SONG OF SONGS OF SOLOMON

19/09/12 4:48 PMIlluminated double title page - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria

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Illuminated double title page

From a manuscript of Saʿdi, Kulliyat (Collected works), c 1515 Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Fraser 73, vol 1, fols 2v–3r

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!Proverbs:! 1:! 21! She! crieth! in! the! chief! place! of!concourse,! in! the! openings! of! the! gates:! in! the! city!she! uttereth! her! words,! saying,! 22! How! long,! ye!simple! ones,! will! ye! love! simplicity?! and! the!scorners! delight! in! their! scorning,! and! fools! hate!knowledge?! 23!Turn! you! at!my! reproof:! behold,! I!will! pour! out! my! spirit! unto! you,! I! will! make!known!my!words! unto! you.! 3:! 7!Be! not!wise! in!thine! own! eyes.! 8!It! shall! be! health! to! thy! navel,!and! marrow! to! thy! bones.! 4:! 5! Get! wisdom,! get!understanding:! forget! it!not;!neither! decline! from! the!words! of! my! mouth.! 6! Forsake! her! not,! and! she!shall!preserve! thee:! love!her,!and!she!shall!keep! thee.!7! Wisdom! is! the! principal! thing;! therefore! get!wisdom:!and!with!all!thy!getting!get!understanding.!8!Exalt!her,!and!she!shall!promote!thee:!she!shall!bring!thee! to! honour,!when! thou! dost! embrace! her.! 9!She!shall! give! to! thine! head! an! ornament! of! grace:! a!crown! of! glory! shall! she! deliver! to! thee.! 9:! 9!Give!instruction!to!a!wise!man,!and!he!will!be!yet!wiser:!teach!a! just!man,!and!he!will! increase! in! learning.!10! Respect! for! integration! is! the! beginning! of!wisdom:! and! the! knowledge! of! the! holy! is!understanding.! 15:! 17! Better! is! a! dinner! of! herbs!where!love!is,!than!a!stalled!ox!and!hatred!therewith.!16:! 16!How!much! better! is! it! to! get!wisdom! than!gold!! and! to! get! understanding! rather! to! be! chosen!than! silver!! 18:! 1! Through! desire! a! man,! having!separated! himself,! seeketh! and! intermeddleth!with! all!wisdom.!19:!8!He!that!getteth!wisdom!loveth!his!own!soul:! he! that! keepeth! understanding! shall! find! good.!22:! 17!Bow! down! thine! ear,!and!hear! the!words! of!the!wise,! and! apply! thine! heart!unto!my!knowledge.!23:!9!Speak!not! in! the!ears!of!a!fool:!for!he!will!despise!the!wisdom!of!thy!words.!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!

Song!of!Songs!!of!Solomon!

!!!

!a!poetic!interpretation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!


!!!


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!


!!!


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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Author: Falvey, John Lindsay. Title: Song of Songs of Solomon : a poetic interpretation / JL Falvey ISBN: 9780980787559 (pbk.) Year: 2012 Subjects: Bible. O.T. Song of Solomon - Adaptations. Dewey Number: 223.9

Images: border, pages 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20 – State Library of Victoria and Bodleian Library web display of ‘Love and Devotion’ exhibition; page 2 inner image – from photograph of old souk Doha; page 23 and 25 – Leningrad Codex, the oldest complete copy of the Hebrew scriptures, cover and page from Exodus; page 28 – Lindisfarne Bible; page 29 – first letter of a chapter in Song of Songs from a Medieval bible; page 30 – unknown; back cover – St. Bernard’s Sermons on the Song of Songs. Proverbs: 4: 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

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FOREWORD

The Song of Songs [of Solomon] (הַשִּׁירִים שִׁיר Šîr haŠîrîm, ᾎσµα ᾎσµάτων Aisma Aismatōn, Cantĭcum Canticōrum) is a poetic courtship that moves from enchantment to consummation. Devoid of religiosity, it has traditionally been understood as metaphor for the relationship of the soul with the Divine – of God with Israel – of Christ with the Church – of Christ with the human soul – or humanistically, as a metaphor for psychological integrity.

