York Guides

XIII
THE PEWTERERS’ AND FOUNDERS’ PLAY

JOSEPH

Now must I mourn; I have good cause.
I wedded a young wench to my wife—
I, that can not step o'er two straws.
Now, Lord, too long I lead this life.
   My old bones weigh like lead,
   And stand me not in stead,
   As known it is full rife.
Then, Lord, some help and counsel give,
Or let me now no longer live.
   Thou best mayest stay this strife.

Full sorely may I curse again
The way I in the Temple went.
It was to me a bad bargain,
For ruth I may always repent.
   For there was then command
   Unwedded men should stand
      In ranks with one consent,
   And each one a dry wand
   Hold upright in his hand,
   And knew not what it meant.

Amongst them all a wand bare I.
It flourished fair, and flowers outspread;
And they all said to me thereby
   That with a wife I must be wed.
The bargain I made there
Has dashed me in despair.
Straitly am I bested.
How casts it me in care.
My life with none to share
Full well I might have led.
Her works make me to weep my fate.
I am beguiled; how, know I nought.
My young wife is with child full great.
   That makes me now sorrow unsought.
And yet I'm loath, on the other side,
My wife with any man to defame.
And which of these two I must bide,
I may not scape without a shame.
   The child sure is not mine.
   By that reproach I pine,
   And mean from home to flee.
Though I should die, for sure
She is a virgin pure,
Without all blame, for me.

Of my wending none will I warn.
   Nevertheless, 'twas my intent
   To ask her who got her her bairn;
   That would I fain know ere I went.
Now, Lord God, whom all things obey,
Show me, I pray, some ready way
   To pass this woodland o'er.
Here for a time I stay,
To sleep this night away,
With heart so heavy and sore.
                                                   (Sleeps)

GABRIEL

Awake, Joseph! Better guarding keep
Of Mary, thy true fellow good.

JOSEPH

Ah! weary am I. Pray then, let me sleep,
After my weary wandering in this wood.

GABRIEL

Rise up, and sleep no more.
Thou makest her heart full sore,
That loves thee of all the best.

JOSEPH

Woe's me! I am caught even more,
Both here and where I was before,
And nowhere may have rest,
Say, what art thou? Tell me this thing.

GABRIEL

I Gabriel am;  God's angel I.
Mary have I in my keeping,
And I am sent to thee to cry,
In true wedlock now lead thee;
Leave her not, I forbid thee,
And nowise sin imply.
And to her fast now speed thee,
Nor of her child now dread thee;
   God sent it from on high.
The child that shall be born of her,
It is conceived of the Holy Ghost.
All joy and bliss shall be after,
   And to mankind of all the most.
   Jesus his name now call.
Such hap shall him befall,
   As thou shalt see in haste.
His people save shall he,
   From ills and troubles all,
   By which they're now embraced.

JOSEPH

And is this true, Angel, thou says?

GABRIEL

Yes:  and to take this aright,
Wend forth to Mary thy wife all ways;
Bring her to Bethlehem this very night.
   There born her child shall be;
   God's son of heaven is he,
   Of all men most in might.

JOSEPH

Now, Lord my God, full well is me,
That ever I this sight should see;
   Never was I so light,
For since I might have her refused,
   And blamed her who of blame is clear;
I must pray her hold me excused,
   As men should do with full good cheer,
Mary, wife, how farest thou?

MARY
The better, sir, for you.
Why stand ye there? Come near.

JOSEPH

My back fain would I bow.
And ask forgiveness now,
Did I think thou woulds't hear.

MARY

Forgiveness, sir? Let be, for shame!
Such words should all good women lack.

JOSEPH

Yea, Mary, wife; I am to blame,
For words that once I to thee spake.
   But let us gather all our gear,
   And such poor thin weeds as we wear,
   And press them in a pack.
To Bethlehem I must it bear.
To bear such weights is not thy share.
   Help up now on my back.