Commentary on the Holy Bible

" They are both called mysteries, (Rom. xi. -26, Eph. iii. 8,) that is, things that had been concealed aforetime; but it by no means follows that there were no shadowy representations of these events in the preceding ages, only that thoy were not clearly and expressly revealed.

*^ Kingdoms.and cities are frequently spoken of in holy wpt as womeni Sacred as well as secular bodies of men* are represented under that image. The universal Church is spoken of under the notion of.a bride, and the Messiah as her husband^ Eph. v. The two Churches of Jews and Gentiles, or the Church lender the Mosaic dispensation and tlie Church freed from those ceremonies, are represented as two wCmen-^ihe one formerly treated as the principal wife; and the- second, as having been for a long time neglected, but afterwards producing a much more numerous issue than the first-r-by the prophet Isaiah in his fifty -fourth chapter, accdrding to the explanation St. PauJ has given of that passage in Gal., iv. Parti* ^^^jSlftfchw |ure mentioned after the aame manner.; Soy concerning the Church at Cofinth, ' 8U.0

*' Since then if is common for the Scriptures to represent the Church of God under the notion of a tpoman^ and the Messiah under tiM of di husband; since the two bodies of men — ^that. which worshipped God according to die Mosaic rites, and that which obserred. then^ not^— are compared to two women; and- since the circumstances of these two Churches are such as I have given m account of from St. Paul, it must be "acknowledged that there is a Uvely resemblance between Solomotifs espousing the Egyptian princess and the Messii^'s admitting the Gentile? to equal privileges with the Jews, T^ether it was or was. not designed by God as an emblem and type of it; celebrated by his prophets for this<:ause, in holy songs \ and those songs, preserved with care to this d&y amoilg writings of the most sacred kind on that account.*' -

This is the whole of Mr. Itarmer^s argument; see lus Outlines^ p^es 74-77. And what is proved by it? Nothing, in reference to this book.' We know that the Jewish people^ not the Church exclusiveFy, are represented under the notion of a woman afflicted^ and a mfe upfaithfulf divorced, ^x)d forsaken, &c.; and that the Corinthians were represented* under the notion of a chaste virgin espoused to Christ. And we know that all this wius done to show, that as the marriage union was the doseisty strictest, and most sacred -SLmotig men, the unioii of- the soul X6 God, and its connection with him, -might be most fitly represented by that union, and unfaithfulness to him by infideUty in the oth^ xase. But what has this to do wjth the Canticles?' Where is the intimsiiom that Splomon represents Christ; PharaoVs daughter, the. Church of the Gentiles; and the Jewish queen, the Church of tJie Israelites J Nowhere. Why then' assume the thing that should he prjoved; and then build- doctrines on it, and draw infefences from it, aa if the assumption had been demonstrated?,

Were this mode of interpretatiqn to be applied to the > Scriptures in general, (and why not,..if legitimate here?) in what a state would religion soon be! Who could see any thing certain, determinate, and fixed in the meaning of the Divine oracles, when fancy and imagination must be the standard inte^reters^ God has not left his word 16 man's will in this wdy. • ' ^

Every "attempt, however well-intetitioned, to revive this thriftless, riot to say dangerous, • Origenian method of seducing the Scriptures to particular creeds and purposes, should be regarded with jealousy; and nothing receive^ as the doctrine of the Lord but what may be derived from those plain words of the Most High.Which lie most on a level with the capacities of mankind. Allegory, metaphor, and figtures in general, where the design is clearly indicated, which is the case with all* those •employed by the sacred writers, may come in to illustrate and more forcibly to apply Dirine truth; but to extort celestial iheanings from a whole book, where no such indication is given,- is most certainly not the way id arrive at die knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

As the Jewish marriages were celebrated folr sevens days, it has been often observed thai this. Song divides itself into seven periods, and describes the transactions of e^ch.

I. The FIRST cAapter represents the bridegroom eoad bride as" a sheph^ and shepherdess. The bride asks her spouse where he takes his flocks at noon, to preserve them from the excessive heat, lest'«be, in seeking him, should go astray into some strange pastures. After this' day, ik€ first night succeeds, which is pointed out chap^ ii. 4, 5, 6. The bridegroom rises early in the morning, leaves the bride asleep, and goes hastily, to the fields to his necessary occupations, ver. T. -,

. II. The SECOND night is pointed out chap. ii. 8, 9^ &c. The bridegroom comes to the window of his spouse. She "Opens it, and he enters; and <xi the morrow, he returns to the fields to his flocks, ver. 17.

III. The THilt^B nighty the bridegroom having delayed his coming, the bride, being uneasy, arises firom her bed, and goes out and inquires of the guards of ^e city, whether thej had seen.her beloved. She had not gone far from them till she met with him; she i imiB|i[|p^Uiin

^ * Digitized by CrfOOQlC to her apartment, chap. iii. 1-4. Very early in the morning, he rdtires to the couniry, learing the bride asleep, ver. 6. Afterwards she arisesi and goes also tp the fields, ver. 6.

The FOURTH chapter is an eulogiuih on the bride's beauty; and seems to l)e a conversation between the parties in the country. She inrites the bridegroom to visit her, chap. T« 1. He leaves his friedds, with whom he yras feasting, and qomes to the door of his spouse, ver. 2. She hesitating to let him in, he withdraws and goes to His garden.- The bride follows; bat, not knowing whither he had retired,. ask& the guards of the city, by whom she is maltreated; thence goes to the daughters of Jerusalem, and inquires, of them,* ver. 3^ &c. -At last she meets with him, chap. vi. 1, &c.; and having spent some time with him, returns:

IV. Chap. vi. 9, points Out the fourth night of the marriage..

V. The FIFTH ni^A^ is pointed out chap. vii. 1, &c. The.bridegroonx gives his bride nearly the «ame praiscf and commendations which he had received from her in the preceding chapters; and early in the morning they go out together -to the fields, ver. 1 1-13-

VI. The SIXTH night they pass at a village in* the country, at the house of a person who is termed thip bride's mother, chap. vii. 13, viii. 1-3.. She invites* her spouse thither, and promises to iregale him with excellent fruits and choice wine; and early in the morning the bridegroom arises, leaves the bride asleep as formerly, and retires to the countiy, chap. viii. 4.

VII. The SEVENTH night is passed in the gardens. From jphap. viii. 5, we have a series of dialogues Ibetween the bride^and bridegroom. In the nioming the bridegroom, having perceived that they were overheard, begs the bride to permit him to retire. She assents, ver. 13, 14, and exhorts him *' to make* haste, and be like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of spices."- • ».,

This is the division, which is in the main most followed, especially by the best critics. But, besides this, several others have been proposed; and the reader, who wishes to enter more particulady into the subject, may consult Bishop JSps^uet, Ca/me^, and Bishop "LotrM. For my own part I doubt the propriety of this technical arrangement, and do not think that any thing of the kind was intended by the author. The division is not obvious; and therefore, in my apprehension, not natural. Of Dr. Good's 4ivision I shall speak below.

The dramatis personam have been marked by some of the ancient interpreter^, and the different portions of the whole Song appointed to several persons who.'are specified; and this division served for lYiQ basis of a commentary. The.most regular division of tliis kind with which I have met is in a MS. of my own; the Bible which I have often quoted in my comment,. - ^ • *

This, attributed by some to Widif, and by others to an^older translator, I have carefully transcribed, with all the distinction of parts and speeches, 'The translation is very simple; and in mi^ny ca9es is much more, faithful to the meaning of the Hebrew text, though in the main taken from the Vulgate, than eur own version. It is a great curiosity, and certainly was never before printed j and is a fine specimen 'of our mother.tongue as spoken in these countries in M.CCCLX., which may be 'about the date of this translation: On the common mode of interpretation I venture to assert that my readers will understand this Song tei^ times better from this translation arid its rubricks, than^ they have- ever done from all the fonns in which it has been presented to them, to the present time.' ^For this addition, I antidpate the thanks of every ihtelUgent reader. The indication? of the speakers, printed here in black letter, are all rubrick, in the beautiful original. I have added a short glossary on some of the more difficult or obsolete wordjs,* which will assist the less experienced reader, under whose notice such remote specimens of his own tongue seldom fall..

Between twenty and thirty years ago 1 received from India a part of the Gitagovinda, or Songs of Jayadeva. This poet, the finest lyric poet of India, flourished before the Cluistian.era; and the poem above, which makes the tenth book of the Bhqgavet, was written professedly to celebrate the loves of Chrishna and Radha, or the reciprocal attraction between the Divine goodness and the human soul: The author leaves us in no doubt concerning the design of this little pastoral drama; for in the conclusion he thu*^ speaks: ** Whatever is 846, • o delightful in the inpdes of music, whatever- is divine in meditations on Vishnu, whatever 18 exquisite in tl^e sweet art of love, whatever is graceful in the fine strains of poetry; all that, let the happy and wise learn from the Songs of Jayadeva, whose soul is united with the foot of Narayany < Vishnu and ffarayan are epithets of Chrishna, or the supreme incarnated god of the Hindoos. I ' found the general piiraseology of this work, and its imagery as well ' as its subject, to correspond so much with those of the Canticles^ that in the short notes which I wrote on this book in 1798, I proposed the illustration of maify of its passaged from the GitagQvinfla; and was pleased to fiiid, several years after, that my view ^ of the subject bad been confirmed by that encyclopaedia of learning iuid science. Dr. Mason Good^ who in his translatfon of the Song of Songs, vfith critical notes, published 1803, dvo.,.has illustrated many passages from the Gitagovinda.

After having made a selection from this ancient poet for the Jllhstratipn of the Canticles, I changed in some measure my purpose, and determined to give the whole work, and leave it to my readers to apply those passages which they might think best calculated to throw light upon a book which professedly has the tbiiest of men for its author, and, according to tbe'^ c^inion of many, the most important doctrines of the Christian religion for its subject, I have not followed the metrical version which I received from India, but rather the prose translation of Sir William Jones; dividing it into parts and verses, aftet. the model of the metrical version above mentioned; and adding verbal interpretations of the principal proper names and difiicult terms which are contained in the work.,

Having bee*n long convinced that the Chaldee Targum is at once the eldest wid most valuable comment upon this Jbook, I. have also added this. And* Here I might say that I havtf not only followed my own* judgment, but that also of « very learned divine,. Dr. John Gill, who, having preached one hundred and twenty-two sennons on the Song of Solomon, to the Baptist congregation at fforsleydown^ near London, embodied theni all in what he* calls *^ An Exposition^ of this book; to whi^h Tie added k.translation of the Targum, with short explanatory notes, folio^ 1728. -This was, however, suppressed in all the later editions of this exposition; but why, I cannot tell. This piece I give to my readers, and for the same reasdns alleged by this very learned and excellent man himself: — ' ^*

"At the end of this exposition I have given," sayd.he, "a version of jhe r(£ir5T^m or Chaldee paraphrase upon the whole book, with i^ome notes thereon, induced hereunto by th& following reasons:

^^ First, to gratify the curiosity of some who, observing frequent mention and use made of It in my exposition, might be* desirous of perusing the.whole.

" Secondly, for the profitableness thereof. Oiif learned countryman, Mr. Bfoughton, says, this paraphrase is worth our study both for delight knd profit. It expounds -several passage* of Scripture, and some in the New Testdm^t, which I have directed to in my. notes upon it; and I am persuaded that the writings of the Jews, the ancient Jeiys especially, would give us much light into the phraseology and sense of abundance of texts in the New Testament." " '.

It is certain that this paraphirase does very often direct us, or at least confirm us, as to the persons speaking in this Song, to knoW which is of very great use in the explication of it. - I shall add another reason: I beUeve the -book of Canticles refers more to the Jewish than to th^ Christian Church, and I think th6^ Targumist has made a more rational use of it than any of his successors,...

Ihave thus placed within the reach of iill my ieaders three especial helps, towards a good.understanding of this book: 1. The ancient English translation^ witb its curious dramatis personcB. 2. The Gitagovinda, a most curious poem of the spiritual and allegorical kind. 3. The Chaldee ^Targum, the oldest.comment on this Song. And I add irty prayer. May God guide the reader into all truth, through Christ Jesus! Amen.