In his 12th century sermon, ‘On the Title of the Book: The Song of Songs’, St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s meditative reading followed the book of Ecclesiastes, which teaches ‘how to … have done with the false promise of this world’, and the book of Proverbs that enlightens ‘your life and your conduct’. He called these two preliminary books antidotes to the two enemies of the soul – ‘misguided love of the world and an excessive love of self’, and he observed that only ‘the mind disciplined by persevering study’ is made ‘ripe … for nuptial union with the divine partner’. His spiritual marriage between the heavenly Bridegroom and the human bride occurs when the two become one, and that one is the same as God in the mystical world accessed through meditative reading, Lectio Divina. The Song of Songs has inspired more art than we can ever know, in music from Bach’s ‘Sleepers Wake’ to Purcell’s ‘My Beloved Spake’, and in literature from

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Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’ to Goethe’s ‘Faust’. The Song of Songs is also the favourite book of the title character in one of my favourite books, that of Nobel Laureate Sinclair Lewis – ‘Elmer Gantry’.

To me the Song of Songs unites the mystical traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, dispensing with trivial dogmatic and cultural differences in such beautiful metaphor that it is no surprise to find such imagery in these and all other religions, albeit often neglected or even denigrated by institutional religious bodies to ‘protect’ the ignorant. Long noticed similarities of the Song of Songs with other Ancient Middle Eastern love poetry from Sumeria through Egypt, and beyond into Persia, continues today into modern Tamil literature. A recent exhibition of 13th century Persian and related manuscripts from the State Library of Victoria and the Bodleian Library in Oxford spurred me to render the similar but much more ancient Song of Songs into a rhyming poetic form. And as had Bernard, I first studied Ecclesiastes – rendering it into Buddhist thought through rhyming verse that was published as ‘Pranja Anthology’. Consideration of the book of Proverbs concentrating on versus related to wisdom as in the background of the cover of this book then led to this poetic interpretation of the Song of Songs.

LF Melbourne & Doha, 2012

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Song of Solomon A wise man once set down in song, beauty that in nature rests, for which all hearts forever long like dreams deep in maidens’ breasts : The young woman:

“My man, your kiss is my mantle your musk clothes me with alarm, allows my guard be more gentle. Oh, who could resist such charm! Oh, let’s elope to foreign parts, and reveal to me your realm; there let us practice lovers’ arts for we’ll both be overwhelmed. Yes, no one could resist such charm! Sisters of our sober town, You see my skin so sunned from farm, its like a richly gilded gown –

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a noble robe gifting my hue. Though born beyond your boudoir, underneath I’m the same as you. Why look down on my colour, which sun with radiant health imbued when I with siblings laboured, growing grapes and farming food? That life makes me feel favoured! Tell me, my love, where you will lay for its with you I belong so that I need not seek all day among flocking common throng.”

19/09/12 5:03 PMThe mystic, Ahmad al-Ghazali, conversing with a young man - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria


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State Library of Victoria \ Image galleries \ Love and Devotion \ The mystic, Ahmad al-Ghazali, conversing with a young man


The mystic, Ahmad al-Ghazali, conversing with a young man

From a manuscript of a work attributed to Gazurgahi, Majalis al-!Ushshaq (Meetings of Lovers), dated AH 959 (1552 AD) Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Ouseley Add 24, fol 42r

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The young man:

He replied: “Where I go you know, our love will lead my queen’s feet, to where paradise overflows – in plenty we’ll be replete. For you my mistress are to men as mare to noble stallion, hair bejewels your neck as a mane, bridled by golden garland.” The young woman:

And thus sparked, the lady replied: “From scent you sense my presence and at the couch where you recline it moulds your manly essence. Nesting all night my breasts between like bunchéd blooms of henna ’midst verdant vines kissed by sea’s sheen you’re more to me than all men are.”

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The young man:

And he sighed responding inspired: “Your soft eyes sparkle with love, of their beauty I scarce grow tired – soulful, serene like a dove’s.” The young woman:

Swooning as she sang in return: “Your form inflames my desire, your beautiful body I yearn – my heart with passion’s afire.

Oh, let’s lie in stately meadows ’twix soaring stems of cedar and hold as to never let go ’neath a roof of rugged fir. I’ll be flowers of the forest open to you like a rose, bashfully bowing to our nest; as valley lily I’d pose.”

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The young man:

“Ah my one love”, he then whispers: “You’re my beauty ’midst a briar; no wonder among the sisters, you joy and envy inspire.”

The young woman:

Thus bewitched, she blessed her lover: “My fruit tree in a forest sweet and safer than a brother, your succour and shade bode rest.

