Orchestra or A poeme of dauncing Iudicially proouing the true obseruation of time and measure, in the authenticall and laudable vse of dauncing.

ORCHESTRA . OR A Poeme of Dauncing . 1 WHere liues the man that neuer yet did heare Of chast Penelope , Vlisses Queene ? Who kept her faith vnspotted twenty yeere Till he returnd that far away had beene , And many men , and many townes had seene : Ten yeere at siedge of Troy he lingring lay , And ten yeere in the Midland-sea did stray . 2 Homer , to whom the Muses did carouse A great deepe cup with heauenly Nectar filld , The greatest , deepest cup in Ioues great house , ( For Ioue himselfe had so expresly willd ) He dranke of all , ne let one drop be spilld ; Since when , his braine that had before been dry , Became the welspring of all Poetry . 3 Homer doth tell in his aboundant verse , The long laborious trauailes of the man , And of his Lady too he doth reherse , How shee illudes with all the Art she can , Th' vngratefull loue which other Lords began ; For of her Lord false Fame long since had sworne , That Neptunes Monsters had his carcasse torne . 4 All this he tells , but one thing he forgot , One thing most worthy his eternall song , But he was old , and blind , and saw it not , Or else he thought he should Vlisses wrong , To mingle it , his Tragick acts among . Yet was there not in all the world of things , A sweeter burden for his Muses wings . 5 The Courtly loue Antinous did make , Antinous that fresh and iolly Knight , Which of the gallants that did vndertake To win the Widdow , had most wealth and might , Wit to perswade , and beautie to delight . The Courtly loue he made vnto the Queene , Homer forgot as if it had not beene , 6 Sing then Terpsichore , my light Muse sing His gentle Art and cunning curtesie : You Lady can remember euery thing For you are daughter of Queene Memorie , But sing a plaine and easie Melodie : For the soft meane that warbleth but the ground , To my rude care doth yield the sweetest sound . 7 One onely nights discourse I can report , When the great Torch-bearer of heauen was gone Downe in a maske vnto the Oceans Court , To reuell it with Tethis all alone ; Antinous disguised and vnknowne Like to the spring in gaudie Ornament Vnto the Castle of the Princesse went . 8 The soueraigne Castle of the rocky Ile Wherein Penelope the Princesse lay , Shone with a thousand Lamps , which did exile The dim darke shades , & turn'd the night to day , Not Ioues blew Tent what time the Sunny ray Behind the bulwarke of the earth retires Is seene to sparkle with more twinckling fiers . 9 That night the Queene came forth from far within , And in the presence of her Court was seene , For the sweet singer Phemius did begin To praise the Worthies that at Troy had beene ; Somwhat of her Vlisses she did weene In his graue Hymne the heau'nly man would sing , Or of his warres , or of his wandering . 10 Pallas that houre with her sweet breath diuine Inspir'd immortall beautie in her eyes , That with coelestiall glory she did shine , Brighter then Venus when she doth arise Out of the waters to adorne the skies ; The wooers all amazed doe admire , And check their owne presumptuous desire . 11 Onely Antinous when at first he view'd Her st●● bright eyes that with new honour shind , Was not dismayd , but there-with-all renew'd The noblesse and the splendour of his mind ; And as he did sit circumstances sind , Vnto the Throne he boldly gan aduance , And with faire maners , wooed that Queene to dance . 12 GOddesse of women , sith your heau'nlinesse Hath now vouchsaft it selfe to represent To our dim eyes , which though they see the lesse Yet are they blest in their astonishment , Imitate heau'n , whose beauties excellent Are in continuall motion day and night , And moue thereby more wonder and delight . 13 Let me the mouer be , to turne about Those glorious ornaments that Youth and Loue Haue fixed in you , euery part throughout , Which if you will in timely measure moue , Not all those precious Iemms in heau'n aboue Shall yield a sight more pleasing to behold , With all their turnes and tracings manifold . 14 WIth this , the modest Princesse blusht and smil'd , Like to a cleare and rosie euentide ; And softly did returne this answere mild , Faire Sir ; you needs must fairely be denide Where your demaund cannot be satisfied . My feete , which onely nature taught to goe , Did neuer yet the Art of footing know . 15 But why perswade you me to this new rage ? ( For all disorder and misrule is new , ) For such misgouernment in former age Our old diuine Forefathers neuer knew , Who if they liu'd and did the follies view Which their sond Nephews make their chiefe affaires , Would hate themselues that had begot such heires . 16 Sole heire of Vertue , and of Beautie both , Whence commeth it ( Antinous replies ) That your imperious vertue is so loth . To graunt your beautie her chiefe exercise ? Or from what spring doth your opinion rise That Dauncing is a frenzie and a rage , First knowne and ys'd in this new-fangled age ? 