The masque of augures With the seueral antimasques. Presented on Twelfe night.

NOTCH .

COme , now my head 's in , I le eu'n venter the whole . I ha seen the Lions ere now ; and he that hath seene them , may see the King .

SLVG .

I thinke he may : but haue a care you goe not too high ( neighbour NOTCH ) least you chance to haue a Tally made of your pate , and be clawed with a cudgell . There is as much danger in going too neere the King , as the Lions .

GROOM .

Whether ? whether now Gamsters ? what is the businesse ? the affaire ? stop I beseech you .

NOTCH .

This must be an Officer , or nothing , he is so peart , and briefe in his demands ! a prettie man ! and a prettie man is a little o' this side nothing . Howsoeuer , we must not be daunted now . I am sure I am , a greater man then he out of the Court , and I haue lost nothing of my size since I came into it .

GROOM .

Hey-da ! what s this ! A hogshead of beere broke out of the Kings Buttry , or some Dutch hulke ! whether are you bound ? The wind is against you : you must backe : doe you know where you are ?

NOTCH .

Yes Sir , if we be not mistaken , wee are at the Court , and would be very glad to speak with something of lesse authoritie , and more wit , that knowes a little , in the place .

GROOME .

Sir , I know as little as any man in the place : speake , what is your businesse ? I am an Officer , GROOME of the REVELS ; I may and must aske you .

NOTCH .

Be not too mustie Sir ; our desire is onely to know , whether the Kings Maiestie and the Court expect any Disguise here to night .

GROOM .

Disguise ! what meane you by that ? do you thinke his Maiestie sits here to expect drunkards ?

NOTCH .

No , if he did , I beleeue you would supply that place better , then you doe this . Disguise was the olde English word for a Masque Sir , before you were an Implement belonging to the REVELS .

GROOM .

There is no such word in the Office now , I assure you Sir : I haue seru'd heere Man and Boy a prentiship or twaine , and I should know . But ( by what name soeuer you call it ) heere will be a Masque , and shall be a Masque , when you and the rest of your Comrogues shall sit disguis'd in the stocks .

NOTCH .

Sure , by your language , you were neuer meant for a Courtier , howsoeuer it hath been your ill fortune to bee taken out of the nest young : you are some Constables Egge , some such Widgin of authoritie , you are so easily offended ! Our comming was to shew our loues , Sir , and to make a little merry with his Maiestie to night , and wee haue brought a Masque with vs , if his Maiestie had not been better prouided .

GROOME .

Who you ? you a Masque ? why you stinke like so many bloat herrings newly taken out of the chimney ! In the name of ignorance whence came you ? or what are you ? you haue beene hangd in the smoake sufficiently , that is smelt out already .

NOTCH .

Sir , we doe come from among the Brewhouses in Saint KATHERINS , that 's true , there you haue smoak'd vs ( the Docke comfort your nostrils ) and wee may haue liued in a mist there , and so mist our purpose : but for mine owne part , I haue brought my properties with me to expresse what I am , the keyes of my calling hang heere at my girdle ; and this , the register booke of my function , shewes me no lesse then a Clerke at all points , and a Brewers Clerke , and a Brewers head-Clerke .

GROOM .

A man of account Sir ! I cry you mercy .

SLVG .

I Sir , I knew him a fine Merchant , a Merchant of hops , till all hopt into the water .

NOTCH .

No more of that , what I haue bin , I haue bin : what I am , I am . I PETER NOTCH Clearke , hearing the CHRISTMAS Inuention was drawne dry at Court , and that neither the Kings POET , nor his ARCHITECT had wherewithall left to entertaine so much as a Baboone of qualitie , nor scarce the Welsh Embassador if hee should come there ; out of my allegeance to wit , drew in some other friends , that haue as it were presumed out of our owne naturals , to fill vp the Vacuum with some pretty presentation , which wee haue addrest , and conuei'd hither in a lighter at the general charge , and landed at the back-doore of the Buttery , through my neighbour SLVGS credit there .

SLVG .

