Chapter XV

[Sidenote: The Lamb is without blemish. Every spotless soul
is a worthy bride for the Lamb. No strife or envy among
the brides.]
Thys I{e}r{usa}l{e}m lombe hade neu{er} pechche
Of oþ{er} huee bot quyt Iolyf
Þat mot ne masklle moȝt on streche
For wolle quyte so ronk & ryf, 844
For-þy vche saule þat hade neu{er} teche,[36]
Is to þat lombe a worthyly wyf;
And þaȝ vch day a store he feche,
Among v{us} co{m}meȝ non oþ{er} strot ne stryf, 848
Bot vchon enle[37] we wolde were fyf,
Þe mo þe myryer so god me blesse.
I{n} compayny gret our luf con þryf
In hono{ur} more & neu{er} þe lesse. 852

[Sidenote 36: MS. _tethe_.]
[Sidenote 37: _vch onlepi_ (?).]

[Sidenote: None can have less bliss than another.
Our death leads us to bliss.]
Lasse of blysse may non v{us} bry{n}g
Þat beren þys perle vpon oure bereste,
For þay of mote couþe neu{er} my{n}ge,
Of spotleȝ perleȝ þa[y] beren þe creste, 856
Al-þaȝ oure corses i{n} clotteȝ cly{n}ge,
& ȝe remen for rauþe wyth-outen reste,
We þurȝ-outly hauen cnawy{n}g;
Of [o]n dethe ful oure hope is drest, 860
Þe lonbe v{us} gladeȝ, oure care is kest;
He myrþeȝ v{us} alle at vch a mes,
Vchoneȝ blysse is breme & beste,
& neu{er} oneȝ hono{ur} ȝet neu{er} þe les. 864

[Headnote: THE VISION OF SAINT JOHN.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 51a.]]
[Sidenote: What St. John saw upon the Mount of Sion.
About the Lamb he saw one hundred and forty thousand maidens.
He heard a voice from heaven, like many floods.]
Lest les þ{o}u leue my tale[38] farande,
I{n} appocalyppece is wryten i{n} wro
I segh{e}, says Ioh{a}n, þe lou{m}be hy{m} stande,
On þe mou{n}t of syon ful þryuen & þro, 868
& wyth hym mayde{n}neȝ an hu{n}dreþe þowsande
& fowre & forty þowsande mo
On alle her forhedeȝ wryten I fande,
Þe lombeȝ nome, hys fadereȝ also. 872
A hue fro heuen I herde þoo,
Lyk flodeȝ fele laden, ru{n}ne{n} on resse,
& as þu{n}der þroweȝ i{n} torreȝ blo,
Þat lote I leue watȝ neu{er} þe les. 876

[Sidenote 38: MS. _talle_, but _tale_ in the catchwords.]

[Sidenote: He heard the maiden sing a new song. So did
the four beasts and the elders “so sad of cheer.”]
Nauþeles þaȝ hit schowted scharpe,
& ledden loude al-þaȝ hit were.
A note ful nwe I herde hem warpe,
To lysten þat watȝ ful lufly dere, 880
As harporeȝ harpen in her harpe,
Þat nwe songe þay so{n}gen ful cler.
In sou{n}ande noteȝ a gentyl carpe,
Ful fayre þe modeȝ þay fonge i{n} fere 884
Ryȝt byfore godeȝ chayere,
& þe fowre besteȝ þat hy{m} obes,
& þe alder-men so sadde of chere,
Her songe þay songen neu{er} þe les; 888

[Sidenote: This assembly was like the Lamb, spotless and pure.]
Nowþe-lese non watȝ neu{er} so quoy{n}t,
For alle þe crafteȝ þat eu{er} þay knewe.
Þat of þat songe myȝt sy{n}ge a poy{n}t,
Bot þat meyny þe lombe þay swe, 892
For þay arn boȝt fro þe vrþe aloynte.
As newe fryt to god ful due
& to þe gentyl lombe hit arn amoy{n}t,
As lyk to hym self of lote & hwe, 896
For neu{er} lesy{n}g ne tale vn-trwe,
Ne towched her tonge for no dysstresse.
Þat moteles meyny may neu{er} remwe,
Fro þat maskeleȝ mayster neu{er} þe les.” 900

[Sidenote: [Fol. 51b.]]
[Sidenote: The father replies to the maiden. He says he is
but dust and ashes. He wishes to ask one question,]
“Neuer þe les let be my þonc,”
Q{uod} I, “my perle þaȝ I appose,
I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc,
To krysteȝ chambre þat art Ichose, 904
I am bot mokke & mul amo{n}g,
& þ{o}u so ryche a reken rose,
& bydeȝ here by þys blysful bonc
Þer lyueȝ lyste may neu{er} lose, 908
Now hynde þat sympelnesse co{n}eȝ enclose,
I wolde þe aske a þy{n}ge expresse,
& þaȝ I be bustwys as a blose
Let my bone vayl neu{er} þe lese. 912

[Headnote: THE ABODE OF CHRIST’S BRIDES.]