THE SECOND MASQVE.
Which was of BEAVTIE;
VVas presented in the same Court, at WHITE-
HALL, on the Sunday night after the
Twelfth Night. 1608.
Wo yeares being now past, that her Maiestie had intermitted
these delights, and the third almost come; it was her High-
nesse pleasure, againe to glorifie the Court, and command,
that I should thinke on some fit presentment, which should
answere the former, still keeping them the same persons, the
daughters of NIGER, but their beauties varied, according to promise,
and their time of absence excus'd, with foure more added to their
number.
To which limits, when I had apted my inuention, and being to bring
newes of them from the Sea, I induc'd Boreas, one of the winds, as my fit-
test Messenger; presenting him thus.
In a robe of Russet and White mixt, full, and bagg'd; his haire and
beard rough, and horride; his wings gray, and full of snow, and ycicles:
his mantle borne from him with wyres, and in seuerall puffes; his feet a en-
ding in Serpents tayles; and in his hand a leaue-lesse Branch, laden with
ycicles.
But before, in midst of the Hall, to keepe the state of the Feast, and Sea-
son, I had placed bIanuarie, in a throne of siluer; his robe of ash-colour,
long, fringed with siluer; a white mantle; his wings white, and his bus-
kins; in his hand a Lawrell bough; vpon his head an Anademe of Lawrell,
fronted with the signe Aquarius, and the Character. Who, as Boreasblu-
ster'd forth, discouer'd himselfe.
BOREAS.
VVHich, among these, is ALBION, NEPTVNES
sonne?
IANVARIVS.
VVHat ignorance dares make that question?
Would any aske, who MARS were, in the wars?
Or, which is HESPERVS, among the starres?
Of the bright Planets, which is SOL? Or can
A doubt arise,'mong creatures, which is Man?
Behold, whose eyes doe dart Promethean fire
Throughout this all; whose precepts do inspire
The rest with dutie; yet commanding, cheare:
And are obeyed, more with loue, then feare.
BOREAS.
VVHat Power art thou, that thus informest me?
IANVARIVS.
DO'st thou not know me? I too well know thee
By thy a rude voice, that doth so hoarcely blow;
Thy haire, thy beard, thy wings, ore-hil'd with snow,
Thy serpent feet, to be that rough North-wind,
BOREAS, that to my raigne art still vnkind.
I am the Prince of Months, call'd IANVARIE;
Because by me b IANVS the yeare doth varie,
Shutting vp warres, proclayming peace, and feasts,
Freedome, and triumphs; making Kings his guests.
BOREAS.
TO thee then, thus, and by thee, to that King,
That doth thee present honors, doe I bring
Present remembrance of twelue Æthiope Dames:
Who, guided hither by the Moones bright flames,
To see his brighter light, were to the Sea
Enioyn'd againe, and (thence assign'd a day
For their returne) were in the waues to leaue
Their blacknesse, and true beautie to receiue.
IANVARIVS.
VVHich they receiu'd, but broke their day: and yet
Haue not return'd a looke of grace for it,
Shewing a course, and most vnfit neglect.
Twice haue I come, in pompe here, to expect
Their presence; Twice deluded, haue beene faine
With c other Rites my Feasts to entertaine:
And, now the third time, turn'd about the yeare,
Since they were look'd for; and, yet, are not here.
BOREAS.
IT was nor Will, nor Sloth, that caus'd their stay;
For they were all prepared by their day,
And, with religion, forward on their way:
When PROTEVS, d the gray Prophet of the Sea,
Met them, and made report, how other foure
Of their blacke kind (whereof their Syre had store)
Faithfull to that great wonder, so late done
Vpon their Sisters, by bright Albion,
Had followed them to seeke BRITANIA forth,
And there to hope like fauor, as like worth.
Which NIGHT enui'd, as done e in her despight,
And (mad to see an Æthiope washed white)
Thought to preuent in these; lest men should deeme
Her colour, if thus chang'd, of small esteeme.
And so, by malice, and her magicke, tost
The Nymphes at sea, as they were almost lost,
Till, on an Iland, they by chance arriu'd,
That f floted in the mayne; where, yet, she'had giu'd
Them so, in charmes of darknesse, as no might
Should loose them thence, but their chang'd Sisters sight.
Whereat the Twelue (in pietie mou'd, and kind)
Streight put themselues in act, the place to find;
Which was the NIGHTS sole trust they so will doe,
That she, with labor, might confound them too.
