Poems, with a maske by Thomas Carew ... ; the songs were set in musick by Mr. Henry Lawes ...

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SCAENE.

THe first thing that presented it selfe to the sight, was a rich Ornament that enclosed the Scaene; in the upper part of which were great branches of Fo∣iage growing out of leaves and huskes, with a Coronice at the top; and in the midst was pla∣ced a large Compartiment composed of Gro∣tesk work, wherein were Harpies with Wings and Lyons clawes, and their hinder parts converted into leaves and branches; over all was a broken Frontispice, wrought with krowles and masque heads of Children, and within this a Table adorn'd with a lesser Com∣partiment, with this Inscription, COELVM BRITANNICVM. The two sides of this Ornament were thus ordered: First, from the ground arose a square Basement, and on the Plinth stood a great vaze of gold, richly encha∣sed, and beautified with Sculptures of great Releine, with frutages hanging from the upper-part; At the foot of this sate two youths naked, in their naturall colours, each of these with one arme supported the Vaze, on the co∣ver of which stood two young women in Draperies, arme in arme, the one figuring the

glory of Princes, and the other Mansuetude: their other armes bore up an Ovall, in which, to the Kings Majesty was this Imprese, A Lyon with an Imperiall Crown on his head; the word, Animum subpectore forti: On the other side was the like Composition, but the designe of the Figures va∣ried; and in the Ovall on the top, being borne up by Nobility and Fecundity, was this Imprese to the Queenes Majesty, A Lilly growing with bran∣ches and leaves, and three lesser Lillies springing out of the Stem; the word, Semper inclita Virtus: Al this Ornament was heightned with Gold, and for the Invention, and various composition was the newest and most gracious that hath beene done in this place.

The Curtaine was watcher, and a pale yellow in panes, which flying up on the sudden, discove∣red the Scaene, representing old Arches, old Pala∣ces, decayed wals, parts of Temples, Theaters, Basilica's and Thermes with confused heaps of bro∣ken Columnes, Bases, Coronices and Statues, lying as under-ground, and altogether resembling the ruines of some great Citie of the ancient Ro∣mans or civiliz'd Britains. This strange prospect detain'd the eyes of the Spectators sometime, when to a loud Musick Mercury descends; on the upper part of his Chariot stands a Cock in action of crowing: his habit was a Coat of flame colour girt to him, and a white Mantle trimm'd with gold and silver; upon his head a wreath with small fals of white Feathers, a Caduseus in his hand, and

wings at his heels: being come to the ground he dismounts, and goés up to the State.

Mercury

FRom the high Senate of the gods, to You Bright glorious Twins of Love and Majesty, Before whose Throne three warlike Nations bend Their willing knees, on whose Imperiall browes The Regall Circle prints no awfull frownes To fright your Subjects, but whose calmer eyes Shed joy and safety on their melting hearts That flow with cheerfull loyall reverence, Come I cyllenius, Jove's Ambassadour, Not as of old, to whisper amorcus tales Of wanton love, into the glowing eare Of some choyce beauty in this numerous train; Those dayes are fled, the rebell flame is quench'd In heavenly breasts, the gods have sworn by Styx, Never to tempt yeelding mortality To loose embraces. Your exémplar life Hath not alone transfus'd a zealous heat Of imitation through your vertuous Court, By whose bright blaze your Palace is become The envy'd pattern of this under world, But the aspiring flame hath kindled heaven; Th'immortall bosoms burn with emulous fires, Jove rivals your great vertues, Royall Sir, And Iuno, Madam, your attractive graces; He his wild lusts, her raging jealousies She layes aside, and through th'Olympique hall, As yours doth here, their great Example spreads, And though of old, when youthfull blood conspir'd With his new Empire, prone to heats of lust, He acted incests, rapes, adulteries On earthly beauties, which his raging Queen, Swoln with revengefull fury turn'd to beast,

And in despight he transform'd to Stars, Till hee had stil'd the crowded Firmament With his loose Strumpets, and their spurious race, Where the eternall records of his shame Shine to the world in flaming Characters; When in the Chrystall myr our of your raign He view'd himself, he found his loathsome staines; And now to expiate the infections guilt Of those detested luxuries hee'll chace Th'infámous lights from their usurped Sphere, And drown in the Laethean flood, their curs'd Both names and memories. In whose vacant roomes, First you succeed, and of the wheeling Orbe In the most eminent and conspicuo is point, With dazel ng beames, and spreading magnitude, Shine the bright Pole starre of thi Hemispheare, Next, by your side, in a triumphant Chaire, And crown'd with Ariadnes Diadem, Sits the faire Consort of your heart, and Throne; Diffus'd about you, with that share of light As they of vertue have deriv'd from you, Hee'll fix this Noble train, of either sexe; So to the British stars this lower Globe Shall owe its light, and they alone dispence To'th' world a pure refined influence.

Enter Momus attired in a long darkish Robe, all wrought over with ponyards, Serpents tongues, eyes and eares, his beard and hair party-coloured and upon his head a wreath stucke with Feathers, and a Porcupine in the forepart.

Momus.

BY your leave, Mortals. Good Cozen Her∣mes, your pardon good my Lord Ambassa∣dour:

I found the tables of your Armes and Ti∣tles, in every Inne betwixt this and Olympus, where your present expedition is registred your nine thousandth nine hundred ninety ninth Lega∣tion. I cannot reach the policy why your Master breeds so few States men, it suits not with his dignity, that in the whole Empyiaeum there should not be a god fit to send on these honoura∣ble errands but your selfe, who are not yet so care∣full of his honour or your owne, as might become your quality, when you are itinerant: the Hosts upon the high-way cry out with open mouth upon you for supporting plafery in your traine; which, though as you are the god of pet∣ty Larciny, you might protect, yet you know it is directly against the new orders, and opposes the Reformation in Diameter.

Merc.

Peace Rayler, bridle your licentious tongue.

And let this Presence teach you modesty.

Mom.

