Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair; you have doves' eyes.
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Bede
AD 735
Since the image of a dove is placed before us by God so that we may learn the simplicity favored, let us look diligently at its nature, so that from each one of its examples of innocence we may take the principles of a more correct life. [The dove] is a stranger to malice. May all bitterness, anger and indignation be taken away from us, together with all malice. It injures nothing with its mouth or talons, nor does it nourish itself or its young on tiny mice or grubs, which almost all smaller birds [do]. Let us see that our teeth are not weapons and arrows, lest gnawing and consuming one another we be consumed by one another. Let us keep our hands from plundering. “He who has now been stealing, let him steal no more; let him labor by working with his hands, which is a good thing, so that he may have something he can bestow upon one who is suffering need.” It is also reported that the dove often supplies nourishment to strangers as though they were her own young. She feeds them with the...
Behold. The spouse makes a return of praise, and thanksgiving for her repose, to Christ. (Worthington)
The corporal beauty of Solomon or of our Saviour is not fully ascertained; but their inward perfections are often proclaimed.
Flourishing. Hebrew, "green. "Septuagint, "shaded. "(Esther i. 5.)
This bed was the womb of the blessed Virgin , the cross, or any faithful soul. St. Bernard says it is a monastery, retired and adorned with all virtues. (Calmet)
When her own beauty is manifest, the loveliness of her eyes is extolled. The bridegroom says that her eyes are those of a dove that seem to convey this meaning: when the pupils of the eye are clear, the faces of those gazing at them are clearly reflected. Persons skilled in studying natural phenomena say that the eye sees by receiving the impression of images emanating from visible objects. For this reason the beauty of the bride’s eyes is praised since the image of a dove appears in her pupils. Whenever a person gazes upon an object he receives in himself the image of that object. He who no longer attends to flesh and blood looks toward the life of the Spirit. As the apostle says, such a person lives in the Spirit, conforms to the Spirit, and by the Spirit puts to death the deeds of the body. This person has become wholly spiritual, neither natural nor carnal. - "Homilies on the Song of Songs 4"
“Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful: your eyes are doves!” You who are beautiful and strong, because you resemble him of whom it is sung, “In your beauty and your splendor,” will hear from your spouse, “Forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty.” - "Homilies on the Psalms, Alternate Series 61 (Psalm 15)"
