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I haue now taken occasion to satisfie many, who long since were desirous that the Lords maske should be published, which (but for some priuate lets, had in due time come forth. The Scene was diuided into two parts from the roofe to the floore, the lower part being first discouered (vpon the sound of a double consort, exprest by seuerall instruments, plac't on either side of the roome) there appeared a Wood in prospectiue, the innermost part being of releaue, or whole round, the rest painted. On the left hand from the seate was a Caue, and on the right a thicket, out of which came Orpheus, who was attired after the old Greeke manner, his haire curled, and long; a lawrell wreath on his head; and in his hand hee bare a siluer bird, about him tamely placed seuerall wild beasts, and vpon the ceasing of the Consort Orpheus spake.
Orphevs.
Agen, agen, fresh kindle Phœbus sounds,
T'exhale Mania from her earthie den;
Allay the furie that her sense confounds,
And call her gently forth, sound, sound, agen.

The Consorts both sound againe, and Mania the Goddesse of madnesse appeares wildly out of her caue. Her habit was confused and strange; but yet gracefull, shee as one amazed speaks.
Mania.
What powerfull noise is this importunes me,
T'abandon darkenesse which my humour fits?
Ioues hand in it I feele, and euer he
Must be obai'd eu'n of the franticst wits.

Orpheus.
Mania?

Mania.
Hah.

Orpheus.
Braine-sick, why start'st thou so?
Approch yet nearer, and thou then shalt know
The will of Ioue, which he will breath from me,

Mania.
Who art thou? if my dazeled eyes can see,
Thou art the sweet Enchanter heau'nly Orpheus.

Orpheus.
The same Mania, and Ioue greets thee thus,
Though seuerall power to thee, and charge he gaue,
T'enclose in thy Dominions such as raue
Through blouds distemper, how durst thou attempt
T'imprison Entheus, whose rage is exempt
From vulgar censure? it is all diuine
Full of celestiall rapture, that can shine
Through darkest shadowes, therefore Ioue by me
Commands thy power strait to set Entheus free.

Mania.
How can I? Franticks, with him many more
In one caue are lockt vp, ope once the dore,
All will flie out, and through the world disturbe,
The peace of Ioue; for, what power then can curbe
Their rainelesse furie?—

Orpheus.
—Let not feare in vaine
Trouble thy crazed fancie, all againe
Saue Entheus to thy safeguard shall retire,
For Ioue into our musick will inspire
The power of passion, that their thoughts shall bend
To any forme or motion we intend:
Obey Ioues willing then, go, set Entheus free.

Mania.
I willing go, so Ioue obey'd must bee.

Orph.
Let Musicke put on Protean changes now,
Wilde beasts it once tam'd, now let Franticks bow.

At the sound of a strange musicke twelue Franticks enter, six men, and six women, all presented in sundry habits and humours: there was the Louer, the Selfe-louer, the melancholickeman full of feare, the Schoole-man ouer-come with phantasie, the ouer-watched Vsurer, with others that made an absolute medly of madnesse, in middest of whom Entheus (or Poeticke furie) was hurried forth, and tost vp and downe, till by vertue of a new change in the musicke, the Lunatickes fell into a madde measure, fitted to a loud phantasticke tune, but in the end thereof the musick changed into a very solemne ayre, which they softly played, while Orpheus spake.
Orph.
Through these soft and calme sounds Mania passe
With thy Phantasticks hence; heere is no place
Longer for them or thee; Entheus alone
Must do Ioues bidding now, all else be gone.

During this speech, Mania with her Franticks depart, leauing Entheus behind them, who was attired in a close Curace of the Anticke fashion, Bases with labels, a Roabe fastned to his shoulders, and hanging downe behind; on his head a wreath of Lawrell, out of which grew a paire of wings, in the one hand he held a booke, and in the other a pen.
Enth.
Diuinest Orpheus, ô how all from thee
Proceed with wondrous sweetnesse, am I free?
Is my affliction vanish't?

Orph.
—Too too long
Alas, good Entheus, hast thou brook't this wrong;
What? number thee with madmen? ô mad age,
Sencelesse of thee, and thy celestiall rage.
For thy excelling rapture, eu'n through things
That seems most light, is borne with sacred wings:
Nor are these Musicks, Showes, or Reuels vaine,
When thou adorn'st them with thy Phœbean braine;
Th'are pallate sicke of much more vanitie,
That cannot taste them in their dignitie.
Ioue therefore lets thy prison'd spright obtaine
Her libertie and fiery scope againe:
And heere by me commands thee to create
Inuentions rare, this night to celebrate,
Such as become a nuptiall by his will
Begun and ended,—

Enth.
—Ioue I honor still,
And must obey, Orpheus I feele the fires
Are reddy in my braine, which Ioue enspires,
Loe, through that vaile, I see Prometheus stand
Before those glorious lights, which his false hand
Stole out of heau'n, the dull earth to enflame
With the affects of Loue, and honor'd Fame,
I view them plaine in pompe and maiestie.
Such as being seene might hold riualitie,
With the best triumphes; Orpheus giue a call
With thy charm'd musicke, and discouer all.

