Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/91

 COMUS

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��And bade nie keep it as of sovran use 'Gainst all iuchantments, mildew blast, or

damp, 640

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 inchanter, 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 hardi- hood 650 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 battail 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 '11

follow thee; And some good angel bear a shield before

us !

Tlte Scene changes to a stately palace, set out irith all manner of deliciousness : soft music, tables spread with all dainties. COMUS ap- pears with his rabble, and the LADY set in an inchanted 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 alabas- ter, 660

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 corpo- ral 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 plea- sures

That fancy can beget on youthful thoughts,

��When the fresh blood grows lively, and re- turns 670 Brisk as the April buds in primrose sea- son.

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

Thoue

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 680

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 re- past,

And timely rest have wanted. But, fair virgin, 689

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 inchantments, foul

deceiver !

Hast thou betrayed my credulous inno- cence

With vizored falsehood and base forgery ? And wouldst thou seek again to trap me

here

With lickerish baits, fit to ensnare a brute ? Were it a draught for Juno when she ban- quets, 701 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.

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