CAP. III.
The vois of the Chirche, gedered to|gidere [verse 1] of Jentiles. In my litle bed by niȝtis I soȝte, whom loouede my soule; I soȝte hym, and I fond not. [verse 2] I shal rise, and gon aboute the cite, bi townes and stretis; I shal seche, whom looueth my soule; I soȝte hym, and fond [I foond AGH.] not. [verse 3] There founden me the waccheres, that kepe the cite. The Chirche seith of Crist to the Apostolis. Whether whom looueth my soule, ȝee seȝen? [verse 4] A litil whan I hadde passed them, I fond, whom loou|eth my soule; I heeld hym, and I shal not lefe, to the time that I bringe hym in to the hous of my moder, and in to the bed of hir that gat me. The vois of Crist, of the Chirche. [verse 5] I adiure ȝou, ȝee doȝtris off Jerusalem, bi capretis, and hertis of feeldis, ne rere ȝee, ne make ȝee my leef to wake, to the time that she wile. The sinagoge of the Chirche. [verse 6] What is she, this that steȝeth vp bi de|sert, as a lytil ȝerde of smoke of the swote spices, of myrre, and of encens [cense AEGH.] , and of alle pymentarie poudre? The vois of the Chirche of Crist. [verse 7] Lo! the litle bed of Salamon sixty stronge men cum|passen, of the most stronge men of Irael; [verse 8] the whyche alle ben holdende swerdis, and to batailes [bataile AGH.] best taȝt; of `eche on [eche C pr. m. echon ceteri.] the swerd vp on his hipe, for the nyȝt dredes. Of [The vois of A.] Crist, and of the Chirche, chosen of Jentilis. [verse 9] A chaȝer king Salamon made [verse 10] to hym, of the trees of Liban; his pileris
