Song of Solomon 1:1-8 ▼

1 The Ballet of Ballettes of Solomon, called in Latin, Canticum Canticorum. Song of Solomon

2 (1:1) O that he would kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is more pleasaunt then wine,

3 (1:1) and that because of the good and pleasaunt sauour of thy most precious baulmes. (1:2) Thy name is a sweet smelling oyntment when it is shed foorth, therfore do the maydens loue thee.

4 (1:3) Drawe thou me vnto thee we wyll runne after thee. The kyng hath brought me into his priuie chaumbers: We wylbe glad and reioyce in thee, we thinke more of thy loue then of wine: they that be righteous loue thee.

5 (1:4) I am blacke (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) but yet fayre and well fauoured, like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, and as the hanginges of Solomon.

6 (1:5) Marueyle not at me that I am so blacke, for why? the sunne hath shined vpon me: my mothers chyldren haue euyll wyll at me, they made me the keper of the vineyardes, but mine owne vineyarde haue I not kept.

7 (1:6) Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth, where thou feedest the sheepe, where thou makest them rest at the noone day: for why shall I be like hym that goeth wrong about the flockes of thy companions?

8 (1:7) If thou knowe not thy selfe (O thou fayrest among women) then go thy way foorth after the footesteppes of the sheepe, and feede thy goates besyde the shepheardes tentes.