Performance Description
THE MASKE
OF THE Gentlemen of the two combin’d houses, or <orgName
ref="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q278697" key="Inns of Court"
xml:id="orgName_vpk_241_41c">Inns of Court</orgName>, the <orgName
key="Middle Temple" ref="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q925942"
xml:id="orgName_wpk_241_41c">Middle-Temple</orgName>, and <orgName
key="Lincoln's Inn" ref="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69482"
xml:id="orgName_xpk_241_41c">Lincolns Inne</orgName>.
At the house of the most worthely
honour’d preferrer and gracer of all honorable Actions, and vertues, (sir Edward
Philips
Knight, Master of the Rolls) al thePerformers and their Assistents made their Rendesvous, prepar’d to their
performance, and thus set forth.
Fiftie Gentlemen, richly attirde, and as gallantly mounted, with Foot-men perticularly attending, made the noble vant-guarde of these
Nuptiall forces. Next (a fit distance
obseru’d betweene them) marcht a mock-Maske of Baboons, attir’d like fantasticall Travailers, in
Neapolitane sutes, and great
ruffes, all horst with Asses; and dwarfe Palfries, with
yellow foot-cloathes, and
casting Cockle-demois about, in
courtesie, by way of lardges; Torches boarn on either hand of them; lighting their state as
ridiculously, as the rest Nobly. After them were sorted two Carrs Triumphall, adornd
with great Maske heads, Festones, scroules, and antick leaves, every part inricht with silver and
golde. These were through-varied with different invention, and in them advanc’t, the
choice Musitions of our Kingdome, sixe in each; attir’d like Virginean
Priests, by whom the Sun is there ador’d; and therfore called the Phœbades.
Their Robes were tuckt up
before; strange Hoods of
feathers, and scallops about their neckes, and on their heads turbants, stucke with seuerall colour’d feathers,
spotted with wings of Flies, of extraordinary bignesse; like those of their countrie:
And about them march’t two ranks of Torches. Then rode the chiefe Maskers, in Indian habits, all of a resemblance: the ground cloath of
silver, richly embroidered, with golden Sunns, and about every Sunne, ran a traile of
gold, imitating Indian worke,: their bases of the same stuffe and work, but betwixt
every pane of embroidery, went a rowe of white Estridge feathers, mingled with sprigs
of golde plate; under their breasts, they woare bawdricks of golde, embroidered high
with purle, and about their neckes, Ruffes of feathers, spangled with pearle and
silver. On their heads high sprig’d- feathers, compast in Coronets, like the Virginian Princes they
presented. Betwixt every set of feathers, and about their browes, in the under-part
of their Coronets, shin’d Sunnes of golde plate, sprinkled with pearle; from whence
sprung rayes of the like plate, that mixing vvith the motion of the feathers, shew’d
exceedingly delightfull, and gracious. Their legges were adorn’d, with close long
white silke-stockings: curiously
embroidered with golde to the Middelegge.
And over these (being on horse backe) they drew greaves or
buskins embrodered with gould, & enterlac’t with rewes of fethers; Altogether
estrangfull, and Indian like.
In their Hands (set in several postures as they rode) they
brandisht cane darts of the
finest gould. Their vizerds of
olive collour; but pleasingly visag’d: their hayre, blacke and lardge, waving downe
to their shoulders.
Their Horse, for rich show, equalld the Maskers them-selves; all their caparisons being enchac’t with sunnes of
Gould and Ornamentall Jewells. To every one of which, was tackt a Scarffing of
Silver; that ran sinnuousely in workes over the whole caparison, euen to the daseling
of the admiring spectators.
Their heads, no lesse gracefully and properly deckt with the
like light skarffing that hung about their eares wantonly dangling.
Euery one of these horse, had two Moores, attir’d like Indian slaves, that for
state sided them; with swelling wreaths of gould, and watshed on their heads, which
arose in all to the number of a hundred.
The Torch-bearers habits were likewise of the Indian
garb, but more stravagant then those of the Maskers; all showfully garnisht with several-hewd
fethers. The humble variety whereof, stucke off the more amplie, the Maskers high
beauties, shining in the habits of themselves; and reflected in their kinde, a new
and delightfully-varied radiance on the beholders.
All these sustaind torches of Virgine wax, whose staves were great canes al over gilded; And
these (as the rest) had every Man his Moore, attending his horse.
The Maskers, riding single; had euery Masker, his
Torch-bearer mounted before
him.
