of passion or some powerfull charmes To vent his owne griefe or unlock her armes Take off his pen and in sad verse bemone This generall sorrow and forget his owne So may those Verseslive which else must dye For though the Muses give eternitie When they embalme with verse yet she could give Life unto that Muse by which others live Oh pardon me faire soule that boldly have Dropt though but one teare on thy silent grave And writ on that earth which such honour had To cloath that flesh wherein thy selfe was clad And pardon me sweet Saint whom I adore That I this tribute pay out of the store Of lines and teares that 's only due to thee Oh doe not thinke it new Idolatrie Though you are only soveraigne of this Land Yet universall losses may command A subsidie from every private eye And presse each pen to write so to supply And seed the common griefe if this excuse Prevaile not take these teares to your owne use As shed for you for when I saw her dye I then did thinke on your mortalitie For since nor vertue will nor beautie could Preserve from Death's hand this their heavenly mould Where they were framed all and where they dwelt I then knew you must dye too and did melt Into these teares but thinking on that day And when the gods resolv'd to take away A Saint from us I that did know what dearth There was of such good soules upon the earth Began to feare lest Death their Officer Might have mistooke and taken thee for her So had'st thou rob'd us of that happinesse Which she in heaven and I in thee possesse But what can heaven to her glory adde The prayses she hath dead living she had To say she 's now an Angell is no more Praise then she had for she was one before Which of the Saints can shew more votaries Then she had here even those that did despise The Angels and may her now she is one Did whilst she liv d with pure devotion Adore and worship her her vertues had All honour here for this world was too bad To hate or envy her these cannot rise So high as to repine at Deities But now she 's 'mongst her fellow Saints they may Be good enough to envy her this way There 's losse i' th' change 'twixt heav'n and earth if she Should leave her servants here below to be Hated of her competitors above But sure her matchlesse goodnesse needs must move Those blest soules to admire her excellence By this meanes only can her journey hence To heaven prove gaine if as she was but here Worshipt by men she be by Angels there But I must weepe no more over this urne My teares to their owne chanell must returne And having ended these sad obsequies My Muse must back to her old exercise To tell the story of my martyrdome But oh thou Idoll of my soule become Once pittifull that she may change her stile Drie up her blubbred eyes and learne to smile Rest then blest soule for as ghosts flye away When the shrill Cock proclaimes the infant-day So must I hence for loe I see from farre The minions of the Muses comming are Each of them bringing to thy sacred Herse In either eye a teare each hand a Verse To my Mistresse in absence THough I must live here and by force Of your command suffer divorce Though I am parted yet my mind That 's more my selfe still stayes behind I breath in you you keepe my heart 'T was but a carkasse that did part Then though our bodyes are dis-joynd As things that are to place confin'd Yet let our boundlesse spirits meet And in loves spheare each other greet There let us worke a mystique wreath Vnknowne unto the world beneath There let our claspt loves sweetly twin There let our secret thoughts unseen Like nets be wear'd and inter-twin'd Wherewith wee 'le catch each others mind There whilst our soules doe sit and kisse Tasting a sweet and subtle blisse Such as grosse lovers cannot know Whose hands and lips meet here below Let us looke downe and marke what paine Our absent bodyes here sustaine And smile to see how farre away The one doth from the other stray Yet burne and languish with desire To joyne and quench their mutuall fire There let us joy to see from farre Our emulous flames at loving warre Whilst both with equall luster shine Mine bright as yours yours bright as mine There seated in those heavenly bowers Wee 'le cheat the lag and lingring houres Making our bitter absence sweet Till soules and bodyes both may meet To her in absence A SHIP TOst in a troubledsea of griefes I floate Farre from the shore in a storme-beaten boat Where my sad thoughts doe like the compasse show The severall points from which crosse winds doe blow My heart doth like the needle toucht with love Still sixt on you point which way I would move You are the bright Pole-staire which in the darke Of this long absence guides my wandring barke Love is the Pilot but o're-come with feare Of your displeasure dares not homewards steare My fearefull hope hangs on my trembling sayle Nothing is wanting but a gentle gale Which pleasant breath must blow from your sweet lip Bid it but move and quick as thought this Ship Into your