Let it if it can; in the meane time I will acquaint it with my condition. Know, (gay people) that though your poets who enjoy by patent a particular privilege to draw down any of the Deities from Twelf-night till Shrove-tuesday, at what time there is annually a most fa∣miliar enter-course between the two Courts, have as yet never invited mee to these Solemni∣ties, yet it shall appear by my intrusion this night. that I am a very confiderable person upon these occasions, and may most properly assist at such

entertainments. My name is Momus ap-Somnus-ap-Erebus-ap-Chaos-ap-Demorgorgon-ap-Eternity, My Offices and Titles are, The Supreme Theo∣mastix, Hupercritique of manners, protonotary of abuses, Arch-Informer, Dilator Generall, Vniversall Calumniator, Eternall plaintiffe, and perpetuall Foreman of the Grand Inquest. My privileges are an ubiquitary, circumambulatory, speculatory, interrogatory, redargutory, immu∣nity over all the privy lodgings, behind hang∣ings, doores, curtaines, through key-holes, chinks, windowes, about all Venerial Lobbies, Skonces, or Redoubts, though it bee to the surprize of a perdu Page or Chambermald, in, and at all Courts of civill and criminall judicature, all Counsels, Consultations, and parliamentary Assemblies, where though I am but a Wool-sack god, and have no vote in the sanction of new lawes, I have yet a praerogative of wresting the old to any whatsoever interpretation, whe∣ther it be to the behoose, or prejudice, of Iu∣piter, his Crowne and Dignity, for, or against the Rights of either house of patrician or plebeian gods. My naturall qualities are to make Iove frowne, Iuno powt, Mars chafe, Venus blush, Vulcan glow, Saturne quake, Cyuthia pale, Phaebus hide his face, and Mercury here take his heeles. My recreations are witty mis∣chiefes, as when Saturne guelt his Father; The Smith caught his wife and her Bravo in a net of Cobweb-Iron; and Hebe, through the

lubricity of the pavement stumbling over the Halfpace, presented the Embleme of the forked tree, and discover'd to the tann'd Ethiops the snowie cliffs, of Calabria with the Grotta of Pu∣teolum. But that you may arrive at the perfect knowledge of me, by the familiar illustration of a Bird of mine own feather, old Peter Aretine, who reduc'd all the Scepters and Myters of that Age tributary to his wit, was my parallell, and Franke Rablais suck'd much of my milke too; but your moderne French Hospitall of Oratory, is a meer counterfeit, an arrant Mountebank, for though fearing no other fortunes than his Sciatica, hee discourse of Kings and Queens with as little Re∣verence as of Grooms and Chambermaids, yet he wants their fangteeth, and Scorpions tayl; I meane that fellow, who to adde to his stature thinks it a greater grace to dance on his tiptoes like a Dog in a doublet, than to walke like other men on the soles of his feet.

Merc.

No more impertinent Trifeler, you di∣sturb

The great Affair with your rude scurrilous chat. What doth the knowledge of your abject state Concerue Ioves solemn Message?

Mom.

Sir, by your favour, though you have a more especiall Commission of employment from Iupiter, and a larger entertainment from his Exchequer, yet as a freedom God I have the li∣berty to travell at mine own charges, without your passe or countenance Legacine; and that it

may appear a sedulous acute observer, may know as much as a dull flegmatique Ambassador, and weares a treble key to unlock the mysterious Cyphers of your darke secrecies. I will discourse the politique state of Heaven to this trim Audi∣ence—

At this Scaene changeth, and in the heaven is discovered a Sphere, with Stars placed in their severall Images; born up by a huge naked Fi∣gure (onely a peece of Drapery hanging over his thigh) kneeling and bowing forwards; as if the great weight lying on his shoulders op∣prest him, upon his head a Crowne, by all which he might easily be known to be Atlas.

—You shall understand that Iupiter upon the in∣spection of I know not what vertuous. Presi∣dents extant (as they say) here in this Court, but as I more probably ghesse out of the con∣sideration of the decay of his naturall abilities, hath before a frequent convocation of the Super∣lunary Peers in a solemn oration recanted, dis∣claymed, and utterly renounced all the lascivious extravagancies & riotous enormities of his fore∣past licentious life, and taken his oath on Iunos Breviary, religiously kissing the two-leave'd Book, never to stretch his limbs mor betwixt adutre∣rous sheets and hath with pathetical remonstran∣ces exhorted and under strict penalties enjoyned, a respective conformity in the severall subordi∣nate Deities; and because the Libertines of An∣tiquity, the Ribald Poets, to perpetuate the

memory and example of their triumphs over chastity, to all future imitation, have in their im∣mortall songs celebrated the martyrdom of those Strumpets under the persecution of the wives, and devolved to posterity the pedigrees of their whores, bawds, and bastards, it is therefore by the authority aforesaid enacted, that this whole Army of Constellations be immediatly dis-banded and casheered so to remove all impu∣tation of impiety from the Caelestiall Spirits, and all lust-full influences upon terrestriall bodies, and consequently that there be an Inquisition erected to expunge in the Ancient, and suppresse in the modern and succeeding Poems and pamphlets, all past present and future mention of those ab∣jur'd heresies, and to take particular notice of all ensuing Incontinences, and punish them in their high Commission Court. Am not I in election to be a tall States-man think you, that can repeat a passage at a Counsell-table thus punctually?

Merc.

I shun in vaine the importunity, With which this Snarler vexeth all the gods, Iove cannot scape him: wel what els from heaven?

Mom

Heaven! Heaven is no more the place it was; a Cloyster of Carthusians, a Monastery of converted gods, Iove is grown old and fearfull, apprehends a subversion of his Empire, and doubts lest Fate should introduce a legal succession in the legitimate heir by repossessing the Titanian line, and hence springs all this innovation. Wee have had new orders read in the presence Chamber, by

the Vi-President of Parnassus, too strict to be ob∣served long, Monopolies are called in, sophistica∣tion of wares punished, and rates imposed on commodities. Injunctions are gone out to the Nectar Brewers, for the purging of the heavenly Beverage of a narcotique weed which hath rendred the Idaeaes confus'd in the Divine intel∣lects, and reducing it to the composition used in Saturnes Reign. Edicts are made for the resto∣ring of decayed house-keeping, prohibiting the repayr of Families to the Metropolis, but this did endanger an Amazonian mutiny, till the females put on a more masculine resolution of solliciting business in their own persons, and leaving their husbands at home for stallions of hospitality. Bacchus hath commanded all Taverus to be shut, and no liquor drawn after ten at night. Cupid must goe no more so scandalously naked, but but is en∣joyed to make him breeches, though of his mo∣thers petticoats. Gauimede is forbidden the Bed∣chamber, and must onely Minister in publike. The Gods must keepe no Pages, nor Groomes of their Chamber, under the age of 25. and those provided of a competent stocke of beard. Pan may not pipe, nor Proteus juggle, but by es∣pecial permission. Vulcan was brought to an Ore∣tenus and fined, for driving in a plate of Iron into one of the Suns Chariot-wheels, and frost-nailing his horses upon the fifth of November last, for breach of a penal Statute, prohibiting work upon Holi-dayes, that being the annuall celebration of

