From hill, from dale, each charm is fled,

Groves, flocks, and fountains please no more,

Each flower in pity droops its head,

All nature does my loss deplore.

All, all reproach the faithless swain,
Yet Damon still I seek in vain.

RECITATIVE. By EUPHROSYNE.

Love, the greatest bliss below,
How to taste few women know;
Fewer still the way have hit
How a fickle swain to quit.

Simple nymphs then learn of me,
How to treat inconstancy.

BALLAD.

The wanton god, that pierces hearts,
Dips in gall his pointed darts ;

But the nymph disdains to pine ;

Who bathes the wound with rosy wine.

Farewell lovers, when they're cloy'd ;
If I am scorn'd, because enjoy'd,
Sure the squeamish fops are free
To rid me of dull company.

They have charms whilst mine can please ;
I love them much, but more my ease;
Nor jealous fears my love molest,

Nor faithless vows shall break my rest.

80

Why should they e'er give me pain,
Who to give me joy disdain?
All I hope of mortal man,

Is to love me whilst he can.

COMUS speaks.

Cast thine eyes around, and see

How from every element

Nature's sweets are cull'd for thee,

And her choicest blessings sent.

"Fire, water, earth, and air, combine

"To compose the rish repast,

"Their aid the distant seasons join

:: 100

"To court thy smell, thy sight, thy taste."

Hither summer, autumn, spring,

Hither all your tributes bring:

All on bended knee be seen

Paying homage to your queen.

110

[After this "they put on their chaplets and prepare for "the feast: while Coмus is advancing with his

cup, and one of his attendants offers a chaplet to "the Lady, (which she throws on the ground with "indignation) the preparation for the feast is inter

rupted by lofty and solemn musick from above, "whence" the second Attendant Spirit enters gradually in a splendid machine, repeating the following lines to the Lady, and sings, remaining still invisible to COMUS and his crew.

From the realms of peace above,
From the source of heavenly love,

From the starry throne of Jove,

Where tuneful Muses in a glittering ring
To the celestial lyre's eternal string

Patient Virtue's triumph sing;

To these dim labyrinths where mortals stray,
Maz'd in passion's pathless way,

121

To save thy purer breast from spot and blame
Thy guardian Spirit came.

SONG.

Nor on beds of fading flowers,
Shedding soon their gaudy pride;
Nor with swains in Syren bowers,
Will true pleasure long reside.

On awful virtue's bill sublime,
Enthron'd sits the immortal fair;

Who wins her beight, must patient climb,
The steps are peril, toil and care.

So from the first did Jove ordain,
Eternal bliss for transient pain.

[Exit the Spirit, the music playing loud and solemn.

Lady. Thanks, heav'nly songster! whosoe'er thou

art,

Who deign'st to enter these unhallow'd walls,
To bring the song of virtue to mine ear!

O cease not, cease not the melodious strain, Till my rapt soul high on the swelling note To heav'n ascend- -far from these horrid fiends! Com. Mere airy dreams of air-bred people these? Who look with envy on more happy man, "And would decry the joys they cannot take. 66 Quit not the substance for a stalking shade "Of hollow virtue, which eludes the grasp." Drink this, and you will scorn such idle tales.

141

[He offers the cup, which she puts by, and attempts torise.]

Nay, lady, sit; if I but wave this wand,
Your nerves are all bound up in alabaster,
And you a statue: "or, as Daphne was,
"Root-bound, that fled Apollo."

Lady. Fool, do not boast;

150

frown?

Thou can'st not touch the freedom of my mind
With all thy charms, altho' this corp'ral rind
Thou hast immanacl'd, while heav'n sees good.
Com. Why are you vex'd, lady? why do you
Here dwell no frowns nor anger; from these gates
Sorrow flies far. See, here be all the pleasures
That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,
"When the fresh blood grows lively and returns
"Brisk as the April buds in primrose season.”
And first behold this cordial julep here,
That flames and dances in his crystal bounds,
"With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups mix'd,
"Not that Nepenthes, which the wife of Thone
"In Ægypt gave to Jove-born Helena,

160

"Is of such pow'r to stir up joy, as this,

"To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst."

Lady. Know base deluder, that I will not taste it. Keep thy detested gifts for such as these.

[Points to his crew.

SONG. By a Man.

Mortals, learn your lives to measure
Not by length of time, but pleasure ;
Soon your spring must have a fall ;
Losing youth, is losing all:

Then you'll ask, but none will give,
And may linger, but not live.

Com. Why shou'd you be so cruel to yourself, And to those dainty limbs, which Nature lent For gentle usage and soft delicacy ?

"But you invert the cov'nants of her trust, "And harshly deal, like an ill borrower,

170

"With that which you receiv'd on other terms, 180 Scorning the unexempt condition,

"By which all human frailty must subsist,
"Refreshment after toil, ease after pain;"
That have been tir'd all day without repast,
And timely rest have wanted. But, fair virgin,
This will restore all soon.

Lady. Twill not, false traitor!

Twill not restore the truth and honesty

That thou hast banis'd from thy tongue with lies.
Was this the cottage and the safe abode,