The canticles or Balades of Salomon phraselyke declared in Englysh Metres, by William Baldwin |
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The .v. Chapter.
The canticles or Balades of Salomon | ||
xl. The Spouse to the Younglynges.
The Argument.
The
Churche beholdeth Christ, and would gladly receyue
hym, for her soule deliteth in his dewy head, but her flesh
can not away with the nyghtdroppyng heares, which caused
her as though she had ben perfect, to reason with Christ, and
to thynke that he woulde haue her put on her coate agayne,
whan as in dede he woulde haue her cum naked to put on the
coat whiche he wyll geue her. Thus is the poore churche deceyued
through frayltie of the flesh: whiche he consyderyng
and seyng the dore shut, that is the spirite so hyndred in carnal
iudgement, that she can not receyue hym, thrusteth in his
hande, that is his power, grace, and helpe, through the hole
In to my hole of fleshly sence:
Whereby myne inwarde partes outryght
Dyd swel and ryse, through influence
Of grace.
To open that he mought cum in
Whome I doe loue, by whome my sence
Of fleshly wit was made so thin.
By grace.
But that my handes (fast shut before)
Dyd drop with Mirrhe, good wurkes did passe
My fyngers from styll more and more
By grace.
To let hym in that knocked fast
My carnal sence I thrust abacke:
But Christe before was goen and past,
Helas.
My soule to search hym waxed meke:
My soule long hyd, his voyce dyd make
From flesh to flee, his helpe to seke
Apace.
I called hym, he answered not:
Awhyle he left me to my mynde,
Because at fyrst I opened not.
Helas.
False Prelates whiche the truth confounde,
That sought for Christe poore me dyd catche,
And stroke therfore, and dyd me wounde
Helas.
Suche rites as truthles men deuise:
By force dyd take my cloke and all,
Because I dyd theyr wurkes dispise,
Helas.
Ye faythfull preachers of the wurd,
Whiche preache Gods truthes, and folow them,
That stryke with his two edged swurd
By grace:
Christe my Beloued that dwelles aboue,
Ye shew hym how sore I in mynde
Am sycke, and languish whole for loue
Of grace.
The .v. Chapter.
The canticles or Balades of Salomon | ||