Chapter XVI

[Sidenote: whether the brides have their abode in castle-walls
or in manor. Jerusalem, he says, in Judea. But the dwelling
of the brides should be perfect.]
Neuer þe lese cler I yow by-calle
If ȝe con se hyt be to done,
As þ{o}u art gloryo{u}s w{i}t{h}-outen galle,
W{i}t{h}-nay þ{o}u neu{er} my ruful bone. 916
Haf ȝe no woneȝ i{n} castel walle,
Ne man{er} þer ȝe may mete & won?
Þ{o}u telleȝ me of I{e}r{usa}l{e}m þe ryche ryalle,
Þer dauid dere watȝ dyȝt on trone, 920
Bot by þyse holteȝ hit con not hone
Bot in Iudee hit is þ{a}t noble note;
As ȝe ar maskeleȝ vnder mone,
Yo{ur} woneȝ schulde by wyth-outen mote. 924

[Sidenote: For such “a comely pack” a great castle would be
required.]
Þys moteleȝ meyny þ{o}u coneȝ of mele,
Of þousandeȝ þryȝt so gret a route,
A gret cete, for ȝe arn fele,
Yow by-hod haue w{i}t{h}-outen doute; 928
So cu{m}ly a pakke of Ioly Iuele,
Wer euel don schulde lyȝ þ{er}-oute;
& by þyse bonkeȝ þer I con gele
& I se no bygy{n}g nawhere aboute, 932
I trowe al-one ȝe lenge & loute,
To loke on þe glory of þys g{ra}c[i]o{us} gote;
If þ{o}u hatȝ oþer lygy{n}geȝ stoute,
Now tech me to þat myry mote. 936

[Sidenote: [Fol. 52a.]]
[Sidenote: The city in Judæa, answers the maiden, is where
Christ suffered, and is the Old Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is
where the Lamb has assembled his brides.]
“That mote þ{o}u meneȝ in Iudy londe,”
Þat specyal spyce þen to me spakk,
“Þat is þe cyte þat þe lombe con fonde
To soffer i{n}ne sor for maneȝ sake, 940
Þe olde I{e}r{usa}l{e}m to vnder-stonde,
For þere þe olde gulte watȝ don to slake,
Bot þe nwe þat lyȝt of godeȝ sonde,
Þe apostel in apocalyppce i{n} theme con take. 944
Þe lombe[39] þ{er}, w{i}t{h}-outen spotteȝ blake,
Hatȝ feryed þyder hys fayre flote,
& as hys flok is w{i}t{h}-outen flake,
So is hys mote w{i}t{h}-outen moote. 948

[Sidenote 39: The MS. reads _lompe_.]

[Headnote: THE OLD AND NEW JERUSALEM.]

[Sidenote: Jerusalem means the city of God. In the Old city
our peace was made at one. In the New city is eternal peace.]
Of motes two to carpe clene
& I{e}r{usa}l{e}m hyȝt boþe nawþeles,
Þat nys to yow no more to mene,
Bot cete of god oþ{er} syȝt of pes. 952
I{n} þat on oure pes watȝ mad at ene,
W{i}t{h} payne to suffer þe lombe hit chese,
In þat oþ{er} is noȝt bot pes to glene,
Þat ay schal laste w{i}t{h}-outen reles, 956
Þat is þe borȝ þat we to pres,
Fro þ{a}t oure flesch[40] be layd to rote;
Þer glory & blysse schal eu{er} encres,
To þe meyny þ{a}t is w{i}t{h}-outen mote. 960

[Sidenote 40: MS. _fresth_.]

XVII.

[Sidenote: The father prays his daughter to bring him to the
blissful bower. His daughter tells him that he shall see
the outside, but not a foot may he put in the city.]
“Moteleȝ may so meke & mylde,”
Þen sayde I to þat lufly flor,
“Bry{n}g me to þat bygly bylde,
& let me se þy blysful bor.” 964
Þat schene sayde, þat god wyl schylde,
“Þ{o}u may not enter w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne hys tor,
Bot of þe lombe I haue þe aquylde
For a syȝt þer-of þurȝ gret fauor. 968
Vt-wyth to se þat clene cloystor,
Þ{o}u may, bot i{n}wyth not a fote,
To strech in þe strete þ{o}u hatȝ no vygo{ur},
Bot þ{o}u wer clene w{i}t{h}-outen mote. 972

[Headnote: A DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.]