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Art. 7, Passioun seint Piere

Art. 7, Passioun Seint Piere: EXPLANATORY NOTES


[Fols. 47vb–48vb. ANL 546 (4). Scribe: A, with title inserted by B (Ludlow scribe). Quire: 4. Initials: Unfilled space for opening initial A (six lines high). Layout: Two columns. Editions: D. Russell 1989, pp. 107–13. Other MSS: Paris, BnF MS français 19525, fols. 41ra–42rb (ed. D. Russell 1989, pp. 106–12); London, BL MS Egerton 2710, fols. 142v–143v (ed. D. Russell 1989, pp. 65–77); Manchester, John Rylands Library MS French 6, fols. 1r–2r. Picard Version: Paris, Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal 3516, fols. 65r–66r. Latin Analogue: Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend, trans. Ryan, 1:341–50. Translations: None.]


1 Aprés. “In the time of,” not “after.”

6 Symun l’enchanteur. Simon Magus is mentioned in the Bible only in Acts 8:9–10. He is also featured in the Harley Letter of Pilate to Emperor Claudius (art. 3b). See also the account of Simon Magus in Jacobus of Voragine, The Golden Legend, trans. Ryan, 2:325–27.

59-63 Peter’s prayer that God expose Simon for the impostor he is parallels the dramatic effectiveness of the prayer uttered by Saint Bartholomew in The Life of Saint Bartholomew (art. 6), lines 170–83; see the explanatory note for these lines.

109-14 Peter’s preaching from the cross, comforting the people, becomes an image of the early Church in formation.


Art. 7, Passioun Seint Piere: TEXTUAL NOTES


AbbreviationsMS: MS Harley 2253; M: Meyer 1895; O: O’Connor; P: Perman; R: D. Russell 1989.


title MS: Passioun seint piere. Scribe B inserts this title in red ink on a blank line.

1 Aprés. So R. MS: pres (initial missing at beginning of text).

2 sant. So MS. R: saint.

6 emperur. So MS. R: empereur.

6-7 contraliout mult les apostres, car il. So R (taken from Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, fr. 19525). MS: omitted.

12 l’emperur. So MS. R: empereur.

14 mult. So R. MS: qui mult.

15 nel. So R (taken from Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, fr. 19525). MS: omitted.
ce. So R (taken from Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, fr. 19525). MS: omitted.
k’il. So R (taken from Paris, Bibliothèque nationale, fr. 19525). MS: omitted.

28 si que. So R. MS: si qui.

30 est. So MS. R: esteit.

33 sain. So MS. R: saint.
34 suz. So MS. R: sus.

35 verité. So MS. R: verté.
sain. So MS. R: saint.

42 aneire. So MS. R: enaire.

46 apostres. So R. MS: aspostres.

50-51 el ciel. So R. MS: le ciel.

66 laissez. So MS. R: laisiez.

70 depescherunt. So MS. R: depescherent.

75 nun. MS: nu. R: nil.

85 saint. So MS. R: seint.

92 Vuls. So R. MS: vull.

98 Purquei. MS, R: Purque.

100 lur dist. So R. MS: lur dit.

104 l’aveit. So MS. R: l’avait.

108 seit. So R. MS: seit seit (first seit possibly deleted).

121 dunc. So R. MS: dun (n abbreviated).
 


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Passioun seint Piere [art. 7]

Aprés Neron Cesar esteient a Rome les dous fidels maistres as cristiens, sein Pere
e sant Pol les aspostres, par lesqueles la fei Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist fut eshalcié
en Roume, e crut es curages des genz, e a la regiun des cristiens s’aerstrent. E il
furent hals par Nostre Seignur e glorius per overeigne par la grace e la vertu
Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist

Nerun adecertes le cruel emperur par Symun l’enchanteur [contraliout mult les
apostres, car il], aveit issi deceu l’emperur par ces enchantemenz de diverses
maneres k’il ne creit nului si li nun, si qu’il quidout que tute sa vie fust en sa main,
kar l’enchanteur disait qu’il esteit fiz Deu e tut puissant. E il tote sa fiance aveit en
lui. E meistre l’aveit fait de sei e de tut sun | empire. Mes saint Pere l’apostre
descoveri tutes ses malveis arz e tutes ses malveis enginz desfist.


En icel tens esteit un noble juvencel mort ke ert parent a l’emperur Neirun e
Cesar. E il vint od grant gent del parenté si demandout si alcuns esteit en la cuntré
ki peust resusciter le mort. E saint Pere e saint Pol mult esteient en cel tens a
Rume, e Neirun Cesar [nel] demandout se pur [ce] num, [k’il] voleit esprover les
apostres, kar il e li autre quidouent estre tut seur que Symun l’enchanteur, senz
dotance, le resuscitereit. Si firent mander les apostres e Symun l’enchanteur. E il
vindrent ensemble la u li morz esteit.


