The Chirche, of the comyng of Crist spekith, seiende, Kisse he me with the cos of his mowth.
The vois of the Fader.For betere ben thi tetes than wyn, smellende with best oynemens.
The vois of the Chirche. Oile held out, thi name; therfore the ȝunge waxende wymmen looueden thee ful myche.
The vois of the Chirche to Crist. Draȝ me aftir thee; wee shul rennen in the smel of thin oynemens.
The Chirche seith of Crist. Broȝte me in the king in to his celeris; wee shul ful out ioȝen, and gladen in thee, myndeful of thi tetes, vp on wyn; riȝt men loouen thee.
The Chirche of hir tribulaciouns. O! ȝee doȝtris of Jerusalem, blac I am, but shapli, as the tabernacles of Cedar, as the skynnes of Salamon. Wileth not beholden, that I be broun, for discoloured me hath the sunne; the sonus of my moder foȝten aȝen me, thei setteden me kepere in vynes; my vyneȝerd I kepte not.
The vois of the Chirche to Crist. Shew thou to me, whom looueth my soule, wher thou ȝiuest leswe, wher thou ligge in myddai; lest to gon vagaunt I bygynne, aftir the flockis of thi felawis.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. If thou knowest not thee, O! thou most fair among wymmen, go out, and go awei after the steppis of thi flockis; and feed thi got, biside the tabernaclis of shepperdis. To my riding in charis of Farao I licnede thee, O! my leef. Faire ben thi cheekes, as of a turtil; thi necke as brooches. Goldene ribanes wee shul make to thee, mad fijr red with siluer.
The vois of the Chirche of Crist. Whan the king was in his liyng place, my mad encens ȝaf his smel. A bundel of myrre my lemman is to me; betwe my tetes he shal dwelle. The clustre of cipre tree my lemman to me, in the vynes of Engaddy.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. Lo! thou art fair, my leef; lo! thou fair, thin eȝen of culueres.
The vois of the Chirche to Crist. Lo! thou art fair, my lemman, and semeli; oure bed shynende. The trees of oure houses cedre; oure couplis cipresse.
The vois of Crist, of hym and of the Chirche. I the flour of the feeld, and the lilie of aleyes. As a lilie among thornes, so my leef among doȝtres.
The vois of the Chirche of Crist. As an appil tree among the trees of wodis, so my lemman among sones. Vnder the shadewe of hym, whom I hadde desirid, I sat; and his frut sweete to my throte. The king ledde me in his win celer; he ordeynde in me charite. Vnder ley ȝee me with floures, setteth me aboute with appelis; for I languyshe for looue.
The vois of the Chirche of Crist. The lift hond of hym vnder myn hed; and his riȝt hond shal clippe me.
The vois of Crist, of the Chirche. I adiure ȝou, ȝee doȝtris of Jerusalem, bi the capretes, and the hertes of feeldis, ne rere ȝee, ne maketh my leef to waken, to the time that she wile.
The vois of the Chirche, of Crist. The vois of my lemman; lo! this cometh lepende in mounteynes, and ouer lepende hillis. Lic is my lemman to a capret, and to an hert calf of hertis; lo! he stant bihynde oure wal, biholdende bi the windowes, aferr lookende thurȝ the latises. Lo! my lemman speketh to me, Ris, go thou, my leef, my culuer, my shapli, and cum; now forsothe wintre passede, weder ȝide fro, and is gon awei. Floures apereden in oure lond, time of kutting is come; the vois of the turtil is herd in oure lond, the fige tree broȝte forth his first figus; the vynes flourende ȝiuen ther smel.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. Ris, go, my leef, myn shapli, and cum thou. My culuer in the holis of the ston, in the chyne of a ston wal. Shewe thou to me thi face, soune thi vois in myn eres; thi vois forsothe is swete, and thi face semeli.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche, aȝen eretikis. Take ȝee to vs litle foxes, that destroȝen vynes; for oure vyne flourede.
