Wake now, my love, awake! for it is time: The Rosy Morn long since left Tithon’s bed, All ready to her silver coach to climb; And Phœbus ’gins to show his glorious head. Hark! how the cheerful birds do chant their lays And carol of love’s praise. The merry Lark her matins sings aloft; The Thrush replies; the Mavis descant plays: The Ouzel shrills; the Ruddock warbles soft; So goodly all agree, with sweet consent, To this day’s merriment. Ah! my dear love, why do ye sleep thus long, When meeter were that ye should now awake, T’ await the coming of your joyous make, And hearken to the birds’ love-learned song, The dewy leaves among? For they of joy and pleasance to you sing, That all the woods them answer, and their echo ring. My love is now awake out of her dreams, And her fair eyes, like stars that dimmed were With darksome cloud, now show their goodly beams More bright than Hesperus his head doth rear. Come now, ye damsels, daughters of delight, Help quickly her to dight! But first come, ye fair hours, which were begot, In Jove’s sweet paradise, of Day and Night; Which do the seasons of the year allot, And all, that ever in this world is fair, Do make and still repair: And ye three handmaids of the Cyprian Queen, The which do still adorn her beauty’s pride, Help to adorn my beautifullest bride: And, as ye her array, still throw between Some graces to be seen; And, as ye use to Venus, to her sing, The whiles the woods shall answer, and your echo ring. Now is my love all ready forth to come: Let all the virgins therefore well await: And ye, fresh boys, that tend upon her groom, Prepare yourselves, for he is coming straight. Set all your things in seemly good array, Fit for so joyful day: The joyfullest day that ever Sun did see. Fair Sun! show forth thy favourable ray, And let thy life-full heat not fervent be, For fear of burning her sunshiny face, Her beauty to disgrace. O fairest Phœbus! father of the Muse! If ever I did honour thee aright, Or sing the thing that mote thy mind delight, Do not thy servant’s simple boon refuse; But let this day, let this one day, be mine; Let all the rest be thine. Then I thy sovereign praises loud will sing, That all the woods shall answer, and their echo ring.