their Vines Through Winter Storms and Summer-shines While that lov'd Vineyard of my own With Weeds and Thorns is all o'regrown Verse 7 Dear Object of my Soul's Desire O tell me whither dost retire With thy lov'd Flock thy joy and care Where dost thou feed ' em tell me where Where giv'st 'em soft repose at noon For why should I as some have done To other Pastures turn aside Where thy Companions Flocks abide The Bridegroom Verse 8 Fair one who hast more Charms ingrost Than all thy Sex beside can boast I 'll be thy Guide if thou wouldst know How to my Fields and Folds to go The Footsteps of my Flock you see Follow them as they follow me Beside those Shepherds Tents repair There feed thy Kids and fold 'em there PART III. Verse 9 Thy Steps and Port so graceful are Thee O my Love I may compare To a fair set of goodly Steeds Of that fam'd race which Egypt breeds To Pharaoh's pompous Chariot ty'd When he in solemn State does ride Verse 10 Thy Cheeks with rows of Jewels shine Jewels become such Cheeks as thine And Chains of Gold fit to be worn On Royal Necks do thine adorn Verse 11 We 'll golden Borders for thy sake Powder'd with Studs of Silver make The Bride Verse 12 While the glad King at Table sits Among his welcome Favourites My Spikenard shall the Board perfume And breathe its Sweets all round the Room Verse 13 A heap of Myrrh for Fragrancy Is my beloved Lord to me Him in my Arms I will embrace My Bosom make his resting place Verse 14 My dearest Love appears to me A cluster from the Camphire-Tree Whose odorous Gum in drops distill'd Engedi's fertile Vineyards yield The Bridegroom Verse 15 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 The Bride Verse 16 How fair art Thou my only Dear How Aimable dost Thou appear Come let us here securely rest Our Bed with pleasant Greens is drest Verse 17 And all we have delightful seems Our House is built with Cedar Beams The Galleries contriv'd to be For spacious Walks with Brutine-tree CHAP. II. PART I. The Bridegroom Verse 1 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 Verse 2 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 Bride Verse 3 Just as a Tree with Apples crown'd Amidst wild Shrubs encompass'd round So fair my Dear appears among The fairest of the Youthful Throng To his cool Shade I did retire There sat me down with great desire To pluck his Fruit which gave delight Both to my Taste and to my Sight Verse 4 He led me to the joyful place Which splendid Banquets us'd to grace To entertain me there he spread Love's conquering Banner o're my head Verse 5 O chear this fainting heart of mine With Goblets crown'd with generous Wine Treat me with Apples these will prove A Cordial now I 'm sick of Love Verse 6 May his Left Hand my Head uphold May his Right Arm me round enfold The Bridegroom Verse 7 O Daughters of Jerusalem Fair Offspring of a Noble Stem Since here my Love now rests secure I with a solemn Charge adjure You by the nimble Roes and Fawns That run and skip along the Lawns Permit her soft repose to take And no indecent Clamor make Nor jog her as she slumbering lies Till she her self is pleas'd to rise PART II. The Bride Verse 8 I hear the Voice of him I love And now I see him swiftly move O're haughty Mountains how he trips O're Hills and Rocks how fast he skips Verse 9 My Love is like a Roe or Fawn That runs and leaps along the Lawn Now by the Wall he stands I see Now through the Window looks at me His Face now through the Lattice shows His Beauties all their Charms disclose Verse 10 Nor stands my dearest silent there His Voice his charming Voice I hear Rise rise my Love make no delay Rise my Fair one and come away Verse 11 For see the frozen Winter 's gone The Rains abate the Spring comes on Verse 12 On the Earths bosom Flowers arise To please the Scent and please the Eyes The Birds begin to chirp and sing To welcome the returning Spring The Turtle in our Plains we hear Proclaiming the reviving year Verse 13 The Fig-tree her green Fruit discloses And to the warmer Air exposes The fruitful Vine begins to bloom Her tender Buds the Air perfume Rise rise my Love make no delay Rise my fair one and come away PART III. Verse 14 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 Verse 15 The Foxes those young Foxes take Which in our Vineyards ravage make Strive to defeat their ill designs For tender Grapes adorn our Vines Verse 16 My Love is mine and I am his His Pasture 'mong the Lillies is