17 Dauncing ( bright Lady ) then began to be , When the first seedes whereof the world did spring The Fire , Ayre , Earth , and water did agree , By Loues perswasion , Natures mighty King , To leaue their first disordred combating ; And in a daunce such measure to obserue , As all the world their motion should preserue . 18 Since when they still are carried in a round , And changing come one in anothers place , Yet doe they neyther mingle nor confound , But euery one doth keepe the bounded space Wherein the daunce doth bid it turne or tracc : This wondrous myracle did Loue deuise For Dauncing is Loues proper excrcise . 19 Like this , he fram'd the Gods eternall bower , And of a shapelesse and confused masse By his through-piercing and digesting power The turning vault of heauen framed was : Whose starrie wheeles he hath so made to passe , As that their mouings doe a musick frame And they themselues , still daunce vnto the same . 20 Or if this ( All ) which round about we see ( As idle Morpheus some sicke braines hath taught ) Of vndeuided motes compacted bee , How was this goodly Architecture wrought ? Or by what meanes were they together brought ? They erre that say they did concur by chaunce , Loue made them meete in a well-ordered daunce . 21 As when Amphion with his charming Lire Begot so sweet a Syren of the ayre , That with her Rethorike made the stones conspire The mines of a Citty to repayre , ( A worke of wit and reasons wise affayre ) So Loues smooth tongue , the motes such measure taught That they ioyn'd hands , & so that world was wrought . 22 How iustly then is Dauncing termed new Which with the world in point of time begun ? Yea Time it selfe ( whose birth Ioue neuer knew And which is far more auncient then the Sun ) Had not one moment of his age outrunne When out leapt Dauncing from the heape of things , And lightly rode vpon his nimble wings . 23 Reason hath both their pictures in her Treasure , Where Time the measure of all mouing is ; And Dauncing is a mouing all in measure , Now if you doe resemble that to this And think both one , I think you think amis : But if you judge them Twins , together got , And Time first borne , your judgment erreth not . 24 Thus doeth it equall age with age inioy , And yet in lustie youth for euer flowers , Like Loue his Sire , whom Paynters make a Boy , Yet is he eldest of the heau'nly powers ; Or like his brother Time , whose winged howers Going and comming will not let him dye , But still preserue him in his infancie . 25 This sayd ; the Queene with her sweet lips diuine Gently began to moue the subtile ayre , Which gladly yielding , did it selfe incline To take a shape betweene those rubies fayre And being formed , softly did repayre With twenty doublings in the emptie way , Vnto Autinous eares , and thus did say . 26 WHat eye doth see the heau'n but doth admire When it the mouings of the heau'ns doth see ? My selfe , if I to heau'n may once aspire , If that be dauncing , will a Dauncer be : But as for this your frantick iollitie How it began , or whence you did it learne , I neuer could with reasons eye discerne . 27 Antinous aunswered : Iewell of the Earth Worthie you are that heau'nly Daunce to leadc : But for you think our dauncing base of birth And newly borne but of a brainsick head I will forthwith his antique Gentry read , And for I loue him , will his Herault be And blaze his armes , and draw his Petigree . 28 When Loue had shapt this world , this great faire wight That all wights else in his wide womb containes And had instructed it to daunce aright , A thousand measures with a thousand straines , Which it should practise with delightfull paines Vntill that fatall instant should reuolue , When all to nothing should againe resolue : 29 The comly order and proportion faire On euery side did please his wandring eye , Till glauncing through the thin transparent fire A rude disordered rout he did espie Of men and women , that most spightfullie Did one another throng , and crowd so sore , That his kind eye in pitty wept therefore . 30 And swister then the Lightning downe he came , Another shapelesse Chaos to digest , He will begin another world to frame , ( For Loue till all be well will neuer rest ) Then with such words as cannot be exprest He cutts the troups , that all a sunder fling , And ere they wist , he casts them in a ring . 31 Then did he rarifie the Element And in the center of the ring appeare , The beames that from his forehead shining went , Begot an horrour and religious feare In all the soules that round about him weare , Which in their eares attentiuenesse procures While he with such like sounds their minds allures . 32 How doth Confusions Mother , headlong Chance Put reasons noble squadron to the rout ? Or how should you that haue the gouernance Of Natures children , heauen and earth throughout Prescribe them rules , and liue your selues without ? Why should your fellowship a trouble be , Since mans chiefe pleasure is societie ? 33 If sence hath not yet taught you , learne of me A comly moderation and discreet , That your assemblies may well ordered be When my vniting power shall make you meet , With heau'nly tunes it shall be tempered sweet : And be the modell of the worlds great frame , And you Earths children , Dauncing shall it name . 