And underwent a quick immortal change, And throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream 850 Of pansies, pinks, and gaudy daffodils. And, as the old swain said, she can unlock The clasping charm, and thaw the numbing spell, For maidenhood she loves, and will be swift To aid a virgin, such as was herself, And add the power of some adjuring verse. Sabrina fair, Song. Listen where thou art sitting Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair : Goddess of the silver lake, Listen and save! Listen, and appear to us, In name of great Oceanus. By the earth-shaking Neptune's mace, By hoary Nereus' wrinkled look, 860 870 By Leucothea's lovely hands, By all the Nymphs that nightly dance And bridle in thy headlong wave, Till thou our summons answered have. Listen and save! SABRINA rises, attended by Water-nymphs, and sings. By the rushy-fringèd bank, Where grows the willow and the osier dank, My sliding chariot stays, Thick set with agate, and the azurn sheen That in the channel strays; Whilst from off the waters fleet That bends not as I tread. Spir. Goddess dear, We implore thy powerful hand To undo the charmed band Of true virgin here distressed Through the force and through the wile Of unblessed enchanter vile. 880 890 900 Sabr. Shepherd, 'tis my office best To help ensnared chastity. Brightest Lady, look on me. Thus I sprinkle on thy breast 910 Drops that from my fountain pure I have kept of precious cure; Thrice upon thy finger's tip, Thrice upon thy rubied lip: Smeared with gums of glutinous heat, I touch with chaste palms moist and cold. And I must haste ere morning hour To wait in Amphitrite's bower. SABRINA descends, and THE LADY rises out of her seat. Spir. Virgin, daughter of Locrine, Sprung of old Anchises' line, May thy brimmèd waves for this Their full tribute never miss From a thousand petty rills, That tumble down the snowy hills : Thy molten crystal fill with mud ; May thy billows roll ashore The beryl and the golden ore; May thy lofty head be crowned With many a tower and terrace round, With groves of myrrh and cinnamon. 920 930 Come, Lady; while Heaven lends us grace, Let us fly this cursed place, Lest the sorcerer us entice With some other new device. 940 Not a waste or needless sound Will double all their mirth and cheer. Come, let us haste; the stars grow high, But Night sits monarch yet in the mid sky. 950 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. Spir. 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, I have brought ye new delight. 960 Heaven hath timely tried their youth, 970 Their faith, their patience, and their truth, O'er sensual folly and intemperance. Spir. The dances ended, the SPIRIT epiloguizes. To the ocean now I fly, And those happy climes that lie Of Hesperus, and his daughters three Revels the spruce and jocund Spring; The Graces and the rosy-bosomed Hours There eternal Summer dwells, And west winds with musky wing About the cedarn alleys fling Nard and cassia's balmy smells. Iris there with humid bow Waters the odorous banks, that blow Flowers of more mingled hue Than her purfled scarf can shew, 980 990 1000 |