Stay me with wine, strengthen me with fruit, for I am swooning with
love.

(_Half-fainting she falls in the_ SHEPHERD'S _arms._)

His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me.

THE SHEPHERD

(_to the_ ODALISQUES.)

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the hinds of
the field, that ye stir not, nor awake my beloved till she will.

THE SHULAMITE

(_dreaming in the_ SHEPHERD'S _arms._)

My own love's voice. Arise, my fair one, he tells me, arise and let us
go....

THE SHEPHERD

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not, nor awake
my beloved till she will.

(SOLOMON _motions; the_ SHEPHERD _is removed._)

ACT II.

A STREET IN JERUSALEM.

In the distance is Solomon and his retinue.

CHORUS OF MEN

Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness, exhaling the odor of
myrrh and of frankincense and all the powders of the perfumer?

(SOLOMON _and his retinue advance._)

FIRST JERUSALEMITE

Behold the palanquin of Solomon. Three score valiant men are about it.
They all hold swords....

SECOND JERUSALEMITE

King Solomon has had made for him a litter of Lebanon wood. The supports
are of silver, the bottom of gold, the covering of purple. In the centre
is a loved one, chosen from among the daughters of Jerusalem.

THE CHORUS

(_calling to women in the houses._)

Come forth, daughters of Zion, and behold the King....

ACT III.

THE SERAGLIO.

SOLOMON

(_to the_ SHULAMITE.)

Yes, thou art fair, my love, yes, thou art fair. Thou hast dove's
eyes.... Thou art all fair, my love. There is no spot on thee.

THE SHEPHERD

(_without, in the garden, calling to the_ SHULAMITE _and referring in
veiled terms to the seraglio and its dangers._)

Come to me, my betrothed, come to me from Lebanon. Look at me from the
top of Amana, from the summit of Shenir and Hermon, from the lion's den
and the mountain of leopards.

(_The_ SHULAMITE _goes to a window and looks out._)

THE SHEPHERD

You have strengthened my heart, my sister betrothed, you have
strengthened my heart with one of thine eyes, with one of the curls that
float on thy neck. How dear is thy love, my sister betrothed! Thy
caresses are better than wine, and the fragrance of thy garments is
sweeter than spice.

THE SHULAMITE

Let my beloved come into his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

THE SHEPHERD

I am come into