0am_ep.epithalamion.0 1am_ep.epithalamion.1 2am_ep.epithalamion.2 3am_ep.epithalamion.3 4am_ep.epithalamion.4 5am_ep.epithalamion.5 6am_ep.epithalamion.6 7am_ep.epithalamion.7 8am_ep.epithalamion.8 9am_ep.epithalamion.9 10am_ep.epithalamion.10 11am_ep.epithalamion.11 12am_ep.epithalamion.12 13am_ep.epithalamion.13 14am_ep.epithalamion.14 15am_ep.epithalamion.15 16am_ep.epithalamion.16 17am_ep.epithalamion.17 18am_ep.epithalamion.18 19am_ep.epithalamion.19 20am_ep.epithalamion.20 21am_ep.epithalamion.21 22am_ep.epithalamion.22 23am_ep.epithalamion.23 24am_ep.epithalamion.24 25am_ep.epithalamion.25 26am_ep.epithalamion.26 27am_ep.epithalamion.27 28am_ep.epithalamion.28 29am_ep.epithalamion.29 30am_ep.epithalamion.30 31am_ep.epithalamion.31 32am_ep.epithalamion.32 33am_ep.epithalamion.33 34am_ep.epithalamion.34 35am_ep.epithalamion.35 36am_ep.epithalamion.36 37am_ep.epithalamion.37 38am_ep.epithalamion.38 39am_ep.epithalamion.39 40am_ep.epithalamion.40 41am_ep.epithalamion.41 42am_ep.epithalamion.42 43am_ep.epithalamion.43 44am_ep.epithalamion.44 45am_ep.epithalamion.45 46am_ep.epithalamion.46 47am_ep.epithalamion.47 48am_ep.epithalamion.48 49am_ep.epithalamion.49 50am_ep.epithalamion.50 51am_ep.epithalamion.51 52am_ep.epithalamion.52 53am_ep.epithalamion.53 54am_ep.epithalamion.54 55am_ep.epithalamion.55 56am_ep.epithalamion.56 57am_ep.epithalamion.57 58am_ep.epithalamion.58 59am_ep.epithalamion.59 60am_ep.epithalamion.60 61am_ep.epithalamion.61 62am_ep.epithalamion.62 63am_ep.epithalamion.63 64am_ep.epithalamion.64 65am_ep.epithalamion.65 66am_ep.epithalamion.66 67am_ep.epithalamion.67 68am_ep.epithalamion.68 69am_ep.epithalamion.69 70am_ep.epithalamion.70 71am_ep.epithalamion.71 72am_ep.epithalamion.72 73am_ep.epithalamion.73 74am_ep.epithalamion.74 75am_ep.epithalamion.75 76am_ep.epithalamion.76 77am_ep.epithalamion.77 78am_ep.epithalamion.78 79am_ep.epithalamion.79 80am_ep.epithalamion.80 81am_ep.epithalamion.81 82am_ep.epithalamion.82 83am_ep.epithalamion.83 84am_ep.epithalamion.84 85am_ep.epithalamion.85 86am_ep.epithalamion.86 87am_ep.epithalamion.87 88am_ep.epithalamion.88 89am_ep.epithalamion.89 90am_ep.epithalamion.90 91am_ep.epithalamion.91 92am_ep.epithalamion.92 93am_ep.epithalamion.93 94am_ep.epithalamion.94 95am_ep.epithalamion.95 96am_ep.epithalamion.96 97am_ep.epithalamion.97 98am_ep.epithalamion.98 99am_ep.epithalamion.99 100am_ep.epithalamion.100 101am_ep.epithalamion.101 102am_ep.epithalamion.102 103am_ep.epithalamion.103 104am_ep.epithalamion.104 105am_ep.epithalamion.105 106am_ep.epithalamion.106 107am_ep.epithalamion.107 108am_ep.epithalamion.108 109am_ep.epithalamion.109 110am_ep.epithalamion.110 111am_ep.epithalamion.111 112am_ep.epithalamion.112 113am_ep.epithalamion.113 114am_ep.epithalamion.114 115am_ep.epithalamion.115 116am_ep.epithalamion.116 117am_ep.epithalamion.117 118am_ep.epithalamion.118 119am_ep.epithalamion.119 120am_ep.epithalamion.120 121am_ep.epithalamion.121 122am_ep.epithalamion.122 123am_ep.epithalamion.123 124am_ep.epithalamion.124 125am_ep.epithalamion.125 126am_ep.epithalamion.126 127am_ep.epithalamion.127 128am_ep.epithalamion.128 129am_ep.epithalamion.129 130am_ep.epithalamion.130 131am_ep.epithalamion.131 132am_ep.epithalamion.132 133am_ep.epithalamion.133 134am_ep.epithalamion.134 135am_ep.epithalamion.135 136am_ep.epithalamion.136 137am_ep.epithalamion.137 138am_ep.epithalamion.138 139am_ep.epithalamion.139 140am_ep.epithalamion.140 141am_ep.epithalamion.141 142am_ep.epithalamion.142 143am_ep.epithalamion.143 144am_ep.epithalamion.144 145am_ep.epithalamion.145 146am_ep.epithalamion.146 147am_ep.epithalamion.147 148am_ep.epithalamion.148 149am_ep.epithalamion.149 150am_ep.epithalamion.150 151am_ep.epithalamion.151 152am_ep.epithalamion.152 153am_ep.epithalamion.153 154am_ep.epithalamion.154 155am_ep.epithalamion.155 156am_ep.epithalamion.156 157am_ep.epithalamion.157 158am_ep.epithalamion.158 159am_ep.epithalamion.159 160am_ep.epithalamion.160 161am_ep.epithalamion.161 162am_ep.epithalamion.162 163am_ep.epithalamion.163 164am_ep.epithalamion.164 165am_ep.epithalamion.165 166am_ep.epithalamion.166 167am_ep.epithalamion.167 168am_ep.epithalamion.168 169am_ep.epithalamion.169 170am_ep.epithalamion.170 171am_ep.epithalamion.171 172am_ep.epithalamion.172 173am_ep.epithalamion.173 