172. let us subject the body to pain: #bale# was probably suggested by
‘bote,’ 180/150. The meaning is made clear by, ‘lyued in penance hys
lyueȝ longe | With bodyly bale hym blysse to byye,’. E. E. Allit. Poems,
15/476. Omit ðe before bale.
173. that (i.e. the soul) is equal to the head, that is, the head
figuratively signifies the soul. But the Latin finally identifies the
head with Christ, ‘Hoc caput dico quod habes in ipso | Principe
christo,’ which is from ‘omnis viri caput Christus est,’ 1 Cor. xi. 3.
#helde# might be _subj. past_ from #healdan#, if we were to keep, but
that would give a poor sense; and it cannot be from heldan (#hieldan#)
incline, for that would require to: silde should probably be read; comp.
180/130; ‘Semper illesum caput est habendum,’ T.; the meaning would be,
let us protect it as it deserves.
176. Transpose, weder softe: sen hauen ofte. #softe#, mild; comp. ‘ðis
weder is softe,’ GE 3061.
177. Read, heruestes hete; comp. ‘Heruest, with the heite ⁊ the high
sun, | Was comyn into colde,’ Destruction of Troy, 407/12465.
#hardilike#: #heardlīce#, energetically; the glide _i_ takes the place
of the usual _e_.