Comus
ko'mus, a mask by John Milton, presented before the Earl of Bridgewater at Ludlow Castle September 29, 1634. It was first printed in 1637. It is the longest and most important of Milton's minor poems. At this time the popularity of the mask, as a form of entertainment, was at its height. Charles I appointed the Earl of Bridgewater Lord President of Wales, the official seat of which position was Ludlow, Shropshire. The earl requested Henry Lawes, his children's tutor, to arrange a mask, or masque, as the word was then spelled, to celebrate his taking possession of Ludlow Castle. Lawes was something more than a tutor. He was also a musical composer of talent. He was the friend of Milton, whose assistance he asked in preparing the mask. Lawes explained the nature of the event to be celebrated, and told his friend what characters would be expected to take part. Milton wrote the poem. Lawes furnished the music and looked after the staging. He also took one of the prominent parts, that of the attending spirit. The part of "The Lady" was taken by the earl's fourteen year old daughter. The Lady's brothers were represented by his two younger sons. The other characters of the Mask are Comus, an enchanter, son of Circe, and Sabrina, a nymph. Comus carries off the Lady and places her in a beautiful palace under the spell of his magic art. Her brothers, led by the attendant Spirit, put Comus to rout; and with the aid of Sabrina, liberate their sister from the spell which holds her. That is all the story, but Milton, as Taine says, was able to "impress his own character even on ornamental poems which were only employed to exhibit costumes and introduce fairy tales." The poet makes use of his simple setting to glorify virtue; to show that the inherent power of goodness is proof against any evils that may assail it. He does this in a poem of lofty style and perfect finish. "the most perfect mask in any language."
It is interesting to note that the name Comus was not given to the mask until after Milton's death. Milton himself called it "A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634, before the Earl of Bridgewater, Lord President of Wales." Comus was presented by the students of Tufts College, Massachusetts, in 1901.
Comus has been widely quoted. The last quotation given includes the closing lines of the mask, which embody the lesson of the poem, and, we may say, present Milton's guiding principle. The entire poem contains only 1,023 lines. There are few poems of equal length that will better repay careful reading.
May sit i' th' center and enjoy bright day;
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the midday sun.
By her own radiant light, though sun and moon
Were in the flat sea sunk.
That when a soul is found sincerely so,
A thousand liveried angels lackey her,
Driving far off each thing of sin and guilt,
And in clear dream and solemn vision
Tell her of things that no gross ear can hear,
Till oft converse with heav'nly habitants
Begin to cast a beam on th' outward shape.
. . . Against the threats
Which erring men call Chance, this I hold firm:
Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt,
Surprised by unjust force, but not enthralled:
Yea, even that which Mischief meant most harm
Shall in the happy trial prove most glory.
Mortals, that would follow me,
Love Virtue; she alone is free.
She can teach ye how to climb
Higher than the sphery chime;
Or, if Virtue feeble were,
Heaven itself would stoop to her.
CRITICISMS.
Judged in respect of its allegory, its pastoral beauties, its lyric strains, its epic flavor, its lofty philosophical tone, its "inevitable" lines or poetic "touchstones," Comus must be regarded as one of the most perfect fruits of Milton's genius.--Gayley and Young.