Part 34 (1/2)

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 h.e.l.le 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 h.e.l.le.

_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 s.p.a.ce, 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 port aeternales, et introibit rex gloriae._[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]