Reminiscences 23 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, KING SOLOMON Under the apple tree I awakened thee: There thy mother was in travail with thee, THE BRIDE 24 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as the grave: The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can the floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned. "We have a little sister, "And she hath no breasts: "What shall we do for our sister "In the day when she shall be spoken for? "If she be a wall, "We will build upon her a turret of silver: "And if she be a door, "We will inclose her with boards of cedar." I was a wall, and my breasts like the towers thereof: Then was I in his eyes as one that found peace. The Renewed Vow THE BRIDE 25 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon ; He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Everyone for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me : Thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. [The escort heard approaching to conduct them back from Lebanon: there is just time for a final embrace KING SOLOMON 26 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken for thy voice: Cause me to hear it. THE BRIDE Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart 47 |