Where no crude furfeit reigns. Eld. Bro. Lift, lift, I hear Some far off hallow break the filent air.

2. Bro. Methought fo too; what should it be? 485 Eld. Bro. For certain

Either fome one like us night-founder'd here,
Or else some neighbour wood-man, or, at worst,
Some roving robber calling to his fellows.

2. Bro. Heav'n keep my Sister. Again, again, and near; Best draw, and stand upon our guard.

Eld. Bro. I'll hallow;

If he be friendly, he comes well; if not,
Defense is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us.
The attendent Spirit habited like a fhepherd.

491

That hallow I should know, what are you? speak; Come not too near, you fall on iron stakes else. 496 Spir. What voice is that? my young Lord? speak again.

2. Bro. O brother, 'tis my father's fhepherd, fure. Eld. Bro. Thyrfis? whose artful ftrains have oft delay'd

The huddling brook to hear his madrigal

And sweeten'd every mufkrose of the dale.

500

How cam'ft thou here, good Swain? hath any ram
Slipt from the fold, or young kid lost his dam,
Or ftraggling weather the pent flock forfook?
How could'ft thou find this dark fequefter'd nook? 505
Spir. O my lov'd master's heir, and his next joy,

I came not here on fuch a trivial toy

As a stray'd ewe, or to pursue the stealth

Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth
That dothenrich thefe downs, is worth a thought 510
To this my errand, and the care it brought.
But, O my virgin Lady, where is fhe?
How chance she is not in your company?

Eld. Bro. To tell thee fadly, Shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we lost her as we came.

515

Spir. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true. Eld. Bro. What fears, good Thyrfis? Prethee briefly Spir. I'll tell ye; 'tis not vain or fabulous, (fhew. (Though fo efteem'd by fhallow ignorance) 519 What the fage poets, taught by th' heav'nly Muse, Story'd of old in high immortal verse,

Of dire chimera's and inchanted iles,

And rifted rocks whofe entrance leads to Hell;

For fuch there be, but unbelief is blind.

Within the navel of this hideous wood,

525

Immur'd in cypress shades a forcerer dwells,
Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus,

Deep skill'd in all his mother's witcheries,

And here to every thirsty wanderer

By fly enticement gives his baneful cup,

530

With many murmurs mix'd, whose pleasing poison

The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,
And the inglorious likeness of a beast

Fixes instead, unmolding reason's mintage

Cha

Charácter'd in the face; this have I learnt

535

Tending my flocks hard by i'th'hilly crofts,
That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night
He and his monftrous rout are heard to howl
Like ftabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate

In their obfcured haunts of inmoft bowers.
Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells,
To' inveigle and invite th' unwary sense
Of them that pass unweeting by the way:
This evening late, by then the chewing flocks
Had ta'en their fupper on the favory herb
Of knot-grafs dew-befprent, and were in fold,
I fat me down to watch upon a bank
With ivy canopied, and interwove
With flaunting honey-fuckle, and began,
Wrapt in a pleasing fit of melancholy,
To meditate my rural minstrelsy,
Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close
The wonted roar was up amidst the woods,
And fill'd the air with barbarous diffonance;
At which I ceas'd, and liften'd them a while,
Till an unusual stop of sudden filence
Gave refpit to the droufy flighted fteeds,
That draw the litter of clofe-curtain'd fleep;
At last a soft and folemn breathing found
Rose like a steam of rich diftill'd perfumes,
And stole upon the air, that even Silence

540

545

550

555

560

Was

Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd she might Deny her nature, and be never more

Still to be fo difplac'd.

I was all ear,

565

And took in strains that

might create a foul

570

575

Under the ribs of death: but O ere long
Too well I did perceive it was the voice
Of my most honor'd Lady, your dear Sister.
Amaz'd I ftood, harrow'd with grief and fear,
And O poor hapless nightingale thought I,
How sweet thou fing'ft, how near the deadly snare!
Then down the lawns I ran with headlong hafte,
Through paths and turnings often trod by day,
Till guided by mine ear I found the place,
Where that damn'd wifard hid in fly disguise
(For fo by certain figns I knew) had met
Already, ere my best speed could prevent,
The aidless innocent Lady his wifh'd prey,
Who gently ask'd if he had seen such two,
Suppofing him fome neighbour villager.
Longer I durft not flay, but foon I guess'd
Ye were the two fhe meant; with that I sprung
Into swift flight, till I had found you here,

580

586

But further know I not. 2. Bro. O night and shades,
How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot,
Against th' unharmed weakness of one virgin
Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence

You
gave me, Brother? Eld. Bro. Yes, and keep it still,
Lean on it fafely; not a period

590

Shall

Shall be unsaid for me: against the threats
Of malice or of forcery, or that power

Which erring men call Chance' this I hold firm,
Virtue may be affail'd, but never hurt,

Surpris'd by unjust force, but not inthrall'd;
Yea even that which mischief meant moft harm,
Shall in the happy trial prove most glory:
But evil on itself shall back recoil,

And mix no more with goodness, when at last
Gather'd like fcum, and settled to itself,

It shall be in eternal restless change
Self-fed, and felf-confum'd: if this fail,

The pillar'd firmament is rottenness,

595

600

And earth's bafe built on ftubble. But come let's on.

Against th' opposing will and arm of Heaven

May never this just sword be lifted up;

605

But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt

With all the grifly legions that troop

Under the footy flag of Acheron,

Harpyes and Hydra's, or all the monflrous forms 610

"Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out,

And force him to restore his purchase back,
Or drag him by the curls to a foul death,
Curs'd as his life.

Spir. Alas! good ventrous Youth,

I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise;
But here thy fword can do thee little stead;
For other arms, and other weapons must

615

Be