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For know yt Lady whose ambition towers
Only to this to be termd worthy yours
whose forhead I coulde crowne wth clearest rayes
but yt her praise is, she abhors much praise
not longe since thought she saw in slumbring transes
the Queene of faierys & of monelight daunces
come tripping in & with a faiery kisse
she chastely touch'd hir & straite gaue hir this
wth this straūge charge: This peece alone was made
for her in whome no graces 'ere shall fade
for her whose worth is such I dare avere,
it fears not Satyre, nor the flatterer
for hir who gaue you first most gracing name,
who loueth goodnes, for it selfe not fame,
for her whome modest virtue doth vnfolde so
yt she had rather be much graced then tolde so
for hir, for whome had you the whole worldes breast
and of it all gaue her sole interest
you'd iudge it slight: This saide hence straite she flew
& lefte it hir who only vowes it you
Then whilst or breasts wth seacret welcoms ringe
Vouchsafe acceptance of this offeringe
Thus wth a songe Merimna presented her honor wth a very curious & rich wastecote wch done the Countesse passed on to hir Chamber
The Masq; prsented by 4 knights & 4 Gentlemen at the right noble Earle of Huntingdons howse of Ashebie in honor of his Ladies moste worthie mothers arryvall Alyce Countesse Dowager of Darbye The forme was thus Att the approach of the Countesses into the greate Chamber the Hoboyes playd; vntill the Roome was Marshaled wch once ordered a travers slyded away presently a Cloude was seene moue vp & downe allmost to the topp of the greate Chamber vpon wch Cynthia was discoured ryding her habitt was blewe Satten fairely imbrodered wth Starres & Cloudes Who lookeing downe & earnestly sorvaying the Ladies Spake thus
Cinthia
Are not we Cynthia; and shall earth displaye
Brighter then vs, & force vntimely daye?
What daring flames beame such illustrous light
inforcing darkenes from the claime of night?
Vpp Aryadne thie cleare beauty rouse
Thou Northerne Crowne, to lusty Bachus spouse,
Letts mixe or glories to outblaze yor flame
To be outshone is Heauens & greate harts shame,
Looke downe, knowest them? see how theire fronts rebeate
Splendor like Joue & beauty worth or state
hath or bright brother the fayre Lorde of dayes
into theire eyes shed his vs-darkening ray'ze
Or hath some daring Spiritt forgot Joues ire
And to grace them stolne his Cælestiall fyer
wee are not Phœbe, this is not Heauens story
Place giues not worth, but worth giues place his glory

In the middst of this speech Ariadne rose from ye bottome of the Roome mounted vpon a Cloude wch waved vp vntill it came neere Cynthia where resting Ariadne spake thus
Ariadne

Cynthia
But looke whose eyes are those that shine more cleare
then lightning throwne from sheelde of Jupiter
see, see, how quick fier leapes from forth her eyes
wch burne all hartes & warme the very skies
I'st not bright Euthera?

Ariadne

Cynthia
Letts visitt them & slyde from or aboade
who loues not virtue leaues to be a God
Sounde Spheares, spreade yor harmonius breath
when mortalls shine in worth, Gods grace the earth

The Cloudes descend whilste softe musiq; soundeth Cythia and Ariadne dismount from theire Clouds

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And pacing vp to the Ladies, Cynthia pceaving Aryadne wanting hir Crowne of Starrs speaks thus
Cynthia
But where is Ariadnes wreath of starrs?
Her eight pure fiers yt studd wth Goulden barrs
her shyning browes? Hath sweete toung'd Mercury
aduanced his sonnes to station of ye skye
& throand them in thy wreath & dost thou leaue
thy splendor of & trust of Gods deceaue?

Ariadne:
Queene of chaste dewe they will not be confyn'd
Or fyx themselues where Mercury assyn'de
But every night vpon a Forrest syde
on wch an Eagle pearcheth they abyde
and honor her wth theire moste raysed light
Chaste sports juste prayses & all softe delight
Vowing theire beames to make her prsence heaven
Thus is the glory of my fronte bereaven.

Cinthia
Tell them thei err & say yt wee the Queene
of Nights pale lampes haue now the substance seene
whose shadowe they adore goe bringe those eight
at mighty Synthias summans hether straight
Lett vs behould that mount whilste wee salute
theire facs, 'fore whome no dullnes can be mute

Presently Ariadne sings this shorte call
[Ariadne]
Musiq;, and gentle night
Beauty, youthes cheefe delighte
Pleasures, all full invite
Your due attendance to this glorious roome
Then yf you haue or witt or vertue come
oh come oh come

Suddeynely vpon this songe the Cornetts were winded And the Travers that was drawen before the masquers sanke downe: The whoale shewe prsently appeereth wch prsented it selfe in this figure: The whole body of it seemed to be the syde of a steepely assending wood: on the topp of wch in a fayre Oake satt a goulden Eagle: vnder whose wings satt in eight seurall thrones the eight masquers wth visards like Starres, theire helmes like mercuryes wth the addition of fayre plumes of Carnation & white, theire Antiq; doubletts and other furniture sutable to those Cullors, the place full of sheilds lights & pages all in blew satten Robes imbrodered wth Starres
The Masquers thus discoured satt still vntill Ariadne pronounced this invocation at wch thei discended
Ariadne
The Violins vpon this played a newe Measure to wch the masquers daunced & ceasing Cynthia spake

[Cynthia]