 | The Masque of Augures with the severall Antimasqves presented on Twelfe-Night, 1622 |  |
The Presenters were from St. Katharines,
Notch a Brewers Clarke, Slug a Lighterman, Van-goose a rare Artist; Lady Alewife her two Women, three dancing Beares, Urson the Bear-ward, Groome of the Revells.
Notch.
Come, now my head's in, Ile even venture the whole:
I ha seene the Lyons ere now, and he that hath seene
them may see the King.
Slvg.
I thinke he may; but have a care you go not too high (neighbour
Notch) least you chance to have a Tally made of your pate, and bee
clawed with a cudgell; there is as much danger going too neere the King,
as the Lyons.
Groom.
Whither? whither now gamesters? what is the businesse?
the affaire? stop I beseech you.
Not.
This must be an Officer, or nothing, he is so peart and breife
in his demands! a pretty man! and a pretty man is a little o'this side nothing;
howsoever we must not be daunted now, I am sure I am a greater
man than he out of the Court, and I have lost nothing of my Sire since I
came to it.
Groom.
Hey-da! what's this? A hogshead of beere broake out of
the Kings buttery, ro some Dutch Hulke! whether are you bound? The
winde is against you, you must backe; doe you know where you
are?
Not.
Yes sir, if we bee not mistaken, we are at the Court, and would
knowes a little in the place.
Gro.
Sir, I know as little as any man in the place; speake, what is
your businesse? I am an Officer, Groome of the Revels, that is my
place.
Not.
To fetch Bonge of Court a parcell of invisible bread, and beere
for the Plaiers (for they never see it) or to mistake sixe Torches from the
Chandry, and give them one.
Gro.
How sir?
Not.
Come, this is not the first time you have carried coales to your
owne house, I meane that should have warm'd them.
Groom.
Sir, I may doe it by my place, and I must question you
farther.
Not.
Be not so musty sir, our desire is only to know whether the Kings
Majesty, and the Court expect any disguise here to night.
Gro.
Disguise! what meane you by that? doe you thinke that his
Majesty sits here to expect drunkards?
Not.
No, if hee did, I beleeve you would supply that place better
then you do this: Disguise was the old English word for a Masque sir,
before you were an implement belonging to the Revels.
Gr.
There is no such word in the Office now I assure you sir, I have
serv'd here, man, and boy a Prentiship or twaine, and I should know.
But, by what name so ever you call it, here will be a Masque, and shall
be a Masque, when you and the rest of your Comrogues shall sit disguis'd
in the stocks.
Notch.
Sure by your language you were never meant for a Courtier,
howsoever it hath beene your ill fortune to be taken out of the
nest young; you are some Constables egge, some such Widgin of
Authoritie, you are so easily offended! Our comming was to shew our
loves sir, and to make a little merry with his Majesty to night, and we
have brought a Masque with us, if his Majestie had not beene better
provided.
Groome.
Who you? you a Masque? why you stincke like so many
bloat-herrings newly taken out of the chimney! In the name of
Ignorance, whence came you? or what are you? you have beene
hang'd in the smoake sufficiently, that is smelt out alreadie.
Notch.
Sir, we doe come from among the Brewhouses in Saint
Katherines, that's true, there you have smoak'd us (the Docke comfort
your nosthrills,) and we may have lived in a mist there, and so mist our
purpose; but for mine owne part I have brought my properties with
me to expresse what I am; the keyes of my calling hang here at my girdle,
and this the Register booke of my function shewes mee no lesse
then a Clarke at all points, and a Brewers Clarke, and a Brewers head
Clarke.
Gro.
A man of accompt sir! I cry you mercie.
Slvg.
I sir, I knew him a fine Merchant, a merchant of Hops, till all
hopt into the water.
Notch.
No more of that, what I have beene, I have beene; what
I am, I am: I Peter Notch, Clarke, hearing the Christmas invention
was drawne drie at Court; and that neither the Kings Poet,
of quality, nor scarce the Welsh Embassadour if hee should come
there: Out of my allegiance, to wit, drew in some other friends that
have as it were presumed out of their own naturalls, to fill up the vacuum
with some pretty presentation, which we have addressed, and conveighed
hither in a Lighter at the generall charge, and landed at the backe doore
of the Buttery, through my neighbour Slug's credit there.
