TIME VINDICATED

TO HIMSELF AND TO HIS HONOURS;

IN THE PRESENTATION AT COURT ON

TWELFTH-NIGHT, 1623.

Qui se mirantur, in illos

Virus habe: nos hæc novimus esse nihil.

TIME VINDICATED, &c.] This Entertainment, which forms a kind of retort courteous to the scurrilous satires now dispersed with mischievous activity, appears only in the second folio. The light parts of it are composed with great gaiety and humour; and the singing and dancing must have been given with great effect among the rich and beautiful concomitants of scenery, &c., that surrounded them.

In the Dulwich College MS. this is called the Prince's Masque; its unusual splendour seems to have induced the Master of the Revels (sir John Astley) to enter into a more particular mention of it than is common with these costive gentlemen.

"Upon New-year's day at night, the Alchemist was acted by the King's players.

"Upon Sonday, being the 19th of January, (1623,) the Princes Masque appointed for Twelfe daye, was performed. The speeches and songs composed by Mr. Ben Johnson, and the scene made by Mr. Inigo Jones, which was three times changed during the tyme of the Masque, wherein the first that was discovered was a prospective of Whitehall, with the Banqueting House; the second was the Masquers in a cloud; and the third a forest. The French embassador was present.

"Antemasques were of tumblers and jugglers. The Prince did lead the measures with the French embassadors wife.

"The measures, braules, corrantos, and galliards being ended, the Masquers with the ladies did daunce two contrey daunces, where the French embassadors wife and Mademoysal St. Luke did daunce." Malone's Hist. of the Eng. Stage.

The Court being seated, a Trumpet sounded, and FAME entered, followed by the CURIOUS, the EYED, the EARED, and the NOSED.1

Fame.

IVE ear, the worthy, hear what Fame proclaims.

Ears. What, what? is't worth our ears?

Eyes. We come to spy.

Ears. And hearken.

Nose. And smell out.

Fame. More than you understand, my hot inquisitors.

Nose. We cannot tell.

Eyes. It may be.

Ears. However, go you on, let us alone.

Eyes. We may spy out that, which you never meant.

1 The Eyed, &c.] It appears, from the sequel, that the masks of the performers were furnished with numerous eyes, ears, and noses, respectively.

Nose. And nose the thing you scent not. First, whence come you?

Fame. I came from Saturn.

Ears. Saturn! what is he?

Nose. Some Protestant, I warrant you, a time

server,

As Fame herself is.

Fame. You are near the right.

Indeed, he's Time itself, and his name CHRONOS. Nose. How! Saturn! Chronos! and the Time itself!

You are found: enough. A notable old pagan ! Ears. One of their gods, and eats up his own children.

Nose. A fencer, and does travel with a scythe, 'Stead of a long sword.

Eyes. Hath been oft call'd from it,

To be their lord of Misrule.2

Ears. As Cincinnatus

Was from the plough, to be dictator.

Eyes. Yes.

We need no interpreter: on, what of Time?

Fame. The Time hath sent me with my trump to

summon

All sorts of persons worthy, to the view

Of some great spectacle he means to-night
To exhibit, and with all solemnity.

Nose. O, we shall have his Saturnalia.
Eyes. His days of feast and liberty again.

2 To be their lord of Misrule.] "In the feast of Christmass, there was in the king's house, wheresoever he was lodged, a lord of misrule, or master of merry disports; and the like had ye in the house of every noble man of honour, or good worship, were he spiritual or temporal." Stow. In the following verses the poet alludes to that liberty which reigned amongst the Romans during the Saturnalia, or feasts of Saturn. These were appointed to remind them of the general equality between all men in the first age. WHAL.

Ears. Where men might do, and talk all that they

list.

Eyes. Slaves of their lords.

Nose. The servants of their masters.

Ears. And subjects of their sovereign.
Fame. Not so lavish.

Ears. It was a brave time that!
Eyes. This will be better:

I spy it coming, peace! All the impostures,
The prodigies, diseases, and distempers,

The knaveries of the time, we shall se all now.

Ears. And hear the passages, and several humours Of men, as they are sway'd by their affections : Some grumbling, and some mutining, some scoffing, Some pleased, some pining; at all these we laughing. Nose. I have it here, here, strong, the sweat of it, And the confusion, which I love-I nose it; It tickles me.

Eyes. My four eyes itch for it.

Ears. And my ears tingle; would it would come forth:

This room will not receive it.

Nose. That's the fear.

Enter CHRONOMASTIX.

Chro. What, what, my friends, will not this room receive?

Eyes. That which the Time is presently to shew us. Chro. The Time! Lo, I, the man that hate the

time,

That is, that love it not; and (though in rhyme

I here do speak it) with this whip you see,

Do lash the time, and am myself lash free.
Fame. Who's this?

Ears. 'Tis Chronomastix, the brave satyr.

Nose. The gentleman-like satyr, cares for nobody, His forehead tipt with bays, do you not know him?