whoe ripe and frolick of his full growne age,
roavinge the Celtick and Iberian fields,

at laft betakes him to this ominous wood,
and in thick fhelter of black fhades imbowr'd
excells his mother at her mightie arte,
offringe to everie wearie traveller

his orient liquor in a christall glaffe,

80

85

to quench the drouth of Phebus, which as they taste,
(for most doe tafte through fond intemperate thirst)

foone as the potion workes, their humane countenaunce,

th' expreffe resemblance of the Gods, is chang'd
into fome brutish forme of Wolfe, or Beare,

or Ounce, or Tiger, Hogg, or bearded goate,
all other parts remayninge as they were;
and they, foe perfect is their miferie,
not once perceive their fowle disfigurement,
but boast themselves more comly then before,
and all their freinds and native home forgett,
to rowle with pleasure in a fenfuall ftie.
Therefore, when any favour'd of high Jove,
chaunces to pass through this advent'rous glade,
fwift as the fparcle of a glauncinge starre

I fhoote from heaven, to give him falfe convoy,
as now I doe: but first I must put off
these my skye webs, fpun out of Iris wooffe,
and take the weeds and likeneffe of a Swayne,
that to the fervice of this houfe belongs,

90

95

100

1

105

whoe with his foft pipe, and smooth dittied songe,
well knows to ftill the wild winds when they roare,
and hush the wavinge woods, nor of lefs faith,
and in this office of his mountaine watch,
likelieft and neereft to the prefent ayde
of this occafion, but I heare the tread

of hatefull stepps, I must be viewles nowe. "

Exit.

Comus enters with a charminge rod in one hand and a glafs of liquor in the other; with him a route of monfters like men and women but beaded like wild beafts, their apparell glift'ringe, they come in makinge a riotous and vnruely noife, with torches in their hands.

Co.

The starr that bids the fhepheard fold,

now the top of Heaven doth hold;

v. 103. robes in the other copies.

V. 112. The STAGE-DIRECTION after this verfe is not exactly the fame, as in the other copies. See Com. p. 18. and App. I. p. 154.

the founds and feas, with all their finnie drove,

135

haile goddefs of nocturnall sport,

darke-vayl'd Cotitto, 't' 'whome the secret flame

of midnight torches burns; mifterious dame,

150

that nere art call'd, but when the dragon woombe

of Stigian darknes, fpetts her thickeft gloome,
and makes one blot of all the aire,

ftaye thy cloudie Ebon chaire,

wherein thou rid'ft with Hecat', and befriend

155

vs thy vow'd preifts, till vtmost end
of all thy dues be done, and none left out,
ere the blabbinge Easterne scoute,

v. 119. Northerne. So the Camb. MS.

v. 143. bas. So the Camb. MS.

v. 145. Mr. Warton's 2d edition exhibits this ancient reading."

the nice morne, on the Indian fteepe,.
from her cabin'd loope hole peepe,

160

and to the tell tale fun defcrie

our conceal'd folemnitie.

come, knitt hands, and beate the ground
in a light fantastick round.

The Measure in a wild, rude, and wanton Antick.

Co.

165

Breake off, breake off, I feele the different pace
of some chaste footinge, neere about this ground.
run to your shrouds within these brakes and trees,
they all featter

our number may affright; fome virgin fure
(for foe I can diftinguish by myne arte)
benighted in these woods. now to my Charms,
and to my wilie traynes; I fhall ere longe
be well flock't with as fayre a heard as graz'd
about my mother Circe, thus I hurle
my dazlinge spells into the fpungie airé,
of powre to cheate the eye with bleare illufion,
and give it falfe prefentments, least the place
and my quainte habitts breede aftonishment,
and put the damfell to fufpitious flight,

170

175

which must not be; for that's against my course.
I vnder fayre pretence of freindly ends,"

180

and hug him into fnares. when once her eye

hath met the vertue of this magick dust

185

I fhall appeare fome harmles villager

whom thrifte keeps up about his countrie geare.

but heere fhe comes, I fayrely ftep afide

and hearken if I may her bufineffe heere.

The lady enters.

LA.

This waye the noise was, if my eare be true,
my best guyde nowe, me thought it was the found

190

of riott, and ill-manag'd merriment,

fuch as the jocond flute, or gamefome pipe,

ftirrs vp amonge the loofe vnlettered hindes,

when for their teeminge flocks, and granges full,

195

v. 164. The STAGE-DIRECTIONS after this verse, and ver. 167, are the

fame, as in the Camb. MS.

v. 181. Gloweinge in the manufcript.

