Sec. Bro.Or, if our eyesBe barred that happiness, might we but hearThe folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes,Or sound of pastoral reed with oaten stops,345Or whistle from the lodge, or village cockCount the night-watches to his feathery dames,’Twould be some solace yet, some little cheering,In this close dungeon ofinnumerous boughs.But, Oh, that hapless virgin, our lost sister!350Where may she wander now, whither betake herFrom the chill dew, amongst rude burs and thistles?Perhaps some cold bank is her bolster now,Or ’gainst the rugged bark of some broad elmLeans her unpillowed head, fraught with sad fears.355What if in wild amazement and affright,Or, while we speak, within the direful graspOf savage hunger, or of savage heat!
Sec. Bro.Or, if our eyes
Be barred that happiness, might we but hear
The folded flocks, penned in their wattled cotes,
Or sound of pastoral reed with oaten stops,345
Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
Count the night-watches to his feathery dames,
’Twould be some solace yet, some little cheering,
In this close dungeon ofinnumerous boughs.
But, Oh, that hapless virgin, our lost sister!350
Where may she wander now, whither betake her
From the chill dew, amongst rude burs and thistles?
Perhaps some cold bank is her bolster now,
Or ’gainst the rugged bark of some broad elm
Leans her unpillowed head, fraught with sad fears.355
What if in wild amazement and affright,
Or, while we speak, within the direful grasp
Of savage hunger, or of savage heat!
Eld. Bro.Peace, brother: be not over-exquisiteTo cast the fashion of uncertain evils;360For,grant they be so, while they rest unknown,What need a man forestall his date of grief,And run to meet what he would most avoid?Or, if they be but false alarms of fear,How bitter is suchself-delusion!365I do not think my sister so to seek,Or so unprincipled in virtue’s book,And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever,As that the single want of light and noise(Not being in danger, as I trust she is not)370Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts,And put them into misbecoming plight.Virtue could see to do what Virtue wouldBy her own radiant light, though sun and moonWere in the flat sea sunk.And Wisdom’s self375Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,Where, with her best nurse,Contemplation,She plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings,That, in the various bustle of resort,Were all to-ruffled, and sometimes impaired.380He that has light within his own clear breastMay sit i’ the centre, and enjoy bright day:But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughtsBenighted walks under the mid-day sun;Himself is his own dungeon.
Eld. Bro.Peace, brother: be not over-exquisite
To cast the fashion of uncertain evils;360
For,grant they be so, while they rest unknown,
What need a man forestall his date of grief,
And run to meet what he would most avoid?
Or, if they be but false alarms of fear,
How bitter is suchself-delusion!365
I do not think my sister so to seek,
Or so unprincipled in virtue’s book,
And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever,
As that the single want of light and noise
(Not being in danger, as I trust she is not)370
Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts,
And put them into misbecoming plight.
Virtue could see to do what Virtue would
By her own radiant light, though sun and moon
Were in the flat sea sunk.And Wisdom’s self375
Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude,
Where, with her best nurse,Contemplation,
She plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings,
That, in the various bustle of resort,
Were all to-ruffled, and sometimes impaired.380
He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit i’ the centre, and enjoy bright day:
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the mid-day sun;
Himself is his own dungeon.
Sec. Bro.’Tis most true385That musing Meditation mostaffectsThe pensive secrecy of desert cell,Far from the cheerful haunt of men and herds,And sits as safe as in a senate-house;For who would rob a hermit of hisweeds,390His few books, or his beads, or maple dish,Or do his gray hairs any violence?But Beauty, likethe fair Hesperian treeLaden with blooming gold,had need the guardOfdragon-watchwith unenchanted eye395To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit,From the rash hand of bold Incontinence.You may as well spread out the unsunned heapsOf miser’s treasure by an outlaw’s den,And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope400Dangerwill wink on Opportunity,And let a single helpless maiden passUninjured in this wild surrounding waste.Of night or lonelinessit recks me not;I fear the dread events that dog them both,405Lest some ill-greeting touch attempt the personOf our unowned sister.
Sec. Bro.’Tis most true385
That musing Meditation mostaffects
The pensive secrecy of desert cell,
Far from the cheerful haunt of men and herds,
And sits as safe as in a senate-house;
For who would rob a hermit of hisweeds,390
His few books, or his beads, or maple dish,
Or do his gray hairs any violence?
But Beauty, likethe fair Hesperian tree
Laden with blooming gold,had need the guard
Ofdragon-watchwith unenchanted eye395
To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit,
From the rash hand of bold Incontinence.
You may as well spread out the unsunned heaps
Of miser’s treasure by an outlaw’s den,
And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope400
Dangerwill wink on Opportunity,
And let a single helpless maiden pass
Uninjured in this wild surrounding waste.
Of night or lonelinessit recks me not;
I fear the dread events that dog them both,405
Lest some ill-greeting touch attempt the person
Of our unowned sister.
