| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| Holy Matrimony |
| | | John Keble (1792–1866) |
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| THE VOICE that breath’d o’er Eden, | |
| That earliest wedding-day, | |
| The primal marriage blessing, | |
| It hath not pass’d away. | |
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| Still in the pure espousal | 5 |
| Of Christian man and maid, | |
| The holy Three are with us, | |
| The threefold grace is said. | |
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| For dower of blessed children, | |
| For love and faith’s sweet sake, | 10 |
| For high mysterious union, | |
| Which nought on earth may break. | |
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| Be present, awful Father, | |
| To give away this bride, | |
| As Eve thou gav’st to Adam | 15 |
| Out of his own pierced side: | |
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| Be present, Son of Mary, | |
| To join their loving hands, | |
| As thou didst bind two natures | |
| In thine eternal bands: | 20 |
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| Be present, Holiest Spirit, | |
| To bless them as they kneel, | |
| As thou for Christ, the Bridegroom, | |
| The heavenly Spouse dost seal. | |
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| Oh, spread thy pure wing o’er them, | 25 |
| Let no ill power find place, | |
| When onward to thine altar | |
| The hallow’d path they trace, | |
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| To cast their crowns before thee | |
| In perfect sacrifice, | 30 |
| Till to the home of gladness | |
| With Christ’s own Bride they rise. AMEN. | |
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