LA NOBLA LEYÇON


AYCI COMENÇA LA NOBLA LEYÇON

1 0 frayre, entende una nobla leyçon:
2 Sovent deven velhar e istar en oracion,
3 Car nos veen aquest mont esser pres del chavon;
4 Mot curios deorian esser de bonas obras far,
5 Car nos veen aquest mont de la fin apropiar.
6 Ben ha mil e 4 cent an compli entierament,
7 Que fo scripta l'ora, car sen al derier temp.
8 Poc deorian cubitar, car sen al remanent.
9 Tot jorn veen las ensegnas venir a compliment,
10 En acreysament de mal e en amermament de ben.

HERE BEGINS THE NOBLE LESSON

1 0 Brethren, give ear to a noble lesson.
2 We ought always to watch and pray,
3 For we see the world nigh to a conclusion.
4 We ought to strive to do good works,
5 Seeing that the end of this world approacheth.
6 There are already a thousand and four hundred years fully accomplished,
7 Since it was written thus, for we are in the last time.
8 We ought to covet little, for we are at what remains, viz. at the later end.
9 We see daily the Signs to be accomplished,
10 And that in the increase of evil, and decrease of good.

11 Ayço son li perilh que l'escriptura di:
12 L'avangeli ho recoynta, e sant Paul atresi,
13 Que neun home que viva, non po saber la fin.
14 Enperço deven mays temer, car nos non sen certan,
15 Si la mort nos penre enchoy o deman.
16 Ma cant venre al jorn del jujament,
17 Un cascun recebre per entier payament,
18 Aquilh que auren fayt mal e aquilh que auren fayt ben.
19 Ma l'escriptura di, e nos creyre ho deven,
20 Que tuit li ome del mont per dui chamin tenren:
11 These are the perils which the scripture mentioneth,
12 In the Gospels and St.Paul's Writings:
13 As also, that no man living can know the end.
14 And therefore we ought the more to fear, as not being certain,
15 Whether we shall die to day or tomorrow.
16 But when the day of judgement shall come,
17 Every one shall receive their full reward.
18 Those that shall have done either well or ill.
19 Now the Scripture saith, and we ought to believe it,
20 That all men shall pass two ways.
21 Li bon yren en gloria, li fellon en torment.
22 Ma aquel que non creyre en aquel departiment,
23 Regarde l'escriptura del fin començament,
24 Dos que Adam fo forma, entro en aquest temp present.
25 Aqui poyre trobar, si el aure entendement,
26 Que poc son li salva, a ver lo remanent.
27 Ma cascuna persona, que vol ben obrar,
28 Lo nom de Dio le payre deo esser al començar,
29 E apelar en aiua lo sio glorios filh car,
30 Filh de sancta Maria,
21 The good to glory, and the wicked to torment.
22 But he that shall not believe this departure,
23 Let him search the Scripture from the very beginning,
24 Since Adam was formed until this present time,
25 There he shall find, if he has understanding,
26 That few are the saved in comparison of the rest.
27 Wherefore every one that will do good works,
28 The honour of God the Father ought to be his first moving principle.
29 He ought likewise to implore the aid of His glorious Son, 30 the dear Son of the Virgin Mary,
31 E lo sant Sperit que nos don bona via,
32 Aquisti 3, la sancta trinita,
33 Enayma un Dio devon esser aura,
34 Plen de tota poysenza, e de tota sapiencia, e de tota bonta.
35 Aquest deven sovent aurar e requerir
36 Que nos don fortaleça encontra li enemic,
37 Que nos li poysan vencer denant la nostra fin,
38 Ço es lo mont, e lo dyavol e la carn,
39 E nos done sapiencia acompagna au bonta,
40 Que nos poysan conoyser la via de verita,
31 And the Holy Ghost which lightens us in the true way.
32 These three (the holy Trinity)
33 as being but one God, ought to be called upon,
34 Full of power wisdom and goodness.
35 This we ought often to beg and pray for,
36 That He would enable us to encounter our enemies,
37 And overcome them before our end,
38 Which are the world, the Devil, and the flesh:
39 And that He would give us wisdom accompanied with goodness,
40 That we may know the way of life,
41 E gardar pura l'arma que Dio nos a dona,
42 L'arma e lo cors en via de carita:
43 Enaysy que nos aman la santa trinita
44 E lo proyme, car Dio ho ha comenda,
45 Non solament aquilh que nos fan ben, ma veys aquilh que nos fan mal;
46 E haver fe e sperança al rey celestial,
47 Que a la fin nos alberge al sio glorios ostal.
48 Ma aquel que non fare ço que se conten en aquesta leyçon,
49 Non intrare en la santa mayson.
50 Ma ayço es de greo tenir a la caytiva gent,
41 And keep pure that Soul
42 and Body in way of charity,
43 So as we love the holy Trinity,
44 And our neighbour, for God hath commanded it.
45 Not only those that do us good, but those also which harm us.
46 Having hope in the King of Heaven,
47 That in the end He may receive us into His glorious habitation.
48 Now we who shall not do what is contained in this Lesson,
49 Shall never enter into this house.
50 Though it be never to hard to be received by the wicked,
51 Que aman l'or e l'argent,
52 E las empromesion de Dio han en despreçiament.
53 Ilh non gardan la ley ni li comendament,
54 Ni li laysan gardar ha alcuna bona gent,
55 Ma segont lor poysança hy fan enpachement.
56 Perque es aquest mal entre l'umana gent?
57 Per ço que Adam peque del fin començament,
58 Car el manje del pom otra defendement,
59 E a li autre germene lo gran del mal semenç;
60 El aquiste a si mort, e a li autre ensegador.
51 Which love Gold and Silver,
52 Which have the promises of God in contempt,
53 Who neither keep His Law and Commandments,
54 Nor suffer those who would to keep them,
55 But rather hinder them to the utmost of their power.
56 How came this evil to enter into mankind?
57 Because Adam sinned at the first beginning,
58 By eating of the forbidden Apple.
59 And thus the grain of evil seed taking root in others,
60 He brought Death to himself and all his Posterity;
61 Ben poen dire que aqui hac mal bocon.
62 Ma Xrist ha remps li bon per la soa pasion.
63 Ma nos troben en aquesta leyçon
64 Que Adam fo mescresent de Dio lo sio creator.
65 Donca ayçi poen ver que ara son fayt pejor,
66 Aquilh que habandonan Dio lo payre omnipotent,
67 E creon a las ydolas al lor destruiment,
68 Ço que defent la ley que fo del començament.
