Epithalamion Epithalamion.

[1] 191 Early YE Ye learned sisters which haue have oftentimes beene to me ayding, others to adorne: Whom ye thought worthy of your gracefull rymes, That euen even the greatest did not greatly scorne To heare theyr names sung in your simple layes, But ioyed joyed in theyr prayse. And when ye list your owne mishaps to mourne, Which death, or loue love , 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 hauing having all your heads with girland crownd, Helpe me mine owne loues loves prayses to resound, Ne let the same of any be enuide envide , So Orpheus did for his owne bride, So I vnto unto my selfe alone will sing, The woods shall to me answer and my Eccho ring. [2] 192 Bring EArly Early before the worlds light giuing giving lampe, His golden beame vpon upon the hils doth spred, Hauing Having disperst the nights vnchearefull unchearefull dampe, Doe ye awake and with fresh lusty hed, Go to the bowre of my beloued beloved loue love , My truest turtle doue dove Bid her awake; for Hymen is awake, And long since ready forth his maske to moue move , 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 vsury usury of long delight, And whylest she doth her dight, Doe ye to her of ioy joy and solace sing, That all the woods may answer and your eccho ring. [3] 193 Ye BRing Bring with you all the Nymphes that you can heare both of the riuers rivers 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 loue love of lillyes and of roses, Bound trueloue truelove 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 vnto unto her sing, The woods shall to you answer and your Eccho ring. [4] 194 Wake YE Ye Nymphes of Mulla which with carefull heed, The siluer silver scaly trouts doe tend full well, and greedy pikes which vse use 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 vp up 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 loue love doth lie, No blemish she may spie. And eke ye lightfoot mayds which keepe the deredore, That on the hoary mountayne vse use to towre, And the wylde wolues wolves which seeke them to deuoure devoure , With your steele darts doo chace fró from 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] 195 My WAke Wake now my loue love , awake; for it is time, The Rosy Morne long since left Tithones bed, All ready to her siluer silver coche to clyme, And Phœbus gins to shew his glorious hed. Hark how the cheerefull birds do chaunt theyr laies And carroll of loues loves 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 loue love why doe ye sleepe thus long, When meeter were that ye should now awake, T’awayt the comming of your ioyous joyous make, And hearken to the birds louelearned lovelearned song, The deawy leaues leaves among. For they of ioy joy and pleasance to you sing, That all the woods them answer & and theyr eccho ring. [6] 196 Now MY My loue love 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 Ioues Joves sweet paradice, of Day and Night, Which doe the seasons of the yeare allot, And al that euer ever 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 vse use to Venus, to her sing, The whiles the woods shal answer & and your eccho ring [7] 197 Harke NOw Now is my loue love all ready forth to come, Let all the virgins therefore well awayt, And ye fresh boyes that tend vpon upon her groome Prepare your selues selves ; for he is comming strayt. Set all your things in seemely good aray Fit for so ioyfull joyfull day, The ioyfulst joyfulst day that euer ever sunne did see Faire Sun, shew forth thy fauourable favourable ray, And let thy lifull heat not feruent fervent be For feare of burning her sunshyny face, Her beauty to disgrace. O fayrest Phœbus, father of the Muse, If euer ever I did honour thee aright, Or sing the thing, that mote thy mind delight, Doe not thy seruants servants simple boone refuse, But let this day let this one day be myne, Let all the rest be thine. Then I thy souerayne soverayne prayses loud wil sing, That all the woods shal answer and theyr eccho ring. [8] 198 Loe HArke Harke 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 iar jar . 