And bey pat comelyche acused with wordes full kene;
homely on here heddys (!) | here hondys þey leyde,
And sche wepte for wo, no wondyr, I wene!

we schull present þe pleynte, | how-so-euer þou be payde,

And say sadly be sothe, ryth as we (haue) sene,

On sake."

Thus with cautelys qwaynt

They present þer playnt.
zett shall trewthe hem attaynt,
I dar vnpurtake.

,,Thorow-out pe pomery | we passed to play
wyth prayer & penaunce, was our purpose.
Sche cometh with two maydyns, | dressyd pat day,
wyth Ryche Robys arayde, Reed as pe Rose.
wylyly hyr wenches she wyssed a-way,
Comaundede hem kenely be ates to close.
Sche wente forthe to a jong man in a valey

The semblant of Sussan wolde no-man suppose,

when we pat semblant syghe, | sykyng for care
ffor sert of hyr souerayn | & for hir owen sake
Our copes were combrouse, | bat kyndeled our kare;
But gett we turned a croke (!), | pat traytour to take.
he was borely & bygge, | bolde as a bare,
Myche myghtyer þen we, syche maystries to make.
And to be ate jeply | ben jede he full ¡are,

200

205

210

215

220

225

And lyfte vp be lacche | & lepte ouyr þe lake,

So (!) owthe.

230

Sche withe-shonte for no shame,

But bowed aftyr, for blame,

And wolde not kythe vs his name

ffor crafte þat we kowthe."

Now ys sche dampned on days, with dyn þey hyr deme (!),

235

And be domesmen derf done hir be withdrawen.

Lowely sche lowted and lawghte hyr leue,

Att kynrede & cosyns, þat sche had er knowen,
Sche asked mercy with mowthe | in þat myschefe:

"I am sakles of synne," sche sayde in hyr sawen.

That don me delfully be ded❘ & don vpon dawen
with dere!

Now wolde god, þat I myghte

Speke with Joachym or nyghte;

245

And sythen, what deth me were dyghte,

I ne sett at a pere.

Sche fyll flatte on be flore, | hyr fere when sche fonde,

And karpyd to pat karemon, as she well kowthe:

250

,,I wratthed zou neuyr, at my wyttande,

200 1. hed.

223 sert

204 Vor sene fehlt han oder haue. 205 Ms. Iwaynt oder qwaynt?

desert. 230 so se ille? 242 vpon st. out of.

Neyther in worde ner in werke, in elde ne in ¡owghte."
Sche keuered vpon her kneys, kyst she his honde
„I am dampned, I ne dar | dispar(a)ge jour mowthe."
was ther neuer a soryer syghte, I be see ner be sonde,
Ne a sorowfuller segge, | be northe ne be sowth,
þen þore.

They toke pe feteres from her fete.

And þen kyst she þat swete,

,,In þis worlde shall we mete"

Seyde sche, „no more."

Then Sussanne was sorowfull❘ & seyde vpon hyghte,

wythe hondys full hye, | behelde to be heuen :

Maker of myddulerthe, at most art of myghte,
Bothe be sonne & pe see | bou sette vpon seuen:
All my wyrkes bow wote, be wronge & be Ryghte.
hyt ys nedfull now thy names to neuen,

As y am delfully dampned | & to be dethe dyghte.
Lord, hertyly take hede and harken my steuen
So fre,

Syn thow may not be sene

wythe no fleshly yne

255

260

265

270

Thow knowest well I am clene:

So haue mercy on me!"

Now ys sche dampned on deyse | withouten any drede,

And ladde forthe, þat lady, | lofsom of lere.

275

Grete god of his grace, and of gyftes vngnede,

Thorow he help of be holy gost | herde hyr prayere.

he dyrects hys dome and hys derf dede

To Danyell be prophete, of dedys so dere:

Suche syftys he bym jaf in hys jonghede

280

zett fayled he a fourtenyt of a full zere,
Not to layn.

"What sygnyfyethe, good sone, bys sawe, & what hyt seythe?" That þese maysterfull men | with mowthe gon melle.

285

,,ze arn fonned, all be frape, | to telle zou in faythe,

And in be folke of I(s)rael | arn foles full fele.
Vmbe-loke zou, ledes! | such lawes arn leythe,

290

Me thynkthet jour dedes full dull, | such dedis to dele.
haue agayn to be gylde-halle | þe gomes vngraythe:
I schall be processe apret | dyspreue bys apele

In dede.

