CAP. VI.
[verse 1] [The vois of the Chirche, of Crist. X marg.] My derlyng ȝede doun in to his or|cherd [my derling ȝede doun in to his orcherd,etc.; that is, in to the tabernacle, that Dauyth arayede to the settyng of the arke. in or|chardis, that is, in sacrifices and offringis offrid bi feith and deuocioun. lilies; that is, dresse cleene mynystris to his seruyce. Y to my der|lyng; that is, Y wole serue him aloone. to me; in help|inge my nedis. Turne awey; this is declaring of loue of ech to other; ether this is seid of studiouse men in the lawe, whiche sum tyme enqueren ouer curiously dyuyn thingis, and so God with drawith him fro hem; therfor bi this that is seid, turne awey, etc. is forbedun cu|riouse seking of dyuyn thingis. Lire here. C.] , to the gardyn of swete smellynge spices, that he be fed there in orcherdis, and gadere lilyes. [verse 2] Y to my derlyng; and my derlyng, that is fed among the [Om. plures.] lilies, be to me. [verse 3] [The vois of Crist to the Chirche. X marg.] Mi frendesse [leef I.] , thou art fair, swete and schappli as Jerusalem, thou art ferdful as the scheltrun of oostis set in good ordre. [verse 4] Turne awei thin iȝen fro me, for tho [thei I.] maden me to fle awei; thin heeris ben as the flockis of geet, that apperiden fro Galaad. [verse 5] Thi teeth [teeth ben C sec. m. IV.] as a [the EV.] flok [flockis V.] of scheep, that stieden fro [up fro I.] waischyng; alle ben with double lambren, `ether twynnes [Om. CI.] , and no bareyn is [ther is I.] among tho [hem I.] . As the rynde of a pum|granate, so ben thi chekis, without thi priuytees. [verse 7] Sixti ben [ther ben I.] queenys [queenes; that is, synagogis of citees, wher ynne the puple cam togidere, to here the lawe of God, and to make preyeris. secundarie wyues; that is, synagogis in lesse townes. Bi oon which is seid culuer and spousesse, is vndirstondun the tabernacle in Jerusalem, wherynne was the arke, and in Jerusalem oneli was maad the offryng of sacrifices; the modir of Jerusalem is the chirche hauyng victorie. Lire here. C.] , and eiȝti ben secundarie wyues; and of ȝong dame|sels is [ther is I.] noon noumbre. [verse 8] Oon is my cul|uer, my perfit spousesse, oon is to hir modir, and is the chosun of hir modir; the douȝtris of Syon sien [sawȝen I passim.] hir, and prech|iden hir moost blessid; queenys, and secun|darie wyues preisiden hir. [verse 9] Who is this, that goith forth, as the moreutid risynge, fair as the moone, chosun as the sunne, ferdful as the scheltrun of oostis set in good ordre? [verse 10] [The vois of the Chirche, of the synagoge. X marg.] Y cam doun in to myn orcherd [in to myn orcherd; that is, in to the temple of Salomon. applis, etc.; that is, goode werkis of meke men. vyneris; that is, the hows of Israel. pumgranate trees; that is, prestis and dekenes. Y knew not; here is set the state aftir the tyme of Salo|mon, til to the caitifte of Ba|biloyne. Y knew not; that is, Y koude not bi|holde Goddis benefices ȝouun to me in tymes passid. my soule distur|blide me, etc.; that is, Jero|boam induside the ten lynagis to idolatrie, for drede of leesing of the rewme, if the puple ȝede to Jerusa|lem, leste it wolde turne aȝen to the rewme of Juda, signefied bi A|mynadab. E|breis seien, this is the veri lettre, My soule hath set me the car|tis of the puple hauing prinse|hed, that is, my wille, that brouȝt me in to do idolatrie, for whiche Y was conquerid, made me the cartis of Assi|riens and of Ba|biloynes, that ledden the sones of Israel in to caitifte, and leiden on hem, as cartis charg|id, greuouse birthuns to bere in the weye. turne aȝen; that is, fro cai|tifte, in to the hool staat of thi feith. Sunamyte; ether Sulamyte, bi Ebreu lettre, that signefieth hool ether per|fit. Lire here. C.] , to se the applis of grete valeis, and to biholde, if vyneris hadden flourid, and if pumgranate trees hadden buri|owned.
