Masques and Entertainments

consisting of six steps, was covered with a multitude of Cupids,1 (chosen out of the best and most ingenious youth of the kingdom, noble, and others) that were the torch-bearers; and all armed with bows, quivers, wings, and other ensigns of love. On the sides of the throne were curious and elegant arbours appointed; and behind, in the back part of the isle, a grove of grown trees laden with golden fruit, which other little Cupids plucked, and threw at each other, whilst on the ground leverets 2 picked up the bruised apples, and left them half eaten. The ground-plat of the whole was a subtle indented maze: and in the two foremost angles were two fountains that ran continually, the one Hebe's,3 the other Hedone's: in the arbours were placed the musicians, who represented the shades of the old poets, and were attired in a priest-like habit of crimson and purple, with laurel garlands.

The

The colours of the masquers were varied; the one half in orange-tawny and silver: the other in sea-green and silver. bodies and short skirts on white and gold to both.

The habit and dressing for the fashion was most curious, and so exceeding in riches, as the throne whereon they sat seemed to be a mine of light, struck from their jewels and their garments.

This throne, as the whole island moved forward on the water, had a circular motion of its own, imitating that which we call motum mundi, from the east to the west, or the right to the left side. For so Hom. Ilia. μ, understands by değia, Orientalia mundi : by agiorega, Occidentalia. The steps whereon the Cupids sat had a motion contrary, with analogy ad motum planetarum, from the west to the east: both which turned with their several lights. And with these three varied motions, at once, the whole scene shot itself to the land.

Above which, the moon was seen in a silver chariot, drawn by virgins, to ride in the clouds, and hold them greater light with the sign Scorpio, and the character, placed before her.

1 The inducing of many Cupids wants not defence, with the best and most received of the ancients, besides Prop. Stat. Claud. Sido. Apoll. especially Phil. in Icon. Amor. whom I have particularly followed in this description.

2 They were the notes of loveliness, and sacred to Venus. place mentioned.

3 Of youth.

See Phil. in that 4 Of pleasure.

The order of the scene was carefully and ingeniously disposed; and as happily put in act (for the motions) by the king's 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 pencils. But that must not be imputed a crime, either to the invention or design.

Here the loud music ceased; and the musicians, which were placed in the arbours, came forth through the mazes to the other land: singing this full song, iterated in the closes by two Echoes, rising out of the fountains.

When Love at first, did move
From out of Chaos,1 brightened
So was the world, and lightened,
As now.

1 Ech. As now!

Yield Night, then to the light,

2 Ech. As now!

As BLACKNESS hath to BEAUTY:
Which is but the same duty.

It was for Beauty 2 that the world was made,
And where she reigns,3 Love's lights admit no shade.
1 Ech. Love's lights admit no shade.

2 Ech. Admit no shade.

Which ended, Vulturnus, the wind, spake to the river Thamesis, that lay along between the shores, leaning upon his urn, that flowed with water, and crowned with flowers; with a blue cloth of silver robe about him; and was personated by Master Thomas Giles, who made the dances.

Vul. Rise, Agéd Thames, and by the hand

Receive these nymphs, within the land.

And in those curious squares and rounds
Wherewith thou flow'st betwixt the grounds

1 So is he feigned by Orpheus, to have appeared first of all the gods, awakened by Clotho; and is therefore called Phanes, both by him and Lactantius.

2 An agreeing opinion, both with divines and philosophers, that the great artificer, in love with his own idea, did therefore frame the world.

3 Alluding to the name of Himerus, and his signification in the name, which is Desiderium post aspectum; and more than Eros, which is only Cupido, ex aspectu

amare.

Of fruitful Kent and Essex fair

That lends the garlands for thy hair;
Instruct their silver feet to tread,

Whilst we, again, to sea are fled.

With which the Winds departed; and the river received them into the land, by couples and fours, their Cupids coming before them.

These dancing forth a most curious dance, full of excellent device and change, ended it in the figure of a diamond, and so, standing still, were by the musicians with a second SONG, sung by a loud tenor, celebrated.

So Beauty on the waters stood,

When Love had severed earth from flood! 1

So when he parted air from fire,

He did with concord all inspire!

And then a motion he them taught,

That elder than himself was thought.

Which thought was, yet, the child of earth,2
For Love is elder than his birth.

The song ended; they danced forth their second dance, more subtle
and full of change than the former; and so exquisitely per-
formed, as the king's majesty (incited first by his own liking
to that which all others there present wished) required them
both again, after some time of dancing with the lords. Which
time, to give them respite, was intermitted with a SONG; first,
by a treble voice, in this manner.

If all these Cupids, now were blind,
As is their wanton brother : 3

Or play should put it in their mind
To shoot at one another:
What pretty battle they would make,
If they their objects should mistake,

And each one wound his mother!

1 As, in the creation, he is said by the ancients to have done.

2 That is, born since the world, and out of those duller apprehensions that did not think he was before.

3 I make these different from him which they feign cæcum Cupidinem, or petulantem, as I express beneath in the third song, these being chaste Loves that attend a more divine Beauty than that of Love's common parent.

Which was seconded by another treble, thus:

It was no policy of court,

Albe' the place were charmed,
To let in earnest or in sport

So many Loves in, armed.

For say, the dames should, with their eyes
Upon the hearts here mean surprise;
Were not the men like harmed?

To which a tenor answered:

Yes, were the Loves or false or straying;

Or beauties not their beauty weighing:

But here no such deceit is mixed,

Their flames are pure, their eyes are fixed:
They do not war with different darts,

But strike a music of like hearts.

After which songs they danced galliards and corantos; and with those excellent graces, that the music appointed to celebrate them, showed it could be silent no longer; but, by the first tenor, admired them thus:

SONG.

Had those that dwelt in error foul,
And hold that women have no soul,1

But seen these move; they would have then

Said, women were the souls of men :

So they do move each heart and eye,
With the world's soul, true harmony.2

Here they danced a third most elegant and curious dance, and not to be described again by any art but that of their own footing, which ending in the figure that was to produce the fourth, JANUARY from his state saluted them thus:

Janu. Your Grace is great, as is your Beauty, dames; Enough my feasts have proved your thankful flames. Now use your seat: that seat which was, before, Thought straying, uncertain, floating to each shore,

1 There hath been such a profane paradox published.

2 The Platonic's opinion.

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