I. THE BANQUET OF SENSE. THE Our broken tunes we thus repair; 2. And we answer them again, Running division on the panting air; Ambo. To celebrate this feast of sense, I. 2. 2. 1. Ambrosiac odours for the smell; Delicious nectar for the taste; Ambo. For the touch a lady's waist, Which doth all the rest excel. Fo From BEN JONSON'S Volpone, or O FORTUNATI! OOLS, they are the only nation Free from care or sorrow-taking, Your fool he is your great man's dearling, And he speaks truth free from slaughter; He's the grace of every feast, And sometimes the chiefest guest; Hath his trencher and his stool, When wit waits upon the fool. O, who would not be 1 Old form of "bauble." VIVAMUS, MEA LESBIA. OME, my Celia, let us prove, Time will not be ours for ever, love, He, at length, our good will sever ; But the sweet thefts to reveal ; These have crimes accounted been. From BEN JONSON'S The Description of the Masque, with the Nuptial Songs, celebrating the happy marriage of John, Lord Ramsay, with the Lady Elizabeth Radcliffe, 1508. EPITHALAMION. ?! youths and virgins! up, and praise The God whose nights outshine his days! Could never boast of brighter lights; Whose bands pass liberty. Two of your troop, that with the morn were free, And what they are, If you'll perfection see, Yourselves must be. Shine, Hesperus ! shine forth, thou wished star! What joy or honours can compare Of years, of states, of hands, of hearts; When in the happy choice The spouse and spoused have the foremost voice! Live what they are And long perfection see: And such ours be. Shine, Hesperus ! shine forth, thou wished star! The solemn state of this one night But there are rites behind Have less of state and more of kind: And fruitful harvest of his mother's blisses. That what these are, May haste to be. Shine, Hesperus ! shine forth, thou wished star! Love's Commonwealth consists of toys; Games, Laughter, Sports, Delights, For now their reign begins, and lasts till day. And in that jar Make all, that married be, Shine, Hesperus! shine forth, thou wished star! 7 Why stays the bridegroom to invade Good-night! whilst yet we may To-morrow rise the same Your mother is, and use a nobler name! That what you are, By your perfection, we And all may see! Shine, Hesperus! shine forth, thou wished star! To-night is Venus' vigil kept, And if the fair bride do, The married say 'tis his fault too. Wake then, and let your lights Wake too, for they'll tell nothing of your nights, But that in Hymen's war You perfect are'; And such perfection we Do pray should be. Shine, Hesperus! shine forth, thou wished star! That, ere the rosy-fingered Morn Of Radcliffe's blood and Ramsay's name; Such fruits of Hymen's war Most perfect are: And all perfection we Wish you should see. Shine, Hesperus ! shine forth, thou wished star! F |