by Edmund Spenser (1552 - 1599)

And thou, great Iuno! which with awful...
Language: English 
And thou, great Iuno! which with awful might 
The lawes of wedlock still dost patronize,
And the religion of the faith first plight
With sacred rites hast taught to solemnize,
And eke for comfort often called art
Of women in their smart, 
Eternally bind thou this lovely band,
And all thy blessings unto us impart.
And thou, glad Genius! in whose gentle hand
The bridale bowre and geniall bed remaine,
Without blemish or staine,
And the sweet pleasures of theyr loves delight
With secret ayde doost succour and supply,
Till they bring forth the fruitfull progeny,
Send us the timely fruit of this same night,
And thou, fayre Hebe! and thou, Hymen free! 
Grant that it may so be.
Till which we cease your further prayse to sing,
Ne any woods shall answer, nor your eccho ring.

Available sung texts:   ← What is this?

•   R. Vaughan Williams 

R. Vaughan Williams sets lines 1-4, 7-8

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume V, edited by Francis J. Child, London: Imprinted for William Ponsonbie, dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the Signe of the Bishops Head, 1591.

Modernized spelling used in Vaughan Williams's music:

And thou great Juno! which with awful might
the laws of wedlock still dost patronise,
And the religion of the faith first plight
With sacred rites hast taught to solemnize:
...
Eternally bind thou this lovely band,
And all thy blessings unto us impart.

Text Authorship:

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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Gustav Ringel

This text was added to the website: 2020-01-11
Line count: 19
Word count: 137