University of Virginia Library

POEMS

ON Several Occasions, Never before Printed.

POEM TO THE Earl of Orrery.

To him who Prophecy'd a Succesles end of the Parliament, in the Year 1630.

The Countess of ANGLESEY lead Captive by the Rebels, at the Disforresting of Pewsam.

SONG.

The long Vacation in London, in Verse Burlesque, or Mock-Verse.

EPITAPH.

When you perceive these Stones are wet,
Think not you see the Marble Swet;
It weeps for grief the day of Doom,
(Invok'd by Saints) will shortly come;
Then the unwilling Marble must,
Surrender all this Saints sweet Dust.

Song.

The Winter Storms.

Upon the Marriage of the Lady Jane Cavendish with Mr. Cheney.

To the Duke of Richmond, in the Year 1639.

My Lord,

To Mr, W. M. Against Absence.

Pedler in Love! thou with the common Art,
Of Trafickers dost fly from Mart to Mart,
Thinking thy passions (false as their false Ware)
Will, if not here, vent in another Fare.
As if thy subtile threat'ning to remove,
From hence could raise the price of thy poor Love.
Thou knowst, the Deer being shot, the Hunter may,
Securely trust him though he run away;
For flying with his Wound the Arrow more,
Does gall and vex him then it did before.
Absence from her you Love (that Love being true)
Is a thin Cloud between the Sun and you;
It does not take the object from your Eye,
But rather makes you abler to descry.
Then know my wandring weake Philosopher,
You vainly take the paines to fly from her,
On whom in absence you must ever think,
For 'tis a kind of seeing when you winke.

A New-years-Gift to the Queen, in the Year 1643.

To the QUEEN; Entertain'd at Night. In the Year 1644.

To the QUEEN.

Madam; so much peculiar, and alone
Are Kings, so uncompanion'd in a Throne:
That through the want of some equality
(Familiar Guides, who lead them to comply)
They may offend by being so sublime;
As if to be a King might be a crime;
All less then Kings no more with Kings prevaile
Then lesser Weights with greater in a Scale:
They are not mov'd (when weigh'd within a Throne)
But by a greatness equall to their own.
To cure this high obnoxious singleness
(Yet not to make their power but danger less)
Were Queenes ordain'd; who were in Monarchs breasts
Tenants for life, not accidental Guests;
So they prevaile by Nature, not by chance;
But you (with yours) your vertue does advance;
When you perswade him (in the Peoples cause)
Not to esteeme his Judges more then Laws.
In Kings (perhaps) extreame obdurateness
Is as in Jewels hardness in excess:
Which makes their price: for we as well call stones
For hardness as for brightness, Paragones:
And 'tis perhaps so with obdurate Kings
As with the best impenitrable things.
No way to pierce or alter them is found,
Till we to Di'monds use a Diamond.
So you to him, who, to new-forme his Crown,
Would bring no aides less precious then his own:
Others have prov'd to be convenient things
To find the sodain'st way to ruine Kings,
Whilst you (whose vertues make your Councells thrive)
Look't on that mystick word, Prerogative,
As if you saw long-hid uncurrant Gold;
Which must (though it prove good) be try'd
Because it long has laine aside;
And rather too, because the Stamp is old:
Which in the Mettals triall some deface,
Whilst you by polishing would make it pass.
When you have wrought it to a yieldingness
That shews it fine but makes it not weigh less.
Accurst are those Court-Sophisters who say
When Princes yield, Subjects no more obey.
Madam, you that studied Heaven and Times
Know there is Punishment, and there are Crimes.
You are become (which doth augment your state)
The Judges Judge, and Peoples Advocate:
These are your Triumphs which (perhaps) may be
(Yet Triumphs have been tax'd for Cruelty)
Esteem'd both just and mercifully good:
Though what you gain with Tears, cost others Blood.

PROLOGUE,

To the unfortunate Lovers.

VVere you but halfe so humble to confess,
As you are Wise, to know your Happiness;
Our Author would not grieve to see you sit
Ruling with such unquestion'd pow'r his Wit:
How happy were I, could I still retain
My Loyalty to him, yet fairly gain
Your kind opinion by revealing now
The cause of that great Storm which clouds his Brow,
And his close murmurs, which since meant to you,
I cannot think, or mannerly, or true?
Well; I begin to be resolv'd, and let
My melancholly Tragick Monsieur fret;
Let him the several harmless weapons use
Of that all-daring trifle, call'd his Muse;
Yet I'le inform you what this very day
Twice before witness, I have heard him say;
Which is, that you are grown excessive proud;
Since ten times more of Wit then was allow'd,
Your silly Ancestors in twenty year,
You think, in two short hours to swallow here.
For they to Theaters were pleas'd to come,
E're they had din'd, to take up the best Room:
There sit on Benches not adorn'd with Mats,
And graciously did vail their high-crown'd Hats
To every halfe-dress'd Player, as he still
Through Hangings peep'd to see the Gall'ries fill.
Good easie judging Souls, with what delight
They would expect a Jigg or Target-Fight,
A furious Tale of Troy which they ne'r thought
Was weakly Writ, if it were strongly Fought:
Laught at a Clinch, the shadow of a Jest,
And cry'd, A passing good one I protest!
Such dull and humble-witted People were
Even your Forefathers, whom we govern'd here:
And such had you been too, he swears, had not
The Poets taught you to unweave a Plot.
To trace the winding-Scenes, and to admit
What was true Sense, not what did sound like Wit.
They arm'd you thus, against themselves to fight,
Made strong and mischievous from what they write:
You have been lately highly feasted here:
With two great Wits who grac'd our Theatre:
But, if to feed you, often with delight,
Will more corrupt then mend your appetite;
He vows to use you, which he much abhors,
As others did, your homely Ancestors.

EPILOGUE.

[Our Poet in his fury hath profest]

Our Poet in his fury hath profest,
Yet gravely, with his Hand upon his Breast,
That he will never wish to see us thrive,
If by an humble Epilogue we strive
To court from you that priviledge to day
Which you so long have had to damme a Play;
'Las, Gentlemen, he knows, to cry Plays down
Is half the business Termers have in Town;
And still the reputation of their Wit grows strong;
As they can first condemn, though right or wrong.
Your Wives and Countrey-friends may Power exact
To find a fault or two in every Act:
But you, by his consent, most kindly shall
Enjoy the priviledge to rail at all:
A happy freedom, which you love no less
Then Money, Health, good Wine, or Mistresses;
And he, he hopes (when Age declines his Wit
From this our Stage, to sit and rule the Pit)
Shall cruelly assume a Charter firme.
As yours, to kill a Poet ev'ry Term.
And though he never had the confidence,
To tax your judgment in his own defence,
Yet the next night, when you your Money share,
He'l shrewdly guess what your opinions are.

PROLOGUE,

To the WITS.

Bless me you kinder Starrs! How are we throng'd?
Alass! whom hath our harmless Poet wrong'd,
That he should meet together in one day
A Session, and a Faction at his Play,
To judge, and to condemne? It cannot be
Amongst so many here, all should agree.
Your expectation too, you so much raise
As if you came to wonder, not to praise.
And this Sir-Poet (if I e're have read
Customes, or Men) strikes you, and your Muse dead!
Conceive now too, how much, how oft each Ear
Hath surfeited in this our Hemisphear,
With various, pure, eternal Wit; add then
Young Comick-Sir, you must be kill'd agen.
But, to out-doe these miseries a sort
Of cruel spies (we hear) intend a sport
Among themselves; our mirth must not at all
Tickle, or stirre their Lungs, but shake their Gall.
So this, joyn'd with the rest, makes me agin
To say, you and your Lady Muse within
Will have but a sad doom; and your trim Brow
Which long'd for Wreaths, you must wear naked now;
Unless some here, out of a courteous pride,
Resolve to praise what others shall decide.
So they will have their humour too; and we,
More out of dulness then Civility,
Grow highly pleas'd with our success to night,
By thinking both, perhaps, are in the right.
Such is your pleasant judgements upon Plays,
Like Par'lels that run straight, though sev'ral ways.

EPILOGUE.

[The bus'nes of this Epilogue, is now]

The bus'nes of this Epilogue, is now
To smooth and stroke the wrinkles from each brow;
To guide severer Judgments (if we cou'd
Be wise enough) untill they thought all good
Which they perhaps dislike; and sure, this were
An over-boldness, rais'd from too much fear.
You have a freedom: which you now may use,
To raise our youthful Poet and his Muse
With a kind doom; who will tread boldly then,
In newer Comick-Socks, this Stage agen.

EPITAPH

On Mrs. Katherine Cross buried in France.

Within this hallow'd Ground this Seed is sown
Of such a Flow'r (though faln e're fully blown)
As will when Doom, the Saints first spring, appears
Be sweet as those which Heavens choice Bosom wears.
Sweeter in wither'd death then fresh Flow'rs are;
And through Deaths foul, and frightful vizard fair:
As calm in Life as others in Deaths shade:
So silent that her Tongue seem'd only made
For Precepts, weigh'd as those in wisest Books:
Yet nought that silence lost us, for her looks
Perswaded more then others by their speech:
Yet more by Deeds then Words she lov'd to teach.
This fair Flow'rs seed let none remove till doom;
No, though to make some great dead Princess room.
The Worlds Triumphant-Courts preferre high Birth;
But Saints in Deaths low Palace under Earth
May claim chief place, she was a stranger here,
And born within Opinions giddy Sphear,
A Land, where many, whilst they are alive,
Profanely for the style of Saintship strive
From others, and themselves as Saints esteem;
Yet Sainting after Death prophaness deem.
Thence, young, she from the sinful Living fled
For safety here among the sinless Dead.
Near to this blessed strangers lowly Tomb
Who dares for Neighborhood presume to come?
Unless, as her Religious Proselyte,
Her Mother challenge a just Tenants right.

SONG.

To a dreadful Tune.

The PLOTS.

Sung as a Prologue when the faithful Shepherdess was Presented.

Priest.
A broyling Lamb on Pan's chief Altar lies,
My Wreath, my Censor, Virge, and Incense by:
But I delay'd the precious Sacrifice,
To shew thee here a gentler Deity.

Nymph.
Nor was I to thy Sacred Summons slow,
Hither I came swift as the Eagles wing.
Or threat'ning Shaft from vext Diana's Bow.
Pan sends his offering to this Islands King.

Priest.
Bless then that Queen whose Eies have brought that light
Which hither led and stays him here;
He now doth shine within her Sphear,
And must obey her Scepter half this night.

Nymph.
Sing we such welcomes as shall make her sway
Seem easie to him, though it last till day.

Chorus of both.
Welcome as Peace to wealthy Cities when
Famine and Sword have left more Graves then Men;
As Spring to Birds, or Phebus to the old
Poor Mountain Muscovite congeal'd with cold;
As Shore to Pilots in a safe-known Coast,
Their Cards being broken and their Rudders lost.

EPITAPH.

On Mr. John Sturmy.

