The Synagogue prosecuteth her prayer, desiring Christ's Incarnation. 3. Christ admonisheth worldly men not to molest those that serve him in contemplation, & other spiritual virtues. 5. Angels and other Saints of the triumphant Church admire the beauty of the Gentiles converted; which is also understood of every holy soul ascending from this world into heaven, And more singularly of the most glorious virgin mother of God. The Synagogue of the Jews was corrupt under the tree of Christ's Cross, when they cried: Crucify him, Crucify him. And again: His blood be upon us, and upon our children. Again: We have no King but Cæsar. &c. 8. Christ again sheweth his affection towards his Church of the Gentiles: calling her his own sister, and the Synagogue's sister, promising and bestowing on her many excellent benefits. 10. The Church of Gentiles rejoiceth in the strong defence, wherewith her Saviour hath established her. 11. Keepers of this vineyard, were the Prophets and Apostles, and their Successors are still the keepers thereof. 12. Christ sheweth that together with the pastors, himself especially hath care of his Church, always assisting the visible governors thereof with his invisible grace. 14. The whole Church militant well contented, yea desiring Christ's Ascension into heaven, prayeth him from thence to send abundance of his grace, that we may ascend the high mountains of perfect charity, and zeal of God's honour, & so he will vouchsafe to dwell therein. Amen.The Synagogue prosecuteth her prayer, desiring Christs Incarnation. 3. Christ admonisheth wordlie men not to molest those that serue him in contemplation, & other spiritual vertues. 5. Angels and other Sainctes of the triumphant Church admire the beautie of the Gentiles conuerted; which is also vnderstood of euerie holie soule ascending from this world into heauen, And more singularly of the most glorious virgin mother of God. The Synagogue of the Iewes was corrupt vnder the tree of Christs Crosse, when they cried: Crucifie him, Crucifie him. And againe: His bloud be vpon vs, and vpon our children. Againe: We haue no King but Cæsar. &c. 8. Christ againe sheweth his affection towards his Church of the Gentiles: calling her his owne sister, and the Synagogs sister, promising and bestowing on her manie excellent benefites. 10. The Church of Gentiles reioyceth in the strong defence, wherwith her Sauiour hath established her. 11. Keepers of this vinyard, were the Prophetes and Apostles, and their Successors are stil the kepers therof. 12. Christ sheweth that together with the pastors, himself especially hath care of his Church, alwayes assisting the visible gouerners therof with his inuisible grace. 14. The whole Church militant wel contented, yea desiring Christs Ascension into heauen, prayeth him from thence to send abundance of his grace, that we may ascend the high mountaines of perfect charitie, and zele of Gods honour, & so he wil voutsafe to dwel therin. Amen.✦
Who shall give to me thee my brother, sucking the breasts of my mother, that I may find thee without, and kiss thee, and now no man despise me?WHo a shal giue to me thee my brother, sucking the breasts of my mother, that I may finde thee without, and kisse thee, and now no man despise me?Quis mihi det te fratrem meum, sugentem ubera matris meæ, ut inveniam te foris, et deosculer te, et jam me nemo despiciat ?
2I will take hold of thee, and will bring thee into my mother's house: there thou shalt teach me, and I will give thee a cup of spiced wine, and new wine of my pomegranates.I wil take hold of thee, and wil bring thee into my mothers house: there thou shalt teach me, and I wil giue thee a cuppe of spiced wine, and new wine of my pomegranats.Apprehendam te, et ducam in domum matris meæ : ibi me docebis, et dabo tibi poculum ex vino condito, et mustum malorum granatorum meorum.
3His left hand under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.His left hand vnder my head, and his right hand shal embrace me.Læva ejus sub capite meo, et dextera illius amplexabitur me.
4I adjure you O daughters of Jerusalem, that you raise not up, nor make the beloved to awake till herself will.b I adiure you ô daughters of Ierusalem, that you rayse not vp, nor make the beloued to awake til herselfe wil.<Sponsus>Adjuro vos, filiæ Jerusalem, ne suscitetis, neque evigilare faciatis dilectam, donec ipsa velit.
