7 8 THE BRIDE Set me as a seal upon thine heart, For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as the grave: Neither can the floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned. The Bride recalls riddling speeches of her Brothers when she was a child: she understands them now The Bride renews her vows to her husband: Solomon shall be the landlord of her heart as he is the landlord of her home THE BRIDE Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: Thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. The Escort heard approaching to conduct them back from Lebanon: there is just time for a final embrace KING SOLOMON Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken for thy voice: Cause me to hear it. THE BRIDE Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart ΙΟ II 12 13 14 The Proverbs of Solomon The Son of David, King of Israel To know Wisdom and Instruction: To discern the Words of Understanding: To receive instruction in Wise Dealing: In Righteousness and Judgement and Equity: To give Subtilty to the Simple: To the Young Man Knowledge and Discretion: That the Wise Man may hear and increase in Learning: And that the Man of Understanding may attain unto Sound Counsels: To understand a Proverb and a Figure: The Words of the Wise: And their Dark Sayings. The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of Knowledge: But the Foolish despise Wisdom and Enstruction. |