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201

[Poems and Songs from the Masques]

207

To the most puisant and Gratious James King of great Britaine.

The disunited Scithians, when they sought
To gather strength by parties, and combine
That perfect league of freends which, once beeing wrought,
No turne of time or fortune could untwine,
This rite they held: a massie bowle was brought,
And ev'ry right arme shot his severall blood
Into the mazar till 'twas fully fraught.
Then having stird it to an equall floud
They quaft to th'union, which till death should last,
In spite of private foe, or forraine feare;
And this blood sacrament being knowne t'have past,
Their names grew dreadfull to all far and neere.
O then, great Monarch, with how wise a care
Do you these bloods devided mixe in one,
And with like consanguinities prepare
The high, and everliving Union
Tweene Scots and English: who can wonder then
If he that marries kingdomes, marries men?

An Epigram.

Merlin, the great King Arthur being slaine,
Foretould that he should come to life againe,
And long time after weild great Brittaines state
More powerfull ten-fould, and more fortunate.
Prophet, 'tis true, and well we find the same,
Save onely that thou didst mistake the name.
209

To the Right Noble and Vertuous Theophilus Howard,

Lorde of Walden, sonne and Heire to the right Honorable the Earle of Suffolke.

If to be sprong of high and princely blood,
If to inherite vertue, honour, grace,
If to be great in all things, and yet good,
If to be facill, yet t'have power and place,
If to be just and bountifull, may get
The love of men, your right may chalenge it.
The course of forraine manners far and wide,
The courts, the countries, Citties, townes and state,
The blossome of your springing youth hath tried,
Honourd in ev'ry place and fortunate,
Which now grown fairer doth adorne our Court
With princelie revelling, and timely sport.
But if th'admired vertues of your youth
Breede such despairing to my daunted muse,
That it can scarcely utter naked truth,
How shall it mount, as ravisht spirits use,
Under the burden of your riper dayes,
Or hope to reach the so far distant bayes?
My slender Muse shall yet my love expresse,
And by the faire Thames side of you sheele sing;
The double streames shall beare her willing verse
Far hence with murmur of their ebbe and spring.
But if you favour her light tunes, ere long
Sheele strive to raise you with a loftier song.
210

To the Right Vertuous, and Honorable, the Lord and Lady HAYES.

Should I presume to separate you now,
That were so lately joyn'de by holy vow,
For whome this golden dreame which I report
Begot so many waking eyes at Court,
And for whose grace so many nobles chang'd
Their names and habites, from themselves estrang'd?
Accept together, and together view
This little worke which all belongs to you,
And live together many blessed dayes,
To propagate the honour'd name of HAYES.
215

Song

[Now hath Flora rob'd her bowers]

Now hath Flora rob'd her bowers
To befrend this place with flowers;
Strowe aboute, strowe aboute,
The Skye rayn'd never kindlyer Showers.
Flowers with Bridalls well agree,
Fresh as Brides, and Bridgromes be:
Strowe aboute, strowe aboute,
And mixe them with fit melodie.
Earth hath no Princelier flowers
Then Roses white, and Roses red,
But they must still be mingled.
And as a Rose new pluckt from Venus thorne,
So doth a Bride her Bride-groomes bed adorne.
Divers divers Flowers affect
For some private deare respect;
Strowe about, strowe about,
Let every one his owne protect.
But hees none of Floras friend
That will not the Rose commend.
Strow about, strow about,
Let Princes Princely flowers defend.
Roses, the Gardens pride,
Are flowers for love and flowers for Kinges,
In courts desir'd and Weddings.
And as a Rose in Venus bosome worne,
So doth a Bridegroome his Brides bed adorne.
216

The song in forme of a Diaglogue.

CAN.
Who is the happier of the two,
A maide, or wife?

TEN.
Which is more to be desired.
Peace or strife?

CAN.
What strife can be where two are one,
Or what delight to pine alone?

BAS.
None such true freendes, none so sweet life,
As that betweene the man and wife.

217

TEN.
A maide is free, a wife is tyed.

CAN.
No maide but faine would be a Bride.

TEN.
Why live so many single then?
Tis not, I hope, for want of men.

