 | The Entertainment at Ashby |  |
When hir Ladishipp approached
the Parke corner a full noise of Cornetts winded &
when she entered into the Parke treeble Cornetts
reported one to an other as giueinge warninge of her
honors neere approach: wfen presently hir eye
was saluted with an Antiq; gate which suddeinly
was erectein this form
Vppon the Gate did hange a many siluer Scroles with this worde in them:
Tantum Vni
Vppon the battlements over the gate stoode
three gilte sheildes in Diamond figure impaled
on the topp w
t
h three Coronetts purfled with Goulde & severally inscribed wt
h siluer wordes in the
first sheelde:
Venisti tandem
In the seconde Nostra sera, in the Thirde
Et sola voluptas: over these oppon a halfe spheare stoode an imbossed antiq; figure
gilte: the slighte Towers to this gate which were only raised for shewe were sett out w
t
h
193
as this lame figure demonstrats
[No figure is given: the rest of the page is blank.]
When the Countesse came nere the Gate An olde inchauntres attired in Crimeson velvet wt h pale face blacke haire & dislykinge countenance affronted her Ladishipp & thus rudely saluted her
Woman, Lady, princes, Nimph, or Goddes
(more sure you are not, & you seeme no lesse)
Stay & attempt not passadg through this porte:
Heere the pale Lorde of saddnes keepes his courte
rough visagd Saturne; on whose bloudles cheekes
dull Melancholy sitts who straightly seekes
to sease on all that enter through this gate
graunte gratious listninge & I shall relate
The meanes, the manner, & of all the sence
whilst your faire eye inforceth eloquence:
(more sure you are not, & you seeme no lesse)
Stay & attempt not passadg through this porte:
Heere the pale Lorde of saddnes keepes his courte
rough visagd Saturne; on whose bloudles cheekes
dull Melancholy sitts who straightly seekes
to sease on all that enter through this gate
graunte gratious listninge & I shall relate
The meanes, the manner, & of all the sence
whilst your faire eye inforceth eloquence:
There was a Tyme (& since that time ye sun̄e
Hath yet not through nyne signes of heaven run̄e)
when the high siluan that commaundes thes woodes
& his bright Nymphe fairer then Queen of fludds
Wt h moste impacient longings hop'd to veiw
hir face, to whome theire harts deerst zeale was due
Youths ioyes to loue, sweete light vnto the blynde
Beauty to virgins, or what witt can fynde
most deerely wish'd was not so much desier'd
as shee to them: o my dull soule is fir'd
to tell their longings: but it is a peece
that woulde oreloade the famost tounges of Greece
Yet longe they hop'd; till Rumor struck Hope dead
& shewe'd theire wishes were but flattered
For scarce her Chariott cutt the easy earth
& jornied on, when winter wt h colde breath
crosseth her way. Her borrowed haire doth shine
wt h Glittering Isicles all christaline
Hir browes were perriwigg'd wt h softer snowe
Hir russett mantle fring'd wt h Ice belowe
Sott stiffly on her back: Shee thus came forth
vsherd wt h tempeste of the frosty Northe
And seeing hir shee thought she sure had seene
the sweete breath'd Flora the bright Summers Queene
So full of cheerefull grace she did appeere
yt winter fearde hir face recalde the yeare,
& fors'd vntimely springes to sease hir right
whereatt wt h anger, & malitious spighte,
She vowes Reuenge, Straight wt h tempestious winges
from Taurus, Alpes & Scithian rockes she flinges
theire covering of, & heere theire thick furr spread
yt patient Earth was allmost smothered
Vpp Boreas mounts & doth so strongly blow
athawart hir way huge driftes of blinding snow
yt mountainelike att length heapes rose so high
Mans sight might doubte whether Heauen or Earth were sky.
Heereat she turned back and lefte hir way
Necessity all mortalls must obay.
wc h was no sooner voic'd & hether blowne
it Sadds me but to think what greiffe was showne,
wc h to augement (Mishapp nere single falles)
The God of Sadnes & of funeralls
of heauy pensiuenes & discontente
coldly dull Saturne hether straight was sente
My selfe MERYMNA who still waight vppon
pale MELANCHOLY & DESOLATION
vsherd him on, when straite wee strongly sease
all this sadd howse & vow'd no meanes should ease
those heauy bandes wich pensiue Saturne tyde
till wt h wished grace this house was beutifide
Pace then no further for vouchsafe to knowe
till hir approach heere can no comfort grow
Tis only one can theire sadd bondage breake
whose worth I may admire not dare to speake
shees so compleate yt her much honored state
giues fortune virtue makes virtue fortunate
as one in whome three rare mixt graces sitt
seene seldome joynd, fortune, beauty, witt.
