The Complete Works of Sir Philip Sidney :: :: University of Virginia Library

Lett Mother Earthe, now deck her self in flowers,
To see her Ofspring seeke a good encrease,
Where justest Love dothe vanquish Cupids powers,
And Warre of thoughtes ys swallowed up in peace,
Whiche never may decrease:
But like the Turtles fayre
Live One in Twoo, a well united payre,
Whiche, that no Chaunce may stayne,
O Hymen longe theyre Cupled joyes mentayne.

230

O Heaven awake, shewe forthe thy stately face,
Lett not these slombering Clowdes thy Beutyes hyde,
But with thy Cherefull presence help to grace,
The honest Brydegrome and the basshfull Bryde,
Whose loves may ever byde.
Like to the Elme and Vyne,
With mutuall embracementes them to twyne,
In whiche delightfull payne,
O Himen, long theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

Yee Muses all whiche Chaste effectes allowe,
And have to Lalus shewed youre secrett skill,
To this Chaste Love your sacred favoures bowe,
And so to hym and her youre giftes distill,
That they all Vyce may kill,
And like as Lillyes Pure,
Do please all eyes and spottles do endure,
Where, that, all Blisse may Raygne
O Himen long theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

Yee Nymphes whiche in the Waters empyres have,
Since Lalus Musick ofte dothe yeelde yow prayse,
Graunt to the thinge wch we for Lalus crave
Lett one tyme (but longe firste) Close upp theyre dayes,
One grave theyre bodyes sease
And like to Rivers sweete,
When they through dyvers do togethers meete,
One streame bothe streames conteyne,
O Himen long theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

Pan, father Pan, the god of silly Sheepe,
Whose Care ys Cause that they in nomber growe,
Have muche more Care of them wch them do keepe
Synce from these good, the others good dothe flowe.
And make theyre Issue showe,
In nomber like the hearde,
Of younglinges wch thy self with love hast reard
Or like the Droppes of Rayne,
O Himen longe theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

231

Vertue (yf not a God) yet Goddes cheefe parte,
Bee thow the Knott of this theyre open vowe,
That still hee bee her heade, shee bee his harte,
Hee cleave to her, shee unto hym do bowe.
Eche other still allowe,
Like Oke and Mistelltowe
Her strength from hym, his prayse from her do growe
In wch moste Lovely trayne,
O Himen long theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

But thow fowle Cupid, syer, to Lawless lust
Bee thow farre hence with thy impoysoned Darte,
Which thoughe of glittering golde shall here take Rust,
Where simple Love, whiche Chastenes dothe imparte,
Avoydes the hurtfull Arte
That needing Charming still,
Suche myndes wth sweete affections for to kill
Whiche beeyng pure and playne,
O Himen long theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

All Churlish wordes, shrewde answers, Crabbed Lookes,
All privatenes self seeking Inward spite,
All waywardnes wch nothing kyndely brookes,
All stryfe for Toyes and Clayming Masters Righte,
Bee hence ay putt to flighte,
All sturring Husbandes hate,
Geanst Neighboures good for womanysh debate
Bee fledd, as thinges moste vayne,
O Himen longe theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

All Peacockes pryde, and frutes of Peacockes pryde,
Longing to bee with losse of Substance gay,
With Recklessnes what may thy howse betyde,
So that yowe may on her sure slippers stay
For ever hence away.
Yet lett not Sluttery,
The Sincke of filthe bee Counted huswyfry,
But keeping wholesome meane,
O Himen long theyre Cupled Joyes meyntayne.

232

But above all away vyle Jelosy,
The evill of evills just Cause to bee unjust
Howe can hee Love suspecting Treachery?
Howe can shee Love where Love can not wynn trust?
Goo, Snake hyde thee in Dust
Ne dare once shewe thy face,
Where open hartes do holde so Constant place,
That they thy stinge Restrayne,
O Himen longe theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.

The Earthe ys deckt with flowers, the Heavens displayed,
Muses graunt giftes; Nymphes longe and joyned lyfe,
Pan, store of Babes, Vertue theyre thoughtes well stayde,
Cupids Lust gōn, and, gonn ys bitter stryffe,
Happy Man, Happy Wyfe,
No pryde shall them oppress,
Nor yet shall yeeld to Lothsome sluttishnes,
And Jelosy ys slayne,
For Himen will theyre Cupled Joyes mentayne.