CHAP. II.

and his banner over me was cometh leaping upon the moun-
love.

6 His left hand is under my head, and his the windows, shewing himself through the

I sat down under his shadow] I am become his spouse, and my union with him makes me inde-bably some rustic mode of adjuration. The verses scribably happy. themselves require little comment.

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 voice; Ver. 10. b Ch. viii. 13.

Ps. lxxx. 13. Ezek. xiii. 4.
Luke xiii. 32.

Old Testament; and another word is used for the rainy part of the year in general. If this thought be admitted, it will greatly illustrate the words of the bridegroom: Lo, the winter is past; the rain is over, and gone. For then the last clause will not be explanatory of the first, and signify that the moist part of the year was entirely past; with which, Dr. Russel assures us, all pleasantness withdraws at Aleppo; but the words will import: "The maurbanie is past and over; the weather is become agreeably warm; the rain too is just ceased, and consequently hath left us the prospect of several days of serenity and undisturbed pleasantness."

of spring.

A.M. 2990.

for sweet is thy voice, and thy B. Cir. 2000. countenance is comely.

15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines : for our vines have tender grapes.

d

Ante I. OL.

cir. 238. Ante U.C. c. 261.

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

e

17 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.

d Ch. vi. 3. vii, 10.

Ch. iv. 6. Ver. 9. Ch. viii, 14. Or, of division.

nightingales, too, which are there in abundance, not only afford much pleasure by their songs in the gar dens, but are also kept tame in the houses, and let out at a small rate to divert such as choose it in the city; so that no entertainments are made in the spring without a concert of these birds. No wonder, then, that Solomon makes the bridegroom speak of the singing of birds; and it teaches us what these birds are, which are expressly distinguished from turtle doves.

Verse 13. The fig tree putteth forth her green figs] The fig-tree in Judea bears double crops; the first of which is ripe in spring. But the tree, as I have elsewhere observed, bears figs 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 fast, and become turgid.

The vines with the tender grape] The Versions understand this of the flowers of the vine. These were formerly put into the new wine (2lbs. to every cask) to give it a fine flavour.

Verse 14. My dove-in the clefts of the rock] He compares his bride hiding herself in her secret chambers and closets to a dove in the clefts of the rock.

ruinous to vines all authors allow. They love the Verse 15. Take us the foxes] That these were

fat

The weather of Judea was in this respect, I presume, like that at Algiers; where, after two or three days of rain, there is usually, according 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, methinks, is here to be understood; not of the absolute termination of the rainy season, and the summer droughts being come on. And if so, what can the time that is past mean but the maurbanie? Indeed, Dr. Russel, in giving us an account of the excursions of the English merchants at Aleppo, had undesignedly furnished us with a good comment on this and the two following verses. These gentlemen, it seems, dine abroad under a tent, in spring and autumn on Saturdays, and often on Wednesdays. They do the same during the good weather in win-vine, and they are eaten in autumn in some courter; but they live at the gardens in April, and part with eating the grapes. They abounded in Judea; tries, according to Galen, when they are very of May. In the heat of the summer they dine at the and did most damage when the clusters were young gardens, as once or twice a week they dine under a tent in autumn and spring." The cold weather is and tender. It is likely that these are the words of the bridegroom to his companions, just as he was ennot supposed by Solomon to have been long over, tering the apartment of his spouse. "Take care of since it is distinctly mentioned; and the Aleppines make the vineyard: set the traps for the foxes, which are these incursions very early; the narcissus flowers during the whole of the maurbanie; the hyacinths spoiling the vines; and destroy their young as far as possible." and violets at least before it is quite over. pearing of flowers, then, doth not mean the appearing 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 bill appearing on the banks of the river there about the middle of February, quickly after which comes a profusion of flowers.

The ap

The

Verse 16. My beloved is mine] The words of the bride on his entering: "I am thy own; thou art wholly mine."

He feedeth among the lilies.] The odour with which he is surrounded is as fine as if he passed the night among the sweetest scented flowers.

Verse 17. Until the day break] Literally, until the

The bride mentions the absence of her spouse, her search after him, and her ultimate success, 1-5. A description of the bridegroom, his bed, chariot, &c., 6-11.

Verse 1. By night on my bed I sought him] It appears that the bridegroom only saw the bride by night: that on the night referred to here he did not come as usual. The bride, troubled on the account, rose and sought him; inquired of the city guards, and continued to seek till at last she found him, and brought him to her apartment, ver. 2—4.

