This Poem, which received its first occasion of birth from yourself and others of your noble family, and much honour from your own person in the performance, now returns again to make a final Dedication of itself to you. Although not openly acknowledged by the Author, yet it is a legitimate offspring, so lovely and so much desired that the often copying of it hath tired my pen to give my several friends satisfaction, and brought me to a necessity 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 assurance to all that know you, of a future excellence. Live, sweet Lord, to be the honour of your name, and receive this as your own, from the hands of him who hath by many favours been long obliged to your most honoured Parents, and as in this representation your attendant _Thyrsis_,{ 22:B} so now in all real expression,
{ 22:A} Dedication of the anonymous edition of 1637: reprinted in the edition of 1645, but omitted in that of 1673.
The ATTENDANT SPIRIT, afterwards in the habit of THYRSIS. COMUS, with his Crew. The LADY. FIRST BROTHER. SECOND BROTHER. SABRINA, the Nymph.
The Chief Persons which presented were:-- The Lord Brackley; Mr. Thomas Egerton, his Brother; The Lady Alice Egerton.
_The ATTENDANT SPIRIT descends or enters._