Poet or if you seek a Lover he is yet unmarried and with that I desired her to go to Aderba But in the mean while in comes a strong big Fellow catches hold of her and so carries her away to the wanton imbraces of Comus At last the counterfeit-Poet gathering courage and snatching a Pot out of a fellows hand threw it with great force at Laopyrgus but he shunned the violence thereof by the agility of his body The women also mingled themselves with the men some to lament the blood of their friends with doleful cries and others to fight and to augment the fury and amongst the rest was the old woman who wanted her Nose Nor was she content to shew her fury by her cries but pulling a Pole out of one of the Porters hands did with the same lay about her with more than feminine force and though her thrusts were ineffectual yet by her blows she made many plain-fac'd people like her self As if she had been revenging the loss of her Nose in this Conflict she filled all places where she came with tumult and fear When two of Hyleus his companions had felt the bloody effects of her rage at last up comes two strong fellows and according to the example of her Nose with two blows cut off both her ears While she is howling and crying for her loss in come a Company of huffing Hectors amongst whom was the Souldier who had debauched the Noblemans Wife and did seem to exact from her Adversaries not only her Ears but her Nose also thinking by that attempt to ingratiate himself so in her favour as should move her to bring him once more into the imbraces of his Mistress At last the Tables were overthrown and the Meat thereon trod under foot Some were beat down with Stools some were defending themselves with Spits and all were raging with divers sorts of Weapons Then Comus leaving his Pleasure comes into the middest of this raging Multitude to appease them but their exasperate minds could by no means be induced thereto Their fury increased and did threaten some sudden mischief But the God because he found himself neglected and despised did vanish together with Luxury and Lasciviousness But their fury still continuing they made use of the Torches and Lamps whereby all the Lights were put out Then did Night Darkness and all that black Multitude which stood at the Palace Gate break in and all this Cimmerian darkness did vanish But I awaking out of Darkness Silence and Sleep did find all this to be but a Dream FINIS ERRATA PAge 7. Line 5. for Their read those p. 9. l. 13 for threne r. throwen p. 14. l. 15. for hates r. have p. 22. l. 3. 4. for lying r. looking and for looking r. lying p. 105. l. 14. for gods r. god p. 117. l. 14. for evity r. evit * Because a Dream is but a Dream * Androgini people in Africk of both kâ—nds Hermaphrodites * God of Banquets * People of Sybariâ— in sensual deliciousness passing all others * People about Bosphorus north East from Greece their Country is always very dark by reason of the far distance of the Sun also a people in Italy between Cuâ—â—â— and Bajee who dwelt in Caves and were invironed with very high hills * The Dog that kept Gerion's Cottel whom Hercules slew when he flote the cattel * Who after the destruction of Troy was as Poets tell turned into a Dog * The Destiny of Hecuba to be turned into Dogs * Whose duty it was amongst the Romans to furnish banquets for Jupiter and the rest of the Gods and in this place for Comus * The last King of Assyria who so exceeded in effeminate wantonness that he was went to sit spinning and carding amongst light and shameless Strumpets * A Noble Man in Rome famous for his prodigality in feasting * One of the Roman Emperours who lived a most sensual and voluptuous life * The chief of the sect of the Epieures who esteemed mans chief felicity to consist in the pleasure of the sioul and mind * They are women for the most part an unhandsom and whorisshlike custom * The Author compares them to such Monsters for their bad lives * This is spoken Ironice * Famous Painters * All Famous Carvers * That is to say he was always drunk before four in the afternoon which holds good oftentimes in the person of a crackt brain'd demi poet * Because revelling is for the most part done in the night therefore the Author makes a marriage betwixt the god thereof and darkness * A Mountain in Greece famous by the Poets for the Muses dwelling there * A People inhabiting a region of Gallia Cisalpius now called Lombardie * The three Daughters of Achelous and Calliope who on a rock of the Sea were wont to sit and by their sweet Songs to draw Passengers to them whom they slew * they have been younger it seems than Tabutius for young men are sooner taken with Luxurious and Venereal delights than old men are * A Gentleman of a grave austere and unspotted life amongst the Romans * Because the best perfumes in the world are in Arabia * By Comus is here to be undâ—rstood the prodigal customs of the times * To begin a grave discourse amongst a company of drunken babblers * Yes it both begets and brings forth vice * Because a Bawd is one of Comus his especial Favourites * the mistris of Jupiter whom Juno turned into a cow and set Argus who had one hundred eyes to watch her * A