Song of Solomon · Chapter 4

[ edit] Þe vois of Criſt to þe Chirche. Hou fair art þou, my leef, hou fair art þou; þin eȝen of culueres, wiþoute it þat wiþynne forþ is hid; þin heres as þe flockes of get, þat ſteȝeden vp fro þe hil of Galaad. Þi teþ as þe flockys of clippid ſheep, þat ſteȝeden vp fro þe waſſhing place; alle wiþ double lombis in þe wombe, and bareyn þer is not among hem. As a fyr red ſilkene filet þi lippes, and þi faire ſpeche ſweete; as þe breking of a poumgarnet, ſo þi chekes, wiþoute it, þat wiþinne forþ ſit hid. As þe tour of Dauid þi necke, þat is bild out wiþ pynacles; a þouſend ſheldis hangen of it, al þe armoure of ſtronge men.

Þi two tetes as two ȝunge capretes, twynlingus of þe capret, þat ben fed in lilies, to þe time þat þe dai breþe out, and þe ſhadewes ben inbowed. I ſhal go to þe mount of mirre, and to þe hil of cens. Al fair þou art, my leef, and wem is not in þee. Cum þou fro Liban, my ſpouſe; cum from Liban, cum; þou ſhalt be crouned fro þe hed of Amana, fro þe frount of Samur and of Ermon, fro þe couches of leouns, and þe hil of pardis. Þou haſt woundid myn herte, my ſiſter; my ſpouſe, þou haſt woundid my herte, in oon of þin eȝen, and in oon her of þi necke. Hou faire ben þi tetes, my ſiſter, my ſpouſe; fairere ben þi tetes þan win, and þe ſmel of þin oynemens ouer alle ſpices.

A droppende honycomb þi lippes, ſpouſe; hony and mylc vnder þi tunge, and þe ſmel of þi cloþingus as þe ſmel of cens. A cloſid gardin, my ſiſter ſpouſe; a cloſid gardyn, a welle ſelid. Þin outſendingus paradis of poungarnetes, wiþ þe frutis of appilis, of cipre tre, wiþ narde; and narde, and ſafrun, fiſtula, and canel, wiþ alle þe trees of Liban, myrre, and aloes, wiþ alle þe firſte oynemens. Þe welle of gardynes, þe pit of liuende watris, þat flowen wiþ bire fro Liban. Ris, norþ, and cum, ſouþ; bloȝ þurȝ my gardyn, and þer ſhul flowe ſwote ſpices of it.