Song of Solomon, in The Douay Old Testament (1609–1610)

The Song of Songs, which the Douay calls the Canticle of Canticles. This is Song of Solomon as it stands in the second tome of the Douay Old Testament (Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610), the English College of Douai’s Catholic translation from the Latin Vulgate, in its original spelling. The page gives the edition’s Argument of the book and every chapter with its printed summary, the verse text and the marginal notes.

THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES.

SALOMON, called alſo Eccleſiaſtes, and Idida, according to theſe [Margin: Proem. in Eccle.] [Margin: King Salomon according to his three names writte and intitled his three bookes.] three names (as S. Ierom noteth) writte three bookes of three particular arguments, directed to three degrees of people, with three diſtinct titles, al tending to one end, the true ſeruice of God, which bringeth to eternal felicitie. In the firſt he teacheth the principles of good life, to flee from vices, and folow vertues: belonging to ſuch as beginne to obſerue Gods law, wherin true wiſdom conſiſteth: and this booke is called the Prouerbes, or Parables, that is to ſay, Pithie, brief, ſentencious precepts; of Salomon, which ſignifieth [Margin: Salomon Pacifier king of Iſrael.] Pacificus, Peaceable, or Pacifier: the ſonne of Dauid, King of Iſrael. In the ſecond he exhorteth to contemne this world, shewing that true felicitie conſiſteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges, but in the eternal fruition of God, which is obtayned by keping his commandments. And this booke he intitleth: The wordes of Eccleſiaſtes, which is Concionator, [Margin: Eccleſiaſtes, Preacher king of Ieruſalem.] Preacher, Sonne of Dauid, King of Ieruſalem, becauſe he there exhorteth ſuch as haue made ſome progreſſe in vertues, called Proficientes, ſignified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ieruſalem; whereas in the former he ſtiled himſelf king of Iſrael, propoſing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes, and al vulgar men deſirous and beginning to ſerue God. In both bookes, for more auctoritie ſake, making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid, with his owne title alſo of king. But in this third booke he only expreſſeth his proper name Salomon, whom God [Margin: Idida, Beloued.] ſingularly loued, wherof he was called Idida. Becauſe this alone, without mention of father or king, was moſt conuenient for the Perfect, who not as ſeruants, or yong ſcholars are moued by feare of auctoritie, but as children [Margin: This Canticle doth excel other Canticles.] are ſwetly drawne by loue. And this he writte in verſe, intitling it not ſimply a Canticle, but The Canticle of Canticles, as preeminent aboue other Canticles. The bridal ſongue for the Mariage, to be ſolemnized betwen God himſelf and his glorious ſpouſe. For though al holie Scriptures are the ſpiritual bread, and food of the faithful, yet al are not meate for al, at al [Margin: Al are not mete to read it.] ſeaſons. Some parts are not for ſinners, nor for beginners, nor for ſuch as are yet in the way towards perfection, but only for the perfect. According to [Margin: Heb. 5.] the Apoſtles doctrine: Milke is for children, that are yet vnskilful of the word of iuſtice. But ſtrong meate is for the perfect, them that by cuſtom, haue their ſenſes exerciſed to the diſcerning of good and euil. With what moderation therfore, and humilitie, this Canticle of Gods perfect ſpouſe may be read, the diſcrete