THe King, and Queenes Maiesty, hauing giuen their command for the Inuention of a new argument, with the whole change of the Scene, wherein her Maiesty, with the like number of her Ladies, purposed a presentation to the King. It was agreed, it should be the celebration of some Rites, done to the Goddesse Chloris, who in a generall counsell of of the Gods, was proclaim'd Goddesse of the flowers, according to that of Ouid, in the Fasti.

And was to bee stellified on Earth, by an ab­solut decree from Iupiter, who would haue the Earth to be adorn'd with starres, as well as the Heauen.

The ornament, which went about the Scene, was composed of Foliage, or leaues heightned with gold, and enterwouen with all sorts of flowers; and naked children, playing, and climbing among the branches; and in the midst, a great garland of flowers, in which was writ­ten, CHLORIDIA.

[Page] The Curtaine being drawne vp, the Scene is discouer'd, consisting of pleasant hills, planted with young trees, and all the lower bankes a­dorned with flowers. And from some hollow parts of those hills, Fountaynes come gliding downe, which, in the farre-of Land-shape, seem'd all to be conuerted to a riuer.

Ouer all, a serene skie, with transparent clouds, giuing a great lustre to the whole worke, which did imitate the pleasant Spring.

VVhen the Spectators had enough fed their eyes, with the delights of the Scene, in a part of the ayre, a bright cloud begins to breake forth; and in it, is sitting a plumpe Boy, in a changea­ble garment, richly adorn'd, representing the mild Zephyrus. On the other side of the Scene, in a purplish cloud, appeareth the Spring, a beau­tifull Mayde, her vpper garment greene, vnder it, a white robe wrought with flowers; A gar­land on her head.

Here Zephyrus begins his dialogue, calling her forth, and making narration of the Gods decree at large, which shee obeyes, pretending, it is come to Earth already: and there begun to bee [Page] executed, by the Kings fauour, who assists with all bounties, that may bee eyther vrg'd, as causes, or reasons of the Spring.

At which, Zephyrus passeth away through the ayre, and the Spring descendeth to the Earth: and is receiu'd by the Naiades, or Napeae; who are the Nymph's, Fountaynes, and Seruants of the season—

The Song ended, the Nymphs fall into a dance, to their voyces, and instruments, and so returne into the Scene.

A part of the vnder ground opening, out of it enters a Dwarfe-Post from Hell, riding on a Cur­tall, with clouen feete, and two Lacqueys: These dance, & make the first entry of the Antimasque. Hee alights, and speakes.

Hold my stirrop, my one Lacquey; and looke to my Curtall, the other: walke him well, Sirrah, while I ex­patiate [Page] my selfe here in the report of my office! oh the Furies! how I am ioyed with the title of it! Postil­lion of Hell! yet no Mercury. But a mere Cacodae­mon, sent hether with a packet of newes! newes! neuer was Hell so furnished of the commodity of newes! Loue hath bin lately there, and so entertained by Pluto, and Proserpine, and all the Grandees of the place as, it is there perpetuall Holy-day: and a cessation of torment granted, and proclaimed for euer! Halfe-famish'd Tantalus is fallen to his fruit, with that appetite, as it threaten's to vndoe the whole company of Costard­mungers, and ha's ariuer afore him, running excellent wine lxion is loos'd from his wheele, and turn'd Dancer, does nothing but cut capreols, fetch friskals, and leades Laualtos, with the Lamiae! Sisyphus ha's left rowling the stone, and is growne a M^r. bowler; challenges all the prime gamesters, Parsons in hell, and giues them odds: vpon Tityus his brest, that (for fixe of the nine aeres) is counted the subtlest bowling-ground in all Tartary. All the Furies are at a game call'd nine pins, or keilles, made of old vsurers bones, and their soules looking on with delight, and betting on the game. Neuer was there such freedome of sport. Danaus daughters haue broke their bottomelesse tubs, and made bonfires of them. All is turn'd triumph there. Had hell gates bin kep't with halfe that strictnesse as the entry here ha's bin to night, [Page] Pluto would haue had but a cola Court, & Proserpine a thinne presence, though both haue a vast territory We had such a stirre to get in, I and my Curtall, and my two Lacqueys all ventur'd through the eye of a Spanish needle, we had neuer come in else, & that was by the fa­uour of one of the guard who was a womans-tayler, and held ope the passage. Cupid by commission hath carried Iealoufie from Hell, Disdaine, Feare, and Dissimula­tion, with other Goblins, to trouble the Gods. And I am sent after post, to rayse Tempest, Windes, Lightnings, Thunder, Rayne, and Snow, for some new exployt they haue against the Earth, and the Goddesse Chloris, Queene of the flowers, and Mistris of the Spring. For ioy of which I will returne to my selfe, mount my Bidet, in a dance; and coruet vpon my Curtall.

The speech ended, the Postillion mounts his Curtall, and with his Lacqueys, danceth forth as hee came in.

Cupid, Jealousy, Disdaine, Feare, and Dissimula­tion, dance together.

The Queenes Dwarfe, richly apparrel'd, as [Page] a Prince of Hell, attended by 6 infernall Spirits; He first danceth alone, and then the Spirits: all ex­pressing their ioy, for Cupids comming among them.

Here the Scene changeth, into a horrid storme. Out of which enters the Nymph Tempest, with foure Windes. they dance.

Lightnings, 3 in number, their habits gliste ring, expressing that effect, in their motion.

Thunder alone dancing the tunes to a noyse, mixed, and imitating thunder.

Rayne, presented by 5 persons all swolne, and clouded ouer, their hayre flagging, as if they were wet, and in their hands, balls full of sweete water, which, as they dance, sprinkle all the roome.

Seuen with rugged white heads, and beards, [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] to expresse Snow, with flakes on their garments, mix'd wi [...]h hayle. These hauing danced, returne into the stormy Scene, whence they came.

Here, by the prouidence of Iuno, the tempest on an instant ceaseth: And the Scene is changed into a delicious place, figuring the bowre of Chloris. Where, in an arbour fayn'd of Gold-smiths worke, the ornament of which was borne vp with Termes of Satyres, beautify'd with Festones, garlands, and all sorts of fragrant flowers. Beyond all this, in the skie a farre of appear'd a Rainebow, In the most eminent place of the Bowre, sate the Goddesse Chloris, accompanied with fourteene Nymphs, their apparrell white, embroydered, with siluer, trim'd at the shoulders with great leaues of greene, embroydered with gold, falling one vnder the o­ther. And of the same worke were their bases, their head-'tires of flowers, mix'd with siluer, and gold, with some sprigs of Aegrets among, and from the top of their dressing, a thinne vayle han­ging downe.

All which beheld,

Which ended, the Goddesse, and her Nymphs de­scend the degrees, into the roome, and dance the entry of the grand-masque.

Which done,

The farther Prospect of the Scene changeth into ayre, with a low Land-shape, in part couered with clouds: And in that instant, the Heauen opening, Iuno, and Iris are seene, and aboue them many aery spirits, sitting in the cloudes.

Fame, being hidden in the clouds, the hill sinkes: and the Heauen closeth.