The Holloway Pages: Ben Jonson: Works (1692 Folio): The Masque with the Nuptial Songs

The Masque with the Nuptial Songs.

340	Masques.

T H E
D E S C R I P T I O N
O F   T H E
M  A  S  Q  U  E.
With the Nuptial Songs.

A T   T H E

Lord Vicount  H A D D I N G T O N's  Marriage at Court.

On the Shrove-Tuesday at Night. 1608.

H E worthy Custom of honouring worthy Mar-
riages, with these noble Solemnities, hath, of late
years, advanc'd it self frequently with us; to
the reputation no less of our Court, than Nobles:
expressing besides (through the difficulties of expence,
and travel, with the chearfulness of undertaking) a most
real affection in the Personaters, to those, for whose sake
they would sustain these Persons. It behoves then us, that
are trusted with a part of their Honour, in these Celebra-
tions, to do nothing in them, beneath the dignity of either.
With this preposed part of Judgment, I adventure to give
that abroad, which in my first conception I intended ho-
nourably fit: and (though it hath labour'd since, under
censure) I, that know Truth to be always of one stature,
and so like a Rule, as who bends it the least way, must
needs do an injury to the right, cannot but smile at their
tyrannous ignorance, that will offer to slight me (in these
things being an Artificer) and give themselves a perempto-
ry Licence to judge, who have never touch'd so much as
to the bark, or utter shell of any knowledge. But, their
daring dwell with them. They have found a place, to
pour out their Follies; and I a Seat, to sleep out the pas-
sage.
The Scene to this Masque, was a high, steep, red Cliff,
advancing it self into the Clouds, figuring the place, from
whence (as I have been, not fabulously, informed) the
honourable Family of the Radcliffes first took their Name,
(à clivo rubro) and is to be written with that Orthography;
as I have observ'd out of M. Cambden, in his mention of
the Earls of Sussex. This Cliff was also a Note of Height,
Greatness, and Antiquity; before which, on the two sides,
were erected two pilasters, charged with spoils and tro-
phees, of Love, and his mother, consecrate to marriage:
amongst which were old and young persons figur'd, bound
with Roses, the Wedding garments, rocks, and spindles,
hearts transfixt with arrows, others flaming, Virgins girdles,
gyrlands, and worlds of such like; all wrought round and
bold: and over-head two personages, Triumph, and Victory,
in flying postures, and twice so big as the life, in place of
the arch, and holding a gyrland of Myrtle for the key.
All which, with the Pillars, seem'd to be of burnished gold,
and embossed out of the metal. Beyond the Cliff was

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seen nothing but Clouds, thick, and obscure; till on the
sudden, with a solemn Musick, a bright Sky break-
ing forth; there were discovered, first two

(a b) Both
Doves and
Swans
were Sa-
cred to
this god-
dess, and
as well
with the
one as the
other, her
Chariot is
induc'd
by Ovid. l.
10. & 11.
Metamor.

(a) Doves, then two (b) Swans with silver
geers, drawing forth a triumphant Chariot; in
which Venus sate, crowned with her Star, and
beneath her the three Graces, or Charites, Aglaia,
Thalia, Euphrosyne, all attired according to their
antique figures. These, from their Chariot,
alighted on the top of the Cliff, and descending
by certain abrupt and winding passages, Venus
having left her Star, only, flaming in her seat,
came to the Earth, the Graces throwing gyr-
lands all the way, and began to speak.

V E N U S.

T is no common Cause, ye will conceive,
My lovely Graces, makes your Goddess leave
Her state in Heaven, to Night, to visit Earth.
Love late is fled away, my eldest birth,
Cupid, whom I did joy to call my Son;
And, whom long absent, Venus is undon.

Spy, if you can, his Footsteps on this Green;
For here (as I am told) he late hath been,

With (c) divers of his Brethren, lending light
From their best flames, to gild a glorious Night;
Which I not grudge at, being done for her,
Whose Honours, to mine own, I still prefer.
But he, not yet returning, I'm in fear,
Some gentle Grace, or innocent Beauty here,
Be taken with him: or he hath surpriz'd
A second Psyche, and lives here disguis'd.
Find ye no tract of his stray'd Feet? Gr. 1. Not I.
Gr. 2. Nor I. Gr. 3. Nor I. Ve. Stay Nymphs, we then will try
A nearer way. Look all these Ladies Eyes,
And see if there he not concealed lies;
Or in their Bosoms, 'twixt their swelling Brests:
(The Wag affects to make himself such Nests)
Perchance, he'th got some simple heart, to hide
His subtle shape in: I will have him cry'd,

And

Masques.

