THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
O that thou as my brother wert,
My mother's sucking child;
I'd kiss and hug thee in my heart;
Nor be for this revil'd.
Yea, in the op'nest patent place,
Without a blush for shame,
I would with joyful arms embrace,
The babe of Bethlehem.
I'd bring thee to my mother's house,
Who would instruct me there:
The spiced wine, and 'granates' juice,
Should be thy royal fare.
His left hand for my support he,
Beneath my head should place;
And for my comfort lend to me
His right hand's soft embrace.
O Salem's daughters, do not prove
Disturbers of his ease;
I charge you stir not up my Love,
Nor wake him till he please.
THE COMPANION'S WORDS .
(Who's this up from the wilderness
Of sin and sorrow mov'd,
Comes leaning thus, and laying stress
Upon her Well-belov'd?)
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
Beneath the shady apple tree,
I did thee raise with care:
Thy mother travail'd there with thee;
Thy happy birth was there.
O do thou set me as a seal,
Upon thine heart and arm:
For love is strong as death, I feel
Suspicion cruelly warm;
Unsatiate like the grave's desire,
Is killing jealousy:
The coals thereof are coals of fire,
That flame most veh'mently.
Can love be quench'd with many floods?
Or drown'd with waters? No:
Should one for love give all his goods,
The price were basely low.
We have a little sister, Lord;
No breasts yet form'd hath she:
What help to her shall we afford,
When she bespoke shall be?
CHRIST'S WORDS .
If once she be a wall, through grace,
We'll take a special care;
To build on her a dwelling place,
A silver palace fair:
If once her heart's an open door,
For me to enter in,
We'll as with cedar boards secure
And strengthen her within.
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
So be't, for grace made me a wall;
Grace form'd my breast's tow'r high:
Then found I (as my sister shall,)
Great favour in his eye.
Here likewise our king Solomon,
A vineyard did possess
To keepers care (O be it shown)
He let it out to dress:
If each for fruit his Lord assigns
Proportion'd tribute brings;
He'd render for a thousand vines,
A thousand silverlings.
CHIRST'S WORDS .
My vineyard, Love, the object is
Of my peculiar care;
My heart and eye is fixed on this
More close than any-where.
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
To thee, O Solomon, I'll bring
The grateful rent I owe;
The vineyard's revenue, O King,
Belongs to thee, I know:
And while to thee alone pertains,
A thousand fold is due;
To underkeepers for their pains,
Two hundred shall accrue.
CHRIST'S WORDS .
O thou that hast in gardens choice,
Thy dwelling here below,
As thy companions hear thy voice;
So let me hear it too.
So pleasant unto them and me,
Is thy delicious strain,
I'll joy how oft I hear from thee
Until we meet again.
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
O haste again, dear Lord, and be
A speedy roe, or hart,
Upon the spicy hills, that we
May meet and never part.
O that thou as my brother wert,
My mother's sucking child;
I'd kiss and hug thee in my heart;
Nor be for this revil'd.
Yea, in the op'nest patent place,
Without a blush for shame,
I would with joyful arms embrace,
The babe of Bethlehem.
I'd bring thee to my mother's house,
Who would instruct me there:
The spiced wine, and 'granates' juice,
Should be thy royal fare.
His left hand for my support he,
Beneath my head should place;
And for my comfort lend to me
His right hand's soft embrace.
O Salem's daughters, do not prove
Disturbers of his ease;
I charge you stir not up my Love,
Nor wake him till he please.
THE COMPANION'S WORDS .
(Who's this up from the wilderness
Of sin and sorrow mov'd,
Comes leaning thus, and laying stress
Upon her Well-belov'd?)
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
Beneath the shady apple tree,
I did thee raise with care:
Thy mother travail'd there with thee;
Thy happy birth was there.
O do thou set me as a seal,
Upon thine heart and arm:
For love is strong as death, I feel
Suspicion cruelly warm;
Unsatiate like the grave's desire,
Is killing jealousy:
The coals thereof are coals of fire,
That flame most veh'mently.
Can love be quench'd with many floods?
Or drown'd with waters? No:
Should one for love give all his goods,
The price were basely low.
We have a little sister, Lord;
No breasts yet form'd hath she:
What help to her shall we afford,
When she bespoke shall be?
CHRIST'S WORDS .
If once she be a wall, through grace,
We'll take a special care;
To build on her a dwelling place,
A silver palace fair:
If once her heart's an open door,
For me to enter in,
We'll as with cedar boards secure
And strengthen her within.
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
So be't, for grace made me a wall;
Grace form'd my breast's tow'r high:
Then found I (as my sister shall,)
Great favour in his eye.
Here likewise our king Solomon,
A vineyard did possess
To keepers care (O be it shown)
He let it out to dress:
If each for fruit his Lord assigns
Proportion'd tribute brings;
He'd render for a thousand vines,
A thousand silverlings.
CHIRST'S WORDS .
My vineyard, Love, the object is
Of my peculiar care;
My heart and eye is fixed on this
More close than any-where.
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
To thee, O Solomon, I'll bring
The grateful rent I owe;
The vineyard's revenue, O King,
Belongs to thee, I know:
And while to thee alone pertains,
A thousand fold is due;
To underkeepers for their pains,
Two hundred shall accrue.
CHRIST'S WORDS .
O thou that hast in gardens choice,
Thy dwelling here below,
As thy companions hear thy voice;
So let me hear it too.
So pleasant unto them and me,
Is thy delicious strain,
I'll joy how oft I hear from thee
Until we meet again.
THE CHURCH'S WORDS .
O haste again, dear Lord, and be
A speedy roe, or hart,
Upon the spicy hills, that we
May meet and never part.