How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs [are] like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. Ver. 1. _How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, &c._] Before he had described her from head to foot; now back again, from foot to head, taking in ten p... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy navel [is like] a round goblet, [which] wanteth not liquor: thy belly [is like] an heap of wheat set about with lilies. Ver. 2. _Thy navel is like a round goblet, &c._] There are those who expound this text as the two sacraments. The navel is baptism, that nourisheth newborn babes in the womh o... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy two breasts [are] like two young roes [that are] twins. Ver. 3. _Thy two breasts are like two young roes._] Fresh and lusty, even and equal. Understand the two Testaments; hereunto resembled for their perfect agreement, amiable proportion, and swift running all the world over in a short time. E... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy neck [is] as a tower of ivory; thine eyes [like] the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose [is] as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. Ver. 4. _Thy neck is as a tower of ivory._] Most smooth, white, and upright. Some do hereby understand magistrates, that sup... [ Continue Reading ]
Thine head upon thee [is] like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king [is] held in the galleries. Ver. 5. _Thine head upon thee is like Carmel._] This head is Christ himself, for he is the sole head of his Church: "God hath put all things under his feet" - hence he is here compare... [ Continue Reading ]
_How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!_ Ver. 6. _How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights._] _Emphatica haec admodum sunt, cum toties exclamatio ponatur,_ saith one. This is a most emphatic exclamation, proceeding from admiration, and importing that all he could... [ Continue Reading ]
This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters [of grapes]. Ver. 7. _This thy stature is like to a palm tree._] This thy whole stature and feature of body, that hath been already portrayed and described particularly and piecemeal, is "like to a palm tree," strong and straight,... [ Continue Reading ]
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; Ver. 8. _I said, I will go up to the palm tree, &c._] I said it, and I will do it; for _Christi dicere est facere,_ together w... [ Continue Reading ]
And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth [down] sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. Ver. 9. _And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine._] Her word and doctrine (for the palate is an instrument of speech), often before commended by Christ, a... [ Continue Reading ]
I [am] my beloved's, and his desire [is] toward me. Ver. 10. I am my beloved's.] I see I am so, saith the spouse, by that ample commendation that he hath now again given me, notwithstanding all my former failings in duty towards him. There fall out some faliings out between married couples sometime... [ Continue Reading ]
Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Ver. 11. _Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field._] Being now fully assured of Christ's love, she falls to praying. She makes five requests unto him in a breath as it were: (1.) That he would "come"; (2.) "Go... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, [whether] the tender grape appear, [and] the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves._ Ver. 12. _Let us get up early to the vineyards._] Heb., Let us morning it. _Manicemas_ (that is, Gellius' _a_ word), Let us... [ Continue Reading ]
The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates [are] all manner of pleasant [fruits], new and old, [which] I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. Ver. 13. _The mandrakes give a smell._] _Loves_ and _mandrakes_ grow both upon one Hebrew root and Tremellius renders it not _mandrakes,_ but _lovely flowe... [ Continue Reading ]