|
THE MASQVE OF THE INNER TEMPLE AND GRAYES INNE |
|
T H E M A S Q V E O F T H E I N N E R T E M P L E A N D G R A Y E S I N N E: GRAYES INNE AND THE IN- NER TEMPLE, PRESENTED BEFORE his Maiestie, the Queenes Maiestie, the Prince, Count Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth their Highnesses, in the Banquetting house at White-hall on Sa- turday the twentieth day of Fe- bruarie, 1612. By F R A N C I S B E A U M O N T, Gent.
A T L O N D O N, Imprinted by F. K. for George Norton, and are to be sold at his shoppe neere Temple-bar. |
|
in such order as might make best shew They were attended with a multitude of barges and gallies, with all variety of lowde Musicke, and seuerall peales of Ordnance. [20] And led by two Admiralls. Of this shew his Maiesty was gratiously pleased to take view, with the Prince, the Count Palatine, and Lady Elizabeth: their highnesses at the windowes of his priuy gallerie vpon the water, till their landing, which was at the priuy staires; where they were most honorablie receiud by the Lord Chamberlaine, and so conducted to the Vestry. [30] The Hall was by that time filled with com- pany of very good fashion, but yet so as a ve- ry great number of principall Ladies, and o- ther noble persons were not yet come in, wherby it was foreseen that the roome would be so scanted as might have been inconueni- ent. And there vpon his Maiesty was most gratiously pleased with the consent of the gentlemen Maskers, to put off the night vntil Saturday following, with this special fauour [40] and priuiledge, that there should be no let, [End page 2, Signature [A3v], Catchword: as] |
|
as to the outward ceremony of magnificence untill that time. At the day that it was presented, there was a choice roome reserued for the gentlemen, of both their houses, who comming in troope about seuen of the clocke, receiued that speciall honor and noble fauour, as to be brought to their places, by the Right Honourable the Earle of [50] Northampton, Lord Pri- uie Seale. [End Page 3, Signature [A4], No Catchword] [Page 4, Signature [A4v] Blank] |
much now to looke backe vpon the effects of your owne care and worke: for that whereof the successe was then doubtfull, is now happily performed and gratiously accepted. And that which you were then to thinke of in straites of time, you may now peruse [60] at leysure: And you Sir Francis Bacon especially, as you did then by your countenance, and louing affection aduance it, so let your good word grace it, and defend it, which is able to adde value to the greatest, and least matters. [End page 5, Signature B, No Catchword] [Page 6, Signature [B1v] Blank] |
tend: then Mercurie for his part brings forth an Anti-masque all of Spirits or diuine Na- tures; but yet not of one kinde or liuerie (be- cause that had been so much in vse hereto- fore) but as it were in consort like to broken Musicke: And preseruing the proprietie of the deuise; for that Riuers in nature are maintained either by Springs from beneath, [80] or Shewers from aboue: He raiseth foure of the Naiades out of the Fountaines, and brin- [End Page 7, Signature B2, Catchword: geth] |
|
geth downe fiue of the Hyades out of the Cloudes to daunce; here upon Iris scoffes at Mercurie for that hee had deuised a daunce but of one Sexe, which could haue no life: but Mercurie who was prouided for that excep- tion, and in token that the Match should be blessed both with Loue and Riches calleth forth out of the Groues foure Cupias, and [90] brings downe from Jupiters Altar foure Statuaes of gold and siluer to daunce with the Nymphes and Starres: in which daunce the Cupids being blinde, and the Statuaes hauing but halfe life put into them, and retaining still somewhat of their old nature, giueth fit oc- casion to new and strange varieties both in the Musick and paces. This was the first An- ti-masque. Then Iris for her part in scorne of this [100] high-flying deuise, and in token that the Match shall likewise be blessed with the loue of the Common People, calles to Flora her confederate (for that the Moneths of flowers are likewise the Moneths of sweete shewers, and Raine-bowes) to bring in a May-daunce or Rurall daunce, consisting likewise not of [End Page 8, Signature [B2v], Catchword: any] |
|
any suted persons, but of a confusion, or com- mixture of all such persons as are naturall and proper for Countrey sports. This is the [110] second Anti-masque. Then Mercurie and Iris after this vying one vpon the other, seeme to leaue their con- tention; and Mercurie by the consent of Iris brings downe the Olympian Knights, intima- ting that Iupiter hauing after a long discon- tinuance reuiued the Olympian games, and summoned thereunto from all parts the liue- liest, & actiuest persons that were, had enioy- ned them before they fell to their games to [120] doe honour to these Nuptials. The Olympian games portend to the Match, Celebritie, Victorie, and Felicitie. This was the maine Masque. The Fabricke as a Mountaine with two descents, and seuered with two Trauesses. At the entrance of the King.
