EPITHALAMIUM On the Auspicious Match, betwixt the Right Honourable. The Earl of WIGTOUN And the truely Vertuous Lady MARGARET LINDSAY Daughter to the Right Honourable, The Earl of BALCARROS.

NOW is the Time the Origin of Light,
Doth equally divide our Day from Night.
When the Musicians of the Air do sing
Melodious Notes to welcome in the Spring
When each of them do choose their proper Mate,
And Bill, and Hugg, and closly Copulate,
More through the Force of Love than Phoebus Heat,
This is the time when Hymen choos'd to join
This Worthy pair, and to make one of twain;
They're both descended of an Ancient Race
Which a long train of Noble Worthies Grace,
Both in the Flower of Age, and Venus Spring,
Are equally adorn'd in every thing;
He is a stately Personage and fair,
Endeu'd with each Accomplishment that's Rare,
Of nature, or Refined Literature,
Her very name insinuats her praise,
She is a Pearl indeed, and of great Price
She's Frugal, Chast, and Beautious and Wise,
Like the Wise Merchant in the Gospel Hee
Hath found the Pearl and hid Treasurie,
Which in true Computation is far more
Then all the Riches on the Eastern shoor,
And in Requital doth himself Bequeath,
A greater prise then either India hath;
The Conquest's Equal, Equal is the prise,
The acquisition's a sweet Paradise
On either side, it doth surpass my Skill
T'express the pleasure that they both shall feel,
When he and she in Hymens name shall bow,
And pay to each the duty that they owe.
A. B.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.