"when i to you of those things spake,
'twas with the view
of showing briefly what i meant in parable,
thereto was bent
my reasoning.
whoso'er should
see the words of
scripture literally, ere long would pierce
the sense obscure
that lies beneath
their coverture.
uplift the veil
that hideth truth,
and bright it flashes
forth forsooth. this shalt
thou find if thou rehearse the noble stories writ
in verse by ancient poets.
great delight will flood
thy soul if thou aright
dost read, for thou shalt see unrolled secret
philosophy of old,
profiting thou amused
shalt be, and thine
amusement porofit thee, for oft their quip
and crank and fable is wondrous good
and profitable,
and much deep
subtle thought they hide
'neath veils torn easily asunder."