Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Auspicious sprung the Morning into Light
By Love selected from the golden Tide
Of Time, illustrious with peculiar White,
And mended from the Blushes of the Bride.

II

The Muse observ'd the fond-approaching Hour,
And thus her Philo's gentle Ear addrest.
“Behold, descending from yon Maiden Tow'r
The beauteous Object of thy Eyes and Breast.

III

Fair issuing, down the Hill I see her move,
Like the sweet Morn, in Dews and Blushes gay:
You, like the Bridegroom Sun, her Charms approve;
And warm her dawning Glories into Day.

IV

I own the radiant Magic of her Eyes,
But more the Graces of her Soul admire;
Those may lay Traps for Lovers, Fops and Flies,
But These the Husband and the Muse inspire.

V

A Husband is a venerable Name!
O happy State, when Heart is link'd to Heart!
Nor less the Honour of the Wedded-Dame:
Sweet Interchange! which only Death can part.

VI

O blest with gentle Manners, graceful Ease;
Gay, yet not trifling; serious, yet not grave;
Skillful, to charm the Wits; the Wise, to please;
Tho' beauteous, humble; and tho' tender, brave.

VII

Riches and Honours wait on either Name:
But They in Life are but the last Desert:
Your richer Happiness and fairer Fame,
Shall be the good Behaviour of the Heart.

VIII

When such the Wonders both of Form and Mind,
What Rapture fancy'd, Reason will approve;
By Time your Inclinations be refin'd;
And Youth, be spent in Passion; Age in Love?”

IX

Thus far the Muse. When Hymen, from the Sky,
The Lovers in the Band of Concord ty'd;
The Virtues and the Graces too were by,
And Venus left her Cestus with the Bride.