Eld. Bro.I do not, brother,Infer as if I thought my sister’s stateSecure without all doubt or controversy;Yet, where an equal poise of hope and fear410Does arbitrate the event, my nature isThat I incline to hope rather than fear,And gladly banishsquint suspicion.My sister is not so defenceless leftAs you imagine; she has a hidden strength,415Which you remember not.
Eld. Bro.I do not, brother,
Infer as if I thought my sister’s state
Secure without all doubt or controversy;
Yet, where an equal poise of hope and fear410
Does arbitrate the event, my nature is
That I incline to hope rather than fear,
And gladly banishsquint suspicion.
My sister is not so defenceless left
As you imagine; she has a hidden strength,415
Which you remember not.
Sec. Bro.What hidden strength,Unless the strength of Heaven, if you mean that?
Sec. Bro.What hidden strength,
Unless the strength of Heaven, if you mean that?
Eld. Bro.I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength,Which, if Heaven gave it, may be termed her own.’Tis chastity, my brother, chastity:420She that has that is clad in complete steel,And, like aquiverednymph with arrows keen,May trace huge forests, andunharboredheaths,Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds;Where, through the sacred rays of chastity,425No savage fierce, bandite, or mountaineer,Will dare to soil her virgin purity.Yea, there where very desolation dwells,Bygrotsand caverns shagged with horrid shades,She may pass on withunblenchedmajesty,430Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.Some say no evil thing that walks by night,In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen,Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,That breaks his magic chains at curfew time,435No goblin orswart faery of the mine,Hath hurtful power o’er true virginity.Do ye believe me yet, or shall I callAntiquity from the old schools of GreeceTo testify the arms of chastity?440Hence hadthe huntress Dianher dread bow,Fair silver-shafted queen forever chaste,Wherewith she tamed the brinded lionessAnd spotted mountain-pard, but set at noughtThe frivolous bolt of Cupid; gods and men445Feared her stern frown, and she was queen o’ the woods.What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shieldThatwise Minervawore, unconquered virgin,Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone,But rigid looks of chaste austerity,450And noble grace that dashed brute violenceWith sudden adoration and blank awe?So dear to Heaven is saintly chastityThat, when a soul is found sincerely so,A thousand liveried angels lackey her,455Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,And in clear dream and solemn visionTell her of things that no gross ear can hear;Till oft converse with heavenly habitantsBeginto cast a beam on the outward shape,460The unpolluted temple of the mind,Andturnsit by degrees to the soul’s essence,Till all be made immortal. But, when lust,By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk,But most by lewd and lavish act of sin,465Lets in defilement to the inward parts,The soul grows clotted by contagion,Imbodies, and imbrutes, till she quite loseThe divine property of her first being.Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp470Oft seen in charnel-vaults and sepulchres,Lingering and sitting by a new-made grave,As loth to leave the body that it loved,And linked itself by carnal sensualtyTo a degenerate and degraded state.475
Eld. Bro.I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength,
Which, if Heaven gave it, may be termed her own.
’Tis chastity, my brother, chastity:420
She that has that is clad in complete steel,
And, like aquiverednymph with arrows keen,
May trace huge forests, andunharboredheaths,
Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds;
Where, through the sacred rays of chastity,425
No savage fierce, bandite, or mountaineer,
Will dare to soil her virgin purity.
Yea, there where very desolation dwells,
Bygrotsand caverns shagged with horrid shades,
She may pass on withunblenchedmajesty,430
Be it not done in pride, or in presumption.
Some say no evil thing that walks by night,
In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen,
Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,
That breaks his magic chains at curfew time,435
No goblin orswart faery of the mine,
Hath hurtful power o’er true virginity.
Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call
Antiquity from the old schools of Greece
To testify the arms of chastity?440
Hence hadthe huntress Dianher dread bow,
Fair silver-shafted queen forever chaste,
Wherewith she tamed the brinded lioness
And spotted mountain-pard, but set at nought
The frivolous bolt of Cupid; gods and men445
Feared her stern frown, and she was queen o’ the woods.
What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield
Thatwise Minervawore, unconquered virgin,
Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone,
But rigid looks of chaste austerity,450
And noble grace that dashed brute violence
With sudden adoration and blank awe?
So dear to Heaven is saintly chastity
That, when a soul is found sincerely so,
A thousand liveried angels lackey her,455
Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,
And in clear dream and solemn vision
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear;
Till oft converse with heavenly habitants
Beginto cast a beam on the outward shape,460
The unpolluted temple of the mind,
Andturnsit by degrees to the soul’s essence,
Till all be made immortal. But, when lust,
By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk,
But most by lewd and lavish act of sin,465
Lets in defilement to the inward parts,
The soul grows clotted by contagion,
Imbodies, and imbrutes, till she quite lose
The divine property of her first being.
Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp470
Oft seen in charnel-vaults and sepulchres,
Lingering and sitting by a new-made grave,
As loth to leave the body that it loved,
And linked itself by carnal sensualty
To a degenerate and degraded state.475
Sec. Bro.How charming is divine Philosophy!Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose,But musical as is Apollo’s lute,And a perpetual feast of nectared sweets,Where no crude surfeit reigns.
