(8) Nipples. (See No. is, THIRD DAY, where this allusion has already occurred.) (9) Eyes like the pools of Ileshbon (see No. 6 in FOURTH DAY) ; that is, darkened hy a streak of stibium drawn all around them, as those pools are encompassed hy a border of black marble. Probably, too, the form of these pools was oval rather than circular.
(to) Thy nose like the tower of Lebanon. if the former line had not alluded to a place. whereby this line should require allusion to a place also, we should have inclined to risk a version derived from the roots of these words; which would stand thus: Thy nose like a tower of whiteness itself, Which overlooks the levels (thy cheeks, etc.).
We are persuaded that this gives the true con ception of the passage, even if referred to a structure called the tower of Lebanon, for Da mascus is situated on a level plain ; or this tower might stand so as to overlook some of those level plains which arc interspersed in the mountains of Lebanon. Such, however, is the general idea ; an erect tower, but of whatever other qualities is not determined. It might be desirable to render the foregoing verse also according to its roots, but the mention of the gate of Bathrobbini for bids; and if Hcshbon be of necessity retained, then, for the sake of the parallelism, we think we must retain also Lebanon and Damascus; of course the comparisons arc entirely local. (See No. it, TIIIRD DAY.) Carmel. (13) Aregamen. We confess our embarrassment on the subject of these words.
(13) Entangled. This word (assur) is used to signify the entangling power of love. Mr. Harmer interprets Eccles. vii:26: "I find more bitter than death the woman whose hands are (assurint) bands ;" the general sense of the word is con finement, restraint, bondage, so that our word entangled seems to express the idea sufficiently.
The idea that the king's heart was entangled in the numerous and beautiful braids of hair which adorned the head of his spouse seems plaus ible enough, from the customs of Oriental females, and the general scope of the passage; but a par ticular and applicable authority is furnished in an ode of the Pend-Nameh (pp. 287, 288), translated from the Persian by Baron Silvestro de Sacy. Ode of !anti on the Tresses of Ilis Mi.oress: "0 thou, who bast entangled my heart in the net of thy ringlets! the name alone of thy curling hair is become a snare for hearts. Yes, all hearts are enchained (as in the links of a chain) in the ringlets (links) of thy hair; each of thy curls is a snare and chain. 0 thou, whose curls hold me in captivity, it is an honor for thy slave to be fet tered by the chains of thy ringlets. What other veil could so well become the fresh roses of thy complexion, as that of thy black curls (fragrant) like musk? Birds fly the net ; but, most wonder ful ! my never quiet soul delights in the chains of thy tresses! Thy curls inhabit a region higher than that of the moon. Ali! how high is the
region of thy tresses! It is from the deep night of thy curls that the daybreak of felicity rises at every instant for Jami, thy slave !" The reader will probably think this rhapsody sufficiently exalted ; it is, however, a not im modest specimen of the poetical exuberance of fancy and figurative language in which the Orien tals envelop their ideas when inspired by the power of verse and frenzied by the fascinations of beauty.
(I4) Meanderings. This word (rchethim) sig nifies to run down, with a tremendous motion, or winding way. as of a stream, or rill of water: so Jacob's rods were placed in the rills, rivulets, gut ters, in the watering troughs (Gen. xxx ,3o) ; co the daughters of Reuel filled the troughs, watering places, for the sheep to drink from (Exod. ii:16) ; not raised wooden troughs, such as our horses drink out of, hut rills running among the stones, etc. This we have expressed by the word wanderings; derived from the numerous hendings of the River Meander, and now natural ired in our language, in reference to streams and winding rivulets, etc. The trough into which Rebekah emptied the contents of her pitcher (Gen. xxiv:2o) is described by a different word, and might be properly a trough, (15) Thy stature equals the palm. (See the plate of the Bride's Dress, infra.) (16) Thy address. Literally, Mr palate; but this must refer to speech of sonic kind; the bride had formerly told her spouse that"his lips dropped honev;" and now he says, "her palate dropped wine—prime wine;" we have the lips and the palate noticed together, to the same purpose, in Pros'. V :3 : The lips of a strange woman drop liquid honey, And her palate drops what is smoother than oil.
It is evident the writer means her flattering words, her seductive discourses. The rendering "thy address" seems to coincide with the cheering and pervading effects of wine.
(17) Going to be presented, as a special token of affectionate regard, to persons whose consum mate integrity has been experienced; literally, going for love-favors to uprights (persons). Now in such a case, a person would naturally select the very best wine in his power ; he would not send the tart, or the vapid, but the most cordial, the most valuable he could procure. We suspect that the bridegroom compliments himself, under the character of a friend whose integrity could not be doubted. (For the sense of consummate or com plete, as that of the word fashur, or Ieshurun, see the article JEsHuRoN.) (I8) Should this chasm be filled up with It is inserted by the LXX, and the passage is im perfect without the usual termination.