wil conſider, and not preſume aboue their reach, but be wiſe with ſobrietie. For here be very high and hidden Myſteries, as Origen teacheth in his lerned Commentaries (which S. Ierom tranſlated into Latin, and ſingularly commendeth) and ſo much harder to be rightly vnderſtood, for that the feruent ſpiritual loue, of the inward man, reformed in ſoule, and perfected in ſpirite, is here vttered in the ſame vſual wordes and termes, wherwith, natural, worldlie, yea and carnal loue of the outward man, old Adam, corrupted by ſinne, is commonly expreſſed: and are ſo much more dangerous to be miſtaken, as we are more addicted to proper wil, & priuate iudgement, or ſubiect to carnal, or paſſionate [Margin: Beſt methode in lerning is to beginne with doctrine of good life, then ſtudie to know natural thinges: and finally contemplate diuine myſteries] motions. Wherfore it ſemeth moſt mete to kepe the ſame order in reading theſe three bookes, which the auctor wiſe Salomon obſerued in writing them. And which Philoſophers alſo folow in their forme of diſcipline. For they firſt lerne and teach Moral Philoſophie, then Natural; & laſtly Metaphiſikes which is their Diuinitie. As Salomon had geuen them example: firſt teaching precepts of good life, and maners, in his Prouerbes: after, diſcourſing of natural thinges in Eccleſiaſtes, deduced thence a concluſion, which prophane Philoſophers wel vnderſtood not, to contemne this world: and finally cometh to high myſtical Diuinitie, in this ſupereminent Canticle: written in an other ſtile, in verſe, and in forme of a ſacred [Margin: A ſacred, dialogue or Enterlude.] Dialogue betwen Chriſt and his ſpouſe: or as Origen calleth it, in forme of an [Margin (*): Forma dramatis] Enterlude, in reſpect of diuers ſpeakers & actors, & of diuers perſons, to whom the ſpeaches are directed, and of whom they are vttered. For by the Spous or Bridgrome, is not only vnderſtood Chriſt as Man, but alſo as [Margin: God & Chriſt the Spous, or Bridgrome.] God, and the whole Bleſſed Trinitie; to whom manie prayers, praiſes, and thankes are offered vp; and by whom manie benefites are geuen, praiſes returned, & promiſes made to his ſpouſe, Likewiſe by the Spouſe or Bride, [Margin: Three ſpouſes] the ancient fathers vnderstand three ſortes of ſpouſes: al eſpouſed to Chriſt, and to God. towitt, his General Spouſe, the whole Church of the old and [Margin: The General.] new Teſtaments; of al that are, and shal be perfect, making one mystical [Margin: The ſpecial. and Singular.] bodie, free from ſinne, without ſpotte, or wrinkle, ſanctified in Chriſt. Alſo [Margin: Epheſ. 5.] his ſpecial ſpouſe, which is euerie particular holie ſoule. And his ſingular spouſe, his moſt bleſſed & moſt immaculate Ʋirgin Mother. This being the [Margin: Origen. S. Ierom. S. Aug. lib. 8. de Gen. adli. S. Greg. S. Beda, S. Tho. A⟨illegible⟩bor. Geneb. Del Rio.] general ſumme of this excellent Canticle, remitting the reader, for explication therof to the lerned deuout Commenters, both of ancient and late writers, we shal alſo endeuour together the ſame contents more particularly, not before the chapters, becauſe we can not there ſo conueniently diſtinguish the ſame [Margin: The particular contents are ſette in the margent of euerie chapter.] by verſes, but in the margent. Where we shal eſpecially note the speakers, as ſemeth more probable of euerie parcel, according to the firſt ſenſe (not hauing rowme for more) perteyning to the General spouſe, the Catholique Church: which is the great, and euerlasting holie Citie of God the eternal King.

