_Phariseus._ ffy on the, scowte! the devyl the qwelle! Ageyn the lawe xul we the kylle? ffyrst xal hange the the devyl of helle, Or we suche folyes xulde ffulfylle; Thow it lyke the nevyr so ille, Befforn the prophete thou xalt have lawe, Lyke as Moyses doth charge us tylle, With grett stonys thou xalt be slawe. _Accusator._ Com forthe apase, thou stynkynge scowte! Before the prophete thou were this day; Or I xal ȝeve the suche a clowte, That thou xalt falle downe evyn in the way. _Scriba._ Now, be grett God! and I the pay, Suche a buffett I xal the take, That alle the tethe, I dare wel say, Withinne thin heed ffor who xul shake. _Phariseus._ Herke, sere prophete, we alle ȝow pray To gyff trewe dome and just sentence Upon this woman, whiche this same day In synfulle advowtery hath don offense. _Hic Jhesus, dum isti accusant mulierem, continue debet digito suo scribere in terra_, _Accusator._ Se, we have brought here to ȝour presens, Becawse ȝe ben a wys prophete, That ȝe xal telle be consyens, What dethe to hyre ȝe thynke most mete. _Scriba._ In Moyses lawe ryght thus we fynde, That suche fals lovers xul be slayn, Streyte to a stake we xul hem bynde, And with grett stonys brest out ther brayn. Of ȝour concyens telle us the playn, With this woman what xal be wrought; Shalle we lete here go qwyte agayn, Or to hire dethe xal she be brought? _Jhesu nichil respondit, sed semper scrybyt in terra_, _Mulier._ Now, holy prophete, be mercyable! Upon me, wrecche, take no vengeaunce! ffor my synnys abhomynable, In hert I have grett repentaunce. I am wel wurthy to have myschaunce, Bothe bodyly dethe and werdly shame; But gracyous prophets of socurraunce, This tyme pray ȝow for Goddys name. _Phariseus._ Ageyn the lawe thou dedyst offens, Therfore of grace speke thou no more; As Moyses gevyth in law sentens, Thou xalt be stonyd to deth therfore. _Accusator._ Ha don, sere prophete, tells us ȝoure lore; Xul we this woman with stonys kylle? Or to hire hous hire home restore? In this mater telle us ȝour wylle. _Scriba._ In a colde stodye me thynkyth ȝe sytt; Good sere, awake, telle us ȝour thought: Xal she be stonyd? telle us ȝour wytt,— Or in what rewle xal sche be brought? _Jhesus._ Loke whiche of ȝow that nevyr synne wrought, But is of lyff clennere than she, Cast at here stonys, and spare here nowght, Clene out of synne if that ȝe be. _Hic Jhesus iterum se inclinans scribet in terra, et omnes accusatores quasi confusi separatim in tribus locis se disjungent._ _Phariseus._ Alas! alas! I am ashamyd! I am afferde that I xal deye; Alle myn synnys evyn propyrly namyd ȝon prophete dede wryte befor myn eye. Iff that my felawys that dude aspye, They wylle telle it bothe ffer and wyde; My sunfulle levynge if thei out crye, I wot nevyr wher myn heed to hyde.