208. Bridal Song

John Fletcher. 1579-1625


CYNTHIA, to thy power and thee
          We obey.
Joy to this great company!
          And no day
Come to steal this night away
  Till the rites of love are ended,
And the lusty bridegroom say,
  Welcome, light, of all befriended!

Pace out, you watery powers below;
          Let your feet,
Like the galleys when they row,
          Even beat;
Let your unknown measures, set
  To the still winds, tell to all
That gods are come, immortal, great,
  To honour this great nuptial!

The Oxford Book of English Verse, HTML edition