Verse 17 Until the welcome dawn of Day When gloomy Shadows fly away Turn my Beloved turn again Nor let me call and beg in vain Be like a Roe or nimble Fawn That runs and skips along the Lawn Such as the Hills of Bether breed Such as the Hills of Bether feed CHAP III. PART I. Verse 1 'T WAS 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 Verse 2 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 I found not him but I was found By them that walk the City round The Watch that guard the Walls by night Saw ye said I my Soul's delight Verse 4 From these not many steps I past And found my Soul's Delight at last Fast in my Arms my Dear I caught And to my Mother's Lodgings brought Into the joyful Chamber where I drew at first my vital Air. The Bridegroom Verse 5 O Daughters of Jerusalem Fair Offspring of a Noble Stem Since here my Love now rests secure I with a solemn Charge adjure You by the nimble Roes and Fawns That run and skip along the Lawns Permit her soft repose to take And no indecent clamor make Nor jog her as she slumbering lies Till she her self is pleas'd to rise PART II. The Friends of the Bridegroom Verse 6 Who 's this that from the Desert comes Expiring Aromatick Gums Sweet as the Altar's Fumes that rise In Pillars to
mind of the Holy Spirit that we may improve both in Grace and Knowledg And the Providence of God has furnished various helps to this end and some in our own Language The Learned and Judicious Mr. Ainsworth's Annotations on this Book very well deserve to be perused by such as aspire after the knowledg of those excellent things of which it treats What is represented to pass between Christ and the Church in general in this Song is in a great measure applicable to the Transactions between him and every particular Christian Here we may discern the pious Soul convinc'd of Christ's Loveliness and Worth inflam'd with Love towards him and earnestly desiring and seeking intimate Communion with him tho she meets with many difficulties in her way We afterwards find her transported with joy upon the reception of many signal favours from him and very ample demonstrations of his Love which are attended with the most grateful expressions of Love on her part After this through her negligence and the power of Temptation she grows cool and languid in her Affection to him upon which he as it were retires and hides himself from her he withdraws the manifestation of his Kindness the want of which alarms and awakens her from her slothful Frame and seems to fill her with almost as much Sorrow as his Smiles gave her Pleasure her joyful Raptures are now turned into Sighs and Complaints However she resolves to seek her absent Lord till she finds him her Zeal revives she makes great protestations of the Sincerity of her Love and resolutions of her future Constancy she diligently enquires after him and at length after having past through many Dangers and Difficulties she meets with him Their renewed Communion then furnishes 'em both with the sublimest and most endearing Expressions of Joy and Love and they take the greatest complacency in each other's Society by turns describing one another's Beauty till at last she seems impatient of longer delays and to desire a yet fuller and more perfect enjoyment of her Beloved Lord by a Translation from the Kingdom of Grace into that of Glory This seems to be the general Plot and Design of this Divine Poem And those gracious Souls who are truly converted to God and have experienced the renewing Influences of the Divine Spirit to maintain their spiritual Life who have a spiritual relish or to use our Saviour's Phrase savour the things that be of God tho themselves are accounted the foolish things of this World will easily find much intelligible and instructive matter in this Holy Song while the wise men of the World are pos'd with Mystery and stumble at it Not but that the wisest and most learned Christian may find some difficulties in it as well as in many other parts of the Scripture capable to exercise his pious Industry To conclude 2 Tim. 3.16 17. If the whole Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all Good Works Then this part of it is useful to these purposes And we shall do well to attend to the Apostle's Exhortation who says Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. And if this small performance shall by the Divine Blessing any way contribute to the strength of those pious Affections which