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Merry Songs and Ballads
THE BRIDE’S FIRST NIGHT
[c. 1610–20]
[By “W. C.”; from Rawlinson MS., Poet. 214, leaf 71, back].
Being entered, and the bed with all thinges sett,
Vpon the side thereof a while they sitt.
when left alone, they talke and toy & smile,
She, whilst she canne, the tyme seeks to beguile,
till sudingly her cheekes are all bewept,
to loose so soone what she so long hath kept;
& oft she castes her eyes vpon the place
where she is to wrastle; and she highdes her face.
He with such gentle force compells the Lasse,
as would not breake her, were she made of glasse,
so loth he is to hurt her; yet he throwghs
her softly downe, and to her side he growes.
Venus begins to teach them a new trade,
The marrage quene here playes the chamber-maide:
Juno her-selfe, whose new affections growne,
and there attends to teach them Marse vnknowne,
Vpon the side thereof a while they sitt.
when left alone, they talke and toy & smile,
She, whilst she canne, the tyme seeks to beguile,
till sudingly her cheekes are all bewept,
to loose so soone what she so long hath kept;
& oft she castes her eyes vpon the place
where she is to wrastle; and she highdes her face.
He with such gentle force compells the Lasse,
as would not breake her, were she made of glasse,
so loth he is to hurt her; yet he throwghs
her softly downe, and to her side he growes.
Venus begins to teach them a new trade,
The marrage quene here playes the chamber-maide:
Juno her-selfe, whose new affections growne,
and there attends to teach them Marse vnknowne,
MERRY SONGS V.
