The workes of Beniamin Ionson

A SATYRE.

THe inuention was, to haue a Satyre lod∣ged in a little Spinet, by which her Ma∣iestie, and the Prince were to come, who (at the report of certayne Corne••s that were diuided in seuerall places of the Parke, to signifie her approch) aduanced his head aboue the top of the wood, won∣dring, and (with his pipe in his hand) be∣gan as followeth.

SATYRE.

HEre? there? and euery where? Some solemnities are neere, That these changes strike mine eare. My pipe and I a part shall beare.

And after a short straine with his pipe; againe.

Looke, see; (beshrew this tree,) What may all this wonder bee? Pipe it, who that list for mee: I'le flie out abroade, and see.

There he leaped downe, and gazing the Queene and Prince in the face, went forward.

That is CYPARISSVS face! And the dame hath SYRINX grace! O that PAN were now in place, Sure, they are of heauenly race.

Here he ranne into the wood againe, and hid himselfe whilst to the sound of ex∣cellent soft Musique, that was there conceald in the thicket; there came trip∣ping vp the lawne, a beuy of Faeries, attending on MAB their Queene, who

falling into an artificiall ring, that was there cut in the path, began to dance a round, whilst their Mistris spake as followeth.

FAERIE.

Haile, and welcome worthiest Queene, Ioy had neuer perfect beene, To the Nymphs that haunt this greene, Had they not this euening seene.

Now they print it on the ground With their feete in figures round, Markes that will be euer found, To remember this glad stound.

The Satyre peeping out of the bush, said.

Trust her not, you bonny-bell, Shee will fortie leasings tell, I doe know her pranks right well.

FAERIE.

Satyre, we must haue a spell, For your tongue, it runnes too fleet.

SATYRE.

Not so nimbly as your feet, When about the creame-bowles sweet, You, and all your Elues doe meet.

Here he came hopping forth, and mixing himselfe with the Faeries skipped in, out, and about their circle, while the Elues made many offers to catch at him.

This is MAB the mistris-Faerie, That doth nightly rob the dayrie, And can hurt, or helpe the cherning, (As shee please) without discerning.

ELFE.

PVG, you will anon take warning? Shee, that pinches countrey wenches, If they rub not cleane their benches, And with sharper nayles remembers, When they rake not vp their embers: But if so they chance to feast her, In a shooe shee drops a tester.

ELFE.

Shall we strip the skipping iester? This is shee, that empties cradles, Takes out children, puts in ladles: Traynes forth mid-wiues in their slumber, With a siue the holes to number. And then leads them, from her borroughs Home through ponds, and water furrowes.

ELFE.

Shall not all this mocking stirre vs? Shee can start our FRANKLINS daughters, In their sleepe, with shrikes, and laughters, And on sweet Saint ANNE'S night, Feed them with a promis'd sight, Some of husbands, some of louers, Which an emptie dreame discouers.

ELFE.

Satyre, vengeance neere you houers, And in hope that you would come here Yester-eue the lady * 1.1 Summer, Shee inuited to a banquet: But (in sooth) I con you thanke yet, That you could so well deceiue her Of the pride which gan vp-heaue her: And (by this) would so haue blowne her, As no wood-god should haue knowne her.

Here he skipped into the wood.

ELFE.

Mistris, this is onely spight: For you would not yester-night Kisse him in the cock-shout light.

And came againe.

SATYRE.

By PAN, and thou hast hit it right.

There they laid hold on him, and nipt him.

FAERY.

Fayries, pinch him black and blue, Now you haue him, make him rue.

SATYRE.

O, hold, MAB: I sue.

ELFE.

Nay, the deuill shall haue his due.

There he ranne quite away and left them in a confusion, while the Faery began againe.

SATYRE.

Pardon lady this wild strayne, Common with the SYLVAN trayne, That doe skip about this plaine: Elues, apply your gyre againe.

