With bright white bedstead foot.What joys the lord of thee betide!What love-liesse on vaguing way0' nights! What sweets in morning tideFor thee be stored! Yet wanes the day:Prithee, come forth fresh Bride!Your lighted links, 0 boys, wave high:I see the flamey veil draw nigh:Hie, sing in merry mode and cry"0 Hymen Hymenaeus io,0 Hymen Hymenaeus!"Lest longer mute tongue stays that joysIn festal jest, from Fescennine,Nor yet denay their nuts to boys,He-Concubine! who learns in fineHis lordling's love is fled.Throw nuts to boys thou idle allHe-Concubine! wast fain full longWith nuts to play: now pleased as thrallBe thou to swell Talasios' throng:He-Concubine throw nuts.Wont thou at peasant-girls to japeHe-whore! Thy Lord's delight the while:Now shall hair-curling chattel scrapeThy cheeks: poor wretch, ah! poor and vile:—He-Concubine, throw nuts.'Tis said from smooth-faced ingle train(Anointed bridegroom!) hardly fainHast e'er refrained; now do refrain!O Hymen Hymenaeus io,O Hymen Hymenaeus!We know that naught save licit ritesBe known to thee, but wedded wightsNo more deem lawful such delights.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,O Hymen Hymenaeus.Thou too, 0 Bride, whatever dareThy groom, of coy rebuff beware,Lest he to find elsewhither fare.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,O Hymen Hymenaeus.Lo! here the house of high degreeThy husband's puissant home to be,Which ever shall obey thy gree.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,O Hymen Hymenaeus!Till Time betide when eld the hoarThy head and temples trembling o'erMake nod to all things evermore.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,0 Hymen Hymenaeus.O'erstep with omen meetest meetThe threshold-stone thy golden feetUp, past the polisht panels fleet.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,O Hymen Hymerneus.Within bestrewn thy bridegroom seeOn couch of Tyrian cramoisyAll imminent awaiting thee.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,O Hymen Hymenaeus.For in his breast not less than thineBurn high the flames that deepest shrine,Yet his the lowe far deeper lien.O Hymen Hymemeus io,O Hymen Hymenaeus.Let fall the maid's soft arms, thou fairBoy purple-hem'd: now be thy careHer bridegroom's couch she seek and share.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,0 Hymen Hymenaeus.Ye wives time-tried to husbands wed,Well-known for chastity inbred,Dispose the virginette a-bed.O Hymen Hymenaeus io,0 Hymen Hymenaeus.Groom, now 'tis meet thou hither pace,With bride in genial bed to blend,For sheenly shines her flowery faceWhere the white chamomiles contendWith poppies blushing red.Yet bridegroom (So may Godhead deignHelp me!) nowise in humbler wayArt fair, nor Venus shall disdainThy charms, but look! how wanes the day:Forward, nor loiter more!No longer loitering makest thou,Now comest thou. May Venus goodAid thee when frankly takest thouThy wishes won, nor true Love woo'dThou carest to conceal.Of Afric's wolds and wilds each grain,Or constellations glistening,