to this choice Lady, and to her deere fate,
all hartes do open, as alone this Gate
Shee only driues away dull Saturne hence,
She, whome to praise I neede her eloquence
Hath yet not through nyne signes of heaven run̄e)
when the high siluan that commaundes thes woodes
& his bright Nymphe fairer then Queen of fludds
Wt h moste impacient longings hop'd to veiw
hir face, to whome theire harts deerst zeale was due
Youths ioyes to loue, sweete light vnto the blynde
Beauty to virgins, or what witt can fynde
most deerely wish'd was not so much desier'd
as shee to them: o my dull soule is fir'd
to tell their longings: but it is a peece
that woulde oreloade the famost tounges of Greece
194
& shewe'd theire wishes were but flattered
For scarce her Chariott cutt the easy earth
& jornied on, when winter wt h colde breath
crosseth her way. Her borrowed haire doth shine
wt h Glittering Isicles all christaline
Hir browes were perriwigg'd wt h softer snowe
Hir russett mantle fring'd wt h Ice belowe
Sott stiffly on her back: Shee thus came forth
vsherd wt h tempeste of the frosty Northe
And seeing hir shee thought she sure had seene
the sweete breath'd Flora the bright Summers Queene
So full of cheerefull grace she did appeere
yt winter fearde hir face recalde the yeare,
& fors'd vntimely springes to sease hir right
whereatt wt h anger, & malitious spighte,
She vowes Reuenge, Straight wt h tempestious winges
from Taurus, Alpes & Scithian rockes she flinges
theire covering of, & heere theire thick furr spread
yt patient Earth was allmost smothered
Vpp Boreas mounts & doth so strongly blow
athawart hir way huge driftes of blinding snow
yt mountainelike att length heapes rose so high
Mans sight might doubte whether Heauen or Earth were sky.
Heereat she turned back and lefte hir way
Necessity all mortalls must obay.
wc h was no sooner voic'd & hether blowne
it Sadds me but to think what greiffe was showne,
wc h to augement (Mishapp nere single falles)
The God of Sadnes & of funeralls
of heauy pensiuenes & discontente
coldly dull Saturne hether straight was sente
My selfe MERYMNA who still waight vppon
pale MELANCHOLY & DESOLATION
195
all this sadd howse & vow'd no meanes should ease
those heauy bandes wich pensiue Saturne tyde
till wt h wished grace this house was beutifide
Pace then no further for vouchsafe to knowe
till hir approach heere can no comfort grow
Tis only one can theire sadd bondage breake
whose worth I may admire not dare to speake
shees so compleate yt her much honored state
giues fortune virtue makes virtue fortunate
as one in whome three rare mixt graces sitt
seene seldome joynd, fortune, beauty, witt.
to this choice Lady, and to her deere fate,
all hartes do open, as alone this Gate
Shee only driues away dull Saturne hence,
She, whome to praise I neede her eloquence
This speach thus Ended prsently Saturne yssued from forth the Porte & curyiously behoulding the Countesses spake thus
Peace, stay, it is, it is, it is, even shee
Hayle happy honors of Nobilitye
Did never Saturne see? or nere see such?
what shoulde I style you? what choise phrase may touch
or hope in wordes such wondrous grace to sute,
whose worth doth wante an equall attribute.
Lett never Mortall wondring Scilence breake
since to expresse you, Gods themselues must speake
Hayle happy honors of Nobilitye
Did never Saturne see? or nere see such?
what shoulde I style you? what choise phrase may touch
or hope in wordes such wondrous grace to sute,
whose worth doth wante an equall attribute.