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 rauish ravish quite, The whyles the boyes run vp up and downe the street, Crying aloud with strong confused noyce, As if it were one voyce. Hymen io jo Hymen, Hymen they do shout, That euen even to the heauens heavens theyr shouting shrill Doth reach, and all the firmament doth fill, To which the people standing all about, As in approuance approvance doe thereto applaud And loud aduaunce advaunce her laud, And euermore evermore they Hymen Hymen sing, that al the woods them answer and theyr eccho ring. [9] 199 Tell LOe Loe 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, Vpon Upon the lowly ground affixed are. Ne dare lift vp up 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] 200 But TEll Tell me ye merchants daughters did ye see So fayre a creature in your towne before, So sweet, so louely lovely , and so mild as she, Adornd with beautyes grace and vertues store, Her goodly eyes lyke Saphyres shining bright, Her forehead yuory yvory 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 vncrudded uncrudded , Her paps lyke lyllies budded, Her snowie necke lyke to a marble towre, And all her body like a pallace fayre, Ascending vppe uppe with many a stately stayre, To honors seat and chastities sweet bowre. Why stand ye still ye virgins in amaze, Vpon Upon her so to gaze, Whiles ye forget your former lay to sing, To which the woods did answer and your eccho ring [11] H 201 Open BVt Bvt BUt But if ye saw that which no eyes can see, The inward beauty of her liuely lively spright, Garnisht with heauenly heavenly 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 loue love and constant chastity, Vnspotted Unspotted fayth and comely womanhood, Regard of honour and mild modesty, There vertue raynes as Queene in royal throne, And giueth giveth lawes alone. The which the base affections doe obay, And yeeld theyr seruices services vnto unto her will, Ne thought of thing vncomely uncomely euer ever may Thereto approch to tempt her mind to ill. Had ye once seene these her celestial threasures, And vnreuealed unrevealed pleasures, Then would ye wonder and her prayses sing, That al the woods should answer and your echo ring. [12] 201 Behould OPen Open the temple gates vnto unto my loue love , Open them wide that she may enter in, And all the postes adorne as doth behoue behove , And all the pillours deck with girlands trim, For to recyue recyve this Saynt with honour dew, That commeth in to you, With trembling steps and humble reuerence reverence , 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 vp up 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 liuely lively notes, The whiles with hollow throates. The Choristers the ioyous joyous Antheme sing, That al the woods may answere and their eccho ring [13] H2 201 Now 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 vp up in her cheekes, And the pure snow with goodly vermill stayne, Like crimsin dyde in grayne, That euen even th’Angels which continually, About the sacred Altare doe remaine, Forget their seruice service 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 gouerned governed with goodly modesty, That suffers not one looke to glaunce awry, Which may let in a little thought vnsownd unsownd , Why blush ye loue love to giue give 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] 202 Ring NOw Now w 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 ioyance joyance bring her and with iollity jollity . Neuer Never had man more ioyfull joyfull day then this, Whom heauen heaven would heape with blis. Make feast therefore now all this liue live long day, This day for euer ever 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 vnto unto 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] H3 203 Ah RIng Ring ye the bels, ye yong men of the towne, And leaue leave your wonted labors for this day: This day is holy; doe ye write it dovvne downe , that ye for euer ever 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 neuer never 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] 204 Now AH Ah when will this long vveary weary day haue have end, and lende me leaue leave to come vnto unto my loue love ? Hovv How slovvly slowly do the houres theyr numbers spend? How slowly does sad Time his feathers moue move ? Hast thee O fayrest Planet to thy home Within the Westerne fome: Thy tyred steedes long since haue have need of rest. Long though it be, at last I see it gloome, And the bright euening evening star with golden creast Appeare out of the East. Fayre childe of beauty, glorious lampe of loue love That all the host of heauen heaven in rankes doost lead, And guydest louers lovers through the nights dread, How chearefully thou lookest from aboue above , And seemst to laugh atweene thy twinkling light As ioying joying in the sight Of these glad many which for ioy joy doe sing, That all the woods them answer and their echo ring. [17] 205 Now 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 ouer over her display, And odourd sheetes, and Arras couerlets coverlets , Behold how goodly my faire loue