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_.]