Song of Solomon 2
1 I am a flour of the feeld, and a lilye of grete valeis.
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.
2 As a lilie among thornes, so is my frendesse among douytris.
Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.
3 As an apple tre among the trees of wodis, so my derlyng among sones. I sat vndur the shadewe of hym, whom Y desiride; and his fruyt was swete to my throte.
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 The king ledde me in to the wyn celer; he ordeynede charite in me.
He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.
5 Bisette ye me with flouris, cumpasse ye me with applis; for Y am sijk for loue.
Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
6 His left hond is vndur myn heed; and his riyt hond schal biclippe me.
His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
7 Ye douytris of Jerusalem, Y charge you greetli, bi capretis, and hertis of feeldis, that ye reise not, nether make to awake the dereworthe spousesse, til sche wole. The vois of my derlyng; lo!
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
8 this derlyng cometh leepynge in mounteyns, and skippynge ouer litle hillis.
Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9 My derlyng is lijk a capret, and a calf of hertis; lo! he stondith bihynde oure wal, and biholdith bi the wyndows, and lokith thorouy the latisis.
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
10 Lo! my derlyng spekith to me, My frendesse, my culuer, my faire spousesse, rise thou, haaste thou, and come thou;
My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.
11 for wyntir is passid now, reyn is goon, and is departid awei.
For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
12 Flouris apperiden in oure lond, the tyme of schridyng is comun; the vois of a turtle is herd in oure lond,
The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.
13 the fige tre hath brouyt forth hise buddis; vyneris flourynge han youe her odour. My frendesse, my fayre spousesse, rise thou, haaste thou, and come thou.
The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”
14 My culuer is in the hoolis of stoon, in the chyne of a wal with out morter. Schewe thi face to me, thi vois sowne in myn eeris; for thi vois is swete, and thi face is fair.
O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
15 Catche ye litle foxis to vs, that destrien the vyneris; for oure vyner hath flourid.
Catch for us the foxes— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards— for our vineyards are in bloom.
16 My derlyng is to me, and Y am to hym, which is fed among lilies;
My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.
17 til the dai sprynge, and schadewis be bowid doun. My derlyng, turne thou ayen; be thou lijk a capret, and a calf of hertis, on the hillis of Betel.
Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.
