I am black but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem
I am black but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Black because of penitence and struggles in the body; beautiful because of the image of God and conversion. The tents of Kedar are black; Solomon’s curtains are adorned. Do not look at me because I am dark, for the sun has discolored me: the sun of trials sometimes scorches the soul, but does not take away inner beauty.
Latin
Nigra sum sed formosa, filiae Hierusalem, sicut tabernacula Cedar, sicut pelles Salomonis. Nigra propter paenitentiam et certamina in corpore; formosa propter imaginem Dei et conversionem. Tabernacula Cedar nigra sunt; pelles Salomonis ornatae. Ne videatis me quod fusca sim, quia decoloravit me sol: tentationum sol aliquando animam adurit, sed non aufert pulchritudinem interiorem.
About this text
Origen’s Commentary on the Song of Songs, Liber I (Rufinus’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–20.
English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Rufinus’s Latin of Commentary Liber I. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Liber I §§1–20 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Commentary Liber I §§1–20)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.