HYMENAEI: OR The Solemnities of Masque, and Barriers,

Magnificently performed on the eleventh, and twelfth Nights, from Christmas;

At Court:

To the auspicious celebrating of the Marriage-vnion, betweene Robert, Earle of Essex, and the Lady Frances, second Daughter to the most noble Earle of Suffolke.

By BEN: IONSON.

Iam veniet Virgo, iam dicetur Hymenaeus.

AT LONDON Printed by Valentine Sims for Thomas Thorp. 1606.

HYMENAEI.

IT is a noble and iust advan­tage, that the things subje­cted to Vnderstanding have of those which are objec­ted to Sense, that the one sorte are but momentarie, and meerely taking; the other impressing, and la­sting: Else the Glory of all these Solemnities had perish'd like a Blaze, and gone out, in the Be­holders eyes. So short-liv'd are the Bodies of all Thinges, in comparison of their Soules. And, though Bodies oft-times have the ill lucke to be sensually preferr'd, they find afterwards, the good fortune (when Soules live) to be vtterly forgotten. This it is hath made the most royall Princes, and greatest Persons, (who are commonly the Persona­ters of these Actions) not onely studious of Riches, and Magnificence in the outward Celebration, or Shew; (which rightly becomes them) but curi­ous after the most high, and hearty Inventions, to furnish the inward parts: (and those grounded vp­on Antiquitie, and solide Learnings) which, though their Voyce be taught to sound to present Occasi­ons, their Sense, or dooth, or should alwayes lay holde on more remov'd Mysteries. And, howsoe­ver some may squeamishly cry out, that all Ende­vor of Learning, and Sharpnesse in these transitory [Page] Devises especially, where it steppes beyond their little, or (let me not wrong 'hem) no Braine at all is superfluous; I am contented, these fastidious Stomachs should leave my full Tables, and enioy at home, their cleane empty Trenchers, fittest for such airy Tasts: where perhaps a few Italian Herbs, pick'd vp, & made into a Sallade, may find sweeter acceptance, than al, the most norishing, and sound Meates of the world.

For these Mens palates, let not mee answere, O Muses. It is not my fault, if I fill them out Nectar, and they runne to Metheglin. ‘Vaticana bibant, si delectentur.’

All the curtesie I can doe them, is to cry, againe; ‘Praetereant, si quid non facit ad stomachum.’

As I wil, from the thought of them, to my bet­ter Subject.

ON the Night of the Masques (which were two, One of Men, the Other of Women) the Scene being drawne, there was first discovered an Altar; vpon which was inscribed, in Letters of Gold.

Mystically implying, that both It, the Place, and all the succeed­ing Ceremonies vvere sacred to Marriage, or VNION; over vvhich IVNO vvas praesident: to vvhom there vvas the like Altar erec­ted, at Rome, as she vvas called IVGA IVNO, in the Street, vvhich thence, vvas named lugarius. See Fest. and, at vvhich Altar, the Rite vvas to ioyne the maried Paire vvith bands of silke, in signe of future Concord.
I. oni. O. imae. M. imae. VNIONI SACR.

To this Altar entred five Pages, attir'd in white, [Page] bearingThose vvere the Quinque Cer [...]i, vvhich Plutarch in his Quaest. Roman. mentions to be vsed in Nup ti [...]lls. five Tapers of Virgine Waxe; Behinde them, One representing a Bridegroome: HisThe dressing of the Bride­groome (vvith the Antients) vvas chiefly noted in that, quód tondere­tur. lu. Sat. 6. lám (que) à Tonsore magistro Pecteris. And Lucan. li. 2. VVhere he makes Cato negligent of the Ceremonies in Marriage, sayth, Ille nec horrificam sancto dimovit abore Caesar [...]em. haire short, and bound with party-coloured ribbands, and gold twist: His Garments purple, and white.

On the other hand, entred HYMEN (the God of Marriage) in a saffron-coloured Robe, his vnder-Vestures white, his Sockes yellow, a yellow Veile of silke on his left arme, his Head crowned with Roses, andSee hovv he is called out, by Catullus in Nupt. Iul. & Manl. Cinge tempora floribus Suave olentis amaraci &c. Marioram, in his right hand a Torch ofFor so I preserve the Reading, there, in Catull. P [...]eam quate taedam, rather than to change it Spineam; and mooved by the authoritie of Virg. in Ciri, vvhere he sayes, Pronuba nec castos incendet Pinus amores: and Ovid. Fast. lib [...]. Expectet puros pinea taeda dies. Though I deny not, there vvas also Spineataeda, vvhich Plinie calles Nuptiarum facibus auspicatissimam. Nat. Hist lib. 16. cap 18. and vvhereof Sextus Pompeius Fest. hath left so particular testimonie. For vvhich, see the follovving Note. Pine tree.

After himThis (by the Antients) vvas called Camil­lus, quasi Mini­ster (for so that signified in the Hetruriā tong) and vvas one of the three, vvhich by Sex. Pompei. vvere said to be Pa­trimi & Matrimi, Pueri praete [...]tati tres, qui nubentem deducunt: Vnus, qui facem praefert ex spinâ albâ, Duo qui tenent nubentem. To vvhich conferre that of Varr. lib. 6. de lin­gua Lat. Dicitur in nuptijs Camillus, qui Cumerum fert: as also that of Fest. lib. 3. Cume­ram vocabant Antiqui vas quoddam, quod opertum in Nuptijs ferebant, in qu [...] erant nuben­tis vtensilia, quod & Camillum dicebant [...] [...] quod sacrorum Ministrum [...] appell [...] ­bant. a Youth, attired in white, bearing another Light, of white Thorne; vnder his arme, a litle wicker-Flasket, shut: Behind him two Others, in white, the one bearing a Distaffe, the other a Spindle. Betwixt these a Personated Bride, suppor­ted, her haire flowing, and loose, sprinckled with grey; on her head a Gyrland of Roses, like a Tur­ret; her Garments white: and, on her back, a Wea­thers [Page] Fleece hanging downe: Her Zone, or Girdle about her waste of white wooll, fastned with the Herculean Knot.

In the middst went theAuspices vver those that hād fasted the ma­ried Couple; that vvished thē good lucke; that took care for the Dowry: and heard thē professe that they came to­gether, for the Cause of Children. Iuven. Sat 10. Veniet cum signatoribus Auspex. And Lucan. lib. 2. Iun­gunturtaciti, contenti (que) Auspice Bruto. They vvere also stilld Pronubi, Proxenetae, P [...] ­ranymphi. Auspices; after them, two that sung, in severall colored silks. Of which, One bore the Water, the Other the Fire: Last of all theThe Custome of Musike at Nuptials, is cleare in all Antiquitie. Ter. Adel. Act. 5. Verum hoc mihi mora est, Tibicina, & Hym [...]n [...]um qui cantent. And Claud. in Epithal. Ducant pervigiles carmina Tibiae &c. Musitians, diversly attired, all crowned with Roses; and, with this Song beganne.

SONG.

BId all profane away;
None here may stay
To view our Mysteries,
But, who themselues have beene,
Or will, in Time, be seene
The selfe-same Sacrifice.
For VNION, Mistris of these Rites,
Will be observ'd with Eyes,
As simple as her Nights.
Chorus.
Flie then, all profane, away,
Flie farre off, as hath the Day;
Night her Cortine doth display,
And this is HYMENS Holiday.

[Page] The Song being ended, HYMEN presented him selfe formost; and, after some signe of Admiration, beganne to speake.

HYMEN.
VVHat more than vsuall Light
(Throughout the Place extended)
Makes IVNO'S Fane so bright!
Is there some greater Deitie descended?
Orraigne, on earth, those Powers
So rich, as with their beames
Grace VNION more than our's;
And bound her Influence, in their happier streames?
Tis so: This same is he,
The King, and Priest of Peace!
And that his Empresse, she,
That sits so crowned with her owne increase!
O you, whose better Blisses,
Have proov'd the strict embrace
Of VNION, with chaste kisses,
And seene it flowe so in your happy Race;
That know, how well it bindes
The fighting Seedes of Things,
Winnes Natures, Sexes, Mindes,
And ev'ry discord in true Musique brings:
Sit now propitious Aydes,
To Rites, so duely priz'd;
And view two Noble Maydes,
Of different Sexe, to VNION sacrifiz'd.
In honour of that blest Estate,
Which all Good Mindes should celebrate.

