,
150 To harme was · þi raple resn46n46headlong course;
151 Wiþ schomen47n47shame is now · þi leete i-leyd,
152 Wiþ serwe · me neweþ · me þat mesn48n48a serving portion of food.
153 ¶ "And ho may more · tresun do,
154 Or his lord · better engynen49n49contrive, torture,
155 Þen he þat al his trust · is to,
156 And mid hym · as his owne hynen50n50domestic, i.e. servant?
157 Euer siþen · þou couþest go,
158 Stunten noldest þow · neuer fynen51n51fully, entirely
159 Þiself to dihtenn52n52prepare, set in order, · reste and ron53n53quiet, repose,
160 And me to purchasen put and pyne.
161 ¶ "Ac, now mowen · þis bestes renne,
162 And liggen vnder · lyndn54n54forest trees and lef,
163 And foules flenn55n55fly · bi feld and fenne,
164 Siþen þi false · herte clefn56n56heart break (in death or in anguish).
165 Þyn eȝe is blynd · and con not kenne;
166 Þi mouþ is doumbe, · þin ere is deef;
167 And þou begynnest · þus to grenne,
168 From þe comeþ · a wikked weefn57n57stench, bad smell.
169 Nis no ladi · so briht of blen58n58complexion,
170 Þat of þe weore · wel woned to leten59n59bestow [her] love upon [you],
171 Þat o day wolde · wiþ þe be,
172 For al þe gold · þou euer gete.
173 Vnsemely art þou, · on to se,
174 Vncomelich · for to cussen60n60kiss swete.
175 Þow hast no frend · þat nolde fle,
176 Come þou startlyngen61n61prancing, jumping · in þe strete."
177 ¶ "Nai, grimly gost, · al þe for nouȝt
178 Mid me to holde · chide and cheste,
179 For clynenn62n62bow down · most I to þi þouȝt
180 And bouwen · as a bounden beeste,
181 To don · al þat þe of rouȝt;
182 Ich was euer · at þin hesten63n63command,
183 Wiþstonden þe · ne dorstn64n64dared · I nouȝt,
184 For mid þe weren · miȝtes mesten65n65the most might.
185 For as ich was · to þe iȝiuen,
186 And as þyn asse, · ich þe bar,
187 As Mayster ouer me to lyuen,
188 Þat wel was · of myne wrenches warn66n66aware of my deceptions;
189 And whon þou heddest · me forþ dryuen,
190 And iput til eny charn67n67occasion,
191 Al to þe counseil · most I cliuenn68n68adhere to,
192 As he doþ · þat non oþer ne dar.
193 ¶ "Ac heddest þou, · so crist hit ouþe,
194 Iȝiue me boþe · hongur and cold,
195 And itauȝt me · þat nouȝt ne couþe,
196 But ligge in bisemaren69n69a shameful, miserable or degraded condition · so bold;
197 Þat ich vsede · in my ȝouþe,
198 Hedde ich holden · whon ich was old.
199 Ak þou me lete reyken70n70go at will, move unimpeded, · norþ · and · souþe,
200 And hauen al my wille · in wold."
201 ¶ "A! þou foule flesch · vnseeten71n71unbecoming; unattractive, repulsive/>,
202 Ful of falsnesse · and fallasn72n72deceitfulness;
203 Þat ich þe seȝe, · euer ȝete,
204 For al my loue · on þe I las;
205 Þat þou louedest me, · þou leete,
206 And maadest me · an houne of glasn73n73a cap of glass, perhaps suggesting a helmet that provides its wearer with a false sense of security..
207 Ich dude · al þat þe þhouȝte swete,
208 And þou traytur · euer was.
209 ¶ "And whon ich bad þe · schriften74n74confession take,
210 And leuen þi synnes · euer and e;
211 Do penaunce, · and faste, · and wake,
212 Þe fend seide, · 'Schalt þou not so.
