Put on thy Holy Fillitings, and so To th' Temple with the sober Midwife go. Attended thus (in a most solemn wise) By those who serve the Child-bed misteries. Burn first thine incense; next, when as thou see'st The candid Stole thrown ore the Pious Priest; With reverend Curtsies come, and to him bring Thy free (and not decurted) offering. All Rites well ended, with faire Auspice come (As to the breaking of a Bride-Cake) home: Where ceremonious Hymen shall for thee Provide a second Epithalamie. She who keeps chastly to her husbands side Is not for one, but every night his Bride: And stealing still with love, and feare to Bed, Brings him not one, but many a Maiden-head. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY ORCHA'D IN LINDEN LEA by WILLIAM BARNES THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 88. A DAY IN SUSSEX by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES ODE ON THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON by ALFRED TENNYSON CHELSEA by LILLIAN M. (PETTES) AINSWORTH THE COMMON A-TOOK IN by WILLIAM BARNES |