O'th'sudden up they rise and dance;
Then sit again and sigh, and glance;
Then dance again and kiss:105
Thus several ways the time did pass,
Whilst ev'ry woman wished her place,
And every man wished his.
By this time all were stol'n aside
To counsel and undress the bride;110
But that he must not know:
But yet 'twas thought he guess'd her mind,
And did not mean to stay behind
Above an hour or so.
When in he came, Dick, there she lay115
Like new-fall'n snow melting away
('Twas time, I trow, to part):
Kisses were now the only stay,
Which soon she gave, as who would say,
God b' w' ye, with all my heart.120
But, just as Heav'ns would have, to cross it,
In came the bridemaids with the posset:
The bridegroom eat in spite;
For, had he left the women to 't,
It would have cost two hours to do 't,125
Which were too much that night.
At length the candle's out; and now
All that they had not done they do:
What that is, who can tell?
But I believe it was no more130
Than thou and I have done before
With Bridget and with Nell.
My dearest rival, lest our love
Should with excentric motion move,
Before it learn to go astray,
We'll teach and set it in a way,
And such directions give unto 't,5
That it shall never wander foot.
Know first then, we will serve as true
For one poor smile, as we would do,
If we had what our higher flame
Or our vainer wish could frame.10
