Page:Wife of Beith (5).pdf/7

7 The walls were of transparent gold,

High were the walls the gates were shut

And long she 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 Adam did her hear;

Who is't that raps so rudely there,

Heaven cannot well be won by weir.

The wife of Beith since that you speer,

Hath stood these two hours at the gate.

Go back quoth he, thou must forbear,

Here may no sinners entrance get.

Adam, quoth she, I shall be in,

In spite of all such churls as thee;

Thou'rt the original of all sin,

For which thou art not flyting free.

But for thy soul offences fled.

Adam went back and let her be,

Looking as if his nose had bled.

Then mother Eve did at him speer,

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, said she, and ask her will,

Her company I would have fain;

But aye she cried and knocked still,

And in no ways she would refrain.

Daughter, said Eve, you will do well,

To come again another time;

Heaven is not won by sword or steel,