 | The Description of the Masqve |  |
EPITHALAMION.
Vp
youthes and virgins, vp, and praise
The god, whose nights out-shine his daies;
Hymen, whose hallowed rites
Could neuer boast of brighter lights:
Whose bands passe libertee.
Two of your troope, that, with the morne were free,
Are, now, wag'd to his warre.
And what they are,
If you'll perfection see,
Your selues must be.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth, thou wished starre.
The god, whose nights out-shine his daies;
Hymen, whose hallowed rites
Could neuer boast of brighter lights:
Whose bands passe libertee.
Two of your troope, that, with the morne were free,
Are, now, wag'd to his warre.
And what they are,
If you'll perfection see,
Your selues must be.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth, thou wished starre.
What ioy, or honors can compare
With holy nuptialls, when they are
Made out of equall parts
Of yeeres, of states, of hands, of hearts?
When, in the happy choyce,
The spouse, and spoused haue the formost voyce!
Such, glad of Hymens warre;
Liue what they are,
And long perfection see:
And such ours bee.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
With holy nuptialls, when they are
Made out of equall parts
Of yeeres, of states, of hands, of hearts?
When, in the happy choyce,
The spouse, and spoused haue the formost voyce!
Such, glad of Hymens warre;
Liue what they are,
And long perfection see:
And such ours bee.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
The solemne state of this one night
Were fit to last an ages light;
But there are rites behind
Haue lesse of state, but more of kind:
Loues wealthy croppe of kisses,
And fruitfull haruest of his mothers blisses.
Sound then to Hymens warre:
That what these are,
Who will perfection see,
May haste to bee.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
Were fit to last an ages light;
But there are rites behind
Haue lesse of state, but more of kind:
Loues wealthy croppe of kisses,
And fruitfull haruest of his mothers blisses.
Sound then to Hymens warre:
That what these are,
Who will perfection see,
May haste to bee.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
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Loues common wealth consists of toyes;
His councell are those antique boyes,
Games, laughter, sports, delights,
That triumph with him on these nights:
To whom we must giue way,
For now their raigne beginnes, and lasts till day.
They sweeten Hymens warre,
And, in that iarre,
Make all, that married bee,
Perfection see.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
His councell are those antique boyes,
Games, laughter, sports, delights,
That triumph with him on these nights:
To whom we must giue way,
For now their raigne beginnes, and lasts till day.
They sweeten Hymens warre,
And, in that iarre,
Make all, that married bee,
Perfection see.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
Why stayes the Bride-grome to inuade
Her, that would be a matron made?
Good-night, whilst yet we may
Good-night, to you a virgin, say:
To morrow, rise the same
Your mother is, and vse a nobler name.
Speed well in Hymen's warre.
That, what you are,
By your perfection, wee
And all may see.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
Her, that would be a matron made?
Good-night, whilst yet we may
Good-night, to you a virgin, say:
To morrow, rise the same
Your mother is, and vse a nobler name.
Speed well in Hymen's warre.
That, what you are,
By your perfection, wee
And all may see.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
To night is Venvs
vigil kept.
This night no Bride-grome euer slept;
And if the faire Bride doo,
The married say, 'tis his fault, too.
Wake then; and let your lights
Wake too: for they'l tell nothing of your nights:
But, that in Hymen's warre,
You perfect are.
And such perfection, wee
Doe pray, should bee.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
This night no Bride-grome euer slept;
And if the faire Bride doo,
The married say, 'tis his fault, too.
Wake then; and let your lights
Wake too: for they'l tell nothing of your nights:
But, that in Hymen's warre,
You perfect are.
And such perfection, wee
Doe pray, should bee.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth thou wished starre.
That, ere the rosy-fingerd morne
Behold nine moones, there may be borne
A babe, t'vphold the fame
Of Radcliffes blood, and Ramsey's name:
That may, in his great seed,
Weare the long honors of his fathers deed.
Such fruits of Hymens warre
Most perfect are;
And all perfection, wee
Wish, you should see.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth, thou wished starre.
Behold nine moones, there may be borne
A babe, t'vphold the fame
Of Radcliffes blood, and Ramsey's name:
That may, in his great seed,
Weare the long honors of his fathers deed.
Such fruits of Hymens warre
Most perfect are;
And all perfection, wee
Wish, you should see.
Shine Hespervs, shine forth, thou wished starre.
| The Description of the Masqve | |