213 Þus ȝong, · þi ryot forsake,
214 To lyuen longe · in serwe and wo.
215 Ioye and murþe · I reden75n75saw, discerned þou make,
216 And þenke to lyuen · ȝit ȝeres mo.'
217 And whon Ich bad þe · leuen pruide,
218 Þyne mony mees, · þi semeli schroud,
219 Þis wrecchede world · þe stood besyde,
220 And bad þe be · ful queynte and proud.
221 Þi flesch, · mid riche robes schruide,
222 Nout as a beggere · in a cloutn76n76rag,
223 Ac on heiȝ hors · for to ryde,
224 Mid muche meynen77n77an accompanying group, retinue, · in and out.
225 ¶ "Ak whon ich bad þe · erliche aryse
226 And of me taken · rihtliche kep,
227 Þou seidest, · miȝtest þou none wyse
228 For þi murie · morewe-sleepn78n78morning-sleep, especially after one should have risen;
229 And whon ȝe hedden · set ȝoure assysen79n79established your courts,
230 ȝe þreo traytors · sore ich wep,
231 ȝe ladde me · mid oure emprysen80n80purpose, intent, will,
232 As þe boþeleren81n81cottager · doþ his scheep.
233 ¶ "And þi false heyr · is now fayn,
234 Þi feire fen82n82moveable property · for to vnderfon83.
235 Wel is him, · þis day iseyn,
236 Þat luytel good · schal for þe do.n83appropriate for one's use
237 Nolde he nout, · nou ȝiuen aȝeyn,
238 To bringen vs · into reste and ro,
239 Of al þat lond, · a fote or tweyn,
240 Þat þou so synfuliche · come to.
241 ¶ "And þyne excecutours · schul nou seche
242 Þyn oþer þing · nou þou art ded;
243 Al schal geynlichen84n84quickly · gon to wreche,
244 Haue þei deled · a luytel bred,
245 Vche to pyke · þat he con skekken85n85take, steal:
246 Scheep, · or swyn, · or hors, · or netn86n86cow, ox.
247 Ac, luytel þerof · vs þar recchen87n87care fore, take heed of,
248 Siþen we beoþ boþe · bitauȝt þe qwedn88n88consigned ourselves [to] the wickedness."
249 ¶ And whon þe gost, · mid grisli chere
250 Hedde þus maad, · his muchele mon,
251 Þe bodi, · þer hit lay on bere,
252 An atelichn89n89hideous, ugly þing · as hit was on,
253 Þe hed haf vp · and þe swiren90n90neck,
254 As þing, · al seek, · hit ȝaf a gron,
255 And seide, · "Whoder þouȝtest þou fere,
256 Þat were þus freschliche · from me gon?
257 ¶ "What eyleþ þe, · þou grymli gaast,
258 Þat me þus breidest · of myn vnhap?
259 So broþliche · as myn herte barst,
260 Þe deþ so deolfulliche · me drap.
261 I nam nouþer · furst · ne last,
262 Þat schal drynken · of þat napn91n91cup;
263 Nis non so kene · þat he nis cast,
264 Þe pruddest may arst · kepe his clapn92n92suffer [Death's] blow, stroke.
265 What breidestn93n93reprove, find fault þou, · þat I schal rote?
266 For so dude · Sampson · and · Cesar,
267 Þat no mon con nou · fynden a mote
268 Of hem, · ne of mooder, · þat hem bar;
269 Wormes forgnowenn94n94to chew something to pieces · heor alre þrote;
270 So schulen heo myn, · nou am I war.
271 Þer deþ so redi · fynt dore opene,
272 Ne may helpe · no ȝeyn charn95n95to oppose to undertake or carry out a task.
273 ¶ "Ac, whon I seiȝ · boþe clerk and kniht
274 And oþer men, · bi gates go,
275 And ich was mon · of muchel miht,
276 And euere wende · haue dured so.
277 Hiȝe halles · and boures briht
278 Hedde I maad · wiþ murþhes mo;
279 Mi dwellyng here · so feire i-diht,
280 Þat deþ haþ me · þus demed fro.
