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.]