Here out of a Microcosme, or Globe (figuring Man) with a kind of contentious Musique, issued forth the first Masque, of eight Men, whose Names in order, as they were then Marshalled, by Cou­ples, I have Heraldry enough to set downe.

  • 1 L. WILLOVGHBY.
  • 2 LO. WALDEN.
  • 3 Sir IAMES HAY.
  • 4 Ear. of MONGOMERY.
  • Sir THOMAS HOVVARD.
  • Sir THOMAS SOMERSET.
  • Ear. of ARVNDELL.
  • Sir IOHN ASHLY.

These represented the foureThat they vvere persona­ted in m [...]n, [...]ath (already) come vnder some Gramatical exception. [...]ut there is more than Gramar to release it. For, besides that Humores and Affectus are both Masculine in Genere, not one of the Spe [...] [...]lls, but in some Language is knovvne by a Masculine vvord: Againe, vvhen their I [...]ences are common to both Sexes, and more generally impetuous in the Male, I see not, vvhy they should not, so, be more properly presented. And, for the Allegory, though here it be very cleare, and such as might vvell escape a Candle, yet because there are some, must complain of Darknes, that have but thick Eies, I am contented to hold them this L [...]h [...] First, as in Naturall Bodies, so likevvise in Mindes, there is no disease, or distemperature, but is caused either by som abounding Humor, or perverse Affection; After the same maner, in Poli [...]ke Bodies (vvhere Order, Ceremony, State, Reve­re [...]e, Devotion, are Parts of the Mind) by the diffrence, or praedominant Wil of vvhat vve (Meta [...]horically) call Humors, and Affections, all things are troubled and confusd. These, ther [...]ore, were Tropically brought in, before Marriage, as disturbers of that Mysticall Body, and the Rit [...]s, vvhich vvere Soule vnto it; that aftervvards, in Marriage, being dut [...]ully temp [...]ed by hir Power, they might more fully celebrate the happines of such as live in that svveet Vnion, to the harmonious Lavvs of Nature, and Reason. Humors, & foure Affections, all gloriously attired, distinguisht only, [Page] by their severall Ensignes, and Colours; And, daun­cing out on the Stage, in their returne, at the end of their Daunce, drew all their swordes, offered to encompasse the Altar, and disturbe the Ceremonies. at which HYMEN troubled, spake,

HYMEN.
SAve, save the Virgins; Keepe your hal [...]ow'd Lights
Vntouch'd: And with their flame defend our Rites.
The foure vntempred Humors are broke out:
And, with their wild Affections, goe about
To ravish all Religion. If there be
A Power, like REASON, left in that huge Bodie,
Or little World of Man, from whence these came,
Looke forth, and with thy bright and
Alluding to that opinion of Pythagoras; vvho held all Reason, all Kn [...]wledge, all Discourse of the Soule to be mere Number. See Plut. de Plac. Phil.
numerous flame
Instruct their Darkenesse, make them know, and see,
In wronging these, they have rebell'd gainst thee.

Hereat, REASON seated in the top of the Globe (as in the braine, or highest parte of Man) figur'd in a venerable Personage, her haire white, and tray­ling to her waste, crowned with Lights, her Gar­ments blew, and semined with Star [...]es, girded vn­to her with a white Bend, fill'd with Arithmeticall Figures, in one hand bearing a Lampe, in the o­ther a bright Sword, descended, and spake.

REASON.
FOrbeare your rude attempt; what Ignorance
Could yeelde you so profane, as to advance
One thought in Act, against these Mysteries?
[Page] Are VNION'S
[...], vvith the Greekes value the same, that Ceremoniae vvith the La­tines; and im­ply all sorts of Rites: howso­euer (abusive­ly) they have beene made particular to Bacc [...]us. See Serv. to that of Vir. Aene [...]d. 4. qualis com­motis excita sacris Thyas.
Orgies of so slender price?
She that makes Soules, with Bodies, mixe in Love,
Contracts the World in one, and therein IOVE;
Is
Mac. in som. Scipion. lib. 1.
Spring, and End of all Things yet, most strange!
Her selfe nor suffers Spring, nor End, nor Change.
No wonder, they were you, that were so bold;
For none but Humors and Affections would
Have dar'd so rash a venture. You will say
It was your Zeale, that gave your powers the sway;
And vrge the masqued, and disguisd pretence
Of saving Bloud, and succ'ring Innocence?
So want of Knowledge, still, begetteth iarres,
When humorous Earthlings will controle the Starres.
Informe your selves, with safer Reverence,
To these mysterious Rites, whose mysticke sense
REASON (which all things but it selfe) confounds)
Shall cleare vnto you, from th'authentique grounds.

At this, the Humors & Affections sheathed their swordes, and retir'd amazed to the sides of the Stage, while HYMEN began to ranke the Persons, and order the Ceremonies: And REASON procee­ded to speake.

REASON.
THe Paire, which doe each other side,
Though (yet) some space doth them divide,
This happy Night must both make one
Blest Sacrifice, to VNION.
Nor is this Altar hut a Signe
Of one more soft, and more divine
[Page] The
Properly that, vvhich vvas made ready for the nevv-married Bride, and vvas calld Genialis, à Generandis liberis. Ser. in [...]. Aeneid.
Geniall Bed, where HYMEN keepes
The solemne Orgies, voyd of sleepes:
And wildest CVPID, waking, hovers
With adoration 'twixt the Lovers.
The Tead of white, and blooming Thorne,
In token of increase is borne:
As
See Ovid. Fast. lib. 6. Sic fatus, spinam, quâ tristes pel­lere pesset A fo­ribu [...] noxas, [...]aec [...]rat alba, dedi [...].
also, with the omenous Light,
To fright all Malice from the Night.
Like are the
Plutarch. in Quaest. Rom. And Var. lib. 4 de ling. Lat.
Fire, and Water set;
That, ev'n as Moysture, mixt with Heate,
Helpes every Naturall Birth, to life;
So, for their Race, ioyne Man, and Wife.
The
P [...]n. Nat. Hist. li. 21. ca. 8
blushing Veyle shewes shamefastnesse
Th'ingenuous Virgin should professe
At meeting with the Man: Her Haire
That
Pomp. Fest. Br [...]ss Hotto. de Rit. Nup.
flowes so liberall, and so faire,
Is shed with grey, to intimate
She entreth to a Matrons state.
For which those
Var lib. 6. de ling. Lat. and Fest. in Frag.
Vtensills are borne.
And, that shee should not Labour scorne,
Her selfe a
Fest. ibid.
Snowie Fleece doth weare,
And these her
Plutarch. in Quaest. Rom. & in Romul.
Rocke and Spindle beare,
To shew, that Nothing, which is good,
Gives checke vnto the highest blood.
The
Plin. Nat. Hist. li. 8. ca. 48
Zone of wooll about her waste,
Which, in contrary Circles cast,
Doth meete in one
That vvas Nodus Hercu­leanus, vvhich the Husband, at night, vntied in signe of good fortune, that hee might be happie in propagation of Issue, as Hercules vvas, vvho left seventie Children. See Fest. in voc. Cingul.
strong knot, that bindes,
Tells you, so should all Married Mindes.
[Page] And lastly, these five Waxen Lights
Imply Perfection in the Rites;
For
Plutarch. in Quaest. Rom.
Five the speciall Number is,
Whence halow'd VNION claymes her blisse.
As being all the Summe, that growes
From the vnited strengths, of those
Which
See Mart. Capel. lib. 6. de Nupt. Phil. & M [...]r [...]n numero Pentade.
Male, and Female Numbers wee
Do stile, and are First Two, and Three.
Which, ioyned thus, you cannot sever
In aequall partes, but One will ever
Remaine as common; so we see
The binding-force of Vnitie:
For which alone, the peace-full Gods
In Number, alwayes, love the oddes;
And even partes as much despise,
Since out of them all Discords rise.

