With fudden adoration, and blank awe?
So dear to Heav'n is faintly chastity,
That when a foul is found fincerely fo,
A thousand liveried Angels lacky her,
Driving far off each thing of fin and guilt,
And in clear dream, and folemn vifion,
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear,
Till oft converse with heav'nly habitants
Begin to caft a beam on th' outward shape,
The unpolluted temple of the mind,
And turns it by degrees to the foul's effence, 465
Till all be made immortal: but when luft,
By unchafte looks, loose gestures, and foul talk,
But most by leud and lavish act of sin,
Lets in defilement to the inward parts,
The foul grows clotted by contagion,
Imbodies, and imbrutes, till fhe quite lose
The divine property of her first being.
Such are those thick and gloomy fhadows damp
Oft feen in charnel vaults, and fepulchers,
Ling'ring, and fitting by a new made grave, 475
As loath to leave the body that it lov'd,
And link'd itself by carnal sensuality
To a degenerate and degraded state.
2. Bro. How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh, and crabbed, as dull fools fuppofe, 480 But musical as is Apollo's lute,
And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets,
Where no crude furfeit reigns. Eld. Bro. Lift, lift, I
Some far-off hallow break the filent air. (hear
2. Bro. Methought fo too; what should it be? 485
Eld. Bro. For certain
Either fome one like us night-founder'd here,
Or else fome neighbour wood-man, or, at worst,
Some roving robber calling to his fellows. 489
2. Bro. Heav'n keep my Sifter. Again, again, and
Beft draw, and ftand upon our guard.
If he be friendly, he comes well; if not,
Defense is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us.
The attendent Spirit habited like a shepherd.
That hallow I should know, what are you? speak; Come not too near, you fall on iron ftakes elfe. 496 Spir. What voice is that? my young Lord? speak again.
2. Bro. O brother, 'tis my father's fhepherd, fure. Eld. Bro. Thyrfis? whose artful ftrains have oft
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal
And sweeten'd every mufkrofe of the dale.
How cam'ft thou here, good Swain? hath any ram
Slipt from the fold, or young kid loft his dam,
Or ftraggling weather the pent flock forfook? 504
How could'st thou find this dark fequefter'd nook?
Spir. O my lov'd master's heir, and his next joy,
I came not here on such a trivial toy
As a ftray'd ewe, or to pursue the stealth
Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth
That doth enrich these downs, is worth a thought
To this my errand, and the care it brought.
But, O my virgin Lady, where is she?
How chance she is not in your company?
El.Bro. To tell thee fadly, Shepherd, without blame,
Or our neglect, we loft her as we came.
515
Spir. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true.
Eld. Bro.What fears, good Thyrfis? Prethee briefly
Spir. I'll tell ye; 'tis not vain or fabulous, (shew.
(Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance) 519
What the fage poets, taught by th' heav'nly Muse,
Story'd of old in high immortal verse,
Of dire chimera's and inchanted iles,
And rifted rocks whofe entrance leads to Hell;
For fuch there be, but unbelief is blind.
Within the navel of this hideous wood,
Immur'd in cypress shades a forcerer dwells,
Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus,
Deep skill'd in all his mother's witcheries,
And here to every thirsty wanderer
By fly enticement gives his baneful cup,
With many murmurs mix'd, whose pleasing poison The vifage quite transforms of him that drinks, And the inglorious likeness of a beast
Fixes inftead, unmolding reafon's mintage
Character'd in the face; this have I learnt
Tending my flocks hard by i'th' hill crofts,
That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night
He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl
Like ftabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate
In their obfcured haunts of inmoft bowers. Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells, To' inveigle and invite th' unwary sense Of them that pass unweeting by the way. This evening late, by then the chewing flocks 545Had ta'en their fupper on the savory herb Of knot-grafs dew-besprent, and were in fold, I fat me down to watch upon a bank With ivy canopied, and interwove With flaunting honey-fuckle, and began, Wrapt in a pleasing fit of melancholy, To meditate my rural minstrelfy, Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close The wonted roar was up amidst the woods, And fill'd the air with barbarous diffonance; 555 At which I ceas'd, and liften'd them a while, Till an unusual stop of fudden filence Gave refpit to the drowsy flighted steeds, That draw the litter of close-curtain'd sleep; At last a soft and folemn breathing found Rofe like a steam of rich diftill'd perfumes, And stole upon the air, that even Silence
Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd she might
Deny her nature, and be never more
Still to be so displac'd. I was all ear,
And took in ftrains that might create a foul
Under the ribs of death: but O ere long
Too well I did perceive it was the voice
Of my most honor'd Lady, your dear Sister.
Amaz'd I ftood, harrow'd with grief and fear, 570.
And O poor hapless nightingale thought I,
How sweet thou fing'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 wifard hid in fly disguise
(For fo by certain figns I knew) had met
Already, ere my best speed could prevent,
The aidless innocent Lady his wifh'd prey,
Who gently afk'd if he had seen such two,
Suppofing him fome neighbour villager.
Longer I durft not stay, but foon I guess'd
Ye were the two she meant; with that I fprung
Into fwift flight, till I had found you here,
But further know I not. 2. Bro. O night and fhades,
How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot,
Against th' unarmed weakness of one virgin
Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence
You gave me, Brother? El. Bro. Yes, and keep it still,
Lean on it safely; not a period
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