174am_ep.epithalamion.174 175am_ep.epithalamion.175 176am_ep.epithalamion.176 177am_ep.epithalamion.177 178am_ep.epithalamion.178 179am_ep.epithalamion.179 180am_ep.epithalamion.180 181am_ep.epithalamion.181 182am_ep.epithalamion.182 183am_ep.epithalamion.183 184am_ep.epithalamion.184 185am_ep.epithalamion.185 186am_ep.epithalamion.186 187am_ep.epithalamion.187 188am_ep.epithalamion.188 189am_ep.epithalamion.189 190am_ep.epithalamion.190 191am_ep.epithalamion.191 192am_ep.epithalamion.192 193am_ep.epithalamion.193 194am_ep.epithalamion.194 195am_ep.epithalamion.195 196am_ep.epithalamion.196 197am_ep.epithalamion.197 198am_ep.epithalamion.198 199am_ep.epithalamion.199 200am_ep.epithalamion.200 201am_ep.epithalamion.201 202am_ep.epithalamion.202 203am_ep.epithalamion.203 204am_ep.epithalamion.204 205am_ep.epithalamion.205 206am_ep.epithalamion.206 207am_ep.epithalamion.207 208am_ep.epithalamion.208 209am_ep.epithalamion.209 210am_ep.epithalamion.210 211am_ep.epithalamion.211 212am_ep.epithalamion.212 213am_ep.epithalamion.213 214am_ep.epithalamion.214 215am_ep.epithalamion.215 216am_ep.epithalamion.216 217am_ep.epithalamion.217 218am_ep.epithalamion.218 219am_ep.epithalamion.219 220am_ep.epithalamion.220 221am_ep.epithalamion.221 222am_ep.epithalamion.222 223am_ep.epithalamion.223 224am_ep.epithalamion.224 225am_ep.epithalamion.225 226am_ep.epithalamion.226 227am_ep.epithalamion.227 228am_ep.epithalamion.228 229am_ep.epithalamion.229 230am_ep.epithalamion.230 231am_ep.epithalamion.231 232am_ep.epithalamion.232 233am_ep.epithalamion.233 234am_ep.epithalamion.234 235am_ep.epithalamion.235 236am_ep.epithalamion.236 237am_ep.epithalamion.237 238am_ep.epithalamion.238 239am_ep.epithalamion.239 240am_ep.epithalamion.240 241am_ep.epithalamion.241 242am_ep.epithalamion.242 243am_ep.epithalamion.243 244am_ep.epithalamion.244 245am_ep.epithalamion.245 246am_ep.epithalamion.246 247am_ep.epithalamion.247 248am_ep.epithalamion.248 249am_ep.epithalamion.249 250am_ep.epithalamion.250 251am_ep.epithalamion.251 252am_ep.epithalamion.252 253am_ep.epithalamion.253 254am_ep.epithalamion.254 255am_ep.epithalamion.255 256am_ep.epithalamion.256 257am_ep.epithalamion.257 258am_ep.epithalamion.258 259am_ep.epithalamion.259 260am_ep.epithalamion.260 261am_ep.epithalamion.261 262am_ep.epithalamion.262 263am_ep.epithalamion.263 264am_ep.epithalamion.264 265am_ep.epithalamion.265 266am_ep.epithalamion.266 267am_ep.epithalamion.267 268am_ep.epithalamion.268 269am_ep.epithalamion.269 270am_ep.epithalamion.270 271am_ep.epithalamion.271 272am_ep.epithalamion.272 273am_ep.epithalamion.273 274am_ep.epithalamion.274 275am_ep.epithalamion.275 276am_ep.epithalamion.276 277am_ep.epithalamion.277 278am_ep.epithalamion.278 279am_ep.epithalamion.279 280am_ep.epithalamion.280 281am_ep.epithalamion.281 282am_ep.epithalamion.282 283am_ep.epithalamion.283 284am_ep.epithalamion.284 285am_ep.epithalamion.285 286am_ep.epithalamion.286 287am_ep.epithalamion.287 288am_ep.epithalamion.288 289am_ep.epithalamion.289 290am_ep.epithalamion.290 291am_ep.epithalamion.291 292am_ep.epithalamion.292 293am_ep.epithalamion.293 294am_ep.epithalamion.294 295am_ep.epithalamion.295 296am_ep.epithalamion.296 297am_ep.epithalamion.297 298am_ep.epithalamion.298 299am_ep.epithalamion.299 300am_ep.epithalamion.300 301am_ep.epithalamion.301 302am_ep.epithalamion.302 303am_ep.epithalamion.303 304am_ep.epithalamion.304 305am_ep.epithalamion.305 306am_ep.epithalamion.306 307am_ep.epithalamion.307 308am_ep.epithalamion.308 309am_ep.epithalamion.309 310am_ep.epithalamion.310 311am_ep.epithalamion.311 312am_ep.epithalamion.312 313am_ep.epithalamion.313 314am_ep.epithalamion.314 315am_ep.epithalamion.315 316am_ep.epithalamion.316 317am_ep.epithalamion.317 318am_ep.epithalamion.318 319am_ep.epithalamion.319 320am_ep.epithalamion.320 321am_ep.epithalamion.321 322am_ep.epithalamion.322 323am_ep.epithalamion.323 324am_ep.epithalamion.324 325am_ep.epithalamion.325 326am_ep.epithalamion.326 327am_ep.epithalamion.327 328am_ep.epithalamion.328 329am_ep.epithalamion.329 330am_ep.epithalamion.330 331am_ep.epithalamion.331 332am_ep.epithalamion.332 333am_ep.epithalamion.333 334am_ep.epithalamion.334 335am_ep.epithalamion.335 336am_ep.epithalamion.336 337am_ep.epithalamion.337 338am_ep.epithalamion.338 