The vois of the Chirche of Crist. My looued to me, and I to hym, that is fed among lilies; to the time that the dai springe, and shadewes be bowid in. Turne aȝeen; lic be thou, O! my lemman, to a capret, and to the hert calf of hertis, vpon the mounteynes of Bethel.
The vois of the Chirche, gedered togidere of Jentiles. In my litle bed by niȝtis I soȝte, whom loouede my soule; I soȝte hym, and I fond not. I shal rise, and gon aboute the cite, bi townes and stretis; I shal seche, whom looueth my soule; I soȝte hym, and foond not. There founden me the waccheres, that kepe the cite.
The Chirche seith of Crist to the Apostolis. Whether whom looueth my soule, ȝee seȝen? A litil whan I hadde passed them, I fond, whom looueth 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. 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. What is she, this that steȝeth vp bi desert, as a lytil ȝerde of smoke of the swote spices, of myrre, and of cense, and of alle pymentarie poudre?
The vois of the Chirche of Crist. Lo! the litle bed of Salamon sixty stronge men cumpassen, of the most stronge men of Irael; the whyche alle ben holdende swerdis, and to bataile best taȝt; of eche on the swerd vp on his hipe, for the nyȝt dredes.
The vois of Crist, and of the Chirche, chosen of Jentilis. A chaȝer king Salamon made to hym, of the trees of Liban; his pileris he made siluerene, the lenyng place goldene, the steȝing vp purper; the myddes he enournede with charite, for the doȝtris of Jerusalem.
The vois of the Chirche, of Crist. Goth out, and seeth, ȝee doȝtris of Sion, king Salamon in the diademe, in the whiche crounede hym hys moder, in the dai of spousing of hym, and in the dai of gladnesse of his herte.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. Hou fair art thou, my leef, hou fair art thou; thin eȝen of culueres, withoute it that withynne forth is hid; thin heres as the flockes of get, that steȝeden vp fro the hil of Galaad. Thi teth as the flockys of clippid sheep, that steȝeden vp fro the wasshing place; alle with double lombis in the wombe, and bareyn ther is not among hem. As a fyr red silkene filet thi lippes, and thi faire speche sweete; as the breking of a poumgarnet, so thi chekes, withoute it, that withinne forth sit hid. As the tour of Dauid thi necke, that is bild out with pynacles; a thousend sheldis hangen of it, al the armoure of stronge men. Thi two tetes as two ȝunge capretes, twynlingus of the capret, that ben fed in lilies, to the time that the dai brethe out, and the shadewes ben inbowed. I shal go to the mount of mirre, and to the hil of cens. Al fair thou art, my leef, and wem is not in thee. Cum thou fro Liban, my spouse; cum from Liban, cum; thou shalt be crouned fro the hed of Amana, fro the frount of Samur and of Ermon, fro the couches of leouns, and the hil of pardis. Thou hast woundid myn herte, my sister; my spouse, thou hast woundid my herte, in oon of thin eȝen, and in oon her of thi necke. Hou faire ben thi tetes, my sister, my spouse; fairere ben thi tetes than win, and the smel of thin oynemens ouer alle spices. A droppende honycomb thi lippes, spouse; hony and mylc vnder thi tunge, and the smel of thi clothingus as the smel of cens. A closid gardin, my sister spouse; a closid gardyn, a welle selid. Thin outsendingus paradis of poungarnetes, with the frutis of appilis, of cipre tre, with narde; and narde, and safrun, fistula, and canel, with alle the trees of Liban, myrre, and aloes, with alle the firste oynemens. The welle of gardynes, the pit of liuende watris, that flowen with bire fro Liban. Ris, north, and cum, south; bloȝ thurȝ my gardyn, and ther shul flowe swote spices of it.
The Chirche seith of Crist. Come, my leef, in to his gardyn; and ete he the frut of his appelis.
Crist seith to the Chirche. Cum in to my gardin, my sister, my spouse. I haue gedered my mirre, with my swoote spices; I eet myn honycomb, with myn hony; I dranc my wyn, with my mylc.
