And linked itself by carnal sensualty

To a degenerate and degraded state, 2 Br.- 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,

1 Br. -List, list, I hear

Some far off halloo break the silent air.

2 Br.-Methought so too: what should it be?

1 Br. 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.

2 Br. - Heaven keep my sister. Again, again, and near!

Best draw, and stand upon our guard.

1 Br. I'll halloo :

If he be friendly, he comes well; if not,

Defence is a good cause, and Heaven

Spir. Aye me unhappy! then my fears are true.

1 Br.- What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly show.

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,

Storied of old in high immortal verse, Of dire chimeras, and 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,

Immured in cypress shades a sorcerer dwells,

Of Bacchus and of Circé born, great Comus,

Deep skilled in all his mother's witcheries;

And here to every thirsty wanderer By sly enticement gives his baneful

Be those that quell the might of hellish charms:

He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints,

And crumble all thy sinews.

1 Br.- Why prithee, Shepherd, How durst thou then thyself approach so near, As to make this relation?

Spir.-Care and utmost shifts How to secure the Lady from surprisal,

Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad,

Of small regard to see to, yet well skilled

In every virtuous plant and 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 e'en to ecstasy,

And in requital ope his leathern scrip,

And show me simples 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: 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:

And yet more med'cinal is it than that moly

That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave;

He called it hæmony, and gave it me, And bade me keep it as of sovereign

use

'Gainst all enchantments, mildew, blast, or damp,

Or ghastly furies' apparition.

I pursed it up, but little reck'ning made,

Till now that this extremity compelled:

But now I find it true; for by this

means

I knew the foul enchanter though disguised, 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 hardihood,

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 cursed crew Fierce sign of battle make, and menace high,

Or like the sons of Vulcan vomit smoke,

Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.

1 Br.-Thyrsis, lead on apace, 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. COмUS 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.

Com. Nay, Lady, sit; if I but wave this wand,

Your nerves are all chained up in alabaster,

And you a statue, or as Daphne was Root-bound, that fled Apollo.

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.

Com. Why are you vext, 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 to those dainty limbs which nature lent

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;

Scorning the unexempt condition 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, "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 ugly-headed monsters? Mercy guard me!

Hence with thy brewed enchantments, foul deceiver; Hast thou betrayed my credulous innocence

With visored falsehood and base forgery?

And wouldst thou seek again to trap me here

With liquorish baits fit to insnare a brute?

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. Com. O foolishness of men! that

lend their ears

To those budge doctors of the Stoic fur,

And fetch their precepts from the Cynic tub,

Praising the lean and sallow Absti

nence.

Wherefore did Nature pour her bounties forth