Bliss for the Bride - Valentines

Tune: Blaenwern

('Love divine, all loves excelling')

Song of Solomon 5 v.8 - 6 v.3

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The bride, she then there did charge them

Daughters* of Jerusalem  (*Bridesmaids?)

That if they found her beloved

Unto him these words be said

That I am lovesick, and wanting

You to see, I am yearning

What, say daughters, is your beloved

More than others, your betrothed?

 

I shall tell of him unto you

My beloved is white, he true

And ruddy, chief midst ten thousand

He shall protect me, defend

His head is as the most fine gold

None comparable be told

His hair bushy, black as raven

Wavy is his hairstyle done

 

His eyes as eyes of doves they be

By rivers of waters, see

Washed with milk, they be fitly set

They focusing clearly yet

His cheeks be as bed of spices

All allures me, entices

As sweet flowers, banks of herbs they

Scented are along the way

 

His lips like lilies, dropping sweet

Myrrh, he lovely, head to feet

His hands as gold rings, they are set

In beauty I ne'er forget

His body as bright ivory

Overlaid with sapphires be

His legs as pillars of marble

Set on fine gold bases all

 

His countenance as Lebanon

He my love, my only one

Excellent as the tall cedars

On the mountains, my heart stirs

His mouth is most sweet, yes he is

Altogether lovely, this

Is my belovéd and my friend

We shall love unto the end

 

Where has your belovéd gone? do

Say, so we may seek with you

Said the daughters, that their intent

To find him with bride they went

He is gone down to his garden

To beds of spices, feeds then

His flock, and to gather lilies

I am his, he is mine, bliss