341

And all his Vertues told. That, when they know
What Spright he is, she soon may let him go,
That guards him now; and think her self right blest,
To be so timely rid of such a Guest.
Begin, soft Graces, and proclaim Reward
To her that brings him in. Speak to be heard.

1 G R A C E.

Beauties, have ye seen this Toy,
   Call'd (a) Love, a little Boy,
   Almost naked, wanton, blind;
   Cruel now, and then as kind?
   If he be amongst ye, say;
   He is Venus Run-away.

(a) In this
Love, I
express
Cupid, as
he is Vene-
ris filius,
and owner of the following qualities, ascrib'd him by the antick and
later Poets.

2 G R A C E.

She, that will but now discover
   Where the winged Wag doth hover,
   Shall, to Night, receive a Kiss,
   How, or where her self would wish:
   But, who brings him to his Mother,
   Shall have that Kiss, and another.

3 G R A C E.

H'hath of marks about him plenty:
   You shall know him among twenty.
   All his body is a fire,
   And his breath a flame entire,
   That being shot, like lightning, in,
   Wounds the heart, but not the skin.

1 G R A C E.

At his sight, the (b) Sun hath turned,
   Neptune in the waters, burned;
   (c) Hell hath felt a greater heat:
   Jove himself forsook his seat:
   From the Centre, to the Skie,
   Are his (d) Trophees reared hie.

(b) See
Lucian.
Dial. Deor.
(c) And
Claud. in
raptu Pro-
serp.
(d) Such
was the power ascrib'd him, by all the Ancients: whereof there is
extant an elegant Greek Epigram. Phil. Poe. wherein he makes all
the other Deities despoil'd by him, of their Ensigns. Jove of his
Thunder, Phœbus of his Arrows, Hercules of his Club, &c.

2 G R A C E.

Wings he hath, which though ye clip,
   He will leap from lip, to lip,
   Over liver, lights, and heart,
   But not stay in any part;
   And, if chance his arrow misses,
   He will shoot himself, in kisses.

3 G R A C E.

He doth bear a golden Bow,
   And a Quiver, hanging low,
   Full of Arrows, that out-brave
   Dian's shafts: where, if he have
   Any head more sharp than other,
   With that first he strikes his Mother.

1 G R A C E.

Still the fairest are his fuel.
   When his days are to be cruel,
   Lovers hearts are all his food;
   And his baths their warmest blood:
   Nought but wounds his hand doth season;
   And he hates none like to Reason.

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                  2  G R A C E.

Trust him not: his words, though sweet,
   Seldom with his heart do meet.
   All his practice is deceit;
   Every gift it is a bait;
   Not a kiss, but poyson bears;
   And most treason in his tears.

                  3  G R A C E.

Idle minutes are his raign;
   Then, the Stragler makes his gain,
   By presenting Maids with toys,
   And would have ye think 'em joys:
   'Tis the ambition of the Elf,
   To have all childish, as himself.

                  1  G R A C E.

   If by these ye please to know him,
   Beauties, be not nice, but show him.

                  2  G R A C E.

   Though ye had a Will, to hide him,
   Now, we hope, ye'le not abide him.

                  3  G R A C E.

   Since ye hear his falser play;
   And that he is Venus Run-away.

   At this, from behind the Trophees, Cupid discovered him-
self, and came forth armed; attended with twelve Boys, most
antickly attir'd, that represented the sports, and pretty lightnes-
ses, that accompany Love, under the titles of Joci, and Risus;
and are said to wait on Venus, as she is Præfect of Marriage.
Which Horat. consents to. (a) Car. lib. 1. Ode 2.

   (a) —— Erycina ridens. Quam Jocus circumvolat, & Cupido.

C U P I D.

Ome, my little jocund sports,
Come away; the time now sorts
With your pastime: This same Night
Is Cupid's day. Advance you light.
With your Revel fill the room,
That our triumphs be not dumb.

Wherewith they fell into a subtle capricious Dance, to as
odd a Musick, each of them bearing two torches, and nodding
with their antick faces, with other variety of ridiculous gesture,
which gave much occasion of mirth, and delight, to the Specta-
tors. The Dance ended, Cupid went forward.

C U P I D.

Ell done, Antiques: Now, my Bow,
And my Quiver bear to show;
That these Beauties, here, may know,
By what Arms this Feat was done,
That hath so much Honour won,
Unto Venus, and her Son.

At which, his Mother apprehended him: and circling him
in, with the Graces, began to demand.

V E N U S.