Sec. Bro.How charming is divine Philosophy!
Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose,
But musical as is Apollo’s lute,
And a perpetual feast of nectared sweets,
Where no crude surfeit reigns.
Eld. Bro.List! list! I hear480Some far-off hallo break the silent air.
Eld. Bro.List! list! I hear480
Some far-off hallo break the silent air.
Sec. Bro.Methought so too; what should it be?
Sec. Bro.Methought so too; what should it be?
Eld. Bro.For certain,Either some one, like us, night-foundered here,Or else some neighbor woodman, or, at worst,Some roving robber calling to his fellows.485
Eld. Bro.For certain,
Either some one, like us, night-foundered here,
Or else some neighbor woodman, or, at worst,
Some roving robber calling to his fellows.485
Sec. Bro.Heaven help my sister! Again, again, and near!Best draw, and stand upon our guard.
Sec. Bro.Heaven help my sister! Again, again, and near!
Best draw, and stand upon our guard.
Eld. Bro.I’ll hallo.If he be friendly, he comes well: if not,Defence is a good cause, and Heaven be for us!
Eld. Bro.I’ll hallo.
If he be friendly, he comes well: if not,
Defence is a good cause, and Heaven be for us!
TheAttendant Spirit, habited like a shepherd.
That hallo I should know. What are you? speak.490Come not too near; you fall on iron stakes else.
That hallo I should know. What are you? speak.490
Come not too near; you fall on iron stakes else.
Spir.What voice is that? my young lord? speak again.
Spir.What voice is that? my young lord? speak again.
Sec. Bro.O brother, ’tis my father’s Shepherd, sure.
Sec. Bro.O brother, ’tis my father’s Shepherd, sure.
Eld. Bro.Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayedThe huddling brook to hear his madrigal,495And sweetened every musk-rose of the dale.How camest thou here, good swain? Hath any ramSlipped from the fold, or young kid lost his dam,Or straggling wether the pent flock forsook?How could’st thou find this dark sequestered nook?500
Eld. Bro.Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayed
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal,495
And sweetened every musk-rose of the dale.
How camest thou here, good swain? Hath any ram
Slipped from the fold, or young kid lost his dam,
Or straggling wether the pent flock forsook?
How could’st thou find this dark sequestered nook?500
Spir.O my loved master’s heir, and his next joy,I came not here on such a trivial toyAs a strayed ewe, or to pursue the stealthOf pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealthThat doth enrich these downs is worth a thought505To this my errand, and the care it brought.But, oh! my virgin Lady, where is she?How chance she is notin your company?
Spir.O my loved master’s heir, and his next joy,
I came not here on such a trivial toy
As a strayed ewe, or to pursue the stealth
Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth
That doth enrich these downs is worth a thought505
To this my errand, and the care it brought.
But, oh! my virgin Lady, where is she?
How chance she is notin your company?
Eld. Bro.To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blameOr our neglect, we lost her as we came.510
Eld. Bro.To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blame
Or our neglect, we lost her as we came.510
Spir.Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true.
Spir.Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true.
Eld. Bro.What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly shew.
Eld. Bro.What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly shew.
Spir.I’ll tell ye. ’Tis not vain or fabulous(Though so esteemed by shallow ignorance)What the sage poets, taught by the heavenly Muse,515Storied of old in high immortal verseOf direChimerasand enchanted isles,And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to Hell;For such there be, but unbelief is blind.Within the navel of this hideous wood,520Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells,Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus,Deep skilled in all his mother’s witcheries,And here to every thirsty wandererBy sly enticement gives his baneful cup,525With many murmurs mixed, whose pleasing poisonThe visage quite transforms of him that drinks,And the inglorious likeness of a beastFixes instead, unmoulding reason’smintageCharactered in the face. This have I learnt530Tending my flocks hard by i’ the hillycroftsThat brow this bottom glade; whence night by nightHe and his monstrous rout are heard to howlLike stabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,Doing abhorred rites to Hecate535In their obscurèd haunts of inmost bowers.Yet have they many baits and guileful spellsTo inveigle and invite the unwary senseOf them that pass unweeting by the way.This evening late,by then the chewing flocks540Had ta’en their supper on the savory herbOf knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold,I sat me down to watch upon a bankWith ivy canopied, and interwoveWith flaunting honeysuckle, and began,545Wrapt in apleasing fit of melancholy,To meditate my rural minstrelsy,Till fancy had her fill. But ere a closeThe wonted roar was up amidst the woods,And filled the air with barbarous dissonance;550At which I ceased, and listened them a while,Till anunusual stop of sudden silenceGave respite to the drowsy-flighted steedsThat draw the litter of close-curtained Sleep.At last a soft and solemn-breathing sound555Rose like a steam of rich distilled perfumes,And stole upon the air, that even SilenceWas took ere she was ware, and wished she mightDeny her nature, and be never more,Stillto be so displaced. I was all ear,560And took in strains that might create a soulUnder the ribs of Death. But, oh! ere longToo well I did perceive it was the voiceOf my most honored Lady, your dear sister.Amazed I stood, harrowed with grief and fear;565And ‘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 often trod by day,Till, guided by mine ear, I found the place570Where that damned wizard, hid in sly disguise(For so by certain signs I knew), had metAlready, ere my best speed could prevent,The aidless innocent lady, his wished prey;Who gently asked if he had seensuch two,575Supposing him some neighbor villager.Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guessedYe were the two she meant; with that I sprungInto swift flight, till I had found you here;But further know I not.