19/09/12 5:16 PMA prince and princess feasting on a terrace - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria


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State Library of Victoria \ Image galleries \ Love and Devotion \ A prince and princess feasting on a terrace


A prince and princess feasting on a terrace

From a manuscript of Hafiz, Divan (Collected poems), copied before 1717 Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Pers e 53, p 29

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As I feast upon your banquet whence I fly on gods’ banner, revived by raisins and loquats, passion loosens my manner. With your left hand embrace my bodice, let your right caress my wrist. Oh my sisters in peace please promise, to never disrupt our tryst. My lover’s lively voice I hear praising me ’cross vales and peaks, hastening o’er hills to me be near, a gazelle that grazing seeks. Yes, a young stag’s my steadfast man, a deer who’s near my window watching to glimpse me if he can, and then whispers soft and low.”

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The young man:

And sotto voce he slowly sighs: “Come flee with me mon amour, our winter’s ceased, the sun is high and lights the blooms of the moor. Lovebirds’ lyrics fill the meadow, Spilling o’er with nature’s spoor as figs fill, grapes glisten and glow – come flee with me mon amour!

19/09/12 5:19 PMBahram Gur hunts in the company of Azada - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria

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State Library of Victoria \ Image galleries \ Love and Devotion \ Bahram Gur hunts in the company of Azada


Bahram Gur hunts in the company of Azada

Leaf from a disbound manuscript of Firdausi, Shahnama (Book of Kings), copied c 1430 for Ibrahim Sultan of Shiraz Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Ouseley Add 176, fol 337v

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Ah my short-winged bird, are you shy? You hide your head in unease, yet your radiance rivals the sky, your voice envelopes the breeze. So just as fox kits are taken before they bite the green vines, so let’s shun by what we’re shaken, by evil that our love finds.” The young woman:

Rapture rose – she sang in reply: “My love’s mine and I am his! His thoughts shepherd where lilies thrive through night’s shades to morning mist. Protector, Rod, you comfort me, your strength has become my flag turn to me and feel fully free, on my magic mount, my stag.”

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“Alone in bed night after night I dreamt I’d lost my darling, perplexed and panicked by my plight, my very blood was trembling. I sought round the sacred city, through straight streets and little lanes; those who saw gazed with pity, when I grabbed guards to explain. But then before me he appeared and I grasped his heart and hand, leading him to where I was reared as life’s cyclic deeds demand. Oh my sisters in peace please promise by all whom you’ve ever kissed, for in love’s rules I’m a novice, please never disrupt our tryst.”

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Still in her dream she softly spoke: “Look! what’s on the horizon raising dust into swirls like smoke? He’s striding to this maiden! My glimpse foreshadows his fragrance and overpowers my sight, for my prince’s rising potence is blessed by goodness and might. His throne is built of smooth cedar with pillows purple and gold, its supports encased in silver. Come sisters see love extolled.”

19/09/12 5:22 PMRose gives Nightingale a handkerchief as a keepsake - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria


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State Library of Victoria \ Image galleries \ Love and Devotion \ Rose gives Nightingale a handkerchief as a keepsake


Rose gives Nightingale a handkerchief as a keepsake

From a manuscript of Badiʿ al-Din Manuchir al-Tajiri al-Tabrizi, Dilsuznama (Book of Compassion), dated AH 860 (1455–56 AD), Edirne Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Ouseley 133, fol 62r

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The young man:

Her reverie had prince reply: “Love, your veil makes transparent, your hijab bejewels kid’s eyes, gamboling round their parents. Pure as pearls are your perfect teeth, white as washed sheep from shearing, boldly displaying health beneath lips so sensually searing. Cheeks that call forth ripe grenadine on that slender towering poem your neck, a graceful swanlike scene described by grand dancing gems. Gems that guard those gemini fawns, your breasts, browsing ’midst wildflowers; I’ll linger on that mound of myrrh for its incense me empowers. Perfect is my true love’s beauty! Let’s hasten to heaven’s heights united in dharmic duty for your soft eyes so excite.

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Ah! Fair necklace that strokes your throat disarms me so I demure for as prime wine does lust promote, it strengthens your scent’s allure. Honey drips from your nectared lips, your tongue’s tanged by fresh-gained milk the cedar’s scent seeps from your hips, a garden guarded by silk.

That arbour hides a spritzéd spring to be dehisced to life’s dance, a grenadine patch offering ripe fruits filled rich with fragrance. Such bounty foretells fullfillment from wells watering bushes, awaking all that lay dormant washing through hills in gushes.”

19/09/12 5:24 PMTwo princes - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria


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State Library of Victoria \ Image galleries \ Love and Devotion \ Two princes


Two princes

From a Mughal album, image painted c 1640–50 Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Douce Or a 1, fol 45v–46r

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The young woman:

Gasping as a thrill passed through her: “Rude winds my prudence refute and waft my spices all over willing you to pluck my fruit.” The young man:

“My bride”, he replied “from my cup I savour your must and milk and on your sweet syrup I sup.” Thus they both imbibed till drunk. She slept and in that world she saw, damp from dew and moist from mist, her man, drawn to her door implore: “open, my dove for my kiss”.