devout Souls bear to the Blessed Jesus it will be the satisfaction and joy of him who esteems it the highest Honour in the World to be a Servant and Friend to the Heavenly Bridegroom and heartily wishes Grace may be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Eph. 6.24 Amen J. S. To Mr. Joseph Stennett on his Excellent Version of the Book of Canticles LET untun'd Souls Poetic Flights despise Who to the Heights of Verse could never rise Insensible to all the Charms of Wit And lofty Sense in flowing Numbers writ Whilst I unskill'd to imitate admire The Hebrew Song of Songs tun'd to an English Lyre Sublime the Theme This Sacred Poem treats Of Love Divine with all its charming Sweets Under a King's and Shepherd's Name conceal'd The Love of Christ is to his Church reveal'd He tho the Soveraign Lord God over all Blessed for ever condescends to call His Church collected from the wretched Race Of sinful Adam when adorn'd with Grace His Royal Bride and as a Bridegroom loves With soft Endearments all her Passions moves Her mighty Joys she does in transport tell As on the Subject she could ever dwell But ah too soon forgetful of her Bliss She grows secure and then she grows remiss Till her provok'd yet constant Lord withdraws And gives her time to mourn her Fault and Loss Then Cares and Fears possess her troubl'd Soul And anxious Doubts within her Bosom roll No Ease no Quiet can the Fair One find Till his Return restores her peaceful Mind Th' inspired Poet thus in Mystic Lays The Church's Duty sings her Saviour's Praise The Prince and Preacher both in one combine And with strong Reason courtly Language join To beautify a Subject so Divine But all these Beauties were to Us obscur'd By distant Time and Place yet just secur'd Of the true Sense in rough unpolish'd Prose Till You Preacher and Poet too arose To storm the Heights of Sacred Poetry And boldly set the Smiling Captive free Tho in an English yet a charming Dress Great the Attempt and equal the Success Jos Collet CHAP. I. Verse 1 SOLOMON'S Song of Songs PART I. The Bride Verse 2 O Let him seal his Lips on mine His Kisses breath a Love Divine No Juice the generous Vine can bear May with thy sweeter Love compare Verse 3 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 Verse 4 Draw me by thy Almighty Charms We 'll run we 'll fly into thy Arms. Me happy me the King of Kings Into his Bridal Chambers brings Joy sits upon our Hearts and Tongues Joy tunes our Thoughts and tunes our Songs We 'll think upon this Love of thine More than full Bowls of sparkling Wine For every Soul that 's Good and Just Loves Thee my Dear and love Thee must PART II. Verse 5 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 I am fair Verse 6 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
propitious Skies Such sacred Odors flow from her Perfum'd with Frankincense and Myrrh And all rich Powders of the store The Merchant brings from th' Eastern shore Verse 7 Behold Great Solomon's Bed of State Where threescore mighty Champions wait All other Champions these excel That head the Tribes of Israel Verse 8 All vers'd in Arms know how to wield The warlike Sword and warlike Shield Each on his Thigh his Weapon bears To guard the Court from nightly fears Verse 9 The Chariot of King Solomon Was made of Wood from Lebanon Verse 10 The Pillars Silver finely wrought The Bottom Gold from Ophir brought With Tyrian Purple lin'd above The Middle pav'd with mystick Love For th' Daughters of Jerusalem The Offspring of a Noble Stem Verse 11 Come Sion's Daughters bright and fair Like that blest Stock that did you bear See how King Solomon appears How bright's the Diadem he wears Crown'd by his Mother's Royal Hand This smiling Day the nuptial Band Him to his lovely Bride has join'd And Tides of Joy o'reflow his Mind CHAP. IV. PART I. The Bridegroom Verse 1 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 numerous Flocks That on Mount Gilead's brow appear Climbing to find sweet Pasture there Verse 2 Within thy lovely Mouth there grows A set of Teeth in even rows Like Flocks of Sheep of equal size Just as they from the Water rise And to be shorn from washing come Bearing their snowy Fleeces home Or like the pretty Twins they bear When none of 'em abortive are Verse 3 Thy Lips that wear a lively Red Are like a Scarlet-colour'd Thred When with thy sweetest Voice they move Their Graces still more charming prove Thy Temples shaded with thy Hair