69 Ley natural s'apella, comuna a tota gent,
70 Lacal Dio pause al cor del sio prumier forma;
61 Well may we say, this was an evil morsel;
62 However Christ has redeemed the good by his death and passion.
63 But alas we find in this Lesson,
64 that Adam believed not God his Creator,
65 Yea and we may see likewise, that nowadays
66 Men forsake God the Father Almighty,
67 And believe in Idols to their own Destruction.
68 That which the Law forbids, which was from the beginning,
69 Called the Law of Nature, common to all sorts,
70 Which God put into the heart of that man whom he first formed.
71 De poer far ben o mal li done franqueta.
72 Lo mal li a defendu, lo ben li ha comanda.
73 Ayço poe vos ben veer qu'es eysu mal garda,
74 Que aven laysa lo ben, e lo mal aven obra,
75 Enayma fey Cayn lo prumier filh d'Adam,
76 Que aucis lo sio frayre Abel sença neuna cayson,
77 Mas car el era bon,
78 E avia sa fe al segnor, e non en autra creatura.
79 Ayci poen penre eysenple de la ley de natura,
80 Lacal haven corrota, passa haven la mesura;
71 Giving him a power of doing good or evil,
72 But commanding him to do the good, and eschew the evil.
73 And this you may see was ill observed,
74 For that we have left the good, and done the evil,
75 As did Cain the eldest son of Adam,
76 who killed his brother Abel without any cause,
77 Save only for that he was good,
78 And had his hope in the Lord, and not in any Creature.
79 Here we may take an example of the Law of Nature,
80 Which we have broken and transgressed,
81 Pecca haven al creator, e ofendu a la creatura.
82 Nobla ley era aquela lacal Dio nos done,
83 Al cor d'un cascun home scrita la pause,
84 Qu'el leges, e gardes, e enseguessa dreytura,
85 Ames Dio al sio cor sobre tota creatura,
86 Tempses, e serves, e non hy pauses mesura,
87 Car non es atroba en la santa scriptura.
88 E gardes ferm lo matremoni aquel noble covenent,
89 E agues paz au li frayre, e ames tota autra gent,
90 Ayres argolh, e ames humilita,
81 We have sinned against the Creator, and offended the creature.
82 It was a noble Law that was given us by God,
83 And written in the heart of every man,
84 That he may there read it and keep, and teach righteousness,
85 And love God in his heart above every Creature,
86 And that he might fear and serve Him without any reserve,
87 There being none to be found in the holy Scriptures.
88 That he might likewise keep firm the marriage tie, that noble accord and contract,
89 And have peace with his Brethren, and love all other persons.
90 That he might hate Pride, and love Humility,
91 E façes a li autres enayma el volria que fos fay a si,
92 E si el façes per lo contrari qu'el en fosa puni.
93 Poc foron aquilh que aquela ley ben garderon,
94 E moti foron aquilh que la trapasseron,
95 Lo segnor abandoneron, non donant a lui honor,
96 Ma creseron al demoni, e a la soa temptacion,
97 Trop ameron lo mont, e poc paradis,
98 E serviron al cors majorment que al esperit.
99 Enperço nos troben que moti en son peri.
100 Ayci se po repenre tot home que di
91 And do to others as he would be done by,
92 And if he did the contrary, that he should be punished.
93 Now few they were which kept well this Law,
94 And more were they who broke it,
95 Who forsook the Lord, not honouring Him,
96 But believed the Devil and his temptation,
97 Who loved too much the world, and too little the things of Heaven,
98 And served the Body more than the Spirit.
99 Wherefore we find that many have perished.
100 Here everyone may be reprehended that saith,
101 Que Dio non fe la gent per laysar li perir.
102 Ma garde se un cascun que non li endevegna enaysi cant endevent a lor,
103 Car ley dulivi venc e destrus li fellon.
104 Ma Dio fey far una archa en que el enclaus li bon.
105 Tant fo cregu lo mal, e lo ben amerma,
106 Que en tot lo mont non ac mas que oyt salva.
107 Eysenple poen penre en aquela sentencia,
108 Gardar nos de mal e tuit façan penedença,
109 Car Yeshu Xrist o a dit, e en sant Luc es script,
110 Que trastuit periren aquilh que non la faren.
101 That God created not man to suffer him to perish,
102 But let everyone take heed, that it happeneth to him, as it did to them.
103 For the Deluge came and destroyed the wicked,
104 But God caused an Ark to be made, in which He saved the good.
105 So were the bad increased, and the good diminished,
106 That in all the world there were saved but eight persons.
107 We may be instructed hereby
108 To keep ourselves from evil, and that all ought to repent.
109 For Jesus Christ has said it, and in St. Luke it is written,
110 That all those shall perish that shall not do so.
111 Ma aquilh que scamperon, Dio lor fey empromession
112 Que jamays en ayga non perira lo mont.
113 Aquilh cregron e foron multiplica.
114 Del ben que Dio lor fey poc se foron recorda,
115 Ma agron tant poc de fe e tant grant la temor
116 Qu'ilh non creseron ben al dit del segnor,
117 Ma temian que las ayga neesan encara lo mont,
118 E diseron de far torre per reduyre se aqui;
119 E ben la començeron segont ço qu'es script,
120 E diçian de far la larga e tant auta e tant grant,
121 Now to those which escaped, God made a Promise,
122 That the world should nevermore perish by water;
123 and they believing it were multiplied.