And whilst some doe hop the ring, Some shall play, and some shall sing, Weele expresse in euery thing, * 1.2 ORANAS well-comming.

SONG.

THis is shee, This is shee, In whose world of grace Euery season, person, place, That receiue her, happy be, For with no lesse, Then * 1.3 a kingdomes happinesse, Doth shee priuate b 1.4 Lares blesse, And ours aboue the rest: By how much we deserue it least. Long liue ORIANA To exceed (whom shee succeeds) our late DIANA.

FAERY.

Madame, now an end to make, Deigne a simple gift to take: Only for the Faeries sake, Who about you still shall wake.

'Tis done only to supply, His suspected courtesie, Who (since THAMYRA did dye) Hath not brookt a ladies eye,

Nor allow'd about his place, Any of the female race. Only we are free to trace All his grounds, as he to chase.

For which bountie to vs lent, Of him vnknowledgde, or vnsent, We prepar'd this * 1.5 complement, And as farre from cheape intent,

In particular to feed, Any hope that should succeed. Or our glorie by the deed, As your selfe are from the need.

Vtter not; we you implore, Who did giue it, nor wherefore. And when euer you restore Your selfe to vs, you shall haue more.

Highest, happyest Queene farewell, But beware you doe not tell.

Here the Faeries hopt away in a fantastique dance, when on a sodaine the Sa∣tyre discouered himselfe againe and came forth.

SATYRE.

Not tell? Ha, ha, I could smile, At this old, and toothlesse wile. Ladie, I haue beene no sleeper, Shee belyes the noble keeper. Say, that here he like the groues: And pursue no forraine loues, Is he therefore to be deemed, Rude, or sauage? or esteemed, But a sorry entertayner, 'Cause he is no common strayner: After painted Nymphs for fauours, Or that in his garbe he sauours Little of the nicety, In the sprucer courtiery; As the rosarie of kisses, With the oath that neuer misses, This, beleeue me on the brest, And then telling some mans iest, Thinking to preferre his wit, Equall with his suite by it, I meane his clothes: No, no, no, Here doth no such humour flow. He can neither bribe a grace, Nor encounter my lords face With a plyant smile, and flatter, Though this lately were some matter To the making of a courtier. Now he hopes he shall resort there, Safer, and with more allowance; Since a hand hath gouernance, That hath giuen those customes chase, And hath brought his owne in place. O that now a wish could bring, The god-like person of a king, Then should euen Enuy find, Cause of wonder at the mind Of our wood-man: but loe, where His kingly image doth appeare, And is all this while neglected. Pardon (lord) you are respected

Deepe as is the Keepers hart, And as deare in euery part. See, for instance where he sends * 1.6 His son, his heire; who humbly bends Low, as is his fathers earth, To the wombe that gaue you birth So he was directed first, Next to you, of whom the thirst Of seeing takes away the vse Of that part, should plead excuse For his boldnesse, which is lesse By his comly shamefac'tnesse. Rise vp, sir, I will betray, All I thinke you haue to say; That your father giues you here, (Freely as to him you were) To the seruice of this Prince: And with you these instruments Of his wild and Syluan trade, Better not ACTEON had. The bow was PHoeBES, and the horne, By ORION often worne: The dog of Sparta breed, and good, As can ring within a wood; Thence his name is: you shall try How he hunteth instantly. But perhaps the Queene your mother, Rather doth affect some other Sport, as coursing: we will proue Which her highnesse most doth loue. Satyres let the woods resound, They shall haue their welcome crown'd, With a brace of bucks to ground.

At that, the whole wood and place resounded with the noyse of cornets, hornes, and other hunting musique, and a brace of choise Deere put out, and as fortu∣nately kill'd, as they were meant to be; euen in the sight of her Maiestie.

