An Epithalamy To Sir Thomas Southwell And His Lady Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEFGG A HHIIIIJJII A KLMMNNIIII O IIAHPPQRII H IISSTTUUII A IIVVOOWWOO O IIXYZZYYII O IIYYUUA2B2C2C2 Y D2D2IIIIE2E2F2F2 Y G2G2IIAAYYC2C2 Y YYIIIIQH2II Y I2I2UUJ2J2YYYY Y YYK2K2IIYYL2L2 O M2N2C2C2IIOOUU O B2B2YYO2O2P2P2II O YYOOIIIIII O Q2Q2IIIIYYR2R2

IA
-
Now now's the time so oft by truthB
Promis'd should come to crown your youthB
Then fair ones do not wrongC
Your joys by staying longC
Or let love's fire go outD
By lingering thus in doubtD
But learn that time once lostE
Is ne'er redeem'd by costF
Then away come Hymen guideG
To the bed the bashful brideG
-
-
IIA
-
Is it sweet maid your fault these holyH
Bridal rites go on so slowlyH
Dear is it this you dreadI
The loss of maidenheadI
Believe me you will mostI
Esteem it when 'tis lostI
Then it no longer keepJ
Lest issue lie asleepJ
Then away come Hymen guideI
To the bed the bashful brideI
-
-
IIIA
-
These precious pearly purling tearsK
But spring from ceremonious fearsL
And 'tis but native shameM
That hides the loving flameM
And may a while controlN
The soft and am'rous soulN
But yet love's fire will wasteI
Such bashfulness at lastI
Then away come Hymen guideI
To the bed the bashful brideI
-
-
IVO
-
Night now hath watch'd herself half blindI
Yet not a maidenhead resign'dI
'Tis strange ye will not flyA
To love's sweet mysteryH
Might yon full moon the sweetsP
Have promised to your sheetsP
She soon would leave her sphereQ
To be admitted thereR
Then away come Hymen guideI
To the bed the bashful brideI
-
-
VH
-
On on devoutly make no stayI
While Domiduca leads the wayI
And Genius who attendsS
The bed for lucky endsS
With Juno goes the HoursT
And Graces strewing flowersT
And the boys with sweet tunes singU
Hymen O Hymen bringU
Home the turtles Hymen guideI
To the bed the bashful brideI
-
-
VIA
-
Behold how Hymen's taper lightI
Shows you how much is spent of nightI
See see the bridegroom's torchV
Half wasted in the porchV
And now those tapers fiveO
That show the womb shall thriveO
Their silv'ry flames advanceW
To tell all prosp'rous chanceW
Still shall crown the happy lifeO
Of the goodman and the wifeO
-
-
VIIO
-
Move forward then your rosy feetI
And make whate'er they touch turn sweetI
May all like flowery meadsX
Smell where your soft foot treadsY
And everything assumeZ
To it the like perfumeZ
As Zephyrus when he 'spiresY
Through woodbine and sweetbriarsY
Then away come Hymen guideI
To the bed the bashful brideI
-
-
VIIIO
-
And now the yellow veil at lastI
Over her fragrant cheek is castI
Now seems she to expressY
A bashful willingnessY
Showing a heart consentingU
As with a will repentingU
Then gently lead her onA2
With wise suspicionB2
For that matrons say a measureC2
Of that passion sweetens pleasureC2
-
-
IXY
-
You you that be of her nearest kinD2
Now o'er the threshold force her inD2
But to avert the worstI
Let her her fillets firstI
Knit to the posts this pointI
Remembering to anointI
The sides for 'tis a charmE2
Strong against future harmE2
And the evil deads the whichF2
There was hidden by the witchF2
-
-
XY
-
O Venus thou to whom is knownG2
The best way how to loose the zoneG2
Of virgins tell the maidI
She need not be afraidI
And bid the youth applyA
Close kisses if she cryA
And charge he not forbearsY
Her though she woo with tearsY
Tell them now they must adventureC2
Since that love and night bid enterC2
-
-
XIY
-
No fatal owl the bedstead keepsY
With direful notes to fright your sleepsY
No furies here aboutI
To put the tapers outI
Watch or did make the bedI
'Tis omen full of dreadI
But all fair signs appearQ
Within the chamber hereH2
Juno here far off doth standI
Cooling sleep with charming wandI
-
-
XIIY
-
Virgins weep not 'twill come whenI2
As she so you'll be ripe for menI2
Then grieve her not with sayingU
She must no more a mayingU
Or by rosebuds divineJ2
Who'll be her valentineJ2
Nor name those wanton reaksY
You've had at barley breaksY
But now kiss her and thus sayY
Take time lady while ye mayY
-
-
XIIIY
-
Now bar the doors the bridegroom putsY
The eager boys to gather nutsY
And now both love and timeK2
To their full height do climbK2
Oh give them active heatI
And moisture both completeI
Fit organs for increaseY
To keep and to releaseY
That which may the honour'd stemL2
Circle with a diademL2
-
-
XIVO
-
And now behold the bed or couchM2
That ne'er knew bride's or bridegroom's touchN2
Feels in itself a fireC2
And tickled with desireC2
Pants with a downy breastI
As with a heart possesstI
Shrugging as it did moveO
Ev'n with the soul of loveO
And oh had it but a tongueU
Doves 'twould say ye bill too longU
-
-
XVO
-
O enter then but see ye shunB2
A sleep until the act be doneB2
Let kisses in their closeY
Breathe as the damask roseY
Or sweet as is that gumO2
Doth from Panchaia comeO2
Teach nature now to knowP2
Lips can make cherries growP2
Sooner than she ever yetI
In her wisdom could begetI
-
-
XVIO
-
On your minutes hours days months yearsY
Drop the fat blessing of the spheresY
That good which heav'n can giveO
To make you bravely liveO
Fall like a spangling dewI
By day and night on youI
May fortune's lily handI
Open at your commandI
With all lucky birds to sideI
With the bridegroom and the brideI
-
-
XVIIO
-
Let bounteous Fate s your spindles fullQ2
Fill and wind up with whitest woolQ2
Let them not cut the threadI
Of life until ye bidI
May death yet come at lastI
And not with desp'rate hasteI
But when ye both can sayY
Come let us now awayY
Be ye to the barn then borneR2
Two like two ripe shocks of cornR2

Robert Herrick



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about An Epithalamy To Sir Thomas Southwell And His Lady poem by Robert Herrick


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 0 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets