 | The Temple of Love |  |
At the lower end of the Banquetting-house, opposite to the State, was a Stage of six foot high, and on that was raised an Ornament of a new Invention agreeable to the Subject; consisting of Indian Trophees: on the one side upon a basement sate a naked Indian on a whitish Elephant, his legges shortning towards the necke of the beast, his tire and bases of severall coloured feathers, representing the Indian Monarchy: On the other side an Asiatique in the habit of an Indian borderer, riding on a Camell; his Turbant and Coat differing from that of the Turkes, figured for the Asian Monarchy: over these hung sheild like Compartiments: In that over the Indian was painted a Sunne rising, and in the other an halfe Moone; these had for finishing the Capitall of a great pillaster, which served as a ground to sticke them of, and bore up a large freeze or border with a Coronice. In this over the Indian lay the figure of an old man, with a long white haire and beard, representing the flood Tigris; on his head a wreath of Canes and Seage, and leaning upon a great Vrne, out of which runne water, by him in an extravagant posture stood a Tyger.
At the other end of this freeze lay another naked man, representing Meander, the famous River of Asia, who likewise had a great silver urne, and by him lay an Vnicorne.
In the midst of this border was fixed a rich Compartiment,
A Curtaine flying up the first Sceane was discover'd, in which appeared a spacious grove of shady trees; and a farre off on a mount with a winding way to the top was seated a pleasant bower environed with young trees, and in the lower part walkes planted with Cypresse, representing the place where the Soules of the Ancient Poets are fained to reside: the delight of this prospect was quickly diverted to the sight of a more strange apparision; for, out of the heaven by little and little broke foorth a great Cloud of a Rosie Colour, which being come downe some little way beganne to open, and in it was seene sitting a beautifull woman; her garment was Sky-colour set all with Starres of gold, her head was crowned with Laurell, with a spangled vaile hanging downe behind, and her haire in artificiall curles graciously dress'd, representing Divine Poesie, and by her a milke white Swanne, as she descends singing out of those venerable shades came forth a company of ancient Greeke Poets, as Demodicus, Fœmius, Homer, Hesiod, Terpander, and Sapho a Poetesse in habits varied and of severall colours, with laurell wreaths on their heads. Divine Poesie sung this:
(1.)
As chearefull as the Mornings light,Comes Indamora from above,
To guide those Lovers that want sight,
To see and know what they should love.
(2.)
Her beames into each breast will steale,And search what ev'ry Heart doth meane,
The sadly wounded shee will heale,
And make the fouly tainted cleane.
(3.)
Rise you, from your darke shades below,That first gave words an'harmony,
And made false Love in Numbers flow,
'Till vice became a mysterie.
(4.)
And when I've purifi'd that AyreTo which Death turn'd you long agoe,
Helpe with your voyces to declare
What Indamora comes to show.
The Poets.
By thee restor'd to voyces that lay dumbe,
Awd lost in many a forgotten Tombe.
From flesh, and frailty absent bin,
That sure though Love should fill your song,
It could not rellish now of sinne.
The Poets.
We have bin punish'd for ill-gotten fame,
For each loose verse, tormented with a flame.
D. Poesie.
The happy Organs to make knowne
In an harmonious Embassie,
Our great affaire to yonder Throne.
Shee being descended to the ground in a Majesticke pace, goes up to the State, attended by the fore-named Poets; and the Cloud that brought her downe, closeth as it ascends.
D. Poesie.
So much thou art belov'd in heaven,
That Fate hath made thy reigne her choyce,
In which Love's blessings shall be given.
The Poets.
Those subtle charmes, and melts those darker mists,
In which Love's Temple's hid from Exorcists.
(Whom forsooth Divine Poesie they stile)
This morne proclaim'd it from a falling Cloud.
(2.)
Who? Divine Poesie?
(3.)
I know her well.
Shee's one that makes the holy Jigges,
And sacred Catches for the gods, when they
Are merry with mis-takes of men, and laugh
To see us carelesse of their punishment.
(1.)
But who shall bring this mischiefe to our Art?
(3.)
Indamora, the delight of Destiny!
Shee, and the beauties of her Traine: who sure
Though they discover Summer in their lookes,
Still carry frozen Winter in their blood.
They raise strange doctrines, and new sects of Love:
Which must not wooe or court the Person, but
The Mind; and practise generation not
Of Bodies but of Soules.
(2.)
Beleeve me, my Magicall friends,
They must bring bodies with 'em that worship
In our pleasant Temple: I have an odde
Fantasticke faith perswades me there will be
Little pastime upon earth without Bodies.
Your Spirit's a cold Companion at midnight.
(1.)
