The first face of the scene appeared all obscure, and nothing perceived but a dark rock, with trees beyond it, and all wildness that could be presented: till, at one corner of the cliff, above the horizon, the moon began to shew, and rising, a SATYR was seen by her light to put forth his head and call.

1 Sat. CHROMIS !* Mnasil It none appear?

See you not who riseth here?

You saw Silenus late, I fear.‡

I'll prove if this can reach your ear.

He wound his cornet, and thought himself answered; but was deceived by the echo.

O, you wake then! come away,
Times be short are made for play;
The humorous moon too will not
stay:-

What doth make you thus delay?
Hath his tankards touched your brain?
Sure, they're fallen asleep again:
Or I doubt it was the vain
Echo did me entertain.
Prove again-

* They are the names of two young Satyrs, I find in Virgil Eclog. 6, that took Silenus sleeping; who is feigned to be the pædagogue of Bacchus as the Satyrs are his collusores or play-fellows. So doth Diodor. Siculus, Synesius, Julian, in Casarib. report them.

A proverbial speech, when they will tax one the other of drinking or sleepiness; alluding to that former place in Virgil:

Chromis et Mnasilús in antro Silenum, pueri, somno videre jacentem, Inflatum hesterno venas, ut semper, Iaccho. § Silenus is everywhere made a lover of wine, as in Cyclops Eurip., and known by the notable ensign, his tankard: out of the same place of Virgil: Et gravis attrita pendebat cantharus ausa. As also out of that famous piece of sculpture, in a little gem or piece of jasper, observed by Mons. Casaubon, in his tract de Satyrica Poësi, from Rascasius Bagarrius: wherein is

Wound his cornet the second time, and found it.

I thought 'twas she!
Idle nymph, I pray thee be
Modest, and not follow me:
I not love myself, nor thee.

Here he wound the third time, and was answered by another Satyr, who likewise shewed himself.

Ay, this sound I better know;

List I would I could hear moe.

At this they came running forth severally, to the number of ten, from divers parts of the rock, leaping and making antick actions and gestures; some of them speaking, some admiring: and amongst them a SILENE, who is ever the prefect of the Satyrs, and so presented in all their chori and meetings.

2 Sat. Thank us, and you shall do so. 3 Sat. Ay, our number soon will grow.

2 Sat. See Silenus !T 3 Sat. CERCOPS too!

described the whole manner of the scene, and chori of Bacchus, with Silenus and the Satyrs. An elegant and curious antiquity, both for the subtilty and labour: where, in so small a compass (to use his words), there is Rerum, personarum, actionum plane stupenda varietas. lowing Narcissus; and his self-love. Il Respecting that known fable of Echo's fol

In the pomps of Dionysius or Bacchus, to every company of Satyrs, there was still given a Silene for their overseer or governor. And in that which is described by Athenæus in his fifth book. Bini Sileni non semel commemorantur, qui totidem plurium Satyrorum gregibus præsint. Erant enim eorum epistatæ, præsules, et coryphæi, propter grandem ætatem. He was also purpureo pallio vestitus cum albis soleis, et petasatus, aureum caduceum parvum ferens. Vid. Athena. Dipnos. lib. 6, de pompå Ptolemaică.

4 Sat. And, to spight the coy nymphs'

scorns,

Hang upon our stubbed horns
Garlands, ribbands, and fine posies

3 Sat.. Fresh as when the flower discloses ? I Sat. Yes, and stick our pricking ears With the pearl that Tethys wears.

2 Sat. And to answer all things else, Trap our shaggy thighs with bells; That as we do strike a time,

In our dance shall make a chime

3 Sat. Louder than the rattling pipes Of the wood gods

I Sat. Or the stripes
Of the taber ;* when we carry
Bacchus up, his ponip to vary.

Silen. O, that he so long doth tarry!
Omn. See the rock begins to ope,
Now you shall enjoy your hope;
'Tis about the hour, I know.

Silen. Look! does not his palace show
Like another sky of lights?
Yonder with him live the knights,
Once the noblest of the earth,
Quickened by a second birth:
Who for prowess and for truth,

There are crowned with lasting youth:
And do hold, by Fate's command,
Seats of bliss in Fairy land.

But their guards, methinks, do sleep!
Let us wake 'em.-Sirs, you keep
Proper watch, that thus do lie
Drowned in sloth!

I Sat. They've ne'er an eye

To wake withal.

2 Sat. Nor sense, I fear;

For they sleep in either ear.1

3 Sat. Holla, Sylvans!-sure they're caves Of sleep these, or else they're graves. 4 Sat. Hear you, friends!-who keeps the keepers?

3 Sat. Or that we had a wasp or two For their nostrils.

I Sat. Hairs will do Even as well: take my tail.

2 Sat. What d'you say to a good nail Through their temples?

2 Sat. Or an eel

In their guts, to make 'em feel?

4 Sat. Shall we steal away their beards? 3 Sat. For Pan's goat, that leads the herds?

2 Sat. Or try whether is more dead, His club or the other's head?

Silen. Wags, no more: you grow too bold.

I Sat. I would fain now see them rolled Down a hill, or from a bridge Headlong cast, to break their ridgeBones: or to some river take 'em, Plump; and see if that would wake 'em. 2 Sat. There no motion yet appears. Silen. Strike a charm into their ears. At which the Satyrs fell suddenly into this catch.

Buz, quoth the blue flie,

Hum, quoth the bee:
Buz and hum they cry,

And so do we.

In his ear, in his nose,
Thus, do you see?—

[They tickle them.
He eat the dormouse;
Else it was he.

