THE MASQUE ОГ THE INNER-TEMPLE AND GRAY'S INN, GRAY'S INN AND THE INNER-TEMPLE; Presented before His Majesty, the Queen's Majesty, the Prince, Count Palatine and the Lady Elizabeth their Highnesses, in the Banqueting-House at Whitehall, on Saturday the 20th day of February, 1612. This Masque was undoubtedly the production of Beaumont alone. There is a quarto edition of it without a date; and it is also printed in the folio of 16-17. DEDICATION. To the Worthy Sir Francis Bacon, His Majesty's Solicitor-General; and the Grave and Learned Bench of the anciently-allied Houses of Gray's Inn and the Inner-Temple, the Inner-Temple and Gray's Inn. : YOU that spared no time nor travel, in the setting forth, ordering, and furnishing of this Masque, (being the first fruits of honour, in this kind, which these two Societies have offered to his majesty), will not think much now to look back upon the effects of your own care and work for that whereof the success was then doubtful, is now happily performed and graciously accepted; and that which you were then to think of in straits of time, you may now peruse at leisure: and you, Sir Francis Bacon, especially, as you did then by your countenance and loving affection advance it, so let your good word grace it and defend it, which is able to add value to the greatest and least matters. VOL. III. 1 D INTRO INTRODUCTION. THIS Masque was appointed to have been presented the Shrove-Tuesday before', at which time the masquers with their attendants, and divers other gallant young gentlemen of both houses, as their convoy, set forth from Winchester-house (which was the rendezvous) towards the court, about seven of the clock at night. This voyage by water was performed in great triumph; the gentlemen masquers being placed by themselves in the king's royal barge, with the rich furniture of state, and adorned with a great number of lights placed in such order as might make best show. They were attended with a number of barges and gallies, with all variety of loud musick, and several peals of ordnance, and led by two admirals. Of this show his majesty was graciously pleased to take a view, with the prince, the count Palatine, and the lady Elizabeth their highnesses, at the windows of his privy gallery, upon the water, till their landing, which was at the privy stairs; where they were most honourably received by the lord chamberlain, and so conducted to the vestry. The hall was by that time filled with company of very good fashion, but yet so as a very great number of principal ladies, and other noble persons, were not yet come in, whereby it was foreseen that the room would be so scanted as might have been inconvenient; and thereupon his majesty was most graciously pleased, with the consent of the gentlemen masquers, to put off the night until Saturday following, with this special favour and privilege, that there should be no let, as to the outward ceremony of magnificence until that time. At the day that it was presented, there was a choice room reserved for the gentlemen of both their houses, who, coming in troop about seven of the clock, received that special honour and noble favour, as to be brought to their places by the right honourable the earl of Northampton, lord-privy-seal. 'This Masque was appointed, &c.] The marriage of the count Palatine of the Rhine with the lady Elizabeth, daughter to James I., was celebrated on Valentine's Day, in the year 1613. The Masque then exhibited by the gentlemen of Gray's Inn and the Inner-Temple was perf rmed with much splendor and magnificence, and at a great expence to both those societies. In Dugdale's Origines Juridiciales, 1671, p. 286, we find the following accounts of the charges attending this representation, extracted from the records of each society.— Gray's Inn. In the 10th of King James, the gentlemen of this house were (together with those of the other inns of court) actors in that great Masque at Whitehall, at the marriage of the king's eldest daughter unto Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine; the charge in apparel for the actors in which Masque, was supported by the society; the readers being each man assessed at 4.; the ancients, and such as at that time were to be called ancients, at 24. 10s. apiece; the barristers at 2. a man; and the students at 20s.; out of which so much was to be taken as the Inner-Temple did then allow. Which being performed, there was an order made, 18 Maii then next following, that the gentlemen who were actors in that Masque should bring in all their masqueing apparel, so provided at the charge of the house.' Ibid. p. 346. Lincoln's Inn. The third upon a Masque in 11 Jac. presented by this " society before the king, at the marriage of the lady Elizabeth his daughter, to the prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine, which cost no less than mlxxxvil. 