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

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.