The Songs of the Old and New Testament in Meter, Verse 1
THE SONG OF Solomon made in praise of Christ, and his Church.
CHAPTER I.
The Church speaketh to Christ.
LEt him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better then wine.
LEt him with kisses of his mouth
to kisse me now incline,
For sure thy love farre better is
then is the finest wine.
2 Because of the savour of thy good oyntments, thy name is as oyntment powred forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
2
Because that of thine ointments …ood
the savour sweet doth prove,
Thy Name as ointment forth is powr'd
thee therefore virgins love.
3 Draw me, we will run after thee: the King hath brought me into his chambers:
3
Do thou me draw and then anone
we after thee will run:
The King himself he hath me now
his chambers brought within.
We will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more then wine: the upright love thee.
We'l in thee glade be and rejoice,
thy love also will wee
Remeber more then sinest wine,
the upright do love thee.
4 I am black, but comely, (O ye daughters of Ierusalem) as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
4
O Salems daughters black I am,
but yet a comely one
As tents of Kedar, and ev'n as
curtains of Solomon.
5 Look not upon me because I am black, because the Sun hath looked upon me.
5
Upon me look not ye, because
I black do seem to be,
Because the Sun hath with his beames
long looked upon me.
My mothers children were angry with mee, they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept.
My mothers children wroth with me
the vineyards keeper made,
But I my self have not at all
so kept mine own vineyard.
6 Tell me (O thou whom my soul loveth) where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon:
6
O thou, whom dearly loves my soul,
I pray thee tell me soon
Where thou dost feed, and where thou makst
thy flock to rest at noon.
For why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
For why should I be any way
as one that turnes aside
By flocks of thy companions
where ev'r they do abide?
CHRIST.
7 If thou know not, (O thou fairest among women) go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds tents.
7
O fairest one if thou not know,
by the flocks footsteps go,
And do thou feed thy kids beside
the shepherds tents also.
8 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaohs chariots.
8
My love unto a company
I have compared thee,
Of horses in the chariots
that for King Pharo be.
9 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
10 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
9
With jewell rows thy cheeks are fair,
with chaines of gold thy neck:
10
Of gold we borders will thee make
which silver studs do deck.
The Church.
11 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
12 A bundle of myrrhe is my welbeloved unto me;
11
While at his table sits the King
my spiknard sends it smell:
12
Of mirrhe a bundle unto me
is my beloved well.
He shall ly all night betwixt my breasts.
13 My beloved is unto me, as a cluster of Camphire, in the vineyards of Engedi.
Betwixt my breasts hee'le lie all night
13
My welbelov'd's to me
As of Engedies vineyards rare,
the Camphires clusters be▪
CHRIST.
14 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair, thou hast doves eyes.
14
O do behold, most fair thou art
ev'n thou my love so rare,
Behold of Doves the eyes thou hast,
and thou art very fair.
The Church.
15 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea pleasant: also our bed is green.
16 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fire.
15
Lo, pleasant fair thou art my love,
green also is our bed:
16
Beams of our house they cedars are,
of firre our rafters made.
CHAPTER II.
CHRIST.
I Am the rose of Sharon, and the lilly of the valleyes.
2 As the lilly among thornes, so is my love among the daughters.
I'M Sharons rose, the lilly als
that valleyes growes along:
2
As lillies among thornes, my love
so daughters is among.
The Church.
3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.
3
As th… apple tree among the trees
is of the wood so throng,
So likewise my Beloved is,
the sons of men among.
… I sate down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
Under his shadow I sate down
with great delight there plac't,
And there his fruit which pleasant is
was sweet unto my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
4
Unto the house of banqueting▪
to come he did me move▪
His banner that was over me
was altogether love.
5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love.
6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
5
Me sick of love with flagons stay,
with apples me solace:
6
Under my head his left hand is,
his right me doth embrace.
7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Ierusalem, by the Roes, and by the Hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he please.
