By yonde ys a wyldernys of quarentyne,
Wher Cryst wyth fastyng hys body dyd pyne;
In that holy place, as we rede,
The deuyl wold had of stonys bred;
Aboue that wyldernys ryght fer and hy
The fende to Cryst schewyd regna mundi,
And sayde, ‘Yf thow wylt me worschyp do
Al these shalt thou haue thy lordschyp to.’
Beyond is a wilderness of Quarantine,
Where Christ with fasting afflicted his body.
In that holy place, as we read,
The devil demanded to have bread from stones.
Above that wilderness, right far and high,
The devil to Christ showed the kingdom of the world,
And said, ‘If you will worship me,
You shall have this in your power.’
Intrigued? Have a look at this fascinating post by Eleanor Parker which explains all.
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