She that has that is clad in complete steel, 425 Where, through the sacred rays of chastity, Yea, there where very desolation dwells, By grots and caverns shagged with horrid shades, 430 She may pass on with unblenched majesty, Be it not done in pride, or in presumption. Some say no evil thing that walks by night, In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen, Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost, 435 That breaks his magic chains at curfew time, No goblin or swart faery of the mine, Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity. Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call Antiquity from the old schools of Greece 440 To testify the arms of chastity? Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow, Fair silver-shafted queen for ever chaste, Wherewith she tamed the brinded lioness And spotted mountain-pard, but set at nought 445 The frivolous bolt of Cupid; gods and men Feared her stern frown, and she was queen c' the woods. What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield That wise Minerva wore, unconquered virgin, Wherewith she freezed her foes to congealed stone, But rigid looks of chaste austerity, And noble grace that dashed brute violence · Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt, Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp Sec. Bro. How charming is divine Philosophy! 450 455 460 465 470 475 But musical as is Apollo's lute, And a perpetual feast of nectared sweets, 480 Where no crude surfeit reigns. Eld. Bro. List! list! I hear Some far-off hallo break the silent air. Sec. Bro. Methought so too; what should it be? Eld. Bro. For certain, Either some one, like us, night-foundered here, Or else some neighbour woodman, or, at worst, 485 Some roving robber calling to his fellows. Sec. Bro. Heaven keep my sister! Again, again, and near! Best draw, and stand upon our guard. Eld. Bro. I'll hallo. If he be friendly, he comes well; if not, The ATTENDANT SPIRIT, habited like a shepherd 190 That hallo I should know. What are you? speak. Come not too near; you fall on iron stakes else. Spir. What voice is that? my young Lord? speak again. Sec. Bro. O brother, 'tis my father's Shepherd, sure. Eld. Bro. Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayed 495 The huddling brook to hear his madrigal, And sweetened every musk-rose of the dale. How camest thou here, good swain? Hath any ram Slipped from the fold, or young kid lost his dam, As a strayed ewe, or to pursue the stealth Of pilfering wolf; not all the fleecy wealth That doth enrich these downs is worth a thought 505 To this my errand, and the care it brought. But, oh! my virgin Lady, where is she? How chance she is not in your company? Eld. Bro. To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blame Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. Spir. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true. Eld. Bro. What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly shew. Spir. I'll tell ye. 'Tis not vain or fabulous (Though so esteemed by shallow ignorance) 510 What the sage poets, taught by the heavenly 515 Muse, Storied of old in high immortal verse Of dire Chimeras and enchanted isles, And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to Hell; Within the navel of this hideous wood, 520 And here to every thirsty wanderer 525 By sly enticement gives his baneful cup, With many murmurs mixed, whose pleasing poison The visage quite transforms of him that drinks, And the inglorious likeness of a beast Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage 530 Charactered in the face. This have I learnt Tending my flocks hard by i' the hilly crofts That brow this bottom glade; whence night by night He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl In their obscurèd haunts of inmost bowers. At which I ceased, and listened them a while, |