I.

Das alte Geisslerlied

NACH MASSMANN’S AUSGABE VON HERRN PROFESSOR LACHMANN MIT DER HANDSCHRIFT VERGLICHEN.

Svesiner sele wille pleghenDe sal gelden unde weder geuenSo wert siner sele raedDes help uns leue herre goedNu tredet here we botsen wille5Vle wi io de hetsen helleLucifer is en bose geselleSven her hauetMit peke he en lauetDatz vle wi ef wir hauen sin10Des help uns maria koninghinDas wir dines kindes hulde winJesus crist de wart ge vanghenAn en cruce wart he ge hanghenDat cruce wart des blodes rod15Wer klaghen sin marter unde sin dodSunder war mide wilt tu mi lonenDre negele unde en dornet croneDas cruce vrone en sper en stichSunder datz leyd ich dor dich20Was wltu nu liden dor michSo rope wir herre mit luden doneUnsen denst den nem to loneBe hode uns vor der helle nodDes bidde wi dich dor dinen dod25Dor god vor gete wi unse blotDat is uns tho den suden guotMaria muoter koningingheDor dines leuen kindes minneAl unse nod si dir ghe klaghet30Des help uns moter maghet reyne.De erde beuet och kleuen de steyneLebe hertze du salt weyneWir wenen trene mit den oghenUnde hebben des so guden louen35Mit unsen sinnen unde mit hertzenDor uns leyd crist vil manighen smertzenNu slaed w sereDor cristus ere.Dor god nu latet de sunde mere40Dor god nu latet de sunde varenSe wil sich god ouer uns en barmenMaria stund in grotzen nodenDo se ire leue kint sa dodenEn svert dor ire sele snet45Sunder dat la di wesen ledIn korter vristGod tornich istJesus wart gelauet mid gallenDes sole wi an en cruce vallen50Er heuet uch mit uwen armenDat sic god ouer uns en barmeJesus dorch dine namen dryNu make uns hir van sunde vryJesus dor dine wnden rod55Be hod uns vor den gehen dodDat he sende sinen geistUnd uns dat kortelike leistDe vrowe unde man ir e tobrekenDat wil god selven an en wreken60Sveuel pik und och de galleDat gutet de duuel in se alleVor war sint se des duuels spotDor vor behode uns herre godDe e de ist en reyne leuen65De had uns god selven gheuenIch rade uch vrowen unde mannenDor god gy solen houard annenDes biddet uch de arme seleDorch god nu latet houard mere70Dor god nu latet houard varenSo wil sich god ouer uns en barmenCristus rep in hemelrikeSinen engelen al gelikeDe cristenheit wil mi ent wichen75Des wil lan och se vor gaenMarie bat ire kint so sereLeue kint la se di botenDat wil ich sceppen dat se motenBekeren sich.80Des bidde ich dichGi logenereGy meynen ed svererGi bichten reyne und lan de sunde uch ruwenSo wil sich god in uch vor nuwen85Owe du arme wokerereDu bringest en lod up en puntDat senket din an der helle gruntIr morder und ir straten rouereIr sint dem leuen gode un mere90Ir ne wilt uch ouer nemende barmenDes sin gy eweliken vor lorenWere dusse bote nicht ge wordenDe cristenheit wer gar vorsundenDe leyde duuel had se ge bunden95Maria had lost unsen bantSunder ich saghe di leue mereSunte peter is portenereWende dich an en he letset dich inHe bringhet dich vor de koninghin100Leue herre sunte MichahelDu bist en plegher aller selBe hode uns vor der helle nodDat do dor dines sceppers dod.

Svesiner sele wille pleghen

De sal gelden unde weder geuen

So wert siner sele raed

Des help uns leue herre goed

Nu tredet here we botsen wille5

Vle wi io de hetsen helle

Lucifer is en bose geselle

Sven her hauet

Mit peke he en lauet

Datz vle wi ef wir hauen sin10

Des help uns maria koninghin

Das wir dines kindes hulde win

Jesus crist de wart ge vanghen

An en cruce wart he ge hanghen

Dat cruce wart des blodes rod15

Wer klaghen sin marter unde sin dod

Sunder war mide wilt tu mi lonen

Dre negele unde en dornet crone

Das cruce vrone en sper en stich

Sunder datz leyd ich dor dich20

Was wltu nu liden dor mich

So rope wir herre mit luden done

Unsen denst den nem to lone

Be hode uns vor der helle nod

Des bidde wi dich dor dinen dod25

Dor god vor gete wi unse blot

Dat is uns tho den suden guot

Maria muoter koninginghe

Dor dines leuen kindes minne

Al unse nod si dir ghe klaghet30

Des help uns moter maghet reyne.

De erde beuet och kleuen de steyne

Lebe hertze du salt weyne

Wir wenen trene mit den oghen

Unde hebben des so guden louen35

Mit unsen sinnen unde mit hertzen

Dor uns leyd crist vil manighen smertzen

Nu slaed w sere

Dor cristus ere.