On this part of the subject it would be almost criminal not to mention, still more particu— larly^. Dr, Mason Good's translation and notes on Xho^.Song of^ongs. He h^s done much to elucidate its phraseology, and bis not^ are a treasioy of critical learaing. ^ the book to be a coMLwi^an oi ' Sacred Idyls, tioelve in number; and hit dmsion is as follows:

- teenth Terse, beginniiig

There hsTO been various o{Hnions on this division; and mahy will still think that much remains yet to be done. Dr. Good considers it a spiritual allegory.; but he does not attempt a spiritual application of any part of it. This perhaps is no mean proof of his good sense and judgment. I have acted in the same way, though not so convinced of its spirituality as Dr. Good appears to be. If I took it up in this way, I should explain it according to my own creedy as others have done according to theirs; and could I lay it down as a maxim,' that it is to be spiritually interpreted in reference to the Chri^an Revelation, I might soon show my reader that it points out the infinite love of God to every human soul, in the incarnation of Christ; the' means he uses to bring all mankind to an acquaintance with himself; the redemption of true believers froni all unrighteousness, through the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit; their consequent holy life, and godly conversation; the calling of the OentHes; the restoimion of th# Jews; md the final judgment j And my comxjient on, this pbn would have juai as ^oltd ^ foundation as those of my predecessors^ froni Origeti lo the present day.

To conclude: I advise all yoong ministers to avoid preaching on Solomon's Song. If they take a text out of it, to proclaim salvation to lost sinners, ihcy must borrow thetr doctrines from other portions of Scripture, where all is pZam and pointed. And why then leave such, and go out of their way lo find allegorical meanings, taking a whole book by storm, uid leaving the word of God to serve tables?

It is curious to see the manner in which many preachers and commentators attempt to e:Epound this book. They first assume that the book refers to Christ and his Church; hia tinion with human nature; his adoption of the Gentiles; and his. everlasting love to elect souls, gathered out of both people; then take the words, bdde, bridegroom, Spoase, love, watchmen, shephesds, tents, door, lock, &c.j 6c c., and, finding some words cither swtilar or ^ parallel^ In other parts of the sacred writings, which have there an allegorical meaning, con- • tend that those Iiet*€ are to be similarly understood; and wbat is spoken of those apply to j^these; and tlius, in fact, are explaining other passages of Scripture in their own way, while ^>|f professing lo explain the Canticles! What eminent talents, precious time, great pains, and industry, have been wasted in this way! One eminent scholar preaches to his congregation one hundred and twenty-two sermons npon the Song of Solomon, while all thiJ time the evangehsts and apostles have been comparatively forgotten; except only as they are referred to in illustration of tlic particular creed which such writers and preachers found on ibife book- How can they account to God for so much time spent on a tract which requires all their ingenuity and skill to make edifying, even on their own |>lan; a lext of which ihey arc not permitted to allege, in contraversy, to prove the truth of any dispmcd doctrine? This, however) ia not the fault of any partictdar class of ministers exclusively; several of all classes, Uiougn of some more than of others, have been found, less or more, labouring at this thriftless craft. Some, having preached on it during the whole of their ministry, bare carried it, in a certain way, beyond the grave. An aged minister once told me, in a very solemn manner, that as God bad been exceedingly merciful to him in saving his soul, and pulling him into the ministry, thus accounting him faitliful, he hoped that, when called Xq the Cburch above, if any funeral sermon were preached for him^ it should be from Canticles, chap* i. 8; " Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds* tents," That he could have applied these words to his own state, and the use which should be made of his life and death, I have no doubt; but who, froih this te3tt»"would have chosen to pronounce the funeral oration?,

I repeat it, and I wish to be heard by young ministers in particular, take the plainest testa when you attempt to convince men of sin, and build up behevers on tlicir most holy faith; and thus show rather your love for their souls than your dexterity in finding out spiritual meanings for obscure passages, on the true signification of which few, either among the learned or pious, are agreed,

I now, according to my promise^ lay before my readers a transcript from my own MS, Bible, which is most probably the first translation of this Song that was ever made into the English language. I have added, for the sake of reference, the figures for dfie present division into verses, in the margin: these are not in the MS, The dramatis personfF, here in black letter, are in red in the MS. The orthography is scrupulously followed.

[Carefully transcribed from a MS. of the fourtemlh century in the EditOf^i possession]

Sonflfsfijf tjE astfljuus of Cctst anH of tte m^itc^t*

«|)r itlifTclir of tDe rommona of ffiKUt, tprMtt

S, Kyne ke me with the c<sme of his motith.

For hetlejr ben thi tetis ihann wyn, snielUng with beat ojTunentis.

3. Oyle held oule thi name: ther fore tho yunge waxinge wymmen loviden thde fal myche.

4. Dniwd ine after thet^: ^e schul rennen ii^ the ameU of thin aynmeDtiSp

Brogie me in the king into hjs celers. We mHuI ful out joyen and gladen in thee, myndibl of thi tetis upon wjd, rigtinen loY^ thee.

G. O zee dogtiiB of Jerusalem^ blae I am but achappUf sb the taberniiculis of cedar, qb the

8, elcynnes of Salomon. Willi! h nol beholden tjiat I he broun; for discolor d me hath the simne^ The 9ones of my modir fogten agein me: thei setiden me keper in Fync^: my vjns gerde I kepte not.

^f fauke of ttie CMtclie to Qlttst

7, Schewe thon to me whom loviih my Bonlej where thou gereat lesft^ef where thou \yggi& in myd day: leal to gou vagratuit I begymie nftir the floekia of thi felawes.

ff tie bofct or erfat to X%t tCtfrcftr.

0," Gif ihou knowest not thee, O thou fair most among wymmen; go onte, and go awei aflfer the ftleppis of thi flock La and feed thi goot beside

ft* the tabemaculia of achappcrdia. To my ryding in chaiia of Phajao, I licned thee^ O my leef! 10^ Fair ben thy eheekia aa of a turture^ thi necke c 650 ^ *

11. aa hrochia* Golden nhanea we achtil isakea lo

thee maad fWtede with ayblr.

12. Whan the king was ki his lying place, my maid

1 3. eneenBe gave hia amelL A bund lei of mirre mj lemman Ja to me: between my %&u» he acbd

11* dwellen. The cluster of cypre tree my loniittD to me: in the vynea of Engsddy.

€^t tootce of CrFat to tfie CSlltcpe.

Loo thuQ ait fail my leef, lo<i thou fair: ibia eegen of onlf erift*

16, Loo thou art fair my lemnmn, and seemli; oai, bed is achynynge^ The Lrcea of oiiie hooi as

cedre; oure coopLis cypreasp.

1,$. I the floure of the feeld, and the lilie of al vateys, as a lilie among thortiaft, ftd hit l^ among dogtris.

3' As an apple tree among the trees of wodia; m my lemman among Goaea. Undir the schad«we of him whom 1 hadde desirode, I satte: and hm

i. fniyte sweet to my throote* The king ladda me into hia wyne celere> he ordeynedt in me

5. ebarite, Undir leye gee me with ^anKea^ setlith me about appUa; for I iHiiguyeh ftic love*

Gbt toofr^ of tt^t Ctfrrtiet of if rfst, G. The left bond of him undir myn heued; md \m rigt bond achal elippen me*

7* I adjure gou, gea dogtris of JemsaletD, by the capretia and the hertia of feeldia, ne rete geet ne makith my leef to waken, to the time that ache witle.

Gl^c boFce of tfie C^frclr, of Crfjit.

6. Ths TOice of my lemman: Loo, Ibia eommith tcplnge in mounteynea, and over lepinge bJlfea^

Liie is my lemm&n to on eapret and to an heitf cs^if of hertis. LoOt ^^ ^taat befainderi our wall beholding by tbe wyndowis a fer lokiDg thurg the tatis€3« Lqo my lemman i^pekUh to me: Riis go thou my leef, my cuher my achappli and cum. Now forsoLhe wynt«r pa«atde, wedjr geed fro, and is gon awei. Fbpres appeered^n in OUT lond — tyme of cutting b eummen; (be voice of the tuttar b herd m our© loode. The ilige Irce brogt forth hb Arst Higs; The Yjnea floury ng geven their smell.

Cbe tooCce d Crt»t to ttfe dEMtrj^c,

Riis, go my leef, my acbaply and cum thou my culvCTf in the hoolis of the stooo wa!. Schewe thou to me I hi face, and aoun ihi voice in my eris; thi voice foraoth is sweet, and thi iaee Eeemli.

I5p Take gee tn us litil fosis that destroyen vynes: for oure vyne flourede.

16. My loved to me, and 1 to bim, tha.t b fed among lities^ to the tjmc that the daif springe, and

17p ^ Bchadewb ben bowed in. Turne agein; liic be thou 0 my lemman to a capret, and to the hert, calf of hertiai upon the mounteynes o( Betber.

I« In my litil bed by nigtia, I sougt whom lovede

. achal riiaen and gon aboute the cyteet by toune«

* and fltreetis: I schal secben whom loyeth my

2. ^ule. I Bogt him and found not. There found en

me the waclieris thai kepen the cytee.

Whayther whom loveth my bouIb, gm secgen! i. A litil whan I hadde pas$id hem, I fognd whom lovith my soole; I hetdd him aud T acbal not leven to the tyme that I bringo him into the baus of my moder: and into the bed of hir that gat me.

5, I adjure gou ge dogtria of Jerusalim, by capretb and herlia of fa eld is, ne reire gee, ne make gee my leef to waken to the tyme that @che wille.

6. What is ache this that siiegetb up by desert, as a litil gerde of smoke of the awote apyees of mine and of cenae, and of al pymentarie poudxe T

?t Loo the litil bed of Salomon; stirti stronge men comi^Uiaen, of the moat strong men of Israel;

the whiche alle ben lioldinge swirdis; and (o bataile best tagt. Of eche oon the award upon hia hipf for the nigt dredii.

). A ehaier King Salomon maad to him of tbe treee). of Liban. His pileers, be maade syWereu; the

feny ing place, golden; the steiging up, purpura;

the myddm he enoumede with charite, for the

dogteris of Jerusalemi

Goth out and seelh gee dogtria of Syon, Kyng Salomon, in the dyademe in the which e crowned bim hia modir, in the dai. of spousing of him; and in the dai of glad n ease of hb herte

How fail art thou my leef, hou fair ert thou t Thyn eegen of culveris, with out it that with ina forth b hid. Thin her is as the flockb of Got, that steigiden up fro the hHl of Galaad, Thi teeth as the floekis of clippid scheep that steigeden.up fro the wasehing place. Alle with double lumbb in the wombe; and baieyn is not there among hem^ Ala a furred e sylken fylet, thi lippb, and thy fair speche swote. Ala the brekyng of a poif^mgarneti ao thy cbeekia; without itf thai wi thine forth litt hid. Aia the tour of David thi neck that is biSd out with pynactis, A thousand acheeldb ban gen of it al the armour of strong men. Tlii two tetis aa two yunge eapretis twynglingis of the eapret, that beu fed in lilies: to the tyme that th@ day brcthe out, and the sehadewis ben in bowid. I schal gou to the mount of mirre, and to the hifl of cens. A I fuir thou art my ieef, and wemm b not in thee. Cumm thou fro Libane my spouse, en mm fro Liban j cum thou achalt ben crowned fro the beucd of A man a; fro the frount of Sannir, and of Ermon; fro the eouclib liouna, and the hill of Paradise. Thou hast wound [d myn herte myn sustcr, my spouse, thoa hast wound ide myn herte in oon of tbtu eegen: and in oon here of thi neck. Hou fair ben thi tetb my suster, my spouac, fairer ben thi tetia than wyne: and the smell of thin oynmentiSf over alle spieea, A dropping bonycomb thy lippia, spouse: honey and mylc uudir thi tunge; and the smell of ihi ototbing is, as the smell of cena. A ciosid garden my suater, apouae; a closid, gardyn, a welle sehd. Thin out sendingis ia paradia of paumgarnetis: with l!ii fruytia of appLis. Of cypre tree with narde; and narde with aafruUt and fystuta and canel, with alJe tho trees of Liban, mirre and aloes, with alle the first oynmentb. The welle of gardynes, tha pit of lyvyijg waterifl that Ho wen with bune fro Liban, Riis Norrt), and cum South, blow thurg my garden, and thei schul Bowen swote spyces of it, S51

1. Cam my leef into his g^yn; and ete he the ttoyt of his upplis..«-

Com into my gardyn, my sister, my spouse; I ' h&ve gadered my mine with my swote spices; I eete myn hony comb with myn hody. I dianke my wyne with my ipylc.