A poore Lighterman Sir , one that hath had the honour sometimes to lay in the Kings Beere there , and I assure you I heard it in no worse place , then the very Buttry , for a certaine , there would be no Masque , and from such as could command a Iacke of Beere two or three .

VAN .

Dat is all true , exceeding true , de Inuentors be barren , lost , two , dre , vour mile , I know that from my selua : dey haue no ting , no ting van deir owne , but var dey take vrom de eard , or de zea , or de heauen , or de hell , or de restuan de vier elementen , de place a , dat be so common as de venche in de Burdello . Now , me vould bring in some daintie new ting , dat neuer vas , nor neuer sall be , in de rebus natura ! dat has never van de mater , nor de vorme , nor de head , nor de voot , but is a mera deuisa of de braine —

GROOM .

Hey-da , what HANS FLVTTERKIN is this ? what do's this Dutchman build , or talke of ? Castles in the ayre ?

NOT .

He is no Dutchman Sir , he is a Brittaine borne , but hath learned to misuse his owne tongue in trauell , and now speaks all languages in ill English . A rare Artist he is Sir , & a Proiector of Masques . His proiect in ours , is , that wee should all come from the three dancing Beares , a famous Alehouse in Saint Katherines ( you may hap know it Sir ) , hard by where the Priest fell in , which Alehouse is kept by a distrest Lady , whose name ( for the honour of Knighthood ) will not be knowne , yet shee is come in person , errant , to fill vp the aduenture with her two Women that draw drinke vnder her , Gentlewomen borne , all three I assure you .

SLVG .

And were three of those Gentlewomen , that should haue acted in that famous matter of Englands Ioy , in sixe hundred and three .

LADY .

What talke you of Englands Ioy , Gentlemen ? you haue another matter in hand ywis , Englands Sport , if you can manage it . The poore Cattell yonder , are passing away the time with a cheat loafe and a bumbard , how will you dispose of them ?

GR.

Cattell ? what Cattell do's she meane ?

LADY .

No worse then the Kings Game I assure you : Beares of quality and fashion , right Beares , true Beares !

NOT .

A deuice , onely to expresse the place from whence we come ( my Ladies house ) for which we haue borrowed three very Beares , that ( as her Ladiship aforesaid sayes ) are well bred , and can dance to present the Signe , and the Beareward to stand for the Signe-post .

GR.

That is prety : but are you sure you haue sufficient Beares for the purpose ?

SLVG .

Very sufficient Beares , as any are in the ground : and can dance at first sight , and play their owne tunes , if need bee . IOHN VRSON the Beareward offers to play them with any Citie-Dancers , christned , for a ground measure .

NOT .

Marry , for lofty tricks , or dancing on the ropes , he will not vndertake : it is out of their element , he sayes . Sir , all our request is , since we are come , we may bee admitted , if not for a Masque , for an Antick Masque : and as we shall deserue therein , we desire to be returned with credit to the Buttry , from whence we came , for reward ; or to the Porters Lodge , for our punishment .

GR.

To be whipt with your Beares ? Well , I could bee willing to venter a good word in behalfe of the Game , if I were assured the aforesaid Game would be cleanly , and not fright the Ladies .

NOT .

For that , Sir , the Bearward hath put in securitie , by warranting my Lady and her Women to dance the whole Changes with them in safety ; and for their abusing the place , you shal not need to feare , for he hath giuen them a kind of diet-bread , to bind them , to their good behauiour .

GR.

Well , let them come : If you need one , I le helpe you my selfe .

The Dance . VAN .

How like you ? how like you ?

GRO .

Excellaunt . The Beares haue done learnedly , and sweetly .

VAN .

T is no ting , t is no ting , vill you see some ting ? Ick sall bring in de groat Turkschen , met all zin Bashawes , and zin dirty towsand Yanitsaries , met all zin Whooren , Eunuken , all met an auder , de Sofie van Persia , de Tartar Cham , met de groat King of Mogull , and make deir men , and deir horse , and deir elephanten be seene fight in de ayre , and hee all killen , and aliuen ! and no sush ting . And al dis , met de ars , van de Catropricks , by de refleshie van de glassen .