Dor god nu latet de sunde mere40

Dor god nu latet de sunde varen

Se wil sich god ouer uns en barmen

Maria stund in grotzen noden

Do se ire leue kint sa doden

En svert dor ire sele snet45

Sunder dat la di wesen led

In korter vrist

God tornich ist

Jesus wart gelauet mid gallen

Des sole wi an en cruce vallen50

Er heuet uch mit uwen armen

Dat sic god ouer uns en barme

Jesus dorch dine namen dry

Nu make uns hir van sunde vry

Jesus dor dine wnden rod55

Be hod uns vor den gehen dod

Dat he sende sinen geist

Und uns dat kortelike leist

De vrowe unde man ir e tobreken

Dat wil god selven an en wreken60

Sveuel pik und och de galle

Dat gutet de duuel in se alle

Vor war sint se des duuels spot

Dor vor behode uns herre god

De e de ist en reyne leuen65

De had uns god selven gheuen

Ich rade uch vrowen unde mannen

Dor god gy solen houard annen

Des biddet uch de arme sele

Dorch god nu latet houard mere70

Dor god nu latet houard varen

So wil sich god ouer uns en barmen

Cristus rep in hemelrike

Sinen engelen al gelike

De cristenheit wil mi ent wichen75

Des wil lan och se vor gaen

Marie bat ire kint so sere

Leue kint la se di boten

Dat wil ich sceppen dat se moten

Bekeren sich.80

Des bidde ich dich

Gi logenere

Gy meynen ed sverer

Gi bichten reyne und lan de sunde uch ruwen

So wil sich god in uch vor nuwen85

Owe du arme wokerere

Du bringest en lod up en punt

Dat senket din an der helle grunt

Ir morder und ir straten rouere

Ir sint dem leuen gode un mere90

Ir ne wilt uch ouer nemende barmen

Des sin gy eweliken vor loren

Were dusse bote nicht ge worden

De cristenheit wer gar vorsunden

De leyde duuel had se ge bunden95

Maria had lost unsen bant

Sunder ich saghe di leue mere

Sunte peter is portenere

Wende dich an en he letset dich in

He bringhet dich vor de koninghin100

Leue herre sunte Michahel

Du bist en plegher aller sel

Be hode uns vor der helle nod

Dat do dor dines sceppers dod.

The Ancient Song of the Flagellants.

ACCORDING TO MASSMANN’S EDITION COMPARED WITH THE MS. BY PROFESSOR LACHMANN.

(Translation.)

Whoe’erto save his soul is fain,Must pay and render back again.His safety so shall he consult:Help us, good Lord, to this result.Ye that repent your crimes, draw nigh.5From the burning hell we fly,From Satan’s wicked company.Whom he leadsWith pitch he feeds.If we be wise we this shall flee.10Maria! Queen! we trust in thee,To move thy Son to sympathy.Jesus Christ was captive led,And to the cross was riveted.The cross was reddened with his gore15And we his martyrdom deplore.“Sinner, canst thou to me atone.Three pointed nails, a thorny crown,The holy cross, a spear, a wound,These are the cruel pangs I found.20What wilt thou, sinner, bear for me?”Lord, with loud voice we answer thee,Accept our service in return,And save us lest in hell we burn.We, through thy death, to thee have sued.25For God in heaven we shed our blood:This for our sins will work to good.Blessed Maria! Mother! Queen!Through thy loved Son’s redeeming meanBe all our wants to thee portrayed.30Aid us, Mother! spotless maid!Trembles the earth, the rocks are rent[200],Fond heart of mine, thou must relent.Tears from our sorrowing eyes we weep;Therefore so firm our faith we keep35With all our hearts—with all our senses.Christ bore his pangs for our offences.Ply well the scourge for Jesus’ sake,And God through Christ your sins shall take.For love of God abandon sin,40To mend your vicious lives begin,So shall we his mercy win.Direful was Maria’s painWhen she beheld her dear One slain.Pierced was her soul as with a dart:45Sinner, let this affect thy heart.The time draws nearWhen God in anger shall appear.Jesus was refreshed with gall:Prostrate crosswise let us fall,50Then with uplifted arms arise,That God with us may sympathize.Jesus, by thy titles three[201],From our bondage set us free.Jesus, by thy precious blood,55Save us from the fiery flood.Lord, our helplessness defend,And to our aid thy Spirit send.If man and wife their vows should breakGod will on such his vengeance wreak.60Brimstone and pitch, and mingled gall,Satan pours on such sinners all.Truly, the devil’s scorn are they:Therefore, O Lord, thine aid we pray.Wedlock’s an honourable tie65Which God himself doth sanctify.By this warning, man, abide,God shall surely punish pride.Let your precious soul entreat you,Lay down pride lest vengeance meet you.70I do beseech ye, pride forsake,So God on us shall pity take.Christ in heaven, where he commands,Thus addressed his angel bands:—“Christendom dishonours me,75Therefore her ruin I decree.”Then Mary thus implored her Son:—“Penance to thee, loved Child, be done;That she repent be mine the care;Stay then thy wrath, and hear my prayer.”80Ye liars!Ye that break your sacrament,Shrive ye throughly and repent.Your heinous sins sincerely rue,So shall the Lord your hearts renew.85Woe! usurer, though thy wealth abound,For every ounce thou mak’st a poundShall sink thee to the hell profound.Ye murd’rers, and ye robbers all,The wrath of God on you shall fall,90Mercy ye ne’er to others shew,None shall ye find; but endless woe.Had it not been for our contrition,All Christendom had met perdition.Satan had bound her in his chain;95Mary hath loosed her bonds again.Glad news I bring thee, sinful mortal,In heaven Saint Peter keeps the portal,Apply to him with suppliant mien,He bringeth thee before thy Queen.100Benignant Michael, blessed saint,Guardian of souls, receive our plaint.Through thy Almighty Maker’s death,Preserve us from the hell beneath.

