EPITHALAMIUM
.
By
the
Same
.
YE
nymphs
,
that
from
Diana's
sport
retir'd
,
Yon
forest
leave
awhile
,
and
love
to
haunt
The
bord'ring
vallies
;
saw
ye
,
as
they
pass'd
,
A
chosen
pair
,
the
glory
of
your
plains
,
Array'd
in
youth's
full
bloom
,
and
nature's
prime
?
Saw
ye
the
glance
of
beauty
,
when
the
fair
,
Quiver'd
with
charms
,
and
by
the
Graces
dress'd
,
March'd
on
:
with
joy
the
bridegroom
flush'd
,
beyond
What
liveliest
fancy
,
unpossess'd
,
can
dream
?
Heard
ye
the
music
of
the
groves
around
Warbling
,
while
choirs
of
gratulation
rung
From
ev'ry
spray
;
and
nightingales
,
soft
tun'd
,
In
notes
peculiar
thrill'd
the
nuptial
song
!
Such
as
in
neighb'ring
Windsor's
fav'rite
shade
They
chaunt
;
and
,
if
their
Handel's
ear
be
true
,
No
where
on
silence
steal
with
lay
so
sweet
.
Auspicious
omens
brood
on
the
fair
hour
!
Did
ever
Hymen's
look
more
fresh
appear
,
Or
his
bright
vest
with
deeper
yellow
flow
?
The
vest
that
on
occasions
high
and
rare
Pontifical
he
wears
,
when
hearts
sincere
Combine
;
of
healthy
cheek
,
and
sparkling
eye
As
in
the
state
of
nature
,
ere
his
shafts
By
gold
were
blunted
.
How
the
blazing
torch
,
Fann'd
by
love's
pinion
,
sheds
unusual
fire
!
Lo
!
by
the
trail
of
light
,
he
left
behind
,
As
from
the
shrine
his
jubilee
return'd
,
The
Muse
,
invited
guest
,
attends
her
theme
Right
to
the
nuptial
bow'r
.
There
ent'ring
,
thrice
She
hemm'd
,
thrice
blest
the
threshold
with
a
sneeze
,
Prelude
of
happiness
to
come
.
Her
lyre
She
strung
,
—
a
friendly
,
voluntary
strain
.
"
Hail
(
she
began
)
distinguish'd
pair
!
how
fit
To
join
in
wedded
love
,
each
other's
choice
!
Bridegroom
,
thy
taste
is
elegant
indeed
,
And
fingers
nice
,
that
on
some
sunny
bank
In
beauty's
garden
cull'd
so
fair
a
flow'r
,
To
thine
transplanted
from
her
native
soil
.
Cherish
besure
thy
blooming
charge
;
keep
off
Each
blast
unkind
,
and
Zephyr's
gale
alone
Blow
there
,
and
genial
suns
for
ever
smile
.
Who
not
applaud
thy
vow
?
hereafter
who
Dispute
thy
palate
,
judging
and
exact
,
Owner
of
curious
bliss
?
—
Nor
thou
,
fair
bride
,
Repine
,
nor
homeward
cast
thy
longing
eye
;
'Twas
time
to
sever
from
the
virgin
choir
.
What
joy
in
loneliness
to
waste
the
hours
Unfruitful
?
see
,
hard
by
,
Loddona's
stream
Cold
and
inactive
creep
along
;
her
face
Shaded
with
pensive
willow
,
—
till
anon
Married
to
jovial
Thames
,
briskly
she
glides
O'er
many
a
laughing
mead
.
—
'Tis
nature
wills
Such
union
:
blest
society
!
where
souls
Move
,
as
in
dance
,
to
melody
divine
Fit
partners
.
(
How
unlike
the
noisy
broils
Of
wedded
strife
!
)
Hence
friendship's
gen'rous
glow
At
love's
high
noon
;
and
hence
the
sober
flame
Steady
,
as
life
declines
.
—
All
comforts
hence
Of
child
and
parent
,
strongest
,
dearest
ties
!
Think
not
the
fair
original
design'd
To
flourish
and
be
lost
.
The
world
expects
Some
copies
to
adorn
another
age
.
—
Thank
the
kind
gods
;
be
happy
,
live
and
love
.