Arcades

1633

Text from Thomas H. Luxon's

The Milton Reading Room

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Arcades

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Part of an entertainment presented to

the Countess Dowager of Darby at Harefield,

by some Noble persons of her Family, who

appear on the Scene in pastoral habit, moving

toward the seat of State, with this Song.

1. SONG.

LOOK Nymphs, and Shepherds look,

What sudden blaze of majesty

Is that which we from hence descry

Too divine to be mistook:

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This this is she

To whom our vows and wishes bend,

Heer our solemn search hath end.

Fame that her high worth to raise,

Seem'd erst so lavish and profuse,

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We may justly now accuse

Of detraction from her praise,

Less then half we find exprest,

Envy bid conceal the rest.

Mark what radiant state she spreds,

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In circle round her shining throne,

Shooting her beams like silver threds.

This this is she alone,

Sitting like a Goddes bright,

In the center of her light.

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Might she the wise Latona be,

Or the towred Cybele,

Mother of a hunderd gods;

Juno dare's not give her odds;

Who had thought this clime had held

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A deity so unparalel'd?

As they com forward, the Genius of the Wood

appears, and turning toward them, speaks.

GEN. Stay gentle Swains, for though in this disguise,

I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes,

Of famous Arcady ye are, and sprung

Of that renowned flood, so often sung,

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Divine Alpheus, who by secret sluse,

Stole under Seas to meet his Arethuse;

And ye the breathing Roses of the Wood,

Fair silver-buskind Nymphs as great and good,

I know this quest of yours, and free intent

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Was all in honour and devotion ment

To the great Mistres of yon princely shrine,

Whom with low reverence I adore as mine,

And with all helpful service will comply

To further this nights glad solemnity;

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And lead ye where ye may more neer behold

What shallow-searching Fame hath left untold;

Which I full oft amidst these shades alone

Have sate to wonder at, and gaze upon:

For know by lot from Jove I am the powr

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Of this fair Wood, and live in Oak'n bowr,

To nurse the Saplings tall, and curl the grove

With Ringlets quaint, and wanton windings wove.

And all my Plants I save from nightly ill,

Of noisom winds, and blasting vapours chill.

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And from the Boughs brush off the evil dew,

And heal the harms of thwarting thunder blew,

Or what the cross dire-looking Planet smites,

Or hurtfull Worm with canker'd venom bites.

When Eev'ning gray doth rise, I fetch my round

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Over the mount, and all this hallow'd ground,

And early ere the odorous breath of morn

Awakes the slumbring leaves, or tasseld horn

Shakes the high thicket, haste I all about,

Number my ranks, and visit every sprout

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With puissant words, and murmurs made to bless,

But els in deep of night when drowsines

Hath lockt up mortal sense, then listen I

To the celestial Sirens harmony,

That sit upon the nine enfolded Sphears

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And sing to those that hold the vital shears

And turn the Adamantine spindle round,

On which the fate of gods and men is wound.

Such sweet compulsion doth in musick ly,

To lull the daughters of Necessity,

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And keep unsteddy Nature to her law,

And the low world in measur'd motion draw

After the heavenly tune, which none can hear

Of human mould with grosse unpurged ear;

And yet such musick worthiest were to blaze

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The peerles height of her immortal praise,

Whose lustre leads us, and for her most fit,

If my inferior hand or voice could hit

Inimitable sounds, yet as we go,

What ere the skill of lesser gods can show,

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I will assay, her worth to celebrate,

And so attend ye toward her glittering state;

Where ye may all that are of noble stemm

Approach, and kiss her sacred vestures hemm.

2. SONG.

O'RE the smooth enameld green

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Where no print of step hath been,

Follow me as I sing,

And touch the warbled string.

Under the shady roof

Of branching Elm Star-proof,

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Follow me,

I will bring you where she sits,

Clad in splendor as befits

Her deity.

Such a rural Queen

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Arcadia hath not seen.

3. SONG.

NYMPHS and Shepherds dance no more

By sandy Ladons Lillied banks.

On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar,

Trip no more in twilight ranks,

100

Through Erymanth your loss deplore,

A better soyl shall give ye thanks.

From the stony Mænalus,

Bring your Flocks, and live with us,

Here ye shall have greater grace,

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To serve the Lady of this place.

Though Syrinx your Pans Mistres were,

Yet Syrinx well might wait on her.

Such a rural Queen

All Arcadia hath not seen.