Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/153

 EDMUND SPENSER

Early, before the worlds light-giving lampe

His golden beame upon the hils doth spred,

Having disperst the nights unchcarefull dampc,

Doc yc awake; and, with fresh lusty-hed,

Go to the bowre of my beloved love,

My truest turtle dove,

Bid her awake, for Hymen is awake,

And long since ready forth his maske to move,

With his bright Tcad that flames with many a flake,

And many a bachelor to waite on him,

In thcyr fresh garments trim.

Bid her awake therefore, and soone her dight,

For lo f the wished day is come at last,

That shall, for all the pannes and sorrowes past,

Pay to her usurv of long delight

And, whvlest she doth her dight,

Doc \c to her of joy and solace sing,

That all the woods may answer, and your cccho ring.

Bring with you all the Nymphes that you can hcare

Both of the rivers and the forrests grccne,

And of the sea that neighbours to her nearer

Al with gay girlands goodly wel besecne.

And let them also with them bring in hand

Another gay girland

For my fayre love, of li lives and of roses,

Bound truelove wize, with a blew silke riband.

And let them make great store of bridalc poses,

And let them eekc bring store of other flowers,

To deck the biidalc bowers.

And let the ground whereas her foot shall tread,

tead] torch.

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