Classic Poem

Let mother Earth now decke her selfe in flowers,
To see her off-spring seeke a good increase,
Where iustest loue doth vanquish Cupid's powers,
And warre of thoughts is swallowed vp in peace,
Which neuer may decrease,
But, like the turtles faire,
Liue one in two, a well-vnited paire;
Which that no chance may staine,
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

O heau'n, awake, shew forth thy stately face;
Let not these slumbring clouds thy beauties hide,
But with thy cheerefull presence helpe to grace
The honest Bridegroome and the bashfull Bride;
Whose loues may euer bide,
Like to the elme and vine,
With mutuall embracements them to twyne;
In which delightfull paine,
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

Yee Muses all, which chaste affects allow,
And haue to Thyrsis shewed your secret skill,
To this chaste loue your sacred fauours bow,
And so to him and her your gifts distill,
That they all vice may kill,
And, like to lillies pure,
May please all eyes, and spotlesse may endure,
Where that all blisse may raigne:
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

Yee Nymphes which in the waters empire haue,
Since Thyrsis' musicke oft doth yeeld you praise,
Grant to the thing which we for Thyrsis craue;
Let one time — but long first — close vp their daies,
One graue their bodies seaze;
And like two riuers sweet,
When they, though diuers, doe together meet,
One streame both streames containe:
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

Pan, father Pan, the god of silly sheepe,
Whose care is cause that they in number grow,
Haue much more care of them that them doe keepe —
Since from these good the others' good doth flow —
And make their issue show
In number like the heard
Of yonglings, which thy selfe with loue hast reard;
Or like the drops of raine,
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

Vertue, if not a God, yet God's chiefe part,
Be thou the knot of this their open vow,
That still he be her head, she be his heart;
He leane to her, she vnto him doe bow,
Each other still allow;
Like oke and mistletoe,
Her strength from him, his praise from her doe growe:
In which most louely traine,
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

But thou, foule Cupid, sire to lawlesse lust,
Be thou farre hence with thy empoyson'd dart,
Which, though of glittering golde, shall here take rust,
Where simple loue, which chastnesse doth impart,
Auoides thy hurtfull art;
Not needing charming skill,
Such mindes with sweet affections for to fill;
Which being pure and plaine,
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

All churlish words, shrewd answers, crabbed lookes,
All priuatenesse, selfe-seeking, inward spite,
All waywardnesse which nothing kindly brookes,
All strife for toyes and clayming master's right,
Be hence aye put to flight,
All stirring husband's hate
Gainst neighbors good for womanish debate,
Be fled, as things most vaine:
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

All peacocke pride, and fruits of peacock's pride,
Longing to be with losse of substance gay;
With retchlessnesse what may the house betide,
So that you may on hyer slippers stay,
For euer hence away:
Yet let not sluttery,
The sinke of filth, be counted huswifery,
But keeping whole your meane,
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

But aboue all, away vile iealousie,
The euill of euils, iust cause to be vniust;
How can he loue suspecting trechery?
How can she loue where loue cannot win trust?
Goe, snake, hide thee in dust,
Ne dare once shew thy face
Where open hearts doe hold so constant place,
That they thy sting restraine:
O Hymen, long their coupled ioyes maintaine!

The Earth is deckt with flowers, the Heau'ns displaid,
Muses grant gifts, Nymphes long and ioyned life,
Pan store of babes, vertue their thoughts well staid;
Cupid's lust gone, and gone is bitter strife.
Happy man, happy wife!
No pride shall them oppresse,
Nor yet shall yeeld to lothsome sluttishnesse,
And iealousie is slaine;
For Hymen will their coupled ioyes maintaine.