University of Virginia Library

THE PRESENTMENT.
Plutus appear'd suruaying the worke with this speech.
PLVTVS.

Rockes? Nothing but Rockes in
these masking deuices? Is Inuention
so poore shee must needes euer
dwell amongst Rocks? But
it may worthily haue chaunc'd (being so often

presented) that their vaine Custome is
now become the necessarie hand of heauen,
transforming into Rocks, some stonie hearted
Ladies, courted in former masks; for
whose loues, some of their repulst seruants
haue perisht: or perhaps some of my flintie-hearted
Vsurers haue beene heere metamorphosed;
betwixt whom and Ladies,
there is resemblance enough: Ladies vsing
to take interest, besides their principall, as
much as Vsurers. See, it is so; and now is the
time of restoring them to their naturall
shapes: It moues, opens, excellent! This
metamorphosis I intend to ouer-heare.

A ROCK, MOOVING and breaking with a cracke about Capriccio, he enters with a payre of Bellows on his head, a spur in one hand, and a peece of golde Ore in the other, &c.
He speakes, vt sequitur.
CAPRICCIO.

How hard this world is to a man of wit?
hee must eate through manie Rockes
for his food, or fast; a restles and tormenting
stone, his wit is to him: the very
stone of Sisyphus in hell; nay, the Philosophers
stone, makes not a man more wretched:
A man must be a second Proteus, and
turne himselfe into all shapes (like Vlisses) to
winde through the straites of this pinching
vale of miserie; I haue turn'd my selfe into
a Tailor, a Man, a Gentleman, a Nobleman,
a Worthy man; but had neuer the
witte to turne my selfe into an Alder-man.
There are manie shapes to perish in, but
one to liue in, and tha's an Aldermans:

Tis not for a man of wit to take any rich Figure,
vpon him: your bould, proud, ignorant,
that's braue and clinkant, that findes
crownes put into his shooes euery morning
by the Fayries and will neuer tell; whose
Wit is humor, whose Iudgement is fashion,
whose Pride is emptinesse, Birth his full
man; that is in all things something, in Sum
totall, nothing. He shall liue in the land of
Spruce, milke and hony flowing into his
mouth sleeping.

PLVTVS.

This is no transformation, but an instrusion
into my golden mines: I will heare him-further.

CAPRIC.

This breach of Rockes I haue made, in
needy pursuite of the blind Deity, Riches:
who is myraculously ariued here. For (according
to our rare men of wit) heauen standing,
and earth mouing, her motion (being
circular) hath brought one of the most remote

parts of the world, to touch at this all-exceeding
Iland: which a man of wit would
imagine must needs moue circularly with
the rest of the world, and so euer maintaine
an equal distance. But, Poets (our chiefe men
of wit) answere that point directly; most ingeniously
affirming: That this Ile is (for the
excellency of it) diuided from the world (diuisus
ab orbe Britannus) and that though the
whole World besides moues; yet this Ile
stands fixt on her owne feete, and defies the
Worlds mutability, which this rare accident
of the arriuall of Riches, in one of his furthest-off-scituate
dominions, most demonstratiuely
proues.

PLVTVS.

This is a man of wit indeede, and knows
of all our arriuals.

CAPRIC.

With this dull Deity Riches, a rich Iland
lying in the South sea, called Pœana, (of the
Pœans (or songs) sung to the Sun, whom they

there adore (being for strength and riches,
called the Nauill of that South-sea) is by
earths round motion mou'd neere this Brittan
Shore. In which Island (beeing yet in
command of the Virginian continent.) A
troupe of the noblest Virginians inhabiting;
attended hether the God of Riches, all triumphantly
shyning in a Mine of gould. For
hearing of the most royal solemnity, of these
sacred Nuptialls; they crost the Ocean in
their honor, and are here arriu'd. A poore
snatch at some of the goulden Ore, that the
feete of riches haue turnd vp as he trod here,
my poore hand hath purchast; and hope the
Remainder of a greater worke, wilbe shortly
extant.

PLVT.

You Sir, that are miching about my goulden
Mines here.

CAPR.

What, can you see Sir? you haue heretofore
beene presented blinde: like your Mother

Fortune; and your Brother Loue.

PLVT.

But now Sir, you see I see.

CAPR.

By what good meanes, I beseech you Sir.

PLVT.

That meanes, I may vouchsafe you hereafter;
meane space, what are you?

CAPR.

I am Sir a kinde of Man; A Man of wit:
with whom your worship has nothing to do
I thinke.

PLVT.

No Sir, nor will haue any thing to doe
with him: A Man of wit? whats that? A
Begger.

CAPR.

And yet no Diuell Sir.

PLV.

As I am, you meane.

CAPR.

Indeede sir your Kingdome is vnder the
Earth.