This was the first nights shew. Where the next day being Sunday, shee rested, and on Munday, till after dinner; where there was a speech sodainly thought on, to induce a morrise of the clownes thereabout, who most officiously presented them∣selues, but by reason of the throng of the countrey that came in, their speaker could not be heard, who was in the person of No-body, to deliuer this fol∣lowing speech, and attyred in a paire of breeches which were made to come vp to his neck, with his armes out at his pockets, and a cap drowning his face.

IF my outside moue your laughter, Pray IOVE, my inside be thereafter.

Queene, Prince, Duke, Earles, Countesses; you courtly Pearles: (And, I hope no mortall sinne, If I put lesse Ladies in) Faire saluted be you all. At this time it doth befall, We are the Huisher to a Morrise, (A kind of Masque) whereof good store is In the countrey hereabout, But this, the choise of all the rout. Who, because that no man sent them, Haue got NO-BODIE to present them. These are things haue no suspition Of their ill doing; nor ambition Of their well: but as the Pipe Shall inspire them, meane to skip. They come to see, and to be seene, And though they dance afore the Queene, Ther's none of these doth hope to come by Wealth, to build another Holmby: All those dauncing dayes are done, Men must now haue more then one Grace, to build their fortunes on, Else our soles would sure haue gone, All by this time to our feete. I not deny, where Graces meete In a man, that qualitie Is a gracefull propertie: But when dauncing is his best, (Beshrew me) I suspect the rest. But I am NO-BODIE, and my breath (Soone as it is borne) hath death. Come on clownes, forsake your dumps, And bestirre your hob-nail'd stumps, Doe your worst, Ile vndertake, Not a ierke you haue shall make Any Ladie here in loue. Perhaps your Foole, or so, may moue Some Ladies woman with a trick, And vpon it she may pick A paire of reuelling legs, or two, Out of you, with much adoe.

But see, the Hobby-horse is forgot. Foole, it must be your lot, To supply his want with faces, And some other Buffon graces, You know how; Piper play, And let no bodie hence away.

There was also another parting Speech; which was to haue beene presented in the person of a youth, and accompanied with diuers gentlemens younger sonnes of the countrey: but by reason of the multitudinous presse, was also hindred. And which we haue here adioyned.

ANd will you then, Mirror of Queenes, depart? Shall nothing stay you? not my Masters heart? That pants to leese the comfort of your light, And see his Day ere it be old grow Night? You are a Goddesse, and your will be done: Yet this our last hope is, that as the Sunne Cheeres obiects farre remou'd, as well as neere; So, where so'ere you shine, you'le sparkle here. And you deare Lord, on whom my couetous eye Doth feed it selfe, but cannot satisfie, O shoot vp fast in spirit, as in yeares; That when vpon her head proud Europe weares Her stateliest tire, you may appeare thereon The richest gem, without a paragon. Shine bright and fixed as the Artick starre: And when slow Time hath made you fit for warre, Looke ouer the strict Ocean, and thinke where You may but lead vs forth, that grow vp here Against a day, when our officious swords Shall speake our action better then our words. Till then, all good euent conspire to crowne Your parents hopes, our zeale, and your renowne. Peace vsher now your steps, and where you come, Be Enuie still strooke blind, and Flatterie dumbe.

A PRIVATE ENTERTAINMENT of the KING and QVEENE, on May-day in the Morning, At Sir WILLIAM CORNVVALLEIS his house, at High-gate. 1604.

By the same Author.

THe king, and queene being entred in at the gate, the PENATES, o•• household-gods receiued them, attir'd after the antique man∣ner, with iauelines in their hands, standing on each side of the porch, with this speech.

PENATES.

1.

LEape light hearts in euery brest, Ioy is now the fittest passion; Double maiestie hath blest All the place, with that high grace, Exceedeth admiration!

2.

Welcome, monarch of this Isle, Europes enuie, and her merror; Great in each part of thy stile: Englands wish, and Scotlands blisse, Both France, and Irelands terror.

1.

Welcome, are you; and no lesse, Your admired queene: the glory Both of state, and comelinesse. Euery line of her diuine Forme, is a beautious storie.

