1   O that ^note he would kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is more pleasaunt then wine, and that because of the good and pleasaunt sauour of thy most precious baulmes.

2    ^noteThy name is a sweet smelling oyntment when it is shed foorth, therfore do the ^note maydens loue thee.

3   Drawe thou me [vnto thee] we wyll runne after thee. The kyng hath brought me into his ^note priuie chaumbers: We wylbe glad and reioyce in thee, we thinke more of thy loue then of wine: they that be righteous loue thee.

4    ^noteI am blacke (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) but yet ^note fayre and well fauoured, like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, and as the hanginges of Solomon.

5   Marueyle not at me that I am so blacke, for why? the sunne hath shined vpon me: my mothers chyldren haue euyll wyll at me, they made me the keper of the vineyardes, but mine owne vineyarde haue I not kept.

6   Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth, where thou feedest the sheepe, where thou makest them rest at the noone day: for why shall I be like hym that goeth wrong about the flockes of thy companions? B   

7   If thou knowe not thy selfe (O thou fayrest among women) then go thy way foorth after the ^note footesteppes of the sheepe, and feede thy goates besyde the shepheardes tentes.

8   Unto ^note the hoast of Pharaos charets haue I compared thee, O my loue.

9   Thy cheekes and thy necke is beautifull as the turtles, and hanged with spanges and goodly iewels, a neckband of golde wyll we make thee, with siluer buttons.

10    ^noteWhen the king sitteth at the table, he shall smell my Nardus: a bundell of myrre is my loue vnto me, he wyll lye betwixt my brestes: a cluster of Camphire in the vineyardes of Engaddi is my loue vnto me.

11    ^noteOh howe fayre art thou my loue, Oh howe fayre art thou? thou hast doues eyes. O howe fayre art thou my beloued, howe well fauoured art thou?

12   Our bed is dect with flowres, the seelinges of our house are of Cedar tree, and our crosse ioyntes of Cipresse. The .ij. Chapter. 3 The Churche desireth to rest vnder the shadowe of Christe. 8 She heareth his voyce. 14 She is compared to the doue. 15 And the enemies to the foxes. A   

1   I am the rose of the fielde, and lillie of the valleys,

2    ^noteAs the lillie among the thornes: so is my loue among the daughters.

3    ^noteLike as the apple tree among the trees of the wood: so is my beloued among the sonnes.

4   My delight is to sit vnder his shadowe, for ^note his fruite is sweete vnto my throte.

5   He bringeth me into his wine seller, his banner spread ouer me, whiche is his loue.

6   Set about me cuppes of wine, comfort me with apples, for I am sicke of loue.

7    ^noteHis left hande lyeth vnder my head, and his right hande shall imbrace me.

8    ^noteI charge you (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) by the roes and hindes of the fiede, that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touche her, tyll she be content her selfe. B   

9   Me thinke I heare the voyce of my beloued: lo, there commeth he hopping vpon the mountaines, and leaping ouer the litle hilles.

10   My beloued is lyke a roe or a young hart: beholde he standeth behinde ^note our wall, he looketh in ^note at the windowe, and peepeth thorowe the grace.

11   My beloued aunswered and sayd vnto me: O stande vp my loue, my beautifull, and go to thyne owne: ^note for lo the winter is nowe past, the rayne is away and gone.

12    ^noteThe flowres are come vp in the field, the tyme of the byrdes singing is come, and the ^note voyce of the turtle doue is hearde in our lande. C   

13   The figge tree bryngeth foorth her figges, and the vines beare blossomes and haue a good smell.

14   O stande vp then and come my loue my beautifull, [and come I say] O my doue, out of the caues of the rockes, out of the holes of the wall, O let me see thy countenaunce and heare thy voyce: for sweete is thy voyce, and fayre is thy face.

15   Get vs ^note the foxes, yea the litle foxes that hurt the vines: for our vines beare blossomes.

16   My loue is mine, ∧ I am his, whiche feedeth among the lillies vntill the day breake, and till the shadowes be gone:

17    ^noteCome agayne O my beloued, and be lyke as a roe or a young hart vpon the wyde mountaines. ¶2; The .iij. Chapter. 1 The Churche desireth to be ioyned inseparably to Christe her husbande. 6 Her deliueraunce out of the wyldernesse. A   

1   By ^note night in my bed I sought hym whom my soule loueth: yea diligently sought I him, but I found him not.

2   I will get vp [thought I] ^note ∧ go about the citie, in the wayes in all the streates wyll I seeke hym whom my soule loueth: but when I sought him I founde him not.