[End Page 9, Signature B3, Catchword: life,] |
| life, with diuers boscages and Grouets
vpon the steepe or hanging grounds thereof; and at the foote of the Hill, foure delicate Foun- taines running with water and bordered with sedges and water flowers. Iris first appeared; and presently after Mercurie striuing to ouertake her. Iris apparelled in a robe of discoulored Taffita figured in variable colours, like the Raine-bowe, a cloudie wreath on her head, [140] and Tresses. Mercurie in doublet and hose of white Taffita, a white hat, wings on his shoulders and feet, his Caduceus in his hand, speaking to Iris as followeth:
Away, Dissembling Mercury; my messages Aske honest haste, not like those wanton ones Your thundring father sends. [End Page 10, Signature [B3v], Catchword: MERCVRIE.] |
|
Stay foolish Maid, Or I will take my rise vpon a hill, When I perceiue thee seated in a cloud, In all the painted glorie that thou hast, And neuer cease to clap my willing wings, [160] Till I catch hold to thy discolour'd Bow, And shiuer it beyond the angry power Of your curst Mistresse, to make vp againe. Hermes forbeare, Iuno will chide and strike; Is great Ioue iealous that I am imploy'd On her loue errands? she did neuer yet Claspe weake mortalitie in her white armes, As he hath often done: I onely come To celebrate the long wisht Nuptials, [170] Heere in Olympia, which are now perform'd Betwixt two goodly Riuers, which haue mixt Their gentle rising waues, and are to grow Into a thousand streames, great as themselues; I need not name them, for the sound is lowde In heauen and earth, and I am sent from her The Queene of Mariage, that was present heere, And smil'd to see them ioyne, and hath not chid Since it was done: good Hermes let me go. [End Page 11, Signature [B4], Catchword: MERCVRIE.] |
|
Nay you must stay, Ioues message is the same, Whose eies are lightning, and whose voice is thunder, Whose breath is any winde, he will, who knowes How to be first on earth as well as heauen. But what hath he to doe with Nuptiall rights? Let him keepe state vpon his starry throne, And fright poore mortals with his thunderbolts, Leauing to vs the mutuall darts of eyes. Alas, when euer offer'd he t'abridge Your Ladies power, but onely now in these, Whose match concernes his generall gouernment? Hath not each god a part in these high ioyes? And shall not he the King of gods presume Without proud Iunoes licence? let her know That when enamor'd Ioue first gaue her power To linke soft hearts in Vndissolued bonds, He then foresaw, and to himselfe reseru'd The honor of this Mariage: thou shalt stand [200] Still as a Rocke, while I to blesse this feast Will summon vp with my all charming rod, The Nymphes of fountains, from whose watry locks Hung with the dew of blessing and encrease, The greedie Riuers take their nourishment. [End Page 12, Signature [B4v], Catchword: You] |
|
You Nymphes, who bathing in your loued springs, Beheld these Riuers in their infancie, And ioy'd to see them, when their circled heads Refresht' the aire, and spread the ground with flowers: Rise from your Wells, and with your nimble feete [210] Performe that office to this happie paire; Which in these plaines, you to Alpheus did; When passing hence through many seas vnmixt, He gain'd the fauour of his Arethuse. Immediatlie vpon which speech, foure Naiades arise gentlie out of their se- uerall Fountaines, and present them- selues vpon the Stage, attired in long habits of sea-greene Taffita, with bub- bles of Christall intermixt with pow- [220] dering of siluer resembling drops of water; blewish Tresses on their heads, garlands of Water-Lillies. They fall into a Measure, daunce a little, then make a stand.