Lady of exquisite beauty tyed to a Stake at the Sea shore to be devoured by a Sea monster but rescued by Perseus * Because Satyres are so * Juno * To make light in darkness with the multitude of camps in their drinking Rooms * One of the Roman Consuls * Deserts in Comus his Feasts * Invito Como saith the Author because it is not in the power of Comus himself to compel Virgins thereto * The Author doth not altogether disapproâ—e of dancing but of that which is not decent * Women in travel used to call for the help of those Goddesses * The first time that women lately delivered went abroad they saâ— fiâ—ed in Juno as the Goddess of Marriages * 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 by the Mount Pelâ—an who first â—dâ—â—sed to break Horses for War whereby it came to pass that they being seen by other 〈…〉 were supposed to be 〈…〉 which had the upper part 〈◊〉 a man the nether part of his body like a Horse 〈◊〉 this place it 's taken for a man on Horse back * Taken here for the Lawrel-tree * Author doth not give you the cause of the conflict of all this mulâ—â—tude but that of Hyleus and Cherestratus therefore we must conâ—â—ctâ—â— it to be some taking part with the 〈◊〉 rival and sâ—â—â—â— with the other
her tears and laments the misfortune of Myrtilla that she might more freely sigh for Hyleus and so loaths all our dainties and civilities In the mean time Hyleus comes to the same Meadow wherein the new Lovers had consummated their Marriage and were as yet lying sleeping on the ground who after he had espied a Horse tied to a Tree he looked about him and sees the two Lovers in each others arms Knowing the Lady to be his fair fugitive he alights from his Horse with an intent to pull away Myrtilla and run her new lover through in her sight But a more happy Superiour power did mitigate this cruelty For his companions coming up knew Cherestratus and their ancient friendship did move their hearts to mercy therefore restraining the violence of Hyleus with their gentle speeches they perswaded him to wait for the awaking of the lovers by their own confession to know the truth of the matter When this counsel did please them they bind their Horses together lie down but wearied with their journy they immediately fall asleep You would have thought that sleep leaving the two Lovers had transfus'd it self into Hyleus his fellows For Cherestratus awaking at that same very moment and by chance looking to that place where at a little distance their horses were standing tyed together he did admire what had brought sadled Horses there at that time of the night Then arising and going on a little he finds Hyleus sleeping Returning to Myrtilla he told her that Hyleus was sleeping hard by them and thereby had given them the opportunity to flie the second time But my dear saith he be not afraid but get upon this Horse I shall take care that they return home without further harm because they have not interrupted our sweet repose The Lady though trembling obeyeth and now she begins to be afraid of Hyleus as much as before she had loved him So much could one night do on a woman whereby we may be infallible Arguments conclude that Cupid is but a bastard whom Venus did not bring forth But Cherestratus being informed concerning the Chain could endure no love-token to be in the possession of his Rival and as if he had not possessed his Myrtilla except he had that costly token of her covenanted flight in his power he went and privately took it from his neck Then going to the Horses he took the Bridles off the heads of the first and second and threw them into a River running hard by and mounting upon the third which was that brave Thessalian Horse whereon Hyleus rode he followed his Myrtilla at a full gallop and brought her streight to the country of the Cimmerians Hyleus at last awaking got to his feet and highly troubled with the second flight of the two Lovers did chide his companions as the causes thereof But presently missing his Chain his former grief and anger turned into fury and resolved now to follow Cherestratus no more as a Rival but as a mortal Enemy Then they went to their Horses where at length my Master did understand that he was either to be content with Circe or nothing at all And because the power of the fates did seem to have appointed Myrtilla for another then Hyleus they began to think of turning home and so without delay making use of any thing instead of their Bridles that were lost they return all three upon two Horses But my Master taken with the comeliness of Circe did almost for a while forget Myrtilla if his love had not grown cold by his too much satiety He came as you see into the company of Comus where he finds Cherestratus and sees Myrtilla again which was the occasion of the quarrel But what do I hear Their fury encreaseth in the inner part of the house pardon me for I must be gone and seek some place of safety So Aderba and I go to see the event of the business leaving Tabutius meditating on the Boys narration But his words were short of the truth For it was no more a Feast but a Conflict such as was of old betwixt the Lapiths and Centaurs we see Hyleus Magno Lapithis cratere minantem And again Cherestratus no less furious in anger than passionate in his affection in a posture both of offence and defence But one of the Cooks standing by did demand his Sweet-heart Circe of both the Rivals and when words would not do it snatching the Dishes upon the Table the effects of his luxurious act he began to throw them amongst them One Bilbius also a tongue-valiant man amongst the Cimmerians came upon the head of a scurvy company of Jesters but the durst not come nigh they menacing points of the two young and furious combatants yet they had almost dash'd out their brains with stones at a distance But we did admire more at one of the dancers who in the heat of the conflict having his head wreathed with a branch of Lawrel did urge the affection of a comely Maid and to seem worthy of her affection he would also play the part of a Poet and so began to sing this Song to his Lute My Dear because a Poet thou me hates And is not moved with the famous fates Of the Pierian Muses ' Cause men do Esteem Poets but Fools thou ' l think so too Pardon my joy if that my Verses be Cause of thy scorn me leave them thou shalt see The heat of glâ—ry doth not urge me so But to enjoy thee I 'l all things forego I do delay Be gone my Muse be gone To th' artick Pole or the torrid Zone It 's praise enough to please her if that she To love and to embrace will suffer me Some one perhaps who spies our lovely sports Our sweet embraces kisses of all sorts Will write our Loves and happy they ' l me call If out of thy heart dear I do not fall For to grow old in love men shall us sâ—e The greatest joy with thee to live and die After he had ended his Song Aderba breaking out in laughter I 'le perish saith he if ever this fellow made a Verse in his life For he courts his Mistress with another mans labour your friend Laopyrgus made those Verses when he went to try if he could express the affection of a Lover As Aderba was speaking in comes the the same Laopyrgus with a troubled countenance and first pulling the Lute from this Demi-poet he afterward threw his Garland from his head at our feet Aderba taking it up before I knew of it set it upon my head But the Maid afraid at this sudden accident did flee from her abused Lover and following the Garland as if she had thought her self safe under that shadow of Daphne threw her self in my arms I putting her gently from me you are mistaken said I for I was married long ago but if you seek more Verses in praise of your beauty this man you see here is a
drunken Revellers sets themselves in order to meet their King who was now coming Then the Dog Lyrus lying on the groud before as if he had been dead stirred up either with the Lights for there were Torches carried before them or with the noise got to his feet and wholly disposed to fawning did shake his joyful tayl as if he would make sports to his Master Aderba thought it fit to make use of so good an occasion Let us thrust our selves into this Company says he while we may for this very hubbub it self will open some port of security to us In the mean while enters Comus attended with two Ladies Riot and Wantonness To what purpose shall I declare his Pomp and Magnificence His Garments richly perfumed did cast forth a most sweet smell Love and Madam pleasure did follow him the Graces Delights Comeliness and Joy did follow Love and Pleasure with Saturity was her sister Ebriety with her hair loose her face red like the morning shaking a Javelin with her hand and in fine resembling Bacchus in every action Near those were madness fury brawling chiding and fighting then vomit Crudity and Diseases Et subit mortes atque intestata senectus But there were some who shin'd with Majesty amongst that infamous Rabble Seven men who were called Epulones Tribunes of this Multitude Last of all came a Company of Prodigals and Gluttons There was one who resembled Sardanapalus Another Lucullus another Heleogabolus and another least there should not be Philosophers amongst them who represented Epicurus a seemly thing indeed to hide Luxury in the bosome of Wisdom and to seek a veil and protection for vices from a favourable authority More innocent is that saying which affirms that Epicure taught what was both just and grave for that pleasure he speaks of may be made but a little fault in him for what ever Laws we prescribe to vertue the same did he to pleasure He commands us indeed to obey nature But what 's enough to Nature will be but little to Luxury What 's the matter then He who calls sloathful idleness and the courses of gluttony and lust a happiness seeks a good Author to a bad subject when he comes that length being induced with a seeming favorable authority he doth not follow that pleasure he hears spoken of but what he fancies to him self So the Master receives the disgrace of vice from his Followers and Epicurus is in the Society of Comus because Epicurians indeed are there At the heels of all followed gloomy night darkness sleep silence dulness terror and fear who dispersed themselves and vanish'd in the entry at the brightness of the Torches and every-where glistering Gold Mean while with noise did all the Palace