SALAMONS CANTICLE OF CANTICLES, WHICH IN HEBREW IS CALLED SIR HASIRIM.

Chapter 1

CHAP. I.

2 LET [a] him kiſſe me with the kiſſe of his mouth: becauſe thy breſtes are better then wine,

3 ſmelling fragrantly of the beſt ointments. Oile powred out is thy name: therfore haue yongmaydes loued thee.

4 Draw me: we wil runne after thee in the odour of thine ointments. The king hath brought me into his cellars: we wil reioyce & be glad in thee, mindful of thy breſts aboue wine: the righteous loue thee.

5 [b] I am blacke but beutiful, ô ye daughters of Ieruſalem, as the tabernacles of Cedar, as the skinnes of Salomon.

6 Doe not conſider me that I am browne, becauſe the ſunne hath altered my colour: the ſonnes of my mother haue fought againſt me, they haue made me a keeper in the vinyards: my vinyard I haue not kept.

7 Shew me ô thou, whom my ſoule loueth, where thou feedeſt, where thou lyeſt in the midday, leſt I beginne to wander after the flockes of thy companyons.

8 [c] If thou know not thyſelfe, ô moſt fayreſt among wemen, goeforth, and folow after the ſteppes of the flockes, and feede thy kiddes byſide the tabernacles of the paſtours.

9 To my companie of horſemen, in the chariotes of Pharao, haue I likened thee, ô my loue.

10 Thy cheekes are beautiful as the turteldoues, thy necke as iewels.

11 We wil make thee cheynes of gold, enamoled with ſiluer.

12 [d] Whiles the king was at his repoſe, my ſpikenard gaue the odour thereof.

13 A bundle of myrrhe my beloued is to me, he shal abide betwen my breſtes.

14 A cluſtre of cypre my loue is to me, in the vineyardes of Engaddi.

15 [e] Behold thou art fayre, ô my loue, behold thou art fayre, thyne eyes are as of doues.

16 [f] Behold thou art fayre my beloued, & comlie: [g] our litle bed is florishing.

17 The beames of our houſes are of cedar, our rafters of cypreſſe trees.

Marginal notes to Chapter 1

• 2 [a] The Church of the old teſtament deſireth Chriſts coming in fleſh: and the Chriſtian Church prayeth for his coming in glorie.
• 5 [b] The Church outwardly afflicted, is inwardly fayre.
• 8 [c] Chriſt encorageth his ſpouſe the Church.
• 12 [d] She meditateth of his Paſſion, and Reſurrection.
• 15 [e] Chriſt praiſeth his ſpouſe
• 16 [f] She againe praiſeth him;
• 16 [g] VVith thankes for her repoſe, and preſent conſolation.

Chapter 2

CHAP. II.

1 I AM [a] the flower of the filde, and the lilie of the valley,

2 [b] As the lilie among the thornes, ſo is my loue among the daughters.

3 [c] As the apletree among trees of the woddes, ſo is my beloued among the ſonnes. Vnder his shadow, whom I deſired, I ſate: and his fruite was ſweete vnto my throte.

4 He brought me into the wineceller, he hath ordered in me charitie.

5 Stay me vp with flowers, compaſſe me about with apples: becauſe I languish with loue.

6 His lefthand vnder my head, and his righthand shal embrace me.

7 I adiure you ô daughters of Ieruſalem, by the roes, and the hartes of the fildes, [d] that you rayſe not, nor make the beloued to awake, vntil herſelfe wil.

8 [e] The voice of my beloued, behold he cometh leaping in the mountaines, leaping ouer the little hilles:

9 my beloued is like vnto a roe, and to a fawne of hartes. Behold he ſtandeth behind our walle, [f] looking through the windowes, looking forth by the grates.

10 Behold my beloued ſpeaketh to me: [g] Ariſe, make haſt my loue, my doue, beautiful one, and come.

11 For winter is now paſt, the rayne is gone, and departed.

12 The flowers haue appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtledoue is heard in our land:

13 the figgerree hath brought forth her greene figges: the florishing vineyards haue geuen their ſauour. Ariſe my loue, my beautiful one, & come.

14 My doue in the holes of the rocke, in the holow places of the wal, shew me thy face, let thy voice ſound in mine eares: for thy voice is ſweete, and thy face comely.

15 [h] Catch vs the litle foxes, that deſtroy the vineyards: for our vineyard hath florished.

16 i My beloued to me, and I to him, who feedeth among the lilies,

17 til the day breake, and the shadowes decline. Returne: be like, my beloued, to a roe, and to the fawne of hartes vpon the mountaynes of Bether.

Marginal notes to Chapter 2

• 1 [a] Chriſt profeſſeth himſelf the floure of mankinde: yea Lord of al creatures.
• 2 [b] The Church excelleth al other ſocieties: In the Church the godlie excel ſinners, Among the innocent and holie, the virgin Marie ſurpaſſeth al.
• 3 [c] The Church praiſing Chriſt reſteth ſecure vnder his protectiō.
• 7 [d] He for the weakes ſake permitteth her not to be moleſted, til ſhe be prepared to ſuffer vvith patience.
• 8 [e] She feeling Chriſts aſſiſtance, confeſſeth, & preacheth boldly his Goſpel, & truth againſt al Paganes, and Heretikes.
• 9 [f] VVho though he ſhew not himſelf viſibly:
• 10 [g] yet encorageth her to approch vnto him:
• 15 [h] commandeth his paſtors to deſtroy hereſies. i And ſo she repoſeth in him.

