Bridal Song

William Shakespeare 1564 (Stratford-upon-Avon) – 1616 (Stratford-upon-Avon)



ROSES, their sharp spines being gone,
Not royal in their smells alone,
   But in their hue;
Maiden pinks, of odour faint,
Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint,
   And sweet thyme true;

Primrose, firstborn child of Ver;
Merry springtime's harbinger,
   With her bells dim;
Oxlips in their cradles growing,
Marigolds on death-beds blowing,
   Larks'-heels trim;

All dear Nature's children sweet
Lie 'fore bride and bridegroom's feet,
   Blessing their sense!
Not an angel of the air,
Bird melodious or bird fair,
   Be absent hence!

The crow, the slanderous cuckoo, nor
The boding raven, nor chough hoar,
   Nor chattering pye,
May on our bride-house perch or sing,
Or with them any discord bring,
   But from it fly!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 26, 2023

35 sec read
223

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXABBA CCDEED FFGHHG IIJEEJ
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 722
Words 115
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". more…

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