ring Some makes the purple beds and some do bring The brave and costly Carpets and another Doth with his hand the fine smooth Tables cover The whole house was busied with joyful service there were so many Cooks and Servants of all sorts that they might have made an Army To rost with Spits some did their work it make Others did fine flower out with Baskets take Aderba was at a stay with admiration but I told him unless the image speech of the God did deceive me they were the solemn sacrifices of Comus and that they were performed for every man to behold Prepare your self to see and give your applause you may be one of the Teachers of their Mysteries say I to him Let alone to speak of that replies Aderba yet if you desire me to be a beholder I shall be Argus not Aderba and shall imprint this ridiculous scene in my mind Let us in the mean while go into the inner part of the house whilst the heat of this raging and noise-making multitude is in its height where we may satisfie our growing curiosity more secretly I consent and with much ado opens my way through this croud Aderba did follow me and seeing the most part of this Multitude disguised he whispered me in the ear that people began to mask themselves now the better to effectuate their bad designs I being moved with the thing takes an old man standing near me by the arm and asked him whether those people had ugly faces that they behoved to hide them You see says he the marks they have by those bonds is the rage of their mouths and teeth bridled They are dangerous Getulian Monsters whom you take to be men but it 's a fine thing to live under a Vizard to fain a countenance that your mind may not be known to put on hypocrisie that your manners may be commended yet with such Cardinallike Ornaments doth Comus adorn his Priests Being entertained with this drolling speech we came to the next entry Here did a youth stand with a great Bottle of Wine in the one hand and a big Cup in the other filling the liquor to those who entered After he had saluted us with a belching smelling of Wine and Nectar if you be dry says he take a Drink of this Wine Aderba took the first pull and turning to me tast it says he and stir up a desire of Eternity in your mind For now since Heav'nly Nectar I do drink That it 's an entry to new life I think He had scarce spoke when I wash'd my throat with the same This divine Liquor say I would stir up thirst in men already drunk But to let you know the delights of our house says the youth again this wine is so common with us that our very slaves lashes it out like water and with that word desired us to go into the banquetting-house In the entry whereof we see the naked statue of Venus made of white marble as if she had been coming out of the foaming waves To what end shall I hide her shape to the detriment of her beauty In this Marble Venus was represented to the life Cupid hard by her a Boy of lascivious carriage like to his Mother arm'd with wings Bow and Flames wherewith he burns and torments the hearts of poor lovers did with a blind force shake one of love's darts Near the wall upon the right hand was the figure of Bacchus fresh and lively with the ripe fruits of the Vintage he had a Javelin in his hand but its point was made ineffectual by a knot of Ivy hanging therein upon the left hand was Ceres having her head dressed with Garlands made of the ears of Corn pouring out in a large Cup the happy fruits and golden plenty of the Fields There you might also behold the solemnities of a wedding by which I understood that we were come to the Bed-chamber of Comus For there were new-married Virgins walking veiled with their marriage Rings on their hands and seeming to sing marriage Songs So having taken a view of this holy place we returned into a stately Gallery where we fed our eyes with new causes of admiration Here were
Zeuxis Paccasius Apelles and all the rest of that occupation Here were Lysippus Phidias and Praxitiles so we did behold the wonders of meer Art either drawn or carved As I was going slowly and looking about the Gallery I see one at the end thereof walking with a superstitious pace He seem'd sometime to speak sometime to hold his peace when he was meditating he stood like a statue incontinently he walking hastily and throwing his arms across he did confound his whole speech with his foolish gesture He was making a Song in praise of darkness which he had never seen sober and did so much extol it that he had almost obscured the whole Heavens and was like to have turned the world into another Chaos So he begins No Sun as yet did give the world its light Nor yet did grow the Horns of Luna bright And again That Alcmena should not great Jove escape He turn'd himself into her husbands shape And again Mars did frequent his Venus Love his Phyche and now says he when poetical Fables fail'd him the god Comus is given in Marriage to Nox So when he had run over the subject of what he had to say and ended his speech more obscure than night it self he took out of his pocket a little stone book and began to mutter some ambiguous words I thought I had been at Athens in the School of the Stoicks But coming up to him with