Verse 4. Into my mother's house] The women in the East have all separate apartments, into which no person ever attempts to enter except the husband. We find Isaac bringing Rebecca into his mother's tent, when he made her his wife, Gen. xxiv. 67. What is here related appears to refer to the third night of the nuptials.

c Ch. ii. 7. viii. 4.-d Ch. viii, 5.- e Or, a bed. ness] Going to Egypt was called descending or The bride, having risen, goes after her spouse to the going down, coming from it was termed coming up. country, and the clouds of incense arising from her palanquin seemed like pillars of smoke; and the apadmiration of her own women, who converse about pearance was altogether so splendid as to attract the her splendour, excellence, &c., and then take occasion to describe Solomon's nuptial bed and chariot. Some think that it is the bridegroom who is spoken of here.

With this verse the third night is supposed to end. Verse 7. Threescore valiant men] These were the guards about the pavilion of the bridegroom, who were placed there because of fear in the night. The security and state of the prince required such a Verse 5. I charge you] The samo adjuration as guard as this, and the passage is to be literally unbefore, chap. ii. 7.

Verse 6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilder

derstood.

Verse 8. They all hold swords] They are swords

Minute description

SOLOMON'S SONG.

of the bride.

men. Every man has a sword, and is well instructed | couch may have been of the same kind, and decohow to use it.

Verse 9. Of the wood of Lebanon.] Of the cedar that grew on that mount. It is very likely that a nuptial bed, not a chariot, is intended by the original word appiryon. Montanus properly translates it sponsarum thalamum, a nuptial bed. It may, however, mean a palanquin.

Verse 10. The pillars-of silver] The bedposts were made of silver, or cased with wrought silver plates, like the king's chairs brought from Hanover, now in one of the state rooms in Windsor Castle.

rated in the same way; and the paving with love may refer to the amatory verses worked either on the counterpane, hangings, or embroidered carpet. And as this was done by the daughters of Jerusalem, they might have expressed the most striking parts of such a chaste history of love as Halaly's Leely and Mejnoon on the different parts. I see that Dr. Good is of this opinion. It is sufficiently probable.

Verse 11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion] This is the exhortation of the companions of the bride to the females of the city to examine the superb appearance of the bridegroom, and especially the nuptial crown, which appears to have been made by Bathsheba, who it is supposed might have lived till the

The bottom thereof of gold] This may refer to cords made of gold thread, or to the mattress, which was made of cloth ornamented with gold. The covering-of purple] Most probably the time of Solomon's marriage with the daughter of

canopy.

The midst paved with love] The counterpane, a superb piece of embroidery, wrought by some of the noble maids of Jerusalem, and, as a proof of their affection, respect, and love, presented to the bride and bridegroom on their nuptial day. This is most likely to be the sense of the passage, though some suppose it to refer to the whole court.

A Turkish couch is made of wooden lattices painted and gilded; the inside is painted with baskets of flowers and nosegays, intermixed with little mottos, according to the fancy of the artist.

Solomon's

Pharaoh. It is conjectured that the prophet refers to a nuptial crown, Isai. Ixi. 10. But a crown, both on the bride and bridegroom, was common among most people on such occasions. The nuptial crown among the Greeks and Romans was only a chaplet or wreath of flowers.

In the day of the gladness of his heart.] The day in which all his wishes were crowned, by being united to that female whom beyond all others he loved.

Here the third day is supposed to end.

CHAPTER IV.

The bridegroom's description of his bride, her person, her accomplishments, her chastity, and

A. M. cir. 2990.

B. C. cir. 1014. BEHOLD,

Ante 1. Ol. cir. 238. Ante U.C.c.261.

her general excellence, 1-16.

с

BEHOLD, thou art fair, as a "flock of goats, that ap-
my love; behold, thou pear from Mount Gilead.
art fair; thou hast doves' eyes 2 Thy teeth are like a flock
within thy locks: thy hair is of sheep that are even shorn,

a Ch. i. 15. v. 12. -b Ch, vi. 5.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV.

d

A. M. cir. 20g)
B. C. cit. 1014.
Ante I. Ol
cir. 238.
Ante U.C. c. 261.

Or, that eat of, &c. -d Ch. vi. 6. out that, or independently of that, which lies hidden Verse 1. Thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks] within. The Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic have, Perhaps this refers rather to a sort of, veil worn by besides thy silence. Calmet contends that none of many of the eastern women, but especially in Egypt. these gives the true meaning, and that the word na It is a species of black cloth made of the hair of some tsemath has not the meaning of hair or locks wherever animal, probably the black goat; is suspended from it occurs, and has quite a different meaning in Isai. the head by silken cords, one of which comes from xlvii. 2. St. Jerome on this place expresses himself the crown of the head, down the forehead, to the thus: Nolentibus qui interpretati sunt transferre upper part of the nose, just under the eyes, at which nomen quod in Sancta Scriptura sonat turpitudinem. place the veil begins; for the forehead and the eyes-Ergo x tsammathech, quod Aquila posuit, verenda are uncovered, except the cord above-mentioned, which is ornamented with gold, silver, and precious stones, according to the circumstances of the wearer. This partial veil not only covers all the face, the eyes and forehead excepted, but the neck also, and hangs loosely down over the bosom. One of them, lately brought from Egypt, now lies before me. But the clause, within thy locks, y yan mibbaad letsammathech, is not well translated, either by ourselves or by the Versions. Jerome's translation is an indication of the meaning: Absque eo quod intrinsecus latet; with