. 190. mine in the other copies.

in wanton daunce, they praise the bounteus Pan,
and thanke the Gods amiffe. I fhould be loath
to meete the rudenes, and fwill'd infolence
of fuch late waffailers; yet O, where els
fhall I informe my vnacquainted feete
in the blinde mazes of this tangled wood.
my brothers when they fawe me wearied out
with this longe waye, refolvinge heere to lodge
vnder the spreadinge favour of these pines,
ftept, as they s'ed, to the next thickett fide
to bringe me berries, or fuch coolinge fruite,
as the kynde hofpitable woods provide.
but where they are, and whye they come not back,
is now the labour of my thoughts, 'tis likelieft
they had ingaged their wandringe ftepps too farr,
and envious darkneffe, ere they could retorne,
had folne them from me.

I cannot hollowe to my brothers, but

fuch noise as I can make to be heard fardeft
I'le venture, for my new enliv'n'd spiritts
prompt me, and they perhaps are not farr hence.

SONGE

Sweete Echo, sweetest nymphe, that liv'ft vnfeene
within thy ayrie shell,

by flowe Meander's margent greene,
and in the violett imbroder'd vale,

where the love-lorne nightingale

nightly to thee her fad fong mourneth well.

Canst thou not tell me of a gentle payre
that likeft thy Narciffus are?

O, if thou have

hid them in fome flowrie cave,

tell me but where,

6

200

205

210

215

220

225

Sweete Queene of parlie, daughter of the fpheare! foe mayft thou be tranflated to the skyes,

And hould a counterpointe to all heav'n's harmonies. 230

v. 207. The three beautiful lines which, in the other copies, follow this verfe, are not in this manufcript..

. 212. Stolne. So the Camb. MS. and ed. 1637. The hemiftich, and the thirty following lines, which the other copies exhibit, are not in this manufcript.

v. 230. See p. 165, and note on Com. v. 243. The STAGE-DIRECTION, which follows this verfe, is the fame as in the Camb. MS.

Co.

Comus looks in and fpeakes.

Can any mortall mixture of Earth's mould
breath fuch divine enchauntinge ravishment?
Sure fomethinge holye lodges in that breft,
and with these raptures moves the vocall ayre
to teftifie his hidden refidence:

how fweetely did they floate vpon the wings
of filence, through the empty vaulted night,
at every fall fimoothinge the raven downe
of darkness till he fmil'd! I have oft heard
my mother Circe with the Sirens three,
amidst the flowrie-kyrtled 'Naiades,'

cullinge their potent herbs and balefull druggs,

whoe, when they fung, would take the prifon'd foule,
and lap it in Elifium: Scilla wept,

and chid her barkinge waves into attention,

and fell Charibdis murmurd foft applause :
yet they in pleafinge flumber lulld the fence,
and in sweete madnes rob'd it of itselfe;
but such a facred and homefelt delight,
fuch fober certentie of wakinge blifs,

235

240

245

250

I never heard till now: I'le fpeake to her

and the fhalbe my Queene. Haile forreigne wonder!

whome certaine these rough fhades did never breede,

vnless the goddess, that in rurall shrine

dwelft beere with Pan or Silvan, by bleft fong

255

forbiddinge every bleake vnkindly fogg

LA.

to touch the profperinge growth of this tall wood.

Nay gentle Shepheard, ill is loft that praise that is addreft to vnattendinge eares : not any boast of skill, but extreame shifte how to regayne my feverd companye, compeld me to awake the curteous Eccho to give me answer from her moffy couch. Co. What chaunce, good Lady, hath bereft LA. dym darkneffe, and this leavye laborinth. could that devide you from neere vfheringe guydes? they left me weary on a graffie terfe,

Co.

LA.

Co.

LA.

Co.

by falfehood, or difcurtefie, or why?

you

260

thus?

265

to feeke in the valley fome coole freindly fpringe. and lefte your fayer fide all vnguarded, Ladye? LA. they were but twaine, and purpof'd quick returne. Co. perhaps foreftallinge night prevented them. LA. how eafie my misfortune is to hit!

v. 239. he. So the Camb. MS. and ed. 1637. v. 241. Niades in the MS.

v. 243. When. In the other copies as.

. 257. profperinge. So the Camb. MS.

270