NOT .

O , he is an admirable Artist .

SLVG .

And a halfe Sir .

GR.

But where will he place his glasses ?

VAN .

Fow , dat is all ean ! as it be two , dree , vier , vife tousand mile of , Ick sall multipliren de vizioun , met an ander setret dat Ick heb . Spreck , vat vil you heben ?

GR.

Good Sir put him too t , bid him doe something that is impossible : he will vndertake it , I warrant you .

NOT .

I do not like the Mogull , nor the great Turke , nor the Tartar , their names are somwhat too big for the roome : marry if he could shew vs some Country-plaiers strolling about in seuerall shires , without licence from the office ; that would please , I know whom .

NOT .

Or some Welsh Pilgrims .

VAN .

Pilgrim ? Now you talke of de Pilgrim , it come in my head , Ick vill shew you all de whole braue Pilgrim o' de vorld : de Pilgrim dat go now , now , at de instant , two , dree , towsand mile to de great Mahomet , at de Mecha , or here , dere , euery where , make de fine Labyrints , and shew all de braue error in de vorld .

SLVG .

And shall we see it here ?

VAN .

Yau , here , here , here in dis roome , dis very roome : vel , vat is dat to you , if Ick do de ting ? vat an Diuell , vera boten Deuill ?

GR.

Nay , good Sir be not angry .

NOT .

T is a disease that followes all excellent men , they cannot gouerne their passions , but let him alone , trie him one bout .

GR.

I would try him , but what has all this to doe with our Masque ?

VAN .

O Sir , all de better , vor an Antick-masque , de more absurd it be , and vrom de purpose , it be euer all de better . If it goe from de nature of de ting , it is de more art , for dere is Art , and dere is Nature ; you shall see . Hochos-pochos . Fabros Palabros .

The second Antimasque . Which is a perplex'd dance of straying , and deform'd Pilgrims , taking seuerall pathes , till with the opening of the light aboue , and breaking forth of APOLLO , they are all frighted away , and the Mayne Masque begins . APOLLO descending sings . IT is no Dreame , you all doe wake and see : Behold , who comes ! far-shooting PHOEBVS , he That can both hurt , and heale ; and with his voyce Reare Townes , and make Societies reioyce ; That taught the Muses all their harmony ; And men the tunefull art of Augury ; APOLLO stoopes : and , when a God descends , May Mortals thinke he hath no vulgar ends . Being neare the earth , hee calls these persons following , who come forth , as from their Tombes . LINVS , and ORPHEVS , BRANCHVS , IDMON , all My sacred sonnes , rise , at your Fathers call , From your immortall graues , where sleepe , not death , Yet binds your powers . LINVS . Here . ORPHEVS . Here . BRANCHVS . What sacred breath Doth re-inspire vs ! IDMON . Who is this we feele ! PHOEMONOE . What heat creepes through me , as when burning steele Is dipt in water ! APOLLO . I , PHOEMONOE , Thy Father PHAEBVS'S fury filleth thee ; Confesse my Godhead : once againe I call , Let whole APOLLO enter in you all , And follow me . CHORVS . We flye , we do not tread , The Gods doe vse to rauish whom they lead . APOLLO , descended , shewes them where the King sits , and sings forward . APOLLO . Behold the loue and care of all the Gods , King of the Ocean , and the happie Iles , That whilst the world about him is at ods , Sits crowned Lord here of himself , and smiles . — CHORVS . To see the erring mazes of Mankind , Who seeke for that , doth punish them to find . Then he aduanceth with them to the King . APOLLO . Prince of thy peace , see what it is to loue The powers aboue ! IOVE hath commanded me To visit thee : And in thine honour with my musick reare A Colledge here Of tune-full Augnrs , whose diuining skill Shall waite thee still , Aud be the Heralds of his highest will . The worke is done , And I haue made their President thy Sonne . Great MARS too , on these nights , Hath added Salian rites . Yond , yond , afarre , They closed in their Temple are , And each one guided by a starre . CHORVS . Haste , haste , to meete them , and as they aduance , Twixt euery dance , Let vs interpret their prophetick trance . Here they fetch out the Masquers , and come before them with the Torch-bearers along the Stage , singing this full Song . APOLLO and CHORVS . Which way , and whence the lightning flew , Or how it burned , bright , and blew , Designe , and figure by your lights : Then forth , and shew the seuerall flights Your Birds haue made , or what the wing , Or voyce in Augurie doth bring . Which hand the Crow cry'd on , how high The Vultur , or the Erne did flie , What wing the Swan made , and the Doue , The Storke , and which did get aboue : Shew all the birds of food , or pray . But passe by the vnlucky Iay , The Night-Crow , Swallow , or the Kite , Let those haue neither rite , Nor part , In this nights art .

