[1]The Ballet of Ballettes of Solomon, called in Latin, Canticum Canticorum. [Song of Solomon[2]O that he would kisse me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy loue is more pleasaunt then wine[3]and that because of the good and pleasaunt sauour of thy most precious baulmes. Thy name is a sweet smelling oyntment when it is shed foorth, therfore do the maydens loue thee[4]Drawe thou me [vnto thee] we wyll runne after thee. The kyng hath brought me into his priuie chaumbers: We wylbe glad and reioyce in thee, we thinke more of thy loue then of wine: they that be righteous loue thee[5]I am blacke (O ye daughters of Hierusalem) but yet fayre and well fauoured, like as the tentes of the Cedarenes, and as the hanginges of Solomon[6]Marueyle not at me that I am so blacke, for why? the sunne hath shined vpon me: my mothers chyldren haue euyll wyll at me, they made me the keper of the vineyardes, but mine owne vineyarde haue I not kept[7]Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth, where thou feedest the sheepe, where thou makest them rest at the noone day: for why shall I be like hym that goeth wrong about the flockes of thy companions[8]If thou knowe not thy selfe (O thou fayrest among women) then go thy way foorth after the footesteppes of the sheepe, and feede thy goates besyde the shepheardes tentes[9]Unto the hoast of Pharaos charets haue I compared thee, O my loue[10]Thy cheekes and thy necke is beautifull as the turtles, and hanged with spanges and goodly iewels[11]a neckband of golde wyll we make thee, with siluer buttons[12]When the king sitteth at the table, he shall smell my Nardus[13]a bundell of myrre is my loue vnto me, he wyll lye betwixt my brestes[14]a cluster of Camphire in the vineyardes of Engaddi is my loue vnto me[15]Oh howe fayre art thou my loue, Oh howe fayre art thou? thou hast doues eyes[16]O howe fayre art thou my beloued, howe well fauoured art thou? Our bed is dect with flowres[17]the seelinges of our house are of Cedar tree, and our crosse ioyntes of Cipresse