Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/164

Josephe. fforsothe, Mary, it is clepyd a chery tre;
  In tyme of ȝere ȝe myght ffede ȝow theron ȝour ffylle.
Maria. Turne ageyn, husbond, and behold ȝon tre,
  How that it blomyght now so swetly.
Joseph. Cum on, Mary, that we worn at ȝon cyté;
  Or ellys we may be blamyd, I telle ȝow lythly.
Maria. Now, my spowse, I pray ȝow to behold,
  How the cheryes growyn upon ȝon tre;
ffor to have therof ryght ffayn I wold,
  And it plesyd ȝow to labore so meche for me.
Joseph. ȝour desyre to ffulfylle I xal assay sekyrly,
  Ow to plucke ȝow of these cheries; it is a werk wylde,
ffor the tre is so hyȝ it wol not be lyghtly,
  Therfore lete hym pluk ȝow cheryes begatt ȝow with childe.
Maria. Now, good Lord, I pray the graunt me this boun,
  To have of these cheries, and it be ȝour wylle:
Now, I thank it God, this tre bowyth to me downe!
  I may now gaderyn anowe, and etyn my ffylle.
Josephe. Ow, I know weyl I have offendyd my God in Trinyté,
  Spekyng to my spowse these unkynde wurdys;
ffor now I beleve wel it may non other be,
  But that my spowse beryght the kyngys son of blys;
            He help us now at oure nede!
Of the kynrede of Jesse worthely were ȝe bore,
Kynges and patryarkys ȝow beffore,
Alle these wurthy of ȝour kynred wore,
            As clerkys in story rede.
Maria. Now, gramercy, husbond, for ȝour report!
  In oure weys wysely late us forth wende;
The fadyr allemyghty he be oure comfort!
  The Holy Gost gloryous he be oure frende!
Joseph. Heyl, wurchepful sere, and good day!
  A ceteceyn of this cyté ȝe seme to be;