the Gygantomacy. In brief, the whole state of the Hierarchy suffers a totall reformation, especi∣ally in the point of reciprocation of conjugall affection. Venus hath confest all her adulteries, and is receiv'd to grace by her husband, who con∣scious of the great disparity betwixt her perfe∣ctions and his deformities, allowes those levities as an equall counterpoize; but it is the prettiest spectacle to see her stroaking with her Ivory hand his collied cheeks, and with her snowie fingers combing his sooty beard. Jupiter too begins to learn to lead his owne wife, I left him practising in the milky way; and there is no doubt of an uni∣versall obedience, where the Lawgiver himself in his own person observes his decrees so pun∣ctually, who besides, to eternize the memory of that great example of Matrimoniall union which he derives from hence, hath on his Bed-chamber doore and seeling, fretted with starres in capitall Letters, engraven the Inscription of CARLO-MARIA. This is as much I am sure as either your knowledge or Instructions can direct you to, which I having in a blunt round tale, with∣out State, formality, politique inferences, or sus∣pected Rhetoricall elegancies, already delivered, you may now dexterously proceed to the second Part of your charge, which is the raking of your heavenly sparks up in the Embers, or reducing the Etheriall lights to their primitive opaci∣ty, and grosse dark subsistence; they are all unri∣vited from the Sphere, and hang loose in their

sockets, where they but attend the waving of your Caduce, and immediatly they re-invest their pristine shapes, and appear before you in their own naturall deformities.

Merc.

Momus thou shalt prevail, for since thy bold Intrusion hath inverted my resolves, I must obey necessity, and thus turn My face, to breath the Thunders just decree Gainst this adult rate sphere, which first I purge Of loathsome Monsters, and mis-shapen formes; Down from her azure concave, thus I charm The Lyrnean Hydra, the rough unlick'd Bear? The watchfull Dragon, the storm-boading Whale, The Centaur, the horn'd Goatfish Capricorn, The Snake-head Gorgon, and fierce Sagittar: Divested of your gorgeous stany robes, Fall from the circling Orb, and e'r you suck Fresh venome in, measure this happy earth, Then to the Fens, Caves, Forrests, Desarts, Seas, Fly, and resume your native qualities.

Thy dance in those monstrous shapes, the first Antimask of naturall deformity.

Mom.

Are not these fine companions trim Play-fellowes for the Deities? yet these and their fel∣lows have made up all our conversation for some thousands of years. Doe not you fair La∣dies acknowledge your selves deeply engaged now to those Poets your servants that in the height of commendation have rais'd your beau∣ties to a parallel with such exact proportions or at least rank'd you in their spruce society? Hath not the consideration of these Inhabitants rather frighted your thoughts utterly from the contem∣plation

of the place? but now that these heavenly Mansions are to be void, you that shall hereafter be found unlodged will become inexusable; espe∣cially since vertue alone shall be sufficient title, fine and rent: yet if there be a Lady not compe∣tently stock'd that way shee shall not on the in∣stant utterly despair, if she carry a sufficient pawn of handsomenesse for however the letter of the Law runs, Iupeter notwithstanding his Age and present ansterity, will never refuse to stamp beau∣ty, and make it current with his own Impression; but to such as are destitute of both, I can afford but small encouragement. Proceed Cozen Mer∣cury, what followes?

Merc.

Look up, and mark where the bright Zodiack Hangs like a Belt about the breast or heaven; On the right shoulder, like a flaming Iewell, His shell with nine much Topazes adorn'd, Lord of this Tropique fits the skalding Crab, He, when the Sun gallops in full career His annuall race, his gastly clawes uprear'd, Frights at the confines of the torrid Zone The fiery team, and proudly stops their course, Making a solstice, till the fierce Steeds learn His backward paces, and so retrogade, Poste downe hill to th'opposed Capricorn. Thus I depose him from his lofty Throne; Drop from the sky, into the briny flood, There teach thy motion to the ebbing Sea, But let those fires that beautifi'd thy shell Take humane shapes, and the disorder shew Of thy regressive spaces here below,

The second Antimasque is danc'd in retrograde pa∣ces, expressing obliquity in motion

Mom.

This Crab, I confesse, did ill become the heavens; but there is another that more infests the Earth, and makes such a solstice in the poli∣ter Arts and Sciences, as they have not been ob∣served for many Ages to have made any sensible advance: could you but lead the learned squa∣drons with a masculine resolution past this point of retrogradation, it were a benefit to mankind, worthy the power of a god and to bee payed with Altars; but that not being the worke of this night, you may pursue your purposes: what now succeeds?

Merc.

Vice, that unbodied, in the Appetite Erects his Throne, hath yet, in bestiall shapes, Branded, by Nature, with the Character And distinct stamp of some peculiar Ill, Mounted the Sky, and fix'd his Trophies there: As fawning flattery in the little Dog; I'th' bigger, churlish Murmur; Cowardize I'th' timorous Hare; Ambition in the Eagle; Rapine and Avarice in th'adventurous Ship That sayl'd to Colchos for the golden fleece; Drunken distemper in the Goblet stowes; I'th' Dart and Scorpion, biting Calumny; In Hercules and the Lyon, furious rage; Vaine Ostentation in Cassiope: All these I to eternall exile doome, But to this place their Emblem'd Vices summon, Clad in those proper Figures, by which best Their incorporeall nature is exprest.

The third Antimasque is danc'd of these severall vices, expressing their deviation from Vertue.

Mom.

From henceforth it shall be no more ••id in the Proverb, when you would expresse ••••riotous Assembly, That hell but Heaven is broke ••••ose: this was an arrant Goale-delivery, all the ••••risons of your great Cities could not have vo∣••••ed more corrupt matter: but Cozen Cylleni∣••••, in my judgement it is not safe that these infe∣••••ous persons should wander here to the hazard this Iland, they threatned lesse danger when they were nayl'd to the Firmament: I should con∣ceive it a very discreet course, since they are pro∣vided of a tall vessell of their own ready rigg'd, membarque them all together in that goodship called the Argo, and send them to the plantation in New-England, which hath purg'd more viru∣lent humours from the politique body, than Guai∣••••m and all the West-Indian drugs have from the naturall bodies of this Kingdome. Can you de∣vise how to dispose them better?

Merc.

They cannot breath this pure and temperate Ayr Where Vertue lives, but will with hasty flight, ongst fogs and vapours, seek unsound abodes. Fly after them, from your usurped fears, You foul remainders of that viporous brood: Let not a Starte of aluxurious race With his loose blaze stain the skies chrystall face.

All the Stars are quench'd, and the Spheare darkened.

Before the entry of every Antimasque, the stars in those figures in the Spheare which they were to represent were extinct; so as by the end of the Antimasques in the Spheare no more Starres were scene.

