XI.
The good-night.
215Now, as in Tullias tombe, one lampe burnt cleare,
Unchang'd for fifteene hundred yeare,
May these love-lamps we here enshrine,
In warmth, light, lasting, equall the divine.
Fire ever doth aspire,
220And makes all like it selfe, turnes all to fire,
But ends in ashes, which these cannot doe,
For none of these is fuell, but fire too.
This is joyes bonfire, then, where loves strong Arts
Make of so noble individuall parts
225One fire of foure inflaming eyes, and of two loving hearts.
Idios.
As I have brought this song, that I may doe
A perfect sacrifice, I'll burne it too.
Allophanes.
No Sr. This paper I have justly got,
For, in burnt incense, the perfume is not
230His only that presents it, but of all;
What ever celebrates this Festivall
Is common, since the joy thereof is so.
Nor may your selfe be Priest: But let me goe,
Backe to the Court, and I will lay'it upon
235Such Altars, as prize your devotion.
EPITHALAMION. D, H49, Lec, O'F, S96: om. 1633-69. See note
107 expire,] expire 1633-39
108 by 1633: from 1635-69
121 man. 1669, D: man, 1633-39: man; 1650-54
124 or] our 1669
126 both th'enflaming eyes, A18, B, D, H49, N, O'F, S96, TC: th'enflaming eye, 1633: the enflaming eye, 1635-69
128 Singly, A18, A23, B, D, H49, N, O'F, S96, TC: Single, 1633-69, Lec
129 Yet let A23, O'F: Let 1633-69
141 should'st] should 1669
it. 1635-69: it, 1633
144 Thou, which D: Thou, which, 1633: Thou which, 1635-69
145 Art A18, B, S96, TCC: Are 1633, D, H49, Lec, N, TCD: Wert 1635-69, O'F
for] for, 1633
Phaëton. 1635-69: Phaëton, 1633
146 ease, ... eyes 1635-69: ease, ... eyes, 1633
150 see. 1633-69: see; Grolier. But see note
157 stoope, ... us 1633-69: stoope, ... us, 1633
167 more; Ed: more, 1633: more. 1635-69
170 or thought] Or thought 1633
172 sing, 1633: sing: 1635-69
178 you, yours, A23, B, D, O'F, S96
give, 1633: give. 1635-69
179 Art. Ed: Art, 1633-69
194 wouldst] would 1669
200 too; Ed: too. 1635-69: to. 1633
202 being gone; Ed: being gone, 1633-39: being gone 1650-69
207 such. 1635-69: such, 1633
211 seene; Ed: seene. 1633-69
214 eye] hand 1650-69
215 burnt] burn 1669
218 divine. 1635-69: divine; 1633
230 all; 1635-69: all, 1633
Epithalamion made at Lincolnes Inne.
THE Sun-beames in the East are spred,
Leave, leave, faire Bride, your solitary bed,
No more shall you returne to it alone,
It nourseth sadnesse, and your bodies print,
5Like to a grave, the yielding downe doth dint;
You and your other you meet there anon;
Put forth, put forth that warme balme-breathing thigh,
Which when next time you in these sheets wil smother,
There it must meet another,
10Which never was, but must be, oft, more nigh;
Come glad from thence, goe gladder then you came,
To day put on perfection, and a womans name.
Daughters of London, you which bee
Our Golden Mines, and furnish'd Treasurie,
15You which are Angels, yet still bring with you
Thousands of Angels on your mariage daies,
Help with your presence and devise to praise
These rites, which also unto you grow due;
Conceitedly dresse her, and be assign'd,
20By you, fit place for every flower and jewell,
Make her for love fit fewell
As gay as Flora, and as rich as Inde;
So may shee faire, rich, glad, and in nothing lame,
To day put on perfection, and a womans name.
25And you frolique Patricians,
Sonns of these Senators wealths deep oceans,
Ye painted courtiers, barrels of others wits,
Yee country men, who but your beasts love none,
Yee of those fellowships whereof hee's one,
30Of study and play made strange Hermaphrodits,
Here shine; This Bridegroom to the Temple bring.
Loe, in yon path which store of straw'd flowers graceth,
The sober virgin paceth;
Except my sight faile, 'tis no other thing;
35Weep not nor blush, here is no griefe nor shame,
To day put on perfection, and a womans name.