2.

High in fortune, as in blood, So are both; and blood renowned By oft falls, that make a flood In your veines: yet, all these streines Are in your vertues drowned.

1.

House, be proud; For of earth's store These two, onely, are the wonder: In them shee's rich, and in no more. Zeale is bound their prayse to sound As loud as fame, or thunder.

2.

Note, but how the ayre, the spring Concurre in their deuotions; Payres of Turtles sit, and sing On each tree, ore-ioy'd to see In them like loue, like motions.

1.

Enter sir, this longing dore, Whose glad lord nought could haue blessed Equally; (I'am sure not more) Then this sight: saue' of your right, When you were first possessed.

2.

That, indeed, transcended this. Since which houre, wherein you gayn'd it. For this grace, both he and his, Euery day, haue learn'd to pray, And, now, they haue obtayn'd it.

Here the PENATES lead them in, through the house, into the garden, where MERCVRY, with a second speech, receiued them, walking be∣fore them.

MER.

Retyre, you houshold-gods, and leaue these excellent creatures to be entertayned by a more eminent deitie. Hayle King, and Queene of the Islands, call'd truely fortunate, and by you made so; To tell you, who I am, and weare all these notable, and speaking ensignes about me, were to challenge you of most impossible ignorance, and accuse my selfe of as palpable glorie: It is inough that you know me here, and come with the licence of my father IOVE, who is the bountie of heauen, to giue you early welcome to the bower of my mother MAIA, no lesse the goodnesse of earth. And may it please you to walke, I will tell you no wonderfull storie. This place, whereon you are now aduanced (by the mightie power of Poetrie, and the helpe of a faith, that can remoue mountaynes) is the Arcadian hill CYLLENE, the place, where my selfe was both begot, and borne; and of which I am frequently call'd CYLLENIVS: Vnder yond' purslane tree stood sometime my cradle. Where, now, behold my mo∣ther MAIA, sitting in the pride of her plentie, gladding the aire with her breath, and cheering the spring with her smiles. At her feet, the blushing AVRORA, who, with her rosie hand, casteth her honie dewes on those sweeter herbs, accompanied with that gentle winde, FAVONIVS, whose subtile spirit, in the breathing forth, FLORA makes into flowers, and sticks them in the grasse, as if shee contended to haue the imbroyderie of the

earth, richer then the cope of the skie. Here, for her moneth, the yeere∣ly delicate May keepes state; and from this Mount, takes pleasure to dis∣play these valleyes, yon'd lesser hills, those statelier edifices, and towers, that seeme enamour'd so farre off, and are rear'd on end, to behold her, as if their vtmost obiect were her beauties. Hither the Dryads of the valley, and Nymphs of the great riuer come euery morning, to taste of her fauors; and depart away with laps fill'd with her bounties. But, see! vpon your approch their pleasures are instantly remitted. The birds are hush'd, ZE∣PHYRE is still, the MORNE forbeares her office, FLORA is dumbe, and herselfe amazed, to behold two such maruailes, that doe more adorne place, then shee can time; Pardon, your Maiestie, the fault, for it is that hath caus'd it; and till they can collect their spirits, thinke silence, and wonder the best adoration.

Here, AVRORA, ZEPHYRVS, and FLORA, began this song in three parts.

SONG.

SEe, see, Ô see, who here is come a Maying! The master of the Ocean; And his beautious ORIAN: Why left we off our playing? To gaze, to gaze, On them, that gods no lesse then men amaze. Vp Nightingale, and sing Iug, jug, jug, jug, &c. Raise Larke thy note, and wing, All birds their musique bring, Sweet Robin, Linet, Thrush, Record, from euery bush, The welcome of the King; And Queene: Whose like were neuer seene, For good, for faire. Nor can be; though fresh May, Should euery day Inuite a seuerall paire, No, though shee should inuite a seuerall paire.

