The Testament of John Lydgate: British Library Harley 2251 Verses

Data Dictionary

Folio 41 Verso

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¶
Agayne thy pryde / beholde my mekenes •
Agayne thyn envye / beholde my charite •
Agayne thi lechery / beholde my chast clennes •
Ageyne thy covetise / beholde my pouerte •
Atwene two thevis / nayled to a tree •
Rayled with rede bloode / they luft me so disguyse •
Behold o man al this I dide for the •
meke as a lamb / offred in sacrifice •

¶
Beholde my love / and gyf me tyne ageyne •
Behold I deyed / thy raunsoms for to paye •
Se how myn hert / is open brode and playne •
Thy gostly enemyes / only to affraye •
Anharder bataile / no man migħt assaye •
Of al tryumphes / the grettest higħ emprise •
Wherfor oman / no lengger the dismaye •
I gaf my bloode / for the in sacrifice •

¶
Turne home agayne / they synne do forsake •
Be holde and se if ougħt be left be hynde •
How I to mercy / am redy the to take •
Gyve me thyn hert / and be nomore vnkynd •
Thy love and myn / to gyder do hem bynd •
And late hem neuer / part in no wise •
Whan thou were lost / thi soule ayen to fynde •
My bloode I offred / for the in sacrifice •

¶
Emprynt these tynges / in thyn Inward thought •
And grave hem deepely / in thy remembraunce •
Thynk oon hem wele / and foogete hem nought •
Al this I suffred / to do the allegeaunce •
and with my seyntes / to yeve the suffisaunce •
In the hevenly court / for the I dide devise •