Through this gloomy covert wide, Will double all their mirth and chere; The Scene changes, presenting Ludlow town and the President's Castle; then come in Country Dancers, after them the ATTENDANT SPIRIT, with the Two BROTHERS, and the LADY. SONG. Spirit. Back, Shepherds, back; enough your play, Till next sun-shine holiday : Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod Of lighter toes, and such court guise As Mercury did first devise, With the mincing Dryades, On the lawns, and on the leas. This second Song presents them to their Father and Mother. Noble Lord, and Lady bright, Heaven hath timely tried their youth, Their faith, their patience, and their truth, To triumph in victorious dance O'er sensual Folly and Intemperance. The dances [being] ended, the SPIRIT epiloguizes. Spirit. To the ocean now I fly, And those happy climes that lie Up in the broad fields of the sky: Of Hesperus, and his daughters three The Graces, and the rosy-bosom'd Hours, Thither all their bounties bring; There eternal Summer dwells, About the cedar'n alleys fling Nard and Cassia's balmy smells. Waters the odorous banks, that blow Flowers of more mingled hew Than her purfled scarf can shew; Make her his eternal bride, But now my task is smoothly done, I can fly, or I can run, Quickly to the green earth's end, Where the bow'd welkin slow doth bend; And from thence can soar as soon To the corners of the moon. Mortals, that would follow me. 1023 |