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But there are rights behind

Have less of state, but more of kind:
Love's wealthy crop of kisses,

And fruitful harvest of his mother's blisses.
Sound then to Hymen's war:
That what these are,

Who will perfection see,

May haste to be.

Shine, Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished star!

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Love's commonwealth consists of toys;
His council are those antic boys,
Games, Laughter, Sports, Delights,

That triumph with him on these nights:
To whom we must give way,

For now their reign begins, and lasts till day.
They sweeten Hymen's war,
And, in that jar,

Make all, that married be,
Perfection see.

Shine, Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished star!

Why stays the bridegroom to invade
Her, that would be a matron made?
Good-night, whilst yet we may
Good-night, to you, a virgin, say:
To-morrow rise the same

Your mother is, and use a nobler name.
Speed well in Hymen's war,

That, what you are,

By your perfection, we

And all may see.

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To-night is Venus' vigil kept.

This night no bridegroom ever slept ;
And if the fair bride do,

The married say, 'tis his fault too.
Wake then, and let your lights

Wake too; for they'll tell nothing of your nights
But, that in Hymen's war,

You perfect are.

And such perfection, we

Do pray should be.

Shine, Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished star!

That, ere the rosy-finger'd morn
Behold nine moons, there may be born
A babe, t'uphold the fame

Of Ratcliffe's blood, and Ramsey's name :
That may, in his great seed,

Wear the long honours of his father's deed.
Such fruits of Hymen's war

Most perfect are:

And all perfection, we

Wish you should see.

Shine, Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished star!

Lyrics and Occasional pieces.

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