Song of Solomon 1
The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s.
2 Kisse he me with the cos of his mouth. For thi tetis ben betere than wyn,
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.
3 and yyuen odour with beste oynementis. Thi name is oile sched out; therfor yonge damesels loueden thee.
Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.
4 Drawe thou me after thee; we schulen renne in to the odour of thin oynementis. The kyng ledde me in to hise celeris; we myndeful of thi teetis aboue wyn, schulen make ful out ioye, and schulen be glad in thee; riytful men louen thee.
Take me away with you. Let’s hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.
5 Ye douytris of Jerusalem, Y am blak, but fair, as the tabernaclis of Cedar, as the skynnes of Salomon.
I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.
6 Nyle ye biholde me, that Y am blak, for the sunne hath discolourid me; the sones of my modir fouyten ayens me, thei settiden me a kepere in vyners; Y kepte not my vyner.
Do not stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I have not kept my own vineyard.
7 Thou spouse, whom my soule loueth, schewe to me, where thou lesewist, where thou restist in myddai; lest Y bigynne to wandre, aftir the flockis of thi felowis.
Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; for why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?
8 A! thou fairest among wymmen, if thou knowist not thi silf, go thou out, and go forth aftir the steppis of thi flockis; and feede thi kidis, bisidis the tabernaclis of scheepherdis.
If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
9 Mi frendesse, Y licnede thee to myn oost of knyytis in the charis of Farao.
I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Thi chekis ben feire, as of a turtle; thi necke is as brochis.
Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We schulen make to thee goldun ournementis, departid and maad dyuerse with silver.
We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver.
12 Whanne the kyng was in his restyng place, my narde yaf his odour.
While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My derlyng is a bundel of myrre to me; he schal dwelle bitwixe my tetis.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts.
14 My derlyng is to me a cluster of cipre tre, among the vyneres of Engaddi.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi.
15 Lo! my frendesse, thou art fair; lo! thou art fair, thin iyen ben the iyen of culueris.
Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves.
16 Lo, my derling, thou art fair, and schapli; oure bed is fair as flouris.
Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant.
17 The trees of oure housis ben of cedre; oure couplis ben of cipresse.
The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
