THE HARROWING OF HELL

HEC LAUS SABBATI SANCTI

This, the best known of the Perugian laude drammatiche, is found in three manuscripts: Perugia, Biblioteca Augusta 955, ff. 47v-49r [mod. num., with the rest of f. 49 and both sides of f. 50 blank] (P), copied for the Confraternity of Sant’Andrea of Perugia, around the middle of the fourteenth century; Rome, Biblioteca Vallicelliana, A.22, ff. 94r-98v [mod. num.] (V), copied at the beginning of the fifteenth century, perhaps for the Confraternity of San Fiorenzo in Perugia, a palimpsest worn from use and marked by occasional drops of wax; and Assisi, Archivio Capitolare di San Rufino, ex Archivio di Santo Stefano, MS 36, ff. 97v-100v (R), transcribed by the Luca Ercolani, a priest in Assisi between 1380 and 1400. P contains only lines 1-168; V contains the texts edited here; and R contains no reference to Christ’s appearance to his Mother before he appears to the Women in the Garden.

The text must have been substantially contaminated before the great laudari P and V were compiled around the middle of the fourteenth century, because the lauda as we have it now is clearly the result of an amalgamation from two originally independent laude, and an imperfect amalgamation at that. The scene in which Christ sends the Good Thief to Heaven is given both in the first part (which consists of six-line stanzas, “a modo passionale”) and in the second part (which consists of eight-line stanzas “a modo pasquale”). The source of the first part, to line 264, is the Gospel of Nicodemus, an apocryphal work dating to about the fourth century. The dramatist has done little more than versify the very dramatic narrative of the Latin A version of that work, Chapters XVIII-XXVII. The second part is a much freer treatment of the same subject.

HEC LAUS SABBATI SANCTI THE PLAY FOR EASTER SATURDAY

SANCTI existentes in Limbo. Fiat lux: The RIGHTEOUS in Limbo. Let there be light.

Quiste lume mo’ venute These lights1 which have just appeared procedon da quilla fontana originate from that fount che ne promise la salute that promised us the salvation de tutta quanta gente umana. of all Humankind. Però ciascuno aggia buon cuore So let each of us be of good heart ché questo è l’alto suo splendore. 6 for this is his great splendour.

ISAIAS: ISAIAH:

Quisto è ’l lume del giocondo This is the light of the joyful Figliuol del Pate ch’è nel cielo, Son of the Father in Heaven del quale io disse, essendo al mondo, of whom I spoke, when I was on earth, che ne lustrava con gran zelo. that he would cleanse us with great zeal. Or ecco mo’ che n’ha lustrate, Now behold that he has cleansed us essendo ell’ombra dei peccate. 12 from the shadow of our sins.2 Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 2

SIMEON: SIMEON:

Io, l’antico Simeone, I, ancient Simeon, al tempio el tolse en glie mieie braccia, took him in my arms in the temple, e quando apresentato fone, and when he was presented there, resguardando ella sua faccia, looking into his face disse: “Gli occhie mieie hon vedute I said: “Mine eyes have seen de tutto el mondo la salute!” 18 the salvation of the whole world.”3

Iterum: SIMEON continues:

Chi se’ tu con faccia lieta Who are you with the cheerful face che mostre a noie tanta onestade? that does us such honour?

IOHANNES BAPTISTA: JOHN THE BAPTIST:

Io so’ la luce, anco ’l profeta I am the light4 and also the prophet de quilla alta maëstade, of that great majesty. ch’al monde venne ’ aparecchiare I came into the world to prepare la sua via per l’uom salvare. 24 his way to save mankind.