Lett desseuere hem in two,

ffor now wakenes her woo

They shall graunt, er þey goo,

All here falshede."

They dysceuered hem in two | & sett hem on sere.
And sodeynly pat senek (!) | þey broghte into sale.
Byfore be prophete | bys prest gon apere,

And he apposed hym full sone with chekes full pale:

295

300

253 Ms, disparge. 276 þy st. his. 278 Ms. directs oder directe? 294 apret st. apert.

Thow hast be a presydent, | þe pepull to stere,
Now dotest pou on byn olde toes | in be dysemale;
Now schall by couetyse be knowen, þat er was vnclere
Thow hast in Babylon on benche | browen mykyll bale
So bolde.

Now schull our synnes be sene

Of fals domes bedene,

305

310

whyle je in Babylone haue bene

Jugges of olde.

Thow seyst, pou seghe Sussanus | synne in þy syghte:
Tell me now trystily, | vndur what tre?"

he swere: „be the myche god, | þat most ys of myghte,
Vndur a syne sothly my-self I he(r) se.“

315

,,Now bou lyest in by hed, be heuen vpon hyghte!

An angell with a naked swerde þe nyjes full ne,

he hathe braundest þat bronde, & burnysched full bryghte,
To merke be at medyll in mefle | in two or in thre,
No lees.

320

Thow brekest goddes comaundement,

To sle suche an Innocent

wythe any fals Jugement

vndewly on dees."

325

when be chylde bede,

Now ys thys domesman withdrawe | withowtyn any drede,
And putte in a pryson | azen to bys place.
They broughte forth bat opur to be barre,
Before be folke & pe fawnte, | frely of face.
Cum forthe, pou cursyd caytyf, of Caymes sede!
Because of by couetyse pou art in thys case;
Thow hast dysseyued by-self | with byn owen dede,
Of all be wyte of a wyfe bewyled pou wase
In drede.

Say now, so mote pou the,

vndyr what kynnes tre

Semyly Sussanne pou se

Do bys derf dede!

Thow gome of grett elde, by hed ys gray-hored,
Tell me tristili, er bow by lyfe tyne!"

330

335

340

Then be Rodely churle | Rudely he Rored

And seyde to be prophete: „bey pleyde be a pyne".
,,Now pou lyest vpon loude, so helpe me our lorde!

ffor fylthe of by falshede | þou shalt haue an euyll fyne:
Thy cursed comper & pou may not acorde:

345

je shull be drawen to be deth | to day, or I dyne
So Rathe.

I se an angell stande,

To take pe dome of our honde,

wyth a brennand bronde,

To brytyn zow bathe."

350

Then be folk of Israell | fellen vpon knees

And lowely thanked our lord | bat ber be lyf lent;

All gomes, þat her gode wolde, | glades & glees,
That bys prophete so pertly | preued hys entente.

They trumpped before pe traytoures | & trayled hem on trees

316 Ms, he st. her, 334 1. dede?

355

Thorow-out pe cyte be comune assent.

he hat louethe þat lorde, | þar hym not drede, no lees,

That bus his seruant con saue, þat shuld haue be schent,

So swete.

Thys ferly befell

In be dayes of Danyell.

The wytnesse wyll well tell

Of be same prophete.

360

b) Varianten des Ms. Addit. 22283,* fol. 326, zum Texte des Ms. Vernon.

Ueberschrift: here bygynneþ a pistel of Susan.

31 til his

38 ¡yue.

