_Lady._ They left me weary on a grassy turf. 280 _Comus._ By falsehood, or discourtesy, or why? _Lady._ To seek i' the valley some cool friendly spring. _Comus._ And left your fair side all unguarded, lady? _Lady._ They were but twain, and purposed quick return. _Comus._ Perhaps forestalling night prevented them. _Lady._ How easy my misfortune is to hit! _Comus._ Imports their loss, beside the present need? _Lady._ No less than if I should my brothers lose. _Comus._ Were they of manly prime, or youthful bloom? _Lady._ As smooth as Hebe's their unrazored lips. 290 _Comus._ Two such I saw, what time the laboured ox In his loose traces from the furrow came, And the swinked hedger at his supper sat. I saw them under a green mantling vine, That crawls along the side of yon small hill, Plucking ripe clusters from the tender shoots; Their port was more than human, as they stood I took it for a faery vision Of some gay creatures of the element, That in the colours of the rainbow live, 300 And play i' the plighted clouds. I was awe-strook, And, as I passed, I worshiped. If those you seek, It were a journey like the path to Heaven To help you find them. _Lady._ Gentle villager, What readiest way would bring me to that place? _Comus._ Due west it rises from this shrubby point. _Lady._ To find out that, good shepherd, I suppose, In such a scant allowance of star-light, Would overtask the best land-pilot's art, Without the sure guess of well-practised feet. 310 _Comus._ I know each lane, and every alley green, Dingle, or bushy dell, of this wild wood, And every bosky bourn from side to side, My daily walks and ancient neighbourhood; And, if your stray attendance be yet lodged, Or shroud within these limits, I shall know Ere morrow wake, or the low-roosted lark From her thatched pallet rouse. If otherwise, I can conduct you, lady, to a low But loyal cottage, where you may be safe 320 Till further quest. _Lady._ Shepherd, I take thy word, And trust thy honest-offered courtesy, Which oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls And courts of princes, where it first was named, And yet is most pretended. In a place Less warranted than this, or less secure, I cannot be, that I should fear to change it. Eye me, blest Providence, and square my trial To my proportioned strength! Shepherd, lead on. [_Exeunt._ _Enter the TWO BROTHERS._