The last Charriot, which was most of all adornd; had his whole frame fill’d with
moulded worke; mixt all with paintings, and glittering scarffings of silver; over which was cast a
Canopie of golde, boarne up
with antick figures, and all compos’d a la Grotesea. Before this in the
seate of it, as the Chario-|tere; was advanc’t a strange person, and as strangely
habited, half French, halfe Swizz; his name Capriccio; wearing on his head a paire of
golden Bellowes, a guilt spurre
in one hand, and with the other mannaging the reignes of the fowre Horses that drewe it.
On a seate of the same Chariot, a little more elevate, sate Eunomia, the Virgine
Priest of the Goddesse Honor, together with Phemis, her Herald: The habite
of her Priest,
was a Robe of white silke,
gathered about the necke; a pentacle of siluered stuffe about her shoulders, hanging foldedly downe,
both before and behind.
A vestall
vaile on her head of Tiffany, strip’t with siluer, hanging with a trayne,
to the earth.
The Herrald was attyr’d in an Antique Curace of silver stuffe, with labells at
the wings and basses; a short gowne of gould stuffe; with wide sleeves, cut in panes: A wreath of gould on his head, and a
Rod of gould in his hand.
Highest of all in the most
eminent seate of the Tryumphall sat, side to side, the cœlestiall Goddesse, Honour; and the earthy Deity,
Plutus; or
Riches. His attire; a short robe of gould, frindg’d; his wide sleeues turn’d up, and out-showd his
naked armes: his Head and Beard sprinckl’d with showrs of gould: his Buskins,
clinckant, as his other attire. The Ornaments of Honor were these: a rich full robe of blew silke girt about her, a mantle of
silver worne over-thwart, ful gathered, and descending in folds behind: a vaile of net lawne, enbrodered with
Oos and Spangl’d; her tresses in tucks, braided with silver: The hinder part
shadowing in waves her shoulders. These, thus perticularly, and with proprietie
adorn’d, were strongly attended with a full Guard of two hundred Halbardiers: two
Marshals
(being choice Gentlemen, of either house) Commaunder-like attir’d, to and fro
coursing, to keepe all in their orders.
A showe at all parts so novell, conceitfull and glorious, as
hath not in this land, (to the proper use and object it had porpos’d) beene ever
before beheld. Nor did those honorable Inns of
Court, at any time in that kinde, such acceptable seruice to the sacred
Majesty of this kingdome, nor were return’d by many degrees, with so thrice gratious,
and royall entertainment and honor. But, (as above sayd) all these so marching to the
Court at White
Hall, the King,
Bride, & Bridegroom, with all the Lords of the most honord privy Councel, and
our chief Nobility, stood in the Gallery before the Tilt-yeard, to behold their arrivall; who, for the more ful
satisfaction of his Maiesties view, made one turn about the yeard, and dismounted:
being then honorably attended through the Gallery to a Chamber appointed, where they
were to make ready for their performance in the Hall, &c.
The King
beeing come forth, the Maskers ascended unseene to their scœne. Then for
the works.
Set Description
First there appear’d at the lower end of the Hall, an Artificiall Rock, whose
top was neere as high as the hall it selfe. This Rock, was in the undermost part
craggy, and full of hollow places, in whose concaves were contriv’d, two winding
paire of staires, by whose greeces the Persons above might make their descents, and
all the way be seene: all this Rocke grew by degrees up into a gold-colour; and was
run quite through, with veines of golde: On the one side whereof, eminently raised on
a faire hill, was erected a silver Temple of an octangle figure, whose Pillars were
of a compos’d order, and bore up an Architrave, Freese, and Cornish: Over which stood
a continued Plinthe; whereon were advaunc’t Statues of silver: Above this, was placed a
bastarde Order of Architecture, wherein were kerv’d Compartements: In one of which
was written in great golde Capitalls, HONORIS FANVM: Above all, was a Coupolo, or
Type, which seem’d to be scal’d with silver Plates.
For finishing, of all, upon
a Pedistall, was
fixt a round stone of silver,
from which grew a paire of golden wings, both faign’d to bee | Fortunes: the round
stone (when her feet trod it) ever affirm’d to be rouling; figuring her
inconstancy: the golden wings, denoting those nimble Powres, that pompously beare
her about the world; On that Temple (erected to her daughter, Honor; and figuring
this kingdome) put off by her, and fixt, for assured signe she would never forsake
it.
About this Temple, hung Festones wreath’d with silver from one Pillars
head to another. Besides, the Freese was enricht with kervings, all shewing Greatnes
and Magnificence.
