L'ALLEGRO. HENCE, loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born, In Stygian cave forlorn, 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights Find out some uncouth cell, [unholy, Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous And the night raven sings; [wings, There under ebon shades, and low-brow'd rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. The frolic wind that breathes the spring, 10 15 15 1 Hence] Compare Marston's Scourge of Villanie, b. iii. s. 10. (ed. 1598.) 'Sleepe grim reproof,' &c. Warton. uncouth] 'Searcht out the uncouth cell of thy abode.' Val. Welshman, 1615, act iv. s. 6. Todd. 5 10 Cimmerian] Miltoni Prolus. Dignus qui Cimmeriis occlusus tenebris longam, et perosam vitam transigat.' Warton. 15 two] Meat and Drink, the two sisters of Mirth. burton. War Zephyr with Aurora playing, And fresh-blown roses wash'd in dew, Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee Quips, and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, And in thy right hand lead with thee To live with her, and live with thee, 22 wash'd] Shakesp. Tam. of Shrew, act ii. sc. 1. As morning roses newly wash'd with dew.' Bowle. 24 buxom] To make one blithe, buxome, and deboneer.' Randolph Aristippus, p. 310, ed. 1662. Todd. 28 Nods] With becks, and nods, and smiles againe.' Burton's An. of Melanch. p. 449 (ed. 1628). Warton. 33 Come] Shakes. Tempest, act iv. sc. 2. Come and go, Each one tripping on his toe.' Newton. ༣ In unreproved pleasures free; Oft list'ning how the hounds and horn Through the high wood echoing shrill : 46 good morrow] Browne's Brit. Past. iii. 2. Steevens. 'Twice bid good morrow to the nether world.' 50 Scatters] Gallum noctem explodentibus alis.' Lucret. iv. 714. 54 morn] Habington's Castora, p. 8, ed. 1640. With the shrill musicke of the horne.' Warton. Where the great sun begins his state, Under the hawthorn in the dale. 60 65 70 75 Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures Russet lawns, and fallows gray, Where the nibbling flocks do stray, 85 messes] Sylv. Du Bartas, p. 171. 'Yielding more holesom food then all the messes, Warton. Which the neat-handed Phillis dresses; To the tann'd haycock in the mead, To many a youth, and many a maid, Till the live-long daylight fail; Then to the spicy nut-brown ale, 90 95 100 With stories told of many a feat, How fairy Mab the junkets eat; 105 110 110 lubber] There is a pretty tale of a witch that had the devil's mark about her, God bless us, that had a gyaunt to her son, that was called Lob-lye-by-the-fire.' Knight of the B. Pestle, act iii. sc. 1. Warton. |