| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | Epithalamium | | By John Dryden (1631–1700) |
| | (From Amboyna, 1673)
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 midst the throng; | |
| He destin’d to himself this Sun, | 5 |
| And took the Reins and drove him on; | |
| In his own Beams he drest him bright, | |
| Yet bid him bring a better night. | |
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| The day you wish’d arriv’d at last, | |
| You wish as much that it were past, | 10 |
| One minute more and night will hide, | |
| The Bridegroom and the blushing Bride. | |
| The Virgin now to Bed does go; | |
| Take care, oh Youth, she rise not so; | |
| She pants and trembles at her doom, | 15 |
| And fears and wishes thou wou’dst come. | |
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| The Bridegroom comes, He comes apace | |
| With Love and Fury in his Face; | |
| She shrinks away, He close pursues, | |
| And Pray’rs and Threats at once does use, | 20 |
| 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. | | | | |
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