The Anatomy of Melancholy

As we commonly conclude a comedy with a wedding and a joining of hands, let us close our discourse and end it all with a wedding song.

“Happiness to the newlyweds!” God give them joy together. “Hymen, O Hymenaeus! Come, Hymen, O Hymenaeus!” “Well done!” It is well done. “I do not think it is without the purpose and power of the gods.” It is a happy union, a fortunate match, an evenly matched couple.

Both outstanding in spirit, both in strength, both In the flower of their years.

They both excel in gifts of body and mind, and are equal in age, youthfulness, vigour and liveliness. She is as beautiful and lovely as Lais or Helen; he is another Charinus or Alcibiades.

Play as you please, and soon Give us children.

Then go, with modesty, to sport and play, And let us have a boy each year.

“Go, give a sweet scent like incense, and put forth flowers like the lily,” so that we may say hereafter:

By Castor, a lovely boy has been born to Pamphilus.

Meanwhile, I say:

Go, come, young lovers: let no doves surpass your murmurs, No ivy your embracing arms, no shellfish your kisses.

Gentle young lovers, go enjoy yourselves in good time; Let no doves surpass your murmuring, No ivy your clasping arms, no oysters your kissing.

And early in the morning, as those Spartan girls greeted Helen and Menelaus, singing at their windows and wishing them happiness, so do we at yours:

Hail, bride; hail, fortunate one! May Latona give you Fortunate children; may the goddess Venus give you equal love For one another, and Saturn lasting wealth. Sleep, breathing love into each other’s breasts, And desire!

Good morning, master bridegroom and mistress bride! May many beautiful, lovely children come to you! May Venus bring you love for one another; May Saturn give you enduring wealth. Long may you sleep in each other’s arms, Breathing sweet desire, and free from harm.

Indeed, throughout your lives:

May the harmony of turtledoves be yours, And the long life of the crow.

May the love of turtledoves be yours, And ravens’ years renewed again and again.

Let the Muses sing, as he said, and the Graces dance, not only at their wedding but throughout their lives. “Join their hearts so that no weariness or anger ever comes between them. Let him never call her anything but ‘my joy, my light,’ nor she call him anything but ‘sweetheart.’ Let old age take nothing from this happiness; as their years increase, so may their mutual love and comfort.” And when they leave this life,

Since they have lived in harmony for so many years, May the same hour carry both away; may he never see His wife’s grave, nor have to be buried by her.