34 Behold the world how it is whirled round , And for it is so whirl'd , is named so ; In whose large volume many rules are found Of this new Art , which it doth fairely show : For your quick eyes in wandring too and fro From East to West , on no one thing can glaunce , But if you marke it well , it seemes to daunce . 35 First you see fixt in this huge mirrour blew Of trembling lights a number numberlesse , Fixt they are nam'd , but with a name vntrue , For they are moued , and in a Daunce expresse That great long yeare that doth containe no lesse Then threescore hundreths of those yeares in all Which the Sunne makes with his course naturall . 36 What if to you these sparks disordered seeme As if by chaunce they had been scattered there ? The Gods a solemnemeasure doe it deeme And see a iust proportion euery where , And know that points whence first their mouings were , To which first points when all returne againe , The Axeltree of Heau'n shall breake in twaine . 37 Vnder that spangled skye , fiue wandring flames , Besidos the King of Day , and Queene of Night , Are wheel'd around , all in their sundry frames , And all in sundry measures doe delight : Yet altogether keepe no measure right . For by it selfe , each doth it selfe aduaunce , And by it selfe , each doth a Galliard daunce . 38 Venus the Mother of that bastard Loue Which doth vsurpe the worlds great Marshals name , Iust with the Sunne her dainty seete doth moue And vnto him doth all her iestures frame : Now after , now afore , the flattering Dame With diuers cunning passages doth erre , Still him respecting that respects not her . 39 For that braue Sunne the Father of the Day , Doth loue this Earth the Mother of the Night , And like a reuellour in rich aray Doth daunce his Galliard in his Lemmans sight , Both back , and forth , and side-wayes passing light , His gallant grace doth so the Gods amaze , That all stand still and at his beautie gaze . 40 But see the Earth , when she approcheth neete , How she for ioy doth spring and sweetly smile ; But see againe her sad and heauie cheere When changing places he retires a while : But those black clouds he shortly will exile , And make them all before his presence flye As mists consum'd before his cheerfull eye . 41 Who doth not see the measures of the Moone Which thirteene times she daunceth euery yeare ? And ends her pauine thirteene times as soone As doth her brother , of whose golden heire She borroweth part and proudly doth it weare . Then doth she coylieturne her faoe aside , That halfe her cheeke is scarce somtimes discride . 42 Next her , the purt , subtile , and cleansing fire , Is swistly carried in a circle euen : Though Vukan be pronounst by many a lyer The onely halting God that dwells in heauen . But that foule name may be more fitly giuen To your false fier that far from heau'n is fall And doth consume , wast , spoile , disorder all . 43 And now behold your tender Nurse the ayre And common neighbour that ay runns around , How many pictures and impressions faire Within her emptie regions are there found , Which to your sences Dauncing doe propound ? For what are breath , speech , Ecchos , musick , winds , But Dauncings of the ayre in sundry kinds ? 44 For when you breath , the ayre in order moues , Now in , now out , in time and measure trew ; And when you speake , so well the dauncing loues , That doubling oft , and oft redoubling new , With thousand formes she doth her selfe endew : For all the words that from your lips repaire , Are naught but tricks and turnings of the aire . 45 Hence is her pratling daughter Eccho borne , That daunces to all voyces she can heare ; There is no sound so harsh that she doth scorne , Nor any time wherein she will forbeare The aiery pauement with her feete to weare . And yet her hearing sence is nothing quick For after time she endeth euery trick . 46 And thou sweet Musick , Dauncings only life . The eares sole happines , the ayres best speach , Loadstone of followship , charming rod of strife , The soft minds Paradice , the sick minds Leach , With thine owne tongue thou trees & stones canst teach That when the Aire doth daunce her finest measure , Then art thou borne the Gods & mens sweet pleasure . 47 Lastly , where keepe the winds their reuchy Their violent turnings and wild whirling hayes ? But in the Ayres tralucent gallery ? Where she her selfe is turnd a hundreth wayes , While with those Maskers wantonly she playes ; Yet in this misrule , they such rule embrace As two at once encomber not the place . 48 If then fier , ayre , wandring and fixed lights In euery prouince of imperiall skye , Yeald perfect formes of dauncing to your sights , In vaine I teach the eare , that which the eye With certaine view already doth descne . But for your eyes perceiue not all they see In this I will your sences maister bee . 49 For loe the Sea that fleets about the Land , And like a girdle clips her solide wast , Musick and measure both doth vnderstand : For his great Christall eye is alwayes cast Vp to the Moone , and on her fixed fast . And as she daunceth in her pallid spheere , So daunceth he about the Center heere . 