The Torch-Bearers Dance . After which the AVGVRS lay by their staues , and dance their Entry . Which done , APOLLO , and the rest interpret the Augurie . APOLLO . The signes are lucky all , and right , There hath not bin a voyce , or flight Of ill presage . LINVS . The Bird that brings Her Augury alone to Kings , The Doue , hath flowne . ORPHEVS . And to thy peace Addes Fortunes , and the Fates increase . BRANCHVS . MINERVA'S Hernshaw , and her Owle Do both proclaime , thou shalt controle The course of things , IDMON . As now they be , With tumult carried : APOLLO . And liue free From hatred , faction , or the feare To blast the Oliue thou dost weare . CHORVS . More is behind which these doe long to showe , And what the Gods to so great vertue owe .

The Maine Dance . CHORVS . Still , still the Auspice is so good We wish it were but vnderstood ; It euen puts APOLLO To all his strengths of art to follow The flights , and to diuine What 's meant by euery signe . Thou canst not lesse be then the charge Of euery Deitie , That thus art left here to inlarge , And shield their pietie ! Thy Neighbours at thy fortune long haue gaz'd , But at thy wisedome all doe stand amaz'd , And wish to be O'recome , or gouerned by thee ! Safetie it selfe so sides thee where thou goest , And Fate still offers what thou couet'st most !

The Reuels . After which , APOLLO goes vp to the King , and sings . DOe not expect to heare of all Your good at once , least it forestall A sweetnesse would be new : Some things the Fates would haue conceal'd From vs the Gods , least being reueal'd Our powers should enuy you . It is enough your people learne The reuerence of your peace ; As well as strangers doe discerne The glories , by th' increase : And that the princely AVGVR here , your Sonne , Doe by the Fathers lights his courses runne . CHORVS . Him shall you see triumphing ouer all Both foes , and vices : and your young , and tall Nephewes , his sonnes , grow vp in your embraces , To giue this Iland Princes , in long races . Here the Heauen opens , and IOVE , with the Senate of the Gods , is discouered , while APOLLO returnes to his seat , and ascending sings . APOLLO . See , heauen expecteth my returne , The forked fire begins to burne , IOVE beckons me to come . IOVE . Though PHOEBVS be the God of Arts , He must not take on him all parts : But leaue his Father some . APOLLO . My Arts are onely to obey , IOVE . And mine to sway . IOVE is that One , whom first , midst , last you call , The power that gouern's , and conserueth all ; Earth , Sea , and Ayre are subiect to our checke , And Fate , with Heauen , moouing at our becke . Till IOVE it ratifie , It is no Augurie , Though vtter'd by the mouth of DESTINIE . APOLLO . Deare Father , giue the signe , and seale it then . The EARTH riseth . It is the suit of EARTH , and Men . IOVE . What doe these mortals craue without our wrong . EARTH with the rest . That IOVE will lend vs this our Soueraigne , long . Let our grand-children and not we His want , or absence euer see . IOVE . Your wish is blest : IOVE knocks his chin against his brest , And firmes it with the rest . CHORVS . Sing then his fame , through all the orbes , in euen Proportions , rising still from Earth to Heauen : And of the lasting of it leaue to doubt , The power of Time shall neuer put that out .

This done , the whole Scene shuts , and the Masquers dance their last dance .

The End.