Classic Poem

SONGS

I

EPITHALAMIUM

I

The day is come, I see it rise,
Betwixt the bride's and bridegroom's eyes;
That golden day they wish'd so long,
Love pick'd it out amidst the throng;
He destin'd to himself this sun,
And took the reins, and drove him on;
In his own beams he dress'd him bright,
Yet bid him bring a better night.

II

The day you wish'd arriv'd at last,
You wish as much that it were past;
One minute more, and night will hide
The bridegroom and the blushing bride.
The virgin now to bed does go:
Take care, O youth, she rise not so:
She pants and trembles aTher doom,
And fears and wishes thou wouldst come.

III

The bridegroom comes, he comes apace,
With love and fury in his face;
She shrinks away, he close pursues,
And prayers and threats at once does use.
She, softly sighing, begs delay,
And with her hand puts his away;
Now out aloud for help she cries,
And now despairing shuts her eyes.

II

W HO ever saw a noble sight,
That never view'd a brave sea-fight!
Hang up your bloody colors in the air,
Up with your fights, and your nettings prepare;
Your merry mates cheer, with a lusty bold sprite,
Now each man his brindice, and then to the fight.
St. George , St. George , we cry,
The shouting Turks reply.
O now it begins, and the gun-room grows hot;
Ply it with culverin and with small shot;
Hark, does it not thunder? no, 'tis the guns' roar,
The neighboring billows are turn'd into gore;
Now each man must resolve to die,
For here the coward cannot fly.
Drums and trumpets toll the knell,
And culverins the passing bell.
Now, now they grapple, and now board amain;
Blow up the hatches, they're off all again:
Give 'em a broadside, the dice run at all;
Down comes the mast and yard, and tacklings fall.
She grows giddy now, like blind Fortune's wheel,
She sinks there, she sinks, she turns up her keel.
Who ever beheld so noble a sight,
As this so brave, so bloody sea-fight!