The Song of Songs Fifth Encounter

polyrhythmic percussion, harp glissandos, drone bass, cinematic crescendos, Operatic

[Man]
Beautiful as Tirzah are you, my friend;
fair as Jerusalem,
fearsome as celestial visions!

Turn your eyes away from me,
for they stir me up.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
streaming down from Gilead.

Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
that come up from the washing,
All of them big with twins,
none of them barren.
Like pomegranate halves,
your cheeks behind your veil.
Sixty are the queens, eighty the concubines,
and young women without number—
One alone is my dove, my perfect one,
her mother’s special one,
favorite of the one who bore her.
Daughters see her and call her happy,
queens and concubines, and they praise her:

“Who is this that comes forth like the dawn,
beautiful as the white moon, pure as the blazing sun,
fearsome as celestial visions?”

[Chorus]
I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem,
do not awaken or stir up love
until it is ready!
[instrumental]

[Woman]
To the walnut grove I went down,
to see the young growth of the valley;
To see if the vines were in bloom,
if the pomegranates had blossomed.
Before I knew it, my desire had made me
the blessed one of the prince’s people.

[Choir]
Turn, turn, O Shulammite!
turn, turn that we may gaze upon you!

[Woman]
How can you gaze upon the Shulammite
as at the dance of the two camps?

[Chorus]
I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem,
do not awaken or stir up love
until it is ready!
[instrumental]

[Man]
How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
O noble daughter!
Your curving thighs like jewels,
the product of skilled hands.
Your valley, a round bowl
that should never lack mixed wine.
Your belly, a mound of wheat,
encircled with lilies.

Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.

Your neck like a tower of ivory;
your eyes, pools in Heshbon
by the gate of Bath-rabbim.
Your nose like the tower of Lebanon
that looks toward Damascus.
Your head rises upon you like Carmel;
your hair is like purple;
a king is caught in its locks.

[Chorus]
I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem,
do not awaken or stir up love
until it is ready!
[instrumental]

[Man]
How beautiful you are, how fair,
my love, daughter of delights!
Your very form resembles a date-palm,
and your breasts, clusters.
I thought, “Let me climb the date-palm!
Let me take hold of its branches!
Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine
and the fragrance of your breath like apples,
And your mouth like the best wine

[Woman]
that flows down smoothly for my lover,
gliding over my lips and teeth.

I belong to my lover,
his yearning is for me.
Come, my lover! Let us go out to the fields,
let us pass the night among the henna.

Let us go early to the vineyards, and see
if the vines are in bloom,
If the buds have opened,
if the pomegranates have blossomed;
There will I give you my love.
The mandrakes give forth fragrance,
and over our doors are all choice fruits;
Fruits both fresh and dried, my lover,
have I kept in store for you.

[Chorus]
I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem,
do not awaken or stir up love
until it is ready!
[instrumental]

[Woman]
Would that you were a brother to me,
nursed at my mother’s breasts!
If I met you out of doors, I would kiss you
and none would despise me.

I would lead you, bring you to my mother’s house,
where you would teach me,
Where I would give you to drink
spiced wine, my pomegranate juice.

His left hand is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.

[Chorus]
I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem,
do not awaken or stir up love
until it is ready!
[instrumental]
[End]
[Silence]

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[Man] Beautiful as Tirzah are you, my friend; fair as Jerusalem, fearsome as celestial visions! Turn your eyes away from me, for they stir me up. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that come up from the washing, All of them big with twins, none of them barren. Like pomegranate halves, your cheeks behind your veil. Sixty are the queens, eighty the concubines, and young women without number— One alone is my dove, my perfect one, her mother’s special one, favorite of the one who bore her. Daughters see her and call her happy, queens and concubines, and they praise her: “Who is this that comes forth like the dawn, beautiful as the white moon, pure as the blazing sun, fearsome as celestial visions?” [Chorus] I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! [instrumental] [Woman] To the walnut grove I went down, to see the young growth of the valley; To see if the vines were in bloom, if the pomegranates had blossomed. Before I knew it, my desire had made me the blessed one of the prince’s people. [Choir] Turn, turn, O Shulammite! turn, turn that we may gaze upon you! [Woman] How can you gaze upon the Shulammite as at the dance of the two camps? [Chorus] I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! [instrumental] [Man] How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O noble daughter! Your curving thighs like jewels, the product of skilled hands. Your valley, a round bowl that should never lack mixed wine. Your belly, a mound of wheat, encircled with lilies. Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. Your neck like a tower of ivory; your eyes, pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose like the tower of Lebanon that looks toward Damascus. Your head rises upon you like Carmel; your hair is like purple; a king is caught in its locks. [Chorus] I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! [instrumental] [Man] How beautiful you are, how fair, my love, daughter of delights! Your very form resembles a date-palm, and your breasts, clusters. I thought, “Let me climb the date-palm! Let me take hold of its branches! Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine and the fragrance of your breath like apples, And your mouth like the best wine [Woman] that flows down smoothly for my lover, gliding over my lips and teeth. I belong to my lover, his yearning is for me. Come, my lover! Let us go out to the fields, let us pass the night among the henna. Let us go early to the vineyards, and see if the vines are in bloom, If the buds have opened, if the pomegranates have blossomed; There will I give you my love. The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and over our doors are all choice fruits; Fruits both fresh and dried, my lover, have I kept in store for you. [Chorus] I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! [instrumental] [Woman] Would that you were a brother to me, nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I met you out of doors, I would kiss you and none would despise me. I would lead you, bring you to my mother’s house, where you would teach me, Where I would give you to drink spiced wine, my pomegranate juice. His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. [Chorus] I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not awaken or stir up love until it is ready! [instrumental] [End] [Silence]

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