How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #4
Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice. (NRSV 2:8-9)
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. (KJV 2:8-9)
This guy is pretty manly—he's like a young, robust animal leaping around the countryside… and peering through lattice windows?
Quote #5
Groom: A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed. Bride: Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits. (NRSV 4:12, 16)
Groom: A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Bride: Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. (KJV 4:12, 16)
Shmoopers, we're not in Eden anymore. The bride plays the role of the coy virgin with the closed lady garden. Though within a few verses, she's thrown open the gates and let the groom come inside. Yup. That means just what you think it does.
Quote #6
My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven. (NRSV 5:10-11)
My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. (KJV 5:10-11)
These pretty basic descriptions construct an image of country masculinity that fits perfectly with the pastoral setting of the poems.