Religion

The Song of Songs, Chapter VII: The Version

by John Mason 1646?–1694

From Spiritual Songs (1699)

Religion

Christ.
O Daughters of a Prince how Fair
Are both thy Shooes and Feet!
Thy Joynts and Thighs like Jewels are,
Wrought by an hand discreet.

Thy Navel as a Cup compleat,
With Liquor doth abound;
Thy Belly's like an Heap of Wheat,
Which Lillies do surround.

Thy two Breasts are like two young Roes,
Well Shap'd and well agreed,
Both which are Loving Twins, and those
Among the Lillies Feed.

Thy Neck, like I vory is most Fair,
And like a Tower most straight;
Thine Eyes like beshbon pools, which are
Hard by Bath-Rabim Gate:
Thy Nose is like to Lebanons Tower,
The Tower which doth Command
Damascus-Town, the Chiefest Flower
Of all the Syrian Land.

Thine Head on thee like Carmel is,
Thine Hair, like Purple stain'd;
The Galleries so take his Eyes,
The King is there detain'd.

How Fair art thou, how pleasant art,
My Love, unto my sight!
So sweetly Grac'd in every part;
Thou art my whole delight.

[…] Unto a Palm-Tree I compare,
Thy Stature straight and fine;
Thy Breasts appear both full and fair
Like Clusters of the Vine.

[…] I said I will this Palm-Tree Climb,
I'll search her Branches well;
Thy Breasts shall now like Clusters shew,
Thy Nose like Apples swell.

[…] Thy Palate's like the choicest Wine,
Which for my Friend I keep;
Which sweetly Flows, and causeth those
To Speak that are asleep.

The Church.
I am my Well-beloved's own,
And He is wholly mine;
The Stream of his Affection
Doth towards me incline.

Come, my Beloved, let us go
Into the Fields abroad;
And in the Villages below
Let's take up our Abode.

Let's go up early in the Morn,
And to the Vineyards go;
To see what Fruits the Trees adorn,
Whether the Vine doth grow:
Whether the tender Grapes appear,
And the Pomegranates thrive,
(The Hopes of the Ensuing Year)
There thee my Loves I'll give.

The Mandrakes smell, and at our Door
All pleasant Fruits there be,
Both New and Old which are my Store,
Laid up, my Love, for Thee.

MLA

Mason, John. “The Song of Songs, Chapter VII: The Version.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mason_j/41/.

Chicago

Mason, John. “The Song of Songs, Chapter VII: The Version.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mason_j/41/.

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