I am into my garden come

[Christ]

1 I am into my garden come,
my sister, and my spouse:
I gather'd have my myrrh and spice
for our delightful use:
My honey-comb with honey eat,
my wine and milk drank I;
Eat O ye friends, drink O belov'd,
yea drink abundantly.

[The Church]

2 I sleep; but yet my heart awakes:
the voice 'tis of my Love,
Who knocks and kindly calls to me,
with all my bowels move;

[Christ]

'Open to Me, my sister, Love,
'my dove, my undefil'd;
'My head with dew, my locks with drops
'the night distills, is fill'd!

[The Church]

3 My coat I have put off; how shall
I put it on again?
And I my feet have washed clean;
how shall I them distain?
4 But when I my Beloved's hand
upon the latch discern'd;
Griev'd that I should so long delay,
my bowels stronger yearn'd.

5 I rose to open to my Love:
my hands myrrh dropped down;
And on the handles of the lock
myrrh from my fingers run.
6 But when the door I open'd wide
to my Beloved one;
My Love had then withdrawn Himself,
and out of sight was gone!

When as He spake, my soul did fail;
and now I sought Him have,
But found Him not; I call'd to Him,
yet He no answer gave!
7 The city watchmen met me then,
they smote and wounded me,
The keepers of the wall ev'n took
from me my veil away.

8 O daughters of Jerusalem,
I charge you, to Him say,
If my Belov'd ye find, that I
for love shall faint away.

[Daughters of Jerusalem]

9 O fairest thou of all the fair!
what's thy Beloved, show:
What more than others is thy Love,
that thou dost charge us so?

[The Church]

10 My Love is white and ruddy; chief
above ten thousands fair!
11 His head is finest gold; his locks
curl'd black as ravens are!
12 His eyes are like the eyes of doves
looking on water-streams;
As if they washed were with milk,
and fitly set as gems!

13 His cheeks like garden-beds of spice,
with flowers of spice crown'd:
His lips like lillies, dropping myrrh,
diffusing odours round!
14 His hands adorn'd with rings of gold,
with precious stones inlaid:
His bowels like bright ivory,
with sapphires overspread!

15 His legs like marble pillars stand
on golden sockets plac'd;
His countenance like Lebanon,
with stately cedars grac'd.
16 His mouth is all of sweetness made!
He's perfect loveliness!
O daughters of Jerusalem!
my Love and Friend is this?

Source: The Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testament, faithfully translated into English Metre: being the New-England Psalm-Book, revised and improved... (2nd ed.) #SV