Hat Feat, what Honour is it, that you boast,
My little Stragler? I had given you lost,

With

342	Masques.

With all your games, here. Cup. Mother? Ven. Yes Sir, she.

What might your glorious cause of triumph be?
Ha' you shot (a) Minerva, or the Thespian dames?
Heat aged (b) Ops again, with youthful flames?
Or have you made the colder Moon to visit
Once more, a sheep cote? Say, what conquest is it
Can make you hope such a renown to win?
Is there a second Hercules brought to spin?
Or for some new disguise, leaves Jove his thunder?

(a) She
urges
these as
miracles,
because
Pallas, and
the Muses
are most
contrary
to Cupid. See Luc. Dial. Ven. & Cupid. (b) Rhea, the Mother of
the gods, whom Lucian, in that place makes to have fall'n frantickly
in love, by Cupid's means, with Attys. So of the Moon, with Endy-
mion, Hercules, &c.

C U P I D.

Or that, nor those, and yet no less a wonder;

[And there
slips from
her.

Which to tell, I may not stay:
(c) Hymen's presence bids away;
'Tis, already, at his Night,
He can give you farther light.
You, my sports may here abide,
Till I call, to light the Bride.

H Y M E N.

Enus, is this a time to quit your Car?
To stoop to earth? to leave, alone, your Star,
Without your influence? and, (d) on such a night,
Which should be crown'd with your most chearing sight?

As you were ignorant of what were done
By Cupid's hand, your All-triumphing Son?
Look on this State; and if you yet not know,
What Crown there shines, whose Scepter here doth grow;

Think on thy lov'd (e) Æneas, and what name,
Maro, the golden Trumpet of his Fame,
Gave him, read thou in this. A Prince, that draws
By 'example more, than others do by Laws:
That is so just to his great act, and thought,
To do, not what Kings may, but what Kings ought.
Who, out of piety, unto peace, is vow'd;
To spare his Subjects, yet to quell the proud,
And dares esteem it the first fortitude,
To have his passions, Foes at home, subdu'd.
That was reserv'd, until the Parcæ spun
Their whitest wooll; and then, his thred begun.
Which thred, when (f) Treason would have burst, a Soul

(To day renown'd, and added to my roll)
Oppos'd; and, by that act, to his name did bring
The honour, to (g) be Saver of his King.
This King, whose worth (if Gods for vertue love)
Should Venus with the same affections move,
As her Æneas; and no less endear
Her love to his safety, than when she did chear,
(After (h) a Tempest) long afflicted Troy,
Upon the Lybian shore; and brought them joy.

(c) Here
Hymen,
the god of
Marriage,
entred;
and was so
induc'd
here, as
you have
him de-
scrib'd in
my Hyme-
næi.
(d) When
she is Nup-
tiis Præfe-
cta, with
Juno, Sua-
dela, Dia-
na, and
Jupiter
himself.
Paus. in
Messeniac.
& Plut. in
problem.
(e) Æneas,
the Son of
Venus, Vir-
gil makes
through-
out, the
most ex-
quisit pat-
tern of
Piety, Ju-
stice, Pru-
dence, and
all other
Princely
vertues,
with
whom (in
way of
that ex-
cellence) I
confer my
Sovereign,
applying,
in his description, his own word, usurped of that Poets, Parcere sub-
jectis, & debellare superbos. (f) In that monstrous Conspiracy of E.
Gowry. (g) Titulo tunc crescere posses, nunc per te titulus. (h) Virg.
Æneid. lib. 1.

V E N U S.

Love, and know his vertues, and do boast
Mine own renown, when I renown him most.
My Cupid's absence I forgive, and praise,
That me to such a present grace could raise.
His Champion shall, hereafter, be my care;
But speak his Bride, and what her vertues are.

H Y M E N.

H E is a noble Virgin, styl'd the Maid
Of the Red cliff, and hath her dowry weigh'd;

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No less in Vertue, Blood, and Form, than gold.
Thence, where my Pillar's rear'd, you may behold,
(Fill'd with Loves Trophees) doth she take her name.

Those Pillars did uxorious (i) Vulcan frame,
Against this day, and underneath that hill,
He, and his Cyclopes, are forging still
Some strange, & curious piece,t' adorn the night,
And give these graced Nuptials greater light.

(i) The
ancient
Poets,
whenso-
ever they
would in-
tend any
thing to be done with great Mastery, or excellent Art, made Vulcan
the Artificer, as Hom. Iliad. S. in the forging of Achilles's Armor:
and Virg. for Æneas, Ænei. 8. He is also said to be the god of fire and
light. Sometime taken for the purest beam: and by Orph. in Hym.
celebrated for the Sun and Moon. But more specially, by Eurip. in
Troad. he is made Facifer in Nuptiis. Which present Office we give
him here, as being Calor Naturæ, and Præses Luminis. See Plato in
Cratyl. For his Description, read Pausa. in Elia.