50 Somtimes his proud greene waues in order set , One after other flow vnto the shore , Which when they haue with many kisses wet , They ebb away in order as before ; And to make knowne his Courtly Loue the more , He oft doth lay aside his three-forkt Mace , And with his armes the timerous Earth embrace . 51 Onely the Earth doth stand for euer still , Her rocks remoue not , nor her mountaines meete , ( Although some witts enricht with Learnings skill Say heau'n stands firme , & that the Earth doth sleete And swiftly turneth vnderneath their feete ) Yet though the Earth is euer stedfast seene , On her broad breast hath Dauncing euer beene . 52 For those blew vaines that through her body spred , Those saphire streams which from great hils do spring , ( The Earths great duggs : for euery wight is fed With sweet fresh moisture from them issuing ) Obserue a daunce in their wild wandering : And still their daunce begets a murmur sweete , And still the murmur with the daunce doth meete . 53 Of all their wayes I loue Meanders path , Which to the tunes of dying Swans doth daunce , Such winding sleights , such turnes and tricks he hath , Such Creekes , such wrenches , and such daliaunce , That whether it be hap or heedlesse chaunce , In his indented course and wringling play He seemes to daunce a perfect cunning Hay . 54 But wherefore doe these streames for euer runne ? To keepe themselues for euer sweet and cleare : For let their euerlasting course be donne They straight corrupt and foule with mud appeare . O yee sweet Nimphs that beauties losse doe feare , Contemne the Drugs that Phisick doth deuise , And learne of Loue this dainty exercise . 55 See how those flowers that haue sweet Beauty too ( The onely Iewels that the Earth doth weare When the young Sunne in brauery her doth woo ) As oft as they the whistling wind doe heare , Doe waue their tender bodies here and there ; And though their daunce no perfect measure is , Yet oftentimes their musick makes them kis , 56 What makes the Vine about the Elme to daunce With turnings , windings , and imbracements round ? What makes the Load-stone to the North aduaunce His subtile point , as if from thence he found His chiefe attractiue Vertue to redound ? Kind Nature first doth cause all things to loue , Loue makes them daunce and in iust order moue . 57 Harke how the Birds doe sing , and marke then how Iumpe with the modulation of their layes , They lightly leape , and skip from bow to bow ; Yet doe the Cranes deserue a greater prayse Which keepe such measure in their ayrie wayes , As when they all in order ranked are , They make a perfect forme triangular . 58 In the chiefe angle flyes the watchfull guide , And all the followers their heads doe lay On their forgoers backs , on eyther side , But for the Captaine hath no rest to stay His head forwearied with the windy way , He back retires , and then the next behind , As his Lieuetenaunt leads them through the wind . 59 But why relate I euery singular ? Since all the worlds great fortunes and affaires Forward and backward rapt and whitled are , According to the musick of the spheares : And Chaunce her selfe , her nimble feete vpbeares On a round slipperie wheele that rowleth ay , And turnes all states with her impetuous sway . 60 Learne then to daunce you that are Princes borne And lawfull Lords of earthly creatures all ; Imitate them , and thereof take no scorne , For thys new Art to them is naturall And imitate the starres caelestiall . For when pale Death you vitall twist shall seuer , Your better parts must daunce with the for euer . 61 Thus Loue perswades , and all the crowne of men That stands around doth make a murmuring ; As when the wind loosd from his hollow den , Among the trees a gentle base doth sing , Or as a Brooke through peebles wandering : But in their lookes they vttered this plaine speach , That they wold learn to daunce if loue wold teach . 62 Then first of all , hee doth demonstrate plaine The motions seauen that are in nature found , Vpward , and downward , forth , and back againe , To this side , and to that , and turning round : Whereof , a thousand brawles he doth compound , Which he doth teach vnto the multitude , And euer with a turne they must conclude . 63 As when a Nimph arysing from the Land Leadeth a daunce with her long watery traine Downe to the Sea , she wries to euery hand And euery way doth crosse the fertile plaines But when at last she falls into the maine Then all her trauerses concluded are , And with the Sea her course is circulate , 64 Thus when at first Loue had them marshalled As earst he did the shapelesse masse of things , He taught them rounds and winding Heyes to tread , And about trees to cast themselues in rings . As the two Beares whom the first mouer flings With a short turne about heauens Axeltree , In a round daunce foreuer wheeling bee . 65 But after these , as men more ciuill grew He did more graue and solemne measures frame , With such faire order and proportion trew And correspondence euery way the same , That no fault finding eye did euer blame : For euery eye was moued at the sight With sober wondring , and with sweet delight . 