The Bride’s Admiration

1I am a flower of the plain, a lily of the valleys.

2As a lily among thorns, so is my companion among the daughters.

3As the apple among the trees of the wood, so is my kinsman among the sons. I desired his shadow, and sat down, and his fruit was sweet in my throat.

4Bring me into the wine house; set love before me.

5Strengthen me with perfumes, stay me with apples: for I am wounded with love.

6His left hand shall be under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

7I have charged you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the powers and by the virtues of the field, that ye do not rouse or wake my love, until he please.

8The voice of my kinsman! behold, he comes leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.

9My kinsman is like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Baethel: behold, he is behind our wall, looking through the windows, peeping through the lattices.

10My kinsman answers, and says to me, Rise up, come, my companion, my fair one, my dove.

11For, behold, the winter is past, the rain is gone, it has departed.

12The flowers are seen in the land; the time of pruning has arrived; the voice of the turtle-dove has been heard in our land.

13The fig-tree has put forth its young figs, the vines put forth the tender grape, they yield a smell: arise, come, my companion, my fair one, my dove; yea, come.

14Thou art my dove, in the shelter of the rock, near the wall: shew me thy face, and cause me to hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet, and thy countenance is beautiful.

15Take us the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines put forth tender grapes.

16My kinsman is mine, and I am his: he feeds his flock among the lilies.

17Until the day dawn, and the shadows depart, turn, my kinsman, be thou like to a roe or young hart on the mountains of the ravines.