love does ly In proud humility; Like vnto unto Maia, when as Ioue Jove 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 leaue leave my loue love alone, And leaue leave likewise your former lay to sing: The woods no more shal answere, nor your echo ring [18] 206 Let NOw Now welcome night, thou night so long expected, that long daies labour doest at last defray, And all my cares, which cruell loue love collected, Hast sumd in one, and cancelled for aye: Spread thy broad wing ouer over my loue love and me, that no man may vs us see, And in thy sable mantle vs us enwrap, From feare of perrill and foule horror free. Let no false treason seeke vs us to entrap, Nor any dread disquiet once annoy the safety of our ioy joy : But let the night be calme and quietsome, Without tempestuous storms or sad afray: Lyke as when Ioue Jove with fayre Alcmena lay, When he begot the great Tirynthian groome: Or lyke as when he with thy selfe did lie, And begot Maiesty Majesty . And let the mayds and yongmen cease to sing: Ne let the woods them answer, nor theyr eccho ring. [19] 207 But LEt Let 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 misconceiued misconceived dout. Let no deluding dreames, nor dreadful sights Make sudden sad affrights; Ne let housefyres, nor lightnings helpelesse harmes, Ne let the Pouke Ponke, nor other euill evill sprights, Ne let mischiuous mischivous witches with theyr charmes, Ne let hob Goblins, names whose sence we see not, Fray vs us with things that be not. Let not the shriech Oule, nor the Storke be heard: Nor the night Rauen Raven that still deadly yels, Nor damned ghosts cald vp up with mighty spels, Nor griesly vultures make vs us once affeard: Ne let th’unpleasant Quyre of Frogs still croking Make vs us to wish theyr choking. Let none of these theyr drery accents sing; Ne let the woods them answer, nor theyr eccho ring. [20] 208 Who B Vt vt ut let stil Silence trew night watches keepe, That sacred peace may in assurance rayne, And tymely sleep, when it is tyme to sleepe, May poure ponre his limbs forth on your pleasant playne, The whiles an hundred little winged loues loves , Like diuers divers fethered doues doves , Shall fly and flutter round about your bed, And in the secret darke, that none reproues reproves , Their prety stealthes shal worke, & and snares shal spread To filch away sweet snatches of delight, Conceald through couert covert night. Ye sonnes of Venus, play your sports at will, For greedy pleasure, carelesse of your toyes, Thinks more vpon upon her paradise of ioyes joyes , 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] 209 And WHo Who is the same, which at my window peepes? Or whose is that faire face, that shines so bright, Is it not Cinthia, she that neuer never sleepes, But walkes about high heauen heaven al the night? O fayrest goddesse, do thou not enuy envy My loue love with me to spy: For thou likewise didst loue love , though now vnthought unthought , And for a fleece of woll, which priuily privily , The Latmian shephard once vnto unto thee brought, His pleasures with thee wrought. Therefore to vs us be fauorable favorable 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 vs us answere, nor our Eccho ring. [22] 210 And ANd And thou great Iuno Juno , 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 louely lovely band, And all thy blessings vnto unto vs us 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 loues loves delight With secret ayde doest succour and supply, Till they bring forth the fruitfull progeny, Send vs us 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] 211 Song ANd And ye high heauens heavens , the temple of the gods, In which a thousand torches flaming bright Doe burne, that to vs us 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 vs us plentiously, And happy influence vpon upon vs us raine, That we may raise a large posterity, Which from the earth, which they may long possesse, With lasting happinesse, Vp Up to your haughty pallaces may mount, And for the guerdon of theyr glorious merit May heauenly heavenly tabernacles there inherit, Of blessed Saints for to increase the count. So let vs us rest, sweet loue love , in hope of this, And cease till then our tymely ioyes joyes to sing, The woods no more vs us answer, nor our eccho ring. [24] SOng Song made in lieu of many ornaments, With which my loue love should duly haue have bene dect, Which cutting off through hasty accidents, Ye would not stay your dew time to expect, But promist both to recompens, Be vnto unto her a goodly ornament, And for short time an endlesse moniment. FINIS