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45

SONG. XIIII. The sixt Canticle. Arise thou North-winde from the North

[1]

Arise thou North-winde from the North,
And from the South, thou South-winde blow:
Vpon my Garden breath yee forth,
That so my Spices (there that grow,)
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From thence abundantly may flow.
And to thy Garden come my Deare,
To eate thy fruits of pleasure there.

2

My Sister, and espoused Peere,
Vnto my Garden I am come:
My Spice I gather'd with my Myrrhe:
I ate my Hony in the Combe,
And drunk my wine with milke among.
Come Friends, and Best-belou'd of mee,
Come eate, and drinke, and merry bee
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3

I slept, but yet my heart did wake
It is my Loue I knocking heare:
It was his Voyce, and thus he spake;
Come open vnto mee, my Deare,
My Loue, my Doue, my Spotlesse-Peere:
For, with the deaw my head is dight;
My Locks with droppings of the night.

4

Loe, I haue now vndressed mee:
Why should I cloath me, as before?
And since my feet cleane washed be,
Why should I soyle them anymore?
Then, through the Crevice of the doore
Appear'd the Hand of my Belou'd;
And towards him my heart was mou'd.

5

I rose vnto my Loue to ope,
And from my Hands distilled Myrrhe;
Pure Myrrhe did from my fingers drop
Vpon the handles of the Barre.
But, then departed was my Deare.
When by his Voyce I knew 'twas he,
My heart was like to faint in mee.

6

I sought; but seene he could not be:
I call'd; but heard no answer sound.
The Citie-Watchmen met with me,
As they were walking of the Round,
And gaue me stripes that made a wound:
Yea, they that watch & ward the Wall,
Eu'n they haue tooke away my veyle.
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