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The young woman:

“But I am bathed and for bed dressed. I’ll rise?” She asked heart burning. To her portal his firm palm pressed, his nearness fostered yearning.

“I prepared to let him inside, my body bathed in balsam, loosed the hasp, cast caution aside – my lover I would welcome. But next, my desire was dampened, as if he was never there; he had knocked and I had opened, sad I search but know not where.

Now crazed I hastened to the night where rude guards patrol the dark; who proceeded to punish my plight, they tear my headscarf apart. Oh my sisters in peace please promise, should you behold my belovéd, you’ll tell him I flower like a lotus yet am by passion made pallid.”

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The watching women:

Of women I dreamt in chorus: “Young girl, why should this lover provoke us to such a promise – does he differ from others?”

The young woman:

She sang: “Oh who with him compares! My man’s one in a million, bronzed and bare, slight wave in his hair, eyes where doves rest in union.

19/09/12 5:26 PMThe interpretation of Zulaykha’s dream - Love and Devotion, State Library of Victoria


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State Library of Victoria \ Image galleries \ Love and Devotion \ The interpretation of Zulaykha’s dream


The interpretation of Zulaykha’s dream

From a manuscript of Jami, Yusuf u Zulaykha, dated AH 940 (1553 AD) Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, MS Hyde 10, fol 39v

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His rose-tinged cheeks like downy herb; lily lips which make me drool are moistened by my primal myrrh. His hands adorn rings’ jewels, Soft, smooth and flat his stomach lies studded about by sapphires, and golden hips and marble thighs, like spellbinding cedars’ spires. His god-like mouth invites my kiss, my desires ever increase; so altogether lovely he is, my sisters from the city of peace.” The watching women:

Women wondered in unison: “Which way did he go, young lover, so we may unbind your burden?” Reply made her lips quiver:

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The young woman:

“He dallies down in the garden, in beds of balsamed parsleys, where he and I are always one – I’m his, he’s mine ’midst lilies.” The young man:

Across the vale his voice did praise: “As deserts’ art enraptures, thus your grace firm fixes my gaze, and I’m completely captured. Your hair is like young playful goats on fertile hills of legend, and your teeth like lambs shorn of coats, perfect twins full and fecund. Your beauty your veil thrusts through! Kings have crowds of concubines, with a wealth of women to woo, yet there’s more in my dove enshrined.

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Only daughter of a mother your radiance rivals dawn, blessed and favoured from your brothers, pure, to whom all eyes are drawn. When you walk from the almond grove to the rich soils of new souls where pomegranate proffers its trove I shake, yet soldier-on bold.”

21/03/12 8:06 PMFile:LeningradCodex text.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Description w:Leningrad Codex text sample. A very old manuscript of the hebrew bible. A former possession of karaït jews. They claim his author waskarait, a position refused by rabbanite jews.

Date "The manuscript was written around the year 1010 C. E." [1](http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/wsrp/educational_site/biblical_manuscripts/LeningradCodex.shtml)

Source [2] (http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/wsrp/educational_site/biblical_manuscripts/LeningradCodex.shtml)

Author Shmuel ben Ya'akov

Permission(Reusing this file) PD-old

This is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the following reason:

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than 70 years: Mexico has 100 years, Colombia has 80 years, and Guatemala and Samoa have 75 years, Soviet Union has 74 years for some authors. This image may not be in the publicdomain in these countries, which moreover do not implement the rule of the shorter term. Côte d'Ivoire has a general copyright term of 99 years and Honduras has 75 years, but they doimplement the rule of the shorter term.

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The watching women, then the young woman:

In refrain the women replied: “Come and dance for our delight.” She shrieked: “Why, so eyes can deride and glare like gangs fixed to fight?”

The young man:

Which won more her hero’s homage: “Oh, my love I can’t resist from feet to your perfect carriage, and thighs made by an artist. That blesséd bowl of ambrosia, your navel nests in poured wheat girt by a garland of fuchia, where twin fawns rest fully replete. Your ivory neck towers tall, your eyes evoke Jordan’s deep, your guardian nose graces all like a watchman of the keep.

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Like sacred mount your head’s held high mantled mauve by filtered light; so comely no king dare deny that all in you take delight. Fairer than queens are you my sweet, slender and straight like date palms; you infuse my being with heat when date clusters press their charms. Fondling those fruits I dare to taste refreshing bunches of grapes with aromas of orange laced as sweet wine your breath escapes.”