a chearful countenance I pray you Sir said I if I be not troublesome to you tell me if Learning dwels in this place He coming as it were out of a deep study Are you inquiring concerning Learning says he yes yes she dwels here The Treasure of Wit and Learning is in very great esteem amongst the Cimmerians Bacchus gives us confidence and eloquence drink and be merry in this place a short time and you shall presently become a Poet. It is not so difficult a journey from hence to Parnassus as every man thinks Endeavour to make but a Satyre or Epigram gather together a number of lyes and calumnies scoff at the vertues of others flatter vices and corrupt manners and you shall presently become a Poet. This he spoke and was going to describe the whole family of Apollo when some servants come and tells us that Comus was sâ—… down to Table and that he waited for his Guests Whereupon in an instant Aderba and I are left alone What do we stand for says Aderba to me we may go in with them without fear For though you have no stomach for their dainties yet we may behold their vanities and with that we followed the rest into the great Parlour At a little distance did Comus sit down by himself and all the rest of the company sate dovvn according to their Age Sex and Dignity Ipsa sinus accincta Ceres Bacchusque laborant Sufficere To what purpose shall I give you a relation of his magnificent Dainties his Meat was corresponding to the Dignity of his House albeit the Marble-pavement had divers Emblems cut thereon albeit the roof of the House did glister with gilded Pictures yet his Dishes did out-strip all those both in Art and Value Loud sounding Cymbals and melodious Lutes Did sweetly sound as also Pipes and Flutes But casting my eyes about the Room I spied an old Man of a lively countenance upon whom when I had looked more attentively Is this my very good and dear Friend Tabutius or do my eyes deceive me yes says he very joyful to see me you behold your friend full of years and brought here from the very Insubrians And doth sleep say I to him again carry such an old age upon its wings It is so says Tabutius and I am now reflecting seriously upon my youth as if I had not changed my habitation but my age In the mean time up comes Aderba and throwing his arms about his neck whilst he was speaking did kiss him most tenderly but Tabutius taking us aside to the furthest part of the room began his Speech in this manner This Cimmerian God is not unknown to me in my youth my blood did boyl within me as well as in others I spent some part of my time in sports and revels We have no spring without blossoms but it is not granted by nature to blossom at all seasons Therefore having laid aside all trifles I set my self to serious matters to quietness and to learn wisdom I beheld the type of a dissolute and corrupt life only to reprehend and laugh at it Imagine me to be Vlysses whom all the Sirenes cannot allure But it behoves you to be strangers to this place and not so much as frequent the same in your thoughts This Comus is a fomenter of vice insnares the spirits of men with delights and effeminates them These two whom you see there Luxury and Lasciviousness are vices and extinguish what ever is good in man What is the rest of that wanton rabble but noxious blasts of wind that can hardly blow upon you without danger of infection There is no love here but dissimulation no true friends but Lords and Masters Do you not behold their pleasant and jovial countenances under those do they hide their envy and malice If you be not cautious their feigned courtesie will deceive you Neither can you so much as admit of a benefit from them without hurt Comus he 's banished candor and ingenuity but he 's made dissimulation and deceit free Citizens They are courteous until they think they have obliged you But then they assume the command and if they have not a friend altogether conformable to their will they begin to hate him But to speak the truth ambition did first introduce those faults and the good use of feasts and friendship was lost after the moderate offices of humanity were stain'd with Luxury I had rather speak by example than by words You know your selves that love and frugality are not inconsistent In a Feast there should be neatness but a comely and well-beseeming neatness Without prodigality trouble or ostentation Dishes to refresh not overcharge the stomachs of your Guests they should not suffer the smoak of their Kitchins to allarm the Centinels as if their houses were ready to be turn'd into flames nor should they let all their neighbours know that they are to feast their Guests As a wise man lives so doth he likewise care for his friend and disposes him to sobriety no less by his example than by his words But to what purpose is a grave Speech against luxury if his Actions be disagreeable to his Speech Qui Curios sumulant Bachanalia vivunt Who fames himself a Curio to be In speech but lives most prone to Luxury I hate those men who have wise Speeches in their mouths and folly in their minds have a care that your good behaviour do not disagree from your natural inclination thereto He can easily confute luxury in