Monday 21 June 2010

Wedding Poem from William Penn, Never Marry But For Love

This reading is a beautiful poem from William Penn (1644-1718) that can be read at some point during the wedding. I hope this is useful.
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Never Marry But For Love


Never marry but for love;
but see that thou lovest what is lovely.
He that minds a body and not a soul
has not the better part of that relationship,
and will consequently lack
the noblest comfort of a married life.Between a man and his wife nothing ought rule but love.
As love ought to bring them together, so it is the best way
to keep them well together.

A husband and wife that love one another
show their children that they should do so too.
Others visibly lose their authority in their families by
their contempt of one another, and teach their children to be
unnatural by their own examples.

Let not enjoyment lessen, but augment, affection;
it being the basest of passions to like
when we have not, what we slight when we possess.

Here it is we ought to search out our pleasure,
where the field is large and full of variety,
and of an enduring nature; sickness,
poverty or disgrace being not able to
shake it because it is not under
the moving influences of worldly contingencies.

Nothing can be more entire and without reserve;
nothing more zealous, affectionate and sincere;
nothing more contented than such a couple,
nor greater temporal felicity
than to be one of them.

Monday 7 June 2010

Love Poem by Sir Philip Sidney, My True Love Has My Heart

Here we have a reading that is a beautiful piece by Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) that could be used for a father-of-the-bride speech, or during the ceremony.

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My True Love Has My Heart

My true love hath my heart and I have his.
By just exchange one for the other given:
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss;
There never was a bargain better driven.My true love hath my heart and I have his.
His heart in me keeps him and me in one;
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:
He loves my heart, for once it was his own;
I cherish his because in me it bides.
My true love hath my heart and I have his.

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I hope this is useful on your wedding day.