The canticles, or Song of Solomon paraphrased and explained by divers others texts of Scriptures, very useful / by ... Mr. Arthur Hildersham ... ; as also the same, together with the two songs of Moses, and the song of Deborah, collected into meeter.

CANTIC. I.

CHAP. I.

Verse 1.

THe Song of Songs, which is Solo∣mons.

Ver. 2.

O let him joyn his lips to mine, And solace mine with his: Thy matchless love excelleth wine, (No Vintage joy like this.)

Ver. 3.

The savour thy good Oyntments shed; The Odours of thy name: The Virgins hearts have ravished, And their desires enflame.

Ver. 4.

Draw me, we will run after thee: (Ther's none but thou can do't): Me hath the King (where I would be) Into his Chambers brought. Thus made glad, wee'l rejoyce therein, Thy loves (so far above,) We will remember more than wine: Thee do the upright love.

Ver. 5.

You Daughters of Ierusalem, I'm black, but comely so: Thus both as Ismaels Tents I seem, And Solomons Curtains too.

Ver. 6.

Look not upon me, cease to gaze, Now we so black you see; Because the Sun, with scorching rayes, Hath so discoloured me. My Mothers Children me betray'd, And in their anger, they Me keeper of the Vineyards made; But mine neglected lay.

Ver. 7.

My Dearest, unto me make known, Where thou dost feed thy Flock.

Where thou dost make them rest at noon' By what cool stream or rock,) Lest I should be as one of them, That turn aside to those, Their Flocks, which thy Companions seem, But are disguised Foes.

Ver. 8.

O thou, whose beauty doth excell All others of thy Sex; If this, because thou can'st not tell, Thy troubled mind perplex; Go forth, and in those foot-steps tread, Those tracts, the Flock frequents; And thou thy Kids securely feed, Besides the Shepherds Tents.

Ver. 9.

My Love, I have compared thee Unto those stately Steeds, Which in King Pharoahs Charots be, (So much thy praise exceeds.)

Ver. 10.

Thy Cheeks are comely, and thy Neck, (To all, that do behold) Those, with these rows of Jewels deckt, This, with that chaine of Gold.

Ver. 11.

(That thou may'st yet more splendid And more illustrious be,) shew, Borders of gold will we bestow, With silver studs on thee.

Ver. 12.

My Spikenard, while the King doth sit, And entertain his guests, At his full Table, then of it, How is the smell dispers'd?

Ver. 13.

A bundle of refreshing Myrrh To me, is my Beloved; Hee'st lye betwixt my breasts, and there Rest all night un-removed.

Ver. 14.

As Camphire-clusters, when they blow, Is my Beloved to me; As those, which in those Vineyards grow, Which in Engedi be.

Ver. 15.

Behold thou'rt very fair my Love, Behold thou'rt very fair; Thou by thine eyes, might'st be a Dove, (So milde, and chaste they are.)

Ver 16.

All beauties, my Beloved, show In thee, and there are seen: Behold thou'rt faire, and pleasant too; Also our bed is green.

Ver. 17.

The beams, which o're our house are laid, And every Mansion there, Are all of goodly Cedar made; Our Rafters are of Firr.

Chap. II.

Ver. 1.

A Rose, when it doth freshly blow, The Sharon-Rose am I; The Lillie of the Valley too, (And all their praise out-vie.)

Ver. 2.

And as the Lillies to the briers, When these encompass this; So my fair Love, when she appears Amongst the Daughters, is.

Ver. 3.

As the fair fruitful Apple-tree, Amongst the Forrest ones;

Soe's my Beloved, such is he, Compared with the Sonnes. Under his shaddow I sat down, Where my delight surpast, And his rare fruit (before unknown) Was sweet unto my tast.

Ver. 4.

He brought me to his Banquet-house, (For entertainments made,) And love, was over me, his Spouse, The Banner he displaid.

Ver. 5.

Stay me with Flagons, stay me soon, With Apples; O remove These fainting fits, or ere I swoon, For I am sick of Love.

Ver. 6.

Under my head, when I take rest, He doth his left hand place; And with his right hand o're my breast, He doth me fast embrace.

Ver. 7.