Chapter 3

CHAP. III.

1 IN [a] my litle bed in the nightes I haue ſought him, whom my ſoule loueth, I haue ſought him, and haue not found.

2 I wil riſe, and wil goe about the citie: by the ſtreates and high waies, I wil ſeeke him whom my ſoule loueth: I haue ſought him, and haue not found.

3 The watchmen which kepe the citie found me; Haue you ſeene him, whom my ſoule loueth.

4 When I had a litle paſſed by them, I found him whom my ſoule loueth: I held him: neither wil I let him goe, til I bring him into [b] my mothers houſe, and into the chamber of her that bare me.

5 [c] I adiure you ô daughters of Ieruſalem by the roes, and the hartes of the fildes, that you rayſe not vp, nor make the beloued to awake, til herſelfe wil.

6 [d] What is she, that aſcendeth by the deſert, as a litle rod of ſmoke of [e] the aromatical ſpices of myrtrhe, and frankincenſe, & of al powder of the apothecharie?

7 [f] Behold threeſcore valiants of the moſt valiant of Iſrael, compaſſe the litle bed of Salomon:

8 al holding ſwordes, and moſt cunning to battels: eueree mans ſword vpon his thigh for feares by night.

9 King Salomon hath made him a portable throne of the wood of Libanus:

10 the pillers therof he hath made of ſiluer, the ſeare of gold, the going vp [g] of purple: the middes he hath paued with [h] charitie for the daughters of Ieruſalem.

11 [i] Goe forth ye daughters of Sion, and ſee king Salomon in [k] the diademe, wherewith his mother hath crowned him in the day of his deſpouſing, and in the day of the ioy of his heart.

Marginal notes to Chapter 3

• 1 [a] The Church finding Chriſt not in darke ignorance nor in philoſophie but by his reue⟨illegible⟩ling him ſelfe to her, holdeth him for euer:
• 4 [b] euen til the lewes ſhal at laſt alſo find him.
• 5 [c] Chriſt ſpeaketh as before ch 2. v. 7
• 6 [d] The Church of Chriſt admireth her owne conuerſion from Gentilitie,
• 6 [e] now ful of good workes.
• 7 [f] She alſo profeſſeth that the aſcending to eternal reſt, is by fighting manfully, in obſeruing the ten commandments, in the ſix dayes of this life:
• 10 [g] euen to bloud, if ned⟨illegible⟩ be,
• 10 [h] which is the higheſt degree of charitie.
• 11 [i] And inuiteth al others to come vnto Chriſt,
• 11 [k] who in the fleſh which he tooke of his mother, was crowned in heauen after his Paſſion.

Chapter 4

CHAP. IIII.

1 HOW [a] beautiful art thou my loue, how beautiful art thou! thine [b] eies as it were of doues, beſides that, which lyeth hid within. Thy [c] heares as the flockes of goates, which haue come vp from mount Galaad.

2 Thy [d] teeth as flockes of them that are shorne, which haue come vp from the lauatorie, al with [e] twinnes, and there is no barren among them.

3 Thy [f] lippes as a ſcarlet lace: and thy ſpeach ſweete. As à peece of a pomegranate, ſo are alſo thy [g] cheekes, beſides that which lyeth hid within.

4 Thy [h] necke is as the [i] towre of Dauid, which is built with bulworkes: a thouſand targattes hang on it, al the armour of the valiants.

5 Thy [k] two breaſtes as two fawnes the twinnes of a roe, which feede among the lilies,

6 til the day aſpire, and the shadowes decline. [l] I wil goe to the mount of myrrhe, and to the little hil of frankencenſe.

7 Thou art al fayre ô my loue, and there is [m] not a ſpotte in thee.

8 Come from Libanus my ſpouſe, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned from the head of Amena, from the toppe of Sanir & Hermon, from the dennes of lions, from the mountaynes of leopardes.

