The Mask was prefented in 1634, and confequently in the 20th year of our author's age. In the title-page of the first edition, printed in 1637, it is faid that it was presented on Michaelmas night, and there was this motto, "Eheu quid volui mifero mihi! floribus auftrum "Perditus In this edition, and in that of Milton's poems in 1645, there was prefixed to the Mask the following dedication. To the Right Honorable JOHN Lord Viscount BRACKLY, fon and heir apparent to the Earl of BRIDGEWATER, &c. MY LORD, THIS poem, which received its firft occafion of birth from yourself and others of your noble family, and much honor from your own perfon in the performance, now returns again to make a final dedication of itself to you. Although not openly acknowledg'd by the author, yet it is a legitimate offspring, fo lovely, and so much desired, that the often copying of it hath tir'd my pen to give my several friends fatisfaction, and brought me to a neceffity of producing it to the public view; and now to offer it up in all rightful devotion to those fair hopes, and rare endowments of your much promising youth, which give a full affu I 4 rance, who rance, to all that know you, of a future excellence. Live, fweet Lord, to be the honor of your name; and receive this as your own, from the hands of him, hath by many favors been long oblig'd to your moft honor'd parents; and as in this representation tendant Thyrfis, fo now in all real expreffion your at 1 Your faithful and most humble Servant, H. LA WES. A MASK. A MA MAS K. The firft Scene difcovers a wild Wood. BE The attendant Spirit defcends or enters. EFORE the ftarry threshold of Jove's court In regions mild of calm and ferene air, Which men call Earth, and with low-thoughted care 5 10 15 20 The The unadorned bosom of the deep, Which he to grace his tributary Gods By courfe commits to several government, And gives them leave to wear their sapphire crowns, Lies through the perplex'd paths of this drear wood, 25 30 35 40 45 And |