Dunc dist saint Pere a tuz qui iloec erent assemblé, que Symun, qui se vantout estre
de si grant puissance, que, si il peust, primes resusciter le mort. E se sil ne peust,
qu’il ne mescrerreit pas que Jhesu Crist le peust resusciter le mort.

E Symun l’enchantur, que si ert de grant puissance entre les paens e ki si ert
puissant — cum il quiderent — dit: “Par cel covenant, otrei ke si jo le resuscite le
mort, que Pieres seit occis, ki tant nus vait agaçant par ces paroles. E si joe nel puis
resusciter e Peres le resuscite, que joe seie occis cum il deverait.”


E quant cel covenant fud granté entre eus, si se roposa saint Pere, e Symun
s’aprosça al lit u le mort esteit. Si comença a dire ces enchantemenz celeement en
l’oraille del mort si que sembla a ceus qui envirun le mort esturent que le mort
moveit sun chef.

Dunc criout le peple as paens que “le juvencel est vif!” e qu’il parlout ja od Symun
l’enchanteur.

Dunc sembla a saint Pere grant desdein d’içoe qu’il osout vanter sei de sa poesté.
Dunc dist sain Pere qu’il feseient pais, si lur dist: “Si le mort est resuscité e vif,
si parout, e left suz en halt. E ci il çoe ne poet faire, sachiez ke çoe est fantesme e
ne mie verité que veissez muer le chef del mort. Ore ostez,” çoe dist sain Pere,
“l’enchanteur enveie del lit ke les enchantemenz del deble puissent estre
descovert.”

E il osterent Symun del lit, e le mort jeust en pais senz l’esperance de vie si que en
nule manere ne se pout muveir. Dunc s’estust sain Pere de luinz, si fist
ententivement sa oreisun. Si dist a haute voiz: “Juvencel, jo te di el nun Jhesu Crist,
leve suz.”

E aneire si leva le juvencel ke mort aveit esté, e alat. E si parlat, e si rendi a sa mere
vif. E dunc volt le pople lapider Symun. E saint Pere dist: “Asez ad hunte quant il
veit qu’il est vencu od tuz ces enchantemenz. Bien est qu’il vive uncore e qu’il veie
crestre le regne Deu. Ja, seit içoe, qu’il en ait envie.”


Dunc fud l’enchantur dolent e triste de la glorie qui esteit | avenue as apostres Deu
Nostre Seignur. Dunc si s’en ala, si comença tuz ces enchantemenz e tutes les
mauveises poestez apeler, e le pople qui ert dolent de içoe qu’il esteit vencu
ensemble. Si lur dist qu’il guerpereit eus e lur cité, qu’il soleit defendre, e si lur
larrait as enchanteurs de Galilé ki iloec esteient venu. E ci dist qu’il muntereit el
ciel, si cum saint Pere e saint Pol diseient que Jhesu Crist lur Seignur fud munté
el ciel. E si lur dist qu’il assemblassent a un jur establi el Capitolie, e iloec
verreient cum il muntereit el ciel.


Quant le jur vint, si munta sur le munt del Capitolie e sur la plus haute roche ke
ert s’estut. Si dist al pople: “Veez,” dist il, “cum joe munterai el ciel!” Si s’eshalça
de la roche si comença a voler en halt. Dunc s’esmerveilla tut le poeple. Si dist ke
çoe esteit par la vertue de Deu, e ne mie par vertu humaine, e ke Jhesu Crist
unkes nule tele chose ne fist. Dunc s’estut seint Pere enmi le pople, si dist: “Bel
Sire Jhesu Crist qui estes tut puissant, mustrez u la vostre vertu, e ne suffrez que
cest pople seit deceu par les malveiz arz d’icest enchantur, kar si vus plaist
uncore, crera cest pople en tei. Faites par la vostre puissance k’il puisse issi
tresbucher, qu’il, vivant, puse conustre qu’il ne poet ren faire encontre ta vertu.”


E quant il out çoe dit e sa praiere, emplurant, si conjura les debles qui portouent
l’enchanteur, e dit: “Jo vus conjur, debles que portez cest enchanteur, el nun
Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist, ke vus laissez cheir jus ke le pople puise veir ke ses
enchantemenz li vaudrunt.”

