SONG IX. The first Canticle.
[Come kisse mee with those lips of thine]
[1]
Come kisse mee with those lips of thine;
For, better are thy Loues then wine:
And as the powred Oyntments bee;
Such is the fauour of thy Name:
And for the sweetnesse of the same,
The Virgins are in loue with thee.
2
Begin but Thou to draw me on,
And then wee after Thee will runne:
Oh, King, thy Chambers bring me to;
So, wee in thee delight shall finde,
And more then wine thy loue will minde;
And loue thee, as the Righteous doe.
3
And Daughters of Ierusalem,
I pray you, doe not mee contemne,
Because that blacke I now appeare:
For, I as louely am (I know)
As Kedar Tents (appeare in showe)
Or Salomon his Curtaines are.
4
Though blacke I am, regard it not:
It is but Sun-burne I haue got;
Whereof my Mothers Sons were cause:
Their Vineyard-keeper me they made.
(Through enuy which to me they had)
So, mine owne Vine, neglected was.
5
Thou, whom my soule doth best affect,
Vnto thy pastures me direct,
Where thou at Noone, art stretcht along.
For, why should I be stragling spide,
Like her that loues to turne aside,
Thy fellow-shepheards flocks among!
6
Oh, fairest of all Womankinde!
(If him thou know not where to finde)
Goe, where the paths of Castell are:
Their Tract of foot-steps stray not from,
Till to the Shepherds Tents thou come;
And feede thy tender Kidlings there.
7
My Loue, thou art of greater force,
Then Pharaoh's troups of Charret-horse.
Thy cheekes, and necke made louely bee
With rowes of stone, and many a chaine:
And, wee gold borders will ordaine,
Beset with siluer studs, for thee.