124 But that good which God did them they soon forgot,
125 Being men of little faith, and so great fear,
126 That they did not thoroughly believe the Words of the Lord.
127 But they believed that the Waters should again trouble the world,
128 And thought of building a tower to retire into,
129 Yea and they began it (as it is written)
130 Intending to make it so large, so high, and so great,
121 Qu'ilh avengues entro al cel, ma ilh non pogron far tant,
122 Car lo desplac a Dio, e fey lor o semblant.
123 Babelonia havia nom aquela grand cipta
124 E ara es dita confusion per la soa malvesta.
125 Adonca era un lengaje entre tota la gent;
126 Ma qu'ilh non s'entendesan hy fey Dio departiment,
127 Qu'ilh non façesan qu'ilh havian comença.
128 Foron li lengaje per tot lo mont scanpa;
129 Poy pecqueron greoment abandonant la ley, ço es ley de natura,
130 Car l'escriptura di e ben se po provar
131 That the top thereof might reach to Heaven, but alas they could not accomplish their design.
132 For they displeased God thereby, the which also He then demonstrated.
133 This great City was called Babylon,
134 And now it is called confusion, by reason of its ruinous condition.
135 There was then but one only Language amongst men,
136 But that they might not understand each other, God made a division
137 That so they might not finish what they had began.
138 The which Languages then spread throughout all the World.
139 After this they sinned grievously, renouncing the Law, viz. that of Nature.
140 For the scripture saith, and it may be evidently proved,
131 Que cinc ciptas periron lascal façian lo mal:
132 En fuoc e en solpre Dio li condampne.
133 El destrus li fellon, e li bon desliore:
134 Ço fo Loth e aquilh de son ostal que l'angel en gite.
135 Catre foron per nombre, ma l'un se condampne:
136 Ço fo la molher, pur car se regarde otra defendement.
137 Ayci ha grant eysemple a tota humana gent,
138 Qu'ilh se devan gardar de ço que Dio defent.
139 E n aquel temp fo Abram baron plaçent a Dio,
140 E engenre un patriarcha dont foron li Jusio.
131 That five Cities perished which did evil,
132 Being sentenced by God, to fire and brimstone.
133 Be destroyed the wicked, and the good He delivered,
134 Viz. Lot and his family, which the Angel brought out,
135 They were four, but one was condemned,
136 For the Woman looked back, breaking the command.
137 Here's now an Example for all Mankind,
138 That they ought to take heed of that which God forbids.
139 I n those days lived Abraham a man well pleasing God,
140 Who begat a Patriarch of whom came the Jews,
141 Nobla gent foron aquilh en la temor de Dio;
142 En Agit habiteron entre autra mala gent:
143 Lay foron apremu e costreyt per lonc temp,
144 E crideron al segnor, e el lor trames Moysent,
145 E desliore son poble, e destruys l'autra gent.
146 Per lo mar ros passeron coma per bel eysuyt,
147 Ma li enemic de lor, lical li perseguian, y periron trastuit.
148 Motas autras ensegna Dio al sio poble fey:
149 El li paç 40 an al desert e lor done la ley;
150 En doas taulas peyriencas la trames per Moysent.
151 And these were a noble People in the fear of the Lord,
152 Who lived in Egypt, amongst other wicked people,
153 Where they were oppressed and straightened a long time,
154 And but crying unto the Lord He sent unto them Moses,
155 And delivered His People and destroyed the other Nations.
156 They passed through the Red Sea, as through a dry and pleasant place,
157 But their enemies who persecuted them, perished all in the waters,
158 Many other signs did God then give to His People;
159 Feeding them forty years in the wilderness, and giving them the Law,
160 In two tables of stone, which He sent by Moses,
151 Troberon la scripta e ordena noblament.
152 Un segnor demostrava esser a tota gent;
153 Aquel deguesan creyre e amar de tot lo cor,
154 E temer e servir entro al dia de la fin.
155 E un cascun ames lo sio proyme enayma si,
156 Conselhesan las vevas e li orfe sostenir,
157 Alberguesan li paure e li nu revestir,
158 Paguesan li fameiant e li airant endreycesan,
159 E la ley de lui mot deguesan gardar.
160 A li gardant empromes lo regne celestial;
161 Which they found written, and nobly ordained.
162 This demonstrated that there was a Lord of all men,
163 Whom they ought to believe, and love with all their heart,
164 as likewise to fear and serve Him to the end,
165 And that everyone should love his Neighbour as himself:
166 That they should give counsel to Widows, and defend the fatherless,
167 That they should receive the poor into their houses, & clothe the naked,
168 That they should feed the hungry, and conduct the Traveller;
169 And in sum keep carefully this his Law,
170 Promising to those that kept it, the heavenly Kingdom.
161 Lo serviment de las ydolas mes en defension,
162 Homecidi, avoteri, e tota fornigacion,
163 Mentir, e perjurar, e falsa garentia,
164 Usura, e rapina, e mala cubiticia,
165 Enapres avaricia e tota felonia.
166 A li bon enprome vita, e li mal auçia.
167 Adonca era justicia en la soa segnoria,
168 Car aquilh que peccavan ni façian malament,
169 Ilh eran mort et destruit sença perdonament.
170 Ma l'escriptura di e mot es manifest,
171 He forbad service unto Idols,
172 Homicide, Adultery, and all sorts of whoredom,
173 Lying, Purjery, and false Witness,
174 Usury, Rapine, and evil Coveting,
175 As also Avarice, and all wickedness,
176 To the good He promised Life, but threatened Death to the wicked;
177 Then were they clothed in their principality:
178 But those who sinned and did wickedly
179 They died and were destroyed without remission:
180 For the Scripture says, and it is manifest enough,
171 Que 30 milia foron li remas al desert,
172 Trenta milia e prus segon que la ley di.
173 Ilh foron mort de glay, de fuoc e de serpent,
174 E moti autre periron del destermenament:
175 La terra se partic, e receop li l'enfern.
176 Ayci nos nos poen repenre del nostre grant soperc.
177 Ma aquilh que feron ben lo plecer del segnor,
178 Ereteron la terra de l'enpromesion.
179 Mot fo de nobla gent en aquela saçon,
180 Enayma fo Davi, e lo rey Salamon,
171 That thirty thousand were left in the Wilderness,
172 Thirty thousand and more (as the Law saith)
173 Died by the sword, by fire, and serpents;
174 And many others were destroyed in another manner,
175 The Earth opening and hell receiving them.
176 And here we may have matter of reproving ourselves very seasonably,
177 But those which did the will of the Lord,
178 inherited the Land of Promise;