E aneire, quant il oirent cest comandement, cil guerpirent ces dieables qu’il
porterent, e il chai juz sur un perun de marbre que tuz les membres li
depescherunt. E un poi aprés çoe, veant le pople, si murut.

Quant Nerun l’emperur oit dire qu’il aveit issi perdu l’ume qu’il plus amout e qu’il
plus creeit a guarder sun empire e ki, si cum esteit a vis, plus li ert profitable, si fud
mut dolent. Dunc si out grant desdein de saint Pere, e des idunc si comanda ke
saint Pere fust pris e mis en chartre. E quant le pople oi çoe, si roverent saint Pere
qu’il alast aillurs. E il lur diseit que nun freit en nule manere. Mes tant plura le
pople e tant le preia qu’il s’en irreit de la cité.


A l’autre nuit aprés si salua tuz ces freres. Si prist congié a els, si s’en ala vers | la
porte de la cité. E quant il vint a la porte, si vint Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist
encontre li. E saint Pere l’aura, si demanda: “Sire,” dist il, “u alez vus?”


E Nostre Seignur li respundi: “Jo vois a Rume por estre autre feiz crucifié.”

Dunc entendi saint Pere que Nostre Seignur voleit qu’il suffreit passiun en croiz,
sicum il aveit suffert. E sein Pere s’en turna aneire arere si cunta tut a ces freres si
cum Nostre Seignur aveit a li parlé.

Dunc covendreit a cels a ki Neirun Cesar l’aveit comandé a prendre. Sil pristrent
e amenerent devant Agrippe, le maistre jugeur de Rome. E Agrippe dist a saint
Pere: “Mult as grant fiance el pople e as femmes a ki fais guerpir lur baruns.”


Dunc devint la face seint Pere si clere cum sol, si dist a Agrippe: “Ore vei jo ben
que tu demandes, prince de luxurie, kar tu ne conuis pas la glorie de ma passiun,
qui diz que tute ma glorie est en ces poeples e en ces femmes.”

Dunc dist Agrippe a saint Pere: “Di mai, dunkes, la glorie de ta passiun.”

E seint Pere li dist: “La mei glorie si est en la croiz Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist.”

Dunc dist Agrippe a saint Pere: “Vuls, dunc, ke sicum le tuen Seignur Jhesu Crist
fu crucifié, que tu seis autresi?”

E saint Pere respundi: “Joe ne sui pas dignes que jo seie crucifié sicum il fud, mes
nepuroec le voil siwre par passiun de croiz.”

Dunc comanda Agrippe qu’il fust crucifié, e ço senz demorance. Dunc comença tut
le pople — des homes, e des femmes, e neis les petiz enfanz — a crie e a dire:
“Purquei devreitt, dunc, saint Pere estre oscis? En quele chose forfist il unkes a cels
de Rome?”

Dunc s’arestut seint Pere un poi. E si dist a tut le pople qu’il se teust. Si lur dist
dunc a tuz: “Si vus aiez veir amur vers mei, e veire charité, ne me desturbez pas de
aler a Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist. Seez trestuz en pais, e nul de vus ne die vers
Agrippe ren si ben nun.”


Dunc dist saint Pere as menestrels a qui Agrippe l’aveit comandé qu’il le deussent
crucifier: “Que est içoe? Purquei targez vus de faire çoe que vus est comandé?
Despoillez mei de la mortele cote, si me durra mun Seignur l’espiritel a qui jo
m’aerdrai.” E lur rova qu’il li crucifiacent les piez contremunt, kar il n’est pas dreiz
que le serf seit crucifié cum sun Seignur fud.

E il le crucifierent sicum il lur ruva. Dunc comença saint Pere a sermuner la u
il ert en la croiz e a conforter le pople en la fei Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist. Dunc
virent tuz ki | iloek furent assemblez envirun lui grant multitudine des angles
portanz flurs de roses e de lilies. E fidel pople qui en Deu crei si comença si
forment a esjoir e a eeslecier en Deu, si que cels qui aveient crucifié en furent tut
esbaiz.

E quant saint Pere vit içoe, si loa Nostre Seignur. E dist: “Joe vus rent graces, bel
Sire Jhesu Crist, que le pople que vus me comandastes est confermé par le
testimone de ta glorie. A tei seit loenge od le Pere e od le Saint Esperit.” E si tost
cum le pople out respundi “Amen,” si rendi seint Pere l’esperit.


E Marcellin, un de ces disciples, osta sun cors de la croiz, s’il mist od un precius
oinement, e si l’ensevili onurablement. E nostre seinur saint Pere vint a li de nuiz,
si li dist: “Marcellin, dunc n’ois tu pas la voiz Nostre Seignur qui dist, ‘Laissez les
morz ensevelir lur morz’?”

