A wedding takes place on a perfect summer day, with light breezes and the Hudson River flowing sweetly by. The air already rings with music and joy, as if the natural world itself is celebrating. Into this blissful scene come the bride and groom, Helen and Jonas, arm in arm along the green lawn. Their love is so powerful that daffodils, violets, and roses spring up spontaneously wherever they walk—a little miracle that makes the landscape feel enchanted. As the couple climbs toward the temple of marriage, the spirit who watches over the ceremony sees them, spreads his wings, and flies down to welcome them warmly, while holiday bells ring out across the sky. The speaker’s tone is one of pure, delighted wonder, and the mood is idyllic and buoyant: love has momentarily made the world into a paradise where happy endings feel as natural as breathing.
Epithalamium: A Marriage Poem — Summary
'Twas summer, when softly the breezes were blowing, And Hudson majestic so sweetly was flowing, The groves rang with music & accents of pleasure And nature in rapture beat time to the measure, When Helen and Jonas, so true and so loving, Along the green lawn were seen arm in arm moving, Sweet daffodils, violets and roses spontaneous Wherever they wandered sprang up instantaneous. The ascent the lovers at length were seen climbing Whose summit is grac'd by the temple of Hymen: The genius presiding no sooner perceived them But, spreading his pinions, he flew to receive them; With kindest of greetings pronounced them well come While hollidays clangor rang loud to the welkin.