339am_ep.epithalamion.339 340am_ep.epithalamion.340 341am_ep.epithalamion.341 342am_ep.epithalamion.342 343am_ep.epithalamion.343 344am_ep.epithalamion.344 345am_ep.epithalamion.345 346am_ep.epithalamion.346 347am_ep.epithalamion.347 348am_ep.epithalamion.348 349am_ep.epithalamion.349 350am_ep.epithalamion.350 351am_ep.epithalamion.351 352am_ep.epithalamion.352 353am_ep.epithalamion.353 354am_ep.epithalamion.354 355am_ep.epithalamion.355 356am_ep.epithalamion.356 357am_ep.epithalamion.357 358am_ep.epithalamion.358 359am_ep.epithalamion.359 360am_ep.epithalamion.360 361am_ep.epithalamion.361 362am_ep.epithalamion.362 363am_ep.epithalamion.363 364am_ep.epithalamion.364 365am_ep.epithalamion.365 366am_ep.epithalamion.366 367am_ep.epithalamion.367 368am_ep.epithalamion.368 369am_ep.epithalamion.369 370am_ep.epithalamion.370 371am_ep.epithalamion.371 372am_ep.epithalamion.372 373am_ep.epithalamion.373 374am_ep.epithalamion.374 375am_ep.epithalamion.375 376am_ep.epithalamion.376 377am_ep.epithalamion.377 378am_ep.epithalamion.378 379am_ep.epithalamion.379 380am_ep.epithalamion.380 381am_ep.epithalamion.381 382am_ep.epithalamion.382 383am_ep.epithalamion.383 384am_ep.epithalamion.384 385am_ep.epithalamion.385 386am_ep.epithalamion.386 387am_ep.epithalamion.387 388am_ep.epithalamion.388 389am_ep.epithalamion.389 390am_ep.epithalamion.390 391am_ep.epithalamion.391 392am_ep.epithalamion.392 393am_ep.epithalamion.393 394am_ep.epithalamion.394 395am_ep.epithalamion.395 396am_ep.epithalamion.396 397am_ep.epithalamion.397 398am_ep.epithalamion.398 399am_ep.epithalamion.399 400am_ep.epithalamion.400 401am_ep.epithalamion.401 402am_ep.epithalamion.402 403am_ep.epithalamion.403 404am_ep.epithalamion.404 405am_ep.epithalamion.405 406am_ep.epithalamion.406 407am_ep.epithalamion.407 408am_ep.epithalamion.408 409am_ep.epithalamion.409 410am_ep.epithalamion.410 411am_ep.epithalamion.411 412am_ep.epithalamion.412 413am_ep.epithalamion.413 414am_ep.epithalamion.414 415am_ep.epithalamion.415 416am_ep.epithalamion.416 417am_ep.epithalamion.417 418am_ep.epithalamion.418 419am_ep.epithalamion.419 420am_ep.epithalamion.420 421am_ep.epithalamion.421 422am_ep.epithalamion.422 423am_ep.epithalamion.423 424am_ep.epithalamion.424 425am_ep.epithalamion.425 426am_ep.epithalamion.426 427am_ep.epithalamion.427 428am_ep.epithalamion.428 429am_ep.epithalamion.429 430am_ep.epithalamion.430 431am_ep.epithalamion.431 432am_ep.epithalamion.432 433am_ep.epithalamion.433
Epithalamion.
[1]
YEYe learned sisters which hauehave oftentimes
beene to me ayding, others to adorne:
Whom ye thought worthy of your gracefull rymes,
That eueneven the greatest did not greatly scorne
To heare theyr names sung in your simple layes,
But ioyedjoyed in theyr prayse.
And when ye list your owne mishaps to mourne,
Which death, or louelove, or fortunes wreck did rayse,
Your string could soone to sadder tenor turne,
And teach the woods and waters to lament
Your dolefull dreriment.
Now lay those sorrowfull complaints aside,
And hauinghaving all your heads with girland crownd,
Helpe me mine owne louesloves prayses to resound,
Ne let the same of any be enuideenvide,
So Orpheus did for his owne bride,
So I vntounto my selfe alone will sing,
The woods shall to me answer and my Eccho ring.
[2]
EArlyEarly before the worlds light giuinggiving lampe,
His golden beame vponupon the hils doth spred,
HauingHaving disperst the nights vnchearefullunchearefull dampe,
Doe ye awake and with fresh lusty hed,
Go to the bowre of my belouedbeloved louelove,
My truest turtle douedove
Bid her awake; for Hymen is awake,
And long since ready forth his maske to mouemove,
With his bright Tead that flames with many a flake,
And many a bachelor to waite on him,
In theyr fresh garments trim.
Bid her awake therefore and soone her dight,
For lo the wished day is come at last,
That shall for al the paynes and sorrowes past,
Pay to her vsuryusury of long delight,
And whylest she doth her dight,
Doe ye to her of ioyjoy and solace sing,
That all the woods may answer and your eccho ring.
[3]
BRingBring with you all the Nymphes that you can heare
both of the riuersrivers and the forrests greene:
And of the sea that neighbours to her neare,
Al with gay girlands goodly wel beseene.
And let them also with them bring in hand,
