“And yet no guards against our joys conspire, No jealous husband hinders our desire, My parents are propitious to my wish, And she herself consenting to the bliss; All things concur to prosper our design, All things to prosper any love but mine. Heaven has been kind, as far as Heaven can be, Our parents with our own desires agree; But Nature, stronger than the gods above, Refuses her assistance to my love; She sets the bar that causes all my pain: One gift refused makes all their bounty vain And now the happy day is just at hand To bind our hearts in Hymen’s holy band.”

Thus lovesick Iphis her vain passion mourns, With equal ardour fair Ianthe burns, Invoking Hymen’s name, and Juno’s power, To speed the work, and haste the happy hour.