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The divine property of her first being.
Such are those thick and gloomy shadows damp,
Oft seen in charnel vaults and sepulchres
Lingering, and sitting by a new made grave,
As loth to leave the body that it lov'd,
And link'd itself by carnal sensuality

To a degenerate and degraded state.

Second Brother. 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,

Where no crude surfeit reigns.

Elder Brother.

List, list; I hear

Some far off holloo break the silent air.

Second Brother. Methought so too; what should

it be?

Elder Brother.

For certain

Either some one like us night-founder'd here,

Or else some neighbour woodman, or, at worst,
Some roving robber calling to his fellows.

Second Brother. Heaven keep my Sister. Again, and near!

Best draw, and stand upon our guard.

Elder Brother..

I'll halloo :

If he be friendly, he comes well; if not,

Defence is a good cause, and Heaven be for us.

[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. Spirit. What voice is that? my young Lord? speak again.

Second Brother. O Brother, 'tis my father's shepherd, sure,

Elder Brother. Thyrsis? Whose artful strains have oft delay'd

The huddling brook to hear his madrigal,

And sweeten'd every muskrose of the dale?

How cam'st thou here, good swain? hath any ram
Slipt from the fold, or young kid lost his dam,
Or straggling wether the pent flock forsook?
How could'st thou find this dark sequester'd nook?
Spirit. O my lov'd master's heir, and his next joy,
I came not here on such a trivial toy

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

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

Elder Brother. To tell thee sadly, Shepherd, without blame,

Or our neglect, we lost her as we came.

Spirit Ay me unhappy! then my fears are true.

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Elder Brother. What fears, good Thyrsis? Pr'y

thee briefly shew.

Spirit. I'll tell ye; 'tis not vain or fabulous

(Though so esteem'd by shallow ignorance,)

What the sage poets, taught by the 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.
Within the navel of this hideous wood,
Immur'd in cypress shades a sorcerer 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 sly enticement gives his baneful cup,

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, unmoulding reason's mintage
Character'd 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,
Like stabled wolves, or tigers at their prey,
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate

In their obscured haunts of inmost bowers.

Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells,

To inveigle and invite the unwary sense
Of them that pass unweeting by the way.
This evening late, by then the chewing flocks
Had tak'n their supper on the savoury herb
Of knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold,
I sat me down to watch upon a bank
With ivy canopied, and interwove
With flaunting honey-suckle, 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 dissonance;
At which I ceas'd, and listen'd them a while,
Till an unusual stop of sudden silence
Gave respite to the drowsy frighted steeds,
That draw the litter of close-curtain'd Sleep;
At last a soft and solemn-breathing sound
Rose like a steam of rich distill'd perfumes,
And stole upon the air, that even Silence
Was took ere she was ware, and wish'd she might
Deny her nature, and be never more,

Still, to be so displac'd. I was all ear,

And took in strains that might create a soul
Under the ribs of Death: but O! ere long,
Too well I did perceive it was the voice
Of my most honour'd Lady, your dear Sister.
Amaz'd I stood, harrow'd with grief and fear,

And, O poor hapless nightingale, thought I,
How sweet thou sing'st, how near the deadly snare!
Then down the lawns I ran with headlong haste,
Through paths and turnings often trod by day,
Till, guided by mine ear, I found the place,
Where that damn'd wisard, hid in sly disguise,
(For so by certain signs I knew,) had met
Already, ere my best speed could prevent,
The aidless innocent Lady, his wish'd prey;
Who gently ask'd if he had seen such two,
Supposing him some neighbour villager.
Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess'd
Ye where the two she meant ; with that I sprang
Into swift flight, till I had found you here;

But further know I not.

Second Brother.

O night, and shades!

How are ye join'd with Hell in triple knot
Against the unarmed weakness of one virgin,
Alone, and helpless! Is this the confidence!
You gave me, Brother?

Elder Brother.

Yes, and keep it still;

Lean on it safely; not a period

Shall be unsaid for me: Against the threats

Of malice, or for sorcery, or that power

Which erring Men call Chance, this I hold firm ;Virtue may be assail'd, but never hurt,

Surpriz'd by unjust force, but not enthrall'd;

Yea, even that, which mischief meant most harm,

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