21/03/12 8:04 PMFile:Leningrad Codex Carpet page e.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Summary

Description w:Leningrad Codex cover page E (Folio 474a). A very old manuscript of the Hebrew bible. A former possession of Karaïte Jews. They claim itsauthor was Karaite, a position denied by Rabbinic Jews.

Date "The manuscript was written around the year 1010 C. E." [1](http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/wsrp/educational_site/biblical_manuscripts/LeningradCodex.shtml)

Source [2] (http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/wsrp/educational_site/biblical_manuscripts/LeningradCarpetPage_e.shtml)

Author Shmuel ben Ya'akov

Permission(Reusing this file) This is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain for the

following reason:


This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years.

You must also include a United States public domain tag to indicate why this work is in the public domain in the United States. Note that a few

countries have copyright terms longer than 70 years: Mexico has 100 years, Colombia has 80 years, and Guatemala and Samoa have 75 years, Soviet Unionhas 74 years for some authors. This image may not be in the public domain in these countries, which moreover do not implement the rule of the shorter term.Côte d'Ivoire has a general copyright term of 99 years and Honduras has 75 years, but they do implement the rule of the shorter term.

This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/deed.en)

The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation is that "faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain works of art arepublic domain, and that claims to the contrary represent an assault on the very concept of a public domain". For details, see Commons:When

to use the PD-Art tag.This photographic reproduction is therefore also considered to be in the public domain.

Please be aware that depending on local laws, re-use of this content may be prohibited or restricted in your jurisdiction. See Commons:Reuseof PD-Art photographs.

Français :

Le Codex de Léningrad.

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The young woman:

Enraptured, his refrain she reprised: “My wine flows free to your lips to lubricate our lullabies, for I’m yours, thus my heart skips. Come, let’s flee to village and farm, rise refreshed with dawn’s rosebuds opening ripe with childlike charm blessing pomegranate’s blood. Where magic musk wafts from mandrake ’midst treasured fare doused in dew; my fruits I’ve kept fresh for our sake a cache of gifts old and new.” “Oh, why we were not born siblings who suckled the self-same breasts, I could kiss you without quibbling, when we meet in public fests. Then would I take my mother’s bed where seduced, I’d nought to hide, as your left hand cradles my head with your right caress my side.

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Oh my sisters in peace please promise to never disrupt our tryst.” At which the town’s women chorused: “Look, she glows as if first kissed!” The young woman:

The enchanted girl staunchly sang: “My love I’ve roused you to life! reborn – this time purged of all pangs, inspired by your virgin wife. Seal your heart, look on no hussy, none other but me desire, for death’s the price of jealousy, from passion that flares like fire. A wildfire no water could quench, no flood of remorse could quell; repaid but by ashen contempt who thought my virtue I’d sell.”

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The woman’s brothers:

Her brooding brothers then cried out: “Our sister’s breasts are yet small, we can’t let her out and about when a young man comes to call. For our precious bird in ardour, we’ll build a cage argentine, wrap her virtue like fine cedar by silver plate kept pristine.”

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The young woman:

Bold beside her lover she states: “A wall am I, my breasts towers, I know peace and can see my fate can only be love like ours.”

The young woman and man:

Lovers then in unison sing: “In vineyards on the best soils, with waters sweet and cooling is where tireless workers toil. Their rate of return is riches, there’s plenty, all may partake; but our harvest’s shared just by us – Our Eden we’ll ne’er forsake.”

10/09/12 9:49 PMFile:Llyfr Caniad Solomon - Caerwynt 2.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Summary

Description Cymraeg: Priflythyren o Ganiad Solomon yn eglwys gadeirol Caerwynt.English: Capital from the Song of Solomon in Winchester Cathedral.

Date 1100s

Source http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~jtreat/song/270.html

Author Unknown

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Crop of

Licensing

This is a faithful photographic reproduction of an original two-dimensional work of art. The work of art itself is in the publicdomain for the following reason:


This applies to Australia, the European Union and those countries with a copyright term of life of the authorplus 70 years.

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The young woman: And she sang her final song’s round: “Come quickly dear, my young hart, for mounted on my spicéd mound, you are my body and heart.”

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19/09/12 5:32 PM

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bl.uk > Online Gallery Home > Online exhibitions > Illuminated manuscripts > St. Bernard, Sermons on the Song of Solomon f.118r > Large image

St. Bernard, Sermons on the Song of Solomon f.118r

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