66 Not those old Students of the heauenly booke , Atlas the great , Promethus the wise , Which on the Starres did all their lyfe-time looke Could euer find such measures in the skies , So full of change and rare varieties ; Yet all the feete whereon these measures goe , Are onely Spondeis , solemne , graue , and sloe . 70 But for more diuers and more pleasing show , A swift and wandring daunce she did inuent , With passages vncertaine to and fro , Yet with a certaine aunswere and consent To the quick musick of the Instrument . Fiue was the number of the Musicks feete , Which still the daunce did with fiue paces meetes 71 A gallant daunce , that liuely doth bewray A spirit and a vertue Masculine , Impatient that her house on earth should stay Since she her selfe is fierie and diuine : Oft doth she make her body vpward flyne , With lostie turnes and capriols in the avre , Which with the lustie tunes accordeth fayre . 69 What shall I name those currant trauases That on a triple Dactyle foote doe run Close by the ground with slyding passages , Wherein that Dauncer greatest prayse hath won Which with best order can all orders shun : For euery where he wantonly must range , And turne , and wind , with vnexpected change . 70 Yet is there one the most delightfull kind , A lofty iumping , or a leaping round , Where arme in arme , two Dauncers are entwind , And whirle themselues with strickt embracements bound , And still their feet an Anapest do sound : An Anapest is all theyr musicks song , Whose first two feet are short , & third is long . 71 As the victorious twinns of Laeda and Ioue That taught the Spartans dauncing on the sands , Of swift Eurotas daunce in Heau'n aboue , Knit and vnited with eternall hands ; Among the Starres their double Image stands , Where both are carried with an equall pace Together iumping in their turning race . 72 Thys is the Net wherein the Sunns bright eye Venus and Mars entangled did behold , For in thys Daunce , their armes they so imply As each , doth seeme the other to enfold ; What if lewd wits another tale haue told Of iealous Vulcan , and of yron chaynes , Yet this true sence that forged lye containes . 73 These various formes of dauncing , Loue did frame , And beside these , a hundred millions mot , And as he did inuent , he taught the same With goodly iesture , and with comly show , Now keeping state , now humbly honoring low . And euer for the persons and the place He taught most fit , and best according grace . 74 For Loue , within his fertile working braine Did then conceiue those gracious Virgins three , Whose ciuill moderation did maintaine All decent order and conueniencie , And faire respect , and seemlie modestie : And then he thought it fit they should be borne , That their sweet presence dauncing might adorne . 75 Hence is it that these Graces painted are With hand in hand dauncing an endlesse round : And with regarding eyes , that still beware That there be no disgrace amongst them found ; With equall foote they beate the flowry ground , Laughing , or singing , as their passions will , Yet nothing that they doe becomes them ill . 76 Thus Loue taught men , and men thus learnd of Loue Sweet Musicks sound with feete to counterfaite , Which was long time before high thundering Ioue Was lifted vp to heau'ns imperiall seate . For though by birth he were the Prince of Creete , Nor Creete , nor Heau'n , should that yong Prince haue seen If Dancers with their Timbrels had not been . 77 Since when all ceremonious misteries , All sacred Orgies and religious rights , All pomps , and tryumphs , and solemnities , All Funerals , Nuptials , and like publike sights , All Parliaments of peace , and warlike fights , All learned Arts , and euery great affaire A liuely shape of Dauncing seemes to beare . 78 For what did he who with his ten-tong'd Lute Gaue Beasts and blocks an vnderstanding eare ? Or rather into bestiall minds and brute Shed and infus'd the beames of reason cleare ? Doubtlesse formen that rude and sauage were A ciuill forme of dauncing he deuis'd , Wherewith vnto their Gods they sacrifiz'd . 79 So did Musaem , so Amphion did , And Linus with his sweet enchanting song , And he whose hand the earth of monsters rid And had mens cares fast chayned to his tong : And Theseus to his wood-borne slaues among Vs'd dauncing as the finest pollicie To plant religion and societie . 80 And therefore now the Thracian Orpheus Lire And Hercules him selfe are stellified ; And in high heau'n amidst the starry Quire Dauncing their parts continually doe slide : So on the Zodiake Ganimede doth ride , And so is Hebe with the Muses nine For pleasing Ioue with dauncing , made dinine . 81 Wherefore was Proteus sayd himselfe to change Into a streame , a Lyon , and a tree , And many other formes fantastique strange As in his fickle thought he wisht to be ? But that he daunc'd with such facilitie . As like a Lyon he could pace with pride , Ply like a Plant , and like a Riner slide . 82 And how was Caeneus made at first a man , And then a woman , then a man againe But in a Daunce ? which when he first began Hee the mans part in measure did sustaine . But when he chang'd into a second straine He daunc'd the womans part another space , And then return'd into his former place . 