Aug 01, 2003 17:23
O, that thou wert my brother,
nursed at my mother's breast.
If I met thee out of doors, I would kiss thee
and none would revile me.
I would lead thee, bring thee in
to the home of my mother,
into the chamber of she who bore me.
I would give thee spiced wine to drink,
pomegranate juice.
O, that his left hand were beneath my head
and that his right arm embraced me.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem
Wake not my love until it is time.
Set me as a seal upon thine heart,
as a seal upon thine arm;
For strong as death is love,
fierce as the grave is devotion;
its flames are a blazing fire
a most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love;
neither can the floods drown it.
Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love,
he would be scorned.