University of Virginia Library

The first SONG.

GENIUS.
Raise from these rockie cliffs, your heads,
Brave Sonnes, and see where Glory spreads
Her glittering wings, where Majesty
Crown'd with sweet smiles, shoots from her eye
Diffusive joy, where Good and Fair,
United fit in Honours Chayr.
Call forth your aged Priests, and chrystal streams,
To warm their hearts, and waves in these bright beames.

KINGDOMES.
From your consecrated woods,
Holy Druids.
Silver floods,
From your channels fring'd with flowers,
Hither move: forsake your bowers
Strew'd with hallowed Oaken leaves,
Deck'd with flags and sedgie sheaves,
And behold a wonder.
Say,
What do your duller eyes survay?

CHORUS of DRUIDS and RIVERS.
We see at once in dead of night
A Sun appear, and yet a bright
Noonday, springing from Star-light

GENIUS.
Look up, and see the darken'd Sphear
Depriv'd of light, her eyes shine there;

CHORUS.
These are more sparkling than those were.

KINGDOMES.
These shed a nobler influence,
These by a pure intelligence
Of more transcendent Vertue move,
These first feel, then kindle love.
From the bosom they inspire,
These receive a mutual fire;
And where their flames impure return,
These can quench as well as burn.

GENIUS.
Here the fair victorious eyes
Make Worth onely Beauties prize,
Here the hand of Vertue tyes
'Bout the heart loves amorous chain,
Captives triumph, Vassals reign,
And none live here but the slain.

CHORUS.
These are th' Hesperian bowers, whose fair trees bear
Rich golden fruit, and yet no Dragon near.

GENIUS.
Then, from your impris'ning womb,
Which is the cradle and the tomb
Of British Worthies (fair sons) send
A troop of Heroes, that may lend
Their hands to ease this loaden grove,
And gather the ripe fruits of love.

KINGDOMES.
Open thy stony entralles wide,
And break old Atlas, that the pride
Of three fam'd Kingdomes may be spy'd.

CHORUS.
Pace forth thou mighty British Hercules,
With thy choyc band, for only thou, and these,
May revell here, in Loves Hesperides.

At this the under-part of the Rock opens, and out of a Cave are seen to come the Masquers, richly attired like ancient Heroes, the Colours yellow, embroydered with Silver, their antique Helmes curiously wrought, and great plumes on the top; before them a troop of young Lords and Noblemens Sons, bearing Torches of Virginwax, these were apparelled after the old British 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 room, and dance their entry. The dance being past, there appears in the farther part of the heaven coming down a pleasant Cloud, bright and transparent, which coming softly downwards before the upper part of the mountain, embraceth the Genius, but so as through it all his body is seen; and then rising again with a gentle motion bears up the Genius of the three Kingdomes, and being past the Airy Region, pierceth the heavens, and is no more seen: At that instant the Rock with the three Kingdomes on it sinks, and is hidden in the earth. This strange spectacle gave great cause 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.