Song of Solomon · Chapter 8

[ edit] Þe vois of patriarkis, of Criſt. Who to me ȝyueþ þee, my broþer, ſoukende þe tetes of my moder, þat I finde þee alone wiþoute forþ, and kiſſe þee, and now me no man diſpiſe? I ſhal take þee, and leden in to þe hous of my moder, and in to þe bed place of hir þat gat me; þere þou ſhalt teche me, and I ſhal ȝyue to þee drinken of ſpiced win, and of þe muſt of my poumgarnetes. Þe lift hond of hym vnder myn hed, and þe riȝt hond of hym ſhal clippe me. Þe vois of Criſt, of þe Chirche. I adiure ȝou, ȝee doȝtris of Jeruſalem, ne rere ȝee, ne makeþ to waken my leef, to þe time þat ſhe wile. Þe vois of þe ſinagoge, of þe Chirche.

What is ſhe þis, þat ſteȝeþ vp fro deſert, flowende delices, faſte cleuende vpon hir leef? Þe vois of Criſt to þe ſinagoge, of þe holi cros. Vndir an apil tree I rerede þee; þere ſhent is þi moder, þere defoulid is ſhe þat gat þee. Put me as a brooche vpon þin herte, as a brooche vpon þin arm; for ſtrong is as deþ looue, hard as helle ielouſneſſe; þe laumpis of it þe laumpes of fir, and of flaumes. Manye watris ſhul not moun quenchen out charite, ne flodis ſhul not þrowen it doun. If a man ȝeue al þe ſubſtaunce of his hous for looue, as noȝt he diſpiſiþ it. Þe vois of Criſt to þe ſinagoge, of þe holi Chirche.

Oure ſiſter a litil child, and tetes ſhe haþ not; what ſhul wee do to oure ſiſter, in þe 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 wiþ ceder tables. Þe vois of þe Chirche anſwerende. I a wal, and my tetes as a tour; ſiþen I am mad befor þee as pes reſceyuende. Þe ſinagoge of þe Chirche ſeiþ. A vyne ſhe was to þe peſible; in hir þat haþ puples, ſhe toc it to þe keperes; a man takeþ awei for þe frut of it a þouſend ſiluer plates. Criſt to þe Chirche ſeiþ. My vine bifor me is; a þouſend þi peſiblis, and two hundrid to þem þat kepen þe frutis of it.

Þe whiche dwelliſt in gardynes, frendis herknen þee; mac me to heren þi vois. Þe vois of þe Chirche to Criſt. Flee þou, my leef; be þou licned to a capret, and to an hert calf of hertes, vp on þe mounteynes of ſwote ſpices.