Another gay girland
For my fayre louelove of lillyes and of roses,
Bound truelouetruelove wize with a blew silke riband.
And let them make great store of bridale poses,
And let them eeke bring store of other flowers
To deck the bridale bowers.
And let the ground whereas her foot shall tread,
For feare the stones her tender foot should wrong
Be strewed with fragrant flowers all along,
And diapred lyke the discolored mead.
Which done, doe at her chamber dore awayt,
For she will waken strayt,
The whiles doe ye this song vntounto her sing,
The woods shall to you answer and your Eccho ring.
[4]
YEYe Nymphes of Mulla which with carefull heed,
The siluersilver scaly trouts doe tend full well,
and greedy pikes which vseuse therein to feed,
(Those trouts and pikes all others doo excell)
And ye likewise which keepe the rushy lake,
Where none doo fishes take.
Bynd vpup the locks the which hang scatterd light,
And in his waters which your mirror make,
Behold your faces as the christall bright,
That when you come whereas my louelove doth lie,
No blemish she may spie.
And eke ye lightfoot mayds which keepe the deredore,
That on the hoary mountayne vseuse to towre,
And the wylde wolueswolves which seeke them to deuouredevoure,
With your steele darts doo chace frófrom comming neer
Be also present heere,
To helpe to decke her and to help to sing,
That all the woods may answer and your eccho ring.
[5]
WAkeWake now my louelove, awake; for it is time,
The Rosy Morne long since left Tithones bed,
All ready to her siluersilver coche to clyme,
And Phœbus gins to shew his glorious hed.
Hark how the cheerefull birds do chaunt theyr laies
And carroll of louesloves praise.
The merry Larke hir mattins sings aloft,
The thrush replyes, the Mauis descant playes,
The Ouzell shrills, the Ruddock warbles soft,
So goodly all agree with sweet consent,
To this dayes merriment.
Ah my deere louelove why doe ye sleepe thus long,
When meeter were that ye should now awake,
T’awayt the comming of your ioyousjoyous make,
And hearken to the birds louelearnedlovelearned song,
The deawy leauesleaves among.
For they of ioyjoy and pleasance to you sing,
That all the woods them answer &and theyr eccho ring.
[6]
MYMy louelove is now awake out of her dreame,
and her fayre eyes like stars that dimmed were
With darksome cloud, now shew theyr goodly beams
More bright then Hesperus his head doth rere.
Come now ye damzels, daughters of delight,
Helpe quickly her to dight,
But first come ye fayre houres which were begot
In IouesJoves sweet paradice, of Day and Night,
Which doe the seasons of the yeare allot,
And al that euerever in this world is fayre
Doe make and still repayre.
And ye three handmayds of the Cyprian Queene,
The which doe still adorne her beauties pride,
Helpe to addorne my beautifullest bride
And as ye her array, still throw betweene
Some graces to be seene,
And as ye vseuse to Venus, to her sing,
The whiles the woods shal answer &and your eccho ring
[7]
NOwNow is my louelove all ready forth to come,
Let all the virgins therefore well awayt,
And ye fresh boyes that tend vponupon her groome
Prepare your seluesselves; for he is comming strayt.
Set all your things in seemely good aray
Fit for so ioyfulljoyfull day,
The ioyfulstjoyfulst day that euerever sunne did see
Faire Sun, shew forth thy fauourablefavourable ray,
And let thy lifull heat not feruentfervent be
For feare of burning her sunshyny face,
Her beauty to disgrace.
O fayrest Phœbus, father of the Muse,
If euerever I did honour thee aright,
Or sing the thing, that mote thy mind delight,
Doe not thy seruantsservants simple boone refuse,
But let this day let this one day be myne,
Let all the rest be thine.
Then I thy soueraynesoverayne prayses loud wil sing,
That all the woods shal answer and theyr eccho ring.
[8]
HArkeHarke how the Minstrels gin to shrill aloud,
Their merry Musick that resounds from far,
The pipe, the tabor, and the trembling Croud,
That well agree withouten breach or iarjar.
But most of all the Damzels doe delite,
When they their tymbrels smyte,
And thereunto doe daunce and carrol sweet,
That all the sences they doe rauishravish quite,
The whyles the boyes run vpup and downe the street,
Crying aloud with strong confused noyce,
As if it were one voyce.
Hymen iojo Hymen, Hymen they do shout,
