Miltons Comus | Page 7

HENRY WOTTON.
_Postscript._
Sir,--I have expressly sent this my footboy to prevent your departure without some acknowledgment from me of the receipt of your obliging letter, having myself through some business, I know not how, neglected the ordinary conveyance. In any part where I shall understand you fixed, I shall be glad and diligent to entertain you with home-novelties, even for some fomentation of our friendship, too soon interrupted in the cradle.{21:B}
FOOTNOTES:
{19:A} It is delicacy itself.
{20:A} With a sweet taste in his mouth (so that he may desire more).
{20:B} Avoid.
{21:A} "Thoughts close, countenance open."
{21:B} This letter was printed in the edition of 1645, but omitted in that of 1673. It was written by Sir Henry Wotton, Provost of Eton College, just in time to overtake Milton before he set out on his journey to Italy. As a parting act of courtesy Milton had sent Sir Henry a letter with a copy of Lawes's edition of his _Comus_, and the above letter is an acknowledgment of the favour.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE{22:A}
JOHN, LORD VISCOUNT BRACKLEY,
_Son and Heir-Apparent to the Earl of Bridgewater, etc._
MY LORD,
This Poem, which received its first occasion of birth from yourself and others of your noble family, and much honour from your own 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_,{22:B} so now in all real expression,
Your faithful and most humble Servant,
H. LAWES.
FOOTNOTES:
{22:A} Dedication of the anonymous edition of 1637: reprinted in the edition of 1645, but omitted in that of 1673.
{22:B} See Notes, line 494.
THE PERSONS.
The ATTENDANT SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of THYRSIS. COMUS, with his Crew.?The LADY.?FIRST BROTHER.?SECOND BROTHER.?SABRINA, the Nymph.
The Chief Persons which presented were:--
The Lord Brackley;?Mr. Thomas Egerton, his Brother;?The Lady Alice Egerton.
COMUS.
_The first Scene discovers a wild wood._
_The ATTENDANT SPIRIT descends or enters._
Before the starry threshold of Jove's court?My mansion is, where those immortal shapes?Of bright a?rial spirits live insphered?In regions mild of calm and serene air,?Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot?Which men call Earth, and, with low-thoughted care,?Confined and pestered in this pinfold here,?Strive to keep up a frail and feverish being,?Unmindful of the crown that Virtue gives,?After this mortal change, to her true servants 10 Amongst the enthroned gods on sainted seats.?Yet some there be that by due steps aspire?To lay their just hands on that golden key?That opes the palace of eternity.?To such my errand is; and, but for such,?I would not soil these pure ambrosial weeds?With the rank vapours of this sin-worn mould.?But to my task. Neptune, besides the sway?Of every salt flood and each ebbing stream,?Took in by lot, 'twixt high and nether Jove, 20 Imperial rule of all the sea-girt isles?That, like to rich and various gems, inlay?The unadornéd bosom of the deep;?Which he, to grace his tributary gods,?By course commits to several government,?And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns?And wield their little tridents. But this Isle,?The greatest and the best of all the main,?He quarters to his blue-haired deities;?And all this tract that fronts the falling sun 30 A noble Peer of mickle trust and power?Has in his charge, with tempered awe to guide?An old and haughty nation, proud in arms:?Where his fair offspring, nursed in princely lore,?Are coming to attend their father's state,?And new-intrusted sceptre. But their way?Lies through the perplexed paths of this drear wood,?The nodding horror of whose shady brows?Threats the forlorn and wandering passenger;?And here their tender age might suffer peril, 40 But that, by quick command from sovran Jove,?I was despatched for their defence and guard:?And listen why; for I will tell you now?What never yet was heard in tale or song,?From old or modern bard, in hall or bower.?Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape?Crushed the sweet poison of misuséd wine,?After the Tuscan mariners transformed,?Coasting the Tyrrhene shore, as the winds listed,?On Circe's island fell: (who knows not Circe, 50 The daughter