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
  Into swift flight, till I had found you here;
  But further know I not.
           SEC. BRO. O night and shades,
  How are ye joined with hell in triple knot
  Against the unarmed weakness of one virgin,
  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;
  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,
  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!
  Against the opposing will and arm of heaven
  May never this just sword be lifted up;
  But, for that damned magician, let him be girt
  With all the grisly legions that troop
  Under the sooty flag of Acheron,
  Harpies and Hydras, or all the monstrous forms
  'Twixt Africa and Ind, I'll find him out,
  And force him to return his purchase back,
  Or drag him by the curls to a foul death,
  Cursed as his life.
           SPIR. Alas! good venturous youth,
  I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise;
  But here thy sword can do thee little stead.
  Far other arms and other weapons must
  Be those that quell the might of hellish charms.
  He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints,
  And crumble all thy sinews.
           ELD. BRO. Why, prithee,
  Shepherd,
  How durst thou then thyself approach so near
  As to make this relation?
           SPIR. Care and utmost
  shifts
  How to secure the Lady from surprisal
  Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad,
  Of small regard to see to, yet well skilled
  In every virtuous plant and healing herb
  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 show me simples of a thousand names,
  Telling their strange and vigorous faculties.
  Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,
  But of divine effect, he culled me out.
  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
  That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave.
  He called it Haemony, and gave it me,
  And bade me keep it as of sovran use
  'Gainst all enchantments, mildew blast, or damp,
  Or ghastly Furies' apparition.
  I pursed it up, but little reckoning made,
  Till now that this extremity compelled.
  But now I find it true; for by this means
  I knew the foul enchanter, though disguised,
  Entered the very lime-twigs of his spells,
  And yet came off. If you have this about you
  (As I will give you when we go), you may
  Boldly assault the necromancer's hall;
  Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood
  And brandished blade rush on him: break his glass,
  And shed the luscious liquor on the ground;
  But seize his wand. Though he and his curst crew
  Fierce sign of battle make, and menace high,
  Or, like the sons of Vulcan, vomit smoke,
  Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.
           ELD. BRO. Thyrsis, lead on apace; I'll follow thee;
  And some good angel bear a shield before us!

  The Scene changes to a stately palace, set out with all manner of
  deliciousness: soft music, tables spread with all dainties. Comus
  appears with his rabble, and the LADY set in an enchanted chair;
  to
  whom he offers his glass; which she puts by, and goes about to
  rise.

           COMUS. Nay, Lady, sit. If I but wave this wand,
  Your nerves are all chained up in alabaster,
  And you a statue, or as Daphne was,
  Root-bound, that fled Apollo.
           LADY. Fool, do not boast.
  Thou canst not touch the freedom of my mind
  With all thy charms, although this corporal rind
  Thou hast immanacled while Heaven sees good.
           COMUS. Why are you vexed, Lady? why do you frown?
  Here dwell no frowns, nor anger; from these gates
  Sorrow flies far. See, here be all the pleasures
  That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,
  When the fresh blood grows lively, and returns
  Brisk as the April buds in primrose season.
  And first behold this cordial julep here,
  That flames and dances in his crystal bounds,
  With spirits of balm and fragrant syrups mixed.
  Not that Nepenthes which the wife of Thone
  In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena
  Is of such power to stir up joy as this,
  To life so friendly, or so cool to thirst.
  Why should you be so cruel to yourself,
  And to those dainty limbs, which Nature lent
  For gentle usage and soft delicacy?
  But you invert the covenants of her trust,
  And harshly deal, like an ill borrower,
  With that which you received on other terms,
  Scorning the unexempt condition
  By which all mortal frailty must subsist,
  Refreshment after toil, ease after pain,
  That have been tired all day without repast,
  And timely rest have wanted. But, fair virgin,
  This will restore all soon.
           LADY. 'T will not, false
  traitor!
  'T will not restore the truth and honesty
  That thou hast banished from thy tongue with lies.
  Was this the cottage and the safe abode
  Thou told'st me of? What grim aspects are these,
  These oughly-headed monsters? Mercy guard me!
  Hence with thy brewed enchantments, foul deceiver!
  Hast thou betrayed my credulous innocence
  With vizored falsehood and base forgery?
  And would'st thou seek again to trap me here
  With liquorish baits, fit to ensnare a brute?
  Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets,
  I would not taste thy treasonous offer. None
  But such as are good men can give good things;
  And that which is not good is not delicious
  To a well-governed and wise appetite.
           COMUS. O foolishness of men! that lend their ears
  To those budge doctors of the Stoic fur,
  And fetch their precepts from the Cynic tub,
  Praising the