Songs from the Song of Songs: Chapter II

I am the Rose of Sharon!
The Lily of the Vale!
My love, among the daughters
A lily thorns empale.

As th' apple tree among the trees
Doth in the wood appear,
So my Beloved, among the sons.
Is beautiful and dear.

I sat under His Shadow,
Sat down with great delight.
His fruit was sweet unto my taste.
And pleasant to my sight.

He brought me to His banquet-house.
His banners o'er me move;
Stay me with flagons, comfort me.
For I am sick of love.

His left hand is my head's support,
His right my heart's repose,
O Daughters of Jerusalem,
I charge you by the roes,

And by the hinds that haunt the field,
And by this hour of ease,
O, stir not up my Best-beloved,
Nor wake Him till He please.

The voice of my Beloved!
Behold, He comes! He comes!
Leaping upon the mountains!
Upon the hills He roams!

Like a young hart, or like a roe.
He stands behind our wall,
Looketh forth at the windows.
Doth through the lattice call.

My Best-beloved spake to me
And unto me did say, —
"Rise up, my Love! my Fair One!
Rise up, and come away!

"For lo! the winter now is past,
The rain is o'er and gone,
The flowers on the earth appear.
Reviving one by one.

"The time of singing birds is come.
The turtle's voice is heard.
The fig-tree with her leaves is green.
The vine's sweet smell is stirr'd;

"The tender grape is on the bough.
The bird upon the spray.
Arise, my Love! my Fair One!
Arise, and come away!"

My dove, that in the clefts of rock,
And in the secret stairs,
Dost breathe thy tender songs of love
And pour thy pleading prayers;

O, let Me hear thy gentle voice,
Thy loved face let Me see.
For comely is thy countenance.
And sweet thy voice to Me.

Take us the little foxes
That spoil the goodly vine.
Our vines with young grapes tender
From slightest hurt decline.

My love is mine, and I am His,
Like a young hart or roe,
On Bether's mountains He doth feed.
Up where the lilies blow;

On Bether's mountains He doth feed.
Turn, my Beloved, and stay
Until the day eternal break.
And shadows flee away.