Song of Solomon 1
The Song of Songs, which is by Solomon.
2 Kisse he me with the cos of his mouth. For thi tetis ben betere than wyn,
[[M.]] O that he would kiss me with one of the kisses of his mouth! For thy love is better than wine.
3 and yyuen odour with beste oynementis. Thi name is oile sched out; therfor yonge damesels loueden thee.
Because of the savor of thy precious perfumes, (Thy name is like fragrant oil poured forth, ) Therefore do the virgins love thee.
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.
Draw me after thee; let us run! The king hath led me to his chambers! We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will praise thy love more than wine. Justly do they love thee!
5 Ye douytris of Jerusalem, Y am blak, but fair, as the tabernaclis of Cedar, as the skynnes of Salomon.
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, as 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.
Gaze not upon me because I am black, Because the sun hath looked upon me! My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; My vineyard, my own, have I not kept.
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, thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou leadest it to rest at noon; For why should I be like a veiled one by the flocks of thy 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.
[[Lad.]] If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Trace thou thy way by the tracks of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents!
9 Mi frendesse, Y licnede thee to myn oost of knyytis in the charis of Farao.
[[Lov.]] To the horses in the chariots of Pharaoh Do I compare thee, my love!
10 Thi chekis ben feire, as of a turtle; thi necke is as brochis.
Comely are thy cheeks with rows of jewels, Thy neck with strings of pearls.
11 We schulen make to thee goldun ournementis, departid and maad dyuerse with silver.
Golden chains will we make for thee, With studs of silver.
12 Whanne the kyng was in his restyng place, my narde yaf his odour.
[[M.]] While the king reclineth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
13 My derlyng is a bundel of myrre to me; he schal dwelle bitwixe my tetis.
A bunch of myrrh is my beloved to me; He shall abide 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-flowers From the gardens of Engedi.
15 Lo! my frendesse, thou art fair; lo! thou art fair, thin iyen ben the iyen of culueris.
[[Lov.]] Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves.
16 Lo, my derling, thou art fair, and schapli; oure bed is fair as flouris.
[[M.]] Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, lovely; And green is our bed.
17 The trees of oure housis ben of cedre; oure couplis ben of cipresse.
The cedars are the beams of our house, And its roof the cypresses.
