Song of Songs 1
The Church's love unto Christ.
Song of Songs 1:1 {Absent from this edition.} Song of Songs 1:2 Kisse he me with the cos of his mouth. For thi tetis ben betere than wyn, Song of Songs 1:3 and yyuen odour with beste oynementis. Thi name is oile sched out; therfor yonge damesels loueden thee. Song of Songs 1:4 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.
She confesseth her deformity,
Song of Songs 1:5 Ye douytris of Jerusalem, Y am blak, but fair, as the tabernaclis of Cedar, as the skynnes of Salomon. Song of Songs 1:6 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.
and prayeth to be directed to his flock.
Song of Songs 1:7 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.
Christ directeth her to the shepherd's tents:
Song of Songs 1:8 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.
and shewing his love to her,
Song of Songs 1:9 Mi frendesse, Y licnede thee to myn oost of knyytis in the charis of Farao. Song of Songs 1:10 Thi chekis ben feire, as of a turtle; thi necke is as brochis.
giveth her gracious promises.
Song of Songs 1:11 We schulen make to thee goldun ournementis, departid and maad dyuerse with silver.
The Church and Christ congratulate one another.
Song of Songs 1:12 Whanne the kyng was in his restyng place, my narde yaf his odour. Song of Songs 1:13 My derlyng is a bundel of myrre to me; he schal dwelle bitwixe my tetis. Song of Songs 1:14 My derlyng is to me a cluster of cipre tre, among the vyneres of Engaddi. Song of Songs 1:15 Lo! my frendesse, thou art fair; lo! thou art fair, thin iyen ben the iyen of culueris. Song of Songs 1:16 Lo, my derling, thou art fair, and schapli; oure bed is fair as flouris. Song of Songs 1:17 The trees of oure housis ben of cedre; oure couplis ben of cipresse.
|
