The canticles or Balades of Salomon :: :: University of Virginia Library

Whyle the perfect Spouse taketh her pleasure with her Beloued, gatheryng the fruites of the old & newe testament, to preache Christes humanitie, and the wurkes whiche he wrought in the same, the younglynges whiche she lefte in the fyeldes and villages (whiche may well betoken the sectes of the Phylosophers, Phariseis, Saduceis, and al other like whiche sought for ryghteousnes in theyr wysedome & dedes) seyng the puritie of the vineyard, and smellyng the sauour of the Mandragoras, an heauy smell to them, partly because it condemneth theyr rightousnes, and partly because it maketh them lament theyr imperfeccion, begynne to long for the true ryghteousnes, and saluacion: whiche because they can haue by none other meane than by Christe, they seke hym, and are therfore mocked, and persecuted of those sectes, of whyche they wer before, whiche is theyr mothers house, whose great blyndnes they (beyng now his Spouse) pitiyng, wysh for to fynde hym abrode, and to bryng hym to them, syngyng.

O That I once myght haue the hap to fynde
Thee (O my Loue) abrode in euery place:

That euery man of euery sort and kynde
Myght trust in thee, and eke thy wurde embrace.

Thus, thus abrode, would God I mought thee mete,
To receyue of thee, the kysse of peace and rest:
Whome I in hart, loue as my brother swete,
Whiche sumtyme suckt with me my mothers brest.

O that thou Christe my Spouse wouldest bryng to passe
That I myght mete and kysse thee in this wise
And that the worlde now ignoraunt alas,
Myght vs beholde, and neythre of vs despyse.

In the meane whyle I wyll thee leade my loue,
And bryng thy name into my mothers house:
That there thou Lorde mayest teache me from aboue,
And draw by grace my mother to thy spouse.

That I maye chere thee there with spiced wine
Of doctrine pure, well poudred with thy woorde:
And with the iuyce of swete Pomegranades fine,
The blud of martirs shead with fyer and swoorde.

lxi. The Spouse to the Younglynges

The Argument.

Christ seyng his Younglynges so earnestly set to receyue hym, that they promys to ieoberd theyr lyfe for the profession of his name, cummeth to them, and geuyng them his kysse of peace, taketh them to his Spouse: & than as he dyd to the other Churches before, he cūmeth to her with his dew and nyght droppes, to proue and trye her: wherfore she beyng sore afflicted of her mothers houshold, that such as are weak fall not from her, declareth that Christ hath not forsaken her

but hath purposely brought that crosse vpon her, and that at length she shall haue the victorye of all her aduersaries, and persecutours, syngyng.

Vnder my head the chief men of my flocke,
That to the truth must stycke styll vnafrayed,
Of Christe my Spouse, my anker, and my rocke,
The lefte hande of aduersitie is layed.

Yet for all that, nothyng can me deface,
Though for a tyme harme doe preuayle through hate:
For why at length Christs ryght hande shall embrace
My body whole, with prosperous estate.

[lxii] Christe to the whole worlde.

The Argument.

Whan Christe hath tryed his Spouse with persecucion, and founde her constant, he receyueth her into his bed of peace, quietnesse, and rest, geuyng chaurge to the Daughters of Ierusalem, as many as entende to obtayne fauoure at his hande, that they trouble her not with vayne questions false opinions, supersticious tradicions, ydle and dum ceremonies, newe constitucions, wicked decrees, nor vngodlye lawes: but to suffer her slepe in the faythe and quyetnesse of conscience that she hath receyued of hym already, til she wake her selfe: eyther through his instigacion to auaunce his glory, or by sum charitable mocion to healpe her neyghboures: syngyng as foloweth.

O o ye daughters of Ierusalem,
All suche as lyst my voyce to vnderstande:
Marke what I saye to you, and to all them
That hope to haue saluacion at my hande,
Concernyng my faythfull.

She doeth beleue the scriptures euery iote,
With all the truthes that therin are contaynde:
My sacramentes also she knoweth by rote,
With gyftes of grace that are by them attaynde
Of all that are faythfull.

She doeth beleue the father omnipotent,
To haue created the erth, and heauens hie:
From whome the wurde into the worlde was sent
And toke flesh of the virgin pure Marie
A woman moste faythfull.

