How to secure the Lady from surprisal, T
Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad,
Of small regard to see to, yet well skill'd

In ver yvirtuous plant and healing herb 629

(and hence perhaps the expression in line 659 of Comus, with brandish'd blade rush on him). This last, persons of condition commonly wear in little bags under their arm pits and their feet to prevent sweating; (and hence perhaps the remarkable phrase of line 650 in Comus, I pursed it up.) The plumous alum is almost always in small fibres or threads; (hence, perhaps, the mention of its prickles in line 639). Some say its name is derived from lumen, light, because it gives a lustre to dyed colours, &c. &c." In respect of this last statement, it seems to me very probable that its name is in fact derived from à lumine, since the chemical books mention," that it chrystallizes in greatest quantity on the side of a vessel opposite the light," à lumine: it is from thence, perhaps, said to be unsightly, in Comus 636; but its being called a root there, is merely for the purpose

1

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 even to ecstacy,

of disguise, as calomel, for the same reason, was by Homer called gin, a root, likewise.. "The History of Drugs" mentions another" mineral salt called borace, found in Persia, which is sometimes green and sometimes yellow, and often mixed with English alum, which is difficult to discover." This I take to be referred to by the golden flower borne by it in another country as mentioned in 641. The alum mainly in question being daily trod upon, alludes to its being found among common stones, as above stated; and (finally) its name is only in a small degree disguised in al (in the word called) and hæmony just following that word, that is to say, al hæmony, or alumine. The beginning of the speech intimates that the use of it was borrowed from the Egyptians or Arabians, (whose principal employ is that of shepherds, 627) and who are generally well skilled in the know

And in requital ope his leathern scrip, 'Gainst all enchantments, mildew, blast, and damp, Or ghastly furies' apparition:

636

I purs'd it up, but little reck'ning made,
Till now that this extremity compell'd:
But now I find it true; for by this means
I knew the foul enchanter, though disguis'd, 640
Enter'd the very lime-twigs of his spells,
And yet came off: if you havé this about you,
As I will give you when we go, you may
Boldly assault the necromancer's hall;

And shew me simples of a thousand names, 645

ledge of herbs and drugs; and Cairo (otherwise called Cahira) the capital of Egypt, seems to be obliquely pointed to by the two first words of the speech: for it is a common practice at this day with the people of Cairo to mix alum with the water of the Nile, in order to correct its unwholesomeness. The liability of the Egyptians to blindness is noticed in the expression "of small regard to see to," 628, and the "History of Drugs" mentions that alum-water is used in ophthalmic complaints. The 631st and two fol

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,

650

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;
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 sov'reign use

655

lowing lines seem to have relation to the circumstance that the inundation of the river which is represented by the Attendant Spirit, and that of the Nile, take place at the same time of the year; that of the latter is always a subject of joy in Egypt, as being the cause of its fertility; and its commencement is evidenced by a more abundant fall from the cataracts there, the noise of which is considerable, and by some described as deafening. "The good angel" of 666, seems to allude particularly to the English alum.

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: 660
But seize his wand: though he and his curst 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.

Eld. Bro. Thyrsis, lead on apace. I'll follow

thee,

And some good angel bear a shield before us.

665

* The Scene changes to a stately Palace, set out

By the stately palace we are to conceive the whole of America: the deliciousness of that country in general, may relate to its abundance, not in corn only, but in vast varieties of fruits; by the soft music, an allusion may be intended to South America alone, which has the shape of a lyre or lute, and is perpetually uttering sounds from its volcanoes; on which account it was that Circe (who also represents South America) was so often described as singing; by the tables and dishes, the various groupes of islands in the West