The sun's-darling a moral masque : as it hath been often presented at Whitehall by Their Majesties servants, and after at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane, with great applause / written by John Foard and Tho. Decker, Gent.
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- Title
- The sun's-darling a moral masque : as it hath been often presented at Whitehall by Their Majesties servants, and after at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane, with great applause / written by John Foard and Tho. Decker, Gent.
- Author
- Dekker, Thomas, ca. 1572-1632.
- Publication
- London :: Printed by J. Bell for Andrew Penneycuicke ...,
- 1656.
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"The sun's-darling a moral masque : as it hath been often presented at Whitehall by Their Majesties servants, and after at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane, with great applause / written by John Foard and Tho. Decker, Gent." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A39898.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 4, 2025.
Pages
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THE Sun's-Darling: A Moral Masque:
As it hath been often presented at Whitehall, by their Majesties Servants; and after at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane, with great Applause.
Written by
- Iohn Foard and
- Tho. Decker
LONDON, Printed by I. Bell, for Andrew Penneycuicke, Anno Dom. 1656.
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To the Right Honorable THOMAS WRIATHESLEY, Earle of Southampton, Lord WRIATHSLEY, of Tichfield, &c.
MY LORD!
HErodotus Reports that the Aegyp∣tians by Wrapping their Dead in Glasse, presents them lively to all Posterity; But your Lordship will do more, by the Vivifying beames of your Acceptation, Revive ••he∣parents of this Orphan Poem, and make them live to Eternity. While the Stage florisht, the POEM liv'd by the breath of Generall Applauses, and the Virtuall Fervor of the Court; But since hath lan
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guisht for want of heate, and now neere sbrunk up with Cold, creepes (with a shivering feare) to Extend it selse at the Flames of your Ben••gnity. My Lord, though it seems Rough and Forlorn, It is the jssu of Worthy parents, and we doubt not, but you will find it accomplisht with their Vertue. Be pleased then (my Lord) to give it entertain••ment, the more Destitute and neea•• it is, the Greater Reward may be challenged by your Charity; and so being shelt r'd under your Wings, and Comsorted by the Sun-shine of your Favoure, it will become Proofe against the Injustice of Time, and like one of D••metrius statues appeare fresher and fresher to all Ages. My Lord, were we not Confident of the Excellence of the Peece, wee should not dare to Assume an impudence to pre∣ferr it to a Person of your HONOR, and KNOWN JUDGMENT; whose HEARTS are ready SACRIFICES, to your NAME and HO∣NOR, Being my Lord••
Your Lordships most humble, and most Obligedly, Submissive Servants, Theophilus Bird. Andrew Penneycuicke.
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Upon the SUN'S DARLING.
IS he then found? Phoebus make holliday; Tye up thy Steeds; And let the Cyclops Play; Mulceber leavethy Anvile, and be trim; Combe thy black Muzle, be no longer Grim; Mercury be quick, with mirth furnish the heavens, Jove, this day let all run at fix and seavens; And Ganimede be nimble, to the Brim Fill Boules of Nectar, that the Gods may swim, To solemnize their healths that did discover The oscure being of the Suns fon'd lover. That from the Example of their liberall mirth We may enjoy like freedome on Earth.
Iohn Tatham,
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READER.
IT is not here intended to present thee with the perfect Analogy betwixt the World and man, which was made for Man; Nor their Co-existence, the World determin∣ing with Man••this I presume hath bin by o∣thers Treated on, But drawing the Curtain of this Mor all, you shall finde him in his pro∣gression as followeth.
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- Phoebus the Sun, Winter.
- Raybright the suns Dar∣ling Conceit.
- Lady Spring. Detraction
- Youth, Time.
- Delight, Priest of the Sun.
- Health. Folly.
- Summer. A Souldier.
- Plenty. A Spanyard.
- Pomona. An Italian Dancer.
- Cupid. A French Taylor.
