L'ALLEGRO. HENCE, loathed Melancholy, Of Cerberus and blackest Midnight born! In Stygian cave forlorn, 'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy, Find out some uncouth cell, 5 Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, And the night raven sings; There under ebon shades, and low-brow'd rocks, As ragged as thy locks, In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. But come thou Goddess fair and free, The frolic wind that breathes the spring, 10 15 1 Hence] Compare Marston's Scourge of Villanie, b. iii. s. 10. (ed. Sleepe grim reproof,' &c. Warton. 1598.) 5 uncouth] Searcht out the uncouth cell of thy abode.' Val. Welshman, 1615, act iv. s. 6. Todd. 10 Cimmerian] Miltoni Prolus. Dignus qui Cimmeriis occlusus tenebris longam, et perosam vitam transigat.' Warton. 15 two] Meat and Drink, the two sisters of Mirth. Warburton. Zephyr with Aurora playing, And fresh-blown roses wash'd in dew, Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee Quips, and Cranks, and wanton Wiles, To live with her, and live with thee, 22 wash'd] Shakesp. Tam. of Shrew, act ii. sc. 1. 'As morning roses newly wash'd with dew.' Bowle. 24 buxom] To make one blithe, buxome, and deboneer.' Randolph Aristippus, p. 310, ed. 1662. Todd. 28 Nods] With becks, and nods, and smiles againe.' Burton's An. of Melanch. p. 449 (ed. 1628). Warton. 33 Come] Shakes. Tempest, act iv. sc. 2. To hear the lark begin his flight, While the cock with lively din Scatters the rear of darkness thin, 42 dull] K. Hen. V. act iv. chorus, 'Piercing the night's dull ear.' 46 good morrow] Browne's Brit. Past. iii. 2. Steevens. 'Twice bid good morrow to the nether world.' 45 50 55 60 50 Scatters] Gallum noctem explodentibus alis.' Lucret. iv. 714. 54 morn] Habington's Castora, p. 8, ed. 1640. And the milkmaid singeth blithe, Under the hawthorn in the dale. Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures 65 70 Russet lawns, and fallows gray, Where the nibbling flocks do stray, Mountains, on whose barren breast 75 80 85 messes] Sylv. Du Bartas, p. 171. "Yielding more holesom food then all the messes, That now taste-curious wanton Plenty dresses.' Warton. Sometimes with secure delight Till the live-long daylight fail; 95 100 With stories told of many a feat, How fairy Mab the junkets eat; That ten day-lab'rers could not end ; 105 110 And stretch'd out all the chimney's length, Basks at the fire his hairy strength, And crop-full out of doors he flings, Ere the first cock his matin rings. Thus done the tales, to bed they creep, 115 110 lubber] There is a pretty tale of a witch that had the devil's mark about her, God bless us, that had a gyaunt to her son, that was called Lob-lye-by-the-fire.' Knight of the B. Pestle, act iii. sc. 1. Warton. |