THE FORTUNATE ISLES, AND THEIR UNION. CELEBRATED IN A MASQUE DESIGNED FOR THE COURT, ON THE TWELFTH-NIGHT, 1626. Hic chorea, cantusque vigent. THE FORTUNATE ISLES.] From the second folio. Charles (now king) seems to have been so much pleased with the main Masque of Neptune's Triumph, presented two years before, as to call for it again, with another introduction, by way of Antimasque. This was the poet's first exhibition before his new sovereign, and it did not discredit him; for there is a considerable degree of humour, as well as satire, in the part of Johphiel; the latter of which must have been fully felt and enjoyed at a period when men were hourly burying white wands in the ground, to catch fairies; and muttering prayers in woods, to render sylphs and salamanders visible ! Evil days were now come upon Jonson: some months before this Masque was written, he had been struck with the palsy, from which he never recovered: his old complaint the dropsy, too, increased about the same time; and, as he says himself, fixed his muse to the bed and boards, as she had never been. Though no symptoms of decay be apparent in the present' Entertainment, yet it is necessary to mention these circumstances; as the poet's enemies, while they watch for the opportunity of triumphing in the abatement of his powers, anxiously keep his maladies out of sight. THE FORTUNATE ISLES. His Majesty being set, Enter, running, JOHPHIEL, an airy spirit, and (according to the Magi) the intelligence of Jupiter's sphere: attired in light silks of several colours, with wings of the same, a bright yellow hair, a chaplet of flowers, blue silk stockings, and pumps, and gloves, with a silver fan in his hand. 'Johphiel, an airy spirit, and (according to the Magi) the Intelligence of Jupiter's sphere.] Jonson is so accurate in all his positions (however unimportant they may appear in themselves) that it can scarcely be doubted that he had authority for the rank of Johphiel. I will not question the assertion of the "Magi;" but Agrippa (also a wise-man) affirms that "Johphiel is one of the presiding angels in the Intelligible World, and that he reigns in the sphere of the zodiac." This seems a pretty wide command! The name of the spirit of the "sphere of Jupiter, is Zadkiel." Occ. Phil. b. 2. c. xiii. Nothing in Jonson is done at random. Whatever was the subject of his verse, he came to it with a mind fully furnished, and Enter MEREFOOL, a melancholic student, in bare and worn clothes, shrowded under an obscure cloke, and the eves of an old hat. Mere. [fetching a deep sigh.] Oh, ho! Johp. In Saturn's name, the father of my lord, Is this, breaks in between my wishes thus, Mere. No! no intelligence! Not yet! and all my vows now nine days old! Johp. O! 'tis one Hath vow'd himself unto that airy order, And now is gaping for the fly they promised him. [Steps aside. Mere. Have I both in my lodging and my diet, My clothes, and every other solemn charge, Observed them, made the naked boards my bed, what appears, at first sight, the mere sportiveness of invention, will be found, upon falling into the track of his studies, (which is seldom my lot,) to be the result of laborious and excursive reading. In the Alchemist, for example, the directions given to Abel, for insuring the prosperity of his shop, 66 On the east side of your shop, aloft, Vol. iv. P. 39. have probably been regarded as a mere play of fancy; but they appear to be derived from the very depths of magical science. "Angeli secundi cali regnantes die Mercurii, quos advocari oportet a quatuor mundi partibus: Ad Orientem: Mathlai, Tarmiel, Baraborat. Ad Septentrionem : Thiel, Rael, Velel, &c. Elem. Magica Petri de Albana. A faggot for my pillow, hungred sore! Mere. To look gaunt, and lean! Johp. Which will not be. Mere. Who's that?-Yes, and outwatch'd, Yea, and outwalked any ghost alive In solitary circle, worn my boots, Knees, arms, and elbows out! Johp. Ran on the score! Mere. That have I—who suggests that?—and for more Than I will speak of, to abate this flesh, And have not gain'd the sight Johp. Nay, scarce the sense. Mere. Voice, thou art right-of any thing but a cold Wind in my stomach. Johp. And a kind of whimsie—— Mere. Here in my head, that puts me to the staggers, Whether there be that brotherhood, or no. Johp. Believe, frail man, they be; and thou shalt see. Mere. What shall I see? Johp. Me. Mere. Thee! where? Johp. [comes forward.] Here, if you Be master Merefool. Mere. Sir, our name is Merryfool, But by contraction Merefool. Johp. Then are you The wight I seek; and, sir, my name is Johphiel, An airy jocular spirit, employ'd to you From father Outis. Mere. Outis! who is he ?2 2 Outis! who is he?] Outis is Greek for no-body; here is an allusion to the trick Ulysses put on Polyphemus when he had shut |