Whom certain these rough shades did never breed, Unless the goddess that, in rural shrine, 320 Dwell'st here with Pan or Silvan, by bless'd song To touch the prosp'rous growth of this tall wood. Com. What chance, good Lady, hath bereft you thus? spring. Com. And left your fair side all unguarded, Lady! Lady. They were but twain, and purpos'd quick re turn. Com. "Perhaps forestalling night prevented them? "In his loose traces from the furrow came, " I saw them" under a "green" mantling vine, Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots: " I took it for a fairy vision " Of some gay creatures of the element, "That in the colours of the rainbow live, 35г "And play i' th' plighted clouds. I was awe-struck,. " And as I pass'd I worshipp'd:" if those you seek It were a journey like the path to heav'n To help you find them. Lady. Gentle Villager, What readiest way would bring me to that place? 362 " In such a scant allowance of star-light, 370 But loyal cottage, where you may be safe Till farther quest. Lady. Shepherd, I take thy word, And trust thy honest offer'd courtesy, " Which oft' is sooner found in lowly sheds "With smoky rafters, than in tap'stry halls "And courts of princes, where it first was nam'd, 380 "And yet is most pretended." In a place Less. warranted than this, or less secure, I cannot be, that I should fear to change it. Enter COMUS' Crew from behind the trees. SONG. By a Man. [Exeunt. Fly swiftly, ye Minutes! till Comus receive 391 Without love and wine, wit and beauty are vain, CHORUS. Away, away, away, To Comus' court repair; There night outshines the day, 397 ACT II. "Enter the two BROTHERS. "Elder Brother. "UNMUFFLE, ye faint Stars! and thou, fair Moon! "With thy long levell'd rule of streaming light, Υ. Bro. "Or, if our eyes 10 "Be barr'd that happiness, might we but hear "The folded flocks penn'd in their wattled cotes, " Or sound of past'ral reed with oaten stops, "Or whistle from the lodge, or village cock "Count the night-watches to his feathery dames, "'Twould be some solace yet, some little cheering, " In this close dungeon of innum'rous boughs. "But oh! that hapless virgin, our lost sister! " Where may she wander now, whither betake her " From the chill dew, amongst rude burs and thistles? "Perhaps some cold bank is her bolster now, 20 "Or 'gainst the rugged bark of some broad elm "Leans her unpillow'd head, fraught with sad fears : "What if in wild amazement and affright? "Or, while we speak, within the direful grasp "Of savage hunger or of savage heat? E. Bro. "Peace brother; be not over exquisite 30 "To cast the fashion of uncertain evils; "For, grant they be so, while they rest unknown "What need a man forestal his date of grief, "And run to meet what he would most avoid ? "Of if they be but false alarms of fear "How bitter is such self-delusion! " I do not think my sister so to seek, " Or so unprincipled in virtue's book, "And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever, "As that the single want of light and noise 40 " (Not being in danger, as I trust she is not) " By her own radiant light tho' sun and moon " Where with her best nurse, Contemplation, " Were allto ruffled, and sometimes impair'd. 50 "But he, that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts, |