As they begin to draw the cross into place
with ropes, they vie with each other in their
enthusiasm, and then fall to accusing each
in turn of not giving his full effort. When
at last the cross is raised, they again mock
Jesus, self-satisfied as to their work. Gazing
at the cross firmly held, one of them says,
" A, it standys vp lyke a mast ! "

Then, in His agony, Jesus speaks :

[zzziU]



I pray you pepyll that passe me by.
That lede youre lyfe so lykandly,

heyfe vp youre hartys on hightl
Behold if euer ye sagh body
BufiFet & bett thus blody,

Or yit thus dulfully dight • •.
My folk, what haue I done to the.
That thou all thus shall tormente me? • • •
What haue I greuyd the? answere me»
That thou thus nalys me to a tre. • • •

Then follows this paraphrase:

Bot, fader, that sy ttjrs in trone, r^ '

fforgyf thou them this gylt, ^^^

I pray to the this boyn [prayer], /

Thay wote [know] not what thay dpyn.
Nor whom thay haue thus spylt.
The torturers further show their cruelty by
joggling the cross. Without any indication
of scene- change, the action passes to Mary's
lament, very like the German Marienklagen
of the thirteenth century :

MARIA. Alas! the doyll I dre [endure],

I drowpe, I dare [lie hid] in dredel
Whi hyngys thou, son, so hee?

My bayll [misfortune] begynnes to brede,
All blemshyd is thi ble [complexion] ,

I se thi body blede !
In warld son, were neuer we
So. wo as I in wede. . •.