[End Page 13, Signature C, Catchword: MERCVRIE.] |
|
Presumptuous Iris, I could make thee daunce [230] Till thou forgott'st thy Ladies messages, And rann'st backe crying to her, thou shalt know My power is more, onely my breath, and this Shall moue fix'd starres, and force the firmament To yeeld the Hyades, who gouerne showers, And dewie clouds, in whose dispersed drops Thou form'st the shape of thy deceitfull Bow. You maids, who yearely at appointed times, Aduance with kindly teares, the gentle flouds, Descend, and powre your blessing on these streames, [240] Which rolling downe from heauen aspiring hils, And now vnited in the fruitfull vales; Beare all before them rauisht with their ioy, And swell in glorie till they know no bounds. Fiue Hyades descend softly in a cloud from the firmament, to the middle part of the hill, apparelled in skie-coloured Taffita robes, spangled like the Hea- uens, golden Tresses, and each a faire Starre on their head; from thence de- [250] scend to the Stage, at whose sight the Naiades seeming to reioyce, meete and ioyne in a dance. [End Page 14, Signature [C1v], Catchword: IRIS.] |
Alas poore Iris, Venus hath in store A secret Ambush of her winged boyes, Who lurking long within these pleasant groues; [260] First strucke these Louers with their equall darts, Those Cupids shall come forth, and ioyne with these, To honor that which they themselues begun. Enter foure Cupids from each side of the Boscage, attired in flame-coloured Taf- fita close to their bodie like naked Boyes, with Bowes, Arrowes, and wings of gold: Chaplets of flowers on their heads, hoodwinckt with Tiffiny scarfs, who ioyne with the Nymphes, and the [270] Hyades in another daunce. That ended, Iris speakes.
[End Page 15, Signature C2, Catchword: Shall] |
|
Shall daunce for ioy of these great Nuptialls: And gaue to them an Artificiall life, See how they moue, drawne by this heauenly ioy, Like the wilde trees, which follow'd Orpheus Harpe. The Statuaes enter, supposed to be before [280] descended from Joues Altar, and to haue been prepared in the couert with the Cupids, attending their call. These Statuaes were attired in cases of gold and siluer close to their bodie, faces, hands and feete, nothing seene but gold and siluer, as if they had been solid Images of mettall, Tresses of haire as they had been of mettall imbossed, girdles and small aprons of oaken leaues, as if they likewise had been [290] carued or molded out of the mettall: at their comming, the Musicke changed from Vio- lins to Hoboyes, Cornets, &c. And the ayre of the Musicke was vtterly turned into a soft time, with drawing notes, excellently expres- sing their natures, and the Measure likewise was fitted vnto the same, and the Statuaes pla- ced in such seuerall postures, sometimes all together in the Center of the daunce, and [End Page 16, Signature [C2v], Catchword: some-] |
|
sometimes in the foure vtmost Angles, as was [300] very gracefull besides the noueltie: and so concluded the first Anti-masque.
Iust match this shew; or my Inuention failes, Had it beene worthier, I would haue inuok'd The blazing Comets, Clouds and falling Starres, And all my kindred Meteors of the Ayre To haue excell'd it, but I now must striue [310] To imitate Confusion, therefore thou Delightfull Flora, if thou euer felt'st Encrease of sweetnesse in those blooming plants, On which the hornes of my faire bow decline; Send hither all the Rurall company, (sports; Which decke the May games with their Countrey Iuno will haue it so. The second Anti-masque rush in, daunce their Measure, and as rudely depart; consisting of a Pedant. [320]
[End Page 17, Signature C3, Catchword: A] |
| © Twilight Pictures, May 2001. This text is freely available for educational, non-profit uses only. Please report any errors or suggestions to Drew Whitehead. |