8 

Ah, were you but my brother,

nursed at the breasts of my mother,

I would kiss you wherever I met you,

with none to despise me;

2 

to my mother’s house would I bring you,

to the chamber of her who bore me,

spiced wine would I give you to drink,

a draught of my pomegranate wine.

5 

(Who is this, coming up from the country,

leaning on her darling?) * * *

I woke you there, under the apple-tree,

just where you were swaddled,

a babe, just there, by your mother.

6 

Wear me as a seal close to your heart,

wear me like a ring upon your hand;

for 

love is strong as death itself

and passion masters like the grave,

its flashes bum like flame,

true lightning-flashes.

7 

No floods can ever quench this love,

no rivers drown it.

If a man offered all he has for love,

he would be laughed aside.

8 

“We have a young sister,

and she has no breasts yet

but what shall we do with our sister,

when her wooers come?

9 

If she holds out like a wall

we will adorn her with silver for dowry;

if she gives way to lovers like a door,

then we will plank her up.”

10 

Now I was a wall,

with breasts like towers;

when my darling looked at me,

I won his heart.

11 

“Solomon had once a vineyard at Baal-Hermon

and he leased it out to keepers,

for a thousand silver pieces, for its fruit.

12 

I keep my vineyard to my- self:

you are welcome to your silver, Solomon,

welcome to your fruit, you keepers!”

13 

My comrades hear your voice

girl in the garden haunt

ah, let me hear it too!--

14 

“Hasten, then, O my darling

play like a roe or a hart

upon my scented slopes!”