And in that flesh was hanged on the tree,
Wheron he shed his blud to reconcile
His fathers wrathe, to whiche all subiect be
That know not Christe, but doe his death defyle,
Remaynyng vnfaythfull.

Who on the Crosse by death made recompence,
For all the sinnes of all that in hym trust:
From whome he frely pourged all offence,
And in Goddes syght through fayth alone made iust,
All them that are faythfull.

He rose agayne, she beleueth, with all the rest
Of tharticles that in the scripture be:

Through whiche belief she hath attayned rest
Of conscience, and slepeth nowe in me.
Through hope very ioyfull.

I charge you than on payne to lose the lyfe
Whiche dureth euer in heauen ioyes aboue,
Ye fayne no fayth, nor stirre vp any stryfe,
Whereby to wake from rest my quiet loue,
Through hope very ioyfull.

But let her lye tyll by her owne accorde
She wake herselfe, compelled by the zeale
She hath to you, to leade you to the Lorde,
Who can alone the soules sore wounded heale,
Of all that are faythfull.

lxiii. The perfect Spouse to Christ.

The Argument.

Whyle the Churche is at rest in Christe, she waxeth dayly more and more notable through her good lyfe and Godly conuersacion: whiche the perfecte Spouse woundryng at, syngeth.

What maye she be that doeth ascende,
Out from the desert place,
Of worldly folke that woulde not bende
Them selues to call for grace?

What is she that ascendeth hye,
Leanyng vpon her loue:
That trusteth whole in Christes mercy
Through grace sent from aboue?

lxviii Christe to the Churche.

The argument.

Christe maketh aunswere, declaryng what she is, where and howe he founde her: and declaryng what he dyd for his Spouse, doeth syng as foloweth.

Emong the apple trees, I waked thee vp my spouse,
Where as thou sleptest in sin, in sin original,
Which Eua, by the frute she plukt fro the apple bowes,
Brought on her whole posteritie,
Whiche are condemned al,
For theyr parentes iniquitie,
And for theyr owne vnryght.

Vnder this apple tree, through whiche thou wast condemnde,
In whiche condemned state thy mother brought thee furth,
I waked thee: for I, my lyfe and all contemnde,
Vpon the tree dyd sheade my blood,
Whiche all that take in wurth
Are quit from sin, and newe made good
In God my fathers syght.

Vnder this apple tree, the swete tree of my crosse,
So soone as thou dydst syt, and therein put thy trust,
I waked thee from sin, I payed thy parentes losse:
And got thy former state agayne,
Whiche Eua by her lust

Had lost: and dyd mankynde constrayne
To slepe in sin and death.

Among these apple trees, bothe bytter, swete, and sower,
The apple tree of death, by whiche mankynde was lost,
And tree of lyfe, whiche I dyd purchace by my power,
I waked thee vp to lyfe and welth,
Because I sawe the tost
With waues of woe: and gaue the helth
Agaynst thy sin and death.

lxv. Christe to his Spouse.

The Argument.

Whan Christe hath tolde his Spouse howe he ascended for her sake, the apple tree of the crosse, makyng thereon ful satisfaccion to his father for the sinnes of al mankind by the sheadyng of his most precious blood, wakyng her vp, from the deadly slepe, whiche she slept vnder the apple tree of originall sinne and condemnacion, vnder whiche her mother brought her furth: He wyllyng to haue her myndeful of hys benefites byddeth her set hym as a seale vpon her harte, that is to seale vp all her affeccions and thoughtes, with the remembraunce of his blessed passion, and by the same to seale out al other deuices to obtayn saluacion: & to set him as a signet vpon her arme, not to presume to doe ought by her owne wit, & strēgth, but to doe in al thinges as his wurd teacheth:

All this he desyreth her to doe for the loue sake which he beareth to her, whiche is strong as death or hel, yea and stronger: For the strength of his loue overcam the strength of bothe. Wherfore for this his great loue, he woulde haue his spouse thankfull, and shewe hym loue agayne: The properties wherof he declareth, syngyng.

O set me as a seale vpon thyne hart,
Remember me alwayes in all thy thought:
Out of thy mynde (my spouse) let not depart,
The wurthye wurkes whiche I haue for thee wrought.

Remembre how that I alone dyd clyme
The tree of death, to bryng thee vnto lyfe:
And shed theron my blud to cleanse the cryme,
For whiche the serpent fyrst began his stryfe.

