With that same vaunted name, Virginity.
Beauty is Nature's coin, must not be hoarded, But must be current; and the good thereof Consists in mutual and partaken bliss, Unsavoury in the enjoyment of itself; If you let slip time, like a neglected rose It withers on the stalk with languish'd head. Beauty is Nature's brag, and must be shown. In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities, Where most may wonder at the workmanship; It is for homely features to keep home, They had their name thence; coarse complexions, And cheeks of sorry grain, will serve to ply The sampler, and to tease the huswife's wool. What need a vermeil-tinctur'd lip for that, Love-darting eyes, or tresses like the Morn? There was another meaning in these gifts; Think what, and be advis'd; you are but young yet. Lady. I had not thought to have unlock'd my lips In this unhallow'd air, but that this juggler Would think to charm my judgement, as mine Obtruding false rules prank'd in reason's garb. I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments, And Virtue has no tongue to check her pride.- Impostor! do not charge most innocent Nature, As if she would her children should be riotous With her abundance; she, good cateress, Means her provision only to the good,
That live according to her sober laws, And holy dictate of spare Temperance: If every just man, that now pines with want, Had but a moderate and beseeming share Of that which lewdly-pamper'd Luxury Now heaps upon some few, with vast excess, Nature's full blessings would be well dispens'd In unsuperfluous even proportion,
And she no whit incumber'd with her store; And then the Giver would be better thank'd, His praise due paid: For swinish Gluttony Ne'er looks to Heaven amidst his gorgeous feast, But with besotted base ingratitude
Crams, and blasphemes his Feeder. Shall I go on? Or have I said enough? To him that dares Arm his profane tongue with contemptuous words Against the sun-clad Power of Chastity,
Fain would I something say, yet to what end? Thou hast nor ear, nor soul, to apprehend The sublime notion, and high mystery, That must be utter'd to unfold the sage And serious doctrine of Virginity;
And thou art worthy that thou should'st not know More happiness than this thy present lot.
Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetorick,
That hath so well been taught her dazzling fence;
Thou art not fit to hear thyself convinc'd:
Yet, should I try, the uncontrolled worth
Of this pure cause would kindle my rapt spirits To such a flame of sacred vehemence,
That dumb things would be mov'd to sympathize, And the brute Earth would lend her nerves, and
Till all thy magick structures, rear'd so high, Were shatter'd into heaps o'er thy false head. Comus. She fables not; I feel that I do fear Her words set off by some superiour power; And though not mortal, yet a cold shuddering dew Dips me all o'er, as when the wrath of Jove Speaks thunder, and the chains of Erebus, To some of Saturn's crew. I must dissemble, And try her yet more strongly.-Come, no more; This is mere moral babble, and direct' Against the canon-laws of our foundation; I must not suffer this; yet 'tis but the lees And settlings of a melancholy blood:
But this will cure all straight: one sip of this Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight, Beyond the bliss of dreams. Be wise, and taste.-
The BROTHERS rush in with swords drawn, wrest his glass out of his hand, and break it against the ground; his rout make sign of resistance, but are all driven in. The ATTENDANT SPIRIT comes in.
And, O poor hapless nightingale, thought I, How sweet thou sing'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 sly disguise, (For so 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 some neighbour villager. Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess'd Ye where the two she meant ; with that I'
Into swift flight, till I had found you here; But further know I not.
How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot Against the unarmed weakness of one virgin, Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence You gave me, Brother?
Lean on it safely; not a period
Shall be unsaid for me: Against the threats
Of malice, or for sorcery, or that power
Which erring Men call Chance, this I hold firm ;Virtue may be assail'd, but never hurt,
Surpriz'd by unjust force, but not enthrall'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 scum, and settled to itself, It shall be in eternal restless change Self-fed, and self-consum'd; If this fail, The pillar'd firmament is rottenness, And earth's base built on stubble.
Against the opposing will and arm of Heaven May never this just sword be lifted up!
But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt With all the 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, Curs'd as his life.
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.
How durst thou then thyself approach so near,
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