PLVT.

That's true, for Riches is the Atlas that
holdes it vp, it would sinke else.

CAPR.

Tis rather a wonder, it sinks not with you
Sir, y'are so sinfully, and damnably heauy.

PLVT.

Sinfull? and damnable? what a Puritane?
These Bellowes you weare on your head,
shew with what matter your braine is puffe
vp Sir: A Religion-forger I see you are, and
presume of inspiration from these Bellowes;
with which yee study to blow vp the setled
gouernments of kingdomes.

CAPR.

Your worship knockes at a wrong dore
Sir, I dwell farre from the person you speak
of.

PLVT.

What may you be then, beeing a man of
wit? a Buffon, a lester. Before I would take
vpon mee the title of a man of wit, and bee
baffl'd by euery man of wisedome for a Buffon;
I would turne Banckrout, or set vp a
Tobacco shop, change clokes with an Alchemist,
or serue an Vsurer; bee a watering
post for euery Groome; stand the push of euery
rascall wit; enter lists of iests with trencher-fooles,
and bee foold downe by them,
or (which is worse) put them downe in fooling:
are these the qualities a man of wit
should run proud of?

CAPR.

Your worship I see has obtaind wit, with
sight, which I hope yet my poor wit wil well
be able to answer; for touching my iesting, I

haue heard of some Courtiers, that haue run
themselues out of their states with Iusting;
and why may not I then raise my selfe in the
State with iesting? An honest Shoomaker,
(in in a liberall Kings time) was knighted for
making a cleane boote, and is it impossible,
that I for breaking a cleane Iest, should bee
aduaunc't in Court, or Counsaile? or at least,
serued out for an Ambassador to a dull Climate?
Iests, and Merriments are but wild
weedes in a rank soile, which being well manured,
yield the wholesom crop of wisdome
and discretion at time ath'yeare.

PLV.

Nay, nay, I commend thy iudgement for
cutting thy cote so iust to the bredth of thy
shoulders; he that cannot be a courser in the
field, let him learne to play the Iack-an-Apes
in the Chamber, hee that cannot personate
the wise-man well amongst wisards, let him
learne to play the foole well amongst dizzards.

CAPR.

Tis passing miraculous, that your dul and
blind worship should so sodainly turne both
sightfull, and witfull.

PLVT.

The Riddle of that myracle, I may chance
dissolue to you in sequell; meanetime, what
name sustain'st thou? and what toies are these
thou bear'st so phantastically about thee?

CAPR.

These, toies Sir, are the Ensignes that discouer
my name and qualitie: my name being
Capriccio; and I weare these Bellowes on
my head, to shew I can puffe vp with glory
all those that affect mee: and besides, beare
this spurre, to shew I can spur-gall, euen the
best that contemne me.

PLVT.

A dangerous fellowe, But what makest
thou (poore man of wit) at these pompous
Nuptials;

CAPRIC.

Sir, I come hether with a charge; To doe
these Nuptials, I hope, very acceptable seruice;
And my charge is; A company of accomplisht
Trauailers; that are excellent at
Antemaskes; and will tender a tast of their
quallity, if your worship please.

PLVT.

Excellent well pleasd; of what vertue are
they besides.

CAPR.

Passing graue Sir, yet exceeding acute:
witty, yet not ridiculous; neuer laugh at their
owne iests: laborious yet not base, hauing cut
out the skirts of the whole world, in amorous
quest of your gould and siluer.

PLVT.

They shal haue enough; cal them: I beseech
thee call them: how farre hence abide they?

CAPR.

Sir (being by another eminent qualitie the
admired souldiers of the world) in contempt
of softnes, and delicacie, they lie on the naturally
hard boords of that naked tree; and
will your worship assure them rewards fit for
persons of their freight.

PLVT.

Dost thou doubt my reward beeing pleased?

CAPR.

I know Sir, a man may sooner win your
reward, for pleasing you, thē deseruing you.
But you great wise persons, haue a fetch of
State; to employ with countenance, and encouragement,
but reward with austerity and
disgrace, saue your purses, and lose your
honours.

PLVT.

To assure thee of reward, I will now satisfie

thee touching the miraculous cause,
both of my sight and wit, and which
consequently moues mee to humanity, and
bounty; And all is, onely this; my late being
in loue, with the louely Goddesse
Honor.

CAPRIC.

If your Worshipp loue Honor, indeed, Sir
you must needes be bountifull. But where is
the rare Goddesse you speake of to be seene?

PLVTVS.