Etith gee fireendis'and drinkith: and gee 'most:.-Jl^ derwonh beth inwardii maad dnynken.) sleep and myn herte wakitb.

Cte boCce of tb% Ctfrcj^e, of CrCst

The voice of my Lemman kneckyng, open thou to me my sostir, my leef, my enlver, my unwemmynd, for my heud is fnl of dewe, and

3. my temple heris of the droopis of nigtis.. I spoylide me my coote; hod schal 1 be clothid it 1 I waschide my feet, hon schal I 'befoiilen

4. hem 1 my lemman putte his bond hi the hool; my wombe inwardly tretnbled at the teaching of

5. him. I rose that I scholde openn^n.to my lenmian. My hondis droppiden mirre; and my.

6. Ungris fol Of best' proved mirre. The lacche of my dore, I opened to my lemman; and he hadde bowid aayde and paaslde. My scale is moltyn as my lenunan spac. I sogte and foande not him. I clq[kid and he answerd not to me.

7. There founden me keperis that gon abont the cytee. Thei. smyten me, and wonndiden me;

8. takm my mantill tlie keperifl of i|be wallis. I adjnre goa ye dogtris of Jefasalem, gif gee schul fynden my lemman, that gee telle to him, for I languisch for lore. ".

Cite boke of fttttCtiiB nttV^ to t^t CMtc)(e.

0. Whiohe is thy lemman of the loved, O thoa most fair of wjrmmeni Whiche is thy lenunan of the loved t Forsoth'thoa hast adjared as.

8)e tolce of m C^rclie of exist settjji to 4e.freenDCs.

Ky lemman whiit and roodi chosen of thou* sandia. His henied, best gold; his her as bunchis of palmys, ^ick leyed blac as a erowe. His eegen as culveris apon litil ryvera. Of waterts that ben waschid with mylk; and sitte by the most full flowing of waterku The eheekis of litfl flonris of swote spices plaunted of pimentaries. His Hppis ^dropping the first myrre; the hondis of him able to tumen- abont, golden and.full of jacynctis. His wombe isyvren depertid by saphiris. His lippis marhil pileeris, that ben foundid iipon golden feet. His fairness as of Lyban, and chosen m of cedre. • The throot of him most swote; and ht al desirable. Siche is my loved, and this is my lemmanrgee dogtris of Jerusalem.

1. Whider grade awei thi leaunan t O thoa moK fair of wymmen! Whither bowidea doon thi leef, and we schul seehen him with thee!

2. -My leef went doon into his gardyne to the floore

of swote spioes; that there he fed in the gv-

3. dynes, and lilies he.gadired. I to my leef, aod my self, and my leef to me, that is fed among

4. Fair thou art my leef; swote and Imir as Jerusalem; ferfol as the scheltnm of teritis otdeyned.

5^ Turtle awei thin eegen ftro me; fo Ihei madea me to fleen awei. Thin heris as the flockis of

6. sche got, that apeeredenfro GkJaad. Thi teeth as a floo of spheep that steigadea up firo the

" wasching plaoe; al with double fioyt of wombe

7. and bareyn there is not in hem.. As the rynde of po'wmgahiet; so thi eheekis without thin bid

8. thingis. Si^ty ben queen^ and eigty ben seeundane wiives; and ofjrunge wsuce wynuneo

9. Jhero is no noambre. Oon is my culter, mj

litrfite: oon is tO.'hir B^odir, chosen of hir modir,

chosen of hir that gat hir. Tli^re eeegen hir the Hiogtris of Syon, «nd most btiaful preisideo hir:

the queenes and secnndarie wiives pieisiden hir. 10..What is SQhe this that ^th forth Wk the morev-

tide, riibing fair as the mone> chosen as the soooe; "■ ' ferful as of tentis soheltrun ordeyned.

11., I wente donu into ipy gardyne that I scholde seen the applis'jof valeys; and beholden gif the vynes hadden flouride, and the poumgarnetis

13. ' hadden biirriouned, I wiste not, my sode distourbid me, for the foure horeid cartis of Amyn-.adab.

^it bofce of m ®l)(tcte to IHtMlll itf t^e Natsbftr.

13.. Tume ageinytome agein Senamytis; toxne agein,. tome agein that We beholden thee.

91^0 iwtce. of Crfst to tjie C))(rclir, of tbe Skvniao^r,

What sehalt thoa wen in' the Suoamyte, bat queeris of tentis 1

1. Hou fair ben thi goingis in schoonj thou doptir of the prince?' the Jointures of thin hippis as broochis that ben forgid with hond of the craftis-

3. man. Thin navel a turned cuppe, never needing drinkis. Thi wombe as an hepe of where,

3. of whete sett abouten with lilies. Thy two tetia as two yunge capretis, gemelwis of the sche

4. oipret. Thi necke as an yvren tour; thin ee^ren as the cysternys in Esebon; l^at beo in the gaio

of the dogtir of the multitude. Thi noose as the tour of liiban that behpldith ageips damask. Thyn heued as Carmele, thin heris of ihin^hened as the purpuie of the kyng joined to watir p^- Hou faire thou art, and hon' sieemli thou most derworthe in delicis 1 Thi. stature is lickei^ to a palme tree; and thi tetis to clusteris.

I seide I schal steigen into a pahne tree; imd I schal taken the fhiytis of it.

And thi tetis schu} ben as the clusteris of a iFyne, and the smel of thi month as the smel of applis; and thi throot as b^st-wy'ne.

Worthi to my leef to drinken: to the lippis, and to the teeth of him to chewen. I.to my leef and to me the turnynge of him.

Cum my leef, go we oqt* into the feeld, dwelle we togydirin towned: erli riise we to the vyne: ^ee we gif the yyne.'flooride;. gif th^^ures, fruytis bringen forth; gif the poumgarMlli flonren \ The mandraggis yeven their smel in oure, yeatis. AUe itppls newe and olde my Jeef, I kepte to thee. * * ' ^ ''^

Who to me gevith thee my brother, souking ihe tetis of my modir, that I fynde thee aloon without forth and kyssd thee, and now, me, no man dispises. I aohal taken thee and leiden into the hous of my modir, and into the bed riace of hir that gat me. There thou shalt tecken nie, and I schal geyen to thee drinken of spyoi^ wyne, and c( the must oif my poumgamefis. iThe \eh bond of him nndir my heued, and the rigt htmd of him schal clippen me. -.

gee,' ne miakith to wake my leef, to tbt Ijne that sche will. «;

'6. What is sche this that steigith up fro desert, flow# ing delices, fast clevyng upon hir toef K

8j|)r botce of Crttt to tjjie fi^nafloflei oC tf^t tolf Ctrosse.

Undir an apple tree I rered thee; thipre schent • is thi modir: there defoulid is sche that gat thee^

^. Putte me as a brooche upon thi herte;' jptte me as a brooche upon thin arme; for strong as deth, love: hard as helle, gefousnesse: the lamfis of

7. Jt, the lampis of fiir: and of flammes. Many wateris schal not mown ^oenchen oute chaiitM: nefloodis schal not tfarowen it doim. Oy% man gif H th6 -sobstaunce of his hous (ct)onh as nogt he dispisithlt. ^m

8tre bofce of CrCst, to tjie linage oC^oU CtMtcj^r.

' i. Our sustir a litfl child; and tetis sche hath not.

What schal we dene to core sustir, in the day

;Qu whann sche* is to be' spoken to? Grlf a wal she

is, bildeh we upon it sylveren pynnaolis./ Gif a

dore sche is, joyn We it.with cedre tables.

10. I, 8.wal; and my tetis as a tour; sythen I am maa4 be fore thee as peae receyvynge.

11. Vyne och^ w^g to pesyble, m hir that hath peplis", sche toke it to the keperis: a aian takith awei for th^ fkiyte of it, a thousand sylreien platia. ',.-

12. My Tyne before me is; a tho^jumd thi pesiUis'; and two hundrith to hem that kepen the fruytis

li, of it..The whiche dwellest in gurdynes fireendis herkenen thee: make meto Keeren thi yoice.

14. Flee thou my leef^ he thou lickened to a (iapJret^ ' and to an hert, calf of hertis, upon the t^fm-^ teynes of swote spices.

The above is taken, literatim, from an a9cient MS. once the property of Thomas d Woodstock^ youngest* son of EduAtrd IILf and brother to Edward the Black I^rince. Miilbrobk, Feb. 1, 1833...-.

Teajr from the Creation of the World, according to Archbiahop Uahei^ S900. — ^Year from tite Flood of Noah, according to the common Hebrew text(.1334.' — ^Yeax before the birth of Christ, lOlO.-r-Year before the vulgar era of Christ's natinty, 1014.

ne bride's Ipve to her gfrnu'e^ 1-5. She, confesses her unworthmess; desires to be directed to the flock^ 6, 7; and she is directed to the shepherds* tents, 8. The bridegroom describes kis bride, and shows how he will. provide for her, and how comfortably they are accommodated, 9-17.

2 Let him kiss me with the

3 Because of the savour of thy good * ointments, thy name is as ointment:poured forth, therefore do. the virgins love thee.

''Verse 1. The song of songs] A song of peeoliar excellence. See the Introduction. The rabbins coneider this snperior to all songs. Tkn songs, says the, Targum, have been sung; but this excels them all. 1. The^r^t was sung by Adam when his sin waft pardoned. 3. The second wiM sung by Moe^B and the Israelites at the Red Sea, 3. The /Atnf was- sung l^ the Israelites when they drank ofthe rock in the wildemess. 4. The fourth was sung by Moses when summoned, to depart fiom this world.. 4».- The fifth' was sung by Joshua when the sun iemd moon stood stiU, 6. The sitth was sung by Deborah and Barak after the defeat of Sisera. 7. The seventh was.sung by Hannah when the Lord promise^ her a son. 8. Tfie* eighth was sung by David for all. the -ijiercies given him by God. 9. The nmlA. is the.present, aoig in the spirit of prophecy by Solomon: - 10. The tenth U that which shall be sung by the children of Israel when restored from their captivities. See\he Targum.

Verse 3. Let him kise'me, ^c.] She speaks of the bridegroom in the third person, to testify h^r own modesty, and to show him the greater respect.

Thy lave is better thah wine,"] The versions in general translate fni dbdeycd, thy breasts; and they Bve said tp represent, spiritually, the Old and* New Testaments*

4 Draw me, *^we will run- after thee: the king ^ hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoioe in thee, we will remember thy love more thair wine: ' the upright love thee.

5 i am black, but comely, O ye daughters of~ Jerusalem, as the tents of Ke-

Verse 3. Thy name is n»ynnt9nent poured fbrtk] Ointmenta and perfumes were, and still are, in great revest among the Asialios. They occur eonstanlly in their entertainments. Thy name is as refreshing to my heart,.as. tl^ best perfnines diffused throogh a chainber are to the seasee of the guests.

Ther^ere do the ^virgins Jovf tkie^ She meau herself; but pses this periphrasis throngii modesty.

We will rm s^ter thee] Speaking in the plural thfongh modesty, while still herself is meant.