Have we so long misse-led and entertain'd
The youthfull of the world, (I meane their bodies)
And now doe they betake themselves unto
The dull imaginary pleasures of
Their soules? This humor cannot last.
(2.)
If it should, we may rid our Temple
Of all our Persian Quilts, imbroyder'd Couches,
And our standing Beds; these (I take it) are
Bodily implements; our soules need 'em not.
(3.)
In a dull Northerne Ile, they call Britaine.
(2.)
Indeed 'tis a cold Northerly opinion;
And I'le lay my life begot since their late
Great Frosts. It will be long enough e're it
Shall spread, and prosper in the South! Or if
The Spaniard or Italian ever be
Perswaded out of the use of their bodies,
I'le give mine to a Raven for his Supper.
(3.)
The Miracle is more increas'd, in that
It first takes birth and nourishment in Court.
(2.)
But my good damn'd friend tell me? Is there not
One Courtier will resent the cause, and give
Some countenance to the affaires of the body?
(3)
Certain yong Lords at first disliked the Phylosophy
As most uncomfortable, sad, and new;
But soone inclin'd to a superior vote,
And are growne as good Platonicall Lovers
As are to be found in an Hermitage, where he
That was borne last, reckons above fourescore.
To these come foorth in hast another Magician, in shape and habit differing from the other, and spake as followeth.
(1.)
Here comes a brother of our misticke Tribe!
(3.)
He knowes th'occasion of our griefe, and by
His hast imports discoveries more strange!
(4.)
Newes! newes! my sad companions of the shade!
There's lately landed on our fatall shore
Nine Persian youths, their habit and their lookes
So smooth, that from the pleasures i'th Elisian fields
Each female ghost will come, and enter in
Their flesh againe, to make embraces warme.
I hope these are no Platonicall Lovers,
No such Carthusian Poets as doe write
Madrigals to the mind? more of thy newes!
(4.)
The rest inferres small joy, and little hope:
For though at first their youth and eager thoughts
Directed them where our gay Altar stood,
And they were ready too for sacrifice,
I cannot tell what lucklesse light inform'd
Their eyes, but Loves true Temple straight they spy'd
Through the ascending mists, and would have enterd it
To read grave frosty Homilies,
And Anticke sawes of Chastitie, but that
(As my swift Spirit brought me word) a voyce
Sent from within bad them with reverence
Desist till Indamora did appeare, for then
The gates would open, and the mists dry up
That thus conceal'd it from the generall view,
Which now their expectation doth attend.
(3.)
'Tis time to wake our drowsie Art, and try
If we have power to hinder Destinie.
Mount! mount! our charmes! fetch me, whilst you aspire,
A Spirit of the Element of fire!
(2.)
Me one of Ayre!
(1.)
The water me supplies!
(4.)
Mine from the center of the earth shall rise!
(3.)
These shall infuse their sev'rall qualities
In men; if not t'uphold the faction of
The flesh, yet to infect the queasie age
With blacker sinnes: If we (now we have joyn'd
The force of all the Elements t'assist
The horror of our will) shall not prevaile
Against this hum'rous vertue of the Time,
Nature, our weaknesse must be thought thy crime.
To these I'le adde a sect of moderne Divels;
Fine precise Fiends, that heare the devout close
At ev'ry vertue but their owne, that claime
Chambers and Tenements in heaven, as they
Had purchas'd there, and all the Angels were
Their harbingers. With these I'le vex the world.
(3.)
'Tis well design'd! Thanks to thy courteous Art!
Let's murmure softly in each others eare,
And those we first invok'd, will straight appeare!
Enough! they come! to'th woods let's take our flight,
We have more dismall businesse yet e're night.
The Antimasque of the Spirits.
The fiery Spirits all in flames, and their vizards of a Cholericke Complexion.
The Airy Spirits with sanguine vizards, their garments and Caps all of feathers.
The Watery Spirits were all over wrought with scales, and had fishes heads and finnes.
The Earthy Spirits had their garments wrought all over with leavelesse trees and bushes, with Serpents and other little Animals here and there about them, and on their heads barren rockes.
Brought in by the fiery Spirits, were debosht and quarrelling men with a loose Wench amongst them.
Brought in by the Spirits of Ayre, were of amorous men and women in ridiculous habits and Alchimists.
Brought in by the Spirits of Water, were drunken Dutch skippers.
Brought in by the Spirits of Earth, were Witches, Vsurers, and Fooles.
Was of a Moderne Divell, a sworne enemy of Poesie, Musicke, and all ingenious Arts, but a great friend to murmuring, libelling, and all seeds of discord, attended by his factious followers; all which was exprest by their habits and dance.
After these was an entry of three Indians of quality, of Indamora's traine in severall strange habits, and their dance as strange.
A Persian Page comes leaping in.
