Maiden’s Dream (?): Seeking and Finding

1 On my bed in the night,

I soughthim whom my heartloves.

I sought him, but I did not find him.

2 Now I will arise, and I will go about in the city,

in the streets and in the squares;

I will seek him whom my heartloves.

I sought him, but I did not find him.

3 The sentinels who go about in the city found me.

“Have you seen the one whom my heartloves?”

4 Scarcely had I passedby them

when I found him whom my heartloves.

I held him and I would not let him go

until I brought him to the house of my mother,

into the bedroom chamber of she who conceived me.

Adjuration Refrain

5 I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem,

by the gazelles or by the does of the field,

do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!

Royal Wedding Procession

6 What is this coming up from the desert

like a column of smoke,

perfumed with myrrh and frankincense

from all the fragrant powders of the merchant?

7 Look! It is Solomon’s portable couch!

Sixty mighty men surround it,

the mighty men of Israel.

8 All of them wield swords;

they are trained in warfare,

each with his sword at his thigh

to guard against terrorin the night.

9 King Solomonmade for himself a sedan chair

from the wood of Lebanon.

10 He made its column of silver, its backof gold, its seat of purple;

its interior is inlaid with leatherby the maidens of Jerusalem.

11 Come out and look, O maidens of Zion,at King Solomon,

at the crown with which his mother crowned him

on the day of his wedding,

on the day of the joy of his heart!