And Cheeks like cut Pomegranates are As those abound with purple Veins In these a blushing Tincture reigns Verse 4 Such Majesty and Beauty shine In that illustrious Neck of thine Like David's Tower it seems to be Built for a Royal Armory Thy Necklace strung with glittering Gems Like thousand shining Bucklers seems All Shields by mighty Captains born Which that bright Tower around adorn Verse 5 Thy Breasts which equal Beauties share Are like two Fawns an equal pair The lovely Twins o' th' fruitful Roe Feeding where Snow-white Lillies grow Verse 6 Until the welcome dawn of Day When gloomy Shadows fly away To th' Mount of Myrrh I 'll get me hence And to the Hill of Frankincense PART II. Verse 7 All Beauties reign my Love in thee From every blemish thou art free Verse 8 From Leb'non come with me my Bride From Leb'non come with me thy Guide From high Amana take thy view From Shenir's top and Hermon's too From Dens where Lions do reside From Hills where savage Leopards hide Verse 9 My Sister and my lovely Bride To me by many ties ally'd My Heart is ravish'd with thy Charms My Heart is conquer'd by thy Arms. One glance of Love shot from thy Eye Has won the easy Victory One Chain wherewith thy Neck 's array'd Has me a willing Captive made Verse 10 My Sister and my lovely Bride To me by many ties ally'd How pleasant is this Love of thine How much more sweet than generous Wine How much thy precious Oils in smell The best of Spices all excel Verse 11 Thy Lips my Spouse that move with skill Drops like the Hony-comb distil Hony and Milk's beneath thy Tongue Which feeds the Weak as well as strong Thy Garments with rich Scents abound Such as in Lebanon are found PART III. Verse 12 My Sister and my lovely Bride To me by many Ties ally'd Is like a Garden round inclos'd Not as the common Field expos'd A Spring shut up a Fountain seal'd And ne'er to vulgar eyes reveal'd Verse 13 Thy Plants all set in decent rows A fruitful Paradise compose There Trees with fair Pomegranates crown'd And all delicious Fruits abound There Camphire drops and Spikenard grows Verse 14 With Spikenard fragrant Saffron blows Sweet Cane and Cinnamon are there With Aloes Frankincense and Myrrh And all choice Spices there are found Which fill the Air with Odors round Verse 15 From Thee the Gardens all derive The Streams that keep their Plants alive From Thee their Spring and sacred Well Whose living Waters all excel From Lebanon these Waters flow And bless with Fruit the Vale below Verse 16 Awake O North-wind and at last Give thou O South a warmer blast Upon my Garden kindly blow That all sweet Spices there may flow The Bride To 's Garden let my Love repair Pluck his rare Fruits and eat 'em there CHAP. V. PART I. The Bridegroom Verse 1 MY Sister and my lovely Bride To me by many Ties ally'd I 'm come into my Garden where I please my self in gathering Myrrh In gathering every Spice and Gum I eat my Hony from the Comb My Wine and Milk go sweetly down With plenty these my Table crown Come eat with me my welcome Friends Eat of the Gifts kind Heaven sends Drink as our Joys and Wines abound Drink dear Companions freely round PART II. The Bride Verse 2 I laid me down my rest to take I slept yet was my Heart awake A Voice salutes my waking Ear One knocking at the Door I hear My Love it seems was pleas'd to wait Calling and knocking at the Gate My Sister loud he cry'd my Love My Fair my chast my spotless Dove Be kind as I to you have bin Unlock the Door and let me in With trickling Dew my head is fill'd My Locks with Drops by night distill'd Verse 3 My Garments I have laid aside How shall I dress me I reply'd I 've lately wash'd my Feet and how My Dear shall I defile 'em now Verse 4 Unkindly thus I let him stand Till through the Door he thrust his Hand At last my Heart began to move With all the tender thoughts of Love Verse 5 I rose Ah that I rose so late I had no sooner touch'd the Gate My Hands with Drops of Myrrh were fill'd My Fingers sweetest Myrrh distill'd The handles of the Lock I found With dropping Myrrh perfum'd around Verse 6 I open'd to my Love the Door O that I 'ad open'd it before For now alas my Love was gone Was gone and I left all alone My Soul was ready to expire With fear with sorrow and desire When his kind Words I call'd to mind I thought how I had been unkind I sought him but I sought in vain I call'd but could no answer gain Verse 7 I found not him but I was found By Guards that walk the City round These treated me with Wounds and Blows And aggravated all my Woes The Watch that guard the Walls by night E'en took away my Veil in spight Verse 8 O Daughters of Jerusalem Fair Offspring of a Noble Stem You I most solemnly adjure Whene'er you
