Does arbitrate the event, my nature

is

That I incline to hope rather than fear,

And gladly banish squint suspicion. My sister is not so defenceless left, As you imagine; she has a hidden strength

Which you remember not.

2 Br. - What hidden strength, Unless the strength of Heaven, if you mean that?

1 Br. I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength

Which, if Heaven gave it, may be termed her own;

'Tis chastity, my brother, chastity. She that has that is clad in complete steel,

And like a quivered Nymph with arrows keen

May trace huge forests, and unharbored heaths,

Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds,

Where through the sacred rays of chastity,

No savage fierce, bandite, or mountaineer

Will dare to soil her virgin purity: Yea there, where very desolation

dwells,

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.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 thought

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?

1 Br. To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we lost her as we

came.

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 cup,

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's mintage

Charáctered in the face: this I have learnt

Already, ere my best speed could prevent,

The aidless innocent Lady his wished prey;

Who gently asked if he had seen such two,

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.

2 Br. -O night and shades, 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? 1 Br. - 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 assailed, but never hurt,

Surprised by unjust force, but not

inthralled;

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,

It shall be in eternal restless change Self-fed, and self-consumed: if this fail.

The pillared firmament is rottenness,
And earth's base built on stubble.
But come, let's on.
Against the opposing will and arm
of heaven

May never this just sword be lifted up:

But for that damned 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

'Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out,

And force him to return his purchase back,

Or drag him by the curls to a foul death, Cursed as his life.

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,

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. 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.

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 returns

Brisk as the April buds in primrose

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