Fill high the cup, but not with wine- <br />The cup of joy; bring flowers and twine <br />A wreath to crown the gentle Bride, <br />Who, flushed with love and tender pride, <br />Leans on her Bridegroom's arm. <br /> <br /> <br />For he hath given, with fervid breath, <br />To her his vows of love and faith; <br />And she hath pledged him true and dear. <br />A thousand welcomes wait them here- <br />True hearts, and wishes warm. <br /> <br /> <br />Ring out the joy-bells far and wide, <br />Bid festal guns salute the Bride, <br />Fling out the streamers far and free, <br />Fair Stranger, hail!-all joy to thee <br />Within thy northern home. <br /> <br /> <br />Ah, gentle Lady! do not deem <br />That smoke, and flame, and hissing steam, <br />And clang of iron, and rushing wheel, <br />Are all we see, and hear, and feel. <br />Not so-not so. We come <br /> <br /> <br />To where the sacred fane uprears <br />Its stately tower-and where appears <br />The structure fair where learning sheds <br />Her beams on thousand youthful heads, <br />To bless and to adorn. <br /> <br /> <br />See, through these ample halls below, <br />Full tides of youth and childhood flow; <br />There Music swells, and Temperance reigns, <br />And Peace her sacred rule maintains, <br />Of law and order born. <br /> <br /> <br />The cup brims high-but not with wine; <br />'Tis with a nectar more divine- <br />The dew of love, the balm of life, <br />The wedded bliss of man and wife. <br />Fill high! The draught is rich and rare. <br />Drink deep. <br />Heaven bless the happy pair!<br /><br />Janet Hamilton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/epithalamium-7/