In that Rich Temple, where Fortune fixt
those her goulden wings, thou seest; And
that rowling stone she vs'd to tread vpon, for
signe shee would neuer for-sake this Kingdome;
There is ador'd, the worthy Goddesse
Honor. The swetnesse of whose voice, when
I first heard her perswasions, both to my self,
and the Virginian Princes arriu'd here, to doe
honor and homage, to these heauenly Nuptialls,
so most powerfully enamour'd mee,
that the fire of my loue flew vp to the sight

of mine eyes: that haue lighted within mee
a whole firmament of Bounty, which may
semingly assure the, thy reward is certaine: &
therefore call thy accomplisht company to
their Antemaske.

CAPRIC.

See Sir, The time, set for their apperance,
being expir'd; they appeere to their seruice
of them-selues.

Enter the Baboones after whose dance, being Anticke, and delightful, they returned to their Tree, when Plutus spake to Capriccius.
PLVTVS.

Gramercy now Capriccio, take thy men of
complement, and trauaile with them to other
marriages. My Riches to thy Wit; they
will get something some-where.

CAPR.

Whats this?

PLVT.

A straine of Wit beyond a Man of Wit.
I haue imployd you, and the grace of that,
is reward enough; hence; packe, with your
complemental Fardle: The sight of an attendant
for reward, is abominable in the eyes of
a turne-seru'd Politician; and I feare, will
strike me blinde againe. I can not abide these
bellowes of thy head, they and thy men of
wit haue melted my Mines with them, and
consum'd me, yet take thy life and be gone.
Neptune let thy predecessor, Vlysses, liue after
all his slaine companions, but to make him
die more miserably liuing; gaue him vp to
ship wracks, enchantments; men of wit are
but enchanted, there is no such thing as wit
in this world. So, take a tree, inure thy souldiers
to hardnes, tis honorable, though not
clinkant.

CAPR.

Can this be possible?

PLVT.

Alas! poore man of wit, how want of reward
daunts thy vertue? But because I must
send none away discontented, from these all-pleasing
Nuptials; take this wedge of golde,
and wedge thy selfe into the world with it, renouncing
that loose wit of thine, t'will spoile
thy complexion.

CAPR.

Honor, and all Argus eyes, to Earths all-commaunding
Riches. Pluto etiam cedit
Iupiter

Exit Capr.

After this Iowe Induction, by these succeeding degrees, the chiefe Maskers were aduanc't to their discouerie
PLVTVS.
Plutus, cals to Eunomia.
These humble obiects can no high eyes drawe,
Eunomia? (or the sacred power of Lawe)
Daughter of Ioue, and Goddesse Honors Priest;
Appeare to Plutus, and his loue assist.

EVN.
Eunomia in the Temple gates.
What would the god of Riches?

PLVT.
Ioine with Honor:
In purpos'd grace of these great Nuptials;
And since to Honor none should dare accesse,
But helpt by vertues hand (thy selfe, chaste Loue
Being Vertues Rule, and her directfull light)
Help me to th'honor of her speech and sight.

EVN.
Thy will shal straight be honour'd; all that seek
Accesse to Honor, by cleer virtues beame,
Her grace preuents their pains, and comes to them.

Loud Musick, and Honor appears, descending with her Herrald Phemis, and Eunomia (her Priest) before her. The Musique ceasing Plutus spake.
PLVT.
Crowne of all merit, Goddess, and my Loue;
Tis now high time, that th'end for which we come
Should be endeuor'd in our vtmost right,
Done to the sweetnes of this Nuptiall night.

HON.
Plutus? The Princes of the Virgine land,
Whom I made crosse the Britan Ocean
To this most famed Ile, of all the world,
To do due homage to the sacred Nuptials
Of loue and beauty, celebrated here,
By this Howre of the holy Eeuen I know,
Are ready to performe the rites they owe
To setting Phœbus; which (for greater State
To their apparance) their first act aduances.
And with songs Vshers their succeeding dances,
Herrald! giue summons to the Virgine Knights,
No longer to delay their purpos'd Rites.

HER.
Knights of the Virgine Land, whom bewties lights
Would glorifie with their inflaming sights;
Keep now obscur'd no more your faire intent,
To adde your Bearnes to this nights ornament,
The golden-winged Howre strikes now a Plaine,
And calls out all the pompe ye entertaine;
The Princely Bride-groome, and the Brides bright eyes,
Sparkle with grace to your discoueries.

At these words, the Phœbades (or Priests of the Sunne) appear'd first with sixe Lutes, and sixe voices, and sung to the opening of the Mine and Maskers discouery, this sul Song.
The first Song.
Ope Earth thy wombe of golde,
Shew Heauen thy cope of starres.
All glad Aspects vnfolde,
Shine out, and cleere our Cares:
Kisse Heauen and Earth, and so combine
In all mixt ioy our Nuptiall Twine.

This Song ended, a Mount opened, and spred like a Skie, in which appear'd a Sunne setting; beneath which, sate the twelue Maskers, in a Mine of golde; twelue Torch-bearers holding their torches before them, after which Honor, &c.
HON.
Se now the setting Sun, casts vp his bank,
And showes his bright head at his Seas repaire,
For signe that all daies future shall be faire.

