Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

Anglo-Irish poems of the Middle Ages (Author: [unknown])

Poem 5

Sermon

1] May the grace of God and Holy Church through the power of the Trinity, give us grace to perform such deeds as may be helpful to our souls.
5] These words which I speak now remain unchanged - it is written in a book in Latin - we may well fear and be terrified, the dead are so disgusting to look upon.
9] Therefore he says: ‘Ah, man, remember that there comes an end to this life! Our human nature is of dust and ashes, and we shall return to dust’.
13] Thus says Saint Bernard in his book, and teaches us often and frequently to be skilful, if we would direct our vision - what may come from us is very vile.
17] Man, look from every viewpoint at your eyes and your nose, your mouth, your ears! What comes out from your belt to your stockings is very vile.
21] Man, you could hunt louse and flea from your shoulders and from your side. I enjoy no pride in such a hunting-ground. The animal you might kill is worthless.
25] If you are proud of your flesh, man, or of the skin that is on the outside, your flesh is nothing but a serving of worm's food. Why are you proud of such a thing?
29] Worms shall spring out of your flesh, your outer skin is only a sack, sprinkled full of excrement and dung, which is black and stinks disgustingly.
33] Sire, is the noble man made of anything other that this? He himself can say, if he has knowledge of what is right, for he shall find that it is so.
37] That it is true and not lies, look at your neighbour, at the where and how [of his situation]. Look into his grave, he was proud, as you are.
41] What pride will you see there, but stench and worms crawling in excrement? We should beware of such a sight, and have it written in our hearts.
45] There is no silk nor silken garment, no dark-coloured cloth nor any squirrel-fur, there is nothing around the bone to protect what was concealed here.
49] The worms have diligently sought out the wicked garment that was round about. Alas, what is man so proud of, when all his pride shall turn to nothing?
57] If a man is proud of the world's wealth, I consider that he is a fool. It comes, it goes, it is only a delusion, only excrement, deceit and vanity.
57] Lo! You may see correctly that property is only a deceit. It will only be a companion for a while, you must leave it, or it must leave you.
61] It is my advice that while you have it, you spend it well so that it is helpful for good. Unless you will do so at the last, other men will after you.
65] Now there are other men of all classes, they are morally blinded by covetousness, who would rather go to death than spend the goods which God has sent them.
69] Though a man possesses it, it is not his, it is only lent to him solely in order to live his life, indeed, and help the needy who have nothing.
73] Now many wretches become slaves, they will not spend but guard it in storage. They have become the devil's slave, night and day they live in anxiety.
77] And so, night and day, all their thought is on how they will possess and seize it now, to guard it firmly and spend nothing at all, and they lead their life continually in mental torment.
81] The wretches extort the muck so quickly, they will not spend it upon themselves. Yet they must die in the end and they shall go to the devil.
85] Since such an extortioner goes to hell for a little property which is not his, what can I say about the rich man who leads his whole life in bliss?
89] It is as easy to bring a camel into the eye of a needle as to bring a rich man into the bliss that is on high.
93] Though a man is rich in land and vassals, and holds banquets very frequently, there is no doubt that he shall be dead, and have to render an account at the Judgment.
97] Yes, we must give accounts for all that we have here, yea, of a farthing, truly indeed, of all your time from year to year;
101] And unless you have spent properly the goods that God has lent you, you will lose the vision of Jesus Christ, you will be sent to the torment of hell.
105] We ought to take heed of hell's torment and keep it in mind for ever more, but no-one will pay heed in any other way before they themselves are brought into it.
109] Though friars preach of heaven and hell, of joy and torment to many men, all of that seems but a delusion to them, as men tell about Wlonchargan.
113] But still that same day shall come, when there will be no one who would not wish to hide himself, so sorely shall we fear to see the wounds of Jesus Christ's side.
117] His hands, His feet, shall run with blood, you would want to flee, you might not be able to then. The spear, the nails and the cross will cry: ‘Take vengeance on sinful man!’