Reader, here Sturmy lies; which being known
Thou canst not suffer him to lie alone;
For when thou study'st well what thou shalt Read,
Thou, putting off thy Flesh, wilt come to Bed.
Graves from our Beds no other diff'rence have,
But that our quiet'st rest is in the Grave:
In Graves, even when ill made, we never ake;
In easi'st Beds we start, and turn, and wake.
But this discourse, to shew where he does lie,
(Praising his ease in Death, to make thee dye)
Is not so wise and needful, as to tell
How much he others did in Life excel:
For so, thou, by the Pattern he did give,
Mayst for the publick good, think fit to live.
Though Sturmy was deriv'd from ancient Race,
Though to his Birth his Courage gave a grace;
Yet was he not ingag'd in haughty Wars,
But busy'd in the Citys humble cares:
Liv'd quiet in a sad and furious Age,
When Valour every where did swell to Rage;
When Justice with the Sword was fain to fence
At a close Guard to rescue Innocence.
He therefore laid his quiet Courage by,
Because too weak to strive with destiny.
So plainly just, as kept him safe from strife;
Still kind to all, but kindest to his Wife:
Who being of his company bereft;
Does daily seek him in his Pledges left:
Two Pledges left to pay her that esteem
Which, for her use, his love had pay'd to them.
In ripest years, his mind did secretly
Consume his Body, which made haste to dye.
Consum'd with grief, to see the publick crimes,
He dy'd as thou should'st wisely do, betimes,

Master Serjeant's Clients

To the Noble Widow.

To my Friend Mr. Ogilby,

Upon the Fables of Æsop Paraphras'd in Verse.

SONG.

To Two Lovers Condemn'd to die.

To Mr. Edward Laurence.

As some, with care, the Mornings looks survay,
To guess their comforts from ensuing day;
So have I watcht thy early youth, to know
How much the World may to thy Manhood owe:
And find thy Life is in her entrance cleere,
As was the Suns new face in his first Spheare;
Ere yet his beames those Clouds and Mists had drawne,
Which since must serve for Cypress and for Lawne
To younger Wits, when he, from Lakes and Woods,
Exhales for sick Aurora, Vayles and Hoods.
Yet as the glorious Sun could not proceed
Cleare in his Course, but did on vapours feed;
As his excess of lustre is the cause,
That o're his face those dark'ning Maskes he drawes;
So, since your Morne in glory is begun,
Your Noone must through exhal'd contagions run;
Through mists of common breath, corrupt and crude,
Made of the censures of the Multitude;
And through those Clouds which ever rise and swell
When Envy would o'rcast those that excell.
If mighty vertue, like the Chymists Stone,
Breed busie Spys and dangers where 'tis known;
And should be shyly hid from States, who less
Then private Mindes endure a brave excess.
If Giant-Vertue, the Crowds Monster be;
Not, that they disproportion in it see,
But onely therefore it offends their Eyes,
Because 'tis good above the vulgar size;
If so, then think it not your vertues sloath,
When she awhile delayes her purpos'd growth;
Till you consult, not only what to grow,
But of that fruit, how much 'tis fit to show.
And though I have no vertue, by whose force
I Pilot-like, might dare to guide your Course;
Yet being old (though but a Passenger
That have a little markt, how others steere)
I may suspect where Rocks in ambush stand,
And guess at shallowes of deceitfull sand;
Which of my Art no illustrations are
To recommend my judgment, but my care.
Allow me then, the noble toyle to find
The greatest conduct of each greater Mind
That Fame in her authentick Roles hath read;
In which the Living may consult the dead;
And a Record, and Prophecy may see,
Of what the Heroes were, and thou shalt be.

EPITHALAMIUM.

The morning after the Marriage of the Earl of Barymore with Mrs. Martha Laurence.

The DREAME.

To the Earle of Monmouth.

Upon his translation of Bentivoglio.

Those who could rule the Ancient World with ease,
Could strictly governe all, yet none displease,
Were such as cherisht Learning; not because
It wrapt in rev'renc'd Mistery the Lawes,
Nor that it did the Nobles civillize,
But rather that it made the People wise;
Who found by reading Story (where we see
What the most knowing were, or we should be)
That Peace breeds happiness, and onely they
Breed Peace, who wisely any Pow'r obey.
Books much contribute to the Publick good,
When by the People eas'ly understood;
But those who dress them in a Forraigne Tongue
Bring Meate in cover'd Plate to make Men long.
Whilst those who Foraigne Learning well translate
Serve plaine Meate up, and in uncover'd Plate.
This you have done my Lord! which only showes
How free your Minde in publick Channels flowes,
But if that good to which some men are borne
Doe less then good acquir'd our Names adorne
The ceaseless nature of your kindness then,
(Still ready to informe unlanguag'd Men)
Deserves less praise, if rightly understood,
Then does your judgment how to do Men good:
Which none can value at too high a rate,
Judging the choice of Authors you translate,

EPITAPH

On the Daughter of Mr. Richard Turpin.

Stript from her Silks and Lawnes here lies
The joy and wonder of all Eyes.
Should I reveale, in what a sweet
And just consent, her formes did meet
Thou wouldst believe (the Story heard)
Nature her self lay here interr'd.
And all succeeding white and red
Will seeme complexion of the Dead,
And ever insuccessful prove,
Whilst Lovers know not where to Love.

To Edward Earl of Dorset.

Ah, What are Poets? Why is that great Law
Conceal'd, by which their numbers seek to awe
The Soules of Men; Poets! whom love of Praise
A Mistress smile, or a small Twigg of Bayes,
Can lift to such a pride as strait they dreame
The Worlds chiefe care is to consider them.
Of this fond race (my Lord) am I; who think
(since your rich Wine did purify my Ink)
Though you were nobly summon'd now to fight
In single rescue of a Nations right,
Or chosen now, with popular applause,
To multiply, or else to alter Lawes,
Yet you should stay to tread the Lists, or sit
In Councill, till you read what I have writ:
To this presumptuous glory am I grown,
Since you adorn'd my Muse and made her known.
And to this trouble you your self betray
By planting still new Nurseries of Bay.
But happy he that can securely please
His courser Soul with ignorance and ease;
That knowes no more of Nature then what yields
Growth to his Heards, and Summer to his Fields.
That Studies Art but for his wooing Cloathes;
Whose Country-Courage is his hunting Oathes.
This Man shall rest untroubled with the feare
Least Orpheus useless Sons should vex his Eare:
Whilst you must suffer still, and all you get,
By ceaseless Courtships from afflicting Wit,
Is only, that when Time should rest his Feet,
The Windes shall cease to breathe, and Flouds to meet,
We wisely have resolv'd that your great Name
Shall make the last discourse of Dying Fame.

SONG.

The Dying Lover.

In the Person of a Spy,

At the Queens Entertainment by the Lord Goring.

Know, Daughter of the Sun, reflex of light!
The wealth of beauty, and the joy of sight,
To whom more Praises I would justly pay
But that my shame and grief forbids me stay.
I am no piece of Houshold Poetry,
But would inform you as a loyal spy.
You are betray'd, and led to suffer more,
Then Death or Age, inflicts upon the poor.
But how can all my sorrows be exprest,
Since you have rashly made the King your Guest?
Alass, to what? if Madam, there be found,
In all the space of this unlucky ground,
So much as Lady May'ress provide,
To Feast the Taffa'tie Sisters of Cheapside,
Let it be said, I liv'd ten years at Court,
And want the Wit to manage a Report.
What though the Owner of this Building knowes,
That to your influence, he intirely owes
His preservation, instant breath, and all
We Fortunes gifts, or Natures bounty call;
But therefore must he needs select this rude
Dull way to trouble you with gratitude?
I more would whisper if I did not fear,
To make even Truth unwelcome to your Ear.
Besides, if heard, I should become the Beast,
Of sacrifice to furnish out the Feast.

Against Womens pride.

SONG.

To the Dutchess of Buckingham.

All Maps and Compasses I search to find,
So smooth a River, and so calm a VVind
As, when all others are in Tempests free,
Seem bound, as if they ne'r had bin at Sea.
But not discov'ring these; Madam, my fears,
Did ask for all your sighs and all your Tears?
Your Tears, which were, alass, but vainly spent;
For none should grieve that still are innocent.
Your Sighs but served to make our Priests enquire.
How all their sweetest Incence came on fire,
Yet to your grief our prudence must submit;
Since all must mourn for that which causeth it.
For gone is now the Pilot of the State,
The Courts bright Star, the Clergies Advocate,
The Poets highest Theame, the Lovers flame,
And Souldiers Glory, mighty Buckingham.

SONG.

[The Lark now leaves his watry Nest]

SONG.

Endimion Porter, and Olivia.

OLIVIA.
Before we shall again behold
In his diurnal race the VVorlds great Eye,
VVe may as Glent be and cold,
As are the shades where buried Lovers ly.

ENDIMION.
Olivia 'tis no fault of Love
To loose our selves in death, but O, I fear,
VVhen Life and Knowledge is above
Restor'd to us, I shall not know thee there.

OLIVIA.
Call it not Heaven (my Love) where we
Our selves shall see, and yet each other miss:
So much of Heaven I find in thee
As, thou unknown, all else privation is.

ENDIMION.
VVhy should we doubt, before we go
To find the Knowledge which shall ever last,
That we may there each other know?
Can future Knowledge quite destroy the past?

OLIVIA.
When at the Bowers in the Elizian shade
I first arrive, I shall examine where
They dwel, who love the highest Vertue made?
For I am sure to find Endimon there.

ENDIMION.
From this vext World when we shall both retire,
Where all her Lovers, and where all rejoyce;
I need not seek thee in the Heavenly Quire;
For I shall know Olivia by her Voice.

Sent with a Lock of Hair.

Least thou for length and beauty of thy Haire,
(Which is to ev'ry Eye and Heart a snare)
Shouldsts by the rage of Loves severer sway,
Be doom'd for casting Eyes and Hearts away,
Wear mine awhile; though mine I know,
Cannot mislead with softness or with show:
Yet I so love thee, as I fain would share,
Love's punishment on thy destructive Haire.

The Philosopher and the Lover; to a Mistress dying.

SONG.

LOVER.
Your Beauty, ripe, and calm, and fresh,
As Eastern Summers are,
Must now, forsaking Time and Flesh,
Add light to some small Star.

PHILOSOPHER.
Whilst she yet lives, were Stars decay'd,
Their light by hers, relief might find:
But Death will lead her to a shade
Where Love is cold, and Beauty blinde.

LOVER.
Lovers (whose Priests all Poets are)
Think ev'ry Mistress, when she dies,
Is chang'd at least into a Starr:
And who dares doubt the Poets wise?

PHILOSOPHER.
But ask not Bodies doom'd to die,
To what abode they go;
Since Knowledge is but sorrows Spy,
It is not safe to know.

SONG.

The Souldier going to the Field.

To Mistress E. S. Married to an old Usurer.

To Mr. Benlowes, on his Divine Poem.

Epitaph on a young Virgin.

