THE CONTENTS OF THE PASS1ON-PLA Y 395 



coarseness of both language and action can frequently 

 only be paralleled from the unrestrained license of the 

 fifteenth -century carnival -plays. In striking incon- 

 gruity with it all are the Latin verses of the Church 

 ritual still retained for the three Maries' parts. 1 The 

 key to this mixture of the grotesque and sacred must 

 not only be sought in a reaction following on the strain 

 of the crucifixion scenes, but also in the influence of the 

 strolling scholars to which we have referred above (p. 

 304). Their brilliant, but often ribald, songs did not 

 hesitate to parody the events and language of Scripture. 2 

 When once the scholars had inserted the thin end of the 

 wedge, the folk were but too delighted to drive it home. 

 The visit of the three Maries to the sepulchre follows 

 closely the old Church ritual, the Latin responses being 

 translated and expanded. 3 The scene with the gardener 

 has, however, been developed in a curious direction. 

 The Hortulanus reproaches the women with being out 

 at such an early hour in the garden, it is not proper for 

 them to be out alone ; besides which, they are treading 

 down his grass and flowers ! The recognition takes 

 place as in the Easter ritual. 4 Then Mary the Magdalen 



1 See L, vol. ii. p. 313 ; C, p. 236 ; I, p. 39 ; A, p. 123 ; S, pp. 153-155. 



2 It is not only a parody of ecclesiastics and their doings, but also of matters 

 very sacred in those days ; see, for example, the Officium Lusorum, which, with 

 many other ribald verses, occurs in the Carmina Burana alongside religious 

 dramas and poems. 



3 Thus in La Passion de nostre Seigneur (Mysteres inddits, vol. ii. pp. 296-303) 

 the Magdalen sings the Jesu redemptor omnium, and the Beata nobis gaudia 

 (Mone, Lateinische ffymnen, No. 183). There are also traces of the Die nobis 

 Maria of the ritual (p. 309). The mercator (Vespicier) is in this French play 

 very polite, and the only touch of humour is a somewhat lengthy list which he 

 gives of his drugs (pp. 300, 301). The mediaeval treatment of the visit to the 

 sepulchre may be profitably compared with that of the Xptcrrds Trdo-xw (11. 

 1941-2125). 



4 See F, p. 309 ; I, p. 76 ; A, p. 140 ; C, p. 244. 