179 Now there were in those days many Worthies,
180 As David, and Solomon the King,
181 Ysaya, e Jeremia, e moti autre baron
182 Que per la ley combatian, e façian defension.
183 Un poble era a Dio eyleyt de tot lo mont.
184 Li enemic eran moti d'entorn lical li perseguian.
185 Grant eysemple poen penre en aquesta leyçon:
186 Cant ilh gardavan la ley e li comendament,
187 Dio combatia per lor encontra l'autra gent;
188 Ma cant ilh peccavan, ni façian malament,
189 Ilh eran mort e destruit, e pres de l'autra gent.
190 Tant fo alarga lo poble e plen de grant ricor
181 Isaiah, Jeremy, and many others,
182 Which fought for the faith, and defended the same.
183 There was one only People chosen by God out of all the World.
184 The Enemies were in great number round about which persecuted them:
185 We have many things worth our learning and imitation in this Lesson:
186 When they kept the Law and the Commandments,
187 God fought for them against the other nations;
188 But when they sinned and did wickedly,
189 They died, were destroyed, and taken Captives by those other Nations.
190 But so enlarged were these people, and so abounding in riches,
191 Qu'el vay trayre li cauç encontra son segnor.
192 Enperço nos troben en aquesta leyçon
193 Que lo rey de Babelonia li mes en sa preyson.
194 Lay foron apremu e costreyt per lonc temp,
195 E crideron al segnor au lo cor repentent:
196 Adonca li retorne en Jerusalem.
197 Poc foron li obedient que gardesan la ley,
198 Ni que aguesan temor d'ofendre lo lor rey.
199 Ma i ac alcuna gent plen de tant grant falseta,
200 Ço eran li farisio e li autre scriptura.
191 That they kicked against the Lord,
192 Wherefore we find in this Lesson,
193 That the King of Babylon put them into prison,
194 Where they were oppressed and straightened a long time;
195 Then they cried to the Lord with a repentant heart;
196 And he restored them to Jerusalem,
197 but few there were that were obedient and kept the Law,
198 And that feared to offend their King.
199 Yea some there were, men full of deceit and falsehood,
200 viz. the Pharisees and others who were versed in Scripture,
201 Que ilh gardesan la ley mot era demostra,
202 Que la gent o veguessan per esser prus honra;
203 Ma poc val aquel honor que tost ven a chavon.
204 Persegu eran li sant e li just e li bon,
205 Au plor e au gayment auravan lo segnor,
206 Qu'el deysendes en terra per salvar aquest mont,
207 Car tot l'uman lignaje anava a perdicion.
208 A donca Dio trames l'angel a una nobla donçela de lignaje de rey:
209 Doçament la salude, cum s'apartenia a ley.
210 Enapres li vay dire: non temer Maria,
201 These kept the Law, (as plainly appears)
202 Only that the World might see it, and to be the more honoured.
203 But little worth is this honour which soon vanisheth.
204 Then were the Saints persecuted, and those that were just and good;
205 Then they prayed unto the Lord with cries and tears,
206 That He would come down on earth and save this World:
207 For all mankind was in the way of perdition.
208 A nd Then sent God the Angel to the noble Virgin of royal Descent,
209 Who sweetly saluted her according to the command of Him that sent him,
210 And after said unto her, fear not Marie,
211 Car lo sant sperit sere en ta conpagnia.
212 De tu naysere filh que apellares Yeshu:
213 El salvare son poble de ço qu'el ha ofendu.
214 Noo mes lo porte al sio ventre la vergena gloriosa,
215 Ma qu'ilh non fos represa, fo sposa de Joseph.
216 Pura era nostra dona e Joseph atresi;
217 Ma ayço deven creyre, car l'avangeli o di,
218 Que en la crepia lo pauseron cant fo na lo fantin;
219 De panç l'envoloperon, paurament fo alberga.
220 Ayci se pon repenre li cubit e li avar,
211 For the Holy Ghost shall overshadow thee;
212 Thou shalt bear a Son whom thou shalt call Jesus,
213 He shall save his People from their sins.
214 Nine months the glorious Virgin bare him in her womb,
215 But that she might not be made a publick example, she was espousd by Joseph;
216 Pure was this Virgin and Joseph also.
217 But this we ought to believe, for the Scripture saith it,
218 That they put the Infant in the manger when it was born,
219 They wrapt Him in swaddling clothes, and lodg'd Him but very meanly.
220 Here may be reprehended those covetous and avaricious men,
221 Que d'amasar aver non se volon cesar.
222 Moti miracle foron cant fo na lo segnor,
223 Que Dio trames l'angel anunciar a li pastor;
224 En orient aparec una stella a li 3 baron;
225 Gloria fo dona a Dio al cel e en terra paç a li bon.
226 Ma enapres un petit suferc perseguecion.
227 Ma lo fantin creysia per gracia e per eta,
228 E en sapiencia divina en lacal el era ensegna;
229 E apelle XII apostol lical son ben nomna.
230 E volc mudar la ley que enant avia dona:
221 Which never cease to heap up Riches together.
222 Now there were many Miracles wrought when the Lord was born:

224 In the East appeared a Star to the three Wise Men.
225 Glory was given to God on high, and on earth peace to the good.
226 Afterwards the little Childe suffered Persecution,
227 But the Infant increased in grace and age,
228 And in divine wisdom, in which he was instructed,
229 And called the twelve Apostles, which were rightly so named,
230 And would change the Law which He gave before;
231 El non la mude pas qu'ilh fos abandona,
232 Ma la renovelle qu'ilh fos prus fort garda.
233 El receop lo baptisme per donar salvament,
234 E a li apostol vay dire, que bapteiesan la gent,
235 Car adonca començava lo renovellament:
236 Ben defent la ley velha fornigar e avoutrar,
237 Ma la novella repren veser e cubitar.
238 La ley velha autreia partir lo matremoni,
239 E carta de refu se deguesan donar,
240 Ma la novella di non penre la laysa,
231 He changed it not, that it should be abandoned,
232 But renewed it that it might be better kept;
233 He received Baptism for to give Salvation,
234 And commanded the Apostles to baptise the Nations,
235 (For then began the Renewing)
