COMU S. A MASK, PRESENTED AT LUDLOW CASTLE, 1634, BEFORE THE EARL OF BRIDGEWATER, THEN PRESIDENT OF WALES. The Persons. THE ATTENDANT SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of THYRSIS. COMUS, with his crew. THE LADY. FIRST BROTHER. SECOND BROTHER. SABRINA, the Nymph. The Chief Persons who presented were THE LORD BRACKLY. MR. THOMAS EGERTON, his Brother. THE LADY ALICE EGERTON. CALIFOREA COMU S. The first scene discovers a wild wood. The ATTENDANT SPIRIT descends or enters.] ATTENDANT SPIRIT. BEFORE the starry threshold of Jove's court My mansion is, where those immortal shapes Of bright aërial spirits live insphered In regions mild of calm and serene air, Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot, Which men call Earth; and with low-thoughted care Confined, and pestered in this pinfold here, Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being, To such my errand is; and but for such, By course commits to several government, And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns, And wield their little tridents; but this isle, The greatest and the best of all the main, And all this tract that fronts the falling sun A noble peer of mickle trust and power An old and haughty nation, proud in arms: Are coming to attend their father's state, And new-entrusted sceptre ; but their way Lies through the pérplexed paths of this drear wood, The nodding horror of whose shady brows |