Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous 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,
Cursed as his life.

SPIRIT.

Alas! good venturous youth,

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

Be those that quell the might of hellish charms :
He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints,
And crumble all thy sinews.

ELDER BROTHER.

Why prythee, shepherd,

How durst thou then thyself approach so near,

As to make this relation?

SPIRIT.

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,28 and oft would beg me sing,
Which when I did, he on the tender grass
Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy,
And in requital ope his leathern scrip,
And show me simples of a thousand names,
Telling their strange and vigorous faculties:
Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,
But of divine effect, he culled me out;
The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it;
But in another country, as he said,

Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil: 29
Unknown, and like esteemed, and the dull swain
Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon; 30

And yet more med'cinal is it than that moly
That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave;

He called it hæmony, and gave it me,

And bade me keep it as of sovran use

31

'Gainst all enchantments, mildew, blast, or damp, Or ghastly furies' apparition.

Till now that this extremity compelled :
But now I find it true; for by this means

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.

ELDER BROTHER.

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.]

COMUS.

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.

COMUS.

Why are you vexed, 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,32

When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns
Brisk as the April buds in primrose-season.

And first behold this cordial julep here,
That flames and dances in his crystal bounds,3

33