The Bride Confesses Her Love
(Ephesians 5:22–33; 1 Peter 3:1–7)

1The Ballet of Ballettes of Solomon, called in Latin, Canticum Canticorum. Song of Solomon

2(1:1) O that he would kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is more pleasaunt then wine,

3(1:1) and that because of the good and pleasaunt sauour of thy most precious baulmes. (1:2) Thy name is a sweet smelling oyntment when it is shed foorth, therfore do the maydens loue thee.

4(1:3) Drawe thou me vnto thee we wyll runne after thee. The kyng hath brought me into his priuie chaumbers: We wylbe glad and reioyce in thee, we thinke more of thy loue then of wine: they that be righteous loue thee.

5(1:4) I am blacke (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) but yet fayre and well fauoured, like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, and as the hanginges of Solomon.

6(1:5) Marueyle not at me that I am so blacke, for why? the sunne hath shined vpon me: my mothers chyldren haue euyll wyll at me, they made me the keper of the vineyardes, but mine owne vineyarde haue I not kept.

7(1:6) Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth, where thou feedest the sheepe, where thou makest them rest at the noone day: for why shall I be like hym that goeth wrong about the flockes of thy companions?

8(1:7) If thou knowe not thy selfe (O thou fayrest among women) then go thy way foorth after the footesteppes of the sheepe, and feede thy goates besyde the shepheardes tentes.

9(1:8) Unto the hoast of Pharaos charets haue I compared thee, O my loue.

10(1:9) Thy cheekes and thy necke is beautifull as the turtles, and hanged with spanges and goodly iewels,

11(1:9) a neckband of golde wyll we make thee, with siluer buttons.

12(1:10) When the king sitteth at the table, he shall smell my Nardus:

13(1:10) a bundell of myrre is my loue vnto me, he wyll lye betwixt my brestes:

14(1:10) a cluster of Camphire in the vineyardes of Engaddi is my loue vnto me.

15(1:11) Oh howe fayre art thou my loue, Oh howe fayre art thou? thou hast doues eyes.

16(1:11) O howe fayre art thou my beloued, howe well fauoured art thou? (1:12) Our bed is dect with flowres,

17(1:12) the seelinges of our house are of Cedar tree, and our crosse ioyntes of Cipresse.