Page:Wife of Beith (9).pdf/7

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THE WIFE OF BEITH.
7

Tir'd and torn ſhe went on ſtill,
Sometimes ſhe ſat and ſometimes fell,
Ay till ſhe came to a high hill,
And then ſhe looked back to hell.
When ſhe had climbed up the hill,
Before her was a goodly plain;
Where ſhe did reſt and weep her fill,
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 whereon ſhe ſtood,
The fields were pleaſant to her taſte.
Then ſhe beheld Jeruſalem,
On Sion's mount where that it ſtood;
Shining with gold, bright as the ſun,
Her ſilly ſoul was very glad,
The ports, of orient pearls bright,
Were very glorious to behold,
The precious ſtones gave a clear light,
The walls were of tranſparent gold;
High were the walls, the gates were ſhut,
And long ſhe fought 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.