armes which are my port will flye Where it for ever shall at Anchor lye SONG Eternitie of love protested HOw ill doth he deserve a lovers name Whose pale weake flame Cannot retaine His heate in spight of absence or disdaine But doth at once like paper set on fire Burne and expire True love can never change his seat Nor did he ever love that could retreat That noble flame which my brest keeâ—…es alive shall still survive When my soule 's fled Nor shall my love dye when my bodye's dead That shall waite on me to the lower shade And never fade My very ashes in their urne Shall like a hallowed Lamp for ever burne Upon some alterations in my Mistresse after my departure into France OH gentle Love doe not forsake the guide Of my fraile Barke on which the swelling tide Of ruthlesse pride Doth beat and threaten wrack from every side Gulfes of disdaine do gape to overwhelme This boat nigh sunke with griefe whilst at the helme Dispaire commands And round about the shifting sands Of faithlesse love and false inconstancie With rocks of crueltie Stop up my passage to the neighbour Lands My sighs have rays'd those winds whose sury beares My sayles or'e boord and in their place spreads teares And from my teares This sea is sprâ—…ng where naught but Death appeares A mystie cloud of anger hides the light Of my faire starre and every where black night Vsurpes the place Of those bright rayes which once did grace My forth-bound Ship but when it could no more Behold the vanisht shore In the deep flood she drown'd her beamie face Good counsell to a young Maid WHen you the
POEMS By THOMAS CAREVV Esquire One of the Gentlemen of the Privie-Chamber and Sewer in Ordinary to His Majesty LONDON Printed by I. D. for Thomas Walkley and are to be sold at the signe of the flying Horse between Brittains Burse and York-House 1640. ERRATA PAge 5. Line 4. for their reade your p. 1â—… l. 3. for sent r. lent p. 43. l 11. for it reade not p. 77. l. 3. for danke r. dampe p. 85. l. 7. for Souldiers r. Lovers p. 11. l. 15. r. I straight might feele p. 113. l. 17. for the r. that p. 1â—…2 l. 2. for where r. what p. 138. l. 3 for pastime r. passion p. 148. for circle r. sickle p. 168. l. 18. for frisketh in r. Iris. struts in Imprimatur MATTHEVV CLAY Aprill 29. 1640. POEMS The Spring NOW that the winter's gone the earth hath lost Her snow-white robes and now no more the frost Candies the grasse or castes an ycie cream Vpon the silver Lake or Chrystall streame But the warme Sunne thawes the benummed Earth And makes it tender gives a sacred birth To the dead Swallow wakes in hollow tree The drowzie Cuckow and the Humble-Bee Now doe a quire of chirping Minstrels bring In tryumph to the world the youthfull Spring The Vallies hills and woods in rich araye Welcome the comming of the long'd for May. Now all things smile onely my Love doth lowre Nor hath the scalding Noon-day-sunne the power To melt that marble yce which still doth hold Her heart congeald and makes her pittie cold The Oxe which lately did for shelter flie Into the stall doth now securely lie Jn open fields and love no more is made By the fire side but in the cooler shade Amynt as now doth with his Cloris sleepe Vnder a Sycamoure and all things keepe Time with the season only shee doth carry Iune in her eyes in her heart Ianuary To A. L. Perswasions to love THinke not cause men flatt'ring say Y' are fresh as Aprill sweet as May Bright as is the morning starre That you are so or though you are Be not therefore proud and deeme All men unworthy your esteeme For being so you loose the pleasure Of being faire since that rich treasure Of rare beauty and sweet feature Was bestow'd on you by nature To be enjoy'd and 't were a sinne There to be scarce where shee hath bin So prodigall of her best graces Thus common beauties and meane faces Shall have more pastime and enjoy The sport you loose by being coy Did the thing for which I sue Onely concerne my selfe not you Were men so fram'd as they alone Reap'd all the pleasure women none Then had you reason to be scant But 't were a madnesse not to grant That which affords if you consent To you the giver more content Then me the beggar Oh then bee Kinde to your selfe if not to mee Starue not your selfe because you may Thereby make me pine away Nor let brittle beautie make You your wiser thoughts forsake For that lovely face will faile Beautie 's sweet but beautie's fraile 'T is sooner past 't is sooner done Then Summers raine or winters Sun Most fleeting when it is most deare 'T is gone while wee but say 't is here These curious locks so aptly twind Whose every haire a soule doth bind Will change their abroun hue and grow White and cold as winters snow That eye which now is Cupids nest Will proue his grave and all the rest Will follow in the cheeke chin nose Nor lilly shall be found nor rose And what will then become of all Those whom now you servants call Like swallowes when their summers done They 'le flye and seeke some warmer