What wondrous favours God doth here bequeath you,
How many hundred thousands are beneath you,
And view with admiration your great bliss,
Then with yourself you may imagine this:
"Tis but a blast, or transitory shade,
Which in the turning of a hand may fade-
Honours, which you yourself did never win,
And might (had God been pleas'd) another's been ;
And think, if shadows have such majesty,
What are the glories of eternity.
Then by this image of a fight on sea,
Wherein you heard the thund'ring cannons play, And saw flames breaking from their murthering throats,
Which in true skirmish fling resistless shots,
Your wisdom may (and will no doubt) begin
To cast what peril a poor soldier's in:
You will conceive his miseries and cares,
How many dangers, deaths, and wounds he shares;
Then, though the most pass over, and neglect
That rhetoric will move you to respect them.
And if hereafter you should hap to see
Such mimic apes (that courts' disgraces be),
I mean such chamber-combatants, who never
Wear other helmet than a hat of beaver,
Or ne'er board pinnace but in silken sail,
And in the stead of boisterous shirts of mail
Go arm'd in cambrick, if that such a kite
(I say) should scorn an eagle in your sight,
Your wisdom judge (by this experience) can,
Which hath most worth, hermaphrodite, or man.
The night's strange prospects, made to feed the
With artful fires mounted in the skies,
Graced with horrid claps of sulphury thunders,
May make you mind th’Almighty's greater wonders.
Nor is there any thing, but you may thence
Reap inward gain as well as please the sense.
But pardon me, O fairest! that am bold
My heart thus freely, plainly to unfold:
What though I know, you knew all this before,
My love this shews, and that is something more.
Do not my honest service here disdain :
I am a faithful though an humble swain.
I'm none of those that have the means or place
With shows of cost to do your nuptials grace,
But only, master of mine own desire,
Am hither come with others to admire.
I am not of those Heliconian wits,
Whose pleasing strains the court's known humour fits,
* Strange prospects. Fire-works then exhibited.
But a poor rural shepherd, that for need
Can make sheep music on an oaten reed;
Yet for my love (I'll this be bold to boast)
It is as much to you as his that's most;
Which, since I no way else can now explain,
If you'll in midst of all these glories deign
To lend your ears unto my muse so long,
She shall declare it in a wedding-song.
Epithalamion.
VALENTINE!* good morrow to thee,
Love and service both I owe thee;
And would wait upon thy pleasure,
But I cannot be at leisure e;
For I owe this day, as debtor
To a thousand times thy better.
Hymen now will have effected
What hath been so long expected:
Thame! thy Mistress, now unwedded,
Soon must with a Prince be bedded;
If thou'lt see her virgin ever,
Come and do it now, or never.
Where art thou, O fair Aurora ?
Call in Ver and lady Flora ;
And you, daughters of the morning!
your neat'st and fitt'st adorning,
Clear your foreheads and be sprightful,
That this day may seem delightful.
* Valentine. The marriage was celebrated on the 14th Feb.
All you nymphs that use the mountains
Or delight in groves and fountains!
Shepherdesses, you that dally,
Either upon hill or valley!
And you daughters of the bower
That acknowledge Vesta's power!
you sleep too long; awake ye! See how Time doth overtake ye. Hark! the lark is up and singeth, And the house with echoes ringeth. Precious hours why neglect ye, Whilst affairs thus expect ye?
Come away! upon my blessing,
The bride-chamber lies to dressing.
ways with leaves of roses;
Some make garlands, some make posies : "Tis a favour, and't may joy you
That your mistress will employ you.
Where's Sabrina,* with her daughters
That do sport about her waters,
Those that with their locks of amber
Haunt the fruitful hills of +Camber?
We must have, to fill the number,
All the nymphs of Trent and Humber.
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