8s. 11d. R. THE THE MASQUE OY THE INNER-TEMPLE AND GRAY'S INN, GRAY'S INN AND THE INNER-TEMPLE. THE DEVISE OR ARGUMENT. JUPITER and Juno, willing to do honour to the marriage of the two famous rivers, Thamesis and Rhine, employ their messengers severally, Mercury and Iris, for that purpose. They meet and contend: then Mercury, for his part, brings forth an anti-masque all of spirits or divine natures; but yet not of one kind or livery (because that had been so much in use heretofore) but, as it were, in consort, like to broken music: and preserving the pro, riety of the devise; for that rivers in nature are maintained either by springs from beneath, or showers from above, he raiseth four of the Naiades out of the fountains, and bringeth down five of the Hyades out of the clouds, to dance. Hereupon, Iris scoffs at Mercury, for that he had devised a dance but of one sex, which could have no life: but Mercury, who was provided for that exception, and in token that the match should be blessed both with love and riches, calleth forth out of the groves four Cupids, and brings down from Jupiter's altar four statues of gold and silver to dance with the nymphs and stars: in which dance, the Cupids being blind, and the statues having but half life put into them, and retaining still somewhat of their old nature, giveth fit occasion to new and strange varieties both in the music and paces. This was the first anti-masque. Then Iris, for her part, in scorn of this high-flying devise, and in token that the match shall likewise be blessed with the love of the common people, calls to Flora, her confederate (for that the months of flowers are likewise the months of sweet showers and rainbows) to bring in a May dance, or rural dance, consisting likewise not of any suited persons, but of a confusion or commixture of all such persons as are natural and proper for country sports. This is the second anti-masque. Then Mercury and Iris, after this vieing one upon the other, seem to leave their contention; and Mercury, by the consent of Iris, brings down the Olympian knights, intimating, that Jupiter having, after a long discontinuance, revived the Olympian games, and summoned thereunto from all parts the liveliest and activest persons that were, had enjoined them, before they fell to their games, to do honour to these nuptials. The Olympian games portend to the match celebrity, victory, and felicity. This was the main masque. The fabric was a mountain with two descents, and severed with two traverses. At the entrance of the king, the first traverse was drawn, and the lower descent of the mountain discovered, which was the pendant of a hill to life, with divers boscages and grovets upon the steep or hanging grounds thereof; and at the foot of the hill, four delicate fountains running with water, and bordered with sedges and water flowers. Iris first appeared; and presently after Mercury, striving to overtake her. Iris appareled in a robe of discoloured taffeta, figured in variable colours, like the rainbow, a cloudy wreath on her head, and tresses. Mercury in doublet and hose of white taffeta, a white hat, wings on his shoulders and feet, his caduceus in his hand, speaking to Iris as followeth : Mercury. STAY, stay! Stay, light-foot Iris! for thou striv'st in vain; My wings are nimbler than thy feet. Iris. Away, Dissembling Mercury! my messages Ask honest haste; not like those wanton ones Merc. Stay, foolish maid! 2 Curst;] i. e. Cross, peevish. The word occurs in Philaster, and several other places. 4 D 2 Iris. Iris. Hermes, forbear! Juno will chide Is great Jove jealous that I am employ'd [thunder, Iris. But what hath he to do with nuptial rites? Let him keep state upon his starry throne, And fright poor mortals with his thunderbolts, Leaving to us the mutual darts of eyes! Merc. Alas, when ever offer'd he t'abridge Your lady's power, but only now, in these, Whose match concerns his general government? Hath not each god a part in these high joys? And shall not he, the king of gods, presume Without proud Juno's licence? Let her know, That when enamour'd Jove first gave her power To link soft hearts in undissolving bands, Still as a rock, while I, to bless this feast, (Hung with the dew of blessing and increase) The greedy rivers take their nourishment. Ye nymphs, who bathing in your loved springs, Beheld these rivers in their infancy, And joy'd so see them, when their circled heads Refresh'd the air, and spread the ground with flowers; [feet Rise from your wells, and with your nimble Perform that office to this happy pair, Which in these plains you to Alpheus did, When passing hence, thro' many seas unmix'd, He gain'd the favour of his Arethuse! Immediately upon which speech, four Naiades arise gently out of their several fountains, and present themselves upon the stage, attired in long habits of sea-green taffeta, with bubbles of crystal intermixt with powdering of silver resembling drops of water, blewish tresses on their heads, garlands of water-lilies. They fall into a measure, dance a little, then make a stand. Iris. Is Hermes grown a lover? By what power, Unknown to us, calls he the Naiades? Merc. Presumptuous Iris, I could make thee dance, "Till thou forgot'st thy lady's messages, And ran'st back crying to her! Thou