And the swink'd hedger at his supper sat; I saw them under a green mantling vine Of some gay creatures of the element, That in the colours of the rainbow live, 300 And play i' th' plighted clouds. I was awe-struck, LAD. Gentle Villager, What readiest 304 way would bring me to that place? COM. Due west it rises from this shrubby point. LAD. To find that out, good Shepherd, I supIn such a scant allowance of star-light, Would overtask the best land-pilot's art, [pose, Without the sure guess of well-practis'd feet. 310 sius's note on the force of this word. See too Arati Diosem. ver. 93. 297 human] The editions vary in pointing, either after 'human,' or after they stood.' 301 plighted] Folded. Milton's H. of England, b. ii. ‹ she wore a plighted garment of divers colours.' Todd. 304 plighted clouds] Euripidis Orest. 1647. εν ἀιθέρος πτυχᾶις. A. Dyce. And if your stray-attendants be yet lodg'd But loyal cottage, where you may be safe LAD. Shepherd, I take thy word, 315 320 With smoky rafters, than in tap'stry halls Less warranted than this, or less secure, I cannot be, that I should fear to change it. 1 BR. Unmuffle, ye faint stars, and thou, fair moon, That wont'st to love the traveller's benizon, Stoop thy pale visage through an amber cloud, 331 Unmuffle] Benlowe's Theophila, st. xxii. P. 202.222. 'Unmuffle, ye dim clouds, and disinherit From black usurping mists.' Shirley's Young Admiral, act ii. sc. 2. not a star Muffled his brightness in a sullen cloud.' 331 See Gascoigne's Jocasta, p. 99. Lisle's Du Bartas, p. 106. Browne's Shepherd's Pipe, vol. iii. p. 41. 129. Thorney Abbey, p. 48, for the use of this word. And disinherit Chaos, that reigns here. In double night of darkness and of shades; 335 With thy long-levell'd rule of streaming light; 310 2 BR. Or if our eyes 315 Be barr'd that happiness, might we but hear 350 331 disinherit] Nabbes's Microcosmus. Reed. ix. p. 116. air had best Confine himself to his three regions, Or else I'll disinherit him.' 310 rule] Eurip. IKɛT. 650. 'Hλíov kavwv oapŋç. Hurd. 36 cock] Benlowes's Theophila, p. 199, 'Before the cock, light herald, day-break sings What, if in wild amazement, and affright, 1 BR. Peace, Brother, be not over-exquisite I do not think my Sister so to seek, 360 And the sweet peace that goodness bosoms ever, Virtue could see to do what virtue would 370 By her own radiant light, though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk. And Wisdom's self 375 Oft seeks to sweet retired solitude, Where with her best nurse Contemplation She plumes her feathers, and lets grow her wings, 361 For grant] This line obscures the thought, and loads the expression it had been better out. Warburton. 376 seeks to] This expression, seeks to,' common in our transl. of the Bible. Isaiah xi. 10. Deut. xii. 5. 1 Kings x. 24. Eccles. iv. 12. Warton. Todd. 378 plumes] I believe the true reading to be 'prunes.' Warton. That in the various bustle of resort Were all-to ruffled, and sometimes impair'd. 380 2 BR. 'Tis most true, That musing meditation most affects Far from the cheerful haunt of men and herds, For who would rob a hermit of his weeds, His few books, or his beads, or maple dish, gray hairs any violence? But beauty, like the fair Hesperian tree 335 390 305 Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope 400 380 all-to] So read as in editions 1637, 1645, 1673, not 'too ruffled;' 'all-to' is 'entirely.' See Tyrwhitt's Gloss. Chauc. v. To. Upton's Gloss. Spens. v. 'all.' Warton. 380 ruffled] Benlowes's Theophila, p. 222. Retreating to sweet shades our shattered thoughts we piece.' 389 senate] See Tooke's Div. of Purley, i. p. 90, ed. 4to. |