網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版
[blocks in formation]

The Lord B RACKLY.

Mr. THOMAS EGERTON his brother

The Lady ALICE EGERTON.

The

The Mask was prefented in 1634, and confequently in the 20th year of our author's age. In the title-page of the first edition, printed in 1637, it is faid that it was prefented on Michaelmas night, and there was this motto,

"Eheu quid volui mifero mihi! floribus austrum "Perditus

In this edition, and in that of Milton's poems in 1645, there was prefixed to the Mask the following dedication.

To the Right Honorable

JOHN Lord Viscount BRACKLY, fon and heir apparent to the Earl of BRIDGEWATER, &c.

MY LORD,

THIS

HIS poem, which received its firft occafion of birth from yourself and others of your noble family, and much honor from your own perfon in the performance, now returns again to make a final dedication of itself to you. Although not openly acknowledg'd by the author, yet it is a legitimate offspring, fo lovely, and fo much desired, that the often copying of it hath tir'd my pen to give my several friends fatisfaction, and brought me to a neceffity of producing it to the public view; and now to offer it up in all rightful devotion to those fair hopes, and rare endowments of your much promifing youth, which give a full affu

[blocks in formation]

rance, to all that know you, of a future excellence. Live, fweet Lord, to be the honor of your name; and receive this as your own, from the hands of him, who hath by many favors been long oblig'd to your most honor'd parents; and as in this representation your attendant Thyrfis, fo now in all real expreffion

Your faithful and moft

humble Servant,

H. LAWE S.

A MASK.

A

MAS
A S K.

The firft Scene difcovers a wild Wood.

B

The attendant Spirit defcends or enters.

EFORE the ftarry threshold of Jove's court My manfion is, where thofe immortal shapes Of bright aereal Spirits live infpher'd

In regions mild of calm and ferene air,

Above the smoke and ftir of this dim fpot,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care
Confin'd, and pefter'd in this pin-fold here,
Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being,
Unmindful of the crown that Virtue gives
After this mortal change to her true fervants
Amongst the enthron'd Gods on fainted feats.
Yet fome there be that by due fteps aspire
To lay their juft hands on that golden key,
That opes the palace of eternity:
To fuch my errand is; and but for fuch,
I would not foil these pure ambrofial weeds
With the rank vapors of this fin-worn mold.
But to my task. Neptune, befides the sway
Of every falt flood, and each ebbing stream,
Took in by lot 'twixt high and nether Jove
Imperial rule of all the fea-girt iles,
That like to rich and various gems inlay

15

20

The

The unadorned bofom of the deep,

Which he to grace his tributary Gods

By course commits to feveral government,

And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns, And wield their little tridents: but this Ile,

The greatest and the best of all the main,

He quarters to his blue-hair'd deities;
And all this tract that fronts the falling fun
A noble Peer of mickle truft and power
Has in his charge, with temper'd awe to guide
An old, and haughty nation proud in arms :
Where his fair offspring nurs'd in princely lore
Are coming to attend their father's state,

25

30

35

And new-intrufted fcepter; but their way

Lies through the perplex'd paths of this drear wood, The nodding horror of whofe fhady brows

Threats the forlorn and wandering passenger;

And here their tender age might fuffer peril,

40

But that by quick command from sovran Jove
I was dispatch'd for their defense and guard;
And liften why, for I will tell you now
What never yet was heard in tale or fong,
From old or modern bard, in hall or bower.
Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape
Crush'd the sweet poison of mif-used wine,
After the Tufcan mariners transform'd,
Coafting the Tyrrhene fhore, as the winds lifted,
On Circe's iland fell: (Who knows not Circe
The daughter of the fun? whofe charm'd cup
Whoever tafted, loft his upright fhape,

45

50

And

« 上一頁繼續 »