"Stay Me With Flagons"
Context: A youth and maiden, ecstatic with the thrill of young love, carry on a dialogue of lyric endearments. The girl is described as very fair, the loveliest of women. Speaking of her lover, who has earlier been described as a shepherd, dark from exposure to the sun, the maiden says:
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roses, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he please.
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