Sun Then wisely chuse one to your friend Whose love may when your beauties end Remaine still fiâ—… me be provident And thinke before the summers spent Of following winter like the Ant In plenty hoord for time of scant Cull out amongst the multitude Of lovers that seeke to intrude Into your favour one that may Love for an age not for a day One that will quench your youthfull fires And feed in age your hot desires For when the stormes of time have mou'd Waves on that cheeke which was belou'd When a faire Ladies face is pin'd And yellow spred where red once shin'd When beauty youth and all sweets leave her Love may returne but lover never And old folkes say there are no paynes Like itch of love in aged vaines Oh love me then and now begin it Let us not loose this present minute For time and age will worke that wrack Which time or age shall ne're call backe The snake each yeare fresh skin resumes And Eagles change their aged plumes The faded Rose each spring receives A fresh red tincture on her leaves But if your beauties once decay You never know a second May. Oh then be wise and whilst your season Affords you dayes for sport doe reason Spend not in vaine your lives short houre But crop in time your beauties flower Which will away and doth together Both bud and fade both blow and wither Lips and Eyes IN Celia's face a question did arise Which were more beautifull her lips or eyes We said the eyes send forth those poynted darts Which pierce the hard est adamantine hearts From us replyd the lips proceed those blisses Which louers reâ—…pe by kind words and sweet kisses Then wept the eyes and from their springs did powre Of liquid orientall pearle a shower Where at the lips mou'd with delight and pleasure Through a sweete smile vnlockt their pearlie treasure And bad love judge whether did adde more grace Weeping or smiling pearles to Celia's face A divine Mistris IN natures peeces still I see Some errour that might mended bee Something my wish could still remove Alter or adde but my faire love Was fram'd by hands farre more divine For she hath every beauteous line Yet I had beene farre happier Had Nature that made me made her Then likenes might that love creates Have made her love what now she hates Yet I confesse I cannot spare From her iust shape the smallest haire Nor need I beg from all the store Of heaven for her one beautie more Shee hath too much divinity for mee You Gods teach her some more humanitie SONG A beautifull Mistris IF when the Sun at noone displayes His brighter rayes Thou but appeare He then all pale with shame and feare Quencheth his light Hides his darke brow flyes from thy sight And growes more dimme Compar'd to thee then starres to him If thou but show thy face againe When darkenesse doth at midnight raigne The darkenesse flyes and light is hurl'd Round about the silent world So as alike thou driu'st away Both light and darkenesse night and day A cruell Mistris WEE read of Kings and Gods that kindly tooke A pitcher fil'd with water from the brooke But I have dayly tendred without thankes Rivers of teares that overflow their bankes A slaughter'd bull will appease angry love A
if thyselfe possesse a gemme As deare to thee as this to them Though a stranger to this place Bewayle in theirs thine owne hard case For thou perhaps at thy returne May est find thy Darling in an Vrne An other THe purest Soule that e're was sent Into a clayie tenement Inform'd this dust but the weake mold Could the great guest no longer hold The substance was too pure the flame Too glorious that thither came Ten thousand Cupids brought along A Grace on each wing that did throng For place there till they all opprest The seat in which they sought to rest So the faire Modell broke for want Of roome to lodge th' Inhabitant An other THis little Vault this narrow roome Of Love and Beautie is the tombe The dawning beame that 'gan to cleare Our clouded skie lyes darkned here For ever set to us by death Sent to enflame the world beneath 'T was but a bud yet did containe More sweetnesse then shall spring againe A budding starre that might have growne Into a Sun when it had blowne This hopefull beautie did create New life in Loves declining state But now his Empire ends and we From fire and wounding darts are free His brand his bow let no man feare The flames the arrowes all lye here Epitaph on the Lady S. Wife to Sir W. S. THe harmonie of colours features grace Resulting Ayres the magique of a face Of musicall sweet tunes all which combind To this darke Vault She was a Cabinet Where all the choysest stones of price were set Whose native colours and purest lustre lent Her eye cheeke lip a dazling ornament Whose rare and hidden vertues did expresse Her inward beauties and minds fairer dresse The constant Diamond the wise Chrysolite The devout Saphyre Emrauld apt to write Records of Memorie cherefull Agar grave And serious Onix Topaze that doth save The braines calme temper wittie Amathist This