reading of the 'Song
of Songs' upon which Ewald and Renan substantially agree, the compiler
of the libretto favored no controversial opinion. He simply saw in the
ingenious commentaries of the learned Hebraists suggestions for a story
of unconquerable love, capable of expression in the language of the
Bible.

"For the arrangement of incident the compiler is alone responsible. In
some respects it departs widely from the original poem,--which opens,
for example, in Jerusalem,--and gives only in narrative the events that
occupy part one of the oratorio.

"In taking a story from a canonical book of Holy Scripture, the
compiler could not ignore its spiritual significance. He has,
therefore, introduced a prologue suggesting the parabolic character of
the drama, and an epilogue which points its moral."

The characters are the Rose of Sharon, designated throughout the work as
the Sulamite (soprano); a Woman (contralto); the Beloved (tenor); and
Solomon (baritone); the chorus representing Officers of the Court,
Princes, Nobles, Villagers, Elders, and Soldiers. The story, briefly
told, is one of the power of love. The Beloved and Solomon are both in
love with the Sulamite, and the king tears her from the former to be the
favorite among the women of the harem. Amid all the splendors of the
palace and the luxuries heaped upon her by her passionate admirer she
remains true to the Beloved, is ultimately restored to him, and returns
to the vineyards of Sulam. The work is divided as follows: Prologue; Part
I. Separation; II. Temptation; III. Victory; IV. Reunion; V. Epilogue.
The motto of the oratorio is "Love is strong as death, and unconquerable
as the grave." This motto has its musical theme as well as each of the
three principal characters, and they are invariably used with great skill
and effect. The Woman acts the part of Narrator, and after a brief
orchestral prelude she is heard declaring the meaning and spiritual
significance of the story in the prologue:

"We will open our mouth in a parable;
We will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
Which our fathers have told us;
We will not hide them from our children,
That the generation to come may know them,
Who shall declare them to their children.

This is a great mystery; but we speak concerning Christ and his
Church."

The oratorio opens in the vineyard of Sulam as the Vine-dresser