Slvg.
A poore Lighter-man sir, one that hath had the honour sometimes
to lay in the Kings beere there; and I assure you I heard it in no
worse place then the very Buttry, for a certaine, there would bee no
Masque, and from such as could command a jacke of beere, two, or
three.
Van.
Dat is all true, exceeding true, de inventors be barren, lost, two, dre,
vour mile, I know that from my selven; dey have no ting, no ting vau deir
owne, but dat dey take vrom de eard, or de zea, or de heaven, or de hell, or de rest
van de veir Clementen, de place a, dat be so common as de vench in de Burdello.
Now me would bring in some dainty new ting, dat never was, nor never fall be in
de rebus natura; dat has never van de materia, nor de forma, nor de hoffen, nor de
voote, but a mera devisa of de braine—
Groom.
Hey-da! what Hans Flutterkin is this? what Dutchman doe's
build or frame Castles in the Aire?
Not.
He is no Dutch man sir, he is a Brittaine borne, but hath learn'd
to misuse his owne tongue in travell, and now speakes all languages in ill
English; a rare Artist he is sir, and a Projector of Masques. His Project
in ours is, that we should all come from the three dancing Beares in Saint
Katherines (you may hap know it sir) hard by where the Priest fell in,
which Alehouse is kept by a distressed Lady; whose name (for the honour
of Knighthood) will not bee knowne; yet she is come in person
here Errant, to fill up the adventure with her two women that draw
drinke under her, Gentlewomen borne all three, I assure you.
Slvg.
And were three of those Gentlewomen that should have acted
in that famous matter of Englands joy in sixe hundred and three.
Lady.
What talke you of England's joy, Gentlemen? you have another
matter in hand I wis, Englands sport and delight if you can manage
it. The poore Cattle yonder are passing away the time, with a cheat
loafe, and a bumbard of broken beere, how will ye dispose of them?
Gro.
Cattle! what cattle doe's she meane?
Lady.
No worse then the Kings game I assure you; The Beares,
Beares both of qualitie and fashion, right Beares, true Beares.
Not.
A devise only to expresse the place from whence we come (my
Ladies house) for which we have borrowed three very Beares that (as
her Ladyship aforesayd sayes) are well bred, and can dance to present
the signe, and the Beareward to stand for the signe-poast.
Gro.
That is prettie; but are you sure you have sufficient Beares for
the purpose.
Slvg.
Very sufficient Beares as any are in the Ground, the Parish-Garden,
and can dance at first sight, and play their owne tunes if need bee.
Iohn Vrson the Beare-ward, offers to play them with any Citie-dancers
christned, for a ground measure.
Not.
Marry, for lofty tricks, or dancing on the Ropes hee will not
we are come, we may be admitted, if not for a Masque, for an Antickmaske,
and as we shall deserve therein, we desire to be returned with credit to the
Buttry from whence we came, for reward, or to the Porters Lodge with
discredit, for our punishment.
Gro.
To be whipt with your Beares? Well, I could bee willing to
venture a good word in behalfe of the Game, if I were assured the aforesayd
game would be cleanly, and not fright the Ladies.
Not.
For that sir, the Bear-ward hath put in securitie, by warranting
my Ladie and her Women to dance the whole changes with them in
safety; and for their abusing the place you shall not need to feare, for he
hath given them a kinde of Dyet-bread to binde them to their good
behaviour.
Gro.
Well, let them come; if you need one, Ile helpe you my
selfe.
Enter John Urson with his Beares singing.
Ballad.
For me to intrude,
With these my Beares by chance-a;
'Twere sport for a King,
If they could sing
As well as they can dance-a
Of feare or doubt,
We came from St. Katharin-a;
These dancing three,
By the helpe of mee,
Who am the Post of the signe-a
And we need not care
Though Court, and Country knew it.
