Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/171

 Hic tangit Salomee Mariæ, et cum arescerit manus ejus ulverando, et, quasi flendo, dicit,

Salomee. Alas! alas! and weleawaye! ffor my grett dowth and fals beleve, Myne hand is ded and drye as claye! My fals untrost hath wrought myscheve!

Alas! the tyme that I was born, Thus to offende aȝens Goddys myght! Myn handys power is now alle lorn, Styff as a stykke and may nowth plyght. ffor I dede tempte this mayde so bryght, And helde aȝens here pure clennes, In grett myscheff now am I pyght: Alas! alas! ffor my lewdnes.

O lord of myght! thou knowyst the trowthe, That I have evyr had dred of the; On every power wryght evyr I have rowthe, And ȝove hem almes for love of the. Bothe wyff and wedowe that askyght for the, And frendles chylderyn that haddyn grett nede, I dude them cure and alle for the, And toke no rewarde of them nor mede.

Now as a wrecche ffor fals beleve, That I shewyd in temptynge this mayde, My hand is ded and doth me greve! Alas! that evyr I here assyde. Angelus. Woman, thi sorwe to have delayde, Wurchep that childe that ther is born: Towche the clothis ther he is layde, ffor he xal save alle that is lorn! Salomee. O gloryous chylde, and kynge of blysse! I aske ȝow mercy for my trespace;