Hy. What more than usual light, Or reign, on earth, those Powers Grace Union more than ours; And bound her influence in their happier streams? 'Tis so this same is he, The king, and priest of peace: And that his empress, she, That sits so crowned with her own increase! O you, whose better blisses Have proved the strict embrace Of Union, with chaste kisses, And seen it flow so in your happy race; That know, how well it binds The fighting seeds of things, Wins natures, sexes, minds, And every discord in true music brings: Sit now propitious aids, To rites so duly prized; And view two noble maids, Of different sex, to Union sacrificed. In honour of that blest estate, Which all good minds should celebrate. Here out of a microcosm, or globe, (see p. 72) figuring a man, with a kind of contentious music, issued forth the first masque, of eight men. i Whose names as they were then marshalled by couples, I have heraldry enough to set down. Lord WILLOUGHBY,2 Lord WALDEN,3 Sir JAMES HAY,* Earl of MONTGOMERY," Sir THOMAS HOWARD,6 Sir JOHN ASHLY.9 2 Lord Willoughby.] William, third lord Willoughby of Parham; he was a performer in the masque exhibited at court on the marriage of sir Philip Herbert, so often mentioned. His lady was Frances, daughter of John, fourth earl of Rutland. 3 Lord Walden.] Theophilus, eldest son of the earl of Suffolk. He married Elizabeth, daughter of the earl of Dunbar, and died 1640. This nobleman was called up to the house of Peers in his father's life time (1603) by the title of lord Howard of Walden. 4 Sir James Hay.] Son of sir James Hay of Kingask; he came into England in the suite of James, by whom he was greatly esteemed, and successively created baron Sowlie, viscount Doncaster, and finally earl of Carlisle. He continued a favourite under this and the following reign, and died in 1636, having received more grants, and spent more money, than any man of that age. He married, lord Clarendon says, a beautiful young lady, daughter to the earl of Northumberland. 5 Earl of Montgomery.] Philip Herbert, brother to the earl of Pembroke. 6 Sir Thomas Howard.] Probably a cousin of lord Arundel. He is mentioned in a letter to the earl of Shrewsbury, as preparing "for a journey to France with lord Cranborn:" but I know nothing more of him. Lodge's Illus. vol. iii. 366. 7 Sir Thomas Somerset.] Third son of Edward, fourth earl of Worcester. He was sent by the privy council to announce to James the death of Elizabeth, was much and deservedly esteemed by the king, and in 1626 created viscount Somerset of Cashel. 8 Earl of Arundel.] Thomas Howard, son of that earl of Arundel who died in the Tower, 1595, and grandson of Thomas, duke of Norfolk, beheaded on account of his connexion with Mary, queen of Scots. He is called the young earl of Arundel by Mr. Chamberlaine, at this period, and if the dates in Collins's Peerage may be trusted, he could not be more than sixteen. When he married I know not, but in 1607, when he was little more than eighteen, James stood godfather to his first son. It is therefore possible, and indeed probable, that the countess of Arundel, who performed in the Masque of Beauty, (p. 38,) was the wife, and not the mother, of this nobleman. She was the lady Alithea Talbot, third daughter of Gilbert, earl of Shrewsbury. With respect to lord Arundel, he was one of the brightest characters of the court. We are indebted to him for the Arundel marbles. • Sir John Ashly.] Unknown to me: but probably sir John These represented the four Humours and four Affections, all gloriously attired, distinguished only by their several ensigns and colours; and, dancing out on the stage, in their return at the end of their dance, drew all their swords, offered to encompass the altar, and disturb the ceremonies. At which HYMEN, troubled, spake: Hy. Save, save the virgins; keep your hallow'd lights Untouch'd; and with their flame defend our rites. A power, like reason, left in that huge body Cooper, who married Anne, daughter and sole heir of sir Antony Ashley, (a famous soldier under Elizabeth,) and who, with the immense property, might also enjoy the name of his father-in-law. Sir John was the father of Antony Ashley Cooper, first earl of Shaftsbury. That they were personated in men hath already come under some grammatical exception. But there is more than grammar to release it. For, besides that humores and affectus are both masculine in genere, not one of the specials but in some language is known by a masculine word. Again, when their influences are common to both sexes, and more generally impetuous in the male, I see not why they should not, so, be more properly presented. And, for the allegory, though here it be very clear, and such as might well escape a candle, yet because there are some must complain of darkness, that have but thick eyes, I am contented to hold them this light. First, as in natural bodies so likewise in minds, there is no disease or distemperature, but is caused either by some abounding humour, or perverse affection; after the same manner, in politic bodies (where order, ceremony, state, reverence, devotion, are parts of the mind) by the difference or predominant will of what we metaphorically call humours and affections, all things are troubled and confused. These, therefore, were tropically brought in, before marriage, as disturbers of that mystical body, and the rites, which were soul unto it; that afterwards, in marriage, being dutifully tempered by her power, they might more fully celebrate the happiness of such as live in that sweet union, to the harmonious laws of nature and reason. Or little world of man, from whence these came, Look forth, and with thy bright and numerous flame' Instruct their darkness, make them know, and see, In wronging these, they have rebell'd 'gainst thee. Hereat, REASON, seated on the top of the globe, as in the brain, or highest part of man, figured in a venerable personage, her hair white, and trailing to her waist, crowned with light, her garments blue, and semined with stars, girded unto her with a white band filled with arithmetical figures, in one hand bearing a lamp, in the other a bright sword, descended and spake: Rea. Forbear your rude attempt; what ignorance Could yield you so profane, as to advance One thought in act against these mysteries? Are Union's orgies of so slender price? She that makes souls with bodies mix in love, Contracts the world in one, and therein Jove; Is spring and end of all things:" yet, most strange, Herself nor suffers spring, nor end, nor change. No wonder they were you, that were so bold; For none but Humours and Affections would Have dared so rash a venture. You will say It was your zeal that gave your powers the sway; And urge the masqued and disguised pretence Of saving blood, and succouring innocence: So want of knowledge still begetteth jars, When humorous earthlings will control the stars. 1 Alluding to that opinion of Pythagoras, who held all reason, all knowledge, all discourse of the soul to be mere number. See Plut. de Plac. Phil. m Opyia, with the Greeks, value the same that ceremonia with the Latins; and imply all sorts of rites: howsoever (abusively) they have been made particular to Bacchus. See Serv. to that of Virg. Æneid iv. Qualis commotis excita sacris Thyas. n Macrob. in Som. Scip. lib. i. Inform yourselves, with safer reverence, At this the Humours and Affections sheathed their swords, and retired amazed to the side of the stage, while HYMEN began to rank the persons, and order the ceremonies: and REASON proceeded to speak. Rea. The pair, which do each other side, Though yet some space doth them divide, This happy night must both make one; Blest sacrifice to Union. Nor is this altar but a sign Of one more soft, and more divine. • Properly that which was made ready for the new-married bride, and was called Genialis, à generandis liberis. Serv. in vi. Æn. P See Ovid. Fast. lib. vi. Sic fatus spinam, quâ tristes pellere posset A foribus noxas, hæc erat alba, dedit. Plutar. in Quæst. Rom. and Var. lib. iv. de ling. Lat. |