Our Ale's o' the best,
And each good guest
Prayes for their souls that brew it.
We care not a lowse,
Nor Taverne in all the Towne-a;
Nor the Vintry Cranes,
Nor St. Clements Danes,
Nor the Devill can put us down-a,
Comes thither agen,
The liquour is so mighty;
And so is our Ale,
And it burnes like Aquavitæ.
If any appeare,
Where never before he has bin;
We shew th'yron Gate,
The wheele of St. Kate,
And the place where the Priest fel in.
They trudge to our tapping,
And still our Ale desire;
And there sit and drinke,
Till the spue, and stinke,
And often pisse out our fire.
And about to day-light,
They sit and never grudge it;
Till the Fish-wives joyne
Their single coyne,
And the Tinker pawnes his budget.
Or their bladders doe swell,
To ease them of their burden;
My Ladie will come
With a bowle and a broome,
And her Hand-mayd with a Iorden.
Lord, Ladie, and knight;
Squire, gentlman, yeoman and groom.
And all our stiffe drinkers,
Smiths, Porters, and Tinkers,
And the beggars shall give ye roome.
Van.
How like you? how like you?
Gro.
Excellent! The Beares have done learnedly, and sweetly.
Van.
Tis noting, tis noting; vill you see someting? Ick sall bring in de
Turkichen, met all zin Bashawes, and zin dirty towsand Yanitsaries met all zin
Whooren, Cunuken, all met an auder, de Sofie van Persia, de Tartar Cham met de
groat King of Mogull, and make deir men, and deir horse, and deir Elephanten be
scene fight in de ayre, and be all killen, and aliven, and no such ting. And all dis
met de Ars van de Catropricks, by de reflesbie van de glassen.
Not.
Oh, he is an admirable Artist.
Slvg.
And a halfe sir.
Gro.
But where will he place his glasses?
Fow, dat is all ean, as it be two, dree, veir, vise tousand Mile off: Ick
sall multipliren de vizioun, met an ander secret dat Ick heb: Spreck, vat vil you
haben?
Gro.
Good sir put him toot, bid him doe something that is impossible;
he will undertake it I warrant you.
Not.
I doe not like the Mogul, nor the great Turke, nor the Tartar,
their names are somewhat to big for the Roome; marry if he could shew
us some Countrey Plaiers, strolling about in severall Shires, without licence
from the Office, that would please I know whom, or some Welsh
Pilgrims.
Van.
Pilgrim? now yow talke of de Pilgrim, if come in my head, Ick vill
shew yow all de whole brave Pilgrim o'de Uorld: de Pilgrim dat goe now, now at
de instant, two, dre towsand Mile to de great Mahomet, at de Mecha, or here, dere,
every where, make de fine Latyrints, and shew all de brave error in de vorld.
Slvg.
And shall we see it here?
Nan.
Yau, here, here, here in vis Roome, tis very Roome: vel vat is dat to
yow if Ick doe de ting? vat an devill, vera boten devill?
Gro.
Nay, good sir be not angry.
Not.
'Tis a disease that followes all excellent men, they cannot governe
their passions; but let him alone, try him one 'bout.
Gro.
I would try him, but what has all this to doe with our Maske?
Van.
O Sir, all de better vor an Antick-maske, de more absurd it be, and
vrom de purpose, it be ever all de better. If it goe from de nature of de ting, it is
de more Art: for deare is Art, and deare is Nature, yow sall see. Hochos-pochos,
Pancos, Palabros.
The Second Antimaske.
Which was a perplex'd Dance of straying and deform'd Pilgrims taking severall pathes, till with the opening of the light above, and breaking forth of Apollo, they were all frighted away, and the Maine Masque begun.
Apollo descending, Sung.
It is no dreame, you all doe wake, and see;
Behold, who comes! far-shooting Phœbus he
That can both hurt and heale; and with his voyce
Reare Townes, and make societies rejoyce;
That taught the Muses all their harmonie,
And men the tunefull Art of Augurie.
Apollo stoopes, and when a God descends,
May Mortalls thinke he hath no vulgar ends.
