Then, away; come, Hymen, guide To the bed the bashful bride.

VIII.

And now the yellow veil at last Over her fragrant cheek is cast.

Now seems she to express A bashful willingness: Showing a heart consenting, As with a will repenting.

Then gently lead her on With wise suspicion; For that, matrons say, a measure Of that pa.s.sion sweetens pleasure.

IX.

You, you that be of her nearest kin, Now o'er the threshold force her in.

But to avert the worst Let her her fillets first Knit to the posts, this point Remembering, to anoint The sides, for 'tis a charm Strong against future harm; And the evil deads, the which There was hidden by the witch.

X.

O Venus! thou to whom is known The best way how to loose the zone Of virgins, tell the maid She need not be afraid, And bid the youth apply Close kisses if she cry, And charge he not forbears Her though she woo with tears.

Tell them now they must adventure, Since that love and night bid enter.

XI.

No fatal owl the bedstead keeps, With direful notes to fright your sleeps; No furies here about To put the tapers out, Watch or did make the bed: 'Tis omen full of dread; But all fair signs appear Within the chamber here.

Juno here far off doth stand, Cooling sleep with charming wand.

XII.

Virgins, weep not; 'twill come when, As she, so you'll be ripe for men.

Then grieve her not with saying She must no more a-maying, Or by rosebuds divine Who'll be her valentine.

Nor name those wanton reaks You've had at barley-breaks, But now kiss her and thus say, "Take time, lady, while ye may".

XIII.

Now bar the doors; the bridegroom puts The eager boys to gather nuts.

And now both love and time To their full height do climb: Oh! give them active heat And moisture both complete: Fit organs for increase, To keep and to release That which may the honour'd stem Circle with a diadem.

XIV.

And now, behold! the bed or couch That ne'er knew bride's or bridegroom's touch, Feels in itself a fire; And, tickled with desire, Pants with a downy breast, As with a heart possesst, Shrugging as it did move Ev'n with the soul of love.

And, oh! had it but a tongue, Doves, 'twould say, ye bill too long.

XV.

O enter then! but see ye shun A sleep until the act be done.

Let kisses in their close, Breathe as the damask rose, Or sweet as is that gum Doth from Panchaia come.

Teach nature now to know Lips can make cherries grow Sooner than she ever yet In her wisdom could beget.

XVI.

On your minutes, hours, days, months, years, Drop the fat blessing of the spheres.

That good which heav'n can give To make you bravely live Fall like a spangling dew By day and night on you.

May fortune's lily-hand Open at your command; With all lucky birds to side With the bridegroom and the bride.

XVII.

Let bounteous Fate[s] your spindles full Fill, and wind up with whitest wool.

Let them not cut the thread Of life until ye bid.

May death yet come at last, And not with desp'rate haste, But when ye both can say "Come, let us now away,"

Be ye to the barn then borne, Two, like two ripe shocks of corn.

_Domiduca_, Juno, the G.o.ddess of marriage, the "home-bringer".

_Reaks_, pranks.

_Barley-break_, a country game, see 101.

_Panchaia_, the land of spices: _cf_, Virg. G. ii. 139; aen. iv. 379.

150. TEARS ARE TONGUES.

When Julia chid I stood as mute the while As is the fish or tongueless crocodile.

Air coin'd to words my Julia could not hear, But she could see each eye to stamp a tear; By which mine angry mistress might descry Tears are the n.o.ble language of the eye.

And when true love of words is dest.i.tute The eyes by tears speak, while the tongue is mute.

151. UPON A YOUNG MOTHER OF MANY CHILDREN.

Let all chaste matrons, when they chance to see My num'rous issue, praise and pity me: Praise me for having such a fruitful womb, Pity me, too, who found so soon a tomb.

152. TO ELECTRA.

I'll come to thee in all those shapes As Jove did when he made his rapes, Only I'll not appear to thee As he did once to Semele.

Thunder and lightning I'll lay by, To talk with thee familiarly.

Which done, then quickly we'll undress To one and th' other's nakedness, And, ravish'd, plunge into the bed, Bodies and souls commingled, And kissing, so as none may hear, We'll weary all the fables there.

_Fables_, _i.e._, of Jove's amours.

153. HIS WISH.

It is sufficient if we pray To Jove, who gives and takes away: Let him the land and living find; Let me alone to fit the mind.