I will get up now and go about the town, in the streets and in the wide ways I will go after him who is the love of my soul: I went after him, but I did not see him.

The watchmen who go about the town came by me; to them I said, Have you seen him who is my heart's desire?

The keepers who go about the town overtook me; they gave me blows and wounds; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

My loved one is white and red, the chief among ten thousand.

My loved one is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to take food in the gardens, and to get lilies.

Who is she, looking down as the morning light, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, who is to be feared like an army with flags?

I went down into the garden of nuts to see the green plants of the valley, and to see if the vine was in bud, and the pomegranate-trees were in flower.

And the roof of your mouth like good wine flowing down smoothly for my loved one, moving gently over my lips and my teeth.

Oh that you were my brother, who took milk from my mother's breasts! When I came to you in the street, I would give you kisses; yes, I would not be looked down on.