XII. THE SPICERS. [The Prophets, The Annunciation, and the Visitation.] [42a] [Scene 1] [Prologue:] Lord God, grete meruell es to mene, How man was made withouten mysse, And sette whare he sulde euer haue bene Withouten bale, bidand in blisse, And howe he lost pat comforth clene, And sithen what sorouse [s]or warre sene How prophettis all good counsailes kende, Lered whils he in his liffe gun lende. DEUS PATER DISPOSUIT SALUTEM FIERI IN MEDIO TERR[A]E, ETCE. He sais þus, god þe fadir in heuen In a mayden full mylde; So was many saued of syn 7 sor] so S; for MS 19 euen] euen MS TERRAE] TERRE MS after 16 5 10 15 20 25 30 And for the feende suld so be fedd QUONIAM IN SEMINE TUO BENEDICENTUR [426] God hymself sayde this thynge 35 40 45 50 Of thy sede sall vppe sprynge To proue thes prophettes ordande er, He moued oure myscheues for to merr; Lord, late pou doune at thy likyng For than the erthe sall sprede and sprynge pat nowe in blisse are bente. Of clerkis who-so will craue, Þus may þer-gatis be mente: pe dewe to be gode halygaste 27 wedde] so S, wedded MS S sho H 30 they so K, thy MS 37 er] MS has this at beginning of 38, S follows 41 RORATE CAELI] 46 bente] MS and inserts a wer at end of 37 blente H 44 the] of K pir wise wordis ware noght wroght in waste, To waffe and wende away als wynde, For this same prophett sone in haste Saide forthermore, als folkes may fynde: PROPTER HOC DABIT DOMINUS IPSE VOBIS Loo! he sais pus, god sall gyffe Here-of a [sygne] to see Tille all þat lely lyffe, And þis þare sygne salbe. ECCE VIRGO CONCIPIET, ET PARIET FILI UM, &C. Loo! he sais a mayden mon, Here on this molde mankynde omell, His kyngdom, þat euer is be-gonne, ZELUS DOMINI FACIET HOC, &c. He says luffe of oure Lorde 58 sygne] syngne MS, S ordan MS he] omit MS 63 Ful] sal K 70 ordan] 80 85 90 95 100 [43 b] Vppone þat wande sall springe a floure, To governe it with grete honnoure. pis mayden, even and morne, þat of þat blyst bees borne. he prophet Johell, a gentill Jewe, ERO QUASI ROS ET VIRGO ISRAELL GER- pe maiden of Israell al newe, He sais, sall bere one and forthe brynge, pis meynes sa to olde and genge Come oure myscheffe to mende When god his sone walde sende. þat is by-cause of hir clene liffe, One to be mayden, modir, and wyffe, And hir husband bath maister and meke, |