3   The watchmen also that go about the citie, founde me [to whom I sayde] Sawe ye not hym whom my soule loueth?

4   So when I was a litle past them, I founde him whom my soule loueth: I haue gotten holde vpon hym, and wyll not let him go, vntyll I bryng him into my mothers house, and into her chaumber that bare me.

5    ^noteI charge you O ye daughters of Hierusalem by the roes and hyndes of the fielde, that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touch her, till she be content her self.

6   Who is this that commeth vp out ^note of the wyldernesse like vapours of smoke, as it were a smell of myrre, frankensence, and all maner spices of the Apothecarie? B   

7   Beholde, about ^note Solomons bedsteede there stande threescore valiaunt, of the most mightie in Israel: They holde swordes euery one, and are expert in warre.

8    ^noteEuery man also hath his sworde vpon his thigh, because of feare in the night.

9   Kyng Solomon had made him selfe a pallace of the wood of Libanus, the pillers are of siluer, ^note the couering of golde, the seate of purple, the grounde is pleasauntly paued with loue for the daughters of Hierusalem.

10   Go foorth ^note (O ye daughters of Sion) and beholde king Solomon in the crowne wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his mariage, and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart.

¶2; The .iiij. Chapter. 1 The prayses of the Churche. 7 She is without blemishe in his sight. 9 The loue of Christe towardes her. A   

1   O howe ^note fayre art thou my loue, howe fayre art thou? thou hast ^note doues eyes, beside that which lyeth hid within: ^note Thy heerie lockes are lyke the wooll of a flocke of goates that be shorne vpon mount Gilead.

2    ^noteThy teeth are like a flocke [of sheepe] of the same bignesse whiche went vp from the washing place, where euery one beareth two twinnes, and not one vnfruitfull among them.

3   Thy lippes are lyke a rose coloured ribande, thy wordes are louely, thy cheekes are like a peece of a pomegranate within thyne heeres.

4    ^noteThy necke is like the towre of Dauid buylded with costly stones, lying out on the sides wherevpon there hange a thousande shieldes: yea all the weapons of the giauntes.

5    ^noteThy two breastes are lyke two twinnes of young Roes, whiche feede among roses.

6   O that I might go to the mountaine of myrre, and to the hil of frankencense, til the day breake, and til the shadowes be past away.

7   Thou art all fayre (O my loue) and no spot is there in thee.

8   Come to me from Libanus (O my spouse) come to me from Libanus: looke from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the lions dennes, and from the mountaines of the leopardes. B   

9   Thou hast [with loue] bewitched my heart O my sister my spouse, thou hast bewitched my heart with one of thyne eyes, and with one chayne of thy necke.

10   O howe fayre are thy breastes, my sister, my spouse? Thy breastes are more pleasaunt then wine, and the smell of thyne oyntmentes passeth all spices.

11    ^noteThy lippes, O my spouse, drop as the hony combe, yea mylke and hony is vnder thy tongue, and the smell of thy garmentes is like the smell of Libanus.

12    ^noteA garden well locked is my sister, my spouse: a garden well locked, and a sealed well.

13   The fruites that are planted in thee, are lyke a very paradise of pomegranates with sweete fruites, as Camphire, Nardus, ∧ Saffron, Calamus, Sinamom, with all sweete smellyng trees, Myrre, Aloes, and all the best spyces, a well of gardens, a well of liuing waters which runne downe from Libanus.

14    ^noteUp thou north winde, come thou south winde and blowe vpon my garden, that the smell therof may be caryed on euery side: yea that my beloued may come into his garden, and eate of the sweete fruites [that growe therein.] The .v. Chapter. 1 Christe calleth his Churche to the participation of all his treasures. 2 She heareth his voyce. 6 She confesseth her nakednes. 10 She prayseth Christe her husbande. A   

1   I am ^note come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I haue gathered my Myrre with my spice: I haue eat&ebar; hony with my hony combe, I haue drunke my wine with my milke: Eate O ye frendes, drinke and be merie O ye beloued.

