The ninth Canticle

THou Daughter of the Royall Line,
How comely are those Feet of thine,
When their beseeming Shooes they weare.
The curious knitting of thy Thighes,
Is like the costly Gemmes of prize,
Which wrought by skilfull workmen are.

Thy Nauell, is a Goblet round,
Where Liquor euermore is found.
Thy faire and fruitfull Belly showes
As doth a goodly heape of Wheat
With Lillies round about beset;
And thy two Brests like twinned Roes.

Thy Necke, like some white Towre doth rise.
Like Heshbon Fish-pooles, are thine Eyes .
Which neere the Gate Bath-rabbim lye.
Thy Nose (which thee doth wel-become)
Is like the Towre of Libanum,
That, on Damascus hath an eye.

Thy Head like Scarlet doth appeare:
The Hayre . thereof, like purple are:
And in those Threads the King is bound.
Oh Loue! how wondrous farre art Thou!
How perfect doe thy pleasures show!
And, how thy Ioyes in them abound!

Thou Statur'd art in Palme-tree-wise.
Thy Breasts like Clusters doe arise.
I said, into this Palme I'le goe;
My hold shall on her branches be:
And those thy Breasts shall be to me
Like clusters that on Uines doe growe.

Thy Nostrils sauour shall aswell
As newly-gathered fruits doe smell.
Thy Speech shall also relish so,
As purest wine, that for my Deale
Is fitting drinke, and able were,
To cause an old mans lippes to goe.

I, my Beloued's am; And, he
Hath his affection set on me:
Come well-beloued, come away,
Into the Fields, let's walke along;
And there the Villages among,
Eu'n in the Country we will stay.

We to the Vines betimes will goe,
And see if they doe spring or no;
Or, if the tender Grapes appeare:
We will, moreouer goe, and see,
If the Pomegranats blossom'd be:
And I my Loue will giue thee there.

Sweet smels the Mandrakes doe afford:
And we within our Gates, are stor'd,
Of all things that delightfull be.
Yea, whether new or olde they are,
Prepared they be for my Deare:
And I haue layd them vp for thee.

Would, as my Brother, thou might'st be,
That suckt my Mothers breast with me:
Oh would it were no otherwise!
In publike then I thee would meet.
And giue thee kisses in the street;
And none there is should thee despise.

Then I my selfe would for thee come,
And bring thee to my Mothers home:
Thou likewise shouldst instruct me there.
And wine that is commixt with Spice,
(Sweet wine of the Pomgranat iuyce)
I would for thee to drinke prepare.

My Head with his left-hand he stayd;
His right-hand ouer me he laid,
And (being so imbrac'd by him)
Said he, I charge you, not disease
Nor wake my Loue vntill she please,
You Daughters of Ierusalem.