7
By Roes, field Hindes, O Salems maids,
I charge you that ye cease
…o stir or yet at all awake
my love, untill he please.
8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he co…eth leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon …e hils.
The voice of my Belov'd! behold!
he cometh thus anone
…pon the mountains leaping high
and skipping hills upon.
9 My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: hold, he standeth behinde our wall, he looketh …th at the windows, shewing himself through …e lattesse.
He's like a Roe or Hart that's young,
he stands behind our wall,
…t windowes he looks forth, himself
he shews through lattesse all.
10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, …se up my love, my faire one, and come away.
11 For lo, the winter is past, the raine is over …d gone.
Then my Belov'd said, Rise my love,
away come my fair One:
For lo the winter it is past,
the rain is ov'r and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time …he singing of birds is come, and the voice of turtle is heard in our land.
12
The flowers upon the earth appear,
of singing of the bird
The time is come; the Turtles voice
within our land is heard.
13 The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my faire one, and come away.
13
The fig tree her green figs puts forth,
vines with grapes tender they
Do sweetly smell; arise my love
my fair one come away.
CHRIST.
14 O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs,
14
O thou my dove that art ev'n now
in clifts within the rock,
Within the secret places of
the staires where thou dost lurk.
Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
Let thou me see thy countenance,
thy voice let thou me hear,
For sweet thy voice is, and also
thy countenance is clear.
15 Take us the Foxes, the little foxes that spoile the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
15
Do ye for us the foxes take,
foxes that little be
That spoile the vines, for tender grapes
our vines have, as ye see.
The Church.
16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he …eedeth among the lillies.
16
My Welbeloved sure is mine,
and I am his indeed,
Among the lillies smelling sweet
he pleasantly doth feed.
17 Vntill the day break, and the shadowes …lee away: turn my beloved, and be thou like a Roe, or a young Hart, upon the mountains of Bether.
17
Untill day break and shads flee hence,
turn my belov'd, and be
Thou like a Roe, or Hart that's young
on Bethers mountains hie.
CHAPTER III.
BY night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found …im not.
BY night I did upon my bed
him seek with all my minde
VVhom my soul loveth; I him sought,
but him I did not find.
2 I will rise now, and go about the citie in the streets, and in the broad wayes I will seek him whom my Soul loveth:
2
I will now rise, and in the streets
about the city move,
And in the broad wayes I will seek
him whom my soul doth love.
I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The watchmen that goe about the city found mee: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth.
I sought him, but I found him not,
3
The Cities watchmen me
Did find; I said then did ye him
whom my soul loveth see?
4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my Soul loveth;
4
It but a little was that I
from them did passe away,
But I him whom my soul doth love
did find without delay:
I held him, and would not let him goe, untill I had brought him into my mothers house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
I held and would not let him go,
untill that by me he
Was to her house and chamber brought
that had conceived me.
5 I charge you, O ye daughters of Ierusalem, by the Roes, and by the Hindes of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till hee please.
5
O Salems daughters I you charge
by Roes, field Hindes ye cease
To stir or yet for to awake
my love untill he please.
6 Who is this that cometh out of the wildernesse like pillars of smoake, perfumed with myrrhe and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant.
6
Of smoak like pillars who is this
that comes from wildernesse,
Perfum'd with frankincense and mirrhe,
all merchands powders als.
7 Behold his bed, which is Solomons: threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
7
Behold, his bed is Solomons,
threescore men valiant all
About it are, of those that are
the valiant of Isra'l.
8 They all hold swords, being expert in war, Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.
8
Expert in war, they all do hold
swords in their hands most bright,
…ach man his sword hath on his thigh,
because of fear by night.
9 King Solomon made himself a charet of the wood of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold,
9
Of Lebanons wood Solomon
himself a charet made;
10
It's pillars made of silver were,
with gold the bottome laid:
The covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Ierusalem.