V. 1 barne. 2 gentel. 4 riches. renk arayed was riht; he fehlt. 5 orchardes. deope diche. 6 herbagages. hiht. 7 þorw. Citee. siche. 9 erbes. auenauntly. 16 loueliche. out of st. on of. 17 fode fresscheliche. 18 hyr. 21 bitoke a payre. 24 clergi. 25 hir. 27 hed. 28 þere. priuely. 29 was fehlt auch hier. rial rentus. 30 honorable. hous hende (Punct vor hende). 32 dred. 36 heore wikkednesse. 40 per st. pus pidur. 41 Jewesse. 44 semeliche. 45 were. hir. 46 schul. eschwe. 47 þise churlus. chaumbur. hire. 49 alan. 50 Susan. 51 merian. 52 wolde. 53 hir play. 54 pouht. biwile. 55 wittus wei wordus. 56 teelde. 57 heore. 58 heore hore hedus. heuen. vpon. 59 cauht. heore. 61 þei. 64 miht. 67 hir hir. 69 selcoupe. 70 perie. 71 Joyned. 75 were papeiayes. 76 nihtgales. 77 of þe best. 78, 79 blossomes. 80 & on amylliers. 81 papeiayes. for proude (!). 84 grapus. goldfinche. 85 þer st. pus. 86 þere were. 89 Damasene. 90 trouned. 93 cherie. 94 aren. 95 grapes & garnettus. 96 costardus in coypes (!). 97 bewe, aus bowe corr. 98 fresliche. 99 wardouns wynliche. walse. 101 heore. gan hynge. 102 wederlynge. 103 springe. 104 Erberes. 106 out niht (!). 110 solsecle. 119 hire. holden were hende. 120 ben. 121 wende. 122 bene. 124 hire wedus. 125 lende. 128 cast. 129 fele. 133 forto. worsschupe worli. 136 bene vre. 138 schulde. 144 þenne. 146 synne. 149 suche. 150 wrethe (Vern. falsch wreche). 151 bettre. uauns. 156 wondur. 157 hire. 158 hire. 160 here. 163 lemmon.

134

yf.

155 ser

164 on.

* Diese Hs., von grösstem Format (jede Seite hat 3 Columnen zu je 90 Versen) und vortrefflich ausgeführt, ist nichts weiter als eine wörtlich getreue Abschrift des Ms. Vernon, in derselben Handschrift und wohl von demselben Schreiber, genau, selbst in den graphischen und dialect. Eigenthümlichkeiten übereinstimmend. Sie beginnt erst mit fol. CLXXVII (die Numerirung der foll. geschieht, wie im Ms. Vernon, auf der linken Seite) in der Mitte der nördlichen Homiliensammlung (22 V. vor dem Schlusse der Homilie zum Evang. Factum est in vna dierum Nr. 48 Vernon, dann folgt die Homilie zu Surgens Jhc de sinagoga, Erat homo ex Pharis. Nichodemus, u. s. w.); am Ende, fol. CXCVII folgt ein Zusatz von Homilien (ders. wie in Ms. Vernon). Alle in dieser Hs. erhaltenen Gedichte und Prosawerke finden sich in Ms. Vernon wieder vor; leider sind eine Reihe von foll. ausgefallen und viele Gedichte daher nur fragmentarisch erhalten. An Legenden enthält diese Hs. noch die Vision des Paulus von der Hölle (die ersten 126 Verse), Ipotis fol. 270, Susanna, Roberd of Sicily fol. 273 (wörtlich mit Vernon übereinstimmend), Disputisoun bitwene child Jhu and the maistres of the lawe (nur die ersten 104 Verse, das folgende Blatt fehlt). Ausserdem das Gedicht über das vollkommene Leben, über die sieben Todsünden und deren Zweige, Pricke of Conscience, über das Credo und Vaterunser, Debate of body and soul, Disputisoun bitwene a gode man and the deuel, viele lyrische und moralische Gedichte (viele mit Refrain), und Prosawerke,

