 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
To Mr. J. P. on his Marriage.
Joy to you, Sir, and to your Bride the same,
For both the kindest of my Wishes claim:
Permit me, a Relation and a Friend,
With hailing Verse your Marriage to attend.
For both the kindest of my Wishes claim:
Permit me, a Relation and a Friend,
With hailing Verse your Marriage to attend.
No Medium in the Wedded Life we find,
To Grief or Pleasure, in Extremes, consign'd.
Happy or wretched they must still remain,
Ordain'd to bless, or curse the binding Chain.
Where rigid Pow'r th' unwilling Couple joins,
Or Love is barter'd for the Dust of Mines;
Contentious Brawls and frequent Jars arise,
And cold Indiff'rence poisons all their Joys.
No solid Comfort, no becalming Ease,
Can e'er proceed from Marriages like these.
But, blest are they, whose Inclination ties
The friendly Knot, their Union never dies.
When the fond Pair with equal Passion burn,
And mutually the gentle Flame return.
A sweet Compliance soft Delight supplies
And Time unheeded swift and pleasant flies.
Each Look, each Action, does engaging prove,
And ev'ry thing will please from them we love.
To Grief or Pleasure, in Extremes, consign'd.
Happy or wretched they must still remain,
Ordain'd to bless, or curse the binding Chain.
Where rigid Pow'r th' unwilling Couple joins,
Or Love is barter'd for the Dust of Mines;
150
And cold Indiff'rence poisons all their Joys.
No solid Comfort, no becalming Ease,
Can e'er proceed from Marriages like these.
But, blest are they, whose Inclination ties
The friendly Knot, their Union never dies.
When the fond Pair with equal Passion burn,
And mutually the gentle Flame return.
A sweet Compliance soft Delight supplies
And Time unheeded swift and pleasant flies.
Each Look, each Action, does engaging prove,
And ev'ry thing will please from them we love.
From mutual Cares a mutual Blessing flows,
And the firm Union more cemented grows,
That yours will e'er relax you need not fear,
For it is founded on a Love sincere.
Both shall, since each is made the other's Choice,
In the dear Object of your Vows rejoice;
And Heav'n, indulgent to your tender Care,
Shall smiling bless the fondly-loving Pair.
And the firm Union more cemented grows,
That yours will e'er relax you need not fear,
For it is founded on a Love sincere.
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In the dear Object of your Vows rejoice;
And Heav'n, indulgent to your tender Care,
Shall smiling bless the fondly-loving Pair.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |