THE
QVEENES MASQVES.
The first,
OF BLACKNESSE:
Personated at the Court, at WHITE-HALL, on
the Twelu'th night,
1605.
He honor, and splendor of these spectacles
was such in the performance, as could those
houres haue lasted, this of mine, now, had
been a most vnprofitable worke. But (when
it is the fate, euen of the greatest, and most
absolute births, to need, and borrow a life of
posteritie) little had beene done to the stu-
die of magnificence in these, if presently with
the rage of the people, who (as a part of
greatnesse) are priuiledged by custome, to
deface their carkasses, the spirits had also pe-
rished. In dutie, therefore, to that Maiestie, who gaue them their authori-
tie, and grace; and, no lesse then the most royall of predecessors, deserues
eminent celebration for these solemnities: I adde this later hand, to re-
deeme them as well from Ignorance, as Enuie, two common euills, the
one of censure, the other of obliuion.
African, remember vnto vs a riuer in Æthiopie, famous by the name of
Niger; of which the people were called Nigrite, now Negro's: and are the
blackest nation of the world. This e riuer taketh spring out of a certaine
lake, east-ward; and after a long race, falleth into the westerne Ocean.
Hence (because it was her Maiesties will, to haue them Black-mores at first)
the inuention was deriued by me, and presented thus.
First, for the Scene, was drawne a Landtschap, consisting of small woods,
and here and there a void place fill'd with huntings; which falling, an artificiall
sea was seene to shoote forth, as if it flowed to the land, raysed
with waues, which seemed to moue, and in some places the billow to
breake, as imitating that orderly disorder, which is common in nature. In
front of this sea were placed sixe fTritons, in mouing, and sprightly acti-
ons, their vpper parts humane, saue that their haires were blue, as parta-
king of the sea-colour: their desinent parts, fish, mounted aboue their
heads, and all varied in disposition. From their backs were borne out cer-
taine light pieces of taffata, as if carryed by the winde, and their musique
made out of wreathed shells. Behind these, a paire of Sea-maides, for song,
were as conspicuously seated; betweene which, two great Sea-horses (as
bigge as the life) put forth themselues; the one mounting aloft, and wri-
thing his head from the other, which seemed to sinke forwards; so inten-
ded for variation, and that the figure behind, might come off better: gvp-
on their backs, OCEANVS and NIGER were aduanced.
OCEANVS, presented in a humane forme, the colour of his flesh, blue;
and shaddowed with a robe of sea-greene; his head grey; and h horned;
as he is described by the Ancients: his beard of the like mixt colour: hee
was gyrlonded with Alga, or sea-grasse; and in his hand a Trident.
NIGER, in forme and colour of an Æthiope; his haire, and rare beard
curled, shaddowed with a blue, and bright mantle: his front, neck, and
wrists adorned with pearle, and crowned, with an artificiall wreathe of
cane, and paper rush.
These induced the Masquers, which were twelue Nymphs, Negro's; and
the daughters of NIGER; attended by so many of the OCIANAE, which
were their light-bearers.
The Masquers were placed in a great concaue shell, like mother of
pearle, curiously made to moue on those waters, and rise with the billow;
the top thereof was stuck with a cheu'ron of lights, which, indented to the
proportion of the shell, strooke a glorious beame vpon them, as they were
seated, one aboue another: so that they were all seene, but in an extraua-
gant order.
On sides of the shell, did swim sixe huge Sea monsters, varyed in their
shapes, and dispositions, bearing on their backs the twelue torch-bearers;
who were planted there in seuerall graces; so as the backs of some were
seene; some in purfle, or side; others in face; and all hauing their lights
burning out of whelks, or murex shells.
The attyre of Masquers was alike, in all, without difference: the co-
lours, azure, and siluer; but returned on the top with a scroll and antique
dressing of feathers, and iewells interlaced with ropes of pearle. And, for
the front, eare, neck, and wrists, the ornament was of the most choise
and orient pearle; best setting off from the black.
For the light-bearers, sea-greene, waued about the skirts with gold and
siluer; their haire loose, and flowing, gyrlanded with sea-grasse, and that
stuck with branches of corall.
