"Fair love, 'tis thee I'm fond to wed; "I'll still infift, till I obtain Thy full and free confent. "Hafte to mine arms; for, didft thou move "As I'm to thee inclin'd, "Thy heart would on the wings of love Outfly the hafty wind. Verse 14. O my dove that art in the clifts of the rock, in the fecret places of the stairs, let me fee 66 thy countenance, let me bear thy voice; for Sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. My dove that in the lofty rock "Are wont to neftle high, "And to my wounds, when ftorms provoke, "In fecret corners wont to vent "O why doft thou that built fo high, "Why, frighted from thy lofty neft, "To lurking holes and clifts "Doft take, with fhame and fear oppreft, "Such vain and forry fhifts? "Look up, my dove; nor blufh nor fear Thy heav'nly mate to face, "Who wills thee boldly to appear "Before his throne of grace. "Lift voice and count'nance both upright, "With confidence to me; "And let thy voice mine ears delight, Thy countenance mine eye. "For fweet's thy voice of pray'r and praise, "Which please me more to hear, "Than ever choice melodious lays "Could charm a mortal ear. "Thy humbleft mournful notes, my dove, "Excel, in my esteem, "Their higheft ftrains that artful rove "Thy countenance is alfo fair "For, while my righteoufnefs complete Verse 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes that "Let all concerned in her and me "Ye minifters of my affairs, "My vineyard who attend, "I charge you guard against the fnares "That do the vines offend. "All erring teachers foon defcry, "Deceitful workers check; "All falfe apoftles take and try, "Refute, repel, reject. † Take, in the original, is in the plural number, take ye. "No cunning fpoilers flightly mark, "No little foxes spare: "For these no fmall deftruction work, "No little mifchief fhare. "A little fox foon fpoils and rents "Our vines have fmall and tender grapes: "How hardly will the fprig? "Each foul be alfo taught to catch "Small foxes hid in heart; "Vain thoughts, deceitful lufts, that hatch "And gender grievous fmart. Their little rifing brats deftroy, "Their fmall beginnings hufh; "Elfe they the buds of grace and joy, "The tender branches crufh." Verfe 16. My beloved is mine, and I am bis; be feedeth among the lilies ‡. Such were the kindly words he spoke To give my foul repofe; I'll therefore boldly now affert, Lo! I am his, and he is mine; Our titles are involv'd By myftic union, so divine As cannot be diffolv'd. Our mutual int'reft firm abides, And will endure for ay; Hence, though behind the fhades he hides, He is not far away. + Viz. Himself, or bis people. That is, bis people, or his ordinances. Though heav'n the nobleft banquet yields, Yet here amidst his lily-fields He keeps his feasts of love. 'Mongft faints whofe robes are lily-white, To grace the feast is his delight, Ver. 17. Until the day break †, and the shadows flee away. Among the lilies here below My Lord will feed and stay, Did faints of old, when wrapt in night, Incarnate Love's fubftantial light Make legal fhadows flee? 'Tis done; and now the brighter sky Her fiery wheels, with fpeedy flight, And deluges of dawning light O'erfpread the dufky world. Thefe words are applicable either to the preceding or following. + Heb. Breathe, or blow. Let there be light, once more he'll fay, Then up fhall rife the endless day, And down the fhadows fall. Darkness the charge, no more to be, And clouds of fin and forrow flee The long dark nights that keep the field, And domineer'd with might, Shall then refign their place, and yield Ev'n ordinances fweet fhall pass, Welcome, the great, the glorious ftore; I'll doubt, and fear, and fin no more, -Turn †, my Beloved, and be thou like a roe, or a young bart upon the mountains of Bether t Kind Lord, till this bright morn appear To my eternal blifs; Till dufky fhadows all retire And work no more diftrefs: Turn, till this glorious break of day; O turn to me thy face; While in the fhady vale I stay, Deny me not thy grace. While circling woes deprefs my foul Come marching like the bounding roe, |