Mom.

Here is a totall Ecclipse of the eight Sphere, which neither Booker, Allestre, nor any of your Prognosticators, no nor their great Ma∣ster Tico were aware of; but yet in my opinion there were some innocent and some generous Constellations, that might have been reserved for Noble uses: as the Skales and Swordto adorne the statue of Iustice, since she resides here on earth only in Picture and Esfigie. The Eagle had beene a fit present for the Germans in regard their Bird hath mew'd most of her feathers lately. The Dol∣phin too had beene most welcome to the French, and then had you but clapt Perseus on his Pega∣sus brandishing his sword the Dragon yawning on his back under the horses feet, with Phthon's dart through his throat there had beene a Divine St. George for his Nation: but since you have improvidently shuffled them altogether, it now refts only that we provide and immidiate succes∣sion and to that purpose I will instantly proclaim a free Election.

Oyes, Oyes, Oyes, By the Father of the gods, and the King of men,

Whereas we having observed a very commen∣dable practice taken into frequent use by the Prin∣ces of these latter Ages, of perpetuating the me∣mory of their famous enterprizes, sieges, battles, victories, in Pictures, Sculpture, Tapistry, Embroy∣deries and other manifactures, wherewith they have embellished their publike palaces, and taken into Our more distinct and serious consideration, ••••e particular Christmas hanging of the Guard Chamber of this Court, wherein the Navall Vi∣ctory of 88. is to the eternall glory of this Na∣tion exactly delineated; and whereas We likewise out of a propheticall imitation of this so lauda∣ble custome, did for many thousand years before, adorne and beautifie the eighth room of Our cae∣lestiall Mansion, commonly called the Star-cham∣ber, with the military adventures, stratagems at∣chievements, feats, and defeats, performed in Our Own person, whilst yet Our Standard was cre∣cted, and we a Combatant in the Amorous war∣fare, It hath notwthstanding, after mature deli∣beration, and long debate, held first in our own inscrutable bosome, and afterwards communica∣ted with Our Privie Counsell, seemed meet to Our Omnipotency, for causes to Our self best known, to unfurnish and dis-array Our fore-said Starre-Chamber of all those Ancient Coustellations which have for so many Ages been sufficiently notorious, and to admit into their va∣cant places, such Persons only as shall be qualified with exemplar Vertue and eminent Desert, there

to shine in indelible Characters of glory to all po∣sterity. It is therefore Our divine will and plea∣sure, voluntarily, and out of our own free and proper motion, meere grace, and speciall favour, by these presents to specifie and declare to all our loving people, that it shall be lawfull for any Per∣son whatsoever, that conceiveth him or her¦selfe to be really endued with any Heroicall Ver∣tue, or transcendent Merit, worthy so high a cal∣ling and dignity, to bring their severall pleas and pretences before Our Right trusty and Wel-belo∣ved Cozen and Connsellor, Don Mercury, and god Momus, &c. Our peculiar Delegates for that affair, upon whom we have transferr'd an absolute power to conclude and determine without Ap∣peale or Revocation, accordingly as to their wisedomes it shall in such cases appeare behove∣full and expedient. Given at Our palace in Olym∣pus the first day of the first moneth, in the first yeare of the Reformation,

Plutus enters, an old man full of wrinkles, a bald head, a thin white beard, spectacles on his nose, with a buncht back, and attir'd in a Robe of Cloath of gold.

Plutus appeares.

Merc.

Who's this appeares?

Mom.

This is a subterranean Friend, Plutus, in this Dialect term'd Riches, or the god of Gold; a poyson hid by Providence in the botome of the Seas, and Navill of the Earth, from mans discovery, where if the seeds begun to sprout

above-ground, the excrescence was carefully guarded by Dragons; yet at last by humane curiosity brought to light, to their owne destruction; this being the true Pandora's box, whence issued all those mischiefes that now fill the Vniverse.

Plut.

That I prevent the message of the gods Thus with my haste, and not attend their summons, Which ought in lustice call me to the place I now require of Right, is not alone To shew the just precedence that I hold Before all earthly, next th'immortall Powers; But to exclude the hope of partiall Grace In all Pretenders, who, since I descend To equall tryall, must by my example, Waving your favour, claym by sole Desert. If Vertue must inherit, shee's my slave; I lead her captive in a golden chayn, About the world: She takes her Form and Being From my creation; and those barren seeds That drop from heaven, if I not cherish them With my distilling dewes, and fotive heat, They know no vegetation; but expos'd To blasting winds of freezing Poverty, Or not shoot forth at all, or budding, wither. Should I proclaim the daily sacrifice Brought to my Temples by the toyling rout, Not of the fat and gore of abject Beasts, But humane sweat, and blood powr'd on my Altars, I might provoke the envy of the gods. Turn but your eyes and mark the busie world, Climbing steep Mountains for the sparkling stones, Piercing the Center for the shining Ore, And th'Oceans bosome to rake pearly sands, Crossing the torrid and the frozen zones Midst Rocks and swallowing Gulfes for gainfull trade,

And through opposing swords, fire, murdering Canon, Skaling the walled Towns for precious spoyls. Plant in the passage to your heavenly seats, These horrid dangers, and then see who dares Advance his desperate foot: yet am I sought, And oft in vain, through these and greater hazards I could discover how your Deities Are for my sake sleighted, despis'd, abus'd, Your Temples, Shrines, Altars, and Images, Vncover'd, rifled, robb'd, and dis-array'd By sacrilegious hands: yet is this treasure To th'golden Mountain, where I sit ador'd, With superstitious solemn rights convay'd, And becomes sacred there, the sordid wreteh Not daring touch the consecrated Ore, Or with prophane hands lessen the bright heap: But this might draw your anger down on mortals For rendring me the homage due to you: Yet what is said may well express my power Too great for Earth, and only fit for Heaven. Now, for your pastime, view the naked root, Which in the dirty earth, and base mould drown'd, Sends forth this precious Plant, and golden fruit. You lusty Swaines, that to your grazing flocks Pipe amorous Roundelayes; you toyling Hinds, That barb the fields, and to your merry Teames Whistle your passions; and you mining Moles, That in the bowels of your mother-Earth Dwell the eternall burthen of her wombe, Cease from your labours, when Wealth bids you play, Sing, dance, and keep a cheerfull holy-day.

They dance the fourth Antimasque, consisting of Country people, musicke and measures.

Merc.

