I

Now, now's the time; so oft by truth 
Promis'd sho'd come to crown your youth. 
   Then Faire ones, doe not wrong 
   Your joyes, by staying long: 
   Or let Love's fire goe out, 
   By lingring thus in doubt: 
   But learn, that Time once lost, 
   Is ne'r redeem'd by cost. 
Then away; come, Hymen guide 
To the bed, the bashfull Bride. 


II

Is it (sweet maid) your fault these holy 
Bridall-Rites goe on so slowly? 
   Deare, is it this you dread, 
   The losse of Maiden-head? 
   Beleeve me; you will most 
   Esteeme it when 'tis lost: 
   Then it no longer keep, 
   Lest Issue lye asleep. 
Then away; come, Hymen guide 
To the bed, the bashfull Bride. 


III

These Precious-Pearly-Purling teares, 
But spring from ceremonious feares. 
   And 'tis but Native shame, 
   That hides the loving flame: 
   And may a while controule 
   The soft and am'rous soule; 
   But yet, Loves fire will wast 
   Such bashfulnesse at last. 
Then away; come, Hymen guide 
To the bed, the bashfull Bride. 


IV

Night now hath watch'd her self half blind; 
Yet not a Maiden-head resign'd! 
   'Tis strange, ye will not flie 
   To Love's sweet mysterie. 
   Might yon Full-Moon the sweets 
   Have, promis'd to your sheets; 
   She soon wo'd leave her spheare, 
   To be admitted there. 
Then away; come, Hymen guide 
To the bed, the bashfull Bride. 


V

On, on devoutly, make no stay; 
While Domiduca leads the way: 
   And Genius who attends 
   The bed for luckie ends: 
   With Juno goes the houres, 
   And Graces strewing flowers. 
   And the boyes with sweet tunes sing, 
   Hymen, O Hymen bring 
Home the Turtles; Hymen guide 
To the bed, the bashfull Bride. 


VI

Behold! how Hymens Taper-light 
Shews you how much is spent of night. 
   See, see the Bride-grooms Torch 
   Halfe wasted in the porch. 
   And now those Tapers five, 
   That shew the womb shall thrive: 
   Their silv'rie flames advance, 
   To tell all prosp'rous chance 
Still shall crown the happy life 
Of the good man and the wife. 


VII

Move forward then your Rosie feet, 
And make, what ere they touch, turn sweet. 
   May all, like flowrie Meads 
   Smell, where your soft foot treads; 
   And every thing assume 
   To it, the like perfume: 
   As Zephirus when he 'spires 
   Through Woodbine, and Sweet-bryers. 
Then away; come Hymen, guide 
To the bed the bashfull Bride. 


VIII

And now the yellow Vaile, at last, 
Over her fragrant cheek is cast. 
   Now seems she to expresse 
   A bashfull willingnesse: 
   Shewing a heart consenting; 
   As with a will repenting. 
   Then gently lead her on 
   With wise suspicion: 
For that, Matrons say, a measure 
Of that Passion sweetens Pleasure. 


IX

You, you that be of her neerest kin, 
Now o're the threshold force her in. 
   But to avert the worst; 
   Let her, her fillets first 
   Knit to the posts: this point 
   Remembring, to anoint 
   The sides: for 'tis a charme 
   Strong against future harme: 
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 wooe with teares. 
Tel them, now they must adventer, 
Since that Love and Night bid enter. 


XI

No Fatal Owle the Bedsted 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 faire signs appeare 
   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'l be ripe for men. 
   Then grieve her not, with saying 
   She must no more a Maying: 
   Or by Rose-buds devine, 
   Who'l be her Valentine. 
   Nor name those wanton reaks 
   Y'ave had at Barly-breaks. 
But now kisse her, and thus say, 
Take time Lady while ye may. 


XIII

Now barre the doors, the Bride-groom puts 
The eager Boyes to gather Nuts. 
   And now, both Love and Time 
   To their full height doe clime: 
   O! give them active heat 
   And moisture, both compleat: 
   Fit Organs for encrease, 
   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'r knew Brides, or Bride-grooms touch, 
   Feels in it selfe a fire; 
   And tickled with Desire, 
   Pants with a Downie brest, 
   As with a heart possest: 
   Shrugging as it did move, 
   Ev'n with the soule of love. 
And (oh!) had it but a tongue, 
Doves, 'two'd say, yee bill too long. 


XV

O enter then! but see ye shun 
A sleep, untill the act be done. 
   Let kisses, in their close, 
   Breathe as the Damask Rose: 
   Or sweet, as is that gumme 
   Doth from Panchaia come. 
   Teach Nature now to know, 
   Lips can make Cherries grow 
Sooner, then she, ever yet, 
In her wisdome co'd beget. 


XVI

On your minutes, hours, dayes, months, years, 
Drop the fat blessing of the sphears. 
   That good, which Heav'n can give 
   To make you bravely live; 
   Fall, like a spangling dew, 
   By day, and night on you. 
   May Fortunes Lilly-hand 
   Open at your command; 
With all luckie Birds to side 
With the Bride-groom, and the Bride. 


XVII

Let bounteous Fate your spindles full 
Fill, and winde up with whitest wooll. 
   Let them not cut the thred 
   Of life, untill ye bid. 
   May Death yet come at last; 
   And not with desp'rate hast: 
   But when ye both can say, 
   Come, Let us now away. 
Be ye to the Barn then born, 
Two, like two ripe shocks of corn.