For euer since with error hath she held
Them wandring in the Ocean, and so quell'd
Their hopes beneath their toyle, as (desperat now
Of any least successe vnto their vow;
Nor knowing to returne to expresse the grace,
Wherewith they labor to this Prince, and place)
One of them, meeting me at sea, did pray,
That for the loue of my a ORYTHYIA,
(Whose verie name did heat my frostie brest,
And make me shake my snow-fill'd wings and crest)
To beare this sad report I would be wonne,
And frame their iust excuse; which here I haue done.
IANVARIVS.
VVOuld thou had'st not begun, vnluckie Wind,
That neuer yet blew'st goodnesse to mankind;
But with thy bitter, and too piercing breath,
Strik'st b horrors through the ayre, as sharpe as death.
Here a second Wind came in, VVLTVRNVS, in a blue coloured robe and
mantle, pufft as the former, but somewhat sweeter; his face blacke, and on his
c head a red Sunne, shewing he came from the East: his wings of seuerall co-
lours; his buskins white, and wrought with gold.
VVLTVRNVS.
ALl horrors vanish, and all name of Death,
Be all things here as calme as is my breath.
A gentler Wind, VVLTVRNVS, brings you newes
The Ile is found, and that the Nymphs now vse
Their rest, and ioy. The Nights black charmes are flowne.
For, being made vnto their Goddesse knowne,
Bright ÆTHIOPIA, the siluer Moone,
As she was a HECATE, she brake them soone:
And now by vertue of their light, and grace,
The glorious Isle, wherein they rest, takes place
Of all the earth for Beautie. b There, their Queene
Hath raised them a Throne, that still is seene
To turne vnto the motion of the World;
Wherein they sit, and are, like Heauen, whirl'd
About the Earth; whil'st, to them contrarie,
(Following those nobler torches of the Skie)
A world of little Loues, and chast Desires,
Doe light their beauties, with still mouing fires.
And who to Heauens consent can better moue,
Then those that are so like it, Beautie and Loue?
Hither, as to their new Elysium,
The spirits of the antique Greekes are come,
Poets and Singes, Linus, Orpheus, all
That haue excell'd in c knowledge musicall;
Where, set in arbors made of myrtle, and gold,
They liue, againe, these beauties to behold.
And thence in flowry mazes walking forth,
Sing hymnes in celebration of their worth.
Whilst, to their songs, two fountaines flow, one height
Of lasting Youth, the other chast Delight,
That at the closes, from their bottomes spring,
And strike the ayre to eccho what they sing.
But, why doe I describe what all must see?
By this time, neere the coast, they floating be;
For, so their vertuous Goddesse, the chast Moone,
Told them, the fate of th'Iland should, and soone
Would fixe it selfe vnto thy continent,
As being the place, by destiny fore-ment,
Where they should flow forth, drest in her attyres:
And, that the influence of those holy fires,
(First rapt from hence) being multiplied vpon
The other foure, should make their beauties one.
Which now expect to see, great Neptunes sonne,
And loue the miracle, which thy selfe hast done.
Here, a curtaine was drawne (in which the Night was painted,) and the Scene
discouer'd, which (because the former was marine, and these, yet of necessitie, to
come frō the sea) I deuised, should be a Island floting on a calme water. In the mid-
dest thereof was a seate of state, call'd the
throne of beautie, erected: diuided in-
to eight squares, and distinguish'd by so many Ionick pilasters. In these Squares
the sixteene Masquers were plac'd by couples: behind them, in the center of the
shining with seuerall colour'd lights, that refle-
cted on their backes. From the top of which
Pillar went seuerall arches to thePi-
lasters, that sustained the roofe of the Throne, which was likewise adorn'd with
lights, and gyrlonds; And betweene the Pilasters, in front, little Cupids in flying
posture, wauing of wreathes, and lights, bore vp the Coronice: ouer which were
placed eight Figures, representing the Elements of Beauty; which aduanced vp-
on the Ionick, and being females, had the Corinthian order. The first was
SPLENDOR.
In a robe of flame colour, naked brested; her bright hayre loose flowing:
She was drawn in a circle of clouds, her face, and body breaking through;
and in her hand a branch, with two aRoses, a white, and a red. The next
to her was
SERENITAS.
In a garment of bright skie-colour, a long tresse, and waued with a vaile
of diuers colours, such as the golden skie sometimes shewes: vpon her
head a cleare, and faire Sunne shining, with rayes of gold striking downe
to the feet of the figure. In her hand a bChristall, cut with seuerall angles,
and shadow'd with diuers colours, as caused by refraction. The third
GERMINATIO.
IN greene; with a Zone of gold about her Wast, crowned with Myrtle,
her haire likewise flowing, but not of so bright a colour: In her hand, a
branch of cMyrtle. Her sockes of greene, and gold. The fourth was
LÆTITIA.