That eueneven to the heauensheavens theyr shouting shrill
Doth reach, and all the firmament doth fill,
To which the people standing all about,
As in approuanceapprovance doe thereto applaud
And loud aduaunceadvaunce her laud,
And euermoreevermore they Hymen Hymen sing,
that al the woods them answer and theyr eccho ring.
[9]
LOeLoe where she comes along with portly pace,
Lyke Phœbe from her chamber of the East,
Arysing forth to run her mighty race,
Clad all in white, that seemes a virgin best.
So well it her beseemes that ye would weene
Some angell she had beene.
Her long loose yellow locks lyke golden wyre,
Sprinckled with perle, and perling flowres a tweene,
Doe lyke a golden mantle her attyre,
And being crowned with a girland greene,
Seeme lyke some mayden Queene,
Her modest eyes abashed to behold
So many gazers, as on her do stare,
VponUpon the lowly ground affixed are.
Ne dare lift vpup her countenance too bold,
But blush to heare her prayses sung so loud,
So farre from being proud.
Nathlesse doe ye still loud her prayses sing,
That all the woods may answer and your eccho ring.
[10]
TEllTell me ye merchants daughters did ye see
So fayre a creature in your towne before,
So sweet, so louelylovely, and so mild as she,
Adornd with beautyes grace and vertues store,
Her goodly eyes lyke Saphyres shining bright,
Her forehead yuoryyvory white,
Her cheekes lyke apples which the sun hath rudded,
Her lips lyke cherryes charming men to byte,
Her brest like to a bowle of creame vncruddeduncrudded,
Her paps lyke lyllies budded,
Her snowie necke lyke to a marble towre,
And all her body like a pallace fayre,
Ascending vppeuppe with many a stately stayre,
To honors seat and chastities sweet bowre.
Why stand ye still ye virgins in amaze,
VponUpon her so to gaze,
Whiles ye forget your former lay to sing,
To which the woods did answer and your eccho ring
[11]
BVtBvtBUtBut if ye saw that which no eyes can see,
The inward beauty of her liuelylively spright,
Garnisht with heauenlyheavenly guifts of high degree,
Much more then would ye wonder at that sight,
And stand astonisht lyke to those which red
Medusaes mazeful hed.
There dwels sweet louelove and constant chastity,
VnspottedUnspotted fayth and comely womanhood,
Regard of honour and mild modesty,
There vertue raynes as Queene in royal throne,
And giuethgiveth lawes alone.
The which the base affections doe obay,
And yeeld theyr seruicesservices vntounto her will,
Ne thought of thing vncomelyuncomely euerever may
Thereto approch to tempt her mind to ill.
Had ye once seene these her celestial threasures,
And vnreuealedunrevealed pleasures,
Then would ye wonder and her prayses sing,
That al the woods should answer and your echo ring.
[12]
OPenOpen the temple gates vntounto my louelove,
Open them wide that she may enter in,
And all the postes adorne as doth behouebehove,
And all the pillours deck with girlands trim,
For to recyuerecyve this Saynt with honour dew,
That commeth in to you,
With trembling steps and humble reuerencereverence,
She commeth in, before th’almighties vew,
Of her ye virgins learne obedience,
When so ye come into those holy places,
To humble your proud faces
Bring her vpup to th’high altar that she may,
The sacred ceremonies there partake,
The which do endlesse matrimony make,
And let the roring Organs loudly play;
The praises of the Lord in liuelylively notes,
The whiles with hollow throates.
The Choristers the ioyousjoyous Antheme sing,
That al the woods may answere and their eccho ring
[13]
Behold whiles she before the altar stands
Hearing the holy priest that to her speakes
And blesseth her with his two happy hands,
How the red roses flush vpup in her cheekes,
And the pure snow with goodly vermill stayne,
Like crimsin dyde in grayne,
That eueneven th’Angels which continually,
About the sacred Altare doe remaine,
Forget their seruiceservice and about her fly,
Ofte peeping in her face that seemes more fayre,
The more they on it stare.
But her sad eyes still fastened on the ground,
Are gouernedgoverned with goodly modesty,
That suffers not one looke to glaunce awry,
Which may let in a little thought vnsowndunsownd,
Why blush ye louelove to giuegive to me your hand,
The pledge of all our band,
Sing ye sweet Angels Alleluya sing,
That all the woods may answere and your eccho ring