- Fortune. A Forrester.
- Autumne. Aeolus.
- Bacchanalian. Maskers.
- Bounty. 3 Clowns.
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THE Sun's-Darling.
ACT. I.
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And what think you of this, you old doting ••oth-eaten beard∣ed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as I am Follie by the mothers side, and a time-bred Gentleman, I will sing thee to death, i•• thon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mee; Cannot a man of fashion, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, put on now and then his
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working-day robes of humility, but he must presently be subiect to a Beadles rod of Correction; goe mend thy selfe Caniball, 'tis not without need, I am sure the Times were never more beggerly and proud, waiting-women flant it in Cast-suits, and their Ladies fall for em; knaves over-brave wise men, while wise men ••and with cap and knee to fooles: Pitifull Time! pitifull
In any Court, father bald-pate, where my granam the Moon shews her hornes, except the Confistory Court, and there she need not appeare; Cuckolds Carry such sharp Stelettoes in their fore-heads, l'le live here and laugh at the bravery of igno∣rance, mauger thy scurvie and abhominable beard.
Farewell 1538, I might have said five thousand, but the others long enough a Concience to be honest Condition'd, pox on him; it's anotable railing whipper, of a plain Time whipper.
I, I, a may give a charge, a has been a petty Court hol∣der ever since he was a minute old, he tooke you for a fore-man of a Jurie
And I am Cosen german, some two or three hundred re∣moves off, to the Moon, and my name is Folly.
Quality; any quality in fashion: Drinkeing, Whoring, Singing, Dancing, Dicing, Swearing, Roring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oisting, Lying▪
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Cogging, Canting, lcetero, will you have any more.
Yes faith; so, so, I laugh not at those whome I feare, I fear not those whom I love, and I love not any whom I laugh not at, ••retty strange humor, is't not?
Now am I an a•••• ant rascall, and cannot speak one word for my selfe, if I were hang'd.
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Actus Secundus.
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Musick take Ecchoes voice, and dance quick rounds To thine own times in ••epercussive sounds.
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Shee's a great woman, and all great women wish to be Empresses; her name, the Ladie Humor.
Creature! of a skin soft as Pomatum, sleek as Jellie, white as blanch'd Almonds; no Mercers wife ever handled yard with a prettier breath; sweet as a Monkies; lips of cherries, teeth of pearle, eies of diamond, foot and leg as—
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A green sickness thing, I came by the way of a hobby∣horse letter of Attorney, sent by my Ladie as a spie to you: Spring a hot Ladie, a few fields and gardens lass, can you feed upon sallets and tanzies, eat like an Asse upon grasse every day at my Ladies, coms to you now a Goose, now a Woodcock, no∣thing but fowl; fowl pies, platters all cover'd with foul, and is not fowl yery good fare?
The way is windie and narrow; for look you, I do but winde this Cornet, and if another answer it, she coms.
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Wee Mounsieur, hey nimbla upon de crosse caper, me take a de measure of de body from de top a de noddle to de heel and great toe, oh stish de fine: dis coller is cut out in anger scur∣vie, ohais beeshes pincha de bum, me put one French yard into de toder••ose.
A Flounder in a frying-pan, still skipping, one that loves
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mutton so well, he alwaies carries capers about him; his brains lie in his legs, and his legs serve him to no other use then to do tricks, as if he had bought em of a Jugler, hee's an Italian dan∣cer, his name—
Signior Lavolta (Messer mio) me tesha all de bella Co∣rantoes, galliardaes, piamettaes, capeorettaes, amorettaes dolche dolche to declamante do bona robaes de Tu••cana.
Yes, if you powr quick-silver into your shin-bones, as he does.
A Confecianador, which in your tongue is, a Comfit∣maker of Toledo, I can teach sugar to slip down your throat a million of waies.
