VII.

CANTICLES vii. 11.

Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, and let us remain in the villages.

Chr.

CO

NOME, come, my dear, and let us both retire, And whiff the dainties of the fragrant field: Where warbling Phil'mel and the shrill-mouth'd choir Chant forth their raptures; where the turtle builds Her lovely nest; and where the new-born brier Breathes forth the sweetness that her April yields : Conde, come, my lovely fair, and let us try These rural delicates; where thou and I May melt in private flames, and fear no stander-by.

2.

Soul. My heart's eternal joy, in lieu of whom
The earth's a blast, and all the world's a bubble;
Our city mansion is the fairest home,

But country sweets are ting'd with lesser trouble;
Let's try them both, and chuse the better; come;
A change in pleasure makes the pleasure double;

On thy commands depends my go or tarry, I'll stir with Martha, or I'll stay with Mary: Our hearts are firmly fixt, although our pleasures vary.

Chr.

3.

Chr. Our country mansion (situate on high),
With various objects, still renews delight;
Her arched roof's of unstain'd ivory :

Her walls of firy-sparkling chrysolite ;
Her pavement is of hardest porphyry;
Her spacious windows are all glaz'd with bright
And flaming carbuncles; no need require
Titan's faint rays, or Vulcan's feeble fire;
And ev'ry gate's a pearl; and ev'ry pearl entire.

4.

Soul. Fool that I was! how were my thoughts deceiv'd! How falsely was my fond conceit possest!

I took it for an hermitage, but pav'd

And daub'd with neighb'ring dirt, and thatch'd at best. Alas! I ne'er expected more, nor crav'd;

A turtle hop'd but for a turtle's nest :

Come, come, my dear, and let no idle stay

Neglect th' advantage of the headstrong day; How pleasure grates, that feels the curb of dull delay!

5.

Chr. Come, then, my joy, let our divided paces
Conduct us to our fairest territory;

O there we'll twine our souls in sweet embraces :

Soul. And in thine arms I'll tell my passion's story. Chr. O there I'll crown thy head with all my graces, Soul. And all these graces shall reflect thy glory: Chr. O there I'll feed thee with celestial manna;

I'll be thy Elkanah. Soul. And I thy Hannah. Chr. I'll sound my trump of joy. Soul. And I'll resound

[hosannah!

S. BERN.

O blessed contemplation! the death of vices, and the life of virtues! thee the law and the prophets admire: who ever attained perfection, if not by thee? O blessed solitude, the magazine of celestial treasure! by thee, things earthly and transitory are changed into heavenly and eternal.

S. BERN. in Ep.

Happy is that house, and blessed is that congregation, where Martha still complaineth of Mary.

EPIG. 7.

Mechanic soul, thou must not only do
With Martha, but with Mary ponder too:
Happy's that house where these fair sisters vary;
But most, when Martha's reconcil'd to Mary.

CANTICLES