Whose myght my power doeth holde from doyng harme
To thee, or them that in my merites trust:
O let therfore in me thy feble arme
With all thy strength continually be trust.

Vpon thyne arme o set me as a seale,
And as a bracelet bynde me all along:
For loue as death, and eke the gelous zeale
I beare to thee, as hell is myghtie strong.

For whiche my loue I nought requyre agayne
But thankfulnes, that maye my mercy moue:
For all my zeale, my lyfe, my death, my payne,
Nought I requyre saue only loue for loue.

Whose coales are fyerye, and a very flame
Sent of the Lorde: true loue is suche a fyer,

That many waters can not quenche the same,
No troubles can a faythfull louer tyer.

Ne may the streames of persecucion drounde
This earnest loue: yea yf a man woulde geue
For loue all goodes, that in his house are founde,
He woulde them all count nothyng I beleue.

This loue therfore that is so strong and sure,
Beare thou agayne to me that fyrste began:
So shall my loue and zeale for aye endure,
With thee and thyne, to further what I can.

lxvi. The Spouse to Christe.

The Argument.

Whan Christe hath finished his song, his Spouse accordyng as he desyred, setteth hym as a seale at her heart, and as a bracelet about her arme: and than remembryng her sister whome she left whan she came to Christe, and desyrous through her preachyng to bryng her to Christe, doeth aske of Christe and his perfect frendes what she shall doe, singyng.

We haue a sister young and small,
Whome I dyd leaue behynde:
Within the place where ye dyd call
Me from my mother blynde.

She is so young in Christes truthe
That yet she hath no teates:

She wanteth brestes to feede her youth
With sounde and perfect meates.

To our sister therfore so weake,
What shall we doe, saye you:
Whan we to her the wurdes shall speake
Of Christes gospell true?

I in my harte desyer ryght sore
My sister rule to teache:
What must we doe to her therfore,
Whan we begyn to preache?

lxvii. The Beloued to his Spouse.

The Argument.

Christe seyng the carefulnes of his Spouse for her yong sister, teacheth what must be doen to her, saying: If she be a wal, that is as sum take it elect, and yet not in the fayth: and as other sum take it, instructed in the faythe, but yet not perfecte, we wyll buylde vpon her a syluer bulwarke, that is accordyng to eleccion a strong and valiaunt fayth: & according to fayth, the gyftes of the holy gost, as knowlege, vtterance, power to wurke myracles. &c. whiche bothe agree well to the matter, but the last is moste nere, and proper. But yf she be an open dore, that is in state of grace, apte to receyue any kynde of doctrine, we wyll garnishe or fasten her with borders of cedre tree, with good doctrine, good bokes, good, constant and perfect preachers. whiche shall kepe her close from errour. Thus sayth Christ she must be doen by, singyng to his spouse as foloweth.

Yf that thy sister be a wall,
Vpon the same than buylde we shall
A bulwarke of syluer,

Yf that she be an open dore,
We wyll her fasten close before
With borders of Ceder.

lxviii. The Younglynges to the Spouse.

The Argument.

The Younglynges hearyng what Christe sayde, answere that they are a wall, strong, constant, and able to kepe out errours, and wrong opinions: and beyng made his Spouse, sayeth she hath brestes lyke towers, well furnyshed with vytayles of good doctrine to succour and helpe them that nede. For the whiche properties they hauyng founde fauour in the syght of God, declare all to theyr sister, syngyng.

A wall am I, Strong, thycke, and hye,
In truthe I beare me bolde:
And with the same, Myself I frame
All errours to outholde.

Also my brestes, where succour restes,
Are lyke to towers strong,

Whiche vitayled are, For to kepe warre,
With all that would them wrong.

Because I was A wall, and as
The towers had brestes of myght
Swete peace I founde, And doe abounde
With fauour in Gods syght.

lxix. Christe to his Spouse.

The argument.

Christe hauyng by fayth coupled all his Churches together, and made them all one vineyard, calleth to mynde the vineyarde which Kyng Salomon had at Baalhamon, a place nere Ierusalem: whiche vineyarde he let out to hyer, receyuyng of euery keper, a thousande pieces of syluer for the friucte. This story Christe counteth to his Spouse, that she maye know howe muche he loueth her better than Salomon dyd his, in that he wyll kepe her hym selfe: And geue to Salomon, that is euery peacefull person, an inestimable reward: and to the kepers, that are his byshoppes, two hundred and the fruite. (O happy kepers that shall be so rewarded.) This promis maketh he to his Spouse, syngyng.

Of all the gydes that Israel euer had,
In wyt, in welth, in peace, prince Salomon
The chyefest Kyng, was not a litle glad
Of a vineyard he had at Baalhamon.

Whiche vineyard though it pleased his desyer,
Yet at the length he let it furth to hyer
To kepers suche, who yerely euery one
Should for suche frute as they tooke thence away,
Of syluer good a thousand pieces paye.

Thus dyd this kyng with his beloued vine:
But I contrary haue so great delyght,
That I myself this vineyard of myne
My churche I mean, wyll kepe styll in my syght:
And vnto thee O salomon I geue,
A thousande pieces for thy good beleue:
Eke to them all that kepe my vine vpryght
I geue two hundred, and the fruite to boote
Of lyfe eterne, whiche spryngeth from the roote.

If Salomon myght iustly well requier
A thousande for his vineyarde let to hyer,
Howe muche than is my churche nowe bounde to me,
Who doe both paye, and also ouersee?

lxx. Christe to his Spouse.

The Argument.

Whan Christe hath styrred vp his Churche to yelde hym thankes for his beneficiall diligence toward her, he stirreth her vp to preach, that his felowes, whiche are false christians, maye heare her true preaching, that beyng confounded therwith, they may cōuert and becum true christians in dede, syngyng to her as foloweth.

Thou my spouse that doest excell
In fayth all folke, and doest now dwell
In scripture gardeyns whiche do smell
Moste strong in sent:

Lyke to a trumpe exalt thy voyce,
With preachyng truth make suche a noyse,
That I may hear it, and reioyce,
That I thee sent.

Preache out my wurde so loude and hye,
That they whiche of my companye
Doe boast themselues, but yet they lye,
And loth my name:

Maye hear thy voyce, and know how ferre
They are from me, and how they erre
From truth: to whiche thou shalte preferre
Them, by the same.

That it maye cum to passe at length,
That all men doubtyng in theyr strength
Maye to my mercy them submit:
And so be fit,

To be engraft in thee my stocke,
That all maye be one faythfull flocke,
With shepherdes therof other none,
But only one.

lxxi. The Spouse to Christe.

The argument.

The Churche commaunded of Christe to preache, willingly obeyeth. But because she knoweth her preachyng can take none effect without his help, she desyreth hym to depart from this worlde to heauen, and there to make intercession betwene God the father and her, and from thence to help her in all her affayers: She desyreth hym also to be as a Roe or harte vpon the swete smelling mountaynes, that is, to be alwayes quicke ready and swyft, in his Scriptures, that they may take effect when she preacheth them. This she desyreth of hym, syngyng as foloweth.

To preache thy wurde thy felowes for to win,
Suche felowes false as Christen folke them fayne,
Loe prest I am: and gladly doe begyn,
With preachyng truth, to thee them to attayne.

But sith I know my labour shall be vayne
Except thy help be present therwithall,
Compeld therfore by force, loe I am fayne
To flee to thee, for thy chefe ayde to call.

Wherfore O Christe, whome euer loue I shal,
Auoyde from earth to heauen, and remayne
On Gods ryght hande, head father of vs all:
And there of hym all grace for vs obtayne.

And sende from thence thy sprite that may constrayne
All folke through fayth, to gather to thy folde:
That hypocrites theyr folly may refrayne,
And be in dede, the same that seme they wolde.

And whan that I suche secretes shall vnfolde
As darkly hyd, the scriptures do contayne,
That in the hartes of all they maye take holde,
And to thy truth all vnbeleuers gayne,

Lyke to a Roe or hart take thou the payne
Vpon the mountaynes of thy wurde to dwell:
And through thy power the hartes of all to trayne
Vnto thy truth, that shall thy mountaynes smell.

So shall my voyce all kynde of errours quel,
So shall all men resort to thee amayne:
So sin shall synke, so shall the power of hell,
We ryd therfrom through fayth in thee, be slayne.

So in the churche for aye, thou Lord shalt rayne,
All Death shall dye through fayth of styngles sin:
And we enioye that blisfull state agayne
Whiche bought by thee, we wer created in.

FINIS.

Blessyng, honor, glory, and power,
Be vnto God, for euer and euer.
AMEN.