LA.

Co.

LA.

Co.

Co. imports their loffe, befides the present neede?
noe leffe then if I fhould my brothers lofe.
were they of manly prime, or youthfull bloome?
as fmoothe as Hebe's their vnrazor'd lipps.
Two fuch I fawe, what tyme the labour'd oxe
in his loose traces from the furrowe came,
and the fwink't hedger at his fupper fate,
I fawe em vnder a greene mantlinge vyne
that crawles alonge the fide of yon fmale hill,
pluckinge ripe clufters from the tender fhoots;
their porte was more than humane as they stood,
I tooke it for a faerie vifion

275

280

285

of fome gaye creatures of the Element,
that in the colours' of the raynebow live,

and play i'th plighted clouds; I was awe-strooke

and as I past I worship't: if those you seeke,
it were a Jorney like the path to heav'n,

290

to helpe you find them; LA. gentle villager,

what readieft waye would bringe me to that place?
due weft it rises from this fhrubbie pointe.

to find out that, good Shepheard, I fuppofe,

295

Co.

LA.

Co.

in fuch a scant allowance of starr light,
would overtaske the best land pilots arte,
without the fure gueffe of well practiz'd feete;
I knowe each lane, and every alley greene,
dingle, or bufhie dell, of this wide wood,
and everie boskie bourne from side to side,
my daylie walks and antient neaghbourhood;
and if your straye attendance, be yet lodg'd
or fhroud within these lymitts, I fhall know
ere morrowe wake, or the lowe 'roofted' larke

300

from her thatcht palat rowse, if otherwise

305

I can conduct you, Ladie, to a lowe,

but loyall cottage, where you may be safe

till furder queft; LA. Shepheard, I take thy word,

and truft thy honeft offer'd curtefie,

which ofte is fooner found in lowly sheds

310

with fmoakie rafters, then in tap'strie halls,

and courts of princes, where it first was nam'd,

and yet is moft pretended; in a place

leffe warrented then this, or leffe secure

I cannot be, that I should feare to change it.

315

Eye 'me,' bleft providence, and square my tryall

to my proportion'd ftreingth; Shepheard, leade on.

v. 284. So this line is pointed in the manufcript. Compare note on Com. v. 297.

v. 287. cooleness in the manufcript.

v. 299. wide. So the Camb. MS.

v. 354. roofter in the manufcript.

v. 316. my in the manufcript.

EL. B.

The two brothers.

Vnmuffle yee fainte ftarrs, and thou, faier moone,
that wonft to love the travailers benizon,
ftoope thy pale vifadge through an amber cloude,
and difinherit Chaos, that raignes heere
in double night of darkness and of shades:
or, if your influence be quite damm'd vp
with black vfurpinge mifts, fome gentle taper,
though a rushe candle, from the wicker hole
of fome clay habitacon, vifite vs
with thy long levell'd rule of ftreaming light,
and thou shalt be our starr of Arcady,
or Tirian Cynofure: 2 BRO. or, if our eyes
be barr'd that happines, might we but heare
the folded flocks pen'd in their watled cotes,
or found of paftorall reede with oaten stopps,
or whistle from the lodge, or village cock
count the night watches to his featherie dames,
t'would be fome folace yet, fome little cheeringe
in this lone dungeon of inumerous bows.
but, O that haples virgin! our lost sister,

320

325

330

335

where may fhe wander nowe? whither betake her

from the chill dewe, amongst rude burrs and thistles?
perhaps fome could banke is her boulster nowe,
or gainst the rugged barke of fome broad Elme

340

leanes her vnpillow'd head, fraught with fad feares,
or els in wild amazement and affright,

foe fares as did forfaken Proferpine,

when the bigg rowling flakes of pitchie clouds

345

and darkness wound her in: EL. BRO. peace, brother, peace.

I doe not thinke my fifter foe to seeke,

or foe vnprincipl'd in vertues booke,

and the sweete peace that goodness bofoms ever,

as that the single want of light and noise

350

(not beinge in danger, as I hope she is not)

could ftirr the conftant mood of her calme thoughts,

by her owne radiant light, though fun and moone

355

were in the flatt fea funke, and wisdoms felfe

fhe plumes her feathers, and letts grow her wings,
that in the various bustle of reforte

360

were all to ruffl'd, and fometymes impayr'd.

v. 336. In the Camb. MS. fad dungeon. In the printed copies close dungeon. v. 343, to 347. This paffage agrees with the Camb. MS.

. 351. In the other copies trust.

A a

he, that has light within his owne cleere breft,
may fit i'th' center, and enjoye bright daye :
but he, that hides a dark foule and fowle thoughts,
walks in black vapours, though the noon tyde brand
blaze in the fummer solstice. 2 BRO. tis most true,
that mufinge meditacon most affects
the penfive fecrecie of defert cell,

and fitts as fafe as in a fenate house.

