Homilies on the Song of Songs, Homilia I · §3

Imperative for optative; breasts, breast, and little breast

Let him kiss me, then, with the kisses of his mouth. It is the custom of the Scriptures to put the imperative for the optative, as there: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name! — for “would that it be hallowed”; and now in the present place: Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for “would that he kiss me.” Then she catches sight of the Bridegroom. He comes anointed with ointments; he could not come to the Bride otherwise, nor was it fitting that the Father should send the Son to the wedding otherwise. With varied ointments he anointed him and made him Christ. He comes breathing diverse fragrances and hears: For your breasts are better than wine. Fittingly the divine word names the same thing with different terms according to the character of the places. When a victim is offered in the law and the sense wants to show it, it says “the little breast of the separation.” But when someone reclines with Jesus and enjoys communion with his thoughts, it does not say “little breast,” as above, but “breast.” And when the Bride speaks to the Bridegroom, because a wedding song is being introduced, she does not name a little breast as in the sacrifice, nor a breast as in the disciple John, but breasts, saying: For your breasts are better than wine.

Latin

Osculetur me ergo ab osculis oris sui. Moris est scripturarum imperativum modum pro optativo ponere, ut ibi: Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum! pro: utinam sanctificetur; et nunc in praesenti: Osculetur me ab osculis oris sui pro eo, quod est: utinam osculetur. Deinde conspicit sponsum. Venit delibutus unguentis nec aliter ad sponsam poterat venire nec decebat aliter patrem ad nuptias filium destinare. Variis eum unxit unguentis, fecit illum Christum. Venit diversis odoribus spirans et audit: Quia bona ubera tua super vinum. Congrue sermo divinus eandem rem pro locorum qualitate diversis vocabulis nuncupat. Quando hostia offertur in lege et vult intellectus ostendere, pectusculum separationis effatur. Quando vero recumbit aliquis cum Iesu et sensuum eius communione perfruitur, non pectusculum, ut supra, sed pectus eloquitur. Porro cum sponsa loquitur ad sponsum, quia nuptiale carmen inducitur, non pectusculum, ut in sacrificio, non pectus ut in Iohanne discipulo, sed ubera nominat dicens: Quia bona ubera tua super vinum.

About this text

Origen’s Homilia I on the Song of Songs (Jerome’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–10.

English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Jerome’s Latin of Homilia I. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Homilia I §§1–10 (closeout).

Witnesses

  • Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Homilia I §§1–10)

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.