A Becket Carol, also known as Lestnytgh, Lordynges, or Nunc gaudet Ecclesia
anonimo
Originale | Current English translation / Traduzione in inglese corrente... |
A BECKET CAROL, ALSO KNOWN AS LESTNYTGH, LORDYNGES, OR NUNC GAUDET ECCLESIA | A Song for St Thomas Becket |
Refrain: A, a, a, a, | Refrain: A, a, a, a, |
Nunc gaudet ecclesia. | Now the Church rejoices. |
Lestnytgh, lordynges, bothe grete and smale, | Listen, lords, both great and small, |
I xal you telyn a wonder tale, | I shall you tell a wonderous tale, |
How Holy Cherche was browt in bale | How Holy Church was brought in bale [1] |
Cum magna iniuria. | By a great wrong. |
The greteste clerk of al this lond, | The greatest cleric in all this land, |
Of Cauntyrbury, ye understonde, | Of Canterbury, you understand, |
Slawyn he was with wykkyd hond, | Slain he was with wicked hand, |
Demonis potencia. | By the power of the devil. |
Knytes kemyn fro Henry kyng, | Knights came from Henry the king, |
Wykkyd men, withoute lesyng; | Wicked men, without lying; |
Ther they dedyn a wonder thing, | There they did a terrible thing, |
Ferventes insania. | Raging in madness. |
They sowntyn hym al abowtyn, | They sought for him all about, |
Withine the paleys and withoutyn; | Within the palace and without; |
Of Jhesu Cryst hadde they non dowte | Of Jesu Christ had they no thought |
In sua malicia. | In their wickedness. |
They openyd here mowthis wonder wyde: | They opened their mouths very wide: |
To Thomas they spokyn mekyl pryde, | To Thomas they spoke in their great pride, |
'Here, tretour, thou xalt abide, | 'Here, traitor, thou shalt abide, |
Ferens mortis tedia.' | To suffer the pain of death. |
Thomas answerid with mylde chere, | Thomas answered with mild chere, [2] |
'If ye wil me slon in this manere, | 'If ye will me slay in this manner, |
Let hem pasyn, alle tho arn here, | Let them go, all those who are here, |
Sine contumilia.' | Without injury.' |
Beforn his aunter he knelyd adoun; | Before his altar he kneeled down; |
Ther they gunne to paryn his crown; | There they began to cut off his crown; |
He sterdyn the braynys up and doun, | They stirred the brains up and down; |
Optans celi gaudia. | He hoped for the joys of heaven. |
The turmentowres abowtyn sterte; | The tormentors began their work; |
With dedly wondys thei gunne him hurte. | With deadly wounds they began to hurt. |
Thomas deyid in Moder Cherche | Thomas died in Mother Church |
Pergens ad celestia. | Attaining to heaven. |
Moder, clerk, wedue and wyf, | Mothers, clerics, widows and wives, |
Worchepe ye Thomas in al your lyf; | Worship Thomas all your lives; |
For lii poyntes he les his lyf, | For 52 points he lost his life, |
Contra regis consilia. | Against the king's counsels. |
[2] In a meek manner.