And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, 1 BRO. Lift, lift, I hear Some far off hallow break the filent air. 2 BRO. Methought fo too; what should it be? I BRO. For certain Either fome one like us night-founder'd here, Or else some neighbour wood-man, or, at worst, 480 485 2 BRO. Heav'n keep my Sifter! Again, again, and Best draw, and stand upon our guard. I BRO. I'll hallow; If he be friendly, he comes well; if not, [near; The attendent Spirit, habited like a fhepherd. That hallow I should know, what are you? speak; 490 again. 2. BRO. O brother, 'tis my father's fhepherd, fure. 1 BRO. Thyrfis? whofe artful ftrains have oft de lay'd The huddling brook to hear his madrigal, And sweeten'd every muskrose of the dale. How cam'ft thou here, good Swain? hath any ram 495 How could'st thou find this dark sequester'd nook? 500 SPI. 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 doth enrich thefe downs, is worth a thought 505 How chance fhe is not in your company? 1 BRO. To tell thee fadly, Shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we loft her as we came. 510 SPI. Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true. I BRO. What fears, good Thyrfis ? Pr'ythee briefly SPI. I'll tell you; 'tis not vain or fabulous, [fhew. (Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance) What the fage poets, taught by th' heav'nly Mufe, 515 Story'd of old in high immortal verfe, 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, Immur'd in cypress fhades, a forcerer dwells, 520 Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus, By fly enticement gives his baneful cup, 525 With many murmurs mix'd, whose pleasing poison 530 Tending Tending my flocks hard by i'th' hilly crofts, In their obfcured haunts of inmoft bowers. 535 540 Of knot-grafs dew-besprent, and were in fold, With flaunting honey-fuckle, and began, Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close 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, 545 550 555 560 And And took in ftrains that might create a foul 2 BRO. O night and shades, How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot, I BRO. Yes, and keep it ftill, 565 570 575 580 Lean on it fafely; not a period 585 Shall be unfaid for me: against the threats 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 ; most glory : But evil on itself fhall back recoil, And mix no more with goodness, when at last, 590 Gather'd like fcum, and fettled to itself, 595 It shall be in eternal restless change Self-fed, and felf-confumed: if this fail, The pillar'd firmament is rottennefs, And earth's bafe built on ftubble. But come let's on. Against th' oppofing will and arm of Heaven 600 May never this just fword be lifted up; But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms SPI. Alas! good ventrous Youth, 1 BRO. Why pr'ythee, Shepherd, |