You Daughters of Ierusalem, I, by the Rose, and Hind,

Adjure you, and by all of them, The fields have of their kind, Now my Beloved takes his ease, That you due silence keep, Nor stir him up, until he please, Nor once disturb his sleep.

Ver. 8.

'Tis my Beloved's voyce I hear, Behold he's coming still: Leaping upon the Mountains there, Skipping from hill to hill.

Ver. 9.

Like a swift Roe is my Belov'd, Like a young Hart he is; Loe he behind our wall remov'd, Looks through the Lattices.

Ver. 10.

To me then my Beloved spake, Rise up and do not stay; 'Tis time to rise, my Love; awake, My fair one; come away.

Ver. 11.

For loe, the Winter now is past, (Which was so sharp and sore,) The threatning rains (which fell so fast) Are gone, & clean blown o're.

Ver. 12.

The flourie spring adorns the Earth, Birds sing in shadie groves, The Turtles ('tis a time of mirth) Now murmur to their loves.

Ver. 13.

Fig-trees put forth green Figgs, likewise Vines tender grapes, and they Smell; O how sweet, my Love, Arise, My fair one, come away.

Ver. 14.

My Dove, who in the Rock dost bide, Within the clifts immur'd, Who dost within the stairs reside, There secretly obscur'd: Thy countenance to me disclose, Thy voice to me advance; For sweet is thy melodious voice, Comely thy countenance.

Ver. 15.

For us the ravening Foxes take, Spare neither old nor young, Which of our Vines such havock make, For they have Grapes begun.

Ver. 16.

He, who is my Beloved indeed, Is mine and I am his, The place, where he delights to feed, Amongst the Lillies is,

Ver. 17.

Till day, my Dear, it's light impart, And duskie shaddow's flee, Turn thou, and like a Roe, or Hart, On Bether Mountains be.

Chap. III.

Ver. 1.

BY night, upon my Bed, I sought Him, whom my Soul doth love. I sought him, but I found him not, My pains did fruitless prove.

Ver. 2.

Perplexed I resolv'd to rise, And search the Citty round, Both narrow streets, and broader wayes, At least till I had found.

Thus searching, I pursu'd more hot, Him, whom my soul doth love; I sought him, but I found him not, My pains did fruitless prove.

Ver. 3.

Me wandring thus, the Watch did find, As they the round had been; To whom I said, with troubled mind, Have ye my Soul's Love seen?

Ver. 4.

No sooner I from them was gone, Nor many steps had past, But him, my Soul's beloved one, I found and held him fast: Nor let him go, till I had brought Him to my Mothers house, The chamber, where the (most devout) Conceived me, his Spouse.

Ver. 5.

You daughters of Ierusalem, I by the Roe and Hinde, Adjure you, and by all of them The Fields have of their kind, Now my Beloved takes his ease, That ye due silence keep;

Nor stir him up, until he please, Nor once disturb his sleep.

Ver. 6.

Who's this presented to our eyes, Who from the Desart comes, Who does like smoak in pillars rise, Perfum'd with fragrant Gums? The gums of Myrrh and Frankincense, With (what Sabea else, Affords, for) all the powders thence, Wherein the Merchant deals.

Ver. 7.

Behold his Bed, even Solomons, A guard about it stands, Of threescore valiant Champions, Drawn out of Israels bands.

Ver. 8.

So dreadful to their Enemies, All Warriours skil'd in fight, Their bright swords mounted on their thighs, Because of fear by night.

Ver. 9.

(For his delight) King Solomon A sumptuous Charot made; Of Cedars fetch't from Lebanon, Where he his stores had laid.

Ver. 10.

The Pillars, which the frame sustain, Where all with Silver wrought, And what he for the Throne ordained, With Gold from India brought. With Tyrian Purple, he did face That part, which was above, And for Ierusalems daughters grace, The midst he pav'd with love.

Ver. 11.

Goe forth yee Sion daughters, goe, Behold King Solomon, (O what a bright and glorious show) Now he his Crown has on: The crown which on his sacred head His royal Mother plac'd, When he his Nuptial finished, And was with joy's embrac'd.

Chap. IV.

Ver. 1.

BEhold, thou'rt very fair my love, Behold thou'rt wonderous fair, Thou hast the eyes as of a Dove Couch't underneath thy hair.