These thus presented, the Scene behind, seemed a vast sea (and vnited
with this that flowed forth) from the termination, or horizon of which
(being the leuell of the State, which was placed in the vpper end of the
hall) was drawne, by the lines of Prospectiue, the whole worke shooting
downewards, from the eye; which decorum made it more conspicious, and
caught the eye a farre off with a wandring beauty. To which was added
an obscure and cloudy night-piece, that made the whole set of. So much
for the bodily part. Which was of master YNIGO IONES his designe,
and act.
By this, one of the Tritons, with the two Sea-Maids, began to sing to
the others lowd musique, their voyces being a tenor, and two trebles.
SONG.
SOund, sound aloud
The welcome of the Orient floud,
Into the West;
Fayre, NIGER,k sonne to great OCEANVS,
Now honord, thus,
With all his beautious race:
Who, though but blacke in face,
Yet, are they bright,
And full of life, and light.
To proue that beauty best,
Which not the colour, but the feature
Assures vnto the creature.
OCEANVS.
BE silent, now the ceremonies done,
And NIGER, say, how comes it, louely sonne,
That thou, the ÆTHIOPES riuer, so farre East,
Art seene to fall into th' extremest West
Of me, the king of flouds, OCEANVS,
And, in mine empires heart, salute me thus?
My ceaselesse current, now, amazed stands!
To see thy labour, through so many lands,
lMixe thy fresh billow, with my brackish streame;
And, in the sweetnesse, stretch thy diademe,
To these farre distant, and vn-equall'd skies
This squared Circle of cœlestiall bodies.
NIGER.
DIuine OCEANVS, tis not strange at all,
That (since the immortall soules of creatures mortall,
Mixe with their bodies, yet reserue for euer
A power of separation) I should seuer
My fresh streames, from thy brackish (like things fixed)
Though, with thy powerfull saltnesse, thus far mixed.
,, Vertue, though chain'd to earth, will still liue free;
,, And hell it selfe must yeeld to industrie.
OCEANVS.
BVt, what's the end of thy Herculean labors,
Extended to these calme, and blessed shores?
NIGER.
TO do a kind, and carefull fathers part,
In satisfying euery pensiue heart
Of these my Daughters, my most loued birth:
Who though they were them first form'd dames of earth,
And in whose sparckling, and refulgent eyes,
The glorious Sunne did still delight to rise;
Though he (the best iudge, and most formall cause
Of all dames beauties) in their firme hiewes, drawes
Signes of his feruent'st loue; and thereby shewes
That, in their black, the perfectst beauty growes;
Since the fix't colour of their curled haire,
(Which is the highest grace of dames most faire)
No cares, no age can change; or there display
The fearefull tincture of abhorred Gray;
Since Death her selfe (her selfe being pale and blue)
Can neuer alter their most faithfull hiew;
All which are arguments, to proue, how far
Their beauties conquer, in great beauties warre;
And more, how neere Diuinitie they be,
That stand from passion, or decay so free.
Yet, since the fabulous voices of some few
Poore brain-sicke men, stil'd Poets, here with you,
Haue, with such enuie of their graces, sung
The painted Beauties, other Empires sprung;
Letting their loose, and winged fictions flie
To infect all clymates, yea our puritie;
As of onen PHAETON, that fir'd the world
And, that, before his heedlesse flames were hurld
About the Globe, the Æthiopes were as faire,
As other Dames; now blacke, with blacke dispaire:
And in respect of their complections chang'd,
Are eachwhere, since, for o lucklesse creatures rang'd.
Which, when my Daughters heard, (as women are
Most ielous of their beauties) feare, and care
Possess'd them whole; yea, and beleeuingpthem,
They wept such ceaselesse teares, into my streame,
That it hath, thus far, ouerflow'd his shore
To seece them patience: who haue since, ere more
As the Sunne riseth, q chardg'd his burning throne
With volleys of reuilings; cause he shone
On their scorch'd cheekes, with such intemperate fires,
And other Dames, made queenes of all desires.