The king hdth brought me] My spouse is a polmtate, a Inighty ib'i^, no osdinaiy person.:. into his chambers] He ha&' favoured me witk his tttnuMt oenfidence. ^

The upright love tkeie.] The most perfect aad^aecomplished find thee worthy of theii highest esteeoi:'

Verse 5, / am black, but comely] This is literally true of.many o^ the Asiatic women; though blaek^m: brown^ they are exquisitely beautiful. Many of Us £g3rptian women are still fine; but their complexion is much inferiqr.to'that of the Palestine females. Though black or swarthy in my complexion, yet am I comely — ^well proportioned in every part.. As the tefUs of Kedar] I afti tawny, like the tents of the ArabianSf and like the paviUdBS of Sdomoiiy

AnM L^nnp. of gold \^ith studs of Silver. AuSoaoir. 12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth

13 A buhdle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt. my breasts.

.14 My beloved is unto me lu a cluster of

17 The beams of our liouse are cedar, and our ^tdfiers of fir.

as this is one of the principal ornaments of their fieiees.*' I have seen their essence botties ornamented with^ festoons of aspers, and small pieces of sOrer pearlSf beads, &c. One of these is now before me. ' '.

VJerse 1 1. Borders cfgold] I have observed several of the handkerchiefs, shawk, and be^ attire of the Eastern women, cnrioiisly gpl '^zpeasively worked in the borders vnth gold send mIm^, and variously 'colonfed sflk,' which has a splendid effect.

Verse 12. While the Hng sitteth at his tMe] ODDS himsibbo, in his circle, probably meaning tife eirete oC hia friends at the marriage festivals, or a round table. •. •

Verse 13. ITe shall lie all night betioixt my breasts.] Mr. Harmer contends that it is the* bundle of myrrh 'which xhe bride says shall lie all night betvtixt her breasts, to which she compares the bridegroom, his name being as pleasing and refreshing to her mind, as the myrrh jor stacte was tip her senses, by its -contkMud fragrance^ *. ' '

Verse 14 A cluster of camphire].Mr. Hasselquist snpposes this ta mean a bunch ofjhe Cyprus grape 4 bot this is supposed, to mean a shrub so. called, ' not any prodaction of the isle of Cyprus; the best kinds of whidi were found at En-gedi..This place belonged to the tribe df Jadah.

Perhaps the poet allodes to the dark colour of the hqir, which by the Greeks was not.iinfVeqUently compared to ths. bunches of grapes; by no means an unfit siihilitud^ for thick hlack clustering curls. The following lines represent the same Idea:-«

*' The dark black locks that ornament her neck Hang thick and elnsterhig like the branchy palm.**

Verse 15.' Thou h.ast doves^ eyes] The large and i>eantiful dove of Syria ia supposed to be. here referred to, the pjrfes of which are remarkably fine.

Verse 16. Also our bed is green.] Brnp eres, from its ude in several piacesof the Hebrew "Bible, generally signifies a mattress; aAd here probably a green bartk U' meant, on which they sat down, being -now on a walk in the country. t)r it roa}r mean a bower in a garden,' OT the nuptial bed.

•Verse 17. The beams of our house are cedar] Perhaps it was under a cedar tree, whose vast limbs were jnterwoyen with the nn3 beroth, a tree of the cypress kind, where they now sat. And this natural bower recommended itself ^ to the poet^s attention by ih strength, loftiness, and its afibrding them a shady cover, and cool tetreat. ' Hjow natural to break out into the praise of a bower, by whose branches and foliage we are shielded from the intense heat of the sun! * Even the shelter of a great rock in a weary land is celebrated by the pen of the first qfpr(fphots and greatest of;9oet«, Isa. xxzii. '9.

A description of the bridegroom, and his love Jo' the bride, 1-9..Afin^ description of, springy 10-13.

NOTES ON CHAP. H. Verse 1. Itsa the rose of Sh0ron] Sharon was a- Twy froitfol place, whtoe David^s cattle were fed, 1 ChxoD. zxvii. 99. It is-o^entioned as a place of exeeiiince, Isa. xzxv. li^ and as a place of flocks, Isa. lifV lb. •Perliapa il«Mi Be better, wHh almoM aU

3 As the apple tree among ^- ^- ^^; ^' the trees;ef the virood, sp is my AJitei. Cflymp.' beloved among the sons. »I AnteU. c' cir" sat down under his shadow with ^^'

the versions, to translate^ " I am the rose of the field.** The bridegroom had just before called her fair; she^ with -a becoming modesty, represents her beauty as nothing extraordinary, and- compares herself to a eoa^ mon flower of the field. This, in the warmth of hif afieotion, he denies, insisting that she ai mach wn^

6 Stay me with flagons,* • comfort me with apples ^ for I am sick of love. ^

6 ^ His left hand is under my head, and his right band doth embrace me, ' - ^ '

7 ' I ** charge you, 0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes,, and by the hinds^ of the field, that ye stir not up, nor -awake my. love, till he please.

Verse 3. As the apple /rfe«]. The bride returns the compliment, abd says, As the apple- or citren tree is among the treei of the wood, so is the bridegroom among all other men.

. / sat down under his s^^doto] I am become his spouse, and my union with him makes me indescribably iiaj^pq^i^ Verse 4. He brought me to the banqueting house] LiteralljT, tMe house of wine. The aiicients preserred their wine, not in barrels or dark cellars undet grounid, aS'We do, but in large pitchers, ranged against the

. wall in some upper apartment in the house, the place where the^ kept their most precious effects. We havd

Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surTcysj Where lay the treasures of tV Ithacian race.* Here, ruddy bra^s and gold refulgent blazed; There, polished chests, embroidered vesti^res graced. Here, pots of oil bceathed forth a rich perfume; ' There, jars of win^ in rows adornM the dome. (Pure ^avorous wine, by gods in bounty giren. And worthj to exalt the feasts of heayen.) Untouched they, stood, till, his long labours o'er, -.The grest^ Ulysses reachM his native shdre. A double strength of bars secured the gates; Fast by the door wise Euryclea waits, &c. Pope. Verse 6. Stay me with flagons] I believe the original, words mean some kind of cordials ^ with which* we are unacquainted.- The versions in general understand eome kind of ointment o^ perfumes by the flrst term. I suppose the good man. was perfectly sincere who. took this for his text, and, after having repeated, Stay fM wifh flagons^ comfort me with appUs^for lam nek

8 The voice of my beloved? b;^\^.'*iw!l behold,' he cometh leaping upon AntjlCMyii. the mountains, skipping upon the Aata u. a dL hills. ^' '

9 'My beloved i&like a roe, or a young bart: behold, he standeth behind 'our vrall, he looketh forth at the windows, ^ showing himself through the- lattice.

10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, ^ Rise up, my love; my fair one, and come away.

11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gonej^

of love sat iIoWb, perfectly overwhelmed with his own feelings, and was not able to proceed! But whild we admit Sach a person'^ siaoerity, who caa help qnestioiiing his judgment 1 " *

Verse ^. T. charge you — by the roes] This was probably some trastic mode erf ^Juratioa* The venes tfa^eibselYes require Ijttle comment.

Verse 8. Behold, he cometh leaping] This sppem to be highly tcharaeterlstic of the gam^Ls of the ibep herds, and points out the ecstasy with which those who were enamoured ran to their mates. It ia mppimtA that the second day^s eclogue begins: at this Teiae. The author of what was then called >A New Traikdetion of Solomon's Song, observes, 1. The bride relates how the bridegroom, attended by his companipiis, had come under her window, and called upon h^r to come forth and enjoy the beauties of the spring, ver. 9, 10, 11, &o. 9. She (hen return^ to her narration, dhap. iii. l'.' The bridegroom did not come aoconUng to her wishes. Night came on; die did not find him in her bed^ she went out to seek him; found him, andbrovght him to her molher^s paTilion, ver. 4; and then, as before, conjures the virgins not to disturb his repose, yer. 5. > ■ Verse 9. He standeth behind Our waif] ■ TKis may refer to the wall by which the house was sttrro(tnied,'the space between which and the house consticated the court He was seen first behind the wall, and then in the court; and lastly came to tlie window of his bride's chamber.

VerSfe 11. The Aointer is past] Mr. Harmer has ina^e somQ' good collections on this part, from Drs. Shaw and Itussel, which I shall trahsciibe. One part bf the winteit is distinguished fr9m the rest of it by the people pf the East, on accoiint of the severity of the cold. At Aleppo it lasts about /&r/y days^ and is called by th^ naltives maurbanie. I would propose it to the consideration of the. learned, whether the word here used, and translated winter^ may not be understood to miean what the Aleppines express by the term maurbdnie. It occurs nowhere else in the. Old Testament^ and another wprd iiET used for the rainy part of the year in general,. If ttus thought be admitted, it will greatly illustrate the wiyds of the hiidegroom: Lo, the wiaier is paitg tHk^im 4m eperp ^md gem.

12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and ihe voice of the turtle is heard in our land; • 13 The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vii^es with the tender grape give a good smell. • '*■ Arise, n^y love, my fair olie, and come av?ay.

14 O my dove, that art in the clefts -of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, » let me hear thy voices

For then the last claose. will not he expUnatory of the first, and signify that the moist part of the year was entirely past; with which, Dr. Russel assures as, all pleasantness withdraws zX Aleppo; bat the words will import: ^' The maurhanie is past aikl over; the 'weather is become agreeably warm; the rain, ioois just ceased, and consequently hath left us the prospect of seTeral days of serenity ^d undisturbed pleasahtness." - /. -

The weather of Judea was in this respect, I presume, like that at Algiers; where, afitfr two or three days of rain, there is usually, su^cording to Dr. Shaw, *< a week, a fortnight,' or more, of. fair and good weather.. Of such a sort of cessation of rain- alone, the bridegroom, methinkb, is here to be understood; opt of the absolute termination of the rainy- season,* and the summer droughts being come on^ And if so', what can the time th^t is ^/-mean but the maurhome? Indeed, Dr. Russel, in giving us an. account

, of the elcursioBs of the English merchants at Aleppoj has undesignedly furnished us with a good comment on this and the two following verses. These gentlc'- men,' it seems, dine abroad under a tent,- in spring and autumn on Saturdays, and often -on WednOsdaye. They do'the tame during^ the good weather in winter; but they live at the gardens iA AP'il* ^^^ P^^ ^^ May.'

. as oftce or twice a week, they.dine under a teni* in automn and spring.'* The cold wefttherx is not supposed by. Solomon to have been long* over, since* it 'is distinctly mentioned; and the Aleppities make, these incursions very early; the narcissus flowers daring the whole of the miturbanie; the hyacinths and violeis

,pXr least before it is quite over. -'The appearidjg of flowers, then, doth not mean th^ spearing of the first and earliest flowers,. but must rather be understood of the earth's being covered with them; which at Aleppo is not till after the middle of February, a small crane's' &t2/ appearing on the banks of. the river there about the middle of Februfiry, quickly after -which comes a profusion of flowers.- The nightingales, too, which are there in abundance, not only afibrd much pleasure by their songs in the gardens,' but axe also' kept tame in the houses, and let out at a sovall rate to divert such as choose it in the city; so that no entertain-'

. nients are made in the spring without a concert ef these birds.'. No wonder, 4hen» that Solomon makes Ibe bod^gioom speak of the atnguigof bixd»; «iid it e

for sweet is thy voice; and thy countenance is comely.

16? My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.,

17 "i Until the day break, and, the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou ' like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains ' of Bether.

teaches us what these birds are, which are expressly distinguished from turtle doves.

•Verse 13^ The fig tree putteth forth her green Jigs] The fig tree in Judea bears double crops; the fitst of which is ripe in spring,. But the tree, as 1 have elsewhere observed, bears fign -all the year through, in the climes congenial to it. That is, the fig tree has always ripe or unripe fruit on it. I never saw a healthy tree naked. But in the beginning of spring they grow faet^ and become turgid.. ^ ^

The vines with the tender grape] The versions understand this of the flowers of the vine. These Were ftnrmerly yaX. into the new wine (3 lbs. to every cask) to give it a fine flavour.