Whose dangling curles resemblance bear Unto the numerous flocks, Of climbing Goates, as they appear, From Gileads towring rocks.

Ver. 2.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep New washt, and even shorne; All which have twins they bare and keep, None barren or forlorne.

Ver. 3.

Thy lips are like a scarlet thred, Whence graceful accents flow, Thy temples in thy locks not hid, Like some Pomegranate show.

Ver. 4.

Thy neck like David's tower doth stand, Built for a Magazin, Wherein a thousand bucklers hang, All shields of mighty men.

Ver. 5.

Thy two breasts are like two young Roes, Twins of one fruitful Dam; The Lillies, O how sweet to those, They feed amongst the same.

Ver. 6.

Until the morning light appear, And shaddow flee from hence, Ile get me to the Mounts of myrrh, And hill of Frankincense.

Ver. 7.

Thour't fair my Love, thou art all fair, As fair, as fair can be; No stain thy fairness doth impare, There is no spot in thee.

Ver. 8.

Come O my Spouse, O come away With me from Lebanon, Look from the top of Amana, Of Shenir, and Hermon; From every dark devouring Cave; The dreadful Lions-dens, And mountains where the Leopards rave; O come with me from thence.

Ver. 9.

My Sister, thou my Spouse, that eye This chain about thy neck; My ravisht heart in Fetters tie, And all my powers subject.

Ver. 10.

My Sister, O thy lov's so fair, My Spouse, it wine excels; Nor any Spice of all that are, Sweet, as thine Oyntments, smells.

Ver. 11.

Like hony-combs thy lips, my Spouse, Drop honey all along: A stream of milk, and honey flowes From underneath thy tongue. The Robe and Vesture thou hast on, The Garments thou dost wear, Smell like the smell of Lebanon, And all that's pleasant there.

Ver. 12.

My Sister, she who is my Spouse, What enclos'd gardens be, Or springs shut up, (which no man knows) Or Fountains seal'd, is she.

Ver. 13.

An Orchard stor'd with pleasant fruits, (Such fruits thy plants do bear:) Pomegranat-trees there spread their roots Camphire, and Spikenard's there:

Ver. 14.

Sweet Spikenard, Saffron newly blown, Disperse their savour thence, With Calamus and Cinnamon, And trees of Frankincense; Myrrh, Alloes, and all that's rare, With every precious spice; Whose Odours do perfume the aire, And Lovers hearts entice.

Ver. 15.

From thee those living springs proceed, Those streams in plenty run, Which do our plants with moysture feed, As from Mount Lebanon.

Ver. 16.

Awake O North, O South arise, Upon my garden blow; That from each rich and precious spice A fragrant smell may flow.

Ver. 17.

Beloved (grant my humble suit) Come with a Lovers hast, Into thy gardens, eat the fruit, That most delights thy tast.

Chap. V.

Ver. 1.

INto my garden I am come, My Sister-Spouse most dear, Of every spice have gathered some, And with my spice, my Myrrh. In hony-combs all pure, and fresh, My honey I have eat: I've drunk my wine new from the press, With milk warm from the Teat: Come Friends (for you is all this store) Eat till ye have enough; Drink O Beloved, nor give o're, Till you'r enflam'd with love.

Ver. 2.

Although I sleep, and lie secure, My restless heart doth make; 'Tis my Beloved's voyce I'me sure, His knock, and he that spake: My Sister open unto me, My Love, O thou, more milde, Then gaulless Doves, I long to be With thee my undefil'd:

The dews, which on my head have light, My drenched hair do fill; The dropping moysture of the night, Down from my locks distill.

Ver. 3.

Shall I, now I am all undrest, Go cloath my self again! My feet washt fair, in hope of rest, Shall I so soon distain?

Ver. 4.

But, when I my Beloveds hand Upon the latch discernd; Greiv'd, that I should so long withstand; O then my bowels yearnd!

Ver. 5.

And rising, if he still was there, To open to his knock, My hands dropt myrrh, sweet smelling myrrh, As I but toucht the lock.

Ver. 6.

To my Beloved, thus kept out, Then opened I the doore, But my Beloved (griev'd no doubt) Was gone away before. My soul, because he did complain, Fail'd me, my heard did break;

I sought, and call'd, but all in vain to find, or make him speak.

Ver. 7.

The Watch, both they that walkt the round, And they that kept the wall, Found, smote, & gave me many a wound, And took away my vaile.

Ver. 8.

You Daughters of Ierusalem, I charge you, ere you move, Tell my Belov'd, ye finding him, That I am sick of love.

Ver. 9.

O thou, of all our Sex most faire, What's thy Beloved trow? Or what's he more than others are? That thou dost charge us so?

Ver. 10.

Why, my Beloved (to be breif,) Pure white, and ruddie is, Amongst ten thousand he is cheif, And beauties master-peice.

Ver. 11.

His head is of refined gold, His locks all bushie grow,

With curles, which in each other fold, Black as the pruned Crow.

Ver. 12.

His eyes, as if he were a Dove, By some clear rivolet, Washed in milk, and as they move, Alike exactly set.

Ver. 13.

His cheeks as beds of Spice and flowers Which pleasant smells confer, His lips like Lillies (filling ours) With drops of fragrant Myrrh.

Ver. 14.

His Hands as rings of gold with Jemms Of blazing Berril made, His Belly pollisht Ivorie seems, With Saphires overlaid.

Ver. 15.

His Legs like marble pillars stand Upon gold sockets plac'd, His Countenance like Lebanon, With loftie Cedars grac'd.

Ver. 16.

His Mouth most sweet, and all of him Most lovely; this, O this,

O Daughters of Ierusalem, My Souls beloved is.

Chap. VI.

Ver. 1.

FAir Virgin, parallel'd by none; If thou canst tell us, doe, Whither thy Soul's beloved's gone, That we may seek him too.

Ver. 2.

Down to his Garden, my belov'd, And beds of spices there, Is gone to feed on fruits improv'd, And gather Lillies fair.

Ver. 3.

I'me my Beloved's, He is mine, In love which words exceeds, Our hearts doe mutually combine, He amongst the Lillies feeds.

Ver. 4.

Fair Tirza, comely Solyma, Thy beauty, love, excels;

No Army in Battalia, Thy Terrors parallels.

Ver. 5.

O turn away thine eyes from me, Each glance in fetters locks; Thy hair, a flock of Goats might be, When seen on Gilead's rocks.

Ver. 6.

Thy teeth like Sheep, as they anew Come from the washing, all Of which, not one a barren Ewe, But equal Twins let fall.

Ver. 7.

Thy temples (to the rest, so rare, Compleatly adequate) Do underneath thy well-spread hair, Look like the Pomegranate.

Ver. 8.

They boast of many Queens, great store Of Concubines, a train Of Virgins infinitely more Than numbers can contain.

Ver. 9.

My Dove, my undefii'd is one, Her Mothers only dear;

The all, and very choice alone, Of her, who did her bear: The Daughters this unparallel'd Saw, and her praise confest, The Queens and Concubines beheld, And did pronounce her blest.

Ver. 10.

Who's this? who like the new - begun, And pleasant morning show's, Fair as the Moon, bright as the Sun, (When most illustrious:) Who though so pleasant, fair, and bright, Yet terrible; the dread Of Armies does not more affright, When they their Ensignes spread.

Ver. 11.

I to my pleasant Gardens went, Where spicy Nutmegs blow, To see the fruit, and increment, Which in the Valley grow; To see the Vines, if they, (their jems Disclos'd) young clusters bear, To see the Granats on their stems In their first bud - appear.

Ver. 12.

I, e're I was aware, or knew, With strong desires enclin'd, As in Amin'dabs Charots flew, (Whose wheels out-strip the wind.)

Ver. 13.

Return, O Shulamite, return, Return to Us, that we, (Who for thy absence greatly mourn,) Thee once again may see. What is there in the Shulamite May such desires create? Two Armies prevalent in fight, A strife inveterate.

Chap. VII.

Ver. 1.

HOw beautiful (for thee most meet,) Thee so illustrious, O Princess daughter, are thy feet, Thy Feet adorn'd with shoes!

How are the junctures of thy Thighs, Like jewels, which impart To curious, and admiring eyes, The skilful Workmans Art!

Ver. 2.

Thy Navel's like a Goblet set, With moisture standing out; Thy Belly like an heap of wheat, With Lillies round about.