[14]
NOwNoww al is done; bring home the bride againe,
bring home the triumph of our victory,
Bring home with you the glory of her gaine,
With ioyancejoyance bring her and with iollityjollity.
NeuerNever had man more ioyfulljoyfull day then this,
Whom heauenheaven would heape with blis.
Make feast therefore now all this liuelive long day,
This day for euerever to me holy is,
Poure out the wine without restraint or stay,
Poure not by cups, but by the belly full,
Poure out to all that wull,
And sprinkle all the postes and wals with wine,
That they may sweat, and drunken be withall.
Crowne ye God Bacchus with a coronall,
And Hymen also crowne with wreathes of vine,
And let the Graces daunce vntounto the rest;
For they can doo it best:
The whiles the maydens doe theyr carroll sing,
To which the woods shal answer &and theyr eccho ring.
[15]
RIngRing ye the bels, ye yong men of the towne,
And leaueleave your wonted labors for this day:
This day is holy; doe ye write it dovvnedowne,
that ye for euerever it remember may.
This day the sunne is in his chiefest hight,
With Barnaby the bright,
From whence declining daily by degrees,
He somewhat loseth of his heat and light,
When once the Crab behind his back he sees.
But for this time it ill ordained was,
To chose the longest day in all the yeare,
And shortest night, when longest fitter weare:
Yet neuernever day so long, but late would passe.
Ring ye the bels, to make it weare away,
And bonefiers make all day,
And daunce about them, and about them sing:
that all the woods may answer, and your eccho ring.
[16]
AHAh when will this long vvearyweary day hauehave end,
and lende me leaueleave to come vntounto my louelove?
HovvHow slovvlyslowly do the houres theyr numbers spend?
How slowly does sad Time his feathers mouemove?
Hast thee O fayrest Planet to thy home
Within the Westerne fome:
Thy tyred steedes long since hauehave need of rest.
Long though it be, at last I see it gloome,
And the bright eueningevening star with golden creast
Appeare out of the East.
Fayre childe of beauty, glorious lampe of louelove
That all the host of heauenheaven in rankes doost lead,
And guydest louerslovers through the nights dread,
How chearefully thou lookest from aboueabove,
And seemst to laugh atweene thy twinkling light
As ioyingjoying in the sight
Of these glad many which for ioyjoy doe sing,
That all the woods them answer and their echo ring.
[17]
Now ceasse ye damsels your delights forepast;
Enough is it, that all the day was youres:
Now day is doen, and night is nighing fast:
Now bring the Bryde into the brydall boures.
Now night is come, now soone her disaray,
And in her bed her lay;
Lay her in lillies and in violets,
And silken courteins ouerover her display,
And odourd sheetes, and Arras couerletscoverlets,
Behold how goodly my faire louelove does ly
In proud humility;
Like vntounto Maia, when as IoueJove her tooke,
In Tempe, lying on the flowry gras,
Twixt sleepe and wake, after she weary was,
With bathing in the Acidalian brooke
Now it is night, ye damsels may be gon,
And leaueleave my louelove alone,
And leaueleave likewise your former lay to sing:
The woods no more shal answere, nor your echo ring
[18]
NOwNow welcome night, thou night so long expected,
that long daies labour doest at last defray,
And all my cares, which cruell louelove collected,
Hast sumd in one, and cancelled for aye:
Spread thy broad wing ouerover my louelove and me,
that no man may vsus see,
And in thy sable mantle vsus enwrap,
From feare of perrill and foule horror free.
Let no false treason seeke vsus to entrap,
Nor any dread disquiet once annoy
the safety of our ioyjoy:
But let the night be calme and quietsome,
Without tempestuous storms or sad afray:
Lyke as when IoueJove with fayre Alcmena lay,
When he begot the great Tirynthian groome:
Or lyke as when he with thy selfe did lie,
And begot MaiestyMajesty.
And let the mayds and yongmen cease to sing:
Ne let the woods them answer, nor theyr eccho ring.
[19]
LEtLet no lamenting cryes, nor dolefull teares,
Be heard all night within nor yet without:
Ne let false whispers breeding hidden feares,
Breake gentle sleepe with misconceiuedmisconceived dout.
Let no deluding dreames, nor dreadful sights
Make sudden sad affrights;
Ne let housefyres, nor lightnings helpelesse harmes,
