Canticum Canticorum 1
The Song of Songs, which is by Solomon.
2 [Sponsa Osculetur me osculo oris sui; quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino,
[[M.]] O that he would kiss me with one of the kisses of his mouth! For thy love is better than wine.
3 fragrantia unguentis optimis. Oleum effusum nomen tuum; ideo adolescentulæ dilexerunt te.
Because of the savor of thy precious perfumes, (Thy name is like fragrant oil poured forth, ) Therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Chorus Adolescentularum Trahe me, post te curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum. Introduxit me rex in cellaria sua; exsultabimus et lætabimur in te, memores uberum tuorum super vinum. Recti diligunt te.
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 Sponsa Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiæ Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis.
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol. Filii matris meæ pugnaverunt contra me; posuerunt me custodem in vineis: vineam meam non custodivi.
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 Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie, ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.
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 Sponsus Si ignoras te, o pulcherrima inter mulieres, egredere, et abi post vestigia gregum, et pasce hædos tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum.
[[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 Equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis assimilavi te, amica mea.
[[Lov.]] To the horses in the chariots of Pharaoh Do I compare thee, my love!
10 Pulchræ sunt genæ tuæ sicut turturis; collum tuum sicut monilia.
Comely are thy cheeks with rows of jewels, Thy neck with strings of pearls.
11 Murenulas aureas faciemus tibi, vermiculatas argento.
Golden chains will we make for thee, With studs of silver.
12 Sponsa Dum esset rex in accubitu suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum.
[[M.]] While the king reclineth at his table, My spikenard sendeth forth its fragrance.
13 Fasciculus myrrhæ dilectus meus mihi; inter ubera mea commorabitur.
A bunch of myrrh is my beloved to me; He shall abide between my breasts.
14 Botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna-flowers From the gardens of Engedi.
15 Sponsus Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea! ecce tu pulchra es! Oculi tui columbarum.
[[Lov.]] Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair! Thine eyes are doves.
16 Sponsa Ecce tu pulcher es, dilecte mi, et decorus! Lectulus noster floridus.
[[M.]] Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, lovely; And green is our bed.
17 Tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina, laquearia nostra cypressina.]
The cedars are the beams of our house, And its roof the cypresses.
