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Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H6v p124]

In sponsalia Ioannis Ambii Angli, & Albae Rol-
leae D. Arnoldi Medici Gandavensis filiae.[1]

On the engagement of John Ambius [or of Ambium] of England, and Alba Rollea, daughter of Mr. Arnoldus doctor from Ghent.

Standing naked man and woman with legs intertwined. Each holds a bird and has a snake wrappedwround their other arm. Two cupids holding chains that tie them together.
[Click on image to enlarge]

Anglica progenies, & nobile pignus avorum,
Ergņ fidem dextrae virgo pudica dedit?
Flectere tu nosti [=nosci] ingenuam virtute puellam,
Vinciat aeternłm ut pronuba Iuno pares?
Gratulor, ac coeptis precor omnia laeta secundis.
Crescat amor socius, vos geminetque Deo.
Foedere connubii stabiles simul aethere servet
Autor, & optatum concelebretur opus.
Link to an image of this page  Link to an image of this page  [H7r p125]Christe, precor iam nunc sine amico vota valere,
Laetitiaeque notent nubila nulla diem.
Copula vera Deūm flamma confirmet eadem,
Natorum ac serie gaudia vestra beet.
Cernis ut hac taeda sint prospera cuncta iugali,
Ortus & occasus praevia signa vehant?
Quid vaga sic iuvenes torquent tua munera Cypri?
Legitimo praestat nónne nepote frui?
Adsit hymen, hymenaee[2] veni, symphonia concors
Exhilaret coetum, plectraque pulsa lyrae.
Sis genero foelix Arnolde, tuumque vocato
Phoebum, ut eat natae mitis alumna soror.
Pura fides, amor & castus, prudentia iungit
Concordes, retinet cura, tuetur honos.
Hybernum violas si tempus, & arida nobis
Iam flores tellus ferret, amata darem:
Nec rosa, nec myrthus deessent, non laurus odora:
Nunc tibi quod possum mittere munus, habe.

O son of Angles [English], and offspring of noble ancestors, has, then, a chaste maiden given you the pledge of her hand? Did you know how to win the love of a girl of high-born virtue, so that Juno, patroness of weddings, is binding you as equals, in matrimony? I congratulate you, and I pray all happiness for this fecund beginning. Let conjugal love grow, and let God, through it, make you twins. Let the Author in the sky keep you faithful to your marriage-vows, and let the desired act be celebrated. O Christ, I pray you, be friendly and let their vows prosper; allow no clouds to mar this day of joy. Let him confirm the true tie of the Gods with the same flame, and let him add happiness to your joys with a line of children. Do you not see how here the torches all give good auspices for your wedding-feast, and the rising and the setting constellations bring signs to light your way? Why do the youths thus distort your wandering work, Cypris? Is it not the best thing to enjoy your legitimate grandson? Come, Hymen, come Hymenaee, let the harmonious music and the plucking of the lyre delight the gathering. Be happy, Arnold, in your son-in-law, and call him your Phoebus, so that his sister may go forth as a gentle foster-mother for your daughter. Pure good faith, chaste love, and prudence binds harmonious pairs together; caring preserves and honour protects. If you violate the time of winter, and the dry earth were to bring forth flowers for us, I would give them: neither roses, nor myrrh, nor fragrant laurel would be lacking -- accept now the gift that I can send to you.

Notes:

1.  These people are unidentified, but must have been people Sambucus knew while staying in Ghent.

2.  Hymen or Hymenaeus, the god of weddings. Reference to Hymen o Hymenaee, Hymen ades o Hymenaee!, Carmen 62 by Catullus.

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