EPITHALAMION.
O you that on the double mountaine dwel,
And daily drink of the Castalian Well;
If any Muse among your sacred number,
Haue power to waken, from a dying slumber,
A dull conceit, drown'd in a gulph of griefe,
In haplesse ruine, hopelesse of reliefe:
Vouchsafe (sweet sisters) to assist me so,
That for a time I may forget my woe,
Or (at the least) my sad thoughts so beguile,
That sighes may sing, and teares themselues may smile,
While I in honor of a happy choice,
To chearefull Layes tune my lamenting voice;
Making the mountaines and the vallies ring,
And all the young-men and the maidens sing,
All earthly ioyes, and all heauens blisse beside
Our ioyfull Bridegroome, and his gentle Bride.
Then, peace complaint, and pack thee hence proud sorrow,
I must goe bid my merry Greeks good morrowe:
Good morrow, Gallants: thus begins our game:
What? fast asleepe? fie sluggards, fie for shame,
For shame shake off this humor from your eies.
You haue ore-slept: 'tis more then time to rise.
Behold, already in the ruddy East
Bright Ericyna, with the beaming crest
Calles vp Aurora and she rose-like blushing,
From aged Tythons cold armes, quickly rushing,
Opens the wide gates of the welcome day,
And with a becke summons the Sunne away:
Who quickly mounting on his glistering chaire,
Courseth his nimble Coursers through the aire,
With swifter pase then when he did pursue
The Laurel-changed Nymph that from him flew;
Fearing perhaps (as well he might) to misse
A rarer obiect, then those loues of his.
Such, as at sight (but for the kind respect
Of loyall frendship, to a deare elect
Child of the Muses) had with hotter fier
Inflam'd the wanton Delphian Gods desier,
Altars adorn'd with blisse-presaging lights
In saffron roabes, and all his solemne rites
Thrice-sacred Hymen shall with smiling cheare
Vnite, in one, two Turtles louing deare,
And chaine with holy charmes their willing hands,
Whose harts are linkt in loues eternall bands.
Milde vertues mirror, Beauties monument,
Adorned with heauens praise, and earths prrfection:
Receiue (I pray you) with a brow vnbent,
This petty pledge of my poore pure affection,
Had I the Indians golden heapes and hoordes,
A richer present would I then present you.
Now such poore fruites as my bare field affoordes
Instead of those, here haue I rudely sent you.
Count not the gifts worth, but the giuers will:
Oft mighty Princes haue accepted small things;
Like as the aire all empty parts doth fill,
So perfect frendship doth supply for all things.
O be it euer so: so neuer smart
Nor teene shall trouble the Soon calm in hart.
Mind first your Maker in your dayes of youth:
Aske grace of him of him to gouerne well your waies:
Reuerence your Husband with vnspotted truth:
Take heede of pride, the poison of our daies:
Hant not with those that are of light report:
Auoid the vile charmes of vnchaste temptation.
Neuer lend looke to the lasciuious sort:
Impeach not any's honest reputation:
Comfort the poore, but not beyond your power:
Ouer your houshold haue a needfull care:
Lay hold on Times locke, lose not any hower:
Spend, but in season; and in season spare:
Ofspring, if any heauen vouchsafe to send you,
Nurture them godly; and good end attend you.
So shall your life in blessings still abound,
So from all harme th'almightie hand shall shend you,
So with cleare honour shall your head be crownd,
So for your virtue shall the wise commend you,
So shall you shun vile slanders blasting voice,
So shall you long inioy your louing Pheare,
So shall you both be blessed in your choice,
So to each other be you euer deare.
O! be it euer so in euery part,
That nought may trouble the Soon calm in hart.
FINIS.
