Tempeft: With him I had often much chat of thofe affairs; Into which he took pleasure to look back from his Native Harbour; and at my departure toward Rome (which had been the center of his experience) I had won confidence enough to beg his advice, how I might carry my Self Securely there, without offence of others, or of mine own confcience. Signor Arrigo mio (Jays be) I penfieri ftretti, & il vifo fciolto, will go Safely over the whole World: Of which Delphian Oracle (for fo I have found it) your judgment doth need no commentary; and therefore (Sir) I will commit you with it to the best of all fecurities, God's dear love, remaining
Your Friend as much at command
I Have exprefly fent this my Foot-boy to prevent your departure without fome acknowledgment from me of the receipt of your obliging Letter, having my felf through fome bufinefs, I know not how, neglected the ordinary conveyance. In any part where I fhall understand you fixed, I fhall be glad, and diligent to entertain you with Home-Novelties; even for fome fomentation of our friend fhip, too foon interrupted in the Cradle.
The attendant Spirit, afterwards in the habit of Thyrfis.
Mr. Thomas Egerton his Brother.
The Lady Alice Egerton.
The attendant Spirit defcends or enters.
Efore the ftarry threshold of Jove's Court
My manfion is, where thofe immortal Shapes
Of bright aereal Spirits live infpher'd
In Régions mild of calm and ferene Air,
Above the fmoak and stirr of this dim spot, Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care Confin'd, and pester'd in this pin-fold here, Strive to keep up a frail and feaverish being, Unmindful of the Crown that Virtue gives, After this mortal change, to her true Servants Amongst the enthron'd Gods on Sainted feats.
Yet fome there be that by due fteps afpire
To lay their juft hands on that Golden Key
That opes the Palace of Eternity :
To fuch my errand is, and but for fuch,
I would not foil these pure Ambrofial weeds,
With the rank vapours of this Sin-worn mould.
But to my task. Neptune, befides the sway
Of every falt Flood, and each ebbing Stream,
Took in by lot 'twixt high and neather Jove,
Imperial rule of all the Sea-girt Ifles,
That like to rich and various Gemms inlay
The unadorned bofom of the Deep,
Which he to grace his tributary Gods
By course commits to feveral Government,
And gives them leave to wear their Saphire Crowns,
And wield their little Tridents; but this Ifle,
The greatest and the beft of all the Main,
He quarters to his blue-hair'd Deities,
And all this tract that fronts the falling Sun
A noble Peer of mickle truft and power
Has in his charge, with temper'd awe to guide
An old, and haughty Nation proud in Arms:
Where his fair off-fpring nurs'd in Princely lore,
Are coming to attend their Father's state,
And new-entrufted Scepter : but their way
Lies through the perplex'd paths of this drear Wood,
The nodding horror of whofe fhady brows
Threats the forlorn and wandring Paffenger;
And here their tender age might fuffer peril,
But that by quick command from Sovereign Jove.
I was dispatcht for their defence and guard ;.
And liften why, for I will tell ye now.
What never yet was heard in Tale or Song,
From old or modern Bard, in Hall or Bow'r.
Bacchus, that first from out the purple Grape
Crufht the sweet poyson of mif-used Wine,
After the Tuscan Mariners transform'd,
Coasting the Tyrrhene fhore, as the winds lifted,
On Circe's Island fell; (Who knows not Circe,
The daughter of the Sun? whofe charmed Cup
Whoever tafted loft his upright fhape,
And downward fell into a groveling Swine).
This Nymph that gaz'd upon his cluftring lock
With Ivy Berries wreath'd, and his blithe youth,
Had by him, ere he parted thence, a Son
Much like his Father, but his Mother more,
Whom therefore fhe brought up and Comus nam'd,
Who ripe, and frolick of his full grown age,
Roaving the Celtick and Iberian fields,
At laft betakes him to this ominous Wood,
And in thick fhelter of black fhades imbowr'd,
Excels his Mother at her mighty Art,
Off'ring to every weary Traveller
His orient Liquor in a Crystal Glafs,
To quench the drouth of Phœbus, which as they taste
(For most do taste through fond intemperate thirst)
Soon as the Potion works, their human count'nance,
Th' express resemblance of the Gods, is chang'd
Into fome brutish form of Wolf, or Bear,
Or Ounce, or Tiger, Hog, or bearded Goat,
All other parts remaining as they were ;
And they, fo perfect is their mifery,
Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,
But boast themselves more comely than before,
And all their friends and native home forget,
To roll with pleasure in a fenfual stie.
Therefore when any favour'd of high Jove,
Chances to pass through this adventrous glade,
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