precious Quartie or what else the list On Aarons Ephod planted had she wore One onely Pearle was wanting to her store Which in her Saviours booke she found exprest To purchase that she sold Death all the rest Maria Wentworth Thomae Comitis Cleveland filia praemortuae prima Virginiam animam exhaluit An. Dom. Aet suae ANd here the precious dust is layd Whose purely-tempered Clay was made So fine that it the guest betray'd Else the soule grew so fast within It broke the outward shell of sinne And so was hatch'd a Cherubin In heigth it soar'd to God above In depth it did to knowledge move And spread in breadth to generall love Before a pious dutie shind To Parents courtesie behind On either side an equall mind Good to the Poore to kindred deare To servants kind to friendship cleare To nothing but her selfe severe So though a Virgin yet a Bride To every Grace she justifi'd A chaste Poligamie and dy'd Learne from hence Reader what small trust We owe this world where vertue must Fraile as our flesh crumble to dust On the Duke of Buckingham Beatissimis Manibus charissimi viri Ill ma Conjunx sic Parentavit WHen in the brazen leaves of Fame The life the death of Buckingham Shall be recorded if Truth 's hand Incize the story of our Land Posteritie shall see a faire Structure by the studious care Of two Kings rays'd that no lesse Their wisdome than their Power expresse By blinded zeale whose doubtfull light Made murders scarlet robe seeme white Whose vain-deluding phantosmes charm'd A clouded sullen soule and arm'd A desperate hand thirstie of blood Torne from the faire earth where it stood So the majestique fabrique fell His Actions let our Annals tell Wee write no Chronicle This Pile Weares onely sorrowes face and stile Which even the envie that did waite Vpon his flourishing estate Turn'd to soft pitty of his death Now payes his Hearse but that cheape breath Shall not blow here nor th'unpure brine Puddle those streames that bathe this shrine These are the pious Obsequies Drop'd from his chast Wifes pregnant eyes In frequent showres and were alone By her congealing sighes made stone On which the Carver did bestow These formes and Characters of woe So he the fashion onely lent Whilst she wept all this Monument An other Siste Hospes sive Indigena sive Advena vicissitudinis rerum memor pauca pellege REader when these dumbe stones have told In borrowed speach what Guest they hold Thou shalt confesse the vaine pursuit Of humane Glory yeelds no fruit But an untimely Grave If Fate Could constant happinesse create Her Ministers Fortune and Worth Had here that myracle brought forth They fix'd this childe of Honour where No roome was left for Hope or Feare Of more or lesse so high so great His growth was yet so safe his seate Safe in the circle of his Friends Safe in his Loyall heart and ends Safe in his native valiant spirit By favour safe and safe by merit Safe by the stampe of Nature which Did strength with shape and Grace enrich Safein the checrefull Curtesies Of flowing gestures speach and eyes Safe in his Bounties which were more Proportion'd to his mind then store Yet though for vertue he becomes Involv'd Himselfe in borrowed summes Safe in his care he leaves betray'd No friend engag'd no debt unpay'd But though the startes conspire to shower Vpon one Head th' united power Of all their Graces if their dire Aspects must other brests inspire With vicious thoughts a Murderers knife May cut as here their Darlings life Who can be happy then if Nature must To make one Happy man make all men just Foure Songs by way of Chorus to a play at an entertainment of the King and Queene by my Lord Chamberlaine The first of Iealousie Dialogue Question FRom whence was first this furie burid This Jealousie into the world Came she from Hell Ans. No there doth raigne Eternall hatred with disdaine But she the Daughter is of Love Sister of Beauty Reply Then above She must derive from the third sphears Her heavenly Off-spring Ans. Neither there From those immortall flames could shee Draw her cold frozen Pedigree Quest. If nor from heaven nor hell where then Had she her birth An. I'th'bearts of men Beauty and Feare did her create Younger then Love Elder then Hate Sister to both by Beauties side To love by Feare to Hate ally'de Despoyreherissue is whose race Of fruitfull mischiefes drownes the space Of the wide earth in a swolne flood Of wrath revenge spight rage and blood Quest. Oh how can such a spurious line Proceed from Parents so divine Ans. As streames which from their Crystall spring Doe sweet and cleare their waters bring Yet mingling with the brackish maine Nor taste nor colour they retaine Qu. Yet Rivers 'twixt their owne bankes flow Still flesh can jealousie doe so An. Yes whilst shee keepes the stedfast ground Of Hope and Feare her equall bound Hope spruâ—…g from favour worth or chance Towar'ds the faire object doth advance Whil'st Feare as watchfull