Plutus, the gods know and confess your power

Which feeble Vertue seldome can resist;

Stronger than Towers of brasse, or Chastity Iove knew you when he courted Danae, And Cupid weares you on that Arrowes head That still prevailes. But the gods keep their Throne, To enstall Vertue, not her Enemies; They dread thy force, which even themselves have felt, Witnesse Mount-Ida, where the Martiall Maid, And frowning Iuno, did to mortall eyes Naked, for gold, their sacred bodies show; Therefore for ever be from heaven banish'd. But since with toyl from undiscover'd Worlds Thou art brought hither, where thou first didst breath The thirst of Empire, into Regall breasts, And frightedst quiet Peace from her meek Throne, Filling the world with tumult, blood, and warre, Follow the Camps of the contentious earth, And be the Conqu'rers slave, but he that can Or conquer thee, or give thee Vertuous stamp, Shall shine in heaven a pure immortall Lamp.

Mom.

Nay stay, and take my benediction along with you. I could, being here a Co-Iudge, like others in my place, now that you are con∣demn'd, either rayl at you, or break jests upon you, but I rather chuse to lose a word of good counsel, and entreat you be more carefull in your choyse of company: for you are alwayes found either with Misers, that not use you at all; or with fooles, that know not how to use you well. Be not hereafter so reserv'd and coy to men of worth and parts, and so you shall gaine such cre∣dit, as at the next Sessions you may be heard with better successe. But till you are thus reform'd, I pronounce this positive sentence, That wheresoever you shall chuse to abide, your

society shall adde no credit or reputation to the party, nor your discontinuance, or totall absence, be matter of disparagement to any man; and whosoever shall hold a contrary estimation of you, shall be condemn'd to weare perpetuall Motley, unlesse he recant his opinion, Now you may voyd the Cout.

Paenia enters, a woman of a pale colour, large brims of a hat upon her head, through which her haire started up like a fury, her Robe was of a dark colourful of patches, about one of her hands was tied a chaine of Iron, to which was fastned a weighty (tone, which she bore up under her arm.

Merc.

What Creature's this?

Mom.

The Antipodes to the other, they move like Two Buckets, or as two nayles drive out one another; Of Riches depart, Poverty will enter.

Pov.

I nothing doubt (Great and Immortal Powers) But that the place your wisedome hath deny'd My foe, your Iustice will conferre on me; Since that which renders him incapable, Proves a strong plea for me. I could pretend, Even in these rags, a larger Soveraignty Then gaudy Wealth in all his pompe can boast; For mark how few they are that share the World: The numerous Armies, and the swarming Ants That fight and royle for them, are all my Subjects, Thay take my wages, weare my Livery: Invention too and Wit, are both my creatures, And the whole race of Vertue is my Off-spring; As many mischiefes issue from my wombe,

And those as mighty, as procced from gold. Oft o'r his Throne I wave my awfull Scepter, And in the bowels of his state command, When 'midst his heaps of coyn, and hils of gold, I pine, and starve the avaritious Fool. But I decline those titles, and lay claim To heaven, by right of Divine contemplation; She is my Darling, I, in my soft lap, Free from disturbing cares, bargains, accounts, Leases, Rents, Stewards, and the fear of theeves, That vex the rich, nurse her in calm repose, And with her, all the Vertues speculative, Which, but with me, find no secure retreat. For entertainment of this hour, Ile call A race of people to this place, that live At Natures charge, and not importune heaven To chayn the winds up, or keep back the storms, To stay the thunder, or forbid the hayl To thresh the unreap'd ear; but to all weathers, The chilling frost, and scalding Sun, expose Their equall face. Come forth, my swarthy train, In this faire circle dance, and as you move, Mark, and foretell happy events of Love.

They dance the fifth Antimasque of Gypsies.

Mom.

I cannot but wonder that your perpe∣tual conversation with Poets and Philosophers hath furnished you with no more Logick, or that you should think to impose upon us so grosse an inference as because Plutus and you are contra∣ry therefore whatsoever is denyed of the one must be true of the other; as if it should follow of necessity, because hee is not Iupiter, you are. No, I give you to know, I am better vers'd in

cavils with the gods, than to swallow such a fal∣lacy, for though you two cannot be together in one place, yet there are many places that may be without you both, and such is heaven, where nei∣ther of you are likely to arrive: therefore let me advise you to marry your selfe to Content, and beget sage Apothegmes, aud goodly morall Sen∣tences in dispraise of Riches, and contempt of the world.

Merc.

Thou dost presume too much, poor needy wretch, To claim a station in the Firmament, Because thy humble Cottage, or thy Tub Nurses some lazie or Pedantique vertue In the cheap Sun-shine, or by shady springs With roots and pot-herbs, where thy right hand, Tearing those humane passions from the mind, Vpon whose stocks fair blooming vertues flourish, Degradeth Nature, and benummeth sense, And Gorgon-like, turnes active men to stone. Wee not require the dull society Of your necessitated Temperance, Or that unnaturall stupidity That knowes nor joy nor sorrow; nor your forc'd Falsly exalted passive Fortitude Above the Active: This low abject brood, That fix their seats in mediocrity, Become your servile mind; but we advance Such vertues only as admit excesse, Brave bounteous Acts, Regall Magnificence, All-seeing Prudence, Magnanimity That knowes no bound, and that Heroick vertue For which Antiquity hath left no name, But patternes only, such as Hercules, Achilles, Theseus. Back to thy loath'd cell,

And when thou feest the new enlightned Sphere, Study to know but what those Worthies were.

Tyche enters, her head bald behind, and one great locke before, wings at her shoulders, and in her hand a wheel, her upper parts naked, and the skirt of her Garment wrought all over with Crownes, Scepters, Bookes, and such other things as expresse both her greatest and smallest gifts.

Mom.

See where Dame Fortune comes, you may know her by her wheele, and that vayl over her eyes, with which she hopes like a seel'd pi∣geon to mount above the Clouds, and pearch in the eighth Sphere: listeen, shee begins.

Fort.