CAN.
The bow and arrow both may fit,
And yet tis hard the marke to hit.

BAS.
He levels faire that by his side
Laies at night his lovely Bride.

CHO.
Sing Io, Hymen: Io, Io, Hymen.

221

Song.

[Move now with measured sound]

Move now with measured sound,
You charmed grove of gould,
Trace forth the sacred ground
That shall your formes unfold.
228

To the Reader.

Neither buskin now, nor bayes
Challenge I: a Ladies prayse
Shall content my proudest hope.
Their applause was all my scope,
And to their shrines properly
Revels dedicated be:
Whose soft eares none ought to pierce
But with smooth and gentle verse.
Let the tragicke Poeme swell,
Raysing raging feendes from hell;
And let Epicke Dactils range
Swelling seas and Countries strange:
Little roome small things containes;
Easy prayse quites easy paines.
Suffer them whose browes do sweat
To gaine honour by the great:
Its enough if men me name
A Retailer of such fame.
238

A Song and Dance of sixe, two Keepers, two Robinhood-men, the fantastick Traveller, and the Cynick.

1

Dance now and sing the joy and love we owe:
Let chearfull voices and glad gestures showe,
The Queene of grace is shee whom we receive;
Honour and State are her guides,
Her presence they can never leave.
Then in a stately Silvan forme salute
Her ever flowing grace.
Fill all the Woods with Ecchoed welcomes,
239

And strew with flowers this place:
Let ev'ry bow and plant fresh blossomes yeeld,
And all the aire refine.
Let pleasure strive to please our Goddesse,
For shee is all divine.

2

Yet once againe, let us our measures move,
And with sweet notes record our joyfull love.
An object more divine none ever had.
Beautie, and heav'n-borne worth,
Mixt in perfection never fade.
Then with a dance triumphant let us sing
Her high advanced praise,
And ev'n to heav'n our gladsome welcomes
With wings of musick raise;
Welcome, O welcome, ever-honoured Queene,
To this now-blessed place,
That grove, that bowre, that house is happy
Which you vouchsafe to grace.
241

A Song of a treble and base,

sung by the Gardiners boy and man, to musicke of Instruments, that was readie to second them in the Arbour.

1

Welcome to this flowrie place,
Faire Goddesse and sole Queene of grace:
All eyes triumph in your sight,
Which through all this emptie space
Casts such glorious beames of light.

2

Paradise were meeter farre
To entertaine so bright a Starre:
But why erres my folly so?
Paradise is where you are:
Heav'n above, and heav'n below.

3

Could our powers and wishes meete,
How well would they your graces greete.
Yet accept of our desire:
Roses, of all flowers most sweete,
Spring out of the silly brier.
242

[O Joyes exceeding!]

1

O Joyes exceeding!
From love, from power of your wisht sight proceeding!
As a faire morne shines divinely,
Such is your view, appearing more divinely.

2

Your steppes ascending,
Raise high our thoughts for your content contending;
All our hearts of this grace vaunting,
Now leape as they were moved by inchaunting.
244

A Song of three Voyces with divers Instruments.

1

Night as well as brightest day hath her delight.
Let us then with mirth and Musicke decke the night;
Never did glad day such store
Of joy to night bequeath:
Her Starres then adore,
Both in Heav'n and here beneath.

2

Love and beautie, mirth and Musicke, yeeld true joyes,
Though the Cynickes in their folly count them toyes.
Raise your spirits nere so high,
They will be apt to fall:
None brave thoughts envie,
Who had ere brave thought at all.

3

Joy is the sweete friend of life, the nurse of blood,
Patron of all health, and fountaine of all good:
Never may joy hence depart,
But all your thoughts attend;
Nought can hurt the heart
That retaines so sweete a friend.
247

A Song of three voices continuing while the presents are delivered and received.

1

Can you, the Author of our joy,
So soone depart?
Will you revive, and straight destroy,
New mirth to teares convert?
O that ever cause of gladnesse
Should so swiftly turne to sadnesse!
248

2

Now as we droupe, so will these flowers,
Bard of your sight,
Nothing availe them heav'nly showres
Without your heav'nly light.
When the glorious Sunne forsakes us,
Winter quickly over-takes us.

