“My beloved is to me like a pouch of myrrh Which lies all night between my breasts.

Solomon’s Wedding Day

(The Shulammite Bride)

“What is this coming up from the wilderness Like [stately] pillars of smoke Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the fragrant powders of the merchant?”

“All of them handle the sword, All expert in war; Each man has his sword at his thigh, Guarding against the terrors of the night.

“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

“Your neck is like the tower of David, Built with rows of [glistening] stones, Whereon hang a thousand shields, All of them shields of warriors.

“How beautiful is your love, my sister, my [promised] bride! How much better is your love than wine, And the fragrance of your oils Than all kinds of balsam and spices.

Fragrant plants and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, With all trees of frankincense, Myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices.

“Your teeth are like a flock of ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young.

But my dove, my perfect one, stands alone [above them all]; She is her mother’s only daughter; She is the pure child of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed and happy, The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,

“How beautiful and how delightful you are, My love, with all your delights!

“The mandrakes give forth fragrance, And over our doors are all [kinds of] choice fruits, Both new and old, Which I have saved up for you, my beloved.

“Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can rivers drown it. If a man would offer all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly scorned and despised.”

(The Shulammite Bride)

“I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers. Then I became in the king’s eyes As one [to be respected and allowed] to find peace.