Orph.
A Song.

In the end of the first part of this Song, the vpper part of the Scene was discouered by the sodaine fall of a curtaine, then in clowdes of seuerall colours (the vpper part of them being fierie, and the middle heightned with siluer) appeared eight Starres of extraordinarie bignesse, which so were placed, as that they seemed to be fixed betweene the Firmament and the Earth; in the front of the Scene stood Prometheus, attyred as one of the ancient Heroes.
Enth.
Patron of mankinde, powerfull and bounteous,
Rich in thy flames, reuerend Prometheus,
In Hymens place aide vs to solempnize
These royall Nuptials, fill the lookers eyes
With admiration of thy fire and light,
And from thy hand let wonders flow to night.

Prom.
Entheus and Orpheus names both deare to me,
In equall ballance I your Third will be
In this nights honour, view these heau'n borne Starres,
Who by my stealth are become Sublunars.
How well their natiue beauties fit this place,
Which with a chorall dance they first shall grace,
Then shall their formes to humane figures turne,
And these bright fires within their bosomes burne.
Orpheus apply thy musick for it well
Helps to induce a Courtly miracle.

Orp.
A Song.

According to the humour of this Song, the Starres mooued in an exceeding strange and delightfull maner, and I suppose fewe haue euer seene more neate artifice, then Master Innigoe Iones shewed in contriuing their Motion, who in all the rest of the workmanship which belong'd to the whole inuention, shewed extraordinarie industrie and skill, which if it be not as liuely exprest in writing as it appeared in view, robbe not him of his due, but lay the blame on my want of right apprhending his instructions for the adoring of his Arte. But to returne to our purpose; about the end of this Song, the Starres suddainely vanished, as if they had beene drowned amongst the Cloudes, and the eight Maskers appeared in their habits, which were infinitly rich, befitting States (such as indeede they all were) as also a time so farre heightned the day before, with all the richest shew of solemnitie that could be inuented. The ground of their attires was massie Cloth of Siluer, embossed with flames of Embroidery, on their heads, they had Crownes, Flames made all of Gold-plate Enameled, and on the top a Feather of Silke, representing a cloude of smoake. Vpon their new transformation, the whole Scæne being Cloudes dispersed, and there appeared an Element of artificiall fires, with seuerall circles of lights, in continuall motion, representing the house of Prometheus, who then thus applies his speech to the Maskers.
They are transformed.
Prometh.
So, pause awhile, and come yee fierie spirits,
Breake forth the earth like sparks t'attend these Knights.

Sixteene Pages like fierie spirits, all their attires bing alike composed of flames, with fierie Wings and Bases, bearing in either hand a Torch of Virgine Waxe, come forth below dauncing a lively measure, and the Daunce being ended, Prometheus speakes to them from aboue.
The Torch-bearers Daunce.
Pro.
VVait spirits wait, while through the clouds we pace,
And by descending gaine a hier place.

The Pages returne toward the Scæne, to giue their attendance to the Maskers with their lights: from the side of the Scæne appeared a bright and transparant cloud, which reached from the top of the heauens to the earth: on this cloud the Maskers led by Prometheus, descended with the musicke of a full song; and at the end of their descent, the cloud brake in twaine, and one part of it (as with a winde) was blowne ouerthwart the Scæne.

While this cloud was vanishing, the wood being the vnder-part of the Scæne, was insensibly changed, and in place thereof appeared foure Noble women-statues of siluer, standing in seuerall nices, accompanied with ornaments of Architecture, which filled all the end of the house, and seemed to be all of gold-smithes work. The first order consisted of Pillasters all of gold, set with Rubies, Saphyrs, Emeralds, Opals, and such like. The Capitels were composed, and of a new inuention. Ouer this was a bastard order with Cartouses reuersed, comming from the Capitels of euery Pillaster, which made the vpper part rich and full of ornament. Ouer euery statue was placed a history in gold, which seemed to be of base releaue; the conceits which were figured in them were these. In the first was Prometheus, embossing in clay the figure of a woman, in the second he was represented stealing fire from the chariot-wheele of the Sunne: in the third, he is exprest putting life with this fire into his figure of clay; and in the fourth square, Iupiter enraged, turnes these new made women into statues. Aboue all, for finishing, ran a Cornish, which returned ouer euery Pillaster, seeming all of gold and richly carued.

A full Song.
Svpported now by Clouds descend,
Diuine Prometheus, Hymens friend,
Leade downe the new transformed fires,
And fill their breasts with loues desires:
That they may reuell with delight,
And celebrate this nuptiall night,
So celebrate this nuptiall night,
That all which see may stay.
They neuer viewed so faire a sight,
Euen on the cleerest day.

