University of Virginia Library

Clad in flow'r-embroider'd veil,
Hail, auspicious morning, hail!
When in Hymen's holy bands
Blooming Emily, the fair,
And Eugenio, happy pair!
Chang'd their hearts, and join'd their hands.
Virgin coldness then relented,
Like the snow before the sun,
Then sweet Emily consented,
Not unwilling, to be won.

AIR.

Ye sons of harmony, prepare
Your hymns to greet this happy pair:
Let the sweet notes, distinctly clear,
In soft divisions melt upon the ear,
Such as may all the tender passions move,
Sooth the rapt soul, and be the food of love.

RECITATIVE.

Hark! the mighty queen of sound
Wakes each instrument around,
The merry pipe, the mellow-breathing lute,
The warbling lyre, the love-lamenting lute:
Now the light fantastic measure
Ravishes our ears with pleasure:
Now the trumpets loud and shrill,
From yon river-circled hill,
With manly notes our hearts inspire,
And emulate the golden lyre;
While the majestic, deep-mouth'd organs blow
In lengthen'd strains magnificently slow,
Divinely sweet, and delicately strong;
Till gently dying by degrees,
Like the last murmurs of the breeze,
Expires the soft-attenuated song:
And at the close of each mellifluous lay,
This verse is sung in honour of the day.

CHORUS.

Happy they as God above
Whom Hymen binds in wreaths of love!
Love's pure flame itself endears,
And brightens with the length of years:
Love contents the humble state,
And show'rs down blessings on the great,
Sooths desires that wildly roll,
And calms the tempests of the soul.

RECITATIVE.

But, lo! sweet Emily, the fair,
And Eugenio, happy pair!
With placid look and graceful mien,
Appear advancing o'er the green:
Mark well the youth's love-darting eye,
Soft-beaming with expressive joy,
To view the object of his wishes near,
Mild as the gentlest season of the year,
Blooming as health, and fresh as early day,
Fair, sweet, and bright as all the flowers of May.
And as, intent upon her charms,
Eugenio woos the damsel to his arms,
Her cheeks, vermilion'd with a lovely blush,
Glow like twin roses on the verdant bush:
While thus, methinks, I hear him say,
‘Come, my fair one, come away;
‘Let us fleeting time improve
‘In the chaste joys of wedded love:
‘I see propitious Hymen stand,
‘His torch bright-blazing in his hand,
‘To light us to the genial bed
‘By the decent Graces spread,
‘Where the rosy-finger'd Hours
‘Scatter never-fading flowers.
‘Love admits not of delay,
‘Haste, my fair one, haste away.’
And you, heav'n-favour'd pair,
Who now the purest pleasures share,
In happy union may you long enjoy
Those heart-felt blandishments that never cloy:
And may kind Heav'n the full abundance pour
Of nuptial blessings in a fruitful shower;
Crown all our wishes with a beauteous race,
That may your bright accomplishments inherit,
The mother's mildness, loveliness, and grace,
The father's honest heart, and sense, and generous spirit:
Like two pure springs whose gentle rills unite,
Long may your stream of life serenely glide,
Thro' verdant vales, and meadows of delight,
Where flow'rs unnumber'd, deckt in beauty's pride,
Blow on the blissful banks, and bloom on either side.
May no rude tempest discompose
Your course of quiet as it flows,
No clouded care, no chilling fear,
Nor anxious murmur hover there;
But mildest zephyrs on the surface play,
And waft each light disquietude away:
Till after all the winding journey past,
You mingle with eternity at last.
That tranquil sea, where sorrows are no more,
No storm-vext billows lash the peaceful shore:
There in heav'n's bliss embosom'd may you prove,
The height of endless happiness and love.