365

farr from the cheerefull haunte of men or heards,

370

for whoe would robb an hermitt of his weeds,

his few bookes, or his beads, or maple dishe,

or doe his graye haiers any violence?

but bewtie, like the fayre hesperian tree

laden with bloominge gould, had need the guard

375

of dragon watch with vninchaunted eye,

to fave her bloffoms, and defend her fruite

from the rafhe hand of bold Incontinence.

you may aswell spreade out the 'unfunn'd' heapes
of mifers 'treafure' by an outlawes den,

380

and tell me it is safe, as bid me hope
dainger will winke at opportunitie,
and he a fingle helples mayden paffe
vninjur'd in this wide furrounding waft.
of night, or lonelineffe, it recks me not;

385

I feare the dread events that dog them both,

left fome ill greetinge touch attempt the perfon

of our vnowned fifter. EL. BRO. I doe not, brother,

inferr, as if I thought my fifters state

fecure, without all doubt or question, no;

390

I could be willing, though now i'th darke, to trie

a tough encounter with the haggieft ruffian

that lurks by hedge or lane of this dead circuit,

to have her by my fide, though I were fuer

She might be free from perill where he is,

395

but, where an equal poise of hope and feare

does arbitrate th' event, my nature is

that I encline to hope, rather then feare,

and gladly banish fquint fufpition.

my fifter is not foe defenceleffe left

400

as you immagine, brother; the has a hidden strength,

which you remember not. 2 BRO. what hidden strength?

v. 365. This paffage agrees with the Camb MS.

v. 369. or. So the Camb. MS. according to doctor Newton.

v. 379. unfum'd in the manufcript.

.380. treafures in the MS.

v. 382. at. In the other copies on.

v. 383. be. In the other copies let.

v. 384. wide. See note on v. 403. Camb. MS.

v. 390, to v. 396. question, no; &c. &c. So the Camb. MS. v. 401. brother. So the Camb, MS.

vnless the strength of heav'n, if you meane that? EL. B. I meane that too: but yet a hidden strength,

which, if heav'n gave it, may be tearm'd her owne; 405
tis Chastitie, my brother, Chaftitie :

fhe, that has that, is clad in compleate steele,
and, like a quiver'd nimphe with arrowes keene,
may trace huge forrefts and vnharbour'd heaths,
infamous hills and fandie perrilous wildes,
where, through the facred rays of Chastitie,
noe falvage, feirce bandite, or mountaneere,
will dare to foile her virgin puritie:
yea even, where very defolacon dwells

by grots and caverns fhag'd with horrid fhades,
and yawninge denns, where glaringe monsters house,
fhe may pafs on with vnblenfht majestie,
be it not done in pride, or in prefumption.
naye more, noe evill thinge that walks by night,
in fogg, or fire, by lake, or moorish fen,
blew meager hag, or stubborne vnlayed ghoft
that breaks his magick chaines at Curfew tyme,
noe goblinge, or fwart fayrie of the mine,
has hurtefull power ore true virginitie.
doe you beleeve me yet, or fhall I call

410

415

420

425

antiquitie from the ould schooles of Greece
to teftifie the armes of Chastitie ?

hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow,
faire filver'shafted' Queene, for ever chaft,
wherewith fhe tam'd the brinded lyoneffe

430

and spotted mountaine pard, but fett at nought

the frivolous bolt of Cupid; Gods and men

fear'd her fterne frowne, and she was Queene o'th' woods.

v. 412. In the manufcript a comma is placed both after falvage and feirce.

I would retain the former, and fo apply feirce to bandite. Compare Pope, ESSAY ON MAN, Ep. iv. v. 41.

No Bandit fierce, no Tyrant mad with pride.

v. 414. even. So the Camb. MS.

v. 416. This remarkable line is peculiar to this manufcript.'

v. 419. naye more, peculiar to this manufcript.

v. 424. In the other copies bath.

v. 425. In the other copies ye.

v. 429. fhafter in the MS.

v. 435. In the other copies that. In Mr. Warton's fecond edition that, in the preceding line, is the ; which reading is Dr. Dalton's.

that when a fowle is found finceerly foe
a thousand liveried Angells lackey her,
drivinge farr off each thing of fin and guilte;
and, in cleer dreame and folemne vifion,

tell her of things that noe groffe eare can heare,
till oft converse with heavenly habitants
begins to caft a beam on th' outward shape,
the vnpolluted temple of the mynde,

445

and turnes it by degrees to the fouls effence,

till all be made immortall: but when luft,

459

by vnchaft lookes, loofe gefturs, and foule talke,

and most by lewde lafcivious act of fin,

letts in defilement to the inward partes,

the foule growes clotted by contageon,

imbodies, and imbruts, till the quite lofe

455

the divine propertie of her firft beeinge.

fuch are those thick and gloomie fhadowes dampe,
oft feene in charnell vaults and fepulchers

hoveringe, and fittinge by a new made grave,
as loath to leave the bodye that it loved,
and linckt it felfe by carnall fenfualitie
to a degenerate and degraded state.

2.BRO. How charming is divine philofophie !

46a

not harshe and crabbed, as dull fooles fuppofe,

but muficall as is Appolloes lute,

465

and [a] perpetuall feaft of Nectard sweets,

where noe crude furfeit raignes; EL. BRO. lift, lift, I heare fome farr off hollowe breake the filent ayre.

B for certaine

2 BRO. me thought foe too; what fhould it be? EL. either fome one like vs night founder'd heere, or els fome neyghbour woodman, or, at worst, fome rovinge robber callinge to his fellowes.

470

2 BRO. heav'n keepe my fifter: agen, agen, and neere! beft drawe, and stand vpon our guard. EL. B. Ile hallowe; if he be freindly, he comes well; if not defence is a good cause, and heav'n be for us.

475

he hallowes and is anfwered, the guardian dæmon comes in, babited like a fhepheard,

EL. B. That hallowe I fhould knowe, what are you? fpeake,
come not too neere, you fall on Iron stakes els.
What voice is that? my young Lord? speake agen,

DÆ.

2 BRO. O brother, tis my fathers fhepheard, fure.
EL. B. Thirfis? whofe artfull streynes have oft delayed

v. 447. In the printed copies begin.

v. 452. This line differs both from the editions and the Camb. MS. v. 459. bovering. So the Camb, MS. and ed. 1637.

480