32. The seats in the choir admonish us that the body must sometimes be refreshed: because that which hath not alternate rest wanteth durability.
33. The pulpit in the church is the life of the perfect: and is so called from being public, or placed in a public place. For we read, 'Solomon made a brazen scaffold, and set it in the midst of the temple, and stood upon it, and stretching forth his hands spake to the people of God.' Esdras also made a wooden scaffold for speaking: in which when he stood, he was higher than the rest of the people. [Footnote 170]
[Footnote 170: 3 Kings vi, 13.]
34. The analogium (rood-loft) is so called because in it the Word of God is read and delivered. Which also is called ambo, from ambire, [Footnote 171] to surround, because it surroundeth him that entereth in.
[Footnote 171: This is, of course, a false derivation. The important subject of Rood-lofts has been treated with admirable learning by Father Thiers, in his treatise 'Sur les jubés,' to which the reader is referred. See also Appendix C.]
35. The horologium, by means of which the hours are read, teacheth the diligence that should be in priests to observe at the proper times the canonical hours: as he saith, 'Seven times a day do I praise thee.' [Footnote 172]
[Footnote 172: Psalm (cxix), Beati immaculati, 164.]
36. The tiles [Footnote 173] of the roof which keep off the rain are the soldiers, who preserve the Church from paynim, and from enemies.
[Footnote 173: This passage deserves to be noticed, as proving that lead was not the only roofing employed in the Norman churches.]