Act 3
Man and woman enter the forest and encounter a human enemy, but prevail because of the higher values they espouse.
Trope 1: Robin Hood
Maid Marian enters Sherwood Forest in search of Robin Hood and engages him in single combat until they recognise each other and are united.
(Text: Child Ballad 150, “Robin Hood and Maid Marian”)
But fortune bearing these lovers a spight,
That soon they were forced to part;
To the merry green wood then went Robin Hood,
With a sad and sorrowfull heart.
And Marian, poor soul, was troubled in mind,
For the absence of her friend;
With finger in eye, shee often did cry,
And his person did much comend.
Perplexed and vexed, and troubled in mind,
Shee drest her self like a page,
And ranged the wood to find Robin Hood,
The bravest of men in that age.
With quiver and bow, sword, buckler, and all,
Thus armed was Marian most bold,
Still wandering about to find Robin out,
Whose person was better then gold.
But Robin Hood, hee, himself had disguisd,
And Marian was strangly attir’d,
That they provd foes, and so fell to blowes,
Whose vallour bold Robin admir’d.
They drew out their swords, and to cutting they went,
At least an hour or more,
That the blood ran apace from bold Robins face,
And Marian was wounded sore.
„O hold thy hand, hold thy hand,“ said Robin Hood,
„And thou shalt be one of my string,
To range in the wood with bold Robin Hood,
To hear the sweet nightingall sing.“
When Marian did hear the voice of her love,
Her self shee did quickly discover,
And with kisses sweet she did him greet,
Like to a most loyall lover.
Then Little John took his bow in his hand,
And wandring in the wood,
To kill the deer, and make good chear,
For Marian and Robin Hood.
Trope 2: Forest Savage
Sir Launcelot and the damosel ride into Forest Savage and encounter the wicked Sir Peris but overcome him through Launcelot’s goodness.
(Texte: Malory, Morte d’Arthur 6, 10)
Sir, said the damosel, here by this way haunteth a knight that distressed all ladies and gentlewomen, and at the least he robbeth them or lieth by them. What, said Sir Launcelot, is he a thief and a knight and a ravisher of women? he doth shame unto the order of knighthood, and contrary unto his oath; it is pity that he liveth. But, fair damosel, ye shall ride on afore, yourself, and I will keep myself in covert, and if that he trouble you or distress you I shall be your rescue and learn him to be ruled as a knight.
So the maid rode on by the way a soft ambling pace, and within a while came out that knight on horseback out of the wood, and his page with him, and there he put the damosel from her horse, and then she cried. With that came Launcelot as fast as he might till he came to that knight, saying, O thou false knight and traitor unto knighthood, who did learn thee to distress ladies and gentlewomen? When the knight saw Sir Launcelot thus rebuking him he answered not, but drew his sword and rode unto Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot threw his spear from him, and drew out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the helmet that he clave his head and neck unto the throat. Now hast thou thy payment that long thou hast deserved! That is truth, said the damosel, and his name was Sir Peris de Forest Savage.
Now, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, will ye any more service of me? Nay, sir, she said, at this time, but almighty Jesu preserve you wheresomever ye ride or go, for the curteist knight thou art, and meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen, that now liveth. And so Sir Launcelot and she departed. And then he rode in a deep forest two days and more.
Trope 3: Comus
The Lady and her two brothers wander in the wood on their way to Ludlow Castle, and must overcome the enchantments of Comus by the power of her chastity.
(Text: Milton, Comus)
Second Brother:
But beauty like the fair Hesperian Tree
Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard
Of dragon watch with uninchanted eye, [ 395 ]
To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit
From the rash hand of bold Incontinence.
You may as well spred out the unsun’d heaps
Of Misers treasure by an out-laws den,
And tell me it is safe, as bid me hope [ 400 ]
Danger will wink on Opportunity,
And let a single helpless maiden pass
Uninjur’d in this wilde surrounding wast.
Of night, or lonelines it recks me not,
I fear the dred events that dog them both, [ 405 ]
Lest som ill greeting touch attempt the person
Of our unowned sister.
