Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/260

To gete a thowsand sowlys in an houre me thynkyth it but skorn,
  Syth I wan Adam and Eve on the fyrst day.

But now mervelous mendys rennyn in myn rememberawns,
  Of on Cryst wiche is clepyd Joseph and Maryes sone;
Thryes I tempte hym be ryth sotylle instawnce,
  Aftyr he fast fourty days ageyns sensual myth or reson.

ffor of the stonys to a mad bred, but sone I had conclusyon,
  Than upon a pynnacle, but angelys were to hym assystent;
His answerys were mervelous, I knew not his intencion;
  And at the last to veyn glory, but nevyr I had myn intent.

And now hath he xij. dyscypulys to his attendauns,
  To eche towne and cety he sendyth hem as bedellys;
In dyverce place to make ffor hym purvyauns,
  The pepyl of hese werkys fful grettly merveyllys.
To the crokyd, blynd, and dowme, his werkys prevaylys.
  Laȝarus that foure days lay ded his lyff recuryd;
And where I purpose me to tempt, anon he me asaylys;
  Mawdelyn playn remyssyon also he hath ensuryd.

Goddys son he pretendyth and to be born of a mayde,
  And seyth he xal dey for mannys salvacion,
Than xal the trewth be tryed and no fordere be delayd,
  Whan the soule from the body xal make separacion;
And as for hem that be undre my grett domynacion,
  He xal fayle of hese intent and purpose also,
Be this tyxt of holde remembryd to myn intencion,
  Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio!

But whan the tyme xal neyth of his persecucion,
  I xal arere new engynes of malycious conspiracy,