The cov'ring of it purple was,
the midst of it for them
Was pav'd with love, that daughters were
of his Jerusalem.
11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold King Solomon,
11
Oye that Zions daughters are
do ye go forth anone,
And do ye with great reverence
behold king Solomon.
With the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart.
With crown wherewith his mother him
crown'd in his spousals day,
And in the day his heart was fill'd
with gladenesse ev'ry way.
CHAPTER IV.
CHRIST.
BEhold, thou art faire, my love, behold thou art faire, thou hast doves eyes within thy locks:
BEhold my love thou art most fair▪
behold fair is thy skin,
The pure and chast eyes of the Dove
thou hast thy locks within:
Thy haire is as a flock of goats, that appear… from mount Gilead.
Thy haire that is upon thy head,
is also very near▪
Like to a flock of goats that from
mount Gilead do appear.
2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep, that are even shorn which came up from the washing, whereof every one beare twins, and none is barren among them.
2
Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep,
ev'n shorn from washing gone,
Whereof each one bare twins, and them
among is barren none.
3 Thy lips are like a threed of scarlet, and thy speach is comely: thy temples are like a prece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
3
Thy speach is comely, and thy lips
like scarlet threed we see,
Within thy locks thy temples like
piece of pomgranats be.
4 Thy neck is like the tower of David, buil…ded for an armory, whereon there hang a thou…sand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.
4
Thy neck is like King Davids tower,
built for an armorie,
Whereon a thousand bucklers hang,
mens shields that mighty be.
5 Thy two breasts are like two young Roe… that are twins, which feed among the lillies.
5
Thy breasts in number two are like
unto two Roes indeed
That young are, and are also twins
which 'mong the lillies feed.
6 Vntill the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mo…ntaine of myrrhe, and to the hill of frankincense.
6
Untill the day most clearly break
and shaddows flee from hence;
I'le get me to thee mounts of Myrrhe,
and hill of frankincense.
7 Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee.
8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon:
7
Thou art all fair my love, there is
no spot at all in thee:
8
Spouse come with me from Lebanon
from Lebanon with me
Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the Lyons dens, from the mountains of the Leopards.
Look from the tops of Amana,
Shenir and Hermon hie,
From Lions dens, from mountaines great
where Leopards there be.
9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast ravished my heart, with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
9
My heart thou ravish'd, sister, spouse,
my heart thou in effect
Hast ravish'd with one of thine eyes,
with one chain of thy neck.
10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse, how much better is thy love then wine? and the smell of thine oyntments then all spices.
10
How fair's thy love, my sister spouse?
how better much then wine
Is this thy love! thine ointments smell
more then all spices fine!
11 Thy lips, O my spouse drop as the hon comb, hony and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
11
Thy lips, Spouse, drop as hony comb,
the honey milk excell
Under thy tongue; as Lebanon
thy garments they do smell.
12 A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse: a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
12
My sister spouse a garden is,
which is inclosed well,
A spring shut up, a fountain als
whereon is set a seal.
13 Thy plants are an orchard of Pomegranates, with pleasant fruits, Camphire, with Spikenard.
13
Thy plants an orchard are also
ev'n of pomegranates rare,
With pleasant fruits, the Camphire sweet
and Spiknard likewise are:
14 Spikenard and Saffron, Calamus and Cynamon, with all trees of frankincense, Myrrhe, and Aloes, with all the chief spices:
14
Spiknard, Saffron, and Calamus,
and Cynamon with all,
Trees of franklncense, Aloes, Mirrhe,
all spices principall.
15 A fountaine of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
15
A fountain for to water well
the gardens all anone▪
A well of living waters als
and streames from Lebanon.
The Church.
16 Awake, O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out;
16
O north wind, do thou now awake,
and come thou south about,
Upon my garden blow; that so
its spices may flow out:
Let my beloved come into his garden, and cat his plea…nt fruits.
