Cloke her in ermine, for the night is cold, And wrap her warmly, for the night is long, In pious hands the flaming torches hold, While her attendants, chosen from among 20 Her faithful virgin throng,

May lay her in her cedar litter, Decking her coverlet with sprigs of gold, Roses, and lilies white that best befit her.

Sound flute and tabor, that the bridal be 25
Not without music, nor with these alone;
But let the viol lead the melody,
With lesser intervals, and plaintive moan
Of sinking semitone;

30

And, all in choir, the virgin voices Rest not from singing in skilled harmony The song that aye the bridegroom's ear rejoices.

Let the priests go before, arrayed in white,
And let the dark-stoled minstrels follow slow,
Next they that bear her, honoured on this
night,

And then the maidens, in a double row,
Each singing soft and low,

35

And each on high a torch upstaying: Unto her lover lead her forth with light, With music, and with singing, and with praying.

40

And idly tuneful, the loquacious throng

. Flutter and twitter, prodigal of time, 130 And little masters make a toy of song

Till grave men weary of the sound of rhyme.

And some go prankt in faded antique dress, Abhorring to be hale and glad and free; And some parade a conscious naturalness, 135 The scholar's not the child's simplicity.

Enough; and wisest who from words forbear.

The kindly river rails not as it glides; And suave and charitable, the winning air Chides not at all, or only him who chides.

VI

140