How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
Your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is perfume poured out; therefore the maidens love you. (NRSV 1:3)
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (KJV 1:3)
Pretty straight forward: all the ladies dig her guy. Guess he's one heck of a man.
Quote #2
I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept! (NRSV 1:5-6)
I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. (KJV 1:5-6)
Here, the bride says she doesn't conform to the beauty standards of the day (she's too dark-skinned from working in the vineyards). She also reveals that her brothers have tried to punish her, but that she has a few surprises up her sleeves for them.
Quote #3
O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me! (NRSV 2:6)
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. (KJV 2:6)
A man putting his big, strong arms around his lady? Sounds like a recipe for a hot and heavy makeout sesh.
Quote #4
Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. (NRSV 2:8-9)
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. (KJV 2:8-9)
This guy is pretty manly—he's like a young, robust animal leaping around the countryside… and peering through lattice windows?
Quote #5
Groom: A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed. Bride: Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits. (NRSV 4:12, 16)
Groom: A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Bride: Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. (KJV 4:12, 16)
Shmoopers, we're not in Eden anymore. The bride plays the role of the coy virgin with the closed lady garden. Though within a few verses, she's thrown open the gates and let the groom come inside. Yup. That means just what you think it does.
Quote #6
My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven. (NRSV 5:10-11)
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. (KJV 5:10-11)
These pretty basic descriptions construct an image of country masculinity that fits perfectly with the pastoral setting of the poems.
Quote #7
How graceful are your feet in sandals, O queenly maiden! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand. Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies. (NRSV 7:1-2)
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. (KJV 7:1-2)
Talk about feminine images. Based on these descriptions, what do you think this woman looks like? Does she embody the same standards for beauty we have today?