A. K.

Nature a form intended to create,
Which might subdue the ruthless Eies of Fate:
But Fate (ready to think warm Nature cold,
It self too merciful, and Time too old)
Has struck the World; forthwith this Beauty dy'd,
Times evening Hope, and Natures latest pride.

To all Poets upon the recovery of Endimion Porter from a long Sickness.

Like the astonisht Sun (that rose and found,
His business lost on Earth, when all was drown'd
In Heav'ns first Wrath) you look, who still should take
Alcæus Harp and keep the World awake.
Black with your grief, you make the scornful think,
You were Baptized in some ill Poets Ink.
But I, who know the cause, come to restore,
The Blood and Noble Heat you lost before.
Arise! bring out your Wealth! perhaps some Twiggs
Of Bay, and a few Mirtle Sprigs
Is all you have: but these ought to suffice,
Where spacious hearts make up the Sacrifice.
Be these your Off'ring as your utmost Wealth,
To shew your joy for lov'd Endimions Health.
No more like Captives look, like frighted sleep,
Or Widows, who for young kind Husbands weep.
You shall descend a dark and silent Vault,
With Marble Arch'd, from Pariam Quarries brought;
There stay, till you those Noble Tacticks write
A new, by which the Centaures learnt to Fight.

The Mistress.

The Philosophers Disquisition directed to the Dying Christian.

The Christians Reply to the Phylosopher.

To the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

My Lord;

To Clelia.

To see, and to converse with you, must move
The nicest Eie, and coldest Heart to Love:
And yet your wisest Lover needs must see,
That all his Cordialls of Philosophie
Can make him live no longer then you please:
The Griefe you make none but your self can ease.
Not that you Murder by your tongue, or eie,
But that they gently urge poore men to die:
For since (the Spring of Justice) Nature can
Contrive unjustly to enrich one Man,
And leave a VVorld to beg: VVho can desire
To live and languish in a lasting Fire?
I'le rather haste to the Elisian Fields,
And there prepare what that blest Mansion yields.
Of Flowers, and Fragrancies to wellcome you,
Where is no danger what your eies can doe,
Where Fire hath only heate enough to warme,
Water but serves to coole, not drowne or harme,
Where harshest passions melt to Charitie;
Where all your Slaves shall meet their Jubilie;
Where we shall dread no Heavenly beauties force,
And where no heart shall be without remorse.
Could you complaine if Nature only had
Your Eyes and Cheeks, and Forehead richly clad
In her best Liveries, Roses, Lillies hue?
But to all these she hath bestow'd on you
So rich, so great, so eminent a Soule,
As may suffice all Empires to controule;
A Soul so farr beyond all outward parts,
As these but court the Eie, that conquers Hearts.
A Soul so farr exceeding your own Sex,
It may the wisest of Mankind perplex.
But, for all this, faire Clelia, think not I
Will fondly whine away my breath and die;
No, though you make me not the least returne,
Or tell me, though I die, you will not mourne;
Nay, though you smiling, place me in the Traine
Of that vast number your faire eyes have slaine.
But least that humour which hath kept me free
From other Beauties, should not prove to be
Of force enough to save me from your Charmes,
('Gainst which herhaps my best defensive Armes
May prove too weak) I only beg this boone;
Treat me but ill I cannot be undone.
Be sure to use such cold indifference
I may not see a glimpse, or least pretence
Of hope that I can ever love again:
And, if you find that will not cure my paine,
Goe on to slight me, if that will not doe,
Proceed to be a little rude, and scorne me too:
If, after this, your Charmes have pow'r to kill,
In my last pangs I will not wish you ill.

A BALLAD.

The Wares put to sale which were lately taken in a Spanish Ship.

Prologue for the Temple: at the Acting of Fivehours Adventure, to my Lord Chancelor.

My Lord, you in your early youth did sit,
As Patron and as Censor too of VVit;
VVhen onely that which you approvd could please
In Theaters, the Muses Palaces.
As you were then our Judge, so now we come,
In yearly trial to receive our doom.
If we be Pris'ners, yet there still is care,
To make for Pris'ners room at every Bar.
And we suppose it should be least deny'd,
To those who hither come not to be try'd
For actions past, but must be judg'd by you,
Immediately for what they are to do.
VVe Spaniards fight with Swords which are too long,
To shew the Art of Fencing in a Throng:
Nor do we fight with such a desp'rate Mind
That to a Sawpit we would be confin'd.
When our Don Henrique 'gainst Octavio draws,
Both may incur the danger of your Laws,
For wanting space to traverse here the ground,
Missing themselves, they may Spectators wound.
Though (noble Gentlemen) it long has bin,
Your special Priviledge to hedg us in;
Yet quit that antient Priviledge to day,
And venture not your Lives to spoil a Play.

EPILOGUE to the King at Whitehall, at the Acting the Siege of Rhodes.

If Mighty Sir, Your Goodness will do Grace,
To the supream of Ottomans high Race,
Who so much honoured Vertue even in Foes,
That oft when conquer'd they did nothing lose.
If to that Beauty you will favor shew,
VVhich he ador'd and your lov'd Titian drew;
Roxana, who restor'd th' Hungarian Crown,
And nurs'd the Royal Infant as her own.
If you will favor that Sicilian VVife,
VVho oft her Honour, and her Husbands Life,
Sav'd by her Vertue, when the Victor strove,
At once to vanquish Rhodes and conquer Love.
If Rhodians from oblivion you'l redeem,
Rescuing their Fame, though none could rescue them;
VVhose valor there the highest VVonders wrought,
VVhere the brave Subjects of your Empire fought.
If these contracted, and in little shown,
You after conquest on the Scene will own;
Then Rhodes shall nobly gain by being lost;
And th' Ottomans may grieve whilst we may boast.
That they got less when they did Rhodes subdue,
Then now the Muses get by gaining you.

EPILOGUE to the Villain;

A Dorekeeper comes in hast to Mr. Betterton. Author has sent twice to speak with you.,

What? ere I shift my Cloaths? can he not stay,
Till our own Scouts bring Tidings of the Play.
There's ten times more ado with a young Wit,
Then with old Fools that have whole Volumes writ.
Well plainly, and in Brief (howe're we speed)
I wish the louder Criticks would take heed.
Perhaps, before they get to the next street,
Some of their Consort may a challenge meet:
Good Gentlemen! do not mistake, I pray,
Our Author in misconstruing what I say.
He would not challenge any one to fight;
But, which is worse, does threaten all that write.

The First Dayes Entertainment at Rutland-House, by Declamations and Musick: after the manner of the Ancients.

After a Flourish of Musick, the Curtains are Drawn, and the Prologue enters.
The Curtains are clos'd again.
A Consort of Instrumental Musick, adapted to the sullen Disposition of Diogenes, being heard a while, the Curtains are suddenly open'd, and in two gilded Rostras appear sitting, Diogenes the Cynick, and Aristophanes the Poet, in Habits agreeable to their Country and Professions: who Declaim Against, and For Publick Entertainment by Morall Representations.
The Curtains are suddenly clos'd, and the Company entertain'd by Instrumental and Vocal Musick; with this Song.
The Song being ended, A Consort of Instrumental Musick, after the French Composition, being heard a while, the Curtains are suddenly open'd, and in the Rostras appear sitting a Parisian and a Londoner, in the Livery Robes of both Cities, who Declaime concerning the præeminence of Paris and London.
The Curtains are suddenly clos'd, and the Company entertain'd by Instrumental and Vocal Musick, with this Song.
The Song ended, the Curtains are drawn open again, and the Epilogue enters.
After a Flourish of loud Musick, the Curtain is clos'd, and the Entertainment ended.

Cœlum Britannicum, A Masque at Whitehal in the Banquetting-House, on Shrove-Tuesday night, the 18 of February 1633

The Description of the Scene.
The first thing that presented it self to the sight, was a rich Ornament, that enclosed the Scæne; in the upper part of which, were great branches of Foliage growing out of leaves and huskes, with a Coronice at the top; and in the midst was placed a large compartiment composed of Groteske work, wherein were Harpies with wings and Lions clawes, and their hinder parts converted into leaves and branches: over all was a broken Frontispiece, wrought with scrowles and masque heads of Children; and within this a Table adorn'd with a lesser Compartiment, with this Inscription, CÆLUM BRITANNICUM: The two sides of this Ornament were thus ordered: First, from the ground arose a square Basement, and on the Plinth stood a great vaze of gold, richly enchased, and beautified with Sculptures of great Releine, with frutages hanging from the upper part: At the foot of this sate two Youths naked, in their natural colours; each of these with one arme supported the Vase; on the cover of which stood two young women in Draperies, arme in arme; the one figuring the glory of Princes, and the other Mansuetude: their other armes bore up an Oval, in which, to the Kings Majesty was this Impress, A Lyon with an Imperial Crown on his head; the words, Animum sub pectore forti: On the other side was the like composition, but the design of the Figures varied; and in the Oval on the top, being born up by Nobility and Fecundity, was this Impresse to the Queens Majesty, A Lilly growing with branches and leaves, and three lesser Lillies springing out of the Stem; the words, Semper inclita virtus: All this Ornament was heightned with Gold, and for the Invention and various composition, was the newest and most graceful that hath been done in this place. The Curtain was watchet, and a pale yellow in panes, which flying up on the sudden, discovered the Scæne, representing old Arches, old Palaces, decayed walls, parts of Temples, Theaters, Basilica's and Therme, with confused heaps of broken Columnes, Bases, Coronices and Statues, lying as under ground, and altogether resembling the ruines of some great City of the ancient Romans, or civiliz'd Britaines. This strange prospect detain'd the eyes of the Spectators some time, when to a loud Musick Mercury descends; on the upper part of his Chariot stands a Cock in action of crowing: his habit was a Coat of Flame colour girt to him, and a white mantle trimm'd with gold and silver; upon his head a wreath with small fals of white Feathers, a Caduseus in his hand, and wings at his heels; being come to the ground, he dismounts and goes up to the State.
Mercury.
From the high Senate of the gods to you
Bright glorious Twins of Love and Majesty,
Before whose Throne three warlike Nations bend
Their willing knees, on whose Imperial browes
The regal Circle prints no awful frownes
To fright your Subjects, but whose calmer eyes
Shed joy and safety on their melting hearts
That flow with cheerful loyal reverence,
Come I Cyllenius, Joves Ambassadour:
Not, as of old, to whisper amorous tales
Of wanton love, into the glowing eare,
Of some choyce beauty in this numerous traine;
Those days are fled, the rebel flame is quench'd
In heavenly brests, the gods have sworn by Styx
Never to tempt yeilding mortality
To loose embraces. Your exemplar life
Hath not alone transfus'd a zealous heat
Of imitation through your vertuous Court,
By whose bright blaze your Palace is become
The envy'd pattern of this under-world,
But the aspiring flame hath kindled heaven;
Th'immortal bosomes burn with emulous fires,
Jove rivals your great vertues; Royal Sir,
And Juno Madam, your attractive graces;
He his wild lusts, her raging jealousies
She layes aside, and through th'Olympique hall,
As yours doth here, their great example spreads,
And though of old, when youthful blood conspir'd
With his new Empire, prone to heats of lust,
He acted incests, rapes, adulteries
On earthly beauties, which his raging Queen,
Swoln with revengeful fury turn'd to beasts,
And in despight he retransform'd to Stars,
Till he hath fill'd the crowded Firmament
With his loose strumpets, and their spurious race.
Where the eternal Records of his shame,
Shine to the world in flaming Characters:
When in the Crystal myrrour of your reign
He view'd himself, he found his loathsome stayns;
And now to expiate the infectious guilt
Of those detested luxuries, he'll chace
Th'infamous lights from their usurped Spheare,
And drown in the Lethæan flood, their curs'd
Names and Memories. In whose vacant roomes
First you succeed, and of the wheeling Orbe
In the most eminent and conspicuous point,
With dazling beames, and spreading magnitude,
Shine the bright Pole-star of this Hemisphear.
Next, by your side, in a triumphant chaire,
And crown'd with Ariadnes Diadem,
Sits the fair comfort of your heart, and Throne;
Diffus'd about you, with that share of light
As they of vertue have deriv'd from you,
Hee'll fix this Noble train, of either sex;
So to the British Stars this lower Globe
Shall owe its light, and they alone dispence
To th' world a pure refined influence.