281 Mi wonyingen96n96existence here · so murie i-wrouȝt
282 And wende haue lyued · ȝit ȝeres fele;
283 Wyde wonesn97n97lands, towns (refers specifically to inhabited places) · and boldesn98n98an edifice, such as a castle or a mansion bouȝt,
284 Mid al þat euere · I miȝte stele.
285 Nou wente þe world · aȝeyn my þouȝt,
286 And deþ, · þat con so stille stele,
287 Haþ me demed · awey wiþ nouȝt,
288 And oþere toweldenn99n99to assume control of (possessions) · al þis wele.
289 ¶ "And ȝif þou wolt me · þerof wyten100n100witness,
290 Þat boþe schul we · ben i-spilt,
291 Mid þiself · scholdest þou furst flyte,
292 For al was hit · þyn owne gilt;
293 Þat schewe ich þe, · with wordes luyten101n101scanty,
294 And wiþ riȝt resun, · ȝif þou wilt,
295 Þou art to blame · and ich al quiten102n102excused, acquitted,
296 For boþe schuldestou vs · from schome han schildn103n103skill in the matters of a shameful nature; or the state of being in disgrace of sin or punishment in hell.
297 ¶ "For God þe schopn104n104brought into existence · aftur his schaftn105n105creation,
298 And ȝaf þe boþe · wit and skil,
299 And in þi lokyng · al was ich laft,
300 To wissen after · þyn owne wil.
301 Ne couþe I neuere · of wikked craft,
302 Ne wuste what · was good or il,
303 But as a beest, · doumbe and daft,
304 And as þou tauhtest · me þertil.
305 "For ich was be-tauȝt · þe to ȝeme,
306 And witles þing · as ich was boren,
307 And set to seruen · þe to quemen106n106please,
308 Boþe an euen · and at moren.
309 Ac þou þat deedes · couþest deme,
310 Scholdest ha ben · war beforen
311 Of my folye, · as hit now seme,
312 And þus art þow · þi self forloren."
313 ¶ Þe soule seide, · "Bodi, be stille!
314 Who haþ leret, · þe þis wit,
315 To ȝuie me · þis wordes grille,
316 Þer þou lyst bollenn107n107swollen, · as a bitn108?
317 Wenest þou, wrecche, · þeiȝ þou fille
318 Mid þat foule flesch · a pit
319 Of al þat euere · þou hast don ille,n108a mark left by biting (or made by the sting of death)
320 Þat þou so lihtly · schal be quit?
321 Wendest þou þus · to geten griþn109n109sanctuary; clemency, mercy,
322 Þeiȝ þou lyst roted · in þe clay?
323 Nay þeih þou rote pile and piþn110n110skin and flesh; completely,
324 And blowe wiþ þe wynd away,
325 ȝit schalt þou come · with lime & liþn111n111with all of the body
326 Aȝeyn to me · at domesday;
327 And come to court, · and ich þe wiþ,
328 For to kepe · vre rihte pay.
329 To loke, seistou, · weore þou me tauȝt,
330 Ak sone so þou couþest · of eny quedn112n112miser; evil thing,
331 Mid þe teeþ · þe bridel þou lauȝtn113n113caught
332 And dudest al · þat ich forbed.
333 To synne & serwe · was þi drauȝt,
334 To serwe · and to wikkedhed;
335 Euere ich flot aȝeyn · and fauȝt,
336 Ac euere þou nome, · þin owene redn114n114Yet always you grasp (i.e., follow) your own advice..
337 Ak whon I spek · of soule nedes,
338 Masse, · matynes, · or euensong,
339 Þou mostest arst · don oþur dedes,
340 And toldest hit · al idel ȝong;
341 Ti riuern115n115tear · or to chase · þou eodes,
342 Oþer to court · to deme wrong,
343 Bote for pride · or muchele medesn116n116profits,
344 Luytel good · þou dudest among."
345 ¶ And þon117n117while þe bodi · seiȝ þe gost,
346 Such deoln118n118grief, mourning · and such mone make,
347 And seide, "Allas, · my lyf is lost,
348 Þat euere I liuide · for þine sake!
349 Þat myn herte · anon ne barst.
350 Whon ich was · from my mooder take,
351 Or ben · in to a put i-cast,
352 Mid a tadden119n119toad, · or mid a snake!
353 For þenne · nedde I neuer i-lerned
354 What was vuel · ne what was good,
355 Ne no þing · wrong i-ȝeorned,
356 Ne pyne suffred · as I now mot,
357 Wher no seynt · mai beode vre ernden120n120intercede [for you] through prayer;
358 To him þat bouȝt vs, · mid his blod,
359 Þat we ne ben · in þis fuir forbrenden121n121burnt up
360 Þorw his merci · to don vs bootn122n122to give us relief, protection."
