Who, ripe and frolic of his full grown age,
Roving the Celtic and Iberian fields,

At last betakes him to this ominous wood,
And in thick shelter of black shades imbower'd,
Excels his mother at her mighty art,

Offering to every weary traveller

His orient liquor in a crystal glass,

To quench the drouth of Phoebus; which, as they taste.
(For most do taste through fond intemperate thirst,)
Soon as the potion works, their human countenance,
The express resemblance of the gods, is changed
Into some brutish form of wolf, or bear,
Or ounce, or tiger, hog, or bearded goat,
All other parts remaining as they were;
And they, so perfect is their misery,
Not once perceive their foul disfigurement,
But boast themselves more comely than before,
And all their friends and native home forget,
To roll with pleasure in a sensual sty.
Therefore when any favor'd of high Jove
Chances to pass through this adventurous glade,
Swift as the sparkle of a glancing star

I shoot from Heaven, to give him safe convoy,
As now I do: but first I must put off
These my sky robes spun out of Iris' woof,
And take the weeds and likeness of a swain,

That to the service of this house belongs,

Who with his soft pipe, and smooth-dittied song,

Well knows to still the wild winds when they roar,
And hush the waving woods, nor of less faith,
And in this office of his mountain watch,
Likeliest, and nearest to the present aid
Of this occasion. But I hear the tread
Of hateful steps: I must be viewless now.

[COMUS enters with a charming rod in one hand, his glass in the other, with him a rout of monsters, headed like sundry sorts of wild beasts, but other wise like men and women, their apparel glistering; they come in makin a riotous and unruly noise, with torches in their hands.j

COMUS.

The star that bids the shepherd fold,

Now the top of Heaven doth hold,

And the gilded car of day

Trip the port faeries and the dapper elves.
By dimpled brook and fountain brim.
The wood-nymphs, deck'd with daisies trim,
Their merry wakes and pastimes keep:

Imitate the starry quire,

Who in their nightly watchful phores
Lead in swift round the months and years.
The sounds and seas, with all their sinay drove
Now to the moon in wavering morries more;
And on the tawny sands and shelves
Trip the pert fairies and the dapper eles
By dimpled brook, and fountain bri
The wood-nymphs, deck'd with daiss
Their merry wakes and pastimes keep:
What hath night to do with sleep?
Night hath better sweets to prove,
Venus now wakes, and wakens Love.
Come, let us our rites begle

'Tis only daylight that makes in.
Which these dun shades wil pole report
Hail, goddess of nocturnal eps
Dark-veil'd Cotytto, to where
Of midnight torches burn;
That ne'er art call'd, but wha
Of Stygian darkness spits bes
And makes one blot of all the al
Stay thy cloudy ebon chair,
Wherein thou rid'st with Beste

Us thy vow'd priests, ti abst Bod
Of all thy dues be done, and one left out.
Te de olde