To frustrate which strange error, oft, I sought,
(Though most in vaine, against a setled thought
As womens are) till they confirm'd at length
By miracle, what I, with so much strength
Of argument resisted; els they fain'd:
For in the Lake, where their first spring they gain'd,
As they sate, cooling their soft Limmes, one night,
Appear'd a face, all circumfus'd with light;
(And sure they saw't, for Æthiopesr neuer dreame)
Wherein they might decipher through the streame,
These words.
That they a Land must forthwith seeke,
Whose termination (of the Greeke)
Sounds TANIA; where bright Sol, that heat
Their blouds, doth neuers rise, or set,
But in his Iourney passeth by,
And leaues that Clymat of the sky,
To comfort of a greater Light,
Who formes all beauty, with his sight.
In search of this, haue we three Princedomes past,
That speake out Tania, in their accents last;
Blacke Mauritania first; and secondly,
Swarth Lusitania; next, we did descry
Rich Aquitania: and, yet, cannot find
The place vnto these longing Nymphes design'd.
Instruct, and ayde me great OCEANVS,
What land is this, that now appeares to vs?
OCEANVS.
This Land, that lifts into the temperate ayre
His snowy cliffe, istAlbion the faire;
So call'd ofu Neptunes son, who ruleth here:
For whose deare guard, my selfe, (foure thousand yeere)
Since old Deucalion's daies, haue walk'd the round
About his empire, proud, to see him crown'd
About my waues.
At this, the Moone was discouered in the vpper part of the house, triumphant
in a Siluer throne, made in figure of a Pyramis. Her garments White, and
Siluer, the dressing of her head antique; & crown'd with a Luminarie, or Sphere
of light. which striking on the clouds, and heightned with Siluer, reflected as natu-
rall clouds doe by the splendor of the Moone.
The heauen, about her, was vaulted
with blue silke, and set with starres of Siluer which bad in them their seuerall
lights burning. The suddaine sight of which, made NIGER to interruptOCE-
ANVS with this present passion.
NIGER.
—O see, our siluer Starre!
Whose pure, auspicious light greetes vs, thus farre!
Great Æthiopia, Goddesse of our shore,
Since, with particular worship we adore
Thy generall brightnesse, let particular grace
Shyne on my zealous Daughters: Shew the place,
Which, long, their longings vrdg'd their eyes to see.
Beautifie them, which long haue Deified thee.
ÆTHIOPIA.
NIGER, be glad: Resume the natiue cheare.
Thy Daughters labors haue their period here,
And so thy errors. I was that bright face
Reflected by the Lake, in which thy Race
Read my sticke lines; (which skill PITHAGORAS
First taught to men, by a reuerberate glasse)
This blessed Isle doth with that TANIA end,
Which there they saw inscrib'd, and shall extend
Wish'd satisfaction to their best desires.
BRITANIA, which the triple world admires
This Isle hath now recouered for her name;
Where raigne those beauties, that with so much fame
The sacred MVSES sonnes haue honored,
And from bright HESPERVS to EOVS spred.
With that great name BRITANIA, this blest Isle
Hath wonne her ancient dignitie, and stile,
A world, diuided from the world: and tri'd
The abstract of it, in his generall pride.
For were the world, with all his wealth, a ring,
BRITANIA (whose new name makes all tongues sing)
Might be a Diamant worthy to inchase it,
Rul'd by a SVNNE, that to this height doth grace it:
Whose beames shine day, and night, and are of force
To blanch an ÆTHIOPE, and reuiue a Cor's.
His light scientiall is, and (past mere nature)
Can salue the rude defects of euery creature.
Call forth thy honor'd Daughters, then;
And let them, 'fore the Brittaine men,
Indent the Land, with those pure traces
They flow with, in their natiue graces.
Inuite them, boldly, to the shore,
Their beauties shall be scorch'd no more:
This sunne is temperate, and refines
All things, on which his radiance shines.