find my Love be sure With my Complaints his pity move And tell him I am sick of Love PART III. The Daughters of Jerusalem Verse 9 O Thou who hast more Charms ingrost Than all our Sex beside can boast What Charms in thy Beloved dwell To make him other Loves excel Describe his Beauties let us know Fair One why thou adjur'st us so The Bride Verse 10 In my Love's Cheeks pure White and Red In just degrees their mixture spread Under his Standard marshal'd are Ten thousand Youths but none so fair Verse 21 His Head with finest Gold is crown'd The Gold of Fez so much renown'd His Hair in decent Curls appears Black as the Plumes the Raven wears Verse 12 His Eyes that flame with spotless Loves Are pure and bright like those of Doves When in clear Streams their Heads they wet They 're wash'd in Milk and fitly set Verse 13 His Cheeks a Bed of Spices are Or Flowers as sweet as they are fair His Lips with balmy Myrrh do flow Within 'em snowy Lillies grow Verse 14 His Hands display their lovely White Deck'd with Gold Rings and Chrysolite His Breast of polish'd Ivory made And all with Saphires overlaid Verse 15 His Legs like Marble Pillars show In Golden Sockets fixt below His Presence bears a Noble Air As Leb'non and its Cedars Fair. Verse 16 But O how sweet his Mouth does prove He 's all made up of Charms and Love O Daughters of Jerusalem Fair Offspring of a Noble Stem This is my Dearest this is He Who loves and is belov'd of Me CHAP. VI. PART I. The Daughters of Jerusalem Verse 1 O Thou who hast more Charms ingrost Than all our Sex beside can boast Whither is thy Beloved gone O whither is thy Love withdrawn Which way he turn'd let us but know We 'll all to seek Him with thee go The Bride Verse 2 To 's Garden he 's gone to retire Where Beds of Spice their Sweets expire To 's Gardens where he feeds and where He gathers Lillies sweet and fair Verse 3 My Love is mine and I am his His Pasture 'mong the Lillies is The Bridegroom Verse 4 As Tirzah fair my Love you seem And comely as Jerusalem Among thy milder Graces now An aweful Dread reigns on thy Brow Like Armies that for War prepare And to the Field their Ensigns bear Verse 5 O turn from me those conquering Eyes Whose powerful Charms my Heart surprize Thy Hair all curl'd in curious Locks Seems like those Goats in numerous Flocks That on Mount Gilead's Brow appear Climbing to find sweet Pasture there Verse 6 Within thy lovely Mouth there grows A set of Teeth in even Rows Like Flocks of Sheep of equal size Just as they from the Water rise And to be shorn from washing come Bearing their snowy Fleeces home Or like the pretty Twins they bear When none of them abortive are Verse 7 Thy Temples shaded with thy Hair And Cheeks like cut Pomegranates are As those abound with Purple Veins In these a blushing Tincture reigns PART II. Verse 8 Not all the Train of Threescore Queens And Fourscore beauteous Concubines Innumerable Virgins too May e'er compare my Love with You. Verse 9 My only Dove my spotless One Transcends 'em all her Self alone The only One her Mother bare Her Mother's tender Joy and Care The Virgins saw her and confest None with such Beauty e'er was blest The Queens and Concubines admir'd And in her Praises all conspir'd The Daughters of Jerusalem Verse 10 Who 's this so chearful and so bright Gay as the rising Morning Light Ne'er did the Moon so fair appear Nor is the Sun more bright and clear Among her milder Graces now An awful Dread reigns oâ— her Brow Like Armies that for War prepare And to the Field their Ensigns bear PART III. The Bridegroom Verse 11 To the Nut-garden I went down To see what Fruits the Valley crown To see how well the Vines were grown How the Pomegranate-trees were blown Verse 12 Surpriz'd I know not how I find Fervent Desires transport my Mind And Raptures wing my wondring Soul That nothing can my Speed controul So Volunteers in Chariots fly Resolv'd to overcome or dy Return return O Shulamite Thy Presence will rejoice our sight Verse 13 Return return what shall we see O Fairest Shulamite in Thee In Thee bright Pomp and Terror shine As when two shouting Armies join CHAP. VII PART I. Verse 1 IN Thee O Prince's Daughter meet Numberless Charms from Head