236 The ancient Law forbid fornication and adultery,
237 But the new reprehends looking and lusting after a Woman;
238 The old Law had power to make null marriage,
239 and that Bills of Divorcement might be given,
240 But the new faith, Thou shalt not marry her that is put away,
241 E negun non departa ço que Dio ha ajosta.
242 La ley velha maudi lo ventre que fruc non a porta,
243 Ma la novella coselha gardar vergeneta.
244 La ley velha defent solament perjurar,
245 Ma la novella di al postot non jurar,
246 E prus de si o de non, non sia lo tio parlar.
247 La ley velha comenda combatre contra li enemic e rendre mal per mal,
248 Ma la novella di: non te volhas vengiar,
249 Ma laysa la vengiança al rey celestial,
250 E laysa viore en paç aquilh que te faren mal,
241 And what God hath joined let no man separate.
242 The old Law cursed the barren womb,
243 But the new counselleth to keep virginity,
244 The old Law forbiddeth only to forswear;
245 But the new faith, Swear not at all;
246 And that thy speech be no more than yea and Nay.
247 The old Law biddeth to fight against Enemies, and render evil for evil,
248 But the new one saith, Avenge not thyself,
249 But leave thy vengeance to thy heavenly King.
250 And let those live in peace which do thee hurt,
251 E trobares perdon del rey celestial.
252 La ley velha dy: amares lo tio amic e aures en odi lo tio enemic,
253 Ma la novella di: non fares prus enaysi,
254 Mas ama li vostre ennemic e façe ben aquilh que ayreron vos,
255 Aura per li perseguent e per li acaysonant a vos,
256 Que vos sia filh del vostre payre local es en li cel.
257 La ley velha comanda punir li mal façent,
258 Ma la novella di: perdona a tota gent,
259 E trobares perdon del payre omnipotent,
260 Car si tu non perdonares, tu non trovares salvament.
251 And then shalt thou find pardon with the heavenly King.
252 The old Law saith, Thou shalt love thy Friend, and hate thine Enemy,
253 But the new one saith, Thou shalt do no more so,
254 But ye shall love your Enemies, and do good to them that hate you,
255 And pray for them that persecute you, and seek for occasion against you,
256 That ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven.
257 The old Law saith, punish Malefactors,
258 But the new saith, Pardon all sorts of people,
259 And thou shalt find pardon with the Father Almighty,
260 For if thou dost not pardon, thou shalt not be saved.
261 Nengun non deo aucire ni ayrar nenguna gent.
262 Manc ni simple ni paure non deven scarnir,
263 Ni tenir vil l'estrang que ven d'autrui pays,
264 Car en aquest mont nos sen tuit pellegrin.
265 Car nos tuit sen frayre, deven a Dio servir,
266 Ço es la novella ley que Yeshu Xrist a dit que nos deven tenir.
