1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.

2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

1 Sponsa. Osculetur me osculo oris sui;
quia meliora sunt ubera tua vino,

3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

2 fragrantia unguentis optimis.
Oleum effusum nomen tuum;
ideo adolescentulæ dilexerunt te.

4 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.

3 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.

5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

4 Sponsa. Nigra sum, sed formosa, filiæ Jerusalem,
sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis.

6 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.

5 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.

7 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?

6 Indica mihi, quem diligit anima mea, ubi pascas,
ubi cubes in meridie,
ne vagari incipiam post greges sodalium tuorum.

8 ¶ 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.

7 Sponsus. Si ignoras te, o pulcherrima inter mulieres,
egredere, et abi post vestigia gregum,
et pasce hædos tuos juxta tabernacula pastorum.

9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.

8 Equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis
assimilavi te, amica mea.

10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

9 Pulchræ sunt genæ tuæ sicut turturis;
collum tuum sicut monilia.

11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

10 Murenulas aureas faciemus tibi,
vermiculatas argento.

12 ¶ While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

11 Sponsa. Dum esset rex in accubitu suo,
nardus mea dedit odorem suum.

13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.

12 Fasciculus myrrhæ dilectus meus mihi;
inter ubera mea commorabitur.

14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.

13 Botrus cypri dilectus meus mihi
in vineis Engaddi.

15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.

14 Sponsus. Ecce tu pulchra es, amica mea! ecce tu pulchra es!
Oculi tui columbarum.

16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.

15 Sponsa. Ecce tu pulcher es, dilecte mi, et decorus!
Lectulus noster floridus.

17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

16 Tigna domorum nostrarum cedrina,
laquearia nostra cypressina.