Let him that my beloved is
come to his garden sweet,
That he his fruits that pleasant are
may with contentment eat.
CHAPTER V.
CHRIST.
I Am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse, I have gathered my Myrrhe with my spice,
MY sister and my spouse, I am
my garden come into,
I carefully have gathered
my mirrhe and spice also.
I have eaten my hony comb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved!
I hony comb with hony ate,
my wine, milk, drunk have I,
Eat, O ye friends, drink O Belov'd;
yea, drink abundantly.
The Church.
2 I sleep, but mine heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying,
2
I sleep securely but my heart
doth wake both night and day,
It is the voice of my Belov'd
that knocking thus doth say,
Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
My Sister, Love, Dove, undefil'd,
now open to me right,
For filled is my head with dew,
my locks with drops of night.
3 I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?
3
I have put off my coat, how shall
I put it on a while?
I washed also have my feet
how shall I them defile?
4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole o the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
4
By of the door the hole his hand
my Welbelov'd put in,
And for him then my bowels all
were moved me within.
5 I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with Myrrhe, and my fingers with sweet smelling Myrrhe, upon the handles o… the lock.
5
To open to my love I rose,
my hands with myrrhe did drop,
My fingers with sweet smelling myrrhe
on handles of the lock.
6 I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone:
6
To my Belov'd I op'ned then,
but my Belov'd alone
Withdrawn himself had farre away,
and from the door was gone:
My soul failed: when he spake I sought him but I could not finde him: I called him, but he gave me no answer.
My soul it failed when he spake,
I after him did crave,
But could not find him, I him call'd,
but he no answer gave.
7 The watchmen that went about the citie, found me, they smote mee, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took away my vaile from me.
7
The cities watchmen found me then,
me smot, me wounded they,
The keepers of the wals they took
my vail from me away.
8 I charge you, O daughters of Ierusalem, if ye finde my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.
8
O daughters of Jerusalem
I charge you from above,
If my Belov'd ye find, that yee
him tell, I'm sick of love.
The Daughters of Ierusalem.
9 What is thy beloved more then another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more then another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
9
O fairest, among women thou
what's thy Beloved more?
What is he more then others are,
that thou dost charge so sore?
The Church.
10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
11 His head is as the most fine gold, his looks are bushie and black as a raven.
10
Both white and rudy's my Belov'd,
chief among thousands ten:
11
His head's as gold, his bushy locks
are black as is a rav'n.
… His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fitly set.
12
His eyes are as the eyes of doves
that by the rivers sit,
They washed also are with milk
and they are fitly set.
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowres: his lips like lillies, dropping sweet smelling myrrhe.
13
His cheeks are as the spices bed,
as flowers that sweet excell,
His lips like lillies droping Myrrhe,
that hath the sweetest smell.
14 His hands are as gold rings set with the Berill: His belly is as bright ivory, overlaid with Saphires.
14
His hands as goldrings als are set
with Berill richly made,
His belly as bright ivory is
with Saphires overlaid.
15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars.
15
His legs like Marble pillars are,
on fine gold sockers set;
His count'nance is as Lebanon,
as Cedars passing great.
16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely: This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Ierusalem.
16
Most sweet his mouth is, yea he is
most lovely altogether:
This my Belov'd, and this my Friend
is, O thou Salems daughter.
CHAPTER VI.
The Daughters of Ierusalem.
WHether is thy beloved gone? O thou fairest among women, whether is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.
O Whither's thy Beloved gone,
of women all most fair?
O whither turn'd, that we with thee
may seek him, now declare?
The Church.
2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lillies.
2
Into his garden my Belov'd
to beds of spices rare,
To feed in gardens is gone down
to gather lillies there.
3 I am my beloveds, and my beloved is mines be feedeth among the lillies.
3
My Welbeloveds I am all,
and my Belov'd Indeed
Is likewise mine: and now he doth
among the lillies feed.
CHRIST.
