Englands Helicon. Or The Muses harmony.

An Epithalamium; or a Nuptiall Song, applied to the Ceremonies of Marriage.

* 1.1AVrora's Blush (the Ensigne of the Day) Hath wak't the God of Light, from Tythons bowre, Who on our Bride, and Bride-groome doth display His golden Beames, auspitious to this Howre. * 1.2Now busie Maydens strew sweet Flowres, Much like our Bride in Virgin state; Now fresh, then prest, soone dying, The death is sweet, and must be yours, Time goes on Croutches till that date, Birds sledg'd, must needes be flying. Leade on whiles Phoebus Lights, and Hymens Fires, Enflame each Heart with Zeale to Loues Desires. Chorus. Io to Hymen, Paeans sing To Hymen, and my Muses King.

* 1.3Forth honour'd Groome; behold not farre behind Your willing Bride; led by two strengthlesse Boyes; For Venus Doues, or Thred but single twin'd May draw a Virgin, light in Marriage Ioyes: Vesta growes pale, her Flame expires As yee come vnder Iunos Phane, To offer at Ioues Shrine The simpathie of Hearts desires Knitting the Knot, that doth containe Two soules, in Gordian Twine. The Rites are done; and now (as 'tis the guise) Loues Fast by Day, a Feast must solemnize.

Chorus. Io to Hymen; Paeans sing, To Hymen, and my Muses King.

The Board being spread, furnish't with various Plenties;* 1.4 The Brides faire Obiect in the Middle plac'd; While she drinkes Nectar, eates Ambrosiall dainties, And like a Goddesse is admir'd and grac'd: Bacchus and Ceres fill their veines; Each Heart begins to ope a vent; And now the Healths goe round; Their Bloods are warm'd; chear'd are their Braines All doe applaud their Loues Consent; So Loue with Cheare is crown'd. Let sensuall soules ioy in full Bowles sweet Dishes; True Hearts, and Tongues, accordin ioyfull wishes. Chorus. Io to Hymen, &c.

Now whiles slow Howres doe feede the Times delay,* 1.5 Confus'd discourse, with Musicke mixt among, Fills vp the semy-circle of the Day; Now drawes the date our Louers wish'd so long. A bounteous Hand the Board hath spred;* 1.6 Lyeus stirres their Bloods a-new; All louiall full of cheare; But Phoebus see, is gone to Bed;* 1.7 Loe Hesperus appeares in view, And twinckles in his sphere. Now ne plus vltra; end, as you begin; Yee waste good Howres; Time lost in Loue, is sin. Chorus. Io to Hymen, &c.

Breake off your Complement; Musick, be dombe, And pull your Cases o're your Fiddles cares; Cry not, a Hall, a Hall; but Chamber-roome; Dauncing is lame; Youth's, old at twentie yeares. * 1.8Matrons; yee know what followes next; Conduct the shame-fac'd Bride to Bed, (Though to her little rest) Yee well can comment on the Text, And in Loues learning deepely read, Aduise, and teach the best. Forward's the Word; y'are all so in this Arrant; Wiues giue the Word; their Husbands giue the Warrant. Chorus. Io to Hymen, &c.

* 1.9Now droopes our Bride, and in her Ʋirgin state, Seemes like Electra 'mongst the Pleyades; So shrinkes a Mayde when her Herculean Mate Must plucke the fruit in her Hesperides. As she's a Bride, she glorious shines, Like Cynthia, from the Sunnes bright Sphaere, Attracting all mens Eyes; But as she's Ʋirgin, waines, and pines, As to the Man she' approcheth neere; So Mayden glory dies. But Virgin Beames no reall brightnesse render; If they doe shine, in darke they shew their splendor. Chorus. Io to Hymen, &c.

Then let the darke Foyle of the Geniall Bed Extend her brightnesse to his inward sight, And by his sence he will be easly led

To know her vertue, by the absent light. Youth's; take his Poynts; your wonted right;* 1.10 And Maydens; take your due, her Garters; Take hence the Lights; be gone; Loue calls to Armes, Duell his Fight; Then all remoue out of his Quarters, And leaue them both alone: That with substantiall heate, they may embrace, And know Loues Essence, with his outward grace. Chorus. Io to Hymen, &c.

Hence Iealousie, Riuall to Loues delight; Sowe not thy seede of strife in these two Harts; May neuer cold affect, or spleenefull spight, Confound this Musicke of agreeing parts: But Time (that steales the virtuall heate Where Nature keepes the vitall fire) (My Heart speakes in my Tongue) Supply with Fewell Lifes chiefe seate, Through the strong feruour of Desire; Loue, liuing; and liue long. And eu'n as Thunder riseth gainst the Winde; So may yee fight with Age; and conquer Kinde Chorus. Io to Hymen; Paeans sing To Hymen, and my Muses King.

FINIS.

Christopher Brooke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sunne ri∣sing.
• * 1.2

  Strewing of Flow∣ers.
• * 1.3

  Going to Church. Bride Boyes.
• * 1.4

  Dinner.
• * 1.5

  After-Noone Musicke.
• * 1.6

  Supper.
• * 1.7

  Sunne set.
• * 1.8

  Going to Bed.
• * 1.9

  Modestie in the Bride.
• * 1.10

  Bride Poynts. Garters.