Homilies on the Song of Songs, Homily II · §6

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 valleysFor 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 daughtersI 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).

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)

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.