Poems, and phancies written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected |
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Phantasm's Masque.
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 | Poems, and phancies |  |
Phantasm's Masque.
The Scene is Poetry.
The Stage is the Brain whereon it is Acted.
First is Presented a Dumb Shew, as a Young Lady in a Ship swimming over the Scene in Various Weather; Afterwards this Ship comes back again, having a Commander of Warr as its Owner; in Various Weather it being in great Distress, Jupiter relieves it.
Then appear six Masquers in several Dresses; as Drest by Love, Valour, Honour, Youth, Age, Vanity. Vanity signifies the World, and Age Mortality.
Then there are Presented in a Shew the nine Muses, who Dance a Measure in four and twenty Figures, and nine Musical Instruments, made of Goose-quills, Playing several Tunes as they Dance.
Then the Chorus speaks.
The Bride and Bridegroom going to the Temple, Fancy speaks the Prologue to Judgment, as King; Vanity speaks an Epilogue to the Thoughts, which are Spectators; Honour speaks another.
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Fancy's Prologue to Judgment.
Great King, we here present a Mask at Night,To Judgments view, and for the Minds delight;
If it be Good, set Lights of Praise about,
If it be Bad, then put those Torches out.
The Voyage of a Ship, under which the Fortune of a Young Lady is Exprest.
A ship of Youth into th'Worlds Sea was sent,Ballanc'd with Self-conceit, and Pride, it went;
Large Sails there hung of high Ambition,
To a Tall Mast of Good Opinion;
And on the Waves of Plenty did it Ride,
With Winds of Praise, and Beauty's flowing Tide;
Unto the Land of Riches it was bound,
To see if Golden Fame might there be found;
And thus it Swam in a sweet Calm of Peace,
No Boisterous Storm of Warr did on it Seize:
But when nineteen Degrees it had but past,
Its Sight the Land of Happiness had lost;
For then Rebellious Clouds all Black did grow,
And Showres of Blood into these Seas did throw;
The Vapours of sad Sighs full thick did rise,
From Grief of Hearts which in the Bottom lies;
Fears like unto the Northern Winds blew high,
And Stars of Hopes were Clouded in the Sky;
Down went the Sun of all Prosperity,
And Reel'd i'th' troubled Seas of Misery:
On Sorrow's Billows high this Ship was Toss'd,
The Card of Mirth and Mark of Joy was lost;
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Her Sides did Beat upon the Sands of Doubt;
Prudence was Pilot, and with much ado
A Haven of Great France she got into;
Glad was this Ship of its safe Harbour there,
And then did Swim up the River of Loire:
For on this River it no Tempest fear'd,
But directly its Course to Paris steer'd,
Where it some time intended to remain,
To mend this Torn and Totter'd Barque again;
New Sails she made, and all her Tacklings fit,
Trim'd her Self fine and gay respect to get;
At last a Noble Lord this Ship did Buy,
Who was resolv'd with it to Live and Dye.
Another Voyage of the same Ship.
Then this same Ship another Voyage went,Ballanc'd it was with Spice of sweet Content;
The Mast was Merit, Sails of Love tied thereon,
Which Sails by Virtue's Zephyrus were blown;
On the great Sea of Honour did it go,
Fame was the Land which it did Traffick to;
At last a Storm of Poverty did rise,
And Showres of Miseries fell from the Skys;
And Thund'ring Creditors a Noise did make
With Threatning Bills, as if the Ship they'ld break;
Forc'd it towards the Northern Pole, where Cold
And Icy wants did of this Ship take hold,
Untill the Sun of Charity did melt
Those Icy wants, then Liberty it felt;
The Oars of honest Industry did Row,
And gentle Gales of Friendship made it go;
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Upon the Coast of Flanders it was Cast:
But this Ship was so Totter'd, Torn and Rent,
That none but Gods its Ruine could prevent.
A Lady Drest by Love.