267 E apelle sio apostol e fey lor comandament
268 Que anesan per lo mont e ensegnesan la gent,
269 Jusios e Grecs prediquesan e tota humana gent,
270 E done a lor poesta desobre li serpent,
261 None ought to kill or hate any person,
262 Much less ought we to mock either simple or poor men,
263 Nor despise the stranger which cometh from far.
264 For in this World we are all Pilgrims.
265 Thus all we that are Brethren ought to serve God.
266 And this is the new Law which Jesus Christ saith we ought to keep.
267 A nd he called the Apostles and commanded them
268 To go through the World, and teach all Nations,
269 To preach to Jews and Greeks, and all mankind,
270 And he gave them power over Serpents,
271 Gitesan li demoni e sanesan li enferm,
272 Resucitesan li mort e mondesan li lebros,
273 E façesan a li autre enayma el havia fayt a lor.
274 D'or ni d'argent non fossan possesent,
275 Ma au vita e au vestimenta se tenguesan content,
276 E amesan se entre lor e agusan bona paç.
277 Adonca lor enpromes lo regne celestial,
278 E aquilh que tenren paureta sperital.
279 Ma qui sabria cal son, ilh sarian tost nombra,
280 Que volhan esser paure per propria volunta.
271 To drive away Devils, and heal the sick,
272 To raise the Dead, and cleanse the Lepers,
273 And to do to others as he had done to them;
274 To possess neither Gold nor Silver,
275 But to be content with Food and Raiment.
276 To love one another, and to be at peace.
277 Then he promised them the heavenly Kingdom,
278 And to those which were spiritually poor:
279 But he that should know who they are, would quickly number those,
280 That would be poor of their own accord;
281 De ço que era avenir el lor vay anonciar,
282 Cosi el devia murir e poys resucitar.
283 E lor dis las ensegnas e li demostrament,
284 Lical devian venir derant lo feniment.
285 Motas bellas semblanças dis a lor e a la gent,
286 Lascals foron scriptas al novel testament.
287 Ma se Xrist volen amar ni saber sa doctrina,
288 Nos coventa velhar e legir l'escriptura.
289 Aqui poyren trobar cant nos auren legi,
290 Que solament per far ben Xrist fo persegu.
281 Then he told them what should happen,
282 How he ought to die, and afterward rise again.
283 And he told them the Signs and Wonders
284 Which ought to happen before the end.
285 Many excellent Parables he spoke to them and the People,
286 Which were written in the New Testament.
287 But if we will love Christ, and know his Doctrine,
288 We ought to watch, and read the Scripture,
289 Where we may find when we shall read,
290 That only for doing well, Christ was persecuted;
291 El resucitava li mort per divina vertu,
292 E façia veser li cec que unca non havian vist;
293 El mondava li lebros, e li sor façia auvir,
294 E gitava li demoni façent motas vertuç,
295 E cant mays façia de ben, mays era persegu.
296 Ço eran li farisio lical lo perseguian,
297 E aquilh del rey Herode e l'autra gent clerçia;
298 Car ilh havian envidia car la gent lo seguian,
299 E car ilh creyan en lui e en li sio comendament.
300 Penseron lui auçire e far moti torment,
291 He raised the Dead by Divine Power,
292 He made the blind to see, which never had seen,
293 He cleansed the Lepers, and made the Deaf to hear,
294 He cast out Devils, working many Miracles;
295 And by how much the more he did good, so much the more was he persecuted.
296 The Pharisees were they which persecuted him;
297 And the People of Herod, and others, viz. them of the Clergy:
298 For they envied him, because he was followed by the People;
299 Because they believed in him and his Commandments,
300 They sought how they might torment him and put him to death,
301 E parleron a Juda e feron li covenent,
302 Que s'el lo lor liores, el agra 30 argent.
303 E juda fo cubit, e fey lo tradiment,
304 E liore son segnor entre la mala gent.
305 Li Jusio foron aquilh que lo crucifiqueron;
306 Li pe e las mans forment li claveleron,
307 E corona d'espinas en testa li pauseron;
308 Diçent li moti repropi, ilh lo blastemeron.
309 El dis qu'el havia se: fel e açi li abeoreron.
310 Tant foron li torment amar e doloyros,
301 And for this reason spoke to Judas and made an agreement with him,
302 To deliver him for thirty Pieces of Silver.
303 Now Judas being covetous wrought the Treason,
304 And betrayed his Lord to those wicked men,
305 The Jews were they which crucified him,
306 Nailing fast his Feet and his Hands,
307 And putting a Crown of Thorns on his Head,
308 And speaking many Reproaches, they blasphemed him;
309 And when he said, he was thirsty, they likewise gave him Gall and Vinegar to drink.
310 The Torments were so bitter and painfull,
311 Que l'arma partic del cors, per salvar li pecador.
312 Lo cors remas aqui pendu sus en la croç,
313 Al mey de dui laron.
314 4 plagas li van far sença li autre batement,
315 Poys li feron la ciquena, per far lo compliment,
316 Car un de li cavalier venc e li uberc la costa:
317 Adonca ysic sanc e ayga ensemp mescla.
318 Tuit li apostol fugiron, ma l'un i retorne,
319 E era aqui au doas Marias istant josta la croç.
320 Grant dolor havian tuit, ma nostra dona major,
311 That the Soul parted from the Body to save Sinners.
312 The Body having Suffered this, hung there upon the Cross
313 In the midst of two Thieves;
314 they gave him four Wounds, besides other Blows.