Spir.I’ll tell ye. ’Tis not vain or fabulous
(Though so esteemed by shallow ignorance)
What the sage poets, taught by the heavenly Muse,515
Storied of old in high immortal verse
Of direChimerasand enchanted isles,
And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to Hell;
For such there be, but unbelief is blind.
Within the navel of this hideous wood,520
Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells,
Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus,
Deep skilled in all his mother’s witcheries,
And here to every thirsty wanderer
By sly enticement gives his baneful cup,525
With many murmurs mixed, whose pleasing poison
The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,
And the inglorious likeness of a beast
Fixes instead, unmoulding reason’smintage
Charactered in the face. This have I learnt530
Tending my flocks hard by i’ the hillycrofts
That brow this bottom glade; whence night by night
He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl
Like stabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate535
In their obscurèd haunts of inmost bowers.
Yet have they many baits and guileful spells
To inveigle and invite the unwary sense
Of them that pass unweeting by the way.
This evening late,by then the chewing flocks540
Had ta’en their supper on the savory herb
Of knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold,
I sat me down to watch upon a bank
With ivy canopied, and interwove
With flaunting honeysuckle, and began,545
Wrapt in apleasing fit of melancholy,
To meditate my rural minstrelsy,
Till fancy had her fill. But ere a close
The wonted roar was up amidst the woods,
And filled the air with barbarous dissonance;550
At which I ceased, and listened them a while,
Till anunusual stop of sudden silence
Gave respite to the drowsy-flighted steeds
That draw the litter of close-curtained Sleep.
At last a soft and solemn-breathing sound555
Rose like a steam of rich distilled perfumes,
And stole upon the air, that even Silence
Was took ere she was ware, and wished she might
Deny her nature, and be never more,
Stillto be so displaced. I was all ear,560
And took in strains that might create a soul
Under the ribs of Death. But, oh! ere long
Too well I did perceive it was the voice
Of my most honored Lady, your dear sister.
Amazed I stood, harrowed 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 often trod by day,
Till, guided by mine ear, I found the place570
Where that damned wizard, hid in sly disguise
(For so by certain signs I knew), had met
Already, ere my best speed could prevent,
The aidless innocent lady, his wished prey;
Who gently asked if he had seensuch two,575
Supposing him some neighbor villager.
Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guessed
Ye were the two she meant; with that I sprung
Into swift flight, till I had found you here;
But further know I not.
Sec. Bro.O night and shades,580How are ye joined with hell in triple knotAgainst the unarmed weakness of one virgin,Alone and helpless! Is this the confidenceYou gave me, brother?
Sec. Bro.O night and shades,580
How are ye joined with hell in triple knot
Against the unarmed weakness of one virgin,
Alone and helpless! Is this the confidence
You gave me, brother?
Eld. Bro.Yes, and keep it still;Lean on it safely; not a period585Shall be unsaid for me. Against the threatsOf malice or of sorcery, or that powerWhich erring men call Chance, this I hold firm:Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt,Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled;590Yea, even that which Mischief meant most harmShall in the happy trial prove most glory.But evil on itself shall back recoil,And mix no more with goodness, when at last,Gathered like scum, and settled to itself,595It shall be in eternal restless changeSelf-fed and self-consumed. If this fail,The pillared firmamentis rottenness,And earth’s base built on stubble. But come, let’s on!Against the opposing will and arm of Heaven600May never this just sword be lifted up;But for that damned magician, let him be girtWith all the griesly legions that troopUnder the sooty flag ofAcheron,Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms605’Twixt Africa and Ind, I’ll find him out,And force him to returnhis purchaseback,Or drag him by the curls to a foul death,Cursed as his life.
Eld. Bro.Yes, and keep it still;
Lean on it safely; not a period585
Shall be unsaid for me. Against the threats
Of malice or of sorcery, or that power
Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm:
Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt,
Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled;590
Yea, even that which Mischief meant most harm
Shall in the happy trial prove most glory.
But evil on itself shall back recoil,
And mix no more with goodness, when at last,
Gathered like scum, and settled to itself,595
It shall be in eternal restless change
Self-fed and self-consumed. If this fail,
The pillared firmamentis rottenness,
And earth’s base built on stubble. But come, let’s on!
Against the opposing will and arm of Heaven600
May never this just sword be lifted up;
But for that damned magician, let him be girt
With all the griesly legions that troop
Under the sooty flag ofAcheron,
Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms605
’Twixt Africa and Ind, I’ll find him out,
And force him to returnhis purchaseback,
Or drag him by the curls to a foul death,
Cursed as his life.