Enter Momus attired in a long darkish robe all wrought over with ponyards, Serpents tongues, eyes and eares, his beard and hair party coloured, and upon his head a wreath stuck with Feathers, and a Porcupine in the forepart.
Momus.

By your leave, Mortals, Good-den Cozen Hermes; your pardon good my Lord Ambassador; I found the tables of your Armes and Titles, in every Inn betwixt this and Olympus, where your present expedition is registred, your nine thousandth nine hundred ninety ninth Legation. I cannot reach the policy why your Master breeds so few States-men, it sutes not with his dignity that in the whole Empyræum there should not be a god fit to send on these honourable errands but your self: who are not yet so careful of his honour as your own, as might become your quality, when you are itinerant: the Hosts upon the high-way cry out with open-mouth upon you for supporting pilfery in your train; which, though as you are the god of petty Larceny, you might protect, yet you know it is directly against the new orders, and opposes the Reformation in Diameter.

Merc.
Peace Rayler, bridle your Licentious Tongue,
And let this presence teach you modesty.

Mom.

Let it if it can; in the mean time I will acquaint it with my condition. Know (gay people) that though your Poets, who enjoy by Patent a particular priviledge to draw down any of the Deities from Twelftnight till Shrove-tuesday, at what time there is annually a most familiar entercourse between the two Courts, have as yet never invited me to these Solemnities, yet it shall appear by my intrusion this night, that I am a very considerable person upon these occasions, and may most properly assist at such entertainments. My name is Momus ap- Somnus-ap-Erebus-ap-Chaos-ap-Demogorgon-ap-Eternity. My Offices and Titles are, The Supreme Theomastix, Hupercrittique of manners, Protonotary of abuses, Arch-Informer, Dilator General, Universal Calumniator, Eternal Plaintiff, and perpetual Fore-man of the Grand Inquest. My Priviledges are an ubiquitary, circumambulatory, speculatory, interrogatory, redargutory immunity over all the privy lodgings, behind hangings, dores, curtains, through key-holes, chinks, windows about all Venerial Lobbies, Skences or redoubts, though it be to the surprize of a perdue Page or Chamber-maid; in, and at all Courts of civil and criminal judicature, all Councels, Consultations, and Parliamentary Assemblies; where though I am but a Woollsack-god, and have no vote in the sanction of new Laws, I have yet a prerogative of wresting the old to any whatsoever interpretation, whether it be to the behoof or prejudice of Jupiter his Crown and Dignity, for, or against the Rights of either House of Patrician or Plebeian gods. My natural qualities are to make Jove frown, Juno powt, Mars chafe, Venus

blush, Uulcan glow, Saturne quake, Cynthia pale, Phœbus hide his face, and Mercury here take his heels. My recreations are witty mischiefs, as when Saturne guelt his father; the Smith caught his wife and her Bravo in a net of Cobweb-Iron; and Hebe through the lubricity of the pavement tumbling over the Half-pace, presented the Emblem of the forked tree, and discover'd to the tann'd Ethiops the snowy cliffes of Calabria with the Grotta of Puteolum. But that you may arrive at the perfect knowledge of me by the familiar illustration of a Bird of mine own feather, old Peter Aretine, who reduced all the Scepters and Myters of that Age tributary to his wit, was my parallel; and Franck Rablais suck'd much of my Milk too; but your modern French Hospital of Oratory is meer counterfeit, an arrant Mountebank, for though fearing no other tortures then his Sciatica, he discourses of Kings and Queens with as little reverence as of Groomes and Chamber-maids, yet he wants their fang-teeth, and Scorpions tail; I mean that fellow, who to add to his stature, thinks it a greater grace to dance on his tiptoes like a Dogg in a Doublet, then to walk like other men on the soles of his feet.

Merc.
No more impertinent Trifeler, you disturb
The great affair with your rude scurrilous chat:
What doth the knowledge of your abject state
Concern Jove's solemn Message?

Mom.

Sir, by your favor, though you have a more especiall Commission of employment from Jupiter, and a larger entertainment from his Exchequer, yet as a free-born god I have the liberty to travel at mine own charges, without your Pass or Countenance; and that it may appear, a sedulous acute observer may know as much as a dull flegmatique Ambassador, and wears a treble key to unlock the mysterious Cyphers of your dark secrecies, I will discourse the politique state of heaven to this trim Audience.—

At this the Scæne changeth, and in the heaven is discovered a Spheare, with Stars placed in their several Images; born up by a huge naked Figure (only a piece of Drapery hanging over his thigh) kneeling and bowing forwards, as if the great weight lying on his shoulders opprest him, upon his head a Crown, by all which he might easily be known to be Atlas.

—You shall understand that Jupiter upon the inspection of I know not what vertuous presidents extant (as they say) here in this Court, but as I more probably guess out of the consideration of the decay of his natural abilities, hath before a frequent convocation of the superlunary Peers in a solemn Oration recanted, disclaimed, and utterly renounced all the lascivious extravagancies, and riotous enormities of his forepast licentious life, and taken his oath on Juno's Breviary, religiously kissing the two-leav'd book, never to stretch his limbs more betwixt adulterous sheets, and hath with pathetical remonstrances exhorted, and under strict penalties enjoyned a respective conformity in the several subordinate Deities; and because the Libertines of Antiquity, the Ribald Poets, to perpetuate the memory and example of their triumphs over chastity, to all future imitation, have in their immortal songs celebrated the Martyrdom of those Strumpets under the persecution of the wives, and devolved to posterity the pedigrees of their whores, bawds, and bastards; it is therefore by the authority aforesaid enacted, that this whole Army of Constellations be immediately

disbanded and casheer'd, so to remove all imputation of impiety from the Cœlestial Spirits, and all lustful influences upon terrestrial bodies; and consequently that there be an Inquisition erected to exspunge in the Ancient, and suppress in the Modern and succeeding Poems and Pamphlets, all past, present, and future mention of those abjur'd heresies, and to take particular notice of all ensuing incontinencies, and punish them in the high Commission Court. Am not I in election to be a tall Statesman think you, that can repeat a passage at a Counsel-table thus punctually?

Merc.
I shun in vain the importunity
With which this Snarler vexeth all the Gods,
Jove cannot scape him: well, what else from Heaven?

Mom.

Heaven! Heaven is no more the place it was; a Cloyster of Carthusians, a Monastery of converted gods, Jove is grown old and fearful, apprehends a subversion of his Empire, and doubts lest Fate should introduce a legal succession in the legitimate heir, by reposessing the Titanian line, and hence springs all this innovation. We have had new orders read in the Presence-Chamber, by the Vi-President of Pernassus, too strict to be observed long. Monopolies are called in, sophistication of wares punished, and rates imposed on Comodities. Injunctions are gone out to the Nectar Brewers, for the purging of the heavenly Beverage of a narcotique weed which hath rendred the Idæaes confus'd in the Divine intellects, and reducing it to the composition used in Saturns Reign. Edicts are made for the restoring of decay'd Housekeeping, prohibiting the repair of Families to the Metropolis, but this did endanger an Amazonian mutiny, till the Females put on a more masculine resolution of solliciting businesses in their own persons, and leaving their husbands at home for stallions of hospitality. Bacchus hath commanded all Taverns to be shut, and no Liquor drawn after ten at night. Cupid must go no more so scandalously naked, but is enjoyned to make him breeches though of his Mothers Petticotes Ganimede is forbidden the Bed-chamber, and must onely minister in publick. The gods must keep no Pages, nor Grooms of their Chamber under the age of 25. and those provided of a competent stock of beard; Pan may not pipe, nor Proteus juggle, but by especial permission. Uulcan was brought to an Oretenus and fined, for driving in a plate of Iron into one of the Suns Chariot-wheels and frost-nailing his horses upon the fifth of November last, for breach of a penal Statute, prohibiting work upon Holy dayes, that being the annual celebration of the Gygantomachy. In brief, the whole state of the Hierarchy suffers a total reformation, especially in the point of reciprocation of conjugal affection. Venus hath confest all her adulteries, and is receiv'd to grace by her husband, who conscious of the great disparity betwixt her perfections and his deformities, allows those levities as an equal counterpoize; but it is the prettiest spectacle to see her stroaking with her Ivory hand his collied cheecks, and with her snowy fingers combing his sooty beard. Jupiter too begins to learn to lead his own wife, I left him practising in the milky way; and there is no doubt of an universal obedience, where the Lawgiver himself in his own person observes his decrees so punctually: who besides to eternize the memory of that great example of Matrimonial union which he derives from hence, hath on his bed-chamber-door, and seeling, fretted with stars in capital Letter, engraven the Inscription of CARLOMARIA.

This is as much I am sure as either your Knowledge or Instructions can direct you to, which I having in a blunt round tale, without State-formality, Politique inferences, or suspected Rhetorical elegancies, already delivered; you may now dexterously proceed to the second part of your charge, which is the taking of your heavenly sparks up in the Embers, or reducing the Æthereal lights to their primitive opacity, and gross dark subsistance; they are all unrivited from the Sphear, and hang loose in their sockets, where they but attend the waving of your Caduce, and immediately they reinvest their pristine shapes and appear before you in their own natural deformities.

Merc.
Momus thou shalt prevail, for since thy bold
Intrusion hath inverted my resolves,
I must obey necessity, and thus turn
My face to breath the Thundrers just decree
'Gainst this adulterate Sphear, which first I purge
Of loathsome Monsters, and mis-shapen formes:
Down from her azure concave, thus I charm
The Lyrnean Hydra, the rough unlick'd Bear,
The watchful Dragon, the storm-boading Whale,
The Centaure, the horn'd Goatfish Capricorne,
The Snake-herd Gorgon, and fierce Sagittar:
Divested of your gorgeous starry Robes,
Fall from the circling Orbe, and e're you suck
Fresh venomin, measure this happy earth,
Then to the Fens, Caves, Forests, Desarts, Seas,
Fly, and resume your native qualities.