315 And after that, the fifth, to accomplish the matter;
316 For, one of the Soldiers came and opened his Side,
317 And immediately there issued out Water and Blood mixed together,
318 Whereupon all the Apostles fled, but one returned,
319 And was there with two Women near unto the Cross,
320 All were very sorry, chiefly his Mother,
321 Cant ilh veya son filh mort e nu, en afra sus en la croç.
322 De li bon fo sebeli, e garda de li fellon.
323 El tray li sio d'enfern e resucite al terç jorn,
324 E aparec a li sio enayma el havia dit a lor.
325 Adonca agron grant goy, cant vigron lo segnor,
326 E foron conforta, que enant havia grand paor;
327 E converse cum lor entro al dia de l'acension.
328 Adonca monte en gloria lo nostre salvador,
329 E dis a li sio apostol e a li autre ensegador,
330 Que entro a la fin del segle fora tota via cum lor.
321 When she saw her Son dead and naked, fastened upon the Cross,
322 He was buried by the good, and watched by the wicked.
323 He rose out of the Grave the third Day,
324 And appeared to his Disciples, as he had said unto them;
325 Then were they possessed with great joy, when they saw the Lord,
326 And were confirmed, for before they feared greatly;
327 And he conversed with them until the Day of Ascension;
328 Then our Saviour ascended into Glory,
329 And said to his Disciples and other Followers,
330 That to the End of the World he would be with them.
331 M as cant a pandecosta se recorde de lor,
332 E lor trames lo sant sperit local es consolador,
333 E ensegne li apostol per divina dotrina,
334 E saupron li lengaje, e la sancta scriptura,
335 Adonca lor sovenc de ço qu'el havia dit;
336 Sença temor parlavan la dotrina de Xrist,
337 Jusios e Grec predicavan, façent motas vertuç,
338 E li cresent bapteiavan al nom de Yeshu Xrist.
339 Adonca fo fayt un poble de novel converti:
340 Crestian foron nomna, car ilh creyan en Xrist.
331 A t the Feast of Pentecost he remembered them,
332 And sent them the Holy Ghost, which is the Comforter,
333 And taught the Apostles by Divine Doctrine,
334 And they understood the Languages and the holy Scripture,
335 And then they remembered what he had said.
336 They spoke without fear, of the Doctrine of Christ,
337 They preached to Jews and Greeks, working many Miracles;
338 And baptized those who believed in the Name of Jesus Christ.
339 Then was there a People new converted;
340 They were called Christians, for they believed in Christ.
341 Ma ço troben que l'escriptura di,
342 Mot fort li perseguian Jusios e Saraçins.
343 Ma tant foron fort li apostol en la temor de segnor,
344 E li home e las fenas lical eran cum lor,
345 Que per lor non laysavan ni lor fayt, ni lor dit,
346 Tant que moti n'auciseron enayma ilh avian Yeshu Xrist.
347 Grant foron li torment segont qu'es script,
348 Solament car mostravan la via de Yeshu Xrist.
349 Ma aquilh que li perseguian non era tant a mal tenir,
350 Car ilh non havian la fe del nostre segnor Yeshu Xrist.
341 But we find here that the Scripture saith,
342 That the Jews and Saracens persecuted them grievously.
343 But the Apostles were so fortified in the fear of the Lord,
344 And the Men and Women which were with them.
345 That for all that, they left neither speaking nor doing,
346 Whatsoever should come of it, so that they might have Jesus Christ.
347 The Torments were great, according to what is written,
348 Only because they taught the way of Jesus Christ.
349 But as for the Persecutors we need not so much wonder,
350 For, they had not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,
351 Coma d'aquilh que queron ara cayson, et que persegon tant,
352 Que crestian devon esser, ma mal o fan semblant.
353 Ma en ço se pon repenre aquilh lical persegon, e confortar li bon,
354 Car non se troba en neguna leyçon,
355 Que li sant perseguesan neun ni metesan en preson.
356 Mas enapres li apostol foron alcun doctor,
357 La via de Yeshu Xrist mostravan, lo nostre salvador.
358 Ma encara se troba alcun en aquest temp present,
359 Lical son manifest a mot poc de gent.
360 La via de Yeshu Xrist mot fort volrian mostrar,
351 Like those who now seek occasion to persecute the Saints;
352 Which men ought to be Christians, but appear not to be such.
353 And in this they are to be blamed, for that they persecute and imprison the good;
354 For, it is not found any where,
355 That the Saints persecuted or imprisoned any.
356 Now after the Apostles, were certain Teachers,
357 Who taught the way of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
358 And these are found even at this present Day,
359 But they are known to very few,
360 Who have a great desire to teach the way of Jesus Christ,
361 Ma tant son persegu que poc o poyon far,
362 Tant son li fals crestian enceca per error,
363 E majorment que li autre aquilh que son pastor,
364 Que ilh persegon e aucion aquilh que son melhor,
365 E layson viore en paç aquilh que son fals enganador.
366 Ma en ço se pon conoyser qu'ilh non son bon pastor,
367 Car non aman las feas si non per la toyson.
368 Ma l'escripura di, e nos o poen veyr,
369 Que se la n'i a alcun bon que volha amar Dio e temer Yeshu Xrist,
370 Que non volha maudire, ni jurar, ni mentir,
361 But they are so persecuted, that they are able to do but little,
362 So much are the false Christians blinded with Error,
363 And more than the rest they that are Pastors,
364 For they persecute and hate those who are better than themselves,
365 And let those live quietly who are false Deceivers.
366 But by this we may know that they are not good Pastors,
367 For they love not the Sheep, but only for their Fleeces.
368 The Scripture saith, and it is evident,
369 That if any man love those who are good, he must needs love God, and Jesus Christ.
370 Such an one will neither curse, swear, nor lye,
371 Ni avoutrar, ni aucire, ni penre de l'autruy,
372 Ni venjar se de li sio enemic,
373 Ilh diçon qu'el es vaudes e degne de punir,
374 E troban cayson, cum mençonias e cum engan,
375 Cusi ilh li poysan toler ço qu'el ha de son just afan.
376 Ma forment se conforte aquel qu'es persegu per la temor del segnor,
377 Car lo regne de li cel li sere aparelha al isir d'aquest mont;
378 Adonca aure grant gloria s'el aure hagu desonor.
379 Ma en ço es mot manifesta la malvesta de lor,
380 Que aquel que vol maudire, e mentir, e jurar,
371 He will neither commit Adultery, nor kill;
372 he will neither defraud his Neighbour,
373 Nor avenge himself of his Enemies,
374 Now such an one is termed a Waldensian, and worthy to be punished,
375 And they finde occasion by lyes and by Deceit, To take from him that which he has gotten by his just labour.
376 However, he that's thus persecuted for the fear of the Lord, strengthens himself greatly,
377 By this consideration, that the Kingdom of Heaven shall be given him at the end of the World.
378 Then he shall have a weight of glory in recompence for all such dishonour.
379 But herein is clearly manifest the malice of those men,
380 That they which will curse, lye, and swear,
381 E forment prestar a usura, e aucire, e avoutrar,
382 E venjar se d'aquilh que li fan mal,
383 Ilh diçon que es prodome, e leal home recoynta.
384 Ma a la fin garde se qu'el non sia engana.
385 Cant ven lo mal mortal, la mort lo costreng e a pena po parlar,
386 E demanda lo prever e se vol confessar.
387 Ma, segont l'escriptura, el ha trop tarça, lacal comanda e di:
388 San e vio te confessa, non atendra a la fin.
389 Lo prever li demanda si el ha negun pecca,
390 Dui mot o tre li respont, e ha tost enavança.
381 He that will frequently put his Money to Usury, kill, and whore,
382 And avenge himself on those which hurt him;
383 This they say is a good man, and to be accounted faithfull.
384 But let him take heed he be not deceived at the end,
385 When he has received the stroke of Death, and when Death seizes on him, and he becomes almost speechless,
386 Then he desires the Priest to confess him:
387 But according to the Scriptures he has delayed too long, for that commands us
388 To repent while we have time, and not to put it off till the last:
389 The Priest asketh him if he hath any sin,
390 He answers two or three words, and soon has done;
391 Ben li di lo prever que el non po esser asot,
392 S'el non rent tot l'autruy e esmende ben sio tort.
393 Ma cant el au ayço, el ha grant pensament,
394 E pensa entre si, si el rent entierament,
395 Que remanre a sio eyfant, ni que diren la gent?
396 A sio eyfant comenda qu'ilh eymendon sio tort,
397 E fay pat au lo prever qu'el poysa esser asot.
398 Si el ha cent lioras de l'autrui, o encara ben dui,
399 Car lo prever lo quita per cent soz,
400 E talvota per menz cant el non po haver prus;
391 The Priest tells him he cannot be forgiven,
392 If he do not restore, and examine well his Faults:
393 When he hears this, he's very much troubled,
394 And thinks with himself, if he restore entirely,
395 What shall he leave his Children, and what will the World say?
396 Then he commandeth his Children to examine their faults,
397 And buyeth of the Priest his Absolution;
398 Though he hath a thousand Lives of another and a better Penny,
399 Yet the Priest acquits him for a hundred Pence,
400 And sometimes for less when he can get no more,
401 E fay li amonestança e li promet perdon:
402 Qu'el faça dire mesa per si e per sio payron,
403 E lor enpromet perdon sia a just o sia a fellon.
404 Adonca li pausa la man sus la testa;
405 Cant el li laysa prus, li mena prus grant festa,
406 E fay li entendement qu'el sia mot ben asot.
407 Ma mal son eymenda aquilh de que el ha agu li tort,
408 Ma el sere engana en aytal asolvement,
409 E aquilh que li o fay encreyre, y pecca mortalment.
410 Ma yo aus o dire, car se troba en ver,
401 Telling him a large Story, and promising him Pardon,
402 That he'll say Mass for him, and for his Ancestours;
403 And thus he pardons them be they righteous or wicked,
404 Laying his Hand upon their Heads,
405 (But when he leaves them, he maketh the better chear)
406 And telling him that he is very well absolved.
407 But alas they are but sadly confessed who are thus faulty,
408 And will certainly be deceived in such an Absolution,
409 And he that maketh him believe it sinneth mortally.
410 For, I dare say, and it is very true,
411 Que tuit li papa, que foron de Salvestre entro en aquest,
412 E tuit li cardenal, e tuit li evesque, e tuit li aba, tuit aquisti ensemp,
413 Non han tant de poesta de dever asolver quilh poysan perdonar,
414 A nenguna creatura pur un peca mortal.
415 Solament Dio perdona que autre non o po far.
416 Ma ayço devon far aquilh que son pastor:
417 Predicar devon lo poble e istar en oracion,
418 E payser lo sovent de divina dotrina,
419 E castigar li pecant donant a lor deciplina,
420 Ço es veraya amonestança qu'ilh hayan pentiment,
411 That all the Popes which have been from Silvester to this present,
412 And all Cardinals, Bishops, Abbots, and the like,
413 Have no power to absolve or pardon,
414 Any creature so much as one mortal sin;
415 'Tis God alone who pardons, and no other.