Here, the vpper part of the Scene, which was all of Cloudes, and made artificially to swell, and ride like the Racke, beganne to open; and, the Ayre clearing, in the toppe thereof was discove­red With the Greekes; IVNO vvas interpre­ted to be the Ayre it selfe. And so Macr. de som. Scip [...]o. li. 1. c. 17. calls her. Mar. Cap. surnames her Aeria, of reigning there. IVNO, sitting in a Throne, supported by two beautifullThey vvere sacred to IVNO, in respect of their colors, and temper so like the Aire. Ovid. de Arte Amand. Laudatas ostendit a­ves Iunonia pennas And Met. li. 2. Habili Saturnia curru Ingreditur liquidum pavonibus aethera pictis. Peacockes, her attire rich, and like a Shee was call'd Regina IVNO vvith the Latines, because she vvas So­r [...]r & Coniux IOVIS, D [...]orum & h [...]minum Regis. Queene, aReade Apul. describing her, in his 10, of the Asse. white Diademe on her head, from whence descended a Veyle, and that bound with [Page] aAfter the manner of the antique Bend; the varied co­lors implying the severall mutations of the Ayre, as Shovvres, Devves, Sere­nitie, Force of vvinds, clouds Tempest, Snovv, Hayle, Lightning, Thunder, all vvhich had their noises signified in hir Timbrell: the [...]aculty of causing these be­ing ascribed to her, by Virg. Aeueid. lib. 4. vvhere he makes her say, His ego nigrantem commista grandine nimbum Desuper infundam, & tonitru Coelum omne ciebo. Fascia of severall color'd silkes, set with all sorts of Iewelles, and raisd in the top withLillies vvere sacred to IVNO, as being made vvhite vvith her milke, that fell vpon the earth, vvhen IOVE tooke HERCVLES avvay, vvhome by stealth he had layd to her Breast: the Rose vvas also cal [...]'d Iunonia. Lillies, and Roses; In her right hand she held a Scepter, in the other a Timbrell, at her golden feete theSo vvas she figur'd at Argos, as a Stepmo [...]her in­sulting on the spoyles of her two Privigni, BACCHVS, and HERCVLES. Hide of a Lion was placed: Round about her sate the Spi­rites of the ayre, in severall colours, making Mu­sique, Above her the Region of Fire, with a conti­nuall Motion, was seene to whirle circularly, and IVPITER standing in the Toppe (figuring the Hea­ven) brandishing his Thunder: Beneath her the Raine-bowe, IRIS, and, on the two sides eight La­dies, attired richly, and alike in the most celestiall colours, who represented her Powers, as she is the See Virg. Aeneid. lib. 4. IVNONI ante omnes cui vin [...]la [...]ugalia curae: and in another place, Dant signum prima & Tellus, & Pronuba IVNO: And Ovid. in Phill. Epist. IVNONEM [...] que terris quae praesidet alma Maritis. Governesse of Marriage, and made the second Masque. All which, vpon the discoverie, REASON made narration of.

REASON.
ANd see, where IVNO, whose great Name
Is VNIO, in the Anagram,
Displayes her glistering State, and Chaire,
As she enlightned all the Ayre!
Harke how the charming Tunes doe beate
In sacred Concords bout her seate!
And loe! to grace what these intend, [Page] [...] [Page] [...]
[Page] Eight of her Noblest Powers descend,
Which are
They vvere all eight call'd by particular Surnames of IVNO, ascri­bed to her for some peculiar propertie in Marriage, as somvvhere af­ter is more fit­ly declared.
enstil'd her Faculties,
That governe nuptiall Mysteries;
And weare those Masques before their faces,
Lest, dazling Mortalls with their graces
As they approach them, all Mankind
Should be, like CVPID, stroken blinde.
These ORDER waytes for, on the ground,
To keepe, that you should not confound
Their measur'd steppes, which onely move
About th' harmonious sphaere of LOVE.

The names of the eight Ladies, as they were after orderd (to the most conspicuous shew) in their Daunces, by the rule of their statures; were the

  • Co. of MONGOMERY.
  • Mi. CI. SACKVILE.
  • La. DOR. HASTINGS.
  • Co. of BEDFORD.
  • La. KNOLLES.
  • La. BERKLEY.
  • La. BLANCH SOMERSET.
  • Co. of RVTLAND.

Their Descent was made in two great Cloudes, that put forth themselves severally, and (with one measure of time) were seene to stoupe, & fall gent­ly downe vpon the Earth. The maner of their Ha­bites, came after some Statues of IVNO, no lesse ai­rie, than glorious. The dressings of their Heades, rare; so likewise of their Feete: and all full of splen­dor, soveraignety, and riches. Whilst they were descending, this Song was sung at the Altar.

SONG.

THese, these are they,
Whom Humor and Affection must obey;
Who come to decke the geniall Bower,
And bring, with them, the gratefull Hower
That crownes such Meetings, and excites
The married Paire to fresh Delights:
As Courtings, Kissings, Coyings, Oths, & Vowes,
Soft Whisperings, Embracements, all the Ioyes,
And melting Toyes,
That chaster LOVE allowes.
CHO. Hast, hast, for HESPERVS his head down bowes.

The Song ended, they daunced forth in Paires, and each Paire with a varied and noble grace; to a rare and full Musique of twelve Lutes: led on by ORDER, the Servant of REASON, who was, there, rather a Person of Ceremony, than Vse. His vnder-Garment was blew, his vpper white, and painted full of Arithmeticall, and Geometricall Figures; his Hayre, and Beard long, a Starre on his forehead, and in his hand a Geometricall Staffe: To whom, after the Daunce, REASON spake.

