{The Ballad of Ballads of Solomon} O that thy mouth would give me a kiss!

For thy love is more pleasant than wine,

and that because of the good and pleasant savour. Thy name is sweet smelling ointment when it is shed forth; therefore do the maidens love thee.

Draw thou me unto thee; we will run after thee. The king hath brought me into his privy chamber: We will be glad and rejoice in thee, we think more of thy love than of wine. They that be righteous love thee.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest the sheep, where thou maketh the rest at the noon day: for why shall I be like him that goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions?

If thou know not thyself, O thou fairest among women, then go thy way forth after the footsteps of the sheep, and feed thy goats beside the shepherds' tents.

Then shall thy cheeks and thy neck be made fair, and hanged with spangles and goodly jewels:

Up, haste my love, my dove, in the holes of the rock and secret places of the walls. Show me thy face and let me hear thy voice: for thy voice is sweet and thy fashion beautiful.

O how fair art thou, my love, how fair art thou? Thou hast doves' eyes, beside that which lieth hid within. Thy hairy locks are like the wool of a flock of goats that be shorn on Mount Gilead.

Thy teeth are like sheep that be clipped, which go first up from the washing place: where every one beareth two twins, and not one unfruitful among them.

Thy lips are like a rose colored ribbon, thy words are lovely: thy cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, within thine hairs.

Thy neck is like the tower of David builded with bulwarks, whereupon there hang a thousand shields; yea, all the weapons of the giants.

Thy two breasts are like two twins of young roes, which feed among the lilies.

Thou hast bewitched my heart, O my sister, my spouse; thou hast bewitched my heart with one of thine eyes, and with one chain of thy neck.

O how fair are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse? Thy breasts are more pleasant than wine, and the smell of thine ointments passeth all spices.

Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb; yea, milk and honey is under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of frankincense.

Who is thy love above other lovers, O thou fairest among women? Or what can thy love do, more than other lovers, that thou chargest us so straightly?

Whither is thy love gone then, O thou fairest among women; whither is thy love departed, that we may seek him with thee?

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have set me on fire! Thy hairy locks are like a flock of goats upon the mount of Gilead.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that be clipped, which go out of the washing place: where every one beareth two twins, and not one unfruitful among them.

Thy cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, within thy volupers.

O how pleasant are thy treadings, with thy shoes, thou prince's daughter? The joint of thy thighs are like a fair jewel, which is wrought by a cunning work master;

Thy navel is like a round goblet, which is never without drink. Thy womb is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies;

Thy two breasts are like two twins of young roes.

Thy neck is as it were a tower of ivory; thine eyes are like the water pools in Heshbon, by the port of Bathrabbim. Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus.

That head that standeth upon thee is like Carmel; the hair of thy head is like the king's purple folden up in plates.

Thy stature is like a date tree, and thy breasts like the grapes.

I said, I will climb up the date tree, and take hold of his branches. Thy breasts also shall be as the vine grapes, the smell of thy nostrils like the smell of apples,

and thy throat like the best wine. This shall be pure and clear for my love, his lips and teeth shall have their pleasure.

I am the same that waked thee up among the apple trees, where thy mother bare thee, where thy mother brought thee in to the world.

Thou that dwellest in the gardens, O let me hear thy voice, that my companions may hearken to the same.