Or else some neighbour woodman, or, at worst, 485 Sec. Bro. Heav'n keep my sister! Again-again--and near! Best draw, and stand upon our guard. Eld. Bro. I'll hallow; Enter the ATTENDANT SPIRIT, habited like a shepherd. Spirit. What voice is that? my young lord? speak again. Sec. Bro. O brother, 'tis my father's shepherd, sure! Eld. Bro. Thyrsis? whose artful strains have oft delay'd The huddling brook to hear his madrigal, And sweeten'd every musk-rose of the dale.How cam'st thou here, good swain? hath any ram Slip't from the fold, or young kid lost his dam, Or straggling wether the pen't flock forsook? How could'st thou find this dark sequester'd nook? Spirit. O my lov'd master's heir, and his next joy, I came not here on such a trivial toy 490 495 500 As a stray'd ewe, or to pursue the stealth Of pilfering wolf ;-not all the fleecy wealth That doth enrich these downs is worth a thought 505 To this my errand, and the care it brought. But O my virgin lady, where is she? How chance she is not in your company? Eld. Bro. To tell thee sadly, shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. 510 Spirit. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true. Eld. Bro. What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly shew. Spirit. I'll tell ye;-'tis not vain or fabulous (Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance) What the sage poets, taught by th' heav'nly Muse, 515 Of dire chimeras, and enchanted iles, And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to hell; 520 For such there be, but unbelief is blind. With many murmurs mixt, whose pleasing poison By sly enticement gives his baneful cup, The visage quite transforms of him that drinks, Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage, 525 Character'd in the face:--this have I learn't 530 Tending my flocks hard by i' th' hilly crofts That brow this bottom glade; whence, night by night, He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl 535 In their obscured haunts of inmost bowers. 540 545 550 555 And stole upon the air, that even Silence Was took ere she was ware, and wish't she might Deny her nature, and be never more, Still to be so displac't. I was all ear, 560 And took in strains that might create a soul Under the ribs of Death; but O! ere long Too well I did perceive it was the voice Of my most honour'd Lady, your dear sister. Amaz'd I stood, harrow'd with grief and fear; 565 And "O, poor hapless nightingale," thought I, "How sweet thou sing'st, how near the deadly snare!" Then down the lawns I ran with headlong haste, Through paths and turnings oft'n trod by day, Till, guided by mine ear, I found the place 570 Where that damn'd wisard, hid in sly disguise Ye were the two she mean't; with that I sprung 575 Into swift flight, till I had found you here, But further know I not. Sec. Bro. Eld. Bro. Yes, and keep it still; Lean on it safely; not a period Shall be unsaid for me. Against the threats Of malice or of sorcery, or that power 580 585 Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm: Surpris'd by unjust force, but not enthrall'd; 590 Yea, even that which mischief meant most harm, Shall in the happy trial prove most glory. And mix no more with goodness; when, at last, Gather'd like scum, and settl'd to itself, 595 It shall be in eternal restless change Self-fed and self-consumed. If this fail, The pillar'd firmament is rottenness, And earth's base built on stubble.-But come, let's on. Against th' opposing will and arm of Heaven' 600 May never this just sword be lifted up; But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt With all the grisly legions that troop Under the sooty flag of Acheron, Harpies and hydras, or all the monstrous forms 605 "Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out, And force him to return his purchase back, Spirit. Alas! good ventrous youth, 610 Or drag him by the curls to a foul death, I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise, Eld. Bro. Why, prithee, shepherd, 615 Care and utmost shifts 620 Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad, Of small regard to see to, yet well skill'd That spreads her verdant leaf to th' morning ray ;— He lov'd me well, and oft would beg me sing; 625 630 Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil: Unknown, and like esteem'd, and the dull swain Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon; 635 And yet more med'cinal is it than that moly That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave: He call'd it haemony, and gave it me, And bade me keep it as of sovran use 'Gainst all enchantments, mildew blast, or damp, 640 I purs't it up, but little reck'ning made, Till now that this extremity compell'd: I knew the foul enchanter, though disguis'd, 645 Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood 650 And brandish't blade rush on him; break his glass, But seize his wand: though he and his curst crew 655 Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink. Eld. Bro. Thyrsis, lead on apace, I'll follow thee; The Scene changes to a stately palace, set out with all manner of deliciousness; soft music, tables spread with all dainties. Comus appears with his rabble, and the LADY set in an enchanted chair, to whom he offers his glass, which she puts by, and goes about to rise. COMUS. Nay, lady, sit! if I but wave this wand, And you a statue; or as Daphne was, Lady. Fool! do not boast; 660 Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind Comus. Why are you vext, lady? why do you frown? 665 670 675 To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst. And to those dainty limbs which Nature lent 680 685 By which all mortal frailty must subsist,- And timely rest have wanted: but, fair virgin, Lady. "Twill not, false traitor! 690 "Twill not restore the truth and honesty That thou hast banish't from thy tongue with lies. Thou told'st me of?-What grim aspects are these, 695 700 705 Comus. O foolishness of men that lend their ears To those budge doctors of the Stoic fur, And fetch their precepts from the Cynic tub, Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth 710 |