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The Masq; prsented by 4 knights & 4 Gentlemen at the right noble Earle of Huntingdons howse of Ashebie in honor of his Ladies moste worthie mothers arryvall Alyce Countesse Dowager of Darbye

The forme was thus Att the approach of the Countesses into the greate Chamber the Hoboyes playd; vntill the Roome was Marshaled wc h once ordered a travers slyded away presently a Cloude was seene moue vp & downe allmost to the topp of the greate Chamber vpon wc h Cynthia was discoured ryding her habitt was blewe Satten fairely imbrodered wt h Starres & Cloudes Who lookeing downe & earnestly sorvaying the Ladies Spake thus
Cinthia
Are not we Cynthia; and shall earth displaye
Brighter then vs, & force vntimely daye?
What daring flames beame such illustrous light
inforcing darkenes from the claime of night?
Vpp Aryadne thie cleare beauty rouse
Thou Northerne Crowne, to lusty Bachus spouse,
Letts mixe or glories to outblaze yor flame
To be outshone is Heauens & greate harts shame,
Looke downe, knowest them? see how theire fronts rebeate
Splendor like Joue & beauty worth or state
hath or bright brother the fayre Lorde of dayes
into theire eyes shed his vs-darkening ray'ze
Or hath some daring Spiritt forgot Joues ire
And to grace them stolne his Cælestiall fyer
wee are not Phœbe, this is not Heauens story
Place giues not worth, but worth giues place his glory

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

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

Ariadne

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suddeynely vpon this songe the Cornetts were winded And the Travers that was drawen before the masquers sanke downe: The whoale shewe prsently appeereth wc h prsented it selfe in this figure: The whole body of it seemed to be the syde of a steepely assending wood: on the topp of wc h in a fayre Oake satt a goulden Eagle: vnder whose wings satt in eight seurall thrones the eight masquers wt h visards like Starres, theire helmes like mercuryes wth the addition of fayre plumes of Carnation & white, theire Antiq; doubletts and other furniture sutable to those Cullor s, the place full of sheilds lights & pages all in blew satten Robes imbrodered wth Starres
The Masquers thus discoured satt still vntill Ariadne pronounced this invocation at wc h thei discended
Ariadne
Mercurian issue son̄es of son̄e of Joue
By the Cyllenian rodd, and by the loue
deuoutely chaste you vow Pasithea
discende, first thou more brighte of theese
yt giuest my Crowne her name cleare Dolopes
whose braue dissent letts not thy fayre harte fall
as borne of Parents moste heroicall:
who vows him selfe, his life, his sword & fortune
to hir whose constant goodnes doth importune
more then he is. discend: Next him Avctolivs
of nimble spirit slyde to honor vs
faithfullst Evander: cleare soulde Erythvs
The hopefull Prilis, & sweet Polybus
And thou true sone of quick braynd Mercvry
deere lou'd Mirtyllus, wt h yt bright soule mixte
Experienced Lares, yt att last is fixte
after much dainger in securer Spheare
heere all wt h wished easines appeare
And ò if euer you were worthe the grace
of veiwing majesty in mortalls face
yf e're to perfect worth, youv ow'd harts duty
shew spiritt worth yor vertues, and theire beuty

The Violins vpon this played a newe Measure to wc h the masquers daunced & ceasing Cynthia spake


The Songe
Audatious Nighte makes bolde the lippe,
Now all court chaster pleasure
whilst to Apollos Harpe you trippe
And tread the gracing measure

Cynthi:

Cyn.
Now meete. &c.
Laciuious youth not dare to speake
the language of loose Cytty,
He that Dyanas bondes doth breake,
is helde most rudely witty
Now meete &c.
Disgratious dullnes yett much marrs
the shape of courtly talking
He yt can scilent touch such starrs
his soule lyes in his walking
Nowe meete now breake then fayne a warlike salley
So Cynthea sports and so the Gods may dalley

During this Songe the Masquers presented theire Sheelds, And tooke forth theire Ladys to daunce
After they hadd daunced many measures galliards Carantos, & Levaltos the Night being much spent: Whilste the masquers prpared them selues

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for theire depting measure Cynthea spake thus
Cynthe: