The Third Poem

6 Who is this coming up from the desert

like columns of smoke,

perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,

all scents of the merchant?

7 Look! It is Solomon’s litter,

and round it three score valiant men

of the valiant of Israel,

8 each with a sword in his hand,

and acquainted with war –

every man with a sword at his side

ready for the dangers of night.

9 The king had a palanquin made him

of Lebanon wood.

10 Its posts he had fashioned of silver;

its back was of gold.

Its seat was of purple: within

it was inlaid with ebony.

11 Come forth and look on the king,

daughters of Zion,

in the crown he received from his mother

the day he was wedded,

with gladness of heart.

4 (he says)

How fair, my love, you are,

with your dove-like eyes

behind your veil,

and your hair like a flock of black goats

streaming down from mount Gilead;

2 your teeth like a white flock new shorn

just come up from the washing,

ranged in a double row,

not one of them lacking;

3 your lips like a scarlet thread

and your mouth so lovely;

your cheeks like halves of pomegranate,

seen through your veil;

4 your neck like the tower of David,

built in circles of stones,

hung with a thousand shields,

all shields of warriors;

5 your breasts like a pair of fawns:

twin fawns of a gazelle

grazing among the lilies.

6 Till the day grows cool

and the shadows depart

I will go to your mountains of myrrh,

and your hills of frankincense.

7 All of you is beautiful, my love,

beautiful without a flaw.

8 Come with me from Lebanon, my sweetheart,

come from Lebanon,

come down from the top of Amana,

from the top of Senir and Hermon,

from the lions” dens,

from the lairs of the leopards.

9 You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride,

one glance of your eyes has bewitched me,

one glint of your necklace. *****

10 How sweet thy caress, sister bride!

10 How much better than wine thy caresses!

Thy lips, O my bride, drip with honey,

And milk leith under thy tongue.

Thy garments are fragrant as Lebanon;

10 Thy perfumes are sweeter than balsam.

12 A garden enclosed is my sister,

And garden enclosed, a sealed fountain;

13 Thy shoots are a pomegranate paradise–

Choicest of fruits,

Henna and spikenard,

14 Spikenard and saffron,

Calamus and cinnamon,

With all trees of incense,

Aloes and myrrh,

With the chief spices all.

15 Thou art the fount of my garden,

A well of fresh water,

Like streamlets of Lebanon.

16 O North wind, awake,

And come, thou South,

And blow on my garden,

That perfume be wafted.

"Let my darling come into his garden

And taste its choice fruits."

5 I am come to my garden, my sister;

I gather me balsam and myrrh.

I have tasted the comb with the honey,

And drunk of my wine and my milk.

Taste ye, my friends, and drink;

Yea, drink yourselves drunken, beloved.