496 BlaΩej ∏trba The entire usage of hnvwv/µynvwv in the Canticle reflects the overwhelming influence of such a flower as was sπn in the Egyptian culture. The conventional use of sπn found its way into Israelite love poetry. Such a use was more imposing for the Song and its composer than any particular characteristic of this flower. The wide and multifarious life and love awaking efficacy of this flower rather than a single nuance match well with the surprising flower hnvwv/µynvwv in the Song. I will present shortly the recurring ideas and motives of some 40 love songs studied by M.V. Fox (86). This particular genre of Egyptian love songs seems to be the closest poetical parallel which explains the literary devices employed also in the Song. These relate to concrete personal attitudes, male and female behaviour, with sexual and love- awakening details. The lovers are generally unmarried teenagers. The Egyptian songs are deeply erotic but they never dwell merely on the details of sexual activity. The expressions of love are treated with restraint and indirectness, but not with embarrassment or coyness. Though in Egyptian love songs the lovers are not married, often they look forward to marriage and their relation is very rarely mere flirtation. The concept of love is gradually penetrating each part of the person, so that the obedience to its demands overrides other unrelated considerations. Love is the dominant force in the lover’s shared life. It makes them ill and healthy, it weakens and empowers them, causes pain and pleasure in change. The absence of the beloved causes confusion and his/her presence restores life and health (87). A big part of the poems is dedicated to the description of the lover ’s feelings. Though the lovers speak alternatively, they never speak to each other directly, but rather to an undefined audience, or to their hearts in their soliloquies. Here the difference with the Song arises more plainly. In the Song the dialogue between two is that which raises the dramatic movement further and intensifies the relationship. The lovers in the Canticle “display their emotion rather than reporting on it, for it is the relationship that arises from the emotions of love, more than the emotions themselves that concern the poet of the Song” (88). (86) His commentary Song is an excellent comparison of the Song with the great number of parallels from the literature of Ancient Egypt. (87) M.V. FOX, “Egyptian Literature (Love Songs)”, ABD II, 393-395. (88) FOX, “Egyptian Literature”, 395.