On the other side of the Rocke, grewe a Grove, in whose utmost part
appear’d a vast, wither’d, and hollow Tree, being the bare receptacle of the Baboonerie.
These following should in duty have had their proper places,
after every fitted speech
of the Actors; but being prevented by the unexpected haste of the Printer, which he never let me know, and never
sending me a proofe, till he had past those speeches; I had no reason to imagine hee
could have been so forward. His fault is therfore to be supplied by the observation,
and reference of the Reader, who will easily perceive, where they were to bee
inserted.
After the speech of Plutus (who as you may see after, first
entred) the middle part of the Rocke began to move, and being come some five
paces up towards the King, it
split in peeces with a great crack; and out brake Capriccio, as before described. The peeces of the
Rocke vanisht and he spake as in his place.
At the singing of the first Song, full, which was sung by the Virginian Priests; called the Phœbades, to sixe Lutes (being used as an Orphean vertue, for
the state of the Mines opening): the upper part of the Rock was sodainly turn’d to a Cloude,
discovering a rich and refulgent Mine of golde; in which the twelve Maskers were triumphantly seated: their Torch-bearers attending before them. All the
lights beeing so ordred, that though none were seen, yet had their lustre such
vertue, that by it, the least spangle or spark of the Maskers rich habites, might with ease and
cleerenesse be discerned as far off as the seate.
Ouer this golden Mine,in an Euening sky,the ruddy Sunne was seen ready to be set; and
behind the tops of certaine white Cliffes, by degrees descended, casting up a banke
of Cloudes; in which, a while hee was hidden: but then gloriously shining, gave that
usually-obseru’d good Omen, of succeeding faire weather.
Before he was fully set, the Phœbades(shewing the custome of the
Indians to adore the Sunne setting) began their observance with the Song, to whose
place, wee must referre you for the manner and words; All the time they were singing;
the Torch-bearers holding up their
Torches to the Sun; to whome the Priests
themselves, and the rest, did as they sung obeisance: Which was answred by other
Musique and voices, at the commandement of Honor, with al observances us’d to the
King
&c. As in the following places.
To answer certaine insolent obiections made against the
length of my speeches, and narrations; being (for the probability of all accidents,
rising from the invention of this Maske; and their aplication, to the persons, and
places: for whome, and by whome it was presented) not convenient, but necessary; I am
enforct to affirme this; That: as there is no Poem nor Oration so generall; but hath his one perticular
proposition; Nor no river so extravagantly ample, but hath his never-so-narrow
fountaine, worthy to be namd; so all these courtly, and honoring inventions (hauing
Poesie, and Oration in them, and a fountaine, to be exprest, from whence their Rivers
flow) should expressiuely-arise; out of the places, and persons for; and by whome
they are presented; without which limits, they are luxurious, and paine. But what
rules soever are set downe, to any Art, or Act (though, without their observation; No
Art, nor Act, is true, and worthy) yet are they nothing the more followd; or those
few that follow them credited. Every vulgarly-esteemd upstart; dares breake the
dreadfull dignity of antient and autenticall Poesie: and presume Luciferously, to
proclame in place thereof, repugnant precepts of their owne spaune. Truth, and Worth,
have no faces, to enamour the Lycentious, but vaine-glory, and humor. The same body:
the same beauty, a thousand men seeing: Onely the man whose bloud is fitted, hath
that which hee calls his soule, enamourd. And this, out of infallible cause; for,
men understand not
these of Mænander –––––––––– est mor-|bus oportunitas.
Animæ, quod ictus, vulnus accipit graue. But the cause of all
Mens being enamourd with Truth. And of her slight respect, in others; is the divine
Freedom; one touching with his aprehensive finger, the other, passing. The Hill of the Muses (which
all men must clime in the regular way, to Truth) is said of ould, to be forcked.
And the two points of it, parting at the Top; are Insania, and, divinus furor.
Insania, is that which every Ranck-brainde writer; and judge of Poeticall writing, is
rapt withal; when hee presumes either to write or censure the height of Poesie; and
that transports him with humor, vaine-glory and pride, most prophane and
sacrilegious: when divinus furor; makes gentle, and noble, the never so
truly-inspired writer ––––––––––
Emollit mores nec sinit esse feros.
And the mild beames of the most holy inflamer; easely, and
sweetly enter, with all understanding sharpenesse, the soft, and sincerely humane;
but with no Time; No Study; No meanes under heaven: any arrogant, all-occupation
devourer (that will Chandler-like set up with all wares; selling, Poesies Nectar and
Ambrosia; as wel as musterd, and vineagar.) The chast and restraind beames of humble
truth will ever enter; but onely grase, and glaunce at them: and the further fly
them.