IOHANNES: JOHN continues:

Ma quando el vidde a me venire But when I saw him come to me per batizzare ell’alto fiume, to be baptized in the deep river, con alegrezza el prese a dire: I began to say joyfully, “Quisto è quillo eternal lume, “This is the eternal light, agnol de Dio, qua giù mandato, the Lamb of God, sent down to us per trare el mondo dal peccato.” 30 to lead the world away from sin.”5

Iterum: JOHN continues:

E batizzato con afetto, And when I had lovingly baptized him, udie gridar lo Spirtu Santo: I heard the Holy Spirit shout: “Quisto è ’l mio Figliuol deletto “This is my beloved Son en cuie m’è compiaciuto tanto.” in whom I am well pleased.”6 Però io vengo a darve segno Therefore I come to give you proof che tosto ve darà ’l suo regno. 36 that soon he will give you his kingdom.

OMNES SANCTI: ALL THE RIGHTEOUS:

Senza dubio ciascun sia Let no man remain in doubt che vesiterà noie, suoie amice, that he will visit us, his friends, sì co’ el disse Moïsie just as Moses said e Giovagne ancora el dice, and as John says now, e ciascun ne sia sceguro and every man now be sure che ne trarà de quisto scuro. 42 that he will lead us out of this darkness.7 Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 3

SATAN ad Infernum veniens ab extra: SATAN to Infernus,8 coming in from outside:

Tosto t’aparecchia, Enferno, Get ready quickly, Infernus per quillo che s’è già gloriato for him who has already boasted ch’è Figliuol de Dio Eterno that he is the Son of Eternal God ed hamme ’l popol mio turbato, and has disrupted my people, e fesse tristo molto forte and he became very wretched vedendo apressar la morte. 48 at the sight of death approaching.

Iterum: SATAN continues:

Esso è stato sempre averso He has always been opposed de la mia somma potenza, to my supreme power, ed alcun ch’io avea converso and some whom I had converted a luie ha fatto reverenza, have bowed down to him, e molte de quiglie che n’avate and many of those whom you held per suo mal fare glie n’ha furate. 54 he has wickedly stolen from us.

INFERNUS ad eum: INFERNUS to him:

Chi è quisto uom de tal fortezza Who is this man of such strength che teme morte e te contrasta? that he fears death and yet defies you? Saem ch’onn’uom, per tua prodezza, We know that by your prowess no man non può fuggire la tua dura asta, can flee your sharp lance, ché quanto è stato al mondo forte and however mighty he was on earth a noi l’hai dato per la morte. 60 you have delivered him to us to die.

Iterum: INFERNUS continues:

Adonqua, si se’ sì potente, Well, if you are so mighty, anyone biene è forte chi t’ofende! who opposes you must be very strong! E veramente è onnipotente And truly he is omnipotent che te per suoie parole prende, if he conquers you with his words, dicendo ch’eglie aggia paura saying that he is afraid d’una morte tanto dura. 66 of such a harsh death.

SATAN ad Infernum: SATAN to Infernus:

De luie già non dubitare, Do not be afraid of him, ch’io el tentaie ello deserto, for I tempted him in the desert e mo’ gli ho fatto aparecchiare and just now I have prepared la croce, dua ei sarà uferto, the cross where he will be offered up e menerollo a te legato and I shall bring him to you bound, per la virtù mia conculcato. 72 and trampled by my virtue. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 4

INFERNUS: INFERNUS:

Tu ne dice che n’ha tolte You say that he’s taken from us de quieie che tu qua giù renchiude? some of those whom you keep imprisoned down here?

Respondet SATAN: SATAN replies:

Biene alcun! N’ha tolte molte, Not just some! He’s taken many, ma non che sia per sua vertude, but not by virture of his own powers, ma per lo suo orare espresso but by virtue of his express prayer l’Alto Edio glie l’ha commesso. 78 Almighty God granted it to him.

INFERNUS: INFERNUS

Ma egli colla sua parola But by his own word senza prece gli ha refatte, without prayer he restored them, e come aquila che vola and as swift as an eagle glie lor legame ha già desfatte, he broke their bonds e colla lor molta alegrezza and with their great rejoicing hon rotta tutta mia fortezza. 84 they totally destroyed my power.

