On sands and shores and desert wildernesses.”
(ll. 205–209.)
When Comus, then, begins to practise the more dangerous art of this witchery, acting in accordance with his confession of his manner,—
“under fair pretence of friendly ends,
And well-placed words of glozing courtesy,
Baited with reasons not unplausible,”—
(ll. 160–162.)
she responds to the attack with an account of the great power of chastity. Only because she sees that he is trying to deceive her judgment does she deign to answer him.
“I had not thought to have unlocked my lips
In this unhallowed air, but that this juggler