IN a vesture of diuers colours, and all sorts of flowers embroidered
thereon. Her sockes so fitted. A dGyrland of flowers in her hand; her
eyes turning vp, and smiling, her haire flowing, and stuck with flowers.
The fift
TEMPERIES.
IN a garment of Gold, Siluer, and colours weaued: In one hand shee held
a e burning Steele, in the other, an Vrne with water. On her head a gyr-
land of flowers, Corne, Vine-leaues, and Oliue branches, enterwouen.
Her sockes, as her garment. The sixth
VENVSTAS.
IN a Siluer robe, with a thinne subtile vaile ouer her haire, and it: f Pearle
about her neck, and forehead. Her sockes wrought with pearle. In
her hand she bore seuerall colour'd gLillies. The seuenth was
DIGNITAS.
IN a dressing of state, the haire bound vp with fillets of golde, the gar-
mentsrich, and set with iewels, and gold; likewise her buskins, and in
her hand a hGolden rod. The eight
PERFECTIO.
IN a Vesture of pure Golde, a wreath of Gold vpon her head. About her
bodie the iZodiacke, with the Signes: In her hand a Compasse of golde,
drawing a circle.
On the top of all the Throne, (as being made out of all these) stood
HARMONIA.
A Personage, whose dressing had something of all the others, and had
her robe painted full of Figures. Her head was compass'd with a
crowne of Gold, hauing in it k seuen iewels equally set. In her hand a Lyra,
whereon she rested.
This was the Ornament of the Throne. The ascent to which, consisting
of sixe steps, was couered with a l multitude of Cupids (chosen out of the
best, and most ingenious youth of the Kingdome, noble, and others) that
were the Torch-bearers; and all armed, with Bowes, Quiuers, Wings, and other
Ensignes of Loue. On the sides of the Throne, were curious, and elegant
Arbors appointed: and behinde, in the backe part of the Ile, a Groue, of
growne trees laden with golden fruit, which other litle Cupids plucked, and
threw each at other, whilst on the ground mLeuerets pick'd vp the bruised
apples, and left them halfe eaten. The ground-plat of the whole was a
subtle indented Maze: And, in the two formost angles, were two Fountaines,
Arbors, were plac'd the Musicians, who represented the Shades of the olde
Poets, and were attir'd in a Priest-like habit of Crimson, and Purple, with
Laurell gyrlonds.
The colours of the Masquers were varied; the one halfe in Orenge-tawny,
and Siluer: the other in Sea-greene, and Siluer. The bodies and short skirts
on White, and Gold, to both.
The habite, and dressing (for the fashion) was most curious, and so exceeding
in riches, as the Throne whereon they sat, seem'd to be a Mine of
light, stroake from their iewels, and their garments.
This Throne, (as the whole Iland mou'd forward, on the water,) had a
circular motion of it owne, imitating that which wee call Motum mundi,
from the East to the West, or the right to the left side. For so Hom. Ilia. M.
vnderstands by δεξιά, Orientalia mundi: by ἀριϚερὰ, Occidentalia. The steps,
whereon the Cupids sate, had a motion contrary, with Analogy, ad motum
Planetarum, from the West to the East: both which turned with their seuerall
lights. And with these three varied Motions, at once, the whole Scene
pio, shot it selfe to the land.
Aboue which, the Moone was seene in a Siluer Chariot, drawne by Vir-
gins, to ride in the clouds, and hold them greater light: with the Signe Scor
and the Character, plac'd before her.
The order of this Scene was carefully, and ingeniously dispos'd; and as
happily put in act (for the Motions) by the Kings Master Carpenter. The
Painters, I must needs say, (not to belie them) lent small colour to any, to
attribute much of the spirit of these things to their pen'cills. But that must
not bee imputed a crime either to the inuention, or designe.
Here the loud Musique ceas'd; and the Musicians, which were placed in
the Arbors, came forth through the Mazes, to the other Land: singing this
full Song, iterated in the closes by two Eccho's, rising out of the Fountaines.
SONG.
VVHen Loue, at first, did mooue
From o out of Chaos, brightned
So was the world, and lightned,
As now! Eccho. As now! Ecch. As now!
Yeeld Night, then, to the light,
As Blacknesse hath to Beautie;
Which is but the same duety.
It was o for Beauty, that the World was made,
And where she raignes, pLoues lights admit no shade.
Ecch. Loues lights admit no shade.
Eccho. Admit no shade.
Which ended, Vulturnus the Wind spake to the Riuer Thamesis, that lay
along betweene the shores, leaning vpon his Vrne (that flow'd with wa-
ter,) and crown'd with flowers: with a blue cloth of Siluer robe about
him: and was personated by Master THOMAS GILES, who made the
Daunces.