REASON.
COnvey them, ORDER, to their places,
And ranke them so, in severall traces,
As they may set their mixed Powers
Vnto the Musique of the Howers;
And THESE, by ioyning with them, know
In better temper how to flow:
Whilst I (from their abstracted Names)
[Page] Report the vertues of the Dames.
First
[...]his Surname IVNO receiv'd of the Sab [...]nes; from them, the Romanes gave it her: of the Speare, vvhich (in the Sabine tongue) vvas called Curis, and vvas that, vvhich they nam'd Hasta Caelibaris, vvhich had stuck in the Body of a slaine Svvord-player, and vvherewith the Brides Head vvas drest. vvhereof Fest. in Voce Celibar. gives these reasons, Vt quemadmodumilla co [...]uncta fuerit cum corpore Gladiatoris, sic ipsa cum Viro sit; vel quia Matronae IVNONIS Curitis in tute­lâ sit, quae ita app [...]llabatur à ferenda hasta: vel qu [...]d fortes vir [...]s genitur as ominetur; v [...]l qu [...]d nuptiali iure imperio viri subijcitur Nubens, quià Hasta summa armorum, & imperij est, &c. To most of vvhich Plutarch in his Quaest. R [...]m. consents, but addes a better in Romul. That vvhen they divided the Brides haire vvith the poynt of the Speare, [...], it no­ted their first Nuptialles (with the Sabines) were contracted by force, and as with Ene­mies. Hovvsoever, that it was a Custome with them, this of Ovid. Fast. lib. 2. con­firmes. Comat Virgineas hasta recurva comas.
CVRIS comes to decke the Brides faire Tresse.
Care of the oyntments
For the Surname of VNXIA, vve have Mart. Capel. his Testimony, De Nupt. Phil. & Merc [...]. libr. 2. qu [...]d vn­ctionibus praeest: As also Servius, libro quarto Aeneid. vvhere they both report it a Fashion vvith the Romanes, that before the nevv-married Brides entred the hou­ses of their Husbandes, they adorned the Postes of the Gates vvith vvoollen Tavv­dries, or Fille [...]s, and annoynted them vvith Oyles, or the fatte of Wolves, and Bores; being superstitiously possest, that such Oyntments had the vertue of ex­pelling Evilles from the Family: and thence vvere they called Vxores, quasi Vnx­ores.
VNXIA doth professe.
Shee vvas named IVGA, propter Iugum, (as Servius sayes) for the yoke vvhich vvas imposd, in Matri [...]ony, on those that vvere married, or (vvith Sex. Pomp Fest.) quòd Iuges sunt [...]usdem iugi Pares, vnde & Coniuges. or in respect of the Altar (to vvhich I have declar'd before) sacred to IVNO, in Vico Iugario.
IVGA, her office to make One of Twaine:
As shee vvas GAMELIA, in sacrificing to her, they tooke avvay the Gall, and threvv it behinde the Altar; intimating, that (after Marriage) there shoulde be knovvne, no Bitternesse, nor Hatred betvveene the ioyned Couple, vvhich might divide, or seperate them: See Plu [...]arch. Connub. Prae. This Rite I have somevvhere follovving touch'd at.
GAMELIA sees that they should so remaine.
Faire
The Title of ITERDVCA shee had amongst them, quòd ad sponsi aedes, sponsas comitabatur; or vvas a Protectresse of their journey, Mart. Capel. De Nupt. Philolog. & Mercur. libro secundo.
ITERDVCA leades the Bride her way;
And
The like of DOMIDVCA, quòd ad optatas [...] duc [...]r [...]t. Mart. ibid.
DOMIDVCA home her steppes doth stay:
[Page]
CINXIA, the same Author gives vnto her, as the De­fendresse of Maydes, vvhen they had put off their Girdle, in the Bridall Chamber; To vvhich, Festus. Cinxiae Iunonis nomen sanctum habebatur in Nuptijs, quod initio Coniu­gij solutio erat Cinguli, quo nova Nupta erat cincta. And Arnobius, a man most learned in their Ceremonies, lib. 3. advers. Gent. saith, Vnctionibus superest Vnxi [...]. Cinguloruus Cinxia replicationi.
CINXIA the Maid, quit of her Zone defends;
TELIA signifies Perfecta, or, as some translate it, Perfectrix; vvith Iul. Pol. libr. 3. O [...]omast. [...] valevves IVNO Praes [...]s Nuptiarum vvho sai h, the Attribute descends of [...], vvhich (vvith the Antients) signified Marriage, and thence, vvere they called [...], that entred into that estate. Ser­vius interprets it the same vvith GAMELIA, Aeneid. 4. ad verb. Et Iunone se­cundâ: But it implies much more, as including the faculty to mature, and perfect; See the Greeke Scholiaste on Pind. Nem. in Hym. ad Thyaeum Vliae filium Argi. [...]: that is, Nuptialls are therefore calld [...] because they effect Perf [...]ction of Life, and doe note that Ma­turity vvhich should be in Matrimony. For before Nuptialles, shee is called IVNO [...] that is, Virgo; after Nuptialls, [...], vvhich is adulta, or Perf [...]cta.
TELIA (for HYMEN) perfects all, and ends.

By this time, the Ladies were payred with the Men, and the whole Sixteene rank'd foorth, in or­der, to daunce: & were with this Song provok'd.

SONG.

NOw, now beginne to set
Your spirits in active heate;
And, since your Hands are met,
Instruct your nimble Feete,
In motions swift, and meete,
The happy ground to beate:
Chorus.
Whilst all this Roofe doth ring,
And ech discording String,
With every varied Voyce,
In VNION doth rei [...]yce.

[Page] Here, they daunced forth a most neate and cu­rious Measure, full of Subtelty and Device; which was so excellently performed, as it seemed to take away that Spirite from the Invention, which the Invention gave to it: and left it doubtfull, whether the Formes flow'd more perfectly from the Au­thors braine, or their feete. The Straines were all notably different, some of them formed into Let­ters, very signifying to the Name of the Brid­groom [...], and ended in manner of a Chaine, lin­king hands: To which, this was spoken.

REASON.
SVch was
Mentioned by HOMER, Ilia. [...]. vvhich many have interpreted diversely: all Allegorically; Pla. in Thaete­to, vnder­stands it to be the Sunne, vvhich vvhile he circles the vvorlde in his course, all thinges are safe, and preserved: Others vary it. Macrob, (to vvhose interpreta­tion, I am specially affected in my Allusion) considers it thus: in Som. Scip. libr. 1. cap. 14. Ergo cùm ex summo Deo mens, ex mente anima sit; anima ver [...] & condat, & vita compleat omnia quae sequuntur, cunctaque hic vnus fulgor illuminet, & in vniversis appareat, vt in multis speculis, [...]er ordinem positis, vultus vnus; Cumque omnia continuis succession [...]us se sequantur, degenerantia per ordinem ad imum meandi: invenietur pressius intuenti à summo Deo vsque ad vltimam rerum faecem vn [...] mutuis se vinculis religans, & nusquam interrupta connexio. Et haec est Hemeri Catena aurea, quam pendere de coelo in terras Deum ius [...]isse commemorat. To vvhich strengh and evennesle of connexion, I have not absurdly likened this vniting of Humors, and Affections, by the sacred Powers of Mariage.
the Golden Chaine let down from Hea­ven;
And not those Linkes more even,
Then these: so sweetly temper'd, so combin'd
By VNION, and refin'd.
Here no Contention, Envie, Griefe, Deceipt,
Feare, Iealousie have weight;
But all is Peace, and Love, and Faith, and Blisse:
What Harmony like this?
The Gall, behinde the Altar quite is throwne;
This Sacrifice hath none.
[Page] Now no Affections rage, nor Humors swell;
But all composed dwell.
O IVNO, HYMEN, HYMEN, IVNO! who
Can merit with you two?
Without your presence, VENVS can doe nought,
Save what with shame is bought:
No Father can himselfe a Parent show,
Nor any House with prosp'rous Issue grow.
O then! What Deities will dare
With HYMEN, or with IVNO to compare?

The speach being ended, they dissolv'd: and all tooke forth other Persons, (Men, and Women,) to daunce other Measures, Galliards, and Corranto's; the whilst this Song importun'd them to a fit Re­membrance of the Time.

SONG.

Thinke, yet, how Night doth wast,
How much of Time is past,
What more then winged hast
Your selves would take,
If you were but to tast
The ioy, the Night doth cast
(O might it ever last)
On this bright Virgin, and her happy Make.

Their Daunces yet lasting, they were the se­cond time importun'd, by Speach.

REASON.
[Page]
SSee, see! the bright
Stella Vene­ris, or VENVS, vvhich vvhen it goes before the Sunne, is call'd Phos­phorus, or Lu­cifer; vvhen it follovves, [...]esperus, or Noctifer (as Cat. translates it.) See Cic. 2. de Natu [...]Deor. Mar. Cap. de Nup. Phi. & Mer. libr. 8. The nature of this starre Pythag [...]ras first found out; and the present office Claud. expresseth in Fescen. Att [...]llens thalamis Idali­um iubar dilectus Veneri nascitur Hesperus.
Idalian Starre,
That lighteth Lovers to their Warre,
Complaines, that you her influence loose;
While thus the Night-sports you abuse.
HYMEN.
THe longing Bridegroome,
It vvas a Custome for the Man to stand there, expecting the approach of his Bride. See Hotto. de Rit. Nupt.
in the Porch,
Shewes you againe, the bated Torch;
And thrice hath IVNO
Alluding to that of Virg. Aeneid. 4. Prima & Tellus, & Pr [...] ­nuba IVNO Dant signum: fulsere ignes, & conscius aether Connubij, &c.
mixt her Ayre
With Fire, to sommon your repaire.
REASON.
SEe, now she cleane withdrawes her Light;
And (as you should) gives place to Night:
That spreades her broad, and blackest wing
Vpon the world, and comes to bring
A
Stat. in Epit. Fu [...]cra, torosq [...]e [...]eae, tenerum premit agmen Amorum. And Claud. in Epith. P [...]nnati passim pueri, quo quem (que) [...]ocavit [...]mbra, iacent. Both vvhich, prove the Antients faind many Cupids. Reade also Prop. E [...]. 29. libr. 2.
thousand severall-colour'd Loves,
Some like Sparrowes, some like Doves,
That hop about the Nuptiall-Roome,
And flutt'ring there (against you come)
Warme the chaste Bowre, which
VENVS is so induced by Stat. Claud. and others, to celebrate Nuptialls.
CYPRIA strowes,
With many a Lilly, many a Rose.
HYMEN.
[Page]
HAste therefore, haste, and call, Away:
The gentle Night is prest to pay
The vsurie of long Delights,
She owes to these protracted Rites.

