Sixe idillia that is, sixe small, or petty poems, or aeglogves, chosen out of the right famous Sicilian Poet Theocritus, and translated into English verse |
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| THE XVIII. JDILLION.
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 | Sixe idillia |  |
THE XVIII. JDILLION.
Hellens Epithalamion.
Argument.
Twelue noble Spartane Virgins are brought in singing in the euening at the chamber doore of Menelaus and Helena, on their wedding daie. And first they prettily iest with the Bridegroom, then they praise Hellen, lastly they wish them both ioie of their marriage. Therefore this Idilliō is entitled Hellens Epithalamiō, that is, Hellens wedding song.
In Sparta long agoe, where Menelaus wore the crowne,
Twelue noble Virgins, daughters to the greatest in the towne,
All dight vpon their haire in Crowtoe garlands fresh and greene,
Danst at the chamber doore of Helena the Queene,
What time this Menelay, the younger Sonne of Atreus,
Did marry with this louely daughter of Prince Tyndarus.
And therewithal at eve, a wedding song they iointly sung,
With such a shuffling of their feete, that all the Pallace rung.
Twelue noble Virgins, daughters to the greatest in the towne,
All dight vpon their haire in Crowtoe garlands fresh and greene,
Danst at the chamber doore of Helena the Queene,
What time this Menelay, the younger Sonne of Atreus,
Did marry with this louely daughter of Prince Tyndarus.
And therewithal at eve, a wedding song they iointly sung,
With such a shuffling of their feete, that all the Pallace rung.
Fair Bridegrome, do you sleep? hath slumber al your lims possest?
What, are you drousie? or hath wine your bodie so opprest
That you are gone to bed? for if you needes would take your rest,
You should haue tane a season meete. meane time, till it be daie
Suffer the Bride with vs, and with her mother deere to plaie.
For, Menelaus, shee at euening and at morning tide,
From daie to daie, and yeare to yeare shall be thy louing Bride.
O happie Bridegrome, sure some honest man did sneze to thee
When thou to Sparta came, to meete with such a one as shee.
Among the demi-gods thou only art accounted meete
To be the Sonne in lawe of Joue; for vnderneath one sheete
His daughter lies with thee of al that tread on ground with feet
There is not such a one in Greece now sure sum goodlie thing
Shee will thee beare, if it be like the mother that shee bring.
For we her peeres in age, whose course of life is evne the same,
Who at Eurotas streames, like men are oiled to the game,
And foure times sixtie maides, of all the weemen youth we are,
Of these none wants a fault, if her with Hellen we compare.
Like as the rising Morning shewes a gratefull lightening,
When sacred night is past, and winter nowe lets loose the spring;
So glittering Hellen shinde among the maides, lustie and tal;
As is the furrowe in a field that far out-stretcheth al,
Or in a garden is a Cypres-tree, or in a trace
A steede of Thessalie, so shee to Sparta was a grace.
No damsell with such workes as shee, her baskets vsde to fill,
Nor in a diuerse color'd web, a woofe, of greater skill
Doth cut off from the loome, nor anie hath such songs and laies
Vnto her daintie harpe, in Dians and Mineruas praise
As Hellen hath, in whose bright eies, all Loues and Graces be.
O faire, ô louelie maide, a matrone now is made of thee.
But wee wil evrie spring, vnto the leaues in meadowes goe,
To gather Garlands sweete, and there not with a little woe
Will often thinke of thee, O Hellen, as the sucking Lamms
Desire the strouting baggs, and presence of their tender damms.
We all betimes for thee, a wreath of Melitoe will knit,
And on a shadie Plane, for thee will safelie fasten it.
And all betimes for thee, vnder a shadie Plane below,
Out of a siluer boxe the sweetest ointment will bestowe.
And letters shall bee written in the barke, that men maie see,
And reade, Doe humble reuerence, for J am Hellens tree.
What, are you drousie? or hath wine your bodie so opprest
That you are gone to bed? for if you needes would take your rest,
You should haue tane a season meete. meane time, till it be daie
Suffer the Bride with vs, and with her mother deere to plaie.
For, Menelaus, shee at euening and at morning tide,
From daie to daie, and yeare to yeare shall be thy louing Bride.
O happie Bridegrome, sure some honest man did sneze to thee
When thou to Sparta came, to meete with such a one as shee.
Among the demi-gods thou only art accounted meete
To be the Sonne in lawe of Joue; for vnderneath one sheete
His daughter lies with thee of al that tread on ground with feet
There is not such a one in Greece now sure sum goodlie thing
Shee will thee beare, if it be like the mother that shee bring.
For we her peeres in age, whose course of life is evne the same,
Who at Eurotas streames, like men are oiled to the game,
And foure times sixtie maides, of all the weemen youth we are,
Of these none wants a fault, if her with Hellen we compare.
Like as the rising Morning shewes a gratefull lightening,
When sacred night is past, and winter nowe lets loose the spring;
So glittering Hellen shinde among the maides, lustie and tal;
As is the furrowe in a field that far out-stretcheth al,
Or in a garden is a Cypres-tree, or in a trace
A steede of Thessalie, so shee to Sparta was a grace.
No damsell with such workes as shee, her baskets vsde to fill,
Doth cut off from the loome, nor anie hath such songs and laies
Vnto her daintie harpe, in Dians and Mineruas praise
As Hellen hath, in whose bright eies, all Loues and Graces be.
O faire, ô louelie maide, a matrone now is made of thee.
But wee wil evrie spring, vnto the leaues in meadowes goe,
To gather Garlands sweete, and there not with a little woe
Will often thinke of thee, O Hellen, as the sucking Lamms
Desire the strouting baggs, and presence of their tender damms.
We all betimes for thee, a wreath of Melitoe will knit,
And on a shadie Plane, for thee will safelie fasten it.
And all betimes for thee, vnder a shadie Plane below,
Out of a siluer boxe the sweetest ointment will bestowe.
And letters shall bee written in the barke, that men maie see,
And reade, Doe humble reuerence, for J am Hellens tree.
Sweete Bride, good night, & thou, O happy Bridegroome, now good night,
Latona send you happie issue, who is most of might
In helping youth, and blisfull Venus send you equall loue
Bitwixt you both, and Ioue giue lasting riches from aboue,
Which from your noble selues, vnto your noble impes may fall.
Sleepe on, and breath into your brests desiers mutuall.
But in the morning wake, forget it not in anie wise.
And we wil then returne as soone as anie one shall rise,
And in the chamber stur, and first of all lift vp the hed.
Hymen, O Hymen, now be gladsome at this marrige bed.
Latona send you happie issue, who is most of might
In helping youth, and blisfull Venus send you equall loue
Bitwixt you both, and Ioue giue lasting riches from aboue,
Which from your noble selues, vnto your noble impes may fall.
Sleepe on, and breath into your brests desiers mutuall.
But in the morning wake, forget it not in anie wise.
And we wil then returne as soone as anie one shall rise,
And in the chamber stur, and first of all lift vp the hed.
Hymen, O Hymen, now be gladsome at this marrige bed.
Embleme.
Vsque adeo latet vtilitas.
| Sixe idillia | |