mulieris appellantur cujus etymologia apud eos sonat sitiens tuus. Calmet translates: Vous êtes toute belle, mon amie; vous êtes toute belle : vos yeux sont des yeux de colombe; sans ce que la pudeur et la modestie tiennent cache. I leave the translations of these to the learned reader. See another description under ver. 7.

As a flock of goats] Because it was black and sleek, 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 the curls t

plaits of a woman's tresses. The Gilead were beyond Jordan, on the Arabia Deserta.

mountains of
frontiers of

Verse 2. Thy teeth are like a flock] This comparison appears to be founded on the evenness, neatness, and whiteness of the newly shorn and newly washed sheep.

Verse 3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet] Both lips and cheeks were ruddy; sicut fragmen mali punici.-VULGATE. Like the section of a pomegranate, that side cut off on which is the finest blush. This is a good and apt metaphor. But the inside may be referred to, as it is finely streaked with red and white melting into each other. She had beautiful hair, beautiful eyes, beautiful cheeks and lips, and a most pleasing and dulcet voice.

Within thy locks.] See on ver. 1, and on ver. 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 their use was required; see Ezek. xxvii. 10. But the allusion here may be to those pillars which are often seen in armouries on which weapons of various kinds are hung, formed into a great variety of shapes, and very splendid. Whoever has seen the armoury in the tower of London, or such-like places, has most probably seen something very similar to that of which the poet speaks.

Verse 5. Thy two breasts are like two young roes] I have met with many attempts to support this similitude, or rather to show that there is a similitude; but I judge them unworthy of citation. The poet speaks the language of nature; and in a case of this kind, where the impassioned lover attempts to describe the different perfections of his bride, language often fails him, and his comparisons and similitudes are often without strict correctness. In love songs we have heard ladies' necks compared to that of the swan, not only for its whiteness, but also for its length! The description here shows more of nature than of art, which I consider a high recommendation.

Feed among the lilies.] It may be the nipples especially, which the poet compares to the two young roes; and the lilies may refer to the whiteness of the breasts themselves.

2583

of the bride.

A. M. cir. 2990.
B. C. cir. 1014.
Ante L. Ol.

cir. 238. Ante U.C. c. 261.

6 Until the day 'break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Heb. breathe.-—8 Eph. v. 27.

Ch. ii. 17.

Verse 6. Until the day-break] Until the morning breeze. See chap. ii. 17. The shadows flee away] Till the sun sets. Mountains of myrrh] Probably the same as the mountains of Bether, chap. ii. 17. Mountains where the trees grew from which myrrh and incense were extracted.

Verse 7. Thou art all fair-there is no spot in thee.] "My beloved, every part of thee is beautiful; thou hast not a single defect."

The description given of the beauties of Daphne, by OVID, Metam. lib. i. ver. 497, has some similarity to the above verses :

Spectat inornatos collo pendere capillos.

Et, quid si comantur? ait. Videt igne micantes
Sideribus similes oculos; videt oscula, quæ non
Est vidisse satis. Laudat digitosque, manusque,
Brachiaque, et nudos media plus parte lacertos.
Si qua latent meliora putat.

Her well-turned neck he viewed (her neck was bare),
And on her shoulders her dishevelled hair.
Oh, were it combed, said he, with what a grace
Would every waving curl become her face!
He viewed her eyes, like heavenly lamps that shone.
He viewed her lips, too sweet to view alone;
Her taper fingers, and her panting breast.
He praises all he sees; and, for the rest,
Believes the beauties yet unseen the best. DRyden.

the same imagery: "Thy lips, O thou most beautiful
Jayadeva describes the beauty of Radha in nearly
among women, are a bandhujiva flower; the lustre of
the madhuca beams upon thy cheek; thine eye out-
shines the blue lotos; thy nose is a bud of the tila;
the cunda blossom yields to thy teeth. Surely thou
descendedst from heaven, O slender damsel! attended
by a company of youthful goddesses; and all their
beauties are collected in thee." See these poems,
and the short notes at the end.

5,

The same poet has a parallel thought to that in ver. Thy two breasts," &c. The companions of Radha thus address her: "Ask those two round hillocks which receive pure dew drops from the garland playing on thy neck, and the buds on whose tops start aloft with the thought of thy beloved."

Verse 8. My spouse] The 2 callah, which we