5Who is this, that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I raised thee up: there thy mother was corrupted, there she was deflowered that bare thee.c Who is this, that cometh vp from the desert, flowing with delightes, leaning vpon her beloued? Vnder the appletree I raysed thee vp: d there thy mother was corrupted, there she was defloured that bare thee.<Chorus>Quæ est ista quæ ascendit de deserto, deliciis affluens, innixa super dilectum suum ? <Sponsus>Sub arbore malo suscitavi te ; ibi corrupta est mater tua, ibi violata est genitrix tua.
6Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm: because love is strong as death: æmulatio: envious suspicion; jealous zeal, ardent protective love is hard as infernus: the netherworld, the abode of the dead, the lamps thereof lamps of fire and flames.Put me as a seale vpon thy hart, as a seale vpon thyne arme: because loue is strong as death: ielousie is hard as hel, the lampes therof lampes of fyre and flames.<Sponsa>Pone me ut signaculum super cor tuum, ut signaculum super brachium tuum, quia fortis est ut mors dilectio, dura sicut infernus æmulatio : lampades ejus lampades ignis atque flammarum.
7Many waters can not quench charity, neither shall floods overwhelm it: if a man shall give all the substance of his house for love, as nothing he shall despise it.Manie waters can not quench charitie, neither shal floudes ouerwhelme it: if a man shal giue al the substance of his house for loue, as nothing he shal despise it.Aquæ multæ non potuerunt extinguere caritatem, nec flumina obruent illam. Si dederit homo omnem substantiam domus suæ pro dilectione, quasi nihil despiciet eam.
8Our sister is little, and hath no breasts. What shall we do to our sister in the day when she is to be spoken unto?e Our sister is litle, and hath no breasts. What shal we doe to our sister in the day when she is to be spoken vnto?<Chorus Fratrum>Soror nostra parva, et ubera non habet ; quid faciemus sorori nostræ in die quando alloquenda est ?
9If she be a wall, let us build upon it bulwarks of silver: if she be a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar.If she be a wal, let vs build vpon it bulwarkes of siluer: if she be a doore, let vs ioyne it together with bordes of ceder.Si murus est, ædificemus super eum propugnacula argentea ; si ostium est, compingamus illud tabulis cedrinis.
10I am a wall: and my breasts are as a tower, since I was made before him as one finding peace.f I am a wal: and my breasts are as a towre, since I was made before him as one finding peace.<Sponsa>Ego murus, et ubera mea sicut turris, ex quo facta sum coram eo, quasi pacem reperiens.
11The pacifico: the Peaceable One, i.e. Solomon, whose name means peaceful had a vineyard, in that which hath peoples: he delivered the same to keepers, a man bringeth for the fruit thereof a thousand pieces of silver.The peacemaker had a vinyard, in that which hath peoples: he deliuered the same g to keepers, a man bringeth for the fruite thereof a thousand peeces of siluer.<Chorus Fratrum>Vinea fuit pacifico in ea quæ habet populos : tradidit eam custodibus ; vir affert pro fructu ejus mille argenteos.
12My vineyard is before me. A thousand are thy peacemakers, and two hundred for them, that keep the fruits thereof.h My vineyard is before me. A thousand are thy peacemakers, and two hundreth for them, that keepe the fruites thereof.<Sponsa>Vinea mea coram me est. Mille tui pacifici, et ducenti his qui custodiunt fructus ejus.
13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the friends do hearken: make me hear thy voice.Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the frends doe harken: make me heare thy voice.<Sponsus>Quæ habitas in hortis, amici auscultant ; fac me audire vocem tuam.
14Flee, O my beloved, and be like to the roe, and to the fawn of harts upon the mountains of aromatical spices.i Flee, ô my beloued, and be like to the roe, and to the fawne of harts vpon the mountaines of aromatical spices.<Sponsa>Fuge, dilecte mi, et assimilare capreæ, hinnuloque cervorum super montes aromatum.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.