This poem expresses on the part of the man a longing similar to that expressed by the woman in Cant. 8:1-3.
VII[592]
The voice of the dove calls,
It says: “The earth is bright.”
What have I to do outside?
Stop, thou birdling! Thou chidest me!
I have found my brother in his bed,
My heart is glad beyond all measure.
We each say:
“I will not tear myself away.”
My hand is in his hand.
I wander together with him
To every beautiful place.
He makes me the first of maidens,
Nor does he grieve my heart.
In this poem the loved woman speaks, as in Cant. 8:1-3.
VIII[593]
Sa‘am-plants are in it,
In the presence of which one feels oneself uplifted!
I am thy darling sister,
I am to thee like a bit of land,
With each shrub of grateful fragrance.
Lovely is the water-conduit in it,
Which thy hand has dug.
While the north wind cooled us.
A beautiful place to wander,
Thy hand in my hand,
My soul inspired,
My heart in bliss,
Because we go together.
New wine it is, to hear thy voice;
I live for hearing it.
To see thee with each look,
Is better than eating and drinking.
The figure of the garden, with which this poem begins, is also used in Cant. 5:1 and 6:2, 3.
IX[594]
Ta-’a-ti-plants are in it!
I take thy garlands away,
When thou comest home drunken,
And when thou art lying in thy bed
When I touch thy feet,
(And) children are (?) in thy ..........
........................
[I rise up] rejoicing in the morning
Thy nearness [means to me] health and strength.
In ancient as in modern times wives loved fondly, while husbands gave way to drunkenness.
The poems as a whole make it clear that in Egypt love, which lies at the basis of all home life, and is in the New Testament made a figure of the relation of Christ to the Church (see John 3:29; Rev. 21:2, 9), was as warmly felt as in Israel, and was likewise poetically and passionately expressed.