PLVT.
May he that rules the nightes & dayes confirme it.

HON.
Behold the Sunnes faire Preists the Phæbades,
Their euening seruice in an Hymne addresse
To Phœbus setting; which we now shall heare,
And see the formes of their deuotions there.

The Phœbades
sing the first Stance of the second song, vt sequitur.
One alone.
Another alone.

CHO.
Dance Tethis, and thy loues red beames,
Embrace with Ioy he now discends:
Burnes burnes with loue to drinke thy streames,
and on him endles youth attends.

After this Stance, Honor &c.
HON.
This superstitious Hymne, sung to the Sunne,
Let vs encounter with fit duties done
To our cleere Phœbus; whose true piety,
Enioyes from heauen an earthly deity.

Other Musique, and voyces; and this second Stance was sung, directing their obseruance to the King.

One alone
Another

CHO.
O may our Sun not set before,
he sees his endles seed arise:
And deck his triple crowned shore,
with springs of humane Deities.

This ended the Phœbades sung the third Stance.

CHO.
Blest was thy mother bearing thee,
and Phœbe that delights in darts:
Thou artful Songes dost set; and shee
winds horns, loues hounds, & high pallmd harts

After this Honor.
HON.
Againe our Musique and conclude this Song,
To him, to whom all Phœbus beames belong:

The other voyces sung to other Musike the third stance.

CHO.
Blest was thy Mother, bearing Thee,
Thee only Relick of her Race,
Made by thy vertues beames a Tree,
Whose armes shall all the Earth embrace.

This done Eunomia spake to the Maskers set yet aboue.
EVN.
Virginian Princes, ye must now renounce
Your superstitious worship of these Sunnes,
Subiect to cloudy darknings and descents,
And of your sweet deuotions, turne the euents
To this our Britan Phœbus, whose bright skie
(Enlightned with a Christian Piety)
Is neuer subiect to black Errors night,
And hath already offer'd heauens true light,
To your darke Region, which acknowledge now;
Descend, and to him all your homage vow.

With this the Torch-bearers descended, and performed another Antemaske, dancing with Torches lighted at both ends; which done, the Maskers descended, and fell into their dances, two of which being past, and others with the Ladies.
Honor
spake.
Musique! your voyces, now tune sweet and hie,
And singe the Nuptiall Hymn of Loue, and Beauty.

The Bride and Bride groome were figured in Loue and Beauty. Twinns of which Hippocrates speakes.

Twinns, as of one age, so to one desire
May both their bloods giue, an vnparted fire.
And as those twinns that Fame giues all her prise,
Combind their lifes power in such Symphathies;
That one being merry; mirth the other grac't:
If one felt sorrow, th'other griefe embrac't.
If one were healthfull; Health the other pleasd:
If one were sicke: the other was diseasd;
And all waies ioynd in such a constant troth
That one like cause had like effect in both,
So may these Nuptiall Twynnes, their whole liues store,

Called Twynns being both of an Age.

Spend in such euen parts, neuer grieuing more,
Then may the more set off their ioyes diuine;
As after clouds, the Sunne, doth clerest shine.

This sayd, this Song of Loue, and Bewty was sung; single.
CHO.
CHO.
CHO.

This sung, the Maskers danc't againe with the Ladies, after which Honor.
HON.
Now may the blessings of the golden age,
Swimme in these Nuptials, euen to holy rage,
A Hymn to Sleep prefer, and all the ioyes
That in his Empire are of dearest choice,
Betwixt his golden slumbers euer flow,
In these; And Theirs, in Springs as endless growe.


This sayd, the last Song was sung full.
The last Song.
Now sleepe, binde fast, the flood of Ayre,
strike all things dumb and deafe,
And, to disturbbe our Nuptiall paire,
Let stir no Aspen leafe.
Send flocks of golden Dreames
That all true ioyes presage,
Bring, in thy oyly streames,
The milke and hony Age.
Now close the world-round sphere of blisse,
And fill it with a heauenly kisse.

After this Plutus to the Maskers.
PLVT.
Come Virgine Knights, the homage ye haue done,
To Loue and Bewty, and our Britan Sun,
Kinde Honor, will requite with holy feasts
In her faire Temple; and her loued Guests,
Giues mee the grace t'inuite, when she and I
(Honor and Riches) will eternally
A league in fauour of this night combine,
In which Loues second hallowed Tapers shine;
Whose Ioies, may Heauen & Earth as highly please
As those two nights that got great Hercules.

The speech ended; they concluded with a dance, that brought them off; Plutus, with Honor and the rest conducting them vp to the Temple of Honor.