Linus , and Orpheus, Branchus, Idmon, all
My sacred Sons, rise at your Fathers call
From your immortall Graves; where sleepe, not death,
Yet bindes your powers.
Linvs.
Here.
Orphevs.
Here.
Branchvs.
What sacred breath
Doth re-inspire us?
Idmon.
Who is this we feele?
Phoemonoe.
What heat creepes through me, as when burning steele
Is dipt in water?
Apollo.
I, Phœmonœ,
Thy Father Phœbus's fury filleth thee;
Confesse my Godhead; once againe I call,
Let whole Apollo enter in you all,
And follow me.
Chorvs.
We flie, we doe not tread,
The Gods doe use to ravish whom they lead.
Apollo
descended, shewed them where the King sate, and sung forward.
Behold the love and care of all the Gods
Of the Ocean, and the happie Iles;
That whilst the World about him is at ods,
Sits Crowned Lord here of himselfe, and smiles.
Chorvs.
To see the erring mazes of mankinde;
Who seeke for that, doth punish them to finde.
Then he advanced with them to the King.
Apollo.
Prince of thy Peace, see what it is to love
The Powers above!
Jove hath commanded me
To visit thee;
a Colledge here,
Of tunefull Augures, whose divining skill,
shall waite thee still,
And be the Heralds of his highest will.
The worke is done,
And I have made their President thy Sonne;
Great Mars too, on these nights,
hath added Salian rites.
Yond, yond afarre,
They closed in their Temple are,
And each one guided by a starre.
Chorvs.
Haste, haste, to meet them, and as they advance
'twixt every Dance;
Let us interpret their Prophetick trance.
Here they fetch'd out the Maskers, and came before them with the Torch-bearers along the Stage, singing this full Song.
Apollo and Chorus.
Which way, and whence the lightning flew,
Or how it burned, bright, and blew,
Designe, and figure by your lights:
Then forth, and shew the severall flights
Or voyce in Augurie doth bring.
Which hand the Crow cried on, how high
The Vulture, or the Erne did flie,
What wing the Swan made, and the Dove,
The Storke, and which did get above:
Shew all the Birds of food or Prey,
But passe by the unluckie Jay,
The Night-Crow, Swallow, or the Kite
Let those have neither right,
Chor.
Nor part,
In this nights art.
The Torch-bearers daunced.
After which the Augures layd by their Staves, and Danced their Entrie, which done, Apollo and the rest, interpreted the Augurie.
Apollo.
The Signes are luckie all, and right
There hath not beene a voyce, or flight
Of ill Presage.
Linus.
The bird that brings
Her Augurie alone to Kings
The Dove, hath flowne.
Orpheus.
And to thy peace
Fortunes and the Fates increase.
Branchus.
Minerva's Hernshaw and her Owle,
Doe both proclaime, thou shalt controle
The course of things.
Idmon.
As now they be
With tumult carried:
Apollo.
And live free
From hatred, faction, or the feare,
To blast the Olive thou dost weare.
Chorvs.
More is behind, which these doe long to show,
And what the Gods to so great vertue owe.
Chorus.
We wish it were but understood;
It even puts Apollo
To all his strengths of art, to follow,
The flights, and to devine
What's meant by every Signe.
of every Dietie.
That thus art left here to inlarge,
And shield their pietie!
Thy neighbours at thy fortune long have gaz'd,
But at thy wisdome, all doe stand amaz'd.
And wish to be,
O'recome, or governed by thee!
Safetie it selfe so sides thee, where thou goest,
And Fate still offers what thou covet'st most!
THE REVELLS.
After which Apollo went up to the King and Sung.
Doe not expect to heare of all
Your good at once, lest it forestall
A sweetnesse would be new:
Some things the Fates would have conceal'd
From us the Gods, left being reveal'd
Our powers shall envy you.
It is enough your people learne
The reverence of your peace
As well as Strangers doe discerne
The Glories, by th'increase
And that the princely Augur here, your Sonne
Doe by his Fathers lights his courses run.
Chorus.