I come not here (you gods) to plead the Right, By which Antiquity assign'd my Deity, Though no peculiar station mongst the Stars, Yet generall power to rule their influence, Or boast the Title of Omnipotent, Ascrib'd me then, by which I rival'd Iove, Since you have cancell'd all those old Records; But confident in my good cause and merit, Claim a succession in the vacant Orb; From since Astraea fled to heaven, I sit Her Deputy on Earth, I hold her skales And weigh mens Fates out, who have made me blind Because themselves want eyes to see my causes; Call me inconstant, 'cause my workes surpasse The shallow fathom of their humane reason; Yet here, like blinded Iustice, I dispence With my impartiall hands their constant lots, And if desertlesse, impious men engrosse My best rewards, the fault is yours, you gods,

That scant your graces to mortality, And niggards of your good, scarce spare the world One vertuous for a thousand wicked men; It is no errour to conferre dignity, But to bestow it on a vicious man; I gave the dignity, but you made the vice. Make you men good, and Ile make good men happy: That Plutus is refus'd, dismayes me not, Hee is my Drudge, and the externall pompe In which hee decks the World, proceeds from me, Not him; like Harmony, that not resides In strings, or notes, but in the hand and voyce. The revolutions of Empires, States, Scepters, and Crowns, are but my game and sport, Which as they hang on the events of Warre, So those depend upon my turning wheel. You warlike Squadrons, who in battles joyn'd, Dispute the Right of Kings, which I decide, Present the modell of that martiall frame, By which, when Crowns are stak'd, I rule the game.

They dance the sixth Antimasque, being the representation of a Battell.

Mom.

Madam, I should censure you, pro fal∣so clamore, for preferring a scandalous crosse-bill of recrimination against the Gods, but your blind∣nesse shall excuse you. Alas! what would it ad∣vantage you, if vertue were as universall as vice is? it would only follow, that as the world now exclaimes upon you for exalting the vicious, it would then rail as fast at you for depressing the vertuous; so they would still keep their tune, though you chang'd their Ditty.

Merc.

The mists, in which future events are wrap'd, That oft succeed beside the purposes Of him that workes, his dull eyes not descerning The first great cause, offer'd thy clouded shape To his enquiring search; so in the dark The groping world first found thy Deity, And gave thee rule over contingencies, Which, to the piercing eye of Providence, Being fix'd and certain, where past and to come Are allwayes present, thou dost dis-appear, Losest they being, and art not at all. Be thou then only a deluding Phantome, At best a blind guide, leading blinder fooles; Who, would they but survey their mutuall wants, And help each other, there were left no room For thy vain ayd. Wisedome, whose strong-built plot; Leave nought to hazard, mocks thy futile power, Industrious labour drags thee by the locks, Bound to his toyling Car, and not attending Till thou dispence, reaches his own reward, Only the lazie sluggard yawning lyes Before thy threshold, gaping for thy dose, And licks the easie hand that feeds his sloath; The shallow, rash, and unadvised man Makes thee his stale, disburdens all the follies Of his mis guided actions, on thy shoulders, Vanish from hence, and seek those Ideots out That thy fantastick god-head hath allow'd, And rule that giddy superstitious crowd.

Hedone, Pleasure, a young woman with a smiling face, in a light lascivious habit, adorn'd with Silver and gold, her Temples crown'd with a Garland of Roses, and over that a Rain∣bow circling her head down to her shoulders.

Hedone enters.

Merc.

What wanton's this?

Mom.

This is the sprightly Lady Hedone merry Gamester, this people call her Pleasure.

Plea.

The reasons (equall Iudges) here alleg'd By the dismist Pretenders, all concurr To strengthen my just title to the Sphere. Honour, or Wealth, or the contempt of both, Have in themselves no simple reall good, But as they are the meanes to purchase pleasure. The paths that lead to my delicious Palace; They for my sake, I for mine own am priz'd. Beyond me nothing is. I am the Goale, The Iourneyes end, to which the swearing world, And wearied Nature travels. For this, the best And wisest sect of all Philosophers Made me the seat of supreme happinesse. And though some more austere, upon my ruines Did to the prejudice of Nature, raise Some petty low-built vertues, 'twas because They wanted wings to reach my soaring pitch; Had they beene Princes born, themselves had prov'd Of all mankind the most luxurious: For those delights, which to their low condition Were obvious, they with greedy appetite Suck'd and devour'd: from offices of State, From cares of family, children, wife, hopes, feares, Retir'd, the churlish Cynick in his Tub Enjoy'd those pleasures which his tongue desam'd. Nor am I rank'd 'mongst the superfluous goods; My necessary offices preserve Each single man, and propagate the kind. Then am I universall as the light, Or common Ayr we breath; and since I am The generall desire of all mankind,

Civill Felicity must reside in me. Tell me what rate my choycest pleasures bear, When for the short delight of a poor draught Of cheap cold water, great Lysmachus Rendred himselfe slave to the Scythians. Should I the curious structure of my seats, The art and beauty of my severall objects, Rehearse at large, your bounties would reserve For every sense a proper constellation; But I present the Persons to your eyes. Come forth my subtle Organs of delight, With changing figures please the curious eye, And charm the eare with moving Harmony.

They dance the seventh Antimasque of the five senses.

Merc.

Bewitching Syren, guilded rottennesse, Thou hast with cunning artifice display'd Th' enamel'd out side, and the honied verge Of the fair cup, where deadly poyson lurks. Within, a thousand sorrowes dance the round: And like a shell, Paine circles thee without, Grief is the shaddow waiting on thy steps, Which, as thy joyes 'ginn tow'rds their West decline, Doth to a Gyants spreading form extend Thy Dwarfish stature. Thou thy self art Pain, Greedy intense Desire, and the keen edge Of thy fierce Appetite oft strangles thee, And cuts thy slender thread, but still the terrour And apprehension of thy hasty end, Mingles with Gall thy most refined sweets; Yet thy Cyrcaean charmes transform the world. Captaines, that have resisted warre and death, Nations, that over Fortune have triumph'd, Are by thy Magick made effeminate. Empires, that knew no limits but the Poles,

Have in thy wanton lap melted away. Thou wert the Author of the first excesse That drew this reformation on the gods. Canst thou then dream, those Powers, that from heaven have Banish'd th' effect, will there enthrone the cause, To thy voluptuous Denne, fly Witch from hence, There dwell, for ever drown'd in brutish sense.

Mom.

I concurre, and am grown so weary of these tedious pleadings, as Ile packe up too and be gone: Besides, I see a crowd of other sutors pressing hither, I'le stop'em, take their petitions and preferre'em above; and as I came in bluntly without knocking, and no body bid me welcome; so Ile depart as abruptly with∣out taking leave, and bid no body fare-well.

Merc.