At this (the whole Scene being drawne againe, and all cover'd with Cloudes, as a Night,) they left off their entermixed Daunces, and return'd to their first Places; where, as they were but begin­ing to move, this Song, the third time, vrg'd them.

SONG.

O Know to end, as to beginne:
A Minutes losse, in Love, is sinne.
These Humors will the Night out weare
In their owne Pastimes here;
You doe our Rites much wrong,
In seeking to Prolong
These outward Pleasures:
The Night hath other Treasures
Then these (though long concea'ld)
Ere day, to be reveal'd.
Then, know to end, as to beginne;
A Minutes losse, in Love, is sinne.

Here they daunc'd their last Daunces, full of ex­cellent delight and change, and, in their latter straine, fell into a faire Orbe, or Circle; REASON stan­ding in the midst, and speaking.

REASON.
[Page]
HEre stay, and let your Sports be crown'd:
The perfect'st Figure is the Round.
Nor fell you in it by adventer,
When REASON was your Guide, and Center.
This, this that beauteous
VENVS Gir­dle, mentio­ned by Homer. Il [...]. [...]. vvhich vvas fain'd to be variously vvrought vvith the Needle, and in it vvo­ven Love, De­sire, Sweetnesse, Soft Parlee, Gracefulnesse, Perswasions, & all the Powers of VENVS.
Ceston is
of Lovers many-coulor'd Blisse.
Come HYMEN, make an inner Ring,
And let the Sacrificers sing;
Cheare vp the faint, and trembling Bride,
That quakes to touch hir Bridegroom's side:
Tell her, what IVNO is to IOVE,
The same shall she be to her Love;
His Wife: which we doe rather measure
See the vvords of Ae­lius verus. in Spartian.
A Name of Dignity, then Pleasure.
Vp Youths, hold vp your Lights in ayre,
And shake abroad
So Cat. in Nup. Iul. & Manlij hath it. Viden', vt fa­ces splendid as quatiunt co­mas? and by and by after, aureas quati­un [...] comas.
their flaming haire.
Now move vnited, and, in Gate,
As you (in paires) doe front the State,
With gratefull Honors, thanke his Grace
That hath so glorified the Place:
And as, in Circle, you depart
Link'd hand in hand; So, heart in heart,
May all those Bodies still remaine
Whom he, (with so much sacred paine)
No lesse hath bound within his Realmes
Then they are with the OCEANS streames.
Long may his VNION find increase
As hee, to ours, hath deign'd his peace.

[Page] With this, to a soft straine of Musique, they pac'd once about, in their Ring, every Payre ma­king their Honors, as they came before the State: and then dissolving, went downe in Couples, led on by HYMEN, the Bride, and Auspices following, as to the Nupti [...]ll Bowre. After them, the Mu­sitians with this Song, of which, then, onely one Staffe was sung; but because I made it both in Forme, and Matter to aemulate that kinde of Poeme, which was call'dIt had the name à Tha­lamo, dictum [...]st autem, [...] [...]biculum Nuptiale primo suo significatu, [...], quod est simul genialem v [...] ­tam agere. Scal. in Poet. Epithalamium, and (by the Auntients) vs'd to be song, when the Bride was led into her Chamber, I have here set it down whole: and doe hartily forgive their ignorance whom it chanceth not to please. Hoping, that Ne­mo doctus me iubeat Thalassionem verbis dicere non Thalassionis.

EPITHALAMION.

GLad Time is at his point arriv'd,
For which Loves hopes were so long-liv'd.
Lead HYMEN, lead away;
And let no Obiect stay,
Nor Banquets, (but sweete kisses)
The Turtles from their Blisses.
This Poeme had for the most part Ver­sum interca­larem. or Carmen Amoebaeum; yet that not alvvaies one, but oftentimes varied, and sometimes neglected in the same Song, as in ours you shall finde obser­ved.
Tis CVPID calls to arme;
And this his last Alarme. [Page] [...] [Page] [...]
[Page] Shrinke not, soft VIRGIN, you will love,
Anone, what you so feare to prove.
This is no killing Warre,
To which you pressed are;
But faire and gentle strife
Which Lovers call their Life.
Tis CVPID cries to Arme;
And this his last Alarme.
Helpe Youths, and Virgins, helpe to sing
The Prize, which HYMEN here doth bring,
And did so lately
The Bride vvas alvvaies fain'd, to be ravish'd ex Gremi [...] Ma­tris; or (if she vvere vvan­ting) exproxi­mâ Nccessitu­dine. because that had suc­ceeded vvell to Romulus, vvho, by force ga [...] Wives for him, and his, from the Sa­ [...]ines. See Fest. and that of Catul. Qu [...]ra­pis teneram ad virum virgin [...].
rap
From forth the Mothers lap,
To place her by that side
Where she must long abide.
On HYMEN, HYMEN call,
This Night is HYMEN's all.
See, HESPERVS is yet in view!
What Starre can so deserve of you?
Whose light doth still adorne
Your Bride, that ere the Morne,
Shall farre more perfect bee,
And rise as bright as Hee;
When
When he is Phosphorus, yet the same Star, as I have noted before.
(like to him) her Name
Is chang'd, but not her Flame.
Hast, tender Lady, and adventer;
The cove [...]ous House would have you enter,
That it might wealthy bee,
And you, her
At the entrance of the Bride, the Custome vvas to give her the Keyes, to signifie that she vvas absolute Mistresse of the Place, and the vvhole Disposition of the Familie at her Care, Fest.
Mistresse see:
[Page] Hast your owne good to meete;
Aud
This vvas also an other Rite; that she might not touch the Threshold as she entred, but vvas lifted o­ver it. Servius saith, because it vvas sacred to VESTA. Plut. in. Quaest. Rom. remem­bers divers causes. But that, vvhich I take to come nearest the truth, vvas on­ly the avoy­ding of Sorce­rous Drugs, vs'd by Wit­ches to be bu­ri'd vnder that Place, to the destroying of Mariage- A­mitie, or the Povver of Ge­neration. See Alexand. in Genialibu. and Christ. Landus vpon Gatul.
lift your golden feete
Above the Threshold, high,
With prosperous Augury.
Now, Youths, let goe your pretty armes;
The Place within chant's other charmes.
Whole showers of Roses flow;
And Violets seeme to grow,
Strew'd in the Chamber there,
As VENVS Meade it were.
On HYMEN, HYMEN call,
This Night is HYMEN's all.
Good Matrons, that so well are knowne
To aged Husbands of your owne,
Place you our Bride to night;
And
For this looke F [...]st. in Voc. Rapi.
snatch away the Light:
That
quo vtro (que) mors prop [...]qua alt erius vl [...]rius captari puta­tur Fest. ibid.
she not hide it dead
Beneath her Spouse's Bed;
Nor
quo vtro (que) mors prop [...]qua alt erius vl [...]rius captari puta­tur Fest. ibid.
he reserve the same
To helpe the funerall Flame.
So, now you may admit him in;
The Act he covets, is no Sinne,
But chast, and holy Love,
Which HYMEN doth approve:
Without whose hallowing Fires
All Aymes are base Desires.
On HYMEN, HYMEN call,
This Night is HYMEN's all.
N [...]w, free from Vulgar Spight, or Noyse,
May you enioy your mutuall ioyes;
Now, You no Feare controules,
[Page] But Lippes may mingle Soules;
And soft Embraces binde,
To each, the others Minde:
Which may no Power vntie,
Till One, or both must die.
And, looke, before you yeeld to slumber,
That your Delights be drawne past number;
"Ioyes, got with strife, increase.
A [...]ect no sleepy peace;
But keepe the Brides faire eyes
Awake, with her owne Cries,
Which are but Mayden-feares:
And Kisses drie such teares.
Then, Coyne them, twixt your Lippes so sweete,
And let not Cockles closer meete;
Nor may your Murmuring Loves
Be drown'd by
A frequent Surname of VENVS, not of the Place, as CYPRIA; but quòd parere [...]a­ciat, [...] Theop. Phur­nut. and the Grammarians vpon Homer, See them.
CYPRIS Doves:
Let Ivie not so bind
As when your Armes are twin'd:
That you may Both, e're Day,
Rise perfect every way.
And, IVNO, whose great Powers protect
The Marriage-Bed, with good effect
The Labour of this Night
Blesse thou, for future Light;
And, Thou, thy happy charge,
Glad
D [...]s Natu­rae, [...]ive gignen­di. And is the same in the Male, as IV­NO in the Female. Hence Genialis Lectus, qui nuptijs sternitur, in honorem Genij. Fes [...]. Genius meus, quia me genuit.
GENIVS, enlarge:
That they may Both, e're Day,
Rise perfect every way.
[Page] And
She hath this faculty given her, by all the Antients See Hom. Iliad. [...]. Lucret. in prim. Vir. in 2. Ge­org &c.
VENVS, Thou, with timely seede
(Which may their after-Comforts breede)
Informe the gentle Wombe;
Nor, let it prove a Tombe:
But, e're ten Moones be wasted,
The Birth, by CYNTHIA hasted.
So may they Both, e're Day,
Rise perfect everie Way.
And, when the Babe to light is showne,
Let it be, like each Parent, knowne;
Much of the Fathers Face,
More of the Mothers Grace:
And eyther Grand-Sires Spirit,
And Fame let it inherit.
That Men may blesse th' Embraces,
That ioyned two such Races.
Cease Youths, and Virgins, you have done;
Shut fast the Dore: And, as They soone
To their Perfection hast,
So may their ardors last.
So eithers strength out-live
All losse that Age can give:
And, though full Yeares be tolde,
Their Formes growe slowly olde.