9 Thou haſt wounded my heart, my ſiſter ſpouſe, thou haſt wounded my heart in one of thine eies, and in one heare of thy necke.

10 How beautiful are thy breaſtes my ſiſter ſpouſe! thy breaſtes are more beautiful then wine, and the odour of thine ointmentes aboue al aromatical ſpices.

11 Thy lippes my ſpouſe are as an honie combe diſtilling, honie and mile kare vnder thy tongue: and the odour of thy garments as the odour of frankincenſe.

12 My ſiſter ſpouſe is a garden incloſed, a garden incloſed, a fountaine ſealed vp.

13 Thy ofſprings a paradiſe of pomegranats with orchard fruites. Cypres with ſpiknard,

14 ſpiknard, and ſafren, ſweete cane and cinnamon, with al ⟨illegible⟩he trees of Libanus, myrrhe and aloes with al the chiefe ointmentes.

15 The fountaine of gardens: the wel of liuing waters, which runne with violence from Libanus.

16 [n] Ariſe Northwinde, & come Southwinde, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical ſpices therof flowe.

Marginal notes to Chapter 4

• 1 [a] Chriſt againe prai⟨illegible⟩eth the beautie of his Church.
• 1 [b] Sincere and ſimple intention.
• 1 [c] Al her temporal occupations directed to Gods glorie
• 2 [d] Paſtors who like nurces geue bread of good doctrine to litle ones.
• 2 [e] Faith and good workes.
• 3 [f] Preaching Chriſts paſſion.
• 3 [g] And not aſhamed to profeſſe Chriſt Crucified.
• 4 [h] Adminiſtration of Sacraments wherby the Church, Chriſts myſtical bodie, is ioyned to him her head,
• 4 [i] which is an inexpugnable fortreſſe.
• 5 [k] Both Iewes and Gentiles are fed with the principles of Chriſtian doctrin.
• 6 [l] Chriſt dwelleth in mortified, and deuout mindes.
• 7 [m] The Church triumphant is without ſpotte, and euerie particular ſoule entring into heauen; the B▪ virgin mother was alſo in this life alwayes immaculate.
• 16 [n] Al tentations, whether they be in manifeſt crueltie, or in flatering ſureltie, make conſtant ſoules more gratful to God.

Chapter 5

CHAP. V.

1–2 LET [a] my beloued come into his garden, and eate the fruite of his appletrees. [b] I am come into my garden ô my ſiſter ſpouſe, I haue reaped my myrrhe, with myne aromatical ſpices: I haue eaten the honiecombe with mine honie, I haue drunke my wine with my milke: [c] eate ô frendes, and drinke, and be inebriated my deareſt. [d] I ſleepe, and my hart watcheth: [e] the voice of my beloued knocking: Open to me my ſiſter, my loue, my doue, mine immaculate: [f] becauſe my head is ful of dew, and my lockes of the droppes of the nightes.

3 I haue ſpoyled myſelfe of my robe, how shal I be clothed with it? I haue washed my feete, how shal I defile them?

4 My beloued put his hand through the hole, and my bellie trembled at his touch.

5 [g] I aroſe, that I might open to my beloued: my handes haue diſtilled myrrhe, and my fingers are ful of moſt approued myrrhe.

6 I opened the bolt of my dore to my beloued: but he had turned aſide, and was paſſed. My ſoule melted, as he ſpake: I ſought, and found him not: I called, and he did not anſwer me.

7 The keepers that goe about the citie found me: they ſtroke me, and wounded me: the keepers of the walles tooke away my cloke.

8 [h] I adiure you ô daughters of Hieruſalem, if you shal finde my beloued, that you tel him, that I languishe with loue.

9 [i] What maner of one is thy beloued of the beloued, ô moſt beautiful of wemen? What maner of one is thy beloued of the beloued, that thou haſt ſo adiured vs?

10 My beloued is white and ruddie, choſen of thouſands.

11 His head is as the beſt gold: his heares as the branches of palmetrees, blacke as à rauen.

12 His eies as doues vpon the litle riuers of waters, which are washed with milke, and ſitte beſide the moſt ful ſtreames.

