Chapter XIII: Section I: Chapters I.–ii. 7

The scene of this division is in the royal tent of Solomon. The Shulamite, separated from her beloved shepherd, longs to be reunited with him whom she prizes above all things (2, 3). She implores him to come and rescue her; for, though brought by the king into his royal tent, her love continues the same (4). She repels the scornful reflection of the court ladies when they hear her soliloquy (5, 6). She implores her lover to tell her where she may find him (7). The court ladies ironically answer this request (8). Meanwhile the king comes in, and tries to win her affections by flatteries and promises (9–11). This attempt fails, and she opposes to the king’s love her unabated attachment to her beloved shepherd (12–ii. 6). In an ecstasy she adjures the court ladies not to attempt to persuade her to love any one else (7).

THE SHULAMITE.

Oh for a kiss of the kisses of his mouth!
For sweet are thy caresses above wine.
Sweet is the odour of thy perfumes,
Which perfume thou art, by thy name diffused abroad,
Therefore do the damsels love thee.
Oh draw me after thee! Oh let us flee together!
The king has brought me into his apartments,
But we exult and rejoice in thee,
We praise thy love more than wine,
The upright love thee.
I am swarthy, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
As the tents of Kedar,
But comely as the pavilions of Solomon.
Disdain me not because I am dark,
For the sun hath browned me.
My mother’s sons were severe with me,
They made me keeper of their vineyards,
Though my own vineyard I never kept.—
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth,
Where thou feedest thy flock,
Where thou causest it to lie down at noon,
Lest I should be roaming
Among the flocks of thy companions.

DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM.

If thou knowest not, O fairest among women,
Go in the footsteps of the flocks,
And feed thy kids
By the tents of the shepherds.

SOLOMON.

To my steed in the chariot of Pharaoh
Do I compare thee, O my love.
Beautiful is thy countenance in the circlet,
Thy neck in the necklace!
A golden circlet will we make thee,
With studs of silver.

THE SHULAMITE.

While the king is at his table
My nard shall diffuse its fragrance.
A bag of myrrh resting in my bosom
Is my beloved unto me.
A bunch of cypress-flowers from the garden of En-gedi
Is my beloved unto me.

THE SHEPHERD.

Behold, thou art beautiful, my love;
Behold, thou art beautiful,
Thine eyes are doves.

THE SHULAMITE.

Behold, thou art comely, my beloved,
Yea thou art lovely;
Yea, verdant is our couch;
Our bower is of cedar arches,
Our retreat of cypress roof:
Chap. II. I am a mere flower of the plain,
A lily of the valley.

THE SHEPHERD.

As a lily among the thorns,
So is my loved one among the damsels.

THE SHULAMITE.

As an apple-tree among the wild trees,
So is my beloved among the youths.
I delight to sit beneath its shade,
For delicious is its fruit to my taste.
He led me into that bower of delight,
And overshaded me with love.
Oh, strengthen me with grape-cakes,
Refresh me with apples,
For I am sick with love!
Let his left hand be under my head,
And his right hand support me!
I adjure you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles, or the hinds of the field,
Neither to excite nor to incite my affection
Till it wishes another love.