Lest the Sorcerer us entice 940 Not a waste, or needless sound, I shall be your faithful guide Will double all their mirth and cheer;- 950 The scene changes, presenting Ludlow town and the President's castle; then come in Country Dancers, after them the ATTENDANT SPIRIT, with the Two BROTHERS and the LADY. SONG. Spi. Back, Shepherds! 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. The second song presents them to their Father and Mother. Noble Lord, and Lady bright! I have brought ye new delight, Here behold so goodly grown 960 Three fair branches of your own; Heaven hath timely tried their youth, 970 Their faith, their patience, and their truth, And sent them here, through hard assays, To triumph, in victorious dance, The dances ended, the SPIRIT epiloguizes. Up in the broad fields of the sky; Of Hesperus, and his daughters three The Graces, and the rosy-bosomed Hours, There eternal Summer dwells, And west-winds with musky wing About the cedarn alleys fling Waters the odorous banks, that blow Flowers of more mingled hue Than her purfled scarf can shew; And drenches with Elysian dew Celestial Cupid, her famed son, advanced, After her wandering labours long, Make her his eternal bride, And from her fair unspotted side 980 900 1000 Two blissful twins are to be born, But now my task is smoothly done, Quickly to the green Earth's end, Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend ; Mortals that would follow me, Heaven itself would stoop to her. ΙΟΙΟ 1020 HENCE loathed Melancholy! Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born, In Stygian cave forlorn 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy; Find out some uncouth cell, Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, And the night raven sings; There, under ebon shades, and low-browed rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell! But come, thou Goddess fair and free! The frolic wind that breathes the spring, As he met her once a-Maying, And fresh-blown roses washed in dew, Haste thee, Nymph! and bring with thee Quips, and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, And Laughter holding both his sides. Come! and trip it, as you go, And, in thy right hand, lead with thee To live with her, and live with thee, And, singing, startle the dull Night, While the cock, with lively din, Scatters the rear of Darkness thin; Stoutly struts his dame; before: Oft listening how the hounds and horn, From the side of some hoar hill Through the high wood echoing shrill : 40 50 60 Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures, Whilst the landskip round it measures; 70 Russet lawns, and fallows gray, Where the nibbling flocks do stray; |