E Marcellin respundi: “Si fis, jo l’oi.”

E saint Pere li dist: “Ne quidez pas que joe seie d’icels morz de qui Nostre Seignur
dist cele parole? Mes nepuroec, pur çoe que tu as pris garde de mun cors, Nostre
Seignur te rendra le louer de tun servise.”

En ceste manere fina seint Pere en l’amur Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist, a ki c’est e
seit honur e glorie el siecle des secles. Amen.


The Passion of Saint Peter [art. 7]

In the time of Nero Caesar there resided in Rome two faithful teachers of
Christians, the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, by whom the faith of Our Lord
Jesus Christ was advanced in Rome, grew in people’s hearts, and became
established in the Christian region. And they were exalted by Our Lord and
[made] glorious by works through the grace and power of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Certainly the cruel emperor Nero [opposed very much the apostles] on account of
Simon the magician, [who] had so deceived the emperor by his various kinds of
enchantments that he believed only in him, in such a way that he thought that his
entire life was in his hands, because the magician said that he was the son of God
and all-powerful. And he had all his trust in him. And he made him master of
himself and his entire | empire. But Saint Peter the apostle uncovered all his
wicked tricks and undid all his wicked devices.

At that time there died a noble young man who was a relative of Emperor Nero
Caesar. And he came with a large group of kinfolk and asked if anyone were present
in the land who could raise up the dead. And at that time Saint Peter and Saint Paul
frequently resided in Rome, and Nero Caesar asked [them] this in [his] name,
[because he] wished to test the apostles, for he and the others thought it entirely
certain that Simon the magician would, without doubt, revive him. And he
commanded that the apostles and Simon the magician be summoned. And together
they came where the dead man lay.

Then Saint Peter said to all those gathered there that Simon, who boasted of being
so powerful, should raise up the dead man first, if he could. And if he couldn’t, he
should not disbelieve that Jesus Crist could raise up the dead man.

And Simon the magician, who wielded such great power among the pagans and was
— as they thought — so powerful, said: “By this covenant, grant that if I raise up the
dead man, that Peter, who goes around annoying us so much with his speech, be
killed. And if I cannot raise him and Peter does raise him, grant that I be killed just
as he would be.”

And when this covenant was agreed upon among them, then Saint Peter stood
back, and Simon approached the bed where the dead man lay. And he began to
speak his enchantments privately in the dead man’s ear in such a way that it
seemed to those who stood around the dead man that the dead man moved his head.

Then the people cried out to the pagans that “the young man is alive!” and that
he now spoke with Simon the magician.

Then there seemed to be great contempt for Saint Peter because he had dared boast
of his power. Then Saint Peter told them to be quiet, and he said to them: “If the
dead man is revived and living, then let it be seen, and let him rise up. And if he
cannot do this, know that it’s an illusion and not true at all that you see the dead
man’s head move.” Then said Saint Peter: “Now draw the magician away from the
bed so that the Devil’s enchantments may be revealed.”

And they drew Simon away from the bed, and the dead man lay motionless without
hope of life because in no way could he move. Then Saint Peter stood at a distance,
and he carefully made his prayer. And he said in a raised voice: “Young man, I say
to you in the name of Jesus Christ, rise up.”

And immediately rose up the young man who’d been dead, and he walked. And
then he spoke, and then he delivered himself alive to his mother. And then the
people wished to stone Simon. And Saint Peter said: “He possesses enough shame
in seeing that he’s been beaten with all his enchantments. It’s proper that he still
live and see the kingdom of God increase. Know this: that he’s already jealous of it.”

Then the magician was upset and distressed about the glory that had | come to the
apostles of God Our Lord. Then he went away, and he began to summon all his
enchantments and evil powers, together with the people who were sorrowful be-
cause he’d been vanquished. And he said to them that he’d forsake them and their
city, which he’d been wont to protect, and that he’d leave them to the magicians
of Galilee who had come there. And he said that he’d rise to the sky, just as Saint
Peter and Saint Paul said that Jesus Christ their Lord had risen to the sky. And he
said to them that they should gather on an appointed day at the Capital, and there
they’d see how he rose to the sky.

When the day came, he climbed up the hill of the Capital and onto the highest rock
that stood there. And he said to the people: “Behold,” he said, “how I will rise to the
sky!” And he raised himself from the rock and began to fly upwards. Then all the
people were amazed. And they said that this happened through the power of God
and not at all through human power, and that Jesus Christ had never done such
a thing. Then Saint Peter stood up in the midst of the people, and he said: “Good
Lord Jesus Christ Almighty, show here your power, and do not permit these people
to be deceived by this magician’s wicked tricks, for if it pleases you still, these people
will believe in you. Make it happen by your power that he be thrown down here,
so that, living, he shall acknowledge that he can do nothing against your power.”