Ver. 3.

Thy Breasts are like two new-wean'd Roes, Twins of one fruitfull Dam:

Ver. 4.

Thy Neck like a fair Turret shews, Which they of Ivory frame: Thine Eyes, the fish-pools in Heshbon, By th'gate of Beth-rabbim, Thy Nose, the Tower of Lebanon Facing Damascus, seem.

Ver. 5.

Thy Head like fruitful Carmel is, Whose hair's like purple stain'd; Within his royal galleries, How is the King detain'd!

Ver. 6.

How fair and pleasant for delight I thee, O love, esteem,

Ver. 7.

Thou mighst a Palm be by thine height, Thy Breasts fair clusters seem.

Ver. 8.

I said unto the Palm aloft, To it's sweet fruit, I'le go, And take hold of the boughs thereof, Which the victorious show. Also, thy Breasts shall kindly swell, Like clusters of the Vine; Thy Nose shall, as ripe Apples smell, (No breath's so sweet as thine.)

Ver. 9.

Thy Pallat too the best wine shows, For my Beloveds sake, Which goes down sweetly as it goes, Making th'asleep to wake.

Ver. 10.

I'm my Beloveds, none but he To me can title claim, And in him, zealous love to me, Doth strong desires enflame.

Ver. 11.

Come my Beloved, let us goe, And walk the Fields throughout, And for our lodging, take into Some Village there about.

Ver. 12.

Then to the Vineyards, let's be gone, And ere it's day be there, To see the Vines, if they come on, And their young grapes appear: To see how the Pomgranets prove, Whether they bud, or no; There will I give, out of my love, And all on thee bestow.

Ver. 13.

My Dear, the Mandrakes give a smell, And at our gates there be, Fruits new and old, what ere excel, Which I've laid up for thee.

Chap. VIII.

Ver. 1.

WEr't thou my Brother, wer't thou this And suck't my Mothers breast, Thee, when I found without, i'de kiss, And unreproved rest.

Ver. 2.

Then bring thee to my mothers house, Who would me discipline, There thou, with my Pomegranate juice Should drink of spiced wine.

Ver. 3.

As a soft pillow to my head, He should his left hand place, And with his right hand gently spread, He should me fast imbrace.

Ver. 4.

You daughters of Ierusalem, Now my Belov'd's at rest,

Stir not, besure, nor waken him Till he himself thinks best.

Ver. 5.

Who's this whose feet the hills ascend▪ Who from the Wilderness, Com's leaning on her darling friend? (A pleasing sight is this:) From under the fair Apple tree I rais'd thee up, even there Thy Mother, who conceived thee, Did thee conceive and bear.

Ver. 6.

O let me as a seal be set, And on thine heart imprest; And as a seal, and annulet, Upon thine arm be plac't. For love's as strong as death, the grave Then jel'sie not more cruel, Whose flames are fierce, and alwaies have A fresh supply of fuel.

Ver. 7.

Not many waters, nor great floods Can quench, or drown the same; Nor will a man for all one's goods His part in love disclaim.

Ver. 8.

We have a little Sister, one Whose breasts do not appear; What's for our Sister to be done, In th' day they spake for her?

Ver. 9.

Is she a Wall, on her will we A Silver palace build: Or if a door, wee'l cause she be About with Cedar ceild.

Ver. 10.

I am a firm foundation wall, My breasts like Towers seem, Then in his eyes I (more then all,) Found favour and esteem.

Ver. 11.

A Vineyard did King Solomon In Ba-al-ha-mon plant; And let it out, when he had done, At such a yearly rent: They, who the keeping of it had, Each person for his share, A thousand silver shekels pay'd, For fruits and profit there.

Ver. 12.

That Vineyard, that which I possess, And which is mine by right, With diligence I daily dress, And keep still in my sight: O Solomon! we thus compute, A thousand is thy due, And unto them that keep the fruit, An hundred doth accrue.

Ver. 13.

Thou that dost in the Gardens live, Unto thy voice, their ear Do the companions freely give, Yet cause thou me to hear:

Ver. 14.

Haste my Beloved unto me, A Roe or Youthful Hart, Upon the spicie Mountains be, And set delayes apart.