. Verse 1:4. My dove — in the clefts of the roUk] He compares his bride hiding herself in her secret chambers and closets to a dove in the clefts. of the rock. ' Verse 15. Tal^e us the fdxes] That these w^ ruinous' to vines ajl authors allow. They love t!tm vine, and they are eaten in autunm in some countriee; -according to Galen, when they, are very fat with eating the grapes. They abounded in Judea; and did most d$m^l8 when the clusters were young and tender. Il is likely that these are the words of the bridegroom to his tompanions, ju0t as- he ^as eptering the apartment. of his ep^use. " Take care of the vineyard: set the traps' for the foxes, which are spoiling th^.vines; and destroy their young 9Z fac as possible."

y^rseLG. My beloved'\»mine\ The words of the inJ^ on his entering: " I am thy own; thou art wholly mine;'*

He. feedeth among the Ulies,] The odour with which he is. surrounded is as fine as if he -passed the night among the sweetest scented Averse

Verse 17. Until the day brec^] Literally, until the day breathe; until the first dawn, which is usually accompanied with the most refreshing breezes.

The shadows flee awOy] Referi:ing to the evenit^ or setting of the sun, at which all shadows vanish.

The^ mountains (ff Bether.]. Translated also mountains of division, supposed to mean the mountains of Beih-horon^

There was a place called Bithron^ 2 Sam. ii. 99, m the other side of Jordan; and as the name signifies PARTITION, it might have had its name from the circunistance of its being divided or separated from Judea hj the river Jordan.

wtcoidiDg io the fancy, of the artist. SdomoD*8 conoh may have been of the same)diid, and decorated in the same way \ ttid the paving withJove may refer to the amatory yerses worked eitlier on the counterpane, hangings, or embroidafed carpet. And as this was done by the daughUrs of Jerusalem, tbey might hare expressed the most striking parts iq£ such 9k€has9e his^ tory of love «p Halaly's Leely^ and Mtfjnoon on thcT different parts. I see that Dr. Gooi^ of this opinion. It is'sufficientty piobable.

Verae-11. GofoHh, Of§daughien dfZion\ This is the exhortation of iSb» cdrnfonumt of the bride to the females of the eit^ (o exunhie the si^erb appearance of the bffi!fegj:oom, and eipecially die nuptial erownj which appears to hare been made by Bathshs^ vfho it is supposed might ha^e lired Vl\ the time of Sobmon's marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh. It is conjectured that the prophet refers to a nuptial crotim, Isa. Ixi. 10: But a crown, both on the bride and hridegroomy w^ common among moot p&ople on such occasions. The nuptial crown among the Greeks and Romans was only a chaplet or wxe^' of flowers. - i*»

- In the day of the gladness of his heart.] The dsf in which all his wishes were crowned, by being united to that female whom ^ond all others be loTed.

The bridegroom^ s descriptioH of his bride^ her person^ her. ac'eomplishments^' her chastity ^ and ker general

2 ^ Thy teeth are Uke a flock of sheep that are euen shorn, which came up. from the

Verse 1. Thou hasf doves^ -eyes within thy loeks] Perhiips this refers father 'to a ^rt of yeil worn hy inany of th^ Eastern women, hut especially in £g3rpt. It is a species of- black cloth made of the hair of some animal,^ probably the black goat; is suspended from the 4iead by silken cords, one of which opmes from the crown of the head, down the forehead, to the upper part of the nose, just under the eyes, at whieh place the veil begins; for the forehead and the eyes are utfcbvered, except the cord above mentioned, which is ornamented with gold, silrerj and precious stoiles, ^according to the circumstances of the weareV. This partial veil not only covers all the face, the eyes and forehead excepted, but the neck alsO| S4id hangs Iposely down over the bosom. One of thsii, lately brought from. Egypt, 'now lies before me. But the clause, within thy locksy y^t^'sh i;^3D mibbaad letsc&nmathech, IB not well translated, either by ourselves or by the versums, Jerome's translation is an indication of the meaning: Absque eo quod intrinsecus latet; without that, or independently of that, whkh lies hidden within. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic have, besides thy silence. Calmet oontends that none of these gives the true meanings and that the word HDY tsemath has not the meaning -of hair t>r lochs wherever it occurs, and has quite a different meaning in Isa^ xlvii. 2. St. Jerome on this place expresses himself thus: ffolentibus qui interpretati sunt transferre nomen quod in Sancta Scriptura sonat' turpitudinem. — Ergo I^HDY tsammaihechj quod Aquila posuitj.verenda mulieris qppeUafUur cujHs etymohgim mpud eos sonat sitiens o

3 Thy lips are like a thread of ^^' scarlet, and thy speech is comely: * thy templeis are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

4 ^Thy neck is like the tower of David

tuns. Calmet translates: Vous ites touts belief mon amie; vous Hes touts belle: vos yeux sont des yeus de colombe; sans ce*que la pudeur et la modestie tiennent cache. 1 leave the translation of these' to tiie learqed reader. See another description under ver. 7.

- As a flock of goats] Because it was black and iieek, as the hair of the goats of Arabia and Palestine is known to 'be; which, with its fine undulation, is supposed to bear some resemblance to ike curls os plaits of a woma^i^s tresses. The mountains of Crilead were beyond Jordan, on ihe frontiers of Arabia Desertsu

. Verse- 9. Thy teeth are like a flock] This eoM-» paiison-appe^irs to, be founded on the evenness, neaU ness, and whiteness of the newly shorn and newly washed Sheep.

Verse 3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet^ Both lips 2.Ti<i cheeks were ruddy; sieut fragmen malt punici. — ^VuLOATE. Like the section of<i pomegranate^ that side cut off on which is the finest blush. This is s good and apt metaphor. But the inside may be referred to, as it is finely streaked with r^ and white melting into each -other. She had beautiful hatr^ beautiful eyes, beaqtiful eA^e^.and lips, and a most pleasing and dulcet voice.

' Within thy locks.] See on veV. 1, and on?Sf. 7. ' Verse 4. Thy neck is like the tower of David] It is certain that bucklers were frequently hung about towers, both for their ornaments, and to have them at hand when thehruse was requii^d; see Esek. xxvii. 10. But the allusion here may b^ to those pillars which are often seen in armouries on which weapons of.variooi kinds aie-htmg, ibimed intQ a giesl variety of shspet.

builded * for an amioury, wtoreon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men*

5 **Thy two breasli are Uke roes that are twins, iwhich feed

7 ' Thou art all fair^ my love; (here is no spot in thee.

8 Come with mc from Lebanon, my spouse^ with me from Lebanon: look from the top of

and Yery splendiif* Whoeve? has seco the t^Tn/turt/ m the tower of Loadon^ or such like p!a4}6s, ha$ most pr^>bably seen something vesy aimilaj to that of which the poet speaks.

Verse 5* TAy lif# hf casts Bic like tit?o ^otmg roes] I have met with mtiny attempts to support this ^imtliiude^ or rather to show that there is a similitude ^ but I Judge them anwortliy of o it at ion. The poet speakfi the langu^e of nature; and in a case of this kinrt, where the impasaiooed lover attempts to describe the different perfections of his bride, language often faib htm^ and hia comparisons and ettnilittidea are often without strict eotreetness. In love songs we have heard ladies^ necks compared io that of the swrni^ not only for its foAifeneu, but also for its leifgth t The description here shows moro of nature than of art^ \ it; and this seems lo recetre confirmation from the shines the blue loios i ihy Qo&e is a. bud of the HIq i the cunda hlu±<som yields to thy teeih. Soxety tbon descendedst from heaven, O sleoder dttm^l i ^tteihded by a compBTiy of youtliful goddesses; and all ibeff beauties are collected in tbee/^ See these poem&, ud the short notes at the end.

The sime poet tias a paratld tbotight to thai in rer. b. ^^ Thy two breasts/- &c. The companioD^ of R^dk^ lliuB address her: ** A&k those two rmmd hillocks wbcb receive pure dew drops from the garland playing oa thy neck^ and the huds on whme tops 9fart aJotl with the thought of thy beloved,"

Verse 8, My sptnme. The Thi callah^ which ve translate spouset &ecms to have a peetiliar meaiung. Mr. Harmer thinks the Jem isk princess is intended by

The shadoies flee Gway] Till the sun sets* Mtfuntain of myrrh] Probably the same as the mountains of Beth^r^ chap. ii. 17. Mountains where

Spcctai inornatos cello pendere eapiilos,

Et, r/wirf si comantxtr f ait. Videi igne mkantcs

Sideribits similes oculos ^ vidct oscula, qtme non

Brachiaque, et nndoa media plus parte lacertos.

Si qua latent metwra put at.

Her well- turn -d neck he view'd, (her neck was hare;)

And on her shotiiders her dishevdVd hair.

O, were it comb*dj said he, with what a graee

Would every watHng curl become her face!

He viewM her eyes, like heavenly lamps that shone,

He yiewM her Itpj, too sweet to view alone;

Her taper fingers, and her panting Ireasi.

He praises all he sees; and, for the rest,

Believes the heauties yet unseen the best. Dnynew.

Jayadeva describes the beauty of Radha in nearly the same imagery:. " Thy /i;)j, O thou most beautiful among women, arc a handhujiva flower; the lustre of bride ^oom calling her sister, ver^ 9, that is, one of the same stock and couatry, and thua diOferent ffom the Egyptian bride.

Mr. Harmer^s opinion ia very probable, ibat Tw^s fueens are mentioned in thia song: one Phajuoh'i daughter, the other a Jewess, 3ee hia miilmts. Bit I ton tend for no system relative to this song.

Look from the top of Amofui, <^c*] Solomon, aaji Caimel, by an admirable poetic ^ctitiD, represents his bfdored as a mountain nymph, whollj occupied in banting* the lion and the leopard on the monntains of Jjcbanon, Amana, Sbenirf and Hermon. As a bold and undisciplined virgin, who is unwilling to leaf e ha wild and rural r^lraatSj he invites her to come ham those hills; and promises to deck her with a crown^ and to make hor his bride. Thus tlie poets repieieot their goddess Diana ^ and even Venus herself:—

Per JLiga, per syb'as, dum^saque saxa vagatox Nod a genu/vestem ritu auccincta Dianv; Hortatnrque canes; tuteeque animalia pr^dv, Aut prunes ]ipore$f aut celsum in comna cerrum, Aut agitat damas: at forlibus abstipet apriiv

Mar. lib, x, ver, 535. Now busldnM like the virgiu huntress goes Through wooda, and pathless wilds, and nMionlalD

snows. With her own tuneful voice she joys to cliMsr The panting hounds that thase the flyii^ deer^ She runs the labyrinth of the fearful hares, But fearless beasts a»d dangerous prey forheafs*

Mount Libanus separates Phccnicia from Syrii* Amanus m be i ween Syria and SHieia. Shemr mad HcrtnoH are beyond Jordan, to tJie south of Dtmaseus and Mount Libanua, and northward of the mountains of Gilead, Hermon and Shenirare tHjt difltsreot parts of the same chain of mtruntains which Beparat«« TrachtmiU^s ^ the country of Mmmsses, from Arabas w c ' ei^ ioH^ Amanaj from the top of Shenir ADt» J difflip. ^ and Hcraion* from the Hont' Aiiic V a dr. dens, from tiie mouniains of the

9 Thou hast *^ ravished my licarl, my sisleri mi/ spouBe; ihou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of ihy neck,

10 How fair is ihy loire, my sister, my spouse [ *how much belter is ihy love than wine! and the smell of tliine ointments than all spices!

. 1 1 Thy lips, O my spouse^ drop as the honey-comb: ^ honey and milk are iinder thy tongue; and the smell of thy gaimeots is ^ like the smell of Lebanon.

Vetse 9. Thou hasi Tat^ished my keitri] ^3fi337 /iMadlini, ** Thou hast hearted me»^* i. e,* token it way my heart; as we Bay* ** He has harked the tree," L e., he has stripped it of iUi bark; " He has fleeced the flock/* i. e., deprived ihem of their wool*

With one of thine ej/e^] "I^J'JfS nn*t3 b&achad meeynnyich, This^ hns been Uiooght a harsh eKpreaeion, and TarioQB emeadaUons have been ^ught. The Maeoreles have put nnna heachath, *' at once," in the margin; and this js confypmed by ttrenty of Kenntcoti^x MSS.; but De i?ojji does not notice ii. It is aeaioely necessary; the sense to me i^ clear and good without it. ** Even one of thine eyes, or one glance. of thine eyes^ has been sufiic lent to deprive me of all |iower; it has completely overcome me;" for glan€e may be understood, and auch forms of speech are common in all languages, when speaking on such subjects. If even taken hteraihji the sense is good; for the poet may refer lo a side glance ^ shot in patsing fry or ittming away^ where only one eye could be aeenJ I thinV this a better sense than that which Js obtained from the Masoredc emendation.

Wtth me cham of ihy neck] Probably referring to the play of the cen^ical muscles^ rather than to neck^ laces, or nnghts qf hatr.

Verse 10. How mtich beiter'is ihy lt»je] yil do* dayich i* Hebrew. MatTToi GQt^; Sepiuagint, libera iua; Vulgale. '* Thy hTeasts." And »o all the versions, except the Choi dee.

Vers© 11, Thy lips-^dropz& the honey -cmib\ Thy Tforda are aa delicious to my hoart as the first droppings of the honey-eomb are to the paJatc*

Honey and mil^ are under thy t&ngue\ Eloquence and persuasive speech were compared among the ancients to honey and miik.

13 Thy plants are m orchard ^*'

14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, widi aU trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

1 5 A fountain of gardens, a well of ^ living waters, and streams from Lebanon,

1 6 Awake, O north wind i and come, thou south; blow upon my garden^ that the spices thereof may flow out, " Let my beloved cotne into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

Experienced Neslori in persutmon skilled* Words sweet as hon^/rom his lips distiWd*

But the figure is common to ttU writ era and languages. A similnt ex^refision >Aill be seen In the QUagomnda.

Verae 12. A garimi enelnktd — a spnng shui up^ a fountain seded^] Diflereni expressions to point out the fidelity of the bride, or of the Jewiah queen. See the outlines. She in unsullied, a chaste, pure rnrgin. None has ever entered into this garden; none has yet tasted of thia spring; the seal of this founifim has never ireen brokefi. Among the Athenians, the interior part of the house, called the women *s apartment, was not dnly locked hut sealed; so Arisiophan., Theamoph. ver, 422: —

And sealf as applicable to chaste conduct, ta a phrase weU known to the Greeks. j£ achy] us, in the Agamemnon, praises a woman, OTjfiatfT^piov ottdev dm^ap^- ffav, who had not violated her sea] of conjagal faith. But Nonnus, lib, ii<i uses the form of speech exactly aa Solomon does with reference to a pure virgin; he says, A-^txvoTOP hj^ a^p^ytt^a nopettft; *' She had preserved l^e seal of her t*irgimty untouched.^* All this ia plain; but how many will make metaphors oui of metaphors I

Verse 13. Thy plants ^re an orchard of pomegra* notes] This seems to refer to the fecundity of the bride or Jewish queen; to the former it would ho & predtcUon; to the latter, a statement of what had already taken place. The word D*TiD pardcs, which we translate an orchard^ is the same which has given birth to our paradis^t a garden of pleasure. The other expressions, in this and the following reraei seem ta refer wholly to matters of a connubial nature.

HmdiigQnU But this ia expTea«ed afterwards; though there would be notbing improper in saying, ** a liviwg fountain^ n well of liiring waters > and streams from Mount L^hanou.^^ A fonutain of gardens may mean one so a^btindant &s to be bu flic lent to supply miny gmiden^T to water many plots of groandi aA»i(]iaberaiiil

Verae 16. Aitak^^ O north wind; and comef thou south] It [5 griLniBd that the south wind in Palestine^ in the summer T is ediremely hoi wul irouhUsome; therefore^ another inierpTGUti4:in of tliia paj^sage haa been proposed by Mt. Harmcr; who thinks "KID hoi, ift'hich we render comej fligniBea enter into thf repose tones; and, therefore, a appose a the true inierpretation of the words to \ye as follows; ** A rise ^ thou north wind, (and retire* thou sooth,) blow upon my garden;

Met the spices thereof flow forth, that my beloved may oon^e into bia garden, iniritad by the coolneAS and frv gtmtiy of the iiir, niad piay eat hm plestavnt fhiits; Ibr, if the sotith wind blow, tlie e^ceufwe keai wiE fy^fii his taking the airj and oblige him t^ abut eloie llit doora And windows of his aparimento,*' Oiher« tbiiik that he wishes the wtnds from aU dw^^ions to cany ilurou ghoul the J&nd ih^ fume of Im ifiieefl, nrtiie, xikd perfeetione.

Let my hrliwed conie into his garden] This if thti invitiition of the hnde / and if lae look not fof 6rfatched meanings, the seose ia atifEctelEl)F tfiMwi But comment a tors on this mng oomoiirKies tiie i hitnd sense where llio metaphor is evidieDt; at othef tunei thciy build an utles^or^ upon a m<r'a/'Aor* The G*i§' govinda hiis oM ctegant passage similar id ihm, See l!iu place, Part VJI.j beginning wUh J5^ftfrr« Mwttl Uadha.

The whole of this obaptet ia e<MiftideTed Id be imeonnected with any pattlculai tiifi0 of the ceremoniM*

The hridej^om fTa27f ihTIu,4pausete mlmit him, 1-3, She hesitaics; hut arising finds htm fimf, setigkmh and is treated unworthily ht/ the citjj wattht 1-1. Inquires &/ the daughters of Jtru^^em^ wh^ qm^^im her cQnecTuin^ her Movtd, 8,9. This givesJier occation to «fi^er irUC a fine deteriptwn ^f A$m penm

Ajiie V. cJ cir. g& the red my myrrh with iny ^^^ spice; ^ I have eaten my heney-

Vetse I. I am come into my garden] ^fiKa bathif T came^ or ha\'e come; thia ahonld be ^tran slated in the past tense, as the olher preterite v^fbs in this clause* I think the latter clattsfl of the pieoeding rers& shotild come in here: *^ Let my beloved come into bis garden, and eat his pleasant fruits, I have come into my garden, my sister j callab, or spouse i I have gathered my Kiyrrh,*' &c. I have taken thee for my sponae, and am perfectly satisfied that thoa art pare and Immaculate,

Matt O friends — drink ahund^tiiy] These are ginerally supposed to be the wdrds of the bridegrmmj atier he returned from the nuptial thamher^ aud exhibited those Signs of his wife^s purity which the cdbtoms of those times Tequired, Thia being a cause of universal joy j the entertainment b served up; and he invites his companions, and the fnends of both ptiHics« to eat and drink abundantly, as there was such a uniyer— sal cauee of rejoicing. Others think that these are the word* of the bride to her spouse: but the original will not bear tlus moaning.; the verbs are all plural. Terse %. I sleep, but my heari waketh] This is a

dew, and my locks with the dropd of the night. 3 I have put off my coal ^ how shall I pa! it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them T '

new part; and some suppose tliat the fifth day^i w^ lenmity begins here. Though I sleep, yei so mpsm^ ed is my keari with the excellences of my beloTc^ (bat my imagination presents him to me in the mo^ pienaing dreams throughout the night, I doubi n-heiber the whole, from this verae to ibe end of the teimtk^hm not a dream: several parts of it bear this resemblance; and 1 confess tliere are some pans of iu such ^s her hesitating io rtse, his sudden disappeaiuice, ^^t which would he of easier solution on this npposiuou. Or part of Jhe transactions mentioned might be \km effects of the dream she had, as rising op taddeoly] itnd going out h^o the street » meeting with ibe wtirbmen^ &c. ^ before she was well awake. And bar W lag in so mi|ch disorder and dishabillE might have m^ dUced them to treat her ^is, % sa^pictmis person^ 01* one of questionable charaeter. But it is moat liUy tto whole was a dream.

For my head h filled with dew.} She soppqi^d he bad come in the night, and wa^ standing withodlr vti^ and exposed to the inclemency of the weather*

Verse 3. J have put off my eoat] The biida nnwl bare been in a dre&fn, or in muQK iitorder ^/ mtfidt

4 My beloved pm i^ his hand by the hole of the dooTy and my bowels were moved ^for

5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with m)^^!, and my fingers with ^ aweet-smelling mynhj upon the handles of the lock. _^ ' ^

6 I opened tomyWoved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my 80ul faibd when he spake: ^ I sought him, btiL I could not find him, I called him, but he gave mc no answer,

7 ^ Tiic watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil

8 I charge you, O daughters ^^^cckloH' of Jerusalemj if ve find mv be- Ajjte l ol loved, ^ that ye tell him, that I Aote iK c.'err. am sick of love. ^^\

9 What i^ thy beloved more than another beloved, ' 0 thou fairest among women T what is liiy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

1 0 My beloved is while and ruddy, ™ the chiefest among ten lliousand.

1 1 His, head is as the most fine gold, hii locks are " bushy, and black as a raven,

12 ^ His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and ''fitly set

13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as ^' svTTeet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.

to have made the frivolous eicuses heie mentioned. Tlie words relate to tbe case of a person who had gone to take real on his bed. Aa they wore nothing but sandaiSi they werB obliged to i^rash their feet prc^ viously to their lying down. I have wiLBhad my feet, taken off tny clothes^ and am gone to bed: I cannot therefore be disturbed. A Hindoo always wasKes hia feet before he g^oes to bed. If called frank his bed, he often makes this excuse, I shall daub m^fe^i; and the excuse iv reasonable^ as the Hoors are of earth; and Chey do not wear ahoes in ihe house. — Wakd.

Verse 4. My beloved put m hts hamf] If it were a real scenet which ia mentioned in this and the tivo fotlow- ' ing verses, it must referi from the well-koown nae of the met^ph&rSi to matrimonial endearments. Or, it may refer to his attempU to open the door, when she hesitated to arise, on the grounds mentioned ver* 3. But this iJfio bears every evidence of a drettm^

Verse 5. My Jmnds dropped with myrrh] It wat a. custom among the Romans, as BrissifmuSi Isidore j &Dd others relate, to conduct the bride to the house of the bridegroom with lighted torehes; and those who brought her anoinied the door*posls with fragrant oih, wheflce the name ttsor, or as it was formerly written unxoTf for a wife or married woman, beeause of the anointing which took place on the occasiort; for sometimes the bride herself anointed the door-posts t and sometimes those who broiigbt her; probably both at the same time. The same custom might hare existed among the Jews. See V&ggiua^ Etymologicgn.

Verse 7. Took away hiy veill They tore it off rudely, to discover who she was. See on ver» 3. To tear the veil signifies, in Eastern phrase, to deflower or dishonour a woman.

Verse 8. /am stc/i of love.] "I am exceedingly concerned for bis absence; and am tlistresaed on account of my thoughtlesB carriage towards him." The htt€r clause may be weU tTanslalcd, " WTiat should ye tell him V" Why^ *' tliai I am sick of lof «." Thia ends the transactions of the tktrd d&y and ni^Af.

Verse 9. What ia thy Iteloved more than another heloved ] This r^uestion gives the bride an opportunity to break out into a highly wrought description of the beauty and perfections of h<^r spouse,

Verse 10. Afy belored is white and ruddy] Red and white^ properly mixed, are esaemial to ^Jhte complexion; and this is what is intimated: he has the finest comple^on among ten thousand persons; not one in that number is equal to htm. Literally, *' He bears the standard among ten thousand men;" or " He is one before whom a standard is borne,'* i. e*, he ip captain or chief of the whole.

Verse II, His head Is as the most Jine gold] Mm has the most beautiful head^ fino and majestic. Gold is here used la esprcsa excellence^

Verse 13. Hii cyet are ^u the eyes of doves] Se« on chap. jv. ver. 1^

Washed wUh milk\ The white of the eye, exceedingly while ^ By ihe use of sttbiumi in the East, the eye is rendered very beautiful; and receives such a lustre from tfae use of this article, that, to borrow th$ expression of a late traveller! " their ey^s appear to be swnmming in bliss." I believe this expression to be the meaning of the text.