Him shall you see triumphing over all
Both foes and vices: and your young and tall
Nephewes, his Sonnes grow up in your imbraces,
To give this Hand Princes in long races.
Apollo.
See heaven expecteth my returne,
The forked fire begins to burne,
Jove beckons to me come.
Jove.
Though Phœbus be the god of Arts,
Hee must not take on him all parts:
But leave his Frather some.
Apollo.
My arts are only to obey.
Jove.
And mine to sway
Jove is that one, whom first, midst, last, you call
The power that governes, and conserveth all;
Earth, Sea, and Ayre, are subject to our checke,
And Fate with heaven, moving at our beck.
Till Jove it ratifie,
It is no Augurie,
Though uttered by the mouth of Destinie.
Apollo.
Deare father, give the Signe, and seale it then.
The Earth riseth.
It is the suit of Earth and Men.
Jove.
What doe their Mortals crave without our wrong?
Earth with the rest.
That Jove will lend us this our Soveraigne long;
Let our grand-children, and not wee,
His want or Absence ever see.
Jove.
Your wish is blest.
Jove knocks his Chin against his brest,
And firmes it with the rest.
Chorus.
Sing then his fame, through all the orbes; in even
Proportions, rising still, from Earth to Heaven:
And of the lasting of it leave to doubt,
The power of time shall never put that out.
This done, the whole Scæne shut, and the Maskers danced their last Dance.
Et Divinationem (in quâ etiam Augurium) unde Augur Apollo dictus. Virg. Æneid. lib. 4. & Horat. Car. lib. 1. Ode. 2. Nube ca«n»dentes humeros amictus Augur Apollo. Et Car. sæcul. ult. ubi doctissimus Poeta has artes totidem versibus complectitur. Augur & fulgente decorus arcu Phœbus, acceptus que novem camœnis, Qui salutari levat arte fessos corporis artus.
Orpheus, Apollinis & Calliopes, de quibus Virg, in Eclogâ scrip«si»t. Non me Carminibus vincet, nec Thracius Orpheus, Nec Linus, huic mater quamvis, atque huic pater adsit, Orphei Calliopea, Lino formosus Apollo.
Branchus, Apollinis & Jances filius, de quo vid. Strab. lib.<1>4. & Statium, Thebaid. lib. 3.—patrioque æqualis honori Branchus.
Jdmon, Apollinis & Asteries filius. De illo vid. Valer. Flac. lib. 1. Argonautic.—Contra Phœb«e»ius Idmon non pallore viris, non ullo horrore comarum terrib«i»lis, plenus fatis, Phœboque quieto, Cui genitor tribuit «monitu» prænoscere Divum Omina, seu Flammas, seu lubrica cominus exta, seu plenum certis interroget aëra pennis.
Allusio ad illud Ovidij Epistol. Epist. Parid. Ilion aspicies, firmataque turribus altis Mœnia Apollineæ structa canore lyræ.
Augurandi scientia nobilis erat & antiqua, apud Gentes præsertim Hetruscas: quibus erat Collegium & Domicilium celeberrimum Augurum, quorum summa fuit Authoritas & Dignitas per totam Italiam, potissimum Romæ. Romulus, urbe condita, Collegium & Augures instituit, ipse nobilis, ut apud Liu. Lib. 1. & Tull. «De Divin.» lib. 1. Optimus Augur. Eorum officium fuit auspicia captare & ex iis colligere signa futurarum rerum, Deorumque monita considerare de eventibus prosperis vel adversis. Sacra erat Romanis & res regia habita, dignitasque, penes patricios & principes viros mansit, etiam apud Imperatores obtinuit, unde ab Apolline nostro talis Præses pulchrè designatus
Saltationes in rebus sacris adhibebantur apud omnes pœne gentes: & â saliendo, seu saltatione sacrâ ad saliare carmen institutâ, Salij dicti & Marti consecrati. Omnes etiam qui ad cantum & tibiam ludebant, Salij & Salisubsuli dicebantur. Salius, υμνωδος, vet. gloss, & Pacuvi. Pro Imperio sic Salisubsulus vestro excubet Mars. &(Virg. Æneid lib. 8. Tum Salij ad Cantus incensa altaria circum populeis adsunt evincti tempora ramis.