Here Vulcan presented himself (as over hearing Hymen)
attir'd in a Cassock girt to him; with bare Arms; his hair and
beard rough; his hat of blue, and ending in a Cone: In his
hand, a hammer, and tongs; as coming from the Forge.

V U L C A N.

Hich I have done; the best of all my life:
   And have my end, if it but please my Wife,
And she commend it, to the labour'd worth.
   Cleave solid Rock, and bring the Wonder forth.

   At which, with a loud and full Musick, the Cliff parted in
the midst, and discovered an illustrious Concave, fill'd with an
ample and glistering light, in which, an artificial Sphere was
made of silver, eighteen foot in the Diameter, that turned per-
petually: the Coluri were heightned with gold; so were the
Arctick and Antarctick Circles, the Tropicks, the Equinoctial,
the Meridian, and Horizon; only the Zodiack was of pure
gold: in which, the Masquers, under the Characters of the
twelve Signs, were placed, answering them in number; whose
offices, with the whole frame, as it turned, Vulcan went forward,
to describe.

V U L C A N.

T is a Sphere, I've formed round, and even,
In due proportion to the Sphere of Heaven,
With all his lines, and circles; that compose
The perfect'st form, and aptly do disclose
The heaven of marriage: which I title it.
Within whose Zodiack, I have made to sit,
In order of the Signs, twelve sacred powers,
That are presiding at all nuptial howers:

1.	The first, in Aries place, respecteth pride Of Youth; and Beauty; graces in the Bride.
2.	In Taurus, he loves strength, and manliness; The vertues, which the Bridegroom should profess.
3.	In Gemini, that noble power is shown, That twins their hearts; and doth, of two, make one.
4.	In Cancer, he that bids the wife give way With backward yielding, to her husband's sway.
5.	In Leo, he that doth instil the heat Into the Man: which, from the following feat,
6.	Is tempred so, as he that looks from thence Sees, yet, they keep a Virgin innocence.
7.	In Libra's room, rules he that doth supply All happy Beds with sweet equality.
8.	The Scorpion's place he fills, that makes the jars, And stings in wedlock; little strifes, and wars:
9.	Which he, in th'Archer's throne, doth soon remove By making, with his shafts, new wounds of love.

10.	And those the follower, with more heat, inspires, As, in the Goat, the Sun renews his fires.
11.	In wet Aquarius stead, reigns he, that showres Fertility upon the genial bowres.

12. Last

Masques.

343

12.	Last, in the Fishes place, sits he, doth say; In married joys, all should be dumb, as they.

And this hath Vulcan, for his Venus done,
To grace the chaster triumph of her Son.

V E N U S.

N D for this gift, will I to Heaven return,
And vow, for ever, that my lamp shall burn
With pure and chastest fire; or (a) never shine,
But when it mixeth with thy Sphere, and mine.

(a) As Ca-
tul. hath it
in nup. Jul.
and Manl. without Hymen, which is Marriage: Nil potest Venus, fa-
ma quod bona comprobet, &c.

Here Venus returned to her Chariot with the Graces:
while Vulcan calling out the Priests of Hymen who were the
Musicians, was interrupted by Pyracmon, one of the Cy-
clops; of whom with the other two, Brontes, and Steropes,
see (b) Virg. Æneid.

(b) Ferrum exercebant vasto Cyclopes in antro, Brontesque, Stero-
pesque & nudus membra Pyracmon, &c.

V U L C A N.

Sing then ye Priests.

P Y R A C M O N.

———— Stay Vulcan, shall not these
Come forth and dance?

V U L C A N.

Yes, my Pyracmon, please
The Eyes of these Spectators, with (c) our Art.

(c) As
when
Hom. Iliad. S makes Thetis for her Son Achilles, to visit Vulcan's
house, he feigns that Vulcan had made twenty Tripodes or stools with
golden wheels, to move of themselves, miraculously, and go out, and
return fitly. To which, the Invention of our Dance alludes, and is
in the Poet a most elegant place, and worthy the tenth read-
ing.
P Y R A C M O N.

Ome here then, Brontes, bear a Cyclops part,
And Steropes, both with your sledges stand,
And strike a time unto them as they land;
And as they forwards come, still guide their paces
In musical, and sweet proportion'd graces;
While I upon the work, and frame attend,
And Hymen's Priests forth, at their seasons, send
To chaunt their hymns; and make this square admire
Our great Artificer, the god of fire.