and marke where the bright Zodiack Hangâ—… like a Belt about the brest of heaven On the right shoulder like a flaming Iewell His shell with nine rich Topazes adorn'd Lord of this Tropique sits the skalding Crab He when the Sunne gallops in full careere His annuall race his gastly clawes uprear'd Frights at the confines of the torrid Zone The fiery teame and proudly stops their course Making a solstice till the fierce Steeds learne His backward paces and so retrograde Poste downe-hill to th'opposed Capricorne Thus I depose him from his laughty 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 paces here below The second Antimasque is danc'd in retrograde paces 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 politer Arts and Sciences as they have not beene observed for many Ages to have made any sensible advance could you but lâ—…ad the learned squadrons with a masculine resolution past this point of retrogradation it were a benefit to mankind worthy the power of a god and to be 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 stampe of some peculiar Ill Mounted the Sky and fiz'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 Colâ—…hos for the golden fleece Drunken distemper in the Goblet flowes I' th Dart and Scorpion bit ing Calumny In Hercules and the Lyon furious rage Vaine Ostentation in Câ—…ssiope 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 incorpore all nature is exprest The third Antimasque is danc'd of these severall vices expressing the deviation from Vertue Mom. From hence forth it shall be no more â—…id in the Proverbe when you would expresse a riotous Assembly That hell but Heaven is broke loose this was an arrant Goale-delivery all the Prisons of your great Cities could not have vomited more corrupt matter but Cozen Cylleneus in my judgement it is not safe that these infectious persons should wander here to the hazard of this Iland they threatned lesse danger when they were nayl'd to the Firmament I should conceive it a very discreeâ—… course since they are provided of a tall vessell of their owne ready rigg'd to embarque them all together in that good Ship called the Argo and send them to the plantation in New-England which hath purg'd more virulent humours from the politique body then Guacum and all the West-Indian drugs have from the naturall bodies of this Kingdome Can you devise how to dispose them better Merc. They cannot breath this pure and temperats Ayre Where Vertue lives but will with hasty flight 'Mongst fogs and vapours seeke unsound abodes â—…y after them srom your usurped seats You foule remainders of that viporous brood Let not a Starre of luxurious race With his loose blaze staine the skyes chrystall sace All the Starres are quench'd and the Spheare darkened Before the entry of every Antimasque the Starres 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 Stars were seene Mom. Here is a totall Ecclipse of the eighth Spheare which neither Booker Allestre nor any of your Prognosticators no nor their great Master Tico were aware of but yet in my opinion there were some innocent and some generous Constellations that might have beene reserved for Noble uses as the Skales and Sword to adorne the statue of Iustice since she resides here on Earth onely in Picture and Effigie The Eagle had beene a fit present for the Germans in regard their Bird hath mew'd most of her feathers lately The Dolphin too had beene most welcome to the French and then had you but clapt Perseus on his Pegasus brandishing his Sword the Dragon yawning on his backe under the horses feet with Python's dart through his throat there had beene a Divine St. George for this Nation but since you have improvidently shuffled them altogether it now rests onely that wee provide an immediate succession and to that purpose I will instantly proclaime a free Election O yes O yes O yes By the Father of the gods and the King of men Whereas wee having observed a very commendable practise taken into frequent use by the Princes of these latter Ages of perpetuating the memory of their famous enterprizes sieges battels victories in Picture Sculpture Tapistry Embroyderies and other manifactures where with they have embellished their publicke Palaces and taken into Our more distinct and serious consideration the particular Christmas hanging of the Guard-Chamber of this Court wherein the Navall Victory of 88. is to the eternall glory of this Nation exactly delineated and whereas We likewise out of a propheticall imitation of this so laudable custome did for many thousand yeares before adorne and beautifie the eighth roome of Our caelestiall Mansion commonly called the Starre-Chamber with the military adventures stratagems atchievements feats and defeats performed in Our Owne person whilst yet Our Standard was erected and Wee a Combattant in the Amorous Warfare It hath notwithstanding after mature deliberation and long debate held first in our owne inscrutable bosome and afterwards communicated with Our Privy Councell seemed meet to