2   I am a sleepe, but my heart is waking: I heare the voyce of my beloued when he knocketh, saying, Open to me O my sister, my loue, my doue, my dearling: for my head is full of deawe, and the lockes of my heere are full of the nyght doppes.

3   I haue put of my coate, howe can I do it on agayne? I haue washed my feete, howe shall I fyle them agayne?

4   My loue put in his hande at the hole, and my heart was moued within me.

5   I stoode vp to open vnto my beloued, and my handes dropped with Myrre, ∧ the Myrre ranne downe my fingers vpon the locke.

6   I opened vnto my beloued, but he was departed and gone his way: Now wh&ebar; he spake, my heart was gone: ^note I sought him, but I coulde not finde him: I cryed vpon hym, neuerthelesse he gaue me no aunswere. B   

7   So the watchmen that went about the citie, founde me, smote me, and wounded me: yea they that kept the walles toke away my kerchaffe from me.

8   I charge you therfore O ye daughters of Hierusalem, yf ye fynde my beloued, that ye tell hym howe that I am sicke for loue.

9   What maner of man is thy loue aboue other louers, O thou fairest among women? Or what can thy loue do more then other louers, that thou chargest vs so straytly?

10    ^noteAs for my loue, he is whyte and red coloured, a goodly person among tenne thousande.

11   His head is as the most fine golde, the lockes of his heere are busshed, ∧ blacke as a crowe.

12   His eyes are as the eyes of doues by the water brookes as though they were wasshed with mylke, ^note and are set lyke pearles in golde.

13   His cheekes are lyke a garden bed, wherin the Apothecaries plant all maner of sweete thynges. C   

14   His lippes are lyke lilies that droppe sweete smellyng Myrre: His handes are lyke golde rynges, hauyng inclosed the precious stone of Tharsis.

15   His body is as the pure iuorie, dect ouer with Saphires: His legges are as the pillers of Marble set vpon sockettes of golde.

16   His face is as Libanus: and as the beautie of the Cedar trees.

17   The wordes of his mouth are sweete: yea he is altogether louely: Such a one is my loue O ye daughters of Hierusalem, such a one is my loue. The .vi. Chapter. 2 The Church assureth her selfe of the loue of Christe. 3 The prayses of the Church. 8 She is but one and vndefiled. A   

1   Whyther is thy loue gone then O thou fairest among women? whyther is thy loue departed, and we wyll seke hym with thee?

2    ^noteMy loue is gone downe into his garden vnto the sweete smellyng beddes, that he may refreshe hym selfe in the garden, ∧ gather lilies.

3   My loue is myne, and I am his, which feedeth among the lilies.

4   Thou are beautifull O my loue as is [the place] Thirza, thou art faire as Hierusalem, fearefull as an armie of men with their banners.

5   Turne away thine eyes from me, for they ^note haue set me on fire: Thy heery lockes are lyke a flocke of goates shorne vpon the mount of Gilead.

6   Thy teeth are lyke a flocke of shorne sheepe which go out of the wasshyng place, where euery one beareth twinnes, and not one vnfruitfull among them.

7   Thy cheekes are like a peece of a pomegranate within thy lockes of heere. B    ^note

8   There are threescore queenes, fourescore wiues, and damselles without number.

9    ^noteOne is my doue, one is my dearlyng: She is the only beloued of her mother, and deare vnto her that bare her: When the daughters sawe her, they sayde she was blessed, yea the queenes ∧ wiues praysed her.

10   What is she this that loketh foorth as the mornyng, faire as the moone, cleare as the sunne, and fearfull as an armie of men with their banners?

11    ^noteI went downe into the nut garden to see what grewe by the brookes, and to loke yf the vineyarde florished, or yf the pomegranates were not foorth.

12   I knewe not that my soule had made me the charyot of the people that be vnder tribute.

13   Turne agayne turne agayne O thou perfect one, turne agayne turne agayne and we wyll loke vpon thee: What will ye see in the ^note Sulamite? She is lyke men of warre singing in a companie.