Spir.Alas! good venturous youth,I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise;610But here thy swordcan do thee little stead.Far other arms and other weapons mustBe those that quell the might of hellish charms.He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints,And crumble all thy sinews.
Spir.Alas! good venturous youth,
I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise;610
But here thy swordcan do thee little stead.
Far other arms and other weapons must
Be those that quell the might of hellish charms.
He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints,
And crumble all thy sinews.
Eld. Bro.Why, prithee, Shepherd,615How durst thou then thyself approach so nearAs to make this relation?
Eld. Bro.Why, prithee, Shepherd,615
How durst thou then thyself approach so near
As to make this relation?
Spir.Care andutmost shiftsHow to secure the Lady from surprisalBrought to my mind a certain shepherd lad,Of small regard to see to, yet well skilled620In everyvirtuous plantand healing herbThat spreads her verdant leaf to the morning ray.He loved me well, and oft would beg me sing;Which when I did, he on the tender grassWould sit, and hearken even to ecstasy,625And in requital ope his leathernscrip,And show mesimples of a thousand names,Telling their strange and vigorous faculties.Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,But of divine effect, he culled me out.630The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it,But in another country, as he said,Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil:Unknown, and like esteemed, and the dull swainTreads on it daily with his clouted shoon;635And yet more med’cinal is it thanthat MolyThat Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave.He called it Hæmony, and gave it me,And bade me keep it as of sovran use’Gainst all enchantments,mildew blast, or damp,640Orghastly Furies’ apparition.I pursed it up, but little reckoning made,Till now that this extremity compelled.But now I find it true; for by this meansI knew the foul enchanter, though disguised,645Entered the very lime-twigs of his spells,And yet came off. If you have this about you(As I will give you when we go) you mayBoldly assault the necromancer’s hall;Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood650And brandished blade rush on him: break his glass,And shed the luscious liquor on the ground;But seize his wand. Though he and his curst crewFierce sign of battle make, and menace high,Or, like the sons of Vulcan, vomit smoke,655Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.
Spir.Care andutmost shifts
How to secure the Lady from surprisal
Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad,
Of small regard to see to, yet well skilled620
In everyvirtuous plantand healing herb
That spreads her verdant leaf to the morning ray.
He loved me well, and oft would beg me sing;
Which when I did, he on the tender grass
Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy,625
And in requital ope his leathernscrip,
And show mesimples of a thousand names,
Telling their strange and vigorous faculties.
Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,
But of divine effect, he culled me out.630
The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it,
But in another country, as he said,
Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil:
Unknown, and like esteemed, and the dull swain
Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon;635
And yet more med’cinal is it thanthat Moly
That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave.
He called it Hæmony, and gave it me,
And bade me keep it as of sovran use
’Gainst all enchantments,mildew blast, or damp,640
Orghastly Furies’ apparition.
I pursed it up, but little reckoning made,
Till now that this extremity compelled.
But now I find it true; for by this means
I knew the foul enchanter, though disguised,645
Entered the very lime-twigs of his spells,
And yet came off. If you have this about you
(As I will give you when we go) you may
Boldly assault the necromancer’s hall;
Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood650
And brandished blade rush on him: break his glass,
And shed the luscious liquor on the ground;
But seize his wand. Though he and his curst crew
Fierce sign of battle make, and menace high,
Or, like the sons of Vulcan, vomit smoke,655
Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.
Eld. Bro.Thyrsis, lead onapace; I’ll follow thee;And some good angel bear a shield before us!
Eld. Bro.Thyrsis, lead onapace; I’ll follow thee;
And some good angel bear a shield before us!
The Scene changes to a stately palace, set out with all manner of deliciousness: soft music, tables spread with all dainties.Comusappears with his rabble, and theLadyset in an enchanted chair: to whom he offers his glass; which she puts by, andgoes aboutto rise.
Comus.Nay, Lady, sit. If I but wave this wand,Your nerves are all chained up in alabaster,660And you a statue, oras Daphne was,Root-bound, that fled Apollo.
Comus.Nay, Lady, sit. If I but wave this wand,
Your nerves are all chained up in alabaster,660
And you a statue, oras Daphne was,
Root-bound, that fled Apollo.
Lady.Fool, do not boast.Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mindWith all thy charms, although this corporal rindThou hast immanacled while Heaven sees good.665
Lady.Fool, do not boast.
Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind
With all thy charms, although this corporal rind
Thou hast immanacled while Heaven sees good.665
Comus.Why are you vexed, Lady? why do you frown?Here dwell no frowns, nor anger; from these gatesSorrow flies far. See, here be all the pleasuresThat fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns670Brisk as the April buds in primrose season.And first beholdthis cordial julephere,That flames and dances in his crystal bounds,With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups mixed.Not that Nepenthes which the wife of Thone675In Egypt gave to Jove-born HelenaIs of such power to stir up joy as this,To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst.Why should you be so cruel to yourself,And to those dainty limbs, which Nature lent680For gentle usage and soft delicacy?But you invert the covenants of her trust,And harshly deal, like an ill borrower,With that which you received on other terms,Scorningthe unexempt condition685By which all mortal frailty must subsist,Refreshment after toil, ease after pain,That have been tired all day without repast,And timely rest have wanted. But, fair virgin,This will restore all soon.
