On his lovely body fhower

Leaves of roses, virgin lilies,
Cowflips, violets, daffodilies,

And with garlands drefs the bower.

20

Rittornel of flutes. After which Cupid rifes, and fings with his how drawn.

Yield to the God of foft Defires!

Whofe gentle influence inspires
Every creature

Throughout nature

With sprightly joys and genial fires.

Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs.

Hail, thou potent Deity!

Every creature

Throughout nature

Owns thy power as well as we.

25

30

Enter Hymen in a faffron-coloured robe, a chaplet of flowers on his head, and in his hand the nuptial torch; attended by priests.

HYME N.

Behold a greater power than he,

Behold the Marriage Deity!

Chorus, by Hymen's Attendants.

Behold the Marriage Deity!

CUPID, fmiling.

Behold the God of Houfhold Strife,
That spoils the happy Lover's life,
And turns a Miftrefs to a Wife!

HYME N.

Foolish and inconstant boy!
Thine 's a tranfitory joy;
Sudden fits in Pleafure's fever;
Hymen's bleffings laft for ever.

CUPID.

Hymen's bondage lafts for ever;
Love's free pleafures failing never.

HYME N.

Love's ftolen pleafures, infincere,

35

40

Purchas'd at a rate too dear,
Shame and forrow will deftroy,

45

If Hymen license not the joy.

[Both together.]

Then let us join hands and unite.

Laft Chorus of the Shepherds and Nymphs. How happy, how happy, how happy are we, Where Cupid and Hymen in confort agree! We'll revel all day with fports and delight, And Hymen and Cupid fhall govern the night.

K 4

50

A CAN.

A

CANTAT

VE

SET BY MR. GALLIARD.

RECITATIVE.

ENUS! thy throne of beauty now refign!
Behold on earth a conquering fair,

Who more deferves Love's crown to wear !
Not thy own ftar fo bright in heaven does fine.
Afk of thy fon her name, who with his dart
Has deeply grav'd it in my heart;

Or ask the God of tuneful found,
Who fings it to his lyre,

And does this maid infpire

With his own art, to give a furer wound.

AIR.

Hark! the groves her fongs repeat;
Echo lurks in hollow fprings,
And, transported while she fings,

Learns her voice, and grows more sweet.
RECITATIVE.

Yet Venus once again my fuit attend!

And when from heaven you fhall defcend,
This shining empress to array,

When you prefent her all your train of Loves,
Your chariot, and your murmuring doves,

20

25

Tell her she wants one charm to make the reft more

IN every age, to brighter honours born,

Which loveliest nymphs and sweetest bards adorn, Beauty and Wit each other's aid require, And Poets fing what once the fair inspire;

The Fair for ever thus her charms prolong,
And live rewarded in the tuneful fong.
Thus Sachariffa fhines in Waller's lays,

And the, who rais'd his genius, shares his praise.
Each does in each a mutual life infufe,

Th' inipiring Beauty, the recording Mufe.

10

5

CLAUDIANUS.

IN EPITHALAMIO HONORII ET MARIÆ.

CUNCT

'UNCTATUR ftupefacta Venus, Nunc ora puellæ,
Nunc flavam niveo miratur vertice matrem.

Hæc modo crefcenti, plenæ par altera lunæ :
Affurgit ceu fortè minor fub matre virenti
Laurus; & ingentes ramos, olimque futuras
Promittit jam parva Comas : vel Flore fub uno,
Ceu geminæ Pæftana Rofæ per jugera regnant.
Hæc largo matura die, faturataque Vernis
Roribus, indulget fpatio : latet altera nodo,
Nec teneris audet Foliis admittere foles.

TRANSLATED.

5

Venus coming to a nuptial ceremony, and entering the room, fees the bride and her mother fitting together, &c. On which occafion Claudian makes the following defcription.

ΤΗ

HE Goddess paus'd; and, held in deep amaze,
Now views the mother's, now the daughter's

face;

Different