THE FRONT BEFORE THE
SCENE, was an Arch-Triumphall.
On the top of which, HVMANITIE placed in figure, sate with her lap
full of flowers, scattering them with her right hand; and holding a golden
chaine in her left hand: to shew both the freedome, and the bond of Courtesie,
with this inscription.
SVPER OMNIA VULTVS.
On the two sides of the Arch
CHEEREFVLNES,
and READINES, her servants.
CHEEREFVLNES, in a loose
flowing garment, filling out wine from
an antique piece of plate; with this word
Adsit lætitiæ dator.
READINES, a winged Mayd, with
two flaming bright lights in her hands;
and her word.
Amor addidit alas.
The Scene discovered, is (on the one side) the head of a Boate, and in it
CHARON putting off from the shore, having landed certaine imagined
ghosts, whom MERCVRY there receives, and encourageth to come on to-
wards the River LETHE, who appeares lying in the person of an old man.
The FATES sitting by him on his banke; a grove of myrtles behinde them,
presented in perspective, and growing thicker to the outer side of the Scene.
MERCVRY, perceiving them to faint, calls them on, and shews them his
golden rod. And the whole Maske was sung (after the Italian manner) Stylo
recitativo, by Master Nicholas Lanier; who ordered and made both the
scene, and the Musicke.
MERCVRY.
NAy, faint not now, so neere the fields of rest.
Here no more furies, no more torments dwell,
Then each hath felt alreadie in his brest;
Who hath beene once in love, hath prov'd his Hell.
Up then, and follow this my golden rod,
That points you next to aged LETHES shore,
Who poures his waters from his urne abroad,
Of which but tasting, you shall faint no more.
LETHE.
Stay, who, or what phantastique shades are these
That HERMES leades?
MERCVRY.
They are the gentle formes,
Of Lovers, tost upon those frantique seas,
Whence VENVS sprung.
LETHE.
And have rid out her storms?
MERCVRY.
No.
LETHE.
Did they perish?
MERCVRY.
Yes.
LETHE.
How?
MERCVRY.
Drown'd by love,
That drew them forth with hopes as smooth as were
Th'unfaithfull waters he desir'd them prove.
LETHE.
And turn'd a tempest, when he had them there?
MERCVRY.
He did, and on the billow would he roule,
And laugh to see one throw his heart away,
Another sighing, vapour forth his soule,
A third, to melt himselfe in teares, and say,
O Love, I now to salter water turne
Then that I die in; then, a fourth, to crie
Amid the surges; oh! I burne, I burne:
A fift, laugh out, it is my ghost, not I.
And thus in paires I found'hem. Onely one
There is, that walkes, and stops, and shakes his head,
And shuns the rest, as glad to be alone,
And whispers to himselfe, he is not dead.
FATES.
No more are all the rest.
MERCVRY.
No?
1. FATE.
No.
MERCVRY.
But, why
Proceeds this doubtfull voyce from destiny?
FATES.
It is too sure.
MERCVRY.
Sure?
2. FATE.
I. Thinkes MERCVRY,
That any things, or names on earth doe die,
That are obscur'd from knowledge of the FATES,
Who keepe all rolls?
3. FATE.
And know all natures dates?
MERCVRY.
They say themselves, th'are dead.
1. FATE.
It not appeares.
Or, by our rocke.
2. FATE.
Our spindle.
3. FATE.
Or our sheeres.
FATES.
Here all their threds are growing, yet none cut.
MERCVRY.
I 'gin to doubt, that Love with charmes hath put
This phant'sie in 'hem; and they onely thinke
That they are ghosts.
FATE.
If so, then let 'hem drinke
Of LETHES streame.
FATE.
'Twill make 'hem to forget
LOVES name.
FATE.
And so, they may recover yet!
MERCVRY.
Doe, bow unto the reverend lake:
And having touch'd there; up, and shake
The shadowes off, which yet doe make
Us you, and you your-selves mistake.
Here they all stoope to the water, and dance forth their Antimasque in severall
gestures, as they liv'd in love: And retyring into the Grove, before the last
person be off the Stage; the first couple appeare in their posture between the trees,
readie to come forth, changed.
MERCVRY.
See! see! they are them selves agen!
1. FATE.
Yes, now the'are substances, and men.
2. FATE.
LOVE, at the name of LETHE flyes.
LETHE.
For, in oblivion drown'd, he dyes.
3. FATE.
He must not hope, though other states
He oft subdue, he can the FATES.
FATES.
'Twere insolence, to thinke his powres
Can worke on us; or equall ours.
CHORVS.
REturne, Returne,
Like lights to burne
On earth,
For others good:
Your second birth
Will fame old LETHES flood,
And warne a world,
That now are hoorld
About in tempest, how they prove
Shadowes for Love.
Leape forth: your light it is the nobler made,
By being strooke out of a shade.
Here they dance forth their entrie, or first dance: after which
CVPID-----appearing, meets them.
WHy, now you take me! these are rites
That grace Loves dayes, and crowne his nights!
These are the motions, I would see,
And praise, in them that follow mee!
Not sighes, nor tears, nor wounded hearts,
Nor flames, nor ghosts: but ayrie parts
Try'd, and refin'd as yours have bin,
And such they are, I glory in!
MERCVRY.
Looke, looke unto this snakie rod,
And stop your eares, against the charming god;
His every word, falls from him, is a snare:
Who have so lately knowne him, should beware.
Here they Dance their maine dance, which ended,
CVPID.
Come, doe not call it CVPIDS crime,
You were thought dead before your time.
If thus you move to HERMES will
Alone; you will be thought so still.
Goe, take the Ladies forth, and talke,
And touch, and taste too: Ghosts can walke.
'Twixt eyes, tongues, hands, the mutuall strife
Is bred, that tries the truth of life.
They doe, indeed, like dead men move,
That thinke they live, and not in love!
Here they take forth the Ladyes, and the Revells follow: after which,
MERCVRY.
Nay, you should never have left off:
But stay'd, and heard your CVPID scoff,
To finde you in the line you were.
CVPID.
Your too much wit, breeds too much feare.
MERCVRY.
Good Flie, good night.
CVPID.
But will you go?
Can you leave LOVE, and he intreat you so?
Here, take my quiver, and my bow,
My torches too; that you, by all, may know
I meane no danger to your stay:
This night, I will create my holiday,
And be yours naked, and entire.
MERCVRY.
As if that LOVE, dis-arm'd, were lesse a fire?
Away, away.
They Dance their going out: which done,
MERCVRY.
Yet lest that VENVS wanton Sonne,
Should with the world, be quite undone,
For your faire sakes (you brighter starres,
Who have beheld these civill warres.)
FATE is content, these Lovers here
Remaine still such: so LOVE will sweare
Never to force them act to doo,
But what he will call HERMES too.
CVPID.
I sweare: and with like cause thanke MERCVRY,
As these have, to thanke him, and destiny.
CHORVS.
All then take cause of joy: for who hath not?
Old LETHE, that their follies are forgot;
We, that their lives unto their fates they fit:
They, that they still shall love, and love with wit.