YouthsE'en as an unmated vine which born in field of the barestNever upraises head nor breeds the mellowy grape-bunch,But under weight prone-bowed that tender body a-bendingMakes she her root anon to touch her topmost of tendrils;Tends her never a hind nor tends her ever a herdsman:Yet if haply conjoined the same with elm as a husband,Tends her many a hind and tends her many a herdsman:Thus is the maid when whole, uncultured waxes she aged;But whenas union meet she wins her at ripest of seasons,More to her spouse she is dear and less she's irk to her parents.Hymen O Hymenaeus, Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!

Youths and DamselsBut do thou cease to resist (O Maid!) such bridegroom opposing,Right it is not to resist whereto consigned thee a father,Father and mother of thee unto whom obedience is owing.Not is that maidenhood all thine own, but partly thy parents!Owneth thy sire one third, one third is right of thy mother,Only the third is thine: stint thee to strive with the others,Who to the stranger son have yielded their dues with a dower!Hymen O Hymenaeus: Hymen here, O Hymenaeus!