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Shine brightly, Sun! to greet this happy while:
Shine brightly, Sun! maintaining old belief,—
“Happy the Bride on whom the day doth smile.”
Glad Time! make her ripe happiness the sheaf
Of all her years!
Her happiness: is it not his also?
Are not they henceforth One for all the twain shall know
Of good or ill,
Of joy or woe,
Of hope or fear?
But Joy and Hope alone
We now admit. Fear! be thou still;
And Doubt! begone;
Nor let your shadows stray
Athwart the flower-strown way
Of our young lovers, with triumphant feet
Entering the porch of life's true perfectness!
Hymen! we bid thee bless
These votaries, and grant them full increase
Of future joy and peace—
A life complete.
Fly hence, all Mischiefs that disturb the Home!
Wrath and Contention! never venture here!
False Double-tonguèdness! suspicious Fear!
Avoid this door; nor even glance within!
Vile Jealousy! let not your slime be seen
On this clean threshold; nor Distrust begin
To rot the roof-tree, gnawing there between
The rafters!—But thou hither come,
Frank-spoken Faith! Love's handmaid! ever wait
To keep the order'd house; nor lift the latch
Nor ope the outmost gate
For those unwelcomed! fairest Faith! attend
The Married, as true servant and best friend!

If Sorrow should approach—alas the hour!
Come, thou not always enemy to man!
Not in thy panoply of dreadful power,
Storm-messaging, but, as God's Angel can,
With that sad smile on thy unwilling lips
Telling them only of an hour's eclipse
Of the continual sun! Sit at their board,
The while thou sojournest,
A courteous stranger, and an honour'd guest!
Brief be thy stay;
And as thou passest, with some thanks away,
A blessing thy last word!

No more! we would not that a slightest shade
Should soil the orange-blossoms' dainty white.
Pure as those blooms be all your years, as bright
Your life, fair Maid!
Fair Maid no more, but fairer, happier Wife.
O Wife! O Husband! bearing each a name
More royal than the style of Queen or King,—
When Time shall bring
The higher Father-Mother-hood, Love's aim
So reach'd, may ye
In your like children see
Your happiness repeated, and your worth,
As years spring forth,
Year following year with grander garnering!

Now even you, Good Wishes! stand aside!
The Bridegroom and the Bride
Would be alone.—
Atone
With no less wishful silence, for rude speech!
Utter but one more spell—
Heart-breathed from all and each—
Fare well!