4 Thou art beautifull, O my love as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
4
My love as Tirza beautifull
as Salem comely so
Thou art; as one host terrible
that doth with banners go.
5 Turne away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.
5
From me thine eyes turn thou away,
for they me overcome,
Thy hair is as a flock of goats
from Gilead that do come.
6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.
6
Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep,
which go from washing throng:
Eacl… one bears twins, and there is not
one barren them among.
7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.
7
The temples also of thine head
within thy locks that ly,
As of a pomegtanate a piece
do seem right pleasantly.
8 There are threescore Queens, and fourescore Concubines, and Virgins without number.
8
Though threescore of fair queens there be,
and concubines fourscore,
And virgins als them to attend,
ev'n without number more.
9 My dove, my undefiled is but one: she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her:
9
My Dove my undefild's but one,
she of her mother …ale
Is th'onely one, and she the choise
is of her that her bare.
The daughters saw her, and blessed her▪ yea, the Queens and the Concubines and they praised her.
The daughters of the land her saw,
and blessed her likewise,
Yea ev'n the Queens and Concubines and they als did her praise.
10 Who is she that looketh foorth as the morning, fair as the moon clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
10
Who's she as morning that looks forth,
fair as the Moon, and clear
As is the sun, and armies as
that dreadfull banners bear.
11 I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.
11
I down to the Nut-garden went
the valleys fruits to see:
To see if vines were flouri…h'd, and
pomegranates budded be.
12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadab.
12
Or ever then I was aware,
my soul i… at the last
Like charets of Aminadab
made me to make great hast.
13 Return, return, O Shulamite, return, return, that we may look upon thee:
13
Return, return O Shulamite,
return, return to me:
That we with gladnesse great of heart
may so now look on thee;
What will ye see in the Shulamite? as it were the company of two armies.
What will ye in the Shulamite
with great contentment see?
Ev'n such a sight as if it were
two Armies companie.
CHAPTER VII.
HOw beautifull are thy feet with sho…es, O Princes daughter, the joynts of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cun…ing work-man.
HOw beatifull thy feet with shoes
O Princes daughter are!
Joints of thy thighs are jewels like
wrought by a work-man rare.
2 Thy navell is like a round goblet, which wanteth not licour: thy belly is like an heap of wheat, set about with lillies.
2
Thy navel's like a goblet round,
which liquor wanteth not:
Thy belly's like an heap of wheat,
with lillies set about.
3 Thy two breasts are like two young Roes, that are twins.
4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory: thine eyes like the fish pooles in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim:
3
Thy breasts are like two twin young Roes:
As ivory tower is set
4
Thy neck, thine eyes like Heshbons pools
hard by Bathrabbims gate.
Thy nose is as the towre of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus.
Thy nose it is ev'n like the towre
that is in Lebanon,
Which toward all the city of
Damascus looketh down.
5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmell, and the haire of thine head like purple, the King is held in the galleries.
5
Thy head on thee is Carmel like,
als of thine head the hair
Is Purple like, the King is held
in galleries most rare.
6 How faire, and how pleasant art thou, O Love, for delights!
7 This thy stature is like to a palme tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.
6
O love how art thou for delights
both pleasant and how fair!
…
Thy stature…'s like palme trees, thy breasts
they like grapes clusters are.
8 I said, I will go up to the palme tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof,
8
I did then say that I go up
unto the palme tree wold,
Yea of the boughs thereof I will
with all my force take hold.
Now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples.
Now also shall thy breasts all be
as clusters of the vine,
And of thy nose the pleasant smell
like apples that are fine.
9 And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep, to speak.
9
Roof of thy mouth like best wine is
that sweetly down doth go
For my Belov'd, and sleepers lips
doth cause to speak also.
The Church.
10 I am my beloveds, and his dosire is towards me.
11 Come my beloved, let us go forth into the field:
10
I my Beloveds am, and his
desire is towards me,
11
Come my Belov'd, unto the field,
let us forth going be,
Let us lodge in the villages.