These, with forc'd reasons, and strain'd argu∣ments, Vrge vain pretences, whilst your Actions plead, And with a silent importunity Awake the drousie Iustice of the gods To crown your deeds with immortality. The growing Titles of your Ancestors, These Nations glorious Acts, joyn'd to the stock Of your own Royall vertues, and the clear Reflex they take from th'imitation Of your fam'd Court, make Honours story full, And have to that secure fix'd state advanc'd Both you and them, to which the labouring world, Wading through streames of blood sweats to aspire. Those ancient Worthies of these famous Isles, That long have slept, in fresh and lively shapes Shall strait appear, where you shall see your self Circled with modern Heroes, who shall be In Act, what ever elder times can boast,

Noble, or Great; as they in Prophesie Were all but what you are. Then shall you see The sacred hand of bright Eternity Mould you to Stars, and fixe you in the Sphere, To you, your Royall half, to them shee' Iloyn Such of this traine, as with industrious steps In the fair prints your vertuous feet have made, Though with unequall paces, follow you. This is decreed by Jove, which my returne Shall see perform'd; but first behold the rude And old Abiders here, and in them view The point from which your full perfections grew. You naked, ancient, wild Inhabitants, That breath'd this Ayre, and prest this flowry Earth, Come from those shades where dwels eternall night, And see what wonders Time hath brought to light.

Atlas, and the Sphere vanished, and a new Scaene appeares of mountaines, whose eminent height exceed the Clouds which past beneath them, the lower parts were wild and woody: out of this place comes forth a more grave An∣timasque of Picts, the natuall Inhabitants of this Isle, ancient Scots and Irish, these dance a Perica, or Martiall dance.

When this Antimasque was past, there began to arise out of the earth the top of a hill, which by little and little grew to bee a huge mountain that covered all the Scaene; the under part of this was wild and craggy, and above somewhat more pleasant and flourishing: about the middle part of this Mountain were seated the three King. domes of England, Scotland, and Ireland; all richly attired in regall habits, appropriated to the severall Nations, with Crowns on their heads, &

Each of them bearing the ancient Armes of the kingdoms they there presented: At a distance a∣bove these sate a young man in a white embroy∣dered robe, upon his fair hair an Olive Garland, with wings at his shoulders, and holding in his hand a Cornucopia fill'd with corn and fruits, representing the Genius of these kingdomes.

The first Song.

GENIVS.

RAise from these rockie cliffs your heads, Brave Sonnes, and see where Glory spreads Her glittering wings, where Majesty, Crown'd with sweet smiles, shoots from her eye Diffusive joy, where good and Fair Vnited sit in Honours Chayr. Call forth your aged Priests, and chrystall streams. To warm their hearts, and waves in these bright beames.

KINGDOMES 1.

From your consecrated woods Holy Druids.

2.

Silver floods, From your channels fring'd with flowers,

3.

Hither move; forsake your bowers,

1.

Strew'd with hallowed Oaken leaves, Deck'd with flags and sedgie sheaves, And behold a wonder.

3.

Say, What doe your duller eyes survay?

CHORVS of DRVIDS and RIVERS.

We see at once in dead of night A Sun appear, and yet a bright Noon-day, springing from Star-light.

GENIVS.

Look up, and see the darkened Sphere Depriv'd of light, her eyes shine there.

CHORVS.

These are more sparkling than those were.

KINGDOMES. 1.

These shed a nobler influence,

2.

These by a pure Intelligence Of more transcendent Vertue move,

3.

These first feel, then kindle Love,

1. 2.

From the bosomes they inspire, These receive a mutuall fire;

1.2.3.

And where their flames impure return; These can quench as well as burn.

GENIVS.

Here the fair victorious eyes Make worth only Beauties prize, Here the band of Vertue tyes Bout the heart Love's amorous chain, Captives tryumph, Vassals reign, And none live here but the slaine.

CHORUS

These are th' Hesperian bowers, whose fair trees bear Rich golden fruit, and yet no Dragon near.

GENIVS.

Then, from your impris'ning womb, Which is the cradle and the tomb Of Brittish worthies (fair sonnes) send A troop of Heroes, that may lend Their hands to case this loaden grove, And gather the ripe fruits of Love.

KINGDOMS. 1.2.3.

Open thy stony Entrailes wide, And break old Atlas, that the pride Of three fam'd kingdomes may be spy'd.

CHORVS.

Pace forth thou mighty Brittish Hercules, With thy choyce band, for only thou and these, May revell here, in Loves Hesperides,

At this the under-part of the Rock opens, and out of a Cave are seene to come the Mas∣quers richly attyred like ancient Heroes, the Co∣lours yellow, embroydered with silver, their antique Helmes curiously wrought, and great plumes on the top; before them a troop of young Lords and Noble-mens sonnes, bearing Torches of Virgin-wax, these were apparelled after the old Brittish fashion in white Coats, embroydered with silver, girt, and full gathe∣red, cut square coller'd, and round caps on their

heads, with a white feather wreathen about them; first these dance with their lights in their hands: After which, the Masquers descend in∣to the room, and dance their entry.

The dance being past, there appeares in the further part of the heaven comming down a Pleasant Cloud, bright and transparent, which comming softly down-wards before the upper part of the mountaine, embraceth the Genius, but so as through it all his body is seen; and then rising again with a gentle motion beares up the Genius of the three kingdomes and be∣ing past the Airy Region, piereeth the heavens, and is no more seen: At that instant the Rock with the three kingdomes on it sinkes, and is hidden in the earth. This strange specta∣cle gave great cause of admiration, but especi∣ally how so huge a machine, and of that great height could come from under the Stage, which was but six foot high.

The Second Song.

KINGDOMS. 1.

HEre are shapes form'd fit for heaven,

2.

Those move gracefully and even,

3.

Here the Ayre and paces meet So just, as if the skilfull feet Had struk the Vials. 1.2.3. So the Ear Might the tunefull footing bear.

CHORVS.

And had the Musick silent been, The eye a moving time had seen.

GENIVS.

These must in the unpeopled skie Succeed, and govern Destinie, Iove is temp'ring purer fire, And will with brighter flames attire These gloriou•• lights. I must ascend And help the Work.

KINGDOMES. 1.

VVe cannot lend Heaven so much treasure.

2.

Nor that pay, But rendring what it takes away. Why should they that here can move So well, be ever-fix'd above?

CHORVS.

Or be to one eternall posture ty'd, That can into such various figures slide?

GENIVS.

Iove shall not, to enrich the Skie, Beggar the Earth; their Fame shall fly From hence alone, and in the Sphere Kindle new Starres, whilst they rest here.

KINGDOMES. 1.2.3.

How can the shaft stay in the quiver, Yet his the mark?

GENIVS.

Did not the River Eridanus, the grace acquire In Heaven and Earth to flow, Above in streames of golden fire, In silver waves below?

KINGDOMES. 1.2.3.

But shall not we, now thou art gone Who wert our Nature, wither? Or break that triple Vnion Which thy soul held together?

GENIVS.

In Concords pure immortall spring I will my force renew, And a more astive Vertue bring At my return. Adieu.

KINGDOMES adieu. CHORVS adieu.