Her Hair with Lover's hopes Curl'd in long Rings,Her Braids hard Plaited with his Protestings;
But often with her Lover's Damps of Doubt,
And windy Fears, these Curled Rings went out;
Strings round her Neck of threaded Tears she wore,
Which, drop'd from th'Lover's Eyes, his Image bore;
His Sighs, as Pendants, did hang at each Ear,
Which did much Troubl' her when they heavy were;
Her Gown was made of Admiration,
Imbroideries of Praises plac'd thereon;
Ribbons hung of Love-Verses here and there,
According as the several Fancies were;
VVith some she tied her Looking-glass of Pride,
And Fan of Good Opinion by her Side;
Sometimes Love pleasure took, a Veil to place
Of Glances, which did cover all her Face.
A Souldier Armed by Mars.
His Head-piece was of Prudence, where his EyeOf Judgment Dangers and Mistakes did Spy;
His Breast-plate made of Courage, did keep out
Bullets of Fear, and Blows of Timorous doubt;
The Gantlets on his Hands were Active Skil,
VVherewith he held a Pole-axe of Good will;
His Sword was Strong, and a stiff-metall Blade,
For it was all of pure bright Honour made;
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Imbroyder'd thick with Scars of Purple Dye;
A Plume of Valour on his Head-piece wav'd,
A Cloak of Merit all his Body sav'd;
His Spurs Rowel'd with Hope, did peirce the side
Of strong Ambition, whereon he did Ride:
Thus was he Arm'd, and for Great Fame did Fight,
She was his Mistress, he her Champion Knight.
A Lady Drest by Youth.
Her Hair had Curls of Pleasure and Delight,Through wch her Skin did cast a Glimm'ring light;
As Lace, her Bashfull Eye-lids downwards hung,
A modest Count'nance o're her Face was flung;
Blushes, as Coral Beads she strung, to wear
About her Neck, and Pendants for each Ear;
Her Gown was by Proportion cut and made,
With Veins Imbroyder'd, with Complexion laid;
Light Words with Ribbons of Chast Thoughts she ties,
And Loose Behaviour, which through Errours flies;
Rich Jewels of bright Honour she did wear,
By Noble Actions placed every where:
Thus Drest, to Fame's great Court strait ways she went,
There Danc'd a Ball with Youth, Love, Mirth, Content.
A Woman Drest by Age.
A Milk-white Hair-lace wound up all her Hairs,And a Deaf Coif did cover both her Ears;
A Sober Look about her Face she tyes,
And a Dim Sight doth cover half her Eyes;
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VVhich Time had Crumpled, and worn Creases in;
Her Gown was turn'd to Melancholy black,
VVhich Loose did hang upon her Sides and Back;
Her Stockings Cramps had Knit, Red Worsted Gout,
And Pains, as Garters, tied her Legs about;
A Pair of Palsie-Gloves her Hands did cover,
With Weakness stitch'd, and Numbness trim'd all over;
Her Shoes were Corns, and Hard Skin sew'd together,
Hard Skin was Soles, and Corns the upper Leather;
A Mantle of Diseases Laps her round;
And thus she's Drest, till Death her lays i'th' Ground.
Chorus.
Thus Love, and Warr, and Age, and Youth did meetIn Scenes of Poetry, and Numbers sweet;
Warr took out Love, and Age did take out Youth,
And all did Dance upon the Stage of Truth.
The Bride's Dress.
A crown of Jewels on her Head was put,And every Jewel like a Planet Cut;
The Diamond, Carbuncle, and Saphyr,
Ruby, Topas, and Emerald was there;
Her Face was like the Sun, which Shined bright,
And all those Jewels from her Face took Light;
A Chain of Gold was Link't by Destiny,
VVhere in each Link a Good Effect did lye;
And as the Zodiack round the World doth bind,
So did this Chain about her Body wind;
Silver Cloath for her Gown the Fates did Spin,
And every Thread was Twisted hard therein;
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Between which Curls her Shoulders white were shown;
Youth strew'd Green Rushes to the Temple Gate,
In Beauty's Chariot she Rid in great State,
Which Great Applause, her Charioteer, drove on,
Eyes of Delight, as Lackies, by did Run:
Then to the Altar this fair Bride was led,
By blushing Modesty in Crimson Red,
And Innocency, Drest in Lilly-white;
Hymen did bear the Torch which burned Bright;
Her Train was Carried by the Graces three,
As Lovely Hope, Good Faith, and Charity.
