Canticum Canticorum 8
1 [Quis mihi det te fratrem meum, sugentem ubera matris meæ, ut inveniam te foris, et deosculer te, et jam me nemo despiciat?
O that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breast of my mother! When I found thee abroad, I might kiss thee; And for it no one would deride me.
2 Apprehendam te, et ducam in domum matris meæ: ibi me docebis, et dabo tibi poculum ex vino condito, et mustum malorum granatorum meorum.
I will lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, that thou mayst teach me; I will give thee spiced wine to drink, and the juice of my pomegranates.
3 Læva ejus sub capite meo, et dextera illius amplexabitur me.
His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraceth me.
4 Sponsus Adjuro vos, filiæ Jerusalem, ne suscitetis, neque evigilare faciatis dilectam, donec ipsa velit.
[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem! That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Till she please!
5 Chorus Quæ est ista quæ ascendit de deserto, deliciis affluens, innixa super dilectum suum? Sponsus Sub arbore malo suscitavi te; ibi corrupta est mater tua, ibi violata est genitrix tua.
[[Lad.]] Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? [[M.]] Under the apple-tree I awakened thee; There thy mother brought thee forth; There she that bore thee brought thee forth!
6 Sponsa Pone me ut signaculum super cor tuum, ut signaculum super brachium tuum, quia fortis est ut mors dilectio, dura sicut infernus æmulatio: lampades ejus lampades ignis atque flammarum. (Sheol h7585)
O set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm! For love is strong as death; True love is firm as the grave: Its flames are flames of fire, The fire of Jehovah. (Sheol h7585)
7 Aquæ multæ non potuerunt extinguere caritatem, nec flumina obruent illam. Si dederit homo omnem substantiam domus suæ pro dilectione, quasi nihil despiciet eam.
Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can floods drown it. Would a man give all the wealth of his house for love, It would be utterly contemned.
8 Chorus Fratrum Soror nostra parva, et ubera non habet; quid faciemus sorori nostræ in die quando alloquenda est?
[[Br.]] We have a sister who is yet young; She is yet without breasts. What shall we do with our sister, When she shall be spoken for?
9 Si murus est, ædificemus super eum propugnacula argentea; si ostium est, compingamus illud tabulis cedrinis.
If she be a wall, We will build upon it a silver tower; If she be an open gate, We will inclose her with planks of cedar.
10 Sponsa Ego murus, et ubera mea sicut turris, ex quo facta sum coram eo, quasi pacem reperiens.
[[Sis.]] I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Therefore am I become in his eyes as one that findeth peace.
11 Chorus Fratrum Vinea fuit pacifico in ea quæ habet populos: tradidit eam custodibus; vir affert pro fructu ejus mille argenteos.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He let out the vineyard to keepers; Every one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
12 Sponsa Vinea mea coram me est. Mille tui pacifici, et ducenti his qui custodiunt fructus ejus.
My vineyard is before my eyes. Be thine the thousand, O Solomon! And two hundred to the keepers of its fruit!
13 Sponsus Quæ habitas in hortis, amici auscultant; fac me audire vocem tuam.
[[Lov.]] Thou that dwellest in the gardens! Friends listen to thy voice; Let me hear thee!
14 Sponsa Fuge, dilecte mi, et assimilare capreæ, hinnuloque cervorum super montes aromatum.]
Fly, my beloved! like a gazelle, or a young hind, Upon the mountains of spices.
