"Under the sooty flag of Acheron,

"Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms

""Twixt Africa and Inde, I'll find him out,
"And force him to restore his purchase back,
"Or drag him by the curls to a foul death,
"Curs'd as his life.

Spi. "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

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

E. Bro. "Why prithee, shepherd,

"How durst thou then thyself approach so near, "As to make this relation?

Spi. "A 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 the morning ray, "Has shewn me simples of a thousand names,

Telling their strange and vigorous faculties. "Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,

"But of divine effect, he cullsd me out; "And bad me keep it as of sov'reign use

"'Gainst all enchantment, mildew, blast, or damp, "Or ghastly fury's apparition.

"I purs'd it up. If you have this about you 66 (As I will give you when you go) you may "Boldly assault the necromancer's hall;

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"Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood

"And brandished blade rush on him, break his glass, "And shed the luscious liquor on the ground; "But seize his wand, tho' 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."

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ACT III.

"Scene opens, and discovers" a magnificent Hall in COMUS's Palace, "set off with all the gay decora"tions proper for an ancient banqueting-room." COMUS and Attendants stand on each side of the Lady, who is seated in an enchanted chair;" and "by her looks and gestures expresses great signs of "uneasiness and melancholy."

COMUS speaks.

"HENCE, loathed melancholy,

"Of Cerberus and blackest midnight born, "In Stygian cave forlorn,

"Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy,

"Find out some uncouth cell,

"Where brooding darkness spreads his jealous wings

"And the night-raven sings;

"There, under ebon-shades, and low-brow'd rocks, "As ragged as thy locks,

"In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell.
"But" come thou goddess fair and free,
In heaven yclep❜d Euphrosyné,
And by men, heart-easing Mirth,
Whom lovely Venus at a birth
With two sister Graces more,
To ivy-crowned Bacchus bore.
Haste thee nymph and bring with thee
Jest and youthful jollity,

Quips and cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods and becks, and wreathed smiles,
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,
And love to live in dimple sleek;
Sport, that wrinkled Care derides,
And laughter holding both his sides.
Come, and trip it as you go,

On the light fantastic toe;

And in thy right hand lead with thee

The mountain-nymph, sweet Liberty.

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[Whilst these lines are repeating, enter a Nymph representing EUPHROSYNE, or Mirth; who advances to the Lady, and sings the following song.

SONG.

Come, come, bid adieu to fear,
Love and harmony live here,
No domestic jealous jars,

Buzzling slanders, wordy wars,
In my presence will appear ;
Love and harmony reign hett

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Sighs to amorous sighs returning,
Pulses beating, bosoms burning,

Bosoms with warm wishes panting,
Words to speak those wishes wanting,
Are the only tumults here,

All the woes you need to fear;

Love and harmony reigns here.

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Lady. How long must I, by magick fetters chain'd To this detested seat, hear odious strains

Of shameless folly, which my soul abhors?

Com. Ye sedge-crown'd Naiades, by twilight seen Along Mæander's mazy border green,

At Comus' call appear in all your azure sheen.

[He waves his Wand, the Naiads enter, and range themselves in order to dance.].

Now swiftly slow let Lydian measures move,
And breathe the pleasing pangs of gentle love.

["The Naiads dance a slow dance expressive of the passion of Love.]

[“After this dance" the pastoral Nymph advances slow, with a melancholy and desponding air, to the side of the stage, and repeats, by way of soliloquy, the first six lines, and then sings the ballad. In the mean time she is observed by EUPHROSYNE, who by ber gestures expresses so the audience her different sentiments of the subject of her complaint, suitably 19 the character of their several songs.]

E

RECITATIVE.

How gentle was my Damon's air!
Like sunny beams his golden hair,
His voice was like the nightingale's,
More sweet his breath than flow'ry vales.
How hard such beauties to resign!
And yet that cruel task is mine!

A BALLAD.

On every hill, in every grove,
Along the margin of each stream,
Dear consicous scenes of former love,
I mourn, and Damon is my theme.
The bills, the groves, the streams remain,
But Damon there I seek in vain.

"Now to the mossy c cave I fly,

"Where to my swain I oft bave sung, "Well pleas'd the browsing goats to spy, "As o'er the airy steep they hung. "The mossy cave, the goats remain, "But Damon there I seek in vain.

"Now through the winding vale I pass,
"And sigh to see the well-known shade;
I weep
and kiss the bended grass,
"Where love and Damon fondly play'd.
“The vale, the shade, the grass remain,
"But Damon there I seek in vain."

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