83 Hence sprang the fable of Tirefias That he the pleasure of both saxes tryde : For in a daunce hee man and woman was By often change of place from side to side . But for the woman easily did slide And smoothly swim with cunning hidden Art , Hee tooke more pleasure in a womans part . 84 So to a fish Venus herselfe did change , And swimming through the soft and yeelding waue , With gentle motions did so smoothly range As none might see where she the water draue : But this plaine truth that salsed fable gaue That she did daunce with slyding easines , Plyant and quick in wandring passages , 85 And merry Bacchus practis'd dauncing to , And to the Lydian numbers rounds did make : The like he did in th' Easterne India doo , And taught them all when Phoebus did awake , And when at night he did his Coach sorsake : To honor heau'n , and heau'ns great roling eie With turning daunces , and with melodie . 86 Thus they who first did found a common-weale , And they who first Religion did ordaine , By dauncing first the peoples harts did steale , Of whom we now a thousand tales doe faine . Yet doe we now their perfect rules retaine , And vse them still in such deuises new As in the world long since their withering grew . 87 For after Townes and Kingdomes founded were Betweene great States arose well-ordered war , Wherein most perfect measure doth appeare Whether their well-set ranks respected are In Quadrant forme or Semicircular : Or else the March , when all the troups aduaunce Vnto the Drum , in gallant order daunce . 88 And after warrs , when white-wing'd victory Is with a glorious tryumph beautified , And euery one doth Io Io cry , Whiles all in gold the Conquerour doth ride , The solemne pompe that fils the Citty wide Obserues such ranke and measure euery where , As if they altogether dauncing were . 89 The like iust order Mourners doe obserue , ( But with vnlike affection and attire ) When some great man that nobly did deserue And whom his friends impatiently desire Is brought with honour to his latest fire : The dead corps too in that sad daunce is mou'd , As if both dead and liuing , dauncing lou'd . 90 A diuerse cause , but like solemnitie Vnto the Temple leades the bashfull bride , Which blusheth like the Indian Iuorie Which is with dip of Tyrian purple died : A golden troope doth passe on euery side Of flourishing young men and Virgins gay , Which keepe faire measure all the flowry way . 91 And not alone the generall multitude , But those choise Nestors which in counsell graue Of Citties , and of Kingdomes doe conclude , Most comly order in their Sessions haue : Wherefore the wise Thessalians euer gaue The name of Leader of their Countries daunce To him that had their Countries gouernaunce . 92 And those great Maisters of the liberall Arts In all their seuerall Schooles doe Dauncing teach : For humble Grammer first doth set the parts Of congruent and well-according speach : Which Rhetorick whose state that clouds doth reach , And heau'nly Poetry doe forward lead , And diuers Measures , diuersly doe tread . 93 For Rhetorick clothing speech in rich aray In looser numbers teacheth her to range , With twentie tropes , and turnings euery way , And various figures , and licentious change : But Poetry with rule and order strange So curiously doth moue each single pace , As all is mard if she one foote misplace . 94 These Arts of speach the guides and Marshals are , But Logick leadeth Reason in a daunce , ( Reason the Cynosure and bright Load-star In this worlds Sea t' auoid the rock of Chaunce ) For with close following and continuance One reason doth another so ensue , As in conlusion still the daunce is true . 95 So Musick to her owne sweet tunes doth trip With tricks of , 3 , 5 , 8 , 15 , and more : So doth the Art of Numbring seeme to skip From eu'n to odd in her proportion'd score : So doe those skils whose quick eyes doe explore The iust dimension both of earth and heau'n In all their rules obserue a measure eu'n . 96 Loe this is Dauncings true nobilitie . Dauncing the child of Musick and of Loue , Dauncing it selfe both loue and harmony , Where all agree , and all in order moue ; Dauncing the Art that all Arts doe approue : The faire Caracter of the worlds consent , The heau'ns true figure , and th' earths ornament . 97 THE Queene , whose dainty eares had borne too long The tedious praise of that she did despise , Adding once more the musick of the tongue To the sweet speech of her alluting eyes , Began to aunswer in such winning wise As that forthwith Antinous tongue was tyde , His eyes fast fixt , his eares were open wide . 98 Forsooth ( quoth she ) great glory you haue won To your trim Minion Dauncing all this while , By blazing him Loues first begotten sonne ; Of euery ill the hatefull Father vile That doth the world with sorceries beguile : Cunningly mad , religiously prophane , Wits monster , Reasons canker , Sences bane . 