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I had just left them when I found the one I love.
    I held on to him and would not let him go
        until I had brought him into my mother’s house,
            into the bedroom of the one who conceived me.

Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me
    by the gazelles
        or by the does in the field,
            that you will not awaken love
                or arouse love before its proper time.

A Description of the Royal Procession

[The chorus of young women]

Who is this young woman coming up from the wilderness
    like clouds of smoke?
        She is perfumed with myrrh and incense
            made from the merchants’ scented powders.

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Scarcely had I passed them
    when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
    till I had brought him to my mother’s house,(A)
    to the room of the one who conceived me.(B)
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you(C)
    by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so desires.(D)

Who is this coming up from the wilderness(E)
    like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh(F) and incense
    made from all the spices(G) of the merchant?

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