While this Song is sung, and the Maskers court the sowre new transformed Ladies, foure other Statues appeare in their places.
Entheus.
See, see Prometheus, foure of these first dames
Which thou long since out of thy purchac't flames,
Did'st forge with heau'nly fire, as they were then,
By Ioue transformed to Statues, so agen,
They suddenly appeare by his command
At thy arriuall, Loe how fixt they stand,
So did Ioues wrath too long, but now at last,
It by degrees relents, and he hath plac't
These Statues, that we might his ayde implore,
First for the life of these, and then for more.

Prom.
The first Inuocation in a full Song.

Orpheus.
The Song.

Promet.
The second Inuocation to the tune of the first.

The other foure statues are transformed into women, in the time of this inuocation.
Enth.
The number's now complete, thankes be to Ioue,
No man needs feare a Riuall in his loue;
For, all are sped, and now begins delight,
To fill with glorie, this triumphant night.

The Maskers hauing euery one entertained his Lady, begin their first new entring dance: after it, while they breath, the time is entertained with a dialogue song.


Chorvs.

The Maskers second dance.


Chorvs.

The Maskers during this Dialogue take out others to daunce with them, men women, and women men, and first of all the Princely Bridegroome and Bride were drawne into these solemne Reuels, which continued a long space, but in the end were broken off with this short Song.

A Song.
Cease, cease you Reuels, rest a space,
New pleasures presse into this place,
Full of beautie and of grace.

The whole scæne was now againe changed, and became a prospectiue with Porticoes on each side, which seemed to go in a great way, in the middle was erected an Obeliske, all of siluer, and in it lights of seuerall colours, on the side of this Obeliske, standing on Pedestals, were the statues of the Bridegroome and Bride, all of gold in gratious postures. This Obeliske was of that height, that the toppe thereof touched the highest cloudes, and yet Sybilla did draw it forth with a threed of gold. The graue Sage was in a Roabe of gold tuckt vp before to her girdle, a Kirtle gathered full, and of siluer; with a vaile on her head, being bare neckt, and bearing in her hand a screle of Parchment.
Eutheus.
Make cleare the passage to Sibilla's sight,
Who with her Trophee comes, to crowne this night,
And as her selfe with Musicke shall be led,
So shall shee pull on with a golden thread.
A high vast Obeliske, dedicate to fame,
Which immortalitie it selfe did frame.
Raise high your voices now, like Trumpets fill,
The roome with sounds of Triumph, sweete and shrill.

A Song.
Come triumphing, come with state,
Old Sibilla, reuerend Dame,
Thou keep'st the secret key of fate,
Preuenting swiftest fame.
This night breath onely words of ioy,
And speake them plaine, now be not coy,

Sib.
Debetur alto iure, Principium Ioui,
Votis det ipse vimmeis, dictis fidem.
Vtrinque decoris splendet egregium Iubar,
Medio triumphus mole stat dignus sua,
Cœlumque summo Capite dilectum petit;
Quam pulchra pulchro sponsa respondet viro!
Quam plena numinis? Patrem vultu exprimit,
Parens futura masculæ prolis, Parens
Regum, imperatorum: Additur Germaniæ
Robur Britannicum. etquid esse par potest?
Vtramque iunget vnamens gentem, fides,
Deique Cultus vnus, & simplex amor.
Idem erit vtrique hostis, sodalis idem, idem
Votum periclitantium, atque eadem maniis.
Fauebit illis Pax, fauebit bellica
Fortuna, semper aderit Adiutor Deus.
Sic, sic Sibilla; vocibus nec his deest
Pondus, nec hoc inane monumentum trahit.
Et aureum est, & quale nec flammas timet,
Nec fulgura, ipsi quippe sacratur Ioui.

Pro.
The good old Sage is silenc't, her free tongue
That made such melodie, is now vnstrung:
Then grace her Trophee with a dance triumphant,
Where Orpheus is none can fit musick want.

A Song and dance triumphant of the Maskers.

Orph.
Let here Sybilla's Trophee stand,
Leade her now by either hand,
That shee may approch yet nearer,
And the Bride and Bridegroome heare her
Blesse them in her natiue tongue,
Wherein old prophesies shee sung,
Which time to light hath brought:
Shee speakes that which Ioue hath taught.
Well may he inspire her now,
To make a ioyfull and true vow.

Syb.
Sponsam sponse toro tene pudicam,
Sponsum sponsa tene toro pudicum.
Non hæc vnica nox datur beat is,
At vos perpetuo hæc beabit vna
Prole multiplici, parique, amore.
Læta, ac vera refert Sybilla, ab àlto
Ipse Iuppiter annuit loquenti.

Pro.
So be it euer, ioy and peace,
And mutuall loue giue you increase,
That your posteritie may grow
In fame, as long as Seas doe flow.

Enth.
Liue you long to see your ioyes,
In faire Nymphs and Princely Boyes:
Breeding like the Garden flowers,
Which kinde heau'n drawes with her warme showers.

Orph.
The Song.

The last new Dance of the Maskers, which concludes all with a liuely straine at their going out.