University of Virginia Library

Before the Scene was discovered, the Princes being prepar'd under the state at the upper end of the Hall; the Master of Ceremonies to the Prince D'amovr, receives an Imployment by a whisper from his Master, then moves to the Prince Elector (to whom this Entertainment was onely directed) and speakes this.
[Master of Ceremonies.]
Sir , this short journey from my Princes Throne,
Is meant in Embassie to You alone;
To You, whom he receives not as his Ghest,
For You are both his Ornament and Feast.
Although his Greatnesse is not taught to bow,
His Subjects feare, he will doe homage now,
Which he esteemes no less'ning to his State,
Since 'tis his Love decrees it, not his Fate.
Nay more, his Message moves so low, I feare,
What sounds like tender Courtship in your eare,
His Iealous Barons will dislike, and cry,
I am perverted to disloyaltie;
Vrge my Commission false, then taxe me for
An easie Traytor, no Embassadour;
As if my words would pull his Empire downe,
Shorten his Scepter, and contract his Crowne;
Thus whisper'd by my feares, J must impart
For Ceremony now, what is his heart,
Though with content of Truth, J may report
You haue a num'rous Faction in his Court.
This Pallace where, by sword, then law maintain'd
His few, but mighty Ancestors have raign'd,
Is consecrated yours; which he doth give,
Not in regard he hath short time to live;
For so, since his Successor is unknowne,
You take what is his Subjects, not his owne,
And what is a surrender now, would be
Receiv'd to morrow as a Legacie:
If more of his free love, I should relate,
They'd stile it homage in our Iealous state.

At the upper end, opposite to the state, was a stage of six foot high: and there was presented to sight a Front of Architecture with two Pillasters at each side, and in the middle of the Coronich a Compartement, with this inscription in an Ovall.
Les Triumphes du Prince d' Amour.
The Curtaine flying up, on the sudden the Scene was discovered with a Village consisting of Alehouses and Tobacco shops, each fronted with a red Lettice, on which blacke Indian Boyes sate bestriding Roles of Tobacco, and in the place of Signes, Globes hung up, stucke up full of broken Pipes. Before each dore were seene old Loggs, and Trunkes of hollow Trees, on them sate the Persons of the first Antimasque drinking, and making to each other such ridiculous salutes, as did intimate a joy of meeting, and acquaintance. This continued a while, and then they prepar'd for their first entry.

The first Anti-Masque.

Two, whose habits presented them, for swaggering Souldiers, and of the cheaper quallity, such as are said to roare, not fight, their Beards mishapen, with long whiskers of the Stilletto cut.

Two Dutch Sea Officers, a Gunner and a Boatswaine.

An old over-growne debaush'd Cavalier, that seem'd unwieldy with his weight, his Riots had so inlarg'd him.

A Begging Souldier, with a Knapsack hanging at his backe.

A Suttlers wife, denoted by her dresse of the Campe, her head being bound with a Saddle girth, instead of Phylliting.

These after their Entry was perform'd, retire.

On the sudden, the Scene wholly changing, appeares a Campe of Tents, distinguished by their severall Colours: And in the middst was discover'd the Temple of Mars, the forme being square, and of the Dorick Order, with Trophies of Armes on the Front. Within the middle of the Temple stood the Statue of Mars, of Copper, upon a Pedestall.
This having continu'd a while in prospect, the Priests of Mars came out of the Temple, cloath'd in Crimson robes, of the Antick shape, girt in the wast and being tuck'd up, fall in a fold; on their heads, Miters of a Helmet forme, with a Poniard advanc'd on the top, and they sing this by way of Preparation.

This Song ended, with a slow pace they descend (playing on their Instruments) and being advanc'd neere the State, sing this to signifie some Battell lately fought.
[Priests of Mars.]
Chorus.
Chorus.
Chorus.
Chorus.
Chorus.

The Priests of Mars retire, and strait the Masquers appeare as coming out of severall Tents, their habits being Martiall and richly imbroder'd, inclining neere the old Romane shape; their Helmets Triumphantly plum'd, whiles the Bevir falling ore the face, serv'd for a disguise, and supply'd to each the office of a Vizard. These by their appearance and demeanour were devis'd to intimate those heroique Knights Templers, to which the Pallace of the Prince D' Amour was anciently Dedicated. They descend with a Majestique pace, and dance their first entry, then retire towards the Scene: whilst with amazement they discover Cupid descending in a bright cloud, who at their interview sings this.

