The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

EPITHALAMI ON 621
And, having all your heads with garlands With your steel darts do chase from coming
crown'd, near;
Help me mine own love's praises to resound; Be also present here,
Nor let the same of any be envied: To help to deck her, and to help to sing,
So Orpheus did for his own bride! That all the woods may answer, and your echo
So I unto myself alone will sing; ring.
The woods shall to me answer, and my echo ring. Wake now, my love, awake; for it is time;
Early, before the world's light-giving lamp The rosy Morn long'since left Tithon's bed,
His golden beam upon the hills doth spread, All ready to her silver coach to climb;
Having dispers'd the night's uncheerful damp, And Phcebus gins to show his glorious head.
Do ye awake; and, with fresh lustihead, Hark! how the cheerful birds do chant their
Go to the bow'r of my beloved love, lays,
My truest turtle dove; And carol of love's praise.
Bid her awake; for Hymen is awake, The merry lark her matins sings aloft;
And long since ready forth his masque to move, The thrush replies; the mavis descant plays;
With his bright tead1 that flames with many'a The ouzel shrills; the ruddock 3 warbles soft;
flake; So goodly all agree, with sweet concent,
And many a bachelor to wait on him, To this day's merriment.
In their fresh garments trim. Ah! -my dear love, why do ye sleep thus long,
Bid her awake theref6re, and soon her dight,2 When meeter were that ye should now awake,
For lo! the wished day is come at last, T' await the coming of your joyous make,4
That shall, for all the pains and sorrows past, And hearkento the birds' love-learned song,
Pay to her usury of long delight: The dewy leaves among!
And, whilst she doth her dight, For they of joy and pleasance to you sing,
Do ye to her of joy and solace sing, That all the woods them answer, and their echo
That all the woods may answer, and your echo ring.
ring. My love is now awake out of her dreams,
Bringwithyou all theNymphs that youcanhear, And her fair eyes, like stars that dimmed were
Both of the Rivers and the Forests green, With darksome cloud, now show their goodly
And of the Sea that neighbours to her near; beams,
All with gay garlands goodly well beseen. More bright than Hesperus his head doth rear.
And let them also with them bring in hand Come now, ye damsels, daughters of delight,
Another gay garland, Help quickly her to dight:
For my fair love, of lilies and of roses, But first come, ye fair Hours, which were
Bound true-love wise, with a blue silk riband. begot
And let them make great store of bridal posies, In Jove's sweet Paradise, of Day and Night;
And let them eke bring store of other flowers, Which do the seasons of the year allot,
To deck the bridal bowers. And all, that ever in this world is fair,
And let the ground where as herfoot shall tread, Do make and still repair:
For fear the stones her tender foot should wrong, And ye three handmaids 5 of the Cyprian Queen,
Be strow'd with fragrant flowers all along, The which do still adorn her beauty's pride,
And diaper'd like the discolour'd mead. Help to adorn my beautifulest bride:
Which done, do at her chamber door await, And, as ye her array, still throw between
For she will waken straight; Some graces to be seen;
The while'do ye this song unto her sing, And, as ye use to Venus, to her sing,
The woods shall to you answer, and your echo The while the woods shall answer, and your
ring. echo ring.
Ye Nymphs of Mulla, which with careful heed Now is my love all ready forth to come:
The silver scaly trouts do tend full well, Let all the virgins therefore well await;
And greedy pikes which use therein to feed And ye fresh boys, that tend upon her groom,
(Those trouts and pikes all others do excel); Prepare yourselves; for he is coming straight.
And ye likewise, which keep the rushy lake, Set all your things in seemly good array,
Where none do fishes take; Fit for so joyful day:
Bind up the locks the which hang scatter'd The joyful'st day that ever sun did see.
light, Fair Sun! show forth thy favourable ray,
And in his waters, which your mirror make, And let thy lifeful heat not fervent be,
Behold your faces as the crystal bright, For fear of burning her sunshiny face,
That when you come where as my love doth lie, Her beauty to disgrace.
No blemish she may spy. O fairest Phoebus! Father of the Muse!
And eke, ye lightfoot maids, which keep the If ever I did honour thee aright,
door, Or sing the thing that might thy mind delight,
That on the hoary mountain used to tow'r; Do not thy servant's simple boon refuse;
And the wild wolves, which seek them to de- But let this day, let this one day, be mine;
vour, Let all the rest be thine.
1 Torch. 2 Array. 3 Redbreast. 4 Mate. 5 The Graces.