Uninjur'd in this wild surrounding waste. I fear the dread events that dog them both, 1 BR. I do not, Brother, Infer, as if I thought my Sister's state As you imagine; she has a hidden strength 2 BR. What hidden strength, 405 Unless the strength of Heav'n, if you mean that? 410 415 420 1 BR. I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength, Which, if heav'n gave it, may be term'd her own; 'Tis chastity, my Brother, chastity: She that has that, is clad in complete steel, And like a quiver'd Nymph with arrows keen May trace huge forests, and unharbour'd heaths, Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds, Where through the sacred rays of chastity, No savage fierce, bandite, or mountaineer 425 413 squint] Quarles's Feast for Wormes (1633), p. 48. 'Heart-gnawing hatred, and squint-eyed suspicion.' Warton. 424 Infamous] Hor. Od. i. iii. 20. Infames scopulos.' Newton. 426 bandite] Tickell changed bandite' into 'banditti,' and 'Dian' into Diana.' Will dare to soil her virgin purity: Yea there, where very desolation dwells, By grots, and caverns shagg'd with horrid shades, Hath hurtful power o'er true virginity. Hence had the huntress Dian her dread bow, 430 435 440 And spotted mountain pard, and set at nought woods. What was that snaky-headed Gorgon shield, 445 That wise Minerva wore, unconquer'd virgin, Wherewith she freez'd her foes to congeal'd stone, 429 shagg'd] Benlowes's Theophila, p. 226. 'Embost with trees, with bushes shagg'd.' 432 Some say] Hamlet, act 1, sc. 1. But then, they say, no spirit walks abroad.' 433 fog] Milton here had his eye on Fletcher's F. Shepherdess, act 1. 'I have heard, (my mother told it me),' &c. Newton. 449 freez'd] Dante Inferno, c. ix. Che se 'l Gorgon si mostra. But rigid looks of chaste austerity, 450 455 460 465 Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp 470 455 liveried] Nabbes's Microcosmus, p. 22. 469 divine] Hor. Sat. ii. ii. 79. Atque affligit humo divinæ particulam aura! Todd. 475 2 BR. How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh, and crabbed, as dull fools suppose, But musical as is Apollo's lute, And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, 1 B. List, list, I hear Some far off halloo break the silent air. 2 B. Methought so too; what should it be? Either some one like us night-founder'd here, 480 485 2 B. Heav'n keep my Sister. Again, again, and near ! Best draw, and stand upon our guard. 1 B. I'll halloo; If he be friendly, he comes well; if not, Enter the ATTENDANT SPIRIT, habited like a shepherd. That halloo 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. 2 B. O brother, 'tis my father's shepherd, sure. 478 Apollo's] Love's Lab. Lost, act iv. sc. iii. 'as sweet and musical As bright Apollo's lute—' Bowle. 1 B. Thyrsis? Whose artful strains have oft delay'd The huddling brook to hear his madrigal, 495 And sweeten'd every muskrose of the dale. How cam'st thou here, good swain? hath any ram As a stray'd ewe, or to pursue the stealth How chance she is not in your company? 506 1 BR. To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. 510 SPIR. Aye me unhappy! then my fears are true. 1 BR. What fears, good Thyrsis? Prithee briefly shew. SPIR. I'll tell ye; 'tis not vain or fabulous, Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance, What the sage poets, taught by th' heavenly Muse, Storied of old in high immortal verse, Of dire chimeras, and enchanted isles, And rifted rocks whose entrance leads to Hell; For such there be, but unbelief is blind. 509 sadly] Soberly, seriously. P. L. vi. 541. Newton. |