The aplicable argument of the Maske.
Honor, is so much
respected, and ador’d; that shee hath a Temple erected to her, like a Goddesse; a
Virgine Priest
consecrated to her (which is Eunomia, or Lawe; since none should dare accesse to Honor, but by Vertue; of which Lawe being the rule,
must needes be a chiefe) and a Herrald (call’d Phemis, or Fame) to proclame her
institutions, and commandements. To amplefie yet more the divine graces of this
Goddesse; Plutus, (or Riches) being by
Aristophanes, Lucian. &c. presented naturally
blind, deformd, and dull witted; is here by his love of Honor, made see, made
sightly, made ingenious; made liberall: And all this converted and consecrate to the
most worthy celebration of these sacred Nuptialls; all issuing (to conclude the necessary application) from
an honorable Temple. &c.
Non est certa fides, quam non Iniuria versat.
'there is no certain faith which injustice does not overturn';
Propertius, Elegiae 3.8.19-20––––––––––
Fallit
fidem: 'even the harbour itself betrays its trust';
Propertius, Elegiae 3.7.45 portus & ipse
fidem
errata, listed at this point, are corrected in transcription
with textual notes. ... sigs B1–E3
Masque Text
THE PRESENTMENT.
Plutus
appear’d survaying the worke with this speech.
PLUTUS
Rockes? Nothing but Rockes in these masking devices?
Is Invention
so poore shee must needes ever dwell amongst Rocks? But it may worthily have chaunc’d
(being so often presented) that their vaine Custome is now become the necessarie
hand of heaven, transforming into Rocks, some stonie hearted Ladies, courted in former masks; for whose loves,
some of their repulst servants haue perisht: or perhaps some of my flintie-hearted Usurers
haue beene heere metamorphosed; betwixt whom and Ladies, there is resemblance
enough: Ladies using to take interest, besides their principall, as much as
Usurers. See, it is so; and now is the time of restoring them to their naturall
shapes: It moves, opens, excellent! This metamorphosis I intend to over-heare.
A ROCK, MOOVING and breaking with a cracke about Capriccio, he enters
with a payre of Bellows on his head, a spur in one hand, and a peece of golde Ore in the
other, &c.
He speakes, vt sequitur.
CAPRICCIO.
How hard this world is to a man of wit? hee must eate
through manie Rockes for his
food, or fast; a restles and tormenting stone, his wit is to him: the very stone of Sisyphus in hell; nay, the
Philosophers stone, makes
not a man more wretched: A man must be a second Proteus, and turne himselfe into
all shapes (like Ulysses) to winde through the straites of this pinching
vale of miserie; I have turn’d my selfe into a Tailor, a Man, a Gentleman, a Nobleman, a Worthy man; but had never the witte to turne my selfe into
an Alder-man. There are manie shapes to perish
in, but one to live in, and tha’s an Aldermans: Tis not for a man of wit to take
any rich Figure upon him: your bould, proud, ignorant, that’s brave and clinkant,
that findes crownes put into his shooes every morning by the Fayries and will never tell;
whose Wit is humor, whose Judgement is fashion, whose Pride is emptinesse, Birth
his full man, that is in all things something, in Sum totall, nothing. He shall
live in the land of Spruce, milke and hony flowing into his mouth sleeping.
PLUTUS.
This is no transformation, but an intrusion into my golden mines: I
will heare him — further.
CAPRICCIO.
This breach of Rockes I have made, in needy pursuite of the blind Deity, Riches: who is
myraculously arived here. For (according to our rare men of wit) heaven standing,
and earth moving, her motion (being circular) hath brought one of the most remote
parts of the world, to touch at this all-exceeding Iland: which a man of wit would
imagine must needs move circularly with the rest of the world, and so ever
maintaine an equal distance. But, Poets (our chiefe men of wit) answere that
point directly; most ingeniously affirming: That this Ile is (for the excellency of
it) divided from the world (divisus ab orbe Britannus
'the Briton, divided from the world...'; Jerome,
Epistulae 46:10) and that though the whole
World besides moves; yet this Ile stands fixt on her owne feete, and defies the
Worlds mutability, which this rare accident of the arrivall of Riches, in one of his
furthest-off-scituate dominions, most demonstratiuely proves.
PLUTUS.
This is a man of wit indeede, and knows of all our
arrivals.
CAPRICCIO.
