A BRIDAL SONG.

ROSES, their sharp spines being gone,
Not royal in their smells alone,

But in their hue;
Maiden-pinks, of odour faint;
Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint,

And sweet thyme true;
Primrose, first-born child of Ver,
Merry spring-time's harbinger,
With her bells dim;
Oxlips in their cradles growing,
Marigolds on death-beds blowing,
Lark-heels trim;

All dear Nature's children sweet,
Lie 'fore bride and bridegroom's feet,
Blessing their sense!

Not an angel of the air,
Bird melodious, or bird fair,

Be absent hence!

The crow, the slanderous cuckoo, nor The boding raven, nor chough hoar, Nor chattering pie,

May on our bride-house perch or sing, Or with them any discord bring,

But from it fly!

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.

OUR lot is cast on pleasant days,

In not unpleasant places; Young ladies now have pretty ways, As well as pretty faces;

So never sigh for what has been,
And let us cease complaining
That we have loved when our dear Queen
VICTORIA was reigning.

Oh yes, young love is lovely yet,
With faith and honour plighted:
I love to see a pair so met,
Youth-Beauty-all united.
Such dear ones may they ever wear
The roses fortune gave them :

Ah, know we such a BLESSED PAIR ?
I think we do! GOD SAVE THEM!

FREDERICK LOCKER.
London Lyrics. (K. Paul.)

FULI. many an age old Hymen had not spied So kind a bridegroom, or so bright a bride. ALEXANDER POPE.

I'VE greeted many a bonny bride

On many a bridal day,

In homes serene and summer-skied,
Where Love's spring-buds, with joy and pride,
Had blossomed into May;

But ne'er on lovelier bride than thine
Looked these delighted eyes of mine,

And ne'er in happier bridal bower
Than hers smiled rose and orange-flower
Through green leaves glad and gay,
When bridesmaids, grouped around her room
In youth's, in truth's, in beauty's bloom,
Entwined, with merry fingers fair,
Their garlands in her sunny hair;
Or bosomed them, with graceful art,
Above the beatings of her heart.

J. FITZ-GREENE HALLECK.

BLESSED is the bridegroom under shower or sun; Blessed is the bride whom love's light shines on. AUTHOR OF "JOHN HALIFAX,

GENTLEMAN."

Thirty Years. (Macmillan.)

BRIDE and bridegroom, pilgrims of life, hencefor

ward to travel together,

In this the beginning of your journey, neglect not the favour of heaven :

Let the day of hopes fulfilled be blest by many

prayers,

And at even-tide kneel ye together, that your joy be

not unhallowed:

Angels that are round you will be glad, those

loving ministers of mercy,

And the richest blessings of your God shall be poured on his favoured children.

MARTIN F. TUPPER.

Proverbial Philosophy. (Ward, Lock, and Co.)

BLESSED is the bridegroom without crown or lands; Blessed is the bride with her heart in her hands.

AUTHOR OF "JOHN HALIFAX,

GENTLEMAN."

Thirty Years. (Macmillan.)

GOD, the best maker of all marriages,

Combine your hearts in one!

WILLIAM SHAKSPERE. Henry V.

WEDDING WORDS.

A JEWEL for my lady's ear,

A jewel for her finger fine,
A diamond for her bosom dear,
Her bosom that is mine.

Dear glances for my lady's eyes,

Dear looks around her form to twine, Dear kisses for the lips I prize,

Her dear lips that are mine.

Dear breathings to her, soft and low,
Of how my lot she's made divine,
Dear silences my love that show

For her whose love is mine.

Dear cares no cloud shall shade her way,

That gladness only on her shine,

That she be happy as the May
Whose lot is one with mine.

PURE is the Temple wherein Love doth dwell,
Founded in Truth and reared in Charity,
And through its windows open to the sky
Evening and Morn their wondrous tale should tell;
And clearer light, by men invisible,

Should lead the pilgrims through the columned aisle,

Or bid them stay their course and rest awhile,
As He shall will who orders all things well.
Into that Temple ye, young hearts and true,
Have found your way with steps sedate and
calm;

And Love shall guide you, making all things new,
Content to bear the cross, or wear the palm,
And, should the years be many or be few,
Still through its vaults shall ring your clear
melodious psalm.

II.

A. N. AND E. H.

YES, take your way upon the path of life,

And do your work while yet 'tis called to-day, And, as ye start, shall friends devoutly pray, That God may bless the husband and the wife. Linked are ye now for no ignoble strife,

Conflict with many a foe without, within, Tempters that oft their subtle victory win, And mar the joy wherewith the dawn was rife.

1 Formerly, in betrothals or espousals, the man received as well as gave a ring.