shalt know My power is more; only my breath, and this, Shall move fix'd stars, and force the firmament To yield the Hyades, who govern showers, And dewy clouds, in whose dispersed drops Thou form'st the shape of thy deceitful bow. Ye maids, who yearly at appointed times Advance with kindly tears the gentle floods, Descend, and pour your blessing on these streams, Which, rolling down from Heav'n-aspiring hills, And now united in the fruitful vales, Bear all before them, ravish'd with their joy, And swell in glory, till they know no bounds! Five Hyades descend softly in a cloud from the firmament, to the middle part of the hill, appareled in sky-coloured taffeta robes, spangled like the heavens, golden tresses, and each a fair star on their head; from thence descend to the stage, at whose sight the Naiades secming to rejoice, meet and join in a dance. Iris. Great wit and power hath Hermes, to contrive A lifeless dance, which of one sex consists! Merc. Alas, poor Iris! Venus hath in store A secret ambush of her winged boys; Who lurking long within these pleasant groves, First struck these lovers with their equal darts; Those Cupids shall come forth, and join with these To honour that which they themselves began, Enter four Cupids from each side of the bos cage, attired in flame-coloured taffeta close to their body, like naked boys, with bows, arrows, and wings of gold; chaplets of flowers on their heads, hoodwinked with tiffany scarfs, who join with the nymphs and the Hvades in another dance. That ended, Mercury speaks. Merc. Behold the statues which wise Vulcan plac❜d3 Under the altar of Olympian Joy, And gave to them an artificial life, Iris. Behold, &c.] The argument, as well as what follows, proves beyond contradiction that this speech belongs to Mercury, though hitherto erroneously allotted to Iris. Shall Shall dance for joy of these great nuptials. See how they move, drawn by this heav'nly joy, Like the wild trees, which follow'd Orpheus' harp! The Statues enter, supposed to be before descended from Jove's altar, and to have been prepared in the covert with the Cupids, attending their call. These Statues were attired in cases of gold and silver close to their bodies, faces, hands, and feet, nothing seen but gold and silver, as if they had been solid images of metal, tresses of hair as they had been of metal embossed, girdles and small aprons of oaken leaves, as if they likewise had been carved or moulded out of the metal: at their coming, the musick changed from violins to hautboys, cornets, &c., and the air of the musick was utterly turned into a soft time, with drawing notes, excellently expressing their natures, and the measure likewise was fitted unto the same, and the Statues placed in such several postures, sometimes all together in the centre of the dance, and sometimes in the four utmost angles, as was very graceful, besides the novelty. And so concluded the first anti-inasque. Merc. And what will Juno's Iris do for her? Iris. Just match this show, or my inven- Had it been worthier, I would have invok'd The second anti-masque rush in, dance their Shall dance for joy of these great nuptials: The dance likewise was of the same strain; and the dancers, or rather actors, expressed every one their part so naturally and aptly, as when a man's eye was caught with the one, and then past on to the other, he could not satisfy himself which did best. It pleased his majesty to call for it again at the end, as he did likewise for the first anti-masque; but one of the Statues by that time was undressed. Merc. Iris, we strive, Like winds at liberty, who should do worst Iris. Hermes, so it may be done Or call together all the ends of earth, A thousand yielding clouds, and never stay'd 'Till his high will was done: the Olympian games, Which long have slept, at these wish'd nuptials He pleas'd to have renew'd, and all his knights Are gather'd hither, who within their tents Rest on this hill; upon whose rising head Behold Jove's altar, and his blessed priests Moving about it! Come, you holy men, And with your voices draw these youths along, That'till Jove's music call them to their games, Their active sports may give a blest content To those, for whom they are again begun. The main Masque.-The second traverse is drawn, and the higher ascent to the mountain is discovered; wherein, upon a level, after a great rise of the hill, were placed two pavillions: open in the front of them, the pavillions were to sight as of cloth of gold, and they were trimmed on the inside with rich armour and military furniture, banged up as upon the walls; and behind the tents there were represented, in prospective, the tops of divers other tents, as if it had been a camp. In these pavillions were placed fifteen Olympian knights, upon seats a little embowed near the form of a crescent, and the knights appeared And gave to them an artificial life.] The transposition of these lines seems indispensably necessary. Who should do worst.] The sense seems to require us to read most for worst; unless it means which should worst the other. |