to Feet Those Feet become the Shoes they wear Become the lovely Weight they bear Two beauteous Pillars they sustain Whose Joints the finest Work contain Like precious Gems more precious still When cut and set with wondrous Skill Verse 2 Thy Navel's like a Goblet round Which does with vital Juice abound Thy Belly promises a Race Heirs to thy Honour and thy Grace 'T is like a heap of Wheat when crown'd With snowy Lillies all around Verse 3 Thy Breasts which equal Beauties share Are like two Fawns an equal pair The lovely Twins o' th' fruitful Roe Verse 4 Above these Hills of driven Snow Stands that fair Neck which seems to be A Tower of polish'd Ivory Those Eyes those sparkling Eyes of thine Like the clear Pools in Heshbon shine Just by Bath-rabbim-gate Thy Nose Methinks like some fair Turret shows Like that of Leb'non which descries The Plain where great Damascus lies Verse 5 Thy Head 's with many Graces blest Thy Head whose Beauty crowns the rest It looks like Carmel's Fields and bears A lovely Fleece of purple Hairs By these dear Chains the King is bound When in the Galleries he 's found PART II. Verse 6 Thou Lov'd and Lovely one how fair How charming all thy Features are How they inspire refin'd Delight Verse 7 Thy Stature's like the Palm upright Thy Breasts like Clusters of the Vine When ripe and full of generous Wine Verse 8 The stately Palm I 'll climb said I I 'll reach its fruitful Boughs on high Thy Breasts like Clusters of the Vine Shall now abound with generous Wine Thy Nostrils breath a fragrant Air Like Apples sweet as they are fair Verse 9 Thy Mouth the Seat of Eloquence Shews the right Gust of Truth and Sense Like sparkling Wine that briskly moves Such as my dearest Love approves Which can inspire the Dull and rouze The silent Lips of them that drouze The Bride Verse 10 I am my Love 's I am his own And his Desire 's to me alone Verse 11 Come my Beloved let 's repair To th' open Fields and take the Air Into the Country we 'll retreat And there a quiet Lodging get Verse 12 We 'll rise up with the dawning Day And through the smiling Vineyards stray See if the Vine begins to shoot And promises good store of Fruit See if her tender Grapes she shows See how the fair Pomegranate blows There will I give my Loves to thee Verse 13 The Mandrakes breath their Fragrancy Our Gates with choicest Fruits abound
Fruits new and old with us are found This Store my Love I did provide For Thee who hast my Heart beside CHAP. VIII PART I. Verse 1 O How I wish my Love that Thou Wer 't with me as my Brother now Fed by those Breasts born on that Knee Which suckled and supported me With how much Joy I should thee meet Or in the Field or in the Street There I 'd embrace thee there I 'd kiss Nor should I be despis'd for this Verse 2 How gladly would I lead Thee home Whither Thou wouldst as gladly come To my dear Mother's pleasant Seat Where Thou shouldst many Welcomes meet Thy kind Instructions all should find A listening Ear and pliant Mind Wine mix'd with Spices I 'd prepare And Thou shouldst freely drink it there The Fruit of my Pomegranate-tree Should yield its grateful Juice to Thee Verse 3 His Left Hand should my Head uphold His Right Arm should me round enfold The Bridegroom Verse 4 O Daughters of Jerusalem Fair Offspring of a Noble Stem Since here my Love now rests secure You I most solemnly adjure Permit her soft repose to take And no indecent clamor make Nor jog her as she slumbering lies Till she her self is pleas'd to rise PART II. The Daughters of Jerusalem Verse 5 Who 's this that from the Desert moves Leaning upon the Arm she loves The Bridegroom At first my Love I rais'd up Thee Under the fruitful Apple-tree There many a Pang and many a Throw Did thy Fair Mother undergo But after many Pangs and Throws Did her blest Fruit at last disclose The Bride Verse 6 O Let my Name be deep imprest Like a fair Signet on thy Breast Ingrave it on thy Arm and wear The precious Seal for ever there For there 's so great a power in Love Not Death it self so strong can prove The King of Terrors in his Pride By fiercer Jealousy's outvy'd Those Darts shine with Celestial Fire Those Darts a Love Divine inspire Verse 7 A Love whose Flame can never be Conquer'd by th' overflowing Sea The swelling Floods in vain conspire To quench so pure and bright a Fire He whose large Stores do most abound Too poor to purchase Love is found His Offers would successless prove Should he give all his