They Dance in those monstrous shapes the first Antimask of natural deformity.
Mom.

Are not these fine companions, trim play fellows for the Deities? yet these and their fellows have made up all our conversation for some thousands of years. Do not you fair Ladies acknowledge your selves deeply engaged now to those Poets your servants, that in the height of commendation have rais'd your beauties to a parallel with such exact proportions, or at least ranked you in their spruce society. Hath not the consideration of these Inhabitants rather frighted your thoughts utterly from the contemplation of the place? but now that those heavenly Mansions are to be voyd, you that shall hereafter be found unlodged, will become inexcusable; especially since Vertue alone shall be a sufficient title, fine, and rent: yet if there be a Lady not competently stock'd that way, she shall not on the instant utterly despair, if she carry a sufficient pawn of handsomness; for however the letter of the Law runs, Jupiter notwithstanding his Age, and present austerity, will never refuse to stamp Beauty, and make it currant with his own Impression; but to such as are destitute of both I can afford but smal encouragement. Proceed Cozen Mercury, what follows?

Merc.
Look up and mark where the bright Zodiack
Hangs like a Belt about the brest of heaven;
On the right shoulder, like a flaming Jewel,
His shell, with nine rich Topazes adorn'd,
Lord of this Tropique, sits the skalding Crab:
He, when the Sun gallops in full career
His annual race; his ghastly claws uprear'd,
Frights at the confines of the torrid Zone,
The fiery teame, and proudly stops their course,
Making a solstice, till the fierce Steeds learn
His backward paces, and so retrograde
Post down-hill to th' oppos'd Capricorne.
Thus I depose him from his laughty Throne;
Drop from the Sky into the briny flood,
There teach thy motion to the ebbing Sea,
But let those fires that beautifi'd thy shell,
Take humane shapes, and the disorder show
Of thy regressive paces here below.

The second Antimask is Danc'd in retrograde paces, expressing obliquity in motion.
Mom.

This Crab, I confess, did ill become the heavens, but there is another that more infests the earth, and makes such a solstice in the politer Arts and Sciences, as they have not been observed for many Ages to have made any sensible advance: could you but lead the learned Squadrons with a Masculine resolution past this point of retrogradation, it were a benefit to mankind worthy the power of a god, and to be payed with Altars: but that not being the work of this night, you may pursue your purposes: what not succeeds?

Merc.
Vice, that unbodied, in the Appetite
Erects his Throne, hath yet, in bestial shapes,
Branded, by Nature, with the Character
And distinct stamp of some peculiar Ill,
Mounted the Sky and fix'd his Trophies there:
As fawning flattery in the little Dog;
I'th bigger, churlish Murmur; Cowardize
I'th timerous Hare; Ambition in the Eagle:
Rapine and Avarice in th' adventrous Ship
That sail'd to Colchos for the Golden fleece:
Drunken distemper in the Goblet flowes;
I'th Dart and Scorpion, biting Calumny;
In Hercules and the Lion, furious rage;
Vain Ostentation in Cassiope:
All these I to eternal exile doom,
But to this place their emblem'd Vices summon,
Clad in those proper Figures, by which best
Their incorporeal nature is exprest.

The third Antimask is danc'd of those several vices, expressing the deviation from Vertue.
Mom.

From henceforth it shall be no more said in the Proverb, when you would express a riotous Assembly, That hell, but heaven is broke loose, this was an arrant Goal-delivery, all the prisons of your great Cities could have vomited more corrupt matter: but Couzen Cyllenius, in my judgment it is not safe that these infectious persons should wander here to the hazard of this Island, they threatned less danger when they were nayl'd to the Firmament: I should conceive

it a very discreet course, since they are provided of a tall Vessel of their own ready rigg'd, to embark them all together in that good Ship called the Argo, and send them to the Plantation in New-England, which hath purg'd more virulent humors from the politique body, then Guiacum and all the West-Indian druggs have from the natural bodies of this Kingdom: Can you devise how to dispose them better?

Mer.
They cannot breath this pure and temperate Air
Where Vertue lives, but will with hasty flight,
'Mongst fogs and vapours, seek unfound abodes;
Fly after them, from your usurped seats,
You foul remainders of that viperous brood:
Let not a Star of the luxurious race,
With his loose blaze stayn the skyes chrystal face.

All the Stars are quench'd, and the Sphear darkned.
Before the entry of every Antimask, the Stars in those figures in the Sphear which they were to represent, were extinct; so as, by the end of the Antimask in the Sphear no more Stars were seen.
Mom.

Here is a total Ecclipse of the eighth Sphear, which neither Booker, Alestree, nor any of your Prognosticators, no nor their great Master Tico were aware of; but yet in my opinion there were some innocent, and some generous Constellations, that might have been reserved for Noble uses; as the Skales and Sword to adorne the statue of Justice, since she resides here on Earth onely in Picture and Effigie. The Eagle had been a fit present for the Germans, in regard their Bird hath mew'd most of her Feathers lately. The Dolphin too had been most welcome to the French, and then had you but clapt Perseus on his Pegasus, brandishing his Sword, the Dragon yawning on his back under his horses feet, with Python's dart through his throat, there had been a Divine St. George for this Nation: but since you have improvidently shuffled them altogether, it now rests only that we provide an immediate succession, and to that purpose I will instantly proclaim a free Election,

O yes, O yes, O yes,
By the Father of the gods,
And the King of men,

Whereas we having observed a very commendable practice taken into frequent use by the Princes of these latter Ages, of perpetuating the memory of their famous enterprizes, Sieges, Battels, Victories, in Picture, Sculpture, Tapistry, Embroyderies, and other Manufactures, wherewith they have embellished their publick Palaces, and taken into Our more distinct and serious consideration, the particular Christmas hangings of the Guard-Chamber of this Court, wherein the Naval Victory of 88. is to the eternal glory of this Nation exactly delineated: and whereas We likewise out of a prophetical imitation of this so laudable custom, did for many thousand years before, adorne and beautifie the eigth room of Our cælestial Mansion, commonly called the Star-Chamber, with the Military adventures, Stratagems, Atchievements, Feats, and Defeats, performed in Our Own person, whilst yet Our Standard was erected, and We a Combattant in the amorous Warfare. It hath notwithstanding, after mature deliberation and long debate,

held first in our own inscrutable bosome, and afterwards, communicated with Our Privy Councel, seemed meet to Our Omnipotency, for causes to Our self best known, to unfurnish and dis-array Our foresaid Star-Chamber of all those Antient Constellations which have for so many Ages been sufficiently notorious, and to admit into their vacant places, such persons onely as shall be qualified with exemplar Vertue and eminent Desert, there to shine in indeleble Characters of glory to all Posterity. It is therefore Our divine will and pleasure, voluntarily, and out of Our own free and proper motion, meer grace and special favor, by these presents to specifie and declare to all Our loving People, that it shall be lawful for any Person whatsoever, that conceiveth him or her self to be really endued with any heroical Vertue or transcendent Merit, worthy so high a calling and dignity, to bring their several pleas and pretences before Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Cozen and Counsellor, Don Mercury and god Momus, &c. Our peculiar Delegates for that affair, upon whom we have transferred an absolute power to conclude, and determine without Appeal or Revelation, accordingly as to their wisdomes it shall in such cases appear behooful and expedient. Given at our Palace in Olympus the first day of the first Month, in the first year of the Reformation.

Plutus enters, an old man full of wrinkles, a bald head, a thin white beard, spectacles on his nose, with a bunch back; and attir'd in a Robe of Cloth of gold.
Plutus appears.
Merc.

Who's this appears?

Mom.

This is a subterranean Fiend, Plutus, in this Dialect term'd Riches, or the god of gold; a poyson, hid by providence in the bottome of Seas, and Navil of the Earth, from mans discovery, where if the seeds begun to sprout above-ground, the excrescence was carefully guarded by Dragons, yet at last by humane curiosity brought to light to their own destruction; this being the true Pandora's box, whence issued all those mischiefs that now fill the Universe.

Plut.

They Dance the fourth Antimask consisting of Countrey people, Musick, and Measures.
Merc.
Plutus, the gods know and confess your power,
Which feeble Vertue seldom can resist;
Stronger then Towers of Brass, or Chastity;
Jove knew you when he courted Danae,
And Cupid wears you on that arrowes head
That still prevailes. But the gods keep their Thrones
To enstal Vertue, not her Enemies.
They dread thy force, which even themselves have felt,
Witness Mount-Ida, where the Martial Maid,
And frowning Juno, did to mortal Eies
Naked, for gold, their sacred bodies show,
Therefore for ever be from heaven banish'd.
But since with toyle from undiscover'd Worlds
Thou art brought hither, where thou first didst breath
The thirst of Empire into Regal brests,
And frightedst quiet peace from her meek Throne,
Filling the World with Tumult, Blood, and War,
Follow the Camps of the contentious earth,
And be the Conqu'rers slave, but he that can
Or conquer thee, or give thee Vertues stamp,
Shall shine in heaven a pure immortal Lamp.

Mom.

Nay stay, and take my benediction along with you. I could, being here a Co-Judge, like others in my place, now that you are condemn'd, either rail at you, or break jests upon you, but I rather chuse to loose a word of good councel, and intreat you to be more careful in your choice of company, for you are always found either with Misers, that not use you at all, or with fools, that know not how to use you well: be not hereafter so reserv'd and coy to men of worth and parts, and so you shall gain such credit, as the next Sessions you may be heard with better success. But till you are thus reform'd, I pronounce this positive sentence, That wheresoever you shall chuse to abide, your society shall add no credit or reputation to the party, nor your discontinuance, or total absence, be matter of disparagement to any man, and whosoever shall hold a contrary estimation of you, shall be condemn'd to wear perpetual Motley, unless he recant his opinion. Now you may void the Court.

Pænia enters, a woman of a pale colour, large brims of a hat upon her head, through which her hair started up like a fury, her Robe was of a dark color full of patches, about one of her hands was tyed a chaine of Iron, to which was fastned a weighty stone, which she bore up under her arm.
Pænia Enters.
Merc.

What Creature's this?

Mom.

The Antipodes to the other, they move like two Buckets or as two nayles drive out one another; if Riches depart, Poverty will enter.

Pov.

They Dance the fifth Antimask of Gypsies.
Mom.

