And earth's base built on stubble. But come,
Against the opposing will and arm of heaven 600 May never this just sword be lifted up;
But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt With all the grisly legions that troop
Under the sooty flag of Acheron,
Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms 'Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out, And force him to return his purchase back, Or drag him by the curls to a foul death, Curs'd as his life.
SPIR. Alas! good vent'rous Youth, I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise ; But here thy sword can do thee little stead; Far other arms and other weapons must
Be those that quell the might of hellish charms: He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints, And crumble all thy sinews.
1 BR. Why prithee, Shepherd,
How durst thou then thyself approach so near, As to make this relation?
SPIR. Care and utmost shifts
How to secure the Lady from surprisal, Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad, Of small regard to see to, yet well skill'd
In every virtuous plant and healing herb, That spreads her verdant leaf to th' morning ray:
Sooty flag] P. Fletcher's Locusts, p. 58. (1627.)
'All hell run out, and sooty flagges display.' Todd.
He lov'd me well, and oft would beg me sing, Which when I did, he on the tender grass Would sit, and hearken e'en to ecstasy, And in requital ope his leathern scrip, And show me simples of a thousand names, Telling their strange and vigorous faculties: Amongst the rest a small unsightly root, But of divine effect, he cull'd me out; The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it, But in another country, as he said,
Bore a bright golden flow'r, but not in this soil: Unknown, and like esteem'd, and the dull swain Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon : 635 And yet more med'cinal is it than that moly That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave; He call'd it hæmony, and gave it me, And bad me keep it as of sovereign use 'Gainst all inchantments, mildew, blast, or damp, Or ghastly furies' apparition.
I purs'd it up, but little reck'ning made,
636 moly] Golding's Ovid's Met. B. xiv. p. 170,
Faire flowre, whose roote is blacke, and of the Gods it moly
Assurde by this, and heavenly hestes, he entred Circe's bowre,'
See Plin. N. Hist. xxv. c. 8, 4. Valen. viii. de fac. Simpl. Med. p. 129. Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 83.
637 wise] Valiant Welshman, by R. A. 1615.
-This precious soveraign herbe That Mercury to wise Ulysses gave.'
Till now that this extremity compell'd: But now I find it true; for by this means I knew the foul inchanter though disguis'd, Enter'd the very lime-twigs of his spells, And yet came off: if you have this about you, (As I will give you when we go) you may Boldly assault the necromancer's hall; Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood, And brandish'd blade rush on him, break his glass, And shed the luscious liquor on the ground, But seize his wand; though he and his curs'd crew Fierce sign of battle make, and menace high, Or like the sons of Vulcan vomit smoke, Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.
1 BR. Thyrsis, lead on apace, I'll follow thee, And some good Angel bear a shield before us.
The Scene changes to a stately palace, set out with all manner of deliciousness; soft music, tables spread with all dainties. CoмUS appears with his rabble, and the LADY set in an inchanted chair, to whom he offers his glass, which she puts by, and goes about to rise.
COм. Nay, Lady, sit; if I but wave this wand, 651 rush] Ov. Metam. xiv. 293. Ulysses rushes on Circe. -Intrat
Ille domum Circes, et ad insidiosa vocatus Pocula, conantem virga mulcere capillos Repulit; et stricto pavidam deterruit ense.
Your nerves are all chain'd up in alabaster, And you a statue, or as Daphne was Root-bound, that fled Apollo.
LAD. Fool, do not boast,
Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind With all thy charms, although this corporal rind Thou hast immanacled, while heav'n sees good. COM. Why are you vext, Lady? why do you
Here dwell no frowns, nor anger; from these gates
Sorrow flies far: See, here be all the pleasures That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts, When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns Brisk as the April buds in primrose-season.. And first behold this cordial julep here, That flames, and dances in his crystal bounds, With spirits of balm, and fragrant syrups mix'd. Not that Nepenthes, which the wife of Thone 675 In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena,
Is of such pow'r to stir up joy as this, To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst. Why should you be so cruel to yourself,
672 julep] Llewellyn's Poems, p. iii.
There no cold Julep can relieve Those who in eternal fevers grieve.'
Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 83.
I'll fetch a Julep for to cool your blood.'
679 cruel] Shaksp. Son. i.
'Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self so cruel.' Todd.
And to those dainty limbs which Nature lent 680 For gentle usage, and soft delicacy?
But you invert the covenants of her trust, And harshly deal, like an ill borrower, With that which you receiv'd on other terms; Scorning the unexempt condition
By which all mortal frailty must subsist, Refreshment after toil, ease after pain,
That have been tir'd all day without repast, And timely rest have wanted; but, fair Virgin, This will restore all soon.
LAD. 'Twill not, false traitor,
"Twill not restore the truth and honesty
That thou hast banish'd from thy tongue with lies. Was this the Cottage, and the safe abode Thou toldst me of? What grim aspects are these, These ugly-headed monsters? Mercy guard me! Hence with thy brew'd inchantments, foul de- ceiver;
Hast thou betray'd my credulous innocence With visor'd falsehood and base forgery? And would'st thou seek again to trap me here With liquorish baits fit to ensnare a brute? Were it a draft for Juno when she banquets,
I would not taste thy treasonous offer; none But such as are good men can give good things, And that which is not good, is not delicious To a well-govern'd and wise appetite.
Cом. O foolishness of men! that lend their
« 이전계속 » |