Sicut lilium inter spinas

General information

Antiphon for Matins of the Assumption of the BVM. Text is from Song of Songs 2:2-3.

Settings by composers

• Antoine Brumel SATB, STTB or ATBarB (verse 2 only)
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
  • I, Motettorum liber quartus ex Canticis canticorum 1584 SATTB
  • II, Liber primus motettorum 1569 SATTB (model of the parody mass)
• Rogier Pathie SATB (verse 2 only)

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Giovanni Francesco Anerio — Sicut lilium inter spinas a 8
• Anonymous — Sicut lilium

Text and translations

Latin text 2  Sicut lilium inter spinas, sic amica mea inter filias [Adae or hominum]. 3  Sicut malus inter ligna silvarum, sic dilectus meus inter filios. Sub umbra illius quem desideraveram sedi et fructus eius dulcis gutturi meo. German translation 2  Wie eine Lilie unter den Dornen ist meine Freundin unter den Frauen. 3  Wie ein Apfelbaum unter den Bäumen des Waldes ist mein Geliebter unter den Männern. In seinem Schatten wollte ich sitzen, und seine Frucht war meinem Gaumen süß.

English translation 2  As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters [of Adam or of men]. 3  As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his fruit was sweet to my palate. Dutch translation Als een lelie tussen de distels, zo is mijn vriendin tussen de meisjes. [Zij:] Zoals een appelboom tussen de bomen van het woud, zo is mijn liefste onder de jonge mannen. Onder de schaduw ervan hunker ik te zitten en zijn vruchten zijn zoet in mijn mond. Translation by Anton Hendriks, Ben Terstegge & Hanneke Pot