Iterum: INFERNUS continues:

Seria quisto quil che trasse Could this be the man who raised Lazzaro morto de quattro dine, Lazarus, dead four days before, e come ucello che via volasse, and swift as a bird in flight tra tutte noie de fuore uscine? he appeared among us? Essendo el corpo già fetente Although his corpse was already rotting, rendèlo vivo ai suoie parente. 90 he returned him alive to his family.

SATAN: SATAN:

Veramente è quisto esso, Indeed it is he, e tisto non è el primo male. and that’s not the worst of the matter.

INFERNUS ei: INFERNUS says to him:

Noie te scongiuramo espresso We beseech you now expressly, per la tua sedia principale, by virtue of your princely throne, per la vertù qual è en tene, by virtue of the powers within you, ch’a me coluie nonne vïene, 96 that he should not come before me, Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 5

Iterum: INFERNUS continues: ché quando udie el comandamento for when I heard his command che Lazzar tosto luie ubedisse, that Lazarus should obey him at once, sentie alora un gran pavento I felt then a great fear che tutte nostre ufizi aflisse; that touched all our ministries, e quando ello tra noie se mosse, and when he moved among us tutte ruppe nostre posse. 102 he destroyed all my power.

Iterum: INFERNUS continues:

S’ei fa adonqua cotai segne, Well, if he performs such miracles that he che con suo dir ciascun fa sano, can restore men to health with his words, s’ei descendesse a’ nostre regne if he came down to our realms faria ciascun legame vano, he would render all our fetters useless, e quieie che noi tenem legate and those whom we have kept serian da luie deliberate. 108 in bondage would be freed by him.

VOX ANGELI ad Infernum: THE VOICE OF THE ANGEL to Infernus:

O voie, princepe renchiuse, O imprisoned prince, quiste vostre porte uprite! open your gates.9 E voie, eternal porte chiuse, And you, eternal gates now closed, de vostro luoco tosto uscite! open forth. Ch’el Re de Gloria verrà tosto, For the King of Glory will come soon, enterrà en luoco sì nascosto. 114 he will enter this hidden place.

INFERNUS ad Satan: INFERNUS to Satan:

Or Satàn, or te departe Now Satan, begone tosto da la sedia mia, from my throne at once e combatte con tuoie arte and use your wiles to fight ch’el Re de Gloria qui non sia, lest the King of Glory appear here, ed alcun chiude quille porte and someone lock those gates quanto se può far più forte. 120 as strongly as possible.

SATAN ad Demones: SATAN to the Devils:

O delette mie legione, O my beloved legions, contrastate a quisto passo. do not let this man pass. Ciascun piglie el suo cantone, Each take up his position, chi più alto e chi più basso. some above and some below.

Respondent OMNES SANCTI de Limbo: ALL THE RIGHTEOUS

’Priete tosto e non chiudete Open at once and do not close them, chè mo’ venir lo vederete. for now you will see him come. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 6

DAVID: DAVID:

Già io, David, al mondo disse I, David, in my lifetime said che onne uomo el confessasse. that all men should believe in him. Ei gran legame forte e spesse Our fetters, great and strong and heavy, seron per luie e rotte e casse, will by shattered and broken by him, e noie trarà de scuritade and he will lead us forth from darkness e de la via d’eniquitade. and from the path of iniquity.

ISAIAS: ISAIAH:

Ed io, vivendo anco, Isàia, And I, Isaiah, when I was alive disse ch’ei morte suscitava, said that he would raise men from the dead, e molte monementa apria, and would open many tombs e ’n terra onn’uom sì alegrava and on earth all men would rejoice che venia per l’uom salvare, for he would come to save mankind e tutto el mondo consolare. 138 and console all the world.10

OMNES SANCTI ad Infernum: ALL THE RIGHTEOUS to Infernus:

Apre, Enferno, ché se’ vento! Open up, Hell, for you are vanquished! Da Gesù se’ conculcato, You have been trampled down by Jesus. serà el tuo nome al mondo espento Your name will be expunged on earth, da cuie onn’uomo era legato, the name which kept men in bondage, che non podea nïun passare for no man could avoid che nol menasse a te scaldare. 144 being brought to your fires.

