Historia Amoris: A History of Love, Ancient and Modern Part 2

(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 my garden, my sister betrothed, I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey. I have drunk my wine with my milk.

(_To the chorus._)

Eat, comrades, drink abundantly, friends.

(_The_ SHEPHERD _and the chorus withdraw._)

ACT IV.

THE SERAGLIO.

THE SHULAMITE

(_musing._)

I sleep but my heart waketh. I heard the voice of my beloved. He knocked. Open to me! he said. My sister, my love, my immaculate dove, open to me, for my head is covered with dew, the locks of my hair are wet ... I rose to open to my beloved ... but he was gone. My soul faileth me when he spoke not. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him but he did not reply.

(_A pause._ SHE _relates the story of her abduction._)

The watchman that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me, and the keepers of the walls took away my veil.

(_To the_ ODALISQUES.)

I pray you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, tell him that I die of love.

CHORUS OF ODALISQUES

In what is the superiority of thy lover, O pearl among women, that thou beseechest us so?

THE SHULAMITE

My beloved's skin is white and ruddy. He is one in a thousand.... His eyes are as doves.... His cheeks are a bed of flowers.... He is charming. Such is my beloved, such is my dear one, O daughters of Jerusalem.

CHORUS OF ODALISQUES

Whither is thy beloved gone, O pearl among women? Which way did he turn, that we may seek him with thee?

THE SHULAMITE