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185 . . . . . . .
Thou, whose purple her arm, the slim
(175) Arm, props happily, boy, depart.
Time the bride be at entering.
Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O
190 Hymen, O Hymenaeus.
You in chastity tried the long
(180) Years, good women of agedest
Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night.
Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O
195 Hymen, O Hymenaeus.
Husband, stay not: a bride within
(185) Coucheth ready, the flowering
Spring less lovely; a countenance
White as parthenice, beyond
200 Yellow poppy to gaze on.
Thou, so help me the favouring
(190) Gods immortal, as heavenly
Fair art also, adorned of
Venus' bounty. The day declines.
205 Come nor tarry to greet her.
Not too slothfully tarrying,
(195) Thou art here. Benediction of
Venus help thee, a man without
Shame of blameless, a love that is
210 Honest frankly revealing.
Dust of infinite Africa,
(200) Stars that sparkle, a myriad
Host, who measureth, your delights
He shall tell them, ineffable,
215 Multitudinous, over.
Make your happy delight, renew'd
(205) Soon in children. A glorious
Name and olden is ill without
Children, unto the first a new
220 Stock as goodly begetting.
Some Torquatus, a beauteous
(210) Babe, on motherly breasts to thee
Stretching, father, his innocent
Hands, smile softly from inchoate
225 Lips half-open a welcome.
Like his father, a Mallius
(215) New presented, of every
Eyeing stranger allowed his own;
Mother's chastity moulded in
230 Features childly revealing.