Crist to the Apostolis seith. Eteth, ȝee frendes, and drinketh; and ȝee most derwrthe, beth inwardli maad drunke. I slepe, and myn herte waketh.
The vois of the Chirche of Crist. The vois of my lemman knockende; opene thou to me, myn sister, my leef, my culuer, myn vnwemed; for myn hed is ful of dew, and my temple heres of the dropis of nyȝtis. I spoilede me my coote; hou shal I be clad it? I wesh my feet; hou shal I defoule them? My lemman putte his hond bi the hole; my wombe inwardli tremblede at the touching of hym. I ros, that I shulde opene to my lemman; myn hondis droppeden mirre, and my fingres ful of best proued myrre. The lach of my dore I openede to my lemman; and he hadde bowid aside, and passede. My soule is molten, as my lemman spac; I soȝte, and I fond not hym; I clepede, and he answerde not to me. Ther founden me the keperes that gon aboute the cite; thei smyten me, and woundeden me; token my mantil the keperes of the wallis. I adiure ȝou, ȝee doȝtris of Jerusalem, if ȝee shul finde my lemman, that ȝee telle to hym, for I languysshe for looue.
The vois of frendis seith to the chirche. Whiche is thi lemman of the looued, O! thou most fair of wymmen? whiche is thi lemman of the looued? for so thou hast adiurid vs.
The vois of the chirche of Crist seith to the frendis. My lemman whit and roody; chosen of thousendis. His hed best gold; his her as braunchis of palmes thicke lefed, blac as a crowe. Hys eȝen as culueres vp on litle ryueres of watris, that ben wasshe with mylc, and sitten bi the most ful flowingus of watris. The chekes of hym as litle flores of swote spicis, plaunted of pymentaries; his lippis droppende the first myrre. The hondis of hym able to turnen aboute, goldene, and ful of iacynctis; his wombe is yuerene, departid bi safiris. His hipis marbil pileres, that ben foundid vpon goldene feet; his fairnesse as of Liban, and chosen as of cedre. The throte of hym most sweete, and he al desirable. Such is my looued, and this is my lemman, ȝee doȝtris of Jerusalem.
The vois of holi soules, of the Chirche. Whider ȝide awei thi lemman, O! thou most fair of wymmen? whider bowede doun thi leef? and wee shul sechen hym with thee.
The vois of the Chirche, of Crist. My leef wente doun in to his gardeyn, to the flor of swote spices, that there he be fed in the gardynes, and lilies he gedere. I to my leef; and myn leef to me, that is fed among lilies.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. Fair thou art, my leef, sweete and fair as Jerusalem, ferful as the sheltrun of tentes ordeyned. Turne awey thin eȝen fro me, for thei maden me to fleen awei; thin heres as the flockis of she got, that aperede fro Galaad. Thi teth as a floc of shep, that steȝeden vp fro the wasshing place; alle with double frut of wombe, and barein there is not in hem. As the rinde of poungarnet, so thi chekes, withoute thin hid thingus. Sixty ben quenes, and eiȝeti ben secundarie wifes; and of ȝunge waxen wymmen ther is no noumbre. Oon is my culuer, my parfit, oon is to hir moder, chosen of hir that gat hir; ther seeȝen hir the doȝtris of Sion, and most blisful precheden; the quenes, and the secundarie wifes preyseden hir. What is she this, that goth forth as morutid rising, fair as the moone, chosen as the sunne, ferful as of tentes sheltrun ordeyned?
The vois of the Chirche, of the sinagoge. I wente doun in to my gardyn, that I shulde seen the appelis of aleies, and beholde, if the vynes hadden floured, and the poungarnetis hadden buriouned. I wiste not; myn soule disturbide me, for the foure horsid cartis of Amynadab.
The vois of the Chirche, of the feith of the natiuite. Turne aȝeen, turne aȝeen, Sunamytis; turne aȝeen, turne aȝeen, that wee byholde thee.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche, of the synagoge. What shalt thou seen in Sunamyte, but queres of tentes?
