The shepherd’s lover now will give a second long speech; the first one was in 2:8–3:11 which was followed by his speech (4:1–5:1). Now she speaks in 5:2–6:3:
She is asleep but her heart of love was awake:
2 I slept, but my heart was awake.
Listen! my beloved is knocking.
He calls to her in her sleep (dream?):
“Open to me, my sister, my love,
my dove, my perfect one;
for my head is wet with dew,
my locks with the drops of the night.”
She resists charmingly, perhaps coyly, perhaps teasingly:
3 I had put off my garment;
how could I put it on again?
I had bathed my feet;
how could I soil them?