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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  An Epithalamium on the Marriage of the Honourable Charles Leigh

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

An Epithalamium on the Marriage of the Honourable Charles Leigh

Anonymous
 
(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719)

DRAW, draw the Curtain, fie, make haste,
  The panting Lovers long to be alone,
The precious Time no more in talking waste,
  There’s better Business going on;
Our Absence will their Wishes crown,        5
  The next swift Moment’s not too soon,
Our artful Song sounds like a Drone,
  For now all Music, but their own,
          Is harsh, and out of Tune.
 
Now Love inflames the Bridegroom’s Heart,        10
  How weak, how poor a Charmer is the Flute;
And when the Bride’s fair Eyes her Wishes dart,
  How dully sounds the warbling Lute.
If this Divine, harmonious Bliss
  Attends each happy Marriage Day,        15
Who such a blessed State would miss,
  And such a charming Tune as this,
          Who would not learn to play?
 
Oh, Joy too fierce to be exprest,
  Thou sweet Atoner of Life’s greatest Pain,        20
By thee are Men with Love’s dear Treasure blest,
  And Women still by losing gain.
Smile then divine, propitious Pow’rs,
  Upon this Pair let Blessings flow,
Let Care mix with their Sweets, not Sours,        25
  But may succeeding Days and Hours
          Be charming all as now.