I cannot but wonder that your perpetual conversation with Poets and Philosophers hath furnished you with no more Logick, or that you should think to impose upon us so gross an inference, as because Plutus and you are contrary, therefore whatsoever is denyed of the one, must be true of the other; as if it should follow of necessity, because he is not Jupiter, you are. No, I give you to know, I am better vers'd in cavils with the gods, then to swallow such a fallacie, for though you two cannot be together in one place, yet there are many places that may be without you both, and such is heaven, where neither of you are likely to arrive: therefore let me advise you to marry your self to Content, and beget sage Apothegms, and goodly moral Sentences in dispraise of Riches, and contempt of the world

Mer.
Thou dost presume too much poor needy wretch
To claim a station in the Firmament,
Because thy humble Cottage, or thy Tub
Nurses some lazy or Pedantique vertue
In the cheap Sun-shine, or by shady springs
With roots and pot-herbs; where thy rigid hand,
Tearing those humane passions from the mind,
Upon whose stocks fair blooming vertues flourish,
Degradeth Nature, and benummeth sense,
And Gorgon-like, turns active men to stone.
We not require the dull society
Of your necessitated temperance,
Or that unnatural stupidity
That knows nor joy nor sorrow; nor your forc'd
Falsly exalted passive Fortitude
Above the active: This low abject brood,
That fix their seats in mediocrity,
Become your servile minds; but we advance
Such vertues onely as admit excess,
Brave bounteous Acts, Regal Magnificence,
All-seeing Prudence, Magnanimity
That knowes no bound, and that Heroick vertue
For which Antiquity hath left no name,
But patterns onely, such as Hercules,
Achilles, Theseus. Back, to thy loath'd Cell,
And when thou seest the new enlightned Sphear,
Study to know but what those Worthies were.

Tiche enters, her head bald behind, and one great lock before, wings at her shoulders, and in her hand a wheel, her upper parts naked, and the skirt of her Garment wrought all over with Crowns, Scepters Books, and such other things as express both her greatest and smallest gifts.
Mom.

See where Dame Fortune comes, you may know her by her wheel, and that vail over eyes, with which she hopes like a seel'd Pigeon to mount above the Clouds, and pearch in the eighth Sphear: listen, she begins.

Fort.

They Dance the sixth Antimask, being the representation of a Battle.
Mom.

Madam, I should censure you, pro falso clamore, for preferring a scandalous cros-bil of recrimination against the gods, but your blindness shall excuse you. Alas! what would it advantage you, if vertue were as universal as vice is? it would onely follow, that as the world now exclaimes upon you for exalting the vicious, it would then rail as fast at you for depressing the vertuous; so they would still keep their tune, though you chang'd their ditty.

Merc.
The mists, in which future events are wrapp'd,
That oft succeed beside the purposes
Of him that works, his dull eyes not discerning
The first great cause, offer'd thy clouded shape
To his enquiring search; so in the dark
The groping world first found thy Deity,
And gave thee rule over contingencies,
Which to the piercing eye of Providence,
Being fix'd and certain, where past and to come,
Are always present, thou dost disappear,
Losest thy being, and art not all.
Be thou then only a deluding Phantome,
At best a blind guide, leading blinder fools;
Who, would they but survey their mutual wants,
And help each other, there were left no room
For thy vain aid. Wisdom, whose strong-built plots
Leave nought to hazard, mockes thy futile power.
Industrious labor drags thee by the locks,
Bound to his toyling Car, and not attending
Till thou dispence, reaches his own reward.
Onely the lazy sluggard yawning lies
Before thy threshold, gaping for thy dole,
And licks the easie hand that feeds his sloth.
The shallow, rash, and unadvised man
Makes thee his stale, disburdens all the follies
Of his misguided actions, on thy shoulders.
Vanish from hence, and seek those Ideots out
That thy fantastick god-head hath allow'd,
And rule that giddy superstitious crowd.

Hedone, Pleasure, a young woman with a smiling face, in a light lascivious habit, adorn'd with Silver and Gold, her Temples crown'd with a garland of Roses, and over that a Rainbow circling her head down to her shoulders.
[Hedone Enters
Merc.
What wanton's this?

Mom.

This is the sprightly Lady Hedone, a merry gamester, this people call her Pleasure.

Plea.

They Dance the seventh Antimask of the five Senses.
Merc.
Bewitching Syren, guilded rottenness,
Thou hast with cunning artifice display'd
Th' enamel'd outside, and the honied verge
Of the fair cup, where deadly poyson lurkes:
Within, a thousand sorrows dance the round.
And like a shell, Pain circles thee without;
Grief is the shadow waiting on thy steps,
Which, as thy joyes 'gin tow'rds their West decline,
Doth to a Gyants spreading form extend
Thy Dwarfish stature. Thou thy self art Pain,
Greedy, intense Desire, and the keen edg
Of thy fierce Appetite, oft strangles thee,
And cuts thy slender thread; but still the terror
And apprehension of thy hasty end,
Mingles with Gall thy most refined sweets;
Yet thy Cyrcæan charms transform the world:
Captains, that have resisted War and Death,
Nations, that over Fortune have triumph'd,
Are by thy Magick made effeminate.
Empires, that knew no limits but the Poles,
Have in thy wanton lap melted away.
Thou wert the Author of the first excess
That drew this reformation on the gods.
Canst thou then dream, those Powers, that from heaven have
Banish'd th' effect, will there enthrone th'cause?
To thy voluptuous Den, fly Witch, from hence,
There dwell, for ever drown'd in brutish sense.

Mom.

I concur, and am grown so weary of these tedious pleadings, as I'le pack up too and be gone: Besides, I see a crowd of other suitors pressing hither, I'le stop 'em, take their petitions and prefer 'em above; and as I came in bluntly without knocking, and nobody bid me welcome; so I'le depart as abruptly without taking leave, and bid no body farewell.

Merc.
These, with forc'd reasons, and strain'd Arguments,
Urge vain pretences, whilst your Actions plead,
And with a silent importunity
Awake the drousie Justice of the gods
To Crown your deeds with immortality.
The growing Titles of your Ancestors,
These Nations glorious Acts, joyn'd to the stock
Of your own Royal vertues, and the clear
Reflex they take from th'imitation
Of your fam'd Court, make Honors story full,
And have to that secure fix'd state advanc'd
Both you and them, to which the labouring world,
Wading through streams of blood, sweats to aspire.
Those antient Worthies of these famous Isles,
That long have slept, in fresh and lively shapes
Shall straight appear, where you shall see your self
Circled with modern Heroes, who shall be
In Act, what-ever elder times can boast,
Noble, or Great; as they in Phrophesie,
Were all but what you are. Then shall you see
The sacred hand of bright Eternity
Mould you to Stars, and fix you in the Sphear.
To you, your Royal half to them shee'll joyn
Such of this train, as with industrious steps
In the fair prints your vertuous feet have made,
Though with unequal paces, follow you.
This is decreed by Jove, which my return
Shall see perform'd; but first behold the rude
And old Abiders here, and in them view
The point from which your full perfections grew
You naked, antient wild Inhabitants,
That breath'd this Ayr, and prest this flowery Earth,
Come from those shades where dwels eternal night,
And see what wonders Time hath brought to light.

Atlas, and the Sphear vanisheth, and a new Scæne appears of mountaines, whose eminent height exceed the Clouds which past beneath them, the lower parts were wild and woody: out of this place comes forth a more grave Antimask of Picts, the natural Inhabitants of this Isle, antient Scots and Irish, these dance a Perica or Marshal dance. When this Antimask was past; there began to arise out of the earth the top of a hill, which by little and little grew to be a huge mountain that covered all the Scæne; the under-part of this was wild and craggy, and above somewhat more pleasant and flourishing: about the middle part of this Mountain were seated the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland; all richly attired in regal habits, appropriated to the several Nations, with Crowns on their heads, and each of them bearing the ancient Arms of the Kingdoms they represented. At a distance above these sat a young man in a white embroidered robe, upon his fair hair an Olive garland with wings at his shoulders, and holding in his hand a Cornucopia, fill'd with Corn and Fruits, representing the Genius of these Kingdoms.

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.

The Second SONG.

KINGDOMES.
Here are shapes form'd fit for heaven,
These move gracefully and even,
Here the Ayr and paces meet
So just, as if the skilful feet
Had struck the Vials.
So the Ear
Might the tuneful footing hear.

CHORUS.
And had the Musick silent been,
The eye a moving tune had seen.

GENIUS.
These must in the unpeopled skie
Succeed, and govern Destiny,
Jove is temp'ring purer fire,
And will with brighter flames attire
These glorious lights. I must ascend,
And help the Work.

KINGDOMES.
We cannot lend
Heaven so much treasure.
Nor that pay,
But rendring what it takes away.
Why should they that here can move
So well, be ever fix'd above?

CHORUS.
Or be to one eternal posture ty'd,
That can into such various figures slide.

GENIUS.
Jove shall not, to enrich the Skie,
Beggar the Earth, their Fame shall flie
From hence alone, and in the Spheare
Kindle new Starres, whilst they rest here:

KINGDOMES.
How can the shaft stay in the quiver,
Yet hit the mark?

GENIUS.
Did not the River
Eridanus, the grace acquire
In Heaven and Earth to flow,
Above in streams of golden fire,
In silver waves below?

KINGDOMES.
But shall not we, now thou art gone
Who wert our Nature, whither,
Or break that triple Union
Which thy soul held together?

GENIUS.
In Concords pure immortal spring
I will my force renew,
And a more active Vertue bring
At my return, Adieu.

KINGDOMES
Adieu.

CHORUS
Adieu.

The Masquers dance their main dance; which done, the Scæne again is varied into a new and pleasant prospect, clean differing from all the other, the nearest part shewing a delicious garden with several walks and per-terra's set round with low trees, and on the sides against these walkes, were fountaines and grots, and in the furthest part a Palace, from whence went high walkes upon Arches, and above them open Tarraces planted with Cypresse trees, and all this together was composed of such Ornaments as might expresse a Princely Villa. From hence the Chorus descending into the roome, goes up to the State.

The third SONG

By the Chorus going up to the Queen.
The song done they retire, and the Masquers dance the Revels with the Ladies, which continued a great part of the night. The Revels being past and the Kings Majesty seated under the State by the Queen; for Conclusion to this Masque there appeares coming forth from one of the sides, as moving by a gentle wind, a great Cloud, which arriving at the middle of the heaven, stayeth; this was of severall colours, and so great, that it covered the whole Scæne. Out of the further part of the heaven, beginnes to breake forth two other Clouds, differing in colour and shape; and being fully discovered, there appeared sitting in one of them, Religion, Truth, and wisdome. Religion was apparelled in white and part of her face was covered with a light vaile, in one hand a booke, and in the other a flame of fire. Truth in a Watchet Robe, a Sunne upon her fore-head and bearing in her hand a palme. Wisdome in a mantle wrought with eyes and hands, golden rayes about her head, and Apollo's Cithere in her hand. In tht other Cloud sate Concord, Government, and Reputation. The habit of Concord was Carnation, bearing in her hand a litle faggot of stickes bound together, and on the top of it a hart, and a garland of corne on her head: Government was figured in a coat of Armour, bearing a shield, and on it a Medusa's head; upon her head a plumed helme, and in her right hand a Lance. Reputation, a young man in purple robe wrought with gold, and wearing a laurell wreath on his head. These being come downe in an equall distance to the middle part of the Ayre, the great Cloud beganne to breake open, out of which stroke beames of light; in the midst suspended in the Ayre, sate Eternity on a Globe, his Garment was long of a light blue, wrought all over with Stars of gold, and bearing in his hand a Serpent bent into a circle, with his taile in his mouth. In the firmament about him, was a troope of fifteene starres, expressing the stellifying of our British Heroes; but one more great and eminent than the rest, which was over his head, figured his Majesty. And in the lower part was seene a farre off the prospect of Windsor Castle, the famous seat of the most honourable Order of the Garter.