Comus.Why are you vexed, Lady? why do you frown?
Here dwell no frowns, nor anger; from these gates
Sorrow flies far. See, here be all the pleasures
That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,
When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns670
Brisk as the April buds in primrose season.
And first beholdthis cordial julephere,
That flames and dances in his crystal bounds,
With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups mixed.
Not that Nepenthes which the wife of Thone675
In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena
Is of such power to stir up joy as this,
To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst.
Why should you be so cruel to yourself,
And to those dainty limbs, which Nature lent680
For gentle usage and soft delicacy?
But you invert the covenants of her trust,
And harshly deal, like an ill borrower,
With that which you received on other terms,
Scorningthe unexempt condition685
By which all mortal frailty must subsist,
Refreshment after toil, ease after pain,
That have been tired all day without repast,
And timely rest have wanted. But, fair virgin,
This will restore all soon.
Lady.’Twill not, false traitor!690’Twill not restore the truth and honestyThat thou hast banished from thy tongue with lies.Was this the cottage and the safe abodeThou told’st me of? What grim aspects are these,These oughly-headed monsters? Mercy guard me!695Hence with thy brewed enchantments, foul deceiver!Hast thou betrayed my credulous innocenceWith vizored falsehoodand base forgery?And wouldst thou seek again to trap me hereWith liquorish baits, fit to ensnare a brute?700Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets,I would not taste thy treasonous offer. NoneBut such as are good men can give good things;And that which is not good is not deliciousTo a well-governed and wise appetite.705
Lady.’Twill not, false traitor!690
’Twill not restore the truth and honesty
That thou hast banished from thy tongue with lies.
Was this the cottage and the safe abode
Thou told’st me of? What grim aspects are these,
These oughly-headed monsters? Mercy guard me!695
Hence with thy brewed enchantments, foul deceiver!
Hast thou betrayed my credulous innocence
With vizored falsehoodand base forgery?
And wouldst thou seek again to trap me here
With liquorish baits, fit to ensnare a brute?700
Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets,
I would not taste thy treasonous offer. None
But such as are good men can give good things;
And that which is not good is not delicious
To a well-governed and wise appetite.705
Comus.O foolishness of men! that lend their earsTothose budge doctors of the stoic fur,Andfetch their precepts from the Cynic tub,Praising the lean and sallow Abstinence!Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth710With such a full and unwithdrawing hand,Covering the earth with odors, fruits, and flocks,Thronging the seas with spawn innumerable,But all to please and sate the curious taste?And set to work millions of spinning worms,715That in their green shops weave the smooth-haired silk,To deck her sons; and, that no corner mightBe vacant of her plenty, in her own loinsShehutchedthe all-worshipped ore and precious gems,To store her children with. If all the world720Should, in a fit of temperance, feed onpulse,Drink the clear stream, and nothing wear butfrieze,The All-giver would be unthanked, would be unpraised,Not half his riches known,and yetdespised;And we should serve him as a grudging master,725As a penurious niggard of his wealth,And live like Nature’s bastards, not her sons,Whowould be quite surcharged with her own weight,And strangled with her waste fertility:The earth cumbered, and the winged air darked with plumes,730The herds would over-multitude their lords;The sea o’erfraught would swell, and the unsought diamondsWould so emblaze the forehead of the deep,And so bestud with stars, thatthey belowWould grow inured to light, and come at last735To gaze upon the sun with shameless brows.List, Lady; be notcoy, and be notcozenedWith that same vaunted name, Virginity.Beauty is Nature’s coin; must not be hoarded,But must be current; and the good thereof740Consists in mutual and partaken bliss,Unsavory in the enjoyment of itself.If you let slip time, like a neglected roseItwithers on the stalk with languished head.Beauty is Nature’s brag, and must be shown745In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities,Where most may wonder at the workmanship.It is forhomelyfeatures to keep home;They had their name thence: coarse complexionsAnd cheeks of sorrygrainwill serve to ply750The sampler, and to tease the huswife’s wool.What need a vermeil-tinctured lip for that,Love-darting eyes, ortresses like the morn?There was another meaning in these gifts;Think what, and be advised; you are but young yet.755
Comus.O foolishness of men! that lend their ears
Tothose budge doctors of the stoic fur,
Andfetch their precepts from the Cynic tub,
Praising the lean and sallow Abstinence!
Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth710
With such a full and unwithdrawing hand,
Covering the earth with odors, fruits, and flocks,
Thronging the seas with spawn innumerable,
But all to please and sate the curious taste?
