Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHRIST'S GIFT TO MAN, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHRIST'S GIFT TO MAN, by                    
First Line: Christ maketh to man a fair present
Last Line: And love in love shall make it fine
Subject(s): Jesus Christ


Christ maketh to man a fair present --
His blody body with love brent.
That blisful body his lif hath lent
For love of man that sinne hath blent.
O! love, love, what hast thou ment?
Me thinketh that love to wrathe is went.
Thy loveliche hondes love hath to-rent,
And thy lithe armes well streit itent.
Thy brest is baar, thy body is bent,
For wrong hath wonne and right is shent.
Thy milde boones love hath to-drawe:
The nailes, thy feet han all to-gnawe;
The Lord of love love hath now slawe --
Whane love is strong it hath no lawe.
His herte is rent,
His body is bent,
Upon the Roode Tree.
Wrong is went,
The devil is shent,
Christ, thurgh the might of thee.
For thee that herte is leid to wedde:
Swich was the love that herte us kedde,
That herte barst, that herte bledde,
That herte blood oure soules fedde.
That herte clefte for treuthe of love,
Therfore in him oon is trewe love.
For love of thee that herte is yove:
Kepe thou that herte and thou art above.
Love, love, where shalt thou wone?
Thy woningstede is thee binome:
For Christes herte, that was thine home,
He is deed -- now hast thou none.
Love, love, why doist thou so?
Love, thou brekest mine herte a-two.
Love hath shewed his greet might,
For love hath maad of day the night.
Love hath slawe the King of Right,
And love hath ended the strong fight.
So inliche love was nevere non,
That witeth well Marye and Jon;
And also witen they, everychon,
That love with him is maad at on.
Love maketh, Christ, thine herte mine,
So maketh, love, mine herte thine.
Thanne shulde mine be trewe all time,
And love in love shall make it fine.





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