What needs my Shakespeare for his honou… The labor of an age in pilèd stones, Or that his hallowed relics should be hi… Under a star-ypointing pyramid? Dear son of Memory, great heir of fame,

Hence loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus, and blackest Midnight born… In Stygian cave forlorn, 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and… Find out some uncouth cell,

Hence vain deluding Joys, The brood of Folly without father bred, How little you bested, Or fill the fixed mind with all your toy… Dwell in some idle brain,

Part of an entertainment presented to th… Darby at Harefield, by som Noble person… appear on the Scene in pastoral habit, m… of State with this Song. Look Nymphs, and Shepherds look,

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav’n… Sphear—born harmonious Sisters, Voice,… Wed your divine sounds, and mixt power e… Dead things with inbreath’d sense able t… And to our high—rais’d phantasie present…

The Attendant Spirit, afterwards in the… Comus, with his Crew. The Lady. First Brother. Second Brother.

O Nightingale! that on yon bloomy spray Warblest at eve, when all the woods are… Thou with fresh hope the lover’s heart d… While the jolly hours lead on propitious… Thy liquid notes that close the eye of d…

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of… Stolen on his wing my three-and-twentiet… My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom she… Perhaps my semblance might deceive the t…

Captain, or colonel, or knight in arms, Whose chance on these defenceless doors… If deed of honour did thee ever please, Guard them, and him within protect from… He can requite thee, for he knows the ch…

Lady! that in the prime of earliest yout… Wisely hast shunned the broad way and th… And with those few art eminently seen, That labour up the Hill of Heavenly Tr… The better part with Mary and with Ruth

Daughter to that good Earl, once Presid… Of Englands Counsel, and her Treasury, Who liv’d in both, unstain’d with gold o… And left them both, more in himself cont… Till the sad breaking of that Parlament

Harry, whose tuneful and well—measured s… First taught our English music how to s… Words with just note and accent, not to… With Midas’ ears, committing short and… Thy worth and skill exempts thee from th…

Fairfax, whose name in arms through Eur… Filling each mouth with envy, or with pr… And all her jealous monarchs with amaze And rumours loud, that daunt remotest ki… Thy firm unshak’n virtue ever brings

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through… Not of war only, but detractions rude, Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, To peace and truth thy glorious way hast… And on the neck of crownèd Fortune prou…

Vane, young in years, but in sage counse… Than whom a better senator ne’er held The helm of Rome, when gowns, not arms,… The fierce Epirot and the African bold, Whether to settle peace, or to unfold

Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughter’d saints,… Lie scatter’d on the Alpine mountains c… Ev’n them who kept thy truth so pure of… When all our fathers worshipp’d stocks a… Forget not: in thy book record their gro…

Lawrence, of virtuous father virtuous so… Now that the fields are dank, and ways a… Where shall we sometimes meet, and by th… Help waste a sullen day; what may be won From the hard season gaining? Time will…

Cyriack, whose grandsire on the royal be… Of British Themis, with no mean applaus… Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, o… Which others at their bar so often wrenc… Today deep thoughts resolve with me to d…

Cyriack, this three years’ day these eye… To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgo… Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun or moon or star throughout the ye…

Methought I saw my late espoused saint Brought to me, like Alcestis, from the… Whom Jove’s great son to her glad husba… Rescu’d from death by force, though pale… Mine, as whom wash’d from spot of child-…