(175)
Time the bride be at entering.
Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O
Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 190

You in chastity tried the long
Years, good women of agedest (180)
Husbands, lay ye the bride to-night.
Hymen, O Hymenaeus, O
Hymen, O Hymenaeus. 195

Husband, stay not: a bride within
Coucheth ready, the flowering (185)
Spring less lovely; a countenance
White as parthenice, beyond
Yellow poppy to gaze on. 200

Thou, so help me the favouring
Gods immortal, as heavenly (190)
Fair art also, adorned of
Venus' bounty. The day declines.
Come nor tarry to greet her. 205

Not too slothfully tarrying,
Thou art here. Benediction of (195)
Venus help thee, a man without
Shame of blameless, a love that is
Honest frankly revealing. 210

Dust of infinite Africa,
Stars that sparkle, a myriad (200)
Host, who measureth, your delights
He shall tell them, ineffable,
Multitudinous, over. 215

Make your happy delight, renew'd
Soon in children. A glorious (205)
Name and olden is ill without
Children, unto the first a new
Stock as goodly begetting. 220

Some Torquatus, a beauteous
Babe, on motherly breasts to thee (210)
Stretching, father, his innocent
Hands, smile softly from inchoate
Lips half-open a welcome. 225

Like his father, a Mallius
New presented, of every (215)
Eyeing stranger allowed his own;
Mother's chastity moulded in
Features childly revealing. 230

Glory speak of him issuing
Child of mother as excellent (220)
She, as only that age-renown'd
Wife, whose story Telemachus
Blazons, Penelopea.