With this dull Deity Riches, a rich Iland lying in the South sea,
called Pœana, (of the Pœans (or songs) sung to the Sun, whom they there adore
(being for strength and riches, called the Navill of that South-sea) is by earths
round motion mov’d neere this Brittan Shore. In which Island
(beeing yet in command of the Virginian continent.) A troupe of the noblest
Virginians inhabiting; attended hether the God of Riches, all triumphantly shyning in a
Mine of gould. For hearing of the most royal solemnity, of these sacred Nuptialls; they crost the Ocean in
their honor, and are here arriv’d. A poore snatch at some of the goulden Ore, that the feete of
riches haue turnd up as he trod here, my poore hand hath purchast; and hope the
Remainder of a greater worke, wilbe shortly extant.
PLUTUS.
You Sir, that are miching about my goulden Mines here.
CAPRICCIO.
What, can you see Sir? you have heretofore beene presented
blinde: like your
Mother Fortune; and your Brother Love.
PLUTUS.
But now Sir, you see I see.
CAPRICCIO.
By what good meanes, I beseech you Sir.
PLUTUS.
That meanes, I may vouchsafe you hereafter; meane space,
what are you?
CAPRICCIO.
I am Sir a kinde of Man; A Man of wit: with whom your
worship has nothing to do I thinke.
PLUTUS.
No Sir, nor will have any thing to doe with him: A Man of
wit? whats that? A Begger.
CAPRICCIO.
And yet no Divell Sir. |
PLUTUS.
As I am, you meane.
CAPRICCIO.
Indeede sir your Kingdome is under the Earth.
PLUTUS.
That’s true, for Riches is the Atlas that holdes
it up, it would sinke else.
CAPRICCIO.
Tis rather a wonder, it sinks not with you Sir, y’are so
sinfully, and damnably heavy.
PLUTUS.
Sinfull? and damnable? what a Puritane? These Bellowes you weare on your head,
shew with what matter your braine is pufft up Sir: A Religion-forger I see you
are, and presume of inspiration from these Bellowes; with which yee study to blow up the
setled governments of kingdomes.
CAPRICCIO.
Your worship knockes at a wrong dore Sir, I dwell farre
from the person you speak of.
PLUTUS.
What may you be then, beeing a man of wit? a Buffon, a Jester. Before I would take
upon mee the title of a man of wit, and bee baffl’d by every man of wisedome for a
Buffon; I would turne Banckrout, or set up a Tobacco shop, change clokes with an
Alchemist, or serue an
Usurer, bee a watering pot
for every Groome; stand the push of every rascall wit; enter lists of jests with
trencher-fooles, and bee foold downe by them, or (which is worse) put them downe
in fooling: are these the qualities a man of wit should run proud of?
CAPRICCIO.
Your worship I see has obtaind wit, with sight, which I
hope yet my poor wit wil well be able to answer; for touching my jesting, I have
heard of some Courtiers, that have run themselues out of their states with
Iusting; and why may not I then raise my selfe in the State with jesting? An
honest Shoomaker, (in in
a liberall Kings time) was knighted for making a cleane boote, and is it
impossible, that I for breaking a cleane Jest, should bee advaunc’t in Court, or
Counsaile? or at least, served out for an Ambassador to a dull Climate? Jests, and
Merriments are but wild weedes in a rank soile, which being well manured, yield
the wholesom crop of wisdome and discretion at time ath’yeare.
PLUTUS.
Nay, nay, I commend thy iudgement for cutting thy cote so
just to the bredth of thy shoulders; he that cannot be a courser in the field, let
him learne to play the Jack-an-Apes in the Chamber, hee that cannot personate the
wise-man well amongst wisards, let him learne to play the foole well amongst
dizzards.
CAPRICCIO.
Tis passing miraculous, that your dul and blind worship
should so sodainly turne both sightfull, and witfull.
PLUTUS.
The Riddle of that myracle, I may chance dissolve to you in
sequell; meane time, what name sustain’st thou? and what toies are these thou
bear’st so phantastically about thee?
CAPRICCIO.
These, toies Sir, are the Ensignes that discover my name
and qualitie: my name being Capriccio, and I weare these Bellowes on my head, to shew I
can puffe up with glory all those that affect mee: and besides, beare this spurre, to shew I can spur-gall,
even the best that contemne me.
PLUTUS.
A dangerous fellowe, But what makest thou (poore man of
wit) at these pompous Nuptials; |
CAPRICCIO.
Sir, I come hether with a charge; To doe these Nuptials, I hope, very acceptable
service; And my charge is; A company of accomplisht Travailers; that are excellent at Antemaskes; and will
tender a tast of their quallity, if your worship please.