Wealth for Love Love at so high a rate is priz'd His Treasures would be all despis'd PART III. The Bridegroom Verse 8 A little Sister fair and young Does to our Family belong Her Breasts appear not yet 't is true What shall we for our Sister do When she begins to get a Name When growing Beauties spread her Fame Verse 9 If by the firmness of her Mind She seems a Wall for strength design'd A Palace on that Wall we 'll found Glittering with Silver all around If like a Gate built to defend From Foes and to admit a Friend With Cedar Boards we 'll fence her well Of lasting Strength and fragrant Smell The Bride Verse 10 Such is the firmness of my Mind I am a Wall for Strength design'd My Breasts are grown and now appear Like two fair Towers built for my Dear When thus I spake his Smiles I gain'd With them his very Heart obtain'd PART IV. Verse 11 King Solomon a Field possest Baal-hamon Field with plenty blest With Vines of noblest kind 't was set This Vineyard he to Keepers let These for the Fruit agreed to bring A thousand Shekels to the King Verse 12 That fertile Vineyard I possess I always keep and fence and dress A thousand Silver Shekels are O Solomon thy Rightful share And those two hundred that remain To them that keep the Fruit pertain The Bridegroom Verse 13 O Thou who dwelst in Gardens fair And art the fairest Flower there Thy Voice our glad Companions hear Which melts the Heart and charms the Ear. Give me the same delight my Dear Thy sweetest Voice O let me hear The Bride Verse 14 Haste my Beloved haste away Nor let me vainly beg and pray Flee like a Roe or nimble Fawn That runs and skips along the Lawn Such as the spicy Mountains breed Such as the spicy Mountains feed Psalm XLV To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim for the Sons of Korah Maschil A Song of Loves PART I. Verse Verse 1 MY Heart a Noble Theme indites What I compose concerns the King My Tongue the swiftest Pen that writes Outvies while I attempt to sing Verse 2 None among all the Human Race Like Thee for Loveliness appears Thy Lips bedew'd with Heavenly Grace Ravish each wond'ring Soul that hears For God will ever from on high His constant Blessings Thee afford Verse 3 O mighty One upon thy Thigh Make haste to gird thy Conquering Sword Verse 4 Thy Majesty and Glory show Along in Prosperous Grandeur ride Let Meekness Truth and Justice go In Solemn Triumph by thy side Thy Right Hand vers'd in Warlike Arts Thee terrible Exploits shall teach Verse 5 O King thy Foes rebellious Hearts Thy keenest Darts shall surely reach The Nations under Thee shall fall Verse 6 Thy Throne O God shall stand secure And as its Power extends o'er all It shall for evermore endure The Scepter of thy Kingdom proves A Scepter of Impartial Right Verse 7 Thy Soul unspotted Justice loves And Sin is odious in thy sight For God thy God in plenteous Showers On thee the Oil of Gladness sheds More of that Holy Ointment pours On Thine than thy Companions Heads Verse 8 Myrrh Aloes Cassia rich Perfumes Thy Robes of Glory more expire When passing from the Ivory Rooms Than all thy dearest Friends Attire Verse 9 Kings Daughters there were waiting seen And in the Crowd of Virgins prest On thy Right Hand the Brighter Queen Stood all in Gold of Ophir drest PART II. Verse 10 O Royal Daughter bow thy Ear Attend with serious thoughts to me Forget thy People once so Dear Nor long thy Father's House to see Verse 11 So the King's Heart shall be thy own He shall thy Beauty still admire For he 's thy Lord thy Lord alone And does thy Worship all require Verse 20 Tyre's Stately Daughter shall attend With Costly Presents at thy Gate The richest of the People bend And for thy Favour beg and wait Verse 13 The King 's Fair Daughter 's pious Heart All Inward Glories does enfold Her outward Garments wrought with Art Are made of Threds of purest Gold Verse 14 She shall be led in Solemn State In Robes of fine Embroidery Her Virgin-Friends that on her wait Shall all be introduc'd to Thee Verse 15 As to the Palace they resort Full Joys in every Heart shall reign Till the bright Gate o' th' Royal Court Receives the welcome Nuptial Train Verse 16 Instead of Fathers soon there springs A stock of Sons that owe their Birth To Thee a Noble Race of Kings Whom Thou shalt place o'er all the Earth Verse 17 And I O King will make thy Name To all successive Times descend All Nations shall thy Acts proclaim And thy loud Praises ne'er shall end FINIS