A Maske [Comus] Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: On Michaelmasse night, before the Right Honorable, Iohn Earle of Bridgewater, Vicount Brackly, Lord Praesident of Wales, And one of His Maiesties most honorable Privie Counsell [by John Milton] |
 |
 | A Maske [Comus] |  |
The Scene changes presenting Ludlow towne and the
Presidents Castle, then come in Countrie dancers, after
them the attendant Spirit with the two Brothers
and the Ladie.
Back shepheards, 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.
I have brought yee new delight,
Here behold so goodly growne.
Three faire branches of your owne,
Heav'n hath timely tri'd their youth,
Their faith, their patience, and their truth,
And sent them here through hard assays
With a crowne of deathlesse Praise,
To triumph in victorious dance
Ore sensuall Folly, and Intemperance.
The dances ended, the Spirit Epilogizes.
Spir.
Song.
Spir.Back shepheards, 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 præsents them to their father and mother.
Noble Lord, and Lady bright,I have brought yee new delight,
Here behold so goodly growne.
Three faire branches of your owne,
Heav'n hath timely tri'd their youth,
Their faith, their patience, and their truth,
34
With a crowne of deathlesse Praise,
To triumph in victorious dance
Ore sensuall Folly, and Intemperance.
The dances ended, the Spirit Epilogizes.
Spir.
To the Ocean now I flie,
And those happie climes that lie
Where day never shuts his eye,
Vp in the broad fields of the skie:
There I suck the liquid ayre
All amidst the gardens faire
Of Hesperus, and his daughters three
That sing about the golden tree,
Along the crisped shades, and bowres
Revells the spruce and jocond Spring,
The Graces, and the rosie-bosom'd Howres
Thither all their bounties bring,
That there æternall Summer dwells
And west winds, with muskie wing
About the cedar'n alleys fling
Nard, and Cassia's balmie smells.
Iris there with humid bow
Waters the odorous banks that blow
Flowers of more mingled hew
Then her purst'd scarfe can shew,
And drenches with Elysian dew
(List mortalls, if your eares be true)
Beds of Hyacinth, and roses)
Where young Adonis oft reposes,
Waxing well of his deepe wound
In slumber soft, and on the ground
Sadly sits th' Assyrian Queene;
But farre above in spangled sheene
Celestiall Cupid her fam'd Son advanc't,
Holds his deare Psyche sweet intranc't
After her wandring labours long,
Till free consent the gods among
Make her his æternall Bride,
And from her faire unspotted side
Two blissfull twins are to be borne,
Youth, and Ioy; so Iove hath sworne.
And those happie climes that lie
Where day never shuts his eye,
Vp in the broad fields of the skie:
There I suck the liquid ayre
All amidst the gardens faire
Of Hesperus, and his daughters three
That sing about the golden tree,
Along the crisped shades, and bowres
Revells the spruce and jocond Spring,
The Graces, and the rosie-bosom'd Howres
Thither all their bounties bring,
That there æternall Summer dwells
And west winds, with muskie wing
About the cedar'n alleys fling
Nard, and Cassia's balmie smells.
Iris there with humid bow
Waters the odorous banks that blow
Flowers of more mingled hew
Then her purst'd scarfe can shew,
And drenches with Elysian dew
(List mortalls, if your eares be true)
Beds of Hyacinth, and roses)
Where young Adonis oft reposes,
Waxing well of his deepe wound
In slumber soft, and on the ground
35
But farre above in spangled sheene
Celestiall Cupid her fam'd Son advanc't,
Holds his deare Psyche sweet intranc't
After her wandring labours long,
Till free consent the gods among
Make her his æternall Bride,
And from her faire unspotted side
Two blissfull twins are to be borne,
Youth, and Ioy; so Iove hath sworne.
But now my taske is smoothly done,
I can fly, or I can run
Quickly to the greene earths end,
Where the bow'd welkin slow doth bend,
And from thence can soare as soone
To the corners of the Moone.
I can fly, or I can run
Quickly to the greene earths end,
Where the bow'd welkin slow doth bend,
And from thence can soare as soone
To the corners of the Moone.
Mortalls that would follow me,
Love vertue, she alone is free,
She can teach yee how to clime
Higher then the Sphærie chime;
Or if vertue feeble were
Heav'n it selfe would stoope to her.
Love vertue, she alone is free,
She can teach yee how to clime
Higher then the Sphærie chime;
Or if vertue feeble were
Heav'n it selfe would stoope to her.
The End.
| A Maske [Comus] | |