THE SECOND DAY. ( I ) Bride at Her Window hears the hunting-horn. This we think probable from what follows ; the directions of the bride groom to his companions to catch the jackals partly prove it ; perhaps, however. the poet hints, that though, when he set out, the prince designed to be of their party, yet, after conversation with his beloved, he is tempted to send them alone on that expedition. It is very natural that this passing by the bride's windows should occur, if Solomon dwelt below, and was going out at a gate above, in the palace; or even if his chase were restricted to the area within the walls it might easily lead him to pass the upper wing of the pal ace and the windows of the harem.
(2) Music. This is considered in the article on MARRIAGE PROCESSIONS. Are not these hills, these rising grounds, within the park of the pal ace? If so, then perhaps the bridegroom, in a following day, invites his bride to no very distant or very dangerous "lions' haunts," or "panther mountains"—but to hillocks, etc., in his park, known by these appellations. We say perhaps. because, though such names are given to parts of a royal palace in the East, yet the mention of Lebanon seems to infer a more distant ex cursion.
(3) Seated in his (4) carriage. (See the plate of vehicle, p. 362.) Also for (5) the windows; and for (6) the blinds, or lattices.
(7) My Dove hid in the clefts of the rocks. To understand this simile, consider the bridegroom as being in the garden, below the windows of the chamber, within which openings the bride is seen by him; now, windows in the East are not only narrow, but they have cross-bars, like those of our sashes, in them; the interposition of these prevents a full view of the lady's person, so that she resembles a dove, peeping, as it were, over, or from within, the clefts in a rock; and only partly visible ; that is, retiring, her head and neck, or crop, "which," says the bridegroom, "though I can but just discern, I perceive is lovely." Ob serve, too, that she is closely veiled; the retiring, timid dove, therefore, is the comparison. The bridegroom continues the simile of the dove, praises (8) her turgid crop and her pleasant voice; this, in a dove, can only be the (9) coo ing, or call, of that bird, which, under this simile, he desires to hear directed toward himself.
(io) My beloved is mine, and I am his. Does this mean: "I am all obedience to his requests? Our enjoyments now are mutual, and it shall be my happiness to accomplish his desires?" What is the import of the phrase "feeding among lilies?" \Vho feeds ?—who is fed ?—why among lilies? (i ) &tiler. This might be rendered "the craggy mountains ;" and if it were certain that the ibex or rock-goat, or the chamois, was that particular species of gazelle which we have ren dered "antelope," it might be very proper to pre serve that translation; but as Egypt is not a mountainous country, but a valley, could the bride know anything of the rock-goat? On the other hand, were the mountains of Bether famous for swift goats ?—and how should the bride know that particular? (12) Till night I seek hint; meaning I have waited for my beloved all the evening, and now, though it be too late to expect his company, still I seek him; my disappointment is great ; but how to remedy it? Shall I go into the city? for I am sure he is not at home. I am sure if he were in the palace he would visit me. The whole of this speech is supposed to be in the optative mood; we have rather used the subjunctive English mood as more likely to convey its true import.
(13) City. 1Ve would suggest that the bride does not mean the City of Jerusalem, but the streets, the broad places, the handsome courts, squares, etc., of the City of David, her present royal residence. Under this idea, should she ven ture on an evening promenade, she would be near her apartments and never beyond the walls of her palace; but even this she declines, not choos ing to expose herself to incidental meetings with the guards or watchmen. To suppose that she has any inclination to ramble in Jerusalem at large is to forget that she is a foreigner, and very recently arrived. How could she know her way about that city?