But, like the turtles fair, Live one in two, a well-united pair : O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! O Heaven, awake! show forth thy stately face; Like to the elm and vine, With mutual embracements them to twine : O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! Ye Muses all, which chaste affects allow, And, like to lilies pure, May please all eyes, and spotless may endure O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain! Ye Nymphs which in the waters empire have, Since Thrysis' music oft doth yield you praise, Grant to the thing which we for Thyrsis crave: Let one time-but long first-close up their days, One grave their bodies seize, And like two rivers sweet, When they, though diverse, do together meet, O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! Pan, father Pan, the god of silly sheep, In number like the herd Of younglings which thyself with love hast reared, O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! Virtue-if not a god, yet God's chief part- Like oak and mistletoe, Her strength from him, his praise from her do grow: O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain! But thou, foul Cupid, sire to lawless lust, Not needing charming skill Such minds with sweet affections for to fill ; O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! All churlish words, shrewd answers, crabbèd looks, All waywardness which nothing kindly brooks, 'Gainst neighbours good for womanish debate, O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! All peacock pride, and fruits of peacock's pride, For ever hence away! Yet let not sluttery, The sink of filth, be counted housewif'ry O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! But, above all, away, vile jealousy- How can she love where love can not win trust? Nor dare once show thy face Where open hearts do hold so constant place, O Hymen, long their coupled joys maintain ! The Earth is decked with flowers, the Heavens displayed; Muses grant gifts, Nymphs, long and joined life, Pan, store of babes, Virtue, their thoughts well stayed ; Cupid's lust gone, and gone is bitter strife. Happy man, happy wife! No pride shall them oppress, Nor yet shall yield to loathsome sluttishness; For Hymen will their coupled joys maintain. (Arcadia: Bk. III.) Philomela THE nightingale, as soon as April bringeth While late bare earth, proud of new clothing, springeth, Her thought in tunes expresseth What grief her breast oppresseth For Tereus' force on her chaste will prevailing. O Philomela fair, O take some gladness, That here is juster cause of plaintful sadness : Thine earth now springs, mine fadeth ; Thy thorn without, my thorn my heart invadeth. Alas, she hath no other cause of anguish Cannot have to content me, Have more cause to lament me, Since wanting is more woe than too much having. Song (To the Tune of a Neopolitan Villanelle) ALL my sense thy sweetness gainèd,— Now thy sweetness sour is deemed, Fa la la leridan dan dan dan deridan, No more in thy sweetness glory; Dan dan dan deridan deridan dei : Woe to me, alas, she weepeth ;— Sweetness, sweetly pardon folly; Dan dan dan deridan deridan dei: And all my life I will confess |