Here the Tritons sounded, and they danced on shore, euery couple (as they ad-
uanced) seuerally presenting their fans: in one of which were in scribed their
mixt Names, in the other a mute Hieroglyphick, expressing their mixed
qualities. Which manner of Symbole I rather chose, then Imprese, as well
for strangenesse, as relishing of antiquitie, and more applying to that originall
doctrine of sculpture, which the Ægyptians are said, first, to haue brought
from the Æthiopians.
| The Queene. Co. of Bedsord. |
1. | EVPHORIS. AGLAIA. |
| La. Herbert. Co. of Derby. |
2. | DIAPHANE. EVCAMPSE. |
| La. Rich. Co. of Suffolke. |
3. | OCYTE. KATHARE. |
| La. Beuill. La. Effingham. |
4. | NOTIS. PSYCHROTE. |
| La. El. Howard. La. Sus. Vere. |
5. | GLYCYTE. MALACIA. |
| La. Wroth. La. Walsingham. |
6. | BARYTE. PERIPHERE. |
| 1. | A golden tree, la- den with fruit. |
| 2. | The figure Isocae- dron of crystall. |
| 3. | A payre of naked feet, in a riuer. |
| 4. | The SALAMAN- DER simple. |
| 5. | A clowd full of raine, dropping. |
| 6. | An vrne' spheard with wine. |
The names of the OCEANIÆ Were.
- DORIS.
- PETRAEA.
- OCYRHOE.
- CYDIPPE.
- GLAVCE.
- TYCHE.
- BEROE.
- ACASTE.
- CLYTIA.
- IANTHE.
- LYCORYS.
- PLEXAVRE.
Their owne single dance ended, as they were about to make choice of their men:
One, from the sea, was heard to call' hem with this charme, sung by a tenor
voyce.
SONG.
COme away, come away,
We grow iealous of your stay:
If you doe not stop your eare,
We shall haue more cause to feare
Syrens of the land, then they
To doubt the Syrens of the sea.
Here they danc'd with their men, seuerall measures, and corranto's. All which
ended, they were againe accited to sea, with a song of two
trebles, whose ca-
denceswere iterated by a double eccho, from seuerall parts of the land.
SONG.
DAughters of the subtle floud,
Doe not let earth longer intertayne you;
1. Ecch.
Let earth longer intertayne you.
2. Ecch.
Longer intertayne you.
'Tis to them, inough of good,
That you giue this little hope, to gayne you.
1. Ecch.
Giue this little hope, to gayne you.
2. Ecch.
Little hope, to gayne you.
If they loue,
You shall quickly see;
For when to flight you moue,
They'll follow you, the more you flee.
1. Ecch.
Follow you, the more you flee.
2. Ecch.
The more you flee.
If not, impute it each to others matter;
They are but earth,
1. Ecch.
But earth
2. Ecch.
Earth.
and what you vow'd was water.
1. Ecch.
And what you vow'd was water.
2. Ecch.
You vow'd was water.
ÆTHIOPIA.
INough, bright Nymphs, the night growes old,
And we are grieu'd, we cannot hold
You longer light: But comfort take.
Your father, onely, to the lake
Shall make returne: Your selues, with feasts,
Must here remayne the Ocean's guests.
Nor shall this vaile, the sunne hath cast
Aboue your bloud, more summers last.
For which, you shall obserue these rites.
Thirteene times thrise, on thirteene nights,
(So often as I fill my sphære
With glorious light, throughout the yeere)
You shall (when all things else doe sleepe
Saue your chast thoughts) with reuerence, steepe
Your bodies in that purer brine,
And wholsome dew, call'd Ros-marine:
Then with that soft, and gentler fome,
Of which, the Ocean yet yeelds some,
Whereof bright VENVS, BEAVTIES Queene,
Is said to haue begotten beene,
You shall your gentler limmes ore-laue,
And for your paines, perfection haue.
So that, this night, the yeare gone round,
You doe againe salute this ground;
And, in the beames of yond' bright Sunne,
Your faces dry, and all is done.
At which, in a Daunce they returned to the Sea, where they tooke their Shell;
and, with this full Song, went out.
SONG.
NOW DIAN, with her burning face,
Declines apace:
By which our Waters know
To ebbe, that late did flow.
Back Seas, back Nymphs; but, with a forward grace,
Keepe, still, your reuerence to the place:
And shout with ioy of fauor, yon haue wonne,
In sight of Albion, NEPTVNES sonne.
So ended the first Masque: which (beside the singular grace of Musicke and
Daunces) had that successe in the nobilitie of performance, as nothing needes to
the illustration, but the memorie by whom it was personated.