Hey! hey! how light I am? all soule within?
As my dull flesh, were melted through my skinne?
And though a Page, when landed on this shore,
I now am growne a briske Ambassadour!
A Lover, as did ever sigh in verse!
Give audience then, you Ladies of this Ile!
Lord how you lift your fannes up now, and smile!
To thinke (forsooth) they are so fond to take
So long a journey for your beauties sake!
For know, th'are come! but sure, e're they returne,
Will give your femallships some cause to mourne!
For I must tell you, that about them all
There's not one graine, but what's Platonicall!
So bashfull that I thinke they might be drawne
(Like you) to weare close Hoods, or vailes of Lawne.
My Master is the chiefe that doth protect,
Or (as some say) misse-lead this precise sect:
One heretofore that wisely could confute
A Lady at her window with his Lute.
There devoutly in a cold morning stand
Two howres, praysing the snow of her white hand;
So long, 'till's words were frozen 'tweene his lips,
And's Lute-strings learnt their quav'ring from his hips.
And when he could not rule her to's intent,
Like Tarquin he would proffer ravishment.
But now, no feare of Rapes, untill he find
A maydenhead belonging to the mind.
The rest are all so modest too, and pure,
So virginly, so coy, and so demure,
That they retreat at kissing, and but name
Hymen, or Love, they blush for very shame!
Ladies! I must needs laugh! you'le give me leave
I hope; and 'tis to thinke how you deceive
Your selves with all this precious art, and care
Tane in your glasse to dresse your lookes, and haire!
But fervently resolve to wooe the Spirit!
Hah! doe you all looke melancholy now?
And cast a Cloud of anger o're the brow?
'Tis time to flye, and my best swiftnesse use,
Lest kill'd with pinnes, and Bodkins for my newes.
The Page retires, and the Noble Persian youths make their entry, apparelled in Asian Coats of Sea-greene embroidered that reached downe above their knees, with buttons and loops before and cut up square to their hips, and returned downe with two short skirts; the sleeves of this Coat were large without seame, and cut short to the bending of the Arme, and hanging downe long behinde, trimm'd with buttons as those of the breast; out of this came a sleeve of white Sattin embroidered, and the Basis answerable to the sleeve, hung downe in gathering underneath the shortest part of their Coat; on their heads they wore Persian Turbants silver'd underneath, and wound about with white Cypresse, and one fall of a white feather before.
Their Dance ended, the mist and Clouds at an instant disappeare, and the Sceane is all changed into a Sea somewhat calme, where the billowes moving sometimes whole, and sometimes breaking, beat gently on the land, which represented a new and strange prospect; the nearest part was broken grounds and Rockes, with a mountainous Countrey, but of a pleasant Aspect, in which were trees of strange forme and Colour, and here and there were placed in the bottome severall Arbors like Cottages, and strange beasts and birds, farre unlike the Countrey of these parts, expressing an Indian Landschape: In the Sea were severall Ilands,
Out of a Creeke came waving forth a Barque of a gracious Antique designe, adorn'd with Sculpture finishing in Scrowles, that on the poope had for Ornament a great Masque head of a Sea-god; and all the rest enrich'd with embost worke touch'd with silver and gold. In the midst of this Barque sate Orpheus with his Harpe, he wore a white robe girt, on his shoulders was (tyed with a knot) a mantle of Carnation, and his head crowned with a lawrell garland: with him, other persons in habits of Sea-men as pilots and guiders of the Barque, he playing one straine was answered with the voyces and instruments of the Brachmani joyn'd with the Priests of the Temple of Love, in extravagant habits sorting to their titles: whilst this Barque moved gently on the Sea, heaving and setting, and sometimes rowling, arrived neare to the further shore, it turn'd and return'd to the port from whence it came.
The Song of the Brachmani, in answer to Orpheus his Harpe,
(1.)
Hearke ! Orpheus is a Sea-man growne,No winds of lute have rudely blowne,
Nor waves their troubled heads advance!
His Harpe hath made the winds so mild,
They whisper now as reconcil'd,
The waves are sooth'd into a dance.
(2.)
See how the list'ning Dolphins play!And willingly mistake their way,
As when they heard Arions straines!
Whom once their scaly Ancestor,
Convay'd upon his backe to shore,
And tooke his musicke for his paines.
(3.)
Wee Priests that burne Loves Sacrifice,Our Orpheus greet with ravish'd eyes;
For by this calmenesse we are sure,
His Harpe doth now prepare the way,
That Indamora's voyage may
Be more delightfull, and secure.
(4.)
And now th'inchanted mists shall cleare,And Loves true Temple straight appeare,
(Long hid from men by sacred power,)
Where Noble Virgins still shall meet,
And breath their Orizons, more sweet
Than is the Springs ungather'd flower.