Which ended: MAIA (seated in her bower, with all those personages about her, as before describ'd) began to raise her selfe, and, then declining, spake.

MAI.

If all the pleasures were distill'd Of eu'ry flower, in euery field,

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And all that HIBLA hiues do yeild Were into one broad mazor fild; If, thereto, added all the gummes, And spice, that from PANCHAIA comes, The odour, that HYDASPES lends Or PHoeNIX proues, before she ends; If all the Ayre, my FLORA drew, Or spirit, that ZEPHYRE euer blew; Were put therein; and and all the dew That euer rosy Morning knew; Yet, all diffus'd vpon this bower, To make one sweet detayning houre, Were much too little for the grace, And honor, you vouchsafe the place. But, if you please to come againe, We vow, we will not then, with vaine, And empty passe-times entertayne, Your so desir'd, though grieued payne. For, we will haue the wanton fawnes, That frisking skip, about the lawnes, The Paniskes, and the Siluanes rude, Satyres, and all that multitude, To daunce their wilder rounds about, And cleaue the ayre, with many a shout, As they would hunt poore Echo out Of yonder valley, who doth flout Their rusticke noyse. To visite whome You shall behold whole beuies come Of gaudy Nymphes, who tender calls Well tun'd (vnto the many falls Of sweete, and seuerall sliding rills, That streame from tops of those lesse hills) Sound like so many siluer quills When ZEPHYRE them with musique fills. For these, FAVONIVS here shall blow New flowers, which you shall see to grow, Of which, each hand a part shall take, And, for your heads, fresh garlands make. Wherewith, whilst they your temples round, An ayre of seuerall birds shall sound An Iö paean, that shall drowne The acclamations, at your crowne.

All this, and more then I haue gift of saying, MAY vowes, so you will oft come here a Masing.

MER.

And MERCVRY, her sonne, shall venture the displeasure of his father, with the whole bench of Heauen, that day, but he will doe his mothers intents all seruiceable assistance. Till then, and euer, liue high and happy, you, and your other you; both enuied for your fortunes, lou'd for your graces, and admired for your vertues.

This was the mornings entertaynment; after dinner, the King, and Queene com∣ming againe into the garden, MERCVRY the second time accosted them.

MER.

Againe, great payre, I salute you; and with leaue of all the gods: whose high pleasure it is, that MERCVRY make this your holy-day. May all the blessings both of earth, and heauen, concurre to thanke you: For till this dayes sunne, I haue faintly inioy'd a minutes rest to my crea∣tion. Now, I do, and acknowledge it you sole, and no lesse the diuine bene∣fit. If my desire to delight you, might not diuert to your trouble, I would intreat your eyes to a new, and strange spectacle; a certaine sonne of mine, whom the Arcadians call a god, howsoeuer the rest of the world receiue him: It is the horned PAN, whom in the translated figure of a goate I be∣got on the faire Spartan PENELOPE; MAY, let both your eares, and lookes forgiue it: These are but the lightest escapes of our Deities. And, it is better in me, to preuent his rusticke impudence, by my blushing ac∣knowledgement, then, anon, by his rude, and not insolent clayme, be en∣forced to confesse him. Yonder hee keepes, and with him the wood Nymphes, whose leader he is in rounds, and daunces, to this Syluane mu∣sique. The place, about which they skip, is the fount of laughter, or BACCHVS spring; whose statue is aduanced on the top; and from whose pipes, at an obseru'd howre of the day, there flowes a lustie liquor, that hath the present vertue to expell sadnesse; and within certaine minutes after it is tasted, force all the myrth of the spleene into the face. Of this is PAN the Guardian. Loe! the fountain begins to run, but the Nymphes at your sight are fled. PAN, and his Satyres wildly stand at gaze. I will approach, and question him: vouchsafe your eare, and forgiue his beha∣uiour, which (euen to me, that am his parent) will no doubt be rude ynough, though otherwise full of salt, which, except my presence did temper, might turne to be gall, and bitternesse; but that shall charme him.

