Longing for Her Beloved

1O that you were as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find you without, I would kiss you; yes, I should not be despised.

2I would lead you, and bring you into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause you to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

The Friends

5Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I raised you up under the apple tree: there your mother brought you forth: there she brought you forth that bore you.

Solomon

6Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which has a most vehement flame.

7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

The Friends

8We have a little sister, and she has no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

9If she be a wall, we will build on her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

The Bride

10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favor.

11Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: you, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

Solomon

13You that dwell in the gardens, the companions listen to your voice: cause me to hear it.

The Bride

14Make haste, my beloved, and be you like to a roe or to a young hart on the mountains of spices.