The Song of Songs, Chapter III: The Version

The Church.
HIM whom my Soul doth love, I sought
By Night upon my Bed,
I sought him, but I found him not,
My Souls Delight was fled.

And slug I here? I'll now arise
And go about the Town;
I'll search the Streets and broader ways,
Until I find my own:
Up did I get, and out I went,
My Dearest to regain;
But when I had my Labour spent,
Alas! it was in vain.

The City-watch did light on me,
Of whom I did enquire,
In any Street, pray, Did ye see,
The Man, whom I admire?

'Twas but a little while that I
Had from the Watch-men pass'd,
But I did find my only Joy,
And then I held him fast;
I held, and would not let him go,
Till I had brought him home,
Into my Mothers House, and so
Into my Native Room.

O Salems Daughters, you I charge
Both by the Roe and Hind;
Ye do not move, nor 'wake my Love,
Until it be his Mind.

The Daughters of Jerusalem.
What smoaky Pillar strait from hence
Out of that Desart Rises;
Perfum'd with Myrrh and Frankincense,
And all the Merchants Spices?

The Church.
Such Ornaments his Bed do grace,
As Solomons Bed commend;
Where threescore Men of Israels Race,
His valiant Guards attend.

They all hold Swords couragiously,
They all know how to Fight;
Each hath his Sword upon his Thigh,
Because of Fear i'th' Night.
The Chariot of King Solomon,
Which for himself he made,
Was of the Wood of Lebanon,
Which Silver Pillars had.

Gold was the bottom, and above
Rich Purple cover'd it;
The midst whereof was pav'd with Love,
For Salems Daughters Fit.

Look, Virgins, on King Solomon,
His Crown so Rich, so Gay,
Wherewith his Mother Crown him on
His Joyful Marriage-day.