Like stabled wolves, or tigers at their prey, Doing abhorred rites to Hecate
In their obscured haunts of inmost bowers. Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells, To' inveigle and invite th' unwary sense Of them that pass unweeting by the way. This evening late, by then the chewing flocks 540 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 honey-suckle, and began, Wrapt in a pleasing 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 fill'd the air with barbarous dissonance; 550 At which I ceas'd, and listen'd them a while, Till an unusual stop of sudden silence Gave respit to the drousy flighted steeds, · · TM1⁄2 That draw the litter of close-curtain'd Sleep; At last a soft and solemn breathing sound Rose like a steam of rich distill'd perfumes, And stole upon the air, that even Silence Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd she might Deny her nature, and be never more
Still to be so displac'd. I was all ear,
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 often trod by day, Till guided by mine ear I found the place, Where that damn'd wisard 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 wish'd prey, Who gently ask'd if he had seen such two, Supposing him some neighbour villager. Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess'd Ye were the two she meant; with that I sprung Into swift flight, till I had found you here, But further know I not.
Y. BRO. O Night and shades,
How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot, Against th' unarmed weakness of one virgin Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence You gave me Brother?
E. 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
Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm, Virtue may be assail'd, but never hurt,
Surpris'd by unjust force, but not inthrall'd; 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 Gather'd like scum, and settled to itself, 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
Against th' opposing will and arm of Heav'n 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,
Harpyes and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms 'Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out, And force him to restore his purchase back, Or drag him by the curls to a foul death, Curs'd as his life.
SPI. Alas! good ventrous Youth,
I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise ; But here thy sword can 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 unthred thy joints, And crumble all thy sinews.
E. BRO. Why prethee, Shepherd, Volume III.
How durst thou then thyself approach so near, As to make this relation?
SPI. Care and utmost shifts":
How to secure the Lady from surprisal, #0 Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad, Of small regard to see to, yet well skill'd In every virtuous plant and healing herb, That spreads her verdant leaf to th' morning ray : He lov'd me well, and oft would beg me sing, Which when I did, he on the tender grass Would sit, and hearken ev'n to extasy, And in requital ope his leathern scrip, And show me simples of a thousand names, Telling their strange and vigorous faculties : Among the rest a small unsightly root, But of divine effect, he cull'd 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 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 Hæmony, and gave it me, And bade me keep it as of sovrán use
'Gainst all inchantments, mildew, blast, or damp, Or ghastly furies' apparition.
I purs'd it up, but little reck'ning made, Till now that this extremity compell'd: But now I find it true; for by this means
I knew the foul enchanter though disguis'd, 645 Enter'd 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 brandish'd blade rush on him, break his glass, And shed the luscious liquor on the ground, But seise his wand; though he and his curs'd crew Fierce sign of battel make, and menace high, Or like the sons of Vulcan vomit, smoke, Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.
E. BRO. Thyrsis, lead on a pace, 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. COMUS appears with his rab. ble, and the LADY set in an inchanted chair, to whom he offers his glass, and which she puts by, and goes about to rise.
COм. Nay, lady, sit; if I but wave this wand, Your nerves are all chain'd up in alabaster, And you a statue, or as Daphne was Root-bound, that fled Apollo..
Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind With all thy charms, although this corporal rind Thou hast immanacl'd,while Heav'n sees good. 666 COм. Why are you vext, lady? why do you frown?
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