3

Yet shall our praiers your waies attend,
When you are gone;
And we the tedious time will spend,
Remembring you alone.
Welcome here shall you heare ever,
But the word of parting never.
252

A Song.

[Come away; bring thy golden theft]

1

Come away; bring thy golden theft,
Bring, bright Prometheus, all thy lights;
Thy fires from Heav'n bereft
Shew now to humane sights.
Come quickly, come: thy stars to our stars straight present,
For pleasure, being too much defer'd, loseth her best content.
What fair dames wish should swift as their own thoughts appeare;
To loving and to longing harts every houre seemes a yeare.

2

See how faire: O how faire they shine;
What yeelds more pompe beneath the skies?
Their birth is yet divine,
And such their forme implies.
Large grow their beames, their nere approch afford them so;
By nature sights that pleasing are, cannot too amply show.
O might these flames in humane shapes descend this place,
How lovely would their presence be, how full of grace!
253

A Song.

[Advance your Chorall motions now]

1

Advance your Chorall motions now,
You musick-loving lights;
This night concludes the nuptiall vow,
Make this the best of nights:
So bravely Crowne it with your beames,
That it may live in fame,
As long as Rhenus or the Thames
Are knowne by either name.

2

Once move againe, yet nearer move
Your formes at willing view;
Such faire effects of joy and love
None can expresse but you:
Then revell midst your ayrie Bowres
Till all the clouds doe sweat,
That pleasure may be powr'd in showres
On this triumphant Seat.
254

3

Long since hath lovely Flora throwne
Her Flowers and Garlands here;
Rich Ceres all her wealth hath showne,
Prowde of her daintie cheare.
Chang'd then to humane shape, descend,
Clad in familiar weede,
That every eye may here commend
The kinde delights you breede.
256

A full Song.

Supported now by Clouds descend,
Divine Prometheus, Hymens friend:
Leade downe the new transformed fires,
And fill their breasts with loves desires;
That they may revell with delight,
And celebrate this nuptiall night,
So celebrate this nuptiall night,
That all which see may stay:
They never viewed so faire a sight,
Even on the cleerest day.
257

The Song.

[Wooe her, and win her, he that can]

1

Wooe her, and win her, he that can:
Each woman hath two lovers,
So shee must take and leave a man,
Till time more grace discovers;
This doth Jove to shew that want
Makes beautie most respected;
If faire women were more skant,
They would be more affected.

2

Courtship and Musicke suite with love,
They both are workes of passion;
Happie is he whose words can move,
Yet sweete notes helpe perswasion.
Mixe your words with Musicke then,
That they the more may enter;
Bold assaults are fit for men,
That on strange beauties venture.

The second Invocation to the tune of the first.

Powerfull Jove, that hast given fower,
Raise this number but once more,
That, complete, their numerous feet
May aptly in just measures meet.
258

[Breath you now, while Io Hymen]

Breath you now, while Io Hymen
To the Bride we sing:
O how many joyes, and honors,
From this match will spring!
Ever firme the league will prove,
Where only goodnesse causeth love.
Some for profit seeke
What their fancies most disleeke:
These love for vertues sake alone:
Beautie and youth unite them both in one.
CHORUS.
Live with thy Bridegroome happy, sacred Bride;
How blest is he that is for love envi'd.

The Maskers second dance.
Breath againe, while we with musicke
Fill the emptie space:
O but do not in your dances
Your selves only grace.
Ev'ry one fetch out your Pheare,
Whom chiefely you will honor heere.
Sights most pleasure breed,
When their numbers most exceed:
Chuse then, for choice to all is free;
Taken or left, none discontent must bee.
259

A Song.

[Cease, cease you Revels, rest a space]

Cease, cease you Revels, rest a space;
New pleasures presse into this place,
Full of beautie and of grace.
260

A SONG.

[Come triumphing, come with state]

Come triumphing, come with state,
Old Sibilla, reverend Dame;
Thou keep'st the secret key of fate,
Preventing swiftest fame.
This night breath onely words of joy,
And speake them plaine, now be not coy.
261

A Song and dance triumphant of the Maskers.