Ne let the Ponke, nor other euillevill sprights,
Ne let mischiuousmischivous witches with theyr charmes,
Ne let hob Goblins, names whose sence we see not,
Fray vsus with things that be not.
Let not the shriech Oule, nor the Storke be heard:
Nor the night RauenRaven that still deadly yels,
Nor damned ghosts cald vpup with mighty spels,
Nor griesly vultures make vsus once affeard:
Ne let th’unpleasant Quyre of Frogs still croking
Make vsus to wish theyr choking.
Let none of these theyr drery accents sing;
Ne let the woods them answer, nor theyr eccho ring.
[20]
B Vtvtut let stil Silence trew night watches keepe,
That sacred peace may in assurance rayne,
And tymely sleep, when it is tyme to sleepe,
May poureponre his limbs forth on your pleasant playne,
The whiles an hundred little winged louesloves,
Like diuersdivers fethered douesdoves,
Shall fly and flutter round about your bed,
And in the secret darke, that none reprouesreproves,
Their prety stealthes shal worke, &and snares shal spread
To filch away sweet snatches of delight,
Conceald through couertcovert night.
Ye sonnes of Venus, play your sports at will,
For greedy pleasure, carelesse of your toyes,
Thinks more vponupon her paradise of ioyesjoyes,
Then what ye do, albe it good or ill.
All night therefore attend your merry play,
For it will soone be day:
Now none doth hinder you, that say or sing,
Ne will the woods now answer, nor your Eccho ring.
[21]
WHoWho is the same, which at my window peepes?
Or whose is that faire face, that shines so bright,
Is it not Cinthia, she that neuernever sleepes,
But walkes about high heauenheaven al the night?
O fayrest goddesse, do thou not enuyenvy
My louelove with me to spy:
For thou likewise didst louelove, though now vnthoughtunthought,
And for a fleece of woll, which priuilyprivily,
The Latmian shephard once vntounto thee brought,
His pleasures with thee wrought.
Therefore to vsus be fauorablefavorable now;
And sith of wemens labours thou hast charge,
And generation goodly dost enlarge,
Encline thythey will t’effect our wishfull vow,
And the chast wombe informe with timely seed,
That may our comfort breed:
Till which we cease our hopefull hap to sing,
Ne let the woods vsus answere, nor our Eccho ring.
[22]
ANdAnd thou great IunoJuno, which with awful might
the lawes of wedlock still dost patronize,
And the religion of the faith first plight
With sacred rites hast taught to solemnize:
and eeke for comfort often called art
Of women in their smart,
Eternally bind thou this louelylovely band,
And all thy blessings vntounto vsus impart.
And thou glad Genius, in whose gentle hand,
The bridale bowre and geniall bed remaine,
Without blemish or staine,
And the sweet pleasures of theyr louesloves delight
With secret ayde doest succour and supply,
Till they bring forth the fruitfull progeny,
Send vsus the timely fruit of this same night.
And thou fayre Hebe, and thou Hymen free,
Grant that it may so be.
Til which we cease your further prayse to sing,
Ne any woods shal answer, nor your Eccho ring.
[23]
ANdAnd ye high heauensheavens, the temple of the gods,
In which a thousand torches flaming bright
Doe burne, that to vsus wretched earthly clods:
In dreadful darknesse lend desired light;
And all ye powers which in the same remayne,
More then we men can fayne,
Poure out your blessing on vsus plentiously,
And happy influence vponupon vsus raine,
That we may raise a large posterity,
Which from the earth, which they may long possesse,
With lasting happinesse,
VpUp to your haughty pallaces may mount,
And for the guerdon of theyr glorious merit
May heauenlyheavenly tabernacles there inherit,
Of blessed Saints for to increase the count.
So let vsus rest, sweet louelove, in hope of this,
And cease till then our tymely ioyesjoyes to sing,
The woods no more vsus answer, nor our eccho ring.
[24]
SOngSong made in lieu of many ornaments,
With which my louelove should duly hauehave bene dect,
Which cutting off through hasty accidents,
Ye would not stay your dew time to expect,
But promist both to recompens,
Be vntounto her a goodly ornament,
And for short time an endlesse moniment.
FINIS
67. dere] Grossart; dore 1595;
356. poure] this edn.; ponre 1595;
385. thy] 1611; they 1595;
Building display . . .
Re-selecting textual changes . . .

