Hire Maidenhod wiþ swetnesse.
Þe ffoundement þat faste to þe Roche liȝþ,
And þe feire greneschipe þer-wiþ,
Line 776
[Is] þe Maydenes bi-leeue so riht,
Þat haþ al hire bodi I-liht;
ffor hire bi-leeue þat is so trewe,
Þat euere is grene and euere newe, [Fr.
La verdour que tant est beleSa foi tut tens renovele.H.
For here beleve is so trueThat ever hit is grene and newe.] Line 780 ffor hire [om. in H. and Fr.] bi-leeue is apertement Of alle vertues foundement. Of þe Middel heuȝ Is to wite [Fr.
E puis est la meine colour,De si tres bele doucour.C'est la signefianceKe od tendrur [The translator read tendron. H. wes here lyvyng.] en esperanceServi tut tens son seignorEn humilite e en doucor] Þe swetnesse and þe feirschipe; Þat is þe bi-tokenyng: In goode hope, as so ȝong þing, [The translator read tendron. H. wes here lyvyng.] [Heo] was oo [MS. so] bisy In swetnesse To seruen God In Boxumnesse. Line 788 Þe þridde heuȝ and þe on-ouemast, Þat haþ ouer-al his liht I-cast And as þauȝ hit barnde al hit is— Nis non of so muche pris: Line 792 Þat is þe clere loue and briht Þat heo is al wiþ I-liht, And I-tent wiþ þe fuir of loue, To serue god þat is hire aboue. Line 796
ÞE ffoure smale toures abouten
Þat wi[te]þ [MS. wiþ, cf. v. 686.] þe heiȝe Tour wiþ-outen,
ffoure hed-þewes þat aboute hire [me] i-seoþ,
ffoure vertues cardinals þei [MS. þer, H. thei] beoþ:
Line 800
Þat is Strengþe and Sleihschupe,
Rihtfulnesse and Warschupe; [MS. worschupe, H. warship, Fr. temperance]
Euerichon wiþ a ȝat wiþ ginne,
Þat may non vuel come þer-Inne.
Line 804
And whuche beoþ [þe] þreo bayles ȝet
Þat wiþ þe carnels beþ so wel I-set,
And I-cast wiþ cumpas and walled a-bouten, [Fr.
A beau compas environSi defendent le dongon] Þat witeþ þe heiȝe tour wiþ-outen? [B]ote þe Inemaste [Fr. Cele a la plus haut estage] Bayle, I wot, Bi-tokneþ hire holy Maidenhod, Þat neuer for no-þing I-worsed nas— So ful of Godes grace heo was. Line 812
ÞE Middel Bayle, þat wite ȝe,
