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 So ebb'd and flow'd in Eucharis's face, Coyness and Love striv'd which had greatest grace: Virginity did fight on Coyness' side, Fear of her parents' frowns, and female pride Loathing the lower place, more than it loves The high contents desert and virtue moves. With Love fought Hymen's beauty and his valure, Which scarce could so much favour yet allure To come to strike, but fameless idle stood, Action is fiery valour's sovereign good. But Love once enter'd, wish'd no greater aid Than he could find within; thought, thought betray'd; The brib'd, but incorrupted garrison, Sung Io Hymen; there those songs begun, And Love was grown so rich with such a gain, And wanton with the ease of his free reign, That he would turn into her roughest frowns To turn them out; and thus he Hymen crowns King of his thoughts, man's greatest empery: This was his first brave step to deity.

Home to the mourning city they repair, With news as wholesome as the morning air,