361 ¶ "Nai, wrecche, nai. · Now is to late
362 For to preye · or for to preche;
363 Now is þe waynn123n123a hearse, or the coach of Death personified · riȝt atte ȝate,
364 And þi tonge · haþ leyd þe speche.
365 O poynt · of vre peyne · to abate,
366 In al þis world, · nis non such lechen124n124remedy; one who heals the soul,
367 Þat boþe we schullen · gon o gaten125n125one direction or one way,
368 Such is Cristes wraþþe and wrechen126n126vengeance.
369 I may now · no lengor dwelle,
370 Ne stonden heer · to speken mid þe;
371 For hellehoundes. · Ich here ȝelle,
372 And fendes, · mo þen I may se,
373 Þat comen · to fecchen me to helle
374 Ne may I none gates fle.
375 And þow schalt comen, · in flesch and fellen127n127the whole body, i.e. the flesh and skin,
376 Ac, domesday · to wonen128n128reside with, share a dwelling (with a mate) wiþ me!"
377 ¶ And as hit hedde · þus i-seid,
378 Nuste hit whodere · hit schulde go,
379 And to him, · wiþ a lodly breydn129n129turn of events; sudden occurrence,
380 Comen a þousund fendes · or mo.
381 And sone þei hedden · on hym leyd
382 Heore scharpe clochesn130n130clutches · alle þo;
383 Hit was in a deolful pleyt,
384 Reuþlichen131n131piteously i-toyled · to and fro.
385 For summe were ragged · and tayled,
386 Mid brode bunches on heore bak;
387 Scharpe clauwes, · and longe nayled,
388 Nas non of hem · wiþouten lac.
389 On alle halue · hit was assayled
390 Of mony a deuel, · blo · and · blac.
391 Merci criȝinge, · luitel hym vayled,
392 Siþen god hit wolde · so harde him wrak.
393 Summe his chekes, · al to-wrasten132n132wrest asunder,
394 And ȝotenn133n133poured in in · þe led al hot,
395 And beeden · he scholde drynken faste,
396 And ȝiuen aboute · him a brodn134n134a pointed instrument, a goad.
397 A · foul deuel com þer atte laste,
398 Þat was mayster, · wel ich wot,
399 A · colturn135n135knife glowynde · in hym he caste,
400 Þat hit þorw his herte smot.
401 Sweordes glowynge, · summe setten
402 To bak, · to breste, · to vche a syde,
403 Þat at his herte · þe poyntes metten,n136worried still
404 And maden on him · woundes wyde.
405 Heo askeden him · how wel hit lette,
406 Þe herte þat was · so ful of pride,
407 ȝif he hedde ȝutn136, · þat men him hetten137n137called him by a (certain) epithet or title,
408 For more he moste · sone betyde.
409 Worþliche weden · for to werenn138n138Deservedly going insane (or losing his senses) so as to defend himself against the [devils’] assault,
410 Seyden heo · þat he louede best;
411 An hein brunyen139n139chastising chain-mail · for to beren,
412 Al brennynge · on hym was kest.
413 Wiþ strayte haspesn140n140clasps · for to speren,
414 Þat strayte sat · to bac, · and · brest,
415 An helm, · þat luitel was to heren
416 Com hym · and an hors ful prestn141n141ready.
417 He was þere, · in a sadel slongen,
418 And scholde · to a tornement.
419 An hundred deuelen · on hym dongenn142n142beat, pl. and ppl. of dingen; perhaps also a pun on dongen (v.): (of a horse) to void excrement,
420 Heer · and · þer · he was i-hent;
421 At vche a duntn143n143blow, stroke, · þe sparkes sprongen,
422 As a brond · þat were for brent;
423 Mid hote speres · was he stongen,
424 Mid scharpe swerdes · al to-rent.
425 And beeden him for to hunten and blowe,
426 And clepen Bau son · and · Beu fysn144n144 Laud Misc. 108 reads “Bauston and Bewis” which Conlee suggests refers to the names of two “of the Devil’s hunting dogs” (n. 46). As written in the Vernon, this phrase could be derived from French “beau fis” or fair son (sometimes taken to mean “fair face”). “Bau” could be used as a scornful interjection, and “baussan” meant “badger” or “pie-bald” in Old French. .
427 Þe racchesn145, · þat hym scholde knowe,
428 For sone · mosten heo blowe prisn146;
429 An hundred racches · on a rowe
430 Driuen him, · al vnþonk his,
431 Til he com · to a lodly lowe:
432 Helle hit was · ichot to wis.
433 And þo he comen · to þat wikked won,
434 Þe fendes casten vp a ȝel;n145dogs that hunt by scent
435 Þe eorþe opnede · vp anon,
436 Smoke & smolder · vp þer wel;n146a hunting call blown when the game is taken
437 Of þe pich · and þe brymston,
438 Men mihte · mony a mile haue smel.
439 Lord, · wo is hym bi-gon
440 Þat þer schal haue · þe haluendeln147n147the half portion [of that experience]!
441 ¶ And whon þe gost, · þe soþe seiȝn148n148wise,
442 Whoder hit scholde, · hit made a cri,
443 And seide, "God, · þat sittest an heiȝ,
444 Of me þou haue · mynde and merci!
445 Ne schop þou me, · þat art so sleiȝ,
446 And þi creature · was I,
447 As mony on · þat sitteþ þe neyȝn149n149near [you],
448 And þat þou hast · so wel do bi?
449 Þow, God, · þat wustest · al beforen,
450 Whi schop þow me · to wroþer-helen150n150Why do you destine me to my ruin?,
451 To ben þus toggedn151n151pulled · and totorenn152n152torn to pieces,
452 Or for to welden · eny wele?
453 Þulke þat scholden · han ben loren,
454 Wel miȝtest þou · such werkes spele.
455 Allas! whi leetest vs · be boren
456 To ȝuien þe foule fendes, · so fele!"
457 ¶ Þe fendes gunnen · aȝeyn to crye:
458 "Caytifn153n153wretch, · helpeþ þe · now no more
459 To clepen on Jhesu, · ne on Marie,
460 Ne for to craue · Cristes ore!
461 I-loren hast þow · þe cumpaynye,
462 For serued hast þow · vs so ȝore;
463 Þi ryot, · þow schalt now abuyȝen154n154bow, submit,
464 As oþere · þat leeneþ vppon vre lore."
465 Þe fendes · þat of him weore fayn,
466 Bi cop and tayl · þei henten hit,
467 And slongen hit · myd a modi mayn
468 Into þe allerdeoppesten155n155deepest of all pit.
469 Þer neuer sonne · ne schal be seyn;
470 Heomself · asonken in þer-mitn156n156the middle of it,
471 Þe eorþe closede · hitself aȝeyn,
472 And þe dungoun · was forditn157n157closed up.
473 ¶ And hit was forþen158n158fulfilled, carried out, · þat foule lodn159n159journey,
474 Faste hit gon · neiȝen þe dayn160n160the day approached;
475 On vche an her, · a drope stodn161n161On every hair stood a drop [of sweat],
476 For fyn feren162n162pure fear, · þer I lay.
477 To Jhesu crist · with mylde mod,
478 ȝerne ich clepede · and criȝede ay;
479 So was I ferd, · Ich was neiȝ wod,
480 Þat heo me scholden · haue boren away.
481 I þonke him · þat suffrede deþ,
482 His muchele merci · and his oren163n163grace, mercy,
483 Þat saued me · from so mony a qwedn164n164wicked thing or event,
484 A synful wrecche · as I lay þore.
485 Alle synful, · Ich rede hem redn165n165give advice to them,
486 Heore synnes · for to rewen sore;
487 For nis no synne, · in world so gret,
488 Þat Cristes merci · nis wel more.
489 A! Jhesu þat vs alle · hast wrouȝt,
490 Lord after · þi feire face,
491 And mid þi precious blod · ibouȝt,
492 Of amendement · ȝef vs space,
493 So þat þin hondewerk · leose nouȝt,
494 In so deolful stude · and place.
495 Ac, þe ioye · þat þou hast vs wrouȝt!
496 Graunte vs, god, · for þyn holy grace. Amen.