Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN EPITHALAMIUM, by THOMAS RANDOLPH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN EPITHALAMIUM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Bliss court thee, sweetest soul, and fall as thick
Last Line: Thy praise is all thine own -- thy name.
Subject(s): Wedding Song; Epithalamium


BLISS court thee, sweetest soul, and fall as thick
That it outwit our poor arithmetic!
'Mongst all those joys which from the holy shrine
As you return'd the virgins gave, let mine,
I pray, let entertainment, for they come
To sing in your epithalamium.
O, prove so happy in thy nuptial,
That when, beleaguer'd, slow-faith virgins shall
Cruelly deliberate, and refuse
The rights of Hvmen, all our youths may use
This rare stratagem: tell them but a story
Of thy blest bridal's fortune, and their glory
Which must so hale them, that they straight will be
All wives, in hope to be as blest as thee.
Heaven send a sweet-fac'd heir, a chopping boy,
To make thee sport at home! O, what joy
'Twould be to view both your portraitures done
So rarely to the life, and that in one!
In thee both soul and body are
Equally noble, rich, and fair.
Outward and inward graces kiss,
'Cause virtue is alone thy bliss.
Nor is this stol'n or borrow'd fame:
Thy praise is all thine own -- thy name.





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