_Osm._ The devil take Merlin! I'll cast them all a-new, and instantly, All of another mould; be thou at hand. Their composition was, before, of horror; Now they shall be of blandishment, and love, Seducing hopes, soft pity, tender moans: Art shall meet art; and, when they think to win, The fools shall find their labour to begin. [_Exeunt_ OSM. _and_ GRIMB. _Enter_ ARTHUR, _and_ MERLIN _at another Door. Scene of the Wood continues._ _Merl._ Thus far it is permitted me to go; But all beyond this spot is fenced with charms; I may no more, but only with advice. _Arth._ My sword shall do the rest. _Merl._ Remember well, that all is but illusion. Go on; good stars attend thee. _Arth._ Doubt me not. _Merl._ Yet, in prevention Of what may come, I'll leave my Philidel To watch thy steps, and with him leave my wand; The touch of which no earthy fiend can bear, In whate'er shape transformed, but must lay down His borrowed figure, and confess the devil. Once more farewell, and prosper. [_Exit_ MERLIN. _Arth._ [_walking._] No danger yet; I see no walls of fire, No city of the fiends, with forms obscene, To grin from far on flaming battlements. This is indeed the grove I should destroy; But where's the horror? sure the prophet erred.-- Hark! music, and the warbling notes of birds! [_Soft Music._ Hell entertains me, like some welcome guest.-- More wonders yet! yet all delightful too: A silver current to forbid my passage, And yet, to invite me, stands a golden bridge: Perhaps a trap for my unwary feet, To sink and whelm me underneath the waves. With fire or water let him wage his war, Or all the elements at once, I'll on. [_As he is going to the Bridge, two Syrens arise from the water. They shew themselves to the waist, and sing:_ 1 Syren. _O pass not on, but stay, And waste the joyous day With us in gentle play: Unbend to love, unbend thee: O lay thy sword aside, And other arms provide; For other wars attend thee, And sweeter to be tried._ Chor. _For other wars_, &c. Both sing. _Two daughters of this aged stream are we; And both our sea-green locks have comb'd for thee: Come bathe with us an hour or two, Come naked in, for we are so; What danger from a naked foe? Come bathe with us, come bathe and share What pleasures in the floods appear. We'll beat the waters till they bound, And circle, round, around, around, And circle round, around._