VOX ANGELI ad Infernum: THE VOICE OF THE ANGEL to Infernum:

O voie, princepe de male, O you, prince of evil, aprite quiste vostre porte! open these gates of yours. Comando a voie, porte eternale, I command you, eternal gates, che de levare siate acorte, to be raised up, che quill’alto Gloria Rene for the great King of Glory per entrare qua entro viene. 150 is coming to enter here.

INFERNUS: INFERNUS:

Chi è l’uom cusì fervente, Who is this man so fired up qual è Re de Gloria ditto? that he is called the King of Glory?

DAVID: DAVID:

È signor forte e potente He is a strong and mighty lord che ’n bataglia v’ha sconfitto, who has defeated you in battle, però conosce esto gridare wherefore recognize this shout, che me l’odiste mentovare. 156 for you heard me prophesy it.11 Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 7

DAVID: DAVID:

Ma esso re ci ha resguardato But this king has looked upon us ed èccie en terra per odire and has come to earth to heed el pianto de ciascun piagato, the lament of all those wounded by sin, e rompere tutte lor martire. and put an end to their suffering. Ed eglie lor legame forte And for them the Son will break descioglierà el Figliuol da morte. 162 the great bonds of death.12

GESTAS: GESTAS:13

Oimè, dolente, io so’ dannato Alas, woe, I am damned per lo troppo mio mal fare! for my excessive wrong doing! De robare sempre era usato, It has always been my custom e d’ucidere e de furare. to kill and to rob. Essendo en croce, a Gesù disse When I was on the cross, I said to Jesus che, sé scampando, ne sciogliesse. 168 that he should save himself and free us.14

Iterum: GESTAS continues:

S’io avesse ditto co’ Dimasse, If I had gone along with Dismas, co’ seri’ andato a godere! what joy I would have found now!

Respondet ei UNUS DEMON capiens eum: A DEVIL seizing him replies to Gestas:

Vien denante a Satanasse, Come before Satan c’ha gran desio de te vedere, who greatly desires to see you, perché se’ stato buon servente because you have been a good servant a luie e a tutta la sua gente. 174 to him and all his people.

DEMON representans eum ad Satan: THE DEVIL presents him to Satan:

Ecco el vostro servedore, Here is your servant che sempre è stato a voie ubidire. who has always been obedient to you. Menàllo a voie con grande onore I bring him before you with great honour che ve piaccia luie mertire; if it please you to reward him; che, se altre è stato a voie ribelle, for where others have rebelled against you costuie restette a voie en novelle. 180 he has always remained true to you.

SATAN: SATAN:

Bien venga, Gestas, el mio deletto! Welcome, Gestas, my beloved! Vòie che tu gode del mio regno. I want you to enjoy my kingdom. Tosto aparecchiate un letto Prepare him a bed at once, de fuoco e ghiaccio, ché n’è degno, of fire and ice, for he deserves it, ed alcun sia che l’acompagne and let someone go with him ch’imprima lo scalde e puoie el bagne. 186 to heat him up and then douse him. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 8

IESUS ad Dimas: JESUS to Dysmas:15

Al paradiso va’, Dimasse, Go to Heaven, Dysmas, e porta en collo quisto legno, and take this wood on your shoulder, e s’el guardian non te lasse and if the guardian does not let you entrare, glie mostra quisto segno, enter, show him this sign, e di’ che Cristo t’ha mandato, and say that Christ sent you e ’n segno de ciò quisto t’ha dato. 192 and as proof he gave you this sign.

DIMAS ad Angelum Gabrielem: DYSMAS to the Angel Gabriel:

O Gabrïello, io so’ mandato O Gabriel, I have been sent da Cristo, che fo mo’ crucifisso, by Christ, who has just been crucified, ed ecco el segno che m’ha dato and here is the sign he gave me ch’io sia da voie qua entro messo. so that I should be admitted here by you.