HItherto extended the first Nights Solemnitie, whose Grace in the Exequution left not where to adde vnto it, with wishing: I meane, (nor doe I court them) in those, that sustain'd the Nobler parts. Such was the exquisit Performance, as (beside the Pompe, Splendour, or what wee may [Page] call Apparrelling of such Presentments) that alone (had all else beene absent) was of power to sur­prize with Delight, and steale away the Spectators from themselves. Nor was there wanting what­soever might give to the Furniture, or Comple­ment: eyther in riches, or strangenesse of the Ha­bites, delicacie of Daunces, Magnificence of the Scene, or divine Rapture of Musique. Onely the Envie was, that it lasted not still, or (now it is past) cannot by Imagination, much lesse Description, be recover'd to a part of that Spirit, it had in the gliding by.

Yet, that I may not vtterly defraud the Reader of his Hope, I am drawne to give it those briefe touches, which may leave behind some shadow of what it was: And first of the Attires.

That, of the Lords, had parte of it (for the fa­shion) taken from the Antique Greeke Statue; mix­ed with some Moderne Additions: which made it both gracefull, and strange. On their Heades they wore Persick Crowns, that were with Scroles of Gold-plate turn'd outward; and wreath'd about with a Carnation and Silver Net-lawne: The one End of which hung carelesly on the left shoulder, the other was trick'd vp before in severall degrees of fouldes, betweene the Plates, and set with rich Iewelles, and great Pearle. Their Bodies were of Carnation cloth of silver, richly wrought, and cut to expresse the Naked, in maner of the Greeke Tho­rax; girt vnder the Breasts, with a broade Belt of Cloth of Golde, imbrodered, and fastned before [Page] with Iewells: Their Labells were of White Cloth of silver, lac'd, and wrought curiously betweene, sutable to the vpper halfe of their Sleeves; whose nether partes, with their Bases, were of Watchet Cloth of Silver, chev'rond all over with Lace. Their Mantills were of severall colour'd silkes, di­stinguishing their Qualities, as they were coupled in payres; The first, Skie colour; The second, Pearle colour; The third, Flame colour; The fourth, Taw­nie; And these cut in leaves, which were subtilly tack'd vp, and imbrodered with Oo's, and between every ranke of Leaves, a broad silver Lace. They were fastned on the right shoulder, and fell Com­passe downe the backe in gratious folds, and were againe tied with a round Knot, to the fastning of their Swords. Vpon their legges they wore Silver Greaves, answering in worke to their Labells; and these were their Accoutrements.

The Ladies Attire was wholy new, for the In­vention, and full of Glory; as having in it the most true impression of a Celestiall Figure: The vpper part of White Cloth of Silver, wrought with IV­NOES Birdes and Fruicts; A loose vnder garment, full-gather'd, of Carnation, strip't with Silver, and parted with a Golden Zone; Beneath that, an o­ther flowing Garment, of Watchet Cloth of Sil­ver, lac'd with Gold: Through all which, though they were round, and swelling, there yet appear'd some touch of their delicate Lineaments, preserving the sweetenesse of Proportion, and expressing it selfe beyond expression. The Attire of their Heads, [Page] did answer, if not exceede; their Hayre being care­lesly (but yet with more art, then if more affected) bound vnder the circle of a rare, and rich Coronet, adorn'd with all variety, and choyce of Iewells; from the top of which, flow'd a trasparent Veile downe to the ground; whose verge, returning vp, was fastned to eyther side in most sprightly Manner. Their shooes were Azure, and Gold, set with Rubies, and Diamonds; so were all their Garments: and euery part abounding in Orna­ment.

No lesse to be admir'd, for the Grace, and Greatnesse, was the whole Machine of the Specta­cle, from whence they came: the first part of which was a [...], or Globe, filld with Coun­treys, and those guilded; where the Sea was [...]x­prest, heightned with siluer waues. This stoode, or rather hung, (for no Axell was seene to sup­port it) and turning softly, discoverd the first Masque, (as we have before, but too runningly declar'd) which was of the Men, sitting in faire Composition, within a Mine of severall Mettalls: To which, the Lights were so plac'd, as noe one was seene; but seemed, as if onel [...] REASON, with the splendor of her Crowne, illumin'd the whole Grot.

On the sides of this (which began the other part) were placed two great Statues, fayn'd of Gold, one of Atlas, the other of Hercules, in varied postures, bearing vp the Cloudes, which were of Releue, embossed, and tralucent, as Naturalls: To [Page] these, a Cortine of painted Cloudes ioyned, which reach'd to the vpmost Roofe of the Hall; and sodainely opening, reveal'd the three Regions of Ayre: In the highest of which, sate IVNO, in a glorious Throne of Gold, circled with Comets, and fiery Meteors, engendred in that hot and dry Regi­on; her Feete reaching to the lowest, where was made a Rainebow, and within it, Musitians seated, figuring Ayry Spirits, their habits various, and re­sembling the seuerall colours, caused in that part of the Ayre by reflexion. The midst was all of darke and condensed Cloudes, as being the proper Place where Rayne, Hayle, and other watry Mete­ors are made; out of which two concave Clouds, from the rest, thrust forth themselves (in nature of those Nimbi, wherein, by Homer, Virgill, &c. the Gods are fain'd to descend) and these carried the eight Ladies, over the heads of the twoAtlas, and Hercules, the [...] Figures men­tioned before. Termes; who (as the Ingine mov'd) seem'd also to bow themselves (by vertue of their shadowes) and dis­charge their shoulders of their glorious burden: when, having set them on the Earth, both they, and the Cloudes gather'd themselves vp againe, with some rapture of the Beholders.

But that, which (as above in place, so in the beu­ty) was most taking in the Spectacle, was the Spheare of Fire; in the top of all, encompassing the Ayre, and imitated with such art, and industry, as the Spectators might discerne the Motion (all the time the Shewes lasted) without any Moover: and, that so swift, as no Eye could distinguish any Colour [Page] of the Light, but might forme to it selfe five hun­dred severall hewes, out of the tralucent Body of the Ayre, obiected betwixt it, and them.