The Barque having taken port, the Masquers appeare in a Maritime Chariot made of a spungie Rockstuffe mixt with Shells, Sea-weeds, Corrall, and Pearle, borne upon an Axletree with golden wheeles without a rimme with flat spokes like the blade of an Ore comming out of the Naves. This Chariot was drawne by Sea-monsters, and floated with a sweet motion in the Sea:
[Chorus.]
(1.)
She comes! each Princesse in her traine hath allThat wise enamor'd Poets, beauty call!
So fit and ready to subdue:
That had they not kind hearts which take a care
To free, and counsell, whom their eyes ensnare,
Poore Lovers would have cause to rue.
(2.)
More welcome than the wandring Sea-mans starre,When in the Night the Winds make causelesse warre,
Vntill his Barque so long is tost,
That's sayles to ragges are blowne, the Maine-yard beares
Not sheet enough to wipe, and dry those teares
He shed to see his Rudder lost.
The Song ended, all the forepart of the Sea was in an instant turn'd to dry land, and Indamora with her Contributary Ladies descended into the roome, and made their entry. Then for entermedium the Musicke began againe, and sung this Song.
(1.)
The Planets though they move so fast,Have power to make their swiftnesse last,
But see, your strength is quickly gone!
Yet move by sense and rules of Art,
And each hath an immortall part,
Which cannot tire, but they have none.
(2.)
Let then your soft, and nimble feetLead and in various figures meet
Those stranger Knights, who though they came
Seduc'd at first by false desire,
You'le kindle in their breasts a fire
Shall keepe Love warme, yet not enflame.
(3.)
At first they were your beauties prize,Now offer willing sacrifice
Vnto the Vertues of the minde,
And each shall weare when they depart,
A lawfull though a loving heart,
And wish you still both strict and kinde.
The Masquers having a while reposed, danced their second Dance, which ended, and the Queene being seated under the State by the King, the Sceane was changed into the true Temple of Chast Love; this Temple instead of Columnes had termes of young Satyrs bearing
The Song.
Sunesis and Thelema.
Sunesis.
We may become one virtuous appetite.
More heavenly, and doth more adorne the heart.
Both.
And all our thoughts and actions pure,
When perfect Will, and strengthned Reason meet,
Then Love's created to endure.
Chorus.
To reach't with Pray'rs to make this Vnion thrive.
Whilst this Song continued, there came softly downe from the highest part of the heaven a bright and transparent Cloud, which being come to the middle part of the Ayre it opened, and out of it came Amianteros, or Chast Love flying downe, clad all in Carnation and White, and two garlands of Laurell in one hand, and crown'd with another of the same; whilst he descended the Cloud closeth againe and returnes upwards, and is hidden in the heavens; Chast Love being come downe to the earth, was accompanied by Sunesis and Thelema, Divine Poesie, Orpheus, and the rest of the Poets up to the State, the great Chorus following at a distance, where they sung this Song.
The Song.
[Chorus, Sunesis]
Amianteros, or Chast Love.
(1.)
VVhilst by a mixture thus made one,Y'are th'Embleme of my Deitie,
The patterne of your Vnion see.
(2.)
Softly as fruitfull showres I fall,And th'undiscern'd increase I bring,
Is of more precious worth than all
A plenteous Summer payes a Spring.
(3.)
The benefit it doth impart,Will not the barren earth improve,
But fructifie each barren heart,
And give eternall growth to Love.
Sunesis.
And to the Darling of his breast,
(Who rule b' example as by power)
May youthfull blessings still increase,
And in their Off-spring never cease,
Till Time's too old to last an hower.
Chorus.
And thought so modest too by Destinie,
That heaven hath seal'd the grant as a Decree.
After which they all retire to the Sceane, and Indamora and her Ladies beginne the Revels with the King and the Lords, which continue the most part of the night. Thus ended this Masque which for the newnesse
- The Queenes Majesty.
- Lady Marquesse Hamilton.
- Lady Mary Herbert.
- Countesse of Oxford.
- Countesse of Berkshire.
- Countesse of Carnarvan.
- Countesse of Newport.
- Lady Herbert.
- Lady Katherine Howard
- Lady Anne Carre.
- Lady Elizabeth Feilding
- Lady Thimbleby.
- Mistris Dorothy Savage.
- Mistris Victorie Cary.
- Mistris Nevill.
- The Lords and others that presented the Noble Persian Youths.
- The Duke of Lenox.
- Earle of Newport.
- Earle of Desmond.
- Viscount Grandeson.
- Lord Russell.
- Lord Doncaster.
- Master Thomas Weston.
- Master George Goring.
- Master Henry Murrey.
The Masquers Names.
| The Temple of Love | |