GABRIEL ad eum: GABRIEL to Dysmas:

Volontier t’apro e sta’ en buon cuore I am glad to open up for you and be of good ch’ei mena Adam coie successore. 198 heart, for he is bringing Adam and his successors.

DAVID: DAVID:

Poie te dico, Enferno sozzo, I tell you, then, filthy Hell, che tu apre a cotal rege. to open up to such a king. Apre quisto tuo gran pozzo, Open your great pit at once che non te gioverà tua grege. because your flock will do you no good.

CHRISTUS veniens ad Infernum: CHRIST arrives in Hell:

E io, figliuoglie, io so’ venuto And I, my children, have come per darve l’alto mio tributo. 204 to pay my great tribute.

INFERNUS ad Christum: INFERNUS to Christ:

Chi se’ tu che me descioglie Who are you who free from me quil che el mortal peccato lega? those whom mortal sin holds bound? Chi se’ tu che ’l Limbo spoglie, Who are you who plunder Limbo e ’nverso te ciascun si priega? and to whom all men pray? Chi se’ tu, tal combatetore Who are you, such a warrior c’haie vento el nostro gran furore? 210 that you have vanquished our great rage? Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 9

Iterum: INFERNUS continues:

Chi se’ tu che tanta luce Who are you who now come giving daie a quiste scure parte? so much light to these dark parts? Chi se’ tu che mo’ conduce? Who are you who now lead? Sopra de noie haie tal carte! You have such power over us. E non te basta che n’avete, Is not what you have enough, without you ma quil che noie legam scioglete? 216 having to free those whom we hold bound?

Iterum: INFERNUS continues:

Chi se’ tu, cotanto chiaro? Who are you, so very bright? Chi se’ tu, cotanto bello? Who are you, so very fair? Chi se’ tu ch’al mondo amaro Who are you, who in the harsh world daie così mortal flagello? weild the mortal scourge so hard? Chi se’ tu, senza peccato? Who are you, without sin? Chi se’ tu in mondo immacolato? 222 Who are you, a spotless mortal?16

Iterum: INFERNUS continues:

Se’ tu quil de cuie deceia Are you the one of whom el prence nostro, dura testa, our thick-head prince spoke, saying ch’esso tògliar ne deveia that he was going to take away from us de tutto el mondo la podesta, power over the whole world, e per morir esso nel legno and by dying on the tree a ciascun dava l’alto regno? 228 he would open his great kindom to all?

IESUS ad Satan ligans eum: JESUS to Satan as he binds him:

Satàn, tu haie data molta pena Satan, you have caused much suffering a l’uom per longo temporale. to Mankind for a long time. Legar te vòie con mia catena I will bind you with my chain17 che tu non faccie a lor più male. so that you do him no further harm. Enfin al novissimo dine Until Judgement Day per mia vertù staraie cusine. 234 my might will hold you that way.

IESUS ad Infernum: JESUS to Infernus:

Esto è ’l vostro re legato. Here is your King, in chains. Per signor tenete luie. Keep him as your Lord.

DEMONES reprendentes Satan: DEMONES reproaching Satan:

O prence d’onne ben privato, O prince devoid of every good, com’ofendeie tu a custuie? how could you offend this man? Tu n’haie fatto mo’ spogliare Now you’ve made him strip us del nostro ben, per tuo mal fare. 240 of all we had, through your wrong doing. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 10

DEMONES ad Satan: THE DEVILS to Satan:

O Satàn, de male attore! O Satan, doer of evil! O Satàn, signor de morte! O Satan, Lord of death! Resguardiam quanto splendore We can see how much light ha date a quiste sozze sorte,18 he brings to these filthy realms, e tu cusì el deveie pensare and you should have thought about it ennante ch’el fesse pigliare. 246 before you had him taken.

IESUS ad Infernum: JESUS to Infernus:

In omnia secula seculorum For ever and ever Satàn sia en vostra podestade. let Satan be in your power. Vadin el luoco anco costoro Let them go in there too, già per vostra redetade. as your inheritance.

