"How sweetly did they float upon the wings Of silence, through the empty-vaulted night, At every fall smoothing the raven down Of darkness till it smiled!"
Comus is a masque in honour of chastity written by John Milton. It was first presented on Michaelmas 1634 before John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater at Ludlow Castle in celebration of the Earl's new post as Lord President of Wales.
"Sabrina fair, Listen where thou art sitting Under the glassy, cool, translucent wave, In twisted braids of lilies knitting The loose train of thy amber-dropping hair; Listen for dear honors sake, Goddess of the silver lake, Listen and save."
"But now my task is smoothly done: I can fly, or I can run."
"Above the smoke and stir of this dim spot Which men call earth."
"Before the starry threshold of Joves Court My mansion is."
"Yet some there be that by due steps aspire To lay their just hands on that golden key That opes the palace of Eternity. To such my errand is; and but for such, I would not soil these pure ambrosial weeds With the rank vapours of this sin-worn mould."
"Beauty is Natures brag, and must be shown In courts, at feasts, and high solemnities, Where most may wonder at the workmanship; It is for homely features to keep home — They had their name thence; coarse complexions And cheeks of sorry grain will serve to ply The sampler, and to tease the huswifes wool. What need a vermeil-tinctured lip for that, Love-darting eyes, or tresses like the morn?"