99 Loue taught the mother that vnkind desire To wash her hands in her owne Infants blood ; Loue taught the daughter to betray her Sire Into most base vnworthy seruitude ; Loue taught the brother to prepare such foode To feast his brothers , that the all-seeing Sun Wrapt in a clowd , that wicked sight did shun . 100 And euen this selfe same Loue hath dauncing taught , An Art that sheweth th' Idea of his mind With vainesse , frenzie , and misorder fraught ; Sometimes with blood and cruelties vnkind : For in a daunce , Tereus mad wife did finde Fit time and place by murthering her sonne , T' auenge the wrong his trayterous Sire had done . 101 What meane the Mermayds when they daunce and sing But certaine death vnto the Marriner ? What tydings doe the dauncing Dilphins bring But that some dangerous storme approcheth nere ? Then sith both Loue & Dauncing lyueries beare Of such ill hap , vnhappy may they proue , That sitting free , will either daunce or loue . 102 YEt once againe Antinous did reply , Great Queene , condemne not Loue the innocent , For this mischieuous Lust , which traiterously Vsurps his Name , and steales his ornament : For that true Loue which dauncing did inuent , Is he that tun'd the worlds whole harmony , And linkt all men in sweet societie . 103 He first extracted from th' earth-mingled mind That heau'nly fire , or quintessence diuine , Which doth such simpathy in beauty find As is betweene the Elme and fruitfull Vine , And so to beautie euer doth encline . Liues life it is , and cordiall to the hart , And of our better part , the better part . 104 Thys is true Loue , by that true Cupid got Which daunceth Galliards in your amorous eyes , But to your frozen hart approcheth not , Onely your hart he dares not enterprize . And yet through euery other part he flyes , And euery where he nimbly daunceth now , That in your selfe , your selfe perceiue not how . 105 For your sweet beauty daintily transfus'd With due proportion throughout euery part , What is it but a daunce where Loue hath vs'd His finer cunning , and more curious Art ? Where all the Elements themselues impart , And turne , and wind , & mingle with such measure , That th' eye that sees it , surfeits with the pleasure . 106 Loue in the twinckling of your eylids daunceth , Loue daunceth in your pulses and your vaines , Loue whe you sow your needles poynt aduaunceth , And makes it daunce a thousand curious straines Of winding rounds , whereof the forme remaines , To shew , that your faire hands can daunce that Hey , Which your fine feet would learne as wel as they . 107 And when your Iuory fingers touch the strings Of any siluer-sounding instrument , Loue makes the daunce to those sweet murmurings , With busie skill , and cunning excellent : O that your feet those tunes would represent With artificiall motions to and fro , That Loue this Art in euery part might shoe . 108 Yet your faire soule which came from heau'n aboue , To rule thys house , another heau'n below , With diuers powers in harmony doth moue , And all the vertues that from her doe flow , In a round measure hand in hand doe goe . Could I now see as I conceiue thys Daunce , Wonder and Loue would cast me in a traunce . 109 The richest Iewell in all the heau'nly Treasure That euer yet vnto the Earth was showne , Is perfect Concord , th' onely perfect pleasure That wretched Earth-borne men haue euer knowne , For many harts it doth compound in one : That what so one doth will , or speake , or doe , With one consent they all agree thereto . 110 Concords true picture shineth in thys Art , Where diuers men and women ranked be , And euery one doth daunce a seuerall part , Yet all as one , in measure doe agree , Obseruing perfect vniformitie : All turne together , all together trace , And all together honor and embrace . 111 If they whom sacred Loue hath link't in one , Doe , as they daunce , in all theyr course of life Neuer shall burning griefe not bitter mone , Nor factious difference , nor vnkind strise , Arise betwixt the husband and the wife . For whether forth or back , or round he goe , As the man doth , so must the woman doe . 112 What if by often enterchange of place Sometime the woman get the vpper hand ? That is but done for more delightfull grace , For on that part shee doth not euer stand : But as the Measures law doth her commaund Shee wheeles about , and ere the daunce doth end , Into her former place shee doth transcend . 113 But not alone this corespondence meet And vniforme consent doth dauncing praise , For-Comlines the chyld of order sweet Enamels it with her eye-pleasing raies : Faire Comlines , ten hundred thousand waies Through dauncing shedds it selfe , & makes it shine With glorious beauty , and with grace diuine . 114 For Comlines is a disposing faire Of things and actions in fit time and place , Which doth in dauncing shew it selfe most cleere , When troopes confus'd which here & there do trace Without distingushment or bounded space , By dauncing rule , into such ranks are brought , As glads the eye , and rauisheth the thought . 115 Then why should reason iudge that reasonles Which is wits of-spring , and the worke of Art , Image of concord , and of comlines . Who sees a clock moouing in euery part , A sayling Pinneste , or a wheeling Cart , But thinks that reason ere it came to passe The first impulsiue cause and mouer was ? 