English

CHAP IV.

PART I.

The Bridegroom .

How fair, my love, how wondrous fair
Art thou beyond what others are!
Thy eyes that flame with spotless loves,
Are chast and bright like those of doves.
They shine beneath thy curling locks,
Which seem like goats in num'rous flocks,
That on mount Gilead's brow appear,
Climbing to find sweet pasture there.
Within thy lovely mouth there grows
A set of teeth in even rows,
Like flocks of sheep of equal size,

The Friends of the bridegroom .
Who's this that from the desart comes,
Exspiring aromatick gums,
Sweet as the altar's fumes, that rise
In pillars to propitious skies?
Such sacred odors flow from her,
Perfum'd with frankincense and myrrh;
And all rich pouders of the store
The merchant brings from th' eastern shore.
Behold great Solomon's bed of state,
Where threescore mighty champions wait:
All other champions these excel,
That head the tribes of Israel;
All vers'd in arms, know how to wield

CHAP. III.

PART 1.

'Twas dark, as on my bed I lay,
My dreams and slumbers fled away;
Waking I miss'd my soul's delight,
I miss'd him in the shades of night;
I call'd aloud, and call'd again;
I sought him, but I sought in vain.
I'll rise, said I, and search the town,
View every corner up and down;
Search every lane, and every street,
Till I my soul's delight can meet.
For him I ask'd, and ask'd again:
I sought him, but I sought in vain.

PART III.

" My dove, who in a rock dost hide,
" And in the secret cliffs reside,
" O let thy face to me appear!
" Nor let me fail thy voice to hear!
" That melting voice of thine is sweet;
" And in thy face all graces meet.
" The foxes, those young foxes take,
" Which in our vineyards ravage make:
" Strive to defeat their ill designs;
" For tender grapes adorn our vines.
My love is mine, and I am his,
His pasture 'mong the lillies is.
Until the welcome dawn of day,

PART II.

The Bride .

I hear the voice of him I love;
And now I see him swiftly move:
O'er haughty mountains how he trips!
O'er hills and rocks how fast he skips!
My love is like a roe or fawn,
That runs and leaps along the lawn:
Now by the wall he stands I see,
Now thro the window looks at me:
His face now thro the lattice shows,
His beautys all their charms disclose.
Nor stands my dearest silent there;
His voice, his charming voice I hear:

CHAP. II.

PART I .

The Bridegroom .

I am the rose of Sharon's field,
The lilly that the vallies yield;
Which paint the fields with white and red,
And far and near their odors spread.
Just as the lilly, which adorns
The vale beset around with thorns;
So bright my love appears among
The brightest of the virgin-throng.

The B RIDE .

Just as a tree with apples crown'd,
Amidst wild shrubs encompass'd round;

PART II.

O daughters of Jerusalem,
(Fair offspring of a noble stem)
Tho, I confess, my skin is brown,
My comely features you must own:
I'm black as tents of Kedar are;
As Solomon's curtains bright and fair.
O do not with censorious eyes
Survey my face, and then despise:
The sun has view'd me many days,
And scorch'd my beauty with his rays.
My mother's sons against me fir'd
With an uncomely rage, conspir'd
To make me keep and dress their Vines,
Thro winter-storms and summer-shines;

The Bride .

O Let him seal his lips on mine,
His kisses breathe a love divine:
No juice the generous Vine can bear,
May with thy sweeter love compare.
The precious ointments on thee shed,
Around their liberal odors spread,
And with their odors spread thy fame,
Sweet, as rich oils diffus'd, thy name,
Thy name the virgins hearts inspires
With sacred love and pure desires.
Draw me by thy almighty charms;
We'll run, we'll fly into thy arms.
Me, happy me! the king of kings

THE CHURCH'S WORDS .

O that thou as my brother wert,
My mother's sucking child;
I'd kiss and hug thee in my heart;
Nor be for this revil'd.

Yea, in the op'nest patent place,
Without a blush for shame,
I would with joyful arms embrace,
The babe of Bethlehem.

I'd bring thee to my mother's house,
Who would instruct me there:
The spiced wine, and 'granates' juice,

CHRIST'S WORDS .

How beauteous are thy feet with shoes,
O prince's daughter fair!
Each stately step thou walkest shows
A sparkling heav'nly air.

The joints, that strength and motion do
To thy right steps impart,
Like orient jewels burnish'd new,
Speak holy curious art.

Thy bowels warm, where kindness glows,
Thine infant brood to feed,
Seem like a bowl that overflows