"Or 'gainst the rugged bark of some broad elm "Leans her unpillow'd head, fraught with sad fears: “What if in wild amazement and affright ? "Or, while we speak, within the direful grasp "Of savage hunger or of savage heat? E. Bro. "Peace brother; be not over exquisite "To cast the fashion of uncertain evils; "For, grant they be so, while they rest unknown "What need a man forestal his date of grief, "And run to meet what he would most avoid? "Or if they be but false alarms of fear "How bitter is such self-delusion! "I do not think my sister so to seek, "Or so unprincipled in virtue's book, "And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever, "As that the single want of light and noise 31 40 "(Not being in danger, as I trust she is not) "Could stir the constant mood of her calm thoughts, "And put them into misbecoming plight. "Virtue could see to do what Virtue would "By her own radiant light, tho' sun and moon "Where with her best nurse, Contemplation, May sit i' th' centre and enjoy bright day; "But he, that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts, 50 Benighted walks under the mid-day sun ; "Himself is his own dungeon. Y. Bro. "Tis most true "That musing Meditation most affects "The pensive secrecy of desert cell, "Far from the chearful haunt of men and herds, "For who would rob a hermit of his weeds, "But Beauty, like the fair Hesperian tree E. Bro. "I do not, brother, "Infer as if I thought my sister's state "Secure, without all doubt or controversy; "Yet, where an equal poise of hope and fear "Does arbitrate th' event, my nature is 61 71 80 "That I incline to hope rather than fear, "As you imagine; she has a hidden strength Y. Bro. What hidden strength 90 "Unless the strength of Heav'n? if you mean that. E. Bro. "I mean that too; but yet a hidden strength, "Which, if Heav'n gave it, may be term'd her own; "Tis chastity, my brother, chastity: 100 "She that has that is clad in complete steel, “And like a quiver'd nymph with arrows keen "May trace huge forests and unharbour'd heaths, "Infamous hills and sandy perilous wilds, "Where thro' the sacred rays of chastity "No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer, "Will dare to soil her virgin purity; "Yea, there where very desolation dwells, "By grots and caverns shagg'd with horrid shades, "She may pass on with unblench'd majesty, "Be it not done in pride or in presumption. "Some say no evil thing that walks by night "In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen, “Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost, "That breaks his magick chains at curfew time, "No goblin, or swart Fairy of the mine, "Hath hurtful pow'r o'er true virginity. "Do ye believe me yet, or shall I call 'Antiquity from the old schools of Greece 110 "To testify the arms of Chastity? "Fear'd her stern frown, and she was Queen o' th' Woods. "What was the snaky-headed Gorgon shield 120 "That wise Minerva wore, unconquer'd virgin! "And noble grace, that dash'd brute violence "But when lust 130 "By unchaste looks, loose gestures, and foul talk, "But most by lewd and lavish act of sin, "Lets in defilement to the inward parts, "The soul grows clotted by contagion, 140 "Imbodies and imbrutes, till she quite lose Y. Bro. "How charming is divine philosophy! "Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools "But musical as is Apollo's lute, suppose, "And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, "Where no crude surfeit reigns." Some far-off hallco break the silent air. Y. Bro. Methought so to; what should it be? Either some one like us night-founder'd here, 150 162 Y. Bro. Heav'n keep my sister! Again! again! and If he be friendly he comes well, if not, Defence is a good cause, and Heav'n be for us. Enter the first Attendant Spirit, habited like a Shepherd. Y.Bro. That halloo I should know-What are you? speak. |