Our Omnipotency 〈◊〉 causes to Our selfe best knowne to 〈◊〉 and dis-array Our fore-said starre-Chamber 〈◊〉 all those Ancient Constellations which have for so many Ages been sufficiently noâ—…rious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 admit into their vacant places such 〈◊〉 onely as shall be qualified with exemplar Vertue and eminent Desert there to shine in dâ—…ble Characters of glory to all Posterity It is therefore Our divine will and pleasure voluntarily and out of Our owne 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 Person whatsoever that conceiveth him or her selfe to bee really endued with any Heroicall Vertue or transcendent Merit worthy so high a calling and dignity to bring their severall pleas and pretences before Our Right trusty and and Welbeloved Cozen and Councellor Don Mercury and god Momus c. Our peculiar Deligates for that affaire upon whom We have transferr'd an absolute power to conclude and determine without Appeale or Revocation accordingly as to their wisedomes it shall in such cases appeare behovefull and expedient Given at Our Palace in Olympus 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 â—…uncht backe and attir'd in a Robe of Cloath of gold Plutus appeares Merc. Who 's this appeares Mom. This is a subterranean Fiend 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 begunne 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 summous Which ought in Iustice 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 clayme by sole Desert If Vertue must inherit shee 's my slave I lead her captive in a golden chayne About the world Shee takes her Forme and Being From my creation and those barren seeds That drop from Heaven if I not cherish them With my distilling dewes and sotive hear They know no vegetation but expos'd To blasting winds of freezing Poverty Or not shoot forth at all or budding wither Should I proclaime 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 Turne but your eyes and marke the busie world Climbing steepe Mountaines for the sparkling stone 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 gainful trade And through opposing swords fire murdering Canoâ—… Skaling the walled Townes for precious spoyles 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 vaine through these and greater hazards I could discover how your Deitieâ—… Are for my sake sleighted despis'd abus'd Your Temples Shrines Altars and Images Vncover'd rifled robb'd and disarray'd By sacrilegious hands yet is this treasure To th' golden Mountaine where I sit ador'd With superstitious solemne rights convay'd And becomes sacred there the sordid wretch Not daring touch the consecrated Ore Or with prophane hands lessen the bright heape But this might draw your anger downe on mortals For rendring me the homage due to you Yet what is said may well expresse my power Too great for Earth and only fit sor 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 Piâ—…e amorous Roundelayes you toyling Hinds That barbe 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 keepe a cheerefull holy-day They dance the fourth Antimasque consisting of Countrey people musicke and measures Merc. Plutus the gods know and confesse your power Which feeble Vertue seldome can resist Stronger then 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 keepe 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 toyle srom undiscover'd Worlds Thou art brought hither where thou first didst breath The thirst of Empire into Regall brests 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 stampe Shall shine in heaven a pure immortall Lampe 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 condemn'd either rayle at you or breake jests upon you but I rather chuse to loose a word of good counsell and entreat you to bee 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 credit as at the next Sessions you may bee 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 condem'd to weare perpetuall Motley unlesse he recant his opinion Now you may voyd the Court. 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 darke colour full of patches about one of her hands was tide a chaine of Iron to which was fastned a weighty stone which shee bore up under her arme Paenia enters Merc. What Creature 's this Mom. The Antipodes to the other they move like Two Buckets or as two nayles drive out one another If Riches depart Poverty will enter Pâ—…v 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 marke how few they are that share the World The numerous Armies and the swarming Ants That sight and toyle for them are all my Subjects They take my wages we are 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 proceed from gold Oft o're his Throne I wave my awfull Scepter And in the bowels of his state command When ' midst his heapes of coyne and hils of gold I pine and starve the avaritious Foole. But I decline those titles and lay clayme To heaven by right of Divine contemplation She is my Darling I in my sost lap Free from disturbing cares bargaines
