Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

William Browne (c. 1590–c. 1645)

The Charm (from The Inner Temple Masque)

SON of Erebus and night

Hie away; and aim thy flight

Where consort none other fowl

Than the bat and sullen owl;

Where upon thy limber grass

Poppy and mandragoras

With like simples not a few

Hang for ever drops of dew.

Where flows Lethe without coil

Softly like a stream of oil.

Hie thee hither gentle sleep:

With this Greek no longer keep.

Thrice I charge thee by my wand,

Thrice with moly from my hand

Do I touch Ulysses eyes,

And with the jaspis: then arise

Sagest Greek.