times, having bin Steward to the Duca di Pagliano, who with all his Family were ftrangled, fave this onely man that escap'd by forefight of the Tempest : With him I had often much chat of those affairs; Into which he took pleasure to look back from his Native Harbour; and at my departure toward Rome (which had been the center of his experience) I had wonn confidence enough to beg his advice, how I might carry my self securely there, without offence of others, or of mine own confcience. Signor Arrigo mio (fayes he) I penfieri ftretti, & il vifo fciolto will go fafely over the whole World: Of which Delphian Oracle (for so I have found it) your judgement doth need no commentary; and therfore (Sir) I will commit you with it to the best of all fecurities, Gods dear love, remaining

Your Friend as much at command

as any of longer date Henry Wootton.

Postscript.

IR, I have exprefly fent this my Foot-boy to prevent your departure without fom acknowledgement from me of the receipt of your obliging Letter, having my felf through fom bufines, I know not how, neglected the ordinary conveyance. In any part where I shall underftand you fixed, I shall be glad, and diligent to entertain you with Home-Novelties; even for fom fomentation of our friendship, too soon interrupted in the

Cradle.

The

The Perfons.

The attendant Spirit afterwards in the habit of Thyrfis.

Comus with his crew.

The Lady.

1. Brother.

2. Brother.

Sabrina the Nymph.

The cheif perfons which presented,

were

The Lord Bracly,

Mr. Thomas Egerton his Brother, The Lady Alice Egerton.

A

The attendant Spirit defcends or enters.

Efore the starry threshold of Joves Court

B

My mansion is, where thofe immortal shapes
Of bright aëreal Spirits live infphear'd

In Regions milde of calm and ferene Ayr,

Above the smoak and stirr of this dim spot,

Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care

Confin'd,

Confin'd, and pester'd in this pin-fold here,
Strive to keep up a frail, and Feaverish being
Unmindfull of the crown that Vertue gives
After this mortal change, to her true Servants
Amongst the enthron'd gods on Sainted seats.
Yet fom there be that by due fteps aspire

To lay their juft hands on that Golden Key
That ope's the Palace of Eternity:
To fuch my errand is, and but for fuch,
I would not foil these pure Ambrofial weeds,
With the rank vapours of this Sin-worn mould.
But to my task. Neptune befides the sway
Of every falt Flood, and each ebbing Stream,
Took in by lot 'twixt high, and neather Jove,
Imperial rule of all the Sea-girt Iles

That like to rich, and various gemms inlay
The unadorned boofom of the Deep,

Which he to grace his tributary gods

By course commits to severall goverment,

And gives them leave to wear their Saphire crowns,

And weild their little tridents, but this Ile

The greatest, and the best of all the main

He quarters to his blu-hair'd deities,

And all this tract that fronts the falling Sun

A

A noble Peer of mickle truft, and power
Has in his charge, with temper'd awe to guide
An old, and haughty Nation proud in Arms:
Where his fair off-spring nurs't in Princely lore,
Are coming to attend their Fathers state,
And new-entrusted Scepter, but their way

Lies through the perplex't paths of this drear Wood,
The nodding horror of whose shady brows
Threats the forlorn and wandring Passinger.
And here their tender age might suffer perill,
But that by quick command from Soveran Jove
I was dispatcht for their defence, and guard;
And liften why, for I will tell ye now
What never yet was heard in Tale or Song
From old, or modern Bard in Hall, or Bowr.

Bacchus that first from out the purple Grape,
Crush't the sweet poyson of mis-used Wine
After the Tuscan Mariners transform'd
Coasting the Tyrrhene fhore, as the winds lifted,
On Circes Iland fell (who knows not Circe
The daughter of the Sun? Whose charmed Cup
Whoever tafted, loft his upright shape,

And downward fell into a groveling Swine)
This Nymph that gaz'd upon his clustring locks,