IESUS omnibus Sanctis ibi adstantibus: JESUS to all the Righteous standing there:

E voie, Sante mieie, venite, And come, my Righteous ones, quie a mia ’magene fatte sete! 252 who are made in my image.

IESUS ad Sanctos: JESUS to the Righteous:

Voie sete mo’ recomparate You are now redeemed per lo legno crucïato, by the tree of the cross ch’eravate prima dannate just as you were damned before per lo legno già vetato. by the forbidden tree. O Adam, mo’ pace sia O Adam, peace to you now a te colla tua compagnia! 258 and to your company.

Iterum: CHRIST continues:

E voie, che foste el primo pate, And you who were the first father, vien de fuore imprimamente, come out now first of all, e voie, figliuoglie, el seguitate: and you, his sons, follow him: Abel, Abethe, buon servente, Abel, Abeth, good servant, David, Aronne e Moïsesse, David, Aaron and Moses, Isàia cogli altre qua giù messe. 264 Isaiah and the others sent down here. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 11

* *

* * * *

CHRISTUS Adam ad modum pasqualem: CHRIST says to Adam in the joyful mode:

Adam, primo parente, Adam, first parent, fatte ver me e non star più pensoso. come towards me, without further thought.

ADAM ad Christum: ADAM to Christ:

O Cristo onnepotente, O almighty Christ, per mio defetto sceso so’ qua giuso! for my sin I was down here!

CHRISTUS ad Abraam: CHRIST to Abraham:

O Abraam gioioso! O joyful Abraham!

Respondet ABRAAM: ABRAHAM replies:

Veggo, Signor, che la mia carne porte. I see, Lord, that you are of my flesh.

CHRISTUS dicit David: CHRIST says to David:

Davit, fedele e forte, David, faithful and strong, or suona ’l tuo salterio ennamorato! 272 now play your harp filled with love!

CHRISTUS Iacob: CHRIST to Jacob:

Giacobbe patriarca! O patriarch Jacob! O Isac anche, coie tuoie compagnone! O Isaac, too, with your companions! Noè, che feste l’arca! Noah, who made the ark! Duv’è Isàia, quil che seg‹n›ato fone?19 Where is Isaiah, who was given a sign? O santo Simeone, O holy Simeon, suglie tuoie braccia foïte uferto. I was offered into your arms.

SIMEON Christo: SIMEON to Christ:

Segnore, alor foie certo Lord, then I was certain ch’el popol d’Esrael era salvato. 282 that the people of Israel were saved. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 12

CHRISTUS: CHRIST:

Daniel e Geremia, Daniel and Jeremiah, e tu, Abel, cogli altri Padri Sante! and you, Abel, with the other Holy Fathers, O santo Zacaria, O holy Zachariah, e voie, Profete sante tutte quante, and you, holy Prophets all, a ciel con dolce cante I want you to come with me to heaven vòie che veniate a far con meco festa! with sweet song, to rejoice with me. O Giovagne Batista, O John the Baptist, tu lege vecchia e nuova hai confermato. 288 you have confirmed the old and the new law.

CHRISTUS Latroni: CHRIST to the Good Thief:

Morendo en ella croce, When you died on the cross, figliuol Dimasse, tu me confessaste. Dysmas, my son, you believed in me. Col cuore e colla bocie With your heart and your voice la santa misericordia ademandaste. you asked for holy mercy. Perché non me negaste, Because you did not deny me, lo santo Paradiso t’ho promesso. I promised you holy Paradise. Venite voie con esso Come with him, all of you che tanto tempo m’avete aspettato. 290 who have waited for me so long.

OMNES eundo cum Christo: ALL THE RIGHTEOUS as they go with Christ:

Alleluia cantiamo Let us sing alleluia che noie andiam co’ Cristo Salvatore! as we go with Christ our Saviour. Tutte te confessiamo We all believe in you, che se’ ’ncarnato per noie, Redentore. for you took flesh for us, O Redeemer. O benegno Signore, O dear Lord, che per glie peccator sangue haie versato. who shed your blood for sinners. Al mondo quisto canto Make this song heard tu fa’ sentir, che tanto t’è costato. 304 in the world, for it cost you so dear.