And set to work millions of spinning worms,715
That in their green shops weave the smooth-haired silk,
To deck her sons; and, that no corner might
Be vacant of her plenty, in her own loins
Shehutchedthe all-worshipped ore and precious gems,
To store her children with. If all the world720
Should, in a fit of temperance, feed onpulse,
Drink the clear stream, and nothing wear butfrieze,
The All-giver would be unthanked, would be unpraised,
Not half his riches known,and yetdespised;
And we should serve him as a grudging master,725
As a penurious niggard of his wealth,
And live like Nature’s bastards, not her sons,
Whowould be quite surcharged with her own weight,
And strangled with her waste fertility:
The earth cumbered, and the winged air darked with plumes,730
The herds would over-multitude their lords;
The sea o’erfraught would swell, and the unsought diamonds
Would so emblaze the forehead of the deep,
And so bestud with stars, thatthey below
Would grow inured to light, and come at last735
To gaze upon the sun with shameless brows.
List, Lady; be notcoy, and be notcozened
With that same vaunted name, Virginity.
Beauty is Nature’s coin; must not be hoarded,
But must be current; and the good thereof740
Consists in mutual and partaken bliss,
Unsavory in the enjoyment of itself.
If you let slip time, like a neglected rose
Itwithers on the stalk with languished head.
Beauty is Nature’s brag, and must be shown745
In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities,
Where most may wonder at the workmanship.
It is forhomelyfeatures to keep home;
They had their name thence: coarse complexions
And cheeks of sorrygrainwill serve to ply750
The sampler, and to tease the huswife’s wool.
What need a vermeil-tinctured lip for that,
Love-darting eyes, ortresses like the morn?
There was another meaning in these gifts;
Think what, and be advised; you are but young yet.755
Lady.I had not thought to have unlocked my lipsIn this unhallowed air, but that this jugglerWould think to charm my judgment, as mine eyes,Obtruding false rules pranked in reason’s garb.I hatewhen vice can bolt her arguments760And virtue has no tongue to check her pride.Impostor! do not charge most innocent Nature,As if she would her children should be riotousWith her abundance. She, good cateress,Means her provision only to the good,765That live according to her sober laws,And holy dictate of spare Temperance.If every just man that now pines with wantHad but a moderate and beseeming shareOf that which lewdly-pampered Luxury770Now heaps upon some few with vast excess,Nature’s full blessings would be well-dispensedIn unsuperfluous even proportion,And she no whit encumbered with her store;And then the Giver would be better thanked,775His praise due paid: for swinish gluttonyNe’er looks to Heaven amidst his gorgeous feast,But with besotted base ingratitudeCrams, and blasphemes his Feeder. Shall I go on?Or have I said enow?To him that dares780Arm his profane tongue with contemptuous wordsAgainst the sun-clad power of chastityFain would I something say;—yet to what end?Thou hast nor ear, nor soul, to apprehendThe sublime notion and high mystery785That must be uttered to unfold the sageAnd serious doctrine of Virginity;Andthou art worthy that thou shouldst not knowMore happiness than this thy present lot.Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric,790That hath so well been taught her dazzling fence;Thou art not fit to hear thyself convinced.Yet, should I try,the uncontrolled worthOf this pure causewould kindle my rapt spiritsTo such a flame of sacred vehemence795That dumb things would be moved to sympathize,And the brute Earth would lend her nerves, and shake,Till all thy magic structures, reared so high,Were shattered into heaps o’er thy false head.
Lady.I had not thought to have unlocked my lips
In this unhallowed air, but that this juggler
Would think to charm my judgment, as mine eyes,
Obtruding false rules pranked in reason’s garb.
I hatewhen vice can bolt her arguments760
And virtue has no tongue to check her pride.
Impostor! do not charge most innocent Nature,
As if she would her children should be riotous
With her abundance. She, good cateress,
Means her provision only to the good,765
That live according to her sober laws,
And holy dictate of spare Temperance.
If every just man that now pines with want
Had but a moderate and beseeming share
Of that which lewdly-pampered Luxury770
Now heaps upon some few with vast excess,
Nature’s full blessings would be well-dispensed
In unsuperfluous even proportion,
And she no whit encumbered with her store;
And then the Giver would be better thanked,775
His praise due paid: for swinish gluttony
Ne’er looks to Heaven amidst his gorgeous feast,
But with besotted base ingratitude
Crams, and blasphemes his Feeder. Shall I go on?
Or have I said enow?To him that dares780
Arm his profane tongue with contemptuous words
Against the sun-clad power of chastity
Fain would I something say;—yet to what end?
Thou hast nor ear, nor soul, to apprehend
The sublime notion and high mystery785
That must be uttered to unfold the sage
And serious doctrine of Virginity;
Andthou art worthy that thou shouldst not know
More happiness than this thy present lot.
Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric,790
That hath so well been taught her dazzling fence;
Thou art not fit to hear thyself convinced.
Yet, should I try,the uncontrolled worth
Of this pure causewould kindle my rapt spirits
To such a flame of sacred vehemence795
That dumb things would be moved to sympathize,
And the brute Earth would lend her nerves, and shake,
Till all thy magic structures, reared so high,
Were shattered into heaps o’er thy false head.
