Canticum Canticorum 1
The song of songs, which [is] Solomon’s.
2 [Sponsa Osculetur me osculo oris sui; quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino,
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.
3 fragrantia unguentis optimis. Oleum effusum nomen tuum; ideo adolescentulæ dilexerunt te.
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
4 Chorus Adolescentularum Trahe me, post te curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum. Introduxit me rex in cellaria sua; exsultabimus et lætabimur in te, memores uberum tuorum super vinum. Recti diligunt te.
Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.
5 Sponsa Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiæ Jerusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis.
I [am] black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
6 Nolite me considerare quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol. Filii matris meæ pugnaverunt contra me; posuerunt me custodem in vineis: vineam meam non custodivi.
Look not upon me, because I [am] black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; [but] mine own vineyard have I not kept.
7 Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie, ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest [thy flock] to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
8 Sponsus Si ignoras te, o pulcherrima inter mulieres, egredere, et abi post vestigia gregum, et pasce hædos tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum.
If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
9 Equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis assimilavi te, amica mea.
I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Pulchræ sunt genæ tuæ sicut turturis; collum tuum sicut monilia.
Thy cheeks are comely with rows [of jewels], thy neck with chains [of gold].
11 Murenulas aureas faciemus tibi, vermiculatas argento.
We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
12 Sponsa Dum esset rex in accubitu suo, nardus mea dedit odorem suum.
While the king [sitteth] at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
13 Fasciculus myrrhæ dilectus meus mihi; inter ubera mea commorabitur.
A bundle of myrrh [is] my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
14 Botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi in vineis Engaddi.
My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 Sponsus Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea! ecce tu pulchra es! Oculi tui columbarum.
Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves’ eyes.
16 Sponsa Ecce tu pulcher es, dilecte mi, et decorus! Lectulus noster floridus.
Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed [is] green.
17 Tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina, laquearia nostra cypressina.]
The beams of our house [are] cedar, [and] our rafters of fir.