Auguria captaturi cœlum eligebant purum & serenum, aereque nitido. Lituum (qui erat baculus incurvus, Augurale Signum) manu tenebat Augur. Eo cæli regiones designabat, & metas intra quas contineri debebant Auguria: & hæ vocabantur Templa: unde Contemplatio dicta est Consideratio, & meditatio rerum sacrarum, ut dextrum sinistrumque, latus observaret. In impetrito sibi ipse regiones definiebat; in oblat«iv»o manum suam respexit lœvam aut dextram. Regiones ab Oriente in occasum terminabat limite decumano, & cardine ex tran«s»verso signo metato, quo oculi ferrent quam longissime. Antica in Ortum vergebat. Postica regio à Tergo ad occasum. Dextra ad meridiem. Sinistra ad septertrionem. Observationes fiebant Augure sedente, capite velato, togâ duplici Augurali candidâ amicto, à mediâ nocte ad mediam diem, crescente, non deficiente die. Neque captabantur Auguria post mensem Julium, propterea quod Aves redderentur imbecilliores & morbidæ, Pullique eorum essent imperfecti.
Augurandi scientia ορνιθομαντεια dicta. Divinatio per aves. Aves aut Oscines, aut Præpetes. Oscines, quæ ore, Præpetes, quæ volatu Augurium significant. Pullitripudio. Aves auspicatæ, & Præpetes, Aquila, Vultur, Sanqualis seu ossifraga, Triorches, sive Buteo, Immussulus, Accipiter, Cygnus, Columba, Oscines, Cornix, Cornus, Anser, Ciconia, Ardea, Noctua; inauspicatæ; Milvus, Farra, Nycticorax, Striges, Hirundo, Picus, &c.
Habebant dextra & læva omnia; antica & postica; Orientalia & Occidentalia. Graeci cum se ad Septentrionem obverterent, Ortum ad dextram habuere. Romani cum Meridiem in auspicando contuerentur, Ortum ad lævam habuere. Itaque sinistræ partes eœdem sunt Romanis quæ Græcis dextræ ad ortum. Sinistra igitur illis meliora, Dextra pejora: Græcis contrâ. Sinistra, pertinentia ad ortum: Salutaria, qui«a» ortus lucis index & auctor. Dextra, quia spectant occasum, tristia.
Habebant dextra & læva omnia; antica & postica; Orientalia & Occidentalia. Graeci cum se ad Septentrionem obverterent, Ortum ad dextram habuere. Romani cum Meridiem in auspicando contuerentur, Ortum ad lævam habuere. Itaque sinistræ partes eœdem sunt Romanis quæ Græcis dextræ ad ortum. Sinistra igitur illis meliora, Dextra pejora: Græcis contrâ. Sinistra, pertinentia ad ortum: Salutaria, qui«a» ortus lucis index & auctor. Dextra, quia spectant occasum, tristia.
Columbæ auguria non nisi regibus dant; quia nunquam singulæ volant: sicut Rex nunquam solus incedit. Nuntiæ pacis.
Auspicium, ab ave specienda. Paul. Nam quod nos cum præpositione dicimas ASPICIO apud veteres sine præpositione SPICIO dicebatur.
Signa quæ sese offer«r»ent, era«n»t multifaria: nam si obijceretur, eretur avis aliqua, considerabatur quo volatu ferretur, an abliquo vel prone, vel supino motu Corporis, quo flecteret, contorqueret, aut contraheret membra; qua in parte se occultaret; an ad dextram vel sinistram canerent Oscines, &c.
Romulus augur fuit, & Numa, & reliqui reges Romani, sicut ante eos Turnus, Rhamnetes & alij. Lacedemonij suis regibus Augurem Assessorem dabant. Cilices, Lycij, Cares, Arabes, in summa veneratione habuerunt Auguria.
| The Masque of Augures with the severall Antimasqves presented on Twelfe-Night, 1622 | |