Dove beside the water brooks

Dove beside the water brooks—

A delight is she to the eyes.

Lo, there is a mine for silver,

But one like my dove, who can find?
Beautiful is my love like Tirzah,

Comely as Jerusalem.

Why turneth she hither and thither
To dwell in tents,

Since in my heart is a camp for her dwelling, Great and wide?

Her bosom hath taken spoil of my heart And wrought upon me
Enchantments, which the magicians
Of Egypt could not do.

Consider the glory of a precious stone—
How it is red and how it is white;

And marvel to behold upon one stone
Seven facets.

Turn for me into honey the gall of adders:
For every man marrieth for substance,

But I give my heart to thee
A double portion.

Cheek of lilies, and mine eyes gathering;
Breasts of pomegranates, and mine hands harvesting;

If thy lips be glowing coals
Then let my jaws be tongs!

Thy two locks of hair are like an ambush For the wolves of evening;

The light of thy cheek mingleth with them
Like morning light amid the shadows.

A graceful doe, like gold of Ophir,

With her light she shameth the light of day;
Like the moon, like paved work of sapphire,
As it were the very heaven.

There is no darkness before her radiance,
Her lamp is not quenched at night;

To the light of day her light is joined,
Till it be sevenfold.

This lover hath no friend at his side:

Come thou, be a help for him.

For it is not good that man should be alone, But goodly to be twain.

The times of love draw nigh to thee,
The season cometh to make us one;
So shall draw near the time of times
To the dancing of two camps.