And ye, the breathing roses of the wood,
Fair filver-bufkin'd Nymphs as great and good,
I know this quest of yours, and free intent
Was all in honor and devotion meant
To the great mistress of yon princely shrine,
Whom with low reverence I adore as mine,
And with all helpful fervice will comply
To further this night's glad folemnity;
And lead you where ye may more near behold

What shallow-fearching Fame hath left untold;
Which I full oft amidst these shades alone
Have fat to wonder at, and gaze upon :
For know by lot from Jove I am the Power
Of this fair wood, and live in oaken bower,
To nurfe the faplings tall, and curl the grove
With ringlets quaint, and wanton windings wove.
And all my plants I fave from nightly ill
Of noifome winds, and blasting vapors chill:
And from the boughs brush off the evil dew,
And heal the harms of thwarting thunder blue,
Or what the crofs dire-looking planet smites,
Or hurtful worm with canker'd venom bites.
When evening gray doth rise, I fetch my round
Over the mount, and all this hallow'd ground,
And early, ere the odorous breath of morn
Awakes the flumbering leaves, or taffel'd horn
Shakes the high thicket, hafte I all about,
Number my ranks, and visit every sprout

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With puiffant words, and murmurs made to blefs; 60 But elfe in deep of night, when drowsiness

Hath

Hath lock'd up mortal fenfe, then liften I
To the celestial Syrens' harmony,

That fit upon the nine infolded spheres,

And fing to those that hold the vital shears,
And turn the adamantin spindle round,

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On which the fate of Gods and men is wound.

Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie,

To lull the daughters of Neceffity,

And keep uniteddy Nature to her law,

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And the low world in measur'd motion draw

After the heavenly tune, which none can hear
Of human mold with grofs unpurged ear;
And yet fuch music worthiest were to blaze
The peerless highth of her immortal praise,
Whose luftre leads us, and for her most fit,
If my inferior hand or voice could hit
Inimitable founds; yet, as we go,
Whate'er the skill of leffer Gods can flow,
I will assay, her worth to celebrate,

And fo attend ye toward her glittering state;
Where you may all that are of noble stem
Approach and kiss her sacred vesture's hem.

II. S O N G.

O'ER the fmooth enamel'd green,

Where no print of step hath been,
Follow me as I fing,

And touch the warbled string,

Under the shady roof

Of branching elm star-proof.

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Follow

I 2

NYMPHS and Shepherds, dance no more

By fandy Ladon's lilied banks;
On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar

Trip no more in twilight ranks ;
Though Erymanth your lofs deplore,

A better foil fhall give you thanks.

From the stony Mänalus

Bring your flocks, and live with us;
Here ye shall have greater grace,

To serve the Lady of this place.

Though Syrinx your Pan's mistress were,
Yet Syrinx well might wait on her.

Such a rural Queen
All Arcadia hath not feen.

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The EARL of BRIDGEWATER, then Prefident of WALES.

THE PERSONS.

The attendant SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of Thyrfis.

COMUS with his crew.

The LADY.

First BROTHER,

Second BROTHER.

SABRINA the Nymph.

The chief perfons who prefented were,

The Lord BRACKLY.

Mr. THOMAS EGERTON his brother

The Lady ALICE EGERTON.

The