Whoe’erto save his soul is fain,

Must pay and render back again.

His safety so shall he consult:

Help us, good Lord, to this result.

Ye that repent your crimes, draw nigh.5

From the burning hell we fly,

From Satan’s wicked company.

Whom he leads

With pitch he feeds.

If we be wise we this shall flee.10

Maria! Queen! we trust in thee,

To move thy Son to sympathy.

Jesus Christ was captive led,

And to the cross was riveted.

The cross was reddened with his gore15

And we his martyrdom deplore.

“Sinner, canst thou to me atone.

Three pointed nails, a thorny crown,

The holy cross, a spear, a wound,

These are the cruel pangs I found.20

What wilt thou, sinner, bear for me?”

Lord, with loud voice we answer thee,

Accept our service in return,

And save us lest in hell we burn.

We, through thy death, to thee have sued.25

For God in heaven we shed our blood:

This for our sins will work to good.

Blessed Maria! Mother! Queen!

Through thy loved Son’s redeeming mean

Be all our wants to thee portrayed.30

Aid us, Mother! spotless maid!

Trembles the earth, the rocks are rent[200],

Fond heart of mine, thou must relent.

Tears from our sorrowing eyes we weep;

Therefore so firm our faith we keep35

With all our hearts—with all our senses.

Christ bore his pangs for our offences.

Ply well the scourge for Jesus’ sake,

And God through Christ your sins shall take.

For love of God abandon sin,40

To mend your vicious lives begin,

So shall we his mercy win.

Direful was Maria’s pain

When she beheld her dear One slain.

Pierced was her soul as with a dart:45

Sinner, let this affect thy heart.

The time draws near

When God in anger shall appear.

Jesus was refreshed with gall:

Prostrate crosswise let us fall,50

Then with uplifted arms arise,

That God with us may sympathize.

Jesus, by thy titles three[201],

From our bondage set us free.

Jesus, by thy precious blood,55

Save us from the fiery flood.

Lord, our helplessness defend,

And to our aid thy Spirit send.

If man and wife their vows should break

God will on such his vengeance wreak.60

Brimstone and pitch, and mingled gall,

Satan pours on such sinners all.

Truly, the devil’s scorn are they:

Therefore, O Lord, thine aid we pray.

Wedlock’s an honourable tie65

Which God himself doth sanctify.

By this warning, man, abide,

God shall surely punish pride.

Let your precious soul entreat you,

Lay down pride lest vengeance meet you.70

I do beseech ye, pride forsake,

So God on us shall pity take.

Christ in heaven, where he commands,

Thus addressed his angel bands:—

“Christendom dishonours me,75

Therefore her ruin I decree.”

Then Mary thus implored her Son:—

“Penance to thee, loved Child, be done;

That she repent be mine the care;

Stay then thy wrath, and hear my prayer.”80

Ye liars!

Ye that break your sacrament,

Shrive ye throughly and repent.

Your heinous sins sincerely rue,

So shall the Lord your hearts renew.85

Woe! usurer, though thy wealth abound,

For every ounce thou mak’st a pound

Shall sink thee to the hell profound.

Ye murd’rers, and ye robbers all,

The wrath of God on you shall fall,90

Mercy ye ne’er to others shew,

None shall ye find; but endless woe.

Had it not been for our contrition,

All Christendom had met perdition.

Satan had bound her in his chain;95

Mary hath loosed her bonds again.

Glad news I bring thee, sinful mortal,

In heaven Saint Peter keeps the portal,

Apply to him with suppliant mien,

He bringeth thee before thy Queen.100

Benignant Michael, blessed saint,

Guardian of souls, receive our plaint.

Through thy Almighty Maker’s death,

Preserve us from the hell beneath.

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