Chapter 1 of 8

The Church of the Old Testament desireth Christ's coming in flesh, and the Christian Church prayeth for his coming in glory. 5. The Church outwardly afflicted, is inwardly fair. 8. Christ encourageth his spouse the Church. 12. She meditateth of his Passion, and Resurrection. 15. Christ praiseth his spouse, 16. she again praiseth him, with thanks for her repose, and present consolation.The Church of the old testament desireth Christs coming in flesh, and the Christian Church prayeth for his coming in glorie. 5. The Church outwardly afflicted, is inwardly fayre. 8. Christ encorageth his spouse the Church. 12. She meditateth of his Passion, and Resurrection. 15. Christ praiseth his spouse, 16. she againe praiseth him, with thankes for her repose, and present consolation.✦

Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth:LET ^a him kisse me with the kisse of his mouth:<Sponsa>Osculetur me osculo oris sui ; quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino,

2because thy breasts are better than wine,because thy brestes are better then wine,✦<Sponsa>Osculetur me osculo oris sui ; quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino,

3smelling fragrantly of the best ointments. Oil poured out is thy name: therefore have young maids loved thee.smelling fragrantly of the best ointments. Oile powred out is thy name: therfore haue yongmaydes loued thee.✦fragrantia unguentis optimis. Oleum effusum nomen tuum ; ideo adolescentulæ dilexerunt te.

4Draw me: we will run after thee in the odour of thine ointments. The king hath brought me into his cellars: we will rejoice and be glad in thee, mindful of thy breasts above wine: the righteous love thee.Draw me: we wil runne after thee in the odour of thine ointments. The king hath brought me into his cellars: we wil reioyce & be glad in thee, mindful of thy brests aboue wine: the righteous loue thee.✦<Chorus Adolescentularum>Trahe me, post te curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum. Introduxit me rex in cellaria sua ; exsultabimus et lætabimur in te, memores uberum tuorum super vinum. Recti diligunt te.

5I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tabernacles of Cedar, as the skins of Salomon.^b I am blacke but beutiful, ô ye daughters of Ierusalem, as the tabernacles of Cedar, as the skinnes of Salomon.✦<Sponsa>Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiæ Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis.

6Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun hath altered my colour: the sons of my mother have fought against me, they have made me a keeper in the vineyards: my vineyard I have not kept.Doe not consider me that I am browne, because the sunne hath altered my colour: the sonnes of my mother haue fought against me, they haue made me a keeper in the vinyards: my vinyard I haue not kept.✦Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol. Filii matris meæ pugnaverunt contra me ; posuerunt me custodem in vineis : vineam meam non custodivi.

7Show me O thou, whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of thy companions.Shew me ô thou, whom my soule loueth, where thou feedest, where thou lyest in the midday, lest I beginne to wander after the flockes of thy companyons.✦Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie, ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.

8If thou know not thyself, O most fairest among women, go forth, and follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the tabernacles of the pastors.^c If thou know not thyselfe, ô most fayrest among wemen, goeforth, and folow after the steppes of the flockes, and feede thy kiddes byside the tabernacles of the pastours.✦<Sponsus>Si ignoras te, o pulcherrima inter mulieres, egredere, et abi post vestigia gregum, et pasce hædos tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum.

9To my company of horsemen, in the chariots of Pharao, have I likened thee, O my love.To my companie of horsemen, in the chariotes of Pharao, haue I likened thee, ô my loue.✦Equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis assimilavi te, amica mea.

10Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledoves, thy neck as jewels.Thy cheekes are beautiful as the turteldoues, thy necke as iewels.✦Pulchræ sunt genæ tuæ sicut turturis ; collum tuum sicut monilia.

11We will make thee chains of gold, enamelled with silver.We wil make thee cheynes of gold, enamoled with siluer.✦Murenulas aureas faciemus tibi, vermiculatas argento.

12Whiles the king was at his reposeaccubitu: rest or sleep; reclining at his banquet couch, my spikenard gave the odour thereof.^d Whiles the king was at his repose, my spikenard gaue the odour thereof.✦<Sponsa>Dum esset rex in accubitu suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum.

13A bundle of myrrh my beloved is to me, he shall abide between my breasts.A bundle of myrrhe my beloued is to me, he shal abide betwen my brestes.✦Fasciculus myrrhæ dilectus meus mihi ; inter ubera mea commorabitur.

14A cluster of cyprecypri: the cypress tree; camphire, the henna shrub my love is to me, in the vineyards of Engaddi.A clustre of cypre my loue is to me, in the vineyardes of Engaddi.✦Botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi.

15Behold thou art fair, O my love, behold thou art fair, thine eyes are as of doves.^e Behold thou art fayre, ô my loue, behold thou art fayre, thyne eyes are as of doues.✦<Sponsus>Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea ! ecce tu pulchra es ! Oculi tui columbarum.

16Behold thou art fair my beloved, and comely: our little bed is flourishing.^f Behold thou art fayre my beloued, & comlie: ^g our litle bed is florishing.✦<Sponsa>Ecce tu pulcher es, dilecte mi, et decorus ! Lectulus noster floridus.

17The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress trees.The beames of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypresse trees.Tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina, laquearia nostra cypressina.