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XXXIV
THE SHERMEN’S PLAY
I SOLDIER
I am sent from Sir Pilate with pride,
To lead this lad our laws to abide;
He gets no better boon.
Therefore I command you on every side,
On pain of imprisonment, let none appear
To succour this traitor, by time or by tide;
Let no one, I say.
Let none in his rashness with us interfere,
But help, and help only, all that are here,
His treason with torment to pay.
For well ye wot, as well as I,
This fellow must to Calvary,
And there on cross must die.
2 SOLDIER
Since doom is given that he must die,
Let's call to us more company;
Too few are you and I.
I SOLDIER
Our gear must be arrayed,
Our fellows summoned soon;
For Sir Pilate has said
He must be dead by noon.
Where is Sir Wymond, know ye ought?
2 SOLDIER
He went to make a cross be wrought.
I SOLDIER
That would I soon were hither brought.
For then shall other gear be sought,
Which we shall need to have.
2 SOLDIER
We must have steps, and cords
To wrench him till he rave;
And nails and pegs and boards,
If we ourselves will save.
I SOLDIER
To tarry long is not my will.
But, Wymond, come! There's danger still
We shall be blamed all three.
I SOLDIER (whistles)
Ho, Sir Wymond! waiting's ill.
2 SOLDIER (whistles)
Ho, Sir Wymond, ho!
3 SOLDIER
I am here; what troubles ye?
Why cry ye so for me?
For I have been to make
This cross, as ye may see.
Him fitly will it take;
Men called it the King's Tree.
I SOLDIER
To have good ware is our intent,
Our waiting season is well spent,
If measurements be meet.
3 SOLDIER
No need to ask that. Be content.
I took the measure ere I went,
Both for his hands and feet.
2 SOLDIER
Aye; see how it is bored,
To fit at either end.
This cross will well accord,
Nor need our work to mend.
2 MARY
Alas! This is a sorrowful sight!
He that ever was lovely and light,
And lord of high and low—
O dolefully now is he dight;
The world has no such woful wight,
Nor one troubled so.
They that he mended most
In deed and in breath,
Now have they the greatest haste
To drive him to his death.
JESUS
Ye daughters of Jerusalem city,
See, yet mourn no more for me,
But think on what is told.
For yourselves shall ye mourn
And for children yet unborn.
Your children, young and old.
For such fate shall befall
That ye shall give blessing
To barren bodies all,
That no bairns forth may bring.
For sure ye shall see such a day,
That with sighs deep and sore shall ye say
Unto each hill and height,
"Fall on us, mountains, on us here,
And cover us from that fell fear,
Which on us soon shall light."
Return home from this hill,
Since ye have seen this sight
It is my Father's will,
All that now comes to light.
3 MARY
Alas! this is a cursed case.
He that has in his hand all grace
Shall here be blameless slain.
Ah, Lord! Ah, let me cleanse the trace
Of bitter anguish from thy face;
In pity I am fain.
This sign shall bear witness
Unto all people plain
How God's Son here guiltless
Is put to peerless pain.
I SOLDIER
Say, wherefore hang you here about,
You crones, with screaming and with shout?
Will nought but cries serve here?
2 SOLDIER
Go home, thou baldhead with thy clout,
Or, by the lord we love and lout,
Ye shall pay for it dear.
3 MARY
This sign shall vengeance call
On all your company.
3 SOLDIER
Get you hence, one and all,
Ere ill luck come on ye.
JOHN
Lady, your weeping grieves me sore.
ST. MARY
John, help me now or never more,
That I near him may stay.
JOHN
My lady, let us go before,
To Calvary; when ye come there,
All shall be as you say.
I SOLDIER
What a devil is this you say?
How long shall we stand still?
Go, get you hence away
I’the devil's name down the hill.
2 SOLDIER
These clacking queans such cumber make,
He shall be served for their sake
With sorrow and with sore.
3 SOLDIER
If they come more such noise to make,
We shall soon lay them in the lake,
Though they were half a score.
(The women flee.)
I SOLDIER
Let now this jesting be.
Since our tools yonder lie,
This traitor and this tree
I wish there presently.
2 SOLDIER
We shall no more be hindered still,
Since now those crones have left the hill,
Who wished to cause us care.
3 SOLDIER
This lad for lack of blood doth flag.
The load's too great for him to drag;
He swoons, that will I swear.
I SOLDIER
We do not need so hard to haul;
Some pain we well may spare.
2 SOLDIER
See! Here comes one at call,
'Shall help his load to bear.
Enter SYMON OF CYRENE
.
3 SOLDIER
That shall ye see me soon essay.
Good man, now tell me whither away?
You walk as if in haste.
SYMON
Why, sir, I have a great journey,
That must be done on this same day.
Or much work shall I waste.
I SOLDIER
You may with little pain
Do all of us some good.
SYMON
Good sirs, that would I fain,
And linger, if I could.
2 SOLDIER
Nay, fair sir, you shall soon be sped.
Lo! here 's a lad that must be led
For his ill deeds to die.
3 SOLDIER
With loss of blood he is half dead,
And bruised, and we are sore bested.
Then, prithee sir, say I,
That thou wilt take this tree,
And bear it to Calvary.
SYMON
Good sirs, that may not be.
For such great haste have I.
I cannot stay; I must be gone.
I SOLDIER
Nay, sure; thou shalt not go so soon,
For ought that you can say.
This deed has most haste to be done,
For this boy must be dead by noon,
And now 'tis near mid-day.
Go help him in his need,
And make no more delay.
SYMON
I pray you, do your deed,
And let me wend my way.
And, sirs, I shall come soon again,
To help this man with might and main,
And even at your good will.
3 SOLDIER
What! would you trap us with a trick?
Nay, liar, thou hadst best be quick,
Our bidding to fulfil.
Or by the might of Great Mahound,
Thou shalt rue it full ill.
The knave! Let's knock him down.
Quick, fellow! Do our will.
SYMON
Sure, sir, that were not wisely wrought,
To beat me, though I trespassed nought,
Either in word or deed.
I SOLDIER
Upon his back it shall be brought,
To bear it whether he will or not.
What a devil! Whom should we dread?
Go, take it up, thou snail,
And bear it forth with speed.
SYMON
To strive does not avail;
Bear it then must I indeed.
And therefore, sirs, as yehave said,
To bear his cross I hold me glad,
Even as ye would it were.
2 SOLDIER
Aha! now are we right arrayed!
Look that our gear be all displayed,
To work when we come there.
2 SOLDIER
I warrant all ready,
Our tools, both less and more,
Let him go hardily,
Forth with the cross before. |
York Mystery Plays