116 Who sees an Armie all in ranke aduaunce But deemes a wise Commaunder is in place Which leadeth on that braue victorious daunce ? Much more in dauncings Art , in dauncings grace Blindnes it selfe may reasons footstep trace : For of Loues Maze it is the curious plot , And of mans fellowship the true-loue knot . 117 But if these eyes of yours , ( Load starrs of loue Shewing the worlds great daunce to your minds eye ) Cannot with all theyr demonstrations moue Kind apprehension in your fantasie Of Dauncings vertue , and nobilitie : How can my barbarous tongue win you thereto which heau'n & earths faire speech could neuer do ? 118 O Loue my King : if all my wit and power Haue done you all the seruice that they can , O be you present in this present hower , And helpe your seruant and your true Leige-man End that perswasion which I earst began : For who in praise of dauncing can perswade With such sweet force as Loue , which dauncing made . 119 LOue heard his prayer , and swifter then the wind Like to a Page , in habit , face , and speech , He came , and stood Antinous behind , And many secrets to his thoughts did teach . At last , a christall Mirrour he did reach Vnto his hands , that he with one rash view , All formes therein by Loues reuealing knew . 120 And humbly honoring , gaue it to the Queene With this faire speech : See fairest Queene ( quoth he ) The fairest sight that euer shall be seene , And th' onely wonder of posteritie , The richest worke in Natures treasury ; Which she disdaines to shew on this worlds stage , And thinks it far too good for our rude age . 121 But in another world deuided far , In the great , fortunate , triangled Ile , Thrise twelue degrees remou'd from the North stat Shee will this glorious workmanship compile Which shee hath been conceiuing all thys while Since the worlds birth , & will bring forth at last , When sixe and twenty hundreth yeeres are past . 122 PEnelope the Queene when she had view'd The strange-eye-dazeling-admirable sight , Faine would haue praisd the state and pulchritude , But she was stroken dumbe with wonder quite , Yet her sweet mind retayn'd her thinking might : Her rauisht minde in heau'nly thoughts did dwel , But what she thought , no mortall tongue can tell . 123 You Lady Muse , whom Ioue the Counsellour Begot of Memorie , wisdoms Treasuresse , To your diuining tongue is giuen a power Of vttering secrets large and limitlesse : You can Penelopes strange thoughts expresse Which she conceiu'd , & then would faine haue told , When shee the wondrous Christall did behold . 124 Her winged thoughts bore vp her minde so hie As that shee weend shee saw the glorious throne Where the bright Moone doth sit in maiestie , A thousand sparkling starres about her shone , But she herselfe did sparkle more alone Then all those thousand beauties would haue done If they had been confounded all in one . 125 And yet she thought those starrs mou'd in such measure To doetheir Soueraigne honor & delight , As sooth'd her minde with sweet enchanting pleasure Although the various change amaz'd her sight , And her weake iudgement dyd entangle quite : Beside , theyr mouing made them shine more cleere , As Diamonds mou'd , more sparkling do appeare . 126 Thys was the Picture of her wondrous thought , But who can wonder that her thought was so , Sith Vulcan King of fire , that Mirrour wrought ( Which things to come , present , & past doth know ) And there did represent in liuely show ; Our glorious English Courts diuine Image As it should be in this our golden age . 127 Away Terpsichore , light Muse away , And come Vrame , Prophetesse diuine ; Come Muse of heau'n , my burning thirst allay , Euen now , for want of sacred drinke I tine . In heau'nly moysture dip thys Pen of mine , And let my mouth with Nectar ouerflow , For I must more then mortall glory show . 128 O that I had Homers aboundant vaine , I would heereof another Ilias make , Or els the man of Mantuus charmed braine In whose large throat great Ioue the thunder spake . O that I could old Gefferies Muse awake , Or borrow Colins sayre heroike stile , Or smooth my times with Delias seruants file . 129 O could I sweet Companion , sing like you , Which of a shadow , vnder a shadow sing ; Or like faire Salues sad louer true , Or like the Bay , the Marigolds darling , Whose suddaine verse Loue couers with his wing : O that your braines were mingled all with mine , T' inlarge my wit for this great worke diuine . 130 Yet Astrophell might one for all suffize , Whose supple Muse Camelion-like doth change Into all formes of excellent deuise : So might the Swallow , whose swift Muse doth range Through rare Idaeas , and inuentions strange , And euer doth enioy her ioyfull spring , And sweeter then the Nightingale doth sing . 131 O that I might that singing Swallow heare To whom I owe my seruice and my loue , His sugred tunes would so enchant mine eare , And in my mind such sacred fury moue , As I should knock at heau'ns great gate aboue With my proude rimes , while of this heau'nly state I doe aspire the shadow to relate . FINIS .