In Conservs, candies, marmalades, sinkadoes, ponadoes, marablane, Bergamo••u, aranxues muria, lymons, berengenas of Toledo, oriones, potataes of Malag••, and ten millions more.
I am a Gun that can rore, two stelettoes in one sheath, I can fight and bounce too, my Ladie by mee, pre••ents this sword and belt to you
••le dri•••• you how to give the lie, and stab in the punto, if you dare not ••ight, then how to vamp a rotten quarrel with∣out ado.
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All lies gallap o're the world, and not grow old, nor be sick; a lie; one gallant went but into France last day, & was never his own man since, another stept but into the low Countries, and
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was drunk dead under the table, another did but peep into Eng∣land, and it cost him more in good morrows blowne up to him under his window, by Drums and Trumpets, then his whole voi∣age, besides he run mad upon't.
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Actus Tertius.,
I ha don my Lord: my Muse has pump'd hard for an Epitaph upon the late departed Spring, and here her lines spring up.
Read; so I will, pleas you to reach mee your high ears.
Here lie's the blith Spring, Who first tanght birds to sing; Yet in April herself fell a crying: Then May growing hot A sweating sickness shee got, And the first of Iune lay a dying. Yet no month can say But her merry daughter May Stuck her Coffin with flowers great plenty. The Cuckow sung in verse An Epitaph o're her herse, But assure you the lines were not dainty.Page 18
I am not in't, if I were, you'd see but s••urvily; you finde fault as Patron•• do with books, to give nothing.
My self! Carbonado me, bastinado me, strapado me, hang me, I'le not stir; poor Follie, honest Follie, jocundary Fol∣lie forsake your Lordship; no true Gentleman hates me, and how many women are given daily to me (if I would take em) some not far off know; Tailor gon, Spanish figg gon, all gou but I—
Indeed May was a sweet creature, and yet a great raiser
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of May-poles.
Yes, common: I cannot passe through any Princes Court, Through any Countrie, Camp, Town, Citie, Village, But up your name is cried, nay curs'd; a vengeance On this your debauch'd Humor.
A Vintner spoke those very words last night, to a com∣pany of roring boies, that would not pay their reckoning.
Yes marry has he, follie; the Courtier's humor is to bee brave, and not pay for't; to bee proud, and no man cares for't.
Humor Madam, if all are your bastards that are given to humor you, you have a companie of as arrant rascals to your children, as ever went toth' gallows; a Collier being drunk jos∣sell'd a Knight into the kennel, and cry'd 'twas his humor; the Knight broke his coxcomb, and that was his humor.
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And I my hobby-ho••se,—Will you be merry than, and jawfand.
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I sweat like a pamper'd jade of Asia, and drop like a Cob-nut out of Africa—
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Actus Quartus.
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Yes we are fill'd and must be emptied, these wind fruits have
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distended my guts into a Lenten pudding, theres no fat in them, my belly swells, but my sides fall away, a month of such diet would make me a living Anatomie.
Nay 'tis all one, I have a tender heart, Come, come, l••••'s drink.
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Hey hoes, a god of windes, there's at least four and twenty of them imprisoned in my belly; it I sigh not forth some of them, the rest will break out at the back door; and how sweet the Musick of their roring will be, let an Irishman judge.
A very foolish one; my Musiques naturall, and came by inheritance; my father was a French Nightingall, and my mother an English wagtaile; I was born a Cuckow in the Spring, and lost my voice in Summer, with laying my egges in a sparrowes nest; but I'le venture for one, fill my dish; every one take his own, and when I hold up my finger, off with it.
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Now have I more air then ten Musicians, besides there is a whirl∣winde in winde in my brains, I could both caper and turn round.
I am for you in that too, 'twill jogge down the lees of these rowses into a freer passage; but take heed of sure footing, 'tis a slippery season; many men fall by rising, and many women are raised by falling—
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Troubling himself with this windy-gutts; this belly∣aking Autumne; this Apple Iohn Kent, and warden of Fruiterers hall.