Eld. Bro. I do not brother,
Inferr as if I thought my sisters state
Secure without all doubt, or controversie:
Yet where an equall poise of hope and fear [ 410 ]
Does arbitrate th‘ event, my nature is
That I encline to hope, rather then fear,
And gladly banish squint suspicion.
My sister is not so defenceless left
As you imagine, she has a hidden strength [ 415 ]
Which you remember not.
2 Bro. What hidden strength,
Unless the strength of Heav’n, if you mean that?
Eld. Bro. I mean that too, but yet a hidden strength
Which if Heav’n gave it, may be term’d her own:
‚Tis chastity, my brother, chastity: [ 420 ]
She that has that, is clad in compleat steel,
And like a quiver’d Nymph with Arrows keen
May trace huge Forests, and unharbour’d Heaths,
Infamous Hills, and sandy perilous wildes,
Where through the sacred rayes of Chastity, [ 425 ]
No savage fierce, Bandite, or mountaneer
Will dare to soyl her Virgin purity,
Yea there, where very desolation dwels
By grots, and caverns shag’d with horrid shades,
She may pass on with unblench’t majesty, [ 430 ]
Be it not don in pride, or in presumption.
Som say no evil thing that walks by night
In fog, or fire, by lake, or moorish fen,
Blew meager Hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost,
That breaks his magick chains at curfeu time, [ 435 ]
No goblin or swart Faëry of the mine,
Hath hurtfull power o’re true virginity.
[Enter Spirit, as Thyrsis.]
Thyrsis:
Within the navil of this hideous Wood,
Immur’d in cypress shades a Sorcerer dwels
Of Bacchus, and of Circe born, great Comus,
Deep skill’d in all his mothers witcheries,
And here to every thirsty wanderer,
By sly enticement gives his banefull cup, [ 525 ]
With many murmurs mixt, whose pleasing poison
The visage quite transforms of him that drinks,
And the inglorious likenes of a beast
Fixes instead, unmoulding reasons mintage
Character’d in the face; this have I learn’t [ 530 ]
Tending my flocks hard by i’th hilly crofts,
That brow this bottom glade, whence night by night
He and his monstrous rout are heard to howl
Like stabl’d wolves, or tigers at their prey,
Doing abhorred rites to Hecate [ 535 ]
In their obscured haunts of inmost bowres.
Yet have they many baits, and guileful spells
To inveigle and invite th‘ unwary sense
Of them that pass unweeting by the way.
This evening late by then the chewing flocks [ 540 ]
Had ta’n their supper on the savoury Herb
Of Knot-grass dew-besprent, and were in fold,
I sate me down to watch upon a bank
With Ivy canopied, and interwove
With flaunting Hony-suckle, and began [ 545 ]
Wrapt in a pleasing fit of melancholy
To meditate my rural minstrelsie,
Till fancy had her fill, but ere a close
The wonted roar was up amidst the Woods,
And fill’d the Air with barbarous dissonance, [ 550 ]
At which I ceas’t, and listen’d them a while,
Till an unusual stop of sudden silence
Gave respite to the drowsie frighted steeds
That draw the litter of close-curtain’d sleep.
At last a soft and solemn breathing sound [ 555 ]
Rose like a steam of rich distill’d Perfumes,
And stole upon the Air, that even Silence
Was took e’re she was ware, and wish’t she might
Deny her nature, and be never more
Still to be so displac’t. I was all eare, [ 560 ]
And took in strains that might create a soul
Under the ribs of Death; but O ere long
Too well I did perceive it was the voice
Of my most honour’d Lady, your dear sister.
Amaz’d I stood, harrow’d with grief and fear, [ 565 ]
And O poor hapless Nightingale thought I,
How sweet thou sing’st, how neer the deadly snare!
Then down the Lawns I ran with headlong hast
Through paths, and turnings oft’n trod by day,
Till guided by mine ear I found the place [ 570 ]
Where that damn’d wisard hid in sly disguise
(For so by certain signes I knew) had met
Already, ere my best speed could prævent,
The aidless innocent Lady his wish’t prey,
Who gently ask’t if he had seen such two, [ 575 ]
Supposing him som neighbour villager;
Longer I durst not stay, but soon I guess’t
Ye were the two she mean’t, with that I sprung
Into swift flight, till I had found you here,
But furder know I not.
