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 persons who presented were, The Lord BRACKLY. Mr. THOMAS EGERTON his brother. The Lady ALICE EGERTON. The The Mask was prefented in 1634, and confequently in the 26th year of our author's age. In the title page of the first edition printed in 1637, it is said that it was presented on Michaelmas night, and there was this motto, Eheu quid volui mifero mihi! floribus auftrum Perditus----- In this edition, and in that of Milton's poems in 1645, there was prefixed to the Mask the following dedication. To the Right Honorable JOHN Lord Vicount BRACKLY fon and heir apparent to the Earl of BRIDGEWATER, &c. MY LORD, HIS TH poem, which received its firft occafion of birth from yourself and others of your noble family, and much honor from your own person in the performance, now returns again to make a final dedication of itself to you. Although not openly acknowledg'd by the author, yet it is a legitimate ofspring, so lovely, and fo much defired, that the often copying of it hath tir'd my pen to give my feveral friends fatisfaction, and brought me to a neceffity of producing it to the public view; and now to offer it up in all rightful devotion to those fair hopes, and rare endowments of your much pro promifing youth, which give a full afsurance, to all that know you, of a future excellence. Live sweet Lord to be the honor of your name, and receive this as your own, from the hands of him, who hath by many favors been long oblig'd to your most honor'd parents, and as in this representation your attendent Thyrfis, fo now in all real expreffion Your faithful and moft humble Servant, H. LAWES. In the edition of 1645 was also prefixed Sir Henry Wotton's letter to the author upon the following poem: but as we have inferted it in the Life of Milton, there is no occafion to repeat it here. B M A A S K. The first scene discovers a wild wood. The attendent Spirit defcends or enters. EFORE the starry threshold of Jove's court My mansion is, where those immortal shapes Of bright aereal Spirits live infpher'd In regions mild of calm and serene air, Above the smoke and ftir of this dim spot, 5 IO Which men call Earth, and with low thoughted To fuch my errand is; and but for fuch, But to my task. Neptune befides the sway E e 15 20 Impe Imperial rule of all the fea-girt iles, That like to rich and various gems inlay Which he to grace his tributary Gods By course commits to several government, 25 30 35 And gives them leave to wear their faphir crowns, 40 45 Coaft |