University of Virginia Library



AN EMBLEME VPON THE ROYALL MASQVE PRESENTED in the King of Denmarkes last being here. Personated regally, shadowed really, and alluded rarely.

Thrice glorious Spirits, royall in your state,
Albyons-faire lusters highly consecrate.
To him whom you on Earth doe represent,
May you be euer in this Element
Of perfect Ioy: that the full height of time
May (as you were presented Masculine)
Cheare vp your man like thoughts, that your great birth
(Being enstil'd no lesse then Gods on earth)
May when your Time's expir'd (and long may't be
Ere that time come) put on eternitie.
Your Masque presents a life (silent you came,
So Maskers doe) and we expresse the same
In our Birth-entrie, nothing can we speake
Articulate; onely sends out a shreque,
To shew our misery; the next you beare
'S a vizard, which implyes these robes we weare,
Of Flesh, and of Mortalitie; which when
Time shall dissolue, we are no longer men,
But Angels: Your disguise may shadow at,
That strange desire we haue to immitate
Forraine disguised habits, when it's knowne,
We haue more comely habits of our owne.
Those Feminine-Mirrors (Ladies) you brought in,
Shows Adams happinesse, and Adams sinne;
His happinesse, when God to make his state
Perfect-delightfull, gaue to him a mate,


Flesh of his owne flesh, and bone of his bone,
Thinking't not good that man should be alone.
His sinne, when's mate, wherein he seem'd to be
Happie, did haplesse taste th'forbidden tree.
Liuely was this exprest, when th'Ladies bore
From you those Gemms and Iewells which you wore.
Implying that pure Gemme of Innocence,
Adam was robd of by Eues negligence.
Taking from th'Ladies: thus much did impart,
“Men spous'd to women, rob them of their heart,
For it's no longer theirs, for theirs is gone,
One heart in two, or two reduc't to one.
This is my Embleme for the Masculine,
Now must our woman-Pen turne Feminine.
Delicious moulds of Nature, whose pure forme
Was form'd by Nature, chiefely to adorne
And beautifie her-selfe: which she did shew,
First in her-selfe, examplified by yow.
You mask'd, thus much implies, that modestie
Innate to Woman-hood, ought most to be
Where sexes are immixt: those Princely men,
Which you depriu'd and robbed of their Gemmes,
Includes your true humilitie: being forc't
To take from that Sex, Eue tooke of at first:
And that perfection which you haue began,
Not from your selues, but from the worth of Man.
These ornaments (are vertues Emblemes) where
Beautie by honour graced do'es appeare
More chearefull, and assumeth to it more
Of diuine Essence, then it had before.
You spoyl'd, portrayes your modest Princely shame,
Scorning to take and not to giue againe;


Here is a great minde showne: whose plac't delight,
Is nere to take, more then it will requite.
Those Virgin-lamps of yours, with oyle sustain'd,
Expresse those Virgins, that were entertain'd
Into the Bride-chamber: hence you are
Compar'd to those wise-virgins that had care
To haue their oyle prepared, and might come,
With Virgin-glory to the Nuptiall roome.
Your Oyle's the splendour of a vertuous life,
And she's a Virgin, that's a Virgin-wife;
Making her husband (linkt by sacred right
Vnto her selfe) sole mate of her delight.
The place where you present this Masque of yours,
May seeme an Embleme, to those heauenly powers
Which shine in Syons-Court: pure mirrors here,
And glorious Daughters of perfection there.
Your Masque expir'd, includes our frayle lifes-taske,
Whence was't that Prince compar'd it to a maske,
Wherein men were disguis'd, nor could one then
Discouer right the phisnomie of men,
Hauing their face obscur'd: and such be now
Those, who are nothing lesse then what they show,
Hauing appearance to the out-ward eye,
Of seeming that they are not inwardly.
But when our Masque of Flesh is stript off cleane,
Then is it clearely showne, what we haue beene.
Your dance (Times measure) may be thus exprest,
Lifes-action is a dance, which craueth rest;
Your selues th'Ideas of true Excellence,
Show what you shall be when you goe from hence.
FINIS.