The fourth SONG.

Eternity, Eusebia, Alethia, Sophia, Homonoia, Dicæarche, Euphemia.
ETERNITIE.
Be fix'd you rapid Orbes, that beare
The changing seasons of the yeare
On your swift wings, and see the old
Decrepit Spheare growne darke and cold;
Nor did Iove quench her fires, these bright
Flames, have eclips'd her sullen light:
This Royall payre, for whom Fate will
Make Motion cease, and Time stand still;
Since Good is here so perfect, as no Worth
Is left for After Ages to bring forth.

EUSEBIA.
Mortality cannot with more
Religious zeal, the gods adore.

ATLETHIA.
My Truths, from human eyes conceal'd,
Are naked to their sight reveal'd.

SOPHIA.
Nor do their Actions, from the guid
Of my exactest precepts slide.

HOMONOIA.
And as their own pure Souls entwin'd,
So are their Subjects hearts combin'd.

DICÆARCHES.
So just, so gentle is their sway,
As it seemes Empire to obay.

EUPHEMIA.
And their fair Fame, like incense hurl'd
On Altars, hath perfum'd the World.

SO.
Wisdom.

AL.
Truth.

EUS.
Pure Adoration.

HO.
Concord.

DI.
Rule.

EUP.
Clear Reputation,

CHORUS.
Crown this King, this Queen, this Nation.

CHORUS.
Wisdome, Truth, &c.

ETERNITIE.
Brave Spirits, whose adventrous feet
Have to the Mountains top aspir'd,
Where fair Desert, and Honour meet,
Here, from the toyling Press retir'd,
Secure from all disturbing Evil,
For ever in my Temple revell.
With wreaths of Stars circled about,
Gild all the spacious Firmament,
And smiling on the panting rout
That labor in the steep ascent,
With your resistless influence guide
Of humane change th'incertain tide.

EUS. ALE. SOP.
But oh you Royal Turtles, shed,
When you from Earth remove,
On the ripe fruits of your chaste bed,
Those sacred seeds of Love.

CHORUS.
Which no Power can but yours dispence,
Since you the pattern bear from hence.

HOM. DIC. EUP.
Then from your fruitful race shall flow
Endless Succession,
Scepter shall bud, and Lawrels blow
'Bout their Immortal Throne:

CHORUS.
Propitious Stars shall Crown each Birth,
Whilst you rule them, and they the Earth.

The Song ended, the two Clouds, with the persons sitting on them, ascend; the great Cloud closeth again, and so passeth away overthwart the Scæne; leaving behind it nothing but a serene Skye. After which, the Masquers dance their last dance, and the Curtain was let fall.

The TEMPLE of LOVE A Masque. Presented by the Queens Majesty, and her Ladies at Whitehall.

At the lower end of the Banqueting House, opposite to the State was a Stage of six foot high, and on that was raised an Ornament of a new Invention agreeable to the Subject, consisting of Indian Trophies: on the one side upon a basement sate a naked Indian on a whitish Elephant, his legs shortning towards the neck of the beast, his tire and bases of several coloured feathers, representing the Indian Monarchy: On the other side an Asiatique in the habit of an Indian Borderer, riding on a Camel; his Turbant and Coat differing from that of the Turks, figured for the Asian Monarchy: over these hung shields like Compartiments: In that over the Indian was painted a Sun rising, and in the other an half Moon; these had for finishing the Capital of a great pillaster, which served as a ground to stick them of, and bore up a large freeze or border with a Coronice. In this over the Indian lay the figure of an old man, with a long white hair and beard, representing the flood Tigris; on his head a wreath of Canes and Seadg, and leaning upon a great urne, out of which run water, by him, in an extravagant posture stood a Tyger. At the other end of this freeze lay another naked man, representing Meander, the famous River of Asia, who likewise had a great Silver Urne, and by him lay an Unicorn, In the midst of this border was fixed a rich Compartiment, behind which was a crimson Drapery, part of it born up by naked Children tack'd up in several Pleats, and the rest was at each end of the Freeze tyed with a great knot, and from thence hung down in foulds to the bottom of the Pedastals: in the midst of this Compartiment in an Oval was written TEMPLUM AMORIS: all these Figures were in their natural colours bigger than the life, and the Compartiments of Gold. A Curtain flying up the first Sceane was discover'd, in which appeared a spacious grove of shady trees; and afar off on a Mount with a winding way to the top, was seated a pleasant bower, environed with young Trees, and in the lower part walkes planted with Cypress, representing the place where the Soules of the Anciant Poets are feigned to reside: the delight of this prospect was quickly diverted to the sight of a more strange apparition; for, out of the heaven by little and little broke forth a great Cloud of a Rosie Colour, which being come down some little way, began to open, and in it was seen sitting a beautiful woman, her garment was Sky-colour set all with Stars of Gold, her head was crowned with Laurel, with a spangled vaile hanging down behind, and her hair in artificial curles graciously dress'd, representing Divine Poesie, and by her a milk white Swan, as she descends singing; out of those venerable shades came forth a company of ancient Greek Poets, as Demodicus, Fœmius, Homer, Hesiod, Terpander, and Sapho a Poetesse in habits varied and of several colours, with laurel wreaths on their heads. Divine Poesie sung this:
Divine Poesie.

The Poets.
Soul of our Science! how inspir'd we come?
By thee restor'd to voyces that lay dumbe,
And lost in many a forgotten Tombe.

D. Poesie.
Y'are spirits all; and have so long
From flesh, and frailty absent bin,
That sure though Love should fill your song,
It could not relish now of sin.

The Poets.
Vex not our sad remembrance with our shame!
We have bin punish'd for ill-gotten fame,
For each loose verse, tormented with a flame.

D. Poesie.
Descend then, and become with me,
The happy Organs to make known
In an harmonious Embassie,
Our great affair to yonder Throne.

She being descended to the ground in a Majestick pace, goes up the State, attended by the fore-named Poets; and the Cloud that brought her down, closeth as it ascends.
D. Poesie.
Thou Monarch of mens hearts rejoyce!
So much thou art belov'd in heaven,
That Fate hath made thy reign her choyce,
In which Love's blessings shall be given.

The Poets.
Truth shall appear, and rule 'till she resists
Those subtle charmes, and melts those darker mists,
In which Lov's Temple's hid from Exorcists.

D. Poesie.
Those Magi that with pleasant Arts
To their false Temple led of yore
The noblest youth, with'ring their Hearts
With lustful thoughts, shall be no more.

The Poets.
For Indamora with her beauties light,
The truer Temple shall restore to sight,
The false shall be obscur'd in endless Night.

The Song after they have retir'd (playing on their Instruments) by the Chorus of Poets.

After this, Divine Poesie, and the Poets go forth; then the whole Scæne changeth into Mist and Clouds, through which some glimpse of a Temple is here and there scarcely discern'd.

The Entry of the Magicians.

Out of Caves from under ground come forth three Magicians, one more eminent than the rest, their habits of strange fashions, denoting their qualities, and their persons deformed.
(1)
Tell me, thou wise Protector of our Art,
Why dost thou walk with such a hideous brow?
Darkness, and Clouds do hover o're thine eyes;
Thou look'st as thou hadst suck'd the vapor of
A poys'nous Fenne, till it has made thee drunk,
There's venom'd foam about thy lips.

(2.)
Is thy belov'd
Old witch, dead and entomb'd? or hast thou heard
Ill news from hell? Does the grand fiend
Chain up thy spirits from thy use? Speak, Art
Thou not within thy Circle still a Soveraign Prince?
When thou dost lift with magick power thy white
Inchanted Scepter thus, do not the thin
Unbodied people bow and obey?

(3.)
O the Temple of Love, the mists that hid,
And so reserv'd it from our sinful use,
(Whilst we seduc'd the more voluptuous race
Of Men, to give false worship in our own) must be
Dispell'd! this is the sad ill news; and it
Is come from Heaven! A troublesome Deity
(Whom forsooth they stile Divine Poesie)
This morne proclaim'd it from a falling Cloud.

(2.)
Who? Divine Poesie?

(3.)
I know her well.

(1.)
But who shall bring this mischief to our Art?

(3.)
Indamora, the delight of Destiny!
She, and the beauties of her Train; who sure
Though they discover Summer in their looks,
Still carry frozen Winter in their blood.
They raise strange doctrines, and new sects of Love:
Which must not woo or court the Person, but
The Mind; and practice generation not
Of Bodies but of Souls.

(2.)
Believe me, my Magical friends,
They must bring bodies with'em that worship
In our pleasant Temple: I have an odd
Fantastick faith perswades we there will be
Little pastime upon earth without Bodies.
Your Spirit's a cold Companion at midnight.

(1.)
Have we so long mis-led and entertain'd
The youthful of the world, I mean their bodies)
And now do they betake themselves unto
The dull imaginary pleasures of
Their soules? This humor cannot last.

(2.)
If it should, we may rid our Temple
Of all our Persian Quilts, imbroyder'd Couches,
And our standing Beds; these (I take it) are
Bodily implements; our soules need 'em not.
But where shall this new Sect be planted first?

(3.)
In a dull Northern Ile, they call Britaine.

(2.)
Indeed 'tis a cold Northerly opinion;
And I'le lay my life begot since their late
Great Frosts; It will be long enough e're it
Shall spread, and prosper in the South! Or if
The Spaniard or Italian ever be
Perswaded out of the use of their bodies,
I'le give mine to a Raven for his Supper.

(3.)
The Miracle is more increas'd, in that
It first takes birth and nourishment in Court.

(2.)
But my good damn'd friend tell me? Is there not
One Courtier will resent the cause, and give
Some countenance to the affairs of the body?

(3.)
Certain young Lords at first disliked the Philosophy
As most uncomfortable, sad, and new;
But soon inclin'd to a superior vote,
And are grown as good Platonical Lovers
As are to be found in an Hermitage, where he
That was born last, reckons above fourscore.

To these come forth in hast another Magician, in shape and habit differing from the other, and spake as followeth.
(1.)
Here comes a brother of our mistick Tribe!

(3.)
He knows th'occasion of our grief, and by
His hast imports discoveries more strange!

(4.)
News! news! my sad companions of the shade!
There's lately landed on our fatal shore
Nine Persian youths, their habit and their looks
So smooth, that from the Pleasures i'th Elisian fields
Each female ghost will come, and enter in
Their flesh again, to make embraces warm.

(2.)
I hope these are no Platonical Lovers,
No such Carthusian Poets as do write
Madrigals to the mind? more of thy news!