accounts Leases Rents Stewards and the feare of theeves That vex the rich nurse her in calme repose And with her all the Vertues speculative Which but with me find no secure retreat For entertainment of this houre I le call A race of people to this place that live At Natures charge and not importune heaven To chayne the winds up or keepe back the stormes To stay the thunder or forbid the hayle To thresh the unreap'd eare but to all weathers Both chilling srost and scalding Sunne expose Their equall face Come forth my swarthy traine In this faire circle dance and as you move Marke and foretell happy events of Love They dance the fifth Antimasque of Gypsies Mom. I cannot but wonder that your perpetuall conversation with Poets and Philosophers hath furnished you with no more Logick or that you should thinke to impose upon us so grosse an inference as because Plutus and you are contrary therefore whatsoever is denyed of the one must bee 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 then to swallow such a fallacie 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 neither of you are likely to arrive therefore let me advise you to marry your selfe to Content and beget sage Apothegmes and goodly morall Sentences in disprayse of Riches and contempt of the world Merc. Thou dost presâ—… me too much poore nâ—…dy wretch To claime a station in the Firmament Because thy humble Cottage or thy Tub Nâ—…ses some lazie or Pedantique vertue In the cheape Sun-shine or by shady springs With roots and pot-heâ—…rbs where thy right hand Tâ—…ing those humane passions from the mind Vpon whose stocks faire blooming vertues flourish Degâ—…deth Nature and â—…ummeth sense And Gorgon-like turnes active men to stone Wee not require the dull society Of your necessitated Tempeâ—… Or that unnaturall stupidity That knowes nor joy nor sorrow nor youâ—… forc'â—… Falsly exalted passive Fortitude Above the active This low abject brood That fix their seats in mediocrity Become your servile minds but we advance Such vertues only as admit excesse Brave bounteâ—…us Acts Regall 〈◊〉 All-seeing Prudence Magâ—…nimity That knowes no bound and that Heroick vertue For which Antiquity hath left no name But patternes only such as Hercules Achilles Thesâ—…us Backe to thy loath'd cell And when thou seest the new enlightned Spheare Study to know but what those Worthies were Tiche enters her head bald behind and one great locke before wings at her shoulders and in her hand a wheele 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 and smallest gifts Mom. See where Dame Fortune comes you may know her by her wheele and that vayle over her eys with which she hopes like a seel'd Pigeon to mount above the Clouds and pearch in the eighth Spheare listen she begins Fort. I come not here you gods to plead the Right By which Antiquity assign'd my Deitie 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 Claime a succession in the vacant Orbe For 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 human 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 error 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 I 'le make good men happy That Plutus is refus'd dismayes me not He is my Drudge and the externall pompe In which he 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 Crownes are but my game and sport Which as they hang on the events of Warre So those depend upon my â—…ning wheele You waâ—…like Squadrons who in 〈◊〉 Dispute the Right of Kings which I 〈◊〉 Present the modell of that martiall 〈◊〉 By which when Grownes are stak'd I rule the game They dance the sixth Antimasque being 〈◊〉 representation of a Battell Mom. Madam I should censure you pro salso clamâ—…re for preferring a scandalous cros-bill of recrimination against the gods but your blindnesse shall excuse you Alas what would it advantage you if vertue were as universall as vice is it would onely follow that as the world now exclaimes upon you for exalting the vicious it would then raile as fast at you sor depressing the vertuous so they would still keepe their tune though you chang'd their Ditty Merc. The mists in which future 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrap'd That oft succeed beside the purposes Of him that workes his dull eyes not discerning The first great cause offer'd thy clouded shape To his enquiring search so in the darke The groping world 〈◊〉 â—…ound thy Deity And gave thee rule over contingencies Which to the piercing eye of Providence Being fix'd and certaine where past and to come Are alwayes present thou dost disappeare Losest thy being and art not all Be thou then onely a deluding Phantome At best a blind guide leading blinder fooles Who would they but survay their mutuall wants And helpe each other there were left no roome For thy vaine ayd Wisedome whose strong-built plots 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 owne reward Only the lazie sluggard yawning lyes Before thy threshold gaping for thy dole 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 seeke those Ideâ—…ts out That thy santasticke 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 Rainbow circling her head downe 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
