1 20 "With the rank vapours of this sin-worn mould. "But whence yon' slanting stream of purer light "Which streaks the midnight gloom, and hither darts "Its beamy point? Some messenger from Jove "Commission'd to direct or share my charge, "And if I ken him right, a spirit pure "As treads the spangled pavement of the sky, "The gentle Philadel: but swift as thought "He comes "The second Attendant Spirit descends. "Declare on what strange errand bent "Thou visitest this clime to me assign'd, "So far remote from thy appointed sphere. 30 S. Spi. "On no appointed task thou seest me now; "But, as returning from Elysian bow'rs "(Whither from mortal coil a soul I wafted) "Along this boundless sea of waving air "I steer'd my flight, betwixt the gloomy shade "Of these thick boughs thy radiant form I spy'd, Gliding as streams the moon thro' dusky clouds ; "Instant I stoop'd my wing, and downward sped "To learn thy errand, and with thine to join "My kindred aid, from mortals ne'er withheld "When Virtue on the brink of peril stands. F. Spi. "Then mark th' occasion that demands it here. "Neptune, I need not tell, besides the sway "Of ev'ry salt flood and each ebbing stream, "Took in by lot, 'twixt high and nether Jove 40 Imperial rule of all the sea-girt isles "That, like to rich and various gems, inlay "The unadorned bosom of the deep; "Which he, to grace his tributary gods, "By course commits to sev'ral government, 50 "And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns, "And wield their little tridents; but this isle, "The greatest and the best of all the main, "He quarters to his blue-hair'd deities; "And all this track that fronts the falling sun "A nobler peer of mickle trust and pow'r "Has in his charge, with temper'd awe to guide "An old and haughty nation proud in arms. S. Spi. "Does any danger threat his legal sway "From bold sedition or close-ambush'd treason? 60 F. Spi. "No danger thence; but to his lofty seat, "Which borders on the verge of this wild vale, "His blooming offspring, nurs'd in princely lore, "Are coming to attend their father's state "And new entrusted sceptre, and their way "Lies through the perplex'd path of this drear wood, "The nodding horror of whose shady brows "Threats the forlorn and wand'ring passenger; "And here their tender age might suffer peril, "But that by quick command from sov'reign Jove "I was dispatch'd for their defence and guard. S. Spi. "What peril can their innocence assail 70 "Within these lonely and unpeopled shades! F. Spi. “ Attend my words. No place but harbours danger; "In ev'ry region Virtue finds a foe. “Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape 80 Coasting the Tyrrhene shore as the winds listed, "On Circe's island fell: (who knows not Circe, "The daughter of the Sun, whose charmed cup "Whoever tasted lost his upright shape, "And downward fell into a grov'ling swine?) "This nymph, that gaz'd upon his clust'ring locks, "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 she brought up and Comus nam'd. S. Spi. "I'll-omen'd birth to Virtue and her sons! F. Spi. "He, ripe and frolick of his full grown age, "Roving the Celtick and Iberian fields, "At last betakes him to this ominous wood, "And in thick shelter of black shades imbower'd "Excels his mother at her mighty art, 4. "Off'ring to every weary traveller "His orient liquor in a crystal glass 90 To quench the drought of Phoebus, which as they taste, "(For most do taste thro' fond intemp’rate thirst) "Soon as the potion works, their human count'nance, "Th' express resemblance of the gods, is chang'd Into some brutish form of wolf or bear, "Or ounce or tyger, hog or bearded goat, All other parts remaining as they were: 100 "Yet, when he walks his tempting rounds, the sorcerer "By magic pow'r their human face restores, "And outward beauty to delude the sight. S.Spi. "Lose they the mem'ry of their former state? F. Spi. "No, they (so perfect is their misery) "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 sensual sty. S.Spi. "Degrading fall! from such a dire distress "What pain too great our mortal charge to save ? F. Spi. "For this, when any favour'd of high Jove "Chances to pass thro' this advent'rous glade, "Swift as the sparkle of a glancing star 120 " I shoot from heaven to give him safe convoy, "As now I do; and opportune thou com'st "To share an office which thy nature loves. "This be our task; but first I must put off "These my sky robes spun out of Iris' woof, "And take the weeds and likeness of a swain "That to the service of this house belongs, "Who with his soft pipe and smooth-ditty'd song "Well knows to still the wild winds when they roar, "And hush the waving woods; nor of less faith, "And in this office of his mountain watch “Likeliest and nearest to the present aid "Of this occasion. Veil'd in such disguise "Be it my care the sever'd youths to guide "To their distress'd and lonely sister; thine "To cheer her footsteps thro' the magic wood. 130 "Whatever blessed spirit hovers near, S. Spi. "Swift as winged winds “To my glad charge I fly. F. Spi. "I'll wait awhile "To watch the sorcerer, for I hear the tread "Of hateful steps: I must be viewless now." [Exit. 140 COMUS enters with a charming rod in one hand, his glass in the other, with him a rout of Men and Women dressed as Bacchanals; they come in making a riotous and unruly noise, with torches in their hands. Comus speaks.] The star that bids the shepherd fold Now the top of heav'n doth hold, And the gilded car of day His glowing axle doth allay Mean-while welcome joy and feast. SONG. Now Phœbus sinketh in the west, 150 |