All the nymphs the Queen of Love Summons to the myrtle-grove; And see ye, how her wanton boy Comes with them to share our joy? Yet, if Love be arm'd, they say, Love can scarce keep holiday: Love without his bow is straying! Come, ye nymphs, Love goes a Maying. His torch, his shafts, are laid aside-- From them no harm shall you betide. Yet, I rede ye, nymphs, beware, For your foe is passing fair; Love is mighty, ye'll confess, Mighty e'en in nakedness; And most panoplied for fight When his charms are bared to sight. He that never, &c. Dian, a petition we, By Venus sent, prefer to thee: Virgin envoys, it is meet, Should the Virgin huntress greet: Quit the grove, nor it profane With the blood of quarry slain. She would ask thee, might she dare Hope a maiden's thought to share-- She would bid thee join us now, Might cold maids our sport allow. Now three nights thou may'st have seen, Wandering through thine alleys green, Troops of joyous friends, with flowers Crown'd, amidst their myrtle bowers. Ceres and Bacchus us attend, And great Apollo is our friend; All night we must our Vigil keep-- Night by song redeem'd from sleep. Let Venus in the woods bear sway, Dian, quit the grove, we pray. He that never, &c. Of Hybla's flowers, so Venus will'd, Venus' judgment-seat we build. She is judge supreme; the Graces, As assessors, take their places. Hybla, render all thy store All the season sheds thee o'er, Till a hill of bloom be found Wide as Enna's flowery ground. Attendant nymphs shall here be seen, Those who delight in forest green, Those who on mountain-top abide, And those whom sparkling fountains hide. All these the Queen of joy and sport Summons to attend her court, And bids them all of Love beware, Although the guise of peace he wear. He that never, &c. Fresh be your coronals of flowers, And green your overarching bowers, To-morrow brings us the return Of Ether's primal marriage-morn. In amorous showers of rain he came T' embrace his bride's mysterious frame, To generate the blooming year, And all the produce Earth does bear. Venus still through vein and soul Bids the genial current roll; Still she guides its secret course With interpenetrating force, And breathes through heaven, and earth, and sea, A reproductive energy. He that never, &c.