Poems, songs and love-verses, upon several subjects by Matthew Coppinger ...

Naides, Draides, Hymen, Orpheus, Euridice.

Naides.

O Hymen, come away, Frame no excuses for a longer stay; For hand in hand The Lovers stand, And think each hour a year Until thy tedious Godhead does appear.

Dra.

Great God of Nuptual Rites, Orpheus and his Euridice invites Thee to their Feast, Wich shall be blest With mutual Joy, if thou appear, And cause a general Mirth throughout the year.

Hym.

Shame on your uglie hast, That thus disturbs and calls away so fast, In Stygian damp They have dipt my Lamp, Yet may the Omen be Far from my Orpheus and Euridice.

Chorus.

Far be the Omen, we Do hope from him, and his Euridice. Ye Gods that hear What we prepare, Our Sacrifice and Song, Where Beasts and Trees shall caper in a throng.

Orph.

What over tedious stay, My fair Euridice does thus betray? The slying hours, Whose mutual powers, Lest they too slow appear, Take Cupids Wings, and hasten from their Sphere.

Eurid.

The time I think mispent That robs my Orpheus of the least content. A Lovers fear Is always neer; Yet shall thy Beauteous praise Appear more blest, cause thou didst Tantalize.

A Song by Orpheus.

Poor Tantalus, I pitty thee, Who Court'st the Wave, and Woo'st the Tree; The water slides just as he sips, And so avoids his amorous Lips; The Golden Fruit his lust intice, VVhich he wou'd tast at any price:

But Fare resists his strong desires, For whilst he gapes, the Fruit retires; VVhat fault, alas! cou'd this deserve, In midst of plenty thus to starve? Thou art like a Miser▪ cloath'd in Rags, VVhilst he sits brooding o're his Bags. And dares not touch ought of his store, But is in midst of plenty Poor.

Hym.

Hail to the lovely pair, For whose sweet sake I hither made repair, Firmly to lie In Amity, Beauty and Love, which be Compris'd in Orpheu's and Euridice.

Orph.

VVelcomer than the day, Hymen, what was the cause of this delay? Cou'dst thou find out A cause of doubt, Or thought that there might be In either of us Mutability?

Hym.

Brave Prince of Poets, no; By this delay I strove to let you know Some cruel Fate Does on you wait, VVhich all your Pleasure banes, Fast bound by Fate in Adamantine Chains.

Orph.

The Gods with ease afflict Poor Mortals, who their power can't contradict; And we adore That power the more, And herein surely trust, If we but once are good, that they are just.

Eurid.

None but the Guilty fear, And what they fear, 'tis Justice they shou'd bear: Let nothing cause A farther pause, But in this Temple joyn Two Hands, Two Hearts, which Fate cannot untwine.

Hym.

Goddess of Hearts, Before whose Throne VVith equal parts Two and yet One Themselves present, To the intent That thou mayst ever be Propitious to their Love and Amity.

Grant their Requests, Let lasting Peace In mutual Breasts Ever increase; And may they prove True as the Dove, And may they also be Inrich'd with a most numerous Progenie.

For by this Light, And Altars fume, Which in thy sight We here consume, Thou ne're didst bless With happiness Two Lovers that will prove More great in Merit, or more true to Love.

Chorus.

Let pleasing smiles And mutual Joy The time beguile, And never cloy. Let pleasant Theams, In gentle Dreams, Increase their generous fire, And kindle Flames that never shall expire.

Hymen.

The Goddess frowns, and with dejected Eyes Seems slightly to regard our Sacrifice. One of the Turtles which the Offering were, Dy'd on the Altar, e're I made my Prayer. The Tapers shone but with a heavy light, One sputtering Blue, resign'd his Flame to Night.

Orpheus.

The Gods deep wills are seldom known, 'Till put in Execution;

And 'twere a folly to lament A certain doom none can prevent; Then why shou'd we capitulate With what recorded is by Fate?

Euridice.

The power of Fate cannot our love control, And fear's too base for any generous Soul; The Gods, who in a higher Orb do move, May take our lives, but never wrong our Love. Let's then like Turtles sitting on a Tree, Wait for the Hawk wou'd catch us if we flee.