PAN.

O, it is MERCVRY! Hollow 'hem, agen, What be all these, father? gods, or men?

MER.

All humane. Onely, these two are deities on earth, but such, as the greatest powers of heauen may resigne to.

PAN.

Why did our Nymphes run away? can you tell? Here be sweet beauties loue MERCVRY well? I see by their lookes. How say you? great master? Will you please to heere? Shall I be your taster?

MER.

PAN, you are too rude.

PAN.

It is but a glasse, By my beard, and my hornes, tis a health, and shall passe. Were he a king, and his mistresse a queene This draught shall make him a petulant spleene. But, trow, is he loose, or costiue of laughter? I'ld know, to fill him his glasse, thereafter, Sure, either my skill, or my sight doth mock, Or this lordings looke should not care for the smock; And yet he should loue both a horse and a hound, And not rest till he saw his game on the ground: Well, looke to him, Dame; beshrow me were I 'Mongst these bonny-bells, you should need a good eye. Here mistresse; all out. Since a god is your skinker: By my hand, I beleeue you were borne a good drinker. They are things of no spirit, their blood is asleepe, That, when it is offred 'hem do not drinke deepe. Come, who is next? Our liquour here cooles. Ladies, I'am sure, you all ha' not fooles At home to laugh at. A little of this, Tane downe here in priuate, were not amisse. Beleeue it, she drinkes like a wench, that had store Of lord for her laughter, will you haue more? What answere you, lordings? will you any, or none? Laugh, and be fat, sir, your penance is knowne. They that loue mirth, let 'hem heartily drinke, 'Tis the only receipt, to make sorrow sinke. The yong Nymph, that's troubled with an old man, Let her laugh him away, as fast as he can. Nay drinke, and not pause, as who would say must you? But laugh at the wench, that next doth trust you. To you, sweet beauty; nay, 'pray you come hether: E're you sit out, yow'le laugh at a fether. Ile neuer feare you, for being too wittie, You sip, so like a forsooth of the citie, Lords, for your selues, your owne cups crowne, The ladies, ifaith, else will laugh you downe. Goe to, little blushet, for this, anan, Yow'le steale forth a laugh in the shade of your fan. This, and another thing, I can tell you, Will breed a laughter, as low as your belly Of such sullen pieces, IOVE send vs not many, They must be tickled, before they will any. What haue we done? They that want, let'hem call, Gallants, of both sides, you see here is all.

PAN'S entertaynment: Looke for no more. Only, good faces, I reed you, make store Of your amorous Knights, and Squiers hereafter, They are excellent sponges, to drinke vp your laughter. Farewell, I must seeke out my Nymphs, that you frighted; Thanke HERMES, my father, if ought' haue delighted.

MER.

I am sure, thy last rudenesse cannot; for it makes me seriously asham'd. I will not labor his excuse, since I know you more readie to par∣don, then he to trespasse: but, for your singular patience, tender you all aboundance of thankes; and, mixing with the Master of the place, in his wishes, make them my diuinations: That your loues be euer flourishing as May, and your house as fruitfull: That your acts exceed the best, and your yeares the longest of your predecessors: That no bad fortune touch you, nor good change you. But still, that you triumph, in this facilitie, ouer the ridiculous pride of other Princes; and for euer liue safe in the loue, ra∣ther, then the feare of your subiects.

And thus it ended.

BEN. IONSON.

The entertainment of the tvvo Kings of Great BRITAINE and DENMARKE at THEOBALDS, Iuly 24. 1606.

THe Kings being entred the inner Court; aboue, ouer the porch, sate the three Howers, vpon clouds, as at the ports of Heauen; crown'd with seuerall flowers: of which, one bore a Sunne-diall; the other, a Clock; the third, an Hower-glasse; signifying as by their names, Law, Iustice, and Peace. And for those faculties chosen to gratulate their comming with this speech.