And this was crown'd with a statue of IVPITER, the Thunderer.

The Designe, and Act of all which, together with the Device of their Habits, belongs properly to the Merit, and Reputation of Maister YNYGO IONES; whom I take modest occasion, in this fit place, to remember, lest his owne worth might accuse mee of an ignorant neglect from my silence.

And here, that no mans Deservings complain of iniustice (though I should have done it timelier, I acknowledge) I doe for honours sake, and the pledge of our Friendship, name Ma. ALPHONSO FERABOSCO, a Man, planted by himselfe, in that divine Spheare; & mastring all the spirits of Musique: To whose iudiciall Care, and as absolute Perfor­mance, were committed all those Difficulties both of Song, and otherwise. Wherein, what his Merit made to the Soule of our Invention, would aske to be exprest in Tunes, no lesse ravishing then his. V [...]rtuous friend, take well this abrupt testimonie, and thinke whose it is: It cannot be Flatterie, in me, who never did it to Great ones; and lesse then Love, and Truth it is not, where it is done out of Knowledge.

The Daunces were both made, and taught by Maister THOMAS GILES; and cannot bee more approv'd, then they did themselves: Nor doe I want the will, but the skill to commend such Sub­tilties; [Page] of which the Spheare, wherein they were acted, is best able to iudge.

What was my part, the Faults here, as well as the Vertues must speake. ‘Mutare dominum nec potest Liber notus.’

ON the next Night, whose Solemnitie was of Barriers, (all mention of the former, being vt­terly remo'vd, and taken away) there appeared, at the lower end of the Hall, a Mist made of delicate perfumes; out of which (a Battaile being sounded vnder the Stage) did seeme to breake foorth two Ladies, the one representing TRVTH, the other OPINION: but both so alike attired, as they could by no Note, be distinguish'd. The colour of their Garments were blew, their Socks White; They were crowned with wreathes of Palme, and in their hands, each of them sustain'd a Palm-bough. These, after the Mist was vanished, began to exa­mine each other curiously with their eyes, and ap­proching the State, the one expostulated the o­ther in this manner.

TRVTH.
WHo art thou, thus that imitat'st my Grace,
In Steppes, in Habite, and resembled Face?
OPINION.
Grave
Truth is fain'd to be the Daughter SATVRNE; vvho indeede, vvith the Auntients vvas no other than TIME, and so his name alludes, [...]. Plut. in Qu [...]. To vvhich conferre the Greeke Adage, [...].
Time, and Industry my Parents are;
My Name is TRVTH, who through these sounds of War
[Page] (Which figure the wise Mindes discursive fight)
In Mists by Nature wrapt, salute the Light.
TRVTH.
I am that TRVTH, thou some illusive Spright;
Whome to my likenesse, the blacke Sorceresse Night
Hath of these drie, and empty fumes created.
OPINION.
Best Herald of thine owne Birth, well related:
Put me and mine to proofe of wordes, and facts,
In any Question this faire Houre exacts.
TRVTH.
I challenge thee, and fit this Time of Love,
With this Position, which TRVTH comes to prove;
That the most honor'd state of Man and Wife,
Doth farre exceede th'insociate Virgin-Life.
OPINION.
I take the adverse part; and she that best
Defends her side, be TRVTH by all confest.
TRVTH.
It is confirm'd. With what an equall brow
To TRVTH,
Hippocrat. in a certaine E­pistle to Phi­lopoem. descri­beth her, Mu­lierem, quae non mala videatur, sed audacior aspectu & con­citatior. To vvhich, Caesare Ripa in his Iconolog. allu­deth, in these vvordes, Fac­cia, ne bella, ne dispiaceuole, &c.
OPINION'S confident! and how,
Like TRVTH, her Habite shewes to sensuall Eies!
But whosoe're thou be, in this disguise,
Cleare TRVTH, anone, shall strippe thee to the heart;
And shew how mere Phantasticall thou arte.
Know then, the first Production of Things,
Required Two; from meere One nothing springs:
Without that knot, the Theame thou gloriest in,
(Th'vnprofitable Virgin) had not bin.
The Golden Tree of Marriage began
In Paradise, and bore the fruict of Man;
[Page] On whose sweete branches Angells sate, and sung,
And from whose firme roote all Societie sprung.
LOVE (whose strong Vertue wrapt Heav'ns soule in Earth,
And made a Woman glory in his Birth
In Marriage, opens his inflamed Breast;
And, lest in him Nature should stifled rest,
His geniall fire about the world he dartes;
Which Lippes with Lippes combines, and Hearts with Hearts.
Marriage LOVES Obiect is; at whose bright eies
He lights his Torches, and call's them his Skies.
For her, he wings his shoulders; and doth flie
To her white bosome, as his Sanctuary:
In which no lustfull Finger can profane him,
Nor anie Earth, with blacke Eclipses wane him.
She makes him smile in sorrowes, and doth stand
Twixt him, and all wants, with her silver hand.
In her soft Lockes, his tender Feete are tied;
And in his Fetters he takes worthy pride.
And as Geometricians have approv'd
That Lines, and Superficies are not mov'd
By their owne forces, but doe follow still.
Their Bodies motions; so the selfe-lov'd Will
Of Man, or Woman should not rule in them,
But each with other weare the Anademe.
Mirrors, thogh deckt with Diamants, are noght worth,
If the like Formes of Things they set not forth;
So Men, or Women are worth Nothing, neyther,
If eithers Eyes and Hearts present not either.
OPINION.
Vntouch'd Virginity, Laugh out; to see
Freedome in Fetters plac'd, and vrg'd' gainst thee.
[Page] What Griefes lie groaning on the Nuptiall Bed?
What dull Satietie? In what sheetes of Lead
Tumble, and tosse the restlesse Married Paire,
Each, oft, offended with the Others aire?
From whence springs all-devouring Avarice,
But from the Cares, which out of Wedlocke rise?
And, where there is in Lifes best-tempred Fires
And End, set in it selfe to all desires,
A setled Quiet, Freedome never checkt,
How farre are Maried Lives from this effect?
A narrow Sea, betweene Aulis, a Port of Boeotia, and the Isle Eu­ [...]oea. See Pom. Mela. lib. 2.
EVRIPVS, that beares Shippes, in all their pride,
Gainst roughest Windes, with violence of his Tide,
And ebbes, and flowes, seven times in every day,
Toyles not more turbulent, or fierce then they.
And thē, what Rules Husbands praescribe their Wives!
In their Eyes Circles, they must bound their Lives.
The Moone, when farthest from the Sunne she shines,
Is most refulgent; nearest, most declines:
But your poore Wives farre off must never rome,
But wast their Beauties, neare their Lords, at home:
And when their Lords range out, at home must hide
(Like to beg'd Monopolies) all their Pride.
When their Lords list to feede a serious Fit
They must be serious; when to shew their Wit
In lests, and Laughter, they must laugh, and iest;
When they wake, wake; and when they rest, must rest.
And to their Wives Men give such narrow scopes,
As if they meant to make them walke on Ropes:
No Tumblers bide more perill of their Necks
In all their Tricks; Then Wives in Husbands Checks.
Where Virgins, in their sweete, and peacefull State
[Page] Have all things perfect; spinne their owne free Fate;
Depend on no prowd Second; are their owne
Center, and Circle; Now, and alwaies One.
To whose Example, we doe still heare nam'd
One God, one Nature, and but one World fram'd,
One Sunne, one Moone, one Element of Fire,
So, of the Rest; One King, that doth inspire
Soule, to all Bodies, in this royall Spheare:
TRVTH.
And where is Mariage more declar'd, then there?
Is there a Band more strict, then that doth tie
The Soule, and Body in such vnity?
Subiects to Soveraignes? doth one Mind display
In th'ones Obedience, and the others Sway?
Beleeve it, Mariage suffers no compare,
When both Estates are valew'd, as they are.
The Virgin were a strange, and stubborne Thing,
Would longer stay a Virgin, then to bring
Her selfe fit vse, and profit in a Make.
OPINION.
How she doth erre! and the whole Heav'n mistake!
Loo [...]e how a Flower, that close in Closes growes,
Hid from rude Cattell, bruised with no Ploughes,
Which th' Ayre doth stroke, Sun strengthen, Showers
It many Youths, & many Maids desire; (shoot higher,
The same, when cropt by cruell hand is wither'd,
No Youths at all, No Maydens have desir'd:
So a Virgin, while vutouch'd she doth remaine,
Is deare to hers; but when with Bodyes stayne
Her chaster Flower is lost, she leaves to appeare
Or sweete to Yong Men, or to Maydens deare.
[Page] That Conquest then may crowne me in this Warre,
Virgins, O Virgins fly from HYMEN farre.
TRVTH.
Virgins, O Virgins, to sweete HYMEN yeeld,
For as a lone Vine, in a naked Field,
Never extols her branches, never beares
Ripe Grapes, but with a headlong heavinesse weares
Her tender bodie, and her highest sproote
Is quickly levell'd with hir fading roote;
By whom no Husband-men, no Youths wil dwell;
But if, by fortune, she be married well
To th Elme, her Husband, many Husband-men,
And many Youths inhabite by her, then:
So whilst a Virgin doth, vntouch't, abide
All vnmanur'd, she growes old, with hir pride;
But when to equall Wedlocke, in fit Time,
Her Fortune, and Endeuor lets her clime
Deare to h [...]r Loue, and Parents, she is held.
Virgins, O Virgins, to sweete HYMEN yeeld.
OPINION.
These are but words; hast thou a Knight will trie
(By stroke of Armes) the simple Veritie?
TRVTH.
To that high proofe I would haue dared thee.
Ile strait fetch Champions for the Brides and Mee.
OPINION.
The like will I do for Virginitie.

