So Virtue, given for lost, Depress'd, and overthrown, as seem'd, In the Arabian woods embost, That no second knows nor third, From out her ashy womb now teem'd, Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most And, though her body die, her fame survives A secular4 bird, ages of lives. Man. Come, come; no time for lamentation now, Nor much more cause; Samson hath quit himself Like Samson, and heroickly hath finish'd A life heroick; on his enemies Fully reveng'd, hath left them years of mourning, Or knock the breast; no weakness, no contempt, Let us go find the body where it lies 1701 1710 1720 Soak'd in his enemies' blood; and from the stream 1730 .3 Holocaust:' an entire 'Bird:' phoenix. - 'Embost:' enclosed. burnt-offering.Secular:' i. e., living a thousand years. or Crete: whence the Philistines originally came. 'Caphtor,' The clotted gore. I, with what speed the while Will send for all my kindred, all my friends, With silent obsequy, and funeral train, Home to his father's house: there will I build him « Oft He seems to hide his face, But unexpectedly returns, And to his faithful champion hath in place His uncontrollable intent : 1732 1740 1750 His servants He, with new acquist1 Of true experience, from this great event 1760 COMUS: A Mask. PRESENTED AT LUDLOW CASTLE, 1634, BEFORE JOHN, EARL OF BRIDGEWATER,' THEN PRESIDENT OF WALES. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHN LORD VISCOUNT BRACKLEY, SON AND HEIR apparent to thE EARL OF BRIDGEWATER, ETC. 3 MY LORD, This poem, which received its first occasion of birth from yourself and others of your noble family, and much honour from your owa person in the performance, now returns again to make a final dedication of itself to you. Although not openly acknowledged by the author, yet it is a legitimate offspring, so lovely, and so much desired, that the often copying of it hath tired my pen to give my several friends satisfaction, and brought me to a necessity of producing it to the public view; and now to offer it up in all rightful devotion to those fair hopes, and rare endowments of your much promising youth, which give a full assurance, to all that know you, of a future excellence. Live, sweet Lord, to be the honour of your name, and receive this as your own, from the hands of him, who hath by many favours been long obliged to your most honoured parents, and as in this representation your attendant Thyrsis, so now in all real expression, Your faithful and most humble Servant, H. LAWES. 1'John Earl of Bridgewater,' before whom Comus was first presented, and whose sons and daughter performed the characters of the Brothers and the Lady. It is said that they latter had been benighted in Haywood Forest, and that Milton founded Comus on this in cident. Earl John died 1649. He was a royalist. * 'Lord Brackley:' he became Earl of Bridgewater, and died in 1686. Not openly acknowledged' till 1645. 'H. Lawes: a celebrated musician, who composed the music for Comus. He was an amiable man, and, though a royalist, an intimate friend of Milton's, who dedicated to him his 13th Sonnet. He composed an immense variety of sacred and other music. The first Scene discovers a wild Wood. Which men call Earth; and, with low-thoughted care 10 1 Thomas Egerton:' the fourth son of the Earl. He died at the age of twenty-three.The Lady Alice,' as her portraits testify, was very beauti ful. She became the Countess of Carbery.-Pester'd:' i. e., 46 Pinfold:' i. e., sheepfold. crowded.- To lay their just hands on that golden key, To such my errand is; and, but for such, I would not soil these pure ambrosial weeds By course commits to several government, And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns. And all this tract that fronts the falling sun 13 20 30 40 High and nether:' i. e., the upper and the lower dominions of Jove.— * Peer:' Earl of Bridgewater, then President of Wales and the Marches. |