ENter, Ô long'd for Princes, blesse these bowers, And vs, the three, by you made happie, Howers: We that include all Time, yet neuer knew Minute like this, or obiect like to you. Two Kings, the worlds prime honors, whose accesse Shewes eithers greatnesse, yet makes neither lesse: Vouchsafe your thousand welcomes in this shewer; The Master vowes, not SYBILL'S leaues were truer.

Express'd to the King of DENMARKE thus.

Qui colit has aedeis, ingentia gaudia adumbrans, Cernendo Reges pace coïre pares, Nos tempestiuas, ad limina, collocat Horas, Quòd bona sub nobis omnia proueniant. Vnum ad laetitiae cumulum tristatur abesse, Quòd nequeat signis laetitiam exprimere. Sed, quia res solùm ingentes hâc parte laborant Vtcun{que} expressam credidit esse satis. At, quod non potuit Dominus, suppleuit abunde Frondoso tellus munere facta loquax. Eccos quàm grati veniant quos terra salutat! Verior his folijs nulla SYBILLA fuit.

The Inscriptions on the walls were,

DATE VENIAM SVBITIS. DEBENTVR QVAE SVNT QVAE{que} FVTVRA.

EPIGRAMMES hung vp.

Ad Reges Serenissimos:

SAEpè THEOBALDAE (sortis bonitate beatae) Excepêre suos sub pia tecta deos; Haud simul at geminos: sed enim potuisse negabant: Nec fas est tales posse putare duos. Fortunata antehâc, sed nunc domus vndique faelix, At Dominus quantò (si licet vsque) magis! Et licet, ô MAGNI, folijs si siditis istis, Quêis HORAE summam contribuere fidem.

Ad Serenissimum IACOBVM.

Miraris, cur hospitio te accepimus HORAE, Cuius ad obsequium non satis annus erat? Nempè quòd adueniant ingentia gaudia raro, Et quando adueniant vix datur hora frui.

Ad Serenissimum CHRISTIANVM.

Miraris, cur hospitio te accepimus HORAE, Quas Solis famulas Graecia docta vocat? Talis ab aduentu vestro lux fulsit in aedeis, Vt Dominus solem crederet esse nouum.

Others, at their departure.

Ad Serenissimum IACOBVM.

HOspitio qui te caepit, famulantibus Horis, Cedere abhinc, nullâ concomitante sinit; Nempe omneis horas veniendi duxit amicas Sed discedendi nulla minuta probat.

Ad Serenissimum CHRISTIANVM.

Te veniente, nouo domus haec frondebat amictu; Te discessuro, non prout ante viret: Nempe, sub accessu solis, nouus incipit Annus, Et, sub discessu, squalida saeuit Hyems.

The Author B. I.

An Entertainment of King IAMES and Queene ANNE, at THEOBALDS, When the House was deliuered vp, with the possession, to the QVEENE, by the Earle of SALISBVRIE, 22. of MAY, 1607.

The Prince IANVILE, brother to the Duke of GVISE, being then present.

THe King, and Queene, with the Princes of Wales, and Lorraine, and the Nobilitie, being entred into the gallerie, after dinner; there was seene nothing but a trauerse of white, acrosse the roome: which sodainely drawne, was discouered a gloomie obscure place, hung all with black silkes, and in it only one light, which the GE∣NIVS of the house held, sadly attir'd; his Cornucopia readie to fall out of his hand, his gyrland drooping on his head, his eyes fixed on the ground; when, out of this pensiue posture, after some little pause, he brake, and began.

GENIVS.

LEt not your glories darken, to behold The place, and me, her GENIVS here, so sad; Who, by bold Rumor, haue beene lately told, That I must change the loued Lord, I had. And he, now, in the twy-light of sere age, Begin to seeke a habitation new;

And all his fortunes, and himselfe engage Vnto a seat, his fathers neuer knew. And I, vncertaine what I must endure, Since all the ends of dest'ny' are obscure.

