iso JANUARY AND MAY.

And now the palace-gates are open’d wide, 3 i5The guefts appear in order, fide by fide,

And plac’d in ftate, the bridegroom and the bride,The breathing flute’s foft notes are heard around,Add the flirill trumpets mix their filver found;The vaulted roofs with echoing mnfick ring, 3soThefe touch the vocal flops,and thofe the tremblingfiring.

Not thus Ampliion tun’d the warbling lyre,

Nor Joab the founding clarion could infpire,Nor fierce Theodomas, wliofe fprightly ftrainCould fwell the foul to rage, and fire the martialtrain,

Bacchus himfelf, the nuptial feaft to grace, 326,(So Poets ling) was prefent on the place :

And lovely Venus, Goddefs of delight,

Shook high her flaming torch in open light,And danc’d around, and fmil’d on ev’ry knight:Pleas’d her bell fervant would his courage try, 33 1No lefs in wedlock, than in liberty.

Full many an age old Hymen had not fpy’dSo kind a bridegroom, or fo bright a bride.

Ye bards! renown’d among the tuneful throng335For gentle lays, and joyous nuptial fong;

Think not your foftefi numbers can difplayr I he matchlefs glories of this blifsful day;

The joys are fuch, as far tranfcend your rage,When tender youth has wedded Hooping age. 340The beauteous dame late Imiling at the board,And darted am’rous glances at her Lord.