Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie,
To lull the daughters of Necessity,

And keep unfteddy Nature to her law,

And the low world in meafur'd motion draw
After the heav'nly tune, which none can hear
Of human mold with grofs unpurged ear;
And yet fuch mufic worthieft were to blaze
The peerless highth of her immortal praise,
Whose luftre leads us, and for her most fit,
If my inferior hand or voice could hit
Inimitable founds, yet as we go,
Whate'er the skill of leffer Gods can show,

I will assay, her worth to celebrate,

And so attend ye toward her glitterring state;
Where ye may all that are of noble stem

Approach, and kiss her facred vesture's hem.

green,

'ER the smooth enamel'd
Where no
Where no print of step hath been,
Follow me as I fing,

And touch the warbled string,

Under the fhady roof

Of branching elm star-proof.

Follow me,

I will bring you where she fits,

Clad in fplendor as befits

Her deity.

Such a rural Queen

All Arcadia hath not seen.

95

III.

SONG.

N

YMPHS and Shepherds dance no more
By fandy Ladon's lillied banks,

On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar

Trip no more in twilight ranks, Though Erymanth your loss deplore,

A better foil fhall give ye thanks.

From the ftony Mænalus

100

Bring your flocks, and live with us,
Here ye fhall have greater grace,

To serve the Lady of this place.

Though Syrinx your Pan's mistress were,
Yet Syrinx well might wait on her.

Such a rural Queen

All Arcadia hath not seen.

105

THE PERSON S.

The attendent SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of

Thyrfis.

COMUS with his Crew.

The LADY.

First BROTHER.

Second BROTHER.

SABRINA the Nymph.

The chief perfons who prefented were,

The Lord BRACKLY.

Mr. THOMAS EGERTON his brother.

The Lady ALICE EGERTON.