The Bridegroom's Dress.
The Bridegroom was all Drest by Honours fine,And was attended by the Muses Nine;
Virtue strew'd Flow'rs of Dispositions sweet,
In Honest ways to walk on Gentle Feet;
A Crown of Loyalty was on his Head,
Both Fortitude and Justice did him Lead;
Over this Crown a Lawrel Fame was set,
Which Fortune often striv'd away to get;
And many Bells of several Censures Rung,
And all the Streets were with Inquiry hung;
He in a Chariot of Good Deeds did Ride,
And many Thankfull Hearts run by his Side:
Thus Bride and Bridegroom to the Temple went,
Though Envy strove the Mariage to prevent;
Hymen did Joyn their Hands, and their Hearts ty'd,
Not to Dissolve untill their Bodies Dy'd;
The Gods did Joyn their Souls in Wedlock bands,
In Heaven's Record their Love for ever stands.
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A Masquer Drest by Vanity.
The Perfum'd Powder in's long Curls of Hair,Were like Lime-twigs to catch a Maid that's Fair;
His Glist'ring Suit, whose Seams by Pride were Lac'd,
Was made a Bawd for to Corrupt the Chast;
A Cut-work Band, which Vanity had wrought,
The Price, by which his Mistress's Love was bought;
Silk-Stockings, Garters, Roses all of Gold
Were Bribes, by which his Mistress's Love did hold;
The several Colour'd Ribbons he did wear,
Were Pages, which to her did Letters bear;
Feathers, like Sails, did wave with every Wind,
Yet by these Sails he finds his Mistress kind;
His Flatt'ring Tongue perswades a simple Maid;
That all is Truth, when all is False he said.
Vanity's Epilogue to the Thoughts.
Noblest , You see how finely I am Drest,Yet all is Counterfeit that's here exprest;
Vanity Cheats you all, and doth take Pride
For to allure you from fair Virtue's Side.
A Masquer Drest by Honour and Time.
His Hair did white, like Silver-Ribbons show,Knots of Experience were Tied into;
His Head was cover'd all with Wisdome's Hat,
Good Management the Hatband was round that;
His Garments Loose, yet Manly did appear,
Though Time had Crumpled them, no Spots were there;
His Cloak made of a Free and Noble Mind,
Within with Generosity was Lin'd;
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Were stitch'd with Love, with Free Hearts trim'd all over;
A Sword of Valour hung close by his Side,
To Cut off all base Fears, and haughty Pride;
His Boots were Honesty, to Walk or Ride,
And Spurs of Good Desires them firmly Ty'd:
And thus both Time and Honour did their best;
Time gave him Wit, Honour him Finely Drest.
Honour's Epilogue.
Noble Spectators, pray Learn this by me,All Things by Time and Honour perfect be;
Honour doth Dress the Mind with Virtuous weeds,
And is the Parent to all Noble Deeds;
Time doth the Body Dress with Youth and Age,
And is great Nature's Chamber-maid and Page;
If in Time's Cabinet great Spoils you find,
The fault is Ignorance, Stupid and Blind,
And Careless, which doth Tumble all about,
Misplacing all, and taking Wrong things out:
But Time's a Huswife good, and takes much Pain,
To Order all, as Nature did Ordain;
On several Heaps she several Ages lays,
And what she takes from Life to Death she Pays;
But if Disorder'd Life doth run in Debt,
Then Death his Sergeants doth, Diseases, set,
Which Time do cause to give a double Pay,
'Cause Life is Spent so much before Rent-day.
| Poems, and phancies | |