Comus.She fables not. I feel that I do fear800Her words set off by some superior power;And, though not mortal, yet a cold shuddering dewDips me all o’er, as when the wrath of JoveSpeaks thunder and the chains of ErebusTo some of Saturn’s crew. I must dissemble,805And try her yet more strongly,—Come, no more!This is mere moral babble, and directAgainstthe canon lawsof our foundation.I must not suffer this; yet ’tis but the leesAnd settlings of a melancholy blood.810But this will cure all straight; one sip of thisWill bathe the drooping spirits in delightBeyond the bliss of dreams. Be wise, and taste....
Comus.She fables not. I feel that I do fear800
Her words set off by some superior power;
And, though not mortal, yet a cold shuddering dew
Dips me all o’er, as when the wrath of Jove
Speaks thunder and the chains of Erebus
To some of Saturn’s crew. I must dissemble,805
And try her yet more strongly,—Come, no more!
This is mere moral babble, and direct
Againstthe canon lawsof our foundation.
I must not suffer this; yet ’tis but the lees
And settlings of a melancholy blood.810
But this will cure all straight; one sip of this
Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight
Beyond the bliss of dreams. Be wise, and taste....
TheBrothersrush in with swords drawn, wrest his glass out of his hand, and break it against the ground: his rout make sign of resistance, but are all driven in. TheAttendant Spiritcomes in.
Spir.What! have you let the false enchanter scape?O ye mistook; ye should have snatched his wand,815And bound him fast. Without his rod reversed,And backward mutters of dissevering power,We cannot free the Lady that sits hereIn stony fetters fixed and motionless.Yet stay: be not disturbed; now I bethink me,820Some other means I have which may be used,Which once ofMelibœusold I learnt,The soothest shepherdthat e’er piped on plains.There is a gentle Nymph not far from hence,That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream:825Sabrina is her name: a virgin pure;Whilomshe was the daughter of Locrine,That had the sceptre from his father Brute.She, guiltless damsel, flying the mad pursuitOf her enraged stepdame, Guendolen,830Commended her fair innocence to the floodThat stayed her flight with his cross-flowing course.The water-nymphs, that in the bottom played,Held up their pearled wrists, and took her in,Bearing her straight toaged Nereus’hall;835Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head,And gave her to his daughters to imbatheIn nectared lavers strewed with asphodel,And through the porch and inlet of each senseDropt inambrosialoils, till she revived,840And underwent a quick immortal change,Made Goddess of the river. Still she retainsHer maiden gentleness, and oft at eveVisits the herds along the twilight meadows,Helping all urchin blasts, and ill-luck signs845That the shrewd meddling elf delights to make,Which she with precious vialed liquors heals:For which the shepherds, at their festivals,Carol her goodness loud in rustic lays,And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream850Of pansies, pinks, and gaudydaffodils.And, as the old swain said, she can unlockThe clasping charm, and thawthe numbing spell,If she be right invoked in warbled song;For maidenhood she loves, and will be swift855To aid a virgin, such as was herself,In hard-besetting need. This will I try,And add the power of someadjuringverse.
Spir.What! have you let the false enchanter scape?
O ye mistook; ye should have snatched his wand,815
And bound him fast. Without his rod reversed,
And backward mutters of dissevering power,
We cannot free the Lady that sits here
In stony fetters fixed and motionless.
Yet stay: be not disturbed; now I bethink me,820
Some other means I have which may be used,
Which once ofMelibœusold I learnt,
The soothest shepherdthat e’er piped on plains.
There is a gentle Nymph not far from hence,
That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream:825
Sabrina is her name: a virgin pure;
Whilomshe was the daughter of Locrine,
That had the sceptre from his father Brute.
She, guiltless damsel, flying the mad pursuit
Of her enraged stepdame, Guendolen,830
Commended her fair innocence to the flood
That stayed her flight with his cross-flowing course.
The water-nymphs, that in the bottom played,
Held up their pearled wrists, and took her in,
Bearing her straight toaged Nereus’hall;835
Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head,
And gave her to his daughters to imbathe
In nectared lavers strewed with asphodel,
And through the porch and inlet of each sense
Dropt inambrosialoils, till she revived,840
And underwent a quick immortal change,
Made Goddess of the river. Still she retains
Her maiden gentleness, and oft at eve
Visits the herds along the twilight meadows,
Helping all urchin blasts, and ill-luck signs845
That the shrewd meddling elf delights to make,
Which she with precious vialed liquors heals:
For which the shepherds, at their festivals,
Carol her goodness loud in rustic lays,
And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream850
Of pansies, pinks, and gaudydaffodils.
And, as the old swain said, she can unlock
The clasping charm, and thawthe numbing spell,
If she be right invoked in warbled song;
For maidenhood she loves, and will be swift855
To aid a virgin, such as was herself,
In hard-besetting need. This will I try,
And add the power of someadjuringverse.