EPITHALAMIUM.
Written in honour of the nuptials of two young friends.
(1882.)
Moonlight Chant of Fairies, crowned with maple leaves.
Scene:—Mount Royal, Canada.
I. Speed, thou fiery monster, speed, Let thy chariot wheels take heed That they out-strip flight of beagle, Till our Benedict they’ve borne To his little maiden, lorn, In the Land where screams the Eagle.
Linger, star of evening, linger, Like the gem upon her finger, While she sits, her love-notes humming, At her casement, watching, waiting— With her busy heart debating— For the magic of his coming.
II.
The Goblin of Celibacy chagrined.
Scene:—On the border.
Oh—ho! they have escaped my grip; How stupid I, to let them slip! The fools! to lose their free estate! These rash and idiotic pranks, These sly desertions from my ranks Have multiplied so fast of late That few remain, save priests and nuns, And some fastidious elder sons To honour still the heavenly call, And piously their loves resign, Obedient to the word divine, The gospel preached by good St. Paul.