PLUTUS.
Excellent well pleasd; of what vertue are they besides.
CAPRICCIO.
Passing grave Sir, yet exceeding acute: witty, yet not
ridiculous; never laugh at their owne jests: laborious yet not base, having cut
out the skirts of the whole
world, in amorous quest of your gould and silver.
PLUTUS.
They shal have enough; cal them: I beseech thee call them:
how farre hence abide they?
CAPRICCIO.
Sir (being by another eminent qualitie the admired souldiers of the world) in
contempt of softnes, and delicacie, they lie on the naturally hard boords of that
naked tree; and will your worship assure them rewards fit for persons of their
freight.
PLUTUS.
Dost thou doubt my reward beeing pleased?
CAPRICCIO.
I know Sir, a man may sooner win your reward, for pleasing
you, then deserving you. But you great wise persons, have a fetch of State; to
employ with countenance, and encouragement, but reward with answer and disgrace,
save your purposes, and lose your honours.
PLUTUS.
To assure thee of reward, I will now satisfie thee touching
the miraculous cause, both of my sight and wit, and which consequently moves mee
to humanity, and bounty; And all is, onely this; my late being in love, with the
lovely Goddesse
Honor.
CAPRICCIO.
If your Worshipp love Honor, indeed, Sir you must needes be
bountifull. But where is the rare Goddesse you speake of to be seene?
PLUTUS.
In that Rich Temple, where Fortune fixt those her goulden wings, thou seest;
And that rowling stone she us’d to tread upon, for signe shee would
never for-sake this Kingdome; There is ador’d, the worthy Goddesse Honor. The
swetnesse of whose voice, when I first heard her perswasions, both to my self, and
the Virginian Princes
arriv’d here, to doe honor and homage, to these heavenly Nuptialls, so most powerfully
enamour’d mee, that the fire of my loue flew up to the sight of mine eyes: that
have lighted within mee a whole firmament of Bounty, which may semingly assure
the, thy reward is certaine: & therefore call thy accomplisht company to their
Antemaske.
CAPRICCIO.
See Sir, The time, set for their apperance, being expir’d;
they appeere to their seruice of them-selves.
Enter the Baboones after whose dance, being Anticke, and delightful, they
returned to their Tree, when Plutus spake to Capriccius.
PLUTUS.
Gramercy now Capriccio, take thy men of complement,
and travaile with them to other marriages. My Riches to thy Wit; they will get something
some-where.
CAPRICCIO.
Whats this?
PLUTUS.
A straine of Wit beyond a Man of Wit. I haue imployd you,
and the grace of that, is reward enough; hence; packe, with your complemental
Fardle: The sight of an attendant for reward, is abominable in the eyes of a turne-serv’d Politician, and I feare,
will strike me blinde againe. I can not abide these bellowes of thy head, they and thy men of wit
have melted my Mines with them, and consum’d me, yet take thy life and be gone.
Neptune let thy
predecessor, Ulysses, live after all his slaine companions, but to make him
die more miserably living; gave him up to ship wracks, enchantments; men of wit
are but enchanted, there is no such thing as wit in this world. So, take
a tree, inure thy souldiers to hardnes, tis honorable, though not clinkant.
CAPRICCIO.
Can this be possible?
PLUTUS.
Alas! poore man of wit, how want of reward daunts thy
vertue? But because I must send none away discontented, from these all-pleasing
Nuptials; take this wedge of golde, and wedge thy
selfe into the world with it, renouncing that loose wit of thine, t’will spoile
thy complexion.
CAPRICCIO.
Honor, and all Argus eyes, to Earths all-commaunding
Riches. Pluto etiam cedit
Iupiter
Latin 'even Jove yields to
Plutus'
Exit Capriccio. | After this lowe
Induction, by these succeeding degrees, the chiefe Maskers were advanc’t to their discoverie
PLUTUS.
These humble obiects can no high eyes drawe,
Plutus,
cals to Eunomia.
Eunomia? (or
the sacred power of Lawe)Daughter of Iove, and Goddesse Honors Priest; Appeare to
Plutus, and
his loue assist.
Eunomia in
the Temple
gates.
EUNOMIA.
What would the god of Riches?
PLUTUS.
Joine with Honor: In purpos’d grace of these
great Nuptials; And since to
Honor none
should dare accesse, But helpt by vertues hand (thy selfe, chaste Love Being Vertues Rule, and her
directfull light) Help me to th’honor of her speech and sight.
EUNOMIA.