The two Sylvans starting up amazed, and betaking themselves to their arms, were thus questioned by Silenus :

Silen. How now, Sylvans! can you wake? I commend the care you take In your watch! Is this your guise, To have both your ears and eyes

and means to sleep soundly, without any thoughts of care.-WHAL.

They had it from the Greek; it is rightly ren by Whalley.

Επ' αμφοτερα νυ χ' η 'πικληρος ονατα
Μελλει καθευδήσειν.-Men. Frag.

Sealed so fast; as these mine elves
Might have stol'n you from yourselves?

3 Sat. We had thought we must have got
Stakes, and heated 'em red-hot,
And have bored you through the eyes,
With the Cyclops,* ere you'd rise.

2 Sat. Or have fetched some trees to heave

Up your bulks, that so did cleave
To the ground there.

4 Sat. Are you free

Yet of sleep, and can you see
Who is yonder up aloof?

I Sat. Be your eyes yet moon-proof?
I Syl. Satyrs, leave your petulance,
And go frisk about and dance;
Or else rail upon the moon:
Your expectance is too soon.
For before the second cock
Crow, the gates will not unlock;
And till then we know we keep
Guard enough, although we sleep.

I Sat. Say you so? then let us fall
To a song, or to a brawl:

Shall we, grandsire? Let us sport,
And make expectation short.

Silen. Do, my wantons, what you please. I'll lie down and take mine ease.

I Sat. Brothers, sing then, and upbraid, As we use, yond' seeming maid.

SONG.

Now, my cunning lady: moon,
Can you leave the side so soon

Of the boy you keep so hid?
Midwife Juno sure will say
This is not the proper way,

Of your paleness to be rid. But perhaps it is your grace To wear sickness in your face,

That there might be wagers laid Still, by fools, you are a maid. Come, your changes overthrow, What your look would carry so ;

Moon, confess then what you are,
And be wise, and free to use
Pleasures that you now do lose,

Let us Satyrs have a share.
Though our forms be rough and rude,
Yet our acts may be endued

With more virtue: every one
Cannot be ENDYMION.

Here they fell suddenly into an antick dance full of gesture and swift motion, and continued it till the crowing of the

*Vid. Cyc. Euripid. ubi Satiri Ulyssi auxilio sint ad amburendum oculum Cyclopis.

cock: at which they were interrupted by Silenus.

Silen. Stay! the cheerful Chanticleer
Tells you that the time is near :-
See, the gates already spread!
Every Satyr bow his head.

There the whole palace opened, and the nation of Faies were discovered, some with instruments, some bearing lights, others singing; and within afar off in perspective, the knights masquers sitting in their several sieges: at the further end of all, OBERON, in a chariot, which, to a loud triumphant music, began to move forward, drawn by two white bears, and on either side guarded by three Sylvans, with one going in front.

SONG.

Melt earth to sea, sea flow to air,
And air fly into fire,

Whilst we in tunes to Arthur's chair

Bear Oberon's desire;

Than which there's nothing can be higher, Save JAMES, to whom it flies:

But he the wonder is of tongues, of ears, of

eyes.

Who hath not heard, who hath not seen,
Who hath not sung his name?

The soul that hath not, hath not been;
But is the very same

With buried sloth, and knows not fame,
Which doth him best comprise :
For he the wonder is of tongues, of ears,
of eyes.

By this time the chariot was come as far forth as the face of the scene. And the Satyrs beginning to leap, and express their joy for the unused state" and solemnity, the foremost SYLVAN began to speak.

To whose sole power and magic they do give

The honour of their being; that they live
Sustained in form, fame, and felicity,
From rage of fortune, or the fear to die.
Silen. And may they well. For this
indeed is he,

My boys, whom you must quake at when

you see.

He is above your reach; and neither doth Nor can he think within a Satyr's tooth: Before his presence you must fall or fly, He is the matter of virtue, and placed high.

His meditations, to his height, are even: And all their issue is akin to heaven.

He is a god o'er kings; yet stoops he then Nearest a man, when he doth govern men ; To teach them by the sweetness of his sway,

And not by force. He's such a king as they

Who're tyrants' subjects, or ne'er tasted peace,

Would in their wishes form for their release.

"Tis he that stays the time from turning old, And keeps the age up in a head of gold. That in his own true circle still doth run; And holds his course as certain as the sun. He makes it ever day, and ever spring, Where he doth shine, and quickens everything,

Like a new nature: so that true to call
Him by his title is to say, He's all.

I Syl. I thank the wise Silenus for this praise.

Stand forth bright FAIES and ELVES, and tune your lays

Unto his name; then let your nimble feet Tread subtle circles, that may always meet In point to him; and figures to express The grace of him and his great emperess, That all that shall to-night behold the rites Performed by princely Oberon and these knights,

1 Then the lesser Faies dance.] "The little ladies (Sir John Finnet says) performed their dance to the amazement of all beholders, considering the tenderness of their years, and the many intricate changes of the dance, which was so disposed that which way soever the changes went the little duke (Charles) was still found to be in the midst of these little dancers." Had Sir John been much skilled in the mysteries of fairyland he would have recollected that the

SONG BY TWO FAIES.

1 Faie. Seek you majesty, to strike? Bid the world produce his like.

2 Faie. Seek you glory, to amaze? Here let all eyes stand at gaze.

Cho. Seek you wisdom, to inspire? Touch then at no other's fire.

1 Faie. Seek you knowledge, to direct? Trust to his without suspect.

2 Faie. Seek you piety, to lead? In his footsteps only tread.

Cho. Every virtue of a king, And of all in him we sing.