1

Dance, dance, and visit now the shadowes of our joy,
All in height, and pleasing state, your changed formes imploy.
And as the bird of Jove salutes, with loftie wing, the morn,
So mount, so flie, these Trophees to adorne.
Grace them with all the sounds and motions of delight,
Since all the earth cannot expresse a lovelier sight.
View them with triumph, and in shades the truth adore:
No pompe or sacrifice can please Ioves greatnesse more.

2

Turne, turne, and honor now the life these figures beare;
Loe, how heav'nly natures farre above all art appeare;
Let their aspects revive in you the fire that shin'd so late,
Still mount and still retaine your heavenly state.
Gods were with dance, and with musick serv'd of old,
Those happy daies deriv'd their glorious stile from gold:
This pair, by Hymen joyn'd, grace you with measures then,
Since they are both divine, and you are more then men.
262

The Song.

No longer wrong the night
Of her Hymenaean right;
A thousand Cupids call away,
Fearing the approching day;
The Cocks alreadie crow:
Dance then and goe.
272

[Vanish, vanish hence, confusion]

CHORUS.
Vanish, vanish hence, confusion;
Dimme not Hymens goulden light
With false illusion.
The Fates shall doe him right,
And faire Eternitie,
Who passe through all enchantements free.

ETERNITIE SINGES ALONE.
Bring away this Sacred Tree,
The Tree of Grace and Bountie,
Set it in Bel-Annas eye,
For she, she, only she
Can all Knotted spels unty.
Pull'd from the Stocke, let her blest Hands convay
To any suppliant Hand, a bough,
And let that Hand advance it now
Against a Charme, that Charme shall fade away.
Toward the end of this Song the three destinies set the Tree of Golde before the Queene.
CHORUS.
Since Knightly valour rescues Dames distressed,
By Vertuous Dames let charm'd Knights be released.

273

A Song while the Squires descend with the bough toward the Scene.

Goe, happy man, like th'Evening Starre,
Whose beames to Bride-groomes well-come are:
May neither Hagge nor Feind withstand
The pow're of thy Victorious Hand.
The Uncharm'd Knights surrender now,
By vertue of thy raised Bough.
Away, Enchauntements, Vanish quite,
No more delay our longing sight:
'Tis fruitelesse to contend with Fate,
Who gives us pow're against your hate.
Brave Knights, in Courtly pompe appeare,
For now are you long-look't for heere.
274

The third Song of three partes,

with a Chorus of five partes, sung after the first Daunce.

While dancing rests, fit place to musicke graunting,
Good spels the Fates shall breath, al envy daunting,
Kind eares with Joy enchaunting, chaunting.
CHORUS.
Io, Io Hymen.

Like lookes, like hearts, like loves are linck't together:
So must the Fates be pleas'd, so come they hether,
To make this Joy persever ever.
CHORUS.
Io, Io Hymen.

Love decks the spring, her buds to th'ayre exposing:
Such fire here in these bridall Breasts reposing
We leave with charmes enclosing, closing.
CHORUS.
Io, Io Hymen.

The fourth Song,

a Dialogue of three, with a Chorus after the second Daunce.

1
Let us now sing of Loves delight,
For he alone is Lord to night.

2
Some friendship betweene man and man prefer,
But I th'affection betweene man and wife.

3
What good can be in life,
Whereof no fruites appeare?

275

1
Set is that Tree in ill houre,
That yeilds neither fruite nor flowre.

2
How can man Perpetuall be,
But in his owne Posteritie?

CHORUS.
That pleasure is of all most bountifull and kinde,
That fades not straight, but leaves a living Joy behinde.

[Come a shore, come, merrie mates]

Come a shore, come, merrie mates,
With your nimble heeles and pates:
Summon ev'ry man his Knight,
Enough honour'd is this night.
Now, let your Sea-borne Goddesse come,
Quench these lights, and make all dombe.
Some sleepe; others let her call:
And so Godnight to all, godnight to all.
276

[Hast aboord, hast now away]

Hast aboord, hast now away:
Hymen frownes at your delay.
Hymen doth long nights affect;
Yeild him then his due respect.
The Sea-borne Goddesse straight will come,
Quench these lights, and make all dombe.
Some Sleepe; others she will call:
And so godnight to all, godnight to all.
FINIS.
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