Thy will shal straight be honour’d; all that seek Accesse
to Honor, by
cleer virtues beame, Her grace prevents their pains, and comes to them.
Loud Musick, and Honor appears, descending with her
Herrald
Phemis, and
Eunomia
(her Priest) before her.
The Musique ceasing Plutus spake.
PLUTUS.
Crowne of all merit, Goddess, and my Love; Tis now high
time, that th’end for which we come Should be endevor’d in our utmost right, Done
to the sweetnes of this Nuptiall
night.
HONOR.
Plutus? The
Princes of the Virgine
land, Whom I made crosse the Britan Ocean To this most famed Ile,
of all the world, To do due homage to the sacred Nuptials Of Lawe, and Vertue, celebrated
here, By this Howre of the holy Eeven I know, Are ready to performe the rites they
owe To setting Phœbus; which (for greater State To their apparance) their first
act advances. And with songs Ushers their succeeding dances, Herrald! giue summons to the Virgine Knights, No longer
to delay their purpos’d Rites.
HERALD.
Knights of the Virgine
Land, whom bewties lights Would glorifie with their inflaming sights;
Keep now obscur’d no more your faire intent, To adde your Beames to this nights
ornament, The golden-winged Howre strikes now a Plaine, And calls out all the
pompe ye entertaine; The Princely Bride-groome, and the Brides bright eyes, Sparkle with grace to your discoveries.
At these words, the Phœbades (or Priests of the Sunne)
appear’d first with sixe Lutes, and sixe voices, and sung to the
opening of the Mine and Maskers discouery, this sul Song.
The first <name type="entertainment" xml:id="name_x5r_n55_n1c"
>Song</name>.
OPe Earth thy wombe of golde,
Shew Heauen thy cope of starres.
All glad Aspects unfolde,
Shine out, and cleere our Cares:
Kisse Heaven and Earth, and so combine
In all mixt joy our Nuptiall Twine.
This Song ended, a Mount opened, and spred like a Skie, in which appear’d a
Sunne setting; beneath which, sate the twelue Maskers, in a Mine of golde;
twelve Torch-bearers holding their torches before them, after which Honor, & c.
HONOR.
Se now the setting Sun, casts up his bank, And showes his
bright head at his Seas repaire, For signe that all daies future shall be faire.
PLUTUS.
May he that rules the nightes & dayes confirme it.
HONOR.
Behold the Sunnes faire Preists the Phæbades, Their evening service in an Hymne addresse To
Phœbus
setting; which we now shall heare, And see the formes of their devotions there.
The Phœbades sing the first Stance of the
second song, vt
sequitur.
One alone. 1.
Descend (faire Sun) and sweetly rest,
In TethisTethys,
Titaness wife of Oceanus? Cristal armes, thy
toyle,
Fall burning on her Marble brest,
And make with Love her billowes boyle.
Another alone. 2.
Blow blow, sweet windes, O blow away,
Al vapours from the fined ayre:
That to this golden head no Ray,
May languish with the least empaire.
CHORUS.
Dance Tethis, and thy loues red beames,
Embrace with Joy he now discends: Burnes burnes with love to drinke thy streames,
and on him endles youth attends.
After this Stance, Honor &c.
HONOR.
This superstitious Hymne, sung to the Sunne, Let us encounter with fit
duties done To our cleere Phœbus; whose true piety, Enjoyes from heaven an earthly deity.
Other Musique, and voyces; and this second Stance was sung,
directing their observance to the King.
One alone 1.
Rise, rise O Phœbus, ever rise,
descend not to th’inconstant streame,
But grace with endles light, our skyes,
to thee that Sun is but a beame.
Another 2.
Dance Ladies in our Sunnes bright rayes,
in which the Bride and Bridegroome shine:
Cleere sable night with your eyes dayes,
and set firme lights
on HymenGreek
god of marriages shrine.
CHORUS.
O may our Sun not set before, he sees his endles
seed arise: And deck his triple crowned shore, with springs of humane Deities.
This ended the Phœbades sung the third Stance.
1.
Set Set (great Sun) our rising love
shall ever celebrate thy grace:
Whom entring the high
court of JoveJove =
Zeus,
each God greetes rising from his place.
2.
When thow thy siluer
bow dost
bend,
all start aside and dread thy draughtes:
How can we thee enough commend,
commanding all worlds with thy shafts?
CHORUS.
Blest was thy mother bearing thee, and Phœbe that delights in darts: Thou
artful Songes dost set; and shee winds horns, loves hounds, & high pallmd
harts
After this Honor.
HONOR.