VVLTVRNVS.
RIse aged Thames, and by the hand
Receiue these Nymphes, within the land:
And, in those curious Squares, and Rounds,
Wherewith thou flow'st betwixt the grounds
Of fruitfull Kent, and Essex faire,
That lend thee gyrlands for thy hayre;
Instruct their siluer feete to tread,
Whilst we, againe to sea, are fled.
With which the Windes departed; and the Riuer
receiu'd them into the
Land, by couples and foures, their Cupids comming before them.
Their Persons were.
- The QVEENE.
- La. ARABELLA.
- Co. of ARVNDEL.
- Co. of DERBY.
- Co. of BEDFORD.
- Co. of MONTGOMERY.
- La. ELIZA. GILFORD.
- L. KAT. PETER.
- La. ANNE WINTER.
- La. WINSORE.
- La. ANNE CLIFFORD.
- La. MARY NEVILL.
- La. ELIZ. HATTON.
- La. ELIZ. GARRARD.
- La. CHICHESTER.
- La. WALSINGHAM.
These dauncing foorth a most curious Daunce, full of excellent
deuice, and change, ended it in the figure of a Diamant, and so, standing
still, were by the Musicians, with a second Song (sung by a loud Tenor)
celebrated.
SONG.
SO beautie on the waters stood,
(When loue had * seuer'd earth, from flood!
So when he parted ayre, from fire,
He did with concord all inspire!
And then a motion he them taught,
That elder then him selfe was thought.
Which thought was, yet, a the child of earth,
For loue is elder then his birth.
The song ended; they danced forth their second dance, more subtle, and full of
change, then the former; and so exquisitely performed; as the Kings maie-
stie incited first (by his owne liking, to that which all others, there present
wish'd) requir'd them both againe, after some time of dancing with the Lords.
Which time, to giue them respite, was intermitted with song; first by a treble
voyce, in this manner,
SONG.
IF all these CVPIDS, now, were blind
As is * their wanton brother;
Or play should put it in their mind
To shoot at one another:
What prettie battaile they would make,
If they their obiects should mistake
And each one wound his mother!
Which was seconded by another treble; thus,
IT was no politie of court,
Albee' the place were charmed,
To let in earnest, or in sport,
So many Loues in, armed.
For say, the Dames should, with their eyes,
Vpon the hearts, here, meane surprize;
Were not the men like harmed?
To which a tenor answer'd.
SONG.
YEs, were the Loues or false, or straying;
Or beauties not their beautie waighing:
But here, no such deceipt is mix'd,
Their flames are pure, their eyes are fix'd:
They doe not warre, with different darts,
But strike a musique of like harts.
After which songs, they danc'd galliards, and coranto's; and with those ex-
cellent graces, that the musique, appointed to celebrate them, shew'd it could be
silent no longer: but by the first tenor, admir'd them thus,
SONG.
HAd those, that dwell in error foule,
And hold * that women haue no soule,
But seene these moue; they would haue, then
Said, Women were the soules of men.
So they doe moue each heart, and eye
With the aworlds soule, true harmony.
Here, they danc'd a third most elegant, and curious dance, and not to be describ'd
againe, by any art, but that of their owne footing: which, ending in the figure,
that was to produce the fourth, IANVARY from his state saluted them thus,
IANVARIVS.
YOur grace is great, as is your beautie, Dames;
Inough my feasts haue prou'd your thankfull flames.
Now vse your seate: that seate which was, before,
Thought stray'ing, vncertayne, floting to each shore,
And to whose hauing * euery clime laid clayme,
Each land, and nation vrged as the ayme
Of their ambition, beauties perfect throne,
Now made peculiar, to this place, alone;
And that, by'impulsion of your destinies,
And his attractiue beames, that lights these skies:
Who (though with th'Ocean compass'd) neuer wets
His hayre therein, nor weares a beame that sets.
Long may his light adorne these happy rites
As I renew them; and your gracious sights
Enioy that happinesse, eu'en to enuy, 'as when
Beautie, at large, brake forth, and conquer'd men.
At which they danc'd their last dance, into their Throne againe: and that tur-
ning, the scene clos'd with this full song.
SONG.
STill turne, and imitate the heauen
In motion swift and euen;
And as his Planets goe,
Your brighter lights doe so:
May youth and pleasure euer flow.
But let your state, the while,
Be fixed as the Isle.
CHO.
So all that see your beauties sphære,
May know the'Elysian fields are here.
Ecch. Th'Elysian fields are here.
Ecch. 'Elysian fields are here.