¶ Declaracio.
Frendes, this Emperour is the Fadir of heven̛. the Citee wele walled̛ is the soule, sette aboute witℏ vertues, whan god fourmed̛ it to his liknesse. ¶ The belle is a clene conscience, that leditℏ a man whan he shaƚƚ go to bataile agayn̛ the deveƚƚ, and armetℏ hym witℏ good̛ werkes. but this belle shaƚƚ no man Rynge but a maiden̛, that is, reson̛, that steretℏ to aƚƚ rightwisenesse. ¶ The dragon̛, that flew witℏ the fire, is the voluptuous flessℏ, that beretℏ the fire of glotonye and lechery, that brent Adam oure first fadir, whan he ete of the apple that was for-bode. the venemous bestes, that venyme aƚƚ folke, are fendes, that for the more parte distroien̛ aƚƚ man kynde. ¶ That sawe the wise men, that is, the prophetes and patriarkes sorowed̛, and cried̛ to god̛ for help. ¶ Therfore it was counseiled̛, that the lyon̛, that is, crist, shuld̛ be put on the crosse; as it was prophecied̛, It is spedfuƚƚ that one dye for the peple, that alle [leaf 30] the folke perissℏ not. ¶ Thei toke crist, the lyon̛, and put hym on̛ the crosse; wherfore the venemous bestes, that are fendes, that dreden̛ to come to cristen̛ folke, fleen̛. and so, by the help of god, cristen̛ folke shuƚƚ ever be in ever lastyng blisse with out ende.