Againe our Musique and conclude this Song, To him, to whom
all Phœbus
beames belong:
The other voyces sung to other Musike the third stance.
1.
Rise stil (cleere Sun)
and never set,
but be to Earth her only light:
All other Kings in
thy beames met,
are cloudes and darke effects of night.|
2.
As when the Rosie Morne doth rise,
Like Mists, all give thy wisedome waie;
A learned King, is,
as in skies,
To poore dimme stars, the flaming day.
CHORUS.
Blest was thy Mother, bearing Thee, Thee only Relick of her
Race, Made by thy vertues beames a Tree, Whose armes shall all the Earth
embrace.
This done Eunomia spake to the Maskers set yet
above.
EUNOMIA.
Virginian Princes, ye must now renounce Your superstitious worship
of these Sunnes, Subject to cloudy darknings and descents, And of your sweet
devotions, turne the events To this our Britan PhœbusKing James
I?, whose bright skie (Enlightned with a Christian Piety) Is
never subject to black Errors night, And hath already offer’d heavens true light,
To your darke Region, which acknowledge now; Descend, and to him all your homage
vow.
With this the Torch-bearers descended, and performed another
Antemaske, dancing
with Torches
lighted at both ends; which done, the Maskers descended, and fell into their dances, two of which
being past, and others with the Ladies.
<persName type="character" xml:id="persName_ixr_n55_n1c">Honor</persName>
spake.
Musique! your voyces, now tune sweet and hie,
And singe the Nuptiall
Hymn of Love, and
Beauty.
Twinns, as of one age, so to one desire
May both their bloods give, an unparted fire.
And as those twinns that Fame gives all her prise,
Combind their lifes power in such Symphathies;
That one being merry; mirth the other grac’t:
If one felt sorrow, th’other griefe embrac’t.
If one were healthfull; Health the other pleasd: If one were sicke: the other
was diseasd;
And all waies joynd in such a constant troth
That one like cause had like effect in both,
So may these Nuptiall
Twynnes, their whole lives store,
Spend in such even parts, never grieving more,
Then may the more set off their joyes divine;
As after clouds, the Sunne, doth clerest shine.
This sayd, this Song of Love , and Bewty was sung; single.
Bright Panthæa borne
to Pan,
Of the Noblest Race of Man,
Her white hand to
Eros
giving,
With a kisse, join’d Heaven to Earth
And begot so faire a birth, As yet never grac’t the living.
CHORUS.
A Twinne that all worlds did adorne, For so were Love and Bewty borne.
2.
Both so lov’d, they did contend
Which the other should transcend,
Doing either, grace, and kindnes;
Love from
Bewty
did remove,
Lightnes call’d her staine in love,
Bewtie took
from Love
his blindness.
|
CHORUS.
Love sparks made flames in Bewties skie, And Bewtie blew vp
Love as
hie.
3.
Virtue then
commixt her fire;
To which Bountie did aspire,
Innocence a Crowne conferring;
Mine, and Thine, were then unusde,
All things common: Nought abusde,
Freely earth her frutage bearing.
CHORUS.
Nought then was car’d for, that could fade, And thus the
golden world was made.
This sung, the Maskers danc’t againe with the Ladies, after
which Honor.
HONOR.
Now may the blessings of the golden age, Swimme in these
Nuptials, even to holy
rage, A Hymn to
Sleep
prefer, and all the joyes That in his Empire are of dearest choice, Betwixt his
golden slumbers ever flow, In these; And Theirs, in Springs as endless growe.
This sayd, the last Song was sung full.
The last Song.
Now sleepe, binde fast, the flood of Ayre,
strike all things dumb and deafe,
And, to disturbbe our Nuptiall
paire,
Let stir no Aspen leafe.
Send flocks of golden Dreames
That all true joyes presage,
Bring, in thy oyly streames,
The milke and hony Age.
Now close the world-round sphere of blisse,
And fill it with a heavenly kisse.
After this Plutus to the Maskers.
PLUTUS.
Come Virgine Knights, the homage ye have
done, To Love
and Bewty, and
our Britan Sun, Kinde
Honor, will
requite with holy feasts In her faire Temple; and her loved Guests, Gives mee the
grace t’inuite, when she and I (Honor and Riches) will eternally A league in
favour of this night combine, In which Loves second hallowed Tapers shine; Whose
Joies, may Heauen & Earth as highly please As those two nights that got great Hercules.
The speech ended; they concluded with a dance, that brought
them off; Plutus, with Honor and the rest conducting them vp
to the Temple of
Honor.
FINIS.