416 But this ought they to do who are Pastours,
417 They ought to preach to the People, and pray with them,
418 And feed them often with divine Doctrine;
419 And chastise the Sinners with Discipline,
420 Viz. by declaring that they ought to repent.
421 Prumierament se confesson sença neun mancament,
422 E qu'ilh façan penedença en la vita present,
423 Junar, e far almosnas, e aurar au cor bulhent,
424 Car per aquestas cosas troba lo asolvament.
425 Donca nos crestian, caytios crestians, lical haven peca,
426 La ley de Yeshu Xrist haven abandona,
427 E non haven temor, ni fe, ni carita,
428 Confessar nos coventa: non y deven tarçar;
429 Au plor, au pentiment, nos coven smendar
430 L'ofensa que haven fayta per 3 peca mortal,
421 First, that they confess their sins freely and fully,
422 And that they repent in this present life,
423 That they fast and give Alms, and pray with a fervent heart,
424 For, by these things the Soul findes Salvation:
425 Wherefore we Christians which have sinned
426 And forsaken the Law of Jesus Christ,
427 Having neither Fear, Faith, nor Love,
428 We must confess our sins without any delay,
429 We must amend with weeping and repentance,
430 The offences which we have committed, & for those three mortal sins,
431 Per cubiticia d'olh, e per deleyt de carn,
432 E per superbia de vita, per que haven fayt lo mal.
433 Aquesta via nos coventa tenir,
434 Si nos volen amar ni segre Yeshu Xrist;
435 Paureta sperital de cor deven tenir,
436 E amar la castita, Dio humilment servir.
437 Adonca ensegrian la via de Yeshu Xrist,
438 Enaysi vencerian li nostre enemic.
439 Breoment es recoynta, en aquesta leyçon,
440 De las 3 leys que Dio done al mont.
431 To wit, for the Lust of the Eye, the Lusts of the Flesh,
432 and the Pride of Life, through which we have done evil;
433 We must keep this way.
434 If we will love and follow Jesus Christ,
435 We must have spiritual poverty of heart,
436 And love Charity, and serve God humbly,
437 For, so we may follow the way of Jesus Christ,
438 And thus we may overcome our Enemies.
439 There is a brief Rehearsal in this Lesson,
440 Of three laws which God gave to the World;
441 La prumiera ley demostra, qui a sen ni raçon,
442 Ço es a conoyser Dio e onrar lo sio creator,
443 Car aquel que ha entendement po ben pensar entre si,
444 Que el non s'es pas forma ni li autre atresi.
445 Donca ayci po conoyser, aquel que ha sen ni raçon,
446 Car lo es un segnor Dio que ha forma tot lo mont,
447 E conoysent lui, mot lo deven honrar,
448 Car aquilh foron dampna que no o volgron far.
449 Ma la 2 ley que Dio done a Moysent,
450 Nos ensegna a temer Dio e a servir lui forment,
441 The first Law directeth men who have judgment and reason,
442 Viz. to know God, and to pray to his Creatour.
443 For he that hath judgment, may well think with himself,
444 That he formed not himself, nor anything else:
445 Then here he who hath judgment and reason may know,
446 That there's one Lord God who created all the World,
447 And knowing him, he ought much to honour him;
448 For, they were damned that would not do it.
449 The second Law which God gave to Moses,
450 Teacheth us to fear God, and to serve him with all our strength;
451 Car el condampna e punis tot aquel home que ofent.
452 Ma la 3 ley lacal es ara al temp present,
453 Nos ensegna amar Dio de bon cor e servir purament,
454 Car atent lo peccador e li dona alongament,
455 Qu'el poysa far penedença en la vita present.
456 Autra ley d'aqui enant prus non deven haver,
457 Ma ensegre Yeshu Xrist e far li sio plaçer,
458 E gardar fermament ço qu'el ha comenda,
459 E esser mot avisa cant venre l'antexrist,
460 Que nos non crean a son fayt, ni a son dit,
451 For he condemneth and punisheth every one that offends.
452 But the third Law which is at this present time,
453 Teacheth us to love God, and serve him purely:
454 For he waiteth for the Sinner, and giveth him time,
455 That he may repent in this present life.
456 As for any other Law to come after we shall have none.
457 Save onely to imitate Jesus Christ, and to do his will,
458 And keep fast that which he commands us,
459 And to be well forewarned when Antichrist shall come.
460 That we may believe neither to his words nor to his works,
461 Ma segont l'escriptura ara son moti antexrist,
462 Car antexrist son tuit aquilh que contrarian a Xrist.
463 Motas ensegnas e grant demostrament
464 Saren dos aquest temp, entro al dia del jujament.
465 Lo cel e la terra ardren, e murren tuit li vivent.
466 Poys resucitaren tuit en vita permanent,
467 E seren aplana tuit li hedificament.
468 Adonca sere fayt lo derier jujament:
469 Dio partire lo sio poble segont ço qu'es script.
470 A li mal dire: departe vos de mi,
461 Now according to the Scripture, there are already many Antichrists.
462 For, all those which are contrary to Christ, are Antichrists.
463 Many Signs and great Wonders Shall be
464 from this time forward untill the Day of Judgment,
465 The Heaven and the Earth shall burn, and all the Living die.
466 After which all shall arise to everlasting Life,
467 And all Buildings shall be laid flat.
468 Then shall be the last Judgment,
469 When God shall separate his People, according as it is written,
470 To the wicked he shall say, Depart ye from me
471 Anna al fuoc enfernal que mays non aure fin.
472 Per 3 greos condicions sere costreyt aqui,
473 Per moteça de penas, e per aspre torment,
474 E car sere dampna sença defalhiment:
475 D'aqui nos garde Dio per lo sio plaçement
476 E nos done auvir ço qu'el dire a la soa gent enant qu'el arçe gayre,
477 Cant el dire: vene vos en au mi, beneyt del mio payre,
478 E possessire lo regne local es aparelha a vos del començament del mont,
479 Alcal vos aure deleit, e riqueças e honor.
480 Plaça aquel segnor, que forme lo mont,
481 Que nos sian de li eyleyt per istar en sa cort.
471 into Hell Fire, which never shall be quenched;
472 With grievous Punishments there to be straitened;
473 By multitude of Pains, and sharp torment:
474 For you shall be damned without remedy.
475 From which God delivered us, if it be his blessed will,
476 And give us to hear that which he shall say to his Elect without delay;
477 Come hither ye blessed of my Father,
478 Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the World,
479 Where you shall have Pleasure, Riches and Honour.
480 May it please the Lord which formed the World,
481 That we may be of the number of his Elect to dwell in his Court.
eo gracias. Amen.

eo gratias. Amen.


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