Introduction

The toggles above every page allow you to determine both the degree and the kind of editorial intervention present in the text as you read it. They control, as well, the display of secondary materials—collational notes, glosses, and links to commentary.

Textual Changes

The vagaries of early modern printing often required that lines or words be broken. Toggling Modern Lineation on will reunite divided words and set errant words in their lines.

Off: That a large share it hewd out of the rest, (blest. And glauncing downe his shield, from blame him fairely (FQ I.ii.18.8-9) On: That a large share it hewd out of the rest, And glauncing downe his shield, from blame him fairely blest.

Toggling Expansions on will undo certain early modern abbreviations.

Off: Sweet slõbring deaw, the which to sleep them biddes: (FQ I.i.36.4)

Toggling Modern Characters on will convert u, v, i, y, and vv to v, u, j, i, and w. (N.B. the editors have silently replaced ſ with s, expanded most ligatures, and adjusted spacing according contemporary norms.)

Off: And all the world in their subiection held, Till that infernall feend with foule vprore (FQ I.i.5.6-7) On: And all the world in their subjection held, Till that infernall feend with foule uprore

Toggling Lexical Modernizations on will conform certain words to contemporary orthographic standards.

Off: But wander too and fro in waies vnknowne (FQ I.i.10.5) On: But wander to and fro in waies vnknowne.

Toggling Emendations on will correct obvious errors in the edition on which we base our text and modernize its most unfamiliar features.

Most lothsom, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine (FQ I.i.14.9) 14.9. Most lothsom] this edn.; Mostlothsom 1590

(The text of 1590 reads Mostlothsom, while the editors’ emendation reads Most lothsom.)

Apparatus

Toggling Collation Notes on will highlight words that differ among printings.

And shall thee well rewarde to shew the place, (FQ I.i.31.5) 5. thee] 1590; you 15961609

(The text of 1590 reads thee, while the texts of 1596 and 1609 read you.)

Toggling Commentary Links on will show links to the editors’ commentary.

Toggling Line Numbers on will show the number of the line within each stanza.

Toggling Stanza Numbers on will show the number of the stanza within each canto.

Toggling Glosses on will show the definitions of unfamiliar words or phrases.

To my long approoved and singular good frende, Master G.H. (Letters I.1) 1. long aprooved: tried and true, found trustworthy over a long period
v2024-03-12_08:41