To the plain, to the plain, hark! hark we are summon'd away

To the plain, to the plain, hark! hark we are summon'd away;
The birds with new notes thrill the heart, through the ear;
Trees and flow'rs a fresh liv'ry have put on to-day,
And the sun with new glory begins his career!
Some splendid occasion Arcadia invites
To the court of its lov'd, its illustrious lord,
Where, while pleasures and sports blend their various delights,
Plenty empties her well-loaded horn on the board.
What, what can it mean?
For our hearts' king and queen
May just fate thus each day some new pleasure prepare:
The sports are begun!
'Tis the nuptials propitious of Fred'rick their son,
And the song, and the dance, and the clarion so loud,
And those acclamations we hear from the crowd,
All hail the royal pair.

Now louder it grows! 'tis the bridegroom and bride;
What loyalty rent the glad air as it rung!
He a mars in his car, Venus she, by his side;
He a hero, and she from a hero's race sprung.
Venus here finds her court: three sweet Graces are seen,
Than Cytherea more lovely, more mild than her dove,
The fair stranger to hail, in their hearts to reign queen,
Each a sister in beauty, a sister in love:
And see the glad throng,
For the dance and the song
With eager respectful affection prepare!
The sports are begun,
George sanctions the nuptials of Frederick his son,
While the song, &c.

Again a loud burst! What new shouts rend the air?
A fond brother a bride to a fond brother gives;
While a father, a mother, a progeny rare,
Each alike imparts transport, and transport receives.
Long, long may their joys in a tide of love flow,
Pure, unmix'd from the conjugal fount whence they spring:
The first title of human perfection we know
Is the parent whose virtues illustrate the king.
And see the glad throng,
For the dance and the song
With eager respectful attention prepare!
The sports are begun,
George sanctions the nuptials of Fred'rick his son:
While the song, &c.