Elder Brother:
Why, prethee Shepherd
How durst thou then thy self approach so neer
As to make this relation?
Thyrsis:
Care and utmost shifts
How to secure the Lady from surprisal,
Brought to my mind a certain Shepherd Lad
Of small regard to see to, yet well skill’d [ 620 ]
In every vertuous plant and healing herb
That spreads her verdant leaf to th‘ morning ray,
He lov’d me well, and oft would beg me sing,
Which when I did, he on the tender grass
Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasie, [ 625 ]
And in requitall ope his leather’n scrip,
And shew me simples of a thousand names
Telling their strange and vigorous faculties;
Amongst the rest a small unsightly root,
But of divine effect, he cull’d me out; [ 630 ]
The leaf was darkish, and had prickles on it,
But in another Countrey, as he said,
Bore a bright golden flowre, but not in this soyl:
Unknown, and like esteem’d, and the dull swayn
Treads on it daily with his clouted shoon, [ 635 ]
And yet more med’cinal is it then that Moly
That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave;
He call’d it Hæmony, and gave it me,
And bade me keep it as of sovran use
‚Gainst all inchantments, mildew blast, or damp [ 640 ]
Or gastly furies apparition;
I purs’t it up, but little reck’ning made,
Till now that this extremity compell’d,
But now I find it true; for by this means
I knew the foul inchanter though disguis’d, [ 645 ]
Enter’d the very lime-twigs of his spells,
And yet came off: if you have this about you
(As I will give you when we go) you may
Boldly assault the necromancers hall;
Where if he be, with dauntless hardihood, [ 650 ]
And brandish’t blade rush on him, break his glass,
And shed the lushious liquor on the ground,
But sease his wand; though he and his curst crew
Feirce signe of battail make, and menace high,
Or like the sons of Vulcan vomit smoak, [ 655 ]
Yet will they soon retire, if he but shrink.
Eld. Bro.:
Thyrsis lead on apace, Ile follow thee,
And som good angel bear a sheild before us.
[In Comus’ palace.]
Thyrsis:
Com Lady while Heaven lends us grace,
Let us fly this cursed place,
Lest the Sorcerer us intice [ 940 ]
With som other new device.
Not a waste, or needless sound
Till we com to holier ground,
I shall be your faithfull guide
Through this gloomy covert wide, [ 945 ]
And not many furlongs thence
Is your Fathers residence,
Where this night are met in state
Many a friend to gratulate
His wish’t presence, and beside [ 950 ]
All the Swains that there abide,
With Jiggs, and rural dance resort,
We shall catch them at their sport,
And our sudden coming there
Will double all their mirth and chere; [ 955 ]
Com let us haste, the Stars grow high,
But night sits monarch yet in the mid sky.
Epilogue: Il Penseroso
The poet asks the goddess Melancholy to lead him into a shady wood, where he will fall into a charmed sleep and hear enchanted music.
(Text: Milton, Il Penseroso)
And when the Sun begins to fling
His flaring beams, me Goddess bring
To arched walks of twilight groves,
And shadows brown that Sylvan loves
Of Pine, or monumental Oake,
Where the rude Ax with heaved stroke,
Was never heard the Nymphs to daunt,
Or fright them from their hallow’d haunt.
There in close covert by som Brook,
Where no profaner eye may look,
Hide me from Day’s garish eie,
While the Bee with Honied thie,
That at her flowry work doth sing,
And the Waters murmuring
With such consort as they keep,
Entice the dewy-feather’d Sleep;
And let som strange mysterious dream,
Wave at his Wings in Airy stream,
Of lively portrature display’d,
Softly on my eye-lids laid.
And as I wake, sweet musick breath
Above, about, or underneath,
Sent by som spirit to mortals good,
Or th‘ unseen Genius of the Wood.
Sentence gloss:
To find the supreme good they seek, seekers must leave the world of waking consciousness and enter the world of nature on its own terms, lost in the wandering wood.
Lusor curiensis 