(4.)
The rest infers small joy, and little hope:
For though at first their youth and eager thoughts
Directed them where our gay Altar stood,
And they were ready too for sacrifice,
I cannot tell what luckless light inform'd
Their eyes, but Loves true Temple straight they spy'd
Through the ascending mists, and would have enter'd it
To read grave frosty Homilies,
And antick laws of chastity, but that
(As my swift Spirit brought me word) a voyce
Sent from within bad them with reverence
Desist till Indamora did appear, for then
The Gates would open, and the mists dry up:
That thus conceal'd it from the general view,
Which now their expectation doth attend.

(3.)
'Tis time to wake our drowsie Art, and try,
If we have power to hinder Destiny.
Mount! mount! our charmes! fetch me, whilst you aspire,
A Spirit of the Element of fire!

(2.)
Me one of Ayre!

(1.)
The water me supplies!

(4.)
Mine from the center of the earth shall rise!

(3.)
These shall infuse their sev'ral qualities
In men; if not t'uphold the faction of
The flesh, yet to infect the queasie age
With blacker Sins: if we (now we have joyn'd
The force of all the Elements t'assist
The horror of our will) shall not prevail
Against this hum'rous vertue of the Time,
Nature, our weakness must be thought thy crime.

2.
To these I'le add a sect of modern Divels;
Fine precise Fiends, that hear the devout close
At ev'ry vertue but their own, that claim
Chambers and Tenements in heaven, as they
Had purchas'd there, and all the Angels were
Their harbingers. With these I'le vex the world.

(3.)
'Tis well design'd! Thanks to thy courteous Art!
Let's murmure softly in each others ear,
And those we first invok'd, will straight appear!
Enough! they come! to'th woods let's take our flight,
We have more dismal business yet e're night.

The Antimask of the Spirits.

1. Entry.

The fiery Spirits all in flames, and their Vizards of a Cholerick Complexion.

The Airy Spirits with sanguine vizards, their Garments and Caps all of feathers.

The Watery Spirits were all over wrought with scales, and had fishes heads and fins.

The Earthy Spirits had their garments wrought all over with leaveless trees and bushes, with Serpents an other little Animals here and there about them, and on their heads barren rocks.

2. Entry.

Brought in by the fiery Spirits, were debosht and quarrelling men with a loose Wench amongst them.

3. and 4. Entry.

Brought in by the Spirits of Ayr, were of amorous men and women in ridiculous habits and Alchimists.

5. Entry.

Brought in by the Spirits of Water, were drunken Dutch skippers.

6. Entry.

Brought in by the Spirits of Earth, were Witches, Userers, and Fools.

7. Entry.

Was of a Modern Divel, a sworn enemy of Poesie, Musick, and all ingenious Arts, but a great friend to murmuring, libelling, and all seeds of discord, attended by his factious followers; all which was exprest by their Habits and Dance.

After these was an entry of three Indians of quality, of Indamora's train in several strange habits, and their dance as strange.

A Persian Page comes leaping in.
Hey! hey! how light I am? all soul within?
As my dull flesh, were melted through my skin?
And though a Page when landed on this shore,
I now am grown a brisk Ambassador!
From Persian Princes too, and each as fierce
A Lover, as did ever sigh in verse!
Give Audience then, you Ladies of this Isle!
Lord how you lift your fannes up now, and smile!
To think (forsooth) they are so fond to take
So long a journey for your beauties sake!
For know, th'are come! but sure, e're they return,
Will give your female ships some cause to mourn!
For I must tell you, that about them all
There's not one grain, but what's Platonical!
So bashful that I think they might be drawn
(Like you) to wear close Hoods, or vailes of Lawn.
My Master is the chief that doth protect,
Or (as some say) miss-lead this precise sect:
One heretofore that wisely could confute
A Lady at her window with his Lute,
There devoutly in a cold morning stand
Two hours, praysing the snow of her white hand;
And when he could not rule her to's intent,
Like Tarquin he would proffer ravishment.
But now, no fear of Rapes, untill he find
A maydenhead belonging to the mind.
The rest are all so modest too, and pure,
So virginly, so coy, and so demure,
That they retreat at kissing, and but name
Hymen, or Love, they blush for very shame:
Ladies! I must needs laugh! you'le give me leave
I hope; and 'tis to think how you deceive
Your selves with all this precious art, and care
Tane in your glass to dress your looks, and hair!
When (in good faith!) they heed no outward merit,
But fervently resolve to wooe the Spirit!
Hah! do you all look melancholy now;
And cast a Cloud of anger o're the brow?
'Tis time to flye, and my best swiftness use,
For fear I'm kill'd with Bodkins for my news.
The Page retires, and the Noble Persian youths make their entry, apparelled in Asian Coats of Sea-green embroidered that reached down above their knees, with buttons and loops before, and cut up square to their hips, and returned down with two short skirts; the sleeves of this Coat were large without seam, and cut short to the bending of the Arm, and hanging down long behind, trimm'd with buttons as those of the breast; out of this came a sleeve of white Sattin embroydered, and the Basis answerable to the sleeve, hung down in gathering underneath the shortest part of their Coat; on their heads they wore Persian Turbants silver'd underneath, and wound about with white Cypress, and one fall of a white feather before. Their Dance ended, the mist and Clouds at an instant disappear, and the Scene is all changed into a Sea somewhat calm, where the billows moving sometimes whole, and sometimes breaking, beat gently on the land, which represented a new and strange prospect; the nearest part was broken grounds and Rocks, with a mountainous Countrey, but of a pleasant aspect, in which were trees of strange form and colour, and here and there were placed in the bottom several Arbors like Cottages, and strange beasts and birds, far unlike the Countrey of these parts, expressing an Indian Landschape. In the Sea were several Islands, and a far off a Continent terminating with the Horizon. Out of a Creek came waving forth a Barque of an Antique design, adorn'd with Sculpture finishing in Scrowles, that on the Poope had for Ornament a great masque head of a Sea-God; and all the rest enrich'd with embost work touch'd with silver and gold. In the midst of this Barque sat Orpheus with his Harp, he wore a white Robe girt, on his shoulders (was tyed with a knot) a Mantle of Carnation, and his head crown'd with a Laurel Garland: with him, other persons in habits of Seamen, as Pilots and Guiders of the Barque, he playing one strain, was answered with the voyces and Instruments of the Brachmani joyn'd with the Priests of the Temple of Love, in extravagant habits sorting to their titles: whilst this Barque moved gently on the Sea, heaving and setting, and sometimes rowling, arrived near to the farther shore, it turn'd and return'd to the port from whence it came.

The Song of the Brachmani, in Answer to Orpheus his Harp.

The Barque having taken port, the Masquers appear in a Maratime Chariot, made of a spungie Rockstuff mixt with shels, Sea-weeds, Corral, and Pearl, born upon an Axletree with golden wheels without a rimme, with flat spokes like the blade of an Ore comming out of the Naves. This Chariot was drawn by Seamonsters, and floated with a sweet motion in the Sea: Indamora Queen of Narsinga, sate enthron'd in the highest part of this Chariot, in a rich seat, the back of which was a great Skallpo Shell. The habit of the Masquers was of Isabella Colour, and Watchet, with Bases in large panes cut through, all over richly embroidered with silver, and the dressing of their heads was of silver, with small falls of white feathers tipp'd with Watchet. This sight thus moving on the water, was accompanied with the Musick and Voyces of the Chorus.
The Song ended, all the fore part of the Sea was in an instant turn'd to dry land, and Indamora with her Contributary Ladies descended into the room, and made their entry. Then for entermedium the Musick began again, and sung this Song.

The SONG.

The Masquers having a while reposed, danced their second Dance, which ended, and the Queen being seated under the State by the King, the Sceæn was changed into the true temple of Chast Love; this Temple instead of Columnes had terms of young Satyrs bearing up the returns of Architrane Freeze and Coronice, all enrich'd of Gold-Smiths work, the farther part of the Temple running far from the eye was design'd of another kind of Architecture, with Pillasters, Neeches, and Statues, and in the midst a stately gate adorn'd with Colomns and their Ornaments, and a Frontispice on the top, all which seemed to be of burnish'd Gold. Into this Temple enters Sunesis and Thelema; Sunesis a man of a noble Aspect, and richly attir'd; his garment of Cloth of Gold reaching down below his knees, and girt with a tuck at the wast, with wide sleeves turn'd up; his mantle of Watchet fastned on both shoulders, and hanging long down behind, a Garland of Sinope on his head, with a flame of fire issuing out of it, his Buskins were yellow, wrought with Gold. Thelema a young woman in a Robe of changeable Silk, girt with several tucks, under her breast, and beneath her wast, and great leaves of silver about her shoulders hanging down to the midst of her Arm; upon her head a Garland of great Marigolds, and puffs of silver'd Lawn between. And at her shoulders were Angels wings, these sung this Dialogue, assisted by the Chori.

The SONG.

Sunesis and Thelema.
Sunesis.
Come melt thy soul in mine, that when unite,
We may become one vertuous appetite.

Thelema.
First breath thine into me, thine is the part
More heavenly, and doth more adorne the heart.

Both.
Thus mix'd, our love will ever be discreet,
And all our thoughts and actions pure,
When perfect Will, and strengthened Reason meet,
Then Love's created to endure.

Chorus.
Were Heaven more distant from us, we would strive
To reach't with Pray'rs to make this Union thrive.

Whilst this Song continued, there came softly down from the highest part of the heaven a bright and transparent Cloud, which being come to the middle part of the Ayr it opened, and out of it came Amianteros, or Chast Love flying down, clad all in Carnation and White, and two Garlands of Laurel in one hand, and crown'd with another of the same; whilst he descended the Cloud closeth again and returns upwards, and is hidden in the heavens; Chast Love being come down to the earth, was accompanied by Sunesis and Thelema, Divine Poesie, Orpheus, and the rest of the Poets up to the State, the great Chorus following at a distance, where they sung this Song.

The Song.

Amianteros, or Chast Love.

Sunesis.
To CHARLES the Mightiest and the Best,
And to the Darling of his breast,
(Who rule b' example as by power)
May youthful blessings still increase,
And in their Off-spring never cease,
Till Time's too old to last an hower.

Chorus.
These wishes are so well deserv'd by thee,
And thought so modest too by Destiny,
That heaven hath seal'd the grant as a Decree.

After which they all retire to the Scæne, and Indamora and her Ladies begin the Revels with the King and the Lords, which continue the most part of the night. Thus ended this Masque, which for the newness of the invention, variety of Scænes, Apparitions, and richness of habits was generally approved to be one of the most magnificent that hath been done in England.

The Triumphs of the Prince D'Amour. A Masque Presented by his Highness at his Palace in the Middle Temple.

Priests of Mars.

Priests of Venus.
The Balmes rich swet, the Myrhs sweet tears
Perfume your breath when you would Passion move:
And may her heart, that you indears,
The center be, her Eye the Sphear of Love!

Priests of Apollo.
And may your Language be of force
To body winds, and animate the Trees,
So full of wonder your discourse,
Till all your guesses shall be Prophecies.

Chorus of all.
May our three Gods so long conjoyn,
To raise your soul, and rarifie your sense,
Till you are render'd so Divine,
'Twill be no Sin t' implore your Influence.