Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/275

 This lord xal come without resystens, Onto the cety-ward he is now comyng, Wherefore dresse ȝow with alle dew dylygens, To honowre hym as ȝour makere and kyng.

And to fulfylle the prophetys prophesé, Upon an asse he wole hedyr ryde, Shewing ȝow exawmple of humylyté, Devoydyng the abhomynable synne of pryde. Wheche hath ny conqweryd alle the werd wyde, Grettest cause of all ȝour trybulacyon, Use it ho so wole, for it is the best gyde, That ȝe may have to the place of dampnacyon.

Now, brothyr in God, syth we have intellygens, That oure Lord is ny come to this ceté, To attend upon hys precyous presens, It syttyth to us, as semyth me. Wherfore to mete with hym now go we, I wold fere no thynge we where to late; To the ceté-ward fast drawyth he, Me semyth he is ny at the gate.

''Here spekyth the iiij. ceteseyngs, the fyrst thus seyng,''

Primus cives de Jherusalem. Neyborys, gret joye in oure herte we may make, That this hefly kyng wole vycyte this cyté. Secundus cives. Yf oure eerly kyng sweche a jorné xuld take, To don hym honor and worchepe, besy xuld we be. Tertius cives. Meche more than to the hevynly kyng bownd are we, ffor to do that xuld be to his persone reverens. Quartus cives. Late us than welcome hym with flowres and brawnchis of the tre, ffor he wole take that to plesawns becawse of redolens.