kisses of his mouth.

CHORUS OF ODALISQUES

Thy love is better than delicious wine. Thy name is ointment poured
forth. Therefore do we love thee.

THE SHULAMITE

(_forcibly introduced, speaking to her absent lover._)

The King hath brought me into his chamber. Draw me away, we will go
together.

THE ODALISQUES

(_to_ SOLOMON.)

The upright love thee. We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will
remember thy love more than wine.

THE SHULAMITE

(_to the_ ODALISQUES.)

I am black but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, comely as the tents
of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Do not disdain me because I am a
little black. It is the sun that has burned me. My mother's children
were angry at me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. Alas! mine own
vineyard I have not kept.

(_Thinking of her absent lover._)

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou takest thy flocks to
rest at noon that I may not wander among the flocks of thy comrades.

AN ODALISQUE

If thou knowest not, O thou fairest among women, follow the flock and
feed thy kids by the shepherds' tents.

SOLOMON

(_to the_ SHULAMITE.)

To my horse, when harnessed to the chariot that Pharaoh sent me, I
compare thee, O my love. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of pearls,
thy neck with charms of coral. We will make for thee necklaces of gold,
studded with silver.

THE SHULAMITE

(_aside._)

While the King sitteth at his divan, my spikenard perfumes me and to me
my beloved is a bouquet of myrrh, unto me he is as a cluster of cypress
in the vines of Engedi.

SOLOMON

Yes, thou art fair, my beloved. Yes, thou art fair. Thine eyes are the
eyes of a dove.

THE SHULAMITE

(_thinking of the absent one._)

Yes, thou art fair, my beloved. Yes, thou art charming, and our tryst is
a litter of green.

SOLOMON

(_to whom constancy has no meaning._)

The beams of our house are cedar and our rafters of fir.

THE SHULAMITE

(_singing._)

I am the rose of Sharon The lily of the valley am I.

(ENTER _suddenly the_ SHEPHERD.)

THE SHEPHERD

As a lily among thorns, so is my love among daughters.

THE SHULAMITE

(_running to him._)

As is the apple among fruit, so is my beloved among men. In delight I
have sat in his shadow and his savor was sweet to my taste. He brought
me to the banquet hall and put o'er me the banner of love.

(_Turning to the_ ODALISQUES.)