University of Virginia Library


174

HYMENEAL

O love! behold this Pair
By Hymen brought together:
Look on them young and fair,
Give them fair weather!
Make them to be
As He and She
Were but time-sunder'd, and now brought together
Eternally must pair!
Make each according heart
So one with the other coupled

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That, each of the other part,
'Tis one heart doubled:
So made to be
That He and She
Estrangement conquer'd, now in concord coupled,
Must own one single heart.
Love! hold thou fast this Pair;
Hymen! keep them together;
Whatever storms they share,
Whate'er the weather:
Yet leave them free:
That He and She
Love gladly—not as slaves compell'd together,
An ever-willing Pair.