seme-

167 away. 168 wer. 169 suche wordus. 170 hire hire. 171 hondes
wept. 173 were. 174 dud. doungon. 176 were. 177 while. 179 come.
fadur. freo. 181 saun. 183 on benche. 184 gentel. 185 sende.
liche. 188 hert holli. 189 per st. pus hire balus. 190 nobur dome. 192
hyre. 199 comeliche. wordus. 200 homeliche on hire hed heore. 201 wept .
wondur. 203 sobe. 205 qwaynt. 208 vndurtake. 209 passet. 213 wyliche.
hire. 215 valey. 219 hire. 223 souereyn hire. 224 were comberous.
225 traitour. to take. 226 borliche. 228 ful zare. 231 schunt. 235 hire.
236 vndeuwe do hire. 237 hire leue. 238 kynreden. hedde euer iknowen.
239 asked moupe. 240 sakles
hir.
synne
242 derflich, 244 wold.
248 hire feere. fonde. 249 kyndelich. 250 wraped. neuer wetand. 251
neper. 252 hire knes. 253 mouþe. 254 serweful. 266 nemene. 267 sipe.
deolfully. 268 hertly take. herken. 271 flescheliche. 275 furth. lufsum.
276 gultus. 277 hire. 278 deolful. 280 suche ziftus. 281 fayled. 283
cried. 284 bloode. 285 þei. stoode. 287 gode sone.
288 gan. 289 þei
ben. 291 vmbeloke ou lordus suche. 292 pinke. dedus. 293 þe vor gomes
ist von derselben Hand in ze corr. 294 processe. 297 wakeneb heore.
298 graunt. 302 þise. 305 dissemale. 306 concience. 307 bench. 309
synne. sene. 310 bi dene. 311 for eose (!). babiloigne. 313 seize Susan.
314 vndur. 316 self. hire. 317 þi. heuene. 319 brandest. 320 medel.
327 into a place. 328 þat opur barne. 330 cursed. 332 desceyuet. 335
339 þi. 340 telle. treuwely . er. 342 prophete. 344 falshede. haue
vuel. 346 drawe. 350 brennyng. 352 þenne. fel. 353 loued. 354 goode.
356 traitours. 357 be. 358 hoso. 359 schuld. 361 ferlyes. 362 dayes.
363 wittenes. 364 prophete.

mot.

Statt der zwei Schlussverse in Vern. liest diese Hs.: God graunt vs þi
grace to play vs pertly in bis place And feibely þi feire face. to se
þat is swete. Amen. Explicit Epistola Susanne secundum Danielem.

Die letzte der bekannten Hss. dieser Legende ist das (früher im Besitz
des Mr. Heber befindliche) Ms. Philipps 8252 in Cheltenham, aus der Zeit
Heinrich's IV., welches ausserdem Piers Ploughman, the Travels of Sir
Maundevyle, the three kings of Cologne, und Lucifer Prince of the depe
dominion of Darkness, enthält. Da der jetzige Besitzer der Sammlung Phi-
lipps', dessen Schwiegersohn Fenwick, die Einsicht in seine Sammlung sich
theuer (mit 5 Lstrl.) bezahlen lässt, so bin ich vor der Hand nicht im Stande,
diese Hs. mitzutheilen. Laing, in seiner Ausg. der Sus., theilt die erste
Strophe dieser Hs. mit. Ob ein im Besitz des Marquis von Bath befind-
liches, bisher unbekanntes, sehr werthvolles, enthaltend eine historia scho-
lastica des alten Testamentes (nach Petrus Comestor) und im Anschluss daran
die Geschichten der Judith, Esther, der 7 Macchabäer, Job, in alliterirenden
und gereimten Versen, und 12zeiligen Strophen nach Art des Evang. Nicod.
(aber in 6 Langzeilen zusammengeschrieben), ob dieses Ms. auch die Su-
sanna einschliesst, habe ich nicht ermitteln können; Sprache und Versmass
weisen auf nördlichen Ursprung. Laing's Ausg. der Sus. folgt wesent-
lich Ms. Vernon (nicht Ms. Phil., wie Morris in seiner Ausgabe des Sir
Gaw. mittheilt), doch hat er moderne Schreibung (th st. b, gh und y st. 3,
er st. ur, es st. us in der Endung u. a.) durchgeführt. Folgende sind die
von Ms. Vernon abweichenden Lesarten in Laing's Text:

3 there. 4 all riches reuke (mit u). 5 weren withinne. 6 hey
height. 14 had. 19 to that deire (!). 28 preveliche. 29 were st. pere als
Reimwort. 40 domes (men) st. demers. 45 hir (L. lässt die Abbrev. für e
unberücksichtigt). sesse. 47 chesse. 54 wretches. 58 heore. 64 while.
66 somer. 67 grethed hir. 71 Juniper. 73 Ipeuwed (!). 81 for. 86 On
figges and fygers (!). sees (!). 95 grew. 96 cuylthes (!). 97 (the) braun-
ches, the bewe. 100 wald. charuwé 111 u. peletré 116 mit Accent. 117
prees. 118 zerde. 121 wende. 122 espieth now. 123 as st. us. 125 low.
lende. 127 well. 137 pe st. je. 150 Ar. worthlich. wrech (st. wrethe,