I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys
After this the Bridegroom speaks: I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys. For my sake, who was in the valley, he came down into the valley and became a lily of the valleys. As a lily among thorns, so is my neighbor among the daughters. I indeed am the flower of the field; but you, church, are a lily among thorns — among those who prick and afflict. Christ is the flower of the field, who appeared openly in the world; the lily of the valleys, because he offered himself to the lowly.
Latin
Post haec sponsus loquitur: Ego flos campi et lilium convallium. Propter me, qui in valle eram, descendit in vallem et factus est lilium convallium. Sicut lilium inter spinas, sic proxima mea inter filias. Ego quidem flos campi; tu vero, ecclesia, lilium inter spinas — inter eos qui pungunt et tribulant. Flos campi Christus, qui in mundo patuit; lilium convallium, quia humilibus se praebuit.
About this text
Origen’s Homilia II on the Song of Songs (Jerome’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–13.
English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Jerome’s Latin of Homilia II. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Homilia II §§1–13 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Homilia II §§1–13)
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.