were KINGDOMES These shed a nobler influence These by a pure intelligence Of more transcendent Vertue move These first feele then kindle Iove From the bosomes they inspire These receive a mutuall sire And where their slames impure returne These can quench as well as burne GENIVS Here the fare victorious eyes Make Worth only Beauties prize Here the hand of Vertue tyes 'Bout the heart lov's amorous chayne Captives tryumph Vassals reigne And none live here but the slaine CHORVS These are th' Hisperian bowers whose faire trees beare Rich golden fruit and yet no Dragon near GENIVS Then from your impris ' ning wombe Which is the cradle and the tombe Of Brittish Worthies faire sonnes send A troope of Heroes that may lend Their hands to ease this loaden grove And gather the ripe fruits of Love KINGDOMES Open thy stony entrailes wide And breake old â—…tlas 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 Rocke opens and out of a Cave are seene to come the Masquers richly attyred like ancient Heroes the Colours yellow embroydered with silver their antique Helmes curiously wrought and great plumes on the top before them a troope 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 gathered 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 into the roome and dance their entry The dance being past there appeares in the further part of the heaven comming downe a pleaÌ„sant Clond bright and transparent which comming softly downe-wards before the upper part of the mountaine embraceth the Genius but so as through it all his body is seene and then rising againe with a gentle motion beares up the Genius of the three kingdomes and being past the Airy Region pierceth the heavens and is no more seene At that instant the Rocke with the three kingdomes on it sinkes and is hidden in the earth This strange spectacle gave great caâ—…se of admiration but especially 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 KINGDOMES HEre are shapes form'd â—…it for heaveâ—… Those move gracefully and 〈◊〉 Here the Ayre and paces meet So jusâ—… as if the skilfull seet Had struck the Vials 1. 2. 3. So the Earâ—… Might the â—…unefull footing heare CHORVS And had the Musicke silent beene The eye a moving tune had seene GENIVS These must in the unpeopled skie Succeed and governe Destinie Iove is temp'ring purer fire And will with brighter flames attire These glorious lights I must ascend And helpe the Worke. KINGDOMES We cannot â—…end 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 Spheare Kindle new Starres whilst they rest here KINGDOMES How can the shaft stay in the quiver Yet hit the marke 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 But shall not we now thou art gone Who wert our Nature wither Or breake that triple Vnion Which thy soule hâ—…ld together GENIVS In Concords pure immortall spring I will my 〈◊〉 renew And a more aâ—…ive Vertue bring At my retuâ—…ne 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 Tarraces planted with Cypresse trees and all this together was composed of such Ornaments as might expresse a Princely Villa From hence the Chorus descending into the roome goes up to the State The third Song By the Chorus going up to the Queene VVHilst 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 Deity with faire And Halcyon beames bâ—…calme the Ayre We bring Prince Arthur or the brave St. George himselfe great Queene to you You 'll soone discerne him and we have A Guy a Beavis or some true Round-Table Knight as everfought For Lady to each Beauty brought Plant in their Martâ—…l 〈◊〉 War's seat Your peacefull pledges of warm snow And if a speaking 〈◊〉 repeat In Loves knowâ—…â—…guage tales of woe Say in soft whispers of the Palme As eyes shoot darts so Lips shed Balme For though you seeme like Captives led In triumph by the Foe away Yet on the Conqu'rers necke you tread And the fierce Victor proves your prey What heart is then secure from you That can though vanquiâ—… yet subdue The Song done they retire and the Masquers dance the Revels with the Ladies which continued a great part of the night The Revels being past and the Kings Majestie seated under the State by the Queene for Conclusion to this Masque there appeares comming 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 Wisdome 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 Watchet Robe a Sunne upon her fore-head and bearing in her hand a Palme Wisedome in a mantle wrought with eyes and hands gâ—…lden rayes about her head and Apollâ—…'s Cithera in her hand In the other Cloud sate Concord Government and Reputation The habit of Concord 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