Y.Bro. "Short is the course of ev'ry lawless pleasure; "Grief like a shade on all its footsteps waits, "Scarce visible in joy's meridian height, "But downward as its blaze declining speeds "The dwarfish shadow to a giant spreads."

F. Wom. No more; these formal maxims misbecome you;

They only suit suspicious shrivell'd Age.

SONG. By a Man and two Women.

Live and love, enjoy the fair,
Banish sorrows, banish care;
Mind not what old dotards say;
Age has had his share of play,
But youth's sport begins to-day.

From the fruits of sweet delight
Let not scare-crow Virtue fright:
Here in Pleasure's vine-yard we
Rove like birds from tree to tree,
Careless, airy, gay, and free.

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E. Bro. How can your impious tongues profane the

name

Of sacred Virtue, and yet promise pleasure
In lying songs of vanity and vice?

From virtue sever'd pleasure phrenzy grows,
"The gay delirium of the fev'rish mind,
"And always flies at reason's cool return.

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F. Wom. "Perhaps it may; perhaps the sweetest

joys

"Of love itself from passion's folly spring;

"But say, does wisdom greater bliss bestow?
E. Bro. "Alike from love's and pleasure's path
you stray,

"In sensual folly blindly seeking both,
"Your pleasure riot, lust your boasted love.
"Capricious, wanton, bold, and brutal lust
"Is meanly selfish, when resisted cruel,
"And like the blast of pestilental winds

320

"Taints the sweet bloom of Nature's fairest forms: "But love, like od'rous Zephyr's grateful breath, "Repays the flow'r that sweetness which it borrows; "Uninjuring, uninjur'd, lovers move

330

"In their own sphere of happiness content “By mutual truth avoiding mutual blame.” But we forget: who hears the voice of Truth In noisy riot and intemp'rance drown'd? Thyrsis, be then our guide; we'll follow thee, And some good angel bear a shield before us! [Exeunt Brothers and Spirit. F. Wom. Come, come, my friends, and partners

of my joys,

Leave to these pedant youth their bookish dreams; "Poor blinded boys, by their blind guides misled ! "A beardless Cynick is the shame of nature," Beyond the cure of this inspiring cup; "And my contempt, at best my pity, moves." Away, nor waste a moment more about 'em

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CHORUS.

Away, away, away,

To Comus' court repair;

There night outshines the day,

There yields the melting fair.[Exeunt singing.

E. Bro. "She's gone! may scorn pursue her wanton arts,

"And all the painted charms that vice can wear. "Yet oft' o'er credulous youth such Sirens triumph, "And lead their captive sense in chains as strong "As links of adamant. Let us be free, "And to secure our freedom, virtuous.

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rage

Y. Bro. "But should our helpless sister meet the "Of this insulting troop, what could she do? "What hope, what comfort, what support, were left? Spi. "She meets not them; but yet, if right I guess,

"A harder trial on her virtue waits.

E. Bro. "Protect her Heav'n! But whence this sad conjecture?

360

Spi. "This ev'ning late, by then the chewing flocks "Had ta'en their supper on the sav'ry herb "Of knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold, "I sat me down to watch upon a bank "With ivy canopy'd, and intervove "With flaunting honeysuckle, and began, "Wrapp'd in a pleasing fit of melancholy, "To meditate my rural minstrelsy, "Till fancy had her fill; but ere a close,

The first Act en is here as now performed.

"The wonted roar was up amidst the woods, "And fill'd the air with barbarous dissonance, "At which I ceas'd, and listen'd them a while. Y. Bro. "What follow'd then? O! if our helpless sister

Spi. "Strait an unusual stop of sudden silence 370 "Gave respite to the drowsy-flighted steeds "That draw the litter of close-curtain'd Sleep. "At last a soft and solemn breathing sound "Rose like a steam of rich distill'd perfumes,

"And stole upon the air, that ev'n Silence

"Was took ere she was 'ware, and wish'd she might "Deny her nature, and be never more,

"Still to be so displac'd. I was all ear,
"And took in strains that might create a sonl
"Under the ribs of Death-but oh! ere long
"Too well I did perceive it was the voice
"Of my most honour'd lady your dear sister.

380

Y.Bro. "O my foreboding heart! too true my fears. Spi. "Amaz'd I stood, harrow'd with griefand fear, "And O! poor hapless nightingale, thought I, "How sweet thou sing'st, how near the deadly snare! Then down the lawns I ran with headlong haste, Thro paths and turnings often trod by day, Till guided by my ear I found the place

"Where the damn'd wizard, hid in sly disguise, 390 (For so by certain signs I knew) had met "Already, ere my best speed to prevent, "The aidless innocent lady, his wish'd prey, "Who gently ask`d if he had seen such two,

"Supposing him some neighbour villager.

"Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess'd
"Ye were the two she meant; with that I sprung
"Into swift flight till I had found you here;
"But farther know I not.

Y. Bro. O night and shades!

"How are ye join'd with hell in triple knot

Against the unarm'd weakness of one virgin, "Alone and helpless! Is this the confidence "You gave me, brother?

E. 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 pow'r

400

"Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm, "Virtue may be assail'd but never hurt,

"Yea, even that which mischief meant most harm
"Shall in the happy trial prove most glory:
"But evil on itself shall back recoil,

"And mix no more with goodness; when at last
"Gather'd like scum, and settled to itself,
"It shall be in eternal restless change,
"Self-fed and self-consum'd. If this fail
"The pillar'd firmament is rottenness,

410

"Andearth's base built on stubble. But come, let's on;

"Against th' opposing will and arm of Heav'n
"May never this just sword be lifted up;
"But for that damn'd magician, let him be girt
"With all the griesly legions that troop

421