< Song of Solomon 2 >

1 I am a flour of the feeld, and a lilye of grete valeis.
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 As a lilie among thornes, so is my frendesse among douytris.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
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.
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 The king ledde me in to the wyn celer; he ordeynede charite in me.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5 Bisette ye me with flouris, cumpasse ye me with applis; for Y am sijk for loue.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of 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 hand does embrace 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!
I charge you, O all of you daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that all of you stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8 this derlyng cometh leepynge in mounteyns, and skippynge ouer litle hillis.
The voice of my beloved! behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon 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 roe or a young hart: behold, he stands behind our wall, he looks forth at the windows, showing himself 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 spoke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 for wyntir is passid now, reyn is goon, and is departid awei.
For, lo, 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 appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtle 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 puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
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, that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely.
15 Catche ye litle foxis to vs, that destrien the vyneris; for oure vyner hath flourid.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
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 feeds 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.
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be you like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

< Song of Solomon 2 >