A   O that thy mouth wolde geue me a kysse, for þi; brestes are more pleasaunt then wyne, ∧ that because of the good and pleasaunt sauoure. ^noteThy name is a swete smellynge oyntment, therfore do the maydens loue the: yee that same moueth me also to renne after the.

The kynge hath brought me into his preuy chambre. We wil be glad ∧ reioyce in the, we thynke more of thy brestes then of wyne: well is them that loue the.

B    ^noteI am black (o ye doughters of Ierusal&ebar;) like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, and as the hanginges of Salomon: but yet am I faire ∧ welfauoured withal. Maruell not at me þt; I am so black, ∧ why? þe; Sonne hath shyned vp&obar; me. For whan my mothers childr&ebar; had euell wil at me, they made me þe; keper of the vynyarde. Thus was I fayne to kepe a vynyarde, which was not myne owne.

Tell me (o thou whom my soule loueth) where thou fedest, where thou restest at the noone daye: lest I go wronge, and come vnto the flockes of thy companyons,

Yf thou knowe not þi; self (o thou fayrest am&obar;ge women) th&abar; go þi; waye forth after þe; fotesteppes of the shepe, as though thou woldest fede þi; goates besyde þe; shepherdes tentes. There wil I tary for the (my loue) &wt; myne hoost ∧ with my charettes, which shalbe no fewer then Pharaos. ^note

C   Then shal thy chekes ∧ thy neck be made fayre, ∧ hanged &wt; sp&abar;ges ∧ goodly iewels: a neck bande of golde wil we make þe; &wt; syluer bottons. When the kynge sytteth at the table, he shal smell my Nardus: for a b&obar;dell of Myrre (o my beloued) lyeth betwixte my brestes. A cluster of grapes of Cypers, or of the vynyardes of Engaddi, art thou vnto me, O my beloued.

^noteO how fayre art thou (my loue) how fayre art thou? thou hast doues eyes. O how fayre art thou (my beloued) how well fauored art thou? Oure bed is decte with floures, þe; sylinges of oure house are of Cedre tre, ∧ oure balkes of Cypresse.

Next section