The Masquers dance their maine dance; which done, the Scaene againe is varied into a new and pleasant prospect, cleane differing from all the other, the nearest part shewing a delicious Garden with severall walkes and perterra's set round with low trees, and on the sides against these walkes, were fountaines and grots, and in the furthest part a Palace, from whence went high walkes upon Arches, and above them open Tar∣races planted with Cypresse trees, and all this to∣gether

was composed of such Ornaments as might expresse a princely Villa.

From hence the Chorus descending into the room, goes up to the State.

The third Song.

By the Chorus, going up to the Queen.

WHilst thus the Darlings of the gods, From Honours Temple, to the shrine Of beauty, and these sweet abodes Of Love, we guide, let thy Divine Aspects (Bright Deily) with fair And Halcyon beames, becalm the Ayr,

Wee bring Prince Arthur, or the brave St. George himselfe (great Queen) to you, You'll soone discern him; and we have A Guy, a Beavis, or some true Round Table Knight, as ever-sought For Lady, to each Beauty brought.

Plant in their Martiall hands, War's seat, Your peacefull pledges of warm snow, And, if a speaking touch, repeat In Loves known language, tales of woe; Say, in soft whispers of the Palm, As eyes shoot darts, so Lips shed Balm.

For though you seem like Captives, led In triumph by the Foe away, Yet on the Conqu'rors neck you tread, And the fierce Victor proves your prey, What heat is then secure from you, That can, though vanquish'd, yet subdue?

The Song done they retire, and the Masquers dance the Revels with the Ladies, which con∣tinued a great part of the night.

The Revels being past, and the Kings Maje∣stie seared under the State by the Queene; for conclusion to this Masque there appeares com∣ming forth from one of the sides, as moving by a gentle wind, a great cloud, which arriving at the middle of the heaven, stayeth; this was of severall colours, and so great, that it covered the whole Scaene. Out of the further part of the heaven begins to breake forth two other clouds, differing in colour and shape; and being fully discovered there appeared sitting in one of them, Religion, Truth, and Wisedome. Religion was apparelled in white, and part of her face was covered with a light vaile, in one hand a Booke, and in the other a flame of fire. Truth in a Wat∣chet Robe, a Sunne upon her fore-head, and bearing in her hand a Palme. Wisedome in a man∣tle wrought with eyes and hands, golden rayes about her head, and Apollo's Cithera in her hand. In the other cloud sate Concord, Govern∣ment, and Reputation. The habit of Con∣cord was Carnation, bearing in her hand a little faggot of sticks bound together, and on the top of it a Hart, and a Garland of corne on her head: Government was figured in a coat of Armour, bearing a shield and on it a Medusa's head; upon her head a plumed helme, and in her right hand a lance. Reputation, a young man in a

purple robe wrought with gold, and wearing a laurell wreath on his head. These being come downe in an equall distance to the middle part of the Ayr, the great Cloud began to break open, out of which broke beames of light; in the midst suspended in the Ayr, sate Eternity on a Globe, his Garment was long, of a light blue, wrought all over with starrs of gold, and bearing in his hand a Serpent bent into a circle, with his tayl in his mouth. In the firmament about him, was a troop of fifteen stars, expressing the stellifying of our Brittish Heroes; but one more great and eminent than the rest, which was over his head, figured his Majestie. And in the lower part was seen a farre off the prospect of Windsor Castle, the famous seat of the most honourable Order of the Garter.

The fourth Song.

Eternity, Eusebia, Alethia, Sophia, Homo∣noia, Dicaearche, Euphemia.

ETERNITIE.

BEe fix'd rapid Orbes, that bear The changing seasons of the year On your swift wings, and see the old Decrepid spheres grown dark and cold; Nor did Iove quench her fires, these bright Flames haue ecclips'd her sullen light: This Royall Payr, for whom Fate will Make Motion cease, and Time stand still: Since Good is here so perfect, as no Worth Is left for After-Ages to bring forth.

EVSEBIA.

Mortality cannot with more Religious zeale, the gods adore.

ALETHIA.

My Truths, from human•• eyes conceal'd; Are naked to their sight reveal'd.

SOPHIA.

Nor doe their actions, from the guide Of my exactest precepts slide.

HOMONOIA.

And as their own pure Soules entwin'd, So are their Subjects hearts combin'd.

DICAEARCHE.

So just, so gentle is their sway, As it seemes Empire to obey.

EVPHEMIA.

And their fair Fame, like incense hur'ld On Altars hath perfum'd the world.

SO.

wisedome.

AL.

Truth.

EVS.

Pure A∣doration.

HO.

Concord.

DI.

Rule

EUP.

Cleare Repu∣tation.

CHORVS.

Crowne this King, this Queen, this Nation.

CHORVS.

Wisedome, Truth, &c.

ETERNITIE.

Brave Spirits, whose adventrous seet Have to the Mountaines top aspir'd, Where fair Desert, and Honour meet, Here, from the toyling Presse retyr'd, Secure from all disturbing Euill For euer in my Temple revelt.

With wreathes of stars circled about, Gild all the spacious Firmament, And smiling on the panting Rout That labour in the steep ascent, With your resistlesse influence guide Of humane change th'incertain tide.

EVS. ALE. SOP.

But oh you Royall Turtles, shed, When you from Earth remove, On the ripe fruits of your chast bed, Those sacred seeds of Love.

CHORVS.

Which no Power can but yours dispence, Since you the pattern bean from hence.

HOM. DIC. EVP.

Then from your fruitfull race shall slow Endlesse succession. Scepters shall bud, and Laurels blow 'Bout their Immortal Throne.

CHORVS.

Propitious stars shalll crown each birth, Whilst you rule them and they the Earth.

The song ended, the two clouds, with the persons sitting on them, ascend, the great cloud closeth againe, and so passeth away overthwart the Scaene; leaving behind it nothing but a Se∣rene sky. After which the Masquers dance their hast dance, and the curtain was let fall.

The Names of the Masquers. The Kings Majesty.

Duke of Lenox.

Lord Fielding.

Earle of Devonshire.

Lord Digby.

Earle of Holland.

Lord Dungarvin.

Earle of Newport.

Lord Dunluce.

Earle of Elgin.

Lord Wharton.

Viscount Grandeson.

Lord Paget.

Lord Rich.

Lord Saltine

The names of the young Lords and Noble∣mens Sonnes.

Lord Walden.

Mr. Thomas Howard

Lord Cranborne.

Mr. Thomas Egerton.

Lord Brackley.

Mr. Charles Cavendish

Lord Shandos.

Mr. Robert Howard.

Mr. William Herbert.

Mr. Henry Spencer.