Madamllet but a green sicknesse chamber-maid be through∣ly steel'd, if she get not a better color in one month, I'le bee fors••ited to Autumne for ever, and fruite-eate my flesh into a con∣sumption.
Porke, Beefe, Mutton, (very sweet Mutton, veale Venson, Capon, fine ••at Capon, part••idge, Snite, plover, larkes, Teale admirable Teale, my Lord.
Comfits and Carawaies, Marchpaines and Marmalades Suger-plums and P••ppin-pies, ginger bread and Walnuts
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Two hundred pound suppers, and neither fidlers nor broken glasses reckoned, be••ides, a hundred pound a throw, ten times to∣gether, if you can hold out so long.
And when the hair fall's off, I have heard a Poet say, 'tis no good sign of a sound bodie.
Actus Quintus.
HEar you the news neighbor?
Yes, to my grief neighbor; they say our Prince Ray∣bright is coming hither, with whole troops and trains of Cour∣tiers; wee'r like to have a fine time on't neighbor••.
Our Wives and Daughters are, for they are sure to get by the bargain, tho our barn be emptied, they will be sure to bee with barn for't: Oh! these Courtiers, neighbors, are pesti••ent
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knaves; but ere l'le suffer it, l'le pluck a Crow with som of em.
Faith neighbor let's lay our heads together, and resolve to die like men, rather then live like beasts.
I, like horn-beasts, neighbor; they may talk and call us Rebells, but a figg for that, 'tis not a fart matter; let's be true amongst our selvs, and with our swords in hand resist his en∣trance—
The divel a can as soon, we fear no colors, let him do his worst; there's many a tall fellow besides us, will die rather then see his living taken from them, nay even eat up; all things are
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grown so dear, there's no ••nduring more mouths then our own, neighbor.
Thou'rt a wise fellow, neighbor, prate is but prate; they say this Prince too would bring new laws upon us, new rights into the Temples of ••ur gods, and that's abominable, wee'l all bee hang'd first—
Save you Gentlemen! '••is very cold, you live in frost, y'ave Winter still about you.
A Courtier sir; but you may gue••••••, a very ••oolish one, to leav the bright beams of my Lord, the Prince, to travel hither; I have an Ague on me, do you not see me shake: Well, if our Courtiers, when th••y com hither, have not warm young wenches, good wines, and fires to heat their bloods, 'twill fre••z into an A∣popl••xie; farewell frost, l'le go seek a fire to thaw me, l'me all ice I fear already.
Farewel and be hang'd, ere such as these shall eat what we have ••weat for, wee'l spend our bloods; com neighbors, let's go call our company together, and go meet this Prince he talks so of.
Som shall have but a sowr welcom of it, if my Crab •• tree cudgel hold here.
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Pri'thee foolish Conceit, leave off thy set-spe••ches, and come to the conceit if selfe in plain languages; what goodly thing is't, in the name of laughter?
Imposs••ble and inproper; first to personate insensible C••eatures, and next to compound quite opposite humors; fie, fie, fie, i'••s abo••inable.
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Fine ifaith; pretty, and in good earnest; but sirrah scholar; will they come down too?
Animble rascall, I warrant him some Aldermans son; wonderous giddy and light-headed; one that blew his patri∣mony away in feather and Tobacco.
A cholerick gentleman, I should know him, a younger brother and a great spender, but seldom or never carries any mo∣ney about him; he was begot when the sign was in Taurus, for a rores like a Bull, But is indeed a Bell-weather.
A phlegmatick cold piece of stuff, his father me thinks should be one of the Dunce-table, and one that never drunk strong beer in's life but at festival times, and then he caught the heart-burning a whole vacation and half a Term after.
A shrewd plodding-pated fellow, and a great lover of news; I guesse at the rest, Blood is placed near Air, Choler near Fire, Phlegme and Water are sworn brothers, and so are Earth and Melancholie.