Hic CHRISTUS ad Paradisum ubi est Serafin cum Then CHRIST arrives in Paradise where the spata: Angel waits with a sword:

O Enoc ed Elia, O Enoch and Elijah, quista mia gente sì ve racomando. I commend these my people to you.

Respondent ENOC et ELIA: ENOCH and ELIJAH reply:

O Figliuol de Maria, O Son of Mary, donqua per noie ha’ già pagato el bando? so you have already paid the ransom for us? Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 13

Respondet CHRISTUS: CHRIST replies:

Col mio sangue versando By shedding my blood ho spolïato el Limbo de lo ’nferno I have harrowed Hell, e ’l mio regno eterno and have prepared a place for you all a tutte voie el luoco ho aparecchiato. 312 in my eternal kingdom.

CHRISTUS benedicens Adam et alios Sanctos: CHRIST blesses Adam and the other Righteous:

De sopra a voie si sia May the blessing of the Almighty Father la benezon de l’Altissimo Pate, be upon you, e depo ciò la mia and also my own, e de lo Spirtu Santo vòie ch’agiate and I want you to have that of the Holy e siate circundate Ghost, de tutt’a tre che sonno en una ’senza. and may you be surrounded by all Three that are one Essence.

Respondent OMNES SANCTI: THE RIGHTEOUS reply:

O divina potenza, O divine might che fàite tre persone congregate. 320 that are three persons gathered in one.

OMNES SANCTI: ALL THE RIGHTEOUS:

Cantiam con nuovo canto Let us sing a new song puoie ch’el Signor tal meraveglia mustra, since the Lord reveals such miracles. che col suo bianco manto In his white robes estende ei braccia e noi salvando ellustra, he extends his arms and shows us the light e fè onne mente lustra and saves us, deie suoie segrete al mondo entenebrato. and he cleansed all our hearts Alleluia bïato, of the secrets of the shadowy world. puoie che la mente nostra è dechiarata! 328 Alleluia, blessed one, for you have shown our hearts the light.

CHRISTUS Angelo: CHRIST to the Angel:

O Gabriello, or mena O Gabriel, now take quiste Sante Profete ell’alto regno, these holy Prophets to the heavenly che la vita serena kingdom, hol acquistata, morendo en el legno. for I have bought them the serene life by dying on the cross. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 14

OMNES SANCTI dicunt Christo: ALL THE RIGHTEOUS say to Christ:

Alto Signor benegno, Great, kind Lord, gridando mo’, alleluia dicemo now we cry out saying, Aleluia, puoi che lassato avemo because we have left el luoco de la gente sì ascurata! the place of the people who live in darkness.

SANCTI ad Enoch et Eliam: THE RIGHTEOUS to Enoch and Elijah:

O voie che qui sedete, O you who sit here, che sete che sì vecchie demostrate? 336 who are you that show such signs of age?

Respondent ENOCH et ELIA: ENOCH and ELIJAH reply:

Noie se’ glie doie profete We are two prophets Elie ed Enoch per nome chiamate, by the names of Enoch and Elijah, che son qui reservate and we are placed here per quando al mondo verà Nantecristo. for when the Antichrist comes to the world. Combatterim con esso We shall fight with him e luie uciderim per suoie peccate. 344 and we shall kill him for his sins.20

SANCTI ad Dima: THE RIGHTEOUS to Dysmas:

E tu che par ladrone, And you who look like a thief, che se’ che tal segnale en collo porte? who are you with such a sign on your shoulder?

