Song of Solomon 1
Solomon's song of songs.
2 Kisse he me with the cos of his mouth. For thi tetis ben betere than wyn,
Kiss me, kiss me with your mouth again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine.
3 and yyuen odour with beste oynementis. Thi name is oile sched out; therfor yonge damesels loueden thee.
I love the way you smell from the perfumed oils you use. You have quite a reputation—it spreads like spilled perfumed oil. It's not surprising that all the young women adore 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 by the hand—let's run! (The king has brought me to his bedroom.) Let's be happy together and find pleasure in your love. Your love is far better than wine! Women are right to adore you so!
5 Ye douytris of Jerusalem, Y am blak, but fair, as the tabernaclis of Cedar, as the skynnes of Salomon.
I'm black, but I'm beautiful, women of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
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.
Don't look down on me because I'm black, because the sun has burned me. My brothers were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards, so I couldn't look after 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.
My love, please tell me where you're taking your flock. Where will you rest them at noon? For why should I have to wear a veil while looking for you among 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 really don't know, you who are more beautiful than any other woman, then follow the tracks of my flock, and let your goats graze near the shepherd's tents.
9 Mi frendesse, Y licnede thee to myn oost of knyytis in the charis of Farao.
My darling, to me you're like a mare among Pharaoh's horses that pull his chariots,
10 Thi chekis ben feire, as of a turtle; thi necke is as brochis.
Your beautiful cheeks adorned with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We schulen make to thee goldun ournementis, departid and maad dyuerse with silver.
Let's make you some gold ornaments inlaid with silver.
12 Whanne the kyng was in his restyng place, my narde yaf his odour.
As the king lay on his couch, my nard perfume gave off its fragrance.
13 My derlyng is a bundel of myrre to me; he schal dwelle bitwixe my tetis.
My love is like a pouch of myrrh, lying all night between my breasts.
14 My derlyng is to me a cluster of cipre tre, among the vyneres of Engaddi.
My love is like a bunch of fragrant henna flowers in the vineyards of Engedi.
15 Lo! my frendesse, thou art fair; lo! thou art fair, thin iyen ben the iyen of culueris.
Look at how very beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful! Your eyes are as gentle as doves.
16 Lo, my derling, thou art fair, and schapli; oure bed is fair as flouris.
And you, my love, are so handsome—how charming you are! The green grass is our bed,
17 The trees of oure housis ben of cedre; oure couplis ben of cipresse.
with cedar trees as beams for our “house,” and pine trees for the rafters.
