1 P or las noches busqué en mi lecho al que ama mi alma; Lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

On my bed, in the nights, I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

2 Y dije: Me levantaré ahora, y rodearé por la ciudad; Por las calles y por las plazas Buscaré al que ama mi alma; Lo busqué, y no lo hallé.

I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broadways Will I seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3 M e hallaron los guardas que rondan la ciudad, Y les dije: ¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?

The watchmen that go about the city found me:—Have ye seen him whom my soul loveth?

4 A penas hube pasado de ellos un poco, Hallé luego al que ama mi alma; Lo así, y no lo dejé, Hasta que lo metí en casa de mi madre, Y en la cámara de la que me dio a luz.

—Scarcely had I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.

5 Y o os conjuro, oh doncellas de Jerusalén, Por los corzos y por las ciervas del campo, Que no despertéis ni hagáis velar al amor, Hasta que quiera. El cortejo de bodas

I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake love, till he please.

6 ¿ Quién es ésta que sube del desierto como columna de humo, Sahumada de mirra y de incienso Y de todo polvo aromático?

Who is this, that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant? …

7 H e aquí es la litera de Salomón; Sesenta valientes la rodean, De los fuertes de Israel.

Behold his couch, Solomon's own: Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty of Israel.

8 T odos ellos tienen espadas, diestros en la guerra; Cada uno su espada sobre su muslo, Por los temores de la noche.

They all hold the sword, Experts in war; Each hath his sword upon his thigh Because of alarm in the nights.

9 E l rey Salomón se hizo una carroza De madera del Líbano.

King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.

10 H izo sus columnas de plata, Su respaldo de oro, Su asiento de grana, Su interior recamado de amor Por las doncellas de Jerusalén.

Its pillars he made of silver, Its support of gold, Its seat of purple; The midst thereof was paved love By the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 S alid, oh doncellas de Sion, y ved al rey Salomón Con la corona con que le coronó su madre en el día de su desposorio, Y el día del gozo de su corazón.

Go forth, daughters of Zion, And behold king Solomon With the crown wherewith his mother crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.