Lights all on this side the Atlantic seas,
As far as to thy pillars, Hercules !
See where he shines, Justice and Wisdom placed
About his throne, and those with honour graced,
Beauty and Love! it is not with his brother
Bearing the world, but ruling such another
Is his renown; PLEASURE, for his delight
IS RECONCILED TO VIRTUE, and this night
Virtue brings forth twelve princes have been bred
In this rough mountain, and near Atlas' head,
The hill of knowledge; one, and chief of whom,
Of the bright race of Hesperus is come,
Who shall in time the same that he is be,
And now is only a less light than he:
These now she trusts with Pleasure, and to these
She gives an entrance to the Hesperides,
Fair beauty's garden; neither can she fear
They should grow soft, or wax effeminate here;
Since in her sight, and by her charge all's done
Pleasure the servant, Virtue looking on.
Here the whole choir of music called the twelve

Masquers forth from the top of the mountain,
which then opened, with this

Song.
Ope, aged Atlas, open then thy lap,

And from thy beamy bosom strike a light,
That men may read in the mysterious map

All lines,

And signs
Of royal education, and the right.

4

chief of whom.] The names of the twelve Masquers are not given; it appears, however, that they were led on by Charles, now prince of Wales. If we may trust Jenkin, in the next piece, this was the first time that he bore a part, and danced in these entertainments.

See how they come and show,
That are but born to know.

Descend,

Descend !
Though pleasure lead,
Fear not to follow :
They who are bred
Within the hill

Of skill,
May safely tread
What path they will,

No ground of good is hollow.
In their descent from the hill, DEDALUS came down

before them. Her. But, Hermes, stay, a little let me pause; Who's this that leads ?

Mer. A guide that gives them laws To all their motions, Daedalus the wise.

Her. And doth in sacred harmony comprise His precepts ?

Mer. Yes.

Her. They may securely prove, Then, any labyrinth, though it be of love. Here, while they put themselves in form, DÆDALUS

had his first

Song.
Dæd. Come on, come on! and where you go,

So interweave the curious knot,
As ev'n the observer scarce may know

Which lines are Pleasure's, and which not.
First figure out the doubtful way,"

At which a while all youth should stay, 5 First figure out, &c.] This alludes to that beautiful apologue, the Choice of Hercules, by Prodicus.

Where she and Virtue did contend,

Which should have Hercules to friend.
Then as all actions of mankind

Are but a labyrinth or maze:
So let your dances be entwined,

Yet not perplex men unto gaze :
But measured, and so numerous too,

As men may read each act they do;
And when they see the graces meet

Admire the wisdom of your feet.
For dancing is an exercise,

Not only shows the mover's wit,
But maketh the beholder wise,

As he hath power to rise to it.

Here the first DANCE.

After which,

SONG.
Dæd. O more and more! this was so well,
As praise wants half his voice to tell,

Again yourselves compose ;
And now put all the aptness on,
Of figure, that proportion

Or colour can disclose :
That if those silent arts were lost,
Design and picture, they might boast

From you a newer ground;
Instructed by the height’ning sense
Of dignity and reverence,

In their true motions found.
Begin, begin; for look, the fair
Do longing listen to what air

You form your second touch :

That they may vent their murmuring hymns
Just to the [time]o you move your limbs,

And wish their own were such.
Make haste, make haste; for this
The labyrinth of beauty is.

Here the second DANCE.

After which,

SONG.
Dæd. It follows now you are to prove

The subtlest maze of all, that's love,
And if you stay too long,
The fair will think you do them wrong.
Go choose among—but with a mind
As gentle as the stroking wind

Runs o'er the gentler flowers.
And so let all your actions smile
As if they meant not to beguile

The ladies, but the hours.
Grace, laughter, and discourse may meet,
And yet the beauty not go less :

:
For what is noble should be sweet, *

But not dissolu'd in wantonness
Will you that I give the law

To all your sport, and sum it?
It should be such should

envy

draw, But

overcome it.

• Just to the -.] Some word (time or tune, probably) was lost at the press, or dropt in the MS. I have already observed that all these Masques, from the Golden Age Restored, were printed, or at least published, some years after the author's death. That any one could look into this wretched volume (the folio of 1641) and suppose that Jonson had any share in forming it, is quite extraordinary. There is not a page without some ridiculous blunder.

Here they danced with the Ladies, and the whole

Revels followed; which ended, MERCURY called to DÆDALUS in this speech : which was after repeated in Song by two trebles, two tenors, a base, and the whole Chorus.

Virtue her own reward

SONG.
Mer. An eye of looking back were well,

Or any murmur that would tell
Your thoughts, how you were sent,

And went
To walk with Pleasure, not to dwell.
These, these are hours by Virtue spared,
Herself, she being her own reward.
But she will have you know,

That though
Her sports be soft, her life is hard.
90

You must return unto the Hill,

And there advance
With labour, and inhabit still

That height and crown,
From whence you ever may look down

Upon triúmphed chance.
She, she it is in darkness shines,
'Tis she that still herself refines,

By her own light to every eye;
More seen, more known, when Vice stands by:

And though a stranger here on earth,
In heaven she hath her right of birth.

There, there is Virtue's seat :
Strive to keep her your own ;

'Tis only she can make you great,
Though place here make you known.