13 His cheekes are as litle beddes of aromatical ſpices ſet of the pigmentaries. His lippes are as lilies diſtilling principal myrrhe.

14 His handes wrought round of gold, ful of hyacinthes. His bellie of iuorie, diſtinguished with ſapphires.

15 His thighes as pillers of marble, that are vpon feete of gold. His forme as of Libanus, elect as the cedars.

16 His throte moſt ſweete, and he whole to be deſired: ſuch an one is my beloued, and he is my frend, ô daughters of Hieruſalem.

17 [k] Whither is thy beloued gone ô moſt beautiful of wemen? whither is thy beloued turned aſide, and we wil ſeeke him with thee?

Marginal notes to Chapter 5

• 1–2 [a] The ſpouſe condeſcending to Gods vvil, is vvel content to ſuffer perſecution.
• 1–2 [b] Chriſt again⟨illegible⟩ ſhevveth his good liking in his ſpouſes patience:
• 1–2 [c] and vvilleth the glorious Sainctes to congratulate vvith the patient.
• 1–2 [d] The ſpouſe deſireth to reſt in meditation.
• 1–2 [e] but is called vpon to helpe others:
• 1–2 [f] and vrged by Chriſts owne example working for al mankind.
• 5 [g] And ſo ſhe imployeth herſelf alſo in actiue life.
• 8 [h] Stil conſeruing a deſire to returne vnto contemplation.
• 9 [i] The deuout confer together deſcribing the excellencies of Chriſt.
• 17 [k] And reſolue to ſeke him, wherſoeuer he be.

Chapter 6

CHAP. VI.

1 MY [a] beloued is gone downe into his garden, to the bed of aromatical ſpices, to feede in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

2 I to my beloued, and my beloued to me, who feedeth among the lilies.

3 [b] Thou art fayre ô my loue, ſweete, and comelie as Hieruſalem: terrible as the armie of a campe ſet in aray.

4 [c] Turne away thine eies from me, becauſe they haue made me flee away. Thy heares as a flocke of goates, which haue appeared from Galaad.

5 Thy teeth as à flocke of sheepe, which haue come vp from the lauatorie, al with twinnes, and there is no barren among them.

6 As the barke of a pomegranate, ſo are thy cheekes beſide thy hidden.

7 There are [d] threeſcore queenes, & [e] foureſcore concubines, and of [f] yongmaydes there is no number.

8 My doue is [g] one, my perfect one, she is the only to her mother, elect to her that bare her. The daughters haue ſeene her, and declared her to be moſt bleſſed: the queenes and concubines, and haue prayſed her.

9 [h] What is she, that cometh forth as the morning ryſing, fayre as the moone, elect as the ſunne, terrible as the armie of a campe ſet in aray?

10 I came downe into the garden of nuttes, to ſee the fruites of the valles, and to looke if the vineyarde had florished, and the pomegranats budded.

11 I knew not: my ſoule trubled me for the chariotes of Aminadab.

12 [i] Returne, returne ô Sulamiteſſe: returne, returne that we may behold thee.

Marginal notes to Chapter 6

• 1 [a] The Church teacheth her children that Chriſt is delighted with the godlie deſires, and fructful vvorkes of the faithful.
• 3 [b] Chriſt g⟨illegible⟩e commendeth his Church, wel compoſed of diſtinct orders (ſome gouerning, ſome retired in clo⟨illegible⟩ſters from this world, the reſt alſo exerciſing vvorkes of mercie, in the trubles of this life) al together making a complete armie terrible to al enimies.
• 4 [c] The more anie contemplate Gods Maieſtie, the better they perceiue that he is incomprenſenſible.
• 7 [d] Manie true paſtores,
• 7 [e] more hyrelinges, that alſo preach truth, but for temporal commoditie.
• 7 [f] And innumerable faithful ſoules in the Church.
• 8 [g] Al vvhich are but one bodie in vnitie of ⟨illegible⟩aith
• 9 [h] The voice of the old ſynagogue, admiring the beautie of Chriſts Church
• 12 [i] The Church of Chriſt exhorteth the Synagogue of the Ievves to returne to Chriſt.

Chapter 7

CHAP. VII.

