CAP. IV.
[verse 1] [The vois of Crist to the Chirche. X marg.] Mi [In iiij. co. the goostli fairnesse of the spousesse is sig|nefied by this parable; the heed of the spousesse was the patriark Jacob; the heeris ben xij. patriarkis; the iȝen ben Moises and Aaron, rul|inge the puple; the teeth ben werriouris, schapli to de|uoure aduer|saries; lippis, that bryngen forth swete speche, ben dekenes and singeris, seiynge Goddis heri|yngis; the rodi chekis ben othere dekenes, mynystringe aboute the au|ter of brent sa|crifices; the throte ben stu|diouse men in the lawe, licned to the tour of Dauith, maad strong with scheeldis; for whi armuris aȝenus impyng|neris of Goddis lawe, ben had bi sich studie; twey tetis ben twey tablis of witnessing, of whiche the mylk of kun|nyng and deuo|cioun is sokun out; til the day, of the newe tes|tament; scha|dewis, for the figuris of the elde lawe cees|sen in the newe testament, of which thei weren scha|dewe. Lire here. C.] frendesse, thou art ful fair [fair, thou art ful fair C.] ; thin iȝen ben of culueris, with outen that that is hid with ynne; thin heeris ben as the flockis of geete, that stieden [stieden up I.] fro the hil of Galaad. [verse 2] Thi teeth ben as the [Om. C.] flockis of clippid [schorn I.] sheep, that stieden [stieden up I.] fro waisch|yng; alle ben with double lambren, and no bareyn is [ther is I.] among tho. [verse 3] Thi lippis ben as a reed lace, and thi speche is swete; as the relif of an appil of Punyk, so ben thi chekis, with outen that, that is hid with ynne. [verse 4] Thi necke is as the tour of Dauid, which is bildid with strengthis maad bifore for defense; a thousynde scheldis hangen on it, al armure of stronge men. [verse 5] Thi twei tetis ben as twey kidis, twynnes of a capret, that ben fed [verse 6] in [among C.] lilies, til the dai sprynge, and shadewis ben bowid doun. Y schal go to the mounteyn of myrre [to the moun|teyn of myrre, etc.; that is, to the lond of Ju|dee, that is ful of hillis, and hath myche myrre and encense. Lire here. C.] , and to the litil hil of encense. [verse 7] My frendesse [leef I.] , thou art al faire, and no wem is [ther is I.] in thee. [verse 8] My spousesse, come thou fro the Liban; come thou fro the Liban, come thou; thou schalt be corowned fro the heed of A|mana [heed of Amana; in Ebreu it is, biholdinge fro the heed of Amana. Lire here. C.] , fro the cop of Sanyr and Hermon, fro the dennys of liouns, fro the hillis of pardis. [verse 9] My sister spousesse, thou hast woundid myn herte; thou hast woundid myn herte, in oon of thin iȝen [oon of thin iȝen; that is, Moises. heer; that is, Joseph. Lire here. C.] , and in oon [an I.] heer of thi necke. [verse 10] My sistir spousesse, thi tetis ben ful faire; thi tetis ben feirere than wyn, and the odour of
