The Song of Songs, Chapter VI: The Version

The Daughters of Jerusalem.
FAirest of Fairs, if thus it be,
O whither is he gone?
Tell us, that we may seek with thee
This thy Beloved One.

The Church.
Down to his Garden he is gone,
Where Beds of Spices are,
That he may Feed and Feast thereon,
And Gather Lillies there.

I am my Welbeloved ones,
My Welbeloved's mine;
He Feeds and Treads in pleasant Meads,
Where the bright Lillies shine.

Christ.
My Love, like Tirzah, thou art Neat,
And like Jerusalem,
And like an Army so Compleat,
Men fly for Fear of them.

O turn away thine Eyes from me,
Thy bright and sparkling Eyes,
To bear so great Felicity,
My strength doth not suffice;
Thy Hairy Locks are like Goats Flocks
Which from Mount Gilead look.

So are thy Teeth like Well shorn sheep,
Come from the Washing-brook,
They Pregnant are as well as Fair,
For Fruit as well as View;
For each of them her Twins doth bear,
There's not one barren Ewe.

As broke Pomegranate seemeth Red,
And shines exceeding clear,
So do the temples of thy Head,
Within thy Locks appear.

Thrice twenty Queens together stand,
And fourscore Concubines;
And Virgins like the num'rous sand,
Which to the Sea adjoyns.

My spotless Dove, she is but one,
The Darling of her Mother,
Who loves and prizes her alone,
She knows not such another:
The Daughters saw her comely Lines,
And prais'd her Lovely Face;
Yea, all the Queens and Concubines
Admir'd her Beauteous Grace.

What Morn looks forth? what Moon is there?
What Sun may yonder be?
Fierce Troups with Flags display'd appear,
O what a One is She!

To the Nut-Garden down I went
To see the Fruits below;
Whether the Vines their Grapes did vent,
And the Pomegranates grow.

My Soul gave me a sudden twitch
And made me nimbly slide,
Like those swift Chariots, in which
Amminadib did Ride.

Return, Return, O Shulamite.
Return, Return Apace
That we may look with much delight
Upon thy Glorious Face:
What in the Shulamite I pray,
Do ye expect to see?
Two Armies set in good Array
Even such a one is she.