Lett never Mortall wondring Scilence breake
since to expresse you, Gods themselues must speake
Sweete glories of your sex, know yt yor eyes
makes milde the roughest planet of the skies,
Even wee the Lorde yt Sitts in Ebon throanes,
circled wt h sighes & discontented groanes
are forc'd at yor faire presence to relent,
att yor approach all Saturns force is spent,
Now breakes my bandes, now sadnes leaues theis towrs
Now all are turn'd to Floras smiling bowers,
Then now giue way, now is my bondage due
only to those who basely envy yow
Hence solitary Beldam, sinke to nighte
I giue vp all to Joye, & to Delight,
And now passe on all happye making Dame,
O coulde you but imagin what a flame
of many joyes nowe in theire bosomes shyne
who counte it theire deerst honor to be thine,
you woulde aueer to number them who seekes
must sure inuent some newe Arithmetiq;s
for who to caste theire reconings takes in hande
hadd neede for counters take the Ocean sande
Theire service is your right yor loue their due
who only loue themselues for loving you
Theire Pallace waites you wt h so harty gate
Man cannot vtter, or Godes scarce relate
makes milde the roughest planet of the skies,
Even wee the Lorde yt Sitts in Ebon throanes,
circled wt h sighes & discontented groanes
are forc'd at yor faire presence to relent,
att yor approach all Saturns force is spent,
196
Now all are turn'd to Floras smiling bowers,
Then now giue way, now is my bondage due
only to those who basely envy yow
Hence solitary Beldam, sinke to nighte
I giue vp all to Joye, & to Delight,
And now passe on all happye making Dame,
O coulde you but imagin what a flame
of many joyes nowe in theire bosomes shyne
who counte it theire deerst honor to be thine,
you woulde aueer to number them who seekes
must sure inuent some newe Arithmetiq;s
for who to caste theire reconings takes in hande
hadd neede for counters take the Ocean sande
Theire service is your right yor loue their due
who only loue themselues for loving you
Theire Pallace waites you wt h so harty gate
Man cannot vtter, or Godes scarce relate
Then passed the whole troupe to the house: vntill the Countesse hadd mounted the staires to the greate Chamber, on the topp of wc h Merimna haveing chaunged hir habitt all to white mett her & whilst a consorte softely played spake thus.
Madam,
See what a change the spiritt of your Eyes,
hath wroughte in vs, Hence dullr Saturne flies,
& wee that were the ghost of woe & Earth,
are all transform'd vnto the soule of Mirth,
O wee are full of Joye no breaste more light,
But those who owe yow theirs by Natures right
From whome vouchsafe this present. Tis a woorke
wherein strange miracles & wonders lurke
hath wroughte in vs, Hence dullr Saturne flies,
& wee that were the ghost of woe & Earth,
are all transform'd vnto the soule of Mirth,
197
But those who owe yow theirs by Natures right
From whome vouchsafe this present. Tis a woorke
wherein strange miracles & wonders lurke
For know yt Lady whose ambition towers
Only to this to be termd worthy yours
whose forhead I coulde crowne wt h clearest rayes
but yt her praise is, she abhors much praise
not longe since thought she saw in slumbring transes
the Queene of faierys & of monelight daunces
come tripping in & with a faiery kisse
she chastely touch'd hir & straite gaue hir this
wt h this straūge charge: This peece alone was made
for her in whome no graces 'ere shall fade
for her whose worth is such I dare avere,
it fears not Satyre, nor the flatterer
for hir who gaue you first most gracing name,
who loueth goodnes, for it selfe not fame,
for her whome modest virtue doth vnfolde so
yt she had rather be much graced then tolde so
for hir, for whome had you the whole worldes breast
and of it all gaue her sole interest
you'd iudge it slight: This saide hence straite she flew
& lefte it hir who only vowes it you
Then whilst or breasts wt h seacret welcoms ringe
Vouchsafe acceptance of this offeringe
Only to this to be termd worthy yours
whose forhead I coulde crowne wt h clearest rayes
but yt her praise is, she abhors much praise
not longe since thought she saw in slumbring transes
the Queene of faierys & of monelight daunces
come tripping in & with a faiery kisse
she chastely touch'd hir & straite gaue hir this
wt h this straūge charge: This peece alone was made
for her in whome no graces 'ere shall fade
for her whose worth is such I dare avere,
it fears not Satyre, nor the flatterer
for hir who gaue you first most gracing name,
who loueth goodnes, for it selfe not fame,
for her whome modest virtue doth vnfolde so
yt she had rather be much graced then tolde so
for hir, for whome had you the whole worldes breast
and of it all gaue her sole interest
you'd iudge it slight: This saide hence straite she flew
& lefte it hir who only vowes it you
Then whilst or breasts wt h seacret welcoms ringe
Vouchsafe acceptance of this offeringe
Thus wt h a songe Merimna presented her honor wt h a very curious & rich wastecote wc h done the Countesse passed on to hir Chamber
| The Entertainment at Ashby | |