Respondet DIMAS: DYSMAS replies:

Ver latro stato sone, I was indeed a thief, e a lato Cristo en croce ave’ la morte. and I met my death next to Christ on the Essendo ei segne forte, cross. disse a luie: “Non me dementecare!” Because there were great signs, Ed eie m’avé a parlare: I said to him: “Do not forget me!” “Oggie tu’ alma serà en Ciel biata!” 352 And he spoke to me: “Today your soul will be blessed in paradise.” Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 15

DIMAS ei: DYSMAS to them:

E poie me disse: “Porta And then he said to me: “Take quisto segno, e fatte el luoco aprire.” this sign, and have the place opened up.” Ed io foie a la porta And I came to the gate e vedde el Gabriel de fuor venire. and I saw Gabriel come out. Ed io glie prese a dire: And I started to say: “Apreme che Cristo m’ha mandato.” Open up for me, because Christ sent me.” Ed ei non me fo engrato: And he was not ungracious: aprìme en quista gloria sì bïata. 360 he opened me into this blessed glory.

CHRISTUS: CHRIST:

Ciascun sì stia gaudente Let all men now rejoice e de presente vo a la Mate mia. and now I go to my Mother. O Madelena pia, O pious Magdalene, ch’al monumento ha’ tanto lagremato. 364 who wept so much at the tomb.

Endnotes

1. The play refers to two lights, presumably John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, in fulfilment of prophecies from the Old and New Testaments: Isaiah 9:2 (“the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined), 40:3 (“the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God”; 42:7 (God promises to “open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in the darkness of the prison house”); Luke 2:30 (see note 3 below), 2:79 (Zacharias’ prophecy that John will “give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death”).

2. Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of God is risen upon thee.”

3. Luke 2:28: “Then the old man took him in his hands”; and 2:30: “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou has prepared before the face of all people.”

4. In the Acts of Pilate, John says “I am John, the voice and the prophet.” The authors of the play may be working from a source which has lux rather than vox, or they may be developing the rich interplay of light and shadow that is intrinsic to the play.

5. John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

6. Matthew 3:17; cf. Mark 1:11 and Luke 3:22.

7. This stanza replaces Seth’s story of the Oil of Mercy (Latin A, XIX). Like the Latin B version, the story crosses straight to Hell and Satan. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 16

8. Infernus is the personification of Hell; Satan is his Chief Minister.

9. In the Gospel of Nicodemus, it is David (drawing on the end of Psalm 24: 7-10: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, he everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the lord mighty in battle. Lift yp your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory. Selah.” The formula Tollite portas (‘Lift up your gates’) is used in various processions, especially Palm Sunday and in the dedication of new churches, in which a person hidden in the church and representing the Devil is driven out.

10. Isaiah 26: 19: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”

11. Psalm 47:5: “God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.”.

12. Again, Psalm 102:19-20: “For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.”

13. Dysmas and Gestas are the names traditionally given to the Good Thief and the Bad Thief crucified with Christ.

14. Manuscript P ends here.

15. In the pictorial tradition, the Good Thief sometimes accompanies Christ to Limbo, carrying the banner. In the Laus Sabbati Sancti, which is the result of the fusion of two originally separate laude, Christ sends Dysmas to Heaven before he himself arrives at the gates of Hell (lines 187-92) and Dysmas is admitted to Heaven by Gabriel (197-8), but he is still outside heaven in the second part, where he joins the procession of Righteous.

16. The Latin pun on mundus, meaning both ‘world’ and ‘clean’, extends into Italian. Here, the manuscripts, which have imondo, make the paradox clear: Christ is in mondo (‘in the world’) but not immondo (‘unclean’). The Gospel of Nicodemus, VI, 1 reads sine macula e mundus a crimine (“without stain and guilty of no sin”)

17. The pictorial tradition suggests that when the gates of Hell are finally opened — sometimes raised like a portcullis, sometimes lowered like a drawbridge — the chains are broken, and Satan is trapped and bound by Christ.

18. All three MSS read sorte (‘fates’), but ‘porte’ would be a more likely reading.

19. MS has Isaiah in both l. 274 and 276. Isaiah sought a sign (7:11; 55:13); but I know of no sawing. Laus Sabbati Sancti, Medieval Studies, 1999, p. 17

20. See Acts 25.