This being sung, Cupid having dispersed his darts amongst them, which charmes them from designes of warre to inclinations of love, they all retire.

The Scene wholly changing, there appeares a square Piazza, resembling that of Venice, and 'tis

compos'd of Pallaces, and lesser Fabricks, with Courtizans looking out of windows, and Balconees, fantastically adorn'd, some in Italian, others in a Turkish dresse, and this prospect, prepares the second Anti-masque, who strait are discovered walking in the Piazza.

The second Anti-masque.

A grave formall Spanish Lover, who addressing himselfe to some Courtizan, in a Balconee, salutes her often with congies tedious and low.

A jealous Italian Lover, who fixing his eyes on another Mistresse at her window, dinotes the vexation of his humour, by desperate sighes, beating on his breast, and sometimes a melancholly posture, standing with his Armes wreath'd.

A giddy Fantasticke French Lover, who being likewise addressed to some beauty, gazing at her windore, his humour is discern'd by strange ridiculous cringes, and frisks in his salutes, with which hee seemes to invite her acquaintance: having divers notes of Levitie in his habit, and wearing his Mistresse Fanne ty'd with a Ribband in his eare.

A dull Dutch Lover, personating some Yonker of Vtrecht, who gazing upwards too, doth often apply his Handkerchiefe to his eyes, as if the griefe of his dispaire did make him weepe.

A furious debaush'd English Lover, who in his habit striving to imitate his Neighbour (the Monsier) still outdoes his vanitie, which his accoutrement doth severally expresse, and he hangs in the right eare his Mistresses Muffe, in the left her Shooe with a Chapeen. He is not fix'd to one Balconee, but directs himselfe to all, offers to draw his Sword, and seemes to threaten with his fist, as he would rather breake their windowes, then desire them opned, that hee might gaine a looke from his Lady.

These severall humors being a while artificially expressed, they descend, and dance their second entry, and retire.

The Scene wholly changing againe: There was observ'd in a Grove of Cypresse intermingled with Mirtle Trees, the Temple of Venus, being an eight square of the Corinthian order: within the Temple her Satue of Siluer, standing in an Neech, with Cupid by her, to whom she seemes to deliver an Arrow; the Pilasters, and Ornaments were heightned with Siluer.

From this Temple the Priests of Venus are discern'd

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to come in loose white Robes, their heads adorn'd with Coronets of Flowres, and playing on their Instruments, they descend and sing this.

The Priests of Venus retire, and the Masquers appeare in the Scene, their vests altered to a more soft and Courtly change; with severall adornements, that might present them to every understanding for a Troope of noble Lovers. Their second entry being daunc'd, they retire into the Temple.

The Scene wholly changing, strait was perceiv'd in a Grove of Lawrell Trees, the Temple of Apollo, being round, and transparent, of the order of Composita, the Columnes and Ornamants, being heightned with gold, his statue of gold standing in the middle of the Temple, upon a round Pedestall: behind and betweene the Columnes did appeare a prospect of Landskap.

The Priests of Apollo approach from severall parts of the Temple, cloath'd in Carnation Robes, with wreathes of Laurell on their heads, they sing this when they descend.

This ended, the Priests of Apollo retire to make way for a new discovery of certaine persons in the Scene, which seeme halfe hidden behind the Trees: Then invite them to descend by singing this.

Now descending from the Scene, appeares twelve men, wildly habited, Wastcotes of flesh color made them shew naked to the middle, their heads cover'd with greene leaves, their wastes girt with the like, and a greene Basis fring'd, reach'd to their knees, which did declare them Labourers on a Fruitfull Soyle; and what they carryed did demonstrate a Fruitfull Season.

For moving downe in order towards the State, each supported in his Armes, a small square frame, the wood hidden with greene Boughes, and on that bore a Charger full of precious fruits, and cover'd with blossom'd twigs and flowers: Which being fix'd neere to the State, were so joyn'd together, that there was straight discovered a Table richly furnish'd with a Banquet, that look'd as it were hidden in a Grove: And whilst the Princes accepted of this entertainment, the Priests belonging to the three severall Deities sung this.

The song of Valediction, after the Banquet.

Priests of Mars.

Priests of Venus.

Priests of Apollo.

Chorus of all.

Thus, as all Pleasures and Triumphs are full of haste, and aptest to decay, this had an end; yet may live mention'd a while, if the envie of such as were absent do not rebuke the courteous memory of those who vouchsaf'd to enjoy it.