HEre, they both descended the Hall, where at the lower end, a March being sounded with Drums and Phifes, there entred (led foorth by [Page] the Earle of Notingham, who was Lord high Con­stable for that night, and the Earle of Worc'ster, Earle Marshall) sixteene Knights, Armed, with Pikes, and Swords; their Plumes, and Colours, Carnation and White, all richly accoutred, and ma­king their Honors to the State, as they march'd by in Paires, were all rank'd on one side of the Hall. They plac'd, Sixteene others alike accoutred for Riches, and Armes, onely that their Colours were varied to Watchet, and White; were by the same Earles led vp, and passing in like manner, by the State, plac'd on the opposite side. Whose Names (as they were given to me, both in Order, and Or­thographie) were these.

TRVTH.
  • Duke of LENNOX.
  • Lo. EFFINGHAM.
  • Lo. WALDEN,
  • Lo. MOV [...]EAGLE.
  • Sir THO. SOME [...]SET.
  • Sir CHAR HOVVARD.
  • Sir IOHN GRAY.
  • Sir THO MOVNSON.
  • Sir IOHN LEIGH.
  • Sir ROB. MAVNSELL.
  • Sir EDVV. HOVVARD.
  • Sir HEN GOODYERE.
  • Sir ROGER DALISON.
  • Sir FRAN. HOVVARD.
  • Sir LEVV. MAVNSELL.
  • Mr. GVNTE [...]T.

OPINION.
  • Earle of SVSSEX.
  • Lo. WILLOV [...]BY.
  • Lo▪ G [...]RRARD.
  • Sir. ROB. CAR [...]Y.
  • Sir OL. CRVMVVEL.
  • Sir WIL. HERBERT.
  • Sir ROB. DR [...]VVRY.
  • Sir WI. WOODHOVSE.
  • Sir CAREY REYNOLDS.
  • Sir RIC. HOVGHTON.
  • Sir WIL. CONSTA [...]L [...].
  • Sir THO. GERRARD,
  • Sir ROB. KYLLEGREVV.
  • Sir THO BADGER.
  • Sir THO. DVTTON.
  • Mr. DIG BIE.

[Page] By this time, the Barre being brought vppe, TRVTH proceeded.

TRVTH.
Now ioyne; and if his varied Triall faile,
To make my Truth in Wedlocks praise prevaile,
I will retire, and in more power appeare;
To cease this strife, and make our Question cleare.
Whereat OPINION insulting, followed her with this speach.
OPINION.
I, Doe: it were not safe thou shouldst abide:
This speakes thy Name, with shame to quit thy side.

Heere the Champions on both sides addresst themselves for fight, first Single; after Three to Three: and performed it with that alacritie, and vigor, as if MARS himselfe had beene to triumph before VENVS, & invented a new Musique. When, on a sodaine, (the last Six having scarcely ended) a striking Light seem'd to fil all the Hall, and out of it [...] Angell or Messenger of Glorie appearing.

ANGEL.
PRinces, attend a tale of height, and wonder.
TRVTH is descended in a second Thunder,
And now will greete you, with ludiciall state,
To grace the Nuptiall part in this debate;
And end with reconciled hands these warres.
Vpon her head she weares a Crowne of Starres,
Through which her ori [...]nt Hayre waves to her wast,
By which beleeving Mortalls hold her fast,
And in those golden Chordes are carried even
[Page] Till with her breath she blowes them vp to Heaven.
She weares a Roabe enchas'd with Eagles Eyes,
To signifie her sight in Mysteries;
Vpon each shoulder sits a milke white Dove,
And at her feete doe witty Serpents move:
Her spacious Armes doe reach from East to West,
And you may see her Heart shine through her breast.
Her right hand holds a Sunne with burning Rayes,
Her left a curious bunch of golden Kayes,
With which Heav'n Gates she locketh, and displayes.
A Cristall Mirror hangeth at her brest,
By which mens Consciences are search'd, and drest:
On her Coach wheeles Hypocrisie lies rackt;
And squint-eyd Slander, with Vaine-Glory backt
Her bright Eyes burne to dust: in which shines Fate.
An Angel vshers hir triumphant Gate,
Whilst with her fingers Fannes of Starres she twists,
And with them beates backe Error, clad in mists.
Eternall Vnity behind her shines
That Fire, and Water, Earth, and Ayre combines.
Her voyce is like a Trumpet lowd, and shrill,
Which bids all sounds in Earth, and Heav'n be still.
And see! descended from her Chariot now,
In this related Pompe she visits you.
TRVTH.
Honor to all, that Honor Nuptialls.
To whose faire Lot, in [...]ustice, now it falls,
That this my Counterfeit be here disclos'd,
Who, for Virginity hath her selfe oppos'd.
Nor, though my Brightnesse doe vndoe her Charmes,
Let these her Knights thinke, that their equall Armes
[Page] Are wrong'd therein; "For Valure wins applause
"That dares, but to maint aine the weaker Cause.
And Princes, see, tis meere OPINION,
That in TRVTH'S forced Robe, for TRVTH hath gone!
Her gaudy Colours, peec'd, with many Folds,
Shew what vncer tainties she ever holds:
Vanish Adult'rate TRVTH, and never dare
With prowd Maydes prayse, to prease where Nuptialls are.
And Champions, since you see the Truth I held,
To Sacred HYMEN, reconciled, yeeld:
Nor, (so to ye [...]ld,) thinke it the least Despight
"It is a Conquest to submit to Right.
This Royall Iudge of our Contention
Will prop, I know, what I have vnder gone;
To whose right Sacred Highnesse Iresigne
Low, at his feete, this Starry Crowne of mine,
To shew his Rule, and Iudgement is diuine;
These Doves to him I consecrate withall,
To note his Innocence, without spot, or gall;
These Serpents, for his Wisedome▪ and these Rayes,
To shew his piercing Splendor; These bright Keyes,
Designing Power to ope the ported Skies,
And speake their Glori [...]s to his Subjects Eyes.
Lastly, this Heart, with which all Hearts be true:
And TRVTH in him make Treason ever rue.

With This, they were led forth, hand in hand, reconciled, as in Triumph: and thus the Solemni­ties ended.

Vivite concordes, & nostrum discite munus.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.