Page:Wife of Beith (11).pdf/5

 then roſe and to her feet again

Her heart was glad, the way was good,

up to the hill ſhe hy'd with haſte,

The flowers were fair where that ſhe ſtood,

the fields were pleaſant to her taſte,

There then ſhe ſpied Jeruſalem,

on Zion's mount where that ſhe ſtood,

Shining with gold like to the ſun,

this ſilly ſoul was right glad;

The ports of pearls ſhining with gold,

glorious it was for to behold,

With precious ſtones gave ſuch a light,

the walls were of tranſparent gold,

High were the walls, the gates were ſhut,

and long they thought for to be in,

But then for fear of biding out,

ſhe knocked hard and made ſome din.

To knock and cry ſhe did not ſpare,

till father did her hear,

Who is't that raps ſo loudly there?

cannot well be won by weir,

The wife of Beith, ſince that you ſpier,

hath ſtood theſe two hours at the gate,

Go back, quoth he, thou muſt forbear,

here may no ſinners enterance get.

ſaid ſhe, I shall be in,

in ſpite of all ſuch churls as thee,

Thou art the original of all ſin,

for eating of the forbidden tree,

But for thy foul offences fled

for which thou art not flyting free.

went back and let her be,

looking as if his noſe had bled;

Then mother did at him ſpier,

who was it there that made ſuch din?

He ſaid a woman would be here,

for me I durſt not let her in;

I'll go, quoth ſhe, and aſk her will,

her company I would have fain;

But ay ſhe cried, and knocked ſtill,