Streams from Helicon :: :: University of Virginia Library

Daughters of Jerusalem, Bride, Birdegroom.
Daughters of Jerusalem.
O what a Person is your well Belov'd,
'O what can be the Cause why he's remov'd?
Tell us thou fairest amongst Womankind?
We'll go in Quest of him, you long to find.

Bride.
Yes, I can tell you where he doth repair,
Walk in his Garden, and you'll find him there.
It's in that sacred Spot he loves to be;
But, tho' I seek him there, he's hid from me.
Tis 'mongst his Spicy Beds and Flowers he dwells,
And feeds and feasts on their comforting Smells.
Gathers these Lillies, which his Hands hath sown,
Lillies by true Propriety his own.
Yet why should I with anxious Cares repine,
Since I am my Beloved's, he is mine.

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I am a Flower which in his Garden grows,
He feeds 'mongst Lillies, I am one of those.

Bridegroom.
As Tirzah seated on a rising Ground,
Tirzah for Strength and Beauty so renown'd,
So beautiful art thou with Honour crown'd.
O comely as Jerusalem art thou,
To all who's holy Eyes thy Beauty view.
But terrible to all thine Enemies,
As conquering Armies in their victor Cries.
O turn away thine Eyes my Love from me,
I'm overcome, I'm ravished with thee.
As pleasant 'tis from neighbouring Vales to view,
The Flocks of brousing Goats on Gilead's Brow,
Drink Nature's Cup, and sip the Morning's Dew.
So pleasant 'tis my Love for to behold,
Thy shining Rays of purest burning Gold:
This Ornament thy Purity discovers,
Kindles Desire, and gains thee many Lovers.
When the lewd World thy Hair and Teeth shall view,
They'll praise thy Beauty, fall in Love with you.
They will believe thy Entertainment good,
When such white Teeth do break the heavenly Food:
Thy Teeth a comely Parity doth show,
None start too high, and none do shrink too low:
No proud o'ertoping Tooth thy Peace molest,
Ev'n are they rank'd, none Prelates o'er the rest.

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Thy Teeth doth represent ------
The new fleec'd Sheep disburthen'd of their Wool,
When neatly shorn, and wash'd in Heshbon's Pool.
In all the Flock no unprolifick Womb,
Which Twins bring forth, and bleating lead them Home.
Vail'd with thy Locks like Pom'granates appear
Thy Temples, which a blushing Beauty wear:
The Court of Solomon is wondrous fair,
There's sixty Queens, and eighty Conc'bines there.
There smiling Virgins without Number throng,
Virgins that's chast and beautiful and young:
These shining Comets turn as black's the Night,
When thou appears, O radiant Lamp of Light.
My Dove, my only One, my Undefil'd,
Thy Mother's only and her darling Child,
O Daughter born of God, I love thee well,
Thy Cath'lick Truths shall Heresie dispell.
The Daughters thou'lt conceive, begot by me,
When they thy Government and Worship see,
Drink thy pure Doctrine, eat thy strengthning Bread,
Will beg my Blessings on thy lofty Head.
Yea ev'n the Queens and Concubines shall view
Thy Splendor, and be forc'd to bless thee too.
Who's this looks forth, and chases Night away.
Bright as these Beams which smiling brings the Day,
Clear as the Moon, free from the Clouds of Night,
Fair as the rising Sun, which brings the Light,
[illeg.] terrible you look (the trembling World's afraid)
As Armies with their Banners all display'd.

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I went the tender creeping Shrubs to view,
And brambly Nuts, which in the Orchard grew,
To see the Valleys and the lowly Plains,
If they were stor'd with Flowers, refresh'd with Rains,
If clustring Vines did flourish in the Field,
What Buds the luscious Pom'granates did yield,
When lo I spy my Bride in these sweet Groves;
She swiftly flies to him, she dearly loves:
Transported to behold my lovely Spouse,
Whom I from all Eternity did chuse,
Unto her Arms my self with haste I throw;
As Chariots of Aminadab do go,
When hastning to the Race, or lashing from the Foe.
Return thou lovely Shulamite, return,
For in strong Fires of Love for thee I burn.

Bride or Shulamite.
O! here's no Landskip to arrest your Sight,
What can you see in the poor Shulamite?
Yes, I have Beauty will attract your Eyes,
Behold I've Troops to conquer Enemies;
Each at his Post defended by his Shield
With giant Strength the weighty Armour wield,
I have two reg'lar Armies in the Field.