Tending my flocks hard by i'th' hilly crofts,
That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night
He and his monftrous rout are heard to howl

Like ftabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate

In their obfcured haunts of inmoft bowers.
Yet have they many baits, and guileful fpells,
To' inveigle and invite th' unwary sense
Of them that pafs unweeting by the way.
This evening late, by then the chewing flocks
Had ta'en their fupper on the favory herb
Of knot-grafs dew-besprent, and were in fold,
I fat me down to watch upon a bank
With ivy canopied, and interwove

With flaunting honey-fuckle, and began,
Wrapt in a pleafing 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 diffonance;
At which I ceas'd, and liften'd them a while,
Till an unusual stop of fudden filence
Gave refpit to the droufy-flighted steeds,
That draw the litter of clofe-curtain'd fleep;
At laft a foft and folemn breathing found
Rofe like a steam of rich diftill'd perfumes,
And stole upon the air, that even Silence

Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd the might

535

'540

545

550

555

Deny her nature, and be never more,

Still to be fo difplac'd. I was all ear,

560

And

And took in ftrains that might create a foul
Under the ribs of death: but O ere long
Too well I did perceive it was the voice

Of
my moft honor'd Lady, your dear Sifter.
Amaz'd I ftood, harrow'd with grief and fear,
And O poor haplefs nightingale, thought I,
How sweet thou fing'ft, how near the deadly fnare!
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 wifard hid in fly difguife
(For fo by certain figns 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,
Suppofing him fome neighbour villager.
Longer I durft not stay, but soon I guess'd
Ye were the two fhe meant; with that I fprung
Into fwift flight, till I had found you here,
But further know I not.

2 BRO. O night and shades,

How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot,
Against th' unarmed weakness of one virgin
Alone, and helplefs! Is this the confidence
You gave me, Brother?

I BRO. Yes, and keep it still,

565

570

575

580

Lean on it fafely; not a period

585

Shall be unfaid for me: against the threats
Of malice or of forcery, or that power

Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm,

Virtue

And mix no more with goodness, when at last,

Gather'd like fcum, and fettled to itself,

595

It shall be in eternal reftlefs change

Self-fed, and self-consumed: if this fail,

The pillar'd firmament is rottennefs,

And earth's bafe built on ftubble. But come let's on.

Against th' oppofing will and arm of Heaven

600

May never this just fword be lifted up;... on
But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt
With all the grifly legions that troopR
Under the footy flag of Acheron,

Harpies and Hydras, or all the monftrous 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,

605

I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise;
But here thy fword can do thee little stead;
Far other arms, and other weapons, muft

610

Be thofe that quell the might of hellish charms:
He with his bare wand can unthred thy joints,
And crumble all thy finews.

I BRO. Why pr'ythee, Shepherd,
How durft thou then thyself approach so near,

As to make this relation ?

SPI. Care and utmost shifts

How to fecure the Lady from furprisal,

Brought to my mind a certain fhepherd lad,
Of small regard to fee 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 fing;
Which when I did, he on the tender grafs
Would fit, and hearken ev'n to extafy,
And in requital ope his leathern fcrip,
And fhow me fimples of a thousand names,
Telling their strange and vigorous faculties ;
Amongst the reft a fmall unfightly 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 faid,

620

Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this foil:
Unknown, and like efteem'd, and the dull fwain
Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon ;
And yet more med'cinal is it than that Moly
That Hermes once to wife Ulyffes gave;
He call'd it Hæmony, and gave it me,
And bad me keep it as of fovran use

625

630

635

'Gainft all inchantments, mildew, blaft, or damp, 640 Or ghaftly furies' apparition.

I purs'd it up, but little reckoning made,
Till now that this extremity compell'd:
But now I find it true; for by this means
I knew the foul inc hanter though disguis'd,

645 Enter'd

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 affault the necromancer's hall;

Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood,

650

And brandish'd blade, rush on him, break his glass,
And shed the lufcious liquor on the ground,
But seise his wand; though he and his curs'd crew
Fierce fign of battel make, and menace high,
Or like the fons of Vulcan vomit fmoke,
Yet will they foon retire, if he but shrink.

655

1 BRO. Thyrfis, lead on apace, I'll follow thee, And some good Angel bear a shield before us!

The Scene changes to a stately palace, fet out with all manner of deliciousness: foft mufic, tables fpread with all dainties. Comus appears with his rabble, and the Lady fet in an inchanted chair, to whom he offers his glafs, which fhe puts by, and goes about to rife.

Coм. Nay, Lady, fit; 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.

LA. Fool, do not boast,

660

Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind
With all thy charms, although this corporal rind
Thou haft immanacled, while Heav'n fees good. 665
COм. Why