John Milton

Comus by John Milton

Comus is a masque, written by John Milton and first performed in 1634. The plot concerns two brothers and their sister, simply called "the Lady", lost in a journey through the woods. The Lady becomes fatigued, and the brothers wander off in search of sustenance. While alone, she encounters the debauched Comus, a character inspired by the god of revelry, who is disguised as a villager and who claims he will lead her to her brothers. Deceived by his amiable countenance, the Lady follows him, only to be captured, brought to his palace and victimized by his necromancy. This edition contains the illustrations by Arthur Rackham, which include 24 beautiful, full color paintings vibrantly reproduced, as well as all the smaller, black and white drawings.