Fitly set.] Or, as the margin^ very properly, tUting in fulness; not sunk, not contracted.

Verse 13, His cheeks ate as a bed of spices'} Possibly meaning a ked in the garden^ where odoriferous herbs grew. But it has been supposed to refer to his beards which in a young irell^made man is exceedingly heauttfuL I have seen young Turks, who had taken much care of their beards ^ mustaehios, &e., look majestic. Scarcely any thing serves to set off the human SOS r- " I

14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

15 His 'legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine -goldV his countenante is

ftoe to greater advantege than the beard,, when kspt in proper order. Females admire it in their suiimn aod kutbtmds, I have known cases, where they niiit only despised hoi execrated Europeans, whose* faces were.elose shaiM. The men perfame their beards often; and this may be what is intended by spk^ and sweets smelling myrrh.

His lips like lilies] The D'JtEntET shoshtmnim may mean any flower of the lUy kind, such as the rjibens liliumt mentioned by PKny* or something of the ttUip kind. There are tints in such flowers that bear a very near resemblance to a fine ritby lip.

Verae 1 4. fii« hands — gold rings set with the heryt\ This rMly seems to refer to gM rings set with precious stones on the fingers, and perhaps to eirelets or bracelets aboot the wrists. Some suppose it to refer to the roaadsess and exquisite symmetry of the hand and fingers, irv^ tarshish, which we translieite beryl^ a gem of a sea-green tfait, had better be translated ehrysoliie, which is of a gold colour.

His Mly — bright ivory overlaid with sapp&ires,\ This must refer to some garment set mth predous

16 ' His mouth is most s^eel: yea, he is altogether ■ lovely. This is my belofved, and this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jacusalem.

tkmes which went round his waiat, and was pecnliarij renarkaUe. If we take it titeraUyt the sense is plaio enovgh. His belly was beautifully white, and the Mat reins appearing under the skin reaemUed the sapphiie stone. But one eaa hardly think that this was intended.

Verse 15. His legs are as pilars ofmarbie\ Exquisitely turned and well-shaped; the sockets ofgM may refer to -his slippers. On these a profusion of gold.and ornaments are stUl layidied in Asiatic countries.

His- countenance is as Lebanon] As Lebanon exalts its head beyond all the other mountains near Jerosalemt so my beloved is tall and majestic, and surpasses in stature and majesty all other men. He is also aa straight and as^rm as the cedars.

Verse 16. His mouth is most sweet] His eloqaeDee is great, and bur voice is charming. Every word lie speaks is sweetness, mildnesli,"and benevolence itself. Then, her powers of description failing', and metaphor eldiansted, she cries out, " The whole of him is loreliness. This is my beloved^ and this is my companioo, O ye 'daughters of Jerusalem.**

The companions of the bride inquire after the bridegroom^ 1-3. A description of the bride, 4-13.

^HITHER.is thy beloved gone, * O thou fairest among women? whither, is thy beloved turned aside? that we may-^eek him with thee. 2 My beloved has gone down into his garden,

Verse 1. Whither is thy beloved gone] These words are supposed to be addressed to the bride by her own eompsmionSf and are joined to the preceding chapter by the Hebrew and all the versions.. Verse 3. Afy beloved is gone down into his garden] The woBwet o( the bride to her companions.

Verse 4. Beautiftd-^—iu Tirzah] This is supposed to be the address of Solomon to the bride. Tirzah was a city in the tribe of £|rfiraim, (Josh. xii. 24,) and the capital of that district. It appears to have been beautiful in itself and beautifully situated, for Jeroboom made it his residence before Samaria was built; and it seems to have been the ordinary residence of the kings of Israel, I Kings xiv. 17; xv. 63. Its name signifies beautiful or delightful.

3 ^ I am my beloved'ii, and my

Comely as Jerusalem] This was called the perfection of beauty, Psa. xlviii. 2, 3; 1. 9. And thus the poet compares the bride^s beauty to the two finest places in the land of Palestine, and 'the capitals of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Terrible as an army with banners.] This has been supposed lo carry an allusion to the caravans in the East, and the manner in which they are conducted in their travels by night. The caravans are divided into companies, called cottors, -according to Thcvenot; and each company is distinguished by the form of the brazier in which they carry their lights. After night, these braziers are placed on the ends of long poles, and carried by a person who walks at the head of the company. Some have ten or twelve lights, and are of dilSerent forms j some triangular, or like an N; ( i^5^)

thy hair 2> *^ as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.

6 ^ Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which; go up from the washing, wberec^ eveiy^ one^ b^areth twins, and there is not one b^reb among them.

7 'As a piece of ^a pomegranate are tl^ temples within thy lockf.

8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.

9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of h&T that ^are her. The daughters sa^ir

. like an M| by which -each pilgrim readily knows his <nim company ^ both by n^^-and day. ' A ni^le caravs^, composed of many thousands of hadgees or jrilgrims, divided into various cottars or companies^ each having its own distinguishing brazier or iighi, must necessarily produce a very 'spiendiSj if not a terrible, appearance.

VerserS. Tum away tkine^syes] As the fight of so many fires afVer night was extremely dazzling, and the eye «ould not bear the sight, sa the look of the bride >yas such as pierced the heart, and quite overwhelmed the person who met it. Hence the bridegroom naturally cries out, '* Tum away thine eyes ifrom me, for they have overcome me.'*

Thy hair is as a flock of goats] See on chap. Jv". 1.

Verse fi. There are^ threescore queens] Though there be sixty quieens, and eighty concubines, or secondary wioes, and virgins innumerable, in my harem, yet thou, my dovef my undefiled, art nriM achath, o!f e, the oult onk, she in whom I delight beyond all.

Verse 9. The daughters saw her, and blessed her] Not only the Jewish women in general spok^ well of her on her arrival, but thB' queens and concubines praised her as the most accomplished of her sex*

Verse 10. Looketh forth as the morning} The^bride is as lovely ae the dawn of day, the Aurora, or perhaps tl^e morning star, Venus.,She is even more resplen*- dent, she is as beautiful as the Moon.- She e^en surpasses her, for she is as t^ear and bright as the Sun; and dangerous withal to look on, for she is as formidable as the vast collection of lights that bum by night at the head of every company in a numerous caiETan. See the note on ver. 4. The comparison of a fine woman to the splendour of an unclouded fuU moon is continually recurring in the writings of the.Asiatic poets..

111 went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valleyy aifid Uo see whether the vine iflourished, and the pomegranales budded.

13^ Or eyer I was aware, my soul ^mad» me like the chariots of Amminadib.

13 Return, return, O Shujamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will yS see in the ShdtQiite? As it were the ccuapathy '^ of two armies.

Verse 11. / went down into the garden of nuts] I beliere this and the following verse tefo: at least to the ^preparations for a farther Consummatinfi of the marriage, or examination of the advancaiaent of the bride's pregnancy. But many circumsisEiiees of this kind are' so interwoven, and of^n anticipated and also postponed, ihat it is exceedingly difitoult to arrange the whole so as to ascertain the several parts, and who are.the actors and speakers. But other writers find no difficulty here, because they l^ive their system; and that explains all things.

Ve'rse 19. The chariots of Amminadib.] Probably for their great speed these chariots became proverbial. The passa^ marks a atrong agitation of mind„ and something like what we tenp palpitation of the heart. As I am not aware of any spiritual meaning here, I most be excused from Commenting on that which is literal. Amminadib signi^es my noble or princely people; but it may here be a proper name, and Amminadib might be celebrated for his skill and rapidity in 'driving, as Jehu was.

Verse 13. Return, O Shulamite] This appears to be addressed to the bride, as now the confirmed,. ac|- knowledged wife of Solomon; for n^oSw shulammithf appears to be 9, feminine formed from noSv shelomok^ or poSv shelomon, as we form Charlotte from Charles; Henrietta, from Henry; Janette, from John, &c.

The company of two armies.] Or the musicians of the camps. She is as terrible as hosts of armed men, on the ground of what is said on- verses 4, 5. The two armies, may refer to the choirs of the bride's virgins, and the bridegroom's companions; bat the similitude is not very perceptiUe. The Targwn explains it of *' the camps of Israel and Jodah:" as if the bridegroom should say, ''My beloved possesses all the perfections U6th of Uie Isradilish and Jewish women." Bat how little satisfaction do the best cosjectures aflTord!. ^

thighs are like jewels, the worfei ^ held in the galleries

2 Thy navel is like a round goWet^ which wanteth not ^ liguor: thy belly is like a heap of wheat set iabout with lilies. ' 3 * Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. "^

4 * Thy neck w as a tower of ivory^J thine eyes like the fish-pools in Heshbon/by the gate ol'fiatb-rabbim: idiy nose is as the to^er of Lebanon, which looketb toward Damascus.

Vene U How beautifui are thy feet with shxtes] ^ How gr«oefal is thy w&lkiag." In the sisUh ehapter the bridegrsom praises the Shulamite, as we might express iij from head to foot. Here he begins a new description, taking heat, horn foot to head.

The shoee^ sandatSyOt slippers of the Eastiern ladies are most beantifully formed, and richly embroidered. The majestic walk of a beautifnl woman in such sheet is peculiarly grand. And to show that such a walk is intended, he calls her a prineeU daughter.

The joints of thyjhighs] Mns^ refer te the ornaments on the beautiful drawers, which are in-general use among ladies of quality in most parts of the East.

Verse fl. Thy navel is Hke a round goblft] This may also refer io some om^ental dressf about the loins. These suppositions are rendered very, probable from hundreds <of the best finished and highly lleoo* arated drawings of Asiatic ladies in my owb colleotioo, where evory thing appeals in. the lirawibgs, as in nature.

A heap of wheat set about with lilies.] This is an^ other instance of the same kind. The richly eml^roidered dresses in the above drawings may amply illustrate this also. Ainsworth supposes the metaphor is iaken from a pregnant woman; the child in. the womb being nourished by means of the umbilical cord Or navel etring, till it is brought into the worM. After which it is fed by means of the mother^s breasts, which are Inunediately mentioned. Possibly the whole may allude to the bride^s pregnancy.

Terse 3. Thy two breasts] Where the hair and breasts are fhie, they ue the highest ornaments of the person of a female.

Verse 4. Thy. neck — as a tower of ivory] High, white, and ornamented with jewellery, as the tower of David was with bucklers. See on chap. iv. 4.

5 'Thine head upon thee is like * Cannel, an^i the hair of thine head like purple: the king is

6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, Q love, for delights!

7 ^hia thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of. the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine,- and the smell of thy nose like apples;

9; And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for ifay beloved, that goeth dawn » swceUy,

ffeshb&n to Rabba, or Jlaihotk Amman. Thm is apropriety in ilus metaphor, t)ecaiise founiains are cootidered to be the eyes of the earth.

, Thy nose-'Hu the tewer of Lebaiium\ There was doubtless a -pBopriety in this similitude also, whieh eannot now be diseexned. - Jf we are to understand the sinjiiitude as taken from the projecting form of the iMM, eveoi here I see i^othing striking in the metaphor; for surely the tower of Lebanon did not project ftoin the me^tntoin as the human noee does from the feet. It is better to acknowledge that there was undoubtedly some fit resemblances; J)ut in what cwcumstance we know- not.. But some commentators are always extolling the correctness of the imagery in those very difl|oi)lt plaoes, where no soul sees the similitude bat themselves,,

. Verse 6. T&tne head-^ike Carmel] Rising majestically upon thy neck, and above thy shoulddrs, is Mount Carmel does in its district. Carmel was the M(me of the mountain ^here Elijah had his contest wilb the prophets of -Baal. See 1 Kings xriii^ 19, &s.

The hair of thine head like purple] Ornamented with ribbons and jewellery of this tint.

The king is held in the galleries.] Or is detained in the antechamber. His heart is captivated by thy person and eoaduot. Seine understimd the ringleto of the bride^s hair.

