A commentary upon the Canticle of Canticles, written first in Italian by Antonio Brucioli, and now translated into English by Th. Iames fellow of New colledge in Oxford

The Text.

4 Thy necke is as the tower of Dauid, built for defence, a thousand shieldes hang therein, and all the targets of the strong men.

5 Thy two breasts are as two yong roes that are twins feeding among the lillies.

6 Vntill the day break, & the shadows flie away, I will go into the mountaine of mirrhe, and to the mountaine of incense.

7 Thou art all faire my loue, & there is no spot in thee.

The Commentarie.

In this place he cōmēdeth the spouses neck as a tower built vp of a reasonable height, hā∣ged round about with strong shields: & what thing else is this in the spouse but the sweete

agreement of holie maners, or true strength & fortitude against all aduersities that shall happen, being alwayes adorned and decked with strong champions and Christian warri∣ours, which they keeping and preseruing, do not only praise them, but also in the power and vertue of him that is able to strengthen their weake soules endure and suffer all ma∣ner of aduersities. The great Cannon which defendeth this Church, is nothing els but the liuely words of the holy scripture which do pearce euen to the soule: and the thousand bucklers or targets, are the hoped for helpes and succours of Gods diuine prouidence, by the which he doth so much sustaine and re∣leeue his seruants, that it is not possible that they should bee ouercome or ouerthrowne. Thy two breasts. Finally, because hee meaneth not to proceed so far in this place, as to speak of her girdle, after he had spoken of her head and neck, he addresseth himselfe to say som∣what in commendations of her two breastes: wherby is meant the doctrine of both the old and new testament, then the which there can bee nothing imagined more pleasant more amiable, or more profitable: and he likeneth them to two young roes, because as they do lightly leape and skip vp and downe, so the doctrine of both the old and newe testament is spread abroad throughout the face of the

whole world, & their feeding, is said to be a∣mong the lillies: wherby are signified the faith∣full, amongst whom there is alwaies abiding the loue & charity of the Church, which fee∣deth, that is to say, recreateth her: & this loue doth remaine for euer in her full state & per∣fection among the faithfull. But what is the food wherewith she feedeth thē? It is the food of the spirit and word of God: for because the Church doth alwaies feed on that food which shall make her strong to perseuer and conti∣nue out vnto the end. Moreouer, the faithfull people of God are fed and nourished with faith and loue of the Church: but howe long are they fed after this sort? vntill the day breake, that is to say, to the end of the world, and that the shadowes of errors, mens inuen∣tions, and all the workes of darknesse do flie away. And Christ may rightly then bee sayd to come vnto vs, when he helps vs, and to go away from vs, when he takes all hope of help and succour from vs. Now the spouse as long as she is in this world, is not without tribu∣lations and crosses, and doubtlesse she would soone perish and come to nought, if Christ shold not come to her to comfort & streng∣then her with the power of his spirit, and therfore the Bridegrome speaketh vnto the Church, as if he did speake vnto a third per∣son, saying, I will go into the mountaine, that is

to say, I will indeed helpe thee, which arta mountain of mirrhe, & a hill of incense, that is to say▪ so full of my sweete ointments, as a mountaine of incense and mirrhe. Thou art all faire my loue, & there is no spot in thee. Thou art, &c. He commeth then, and slacketh not to come vnto his welbeloued spouse: for he is no lyer, to say that he will come, and not to come: & he saith, thou art all faire, & there is no spot in thee. How faire? how without spot, or blemish? by the bountifull and beau∣tiful presence of the immaculate son of God, and for the sweet smell of his ointmēt wher∣with he hath perfumed vs: and hence it is, that the Church is called a mountaine of mirrhe, & a mountain of incense because that she al∣beit in her self, and of her selfe she is most mi∣serably foule, & black as any blackamore can be: yet notwithstanding in her bridegrome Christ most amiable, admirable & faire, pure without spot in Christ, because he wipes a∣way all her spots, & blots by forgiuing her her sins, and imputing them no longer vnto her.