TWO SONGS

AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE LORD FAUCONBERG
AND THE LADY MARY CROMWELL.
 

FIRST SONG.

CHORUS, ENDYMION,LUNA.               
 

    Chorus.    THE astrologer's own eyes are set,
And even wolves the sheep forget ;
Only this shepherd, late and soon,
Upon this hill outwakes the moon ;
Hark how he sings with sad delight,
Thorough the clear and silent night !
 
    Endymion.    CYNTHIA, O CYNTHIA,turn thine ear,
Nor scorn ENDYMION'S plaintsto hear !
As we our flocks, so you command
The fleecy clouds with silver wand.                10 
 
    Cynthia.    If thou a mortal, rather sleep ;
Or if a shepherd, watch thy sheep.
 
    Endymion.    The shepherd, since he saw thine eyes,
And sheep, are both thy sacrifice ;
Nor merits he a mortal's name,
That burns with an immortal flame.
 
    Cynthia.    I have enough for me to do,
Ruling the waves that ebb and flow.
 
    Endymion.    Since thou disdain'st not then to share
On sublunary things thy care,                         20
Rather restrain these double seas,
Mine eyes, incessant deluges.
 
    Cynthia.    My wakeful lamp all night must move,
Securing their repose above.
 
    Endymion.    If therefore thy resplendent ray
Can make a night more bright than day,
Shine thorough this obscurer breast,
With shades of deep despair oppressed.
 
    Chorus.    Courage, ENDYMION, boldly woo !
ANCHISES was a shepherd too,                        30
Yet is her younger sister laid
Sporting with him in IDA'Sshade :
       And CYNTHIA,though the strongest,
Seeks but the honour to have held out longest.
 
    Endymion.    Here unto Latmos' top I climb,
How far below thine orb sublime !
O why, as well as eyes to see,
Have I not arms that reach to thee ?
 
    Cynthia.    'Tis needless then that I refuse,
Would you but your own reason use.             40
 
    Endymion.    Though I so high may not pretend,
It is the same, so you descend.
 
    Cynthia.    These stars would say I do them wrong,
Rivals, each one, for thee too strong.
 
    Endymion.    The stars are fixed unto their sphere
And cannot, though they would, come near.
Less loves set off each other's praise,
While stars eclipse by mixing rays.
 
    Cynthia.    That cave is dark.
 
    Endymion.                       Then none can spy :                   
Or shine thou there, and 'tis the sky.               50
 
    Chorus.                 Joy to ENDYMION !
For he has CYNTHIA'S favourwon,
            And JOVE himself approves
With his serenest influence their loves.
    For he did never love to pair
    His progeny above the air ;
    But to be honest, valiant, wise,
Makes mortals matches fit for deities.
 



SECOND SONG.

HOBBINOL, PHILLIS, TOMALIN.



 Hobbinol. PHILLIS, TOMALIN,away !
Never such a merry day,
For the northern shepherd's son
Has MENALCA'S daughter won.
 
 Phillis. Stay till I some flowers have tied
In a garland for the bride.
 
 Tomalin. If thou wouldst a garland bring,
PHILLIS, you may wait the spring :
They have chosen such an hour
When she is the only flower.                                 10
 
 Phillis. Let's not then, at least, be seen
Without each a sprig of green.
 
 Hobbinol. Fear not ; at MENALCA'Shall
There are bays enough for all.
He, when young as we, did graze,
But when old he planted bays.
 
 Tomalin. Here she comes ; but with a look
Far more catching than my hook ;
'Twas those eyes, I now dare swear,
Led our lambs we know not where.                     20
 
 Hobbinol. Not our lambs' own fleeces are
Curled so lovely as her hair,
Nor our sheep new-washed can be
Half so white or sweet as she.
 
 Phillis. He so looks as fit to keep
Somewhat else than silly sheep.
 
 Hobbinol. Come, let's in some carol new
Pay to love and them their due.
 
 All.     Joy to that happy pair,                                   [30
Whose hopes united banish our despair.
    What shepherd could for love pretend,
Whilst all the nymphs on DAMON'Schoice attend ?
    What shepherdess could hope to wed
    Before MARINA'Sturn were sped ?
    Now lesser beauties may take place,
And meaner virtues come in play ;
                                  While they,
                                   Looking from high,
                                   Shall grace
Our flocks and us with a propitious eye.              40
    But what is most, the gentle swain
    No more shall need of love complain ;
    But virtue shall be beauty's hire,
And those be equal, that have equal fire.
    MARINA yields.  Who dares be coy ?
Or who despair, now DAMON does enjoy ?
             Joy to that happy pair,
Whose hopes united banish our despair !

 
Source:
Marvell, Andrew.The Poems of Andrew Marvell.
G. A. Aitken, Ed. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1892.113-118.

to Andrew Marvell


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