Wycliffe's English Translation (1388)
Wycliffe
Translated from the Latin in the 14th century
[1]Mi frendesse, thou art ful fair; thin iyen ben of culueris, with outen that that is hid with ynne; thin heeris ben as the flockis of geete, that stieden fro the hil of Galaad. [2]Thi teeth ben as the flockis of clippid sheep, that stieden fro waischyng; alle ben with double lambren, and no bareyn is among tho. [3]Thi lippis ben as a reed lace, and thi speche is swete; as the relif of an appil of Punyk, so ben thi chekis, with outen that, that is hid with ynne. [4]Thi necke is as the tour of Dauid, which is bildid with strengthis maad bifore for defense; a thousynde scheldis hangen on it, al armure of stronge men. [5]Thi twei tetis ben as twey kidis, twynnes of a capret, that ben fed in lilies, [6]til the dai sprynge, and shadewis ben bowid doun. Y schal go to the mounteyn of myrre, and to the litil hil of encense. [7]My frendesse, thou art al faire, and no wem is in thee. [8]My spousesse, come thou fro the Liban; come thou fro the Liban, come thou; thou schalt be corowned fro the heed of Amana, fro the cop of Sanyr and Hermon, fro the dennys of liouns, fro the hillis of pardis. [9]My sister spousesse, thou hast woundid myn herte; thou hast woundid myn herte, in oon of thin iyen, and in oon heer of thi necke. [10]My sistir spousesse, thi tetis ben ful faire; thi tetis ben feirere than wyn, and the odour of thi clothis is aboue alle swete smellynge oynementis. [11]Spousesse, thi lippis ben an hony coomb droppynge; hony and mylk ben vndur thi tunge, and the odour of thi clothis is as the odour of encence. [12]Mi sister spousesse, a gardyn closid togidere; a gardyn closid togidere, a welle aseelid. [13]Thi sendingis out ben paradis of applis of Punyk, with the fruytis of applis, cipre trees, with narde; [14]narde, and saffrun, an erbe clepid fistula, and canel, with alle trees of the Liban, myrre, and aloes, with alle the beste oynementis. [15]A welle of gardyns, a pit of wallynge watris, that flowen with fersnesse fro the Liban. [16]Rise thou north wynd, and come thou, south wynd; blowe thou thorouy my gardyn, and the swete smellynge oynementis therof schulen flete.
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Author: John Wycliffe (1328 – 1384)
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