121] The water then shall spread over the earth, shall roar and drive everything before it; ‘Now, Jesus Christ, we shall take revenge, on your behalf, on sinful man who shed your blood!’
125] Both fire and wind shall cry loudly, ‘Lord, now let us get to work, for I will blow and the fire shall bum sinful man who has done wrong!’
129] Heaven and earth shall cry and wail, and hell shall burn, you will see, Oh! sinful man, sorrowful will be your lot when all this vengeance shall befall you!
133] It is so terrible to look and to hear the bitter judgment, angels shall tremble, - so the book says - and you hear of it very frequently.
137] Say, sinful man, why will you not believe that all things must come to the pruning knife? Rightly ought your heart to split asunder, your eyes weep bloody tears.
141] It is too late, when you are there, to cry: ‘Jesus, your mercy!’ While you are here take good care, open your heart and live according to his teaching.
145] Open your heart, which is locked with covetousness and pride therein, and think about those words spoken here. Do not forget them but think about them.
149] And unless you will think upon it in order to accept good doctrine, indeed, as certainly as you are a man, you shall regret it grievously and dearly.
153] Man's life is only a shadow, now he exists and now he does not; consider how he can be happy, even though he could possess the whole world.
157] Would he remember, the wretched man, what he brought into this world? wrapped about in a stinking skin, very little better than nothing.
161] What is the property which he shall have when he must go out of this world? A vile garment - why should I he? - for he brought no more with him.
165] He shall go out just as he came, in distress and torment and poverty. Pay careful attention to your ending, man, for it shall be just as I say.
169] I do not know what man is so proud of, of earth, ashes, skin and bone, for once the soul is excluded there is no viler carrion.
173] Many a man thinks in his mind that he will not leave his heir completely destitute. His heir shall run short and keep nothing, and waste the property far and wide.
177] I warn you, because it shall be handed over to another everything that you gained with suffering here. A degenerate heir shall waste it all, and everything that was yours shall be another's.
181] Now since the world is nothing and property is only vanity, let us have God in our thought and we will be free of the chattels.
185] Honour God and Holy Church, and help those that have need; thus we shall do God's will. [and] have as reward the joy of heaven.
189] What is the joy that man shall have if he spends his life well? To speak the truth and not to lie, there is no tongue that can tell of it.
193] If I shall tell everything that I can, as we are able to read in Holy Book, it is a joy that falls to man's lot that he need not fear hell's torment.
197] The man who can come to heaven in order to see the sweet consolation, seven times brighter than the sun shall the man's soul be in heaven.
201] His body shall also be so beautiful and strong there, you may believe it with good reason, evil is always far from him, there is nothing that shall cause him difficulty.
205] There will be no need for meat and drink, nor shall he be troubled about any feeling of hunger. The sight of God shall feed him. It is very delightful to dwell there.
209] There are a great many dwelling-places, good and better, pay careful attention. The last word supports the story: Whoever can do best, his reward shall be best.
213] Heaven is high, both long and wide, there are many angels in it, both joy and happiness on every side. The good Christian man shall dwell therein.
217] The smallest happiness that is therein: A man shall know his own friend, his wife, his father and all his kindred. There is no end to all this joy.
221] We shall see Our Lady fair, so full of love, joy and happiness, that the light shall spring forth from her face into our heart, a joy indeed.
225] The sight of the Trinity is the greatest joy that can befall, both God and Man in majesty, the high King above us all.
229] The sight of him is our food, the sight of him is our respite, all our joys shall be very good, the sight of him is best of all.
233] Let us beseech Him, meek of disposition, who sucked the milk of a virgin's breast, who redeemed us with His precious blood, to give us the happiness that shall last for ever.
237] All who have come here in order to hear this sermon, take heed that you have no doubt, for you have seven years as an indulgence.