The .vij. Chapter. 1 The beautie of the Churche in all her members. 10 She is assured of Christes loue towardes her. A   

1   O howe pleasaunt are thy treadynges with thy shoes, thou princes daughter? the ioyntes of thy thighes are like a faire iewell, which is wrought by a cunnyng workemaister.

2   Thy ^note nauell is lyke a rounde goblet, which is neuer without drynke.

3   Thy ^note wombe is like a heape of wheate that is set about with lilies.

4    ^noteThy two breastes are lyke two twinnes of young roes.

5    ^noteThy necke is as it were a towre of iuorie: thine ^note eyes also are lyke the water pooles that are in Hesebon, beside the port of Bathrabbim, thy ^note nose is lyke the towre of Libanus, which loketh towarde Damascus.

6    ^noteThat head that standeth vpon thee is lyke Carmel: and the heere of thy head is like purple, and like a kyng dwellyng among many water conduites.

7   O Howe faire and louely art thou my dearlyng in pleasures?

8   Thy stature is lyke a ^note paulme tree, and thy breastes lyke the grapes.

9   I sayde, I wyll climbe vp into the paulme tree, and take holde of his hye braunches.

10    ^noteThy breastes also shalbe as the wine clusters, the smell of thy nosethrilles like as the smell of apples.

11   And thy rooffe of thy mouth lyke the best wine, which is meete for my best beloued, pleasaunt for his lippes, and for his teeth to chawe.

12   I am my beloueds, and he shall turne hym vnto me. C   

13   O come on my loue, we wyll go foorth into the fielde, and take our lodgyng in the villages.

14    ^noteIn the mornyng wyll we go see the vineyarde, we wyll see yf the vine be sprong foorth, yf the grapes be growen, and yf the pomegranates be shot out.

15    ^noteThere will I geue thee my brestes: the Mandragoras geue their sweete smell, and besyde our doores are all maner of pleasaunt fruites both newe and olde, which I haue kept for thee O my beloued. The .viij. Chapter. 2 The Church wyll be taught by Christe. 3 She is vpholden by hym. 6 The vehement loue wherwith Christe loueth her. 11 She is the vine that bryngeth foorth fruite to the spirituall Solomon, which is Iesus Christe. A   

1   O that ^note I might finde thee without and kisse thee, whom I loue as my brother whiche suckt my mothers brestes, and that thou shalt not be dispised,

2   I wyll leade thee and bryng thee into my mothers house, that thou myghtest teache me, and that I myght geue thee drynke of the spiced wine, and of the sweete sappe of my pomegranates.

3    ^noteHis ^note left hande shalbe vnder my head, and his ryght hande shall imbrace me.

4   I charge you O ye daughters of Hierusalem that ye wake not vp my loue, nor touche her, tyll she be content her selfe.

5   (What is she this that cometh vp from the wildernesse, and leaneth vpon her loue?) I wake thee vp among the apple trees where thy mother conceaued thee, where thy mother [I say] brought thee into the worlde.

6    ^noteO set me as a seale vpon thine heart, and as a seale vpon thine arme: for loue is myghtie as the death, and gelousie as the hell.

7   Her coales are coales of fire, and a very vehement flambe [of the Lorde]: so that many waters are not able to quenche loue, neither may the streames drowne it: Yea yf a man woulde geue all the good of his house for loue, he shoulde count it nothyng.

8    ^noteOur sister is but young and hath no brestes: what shall we do for our sister when she shalbe spoken for?

9    ^noteIf she be a wall, we shall builde a siluer bulwarke thervpon: yf she be a doore, we shall fasten her with boordes of Cedar tree.

10   I am a wall, and my brestes lyke towres, then was I as one that hath founde fauour in his syght.

11   Solomon hath a vineyarde at BaalHamon: and this vineyarde deliuered he vnto the kepers, that euery one for the fruite therof shoulde geue hym a thousande peeces of siluer.

12   My vineyarde which is myne, is in my syght: thou (O Solomon) must haue a ^note thousande, and the kepers two hundred, which kepe the fruite.

13   Thou that dwellest in the gardens, ^note O let me heare thy voyce, that my companions may hearken to the same.

14    ^noteO get thee away my loue, and be as a roe or a young hart vpon the sweete smellyng mountaynes. The ende of the ballet of ballettes of Solomon, called in latine Canticum Canticorum.

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