Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Now, when the glory of the next dayes light
Had chas'd the shadowes of the tedious night,
Then coupling Hymen with his nuptiall bands,
And golden Fetters, had conjoyn'd their hands;
Then jolly welcome had to every Guest,
Expos'd the bounty of the mariage Feast,
Their now appeased stomacks did enlarge
Their captive tongues, with power to discharge
And quit their Table-duty, and disburse
Their store of enterchangeable discourse,
Th'ingenious Bridegroome turn'd his rolling eyes
Upon his guard of Bridemen, and applies
Espeech to them: And, whil'st that every man
Lent if his attentive eare, he thus began;

My tongue's in labour, and my thoughts abound;
I have a doubtfull Riddle, to propound;
Which if your joyned wisdomes can discover,
Before our seven dayes feasting be past over;
Then, thirty Sheets, and thirty new supplies
Of Raiment shall be your deserved prize:
But if the seven dayes feast shall be dissolv'd,
Before my darkned Riddle be resolv'd,

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Ye shall be all engaged to resigne
The like to me, the vict'rie being mine:
So said; the Bridemen, whose exchanged eyes
Found secret hopes of conquest, thus replies:

Propound thy Riddle: Let thy tongue dispatch
Her cloudy errand: We accept the match:
With that, the hopefull Challenger convai'd
His Riddle to their hearkning eares, and said;