Declare To Me

Annuntia mihi quem dilexit anima mea, ubi pascis, ubi cubas in meridie Non quaero alia tempora, quando vespere, quando dilucul, quando in solis pascis occubitu; illud tempus inquiro, quando florente die, quando plena luce in majestatis tuae splendore versaris. Annuntia mihi quem dilexit anima mea, ubi pascis, ubi cubas in meridie. Diligenter observa ubi meridiem legeris. Apud Joseph meridie fratres prandium celebrant. Angeli meridie Abrahae suscipiuntur hospitio, et caetera istiusmodi. Quaere, et invenies Scripturam divinam non frustra seu fortuitu unumquemque usurpare sermonem. Quis putas est dignus e nobis ut ad meridiem usque perveniat, et videat ubi pascat, ubi cubet sponsus? Annuntia mihi quem dilexit anima mea, ubi pascis, ubi cubas in meridie. Nisi enim tu mihi annuntiaveris, incipio errabunda jactari, et dum te quaero in aliorum greges incurro. Et quia aliorum erubesco aspectus, faciem meam atque ora mox contegere incipio. Sum quippe sponsa formosa, et aliis nudam faciem meam non ostendo, nisi tibi soli quem jampridem deosculata sum. Annuntia mihi quem dilexit anima mea, ubi pascis, ubi cubas in meridie, nequando fiam sicut cooperta super greges sodalium tuorum. Ut ista non patiar, ut non fiam cooperta, ut ora non contegam, et ad alios usuqe perveniens, incipiam forsitan et eos amare quos nescio; idcirco annuntia mihi ubi te quaeram et inveniam in meridie, ne forte fiam quasi cooperata super greges sodalium tuorum. Origenes, In Canticum Canticorum, Homilia I, Interprete Divo Hieronymo Source: Migne PG 13.45c-46a

Declare to me whom my soul loves, where you pasture, where you sleep at noon. 1 I do not seek other times, at evening, at dawn, when in distant fields he slumbers, I ask for that time when the day flourishes, when it is at its full light in the majesty of your splendour. 'Declare to me whom my soul loves, where you pasture, where you sleep at noon.' Diligently observe where you may read of noon. At noon brothers feasted with Joseph, at noon angels were received by Abraham, and other things like this. Seek and you shall find that Divine Scripture does not employ any word in vain or by chance. Who of us do you think is worthy that at noon he may draw near and see where He pastures, where the bridegroom sleeps? 'Declare to me whom my soul loves, where you pasture, where you sleep at noon.' For unless you shall announce it to me I shall begin to rush about in error and while I seek you I shall run into the flocks of others. And because I blush at the sight of others, I shall begin to cover my face and mouth. I certainly am the fair bride, and I do not show my uncovered face to others, only to you alone by whom I was once kissed. 'Declare to me whom my soul loves, where you pasture, where you sleep at noon,' lest I am overwhelmed by the flocks of your companions. So that I do not suffer this, so that I am not overwhelmed, and I am not covered, and I come to others, and perhaps I begin to love those I do not know, thus declare to me where I should seek you and find you at noon, lest perhaps I become as one overwhelmed by the flocks of your companions. Origen, Commentary On The Song of Songs, from Homily 1, translated by Saint Jerome 1 Song 1.6