Song of Solomon · Chapter 2

[ edit] Þe vois of Criſt, of hym and of þe Chirche. I þe flour of þe feeld, and þe lilie of aleyes. As a lilie among þornes, ſo my leef among doȝtres. Þe vois of þe Chirche of Criſt. As an appil tree among þe trees of wodis, ſo my lemman among ſones. Vnder þe ſhadewe of hym, whom I hadde deſirid, I ſat; and his frut ſweete to my þrote. Þe king ledde me in his win celer; he ordeynde in me charite. Vnder ley ȝee me wiþ floures, ſetteþ me aboute wiþ appelis; for I languyſhe for looue. Þe vois of þe Chirche of Criſt. Þe lift hond of hym vnder myn hed; and his riȝt hond ſhal clippe me. Þe vois of Criſt, of þe Chirche.

I adiure ȝou, ȝee doȝtris of Jeruſalem, bi þe capretes, and þe hertes of feeldis, ne rere ȝee, ne makeþ my leef to waken, to þe time þat ſhe wile. Þe vois of þe Chirche, of Criſt. Þe vois of my lemman; lo! þis comeþ lepende in mounteynes, and ouer lepende hillis. Lic is my lemman to a capret, and to an hert calf of hertis; lo! he ſtant bihynde oure wal, biholdende bi þe windowes, aferr lookende þurȝ þe latiſes. Lo! my lemman ſpekeþ to me, Ris, go þou, my leef, my culuer, my ſhapli, and cum; now forſoþe wintre paſſede, weder ȝide fro, and is gon awei.

Floures apereden in oure lond, time of kutting is come; þe vois of þe turtil is herd in oure lond, þe fige tree broȝte forþ his firſt figus; þe vynes flourende ȝiuen þer ſmel. Þe vois of Criſt to þe Chirche. Ris, go, my leef, myn ſhapli, and cum þou. My culuer in þe holis of þe ſton, in þe chyne of a ſton wal. Shewe þou to me þi face, ſoune þi vois in myn eres; þi vois forſoþe is ſwete, and þi face ſemeli. Þe vois of Criſt to þe Chirche, aȝen eretikis. Take ȝee to vs litle foxes, þat deſtroȝen vynes; for oure vyne flourede. Þe vois of þe Chirche of Criſt. My looued to me, and I to hym, þat is fed among lilies; to þe time þat þe dai ſpringe, and ſhadewes be bowid in.

Turne aȝeen; lic be þou, O! my lemman, to a capret, and to þe hert calf of hertis, vpon þe mounteynes of Beþel.