A Covrtly Masqve The Device Called The VVorld tost at Tennis |
AN INDVCTION TO THE MASQVE: PREPAR'D For his Maiesties Entertainment at Denmarke-House.
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 | A Covrtly Masqve |  |
AN INDVCTION TO THE MASQVE: PREPAR'D For his Maiesties Entertainment at Denmarke-House.
Enter Richmond, and St. Iames's.St. Iames's.
Why, Richmond, Richmond, why art so heauy?
Rich.
I haue reason inough for that good sainted, Sister.
Am I not built with stone, faire, large, and free-stone, some part couer'd with
Lead too?
St Iea.
All this is but a light-headed vnderstanding now.
I meane, why so melancholy, thou lookst, mustily, me thinkes.
Rich.
Doe I so? and yet I dwell in sweeter ayre
Warming has spirited you; you haue sometimes
Your vacations as other of your friends haue,
If you call your selfe to minde.
St Iam.
Thou neuer saw'st my new Gallery & my Tennis-court, Richmond.
Rich.
No: but I heard of it, and from whence it came too.
St Iam.
Why, from whence came it?
Rich.
Nay, lawfully deriu'd, from the Brickhils, as thou
Didst thy selfe.
St Iam.
Thou breed'st Crikets, I thinke, & that wil serue for the
Anagram to a Critique, come, I know thy griefe:
Thou fear'st that our late Riuall, Denmarke-House,
Will take from our regard, and we shall want
The Noble presence of our Princely Master,
(In his so frequent visitation)
Which we were wont so fully to enioy.
Rich.
And is not that a cause of sorrow then?
St Iam.
Rather a cause of Ioy, that we enioy
So faire a fellowship, Denmarke. Why, shee's
A stately Palace, and maiesticall,
Euer of courtly breeding, but of late
Built vp vnto a Royall height of state,
Rounded with Noble prospects, by her side,
The siluer-footed Thamesis doth slide,
As (though more faintly) Richmond, do's by thee.
Enter Denmarke-House.
Which I (denied to touch) can onely see.
Rich.
Who's this?
St Iam.
Tis she her selfe yfaith,
Comes with a courteous browe.
Den.
Ye'are welcome, most nobly welcome.
St Iam.
Hark you now, Richmond, did not I tel thee
Twas a Royall House?
Den.
Why, was there any doubt,
Onely to be in fellowship with you,
Co-mate and Seruant to so great a Master.
St Iam.
Thats Richmonds feare, thou'lt rob vs both,
Thou hast such an enticing face of thine owne.
Den.
Oh, let not that be any difference,
When we doe serue, let vs be ready for't.
And call'd at His great pleasure: the round yeere
In her circumferent armes will fold vs all,
And giue vs all employment seasonable.
I am for colder houres, when the bleake ayre
Bites with an Icy tooth: when Summer ha's sear'd
And Autumne all discolour'd, layd all Fallow,
Pleasure taken house, and dwels within doores,
Then shall my Towers smoke, and comely shew:
But when agen, the fresher morne appeares,
And the soft Spring renues her Veluet head,
St Iames's take my blest Inhabitants
For she can better entertaine them then,
In larger bounds, in Parke, sports, delights, and grounds.
A third season yet (with the Westerne Oares)
Calls vp to Richmond, when the high-heated yeere,
Is in her Solsticie: Then she affords
More sweeter-breathing ayre, more bounds, more pleasures:
The Hounds lowd Musique to the flying Stagge,
The feather'd Talenter to the falling bird,
The Bow-mans twelue-score prick, euen at the doore,
And to these I could adde a hundred more.
Then let not vs striue which shall be his homes:
But striue to giue him welcome when he comes.
Rich.
By my troth he shal be welcome to Richmond
When soeuer he comes.
St Iam.
And to Saint Iames's yfaith at midnight.
Den.
Meane time, 'tis fit I giue him welcome hither;
But first, to you my Royall Royall'st ghest,
How e're your welcome is most bounteous,
Which, I beseech you take as gracious:
To you my Owner, Master, and my Lord,
Let me the second vnto you afford,
And then, from you to all: for it is you
That giues indeed, what I but seeme to doe.
I was from ruine rais'd by a faire hand,
A Royall hand: in that state let me stand
For euer now: to bounty I was bred,
My cups full brim'd, and my free tables spred
To hundreds dayly, euen without my doore,
I had an open hand vnto the poore.
I know I shall so still, then shall their pray'rs
Passe by the Porters Keyes, climbe vp each stayres,
And knit, and ioynt, my new reedify de frames,
That I shall able bee to keepe your names
Vnto eternitie: Denmarke House shall keepe
Hir high Name now, till Time doth fall asleepe,
And bee no more: meane time, welcome, welcome,
Heartily welcome; but chiefely you (great Sir,)
What e're lyes in my power, command me all,
As freely as you were at your White-Hall.
Exeunt.
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