And earth's base built on stubble. But come,

let's on.

Against the opposing will and arm of heaven 600
May never this just sword be lifted up;

But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt
With all the grisly 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.

SPIR. Alas! good vent'rous 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

610

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

1 BR. Why prithee, Shepherd, How durst thou then thyself approach so near, As to make this relation?

SPIR. Care and utmost shifts

615

620

How to secure the Lady from surprisal,
Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad,
Of small regard to see to, yet well skill'd
In every virtuous plant and healing herb,
That spreads her verdant leaf to th' morning ray:
He lov'd me well, and oft would beg me sing,
Which when I did, he on the tender grass

Would sit, and hearken e'en to ecstasy,
And in requital ope his leathern scrip,

625

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 cull'd me out;
The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it,
But in another country, as he said,

630

Bore a bright golden flow'r, but not in this soil:
Unknown, and like esteem'd, and the dull swain
Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon : 635
And yet more med'cinal is it than that moly
That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave;

He call'd it hæmony, and gave it me,
And bad me keep it as of sovereign use
'Gainst all inchantments, mildew, blast, or damp,
Or ghastly furies' apparition.

I purs'd it up, but little reck'ning made,

636 moly] Golding's Ovid's Met. B. xiv. p. 170,

650

Till now that this extremity compell'd:
But now I find it true; for by this means
I knew the foul inchanter though disguis'd, 615
Enter'd 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 brandish'd blade rush on him, break his glass,
And shed the luscious liquor on the ground,
But seize his wand; though he and his curs'd 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.
1 BR. Thyrsis, lead on apace, I'll follow thee,
And some good Angel bear a shield before us.

655

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 inchanted chair, to whom he offers his glass, which she puts by, and goes about to rise.

Сом. Nay, Lady, sit; if I but wave this wand, Your nerves are all chain'd up in alabaster, 660 And you a statue, or as Daphne was

Root-bound, that fled Apollo.

LAD. 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 heav'n sees good. Сом. Why are you vext, Lady? why do you frown?

Here dwell no frowns, nor anger; from these gates

671

Sorrow flies far: See, here be all the pleasures
That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,
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,
With spirits of balm, and fragrant syrups mix'd.
Not that Nepenthes, which the wife of Thone 675
In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena,
Is of such pow'r to stir up joy as this,
To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst.
Why should you be so cruel to yourself,

That have been tir'd all day without repast, And timely rest have wanted; but, fair Virgin,

This will restore all soon.

LAD. 'Twill not, false traitor,

690

'Twill not restore the truth and honesty That thou hast banish'd from thy tongue with lies. Was this the Cottage, and the safe abode

Thou toldst me of? What grim aspects are these, These ugly-headed monsters? Mercy guard me! Hence with thy brew'd inchantments, foul de

ceiver;

700

Hast thou betray'd my credulous innocence
With visor'd falsehood and base forgery?
And would'st thou seek again to trap me here
With liquorish baits fit to ensnare a brute?
Were it a draft for Juno when she banquets,
I would not taste thy treasonous offer; none
But such as are good men can give good things,
And that which is not good, is not delicious
To a well-govern'd and wise appetite.
COM. O foolishness of men! that lend their

705