Here a voice was heard, from behind the darknesse, which bade him,

MERCVRIE.

Despaire not, GENIVS, thou shalt know thy fate.

And withall, the black vanishing, was discouered a glorious place, figuring the Lararium, or seat of the household-gods, where both the Lares, and Penates, were painted, in copper colours; erected with Columnes and Architrabe, Freeze, and Coronice, in which were placed diuers Diaphanall glasses, fill'd with seuerall waters, that shew'd like so many stones, of orient and transparent hiewes. Within, as farder off, in Landtschap, were seene clouds riding, and in one corner, a boy figu∣ring Good Euent, attyred in white, houering in the' ayre, with wings displayed, hauing nothing seene to sustaine him by, all the time the Shew lasted: At the other corner, a MERCVRIE descended, in a flying posture, with his Caduceus on his hand, who spake to the three PARCAE, that sate low in a grate, with an yron roofe, the one holding the rocke, the other the spindle, and the third the sheeres, with a booke of Adamant lying open befor•• them. But first, the GENIVS sur∣priz'dly wonder, vrg'd this doubt, by question.

GENIVS.

WHat sight is this, so strange! and full of state! The sonne of MAIA, making his descent Vnto the fates, and met with good Euent.

MERCVRIE.

Daughters of night, and secrecie, attend; You, that draw out the chayne of Destinie, Vpon whose threds, both liues and times depend, And all the periods of mortalitie. The will of IOVE is, that you streight doe looke The change, and fate vnto this house decreed, And speaking from your Adamantine booke, Vnto the GENIVS of the place it read; That he may know, and knowing, blesse his lot, That such a grace, beyond his hopes, hath got.

CLOTHO.

When, vnderneath thy roofe, is seene The greatest King, and fairest Queene, With Princes an vnmatched payre, One, hope of all the earth, their heyre; The other styled of Lorraine, Their bloud; and sprung from CHARLEMAINE:

When all these Glories iointly shine, And fill thee with a heat diuine, And these reflected, doe beget And splendent Sunne, shall neuer set, But here shine fixed, to affright All after-hopes of following night, Then, GENIVS, is thy period come, To change thy Lord: Thus, Fates doe doome.

GENIVS.

But is my Patron with this lot content, So to forsake his fathers moniment? Or, is it gaine, or else necessitie, Or will to raise a house of better frame, That makes him shut forth his posteritie Out of his patrimonie, with his name?

MERCVRIE.

Nor gaine, nor need; much lesse a vaine desire, To frame new roofes, or build his dwelling higher; He hath, with mortar, busied beene too much, That his affections should continue such.

GENIVS.

Doe men take ioy in labors, not t'enioy? Or doth their businesse all their likings spend? Haue they more pleasure in a tedious way, Then to repose them at their iourneys end?

MERCVRIE.

GENIVS, obey, and not expostulate; It is your vertue: and such powers as you, Should make religion of offending fate, Whose doomes are iust, and whose designes are true.

LACHESIS.

The person, for whose royall sake, Thou must a change so happie make, Is he, that gouernes with his smile, This lesser world, this greatest Isle. His Ladies seruant thou must be; Whose second would great NATVRE see, Or FORTVNE, after all their paine, They might despaire to make againe.

ATROPOS.

She is the grace of all, that are: And as ELISA, now a starre,

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Notes

• * 1.1

  For shee was expected here on Mid-sum∣mer day at night, but came not till the day fol∣lowing.
• * 1.2

  Quasi Orions ANNA.
• * 1.3

  Bringing with her the Prince, which is the greatest felicitie of kingdomes.
• b 1.4

  For house∣holds.
• * 1.5

  A iewell was giuen her.
• * 1.6

  Here the Satyre fetcht out of the wood, the Lord Spencers eldest sonne, attyr'd and ap∣pointed like a huntsman.