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. Hou faire ben thi goingus in shon, thou doȝter of the prince; the ioyntures of thin hipes as brooches, that ben forgid with the hond of the craftisman. Thi nauele a turned cuppe, neuere nedende drinkes; thi wombe as an hep of whete, set about with lilies. Thi two tetus as two range capretis, iemews of the she capret. Thi necke as an yuerene tour; thin eȝen as the cysternis in Esebon, that ben in the ȝate of the doȝter of the multitude; thi nose as the tour of Liban, that beholdith aȝen Damasch. Thin hed as Carmel; thin heres of thin hed as the purper of the king, ioyned to water pipes. Hou fair thou art, and hou semeli, thou most derwrthe in delices. Thi stature is licned to a palm, and thi tetes to clustris.
Crist of the holi cros seith. I seide, I shal steȝen in to a palm tree, and I shal take the frutis of it.
The vois of Crist to the Chirche. And thi tetes shul ben as the clustris of a vyne; and the smel of thi mouth as the smel of appelis, and thi throte as best wyn.
The Chirche seith of Crist. Wrthi to my leef to drinken, to the lippes and to the teth of hym to chewen. I to my leef, and to me the turnyng of hym.
The vois of the Chirche to Crist. Cum, my leef, go wee out in to the feeld; dwelle wee togidere in tounes. Erli rise wee to the vyne; see wee, if the vyne flourede, if the floures frutes bringe forth, if the poumgarnetes floureden; there I shal ȝiue to thee my tetes. The mandrages ȝeuen ther smel in oure ȝates; alle appelis, newe and olde, my leef, I kepte to thee.
The vois of patriarkis, of Crist. Who to me ȝyueth thee, my brother, soukende the tetes of my moder, that I finde thee alone withoute forth, and kisse thee, and now me no man dispise? I shal take thee, and leden in to the hous of my moder, and in to the bed place of hir that gat me; there thou shalt teche me, and I shal ȝyue to thee drinken of spiced win, and of the must of my poumgarnetes. The lift hond of hym vnder myn hed, and the riȝt hond of hym shal clippe me.
The vois of Crist, of the Chirche. I adiure ȝou, ȝee doȝtris of Jerusalem, ne rere ȝee, ne maketh to waken my leef, to the time that she wile.
The vois of the sinagoge, of the Chirche. What is she this, that steȝeth vp fro desert, flowende delices, faste cleuende vpon hir leef?
The vois of Crist to the sinagoge, of the holi cros. Vndir an apil tree I rerede thee; there shent is thi moder, there defoulid is she that gat thee. Put me as a brooche vpon thin herte, as a brooche vpon thin arm; for strong is as deth looue, hard as helle ielousnesse; the laumpis of it the laumpes of fir, and of flaumes. Manye watris shul not moun quenchen out charite, ne flodis shul not throwen it doun. If a man ȝeue al the substaunce of his hous for looue, as noȝt he dispisith it.
The vois of Crist to the sinagoge, of the holi Chirche. Oure sister a litil child, and tetes she hath not; what shul wee do to oure sister, in the dai whan she is to ben spoken to? If a wal she is, bilde wee vp on it siluerene pynaclis; if a dore she is, ioyne wee it with ceder tables.
The vois of the Chirche answerende. I a wal, and my tetes as a tour; sithen I am mad befor thee as pes resceyuende.
The sinagoge of the Chirche seith. A vyne she was to the pesible; in hir that hath puples, she toc it to the keperes; a man taketh awei for the frut of it a thousend siluer plates.
Crist to the Chirche seith. My vine bifor me is; a thousend thi pesiblis, and two hundrid to them that kepen the frutis of it. The whiche dwellist in gardynes, frendis herknen thee; mac me to heren thi vois.
The vois of the Chirche to Crist. Flee thou, my leef; be thou licned to a capret, and to an hert calf of hertes, vp on the mounteynes of swote spices.
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