1 VVHAT [a] shalt thou ſee in the Sulamiteſſe but the companies of campes? How beautiful are thy paſes in shoes, ô princes daughter! b the ioyntes of thy thighes are as iewels, that are made by the hand of the artificer.

2 Thy nauel as à round bowle, neuer wanting cuppes. Thy bellie as an heape of wheate, compaſſed about with lilies.

3 Thy two breaſts, as two fawnes the twinnes of a roe.

4 Thy necke as a towre of yuorie. Thine eies as the fishpooles in Heſebon, which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude. Thy noſe as the towre of Libanus, that looketh[b] againſt Damaſcus.

5 Thy head as Carmelus: and the heares of thy head as a kings purple tyed to cundite pipes.

6 How beautiful art thou, and how comely my deareſt, in delightes!

7 Thy ſtature is like to a palmetree, & thy breaſtes to cluſters of grapes.

8 I ſayd: I wil goe vp into the palmetree, and wil take hold of the fruites therof: and thy breaſts shal be as the cluſters of a vineyard: and the odour of thy mouth as it were of apples.

9 Thy throate as the beſt wine, [c] worthie for my beloued to drinke, & for his lippes and his teeth to ruminate.

10 I to my beloued, and his turning is toward me.

11 [d] Come my beloued, let vs goeforth in to the filde, let vs abide in the villages.

12 Let vs riſe earely to the vineyards, let vs ſee if the vineyard florishe, if the flowers be readie to bring forth fruites, if the pomegranates florish: there wil I giue thee my breaſts.

13 The Mandragoraes haue geuen a ſmel. In our gates al fruites: [e] the new and the old, my beloued, I haue kept for thee.

Marginal notes to Chapter 7

• 1 [a] Chriſt interpoſeth his commendation of the Ievves, vvho at laſt shal returne to him vvith great ſeruoure of faith and deuotion.
• 4 [b] And ſo iointly praiſeth his Church conſiſting of both peoples.
• 9 [c] The Church, as it vvere taking the vvoid out of Chriſts mouth vvhiles he praiſed her, she returneth al the praiſe to him.
• 11 [d] Praying him to come and ſtil remaine vvith her,
• 13 [e] Acknovvleging him to be the only Sauiour of both old and nevv teſtament.

Chapter 8

CHAP. VIII.

1 VVHO [a] shal giue to me thee my brother, ſucking the breaſts of my mother, that I may finde thee without, and kiſſe thee, and now no man deſpiſe me?

2 I wil take hold of thee, and wil bring thee into my mothers houſe: there thou shalt teach me, and I wil giue thee a cuppe of ſpiced wine, and new wine of my pomegranats.

3 His left hand vnder my head, and his right hand shal embrace me.

4 [b] I adiure you ô daughters of Ieruſalem, that you rayſe not vp, nor make the beloued to awake til herſelfe wil.

5 [c] Who is this, that cometh vp from the deſert, flowing with delightes, leaning vpon her beloued? Vnder the appletree I rayſed thee vp: d there thy mother was corrupted, there she vas defloured that bare thee.

6 Put me as a ſeale vpon thy hart, as a ſeale vpon thyne arme: becauſe loue is ſtrong as death: ielouſie is hard as hel, the lampes thereof lampes of fyre and flames.

7 Manie waters can not quench charitie, neither shal floudes ouerwhelme it: if a man shal giue al the ſubſtance of his houſe for loue, as nothing he shal deſpiſe it.

8 e Our ſiſter is litle, and hath no breaſts. What shal we doe to our ſiſter in the day when she is to be ſpoken vnto?

9 If she be a wal, let vs build vpon it bulwarkes of ſiluer: if she be a doore, let vs ioyne it together with bordes of ceder.

10 [f] I am a wal: and my breaſts are as a towre, ſince I was made before him as one finding peace.

11 The peacemaker had a vinyard, in that which hath peoples: he deliuered the ſame [g] to keepers, a man bringeth for the fruite thereof a thouſand peeces of ſiluer.

12 [h] My vineyard is before me. A thouſand are thy peacemakers, and two hundreth for them, that keepe the fruites thereof.

