How
an Holy Sowle Was Brought to Blysse,
with Moche Melodye of Angels
Capitulo lxii
In this poynt I herde in
that other syde comynge a lusty melodye of wonder
swete songe and instrumentes sownyng. And I
byhelde & sawe where come with grete solempnyte a pylgrym al vnlyke,
more clere and bryght shynyng, than these other were,
and was brought forth with an huge multitude of
angels, eueryche hauyng on hand somme lusty
instrument as Harp, Organs, Sawtry
and many moo of other, whiche I knewe nought, ne
couthe nought them descryuen. And so was he ledde
among that companye, his owne Aungel hauynge hym by
the honde, that songe wonder lyke to this that I
shalle now rehercen:
The Angels Songe
Honoured be
thou, Blysful Lord Ihesu,
And preysed must thou ben in euery place
So ful of Myght, of Mercy and Vertu,
Of Blysse, of Bounte, Pyte, and of Grace,
Whoos honoure may no maner thyng deface.
Who is it that withstanden may thy Myght?
But seruen the of fors mote euery wyght.
Honoured be thou, Ihesu Heuen Kyng!
Thou hast bytake vnto my gouernaunce
Such one that hast aboue al other thyng
Alowed the with lowely
obeysaunce,
And loued the with sad
perseueraunce,
Thy counceyl and thyn hye commaundement
Obseruynge with his hertely hole entent.
He hath nought walked in the weyes large,
That to the flesshe so lusty ben and grene.
But he hath ben ententyf to
thy charge
Fro dedely synne to kepe hym seluen clene,
And gone the wey of trauayle
and of tene,
Of penaunce and of tribulacion,
In greuous stormes of temptacion.
[34r] So hath he hadde in Erthe his
Purgatorye,
Whiche that he hath susteyned
wylfully,
Wherfor now receyue hym to thy glorye,
And take hym vp in to thy Blysse on hye
With the to ben in ioye eternally
In what degre that to hym is condygne,
Ryght as thy seluen lyketh
to assigne.
Honoured be thou Ihesu Gracious!
Thou man bycome thy self for mannes nede,
And man thou taughtest to be vertuous,
To seruen the by verry loue and drede,
Rewardyng them with Blysse for theyr mede,
That done theyr deuoyre as they
may or can;
Now thanked be thou, Ihesu, God and man.
