The first Canticle

Come kisse me with those lips of thine;
For, better are thy Loues then wine.
And, as the powred Oyntments be,
Such is the sauour of thy Name:
And, for the sweetnesse of the same,
The Virgins are in loue with thee.

Begin but thou to draw me on,
And then, we after Thee will run.
Oh, King, thy Chambers bring me to:
So, we in thee delight shall finde,
And more then wine thy Loue will minde;
And loue thee as the Righteous doe.

And Daughters of Ierusalem,
I pray you doe not me contemne,
Because that blacke I now appeare.
For, I as louely am (I know)
As Kedar Tents (appeare in show)
Or Solomon his Curtaines are.

Though blacke I am, regard it not:
It is but Sunne-burne I haue got;
Whereof my Mothers Sonnes were cause:
Their Uineyard keeper me they made,
(Through enuy which to me they had)
So, mine owne Uine neglected was.

Thou, whom my soule doth best affect,
Unto thy pastures me direct,
Where thou at Noone art stretcht along:
For, why should I be stragling spide
Like her that loues to turne aside,
Thy fellow-shepheards flockes among?

Oh fairest of all Woman kinde!
(If him thou know not where to finde)
Goe where the paths of Cattell are:
Their tract of foot-steps stray not from,
Till to the Shepheard Tents thou come,
And feed thy tender Kidlings there.

My Loue, thou art of greater force,
Then Pharaoh's troupes of Charret-horse.
Thy cheekes and necke, made louely be
With rowes of stone, and many a chaine:
And, we gold-borders will ordaine,
Beset with siluer studs. for thee.