13 Thou that dwelleſt in the gardens, the frends doe harken: make me heare thy voice.

14 [i] Flee, ô my beloued, and be like to the roe, [d] and to the fawne of harts vpon the mountaines of aromatical ſpices.[e]

Marginal notes to Chapter 8

• 1 [a] The Synagogue proſecuteth her prayer, deſiring Chriſts Incarnation.
• 4 [b] Chriſt admonisheth vvordlie men not to moleſt thoſe that ſerue him in contemplation, & other ſpiritual vertues.
• 5 [c] Angels and other Sainctes of the triumphant Church admire the beautie of the C⟨illegible⟩n⟨illegible⟩les conuerted, which is alſo vnderſtood of euerie holie ſoule aſcending from this world into heauen, And more ſingularly of the moſt glorious virgin mother of God.
• 10 [f] The Church of Gentiles reioyceth in the ſtrong defence, vvhervvith her Sauiour hath eſtablished her.
• 11 [g] Keepers of this vinyard, vvere the Prophetes and Apoſtles, and their Succeſſors are ſtil the kepers therof.
• 12 [h] Chriſt ſhevveth that together vvith the paſtors, himſelf eſpecially hath care of his Church, alvvayes aſſiſting the viſible gouerners therof vvith his inuiſible grace.
• 14 [i] The vvhole Church militant vvel contented, yea deſiring Chriſts Aſcenſion into heauen, for the good of al that here ſerue him, prayeth him from thence to ſend abundance of his grace, that vve may aſcend the high mountaines of perfect charitie, and zele of Gods honour, that he vvil make our ſoules ſuch hilles, the garden of al vertues, & ſo voutſafe to dwel therin. Amen.
• 14 [d] The Synagogue of the Iewes was corrupt vnder the tree of Chriſts Croſſe, when they cried: Crucifie him, Crucifie him. And againe: His bloud be vpon vs, and vpon our children. Againe: VVe haue no King but Caeſar. &c.
• 14 [e] Chriſt againe ſheweth his affection towards his Church of the Gentiles: calling her his owne ſiſter, and the Synagogs ſiſter, promiſing and beſtowing on her manie excellent benefites.

Colophon

The holie Bible faithfully translated into English, out of the authentical Latin. Diligently conferred with the Hebrew, Greeke, and other editions in diuers languages. With arguments of the bookes, and chapters: annotations. tables: and other helpes. By the English College of Doway. The second tome (Psalms to 2 Machabees, with the Prayer of Manasses and the third and fourth books of Esdras), Doway: Laurence Kellam, 1610 (STC 2207). Copy: Henry E. Huntington Library, as reproduced in Early English Books Online (image set 2087).

Transcription: Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP), Phase I text A11777 (2007), released under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal public-domain dedication.

This is an archival transcription, not a Good Works Translation: the English is the Douay translators’ own, kept in the original spelling, with long s (ſ), u and v, i and j as printed. The Good Works Library converted the TCP text to this page, removing only markup, page breaks and line-end hyphens. In the print a cross (†) opens each verse and the verse number stands in the margin; here each verse is its own paragraph headed by that number. Marginal notes are gathered after each chapter under the number of the verse beside which they stand; where the print sets a reference mark in the text (a letter, four pricks ::, or a star *), the mark is kept at its place in square brackets. In prose sections the marginal notes stand at their places in square brackets. Marks that the transcription records in the text are kept as they stand: ▪ is the transcribers’ sign for a printed mark they could not set, which this edition’s key to its marks uses to point to an Annotation after the chapter, and “ is another such printed mark. Words the transcribers could not read are marked ⟨illegible⟩ (11 on this page); none has been filled in by conjecture.

In 1 place on this page the transcription has no verse cross between two numbered verses; there both numbers head a single paragraph (for example “12–13”) rather than cutting the text by guesswork.

In chapter 1 the printed verse numbers run to 17, one more than the sixteen verses of the Latin Vulgate, and the first verse of text (“LET him kiſſe me”) is numbered 2: the book’s title, given above as a heading, evidently stands as verse 1, as in the Hebrew numbering. The page keeps the printed numbers, so chapter 1 begins at verse 2.

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