Verse 6. How fair and how pleasemt] Thou art every way beautiful,^ and in every respect calculated to inspire pleasure and -delight.

And thy breasts to clusters of grapes.] Dates are the feiit of the palm tree; they grow in cksters; aod it is these, not grapes, which' are intended.

Verse 8. I will go up to the palm tree] I will take hdd on the l>oughs of this tree, and olirob up by them, in order to gather the clusters of dates at the top. The rubric here in the old MS. interprets this of the cross cf Christ.

1 1 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge, in the villages.

12 Let us get up early to the yineyards; let

Causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.'\ As good wine has a tendency to cause the most back- - ward to speak Jluently whed taken in moderation; so a sight of thee, and hearing the chanps of thy bonveraation, is sufficient to excite the most tacitom to speak, and eyen to become eloquent in thy praises.

Vers^ 1 1). 7 am my beloved* s^ and his*desire ir toward mfi."] It is wofthy'of remaik that the wolrd which we translate his desire is the very same used. Gen. Hi. 14: llhy desire^ thy ruliDp; ^petite, *|np11Grn teshuliatheck, sh(dl. he to thy htaband^ and. he shaU rule over thee. This was a part of the woman's curse. Now here it seems -to be reversed; for the bride says, / am my beloveds^ and his desire or ruling appetite and affection, inp^crn teshuhathd, is ^SjT alt, uf on me. The old MS. translates this 'With considerable force: — X to mi; ieef, anH to me ttie tumsiifle of |i(m.

Verse 11. Let us go^ forth into the field] It has been conjectured th^ the bridegroom arose early every

13" The ^. mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates ® are all manner of pleasant/rwite, neW and old, whiehl have laidup for thee, Omy beloved.

morning, and left the bride^s apartment, and withdrew to the country; often leaving her asleep, and commanding her companions not to disturb her till she should awake of herself. Here the bride wishes to accompany her spouse to die country, and spend a night at his country house.

Verse 12. Let us get up early to the vineyards] When in the country, we shall have the better opportunity to contemplate the progress of the sptjng vegetation; ap4 there she promises to be pecul^rfty afiecr tionate to him.

Veree 13^ The mandrakes give a smell] See the note on Gen. xxx. 14, where the mandrake is partipularly described; from which this passage will receive considerable light. The readier is requested to consult it.

AU manner of pleasant fruits]^ Fruits new and old; fiowers and herbs of every kind which the season could yield. The literal sense, allowing for the concealing metaphors, is, I believe, of a widely different nature from what is generally, given. ' But this must be left to the reader's sagacity and prudence.

The love of the bride to her spouse^ and the nature of that love, 1-7. The younger sister, 8-10. 8olcnum*s ^ vineyard, 11, 19. The confidence of ike bride.md bridegroom in each other, 13, 14.

yea, *" I should not be despised. 2 I would lead thee, and bring 4hee into

I would cause thee to drink of * spiced wine

Verse 1. O that thou wert as my brother] The bride, fearing that her fondikees for her spouse might be construed into too great a familiarity, wishes that he were her tittle brother; and then ^e might treat him in the most affectionate manner, and kiss him even in the streets without suspicion, and without giving offence to any one.

Verse 2. Would — bring Ihee into my mother* s house, who Ufoidd instruct me] She would teach me how to

' 3 ^ His left hand should be a!v'. c. cir. under my head, and his right hand ^^'

4 ** I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, • that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

To drink of spiced -wine] Wine rendered peculiarly strong and invigotatiAg. The bwle and bridegroom on the wedding day both drank out of the same cup, to show that they were to enjoy and equally bear together the comforts and adversities of life.

With the fourth verse the sixth night of the ] "ri^e week is supposed to end. 8€9

6 ' Set ine as a seal upon thine hdart, as a seal upon thine arin.: for love is strcmg as death; jealousy is ^ cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, \ohich ha{h a most vehement flame. ^.

7 Many wateYs cannot quench love, neither

Verse 5. That comeUi up from the wilderness] Perhaps the words 4)f the daughters of Jerusalem^ Vho, seeing the bride returning from the coan^y,'leip)ing on the arm of her beloved, are filled with admiration at her excellent carriage and beauty. ^.

/ raised thee up under the apple tree] The Original of this clause is obscure, and has given birth to various translations. The following is nearly literal. ** Under the apple tree I excited thee (to espouse me:) there, thy mother contracted dfiee;— -4here, she that brought thee forth contracted thee (to me.) Or it may be understood of 'the foUowing circunistanc6: The bridegroom found her once asleep mider an apple tree, and awoke hier; and this happened to be the very place where her mother, tal^en in untimely labour> had brought her into the world.'* And here the bridegroom, in his fondness -end familiarity, recalls these little adventures to her roemwy. ^

Sub arbore malosuscitavi te: ibi corrupta est mater tua; ibi violata est genetrix tua^ " I raisjed thee up under the apple tree: it was there that thy mother was corrupted; it was there that she who brought thee' forth was violated." Spiritually, all this is applied to Eve losing her purity by sin; and. Jesus as the promised seed raising her up by the promise of merc^, through tiie blood.of his cross. But the text says nothing of this.

Verse 6. Set me as a seal upon thine heart] It was customary in the Levant and other places to inake impressions of various kinds upon tha armSf the hreast, and other parts. I have seen the^ often-: some slight punctures are nmde, and the place rubbed over with a sort of blue powder that, getting between the cuticle and cutisi is never, discharged; it continues in all its distinctness throughout life. The flgures of young women are frequently thus impressed' on the arms and on the breasts. If the bride alludes to any thing of this kind, which is very probable, the interpretation is easy. Let me be thus depicted upon thine arm, D^ch being constantly before thy eyes, thou wilt never forget me; and let me be thus. depicted upon thy breast, the emblem of the share I have in thy heart and aflfections. Do this as a proof of the love I bear to thee, which is- such as nothing Jbnt death om destroy; and do it to prevent any jealousy I might feel, which is as cruel as the grave, • 870 can the flo()d8 drown it: » if a ^ c'd^iwf man would give all the substance Ante i. o^p. of his house for Jove, it would a. u.'c.dr. utterly be contemned., ' ^ ^^'

& ^ We have a Uttle sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we- do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if. she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

A most vehAnent flame.] Ty^n^nW shalhOfethyek, '< the flame of God;'' for the wbrd ih divided roHy^ n' shalhebeih Yah, '< the flame of JehoTah,'' by me hundred and sixteen ot "Br. Kennicott''s MSS., and by one hundred and foyrt^en of those of J>e Rossi. It may mean the lightning; orj as oar text noderstaods it, a most fi^A^meiU or (Wen^e^re.

Verse?• Manp waters] Neither coaunon nor uncommon adversities, efvenof the mo^ fMinous natore, can destroy love when it.is pure; nndlpurt love m spch that nothing Can procure it. If it be not excited naturally, no moh^. oan purchase it, no property can procure it, no arts can persuade it. How rain is the thought of old rich men hoping to procure the affections^ of young women by loading them wiih. presents and wealth! No woman can command her aflfectioos; they are not in her power. Where they do not rise spontaneously, they can never exist. *' If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would.be utterly contehmed.*^ Let the old, as well as the gay and the giddy, think of this.

Verse 8. W^ have a liule sister] This yonng giil belonged most probably to the bride.

In the day when she shall be spoken^ for f] When any person shall demand her in mairri^vge.

Verse 9. If she he a wall] All these expressions, says Calmet, show that it was necessary to provide a husband for this young: sister. For a woman without a husband is like a wall Without towers, and without defence; is like a gate or d^ior withoat bar or lock; and 'like a city without walls. They must therefore provide for their sister a rich, powerfxd, and iUustrious man; qualities here figured by towers or ptddces of silver, and doors- of cedar. As it is customary to build towers upon a wall, and to put bolts and bars upon a door in order to secure it, so the expressions may point out the defence, protection, and guardianship which they imagined this young woman to require.

Verse 10. / am a wall, and my breasts like towers] 1 am become marriageable, and I stood in need of the defence 1 have now in my beloved; and as soon as I

yard unto keepers; evefy one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

was 80, and became pleasing in the eyes of my beloved, I was given to him in marriage, and have ever since found favour in his sight. As soon then as my sister is iq my state, let a proper match be sought out for her. These expressions show the solicitude which the bride felt for her sister, and in her favour she widies to interest her spouse.

Verse |1* Solomon had a vineyard] Calmet translates and paraphrases the Hebrew of these two verses thus: '* Ver. 11. Solomon has 'a vineyard d/ BaaHhamon:' he has let it out to keepers^ each of whom for the fruit of it was to bring q thousand pieces of silt^. Ver. 12. As for mey.niy vineyard is:before me; that is, it is ray own; I am its proprietor. Hep ^thyself ^^ 0 Solomon, thy thousand pieces of silver, and let those who dress (thy vineyard) have two hundred fpr their trouble. I neither envy thee thy vineyard, nor them their profits. I am- satiated witl^my own. 'My beloved is my vineyard — ray ^heritage; I would not change him for all the riches of the uniyeiiBe.**

S^e suppOiM that' there is a referenee here to some property which Pharaoh had given to Solomotk ^ilJi his daughter. See Harmer''s Outlines, where this subject is considered at large.

Verse 13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens] This is supposed to refer to the bridegroom. asking permission of his spouse ^arly in the morning to retire, as was his josnal custom. He intimates the companons were waiting to hear, and he wished to ^ar it in the way of permission to depart.

Verse 14. Make haste, my bifoved] These appear to be the words ef the bride giving permission, but

and those that keep the' fruit thereof two hundred. ■

13 Thou that dwellest in ihe gardens, the companions hearken ^ to thy voice: " cause me to h&r it.

14 <*Make p haste, my beloved, and •"be thou Uke to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.'

entreating him. to speed lus return. What these mountai9u of spices were, we cannot particularly toll; but they must have been thus named from their producing the trees on which the spices grew. They might have bebn the same as the mountains of Bether, chap, ii. 17, or the mountains of myrrh, chap. iv. 6; where see the notos.

Thus en^s this most singular book; the oldest pastoral in the world, if it may be ranked among this species of writing. To whatever q)ecies of composition it belongs, it is, -beyond all controversy, ihefinest^ the most sublime (ox imagery and colouring, that ever caine from the pen of man.

• In the preceding notes I have carefuUy avoided all aUempts to spiritualize this song. ' My reasons I have alr^y given iii the introduction; and in the course of writing these short notos I have seen no cause to alter my opinion. Any man may allegorize \\; that is an easy mattor; for when he once considers It to be an allegory, his own creed wil^ furnish him with enough to say, write, or preachr vtjpon the spiritual meanings of evecy part, which will be an exhibition of his own confession of faith! But when he has finished his wprk, the question will recur. By what authority.do you give it these meanings t And till the day of judgment none shtdl be able to say, <* I have the autl^ority of God for my exposition.'*

Verse 1. THe song ofsongs, <fc.] The songs and hymns which Solomon the prophet^ king of Israel, deliyered by the (b) spirit of prophecy, before JehoTah,. the Lord of the whole world. Ten songs are snng in this world; 4>at thb is the most excellent of them aft. The jfirst song Adam sang, at the time when his sins were forgiren him; and when thcf Sabbath day came, lie put a coyering upon his lipSf and sang (c) a psalm or song for the Sabbath day. The second song sang Moses with th6 children of Israel, at the time' when the Lord of the world divided the Red Sea for them; then they all of them opened their mouths, and sang as one song, as it is written, {d) *» Then sang Moses and the children of Israel." The third song tlie. children of Israel sang at the time* that.the i^ell of water was given to them, -as it is written, (e) */ Then JBang Israel." Hhe fourth song Moseft the prophet sang, when his time was come to (/) depart nut of the world, and in which lie reproved the people of the jhouae of Israel, its it is written, \g) " Givis ear> O heavens, and t will speak." The fifth song Joshua the son of Nun sang, when he fought in Gybeon, and the sun and moon stood still for him {h) thirty and