Thy two-leav'd gates faire Temple unfold,
And these two in thy sacred bosome hold,
Till, mystically joyn'd, but one they bee;
40Then may thy leane and hunger-starved wombe
Long time expect their bodies and their tombe,
Long after their owne parents fatten thee.
All elder claimes, and all cold barrennesse,
All yeelding to new loves bee far for ever,
45Which might these two dissever,
All wayes all th'other may each one possesse;
For, the best Bride, best worthy of praise and fame,
To day puts on perfection, and a womans name.
Oh winter dayes bring much delight,
50Not for themselves, but for they soon bring night;
Other sweets wait thee then these diverse meats,
Other disports then dancing jollities,
Other love tricks then glancing with the eyes,
But that the Sun still in our halfe Spheare sweates;
55Hee flies in winter, but he now stands still.
Yet shadowes turne; Noone point he hath attain'd,
His steeds nill bee restrain'd,
But gallop lively downe the Westerne hill;
Thou shalt, when he hath runne the worlds half frame,
60To night put on perfection, and a womans name.
The amorous evening starre is rose,
Why then should not our amorous starre inclose
Her selfe in her wish'd bed? Release your strings
Musicians, and dancers take some truce
65With these your pleasing labours, for great use
As much wearinesse as perfection brings;
You, and not only you, but all toyl'd beasts
Rest duly; at night all their toyles are dispensed;
But in their beds commenced
70Are other labours, and more dainty feasts;
She goes a maid, who, least she turne the same,
To night puts on perfection, and a womans name.
Thy virgins girdle now untie,
And in thy nuptiall bed (loves altar) lye
75A pleasing sacrifice; now dispossesse
Thee of these chaines and robes which were put on
T'adorne the day, not thee; for thou, alone,
Like vertue'and truth, art best in nakednesse;
This bed is onely to virginitie
80A grave, but, to a better state, a cradle;
Till now thou wast but able
To be what now thou art; then that by thee
No more be said, I may bee, but, I am,
To night put on perfection, and a womans name.
85Even like a faithfull man content,
That this life for a better should be spent,
So, shee a mothers rich stile doth preferre,
And at the Bridegroomes wish'd approach doth lye,
Like an appointed lambe, when tenderly
90The priest comes on his knees t'embowell her;
Now sleep or watch with more joy; and O light
Of heaven, to morrow rise thou hot, and early;
This Sun will love so dearely
Her rest, that long, long we shall want her sight;
95Wonders are wrought, for shee which had no maime,
To night puts on perfection, and a womans name.
Epithalamion &c. 1633-69, A18, N, TCC, TCD Epithalamion on a Citizen. A34, B, O'F, S, S96: do. of the La: Eliz: P: Epithalamion. W
4 bodies 1635-69 and MSS.: body 1633
8 smother, 1650-69: smother 1633-39
17 presence Ed: presence, 1633-69. See note
22 faire, rich, glad, and in A18, N, TC, W: faire and rich, in 1633-69, B, O'F, P, S96
25 Patricians,] Patricians 1633
26 Sonns of ... deep oceans, Ed: Some of these Senators wealths deep oceans, 1633, A18, N, TC: Sonnes of these Senatours, wealths deep oceans W: Sonnes of those Senatours, wealths deepe oceans, 1635-69, B, O'F, S96 (but Senators O'F, S96). See note
29 those fellowships] that Fellowship S96
31 bring. W: bring 1633-39: bring, 1650-69
32 straw'd] strow'd 1669
42 thee. 1635-69: thee; 1633
46 All wayes W: Alwaies, 1633: Alwayes, 1635-69
49 Oh winter dayes A34, B, O'F, P, S96, W: Winter dayes 1633-69, A18, N, TC
53 eyes, 1635-69: eyes; 1633
55 still. W: still, 1633-69
57 nill W: will 1633-69 and rest of MSS.: B inserts not. See note
59 runne the worlds halfe frame, A34, B, S96, W: runne the Heavens halfe frame, 1635-69, O'F: come the worlds half frame, 1633, A18, N, TC
60 put] but 1633
72 puts] put 1669
73 Thy virgins girdle 1633-69, W: The Virgin Girdle B, O'F, S96: Thy Virgin girdle P
74 [loves alter] 1633-69
76 were] wee some copies of 1633, Grolier
78 art] are 1669
86 spent, Ed: spent; 1633: spent: 1635-69
95 maime, 1633, W: name, 1635-69, A18, A34, B, N, P, S96, TC