Here, the Musicians attired in yellow, with wreaths of Mar-
joram, and veils like Hymen's Priests, sung the first staff of
the following Epithalamion: which, because it was sung in
pieces, between the Dances, shewed to be so many several Songs;
but was made to be read and entire Poem. After the Song, they
came forth (descending in an oblique motion) from the Zo-
diack, and danced their first Dance; Then, Musick interposed,
(but varied with voices, only keeping the same Chorus) they
danced their second Dance. So after their third, and fourth
Dances; which were all full of elegancy, and curious device.
The two latter were made by M. Thomas Giles, the two first
by M. Hier. Herne: who, in the persons of the two Cyclopes,
beat a time to them, with their hammers. The tunes were
M. Alphonso Ferrabosco's. The device and act of the Scene,
M. Ynigo Jones his, with addition of the Trophees. For the
invention of the whole and the Verses, Assertor qui dicat esse
meos, Imponet plagiario pudorem.
The attire of the Masquers, throughout, was most graceful,
and noble; partaking of the best both ancient and later figure.
The colours Carnation, and Silver, enriched both with Em-
broydery, and Lace. The dressing of their heads, Feathers, and

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Jewels; and so excellently ordered, to the rest of the habit, as
all would suffer under any description, after the shew. Their
performance of all, so magnificient, and illustrious, that nothing
can add to the seal of it, but the subscription of their names.

The Duke of LENOX.	\| \|	Lo. of WALDEN.
Earl of ARUNDELL.	\| \|	Lo. HEY.
Earl of PEMBROKE.	\| \|	Lo. SANKRE.
Earl of MONTGOMERY.	\| \|	Sir RO. RICHE.
Lo. D'AUBIGNY.	\| \|	Sir JO. KENNETHIE.

Mr. ERSSKINS.

EPITHALAMION.

P Youths and Virgins, up, and praise
The god, whose nights out-shine his days;
           Hymen, whose hallowed Rites
Could never boast of brighter lights:
   Whose bands pass libertee.
Two of your troop, that, with the morn were free,
   Are, now wag'd to his War.
      And what thy are,
   If you'll perfection see,
      Your selves must be.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star.

What joy, or honours can compare
   With holy nuptials, when they are
      Made out of equal parts
   Of years, of states, of hands, of hearts?
      When, in the happy choice,
The Spouse, and spoused have the formost voice!
   Such, glad of Hymen's War,
      Live what they are,
   And long perfection see:
      And such ours be.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star.

The solemn state of this one Night
   Were fit to last an Ages light;
      But there are Rites behind
   Have less of state, but more of kind:
      Love's wealthy crop of kisses,
And fruitful harvest of his Mothers blisses.
   Sound then to Hymen's War:
      That what these are,
   Who will perfection see,
      May haste to be.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star.

Love's Commonwealth consists of toys;
   His Councel are those antique Boys,
      Games, Laughter, Sports, Delights,
   That triumph with him on these Nights:
      To whom we must give way,
For now their Reign begins, and lasts till day.
   They sweeten Hymen's War,
      And, in that Jar,
   Make all, that married be,
      Perfection see.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star:

Why stays the Bridegroom to invade
   Her, that would be a Matron made?
      Good-night, whil'st yet we may
   Good-night, to you a Virgin, say:
      To morrow, rise the same

Your (d) Mother is, and use a nobler Name.
   Speed well in Hymen's War,
      That, what you are,
   By your perfection, we
      And all may see.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star.

(d) A wife,
or ma-
tron:
which is a
name of
more dig-
nity,
than Vir-
gin, D. Heins, in Nup. Ottonis Heurnii, Cras matri similis tuæ redibis.

344	Masques.

To Night is Venus Vigil kept.
   This Night no Bridegroom ever slept;
      And if the fair Bride do,
   That married say, 'tis his fault, too.
      Wake then; and let your lights
Wake too: for they'll tell nothing of your Nights.
   But, that in Hymen's War,
      You perfect are.
   And such perfection, we
      Do pray, should be.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star.

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That, ere the rosie-finger'd morn
   Behold nine Moons, there may be born
      A Babe, t'uphold the Fame
   Of Radcliffe's Blood, and Ramsey's Name:
      That may, in his great Seed,
Wear the long honours of his Fathers deed.
   Such fruits of Hymen's War
      Most perfect are;
   And all perfection, we
      Wish, you should see.
Shine Hesperus, shine forth, thou wished Star.

T H E