Where no crude furfeit reigns. Eld. Bro. Lift, list, I hear
Some far off hallow break the silent air.

2. Bro. Methought fo too; what should it be? 48
Eld. Bro. For certain

Either fome one like us night-founder'd here,
Or else some neighbour wood-man, or, at worst,
Some roving robber calling to his fellows.

2. Bro. Heav'n keep my Sifter. Again, again, and near;
Beft draw, and ftand upon our guard.

Eld. Bro. I'll hallow;

If he be friendly, he comes well; if not,
Defense is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us.
The attendent Spirit habited like a fhepherd.

491

That hallow I should know, what are you? speak;
Come not too near, you fall on iron stakes else. 496
Spir. What voice is that? my young
Lord? speak

again.

2. Bro. O brother, 'tis my father's fhepherd, fure. Eld. Bro. Thyrfis? whose artful strains have oft

delay'd

The huddling brook to hear his madrigal

And sweeten'd every muskrose of the dale.

500

How cam'st thou here, good Swain? hath any ram
Slipt from the fold, or young kid loft his dam,
Or ftraggling weather the pent flock forsook?

How could'ft thou find this dark fequefter'd nook? 505
Spir. O
my lov'd master's heir, and his next joy,

I came not here on such a trivial toy

As a ftray'd ewe, or to pursue the flealth

Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth

That doth enrich these downs, is worth a thought 510
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?

Eld. Bro. To tell thee fadly, Shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we loft her as we came.

515

Spir. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true. Eld. Bro. What fears, good Thyríis? Prethee briefly Spir. I'll tell ye; 'tis not vain or fabulous, (fhew. (Though so esteem'd by fhallow ignorance) What the fage poets, taught by th' heav'nly Muse, Story'd of old in high immortal verse,

519

Of dire chimera's and inchanted iles,

And rifted rocks whofe entrance leads to Hell;

For fuch there be, but unbelief is blind.

Within the navel of this hideous wood,

525

Immur'd in cypress shades a forcerer dwells,
Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus,

Deep skill'd in all his mother's witcheries,

And here to every thirsty wanderer

By fly enticement gives his baneful cup,

530

With many murmurs mix'd, whofe pleafing poison

The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,
And the inglorious likeness of a beast

Fixes instead, unmolding reafon's mintage

Cha

Charácter'd in the face; this have I learnt

Tending my

flocks hard by i'th'hilly crofts,

535

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 inmost bowers.
Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells,
To' inveigle and invite th' unwary fenfe
Of them that pass 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 pleasing fit of melancholy,
To meditate my rural minstrelly,
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;
At which I ceas'd, and liften'd them a while,
Till an unusual stop of fudden filence
Gave refpit to the droufy flighted fteeds,
That draw the litter of clofe-curtain'd fleep;
At last a soft and folemn breathing found
Rose like a steam of rich distill'd perfumes,
And stole upon the air, that even Silence

540

545

550

555

560

Was

Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd she might Deny her nature, and be never more

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

565

And took in ftrains that might create a foul
Under the ribs of death: but O ere long

570

575

Too well I did perceive it was the voice
Of my most honor'd Lady, your dear Sifter..
Amaz'd I ftood, harrow'd with grief and fear,
And O poor hapless nightingale thought I,
How sweet thou fing'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 fly disguise
(For fo 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 fome neighbour villager.
Longer I durft not stay, but soon I guess'd
Ye were the two fhe meant; with that I sprung
Into swift flight, till I had found you here,

580

But further know I not. 2. Bro. O night and shades, How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot,

586

Against th' unharmed weakness of one virgin
Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence

You gave me, Brother? Eld. Bro. Yes, and keep it still, Lean on it fafely; not a period

590 Shall

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 may be affail'd, but never hurt,

Surpris'd by unjust force, but not inthrall'd;
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 fcum, and settled to itself,

It shall be in eternal restless change
Self-fed, and self-confum'd: if this fail,

The pillar'd firmament is rottenness,

595

600

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

Against th' oppofing will and arm of Heaven

May never this juft fword be lifted up;

605

But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt
With all the grifly legions that troop

Under the footy flag of Acheron,

Harpyes and Hydra's, or all the monftrous forms 610 '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.

Spir. Alas! good ventrous Youth,

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

615

Be