Ere morrow wake, or the low-roofted lark But loyal cottage, where you may be safe 320 Till further queft. La. Shepherd, I take thy word, And trust thy honeft offer'd courtesy, Which oft is fooner found in lowly sheds With smoky rafters, than in tap'stry halls I cannot be, that I should fear to change it. The two Brothers. El. Bro. Unmuffle ye faint Stars, and thou fair Moon, 335 With thy long levell'd rule of streaming light, 340 And thou shalt be our star of Arcady, Or Tyrian Cynofure. 2. Bro. Or if our eyes Be 345 Be barr'd that happiness, might we but hear Eld. Bro. Peace, Brother, be not over-exquisite To caft the fashion of uncertain evils ; 360 How bitter is fuch felf-delufion? 365 I do not think my Sifter so to seek, Or fo unprincipled in virtue's book, And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever, As that the single want of light and noise (Not being in danger, as I trust she is not) 370 Could Could stir the conftant mood of her calm thoughts, them into mis-becoming plight. And put Virtue could fee to do what virtue would By her own radiant light, though fun and moon Were in the flat fea funk. And wisdom's felf 375 Oft seeks to sweet retired folitude, Where with her beft nurse contemplation She plumes her feathers and lets grow her wings, That in the various buftle of refort Were all too ruffled, and sometimes impair'd. 380 He that has light within his own clear breast May fit i'th center, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark foul, and foul thoughts, Benighted walks under the mid-day fun; Himself is his own dungeon. 2. Bro. 'Tis most true, That musing meditation most affects The penfive fecrefy of defert cell, Far from the chearful haunt of men and herds, 385 And fits as fafe as in a fenate house; For who would rob a hermit of his weeds, 390 His few books, or his beads, or maple dish, Or do his gray hairs any violence? But beauty, like the fair Hefperian tree Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard 395 To fave her blossoms, and defend her fruit You You may as well spread out the unfunn'd heaps Of mifers treasure by an out-law's den, 400 405 I fear the dread events that dog them both, Left fome ill-greeting touch attempt the perfon Eld. Bro. I do not, Brother, Infer, as if I thought my Sifter's state 410 Secure without all doubt, or controversy: Yet where an equal poise of hope and fear Does arbitrate th' event, my nature is That I incline to hope, rather than fear, And gladly banish fquint fufpicion. 415 My Sifter is not fo defenfeless left As you imagin; she' has a hidden strength 419 2. Bro. What hidden strength, Unless the strength of Heav'n, if you mean that? She that has that, is clad in complete fteel, Infamous hills, and fandy perilous wilds, 430 Yea there, where every defolation dwells 440 445 Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow, And noble grace that dafh'd brute violence |