12 Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vine flourish,
12
Let us lodge in the villages:
Up early get to be
At vineyards, if so that the vines
do flourish let us see:
Whether the tender grapesappear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.
Ev'n whether tender grapes appear,
and pomegranates bud forth,
There surely will I give to thee
my loves of greatest worth.
…3 The mandraks give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old which I have laid up for thee, O my …eloved.
13
The mandrakes smell, and at our gates
all pleasant fruits there be,
Both new and old, which I laid up,
O my Belov'd for thee.
CHAPTER VIII.
The believing Iews.
O That thou wert as my brother that sucked the breasts of my mother, when I should find thee without,
O That thou as my brother wert
that of my mother kind
Did suck the breasts, even at what time
I thee without should find.
I would kisse thee, yet I should not be despised.
2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mothers house, who would instruct me:
2
I would thee kisse, yet not be loth'd
Yea I would thee conduct,
And bring thee to my mothers house
who would me there instruct.
I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand should be under my head: …nd his right hand should embrace me.
3
… would thee cause drink spiced wine
of my pomegranats juice:
Under my head his left hand laid,
his right should me embrace.
4 I charge you, O daughters of Ierusalem, …hat ye stirre not up, nor awake my love untill he please.
4
O daughters of Jerusalem,
I charge you that you cease
To stir up or awake my love,
and that untill he please.
CHRIST.
5 Who is this that cometh up from the wildernesse, leaning upon her beloved?
5
Who is this from the wildernesse
that comes up by and by?
And thus on her Beloved One
doth leaning still rely?
I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee foorth, there she brought thee foorth that bare thee.
Under the aple tree I thee …
did raise up being there,
Thy mother there thee did bring sorth,
she brought forth that thee bare.
Iewish Church.
6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arme: For love is strong as death, jealousie is cruell as the grave:
6
Me as a seal upon thine heart
as seal on arme m'ingrave:
For love's as death strong, jealousie
is cruell as the grave.
The coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, neith… can the flouds drown it:
7
The coals there of are coals of fire,
which hath a vehement flame:
The waters great, love can not quench
nor floods can drown the same.
If a man would give all the substance of … house for love, It would utterly be contemned
If of his house the substance all
a man for love to buy
Would gladely give, yet would it be
contemned utterly.
8 We have a little sister, and she hath … breasts, what shall we do for our sister, in … day when she shall be spoken for?
8
We have a little sister, which
no breasts hath lesse or more,
What shall we for her do the day
she shall be spoken for?
CHRIST.
9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her palace of silver: and if she be a door, we … inclose her with boards of Cedar.
9
If …he a wall be, we'l on her
a palace build of silver;
If she a door be, we her will
inclose with boards of Cedar.
The Church.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers▪ then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.
10
I am a wall, my breasts they are
like towrs upon the ground,
Then was I in his eyes as one
that had his favour found.
CHRIST.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon, he let out the vineyard unto keepers:
11
At Baal-Hamon a vineyard
king Solomon had set;
The vineyard unto keepers he
for profite out had let.
Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
Of those his servants evry one
for the fruit of the vine
A thousand pieces was to bring
of silver that was fine.
12 My vineyard which is mine, is before me: thou (O Solomon) must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred.
12
My vineyard mine before me is,
thou must O Solomon
A thousand have; who keep its fruits
two hundred live upon,
13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, th… companions hearken to thy voice, cause me … hear it.
13
O thou that in the gardens fair
most pleasantly dost dwell,
Companions hearken to thy voice,
cause me to hear it well.
The Church.
14 Make haste, my beloved, and be thou lik… …to a Roe, or to a young Hart, upon the mountain… of spices.
14
Make hast my Welbelov'd, and be
thou like unto a Ro,
Or unto a young Hart that doth
on hills of spices go.