That crawls along the side of yon small hill, Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots;

Their port was more than human, as they stood.

I took it for a faery vision

Of some gay creatures of the element, That in the colours of the rainbow live, 300 And play i' the plighted clouds. I was awe-strook,

And, as I passed, I worshiped. If those you seek,

It were a journey like the path to Heaven
To help you find them.
Gentle villager,
What readiest way would bring me to that
place?

Lady.

Comus. Due west it rises from this shrubby point.

Lady. To find out that, good Shepherd,

Where that damned 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 wished prey; Who gently asked if he had seen such two, Supposing him some neighbour villager. Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guessed Ye were the two she meant; with that I sprung 578 Into swift flight, till I had found you here; But furder know I not.

Sec. Bro.
O night and shades,
How are ye joined with hell in triple knot
Against the unarmed weakness of one vir-
gin,

Alone and helpless! Is this the confidence
You gave me, brother?
Eld. Bro.
Yes, and keep it still;
Lean on it safely; not a period
Shall be unsaid for me. Against the threats
Of malice or of sorcery, or that power
Which erring men call Chance, this I hold
firm:

Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt, Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled;

590

Gathered like scum, and settled to itself,
It shall be in eternal restless change
Self-fed and self-consumed. If this fail,
The pillared firmament is rottenness,
And earth's base built on stubble. But
come, let's on!

Of small regard to see to, yet well skilled In every virtuous plant and healing hearb That spreads her verdant leaf to the morning ray.

He loved me well, and oft would beg me sing;

Which when I did, he on the tender grass
Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy,
And in requital ope his leathern scrip,
And shew me simples of a thousand names,
Telling their strange and vigorous facul-
ties.

Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,
But of divine effect, he culled me out. 630
The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on

it,

But in another country, as he said,

Bore a bright golden flower, but not in this soil:

Unknown, and like esteemed, and the dull

swain

Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon; And yet more med'cinal is it than that Moly

Heaven

600

He called it Hæmony, and gave it me,

you let slip time, like a neglected rose It withers on the stalk with languished head.

Beauty is Nature's brag, and must be shown In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities, Where most may wonder at the workmanship.

It is for homely features to keep home; They had their name thence: coarse complexions

And cheeks of sorry grain will serve to ply

790

The sampler, and to tease the huswife's wool.

What need a vermeil-tinctured lip for that, Love-darting eyes, or tresses like the Morn?

There was another meaning in these gifts; Think what, and be advised; you are but young yet.

Lady. I had not thought to have unlocked my lips

In this unhallowed air, but that this Juggler

Would think to charm my judgment, as mine eyes,

Obtruding false rules pranked in reason's garb.

I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments
And Virtue has no tongue to check her
pride.
Impostor! do not charge most innocent
Nature,

761