And when, imploring, he had spoken this and his prayer, then he called upon the
devils who carried the magician, and said: “I call upon you, devils who carry this
magician, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, that you let him fall down so that
the people may see what his enchantments are worth to him.”

And immediately, when they heard this command, the devils carrying him let go
of him, and he fell down on a marble stone so that all his limbs were shattered.
And shortly afterwards, in the sight of the people, he died.

When Emperor Nero heard that he had thus lost the man whom he most loved and
trusted to watch over his empire and who, while he was alive, was most profitable
to him, he was very distressed. Then he had great contempt for Saint Peter, and
straightaway he ordered that Saint Peter be seized and placed in prison. And when
the people heard this, they entreated Saint Peter that he go somewhere else. And
he said to them that he would never do so. But the people cried so much and asked
him so often that he left the city.

On the following night he greeted all his brethren. And he took leave of them, and
then he went away toward | the city gate. And when he came to the gate, there
came Our Lord Jesus Christ to meet him. And Saint Peter worshiped him, and he
asked: “Lord,” he said, “where are you going?”

And Our Lord answered him: “I go to Rome to be crucified once again.”

Then Saint Peter understood that Our Lord wished that he suffer passion on the
cross, just as he had suffered. And Saint Peter immediately turned back and related
everything to his brethren entirely as Our Lord had spoken to him.

Then it was easy for those commanded by Nero Caesar to seize him. And they took
him and led him before Agrippa, the chief magistrate of Rome. And Agrippa said
to Saint Peter: “You have great faith in the people and the women whom you made
abandon their husbands.”

Then the face of Saint Peter became as bright as the sun, and he said to Agrippa:
“Now I see clearly what you ask, prince of lust, for you don’t know the glory of my
passion, you who say that all my glory is in these people and these women.”

Then Agrippa said to Saint Peter: “Tell me, then, the glory of your passion.”

And Saint Peter said to him: “My glory is in the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Then Agrippa said to Saint Peter: “Do you wish, then, that just as your Lord Jesus
Christ was crucified, that you be as well?”

And Saint Peter answered: “I am not worthy to be crucified as he was, but
nonetheless I wish to follow him by way of the passion of the cross.”

Then Agrippa ordered that he be crucified, and this [be done] without delay. Then
all the people — men, women, and even small children — began to cry out and
say: “Why, then, must Saint Peter be killed? In what thing did he ever transgress
against those of Rome?”

Then Saint Peter stood still for a moment. And he said to all the people that they
should be silent. And he said then to all of them: “If you have true love toward me,
and true charity, do not prevent me from going to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Be
entirely at peace, and none of you should say anything against Agrippa that is not
good.”

Then Saint Peter said to the servants ordered by Agrippa to crucify him: “What is
this? Why do you delay doing what you have been ordered to do? Strip the mortal
coat from me, and give me to my spiritual Lord to whom I hold fast.” And he asked
them that they crucify him upside-down, for it wouldn’t be right that the servant
be crucified just as his Lord was.

And they crucified him as he requested. Then from where he was on the cross, Saint
Peter began to preach and comfort the people in the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then all who were | gathered there around him saw a great multitude of angels
carrying flowers of roses and lilies. And faithful people who believed in God began
then to gladden and rejoice greatly in God, so that those who had crucified him
were entirely dismayed by this.

And when Saint Peter saw this, he praised Our Lord. And he said: “I thank you,
sweet Lord Jesus Christ, that the people whom you entrusted to me are
strengthened by the testimony of your glory. Praise be to you with the Father and
the Holy Ghost.” And as soon as the people had responded “Amen,” Saint Peter
gave up his spirit.

And Marcellus, one of his disciples, took his body down from the cross, anointed
it with a precious ointment, and buried it with honor. And our lord Saint Peter
came to him in the night, and said to him: “Marcellus, haven’t you heard the voice
of Our Lord who said, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead’?”

And Marcellus answered: “Yes, certainly, I have heard it.”

And Saint Peter said to him: “Don’t you think that I’m one of those dead about
whom Our Lord spoke this word? Nonetheless, because you’ve looked after my
body, Our Lord will pay you the fee for your service.”

In this manner Saint Peter died in the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
there is and shall be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.


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Go to Appendix: Full Contents of MS Harley 2253