CHAPTER V

. 2–VIII. 4.

The Shulamite relates to the court ladies a dream which she has had, in which she manifests great attachment for her beloved (2–8). The court ladies, surprised at this extraordinary enthusiasm, ask what there is

## particular in his person to cause such an attachment (9). The Shulamite

then gives a description of him (10–16). Whereupon the court ladies inquire where he is, and offer to seek him (ch. vi. 1). The Shulamite, suspecting their intention, gives an evasive answer to their inquiry (2, 3). The king, having heard the Shulamite’s beloved mentioned, immediately comes forward and seeks to win her affections (4–9); in exalting her beauty, he repeats how the court ladies had praised her when they first saw her (10). The Shulamite, having explained how she came to be seen by the court ladies, withdraws (11, 12.) The king calls her back (ch. vii. 1); and, as she returns, describes her charms, and wishes to enjoy the love of one so beautiful (2–10). The Shulamite refuses the king’s desire, stating that her affections were espoused (11); then addressing herself to her beloved, she asks him to go home with her, and descants upon their rural pleasures (12–14). Remembering, however, that circumstances even at home prevented the full manifestation of her love, she longs for those obstacles to be removed (ch. viii. 1, 2). Overcome by her feelings, she wishes that none but her beloved may support her (3), and with the little strength she has left, adjures the court ladies not to persuade her to change her love (4).

THE SHULAMITE.

I was sleeping, but my heart kept awake, Hark! my beloved! he is knocking! Open to me, my sister, my love! My dove, my perfect beauty! For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my tunic, How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, How shall I soil them? My beloved withdrew his hand from the door hole, And my heart was disquieted within me. I immediately arose to open to my beloved, And my hands dropped with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt. I opened to my beloved, But my beloved had withdrawn, was gone! My soul departed when he spoke of it! I sought him, and found him not; I called him, and he answered me not. The watchmen who patrol the city found me: They beat me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls stripped me of my veiling garment. I adjure you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, If ye shall find my beloved, What will ye tell him? Tell him that I am sick of love.

DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM.

What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved, more than another beloved, That thou thus adjurest us?

THE SHULAMITE.

My beloved is white and ruddy, Distinguished above thousands; His head is as the finest gold, His flowing locks are black as the raven. His eyes, like doves in water streams, Are bathing in milk, sitting on fulness; His cheeks are like beds of balsam, Elevations of aromatic plants; His lips are like lilies distilling liquid myrrh. His hands like golden cylinders, inlaid with chrysolite, His body is like polished ivory, covered with sapphires. His legs are like pillars of marble Based upon pedestals of gold. His aspect is like that of Lebanon. He is distinguished as the cedars. His voice is exquisitely sweet; Yea, his whole person is exceedingly lovely. Such is my beloved, such my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM.

Chap. VI. Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither is thy beloved turned away? Say, that we may seek him with thee.

THE SHULAMITE.

My beloved is gone down into his garden, To the beds of aromatics, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine; He who feeds his flock among the lilies.

SOLOMON.

Graceful art thou, O my love, as Tirzah, Beautiful as Jerusalem, Awe-inspiring as bannered hosts! Turn away thine eyes from me, For they inspire me with awe! Thy hair is like a flock of goats Springing down Mount Gilead; Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep, Which come up from the washing-pool; All of which are paired, And not one among them is bereaved. Like a part of the pomegranate Are thy cheeks behind thy veil. I have threescore queens, And fourscore concubines, And maidens without number; But she is my only one, my dove, my perfect beauty, She, the delight of her mother, She, the darling of her parent! The damsels saw her and praised her; The queens also, and the concubines, and extolled her thus: “Who is she that looks forth as the morn, Beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, Awe-inspiring as bannered hosts?”

THE SHULAMITE.

I went down into the nut-garden, To look among the green plants by the river, To see whether the vine was budding, Whether the pomegranates were in bloom. Unwittingly had my longing soul brought me To the chariots of the companions of the prince.

(She goes away).

SOLOMON.

Chap. VII. Return, return, O Shulamite, Return, return, that we may look at thee.

THE SHULAMITE.

What will you behold in the Shulamite?

SOLOMON.

Like a dance to double choirs. How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O noble maiden! The circuits of thy thighs like ornaments, The work of a master’s hands. Thy navel is like a round goblet, Let not spiced wine be wanted in it; Thy body is like a heap of wheat, Hedged round with lilies. Thy bosom is like two young fawns, Twins of a gazelle. Thy neck is like an ivory tower; Thine eyes are as the pools in Heshbon, By the populous gate; Thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon, Looking towards Damascus. Thy head upon thee as purple, And the tresses of thy head as crimson. The king is captivated by the ringlets: How beautiful and how charming, O love, in thy fascinations! This thy growth is like a palm-tree, And thy bosom like its clusters. I long to climb this palm-tree, I long to clasp its branches. May thy bosom be unto me As the clusters of the vine, And the odour of thy breath As that of apples; And thy speech as delicious wine, Which to my friend flows down with mellowed sweetness, And causes slumbering lips to speak.

THE SHULAMITE.

I belong to my beloved, And it is for me to desire him. Come, my beloved, let us go into the country, Let us abide in the villages. We will go early to the vineyards, We will see whether the vine flourishes; Whether the buds open; Whether the pomegranates blossom; There will I give thee my love. The mandrakes diffuse fragrance, And at our door are all sorts of delicious fruit, Both new and old; I have reserved them, O my beloved, for thee! Chap. VIII. Oh that thou wert as my brother, As one who had been nourished in the bosom of my mother! If I found thee in the street I would kiss thee, And should no more be reproached. I would lead thee thence, I would bring thee into the house of my mother; Thou shouldst be my teacher, I would cause thee to drink Of the aromatic wine, Of my pomegranate juice. Let his left hand be under my head, And his right hand support me! I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Neither to incite nor to excite my affection Till it desires another love.

SECTION V.

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