Cho, Awake, awake, for whom these times were kept,
O wake, wake, wake, as you had never slept!

Make haste and put on air, to be their guard
Whom once but to defend is still reward.

Pal. Thus Pallas throws a lightning from her shield.
[The scene of light discovered.

Cho. To which let all that doubtful darkness yield.

Ast. Now Peace.

G. Age. And Love.

Ast. Faith.

G. Age. Joys.

Ast. G. Age. All, all increase.

[A pause.

Chau. And Strife,

Gow. And Hate,

Lyd. And Fear,
Spen. And Pain,

Omnes. All cease.

Pal. No tumour of an iron vein.

The causes shall not come again.

Cho. But, as of old, all now be gold.
Move, move then to the sounds;

And do not only walk your solemn rounds,
But give those light and airy bounds,
That fit the Genii of these gladder grounds.

The first DANCE.

Pal. Already do not all things smile?

Ast. But when they have enjoyed awhile

The Age's quickening power:

Age. That every thought a seed doth bring,

And every look a plant doth spring,

And every breath a flower :

Pal. The earth unploughed shall yield her crop,

Pure honey from the oak shall drop,

The fountain shall run milk:

The thistle shall the lily bear,

And every bramble roses wear,
And every worm make silk.

Cho. The very shrub shall balsam sweat,
And nectar melt the rock with heat,
Till earth have drunk her fill:
That she no harmful weed inay know,
Nor barren fern, nor mandrake low,
Nor mineral to kill.

Here the main DANCE.

After which,

Pal. But here's not all: you must do more,
Or else you do but half restore

The Age's liberty.

Poe. The male and female used to join,

And into all delight did coin

That pure simplicity.

Then Feature did to Form advance,

And Youth called Beauty forth to dance,
And every Grace was by:

It was a time of no distrust,

So much of love had nought of lust,
None feared a jealous eye.

The language melted in the ear,
Yet all without a blush might hear,

They lived with open vow.

Cho. Each touch and kiss was so well placed, They were as sweet as they were chaste, And such must yours be now.

Here they dance with the Ladies.

Ast. What change is here? I had not more Desire to leave the earth before,

Than I have now to stay;

My silver feet, like roots, are wreathed
Into the ground, my wings are sheathed,
And I cannot away.

Of all there seems a second birth,
It is become a heaven on earth,
And Jove is present here.

I feel the god-head; nor will doubt
But he can fill the place throughout,
Whose power is everywhere.

This, this, and only such as this
The bright Astræa's region is,
Where she would pray to live,
And in the midst of so much gold,
Unbought with grace or fear unsold,
The law to mortals give.

Here they dance the Galliards and Corantos.
PALLAS [ascending, and calling the Poets].
'Tis now enough; behold you here,
What Jove hath built to be your sphere;

You hither must retire.

And as his bounty gives you cause
Be ready still without your pause,
To show the world your fire.

Like lights about Astræa's throne,
You here must shine, and all be one
In fervour and in flame;

That by your union she may grow,
And you, sustaining her, may know
The Age still by her name

Who vows, against or heat or cold,
To spin your garments of her gold,

That want may touch you never;

And making garlands every hour,

To write your names in some new flower,
That you may live for ever.

Cho. To Jove, to Jove, be all the honour given,

That thankful hearts can raise from earth to heaven,

THE MASQUE OF CHRISTMAS,

.

AS IT WAS PRESENTED AT COURT, 1616.

The Court being seated,

Enter CHRISTMAS, with two or three of the guard, attired in round hose, long stockings, a close doublet, a high-crowned hat, with a brooch, a long thin beard, a truncheon, little ruffs, white shoes, his scarfs and garters tied cross, and his drum beaten before him.

WHY, gentlemen, do you know what you do? Ha! would you have kept me out? CHRISTMAS, old Christmas, Christmas of London, and captain Christmas? Pray you, let me be brought before my lord chamberlain, I'll not be answered else: 'Tis merry in hall, when beards wag all: I have seen the time you have wished for me, for a merry Christmas; and now you have me, they would not let me in: I must come another time! a good jest, as if I could come more than once a year: why, I am no dangerous person, and so I told my friends of the guard. I am old Gregory Christmas still, and though I come out of Pope's-head Alley, as good a Protestant as any in my parish. The truth is, I have brought a Masque here, out o' the city, of my own making, and do present it by a set of my sons, that come out of the lanes of London, good dancing boys all. It was intended, I confess, for Curriers' Hall; but because the weather has been open, and the Livery were not at leisure to see it till a frost came, that they cannot work, I thought it convenient, with some little alterations, and the groom of the revels' hand to't, to fit it for a higher place; which I have done, and though I say it, another manner of device than your New Year's Night. Bones o' bread, the king! (seeing James). Son Rowland! son Clem! be ready there in a trice quick, boys!

Enter his SONS and DAUGHTERS (ten in number), led in, in a string, by CUPID, who is attired in a flat cap, and a prentice's coat, with wings at his shoulders.

MISRULE, in a velvet cap, with a sprig, a short cloak, great yellow ruff, like a reveller; his torch-bearer bearing a rope, a cheese, and a basket.

CAROL, a long tawney coat, with a red cap, and a flute at his girdle; his torch-bearer carrying a song-book open.

MINCED-PIE, like a fine cook's wife, drest neat; her man carrying a pie, dish and spoons.

GAMBOL, like a tumbler, with a hoop and bells; his torch-bearer armed with a colt-staff and a binding cloth.

POST AND PAIR, with a pair-royal of aces in his hat; his garment all done over with pairs and purs; his squire carrying a box, cards, and counters.

NEW YEAR'S GIFT, in a blue coat, serving-man like, with an orange, and a sprig of rosemary gilt on his head, his hat full of brooches, with a collar of gingerbread; his torch-bearer carrying a march-pane with a bottle of wine on either arm. MUMMING, in a masquing pied suit, with a vizard; his torchbearer carrying the box, and ringing it.

WASSEL, like a neat sempster and songster; her page bearing a brown bowl, drest with ribands, and rosemary before her. OFFERING, in a short gown, with a porter's staff in his hand, a wyth born before him, and a bason, by his torch-bearer. BABY-CAKE, drest like a boy, in a fine long coat, biggin-bib, muckender, and a little dagger; his usher bearing a great cake, with a bean and a pease.

They enter singing.

Now God preserve, as you well do deserve,

Your majesties all two there;

Your highness small, with my good lords all,

And ladies, how do you do there?

Give me leave to ask, for I bring you a masque

From little, little, little London;

Which say the king likes, I have passed the pikes,

If not, old Christmas is undone.

Chris. Ha, peace! what's the matter there?

[Noise without.

Gam. Here's one o' Friday Street would come in.